ried to Simon Heyers, afterwards written Eyre, 22d July, 1679. Isaac Eyre, their son, was born 23d Feb., 1683-4.

A friend, learned in the records, has pointed out to me the fact, that in May, 1684, "Elizabeth Eyre, formerly Elizabeth Allerton, now wife of Simon Eyre," conveyed by deed to her "dear and loving husband, Simon Eyre" the reversion of a house, &c., "which my grand-mother, Mrs. Johanna Allerton now dwells in," &c.

From all these notices, I infer, that when Isaac Allerton the younger went away, he left his daughter Elizabeth, then a child, with her grand-mother, and that if his son Isaac was then living, he took the boy with him to those parts, unknown to which he then migrated. The silence of the deed is somewhat less significant, than I supposed it to be..

[The Committee of Publication, take the liberty of making the subsequent addenda, to the preceding notice of Mr. Allerton. The two facts immediately ensuing, we have from the Journal of Winthrop. Feb. 1, 1634, "Mr. Cradock's house at Marblehead, was burnt down about midnight before, there being in it, Mr. Allerton and many fishermen, whom he employed that season." Feb. 22d. "This season, Mr. Allerton fished with eight boats, at Marblehead." This was a part of Salem till 1649. The Massachusetts Colony Records state, that March, 1635, Mr. Allerton was to be notified by the Civil Authorities, that he had leave to depart from Marblehead. It is not unlikely, that he followed Roger Williams, from Plymouth to Salem, in 1633, to sit under his ministry; and that he had subjected himself to their displeasure, for attachment to his Teacher, who was already in conflict with them. Whether Mr. Allerton compromised the difficulty with the General Court, as others did, so as to continue within their jurisdiction, is not certainly known. But as one of his vessels was employed, in the succeeding August, to transport Mr. Avery from Newbury to Marblehead, for the purpose of preaching at the latter place, it would seem as if he were permitted to remain. The Records of the Salem Church, show that he became a member of their body in 1647. This last fact appears to contradict his being ordered a seat in the meeting house of New Haven, early in the same year, where he was living in 1643, as represented by Winthrop. Still one of these events seems as likely as the other, and both of them were probably and mutually reconcilable at the time they occurred. Pub. Com.]

BEVERLY.

[The succeeding memoranda of Beverly, and biography of Rev. John Hale, minister there, were furnished by Robert Rantoul, Esq., at the particular request of an eminent member of our publishing Committee, in 1835. Pub. Com.]

Beverly was first settled as a part of Salem, by the removal of John Woodberry and William Woodberry, who were brothers, together with some other of Roger Conant's companions, from the south side to the north side of Bass river, which separates Beverly from Salem, about the year 1630. Roger Conant and John Balch, afterwards removed to the north side of the river, and were accompanied by other settlers, who were mostly from the West of England. The settlement was called "Bass river side," "Cape Ann side," and sometimes "Bass river." As early as 1649,* the settlers were so numerous, as to desire of the Church in Salem, "some course to be taken for the means of grace amongst themselves, because of the tediousness and difficulties over the water, and other inconveniences; which motion was renewed again the 22nd of the 7th Month, 1650; and the 2nd day of the 8th Month, they returned answer, that we should look out for us, some able and approved teacher to be amongst us, we still holding communion with them." In 1656, the inhabitants on the north side of the river, were sufficiently numerous to build a meeting-house, which stood near the site of the present meeting-house of the First Parish. In this first house, Josiah Hubbard and Jeremiah Hubbard, preached for some time, and then John Hale, for about three years, during which time, the connection with the first church in Salem was preserved. On the 20th of September, 1667, a church was organized, and Rev. John Hale settled as the minister. It is noticeable, that the Records of the town begin as early as 1665, three

years before the incorporation. This is explained by the following extract from the records of the general court.

"In answer to the petition of the inhabitants of that part of Salem called Bass river side, craving the favour of this Court to invest them with power to choose yearly within themselves, a fit number of persons, who may have power, as selectmen have in other places, to raise those charges that are to be defrayed by and within themselves, and for the admission of those poor or others, who desire to inhabit with them (they being to maintain them, if they fall in want), and for what other small matter and business, arising properly within themselves, fall under the cognizance of Selectmen; also, that they may choose their Constables and Surveyors, for their Highway, and what other officers or persons the affairs abovesaid may occasion and necessitate them to employ: Yet they would be understood, that their desire is still to continue with, and be a part of the Town of Salem, viz. in bearing with them, and they with us, common Town and Country charges, in common interest and concernment, as choice of Deputies for the General Court and such like, as they have hitherto proceeded together." "The Court, on perusal of their petition, hearing what Salem Deputies said, judge meet to grant their request, provided the town of Salem do fully concur therewith and agree thereto. Which if they shall not, the Court judge it meet that they manifest the same at the next session of this Court." Whether the Court fully granted their request or not, public meetings were held in relation to the support of public worship, and for other purposes, as appears by the records. The first mention of the settlement at Bass-river side, in the records of the General Court, is in 1645, when the highway was ordered to be changed from River-head to the landing at Draper's-point, and in 1647, the inhabitants of Mackerel Cove are granted their petition, to be free from being called to watch at Salem.

On the 14th of October, 1668, the Coves was incorporated by the name of Beverly. The act of incorporation is as follows. "The Court, on perusal of this return [return on an order of notice issued to Salem], judge it meet to grant, that Bass-river be henceforth a Township of themselves, referring it to Salem, to accommodate them

with lands and bounds suitable for them, and that it be called Beverly." The first Town meeting was held on the 23d of November, 1668. It appears that Roger Conant and his friends, were dissatisfied with the name given to the town, by the Court, and soon afterwards, but without success, petitioned for its change to "Budleigh," the name of the town in England, from whence Conant came. This - petition contains facts in regard to Roger Conant, and to the first settlement of Salem, which are not to be found elsewhere, and is as follows.

"To the Honored General Court, consisting of magistrates and deputies. (The 28th of the 3d month, 1671.)

The umble petition of Roger Conant, of Bass-river, alias Beverly, who hath bin a planter in New England, fortie eight years and upwards, being one of the first, if not the very first, that resolved and made good my settlement under, in matter of plantation, with my family, in this Collony of Massachusetts Bay, and have bin instrumental both for the founding and carriing on of the same, and when in the infancy thereof, it was in great hassard of being deserted. I was a means, through grace assisting me, to stop the flight of those few that then were heere with me, and that by my utter deniall, to goe away with them, who would have gon either for England, or mostly for Virginia, but thereupon stayed to the hassard of our lives. Now my umble suite and request is unto this honorable Court, onlie that the name of our towne or plantation may be altered or changed from Beverly, and be called Budleigh. I have two reasons, that have moved me unto this request. The first, is the great dislike and discontent of many of our people for this name of Beverly, because (wee being but a small place), it hath caused on us a constant nickname of beggarly, being in the mouths of many, and no order was given, or consent by the people to their agent for any name, until they were shure of being a towne granted in the first place.

Secondly, I being the first that had house in Salem (and neether had any hand in naming either that, or any other towne), and myself, with those that were then with me, being all from the western part of England, desire this western name of Budleigh, a market towne in Devonshire,

and neere unto the sea, as wee are heere in this place, and where myself was borne.

Now in regard to our firstnesse and antiquity, in this so famous a Collony, we should umbly request this small priviledg, with your favours and consent, to give this name abovesaid, unto our towne.

I never yet made sute or request unto the General Court for the least matter, tho' I think I might as well have done, as many others have, who have obtained much without hassard of life, or prefering the public good before their own interest, which I praise God I have done. If this my sute may find acceptation with your worships, I shall rest umble, thankfull, and my praiers shall not cease unto the throne of grace, for God's guidance and his blessing to be on all your weightie proceedings, and that iustice and righteousness may be everie where administered, and sound doctrine, truth and holiness everie where taught and practised, throughout this wilderness, to all posterity, which God grant. Amen.

Your worships' umble petitioner and servant,
ROGER CONANT.

It is likewise the umble desire and request of us, whose names ar heere underwritten, that the name of our town may be changed, as abovesaid.