History of Amesbury - Merrill.org

HISTORY OF AMESBURY. 215
jun., fence now stands, to low water mark to that part of
Powow river that lyes to y e west of an island in s d river which
takes in y e cove, high bank and flats to y e line first mentioned,
from s d rock at s d highway to y e six rod distance from s d ware
house afore mentioned."
This land has been nearly or quite disposed of, so that the
town has no landing, unless there may be a small one at the
foot of the lane by Mr. Cowden's house.
March 28. Thomas Challis, jr., sold to Ephraim Weed two
acres of land—being the southerly part of his homestead, for
^80, old tenor.
This lot included the spot where Mr. Alfred Bailey's mill
now stands at the Button Falls, and the deed refers to "an old
dam " as then being there, so that the spot was one of the
oldest mill privileges in town, if not the oldest.
The sum of ,£400, old tenor, was raised to defray past ex-
penses.
1749.
At the annual meeting it was voted to fence the burying
ground at the pond plain.
It was also "voted to raise y e sum of eight hundred pounds,
old tenor, for y e defraying of necessary charges heretofore resin
and may arise for y e present year in s d town."
For many years the old paper money has been growing of
less value, and now it becomes necessary to designate what
money is meant in all grants and contracts. Prices have been
constantly rising as the money depreciated and the times were
getting rather hard. Fanning and ship-building were the two
principal branches of business and main stay of the people.
Dec. 8th. Ephraim Hunt sold to Isaac Merrill eight acres of
land on the corner "near y e meeting-house," and also "y e frog
pond," in consideration of ^358, 15 s.
The first-named lot is now the homestead of Geo. W. Bart-
lett, whose house stands on the spot where Edward Hunt lived
when the meeting-house was built in 17 15. Around this church
were more houses than can be found in the vicinity now.