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West Newbury in 1729
  Residential map- detailed Acrobat* file, 7Mb, 3pp.

   Listed below are the Merrill households found on the map of West Newbury Parish. Take a look for other possible allied families who were their neighbors.

   There are three pages of information including the title page.  Use Acrobat's magnifying glass to zoom in on the area of interest.  The third page lists all the names and their dwelling numbers. Be aware that this file is large, 7Mb, and may take several minutes to present itself. Copy it to your hard drive for future reference and share with others.

   This from Howard and Jean Merrill, noted Merrill surname experts (many thanks):

   "We finally got the map downloaded and think we have identified the Merrills that are listed there. There is some question as to which Abel lived where. Land records would have to be searched to be sure. We have arbitrarily placed Abel ⁽³⁾ on Merril Lane [#154], rather than his son Abel ⁽⁴⁾, but this could easily be reversed. This is of interest to us for Abel ⁽³⁾ and ⁽⁴⁾ are our ancestors.

   There is also a question as to Peter Morrill, is it Morrill or Merrill? Arguing for Morrill is that all the other Merrills are spelled Merril, while it is -ill. The o does look like an o, but some of the other e's also look like o's. We think it might be Peter ⁽⁴⁾, Daniel ^(3,2). His brother Benjamin is in #69. We have identified what we think are the Merrill's with their MM#** and lineage."

   The map shows an area of Essex county west of the present city of Newburyport, MA. The original was purchased over eBay for only $35. The lady who sold it to me said she obtained it from an estate sale and was told that it belonged to an elderly lady from Massachusetts who considered it one of her prized possessions.

   The following information was taken from John J. Currier's 1896 book, "Ould Newbury", pages 391-395.

Map of the West Parish

   Aug. 28, 1729, the inhabitants of the upper part of the West Parish petitioned the General Court for a division of the parish. In order to assist the petitioners in the presentation of their case, an accurate map of that portion of the town of Newbury was made by John Brown, surveyor, and dated Sept. 15, 1729.

    This map is now exceedingly valuable and interesting, giving, as it does, the location of every house within the limits of the parish and the name of every owner or occupant at that date. Every street, road, and lane is also carefully laid down and properly designated. There are several lithographic copies of the original map in existence. One of them may be seen at the rooms of the Historical Society in the Public Library building, Newburyport.

   For the convenience of those who wish to consult this map and compare it with the printed text of these pages, a copy, reduced in size, but correct in all its details, has been prepared for insertion here. In the accompanying list of householders will be found the names of many who were identified with the early history of Newbury. In this list Queen Anne’s Chapel is designated “The Church” (No. 13). The minister at that time in charge of the chapel was Rev. Matthias Plant (No. 3). The mill-house (No. 25), at the mouth of the Artichoke River, is now known as Curzon’s mill. The meeting-house (No. 56), built in 1710 at Pipe Stave Hill, gave rise to the prolonged contest described in the preceding pages of this book ; and Rev. John Tufts (No. 53) was it pastor from 1714 to 1738.

   The ferries at the mouth of Powow River and at Holt’s rocks, near Rocks bridge, are correctly located on the map ; and the extension of High Street from the Bradford road to the Merrimack River is also plainly indicated. This way, on Ferry road, as it was afterward called, was probably laid out in 1668. The first volume of the records of the town of Newbury has the following report from the selectmen of the town : -

   According to our commission from the town, March 8th 1665, we have laid out a country way unto Salisbury New towne of four Rod broad, begining at Merrimack River Side, running through Christopher Bartlett’s land sixty rods and likewise through Archelaus Woodman’s land, Sixteen Rod at the North end of Caleb Moody’s land and through Robert Coker’s land about 17 or 18 Rods.
               Richard Knight
               John Knight
               Richard Dole
being selectmen did give order to have this recorded.
      per Anthony Somberby.
      December 21, 1668.

   This road was rendered necessary by the grant of a new ferry near the mouth of the Powow River. May 27, 1668, the General Court,

In ansr to the petition of the inhabitants of Salisbury, new toune, humbly desiring the favor of this court that their toune may be named Emesbury, the Court grants their request.
In a further answer to their request to haue liberty granted them to keepe a ferry ouer Merremack Riuer, about Mr Goodwin’s house, the Court judgeth it meet to grant that there shall be a ferry kept as is desired, & leaue it to the next Court of that cournty to appoint both the person that is to keepe it & also to appoint the price.

   October 13 of that year Edward Goodwin was duly appointed ferryman. In 1669, George Carr applied to the General Court for liberty to keep this new ferry in accordance with the agreement made and provided when the floating bridge at Carr’s Island was built. His request was granted ; and the ferry remained under his care and control until his care and control until his death, April 4, 1682. It was afterward kept and maintained by his heirs of George Carr until Feb. 8, 1695-6, when Richard Carr sold to Captain John March, of Newbury, “The Ferry commonly known by ye name of Almesbury ferry together with all ye priveleges to ye same belonging, which s’d Ferry was by ye Town of Almesbury Granted to my Honoured Father, Mr. George Carr, late of Salisbury, deceased, and confirmed by ye General Court, allsoe ye ferry boats, allsoe a freehold commonage or common right in ye Township of Almesbury, as my said Father, Mr. George Carr, wa a free Commoner in s’d Towne as ye Towne Booke will make appeer” (Essex Deeds, Ipswich Series, book 2, page 160.)

   Humphrey Hook, who married Judith, daughter of Captain John March, was placed in charge of the ferry, which in process of time came to be known as “Hook’s Ferry.” He continued to serve as ferryman until his death in 1754. He was followed by his grandson Humphrey Currier, and other members of his family, until the Essex-Merrimack bridge was opened to the public in 1792.

   The ferry at Holt’s rocks, afterward called Swett’s ferry, was located where the present Rocks bridge now stands. March 26, 1694, the town of Newbury “granted John Kelly, senior, permission to keep a ferry over the Merrimack at Holts Rocks, in the place where he now dwelleth, ferriage six pence for horse and man, two pence for single man.” Coffin, in his History of Newbury, says, “Sept. 25, 1711, John Swett was licensed by the Court to keep the ferry at Holt’s rocks. Fare, two pence for a man and four pence for a hourse.” When the map of the West Parrish was drawn, John Swett was in charge of this ferry, and resided on the north side of the river. The older ferry, established at Carr’s Island in 1644, does not appear on the map, as it was located some distance beyond the limits of the parish.

   Jan. 6, 1731, the West Parish consented to the proposed division. The heavy dotted line extending through Whit Street or Merrill’s land, Downer’s land, the Middle road, and thence through Bailey’s land to the Merrimack River, was evidently the line agreed upon.

   Feb. 22, 1731, a committee was appointed to set off the new parish, the fourth in Newbury ; and March 29, 1731, a vote to petition the General Court to confirm the action of the parish was unanimously adopted.

   If you have further information on West Newbury or Newburyport and would like to share it with others, please contact me.

  * Download Acrobat if you don't have it to view the map.
** MM - "A Merrill Memorial" by Samuel Merrill