At the time of the earliest white settlers, what is now Methuen was part of Haverhill. This area extended north of the Merrimack River, westward to Dracut. Friendly Penacook Indians used the bands of the Merrimack and Spicket Rivers to hunt and fish from 1666 to 1683, and about this time residents of Haverhill and Andover settled in the eastern and southern parts of this territory that would one day be. (Source: Early Methuen History by Dan Gagnon)
The City Clerk of
The Acadians had petitioned the Selectmen of the various villages and towns they lived in either because their children were taken from them or because they were being mistreated by the townspersons who had been assigned their care. Many had no clothes, no food and no medical care. All of these petitions would be sent to the General Court in
As a result of delving into local history, I learned a whole lot more than I had bargained for. Names I had so often heard over the years were en fleshed as I began to read about them in the old town records. Some had served in one capacity or another as the town was established and grew. A real thrill was when I came across a copy of the Declaration of
At the
Another article for the April 22nd meeting in 1776 asked for a vote to support the Revolution: "To see if the Inhabants (Inhabitants) in Said meeting consider and etermen (determine) whether they will give their consent that the House of Representatives of this State of Massachusetts) Bay in New England together with the Consel (Council) if they consent in one Body with the House and by equel (equal) voice should Consent agree on and enact such a Constitution and form of Government for this State as the Said House of Representatives and Counsel as aforesaid on the fullest most mAtt (At)er deliberation shall judge will most conduct to the Safty (Safety) Peace and Happiness of this State in all after successions and Generations"
The next entry was written on
Ordered that the Declaration of Independence be printed and a coppy sent to the Ministers of each Parish of every Denomination within this State and that they generally be required to read the same to their Respective Congregations as soon as Divine Service is ended in the afternoon of the first Lord Day after they shall have received it and after such publication hereof to deliver the Said Declaration to the Clerks of their several Towns or Districks who are hereby required to record the same in their Respective Town or Districts Books there to remain a Perpetual Memorial thereof. In the name and by order of the Counsel –
A true coppy attest John Avery Dystrict Secy
The above order was followed by the Declaration of
Signed by order and in behalf of the Congress
John Hancock President
Attest, Charles Thomson Secretary
A true coppy
As a result of getting so involved in the history of
Yes, we read our history books and we think we understand all of it but I now realized what people across colonies of this country went through to obtain freedom from
It was exciting to read about the Continental Congress that was to take place in
When done, I knew that those transcriptions would help so many local people with their family genealogies. Names like Sargent, Rogers, Frederick, Dummer, Russell, Swan, Searles, Nevins, Bodwell, How and so many other founding families.
Now in the process, my second goal was also accomplished when I came across entries the Selectmen had made that concerned the "French families" - those French families were none other than the Acadians or "French Neutrals" who had been deported and exiled to
At the same meeting, the Town voted and made a new list of jurors. And at the same meeting, the Town voted not to fetch the French family from Amesbury.
We, the subscribers, being chosen a committee to reckon with Capt. Stephen Barker, Town Treasurer, we have proceeded, and have reckoned what he was to receive from the constables, for the years 1756-1757-1758 and 1759, both by rates and notes, and also eleven pounds and nineteen shillings, which he received, that was allowed by the Province to the Town, for providing for the French; and also four pounds, three shillings and two pence which he received from the sheriff of the County of Essex, bestowed on this Town towards the support of the school, making in whole ninety seven pounds, eleven shillings and one penny; and we find his orders to pay out of the Town’s money amount to one hundred and eight pounds, ten shillings and five pence, which is ten pounds, nineteen shillings and four pence more than what he had orders to receive as aforesaid.
Daniel Bodwell Ebenezer Barker } Committee
We find there is due to the Town from the Province
January the 19, 1761, on adjournment, the Town accepted the above reckoning and voted that it should be recorded.
Petitions of the Acadians exiled to the Town of Methuen in Essex County
From Volume XXIII at the Massachusetts State Archives we find these petitions from the Acadians to the General Court while they were exiled in the then Village of Methuen.
In the House of Representatives,
Voted that thirteen of the French Inhabitants now residing in Gloucester be removed to Wenham and that the other eleven now at the Said Town be removed to Methuen and that the Town of Gloucester be at the charge of their removal.
Sent up for concurrence, T. Hubbard, Speaker.
In Council, September 10, 1756, read and concurred, Thomas Clarke, Deputy Secretary - Consented to, W. Shirley
Page 317:
Bill of Captain William Allen, John Low Jr, Thomas Rand. Paid John Mallen for conveying John Muise & family to
Bills for Joseph Douset & his family.
January 1756 to May 22nd - Bills for John Muse and family.
Page 402:
To the honorable his Majesty's Council of his Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England now sitting at Boston, May twenty-fifth, 1757.
The petition of the Selectmen of the Town of Methuen whose names are hereunto subscribed, Humbly sheweth that your petitioners and their predecessors in the same office have taken great care and pains to support the French people which were ordered to dwell in our Town in such manner as might be least cost and charge to the Province and the necessary and unavoidable cost we have been at for their suport, we have exhibited herewith prayihng that your honors would be pleased to order that the same may be paid to our Town - all which is humbly presented by
John Bodwell, William Russ, Stephen Barker } Selectmen of
Page 403:
September 1756 - Received a family of French people of the late inhabitants of Nova Scotia, viz., John Muse and his wife & children, that is his sons and three daughters (viz.) Enoch, about twenty years old; Joseph, about ten years old; Lawrance, about eighteen years old; John, about twelve years old; Joseph, about ten y ears old; Charles, about eight yeras old; Paul, about nine months old; and Margaret, about sixteen years old; and Lydia, about six years old;
Daniel Bodwell, Ebenezer Barker ] Selectmen of
An account of what we the subscribers have delivered to the above named French since the second day of March last.
John Bodwell, William Russ, Stephen Barker } Selectmen of
Page 464
To his Exelllency Thomas Pownall Esquire, Captain General and Governor in Chief in and over his Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England and to the Honorable his Majesty's Council of Said Province.
We the Subscribers, Selectmen of the Town of Methuen, humbly present the following for your Excellency's and your Honors' allowance, being a true and just account of the necessary cost and charge from the first day of June last past to the date hereof, for the support and relief of French inhabitants of Nova Scotia, which were ordered by the General court to dwell in our Town, namely, John Mewis (Mius) and his wife and nine children (viz.) Enoch, Lawrants (Laurent), Margaret, John, Joseph, Charles, Lydia,
John Bodwell, William Russ, Stephen Barker } Selectmen of
Page 547
His Excellency Thomas Pownall Esquire, Governor, and to the honorable gentlemen of the Council of
The humble petition of
That the Selectmen of
Lawrence + Mieuse
(his mark)
Page 548
In Council, January 10, 1758, read and ordered that James Minot Esquire, with such as the honorable House shall join be a committee to consider of this petition and report what they judge prooper to be done in the affair.
Sent down for concurrence, A. Oliver, Secretary.
In the House of Representatives,
Read and concurred and Colonel Choate & Colonel Buckminster are joined in the affair.
T. Hubbard, Speaker
Volume XXIV Page 14
Accounts,
The Said family consists of twelve in number, viz. John Muse and his wife and ten children, namely Enoch, Lawrence, John, Joseph, Charles, Paul,
Ebenezer Barker, James Ordway, John Mansur } Selectmen of
Accounts,
Extraordinary expenses in sickness with the measles.
Also to taking care of John Mius seven weeks, a French man that was sent by said court to Methuen, but taken sick in said Tewksbury with the fever and afterward the fever and age.
Page 283
To his Excellency Thomas Pownall Esquire, Captain General & Governor in Chief in and over his Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, to the honorable his Majesty's Council and House of representatives in said province in General Court assembled at Boston, March 19th, 1760.
The petition of John Mius, late inhabitant of Cape Sable, humbly sheweth that your petitioner, when he was brought to New England dwelt some time at Cape
Your petitioner therefore humbly prays with submission that your Excellency and your honors would be pleased to take his case into your most wise and serious consideration and so order that your petitioner with his family may be speedily removed from the town of Methuen to the town of Gloucester and your petitioner as in duty bound will ever pray.
John Mius
In the House of Representatives, March 22, 1760
Read and ordered that the petitioner have liberty to remove himself and family from the town of
Sent up for concurrence, J. White, Speaker.
In Council,
Consented to, T. Pownall.
Pages 293 and 294
To his Excellency Thomas Pownall Esquire, Captain General and Governor in Chief in and over his Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, to the honorable his majesty's Council and House of Representatives of said province in General Court assembled at Boston, April 1760.
The memorial of John Mius, a late inhabitant of
That your memorialist, laboring under many difficulties and disadvantages in the place of his residence (which occasioneth him to be very chargeable to the selectmen) he sent his petition to this great & honorable court at their last session. In which petition he desired to be removed with his family from
Test. Ebenezer Barker
John + Mius (his mark)
In the House of Representatives,
Read and in answer ordered to the Selectmen of
Sent up for concurrence, J. White, Speaker.
In Council,
Consented to, T. Pownall
Pagaes 346 and 347
To the Selectmen of the town of
Pursuant to the power and directions given by the Great and General Court to a committee appointed to proportion the French inhabitants to the several towns in said county.
You are hereby required forthwith to cause to be removed to the town of
You are also to deliver
And you are to make return to me of your doings in the premises with the names of the persons so removed and the particular charge of removing them.
COUNCIL MINUTES: pages 410 through 422
Marron Tebedo (Thibodeau) age 8, from
Joseph Leblong (LeBlanc) from Amesbury age 63
Margaret Leblong (LeBlanc) & infirm age 61
Page 376
Amesbury,
Honorable sir agreeable to your order sent to us to remove Joseph Leblong & Margaret, his wife, two of the French Neutrals, from our town of
Thomas Rowell, Stephen Barlett Jr, Eph. West, Selectmen of Amesbury.
I was able to connect the genealogies of these Acadian families who had been exiled to
As a result of my experience, I look forward to researching more local history and have been doing research in Lawrence, Ma where I grew up.
2 comments:
Hi Lucie,
Great post. We're lucky to live in New England where so much of this material has survived to be seen by us today.
I think Ebenezer and Stephen Barker
are distant cousins of mine, btw!
Bill
I Bill - I totally agree.
I cannot claim to be a descendant of
these early founders of our cities and towns but I learned a whole lot about our country's founding!
Lucie
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