|
This page is a part of the Lynn & Nahant town site. Not for Commercial use. All rights reserved. |
|
|
|
To help transcribe or submit information, please e-mail Shaun Cook. |
|
Chapter VIII |
During the
administration of Sir Edmund Andros, the people of Lynn had an
opportunity of witnessing the tendency of arbitrary government.
Andros had been appointed by the British King,
James II., Governor of all New England, and came over in 1686
to exercise that authority; and his administration, for two years, was
characterized by many acts of arbitrary power. He asserted that the people
of Massachusetts had forfeited their charter, and that all the lands belonged to
the King. Edward Randolph, his Secretary, looking round among
these lands, to see where he might establish a little dukedom, fixed his
attention upon the beautiful domain of Nahant, which he requested the Governor
to give to him. The following is a copy of his petition.
1688. To his Excellency, Sir
Edmund Andros, Knight, Governor, &c. &c. The
humble petition of Edward Randolph, that there is a certain
tract of land nigh the Township of Lynn, in the County of Essex, in this His
Majesty's territory and dominion, out of fence and undivided, containing about
five hundred acres, commonly called Nahant neck, for which your petitioner
humbly prays His Majesty's grant, and that your Excellence would please to issue
a warrant to the Surveyor-General to admeasure the same, in order to passing a
patent, he paying such moderate quitrent as your Excellence shall please to
direct, &c.
'ED. RANDOLPH.'
On the
reception of this modest petition, the Council, on Friday, the third of
February, directed the constables to 'Give public notice in the said town of
Lynn, that, if any person or persons have any claim or pretence to the said
land, they appear before his Excellency, the Governor, in Council, on Wednesday,
the seventh of March next, then and there to show forth the same, and why the
said land may not be granted to the petitioner.' In pursuance of this
order, the constable, John Edmunds, notified a town meeting,
which was held on the fifth of March, when a committee was chosen, who made the
following representation.
'To his Excellency, Sir
Edmund Andros, Knight, and our Honorable Governor, with his
Honorable Council to sit with him, on Wednesday, the seventh of this instant
March, 1688.
'Having received an order upon the
second day of this instant March, that orders our constables of Lynn, or either
of them, to give public notice in the said town of Lynn, of a petition of Mr.
Edward Randolph, Esq., read in a council held in Boston, on the
third day of February, 1688, praying His Majesty's grant of a certain tract of
land, therein called vacant land, lying nigh the town of Lynn, called Nahant,
&c., as also, that, if any person or persons have any claim or pretence to
the said lands, they appear before his Excellency, in council, on Wednesday, the
seventh of this instant March, to show forth the same, and why the said land may
not be granted to the petition, &c.
'Wherefore,
we, the proprietors of the pasture of Nahant, and inhabitants of Lynn, have, in
obedience to our present Honorable Governor, and his Honorable Council,
presented before them as followeth.
Imprimis: Our
humble and most thankful acknowledgment of the favor showed unto us, in giving
us notice of such an enterprise, as whereby, should it take effect, would so
extremely indamage so many of His Majesty's good subjects at once; whereby we
conclude His Excellency, our Honorable Governor, and his Honorable Council, are
such as will search for and do justice, and maintain the cause of the innocent,
weak, and poor, as we humbly and sincerely acknowledge ourselves to be; and yet
being clearly satisfied of our just right in the tract of lands petitioned for,
have good hope our honorable rulers will, of clemency and justice, adhere to,
hear and weigh reasons herein presented, why we cannot comply
with Edward Randolph's petition for the alienation of our
Nahants; which, we humbly conceive, is groundlessly represented to be a parcel
of vacant land, and therefore must apply ourselves to demonstrate to our
Honorable Governor, and his Honorable Council the contrary. And although
the time is very short indeed for us to lay before your Honors to vindicate our
just right to our Nahants, yet our endeavors shall be as effectual as we can in
so short a time as we have to bethink ourselves, and show your Honors, that it
is not vacant land, and that the proprietors have a true and just right
thereunto, wherefore we present your honors as followeth.
'That we have in our records, that in the year
1635, this tract of land, viz. our Nahants, was in the hands of the freemen of
Lynn to dispose of; who did then grant unto several inhabitants to plant, and
build upon, and possess; and, if they did not perform the conditions, they, to
whom it was granted, forfeited the land to the town again, to dispose as shall
be thought fit; and among those to whom these lands were granted, that worthy
and honorable gentleman, Mr. Humphreys, was one, who was a
patentee and an assistant in the first government; therefore, sure it was the
town's land then.
'That these inhabitants that did
build and dwell there, they were tributaries, or tenants, and paid their yearly
rent to the town as long as they lived, or were removed by the town; as to
instance, one Robert Coates yet living, to testify it.
'There have been some that have laid claim to this
land called Nahant, and commenced suit at law with the town for it, but were
cast at law, the Court that then was gave the town the case, justified the
town's right, and never denied it, nor blamed them about it.
'This tract of land, it hath been divided into
planting lots to the several proprietors by a vote of the town, as appears in
our records, Anno, 1656, and the whole fenced as a common field, and the lots
been improved by the proprietors, in planting, tilling, and manuring; and
afterward, by the agreement of the proprietors, converted into a pasture; and
so, ever since to this day improved; so we have by hard labor and industry
subdued it, and brought it into so good a capacity as it is at this day, for the
town's future benefit and no other.
'We have
honestly purchased said tract of land with our money, of the original
proprietors of the soil, viz. the Natives, and have firm confirmation thereof,
under their hands and seals, according to law.
'We
have possessed and improved the said tract of land upwards of fifty years, for
so long since it hath been built upon, inhabited by tenants paying their
acknowledgments year after year.
'We hope arguments
of this nature will be swaying with so rational a commonwealth's man as
Mr. Randolph, who hath ever pretended great respect to His
Majesty's subjects among us, and an earnest care and desire to promote their
welfare and prosperity. The premises considered, we believe a gentleman,
under such circumstances, will not be injurious, by seeking a particular
benefit, to impoverish and disadvantage so many of His Majesty's good subjects,
by seeking the alienation of such a tract of land, so eminently useful and
needful for those proprietors now in possession of it - it being a thing so
consistent with His Majesty's pleasure, that his subjects should enjoy their
properties and flourish under his government.
'We
are confident, therefore, that this Honorable Council will be solicitous for the
promoting our welfare, as not to suffer us to be impoverished by the alienation
of such a considerable tract of land, as this will do, if it should be
alienated, - yea, we are bold to say again, extremely prejudicial, if not
impoverish the body of the inhabitants of Lynn, who live not upon traffic and
trading, as many seaport towns do, who have greater advantages, but upon
husbandry, and raising such stocks of cattle and sheep as they are capable, and
as their outlands will afford; for this, our Nahant is such a place for us as
God and nature hath fitted and accommodated with herbage; and likewise, the only
place about us for security for our creatures from the teeth of ravening wolves;
which, this last summer, as well as formerly, have devoured very many that fed
in other places about us, to the very great damage of sundry of our inhabitants
accordingly. Therefore, the said tract of land hath been improved by the
proprietors as a grazing field with great benefit to the body of the whole town,
which otherwise would be exposed to great hardships, inconveniences, and
difficulties, to obtain a poor living; and, therefore, we cannot but be deeply
sensible, that, if the said pasture be alienated from us, our poor families will
be very great sufferers, and we shall be rendered very uncapable, either to
provide for them, or to contribute such dues and duties to His Majesty's
government set over us, which otherwise we might be capable of, and shall always
readily and carefiully attend unto our utmost capacity.
'And we humbly trust, our Honorable Governor and
his Honorable Council will show us the favor, as in their wisdoms, to weigh and
consider well our dutiful application to their order, to give in and show our
reasons why we claim this said tract of land to be our right, as not to suffer
any alienation of that which we do so much need for our great comfort and
benefit; but rather grant us further confirmation thereof, if need require.
'And thus we, the proprietors of the tract of land,
even our Nahant, that is petitioned for, have taken notice of your Honors'
order, and have, this first day of March, 1687- 8, made choice of a committee,
to consider what is meet to lay before your Honors, and of messengers, to appear
and present the same to your Excellency, our Honorable Governor, and the
Honorable Council; which, if these things are not satisfactory, we then in
humility crave the favor of His Excellency and his Honorable Council for such a
trial and process as the law may admit of in such a case, wherein persons are in
possession of lands, as we of this said tract, having tenants thereon; and
further time and opportunity being granted, we doubt not but we shall produce
such valid confirmations of our true and honest title to said tract of land, as
shall be abundantly satisfactory to our honored rulers, and put a period to
further debates about it. So we rest and remain, His Majesty's most loyal
subjects, and your Excellency's and Council's most humble servants, The
Committee, in the name and behalf of the Proprietors of
Nahant.
'THOMAS LAUGHTON
RALPH KING,
JOHN LEWIS,
OLIVER PURCHIS,
JOHN BURRILL,
EDWARD RICHARDS,
JOHN FULLER.'
It may appear strange to many, at this time, to notice the humble and almost
abject demeanor of the committee, as evinced in the preceding address.
They doubtless thought, that nothing would be lost by soft words; but the
spirit of freeman was at length roused, and ample vengeance was soon to be taken
on the aggressors of arbitrary power. Notwithstanding the representations
of the committee, Mr. Randolph persisted in his demand, and
renewed his claim as follows.
'To His Excellence,
Sir Edmund Andros, Governor. The humble representation of
Edward Randolph, sheweth: That having, by his humble petition
to your Excellence, prayed a grant of a certain tract of land lying in the
township of Lynn, in the county of Essex, called Nahant, your Excellence was
pleased, by your order in Council, the third day of February last, to direct
that the constables of the said town do give public notice to the said town,
that, if any person or persons have any claim or pretence to the said land, they
should appear before your Excellence in Council, on Wednesday, the seventh of
this instant March; at which time several of the inhabitants of the said town of
Lynn did appear, and presented your Excellence with a paper, containing their
several objections to the said petition.
'In answer
whereunto, is humbly offered as follows: That by their said prayer, it does not
appear the lands petitioned for, or any part thereof, were disposed of to the
inhabitants of Lynn, nor that the said town of Lynn was incorporated in the year
1635, nor at any time since, and so not endowed with a power of receiving or
disposing such lands.
'That the freemen of Lynn,
mentioned in the first article of their said paper, were not freemen of the
corporation of Lynn, (as they would insinuate) but inhabitants only in the
township, and were admitted by the General Court to be freemen of the Colony,
with power to elect magistrates, etc., and their town of Lynn is equal to a
village in England, and no otherwise.
'And in
regard their whole paper contains nothing more material than what is expressed
in their first article, the petitioner hath nothing further to offer, than to
pray your Excellence's grant, according to his petition. All which is
humbly submitted.
'ED. RANDOLPH.'
On the
reception of this petition, the people of Lynn held another meeting, and
addressed the Governor as follows.
'To His
Excellency, Sir Edmund Andros, Knight, our Honorable Governor,
Captain-General of His Majesty's Territory and Dominion in New England, the
humble address of the inhabitants of Lynn is humbly offered.
'We, whose names are subscribed, having, by the
favor of your Excellency, good information of the endeavors of some to seek the
alienation of a tract of land from us, called the Nahants, containing about four
or five hundred acres, which will prove extremely prejudicial and injurious to
the body of His Majesty's subjects among us; it being a tract of land honorably
purchased of the natives, the original proprietors of the soil, and possessed by
our predecessors and ourselves near upon sixty years, and to this day. We
have also renewed confirmations of the tract of land by firm deed from the
successors of the ancient proprietors, the natives; having also been at great
cost and charges, and hard labor for the subduing of the said land, to bring it
into so good a capacity as it is in at this day; having also defended our right
to this tract of land as well as others possessed by us, by blood and the loss
of many lives, both formerly, and especially in the late engagments, with the
barbarous pagans. The said tract of land having been built upon, also, and
inhabited upwards of fifty years. It hath been ploughed, planted, tilled,
and manured, and fenced in; the fence remaining to this very day, only wanting
reparation; none ever, to this day, from the first settlement of our plantation
- called formerly by the name of Sawgus - dispossessing of us; but we have
maintained our possession and right, which hath been owned and defended by His
Majesty's former government set over us. The said tract of land being also
eminently beneficial and needful for the support of our inhabitants; it being
improved for a grazing field for our sheep, and such other useful creatures as
can scarcely be preserved from the ravening wolves.
'Therefore, we are sensible, that, by the alienation of such a tract of land
from us, so circumstanced, many of His Majesty's good subjects - our honest,
innocent neighbors - will be exposed to great sufferings and hardships, and we
all rendered incapable to contribute such dues and duties to His Majesty's
government set over us, as is our bounden duty, and which we shall always
readily attend, knowing how consistent it is with His Majesty's pleasure, and
how well pleasing to your Excellency, that we live and prosper under your
government.
'We request your Excellency, therefore,
to condescend to cast a favorable aspect upon the premises, and that our mean
and shattered condition may not induce your contempt, but rather obtain your
pity and succor. And, therefore, we confide in your Excellency's favor for
our encouraging answer to this our petition, which is for the further and future
enjoying of our Nahants.
'By your Excellency's
fatherly and compassionate grant of such a patent for further confirmation
thereof unto ourselves and heirs forever, upon a moderate acknowledgment to be
paid to His Royal Majesty, as may be consistent with your Excellency's prudence,
and most conducive to our best behoof and benefit, and so that we may live and
prosper under your government, that we may have tranquillity under the same fiom
henceforth.
'The second day of April, Anno Domini,
One Thousand Six Hundred Eighty and Eight. Annoqui Regni Regis Jacobi
Secundi Quarto.'
The above petition was
signed by seventy-four inhabitants, and, with the preceding papers, are
preserved in the Massachusetts archives. Their interesting nature has
induced me to give them entire. I have only corrected the spelling.
The revenge which had been burning in the breasts
of the eastern Indians for twelve years, for their friends killed and sold into
slavery in 1676, this year broke out into open war. Their animosity was
increased by the instigation of Baron de St. Castine, a
Frenchman, who married a daughter of Madockawando, the
Penobscot chief. His house had been plundered by Sir Edmund
Andros, the Governor of Massachusetts, and this induced him to join
with the Indians. The French of Canada also united with them in their
depredations, which were continued, with intervals till 1698, under the
appellation of Castine's war. A company of soldiers from Lynn were
impressed, by order of the Governor, and sent out against the Indians in the
depth of winter. One of the soldiers from Lynn, Mr. Joseph
Ramsdell, was killed by them at Casco Bay, in 1690.
1689. The assumptions of
Andros and his lordly secretary, as may well be supposed, gave
great offence to the people of Lynn, and there seems to have been no other
general topic of conversation for several years. At length the spirit of
the people was roused to such a degree, that, on the nineteenth of April, the
inhabitants of Boston rose in arms, wrested the power from Sir
Edmund and confined him a prisoner on Fort Hill until he was
sent back to England.
The people of Lynn, who had
not only been injured, but even insulted by Governor Andros,
united with some from other towns, and went up to Boston, under the command of
Rev. Jeremiah Shepard, the minister of Lynn. A writer who
was present says: 'April 19th, about 11 o'clock, the country came in, headed by
one Shepherd, teacher of Lynn, who were like so many wild
bears; and the leader, mad with passion, more savage than any of his
followers. All the cry was for the Governor and Mr.
Randolph.' (This interesting passage, probably written by
Randolph himself, was copied from a manuscript Account of the Insurrection,
among the papers of the Archbishop of Canterbury, in the Lambeth Palace, at
London) The Lynn people were doubtless somewhat excited, but it may
be noted, that the above account of their conduct was written by a friend of
Governor Andros.
In the
exigency of public affairs, town meetings were held, and a Committee of Safety
for the county of Essex appointed, with directions to make a report of
grievances, to be laid before the government. The people of Lynn made the
following representation.
'At Lynn, the 24th of
May, 1689, upon a signification from Captain Jonathan Corwin,
of the Committee of the County of Essex, to make inquiry into the grievances
suffered under the late government, that it is expressed, that this town, or any
inhabitants therein, that have been aggrieved or burthened, do manifest the same
under their hand, to the Committee aforesaid, or to Captain Jonathan
Corwin to make known the same. We the Committee, chosen
by the inhabitants of Lynn, on the 20th of May, 1689, to consider of the
signification abovesaid, and to draw up what grievances and burdens we have
sustained by the late government, &c., do declare, viz. that this poor town
of Lynn have sustained great wrong and damage by the said late government; in
that our orderly, honest, and just rights, in a tract of land within the bounds
of Lynn, called Nahants, that hath been enjoyed, possessed, built upon, and
improved, by fencing, planting, and pasturing, &c., by the township of Lynn,
well onward to sixty years; and yet, by the injurious, unjust, and covetous
humors of some very ill minded persons, upon petitions preferred - as
Mr. Randolph first, and Mary Daffin, of
Boston, in the second place, when Mr. Randolph could not make
his petition true and valid, then he throweth in Mary Daffin
her petition for the same lands, and as unjustly founded as Mr.
Randolph's. But on their two petitions and vain pretences, we,
the poor people of Lynn, have been, by orders from the Governor and Council,
called, summoned, and ordered to appear at Boston, and to show and make good
title to said lands before Sir Edmund Andros, and his Council,
at one sitting, and a second sitting, and so a third, and a fourth, to our great
loss, and expense of time and moneys, and no advantage nor benefit to us,
because of delays and procrastinations, to screw our moneys out of our hands,
and to make us pay, with a vengeance, for such writings as we must be
constrained to take forth. And thus we have been grieved and oppressed,
and put to loss, cost and damage, near one hundred pounds, and never the better,
no justice done us, and at last put upon a threatened necessity of patenting our
own old enjoyed properties, and a denial of our rights in any of our commons,
always enjoyed, but now called King's lands, and we denied to be any town. Thus
we have been perplexed, vexed, and oppressed, and impoverished; and except the
Lord had wrought for us, whose name we bless, and give thanks to the worthy
gentlemen, his instruments, we had been the worst of bondmen. Furthermore,
we were debarred, by the late government, of our constant liberty of town
meetings but once in a year, whereby we could not meet to consult of defending
our rights in the premises, because it should be charged with riot; and also of
keeping a watch for our security from any dangers we had too just cause to fear,
which was our great grief and burthen; and our abuses by the profane farmers of
excise; and our sons, neighbors, and servants impressed and sent out so remote
in the winter season, and constrained hereunto, and all sufferings, and we
understand not upon what grounds. Per order of, or in the name of the Town
and Committee.
OLIVER PURCHIS, Cleric.
'Jeremiah Shepard, aged forty-two
years, and John Burrill, aged fifty-seven years, we, whose
names are subscribed, being chosen by the inhabitants of Lynn, in the
Massachusetts Colony, in New England, to maintain their right to their
properties and lands, invaded by Sir Edmund Andros's
government, we do testify, that, (besides Sir Edmund Andros his
unreasonable demands of money, by way of taxation, and that without an assembly
and deputies, sent from our towns, according to ancient custom, for the raising
of money and levying of rates, ) our properties, our honest, and just, and true
titles to our land were also invaded; and particularly a great and considerable
tract of land, called by the name of the Nahants, the only secure place for the
grazing of some thousands of our sheep, and without which our inhabitants could
neither provide for their families, nor be capacitated to pay dues or duties for
the maintenance of the public, but, if dispossessed of, the town must needs be
impoverished, ruined, and rendered miserable. Yet this very tract of land,
being petitioned for by Edward Randolph, was threatened to be
rent out of our hands, notwithstanding our honest and just pleas for our right
to the said land, both by alienation of the said land to us by the original
proprietors, the natives, to whom we paid our moneys by way of purchase, and
notwithstanding near sixty years peaceable and quiet possession, and
improvement, and also enclosure of the said land by a stone wall; in which tract
of land, also, two of our patentees were interested in common with us, viz.
Major Humfrey and Mr. Johnson; yet
Edward Randolph petitioning for the said land, Sir
Edmund, the Governor, did so far comply with his unreasonable
motion, that we were put to great charges and expense for the vindication of our
honest rights thereto. And being often before the Governor, Sir
Edmund, and his Council, for relief, yet could find no favor of
our innocent cause by Sir Edmund; notwithstanding our pleas of
purchase, ancient possession, enclosure, grant of General Court, and our
necessitous condition; yet he told us that all these pleas were insignificant,
and we could have no true title, until we could prove a patent from the king;
neither had any person a right to one foot of land in New England, by virtue of
purchase, possession, or grant of Court; but if we would have assurance of our
lands, we must go to the king for it, and get patents of it. Finding no
relief, (and the Governor having prohibited town meetings,) we earnestly desired
liberty for our town to meet to consult what to do in so difficult a case and
exigency, but could not prevail; Sir Edmund angrily telling us,
that there was no such thing as a town in the country; neither should we have
liberty so to meet; neither were our ancient records, as he said, which we
produced for our vindication of our title to the said lands, worth a rush.
Thus were we from time to time unreasonably treated, our properties, and civil
liberties, and privileges invaded, our misery and ruin threatened and hastened,
till such time as our country, groaning under the unreasonable heavy yoke of Sir
Edmund's government, were constrained forcibly to recover our
rights and privileges.
' JEREMIAH
SHEPARD,
JOHN
BURRILL.'
1690. The
third inhabitant of Nahant, and the first permanent one, was James
Mills. He had a small cottage, which stood in the field a few
rods southeast from Whitney's hotel, wherein he resided twenty-six years.
He had three children; Sarah, born February 27, 1675;
James, born October 11, 1678; and Dorothy,
born April 21, 1681. A bay on the south of Nahant having been her favorite
bathing place, is called Dorothy's cove.
The first
monthly meeting of the Society of Friends in Lynn, was held at the house of
Samuel Collins, on the 18th of July. There were but five
Lynn men present.
1691.
Lieutenant John Burrill was chosen Representative ' to the
great and generall Court.' The pay of a representative was three shillings
a day.
Mr. John Burrill, junior,
was chosen Town Clerk, in which office he continued thirty years.
April 14. 'Clement Coldam
and Joseph Hart were chosen cannoners, to order and look after
the great guns.'
July 13.
Lieutenant John Fuller was chosen Clerk of the Writs. It
is thus evident, that this office was not the same as that of Town Clerk.
On the northern shore of Nahant is a ledge of rock,
which contains a portion of iron. Some of it was smelted in the foundry at
Saugus, and more was taken for the forge at Braintree. 'It was voted that
Mr. Hubbard, of Braintree, should give three shillings for
every ton of Rock Mine that he has from Nahant, to the town, for the town's use,
and he to have so much as the town sees convenient.'
Mr. William Bassett was Quarter Master in the militia,
and collector of the parish taxes. People who held offices were generally
better known by their titles than by their first names.
December 21. At a meeting of the Selectmen,
'Mr. Shepard, with his consent, was chosen Schoolmaster for the
year ensuing.' Town Records.
1692. January 8. 'It was voted that Lieutenant
Blighe should have liberty to set up a pew in the north east corner of
the meeting house, by Mr. King's pew, and he to maintain the
windows against it.
'The town did vote, that
Lieutenant Fuller, Lieutenant Lewis, Mr. John Hawkes,
senior, Francis Burrill, Lieutenant Burrill, John Burrill,
junior, Mr. Henry Rhodes, Quarter Master
Bassett, Mr. Haberfield, Cornet Johnson, Mr. Bayley, and
Lieutenant Blighe, should set at the table.
'It was voted, that Matthew
Farrington, senior, Henry Silsbee, and Joseph Mansfield,
senior, should sit in the deacons' seat.
'It was voted, that Thomas Farrar, senior, Crispus Brewer, Allen Breed,
senior, Clement Coldam, Robert Rand, senior, Jonathan Hudson, Richard Hood,
senior, and Sergeant Haven, should sit in the pulpit.
'The town voted, that them that are surviving, that
was chosen by the town a committee to erect the meeting-house, and
Clerk Potter to join along with them, should seat the
inhabitants of the town in the meeting -house, both men and women, and appoint
what seats they shall sit in; but it is to be understood, that they are not to
seat neither the table, nor the deacon's seat, nor the pulpit, but them to sit
there as are voted by the town.
'The town voted
that Mr. Shepard should have liberty to remove Mr.
Shepard's pew, and to set it adjoining at the eastward end of the
pulpit.
'Lieutenant John Lewis, Cornet
Samuel Johnson, John Witt, Joseph Breed, Thomas Farrar, junior, Joseph Newhall,
and John Burrill, junior, were chosen Selectmen, 'to
order the prudential affairs of the town.' These were the first Selectmen
of Lynn whose names are recorded in the town book.
'The town voted, that the persons undernamed, in answer to their petition,
should have liberty of the hindmost seat in the gallery to sit in, and fit it up
as well as they please, in the northeast corner, provided they do no damage in
hindering the light of the window, Sarah Hutchins, Mary, Newhall,
Rebecca Ballard, Susanna Collins, Rebecca Collins, Ruth Potter, Jane Ballard,
Sarah Farrington, Rebecca Newhall, Elizabeth Norwood, Mary Haberfield.'
T. R.
The year 1692 has been rendered memorable
in the annals of our country, by the great excitement and distress occasioned by
imputed Witchcraft. It was an awful time for New England - superstition
was abroad in her darkest habiliments, scourging the land, and no one but
trembled before the breath of the destroyer, for no one was safe. It seemed as
if a legion of the spirits of darkness had been set free from their prison
house, with power to infect the judgment of the rulers, and to sport, in their
wanton malice, with the happiness and the lives of the people. The stories
of necromancy in the darkest ages of the world - the tales of eastern genii -
the imaginary delineations of the poet and the romancer - wild, and vague, and
horrible as they may seem - fall far short of the terrible realities, which were
performed in the open daylight of New England. The mother at midnight
pressed her unconscious children to her trembling bosom - and the next day she
was standing before a court of awful men, with her life suspended on the breath
of imagination - or barred within the walls of a prison, and guarded by an armed
man, as if she were a thing to be feared - or swinging in the breeze between
earth and sky, with thousands of faces gazing up at her, with commingled
expressions of pity and imprecation. The father, too, returned from his
work at eve, to his peaceful household - and in the morning he was lying
extended on a rough plank - with a heavy weight pressing on his breast - till
his tongue had started from his mouth - his soul had gone up to Him who
gave it - and all this, that he might be made to confess an imaginary crime.
The alarm of witchcraft commenced in February, in
the house of Rev. Samuel Parris, of Salem, with an Indian girl
named Tituba. Thirteen women and five men were hung, and
two, Rev. George Burroughs and Giles Corey,
pressed to death, because they would not answer or confess. More than one
hundred others were accused and imprisoned, of whom the following belonged to
Lynn:
1. Thomas Farrar was brought
before the court, at Salem, May 18, and sent to prison at Boston, where he
was kept until November 2, more that five months. He was an elderly
man, and his son, Thomas Farrar, jun., was one of the selectmen
this year. He lived in Nahant street, and died February 23, 1694.
2. Sarah Bassett was tried at
Salem, May 23, and sent to Boston prison, where she was kept until December 3,
seven months. She was a daughter of Richard Hood, and
wife of William Bassett, junior, in Nahant street. She
had a young child, 22 months old, which she took with her to prison. The
next daughter which she had after her imprisonment, she called
'Deliverance.'
3. Mary
Derick, widow of Michael Derick, was carried to Boston
prison, May 23, and kept there seven months. She was a daughter of
William Bassett, senior.
4.
Elizabeth Hart was arraigned and sent to Boston, May 18, where
she was imprisoned until December 7; nearly seven months. She was an old
lady, the wife of Isaac Hart, and died November 28, 1700.
5. Thomas Hart, son of
Elizabeth Hart, in a petition to the Court, October 19, says
'he has been in prison ever since May, for imputed witchcraft, and prays to be
released.'
6. Sarah Cole, the
wife of John Cole, was tried at Charlestown, the first
of February, 1693, and acquitted.
7. Elizabeth Proctor, wife of John Proctor, of
Danvers, was a daughter of William Bassett. She was
condemned to death, but was released on account of her peculiar
circumstances. Her husband was executed.
That aged people, as some of those were, and
respectable, as they all were, should have been subjected to long imprisonment
and the danger of death, on the accusation of a few hoyden girls, of uncertain
reputation, influenced by wild malice, or a distempered imagination, is a matter
which now excites our wonder and pity. My readers will doubtless be
anxious to know what was said about the accused from Lynn. It is really
too trifling for a serious record, and only merits notice for its
consequences. The following is the testimony against Thomas
Farrar.
'The deposition of Ann
Putnam, who testifieth and saith, that on the 8th of May, 1692, there
appeared to me the apperishion of an old gray head man, with a great nose, which
tortored me, and almost choaked me, and urged me to writ in his book; and I
asked him what was his name, and from whence he came, for I would complain of
him; and people used to call him old father pharaoh; and he said he was my
grandfather, for my father used to call him father; but I tould him I would not
call him grandfather, for he was a wizzard, and I would complain of him, and
ever since he hath afflicted me by times, beating me, and pinching me, and
allmost choaking me, and urging me continewally to writ in his
book.'
The testimony against Elizabeth
Hart was as follows: 'The deposition of Mary Wolcott,
who testifieth and saith, that on the 13th of May, 1692, I saw the apparition of
Goody Hart, who hurt me much by pinching and choaking of me;
and urged me grievously to set my hand to her book, and several other times she
has tormented me, ready to tare my body in pieces.'
There were several other depositions, but these were the most important; yet on
evidence like this, respectable people were taken from their homes, and
imprisoned more than half a year. It is some satisfaction to know, that
some of the judges and jurymen afterward saw their error and regretted it.
Some restitution was also made, by the court, to some of the sufferers.
Mary Derick was allowed L9, being at the rate of
six shillings a week during her imprisonment, and L5, for her goods
lost; and Sarah Bassett was also allowed L9.
The first thing that opened the eyes of the
prosecutors, and tended to put a stop to accusations, was the 'crying out'
against the Rev. Jeremiah Shepard, minister of the church at
Lynn, as a wizard! Every body saw the absurdity of the charge, and the
court were convinced that if the matter proceeded much further, themselves might
not be safe.
In reflecting on this subject, it
should be remembered, that people at that time generally believed in witchcraft.
It was part of their religion, and under such a misconception of
scripture, the slightest indications were proof. The more absurd,
improbable and even impossible a thing was, the more certain it appeared - for
many people very wisely conclude, that no one would assert an impossibility,
unless it were true! We wonder at the delusion of those days - but is
there no mist before our eyes at present?
1694. The society of Friends having increased, Mr.
Shepard became alarmed at their progress, and appointed the nineteenth
of July, as a day of fasting and prayer, 'that the spirital plague might proceed
no further.'
At a town meeting on the twenty-fifth
of July; 'The constables personally appearing, and declaring that they had all
warned their several parts of the town, according to their warrants, and so many
being absent from said meeting; the town did then vote and give power to
Jacob Knight, in behalf of the town, to prosecute against any
and every person or persons, that has not attended this meeting, according to
the by laws, or town orders.'
The practice
prevailed, for many years, of warning out of the town, by a formal mandamus of
the selectmen, every family and individual, rich or poor, who came into it. This
was done to exonerate the town from any obligation to render support in case of
poverty. One old gentleman, who had just arrived in town, to whom this
order was read, took it for a real intimation to depart. 'Come,
wife,' he says, 'we must pack up. But there - we have one consolation for
it - it is not so desirable a place!'
1695. The property of the
Nahants, which had been a cause of contention from the first settlement of the
town, was this year claimed by the heiresses of Richard Woody,
of Boston; into whose claim they probably descended by a mortgage of one of the
sagamores, in 1652. At a town meeting, on the eighteenth of October,
'There being a summons read, wherein was signified that the lands called Nahants
were attached by Mrs. Mary Daffern, of Boston, and
James Mills summoned to answer said Daffern at
an inferior court, to be holden in the county of Essex, on the last Tuesday of
December, 1695; the town did then choose Lieutenant Samuel Johnson,
Joseph Breed, and John Burrill, junior, to defend the
interests of the town in the lands called Nahants, and to employ an attorney or
attorneys, as they shall see cause, in the town's behalf, against the said
Daffern, and so from court to court, till the cause be ended -
they or either of them - and the town to bear the
charge.'
The following is transcribed from the
records of the Quarterly Court, December
thirty-first.
'Mrs. Mary Daffern
and Mrs. Martha Padishall, widows, and heiresses of
Richard Woody, late of Boston, deceased, plaintiffs, versus
John Atwill junior, of Lynn, in an action of trespass upon the
case, &c., according to writ, dated 30th September, 1695. The
plaintiffs being called three times, made default and are nonsuited. The
judgment of the court is, that plaintiffs pay unto the defendants costs.'
This is the last we hear of any claim made upon the Nahants, as individual
property.
1696. January 13. 'The Selectmen did agree with Mr.
[Abraham] Normenton to be schoolmaster for the town, for the
year ensuing, and the town to give him five pounds for his labor; and the town
is to pay twenty-five shillings towards the hire of Nathaniel
Newhall's house to keep school in, and the said Mr.
Normenton to hire the said house.'
Immense
numbers of great clams were thrown upon the beaches by storms. The people
were permitted by a vote of the town, to dig and gather as many as they
wished for their own use, but no more; and no person was allowed to carry any
out of the town, on a penalty of twenty shillings. The shells were
gathered in cart loads on the beach, and manufactured into lime.
This year, two Quakers, whose names were
Thomas Farrar and John Hood, for refusing to
pay parish taxes, suffered nearly one month's imprisonment at Salem.
The winter of this year was the coldest since the
first settlement of New England.
1697. On the eighth of January, the town, by vote, set the
prices of provisions, to pay Mr. Shepard's salary, as follows:
beef, 3d.; pork, 4d. a pound. Indian corn, 5s.; barley, barley malt, and
rye, 5s. 6d.; and oats, 2s. a bushel.
The
blackbirds had to keep a bright look out this year, as the whole town were up in
arms against them.
March 8. 'The town did
vote, that every householder in the town should, some time before the fifteenth
day of May next, kill or cause to be killed, twelve blackbirds, and bring the
heads of them, at or before the time aforesaid, to Ebenezer
Stocker's, or Samuel Collins's, or Thomas
Burrage's, or John Gowing's, who are appointed and
chose by the town to receive and take account of the same, and take care this
order be duly prosecuted; and if any householder as aforesaid shall refuse or
neglect to kill and bring the heads of twelve blackbirds, as
aforesaid, every such person shall pay three pence for every blackbird that is
wanting as aforesaid, for the use of the town.'
1698. On the fourth of January, Oliver Elkins
and Thomas Darling killed a wolf in Lynn woods. On the
twenty-eighth of February, Thomas Baker killed two
wolves. This year also, James Mills killed five foxes on
Nahant. Twenty shillings were allowed by the town for killing a wolf, and
two shillings for a fox.
The town ordered that no
person should cut more than seven trees on Nahant, under a penalty of forty
shillings for each tree exceeding that number.
June
1. The Court enacted 'that no person using or occupying the feat or
mystery of a butcher, currier, or shoemaker, by himself, or any other, shall use
or exercise the feat or mystery of a Tanner, on pain of the forfeiture of six
shillings and eight pence for every hide or skin so tanned.' They also
enacted that no tanner should exercise the business of a butcher, currier, or
shoemaker. 'And no butcher shall gash or cut any hide, whereby the
same shall be impaired, on pain of forfeiting twelve pence for every gash or
cut.' It was also enacted that no 'shoemaker or cordwainer shall work into
Shoes, Boots, or other wares, any leather that is not tanned and curried as
aforesaid; nor shall use any leather made of horse's hide for the inner sole of
any such shoes or boots on pain of forfeiting all such shoes and
boots.'
1699. The platform of
the meeting-house was covered with lead. The bell was taken down, and sent
to England to be exchanged for a new one. Mr. Shepard's
salary was reduced to sixty pounds.
On the seventh
of November, the town ordered that any person who should follow the wild fowl in
the harbor, in a canoe, to shoot at them, or frighten them, should pay twenty
shillings; and Thomas Lewis and Timothy Breed
were chosen to enforce the order.
1700. On the twenty-fifth of May, Mr. John
Witt killed a wolf.
At a meeting
of the Selectmen on the seventh of June, Mr. Shepard was chosen
to keep a grammar-school; for which thirty pounds were the next year
allowed.
1702. On
the sixteenth of March, Mr. Walter Phillips killed a
wolf.
On the fourteenth of December, ten pounds were
allowed for the maintenance of a grammar-master; 'and such master to have, over
and above the said ten pounds, 2 pence per week for such as are sent to read, 3
pence per week for them that are sent to write and cipher, and 6 pence per week
for them that are sent to learn Latin, to be paid by parents and masters that
send their children or servants to learn as aforesaid.'
1704. This year another war was
prosecuted with the French and Indians, called Queen Anne's war. It was
begun by the Indians in the preceding year, and was productive of the most
dreadful cruelty. Several of the soldiers from Lynn were taken
prisoners. It continued about a year.
Colonel Benjamin Church, who commanded in this expedition,
wrote a letter to Governor Dudley, requesting, 'That four or
five hundred pair of good Indian shoes be made; and let there be a good store of
cow hides, well, tanned, for a supply of such shoes, and hemp to make
thread, and wax, to mend and make more such shoes when wanted, and a good store
of awls.'
On the sixth of March, the town,
'being informed that several persons had cut down several trees or bushes in
Nahants, whereby there is like to be no shade for the creatures,' voted that no
person should cut any tree or bush there, on a penalty of ten shillings.
|
This site may be freely linked to but not duplicated in
any fashion without my permission. |