Sterling Town

Hannah F. Gould

Did ever it come in your way to pass, rh.e silvery pond, with its fringe of grass, And threading the lane hard by, to see The veteran elm of Newbury?

Ton saw how its roots liad grasped the ground, As if it had felt that the earth went rovuid, And fastened them down with determined will To keep it steady and hold it still. Its aged trunk, so stately and strong, Has braved the blasts as they've rushed along. Its head has towered and its arms have spread, While more than a hmidred years have fled !

And fastened them up in their nightly keep. He'd stood by the coop till the hen could bring Her huddling brood safe under her wing. And made them secure from the hooting owl. Whose midnight prey was the slmeking fowl. When all was finished, he sped to the well. Where the old gray bucket hastily fell ; And the clear cold water came up to chase The dust of the field fi-om his neck and face, And hands and feet, till the youth began

It is not recorded how long he stayed In the cheerful home of the smiUng maid ; But, when he came out, it was late and dark A nd silent, - not even a dog would bark To take from his f eeUng of loneliness. And make the length of his way seem less. He thought it was .strange that the treacherous

And sallying forth with the supple arm, To serve as a talisman parrying harm. He felt that, though Ms heart was so big, 'Twas even the stoiiter for having the twig. For tMs, he thought, would answer to switch The horrors away, as he crossed the ditch. The meadow and copse, wherin, perchance. Will-o'-the-wisp might wickedly dance. And, \\'ielding it, keep Mm from having a cMll At the menacing sound of the "WMp-poor-will!" And Ms flesh from creeping, beside the bog. At the harsh, bass voice of the viewless frog. In short, he felt that the switch would be Guard, playtMng, business, and company.

HE ship "Mary and John," sailing from the Thames nearly three centuries ago, severed the natal ties of an adventurous company of pioneers, who looked hopefully to the ntw vporld for the enlargment of their liberties and their fortunes. The sadness of parting, the perils and discomforts of the long vogage, in time passed, and early in the winter of sixteen hundred thirty-four the ship came to anchor in the harbor of Boston, from whence, with the advent of a favorable season, many were to make their way into the surrounding country. Of this number were the first settlers of Newbury, Massachusetts, and to their grants on the banks of the Quascacunquen (now Parker) river they made their way the following spring. The Reverend Thomas Parker, the spiritual leader of the party, had come from Newbury, England, and in his honor the new settlement was given the name of this medieval town of the mother country. The plantation, as it.was then termed, contained men of learning, of ability, and of means, and important enterprises were at once begun which laid the foundation for the town, and its offspring the city of Newburyport, both of which have borne an important part in the history of our country.

Our imagination hardly serves to realize the remoteness of this period, but if, through our interest in the parent town, we follow the years backward to the eleventh century, when it first appeared in history under this name, we must utterly fail to comprehend the real significance of the interval.

The beginnings of this old world town are lost in a vague antiquity that hints of the early Celts, who occupied the country before the coming of the Romans in the second century. Relics of the lattci are numerous ; their roads may yet be seen ; and they left the name " Spinae," variously rendered " Spinus," " Spone," and " Speen," to designate their station on the route traveled by Antoninus Pius. This, later called Speenhamlaud, was the nucleus from which may be said to have grown, by the coming of the Saxon, the settlement, precarious and nameless for centuries, finally to be known as " New Bourg " and Newbury.

The south bank of the river Kennet, soon to merge its waters with the Thames, favored the peaceful life of the new invaders more than did the former Roman military camp a mile to the northward ; and the fruitful valley sustained them after the manner of those dark ages, - recordless but for relics turned up by the plow, - until the dawning light of the eleventh century reveals an ecclesiastical settlement firmly established under the Norman succession, from which all real history dates.

For the following century this is chiefly concerned with the affairs of Ernulf de Hesding and other possessors of the manor, their patronage of the church and monastery, and the neighboring priory of Sandelford. The natural activities of a flourishing community are evident, however, and we find mention in the record of the court of chancery, in the year 1205, of a Fulling Mill, and "another Mill," as well as a Town Market. One of the most stirring events of this period of the town's history is the siege of the castle of Newbury by King Stephen, in 1152. The account of this struggle is contained in a French poem of nearly twenty thousand lines, comprising the history of William Marshall, Earl of Pembroke, son of John Marshall, one of the most valiant supporters of the Empress Matilda against Stephen. It relates with much detail the king's demand for the surrender of the castle, the truce to enable the defenders to secure the aid of John Marshall, and the rendering of his son William, the hero, as a hostage; how John Marshall strengthened the garrison in the interval, and continued to hold it in spite of the risk to his son's life, which is menaced several times by decision of King Stephen as a penalty for the father's breach of the practices of truce, but each time is saved by his innocent fearlessness, which wins the affection of the king. With Stephen's reverses elsewhere the siege was raised, and the prisoners, Including both Stephen and Matilda as well as William Marshall were exchanged, with the empress, for whom Newbury had held out, in power. No vestige nor adequate description of this castle now remains, but its place in the town's achievements is commemorated by its adoption as the municipal arms.

The gradual evolution of Newbury from a feudal village to the peaceful town of later days was marked by many interesting episodes, in which, from its proximity to Ivondon and Windsor and its situation on an important road, royalty was frequently an actor. One of these is chronicled as follows :

" On Ash Wednesday (4 March, 1248), a great tournament was begun at Newbury amongst the knights of England, that they might prove their knightly prowess and strength ; As the King was favorable to it, it begun and ended well. At this tournament William, the King's half-brother, surnamed de Valentia, a young tiro, entered with courageous presumption, to acquire a distinguished title for knighthood ; but, being tender in age and not of his full strength, he could not sustain the attack of hardy and martial knights, and falling, lost many (courses), being soundly beaten that he might learn the first steps of knighthood."

Newbury Bridge Built In 1769

During the Wars of the Roses, when the Duke of York was gathering his supporters at Calais for an invasion of England, King Henry became alarmed at the Pretender's strength, and undertook to thwart him by searching out and arresting his chief adherants. This movement was inaugurated at Newbury, and is recorded by a contemporary writer :

" 1460. In the mene tyme the erlle of Wylshire tresuer of England, the lorde Scales, and the lorde Hungreford, havingthe Kynges commyssyone, went to the tonne of Newbury, the whyche longed to the duk of York, and there made inquysycione of alle thayme that in any wyse had shewed any fauoure or benyuolence or frendshyppe to the sayde duk, or to any of hys : whereof some were found gylty, and were drawe, hanged, and quartered, and alle other inhabitantes of the forseyde toune were spoyled of alle theyre goodes."

Many prominent gentlemen of Newbury paid the penalty of the failure of the Duke of Buckingham's revolt against King Richard III in 1483. They took up arms with the former, and with others of Berkshire assembled at Newbury, October 18, 1483, proclaimed Richmond King of England. Their cause was worthy, but fate had marked other lines for history, and defeat and spoliation were their portion.

Another uprising to the credit of the town of Newbury is chronicled in connection with the history of "Jack of Newbury," a representative of the important industry of cloth making, in which Newbury had long been prominent. This Jack of Newbury, originally John Smallwood, and later John Wynchcombe, lived a useful, free, and generous life, which brought him great popularity and influence, and has preserved his memory as a local hero for more than three centuries. Toward the end of "The tnost Pleasant a?td delectable Hisiorie of John Winchcombe, otherwise called Jacke of Newberie,'' a pamphlet detailing with much interesting incident the rise and character of this worthy, the author, Deloney, says : " Whereupon on the sodaine every man was appointed according to his abilitie to be readie with his men and furniture at an houres warning, on paine of death. Jack of Newberie was commanded by the Justice to set out sixe men, four armed with Pikes, and two Calivers, and to meet the Queene in Buckinghamshire, who was there raising a great power to goe against the faithlesse King of Scots. When

Saint Nicholas' Church Built Between Newtown Waters, Newbury, England

Jack had received this charge, he came home in all haste, and cut out a whole broadcloth for horsemen's coates, and so much more as would make up coates for the number of a hundred men. In a short time he had made readie fiftie tall men, well mounted in white coates, and red caps with yellow feathers, Demilances in their hands ; and fiftie armed men on foot with Pikes, also in white coates ; every man so expert in the handling of his weapon as few better were found in the field. Himself likewise in compleat armour on a goodly Barbed horse, and foremost in the company with a lance in his hand, and a faire plume of yellow feathers in his creste, and in this sort he came before the Justices ; who at the first approach did not a little what he should be. At length when they had discovered who he was, the Justices and most of the Gentlemen gave him great commendations for this his good and forward minde shewed in this action."

His gallant and brilliant band of one hundred, where six were commanded, attracted the attention of Queen Catherine at the rendezvous at Stoney Strafford and she conferred the title of Gentleman upon Jack and the members of his company ; and afterward at the dispersal of his troops, when they had received the news of the success of their cause at the battle of Flodden Field, she placed about his neck " a riche chaine of gold " as a token of her gratitude. That other sons of Newbury were in the field and fighting in this cause is shown by this historical rhyme, a type which, like the rune and the saga of more primitive times, preserves in a form suited for vocal transmission the story of -

Interior Of Saint Nicholas' Church Restored 1866-67 Length 140 Feet, Mean Breadth 74 Feet

While rounde our Cuppes wee Daunce. The Chesshyre Laddes were bryske and brave, And the Kendall Laddes as free, But none surpass'd, or I'm a Knave, The Laddes of Newberrie."

The religious oppressions which later forced the Puritans to emigrate were manifested in Newbury by various persecutions, including the burning at the stake of Josceline Palmer and two companions, Gwyn and Askew, on July 16

Shaw House Of The Manor Of Shaw, Built 1753-1756

1556, immediately after trial for heresy held in the Parish Church. The Grammar School, of which at the neighboring town of Reading, Palmer was master, was an institution in Newbury, and in the History of Neivbury by Walter Money, F. S. A., we find the following reference to the services of two of the early settlers of Newbury, Massachusetts : -

"The famous Puritan divine, the Rev. Thomas Parker, in whose honor the town of Newbury, in New England, was so called, taught for some time previous to the 1634 "the free school in Newbury"; and John Woodbridge, brother of Benjamin, appointed Rector of Newbury by the Parliament during the Great Rebellion, is mentioned by Dr. Calamy as being "cast out of the school at Newbury by the Bartholemew-Act of 1662."

From this time the thread of history from which has been woven our New England character takes its way across the Atlantic-; but our fraternal interest in the older town should warrant the review of a few notable incidents in its history subsequent to the rising of the new world settlement.

Cloth making, before referred to in connection with Jack of Newbury, continues to be the chief industry of the town and of national importance. A strong Weavers' Company was founded in the reign of Henry VIII and incorporated by Royal Charter in 1601, the forty-fourth year of Queen Elizabeth. This institution is still in existence, although it has lost its character of a power in the community. It is pertinent to note that a few items of Corporate insignia are still possessed by the Company, namely, the beadle's silver mounted staff of office, with the inscription, " Robert Layle, Richard Canins, Wardens, 1706 "; a belt with the Company's arms well executed on a silver shield, worn by the beadle on state occasions. It appears to have been customary for every new member to provide a silver spoon on his admittance ; but the plate thus acquired by this ancient body has disappeared.

The strong and beautiful arch that now spans the Kennet was built in 1769, and promises to remain a safe viaduct for many centuries. The place it occupies was the scene of a notable calamity in 1623, when, without warning and to the consternation and distress of the inhabitants of the town, the ancient wooden bridge fell into the river. The following annunciatory letter, quaint as to its spelling, but perennially modern in its earnest plea for assistance, is preserved in the Bodleian Library: -

Northbrook Street, Newbury, England

Sir, - Wee have thought good to lett you vnderstand, how that vpon Sundaye, beinge the Vth day of ffebruarie last, a greate parte of our Towne bridge beinge about 30 foote in length & 20 foote in bredth fell downe into the river so that no carts can passe over yt, to the greate hinderau'ce of our Towne, specially vpon ye market dayes, it beinge a bridge in ye middle of the Towne, as you knowe, whereby only, and by no other waye, one parte of the Towne can come to thother, & the country cominge in at the West and North endes of the Towne with carts can come no other waye to the markett vnlesse they goe a myle about ; And it was the greate blessinge of God that it fell not either as people were goinge to or cominge from churche, which yf it had, it had cost many a man's life, and yet fell shortly after dinner, ffor the repayringe of this bridge wee haue vsed tyme out of minde of man to take trees as occasion hath bin out of the Wash now his highnes wast parcell of the manor of Newbery, which was heretofore well stored, but now there is not, neither hath bin of late, scarce one Tree seruiceable for that vse, so that wee shalbe putt to 40 or 50^ chardge in repayringe of yt, to our great hinderau'ce, wee havinge many poore people amongst vs to relieve, in these harde tymes, when as clothinge, the chiefe keye of tradinge in our towne for reliefe of the poore, is so much decayed. Whereof wee heartely intreate your considerac'on, & yf 3^ou shall thinke it fitt to acquaynt some of his highnes Counsel} with this accident that is befallen vs° humqly intreatinge theyr honors to take Considerac'on of it, as they in theyr wisedomes shall thinke fitt. And so wee take our leaves, cravinge pardon for beinge so troublesome to you & rest Your very lovinge freinds,

In 1643 Newbury was the scene of a hard fought battle between the armies of King Charles I and of Parliament, the former having 10,000 infantry and cavalry, and the latter 8,000, under the Earl of Essex. The advantage of position was greatly with the Royalists, while the Puritans were exposed and weakened by the utter lack of provisions, yet by the skill of their commander, their gallantry, and a fortunate miscarriage of the King's plans, they triumphed after a battle lasting from dawn to midnight, - although their victory was not apparent until the following day, - and returned gloriously to London, the achievement which it was King Charles' purpose to prevent.

Again, in October of the next year, large forces under King Charles occupied Newbury and gave battle to the troops of Essex, Waller, and Cromwell, under the Earl of Manchester, and again the Parliamentary troops were victorious after a hard fight.

year to set up a ducking stool, the town of Newbury established this remedy for scolds, and apparently found frequent use for it, as there are many entries of charges for its repair. The method is described by M. Misson, who traveled in England about the year 1700 :

" This method of punishing scolding women is funny enough. They fasten an armchair to the end of two strong beams, twelve or fifteen feet long and parallel to each other. The chair hangs upon a sort of axle, on which it plays freely so as always to remain in the horizontal position. The scold being well fastened in her chair, the two beams are then placed, as near the center as possible, across a post on the water-side, and being lifted up behind, the chair of course drops into the cold element. The ducking is repeated according to the degree of shrewishness possessed by the patient, and generally has the effect of cooling her immoderate heat, at least for a time."

Regular communication with other parts, which culminated in the completion of the Newbury and Didcot railway in 1879, was begun in 1752 with the establishment of the " Flying Coach," announced as follows :

"Newbury Four wheel'd Stage Chaise, Made with Steel Springs, to carry Four Passengers at Ten Shillings each to or from London. Sets out from the White Hart Inn, in Newbury, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, at Six o'clock in the morning, to the Saracen's Head, Snow Hill ; and returns from thence on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays; and will be at their Quarters each Evening by Six : Changes horses at Thomas Talmadge's, at the Pelican at Twyford, and

Municipal Building And Town Hall

Places taken at the White Hart and Saracen's Head, at Five Shillings entrance: each passenger to be allowed Eight Pounds Weight. Small parcels taken in at above Houses, and carefully deliver'd. N. B. No Money, Plate, Jewels, or Writings lost to be made good, unless enter'd

Note also. There are Road Waggons set out from Newbury to the Saracen's Head, Snow Hill, on Mondays and Wednesdays, and returns Thursdays and Saturdays ; where Gentlemen may depend on having their baggage taken great care of. If any Incivilities are offered by the Drivers, the Proprietors would take it kind to be acquainted therewith at Newbury."

As a result of trade depression during the wars of the last half of the eighteenth century, there was much deprivation among the poor, which in Newbury resulted in rioting and pillage of bread and provision stalls, in August, 1766. The millers and bakers, in spite of the prevalent distress, maintained unwarrantably high prices for bread, and for this they suffered by the destruction of their wares, with those of other purveyors, by the incensed mob. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, they quickly changed their policy, and the price was immediately reduced; while further "A public subscription was raised in Newbury to supply the poor with bread at 9d. the gallon, and the millers agreed to grind their wheat free of cost. Many of the officials and farmers in country parishes, and private persons, also iindertook to supply the poor with wheat at a lower price than that charged to the general public, and much practical commiseration appears to have been shown for their unfortunate position. The Corporation of Newbury, in order that farmers and dealers might not be intimidated from coming to the markets, made good the damage they had sustained ; and the military being withdrawn the town soon resumed its normal quietude. Some of the rioters were tried at the following Assizes, and two of them received sentences of transportation."

The numerous and worthy public institutions established at Newbury during the latter part of the nineteenth century show it to be unencumbered by the conservatism which might be expected in a town of such ancient establishment, and quite the contrary in its enterprising philanthropy. These works of peace supplant the deeds of valor recorded of earlier times, and more beneficently disburse the funds which formerly sustained strife.

Termination Of The France And Spain, 1783

February 27, 1783. "Upon this day the Corporation met at the New Town House, from whence they proceeded in form to the Market Cross, attended by the Constables and other OfiBcers of the said Borough, the Mayor holding the Proclamation of the Cessation of Arms by Sea and Land in hand, and at that place he delivered the same to the Town Clerk, who, after Proclamation was called for silence, read the same Proclamation for Cessation of Arms, and returned the same to the Mayor, who, together with the Procession above mentioned, returned to the New Town House aforesaid. The Companies of Weavers and Cordwainers also attended, together with the military then in quarters."

Stone Houses, Newbury, England

As a curious contrast to modern encouragement of new enterprises and municipal growth, it is interesting to note the attitude on these matters which obtained in 1687, when the fear that a newcomer might eventually become a charge to the town led the corporation to forbid and prevent such accessions, as shown by the following extracts from the July Sessions of that year :

" Whereas William Parker, a settled Inhabitant of Speene, hath lately intruded into this Borrough agt Law, and sett upp his Trade of making Chaires, &c. It is therefore ordered that he return to Speene, and the Officers are to remove him hither, onely he is allowed tyme to sell and dispose of his goods till Michas' day next coming."

The story has often been told of the achievement of Mr. John Coxeter, of Greenham Mills, Newbury, a well known cloth manufacturer, who performed the astonishing feat of converting wool from off the sheep's back into cloth, and finally into a well finished coat, between sunrise and sunset on a summer's day.

Mr. John Coxeter was established as a cloth manufacturer at Greenham Mills, Newbury, during the early years of the present century, and appears to have been both enterprising and successful in his business. He employed at his mill upwards of one hundred hands, and he took a pride in the introduction of the best and most improved machinery in the cloth manufacture. His mill was driven by water power, and stood partly on the site of the present tanyard and flour mill at Green- ham. His business relations brought him into contact with many gentlemen of position, at the various markets and agricultural gatherings which he attended. Amongst these was Sir John Throckmorton, of Buckland House. In the course of conversation, Mr. Coxeter one day remarked to the worthy baronet that so great were the improvements introduced into the cloth-making machinery in his mill that, quoth he, " I believe that in twenty-four hours I could take the coat off your back^ reduce it to wool, and turn it back into a coat again." The vaunt thus spoken in jest appears to have made such an impression on Sir John Throckmorton that shortly afterwards, at a dinner party, he oflered to lay a wager of a thousand guineas that between sunrise and sunset a coat could be made, the wool for which should have been that morning growing upon the sheep's back. He thereupon sent for Mr. Coxeter, to ascertain if the feat were really possible. After a careful noting of the time occupied in the various processes, Mr. Coxeter replied in the affirmative, and the bet was accordingly concluded.

At five o'clock in the morning of June 25, 1811, Sir John Throckmorton came to Greenham with his shepherd, bringing with him two fat Southdown sheep. The sheep were promptly shorn; the wool was washed, stubbed, roved, spun, and woven; the cloth was scoured, fulled, tented, raised, sheared, dyed, and dressed. The weaving was performed by Mr. John Coxeter, jun., who had been found by previous competition to be the most expert workman. The cloth was finished, as thus described, by four o'clock in the afternoon, eleven hours after the commencement of the sheep-shearing. The coat had now to be made. Mr. James White, tailor, of Newbury, superintended the tailoring and cut out the coat. Nine of his men, with needles ready threaded, took the garment in hand at four o'clock, and completed the coat at twenty minutes past six. In the meantime the news of this extraordinary match against time had spread abroad, and an immense concourse of people was assembled, awaiting with intense excitement the achievement of the task. Taking his stand upon a platform erected on the lawn in front of Mr. Coxeter's drawing-room window. Sir John Throckmorton appeared, wearing the coat, in the presence of an assemblage numbering, as was estimated, about five thousand people. The two sheep which had been despoiled of the wool were roasted whole, and cut up and distributed among the people, together with one hundred twenty gallons of strong beer, dispensed through Mr. Coxeter's liberality, amidst much festive rejoicing. Sir John Throckmorton dined at Mr. Coxeter's, with forty other gentlemen, and slept that night at the "Pelican" hotel, Speenhamland. The coat was a hunting kersey " of a dark Wellington colour." The wager was thus won with nearly an hour and three-quarters to spare.

To commemorate the event a large historical oil painting was executed by Mr. I^uke Clint, of Newbury, and engraved by Mr. George Clint, an engraver in I,ondon, containing portraits of the various gentlemen and others engaged in the transaction. This painting remained in the possession of Mrs. Coxeter until her death in 1876, at the remarkable age of over 101 years, after which it passed into

The persons who took part in this interesting feat are thus pointed out in the illustration of this remarkable instance of manufacturing celerity. In the center of the picture the shepherd, Francis Druett, is represented shearing one of the sheep; behind him the master manufacturer, Mr. John Coxeter; on his left Mr. Isaac White, the tailor, measuring Sir John Throckmorton for the coat ; on his left, in black, stands F. R. O. Villebois, Esq.; and before him, seated at the table, is Anthony Bacon, Esq.; to the right of Mr. Coxeter stands Mr. John Locket, a linen manufacturer, of Donnington ; facing him, and with his back towards the spectators, is Mr. Richard Dibley, of Newbury, butcher ; the youth beside him is John Coxeter, the son of Mr. Coxeter ; and the one with the basket of wool spools is his son William. John is again represented at work at the loom; the lady before him is his mother, accompanied by another son Samuel, a child ; the gentleman standing at the back of Mrs. Coxeter and by the side of the loom is Mr. Jones, a cotton manufacturer of Greenham.

The following gentlemen acted as stewards on the occasion : Col. Stead, of Donnington Castle House; Anthony Bacon, Esq., of Benham ; and William Budd, Esq., of Newbury. Mr. R. W. Hiscock, of Stroud Green, Newbury, performed the duties of inspector and secretary.

In 1851, when the commissioners met at Newbury to select some article worthy of being forwarded to the great exhibition of that year, their attention was directed to this famous coat, which was then in the possession of Sir Robert Throckmorton, of Buckland House. On application being made to him, the loan of the remarkable garment was courteously accorded, and for its better security the baronet provided for its reception a handsome mahogany case with plate glass front, in which it was carefully locked and sent to the exhibition. The oil painting already referred to was, by Mrs. Coxeter's permission, forwarded with it, and numerous copies of an engraving of the picture were sold during the exhibition. The coat now bangs, in its case, in the hall of Buckland House, near Faringdon."

Arms Of Newbury, England Landing Place Of First Settlers Of Newbury

he; venturesome company that embarked in the " Mary and John " and planted the colony on the bank of the Quascacunquen entered upon a domain which, however virgin and primeval in its physical character, was already chartered in most comprehensive form, being contained within a tract granted in 1627 to Sir Henry Rowell, John Kndicott, and others, extending " from a line three miles north of the Merrimack river to one three miles south of the Charles river, and from the Atlantic ocean to the Pacific ocean," which they held as the " Governor and Company of the Massachusetts Bay in New England." The lateral range of this territory does not appear to have been greatly appreciated, as the land actually availed of may almost be said to be that in sight of the Atlantic.

As to the wisdom of the choice made by those whose fortunes we would follow we have the testimony of William Wood, author of " New England's Prospect," published in London in 1634, that: " Agowamme is nine miles to the North from Salem, which is one of the most spatious places for a plantation being neare the sea, it aboundeth with fish, and flesh of fowles and beasts, great Meads and Marshes and plaine plowing grounds, many good rivers and harbours aiad no rattle snakes. In a word, it is the best place but one, which is Merrimacke, lying 8 miles beyond it, where is a river 20 leagues navigable ; all along the river side is fresh Marshes, in some places 3 miles broad. In this river is Sturgeon, Sammon, and Basse, arid divers other kinds of fish. To conclude, the Countrie hath not that which this place cannot yeeld. So that these two places may containe twice as many people as are yet in New England ; there being as yet scarce any inhabitants in these two spacious places. Three miles beyond the river Merrimacke is the outside of our Patent for the Massachusetts Bay. These be all the Townes that were begun, when I came for England, which was the IS of August 1633."

While the town may have been considered to be " begun ' ' by the occasional fisherman attracted by the bountiful waters of the Merrimack, no real settlement existed when the party under the leadership of Rev. Thomas Parker removed from its abiding place at Ipswich and ended its momentous journey under the hills of the new land.

Important accessions to the settlement soon arrived, and the town of Newbury was incorporated by "the Great and General Court of Massachusetts."

Marshes Of Newbury And Plum Island River

The independence, later wrested from the mother country, was foreshadowed even at this time by a manoeuver which surprised and troubled King Charles and his councilors. In 1629 the members of the corporation of the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay had, after mature deliberation, transferred to New England the charter with full and complete control of all its affairs.

The promise of civil and religious liberty thus held out proved very attractive to discontented subjects at home, and the magnitude of the migratory movement attracted the attention of the king, who gave immediate orders to detain the ten ships about ready to leave the Thames until the oath of allegiance had been administered to all passengers bound for America. He also ordered Matthew Cradock, the first Governor of the Massachusetts Company, to appear before him and the Privy Council with the charter. When he learned that this document was across the ocean, he at once took steps for reclaiming the dangerous situation, and a few months later the " Council for New England " decided to relinquish all its rights under the ' ' Great Charter ' ' in consideration of allotments of land in the colony to individual members, but the "Great and General Court," already organized to administer the affairs in the original grant, has continued ever since in spite of attempted repression.

While there was undoubted attachment for the sovereign land which would rightfully account for a measure of consideration, the colonists were fully alive to the danger of open disregard of the king's emblems, of which the cross was held to be an idolatrous and offensive element, and this appears to have been their chief motive in bringing to account Thomas Millerd, mate of the ship Hector, lying in Boston Harbor in 1636, who had denounced the colonists as rebels and traitors because they did not display the king's colors on the fort at Castle Island. He was seized and imprisoned, but on signing the following retraction he was released, and subsequently settled in Newbury :

Parker River Bridge Near Landing Place

Many other incidents of this nature took place, and the colonists seem to have been torn on both horns of the dilemma, which included their aspirations for liberty and local self-government, and the necessity for apparent subservience. One deference was made at this time, after consultation with the captains of other ships in the harbor of Boston. They opined: "That, in regard that they should be examined upon their return, what colors they saw here, they did desire that the king's colors be spread at our fort. It was answered that we had not the king's colors. Thereupon two of them did offer them freely to us. We replied that for our part we were fully persuaded, that the cross in the ensign was idolatrous, and therefore might not set in our ensign ; but because the fort was the king's and maintained in his name, we thought that his own colors might be spread there. So the Governor accepted the colors of Capt. Palmer, and promised they should be set up at Castle Island."

In the present days of easy citizenship and the common superiority of selfinterest to public welfare, it is worth while carefully to recall the many strong qualities of those first settlers, to realize that without their permanence would have been impossible, and to speculate on the results of a general and equally active and intelligent responsibility with our present population.

They were first of all religious, - some will say bigoted, but m an age when bigotry was evident in all sects ; strong convictions brought them here, and strong constitutions sustained them through hardships and hard labor. They did not neglect their personal interests, but they weighed everything as to its bearing on the community, and they met once in three months to supplement the work of a committee of the whole, to which early, orderly, respectful, and continued attendance was compulsory, to regulate affairs and elect the " seven men " - later known as " selectmen " - who administered them in the interval and rendered a report at the end of the term.

The Town of Newbury Records show that : " February 24, 1637-8. It was voted that Thomas Cromwell, Samuel Scullard, John Pike, Robert Pike, and Nicholas Holt, are fined two shillings and sixpence apiece for being absent from towne meeting at eight o'clock in the morning, having due and fitt warning."

"April 21, 1638. Henry Short, John Cheney, Francis Plumer, Nicholas Noyes and Nicholas Holt are fined two shillings and sixpence apiece for being absent from the towne meeting, having lawful warning."

" May 5, 1638. It is ordered that John Pike shall pay two shillings and sixpence for departing from the meeting without leave and contemptuously." While the following from Samuel Sewall's I^etter Book shows the personal effort willingly rendered for the cause of government :

" In the year 1635, the Election was held at Cambridge : so twas again May 17, 1637, upon the Plain in the open Aer. Gov'' Vane was there, and had the Mortification to see the excellent John Winthrop preferd before him, and chosen Governcur (who had been Governour 1630-1-2-3-.) Indeed Mr. Vane seemed to stand so hard for being chosen again, as to endeavor to confound and frustrat the whole business of the election, rather than that he himself should fail of being chosen. There was a great struggle, he being the principal Magistrate, for managing the Election. My father has told me many a time that he and others went on foot from Newbury to Cambridge, fourty miles, on purpose to be made free, and help to strengthen Gov'' Winthrop's Party. And I find his name in the Record accordingly."

The basis of all representation was the " Freeman," whose qualification was membership in the church. Strangers coming to the town were admitted as inhabitants only by vote of the town, and once admitted permission must also be obtained for removal. The General Court also provided, March 3, 1635-6, that any person building a house, without permission, in any town in the colony, "the inhabitants of the said towne shall have power to demolishe the said howses .& remove the p'sons."

Fines were the common means of imposing punishment for the infraction of the many and explicit rules of conduct, and the sworn officers were alert and impartial in " presenting" offenders at court.

The acts of governing bodies were by them announced or reported in language which reflects the personal interest and human impulses of the members, in quaint contrast to the impersonal character of similar documents at the present day, while it is not evident that they were therefore less effective.

The following examples illustrate this while they also instance the strict regard for rank and station which was embodied in the sumptuary laws providing that: - "Men of meane condition" should not take upon themselves "the garbe of gentlemen by wearing gold or silver lace or buttons"; and women in the same rank were forbidden "to wear silk or tiffany hoodes or scarfes" unless they or their husbands possessed an estate of at least two hundred pounds, under a penalty of ten shillings for each offence.

December lo, 1646. The towne being informed that M"" Thomas Parker was unwilling to act any longer in matters concerning the new Towne & M"" Cutting was going to sea, they were apprehensive of the weighty occasions of the towne that are likely to bee retarded, did make choyse of Nicholas Noyes & William Titcomb in their roome to be added to the rest of the new towne men for sixe weeks that so things may with more speed be dispatched.

"Ipswich Court March 30, 1647, Aquilla Chase & his wife & David Wheeler being presented at the last court for gathering pease on the Lord's day. Summons sent to Hampton. The constables return states they were not at Hampton but were gone to Newberry. September 27, 1653, the wife of Nicholas Noyes being presented for wearing a silke coat and scarf e, upon proof that her husband is worth above two hundred pounds is cleared of her presentment."

The wife of Hugh March and the wife of Richard Knight were charged with the same offence, but were discharged on proof that their husbands were worth two hundred pounds each.

At the same court the wife of Joseph Sweat and the wife of William Chandler were convicted and fined ten shillings "for wearing a silk hoode and scarfe."

It is hard to reconcile this fundamental aristocracy with the aggressive democracy of public affairs, marked at this period and later emphatically expressed in the army drawn up at the siege of Boston in 1775, as General Washington regretfully learned when he took command and commenced the work of systematizing and disciplining it.

However inherent this democracy it by no means signified tolerance and in a community where active participation in public affairs was dependent on membership in the accepted church irregular doctrine was met with a war of extermination. The sect most bitterly and for many years unrelentingly persecuted was that of the Quakers, and the records are replete with instances that show the vindictive and official animosity of the many, pitted against the kindliness and mercy of the few who succored such wandering exemplars of this faith as in their travels sought food and shelter.

are commonly called Quakers" and provided that "Quakers banished from the colony, returning without the concent of the General Court, were liable to be severely whipped, to have their ears cut off, or their tongues bored through with hot irons" and further "that Quakers not having a legal settlement in the colony" were liable to be seized by the constables, stripped naked from their middle upwards, & tyed to a cartes tayle&whipped throh the towne".

You and every of you are required in the Kings Majestys name to take these vagabond Quakers, Anna Colman, Mary Tompkins and Alice Ambrose, and make them fast to the carts tail, and drawing the cart through your several towns, to whip them upon their naked backs not exceeding ten stripes apiece on each of them in each town, and so convey them from constable to constable till they are out of this jurisdiction, as you will answer it at your peril, and this shall be your warrant.

To the unjust imposition of a fine and reprimand by the Governor on William Macy, one of the early settlers of Newbury but then living in Salisbury, for entertaining Quakers, is due the settlement of the Island of Nantucket to which he and others of Newbury removed, as a company, that they might be beyond the jurisdiction of the old colony.

The territory in the immediate vicinity of Parker River was found to be inadequate to the needs of the growing community and in a few years steps were taken to relocate the inhabitants in the more suitable tract to the northward, now the site of the city of Newburyport. This was finally inaugurated in 1645 after much dissension by a few who were placated by specially advantageous grants.

"Whereas the towne of Newbury, well weighing the streights they were in for want of plough ground, remoteness of the common, scarcity of fencing stuffe, and the like, did in the year 1642 grant a commission toMr. Thomas Parker, Mr. James Noyes, Mr. John Woodbridge, Mr. Edward Rawson, Mr. John Cutting, Mr. John Lowle, Mr. Edward "Woodman, and Mr. John Clark, for removing, settleing, and disposing of the inhabitants to such place as might in their judgments best tend to theyr enlargements, exchanging theyr lands, and making such orders as might bee in theyr judgements for the well ordering of the town's occasions and, as in their commission more largely appeareth, the said deputed men did order in their first meeting and appoint John Merrill, Richard Knight, Anthony Short and John Emery to go to all the inhabitants of the towne, taking a true list of all the stock of each inhabitant, and make a true valuation of all their houses, improved land, and fences, that thereby a just rule might be made to proportion each inhabitant his portion of land about the new towne, and removing of the inhabitants there.

It was ordered at a meeting of the eight deputed men above mentioned that each freeholder should have a house lott of foure akers. It was further ordered, in respect of the time for the inhabitants removing from the place they now inhabit to that which is layd out and appointed for their new habitations, each inhabitant shall enjoy their house loots foure years from the day of the date of this commission."

One of the greatest points of dispute was the new location for the Meetinghouse but this was ultimately settled and it was built where the "Oldtown" burial ground now is, opposite the present church on High street.

From this time the center of affairs was near the mouth of the Merrimac river, the territory of the city of Newburyport, - set off as a separate town in 1764, - and as their history is outlined in the Colonial Book of this series, this account may well terminate with the passing of the settlement which was the connecting link with the mother country.

A sidelight on the condition of the town soon after its expansion is furnished by Samuel Maverick one of the first settlers of Boston, who wrote in 1660:

"At the mouth, on the southside of Meromeck and upwards, is seated the Towne of Newbury. The Houses stand at a good distance from each other, a feild and Garden between each house, and so on both sides of the street for 4 miles or thereabouts ; betweene Salisbury and this Towne the river is broader than the Thames at Deptford, and in the sumer abounds with' sturgeon, salmon and other ffresh water fish. Had we the art of takeing and saveing the sturgeon it would prove a very great advantage, the country affording vinegar and other materials to do it withall. In this Towne and old Newbury adjoining are 2 meeting-houses."

The spirit of emigration seems to have been strong in these colonists for the town of Newbury is hardly established before its residents are to a considerable number seeking grants for the location of new settlements. Among the places which owe their establishment wholly or in part to men of Newbury are Nantucket (previously mentioned) Pentucket (Haverhill, Massachusetts) Pennacooke (Concord, New Hampshire), Salisbury, Hampton, New Hampshire, Cochicawicke (Andover, Massachusetts), and Woodbridge, New Jersey, named in honor of Rev. John Woodbridge, assistant minister of the first church of Newbury.

More than ten years before Salem's lamentable witchcraft delusion Caleb Powell was "complained of for suspicion of working with the devill to the molesting of William Morse and his family." He was given a lengthy trial before the county court and was discharged though not wholly acquitted as the verdict shows:

"Upon hearing the complaint brought to this court against Caleb Powell for suspicion of working by the devill to the molesting of the family of William Morse of Newbury, though this court cannot find any evident ground for proceeding farther against the sayd Powell, yett we determine that he hath given such ground for suspicion of his so dealing that we cannot so aquit him but that he justly deserves to beare his owne shame and the costs of prosecution of the complaint. It is referred to Mr. Woodbridge to hear and determine the charges."

The disturbances at the home of William Morse continued during the incarceration of Caleb Powell and after his return and popular judgment, irresponsible but powerful, fastened the suspicion of witchery upon Elizabeth Morse the wife of William, and she was tried, pronounced guilty, and sentenced as follows: "at A Court of Adjourment held at Boston, 20th May, 1680:

The Grand Jury presenting Elizabeth morse, ye wife of Wm morse, Sr (she) was indicted by the name of Elizabeth morse for that she not hauing the feare of God before hir eyes being Instigated by the divil and having had familiarity with the divil contrary to the peace of our Souaigne Lord the King his crowne & dignity ye lawes of God of this Jurisdiction: After the prisoner was at ye barre and pleaded not Guilty & put hirself on God & ye country for triall ye evidences produced were read & committed to ye Jury.

The Jury brought in Their virdict & they found Elizabeth Morse, the prisoner at the barre, Guilty according to ludictmt. The Govern)^ on 27th May after ye lecture pronounced ye sentence: Elizabeth Morse you are to goe from hence to the place from whence you came & thence to the place of execution, there

This Court was adjournd diem per diem & on 1st June 1680: The Govern"' & magists voted Reprieving of Elizabeth Morse, condemn^, till the next session of the Court in October.

She -was, however, not executed nor pardoned, but from time to time reprieved, and finally died at her home, on what is now known as Market Square, NL'wburyport.

One of the judges of the court which condemned the Salem witches in 1692 was Samuel Sewell of Newbury, afterward Chief Justice, a kindly, accomplished and devout man, who lived to see these manifestations in another light, and to deeply repent the decisions which had condemned the accused to death. One day of each year he spent in fasting and prayer as an atonement for this error. His prophecy concerning Newbury, beautified and immortalized by Whittier, is a message of faith from the past and an inspiration for the future: -

Boston, Mass

HE production of the Newbury pattern, the significance of the name of which is apparent from the foregoing pages, was the fulfilment of a definite purpose which recognized the availability of a design having the purity and simplicity of the early Colonial work with such enrichment as was possible with the preservation of this character.

Besides the wide and rapidly extending interest based on the sentiment of ancestral associations, there are fundamental principles of good taste in support of the universal appreciation of Colonial architecture and furniture. True beauty of design always reflects the nature of the materials and a straightforward method of subjecting them. In early days when appliances were few and simple this being the path of least resistance was naturally followed. The refined and delicate mouldings on a Colonial door or mantel were made by hand by a joiner whose physical strength would have been insufiicient to propel a plane large enough to produce the exaggerations so easily turned out by the powerful machines of today. In like manner the Colonial silversmith fashioned his wares with hammer and anvil into the shapes that such tools would naturally form, and adorned them with the tracery of the graver or chasing tool. Refinement within these limitations was his highest aim, and with all the possibilities of varied and resistless machinery we can today produce nothing more beautiful or worthy.

The Newbury pattern, while from commercial necessity made by modern methods, might easily have been hammered out and similarly ornamented by the Colonial workman. The bowls of the dozen-work are studied with especial care and follow the most symmetrical models.

An especial convenience possessed by this line of Flatware is the multiplicity of sizes of these standard pieces by which is obtained a range of prices to meet all requirements while preserving an equally advantageous distribution of silver with consequent uniformity of strength and proportion. This has also another advantage where the individual equipment is extensive in that a size of spoon or fork can be selected that will be best adapted for any particular use.

It is available in chest combinatioms from the simplest to that of several hundred pieces embracing a complete outfit suitable for a bridal gift. These can be obtained only of Jewelers and dealers in silverware.