146 



nam, who figured during the witchcraft period. It was 

 one or more of his horses that George Jacobs, Jr., was 

 charged with drowning, though with no very conclusive 

 evidence, as the horses were trespassing, and were prob- 

 ably drowned while being driven away. With reference 

 to Mr. Bailey, the first minister, it may here be said that 

 great opposition arose to him during his ministr}-, and a 

 series of serious troubles, jealousies and hard feelings 

 followed. 



The Samuel Parris house stood upon a piece of land 

 now owned by Messrs. E. and A. Mudge, and was for- 

 merly a part of the parsonage. The place is marked 

 by a signboard which bears this inscription : "Site of the 

 first parsonage house occupied by Rev. Samuel Parris in 

 1692." It is believed that some of the material of which 

 this house was built was put into a shed or outbuilding 

 connected with the old Wads worth house, which is on the 

 main road, and not far distant. It has been supposed 

 that the small building standing opposite and near to the 

 Collins house was a part of the old Parris house; but 

 tliis has been well ascertained not to be the case in the 

 sense in which the identity has heretofore been under- 

 stood. While the small building referred to was a part 

 of the Parris house, it was an addition to that structure 

 which was not put on until full forty years after the witch- 

 craft delusion. The building is old, and is now used by 

 its owner, Mr. Solomon Morrison, as a residence for one 

 cow and several pigs. 



Near to the house of Samuel Parris is a ridge of land 

 of curious geological formation, known as "Watch House 

 Hill." This is so called, because, in the early days of the 

 settlement, a house was erected hero from which a watch 

 was kept in anticii)ation of Indian raids. 



The Rebecca Noursc house is one of the oldest in town. 



