History of Amesbury - Merrill.org

4 HISTORY OF AMESBURY.
heads, threatening every moment to overwhelm them like a
torrent, and sweep them with those whom they dearly loved, to
the silent tomb."
Almost every man was a soldier ; and many who lived in
remote parts of the town "*were obliged to flee with their fam-
ilies to the garrison at night."
In less than eighteen years from the landing of the Pilgrims
at Plymouth, the eastern coast of Massachusetts, including that
part now within the lines of Maine, had been explored with a
view to settlement, and many plantations located. The spirit of
adventure, a desire to know more of this strange land seems to
have urged these strangers forward into the wilderness far beyond
the bounds of safety. Small companies detached themselves from
the principal settlements, forming independent plantations on
every favorable spot along the coast, claiming and appropriating
the land in their vicinity.
Little thought seems to have been bestowed on any claims
which the Indians might have to the territory by virtue of peace-
able possession for long ages. In some instances, however, after
taking possession, the rights of the Indians were purchased, as
in the case of Haverhill, where the settlement was made in 1 640
and the territory purchased of the Indian Chiefs Passagus and
Saggahew on the 15th of Nov., 1642. It is not, however, our
purpose to discuss the propriety of this course, but to note care-
fully such facts as may throw some light on things which trans-
pired in those early days.
There were many tribes of Indians in New England, but the
Naumkeaks were the principal inhabitants of the territory now
known as the County of Essex. After the settlement of Salem
in 1628, other plantations were soon made to the eastward :
Ipswich, "Newberry", Merrimac and Hampton within ten years.
Newbury was begun in the early part of 1635, anc^ m ^^ e
more than three years was able to spare a few persons to begin
a plantation at Merrimac across the river northward.
General Court on petition of Mr. Bradstreet, Mr. Dudley, Jr.,
Mr. Batter, Mr. Winsley, Capt. Dennison, Mr. Clarke, Mr. Wood-
*Histoiv of Haverhill.