"June 1st, 1671. The magistrates having perused and considered this request, see no cause to alter the name of the place as desired, their brethren, the deputies, hereto consenting.

EDWARD RAWSON, Secretary.

Consented to by the Deputyes.

WILLIAM TORREY, Cleric."

Roger Conant, John Balch, John Woodberry and Peter Palfry, first settled in 1626, on the neck of land between Collins's Cove on the south, and the North river on the north, in Salem. Bridge Street, leading from the compact part of Salem to Essex (Beverly) Bridge, runs-over this neck of land. Their first houses were near to the margin of the river, and their lots running from the river across the neck to Collins's Cove. John Balch removed to Beverly side of Bass river, in 1639. Conant and Woodberry removed at an earlier date. Palfry removed to Reading. Conant was born in Budleigh in England, in April 1591. In 1623 he came to Plymouth, thence in 1625 to Nantasket, in company with Lyford, a minister, and in the same year to Cape Ann, where he was superintendant of the fishing and planting of the Dorchester company. He there built a frame house, which was afterwards taken down, by Gov. Endicott, and removed to Salem, and is said to make a part of the old tavern, near the Court House, in Salem. In the Autumn of 1626, Conant and others removed from Cape Ann to Salem. It was owing to the firmness, resolution and perseverance of Conant, that the settlement at Salem was maintained until the arrival of Gov. Endicott, in 1628, with about a hundred colonists. Lyford accompanied Conant to Cape Ann, and from thence to Salem, but there forsook him, and went to Virginia. Conant was made a freeman, by the Court in 1630, and represented the town of Salem, in 1634. In 1636, he had a grant of 200 acres of land, at the head of Bass river, upon which he resided, and in 1671 two hundred acres in addition granted to him as an ancient planter, by General Court. His son Roger had a grant of land in Salem, in 1640, because he was the first born child in that town. Several of the descendants of the elder Roger

Conant, are now living in Beverly. He died in Beverly on the 19th of November, 1679, in the 89th year of his

age.

In Farmer's Genealogical Register, his son Roger is mentioned as being alive in 1674; if this is correct, the following, which is carefully copied from an old bible, now in the possession of Henry Larcom of Beverly, must have been written by the widow of a third person, of the same name. The ninth day of May, 1672, being Saturday, my dear little son Samuel Conant died, and the fifteenth day of June, being Saturday, my dear, dear, dear husband, Roger Conant died."

The Rev. John Hale was son of Robert and Rebeckah Hale, of Charlestown, and was born there June 3d, 1636. He was educated at Harvard College, and took his first degree in 1657. He attended to the usual course of studies, preparatory to the Christian ministry, and preached at Bass river-side, about the year 1664, that place being then a part of Salem, where a Meeting-House had been built in 1656, and public worship was attended, although those who were members, still retained their relation to the first Church in Salem. After preaching at this place, upon probation, for about three years, he was called to be their pastor, August 28th, 1667. There had been an application to the first Church at Salem, by those who had settled on the North side of Bass-river, in 1649, for permission to set up public worship by themselves. "They on the tenth of the twelfth month, 1649, (Edward Norris being the teacher), presented their request to the rest of the church, for 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 twenty-second of the seventh month, 1650, and the second day of the eighth 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 as before. But on farther experience, we upon the twenty-third day of the first month, 1656, presented our desires to be a church by ourselves, and after some agitation about it, when our teacher stood for us, it was put to vote, and consented unto, none appearing opposite, we protesting there was no division of judgment or affection intended, but brotherly communion. Our desire being consented unto, we proceeded to build a meeting-house on Bass river side, and we called unto us successively, to dispense the word of life unto us, Mr. Josiah Hubbard† and Mr. Jeremiah Hubbard, and Mr. John Hale, and after almost three years experience of Mr. John Hale, our motion was again renewed, the twenty-third of the fourth month, 1667, and was as follows." We, whose names are underwritten, the brethren and sisters belonging to Bass-river, do present our desire to the members of the church in Salem, that with their consent, we and our children may be a church of ourselves, and we also present unto Mr. John Hale, to join with us, and to be our pastor, with the approbation of the members of the church. Roger Conant, Thomas Lothrop, William Dixy, Richard Dodge, Samuel Corning, Henry Herrick, William Woodberry, Sen., William Dodge, Sen., Humphrey Woodberry, Sen., Robert Morgan, Peter Woolfe, Richard Brackenbury, Hugh Woodberry, John Black, Josiah Roote, Sen., John Stone, Sen., Nicholas Patch, Lot Conant, Exercise Conant, John Dodge, Sen., John Hill, Ralph Ellingwood, Edward Bishopp, Sarah Conant, Bethiah Lothrop, Anna Dixy, Mary Dodge, Sen., Elizabeth Dodge, Elizabeth Corning, Anna Woodberry, Elizabeth Woodberry, Ede Herrick, Elizabeth 2 Haskell, Ellen Brackenbury, Anna Woodberry, Jun., Mary Lovett, Martha Woolfe, Mary Dodge, Jun., Mary Woodberry, Hannah Woodberry, Hannah Baker, Abigail Hill, Sarah Leach, Elizabeth Patch, Mary Herrick, Lydia Herrick, Freegrace Black, Hannah Sallows, Bridget Luff. [49]

* Joshua

Usually written Hobart.

Such as are members, but not in full communion, desire to be dismissed with their parents; [here follow twenty-four names, the surnames, with two exceptions, Raiment and Hayward, may be found among the foregoing names]. This motion was answered the twenty-first day of the fifth month, as follows, viz.: This writing being read, together with the names subscribed, there was a unanimous consent, of the brethren present, unto their desire; only it was left to the sacrament day after, when in the fullest church. assembly, the consent of the whole church was signified by their votes, and so they gave their liberty to be a church. by themselves, only they continued members here, until their being a church. The Lord grant his gracious presence with them. Upon this, the brethren had a meeting on the twenty-eighth day of August, and renewed their call to Mr. John Hale, that he would be pleased to accept of the office of a pastor, (whose answer was as follows. "When I look at the weight of the work which you call me unto, of which Paul cried out, who is sufficient for these things! I then looking upon my own manifold infirmities and indisposition of spirit, then unto so many discouragements, but when I duly consider the Lord's sovereignty over me, and all sufficiency for my support, I desire, when I see his work and call, to say with Esaiah, here I am, send me and in particular, when I observe the remarkable providences of God, in bringing me hither, and paving out our way hitherto, and the room the Lord hath made for me in your hearts, (which I acknowledge with thankfulness to God and yourselves). I also look at the call of God in the present call, as a call to me; being the more confirmed herein, by the concurrence of our apprehensions, which hath appeared in those things we had occasion to confer about, concerning our entering into and proceeding with church affairs, which I hope the Lord will enable me to practise accordingly. Wherefore, while you walk according to God's order of the Gospel, and in the stedfastness of the faith of Christ, and I see, that with a good conscience and freedom of spirit, I can carry on my work, and discharge my duty to God and man, and those that are under my care, according to the respective relation I may bear unto them, so long as the Lord is calling me to labour in this part of his vineyard, I desire to give up myself to

the Lord and his service, in the work of the ministry in this place. Requesting you to strive together with me in your prayers for me, that it may redound to his glory, the edifying of every soul that shall dwell amongst us, and for our joyful account in the day of Christ's appearance.

By me, JOHN HALE."

The twentieth of September following, these members above-mentioned, (of Salem), united together in a distinct Society, and the said Mr. Hale being dismissed from the Church of Christ at Charlestown, whereof he was a member, and recommended to the work of Christ here, concurred with them, when they solemnly made confession of their faith, and renewed their covenant unto the Lord, which was publicly and unanimously owned by them. These having proceeded thus far upon this solemn day of fasting and prayer, then immediately they proceeded to the ordination of Mr. Hale as pastor, who was ordained by the laying on of hands of the Reverend Mr. John Higginson, pastor of the Church of Salem, and of Mr. Thomas Cobbett, pastor at Ipswich, and of Antipas Newman, pastor at Wenham. Then were they owned to be a distinct church by the elders and messengers of the neighbour churches abovesaid, who gave their approbation and right hand of fellowship." In May following, a letter was received from Rev. John Higginson, of the Church in Salem, informing that all the members of the Church in Salem, living on Bass-river side, were dismissed, although not particularly named in the first instance, as being dismissed.

Previously to Mr. Hale's settlement at Bass-river side, he was married to Rebeckah, the daughter of Henry Byles, who came from Sarum in England, and settled in Salisbury as early as 1640.

She was received into the Church, by recommendation from the Church in Salisbury, September 22, 1667.

She was the mother of two children, viz.,

Rebeckah, born the twenty-eighth day of April, 1666. Robert, born the third of November, 1668.

She died April 13th, 1683, aged 45 years.

Mr. Hale's second wife was Mrs. Sarah Noyes of Newbury; to whom he was married on the thirty-first of March, 1684. She was received into the Church, by