A PEN-EAMBLE IN LINEBROOK. 



BY M. V. B. PERLEY. 



THIS is ancient territory. There were vested rights, 

 upon the southeast, as early as 1635 or 6. Before 1653 

 Ipswich-Linebrook was all improved. The earliest own- 

 ers were Batchelder, Wiuthrop, Norton, Foster, Payne, 

 Jacobs, etc. The earliest settlers were Batchelder, 

 Foster, Sherwin, Howe, Perley, Fowler, Davis, Grant, 

 Burnham, Cooper, Burpee, Tenney, Piugree, Kimball, 

 Chapman, Dodge, Jewett, Dresser, etc. 



The earliest settlements were upon the south and north 

 where the rivers led. It has always been a farming com- 

 munity. The surface is agreeably diversified with hills, 

 plains and meadows. Hunsley hill upon the northeast, 

 300 feet above the level of the sea, is the highest eleva- 

 tion in the county, except Baldpate in Georgetown, 392 

 feet, and Holts hill in Andover, 423 feet. Upon Huns- 

 ley's summit, a tree, which was used by the United States 

 government as a beacon for many years, was destroyed 

 by the wind some ten years ago. The plain land is some- 

 what sandy and not now particularly adapted to farming. 

 When the soil was new it was very satisfactory for raising 

 the cereals, and our early ancestors sought and valued it for 

 corn, wheat, flax and others. The valleys are rich and 

 fertile. The meadows were highly prized by the settlers, 

 for they were the principal source of feed for their cattle 

 in winter. One hundred and twenty-five years ago Mr. 

 Job Pingry owned three thousand acres of this territory. 



Within our southwestern border is Hood Lake, fifty 

 acres of beautiful water, lately stocked with choice fishes. 



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