134 



(from which circumslanco, I infer that it was for the matron of tlie 

 house), an oaken chest, about 2 feet G inches in length, by 1 foot G 

 inches in width, with legs, and a lid, its sides carved like the cliair, and 

 a small tape loom, such as tlie ladies of the olden time used to manu- 

 facture their garter stuff, comprised a set of four pieces of furniture, 

 which my paternal grandmother, Sarah Dennis, wife of John Farley, 

 both of said Ipswich, bro-ight to this town, to which they removed in 

 1772 or 1773. Its mate, through Robert Brookhouse, of Salem, Mass . 

 who married a daughter of my grandfatiier Farley, found its way back 

 to Essex County, and was presented by him to the Essex Historical 

 Society (since merged in the Essex Institute), on the day of its 

 organization, June 27, 1821, and was occupied by the venerable Dr. 

 Holyoke, its tirst President. It is now at the rooms of the Institute, 

 at Plummcr Hall, in Salem. Some years afterwards, the chest went 

 into the possession of Mr. Brookhouse,' aiid is now in the possession 

 of his daugliter (by a second wife), Mrs. Perkins, wife of Judge Per- 

 kins, of Salem. The tape loom has been lost, or destroyed. 



That chest bears the date of 1630. David Dennis, a brother of niv 

 grandmother, Sarah Dennis, aforesaid, who died at Nobleboro', in 

 this State, in October, 1843, aged 92. told me a few months prior to his 

 decease, that these pieces of furniture were then more than 200 years 

 old. His statement, taken in connection with tiie date upon the chest, 

 establishes, I think, beyond reasonal)le cavil, the age of the chair. 



Mr. R. Knowland of Marblehead, tifter a few pvcliini- 

 nary remarks, offered a resolution of thanks to the pro- 

 prietors of the ehiirch, to Messrs. James S. Jewett, 

 Georo'c Norwood, Josiah Friend, John D. Davis, Elias 

 Davis, Jr., A. F. Bragdon, W. E. Dennis, John A. Going, 

 James A. Dennison, Fred. Davis, Fred. W. Lane, James 

 Davis, E. W. Coffin, and all others who had been aetive 

 in their attentions, during this pleasant vi^it to Anni- 

 squam. The resolution Avas unanimously adopted. 



The meeting closed at 4 oVlock and the party was con- 

 veyed from the church to the raih'oad station in carriages 

 in waiting and departed highly pleased Avith their excur- 

 sion, both as to the kind reception by the people of the 

 village and the beautiful scenery and views presented on 

 every liand. 



