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DATE DUE 1

UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LIBRARY

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B35

58

1975

CARD

HISTORY OF BEVERLY

Reprinted by the Friends of the Beverly Public Library in commemoration of the American Revolutionary Bicentennial. Beverly, Massachusetts 1975.

This reprint edition is limited to one thousand copies, of which this is ^^ ^^

No sJT.^^

Deschamps Printing Co., Inc.

3 Dodge Street

Salem, Mass.

19

HISTORY OF BEVERLY,

CIVIL AxND ECCLESIASTICAL,

FROM ITS SETTLEMENT IN 1630 TO 1842.

BY EDWIN M. STONE.

BOSTON:

JAMES MUNROE AND COMPANY 1843,

Entered according to Act of Congress,

By Edwin M. Sto/ie,

In tlie Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts.

I) U T T 0 N AND W E N T W 0 R T H ' 3 Printins-House.

PREFACE.

It is gratifying to perceive that the interest of late awakened in town histories is increasing. Until each town in the Common- wealth shall have had its historian, the most accurate history of Massachusetts will remain to be written. It is to be regret- ted that the work, in which for six months I have been cor^tantly engaged, had not been undertaken at an earlier period. Had it been written at the commencement of the present century, many most interesting incidents, recorded only in the memory of aged inhabitants, would have been preserved, which are now irrecover- ably lost.

In the preparation of this volume, I have made a thorougli examination of the town records, the State archives, the collec- tions of several historical societies, and a large number of private papers, amounting in all to nearly twenty thousand manuscript pages. Much information has also been obtained from individu- als who were contemporaries of the Revolution, and from others whose antiquariscn research has been minute and successful. My other principal authorities are Hutchinson's and Hubbard's Histo- ries, Felt's Annals of Salem, and the Massachusetts Historical Society's Collections. But with all my care, it is possible some resource has remained undiscovered, though it is confidently be- lieved no material documentary fact has been overlooked.

A considerable number of the following pages will be found under the ecclesiastical head. For the sake of unity, this portion

]V PREFACE.

of the history has been separated from that belonging more strict- ly to the civil department ; and witli which, until the formation of the second parish in 1713, it was blended. In preparing the ecclesiastical history, I have had access to the parish and church records of the several religious societies. From these I have drawn such matter only as seemed proper to a work of this char- acter, and with that I have interwoven materials placed at my command by members of the different congregations.

It was a part of my original design to furnish genealogical tables of all the families represented by the signers of the petition for the first church, in 1666 ; but a few days of laborious investi- gation convinced me that such a plan was impracticable, and I have confined a detailed genealogy to the principal founders of the town.

To Hon. Robert Rantoul, whose long connexion with the pub- lic affairs of the town, together with much investigation, has made him familiar with its early history, I am greatly indebted, both for the free use of his manuscript lectures on Beverly, deliv- ered before the lyceum in 1830, '31 and '32, and for other very valuable assistance.

To Rev. Christopher T. Thayer, also, I am obligated for vari- ous interesting materials, and other important service, as well as for a generous interest taken in the enterprize from its commence- ment. My acknowledgments are likewise due to Hon. George Bancroft and Rev. Joseph B. Felt, of Boston, Samuel F. Haven, Esq., librarian of tlie American Antiquarian Society, at Worces- ter, and to many gentlemen of this town, who have kindly aided my inquiries.

E. M. S.

Beverly, 1842.

HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

TOPOGRAPHY

Beverly, in Essex county, Massachusetts, is in north latitude 42^ 36', and longitude 70^ 53', west of London. It is situated on Massachusetts Bay, 16^0^0 miles from Boston,^ and 20 from Newbury- port. The bordering towns are Salem, Danvers, Wenham and Manchester. It is about 20 miles dis- tant from the extreme point of Cape Ann, and 45 miles from the point of Cape Cod. Its greatest length in a direct line from the brick factory at Frost Fish- brook, the boundary towards Danvers on the west, to Chubb's Creek, the boundary towards Manchester on the east, is about 6| miles ; audits greatest width, from Tuck's Point, opposite Salem, on the south, to Wenham line on the north, is about 3J miles. Its average length is about 5| miles, and its width about 2|.

The soil of Beverly is yellow loam and gravel, mixed with veins of clay and sand. Clay suitable

* This distance is measured from the City Hall, in Boston, by the Salem Turnpike, to the First Parish meeting-house. 1

2 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

for coarse pottery and bricks, is found in many parts of the town, and the coarse sand from West's and other beaches, affords considerable employment to vessels in which it is transported to Boston for sale. From the beach between Paul's Head and Curtis Woodberry's Point, black sand, for the supply of stationers' shops, has been obtained in considerable quantities. Being somewhat impure, from mixture of other sand, it is separated by the use of magnets which strongly attract the black. Several quarries furnish an abundance of granite for cellar and sea walls, fences, &c. ; but, owing to its hardness and darker color when hammered, it is less valued for buildings than the stone obtained at Rockport. Green felspar has been found embedded in other stone. In 1824, some fine specimens were obtained from an excavation made in the lot of land adjoining the southerly side of the common, which were distributed among most of the public mineralogical collections in this country.

The surface of Beverly is hilly. There is much rocky and unproductive land, yielding poor pastur- age ; but there is also a good portion of valuable and fertile soil, adapted to the production of English hay, Indian corn, rye, oats, barley, potatoes, and various kinds of vegetables and fruits. Much of the soil is also adapted to the growth of wheat ; but the uncer- tainty of the crop, resulting from mildew, will prob- ably prevent any general attention to its culture.

The principal wood is pine, oak, walnut, white maple, birch and hemlock. There is also some elm, cherry, butternut, red larch, balm of Gilead, sassa- fras, red and white cedar, with many varieties of smaller growth. It is supposed that there is more

HISTORY OF BEVERLY. 6

wood standing now within the hmits of the town, than there was thirty or forty years ago, an increased attention having been given to its growth and preser- vation. Many of the low meadows abound in peat, which, at present, is less used for fuel than it will be when the importation of wood from Maine, the great wood lot for all the sea-ports of Massachusetts, be- comes more expensive.

Of shrubs, many of which are valuable for their medicinal properties, may be mentioned the thorn, two kinds of dog-wood, fever-bush, alder, high blueberry, whortleberry, savin, barberry, sweet fern, elder, bayberry, and laurel. The mountain laurel, which is here very abundant, is one of the most elegant shrubs. Its leaves are glossy and evergreen ; and its flowers, which appear in June, grow in beautiful clusters, varying in their complexion from white to rose. There is also a dwarf laurel familiarly known as la?7ib kill, bearing clusters of delicate rose-colored flowers ; bat being common it attracts little admira- tion. The barberry bush bears a sensitive flower, which, if touched on the inside, immediately closes.

Beverly is by no means destitute of interest to the votaries of Flora. Of the flowers and flowering shrubs in the vicinity of Boston, catalogued by Big- elow, a very large number have been identified in this town by those skilled in botany ; and probably many more may be found which have not fallen in the way of desultory observation. Besides those already named, the Side-Saddle flower, the Cardinal flower, so highly prized in Europe, the Swamp Pink. the bulbous Arethusa, the side-flowering Scullcapf recommended as a specific for hydrophobia, the modest Violet family, the Ladies' Slipper, the Marsh Marigold,

4 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

the Canadian Rhodora, the Crane's-bill and Solomon's Seal, the sweet-scented Water Lily, the Autumnal and veiny-leaved Hawkweed, the Buckbean and wild Primrose; the scarlet Pimpernel, the Eglantine, and many others, are here found in great profusion, beau- tifying nature, and impregnating the atmosphere with a delicious fragrance, themselves

" But bright thoughts syllabled to shape and hue, The tongue that erst was spoken by the elves, When tenderness as yet within the world was new."

The fields and woods furnish the whole tribe of use- ful " roots and herbs," decoctions of which, when seasonably administered, are often a sufficient sub- stitute for more formidable medical prescriptions.

Beverly is well watered by springs and brooks, though it cannot boast of any considerable streams. Bass or Naumkeag river^ takes its rise near the west- ern boundary of the first parish, and after running in a south-westerly course about a mile and a half, unites at Ellingwood's Point with Porter's river. These wa- ters form Beverly harbor. The noticeable brooks are, Alewife brook, emptying into Ipswich river, — one near the East Farms school-house, which carries a saw-mill a part of the year, — and those running under Hart's and Thissel's bridges, each of which formerly supported a grist mill. Near Frost Fish brook, and adjacent to the bridge in Conant street, the late William Burley, during the last war, erect- ed a brick factory for manufacturing cotton cloth ; but a deficiency of water, combined with other cir- cumstances, induced an abandonment of the project.

^he most considerable pond within the limits of Beverly, is Beaver pond, situated about two hundred

HISTORY OF BEVERLY. O

rods south of Wenham line, and about half a mile east of Brimble Hill. It is a beautiful sheet of water, covering about 20 acres, and affords Perch, Yellow Shiners, Eels, Pickerel, and a shell-fish resembling the Muscle of the seashore. Another small sheet of water, called Round pond, is in the second parish, near the "Baker Tavern," and a few rods east of the road to Newburyport. It covers, perhaps, half an acre, and its circular margin is deeply fringed with high blueberry and other shrubs. It is said to be very deep, and no fish are known to exist there. It is probable that, at a remote period, the water cov- ered the entire swamp in the midst of which it lies concealed, and which now sustains a large growth of wood.

The only mineral spring known in Beverly, is situated near the western foot of Snake Hill. From its chalybeate impregnation, it is called Iron Mine Spring. Iron ore is found near this spring, and for a time was worked, but not with sufficient profit to warrant a continuance of the business. The water has been used medicinally, but its effect has not been sufficiently powerful to attract much the attention of invalids.

Water from wells in this town, is obtained in great abundance, and of excellent quality. Those sunk in the south part of the town, or between the rise of land near the harbor, and twenty rods northerly of the first parish meeting-house, are from forty to fifty- three feet in depth. In other parts of the town, water is obtained by sinking a shaft from ten to thirty feet. A proprietors' well, opposite the Bank, fifty-three feet ih depth, was built about sixty years ago, at an expanse of more than eleven hundred dollars. Another pro- 1#

b HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

prietors' well at the corner of Bartlett and Cabot streets, was also sunk at great cost.

The principal eminences in the town, are Browne, Brimble, Cue, Snake, Prospect, Christian, and Bald hills — on the latter of which, the town, in 1705, granted Samuel Corning liberty to build awind mill. Browne hill received its name from the Hon. Wil- liam Browne, a wealthy citizen of Salem, who owned the estate extending to the lane near the corner of Liberty and Conant streets. He was the son of Hon. Samuel and Abigail Browne, and was born May 7th, 1709. He was educated at Harvard University, where he graduated in 1727. In 1737, he married Mary, daughter of Governor Burnet, who died July 31, 1745. His second wife was Mary, daughter of Philip French, Esq., of Brunswick, N. J. He had eight children, and during his life-time filled the offi- ces of Justice of the Sessions Court, Representative in the General Court, and member of the Executive Council.

Aboilt 1750, Mr. Browne erected a splendid man- sion on the summit of this hill, to which he gave the name of " Browne Hall, " after a place in Lanca- shire, England, that belonged to his ancestors. This building consisted of two wings, two stories high, con- nected by a spacious hall, the whole presenting a front of seventy feet. The floor of the hall was painted in imitation of mosaick, and springing from the wall was a commodious circular gallery. Adjacent to the house, was a building occupied solely by the domes- tics, all of whom were blacks. The dwelling was finished in the most thorough and costly manner, and was furnished in a style corresponding with the wealth of its owner. This hall was the scene of

HISTORY OF BEVERLY. 7

many magnificent entertainments — and on one occa- sion an ox was roasted whole and served up to a numerous dinner party. The farmhouse stood at- the foot or the hill. About 1761, Mr. Browne re- moved this delightful residence from the hill to a site near Liberty corner. He lived but about two years after, and expired suddenly in his field, of apoplexy, April 27th, 1703, aged 54. A manuscript note in the Archives of the Worcester Antiquarian Society, says : "He was a most polite gentleman, well read in history and geography." He bequeath- ed a gilt cup to his son William, which once belonged to the lady of Bishop Burnet, and £1000 old tenor to a society in England for propagating the gospel among the American Indians. After Mr. Browne's decease, the estate became the property of Richard Derby, Esq., of Salem. During his occupancy of it, February 22d, 1790, the barn was burned, and thirty- six head of cattle with it. The estate was subse- quently purchased by the late William Burley, who disposed of the mansion, which was removed in parts by several purchasers.

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From this hill, opens to the beholder a prospect of surpassing beauty and grandeur. His eye scans an

8 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

immense panorama of hill and dale, of forest and lawn, teeming with animation, and sending up to his ear the hum of busy life — the lowing of herds and the cheerful notes of the feathered tribes, blending rural sounds with the bustle of town and city. Be- fore him, Beverly spreads out as a map, dotted with churches and school-houses — those objects here in New England, so happily and gloriously united, and that bring to his mind's vision the spirit of puritan forecast, which provided simultaneously for the cul- ture of the intellect and the improvement of the heart. A little to the north lies Wenham, with its charming lake ; and still further on, the solitary spire of Ham- ilton church is seen, pointing heavenward, and reliev- ed by the rich back-ground of Ipswich hills. Turning himself slowly round, his eyes rest successively on the valley of Topsfield, remarkable for the superior intensity of its atmospheric light, while the far-away mountains veil their heads in clouds — on Dan vers Plains, the Salem Village of " the olden time," whose proverbial enterprize has obliterated almost every memorial of the painful and fatal scenes of witch- craft-folly— on Salem, the city of peace, where the godly Higginson planted and nurtured the vine whose prolific energy fruited the New England churches — on Marblehead, with its iron-bound shore, emblematical of the hardy spirit of its enter- prizing and patriotic inhabitants, and to promote the moral good of whom, the pious Avery encountered a watery grave ; and, finally, to perfect the view, on Massachusetts Bay, which, flashing with silvery *light, tossing in giant sportiveness her glittering foam-cap aloft, mingling her charms with indented shores, rugged promontories, and countless patches of

HISTORY OF BEVERLY. \9

russet and green, and bearing on her proudly heaving bosom, the sails of many and distant climes, stretches out and out, as if to mock the feebleness of sight, until she receives and reciprocates the embrace of the mighty Atlantic.

A prospect, of nearly equal beauty, is afforded from Cherry Hill, formerly the estate of the late Jo- seph White, of Salem, but now the property of Capt. John Hammond. Its proximity to Wenham Pond,=^ one hundred and seven acres of which lie within the limits of Beverly, the distant view of the ocean, the various scenery of the surrounding country, com- bine, with the salubrity of its situation, to render it one of the most desirable residences in this vicinity. The mansion, as seen through a long avenue of fruit trees, shaded at its upper termination by two finely branching elms, presents a handsome appearance; and from its top Capt. White, with the aid of a glass, frequently descried his vessels making the port of Salem before their approach was known in the city. A delightful and extensive view of the harbor and adjacent region is had from the summer-house in the

* The surface of this beautiful sheet of water measures 320 acres, and is 34 feet higher than the flow of the tide at the head of Bass river. It is well stored with fish, and is much resorted to by the lovers of piscatory amusements. Alewives formerly came up to this pond to spawn, but the dam on Ipswich river, and other ob- structions, have nearly stopped their access to it. The water is very pure, and the proximity of the rail-road affords facilities for profita- ble engagement in the ice business during the winter months. On the northern side of this pond is a conical hill, called Peters' Pulpit. It is said Hugh Peters, one of the early ministers of the First Church in Salem, once addressed a large audience from its top. His text was, John iii. 23, " At Enon, near Salem, because there was much water there." Enon was the original name of Wenham, and the territory of Salem, at that time, joined it.

10 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

garden of Mr. George Brown, from the cupola of Bell's building, and from various other points. The picturesque view afforded from Elhngwood's Point, is unsurpassed by any water prospect in this vicin- ity; and the admirer of nature, who stands on Paul's Head, at the opening and ^ close of day, will see the sun rise from his watery bed with a glory, and de- scend behind the western hills with a gorgeousness, of which Italy itself might be proud.

Nature has beautifully delineated Beverly, and marked it for a town. The southern quarter, oppo- site Salem, combines, for commercial purposes, the advantages of a commodious and safe harbor, salu- brious air, and dry, elevated land, well suited for building. From Essex Bridge, the elevation along the rail-road track, towards Newburyport, gradually increases till it reaches more than fifty feet, the summit level at the corner near Col. Jesse Shelden's, when it as gradually slopes toward Wenlfam. The streets are of \ commodious width, and generally ornamented with shade trees; and several, running easterly from the main street to the marginal one threading the harbor, present a very handsome appearance. The principal highways, all of which are bordered with many ex- cellent farms, are, the road leading from Salem to Newburyport, which makes the main street of the town, — the road to Cape Ann, which, as it winds its way along the seashore the whole distance, affords an exceedingly pleasant and romantic drive, — the road through Rial Side to Danvers Neck, — Conant street, which intersects Liberty street (running from the Neck to the Topsfield road), and leads to Dan- vers Plains, — and the road from the second parish meeting-house to Topsfield.

HISTORY OF BEVERLY. 11

The road from Essex bridge to Wenham is ex- ceedingly crooked, having many acute angles and large curvatures, besides innumerable smaller sinuos- ities. In this respect, however, it is not singular. Before a way had been discovered of passing from Woodberry's Point, to a settlement made very early at the head of Bass river, except by following the seashore and the margin of the river, it is said a heifer was driven from the Point to the latter place around the shore, and left to remain there. The an- imal, not liking her new abode, set out to return home through the woods, which she reached before her driver. Instead of pronouncing her bewitched, as probably would have been done some fifty or sixty years later, her tracks were traced, and a path there- by discovered, which subsequently became a road of communication between the two places. The road thus laid out by this four-footed commissioner of highways, has not, since that time, been improved much in its direction. Two hundred years still leave us in possession of many highways, whose numerous windings bear ample testimony to the same scientific origin, and it is quite possible that the road first mentioned was surveyed and laid out by an en- gineer of a kindred corps.

The natural advantages of Beverly, to which refer- ence has been made, have not been neglected. From the Salem side, the town, with its wharves, store- houses and shipping, presents the compact aspect of a commercial place. As the stranger crosses the bridge, and enters the heart of the main village, he is favorably impressed with the air of comfort and business which the numerous handsomely finished dwellings and shops exhibit; nor is he less gratified

12 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

as he proceeds, when the well-tilled fields, substan- tial farm-houses, and picturesque scenery of the sec- ond parish open to his view. It is no vain boasting to say, that this town combines as many natural and acquired advantages as any other, of similar terri- tory and population, in Essex county. Nor, it is be- lieved, will the lover of nature elsewhere find more ample means for indulging the senses, or wider scope for the exercise of imagination.

SETTLEMENT.

Beverly originally formed a part of the Naumkeag territory, belonging to John, Sagamore of Agawam, which also included Salem, Marblehead, Manchester, Wenham, Danvers, part of Topsfield and of Middle- ton.^ This chief gladly welcomed the colonists, to whom he looked for protection against his powerful enemies, the Tarrantines, and made them a free grant of this entire territory. In 1700, the grandchildren of the Sagamore set up a claim to Beverly, which was cancelled by the payment of £6 6s. 8d., and a formal deed taken.

It was supposed by the late Rev. Dr. Bentley, whose familiarity with the early history of this coun- try entitles his opinions to great weight, that the first settlement within the original limits of Salem was made on Bass river or " Cape Ann Side," as it is styled in the ancient records. He pointed out a spot near Tuck's Point, as the locality of the first fort

* Naumkeag, it is well known, was the name of Salem. Mather writes it Nahumkeiclc, on which he has the following comment : '' I have somewhere met with an odd observation that the name of it was rather Hebrew than Indian : for Nahum signifies comfort, and Keick signifies an haven; and our English not only found it an haven of comfort^ but happened also to put an Hebrew name upon it ; for they called it Salem, for the peace which they had and hoped in it : and so it is called unto this day.^' — Magnalia, vol. 1, p. 63. 2

14 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

erected for the protection of settlers. But since his decease, the error of this opinion has been satisfacto- rily ascertained. The fort referred to was establish- ed on Naugus' Head, nearly opposite fort Pickering, at the entrance of Salem harbor.

The first permanent settlement in this town was effected by Roger Conant, John and William Wood- berry, and John Balch, about 1630. It commenced at Curtis Woodberry's Point, whence it extended to Mackerel Cove and other parts. There are reasons for the belief, that at an early period, perhaps not long before the settlement of Salem in 1626, Beverly was an Indian residence. In removing the earth on the westerly margin of Bartlett swamp in 1834, flat stones placed in a circular form, on which fire had been made, and also charcoal and clam-shells, were found near a spring of fresh water. Similar remains have been discovered on the shore west of the mouth of Bass river.

According to a current tradition, one of the first houses erected in this town, was on W^oodberry's Point, near the residence of John Prince. It was a large double house, constructed for defence against an enemy, and called the garrison house. It was framed of oak after the fashion of the times, and was taken down about forty years ago. A settlement by an EUingwood (probably Ralph) was early made on Fox's or Ellingwood's Point. The flats from the old ferry- way to this Point, were granted by Salem to one of the Ellingwood's, in compensation for sup- porting a pauper by the name of Lambert. The deed of this grant is extant.

There is a tradition, that the first child born in this town, Avas of the name of Dixey. William Dixey

HISTORY OF BEVERLY. 15

settled on Bass-river-side soon after Conant ; and if the tradition is founded in fact, it is probable this child was his. Dixev was admitted freeman 1634, and died in 1690, aged 82.

On 27th October, 1647, the inhabitants of Mackerel Cove were, on petition, released from being called to watch in Salem, except in seasons of danger ; and in 1665, the Bass river settlement was permitted by the General Court, to exercise some of the powers of a town, though still subordinate to Salem. These were, to choose selectmen, and raise the charges to be de- frayed by and within themselves — to provide for the poor that desired to inhabit with them — to choose their constables and surveyors of highways, and whatever other officers it might be necessary to cm- ploy, — with a distinct understanding, however, that in town and country charges, in common interest and concern, and in the choice of Deputies to the General Court, they were to act in concert with Salem. / Three years subsequent to this arrangement, Oct. 44, 1668, Bass-river-side was incorporated as a dis- tinct township by the name of Beverly, and Salem was required to furnish suitable lands and bounds. These bounds excluded Rial-side, and all the terri- tory within the present limits of the town, west of Bass river and Horse brook, which were not set off from Salem until 1753.

The first town meeting subsequent to incorpora- tion^ was held Nov. 23, 1668, at which Capt. Thomas Lothrop, Wm. Dixey, Wm. Dodge, sen., John West and Paul Thorndike, were chosen selectmicn. These officers were sometimes called toionsmen^ a name significant of their public character, and were select- ed from among the most worthy of the citizens. For

16 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

a long time " they united in their office the powers and duties of Overseers of the poor, Assessors of taxes, Surveyors of highways, and at one time, judicial powers to try civil causes of small amount. And although their powers are now more restricted, they are still looked up to as the fathers of the town, whose prudential affairs they are to order and man- age according to a sound discretion."

Great dissatisfaction appears early to have existed wi4h the name of the town ; so much so, that in 1671, Roger Conant, with thirty-four others, petitioned the General Court for its alteration. As the petition assigns all the known reasons for a change, it is given entire, with the orthography unaltered.

Petition of Roger Conant^ May 28, 1671. To the honored General Court, consisting of Mag- istrates and Deputees, (the 28th of the 3d month. 1671.)

The humble petition of Roger Conant, of Bass river alias Beverly, who hath bin a planter in New England fortie yeers and upwards, being one of the first, if not the very first, that resolved and made good my settlement under in matter of plantation with my family in this collony of the Massachfisets Bay, and have bin instrumental, both for the found- ing and carriing on of the same; and when in the infancy thereof it was in great hazard of being de- serted, I was a means, through grace assisting^ me. to stop the flight of those few that then were heere with me, and that by my utter deniall to goe away with them, who would have gon either for England, or mostly for Virginia, but thereupon stayed to the hassard of our lives

HISTORY OF BEVERLY. 17

Now my umble suite and request is unto this hon- orable Court, onhe that the name of our towne or plantation may be altered or changed from Beverly and be called Budleigh. I have two reasons that have moved me unto this request. The first is the great dislike and discontent of many of our people for this name of Beverly, because (we being but a small place) it hath caused on us a constant nick- name of Beggarly^ being in the mouths of many, and no order was given, or consent by the people to their agent for any name, until we were shure of being a town granted in the first place.

Secondly. I being the first that had house in Sa- lem, (and neither had any hand in naming either that or any other town,) and myself with those that were then with me, being all from the western part of England, desire this western name of Budleigh, a market towne in Devonshire, and neere unto the sea as wee are heere in this place, and where myself was borne. Now in regard of our firstnesse and antiquity in this soe famous a coUony, we should umblie request this small preveledg with your favors and consent, to give this name above said, unto our town. I never yet made sute or request unto the Generall Court for the least matter, tho' I thinke I might as well have done, as many others have, who have obtained much without hazard of life, or preferring the public good before their own interest, which, I praise God, I have done.

If^this my sute, may find acceptation with your worships, 1 shtill rest umbly thankfull, and my praises shall not cease unto the throne of grace, for God's guidance and his blessing to be on all your waightie proceedings, and that iustice and righteousness may

18 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

be everie where taught and practised throughout this wilderness, to all posterity, which God grant. Amen. Your worships' umble petitioner and servant,

Roger Conant.

At this time Conant was upwards of eighty years old, and it may be presumed the name of his native Budleigh possessed for him the charm of early asso- ciation. But neither his venerable age, the services he had performed, nor yet " the umble desire and request" of a very considerable part of the male inhabitants of the place, availed to obtain the object of his petition. And June 1, 1671, the Court gave for reply, that " the magistrates having perused and considered this request, see no cause to alter the name of the place as desired, their brethren the dep- uties hereto consenting." Beverly in England, is a town of considerable note in the East-riding of York- shire, and was once the residence of John de Beverly, Archbishop of York, who died May 7th, 721. It is probable that from this town Beverly in Massachu- setts derived its name, and though the present gener- ation may sympathise with the aged Conant and his associates in the disappointment of their request, they will not regret that the original corporate name was retained in preference to the less euphonious one of Budleigh.

Roger Conant, as stated in his petition, was born in Budleigh, England, in April, 1591. He was the son of Richard and Agnes Conant, and grandson of John Conant, who descended from worthy parents of Gettisham, near Honiton, and whose ancestors were of French extraction. He was brother to Dr. John Conant, of Exeter College, one of the As-

HISTORY OF BEVERLY. 19

sembly Divines. In 1623, he emigrated to Plymouth, where he remained until 162.5, when, in company with Rev. Mr. Lyford, he removed to Nantasket. He remained there but a short time, and proceeded to Cape Ann, where he was invested with the super- intendence of the Dorchester company engaged in the fishery and agricultural pursuits, being in fact the first Governor in the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, though not the Chief Magistrate of a Province. The trial of a year at Cape Ann, was sufficient to satisfy Conant and his company, that the prospect of gain was hopeless, and in 1626 he removed to Salem as a more favorable locality, and settled on the neck of land between Collins' Cove and the North River. His principal companions were John Woodberry, John Balch and Peter Palfrey. Here he was severe- ly tried by the disaffection of most of his company, who, through privation, the fear of Indian hostilities, and an invitation to accompany their late pastor, Mr. Lyford, to Virginia, were strongly inclined to aban- don the settlement. In this critical juncture, he re- mained firm and true to the interests of the company. He declared his intention to continue though all should depart : and by his decided and hopeful tone, revived the drooping courage of his associates, and induced them to relinquish their design.=^ He dis- charged the principal offices in Salem for several years, and represented that place in the General Court. He was an original member of the first church in Salem, and was made freeman in 1630. In 1635, he received, in connexion with several others, a grant of land at the head of Bass river ; and on his petition

* Mather's Magnalia, i. p. 62.

20 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

as "an ancient planter" in 1671, the General Court granted him 200 acres more.=^ He took a patriarchal interest in the affairs of this town until his decease, Nov. 19th, 1679, in the 89th year of his age. Mather styles him "a most religious, prudent and worthy gentleman;" graces that eminently qualified him for the duties he was called to discharge, and which, in one instance at least, enabled him to adjust a diffi- culty between contending parties at Cape Ann that threatened bloodshed. f

Roger Conant had four sons. Lot, Roger, Exercise and Joshua. The latter died in 1659.

Lot, probably the oldest son, was born in 1624, and was among the original members of the first church in this town in 1667. He had ten children, viz : Samuel, John, Lot, Elizabeth, Mary, Martha, William and Sarah, (twins,) Roger and Rebecca. In 1662, he lived in Marblehead.

Roger, his second son, was the first male born in Salem — on account of which, in 1640, he received a grant of twenty acres of land. He came to Beverly with his father, and previously to 1674, resided in

* The grant from Salem runs as follows: "4th of the Uth month, (Jan.) 1635. That Capt. (William) Traske, Jno. Woodberry, Mr Conant, Peter Palfrey and John Balch, are to have 5 farmes, viz : each 200 acres a peise, to forme in all a thousand acres of land together, lying and being at the head of Bass river, 124 poles in breadth, and soe runin northerly to the riv^er by the great pond side, and soe in breadth, making up the full quantity of a thou- sand acres, these being laid out and surveyed by vs.

John Woodberry, John Balch."

Palfrey never settled on his grant. He removed to Reading, where he died July 15lh, 1663.

t Hubbard's Hist. N. E. pp. 106—111.

HISTORY OF BEVERLY. 21

Marblehead. He had a son Roger, who had a son Ebenezer, bom Dec. 30th, 1698.

Exercise was, probably, born in Beverly. He was baptized at Salem, Dec. 24, 1637 ; was made free- man 1663, and was set off with other petitioners for a church in this town in 1667. He appears to have been an active and useful citizen, and repre- sented the town in General Court, in 1682, 1684. The births of three of his children are recorded, viz : Elizabeth, Josiah and Caleb.

John Woodberry, another of the original settlers of this town, came from Somersetshire, England, under ?he direction of the Dorchester company, which established itself at Cape Ann about 1624. He came to Salem with Conant, Balch and others, in 1626, and the next year went to England as an agent for procuring supplies. He returned in 1628, and was made a freeman in 1630. In 1635, he was chosen deputy to the General Court — and again in 1638, besides which, he was appointed to several offices of trust in town. He w^as an original member of the first church in Salem. In 1636, he received a grant of two hundred acres of land on Bass river. He was an energetic, faithful and worthy man, and took an active part in the settlement and transactions of the colony. He died in 1641; having lived to see his perils, sufferings and toils contribute to prepare a refuge for his countrymen.

Humphrey, son of John Woodberry, was born in 1609, came to N. England with his father in 1628, was admitted to the church in Salem 1648, was member of the first church in Beverly at its for- mation, was chosen deacon in 1668, and was liv- ing in 1681. Peter, son of Humphrey, was born

22 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

ill 1640. He was made a freeman in 1668, and elect- ed representative in 1689. He also filled the office of deacon, and died July 5th, 1704, aged 64. Peter, jr. his son, was born in 1664, and died Jan. 8th, 1706, aged 42 years. He also filled the office of deacon. He owned the estate, now the property of Mr. Ben- jamin Woodberry, in the second parish, and resided in the same house. His widow, Mary, survived him fifty-seven years, and died Nov. 20th, 1763, in the 90th year of her age. Peter, jr., had also a son Peter, who was born June 20th, 1705, and died May 14th, 1775. John, a son of the last named Peter, was born Nov. 8th, 1743, and died Sept. 3d, 1813, in the 70th year of his age. He had six children, viz : John, Peter, Hannah, Mary, James and Benjamin. The homestead has remained in the family since the first settlement.

Josiah Woodberry, son of the first named Peter, was born June 15th, 1682, and lived in the second parish. He had a son Peter, who removed to Mt. Vernon, N. H. (then Amherst,) in 1773, and died at Antrim, N. H., aged 85. His son, Hon. Peter Wood- berry, was born in Beverly in 1767, and removed to New Hampshire, with his father. He engaged in mercantile and agricultural pursuits. He was about fifteen years member of ihe House of Representa- tives, two years a State Senator, and for more than thirty years held the commission of Justice of the Peace. He died at Francistown, N. H., in 1834. He had five sons, Hon. Levi Woodbury, late Secre- tary of the U. S. Treasury, P. P. Woodbury, George Washington, (settled in Latantia, Miss.) Jesse and James. His wife was the daughter of James Wood- bury, who was born in Beverly, removed to Mt.

HISTORY OF BEVERLY. 23

Vernon, N. H., 1782, and died at Francistown, 1823, aged 86. James was an under officer in Col. Robert Rogers' regiment of Rangers, and was near Wolfe when he fell at the storming of Quebec. The sword he wore in that service is now in the possession of a descendant.

William Woodberry, brother to the/ first named John, is mentioned in the Salem records in 1639, and his wife Elizabeth in 1640. He had a son Nich- olas who died May 16, 1686, aged about 69. He married Anna Paulsgrave, who died June 10, 1701, aged about 75. His daughter Abigail married an Ober, and died Jan. 28, 1727, aged 86. Nicholas had a son Nicholas, born in 1657, died Oct. 13, 1691, aged 34. From John and William Woodberry, all bearing that name in New England probably descended.

John Balch came from Bridge water, Somersetshire, England. He was an original member of the first church in Salem ; was made freeman in 1630, and held various offices of trust. He settled on his grant of land at the head of Bass river, near the present residence of Mr. John Bell, where he died in 1648. He was an intelligent, exemplary and useful citizen. He was twice married, and had three sons, viz : Benjamin, born 1629 : John, married to Mary, daugh- ter of Roger Conant, and drowned in crossing the ferry to Beverly, Jan. 16, 1662 ; Freeborn, who went to England and never returned.

Benjamin had Samuel, b. 1651, d. 1723; John, b. 1654, d. 1738 ; Joseph, killed at Bloody Brook ; and Freeborn, b. 1660, d. 1729. Freeborn lived near Wenham pond. His first wife was a Knowlton, by whom he had Freeborn, (who removed to Bradford,) Benjamin and Mirriam. His second wife was Eliza-

24 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

beth Fairfield, by whom he had Elizabeth, Abigail, Tabatha, Wilham and Mary. WilUam, son of Free- born and grandson of Benjamin, was minister of Bradford— b. 1704, graduated 1724— d. 1792. He had seven children, one of whom, William, was father of Benjamin Balch, of Salem.

Samuel Balch, son of Benjamin, sen., married Sarah Nevvaxiarch 1675 — was chosen deacon of the first church, Oct. 26, 1704; married for second wife, Martha Butman, 1721 ; d. Oct. 14, 1723, aged 72. He had eleven children, viz : Joseph, John, Peter, Martha, Samuel, Benjamin and John, (twins,) Phebe, Cornelius, Abigail and Thomas.

John Balch, son of deacon Samuel Balch, b. 1654 ; married Hannah Denning, Dec. 23, 1674 ; d. 1738. He had Israel, Sarah, Caleb, Joshua, David and Roger. He owned a large real estate in the second parish.

To the names of Conant, Woodberry and Balch, it will be proper to add those of Brackenbury and Lothrop, as among the most valuable of the early settlers of Beverly.

Richard Brackenbury came over in Governor En- dicott's company in 1628. The first public business with which his name is coupled, is in a joint commis- sion from Salem with William Woodberry, Ensign Dixey, Mr. Conant and Lieut. Lothrop, to ''lay out a way between the ferry at Salem and the head of Jeffrie's Creek," to " be such a way as a man may travel on horseback or drive cattle," with the alter- native, that "if such a way may not be formed, then to take speedy course to set up a bridge at Mackerel Cove." He was a member of the first church in Salem in 1628, and was made a freeman

HISTORY OF BEVERLY. 25

in 1630. In 1636, he received a grant of 75 acres of land. He was a member of the first church in Bev- erly, and took a lively interest in its affairs. His death occurred in 1685, at the age of 85. He left descendants, but the name has become extinct in this town.

Capt. Thomas Lothrop emigrated from England, and during his whole life was distinguished for in- telligence, activity and efficiency in public affairs. He settled on '' Bass-river-side," where he received a grant of land in 1636. He became a freeman in 1634, and a member of the Salem church in 1636. He represented Salem in General Court for the years 1647, 1653 and 1664, besides holding other important offices. He assisted in founding the first church in 1667, and after the incorporation of this town, he was chosen a selectman, and re-elected to that office from year to year, until his death. He was also chosen representative for several years, and was ex- tensively employed in almost all the public affairs of the town, both civil and ecclesiastical.

In 1644, Lothrop was a lieutenant under Captain Hawthorn, and in 1654, had a captain's command under Major Sedgwick at the capture of St. Johns and Port Royal. He was very desirous of obtaining a bell for the meeting-house in Beverly, and applied to Major Sedgwick for one at St. Johns, but that being already promised, his wish was gratified at Port Royal, by being put in possession of the bell belonging to the " ncAV Friary " of that place, which he transferred to this town. In this expedition Thom- as Whittredge and Edward Rayment, of Beverly, held lieutenants' commissions, and William Wood- berry, Humphrey Woodberry and Peter Wooden, 3

26 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

were pilots. The ''plunder" amounted to £740.'* In the early part of King Philip's war, Captain Lothrop was selected to command a company of infantry in the Massachusetts forces, and ordered to the western frontier of the province. This company, styled " the flower of Essex, " consisted of young men selected from the best families of the several towns in the county. At this time, the country now embraced in the county of Worcester and the Con- necticut river counties, was infested by hostile Indi- ans, and this company performed much hard service at and in the vicinity of Brookfield, making extensive marches through the northern woods in search of the enemy. Hadley being made the head-quarters of the troops stationed in that quarter to protect the settlers, it became necessary to increase the supply of provis- ions. A considerable quantity of wheat having been preserved in stacks at Deerfield, it was deemed expe- dient to have it threshed and brought down to Hadley. Capt. Lothrop and his company volunteered as con- voy. They passed with safety through the level and closely wooded country, well calculated for a surprize, and at Muddy Brook in South Deerfield, considered themselves, in a great measure, free from danger. The forest here was hung with clusters of grapes; and as the wagons dragged through the heavy soil, it is not unlikely that the teamsters, and possibly a part of the company, may have dispersed to gather them. At this moment of fatal security, seven or eight hundred Indians poured a deadly fire from their ambuscade ; and before the sanguinary conflict ceased, Capt. Lothrop and nearly the whole of his command were destroyed. The number who perished, includ-

* Provincial Records.

HISTORY OF BEVERLY. 27

ing the teamsters, is variously estimated from sixty to ninety, among whom were Josiah Dodge, Peter Woodberry and John Balch of Beverly. The post- script of a letter dated Sept. 22, 1675, and addressed by the Council to Richard Smith in the Narragansett country, gives the following account of this melan- choly affair : " This morning we received sad intel- ligence from Hadley, that upon Saturday last, Capi. Lothrop, with about 60 men, being appointed to con- duct from Deerfield to Hadley with carriages and cattle, they were surprized by abundance of Indians that lay in ambushment, and received a dreadful blow, insomuch that about 40 of Capt. Lothrop's men and himself were slain. Capt. Moseley being not far off, engaged with the Indians and fought several hours, and lost 11 men ; others also were slain that were belonging to the carriages, so that the next day they buried 64 men in all. The Indians were judged to be more than 500 men.=^

Not long after the '' black and fatal day," wherjein, says Dr. Increase Mather, '' were eight persons made widows, and six and twenty children made fatherless, and about sixty persons buried in one fatal grave," a rude monument was erected near the spot to perpet- uate the memory of the slain ; but becoming dilapi- dated by time, another was erected in 1835, the corner- stone of which was laid Sept. 30th of that year, with appropriate solemnities, and an address by Hon. Edward Everett.

Capt. Lothrop, at the time of his death, was about 65 years of age. He was married to Bethiah, daugh- ter of Joshua Rea, but had no family, and the name in this town is now extinct. His estate, which, as

♦ Provincial Military Records.

28 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

before stated, was received by a grant from the gov- ernment, was situated in Mackerel Cove, and his house stood near the dweUing of Ebenezer Wood- berry. He gave some property to the town ; and in 1837, one of the pubUc streets received his name. His widow was married to Joseph Grafton ; and his sister Ellen, who came over with him from England, and inherited his property, became the second wife of Ezekiel Cheever, the celebrated schoolmaster at Boston.

''King Philip's war," spread consternation through- out the province. During that brief but sanguinary contest, twelve towns in Massachusetts, Plymouth and Rhode Island, were destroyed, six hundred build- ings, mostly dwelling-houses, were burned, and six hundred of the inhabitants fell in battle or were murdered. "^ Beverly participated in the general alarm ; and, as precautionary measures, forts were erected near the meeting-house, at Bass river, at Mackerel Cove, and "near the house of John Dodge, sen." At an early period, and probably previous to this time, a party of hostile savages, it is said, sur- prized and carried off a family from this town by the name of Foster. They were taken finally to Canada, and seven years elapsed before they recovered their freedom and returned.

In the expedition against the Indians at fort Nar- ragansett in 1675, the following persons from Beverly were engaged, commanded by Capt. Joseph Gardner, of Salem, whose fall, Dec. 19th, was universally lamented. William Balch, William Bonner, Lot Conant, Christopher Read, (wounded,) William Fer- ryman, Christopher Browne, Moses Morgan, John

* Everett.

HISTORY OF BEVERLY. 29

Traske, William Allen, John Clark, Richard Huss- band, Thomas Rayment, Ralph Ellingwood, Henry Bayley, Thomas Blashfield, John Ellingwood, Joseph Morgan, William Dodge, Jonathan Biles, William Rayment, Ellas Picket, Samuel Harris, John Dodge. =^

June 24, 1662, Lawrence Leach died, aged 82. He was proposed for a freeman at Salem in 1630, and was a member of Salem church before 1636, when the town granted him 100 acres of land. He had four sons, Clement, Richard, John and Robert. Qlement was married and lived in England. Rich- ard died in 1647, and left a son John, who inherited the estate of his grandfather at Rial-side, known as the " Leach farm." Robert left a son Robert, who was living in 1695. Lawrence Leach held various offices in Salem. The usefulness of his life gained respect for his memory. His widow Elizabeth, died about 1674.

Sept. 20, 1677, a committee of the General Court, consisting of Samuel Appleton, John Whipple and John Fuller, came to Beverly, and after examhiing the grounds of claim laid by the town, to about 500 acres of land, made a favorable report, which was accepted by the court. This was subsequently reconsidered, and new commissioners were appointed, Oct. 2, 1678, to settle the bounds between Salem Village, Beverly and Wenham.

In the year 1681, great excitement was produced by a claim advanced by the heirs of John Mason to all the territory between the Merrimack and Naum- keag rivers. Of this excitement Beverly partook. The General Court was memorialized, and Rev. Mr. Hale, Capt. Dixy and John Dodge, sen., were chosen

* Provincial Records. 3=*

30 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

to attend a convention at Ipswich, " to present such pleas and evidences for the title of the town to its territory as had been agreed upon," and to unite with that body in drawing up " something to be presented to his Majesty, by such messengers as the General Court shall send."

Among the most material witnesses, were Richard Brackenbury, William Dixy and Humphrey Wood- berry. They testified that the Massachusetts com- pany purchased of the Dorchester company, all their houses, boats, servants and right at Cape Ann, before Gov. Endicott's arrival, who subsequently "took possession of Cape-Ann-side, and soon after laid out lots for tillage there." It was further given in evi- dence, that the Indians had been protected by the colonists who settled at Salem: that they had " free leave to build and plant" where they had taken up lands ; that the same year or next after they came to Salem, they cut hay for cattle, which they brought over on Beverly side, and that they had been in " possession of Beverly side ever since. ""^

This claim was agitated until 1691, when the heirs of Mason, weary, probably, with hereditary litigation, sold their interest to Samuel Allen, a London mer- chant, who failing to succeed in a suit instituted against one of the largest landholders, petitioned the king to be put in possession of the waste land, which included all uninclosed and unoccupied lands within, as well as without, the bounds of settled towns. This petition was granted ; but being again unsuccessful in subsequent suits, a compromise with the Assembly of New Hampshire was negotiated, which was broken off by his sudden death in 1705. In 1706 and 1707,

* Annals of Salem, pp. 268, 269.

HISTORY OF BEVERLY. 31

his son, Thomas Allen of London, prosecuted his claim, but with no better success than his father. After his death in 1715, John Tufton Mason, a grand- son of John Mason, suffered a recovery of entail in the Courts of New Hampshire, on the ground that the sale to Allen in 1691, having been made in Eng- land, was invalid. Under this recovery, he sold all his interest, in 1746, to several of the principal gen- tlemen of the province, who, anxious to terminate this perplexing business, relinquished their claim to the towns which had been settled and granted within the limits of their purchase, and adopted a very liberal and popular policy in their grants of other towns. And thus, after a period of nearly one hun- dred years, the controversy was closed, and the inhabitants of Beverly, as well as all settlers between the Merrimack and Naumkeag rivers, were relieved from further apprehensions concerning the validity of their possessions.^

Nov. 8th, 1686, John Lovett deceased, aged about 76. He was born in 1610, and was one of the eight admitted inhabitants of Salem, July 25th, 1639. At the "seven men's meeting," Nov. 3, 1665, he received a grant of two acres of marsh ground lying near the old planter's meadow in the vicinity of Wenham common. He came early to Beverly, and was at different periods surveyor of highways, constable and selectman. By his will, dated Nov. 8, 1686, it appears he held a large real estate which was devised principally to his children, John, Joseph, Abigail, Mary, Bethiah, and his grandson George Standley. He bequeathed a set of cooper's tools to his son John, and also twenty acres of land on the east side of

* Belknap.

32 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

" dirty hole," lying between the lands of his son Joseph, and his son-in-law George Standley. This land, now so valuable by its buildings and improve- ments, is on the east side of Cabot street, somewhere between the south meeting-house and the bank. Mr. Lovett's wife, Mary, for whom he suitably provided, and made executrix of his will, was admitted to the Salem church, Sept. 1, 1650, and was one of the petitioners for the formation of the church in Beverly. She died June 1695, aged about 80.

John Lovett, jr., to whom the old burying ground lot belonged in 1672, died Sept. 10, 1727, aged about 91.' He bequeathed a considerable estate to his children, Simon, John, Samuel, Benjamin, Susanna and Bethiah — to his grandchildren, Peter and Bethiah Shaw, Susanna Sikes, and to the widow of his grand- son, Thomas Lovett. He was admitted to the church Dec. 12, 1714, when about seventy-eight years of age, to which he left a small legacy. From the first named John Lovett, all of that name in this town probably descended.

In 1690, an expedition against Canada was carried on under the direction of Sir William Phips. For this enterprize, a company Avas raised in Beverly by Capt. William Rayment. who joined the land forces, amounting to about 2000 men. The fleet employed to transport the army arrived before Quebec, Oct. 5th, and disembarked 1200 or 1300 eflective men. All attempts to obtain possession of the city failed, and on the 11th, the army was compelled to return onboard the. vessels, which immediately sailed fop New England. Great expectations had been formed of this expedition. The provincial government had warmly encouraged it, and, to render it more popular, held out the idea that the expenses would be entirely

HISTORY OF BEVERLY. 33

defrayed from the spoils of the enemy. So signal a failure not only produced universal disappointment, but involved the province in a severe pecuniary em- barrassment. According to a statement made by Gov. Shirley in 1746, this expedition " cost the single province of Massachusetts about £50,000, with the loss of an abundance of their young men by a malig- nant fever that raged in the camp, and several distem- pers that happened in their way home, and gave this province so deep a wound that it did not recover itself in many years after."^

Capt. Rayment and his company endured privation in common with the army, and were subsequently rewarded by the grant of a township of land. He was a useful and respected citizen, represented the town in General Court, and held various other offices of trust and honor. In 1691, he was indemnified by the town for loss sustained as its commissioner in the time of Sir Edmund Andros. He owned an estate in the second parish, and lived near the dwelling-house of Mr. Isaac Babson. His children were Mary, born April 29th, 1688— died Jan. 20th, 1689; William, born Feb. 11th, 1689-90; Daniel, born Nov. 25th, 1691 ; Paul, born Jan. 22, 1694-5.

In one of the early French wars, a merchantman sailing from this port, was taken by the enemy and carried into one of the West India Islands. The captain, anxious alike for himself and the owners, pled earnestly for a release, and finally succeeded in obtaining it on condition of paying a stipulated ran- som. To do this, it became necessary to return to Beverly for the money, which his captors would not permit except he left a hostage. Accordingly, one of

* Provincial Records.

34 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

the crew, named Hill, was consigned to their custody. He was placed in prison, with the threat that unless the captain returned on a specified day, all food should be withheld until his arrival. With these terms distinctly declared, he sailed for Beverly. On his arrival, some little delay in procuring the neces- sary funds occurred, which being overcome, he once more spread his canvass for his port of destination. But this delay had nearly proved fatal to poor HilL The day appointed for his captain's return closed, and no vessel appeared. The dreaded threat was immediately executed. Both food and water were withheld, and for eight or nine da^^s the unfortunate hostage suffered all the pangs of unappeased hunger and the horror of apprehended starvation. Happily, however, almost at the moment when human aid would cease to avail, the vessel arrived, the ransom was paid, and Hill was set at liberty. He gradually recovered from the feeble state produced by privation, and lived several years to relate, though always with tears, the sufferings endured in a French prison.

In 1670, notices of town meetings were first posted on the meeting-house, previously to which they were called by personal warning. In 1683, Beverly be- came a lawful port of entry, annexed to the port of Salem, and in 1684 was required to assist in building a house of correction in that town. In 1687, the inhabitants becoming neglectful of town meetings, a vote was passed imposing a fine of ten shillings on all future absentees.

Although the town records begin in 1665, no town clerk was chosen until April 11, 1690, when Andrew Elliot was elected, and his compensation fixed at 30s. in money or 40s. in pay^ i. e. produce. Up to this period, the records had been kept by the selectmen.

HISTORY OF BEVERLY. 35

whose doings are blended with those of the town. EUiot was a native of Somerset county, in the west of England. He came early to Beverly, and became a member of. the church in 1687. He appears to have enjoyed the entire confidence of his townsmen, and was frequently chosen selectman, representative, &c., and was sixty-three years old when he entered upon the duties of town clerk. He suffered under the arbitrary administration of Sir Edmund Andros, on account of which, the town made him a grant. In 1686, he was one of the five witnesses taken from Beverly, to attend at the execution of the Indian deed of the town of Salem. He wrote a fair hand, and was very circumstantial in his record of events. The following entry of the decease of his son, is a specimen of his method : " Andrew Elliot, the dear and only son of Andrew Elliot, whose mother's name was Grace, and was born in East Coker, in the county of Somerset, in old England, being on board a vessel appertaining unto Phillip English, of Salem, one Bavidge being master, said vessel being then at Cape Sables, by an awful stroke was violently thrown into the sea and there perished in the water, to the great grief of his said father, the penman hereof, being aged about 37 years ; on the 12th day of Septem- ber, about 10 o'clock in the morning, according to the best information, in the year of our Lord, 1688." The second volume of town records he commences as follows: '• 3d of Nov. 1685, then this book was improved for the town of Beverly, as a town book to record the town concerns by the selectmen of said town successively. For former concerns in this mat- ter, any concerned may have recourse unto a former parchment-covered old book extant, and likewise for some antient records of marriages, births, and buri-

36 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

alSj which said year was the first year of the reign of our sovereign lord, King James secundus.

^' Truth justifies herself when falsehood comes to naught, How few improve the first, but with the last full fraught ; Oh thou tyrant custom, what havoc dost thou make, Thy cruel bonds, fetters and clogs, most men do captivate."

He died March 1. 1703-4, aged 76 years.

Andrew Elhot, a merchant in Boston, who suffered by the great fire in 1711, was his great grandson, and Rev. Andrew ElUot, a distinguished clergyman of the same city, was his great, great grandson. The daughter of Andrew Elliot, the merchant, was married to Nathaniel Thayer, and was grandmother to the late Rev. Dr. Thayer, of Lancaster.

Mr. Elhot was succeeded in office by Robert Woodberry, who discharged its duties with great fidelity. He married a daughter of ''farmer W^st," was the grandfather of the late James Woodberry at the farms, and lived in the same house. During his life-time, he held most of the important offices in the gift of the town. He was a good penman, and was almost universally employed in drafting deeds and other instruments in writing required by the inhabit- ants of the town.

Another town officer worthy of notice in this con- nexion, is Robert Briscoe, who, from 1690 until he removed from the place in 1726, held the various offices of selectman, assessor, treasurer and repre- sentative, besides other important trusts in town and parish. He was a native of the west of Eng- land, but at what time he emigrated to this coun- try is not known. His name is first mentioned in the town records in 1686, and in 1708, he became a member of the church. His wife was of a noble

HISTORY OF BEVERLY. 37

family ; but marrying contrary to the views of her friends, they were induced to come to America* He possessed considerable property, and traditions are fresh of the superior style in which his dwelling was furnish- ed. His house stood nearly opposite the first parish meeting-house, and was taken down about forty-four years ago. It was elegant in its day, and is now well remembered for its peculiar form, and its appendages and decorations. In 1712, he presented .the town with a bell for the use of the meeting-house, and in 1718, he gave a silver cup to the church. He appears to have been a generous and public-spirited man, and his purse was always at the command of the town in anticipation of any want. His first wife, Abigail, who was a member of the church, died June 1st, 1724, aged 52. His second wife was Mrs. Elizabeth Dudley, of Exeter, N. H., in which town he resided at the time of his decease. Among the legacies he left, was £10 to Rev. Thomas Blowers, £20 to the poor of Beverly, £10 to the poor of Exeter, £10 to the Rev. John Odlin, of Exeter, a silver tankard to the church in the same town, and to his negro boy Cato, £20, a cow, and at 24 years of age, his freedom. In 1832, one of the public streets was named in honor of him, and likewise in 1842, the grammar district school-house received the name of " Briscoe Hall. "

In 1694-5, one half of the town tax was paid in grain, at the following prices : Indian corn, 3s; rye. 4s ; barley and barley malt, 4s ; and oats, 2s. per bushel. About this period, the difierence in the par value of silver and pay^ or produce, was 33 J per cent.

In 1707, Robin Mingo, a negro slave, the property of Thomas Woodberry, was married to Deborah Tailor, an Indian woman. Before the ceremony was 4

38 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

performed, she agreed to Jive with her husband's master and mistress during his hfe, to be then •' dis- missed with only two suits of clothes suitable for such a person." July 15, 1722, Mingo received the rite of baptism, and was admitted a member of the church. He was, at the time of his death in 1773, the property of Nicholas Thorndike. From him. " Mingo's Beach " is supposed to have derived its name. The number of slaves in this town in 1754, was twenty-eight.

The year 1727, was memorable for an earthquake, which occurred about 20 minutes before 11 o'clock, P. M., Oct. 29th. It was felt through the colonies, and made strong religious impressions on the minds of many in this town and other places. Nov. 18, 1755, a few minutes past 4 o'clock, A. M., another earthquake was experienced, more violent in its mo- tions, and of longer duration than any previously felt in this quarter of the globe. Its greatest violence in this town, was felt in the neighborhood of Colon street, where several chimnies were thrown down. Stone walls were also prostrated, and ''the pewter shaken from the shelves " in other parts of the town. Both in Beverly and Salem a change in the quality of the water in the wells was noticed. Water which had previously been soft and suitable for washing, became hard and unfit for that purpose.

Of the citizens of this town who occupied a con- spicuous position, and took a leading part in public affairs, between 1730 and 1767, Robert Hale, Jr. was distinguished for activity and influence. He was born February 12th, 1702-3, and baptized on the 21st of the same month. When between 15 and 16 years of age, he was employed to keep the grammar school, and again, at a more mature age, in 1730. In 1721

HISTORY OF BEVERLY. 39

he was graduated at Harvard College, to the philo- sophical department of which he presented a solar microscope and magic lantern, in 1764. Immedi- ately upon leaving college, he commenced the study of medicine, under the direction of Dr. Manning, of Ipswich, and about 1723 engaged in a practice that soon extended to all the neighboring towns.=^ In 1723 he was married to Elizabeth Oilman, daughter of Col. John Oilman, of Exeter. N. H., who became the mother of three daughters ; Elizabeth, Rebeccah, born May 27, 1730, died April 27, 1732; and Rebec. kah, born Feb. 5, 1732-3, died Aug. 23, 1736. Mrs. Hale died Aug. 19th, 1736, in the 35th year of her age. His second marriage was with Elizabeth, youngest daughter of Hon. John Clarke, of Boston, Dec. 21, 1737.

The energy of character, sound judgment and business capacity of Dr. Hale, were early apprecia- ted by his townsmen, by whom he was chosen to fill the various offices of surveyor, selectman, assess- or, town clerk and treasurer ; besides the duties of which, he discharged those of justice of the peace, and collector of excise for Essex county. As chair- man of the school committee, he took an active and efficient part in the measures adopted to improve the school system of the town. For thirteen years he represented the town in the Oeneral Court, during

* Col. Hale commenced an accouftt-book in 1723, still extant, with the following sentence : " Crescit nummi amor quantum pecunia crescit." In this book is an inventory of his property, amounting July 10, 1729, to £1155,13,3, free from incumbrance. Of this sum, he received from his father's estate, £790,10,5, and of his mother's thirds, £300. In a note to this inventory, he says : " As my father died five years before I came of age, it cost me £300 at least, out of my estate, for my education, so that by marrying and industry, with God's blessing, I have gained £365 in about six years."

40 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

which time he was chairman of several important committees, and a member of many more, and par- ticularly of the committee to inquire respecting the impressment of certain seamen in Nantasket Roads, by officers of the British navy, an event made mem- orable in our history by being the occasion of serious riots in Boston.

In 1726, Dr. Hale made a public profession of reli- gion, by uniting with the first church, then under the ministry of Rev. Thomas Blowers. In 1735 he was engaged in controversies and discussions growing out of ecclesiastical difficulties in the first church in Sa- lem, and in settling the form of church discipline in the first church in this town; and from 1728 to 1743 inclusive, the parish records present ample evidence of his abundant labors and powerful influence in the management of ecclesiastical and parochial concerns.

In 1740, the pecuniary embarrassments of the prov- ince led to various projects for relief Among these was an institution known as the Land Bank, with a capital of £150,000, predicated on real estate. Of this company Col. Hale was a manager, by whom the plan of operations was drafted. This scheme, from the hope it inspired, was favorably received by a large body of the people, but met with determined hostility from Governor Belcher and his council ; and when Col. Hale presented a copy of the plan to be recorded in the secretary's office, it was returned as an indignity. The enmity of the governor prompt- ed him to visit his displeasure upon all persons con- nected with the institution. He issued a proclama- tion declaring his determination to dismiss every offi- cer, civil or military, who persisted " in being any way concerned, or giving any encouragement what- soever, to the passing" of the Land Bank notes ;

HISTORY OF BEVERLY. 41

and Col. Hale, unwilling to sacrifice his independ- ence, as well as to prove faithless to an enterprize in which he had conscientiously embarked, tendered his resignation to the governor.

The course pursued by the governor, in dismissing civil and military officers on the grounds referred to, was regarded as an unwarrantable usurpation of power ; and the exasperation it produced seriously threatened open rebellion. Energetic measures were adopted to prevent an outbreak. Public sentiment, however, could not be controlled, and so powerfully was it felt in the royal councils, that in 1741 his excellency was recalled, and succeeded in office by William Shirley.=^ Gov. Belcher was doubtless hon- est in his intentions of reform, but injudicious in the use of means. He was subsequently placed in the government of New Jersey, in consideration, it is supposed, of the " terrible shock" to his feelings produced by his removal. f

* Since writing the foregoing, I have been favored with the peru- sal of a letter in the possession of Mr. Robert Peele, of Salem, writ- ten by Thomas Hutchinson to a friend in this country, dated London, May 14th, 1741, from which the following extract is made : "I sup- pose you will have the first news of Mr. Shirley's being appointed our governor by a vessel which sailed a few days ago from Swanzy. Several incidents have occurred to promote it. The collector's place was promised Mr. Shirley's family, and it is said is now insisted on for Mr. Franklyn, and this was a way to satisfy both. Your two countrymen, Waldo and Kelly, claim the merit, and say it is owing to their gratifying the Duke of Grafton, by making interest for Lord Euston at Coventry, where they have spent a month, first and last, soliciting his election. But I had it from Lord President's own mouth, that Governor Belcher's security for some time had been his steady conduct in the affair of the money, and that his brother Partridge, patronizing the Land Bank when be- fore the House of Commons, had done his business."

t Hist. Mass. Currency. 4^

42 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

In 1745^ Dr. Hale received the commission of colo- nel, and commanded a regiment in the expedition against Louisburg. This expedition was projected by Governor Shirley. The land force employed consisted of 3,200 men from Massachusetts, 300 from New Hampshire, 300 from Rhode Island, and 500 from Connecticut, all under the command of Gen. William Pepperell. The naval force, for co-opera- tion, was from England, and commanded by Com- modore Warren. For this enterprize a company "was enlisted in Beverly, under the command of Capt. Benjamin Ives, son-in-law to Col. Hale. " The hardships of the siege were without parallel in all preceding American operations. The army was employed for fourteen nights successively, in draw- ing cannon, mortars, &:c., for two miles, through a morass, to their camp. The Americans were yoked together, and performed labor beyond the power of oxen, which labor could be done only in the night, or in a foggy day : the place being within clear view and random shot of the enemy's walls."=^ Of these fatigues. Col. Hale's regiment freely partook. His position was one of imminent danger, and, though a part of the time suffering from disease, he proved himself an efficient officer. f

The fall of this " Dunkirk of America," upon for- tifying which twenty-five years of labor and thirty millions of livres had been expended, astonished all Europe, and filled the colonies with joy. But though the merits of Gen. Pepperell were acknowledged by the government, who conferred upon him the title of baronet, and placed him in the command of a regi-

* Adams' Hist. N. E. pp. 123, 124.

t See plan of encampment in Bancroft's Hist. U. S.

HISTORY OF BEVERLY. 43

ment in the British estabUshment, there were not wanting those in influential stations, who, moved with an unworthy jealousy for British glory, sought in public and private to undervalue the services of the provincial troops. Even Sir Peter Warren, blinded by self-esteem, or swayed for a moment by an influence inconsistent with the generous frank- ness that characterizes a noble mind, sanctioned by his silence, at least, the libellous tales of American inefliciency. The claims of Gen. Pepperell's army to the meed of approbation, had, however, an honor- able advocate in the person of a high-minded Briton, who was in the expedition, and who was an eye- witness to their toil and bravery. He affirms that their zeal, unwearied labor, and prompt execution of orders, entitle them to the appellation of heroes, and suggests that modesty should have dictated to Sir Peter Warren to disclaim all honor in the enterprize, other than that arising from the blockade of Louis- burg with his squadron.^

Col. Hale was sensibly alive to American honor ; and this ungenerous attempt to wrest from the pro- vincial forces the tribute of approbation justly their due, deeply wounded his sensibility. In a letter to his friend, Col. Pickman, adverting to an account of the siege given in a London magazine, he says : "it is well known to every one engaged in the expedi- tion, that the British fleet never fired a gun, nor lost a man, except by sickness, though they have the credit of taking the place ; " and he imputes the ex- clusive praise of British prowess to a prevalent im- pression in England, that it was " impossible that a

* Letter from " a British merchant," Mass. Hist. Coll., first se- ries, vol. i., p. 110.

44 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

New England man could be good for any thing " of a military character, an imputation which he repels with becoming contempt, and instances Braddock's defeat and Sir H. Walker's loss of vessels in the Canada expedition, as disasters that would never have occurred, had not the British commanders been too proud to receive advice from provincial officers and New England pilots. The great error of the British government, in all their provincial enterprizes which failed of success, he shows, consisted in the appointment of foreign officers to the command of troops raised here; when between the former and latter there was no reciprocity of respect or confi- dence. While at Louisburg, Col. Hale enclosed a piece of ground for cultivation, which is still famili- arly known to our fishermen, who visit it, as Col. Hale's garden.

The influence acquired by Col. Hale, as a member of the General Court, and his prominence in public affairs generally, probably led to the appointment he received from the Legislature, in 1747, of commis- sioner to New York, to adopt measures in relation to the general defence.

In 1755, when the government of Massachusetts Bay had determined on an expedition against the French, and the reduction of Crown Point, Col. Hale was selected by Governor Shirley as a suitable agent to lay the subject before the government of New Hampshire, and solicit their aid. His commission bears date Feb. 22d, 1755, and the same day he re- ceived from the governor a series of instructions, by which he was to" conduct the negotiation. They run as follows :

HISTORY OF BEVERLY. 45

" You are hereby directed forthwith to proceed to Portsmouth, with my despatches to his excellency, Bemiiug Wentworth, Esq., Gov. of that Province. Upon your arrival there, and appearance eitlier before the Governor and Council or the Genl. Assembly of that Province, or before the Governor alone (as you may have op- portunity), you are strongly to solicit the joining of that government with this and the other two governments of N. Eng. &lc. in a vig- orous and speedy prosecution of the expedition proposed in my speech to the Assembly of this Province, and to contribute to- wards the execution of it, that government's quota of men and provisions, set forth in the said Assembly's Resolves, a copy of which, as also of my said speech, will be delivered to you : and you are in a particular manner, among such reasons and argu- ments as shall occur to you, for inducing them to join in the said expedition, to urge those which are contained in my aforesaid speech, and in my letters to the respective Governors, copies of which last shall likewise be delivered to you.

" In case you shall not be able to induce the said government to join in the prosecution of the said expedition, upon the terms pro- posed in the before mentioned resolves of the Great and Genl. Assembly of this Province, you are to desire of them to let you know whether they will join in it upon any, and what, other terms, together with the reasons of their non-compliance with those pro- posed by this government.

" Lastly. You are, from time to time, to transmit to me accounts of your proceedings herein, and the progress you make in the dis- charge of this commission, either by the post or express, as the occasion may require ; and upon finishing your negociations with that government you are to return to Boston, and lay an account of your whole proceedings therein, with the final answer of the said government, before me.

" You are to make use or not of the inclosed vote of the As- sembly, dated the 27th of Feb., according to your own discretion. You are to endeavor to induce the government of New Hampshire to raise a greater number of men than what is mentioned as their quota, in the resolves of the Assembly, dated Feb'y, provisionally, viz ; in case the government of New York shall not raise the eight

hundred men allotted to them to raise.

«W. Shirley."

46 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

The appointment of Col. Hale on this service was most judicious, and met the entire approbation of Governor Wentworth. In reply to a letter from Gov. Shirley, urging the necessity of the expedition as an effectual means of checking the encroachments of the French, and proposing to give the command to Col. William Johnson, on account of his superior military knowledge, and his extensive influence over the In- dians of the six nations, to which he heartily assents ; Gov. Wentworth adds :

"With respect to Col. Hale, he will always be well received by me, with the power you are pleased to invest him with ; but lest some of our wrong-headed people should make opposition to what he is charged with from your Excellency, and thereby injure the common cause, I should think it best not to make his business public until he has consulted me, for a little matter will sometimes overset the best concerted measures. He may therefore come in a private manner, and if he can convert the Exeter members, who, I am certain, will oppose this expedition, he will gain a great point, if not a miraculous one."

Thus commissioned and instructed. Col. Hale pro- ceeded to Portsmouth, in fulfilment of his agency. The aspect of the business in its earlier stages, may be learned from the following letter to Governor Shirley, dated

"Portsmouth, March 15, 1755. « Sir :

I have your Excellency's of yesterday by express, bro't me to Mr. Wentworth's, just after dinner with him and the secretary, &c., so that I immediately laid before them the enclosed papers, which may be of use.

" My last to your Excellency was yesterday morning by the post, when I informed that I was just going to attend the committee of both Houses. They consist of four of each House. I had little occasion to say much about the necessity of the expedition, being

HISTORY OF BEVERLY. 47

forestalled by the papers sent to Gov. Wentworth, with which the secretary (one of the committee) had made them acquainted ; only I had taken some pains with some in a private way before. The difficulty was about the quota and want of money, as in my last. When I had endeavored to answer all the objections offered in the conmiittee on these two heads, and some others less interest- ing, I withdrew, first telling them I would be glad to know their report before it was given in.

" Accordingly, in the afternoon they sent for me, and informed me they had agreed to 100 men. Your Excellency can better imagine, than I express, my situation. I soon found it to be the sense of tlie whole committee. I renewed all my former argu- ments, but in as different lights as I could, and added others, which (being a little reason) then occurred to me. They heard me with candor and attention, and afler about an liour and a half, I took my leave ; first desiring they would take till the morning to consider the consequences of such a report. This morning early. Col. Oilman, of Exeter, (one of the committee) came to my lodg- ings, as I had desired him over night. We began upon it again and went through every thing, but it did not then appear to make any real impression on him. Being uneasy, I followed him to the lower House, called him out, and urged some things which had escaped me in the former conversation. He seemed better satis- fied, and left me about half after ten to go to the committee. About one, Col. Atkinson sent for me to go with him to dinner with the governor. On the road down he told me they had just finished ; that the committee had agreed to 500 ; but to find sub- sistence only till they arrived at the place of rendezvous, intending they shall go the nearest way through the woods. I asked him how in that case they would do for shelter by the way. He said they should send none but such as should be content to sit down on the ground and cover themselves with their heads. Every one of the committee, he said, had agreed to the report, and he was encouraged it would pass the House — of the board, was no dan- ger. The committee are of the most leading men.

" On Monday, the report will be made, after which I shall move for an addition, conditionally, that N. York find no men, but pro- visions, &.C., having already hinted at it, but not caring to urge it till the grand point was secured. I confess I am not yet out of pain about the quota ; there being many of the other members who don't seem inclined to enter into the reasons why they should

48 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

raise half so many men as we, when their province has but a sixth part so many as ours.* I shall give my whole attention to the affair, until it has the government fiat, and hope to send your Ex- cellency the best news by the next post. I should by no means have troubled your Excellency with so long and particular a de- tail, if I had not thought that my instructions required it. If, in that particular, I have misunderstood them, I ask your Excellen- cy's excuse, being, sir,

" Your most obedient,

" Humble servant,

"Robert Hale."

" P. S. Those Piscataqua men will want at least 20 whip saws, to cut logs into boards for sheltering the army.

" P. S. 2d. Every branch here affected to wonder how our Court could assume to prescribe to each government its quota, but took no exceptions to our leading the way."

The following letter to Hon. John Osborne, chair- man of the committee of war, in Boston, furnishes some further particulars of this negotiation :

" Beverly, April 13, 1755, evening. "Sir:

" When I waited on Gov. Wentworth, at Portsmouth, on Fri- day evening, he told me he had that day signed the act relating to the expedition, which is conformable to the vote I brought from that court when last there ; but, as New York are now to provide men instead of warlike stores and provisions, as our court, by the vote of Feb. 27, expected, and as we raise tliree hundred men more than we at first proposed, I hoped that N. Hampshire would make some addition. Accordingly, I next morning went to the Court House and desired that tlie house, as soon as met, would adjourn, and permit me a conference with them. They accordingly did, and I was with them an hour and half, and urged every thing in my power to persuade them to find subsistence for their men, at least part of the time, and their quota of warlike

* In 1754 there were but 7000 ratable polls in New Hampshire.

HISTORY OF BEVERLY. 49

Stores, but without effect. They let me know that they appre- hended five hundred men, subsisted to the place of rendezvous, and raised and paid by them during the expedition, was their full quota of charge, compared with Massachusetts, and much more compared with Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New York ; and though Fm very sure they are mistaken with respect to us, yet they continued so firm that they did not deliberate half an hour before they determined not to make any addition to what they have already done.

" Indeed, this has cost them five weeks' constant application, which, being a session of unusual length for them, and they hav- ing been, for some days, in hopes to rise that day, 't is not to be wondered at that they did not incline to begin (as it were) anew.

" Their court is adjourned to the 23d instant, when I hope, if Gov. Shirley, by letter to Mr. Wentworth, shall think fit to renew his instances relative to subsistence, warlike stores, and the en- couragement to the Mohawks, they will be induced to do somS" thing, though I fear it will not be much. As to sending any per* son there again, it don 't appear to me to be necessary, though if any gentleman has a mind to shoAv his superior talents at negotia- tion, he will have my hearty wishes for success : I have no great opinion of my own. I shall, however, by next post, write to two or three of the principal gentlemen of that house, and endeavor to prove to them the necessity of their doing something more, that their minds may be a little prepared to receive some impres- sions next session. In the mean time. Gov. Wentworth assures me he shall raise all the men he is able to, even beyond the five hundred, which may be a great service to us, if our levies should not be complete.

" I am very sorry my journey has been so fruitless, but I think no endeavors of mine have been wanting to show that I am the Province's and,

" Sir, your most faithful,

" Obedient servant,

" Rob't Hale.

" P. S. I have a very great desire to know how many men of the four regiments were raised in this province, and how many in New Hampshire. I suppose it not difficult to find cut by in- quiry of the officers ; and though it might give your honor some 5

50 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

trouble, yet, as it may be of considerable use, I beg the favor I may have the account as soon as may be."

The commission of Col. Hale was conducted with great skill, and with entire satisfaction to Gov. Shir- ley, whose letters pending the result, partake more of confidential friendship, than of official formality. In a letter dated March 16th, he writes : " It is a peculiar satisfaction to me, that a gentleman in whose capacity to conduct so intricate an affair, as well as important an one as this is, I have the ut- most confidence, hath the management of it." After some little delay and several interviews with com- mittees, to whom Col. Hale presented the subject in the light best adapted to obtain their concurrence, he succeeded in securing five hundred men as the quota of New Hampshire, which, though one hund- red less than the number designated by Massachu- setts, was a far more favorable result than the oppo- sition manifested, warranted him to hope for.

On his return home, Col. Hale entered with in- terest into the arrangements of the expedition ; and, to aid those under whose direction they were made, he furnished a schedule, predicated upon his mili- tary experience, of the principal articles necessary for the service. His talents and service entitled him to a command in this expedition; and from a fragment of a letter to Gov. Shirley, now extant, there is ground for the inference that he had reason to expect it. But from causes unknown, probably from an apprehension on the part of the appointing power that his health was inadequate to the fatigues of field-service, instead of such appointment, he received an offer of a medical post, which he re- spectfully but pointedly declined.

HISTORY OF BEVERLY. 51

In 1761, Col. Hale received from Governor Francis Bernard, a commission of sheriff for Essex county, the duties and responsibilities of which office, he dis- charged with characteristic fidelity.

The Land Bank before referred to, unlike almost every .other enterprize with which Col. Hale was connected, failed of answering the expectations of its founders ; not so much perhaps from the imperfec- tions of the scheme, as from an opposing influence originating in a quarter difficult to reach and equally so to resist. But though the course pursued by him in this matter, was one that he could review with satisfaction, prompted as it had been throughout by the purest motives, still, the failure was a source of deep mortification ; and the suspicions of fraudulent management afloat at the time, entirely unfounded as they were in regard to the managers generally, and peculiarly unjust as directed against Col. Hale, wrought upon a sensitive nature, and seriously affected his health and spirits. His highly honora- ble and useful life was terminated by lingering sick- ness in 1767, in the 65th year of his age.

The decease of Col. Hale was a severe loss to this town. For a period of more than forty years he had been connected with its affairs, and was frequently its agent for the accomplishment of local objects. The many reports drawn up by him which are found in the church, parish and town records, dis- play a talent for drafting papers in a concise, ener- getic and business-like manner ; and the appearance of the town and parish records, at the several pe- riods when he was clerk, show his accuracy and ability in the execution of that office. His charac- ter was every where sustained for persevering indus- try and active enterprize. He exerted a controlling

52 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

influence over those with whom he was associated, and his quahfications to govern were freely admitted. Yet in the exercise of this power, he was actuated by the dictates of moraUty and rehgion. Few are now living who remember him in life, but tradition abounds and is redolent with the mention of his vir- tues.

Col. Hale, during his life-time, owned and occu- pied the estate that had been the property of both his father and grandfather, and which is now in the possession of his descendants. He left no sons. His eldest daughter, Elizabeth, was married to Mr. Ben- jamin Ives, who died about 1773. Robert Hale Ives, a son by this marriage, was born .Tuly 18th, 1744, and soon after his grandfather's decease, was con- nected with the public atTairs of the town. His son, Thomas Poynton Ives, was born in Beverly, April 9th, 1769, and for forty-three years was an eminent merchant in Providence, R. I., where he died April 30th, 1835, aged sixty-six years. He was of the house of Brown & Ives, than which none in this country has maintained a higher character for integ- rity and well-directed enterprize, and in which his sons, Moses and Robert Hale Ives, are now part- ners. He was distinguished for untiring industry, high mercantile probity, unostentatious benevolence, generous hospitality, and ardent love of country. He was twenty-four years president of the Provi- dence Bank, and fifteen years president of the Sav- ings Institution in that city. He was a friend and liberal benefactor of Brown University, and for forty- three years a member of its board of trustees. To the community with which he was so long identi- fied, he bequeathed an example of unblemished hon-

HISTORY OF BEVERLY. 53

or, and of faithful service for the good of others; and to his children, not only ample fortune, but what is far more valuable, the record of a father's worth — the simple dignity of his name and character.

REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.

In the events which preceded the revolution, and which resulted in the establishment of an independ- ent republic, this town took a hvely interest ; and its contributions, in talents and treasure, were large and efficient. The repeal of the odious, as unwise, stamp act, in 1765, was celebrated with illuminations, bon- fires, and other demonstrations of triumph. The various infractions of colonial rights, on the part of Great Britain, were condemned in the most decided language; and from time to time measures were adopted for resisting oppression, and for obtaining a redress of grievances. The town unanimously con- curred in the non-importation plan ; and with a zeal scarcely inferior to that which animated the Boston " tea party," sought to abolish the use of the article, for the sale of which the East India Company held the monopoly. This movement found more grace in the eyes of those by whom it was commenced, and who yielded to the promptings of the sternest enthu- siasm, than in the sight of the gentler sex ; for though, to use the expression of a living witness,^^ " the women were all liberty men, and threatened to scald the tories," still the delicious infusion of the China plant was a luxury all were not quite prepared to

* Ebenezer Rea.

HISTORY OF BEVERLY. 65

repudiate ; and many amusing traditions are extant, of expedients practised for its secret enjoyment, se- cure from the indignation of the sterner sex, whose patriotic ardor enabled them to maintain the most rigid self-denial. These arts, however, were some- times thwarted, and the " drawings" of the " tea- caddy," to the chagrin of an expectant coterie, were despoiled of their aroma by an unseen, but liberal deposit of " Virginia twist." =^

In the preliminary measures to which reference has been made, the town proceeded with moderation. No threats of revolt were uttered, but a determina- tion was firmly expressed to preserve the inviolability of their rights. In a letter of instruction, addressed to their representative, Henry Herrick, Oct. 21, 1765, they say, " We cannot, without criminal injustice to^ those glorious princes. King William and Queen Ma- ry, or to the memory of our venerable fathers, nor without the highest injustice to ourselves and to pos- terity, consent to yield obedience to any law what- soever, which, by its natural constitution or just con- struction, deprives us of the liberty of trial by juries; or of our choosing meet persons to represent us in the assessing or taxing our estates for his Majesty's service. And we do accordingly advise and instruct you, our representative, to refuse your consent, in any such case, and do all that in you lies, to prevent all unconstitutional drafts upon the public treasury.'*^ In the same letter, they express their unqualified disapprobation of the riotous attack upon the house

* A hearty patriot coining home unexpectedly one day, found a company of his wife's neighbors assembled to tea. He said nothing, but revenged himself by putting a large "quid" of to- bacco in the tea-pot. Sometimes, to escape detection, the ladies drank their tea in the cellar.

56 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

of Lieut. Gov. Hutchinson, and others, and declare, ''that such is our abhorrence of such riotous and mobbish behavior, that we are fully determined, as a town, to stand by each other in suppressing such disorders at all hazards," though, at the same time, as at a subsequent meeting, they were opposed to the loss being remunerated from the public treasury.

It would be interesting, did the limits of this vol- ume permit, to transcribe the transactions of the various town meetings, from 1765 to the close of the revolutionary struggle in 1783, as illustrative of the patriotism and devotion which animated every breast.

On the 17th Sept., 1768, they chose Henry Herrick a delegate to join with delegates from Boston and other towns in convention, to consult and advise on the state of the province, in which, however, he was to abstain from any act of disrespect to parliament, and of disloyalty to the King. In their further in- structions to him, as representative. May 22, 1769, they say, " We apprehend that no power on earth can justly deprive us of our essential rights, and that no man can be safe, either as to his life, liberty or property, if a contrary doctrine should prevail ; therefore we recommend to you a firm, but prudent opposition to all unconstitutional measures." ' Among other important measures adopted by the town, was the appointment of a committee of corre- spondence and safety, which consisted, at different periods from 1773 until the close of the war, of John Leach, Benjamin Jones, Henry Herrick, Samuel Goodridge, Josiah Batchelder, Jr., Josiah Batchelder, Joshua Cleaves, Larkin Thorndike, Joseph Wood, Nicholas Thorndike, William Bartlett, Andrew Cab- ot, Joseph Orne, Benj. Lovett, Jr., Nathan Leach, Caleb Dodge, Joseph Rea, Livermore Whittredge,

HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

57

Benjamin Smith, William Longdell, Edmund Giles, Jonathan Conant, John Conant, Isaac Thorndike, Isaac Chapman, Thomas Stephens, John Lovett, 3d, William Dodge, WiUiam Taylor, and Asa Leach. Of the letters addressed by this committee to the central committee in Boston, the three following have been preserved :

" To the Committee of Correspondence for the town of Boston: " Gentlemen : " Inclosed you have the transactions of this town, in conse- quence of the resolves of the metropolis of this province, and the letter of correspondence herewith transmitted, whereby you will perceive the sentiments of this town with regard to the common cause in which we are all concerned. In the name of the town we return thanks for the early care, taken by the town of Boston, to communicate the most early intelligence of any alarming cir- cumstances that they have, with regard to any infringement? on our rights as Christians, subjects, or colonists.

" And, gentlemen, inasmuch as we are all concerned in one common cause, we shall esteem it as a favor of a free correspond- ence, that we may have the most early intelligence of any interest- ing events of a public nature, as you live in the metropolis, that we may concur with you in any salutary constitutional measures for the good of all ; and arc, gentlemen, with the greatest regards, " Your most humble servants, " John Leach, Samuel Goodridge,

Benj. Jones, Josiah Batchelder, Jr.

Henry Herrick, *' Beverly, Jan, 11, 1773."

The transactions referred to in the foregoing letter were the doings of town meetings held Dec. 21, 1772, and by adjournment, Jan. 5th, 1773, at which it was affirmed that "the rights of the colonists in particular as men, as Christians, and as sub- jects, are studiously, rightly and justly stated by the committee of correspondence for the town of

58 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

f

Boston," and Col. Henry Herrick, the representative from Beverly, is instructed to "endeavor, as much as possible, in a legal and constitutional way," to effect a redress of the " intolerable grievances" to which the colonies had been subjected, and to secure the preservation of all the " rights, liberties and privileges, both civil and sacred," guaranteed by the charter.l Instructions, similar in their tenor, were given to Josiah Batchelder, Jr., who was chosen rep- resentative to the General Court, Sept. 26, 1774.

To the Same,

" Beverly, Nov. 10, 1773. " Gentlemen :

" Yours of the 21st Sept. we have received and observe the contents, and are sensible of the justness of the sentiments thereof, in which we harmonize, and are fully of opinion that no other measures can be come into so salutary as a strict union of all the colonies for a redress of the many grievances the colonies labor under from the acts of parliament imposing duties on certain articles for the express end of raising a revenue on the people of the colonies without their consent, out of which revenue the gov- ernor and other great officers are paid, whereby they are inde- pendent of this province for their support, — as also many other grievances, which are so well known we shall not at this time enumerate. We are heartily sorry to hear the petition of our as- sembly hath not been regarded by our most gracious sovereign (as we have been informed), which we fear will be disagreeable to many of his majesty's faithful subjects in America. As we live at a distance from the metropolis, and can't possibly have the first intelligence, we shall esteem it a favor from you, of any intelli- gence, and shall heartily concur with you in any salutary meas- ures for the recovery of our just rights : and are grieved tliat his majesty is deaf to the complaints of his subjects in America, who, we think, are as faithful subjects as any in his dominions. We are sensible that the good people of this town are fully in the sen- timents you have exhibited to us in your several letters, for which we are obliged to you, and hope you will still continue to write to

HISTORY OF BEVERLY. 59

US of every thing of a public nature you may think worthy of a communication.

" We are, gentlemen, your humble serv'ts " And entire friends,

"Sam'l Goodridge, Clerks " Signed by order of the Com. of \ Cor. for the town of Beverly.

To the Same.

" Beverly, Jan. 4, 1774. " Gentlemen :

" Yours of Nov. 23d, 1773, and the inclosure, we have received, but not till the 11th ultimo, for which we return our warmest thanks. As early as possible we comm.unicated yours to our town, but the inclemency of the weather hindered a general attendance of its inhabitants. The meeting was adjourned to this day. In- closed you have the resolution they then came into, by which you will perceive the sentiments of this town. We heartily concur with you in every salutary measure for preventing the enslaving or ruining ourselves and posterity. But we hope, gentlemen, we shall have a union amongst ourselves and all our brethren of the several colonies on this continent, which we think will be the best means to obtain a redress of the many grievances we at present labor under.

" We are, gentlemen,

" Your sincere friends and humble serv'ts,

" By order of the Committee of Correspondence,

" Samuel Goodridge, Clerk."

The following resolution referred to, was adopted at a town meeting, Jan. 4, 1774, in the following words :

'' That the method of introducing tea into this prov- ince in the method proposed by the British ministry, for the benefit of the East India Company, is justly and fairly stated by the inhabitants of the town of Boston; and that it is the sentiment of this meeting, that they

60 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

will always, in every salutary method, cheerfully join with our brethren of the town of Boston, and every other town in this province, in withstanding every unlawful measure tending to enslave us, or to take our money from us in any unconstitutional manner."

A true copy : attest,

Joseph Wood, T. Clerk.

On the 6th and 7th September, 1774, a county convention was held at Ipswich, to consider the situ- ation of public affairs, in which this town was re- presented by Benj. Lovett, Samuel Goodridge, and Joseph Wood. Of this convention Jeremiah Lee, of Marblehead, was chairman, and John Picker- ing, jr. of Salem, clerk. In the report made by a committee, which was unanimously accepted, they express their loyalty to the king, and their readiness to support with their lives and fortunes, his person, crown, dignity and constitutional authority. " But," they add, " by the horrors of slavery, by the happi- ness attending virtuous freedom, we are constrained to declare, that we hold our liberties too dear to be sported with, and are therefore, most seriously de- termined to defend them. This, in the present dis- pute, we conceive may be effected by peaceable measures. But though, above all things, slavery excepted, we deprecate the evils of a civil Avar; though we are deeply anxious to restore and pre- serve harmony with our brethren in Great Britain ; yet, if the despotism and violence of our enemies should finally reduce us to the sad necessity, we, undaunted, are ready to appeal to the last resort of states ; and will, in support of our rights, encounter

HISTORY OF BEVERLY. 61

even death, sensible that he can never die too soon, who lays down his life in support of the laws and liberties of his country."

To an attentive observer, it was evident that a crisis in American aifairs was near — that a drama, the closing act of which was known only to the Ruler of the universe, was soon to open. The 19th of April came, mild and with summer's loveliness. The sun rose with unclouded splendor, and the hus- bandman went forth to his peaceful pursuits, and each man to his caUing. Soon the scene changed. Groups were gathered at the corners of the streets in earnest conversation, men were seen hurrying to and fro, drums beat to arms, and stern determina- tion was depicted on every countenance. What had given rise to this commotion ? The appearance of a messenger, proclaiming as he went, that a detach- ment from the British army in Boston, had the night before left the city in silence, to seize and destroy military stores deposited at Concord. The effect was electric. The fire of patriotism burst forth with volcanic power. Capt. Joseph Rea, who command- ed a company of militia, mounted his horse and posted with all possible dispatch to the Farms with the intelligence, proclaiming it aloud by the way. Capt. Caleb Dodge and others, following his exam- ple, rode oflf in other directions. The call to resist this act of aggression, met a hearty and united re- sponse. The farmer left his plough in the field, the mechanic his work-shop, and the merchant his store ; .and before 3 o'clock p. m. a large proportion of the male population of the town, capable of bearing arms, had gone forth, or were assembled in prepara- tion to march to the rescue.

The consternation felt by the more timid portion 6

62 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

of the female population, in prospect of being left defenceless, was great. A large number having by mutual instinct collected together, their condition was freely discussed. "Our husbands and sons are gone," they despondingly said, '' and none are left to protect us. If the regulars come during their ab- sence, what will become of us, what shall we do?" " Do?" exclaimed a stout-hearted mother present, =^ a fair representative of many hearts bold and deter- mined as her own ; " Do ? who cares for the regulars ? Let them come ; and if they do not behave them- selves, we'll take our brooms and drive them out of town."

The British troops paid dear for their success at Concord, and their subsequent wanton devastations when returning to Boston. The blood shed at Lex- ington was the signal for retaliation. The provin- cials, finding life and every thing valuable at stake, assumed their native valor and returned the fire at Concord bridge with deadly effect. As the troops retreated, the discharge of musquetry was kept up without intermission from walls, fences, houses, trees and barns, until they were met by a reinforce- ment under the command of Lord Percy, who with two field-pieces kept the provincials at bay for a time. The people, however, flocking in from all quarters in great numbers, the attack was*»renewed, and a galling covered fire was continued until the enemy reached Charlestown, having one hundred and fifty men killed and wounded, and some taken prisoners.! Of the men from Beverly, Reuben Kenx.

♦Mrs. Hannah, wife of Josiah Batchelder, jr. ■^Journals Prov. Congress, Mass. pp. 662, 681, 682.

HISTORY OF BEVERLY. 63

nison was killed, and Nathaniel Cleaves, Samuel Woodberry and William Dodge were wounded.^^

The effects of this outrage upon the inhabitants of Beverly, were such as might be expected on a people who understood, and were determined to maintain, their rights. In May, the selectmen paid £26.10.6 for blankets to be supplied to the army, raised for eight months by the province. Other sums were subsequently appropriated for the same purpose, and purchases were made of the house- holders who cheerfully parted with a part of their family stock for the public use. In the work of supplies, female patriotism was warmly engaged during the whole revolutionary contest. Cloth was woven, stockings were knit, and garments made for the soldiers to a large amount, and every call for aid was cheerfully and promptly met. y=^

On the 16th Jan., 1775, Josiah Batchelder, Jr., was chosen to represent the town in a provincial con- gress to be held at Cambridge, "to consult and de- liberate upon such further measures as, under God, shall be effectual to save this people from impending ruin, and to secure those inestimable liberties derived from our ancestors."

This year the town voted to raise fifty-six minute men, including officers, who were to parade two half days in each week, during the pleasure of the town, to learn the military art. The vote for paying the minute men creating dissatisfaction, as no other towns had adopted the practice, it was repealed Feb. 29th, just one month after its passage. A mili-

* The widow of Kennison, after marrying a second time, died Oct. 22, 1842, aged 89. She retained in her possession till her death, the shirt worn by her first husband when killed.

64 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

tary watch, of sixteen persons, in four divisions, was established, and a watch-house for each division or- dered to be built. The committee of correspondence were also directed to appoint a captain and other necessary officers, with a sufficient number of men, to exercise the cannon in the fort or breastwork on Woodberry's head, for which service they were to be paid a reasonable sum. They were likewise directed to enlist " a number of men, to make up forty in the whole, to repair to the fort, as their alarm-post, in case of an alarm."

One morning in the autumn of 1775, a privateer schooner sailed from Beverly on a cruise. She had not been long out, when she was discovered by the British ship of war Nautilus, of twenty guns, who immediately bore down upon her. The superior force of the enemy induced the captain to put back. The chase was continued until he gained the harbor and grounded on the flats. It being ebb-tide, the Nautilus came to anchor outside the bar, and opened a fire on the town. The meeting-house being the most conspicuous object, several shots were aimed at it, one of which penetrated the chaise-house of Thom- as Stephens, destroying his chaise, and another struck the chimney of a house on the opposite side of the street, scattering its fragments in every direction. This unceremonious assault proved too much for the equanimity of its patriotic occupant. He seized his musket, and rushing to the beach, returned the com- pliment with hearty good will. Immediately upon the commencement of firing, many females residing in exposed situations, hastily retired to places of greater security. There were some, however, who, " made of sterner stuff"," paid little attention to this demonstration of hostility, and continued their do-

HISTORY OF BEVERLY. 65

mestic occupations as though nothing uncommon was going on. Of this class, was a good lady, the wife of a devoted friend to American freedom, who was at the moment engaged in preparing a batch of bread for the oven. The house she occupied was directly in the range of the meeting-house, and liable to be struck by every discharge. Her brother, anxious for her safety, came in, and informing her of the danger, desired her to take her child, and proceed by a circuitous route to a place beyond the reach of the enemy's guns, while he would rally a company to resist any attempt to land. To this she demurred ; she felt no alarm. Besides, her oven was heating, the bread was nearly ready, and as to leaving before it was set in, she could not think of it ! She was finally prevailed on to forego this reso- lution and retire. As she was passing around the south-eastern corner of the common, curiosity pre- vailed over apprehension; and, climbing upon the wall, she stood in full view of the enemy's vessel, surveying the scene, until a cannon-ball striking the earth near her, gave decided intimation that it was time to depart.

The alarm spread rapidly, and soon men were seen with their fire-arms hurrying from every quarter to the defence of the landing. Among the earliest on the ground, was Col. Henry Herrick, an active mem- ber of the committee of correspondence, and whose patriotic spirit greatly contributed to the energetic action of the town in furnishing men and supplies for the army. The confusion of the moment did not make him forgetful of the dignity of his offi- cial character ; and with characteristic regard for eflfect, and disregard of danger, he appeared on the beach in full military costume, a conspicuous mark 6*

66 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

for the enemy's aim. The commander of the Nau- tihis soon found himself in an awkward position. Owing to an unlucky choice of anchorage, the re- ceding tide left his vessel aground, which careened so that he was unable to bring a single gun to bear. In the mean time, the citizens of Salem opened a fire upon her from the Hospital point, with several four and six pounders, while a number of good marks- men, concealed among the rocks on the Beverly side, rendered it hazardous for an ofiicer or man to appear on deck. In this condition, without power to offer a single token of his good or ill will, he lay until dark, Avhen, the tide floating his vessel, he weighed anchor and stood out to sea, carrying with him no very pleasant recollections of his introduction to the citi- zens of this town.

The importance of fortifying the town was now apparent. Breastworks were thrown up on Wood- berry's point and Paul's head, and furnished with cannon, and measures were adopted to procure a supply of ammunition. The committee of safety applied, through William Bartlett, Esq., the navy agent, to General Washington for assistance, who directed the following reply :

" Cambridge, 13th Dec. 1775. "Sir:

"Your letter of the 11th, with a petition from the committee of correspondence for the town of Beverly to his Excellency, is come to hand. The General desires me to inform the committee that he would have great pleasure to comply with their request in the fullest extent, could he do it consistent with that attention which he must pay to the safety of the whole ; that you may spare them such pieces of cannon as are not at present absolutely necessary for the armed vessels ; that you may also spare them such a quantity of the shot that is on board the brig, as they may think

HISTORY OF BEVERLY. 67

necessary for their immediate use, taking from the committee an obligation to return the same, or the value of them, because these articles must be made good to the captors and the continent.

" As to the article of powder, that is of a very delicate nature ; but to show his willingness to serve the good people of Beverly, it is his Excellency's desire that you keep in your possession what powder you have found on board the prizes, making an immediate return of the quantity unto him. If it should so happen that the town and harbor is attacked by the enemy, the General consents that you lend the same unto the committee, at the same time taking their obligation, for reasons as before assigned for the shot. This is the most effectual way his Excellency can think of to answer the prayer of their petition, and this you will please to communicate unto them.

" I am sir, your most ob't serv't,

" Stephen Motlan, P. T. S.

" William Bartlett, Esq."

In Jan. 1776, the town voted to hire twenty-four men to guard on the seacoast by night-watches, at West's beach and near Benj. Smith's house. Of these watches Benj. Smith and Azariah Woodberry were appointed captains, and £100 were provided to defray the expenses of guarding the town. At this time. Col. Glover, with the 14th regiment of the con- tinental army, was stationed here, who maintained a watch at the fort.

The progress of events had now prepared the pub- lic mind for the declaration " that these United Colo- nies are, and of right ought to be, Free and Inde- pendent States;" and in anticipation of such a meas- ure, the town, at a meeting June 13, 1776, twenty- one days before it transpired, voted, that should the Continental Congress, for the safety of the colonies, declare them independent of Great Britain, they solemnly pledged '' their lives and fortunes to sup-

68 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

port them in it." The General Court having recom- mended to the towns to consider the proposed arti- cles of confederation and union among the states, the town, at a meeting Feb. 4, 1778, empowered and instructed its representative to act and do anything relative thereto, that in his judgment would be most for the public good. May 22d, the constitution of government devised by a convention of the State, having been laid before the town for its considera- tion, it was rejected by a vote of 22 to 3 ; and George Cabot, Rev. Joseph Willard and William Bartlett, were appointed a committee to draft instructions to the representative, expressing the reasons of dissent. It is an elaborate and interesting document, evincing a thorough acquaintance with the subject ; and while it disclaims all disposition " to prevent good order, and encourage anarchy and opposition to equal gov- ernment," it claims the right of opposing, " with a decent, but manly and zealous freedom," any form which they conscientiously think '•' does not tend to the public welfare."

In 1778, a requisition was made on the town to reinforce the army in Rhode Island ; and the three captains of the militia companies, assisted by their subalterns, were authorized to obtain the quota on the best terms possible, " giving the preference to town inhabitants."

Paper money had at this period so much deprecia- ted as to demand an effort for its improvement ; and July 12, 1779, Geo. Cabot and Joseph Wood were appointed delegates to a convention to be held at Concord, for the purpose of " adopting such meas- ures as shall be necessary to carry into effect, by common consent, the important object of appreciat-

HISTORY OF BEVERLY. 69

ing the paper currency." At a subsequent meeting, the proceedings of this convention were highly ap- proved. A county convention having been held at Ipswich, Aug. 19, to regulate the prices of labor, produce, and other articles, the proceedings were approved and adopted by the town, and a committee appointed to prepare a list, and cause it to be print- ed, for the use of the inhabitants. This list com- prises nearly one hundred articles, from which the following are selected : West India rum, £6.6.0 per gal; N. England, £4.16.0; molasses, £4.7.0 ; coffee, 18s. per lb. ; chocolate, 24s. ; corn, £4.16.0 per bush.; rye, £6] beans. £7.10.0; house carpenter's labor, £3.6s.8d. per day; mason's, 80 to 92s; shoeing a horse all round, plain, £5.8.0 ; neat's leather or calf- skin shoes, £7.7.0 ; making suit of clothes, superfine broadcloth, £18 ; spinning 20 knots linen yarn, 10s. 8d; mug of flip or toddy, made of good W. I. rum, 15s; a good dinner at the tavern, £1.1.0; sexton, for digging the grave of a grown person, £4.10.0. These prices were those paid in currency,, and not in silver, one dollar of which, in 1781, was equal to $40 of the new emission paper, and .$3200 of the old. In 1779, a fine of £5400 was assessed on the town by the General Court, for failing to supply the num- ber of militia required by a previous resolve ; and March 13, 1780, a petition for its remission was pre- pared. The petition stated, that the town had ever been a steady friend and firm advocate of the revo- lution, and that the present delinquency was a con- sequent of " early and punctual compliance with precedent requisitions," which had exhausted them of men and much money. Appeal is made to the public records, in evidence '' that their quota of the

70 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

continental army in 1777, and the many levies of militia, had been furnished with a steadiness equal- led in but few other places ;" to which it is added, " that as a town they had furnished more men, and been at greater expense in carrying on the war, than almost any other town, in proportion to their abili- ties"— a fact that the proceedings of numerous town meetings, from 1765 to 1783, conclusively demon- strate.

In August, this year, George Cabot and Joseph Wood were elected delegates to a convention to meet at Cambridge, on the 1st Sept. following, for the purpose of framing a new State constitution. At the town meeting in May, 1780, it was submitted for consideration ; and, after being read and discussed, it was referred to Josiah Batchelder, George Cabot, and Rev. Joseph Willard, " to revise, examine, and make such remarks on the same as they might think best." At an adjourned meeting the subject was further discussed, and the report of the committee, together with sundry proposed amendments and in- structions, was adopted by a unanimous vote.

From the commencement of the war until its ter- mination, this town was largely engaged in priva- teering. Between March and November, 1781, fifty- two vessels, carrying 746 guns, with crews of 3940 men, Avere fitted out and chiefly owned in Salem and Beverly.^ Among the successful commanders Avere Captains Eleazer Giles, Elias Smith, Hugh Hill, and Benjamin Lovett. In 1776, Capt. Giles sailed from this port in a brig of ten guns, and soon after fell in with a fleet of merchantmen, laden with stores,

* Felt's Annals.

HISTORY OF BEVERLY. 71

bound from Jamaica to London, four of which he succeeded in capturing, viz : the ship Lucia, 400 tons, brigs Alfred, Success, and another, name un- known, of 300 tons each. On another cruise he was less successful. Falling in with a British ves- sel, of equal or superior force, and relying on the boasted bravery of a newly shipped crew, he gave battle. Immediately upon the attack, a portion of his men proved by their conduct that his confidence in their bravery had been misplaced ; and after a short, but sharp engagement, in which he was wounded, he was compelled to surrender, and was carried into Halifax.

Capt. Smith, a courageous and dignified officer, commanded the ship Mohawk, of 20 guns, and cruised oflf the West Indies. In 1781 he fell in with, and after a short engagement captured, a Guineaman of 16 guns, which he sent into Beverly. When the captain came on board to surrender his sword, he was presented to Capt. Smith, who stood abaft the wheel, clad in a sailor's coarse pea-jacket, with a red bandanna tied round his head, as a substitute for a tarpaulin. " Do you command this vessel, sir?" inquired the captain of the slaver. "Yes, sir," replied Smith, folding his arms, and with char- acteristic pohteness making a very low bow, "in the room of a better."

Capt. Hill, who came early to this country from Ireland, commenced privateering in the Pilgrim, of twenty guns, the building of which he superintended at Newburyport. He was a brave and generous offi- cer, and distinguished for humanity to his prisoners. On one cruise, while sailing with the English ensign at mast-head as a decoy, he was boarded by the captain of a British vessel of war, who not suspect-

72 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

ing the character of his entertainer, remarked that he was "in search of that notorious Hugh Hill." Un- prepared at the moment for an engagement with so formidable a foe, Capt. Hill replied that he was on the look-out for the same individual, and hoped soon to meet him. After spending some time on board without penetrating the disguise, the officer departed. In the course of a few days, Captain Hill again en- countered his visiter. The American flag was imme- diately run up, and an engagement ensued, which resulted in the capture of his British antagonist, who, with his vessel, was sent into Beverly. Capt. Hill's principal theatre of action was the coast of Ireland, where he captured many vessels, and greatly annoyed British commerce. After leaving the Pilgrim, he commanded the Cicero, and took several prizes. Probably more captured vessels were brought into this port than into any other in New England, the cargoes of which furnished important and seasonable supplies for the continental army.

Among the enterprizing and successful commanders not engaged in privateering, was Capt. John Tittle. During the revolutionary war, he sailed in a letter of marque, in company with two other vessels, for a port in France. They were fallen in with by three British cruisers ; and as, from the superiority of force, resistance appeared vain. Tittle's companions bore off before the wind, with the hope of escape. One succeeded, and the other was captured. In the mean- time, Capt. T. was attacked by two of the enemy, and, nothing daunted, returned their fire for the space of two hours, by which time all his canvass above the lower yards was shot away. The crew, over- come with fear by the seeming desperation of their situation, began to abandon the guns — whereupon

HISTORY OF BEVERLY. 73

the captain drew his sword, and ordering them back to duty, threatened to run the first man through who again left his quarters. At this moment the third enemy bore up, and haihng Capt. T. commanded him to strike his colors. To this he replied, '' It will be time enough to strike when compelled;" and then addressing the crew, '' we '11 try them a little longer." The battle was continued another hour with great spirit ; when a shot taking effect between wind and water, silenced one of the enemy, and night coming on, they all drew off and left Capt. T. to pursue his voyage without further molestation.

Foremost among the officers and soldiers in the revolution, from this town, and eminent also as an enterprizing and valued citizen, was Col. Ebenezer Francis. He was born at Medford, Mass., Dec. 22, 1743, and in 1764 removed to Beverly.

His opportunities for acquiring an education in youth, had been quite defective. But, by diligent self-culture, he had early fitted himself to engage extensively and successfully in business transactions, and to take a respectable stand by the side of the best educated and informed, in the prominent stations he afterwards occupied before the town and his country. Notwithstanding the disadvantages, in this respect, under which he had labored, and which he had been obliged by himself mainly to overcome — probably induced, in no small measure, by this very circum- stance— he took a warm and efficient interest in the schools. And it is worthy of mention, as evincing at once his interest in them and his resolute spirit, that in one instance, when the scholars of one of the districts, (now called the Cove district,) had risen against their master, and compelled him to abandon 7

74 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

his post, he immediately undertook the government and instruction of the school, and very soon not only quelled the rebellion, but restored a wholesome state of discipline and improvement.

In 1766 he was married to Miss Judith Wood, by whom he had four daughters and a son. He was actively and extensively engaged in business till the war broke out. He had, however, taken a deep in- terest in the political agitations which preceded it. Convinced that resort must finally be had to arms in deciding the controversy between this and the mother country, he paid much attention to military science and exercises himself, and encouraged it as far as hs could in his fellow-patriots. His three brothers par- took of the same martial spirit, and all of them be- came officers in the revolutionary service. By his stature, which was tall and imposing, as well as by talents and character, he was fitted to command. Accordingly, he at once occupied a prominent stand among those who, on the first shedding of blood, were ready to take up arms. In less than three months from the commencement of hostilities, he re- ceived a captain's commission from the Continental Congress, which was dated July 1, 1775. Early in the following year, he had risen to the rank of Colo- nel, and commanded a regiment stationed on Dor- chester heights, near Boston, from Aug. to Dec. 1776. Under his prompt and thorough discipline, his men were shortly trained ; so that in his regi- mental orders of Aug. 29, 1776, he " flatters himself that they will soon attain that degree of soldiership that will be but a little inferior to the most veteran troops." By a commission dated Nov. 19, 1776, he was authorized by Congress to raise a regiment in

HISTORY OF BEVEELY. 75

the State of Massachusetts ; — which was raised, un- der the name of the 11th Massachusetts regiment, and retained that designation through the war. At the head of this regiment, Col. Francis marched in Jan. 1777, to Ticonderoga. With that regard for religion, which was a characteristic of his life, he — previously to setting out on the march— had his regi- ment assembled to attend religious services in the meeting-house of the first parish. Those who re- member that occasion, express in glowing terms their recollections of its interest and solemnity. Associ- ated with him on that perilous expedition into the wilderness, were many brave and noble spirits, and some of them highly educated. His revered and beloved pastor, Rev. Mr. Hitchcock, of the second parish, in Beverly, and afterwards minister of a church in Providence, R. Island, accompanied the regiment as chaplain, having succeeded in that sta- tion the celebrated Dr. Cutler, of Hamilton. Henry Herrick, a graduate of Harvard College, and, after the war, a distinguished teacher in Beverly, was adjutant of the regiment. Moses Greenleaf, collector of Newburyport, under the federal government, and father of Prof. Greenleaf, now of the law college, at Cambridge, was a captain in it. A private journal of Capt. Greenleaf, which is now in the library of the Massachusetts Historical Society, narrates the principal events which occurred while the regiment was stationed at Ticonderoga, and afterward, on its retreat, with the rest of the garrison, before the over- powering forces of Burgoyne. From that is gathered the following graphic, though melancholy sketch of the closing scenes in the life of Col. Francis. " 14th June, heard enemy's morning gun — Indians and

76 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

others near — skirmishes. 2d July, enemy advance, with two frigates of twenty-eight guns and fifty gun- boats— land troops about two miles from us. Satur- day, 5th July, at 12 o'clock, spied British troops on the mountain overlooking Ticonderoga — at 9, receiv- ed the disagreeable news of leaving the ground. At 2, next morning, left Ticonderoga — at 4, Mount In- dependence ; after a most fatiguing march, arrived same day at Hubbardton, (near Whitehall, N. Y.), twenty-two miles from Mount Independence — sup- ped with Col. Francis — encamped in the woods, the main body going on about four miles. Monday, 7th July, 1777, breakfasted with Col. F. At 7, he came to me, and desired me to parade the regiment, which I did : at 7J he came in haste to me, told me an ex- press had arrived from Gen. St. Clair, informing that we must march with the greatest expedition, or the enemy would be upon us, — also, that they had taken Skeensborough, with all our baggage ;— ordered me to march the regiment — immediately marched a part of it. At twenty minutes past 7, the enemy appeared within gunshot of us; we faced to the right, when the firing began, which lasted till 8S a. m., without cessation. Numbers fell on both sides ; among ours, the brave and ever to be lamented Col. Francis, who fought bravely to the last. He first received a ball through his right arm, but still continued at the head of our troops, till he received the fatal wound through his body, entering his right breast ; he dropped on his face. Our people, being overpowered by numbers, were obliged to retreat over the moun- tains, enduring on their march great privations and sufferings." Thus fell, in the prime of manhood, one of the most promising officers of the revolution, —

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one whose bravery and valor, friends and foes alike were forward to acknowledge — whose worth, the aged, that knew him, still delight to recount, and whose untimely loss they yet with flowing tears lament.

The following excellent letter from his pastor and the chaplain of his troops, conveyed the sad tidings of his fall to her, who was most nearly and deeply interested in the event.

"Moses Creek, July 21, 1777. "Dear Mrs. Francis:

"My heart is filled with compassion and sympathy for you, while I relate the melancholy tale of the fall of my dear friend, the Colonel. You will consider this event as under the government of that God, who has an undoubted right to do as seemeth Him good, and therefore, endeavor to command your passions into a silent submission to His will. If there is any consolation in the gospel, I think you may accept it. I doubt not, your loss is his greater gain : I can witness to his uniformly good conduct in the army, in discountenancing vice, and encouraging virtue ; in set- ting before his men an example of sobriety, and an attendance upon duties of piety. No officer so noticed for his military accom- plishments and regular life as he. He lived universally beloved, the loss of him as generally lamented. While these things make you look upon your loss the greater they might administer to you unspeakable consolation. He was not unmindful of the dangers of the field, being appointed to bring up the rear-guard. He supposed it probable they might be attacked, and therefore, de^ sired me to take care of his knapsack with what was in it, if I could not save anything else, which I did, though I lost my clothes by doing it. He was in good spirits when I parted with him the evening before the retreat. He mentioned his being equally exposed to fall with others, but seemed willing to commit himself to Providence, and leave the event. His conduct in the field, is spoken of in the highest terms of applause. He has em- balmed his name in immortal fame. I must conclude by wishing 7#

78 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

you all Divine supports. Trust in God. He will provide for you and the fatherless children.

" From your sincere and affectionate friend,

"E. Hitchcock."

Subjoined are extracts from " Travels in America, by a British officer," who was in the battle of Hub- bardton, and afterwards quartered as prisoner in the vicinity of Boston.

" The rear guard of the enemy was composed of chosen men, commanded by a Col. F., who was reckoned one of their best officers.

" At the commencement of the action the enemy were every where thrown into the greatest confusion ; but being rallied by that brave officer, Col. Francis, whose death, though an enemy, will ever be regretted by those who can feel for the loss of a gallant and brave man, the fight was renewed with tlie greatest degree of fierceness and obstinacy.

" A few days since, walking out with some officers, we stopped at a house to purchase vegetables. Whilst the otlier officers were bargaining with the woman of the house, I observed an elderly woman sitting by the fire, who was continually eyeing us, and every now and then shedding a tear. Just as we were quit- ting the house she got up, and bursting into tears, said, ' gentle- men, will you let a poor distracted woman speak a word to you before you go ?' We, as you must naturally imagine, were all astonished ; and upon inquiring what she wanted, with the most poignant grief and sobbing as if her heart was on the point of breaking, asked if any of us knew her son, who was killed at the battle of Hubbardton, a Col. Francis. Several of us informed her that we had seen him after he was dead. She then inquired about his pocket-book, and if any of his papers were safe, as some related to his estates, and if any of the soldiers had got his watch ; if she could but obtain that in remembrance of her dear, dear son, she should be happy. Capt. Ferguson, of our regiment, who was of the party, told her, as to the Colonel's papers and pocket-book, he was fearful tliey were either lost or destroyed ;

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but pulling a watch from his fob, said, * there, good woman, if that can make you happy, take it, and God bless you.' We were all much surprized, as unacquainted that he had made a purchase of it from a drum-boy. On seeing it, it is impossible to describe the joy and grief that was depicted in her countenance ; I never in all my life beheld such a strength of passion ;'she kissed it, looked unutterable gratitude at Capt. Ferguson, then kissed it again ; her feelings were inexpressible ; she knew not how to express or show them ; she would repay his kindness by kind- ness, but could only sob her thanks ; our feelings were lifted up to an inexpressible height ; we promised to search after the pa- pers, and I believe at that moment, could have hazarded life it- self to procure them."

This watch is now in the possession of Col. Fran- cis' son, Ebenezer Francis, Esq. of Boston.

John Francis, a brother of Col. Francis, was born in Medford, Sept. 28th, 1753, and previously to the revolutionary war, removed to this town. At the commencement of the struggle for freedom, he en- tered the service of his country. He was an adju- tant in the regiment commanded by his brother, and fought by his side in the battle of Hubbardton. He subsequently held the same office in the regiment under the command of Col. Benj. Tupper, and con- tinued in the war during the first six years, an ac- tive and rising officer. He was in several battles, was wounded at the capture of Burgoyne, and re- tired, with honor, from the army. In 1786, he raised a company in Beverly and Danvers, and marched in Col. Wade's regiment, to suppress Shays' rebellion. He was captain of the militia company in the second parish, and afterwards commanded the Beverly regi- ment. He was also for many years a selectman, and served in other important municipal offices. He was amiable in his domestic relations, and much esteemed

80 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

for his hospitality and cheerfulness. He died July 30th, 1822, in the 69th year of his age.

Capt. Joseph Rea, of whom mention has been made in the preceding pages, was the son of Gideon Rea, who owned and lived on the estate now the property of Mr. Edward T. Proctor, in the second parish. He was born in 1736, baptized by Mr. Chipman, Aug. 1, the same year, and died in 1798, in his 63d year. He was an efficient member of the committee of correspondence, and commanded a company enlisted in Beverly and Lynn, sent to the aid of Washington, in New Jersey. His sons were Isaac, Gideon, Joseph and Ebenezer.

Ebenezer Rea is still living, at the advanced age of eighty-two. He was fifteen when the battle of Lex- ington took place, and retains a vivid recollection of events that transpired in this town during the revo- lutionary war. In 1778, he enUsted under Capt. Jeremiah Putnam, of Danvers, from whose company he was drafted, with others, to fill up a regiment sta- tioned at East Greenwich, R. I. After his term of service expired, he shipped on board the Resource, Capt. Richard Ober, of Beverly, and sailed for the West Indies. On the voyage he was taken by a Brit- ish sloop-of-war, and carried into Jamaica. Here, instead of being confined as prisoners, he and a part of the crew were transferred, as sailors, to the frigate Pelican, Capt. Collingwood, afterwards second in com- mand with Nelson at the battle of Trafalgar, and for more than a year was not permitted to go on shore.=*

* Capt. Collingwood is described, by Mr. Rea, as of a tall, com nianding figure, dark complexion, with black eyes, from whose piercing glance nothing on shipboard escaped. He was a rigid dis-

HISTORY OF BEVERLY. 81

While cruising on that station, in August, 1781, the PeUcan encountered a severe hurricane, and was wrecked on the rocks of Morant Keys. Four of the crew were lost. The remainder succeeded in reach- ing a small, uninhabited island, on rafts, where they remained ten days, with but little food, and were taken off by the Diamond frigate, which came to their relief from Jamaica. On returning to that island, Mr. Rea and several of his shipmates were put on board the Hinchinbroke, and one daj?", while lying at Port Royal, they obtained permission to go on shore. Tempted by so favorable an opportunity, they deter- mined to desert from a service into which they had been forced, and, if possible, return to their native land. The resolution was more easily formed than executed. Unforeseen obstacles beset their design ; and, after wandering up and down the island for twenty-five days, inventing various stories to escape suspicion, and heartily wishing more than once that they had never undertaken a plan so seemingly im- practicable, they were forced to return to the very place from which they started. Fortunately, they unobserved got on board a cartel ship, bound to Ha- vana, with Spanish prisoners, the commander of which W2LS in want of seamen. They frankly in- formed him who they were and what they had done, and he, with a kindness for which they hardly dared to hope, shipped them at once for the voyage. On arriving at Havana, they were paid off and dis- charged, and Mr. Rea then took passage for Boston

ciplinarian, but kind to the crew, not permitting the petty officers to impose upon them. He never used profane language, and often on the Sabbath officiated as chaplain.

82 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

on board a brig commanded by Capt. Henry Higgin- son. When on soundings, off New York, the brig was taken by a British cruiser and carried into that port. He was immediately put on board the Jersey prison-ship, Avhere he was confined from January to May, 1782, when he was exchanged and returned to his friends.

Sept. 14, 1774, Major John Leach deceased, in the 74th year of his age. He was among the active whigs of the early part of the revolution, and was a member of the committee of correspondence in this town at the time of his death.

In the preceding February of this year, a donation was made by the town for the relief of the poor in Boston, consisting of two barrels of sugar, one bar- rel of rum, five and a half quintals of fish, one hun- dred and five pounds of coffee, two cheeses, eight pairs of women's and five pairs of men's leather shoes, one hide of upper-leather, three curried calf- skins, sixteen pounds of chocolate, ten pounds of pork, twenty-five pounds of flax, one barrel of flour, one and a half bushel of corn, and £31 95. lOd. in money. Some of the poor of Boston were also quar- tered upon the town.

In 1775, a scarcity of bread appears to have been apprehended, as the supplies by water were mostly cut off; and, at a town meeting held on the 19th June, two days subsequent to the battle of Bunker Hill, the selectmen were ordered to purchase 1.500 bushels of grain and ten casks of rice, to be disposed of by them in the best manner, for the use and benefit of the town. A similar precaution in relation to ammunition was adopted, and a fine of ten shillings

HISTORY OF BEVERLY. 83

was imposed on any one who should '• unnecessarily waste or fire ojff any charge of powder."

At a meeting held in April, 1776, the town de- clined sending delegates to a convention held at Ips- wich, "relative to an equal representation by every man's having a like voice in the election of the leg- islative body of this colony;" but, at a subsequent meeting, a committee was appointed to sign, in be- half of the town, the memorial agreed upon by that convention.

The year 1777 was distinguished by a riotous proceeding, in which the gentler sex were the prin- cipal actors. The merchants of this town, in con- sequence of the little confidence they had in a con- stantly depreciating paper currency, refused to sell the West India commodities in their possession, at the stated prices. This determination gave great offence, and under the excitement of the occasion, a number of women resolved to redress the grievance, forcibly or otherwise. One cold November morning, a company of about sixty, wearing lambskin cloaks with riding hoods, marshalled by three or four lead- ers, one of them bearing a musket, marched in regu- lar order down Main and Bartlett streets to the wharves, attended by two ox-carts. They proceed- ed to the distil-house, where a quantity of sugar, belonging to the estate of Stephen Cabot, deceased, was stored. In the meantime, the foreman of the distillery, to whose custody the goods had been com- mitted, locked the gates at the entrance of the pas- sage leading to the store, and stood sentry within, to prevent the ingress of the assailants. Finding them- selves opposed, they called to their aid a reinforce- ment of men, who, with axes, soon demolished the

84 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

gates. The gallant foreman still maintained his post, and made a bold demonstration of resistance. His fair assailants, nothing daunted, pressed vigor- ously to the onset, and seizing him by the hair, which was not of nature's growth, were proceeding to execute summary vengeance, when he eluded their grasp by leaving his artificial covering in their hands — and fleeing all but scalpless to the counting- room, locked himself in for safe-keeping. The work of victory then commenced. With the co-operation of their volunteer reinforcement, these gentle ex- pounders of " women's rights" forced the doors of the store, and rolled out two hogsheads of sugar, which were placed on the carts in attendance. The affair had now assumed a serious aspect, and several other merchants having a quantity of sugar on hand, and unwilling to risk the consequences of resistance and possible defeat, entered into a negotiation, which resulted in an agreement, on their part, to sell each a barrel of sugar to the female dictators, at the stip- ulated price, and receive paper money in payment. With this treaty the war closed, and the valiant band dispersed. The sugar was carted to the house of the principal leader, who kept a shop, and was there dealt out in convenient parcels, according to treaty engagement. Acting as agent in the business, she received and paid over the money to the owners of the sugar, with whom an amicable settlement was subsequently made for the quantity forcibly taken.

It is but just, in closing this brief account of a pro- ceeding in which the ludicrous and the serious are blended, to remark, that few seaport towns having so much foreign trade as this had in times past, and so much privateering and other maritime business,

HISTORY OF BEVERLY. 85

have been so distinguished for their uniform, orderly submission to the laws of the land. The single de- parture from this course here related, probably had the effect of inducing greater caution among the well- disposed, and occasioned their prompt interference to check the first motions towards any disorderly pro- ceedings.

The year 1788 is an epoch in the history of Bev- erly, marked by the establishment of the first cotton mill in America ; that of Slater's, at Pawtucket, having been commenced in 1790. A building of brick was erected in the second parish, near "Ba- ker's corner," at the junction of the Birch-plain and Ipswich roads, and a company of proprietors incor- porated Feb. 3, 1789, without any exemption or priv- ilege, except that of acting as a body corporate. Great expectations were entertained from the intro- duction of manufactures into the country on an ex- tensive plan, at this early period. A periodical of the day, describing this factory, says, "that an ex- periment was made with a complete set of machines for carding and spinning cotton, which answered the warmest expectations of the proprietors. The spin- ning-jenny spins sixty threads at a time, and with the carding machine, forty pounds of cotton can be well carded per day. The warping machine and the other tools and machinery are complete, perform- ing their various operations to great advantage, and promise much benefit to the public, and emolument to the patriotic adventurers." This establishment was visited by Gen. Washington, on his tour through the country in 1789. Not realizing the anticipations of the proprietors, they abandoned it as a body cor- porate, and the business was carried oa by individu- 8

86 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

als, who subsequently erected a mill at the head of Bass river, for the purpose of spinning cotton by water-power. This enterprize proving unprofitable, the machinery and buildings of the cotton mill were finally removed, and the brick factory was destroyed by fire in 1828. In 1841 a steam factory was incor- porated, and a large amount of stock subscribed, but operations were temporarily suspended for more fa- vorable times.

The first election for governor, and other state ofld- cers, subsequent to the ratification of the constitu- tion of the United States, was held in Beverl}^ this year, April 8th, at which John Hancock received 155 votes for governor, and Elbridge Gerry 17. For lieut. governor, Benj. Lincoln received 158 votes, and James Warren 17.

The winter of 1780 is known as the hard winter. The snow fell seven successive days in December, to the depth of four feet on a level. The cold was in- tense, and for thirty days the sun made not the slightest impression on the snow, even in southern aspects. Many persons perished ; and in this town, from scarcity of fuel, a considerable number of fruit trees were cut down.

May 19, 1780, is distinguished as the dark day. The sun rose clear, but soon assumed a brassy hue. About 10 o'clock, A. M., it became unusually dark. The darkness continued to increase till about 1 o'clock, when it began to decrease. During this time candles were necessary. The birds disappeared and were silent, the fowls went to their roost, the cocks crew as at day-break, and every thing bore the appearance and gloom of night. The alarm produc- ed by this unusual aspect of the heavens was great,

HISTORY OF BEVERLY. 87

and tradition has preserved many anecdotes of terror. An old gentleman of rather singular turn, supposing the judgment-day at hand, dressed himself with unus- ual care, and taking his silver-headed cane walked out into the field to await the event. As the dark- ness came on, Mr Willard, who possessed some rare instruments, took a station on the common to make observations, and was soon surrounded by a large number of his parishioners, who gazed on his opera- tions with awe and wonder. Mr. W. paid no attention to the conjectures and expressions of alarm uttered in his hearing, and calmly pursued his investigations. In the midst of these, a person of excitable tempera- ment came running from the seashore, exclaiming in accents of terror, '' the tide has done flowing !" '' So it has !" replied Mr. Willard, who, with admirable presence of mind took out his watch — '' so it has, for it is just high water."

The night succeeding the day was of such pitchy darkness, that in some instances horses could not be compelled to leave the stable when wanted for ser- vice. About midnight the clouds were dispersed, and the moon and stars appeared with unimpaired brilliancy. This phenomenon is supposed to have been occasioned by the smoke arising from extensive fires in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, and which, owing to the clearness of the air and light- ness of the winds, had accumulated over this region in immense quantities. This year was also remark- able for the brilliant appearance of the aurora borealis, which, from the description, must have been more magnificent than the display witnessed on the evening of Dec. 11, 1830.

On the 4th of September, the first town meeting

88 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

was held for the election of governor, lieut. gov- ernor and councillors, pursuant to the provisions of the new constitution, when the following votes were given. For governor, James Bowdoin, 29 ; John Hancock, 16. For lieut. governor, John Hancock, 29; Benjamin Greenleaf, 14; James Bowdoin, 2. The first representatives under the constitution, were Larkin Thorndike and Jonathan Conant.

This year. Col. Henry Herrick deceased. He was an active agent in all the first revolutionary move-^ ments, and for many years represented the town in General Court. He frequently presided at the numer- ous town meetings held to consider the public con- cerns, at a time when it required a good degree of moral courage for any one to appear conspicuously in acts and measures of doubtful result, and in event of failure, placing him in the position of a rebel against the King and the government of Great Brit- ain. His house stood on the site of the present residence of Ebenezer Meacom. His family consist- ed of eight children, viz : Joseph, Pyam, Henry, Joanna, Elizabeth, Nancy, Mary and Ruth.

The peace of 1783 was hailed in this town with demonstrations of the liveliest joy. This year the town refused its assent to the proposition for holding and keeping at Ipswich, all the courts of law and offices of register of deeds, register of probate, and clerk of the courts of common pleas and general sessions of the peace, and instructed its representa- tive, Mr. Dane, to govern himself accordingly. In

HISTORY OF BEVERLY. 89

1784, £1200 were voted to be raised for the service of the town and the payment of debts. In 1785, Mr. Dane was elected a delegate to Congress, and was succeeded as representative by Larkin Thorndike. In 1786, the pecuniary difficulties and embarrass- ments of the town, in common with every part of New England, were very considerable, arising in' part from debts contracted during the war, the gen- eral stagnation of commerce, and the burdens of taxation consequent upon the revolution. This year the " Shays' rebellion " occurred — to suppress which, a regiment of militia was marched from Essex coun- ty under the command of Col. Wade, of Ipswich, an officer in whom Washington, during the revolution, reposed the utmost confidence. In 1787, the votes for governor were 125, of which John Hancock re- ceived 77, and James Bowdoin 48. The same year George Cabot, Joseph Wood and Israel Thorndike, were chosen delegates to represent the town in the State convention to be held in Boston, Jan. 1788, for the purpose of taking into consideration the constitu- tion or frame of government for the United States, proposed by the federal convention.

Between 1786 and 1789, town offices went beg- ging. So many persons chosen declining to serve, resort was had to a fine as a compulsory measure to complete the proper organization. The greatest dif- ficulty was experienced in obtaining persons to serve in the office of constable, as they were obliged to collect the taxes in their respective wards, a duty which appears to have been peculiarly onerous at that time. To secure the services of these officers, a fine of £5 was imposed on those who refused to accept the office when chosen, or procure a substi- 8#

90 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

tute : and even this measure was not always suc- cessful, as it appears that, in 1786, seven town meetings were held between March and October, before persons would serve rather than pay £5 fine.

In 1790, Larkin Thorndike and Joseph Wood were chosen representatives, and instructed to attend the General Court together only on occasions of extraor- dinary business, and at other times separately. In 1791, the town treasurer was directed to fund the paper money on hand, or sell it, as he might think best. In 1792, it was voted that all contracts should be made and paid in hard money instead of town orders.

Feb. 22, 1793, Washington's birth-day was cele- brated with a display of colors and a ball and supper in the evening. Among the toasts were the fol- lowing :

•' Agriculture — May we always revere the most ancient and most useful of arts.

" Manufactures — May a conviction of their utility in an improved state, make us cherish them in their infancy.

'' Commerce — May it universally be conducted on the liberal principles of reciprocal advantage."

The proclamation of neutrality, issued by the President of the United States in 1793, and induced by the war then existing in Europe, was regarded by every friend of peace as " a wise and prudent meas- ure, well-timed, founded on fact, and calculated to secure the honor and promote the true interests and happiness of the country." The design of that proc- lamation was warmly seconded in this town. At a meeting of the merchants and others, held the 25th of July, of which Moses Brown was chairman, reso-

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lutions were imanimously adopted, recognizing its necessity and propriety, as not only announcing to the powers of Europe the equitable disposition of the United States, and tending to produce a reciprocity of friendly sentiments, but also as admonishing all American citizens of the penalties to which a viola- tion of the laws of nations subjected them. In order to preserve " the strictest neutrality between the powers at war," the meeting further resolved, that ''should any inhabitant of these States, regardless of all moral and political obligations, fit out or be inter- ested in any privateer or vessel armed to cruise against any nation at peace with the United States, we will endeavor to detect him, that he may suffer the pun- ishment inflicted by the law for such piratical con- duct."

The subject of revising the State constitution was laid before the town in 1795, and decided in the affirmative by a vote of twenty-six to ten. In 1796, a petition drawn up by Rev. Mr. M'Kean, William Burley, Israel Thorndike, Moses Brown and John Stephens, was adopted by the town with entire unan- imity, and presented to Congress, praying for the immediate fulfilment of the treaty made between the United States and Great Britain.

Soon after the close of the revolutionary struggle, public attention was directed to the vast wilderness of the west as " much to be desired for a possession." Statesmen saw in that immense territory the future seat of civilization and political power. Political economists perceived, in a mild climate, a fertile soil, numerous navigable streams and geographical rela- tions, superior advantages for agricultural, manufac- turing and commercial pursuits, as well as for the

92 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

support of a dense population ; and capitalists dream- ed of fortunes to be made by investments there. The "Ohio fever," as it was aptly denominated, prevailed throughout New England, and numerous families left " their pleasant homes, to follow the guiding hand of Providence to the western realms of promise." Forty-four years ago, '' a long ark-like looking wagon was seen traversing the roads and winding through the villages of Essex and Middlesex, covered with black canvass, inscribed on the outside in large letters, ' to Marietta on the Ohio.' That expedition, under Dr. Cutler, of this neighborhood, was the first germ of the settlement of Ohio, which now contains a million and a half of inhabitants. Forty-four years have scarce passed by, since this great State, with all its settlements, improvements, canals and growing population, was covered up (if I may so say,) under the canvass of Dr. Cutler's wagon. Not half a century, and ,a State is in exist- ence, (twice as large as our old Massachusetts) to whom not old England, but New England is the land of ancestral recollections."^ In the afore-named com- pany of emigrants, was the family of Peter Shaw and several other persons of this town.

1798. The town this year for the first time chose a health officer, and in 1801 a hospital was erected on Paul's head at an expense of about $450. This point was originally the property of Paul Thorndike, one of the first selectmen of the town after its incor- poration, and from him derived its name. A watch- house was built here as early as 1711.

January 18, 1799. The schooner Alert, of Beverly,

* Everett.

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Capt. Jacob Oliver, was taken by three French pri- vateers as she was entering the harbor of Santander, and sent into Bayonne. She was not captured with- out a noble struggle. With only two guns, she beat off a lugger that led on the attack, and continued the combat with a second, until that was reinforced by a ten-gun schooner, when she was compelled to strike. Thisoutrageupon American neutrality excited strong murmurs among the inhabitants of Santander, and the commander of the fort notified the captains of the French privateers in the harbor, that if they attempted to put to sea after an American vessel came in sightj. he would sink them.

From 1773 to 1800, numerous town meetings were held for the adoption of measures to prevent th<^inr troduction and spread of the small-pox. A commit- tee of inspection was chosen ; a house provided to which suspected persons and their goods were to be conveyed for examination and cleansing; smoke- houses were erected, and fences were thrown across the roads, to prevent the passing of persons with- out inspection. Inoculation with small-pox virus, though several times commenced, never met with cordial approbation — owing, perhaps, to the same prejudice that resisted its introduction into Boston, in 1720. In 1788, it appearing that the practice of inoculation continued, a committee was appointed to inform the masters of all houses infected with the disease, that they were forbidden, under the highest displeasure of the town, and the penalties of the law, to permit any person to come into their house, for the purpose of inoculation, or of passing through the distemper. To carry the intention of the town more completely into effect, all suspected persons were re-

94 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

quired to undergo fumigation, and inoculation by- physicians and all other persons was prohibited after the first day of July. In 1800, the town was thrown into alarm by the introduction of virus from London, supposed to be vaccine, but which unfortu- nately proved to be the matter of small-pox, or a disease nearly approximating to it, probably the varioloid. A town meeting was the consequence, exhibiting strong symptoms of tumult, but which happily terminated without violence. At this meet- ing, inoculation either for small or kine-pox, was again prohibited except at hospitals, and various other precautionary measures were adopted. Since 1800, the general introduction of kine-pox by vacci- nation, has prevented the spread of small-pox here as elsewhere.

In 1803, the town concurred in the petition of John Heard and others, for a turnpike from Beverly to Newburyport. This road was intended to be com- menced at Nathaniel Batchelder's blacksmith's shop ; and running in a direct line across Dodge's Row near tlfe school-house, to intersect the main road in Hamilton, near Dr. Faulkner's corner. This project was prosecuted no further than to procure an act of incorporation. The same year, $1500 were voted for the repair of the highways.

March 27, 1807, Capt. George Raymond died, aged 99 years and about 3 months. He was the son of Nathaniel and Rebecca Raymond, and was born Dec. 21, 1707. He was in the Cape Breton expedition, and is mentioned in the town records of 1770, as moderator of a meeting at which measures were adopted to suppress the use of tea. He re- sided, at the time of his decease, in the second parish.

HISTORY OF BEVERLY. 95

July 4th. The thirty-first anniversary of Ameri- can Independence, was celebrated with particular demonstrations of joy. The Light Infantry, and other military companies paraded, and salutes were fired from a cannon used to announce the memora- ble declaration of 1776, at sunrise, noon and sunset. At half past 9 o'clock, the Light Infantry company paraded in front of Hon. Israel Thorndike's man- sion, and received the present of a standard ; after which, with a numerous company of ladies, the clergy, gentlemen of this and the neighboring towns, and the officers of the third regiment, they partook of refreshments liberally provided by that gentle- man. At eleven o'clock a procession was formed and moved to the South meeting-house, escorted by the Light Infantry, a part of Capt. Brown's com- pany, and the Salem Juvenile Artillery, the whole under the command of Capt. Rantoul. Prayers were offered by Rev. Messrs. Emerson and Randall, and an appropriate discourse delivered by Rev. Mr. Abbot, from Exodus 12 : 14. After the religious services, the procession was again formed and es- corted to a tent on Watch House Hill, under which about two hundred persons of different politics par- took of an elegant dinner, at which Col. Lovett pre- sided. Among the toasts given were the following :

" The Militia : Every citizen a soldier, and every soldier a patriot.

" Our Fisheries : While we draw wealth from those exhaustless mines, with gratitude may we remember the patriots who procured us the blessing.

" Agriculture, Commerce, and the Arts : Together they flourish ; separated they die.

96 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

'' Schools, Acad-emies, and Colleges : May they be nurseries of science and virtue.

'' The Ladies of Beverly, who this day presented the standard to the Light Infantry : May their gen- erous patriotism be long held in grateful remem- brance."

Dec. 22d, the long embargo was enacted which was subsequently repealed by the non-intercourse act of March 1, 1S09. The political excitement of this period, is shown by the number of votes given at successive elections. The whole number cast in April, 1807, was 588 ; in April, 180S, 654 : in Nov. 1808, 671 ; in April, 1809, 650. At these times the fishermen and seamen were generally at home, and particular pains were taken to induce every voter to use his franchise.

Jan. 21, 1808, Joseph Wood departed this life, aged 68 years. During a period of more than forty years, he was constant!}'- connected with town afi"airs. He represented the town in General Court for a great number of years, and from 1771, to the day of his death, nearly thirty-eight years, filled the office of town clerk. He had also been a selectman, and for some years before his decease was an acting jus- tice of peace and notary public. During the whole of the revolutionary war, he was one of the com- mittee of correspondence, inspection and safety, thus occupying a place of great labor and responsibility, which was bestowed only on such as were well known to be zealously devoted to the cause of their country. In 1788, he was a member of the conv^en- tion for ratifying the constitution of the United States, and the fidelity with which he discharged

HISTORY OF BEVERLY. 97

every public duty, uniformly secured to him the unbounded confidence of his fellow-townsmen.

This year, the town petitioned the Congress of the United States, to suspend the operation of the em- bargo laws. The petition is recorded at length, and will, in future time, be an interesting document to those who are desirous to become acquainted with all the transactions of that period. The following year, at one of the most numerous meetings ever held in this town, spirited resolutions were unani- mously passed, disapproving of the embargo laws, and a petition embracing the substance of these reso- lutions, was voted to be presented to the General Court, praying for relief.

December 10, 1809, Josiah Batchelder, jr., Esq., deceased, aged 73. He was the son of Josiah Batch- elder, who served in the expedition against Port Royal in 1707, under the command of Capt. Benj. James, of Marblehead, and died at the advanced age of 88. Mr. Batchelder early commenced a nautical life, and by energy of character, soon rose to the command of a vessel. In 1761, on his passage from Georgia to St. Christopher, with a cargo of lumber, he was taken by a French privateer, and, after being detained twenty-four hours, succeeded in obtaining the release of his vessel for two thousand three hun- dred pieces of eight. For the payment of this sum he was retained a hostage on board the privateer ; while his vessel, under the charge of his first officer, was despatched to St. Eustatia or St. Christopher for the money. In the meantime he was carried into Martinico and thrust into a filthy prison, from which he obtained release, and proceeded to St. Christopher, 9

98 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

where he entered a protest against the whole pro- ceedings.

Mr. Batchelder was early a warm, devoted and energetic friend to the cause of freedom, to promote which he made large pecuniary sacrifices. His fel- low-citizens honored him with their confidence by electing him six times to represent their interests in the General Court. He was also elected a member of the Provincial Congress in 1775, and again in '76, ^77 and '79, and in both assemblies was placed on the most important committees. His extensive busi- ness and public station made for him a large ac- quaintance at home and abroad, and his numerous guests were entertained with a generous hospitality. For many years Mr. B. discharged, with great ac- ceptance, the duties of a justice of the peace ; and when, by act of Congress, Salem and Beverly were formed into one district, he received the appoint- ment of surveyor and inspector, which office he held until his decease. He was thirty-five years a mem- ber of the first church, and departed this life, leaning, with unshaken confidence, on the Christian's hope.

In 1810, the town, by vote, protested against the removal of the term of the Supreme Judicial Court from Ipswich to Newburyport. In 1812, soon after the declaration of war against Great Britain, spirited resolutions were passed in town meeting, disapprov- ing the proceedings of the government of the United States, and approving the course of the General Court and of the Governor in relation to the war. Delegates were also chosen to attend a county con- vention at Ipswich. In 1814, a memorial was adopt- ed by the town and ordered to be presented to the

HISTORY OF BEVERLY. 99

General Court, in reference to the sufferings of the inhabitants from embargo and war. In 1814, an attack being apprehended from the enemy, several famiUes removed to the interior.

On the 9th of June, a barge, from a British ship of war, pursued a schooner belonging to Manchester, towards this harbor. Unable to escape, she was run ashore on Mingo's beach and abandoned. The Brit- ish set her on fire, but the flames were afterwards extinguished by the neighboring inhabitants without much damage. The alarm occasioned by this affair was followed by a public meeting, at which meas- ures were adopted for the effectual protection of the town. Subsequently, a company of infantry from Haverhill and Methuen, and of artillery from Dan- vers, were stationed here for the defence of the coast; but the following winter, cause for further warlike preparations was removed by the treaty of peace, ex- ecuted at Ghent, Dec. 24, 1814, and ratified by the American senate Feb. 16th, 1815.

March 6th, 1819, Mr. Robert Endicott, an exem- plary and respected citizen, deceased, aged 62 years. Mr. Endicott was a descendant from Governor En- dicott, of the fifth generation. He removed from Dan vers to Beverly in the latter part of 1781, being the first of the name that settled here. He married Mary, daughter of Rev. Nathan Holt, of Danvers. Of seven children, two only survive, who, with their families, reside in this town.

In 1820, the question of amending the constitution was submitted to the people, who gave a majority in the affirmative. Four delegates were elected by this town to attend the convention called for that purpose, and which consisted of about five hundred members.

100 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

December 22, 1822, William Burley died, in the 72d year of his age. He was a native of Ipswich, and was born .Tamiary 2d, 1751. He took an active and zealous part in the war of the revolution, and was some years an officer in the American army.

On the 3d of February, 1780, when under the command of Col. Thompson, on the lines near White Plains, Mr. Burley, who was then a lieutenant, was taken prisoner in a severe skirmish with a detachment of British troops. Col. Thompson, who commanded, was also taken, with several other officers and about ninety men. This misfortune was owing to the neg- ligence and imprudence of the Colonel, who omitted the precautions he had been directed to take to guard against any sudden attack.=^'

Mr. Burley was compelled to remain a prisoner a year and nine months, on his parole, on Long Island, when he obtained his liberty by an exchange. This long captivity, at such a crisis, was a very severe trial to one of his active character and ardent pa- triotism. The last year of his imprisonment he was allowed the pay and rations of a captain in the con- tinental service.

He left a legacy to this town of five hundred dol- lars, to be expended for the instruction of poor chil- dren in reading and the principles of the Christian religion. This legacy was managed by a committee appointed for the purpose, who bestowed the benefit on such children in different parts of the town as, in their judgment, most required it. A legacy of a sim- ilar character was also left to his native town.

August 31st, 1824, General La Fayette, then mak-

* Heath's Memoirs, p. 230.

HISTORY OF BEVERLY. 101

ing a tour of the country he had so signally served by the side of Washington, passed through this town. He was received, as he was every where, with every demonstration of respect. His arrival was announced by a salute of thirteen guns, from EUingwood's point. An arch was erected on Essex bridge, at the line of the town, beautifully decorated with flowers, evergreens and flags, bearing the inscription, " Wel- come, La Payette, the man whom we delight to hon- or." On arriving opposite the bank, where was dis- played across the street a line of national banners, he was cheered by a concourse of citizens. His car- riage and escort halted for a short time, amidst a furious rain, when he was addressed by Hon. Robert Rantoul in behalf of the citizens, as follows :

•'General: The inhabitants of Beverly bid you welcome. We welcome you to our country, — that country whicii owes so much to your aid in the ac- quisition of her independence. We receive you not merely as the friend of our beloved country, but as the friend of Man. Your labors, your sacrifices, your sufferings in the cause of liberty, demand our grati- tude. Tyrants receive the commanded adulation of their slaves, but to the benefactors of our race belong the spontaneous eff'usions of our hearts. Accept our sincere congratulations that you live to witness the order, the prosperity, the happiness that results from our free institutions; and may the evening of your days be solaced with the reflection that those princi- ples of government, to the support of which your life has been devoted, and which alone can secure the enjoyment of rational liberty, are fast spreading their influence through the whole family of man. Wish- ing you long life and uninterrupted happiness, we bid you farewell." 9*

102 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

After an affectionate reply to this address, the Gen- eral resumed his journey.

In 1827, Capt. John Low died, in the 82d year of his age. He was born in Hamilton, in 1745. He became a resident of Beverly before the revolution- ary war, at the commencement of which he forsook his business of cabinet-making, and raised a com- pany for the continental army. After leaving the army he kept a public-house near the ferry- way, and subsequently removed to Lyman, Me., where, until the day of his decease, he enjoyed the confidence of his fellow-townsmen.

In consequence of the alarming prevalence of the Asiatic cholera in various parts of the country, in 1832, a town meeting was held August 4th, at which a committee of nine persons, including the selectmen, was appointed as a health committee, who were au- thorized to take such measures to prevent its intro- duction and spread as should be thought necessary. This committee, in discharge of their duty, caused directions to be printed and circulated, in which they recommended attention to personal cleanliness, mod- eration in the use of food, total abstinence from the use of distilled spiritous liquors, and the exercise of a moral courage that results from a rational confi- dence in God.

July 4th, 1835. The anniversary of American in- dependence was celebrated in this town on the 3d July, the 4th being the Sabbath, without distinction of party. The oration was by Edward Everett, the present minister from this country to Great Britain, who chose for his subject the early part of the life of George Washington, terminating with the French war, about 1756. This effort of the distinguished orator was one of his happiest. For an hour and a

HISTORY OF BEVERLY. 103

half, he spoke without recurrence to notes, and riv- eted the attention of a crowded and overflowing au- dience in the Dane street meeting-house. At the close of the exercises, a numerous company, with invited guests, including twelve revolutionary vet- erans, repaired to a pavilion erected on the common, where they partook of an excellent dinner. The pa- vilion was tastefully decorated with flowers and evergreens by the ladies, who were complimented at the table in the following toast :

" The Ladies of Beverly, who have labored for our present ac- commodation ; and with their permission we would mention the Lady Superior, whose great industry and good taste have done so much for the beauty and ornament of the scenery about us. May she never consign herself to a cloister less joyous and happy than that which witnesses the festivities of this day."

Hon. Robert Rantoul presided at the table, assist- ed by several vice-presidents ; and although total abstinence from intoxicating liquors did not then generally prevail, yet the example of the president, and some other teetotalers, was not lost upon the company ; and on the whole, the entertainment may be pronounced one of the most orderly, tasteful and intellectual, of its kind, ever enjoyed by the citizens of Beverly. Among the toasts ofl*ered on the occa- sion was the following, in compliment to the orator :

" The orator of the day : The union of genius, talents and in- dustry, regulated by virtuous principle, will always command respect and esteem from a free and enlightened community. The power of eloquence, when employed to promote harmony, union and peace among friends and neighbors, excites the most grateful feelings, and merits the warmest praise."

This sentiment was responded to by Mr. Everett, in a neat and appropriate speech, which was received with great applause. Addresses were also made by

104 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

»

Hon. Leverett Saltonstall of Salem, and Mr. Blunt of New York. Letters, accompanied with toasts, were read from a number of distinguished gentle- men, who were unable to accept the invitations ex- tended to them.

The committee of arrangements consisted of four- teen citizens, of whom Josiah Lovett, 2d, was chair- man. The escort duty was performed by the Bev- erly Light Infantry. The bells were rung, and sa- lutes fired in the morning and at evening ; and after sunset a display of fireworks was made on Watch- house hill. The celebration was conceived and car- ried but in an excellent spirit, and the occasion pass- ed off" with fewer causes for regret than usually attend festivities of this description.

August 20th, a town meeting was held, at which a series of resolutions were adopted, and a committee appointed to endeavor to obtain a change of the loca- tion of the Eastern Rail-road, from the east to the west side of Essex bridge. The objections to the former location, as urged in the resolutions, were, substantially, that the construction of a bridge there would materially injure the anchorage accommoda- tions of the harbor, incommode citizens engaged in the cod fishery, expose the town to fire from engines, endanger the lives of numerous children who must cross the road in going to and from school, and per- manently injure the business, prosperity and growth of the place ; all of which evils the location of the road west of the bridge would obviate. At an ad- journed meeting, Sept. 17th, the report of the com- mittee was accepted, their number enlarged, and in- structions given them to continue their efforts to obtain a compliance with the resolutions passed at the first meeting. This object was attained in 1837.

HISTORY OF BEVERLY. 105

AND ESSEX BRIDGE.

Besides the houses for public worship, the princi- pal public edifices in Beverly are the town-hall, bank, and almshouse. A large three-story brick building was erected in 1839 on Cabot street, at the head of Bartlett street, by Mr. John Bell, and fitted up for stores, ofiices, reading-room, etc. It also con- tains a hall for lectures and other public assemblies, and is known as '' Bell's hall." A cupola surmounts the building, affording a convenient " look-out," from which vessels may be seen far away at sea.

The old town-hall occupies an elevated site, a short distance easterly from the main street. It was erected in 1798, by Mr Obediah Groce, of Salem, at a cost of about $2000. It is two stories high, and has a cupola, furnished with a bell. It was originally built to accommodate the grammar-school ; but when completed, a vote was passed to occupy the second story for town purposes, previous to which time town meetings had been held in the first parish meeting- house. It has been variously altered, from time to time, and in 1842 was sold to the grammar district, who gave it the name of Briscoe Hall.

The new town-hall stands on the east side of Cabot street, a little south of the first parish meet- ing-house. It is of brick, three stories high, of remarkably correct symmetry, and is highly orna- mental to the town. It was originally built for a private residence, by Andrew Cabot, about fifty- five years ago, in the most substantial manner, the walls being very thick. It subsequently became the property of the late Israel Thorndike, who orna- mented its ample grounds with numerous fruit and

106 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

forest trees, shrubs and plants. In 1841, it was pur- chased of the heirs of Mr. T., and altered as it now appears. On the first floor are rooms for the school committee, selectmen, assessors and town clerk. The second and third stories are thrown into one, making a large and commodious hall, with galleries on three sides, furnished with fixed seats, while for the main floor moveable settees are provided. The hall is light- ed with astral lamps, and the rostrum is furnished with a sofa and chairs. The whole interior arrange- ment is neat and convenient, and reflects great credit on the gentlemen under whose superintendence the work was executed, as well as on the mechanics by whom the labor was performed. The committee to whom was committed the care of this enterprize, consisted of George Brown, chairman, John Saffbrd, Augustus N. Clark, James Haskell, and Francis Woodberry.

The hall was opened for public purposes October 26, 184], with appropriate religious exercises, and an address from Hon. Robert Rantoul. The build- ing, with the public square adjoining it, is protected on its west and south sides by a neat fence of chain, inserted in granite posts ; and is shaded by a number of beautiful horse-chestnut and elm trees. Alto- gether, it is one of the finest and most convenient buildings for town purposes in the county.

The banking house is also on Cabot street, at the corner of Central street. It is of brick, three stories high, and was built by John Cabot, a brother of An- drew, near the time of the erection of the new town- hall.

Attention was directed to the wants of the poor, very soon after the town was incorporated ; and one of the conditions of a contract, made for the support

HISTORY OF BEVERLY. 107

of a pauper in 1723, was, that he should be kept as a christian ought to be kept. As early as 1719-20, a vote was passed by the town to build an alms- house. It was afterwards re-considered, and that purpose was not finally accomplished until 1803, when the house now owned by the town was erect- ed. It is pleasantly situated on a court, running northerly from Cabot street. The house is two sto- ries high, and contains twelve rooms, besides two in the basement ; one of which is used as a kitchen, and the other as a work-room. The basement story also contains the necessary cells for the confinement of disorderly persons. The house was very tho- roughly repaired in 1838, at an expense of $2,500, and under its present efficient management, affords a humane asylum for the friendless poor. Land owned, and rented by the town for that purpose, is cultivated by the inmates of this house, who raise potatoes and other vegetables sufficient for their own consumption, and cut hay enough to keep two cows. Among the greatest conveniences obtained for this town by corporate enterprize, is Essex Bridge. On the 26th Dec. 1636, a ferry was established between Salem Neck, or North Point, and Cape- Ann-side, as Beverly was then styled. It was kept by John Stone, who was to receive as passage-money, ''2c?. for each stranger, and Id. for an inhabitant of Sa- lem." The next year (1637) the inhabitants of Bass- River-side, petitioned the court to exempt them from the ferriage fee, on the ground that they did not re- ceive any part of the toll profits; but the prayer was not granted. In 1639, the ferry was granted to Wil- liam Dixy for three years. He was " to keep a horse- boat j to have for a stranger's passage, 2d] for towns-

108 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

men, Id-, for mares, horses, and other great beasts. 6d. ; for goats, calves, and swine, 2d.

Jan. 5, 1698-9, the ferry-landing on the Beverly- side was laid out by order of the Court of General Sessions of the Peace, on a return by a jury. This landing includes nearly all the fiats between Safford & Stone's wharves, and, although not the property of the town, has been until recently a public land- ing. In 1749, the ferry was let for £3 sterling a year ; and the rates of toll were fixed at 6d. old tenor, or 1 copper for a passenger, 2 coppers for a horse, 7 for a chair, 9 for a two-wheeled chaise, and 11 for a four-wheeled carriage. In 1783, it was let for £30 a year. A boat was to be kept in the night on each side of the river, and no more than double ferriage was to be required at unseasonable hours.

It appears from the records, that this town claimed a right in the ferry, in opposition to the claims of Salem to an exclusive property. In 1742, it was voted, that the inhabitants feel aggrieved by Salem's taking away their former privilege in passing and repassing the ferry between Salem and Beverly, and a committee was chosen to treat with the selectmen of Salem about the matter, and to report ten days before the subsequent meeting in March. At the March meeting, following, in 1742-3, the report of this committee was considered and accepted, but further proceedings stayed until the action of Salem thereon was ascertained. At a meeting in September of the same year, a committee of five was appointed to use all lawful means for recovering the town's right in the ferry, and Mr. Bollan was retained as counsel. At a meeting, Dec. 26, 1743, John Thorn- dike, jr. was appointed agent for the town in rela-

HISTORY OF BEVERLY. 109

tion to this dispute, but in what manner it was ad- justed, if ever, is unknown.

As population and travel increased, the inconve- nience of a ferry must have been proportionably reahzed, and the erection of Charles river bridge, connecting Boston with Charlestown, suggested the idea of a similar improvement here. The subject was brought before the town at a meeting held June 21st, 1787, on the petition of Thomas Stephens and others, and a unanimous vote was passed to instruct the selectmen to petition the General Court to grant George Cabot and others an act of incorporation, for the purpose of building a bridge. The selectmen, to whom this duty was assigned, were Joseph Rea, John Lovett, 4th, Charles Dodge, Jonathan Conant and Asa Leach. The prayer of the petitioners was granted, though not without opposition, Nov. 17th, 1787. The persons named as corporators, were George Cabot, John Cabot, John Fiske, of Salem, Israel Thorndike, and Joseph White, of Salem, whose shocking murder, in the night of April 6th, 1830, thrilled the community with horror. The first pro- prietors' meeting was held at the Sun tavern, in Sa- lem, Dec. 13, 1787, of which Nathan Dane was mod- erator, and William Prescott, clerk.

The first directors were George Cabot, John Fiske, Andrew Cabot, Joseph White, Edward Pulling, Jo- seph Lee and George Dodge. At the first meeting of the directors, George Cabot was chosen president, George Dodge and John Fiske, vice-presidents, and Thomas Davis, jr. treasurer. Robert Rantoul was chosen president in 1838, and has since sustained the office.

The first ^ier was laid in May, 1788, and on the 10

110 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

24lh September of the same year, the bridge was opened for passage. The bridge is 1 484 feet long, 32 feet wide, and consists of 93 piers. It has a draw, with convenient piers, hawser, etc. for the accom- modation of vessels passing it. Its cost was about $16,000. The stock is divided into two hundred shares, and for several years previous to 1830, sold for about five times the original par value. It is still good property. The proprietors are required to pay to Salem £40 annually, as compensation for the ferry- ways, and £10 to Danvers.

With a view, as it seems, to prevent a diversion of travel from Danvers Neck, which it was apprehended the erection of Essex bridge would effect, a bridge was commenced, and though opposed by the corpo- ration of Essex bridge, completed over Frost Fish river, near where the dam of the Danvers and Bev- erly iron-works company now is. The feeling in which this work was accomplished, gave it the name of Spite bridge^ the memory of which time has not entirely obliterated. The right to take toll on Essex bridge was granted for seventy years from its open- ing, when it reverts to the Commonwealth.^

SCHOOLS AND ACADEMY.

The history of education in this town, could it be written in detail, would be exceedingly interesting and instructive, illustrating the importance it has ever held in the estimation of its citizens ; and show-

* The course of the bridge from Beverly side to Salem, is south 5 deg. west.

HISTORY OF BEVERLY. Ill

ing the various progress it has made here in com- mon with sister towns. It is probable that provision of some kind was made for the education of children very soon after the settlement in 1630, though noth- ing relating to the subject is found on record until 1656, when a meeting-house was built, which was also used for a school-house. For aught that is known, this arrangement continued for a period of more than eighteen years, when, Nov. 5th, 1674, a school-house was ordered to be built on the town's land, near the meeting-house, 20 feet long, 16 feet wide, and 9 feet stud. This was also to serve the purpose of a watch-house. At what time this order was executed does not appear. The erection of this building, from causes unknown, was probably de- layed several years, as by an arrangement entered into May 19, 1677, with Samuel Hardie, (the first schoolmaster whose name is recorded,) it was stipu- lated that he should have the meeting-house to teach in during that summer, and some other place during the winter. His agreement with the selectmen, was " to teach ordinary learning according to the utmost of his ability, and to take a faithful account, and receive pay according to ordinary rates," His first contract was for the year, and if the payments of the scholars did not amount to £20, the town was to meet the deficiency ; and if the payments exceeded that sum, he was to pay the surplus to the town. He continued to keep the school for several years. He was the. son of Robert Hardie, a citizen and haberdasher of London. Jan. 24, 1675, he married Mary, daughter of Samuel Dudley, of Exeter. Nov. 5, 1674, he was chosen clerk of the writs for Bev- erly, and Sept. 1, 1684. was employed, with Andrew

112 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

Elliot, to transcribe the town records into a new book. Besides being a teacher of youth, he is sup- posed to have exercised the functions of a physi- cian.

At a town meeting Nov. 2, 1686, it was "agreed by said town, witli Corporal David Perkins, that the said town should have and did hire of said Perkins, one convenient room or chamber with a fire-room in it, for the space of six months after the date here- of, for the just sum of 10s. in pay, for a place for Mr. John Pearly to teach school in during said term, for the use of said town. And further, it was then agreed that the new selectmen, with the assistance of Capt. William Rayment and Corporal Thomas West, as a committee, were chosen to agree with said schoolmaster, about the terms of teaching for said town, provided that said committee do not ex- ceed £20 in pay, or £10 in money, for said teaching one whole year from the date hereof."

In 1700, in conformity to the law then in force, a grammar-school was established, and Robert Hale, son of the minister, was appointed master, with a salary of £10, and an additional allowance if he kept an English school. The next year the school was kept by Daniel Dodge. In 1704, James Hale, another son of the minister, was the master, who taught writing, reading, casting accounts, Latin and Greek grammar, at a salary of £30. In 1720, the school was kept by Pyam Blowers, son of the min- ister, who is the last of the early teachers of whom record is made.^ In 1782, the grammar-school was

* John Rogers, Henry Rust, William Shurlliff and John Cotton, are among the graduates of Harvard College, who were teachers in this school at an early period.

HISTORY OF BEVERLY. 113

discontinued, for which the town was presented to the Court of Sessions, when it was resumed again and continued without further interruption to 1825, a period of 124 years. The grammar-school was kept in various places till 1798, when it was estab- lished during its further continuance in the new house on Watch-house Hill, the second story of which was fitted up for town purposes.

About 1700, attention to the schools declined, but revived again about 1749, when the teacher was required to return a list to the selectmen, of the names of parents and masters, and the number of children and servants belonging to each, that were instructed by him. The selectmen were to tax the parents and masters for the support of the school, except such as they judged proper to exempt, and commit the tax to one of the constables for collec- tion. Any person refusing to pay for his proportion of fuel, was to be punished by his children or ser- vants being denied the privilege of warming them- selves at the schoolhouse fire !

At a meeting March 20th, 1749-50, the sum of £32, old tenor, was voted to the inhabitants of the east part of the town, to enable them to keep a school four months in the year. The next year £4.5.8, lawful money, was voted them for the same purpose, and in 1752, it was voted that the grammar- school should be kept in that part of the town in proportion to what they paid towards taxes. From 1754 to 1825, various changes and improvements were made, when the grammar-school was abolished, and a vote was passed to divide the school money raised by the town, among the ten school districts as they now exist, according to the number of ratable 10^

114 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

polls. In 1836, the school committee revised the school regulations, which, at a subsequent town- meeting were adopted. The books prescribed for the use of the schools in those regulations, are — Cum- mings' Spelling Book, New Testament, Young Rea- der, Introduction to the National Reader, National Reader, Sullivan's Political Class Book, Wood- bridge's Geography and Atlas, Colburn's Arithmetic first part and sequel, Goodrich's History of the United States, Comstock's Philosophy, Holbrook's Geometry, Fowle's Linear Drawing, Blair's Rhet- oric, Colburn's Algebra, Bowditch's Navigator, Wor- cester's Dictionary, Story's Abridgement, Parker's Natural Philosophy, Greenleaf's Arithmetic — to which list others have since been added. It is made the duty of instructors to exert their best endeavors to impress on the minds of children and youth, com- mitted to their care and instruction, the principles of piety, justice, and a sacred regard to truth ; love to their country, humi^nity and universal benevolence ; sobriety, industry and frugality ; chastity, modera- tion and temperance ; and those other virtues which are the ornament of human society and the basis upon which a republican constitution is founded : but no books are to be used in school which are cal- culated to favor the tenets of any particular sect of christians.

By the returns of 1841, it appears that the num- ber of persons in this town between the ages of 4 and 16, is 1249, being an increase of 40 since the census of 1840, and of 122 since 1839. The number of all ages in all the schools is 1345, of which num- ber 50 are over 16 years, and 46 under 4. The av- erage attendance in the schools in summer, is 504 ;

HISTORY OF BEVERLY. 115

in winter. 593; making 152 less than the whole num- ber between 4 and 16. The number of children in primary schools is 817. In 1809, the school money- was ordered to be rated at ^1.90 for each poll, which is the sum assessed at present. The amount raised by taxes for the support of schools in 1798, was $1140; in 1806, $1600, and for their support last year, $2240.10. The gross amount paid for public and private tuition, including the academy, is up- wards of $5000. The schoolhouses, ten in number, were, with a single exception, erected before public at- tention was awakened, as for the last few years it has been, to the improved construction of such buildings. They are, nevertheless, commodious and in good condition. A convenient schoolhouse was erected in Bass river district in the autumn of 1842.

The report of the school committee, made to the town meeting, March 10, 1806, is recorded at length. This is the commencement of a series of able reports on the state of the schools, which have been con- tinued to this time, with manifest good effect in rais- ing the standard of education. By spreading a gen- eral statement of the condition and relative improve- ment of the schools before all the citizens at the an- nual town meeting, a more general interest in the subject is excited. Emulation is also produced among the respective districts, which tends to the improvement of their schools. Without this general diffusion of knowledge concerning the schools, any attempts at improvement, made in town meetings, will always be received with an indifference more fatal to success than positive opposition. But the benefit of these reports is not confined exclusively to the towns to which they are made. By a provi-

116 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

sion of law, a copy of them is required to be sent, with the annual returns, to the secretary of the Com- monwealth, for the use of the Board of Education. They are then examined by the secretary of the board, who makes such extracts as he judges may be serviceable, and incorporates them with the ab- stracts of returns which he makes to the board. These are published in a volume, and a copy sent to each of the towns in the Commonwealth ; and thus, an account of any improved method of managing schools, or a useful hint made in a report of one town, may become available to every district in the State.

For the gratifying change effected in the character of the public schools, from 1804 to 1827, the town is chiefly indebted to the school committee, and espe- cially to its chairman, Rev. Dr. Abbot, for that pe- riod, whose unwearied devotedness and careful at- tention to the qualifications of teachers, contributed essentially to elevate the standard of education. Since the impulse thus given, succeeding committees have watched over the schools with unabated inter- est, and performed an amount of service highly cred- itable to their public spirit. The requisitions of the law have been conformed to, and a gradual improve- ment has been made. The condition of the schools at the present time is better than at any former pe- riod. In the grammar district arrangements are made by which the poorest children* may obtain a good academic education, and if they desire it, be advanced in a collegiate course.

The public schools, it has been justly remarked by one whose age and experience give weight to his words, " ought to be equal to the wants of every

HISTORY OF BEVERLY. 117

class in society; and until they are made so, they do not answer the proper end of their institution. If any class are obliged to separate from others in the EDUCATION of their children, it lays the foundation for distinctions and separations in society in riper years, incompatible with those principles of equality which ought to be so carefully cultivated and guarded by all who have at heart the preservation of our political institutions," The public school system was con- ceived in the spirit of republicanism. It proposes to educate for all the practical purposes of life, the mass, who without its aid must suffer the evils of ignor- ance, as well as entail those evils on the community. And it further aims to strengthen the arch of repub- lican institutions, and to perpetuate social equality, by bringing together and subjecting to a common training the children and youth of all stations. If the spirit of its conception is kept constantly in view by the guardians of education, this desirable and important result may be obtained, guaranteeing there- by the fulfilment of the fondest hopes of the patriot and philanthropist. How far, or how soon, the pub- lic schools will be equal to the wants of every class in society, must mainly depend on the parents and guardians of youth. Laws may do something and school committees may do more ; but, unless seconded by those who have the deepest interest at stake, the progress must be necessarily slow. Schools may have a name to live ; but while parents and guard- ians are indifferent to their improvement, it is com- paratively little that committees can effect. The destiny of these institutions — colleges of the people, as they have been denominated — is not in the custody of the legislature exclusively, nor yet in the care of

118 HISTORY OF BEVERLY.

a few individuals appointed by the town to examine into their condition from time to time. It is in the hands of parents and guardians, and on them rests the responsibiUty of their prosperous existence. If parents will do for their children as much as they do for favorite animals — if they will see that their bodies are warmly, comfortably and healthfully housed, and their minds suitably fed — if they will visit the school with something of the interest with which they go to their various employments, and with frequency — if they will exercise their right in demanding high qualifications in teachers, and in nameless other ways second the views and come up to the help of committees and the friends of education, public schools will flourish, and the bread thus cast upon the waters will return in an abundant and well-ripened intellec- tual harvest.

The Beverly Academy was projected as a private school in February, 1833, by a number of gentlemen, who associated for that purpose. On the 1st of May following, they purchased an eligible lot of land on the north-easterly side of Washington street, and, dividing the property into thirty-two shares, immedi- ately commenced the erection of a building suited to their object. On the 17th June, the same year, the school was opened under Abiel Abbot, of Wilton, N. H., as principal, and Mary R. Peabody, as assist- ant. Mr. Abbot was succeeded the next year by Charles A. Peabody, of Tamworth, N. H. He con- tinued only one term, when Edward Bradstreet was employed. On the 30th January, 1835, the proprie- tors of the school obtained an act of incorporation, and Mr. Bradstreet continued the instruction until 30th June, 1836. His assistant, with some intermis-

HISTORY OF BEVERLY. 119

sion, was Ann W. Abbot. He was succeeded on 25th July following by Thomas Barnard West, who remained principal till his much-lamented death in October last. His assistants have been Mary Wil- liams, Ann W. Abbot and Mary T. Weld. The present principal is Edward Appleton, who graduat- ed at Cambridge in the class of 1835. The average number of pupils has been about 30 of both sexes, more than half of whom were males. The Academy has been from the first under excellent supervision, and has won for itself a deservedly popular reputa- tion.

In 1837, a school was commenced in the second parish, and incorporated as the New England Christ- ian Academy. This school was conducted on the manual labor system, and during its continuance, averaged about 60 pupils. Its preceptor, with the exception of a single term, was Mr. Joseph Henry Siewers. The Academy remained in operation less than two years, when, for reasons of a pecuniary nature, it was closed. The principal university in the United States has found munificent friends among the citizens of this town, who, within about twenty years, have made bequests and donations to it amounting to nearly $50,000.=*^