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the Collins House, now owned and occupied by Francis 

 Peabody, Esq. The house where Gen. Israel Putnam 

 was born still stands about one mile away, and a number 

 of the ancient witch houses are still in existence in vari- 

 ous parts of the town. 



Mr. WILLIAM P. UPHAM, of Salem, related some facts 

 about the original Parris house, the birthplace of witch- 

 craft. Some distance from the site of the house stands 

 another house, a part of which was supposed to be a part 

 of the original Parris house ; but which proves to be an 

 addition built in the eighteenth century and which was 

 moved away. He exhibited, however, a well authenti- 

 cated fragment of the old house which came from a shed 

 built of the pieces of the house when it was torn down. 

 He also exhibited some pears gathered from a tree planted 

 by the Rev. Mr. Bailey, the first minister of the parish. 



Mr. GEORGE TAPLEY, of Danvers, spoke of the Hon. 

 Samuel Holton,* a very noted, prominent and influential 

 citizen in the annals of the town, and paid a fitting tribute 

 to his memory. The mansion in which he resided for 

 many years is still extant and is near to this place of 

 meeting. Mr. Holton was a man of great integrity and 



* Samuel Holton, the only son of Samuel and Hannah (Gardner) Holton, was 

 born at Salem Village, now Danvers, June 9, 1738. In early life a successful prac- 

 titioner of medicine. His public career commenced in. 1768, when he was elected a 

 representative to the general court from Danvers, He was eight years a repre- 

 sentative, five years a senator, and twelve councillor, in Massachusetts legislature, 

 five in congress under the confederacy and two under the Federal constitution, a 

 member of the constitutional convention of 1780; a delegate to the State conven- 

 tion for ratifying and adopting the Federal constitution, twice served as presiden- 

 tial elector. For thirty-two years a justice of the court of common pleas for 

 Essex, being for half of that time the presiding justice, a judge of probate of 

 Essex from July 2, 1796, to May 29, 1815. He also discharged the duties of several 

 town offices and other public and private trusts. He died Jan. 2, 1816, and tributes 

 were paid to his memory by numerous grateful hearts and a sermon was preached 

 at his funeral by the Rev. Dr. Benj. Wadsworth, which was published and widely 

 circulated. 



