Essex County, Massachusetts - Chapter 30: Town of Merrimac, 1922

The history of the town of Merrimiac extends back only to 1876, at which date it was separated from the West Parish of Amesbury. It is situated on the north side of the Merrimac river, for which it was named. Its territory is about two and one-half by three miles in extent, and is bounded on the four sides by the Merrimac river, the city of Haverhill, the New Hampshire line, and the town of Amesbury, from which its territory was carved. Here one finds plains, valleys, hills, and the majestic flow of the MeiTimac river, all vying with each other to make charming the landscape scene - a thing of beauty, which it has been said is a joy forever. No wonder a Whittier could have been produced here, for poetic inspiration seems on every hand.

There is no record showing the exact date of the coming of the first settlers to this part of Essex county. It is known that Edward Cottle was a settler here very early, if not indeed before anyone else. Samuel Foot and John Pressey came respectively in 1659 and 1664. Henry Tuxbury, Thomas Nichols, John Grimpsen and Thomas Sargent had all settled here before 1670, while the Aliens, Fowlers and Morses were known to have been here in 1700. Merrimac at an early day was known as Jamico, and was not known as Merrimac for fully a century. After it was considered safe on account of supposed Indian raids, and along about the opening years of the eighteenth century, the settlement was increased by the coming of the Davis, Clement and Kelly families; and about 1722 others came, including Abraham Merrill, from Newbury, and his three men - grown sons, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But before these had settled it has been found that a grant of land was issued to Thomas Harvey, a ship-carpenter and builder; his settlement was in 1666. Perhaps no better list of early immigrants and actual settlers

In 1824 a postoffice was estabhshed in West Amesbury, with Edmund Sargent as postmaster. In 1857 a postoffice was established at River Village, with Ebenezer Fullington as postmaster. Of recent years the postmasters in Merrimac have been as follows: George Prescott, Alexander Smart, died, and was succeeded by his widow; then George Ricker, and present postmaster, Martin B. Crane, since October, 1913. This office has one rural free delivery route, connected with Amesbury also. Business last year v/as $4,200.

Merrimac was incoiporated in 1876, approved by the govei'nor on April 11, of that year. The first selectmen chosen were: William H. Haskell, S. S. Blodgett, Alexander Smart. In keeping good his word, William P. Sargent, then of Boston, donated a newly built town hall which cost $20,000. This stands on a lot donated by Messrs. Haskell, Goodwin, Poyen Gunnison and Clement. Sargent's Hall was dedicated in the autumn of 1876. Donations were made : For land for cemetery purposes by J. A. Lancaster ; a thousand volumes toward establishing a public library, by Dr. J. R. Nichols, and the town gave the funds for the erection of a suitable tablet to the memory of William P. Sargent, who gave the town hall.

The municipal affairs of the town have been faithfully administered with the passing years, by good and efficient men. The town owns its water work and electric light plants and is fully up to the standard in educational matters. The 1920-21 town officers include the following: Selectmen and Overseers of the Poor : Homer R. Sargent, James F. Pease and George B. Crofut; Assessors: Frank E. Bartlett, Willis H. Scott, Herbert N. Noyes; Town Clerk, Clifton B. Heath; Town Treasurer, Frank E. Walker ; Auditor, A. Raymond Waterhouse ; Collector of Taxes, Fred W. George; Constables: James P. Donahue, Fred 0. Bailey, Leon N. Dow ; Inspector of Animals, Charles E. Welch ; Inspector of Slaughtering, Charles E. Welch ; Inspector of Wires, Warren A. Bailey ; Sealer of Weights and Measures, Edward S. McKay; Tree Warden, Charles R. Ford; Forest Warden, Charles R. Ford; Burial Agent, John E. Bean; Superintendent of Streets, Edward F. Goodwin; Engineers of Fire Department, John W. Growcut, Roswell J. Eaton, Willard L. Fowle; Sworn Weighers : Byran H. Sargent, Alice J. Hoyt and Edward S. Preble ; Fish Warden, Forrest A. Morse ; Moderator, Clarence 0. Libby.

The town is well supplied with churches and lodges, which organizations are mentioned elsewhere in this work. The churches include the Baptist, the Church of the Nativity, the Pilgrim Congregational, and the Methodist Episcopal churches.

In 1921 the town of Merrimac supported the following industries: Automobile and carriage body manufactures - J. B. Judkins & Company, Merrimac Body Company, Walker Body Company. Carriage makers - William F. Carter; Heel makers - James M. Cushman; Wood Heel Company. Bankers - Merrimac Savings Bank, First National Bank, Economy Co-operative Bank.

At one period or another, the factory interests in what is now Menimac have been quite extensive. In the early days of Amesbury, agriculture was the chief occupation of its people, but later saw mills and catching the salmon and sturgeon became a larger industry; then ship-building commenced in the West Parish. At a very early period brick-making was a business of no small importance in Merrimac, as understood today. A trade with the West Indies was also one of considerable proportion. At Merrimacport, earthenware was made as. early as 1790. Among the makers of such ware was James Chase, and later his son Phineas ; subsequently came Smith Sargent, in about 1825. Tanneries and coopershops were common away back in the twenties and thirties. In 1883 the Bay State Felt Boot and Shoe Company, under a patent process, commenced to produce felt-foot wear. From 1885 on many years this company produced 12,000 cases of shoes per year.

Carriage-making has usually been counted the great manufacturing business of Merrimac. In 1887 the following paragraph shows the output of vehicles in Merrimac to have been as indicated by firms :

Different manufacturers made their own style of vehicles, some plain and some fancy, some cheap and others high-priced One shop mads gears, while others made bodies, and another set of shops ironed, and still others were engaged in painting wagons and sleighs.

The first application of machinery these shops made to any considerable extent was when John F. Foster engaged in the business. In 1867 he formed a partnership with Henry Howe in the manufacture of wheels. In 1870 the plant was burned to the ground, and within forty-nine days it was rebuilt and in operation again. Here about five thousand sets of wheels were produced annually. February 17, 1882, the firm of Foster & Prescott lost their entire works by fire, and never rebuilt. All, in all, the carriage and sleigh factories here have been the commercial life of the town for a large number of years in its history.

Like so many New England towns, Merrimac's history would hardly be complete without mentioning the fact that there were many years when boot and shoe factories flourished here abundantly as well as in most ^f the towns in the county. Moses Goodrich and Charles Sargent made boots and James B. Hoyt made shoes on quite an extensive scale.

The church history of Merrimac would require a volume of itself, but it must suffice to give the reader of this work a brief outline of the various religious societies, which here follows:

The first pastor of the first Congregational church here was Rev. Paine Wingate, who was ordained in June, 1726, and continued to sei-vc over the parish for almost sixty years, when called by death; his wife

A new meeting house was erected in 1787, and a year later Rev. Francis Welch was settled as a pastor at a salary of £80 per year. He died in 1793 and was succeeded by Rev. David Smith, who was succeeded in time by Rev. Samuel Mead, of Danvers, in 1804. He remained until his death in 1818 and was followed by Rev. P. S. Eaton, who was dismissed in 1837, when Lucius W. Clark became pastor, and under his care and administration another church building was erected in 1839. At his own request he was dismissed in 1842. Henry B. Smith was the next pastor, and he was followed in 1827 by Rev. Albert Paine, who in 1854 was succeeded by Rev. Leander Thompson, of Providence. He remained until dismissed in 1867, and was followed by Rev. Lewis Gregory, who w^as dismissed in 1875, after whom came Rev. W. H. Hubbard, who was pastor until 1883. The next to sei-ve in this pulpit was Rev. Thomas M. Miles, who became pastor in 1884 and was succeeded by Rev. George L. Todd in 1892 ; Rev. James W. Flagg came in 1901 ; Charles W. Legg came in 1918, and is still pastor. There are now 347 members, and a Sunday school attendance of 260 pupils. Herbert E. Whitney is the present superintendent.

The first church was erected in 1724, two years before organization ; the second was built in 1787; the third in 1839; the fourth in 1860, and still serves. Its value is $20,000 ; parish-house, $5,000 ; additions, $3,000 ; total value $28,000.

Until 1836 this Congregational church was the only church organization within the borders of what is now Merrimac. That year the Universalist church was formed, and the next year a house of vv^orship provided. Rev. Eldredge Brooks was the first pastor of this society.

The Baptist Society at Merrimac was organized in 1849 at the house of Levi Williams. What is now Merrimacport was then known as the river village of West Amesbury, and the church referred to was until 1857 called the West Amesbury Baptist Church. The charter membership included thirty-seven persons. It belonged to the Salem Baptist Association, and Nathaniel S. Pinkham, of Concord, New Hampshire, was its first pastor.

Another Baptist church was formed in the central village of Merrimac in 1867, with eighteen members; a neat church edifice was erected in 1869. The first pastor was Rev. W. H. Kling. The charter mem.bers were Job Hoyt, Daniel Gould, George H. Swasey, Oilman S. Hoyt, B. A. Kelley, Mercy Powell, George B. Hoyt, George H. Swasey, Jr., Ellen N. Gould, Hannah P. Hoyt, Eunice Gould, Frances Swasey, Mary C. Hoyt, Anne E. Kelley, Sarah B. Osgood, F. C. Poyen, Frances A. Swasey and Carrie T. Kelley. The present membership is 133, with a Sunday School attendance of 130. The superintendent^ is Justin E. Moulton. The value of church property is estimated at $9,600. The following have been pastors in about the order given: Revs. S. D. Ashley, J. H. Cox, H. A. Cor-

The Methodist Society at Meri'imacport was formed in 1875, and Rev. Dinsmore commenced to preach in a hall in December of that year. He became the first regular pastor appointed to the place by the annual conference.

The Catholic people of West Amesbury (now Merrimac) first held services in Mechanic's Hall in 1870. At the time of organization the congregation had a membership of one hundred and fifty communicants. In 1884 it built a church building on Green street, and in 1887 was reported as having almost 400 members.

The secret orders in Merrimac consist of the Masons, Odd Fellows, Grand Army of the Republic, and several beneficiary societies. The Masonic lodge was instituted A. L. 5869. Riverside Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was instituted December 3, 1875, and dedicated a handsome lodge room hall in May, 1887. The Colonel C. R. Mudge Post, Grand Army of the Republic, was organized December 20, 1869, under Commander Alexander Smart. In 1882 a Woman's Relief Corps was organized with thirty members. In 1883 the Merrimac branch of the Irish National League of America, No. 326, was formed. These orders are all flourishing today.