History of Amesbury - Merrill.org

122 HISTORY OF AMESBURY.
The town again voted Mr. Wells fifty pounds.
The last three years have been remarkable for the deaths of
prominent men, who did noble work for the town in its early
history, and this year records the death of another pioneer, who
has been conspicuous on nearly every page of the record.
Capt. Samuel Foot died July 7th. He was not a signer of
the Articles, but came to town about 1658, when he was
chosen one of a committee to lay out the river lots. He drew
lot No. 1, which lay along the western side of the Buttonwood
road, but cut off from the river by John Weed's ten-acre lot.
He was made a townsman' December 10th, 1660, and after-
wards received numerous grants of land. He held many offices,
was Representive in 1689 and was one of the favored three
who were seated at the "tabell" in church in 1667. He lived
at Jamaco and it is very probable that his house was a "gar-
rison house," several times spoken of as "Capt. Foots fort."
Judging from his frequent services, he must have been specially
fitted to preside over town meetings, and was, no doubt, a man
of more than ordinary decision and ability.
Dr. Parish, in his History of New England, says: "Ames-
bury was assaulted, three persons killed, and three houses
burned, and Capt. Foot was tortured to death." But no men-
tion is made of such fact on the Amesbury records.
Mr. Well's salary of fifty pounds was again voted him.
John Hoyt, jr., grandson of the first John and son of John,
2d, died August 24th, 1691. He lived at the west end of the
town, his house, as described in the inventory of his estate,
being "House & land at Jamaicoe j£6o." He had a meadow
lot, lot in the children's land, two lots at Lion's Mouth and lot
at Country pond. The inventory footed up ,£153, 10 s.
Thomas Hoyt, son of John Hoyt 1st, died January 3d and
the inventory of his estate was returned to Probate court March
19th by John Hoyt (then sen.) and Henry Blasedell, sen., his
son Thomas being administrator. As a curiosity, showing to
some extent the spelling and tools of the age, we quote from
the record the items on the inventory :
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