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History of Amesbury - Merrill.org

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HISTORY OF AMESBURY. IO3<br />

the meeting, it was a convenient place for the minister to stop,<br />

and in 1666 the town voted to "satisfie him for entertaining-<br />

Mr Woodbridge," who was a candidate for settlement in the<br />

ministry.<br />

He was Prudential man in 1667, but never was chosen to<br />

much <strong>of</strong>fice, owing partly or wholly to his age at the settlement<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>Amesbury</strong>. His will was proved April 13th, and his<br />

son Thomas and daughter Sarah were appointed executors, but<br />

the daughter declined serving.<br />

1676.<br />

The town was divided into wards for convenience <strong>of</strong> setting<br />

watches, and each ward had a watch house for quarters.<br />

The annual meeting "Voted that every ward shall produce a<br />

load <strong>of</strong> fire wood for y e watch and ward while they have gone<br />

all round and y r ward to be fined five shillings that neglect it."<br />

Indians were at times troublesome and the garrison houses, then<br />

called forts, were in the various sections <strong>of</strong> the town, to be<br />

kept at all times in good order.<br />

One <strong>of</strong> these forts was located on the plain near the D.<br />

Gordon Estes place, one at the Pond hills, one on the plain at<br />

"Jamaco," near the burying ground, one at Birch meadow and,<br />

probably, one at the Highlands. People were afraid to go into<br />

their fields to work without their guns, and portions <strong>of</strong> the time<br />

resorted to the garrison at night for protection.<br />

The General Court was obliged to take every precaution to<br />

check the plundering, burning and murdering <strong>of</strong> the people by<br />

these nightly skulking enemies. Even friendly Indians were<br />

hardly to be trusted, and all felt constant alarm.<br />

In addition to other troubles a dispute had arisen in regard<br />

to the line between this colony and New Hampshire. False<br />

representations had been made to the King and it became<br />

necessary to send a commission and address to pacify his Royal<br />

Majesty.<br />

So that with the watches which the constables were obliged<br />

to keep nights from May to the end <strong>of</strong> September, in which all<br />

over sixteen years <strong>of</strong> age were obliged to take their turns or<br />

hire a substitute, there seemed but little chance for a happy

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