History of Amesbury - Merrill.org

HISTORY OF AMESBURY. 297
building and was moved to its present position soon after it
was built. It was commonly known at the time as the "Still."
Mr. Hibbert owned the farm at Whitehall recently known as
the "Goodhue farm," and lived there until his death. He was
an able preacher and sound in the doctrine of those times, and
but for his habits of intemperance, would have been very pop-
ular. He had the name of being harsh in his sermons, denounc-
ing the use of spirituous liquors in even rash terms ; but it was
under the influence of this curse that he did so. He was a
man of strong will, but, unlike Rev. Thomas Wells, he was not
apt to control it properly. His bad habit made him oblivious
to promises made with the parish in good faith. The last of
his days could not be said to have been "his best." He
owned a slave by the name of "Scipio," who was, probably,
very black, which gave rise to the common adage :
"black
as
Scip Hibbert." Scip was one of those cunning, sly negroes,
who understood perfectly how to play the shirk and get along
easily. Occasionally he was intentionally so careless that his mas-
ter had to drive him out of the field for cutting up corn instead
of weeds.
The vote for governor was again very small, John Hancock
receiving nine and James Badwine eight votes.
There seemed to be strong opposition to sending a represent-
ative, and it had to be decided "by drawing out of the meet-
ing house."
The sum of ^200 was raised for town expenses, and 3 s.
were allowed for labor on the highways.
The proposition to build an almshouse in connection with
Salisbury came before the town and was decided in the affirm-
ative.
The subject of a union workhouse has several times been
before the town and always approved, but other towns failed to
join in the measure.
A family of negroes, by the name of Mingo, were living in
town at this time and needed some assistance. The town
"Voted that the Selectmen put out the on Nigar Boy for 2 s.,
6 d. a week." This was, probably, one of the family.
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