Moreton observed, 1637, that shad and alewives were used to feed the ground; that one thousand of them were put into an acre, which would yield three times more corn, than without them. This custom was derived from the Indians, and continued till the English so increased as to diminish the fish. 181639, the General Court order, that after June 20th, no bass nor cod shall be taken for manure, except their heads and offals. The following order, relative to this subject, was passed by the town, 51644, May 11. "It is ordered that all doggs, for the space of three weeks after the publishinge hereof, shall have one legg tyed up. If such a dogg should break loose and be found in any corne field, doing any harme, the owner of the dogg shall pay the damages. If a man refuse to tye up his dogg’s legg, and hee bee found scraping up fish in the corne field, the owner shall pay 12s., besides whatever damage the dogg doth. But if any fish their house lotts, and receive damage by doggs, the owners of those house lotts shall beare the damage themselves." Since fish became scarce, the land has been manured chiefly with the contents of barnyards, and, among the sea-board residents, with rock-weed and other vegetable substances in addition.
CULTIVATION
This is equal to what it generally is in the county of Essex. In this town, however, as in many parts of our country, suitable care is not taken to keep the land in
GRAIN. 31Before Agawam was peopled by the English, it had fields of corn planted by the Indians. This has always been raised, more or less, on our farms, as a staple commodity. When, for several years before the last, it was about sixty cents a bushel, because of the abundance from the South and West, very little of it, comparatively, was cultivated. But now it brings nearly the old price of one dollar, we see that it has more and larger fields for its growth. No doubt but that the primitive settlers of Ipswich either brought other sorts
of grain with them, or obtained some to plant from their neighbours. 25As early as 1629, the officers of the Massachusetts Company wrote to John Endicott; — “We have sent grayne for seed, wheat, barley, and rye in the chaff.” These with oats have been continually cultivated in larger or smaller quantities, according to the demand and seasons for them. Such grain has fallen and risen in price as corn has. It has been observed, that, when rye was mildewed, barley was not; and the latter was so blasted, the former escaped. English grain is found to be better when sown in the fall than in the spring. It was long ago discovered, that grain of this kind would suffer a blight when growing near barberry bushes in flower. Before the Revolution, when beer was more commonly used than afterwards, barley was raised here in considerable quantities and made into malt for brewing. The fact that the several kinds of grain, except corn, were exotics, and brought from England, has given them the name of English for about two centuries. 1831, there were raised 60 bushels of wheat, 330 of rye, 698 of oats, 12,128 of corn, 467 of barley.
HAY. This was always abundant within the former bounds of Ipswich. There are various kinds of grasses, natural to the soil. But that which is called English, probably because its seed was imported from England, finds the most ready sale and the highest price in Salem and Boston. Little of it was carried to the latter place twenty years ago. From that time such hay has been transported thither increasingly. Within ten years many tons of it have been sold weekly in that city, when the weather and way have permitted. Formerly twenty or thirty hundred were considered a great load. Now most loads average seventy, and a few weigh ninety-five hundred. Till the latter part of 1833, for several years, such hay had fallen so as to fetch only from fifty to sixty cents a neat hundred. Since, the common price has been from ninety cents to one dollar and eight cents a hundred. Large quantities of salt hay are obtained from the marshes. It is healthy for cattle, and makes much saving of other fodder. The labor of obtaining it is the hardest and most perilous, which our farmers have to do. It is noticeable, that old records in speaking of marshes, sometimes call them meadows. Fresh or meadow hay is cut in abundance. It serves cattle as a substitute for the English, which is sent to market. 1831, there were cut
TOBACCO. This, being so called from Tobaco or Tobago, one of the Caribbean Islands, where it grew as well as in other parts of America, was used by the natives before they were visited by Europeans. The species, however, which the Indians consumed, had a small, round leaf, and was commonly called poke. Another, having a broad, long leaf, pointed at the end, was raised by our ancestors. Tobacco was considered hurtful by the legislature, and was forbidden by their acts.
181634. No person shall take tobacco publicly, on fine of
51642. "Whosoever kills a wolf is to have — and the skin, if he nail the head up at the meeting-house and give notice to the constables. Also, for the better destroying or fraying away wolves from the town, it is ordered, that by the 1st day of 7th mo., every householder, whose estate is rated £500 and upward, shall keep a sufficient mastive dog; or £100 to £500, shall provide a sufficient hound or beagle, to the intent that they be in readiness to hunt and be employed for the ends aforesaid." The fine for not complying with this order, was 1s. each month, till it was obeyed.
1644. "Whoever shall kill a wolfe with hounds, or the greater part of the dogs being hounds, shall have payed him by the constable 10s.; if with a trapp or otherwayes, hee shall have 5s., provided they bring the heads to the meeting-house and there nayle them up, and give notice thereof to the constable, whom we appoint to write in his booke a due remembrance thereof."
181648. The heads of wolves, in order to receive the premiums, must be brought to the constable and buried. The selectmen of each town are empowered "to purchase as many hounds as they think meet, and to impose the keeping of them on such as they think fittest, so that all means may be improved for the destruction of wolves." Josselyn informs us, 1663, how such animals were taken. "Four mackerel hooks across are bound with a brown thread and then some
51668. Any person catching or killing a wolf within two miles and a half of the meeting-house, shall have 40s. over what is already allowed by the colony, which makes £4.
1715. The town vote 30s. over what the law allows, for killing a grown wolf, and 5s. for a whelp wolf, if destroyed within their limits. Notwithstanding the constant warfare carried on against them, wolves continued their devastations there till 1757. Down to this year, it was a common thing to hear them commence their howl soon after sun-set, when it was very dangerous to go near the woods. Tradition is full of accounts about their destroying large numbers of sheep. They would occasionally attack, wound, and kill cattle.
1723. Wolves were so abundant and so near the meeting-house, that parents would not suffer their children to go and come from worship without some grown person.
BEARS. The most noted resort for these was in a swamp, which received its name from theirs, on Ipswich River, and at the west part of the Hamlet. One was shot there in 1747. Another was killed ten years after, east of Mile Brook, in the same parish. From this time, they began to disappear, and soon deserted the town.
DEER. These were abundant at the first coming of our ancestors. As they were valuable, they were often hunted.
51739. The law for preserving deer was read before the town, and they chose two persons to see it executed.
1770. It was voted, that the deer-reeves of Ipswich join with those of other towns, to prevent these animals in Chebacco Woods from being extirpated. A few of them were seen here as late as 1790. Soon after this, they disappeared.
FOXES. Some of these are now occasionally discovered. They are still mischievous in devouring poultry. For a long period, a price was set upon their heads.
1678. The town paid £3 10s. for killing seventy of them in the course of a year.
COWHERDS. 51661. Haniel Bosworth is to keep the herd of cows on the north side of the river, from the 1st of May to the 20th of October. He is to go out with them half an hour after sun-rise and to bring them home a little before sun-set, at 13s. a week, "a peck of corn a head at their going out, one pound of better or half peck of wheat in June, and the rest of his pay at the end of his time, whereof half to be paid in wheat or malt; the pay to be brought to his house within six days after demanded, or else to forfeit 6d. a head more." "Agreed with Henry Osborn to join Bosworth to keep the cows on the same terms. One of them to take the cows in Scott's Lane and to blow a horn at the meeting-house green in the morning."
1667. "Agreed with Haniel Bosworth to keepe the cow-herd on the north side of the river from the 22d of April to the last of October, to have for his wages 14s. a week, 12d. a head for the first paye, one pound of butter in June, and the rest at the end of the tyme, and for helpe in the spring and on the Lord's day, as in other years; and, if any that are warned to helpe him then, fail, they shall forfeit 2s. 6d. a daye, if warned the night before."
SHEPHERDS. 51661. The town hire Robert Roberts to keep a flock of sheep on Jeffrey's Neck from April 8th to end of October, and to have one person follow them constantly. He is to have £13. Robert Whitman is to keep another flock on the north side of the river, the same period, at 10s. a week in "half English and half Indian" grain.
1662. "Whereas there are three shepherds hired to keep the sheep, and on the south side of the river the common being overburdened, and the north side having too few, it is ordered, that about one hundred of those men's sheep, who came last (they being full before) shall be brought to the flock on the north side, it being intended that the flocks be equal and the pay equally proportioned on the sheep."
1668. Some persons complain, that their shepherd had so placed their sheep, as to have them exposed to be destroyed by wolves.
1702. The shepherds are to have cottages adjoining the sheep-walks so as to be near their flocks. It was a custom for each shepherd to put his flock in a pen every Friday afternoon, so that the owners might take what they wanted for family use or for market. While cowherds and shepherds were thus employed, the appearance of their respective routes and places of grazing must have been quite pastoral, and suggested those placid associations, which we experience, when reading of such scenes.
It was enacted by the General Court, 1642, that if a dog kill a sheep, double damages shall be paid by his owner and the dog be hung immediately. This has some resemblance to the hanging of dogs for witchcraft, as was done in this vicinity 1693.
1831. There were the following animals in Ipswich; 187 horses, 404 oxen, 700 cows, 285 steers and heifers, 458 sheep, and 284 swine.
1637. Ploughing was a distinct employment, and particular men made it their chief business in its season. 46Then, there were only thirty-seven ploughs in all Massachusetts. Now, every farmer has one or more. For a century and a half, the tumbril, a sort of cart, fitted to carry large loads, was named in the inventories of deceased farmers' estates. During all this period, our fathers never used the wagon. This began to be employed in Ipswich about forty-five years ago [ca. 1790]. Such a fact shows the reason why much greater burdens are drawn now than in former times. Previously to the introduction of wagons, and while carts only were used, the backs of cattle were subject to more injuries than at present. Then, loads would often bear down behind or before, and strain and occasionally kill such animals.
FENCING
51635. Paling, or narrow boards or poles, sharpened on the top, were often used to enclose ground.
1653. As the General Court has ordered the selectmen of every town to regulate their fences, it is ordered that all persons, concerned and living in Ipswich, shall, before April 20th, have their fences in a good state, (except farms of one hundred acres,) made of pales well nailed or pinned, or of five rails well fitted, or of stone wall three and a half feet high at least, or with a ditch three or four feet wide, with a substantial bank, having two rails or a hedge, or some equivalent, on penalty of 5s. a rod and 2s. a week for each rod while neglected.
FISH
Animals of this sort were very abundant when Agawam was settled. Of their number, salmon and bass have nearly, and
51734. Voted that 12d. a dozen be paid for the heads of such blackbirds and blue jays, as shall be killed within the town, "upon producing them to the treasurer," who is to destroy them, so as to prevent their being paid for twice.
1827. Voted that ten cents be paid for every crow killed within the limits of this place.
MINERALS
None of these have been discovered here, except bog-ore. This has been dug in several parts of Ipswich.
1658. The town grant "liberty to the inhabitants, with such others as shall join with them, to set up a blomary for to make iron at Chebacco River."
PUBLIC WAYS
These are put down as found on the Town Records.
1635. One to be laid out through J. Spencer's and N. Easton's land, on south of the river.
"Pathway which leads to Merrimack." This probably went up Brook Lane, where the old road to Newbury used to run. Instead of a pathway, it has long been the great thoroughfare to Maine.
High Street. Ways to the Mill, to Great Neck, to Chebacco, and to Jeffrey's Neck. A road of four rods wide is reserved through John Tuttle's one hundred and fifty acres, east of Mile River to the Common.
1636. Ways to Labor-in-vain Meadows, and to Muddy River.
1637. Lanes from Mill Street to High Street, to Saltonstall's farm, and Bridge Lane.
1638. It is voted, that a general fence be made from the
51652. "Granted Thomas Clark and Reginal Foster, that when they shall have cut through a passage from this river into Chebacco River, of ten feet wide and soe deepe as a lighter may pass through laden, and to make a ford and foote-bridge over, that then the town have given unto them £10 towards said passage."
1682. "Granted to any of the inhabitants to perfect cutting the cut, that comes up to Mr. Eppes' bridge, if they will submit to the selectmen, yearly, the setting of the toll for those who pass through and who do not help cut it."
1694. "Granted that such persons of Ipswich, as will, may have liberty to cut the cut through on the hither side of Castle Neck; and if any pass through, who do not help do it, they shall pay for a passage as the selectmen set the price." "Whoever will cut the cut through the marsh by Mr. Eppes' sufficient for boats to pass through laden, shall have liberty. Such as pay about 5s. towards doing it, shall pass free. Such as pay nothing, shall be charged 3d. in money for a cord of wood, or load of hay, or ton of other loading."
1820. A company became incorporated for having a canal from Ipswich to Essex. It was made navigable early in 1821. Its length is about half a mile. It commences at Fox Creek and runs to Chebacco River. It cost near $1100. This stock is divided into twenty-seven shares of forty dollars each, and pays nearly six per cent. on the original amount. As an inlet to Essex from Merrimack River for ship timber, it has kept this article down lower than it would be, had dependence been placed solely on what the vicinity would supply.
Prices of freight through this canal. — Oak timber seventeen cents, and pine fourteen cents a ton. Oak sawn stuff of an inch thick, forty cents M., and of other thicknesses in proportion. Pine sawn stuff of one inch thick, thirty cents M.; hard wood thirty cents, and pine twenty cents a cord. Hogshead staves seventy-five cents, and barrel staves forty cents M. Hogshead hoop-poles one dollar, and barrel hoop-poles seventy-five cents M. Clapboards, forty cents, and shingles ten cents M. Each light gondola five cents, and every ton of loading fifteen cents.
181636. The General Court allow, that the freemen of every plantation, shall not only have power to grant lots of land, but also to make orders for their own regulation not opposed to colonial laws; to assess and collect fines for breach of their rules, not above 20s., and choose their several officers.
TOWN OFFICERS. Some of these will be preceded by the year, when first seen on the records, though most of them were elected before.
1637. "The Seven Men." 1638. "The Eleven Men." As to the origin of these, the following is offered.
37When a church was gathered at New Haven in 1639, the Rev. J. Davenport directed the brethren "to select eleven of their most godly men, as a nomination for church pillars, that there might be no blemish in church work." These were to choose seven among themselves, because it is read in Proverbs, "Wisdom hath hewn out her seven pillars." Here we very probably have the reason for the number of eleven and seven men, as contained not merely on the records of Ipswich, but on those of other ancient towns. So closely connected were the civil and ecclesiastical concerns of our ancestors, so fixed were they in having no person hold any social trust, unless a professor of religion, that they would not hesitate to apply the same distinctive names to their chief men, as officers of the community, which they bore in relation to the church. There can be little doubt, that the selecting of such individuals originally, gave rise to the term select, as applied to the superintendents of
51642. "As much hurt hath been done by fire, through neglect of having ladders in readiness at men's houses, and also by the insufficiency of chimneys and due cleaning of them, every householder shall have a ladder in constant readiness,
