The history of Lynn - Lynn Massachusetts Genealogy Project

1671.] HISTORY OF LYNN. 117Works, for he commonly yearned forty or fifty shillings a dayefor the former time, and the year 53, as aforesaid, for he hadfive or six teemes goeing generally every faire day."^The Iron Works for several years were carried on with vigor,and furnished most of the iron used in the colony. But thewant of ready money on the part of the purchasers, and thegreat freedom with which the company construed the liberalprivileges of the court, caused their failure. The owners ofthe lands which had been mjured, commenced several suitsagainst them ; and at last hired a person to cut away the floodgates and destroy the works. This was done in the nigfii,when the pond was full. The dam was high, and just belowit, on the left, stood the house of Mac Galium More Downing.The water rushed out, and flowed into the house, without disturbingthe inhabitants, who were asleep in a chamber. In themorning, Mrs. Downing found a fine Uve fish flouncing in heroven. The works were ranch injured, and the depredatorfled to Penobscot. The Foundry finally became the propertyof Major Samuel Appleton. By some means he became obnoxiousto the law, and an ofl:Jcer was sent to apprehend him.Seeing the oflicer approach him, he fled to the hill near hishouse, and from a rock which has ever since been called Appleton'sPulpit, he held a conference with the officer's partybelow. Finding his stipulation vain, he fled from the hill,mounted his horse, swam him through the river, and escapedinto the woods. The suits against the iron works were protractedfor more than twenty years. ]\Ir. Hubbard says " thatinstead of drawing out bars of iron for the country's use, therewas hammered out nothing but contention and law suits." Theworks were continued, though on a smaller scale, for morethan one hundred years from their establishment. But theyhave long been discontinued, and nothing now is to be seen ofthem, except the heaps of scoria, nearly overgrown with grass,and called the " Cinder Banks." Several old families still retainutensils "which were cast at an early period. One of theseis a small vessel, capable of containing about one quart; andanother, a large iron plate, bearing the date 1650. No mentionis made of the failure of the ore, of which specimens mayyet be obtained ; and it probably remains in sufiicient quantityto reward the future labors of enterprize and industry.1 Q. C. Files.IG