Salisbury's Earliest Settlers

BY JOHN Q. EVANS RE-PUBLISHED FROM THE AMESBURY NEWS ~ 1896

A paper read at a meeting of the Town Improvement Society held at Salisbury, Mass., June 17, 1896. RE-PUBLISHED FROM THE AMESBURY NEWS. Amesbury. C. S. Morse, Printer. 1S96. OCT 35 m Salisbury's Earliest Settlers. BY JOHN Q. EVANS. In extending a welcome to you" association upon this visit to the old town of Salisbury, a town indeed rich in treasure to the historian, and of whose history we as common de- scendents of the first settlers may well be proud, it becomes my pleas- ant duty to briefly turn the pages of a itew of the first years of her history. trusting that, though I may add but little to what is already familiar to you, I may yet present more concise- ly the conditions under which the new settlement was placed when in its infancy, the stiaiggle to maintain a foothold in the wilderness made for these hardy pioneers — a life which must have been terribly in earnest, aijid which will in part account for tlreir seeming arbitrary rule over their people by the governing authorities. IS my purpose to trace briefly of le settlement of the old plantation oJI Merrimac, of its early settlers and f the growth of the town during the rst sixty years following its incoi* oration, a period extending down tlie time of Qiieen Anne's war, hen the horrors of Indian barbari- es spread terror among the settlers the province. With the settlement of the Massa- cl msetts Bay colony at Salem and the large Influx of immigrants, the bounds of the colony were being continuallv extended. To the south, where they soon met the bounds of the Plymouth colony, and north that they might gain possession of all possible terri- tory in that direction. Who was the first settler on the north bank of the Merrimac we shall never know. For several years prior to the grant by the general court in 163S the plantation was Known by the name of Merri- mac. Mr. Merrill, in his history of Amesbury, refers to John Bayley of Newbury, who came over from Eng- land in the ship Angel Gabriel, Aug- ust, 1635, as the first settler, and in support cites that by order of the court June 6, 1637, the constable at Newbury was directed to apprehend John Bayley who lived beyond the Merrimac. It seems probable, how- ever, that a squatter settlement had been established for some 3'ears prior to this. As early as 1633 in sundry charges preferred against Gov. Win- throp for exceeding his authority, to- gether with other questions, he is asked why he has licensed a certain person to settle at Merrimac, four years before Bayley's time and while he ^vas yet living in England. All this, however, is not of importance. as the date of the birth of the town must spring from Sept. 6, 1638, when Mr. Bradstreet, Mr. Dudley, Jr., Mr. Batter, Mr. Winsley, Capt. Denni- son, Mr. Clarke, Mr. Woodbridge, Mr. Batte, Henry Bilye, Giles Fir- man, Richard Kent and John Saun- ders were allowed to begin a planta- tion at Merrimac. Of these twelve men two only, Samuel Winsley and Henry Biley, lived and died in the new town. Christopher Batt and John Saunders, both prominent in town aftairs, soon moved away, Batt to Boston in 1651, where he became a prominent merchant, and ten years later was accidentally shot by his son, while Saunders in 1656 moved to Wells, Maine. Mr. Bradstreet was a son in law of Gov. Dudley, and governor of the colony 1680 to 1685 ; Thomas Dudley, Jr., son of Gov. Dudley; Edmund Batter, a rich malster of Salem, very prominent in colonial affairs ; Daniel Dennison,an original proprietor of Newbury and son in law of Gov. Simonds; Dr. John Clarke, who owned Clarke's farm at Newbury, later a celebrated phvsician of Boston ; John Wood- bridge, a son in law of Gov. Dudley, the first minister of Andover, and later returned to England ; Giles Fir- man, who later returned to England and became an eminent divine. In a sermon before parliament he said that during a residence of seven years in the colony he had never seen an intoxicated person. Richard Kent was a rich malster of Newbury. The plantation was very indefinite as to its boundaries, having the Mer- rimac on the south, the ocean east, while on the north towards Hamp- ton no definite bounds were as yet established, and to the west was the boundless forest. With the absence of all roads and bridges the first set- tlements w ere always made near to a convenient place for water transpor- tation. When the first settlers ar- rived at Merrimac they probably came up town creek and landed on the higfh land at what is now called the landing below the residence of Dr. Spalding. The grant of the plantation having been made so late in the season it is not probable that an actual settle- ment of the town was undertaken until the spring of 1639, when we have record of sixty-eight families having received grants of common land. As early as June of this year the plantation had assumed full municipal control when at a tow meeting land was divided and grant, made to the settlers. During the year the name of the town was changed to Colchester, only to be again changed in 1640 to the present name of Salisbury. One of the first questions for the town to determine was that of its boundary line, and as early as 1640 the line between the town and Hamp- ton on the north, also with Haverhill, were run out by a committee of townsmen. Neither of these lines proved satisfactoiy, however, and not until 1667 was the line between Salisbury and Haverhill settled, when the ofeneral coiut ordered a line be- ginning at Holts rocks and to run N. W. Of the Hampton line starting at the bound rocks and running to Mi Batchelder's farm (near the brick schoolhouse) there was much con- troversy, and from 1640 until 1657 there was a constant wrangle, un1.il finally in this latter year the Shapk;y line was accepted. The bound roclks at Hampton river mouth markptl A. D., 1657, H. B., is yet to he plainly read. From this point the line was run to Mr. Batchelder s farm, thence to the Hawk's Nest, !so called, near the residence of John Gills, on the road from Amesbury jto Exeter, and so along the northern boundary of South Hampton, N. H ., and continuing a westerly course ui '- til it met the Haverhill line. This intersection of the Hamptc'" and Haverhill line is at what is now the town of Hampstead, N. H., in Angle pond, so called, the two lines meeting at an acute angle. This territory embraced all of the present towns of Salisbury, Amesbury,Merri- mac and South Hampton, together >vith a portion of Seabrook, Newton, Kingston, Plaistow and Hampstead, New Hampshire, a tract of land iiveraging some five miles in vvidth and of an extreme length of fourteen aiiles and embracing some fifty square miles of land. A town of this vast extent must of necessity have been the cause of inconvenience to the inhabitants who lived in the re- mote sections. To attend church, coming from E, Hampstead to yon- •der church site, or to attend the numerous town meetings must have been a serious undertaking, and every good citizen was expected to do both of these with the most faithful com- pliance. Is it any wonder that a church was wanted on the west of the Powow? And the erection of a new town, which was done in i66S, and the Powow river as a line, cut the territory nearly in two equal por- tions. Very soon after the settlement of the town in 1643 a new county was 'n>rmed, comprising the towns on the iiorth of the Menimac, namely, Salis- bury, Haverhill, Hampton, Dover, Exeter and Portsmouth. At first the county courts were held alternatelv at Salisbury and Hampton, but after six years it was ordered "That Salis- bury shall be the shire town of the ilounty," and on the common near tiie church was the court house, while Rear at hand on the rising ground stood the stockade. After an exist- ance of fifty years the four northerly lowns were taken into New Hamp- thire, and Salisbury, Amesbury and Haverhill were j )ined to Essex ("ounty, when the Norfolk county ieased to exist. I The New Hampshire line has al- ways been a bone of contention and Pfter many fruitless attempts finally. in 1737, the king ordered a line to run three miles north of the Merri- mac to be the southern boundaiy of the state of New Hampshire. The commissioner began at Black Rocks and measured north three miles and then ran a line to conform to the general trend of the river. To this line New Hampshire objected as Black Rocks was not at the mouth of the Merrimac but three-fourths of a mile to the north ( Belknap, page 34S). This is of value as showing that the north end (jf Plum Island down nearly to the hotel was. prior to the river breaking through in the early days of tliis century, a p.irt of Salisbury and over which the town may again assume municipal author- ity. This new state boundary was the cause of much trouble to our town, and what is now South Hamp- ton and Seabrook were cut oft' from our northern border. When having shrunk to only one-fourth of our original area we were allowed to re- main undisturbed for 145 years, when in 1SS6 the two villages on either bank of the Powow were united, and we suffered a new loss of territory, until to-day, having lost so largely of our area and wealth, we feel that we have little left us but the tradition of our early days, and to this we shall cling, determined that these at least shall not be taken from us. We find record of 68 original set- tlers of whom 10 were honored with the title of Mr., but it is not safe to assume prior residence by these men over others of the times as we often find names which show their owners to have been contemporaneous with the 68 first mentioned by Thomas Bradbury, the town clerk of the time. To mention all of the early families of the town would i-equire a volume in itself. As many of them have either done valient senice for the town or were ancestors of prominent families, I shall touch very briefly of the more prominent of them. Christopher Batt was one of the most influential men in the planta- tion. His lot, where the railroad crosses the road near the landing, which he sold to the Buswells in 1650, ten acres for £52, has heen in the Buswell family to this day. Batt's hill, near Edmund Morrill's, was named in his honor, also the land there was divided about 1700 and called the Batt's hill divis- ion. A selectman and deputy dur- ing his whole residence here in town. Thomas Bradbury lived just south of Batt's. One of the best educated men in the settlement, being probably continuously on the board of select- men from the first board, 1639, to 1691, over fifty years; town clerk forty-two years, deputv several terms, and captain of the militia. In 1652 he was chosen schoolmaster at £20 salaiy, half paid in corn. He died 1695, leaving £5 for the use of the poor of the town, the first record of our town having been the recipient of a public bequest. His wife, Mary, was a daughter of John Perkins of Ipswich and who, in her old age, was tried for witchcraft and sentenced to death, but was later liberated. There is little doubt but what this was largely the result of malice, as her principle accusers were open ene- mies of hers. As early as 1649 we find mention of the orchard of Thomas Bradbury. George Carr was originally lo- cated north of the landing, but was granted the large island in the Mer- rimac in 1640 and known as Carr's Island, in honor of the early ferry- man who had charge of the ferry to Newbury for many years. He and his son Richard also had control of the ferry at Amesburv from 1669 to 1696, when they sold it to Capt. John March for £137. Of his ten children William married Elizabeth, daughter of Robert Pike, and lived for a time at Amesbury. Roger Eastman, supposed to be the ancestor of all of this name in America, born 161 1. Of his ten children Nathaniel married a daugh- ter of Thomas Bradbury. Philip moved to Haverhill and a son. Cap- tain Ebenezer, with six boys, were of the first settlers of Penacook, (Concord) N. H., his team being the first to make a track through the primeval forests. Sarah married vSolomon Shepherd, a prominent character of the times. One branch of this family at a later date lived at "Rabbit corner," ^vhence Ezekiel Webster of Salisbury, N. H., came to find a wife, who returned with him to plant a home in the wilder- ness, and where in the log cabin wiiich their labor had erected was born that grand specimen of man- kind, the great Daniel Webster. You will pardon me for a slight digression. The mother of Daniel Webster deserves more than a pass- ing notice. Abigail Eastman was the daughter of Roger Eastman, the great grandson of Roger, the fii'St settler, her mother being Jerus'.ja Fitts, the daughter of Richard Fitts, who married Sarah Thorn. Abigail had two brothers younger than her- self, Ezekiel and Daniel, and it is fair to assume that her boys were named for her two brothers living in the, old town of Salisbury. Samuel Dudley, another of our early settlers, who during his brief stav in the town shone forth as one of her most illustrous citizens. lie lived just north of the present church site. A son of Gov. Thomas Dud- ley, he married Mary, the daughLsr of Gov. Winthrop, who died ten years later, and is buried in yonder cemetery on the road to the beach. Later he married May Byley, and in 1650 he became pastor of the churcih at Exeter. As selectman, assesscU' and keeper of the Norfolk county court he exercised much influence h^^ town affairs. 1 Robert Fitts originally located ijn the corner of the Amesbury road an'd road to Exeter and is referred to ; s "Fitts. hiscorner." He earlv move i his family to Ipswich, but later his grandson Richard returned to Salis- bury and became the progenitor of all of the name who have since lived in this town. Edward French was the ancestor of one of our most substantial fami- lies. He located on the beach road next east of Major Pike's, and the lot is in the same family to this day. His was the third largest estate in town. Selectman for several terms. Samuel Hall, frequently select- man, directed by the general court to care for the chinch council to meet there; an outspoken person of strong mind. Richard Goodale was for many vears the hunter hired by the town to rid the settlement of wolves and foxes. The large swamp on the east side of the road to Exeter is known as Goodale's swamp. A daughter married William Allen, the pioneer. A son removed to Boston. In 1664 the school was kept at young Good- ale's house. The Clough family, now extinct, was for many years prominent in town. John was the first of the fam- ily. He early lived at the Plainsnear the site of the Plains schoolhouse. Of his children John married Mercy Page, a near neighbor, and lived on the place now occupied by the writer. Thomas lived on the location of the Plains schoolhouse. Most of this family emigrated to Xew Hampshire. The Morrills have ever been one of the most numerous families of the town. Abraham and Isaac, brothers, came from England 1632, first set- tling at Cambridge. Abraham was a piominent farmer and blacksmith and a heavy tax-payer. His wife was Sarah, the daughter of Robert Clem- ent of Haverhill. He in 164*1 had land granted him where the present parsonage is. A year later he with Henry Saywood built a grist mill. He died in 1662 leaving property to the value of £507, new house, fifty- seven acres of land, three shares grist mill, part of a vessel, smith's tools. Of his childien Moses mar- ried Rebecca Parnes, Abraham mar- ried Sarah, daughter of Wymond Bradburv and grandchild of Thomas Bradbury and Robert Pike. Isaac, another son, probably lived nenr Munday hill, and his son Abraham located at the Plains on the farm now owned by Edmund Morrill and which has been in the familv for some 200 years. Plenry Mundav, the richest man in town, frequently held town office. jVIundav hill is named in his honor, also Munday Island in the salt marsh near the beach I'oad. Richard North, a resident of the town holding difierent offices. H*^ also rang the meeting house bell in; 1647-S. He later moved to Salem. It was North's daughter Susanna who man ied George Martin, and in her old age, convicted of being a witch, was hung on testimony of a most im- probable character. Another name unknown to-day among us is that of ''Partridge." William dwelt where the car house now stands. He died prior to 1656, as this year his widow married An- thony Stonyan, a noted person at Hampton. Prominent in Ig^cal af- fairs, his sons became even more so in later vears. William, Jr., of Portsmouth, a mechanical genius, treasurer of the province, supplied the navy with timber, lieutenant gov- ernor 1697, leader of the opposition against John Usher and his partv, later removed to Newbury. A son Richard was agent for the province in England. x\ daughter married Governor Belcher, ruler of the Massachusetts and New Hampshire colonies in ,173*^' '''^^ ^^^^ mother of Gov. Belcher of Nova Scotia. John Gill was early in town \\ hen he married Phoebe Buswell. He lived at what is since called Gill's corner at the Plains. A daughter Elizabeth married Marris Tucker. Andrew Greeley was a prominent man iii the early days of the town. He moved to Haverhill, leaving de- scendents who ]ia\e kept the name iiHve to this day. Stephen Flanders was another prominent settler whose name has been handed down to the present generation. John Stevens located where to-day Samuel Stevens dwells and the home of the family for two hundred and fiftv vears. Continually in office, he was an important man in early days. His name is to-day represented in this town. Samuel Win slay was one of the original grantees of the plantation. His improved method of the manu- facture of salt added greatly to the value of this important business, one of the leading industries of the day. A son Ephriam was school master in 1673 at £10 salary per annum. Robert Ring was granted land at Ring's Island m 1642 if he carry on the tisliing business, and in 1654 granted to enjoy the sole right to take fish from the Powow river for five years. A son Jarvis was a lawyer and the first of the profession that 1 have found in town. Richard Wells lived near the bur}- ing ground. He was a prominent official and deacon of the church, probably brother of Thomas Wells .of Ipswich, the father of Rev. Thos. Wells, third minister of Amesbury, ^who was born 1647, ordained 1673, died 1734. Henry True, while not of the original settlers, was veiy early at Salisbury when he married Israel, a sister of Major Robert Pike. After his death his widow married Joseph Fletcher. Of his children Henry, Jr., married Jane, the daughter of Thomas Bradbury. He was for years the leading militarv man of the town. His records testify that he was a fine writer and well edu- cated. He lived where Mr. P. A. True now resides. Marris Tucker, another settler in town, ancestor of all the Tuckers of this section. His first wife was a daughter of John Stevens, and second, Elizabeth, daughter of John Gill. A cooper, he lived on the Plains, selling the farm in 1699 to Samuel Joy. He made the bricks for the parsonage house built in 1693, and evidences of the old yard are to be seen at this day on the farm which he occupied, now owned by Mr. Frank Sanborn. Another prominent family was the Browns. Christian, a widow with four sons, were of the first settlers. One of the sons, Henry, was very prominent in town affairs. He died in 1 701, aged 86. Of his children, Abraham married Elizabeth Shep- herd and lived at the Plains, the old farm being yet known as the Brown place. A second son, Nathan- iel, was a leading military man. William Osgood, the youngest of three brothers, born 1609. At Salis- bury, 1640. Of his children, Eliza- beth married Robert Qiiimby, Joanna married Robert Jones, Mary married Thomas Currier. He is mentioned as building a barn for John Spencer in 1642 at Newbury; owned land at Round hill ; gave half of grist mill to son William, other half to grandson^ John Osgood. Robert Pike, the great commoner, came over from England with his father, John Pike, and others of the family, and early settled at Newbury. Robert was of the original settlers of Salisbury and in later years his father lived here with him. Robert received in England a good education. A ready writer and debator,he took the freeman's oath in 1637 and at once assumed the position of a leader in the afiairs of the town and province. His wife was Sarah Saunders, and he had a family of three boys and four girls. Always interested in public aflfatrs he was early appointed to end small cases. In 1647 was lieutenant of the militia, and in 164S at the age of 32 was elected a member of the AndT'^w Greeley-Page R- Dii. not receive allott PientR of Icincl in the first 'livision yet he seeras to have been in town by 1B40 and was witness to a deed in 1642. In 1649 he had ai- re ad^r bought of Robert ^ing his home of nine acres situated in the squarf} at Salisbury . About 1B65 he moved to Haverhill and was interested in a mill there, but he does not seem to have ever severed his connection with tiie town of Salis bury as he was owner of mi.ich land in the t town, and in 1674 gave his home in town to h? s son Philip. A selectman of Salisbury 1^57. In 167^ he deposed that he was 53 years of age and therefore born in 1620. Of jiis six children Philip lived in the homestead, Andrew probata bly dwelt in that por- tion of Salisbivry now Seabrook, N.H. and had a water grist mill which in later genera- tions was ov7ned b^^ the grandfather of Horace Greeley . ( N . Y . Tribune . ) His garrison home is mentioned 1698-1'702. As Andre\7 dv/elt in tjiat portion of Salis- bury Claimed by New Hampshire he was in what was called the di sput e d t f'.Tr i t ory and was liable to pay a tax from the tovm of H.^unpton as well as Salisbury and was chosen a con- stable of Hampton 1669-r A more complete ac- count of the genealogy of the first and second generations of the family can be found in Hoyt's Old Families of Salisbur^^. J. Q. Evans. legislatvn-e, and two years latei* one of the commissioners of Norfolk county. In 1652 he denounced the law which prohibited any but or- dained ministers from preaching,and said"that those who voted for the law violated their oath of freemen, both civil and ecclesiasticpl." The court, hearing of these words, arraigned Mr. Pike and ordered a penalty of twenty marks in money and a total inability to hold any public otfice. A petition signed by many in the vicinity praying that Pike be par- doned for his ortence was construed by the court as reflecting upon the dignity of that bod}-, and only by the most humble apology did the signers escape the fate to which Pike had been subjected. However, five years later, the fine having been paid, the disability was removed, when the town showed their sympathy for Pike by electing him a member of that same body which had recently inflict- ed punishment upon him. The same year that Pike returned to the general court the prosecution of the Qiiakers was begun. Pike at once took an active part in this exciting contest and defended these persecuted people with voice and vote, but he could not check the tide of public sentiment. His defence of the Qiiakers and his able argument against punishing witches has been considered the grandest eftbrts of a busy life. Ever ready to defend the rights of the peo- ple in freedom of speech, he opposed the narrow methods of the church and their intolerance of any but the established religion, an intoleration characteristic of all creeds and in every country. Through the eftbrts of Pike and his co-workers, freedom of speech has to-day become one of the chief institutions of this nation to be followed by a religious toleration as liberal as could have been desired by the great commoner himself. At the bi-eaking out of King Philip's war Pike was in command of all of the troops of Norfolk and Piscataqua counties. He continued a magis- trate and member of the general court to the end of his life, which occurred in his 91st year. He lived where David Deal now does, on the corner near the church. Buried in the old ^ard, no stone now marks his resting place. Plaving traced very briefly and im- perfectly the lives of some of the prominent settlers,! have been forced to pass many names unnoticed, while of others who later settled on the west of the Powow I make no men- tion, leaving this task for others bet- ter qualified than myself to do them justice. Of other names familiar to that generation as well as oft-times to that of the present day such names as. Adams, Allen, Carter, Coflin, Deer- ing, Dow, Fellows, Fuller, Eaton, Greenleaf, Hubbard, Hunt, Moody, Maxfield, March, Page, Sadler,Smith, Shepherd, Stockman, Whitcher and Worthen have been a tower of strength in the community during the eight generations which have elapsed, and tiiey deserve a more ex- tended notice than hasyet been given them. I will, however, at this time speak of the first four pastors of the church at Salisbury, men well fitted for their high position, and who did much to mould the sentiment of their generation. Rev. William Worcester was of the original settlers and preached Christ and salvation to the sturdy band of settlers for tsventv-three years, until his death, Oct. 28. 1662. He had a family of nine children, three boys and six girls. He lived where the present church now stands. The second minister. Rev. John Wheelwright, came to Boston in 1636. Educated at Oxford with Cromwell, he always maintained a friendship for "The Protector." In youth he was remarkable for boldness and firmness of mind. Educated for the ministry, he accepted the Puritan sentiments and soon left for a more lO congenial field of labor. Having while at Qiiincy preached a sermon not according to the prevalent belief he was adjudged guiltv of sedition and banished, and he moved to what is now Exeter, N. H. Buying land of the Indians, he was the founder of that town. When in 1642 Exeter became a part of the Massachusetts colony Wheelwright was forced to move from Exeter and took up his residence at W'ells, Elaine,, manv of his parish going with him. While at Wells, on his request, the banish- ment was removed. In 1647 "Wheel- wright became pastor of the church at Hampton, and there labored until 1656, when he was discharged, and soon made a visit to England, having an audience of an hour with Crom- well. In 1662 he succeeded to the church at Salisbury and had a suc- cessful pastorate of fifteen years un- til his death, Nov. 15, 1679, aged 8^ years. Here in 1675 when Si years of age he fell into a controversy with Major Pike, accusing Pike of delin- quencies towards the church — which knowing the man there mav have been some ground for the accusa- tion — together with lying revelings and groundless accusations of his pastor. Pike replied by a summons for Wheelwright to appear before him as magistrate to answer. Wheel- wright appealed to the general court and finally a committee succeeded in bringing about a reconciliation. Wheelwright owned land at Exeter. Granted right to erect a saw mill at Wells, and at Hampton was deeded the Bachelder farm. He died of appoplexy and lies in the old ceme- tery with others of his co-workers of that generation. After a few years, in i6S3,the Rev. James Allen was settled. His father, Roger, was one of tUc iii signera. of the New Haven compact, deacon, legislator and treasurer of the colony. James, born 1657. graduated at Har- vard in 1679. He. three years later was ordained. He married Eliza- beth, daughter of Rev. Seaborn Cot= ,ton of Hampton. His pastorate was brief as he died March 3, 1696, and his grave is tiiarked by a simple stone. Following Mr. Allen was the Rev. Caleb Cushing who came from Scit- uate. Born 1673, ordained 169S. He married in 1699 Elizabeth, widow of Rev, James Allen. Mr. Cushing died Jan. 25, 1752, after a pastorate of fifty-six years. Such were the men who held the care of the church for the first one hundred years, and they builded strong and well. Having treated of the town and its subdivisions into new municipalities and very briefly described the lead- ing fiimilies, I shall trace the growth of the town and its leading indus- tries. During the \ ears immediately succeeding the settlement of the town the gain in population and wealth must have been rapid. In 1642 Salisbury's share of the province tax was £12, 10 s, out of a total of £800, while Salem paid £4^, and Boston £120. The manufacture of stav'es and other products of the forests was their leading occupation, staves be- ing especially a leading article of commerce. To cut this timber into lumber for building purposes as well as for a supply for ship building and export purposes a saw mill was an imperative necessitv,and we find that in 1641 a grant of sixtv acres of land was made to William Osgood if he build a mill for the use of the town. Was not this, the first mill in the new town, located adjacent to the settle- ment, and vvhere more probably than on Little River, where it flows down into the great meadows ? It is hardly probable that Osgood would go so far avvav as to the banks of the Powow and harness this powerful monster while the tranquil stream near at hand was ready to do his bidding with no large outlay of time or money. Fol- lowing close upon the building of a saw mill another impoi'tant plant was needed, and we have record that Abraham Morrill and Henry Say- wood built a grist mill near the falls on the Powow as early as 1642. Concerning this mill I have no defin- ite information. In 1650 William Osgood is given liberty to use all pine trees west of path from John Bayley's to Exeter, if he set a saw mill before the last of May, 1652. Was not this the first saw mill on the Powow, soon to be followed by Currier's in 1656 on the west bank of this turbu- lent stream? William Osgood early had a grist mill on the river, as in his will he gi\es half of mill to grandson, John Osgood, but that he built a mill there for sawing logs in 1652 theie can be no doubt, as Nathan Gould testified in 1652, September, that he saw the mill at Salisbury. It was then built and -going and had gone all summer. These several mills with others soon to be erected must have g.i,yen steady employment to the in- habitants who, with clearing up the land jeady for the plough, clearing ofl'oi I'ocks which we now see in long lines of stone wall, every rod of which speaks of the toil of our ancestors, the building of frame buildings to take the place of the first log houses ' tliat had been built to supply the tCiinporary wants of the inhabitants, all of these, with road building,hunt- ing of wild animals, such as the bear, wolf, fox, so harmful to the former's stock, left little time for study, and as a result we find the following gen- erations immediately succeeding the first arrivals but indifierently edu- cated. Yet, nevertheless, were they learning that priceless lesson of patriotism and self reliance which in a later .-ige ofiered defiance to the mother country. Ship building was also early undertaken by the settlers of the tov.n. George Carr,who lived on Carr's Island in 1642 and had charge of the ferry during the whole of his life time, was probably the first to build vessels on the Merrimac, an industrv destined to grow to lar<^e proportions, when a hundred years later both banks of the Merrimac were lined with yards where the sound of the axe and saw gave con- stant testimony of these busy hives of industry. Carr's ferry, by the way, was at that time the only public con- veyance across the Merrimac. At hig-h noon on the Merrimac The ancient ferryman Forgot, at times, his idle oars. So fair a treif^ht to ekira. And when from off his g-ronnded boat He saw them mo\int and ricie, God keep her from the evil eye. And harm of witch I he cried. And along this road passed An- drew, the brave lover, with his fair freight (whom he had rescued from the sherift) to a refuge in a distant settlement. Already within ten years the ques- tion of subsistence had become a serious one. vSo many settlers had arrived as to draw heavily on the re- sources of the country. Thus early it had been found that the natural fertility of the soil was capable of furnishing only three or four crops before becoming exhausted, and the common practice of manuring with fish left the land less fertile than if none had been used. I refer to this as showing that the occupation of farming at that day was one of only moderate returns, and like all strictly agricultural communities, famine was ever to be feared. Here did our fore- fathers display a degree of wisdom which has in late years redounded to their honor. Manufactures and com- merce were added to the industries of farming and the fishing. These four lines of labor have developed a nation of magnificent proportions. In closing allow me to mention a few historic spots and events there- with connected. Here around this circular road skirting the salt marsh, down the road past the depot, and continuing until just beyond the pres- ent church, were the house lots of the first settlers, snugly packed into this little settlement, both for mutual pro- tection and also I believe in the en- deavor of settlinsf the land according to the village system so prevalent in Europe. Here right on yonder com- mon at the corner stood the church with the road eight rods vi^ide, whence aM the inhabitants rssembled on each succeeding Sabbath and lecture day to gather words of wisdom. Just west of tne church towards the ferry stood the court house where for fifty years the county courts were held, while on the rising ground to the north stood the garrison, ready to furnish protection against the wily- Indians. Down this path to the dock passed all the commerce of the town, staves and provisions taken in scows to the Merriniac,and there transfered to the mighty ships of those days. Following the ferry road we come to Carr's Island. This was the way of rapid transit. Here,spanning the way to the island in 1655, was Carr's float- ing bridge, 270 feet long, costing £300. About the first question for the town to consider was the granting of lands to the settlers. The first order Avas that there should be two divis- ions of land, the one nearer, the other further. The nearer 4 acres to each j£ioo of property, the other to further consideration. This land was given out not equally or at the pleasure of the person receiving it, but carefully, that the interest of the town might not suffer harm thereby. The roads to Hampton, to Amesbury, to the beach and mill were early laid out, iind the others as necessity called for them. All of these roads were from four to eight rods wide originally, but with the interval of two hundred years they have from some unex- plained causes suffered a slow but steady encroachment of their bound- aries, until ujan\ of them are hardly one-half of their former generous proportions. Along these roads have passed the generations that havepre- ceeded us. Along this road came the leoislature to their session in the first parish meeting house, where from Aug. loth until Oct. 20th they considered the running of the state line. Along this road in 1662 came the three Qiiaker women at the cart's tail. Then on they passt-d in the waning day, LI Thruugli Seabronk woods, a weariful way, By g^reat salt meadows, and sand hills bare, Tl And glimpses of blue sea here and there. By the meeting: house in Salisbiu-y town The siitteiers stood, in the red sun down Bare tai- tlic lash I O pitying? night. Drop swift thy curtain and hide the sigrht. And here on yonder square was the warrant executed, but let honor be bestowed to Walter Barefoot who took charge of these poor creatures and saved them from further punish- ment. Along this road came the messengers asking assistance to with- stand the Indians in their laids, and along this road came the troops hur- rying to their assistance. A Here on yonder square gatheretll on each returning muster day the! yeomen of the town to be trained iij military dutv, and here Major Pikeil Capt. Bradbury, Capt. True and'^ others directed their evolutions. In concluding this rambling paper I have not attempted to add much of original research, but have endeav- ored to bring together into concise form a varied amount of material noj readily available to the casual reader, and if in so doing I have been able to start a superstructure for others to build upon, as material is from time to time becoming available. I shall indeed be more than satisfied. Thanking you for your kind indul gence and trusting that this gather ing mav be but the initial meeting ol an association formed for historical research to include all of the terri tory of this ancient town. Can we, as we to-day add to the chapter ot her history, say with the poet — So let it be, in God's own might We gird us for the coming fight. And strong in him whose cause is ours In contiict with unholy powers We grasp the we-apons he has given,— The light and earth and love of Heaven. John Q. Evans.

Source: Salisbury's earliest settlers (1896) Author: Evans, John Q Subject: Salisbury (Mass.) -- Biography Publisher: Amesbury [Mass.] C. S. Morse, printer Possible copyright status: NOT_IN_COPYRIGHT Language: English Call number: 7775578 Digitizing sponsor: Sloan Foundation Book contributor: The Library of Congress Collection: americana