Essex County, Massachusetts - Chapter 6: Town of Ipswich, 1922

Chapter 6: Town of Ipswich

While it has been fairly well decided that this section of the country had been settled, after a manner, hundreds of years prior to the landing of the "Mayflower," it is not the province of this work to enter into this pre-historic record in this connection, although it will be touched upon elsewhere in this work. To begin this sketch of Ipswich, it is well to give something concerning the Indians the first white men, as now known to have landed here, found upon their arrival.

This territory known as Agawam, meaning "resort for fish of passage," consisted of about 118,500 acres. In the summer, schools of mackerel darkened the waters of the bay as they migrated to their southern home. The name of the Sagamore of this domain was Masconnomet, meaning "John" with us. His relation to other Indian tribes is unknown to this day. Possibly his was a sub-tribe of the Massachusetts, or the Algonquins, whose power is said to have extended from Charles river to the Merrimac. His subjects are always represented to have been kind and easily managed. It was Captain Hardie and Nicholas Hobson, exploring the coast in 1611, who testified that these Indians were kinderhearted than any tribes they met. Masconnomet was converted under the teachings of Governor Winthrop's company, and it should be recalled that the good Governor came to New England originally for the pui-pose of Christianizing the Indians. It was on March 8, 1644, that the old chief in question put himself, his subjects and all his possessions, under the government protection of the Massachusetts Bay Company, and agreed to be instructed in the Christian religion. The subjoined is an account of the examination given the chief by the Whites:

1 - Will yoiu worsihip the only tiTie God and not blaspheme? Answer - We do desire to reverence the God of the English, and to speak well of him, because we see he doth better to the English than other gods do to the others-

3 - Will you refrain from woa'king on the Sabbath, especially in Christian towns ? Answer - It is easy for us - we have little to do any day, and can v/ell rest on that day.

6 - Will you put away fornication, adultery, incest, rape and sodomy? Ansaver - Though some of our people do some of these things, we count them naught, and do not allow them.

S - Will you allow your children to read the word of God, so they may know Him aright, and worship Him in their own way ? Answer - We will allow this as opportunity may pennit, and as the English live among us, we desire to do so.

the death of the friendly old Indian chief: "Masconnomet saw his tribe fade away, as a summer cloud ; his rich domain become the abode of the pale face ; his scepter broken, fall from his nerveless grasp. In 1655 the selectmen granted him a life interest in six acres of planting ground. He died March 6, 1658. The 18th of the following June his widow was granted the same ground during her widowhood. Both were buried on Sagamore Hill in Hamilton. With him were buried his gun, tomahawk, and other implements of the chase. The tribe lived in scattered wigwams, much at the town charge, tDl it was practically extinct about 1730."

The landscape of this section of Essex county affords a variety of beautiful natural scenery - the hills, the dale, the meadow and the marsh lands, with streams here and there to make glad the scene. In summer time the verdure of the flowers, the cattle and sheep feeding leisurely, the first setting of the waving grain, the ripening fruit, including the purple plums, and the golden and amber autumn leaf, one and all are objects of untold beauty. While the general topography is the same today as it was years ago, of course drainage and time's hand has made various changes. In the year 1885 the following was written concemii g this portion of the county :

The Linebrook District has a beautiful sheet of water called Baker's, Pritchard^s, Great and Hood's Pond, by which last name it is now known. Its surface is eighty feet above Town Hill, or one himdrod and ndnety-twio feet above sea-level. It mighit be made an excellent reservoir for fire or other purpose, for the village of Topsifield, or Ipswich, or peirhapis both. Rev. Jacob Hood, of Lynnfield, who died in 1885, at the age of ninety-four years, surveyed it in his youth and computed the area at nearly eighty acres. In the winter of 1861-62, M. V. B. Parley surveyed this pond and made by traverse table sixty-five and nine-tenths acres. A third of the pondi is in Topsfield, and in 1874 the town stocked it with perch and black bass, thus availing itself of ithe State law which, for /that purpose gave that town exclusive control lof the waters for fifteen years. On its bosom blooms the fragrant white petaled lily; and boats for rowing and sailing invite to healthful recreation; and it lends a charm to the surrounding hills. On the west, rising seventy feet above its surface, is a broad grazing field where General Israel Putnam in his boyhood, when in the tutelage of his stepfather, went to find and "fetch" the cows; and on the east is Bumham's Hill, named from James Bumham, wtho in 1717 owned the land.

The chief streams of this town are Winthrop's, Norton's, Howlet's, Mile and Bull brooks, which used to be good fishing for pickerel and trout. Other streams are the North or Egypt river, Muddy and Ipswich rivers. The last named stream rises in Maple Meadow brook, in the town of Burlington, and meanders through Wilmington, North Reading, Middleton and Topsfield, entering Ipswich upon the southwest border. On its banks have been from an early time sawmills, gristmills, papermills, tanneries, cotton and woolen mills, while today its chief industry is the immense hosiery mills, among the largest in the world.

Old deeds speak of ponds in the vicinity of the West Meadow, but which are unknown to this generation; yet there are swamps which answer to the location and size.

include the following: Heartbreak Hill, 196 feet high, from which it is related an ancient hunter's daughter watched in vain for the return of her lover (a sailor boy) , and there died of a broken heart. Turner's Hill, 250 feet high, which years ago became a well improved and frequently sought summer resort; it has long since been styled "Mount Turner." Bartholomew's Hill, 204 feet high, stands just above the William Bartholomew farm, whose owner was an early benefactor of this neighborhood. Turkey Hill, 240 feet; Jewett's Hill, 212 feet high; Little Turner, 197 feet high; Bush Hill, 193 feet high; Scott's Hill, 180 feet high; Sagamore Hill, 172 feet high; Prospect Hill, 262 feet above sea-level, shows us White Mountains, and Old Monadnock in all its beauty. Cemetery Hill, or Town Hill, is 184 feet high, showing the city and surrounding farming community, as well as the spires of numerous churches in Amesbury and Newburyport. Castle Hill, located on the famous Ipswich Beach, at the mouth of Ipswich and Plum Island rivers, rises a distance of 165 feet above the railway track in Ipswich.

Not far from a dozen years after the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, four and a half years after Captain Endicott colonized at Salem, and three years after Governor John Winthrop formed a colony known in history as the Massachusetts Bay, it was learned in Boston that a movement was being made to settle a colony of Jesuits in way of a mission. So in order to prevent this religious sect from getting a foothold, Winthrop sent a colony of thirteen men, with his son John Winthrop, Jr., as leader, to forestall the talked of enterprise. The record of events connected with this affair show that the company was made up of John Winthrop, Jr., John Thomdyke, WilHam Clark, John Biggs, Robert Cole, John Gage, Thomas Hardy, Thomas Howlett, William Perkins, William Sergeant, and three others, who in March 1633 took actual possession of the soil of Agawam.

The record shows "A Court holden att Newe Towne - Cambridge - August 5th, 1634, ordered that Agawam shall be called Ipswitch," wherefore August 16, 1634, begins the corporate history of this town. It was named in honor of Ipswich, England, from whence the colony mostly sailed, and where they were well treated before departure from the Mother Country. The records show that Masconnomet sold his fee in Ipswich to John Winthrop, Jr., March 13, 1638, and that he expressed himself satisfied with such deal, March 5, 1639. The following is the deed - one of no little interest, even after these two hundred and eightythree years :

I Masconnomet Sagamore of Agawiam do by tthese presents acknowledge to Ihave received of Mr. John Wdnthrop the i&wca of £20, in full satisfaction of all the right, property, and claim I have or ought to have, unto all the land, lying and being in ffche Bay of Agawam, alias Ipswich, being so called by the English, as well as such land, belonging to me in ithese parts, Mr. Dummer's farm excepted only; and I hereby relinquish all the right and interest I have unto all the havens, rivers, creeks, islands, huntings and fisihings, with all the woods, swamps, timber and whatever else is or may be, in or upon the said ground to me belonging; and I do hereby acknowledge td have received full satisfaction from the said John Winthrop for all former agreements, touching the premises anid parts of them; and I do hereby bind mysedf to make good the aforesaid bargain and sale unto the said John Winthrop, his heirs and assigns forever, and to secure him against the title and claim of all other Indians and natives whatsoever.

Coytmore. Robert Harding

The Court ordered that Ipswich refund to John Winthrop, Jr., the iwenty pounds named in the above deed, November 5, 1639. February 22. 1705, the record says : "The Court orders that Samuel Appleton, and our two Representatives, Nehemiah Jewett and Nathaniel Knowlton, treat with Hon. Wait Winthrop about Masconnomet's deed of Ag-awam,' made to his father, deceased."

When Ipswich was settled in 1633, the boundary on the north and west was the boundary of the ancient Agawam; on the east the ocean; on the south. Cape Ann (Gloucester), Jeffrey's Creek (Manchester), Enon (Wenham), and Salem village (Danvers), four hamlets then belonging to Salem. Newbuiy, 12,300 acres, was set off in 1635 and contributed to the territory of Newburyport 4,575 acres in 1764, and Parsons 8,072 acres in 1819 which became West Newbury, June 14, 1820. In 1636 the Court established the western line of the town six miles in the country. The eastern and southern boundaries remamed the same. In 1639, Ipswich with Newbury contributed to Rowley 10,310 acres for which the two towns received £800, and out of which were made the towns of Bradford, 4,564 acres, in 1675 ; of Boxford, 14,200 acres m 1685 ; of Middleton in part, about 2,500 acres, in 1728 ; of Georgetown, 7,548 acres in 1838 ; and of Groveland, 5,230 acres in 1850.

In 1650 Ipswich contributed the part of Topsfield north of the river, a part of 7,375 acres. The hamlet of Ipswich, 9,440 acres, was incorporated as Hamilton in 1793, and the Chebacco of Ipswich, 7,839 acres became Essex in 1819. In 1774 certain families of Ipswich were set off to Topsfield; in 1784 others were set off to Rowley; and in 1846 still others to Boxford, and there now remain 25,478 acres, the heart of the town as known today.

Concerning the first settlement, and from what was styled the "Wonder-working Providence," the following is quoted: "The peopling of this towne is by men of good ranke and quality, meany of them having the yearly revenue of large estates in England before they came to this mldeniesse." In Rev. Joseph Felt's history of the Town, we read- "A large proportion of the inhabitants possessed intelligent minds, virtuous hearts, useful influence and remarkable character. They well understood how the elements of society should be for the promotion of its welfare and how such elements should be formed and kept pure from ignorance and irreligion. They were careful of their own example, and thereby gave force to their precepts. They attended to the concerns of society as persons, who felt bound to consult the benefit of posterity as well as their own immediate good."

As a matter of citizenship it may be stated that no person was allowed to plant or inhabit Agawam without leave of the court. The following list of names is compiled from the public records of this town, and are supposed to be all who settled in the first decade - between 1633 and 1644. As many of their descendants still reside within this county, it is believed that such a roster will be of value, and of no little personal interest to many of the readers of this work :

The population in 1650 was not far from one hundred and forty families, or about 700 souls. In 1680 there were 126 voters, equal to about 850 people. The United States census returns in 1830 gave this town 2,951; in 1885 it had reached 4,247; in 1887 the Manual of the Legislature for the Commonwealth gave the number of voters as being in 1920 shows the town's population to be 6,201. 1,016. In 1900 the census shows 4,658; that of 1910 shows 5,777; that

The idea of religious freedom was deeply set in the hearts of our sturdy forefathers. When they had once a real right to forai a government of their own, they naturally chose the book of all books - the Bible - as their guide. It was to them all authority, and contained the true principles of all municipal, moral and religious governments. This was in fact the origin of our unique form of town government - a pure democracy - which was confiraied and established by law in 1636, when the General Court conferred upon the towns the right to grant lots of land and to make and enforce most of the laws that should govern them. Occasionally there was an exception to this rule, as in the case when in 1636 the General Court ordered that the next term there should be passed a law that Ipswich, with other towns, "shall have libertie to stay soe many of their ffreemen att home for the safety of their own towne as they judged needful, and that the saide ffreemen that are appointed by the towne to stay att home, shall have their libertie for this court to send their votes by proxy." In 1631 it was enacted that only church members could vote, and this was not repealed until 1644. In 1692 a voter for representative had to be worth at least a realty of forty shillings a year, and other estate of forty pounds. Aside from these provisions it was a government of equal rights.

Originally, the title of the office now known as selectmen was called "sevenm.en" - doubtless from the Scripture sayings like these : "Wisdom hath hewn out seven pillars;" "Seven men that can render a reason," etc. They began their duties when the town was organized. In 1638 they numbered eleven ; from 1723 the number was reduced to five. After 1740 the "seven" seems to have lost its power. In 1794 one man was selected from the north side of the river, one from the south side, and one from Chebacco. In 1798 it was voted to have five selectmen, at a salary of $19. Fifteen men were chosen and all declined the office. The salary was then raised to $38, when it was possible to secure five selectmen. In 1797 the meetings were held in the school-house chamber. The town ofncers included a clerk, constables, tithingmen, treasurer, surveyors, commissioner of taxes, fireman, hog-reeves and hog-ringers, haywards, fence-viewers, town-crier, clerk of the market, etc.

The first roads for general travel were laid out a rod and one-half wide. But they seldom v/ere worked that width, for a mere path or trail was sufficient, as travel was mostly by horseback or by footmen. A pathway was first opened up between Boston and Newburyport in 1635. In 1641 the road to Salem v/as determined; another to Andover in 1652. The highway to Essex was laid out in 1654, and from Newburyport to Topsfield in 1717, via Linebrook. Records shov/ that as late as 1832 there were only wagon roads in the town amounting to seventy-two miles. Other chapters will treat on the various railways of Essex county, including the lines in this town. A former history of this portion of the State has the following on an early canal :

In 1652, 22:12, Thomas Clark and Reginal Foster, were "to ihiave ten pounds for cutting a passage from this river to Chebacco river of ten foo't wide and soe deepc as a lighter laden may pass, and making a f orde and f oote bridge over." In 1669 the selectmen "are to take care that the bargain concerning the cutting of the creek at Oastle Hill be forwarded." In 1681, February 7, any townsman has libeilie to perfect the cutting the Cut that comes up to Mr. Eppes his bridge. In 1694, whosoever will cut the Cut through the marsh at Mr. Eppes' shall have liberty, who pays five shillings toward it "shall have liberty to pass as they may have occasion forever. Others must pay three pence a cord or a ton, in money." The proprietors of the Essex Canal were incorporated June 15, 1820. The corporators' names were William Andrews, Jr., Adam Boyd, Tristram Brown, Robert Crowell, John Dexter, Moses Marshall, Parker, Jonathan, Benjamin, Samuel, Francis, Jacob, Jr., Ebenezer, Jr. and Nathan Bumham; Dudley, George and Joseph Ctboate; Enoch, Winthrop, and Joshua Low; Jonathan (4th), Jacob, Jonathan, Abel, Daniel and Eps Story. This canal was opened in 1821, was a half mile long and cost one thousand one hundred dollars. The stock was twenty-seven shares at forty dollars each, and paid nearly six per cent, per annumn. It connected the Merrimack river with Chebacco river, and (SO let in ship timber at reduced rates. Later years it has been of little or no use, and early in the eighties its walls were falling in.

May 11, 1704, the town voted to build "forthwith, if the county could pay half, as it did for the to^^^l-house in Salem." Thus they sought to save by having one building serve as school, town-house and court-house. This plan went through, and a building twenty-eight by thirty-five feet in size was built. It had a steeple surmounting its roof. This served the town until 1795, when another town-house was erected. This was also used as a courthouse, the county paying half of the cost. As a townhouse, it was discontinued in 1841, the town selling its share to the county for $1,250. In 1843 the town bought the old unused Unitarian church building which served from that date on.

Agriculture, stock-raising and fishing constituted the early resources of Ipswich. Farming was the chief industry upon which the people most depended for a good many years after settlement was effected. The early publication, styled the "Wonder-working Providence," remarked away back in the very early decades of the history of the town : "They have very good land for husbandry, where rocks hinder not the course of the plow." This land was used for the growth of cereals, such as com, oats, barley, rye, wheat and flax. As late as 1733 - a century after settlement - it was said of the potatoe that it was but a delicacy to accompany roast-beef dinner and unujsnal occasions ; the turnip, then raised in abundance, took the place of potatoes on all common occasions. Com and rye were the principal breadstuffs of our forefathers. Pastures were excellent, and all branches of farming then known in New England succeeded here in Ipswich. Without smiling at the orthography of an item in the above named publication, we ask that the following be read : "the Lord hath been pleased to increase them in Come and Cattell of late [1650 ;] insomuch that they have many hundred quarters to spare yearly, and feed, at the latter end of the summer, the Town of Boston with good beefe."

Next in importance to farming and stock-raising came the fishing business in Ipswich. This industry had been evidently followed to quite an extent prior to 1633. It was an excellent place for fishing. The Neck iumished the wharfage, while Ii)swich and Plum Island rivers, with Plum Island as a breakwater, the harbor. Ck)d and sturgeon and bass then belonged to these shores and streams. It was made profitable for those who desired to follow such business, for any person so disposed might after 1641 enclose his fishing stages, and each crew could plant an acre of ground. In 1670 they could take wood from the common for needed buildings and for fuel, and each crew could feed a cow on the common. By 1696 there were between seven and eight hundred persons doing a fishing business, together with other lines that naturally followed such an enterprise. History states that in 1758 there were six fishing schooners belonging at Ipswich, but another entry is made that by 1797 "only a few vessels were employed in the fishery."

The Ipswich river was noted from an early date for its fine fresh water fish, including shad, bass and alewives. As late as 1830 several barrels of alewives were being taken yearly out of some of the small tributaries of this stream. But with the settlement of the country, the change in water courses, the establishing of mill-dams and allowing impurities to enter the streams from factories and mills, these fish have mostly disappeared. Clams have been gathered here for all time since white men knew these wave-washed shores. In 1789 a thousand barrels of clams were dug, and they brought from five to seven dollars a barrel. The Ipswich clam ranks well up with the famous varieties of the Providence river or the Norfolk oyster. Coming down to 1885, the business here in this line amounted to $21,829, on a capital invested amounting to only $2,200.

Richard Saltonstall was the first man to employ power for grinding grain in this town; he commenced to grind in 1635, on the site of what was later styled the Farley Stone Mill. Jonathan Wade constructed, from timbers granted to him, a wind-mill on the hill that still bears that Tiume, but it was not used many seasons, for the superiority of waterpower was soon demonstrated to mill men. Saw mills were not in evidence very early here. Chebacco had several. In 1656 it was ordered that sawyers might fell trees in the woods three and a half miles from the meeting-house. It was provided, however, that one-fifteenth of the lumber thus obtained should go to the town.

1675 saw the first fulling-mill constructed in Ipswich; it was on the banks of Egypt river, but was not fully completed by the time allotted by the permit, hence later the mill-dam was removed from the river. Joseph Caleffe erected a fulling-mill, as will be observed from this town entry: "Joseph Caleffe might erect one where it will not prejudice others, if he will full for the town's people sooner than for other town's men for money." This was in 1692. Caleffe, and two others named Potter, started a larger fulling-mill in 1693. Here homemade cloth was received and cleansed, scoured and pressed. When finally finished, such goods made a fine, compact, firm and very strong material, with a soft, glossy nap. Local historian Perley, of Ipswich, many years ago left this picture in words descriptive of early cloth-making in this section of the country:

In 1641 children and servants were to be taught the manufacture of cloth from wild hemp, with which the country abounded. In 1645 wool was scarce, and in 1654 no sheep might be transported, and none killed under two years of age. In 1656 the town was divided into classes of five, six and ten, and taught the art of spinning. One person should spin three pounds of linen, cotton, wool, monthly, for thirty weeks each year, or forfeit twelve pence per month for each pound short. Half and quarter spinners were required to do the same proportionately. Samuel Stacy was clothier in 1727. Those were the days of the "independent farmer." All his needs were supplied by his skill or care. Even his clothes were grown on his own field, in the azure-hued flax or the silvery fleece of his sheep. His family converted these into fine cool thread or soft warm yarn, and these latter they wove into cloth from which they made his and his family's garments. Our children's lips delighted to chord with the hum of the spinning-wheel. We have a vivid remembrance of the little wheel for linen and the big wheel for wool, but the clatter of the loom, that so deftly arranged the warp and woof, was a home-thrumming hardly so late as our day. The weaver's thrumms are now supplanted by a noisy profitless thrumming of the piano.

The late Thomas Franklin Waters of Ipswich, in his two volume work (1917) entitled "Ipswich in The Massachusetts Bay Colony," has given a fine description of the great textile industry of Ipswich, and from Vol. No. 2 of this work, we are permitted to make liberal extracts. While the following is not a copy of his writings, it is an article based largely on his writings on this topic, and for this we are thankful, for with such good authority, the reader will have no doubt as to the correctness of the statements herein made.

Prior to 1785, no power looms had even been known in the world, so far as our civilization knows. England wanted to keep her industry at home, and hence prohibited the shipment of machinery for making any kind of fabrics to America. American merchants were equally interested in having such industry started here, and were, as will be seen, equal to the emergency. They had to resort to every possible expedient to gain the needful information that was to make this country a manufacturing section. Men went to England and had models of cloth-making machines packed and sent to France, where they were repacked and reshipped to America by the American Minister to France. But these were finally seized in transit. However, later an Englishman acquainted with the business was induced to emigrate to America. He smuggled himself aboard the ship, but the owner of the vessel stopped and searched, and he was found and sent back and placed under bonds not to leave that country again. But Yankee ingenuity prevailed in the end, and various portions of the machine found their way across the ocean and were here reassembled.

John Cabot of Beverly petitioned the legislature for the incorportion of a company to engage in the manufacture of cotton cloth in 1788. In the spring of 1789 the first cotton mill in New England, or in America, for that matter, was in successful operation. With it was one carding machine, nine spinning jennies, one warp mill and sixteen looms. The power was that furnished by two strong horses that worked in the basement of the factory. General George Washington visited this factory when passing through Beverly in the autumn time, and was greatly interested in the weaving of cotton cloth, denims, thicksett, corduroy, velveset, etc. This Beverly cotton mill furnished good goods, and found ready market, but financially it was a failure.

The first woolen factory in America was the one started at Hartford, Connecticut, in 1788. Dr. John Manning, the most progressive citizen of Ipswich, and who introduced inoculation as a preventive of small-pox, at the cost of much unpopularity, was now to play a part in a new role in the woolen mill industry. In 1792 he secured a grant from the town, and later purchased a lot now occupied by the Caldwell Block, and there he erected a two story building 32 by 105 feet. The Massachusetts Woolen Company was organized and the manufacture of broadcloth, blankets, flannels and kindred fabrics was begun. Finally, this plant went down, as did also the one at Beverly. It was closed down about 1800. Ipswich had relapsed into the same old routine of "age of homespuns." The yarn was spun on the great spinning wheel, stockings were Imit, the long webs were woven on the family loom, flax was again spun and woven into fine and beautiful linen, lace of delicate and intricate patterns was wrought on the lace pillows, which found place in every Ipswich home.

One day two Englishmen from Nottingham - Benjamin Fewkes and George Warner - strolled into town, and their coming marked a new era and a gigantic industry was destined for the place. These men were real stocking-makers. Stocking-making as an industry was established m^iiy years before this in Nottingham, England, as well as in Derby and Leicester. A warp machine was added in 1782, and soon prices fell for all lace goods. Labor riots prevailed. The factories where the "frames" were in use were attacked and the machines destroyed. Upward of one thousand stocking frames were broken up, and a large number of lacemaking machines. This destruction was brought about by the stocking knitters and lace making people in Nottingham, who could not be content with the introduction of machinery. Many of the persons thus thrown out of work in England emigrated to America, where they resolved to engage in their calling in a free country. Then it was that the English government placed a prohibitive duty on such machines as would do this class of work. They placed every known obstacle in the way of these emigrants to their provinces in America. There was a penalty of £40 for the exporting of stocking-making machines to this country. This existed in 1788. In 1818 it amounted to £500. The agitators of the labor question furnished a pretext for extremely stringent laws in this respect. It was boldly stated that the bobbins, points, guides and needles of lace stocking machines came into Boston in 1818 to 1822, secreted in pots of good Yorkshire butter.

It was in 1818 that the first stocking machine arrived here in America. It finally reached Ipswich in 1822, being brought here by Benjamin Fewkes and George Warner. The first pair of stockings woven upon this machine in Ipswich was made by Benjamin Fewkes Sr., in the kitchen of a house then standing on the site of the present South Congregational Church building.

In February, 1824, the Boston and Ipswich Lace Company was formed, and consisted of Joseph Farley, William H. Sumner, Augustine Heard and George W. Heard, with a capital of $15,000. This company became insolvent, and the dwelling and factory were sold at auction, November 9, 1827, to Theodore Andrews, styled "Lace Manufacturer."

The New England Lace Company was formed January 1827, with a capital of $50,000. The names of the persons employed by the lace enterprise in Ipswich included: Superintendent, John Clark; machinists, James and Joseph Peatfield; lace weavers, Benjamin Fewkes, Samuel Gadd, George Gadd, James Clark, John Trueman, Mr. Watts, George Warner, Samuel Hunt, Sr., and a Mr. Harrison, Many girls were employed to mend the embroidery and wash laces.

As soon as England found that we were producing such goods in America, they at once placed a very high duty on thread, which then had to be imported from Great Britain. This for a time ruined the American industry, causing many investors to lose their money. After the lace-making failed here, the owners of mills turned their attention to making hosiery. In 1841 a round knitting machine was invented, and this changed conditions. But before passing to that, it should be stated that in 1829 there were only four well-started hosiery manufactories in this country and they were in Ipswich. In 1831 the United States census reports tell us that the only stocking factory in this country was the one at Newburyport.

The Ipswich Manufacturing Company was organized in 1828, on a capital of $50,000 and real estate amounting to $100,000. A new dam was constructed and a large stone mill was erected. Cotton machinery was installed and operations commenced in 1830. The day's work then consisted of fourteen hours. In 1832 the mill had three thousand spindles. There were 260 looms, and 80,000 pounds of cotton was made up into 450,000 yards of cloth annually; it was worth about ten cents a yard. The number of men employed was eighteen, and the number of women employed was sixty-three. Meanwhile the manufacture of hosiery progressed rapidly. A large plant was finished in 1834. In a building erected by the Heads at the lower mills, and James and Joseph Peatfield, brothers, were engaged in knitting shirts and drawers upon a warp machine invented by James Peatfield in 1834. Encouraged by their suc- -cess, these two brothers bought land in 1840 and proceeded to build the brick factory now known as the "Hayes Tavern." It was fully equipped with machinery invented by James Peatfield and there underwear was produced in large quantities. At what was called the Manning Mills, during the Civil War, there were made in 1864 over 55,000 pairs of socks for army use, and woolen goods additional to the amount of $135,000.

Hosiery then gave way to the making of blankets, by the Willowdale Manufacturing Company. This mill was destroyed by fire January 12, 1884, and it was never rebuilt. The decade of 1860 to 1870 was the period of another great advance in the textile industry of the town.

In 1863 a $40,000 stock company was organized with N. W. Pierce and George G. Colman of Boston, Joseph Ross, Captain Thomas Dodge and Henry L. Ordway, of Ipswich, as directors of the firm of Pierce, Hardy & Company, as selling agents. After five years the company decided to use its own yam. The capital was increased to $50,000; knitting machinery was introduced, and the manufacture of hosiery was begun. The capital was then increased to $75,000, a new building provided, and improved machinery installed. All went well and a ten per cent, dividend was being declared, until the great Boston fire of 1873, when large warehouses filled with their products and other valuable property were destroyed, causing a financial calamity. Insurance companies failed, and only thirty-eight per cent, of the insurance was realized. This hosiery company struggled on until July, 1885, when it suspended operations.

The making of cotton cloth was carried on in Ipswich until 1868, when Amos A. Lawrence, of Boston, bought for $10,000 the mill and other property owned by the company. The cotton looms were removed and hosiery making was introduced as before related. Mr. Lawrence wrote in January, 1868: "I am starting up my mill at Ipswich again, which has been stopped for a few weeks. This attempt to manufacture cotton stockings by machinery so that they can be sold at $1.50 per dozen, has caused me to lose not less than one hundred dollars a day, for eight hundred days, or equal to $80,000. Yet I am not discouraged, though I feel the loss very much." Year after year the plant grew in popularity and favor with customers of these excellent goods. The old stone mill in which hosiery had first been made, was replaced by a new, large brick set of buildings, all in a modem style. Branch establishments have been set in operation in South Boston, Lowell, Belmont, New Hampshire and a large mill at Gloucester, the whole system constituting one of the world's largest plants in this line of goods.

At Ipswich alone, 1,500 operators usually find employment ; seventyfive per cent, are females; 55,000 dozens of pairs of hose are produced each week, and an annual output of nearly three million dozen pairs. The total amount produced in the whole plant of the Ipswich Mills, is, four million dozen pairs, valued at $5,000,000. Originally, the whole product of these mills was cotton goods, but now fully one-fourth are of silk derived from wood fibre. The administration of this extensive factory system is at Ipswich, and here the dyeing in various colors and shades is produced. The paper cartons and wooden packing cases are all made at Ipswich. From these mills go forth the hosiery for men, women and children, to all parts of the earth, including England (where they once laughed at our ability), France, Russia, Spain, Greece, and the South American States. During and after the World War, this factory was never so busy at producing such grades of hosiery as waa wanted by army, navy and for domestic use. Now and then a little trouble is experienced here, as well as in most factory centers, relative to wages to workmen, but the liberal plan here pursued has usually kept the hundreds of persons employed about satisfied.

Ipswich has also smaller industries - the shoe heel factory of F. L. Burke & Son, one of the largest single plants of its kind in New England ,* and the Ipswich Tallow Company, makers of soap on an extensive scale. These are about the main industries, and they employ many persons and keep a steady pay-roll active, hence Ipswich never sees very hard times.

April 14, 1890, over thirty years ago, Rev. Augustine Caldwell, Charles A. Sayward, J. Increase Horton, John H. Cogswell and John W. Nourse met at the house of Rev. Thomas Franklin Waters to consider the organization of an Historical Society. Arthur W. Dow was detained, henee not present. It was talked over informally, and then finally voted then and there to organize a society to be known as the Ipswich Historical Society, and also there elected its first officers: Rev. Thomaa Franklin Waters, president; John H. Cogswell, secretary; Charles A. Sayward, J. Increase Horton and John H. Cogswell, executive committee. Various places were used in which to meet as a society, including the South Church. The worthy president read a series of papers on the original locations of the early settlers, and some studies on the old houses. Mr. Sayward contributed an interesting paper on the probable visits of voyagers to the spot now occupied by the town before Winthrop's coming. And upon one occasion the society was interested in listening to a lecture by Winfield S. Nevins on "The Homes and Haunts of Hawthorne in Old Salem."

But with all the interest manifested upon the part of the membership, all felt that they would not succeed well until they owned a home of their own as a society. In the autumn of 1895, the postoffice having moved from the Odd Fellows building, this society seized the oppor- tunity and was soon "at home" in leased quarters in this building. Subscriptions were coming in freely, and tables, desks, chairs, etc., with a goodly number of valuable books, documents, etc., were added to the effects of the new-born society.

Among the first results of this society was the influence which finally resulted in the procuring the splendid memorial monument and tablet, marking the spot near the First Church which perpetuates the great associations clustering about these spots. This memorial was the liberal, thoughtful gift of Francis R. Appleton. It was unveiled and dedicated with interesting exercises Wednesday, July 29, 1896. Since that good beginning there have been numerous "markers" placed at historic spots within Ipswich.

In May, 1898, at a cost of about $1,650, their present home, the ancient Whipple house, was purchased by the society. After much work and no little expense, this old frame house was restored and made suitable for the home of such a society. Old-fashioned furniture was collected, an old dwelling, unsightly in appearance, was bought and removed from a near-by lot, a stone fence was placed around a part of the lot, and many improvements were made. Ever since then, desks, tables and appropriate pictures have kept coming into the hands of the society. It is the aim of the members, as soon as possible to build a fire-proof building in which to keep in sacred trust and safety their large collection of beautiful and ancient pieces, documents and books, and it is believed it will soon be accomplished. Another feature mentioned is that of utilizing a part of the room in this new building for a Hall of Fame, where could be preserved enduring tablets of bronze, oil paintings and rare publications, with many articles which might form a very interesting museum. Already there are many articles of Puritan make, which could be transferred from the Whipple House (which of course will never be removed or allowed to decay, if possible) . This old Whipple House, a story and a half frame residence, is now at least two hundred and eighty-six years old, having been built in 1635. It is no doubt among the most ancient places in the county of Essex. A history of its building, a genealogy and biography of all who have lived within its walls, would indeed make a work of many good sized volumes. It is situated within a few rods of the Boston & Maine railway station, in the town of Ipswich, and is open to the public every week day - a place well worth visiting.

It goes without saying that the people of Ipswich have long been a reading people and highly appreciate their splendid Public Library. As early as 1833 there were two libraries in the town. They were the social and the religious libraries, each containing about three hundred books. These libraries have long since been out of commission and forgotten by the younger part of the community. One was kept in the Town House. The unpaid fines, it is said, caused the books to fall into the hands of two or three persons, who had always kept their dues up.

The present Free Library was founded in 1868, by the liberality of Captain Augustine Heard. It was opened for public use March 1, 1869 Captain Heard donated the building, three thousand volumes, and an endowment fund of $10,000, making a total of $40,000. Professor Daniel Treadwell, of Harvard College, donated his fine private library, valuable paintings and a fund of $20,000. With the passing years, this library has been keeping pace with the times and adding to the volumes on its "stacks." In 1885 it had in excess of 10,000 volumes of books catar logued.

The original librarian served from 1869, for about a quarter of a century, without any changes, showing ability and popularity, in the person of Miss Lydia Caldwell.

In 1920-21 the town reports show a bonded indebtedness of $296,- 050; a water department sinking fund of $132,762, making a net bonded indebtedness of $163,287. In 1920 the town clerk's report showed there were 204 births recorded in this town during that year; parents residing in Ipswich, 185 ; residing in Essex, 5 ; residing in Gloucester, 1 : residing in Hamilton, 7; residing in Rowley, 4; residing in Taunton, 1; residing in Wenham, 1 ; total 204.

"The poor ye have always with you," was spoken by the Master twenty centuries ago, and is still true. In ordinary years the Town Farm supports the unfortunate poor of Ipswich town, but when the late World War was on and when there were many idle men and women because of shut-downs in the mills, etc., an extra burden was placed on the overseers of the poor. That the readers of this work, now and in years to come, when conditions may change for the better (possibly for the worse) may understand how matters were handled at this date, a portion of the annual statement made by the overseers in 1920 will here be inserted:

^ Before aid has been granted, the Overseers of the Poor have endeavored to satisfy themselves in each instance as to whether the need could be met in some other way than from the town treasurer. It is not well to pauperize the applicant if it can be avoided. If he is able but is unwilling to help himself, he must be persuaded or compelled so to do. If unable to help himself and the distress is but temporary, perhaps friends or relatives, or the Associated Charities or the Red Cross, or some of the churches or fraternal orders, can help him and thus make drafts upon the public funds unnecessary. All these agencies have been summoned to the aid of the Out Poor Department during the past year and the response has been gratifying. Much closer co-operation has been effected between these agencies and the Poor Department, so that imposition in the duplication of supplies has been reduced to a negligible quantity.

The unusual problems with which the Overseers have been compelled to deal - problems arising from business depression, resulting in general unemploymenthave been numerous, sometimes pathetic, and in other instances vexatious to say the least. Let it be understood that when a person applies for aid and declares himself to be in dire need, the responsibility of proving otherwise, falls squarely upon the shoulders of the Overseers. Their first duty is to make investigation of home conditions by examining the cupboard, the coal-bin, sleeping quarters, the ward- robe, and by taking a general survey of the premises. If need be apparent, perhaps the shop-keeper will extend credit, or others may come to his assistance to prevent pauperization. If these sources fail, the bank is visited to ascertain as to v^rhether there is any deposit to the credit of the applicant. In several cases we have found such deposits and have refused aid. In other cases we have learned of money secreted in the applicant's home, or snugly tucked away in a foreign bank where it has a largely enhanced value. A widow who pleaded poverty was found to have bought corporation stock at a recent date; not much, to be sure, but enough to show that she was not in need of assistance from this department. Another applicant was found to have $1,700 equity in real estate. Still another invested part of his first allowance in liquid moonshine, while his children cried for bread. Answers to questions regarding conditions have at times been anything but frank and ingenuous. Incorrect statements have occasionally been made, when the absolute truth would have helped the applicant's case immeasurably.

The foregoing is the vexatious side of the question, but there is also the pathetic side which has appealed to the sympathies in powerful manner:

How many American men, after the decease of their wives, would perform daily work in the mill, and again in the evening and on Saturday afternoon and Sundays, devote their time to the care of four children whose ages might range from four to eleven years, one child being a cripple and needing more than usual attention ? Yet a man of foreign birth was found to have done this very thing, unaided, for more than eighteen months, not appealing for assistance during the first six weeks of his enforced idleness. He received help because he richly deserved it. Another man, whose wife had gone away one evening and had neglected to return, was found to have taken care of two children, keeping them fed, clothed, and in school, for upwards of two years. This fact was disclosed when he was taken with typhoid and sent to the hospital by the Board of Health, the care of the children devolving upon the Overseers. "While instances such as these are more or less common with mothers, they are so exceedingly rare with fathers as to excite comment.

The tale of want and wretchedness, of privation and suffering might be prolonged to a considerable extent. The Red Cross, Associated Charities, District Nurses and Church Workers, witness scenes right in our midst which the average citizen does not think exists. These organizations render invaluable aid to the Overseer's Department, and are to be encouraged and supplied with funds from the private purse, in order that they may continue their much needed work of benevolence.

But, notwithstanding the foregoing, the conditions in our town have evidently not been so bad during the period of unemployment as in many other industrial centers, where bread lines have been formed and soup-kitchens opened to feed the hungry; nor has the comparatively moderate increase in cost of the care of our poor been such as to create alarm. The Overseers Department has been well organized, has worked harmoniously and industriously for the public good, with the general result that the poor have not suffered nor the taxpayers' dollars been allowed to slip carelessly through their fingers.

The statement that forty cents out of every dollar of State tax is applied to the taking care of those who cannot care for themselves will be an eye-opener to most people. It will serve to show what is the state of society at large, how crippled is its condition. The cost to Ipswich is far below that of the average of the Commonwealth. A recent report of Mayor Peters shows that there has been during the period of unemployment an increase of ninety per cent, in the poor cases of the city of Boston. There has not been an increase of over twenty per cent, in Ipswich.

of the local annals of a county, to have published a list of the officers that have served with the passing decades, we may in this instance be allowed to insert the names of the men who had charge of the interests of this town in 1920-21. The list includes the following: Selectmen: Eben B. Moulton, chainnan, John A. Brown, John H. Cameron- Assessors: John W. Nourse, chairman, George Fall, Richard R. Glazier' Overseers of the Poor: Frank T. Goodhue, chairman, Charles G Hull' Agent, John G. Sperling; Town Clerk, Charles W. Bamford; Treasurer and Collector, William J. Riley; Town Accountant, Frederick S. Witham- Board of Health, Dr. George E. McArthur, chairman, Aaron Lord,' George W. Smith; Cemetery Commissioners: Philip E. Clark, chairman' Ralph K. Whittier, Howard Blake; Town Counsel, Frank E. Raymond; Chief of Police, Edward Leavitt; Engineers of Fire Department, Arthur H. V/alton; chief, Edward H. Smith; clerk, Edward M. Poole; Superintendent of Streets, Joseph A. Huckins; Town Auditor, Frederick S. Witham; Moderator, Charles E. Goodhue; Finance Committee: M. Charles Arthur, chairman, George A. Scofield, secretary, Jesse H Wade Thomas R. Lord, Fred A. Kimball, George E. Hodgkins, George h! Curtis, Sidney H. Perley.

A postoffice has been in existence in Ipswich since 1775, and the followmg is a list of the postmasters who have served in the order given: James Foster, Daniel Noyes, Joseph Lord, Isaac Smith, Nathan Jacques, Ammi Smith, J. H. Kendall, Stephen Cobum, John V. Varrell, Joseph L. Ackennan, John H. Cogswell, Luther Wait, George A Sco^ field, George P. Smith, Olive Smith, Luther Wait, James H. Lakeman, This IS a second class postoffice with three rural routes extending to the outlying country. The postoffice has been in its present quarters for the last sixteen years, having removed thither from June's Block, Central Square. The office became a free delivery office December 15^ 1908. The present office employes include these: John L. Russell, assistant postmaster; William A. Howe, sub-clerk; Harry M. Purinton, Arthur K. Ross, Edward L. Darling, clerks; William J. Barton, Francis N. Bourque, Hany M. Dolan, carriers.

In the early days in New England the Church seemed the object and end of government; the organization of the government and the church were about one and the same thing. Governor Winthix)p wrote in his journal, November 26, 1633, that "Mr. Wilson (by leave of the congregation of Boston, whereof he is a pastor), went to Agawam to teach the people of that plantation, because they have no minister." Again he wrote of himself, April 3, 1634: "Went on foot to Agawam, and because the people wanted a minister, spent the Sabbath with them, and exercised by way of prophecy and returned home on the tenth." No church was then organized here from the reading of these journal entries. According to James Cudsworth, 1634, "A plantation was made up this year, Mr. Ward (pastor) and Mr. Parker (teacher)." This was the ninth church in the Colony, and the third in Essex county. The rehgious service programme ran thus: The pastor began it with prayer; the teacher then read and expounded a chapter; the ruling elders announced a Psalm, which was sung; the pastor read a sermon, and sometimes followed with an extemporaneous address, frequently consuming a full hour or more ; singing followed, then a prayer and the benediction. A similar seiTice was held in the afternoon and especially was the singing very odd. One of the ruling elders would read a single line of the Psalm, then such of the congregation as could sing, rose in different parts of the house and sang it; then other lines were successively read and sung until conclusion of the Psalm. In case the elders were absent the deacons had to perform this duty, hence the expression "deaconing the hymn." Not until about 1790 was the whole stanza read at once, and about three years later the entire hymn was read by the pastor. Singing choirs became common as early as 1663, but this choir had no elevated seats and a gallery until 1781. The rule was a contribution each Sabbath. The magistrates and chief men first walked to the deacon's seat, then the elders and then the congregation. There was also weekly service, usually on Thursday and lasted nearly all day. This was called the "Lecture Day."

The first to come among this people as teacher and pastor was Rev. Thomas Parker. He came in May, 1634, with a colony of about one hundred, who subsequently settled in Newbury.

In 1698 was built the second church of this organization ; the builder was Abraham Perkins. It was to be "26 feet stud, 66 feet long and 60 feet wide, with two-thirds gables on every side, with one Teer of gallery round said house; as far as necessary, having five seats in the gallery on every side thereof, with as many windows or lights as the committee or said Perkins can agree for." This house stood on the site of the First Church edifice. These churches all had bells, and in 1702, a clock was purchased for the church.

It is not in keeping with the scope of this chapter to add the long list of pastors who have sei-ved these various Ipswich churches. It may be well, however, to give those since older histories have been published, and which are accessible in any library in the county. Since 1885 the pastors of the First Church have been Revs. George H. Scott, 1885-91; Edward Constant, 1892-1910; Frank H. Baker, 1910-13; Paul G. Macy, 1914.

During the pastorate of Rev. Nathaniel Rogers the South Church came from out the First Church. The legislative act which legalized this change was dated May 27, 1747. The new corporation was effected and contained such conditions as follows: The parish was to remain intact, if it took "effectual care for building a new meeting house" on the south side of the river before July 20th, and settled another minister and supported the two churches out of the common fund, as a joint-stock company - which it did not do, so the new parish was established. The church was formed in July, 1747, by twenty-two members from, the First Church. Their first pastor was Rev. John Walley, a graduate of Harvard College. Their meeting house, finished in 1748, was a two-story building forty by sixty feet. In 1819 two stoves were added to the furniture and fixtures of the church. The pastors of this old church have, for the most part, been able men who preached as they believed, though some of the doctrines they taught had to be amended at times with the advance of the years. The sixth pastor was the late Rev. Thomas Franklin Waters, from 1879 to 1909; the next pastor was Rev. Edgar Fletcher Allen, 1912-14, after whom came Rev. Harry Cartledge.

Of Linebrook Parish and Church, the articles of incorporation show that "this parish is centrally located with reference to Topsfield, Boxford, Georgetown, Rowley and Ipswich, and is distant from them respectively, from church to church, from three to four miles. It was originally constituted of the last towns." Much inconvenience was experienced as early as 1738 in attending church at the above places, and thirteen of the freeholders of Ipswich, December 20, 1739, petitioned the First Church to be set off to Topsfield. This petition was denied them, but they were "discharged from all parish rates for the future." They soon began to employ a religious teacher. Again, in 1742, they tried to be set off as a separate parish, but it was also denied them. In 1743 they and the freeholders of Rowley erected a meetinghouse, and April, 1744, they all voted to be set off as a district parish. Fifteen Rowley men opposed this move before the General Court, but the plan succeeded, and an act was passed for incorporation of a new parish, dated June 4, 1746. The precinct was bounded on the south by Howlett's Brook and Ipswich river, on the east by Gravelly, Bull and Bachelder's brooks, and on the west by Strait Brook and it was therefore named Linebrook Parish by vote January 27, 1746.

Their first church building was erected in 1747, and the second was built in 1828; the third house of worship was erected in 1848. It was paid for by a stock company of eighty shareholders paying twentyfive dollars per share. At the death of one of the members, John Perley, Esq., who died in 1860, the church was remembered in a will to the amount of $7,000, which was to become a perpetual fund, "the income of which was to be paid to the Orthodox Congregational Society, Linebrook Parish, to the towns of Ipswich and Rowley, for the support of preaching and Sabbath School in said society, annually, while said society has a settled minister."

What was originally the First Baptist Church of Ipswich was formed in February, 1806. The first preacher was Rev. H. Potle. They occupied the former woolen factory which was converted into a house of worship. In 1813 there were sixty-eight communicants. In

1816 a secession took place on account of poor discipline, and the seceders formed themselves into a new church and were incorporated as "The First Baptist Church in Ipswich," June 16, 1817. This church survived only until 1823 and a year or so later the original Baptist church also went down.

The present (1922) Baptist church in Ipswich was reorganized December 7, 1892. The first pastor was Rev. D. B. Gum ; he continued until 1895, when came Rev. Edgar Harris, who resigned in 1896, and Rev, W. J. Thompson succeeded. The name Immanuel Baptist Church was given to it. A fine new edifice was provided, the same being dedicated April 3, 1898. The next pastor was Rev. Arthur K. Gordon, who remained until July, 1901, and was succeeded by Rev. William C. Cook, who became ill and resigned in 1902. Rev. W. H. Rogers came next in September, 1902, and remained till October, 1904. Then came Rev. Ilsley Boone, remaining from October to August, 1907; Rev. Rejmalds, 1908; Howard B. Smith, 1909 to 1911; then W. C. Sampson, Robert M. De Vault, E. R. Corum, James Watson and Harry Chamberlain.

The Protestant Episcopal Church was organized in 1867, but services had been regularly held since 1861. Rev. Hem-y Wall was the first rector, and he was succeeded by Rev. Benjamin Rowley Gifford. Since Rev. Atwood's resignation in 1887, the rectors have been as follows: Rev. Robert B. Parker, to June 1, 1892; Rev. Milo Gates to June, 1899, and he was followed by Rev. Reginald Peai'ce to 1911, who was succeeded by Rev. Robert B. Parker. This church has always accomplished its share in carrying forward religious work in Ipswich and surrounding community. It is known as the Ascension Memorial Protestant Episcopal Church. One of the founders of this church in Ipswich, was Dr. Joseph Edward Bomer, a native of Beverly, bom 1819.

A Unitarian Society was formed here in 1830, the several churches contributing to the membership. Services were held in the court house till, at the cost of $3,000, they built a church edifice, which was dedicated October 23, 1833. After about seven years, services were discontinued and the society was formally dissolved. In 1843 the house was sold to the town for a town-house for about two thousand dollars. The pews from this church went into use in the Linebrook church.

It has been well said that the Methodist Episcopal "denomination of Christians arose in England in 1729 and derived their name from the exact regularity of their lives, a very pleasing commentary on their lives and character." In 1741 they divided into two parts, under George Whitefield and John Wesley, the former adopting the viev/ of John Calvin; the latter of Arminius. The followers of Arminius compose the greater body of Methodists in this country and Great Britain. In 1830 the seceders from the Wesley an Methodists established a government and discipline of their own, and styled themselves the Methodist Protestant Church. This church differs from its parent church only in certain

Methodism first came into this country with Rev. George Whitefield in 1739, and was an important factor in the deep and extensive revivals that soon after followed. Its power was first felt in Ipswich when that eloquent divine electrified the people from the "Whitefield Pulpit," a rock near the First Church, and "Pulpit Rock" in Linebrook. Methodism as now taught, "was first introduced into New England, in 1789," says Miss Archer, in her excellent sketch of this church, and "in Ipswich in the year 1790, by Rev. Jesse Lee, who was sent by the venerable Bishop Francis Asbury." The sketch relates that the first convert by the preaching of Mr. Lee was the mother of General James Appleton. She fixed the date August 12, 1791, and ever remembered the day with adoring gratitude. No other Methodist minister labored in Ipswich until October, 1821, when Rev. Aaron Wait (1821-26) came. His coming was after this manner: He was passing through the town on Saturday on a business trip and stopped at the "Treadwell Tavern." He was invited to preach the next day and had an audience of highly interested people in the "old woolen factory," the record remarks. Not only one service, but he preached three times that Sunday. He came again in November the same autumn and preached again to large audiences. Soon after he moved his family to Ipswich, but like Paul "coveted no man's silver," for he worked at the shoemaker's trade. Charles Dodge was Mr. Wait's first convert. In the spring of 1822 a class was formed and met at the residence of Aaron Wallace. The class had twenty-two members, eight of whom were from the Baptist church. The first love-feast was held with Captain Wilham Gould, in the Robins house, on High street. In the summer of 1824 a Sunday school was organized, with Charles Dodge as superintendent. The first meeting house was begun in September, 1824, and dedicated the Christmas following. This building was forty by fifty feet in size, with galleries. Its cost was a little less than two thousand dollars. It stood where later stood the residence of Robert Jordan. Within the memory of many now living in Ipswich, the following have served as pastors of the Methodist Episcopal church: Revs. Herrick, 1888-89; James Fallen, 1890-92; George M. Smiley, 1893-95; George F. Durgin, 1896-98; Francis J. McConnell, 1899-1901; Arthur Bonner, 1902-04; Frederick Woods, 1905-07; Alliston B. Gifford, 1908- 11 ; Arthur D. Straud, 1912-15 ; William J. Kelley, 1916.

The Ipswich church is in a flourishing condition, with excellent Sunday school, modem buildings, and is in earnest in all that is good in religious work.

Without boasting concerning the influence of church workers in Ipswich at the present date, it certainly will be interesting to read what was said of the work of the faithful pastors and church workers there a third of a century ago, by a person well qualified to weigh and record the influence of church life in Ipswich at that time :

The several pastors and assistants have been, almost to a man, liberally educated. They have brought an apparent zeal to their work, and a good conception of their duty therein. They have been watchful, diligent, laborious, prayerful. A good proportion of them have been dignified, trusty, efficient leaders. They have been able to read the signs of the times, to understand the needs of their people, and to utilise circumstances, as well as actual means. They have watched the ripening grain in their respective fields of labor, and gathered their gracious harvests; their doctrines have been a leaven that has permeated the whole mass of the populace; that has endowed the legislator, the justice, the mariner, the mechanic, the manufacturer, the farmer; that has impeded the crime and corrected the erring; that has superinduced a nobler, truer, more earnest and more effective manhood; and has first, last and midst, been our people's enlightenment and guide. Such is our hope of the future.