paid $137. Fifteen gentlemen, belonging to the town, became members of the association by paying the sum of five dollars or more each, viz. John P. Cleaveland, Solomon Dodge, Paul Jewett, Joshua Jewett, Jonathan Lambert, Joseph Little, Benjamin Little, Robert A. Little, Solomon Nelson, Paul Nelson, Samuel Pickard, Joseph Pike, Benjamin Smith, Amos Saunders, and Moses D. Spofford. DESTRUCTION BY FIRE. The first that we Many buildings, no doubt, have been destroyed by fire in the town, of which we have no account. have knowledge of, was the dwelling-house of Rev. Ezekiel Rogers, accidentally burnt, on the evening of July 16, 1651, O. S. In October, 1762, the dwelling-house upon the farm belonging to the first parish, was accidentally burnt, by dropping fire upon a heap of unhusked corn then in the house. In the summer of 1769, the barn of Mr. Samuel Plumer, in the second parish, was set on fire by lightning, and wholly consumed with all its contents. In August, 1777, the meeting-house in the first parish was struck by lightning, and the spire and steeple much shattered. In the summer of 1780, the barn of Asa Todd was set on fire by lightning, and consumed with its contents. In or about 1781, widow Hannah Jewett's barn was set on fire by Lucy, a negro. In or about 1783, the dwelling-house of Paul Lancaster, in Linebrook parish, was burnt by accident. In June, 1784, the dwelling-house of Joseph Jewett was burnt, by means of a defect in the oven. In September, 1784, the dwelling-house of Moody Spofford, in the second parish, was accidentally burnt. About 1789, the barn of John Johnson was burnt by lightning. 1795. The dwelling-house of Israel Adams, by accident. February 23, 1802. Isaac Smith's house, by accident. 1806. The dwelling-house of Henry Hilliard, by accident. 1812. The store of Solomon Stickney, by accident. August 10, 1818. The barn of Daniel Jewett, by lightning. August, 1823. Moses Todd's house, by accident. April 4, 1825. The dwelling-house of Stephen M. Nelson, by accident. 1828. The barn of Nathaniel Bradstreet, by lightning. December 28, 1838. The barn of Edward Todd. The fire was communicated by a dog, to whose tail spirits of turpentine had been applied, and then set on fire, out of mere sport, by some inconsiderate person or persons, the dog running into the barn was the occasion of setting it on fire. 1840, March 4. The barn occupied by Samuel P. Cheney, in Byfield parish, by lightning. BURIAL GROUNDS. That in the first parish was laid out, no doubt, at the first settlement of the town, and contained about two thirds of an acre. Ellen, the wife of Deacon Thomas Mighill, who died March 12, 1640–1, was the first person buried therein. In the first ten years, thirteen persons died, five of whom were heads of families; the others were young persons and children. In 1703, the yard was enlarged by adding about half an acre to the southerly side, purchased of John Hobson and Thomas Lambert. At the same time it was further enlarged by adding about twenty rods, taken from the street, and was fenced with stone wall. The stones were taken from near the watch-house, on land that was Mr. Rogers's, near where the powder-house now stands. In 1766, the front wall was removed, and a close board fence substituted therefor, which was painted red. In 1788, the yard was again enlarged by adding one fourth of an acre to the westerly side, purchased of Nathan Lambert, Jr., for £9. In 1790, a faced wall was substituted for the board fence. In 1811, the front wall was rebuilt and capped with timber. In 1830, the yard was again enlarged by adding one hundred and thirty-nine rods of land to the southerly side, purchased of Captain Jonathan Lambert, for $120. The whole expense of this enlargement, including repairs on fence, gates, &c., was about $ 250. A hearse was first procured in this parish in 1825. In 1736, seventy-two children died in this parish of throat distemper. The most ancient grave-stone, in this yard, has the following inscription upon it, viz. "Hear lys what was mortal of ye worthy You might behold, A lamb of God, Fitt for the fold." One fourth part of an acre of land, for a burial ground, in the second parish (now Georgetown), was purchased of Joseph Nelson, March 6, 1732-3, for £2 10s. L. M. Mr. Nelson's wife and some others had been previously buried there. The first person, buried in this grave yard, was Hannah Nelson, wife of said Joseph, who died June 5, 1732, aged forty-eight years. She was the great grandmother of the present Jonathan Nelson, of Georgetown. Her maiden name was Hannah Brocklebank, a granddaughter of Captain Samuel Brocklebank, who was slain by the Indians at Sudbury, in April, 1676. Her father, Samuel Brocklebank, owned the place where Major Paul Nelson now lives. The inscription on her grave-stone is as follows. "HERE LYES BURIED YE BODY OF HANNAH YEAR OF HER AGE." In 1755, this burial ground was enlarged by adding land, purchased of the Rev. Moses Hale. In 1805, it was again enlarged by adding half an acre to the westerly end, purchased of Job Brocklebank, for $ 50. Dr. Amos Spofford, one of the parish committee for making this enlargement, was the first person who died in this parish after it was made. He died December 20, 1805, and was buried on the new ground. In 1806, a faced wall was built upon the front of this yard. Job Pingree was the oldest person buried here. He died April 25, 1785, aged ninety-six years, six months, and eight days. A hearse was first procured in 1819. The whole number of deaths in this parish, from June 5, 1732, to November 5, 1785, a period of fifty-three years and five months, was four hundred and fifty-one, averaging about eight per year. The greatest number in any one year was forty-eight, (being about one ninth of the whole,) viz., from June, 1736, to June, 1737; forty-six were children who died of the throat distemper. From November, 1785, to June 1797, a period of nearly twelve years, the record of deaths in the parish was but imperfectly kept. From June 7, 1797, (the time of Mr. Braman's ordination,) to June 15, 1840, a period of about forty-three years, the whole number of deaths have been three hundred and eighty-seven, averaging nine persons per year. The greatest number, in any one year, was twenty-four, viz. from June 15, 1839, to June 15, 1840. The population of the parish, including all within the old territorial limits, was, no doubt, at any time during the last year, more than double to what it was in 1736 and 1737, when forty-eight died as above stated. The burial ground in Byfield Parish was first used as such in 1702. The first person buried therein, was Mehetable Moody, wife of William Moody. She was the granddaughter of that Henry Sewall who died at Rowley, in March, 1656-7. The inscription upon her grave-stone is as follows. "Mehetable, "Dater of Mr. Henry & Jane Sewall, wife of Mr. William Moodey, Promoted settling the worship of God here, and then went to Daters with their Father, August yo 8th, 1702, Ætat 38. was the first Joshua Woodman was the second person buried here, as appears by the following inscription upon his grave-stone, viz. "HERE LIES YE BODY OF MR. JOSHUAH WOODMAN, WHO DIED MAY YE 30TH 1703, AGED 67 YEARS, FIRST MAN CHILD BORNE IN NEWBURY, & SECOND INTURID IN THIS PLACE." |