History of Amesbury - Merrill.org

HISTORY OF AMESBURY. 355
number for a choice, thus giving the divisionists a slight advan-
tage. This was rather a faint victory, but the meeting proceeded
to undo the work of the preceding one, and soon things wore
an entirely different aspect.
For the third time depositing with the inhabitants was ordered
and all necessary measures to carry the vote into effect were
passed. A committee, consisting of Jonathan B. Sargent, Daniel
Weed and Benjamin Rowell, was chosen to loan the money
to the inhabitants, taking notes payable when called for by the
government.
The contest was given up by the opposing party and two
dollars per head (paupers excepted) were loaned to the inhab-
itants, parents taking for those under them. Thus ended this
bitter contest, although it was not soon forgotten.
Sept. 20th. Rev. James B. Hadley was ordained pastor of
the Union Evangelical society at the Ferry and Point.
July 12th. Joseph Stockman in attempting to swim across
the Merrimac river, near William E. Worthen's, was drowned.
In his younger days he followed the sea and was an excellent
swimmer ; but, at eighty years of age, he was not able to swim
the Merrimac. He lived where Mr. Trustum Hobson now
resides and was a descendant of John and Sarah ( Bradbury
Stockman, of Salisbury, who were married "io th 3 mo 167 1."
For many years he lived in the little cottage under "y e Wolf
Peet," since occupied by Jonathan Goodwin, but torn down
several years ago.
1839.
Daniel Weed, Esq., died October 10th, having held the
office of town clerk for the last twenty years. He was a good
penman and the records were neatly and faithfully kept. For many
years he taught school winters and occasionally summers. x\s a
disciplinarian he was very successful, and roguish boys, who
were disposed to play, under his magic influence changed their
minds and concluded to "play no more." He served as chairman
of the selectmen in 1838 and was for many years treas-
urer and collector. He was a son of Capt. Ephraim Weed,
who served as town clerk nearly thirty years previous to his term.
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