403 



Resolved, That the thanks of the Essex Institute be ten- 

 dered to Messrs. James Stevens, Henry J. Stevens, Samuel 

 B. Pierce, and other citizens of North Andover, for their 

 kind attentions to the members of the Institute and their 

 friends during the excursion of this day ; — to the Cochick- 

 ewick Engine Company for the nse of their room ; — and to 

 the proprietors of the Congregational Cliurch for the use of 

 their vestry for this meeting. 



After the transaction of some minor business the Institute 

 adjourned. 



Wednesday Sept. IWi, 1859. 



Field Meeting in Groveland. By the employment of an 

 extra train on the Essex Railroad and the further use of the 

 Georgetown road after arrival at North Danvers, the mem- 

 bers and company generally reached the town of Groveland 

 at a seasonable hour. The morning rendezvous was fixed at 

 what is known as Balch's Grove, a lovely spot on a hill ris- 

 ing from the very bank of the Merrimac. It is owned by 

 Mr. William Balch, who, at the full age of ninety-two, and 

 in possession of unimpaired faculties, lives in the vicinity, 

 enjoying the universal esteem and good will of his towns- 

 men, both old and young. His house, not far from the grove, 

 is said to be not less than one hundred and fifty years of 

 age, and he supposes it to have been a garrison house du- 

 ring the times of Indian troubles. 



Groveland was made a distinct town by incorporation in 

 1850, when it was separated from the present town of 

 Bradford, of which it was formerly the East Parish. | Brad- 

 ford appears to have been divided into two parishes in 1726, 

 but its incorporation as a town took place in 1673 when it 

 parted from the old original town of Rowley. It had pre- 

 viously been known both as Merrimac and Rowley Vil- 

 lage. Groveland is a very pleasant, nay, a beautiful place. 

 Its rolling hills, when resting under the charming, soften- 



