Hook's Ferry Amesbury Massachusetts and History of the Hook Family

Photo from "The Ancient Ferry ways to the Merrimack" by William D Lowell Read at the Annual Meeting of the Historical Society of Old Newbury (Now Newbury Museum) October 26, 1893, by Miss E. A. Getchell

Fiery Family Feud over Ferry Rights 

According to records Capt. Humphrey Hook, son of William Hooke and Elizabeth Dyer was the ferryman about the time of his marriage to Judith March, daughter of Capt. John March and Jemima True, daughter of Henry True and Israel Pike of Salisbury, Massachusetts.
Captain John March was granted the ferry on Oct. 25, 1687 through a petition he filed March, Sept. 23, 1687. James Carr, whose family controlled the ferry rights remonstrated against it, stating that the first bridge at Carr's island cost more than £300; that the ferry at George Carr's death (1683) was worth near £400, and that the injury to him by March's ferry was £50 or £60 a year. Mr. March in a letter to the town of Salisbury offered to be at one half the expense of making their part of the road passable to the ferry.
Captain March was a prominent figure and the leading petitioner for the “Iron Works” of Amesbury and Salisbury, granted in 1710. 

From History of Amesbury Joseph Merrill 

November 9 1730

 Mentioned in 1732

Again in 1735

 September 1766 Town Meeting and in 1782

Capt John March was son of Captain Hugh March and Sarah Moody, daughter of Caleb Moody and Sarah Pierce, Hugh March was son of Hugh March and Judith Knight one of the settlers of Newbury, Massachusetts.  American Ancestors has all the probate records

Children of Capt Hook and Judith March:
Daughter Jemina Hook (1703-1740) married Jacob Blaisdell, son of John Blaisdell (s. of Henry Blaisdell and Mary Haddon) and Elizabeth Challis (d. of Philip Challis and Mary Sargent) 
Daughter Judith March (1705-1747) married Timothy Currier, son of Thomas Currier (s. of Thomas Currier and Mary Osgood) and Sarah Barnard (d. of Nathaniel Barnard and Mary Barnard).  
John Hooke (1708-1749)  Any information please post 

Map of Salisbury, Massachusetts Check out History of Massachusetts Blog for more information

William Hook is son of William Hooke and Eleanor Knight, widow of Lt Col. Walter Norton killed by Pequot Indians while on a trading expedition

  
From Colonial Soldiers and Officers in New England, 1620-1775

Humphrey Hook, William Hook, Thomas Hook and Giles Elridge named, among others, for " planters and undertakers " of Agamenticus and Cape " Nedock. The following is from the History of Amesbury by Joseph Merrill 1880

 

 1776 Record from Town Records in 

The following pages are from History of Newbury, Massachusetts John James Currier

A letter written to W. H. B. Currier, of Amesbury, Mass.

From The Works of John Greenleaf Whittier: Old Portraits and Modern Sketches

DEATH OF PRESIDENT JAMES GARFIELD
Danvers, Mass., 9th Mo., 24, 1881

I regret that it is not in my power to join the citizens of Amesbury and Salisbury in the memorial services on the occasion of the death of our lamented President. But in heart and sympathy I am with you. I share the great sorrow which overshadows the land; I fully appreciate the irretrievable loss. But it seems to me that the occasion is one for thankfulness as well as grief.

Through all the stages of the solemn tragedy which has just closed with the death of our noblest and best, I have felt that the Divine Providence was overruling the mighty affliction,—that the patient sufferer at Washington was drawing with cords of sympathy all sections and parties nearer to each other. And now, when South and North, Democrat and Republican, Radical and Conservative, lift their voices in one unbroken accord of lamentation; when I see how, in spite of the greed of gain, the lust of office, the strifes and narrowness of party politics, the great heart of the nation proves sound and loyal, I feel a new hope for the republic, I have a firmer faith in its stability. It is said that no man liveth and no man dieth to himself; and the pure and noble life of Garfield, and his slow, long martyrdom, so bravely borne in view of all, are, I believe, bearing for us as a people "the peaceable fruits of righteousness." We are stronger, wiser, better, for them.

With him it is well. His mission fulfilled, he goes to his grave by the Lakeside honored and lamented as man never was before. The whole world mourns him. There is no speech nor language where the voice of his praise is not heard. About his grave gather, with heads uncovered, the vast brotherhood of man.

And with us it is well, also. We are nearer a united people than ever before. We are at peace with all; our future is full of promise; our industrial and financial condition is hopeful. God grant that, while our material interests prosper, the moral and spiritual influence of the occasion may be permanently felt; that the solemn sacrament of Sorrow, whereof we have been made partakers, may be blest to the promotion of the righteousness which exalteth a nation.

Author Emerson "Tad" Baker Lecture Salisbury Public Library April 1 on book "A Storm of Witchcraft" and Salem Gallows Project

The Salisbury Public Library Friday, April 1, 7PM Emerson "Tad" Baker,  author and Salem State Professor will discuss his book "A Storm of Witchcraft: The Salem Trials and American Experience" and his recent Gallows Hill Project 
Baker is a professor of History at Salem State University. He is the award-winning author of many works on the history of and archaeology of early Maine and New England, including A Storm of Witchcraft: The Salem Trials and the American Experience. He has served as an advisor for PBS-TV’s American Experience and Colonial House. He is a member of the Gallows Hill Project team who recently confirmed the witch trials execution site, and he has co-authored an iPhone app on the witchcraft crisis. He regularly tweets on the Salem witch trials and early New England history at @EmersonWBaker. Here is link to my review of "A Storm of Witchcraft in The Salem Gazette REVIEW: Family relations focus of new book on Salem Witch Trials

Baker ’76 Discusses Witchcraft Through Archaeological Evidence Photo from The Phillipian Phillips Andover Academy 

Witchcraft experts Emerson "Tad" Baker and Brunonia Barry (far left and far right) with "The Witch" director Robert Eggers and actress Ana Taylor-Joy Photo from Greg Cwick article How Much Does 'The Witch' Get Right About Real Witchcraft?

“A Storm of Witchcraft: The Salem Trials and the American Experience” which sets the Salem Witch Trials in the broader context of American history from the seventeenth century to the present, and will also describe the recent confirmation of the site of the executions in 1692. 

In 1692 more than 150 people would be accused of witchcraft, and 25 would die in the Salem witch trials, the largest witchcraft outbreak in American history. In this illustrated talk, Emerson Baker explores the rich catalogue of explanations that have been put forward over the years to solve the mystery of what happened in 1692 but ultimately shows that there was no single factor. Rather, behind the events in Salem and surrounding towns was a unique convergence of conditions, including a new charter and government, a grim and bloody frontier war and sectarian and political power-struggles. Focusing on the key players in the Salem witchcraft crisis, Baker illuminates why the tragedy unfolded as it did. He shows how the Puritan government’s attempts to suppress what had taken place only fueled the popular imagination, and established the trials as a turning point from Puritan communalism to Yankee independence.

Baker also reveals the ways their legacy remains with us. He is a member of the Gallows Hill Project team who recently announced the recent confirmation of the site of the witch trial hangings in 1692. So he will also discuss this research and its significance.

Press Coverage on Gallows Project

Researchers confirm site of hangings for Salem witch trials 

Boston Globe Researchers pinpoint site of Salem witch hangings

Baker featured in Boston Globe for his book release "The Devil of Great Island," A mystery? It must be witchcraft Book examines strange stone attacks of 1682

Photo Source: Indiewire Article 
Emerson Baker ’76 Discusses Witchcraft Through Archaeological Evidence

Salisbury Beach MA Piano Playing Ban on Sabbath 1894

This is interesting if anyone else has info loved to hear about it! Thanks

The Fool-Killer Needed at Salisbury Beach - No Piano Playing Allowed Sundays    
Tuesday, August 14, 1894  Paper: Daily Evening Bulletin (Haverhill, Massachusetts)

Salisbury and Nantucket--Coffin, Macy, & Some Conflicting Facts Letter to Boston Journal 1875

Love to get some comments on this one Thanks!

The site of the first burying ground in Amesbury Massachusetts known as "Golgotha" photo by Wayne Chase Marshall

Coffin and Greeley Tide Mills Project

Sunset near Farm Lane dock in Seabrook. In the foreground is the remains of an old tidal saw mill that occupied the site from about 1650 to 1888. Just up stream on Mill creek, a tide mill was constructed about 1640 by Andrew Greeley who ground corn for early Hampton and Salisbury, Mass. settlers.  From Lane Memorial Library Hampton NH  Click for Story & Photography by Stephen T. Whitney  New Hampshire Profiles, June 1971, Vol. XX, No. 6  

See John Goff  Tidal Mills defined
Andrew Greeley settled on a part which is now included in Seabrook New Hampshire and thereupon built a tide mill for the grinding of corn on Kane's river 1650. In addition to this mill he built a large saw mill.He moved to Haverhill and opened another Mill (fresh water)
Three successive generations of Andrew Greeley were born on the old Greeley homestead
Salisbury's earliest settlers By J.Q. Evans
Full Text click "Genealogy of the Greely-Greeley family"

Mace Pike who lived in old Stephen Coffin House. This photo shows the old stone from the Coffin Mill at the front door. Google Street View

Please post or email for a pdf copy of this newsletter publication

Portion of Ron Klodenski's presentation about Coffin’s Mill on Ring’s Island made this to the Tide Mill Institute’s conference in York last November. Please contact me or post for full PDF document