Essex County, Massachusetts - Chapter 11: Town of Wenham, 1922

Chapter 11: Town of Wenham

was in 1637. The second mention of the place was in 1638, when it is shown that Hugh Peters preached a sermon ''on a small conical hill, between the highway and the lake." He preached from the text found in John 3 - 23: "Enon, near Salim, for there was much water there " This settlement was then called Enon, and Peters was the minister at Salem a part of which town was then Wenham. The reader will observe the spelling, as it appears in the Scriptures.

The Killam family have long carried the tradition that the first to locate in what is now Wenham were three immigrants, who were an early Fiske settler and Austin Killam and Richard Goldsmith. The settlement must have been effected about 1635. It was at first known as Salem Village as well as Enon. It was incorporated as a distinct town, May 10, 1643, m recorded words as follows: "It is ordered that Enon shalbee called Wennam. Wennam is granted to bee a towne, & hath liberty to send a deputy." It is supposed that the name was taken, in part, from two panshes near Ipswich, England, possibly from which locality many of the first settlers hailed.

Sidney Perley's history of this town says: "The people of Wenham obtained a deed of their territory from the Indians, bearing date December 10, 1700. The aborigines who claimed a title to the soil were Samuel English, Joseph English and John Umpee, heirs of Masconnomet the late Sagamore of Agawam. The Indians were paid for their interest in the lands, four pounds and sixteen shillings. The early settlers were forbidden to sell arms and ammunition to the savages."

The following is a list of the first to make settlement in Wenham between 1635 and 1700, as shown by records now in existence The years of these settlements will be omitted, as it is sufficient to know that certain families arrived here before 1700 : John Abby, Mr Auditor John Badger, John Barr, Joseph Batchelder, John Beaman, John Berry' John Bette, Goodman Bibber, Richard Brabrook, Edmund Bridges, John Browne, George Byam, John Carpenter, John Clarke, Richard Coy Robert Cue, John Dennis, Richard Dodge, E. Dubldee, John Edward, Rice Edwards, James Ellis, Daniel Epps, John Fairfield, John Fiske, Phineas Fiske, Wm. Fiske, Samuel Foster, Joseph Fowler, James Friend Wm Geare, Joseph Gerrish, Richard Goldsmith, Charles Gott, Robt. Gowen Joseph Hacker, Henry Haggett, Robert Hawes, Jo Herrick, Robert Hibbert, Thomas Hobbs, Mr. Hubbard, Wm. Hulitt, Isaac Hull, John Hunkin Richard Hutton, Alice Jones, William Jones, Edward Kemp, Austin Killam, Richard Kimball, John Knowlton, Wm. Knowlton, Mordecai Larcom, John Leach, Robert Mackcliffin, A. Maxey, James Moulton, Antipas Newman, Abner Ordway, Edmund Patch, John Perkins, Richard Pettingell John Poland, Samuel Porter, Esdras Reade, Nicholas Rich Theophilus Rix, John Rogers, Wm. Sawyer, John Severett, John Shepley Samuel Smith, John Soolard, Mr. Sparrowhawk, Edward Spaulding Robert Symonds, Peter Tompson, Francis Urselton, Edward Waldron

The remains of the dead of the first few settlers were buried in the same cemetery grounds that have been in use so many decades down to the present time. The records first mention this cemetery in 1681, and tradition, quite well founded, states that a gravestone was discovered in this burial place, bearing the date of 1642. This old cemetery was probably a portion of the Rev. Mr. Fiske's farm. It has been several times enlarged. John Severett appears of record to have been the first grave-digger. Rev. David O. Allen in his will left $500 as a fund to help keep up the grounds. Another burying place was in the western part of the town - the Fairfield burying ground. Dodge's Row Cemetery in Beverly, a part of which lies within Wenham, has been in use for over one hundred and eighty years.

A postoffice was established in Wenham in 1809, with Thomas Barnes as postmaster. He was appointed April 21, 1809. The subjoined is a list of all postmasters serving in the town from 1812 to 1921 : Uzziel Dodge, appointed in 1812; John Thorn Dodge, 1818; Ezra Lummus, 1830; Adoniram J. Dodge, 1837; John A. Putnam, 1846; Benjamin C. Putnam, 1857; Nathaniel S. Gould, 1862; Ehsha P. Chapman, 1866; William W. Fowler, 1867; Henry Hobbs, 1870; John W. Curtis, 1878; Andrew D. Trowt, 1880 ; Miss Kate M. Kavanagh, 1885 ; Fred P. Stanton, 1886; Andrew D. Trowt, April, 1897; WilUam P. Porter, September 10, 1912.

The office has been kept in many buildings during its more than a century of existence. First opened in the old tavern, the former residence of Rev. Joseph Gerrish, it remained there until 1830, when it was moved to the brick tavern of Postmaster Lummus; in 1837 Postmaster Dodge removed it to his wagon shop, where it continued until 1846, when John A. Putnam, postmaster, removed it to his store. When Mr. Hobbs took the office in 1870, for the first six months it was kept in his harnessshop, then moved to Union block, where it remained for many years; since 1912 it has been located in the Porter building. This is a fourth class postoffice and it transacted a business in 1920 of $1,426.52.

The old turnpike from Boston to Ipswich ran through Wenham, and this necessitated several taverns, or inns, for the traveling public. In 1833 the steam cars began to run through the center of the town over the Eastern railroad, as then called. It was finished as far east as Ipswich that year. The Newburyport and Wakefield branch of the Boston & Maine railroad passes across the western end of the town, but there is no station point there for this road. The last-named railway was constructed in 1853. May 26, 1886, street cars were first run from Gloucester, crossing in Beverly to the Soldiers' Monument in Wenham. The same season the line was extended to various points, including the Camp Grounds at Asbury Grove. Ever since then steam and street car

The records show that forty years ago Wenham had a population of 871 ; in the same report, it is shown that the town then had 293 ratable polls, and 270 legal voters, only ten of whom were naturalized. The number of dwellings then was one hundred and ninety, all frame save one, which wa . constructed of brick. In 1900 Wenham had a population of only 847; in 1910 it was 1,010 and the 1920 U. S. census gave it 1,090.

Wenham was first incorporated in 1643, about eight years after the pioneer settlement was effected. Various buildings were occupied by the town officials until 1854, when a Town Hall was erected, under supervision of the following persons: John Porter, C. A. Killam, A. Dodge, F. Hadley, J. Cook, Benjamin C. Putnam and Moses Mildram. Its size was thirty-five by fifty feet, two stories high, with a basement. Here were rooms of all descriptions - school rooms, selectmen's rooms and various ante-rooms, as well as accommodations for the fire department, which had been established about 1820. A fire company was organized in 1835 with twenty-five members. Another company was organized in 1849. A new engine was purchased and named "Enon, No. 1"; this cost $900. The new fire company had about forty-five members, and was presented with a silken banner and a silver trumpet by the ladies of the town. Another company was formed in March, 1887, with Otis C. Brewer as foreman. From the date last named to the present, the town has had its modem appliances and equipments for fighting fire, with also its well-trained volunteer fire company.

The present town officers, all elective, are as follows: Moderator, Horace E. Durgin; Town Clerk, Roscoe B. Batchelder; Selectmen. Charles H. McQueeny (chairman), Arthur D. Prince; Clerk, Chester S. Cook; Assessors, Arthur D. Prince, Ralph M. Smith and G. W. Patch; Town Treasurer, Horace E. Durgin; Tax Collector, James E. Kavanaugh; Auditor, W. Arthur Trowt; School Committee, Herbert W. Porter, Carl I. Aylward, Frank H. Tarr; Constables, J. L. Cole, T. J. Luxton, Frank A. Corning; Trustees of Public Libraiy, Benjamin H. Conant, Ruth H Pnnce, Adeline P. Cole, Frank H. Tarr, Harvey R. Williams and Anna M. Davis.

The business interests of the town and the size of the place were more or less influenced by the large emigration from town in the eighteenth and nineteentk centuries. It will be recalled that many of the persons who formerly resided in Wenham left for Maine and became pioneers in that State. Vermont and New Hampshire also drew many from these parts. Again the Great West claimed its colony from Wenham and nearby vicinity. It was in 1787 that the first settlement was effected in Ohio, at Marietta, on the Ohio river. This colony was headed by Dr. Manasseh Cutler, of Hamilton, who made the entire journey to Ohio - then a part of the Northwest Territory - in an ark-like wagon.

covered with black canvas. But Wenham had enough left to build up a town of some importance, even after it had aided in building up some of the sister States in New England and helped to populate the far, illimitable and ever-changing West, at least by its Ohio colony. It is not intended in this chapter to go far into details concerning the business and various firms of the town, simply to outline some of the more important lines of industry and trade. We here draw from Sidney Perley's "History of Wenham" for a few paragraphs in his volume :

The history of its old style taverns, if it could be correctly written, would be delightful to read. From its earliest days the town had its public houses. March 1643-44, William Fiske received authority to keep a tavern from the General Court, as follows: "Willi Fiske is appointed & allowed to keepe an ordinary at Wennam." By the same authority: "Willi Fiske, of Wennam, hath liberty to sell wine." Mr. Fiske died in 1654 and was succeeded by Phineas Fiske, who kept an ordinary at Wenham, and the record shows that he was "allowed to draw wine there for this yeare ensuing," It will be remembered that no one could start a hotel or inn in those days in New England without first getting permit from the authorities. The records are cumbered with such affairs. One notice reads as follows: March 18, 1684, the General Court licensed John Fiske, "a sore wounded soldier of the late Indian Vvar, to keep a public-house of entertainment-" In nearly all of these inn permits there was also a permit to sell liquor. Among the joily landlords of early years in Wenham must be named Ezra Lummus, postmaster, blacksmith and tavern-keeper. He ran a tavern about ten years from 1827 on, in the brick house he built for the purpose. He was a Free Mason, and his sign consisted of his name, "E. Lummus, 1827." There was also added to the sign the picture of a square and compass. Other hotels included the "Green House" at the end of the Commons, by William H, Bryant, which business was wiped out by the fire of April, 1869. The Enon House was opened by its proprietor Stephen Currier in 1886.

Of mills, it may be said that the water power here has never been but a feeble stream with slight fall, hence not sufficient to propel heavy machinery. However, as early as 1653 a mill was built, probably by Goodman Hawes, on the farm later occupied by David Pingree. In 1682, John Dodge had a saw mill. In 1691 there was a saw mill near Lord's Hill, and John Porter and James Friend had liberty to "flow the brook." In 1700 there was another saw mill where John Leach then resided. The first grist mill was that built as early as 1686. In 1713 Josiah Dodge's corn mill was situated near the ford. In 1699, Ensign Porter was granted timber for a small malt mill, to be set on the brook near his house.

The first blacksmith was Abraham Martin, who was granted two acres of land within the town, providing he should set up a shop and remain at least a term of seven years. Other early blacksmiths were Robert Symonds, Josiah Bridges, Daniel Herrick, Pelatiah Brown, Benjamin Young, Ezra Lummus, John J. Senter, George A. Lummus, Uzziel Dodge, Jebez Richards, Daniel Bradbury, 1840 who in 1882 sold to Charles F. Dudley. Since then the several smiths have been well known to this generation and need no special mention in this connection.

ham. In 1707 the town granted to Daniel MacClaflin sixty square rods of common land, on condition that he engage in the tanning business. In 1708 he had liberty granted him to dam up the brook; and in 1721 the land was given him free from condition. Samuel Gott carried on the tanning business for forty years from 1725, on land later owned by Michael Sullivan. Not many years ago the sink in the land marked the numerous tan-vats he used so long. His was the largest tanning establishment m Essex county. A later tanner was a Mr. Flint, who operated here during the days of the Civil War. In 1884 a kindred business was established by Patch & Gould, makers of morocco; they rebuilt larger m 1886 and added steam power.

The ice business has long been a very extensive industry in Wenham Charles W. Lander of Salem, purchased of the town the land on which stands the famous hill where Hugh Peters preached his sermon, and leveled it off and there erected large ice houses and connected them by a spur with the Eastern railroad tracks. This business was started m 1843, and in 1850 the plant was sold to Addison Gage & Co who continued until 1882, and then went out of business. About 25 000 tons of the purest ice to be seen in the world was taken from the lake Later ice was cut from the Beverly shore of the same lake.

Boots and shoes were made here by different persons and firms for many years. Amos Gould engaged in this business between 1834 and 1875 the work being earned on at his house. Other manufacturers of this line included Edward Perkins, Abraham Patch, John P. Rust Dr Nathan A. Jones, Daniel J. Foster, and some others. George W Peabody made heavy brogans at West Wenham from 1846 to 1862 Later shoe factories were operated by Samuel K. Evans, Albert R. Fiske, John Meldram, James H. Moulton, the last named having quarters in the ola Dempsey blacksmith shop, and then in Union block to 1882.

In 1855 it is said that in Wenham 4,200 pairs of boots and 25 000 pairs of shoes were made by forty-six males and twenty females. Gradually the shoe business drifted to Lynn, and other sections of New li^ngland. Today the town boasts not of the industry, but is quite content to relate pleasing accounts of the former importance of the shoe business m town. The surrounding country is a most excellent farming section, and this is now carried on after the most modem and intensive methods. Every item is made to count and yield a reasonable profit.

Besides those mentioned in various sections of this work as having been men of celebrity in some one or more role in life's conflict the names of the following must not be overlooked in the annals of Essex county: Hon. Timothy Pickering was long a resident of Wenham - was very fond of agriculture, and was the first president of the Essex County Agricultural Society. After a life of more than four score and four years, having been a general in the Revolution, judge of the Court of

Common Pleas, and of the Maritime Court, Postmaster General of the United States, Secretary of War, Secretary of State of the United States, Member of Congress and United States Senator, he died in Salem, 1829. Rev. Moses Fiske (1642-1708) graduated at Harvard College, was a clergyman at Quincy, Massachusetts. Hon. William Fairfield (1662- 1742), was speaker in 1741, in the House of Representatives for Massachusetts. Rev. Phineas Fiske (1682-1749) graduated at Yale College, was a tutor in that college, and pastor of a church at Haddam, Connecticut. He also was an eminent physician. Dr. Tyler Porter (1735-1811) was a physician, and patriot in the Revolution. Dr. Josiah Fairfield (1735-1811) was a physician in Pepperell Borough, Maine. Hon. Daniel Killam 1751-1841), a graduate of Harvard College, and a member of both the upper and lower houses of the legislature and of the Governor's council; and an apothecary in Newburyport. The Rev. John Kimball (1761-1824), a graduate of Harvard College, later a talented clergyman in New Hampshire. Dr. Benjamin Jones Porter (1763-1847), a surgeon in the Revolutionary War; physician in Scarboro', Westbrook and Portland, Maine ; fellow and Treasurer of Bowdoin College ; and a Councillor and State Senator. Henry Porter (1809-1851) was the inventor of Porter's burning fluid and a nurse lamp. Rev. Francis Elliott Cleaves (1816- 1883) was a Baptist clergyman at East Sanbomton, New Hampshire, and other New England places. Rev. John Henry Dodge (1828-1863) graduated at Amherst College in 1856 and from Andover Theological Seminary, 1859; was a missionary to West Africa. Edward Kimball (1835) graduated at Amherst College, was president of the Boston Board of Trade, and a merchant in Boston. Rev. Isaac Francis Porter (1839-) graduated at Madison University, and became a Unitarian clergyman at Chicopee, Massachusetts. Arthur Kemble, M. D. (1838), gi'aduate at Boston Medical College, was assistant surgeon in the Civil War on the ship "Gemsbok," and later practiced in Salem. Dr. John Franklin Robinson (1863), graduate at the Harvard Medical school; he became a surgeon at Manchester, New Hampshire.

It is generally believed that for the first few years the religious element in and near Wenham worshiped at Salem. Mention has been made of the sermon delivered on the hill at Wenham Lake by Hugh Peters, successor to Rev. Roger Williams, pastor of the First Church in Salem. It may be added that Rev. Peters returned to England about 1642, became a famous preacher, was made a chaplain by Cromwell; became "mixed up," as we say today, in politics, and was supposed to have been guilty of assisting in the death of Charles I., and was publicly beheaded therefor on Tower Hill, after the Restoration.

The church record made by Rev. John Higginson, Salem minister, says: "There are divers passages set down about three villages to go out of ye brethren of Salem church, considered of in several church meetings, for several years together, the first of which was 1639, Aug- ust 24th. Mr. Downing and some others were with him for the village of Danvers; other brethren for a village at ye pond (Wenham) ; and others for one at Jeffrey's Creek (Manchester)."

It is certain that in 1641 a small church building was erected and Rev John Fiske, who had assisted Hugh Peters at Salem, settled about that date m Wenham. In 1650 a bell was added to this church A t^A rT" ^""^^ o^^anized and Rev. Fiske ordained minister, October, 1644. Thmgs went well until 1655, when the pastor and many of his flock removed to Chelmsford, where he became pastor. Being both mmister and a physician, he was greatly missed in Wenham. He was always referred to by early settlers and writers as a man of great character and wonderfully good as a neighbor and citizen. Being a nonconformist, he had to come to America from England in disguise, bringing with him servants, husbandry and carpenter tools sufficient to support his family for three years, including their provisions

Succeeding Rev. Fiske in the First Church was Rev. Antipas Newman; a new meeting-house was built in 1663. It stood in the square near the present Soldiers' Monument. He remained pastor until his death in 1672 and was followed as minister by Rev. Joseph Gerrish. In 1688 a new meeting-house was built on the site of the old one. Rev Gerrish served for forty-six years and was gathered to his fathers dymg of apoplexy.

The fourth minister here was Rev. Robert Ward, of Charlestown who served until called by death ten years later. The fifth pastor was Rev John Warren, ordained 1733; a graduate of Harvard College He

^ it.o *^! ^f""""' ''^'''''^^^ ^^^^ ^^ ^'^^^' h^ di^d' ^Sed forty-four years, in 1749. A church building had been started before his death, to take the place of the older one. The records show that at this "church raising the town authorities appointed a committee to look well to the apportionments made by the Town, as follows: Six gallons of rum eight pounds of sugar, two barrels of cider, two barrels of beer one hundred pounds of bread, one hundred weight of legs of pork, and forty pounds of cheese. The committee was instructed to see that it should do m the prudentist way thay can for the end aforesaid."

The next minister was Rev. Joseph Swain, ordained October, 1750- a graduate of Harvard College, he served in the French and Indian war as chaplain and died in 1792, aged seventy years. His pastorate lasted torty-two years. The seventh minister was Rev. Adoniram Judson, of Maiden; a graduate of Yale College; resigned in 1799, leaving on account of the smallness of his salary. He became a Baptist in religious laith, and it was his son who became the first Missionary to Burmah Kev. Kufus Anderson was the next minister; he came in 1804 and remained until 1814, when he died. The ninth pastor was Rev. John bmith of Salem, New Hampshire, installed 1817. He was finally made a Doctor of Divinity by Dartmouth. He died in 1831. Ebenezer Peck

Sperry was Rev. Smith's successor. He was bom in New Haven, Connecticut, 1785. He resigned as pastor here in 1819, and died in Ohio, where he preached many years. In his term as pastor was formed America's first Sunday school, it is said by church history.

The eleventh pastor of this church was Rev. Daniel Mansfield, who was ordained in 1837; he was bom in Lynnfield; graduated at Amherst College and Andover Theological Seminary. A new church was built under his administration ; also a parsonage. He died, greatly lamented, in 1847, aged thirty-nine years. The church erected a handsome monument over his grave. Rev. Jeremiah Taylor, D. D., succeeded Rev. Mansfield as pastor; in 1856 he resigned and moved to another part of New England. The thirteenth minister was Rev. John Smith Sewall, D. D., who remained eight years and in 1867 was dismissed, to take a position in Bowdoin College. The next pastor was Rev. William R. Joyslin, who only preached one year, and was followed by Rev. Will Converse Wood, who served six years. He was a writer of ability and the author of "Five Problems of State and Religion." Next came Rev. Samuel W. Clarke, who was pastor one year, and was dismissed. He was followed by Rev. Alexander C. Childs in 1880, and he in turn by Rev. John C. Mitchell in 1884, who later was asked to resign on account of his liberal teachings. In September, 1887, Rev. George Masters Woodwell was ordained pastor, and since then the pastors have been as follows: Revs, Arthur N. Ward appointed October 3, 1891; Morris H. Turk, May 1, 1898; Walter S. Eaton, July. 1904; Frederick M. Cutler, May 1, 1912 ; Timothy Currier Craig, January 1, 1918, and still (1921) pastor. This church now has a total membership of eighty-one and a Sunday school of an average of ninety-nine, under the superintendency of Deacon Albert A. Tracy.

The Baptist Church of Wenham was organized in Beverly in 1801, and the Wenham Baptists worshiped there for twenty-five years. In 1826 there was a great Baptist revival in Wenham. This increased the membership, and a meeting-house was erected, costing $2,000, while a bell was added to the tower. The church was organized March 23, 1831 with twenty-five members, all coming from the Baptist church at Beverly. The first minister was Rev. Charles Miller, a native of Scotland. He was succeeded by Rev. Henry Archibald, who continued pastor until 1837. Next came Rev. Joel Kenney, who was dismissed in 1840. The church was without a minister for about one year, when Rev. George W. Patch was made pastor, but he remained only two years. Then came Rev. Josiah Keely, a native of England. He was pastor for nine years and he died during the Civil war. Rev. Isaac Woodbury was the next pastor, and he was followed by Rev. Thomas Wormsley, ordained 1856. On the night of November 6, 1859, the church edifice was burned, but friends of the congregation built a new one the next year. Rev. Wormsley's successor was Rev. Abner D. Gorham, who commenced

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The present membership is eighty-two, and there is a Sunday school with about fifty pupils. The present church was erected in 1860 at a cost of $4,000 ; present value of the building is $10,000.