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History of Amesbury - Merrill.org

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HISTORY OF AMESBURY. 315<br />

The wild, rough scenery <strong>of</strong> the first century has given place<br />

to cultivated fields and cheerful villages, well-graded highways<br />

have taken the place <strong>of</strong> " cart paths spotted through the<br />

woods," and modern machinery is beginning to supplant the<br />

slow hand work <strong>of</strong> the olden time. The sons may now reap<br />

the benefit <strong>of</strong> the institutions which their fathers founded, and<br />

feel thankful that they are surrounded with so many conven-<br />

iences and comforts.<br />

Last year the East parish decided to repair the meeting-<br />

house and a tax <strong>of</strong> $402.43 was now assessed for that purpose<br />

and committed to David Weed to collect. The three largest<br />

tax payers were Capt. Joseph Hoyt, $19.18; Nathan Long, Esq.,<br />

$19.04; Capt. John Barnard, $6.58. Capt. Hoyt's tax was<br />

more than treble that <strong>of</strong> any other, excepting Long and Barn-<br />

ard. The repairs were not fully completed this year.<br />

May 2 2d. A council was called to consider the expediency<br />

<strong>of</strong> dismissing Rev. David Smith, pastor <strong>of</strong> the Second church,<br />

and he was dismissed.<br />

Capt. Eli Gale and William Goodrich received grants <strong>of</strong> land<br />

near the Ferry school-house.<br />

Dr. Elias Weld attended the town's poor in the West parish<br />

this year.<br />

Moses Sawyer, Richard K. Sawyer, Benjamin Guile and Enos<br />

Ge<strong>org</strong>e were appointed as teachers. The pay was small, Rich-<br />

ard K. Sawyer receiving but $28 for thirteen 'weeks and Moses<br />

Sawyer, an experienced teacher, but $4 per week.<br />

The town pound was re-built and Deacon Orlando Sargent<br />

received $50 for work and material.<br />

The town was very much alarmed at the appearance <strong>of</strong> the<br />

small-pox in the early part <strong>of</strong> the year, and the selectmen took<br />

John Welch's house for a pest-house, paying him $8 therefor.<br />

"An extensive iron factory was established at the Mills in<br />

1800, where one thousand tons <strong>of</strong> iron have been wrought in<br />

a year."*<br />

About this time the carriage business was started at West<br />

<strong>Amesbury</strong> by Michael Emery and William Little. From this<br />

* Gazetteer <strong>of</strong> Massachusetts, printed in 1828.

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