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Danvers, Mass.
Centennial Celebration.
Boston, 1352.

YALE
UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

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CENTENNIAL

CELEBRATION,

AT DANYEES, MASS.

JUNE 16, 1852.

'Lives there a man with soul so dead,
Who never to himself hath said,
This is my own, my native land ?" Scott.

BOSTON:
PRINTED BY DUTTON AND WENTWORTH,
No. 37, Congeess Steeet.
1852.

ADDRESS,
BY JOHN W. PROCTOR

Welcome, friends of Danvers, to the land of your birth, and
of your choice!
It gladdens the heart to meet so many cheerful countenances
on this One Hundredth Anniversary of the independent munici
pal existence of our town.
In behalf of my fellow-citizens, I bid you all a hearty wel
come here. Your presence gives assurance that we have not
mistaken your sympathies with the occasion of our meeting.
Why these thronging crowds in every avenue of the town ?
Why has the farmer left his plough, — the tanner his vat, —
the currier his beam, — the trader his shop, — the shoemaker his
bench, and every one his employment ?
Why this gathering of thousands of children, — the future
men and women, to govern and adorn,— and the interest that
beams in every expression of their animated countenances ?
Why have our friends from the North, the South, the East,
and the West, favored us with their presence ?
Is it not to bring to mind the virtues, the toils, the sufferings
of our fathers ?
"It is a privilege to learn what shall be from what has been, —
to turn experience into prophecy,— to view in the mirror of the
past, the vision of the future."
The settlement of Salem, early known as Naumkeag, was
begun by Roger Conant and others, in 1626, and much in
creased, in 1628, by the arrival of John Endicott and others,
all emigrants from England.
1 a

It then included Salem, Danvers, Beverly, Marblehead, Wen-
ham, and parts of Topsfield, Manchester, Lynn, and Middleton,
bounding northerly by Agawam, southerly by Saugus, westerly
by Andover, easterly by the Atlantic ocean. Then Saugus,
Salem, Gloucester, Agawam, and Newbury, extended all along
the coast of Essex to the Merrimack ; and Andover was the
only interior town south of that river.
Whoever would do justice to the topics brought to mind by
the occasion, should trace the origin of each of the towns that
have sprung from Old Naumkeag. Time will not now admit
of this. My purpose is, to pass over the first century of Naum
keag, excepting as to the part included in the act of the Legis
lature, passed " Anno Regni Regis Georgii secundi, &c, vices-
simor quinto," — or, in plain English, the 25th year of George
the 2d, our then Royal Master, — or Anno Domini, 1752. By
this, Danvers was set off from Salem, as a distinct municipal
district, with all the privileges of a town, except that of choos
ing representatives to the General Court, which restrictive con
dition was taken off by an act passed June 16th, 1757. Upon
a view of these acts, the town determined to date their inde
pendent corporate existence in the year 1752, — which determi
nation we take to be conclusive of the matter.
Our then Royal Master did I say ? By the grace of God,
and the pleasure of the King, then came all our privileges. I
know that the generations which have since arisen have but an
imperfect idea of this obligation to the king, but a grievance it
was, and so our fathers felt it to be.
What do we most desire ? Is it not independence ? In the
language of the most gifted mind* of the age, (I say it with
emphasis on this 16th day of June, A. D. 1852,) when the
aspirations of millions are turned towards him with anxious
solicitude, " Hail, Independence ! Hail, that best gift of God
to man, saving life and an immortal spirit !" That Indepen
dence, which gave us
" A Church without a bishop,
A State without a king."
* Daniel Webster, the farmer of Marshfield, Mass.

NAME OF DANVERS.
Whence came the name of Danvers ? why applied to this
territory ? are inquiries often made, but never, to my knowledge,
quite satisfactorily answered.
For years before the separation, the name Danvers was occa
sionally applied to the middle precinct of Salem. Among the
settlers, prior to the separation, were several by the name of
Osborne, — a name connected, by marriage, with the Danvers
family in England. Earl Danvers was one of the regicides,
the fifth who signed the death-warrant of Charles. Sir Henry
Danvers, the last of this family, died in 1643, a man of wealth,
as is to be presumed from his liberal donation of £5000 and
more for the advancement of learning in the University of Ox
ford. It is highly probable, the name of the town was derived
from this family. This name has one merit, — it is not found
anywhere else. Mr. Felt, the careful annalist of Salem, thinks
the name was suggested by Lieut. Gov. Phipps, from gratitude
to one of his patrons, and refers to a letter that so states the
fact. It may have been so. But if the people of Danvers were
then so obedient as to adopt a name because a Governor sug
gested it, it is a characteristic that has not remained one of
their distinguishing qualifications. Few towns have been less
disposed to follow the lead of any master. This example was
early set by their file leader, Gov. Endicott.
If the noble Earl, for whom the name was probably given,
had anticipated the perpetuity to accrue to his name in this
humble district of these Western Wilds, and the present wants
of its High Schools, now sheltered only in hired tenements of
cast-off chapels, he would, Avithout doubt, have contributed of
his abundance to the relief of their necessities.
This era of separation has not been chosen for celebration '
because of the severance. Though severed in name, we have
ever been united in spirit ; and though our good old mother,
Salem, nursed us at her bosom all of one century, she has not
failed to feed us with pap of various kinds, ever since. Some
times we have given her sauce in returns but oftener the sub
stantial of life.

6
Notwithstanding our fathers thought many inconveniences
would be remedied, and many advantages gained, by being a
distinct town, as appears by their petition to the General Court,
it must be apparent to .every reflecting mind that the balance of
benefits, consequent upon separation, was against us. True,
being a distinct corporation created a few municipal offices, for
Ahe gratification of ambitious aspirants ; but generally speaking,
.a review of the lives of such office holders will show, that those
who have least, fare best; and those who strive to do most,
', instead of receiving benedictions, are usually loaded with the
^opposite. The petitioners were a scattered population of about 200
families, containing from twelve to fourteen hundred persons,
chiefly occupied in the cultivation of the land. Those from
whom they sought to be separated, were mariners, traders, and
merchants, densely located, with interests, in some measure,
clashing with those on the borders. The busy hum of mechan
ical and manufacturing industry had then scarcely begun to be
heard in the village of Brooksby, as the region hereabout was
then called, where the brooks from the hills united with the
waters of the ocean.
At first, towns assumed to own all the lands within their
limits not specifically granted. Grants were made, by the
colonial authority, or by towns through the agency of seven
men, or selectmen, according to the standing of the grantees, or
services rendered, — as seats in the church were assigned, first
to the Captain, then to the Lieutenant, not omitting the En
sign, and the Corporal. Thus the records speak of
Captain Samxiel Gardner,
Lieutenant Thomas Putnam,
Ensign Cornelius Tarbell,
Corporal Samuel Twist,
Deacon Malachi Felton,
Daniel Eppes, Esquire,
arranged in the order of the consequence of the titles they sev
erally mounted.
These are referred to as illustrations of the style of the times

— as our kind friends from the school districts have shown us
cocked hats, hooped petticoats, and high-heeled shoes, as illustra
tions of dress in times gone by.*
It was of little consequence what the title was, as Corporal
Twist said, on his return home after his election, " if it had the
ril to it, — so that when the bell tolled at his funeral it could be
said, Corporal Twist is dead."
Who will presume to say, that, in the term Corporal, there is
not as much body, aye soul to, as in that of General ?
" Worth makes the man, the want of it the fellow.'"
But three instances of colonial grants are known to have been
made on our territory, viz. : — 1. To John Endicott, in 1632
and 1636 ; 2. To Samuel Shelton, in 1634 ; 3. To John
Humphrey, in 1635.
The grant to Endicott is thus described. " A neck of land
lying about three myles from Salem, called in the Indian tongue,
Wahquameschock," situate between the inlets of the sea, now
known as Waters River on the south, and Crane River on the
north, bounding "westerly by the maine land." Such was the
precision of early grants.
* My recollections of the "Age of Homespun" impresses my mind strongly
with the propriety of the following passage in a Centennial discourse by Dr.
Bushnell, at Litchfield, Conn., in August last : — " The spinning-wheels of wool
and flax, that used to buzz so familiarly in the childish ears of some of us, will
be heard no more forever, — seen no more, in fact, save in the halls of the anti
quarian society, where the delicate daughters will be asking what these strange
machines are, and how they are made to go ? The huge hewn-timber looms,
that used to occupy a room by themselves in the fa-m-houses, will be gone,
cut up for cord wood perhaps, and their heavy thwack, beating up the woof,
will be heard no more by the passer-by. The long strips of linen bleaching
on the grass, and tended by a rosy-cheeked maiden sprinkling them each hour
from her water can, under a burning sun, thus to prepare linen for her own
or her brother's marriage outfit, will have disappeared, save as they return to
fill a picture in some novel or ballad of the old time." Who will presume to
say, that, in these labors of our mothers, will not be found the hidden power
that gave firmness to the muscles and vigor to the constitutions of their de
scendants ? I would give more for the lessons learned on one spinning-wheel,
or over one milk pail, than those acquired on ten piano fortes. 1 have often
thought that girls would profit more by learning to jump over fences or clamber
ledges, than by dancing polkas, or practising other fashionable amusements, —
many of which are better calculated to excite the passions, than to improve the
health of body or mind. There is much propriety in the admonition, " Lead us
not into temptation."

8
On a beautiful eminence between these rivers, Captain E.,
who, as acting governor, was chief magistrate of the colony
previous to the arrival of Winthrop in 1630, established his
residence. The selection of this site speaks favorably of the
judgment of the man. It would be difficult to find one more
eligible. For two hundred years at least it remained in the
Endicott family ; and when the ability of many of those, who
still bear the name, is considered, it is matter of surprise that
they should have suffered it to pass from the family. How can
a man better do honor to himself, than by venerating his ances
tors who were worthy of it ? I know, our republican notions
cut across the doctrine of entailments ; but still, there is some
thing impressive in the contemplation of those venerable
abodes, in our fatherland, that have remained in the same
family for centuries. The fortunate possessor, thus advised of
what his fathers have done, is prompted to endeavor to " go
and do likewise."
From this position, before roads were laid or bridges con
structed, the Governor was accustomed to go, in his own
shallop, to and from the seat of government at Boston, while
engaged in the government of the colony, either as chief magis
trate or as one of the assistants.
On this orchard farm (so it was called) in front of the man
sion about sixty rods, now stands the celebrated Endicott pear
tree, celebrated not so much for the fruit it bears, as for the
time it has borne it. It is probably the oldest cultivated fruit-
bearing tree in New England, — itself brought from Old Eng
land, — thereby constituting a direct connecting link with the
mother country. The fruit is called Bon Chretien, — whether
so called from its own merits, or the merits of its owner, I am
not advised. It is of medium size and fair quality, but not
quite equal to the Seckel. In 1850, the tree bore one and a
half bushels of fruit, as I myself witnessed, and new shoots
grew upon it, more than six inches in length. One thing is
made certain by this tree, viz., that a pear tree will last two
hundred years, — how much longer may be told at the next
Centennial.

9
On this same Endicott grant, now stands the Parris house (so
called) from which sprung other fruits* not quite as worthy the
name of good Christian as the Endicott pear.
The grant made to Rev. Samuel Skelton, — the spiritual father
of Endicott, and associate pastor with Higginson, at the First
Church in Salem,— was situate between Crane and Porter's
Rivers, bounding westerly, also, by the "maine land." So at
first, these grants to the Captain and the Parson gave them
a presumptive title to all the town northerly of Waters River.
This section between Crane and Porter's Rivers was long
known as Skelton's Neck ; — then as New Mills ; — and recently
as Danvers-port.
The natural advantages of this part of the town are second
to none other. Free communication with the ocean by water,
and with the interior by railroads, its facilities for business are
first rate. It only needs energy and capital to go ahead.
In 1635, a grant was made by the colonial authority to John
Humphrey, in the westerly part of the town, — whence came-
the name of Humphrey's Pond, situate on the line between.
Danvers and Lynnfield ; a beautiful sheet of water, containing'
165 acres, about 100 feet above tide water ; — in the midst of
which is an island of five acres, on which the first settlers had a
fortification as a retreat from the Indians. The recent location.
of a railroad from Salem to Boston, by this pond, has probably
laid the foundation of a thrifty village in this vicinity, — as soon
as the lands shall pass from the hands of visionary speculators-
to the control of men of sound, practical common sense.
December 31, 1638. "Agreed and voted, that there should
be a village granted to Mr. Phillips and his company, upon such
conditions as the seven men appointed for the town affaires
should agree on." Hence the origin of Salem Village. This-
Mr. Phillips was a clergyman. He did not long abide in the
place. He removed to Dedham, and thence to England, in
1642. Probably Putnam, Hutchinson, Goodale, Flint, Need-
ham, Buxton, Swinnerton, Andrews, Fuller, Walcott, Pope;
* See the story of the Salem Witchcraft, that follows^
2 b

10
Rea, Osborn, Felton, and others/were of the associates in the
settlement of the village. Their business was farming. Labor
in the field for six days of the week, and going to meeting on
the seventh, was their chief employment. Companions of
Endicott, the puritan principles they imbibed, even to the third
and fourth generations, bound them to their meeting. He that
cut the cross from the flag, would not allow his attendants to
sail under any other banner than such as he chose to hoist, or
any deviation in their voyage. He was one of those lovers of
liberty who was not unwilling to engross the largest share of it
himself. Sure that he was right, he felt it to be his duty to
see that others acted according to his notions of right. He
was indulgent to those who were obedient.
One of the grievances alleged by the petitioners, as a reason
for separation, was, that their children could not conveniently
attend school. This was indeed a grievance. Situate four,
five, and six miles from the school, how could they attend ?
Early taught by Endicott himself the value of these institutions,
it is not surprising, when they found the superior advantages
enjoyed by the children of their fellow townsmen, in part at
their expense, that complaint should have been made.
Be it remembered, the first free school in the land, if not in
the world, was established at Salem. The language of the
selectmen's order, by which this was done, is worthy to be
inscribed on the same tablet with the Declaration of Independ
ence. It reads thus : —
" Sept., 1641. Ordered, that a note be published on next
Lecture-day, that such as have children to be kept at schoole,
would bring in their names, and what they will give for one
whole year ; and 'also that if anie poor bodie hath children, or
a childe, to be put to schoole, and is not able to pay for their
schooling, that the towne will pay it by a rate."
Here is the seed whence sprung the free schools of Massa
chusetts. It contains the germ of freedom itself. Here it was
planted, on the orchard farm of the Governor, under his own
care, as Governor of the Colony, and Chairman of the Select
men of Salem. Governors in those days were well employed

11
in looking after the fruits of the field and the children of the
household ; — the oozings of the still did not then trouble them*
In 1634, one of the earliest grants was made to John Putnam
and his three sons, Thomas, John, and Nathaniel. They came
from Buckinghamshire, England, settled, cultivated, and peopled
it. This was situate in the Village Parish, westerly of the
grants to Skelton and Porter ; probably along the line of what
is now known as Whipple's Brook, extending from Judge
Putnam's Mill to the house of Daniel Putnam, — famous as the
birth-place of Gen. Israel Putnam, who made his mark on
Bunker's Heights, at Charlestown, June 17th, 1775, witnessed
by Warren, and many others, and sealed with their blood ) — he
who nobly exclaimed, " My sons, scorn to be slaves ! "
No name is more prominent in the annals of the town than
that of Putnam. Although hundreds have gone out in all
directions, still, from the beginning, there has been more of this
name than any other. By the kindness of Col. Perley Putnam,
— who has taken unwearied pains to ascertain the facts, — I am
informed that he has the particulars of between five and six
hundred families of the name ; many of whom had from ten to
seventeen children, — amounting in all to 3500 descendants of
John, in 220 years, an increase worthy of the highest com
mendation of Adam Smith, "who considers numbers the first of
all national improvements. If all the settlers had done as well,
both in quantity and quality, there would have been no occa
sion for further importations. I should be glad to notice the
worthy, particularly ; but if all should be thus noticed, the
world would scarcely contain the books that would be wrjtten.
I am happy to see so many present, of age and ability, to speak
for themselves ; and from them I hope to hear an account more
full than is in my power to give.
Another grant, purporting to be 500 acres, (covering, at least,
* In Felt's Annals, (Vol. I., p. 253,) it is stated that William Trask ex
changed with Governor Endicott 250 acres of land for 500 apple trees, from
his nursery ; — a pretty good bargain, if trees grew then as readily as now. It
is highly probable that the space between the mansion of the Governor, and
the bank of the river, in front, was used for the growing of a nursery. I am
well assured of this fact by S. P. Fowler, Esq., an intelligent cultivator of
fruit, residing on Skelton's Neck.

12
700,) was made in 1635, to Emanuel, a descendant of Sir
George Downing, and known as the Downing Estate, (on
which it was my lot to be born.) This extended southwesterly,
from the head of Waters River, to what is now known as
Proctor's Brook ; and in 1,701, passed by deed from Charles
Downing to Benjamin and Thorndike Proctor, sons of John,
(of 1692 notoriety.) This included the tract of tillage land,
in times past known as Hog-hill, but recently christened Mount
Pleasant, — and with great propriety, if fertility of soil and
beauty of prospect are considerations worthy of this appellation.
Another grant, of 300 acres, southerly of this, was made
to Robert Cole, — extending from Gardener's Bridge to the
Downing Estate, — which passed through Jacob Reed to Daniel
Eppes, Esq. On this tract sprung the celebrated Eppes Sweet
ing, better known as the Danvers Winter Sweet ; a variety of
apple more extensively cultivated than any which has originated
in Massachusetts, — excepting the Baldwin and the Hubbardston
Nonsuch. This tree stood on land now belonging to the Hon.
Richard S. Rogers. The original stump is now distinctly to
be seen, with a sprout from it ten inches in diameter, yielding
the genuine apple ; clearly indicating the fruit to be natural, —
not grafted. The tree is thrifty and hardy, the fruit excellent ;
as all lovers of apples and milk will cheerfully testify.
It would be easy to enumerate many other grants of land
to individuals, all of which Avould be interesting to those of the
same name, or to those claiming under them ; but my limits
will not admit of anything more than a specimen of the manner
of doing the business in olden time.
WITCHCRAFT DELUSION.
The events of the year 1692, commonly spoken of as Salem
Witchcraft, made an impression so deep on this community,
that they cannot with propriety be overlooked, in any complete
motice of the town. More than twenty citizens, some of the
first respectability, were, in the course of a few months, ar
raigned charged with capital offences. Half this number suf
fered the severest penalty of the law. For this precinct, con-

13
taining at that time probably not more than five hundred souls,
to be thus decimated in a few months, was a calamity tremen
dously awful. Now-a-days, when one man* is arraigned, tried
and executed, for good cause, (if there ever can be a good cause
for execution,) the whole state, as well as states adjoining, are
agitated to their centre. What could have induced the apathy
that endured such things then, it is impossible to conceive.
This moral mania is said to have originated with children,
under twelve years of age, in the family of the Rev. Samuel
Parris, of Salem Village. A part of the identical building in
which Mr. Parris then lived, it is said, now remains, situate
on the easterly side of the Ipswich road, about twenty rods
northerly of the Collins house. It then was a part of the par
sonage, standing a few rods northwesterly of the village church.
It should ever remain a monument with this inscription, "Obsta
principiis." Although this delusion may have begun with children, it was
not the work of children alone. It is chargeable upon those of
an older growth, — upon those whose station in society demand
ed from them better things, — clergymen and magistrates. I am
sensible that I speak plainly of those in authority ; but nothing
less plain will meet the case. I use the words of " truth and
soberness." When these extravagances in the children were first noticed,
the Doctor was consulted, and gave his opinion "that they
were under an evil hand." "This," says Cotton Mather,
"the neighbors took up and concluded they were bewitched."
Whether he was a doctor of medicine, of law, or of divinity,
who gave this opinion, I am not advised. Of the name of the
doctor, history gives no information, — not even the learned Dr.
Mather's Magnalia, which tells all that was true and something
more. This is certain, the Reverend gentleman, in whose
house the malady began, and his associates of the neighbor
hood, did very little to suppress the evil ; much less than they
should have done. Says Dr. Mather, "Mr. Parris, seeing the
condition of his family, desired the presence of some worthy
* Prof. J. W. Webster, of Cambridge.

14
gentlemen of Salem, and some neighbor ministers, to consult
together at his house ; who when they came, and had inquired
diligently into the sufferings of the afflicted, concluded they
were preternatural and feared the hand of Satan was in them."
I cannot better express my views, than in the terse language of
the Rev. Dr. Dwight, President of Yale College, who can never
be charged with want of proper respect for the clergy.
Says he, "Had Mr. Parris, instead of listening to the com
plaints of the children, and holding days of fasting and prayer,
on occasions so preposterous, applied the rod as it should have
been ; had the magistrates, instead of receiving the complaints,
arrested the complainants as disturbers of the peace ; or had the
Judges of the Court quashed the indictments, as founded on the
baseless fabric of a vision, and discharged the prisoners, the evil
might have been arrested, in limine. But unhappily these were
efforts of reason, which lay beyond the spirit of the times."
Those who conducted these trials were not only deceived
themselves, but they were willing to deceive others. They
were not simply zealous ; but they were corruptly furious.
They introduced testimony ,• equally at variance with law, with
common sense, and with the Scriptures. Children incapable of
any comprehension of the topics about which they were inter
rogated, were in some cases the only witnesses. A venerable
man Avas found guilty on the testimony of his own grandchild.
What is worst of all, the answers desired were put into their
mouths by the illegal forms of the questions proposed.
Time will not admit of a reference to each of the victims of
this delusion, that had a home in Danvers. Among them were
the following : — Rev. George Burroughs, (who himself had
been a settled minister in the village ;) Giles Corey, and wife ;
John Proctor, and wife ; Rebecca Nourse, George Jacobs, Sarah
Good, John Willard. Dr. Mather estimates the whole number
of arrests, at 100 ; the whole number executed, at 19.
I will briefly advert to a few of the cases as samples of the
whole ; at the same time must say, that in the examination of
the trials as preserved, I have not noticed a single error, in con
duct or opinion, in those who were accused. On the contrary,

15
the more prominent were their virtues the more likely were
they to be accused ; and the less chance had they for escape.
In the case of John Proctor, (whose character I feel in duty
bound to vindicate from all unjust aspersions, ) his only fault was
a kind regard for his wife. When she was arrested and about to
be carried to prison, (her health being such as to forbid her being
imprisoned, ) he insisted upon going with her ; whereupon, her
accusers cried out against him, and he was arraigned also. Dur
ing his trial the Rev. C. Mather was in Court, (at the special
solicitation of the prisoner, see his admirable letter of July 23d,
1692,^) and fearing there might be some hesitation in the minds
of the jury on account of his well-established character for integ
rity and piety, volunteered to testify that he himself had seen his
Satanic Majesty, the Devil, whispering in the ear of the prisoner,
while there in Court. To every intelligent mind the statement
of such a fact carries with it its own commentary. The learned
Doctor must have had the impulses of his own fears, in the eye
of his mind, when he presumed to give such testimony ; not to
speak of the wisdom of the judges, who permitted it to be
given.* In the case of Rebecca Nourse, a sister of the Church, of fail-
character, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty ; but the
* That injustice may not be done to Dr. Mather, whose greatest defect
seems to have been his egregious vanity, I will quote the views of Mr. C. Rob
bins, of Boston, who appears to have examined the part acted by Dr. Mather
with much kindness and discrimination. " That Cotton Mather was enchanted
in the same spell with the other prominent actors in these tragic events ; that
he was credulous to a ridiculous extreme; that he was inordinately fond ofthe
marvellous ; that he was too easily imposed upon ; that his intense and undis
guised interest in every case of alleged possession, betrayed him into indis
cretions, and laid him open to censure ; and that he busied himself unneces
sarily with the trials, are facts which rest upon indubitable evidence, — are
blemishes which can never be wiped away from his name. That he was under
the influence of any bad motives, any sanguinary feelings ; that he did not
verily thii.k he was doing God service, and the devil injury ; — the most careful
examination has failed to make me believe."
Bred as he was of the blood of the Mathers and Cottons for many genera
tions ; reverenced as they had been by the people as the elect of God, before
whom the people bowed at their nod, as was the custom of the times ; it is not
surprising that he assumed to dictate. Humility, in those days, was not an
indispensable qualification in the character of a Christian minister j on the
contrary, it was a qualification rarely found in their possession. It is said, " to
do all the good he could to all, was his maxim, his study, his labor, his pleasure."
(Hist, of 2d Church, Boston, p. 111.)

16
combined influence of the populace, the church and the clergy,
brought about her execution. She was first excommunicated,
then hung ; the first instance of the application of Lynch Law,
to be found in the annals of New England.
Giles Corey and Martha his wife, who lived in the western
part of the town, on the estate recently occupied by the Hon.
Daniel P. King, were accused and suffered death. He was
eighty years old. His contempt for the entire proceedings was
such, that he stood mute and refused to plead to the accusa
tions. Because he so refused, they undertook to press or extort
an answer from him, and so suffering, he died under the press
ure. Thus dying, his body was denied a Christian burial, and
it is said was deposited at the crotch of the roads, near Tapley's
brook, as was done with the bodies of infamous malefactors.
This is the only instance of the application of this kind of tor
ture, to my knowledge, in this Commonwealth. The idea is
most forbidding. A grey-headed veteran thus treated, in a
Christian land, and by those too who professed to have imbibed
more than a common share of the spirit of Christ ! If such be
a Christian spirit, how shall the opposite be described ? The
very thought produces a chill of horror.
George Burroughs, who, for several years, was a pastor of the
Village Parish, having removed to Portland, where he was re
spectably settled in the ministry, was cried out against by his
enemies, tried, convicted, and executed with the others, August,
1692, on Gallows Hill. He is entitled to be remembered with
high regard, as he had the firmness to resist the infatuations
that overcame the minds of so many of his brethren. Says
Mr. Willis, the historian of Portland, "there has nothing sur
vived Mr. Burroughs, either in his living or dying, that casts
any reproach upon his character ; and, although he died a vic
tim of a fanaticism as wicked and as stupid as any which has
been countenanced in civilized society, and which at the time
prejudiced his memory, yet his character stands redeemed in a
more enlightened age, from any blemish."
I have sought in vain for the part taken in these trials, by the
lawyers as such. The trials appear to have been carried on before

17
a special tribunal, organized for this special purpose, partaking
of the powers of civil and ecclesiastical tribunals, having little
or no regard to the rules of evidence, or any other proprieties ;
and thus to have continued, until it broke down under the
weight of its own extravagances. Messrs. Stoughton, Salton
stall, Richards, Gedney, Sewall, Winthrop and Sargent, were
the seven eminent citizens selected for this purpose. They
were men of high respectability. A special jury was organized
before which all the cases were brought. The depositions and
affidavits used, show that rules of law were entirely disregarded
in the trials. A species of infatuation seems to have pervaded
the minds of all concerned. The entire movement, from begin
ning to end, was an anomaly most extraordinary. I am not
unmindful, that trials for like offences had been carried on in
England, and on the continent of Europe, and that some of the
purest jurists of the time, had participated in the trials. But
such was not the fact in regard to the witchcraft of New Eng
land. These trials bear no marks of wisdom, and very few of
honesty of purpose. Perhaps the reason for the appointment of
a special tribunal for the trial of those accused of witchcraft
was, that the Provincial Charter did not arrive until May, 1692,
and no regular court was organized under it, until December
following. Here then was an interval in which the regular ad
ministration of justice was suspended for the want of a proper
Court ; from which a lesson is to be learned, that such experi
ments should not often be repeated.
But why do we dwell with such abhorrence upon the follies
of olden time ? When in our own times, and almost in our
own circles, are extravagances, quite as irrational and unintelli
gible. That there may be phenomena, from natural causes,
electrical, galvanic, or otherwise, of a character to astonish and
confound, I will not presume to deny, though I have not wit
nessed any such. But that any communications with the
spirits of the departed, directly or indirectly, have ever been
had; or any revelations from them, through any such agencies,
I do not believe. All such pretences, under whatever name
they may come, axe false and deceptive, and only calculated to
3 c

18
mislead. They are to be classed in the same category with
witchcraft of olden time.
I am not unmindful that it is said by high authority, (Exodus
xxii, 18,) " Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live." There are
•many other things said by the same authority, which, in my
•opinion, were not intended literally to be regarded as rules for
our guidance, without some qualification of circumstances.
:Suppose this rule to be followed, and the idea of a witch, then
(prevalent, to be taken, — what would be the consequence ? "A
witch" is defined, in the Magnalia of the learned Doctor, to be
"a person that, having the free use of reason, doth knowingly
•and willingly seek and obtain of the Devil, or any other god
beside the true God Jehovah, an ability to do or know strange
things, or things which he cannot by his own human abilities
arrive unto." A witch was supposed to have renounced allegi
ance to the true God, and to have promised obedience to the
Devil. Some of the clergy construed the Scriptures as recog
nizing the validity of such contracts. Was it strange, then,
to believe, that the persons supposed to be bewitched were
moved of the Devil ? Were not those who thus taught and
misled those whom they taught, justly chargeable with the
blood of the innocent sufferers? I have no respect for the
agency of the Devil, as he is supposed to have operated in 1692,
or as he is now operating in 1852 ; and as to good spirits ope
rating through such mediums to instruct and bless mankind, I
have no faith in it.
These accusations continued to multiply, until they were
.checked by their own extravagance.* The arraignment of
* Dr. Mather says, (Vol. II, 413, § 11,) " By these things you may see how
this matter was carried on, viz., chiefly by the complaints and accusations of
the afflicted, bewitched ones, as it was supposed, and then by the confession
of the accused, condemning themselves and others. Yet experience shewed,
the more there were apprehended, the more were still afflicted by Satan ; and
the number of confessors increasing, did but increase the number of the ac
cused ; and the executing of some, made way for the apprehending of others :
f* still the afflicted complained of being tormented by new objects, as the
former were removed. At last, it was evidently seen that there must be a stop
put, or the generation of the children of God would pass under that condemna
tion. Henceforth, therefore, the juries generally acquitted such as were tried,
fearing they had gone too far before ?" " Considering the confusion this mat
ter had brought us into, it was thought safer to under do than to over do, espe
cially in matters capital, where what is once compleated, cannot be reprieved."

19
Mrs. Hale, wife of the minister of Beverly, and of Mrs. Proctor,
wife of John Proctor, beforenamed, ladies eminent for their vir
tues, opened the eyes of jurors and judges to reflect, that their
own time might soon come.
The jurors before whom the accused were tried, with one
accord, acknowledged their error in acting upon such evidence,
or rather without any evidence ; and the judges, particularly the
excellent Chief J. Sewall* continued to lament their mistakes
while they lived.
Whether Justices Hawthorne and Corwin, the magistrates
who conducted the preliminary examinations, ever made the
amende honorable, does not appear. Perhaps, as they were
judges of an inferior court only, a correction of errors was not
deemed an essential part of their duty. This is certain, the
higher law of common sense gained the ascendency, and false
interpretations of the laws of Moses were soon in a measure
corrected. The Devil was deposed.
I have dwelt long upon this antiquated topic, because justice
to the memory of those who died without blemish, together
with the unaccountable propensity of the human mind, even at
the present time, to give credence to irrational absurdities and
visionary fancies, forbid my saying less. I am not insensible
that my views of the subject are extremely imperfect. Nothing
less than an entire volume would do justice to it. All the facts
deserve to be gathered and chronicled, as a warning to future
generations. Had not those in high life participated so fully, it
would, ere this, have been done. " Dog wont eat dog," is
" A maxim true
As human wisdom ever drew."
revolutionary incidents.
Passing over events of a temporary character, let us glance
for a moment to the period immediately preceding the Revolu-
* The Hon. Samuel Sewall, afterwards Chief Justice of the Court, and a
magistrate of sterling integrity, was accustomed annually to ask the prayers of
the church and congregation at the Old South Church, where he worshipped,
for the pardon of his offence in the part he took in condemning those charged
with loitchcraft. He was not so mealy mouthed as some ofthe present day, who-
would charge the error entirely to the times, and take no part of it to themselves..
Such men would hang witches, or do anything else that expediency might
prompt

20
tion, when trifles light as air were big with the fate of nations.
The refusal to use a paper with a government stamp upon it,
was interpreted treason. ' The sale of a little tea, for the use of
the ladies, involved loss of caste and imprisonment. The charge
of an exorbitant price for a pound of cheese, public posting, by
order of the town, as faithless to one's country.
The seeds of jealousy planted at the time of the granting of
the Act of Incorporation, whereby the right of representation
was restricted, were never eradicated. It was not the value of
the privilege withheld, but the manner in which it was done,
that excited the indignation of the people. His majesty had
given special instructions that no more towns should be incor
porated, with the privilege of choosing their own representatives.
Our fathers were jealous of their rights, especially when in
fringed by the power over the water ; and there were those on
this side of the water who took good care to keep this jealousy
enkindled. The Adamses, the Otises, the duincys, the Pick
erings, were not silent, and did not live in vain in those days.
The spirit they infused, pervaded every artery of the body
politic. How else could it have happened, that simultaneously, from
all parts of the State, came up resolutions of similar import.
Doubtless these resolutions expressed the feelings of the people ;
but they probably had a common origin. Although messages
were not then circulated by lightning, or handbills published
through the daily press, still, messengers were not wanting, nor
prompters to tell the people what to say. James Otis, John
Adams, Joseph Warren, Samuel Adams, Timothy Pickering,
and many others, were intent on securing the freedom of the
colonies. In 1765, it was deliberately resolved, in town-meeting assem
bled, " that the inhabitants were greatly incensed by the burdens
attempted to be imposed upon the people, and were ready to
resist to the uttermost."
In 1768, Dr. Holten, delegate to a convention holden at
Faneuil Hall, the cradle of Liberty, in Boston, was specially
instructed " to look well to the rights of the people." With

21
such marked ability did he then discharge this duty, that he
thereby laid the foundation for a distinction more prominent,
and an influence more pervading, than any other citizen ever
acquired. While he lived, to hesitate to yield assent to the
opinions of Dr. Holten, was by many deemed political heresy.
The ardor of his feelings and the purity of his life gave an au
thority to his views that could not be resisted.*
In 1772, Messrs. Wm. Shillaber and others were appointed a
committee of vigilance. The manner in which their duty was
discharged shows them to have been a vigilant committee, —
regulating not only what men should say and do, but what they
should eat and drink, and what should be paid therefor. If
those who would reform the manners of the age, as to diet and
regimen, would seek precedents, they may readily find them in
the records of those days. Our fathers were a law-abiding
people, — provided always, they had a voice in the making of
the laws, — not otherwise. They were sensitive and jealous of
their rights in the extreme. The spirit of Robinson, of Peters,
of Williams, of Endicott, of Bradstreet, and of Winthrop, per
vaded their entire nature. They felt that they were born to be
free, and they suffered no opportunity for securing this privi
lege to escape without improvement.
So marked were these characteristics, that, in 1774, a regi
ment of royal troops was quartered on yonder plain, in front of
the then residence of the Royal Governor Gage, — for, be it
remembered, that twice in our history was Danvers the resi
dence of the royal governors. So ardent was the patriotism
of the citizens at this time, that it is not improbable the first
bursting forth of the flame of liberty was here apprehended.
So correctly did they augur coming events, that, in February
next following, less than two months previous to the battle of
Lexington, the first onset by the British was aimed at Danvers.
Col. Leslie, with his regiment, came from Boston for the pur
pose of, destroying cannon and military stores supposed to be
deposited at Danvers. Without doubt, such deposits were here.
* See remarks following, by Rev. J. Warburton Putnam, for a more com
plete view of the life and character of this estimable citizen.

22
In those days, patriots had to have their eyes open in all direc
tions. They had to watch their enemies at home and abroad.
The tories were on the watch, ready at all times to give in
formation of every movement.
While Col. Leslie was parleying with parson Barnard and
others, about crossing the North Bridge in Salem, near the line
of Danvers, Mr. Richard Skidmore (familiarly known as Old
Skid) took care to trundle off the cannon, upon the carriages he
himself had made. So the brave Colonel returned to Boston,
with his first lesson distinctly conned, that a yankee was not to
be caught napping. This excursion was on the Lord's day,
Feb. 26th, 1775. The troops landed at Marblehead, while the
people were at church in the afternoon, and it is worthy of
special notice, as the resistance here experienced was the first
resistance to British arms. As Gov. Kossuth recently happily
remarked at our own monument, in allusion to this event, " the
men of Danvers were ready to fight, and this is quite as good
as fighting. Would the people of the United States just say to
the Czar of Russia, what the people of Danvers said to Col.
Leslie, I think the Czar of Russia would do as Col. Leslie did,
go back again, and thus my own beloved Hungary would be
free." Had it not have been for the pacific wisdom exercised on that
occasion, by Messrs. Barnard, Pickering and others, Salem
would have been the theatre on which the first blood for liberty
would have been shed, and thereby she would have plucked
the feathers from the caps of Lexington and Concord.*
The men of Danvers were there. Messrs. Rev. Clergy,
Wadsworth and Holt, were there seen in the ranks of the mili-
* Rev. J. W. Hanson, in his History of Danvers, (page 86,) says " This
was the first resistance, bloodless indeed, but determined, which was made on
the part of the people of this country to the encroachment of foreign aggres
sion. In the town of Salem, nearly two months before the battle of Lexington,
the people of Dinvers, joined by those of Salem, opposed and beat back the
foe, and established their title to the quality of determined bravery. But for
the calmness and discretion of Leslie the English commander, North Bridge,
at Salem, would have gone ahead ofthe North Bridge at Concord, and Salem
itself have taken the place of Lexington ; and February 26th would have
stood forever memorable in the annals of the Republic. The British under
Leslie numbered 140. The Americans under Pickering numbered 50."

23
tia, with their guns ready for battle, under the command of the
brave Samuel Eppes. When the alarm was sounded, the ser
mon was cut off, and the concluding prayer, with the doxology,
were deferred to a more convenient season. Then, men not
only slept upon their arms, but carried them to meeting. The
best of men were ready to fight. All were soldiers, — none too
good for service. Their country's rights, not their own aggran
dizement, were the objects for which they watched without
ceasing. BATTLE OF LEXINGTON.
Thus continued the town, in a state of constant preparation
and alarm, until the morning of April 19th, 1775, an era most
marked in the annals of Danvers. Then, every man capable
of bearing arms, from the stripling of sixteen to the veteran of
sixty years, was seen trotting at the rate of four miles an hour,
to the field of duty and of glory, — with what effect, the return
ing wagons on the following day, loaded with the dead and
wounded, too plainly told. Seven of the young men of Dan
vers, whose names are registered on yonder monument of gran
ite, quarried in our own hills, the corner stone of which was
laid by Gen. Gideon Foster, their commander, on the sixtieth
anniversary, then became entitled to the inscription, " Dulce et
decorum est, pro patria mori." As many more received marks
of distinction from the enemy, that they carried with them to
i their graves.
Think of it, my friends ! Suppose your father, son, or
brother, one or all, as was the case with some families at that
time, to have been thus exposed, when the distant thunder of
conflicting arms came echoing over the hills, and the lightning
flash of artillery illumined the western horizon, you will be able
to appreciate the price paid by your fathers for the liberties you
now enjoy.
The impulse given at Lexington was never suspended. The
funeral knell of those, whose lives were thus sacrificed, constantly
resounded in the ear. As a specimen of the feeling that then
pervaded the entire community, I beg leave to recite an anec-

24
dote of an event that occurred on that morning, which I had
from the Colonel himself, and therefore it may not be ques
tioned.* BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL.
On the 17th of June, next following, (a morning not unlike
the present, when the grass was waving in abundance on the
plains,) Captains Foster, Flint, Page, Porter, and others of Dan
vers, were found in the post of danger, at the bloody ramparts
of Bunker Hill, under Gen. Putnam, the commander, — himself
of Danvers. There they stood, shoulder to shoulder, side by
side, with Warren, Stark and Prescott, the motto of Patrick
Henry on their helmets, colors not to be mistaken, " Give us
Liberty, or give us Death ! "
Shall it be said, my friends, that Danvers did nothing towards
securing our freedom ? — Danvers, that poured out her best blood
in the midst of the fight ? of one, who had rather die than stoop,
though cautioned to do so, — one, who, when questioned where
he should be on the day of battle, replied, " Where the Enemy is .
there you will find me! " All who know our country's history
must be aware that I refer to the brave Captain Samuel Flint,
who fell fighting, sword in hand, on the mounds of Bennington,
in the prime of life and vigor of manhood ; leaving descendants,
whose highest pleasure it should be to imitate the patriotism of
their grandfather, and the amiable virtues of their father, — the
late Hon. D. P. King.
On the 18th of June, 1776, it was voted, in town meeting,
" if the Honorable Congress, for the safety of the United States,
* When the troops from Salem, under the command of Col. Timothy Pick
ering, were on their way to meet the enemy, (the Danvers companies having
started ahead by permission,) they halted at the Bell Tavern, now Monument,
to arrange their places ; and while thus stopping, Hasket Derby, one of the
soldiers, stepped into friend Southwick's, the house opposite, with whom he
was acquainted, where Mrs. Southwick said to him, Friend Derby, thee knows
that my principles will not allow me to do anything to encourage war ; but as
there is a long and tedious march before thee, and thee and those with thee
may be in need of refreshment, this batch of bread, just taken from the oven,
thee may take, if thee please,— -for it never can be wrong to feed the hungry.
And she put into his knapsack a cheese aiso. The same facts have been
affirmed to me by her son Edward, who, with the soldier from Salem, lived to
be men of the greatest wealth and influence in their respective towns.

25
declare them independent of the kingdom of Great Britain, —
Ave, the inhabitants of Danvers, do solemnly pledge our lives
and fortunes to support them in the measure," — language
smelling strongly of the Declaration made at Philadelphia, on
the 4th of July next following ; — which Declaration was unan
imously approved by vote, and ordered to be entered, at length,
in the records of the town. Yes, there it is, my friends, in
bold relief, on the page, — for the instruction of future genera
tions. This little incident speaks volumes of the feelings that
pervaded the minds of the community. This little town, with
less than two thousand inhabitants, thus ratifying the doings
of a nation, and taking upon itself the responsibility. The
spirit of Holten, of Foster, of Hutchinson, of Shillaber, and
their compatriots, is apparent in this thing. When such a feel
ing prevails, victory or death must follow. No compromise is
admissible. No tory spirit was found here. While these men
lived, there was no doubt where Danvers would be found.
Her sons have every reason to be proud of the patriotic spirit
and determined purpose of their sires. The names of many
brave men are conspicuous in her annals. Let their sons, to
the latest generation, see to it, that a reputation so nobly earned
shall never be tarnished. REVOLUTIONARY HEROES.
On the page of history that shall mark the efforts of Danvers
in the Revolutionary struggle for Independence, will be found
the names of — Gen. Israel Putnam,
Gen. Gideon Foster,
Gen. Moses Porter,
Col. Jeremiah Page,
Col. Israel Hutchinson,
Col. Enoch Putnam,
Major Caleb Lowe,
Major Sylvester Osborn,
Capt. Samuel Eppes,
Capt. Samuel Flint,
4 d

26
Capt. Jeremiah Putnam,
Capt. Samuel Page,
Capt. Dennison Wallis,
Capt. Levi Preston,
Mr. William Shillaber,
Dr. Amos Putnam,
Dr. Samuel Holten,
Capt. Johnson Proctor, (my father,)
the last survivor of the revolutionary worthies, who died No
vember 11, 1851, aged 86. A class of men worthy of the
cause they so ably defended. They were none of your milk-
and-water heroes ; salt pork and bean porridge constituted the
basis of their diet.* AGE OF SOLDIERS.
It is interesting to notice the extraordinary length of lives
attained by these patriots. Of those named, their average ages
exceeded 80 years. What could have so extended their lives
ten years beyond the period ordinarily allotted to man ? This
is an inquiry of much interest. It could not have been quiet,
and freedom from exposure, — for none were more exposed.
The incidents of the soldier's life, under circumstances most
favorable, have little to charm or amuse ; but the Revolutionary
Soldiers, half clad and half starved, as they often were, must
have lived on something not fully appreciated, to hold out as
they did. May it not in part be attributed to their energy and
activity of movement in early years? to that buoyancy and
cheerfulness of spirits that naturally flow from such movements?
Who has not witnessed the animation with which the old
soldier adverts to the perils of his youth, and
" Shoulders his crutch to show how fields are won"?
Who will presume to say that cheerful spirits do not essentially
contribute to the prolongation of life ?
* There are many others, " good men and true," who did much service, with
equal energy and patriotism, but who were content with being brave, without
any proclamation made of it. Those who float readily on the top, have not
always the most solidity.

27

CENTENNARIANS.
But two instances, within the limits of the town, of persons
living to the age of one hundred years, have come to my
knowledge. These were both soldiers, who had seen much
service in many wars.
The first was Thomas Nelson, a native of Scotland, who
died in 1774, at the age of 113 years.
The second was Lemuel Winchester, a native of Brookline,
Massachusetts, who died in 1844, at the age of 100 years 8
months and 5 days.
Of father Nelson, I have heard my grandmother say, (who
herself lived to be almost one hundred,) that when he was
more than one hundred, he often walked from his residence to
Salem, six miles, as upright as any young man.
Both of these gentlemen possessed cheerful dispositions and
active habits. Both of them were free from those excesses so
common to the age in which they lived, though probably not
tee-totallers, — a description of beings that were not common in
revolutionary times.
How important then, to those who would possess health and
long life, to imitate their example in the cultivation of habits
of activity, temperance and cheerfulness. It was remarked by
Lord Mansfield, one of the most sagacious of men, that he
never knew an instance of a person living to extreme old age
who did not rise early ; and he might have added, who did not
live temperate. Temperance and activity are the corner stones
of health and usefulness. RELIGIOUS WORSHIP.
The first settlers of Salem were Puritans. They were men
who aimed to be governed by the impulses of their own con
sciences, and to keep themselves void of offence.* Such were
Endicott and his associates when they came to Salem. I do
* In the language of Governor Bradford, when a young man, " To keep a
good conscience, and walk in such a way as God hath prescribed in his Word,
is a thing which I much prefer before you all, and above life itself."

28
not presume to say they were without blemish, — the sun has
spots, — but "their faults leaned to virtue's side." They had
more of merit in them than many men's virtues. Thus moved
by a faith that gives dignity to man, — purity to woman, — and
loveliness to the child, — it would have been strange indeed if
they had neglected to provide all needful accommodations for
the worship of God. As early as 1666, the farmers of the
village were incorporated into a society for religious worship.
This was the Second Parish in Salem. Parish privileges and
rights of citizens were then essentially connected. No man
could exercise the rights of a citizen who did not belong to the
Church. In the meetings of the Church, matters of business
were moulded as much as they now are in caucus assembled.
The first thirty years of the Village Parish covers that period
when the witch delusion and other controversies were agitated
to such extent that little may be said of the religious influences
then prevalent, — if regard be paid to the text, "By their fruits
shall ye know them."
In 1697, Rev. Joseph Green became the pastor of this society,
and so continued for a period of eighteen years. He died
among his people, universally beloved and respected. He must
have been a very good man to have lived and died as he did,
at such a time, surrounded with such influences.
He was succeeded by Rev. Peter Clark, who continued to
minister until all those who settled him had left the stage ; a
period of more than fifty years. His funeral discourse was
preached June 16, 1768, by Rev. Thomas Barnard, of Salem.
Such permanency in the ministry speaks well of pastor and
people ; — and is in accordance with our best New England
notions. I know that many have grown up of late who think
they know more than their fathers did, — but I have heard it
:said old Doctor Clark once said to his son Caleb, "Caleb! is
there no nearer way to Heaven than round by Chebacco ? " —
meaning thereby to reprove the new light influences then
prevalent. So in modern times, many are not content to pursue
the good old way to Heaven, but want to go by steam ; when
they start thus, there is danger of bursting the boiler.

29
Rev. Benjamin Wadsworth succeeded Mr. Clark, and minis
tered unto this people for more than fifty years. My first
impressions of a model minister were taken from this gentleman
when a boy at school. Subsequently, when an older boy,
rWyself attempting " to teach the young idea how to shoot," I
had the pleasure of a more intimate acquaintance, which con
firmed my first impressions. He was a gentleman, in the best
sense of the term. He knew what to say, and when to say it.
He too lived a long life harmoniously with his people, and died
beloved and respected. What Christian minister can ask a
better eulogy? Who that remembers the words of wisdom
that fell from the lips of these venerable men, will fail to
rejoice at their good fortune in being thus instructed? I know
of nothing that savors more of Heaven, than lessons of instruc
tion from a virtuous, modest, wise old minister. Very few
societies can render so good an account of their stewardship.
Since the decease of Dr. Wadsworth, the increase of popula
tion has been such as to demand a division, and two societies
are now sustained on the old foundation. Of the living, I
forbear to speak, well knowing that the sound of their own
voices will be their highest encomium. They are favorably es
teemed wherever learning or piety is regarded.
The inhabitants of the southerly part of the town worshiped
with the First Church in Salem, until 1710, when a new soci
ety was incorporated, under the -name of the Middle Precinct
Parish. This was the Third Parish in Salem. Their first effort
was, to obtain from the town, a grant of " a quarter of an acre
of land to set a meeting-house on." This was so located, that,
in process of time, it expanded to more than an acre. Whether
fortunately, or not, involves too many incidents to admit of
discussion on this occasion.
In 1713, Rev. Benjamin Prescott was settled as pastor over
this parish, and remained such for a period of forty years.
His pastoral relations were closed in 1752, (the year of the sep
aration from Salem,) in consequence of contentions that had
arisen about the collection and payment of his salary. There
were, within the parish, Quakers and others, who thought they

30
could not conscientiously pay for such preaching. The laws
had no regard t6 scruples of conscience of such a character.
After the dissolution of his pastoral relations, Mr. Prescott con
tinued to reside in the parish, a worthy citizen and magis
trate, dying in good old age, respected for his talents afra
virtues, and was buried at the foot of the hill bearing his name.
A shrewd observer, with much experience in ministerial
affairs, remarked, in relation to Mr. Prescott's ministry, " When
a minister and people cannot get along without quarrelling
about his salary, it is better for both that the connection should
be dissolved. God and Mammon cannot peaceably occupy the
same tenement."
The Rev. Nathan Holt succeeded Mr. Prescott, and minis
tered with good fidelity for a period of thirty-four years. He
was a peaceable, clever man, — deeply imbued with the patriotic
spirit of the times. Of his services in the pulpit, I have heard
but little. His labors among his people were highly prized,
and productive of a happy influence. " He was an Israelite
indeed, in whom there was no guile."
Rev. Samuel Mead followed Mr. Holt, and was pastor about
ten years. The record of this period is lost ; it is not safe,
therefore, to speak, where the best evidence is wanting. I
remember him well. His peculiarities were many.
In 1805, the Rev. Samuel Walker was settled, and remained
the pastor for a period of twenty-one years. His life was termi
nated by a painful casualty. He was faithful to his calling,
discreet in his movements, and died with a kind remembrance
in many a bosom. Since his death, a Unitarian, a Methodist,
a Baptist, and a Universalist society have grown up in the par
ish, and flourished with various degrees of success, leaving the
Old South Society still one of the largest and ablest in the
county. For a few years they were ministered unto by the Rev.
George Cowles, who, while on his way south with his lady, in
search of health, was suddenly lost on board the steamer Home,
dying with these last words, " He that trusteth in Jesus is safe,
even among the perils of the sea." He died deeply lamented,

31
having previously resigned his pastoral care on account of ill
health. The Rev. H. G. Park followed for a short time.
The Rev. Thomas P. Field succeeded Mr. Park for a period
of ten years, laboring successfully to a harmonious and happy
people, — which labors were unfortunately interrupted by his
being called to a position of more extended usefulness at Troy,
N. Y., with the offer of a compensation better proportioned to
the worth of his services. When it was too late, the people
saw their error. The disappointment experienced in parting
with one so highly esteemed, with no appreciable reason as
signed therefor, poorly prepared the way to treat with kindness
and Christian sympathy his successor, the Rev. James D. Butler,
who, after a conditional settlement of one year, was crowded off,
without ceremony. May his eminent learning and Christian
humility command a position in which they will be duly appre
ciated. Several other religious societies have grown up in different
parts of the town, and been sustained with varied success. A
Baptist society was organized at the New Mills Village, under
the pastoral care of Rev. Benj. Foster, sixty-eight years since.
The present pastor, Rev. A. W. Chapin. There is also a Uni-
versalist society in that neighborhood, which was organized
thirty-seven years since, now under the pastoral care of the
Rev. J. W. Putnam.
Within my memory, four valuable churches have been de
stroyed by fire, probably caused by incendiaries. One offender
only has been brought to justice, and he under his own con
fession. Within the last twelve years, there has been expended in the
construction and finish of churches, more than f 50,000.
The present annual payments within the town, for the sup
port of religious instruction, cannot be estimated at less than
$10,000. The predominant faith at the present time, (exclusive of those
who have no faith at all,) is a modified version of the notions
of the Puritan Fathers of New England ;— how far improved

32
by the modification, must be left to the better judgment of those
who have really experienced its purifying influences. That
there may be such, I cannot doubt, — but something more than
mere profession of religion is wanted, to satisfy my mind. I
incline to the belief, that his faith cannot be wrong whose life
is right. And where the life does not illustrate and adorn the
profession, the profession will be found " a sounding brass and
tinkling cymbal." EDUCATION.
Popular education, in the broadest sense of the term, has en
grossed the attention of the people of Danvers as much as any
other topic. From the time of their first meeting, March 4th,
1752, when Daniel Eppes, father and son, were moderator and
clerk, each year's record shows more or less of interest in the
education of the rising generation.
Previous to the separation, but little attention had been given
to supporting schools for the children on the borders.
In 1783, when revolutionary troubles had subsided, the peo
ple began to look after the condition of the schools.
In 1793, an interesting report on the reorganization of the
schools was made to the town, by Dr. Archelaus Putnam, which
appears in full upon the records, — a fact worthy of notice, be
cause many a report, placed on file only, is not now to be found.
Files that are handled by every body, soon become every
body's property.
In 1794, pursuant to a plan proposed by Gideon Foster,
Samuel Page, and John Kettelle, the town was divided into
districts. In 1802, the districts were remodelled, at the suggestion of
Sylvester Osborn. Thus we find Holten, Foster, Page, Osborn,
and others, who were foremost in their efforts to secure our
rights, going ahead in their endeavors to educate the children
to understand those rights.
In 1809, the present system of school districts was estab
lished, — then nine, now fourteen ; — then containing 800 chil
dren, now more than 2000, of age suitable to attend school.

33
It is not easy to understand how schools were supported as
well as they were, with the limited appropriations then made.
Masters must have taught for the love of teaching, and children
studied for the sake of learning. The days of study, and not
the days of vacation, must then have been their seasons of
amusement. In 1814, an order was adopted requiring a report of the
condition of the schools, for the year next preceding, to be
made at the annual meeting in each year. This is worthy of
notice, it having become a State regulation since.
In 1820, an order was adopted requiring the names and ages
of children between four and sixteen years, resident in town
on the first day of May, to be returned by the prudential com
mittees, and recorded by the clerk. This also was in advance
of the action of the State to the same effect. Both of these:
regulations have been found highly serviceable.
The money appropriated for the support of schools has since
been apportioned to the several districts in proportion to the
children thus returned, with donations to the districts containing
a sparse population, to equalize the advantages of schooling as
far as practicable.
High schools have recently been established with good
success. The present year, a new plan of superintendence has
been ordered and entered upon with high expectation of ben
efit. It remains with the person who fills the office whether
these expectations shall be realized. The superintendent enters
upon the duties this day. I cannot doubt the efficiency of
individual superintendence when regulated by competent ability,
with a single eye to the advancement of the schools.
The predominant feeling has long been, that it is the bounden
duty of the town to carry out the free-school principle first
proposed by Endicott, viz, — to provide for the complete education
of all the children, at the public charge, in Mich manner as
their condition in society demands.
In this way alone can it be explained that Danvers has edu
cated so small a proportion of her sons at colleges, according to
her wealth and population. On looking over the list of natives
5 e

34
• of the town who have had the benefit of a collegiate education,
for one hundred years last past, I find six clergymen, three law
yers, two physicians, five farmers, and two others, — in all,
twenty ; — a number much less than will be found in many
towns with one half the population.* 1 speak of the fact as
presenting considerations worthy of reflection, and not because
I deem such an education an essential qualification to good citi
zenship. Instance the success of Franklin, of Washington, of
our own Bowditch, to the contrary. The truth is, the people of
Danvers have been anxious to realize a more speedy income on
their investments than is ordinarily found by trimming the mid
night lamp. As a general thing, they value objects in possession
more than those in expectancy ; their faith is not strong enough
to sustain the hope of distinction by means of literary efforts.
An elaborate attempt to abolish the district system of schools
was made in 1850, but the people were not prepared to give up
what they deemed a certainty for an uncertainty.
* College Graduates. — Names of natives of Danvers, who have been
educated at Collegiate Institutions : —
F. *Daniel Putnam,
F. *James Putnam,
T. *Daniel Eppes,
F. *Tarrant Putnam,
P. *Archelaus Putnam,
L. Samuel Putnam,
T. *Israel Andrew,
C. William P. Page,
C. Israel Warburton Putnam,
C. Daniel Poor,
L. John W. Proctor,
C. Ebenezer Poor,
L. *William Oakes,
P. John Marsh,
F. *Daniel P. King,
C. Allen Putnam,
F. Samuel P. C. King,
C. Ezekiel Marsh,
•Augustus E. Daniels,
?Thomas Stimpson,
6 of the above became clergymen ; 3, lawyers ; 2, teachers ; 5, farmers ;
2, physicians ; 2, occupation not yet determined.
Ten have deceased ; ten now living.
F. Farmer ; C. Clergyman ; P. Physician ; L. Lawyer ; T. Teacher.
Several other citizens have engaged in professional employments, without
the aid of collegiate instruction. Several are now preparing for such employ
ments.

Harv.

1717.

Harv.

1746.

Harv.

1758.

Harv.

1763.

Harv.

1763.

Harv.

1787.

Harv.

1789.

Harv.

1809.

Dart.

1809.

Dart.

1811.

Harv.

1816.

Dart.

1818.

Harv.

1820.

Harv.

1823.

Harv.

1823.

Harv.

1825.

Amherst.

, 1831.

Yale.

1839.

Harv.

1846.

Amherst,

, 1850.

35

SUPPORT OF SCHOOLS.

There is no town in the county where the appropriations for
schools are more liberal, in proportion to the number to be
educated and the ability to pay. Mr. Webster, in his late speech
at Faneuil Hall, says it is the glory of Boston that she applies
one quarter part of all the taxes assessed, for the support of
public schools, viz., $50,000 out of $200,000, — there being a
population of 140,000. Danvers applies $10,000 out of $25,-
000, — there being a population of 8000. Danvers has a valua
tion of $3,000,000;— Boston, $300,000,000. Here is a question
for boys at school to answer, which of these places does best
for the support of public schools, according to its ability ?
If the schools of Danvers are not advanced in proportion to
their appropriation, the defect is not chargeable to the mass of
the inhabitants, — their will is to have first rate free schools.

SCHOOL FUNDS.

The wisdom of the town in applying the surplus revenue,
that came to their use in 1844, as a permanent fund for the
benefit of schools, over and above a prescribed sum of not less
than three dollars per scholar, to be raised by the town annually
for this purpose, must not be overlooked. This fund now
amounts to the sum of $10,000, and is invested in the hands of
trustees chosen by the town. Considering the many jealousies
brought to bear on this topic, the act whereby the investment
was made will ever remain most creditable to the town. No
man did more to bring this about than the late Elias Putnam,
who in this, as in all his other public services, showed himself
a vigilant friend of the best interests of the town. Danvers
will long mourn his departure in the midst of his usefulness.
He was a man of marked energy and decision of .character.
Selfish to some extent, — for who is not, — but public spirited,
far beyond most of those around him. Those who knew him
best, valued him. highest. It was often my privilege, as on
this subject, to cooperate in the objects he had in view. I knew
him well.

36

WALLIS FUND.
By the generosity of Capt. Dennison Wallis, who died in
1825, a local fund of $2500 was established for the benefit of
School District No. 1, in which he then lived. He intended
the fund should have been $5000, but the phraseology of the
will so far fell short of the intentions of the donor, when tried
in the crucible of the Supreme Court, as to reduce the amount
one half.
With this fund, the Wallis School, for the education of chil
dren between the ages of six and twelve years, has been estab
lished, and sustained for twenty years. If the spirit of the
donor could look down upon the cheerful countenances of the
happy group of children, educated by his bounty, on one of
their days of. successful exhibition, it would discover abundant
reason for rejoicing in the wisdom of the donation. Happy
spirit that ! which can contemplate a life of toil and perplexity
terminated so gloriously. When another century shall have
passed away, who will be remembered with more admiration
than he who laid the foundation of the Wallis School ? Al
though his name may not live in the offspring of his own loins,
it shall be immortal in the benefits conferred on thousands.
This crowning act of his life will be cherished with gratitude,
even when his heroic exposure at Lexington shall be forgotten.
SUPPORT OF PAUPERS.
As a municipal regulation, next in importance to the educa
tion of the young, is the support of the unfortunate poor. By
the record of the first meeting, it appears that both these sub
jects were provided for. Still, no well-established system of
relief to the poor was adopted, until about the year 1800, when
the attention of friends E. Southwick and S. Shove, moved by
the combined considerations of economy and humanity, were
directed to this subject. To the credit of these gentlemen, be
it said, notwithstanding they belonged to a class of Christians
whose sense of religious duty will not suffer any of their num
ber to be a charge upon the public, that they did more to alle-

37
viate the condition of the paupers, as well as to relieve the
town from the expense of their support, than has been done by
any others. Their shrewd observation discerned, what was
not then generally known, that almshouse establishments, with
conveniences for industrial employments connected therewith,
adapted to the capacities of the inmates, were the true means
of benefiting their condition ; — that by thus being employed,
they would be saved from many a temptation incident to their
humiliated position, and the burden of their support would be
greatly diminished.
At this time a house, with about a dozen acres of land ap
purtenant, was appropriated to this use. But it was soon found
that the locality of the establishment was too central, for the
convenience of those around ; and that the growing wants of the
village demanded its removal. Accordingly, it was transferred
to the extensive farm of two hundred acres now occupied, then
chiefly covered with wood. The selection of this site, although
censured by many at the time, shows the superior discernment
of those who chose it. It is airy, healthy, and easy of access,
and readily made a secure abode, far removed from evil com
munications, and evil spirits also., Whoever would deal with
paupers, must prepare to guard against the influence of such
spirits with eagle eyes.
The rival efforts of these gentlemen, (Messrs. Southwick and
Shove,) to see which could out-do the other in saving for the
town, and the suggestions made by them, from time to time, in
their annual reports, will ever be interesting features for exami
nation. They were, in fact, a sort of Quaker duel, in which
no blood was shed, — although occasionally one would say to
the other, " Thee lies, thee knows thee lies, under a mistake."
During their administration of this department, the State allowed
twenty-one cents per day for the support of paupers, instead of
seven, the present allowance ; which materially aided in bal
ancing their accounts. ALMSHOUSE.
The present almshouse, with the farm and its appendages,
cost $25,000. It was erected in 1844. The town was moved

38
to its erection, by the admonitions of Miss D. Dix, of Boston,
whose generous philanthropy has done so much for suffering
humanity. There were those who thought her officious, mis
informed as to the facts she stated, and disposed to meddle with
that which did not concern her. I know there were such. But
even those will now cheerfully acknowledge, that she was
actuated by good motives ; and that she did the town a service,
for which she ought ever to be held in grateful remembrance.
Noble soul ! that looks around and sees how many tears of
suffering she has dried up, and how many pangs of distress she
has alleviated. Her own reflections are a heavenly reward.
May her shadow never be less.
There is no town in the Commonwealth where the unfortu
nate poor are regarded with more sympathy and kindness.
Every rational movement for their benefit has always met a
cheerful approval by the town. Care is taken to secure the
services of intelligent and humane overseers, and the establish
ment entire is a model worthy of imitation.
A careful analysis ofthe concerns of this department for fifty
years last past, will show, that at least three fourths of all those
who have received relief at the almshouse, have been brought
to this necessity by reason of intemperance, notwithstanding
the unremitted efforts of the town to stay the devastations of
this debasing vice, — this inexhaustible fountain of suffering and
of crime. May God grant a safe deliverance from it, even
though it should involve the total annihilation of all that intox ¦
icates. TEMPERANCE.
In the efforts that have been made to advance the cause of
temperance, for the last forty years, Danvers has taken no mean
position. During all this period, many of her best citizens have
been actively cooperating with the best friends of the cause.
As early as 1812, Samuel Holten, Benjamin Wadsworth,
Edward Southwick, Fitch Poole, Caleb Oakes, and others, were
pioneers in this enterprise. They dared to say, even then,
when it was almost the universal practice to " take a little for
the stomach's sake and often infirmities," that "the use of

39
intoxicating liquors, as a beverage, was an evil, and only evil
continually." It is glorious to find these experienced, upright,
and keen observers of human nature, putting forth the doctrine
that total abstinence, from everything that intoxicates, is " the
only sure guide," the only principle that can be depended upon.
What the zealous friends of law (Massachusetts law, may I
say?) have recently discovered, they seem to have known by
instinct. They preached temperance, and they practised what
they preached. Without which, on any subject, preaching is
" a tinkling cymbal," — an " empty show."
Danvers was the first town that took action, in its corporate
capacity, against licensing the retail of intoxicating liquors.
The motion, (to my certain knowledge,) was drafted in pencil,
at the Village Church, and presented at the annual meeting,
1835, by S. P. Fowler, Esq. To the credit of the town, its
authorities have constantly adhered to the faith then promul
gated. Not so with all the authorities in towns around, — and
hence has flowed misery and crime. Since 1835, there has
annually been appointed a committee, to watch the progress of
the cause, and to advance its success. What Maine now is to
other states, Danvers has been to other towns, a beacon light on
the eminence of Temperance. May its effulgence be strength
ened, until the path of duty shall be, as illuminated by the
noonday sun. BUSINESS. FARMING.
Attention to business has ever been a prominent trait in the
character of the people of Danvers. For many years, the cul
tivation of the land was their chief employment. Throughout
the early records, they are spoken of as the farmers, in contrast
with those engaged in commercial pursuits, for which Salem
has been eminent from the beginning. Among the farmers
best known, will be found the names of Putnam, Preston, Proc
tor, Felton, and King. Their fields have exhibited samples of
cultivation that will compare with any in the Commonwealth.
They have stirred their soil deep, and aimed to understand the
reason for so doing. The town affords every variety of soil,

40
from very strong to very shallow. The lands require much
labor, and unremitted attention to the application of invigorating
substances. As the population has increased, their labors have
been concentrated ; and it would not be difficult to point out
those who raise as much, and live as well, from the products of
ten acres, as did those before them from the products of one
hundred acres. I forbear to dilate. The story of their farm
ing has often been told, and can be better told elsewhere.
TANNING.
About one hundred years ago, friend Joseph Southwick com
menced the business of tanning, in a few tubs or half hogs
heads. This business has since so expanded, that it now occu
pies as many thousand vats. It is the staple business of the
place. For many years, it was carried on chiefly by Messrs.
Southwick, Shove, Wallis, Sutton. Poole, and a few others,
who made fortunes in attending to it. The hide and leather
business, in all its modifications, has probably done more to
advance the wealth and resources of the town, than any other ;
especially when the manufactures, of which leather is the prin
cipal component part, are taken into view. The annual amount
of these manufactures is estimated at not less than $2,000,000.*'
EARTHEN WARE.
A class of coarse ware, known as Danvers crockery, has been
coeval with the existence of the town. Forty years since, it
was made much more extensively than of late. It is now
thrown out of use by articles of more strength and beauty, pro
cured at less expense from abroad, — though for many purposes,
it still finds favor with those accustomed to its use. The clay
on the margin of Waters River has been found particularly well
adapted to this manufacture.
The Osborns and Southwicks have done more at this work
than any families within my knowledge. William Osborn, the
first of the name, was spoken of as a potter. His descendants,
* See Appendix, for statistics of this business,

4!

for four generations certainly, have shown their regard for their
ancestor by sticking to his employment.

OFFICIAL STATIONS.

The right to participate in the making of the laws has ever
been esteemed one of the choicest privileges of a citizen of New
England. As early as 1634, the settlers here had become so
numerous, that they felt the necessity of delegating their au
thority to representatives of their own choice. It was the jeal
ousy of the infringement of this right that moved our fathers to
resist the oppressive taxation by the mother country, — and not
the amount of tax imposed. It was the interference with this
right by Lieut. Gov. Hutchinson, under the special instructions
of " Georgius Secundus," at the time of the incorporation of
the town, that specially aroused the indignation of the people
of Danvers.* Thus early awakened, it would have been
extraordinary indeed if the citizens had not, at all times, been
careful to be represented by " good men and true," — by those
understanding their duty, and ready to discharge it.

* Lieut Gov. Hutchinson entered upon the Records of the Council his pro
test against the act, as follows, viz. : —
" I protest for the following reasons :
" First. Because it is the professed design of the bill to give the inhabitants
who now join with the town of Salem in the choice of representatives, a power
of choosing by themselves ; and the number of which the house of representa
tives may at present consist being full large, the increase must have a tendency
to retard the proceedings of the General Court, and to increase the burdens
which, by their long session every year, lies upon the people, and must like
wise give the house an undue proportion to the board ofthe legislature, where
many affairs are determined by a joint ballot of the two houses.
" Second. Because there being no governor in the Province, it is most agree
able to his Majesty's commission to the late governor, to the message of this
board to the house at the opening of the session, and in itself is most reasona
ble, that all matters of importance should be deferred until there be a governor
in the chair.
" Third. Because the board, by passing this bill as the second branch ofthe
legislature, necessarily bring it before themselves as the first branch for assent
or refusal ; and such members as vote for the bill in one capacity, must give
their assent to it in the other, directly, against the royal instruction to the gov
ernor, when the case is no degree necessary to the public interest ; otherwise,
their doings will be inconsistent and absurd. Thos. Hutchinson.
Council Chamber,"June 9, 1757."
6 /

42

REPRESENTATIVES.
Of those who have thus served the town, the following may
be named, viz. : —
Samuel Holten, Jr., 9 years, from 1768 to 1780
Israel Hutchinson, 18 " " 1777 to 1798
Gideon Foster, 9 " " 1796 to 1806
Samuel Page, 12 " " 1800 to 1814
Nathan Felton, 15 " " 1805 to 1821
and many others, for periods of from one to eight years.
iOne remark naturally arises upon a view of this state of facts,
-comparing the past with the present. Then, when a man had
been in office long enough to acquire useful experience, he was
continued, while he was willing to serve ; and deemed none
the less qualified because he had done his duty a few years,
with good ability. Now, when he has acquired this experience,
he is kindly reminded that there are those who want his place ;
that rotation is the grand democratic principle, without regard
to qualification; and if he does not voluntarily abandon the
hope, the probability is, the people will give him leave to with
draw. SENATORS AND COUNCILLORS.
In the Senate of the State, the town has often been repre
sented, and thereby been favored with a full share of the
Honorables. Instance the
Hon. Samuel Holten,
" Daniel P. King,
" Jonathan Shove,
" Elias Putnam,
" Robert S. Daniels,
" Henry Poor,
" George Osborn, &c,
Tarying in their terms of service from one to three years.
In the Executive Council, the town has been represented
by the Hon. Samuel Holten,
" Israel Hutchinson,
" Robert S. Daniels, &c.

43

JUSTICES.
Of the County Courts, Hon. Timothy Pickering, Hon Sam
uel Holten, and John W. Proctor, have been Justices.
Of the Court of Probate, Hon. Samuel Holten was for many
years a Judge.
Of the Supreme Judicial Court, Hon. Samuel Putnam was
for many years an eminent Judge, as his well-digested legal
opinions in the Reports bear testimony.
Of Judges Holten and Putnam, it can in truth be said, what
rarely is true with men in office, that they were more ready to
leave their offices, than to have their offices leave them, — they
having both voluntarily resigned, when their services were
highly appreciated. Judge Putnam still lives, at the green old
age of eighty-five, beloved and respected by all who know him.
REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS.
In Congress, the voice of Danvers has been heard, through
the representatives of the second district of the State, for about
one eighth part of the time since the organization of the gov
ernment. Hon. Samuel Holten,
" Nathan Reed,
" Daniel P. King,
have occupied this station. Mr. King was the immediate suc
cessor of the lamented Saltonstall, of Salem. Few, very few
districts in our land can boast of representatives so unexcep
tionable in all those qualities that best become a man. They
will long be remembered as stars of the first magnitude in the
constellation of worthies from Essex South District.
MUNICIPAL OFFICES. CLERKS.
In the management of the concerns of the town, there is no
duty of more responsibility than that which devolves upon the
clerk. On the correctness of his record rests the tenure of
office, and essentially depends the character and reputation of
the town.

44
How , else is he who caters for the intellectual part of the
centennial entertainments to be advised of facts? What is
now learned of time past one hundred years can be come at
through the records alone. What those present at the next
centennial will be able to present, must be drawn mainly from
the clerks' records. Nothing else will have a character to be
relied on ; unless perchance some floating leaf of this day's
doings shall chance to be preserved by some careful antiquarian.
Fortunately the records of Danvers were commenced by
Daniel Eppes, Jr., and kept for two years in a form highly
exemplary. His chirography was plain, his knowledge of lan
guage good, so that he used the right words in the right place,
neither more nor less ; — a qualification not sufficiently regarded
by many of those who have come after him : — among these,
James Prince, 6 years,
Stephen Needham, 11
, Gideon Foster, 4
Joseph Osborne, Jr., 6
Nathan Felton, 27
Benjamin Jacobs, 6
Joseph Shed, 17
and others from one to three years. Joseph Shed, Esq., the
present clerk, has greatly improved upon the records of his
predecessors by his mode of indexing and filing of papers.
There still remains much to be done to make the records intel
ligible, without the explanation of those who made them. Let
any one experience the inconveniences I have met in ascer
taining facts that should be readily understood, and I will
guarantee that he will not come to any other conclusion. A
town like this should have their own office for all their papers,
and all their papers arranged in systematic order, under the
care and keeping of the clerk, — and not otherwise.
MEDICAL PROFESSION.
No educated physician, to my knowledge, resided in town
previous to the separation. Female attendants were at com
mand, without doubt, in cases of emergency, which often

45
occurred, as the increase of population fully demonstrates. A
Dr. Gregg is mentioned, as early as the year 1692, as being
consulted in the diseases that then prevailed ; but where he
resided I know not.
Drs. Jonathan Prince, Archelaus Putnam, Samuel Holten.
and Amos Putnam, are the first named physicians in the North
Parish. Drs. Parker Cleveland, Joseph Osgood, and Joseph
Torrey, are the first in the South Parish. All of these are
believed to have been regularly educated physicians, of the old
order. Other names have appeared, at different periods, such as Drs.
Chickering, Nutting, Hildreth, Bowers, Carlton, Clapp, Cilley,
Little, Peabody, Gould, Southwick, Porter, Bush, Patten, &c. ;
but they did not remain long enough to leave any distinct im
pression of themselves or their practice. Within my memory,
Drs. Andrew Nichols,
George Osgood,
Ebenezer Hunt,
George Osborne, and
Joseph Osgood,
have been the medical advisers chiefly consulted. All of these
are well experienced in their profession.
Dr. James Putnam, son of Dr. Amos, accompanied his father
many years.
Dr. Joseph Shed, a pupil of the celebrated Dr. B. Kittridge,
also practised several years.
Drs. David A. Grosvenor, and Samuel A. Lord, have recently
been added to the number of regular physicians.
How many there are, or have been, who have rested their
fame on the new-modeled notions of cold water applications,
hot pepper mixtures, and infinitesimal divisions, I Avill not
presume to say ; but I will say I have good reason to believe
that prescriptions of nauseous drugs have essentially diminished,
and probably will continue to do so as people grow more en
lightened. There is no science in which so little is certainly
known as that of medicine.

46

LEGAL PROFESSION.

I am not aware that any one ever attempted to live by the
law, in Danvers, previous to 1812 ; since then many have
started here ; no one (except myself) has remained many years.
The order of residence has been as follows, viz. : —
hi-> Ralph H. French,
Frederick Howes,
Benjamin L. Oliver, Jr.,
George Lamson,
John Walsh,
John W. Proctor,
Rufus Choate,
Joshua H. Ward,
Frederick Morrill,
William D. Northend,
Alfred A. Abbott,
Benjamin Tucker,
Edward Lander, Jr.,
Benj. C. Perkins.
No lawyer has ever died in town with his harness on ; and
no one, to my knowledge, has ever realized a living income
from professional business. It is a poorly paid employment,
and not worth having by those who can find anything else to
do. The proximity to Salem, where such men as Prescott,
Story, Pickering, Saltonstall, Cummings, Merrill, Huntington,
and Lord, have ever been ready to aid those in want of justice,
has taken the cream from the dish of the professional gentlemen
of Danvers.

AFRICAN SLAVERY.

A glance at the last one hundred years of the history of the
town, suggests a word upon the slavery of the African; a
topic that has agitated and still agitates our country to its centre.
Do not fear that I am about to introduce party topics, for I am
no partizan in this matter. True, I am opposed to slavery,

47
root and branch, — as I presume every genuine son of New
England is, — and am ready to do all that can be .done to extir
pate it from the larid, consistent with the preservation of indi
vidual rights, and the obligations to regardMhe constitution.
At the time of the separation, there were, within the limits
of the town, twenty-five slaves, — nine mates, sixteen females.
These became free by the abolition of slavery in the State, on
the adoption of our constitution. Most of them remained,
while they lived, in the service of their former owners. I am
happy to know that some of them were valuable citizens, and
left descendants much respected ; one of whojifa, Prince Former,
son of Milo, slave of Mr. William Poole, lately deceased at
Salem. Since the decease of these slaves, scarcely an individ
ual of this colored race has found a home*An Danvers. I do
not now know of any one in town. There^are many citizens
who say much about the rights of the oppressed African, and
the wrongs they suffer, and profess great sympathy in their
behalf. I have never known of any efforts of theirs to en
courage the residence of such persons among us. On the con
trary, I have known some of the most zealous to advise them
to be off.
In 1819, the town expressed a very decided opinion against
the further extension of slavery, in a communication made to
the Hon. Nathaniel Silsbee, then representative from this dis
trict, in Congress, by a committee appointed for this purpose,
consisting of Edward Southwick, and four others.
In 1847, when considering the expediency of the Mexican
war, a resolve, prepared by myself, was unanimously adopted,
"that the town would not, in any manner, countenance any
thing that shall have a tendency to extend that most disgraceful
feature of our institutions, — domestic slavery." These opinions,
deliberately adopted, I believe, express the feelings of a very
large proportion of the citizens, — in fact, nearly all those who
had given attention to the subject. It cannot be doubted, the
anti-slavery feeling is constantly increasing; and it would have
been universal, had it not have been for the ill-advised move-

48
ments of some of its advocates. How can it be otherwise?
Who will presume to contend "that man has a right to enslave
his fellow man " ? The laws of nature and q| God forbid it.
This is an axiom too clear to be illustrated by argument. He
who thinks otherwise, is unworthy the place of his birth.
Freedom, unqualified freedom, shall ever be our watchword.
BURIAL PLACES.
The numerous burial places scattered over the surface of the
town, amounting to more than one hundred, is a feature so pe
culiar as to demand a moment's notice. Almost every ancient
family had a deposit for their dead, on their own farm. Nearly
one half the families that were here one hundred years ago,
have run out or removed from town. The consequence is that
their premises have passed to other names, and the deposits for
their dead to those "who knew them not." If there could be
any certainty of continued title, burial among friends would be
a delightful thought ; but when we are constantly reminded that
in the next generation the ashes of friends may be disturbed
by the unfeeling operations, of strangers, we are compelled to
give preference to public over private cemeteries.
Even these are not quite secure. A few years since, in mak
ing a street to Harmony Grove the remains of hundreds of cit
izens were disinterred in what was understood to be the oldest
burial ground in Salem. One stone marked " R. B. 1640," was
found, supposed to indicate the grave of Robert Buffum, a gen
tleman of that age.
Near this, on Poole's Hill, is one of the oldest and most ex
tensive of the public cemeteries. Here rest the remains of
Cook, Daland, and Goldthwait, patriots who fell at the Battle
of Lexington, and of the reverend pastors, Holt and Walker,
who alone, of the large number who have officiated as pastors
in the South Parish, died with their harness on.
But what more than anything else excites the curiosity of
strangers is the burial place of Miss Elizabeth Whitman, the
original of Eliza Wharton, immortalized by a lady, wife of a

49
clergyman at Brighton, as the American Coquette. A constant
pilgrimage to her grave has been performed until the path is
firmly beaten, and the monument which is of freestone is nearly
crumbled in ruins. Tradition speaks of this lady as possessing
superior charms, both mental and personal. She was of good
family, and basely betrayed." While her deviations from the
path of virtue may start the tear of pity, her follies should not
be overlooked. A misapplied sympathy for her, may be used
as an apology by others. When we witness the manner in
which the populace of our own times are led captive by the at
tractions of those not less exceptionable, it is not surprising that
there should be found many a sympathizing devotee at the
shrine of this unfortunate lady. Here on the banks of this
beautiful stream that flows in our midst, will be found the earli
est and latest graves of Old Salem. Who that has followed
the mournful hearse, laden with the last remains of friends be
loved, slowly winding its way over marsh and dale to this
" Harmonious Grove," will not involuntarily exclaim,
" From every grave a thousand virtues rise,
In shapes of mercy, charity and love,
To walk the world and bless it. Of every tear
That sorrowing mortals shed on these green graves
Some good is born, some gentler nature comes ?"

POPULATION.
There is no certain data to ascertain the number of inhabit
ants in the town at the time of the separation. The number
of persons named in the first assessment of taxes, is 280, which,
multiplied by five, will give 1400. The number did not ex
ceed this ; it may not have been more than 1200. It has in
creased as follows, viz. : —

i / oa,
1783,

1921,

1800,

2643,

1810,

3127,

1820,

3646,

1830,

4228,

1840,

5020,

7 g

50
1850, . . . 8110,
1852, . . . 8400,
being six times the number there were one hundred years be
fore. The number has actually doubled within the last twenty
years, and is now going on, increasing as fast as at any other
period. The improved facilities of communication have brought
us within a half hour's time of the Capital.
RAILROADS.
For many years Danvers struggled hard for railroad accom
modation. She had to contend with the monied aristocracy of
tthe Commonwealth., Through mistaken influences, the Eastern
] Railroad had been located across the water to East Boston, and
through the tunnel at Salem, both of which were egregious
¦ errors ; and a determination was formed to constrain the travel
in that direction, but it was found no go ; the people were not
to be driven where they did not incline to go. Finally a land
route was opened from Salem, through Danvers, to Boston ;
which, if the people of Danvers had been wise enough to keep
within their own control, as, they should have done, would
have greatly benefited them, and equally annoyed the Eastern
Road ; but they were outwitted, and the boon escaped their
grasp. Two other roads have been laid through the town,
towards the Merrimack, where but one was needed. A million
of dollars has been laid out where half a million would have
done better, if it had been judiciously expended. The conse
quence is, we have all the "noise and. confusion " of railroad
movement, with indifferent accommodations, under the direction.
of those who have hitherto shown very little disposition to
accommodate. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Justice demands a more distinct notice of those individuals
who have taken a. prominent part in the concerns of the town,
and been identified with it, than has been given in the rapid
description of incidents presented. The characteristics of a
town are necessarily the result of individual efforts. Among

51
those, who have left the deepest impress on its character, will
be found Daniel Eppes, Esq.,
Capt. Samuel Gardner,
Capt. John Proctor,
Nathaniel Putnam,
Joseph Putnam,
Samuel Holten,
William Shillaber,
Gideon Foster,
Israel Hutchinson,
Dr. Amos Putnam,
Nathan Felton,
Edward Southwick,
Samuel Page,
Squiers Shove,
Elias Putnam,
Jonathan Shove,
Daniel P. King.
Of those who will be entitled to be remembered on the page
of history, the following may be mentioned : —
Gen. Israel Putnam,
Gen. Gideon Foster,
Gen. Moses Porter,
Dr. Samuel Holten,
Col. Israel Hutchinson,
Dr. Amos Putnam,
Rev. Peter Clark,
Rev. Benjamin Wadsworth,
Col. Jeremiah Page,
Capt. Samuel Page,
Capt. Samuel Flint,
Col. Enoch Putnam,
Capt. Samuel Eppes,
Hon. Timothy Pickering,
Hon. Nathaniel Bowditch,
Hon. Daniel P. King.

52
Of those good men who lived long and well, and were con
tent so to do, without any proclamation made of it, the follow
ing should not be overlooked : —
Levi Preston,
Caleb Oakes,
Johnson Proctor,
Eleazer Putnam,
Fitch Poole,
Ebenezer Shillaber,
Stephen Needham,
Samuel King,
Malachi Felton,
Ebenezer King,
Moses Preston,
Stephen Proctor.
BIOGRAPHY OF GEN. GIDEON FOSTER.
Identified with the town of Danvers will ever be the name
of Gen. Gideon Foster. Born in 1749, and coming upon the
stage of life just as the town came into being, he grew with
its growth, and continued nearly through its first century. His
father was of Boxford. His mother was Lydia Goldthwait, a
descendant of an early family in Danvers.
At the beginning of the Revolution, then in the vigor of
manhood, full of patriotic ardor and physical energy, he was
called to scenes of trial and danger in the battles of Lexington
and Bunker Hill, and there established a reputation for valor
that was never tarnished. Often have I listened with admira
tion to the narrative of the eventful scenes through which he
passed. On the morning of the 19th of April, 1775, he started, with
the consent of Col. Pickering, commander of the regiment of
Salem and vicinity, at the head of his company of minute-men ;
and with such ardor did they move, that they passed on foot
sixteen miles in four hours, to West Cambridge, where they
met the enemy, on their return from Concord, near Lexington.
Intent on the purpose in view, regardless of personal danger,

53
when they heard the troops approaching, unmindful of then-
number, they took their station in a barn-yard by the road-side,
and when they were directly opposite, they poured into them
an effectual fire. Immediately they withdrew, under the cover
of the woods, behind the hill, and were there met by the flank
guard, when seven of their number were shot dead, and as
many more wounded. Their names are inscribed on yonder
monument, and will continue to awaken the liveliest emotions
of freedom, in the breasts of patriots of every land, while the
granite of our hills shall endure.
The facts relating to this engagement I had from Dennison
Wallis and the General himself, together with the further fact,
that he discharged his own musket at the enemy twelve times,
loaded with two balls each time, with well-directed aim. And
as he was remarkable for being a good shot, there can be no
doubt he made his mark upon their ranks.
For more than seventy years, Gen. Foster was one of the
most active and influential citizens of the town. For the last
thirty years, it was his ambition to be the first to deposit his
ballot, in all important elections. So unerring was his judg
ment, that he never failed to be the file leader of the majority,
or wavered from the genuine Whig principles of '76. In his
time, there was no doubt where Danvers would be found.
Since his departure, there have arisen those who knew not
Gideon, and the result has occasionally corresponded with this
want of knowledge.
Gen. Foster will long be remembered for his private as well
as his public virtues. Tried in no small measure by the hard
ships of adversity, his innate integrity never yielded to tempta
tion. Through life, he sustained the character of an honest
man. Who does not remember with admiration that venerable
form, bending under the infirmities of more than ninety years,
as he guided his plough upon his scanty acres, or harnessed his
horse to attend upon the temple of the Lord ; and with what
humility he bowed before the Deity, whom he so reverently
worshipped ?
His virtues will ever be enshrined in our hearts, though (to

54
our reproach be it spoken) no monument marks the resting-
place of his ashes. His epitaph may now be supposed to read,
Died Nov. 1, 1845, aged 96£ years, —
" By strangers honored and by strangers mourned." *
BIOGRAPHY OF GEN. MOSES PORTER.
Moses Porter was born at Danvers, in 1757. He was an
officer in the artillery service, under General Putnam, at Bunker
Hill, and particularly distinguished for the bravery with which
he fought. He was with Washington at the battle of Brandy-
wine, and wounded at Trenton, on the Delaware. At the close
of the Revolutionary war, he was the only officer of artillery
retained on the peace establishment. He was with General
Wayne, at his celebrated engagement with the Indians in 1794.
He was commander at the taking of Fort George, in 1813 ; —
and in many other positions during the war on the Western
frontier. He was a soldier, and a brave one ; — uniting in an
extraordinary manner, the suaviter in modo with the fortiter in.
re. I have heard him say, whenever danger or difficulty was
apprehended, he threw off his epaulette and plume, and putting
on his tight cap and short jacket, he wore them until all dis
turbing elements had passed away.
At the beginning of the war of 1812, he commanded at the
port of Norfolk, and with such ' firmness were the enemy re
pulsed on their first visit, that they never found it convenient
to call a second time.
He was an upright, honorable man, of mien dignified and
commanding ; a rigid disciplinarian ; a Washingtonian in senti
ment ; of unwavering courage ; uniting all the urbanities of the
gentleman, with the inflexible firmness of the soldier. Danvers
may be proud of furnishing, in Putnam and Porter, two as res-
* Here let me say, that the same envelope that contained the donation from
George Peabody, Esq., of London, of $20,000 for the promotion of education
and morality among us, authorized me to subscribe, in behalf of the donor,
the sum of fifty dollars towards a monument to the memory of the General, as
soon as a corresponding sympathy shall be awakened in the bosoms of his
fellow-townsmen.

55
olute soldiers as ever preceded Zachary Taylor or Winfield
Scott in the service of their country.
Gen. Porter died at Cambridge, April, 1822, aged 65. His
remains rest in the family burial-ground at Danvers.
SUMMARY VIEW.
A summary view of the condition of the town of Danvers, at
the close of the first century of its independent existence, shows
the following facts, viz. : —
Population, . . . . 8,110
Valuation, . . . $3,294,800
Estimated Annual Payments, —
For Religious Instruction, . . $10,000
For support of Free Schools, . 10,000
For support of the Poor, . . 5,000
For ordinary Municipal purposes, 5,000
I use round numbers, omitting fractions. A large part of the
population are now engaged in mechanical and manufacturing
pursuits. Many have recently come in, and can hardly be
reckoned as permanent settlers. The facilities for employment
are constantly enlarging ; and with the increasing facilities of
intercourse through all parts of the country, and the continued
industrial habits that have ever been the distinguishing charac
teristic of the town, imagination can hardly set bounds to the
advances to be made.*

* On the next page will be found a table explanatory of the finances of
Danvers. Biographical sketches of most of those named on page 51, had been pre
pared ; but they are omitted, to give place to- more interesting matters, that
sprung up on the day of the celebration.

56

CONCLUDING REMARKS.

Descendants of the pioneers at Danvers! of Endicott, of
Putnam, of Porter, of Preston, of Felton, of Waters, of Trask,
of Osborn, and a host of others. Why have you come together
this day? Is it not to gain instruction from the contemplation
of the deeds of your fathers ?
Be animated by their patriotism ; — be purified by their piety ;
— be admonished by their follies; — be encouraged by their
industry ; — and in all things, wherein they were found worthy,

Valuations and Assessments in Danvers, from 1827 to 1852.

Year.

Valuation.

Per cent, of Town Tax.

Assessment.

1827

#1,870,700

.34

#6,360 38

1828

2,017,600

.32

6,456 32

1829

2,087,350

.32

6,679 52

1830

2,033,500

.44

8,947 40

1831

2,181,700

.31.8

6,581 78

1832

2,264,050

.32

7,244 96

1833

2,263,050

.36

8,146 98

1834

2,212,750

.35.5

7,855 26

1835

2,215,900

.35.5

7,866 44

1836

2,321,750

.34.5

8,010 04

1837

1,862,750

.50

9,313 75

1838

1,848,950

.44

8,135 38

1839

1,892,300

.44

8,326 12

1840

1,971,500

.50

9,857 50

1841

2,029,800

.43

8,728 14

1842

2,077,000

.46

9,554 20

1843

2,094,300

.45

9,404 35

1844

2,143,600

.50

10,718 00

1845

2,373,800

.62

14,717 56

1846

2,528,700

.72

18,406 64

1847

2,594,100

.63

16,342 83

1848

2,708,300

.56

15,166 48

1849

2,810,200

.56

15,737 12

1850

3,077,100

.70

21,539 70

1851

3,186,300

.82

26,127 66

1852

3,294,500

.76

25,038 20

Thus it appears, while the property in town has not doubled, taxation has
increased four fold. It should also be remembered, that the highway, county,
district, and religious taxes, usually amount to as much as the town tax. The
amount of taxation in the town is not less than ten dollars annually on each
thousand dollars of property.
This table has been compiled with care, and will afford to the curious in
quirer the best possible index of the progress and the management of the
concerns of the town. It should serve as an admonition to the citizens to keep
their expenditures within their means ; — a lesson of late too little regarded.

57
strive to imitate their example. How can you better show
yourselves worthy of your parentage ?
Here, where once grew the blueberry and the alder, and the
frog and the turtle tuned their notes without annoyance, now
spouts the steam engine, rolls the railroad car, and resounds the
busy hum, of industry of every description. Here the gushing
fountains pour out resources inexhaustible through the tannin
from the bark of the mountain. On the hills made fertile by
the skill ; — on the plains enriched by the toils ; — on the mead
ows reclaimed by the art, of those who first landed on these
forbidding shores, will ever be found rich mementos of their
wisdom and their worth.
Though, in your coffers, the pearls of the Indies, or the glit
tering sands of California, may not abound, still, while the
unfaultering hearts and strong arms of freemen are yours, no
danger need be feared. The combined power of learning,
liberty, and law, will be your aegis of protection in every emer
gency. In conclusion, allow me to cite the following beautiful lines : —
" There is a land, of every land the pride,
Beloved of Heaven o'er all the world beside ;
There is a spot of earth supremely blest,
A dearer, sweeter spot, than all the rest
There woman reigns, — the mother, daughter, wife,
Strews with fresh flowers the thorny path, of life.
Amidst her walks domestic duties meet,
And fireside pleasures gambol at her feet.
Where shall that land, that spot of earth, be found ?
Art thou a man? a patriot? look around!
Oh thou shalt find, where'er thy footsteps roam,
That land % country, and that spot % home."

58

CONTENTS OF THE ADDRESS-

Introductory Remarks, ....

3

Ancient Naunikeag, ....

3

Name, of Danvers, -

a

Grant of land to Capt. John Endicott, -

7

" " " to Eev. Samuel Skelton, -

9

" " " to John Humphrey, Esq.,

8

" " " to John Putnam, and SOUS,

11

" " "to Emanuel Downing,

U

Witchcraft Delusion,

- 12 to 19

Bevolu,tjona*y Incidents,*

- 18 to 83

Battle of Lexington, «

23

Battle of Bunker Hill,

24

Heroes of the Kevolntion, - • .

35

Extraordinary Age of Soldiers,

26

Religious Worship, ....

- 27 to 32

Education, and Free Schools, ...

• 32 to 36

Paupers, Support of, &c,

- 36 to 38

Temperance movements, ....

. 88 to 39

Business of the Town, ....

- 39 to 40

Official Stations, .....

- 41 to 41

Medical Profession, ....

- 44 to 45

Legal Pr«fessjp», „ , . ,

46

African Slavery, ¦• - •>

47

Burial Places, . . . ,

48

Population of the Towa,

49

Railroads, -,---.

60

Gideon Foster, notice, of, -

• 82 to S4

Moses Pojiaft natjoaot ....

, 64 to 65

Financial Table, « . . • «

58

APPENDIX.

THE PEABODY DONATION. London, 26th May, 1852.
Gentlemen :
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, inviting
me to be present at the celebration of the one hundredth anniversary
of the separation of Danvers from Salem, on the 16th of June, or, if
not able to attend, to signify, by letter, my interest in the occasion.
I am very sorry that my engagements allow me to comply only with
the latter part of your request.
I should have the greatest pleasure in joining in your interesting
celebration there, if possible. The early associations of my life are
clustered around our ancient town. It was, as many of you know, in
a very humble house in the South Parish that I was born, and from the
Common Schools of that Parish, such as they were in 1803 to 1807,
I obtained the limited education my parents' means could afford ; but
to the principles there inculcated in childhood and early youth, I owe
much of the foundation for such success as Heaven has been pleased
to grant me during a long business life. Though my manhood, before
coming to England, was spent in Baltimore, (which shares with my
native town in my kindest feelings,) I still cherish the recollections of
my earlier days, and anticipate, with much pleasure, a visit to the Old
Parish, that I may witness the great strides I am told you have been
making in wealth and improvements.
It is now nearly sixteen years since I left my native country, but I
can say with truth that absence has only deepened my interest in her
welfare. During this interval I have seen great changes in her wealth,
in her power, and in her position among nations. I have had the mor
tification to witness the social standing of Americans in Europe very
seriously affected, and to feel that it was not entirely undeserved ; but,

60 ~ '
thank Heaven, I have lived to see the cause nearly annihilated by the
energy, industry, and honesty of my countrymen, — thereby creating
between the people of the two great nations speaking the English
language, and governed by liberal and free institutions, a more cordial
and kind feeling than has existed at any other time. The great increase
of population and commerce of the United States, — the development
of the internal wealth of the country and enterprise of her people, have
done much to produce this happy change, and I can scarcely see
bounds to our possible future, if we preserve harmony among ourselves
and good faith to the rest of the world, and if we plant the unrivalled
New England institution of the Common School liberally among the
emigrants who are filling up the great valley of the Mississippi. That
this may be done, is, I am persuaded, no less your wish than mine.
I enclose a sentiment, which I ask may remain sealed till this letter
is read on the day of celebration, when it is to be opened according to
the direction on the envelope.
With great respect,
I have the honor to be,
Your fellow-townsman,
GEORGE PEABODY.
To Messrs. John W. Proctor, Andrew Nichols and others.
The endorsement on the envelope was as follows : —
[The seal of this is not to be broken till the toasts are being pro
posed by the chairman, at the dinner 16th June, at Danvers, in com
memoration of the one hundredth year since its severance from Salem.
It contains a sentiment for the occasion from George Peabody, of
London.] By George Peabody, of London :
"Education — A debt due from present to future generations."
In acknowledgment of the payment of that debt by the generation
which preceded me in my native town of Danvers, and to aid in its
prompt future discharge, I give to the inhabitants of that town the sum
of Twenty Thousand Dollars, for the promotion of knowledge
and morality among them.
I beg to remark, that the subject of making a gift to my native town
has for some years occupied my mind, and I avail myself of your
present interesting festival to make the communication, in the hope
{hat it will add to the pleasures of the day,

61
1 annex to the gift such conditions only as I deem necessary for its
preservation and the accomplishment of the purposes before named.
The conditions are, that the legal voters of the town, at a meeting to
be held at a convenient time after the 16th June, shall accept the gift,
and shall elect a committee of not less than twelve persons, to receive
and have charge of the same, for the purpose of establishing a Lyceum
for the delivery of lectures, upon such subjects as may be designated
by a committee of the town, free to all the inhabitants, under such
rules as said committee may from time to time enact ; and that a
Library shall be obtained, which shall also be free to the inhabitants,
under the direction of the committee.
That a suitable building for the use of the Lyceum shall be erected,
at a cost, including the land, fixtures, furniture, &c, not exceeding
Seven Thousand dollars, and shall be located within one third of a mile
of the Presbyterian Meeting-House occupying the spot of that formerly
under the pastoral care of the Rev. Mr. Walker, in the South Parish of
Danvers. That Ten Thousand dollars of this gift shall be invested by the town's
committee in undoubted securities as a permanent fund, and the inter
est arising therefrom to be expended in support of the Lyceum.
In all other respects, I leave the disposition of the affairs of the
Lyceum to the inhabitants of Danvers, merely suggesting that it might
be advisable for them, by their own act, to exclude sectarian theology
and political discussions forever from the walls of the institution.
I will make one request of the committee, which is, if they see no
objection, and* my venerable friend Capt. Sylvester Proctor should be
living, that he be selected to lay the corner stone of the Lyceum
Building. Respectfully yours,
GEORGE PEABODY.

After the announcement of the donation by Mr. Peabody, Me.
Phoctor remarked substantially as follows : —
Mr. Chairman —
I scarcely know which to admire most, the liberality of the gift,
or the modesty of the giver. A princely donation like this, for a pur
pose like this, to a place like this, is no ordinary occurrence. We
hear of the donations of Girard, of Smithson, of Butty, and of others,

62
in amounts larger than this ; but where is there one, all things consid
ered, that will begin to compare with this ? Look at the sentiment
accompanying it : " Education — A debt due from present to future
generations." What more simple ? Still, what could be more expres
sive ? Look also at the recognition, by Mr. Peabody, of the Village
School, under the shadow of the steeple of the old Church, where he,
and I, and many others present, were first taught to lisp their A, B, C,
and see how readily he admits, it was there " he imbibed the princi
ples which have been the foundation of the success, which Heaven has
been pleased to grant him, during a long business life." Can there be
a higher eulogy than this, upon our New England system of Free
Schools ?
When a boy, Sir, I knew Mr. Peabody well. Our ages were such
that we went to the same school, and developed our physical energies
on the same play-grounds. From the first, he was manly and honora
ble, as he ever since has been. Nothing small or mean about George
Peabody. If anything wrong was done, he was the last to be sus
pected of doing it. I say this, Sir, for the information of those of my
young friends who seem to think there is something manly in being
forward to do mischief ; in being most active in overturning outbuild
ings, or breaking the windows of retired gentlemen, or disturbing the
repose of discreet young ladies. They mistake, entirely, who indulge
any such ideas. Peabody never did any such things. While I knew
him, he was a civil, well-behaved, trustworthy young man, — and now,
my young friends, you see what he has ripened into ; — the first among
the foremost of Americans in London ; a nobleman by nature, of rank
second to none other.
It has been my good fortune, Sir, to have repeated communications
from Mr. Peabody since he became a man. As early as 1835, when
he resided at Baltimore, the citizens of South Danvers undertook to
erect a monument to the memory of those of our fellow-townsmen who
were killed at Lexington, on the 19th of April, 1775. When we had
raised by subscription $700, and ascertained that the structure designed
would cost $1000, 1 advised him of the facts, and received from him a
prompt reply, saying that " he was happy to learn that his fellow-
townsmen of Danvers were about to do, what had been too long
neglected, and that my draft on him, at sight, for whatever might be
needed to complete the design, should be duly honored." The work
was completed, and the draft was paid.
Again, Sir, when the Church of the South Society, a new structure,

63
that occupied the site of the one that he describes as the " Presbyterian
Meeting-House, where the Rev. Mr. Walker formerly was pastor,"
was destroyed by fire, the Society, with much exertion, having just
about completed the same, my friend on my right* joined me in a note
to Mr. Peabody, stating the facts, — to which he replied, with an appro
priate expression of his sympathies with the occasion, accompanied by
a bill of exchange for fifty pounds sterling, for the use of the Society.
Such, Sir, has been my knowledge and experience of George Pea
body, of London. You may well suppose, Sir, when I received from
him a private note, accompanying the envelope that contained the
donation, with a request that it should not be opened until the company
were seated at dinner, because it contained " a sentiment of interest to
the people of Danvers," that I imagined it to be a rich sentiment. I
did indeed, Sir, so imagine. But I frankly admit, it exceeds my high
est imagination.
And, Sir, what was peculiarly gratifying to me, the same note, that
gave me this information, also authorized me to subscribe in his behalf
the sum of fifty dollars, towards the erection of an appropriate monu
ment at the grave of our late fellow-townsman, the venerable Gen.
Gideon Foster, who died at the age of 96, with a character for indus
try, honor, and integrity, rarely equalled.
Such, Sir, are a few of the acts of this model of a man, that Danvers
feels proud to call her own. May those, who are still of Danvers,
show themselves to be worthy of his bounty. May it be received and
managed in a manner most gratifying to the giver. May no local
jealousies, or meaner passions, be suffered to enter here. May those
of Danvers, in fifty-two, show themselves to be worthy their sires of
Seventy-Six. * Hon. Robert S. Daniels.

ERRATA.
In the Note on page 34, instead ofthe three last names, as printed, read
C. *Ezekiel Marsh, Yale. 1839.
' 'Augustus E. Daniels, Harv. 1846.
William P. Poole, Yale. 1849.
Thomas M. Stimpson, Amherst 1850.