History of Amesbury - Merrill.org

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HISTORY OF AMESBURY.
afterward. Instead of a village, was a forest on the hummocks
in those days. Some of these lots were very valuable if we may
judge from the price they brought. Probably at that time the
sea had never broken over the banks, and the best meadows
were along near them.
1640.
On petition of the inhabitants, the General Court appointed
Samuel Dudley, William Worcester, Christopher Batt, Samuel
Winsley, John Sanders and Henry Munday to order all business
and "see that no one get greater lots than he ought to -have."
July 3d. A meeting of "ffreemen" was held and George Carr
was given the "greatest Hand in y e river merrimack." This
gave name to the island and it has been known as "Carr's
island" ever since. Mr. Carr was a ship builder and large land-
holder and specially known by his ferry across the Merrimac.
July 20th. At a general meeting "ordered yat everie p son
that has a lot com and reside in ye towne before y e first of
November next." The company were intending to grant land
to actual settlers only and under the foregoing proviso, land not
occupied would be declared forfeited.
Several meetings were held for the transaction of business but
the November meeting was specially noted for the large number
of lots granted west of the "Powaw." There seems to have been
a determination to appropriate all the land among the company
as fast as possible.
Christopher Batt, Samuel Winsley and Thomas Macy were
ordered to "strike a line between Salisbury and Hampton and
report." Their pay was fixed at "2 s 6 d" per day.
Messrs. Batt, Winsley, Heard and Bradbury were ordered to
"run the line towards pentucket 6 miles." This order is rather
indefinite but no doubt meant six miles from Powow river.
Thus the boundaries were being established on the southwest
and northeast.
Order was gradually being established in all departments.
Having disposed of a large part of the land east of the Powow
they now turned their attention to other matters, relating to the
municipal affairs of the company. The foundation of the present
town meeting was established by the following order :
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