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I
THE “PARSON CAPEN" HOUSE.
THE
HISTORICAL
COLLECTIONS
OF THE
TOPSFIELD HISTORICAL SOCIETY
VOL. XVIII
1913
TOPSFIELD, MASS. Published by the Society
1913
GEORGE FRANCIS DOW Editor
THE MERRILL PRESS
£opsftef&
MASS
CONTENTS.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY FOR THE YEAR
ENDING DEC. 3 1 . 1912 V
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TREASURER FOR THE YEAR
ENDING DEC. 3 1, 1912 vii
TOWNE FAMILY PAPERS, 1670-1862 - - I
NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD, COPIED
BY GEORGE FRANCIS DOW, Continued - - 97
HISTORICAL NOTES 120
TOPSFIELD VITAL STATISTICS, 1912 - - - - 12 1
CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS, IQI2 - - - - 1 24
BUILDINGS CONSTRUCTED, 1912 - - - - 1 24
REPORT
OF THE SECRETARY OF THE
TOPSFIELD HISTORICAL SOCIETY
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DEC. 31, 1912.
The membership of the society on December 31, 1912, was 242. Eleven new members have been elected and five have died during the year: — Maj. L. A. Abbott of Washington, D. C., Wellington Pool of Wenham, and Mrs. Harriett Fuller, Mrs. Mary S. Perkins and Mrs. Mary L. Nichols of Topsfield. Mrs. Nichols and Mrs. Fuller were charter members of the Society.
Three meetings have been held at which papers or ad- dresses have been given by James Duncan Phillips, the President and the Secretary.
Volume 17 of the Historical Collections which was partly in type at the last annual meeting has not been completed although 142 pages have been printed. It is hoped that the printer may complete the volume before many weeks have passed. The principal contributions will be continuations of the Topsfield town records and newspaper items relating to Topsfield, the latter having been brought up to the year 1856.
The receipt in April, of 29 shares of the stock of the United Shoe Machinery Company, the bequest of the late David Cummings of Boston, places our building fund at a respectable figure and at the November meeting of the Society it was voted to offer the sum of $1500. for the Capen
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House and one acre of land. This was done but no response has been received.
From a considerable collection of family papers preserved by the late J. Perkins Towne, copies have been secured sufficient in amount to occupy one hundred or more pages in a volume of our Historical Collections. Many of these papers are of early date and of much historical value.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE FRANCIS DOW,
Secretary.
VII
REPORT OF THE TREASURER OF THE TOPSFIELD HISTORICAL SOCIETY
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DEC. 3 1, 1912
RECEIPTS
1912
Jan. 1, Balance cash on hand,
Dec. 31, Received from annual dues,
“ Hist. Colls, sold, “ “ “ binding,
$201 56
$42 50 3 00
6 00 51 50
PAYMENTS
Dec. 31, Paid on acct.
printing Vol. 17, Hist. Colls. “ Engraving,
“ Postage, and misc. printing,
“ Roger P. Towne, copying Towne MSS.
$253 06
$104 75 2 00 5 80
11 40 $123 95
Balance cash on hand Dec. 3 1, 1912, 129 11
$253 “06
Jan. 1, 1913, Balance on hand, $126 11
BUILDING FUND
Jan. 1, 1912, Amt. deposited in Salem
Savings Bank $846 20 Apr. 8, “ Balance bequest David
Cummings in cash 36 23 Dec. 31, “ Dividends from United Shoe
Mach. Co., 29 shares stock, 43 50 “ “ Interest on Bank deposit 35 33
- — $961 26
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE FRANCIS DOW,
Examined and approved,
Albert M. Dodge, Archer Andrews.
Treasurer.
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TOWNE FAMILY PAPERS.
And by Mary his second wife daughter of mr. George Purchase of Thaxsted in the County of Essex being mar- ried March 30 1619, which Mary deceased Octob 29, 1639, when she had been married 20 years & 7 months. Harington Perkins born January 22 1619 Edward Perkins born January 18 1622, his fathers sixth son, his mothers sixth child, ergo Edw. the Sixth Samuel Perkins bom June 13, 1624 Elizabeth “ “ May 15, 1629
Ex autographo charissimi Patris. Manu. Edwardi ibidem nominati Febr. 16 1669-70.
The lineage of William Perkins of Topsfield in New England (Son of William Perkins of London merchant taylor) by Elizabeth Wootton his wife, whom he married at Roxbury Aug. 30th 1636
William his first born the 12th of October 1639, who died the 23d of December the same year & had been bap- tized by Mr Welde of Roxbury.
William Perkins the second son born Feb. 26, 1640, baptized at Roxbury, I being then in England
Elizabeth, my first daughter bom at Waymouth June 18, 1643, baptized by mr Newman.
Tobijah Perkins born at Waymouth October 20th 1646, baptized by mr Thatcher, I being then the second time in England
Katharine, born at Waymouth October 29, 1648, bap- tized by mr. Thatcher.
Mary, born at Gloster, Febr. 17, 1651, baptized by my ministry.
John born at Topsfield, April 2d, 1655, baptized by mr. Norton, at Ipswich, after Mr. Rogers, his death.
Sarah born at Topsfield March 2d 1656-57 baptized by mr Cobbet
Timothy bom at Topsfield Aug. 11, 1658, baptized by mr Cobbet
Rebeccka bom at Topsfield May 4th 1662 baptized by mr Hubbard.
John Baker eldest son of mr [John] Baker of Ipswich in New England, May 13, 1667, with consent of parents
TOWNE FAMILY PAPERS.
3
on both sides took to wife Katherine my second daughter, the first which the merciful Providence of God, gave me opportunity to be disposed of in marriage. This marriage was accompanied with a daughter, dead born 15 months after their marriage, and with the birth of a second daughter named Elizabeth born the last of march or be- ginning of April Anno 1670, I being in England, and with a son named John, I being in England after their marriage
William my second son married Elizabeth Clarke daughter to Daniel Clarke of Topsfield, October 24, 1669, with consent of parents on both sides and before my re- turn from England, was blest with a daughter named Elizabeth and, before my return the second time after their marriage with a daughter Mary and a son William at two births.
Elizabeth my eldest and first daughter was by Major Hathorn of and at Salem the last day of May, 1671, mar- ried to John Ramsdell of Lynn, with consent of parents on both sides, and had her marriage blest while I was in England with her first daughter named Elizabeth, and after my second return from thence with a second daugh- ter named Mary born the 26th of January 1574, all which children were baptized. God grant them the baptism of his Spirit also.
Mr Oliver Purchis, September 17, anno 1672 married Mary Perkins my third daughter, the Lord in mercy favour it with his blessing.
mr John Bradstreet, June 11, 1677 married Sarah Per- kins my fourth daughter with the free consent and ap- pointment of his father Symond Bradstreet Esq. by the ministry of his uncle Major General Dennison.
Thomas Fiske, son to Capt. Fiske of Wenham, married Rebeckah Perkins, my fifth and youngest daughter the 3d of November 1678 The Lord bless it to us all.
Tobijah Perkins, my second son took to wife Sarah Dennison, the 4th of November 1680, with the consent of both their parents at Major General Dennison’s house. The Lord build them up and provide for the two younger sons also.
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TOWNE FAMILY PAPERS.
Humphrey Beane of London to his brother in law Daniel Clarke in Topsfield in New England.
London the 27 Ap1 1670 ”
Brother & Sister Clarke
this cometh by the hand of Mr Will™ Perkins your neighbour, which I hope will find you with your little ones in health. I send you over [by] John Peirce, five pieces of good Red pennistone and [a] kittle and a barrel of good fine powder, with some other necefsarys, the God who sending them to you, I hope will also convey them safe to you. As to your children craveing from beyond your will, I am not therein pleafed, but would have them all submit to their parents with all due obedience and would have you so Govern yourself as to be Father over them all in Righteousnefs. I keep your Son Samuel at school, and Doubt not but he will be a good schollar. I have made provifsion after my Decease, for you and all yours in New England, and particularly for my nephew Samuel, so living or Dieing you shall as have found me your affectionate Brother.
Humphry Beane
Copied off by Samuel Clarke for his Friend Mr Jacob Towne Junr of Topsfield. AD. March 31, 1721.
Contract to build a house for William Perkins.
Theafe preafents witnefseth y* J Jofeph Hale of New- bury in ye County of Efex in New England doe bind my felf my Heyers Executors or Adminiftrators, to Heugh frame and feat up, and doe all ye Carpenters woorke of a Houfe of : 25 : foot Long and : 20 : foot wide and 14 foot ftud, for william Pearkins of Topsfield in y® above fd County at or be fore y® firft of march next Infueing y® date heare of y® woork is to be compleatly finished, & y® aboue fd william Pearkins doe like so In gage my felf my heyers or Executors, to provid for yc above fd Jofeph hale meat drink and Lodging all y® time y* ye above fd woork
TOWNE FAMILY PAPERS.
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is doing, and Likewife to bring all y® Tymber into Place y* is needfull for y® building and to provide futch as ihall be futable for y® fame, and Likewife to provide Boards fhingles and nailes futable for y® woorke, In Confideration of Twenty feaven Poundes web y® above fd william pear- eins have Given bill for y® payment of, and to y® suere performance of what is above written I the above fd Jofeph Hale doe feat to my hand and feale this : 16 : of march : 1691 The poasts are to be fplit and ftuds and Joyst sawd
Sealed and delivered in y® William Perkins [seal]
preafents of : witnefes Jofeph Hale
John How Philip Goodridge
Capt. John Gould, et al., to Lieut. Anthony Bracket.
Topsfield, || October 1695
Lieut Anthony Brackat
Sir after our Refpects prsented to y® this is to Informe y® how it has fell out that John perkins has ftaid longer then y® time y® did apoint him, his father is very elle and lyse at y® piont of death, and I did tell him I did beleve ye were fo much of a Ingenas man that in fuch a case y® would not take noe advantige of him nor take noe for- fite of him in fuch a case as this is, and I did pefwaid him to stay a day or two longer and did pefume to fay I would itand and have him have Lese as y® provedance of God was in residing of his father. I pray blame him not but impute it to yr ffrind and fervant who will pay y® and if y® fee good to aske any thing when I fpeeke with y® fir the humbell petition of your frinds the Commitee of ma- litia of Topsfeild is that y® would be plafed to give John perkinns firtifackat how long he has ferved under yr Com- mand and lett him returne againe forth with and next Monday theire is one lustey man apionted to come and ferve in his rome he has a famely and can not at prfent leave his faimeley lir I pray grant our request if his father did not lye evene at y® piont of death we f hould not a requested fuch athing, fir wee were not wiling to detaine him any longer thoe y® cafe is verey hard for him
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TOWNE FAMILY PAPEES.
to Come not knowing when he will fee his father alive againe, so not trobling ye any fferder at pefent putting Confidance in ye that y® will not denie our request as ye Cafe is ever rest and remaine yr ever oblidged ffrinds & farvants.
John Gould Cap1 Thomas Baker Leut Ephraim Dorman Ens
Thomas Ayerill to Richard Carr.
from Nechewarnick October ye IT — 1695 fir pray Deliver to y® barrer hereof John pirkins by name fome money for I have hurt one of my legs very badly and I being from home do want fome money to pay for y® Cuer of my leg. In fo doing I f hall Reft yours to ferve In what I may
To Mr Richard Carr Thomas Averill
Liveing in falfbury
Deliver with fpeed
Agreement between Josiah Goodridge and John Perkins.
This may Satisfy whome it may Concame Articalls of A gremant be twene Josiah Gutredg one the one part and mr John perkins one the other part : viz the said Gutredg doth ingage to go to the eastward and to Relac the said perkinsis brother — wilyam perkins : and to enter in his Room for thre months : and at the end of three months the said John perkins doth ingage to releas the said Gut- redg one the panelty of twalve pane a day : and the said John perkins doth ingage to paye to the said Gutredg at the end of thre months twanty five fhilens A month for all the thre months and the said perkins is to have the Cuntry wages : and no advantidg is to be tacen for the failuer of a Relac for too or thre dais the pay is to be in cloth at mony pric : and the twalve pane a day befide Cuntry wages after the thre months is out.
Dat y® 7th of January 1696/7 Witnesis John Perkins
John How Josiah Goodridge
Thomas Parley secunde
TOWNE FAMILY PAPERS.
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Hannah Perkins to Miss Molly Perkins.
Loving Couf in I take this time to write a few words to you to let you know that I am well both in body and mind, and I hope thefe few unworthy lines will find you well alfo, 1 have got some good news to write to you, for it has pleafed God to give me a good hope through grace and not me only but many others in thefe parts and we hear from many other places that religion spreads we heard from Chelfea about three weeks ago and there was a reformation there Coufin Huldah and one of her daughters about eleven years old were converted and I hope to hear that there is a reformation in the parts where you live. We read in the Scripture that the hour Cometh and now is that the dead shall hear the voyce of the son of god and they that hear shall live. I want to see you more than ever I did since I heard that you have known the resurrection power of Jefus in your soul. We live very happy lately for all denominations here meet together two or three times a week to worf hip God. May the God of peace rule in your heart and lead you into all truth is the sincere defire of your friend and well wif her
Hannah Perkins
Unity, March the 17th 1799.
N. B. Write to me as often as you have an opportu- nity.
[To] Miss Molly Perkins, Tops field.
march 15th 1730 or 31 Jacob Robinson Dr
to boarding 2 Carpenters Robard Bradford John Curtis five weeks & two Days at 8s per week
May 10 to 50 pounds of veal at five pence per pound
to 28 pounds of pork at 10d per pound to 11 pounds of pork at 12d per pound to 12 pounds of butter at lld per pound to 1 bushel of beans at 6 — 6d per bus1
&
02—02— 8
01—00—10 01—03— 4 00—11— 0 00—14—00 00—06— 6
05—18— 4
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TOWNE FAMILY PAPERS.
Military Commissions to Benjamin Towne.
Gov. Jonathan Belcher appointed “ Benjamin Towne Gentleman to be Ensign of the Military Company in Topsfield whereof Ivory Hovey is Captain in the Regi- ment of. Militia within the County of Efsex whereof John Wainwright Efq. is Colonel.”
Dated Sept. 22, 1788.
Gov. J. Belcher appointed Benjamin Town, Gentleman, Lieutenant of the Foot Company of Militia within the Town of Topsfield under Captain John Wildes in third Regiment * * * whereof Thomas Berry is Colonel.
Dated May 7, 1740.
Gov. William Shirley appointed Benjamin Town, Gen- tleman, to be Lieutenant of the Foot Company in the Town of Topsfield under John Wildes, Captain, in third Regiment * * * whereof Thomas Berry is Colonel.
Dated Dec. 17, 1743.
Gov. Spencer Phips appointed Benjamin Towne, Gen- tleman, to be Captain, etc.
Dated ‘March 24, 1751.
Thomas Robinson to Jacob Towne.
Coalrain March ye 30 1749
Mr Jacob Towne Sir my Sarvice to you Hopeing you are well as I am my Self I Had News that Samuel Cur- tis is Come Down to be publifhed and if he is I Wode Have you Send me word as Soon as you can if He is Down or if He ante Send me Word Whot He Seafe about you no What So no more at prefent but 1 remain your Humble Sarvant to Same
Thomas Robinfon
To Mr Jacob Towne at Topsfield with Care
Military Formation in 1752.
Ranks to the Right Double fils to the Right Double
Rear half fils face to the Right about and March 6
TOWNE FAMILY PAPERS.
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paces and Counter march and Double your front In tiar makes ye 3
Ranks to the Right Double fils to the Right Double makes the 4
front half fils Counter march on the ground you ftand and Double your Rear In tiar and you are Reduced Ranks to the Right Double fils to the Right Double makes the 2 men file Leaders
Rear half fils face to the Right about march 6 paces and Countermarch and double your front In tiar Wheel front and Rear in to the midst then wheal the right and Left flank in to the midest half Rank of the Right flank Double your Left flank in tiar
then front half fils Double your rear in Tiar Half rank of the Left flank Double your Right flank Rear half fils face To the Right about & march fix paces and Countermarch and Double your front to the Right of your file Leaders
Every other file begining with the Right hand file ad- vance your armes and march 6 paces and Countermarch and Double your Reear In tiar
then Every other Rank from the front Double your Left flank In tiar
then wheel front and Rear in to the midst.
Benjamin Towne.
Topsfield, May the 20 Day, 1752
Thomas Perkins to Jacob Perkins.
Arundel Novemr 10th 1753.
Brother I have waited a great while for you to make up betwen us and you have not done it, and I now send to you once more and I entreet you as a Brother & frind to your self to send Somebody to do it betwen this and the first of Decr next or 1 will send a writ to you with out fail. I wrote to you laft I wold take anything for what was due but never heard a word from you, I am veary sorrey you put me and your self to trouble, but it is your own folt, and I do defier the wellfare of you & youres as
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TOWNE FAMILY PAPERS.
well as I do my owne. 1 hope you are all well. Dont fail of sending Down to me, my love to you and yours & to all frinds.
Thomas Perkins.
[To] Jacob Perkins.
Col. Thomas Berry to Capt. Benj. Towne.
Sir
I wrote a Month agoe about the Militia of your Renew- ing your Commifsion, which you have not been pleased to take Notice of, which I must Look upon as a great Con- tempt, and an abuse of the Favour of Respect which has been Shown you
By your Friend
Thos Berry
Ipswich April 2d 1754 To Capn Benja Town
In Topsfeild.
Joseph Perkins to Jacob Perkins.
honred father and mother my Duty To you and Love to my Brothers and Sisters hoping that these few Lins will find you in good health as they Leave me Blefsed be God for the Same our frinds are all Well at Present we are at hadlye at Present and Expect to goe from here in a little Time. Remember me to all That ask after me so I ad no more at Present But Desier your Prayers To God for me so I Remain your Dutfly son Tell Dath
Joseph Perkins
Hadlye the 1 Day 1758 To Mr Jacob Perkins
In Topsfield with Care and Speed
Ephraim Towne to Jacob Towne.
Danvarse Auguft y® 3d 1758
To you my Loving Brother I send these few Loins to you Hoping that they will find you in good Health as they left me and mine Thro the goodnefs of God and Having an oppertunity to sen thefe Loines to you I gladly im-
TOWNE FAMILY PAPERS.
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braft it. hoping you will do the same and to inform you that i have nothing Remarkable to send to you but To inform you that your Friends are in good health and that it is a general time of Health amongft us and I Do Le- ment the Lementtable Defeat that I Hear that our army met with of Lait Hopin that god will yet Smile upon our New England forefes and blefs and Profper them in all their Lawful undertaking and to you my Loving Brother I send Counfeling you to put your trust and Con- fidence In that god which is able and willing to save all thofe that put Their trust in him and I will yet Continue my earneft prayors to god For your and the Rest of my Brothers safe Return in Gods time, and I would Desire to be Remembered to the Rest of my Brothers and your Sifter Sarah my wife alfo Defires be Remembered to you and the Reft of her Brothers and to inform you that our Sifter is Removed from Fathers into andover and so no more at prefent but to Subfcribe myself your Loving Brother
Ephraim Towne
To Mr Jacob Towne att Fort Edward In Cap Israel Daveses Company at the west ward Deliver this with Care
[Written on the corner of the sheet] and I the sub- fcriber alfo Do Defire to be Remembered to you and to the Reft of my friends and in Peticaler to Cap Ifrael Herick if you can find out who I Bee
Jacob Towne’s Discharge.
By Order of Col1 Jn° Bradstreet D. Q. M. G.
I do hereby Discharge Jacob Town from Cap Davis’s Comp of Battoemen he being not fitt for Service given Under my Hand Octobr 27, 1758
Dan1 D’Normandie
Jacob Towne to Capt. Benjamin Towne.
Ever Honoured father and Mother our Duty to you and Love to all our brothers and fisters Hoping that thefe fue Lynds will find you in good Health as thay Leav us in blefsed be God for it brother Ezra hath ben fick
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TOWNE FAMILY PAPERS.
with the throat Diftemper and He is got fom thing betor and Doctor faid that the beft thing that Can be Don for Him is for fum of His frinds to Com and bring Him Home for if He fhould Citch Cold He might not ever Return Home and He Defired fum of His brothers to Come and bring Him Home. I fupose that He will be on the Road a Coming Home as faft as He Can and 1 Hope that we f hall not tarrey Heare above fourteen or fifteen Days Longer The Men of Topsfield that are in our Company are well. Jabefh Towne is Dead and Dudley perkins. We Defire to be Remembered to all our frinds fo no more att prefent but we Remain your Dutifull Tons untill Dearth
Lake george October the 10 AD 1758 Edmond and I Remember Jacob Towne
our Love to Debbe Edmond Towne
To Captin Beniamin Towne Living in Topsfield Delivor with Care and Speed
Benjamin Towne to Jacob Towne.
Ever Loving Brother after my Love to you hoping These fue Lines will find you in good helth I have had a Long Spell of weekness this Spring I was not able to do any work for seven week but throw the Goodness of God I am got beter my famely have been very pour this spring you sent me a leter in which you tould me that you had taken up the bond at Mr peals and say he demands twelve on the hundred send me word whether you pay so much and I would pray you to sever me from that note and you will oblige me. Give my Duty to father and mother and Love to all my Brothers Aand Sisters
So no more at present but I Remain your Loving Brother until Dearth
May yd 29 ad 1759 Benja Towne
Sturbridge
The note is one pound eleven shilens & fouer pence Due you tender him the money and demand the note be- fore witneses or do that which father f hal think beft. I would have you come up this fall.
[To] Mr Jacob Towne Topsfield.
TOWNE FAMILY PAPERS.
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Joseph Cummings to Mrs. Hannah Perkins.
Honoured Mother these few lines are to Let you Know that we are all a little about house at present Blessed be God for it and we hope to hear that you and all our frinds are well and we give our Duty to you and our Love to all our Brothers and sisters and our Love to Andrew and Joseph Remembers his Love to andrew and Meheti- bel Remembers her Love to Andrew and I take this oper- tunity to let you know that I want to know whether you Intends to send your son Abel up to live with me for if you do I should be glad to know it as quick as Conveant- ly I can and I will do by him as we tolked of when I saw you our Jacob hath got a sore head and your Daughter is of the mind that he wantes sum small cordil of his granne before it will git well and if you will be pleasd to send sum present your Daughter will take it very thank- ful at your hands and so shall I and we would inform our sister Lydia Chapman that we Received her Letter by the hand of Mr Richard Cree and if she sends us any other Letter we would have her git sum Comon Riter to Rite it for we are not skild in such high flown Riting and we would Informe you that it is a time of helth amongst us at present and if sisters Chapman or Luse will come up and stay with us a little while and cannot git them a horse to Ride up on I will send down one for them if they will send word by the Barer hereof so no moor at present but we Remain your Dutiful Children until Death part us
Dated at Douglafs December ye 7th 1761
Joseph Cummings Abigail Cummings
for Mrs Hannah perkins Living in Topsfield
Joseph Cummings to Widow Lydia Chapman. Dear Sister
With an Effictionent Love Still Remaining in us Toards you Caufes us to Right to you hoping thefe Lines will find you in health as they Leave us and our famely through
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TOWNE FAMILY PAPERS.
the Procetn of Divine Providence I Depend upon your Coming up to See us the Latter End of Sept or the Be- gine:g of Oct. at furtheft : we got home Verey well the 2d Day we Came away from Topsfield give my Duty to Mother and my Love in Pertickerly to andrew and to all my Brothers and Sifters We Reed the Letter that Jofeph fent us Sep1 the 15th Baring Date Aug1 the 30th which we are obliged to him for Righting : and time and Paper Be- ing So verey Sckars obligefs us to omitt Send him an Anfwer at this time.
Joseph Cummings Abigal Cummings
Douglafs, Sep1 the 15th 1762
P. S. Mehetabel Remembers her Love to Andrew [To] the Widow Lydia
Chapman in Topsfield
Proverbs Copied from the back of a Ship’s Manifest.
Inwards ^ In the Brigantine Epes, Planta built, Port of Salem registered at Boston 30 July 1765, New-England J Property all British, about 95 tons burthen, no guns, navigated with 3 Men, all Britifh, besides James Babfon Master for this pres- ent Voyage from S1 Eustatia & Turks island.
Cuftom-House, 15 Day of April, 1766
James Babson
Sworn before
John Fisher
Collr
As you brew so shall you bake A burnt child dreads the fire A cat may look upon a king A fools bolt is soon shot All goes down gutter lane As wise as a man of Gotham
TOWNE FAMILY PAPERS.
15
All is well that ends well A rolling stone gathers no moss An old dog will learn no tricks After sweet meat comes sour sauce A lark is better than a kite As good as George of Green*
Better pay at small game than stand
Brag is a good dog, but hold fast is a better
Birds of a feather flock together
Charity begins at home
Cut your coat according to the cloth
Cursed cows have short horns
Every bean has its black
Every man thinks his geese swans
Fat paunches make lean pates
Fast bind, fast find
Faint heart never won fair lady
Give him a Roland for his Oliver
Give a man luck and throw him into the sea.
Good wine needs no bush.
He who has a mind to beat a dog, will easily find a stick. He that reckons without his host must reckon again He steals a goose and gives a gibbet in alms.
He looks one way and rows another.
He makes a rod for his own breech Haste makes waste.
He sets the fox to keep his geese.
He that would live at peace & rest, must hear & see & say the best.
Hungry dogs will eat dirty pudding.
Hunger’s the best Sauce Harm watch, harm catch.
It is an ill wind that blows uobody good.
It is good to make hay while the sun shines.
If you trust before you try, you may repent before you die.
It is a good horse that never stumbles.
Its neither rhyme nor reason.
•This George of Green was that famous diver of Wakefield who fought with Robin Hood and little John and got the better of both of them, as the old ballad tells us.
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TOWNE FAMILY PAPERS.
I talk of chalk and you of cheese
Jack will never make a gentleman
Little pitchers have big ears
Like father, like son
Much falls between the cup & the lip
Many hands make light work
Money makes the mare go
Many talk of Robin Hood who never shot his bow
Many words will not fill a bushel
Nothing venture nothing have
Need makes the old wife trot
No longer pipe, no longer dance
Near is my shirt but nearer my skin
One bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
Out of the frying pan into the fire
One scabbed sheep mars the whole flock.
One man had better steal a horse, than another to look over the hedge.
One swallow does not make summer.
One good turn deserves another
Penny wise and pound foolish
Reckon not your chickens before they are hatched
Robin Hood’s pennyworth, lightly come, lightly go.
Sue a beggar and catch a louse.
Save a thief from hanging & he will cut your throat.
’Tis too late to spare when all is spent The more haste the worse speed To cut large thongs out of another man’s leather Too much of one thing is good for nothing The Tracey’s have always the wind in their faces The younger brother the better gentleman.
Tread on a worm & it will turn The receiver is as bad as the thief.
Virtue which parleys is near a surrender.
Well begun is half ended When vice goes before vengeance follows after When the stud’s stolen shut the stable door What can we have of a cat but the skin ?
What is bred in the bone will never be out of the flesh.
TOWNE FAMILY PAPERS.
IT
Topffield October the 8 A.D. 1766 thefe may Certifie all perfons whome it may Concern that Jacob Towne hath paid fufficent beveridge for making a Lite blue Coat and Jackit Lind with tamme ftuf and blue Horn buttons which he nows wars as witnefs my Hand
Jofeph Hobbs
Richard Kimball to Joseph Kimball.
Cousin Jacob Kimball After due fervis to you & yours I would Inform you that I am under very poor furcum- ftances on account of my helth for ten Days past I have not had but Little rest night nor day that which I Labour under is Called Rumitics I am Seasd in my hip & thy & nie Leg & ancle ye greatese pain is in hip & ancle Sr I Have heard that mr Jacob Town that Lives near you has Skill in Such Disorders I pray you to go to him your Self & get Sumthing from him for that purpose if you get anything pray Rite how it muft be used fail not for I am in great diftrefs in fo Doing you will Oblidge your poor uncle ... Richard Kimball.
Boxford, August 1767.
To Mr Jacob Kimball of Topsfield
Joseph Cummings to John Batchelder.
Ever Honoured Father and mother, after our Duty to you Hopeing that thefe few Lines will find you in as good Health as they Leave us at prefent Bleffed Be god for the Same, we Have nothing Strange to write to you. It is a Time of Health among us at Prefent we would inform you that we are as we Hope we f hall Have a minifter in a Little time fettled In this place His name is Fitch & we Have given Him a Call But He has Not as yet gave his Anfwer I would Inform you that I Have Bought a farm & Have got a Houfe Raifd on it, I Defire you would fend up a Letter to Let us know How you Do For we Have Heard that Father is very poorly and weakly. Re- member us to all our Friends, and to all that afk after us, we fhould Be very glad If Some of our Brothers would Come up and fee us, and If they want Land Cheap and
18
TOWNE FAMILY PAPERS.
Have a mind to buy Now is the time to Have it fo, Land that will make a good farm,
And So No more at prefent Bat we Remain your Duti- full Children Till Death.
Douglafs, November Jofeph Cummings
23 — 1768 Abagail Cummings
[To] John Batcheller
Joseph Cummings to John Batchelder.
Ever Honoured father and Mother. After our Duty to you, Hopeing that thefe few lines will find you in as good Health as they leave us at prefent, Blefsed be God for the Same. I would inform you that our family is well And it is a general Time of Health among us we met with a Bad Lofs Laft December our Cow by an acci- dent at mr goulds f he Died in a Cart Wheel I would Have you fend us up a Letter when Zacceus or John gould f hall will come up which will Be foon, to Let us know How all our friends Do. Remember us to all our friends I would Be very glad if Some of my Brothers would Come up and Carry mehitabel Down for fhe wants to Come Down to Live for we are fo poor and Low and Looting our Cow that we fhall find it Hard to maintain all our family and if any of my Brothers will Come up this Spring they Shall Have Her one year or While She is 18 years old I would Have you fend word up By the goulds whether any of you will come up or no. & So no more at prefent But we Remain Your Dutiful Children till Death
Douglafs march 22d 1770 Jofeph Cummings
[To] John Batcheller. Abigail Cummings
Joseph Cummings to Widow Hannah Batcheller. Ever Honoured Mother.
After Our Duty to you & love to Brothers & Sisters Hopeing thefe few lines will find you in as good health as they leave us at prefent Blefsed be God for the Same I would Inform you that we got Home well But found Amos very lame of a Cut in his knee which was cut the
TOWNE FAMILY PAPERS.
19
Tuefday before I got home he Had a very bad Sore and is not got Quite well yet tho he Begins to get about again The Reft of our family is well the Childrend Send Duty to you & love to their Uncles and Aunts I do Intend to Come Down the laft of may If nothing happens to me more than I know of it is a general Time of Health among us & so no more at prelent But we Remain your Dutifull Children till Death
Jofeph and Abigail Cummings
Douglafs April 10th 1775 [To] Widow Hannah Batcheller, Topsfield
William Rogers to Joseph Towne.
Cambridge May thll 1775
Loving Brother and Sifter thes Lines com to Inform you that I am well and all with me thanks be given to God for it Hoping you are well I Sente my horfe to your house and I pray you to Let Luu John Noyes have him to Ride horn for he is my offcr and a man of honor, and if my Horse is not with you pray Let him have yours to Ride to his hous and you may Depend that he will not Rong your horse and do not fail him for he is going to in Lift more men for me and I wold Right more to -you but time fails me from your Louing Brother
William Rogers
N. B. the Berer of this Leter to have the horfe.
To Mr Jofeph Towne in Topffield
Lost yesterday By me the fubfcriber in Ipswich A Red- ish Coulered Coat it is Something fadeed and is full Trimd with Moehair Buttons two of the Buttons is wore of upon the fore parts and one upon each Sleave whofo- ever will inform me where I may have it Shall Be reward- ed for their trouble By me
Nathaniel Averill Jun
Topsfield may the 27th 1775
20
TOWNE FAMILY PAPERS.
Edmund Quincy to Joseph Towne.
th
Stoughtonham June 8 1775
Mr Joseph Towne
Dr Sir
I fhould have Seen you long ere this time but the per- plexities of the times have yet prevented me. this will will be deliverd you by Cap4 John Stayley Blackwell who is the miner you have heard Mr Buntin and my Self so often speak of, he Comes down to Topsfeild to see the mines, and Examine them, therefore should be glad you would give him all the Afsistance in your Power to get the Water out, and let him Examine the mine throughly you will treat him properly on my Account and you must not take him by his Drefs, as the Times makes it necef- sary he is a Gentleman tho he appears in this Drefs, and I should be Glad that his coming down to Examine the Mine you will keep as much to your Selves as you can notwithstanding the Times are very hard I determine to Carry on the Mine as soon as pofsible Hands may be Got, that I can depend on, I delign to See you at Topsfeild as soon as I can, my Regards to your Wife & Children and all enquiring Freinds and Remain
Your fincere Freind &
Well Wif her
Edm. Quincy.*
To Mr Joseph Towne
in his Absence to Mr Jacob Towne in Topsfeild
Cred to Mr Edmund Quincy Efqs by Cafh £ m for Labor in Droing the watr oute of the mine
Novr 21: 1776 Cred4 to Mr Edmund Quincy Efqr for the Labor Don in the mine by my Self and Elisahin June 8, 1776
Topsfield July ye 15, 1776
Recd of mr Samuel Perkins the Sum of Six Pounds thirteen Shilling and fouer pence in full for hafe a turne in the Emrican Service.
•See Topsfield Historical Collections, vol. ii, p. 73.
TOWNE FAMILY PAPERS.
21
To Mr Zebulun Perkins Sir Thefe are to Notifie you that you are Drafted by me as a man to Reinforce the Contenantal army for Eight months from the Date hereof, or procure Some able Bodied man to Serve in your Room Topsfield August Stephn Perkins Cap4
22d 1777
Topsfield August 23d 1777
Recd of Zebulun Perkins fifteen pounds as a fine for not Serving as a Soldier in the Contenantel army for Eight months when Drafted therefor.
Stephn Perkins
Edmund Quincy to Joseph Towne.
th
Stoughtonham March 7 : 1777
Dear Sir
I just now received a Letter from you by Mr Israel Freeman who says he is willing to undertake to separate the ore that is got up and I am content he should if you like it I have told him that He may go and make Tryal of what he can do with the different parts of the Ore, that that lays upermost must be a good deal Sun burnt but that underneath will yield well, let him try the dif- ferent parts and then we will come to some agreement with Him. mr Guild and I have appointed Several times to Come to Topsfeild but we have got an Order from the General to make a Quantity of Warlike Stores at our Furnace which has kept us much Confind but as soon as the weather will permit we f hall Sett off from home and hope to see you very soon
My Son got home a Month ago after 4 month miferable hard ufsage has been very 111 since he Came home, but has now got better, my hearty Regards to your Wife and Daughter and to your Brother hoping this will find you all well and to all inquiring Freinds I remain Yr sincere Freind & well wif her
Edm. Quincy
To Mr Joseph Towne In Topsfeild pr Mr Israel Freeman
22
TOWNE FAMILY PAPERS.
Jane Perkins to Mrs. Hannah Batchelder.
Honred mother I give my Dutey to you hoping thefe Lyns will find you in Helth as they Leve me at prefent Confidering my furcomftance at this Time I Do hereby Inform you that my Husband is in the armey at the weft- tord and fince he went from me it has plefd God who is the orther of our Beinges and has an uncontroulebel Right To give and Take away at his sovrend will and Plafuer our moft Neareft Company in this world and he has Taken all my Children away from me By Deth and I am Left Childlefs at this Time But Defier your Praing for me also Give my Respects to all Inquiring frends so no more at present But I Remain your Dutefull Child Tell Deth
Rindg Augst ye 25 1777 To Mrs Hannar Batchelder in Topsfield
Janey Perkins
Topsfield November 27 Ad 1780 Deliverd to Jacob Towne Eight pare of ftockings for the ufe of the Army Topsfield March 16 Ad 1781 Received in full for the ftockings of Jacob Towne I fay Received by me 8.00 Dolars
Elisbeth Emersen
Samuel Harris to Jacob Towne.
To Mr Jacob Towns & his Wife
As an Opportunity now prefents, we moft cheerfully embrace it to tranfmit thefe Lines to you, thereby both to teftify our regard for & Friendfhip to you, & to acquaint you that we, through the goodness of the univerfal Ben- efactor of Mankind, are blefsed with Health & the Nec- efsaries & many of the comforts of Life, unfeignedly wishing thefe Lines may find you in the enjoyment of the fame Blefsings. we f hould be very glad to fee you here, & if you would take your Horfe & ride to Hopkinton & fee us it would afford us no small pleafure. we f hould be
TOWNE FAMILY PAPERS.
23
glad alfo if you would write a Letter to us & leave it at mr Clark’s directly, that it may be brought by the Bearer hereof our Children give their regards to you fo no more at this time from your Friends & well-wif hers till Death
Samuel Harris Abigail Harris
Hopkinton July 27, 1780
Brother Webber & his Sifter wifh to be remembered to you
Topsfield July 16th 1781
Recieved of Mr Jacob Towne Eleven pound four Shil- lings and five pence his Quota towards hiring a Man for the Contin1 army
Thomas Porter
Saturday 23d of November 1782 Jacob Towne of Topsfield Came to me and Informed me that his Brother William Perkins Departed this Life on Fryday so late that he Could not git prepared to bury him on Saterday and as the weather was warm it would be difficult to keep him till Monday, and defired me to grant him Liberty to bury his said Brother on the Lord’s day
for thefe Reafons Licence is hereby granted to the Said Jacob Towne to Solemnize the funeral of the said Wil- liam Perkins on Lords day Evening tomorrow, after the Exerfifes of the Public worfhip of God is over Topsfield Novr 23, 1782.
By me Sam1 Smith Justc of Peace.
Samuel Spofford to Joseph Towne.
Sir being Informed that you Intend Marrage to Mils Patty Baker and have been publifhed to her as I have been before you but it is a matter Immeterial to me Not- withstanding I ftill have the beft Right to her but if you will be fo kind as to meet me at Major Paries and be fo
24
TOWNE FAMILY PAPERS.
generous as to make me an offer what you will give or take and the Party that takes fhall Drop the whole affare and Never trouble the other more but if you will not meet me at that place and Settle the matter you may Relie upon it that I f hall Proceed and Shall Still be a thorn in your Side, but if you will Come we will Settle matters with out any troble I fhall Depend upon your Sending me anfvver what you will Do and In So Doing you will much Oblige your humble Servent
Samuel Spofford*
Rowley March ye 1 : 1784 To Mr Joseph Towne.
Petition of Jacob Towne and Others.
Commonwealth of Mafsachufetts To the Honorable the Senate and Houfe of Reprefentatives, in General Court afsembled.
The Petition of Jacob Towne of Topsfield, & others, humbly shews That in march anno Domini 1781 your pe- titioners were clafsed by the selectmen of Topsfield to procure a man to serve three years in the Continental army, agreeable to a refolve of the General Court of the Commonwealth; and Thomas Porter was appointed the head of our sd Clafs. at our first Clafs meeting sd Porter told the sd Clafs it was not beft to be in too great hafte to procure a man, that he the sd Porter would Clear the sd Clafs for three hundred hard Dollars ; which promife of sd Porter satiffied the Class, and was the sole reafon that they then delayed procuring a man for the aforesaid service after a month or two had elapsed sd Porter told the sd Clafs He had procured them a man for the three years service, but they muft give him the sd Porter four hundred hard Dollars, for the men must be had, and were very hard to be found accordingly the Clafs, rather than be deficient in their duty, and their Country suffer by their neglect, Complyed with his extravagant demands, and all the money was advanced, or security given for the same on intereft by the middle of July 1781. From thence your Petitioners were led to conclude, they were not be-
•Martha Baker and Joseph Towne were married at Andover, Mar. 11, 1784.
TOWNE FAMILY PAPERS.
25
bind the reft of their fellow subjects in exerting them- felves & promoting their Countrys defence, but to their surprize and great disappointment they find their exer- tions were dormant, their County injured, while their money was applied to private emoluments, and themselves liable to a penalty for deficiency, which is imputable to the wilful neglect of the aforesaid Porter only, wherefore your petitioners would approach your Honours, as the guardians of the rights & the protectors of the property of the subject, as men formed for the extirpation of fraud, & Iniquity, and to promote juftice, honefty and virtue of every kind, and pray that your Honours in your wifdom, would grant your Petitioners, that the sd Porter refund to them their proportion of Thirty-four Pounds seven shillings with intereft for the same, which the aforesaid Clafs paid the sd Porter, on J uly aforesaid (more than the average price) and for the purpose aforesaid, and they in duty bound will ever pray.
Topsfield January, 1782. Jacob Towne
John Cree 3d Thos Perkins Zeblun Perkins
Ezra Towne to Joseph Towne.
Loving Brothers I hope Throue The Devine goodnefs of God you and yours are in helth all Tho I am in a pore Stat of helth and have bin so for sum Time not able to Do aney Worck my Breathrean I have Sum very Disa- greable News to Right to you. Laft Week mr Hawood Was at Noah Curtifes in Royal stown and Curtis Bid him Tell me my Brother Benja was not worth one peney in the word mr Hawood Told him it Would be very Disa- grable News to Tell me of Curtes said if it Was it Was True and He Was a Brother of his as Well as mine and further said my Brother Was once a man of a good Stat But Now is Worfh nothing and further more Told mr Hawood Benja Was in the New Stat and I beleve in a Very pore Seeteuation His Cufed Will hath brought him to this and you in to Los and Trouble my Brothers I feal
26
TOWNE FAMILY PAPERS.
Sorey for you and I Hope God Will give you Wifdom to behave Wifley under the froun of Providance I know not what further to Right to you for my bodey and mind is Very Week so as my hands Tremble as I Right my Brother it Doth Look Very Strange my brother Eli Never Let you know what Seeteuation Benja Was in if I Can git git so as to be able to Ride 1 shall Cum Down and See you in a Little While it is supposed it Will be for my helth to Ride I Do not knew but I shall go over and see Eli give my Love to my Sifters and Cufsons So I Con- clude Wif hing all fouer of my bratheran Contentednefs of mind under Crofses So I Remain your Loving Brother Tell Death
New Ipswich auguft 18, 1784 Ezra Towne
N. B. I am so as I Ride out Ever Day and I think I gain Sum Strength give my Love to Uncle Bragge
Abel Cummings to Zebulun Perkins. ,
Loving uncul & Aunt After my Due Refpects to you I would In form you that we are all well and I Do Hope that Thefo hear few Lins Will find you so I have No News to Rite to you It is A general Time of Helth I hope that you Will be So Kind as to Weat upon me for I Find it Very Hard Setling the Debts I am A going to Pay the Ears of So as to Keep the Land I Will Settle With you as Soon as I Can Sir if you are Equanted With the People In Andever for thare Is one Mr Samuel Clark Lieve thear That ows me & Sir If you Will Inquire after him and find out Weather he is Worth any thing and Send me Word I will Reward you for it Money is Vary hard to be got but I Will Come Down and Settle With you as Soon as Pofable this Mr Clark Is a Large Man Wite Lite Culler ed Hair and About 80 years old so No more at Prelent but I Remain your Loving Cozen Till Death Abel Cummings
th
Douglafs December 14 1789 To Zeb. Perkins.
TOWNE FAMILY PAPERS.
27
Jacob Hood to Jacob Towne 3d.
th
July 8 1790
th
Yours of the 25 of June I Recd by my Brother and Considered my Self highly favoured to Receive a Line from a perfon that has Discovered Every Mark of Friend- ship to me that any perfon Could I Should be happy to Converse with you face to face but Since we are at such a Distance I must Rest Contented to Make letters the Messenger of my Real friendship to an Absent friend, be pleasd to Give my best Regards to your parents and all Friends. I Never Expect to be Honoured with your Com- pany at the Eaftward
Mrs Hood Sends her Regards to you and your parents. Having Nothing further to offer I Coclude Regarting it as a favour that you would write Every Opprty and Sir as you have ben Acquainted with my Ignorance before you will Not be Disapointed at the Incorectnefs of these Lines I wish you Heath and wealth and a Dwelling in the Smiles of Cheurfullnefs your Friend
Jacob Hood
To Jacob Towne, 3d.
Solomon Wildes to Dr. John Merriam*
Bofton Febry ye 9th 1793
Dear Sir I have made enquiry at the several Book- ftores relative to Books you mentioned. I found the price of Bailees Dictionary in the different Bookftores from 12/s to 14/s Brooks Practice in 2 vol 20/ and at one ftore 1 vol the price 8/s Cullens practice of Phifick London Edition, 48/s You may mention to Towne that I can have Rollens ancient Hiftory 10 vol 12m0 for 50/8 Gib- bons Roman History 12 vol 8 vo £6-0-0 the Hiftory of England by Hume Smallet and others Down to the Con- cluiion of the late war 16 vol 8V0 suppose they may be had £8-0-0 provided the other fett are taken with them.
Yours &c S. Willes
Doctr John Meriam Topsfield.
28
TOWNE FAMILY PAPERS.
Personal Accounts of Jacob Towne.
1793
Dec. 31 paid S. Willes 30/- borrowed of him Dec. 26.
Dec. 31 pd to J. Andrews for a pamphlet /6d 1791
Jan. 1 Paid l/8d to Mr Jacob Kimball for set-
ing &c shoes on the Mare 0- 1- 8
D° aballance to Simeon Renny Jun /7d 0- 0- 7
2 to Salem 12/- 0-12- 0
D° to Betsy Roff 1/6 0- 1- 6
3 to Mr Kimball for a Bufhel of Rye
bot this day of him 0- 6- 9
7 paid to Betsy Roff 4/7 0- 4- 7
13 paid Mrs. Mary Wildes fora Dunghill
Cock 1/0 0- 1- 0
18 paid Stephen Cree for Thref hing &c
this dayballance 1/6 0- 1- 6
Feb. 13 paid Ephraim Perkins 3/4-|d for half a
bufhel of Rye bot 11th 0- 3-4£
17 paid John Bradftreet Jun. l/6d being a ballance which he over paid for a finging Book 0- 1- 6
Mar. 8 paid Mrs. Cleveland 1/6 for making a
Bonnet & $ yd of Catgut 0- 1- 6
13 paid Mr.Wra Carlton 13/4 in full for the
Mercury the last year ending Feb.
1, 1794, printed by A. Young of Boston 0-13- 4
14 paid Mr. Kimball for pint of W. I.
Rum & i p* N. E. R. 0- 1- 2
15 pd Jos. Andrews 6/5 for a bushel of
Rye 0- 6- 5
D° paid a ballance 2/0 to J. Andrews 0- 2- 0
31 bot 8f lbs. of german Steel at 9d lb. 6/7 0- 6- 7
Apr. 2 pd Deacon Dodge 26/5 1- 6- 5
7 pd A. Smith of Ipswich /II for a fcrew
pin to a Gun lock 11
7 pd at the Probate office 9/ 0. 9. 0
25 pd Eph. Perkins 0.16. 0
28 pd Jos. Andrews for Bushel Rye &c 0. 6. 5
TOWNE FAMILY PAPERS.
29
Apr. 28 pd for meafureing at Bare Hill 9d 0. 0. 9
May 28 pd Charles Rogers l/6d for picking rocks 0. 1. 6
D° pd 1/2 for fish hot of Amos Smith 0. 1. 2 June 4 pd John Conant 4/4 in full for Black-
smithing 0. 4. 4
D° pd Rob* Perkins Jun. in full for the Town Tax for the year 1794 —
Ballance having pd 12/ before 1. 9. 6
7 pd S. Willes 2/ for Paper & 1/6 for 8
Hiftorical Pamphlets 0. 8. 6
D° bot. of J. Rust (Salem) a Sutton
Hoe 0. 8. 6
14 pd Eph. Andrews 8/7 for work & 8 Dollars borrowed of him Apr. 1 in full of Accounts 1. 1. 7
16 pd Stp. Perkins 1/6 0. 1. 6
19 pd Justice Cleaveland for swearing 2
appraifers 0. 1.1£
27 pd Hepse Andrews 1/6 in full 0. 1. 6
July 1 pd Daniel Averell Jun 7/2£d in full for
Sawing 0. 7.2-J-
17 pd Miles Ward 80/ for 500 Merchanta-
ble & 8/9 for 100 refufe Boards 1.18. 9
28 pd Israel Herrick (Boxford) 18/ for a
Barrel of Cyder & 8/9 for the Barrel 1. 1. 9
7 pd at the Probate office 2.7|d 0. 2.7^
Aug 30 pd W. Carlton for binding the 2d Yol.
of Hist. Col. 0. 3. 0
Sept, 2 pd Ephraim Wildes 7/6 in part 0. 7. 6
10 pd Robert Perkins Jun in full for the
State Tax Dated Dec. 4, 1793 0.19. 9
Nov. 1 pd J. Andrews for his steers to Salem
this day 0. 1. 0
3 pd Z. Perkins 29/6 in full for three
barrels of Cyder 1. 9. 6
D° pd Eph. Wildes 9/10 in full 0. 9.10
5 pd Mrs. Andrews 3/7 for Interest in
full 0. 3. 7
8 pd Mofes Bradftreet in full of all ac-
counts 3/ 0. 3. 0
BO
TOWXE FAMILY PAPERS.
Nov. 19 21
22
Dec. 11
24
26
31
1T95 Feb. 23
Mar. 4
Mar. 9
Mar. 11
Mar. 14
Apr. 10
May 5 May 14 19
June 8
pd for a Bushel of Rye bot this day at Mofes Gould’s
p J. Andrews Six Dollars for a load of salt hay
D° pd J. Andrews 2/9d pd L* Adams 16/8d for 124 lbs of Sole Leather
D° pd Mrs. Merriam for making a Cloak 1/4
pd Ezra Perkins in part of the Town Tax two Dollars
Bot a Pencil with a Cafe 1/6 and a Penknife 1/6
pd 4/ for Eph. Perkins helping make wall two days
pd John Conant for Blacksmithing in full 7/1
pd Sufanna Famum 7/6 Ballance for a Brafs Kettle
pd Bimsly Peabody for 3 skins wash Leather
pd for 3 Bushels of Rye bot at Mr. Kimball’s
pd Elijah Averell for puting in an Axletree
pd Jonas Meriam for mending a Chain & 2 Cart Nails
pd Z. Perkins 5/7 for himself, oxen & drafts to Salem & helping load a log D° pd W. Carlton for a Perry’s Dic- tionary
pd Deacon Dodge 26/4 & 1/j- Bot of Z. Perkins a Barrel of Cyder pd Step. Cree for helping dung out this day
pd Afa Porter for swingling flax this day
pd Mr Porter for hoeing — 46. for making wall
0. 7. 6
1.16. 0 0. 2. 9
0.16. 8
0. 1. 4
0.12. 0
0. 3. 0
0. 4. 0
0. 7. 1
0. 7. 6
0. 4. 6
1. 2. 6 0. 2. 0 0. 0. 9 0. 5. 7
0. 5. 6
1. 7.4£
0. 2. 8 0. 2. 6 0. 4. 6
20
TOWNE FAMILY PAPERS.
31
pd Dr Meriam l/2^d & Oct. 1 pd 5/B-J- in full for half a Barrel of Cyder Bot Sept. 1, having paid 1/ before 0. T. 6
pd Mr Kimball seting 2 Shoes 9d 0. 0. 9
pd Jacob Peabody 2/ — in full for a
peck of Rye bot sometime fince 0. 2. 0 Bot of Cushing & Carlton an Account
Book 0. 2. 3
pd S. Willes l/6-J-d in full of aballance of a shere in a Ticket in Hartford State House Lottery 0. 1.6^-
Dolls. Cts.
Oct. 6. Bot of A. Northey a Coffee Mill, 1. 0.
A Pewter Bason, l/8d
Of Mrs. Northey a pair of Decanters 2. 0.
Oct. 22. Bot 6 Thoufand of Shingles of Mr.
Groce, IT DollB Paid in part 12 Dol- lars— Paid in full.
D° Bot of Gen. Abbot 7 Thoufand of Shingle nails at 7/ld & 1 Hundred of Bord nails
Nov. 21. Paid Charles Rogers in full 15/6d D° pd Ezra Perkins 32/5 in full for the
School Houfe Tax having paid 2/4 before
D° Bot two Bushels of Turnips 3/2 0. 50
1796
March 23. pd Jonas Meriam 20 Cents 0. 20
D° pd Jos. Dorman 50 Cents for Barthol- omew Conant’s helping draw a log to Low’s Mill & 1 from Boxford woods to near Amos Gallop’s 0. 50
March 24. pd Deacon Dodge for Interest in full 4. 40
April 22. Bot a Hat of Mr. Young at Salem 21/ 3. 50
May 30. pd Nathan Dow for Sawing 472 feet
of Oak Boards 1. 36
D° pd John Conant for half a Bushel of
Rye 0. 75
June 10. pd Royal A. Meriam for picking rocks
3 days 0. 50
Sep. 29
Oct. 1 2
3
3
32
TOWNE FAMILY PAPERS.
June 14. Do.
June 16. 21.
July 12. Sept. 5. D°
10.
23.
Octr 4. 20.
Nov. 11.
1797 Jan. 9.
Jan. 12.
Jan. 14. Jan. 16.
24.
pd Mr Macanaulty for binding His- torical Collections 2 Yols. in one 4/ Bot Harris’ System of Punctuation pd Simon Gould Jun. the State Tax for 1795 in full
pd for Mr Ames’ Speech delivered in Congress
Bot of A. Nortbey Set of Knives & Forks
Bot of Eb. Bowditch a pair of Buckles
of Ropes a pair of Buckles for
Lydia
pd John Balch for taning & currying 2 calf skins & currying one side of Leather in full 8/6 pd Dudley Wildes for mowing &c Aug. 22, at Hafsoky Meadows Paid Mr Huntington 20/2 for a share in the Library
Bot of Jn° Gardner a pair of stock- ings, silk & worsted,
Bot of Mr Lampson of Beverly a Hat for Lydia
pd Eph. Perkins 4/1J for Drawing 16-J- ft. Timber to Salem pd Eph. Perkins for helping load & Draw a log to near new mills, yes- terday being Jan. 11th in full 9/6 pd Mr. Kimball for shoeing the steers yesterday
pd Elisha Perkins for his oxen to the new mills Jan. 11th pd Simon Gould Jun. the remainder of the Town Tax for 1795 in full 1 Doll & 70 Cts. having pd 5 Dol- lars before
pd S. Gould Jun 2/ in part of the Town Tax for 1796
0. 67 0. 12i
3. 82
0. 25
1. 25
2. 0 1. 25
1. 41i 75
3. 33i 1. 26* 3. 0
2. 27 1. 0
0. 27*
1. 70
0. 33*
24.
TOWNE FAMILY PAPERS.
33
Jan. 24. D° pd 1 Doll. & 5 Cts in full for Adam Rofs’s making two Barrels Novr 1796 1. 5
27. Bot 8 Bushels of Rye at 8/ pr Bushel 10. 66§ Feb. 4. pd Mr Brickett a Note 27-J Dolls prin- cipal, Total 28. 65
8. pd Mr. Sawyer Jur Admr to Mr. Pier- pont’s Eftate for Eliza & Lydia Towne in full for their share of a Bond 67. 73
Feb. 28. pd Mr Kimball two dozen of ox helves in full for an ax bot of him Jany 26th 1. 50
Mar. 11. pd Ben. Kimball for mowing July 21,
1796 0. 83
16. Paid Simon Gould Jun part of the
Town Tax for 1796 0. 83
24. Paid John Balch for Currying a fide
of Leather 0. 41J
May 5. Pd Benj. Hobbs for grafting afternoon 0. 50
18. Pd Dea11 Dodge for Interest in full 4. 40
19. pd Mr. Kimball for 2 new & feting 2
shoes on the Mare 0. 75
31. pd Roger Balch for Taxes for Lydia’s
upper field 0. 33
June 8. pd Simon Gould Jun. ballance in full
for the Town Tax in 1796 2. 79^
13. pd T. Perkins Jun. for 4 Milk pans 0. 50
27. pd Simon Gould Jun. for the State
Tax for 1796, in full 3. 68
July 29. Bot a pair of Paniards of Mr Butman,
pd in full 2. 0
Sep.. 13. Bot a Bottle of British oil 1/6 0. 25
14. Paid John Balch for Currying a Calf
skin in full 0. 25
14. Paid Amos Foster in full for 30 lb of
Pork bot of him Aug. 22, 25/ 4. 17
15. Paid Z. Perkins for pair of wheels to
Salem July 29th in full 0. 20
Bot a pair of steelyards of A. Nor-
they, pd in full 1. 0
Oct. 7.
34
TOWNE FAMILY PAPERS.
|
Oct. 7. |
D° at Mr Mansfield's a Muslin Hand- kerchief, L. T. |
0. |
83 |
|
Sept.30. |
pd Young & Minns in full for the Mercury |
2. |
31 |
|
o CO |
Bot of E. Larkin, Morfe’s Gazetteer |
2. |
0 |
|
at B. Rufsel’s, Correspondence between Adet & Pickering |
0. |
10 |
|
|
at John West’s an Ink horn |
0. |
18f |
|
|
at Gridley & Nolen’s a Jacket Pattern |
0. |
62i |
|
|
Bot \ of Adams’ Defence with Mr. Willes in equal halves |
2. |
0 |
|
|
Oct. 9. |
pd John Conant in full for a Gridiron |
1. |
0 |
|
D° pd Mr S. Willes in full for money borrowed |
13. |
20 |
|
|
10. |
pd Royal A. Meriam in full, 6/1 |
1. |
0 |
|
12. |
pd Amos Gallop for 334 lb beef at 4d ll/2d |
1. |
06 |
|
12. |
pd Zeb Perkins in as ballance of ac- counts |
18. |
43 |
|
12. |
pd Z. Perkins for sawing this day |
0. |
50 |
|
13. |
pd Mr. Carleton (of Hamstead) in full for 4 barrels of Cyder |
13. |
32i |
|
14. |
Cash pd A. Porter 2/3 |
0. |
37i |
|
31. |
Cash pd Deacon S. Dodge in p* for a Note of hand |
20. |
10 |
|
Nov. 6. |
Cash pd Deacon Dodge in part for a Note of hand |
30. |
0 |
|
19. |
pd Jacob Clarke in full of all accounts |
1. |
22 |
|
24. |
Bot of J. Ramsdell two hen Turkies, pd in full |
1. |
17 |
|
21. |
Paid J. Andrews in part of the Town Tax |
6. |
0 |
|
Dec. 13. |
pd D. Balch for peck lime 1/ & mend- ing crack in Chimney l/9d |
0. |
29 |
|
20. |
pd Elisha Perkins for 6 sheep in full |
11. |
50 |
|
23. |
pd Amos Foster for a Bushel of Rye |
1. |
31i |
|
1790 Jan. 4. |
pd Mr. Noyes for copy of Hafsoky meadow lots |
0. |
10 |
TOWNE FAMILY PAPERS.
85
Jan. 11. pd Wid° Bree for Gown making &c 0. 25
23. pd Jonas Meriam for a Loggerhead 0. 22
Feb. 1. pd Register of Deeds for searching
the Records 0. 20
2. Bot 3 Bushel of Rye pd Elijah Brad-
street 4. 0
7. pd Sol. Averell for Choping wood 2/6 0. 41£
21. pd Mr. Emerson in full for a Cow Ten
Dollars 10. 00
(he having allowed 6 Dollars for making wall to fence out the Road Total for the Cow 16 Dols.)
Mar. 31. pd Endicott for currying a calf skin 0. 21 Mar. 6. Pd Jos. Andrews in full for the Town
Tax 5. 63
6. Pd 2/9d for Nath. Fisk Jun. making a
pair of Cloth Shoes L. T. 0. 45f
Feb. 27. Bot 4 Bushels of Rye meal pd Dr
Meriam of Middleton 5. 17
May 11. pd Mrs M. Williams for altering &c
a Bonnet 6/6 1. 8J
22. Bot No. 1 Yol. 5 of Historical Col-
lections 0. 25
29. Bot Harper’s Addrefs to his Constitu- ents in May 1797 0- 31
Account of Payments Recd
1794
Jan. 1 Major Gould pd for a singing Book 0. 4. 6
2 Mr. Roger Balch paid for a singing
Book 0. 4. 6
3 Mr.A. Conant paid for a singing Book 0. 4. 6
7 Oliver Perkins Juri. paid for a Ting- ing Book 0. 4. 6
10 Jofhua Towne paid for a finging
Book 0. 4. 6
14 David Perkins Jun. paid for a finging
Book 0. 4. 6
D° Jos. Averell paid for a finging Book 0. 4. 6
22 John Bradftreet 2d paid for a fing- ing Book 0. 4. 6
36
TOWNE FAMILY PAPERS.
Feb. 12
8
21
Mar. 4 7 31
Apr. 25
May
1794 June 3
27
July 10 7
Sept. 1 9
Oct. 6
Nov. 1 Dec. 2
Mr. Mofes Perkins pd for a Tinging
ing Book 0. 4. 6
Mr. Aaron Conant paid 6/3d for his his part of the Mercury the year past ending Feb. 2d 0. 6. 8
Nath1 P. Averell paid for a Tinging Book 0. 4. 6
John Conant 2d paid for a Tinging
Book 0. 4. 6
Abraham Hobbs Jun. pd for Tinging
Book 0. 4. 6
Recd 26/5d for 42 feet of White Oak
Timber 1. 6. 5
Recd 23/2d for 384 feet of White Oak
Timber 1. 3. 5
Mr A. Conant pd 1/8 for his part of the Mercury one quarter
Recd of Eben Pope of Salem 13f Dol- lars for Hay sold to him this day 13 C & £ 4. 2. 6
R. Perkins Jun. pd for a Calfskin 0. 5. 3
& for a Kip skin 0. 5. 0
Mr P. Wood berry pd 4 dollars as bal-
lance of Accts 1. 4. 0
Mr Briggs pd 52/ for 80 feet of Tim- ber 2. 12 0
Recd of Roger Balch 7/ in full for two pigs he bot June 13 0. 7. 0
Recd of P. Woodberry Six Dollars for half a Thoufand of Hogshead Staves 1. 16. 0 Recd of Thos. Kimball 6/ & 7 recd 8/3 for about 24 feet of white oak Timber 0. 14. 3
Recd of P. Woodberry for 3-J hundred
of Hogshead Staves 1. 4. 0
Capt. Jona. Peele pd for 64 ft of Bark 1. 10. 0 Jos. Averell pd 2/ for his part of a quarter of a Ticket in Hartford State House Lottery 0. 2. 0
TOWNE FAMILY PAPERS.
37
Dec. 26
1795 Jan. 29
Mar. 2
12
Apr. 10 30
May 5 1795 J ane 9
Sept. 22 Oct. 3
Oct. 6 Oct. 16
1796
Apr. 21
Recd of Cornelius Cree two Dollars in part for his Improvement of the Mine Lot the last Season 0. 12. 0
16f C Hay sold to James Dunlap at 19 Dollars per Ton 4. 15. 5
Sold 26 feet white Oak Timber to E.
Batchelder, Recd payment 0. 18.10
Sold to Mr Becket 24 feet of White Oak & 104 ft. yellow oak Timber 24/9. Recd payment April 1st 1. 4. 9 Sold to Mr Becket 51 feet of white
oak. Recd Payment 1. 18. 3
Rob1 Perkins Jun. pd for a Cow hide
and a Calf skin & 1 little one 1. 2. 84 Rob1 Perkins Jun. pdfor a heifers hide 0. 10. 6
Recd at Carlton’s 13/14 being the Sum due as a prize for a Quarter of a Ticket in Hartford State House Lottery No. 12795 — Belonging to S. Willes J. Towne, 3d, J. Averell & J. Conant.
Cornelius Cree pd one Dollar in part for his improvement of the Mine Lot in 1794.
Sold to Dr Long, 5 lb for me & 3 lb for Lydia of Beeswax at 2/7d p lb. 1. 0. 8 Tub of Honey, the whole 38 lb. the Tub 84 lb. The Honey 394 lb. 1. 11.11 For Lydia, the Whole 234 lb the Tub 6J lb. The Honey 124 lb. Recd Payment 0. 18. 8
Sold two Dozen of Fowls — 6 Dollars Cornelius Cree pd two Dollars in full for his Improvement of the Mine Lot in 1794
K. Perkins Jun. pd for a Cow hide 3 Dollars.
38
TOWNE FAMILY PAPERS.
Isaac Ayerill to Jacob Towne.
Dartmouth University May
Respected Friend.
With pleasure I dedicate these few lines to you, flat- tering myself they will meet your approbation, especially that part which shall treat of my removal to Cambridge University.
At present my health* is not so good as I could wish ; but perhaps owing to hard study. My mental powers being debilitated may excuse me from that accuracy which you might otherwise expect.
I would inform you that in the Last Wednesday of this month our clafs will have a public exhibition in the Chapel which is a customary, annual appointment for the Sophomore clafses.
As epistles are not commonly for the prefs, we write upon as many topics as fancy dictates. Great is the ad- vantage put in our hands to get wisdom ; but knowledge is not to be obtained only by close application and indus- try ; but the application of four years runs almost imper- ceptibly away, and we scarcely know that we have learnt any thing ; the comprehenfion or knowledge of one thing is only opening the door for the investigation of another, the more vacuums or windows to the field of science greater are the splendent refractions of light.
Lelt I should not have room, to discust the first men- tioned subject, I with pleasure resume the Theme. One of my clafs-mates is about removing to Cambridge, and I expect, if life and health permit, to be his company.
We think it proper, together with judicious and friend- ly advice, to enter there at Commencement time. If this plan meets with succefs, I shall come home so as to enter at commencement.
Much more might be said ; but perhaps not without impropriety, and intruding upon epistolary writing, I shall conclude by subscribing myself your friend.
Isaac Averell.
P. S. Send me a line as soon as may be convenient.
[To] Mr. Jacob Towne tertius, Topsfield.
•See Topsfield Historical Collections, Vol. 17, p. 72.
TOWNE FAMILY PAPERS.
39
Abner Hood to Jacob Towne.
Worthy Friend These moments I spend with pleafure to Inform you I am well ; & hope My lines will find you and your Connections the same ; I have not been so happy as to Receive one line from you since I have been in this Country, though with pleafure I have written you a Number of letters but Still — the Regard I have for you I Cannot Tax you with too much Unkindnefs for when I contemplate on your friendship in past times It makes Compensation for Future deficiency. 1 have Nothing of Importance To Inform You of at prefent.
As to my practice I have had & Continue to have Con- i'iderable for a Young man & have had Very good suc- cefs which seems to Surport my practice being in great hurry I must clofe Subscribing my self your friend and well wisher.
Abner Hood
Edgecombe 4 June 1795
P. S. Give my best Regards to your parents & tell them 1 want very much to see them & hope It will be in my power this Summer
[To] Mr Jacob Towne, Topsfield.
Joseph Andrews to Mrs. Lydia Townk,
Topffield June the 18 day 1795
Madam I take this oppertunity again to remind [you of] your Solemn promises & engagements relative to your marrying me which sd promises I shall insist of holding you to and should you atempt marriage with any other person I shall purfue the Stepts of the Laws of the Land have pointed out in fuch Cafes
Yours &c Joseph Andrews
to mrs Lydia Towne in Topsfield.
Asahel Smith to Jacob Towne.
Tunbridge Janr 14th 1796
Respected Sir
having a faverable opertunity altho on very short Notis, I with Joy & gratitude imbrace it. Returning hear with
40
TOWNE FAMILY PAPERS.
my most harty thanks for your Respect Shone in your faver of the 30th of Novr by mr Willes which I view as a Singular Specimen of friendfhip which has very Little bean practised by any of my f rinds in Topsfield, altho often requested
My famely is all, threw the goodnefs of the Divine Benediction, in a Tolerable good State of health and Desier to be remembered to you and to all inquiring frinds
I have set me up a New house, sence mr wildes was heer, and expect to remove into it Next Spring, and to begin again on an intire new far me and my Son Joseph will Live on the old far me (if this that has bean but 4 year occupied Can be Called old) and Carry it on at the halves, which half I hope will nearly furnish my famely with food, whilst I with my four youngest Sons shall in- deaver to Bring to a Nother far me &c
as to nuse, I have nothing, as I know of, worth notis- ing, except that grain has taken a sudden rice amongst us about one third
as to the Jacobine party they are not very numerous hear, or if they are they are pretty still, there is Some in this State (viz) in Bennington, who Like other Children Crying for a Rattle have Blared out against their Rulers, in hopes to rest from them if possible, what they esteem, the plaything of power & trust. But they have Bean pretty well whipt, and have Become Tolerabley Quiet again and I am in hopes if they Live to arive at the years of Disgrefsion. when the empier of reason shall take place, that they will then become good members of Societty not- withstanding their noisey nucious behaviour in their child- hood, for which they was neither capable of hearing or giving aney reason
for my part I am so willing to trust the government of the world in the hands of the Supream ruler of universal Nature, that I Do not at present wish to try to wrist it out of his hands, and I have so much Confidence in his abilities to teetch our Senetors wisdom, that I Do not think it worth while for me to intirpose from the Little Stock of knowledge that he has favered me with in the affair, either one way or the other, he has Conducted us
TOWNE FAMILY PAPERS.
41
threw a glorious revelution and has Brought us into the promised Land of peace & Liberty, and 1 Believe that he is about to Bring all the world into the Same Beatitude in his own time & way which, altho his way appear never so inconsistant to our Bliend reason, yet may be ferfectly Consistent with his Designs and I Believe that the Stone is now Cut out of the mountain without hands, spoken of by Daniel and his Smitten the image upon his feet, By which the iron, the Clay, the Brafs, the Silver, and the gold (viz) all monarical and ecliesastical Terony will be Broken to peaces and Becom as the Chaff of the Summer Thrashing flore the wind Shall carry them all away that there shall be no place found for them
Give my Best regards to your parents and tell them that I have taken up with the Eleventh Commandment that the Negro Tought to the minister, which was thus the minister asked the Negro how maney commandments there was, his answare was, Eleven Sir. aye, reply d the other, what is the Eleventh, that is one I Never heard of the Eleventh Commandment, Sir, is, miend your own Businefs.
So I Chuse to Do, and give my Self but Little Con- cernes about what pafses in the political world. 1 expect my Son Joseph* will be maried in a few days, give my Best regards to Dr Meriam, mr Willes, Joseph Dorman, and mr Cree, and tell mr Cree I thank him for his re- spects and hope he will accept of mine, write to me as often & as Large as you can and oblige your Sincear frind & well wisher
mr Jacob Town Jur Asahel Smith
[On page 2] give my harty thanks to mr Charles Rogers for his Respect shown in writing me a few Lines and tell him that I Should a wrote to him now had I had Time But Now Wave it for the present, as I have Consid- erable part of what I intend to you
if I Should Live & Do well I expect to Come to Tops- field my Self next winter, which if I Do I Shall Come and pay you a visit, fair well
tell mr Joseph Cree that if he will Come hear and Set
*The father of Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism.
42
TOWNE FAMILY PAPERS.
up his trade I will warrant him as much work as he can Do, and good pay.
[To] Mr Jacob Town Topsfield Commonwealth of Maf* sachusetts.
Samuel Bradstreet
Imports directly from the Manufacturers of London , Bris- tol, Birmingham and Sheffield , and has for Sale, by Wholefale or Retail, as cheap as fold in Boston ,
A great Variety of Hardware Goods, consisting of Briftol Crown Glafs of all fizes — Brafs Kettles and Warming Pans — London and Bristol Pewter — Church Flaggons, Chriftening Batons, Tankards and Cups — Shot and Lead — German and Englifh Steel — Smiths’ Anvils and Vices — Sheet Iron — Seine Twine — beft of large Corn Fans, &c, &c.
N. B. Caf h given for Old Pewter and Brafs.
[On reverse] “ Charlestown April 6th, 1797 4 Corn
Fans at 24/ ,£4.16.0
Received payment Sami Bradftreet.
Bofton November the 5th 1797 Worthy mifs yours I Received with tranfports of Joy I broke Open the feals with modesty and Decency and my greedy Eyes foon Devourd the Lines of profound wifdom there worthy to be Drawn in Letters of gold o thou Epitomy of Nature whofe Beauty exceeds that of owls of Batts of harpes and of all the Reft of winged monfters and if I furveay the morpelite animals, fuch as poine hedghogs monkeys apes and the Like I find they are mean compared with the and if I view the fifh that glide up and Down the lilver ftreams and cut the fooming waves In the anelantic ocean fuch as haddock phlace and flounders I f hould find them unclean Compared with the who can help admiring a creature whofe Beauty far furpafes all the Excrementious throngs of ternal mumies and whofe fmiles far Exceeds the ugly grinnings of the Babboons of tar- tarys methinks Nature hath Done Its work to pantilia in
TOWNE FAMILY PAPERS.
43
the form of your Beautifull Body and hath furnif hed your mind with Excelent Qualifications in arts and fcience and if you proceed Peradventure you will f hortly be fit for a Climate where arts And fciences are wholly ufelefs
From your Friend
Anne Perkins to Molly Perkins.
Loving coufin after my love to you I would inform you that I am well and hope these few lines will find you so I want to see more than I ever did but dont know when I shall I have no news to write to you only Betty Sweat was married laft winter and moved to Waf hington the twenty fecond day of June remember me to my cousin foster tell her I want to see her very much write me a letter as soon as you can to let me know how you do so no more at prefent but I remain your coufin Unity Auguft 15 Anne Perkins
To Mifs Molly Perkins.
Elijah Towne to Jacob Towne.
Sturbridge, Nov 13th 1800
Honord Uncle
An opportunity presenting I now embrace it to write a few lines to you hoping they may find you in good heaith as they at present leave me I have to inform you of the death of My father who died about three week past after a sicknefs of three weeks his disorder was the gravel I wish you to write to me first opportunity you have for I wish to hear from my friends
I remain your loving Nephew Mr Jacob Towne Elijah Towne
Rev. Asahel Huntington to Joseph Cree.
Topsfield 28th Augst, 1802 Sir
I expect to complete the month at this houfe on Wednes- day next. On Thursday next I hope to be ready to begin the fchool near the meeting houfe if the committee pleefe.
44
TOWNE FAMILY PAPERS.
I forgot to call this morning at your houfe & give you this information.
I send you this word that you may put up a notification to-morrow.
Your humble Serv*
[To[ Mr Jofeph Cree. Afahel Huntington
David Balch to Jacob Towne.
Topsfield February : 2th 1803
kind Sir I now take this oppertuny to tell you of Ben grays be havers at School he Pushed our Polly up a ginft the foor Door & hurt hir very much in going out of the Door, Elisha Huntiton he laid him over the toop of the iner Door on his Bowels to Day noon, if their is not a meediat Stoop Putt to Such Behaver I feer murder must take Plais. he ought not for to be left in the School hous at noon. I See no beter way than the way you Did yef- terday turn theas Large ones out of the School, from a friend I wif h you well mr Town if mine Donte behav weell I wif h to now it
David Balch.
I wish you would order the large ones out of the School house the first, or gray will run over you as he did over mr Stetfon
To Mr Jacob Town Topffield
Asa Wildes to Jacob Towne.
Topsfield March the 8th 1803
Mr Towne many have thougt you could not work the following Sum that I understand Mr T Cummings sent to you I think you Can work it and I would be very glad if you would be send me the work at large.
Suppose I exchange 4<£ 10s 10d for 11 Crowns and 4 Dollars and at another time I have 4 Crowns and 3 Dol- lars for 1«£ 15s each being of the same value with the first what is the value of a Crown and of a Dollar.
Your humble Servant
Asa Wildes
It is Night and my pen is poor and I have not time to write any more
TOWNE FAMILY PAPERS.
45
Sylvanus Wildes to Jacob Towne.
Boston Febry ye 7th 1803 Sir
I take this opertunity to mention some few occurran- cies. you see by the papers the turn the election took, but I hope the next as (Foster is expected every day to send in his Refignation) will terminate in favour of Tim- othy I expect prtly warm work this week and next
relative to Princes Turnpike which will be vehemently opposed by Efsex Bridge and Salem Turnpike Corpora- tions they looked on princes project as chymerical un- till he had leave to bring in a bill and finding the sudden sale of the shares.
Princes Turnpike consists of 1000 shares which makes 100 000 Dollars 60 000 Dollars was subscribed in Boston in half a day and all the shares taken up in one day if he would have difposed of them Prefcot on Saturday when he first understood the rapid sale of the shares in a very solemn manner moved for a reconsideration of a vote for giving leave to bring in a bill, or for a time to be afsigned for discussing of the propriety of giving leave to bring in a bill neither of which obtained. Thorndike seems violently agitated, but seems to be the agitation of defpair. the Boston seat I think will be unanimous in support of it particular will [it] be ably advocated by Mefsers Otis & Lowell the latter of whom I heard tell Prefcot, that had In general been pretty indifferent relative to the Transac- tions of the present sefsion but on this subject he was determined to exert all his tallants.
I have at several different times Conversed with Capt Prince and have twice seen his plan, he says he must vary it fifty or sixty rods to the eastward in order for better ground, and avoid Lynn ridge — the five last miles are the worst part of the way but practicable — the five first he says that 30 rods one way or the other out of a straight line would be impracticable.
N. B. he has the every mile marked with its number laid down on his plan and the kind of Land.
From yours &c
Sylvanus Wildes
46
TOWNE FAMILY PAPERS.
To Jacob Towne
you are hereby warned to meet at the usual Place of Parade in Topffield on Wednesday the 19th at 10 of the clock A. M. with arms Complete for training as the law directs and thare wait further orders by order of Capt John Bradstreet Topffield October 14th 1803
Bishop Bordman
Topsfield Jan 25th 1804 Sir,
The committee for visiting schools, have concluded to visit your school tomorrow at 3 o’clock P. M.
I should have given you the notice a day or two sooner, but thro forgetfulnefs I have neglected it.
Yours respectfully
A. Huntington.
Mr Jacob Towne 3d
Edmond Towne to Jacob Towne.
Windsor, Vermont, March 23, 1811
Respected friend
gladly do I imbrace the present opportunity to send you A line to let you know that we are well, hope this will find you so. I should be very glad to once more Visit my friends at Topsfield, but age prevents me. I lately heard that my Brother Elijah was veryjsick and not likely to live. I want you should write to me and let me know wether he is living or not, for I feel anxious to hear from him to know wether he is in the land of the living. I should be very glad to have you come and visit me, if you ever have opportunity. Was I young as you are the length of the way would be no hindrance to me. I would soon see you, but old age deprives us of the pleasures of youth and we must submit to it. Please to remember' my love and your Aunts to Sister Perkins, our Love to you all and wishes for your welfare this from your uncle
Edmond Towne
[To] Mr. Jacob Towne
Topsfield Massachusetts
TOWNE FAMILY PAPERS.
47
Take Notice
The fubscribers Respectfully informe their friends and the Publice that they have Constantly for Sale at there Shop in Perkins row So Called a quantity of Saddles and bridles Neatly ornimented which they offer for Sale Cheap for Cash or approved Credit for Ninety days
Take Notice
Cafh and the highest Price given for all kind of har- nice Leather at there shop Also at there office upftairs over sd Shop Commifsion given to quartermasters
George Thomas John Perkins, Jun.
Topsfield, March 13th 1815
Mr. Nehemiah Cleaveland to Jacob Towne.
Boston 23d Jan 1816
Dear Sir
Inclosed I send you a very rough draft of a bill I wish [you] to examine and alter and correct it and transcribe it, so as to have it ready for me when I come home. I did think of adding a sect11 to provide a penalty but upon reflection I have thought it not best. I am persuaded it would" not pass & it would create some suspicion of bad design. 1 send you some papers which you may look over & hand some of them to my wife. There are many petitions presented respecting the sub. I hope your Petn will come on soon. I understand by a letter from Mr Hurlbutt that you propose to have your Petn is to be signed by the Committee of the morral evil I think that will do very well. I understand there was to be a conven11 on the sub- ject today at Topsfield. I hope it will be or has been well attended especially by Topsfield men. What success will attend the exertions is difficult to predict — I fear not great — there is a committee to whom all these petns are committed the commtee are Cleaveland & Adams of the Senate and Doolitle of Belchertown Levi Lincoln of Wor- cester and Knap of Nport on the part of the house no
43
TOWNE FAMILY PAP EES,
doubt the committee or majority of them would agree to an efficient report, but there is no probability of carrying any thing very important through the Court, there ap- pears a very great hostillity to giving the Tything Men much power. If the collector of direct taxes has been to Topsfield I hope you took a memmorandura of my taxes as well as your own. I believe Exchecker bills may be bought at from 8 to 10 discount More of this when I see you. Yours with much esteem.
X. Cleave land.
Subscription foe a Bible foe the Pulpit.
We the subscribers engage to pay the several sumes affixed to our names for the purpose of purchasing a Bible for the pulpit in Topsfield
|
Names Nellie Hood |
Sumes 50 |
Names Mehetabel Gould |
Somes 50 |
|
Ruth Emerson |
75 |
Sophia Gould |
50 |
|
Lucy Cleaveland |
50 |
Lydia Peabody |
50 |
|
Mary Cleaveland |
50 |
Annar Pingree |
50 |
|
Lydia Bradstreet |
50 |
Sarah Pike |
50 |
|
Almira Meriam |
50 |
Mary Balch |
25 |
|
Betsey Perley |
1 00 |
Sarah Balch |
25 |
|
Esther Wildes |
50 |
Sally Gray |
25 |
|
Susan Wildes |
50 |
Huldah Gould |
50 |
|
Mary Towne |
50 |
Eunice Gould |
50 |
|
Ruth Hood |
50 |
Susan Cummings |
50 |
|
Betsey Symonds |
50 |
Sally Rea |
50 |
|
Abigail Hammond |
50 |
Mercea Lamson |
75 |
|
Ruth Bradstreet |
50 |
Harriet Josephine |
Erner- |
|
Xabby Perkins |
50 |
son |
75 |
|
Elisabeth Perkins |
50 |
Eunice Conant |
25 |
The Bible was placed in the Pulpit June 28, 1816.
Topsfield April 11 1821
To Mr Frederick Hood
Sir having Receved a letter from you dated March 15 requesting us to give you Some information whether
TOWNE FAMILY PAPERS.
49
Mess. John Hood William Perkins Phillip McKenzie and Doct Frederick Meriam were living and if a live where they lived Sir we have made some considerable inquiraes respecting the above named persons and can inform you that Mr John Hood is a live and lives in Topsfield Massa- chusetts State. Mr Phillip McKenzie was alive last Sep- tember and was then living in the town of Waltham near Yergennes in the State of Vermont. Mr Perkins is dead, we are of the opinion that you must have refference to Doct John Meriam, instead of Frederick Meriam, as there was a Doct John Meriam in Topsfield, but he is dead, he has been dead about three years. Their is no Doct Fred- erick Meriam in the Town nor never was.
Jacob Perkins to Jacob Towne.
Unity Oct. 25th 1824.
Very Dear friend.
I set out for the western contry 24th last May with my wife little waggon and two horses and arived at Philadel- phia in nine days 321 miles stayed with Joseph four days then set out for Ohio and arived at Scipio in seventeen days 495 miles stayed with my children M. Ray and Hannah nine days July 5th set out for Darby where Br. Elisha’s folks live and arived 10th in the morning 114 I was so sick while there that I never expected to get-away but God was merciful and blessed the means that woore used and I recovered so as to set out for home July 22nd and arived to my family in peace August 21st about one O’clock for which mercy I had great reason to be thank- full.
I was so weak when I set out for home that I could but just get into the waggon when I got home I was some better I have been worse and better several times since I have been at home, but have of late grown very weak and am now unable to walk the room without a staff I have a general weakness through my whole body and am affected with rheumatism and cholic pains so as not to be able to rest in bed but very little. I think I have no reason to expect to ever get so well as to visit my friend again in this world I desire to be resined and to acquiese
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in the will of God. I want you and your wife to come and see us this fall if you would ever see me again. Please to give my love to your family all my Dear friends in Topstield particularly to Ephraim tell him that he must come and see me very soon if he would ever see me any more. I found my friends in Ohio enjoying a meas- ure of health but not as healthy as our friends are in these eastern states. My family and our friends are gen- erally well. I had ought to have written to you some time agoe but my poor health and other things have hin- dered. I do not think I have seen a day this week that I could have written before today my pains have mostly left me, I have but just strength enough to set and write I must draw to a close and subscribe my self your sincere friend
[To] Jacob Towne Jacob Perkins
Abner Foster to Jacob Towns.
Rindge December the 14 — 1832
Dear Sir i have scent a few lines to you to inform you that i want you to Git me a Depersion for the year 1775 in December Mr Pike told me that my Sister Hoobs would Be a Good witnefs for me i want you to Go to there Hous and See hir and fee if fhee Doant Rember that i went to Boston under Lt Rufus wheler was from Byfild and my Brother Burbank went with me At the Same time and thomas Teney was in the fame Company Now you will Due well to fee what fister Hoobs and Brother Hoobs if thay or fhee Nowes Any thing About it Pleas to git all thay Now About it Mr Nelson told me that Bill Leatherbee was out at the fame time and he Now Li vs in ipswifch if you Doant Git No Proff from Sister Hoobs Pleas to fee if you Can find him if he Dont Live two far of if there is Nothing to Be Got there then i would have you Call on Wm Leatherbee and Git one from him or fee if he Noes of Anyone Sir i have fcent you one Doller and wish you to fcend them in a Leater to me and fcend what the Caust is and i will fcend you the Money Pleas to Direct it to Rindge Post office if you
TOWNE FAMILY PAPERS.
51
can obtain Sister Hoobs Proof I would Not Look Any further Dere Sir Pleas to fcend me as foon as Posile Sir Doont forgit the year December 1775
Abner Foster
John Towne to Jacob Towne.
Dear Sir after my respects to you I take this opportu- nity'to write a few lines to you to let you know that through the Divine goodness of God I am well and in usual health and I hope that these may find you and your family injoying the same blessing. Sir Nathaniel Johnson Esqr informed me that you wished to know the names of the family of towns which moved from the town of Tops- field to the town of Greenwich and the time they moved and the time of their birth if known. Sir I can give you their names but the exact time when they moved from Topsfield to Greenwich or the exact time of their birth is unknown to me. Sir my Grandfathers name was John Towne I think I have heard him say that he was born in the town of Topsfield about the year A. D. 1686 as near as I can recolect and that he was married about the year A. D. 1714 to a widow Abigail Towne of Topsfield aforesaid by whom he had five Children viz. Samuel who was born about the year A. D. 1715 the month and the day of this birth is not known to me Jonathan was born about the year A. D. 1718 the month and the day of this birth also is not known to me Abigail was born about the year A. D. 1721 the month and Day of her birth also is unknown to me. Catherine was born in November about the year A. D. 1726 the day uf the month unknown to me. John was born November 15th about the year A. D. 1780. my Aunt Abigail Towne died in Topsfield the time unknown to me my Grandmother Abigail Towne also died in Topsfield the time of her Death unknown to me. the Survivors of the family all moved from Tops- field to Greenwich in April about the year A. D. 1749 ac- cording to the best of my information. Sir I have had no records to refer to my father once informed me that my said Grandfathers family were recorded in the record of births in the town of Topsfield it would be a great sat-
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TOWNE FAMILY PAPERS.
isfaction to me if you would examine your records of births & Deaths to see if you can find upon your towns records the family I have described and if you do you will give me great pleasure if you would write to me and give me the time of their births and Deaths as they stand upon }^our towns records, perhaps I have not named them in succession which you will correct. Sir I am yours with Due respect.
Dana, January 2nd A. D. 1836 John Towne
To Jacob Towne Esqr Topsfield
Subscription to Purchase a Church Organ.
The undersd having learned that the Lads of the Cong1 Chh & Soc. in Td have resolved to raise one thousand Dol- lars, or more, to be appropd to the purchase of a Chh. Organ, & being desirous to aid in the making of sd pur- chase, Hereby severally sub. the sums of money set oppo- site their respective names, & hereby severally agree to pay sd sums to the Treas. of the “ Ladies Soc.” connected with sd Chh & Soc., whenever & so soon as the amts sub- scribed hereto, or otherwise raised for the object & pur- pose aforesaid shall amt. to the sum of one thousand Dol- lars.
Topsfd October 17th 1856.
Names. Names.
|
John Cleaveland $50 |
Joseph Towne Jr. |
5 |
|
|
John Wright |
25 |
Solomon Wildes |
25 |
|
R. A. Merriam |
10 |
M. B. Wiides |
25 |
|
Henry West |
10 |
Asahel Huntington |
25 |
|
E. T. Gould |
25 |
J. M. Bubier |
20 |
|
J. R. Peabody |
10 |
“ A Friend to Topsfield” |
50 |
|
J. P. Towne |
10 |
T. W. Peirce |
25 |
|
N. Cleaveland & Daugh- |
W. N. Cleaveland |
15 |
|
|
ter |
25 |
Henry Perkins |
3 |
|
J. W arren Healy (on con |
- |
A Friend |
5 |
|
dition) |
25 |
Ansel Gould |
5 |
|
Dr. David Choate Jr. |
10 |
Augustus Smith |
3 |
|
Mrs. H. H. Cleaveland |
15 |
Wm Black |
5 |
|
Mrs. Mary Taylor |
10 |
David Casey |
5 |
|
Wm H. Foster |
20 |
A Friend |
1 |
|
TOWNE |
FAMILY PAPERS. |
53 |
|
|
Chas Herrick |
25 |
Sarah Sanderson |
1 |
|
Moses Wildes |
25 |
John G. Hood |
5 |
|
William Bradstreet |
5 |
Willard Dwinell |
3 |
|
James Waters |
5 |
J. A. Gould |
20 |
|
Mrs. Willard Smith |
5 |
T. P. Munday |
10 |
|
Caleb Perkins |
5 |
J. P. Gould |
11 |
|
John Dwinell |
3 |
T. F. Leach |
4 |
|
Elijah Bradstreet |
3 |
Nath. Averill |
3 |
|
Nehm Perkins |
2 |
F. Stiles |
1 |
|
Edward Ferguson |
1 |
Silas Cochran |
1 |
|
Elisha A. Hood 5 C. J. P. Floyd to |
Esq. Poole Jacob P. Towne. |
25 |
Newbern N. C. Oct 4th 1862
Friend Towne.
I have long desired to write you a few lines, thinking that perhaps you would like to hear from the Topsfield men in the 23rd Regt, but could not get the time to write when I felt able, and as I have a few leisure moments at this time I thought to intrude myself upon your time for a friendly chat , and I hope to interest you by telling you where we are, what we are doing, how we got here, and generally what we see and have seen in this miserable por- tion of our Country.
And first you will see by the dating of this that we are in New Bern (or in modern phraseology Newbern).
Of the City and its inhabitance I shall speak at some future time.
We In the 23rd are at present and have been since the 7th of May doing Provost duty in the City ; the duty is not so laborious as some others, but is very tiresome and wears upon the men verry much, so that there are many at all times that are under the Drs care.
The duty is as follows, rise at 5 Oclk A. M., Breakfast at 6. Guard mounting at 8, this takes usually one hour.
The old (guard of the previous 24 hours) guard is then marched to their quarters and dismifsed after posting the new guard, which is divided into four districts and each district into four reliefs.
The first relief goes on at 9 Oclk. and is relieved by
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TOWNE FAMILY PAPERS.
the second at 1 oclk, which is relieved by the third at 5, which is relieved by the first at 9 P. M. each standing four hours and being off eight.
The two reliefs that are not on guard being obliged to stop at their guard houses the whole eight hours except- ing what time is given them to go to their quarters for their meals.
While the men are on guard they are not allowed to sit down, and must carry their musket either at Shoulder or Support, and in stormy weather at secure Arms.
This you will readily perceive is verry tiresome and there is no wonder that so few can stand to the duty long when we consider that it takes nearly half the Regt to stand each day and hence the men must go on every other day.
After the old guard are dismifsed and have taken their breakfast, they must then clean their muskets and equip- ments, which takes the best part of the forenoon.
Dinner at 12 M. over they get untill 3 P. M. to them- selves, which time is usually spent either in reading writ- ing or sleeping.
At 3 Oclk there is a drill of 1-J- hours, and at 5 dress parade, 1 hour, supper at 6, tattoo (roll call) at 7j, and taps (put out the lights) at 9 Oclk when we must all re- tire for the night and quiet must reign supreme in all Co quarters. The evenings are spent in singing, talking, reading, writing, and in some places in card, checkquer, and chefs playing, the men trying to realize the truth of the old saying that “ The Soldiers life is always gay.”
Thus far I have spoken of the duty of others, I will now speak but a few words for myself. I am one of the Co cooks of which the Co has two, and I find quite enough to do to keep me buisey the most of the time, and perhaps I had better pafs over the part which I have to play, by refering you to your Good Wife, if you would know what a cooks work is.
But I feel that there is much truith in the old saying that a mans work is from Sun to Sun, but a womans (cooks of course) work is never done.
There has been but one death in the Reg* during the last month which is considered remarkable, but the most
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of the Topsfield men have been sick, and out of the 13 who enlisted at Lynnfield but 5 remain and three of those are on the sick list and are about to be discharged, they are John Smith, Wm Janes, & E. Cummings, the last named was at the time of enlistment Hying with A. S. Peabody Esq. so that myself and John Dudly are all that will remain and both of us have been in the Hospital, and I am not well yet, nor do I expect to be so long as I have to stay here, but Dudly is very hearty and looks well.
We left Lynnfield (as you know), on the 11th of Nov. last and nothing of note happened to us untill we arrived at Annapolis, Md. if I except that we were well used in Boston, but badly used in N. Y. at which place we stoped 24 hours, and then after marching us all over the City the Authorities allowed us to go away tired and hungry, but the good people of Jersey City on being made acquainted with the state of affairs, on our arrival at that place pro- vided us with a bountiful coalation and we left that place in much better humor and spirits than when we arrived.
On our arrival at Philadelphia we found that there was a nice hot breakfast in waiting for us (it being about 3 Oclk. A. M.) with butiful Lady waters ready to serve us with everything that a hungry man could wish, nice cold meats different kinds, hot coffee & tea and nice warm buis- ket with good sweet butter & cheese, and then the Dutch- mans desert, Sour Krout, sat in dishes every few feet the whole length of those extensive tables.
I was told that we were the 112th Regt who had eaten at this establishment since the war broke out, and not one of them had ever had to wait one moment and none had gone hungry away, and it is still kept open to feed the poor Soldier as he goes to the seat of war at the call of his Country and will continue open as long as the war lasts or there is a hungry Union Soldier, wholly by Vol- unteer contributions of her loyal Citizens. Long may they live to enjoy that Peace for which we are now bat- tling the foe to our common Country.
We left P. at 6 Oclk. A. M. and in leaving bad adue to friends & kindness for we have seen none since
We arrived at Perry ville about 11 Oclk where we found the Government depot for forage & teams here was a
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sight, enough to surprise aneyone, 15,000 mules, & about 10,000 horses with wagons, hay & grain, enough to keep them for years.
There we met with the first Soldiers that we had seen, actualy in Service, the 11th Mafs. Reg4, doing guard & picket duty.
We left P. at 2 Oclk P. M. and arrived at the wharf of the Naval Academy, Annapolis, at 10 Oclk. We were quartered in the Academy buildings about 15 hours, when we were removed to the College buildings where westoped 24 hours and then took up the line of march for our camping ground, about three miles from the City. There we pitched our tents and remained T weeks & 2 days, when we ordered on board the Transports.
The 23rd we were ordered to go on board the Str Hus- sar & Sch Hilander, the right wing (4 Cos) on board the latter, to be towed by the former which had the Band & 5 left wing Cos. We went on board on the 6th of Jan. and at daylight on the 9th we steamed off down the river into the Bay towards Ft Monroe. The sail was delight- ful, and about sunset on the 10th we droped anchor in Hampton roads.
After about 24 hours delay, we left Fts M. and still towd by the Hussar, steamed away south towards Hat- teras.
But a storm that had been for a number of days brew- ing, broke upon us on the eveng of the 12th and at day- light the next morning it was deemed prudent to cut the cable by which we were being towd and it was according- ly done and the Steamer left us to the Mercy of the Storm.
After being driven about by the wind and waves untill we were all tired of a seafaring life we at last came to an anchor just outside of Hatteras Inlet, and at the verry spot where, a few months before, Gen] Butler had landed his force. We anchored at 2 Oclk P. M. on the 14th and on the 16th were towed into the inlet and there came to anchor.
In pafsing into the inlet we were fortunate enough to be just in season to save the lives of the Officers of the 9th N. J. Regt. by taking them out of the water into which
TOWNE FAMILY PAPERS.
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they had been precipeted by the upsetting of the boat in which they were about to crofs the bar to go to their Ship, having left the Ship in the morning to report their safe arrival to Gen1 Burnside, but sad to tell the Sergeon and Col were both dead before we could get them on board the Hilander.
After laying at Hatteras about 3 weeks and suffering for want of food & drink, and cold and storm, we left on 5th of Feb for Roanoke, where we arrived on the Eveng of the 6th, and about 9 Oclk A. M. on the 7th the Gunboats commenced the Bombardment which lasted (as I suppose you have read and know) untill dark.
One little incident at the bombardment pleased us all, which I will here mention.
The largest gun in the fleet, 112 pds, was carried amid- ships of a small Sloop and was in a swivel, and as the wind was off land she had a fair wind and done fearful execution, for she would sail down by the Fort and when just opposite would let fly one of those 112 lb shot or shell and keep right on her way untill she was out of danger, and then tack about and sail up by and give them another, and so she worked and not one shot hit her for the whole day.
The 23rd were all landed about 10 Oclk P. M. and after wallowing through marsh mud knee deep about If miles we came to an open field where the Division Bivoked for the night, and it rained the most of the night so that we were wet to our skins.
The next morning we took up the line of march in the following order. Mafs 25th, 23rd, 29th, 21st, 10th Conn and 51st N. Y. (Hawkins Zouaves), one Co from each Regt being left on board the Transports. After marching 2 miles (the road having a semicircular direction), the 25th came upon the rebel pickets and drove them in when the firing became general.
The 25th engaged them in their cover and the 23th were ordered to file through the swamp and flank them on their left, and to do this we must pafs in front of their battery of 4 guns and all of their musketry, and it was while doing this that J. B. Lake was wounded, and we met with all our loss, for no sooner did they find that
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TOWNE FAMILY PAPERS.
we were through the swamp (which they had pronounced impassable) than they began to retreat, and when the Zouaves made that Gallant (?) Charge, that the papers had so much to say about, there was not a whole Rebel in the Fort or behind the brest works.
The 24 Mafs Reg1 then came up with the 8th Conn and gave chase and baggd the game (3862) and we who had done the fighting rested about an hour and then started off for the Barracks which we found at the end of an 8 mile march. The Barracks consisted of about 100 log houses some 60 feet long by 15 wide, with smaller ones for Officers, &c. they were situated in the woods and were in two dis- tinct camps, but were the most filthy habitations that I had ever sat my eyes upon, being almost alive with vermin.
Besides the Barracks there we have about 200 tents of different kinds & sizes, so that we had a deacent kind of shelter.
On looking around the next day we found that besides the Prisoners & property above mentioned that had fallen into our hands, we had taken 34 cannon, 4500 stand of small armes, 3 forts, 4 batteries, and a vast amount of other property, all of which you probibly informed your- self at the time.
The Island contains about 600 inhabitants of the most wreched looking people that I had ever seen, and they soon came flocking into camp with potato pies &c which our men were glad to get at any price.
The Inhabittance seemed to be a simple clever set of beings and they all claimed to be Unionists.
The Island itself is low, damp, & swampey, just the place to kill human beings, and there is no wonder that the first settelers should allhave died, as you know it is a matter of history that Roanoke is the place where Raleigh attempted the first settlement in this Country.
After stopping on the Island 4 weeks (much longer than any of us wanted to stay) we again embarked on board the transports and in a few days found ourselves at anchor in the Neuse River, 15 miles below Newbern.
Early the next morning the gunboats began to shell the woods, and at 9 Oclk the troops began to land, this was the 13th of March.
TOWNE FAMILY PAPERS.
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The 28rd all got landed about 3 Oclk P. M. and then took up the line of march our rout lay through sand, mud swamps woods and water and on we trudged for 10 miles, every moment expecting to hear that those of our advance had engaged the enemy, but in this we were dis- appointed and began to think that they had escaped, for about 5 miles from where we landed we came to a desert- ed breastwork of about one mile in length.
Soon after we landed it commenced to rain, and the whole of that march was made through rain as well as mud, so that by the time we halted for the night we were wet through to our skins and covered with clay mud to our waists.
We came to a halt at 10 Oclk P. M. and having built fires and posted a guard we laid down around the fires and tried to sleep, but it rained so hard that sleep was out of the question, and we pafsed the night as best we could.
Early in the morning we were ordered into line and again started on the march, and in a short time we were filed into the woods to the left.
We had not gone far when I saw Lieut Col Merrit changing his coat (this was the last time I ever saw him) and he gave the Order “ by the right fall into line.” This brought the right of the 23rd to rest on the left of the 27th, and when we were filing into line we could see (through the wood) the Enemies breastworks with their heads just above the top.
The sight was but for a moment, for the big gun from the Hilander had got into position and let fly a 12lb shell which opened the ball, when a volly of Cannister, Shrap- nel, Grape, Bomshells & Musketry burst upon us and the smoke and a thick fog which set in intire ly hid them from our view, but although their pieces were aimed much too high to do us much damage, still at that discharge maney a poor fellow lost his life and many others were wounded, for it was at that discharge that Lieut Col Merrit was killed and Capt Sawyer lost his leg.
Col Kurtz was verey self Posessed and cool and for three hours all that he would say was “ Boys, load quick & aim low,” and “ lay flat down when you load , Boys.”
After expending all of our ammunition we were ordered
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back about 45 paces and told to lay flat down and fix bayonets and wait for the order to Charge.
After laying a short time the musketry behind the breastwork in front and at our right intirely ceaced and it soon became evident from the repeated cheers on our left which we knew came from Gen1 Renos Brigade that we had gained the day, and on being ordered up we dis- covered that the enem}r had wholy abandoned their works and were in full retreat towards Newbern.
We were then marched into the battery, and such a sight as there met our eyes I pray God it may never be my lot to witnefs again, the dead & wounded of both man & beast lay in heaps or were scattered all over the field ; it was a sickeuing sight and we were not sorry that our Brigade (the 1st) were not ordered to stop on the field but on the contrary were ordered to march on Newbern, where it was supposed the Reb18 would again make a stand, so off we started, and a march of two hours brought us in sight of the City, which we found to be on fire, for the rebels had tried to make a stand but the presence of our gunboats had so frightened them that they tried to burn the City by setting fire to it in a Number of places and then run away ; but in this they were foiled, for the crews from the gunboats went on shore, and, aided by the Ne- groes, succeded in extinguishing the flames.
We crofsed the Trent river in boats (the rebels having burnt the bridge) and marched through the City to that old encampment on the State Fair ground just above the City on the bank of the Neuse, which we found in much the same state and condition as those at Roanoke, save that here they had no Barracks but were all tents, and a more hungry and tired set of poor fellows I guefs you never saw.
But one nights sound sleep had a good effect upon us and we arose the next morning much refreshed.
After laying in camp a few days we were sent out about 8 miles on picket and there we spent the Spring untill the 8th day of May when we were so much reduced by expo- sure & sicknefs that we were ordered into the City to do Police duty and here we are.
The climate of N. C. is some warmer than Mafs. but not so much so as one would think
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*
The soil is rich sandy loam and I should judge if prop- erly worked would yield abundantly
Fruit is very plenty but appears to be a natural growth and I am told that there are but few grafted trees of aney kinds and there is no one who understands grafting.
Vegetables of which they raise all the kinds that are raised North, and some others such as Sweet Potatoes, Peanuts, &c. are verry poor but verry readily bring high prices
Farming tools & stock, if I except the horses there is nothing else that a Northern Farmer would have on his farm. Why ! such cows, not much larger than a yearling with us, and as poor as “ Jobs Turkey,” and here the shiftless fools think that 3 qts to a milking a “ good mess,” and if they have a cow that gives 4 or 5 qts they think she cant be beaten. Sheep can hardly stand alone, hogs, do, and they think a 200 lb Hog a wonder, and if an old Hog attains to the enormous size of 350 or 400 lbs he is a Miracle
To speak of the manners of the people here would be to talk of something that does not belong to the people of the South, for they have none, for if you ask how far it is to any place, they will answer, “ Reckon it is eight Smart ways.” And if you ask how many of aneything aneyone has got, they will tell you, “ Reckon he3 got Heaps.”'
Now such answers to those who are acquainted and un- derstand it is all very well, but to us Yankees it is all Heathen Greek.
The Customs of the people show that they are far be- hind us in everything. In the Kitchen the old fashioned Dutch oven and baker supply the place of our beautiful cook stoves, and in their living & sitting rooms you will find the old open fireplace, and everything else in perfect keeping with the times when such things were used among our Grandparents.
The common donkey or tipcart is used for everything. I have seen it used for a hearse and for carrages for mourners to ride in at funerals, and a few days ago there was a happy couple come into Town to get married and they rode in a tipcart. I have also seen men taking their families to ride and all in the same stiled vehicle, the tipcart.
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TOWNE FAMILY PAPERS.
But the worst Custom or practice, and that which seems to prevale to a great extent among the females, is, Snuff dipping. I do not believe there is a white woman in Newbern that is not addicted to this vile & dirty habit
The way it is performed is this, they take a small tough stick and after chewing it or rather one end of it to a broom they will dip it into the snuff-box and then rub it on their gums and then dip again and put it into their mouth and chew it untill the snuff is all gone and then dip and chew again, and so continue from morning to eveng, and one can hardly pafs a house where white peo- ple live without seeing that everlasting stick protruding from the mouth of some of the fair (?) daughters of the South.
But I find that I must close. Will you please excuse all mistakes, for I am obliged to write amid noise and confusion and no doubt have made manev mistakes which I have not time to rectify.
Pleas remember me to all my acquaintances and answer and oblige
Yours Truly
Chas. J. P. Floyd.
N. B. direct to me, Co. F, 23rd Mafs Vol. Newbern, N. C.
If it is not to much to ask I would thank you to call on Mrs. Floyd and say that you have received this and look at my trophies.
C. J. P. F.
Topsfield, &c.
To Doct. Thomas Manning, Surgeon of Col. Wades’ Reg- iment of Militia.
The bearer, Solomon Averell, enrolled as a soldier in my company, having lost the use of the fore finger of his left hand, is in my opinion unfit to perform military duty, and I, therefore, shall make no objection to his being discharged.
I am, with respect yours &c
J. B. Capt. of the company in Topsfield.
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This may Certify whome It may Concearn yt John pir- kins a Soldier under y® Comand of Liuett Brackett was releaft out of his Majefties Servis y® 13 day of November and hath his Liberty to go home to Topffield as Ateft pr mee Thomas Butler Clerk of sd Company.
Specifications of a house for Nabby Perkins.
This is a plan of the floor of a house 40 feet by 30 and the following is a statement how it is to be executed. First the timber is to be hewed well and then framed well. Boarding the roof, boards jointed, the sides and ends featheredge and put on well. A cornice and bed mould for the covings and weather boards with a cornice, And then shingled and a scuttle on the roof ; also corner boards and warter tables and window frames for 24 squares and 20 for the chamber said frames are to be made in the fashion called sunk frames with a full architrave also doors the front door in the dorick order the end one in the tuscan order and the whole to be clapboarded all to be done in a workman like manner. The inside first an under floor over the whole laid well also a garret floor jointed and harved and laid well also back stairs from the bottom of the suller up to the scuttle also the front entry is to be finished with one run of stairs with a twist and ramped rail and square banesters said entry is to be dadod with base and capping also cornice and wide fasha, with flutes and spaces with full architrave round doors and windows also upper floors plained and laid well the front room is to be finished with dadod base and capping and plain cornice fasha with full architrave round all the doors and windows also a chimney piece with plain mouldings also sliding shutters to all the windows also a plained floor all to be done in a workman like manner. The chamber over said room is to be finished the same as the room excepting window shutters. The kitchen is to be finished in a plain and workman like manner with ceiling with plain boards up to the windows or higher if necef- fary also sliding shutters and all the closets in the rooms and chambers also one small room to be finished in a plain manner with a chimney piece and dado base and coping
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with plain cornice and shutters to the windows. The chambers over sd rooms to be finished with a fasha and mop boards and plained floors over the whole. The doors for the lower part to be 6 pannels and 6 feet 6 inches high and 2 feet 8 inches wide, the chamber to be 4 pannels. The out side doors are 7 feet high 8 feet 4 inches wide. Please to excuse my negligence and bad writing.
Nabby Perkins
To Jacob Towne 3rd
The Controversy between Lieut Benjamin Towne and Rev. John Emerson.
For Lieut Benjra Town
In Topsfield
Sir, this comes to let you know that I am ready at any Time to meet you at Capt. Goulds and There discourse with you in a friendly and Christian manner, provided you desire it & give me timely notice when you would meet, also what you would discourse upon & whom you design to bring wth you if you were offended at any Thing, why did you not observe ye Rule in Matthew 18, 15, 16, & come when in ye Spirit of Love & meekness, which I Should have took well at your hands, and endev- erd to have removed ye grounds of your uneafinefs. But obs what unkind Treatment have I had — shoud I deal with you as you have done by me, how hard, hard, hard, would you think it to be ?
But I pray God to forgive you and give you Repent- ance for all your sins in Heart and Life, for now as well as later. O Think on your ways, and Turn unto ye Lord. Beware of ye snares which ye adversary is laying for your precious Soul, and dont let ye present Blessed leafon of grace slip away. Time is oh, how exceeding precious, improve it, I Entreat you, in preparing for a Blessed Eternity you are grown something in years, surely tis Time to see to it that your peace is made with God, and as an Evidence of it that you have Chrift found and living in you.
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Mr Town, I Coud speak of Things which would not be very pleasing to you to hear of : but far be it from a minister of Chrift to return evill for evill — no, I have not so learned Chrift. But from his word I learn in Corinth: 4, 12, 13, being reviled to Blefs, being persecuted to suf- fer it, being defamed to Entreat, oh ! I hope I shall be Enabled to pray heartily for you, and seek and study your Best good, notwithstanding ye very hard and grievous Treatment 1 have met with : if I may believe what I hear.
May God Bless you and your family, and may I see you become a new man even a new, created in Chrift Jesus, my heart would rejoice, even mine.
Mr Town, Tho I have suffered so much yet I wifh you Pardon, Peace grace & glory through Christ, as I do for my own soul, and so I subscribe myself, your injured and aggrieved
Paftor John Emerfon
Topsfield, February IT, 1745-6
Rev. Sir,
I have received your Letter of the : 17d Instant 1745 and observe in it that you fubscribe your felfe your in- jured and aggreived pastor and in the fame paper you afk me why I did not take the Rule in Matthew 18 : 15, 16, and Come to you alone in ye fpirit of Love and meeknefs, which you say you f hould have taken well at my hands. Rev. fir is not Matthew 18, 15, 16 as binding upon you as on me and if it is then why have you not attended your Duty and Come to me in Like manner : and then Rev. fir, you go on to tell of Unkind treatment & Rev. fir have I not been to you alone pray do Conf ider and fee if you Cannot Remember it. furly I have and have alfo been with Company and have tould you the matter or things that I was uneasey about, did you Labour to Re- move aney thing the first time ; only as you brought you Negro man for a full proof of what you faid and you your felf faid you was but a fool to him in prayer which gave me more uneasiness for I did not believe that you
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did Juftis to your felfe and I ftill believe it was not true (for your negro foon after began to Exort me and tould me that he had been to heaven and hell and he was asked how he Came to know fech things and he faid mr John Baker tould him, and knowing that you ware mr Bakers teacher I could not believe what you faid about your Nea- gro to be true) fo that if your Neagro was a full proof it was no proof to me for I think he Believed the Bibble to be the only Rule to try fuch things as we ware discos- ing about by and afterward I Came to you again with two men to Discose you and after fum Discose about former things you faid what have you against me Latly and I tould you that for your faying y* all persons ware born divels which fentanc you justified your felfe for faying as fare as your argument would take place : yet I did not believe that you or your childs ware born divels, for if you ware you ftill are
And then Rev fir about five or fix months afterwards you did discose with me alone which discose I f hall Re- fare to your Confence and not Rewrit here only fay that I did not Intend that even you fhould have heard a word from me again of fuch things : but I might Justly Cry oh oh oh of Rong for it was not above five or fix Days afterwards before you Could Charge it on my felfe and others that we had not a fpark of grace or the fouls of men in us if we did not Voat for you to have fuch a cer- tain fum of money which you named Rev. fir, pray Confidder if giving money to a Clergyman will give men grace or fouls or then the Church of Room is Right for there for money men may have pardon for fin too. Rev. fir pray Confider a litel further and fee if you cannot Remember that at the Houfe of Mr Nathaniel Porters you Did Refufe discose with fum of us except you had fum of your party there. And Last March at your Houfe or betwen your Houfe and barn you took me by the hand and faid you would have or fee if you Could make thefe things eafey — that is fuch things as I Laid to your Charge. Rev: fir, here I f hall appeal to your Consence. fince which time I have held you gilty of Breaking your word and you cannot but know that ye Last Town meeting that I tould you to the fame purpofe: Thus Rev. fir I have
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Endeavered to Clear my felfe from the Violation of Mat- thew 18, 15, 16, and was it not that yon are my paftor Justly Remind you of Matthew 18, 17 and 19. Then Rev. fir, you tell me that you pray god for to forgive me 1 would add to say and fay God be mericafule to me a f inner and not do as the farriafe did, and as to your pen- etrating in to my hart I think you have no bifsness there Except you acknowled your felfe inEliance to the Church of Room, and I add if you f hould pray for me I desiar you would not do it as you did for John Dwinel Joseph How and Joseph Herrick and then you tell me that you desir that god would Blefs me and my famally : and I pray God if it may be for his Glory to blefs you and your famally and give you a found mind and a Right un- derftanding in his word that if you are Continued amongst us you may Com to us in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of peace in Christ Jesus. Thus Rev. f ir, I have Endeavourd to f how you the unreasonableness of your Letter and fhall Venture to fubscribe my felfe your most dutifull and faithfull parricanor
Benja Towne
Topsfield february the 24 AD 1745/6
For Lieu4 Benjamin Town
In Topsfield
Mr Town.
Sir I lately sent you a Letter concerning our meeting and discourfing together at Capt Goulds, wherein I gave you ye Liberty of appointing ye Time.
Now this comes to let you know that I will appoint ye Time of ye meeting provided you will but say that you desire a meeting at said Cap4 Goulds, in order for a friendly Christian Discourfe there also let me know what you would Discourse upon, and whom you design to bring with you. no more at present but heartily wishing you and all yours ye special saving grace of God in Christ Jesus, I subscribe still your aggrieved minister,
John Emerfon.
Topsfield February 25, 1745, 6.
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Rev. fir
I Receved your Letter of the 25 of February A D 1745/6 where in you fay now this Comes to let you know that I will appoint the Time of the meeting provided you will but Say that you Defire it at Captn Gould in order for a Christian friendly discose there. Rev f ir you have known that I did Desire to have had a frindly Difscose with you and if 1 was wrong in my Judgment I have tould you that I Should be glad to be fett rite and I have waited on you now for two years
Neither did I Ever intend to Limit you to a place only to know whether you would difscose publickly or privatly and to have notice of it time enough to prepare to meet you. and as for the things I would discose of I have told you all Redy the princaple things, and I think that for you to say nothing to me for near a year after you faid you would make these things easey, and then write to me that you are Ingred and aggreved in your former Letter and this also and never attend the Rule which you have Informed me of it Looks to me Like that other passage in Matthew which fayeth to me do as they fay but not as they do. I Remain
Benj* Towne
Topsfield february the 28, 1745-6.
Rev fir I have Received yours of the 28 of February AD 1745/6 and hope when I can find out what is in it I f hall fend you an anfwer to it which I hope will be in a few Days now I am able to Ride about again
Benja Towne
Mr Town
Sir. I received your Letter but in it no answer to what I wrote you, as I think, upon Reading your Letter pres- ently that place in Job 6, 25, came to my mind, how forcible are right words, but what doth your arguing prove ! how ftrangly do you wander from ye Point in hand ? Yea, you dont so much as mention ye main thing
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69
I wrote to you about in my letter concerning our meeting at Cap* Goulds &c. was not that ye main thing, and was not that proposed or supposed to be ye means of making things easy ? Strange then y* you should not say one word in all your Long Letter about it. I leave it now to your own Conscience to tell you who neglects ye means of Peace : Surely if you had desired an accommodation
you would have took me up at ye first offer made you in my first Letter or in ye next & then by this Time we might have had a free & friendly Discourse, you En- deavour to Clear your felf from ye violation of y* Rule in Matthew 18, 15. But you dont do it ; mr Town, Did you ever come to me alone, in a Christian manner, & take me alone & tell me ye grounds of your uneaf inefs, or did you Ever take one or two of ye Brethren of ye Church & fo Come and take ye Second Step and tell me you were come to deal with me, according to our Saviours Rule? Surely you cant say with any Justice y* Comeing with one or two perfons y* were offended as well as you, that this was observing y* Excellent Rule of Chrift in Mat- thew do you think when ye Rule says take one or two more y* this can possibly intend or mean y* this one or two should also be perfons that are alike offended or ag- grieved : tis Contrary to Reafon to think So & I verily believe there is not one Divine in y® world but what would Think it a perverting y® Rule to do Thus ? Bo y* mr Town, I believe it will be best for you no longer to insist upon This, for I believe y* no unprejudiced Perfon in y® world of a found underftanding will think y* you have duly attended y* Rule in Matthew. And if you thot y* you had yourself, and had taken y® first and Second step, why did you not Procaed to y® third, Come and ask Leave, y* y® matter might be laid before ye Church, es- pecially when there was such an opportunity for it : for you were not ignorant I Trust, y* ye Church met Twice, not long since, but you brot none of your grievances : and Then at y® Church meeting I pressed it upon Them (if I Render it Right) to have a Council, and mentioned Such men as I supposed would be agreeable to ferve as mr Rogers of Boxford, mr Clark of y® village : and put it to vote whether they would have a Council to Consider of
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matters in Controvrsies, and it was declared in y® Church (if I underftood Right) y* yr was no Controverfies, and there was not a hand up as I coul See for having a Coun- cil and now then why is there all this noife, who is ye man by whom y® offence cometh & to whom does ye wo Belong? Your own Confcience, mr Town, will tell you if you will Suffer it to Speak : to allude to Matt. 18, 17, y® Place j^ou cited me too in your Letter.
The Church & Town I believe would fain be at peace & quiet, I desire yt you would not do any Thing to hin- der it.
You come in your Letter to cast Some Reflection on me, Respecting y® Church of Rome, giving money to a Clergyman &c. But how groundlefs is This, did I ask you or y® Town to give me money? dont you know y* I ask it as a Due Debt & insist upon it as an act of pure Justice y * my Salary be made good to me and how you can Subscribe your self my faithfull Parrishioner (as you do in your Letter) and not Endeavour to do me Justice in y* matter, is what I cant reconcile with Truth, you men- tion about penetrating into y® heart & being in allyance &c Mr Town, I do from y® very Bottom of my Heart, I hope, abhor all ye Corruptions of yl apostolic Church of Rome, and I am offended for such unchristian insinua- tions for which you have not y® least Shadow of any Reafon as I know of.
And as for penetrating into your Heart &c whoever pretended to This ? is not y® Tree known by ye fruit? have not wife and good men been much Stumbled at your Conduct ? have you not by what has been vif ible given to perfons of a sound mind and a right underftanding oc- cafion of offence ? I must needs tell you, Mr Town, y* you are a very unsuitable perfon to Throw Dirt and caft Reflections and indeed tis Enogh to make any one won- der y* you could find it in your Heart to Send me Such afn unchristian Letter, stuffed with fo many Reflections, when you know my Letter to you, ye Language of it & you can Judge no farther, breathed So much Love to yon, Love to your foul, to your precious Soul, & courage foi you, & for yours also, you have a Hint about my Con- tinuing &c. as to y® matter. I hope I shall leave it with
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God and be willing to be where my Dear Lord & Master Jesus Chrift woud have me to be and do & suffer what Shall call too : and I hope He will Enable me to make a profitable improvement of ve Trouble I meet with from you.
Moreover, you say in your Letter, I refused to discourfe with some of you &c without some of my Party (as you term it) were there at Mr Porters, &c. and indeed, Mr Town, had I not need, & have I not occafion to be care- full whence I have so much Reafon to Think y* either you have not underftood me at some time when I have spoke or else have not put ye fair candid conftruction upon my words as you ought to have done, but took Them, or Explained them into Such a Sense or meaning and carry Such an idea as never came into my Heart. Mr. Town, whatever I have faid to you or before you, I coud wifh a Thoufand wife & good men had been in ye Hear- ing of and as for my preaching, glory to free gives alone, y* I have so much Reafon to hope it has been a favour of Life unto Some precious Souls : however you have been at any Time displeased with it.
Mr Town, I hope, if you show to any one a copy of your Letter to me, you will be so Just as to read ym this anfwer, and then I think, if you triumph, they will fee, at least ye unprejudiced, y* you do it before you have got acusitory. I Coud Say much more by way of anfwer, but if we have a friendly Discourse, I may speak by word of mouth.
Mr Town if you Shall See caufe to write again as 1 woud have you write seriously, pertinently to ye Point in hand, and reafon Justly, so I desire y* you would Send me a direct plain answer to this question, whether yon desire to meet me at Cap* Goulds as proposed to you in my former letters. I hope I do, wthout any Hesitation, wif h you & your, family all ye Blessings of ye New Covenant and can assure you y* I am willing things may be accom- odated upon a righteous foundation, and am your ag- grieved minister at prefent.
John Emerfon.
Topsfield, Febury 28, 1745-6.
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P. S. Mr Town Look upon these few Lines as a Post- script to ye inclosed Letter.
You ask in your Letter whether if in Matthew &c be not binding on me &c. did I not Come to your Houfe, take you alone & in a friendly manner discourfe you a great while ? But I woud have you know y* I have great Reafon to be aggrieved for your Talk abroad of late & not coming to me according to ye Rule in Matt : &c & how have you Expoused your self, in Endeaving to reproach your minister? in your Letter you say & say Right y* ye Bible is ye Rule &c why yn dont you observe it ? your Bible tells you in 1 Tim. 5, 1, Rebuke not an Elder but Entreat him as a Father.
Now has your Treatment of me & my Character been like yx of a dutifull Child to his Father ? Let Confcience speak, you fay y* I woud See if I could make this easey &c. what coud you Expect more than I am doing, Seek- ing after a friendly Discoufe wth you &e. before wife & good men ; indeed I never Said any Thing to you, as I know of, y* deserves Such Treatment as I have had: ye Least Degree of true Charity woud Cover a Thoufaud fold greater offence than ever I gave you : perhaps at ye most it may be but only Some Defect in ye memory, or Some word misplaced, or a Slip of ye Tongue, & it may be not yx neither, but you misunderstood me, it might be. oh ! Mr Town what have you done y* has provoked God to leave you to fall in to fo great a Sin, as y1 of Contending with your minister : I refer to your Confcience : you Shall find me ever ready to accomodate matters, Let me but see a becoming humble Christian Behaviour, &c. I subscribe your aggrieved minister as before.
J : E:
For Lieu1 Benjamin Town
In Topsfield
Rev Sir.
I Reed your letter of ye 28 of febr last wherein you say you Reed, my letter but in it No answer as you think &c and you say I Do not so much as mention ye main things Rev Sir you askd me why I Did Not Take ye Rule in Mat.
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18-15-16 I Did answer you to ye Point which is a main Point to answer Such Texts of Scripture
you Now ask me weather you Did Not Come to my house, Take me alone &c Rev Sir your Discorse was about my uneafinefs only, but you Did not Say anything about any agreviance of yours then Nor at any other Time therefore I think ye Text of Scripture was a main point to answer. Seeing yt you Signd your letter y* you was Injured &c for to Show you y* I tho* you had vio- lated y* Scripture ; in Telling me you are Ready for meet- ing &c and you have Selected to Take ye Rule in Matt. aforesd: if you had fulfild what you Declard you would when you was at my house : you Never would have heard anything more from me about them things : you ask me whather Ever I came to you alone and you ask Severall questions of y* Nature &c Rev. Sir 1 have been with you alone and Told you ye matters of my uneafiness : and you gave me your word once and again that you would make them things easey: and I have Discorsed with you in Company: you ask me why I Did not Take ye Third Step : Rev. Sir you Did Say you would make things
Eafey : and I waited on you Expecting you would make them Eafsy as you said you would : you speak about your prefsing it upon ye Church for a Councel : and say you mentioned Such men as you Supposed would be Except- able to me : mr Rogers & mr Clarke : Rev. Sir if there
be Need of a Council they are Exceptable to me: you Say I Come in my letter to Cast Sum Reflections on you : Respecting ye Church of Rome giveing money to a Clergy man &c Rev Sir I apprehend you have made No answer at all to yl part of my letter : for in my letter I say you Chargd it on myself and others y* we had Not a spark of Grace or ye Souls of men in us : if we Did not vote for you to have Such a Cartain Sum of money which you Named : and I think my letter is not So much Stufed with Reflections Nor so much Dirt throued as there is in yours: you say is Not the Tree known by the fruit:
Rev Sir I think I have seen and heard you Taken Screem- ing and Crying out for fruit and you said y4 they were brought home to Christ : you ask me weather good men have not been Stumbled at my Conduct &c Rev Sir I
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think I might ask you ye Same question : you say you hope if I fhow to any body a Cop}r of my letter to you &c Rev fir I think you Caft great Reflections Conferning my Triumping and I think you are a very unfutable to- Reflect in fuch a maner then Rev. Sir you Come to fay oh mr Town what have you Done that has prevoked God to Leave you to fall in to fo great a fin &c Rev. Sir if it is a fin I feear it was for Voating for you to be a fee* tied Minifter amongst us and fince you have beenfo great againes by the Confequence you need not fo Cry out
Then Rev Sir you Come to tell me that I fay in my let- ter and fay Right that the bible is the Rule, and then you fay why dont you observe it your bible tells you in 1 Tim. 5, 1, &c. Rev Sir dost you not know that that text is directly Contrary to what you intend or have you been Rapt up in the Contemplation of your Letter and the praise it would bring to you that you have not had time to Look in to your Bible to fee it was Paul’s Exhertation to Timothy how he f hould behave him felfe towards all ages, here Realy fir you have wanderd from the point (then Rev. Sir you say.) you fhall find me very redy to acomidate matters &c Realy Sir I have waited years on you with all the becoming mean or temper I Could and you have not done it yet, and by the tenor of your Letter I think you never Intend to do it. then Rev. Sir I have Indeavored to fhow you that I did not wander from the main point and my argumen is good, for in Math. 18, 15, 16 it dont fay that I fhall take Church member but one or two that is whome I pleas, fo that Job 6, 25 may Come in to your mind again when you Read your Letter with thofe texts of fcripture you sent to me you may see that such a minister as you can be mistaken, but I do Earneft- ly Intreet you to Complioy with your duty and then I hope we fhall have a fpeedy fettlement of all the matters of uneafinefs I Remain your Reconfialable Frind & Parichtioner
Benja Towne
Topsfield march 28th 1745-6
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75
For Lieu1 Benjm Town
In Topsfield
Mr Town
Sir. I received your Letter of march 28th and woud observe to you that ye main Thing at Prefent in Controver- fie between us by Letters, you ftill neglect to refolve me in, that is, whether or no, you will meet me at Cap1 Goulds, in order for a friendly Conference There, as proposed to you in my first or Second Letter, which if you will do Then will I Endeavour as God Shall Enable me, I hope, in ye meeknefs of wisdome to give you an anfwer to your Letter by word of mouth But if you decline meeting of me at Cap1 Goulds, Let me know it, and Then by writing in Convenient Time, I will Endeavour to fend you a futa- ble anfwer to your Letter of march 28th I remain your aggrieved but yet Reconciliable Paffcor
John Emerfon
Topsfield April 22, 1746
Rev f ir
I Receved your Letter of Apriel 22, 1746, with thefe words in it, y1 is and would observe to you that ye main thing at Prefent in Controversie betwen us by Letters you ftill neglect to refolve me in &c Rev f ir i would observe to you that is not true for you did in your Letter of febry 17 : 1745-6 afk me why I did not take the Rule in Mat- thew 18. 15. 16. I did write to you that I had in fum meafure taken that Rule with you and I ftill think that I have attended that Rule as fare as Is needfull with any honest well meening man and you ftill fubscri being your Letters aggrieved and tell me you are ftill for a meeting and you never have attended the Rule in Matthew afore- faid no not fo much as to one f ingle word then how Can you be ftill for a meeting if the bible hath aney force on you or you had aney Confiance you would be a fhamed of fuch kind of treetment to write time after time of main pints — and you Liue in the Violation of Math aforefaid: Rev fir you know that the main point that I Infifted on at Mr Israel Clarks with you you faid your felf was Rea-
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sonable and Juft : and I now tell you that I Cannot be- lieve you are Juft or honieft to Live in the Neglect of your known duty, for it is faid in Matth 5. 23. 24 you f hould go and be Reconciled &c Except you will allow you felfe to be pointed at in thefe other Scripturs Viz in Isai. 56- 10-11-12 & Isai. 65. 5. 6, & Jer. 5. 30. 31 & Jer. 23. 1. 2. & Ezek. 34 Chap and Micha. 3. 5. 6 and in your paper of february the 28, 1745-6 you ask me why is there all this noise who is the man &c Rev Sir I tell you y* you are the man, and that you fay in Sd paper — the Church and Town I believe would fain be at peace and quiate &c Rev fir I believe they would be at peace & quiate ware it not for you but I cannot Spend time to Re- mark Long Letters for I am not a fallary man — Neither do I geet my Living by Lying or Cheeting — but to Re- turn to your paper of Apriel 22 Rev fir you say which if you will do &c fir I f hould Reioyce to fee a fpirit of meekness and true wifdome in you and not fo much of the Conterary fpirit and then f ir you fay : But if you
Decline meeting me at Captn Goulds &c fir had you been a man of an honeft mind you would have had a meeting at Cap*11 Gould or fum other place Long before now, and had I known you would have had no more Regard to your word you f hould have had a meeting at fum other place before now, without any of this noise : but to Come to a Close, fir please to take to your felfe Ezek. 8, 14, 15 & Ezek 13, 22, 23. I Still Remain in Topsfield and am
Benja Towne.
June the 16, 1746
Rev. fir In your paper of aprill the 22 1746 you tell me of Endeavring to fend me a futable anfwer to my Let- ter &c. fir I Expected when you had done at Bradford you would be at lafur fo that you might find out wat is ment in 1 tim 5. 1. but I think you had rather fearch after other mens falts then to correct your own, and I beleive it is more pleasing to you to find fait with other men if you have no reafon for it then to mend of your own mis- carriages— for what man of an honeft mind and believing the bible to be a Rule for him to walk by dare cote Math.
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18. 15. 16 for a rule for another man to walk by and at the fame time he him felfe is guilty of the Yilation of Math afore laid as I think you be Except to be a pharisy which I fear you be for it is said in Math 23. 3 for they fay and do not Vers 5 for all their works they do to be feen of men — fir you have f igned all your papers Injured, but you never Came to tell me what it was for : — fir in one of your papers you fay f hould I deal with you as you have done by me &c : fir I now tell you that when
I did deal with you I did deal honeftly and did not Cheet you by Lying, (fir I defire you to Remember what treetment we have had from you, ftriping open your boosom and threetning to fpend your blood &c.) and in one paper you fay I could Speak of things which would not be very pleasing to you &c fir that you have done maney a time for I did not believe they ware true ; and in the fame paper you fay no I have not fo Learned Christ: fir if you have Learned anything of Christ Lett me fee a proof of it by your Complioyiug with his work Espec- ially in Math. 18. 15. 16. fir if you Can fitt ftill & be Eafey to take my money from me and reioyce in it with your party as you termed them when you do me no fer- vice, I think you are rightly described in Hofea 4. 9. there Shall be Like people Like prieft, and 2 of peter 2. 2. 3 and maney Shall follow their pernices ways — and throug Contiousness f hall they with fained words make merchandise of you : but if it be fo fir that your party is the bigest boft not thy felfe of to morrow for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth fir I under- ftand that you find fait that mens Seets are empty : fir
I do reely beleive you are the cose of it. Reed 1 of Sam. 2. 17. for men abhored the off rings of the Lord : fir you know what your Conduct hath been and if it was good why have you dwindled it away : and if bad why dont you make fatiffaction and fo put an end to all the matters of uneafinefs Sir I am directed in Romans 16-17-18 now I befeech you brethren mark them which Cofe devis- ions and offences Contrary to the doctrine which ye have Learned and avoid them, for they that are fuch ferve not our Lord Jefus Chrift but their own belly, and by good words and fair fpeeches Deceive the hart of the f imple
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1 ir I think you are the man. fir you tell me in one of your papers of Cafting Reflections and puting a rong Conftruction on your words f ir in both articles I think you area Wild Gentleman to write as you have done, and I begin to think that you are but a fool to your Negro
man as you faid was or a as you Said you was
born, fir I have fhown your Letters as you Defired I would and I think you have no Concance to delay mat- ters as you have done, fir if you fhould be plefd to write to me write so that I may Reed it with out fo much trouble of tranfcribing it for I think it penants enough to Reed your works
f ir I am not afraid of your great words, and fhould be glad to have a trial before good men, and not newlits or your party as you termed them. Observe it is you that have f igned your felfe Injured, and it is I that desire a fair trial, and it is you that Said you would make things Eafey
I am Benja Towne and Live in Topsfield on South fide of the River
Topsfield January the 22nd 1746/7
There was in a City a judge which feared not God, neither regarded man. Mr Emerfon fir, in your papers you tell me of love to & for me and for my precias foul, and tell me that I am grown fumthing in years — and fo you run on as if you had not known that I lived in the woods, and fo you might fcare me with your nois or deceve me with Judas treatment but being foretould in Mat. 7. 16, do men gather granes of thorns or figs of thifels fo I think you have proved your felf as a thorn or a thifel to me in Refuting to Complioy with Matt. 18-15-16, for you did tell me that you would make things eafey — that is fuch things as I Charged you with — and the next news I heard from you, you was Injured & agreved, but you never have been fo good as to tell me what it was for but I fuppose it was for my telling you the truth or telling the truth about you, and if that be the Cafe you may Juftly fay it is a bad report and fo fet ftill and geet all the money you Can and Cheet honeft men out of their Right, for I think by your f ilance you Confent to it that the
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Bible bath no force on you, and that you have no Con- ciance as I have hinted to you before — and if fo then how do you deliver your foul as in your mighty heat you bragd you would fo that I may Juftly think you are one of them that was ftruck by a bad fpirit or ye D — 1 as I think you faid fum ware and if fo no wonder that you did think you were but a fool to your Negro man in prayer as you faid you was fir in one of your papers you hint as if I made to lite with your Character fir Confider how you have tofed other mens names even when they Came for publick prayers, and remember how you have treeted me. and then take a Revew of your own actions with an unpredigesed eye even to Newbery, and fee how famous you would be if you was there, and fee whether you can now tell who is femingly brought home or new born by aney of thefe fcreemings or yellings that you declared to be fuch a gloris work fir I Realy think that you have been an enthusiasles flanderous and Delufive parson and have been permited to fall in to repeted delib- erate moft publick Comprehenf ive and pernicious Viola- tions of the holy Laws of god for if you had been in your right reafon or ware now I think you would make fatisfaction for many of your disorderly actions, and I think now you dare not tell how you did produce such Efects upon parfons bodys to make them fcreem and "yell in fuch a manner and then for you to laughf or fmile and declare thefe parfons ware Savingly brought home to Chrift, is what I cannot Reconfile with truth in you. fir you tell me in one of your papers that I am a very Un- futable parson to throw dirt and Caft reflections &c f ir I think you are a futable parfon to throw dirt and Caft Reflections, f ince you have been ftruck or turnd a new Light and I think you take that way to prevoke others to Love and good works — and you term your felf a faithfull Minifter of Chrift, which I Cannot reconf ile with truth in you four you Live in the Violation of Math 18. 15. 16 (fo that) thou that makeft thy boast of the Law throug breaking the Law dilhonoureft thy God Rom. 2, 1. 2. 3, therefore thou art Incapable O man — for wherein thou Judgeft another thou Condemneth thy felfe : fir you
may have wickednefs enoughe In your hart to fay that
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you have not Judged but if you fhould it would be falce in you and you have faid you Could not be miftaken by no means, fo that you are as Enfalable as the Pope.
Topsfield July 81, A. D. 1747
pr me
Benja Towne
Sir Observe all the New lits abraid me with my Voat- ing for you to be fetled in topsfield and I believe one half of the people would be glad to have you Removed from the Office we put you in to August the 18 A. D. 1747 I am Benja Towne
one of the freeholders in Topsfield
Sir
having heard that you find fait with me that I have not fent you a perticelar answer to your paper of february 25, 1745-6, I do asure you that I did write you an anfwer to your letter of that date after this manner Rev. fir, in your paper of february 25, 1745-6 you fay: now this Comes to let you know that I will appoint the time &c. fir you have afsigned your felf aggreeved and I think it is your place to appoint the time and if Matth 18. 15. 16 be binding on you, then my houfe is the place and not Capn Goulds, and you may remember that you did promis me that you would make them things Eafey that I faid you was to blame for, and you have neglected that allmoft one year Contrary to your word and promife, and I fuppofe you will neglect the time you fpoke of till you think men will be weared out for I Realy believe you dont regard your word any more than the fals prophets of old did who meafured them felves by them felves &c and you fay alfo, let me know what you would discofe upon and whome you defire to bring with you &c. f ir I think for an aggreved minister to write after that manner to one of his parisinors and never tell him what he is agreeved for is Contrary to the Rules of the gofpel and feemeth Like your felfe, for if you are agreeved fertainly it is your bisnefs to tell what it is for, for the word faith go and tell him, fo that if you have aney Regard to that gos- pel you pretend to preach you have mistook your felf as
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much as you did when you faid you was but a fool to your Negro man in prayer
Benja Towne
Topsfield february the 28, 1745-6
Sir you may by Comparing if you have not Lost the other fee this is a Copy of the fame Letter Except the three top Lines. Sir I desire y'ou to tell nothing but what is true as I do about you. Topsfield October the 13, 1747
Benja Towne
To the Inhabitants of the Town of Topsfield Convened and mett to gether this fecond day of November A D 1747 the humble petition of Benjamin Towne of faid Topsfield humbly fheweth that he hath not attended the publick worf hip of God at Topsfield (by Reafon of Mr Emersons being fals to his word and promis) for more then one year and half Laft past wherefore my desire is that you would abate my Rate to the ministry in Tops- field from that time to this, and in fo doing you will oblige yor petitinor.
Benja Towne
Rev. Sir
Whereas on the 19 Day of november 1747 you Did Defire me to give you in writing the reafons of my un- easinefs with you by the fecond Day of December 1747. Rev. f ir in Obedience to your Requeft, I preced to fay in the first place by your pretending to tell who was gone to hell and who f hould go to hell in both prayer and fermon 21y your faying that all them that Did not Come in before that prayer was Done fhould be Damned, I under- stood you into the mode of that new work.
31y your alowing or not forbiding many Inferior or Eilrate parfons to be Exorters in the meeting house 41y your faying if fuch perfons fhould hould there tongs the ftons would cry out
51y your faying that there was not a Book nor a Chapter nor a verse in the bible but that treeted on Chrift
61y your pretending to tell when parfons fcremed and
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made a great nois that they were favingly Brought home to Chrift and your Calling on others to give thanks for them when maney of your parisinors Did not think it was for the glory of God
Tly my Letters that I have sent to you will show you the other Reafons of my uneasiness as plain and as fully as if I should new draueft them
81y your faying if aney parson ever flept in the meet- ing house they had not a fpark of grace nor the fear of God before their eyes. Rev. fir thefe with the Reafons given you in my Letters are the main and principle things of my uneafnefs as well as the uneafenels of a great maney elfe in your parrifh. I fubscribe my felfe your Reconfilable parifinor Benjamin Towne.
Topsfield December th 2, 1747.
Times of Discorse
about the Later End of the year: 1742 february first Discofe with mr Emerson mr George Bixby was By The Next Sabbath mr Emerfon Declared that Religion Never gained aneything by Disputs but allways Lost So I for bore untill the year 1748
then firstly in a town meeting then I motioned about the flax and hiproct, after that Several times alone — and he chofe Rather to Reflect much
february 1743 With mr Emerson mr Jofeph Herrick and mr Nath11 Porter Junr there born Divels
then in September 1744 with mr Emerson alone in my field
then in a town meeting mr Emerson faid things and deneoyed it
then at mr Israel Clarks Thomas baker David Comins Mathew Peabedy are by
then march 1744 Difcofed with mr Emerson he prom- ised to make matters easy
Mr Roges of Boxford and Mr Clark of the Vilage are named if there shall be Cafe for parsons to Determine David Comings Mathew peabody Israel Clark & Quarter matter Baker being all with me.
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for anev minifter to pretend to tell who is gone to hell or who shall go to hell is what no parson can tell and therfor it is fals and ground lefs : Efpeciall in Congrational Churcheses although the Church of Room doth pretend to it
for aney minister to pretend when he is at prayer that all fuch parsons as doth not Com in before that prayer be Done f hall be Damned, If Limiting God and taking his work out of his hand and erecting a tribunial of their own Contrary to the known Laws of God and must yet in New England be Looked on as fals for we have not fo Learned Christ but from his word we are taught Judg not that ye be not Judged and thus Renders his offrings a Corupt thing and it may be feared he is a Deceiver and if fo then Cufsed be the decever that hath a mate and offreth to the Lord a Corupt thing for aney minister to alow of or Incourage Igront or inferior parsons to be Exorters is Contrary to the known Ruls and order of the Laws of god and may be Looked upon as of a daingrous Confequence Reed the account of Uszah and of King Uzziah for any minister to pretend that he can tell who is favingly Brought home to Christ by a fuden qualm is a new ftanderd Erected for god only knows the hart and althoug we are to hope for the Beft yet to declare this or that parson is favingly Brought home to Chrift is what we dont know and fo must be Looked upon as hath fals and groundless Judging for a minister to Discose with one of his parrice in private and pretend to forgit or to denie what he faid may J ustly give his parrifioner grounds to abhore him for a minister to promis to mak the agreeviances of any one of his parrish Easey and to delay the mat- ter year after year is nothing fhort of plain Lying for a minister to write a letter or Letters to aney one of his parrish and fubscribe himself Tngred & aggreeved and to ask his parrisiner why he had not taken the Rule in math 18. 15. 16 when fd minister is gilty of the Violation of matth aforesaid is a ftraing Confounding the order of the gospel
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81y for a minister when he is in Dispute with aney one of his parrish to Declare that he is but a fool in prayer to a poor Ignorant Negro that Could not Reed nor did not know how maney gods there was must needs be Looked upon not true in it felfe and done to deceive others or to profeed from a distract- ed brain
91y for a minister to pretend that parsons ware Born Divels or if Children of wrath then Children of the Divel is fals and what Cannot be Reconfiled with truth for if once a Divel they Eternally will Re- main fo
lOly for a minister to Refuse to Discose with feveral of his parrif h Except he had fum of his party there and So to devid his parifhioners into partys is of Daingrous Confequence
lily for a minister to pretend to and tell his parisionars that the Divel had fturred up ould ministers to oppofe this Blefsed work hath a tendancy to bring the miniftry in to Contempt and is Rash Judging and to fay no wors Looketh Like founding their own trumpet as if they ware good ministers when it is to be feared they are gilty of the violation of ye holy Laws of god and he declars that which is not true for he dont know the hart
121y for a minister to flrip open his Boosom and threten to fpend his Blood in or for his will Looketh more Like a piret or a Romanlick pretender than a gospel minister in New England
firstly for aney minister to pretend to tell who is gone to hell or who fhall go to hell is what no parson can tell and therefore it is fals and groundlefs for aney to pretend to it, Efpecally in Congregational Churches although I confefs the Church of Room doth pretend to it 21y on the other f id 31y for any minifter to declar when he is at prayer that all parsons that did not Come in before this prayer was done would be damned Is Limiting God and taking his work out of his hands and Erecting a tribunal
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of their own Contrary to the known Laws of god & must yet in New England I think be esteemed of as fals for him to fay fo for we have not fo Learned Christ but from his word we are taught Judg not that ye be not Judged — and thus I think he Renders his offring a corrupt thing and it may be feared he is a decevir as it is faid in Mala- chi 1-14 but Cursd be the Deceiver . . . which offreth to the Lord a Corrupt thing fo I think it may be faid of fuch a minister
21y for Mr Emerson when prayers are af ked for in publick by aney of his parrish by Reason of their being fick to Declar if they die they will all go to hell is Very Discourigin to others to ask prayers in Cafe of f icknefs and he declars that which he knows nothing about for God only khows the hart and God hath faid in his word I will be gracious and will fhew mercy on whome I will f hew mercy and I think god hath not Committed the Judging of and fixing of men’s Eternal Estate either in heaven or hell to aney man on earth — and 1 think it muft be efteemed of as Rafh fals and Eronis Judging and is Juft matter of offenc : although the Church of Room doth pretend to it
31y for aney minister to alow of or not forbid but Rather Incourage Ignorant or Inferior parsons to be -Ex- orters in a Meeting Houfe is contrary to the known Ruls & order of the Laws of god and may be Looked upon as of a daingerous Confequence ; reed the account of Uzzah & of King Uzzih and is I think Just matter of offence
41y for any Minister to Incourage any to fcreem and yell and make all maner of disorderly noises — and then for him to fay that if thefe parsons f hould hould their tongs the ftones would Cry out, muft I think be accounted fals and done to Diceive others and make them think well of Bad actions
51y for aney minister to fay there was not a book nor a Chapter nor a Verse in the Bible but that treeted on on Christ I think is falce for the whole Book of Efther hath nothing in it about God nor Chrift and I think it must be alowed fals Doctrin
61y for aney minister to declare that parsons are fav- ingly brought home to Christ by a fudding qualm or by
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grooning or fcreeming is a new Doctring for god only knows the hart and allthough we are to hope for the best yet to Declar this or that parson is favingly brought home to Christ is what he dont know and I think it must be Looked upon as Rash fals and groundles Judging, and then to Call on others to give thanks for them — when I Realy believe the Effects was prodused by a bad art for it said that the Jesewits do produce fuch Effects on their Zelots and our bible tells us that Simon the Soser be- wiched the people — and history tells us of the Quakers : and of the pope and of Mehamet all being under such Impulses and all making great pretencies to be spiritual men or holy father Confessers, but Even amongs the popes the want of money is a mortal sin for they it is faid cant geet out of purgetory without money ; fo that I think it is Just matter of offence in Congregationall Churches to produce fuch effects and declar fuch things
71y for a Minifter to write a Letter or Letters to aney one of his parish and fubscribe him felf Ingred and agreeved and to ask his parisioner why he had not taken the rule in Mat 18-15-16 when faid minister if he be Ingred or agreeved must be gilty of the Violation of Matthew aforesaid having never attend the Rule of the gospels is a ftraing Confounding of the order of the gospel and is Just matter of offence
81y for a minister when he is in Dispute with aney one of his parisioners to Declar that he is but a fool in prayer to a poor Ignorant Negro that could not Reed nor did not know how many gods there was must I think be acounted not true in him or Elfe be not fitt for a minister and done to deceive others or Elfe to profed from a dis- tracted Crafey Brain
81y for any minister to fay that if aney parson Ever flept in the meeting house they had not a fpark of grace nor the fear of god before their Eyes, is Rash fals and Eronious Judging Contrary to the Rule Christ hath left in the gospel — in Matth 26-40-41-43 — and he Cometh unto his disciples and findeth them afieep and said unto Peter : what Could ye not watch with me one hour : Watch and pray that ye Enter not into temptation: — the Spirit In deed is willing but the flefh is weak — and
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be Came and found them a f leep again : for their Eyes were heavey here Christ doth not Condemn his disci- ples to be greslefs and feerless but Considers the Infirmi- ties of the human natur and I think allthough fleeping in a meeting house Cannot be Justified to be good yet there is no minister hath a Right of Judging Parsons gracelefs for boderly Infirmitis and it is Just matter of offence fo to Judge Rashly
Articals of Letters
lly for a minister to write Letters Reflecting is Juft matter of offence when he by his own Letters hath proved him felf gilty of the Violation of Matth 15-15-16
21y for Mr Emerson to say he was but a fool to his neegro in prayer, faid neegro being a poor Ignorant Cretor that Could not Reed nor did not know how maney gods there was must I think be Counted fals in him or Else be not fit for a minister and done to deceve others or to fay no worse to profeed from a Diffracted Crafey Brain
31y for Mr Emerfon to teach the people that they are born divels : and then to J ustife and fay if Children of Rath then Children of the divel, Is fals doctring and what Cannot be Reconsiled with truth for if once a divel they will Eternally Remain fo for Chrift never died for divels nor Beasts and I think it Just matter of offence 41y for mr Emerson to Discose with me alone in pri- vate and pretend to forgit or denoy what he faid, may Justly give me grounds to abhore him and Count him a Covenant B raker
51y for mr Emerson to charge it on maney of the Town that they had not a fpark of grace nor the fouls of men in them if they did not Voat for him to have fuch a fum of money which he named, feemeth as if he would make them believe that grace and fouls ware purchafedof him by money — and is much Like that of perfons giving money to geet out of purgetory — and then when he is Charged with faying fuch words in a few minits after he faid it boldly to denioy it — Is nothing fhort of plain Lying
61y for Mr Emerson to Refufe to Discofe with feveral
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of his parrifh Except he had fum of his party there and fo to devide his parisioners in to partys is of daingerous Confequence and hath a tendancy to make one abhore him and Rend re th him not fit for a Minister to one party
Tly for mr Emerson to promis that he would make my agreviancies Easey and to delay the matter year after year I think Looks as if he had no regard to his word or the good of my foul — and yearly to take my money when he doth me no fervice i think is not Just nor honest nor agreeable to his own advice to fum other people.
81y when prayers are af ked for by aney of Mr Em- ersons parish for him to declare if they should die they would go to hell is Just matter of ofence — and is Contra- ry to the gospel according to James the 5 C ha 14 & 15 verses Is aney sick among you let him call for the Elders of the Church and Let them pray over him anointing him with oyl in the name of the Lord — 15 and the prayers of faith fhall fave the fick and the Lord fhall Rais him up : and if he hath Committed fins they fhall be forgiven him here the apostle dont fay that the Elders fhall fay they are gilty of damnable fins and if they Die they will go to hell neither hath god Committed the Judging of Mens Eternal Eftate to aney minister on Earth, althoug there are Corrup fals teachers that doth pretend to it and I think it is a fhame to aney in New England to pretend that fuch prayers are agreeable to the word of god, and that they are not ofended at it
91y for mr Emerson to write as he did in his Letter of Apriel ye 22. 1T46 that is and would observe to you that the main thing at present betwen us by Letters you ftill neglect to Refolve me in — I think thefe words in Mr Em-
O
ersons Letter must be fals as I have observed to him in my Letter and Carrey in them the natur of a lie — for in his first and third Letters to me he Spent great part of his time in his writing in Charging me with the Violation of Matth. 18. 15. 16. and in three of my Letters before to him I had Endeavored by Numbrs of Instances to f how him that I had in fum good measur observed the Rule in Matthew aforesaid with him and Mr Emerson and I never had changed a word together about our meeting at Captn Goulds as I know of fo that to meet at Captn
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Goulds could not be a main thing in our Letters — no nor fo much as worthy the name of a thing in Comparison with matthew aforefaid
Artical 10 your Wishing that there Never was aney more fait nor Rum to Come to the Contry
Answer : her f ir as you have Landed your discose
against the Salvation of mens fouls — for if once a Divel they will Efernialy Remain fo — and to perswad People to believe you you have tould us that the divel had ftired up old Minifters to oppose the work of god — fo in this Arti- cal you Even Level yourfelf against the good of man- kind by distroying the greatest branch of trade in this Contry for if it was not for fait there Could not be aney fait fifh trade, nor any meet fitt to eat in the heit of Sumer Except it ware for dogs : and would aney man in his Right Reason wif h fo much hurt to his fellow Creaturs as at one blaft to destroy both foul and body : for if it ware not for fait we Could not maintain no trad at home or abroad and must fall a facrifice to our Enemis : if this be Just you may as well wish that ther never might grow aney more Corn becafe fum gluttens parsons eat a great quantity of pooden, and fertianly I have seen you to ufe fait at a table and to drink Rum at a tavern — but to Close all I Cannot think you are fitt for a Minister to wish fo much hurt to your fellow Creeturs to deprive them of what god hath made for their Comfort — but to fay no worce I Realy believe what Mr Emerson faid did procede from a Distracted Crafey brain — for if this was once brought to pafs there Could not be money to pay ministers and if men believed they was then they had as goods hire the Divel as you
the reasons why I think the Revernd Mr John Emerson to have been in an Erroer his Declaring Saul was as Certainly in hell as David in heaven : and Declaring manafsa was Sertnly in or gone to heaven — and maney other things of the Like Natur and at John Dwinels funrel when he had made a great noise and made fum parsons to Run about faying here is hell and there is hell and others Crying out Cursing their prid and hard harts he Set down and fmiled or Lafed which was his Comon
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practis after wards for fum time and then on a Sabbath day when there had been fcreeming belowing and yelling as I thought Like the Resemblence of hell he came in and gave thanks that there was a shaking amongst the dry bons & that the voice of the fpouse was heard a far off and at other times he would Lenient the with Draw of the Spirit when there was not fuch Like uproar I heard Mr Emerson fay that the Divel had ftired up fum ministers to appose this good work and he declared that parsons Could not help Crying out then a wooman in Child birth
Mr Emerfon Discosed with me in my Brick yard Sep- tember 1744 and after a long discose about the new work of ftriking Mr Emerson Said to me he was not the only minifter that had been mistaken about thefe times and that it had been a time of great delusions and that things had not turned out as he Expected and that he believed there was maney good ministers had been mistaken in thefe things and he Said I might fee he was a Coming off from them by his Sermon he preached the Last Sabbath and I tould him if he was fensable he had been in a Rong way he ought publickly to tell the people of it and he faid if he fhould there was a great many of them that was that way would be worce agains him then I was and he faid it would be a dificult thing to be a minister and he faid I must forgive him for minifters ware but men and pafs by all ofences and 1 tould him I Could freely Do it if I thought be was fencer in what he faid, and he faid he was and desired me to give him my hand and i tould him i desird to prove him feven days i ment in publick for which i Coted the Case of miriames being a lepard And for Mr Emerson to Charg it on us that we had not a fpark of grace or the fouls of men in us if we did not Voat for him to have fuch a fum of money which he named, seem- eth as if he would make us believe that fouls and grace was purchased of the Clargy by money much Like y* of parsons giving money to geet their Relations out of pur- gatory and then when he is charged with faying fo in a few minits boldly to denioy it and say he never faid fo is nothing short of plain Lying and
21y for mr Emerson to write and fay as he did in his
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Letter of Apriel 22, 1746 viz and would observe to you that the main thing at present in Controvacy betwen us by Letters you ftill neglect to Refolve me in — thefe words I think in mr Emersons Letter muft be falce and Carrey in them the Natur of a Ly, for in his first Letter to me with the Violation of matth 18 15-16 and in my three first Letters to him : by a number of Instances I Endev- ored to fhow him that I had in fum good measure ob- served the Rule in Matth aforesaid with him and mr Em- erson and I never had Changed a word to gether a bout Captn Goulds as I Remember fo that to meet at Captn Goulds Could not be a main thing no nor fo much as worthey of the name of a thing in Comparison with Matth afore faid
Elisha Towne Testifieth and faith that he heard the Rev mr Emerson at a Town Meeting fay that all you that will not Voat for me to have fuch a fum of Money (which he Named) had not a fpark of grace nor the fouls of men in you Elisha Towne
Joseph Herrick & David Commings testifieth and faith that on a Town meeting Day in Topsfield they heard the Revernd Mr John Emerson fay that they that did not Voat for him to have fuch a fum of money as he named had not a fpark of grace nor the fouls of men in them and we heard Benjamin Towne in discose with Mr Emerson about his faying fuch words in a