On December 6, 1760 the warrant for a special parish meeting was called “to see whether the parish will concur with the church vote in making choice of Mr. Eliab Stone to be our minister.” It was voted to give him L160 as a settlement, and L73 6s 8p for his annual support. He accepted the invitation.
Eliab Stone graduated at Harvard College in 1758. He was ordained May 20th 1761 as pastor of the second church. Delegates from the first church to the ordination were Deacon Benjamin Brown and Brown Emerson, Colonel Nichols, Captain Gardner and Jonathan Eaton.
He died August 31, 1822 in the eighty-sixth year of his age and sixty second of his ministry. In his long service he married some of the great grandchildren on those married at the beginning of his ministry.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
The Earthquake of 1727
The original church records of the North Parish mention a “terrible earthquake October 29, 1727, which lasted at times three months.”
Also, Chapter XIV, Historic Storms of New England by Sidney Perley tells us:
The greatest earthquake that New England has probably experienced since its settlement by the English occurred October 29, 1727. The people had suffered much in various ways through the summer and early autumn. A drought continued from the middle of June to the middle of September, the month of July and the first week of August being exceedingly hot. No rain fell in April after the first week, and but twice in May, only one of two slight showers occurring during the sultry, parching heat of the summer. The earth dried to a great depth, and many wells and springs, which had never failed before were now dry. There was much lightning and thunder, but very little rain. On the evening of August 1, at the close of a scorching day, the heavens burst out into a blaze of flame and a roar of thunder, the terrific display continuing for two or three hours. The flashes occurred so frequently that the sky was continually light with them and a writer of that time said it seemed "as if the heavens being on fire were dissolving and passing away with a great noise, and the earth also with its works was to be burned up."
After the drought was broken a violent northeast storm came on, doing much damage among the vessels along the coast, and the trees on shore. This occurred September 16. It caused a high tide which carried away about two hundred loads of hay from the marshes at Newbury, Mass., and drove eight or nine vessels ashore at Salem and thirty-five at Marblehead.
After the lightning, thunder, and tempest the country was visited by a tremendous earthquake. October 24, 1727, the weather was very cold; three days later, snow fell, and on the 28th the temperature was still exceedingly low for the season. Sunday, the 29th, was fair and pleasant, and in the evening the moon shone brightly, the air was calm, and no noise disturbed the peacefulness of nature. People retired at their usual hour, and were fast asleep, when at twenty minutes before eleven o'clock a terrible noise followed by a roar and a rush suddenly woke them, and in about half a minute, before they had time to become conscious of what was taking place around them, there came a pounce as if gigantic cannons had rolled against each other from opposite directions. Latches leaped up and doors flew open, houses rocked and trembled as though they would collapse, timber worked in and out of mortises, hearth-stones grated against each other, windows rattled, tops of chimneys pitched and tumbled down, cellar walls fell in, beds shook, pewter fell off shelves, lids of warming pans jumped up and fell back with a clang, and all movable things, especially in the upper rooms, tossed about.
Most people got up in a moment, and many of them ran out of doors in their night clothes, being so frightened that they knew not what to do. The earth shook so much that they could not stand, and were compelled to sit or recline on the ground.
People that were awake when the earthquake came said that a flash of light preceded it. It was seen as it passed the windows, and a blaze seemed to run along the ground, dogs that saw it giving a sudden bark as if frightened. Before they had time to consider the source or cause of the light a sound like a gentle murmur floated to them on the still evening air, followed by a slight ruffling wind. Then came a rumbling as of distant thunder, which approached nearer and nearer and grew louder and louder till it sounded as if innumerable heavy carriages were being rapidly driven over pavements, or like the roaring of a great furnace, but incomparably fiercer and more terrible, having a hollow sound as if it came from under the earth. Then the shock came suddenly and severely and the houses were felt to totter and reel with the trembling and heaving of the ground.
The noise and shake came from the northwest, and went in a south-easterly direction. The whole disturbance occurred within the space of two minutes of time. The cattle ran bellowing about the fields, being thoroughly frightened at this sudden and fearful commotion in the still hours of night. They acted as though suffering from the greatest distress.
At eleven o'clock another shock came, less effective and quieter than the first, but heavy enough to keep the people in a state of fear. At a quarter before twelve another came, and many of the people would not return to their beds, but dressed, and prepared to stay up the remainder of the night, being uncertain as to what might occur before morning came, and apprehending destruction. The shocks were repeated at three and five o'clock, but with abated force, and in due time the sun slowly rose in the eastern sky, greeting with a complacent face the disconsolate and fearful inhabitants. It was a night never to be forgotten by those who experienced it.
The people of New England were affected by this earthquake as they had never been before, being fearful of divine judgments for their sins and lax responsiveness to the call to religious duties. The clergy taught them that it was "a loud call to the whole land to repent and fear and give glory to God."
Shocks of the earthquake continued at intervals through the following week, and from time to time during November and December, growing less and less in force.
Although the earthquake occurred on 10 November 1727, this article lists the earthquake as having occurred on 29 October 1727. This time discrepancy is due to the change from the Julian to Gregorian calendar.
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/states/events/1727_11_10_hs.php
Also, Chapter XIV, Historic Storms of New England by Sidney Perley tells us:
The greatest earthquake that New England has probably experienced since its settlement by the English occurred October 29, 1727. The people had suffered much in various ways through the summer and early autumn. A drought continued from the middle of June to the middle of September, the month of July and the first week of August being exceedingly hot. No rain fell in April after the first week, and but twice in May, only one of two slight showers occurring during the sultry, parching heat of the summer. The earth dried to a great depth, and many wells and springs, which had never failed before were now dry. There was much lightning and thunder, but very little rain. On the evening of August 1, at the close of a scorching day, the heavens burst out into a blaze of flame and a roar of thunder, the terrific display continuing for two or three hours. The flashes occurred so frequently that the sky was continually light with them and a writer of that time said it seemed "as if the heavens being on fire were dissolving and passing away with a great noise, and the earth also with its works was to be burned up."
After the drought was broken a violent northeast storm came on, doing much damage among the vessels along the coast, and the trees on shore. This occurred September 16. It caused a high tide which carried away about two hundred loads of hay from the marshes at Newbury, Mass., and drove eight or nine vessels ashore at Salem and thirty-five at Marblehead.
After the lightning, thunder, and tempest the country was visited by a tremendous earthquake. October 24, 1727, the weather was very cold; three days later, snow fell, and on the 28th the temperature was still exceedingly low for the season. Sunday, the 29th, was fair and pleasant, and in the evening the moon shone brightly, the air was calm, and no noise disturbed the peacefulness of nature. People retired at their usual hour, and were fast asleep, when at twenty minutes before eleven o'clock a terrible noise followed by a roar and a rush suddenly woke them, and in about half a minute, before they had time to become conscious of what was taking place around them, there came a pounce as if gigantic cannons had rolled against each other from opposite directions. Latches leaped up and doors flew open, houses rocked and trembled as though they would collapse, timber worked in and out of mortises, hearth-stones grated against each other, windows rattled, tops of chimneys pitched and tumbled down, cellar walls fell in, beds shook, pewter fell off shelves, lids of warming pans jumped up and fell back with a clang, and all movable things, especially in the upper rooms, tossed about.
Most people got up in a moment, and many of them ran out of doors in their night clothes, being so frightened that they knew not what to do. The earth shook so much that they could not stand, and were compelled to sit or recline on the ground.
People that were awake when the earthquake came said that a flash of light preceded it. It was seen as it passed the windows, and a blaze seemed to run along the ground, dogs that saw it giving a sudden bark as if frightened. Before they had time to consider the source or cause of the light a sound like a gentle murmur floated to them on the still evening air, followed by a slight ruffling wind. Then came a rumbling as of distant thunder, which approached nearer and nearer and grew louder and louder till it sounded as if innumerable heavy carriages were being rapidly driven over pavements, or like the roaring of a great furnace, but incomparably fiercer and more terrible, having a hollow sound as if it came from under the earth. Then the shock came suddenly and severely and the houses were felt to totter and reel with the trembling and heaving of the ground.
The noise and shake came from the northwest, and went in a south-easterly direction. The whole disturbance occurred within the space of two minutes of time. The cattle ran bellowing about the fields, being thoroughly frightened at this sudden and fearful commotion in the still hours of night. They acted as though suffering from the greatest distress.
At eleven o'clock another shock came, less effective and quieter than the first, but heavy enough to keep the people in a state of fear. At a quarter before twelve another came, and many of the people would not return to their beds, but dressed, and prepared to stay up the remainder of the night, being uncertain as to what might occur before morning came, and apprehending destruction. The shocks were repeated at three and five o'clock, but with abated force, and in due time the sun slowly rose in the eastern sky, greeting with a complacent face the disconsolate and fearful inhabitants. It was a night never to be forgotten by those who experienced it.
The people of New England were affected by this earthquake as they had never been before, being fearful of divine judgments for their sins and lax responsiveness to the call to religious duties. The clergy taught them that it was "a loud call to the whole land to repent and fear and give glory to God."
Shocks of the earthquake continued at intervals through the following week, and from time to time during November and December, growing less and less in force.
Although the earthquake occurred on 10 November 1727, this article lists the earthquake as having occurred on 29 October 1727. This time discrepancy is due to the change from the Julian to Gregorian calendar.
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/states/events/1727_11_10_hs.php
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Putnam Family in the Putnam House 1720-1962
Since Reverend Daniel Putnam first occupied the homestead at 27 Bow Street in 1720, his direct descendents have lived there until the early 1960s.
This homestead and its family provide a backdrop to view the development of a small American country community from its agrarian beginnings, through its participation in the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Civil War, two World Wars, and the accompanying economic, social and technological innovations.
Reverend Daniel and his wife Rebecca (Putnam) had eleven children. Daniel, born 1721, lived there.
Daniel and his wife Hannah (Ingalls) had seven children. Henry, born 1755, lived in the house.
Henry and his wife Mary (Hawkes) had eight children. Joshua, born 1782, continued in the homestead.
Joshua and his wife Eunice (Hayward) had six children. Henry, born 1813, lived there.
Henry and his wife Elizabeth (Long) had five children. George Henry, born 1852, resided in the home.
George Henry and his wife Minnie (Fowle) had one child. Raymond, born 1896, lived there.
Raymond Fowle Putnam lived in the homestead almost until his death in 1962. He was the town cemetery commissioner from 1953-1961, as commemorated in the 250th Anniversary Annual Report in 1963.
This homestead and its family provide a backdrop to view the development of a small American country community from its agrarian beginnings, through its participation in the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Civil War, two World Wars, and the accompanying economic, social and technological innovations.
Reverend Daniel and his wife Rebecca (Putnam) had eleven children. Daniel, born 1721, lived there.
Daniel and his wife Hannah (Ingalls) had seven children. Henry, born 1755, lived in the house.
Henry and his wife Mary (Hawkes) had eight children. Joshua, born 1782, continued in the homestead.
Joshua and his wife Eunice (Hayward) had six children. Henry, born 1813, lived there.
Henry and his wife Elizabeth (Long) had five children. George Henry, born 1852, resided in the home.
George Henry and his wife Minnie (Fowle) had one child. Raymond, born 1896, lived there.
Raymond Fowle Putnam lived in the homestead almost until his death in 1962. He was the town cemetery commissioner from 1953-1961, as commemorated in the 250th Anniversary Annual Report in 1963.
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