History of Amesbury - Merrill.org

88 HISTORY OF AMESBURY.
reat and the land to ly next the children's land." " John Hoyt
sen do enter his contrere desent to this vot."
Their lots were to begin next to Cobler's brook, the land
lying between West Amesbury and Haverhill line.
At this meeting (January 25th) it was voted "that the town
shall make a bregh over the swamp at Gorg Martins house."
The remains of this bridge or rather the causeway and road
each side are still visible in Mr. David Currier's pasture near
Moody Merrill's. It was a small bridge, perhaps six feet wide
in the center of a causeway built over a meadow some six or
eight rods broad. The bank on the south side was dug and
carted into the meadow to raise the grade above the bogs.
About one hundred years ago a second bridge was built far-
ther to the north across this same meadow, and the road
changed to where we now find it by Aquila Martin, who then
owned the -land in that vicinity. The town allowed a short
piece of the old road to be discontinued in exchange for the
new.
Edward Goodwin was granted a common right.
Richard Hubbard was granted a "common right when he
comes up to live among us and inhabitt with us."
William Hackett was granted a common right.
"William Osgood do enter his contrary desent to these two
last acte."
There was trouble with Haverhill about the bounds and Wil-
liam Osgood and Samuel foot were chosen to join with the
Prudential men to demand satisfaction for " there ungoust
molestation about our bounds to demand our charges of them
and in case of refusal to prosecute at law for the obtaining of
it."
Whether the committee ever obtained redress to their satisfaction
we are not able to state ; but the line was settled May
15th by the General Court, as it now stands.
The town ordered the Prudential men to commence a " suet
against the cow keeper for breach of covenant."
John Nash and Thomas Nichols were made townsmen.
" It was voted and agreed upon that the menesters mainte-