Municipal History of Essex County in Massachusetts
VOLUME I
More than three decades have elapsed since a history of Essex County was presented to the public. The animating purpose in the present work has been two-fold: First, that while provision be made for preservation of the essentials of a recorded past, sundry classifications (second) should also distinguish the activities that attend community growth as well as industrial and commercial expansion. To this end, various subjects have been taken up for individual treatment by writers qualified alike by local association and familiarity with fundamentals to deal befittingly with the matters thus assigned. And this leads to the observation, pertinent both to the moment and mention, that the list of these contributors does not, in all cases, correspond to the enumeration set forth in local preliminary prospectuses. By reason of illness, unexpected pressure of business, or other causes that need not be expressed, some of the listed contributors felt compelled to retire. In a few instances, such were the respective competencies of these gentlemen that the original engagements were held open, at embarrassment from the publishers' standpoint, until the printers were set at work. Then, when the fact became apparent that extension of time could not be rewarded with the promised papers, the common procedure followed, whereby experienced staff writers supplied the need.
While it would have been highly desirable to deal at length with the roster of men from Essex County communities who served in the late World War, in whatever capacity, the fact became manifest at an early stage that anything like adequate enrollment was entirely out of question. County, State and Federal records are yet in an incomplete form. Time, care and patience are among the essentials of such a record as shall command full confidence. If any evidence were needed to demonstrate the imperativeness of awaiting more propitious conditions for the publication of such a record as is here indicated, that evidence could surely be found in Federal government listing of so-called "slackers," in which have appeared, unfortunate to add, the names of service men who either paid the supreme sacrifice on European battle fields, or else died from wounds or from disease contracted in the service. Here and there, to be sure, certain private local collections are reputed to be approximately complete. Even were these deemed competent for insertion in a history framed on lines which mark the present work, they are not available in every in- stance, primarily because of the intention on the part of their compilers to utilize them in a personal publication, later on. Without appearing, much less attempting, to derogate, it may be said, with perfect candor, that historical works should have for basis in the exploitation of so important a subject as the roster of men who entered the service of the United States in the World War that accuracy which is commonly associated with government supervision, in conjunction with the larger resources of government. Hence the exclusion of even partial lists in this quarter from the special military section of the History. There has been an endeavor, however, carefully to compile the names of those heroes who sacrificed their lives in the late Titanic conflict. In all such listings, dependence has been placed upon local tabulations, under the auspices of town or city authority.
In the compilation of this work, due heed has been paid to the necessities of the constituency sought to be served, in order that individual interest in Massachusetts history, as it is concerned with the proud distinction achieved by Essex County, might be both stimulated and satisfied. This being the case, and that desire having formed the rule and guide to action, the History is presented to the public with the hope that it may prove no less welcome than acceptable.
Table of Contents
Chapter I - Geography and Geology of Essex County - Relics of the Glacial Period - The Foundation Rocks - The Tombolos - Formation of Islands - Earth Resources 1
Chapter II - The Story of the Planters - Captain Bartholomew Gosnold - First White Intercourse with the Indians - Charter from the English Crown - The Dorchester Company - New Plymouth - Roger Conant at Cape Ann 10
Chapter III- Salem, "The City of Peace" - First Settlers under Roger Conant - Account by William Wood in his "New England's Prospect" - John Endicott's Company - The First Council - Third Migration to Salem - Record of Voyage and List of Those Who Came 20
Chapter IV - Organization of Essex County - First Incorporated Towns - Courts Established - The New Charter - Public Buildings Erected - State Institutions in the County - Statistics 40
Chapter V - Town of Saugus - Settlement - First Town Meeting - Iron Industries - Other Manufactures - Churches 53
Chapter VI - Town of Ipswich - Territory known as Agawam - First White Settlement - Churches - Industries - Manufacturing 64
Chapter VII - Town of Newbury - Settlement - Churches - Present Conditions 86
Chapter VIII - Town of Rowley - Early Settlers - Development of Community 92
Chapter IX - Town of Marblehead - Settlement - Local Government Instituted - Industries - Sea Commerce - Early Disasters - Churches - Present Conditions 98
Chapter X - Town of Salisbury - Settlement and History 114
Chapter XI - Town of Wenham - First Settlers - Incorporation - Industries - Distinguished Citizens - Churches 120
Chapter XII - Town of Manchester - Land Acquired from Indians - First Settlers - Shipbuilding - Churches - History to Present Time 129
Chapter XIII - Town of Andover - Settlement - Indian Troubles - Manufacturing Development - Libraries - Theological Seminary - Religion 147
Chapter XIV - Town of Topsfield - Settlement - Anniversary of Founding of Town - Picturesque Region 161
Chapter XV - Town of Amesbury - First Comers - Early Industries - Commercial and Financial Interests - Important Manufactures - Library - Home of Whittier - Church History 168
Chapter XVI - Town of Boxford - First Settlers - Industries - Churches 186
Chapter XVII - Town of Middleton - David Stiles Quoted - Early Records - Industries 190
Chapter XVIII - Town of Danvers - Incorporation Act - Church History - Danversport 194
Chapter XIX - Town of Lynnfield - An Outpost of Lynn - First Settlers - Churches - Ancient Families - Old Landmarks - National Celebrities - Military Record 209
Chapter XX - Town of Hamilton - Early Land Grants - Development of Community 224
Chapter XXI - Town of West Newbury - Establishment of Town - Present Conditions 228
Chapter XXII - Town of Essex - The Home of Many Prominent Men - Early Settlers - Grant of Land by Sagamore of Agawam - Shipbuilding - Church History 232
Chapter XXIII - Town of Georgetown - Historical Narrative - Industrially, Commercially, Officially 241
Chapter XXIV - Town of Rockport - Settlement - Present-day Conditions - Industries - Churches 270
Chapter XXV - Town of Bradford - Incorporation - Manufactures - Churches - Government 279
Chapter XXVI - Town of Groveland - Settlement - Industries - Churches - Government 283
Chapter XXVII - Town of Swampscott - Early Annals - Noted Characters - The Humphrey Home - Henry S. Baldwin Quoted - Statistical - Town Officers 286
Chapter XXVIII - Town of Nahant - Early History- Development - Library - Henry Cabot Lodge - Fort Gardner - Churches 298
Chapter XXIX - Town of North Andover - Settlement - Early Manufacturing- Incorporation - Local Officiary - Churches 307
Chapter XXX - Town of Merrimac - Early Settlers - Municipal Affairs - Industries - Churches - Fraternal Orders 313
Chapter XXXI - Town of Methuen - Early Settlers - Local Officials - Churches 318
Chapter XXXII - The City of Salem - Settlement - Organization - Municipal History - Essex Institute - Peabody Museum Foreign Trade Reminiscences - Industrial History - Disasters Salem Hospital - Parks and Environments - Churches 325
Chapter XXXIII - City of Beverly - Settlement- Incorporation - Present-day Industries - Shoemaking - Church History - Present Conditions 357
Chapter XXXIV - City of Lynn - Conditions at Coming of First Settlers - Early Residents - "The Town Saugust" - Ancient Map - Lynn in the Revolution - Early Iron Works - First Mills - Timothy Dwight Quoted - City Organization - Swampscott - Distinguished Names - Industrial Exhibit - Parks and Playgrounds - Chamber of Commerce - The Shoe Industry - General Electric Company - Great Disasters - Religious History 375
Chapter XXXV - Haverhill - The Ancient Settlements - The Dustin Tragedy - Indian Troubles - The Town Laid Out - Early Industries - Anti-Slavery Society - The Civil War - The City Charter - Bradford Academy - Historical Society - Anniversary Celebrations - Distinguished Citizens - The World War - Growth of City - The Shoe Industry - Public Library - Churches 451
Chapter XXXVI - City of Lawrence - Pioneer Families - Incorporation as a Town - Present Municipal Governments - Benevolent Institutions - The Andover Bridge - The Central Bridge - The Essex Company - Distinguished Visitors - Fall of Pemberton Mills - Parks and Playgrounds - Great Textile Strike - The Great Cotton Industry - American Woolen Company - Other Important Cotton Manufactories - Mercantile Interests - Religious History 492
Chapter XXXVII - City of Newburyport - Settlement and Incorporation as a Town - Early Shipbuilding and Foreign Trade - Privateers Fitted Out - City Charter - City Officiary - Public Library - Churches 539
Chapter XXXVIII - City of Peabody - Early Settlement - Pioneer Families - Early Churches - George Peabody - Industrial Development - Peabody Institute and Library - Present-day Conditions 553
Chapter XXXIX - City of Gloucester - First Settlement- Pioneer Settlers - Municipal History- Sawyer Free Public Library - The Fishing Industry - A Famous Custom House - Post Office History - Light Houses - Remarkable Instances of Longevity - Points of Interest - Church History 567
Chapter XL - Banks and Banking - Early and Present Banking Institutions - In Salem - Lynn - Danvers - Ipswich - Andover - Marblehead - Gloucester - Saugus - Beverly - Amesbury - Newburyport - Lawrence - Peabody - Groveland - Rockport - Manchester - Merrimac - Georgetown - Haverhill 595
Chapter XLI - Railroads and Transportation - Early Vehicles - First Public Conveyance - First Railroad Charter in Massachusetts - Railway to Quincy Stone Quarries - First Railroads to Reach Salem, Saugus, Danvers, and Other Towns - Street Railways 625
Chapter XLII - Educational Interests - Early School at Salem - Lynn Schools - Early School Usages - Ancient Records - Present Schools in Lynn - In Danvers - Lawrence - Essex - Amesbury - Salisbury - Andover - Hamilton - Boxford - Groveland - Haverhill - Ipswich - Middleton - Saugus - Methuen - Beverly - Newbury - Nahant - Bradford - Merrimac - Gloucester - Phil- lips Academy - Andover School for Girls and Young Women - Andover Theological Seminary - Beverly Academy - Baker Free School - Merrimac Academy - Manning School - Marble- head Academy - Franklin Academy - Salem Normal School - Saugus Female Seminary - Topsfield Academy 631
Chapter XLIII - Physicians of the County - Medical Practice in Danvers - Medical History of Lynn - Essex - Rockport - Topsfield - Wenham - Georgetown! - Beverly - Andover - Nahant - Rowley - Boxford - West Newbury - Haverhill - Gloucester - Groveland - Manchester - South Hamilton - Salisbury - Newburyport - Marblehead - Merrimac - Saugus - Middleton - Lynnfield Center - Salem - Ipswich - Methuen - Amesbuiy - Lawrence - Peabody 693
Chapter XLIV - Newspapers of the County - The Essex Gazette - Newspapers in Salem - Scientific Periodicals - Newspapers in Lynn - Saugus - Haverhill - Newburyport - Amesbury - Peabody - Gloucester - Lawrence - Beverly - Ipswich - Marblehead 731
Chapter XLV - Military History - Indian Wars - Military Annals of Danvers - Salem - Lynn - Gloucester - Newburyport - Haverhill - Nahant - Boxford - Ipswich - Amesbury - Marble- head - Georgetown - MeiTimac - Swampscott - Rockport - Rowley - Topsfield - Wenham - Groveland - Andover - Hamilton - North Andover - Saugus - Beverly - Peabody - Manchester - Lawrence - Salisbury 763
Chapter XLVI - Bench and Bar - First Establishment in Essex County - First General Court - The Various Courts - The Witchcraft Trials - Changes in Judicial System - Early Judicial Officiary - Attorneys General and District Attorneys - Provisions for Admission to the Bar - Bar Association - Names in Bar Book - Judicial Procedure 825
Chapter XLVII - Agriculture and Horticulture - Early Farm Industries - Early Agricultural Society 867
Chapter XLVIII - Lodges in Essex County - Masonic - Odd Fellows - Knights of Pythias - Other Orders 871
Chapter XLIX - Witchcraft in Essex County - Early Cases - First Execution - List of Executions - Judges Presiding at Trials 881
Chapter L - United Shoe Machinery Company 891
Chapter LI - Miscellaneous - Essex County Congressmen - Presidential Votes - New England Laboratory Company 901
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VOLUME II
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VOLUME III
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VOLUME IV
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The history of Essex County in this period of formation is, in reality, the history of the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The successive governmental steps taken within this small section in the northeastern comer of the old Bay State resulted in the formation of a well-organized government, which was delivered by Governor John Endicott to Governor John Winthrop in 1630. The area of government had rapidly expanded within seven years from an insignificant and unsuccessful fishing station at Cape Ann to a territory covering the whole of the present Essex County and Suffolk County and a generous section of what is now included in Norfolk County. The description of the boundaries of the territory purchased by the "Company of the Massachusetts Bay in New England" defines its extent as follows: "That part of New England three miles north of the Merrimack and three miles south of the Charles River, in the bottom of Massachusetts Bay."
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