6. John and Eunice (Stickney). Five sons; John Gilman, born 1803; Paul, 1807; Elias, 1810; Charles, 1818; Alva, 1821; and four daughters.

N. B. In the foregoing Register, where a child was born between the 1st day of January and the 24th day of March, inclusive, in any year, prior to 1752, the double dating has not been used, but the latter year, indicated by the double date, has been taken.

PEOPLE OF COLOR.

But few, if any, resided in the town until after 1720. Soon after this time they were introduced as servants. From 1722 to 1780, the names of about forty different persons of color are found upon the records. Others were owned in town. Perhaps the whole number, during that period, might amount to one hundred, including children. From 1737 to 1768, sixteen died in the first parish. On the adoption of the State Constitution, in 1780, they all became free; and their number was soon much reduced. In the early settlement of the country, Indians were sometimes employed as servants. A female Indian, by the name of Marcah, served in that capacity, in Rowley, until her death, May, 1736. An Indian (name unknown) died at the house of Captain George Jewett, in Rowley, in February, 1776.

POST OFFICES AND POST ROADS, &c.

The Post Office in Rowley was established in 1804, James Smith, Postmaster. He has been succeeded by his son, Edward Smith, Frederic Lambert, and Benjamin H. Smith, who is now in office.

The Post office in Georgetown, formerly called "New Rowley Post Office," was established in 1824, Benjamin Little, Postmaster, and continues in office.

The Post Office in Byfield Parish, called "The Byfield Post Office," was established in 1826, Benjamin Colman, Postmaster, and continues in office.

The great eastern route from Boston to Portsmouth has ever been through the First Parish in Rowley. The main road from Rowley to Newbury and Newburyport has been several times changed. The road first used was that which passes by the mills (first built in Rowley), by the Dummer Academy, over Thurlow's Bridge, so called, and so on by the house of Hon. Daniel Adams, 3d; and by way of the Four Rock Bridge, so called, to Old Town Meeting-house in Newbury.

Thurlow's Bridge was some time a toll bridge previous to 1680, when, on application of the selectmen of Rowley to the General Court, the toll was taken off, and the county required to maintain it, as they formerly had done.

In 1750, measures were taken for building a bridge over Parker River, at the place where Old Town Ferry was kept, which was soon after erected, and the public travel from Rowley eastward turned in that direction. This continued to be the Eastern Mail Road, until the Newburyport Turnpike Road was made in 1805, when the mail route from Rowley eastward was again changed. Leaving the Old Town Bridge route, it passed upon the first old main road to where it intersected the turnpike road, and thence on the turnpike road to Newburyport. This continued

to be the Eastern Mail Route until the present year (1840), the mail now being conveyed by railroad; by which it will probably continue to be conveyed until some more expeditious mode shall be invented.

When a mail was first conveyed from Boston eastward, has not been ascertained. From about 1770 to 1790, it was conveyed on horseback once a week each way between Boston and Portsmouth. First, by Bartholomew Stavers, then by John Noble, and afterwards by John Stavers, all Portsmouth men. Before the introduction of four-wheel carriages upon that route, John Stavers fitted up a two wheel carriage, called a curricle, drawn by two horses, in which he could carry two passengers beside himself and the mail. On the introduction of four wheel carriages for conveying passengers, &c., entire new arrangements were made, and the mail was conveyed more frequently and expeditiously.

April 20, 1761. Mr. John Stavers commenced running a stage from Porstmouth to Boston. The carriage a curricle, drawn by two horses, sufficiently wide to carry three passengers. It left Portsmouth on Monday morning and proceeded as far as Ipswich the same day, and reached Charlestown Ferry the next day. It left Charlestown on Thursday, and arrived in Portsmouth on Friday. The fare from Portsmouth to Boston was thirteen shillings and sixpence sterling; equal to three dollars. It is supposed that this was the first stage which was ever run in America." * How long this carriage was continued, we are not informed; probably not long.

In 1794, a four horse stage run from Portsmouth to Boston every other day, that is, went one day and returned the next. It left Portsmouth at half past two o'clock in the morning, and arrived in Boston at six o'clock in the afterThe passengers breakfasted at Newburyport, and

noon.

*Adams, "Annals of Portsmouth."

dined at Ipswich, where it took fresh horses, and only there on the road.

In May, 1774, the following advertisement or stage notice is found in "The Essex Journal and Merrimack Packet," a newspaper printed in Newburyport at that time, viz.

"STAGE COACH

"That constantly plies between Newburyport and Boston sets out with four horses every Monday morning, at 7 o'clock, from Newburyport, and arrives at Boston the same day; leaves Boston every Thursday morning, and reaches Newburyport the same day. Such ladies and gentlemen as want a passage from Newburyport to Boston, are desired to apply at the house of the subscriber, opposite to the Rev. Mr. Parsons's Meeting-house. And those from Boston to Newburyport, at the house of Mrs. Beal, in King Street.

"It is hoped this very expensive undertaking will meet with encouragement from all ladies and gentlemen, as they may depend on the punctual performance,

"Of the people's most obedient servant,
"EZRA LUNT."

How long Lunt continued to run his stage is not known; probably but a short time.

About 1794, Jacob Hale and sons, of Newburyport, commenced running a four horse coach regularly between Newburyport and Boston, which stage was continued by the said Hales alone, and by them in connexion with the Eastern Stage Company, until the rail-road superseded the use of stage coaches. The present Benjamin Hale, of Newburyport, says he drove the first stage coach into the Eastern Stage House yard, in Boston, that ever entered it. The rail-road from Boston to Salem was opened for passengers, August 27, 1838. From Salem to Ipswich, Dec. 18, 1839. From Ipswich to Newburyport, July 17, 1840. From Newburyport to Portsmouth, November 9, 1840.

In 1754, Benjamin Franklin was Postmaster-General. At that time, a mail ran from Philadelphia to New England once a fortnight. He gave notice that the mail next year would start once a week the year round, whereby answers might be obtained to letters between Philadelphia and Boston in three weeks, which before had required six weeks.

In 1790, there were but 75 Post Offices in all the States. Now, in Massachusetts alone, there are nearly six hundred; and in 1839, there were in the United States, 12,780.

In 1755, the General Court of Massachusetts ordered a tax or duty to be assessed upon all pleasure carriages, and by the return made of such carriages, it appears there was then owned in the town of Rowley, 2 chaises and 7 chairs. In the county of Essex, 42 chaises, 282 chairs. In the whole Province of Massachusetts Bay, there were 6 coaches, 11 chariots, 326 chaises, and 970 chairs. Chairs paid a duty of 2s.; chaises, 3s.; chariots, 5s.; coaches, 10s.

OLD AND NEW STYLE.

The manner of writing dates when this country was first settled, was by numbering the months. This practice prevailed in Rowley until about the year 1660. March was the first month, and February the twelfth. The twentyfifth of March being Lady Day, or Annunciation of the Church, was the first day of the year. After numbering the months was discontinued, still the year commenced with the twenty-fifth of March, and so continued until 1752. In 1751, the British Parliament, by statute, provided that the then next first day of January shall be reckoned to be the first day of the year 1752, and that the day following the second of September, 1752, should be called the fourteenth, omitting eleven intermediate nominal days. By said act, bissextile, or leap years, are established every fourth year, excepting each hundredth