History of Amesbury - Merrill.org

HISTORY OF AMESBURY. 1 63
and occupied by Jacob Huntington, which was originally lined
with brick around the first story, and, no doubt, designed as a
garrison house for the neighborhood. Left. Foot's fort was, no
doubt, in the vicinity of the burying ground at West Amesbury.
The six-rod highway was narrowed by allowing Thomas Chal-
lis and Thomas Weed to fence in two rods in width, in consid-
eration of highways laid through their lands elsewhere.
1712.
Capt. John Wadey, of Salisbury, had leave granted to build a
dam at the pond's mouth not to exceed three feet in height
"to preserve water in a dry time for grinding."
This was the first attempt to turn the water of Kimball's
pond to account. For untold ages this water had run to waste,
passing through the pond meadow and across the highway near
Thomas Colby's, into the stream that carries Tuxbury's mills.
In great drouths the water in the Powow river ran low, so
that grinding was necessarily suspended but with this extra
three feet on the surface of the pond, there would, probably,
be no more scarcity.
Left. Foot had leave to "fence across y e highway leading by
his house next y e country road and so against Thomas Colby's
not to hinder any passing." This road was, probably, the one
now known as Church street, in Merrimac.
Sept. 27th. Deacon Thomas Currier died, having served the
town in almost every capacity. He was chosen town clerk
in 1674 instead of his father, Richard Currier, and served till
his death, a period of thirty-eight years lacking a few months.
He served as selectman seventeen years and in many other
offices, and was a fair penman. His business was not confined
to town affairs, but he was employed in settling estates and
various other matters. He was a witness to the will of Edmund
Elliott, which his father wrote in 1675, an^ occasionally recorded
meetings when his father was clerk. This would go to show that
they lived in the same house at that time, and it is very probable
that Thomas owned the homestead before his father's death. It has
been said that Richard deeded away his property and died
poor. Thomas was born at Salisbury March 7th, 1646, and