History of Amesbury - Merrill.org

Io6 HISTORY OF AMESBURY.
For the first twenty years of the town's corporate existence
no records of births, marriages or deaths are to be found, and
no information can be obtained from that source ; consequently
the names of those who fell during this fearful raid must remain
unknown.
Mr. Quinby was not one of the first eighteen, but, probably,
came to town in 1658, when he and his father Osgood bought
the farm of Roger Eastman, near William Sargent's, which was,
perhaps, within calling distance of the garrison on the plain.
He married Elizabeth Osgood, daughter of William Osgood, in
1 64 1 and was admitted a townsman here in 1660. He received
land in several divisions, the first lot being at the river in 1659.
His inventory contained "house and lot ^40, 6 acres at
Whitters hill ,£10, land at Bugsmore jQt» at Birchin Meadow
hill ^20, 7 neat cattle ^22, 6 swine £$, two mares £4, 6
sheep £2, bed & bedding & household stuff jQ6, 10 yards
cloth £2."
In the Lion's Mouth division Robert drew a lot on the north
side of the road, which is now owned by Philip Jones. On
this lot a house was built by some of his descendants, and for
a long period it was owned by the Quinbys. The cellar, par-
tially filled in, may yet be seen near Mr. Jones' gate. The old
house, which was well lined with bricks to the chambers to
guard against the Indians, was torn down more than a century
since and some of the bricks used in Mr. Jones' chimney.
And even here the family were not safe, for a boy was carried
into captivity and held for some time, being scantily fed so that
lie was quite willing to gnaw the bones thrown away by the
Indians, a habit which he retained long after returning home.
1678.
There was some controversy with Mr. Wells in regard to the
land granted him and an exchange of land which the town
wished to make. A large committee was chosen to settle the
matter and their decision was to be entered in the town book.
A road had been reserved through his land, probably with the
agreement to make it passable. The grant was the lot then
known as the Vane lot and lay south of William Sargent's house