Essex County, Massachusetts - Chapter 15: Town of Amesbury, 1922

county or state has little to do with the organizations of such subdivisions of a county as this, but it was different in the seventeenth century.

Four years after the settlement at Salisbury was effected, the eye of the pioneers caught a vision of a new town to be, across the river, the beautiful Powow, which seemed to the interested ones to have been created expressly for a natural boundary line between two civil towns. Actuated by these views, they proceeded as early as 1642 to carry out their plans, as will be observed by the following: "Ordered yer shall thirty families remove to the west side of ye Powwas river." At a meeting held ten days later, the time in which the order should be carried into effect was fixed, "before the first of the third month in the yeare 1645."

This order included nearly one-half of the families in Salisbury. But It was found very difficult, if not impossible, to enforce the order, and the removal was very much delayed and partially defeated by the reluctance of the people in quitting their homes to plunge still deeper into the unbroken forest which covered hill and valley in the western territory. Other orders soon followed, calculated to encourage the new settlement by the grant of certain privileges. January 15, 1644, it was "ordered, that those persons that go up to live upon the west side of the Powwas river shall have the sole feeding on that side for the yeare ensuing, and power to make order about fences." Again, in February the same year, this privilege was confirmed and a further inducement given by reducing the taxes to one-half of the rate in the old town. These favorable conditions finally induced a small colony to remove their families to the new territory.

It is now impossible to give the reader any comprehensive idea of the first boundary lines of this township. It is certain, however, that it included all territory west of the Powow river which Salisbury then owned. Its limits included Newton, New Hampshire. Haverhill formed the boundary on the west. The Merrimac and Powow rivers and Kimball's Pond constitute the chief bodies of water in this town. The undulating land - the hills and little valleys - gave a most captivating natural landscape, as one viewed the then "green, glad solitude" of this country. The western portion is especially hilly, while the principal plams are Sandy, Martin and Buttonwood in the East Parish, and the Pond Plain in the western part of the town. The majestic Merrimac nver on the south is upwards of a half mile in width. The soil is unusually good for this part of the country, after so many years of cultivation. Mill sites and excellent water-power were found in numerous parts of the town.

The homesteads left by the first comers to Amesbury were sold at different times, commencing in 1647. Not until 1654 were there enough families and freeholders in this new settlement to undertake to form a new town. Only eighteen legal voters were then within the territoryselected. The "Articles of Agreement" of this town were signed May 1, 1654, by the following named, which gives a good idea of who the first settlers of the town were: Joseph Moyce, Thomas Bradbury, Samuel Winsley, George Goldwyer, William Buswell, Edward French, William Allin, Samuel Felloes, Thomas Carter, John Rolfe, John Eaton, Isaac Buswell, William Osgood, John Stevens, Henry Browne, Roger Eastman, and Richard North on the part of the old town, and Anthony Colby, George Martin, John Hoyt, Philip Challis, Jaret Handon, Richard Currier, John Weed, Thomas Macy, Edward Cottle, William Barnes, Thomas Barnard, and Valentine Rowell, on the part of the new town.

The "Articles" above referred to as having been signed by the citizens of both the old and new town covered these general points : Article 1 related to the boundaries and disposition of the common lands. By Article 7 the people of the new town were to contribute to the support of the ministry in the old town until they obtained a settled, minister in their own town. Article 8 provided that question of separation should be as follows : "Last of all, it is fully concluded and agreed upon by the inhabitants of each towne that the said townes, upon the assignment of the aforesaid articles of agreement, shall be absolutely dismist of themselves and have no further to meddle with the affairs of each other in any towne matters whatsoever, forever."

Among other interesting paragraphs found in the Town Books are these: Staves at that time were an important article among the colonies, and they readily sold in the West Indies for goods needed here ; the commoners claimed fifty of every thousand made from trees cut on the common lands. The old saw-mill also paid tribute to the new town for one-fourth of what was owned here. In 1656 it was found that a second saw-mill was needed, and Richard Currier and Thomas Macy were authorized to build one on the west side of the Powow, with the privilege of using all the timber on the common, not included in the grant to the old mill, "except oak and the right of the people to make canoes." For this privilege they were to pay the town £6 per annum for ten years, in boards at current prices. The prices for sawing were all regulated by the town. As money was then very scarce, the sawing was done upon shares, the mill being allowed one-half.

Joseph Peasly will not keep silent, but continues to preach, although fined and threatened by the authorities for doing what his conscience told him was his duty. And the new town people would hear him, notwithstanding his preaching "was very weak and unfit." A compromise was finally made, which it was hoped would satisfy the new town and settle the matter, which was becoming very troublesome.

The old town consented that Mr. Worcester preach at the new town, every fourth Sunday, This plan was approved by the General Court, which graciously respited one-half of the fines till the next session. But still Peasly preached, defied the orders of court and the wishes of Mr. Worcester's church. The General Court assumed a threatening attitude, and forbade his "preaching anymore in this jurisdiction till he give full satisfaction to this court for what have been past." This was ominous of his fate, if he disregarded the order, and very likely he quit preaching. The conflict soon ended by the death of Peasly in 1660.

When this town was incorporated no name was given to it - possibly on account of forgetfulness, but very early that year the name was fixed as follows: "At the same meetin the Towen have named this Towen Amesbury." This name was confinned by the Court in 1668, but the name was slightly changed to "Emesbury." In 1675 the records show the business of this town to have been farming, fishing, making staves and building vessels. These entei-prises also called forth such tradesmen as blacksmiths, tailors, caiT)enters, weavers, etc. River and harbor fishing came next to farming in importance. The raising of sheep and cattle was in no wise neglected. Small grains were grown in abundance, and fine orchards are mentioned within ten years from the first settlement. Potatoes are not found in the inventories until about 1730.

From 1676 to 1700, possibly later, the Indian scares were too frequent to be pleasing. On several occasions persons were killed by the Indians, but no general Indian uprisings occurred in this settlement.

In 1708 it is found of record that Benjamin Eastman asked permission to build a fulling-mill just below the mill-bridge, on the Powow river, and also to take the water undergi'ound across the road to drive the mill. This request was granted, and this is the earliest fulling-mill of which there is any account in this vicinity. In 1706 the first rate to pay for schooling was made, thus placing educational matters on an upward grade.

Other business industries of those early years included the iron works industry. In 1710, Colonel John March, John Barnard, Joseph Brown and Jarvis Ring petitioned for leave to build iron-works on the Powow river, without being taxed, which was readily assented to by the town. The works were built and kept in operation many years. This plant, together with the saw and grist mills, the fulling-mill and stave factories made Amesbury quite a bustling little hamlet. The iron ore was simply "bog-iron" from the bottom of ponds and lakes, which had to be raked to the shore and carted to the melting place. Kingston, however, was the place from which most of the supply of iron came. Most of this iron (a poor grade) was worked up into ship's anchors, boat cranks, saw-mill cranks, spindles for turning the burrs in grist-mills, cart-tires, and fire-dogs.

1810 - Ship-building was revived, and carpenters were busy in all the yards. There were built on the river that year twenty-one ships, thirteen brigs and one schooner, with seven other vessels of different sizes. The Nail Factory Company bought of Deacon David Tuxbury half an acre at the pond's mouth, to control flowage of the pond.

June 13 - War was declared against Great Britain. This was the War of 1812-14 and was not popular in Amesbury, yet soldiers were recruited in case they were needed.

1818 - The Iron and Nail Company was now in full operation, and it was believed that the company was not paying the amount of taxes they should, and an investigation was ordered.

1832 - This year an attempt was made to raise sunflowers and from the seed produce oil. Works were built and farmers induced to raise sunflowers, but it was a failure and the buildings were turned into a tannery.

1836 - Powow River Bank was incorporated; capital $100,000. It was this year also in which the poet, John Greenleaf Whittier, removed from his native town of Haverhill to Amesbury.

1852 - This season occurred a strike at the Salisbury Mills over the owners not allowing the operatives the old custom of taking a few moments off for a lunch in the forenoon. The town sided with the men and appropriated $2,000 to help provide for the operatives. However, the mill owners won out by importing foreigners to take the place of home mill operatives.

1862 - These were Civil War days, and there was a great demand for woolen goods, causing the Salisbury Mills greatly to enlarge their works by removing the old nail factory and erecting a large factory on the spot. At the day of dedication there were many soldiers present, and no such gathering had ever assembled in the town before.

1863 - The Amesbury Hat Company was organized this year. The enterprise was highly prosperous. Later this became a branch of the Merrimac Hat Company. A year later the Horton Hat Company was incorporated. A National Bank was established at West Amesbury, with a capital of $50,000.

1864 - A charter was granted to build a horse railroad from Newburyport to Amesbury ; capital $120,000. The road was constructed and was of great1)enefit to the community.

Coming down to the eighties, about 1887, it has been discovered by the writer of this chapter that one of Amesbury's greatest business lines was that of manufacturing carriages. This business commenced in 1800 in a small way, but grew to large proportions, until, in the eighties, thirty firms were engaged in carriage-making within the town. The largest number of carriages built by any one firm in 1886 was 2,500, while another firm produced almost as many.

who have served faithfully and well from that date to now include the following: Captain Jonathan Morrill, Jacob Caiter, Philip Osgood, John Walsh, Daniel Blaisdell, under President Tyler; David Bagley, under President Pierce ; David Batchelder, under President Lincoln ; W. H. B. Currier, J. T. Clarkson, in 1873 and held until 1881, when J. T .Goodrich was appointed, serving until the election of Grover Cleveland in" 1884, when Hiram Foot was made postmaster; since then the following have sei-ved: Benjamm L. Fifield, Daniel W. Davis, James H. O'Toole, Cyrus W. Rowell, William A. Murphy, Timothy E. Lynes and present postmaster - John McGrath, commissioned July 28, 1919. The last fiscal year's business in this postoffice was $48,242. The Amesbury postoffice was burned on March 18, 1899 and the government erected a handsome structure of its own in 1906 at an expense of $50,000. Its location is at the comer of Main and Aubin streets. There are now two rural free delivery routes extending out from this place. Aggregate length, twenty-seven miles.

Among other commercial interests of Amesbury at this date may be named the three banking houses - the Amesbury Co-Operative Bank, the Powow River National Bank, and the Provident Institution. (See Banking). The newspaper press is represented ably by the "Amesbury Daily News." In the industrial line are the shoe factories of A. J. Anderson, the Nichols Shoe Company and Henry C. Rowe; the Baker Foundry and Machine Company (incorporated) ; the Merrial Hat Company, incorporated in 1856 ; the Metalite Company (incorporated) ; the Murphy Aluminum and Bronze Foundry Co. (incorporated).

The greatest, far-reaching and best commercial and industrial factors of the city are its numerous automobile body manufactories, as herein listed : The Amesbury Body Company ; Biddle & Smart Company ; Briggs Carriage Company; Currier-Cameron Company; Hinkley & Baxter ; Hollander & Morrill ; Thomas W. Lane ; Miller Brothers ; Reardon's Top Shop; Shield's Carriage Company; Unit Manufacturing Company; and the Walker- Wells Company. Recently a unique factory has been installed, which makes large quantities of peanut butter. This is operated by Frank M. Hoyt.

Amesbury was founded two hundred and fifty-two years ago. Much of historic interest has already been given in short paragraphs on the town in its infant days. At present it may be stated that few towns in the great Massachusetts commonwealth have better improvements that are kept up in any better manner. The balance sheet January 1, 1921, shows net bonded indebtedness of $388,000.00. This debt is for fire, sewer, highway, school and water loans. The resources and liabilities of the town are $198,499.55. The Trust Funds account stand as follows: Trust funds (cash and securities), $49,287.98. The items are as follows: Library Funds, $32,967.34; Park funds, $2,000; Poor children's fund, $2,000; Fountain fund, $34.29; Cemetery funds, $12,286.35.

The town officers (elective) for 1921 are as follows: Moderator^ George E. Hodge; Town Clerk, George C. Dearborn; Selectmen and Overseers of the Poor: James W. Clark, Charles R. Scott and Joseph O. Donnell; Assessors: George C. Dearborn, James E. Doran, Richard Feeley ; Collector of Taxes, J. William Gale ; Treasurer, Earl M. Nelson ; Board of Health: Samuel L. Porter, Daniel G. Dame, Otis P. Mudge; School Committee: Brainard G. Pillsbury, Gilbert N. West, Robert C. Patten, John A. Wilson, Jr., Ralph N. Good, Guy E. Nickerson. The Tree Warden and Moth Superintendent is Joseph Merrill. Park Commissioners : Charles H. Tucker, Bernard J. Manning, William H. Graves ; Superintendent of Streets, John D. Brown; Chief of Police, William S. Rogers; Fish and Game Warden, George O. Barton; Meat, Milk and Provision Inspector, James L. Stewart; Police Matron, Nora Conway.

Chamber of Commerce - What was known as the Amesbury Board of Trade in 1913 published the subjoined article concerning the town. The organization at that time claimed a membership of three hundred from a total population of ten thousand - the largest per capita Board of Trade in New England:

The town is up with most progressive towns, with the headquarters of a large agricultural society, who does good work of an educational kind, and whose large buildings are devoted to the same in the form of fall fairs and lectures. The town is also favored with the best municipal water plant in the State and a good gas plant, also electric, heat and power company, who are co-operative workers with the Local Board of Trade, inducing new industries to locate in Amesbury; and with this in view, we are able to offer power as low as the large cities.

The present conditions of our manufacturers are prosperous and the largest firms have secured their business for 1914 far in excess of any previous year, manufacturing fifteen hundred pairs of shoes daily. The total manufactured product will come near the five million dollar mark, which means the local mechanics are to have a dividend for their labors of approximately $1,500,000 to spend in livingexpenses with local merchants and deposit the balance in the savings bank, which already has $3,000,000 of their thrift safely deposited.

The moral end of the town is now a factor in our advance, and we have churches of nearly all denominations, who work unitedly for the spiritual and moral welfare of the town, which is today free from open saloons or places of questionable character. In addition to these are banded together business and professional men who are active in the maintenance of the best conditions possible for the welfare of the younger and rising generation.

towards building up the town. It has aided in securing all needful internal improvements and has succeeded also in securing numerous factories and other profitable commercial enterprises. From facts furnished the writer by the present (1921) secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, Frank F. Perry, the present-day organization has accomplished certain things herein named, viz :

The present organization of the business men of Amesbury dates from the Board of Trade, which had its birth at a public meeting held at the town hall, November 28, 1911. At this meeting Robert Briggs was elected secretary, and for some years was the chief factor in the active work of the Board of Trade. In April, 1912, the organization was active, and it was voted to pay the moving expenses of McLoud & Anderson. That firm has proved to be a permanent and profitable industry for the town, and is now the oldest and largest shoe factory in operation. In October the organization was still active in attracting new industries to Amesbury. It was voted to pay Finnerty & Cossaboom $500 for moving expenses.

Notable among the new industries which were established in Amesbury through the co-operation of the Board of Trade during this period was the G. W. J. Murphy Company. The firm was already doing a prosperous business in Merrimac, when Secretary Briggs advanced a proposition to the firm to establish a modem plant in Amesbury, where the business could be carried on under conditions which were equal to the best in the state. The buildings of the Hume Carriage Company and those formerly occupied by the George W. Osgood carriage factory were acquired. Building to and remodeling these structures, with the addition of a large new building, resulted in one of the finest brick plants of the kind in New England.

The Board of Trade through a holding company acquired a large factory on Carriage Hill, and this was afterwards sold to Henry C. Rich, who carried on a successful business in the manufacture of shoes for some years. This work concluded, the Board of Trade soon became inoperative because of lack of interest, and possibly also by reason of the overshadowing importance to the community of the prosecution of the World War. When business depression overtook the industrial and commercial life of the country, the merchants of Amesbury felt the need of community effort to revive business. In the fall of 1920, Frank F. Perry was therefore called upon to organize a Merchants' Sale Carnival, and this proved to be so successful that an organization was formed, with Frank F. Perry as secretary-manager, under the name of the Amesbury Chamber of Commerce, dating its birth from January 1, 1921. The new organization gave unremitting attention to the securing of work for the unemployed, which in the winter of 1920-21 were in the majority. In this they were successful, and later secured the Littlefield Heel Company, which moved from Haverhill, also a branch factory of the E. R.

Monthly meetings during the winter months foimed a definite part of the activities of the organization. The January meeting indorsed the daylight saving proposition and proposed an act to enforce penalties against stealing fruits and vegetables from farms. While the reclamation of the salt marsh was looked upon with favor, it was thought too much of a proposition for the Chamber to undertake at that time. The February meeting was addressed by George H. Moulton on salesmanship and by Principal Forrest Brown on the Commercial course at the High School. At the March meeting the school problem was lucidly explained by Superintendent of Schools L. Thomas Hopkins, and the large number who attended testified they had not before heard the question explained so helpfully. The directors of the Chamber of Commerce presented to the Fibreboard Company the advantages of Amesbury over Brockton for their factory, and during the summer of 1921 steps were taken to move this business from that city to Amesbury.

The Amesbury Chamber of Commerce is affiliated with the Massachusetts State Chamber of Commerce and the Essex County Associated Boards of Trade, and in a vigorous and effective manner is working to the great advantage of the people of the community. The 1921 officers of this Chamber of Commerce are as follows: President, E. J. Graves; Vice-president, Colin Camerone; Treasurer, B. F. McLean; Secretary, Frank F. Perry.

Industries - Among the motor-car body builders in Amesbury is the firm incorporated as Hollander & Morrill in the rear of No. 17 Main street, which was organized in 1909 by George H. Hollander and Gayden W. Morrill. AF present this concern employs about one hundred workmen. The product of the plant is chiefly sold in New York city, and it is annually increasing. The motive power used is electricity. About fifty per cent, of the workmen here are foreign-born, while the annual output is near the half million mark. The officers of this company are George H. Hollander, president and general manager, and Gayden W. Morrill, treasurer and salesman.

One of the first local carriage manufacturers to take up the manufacture of automobile bodies was the Shields Carriage Company, which began carriage making in 1887. The business was founded by John H. Shields. At the present time twelve workmen are employed in this plant, and it is said that all twelve are American born. The machinery needed is electric-propelled, and the shops are located on Carriage Hill. The superiority of the goods here made finds ready sale throughout Massachusetts. The present officers are George E. Collins, J. Woodbury Currier and Nathaniel W. Currier.

The Biddle & Smart Company, with offices at No. 6 Chestnut street, with shops situated in the vicinity of Railroad avenue, has a plant estab- lished in 1870 as Cadieu & Biddle. From 1874 on it was known as W. E. Biddle & Company, and from 1880, as Biddle-Smart Company. The Biddle-Smart corporation was organized in 1895. The original partners of Biddle, Smart & Co., William E. Biddle, W. W. Smart, M. D. F. Steere, are all deceased at this time. The business of the company is now the manufacture of aluminum automobile bodies. From 750 to 1,500 men are employed, who are now being paid about twenty per cent, less than a year ago, on account of a general decline in prices in the world's markets. In 1876 the company met with loss by a fire in its plant. The present production of these shops is disposed of almost entirely to the Hudson Motor Car Company, Detroit, Michigan. The works of this extensive plant are all propelled by electric power, generated by its own central power station and through purchase by contract from a local power company. The pay-roll in these shops is over $20,000 weekly; 650 men now are employed in the various departments. The annual business is about $3,000,000. About seventy per cent, of the workmen employed are American born. With a single exception, the Biddle & Smart Company has the largest capacity of building and completely finishing highest grade bodies of any concern in the world. The production is of custom quality in quantity. To gain anywhere near a good understanding of the size of these works, one must needs visit the same. The floor-space is immense! The reader is reminded, if inquiry is made in Amesbury about this company and its earlier enterprises, that it was established in 1870 as a carriage factory - bodies, gears, wheels and all complete. Building after building was added to the plant, until nine were to be seen in all. In one year alone, this concern shipped four thousand carriages. The sales ran to three-quarters of a million dollars, and they furnished employment to almost if not quite three hundred men. When the automobile came into fashion, the buggy trade naturally declined ; but having changed the extensive carriage works over to a plant for making parts of automobiles, the business was in no wise injured, but rather enhanced.

The Thomas W. Lane Carriage Factory has long been a factor in the business enterprises of Amesbury. It was established in 1874. "Sterling Quality" being his slogan or trade-mark, he has ever lived up to its meaning in the production of his carriages and buggies. When many others abandoned carriages and took up the manufacture of automobiles, Mr. Lane remained in the original trade, and bought out several of the other carriage firms in his city. He patented a cross-spring, by which he increased his sales from three hundred to six hundred carriages a year.

The plant of the Bailey Electric Automobile, owned by the S. R. Bailey & Co., incorporated, is another enterprise that has turned out its thousands of electric propelled automobiles. Another well-patronized factory is the Amesbury Lamp and Plating Company. It makes electric dome lights, top lamps, step-lamps, inverted dash-lamps, etc. The senior member of this company is William J. Bird, who was long a maker of carriage lamps, before the automobile was invented.

The birthplace of the electric-lighted and electric-started automobile was in the shops of Gray & Davis (incoi-porated) at Amesbury The business increased, on account of improvements made by these genius light-makers, until in 1913 they had branch plants in a half dozen large cities in this country. A head office is kept open in Boston. This was the first plant erected in the world for the exclusive manufacture of automobile lamps. The invention brought out in this factory, by which a successful "electric-starter" for automobiles was made, has revolutionized this part of the modern auto, the world 'round.

As long ago as 1913 one of the largest manufacturers of closed bodies in the white, in New England, was that of the Walker-Wells Company of Amesbury, incorporated that year with officers as follows : Harlan P. Wells, president; George Walker, vice-president; James H. Walker, treasurer; Henry Miller, secretary. The company was formed in 1911, and succeeded the Amesbury branch of the Walker Carriage Company.

The most "ancient" of all industries in Amesbury is the plant of the Merrimac Hat Company, still in existence. The manufacture of hats in Amesbury dates back to the settlement of the town, for one of the seventeen original proprietors of the place was a hatter. In 1767 the town granted a location for the first hat factory on "the Ferry road next to Powow river." For many years business was conducted there; in fact, at no time has the hatter's business gone down at that point. The present recent year business dates back to 1838, when Isaac Martin began in the house basement of the residence of Albert Gale, near the Powow bridge. Later he moved to a building on the wharf near by, in 1853. Abner L. Bailey became interested in the business and after continuing it some time under the title of the Merrimac Hat Company, a new company was formed, called the Amesbury Hat Company. The town landing near Powow River bridge was bought and thereon was built a large hat factory. In 1864 Alfred Bailey organized the Horton Hat Company, which began operations, continued until July, 1866, then sold to the Merrimac Company. Additions were made to the Horton Hat Company from time to time, it ever being looked upon as one of the town's best industries. In recent years a better set of buildings have been provided, and tens of thousands of dollars have been paid to those employed in the hat-making business. Here are made misses', ladies' and children's wool hats and ladies' and children's straw hats. The officers of this company for many years have been Messrs. H. V. Barrett of Boston, president; George W. Emerson, treasurer; William H. Hastings, general manager.

following named persons formed an association, secured a room over Mr. Allen's store on Market Square, and purchased two hundred books. Jonathan Williams, Edward Allen, James C, Nathaniel and Cyrus Currier, Ezekiel Enos, Thomas and Samuel J. Brown, Seth and Thomas J. Clark, Hiram Collins, T. P. Morrell, Jona Barnard, Daniel Blaisdell, William and Nathan Swett, Daniel Long, and John Herbert. The membership paid one dollar or more per year for the up-keep of the library, which was kept intact until some time in the forties, when the books were distributed among different families. It was not until 1856 that any attempt was made to organize a permanent library. A meeting was held, when letters were read from Joshua Aubin, of Newburyport, a former agent of the old Salisbury Mills Company, in which he stated that Gardner Brewer of Boston had placed in his hands between seven and eight hundred books to form the nucleus of a library for the benefit of the operatives employed at the village mills in Amesbury and Salisbury. The citizens much interested in this matter included the following: John G. Whittier, the gifted "Quaker Poet"; Rev. B. P. Byram, Benjamin Evans, William C. Binney, Philip Osgood, John Hume, Henry Taylor, John Kimball, Stephen Woodman, William H. B. Currier, William and Edward Allen, Charles M. Leonard and Francis Brown, Dr. Thomas Sparhawk, James W. Briggs, Robert W. Patten, William Carruthers, 0. S. Bayley, and a few other citizens of the town. The books were kept at various places until the Salisbury Milling Company erected a building in 1865 on Friend street, the lower part being given over to library purposes and the upper story to the Odd Fellows' use.

In 1872 fhe association was incorporated under Massachusetts laws, with these officers: William C. Binney, president; Philip Osgood, vicepresident; William Allen, treasurer; James H. Davis, secretary. Mr. Davis, who had previously served, was appointed librarian. In March, 1889, the city of Amesbury took over the library under provisions of the statutes of the commonwealth. The corporation voted to give $200 per year towards the library, the same to come out of the dog fund. Later, Jonathan Wadleigh left by his will $500 to the library, and Widow Fowler left a bequest of $5,000. A brother and sister, Isaac and Mary A. Barnard, natives of Amesbury, and personal friends of the poet Whittier, gave to the library, at their decease, the former in 1890 and the latter in 1897, funds to the amount of $30,000. Finally the old Ordway property on Main street was purchased at $5,500 and there the present spacious and well-appointed library building was erected. It was built at a cost of $20,650, being dedicated by the trustees in December, 1901. Later the town voted to appropriate $3,000 for additional book-stacks and other fittings. The first meeting in the new building was held by the board, April 23, 1902. This structure, an ornament to the city, was constructed of gray brick, with Indiana limestone and granite. There is ample stack room for forty thousand volumes. The interior is finished in quartered oak. The Whittier Home Association donated a handsome clock in the reading room as a befitting memorial to the beloved I>oet. Ten years ago this library boasted of having nearly 18,000 volumes on its shelves. It is a thoroughly up-to-date public library, the same having been made possible only by the forethought and persistent labors of the early promoters, who gave both time and money to bring about the desired end. It means much to the sprightly city, and speaks of a high moral, intellectual standard in the community. The late reports state that there are now 19,220 books on the shelves; magazines, 2,461 ; number of books issued in 1920 was 53,000. Many daily, weekly and monthly papers are here on file. The present trustees of the library are James H. Walker, Augustus N. Parry, J. Warren Huntington, William W. Hawkes, Alfred C. Webster, J. Albert Davis, Edward A. Brown, Albert G. Willey. The librarian is Alice C. Follansbee.

Amesbury is noted among other things in that it was the home of one of America's most celebrated poets - John Greenleaf Whittier. At the age of twenty-eight years he purchased the cottage on Friend street that was his home the remainder of his life. From his infancy he accompanied his parents, who were devout Quakers in religious faith, from their home in East Haverhill, when they came to worship at the Friends' meeting-house in Amesbury. Three years before making his home in Amesbury, Mr. Whittier was engaged in anti-slavery work, and was an editor in New York and Philadelphia, as well as of "The Villager" in his home town. During his residence in Amesbury he wrote four hundred and twenty-two of his more than five hundred poems. He was an ardent worker for the political party that best tended to liberate the slaves. He was a candidate for congress from this district when it was Free-Soil in sentiment. The landscape scenery in and around Amesbury gave him an inspiration by which he was enabled to pen many of his finest poems. He donated scores of valuable volumes to the Amesbury Library, and was influential in securing the splendid legacy of the Bamards for this institution. This beloved "Quaker Poet" died Sei)- tember 7, 1892, the funeral services taking place in the garden at the rear of the Whittier Home. He was buried in the family plot at Union Cemetery. Peace to his ashes !

Churches - Thirty-five years ago the directors gave the following on the church organizations of Amesbury at that date: "There are eleven churches and societies in this town, viz : Baptist, Episcopal, Catholic, Friends, Free Baptists, Methodist, Universalist, Christian Baptist. The most ancient of these societies is the Friends', organized in a house built in 1705. From that date they have always had a house of worship on this street, which was very properly named for their order, "Friend street." The society at Rocky Hill was organized in 1714, as the Second Parish in Salisbury, and the present church built in 1785. Most of the other churches have been erected and the societies organized within the last century."

Town i^cords give such pai-agi'aphs on churches as follows: "In 1831 a CJongregational church was organized at the Mills, Eleazer A. Johnson being chosen clerk. In 1836 a Universalist church was formed at West Amesbury and a building erected. St. James Church was consecrated in 1836, and Rev. Henry M. Davis was then selected a stated supply for one year. April, 1845, the Universalist church was incorporated. This society purchased the old Episcopal church building and engaged Rev. Strickland. A new church building was dedicated in 1846. In 1849 the Free Baptist Church on Friend street was completed. In 1866, at the close of the Civil War, the Catholic people built at the Mills, the structure being dedicated August 26, 1866. In 1867 a Baptist church was organized at West Amesbury, April 5."

From certain information blanks sent out to various churches by the compiler of this work, and from old records and histories, the subjoined articles on the churches of Amesbury have been gleaned:

St. James Episcopal Church was a church society here as early as 1740, but the regular church as known today was formed or reorganized in 1833. It now has a membership of 350, with a Sunday school of sixtythree attendance. A rectory was built in 1887, and the present beautiful edifice was erected in 1900 at an expense of $22,000. The total property of the church is not far from $30,000. Since 1885 the rectors have been in the following order: Revs. Henry Wood, 1885-88; Edward F. Hill, 1889-91; Frederick E. Cooper, 1891-93; George M. Griffith, 1893-95; Charles N. Norris, 1896-97 ; Robert LeBlanc Lynch, 1898-1908 ; Arthur L. Fenderson, 1909-11; Louis A. Parsons, 1912-14; Frank M. Rathborn, 1914-18; Robert Le Blanc Lynch, 1918, and still rector.

The Friends' Society is that to which John G. Whittier, the poet, belonged, and where he and his parents long worshiped. The "meeting" was established in 1702 and has continued through the multiplied years until now. Its total membership today is about seventy-three souls. There is no minister at present. Charles H. Jones and wife Elizabeth were ministers in this society for many years. There are other Friends' churches in Essex county, at Salem, Lawrence and Lynn.

The Universalist church was organized in 1843, and had seven pastors before it became decadent during the days of the Civil War. It was reorganized by Rev. Nathan R. Wright. The first church was on Friend street. The society purchased Washington Hall in 1871, and this was used for a place in which to worship until the present brick building was constructed in 1904, during the pastorate of Rev. Francis W. Gibbs. The present total membership is eighty-six, and the Sunday school enrollment is about forty-five pupils, with Mr. Gilbert West as its superintendent. Mrs. Louise Holt was the reorganizer of the Sunday school. The pastors of this church have included the following since 1870: Revs. W. R. Wright, 1870-74; B. L. Bennett, 1874-77; Albert C. White, 1880-81; Anson Titus, 1884-87; Albert C. White, 1888-91; J. H.

Since 1885 the ministers serving the Methodist Episcopal Church at this point were Revs. J. C. Felt, C. W. Dockerel, James Cairus, D. E. Miller, L. D. Bragg, H. D. Deets, M. C. Pendexter, F. K. Gamble, R. J. Elliott, C. F. Parsons, I. H. Reed, Mathew L. Simpson, present pastor. The present membership is 181 ; that of the Sunday school is about 200 pupils; the superintendent is Edwin J. Graves. In 1887-8 a church building was erected ; the main building is of wood, while the vestry part is of brick. The historical record books show that in 1847 Rev. W. Huntly was appomted to Amesbuiy. In 1850 the First Methodist Church was built. Rev. Charles C. Burr was pastor in 1850-51. The first building erected as a church was burned April, 1887. The second church was built 1887-88. This building stands on Main street, opposite the Public Library.

The Congregational denomination is old at Amesbury. One society was formed "At the Mills" in 1831, with Jonathan A. Sargent and George Perkins as first deacons, the first clerk and founder being E. A. Johnson, who served faithfully and well for forty years. December 6, 1881, the Congregational church at the Mills celebrated its fiftieth anniversary. The first clerk and first pastor were present on this interesting historic occasion. The history of this church extends back a great length of time, and, of course, has involved many changes in its membership and general work. The church has come down through the years of historymaking in the United States, and is still one of the institutions calculated to uplift the community in which it is supported.

What is now styled the Main Street Congregational Church of Amesbury is an old church organization, but no sketch of it has been furnished the compiler of this work. It has a good membership, and is a popular church.

The Baptist church of West Amesbury was organized April 5, 1867. Rev. E. M. Bartlett was installed pastor in October, 1872. The church is still numbered among the religious influences of the place.

The Sacred Heart is a French Catholic church, situated on Friend street. It was organized in 1903, and now has a total membership of 553 families and is made up of 1,798 souls. Rev. J. B. Bassiere served from 1903 to 1913, and Rev. J. H. Cotei has officiated from 1913 to the present date. Soon after the organization of the church a rectory and parochial school were provided. The number of pupils in the school is 195 boys and 206 girls, total 401 ; number of teachers employed, 8. This church and auxiliary school care especially for the French-speaking people of Amesbury and immediate vicinity.

Star-of-the-Sea Catholic Church is situated at Salisbury Beach, and was built by Rev. Father Nilan, now Bishop of Hartford. It was completed in 1896, the opening being July 4th of that yeau. It is es- pecially designed to give summer tourists and beach visitors of the Catholic faith an opportunity to worship. It is usually open from July until October of each season. The building is a frame structure, with a seating capacity of about 700.

As has been well said by J. H. O'Neil, Esq., in writing on Amesbury Catholicity: "No earthly record discloses the identity of the first soul to bear the faith to the district now embraced by the Parish of Saint Joseph. Who that venturesome pioneer was, and when he came, are matters of conjecture, rather than certainty. He may have come before the opening of the eighteenth century, for as early as 1792 there were Catholics in small numbers at Newburyport, which from the very beginning was the center of religious interest towards which the Catholics of Amesbury and Salisbury turned. It is told that Father Perron, a French priest, passed through this section about 1650, but he must have found it a barren region from a Catholic view-point." To quote Mr. O'Neil:

The visit of Bishop Cheverus to Nevv^buryport in 1808 was a notable event in the early history of this territory. On that visit he officiated at several ceremonies and visited the few Catholic families of the town. It is not unlikely that Father Matignon also stopped there on his trips on horseback from Boston as far as Portsmouth, ministering to the struggling bands of Catholics here and there.

In 1827 Bishop Fenwick made an Episcopal visit and said mass on a spot net far from the present court house. If during these years there were any Catholics in Amesbury or Salisbury, they undoubtedly joined in the services at Newburyport, as did their brethren in larger numbers later.

In the first half of the decade of 1830 to 1840, there is record of a Catholic family in Amesbury. There were Irish immigrants long before, as early as 1803, and some of them, at least, were unquestionably of the household of the faith, but the first clear evidence of Catholics in the town seems to come in the year 1834. In 1840 there were several families, and in the next ten years they increased steadily. The new-comers were practically all from Ireland. They had come to work out their destiny in a new land. Of earthly possessions they had but little, but they came fortified with steady bodies and determined souls, and above all with a faith that knew no yielding.

The first priest came to Newburyport in the early forties, and was followed by Father Lennon, who became pastor at Newburyport in 1848, and for many years was in charge of the members of this faith at Amesbury as well. To the church at Newburyport the pioneers were wont to go on Sundays and holidays to perform their religious duties. Thus these devout souls trudged their way five miles and back to Newburyport to attend mass. Occasionally mass was offered at the house of William Daley in Amesbury, one of the first settlers. It is very likely that the first mass within the confines of the parish was said at his house on Dondero's Court, and some of the older people still recall attending mass and receiving Holy Communion from the hand of the priest on the doorstep, the house being too small for all to enter.

lief that regular services should be held in some way at this point. This began about 1859, when the Catholics of the town petitioned Father Lennon for this privilege, and with their petition went a liberal offering. The list of names which were attached to the petition just mentioned numbered more than one hundred and fifty, the signers pledging themselves to raise the sum of $9,250 to be used towards erecting a church in Amesbury. Father Lennon, of course, granted such a petition as this, and plans were made for services in Washington Hall on Market street. Easter Sunday, April 24, 1859, was observed at that place by the Catholics in such numbers that they excited the admiration of their fellow townsmen. An important event took place here June 22, 1862, when Father William Daley, the first priest to be ordained from this district, at whose house the faithful formerly gathered, sang his first mass.

On the site of the present church of St. Joseph, the foundations of the first church were laid - modest and simple was the first edifice compared to the handsome present-day structure, yet it was the largest and most expensive building of its kind at that time in Amesbury. Its cost was $15,000. It was ninety-eight feet long and fifty feet wide, and contained one hundred and sixteen pews. It was dedicated August 26,

1866, and so great was the throng that not nearly all could gain entrance to the building. It was estimated that not less than two thousand persons were present. This edifice served well its purpose until the present structure was erected, of which mention is made later on. In September,

1867, property was bought on Pleasant street for a parochial residence, for Amesbury was no longer a mission of Newburyport, but a parish by itself. The first pastor was Rev. John Brady, who three years before had been ordained in Ireland. He was enthusiastic over the project of building a church edifice large enough to accommodate his growing congregation. Much of the mason work on the foundation was performed by his parishioners at eventide, after having ended their own daily toil. All worked with one end in view and succeeded well in their undertakings. Ground was first broken in 1872, and the completed edifice was dedicated May 7, 1876, by Archbishop Wihiams. It is still one of the finest church buildings in this section of New England. The grounds, the convent and school, each and all are monuments to the faithfulness and liberality with which this people have sacrificed to bring about these laudable ends.

In 1885 the doors were first opened to the fine parochial school of this parish, and with the school came also the convent to furnish a home for the Sisters of St. Joseph. The parochial residence was the last of the dignified group of parish buildings to be erected. When this was completed, the work of building by Father Brady was about done. He had been assisted in his labors during a part of these years by Revs. M. J. McCall, 1873-76; David J. Herlihy from 1881 to 1884; by Rev. Francis X. Burke, from 1884 to 1893.

The second regular pastor was Rev. John J. Nilan, then assistant pastor at St. James church, Boston. He began at once to improve the property by purchasing the old Sparhawk place, and demolished the old buildings thereon. New altars in the main church were provided, the same being of chaste Italian marble, beautifully designed and executed with great skill. When free of all debts, this fine edifice was consecrated to God. This occurred April 28, 1901, and the honor of consecration fell to Bishop Brady, who had erected the building thirty years before. Bishop Brady after a wonderful career passed from earth's shining circle, January 6, 1910. His body lay in state in the Amesbury church, which he had built so many years before, was watched over throughout the night, and the following day was laid to rest in St. Joseph's Cemetery.

In June, 1910, Rev. Denis F. Lee, then pastor of St. Agnes church, Reading, became the third pastor in Amesbury. His assistant was Rev. Howland J. Harkins, who succeeded the faithful assistant, Rev. William J. Reardon. Father Harkins died and was succeeded by Rev. Stephen J. O'Brien, a son of the parish. During the late World War, Father O'Brien volunteered as chaplain in the army in 1918, and was succeeded by Rev. John W. Spencer, Rev. McCool and Rev. Tuscher. This parish has had only three pastors in all its history, the third and present one being Father Denis F. Lee, under whose management the church buildings have been much improved, while the spiritual church has been made stronger in the hearts of his membership.

In closing, it is well to note that a golden jubilee of this church was commemorated October 28-31, 1917 - fifty years of eventful church life. It will long be remembered by people in and near the city of Amesbury. There are but few if any churches in the whole country where so many priests have been members of a church in a town no larger than Amesbury, and have received training and gone forth as priests. The number is seventeen; of that number ten were living in 1917. Their names follow: Rev. William Daley, deceased; Rev. Joseph H. Gallagher, deceased; Rev. M. F. Higgins, deceased; Rev. Timothy Whalen, St. Ann's Hospital, Baltimore, Md. ; Rev. P. A. Lynch, 0. S. A., Immaculate Conception, Hoosick Falls; Rev. Patrick Carr, deceased; Rev. James H. O'Neill, LL.D., Sacred Heart, Boston; Rev. Thomas Moylan, deceased; Rev. Martin Cavanaugh, deceased; Rev. Thomas A. Walsh, Our Lady of Grace, Chelsea, Mass.; Rev. James R. Nulty, St. Mary's, Dedham, Mass.; Rev. James Doran, St. Michael's, Hudson, Mass.; Rev. Michael J. Manning, St. Anne's, Somerville, Mass. ; Rev. John M. Burke, Sacred Heart, Boston ; Rev. Michael J. Kenny, St. Joseph's, Avoca, Wis. ; Rev. Stephen J. O'Brien, St. Joseph's, Amesbury, Mass. ; Rev. John J. Mc- Grath, St. Mary's Cathedral, Trenton, N. J.