The Hamlet, 1638-1793

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A – 28 Goodhue St., 1751 B – 2 Gail Ave., 1740 C – 16 Gail Ave., 1760 D – 171 Asbury St., 1753 E – 230 Asbury St., 1770 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 – 454 Bay Rd., 1720 P – 435 Bay Rd., 1772 Q – 76 Bridge St., 1662 R – 180 Bridge St., 1690 S – 293 Bridge St., 1750 T – 505 Essex St., 1790 U – 494 Essex St., 1760 V – 428 Essex St., 1720 W – 175 Woodbury St., 1753 X – 188 Essex St. Y – Meeting House, 1643 Many houses remain from before Hamilton was created in 1793 Map, J. Hauck, 2018. - 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 Massachusetts 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 expenses 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 Boston, 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 colonel 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 became 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 spring floods often damaged the (1623-1664) - A tailor, bridges. 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 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 1789 deed 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 shoe- Walker, Richard (1637-1721) The first enlargement of the maker and farmer. He married married (1645) Sarah Story. Their burial ground occurred in 1763. Elizabeth Witt (1669). They lived farm was off of Bridge Street. 23 John Hubbard gave the Hamlet a on the east side of the Hamlet, 1 8 Woodbury, Isaac (1659-1733) quarter of an acre on the south- near what is no 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 pe- titioned Ipswich to become a sepa- married Esther Norton, 1713. Son Most families were large. For John signed separation petition. rate hamlet. They said the Wen- example, the Dodges had 11 chil- ham meetinghouse was not large They lived near the Wenham town dren, as did the Gilberts; the line. 33 enough to accommodate them. Woodburys had 10; the Moultons Also cited was the distance to the Moulton, William (1672-1748) had 9; and both the Fellowes and Ipswich meetinghouse was long, married 2nd Jane Conant, 1695. Lamsons had 8. 29 and getting there, in the winter and Their house was north of what is Children were put to work as 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

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Many Ipswich residents were al physician." The church invited very angry with the Hamlet leav- 1712 Petitioners him to be their pastor. 2 ing. They would be paying much in Third Parish The dual role of minister and more taxes to support the poor. Annable, John Knowlton, Timothy doctor was quite common in the Annable, John, Jr. Loverill, John They unsuccessfully tried to have 17th and early 18th centuries. There 7 Annable, Matthew Manuel, William the separation cancelled. Bedlock, Christopher Moulton, William was a strong belief that health and The Hamlet also had to negoti- Browne, Jacob Perkins, John sickness were tied to sin and to ate with the Wenham church for Browne, James Piper, John the will of God. Browne, Joseph Poland, James leaving. In March 1713, several Browne, Nathaniel Poland, Samuel The Hamlet gave Wigglesworth Ipswich members (Samuel Poland, Browne, Samuel Potter, Edmund money to have a parsonage house William Davidson, and Mathew Browne, Thomas Potter, Nathaniel built on land, 1.5 acres, adjoining Whipple) of the Wenham Congre- Davis, John, Jr. Quarles, William 2 Ringe, Isaac the meetinghouse. gational Church met with the Davison, William Deane, Daniel Roberts, Richard The Hamlet became larger at Wenham church elders, to discuss Deane, John Rockwell, John the end of 1715. The General the disposal of their rights in the Deane, Nathaniel Stevens, Moses Court allowed the Richard Salton- meetinghouse.” 2 The following Dike, Anthony Thome, Bernard Thome, John stall farm and other neighboring day, Wenham church voted to al- Dike, Nathaniel Dodge, Parker Tilton, Abraham inhabitants to separate from Ips- low their "Ipswich neighbors" to Dodge, Richard Tilton, Samuel wich and join the Hamlet. 10 surrender their rights to pews in Durgy, Thomas Tuttle, Charles the meetinghouse. On Jun. 15, ffellowes, James Walker, John Another expansion came in 1713, 15 Ipswich families gave up Giddings, Isaac Walker, Richard 1718. The General Court granted Gilbert, Daniel Welch, Moses Alexander Knight's farm, on the their rights in the Wenham meet- Gilbert, John Whipple, James, Hooker, John Whipple, John northeast side of Chebacco Lake, inghouse. The Wenham church 10, 21 paid them and exact amount of Hubbard, John Whipple, John, Jr. to be part of the Hamlet. £39, 11s, 9d. 2, 6 Killam, Daniel, Sr. Whipple, Jonathon In 1719, the Chebacco Parish Knowlton, Benjamin Whipple, Matt, 3d Oct. 3, 1713, 52 Ipswich neigh- Knowlton, John Whipple, Matt, 4th objected to the farms of Thomas bors formed a church 3 miles north Knowlton, Samuel Whipple, Matt., Jr. Knowlton and Jeremiah Buckman, on the Bay Path. 24 Knowlton, Thomas Whipple, Matt., Sr. on the northeast side of Chebacco Williams, Nicholas Lake 27 becoming part of the Ham- Shortly after, on Oct. 14, the let. However, a court ruled that Hamlet was incorporated. 1 It in- Matthew Whipple was the larg- they could leave Chebacco. 10 In cluded the inhabitants and lands of est contributor to the building of 1740, Buckman sold his property the farms owned by Jonathan An- the first meetinghouse. He was a to Ebenezer Knowlton. 21 nable. Joseph Jacobs, John Ab- maltster and had a malt and oat bott, Capt. John Whipple, Joseph mill. Further, he was a town of- The church was very pleased Whipple, Jonathan Lovering and ficer, a justice of the Court of Ses- with their pastor as they showed in all the farms lying upon Wenham sions, representative in 1718, 1720, when they purchased, for 1719, and 1729. He died Jan. 28, Rev. Wigglesworth’s use, 7 acres bounds, and the land in Chebacco, 29 that were not part of the Chebacco 1739. of land along the Bay Path, adjoin- parish. 10, 11 On Oct. 27, 1714, Rev. Samuel ing his 1.5 ac. lot. It extended south to Maj. Symonds Epes' A week later, on Oct. 21, Ham- Wigglesworth became the Ham- property. 2, 10 let inhabitants met at the house of let's first pastor. He was the son of the Rev. Michael Wigglesworth of During Rev. Wigglesworth's Matthew Whipple: he was chosen 26 as the moderator. 4 One of the is- Malden. ministry, the congregation ex- sues discussed was the building of Born. Feb. 4, 1688/89, Samuel panded significantly. The Wednes- a meetinghouse. Wigglesworth studied physic and day after a great earthquake in 1727, which occurred on a Sunday It was built, in October 1714, on graduated at Harvard College, in evening, the town observed a day the corner of Elms Rd. and the 1707. He moved, in 1710, to the of humiliation and prayer, and Bay Path. It was 50-ft. long, 38-ft. Hamlet and began a medical prac- Wigglesworth preached a sermon. wide, and 20 ft. stud. There was a tice, but stayed only a year. He From the day of the earthquake. small tower on the roadside end. 1 returned to Malden, to study divini- Oct. 27, to Sep. 8, 1728, 99 peo- (It was not called a steeple, for it ty. In 1713, he began to preach in ple were admitted to the church. 1 served as a watch tower.) Groton. In January 1714, he returned to the Hamlet, as a "spiritu- ______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. 10 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. 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 schoolhouse, 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, there lic school was only for boys from 9 In 1758, a third school opened were "dame schools," taught in to 17. They were taught reading, 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 shoers Whipple, in 1756, included pri- 15 and clock on the south end. (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 1770s, 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 chaplain 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 Continental Congress printed money, and at Trenton. Both Robert shipped back to England. known as continentals ______Treasures of Hamilton History – The Hamlet Pg. 7

Trek to Ohio 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 In December 1787, 22 people In 1788, Massachusetts be- physically a dark day. At noon, were in the first company to leave came the sixth U S. state. The there was “midnight darkness.” from the Hamlet for the 650-mile, population, in 1790, was about People lit candles, cattle lowed, 51-day wagon trek to the new 380,000. Ipswich's population, in- and fowls went to roost. Smoke western territory. Men from the cluding the Hamlet, was about from a major Canadian fire ob- Hamlet were: Jarvis Cutler, son of 3,300. 9 scured the sun. Manasseh Cutler; Isaac Dodge; Hamlet Becomes Hamilton The poor value of Continental Oliver Dodge; William Moulton and currency became a positive for his son Edmond; Amos Porter, Jr.; In the late 1700s, several promi- veterans of the revolution. David Wallace; Peletiah White; nent residents of the Hamlet be- and Josiah Whitridge. 13 gan calling for a complete separa- Trek to Ohio All in the Hamlet did not share tion from Ipswich. Probable factors 1786 several former army officers Rev. Cutler's antislavery belief. In in their unrest were the amount of organized a company in Boston, 1755, there were 62 slaves above taxes being paid and how the the Ohio Company, to purchase the age of 16 in Ipswich, including money was spent. 27 territory northwest of the Ohio Riv- the Hamlet. In March 1792, the Hamlet ap- er, for locating a permanent set- In the Hamlet, in support of the pointed four residents, Rev. Dr. tlement. The land was to be pur- antislavery movement, was Dea. Manasseh Cutler, Col. Robert chased with the Continental cur- Matthew Whipple (1685-1766). He Dodge, Joshua Giddings and Jon- rency, with which the military was stipulated, in his will of 1760, “in athan Lamson, as a committee to paid after the war. The govern- consideration that my servant Pla- negotiate with the General Court in ment accepted the money at face to has been a faithful servant that, Boston for the incorporation of the value for purchasing of the land in after my death and my wife’s Hamlet, as a separate town. 28 10 the new territory. death, he shall be free.” His wife, The land consisted of about For veterans, Rev Cutler ob- Martha, died in 1774. 480 ac. of tillage, 720 ac. of Eng- tained a million acres, at $1/ac., Plato was allowed to live in the lish and upland mowing, 780 ac. of with 500,000 acres more thrown in Whipple house with his wife, Phe- fresh meadow, 4,100 ac. of pas- as an allowance for badlands and be; it also was stipulated that ture, 1,000 ac. of woodland, exclu- incidental charges. Of special in- should Plato be unable to care for sive of enclosed pasture lots, 450 terest is that he secured the land himself, provisions were to be pro- ac. of unimproved, and 37 ac. of with an ordinance prohibiting slav- vided for his care. Plato died in parsonage. Besides these, there 10 ery in that territory. 1799: he was 109. 1 were 120 ac. for roads, and 350 1 ac. covered with water.

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There are no data about the ceive from the State and the References number of houses or the number United States, from the time 01 - History of Ipswich, MA, Joseph B. Felt, 1834. of families in 1793. However, in they may march, till they return. 02 - Chronicle of a Country Town, Donald W. Beat- 1773, there were 116 houses, 172 tie, Massachusetts American Revolution Bicen- • 3 selectmen - Met in the meet- tennial Commission, 1976. families in the Hamlet. In 1831, 1 03 - Changing Town, Hamilton Massachusetts, 1 inghouse basement. there still were just 116 houses. 1850-1910, Janice G. Pulsifer, Fox Run Press, • No parks On Jun. 21, 1793, after obtain- Ipswich, MA. 1976. • 4 district schools - Partly kept 04 - Municipal History of Essex County in Massa- ing the act of incorporation, the by men, in winter, and partly by chusetts, Chap. XX, Hamilton. Benjamin F. town of Hamilton held its first town Harrington, Lewis Historical Publishing Co. women, in summer. 1 meeting on Aug. 1, 1793, in the New York, NY, 1922. • Suffrage - Practically every man 05 - Ipswich Town Records, 1770-1776, Microfilm, meetinghouse on the Bay Path. A3, Volume III. Dea. Nathaniel Whipple was the in the could vote, providing the 06 - William Parker Cutler, Life, Journals and Cor- moderator and treasurer; Lemuel poll tax was paid. The property respondence of Rev. Manasseh Cutler, Cincin- holding requirement was inter- nati R. Clark & Co., 1888. Brown, the clerk; and the select- 07 - Ipswich in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, Vol. men were Jonathan Lamson, preted that a man's income met II. A History of the Town from 1700 to 1917. Capt. Daniel Brown and Joseph the land requirement. Thomas F. Waters. Ipswich Hist. Society, 1917. 10 27 08 -Historicalipswich.org Poland, Jr. All the officers were • About 50 slaves 09 - https://historicipswich.org/a-priceless.../ ips- descendants of men that peti- • Indentured workers wich.../a-chronology-of-ipswich-history tioned Ipswich, in 1712, for the • Indians, less than 10. 10 - History of Essex County, Massachusetts: With creation of the Hamlet. Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Pioneers • The title Mr. was only given to and Prominent Men, edited by Duane Hamilton They raised £910 to pay Ips- the wealthier and the more ed- Hurd, J. W. Lewis & Co., 1888. wich for various expenses. At an 11 - History of Essex County, Vol. II, Chapter ucated. Goodman or Goodwife XCVIII , Hamilton, Daniel E. Safford, J. W. October meeting, held in the meet- was used when addressing Lewis & Co., Philadelphia, PA, 1888. inghouse, the selectmen adopted commoners. 6 12 - Forty-eight pioneers, Clyde Swift, Hamilton rules and regulations for the man- Hist. Society, 1987. No commonage 13 - Hammatt Papers, Early Inhabitants of Ipswich, agement of town affairs and the • 10 • Large landowners, farmers. 1633-1700, Abraham Hammatt, Ipswich Anti- salaries of officers. quarian Papers, Ipswich, MA, 1854. In 1793, the new town of Hamil- There were two major crops: 14 - 1800 Census 15 - Cutler’s of Hamilton, The, Janice G. Pulsifer, ton had: corn and oats. Rye, barley and English and upland hay were Essex Institute Historical Collections, CVII, No. • One Church - Until 1829, when 4, Oct. 1971. moderate crops. Vegetables in- 16 - Remarks on the Rev.by Manasseh Cutler, Allen the First Congregational Church cluded pumpkins, melons, peas, W Dodge, Essex Institute Bulletin, 1874). was incorporated, Hamilton’s beans and turnips. 6 Near the mid 17 - Riverbend Property Background, Provided by town and church affairs were the Ipswich River Watershed Association. 4 1700s, potato was grown. Hay and 18 - History of Wenham, Civil and Ecclesiastical, acted together. oats were winter feed for the cat- From Its Settlement in 1639 to 1880. Myron O. • No fire department. tle. Flax was for weaving linen for Allen, Bazin & Chandler, Boston, 1860. 19 - Extracts from the Wenham Town Records Re- • Law enforcement - Constables, garments and table covers. Barley ferring to the Building and Repairing of the Ear- 6 tythingmen and watchmen; the was key to brewing beer. ly Meeting Houses, Louis A. Dodge, Wenham watch house was a room in By 1800, many of the 1712- Historical Association and Museum, Inc., 1959. 1 20 - Essex County Registry of Deeds, Bk. 19, p. 162. meetinghouse basement. petition families were gone from 21 - Essex County Registry of Deeds, Bk.79, p. 135. • (PIC) A few recognized roads - Hamilton, including the Davis', Fel- 22 - Essex County Registry of Deeds, Bk.161, p. 72. lows. Gilberts, Hubbards, Kilhams, 23 - Essex County Registry of Deeds, Bk.91, p. 133. Rubbly, Bay, Topsfield, Way to 24 - Rev. Mansfield Sermons, On Two-Hundredth Smith's. There were numerous Moultons, Perkins, Thornes, and Anniv. of the First Church in Wenham, 1845. 14 ways built from farmhouses. Walkers. 25 – Charles Tuttle will, 1752. 26 - Samuel Wigglesworth of Hamlet, Janice P. Pul- • A cemetery - Across from the The 1800 population was: 749; sifer, Essex Inst. Hist. Collections, Oct., 1971. meetinghouse 352 men; 384 women. There were 27 - Ipswich Vital Records, 1600 to 1859. 149 families; 44 family names. 14 28 - Life, Journals and Correspondence of Rev. • One doctor - Nathan Lakeman Manasseh Cutler, William Parker Cutler, Robert came to Hamilton in 1793. 1 Jack Hauck, August, 2018 B. Clark & Co., ,Cincinnati, OH, 1888. 29 - familysearch.org • Several tradesmen - Black- 30 – Robt. Dodge, Hamilton Minuteman, Janice G.

smith, undertaker, tavern, mills, Pulsifer, Essex Newspapers, Apr. 19, 1975.

• A militia - Detachment of men 31 - Family of John Perkins of Ipswich, https:// archive.org/ details/familyofjohnperk00perk paid 4 shillings/day, for each 32 - Candlewood, ancient neighborhood in Ipswich,

day on duty. The same Min- T. Frank Waters, Ipswich Hist. Society, Salem

utemen are voted to have £S a Press, 1909. 33 - 1856 Ipswich map, https://ipswich.files. word- month, with what they shall re- press.com/2016/09/1856_area_map.jpg

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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.

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