1681, Dec. 26. The town voted, That they were minded to have another mill built in the town.

At the same meeting, it was agreed and voted, That there should be a mill built on the Warehouse River, in the most convenient place, and that the river might be stopped by making a dam, by any persons that would appear to build

the mill.

No mill, however, was built upon the Warehouse River until the one built by John Harris, in 1760, now owned by his grandson, Daniel Harris. The said John Harris, born Oct. 11, 1695, was the son of Deacon Timothy Harris, and grandson of the first John Harris.

In 1697, Oct. 30, the town voted, That Sergeant Jeremiah Pearson shall have liberty to build a grist-mill for the benefit of the town, if a convenient place can be found.

In 1699 1700, Jan. 23, the town agreed and voted, That the land laid out to Samuel Platts, Jr., near Daniel Tenney's house in this town, (he, the said Platts, agreeing to take other land in exchange,) be granted to Sergeant Jeremiah Pearson to build a grist-mill upon. A mill was soon after erected, and stood upon the same stream on which the aforenamed John Pearson's mills were erected, between two and three miles further up the stream, and opposite "Stickney's Mills." This mill was kept in use about one hundred years, when it was suffered to decay, and has been wholly removed. Jeremiah Pearson, who built it, was a son of the first John Pearson, abovenamed, and was forty-five years old when the grant was made to him.

About the year 1740, one Daniel Peirce commenced digging a canal to convey the water coming out of Pentucket Pond to where Dole's Mills (in Georgetown) now stand, preparatory to the erection of a grist-mill. The undertaking being of considerable magnitude, Peirce's funds failed before the work was accomplished, and he sold out his interest

7

in the concern.

The purchaser finished it, and erected a

grist-mill, which has been kept in use from the 15th of October to the 15th of April, each year. And in 1807, John Wood, the then owner, erected a saw-mill, which has been kept running the same length of time in each year.

Between 1730 and 1740, Deacon Abner Spofford erected the first saw-mill at the place where William Spofford's sawmill now stands, in Georgetown, which has been in use a portion of each year to the present time.

Colonel Daniel Spofford and his sons, soon after the year 1780, erected a grist-mill in connexion with said saw-mill, which was kept in use a portion of each year, for about 40 years, and then taken down.

At the commencement of the revolutionary war, Eleazer Spofford, a son of said Deacon Abner Spofford, erected a mill for drawing wire, which stood a short distance below the said saw and grist mills; this was kept in operation until 1780.

About the same time, and near the same place, Jeremiah Spofford erected a snuff-mill, which was kept in use but a few years.

In 1739, there were Iron works in operation, standing on the stream (in Georgetown) which runs from Rock Pond into Pentucket Pond, a short distance northerly of the road leading to Haverhill. One Samuel Barret lived near the works, and, it is supposed, carried them on. How long these works were in operation is not known.

Anciently, a saw-mill was built by Moses Hazen or Jeremiah Hazen, his father, which stood near where Benjamin McLaughlin's tan-yard now is, which mill has not been in use for many years.

The first saw-mill built in Rowley stood near where Solomon Dodge's mills now are, and was probably erected soon after the settlement of the town. Tradition informs us, that the Mighills and Chaplins were early interested in it, and

perhaps the builders thereof. This mill was about one mile above the said Jeremiah Pearson's mill, and upon the same stream. About the year 1780, Phineas Dodge erected a grist-mill about half a mile above the saw-mill, which was taken down in 1823, by his son, the said Solomon Dodge, who then erected a new one near his saw-mill.

The Stickney mills, mentioned above, were first erected; the saw-mill, soon after 1740, by Samuel Stickney; the grist-mill, in 1783, by Jedediah Stickney, son of said Samuel.

The towns of Rowley and Georgetown, in the County of

Length, in Rowley and Georgetown, 75 miles.

Distance from Congregational Meeting-house, in Rowley, to

The distances from Rowley, &c. stated above, were taken by Jonathan P. Saunders, of Salem, in 1830.

A Survey and Map of the town was made in 1794, by Joseph Chaplin, and another in 1830, by Philander Anderson, both by order of the General Court.

Pentucket Pond and Rock Pond are two beautiful sheets of water, situate near the principal village in Georgetown, the former has an area of from one to two hundred acres, the other is much less. These ponds, with Baldpate Hill and Long Hill, add much to the beauty of the scenery of the town, and are places of considerable resort for the citizens and others in the warm season of the year. Baldpate Hill is supposed to be the highest land in the county. From this hill, in a clear day, a delightful and extensive view may be taken. Some of the principal mountains and hills of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine, are to be seen; the surrounding villages, and the spires of many, and some quite distant, meeting houses, as Ipswich, Hamilton, Salem, Reading, Andover, Haverhill, West Newbury, Newbury, and Newburyport, in Massachusetts, and Atkinson and Plaistow, in New Hampshire, with various others, are all in view. The Ilse of Shoals, the northern and iron-bound shore of Cape Ann, with vessels passing Ipswich Bay, are all before the eye of him who ascends this eminence. The summit of either of the other hills mentioned above affords a most delightful prospect. From Prospect Hill, in Rowley, the view in a northerly and casterly direction is very extensive.

EARTHQUAKES.

On June 1, 1638, about two o'clock, P. M., was an earthquake throughout New England, which caused the pewter, in many places, to be thrown off the shelves, and the tops of chimneys, in some places, to be shaken down.

"Sabbath day, October 29, 1727. A little more than half an hour past ten o'clock in the evening the first and great shake was felt, when the heavens were most serene, and the atmosphere perfectly calm. And it was repeated several times that night, and afterwards to January 6th next following, when, about two o'clock in the afternoon, there was a very great shake, which exceeded any other since the first night; this day was warm, clear, and calm.” *

This has been denominated "The Great Earthquake," in New England; the tops of many chimneys were thrown down, and the pewter, &c., shaken from the shelves. The people of Rowley, being much alarmed, mostly repaired to their minister's house (Rev. Edward Payson); that being insufficient to accommodate them, the meeting-house was opened, where they spent most of the night in prayer.

On November 18th, 1755, was another great earthquake in New England. Rev. Mr. Lesslie, in the Church Records of Linebrook Parish, made the following entry, viz. "Between the hours of four and five in the morning, there happened a most surprising shock of the earthquake, which was afterwards succeeded by several others, tho' none equal to the first. In the town of Ipswich, much damage was done to many houses; yet, through the goodness of God, no hurt was done, either to the lives or limbs of any persons.'

"Nov. 19. Several shockes were heard, tho' but small compared to the first."

"1761, March 12. Between the hours of two and three P. M. there happened a shock of an earthquake."

On Sabbath day, March 1, 1801, about half past three o'clock, in the afternoon, was a slight shock of an earthquake, which lasted about twenty or thirty seconds. Its sound could not easily be distinguished from the noise of a

* Note to a Sermon, by Rev. Samuel Phillips, of Andover, preached Dec. 21, 1727, being a public Fast, occasioned by the earthquake.