History of Amesbury - Merrill.org

IO HISTORY OF AMESBURY.
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road, sometimes called "Mudnock road", the old "Ferrie road",
"road to the neck", road to Hampton, "path to Exiter", road to
the "hoghouse" and "mill road" were the first work of the com-
mittee. With the exception of the "ferrie road" (which lay
through the pastures to Carr's island) the roads all remain with-
out great alterations. The road to the neck is the present beach
road below East Salisbury, and the Exeter road the old cross
road near Mr. Wm. Pike's. From Mr. Pike's to the pump was
a wide green or road, and the north-east corner of the semi-
circle was an open green for public use. The road to the "hog-
house" is the present one to Hook's creek. At the junction of
this with the beach road is the ancient Burying Ground laid out
with the first lots and mentioned in bounding a grant to Richard
Wells. The roads in this vicinity may all be seen on the map
of Amesbury and Salisbury. The object in settling compactly
was, no doubt, protection against sudden raids by the Indians.
No settlement was without its "fort" or garrison house.
Having located their roads the company proceeded to locate
house lots on all sides of the green and circular road and at the
opening of Hampton road. The grants were based on property,
and not on the principle that all were entitled to equal rights.
There was no attempt to found a democracy. The men with ^ioo
received four acres of meadow—with ^50 received four acres
of planting land—six acres for the next ;£ioo and four acres
for every additional ^100. House lots ranged from one to four
acres on nearly the same principle. There were but eleven who
received four acres each, viz :—Samuel Dudley, Wm. Worcester,
Francis Dow, Henry Bilye, Thomas Macy, John Sanders, Henry
Mundy, William Hook, Samuel Winsley, Christopher Batt and
George Carr. These were the most wealthy men, but others
who received smaller lots proved to be talented men and became
very prominent in town affairs in after years. The number who
received house lots in the "first division" is somewhat in doubt
on account of a document found in the Secretary's office at
Boston, duly attested by Mr. Bradbury who then kept the records.
The following is the document referred to :