History of Amesbury - Merrill.org

HISTORY OF MERRIMAC. 447
West Amesbury. The company was mustered into service forth-
with and ordered to the front in season to take part in the
battle of Bull Run, July 21st, and with the shattered army
retreated to Washington. January 1st, 1862, the company was
transferred from the Fourteenth Regiment to the First Regiment
of Heavy Artillery and stationed for the protection of Washing-
ton. On the 24th of December, 1863, Captain Sargent resigned
on account of poor health and was subsequently appointed post-
master at West Amesbury, which office he held until failing
health in 1876 compelled him to resign. He was frequently
chosen moderator of town meetings, for which office he was
well fitted. He was one of the numerous descendants of Wil-
liam Sargent, 1st.
John S. Poyen, Esq., a prominent business man in town, died
February 2 2d, at Point Petre, Guadaloupe, West Indies, whither
he had gone to visit his friends. The news of his death was
sad in the extreme to his family and numerous friends, who were
expecting his return in a few weeks. For many years he had
been an extensive dealer in carriage supplies, and his strict
devotion to business had enabled him to accumulate a large
property. His fine residence on Main street is among the best
in the village. In matters of public interest he was among the
first to contribute, and his loss will be very sensibly felt. For
the public convenience he built the large hotel on Main street.
In various ways Mr. Poyen has contributed largely towards beau-
tifying and improving the village. He was of French descent,
his father removing from the West Indies to East Haverhill
many years ago, where Mr. Poyen was born in 18 18.
The population of Merrimac by the census of 1880 was
two thousand, two hundred and thirty-seven.
POST- OFFICE AT MERRIMAC.
The post-office here was established about 1824 and kept in
the little yellow building which stood nearly in front of Good-
win and Cleary's block. Col. Edmund Sargent was the first
postmaster, holding the office many years. His son. Orlando
H. Sargent, rode to the Mills on horseback for the mail and
brought it along in his hat. After a while the service was