A – 956 Highland Rd. B – Gail C – Gail D – 171 Asbury St., 1753 E – 230 Asbury St. F – 1028 Bay Rd., 1725 G – 918 Bay Rd., 1725 H – 648 Bay Rd., 1729 I – 638 Bay Rd., 1780 J – 613 Bay Rd., 1780 K – 601 Bay Rd., 1750 L – 588 Bay Rd., 1770 M – 563 Bay Rd., 1775 N – 560 Bay Rd., 1790 O – Bay Rd. P – Bay Rd. Q – 76 Bridge St., 1662 R – 180 Bridge St., 1690 S – Bridge St. T – Essex St. U – Essex St. V – Essex St. W – Woodbury St. X – Essex St.

Map, Adaption of Q00 map, J. Hauck, 2018. Y – Meeting House, 1643 Z – Cemetery, 1707

History of The Hamlet, 1638-1793

Early settlers in the bay area The area stretched south, be- cutting wood, and digging sand, called their town Agawam, a name tween what is now Cutler Rd. clay and gravel. used by the local Indians. On Aug. (then Elm St.), and the Miles Riv- Tillage: Large lots owned by a 4, 1634, the Bay er, to the border of what was then few people, called freemen, and Colony Court of Assistants de- Salem (now Wenham). To the often enclosed by a fence creed that Agawam be called Ips- west was a parish called New Meadows: Large farm lots wich, after the town of Ipswich, a Meadows (now Topsfield) and to owned by freemen, whose home- major English port of embarkation the east was the Chebacco parish steads often were on separate to the colonies , 6 (now Essex). lots. In 1638, in a section of Ipswich, The Hamlet covered about House lots: Less than 10 ac. south of the Great River, now 8,100 ac. Nearly half was suita- lots close to the meetinghouse, on known as the Ipswich River, Mat- ble for pasture; 20% meadow- which were a house, barn, out- thew Whipple received the first land; 10% woodland; 5% farm- buildings, cow yard and garden. land grant from the Massachusetts land; and the remainder covered General Court. 5 Matthew, along with water and rock. 1 Many of the early houses were "wattle and daub" struc- with his brother John, in 1639, The useful land was divided in- tures. Wood beam frames were owned 685 ac. (John 460 and Mat- to four types of use: thew 225). This included land in filled in with sticks (wattle). A Commons: Unfenced land used both Ipswich and what is now sticky mixture of clay, mud, and by the village inhabitants, called Hamilton. 5 grass (daub) filled the gaps. The commoners, for grazing livestock, roof usually was a thatch of dried local grass. ______Treasures of Hamilton History – The Hamlet Pg. 1

Various deeds and documents Church in Wenham Browne, Joseph (1639-1694) - mention four hills in the Hamlet: Bought 18 ac. from William Hub- In January 1679/80, Hamlet neigh- 1 Lummus (now Cilley), Brown's, bors asked the Wenham church to bard, before 1700. A turner Poland (now Willow), Whipple make more room for them in the (wood worker), he married Hannah (now Sagamore) and Vineyard. Aslebee, in 1671, and they had 8 meetinghouse. The church grant- children. The main north/south travel ed them “the west gallery and two route was a former Indian path seats next to the stairs, on the Browne, Nathaniel (1676-1759) stretching south from Ipswich - A weaver, he owned 16 ac. that right hand of the coming in of the 32 through the Whipple properties. south door, for their wives.” 19 he inherited from father. In 1641, it was officially laid out For pews and seats, the neigh- Dane (Deane), John (1643- by the Bay Colony and became 1707) - A commoner, he married the Bay Path. 10 bors paid a third of the annual ex- penses of the Wenham meeting- Abigail Warner 1671. They had 7 Several other roads likely ex- children. Their house, built on land house, and also their share in its isted. These included wagon 18 originally part of John Whipple repair, and the pastor's salary. roads to surrounding towns: Way property, was on Bay Rd. near to New Meadows parish (now The "neighbors" were of the Gardner St. In 1706, he sold to the Asbury St.), Candlewood Road gentry. Joseph Felt in his 1834 Hamlet a piece of land for the town (now Essex St.), and Way to history of Ipswich, Essex and burial ground on Bay Rd. 1 Hamilton, referred to a 1679 char- Chebacco parish (now Chebacco Dodge, Samuel (1645-1705), acterization of the southern parish Rd.). Other likely roads were: married (1665) Mary Parker. They as, “One of the principal of these Way to Quarles' (now Miles River lived on the west side of the Ham- hamlets lies on the road to , Rd.), Way to Knowlton's (now let near New Meadows parish extending almost to Wenham, School St.), Way to Rubbly Hill (Topsfield). 33 (now Woodbury St.), Way to wherein are several of the better Maj. Symonds Epes (1662- Brown's (now Bridge St.), and rank; members of the church, per- 1741) was prominent in Hamlet's Way to Saltonstall's Farm (now sons of public place and service, government. For several years, he Highland St.). as well or better landed than any other ...” was moderator of parish meetings, Church attendance was com- an assessor, and as a member of The Whipples were among a pulsory for everyone living in Ips- several committees. He was also few families that owned most of wich. The Ipswich meetinghouse of a militia regiment, jus- the land in this part of Ipswich. was on a hill, the highest point in tice of the General Sessions court, Many of their properties were town. First built in 1634, and re- and a member of the Governor's more than 300 ac. Settlers were built in 1647, it was on what be- Council from 1724 to 1734. At 52, said to be attracted to the area be- came known as the Meeting he married 16-yr. old Mary Whip- cause of its good agricultural lands House Green. ple. Major Epes was buried in the and both water and wood re- For the families living in the ar- 2 tomb now marked by the stone sources. ea south of the town, above Wen- monument erected by heirs of ham, getting to Sabbath services In addition to the Whipples, Dea. Nathaniel Whipple. 11 was a long and difficult trip, espe- other early residents cially in the winter and spring. The in this part of Ipswich, only road was the Bay Path. Sev- were: eral rivers had to be crossed and Annable, John the bridges often were damaged (1623-1664) - A tailor, by spring floods. bought land from Mat- thew Whipple estate, In 1661, an Ipswich family 4 stopped attending Sabbath wor- in 1647. He became ship because they lived a long dis- a Freeman in 1648 tance from the meetinghouse. The and married, 1648, General Court sold the family's Anna Whipple, sister farm so they could move nearer of Matthew and John the sanctuary. 1 Whipple. They had 7 children. Oldest remaining house, at 76 Bridge St. was built by Joseph Browne, Sr., c1662. Photo, Q00 ______Treasures of Hamilton History – The Hamlet Pg. 2

Fellows (Ffellowes), William. Quarles, Robert (1675-1730) Cemetery on Bay Path (1609-1676), commoner, a shoe- fought in French and Indian War. Not only was the Ipswich meeting- maker and farmer, married Mary He married, in 1709, Mary Perkins. house a long way from the Hamlet, Ayres (1635). They lived on the Their house was built in 1710, on getting to the churchyard also was northeast side of the Hamlet, close what is now Miles River Rd. 1 33 lengthy and time-consuming. to the Ipswich town line. Tilton, Abraham, Sr. (1638- Thus, Ipswich, in 1705, gave the Gilbert, John (1658-1723), son 1728); 2nd wife was Mary Cram. Hamlet parish 1 acre of common of Humphrey Gilbert was the first His son, Abraham, Jr., in 1696, land for a burial place. 1 deacon of the church. He married along with Edmund and Anthony A year later, John Dane ex- Elizabeth Kilham in 1677. They Potter built a gristmill on the Miles changed a half-acre of his land on lived near the Wenham line, above River. Their house was near what the Bay Path for the as-yet unused the Sarah Dodge property and is now 641 Bay Rd. acre that was not by the road. 1, 11 southwest of the John Patch prop- Tuttle, Charles, Sr. (1679- 13 The Dane lot, 165 ft. deep. had erty. A low rise on the property 1752), a blacksmith, married 135 ft. frontage on the Bay Path. It was called the Gilbert Hill. He and (1703) Mary Burnham. They had 5 was between land he owned on his son signed the 1712 separa- children and lived near the north 1 the north and on the south by John tion petition. end of the Bay Path in the Hamlet. Hubbard land. 20 Dane, in 1707, Knowlton, Samuel (1647-1696), 29, 25 was buried in the cemetery. 5 a commoner, he was a shoemaker Walker, Richard (1637-1721) The first enlargement of the and farmer. He married Elizabeth married (1645) Sarah Story. Their burial ground occurred in 1763. Witt (1669). They lived on the east farm was off of Bridge Street. 23 John Hubbard gave the Hamlet a side of the Hamlet, near what is no 1 8 Woodbury, Isaac (1659-1733) quarter of an acre on the south- Essex St. married Elizabeth Herrick (1687). east side of the Dane lot. Lamson, William (1675-1749) They lived near to what is now Hamlet Parted from Ipswich married (1706) Lydia Porter. Their Bridge St. They had 10 children, house was in the west side of the one of whom, Nicholas, was cap- In 1712, many men (√ 65) living Hamlet, near the Way to Topsfield tured by a band of Indians in south of the Great River, repre- 33 (now Asbury St.). 1711. He was held for 9 years in senting 40 families that worshiped Lovering, John (1637-1668), Canada, until a ransom was paid. 1 at the Wenham meetinghouse, petitioned Ipswich to become a married Esther Norton, 1713. Son Most families were large. For John signed separation petition. separate hamlet. They said the example, the Dodges had 11 chil- Wenham meetinghouse was not They lived near the Wenham town dren, as did the Gilberts; the line. 33 large enough to accommodate Woodburys had 10; the Moultons them. Also cited was the distance Moulton, William (1672-1748) had 9; and both the Fellowes and to the Ipswich meetinghouse was married 2nd Jane Conant, 1695. Lamsons had 8. 29 long, and getting there, in the win- Their house was north of what is Children were put to work as ter and spring, was difficult. 1 now Moulton St. 33 soon as they were able. Boys Among the petitioners for the Perkins, John (1590-1654) helped their father with his work separation were: 8 Whipples, 6 married Elizabeth Eveleth (1635). and the girls helped their mother. Brownes, 4 Annables; 3 Deanes, 3 Their house was near the Wen- This allowed them to learn the 31 Knowltons, 2 Polands, 2 Dodges, ham town line. skills needed when they had a 2 Thornes and 2 Walkers. family. Poland, Samuel (1668-1746) Ipswich agreed to the separa- married Sarah Knowlton, in 1715. In the late 1600s, many of the tion providing the Hamlet paid an They lived in the eastside of the landowners in the southern parish indemnity £908 8s 3d for support Hamlet, near Poland Hill. 22 began discussions about separat- of paupers, preacher's salary and Potter, Anthony (1627-1696) ing from Ipswich. Topsfield did this other things. Further, the Hamlet married (third time) Elizabeth in 1650. The high tax Ipswich im- had to build a meetinghouse and Stone. Their house was near the posed on landowners and how the appoint an orthodox minister. The Miles River and close to the Ips- money was spent may have been parish voted, on Oct. 2, 1712, to 17 wich town line. a major cause for the desire to build a meetinghouse by the end separate from Ipswich. of the following year. 1

______Treasures of Hamilton History – The Hamlet Pg. 3

Many Ipswich residents were Shortly after, on Oct. 14, the The dual role of minister and very angry with the Hamlet leav- Hamlet was incorporated. 1 It in- doctor was quite common in the ing. They would be paying much cluded the inhabitants and lands of 17th and early 18th centuries. There more taxes to support the poor. the farms owned by Jonathan An- was a strong belief that health and They unsuccessfully tried to have nable. Joseph Jacobs, John Ab- sickness were tied to sin and to the separation cancelled. 7 bott, Capt. John Whipple, Joseph the will of God. The Hamlet also had to negoti- Whipple, Jonathan Lovering and The Hamlet gave Wigglesworth ate with the Wenham church for all the farms lying upon Wenham money to have a parsonage house leaving. In March 1713, several bounds, and the land in Chebacco, built on land, 1.5 acres, adjoining Ipswich members (Samuel Poland, that were not part of the Chebacco the meetinghouse. 2 parish. 10, 11 William Davidson, and Mathew The Hamlet became larger at Whipple) of the Wenham Congre- A week later, on Oct. 21, Ham- the end of 1715. The General gational Church met with the let inhabitants met at the house of Court allowed the Richard Salton- Wenham church elders, to discuss Matthew Whipple: he was chosen stall farm and other neighboring 4 the disposal of their rights in the as the moderator. One of the is- inhabitants to separate from Ips- 2 meetinghouse.” The following sues discussed was the building of wich and join the Hamlet. 10 day, Wenham church voted to al- a meetinghouse. Another expansion came in low their "Ipswich neighbors" to It was built, in October 1714, on 1718, when the General Court surrender their rights to pews in the corner of Elms Rd. and the granted Alexander Knight's farm to the meetinghouse. On Jun. 15, Bay Path. It was 50-ft. long, 38-ft. be part of the Hamlet. 10 It was on 1713, 15 Ipswich families gave up wide, and 20 ft. stud. There was a the northeast side of Chebacco their rights in the Wenham meet- 1 small tower on the roadside end. Lake. 21 inghouse. The Wenham church (It was not called a steeple, for it In 1719, the Chebacco Parish paid them and exact amount of served as a watch tower.) £39, 11s, 9d. 2, 6 objected to the farms of Thomas Matthew Whipple was the larg- Knowlton and Jeremiah Buckman, Oct. 3, 1713, 52 Ipswich neigh- est contributor to the building of on the northeast side of Chebacco bors formed a church 3 miles north the first meetinghouse. He was a Lake 27 becoming part of the Ham- on the Bay Path. 24 maltster and had a malt and oat let. However, a court ruled that mill. Further, he was a town of- they could leave Chebacco. 10 In 1712 Petitioners ficer, a justice of the Court of Ses- 1740, Buckman sold his property in Third Parish sions, representative in 1718, to Ebenezer Knowlton. 21 Annable, Matthew Knowlton, Thomas 1719, and 1729. He died Jan. 28, 29 The church was very pleased Bedlock, Christopher Loverill, John 1739. Browne, Jacob Manuel, William with their pastor as they showed in Browne, James Perkins, John On Oct. 27, 1714, Rev. Samuel 1720, when they purchased, for Browne, Joseph Piper, Jonathan Wigglesworth became the Ham- Rev. Wigglesworth’s use, 7 acres Browne, Nathaniel Poland, James let's first pastor. He was the son of of land along the Bay Path, adjoin- Browne, Samuel Poland, Samuel the Rev. Michael Wigglesworth of ing his 1.5 ac. lot. It extended Browne, Thomas Pottar, Edmund Malden. 26 Davis, John, Jr. Potter, Nathaniel south to Maj. Symonds Epes' 2, 10 Davison, William Quarles, William Born. Feb. 4, 1688/89, Samuel property. Deane, Daniel Roberts, Richard Wigglesworth studied physic and During Rev. Wigglesworth's Deane, John Stevens, Moses graduated at Harvard College, in Deane, Nathaniel Thome, Bernard ministry, the congregation ex- Dike, Nathaniel Thome, John 1707. He moved, in 1710, to the panded significantly. The Wednes- Dike, Anthony Tilton, Abraham Hamlet and began a medical prac- day after a great earthquake in Durrgy, Thomas Tilton, Samuel tice, but stayed only a year. He 1727, which occurred on a Sunday Dodge, Parker Tuttle, Charles went back to Malden, where he Dodge, Richard Walker, John evening, the town observed a day Giddings, Isaac Walker, Richard studied divinity. In 1713, he began of humiliation and prayer, and a Gilbert, Daniel Welch, Moses to preach in Groton. In January sermon was preached by Wig- Gilbert, John Whipple, James, 1714, he returned to the Hamlet, glesworth. From the day of the Hooker, John Whipple, Jonathon as a "spiritual physician." The Hubbard, John Whipple, John earthquake. Oct. 27, to Sep. 8, ffellowes, James Whipple, Matt, 3d townspeople invited him to be their 1728, 99 people were admitted to 2 Killam, Daniel, Sr. Whipple, Matt, 4th pastor. the church. 1 Knowlton, Benjamin Williams, Nicholas Knowlton, John ______Treasures of Hamilton History – The Hamlet Pg. 4

Not just earthquakes disturbed All the Hamlet's the Hamlet residents. They knew residents contribut- about the smallpox epidemic in ed money for the Boston and were concerned about school's operation. travellers bringing it to their town. The committee col- Between April and December lected £100 for the 1721, 844 people in Boston died school's construc- from smallpox. tion and initial op- 3, 2 In March 1727, Ipswich gave eration. the Hamlet their old school bell to Starting in 1738, replace a previous bell. It hung Ipswich annually from the branch of a tree near the provided money for meetinghouse. 1 the Hamlet's school 7 Alarms and reminders were expenses. The amount distributed sent to residents by the ringing of a bell hung in the village center, varied from year to First public school was built in 1730 near the meeting near the meetinghouse. There year. Further, Ips- house. Photo, Hamilton Historical Society were different bell tollings for safe- wich required each 1 land Street and Willowdale Road scholar to pay 3 pence a week. ty, funerals, Sabbath services, (now Winthrop Street), the school school and town meetings. Also in 1738, a second school was in a sparsely populated sec- The Hamlet acquired a larger opened further north on the Bay 3, 1 2 tion and had few students. bell in 1733. Made in England, it Path, at between what now are 874 and 894 Bay Rd. With the A fourth school opened in 1768. cost £60, Up to 1762, it, too, was Called the East School, it too was school's opening, the first school, hung on a pine tree northwest of in a sparsely populated section of near the meetinghouse, became the meetinghouse. In 1785, the the Hamlet. 1 church sold the bell for £40 and the South School and the new The 4 schools were assigned bought a new one, which was school, the North School. 1 district numbers: District #1, the hung in the tower. In 1744, on a Sabbath after- North School; District #2, the West noon, another earthquake rattled Sometime after the building of School; District #3, the South the Hamlet. The congregation was the meetinghouse in 1712, John School; and District #4, the East alarmed. Pastor Wigglesworth, Thomson built a saltbox inn and School. The schoolhouses, though seeking to calm them, said, "There tavern on the corner of Elm Street having slightly different facades, and the Bay Path. Later, Capt. can be no better place for us to die 10 were similar one-room buildings, in, than the house of God." The Daniel Brown, son of Jacob with windows on three sides. Brown, owned it . 10 earthquake brought many more people to join the church. In each district, the taxpayers Schools Built Another earthquake struck in paid for the building of a school- house, appointed the teachers, In 1730, the Hamlet had its first 1755. It, too, brought many new public school. Previously, the only 1 and received, from the town treas- members to the congregation. 7 school was in Ipswich. The Hamlet ury, support for their school. Hamlet residents, around the built a one-room schoolhouse, 5, 113 Only boys, except those whose 1750s, were also concerned about called the Center School, on bear attacks. In 1747, a resident of age and attainments permitted Farms Road (now Cutler Road), them to attend the grammar western part of the Hamlet shot a near the meetinghouse. 2 school, went to a district school: bear near his house. Apparently, The selectmen appointed a 4- there were many sightings. In they ranged from 4 and 5 years old, to young men in their teens. 7 member school committee. The 1757, another one was killed. Committee hired Joseph Secomb Soon after, there were no further It was not until 1769, that girls of Danvers to keep school for 4 reports of bears menacing the were eligible for the district 10 months (Nov. to Mar.). The pub- Hamlet. 1 schools. Previously, For girls, lic school was only for boys from 9 In 1758, a third school opened there were "dame schools," taught to 17. They were taught reading, in private houses. School dames in the west part of the Hamlet. writing and basic arithmetic. taught them to read and sew. 7 Built on the north corner of High- ______Treasures of Hamilton History – The Hamlet Pg. 5

The Hamlet, in 1762, replaced The large farms in the Hamlet Privates Antipas Dodge, John the original meetinghouse with a employed many workers (yeo- Jones and Joseph Symonds all new building, on the same site. men). They also employed crafts- served under Capt. John Whipple The oblong, barn-like meeting- men: blacksmiths (smithies), brick- in Col. Bagley’s Regt., at Green- house was 60 ft. long, 44 ft. wide, makers, carpenters (joiners), saw- bush, NY battle. 2 with a 26 ft. stud. The main en- mills (millers), wheelwrights, ma- Soldiers from the Hamlet, who trance was on Bay Road. It had sons, candle makers (chandlers), served in the militia at Crown entry porches on the north and thatchers, shoemakers (cobblers), Point, NY, under Capt. Stephen south ends, and a tower with bell (sope boilers), potters, horse sho- Whipple, in 1756, included pri- 15 and clock on the south end. ers (farriers) and tailors (milliners). vates: Nathaniel Adams, Thomas Inside, it had a high pulpit, with During the mid 1700s, some Adams, John Baker, John Boyn- a sounding board above and be- Hamlet landowners along the ton, Benjamin Glazier, Stephen hind it. Men’s and women’s galler- Miles River bought the privilege of Lowater, John Marshall, Benjamin ies lined each end and the front fishing for alewife. There was a Pinder, William Poland, Ebenezer side of the meetinghouse. There large demand for this "trash fish;" Porter and Joseph Whipple. 2 were long seats in the body of the they were shipped to West India, Dr. John Calef of the Hamlet house and square pews on the where they were used to feed was the surgeon in Col. Plaisted's sides, in which there were seats slaves. regiment when it fought at Crown on hinges to be turned up during 1 Wars Throughout 1754-1793 Point. Dr. Calef, in 1754, was a prayer and at the close of service. surgeon for 4 months, in the militia Wars were an on-going factor for Candles, set in tin wall sconces, commanded by Gen. John Wins- 15 the settlers. There were" King provided light. low, during the Arcadia campaign. Although his health was not ro- Philip's War of 1675 to 76, Queen In 1755, he was ordered to Fort Anne's War of 1702 to 13, King bust, Rev. Wigglesworth was the Halifax. He stayed there for two William's War of 1689 to 97, While Hamlet pastor for 54 years. He months, for he garrison was in 1 not fought near the Hamlet, they 1 died in 1768. great need of medical aid. did affect the residents. Many In 1771, Manasseh Cutler came fought in the battles in Canada, In addition to fighting at Crown to the Hamlet. He was 29. He was northern and western Massachu- Point, Pvt. Pinder was with "rather small in stature, but well- setts and Rhode Island. Ebenezer Porter on the Louis- proportioned and sprightly." 1 bourg expedition. 2 During the last half of the 18th At the time, the church had 27 Stephen Whipple served in his 1 century, men from the Hamlet male and 41 female members. were still fighting in wars. Com- brother's company, Capt. John Rev. Cutler served for 52 years. 2 Whipple Jr., as a lieutenant, in the plete listings of those involved do 2 Also new to the Hamlet was Dr. not exist. However, it is likely that 1755 battle at Fort Edward, NY. Elisha Whitney, a native of Water- more than 200 were in the military, Cpl. Stephen Whipple marched town. He arrived in 1772 and re- army and navy. from the Hamlet to Albany and mained for 21 years, before mov- In the French and Indian War then to Fort Edward, also in 1755. ing to Beverly. He was a surgeon (1754-1763), it is likely that more A year later, he returned home in the Revolutionary War. During than 50 Hamlet men served. 3 and became the captain of 41 his absence, Dr. Cutler served as Hamlet soldiers. On May 7, 1758, 2 died in battles at Fort Edwards on the town's doctor. Lake George, NY, in 1754: pri- he marched with his troops to Dr. Whitney also was the mod- vates Antipas Dodge, John Jones, Crown Point. In a later battle, while erator at meetings, the treasurer, Joseph Symonds died. Amos serving with Col. Plaisted’s Regt., and a member of the school com- Howard and Elijah Maxey were at the Louisbourg Fort, Cape Bre- mittee. His house stood on Bay ton Island, Nova Scotia, he was wounded in battles at Ticondero- 2 Path near the intersection with ga, NY, in 1758. 2 shot in the thigh. Farms Rd. 2 Pvt. Maxey saw action in 1756, Abraham Hobbs served in the A 1773 census shows the Ham- 1758, 1759 (Quebec Expedition) 1780 Quebec Expedition, com- let's population was 870; there and 1760 (Montreal Expedition). manded by Gen. James Wolfe, were 116 houses with 172 fami- who, during the capture of the He served in Capt. Moses Hart’s 1 lies; 419 males, 451 females. 1, 2 company, in Canada Expedition, in French stronghold, was killed. 1762. 2 ______Treasures of Hamilton History – The Hamlet Pg. 6

Many Served in Revolution Dodge and Rev. Manasseh Cutler The Hamlet, although small in During the early , there were served in the Third Essex County territory and in population, offered many rumors of a possible war Regiments of Colonels Ebenezer valuable service during the Revo- with England. But there was Francis and Jonathon Titcomb. Dr. lution. Life became very difficult for greater alarm about small pox Cutler was the in Sep- the Hamlet and surrounding coming to the Hamlet. tember 1776, at Dorchester towns. Not only did they provide Heights and in August 1778, at men to fight, they also provided The first cases of smallpox de- 30 Newport, RI. supplies, including clothing, blan- veloped in 1774 in Boston and 2 kets, food, and money. nearby towns. In February, Ips- At least 150 Hamlet men served as soldiers and sailors in Saltpeter (potassium nitrate), wich proclaimed a fast against 2 small pox. Towns became very the War for Independence. Many for ammunition, was a constant protective against people from served intermittently throughout need during the war years. Ma- other towns coming to their area. the war, with many different com- nasseh Cutler and John Whipple panies and regiments, primarily in made natural saltpeter at a mill Rumors, in 1774, were that the 2 the New England area, but also in they owned. Key ingredients British had invaded Ipswich from New York, New Jersey and Penn- were animal urine and organic the sea and had set fire to the sylvania. For the most part, they matter such cut grass. The pro- town in retaliation for taking pris- served for from 3 or 4 days to 3 or cess has many steps of filtration, oners at Lexington and placing 4 months. distillation and drying to yield salt- them in jail. Families fled to the peter crystals. countryside, people buried their Men from the Hamlet served in silver, and frightened messengers most of the major Revolutionary A major problem facing the rode through the countryside an- battles, including: Hamlet's residents, as well as eve- nouncing that the British were on • Apr. 19, 1775, Lexington, the ryone in the colonies during and their way. However, when it was start of the Revolutionary War; following the revolution was a discovered that these reports were • May 1, 1775, Cambridge (At drastic currency depreciation. The only rumors, other riders were sent least 33 Hamlet militiamen) colonies and the Continental Con- gress, no longer under Brit- as far as Newburyport to dispel • May 10, 1775, capture of Fort them. 2 Ticonderoga, NY; ish monetary regulations, printed money. Congress' bills were known Rumors became fact in 1775, • Jun, 17, 1775, Bunker Hill; as continentals. when the Revolutionary War be- • Mar. 4-17, 1776, Capture of gan. British attempts to disarm the Dorchester Heights; Rev. Cutler wrote, "In 1777, Massachusetts militia at Lexington • Oct. 28, 1776, White Plains (37 money had depreciated as much, at and Concord, in April 1775, led to men engaged in various as- least, as five to one, but in 1779, it open combat. pects of the New York cam- was twenty to one. I have spent considerable of an estate in the The Hamlet received word of paign); support of my family and now am the battle with the British. Two • Fall of 1776, Crown Point (21 28 driven to the practice of physic." Hamlet minuteman companies from Hamlet); mustered. Capt. Elisha Whitney, • Dec. 26, 1776, Trenton, NJ; These were dark times. town doctor, led a company had • Jan. 3, 1777, Princeton, 37 men and Capt. James Patch NJ; with 35 men. They marched to • Aug.-Nov. 1777, Saratoga, Mystic (Medford) and returned 4 Cambridge and Prospect days later, a round trip of about Hill. 2 110 miles. • Aug. 29, 1778, Provi- Commissioned a captain in dence, RI (16 from the June 1775, Robert Dodge was a Hamlet); colonel at the war's end. He • Following the British sur- served in 23 engagements during render, Hamlet soldiers the war. He was at Bunker Hill, were ordered tip be Dorchester Heights, in the Rhode guards, at Cambridge, of

Island and New York campaigns, prisoners before they were printed money, and at Trenton. Both Robert shipped back to England. known as continentals ______Treasures of Hamilton History – The Hamlet Pg. 7

Trek to began in December 1787, when 22 people left from the Hamlet for the 650-mile, 51-day journey to the new western territory. Drawing: Colorized adaptation of Ipswich Historical Society drawing. On May 19, 1780, there was from the Hamlet for the 650-mile, cluding the Hamlet, was about physically a dark day. At noon, 51-day wagon trek to the new 3,300. 9 there was “midnight darkness.” western territory. Men from the Hamlet Becomes Hamilton People lit candles, cattle lowed, Hamlet were: Jarvis Cutler, son of and fowls went to roost. Smoke Manasseh Cutler; Isaac Dodge; In the late 1700s, several promi- from a major Canadian fire ob- Oliver Dodge; William Moulton and nent residents of the Hamlet be- scured the sun. his son Edmond; Amos Porter, Jr.; gan calling for a complete separa- The poor value of Continental David Wallace; Peletiah White; tion from Ipswich. Probable factors 13 currency became a positive for and Josiah Whitridge. in their unrest were the amount of taxes being paid and how the veterans of the revolution. Rev. Cutler's antislavery belief money was spent. Trek to Ohio was not shared by all in the Ham- let. In 1755, there were 62 slaves In March 1792, the Hamlet ap- 1786 several former army officers above the age of 16 in Ipswich, pointed four residents, Rev. Dr. organized a company in Boston, including the Hamlet. 27 Manasseh Cutler, Col. Robert the Ohio Company, to purchase Dodge, Joshua Giddings and Jon- In the Hamlet, in support of the territory northwest of the Ohio Riv- athan Lamson, as a committee to antislavery movement, was Dea. er, for locating a permanent set- negotiate with the General Court in Matthew Whipple (1685-1766). He tlement. The land was to be pur- Boston for the incorporation of the stipulated, in his will of 1760, “in chased with the Continental cur- 28 consideration that my servant Pla- Hamlet, as a separate town. rency, with which the military was to has been a faithful servant that, The land consisted of about paid after the war. The govern- after my death and my wife’s 480 ac. of tillage, 720 ac. of Eng- ment accepted the money at face death, he shall be free.” His wife, lish and upland mowing, 780 ac. of value for purchasing of the land in Martha, died in 1774. fresh meadow, 4,100 ac. of pas- the new territory. 10 Plato was allowed to live in the ture, 1,000 ac. of woodland, exclu- For veterans, Rev Cutler ob- sive of enclosed pasture lots, 450 Whipple house with his wife, Phe- tained a million acres, at $1/ac., ac. of unimproved, and 37 ac. of be; it also was stipulated that with 500,000 acres more thrown in parsonage. Besides these, there should Plato be unable to care for as an allowance for badlands and were 120 ac. for roads, and 350 himself, provisions were to be incidental charges. Of special in- ac. covered with water. 1 provided for his care. Plato died in terest is that he secured the land 1 There are no data about the with an ordinance prohibiting slav- 1799: he was 109. 10 number of houses or the number ery in that territory. In 1788, Massachusetts be- of families in 1793. However, in In December 1787, 22 people came the sixth U S. state. The 1773, there were 116 houses, 172 were in the first company to leave population, in 1790, was about families in the Hamlet. in 1831, 380,000. Ipswich's population, in- there still were just 116 houses. 1 ______Treasures of Hamilton History – The Hamlet Pg. 8

On Jun. 21, 1793, after obtain- • 4 district schools - Partly kept References ing the act of incorporation, the by men, in winter, and partly by 01 - History of Ipswich, MA, Joseph B. Felt, 1834. town of Hamilton held its first town women, in summer. 1 02 - Chronicle of a Country Town, Donald W. Beat- meeting on Aug. 1, 1793, in the tie, Massachusetts American Revolution Bicen- • Suffrage - Practically every man tennial Commission, 1976. meetinghouse on the Bay Path. in the could vote, providing the 03 - Changing Town, Hamilton Massachusetts, Dea. Nathaniel Whipple was the poll tax was paid. The property 1850-1910, Janice G. Pulsifer, Fox Run Press, moderator and treasurer; Lemuel Ipswich, MA. 1976. holding requirement was inter- 04 - Municipal History of Essex County in Massa- Brown, the clerk; and the select- preted that a man's income met chusetts, Chap. XX, Hamilton. Benjamin F. men were Jonathan Lamson, Harrington, Lewis Historical Publishing Co. Capt. Daniel Brown and Joseph the requirement. New York, NY, 1922. 10 • About 50 slaves 27 05 - Ipswich Town Records, 1770-1776, Microfilm, Poland, Jr. All the officers were A3, Volume III. descendants of men that peti- • Indentured workers 06 - William Parker Cutler, Life, Journals and Cor- tioned Ipswich, in 1712, for the • Indians, less than 10. respondence of Rev. Manasseh Cutler, Cincin- creation of the Hamlet. nati R. Clark & Co., 1888. • The title Mr. was only given to 07 - Ipswich in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, Vol. They raised £910 to pay Ips- the wealthier and the more ed- II. A History of the Town from 1700 to 1917. wich for various expenses. At an ucated. Goodman or Goodwife Thomas F. Waters. Ipswich Hist. Society, 1917. 08 -Historicalipswich.org October meeting, held in the meet- was used when addressing 09 - https://historicipswich.org/a-priceless.../ ips- 6 inghouse, the selectmen adopted commoners. wich.../a-chronology-of-ipswich-history rules and regulations for the man- • No commonage 10 - History of Essex County, Massachusetts: With agement of town affairs and the Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Pioneers • Large landowners, farmers. and Prominent Men, edited by Duane Hamilton salaries of officers. 10 There were two major crops: Hurd, J. W. Lewis & Co., 1888. In 1793, the new town of Hamil- 11 - History of Essex County, Vol. II, Chapter corn and oats. Rye, barley and XCVIII , Hamilton, Daniel E. Safford, J. W. ton had: English and upland hay were Lewis & Co., , PA, 1888. • One Church - Until 1829, when 12 - Forty-eight pioneers, Clyde Swift, Hamilton moderate crops. Vegetables in- Hist. Society, 1987. the First Congregational Church cluded pumpkins, melons, peas, 13 - Hammatt Papers, Early Inhabitants of Ipswich, was incorporated, Hamilton’s beans and turnips. 6 Near the mid 1633-1700, Abraham Hammatt, Ipswich Anti- town and church affairs were 1700s, potato was grown. Hay and quarian Papers, Ipswich, MA, 1854. 4 14 - 1800 Census acted together. oats were winter feed for the cat- 15 - Cutler’s of Hamilton, The, Janice G. Pulsifer, • No fire department. tle. Flax was for weaving linen for Essex Institute Historical Collections, CVII, No. garments and table covers. Barley 4, Oct. 1971. • Law enforcement - Constables, 6 16 - Remarks on the Rev.by Manasseh Cutler, Allen tythingmen and watchmen; the was key to brewing beer. W Dodge, Essex Institute Bulletin, 1874). watch house was a room in By 1800, many of the 1712- 17 - Riverbend Property Background, Provided by 1 petition families were gone from the Ipswich River Watershed Association. meetinghouse basement. 18 - History of Wenham, Civil and Ecclesiastical, Hamilton, including the Davis', Fel- • (PIC) A few recognized roads - From Its Settlement in 1639 to 1880. Myron O. Rubbly, Bay, Topsfield, Way to lows. Gilberts, Hubbards, Kilhams, Allen, Bazin & Chandler, Boston, 1860. Moultons, Perkins, Thornes, and 19 - Extracts from the Wenham Town Records Re- Smith's. There were numerous ferring to the Building and Repairing of the Ear- Walkers. 14 ways built from farmhouses. ly Meeting Houses, Louis A. Dodge, Wenham The 1800 population was: 749; Historical Association and Museum, Inc., 1959. • A cemetery - Across from the 20 - Essex County Registry of Deeds, Bk. 19, p. 162. 352 men; 384 women. There were 21 - Essex County Registry of Deeds, Bk.79, p. 135. meetinghouse 14 149 families; 44 family names. 22 - Essex County Registry of Deeds, Bk.161, p. 72. • One doctor - Nathan Lakeman 23 - Essex County Registry of Deeds, Bk.91, p. 133. 1 Jack Hauck, Revised November, 2018 came to Hamilton in 1793. 24 - Rev. Mansfield Sermons, On Two-Hundredth Anniv. of the First Church in Wenham, 1845. • Several tradesmen - Black- 25 – Charles Tuttle will, 1752. smith, undertaker, tavern, mills, 26 - Samuel Wigglesworth of Hamlet, Janice P. Pul- • A militia - Detachment of men sifer, Essex Inst. Hist. Collections, Oct., 1971. 27 - Ipswich Vital Records, 1600 to 1859. paid 4 shillings/day, for each 28 - Life, Journals and Correspondence of Rev. day on duty. The same Min- Manasseh Cutler, William Parker Cutler, Robert

utemen are voted to have £S a B. Clark & Co., ,Cincinnati, OH, 1888. 29 - familysearch.org month, with what they shall re- 30 – R. Dodge, Hamilton Minuteman, Janice G. Pul- ceive from the State and the sifer, Essex Cnty. Newspapers, Apr. 19, 1975. 31 - Family of John Perkins of Ipswich, https:// , from the time archive.org/ details/familyofjohnperk00perk they may march, till they return. 32 - Candlewood, ancient neighborhood in Ipswich,

• 3 selectmen - Met in the meet- T. Frank Waters, Ipswich Hist. Society, Salem 1 Press, 1909. inghouse basement. 33 - 1856 Ipswich map, https://ipswich.files. word- • No parks press.com/2016/09/1856_area_map.jpg ______Treasures of Hamilton History – The Hamlet Pg. 9

Hamlet Veterans Dodge, Paul Sgt. Perkins, Philemon Pvt. Revolutionary War Dodge, Paul 1st Lt. Pitman, Howard Dodge, Richard Capt. Poland, Nathaniel, Jr. Pvt. Name Rank Dodge, Robert 1st Lt. Porter, Dudley H. Pvt. Annable, Jacob Capt. Giddings, Joshua Porter, Ebenezer Annable, James H. Pvt. Henderson, Frederick Pvt. Porter, Samuel Lt. Annable, Robert Kinsman, Austin S. Pvt. Potter, William Pvt. Annable, Robert, Jr. Pvt. Kinsman, Thomas, Jr. Pvt. Roberts, Joseph Appleton, Benjamin Cpl. Knowlton, Antipar Pvt. Roberts, Thomas Knowlton, Timothry Knowlton, Edmund Pvt. Saunders, Nathaniel W. Pvt. Appleton, Thomas Pvt. Knowlton, Ezra Saunders, Oliver Pvt. Boardman, John Knowlton, George K. Fifer Smith, Solomon 1st Lt. Brown, William Knowlton, John Pvt. Thompson, John 2nd Lt. Cole, Henry Lamson, Benjamin Sea. Webber, John S. Lt. Cressy, Alber Pvt. Lamson, Jonathan Ens. Whipple, John, III Pvt. Cutler, Manasseh Chap. Lamson, Jonathan, Jr. Pvt. Whipple, John, Jr. Capt. nd Dane, John 2 Lt. Lamson, Joseph Sea. Whipple, Matthew Master Pvt. Dane, John, Jr. Lamson, Samuel Sea. Whipple, Samuel Pvt. Dean, Israel Sea. Lofking, Joseph Boy, Pvt. Whipple, William III Pvt. Dean, Nathan Sea. Lofking, Moses Sea. Whitney, Elisha Capt. Dean, Nehemiah Sea. Lofking, Moses, Jr. Pvt. Whitredge, John Pvt. Pvt. Dodge, Ammi Lovering, John, Jr. Pvt. Wigglesworth, William Pvt. Dodge, Barnabas Capt. Marshall, Francis Pvt. Woodberry, Jacob Pvt. Pvt. Dodge, George, Jr. Mordough, John C. Pvt. Woodbury, Benjamin Pvt. Dodge, Israel Sea. Norris, George E. Capt. Woodbury, John L. Pvt. Dodge, Jonathan Pvt. Norris, Jeremiah, Drummer Dodge, Joseph Pvt. Patch, Edmund Pvt. Dodge, Mial Pvt. Patch, James Capt.

2018 Hamilton Houses Built Before 1795 Asbury St. 171 Ebenezer Lowering 1753c Federal Bay Rd. 1028 Austin Brown 1725c American Colonial Bay Rd. 918 Emeline & George Patch 1725 American Colonial Bay Rd. 648 Joseph H. Dane 1720 Federal Bay Rd. 638 John Whipple 1660 American Colonial Bay Rd. 630 Congregational Church 1762 Greek Revival Bay Rd. 624 Rev. Samuel Wigglesworth 1714 American Colonial Bay Rd. 563 William Foster 1797 American Colonial, ½ house Bay Rd. 560 Stephen Brown 1755 American Colonial Bridge St. 180 Peter Woodbury 1690 American Colonial National Register Bridge St. 76 Joseph Brown, Sr. 1662c American Colonial National Register

______Treasures of Hamilton History – The Hamlet Pg. 10