History of Amesbury - Merrill.org

HISTORY OF AMESBURY. 7
of John Bayly induced him to plunge further into the forest and
establish a home "beyond the Merrimack." Here he built his
log cabin and taking with him William Schooler as help, settled
in solitude and began his preparation to cultivate the virgin soil.
He had a wife and children in England, but she was unwilling
to quit her home for one so far away in the wilderness, so she
never came to join her husband here. Mr. Bayly was an honest
man, but his associate was of a very different make, although
John supposed him trusty and seems to have had perfect confidence
in him. Mary Schooler a servant girl at Piscataqua, (Ports-
mouth, N. H.) was visiting at Newbury and being ready to return,
agreed with Bayly to take her back to her master. His man School-
er was employed for that purpose and set off on his journey all
right. It was a difficult route to pursue and occupied usually
more time than in this instance. His sudden return occasioned
some surprise, and it was generally thought that he had in some
way been unfaithful to his trust. He affirmed, however, that he
had conducted her safely to her master, and the matter was
dropped. But Schooler was a black-hearted wretch and had
murdered the poor unsuspecting girl. A few months later an
Indian came to Newbury and reported having found the body
of a female some three miles from Piscataqua, and it proved to
be that of Mary.
Complaint was made, and the General Court issued the follow-
ing order :
—
"1637, June 6. Order was appointed to be given to the cun-
stable of Newberry to apprehend Schooler Bayly
dwelling beyond the Merrimack, to appear at the Court
at Ipswich or before the magistrates there, who have power to
take further order, as they shall see cause."
The arrest was made in accordance with the order • both were
tried, Schooler was convicted, but Bayly was discharged. The
following is the verdict of the jury :
"19th 7th mo. 1637 at Quarter Court Boston William Schooler
being indited for the death of Mary Scholee, the jury found him
—
guilty of murthering the said Schoolee."
Schooler was subsequently hung at Boston. No doubt Bayly
was entirely innocent of the crime.