They were incorporated October 1, 1731. The first parish meeting, for choice of officers, was held October 5, 1731.

John Spofford was chosen Moderator,

1736.

Samuel Johnson,

Lieutenant Jonathan Bradstreet, Ebenezer Burpee, and John Brocklebank were a committee to lease, for the term of nine hundred and ninety-nine years, this parish's part of the Spofford farm, so called. The parish voted to build a school-house, twenty feet by sixteen, eight feet post, to stand between

1739.

the brook by Captain Jonathan Bradstreet's, and the brook by Francis Brocklebank's. Also, voted, To invite Mr. Samuel Payson to keep school in the parish.

1745. Voted, To build another school-house of the same dimensions as the other, to sit between Mr. Chandler's and Mr. Brocklebank's brook.

1750. They voted, That the school be kept one third of the time in the upper house, and the rest of the time in the lower house.

1753. Voted, That one third of the time the school be kept in the parish school-house, one third in the upper, and one third in the north part of the parish.

1754. The parish voted to buy a law-book.

1770. Voted, That the school be kept one third at the parish school-house, one third on the hill, and one third at the north, if they will find a room.

Voted, That Moses Johnson keep the school one month, and may continue it three months, if he will keep a good school for seven dollars a month.

Voted, That William Chandler may keep school three months on the same conditions.

1773. Voted, To employ Greenleaf Dole to keep school for £2 13s. Od. per month.

1775, February. Voted, To raise minute men, according to the advice of the Provincial Congress.

1778. The parish voted, To build a new schoolhouse, near where Benjamin Thurston's house stood. 1779. Voted, To employ Greenleaf Dole to keep school.

The central part of this parish is situated six miles westerly from the First Parish. Its population and wealth, for many years, was considerably less than that of the first. Since the year 1810, they have been grad

ually increasing; the introduction of the tanning and shoe business into this parish, by a number of enterprising men, has caused a rapid increase of population and business in the place, within the last ten years. In 1836, a bank was established here, with a capital of $100,000; the semi-annual dividends have averaged over three per cent. In April, 1838, the most of this Parish, with the largest portion of Rowley part of Byfield Parish, were incorporated as a separate town by the name of Georgetown. This town has a central location in the northerly half of the county of Essex, rendering it, therefore, a convenient place for holding various public meetings; the Essex agricultural exhibition, when holden in the northern part of the county, has been oftener held here, than in any other town.

There is one large public house, with spacious hall, &c., kept by Colonel John B. Savory, and seven trading stores in the place, some of which are doing an extensive business.

BYFIELD PARISH.

That part of Rowley, now within the limits of Byfield Parish, was early settled by various families, by the name of Boynton, Brown, Chute, Look, Lull, Poor, Stewart, Stickney, Tenney, Wheeler, and probably others. It was at first called Rowlbery. Several of the families who first settled here were from Newbury, and for many years they travelled from four to six miles, to attend meeting upon the Sabbath, at Rowley, where they enjoyed religious privileges, until they voluntarily united with their neighbours of Newbury, and built a house for public worship, in 1702. In Newbury, within the limits

of this parish, is located the "Dummer Academy," the oldest institution of the kind within the Commonwealth, which has afforded the people of this parish a good school in which to prepare their children for college, and they have not neglected to improve it; perhaps no country parish within the Commonwealth have educated more young men, according to their population, than Byfield.

It will be observed under the proper head, that Rowley has educated a greater number of young men, according to their population and means, than most other towns; which is accounted for in the same way, viz. the convenient access they have had to this Academy. The first woollen factory built in this State, is now 1840 standing in this parish, owned by Gorham Parsons, Esq. The dimensions of their first meeting-house are not known.

Their second, built in 1746, was fifty-six by forty-five feet, with a steeple twelve feet square, and a tall spire. This house was burnt March 1, 1833. A new house, sixty-two by forty-five feet, was built the same year, and dedicated November 7. Dedication sermon by Rev. John P. Cleaveland, then of Salem.

Beneath the southwest corner-stone of this house, which was placed May 20, 1833, was deposited a suitable box, containing various coins, newspapers, &c., all which was done with appropriate ceremonies, and an address on the occasion by Nehemiah Cleaveland, Esq., then Preceptor of the "Dummer Academy."

The first church bell, given by Judge Byfield, weighed two hundred and twenty-six pounds.

The second church bell, given by Ebenezer Parsons, Esq., in 1817, weighed eight hundred and eightyfive pounds.

The third church bell, purchased by the parish in 1833, weighed one thousand pounds.

The bell, for many years, has usually been rung at twelve o'clock at noon, and nine o'clock in the evening, on week days.

HARVARD COLLEGE AND ROWLEY'S DIVISION.

Recd on Record, Aug. 26, 1736.

"Articles of agreement, for division and partition, indented, made, and concluded, on the twentieth day of November, in the ninth year of His Majestie's Reign, Anno Domini 1735, Between Edward Hutchinson of Boston in the County of Suffolk, in the Province of the Mass. Bay, in New England, Esqr.; Henry Flint of Cambridge in the County of Middlesex, the Province aforesaid, Esq., Nath' Appleton of Cambridge afores, Clerk, and Andrew Bordman, Steward of Harvard College, in Cambridge afores, Esq., or any three of them, a committee appointed and empowerd by the President and Fellows of Harvard College in Cambridge afores, the eighteenth of August, 1735, as by the records of the College may appear, to make such amicable agreements and settlements for and in behalf of said College, with the Church and Town of Rowley in the County of Essex, referring to the division and settlement of sundrie parcels of land, given and bequeathed to said Harvard College, and Church and Town of Rowley, by the Rev. Mr. Ezekiel Rogers, late of Rowley afores", Clerk, dec; on the one part, and Deacon Humphry Hobson, Thomas Lambert, Esq., Ephraim Nelson, Gentl", Joseph Jewett, Jr., Yeoman, and John Northend, Gentl", a committee appointed by said Church of Rowley, and Ephraim Nelson, Nath' Mighill, Jeremiah Chaplin, Gen