The history of Lynn - Lynn Massachusetts Genealogy Project

162 JIJSTORY OF LYNN. [1750.1747.The Rev. Edward Cheever relinquished his connexion withthe second parish, of which he liad been minister for eightHe was a son of Mr. Thomas Cheever, of Lynn, andyears.was born 2 May, 17] 7. He graduated at Harvard College in1737, and was ordained in 1739. He removed to Eastham,where he died, 24 August, 1794, aged 77 years.1749.The drought of this summer was probably never exceededin New England. The preceding year had been unusuallydry, but this was excessively so. There was but little rainfrom the sixth of May to the sixth of July. A memorandumin the eighteenth of July, says ;" Extreme hot dry weather,such as has not been known in the memory of man—so scorchedthat the creatures can but just live for the want of grass."^The effects of the drought were so great, that hay was importedfrom England. Immense multitudes of grasshoppers appeared.They were so plenty on Nahant, that the inhabitantswalked together, with bushes in their hands, and drove themby thousands into the sea.1750.John Adam Deaggeor, a shoemaker, from England, cameto Lynn. He was one of the best workmen for ladies' shoeswho had ever appeared in the town. At the time of his arrival,tlie business of shoemaking at Lynn was very limited, and theworkmen unskilful. There were but three men who conductedthe business so extensively as to employ journeymen. Thesewere, John Mansfield, Benjamin Newhall, and WilliamGray, grandfather of William Gray, Lieutenant Governor ofMassachusetts. The workmen had frequently obtained goodshoes from England, and taken them to pieces, to discover howthey were made. By the instruction of Mr. Deaggeor, theywere soon enabled to produce shoes nearly equal to the best1. Collins.