History of Amesbury - Merrill.org

6 HISTORY OF AMESBURY.
some bones which show by whom these accumulations were made.
At the Buttonwood in Amesbury many relics have been found
and other indications of an Indian village. These evidences
were so clear in 1654 when our ancestors explored the premises
that they named this section "Indian ground," and it has been
known by that name ever since.
Another favorite resort of these migratory tribes was the banks
of the beautifully winding and dashing Powow. Here and on
the summit of the noble hill close by, tradition had no doubt
fixed the head quarters of the Indians and hence the appro-
priate name "Powous" or "Powawus."
Having spoken in general terms respecting this new country,
its appearance and condition at the commencement of the new
era which had suddenly opened, it is now proposed to give more
minute details of the progress of events as they transpire, and
lay before the reader all the light and knowledge which long
research has enabled us to obtain in regard to men and things.
Although Amesbury had no real existence for some sixteen years
after the plantation grant at Salisbury, yet the close connection
in affairs, as well as the fact that all who removed west of the
Powow were Salisbury men, prominent in the management of
the business matters of the company, seems to render it necessary
to commence with the settlement then and trace the progress
of events from the beginning. "Salisbury new town," as Ames-
bury was often called had no legal existence till 1666, and
until that time all who lived west of the Powow contributed
by way of rates to certain purposes in the old town and voted
there till 1654. So closely connected were those who settled
the new town, with the interest of the old, that a sketch of the
mother town, seems almost indispensible to a clear understanding
of matters in general.
The character of the old town was undoubtedly imparted to
the new, shaping to a large extent its future developement and
progress.
1637.
Newbury had now been settled two years, mostly in the vicinity
of the Parker river, when the venturesome and wandering spirit