History of Amesbury - Merrill.org

102 HISTORY OF AMESBURY.
ony, and finally became an extensive business. But the chief
reliance was on cattle, sheep, corn and the small grains which
were extensively raised, according to ancient inventories. Pota-
toes were unknown at this time.
At the annual meeting it was voted to pay the Prudential
men "reasonable satisfaction for their time," and this is the
first instance which appears on the record of their receiving
pay.
Thomas Haynes received a grant of the island in Country
pond, which was at this time within the limits of Amesbury.
The Prudential men were authorized to place all persons in
the meeting house as they thought best.
William Sargent, one of the eighteen, died this year, aged
seventy-three years. He was born in England and was the son
of Richard Sargent, an officer in the Royal navy. It is believed
that he came to Virginia at an early date with William Barnes,
[ohn Hoyt and others. He married Judith Perkins, who died
about 1633, when he and his daughters Lydia, Sarah and Mary
came to Ipswich, where he settled with John Winthrop, William
Clark, Robert Coles, Thomas Howlett and others. When
leave was given for a plantation at Newbury, he came with
others and helped form the settlement there. A few years later
he went to Hampton with those composing that settlement, and
when the plantation at "Merrimack " was begun, he was found
there located beside Mr. Bradbury on the south-west bend of
the circular road.
March 25th, 1747, he bought Anthony Colby's house and lot
lying next Jarrett Haddon's, butting upon the Circular and Ferry
roads, and just one year later sold the same. He was then
called a mariner. Whether or not he came across the Powow
at this time is not certain, but it is probable that he did not
remain in Salisbury long.
He lived near the residence of Hon. George W. Morrill, as
various facts pretty. clearly show. In 1673 he sold Rev. Thomas
Wells fifty-five rods of land, and the description in the deed
mentions his house near by. He never lived at " Jamaco," but
died where he first built near the Academy lot. Living near