APPENDIX:

CONTAINING NOTICES OF

NEWLY INCORPORATED TOWNS.

GEORGETOWN.

This town was formerly a part of Rowley. Among the early settlers, we find the names of Chandler, Boynton, Adams, Plummer, Tenney, Mighill, Chaplin, Gage, Fisk, Searle, Spofford, and Brocklebank. Rev. Isaac Braman, in his Centennial Discourse delivered in 1832, says,"When this part of the town, called New Rowley, began to be settled, I cannot say. There was no house for public worship till the year 1729." In 1731, the parish was incorporated by the name of the 2d parish in Rowley. The Church was organized in 1732, and Rev. James Chandler, the first pastor, was ordained soon after. He died in 1789, in the fifty eighth year of his ministry, aged 83 years. His successor, Rev. Isaac Braman, the present pastor, was ordained in 1797. In 1769, the present house for public worship was erected, and the dedication sermon was preached by the celebrated Mr. Whitfield. The Baptist church was organized in 1781, and was for a while connected with the Baptist church in Haverhill. Rev. Mr. Ewing was their first minister. His successor was Rev. Mr. Burden. The Universalist Church was erected in 1832.

The

Georgetown was incorporated in 1838. It is a pleasant and very flourishing place. It is watered by a branch of Parker's river. Its growth has been more rapid than that of any other village in the country. greater part of it has been built since 1827. Real estate has more than doubled in value during the last 12 years. More than 50 buildings including shops were erected in 1839.

The shoe business was commenced here in 1808. The inhabitants are probably more extensively engaged in the manufacturing of boots and shoes than those of any other place of the same population in the United States. There are 27 Manufacturers of boots and shoes ;-Value of the same, $221,900; Capital invested, $99,000. Tanneries, 9; Capital invested, $10,800; Value of Carriages manufactured, $2,500. The Manufacturers' Bank, Rowley, is located here. It was incorporated in 1836; Capital, $100,000.

There are three Churches in the village; one Congregational, one Baptist, and one Universalist. Population, 1,560.

It is 16 miles from Salem, 10 from Newburyport, 11 from Andover Seminary, and 27 from Boston.

83

ROCKPORT.

This town was formerly the parish of Sandy Bay, or fifth parish of the town of Gloucester, and is situated on the eastern extremity of Cape Ann. It was incorporated as a town in 1840. This parish was not settled at so early a period as other portions of the town, in consequence of a vote prohibiting a division or settlement of the lands, for the sake of selling wood to defray the expenses of the town.

The first settler in Sandy Bay, was Richard Tarr, who erected a log house in 1696. In 1699, John Pool and family were settled here. Mr. Pool came from Taunton in England, and was a connexion of the celebrated Elizabeth Pool, mentioned in the account of Taunton, pages 141 and 143 of this work. In 1724, we find 15 families here, viz: Richard Tarr, John Pool, Hardy, Joshua Norwood, John Wonson, Thomas Dresser, Joshua Kendall, Samuel Davis, Joseph Thurston, Samuel Clark, John Rowe, Joseph Baker, Henry Witham, Edmund Grover, and Harris. Many of the present families are their descendants. In 1830, there were 115 persons bearing the name of Pool, descendants of John Pool, also many of the name of Tarr; and these are now more numerous than any other families in Rockport. Sandy Bay was incorporated as a parish in 1754. At the commencement of the revolutionary war, a company of brave young men marched to Boston, and at the memorable battle of Bunker Hill, some of them fell in defence of their country. It is said that the first prize taken in that war was brought into Sandy Bay. During the last war with Great Britain, the inhabitants were frequently annoyed by British privateers, and one of them was driven off by a well directed shot from a six pounder, which passed through the whole length of the privateer, below the deck, entering at the stem and passing out at the stern. In 1814, the British frigate Nymph sent in three barges, and burnt the watch-house, took a small fort erected by the inhabitants, spiked the cannon, and made prisoners of nine militia men, who were stationed at the fort. While one of the barges were firing at the Congregational Church, a plank started from the bottom of the barge, which caused it to sink, and 13 of her crew were made prisoners, who were the next day exchanged for the militia men. There are 4 churches in Rockport, viz: 1 Congregational 1 Baptist, 1 Universalist, 1 Methodist. Rev. Ebenezer Cleaveland was the first pastor of the Congregational Church, ordained in 1755. Mr. Cleaveland was for three years a chaplain in the revolutionary war. His successors have been Rev. David Jewett, settled in 1805, Rev. Wakefield Gale in 1836. The Baptist church was formed in 1808, society organized, 1811. Pastors, Rev. James Boswell settled in 1820, Rev. Reuben Curtis in 1828, Rev. Bartlett Pease in 1831, Rev. Otis Wing in 1834, Rev. Benjamin Knight in 1839. The Universalist society was organized in 1821. Pastors, Rev. Fayette Mace, settled in 1829, Rev. Lucius R. Paige, 1831, Rev. Benjamin B. Murray, 1833, Rev. Augustus A. L. Arnold, 1835, Rev. Charles Spear, 1837, Rev. Gibson Smith, 1839. The Methodist society was organized in 1832, Church built in 1838.

A large and expensive pier in the harbor was built by the inhabitants in 1811, expense about $9000, and a breakwater is now erecting by the United States Government for the security of another harbor, at a probable expense of $100,000.

At Pigeon Cove, a small village in Rockport, a pier and break-water have been built by a private corporation at an expense of $25,000.

The granite quarries, in Rockport, are extensive. For six years past, the average quantity of stone annually shipped to different parts of the United States is about 30,000 tons, worth from 1 to 2 dollars a ton; 100 men are employed at the quarries and working the stone; and 10 or more vessels for their transportation.

Isinglass is manufactured from Hake fish sounds at Rockport, the only one in the United States; quantities made yearly, about 6000 pounds; worth $4600. The business was commenced in 1824. This article is chiefly used in manufacturing cotton goods, and where it is best known it is highly valued as an improvement.

The fisheries of Rockport are the principal business of the place. The following is an estimate of the average amount for 8 years past :

Vessels employed in cod and mackerel fisheries, 76-men employed in them, about 300-in skiffs and worries, about 50-Quintals of fish of all kinds taken, about 29,000-worth when carried to market, about $65, 000. Barrels of mackerel caught, 1000.

About 15 coasting vessels, averaging 50 tons each, belong to this place. Population of Rockport, 2738. There is a Marine Insurance office Distance from Salem 21 miles, from Newburyport 28, from Bos

ton, 35.

The name given to this new town, Rockport, is a very appropriate one. More than half of the surface of the town was originally covered with rock or stone, but by the industry of the inhabitants, many portions of it have been brought to a high state of cultivation. When the ocean, which surrounds it on three sides, has been agitated by violent storms, the dashing of its billows upon this " iron bound coast" is truly sublime.

"The waves behind impel the waves before,

Wide rolling, foaming high, and tumbling to the shore."

The inhabitants of Rockport are hardy, industrious and enterprising, and there has been of late years a great improvement in the moral character and habits of the people. It is pleasant and romantic, and is fast becoming a place of fashionable resort for invalids and persons travelling for pleasure.

SOMERVILLE.

Somerville was incorporated as a town in 1842. It was formed from the south western section of the town of Charlestown, and includes within its limits the McLean Asylum, which is about one and a half miles from

McLean Asylum for the Insane, in Somerville.

the City Hall, Boston. [See page 366.] This town is allowed one representative in the State Legislature.

BLACKSTONE.

Blackstone was incorporated as a town in 1845. It was originally the south parish of Mendon, in which was comprised most of the manufacturing interests of that town. These manufacturing establishments are mostly situated on Mill and Blackstone rivers. The villages are called Millville, Blackstone, Waterford, and Upper and Lower Canadas. The first minister in this place, Rev. Benjamin Balch, was ordained here in the year 1768, as pastor of the congregational church. "And on Saturday morning, March 27th, 1772, before daylight," (says Mr. Whitney in history of Worcester Co.) "Mr. Balch left the parish, without knowledge or consent of the people of his charge." Mr. B. was afterwards installed at Barrington, N. H. It appears that at an early period, about one half the inhabitants were Baptists and Friends.

ASHLAND.

Ashland was incorporated as a town in 1846. It is situated on the line of the Boston and Worcester Rail Road, and was formed from parts of the towns of Framingham, Hopkinton, and Holliston.