AGE OF NEWSPAPERS.-A new literary paper, called The Observer, has recently been commenced at Salem, Ms. to be conducted by B. L. Oliver, Esq. The New-Hampshire Republican, edited by C. W. Cutter, Esq. has appeared at Dover. And the New-Hampshire Statesman, by Mr. L. Roby, has been just commenced in this village. We have noticed in many papers an improvement in their appearance; and cannot but hope, while editors and publishers are thus zealous to merit, that they will receive a liberal patronage. The following is a list of the newspapers at present published in this state:

NAMES.

EDITORS. WHERE PUBLISHED,

New-Hampshire Patriot & State Gazette, Isaac Hill,

New-Hampshire Repository,

Concord.

John W. Shepard, do.

The oldest newspaper establishment in the state is the New-Hampshire Gazette, at Portsmouth, which was established in 1756. In a future number, we shall give a history of the different newspaper establishments in this state, with notices of changes in names, editors and publishers.

The editors have lately been favored by a gentleman of this state, with the loan of a MS. volume, 278 pages folio, containing "A List of General Courts-Martial and Courts of Inquiry, held in the City of Louisbourg, in the Island of Cape Breton, in the years 1746, 1747 and 1748." The manuscript is written in a fair and legible hand, and is in a good state of preservation.

"American Sketches."-We have received a poem, entitled "THE WINTER EVENING," from the author of the "Farmer's Fireside," which originally appeared in these Collections.We regret our want of room to present it entire in the pres ent number; and shall lay it before our readers in the next.

A valued correspondent promises for our March Number, a description of the "Strong Box," taken by Col. Westbrook from Ralle, the Jesuit, in 1722.

COLLECTIONS,

Historical and Miscellaneous.

MARCH, 1823.

HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY.

Sketches of the early History of Billerica, Ms.

THIS town was granted by the General Court of Massachusetts to the inhabitants of Cambridge on the 14th of June, 1642. It was originally called Shawshin, from the river on which it is situated, and was incorporated by the name of Billerica in May, 1655. The name is derived from a considerable town in the county of Essex, in England, from whence it is supposed that several of the first inhabitants emigrated. It was first settled about the year 1653 by a number of respectable families; some from Cambridge, but the greater part originally from England. The names of Danforth, Parker, Brackett, Rogers, Hill, French, Crosby, Whiting, Daniel, Richardson, Stearns, Brown, Tompson and Farmer were among the early settlers. The early inhabitants of this town were of reputable families, and a considerable proportion of them were persons of education. To the name of Danforth, are we principally indebted for the valuable facts contained in the town records for a long series of years. Few names in this country, says Dr. Eliot, have produced more literary characters than the name of Danforth. Capt. Jonathan Danforth was among the most active and enterprizing inhabitants of Billerica. was born 29th Feb. 1628, at Framingham, in Suffolk, England, where his father, Rev. Nicholas Danforth, was a gentleman of such repute and estate " that it cost him a considerable sum to escape the knighthood which King Charles imposed upon all of so much per annum." His father came to New-England in 1634, and settled at Cambridge, where he died about four years after his arrival. His brothers were the Hon. Thomas Danforth, of Cambridge, Deputy Governor of the colony, and Rev. Samuel Danforth, a learned and eminent minister of Roxbury. Capt. Danforth set

He

tled in Billerica in 1654, where he remained till his death, September 7, 1712, at the age of 84. He left many manuscripts, some of which are in possession of the writer of these sketches. A poem was published on his death, from which the following lines are selected.

"He rode the circuit, chain'd great towns and farms
"To good behavior; and by well marked stations,
"He fixed their bounds for many generations.
"His art* ne'er fail'd him, though the loadstone fail'd,
"When oft by mines and streams it was assail'd.
"All this is charming, but there's something higher,
"Gave him the lustre which we most admire."t

Rev. Samuel Whiting was another of the early inhabitants. Of him, it may be proper to give a short notice. He was the oldest son by a second marriage of Rev. Samuel Whiting of Lynn, who came from England and arrived at Boston, 26th May, 1636. His mother, a woman of exalted piety and virtue, was a daughter of the right honorable Oli ver St. John, of Bedfordshire, and nearly related to Lord St. John of Bletsoe. He was born about the year 1632, most probably at Skirbick, near Boston in Lincolnshire, where his father then resided. He was graduated at Harvard College in 1653, and a few years after completing his theological studies, went to Billerica, and was ordained the first minister of that place, November 11, 1663. His con. temporaries in the ministry in the adjoining towns were all eminent men. Fiske of Chelmsford, Mitchel of Cambridge, Bulkley of Concord, Barnard of Andover, and Fox of Woburn, were in active life, and were his associates in the ministerial profession. Mr. Whiting remained the minister of Billerica nearly fifty years from his settlement, and continued to discharge the duties of his sacred office with great prudence, diligence and circumspection till age rendered him unequal to the task. He then had the assistance of a colleague. Dr. Mather, in his Magnalia, calls him "a rever end, holy and faithful minister of the gospel." He depar ted this life, February 28, 1713, aged about 80 years. One of his sons, John Whiting, who was graduated at Harvard College in 1685, was the second minister of Lancaster. There he was killed, with twenty-one others, on the 11th September, 1697, when that town was surprised by the Indians.

John Stearns was among the earliest inhabitants. He married Mary Lathrop of Plymouth colony, who was proba bly a daughter or grand-daughter of Rev. John Lathrop of

*The art of Surveying. †His piety is here alluded to.

Scituate. John Stearns, his son, was the first person born in town, on record. The late Rev. Josiah Stearns, Hon. Isaac Stearns were his descendants.

Edward Farmer came from Anceley in Warwickshire, England. Though an early settler, he was not among the first inhabitants. He was accompanied or soon followed by his mother, a widow, who, soon after her arrival, married Rev. Thomas Wiswall of Cambridge Village, now Newton. She survived him and died at her son's in Billerica, May 21, 1686. She was originally of Great Packington, in Warwickshire; her name Isabel Barbage. From her descended in a direct line the late Rev. Richard Farmer, D. D. Master of Emanuel College, Cambridge, author of "An Essay on the Learning of Shakspeare," and among the best commentators on that immortal bard.*

The progress of the settlement of Billerica was not rapid, but the measures adopted by the inhabitants were well calculated to render it permanent. Among the regulations entered in the early records were the following: All persons unknown to the townsmen desirous of becoming inhabitants, were required to bring a certificate from the place whence they came, exhibiting such testimony as should be satisfactory to the town ;-that upon their admission as inhabitants, they should subscribe their names to all orders of the town, and bear their proportion of all public charges in church, town and commonweal. Any person, not qualified by law, who should presume to give his voice, or vote in any elections of the town, or interfere in any town affairs, was subject to a fine of five shillings, to be levied by the constable. Any inhabitant or proprietor who should bring in, or entertain in town, any person as a servant, should give bond to the constable to secure the town from all damage that might arise from the maintenance of such servant. In case of refusal to give bond, a penalty of twenty shillings per week was incurred. No proprietor possessing less than a ten acre privilege, should alienate any part of his right to any person without consent of the town. But a person having more than this proportion, might sell or dispose of a five acre privilege. Proprietors of not more than ten acre privileges could not, without permission of the town, dispose of their

*This distinguished scholar and antiquary was born at Leicester, May 4, 1735; died Sept. 2, 1797. The writer has lately received from his nephew, Rev. Thomas Farmer, of Woburn, Bedfordshire, some extracts from his papers, and an impression of the seal which he wore and used.

privilege to any person, not even to their children, unless the town had refused to make them a grant.

In 1658, the inhabitants to the number of nineteen, agreed with Rev. Samuel Whiting in reference to his settlement in town. They engaged to give him and his heirs a ten acre privilege, and a house comfortably finished with the accommodations belonging to it, if he should continue with them during his life. They also agreed to give him a salary of 401. for the first two years, 50l. for the third, and 601. for the fourth, and afterwards engaged to "better his maintenance as the Lord should better their estates." His stated salary after the fourth year was 701.

The Rev. Mr. Whiting was ordained Nov. 11, 1663, and from satisfactory evidence, it appears that the church was gathered at the same time. From a charge in the town records, it was formerly inferred that the church was organized April 27, 1663, but from another charge, the "gathering of a church and the ordaining of Mr. Whiting," are considered as coeval.

On the 2d August, 1675, Timothy Farley of this town, was killed at Quaboag, now Brookfield, in an engagement with the Indians. Such was the gloomy aspect at this time, and the alarm and terror spread through the country by the ravages of the Indians, that the inhabitants of this town held a meeting on the 13th August, for the purpose of adopting measures for mutual defence and security. The following entry of their proceedings is made in the records, which gives an idea of the danger they apprehended from their subtle and powerful enemy. "The town, considering the Providence of God at the present, calling us to lay aside our ordinary occupations in providing for our creatures, and to take special care of our own lives, and the lives of our wives and children; the enemy being near and the warning of God's Providence upon our neighbors being very solemn, do, therefore, order and agree to prepare a place of safety for women and children; and that persons and teams shall attend the said work until it be finished. An account of the whole charge being kept, shall be equally divided upon the inhabitants with other town charges." Soon after this meeting, the town received an order from the honorable council, to gather the several inhabitants into garrisons according to their best capacity. In obedience to this order, a meeting of the selectmen and committee of the militia, was holden for that purpose, 8th October, when several garrisons were formed, and suitable arrangements were made. On the 14th, the selectmen and committee were met by