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Traditions of Essex and Her Ship-Building 
BREEZE 
SSEX, with her woodland boundaries provided 
by Ipswich, Manchester and Gloucester, is an- 
other notable North Shore town, which emerged 
from a colonial wilderness settlement to a pros- 
perous and distinguished township. 
Essex was a part of Ipswich and was known as 
Chebacco from 1634 to 1700. Her beautiful and spacious 
Chebaceco lake still bears that historical name. The 
earliest settlers of the town were Englishmen of good 
rank and quality. They owned lands in England which 
lad yielded large yearly revenues. They relinquished 
these for their dearest right and privilege, their re- 
ligion. Then it was that the North Shore’s wilderness 
svas wide enough for all and for the protection of 
personal liberties. 
OSE - — ceentatiieeeiiessieeeniiea iad, — ES ee A 
By Mary Taylor Falt 
ot which they were ably seconded by the men and 
women of Manchester and Gloucester. 
In the spring of 1679, the women of this town, 
without the knowledge of their husbands and with great 
privacy, got aid and began to raise their first meeting- 
house. What a fascinating picture upon which to medi- 
tate! Here come the colonial settlers astride their 
horses on saddles and blankets from the Falls, from the 
North End, from Gloucester and Manchester enroute 
to Wm. Cogswell’s field where lay the sills and timber 
to erect the meeting house. Mrs. Varney was the 
traditional hostess of that day. She housed the volun- 
teer helpers, dined and wined them. History states 
that Essex’ neighbors from Manchester and Gloucester 
with great alacrity and good cheer helped to join timber 
Cut used Courtesy os Geo. K:« Knowlton, Pub. of Post Cards, 
P. O. Box 65, Essex 
TOWN HALL, ESSEX.—BASE BALL GAME, MAY 13, 1911. 
Essex became identified very early with maritime 
pursuits. Ship-building and Essex.are synonymous. As 
early as 1656, the first saw mill was erected on Hssex 
river. In 1693, John Burnham, Jr., was chronicled as 
building at the ‘“‘launching place,’’ one of many, which 
proves that the building of vessels was a very early 
colonial industry. The town had her first shipyard in 
1668. An acre of ground was granted for a ship-yard by 
the town, conclusive evidence that this industry had 
got at that time a strong foot-hold. Tradition tells 
us that the first Essex (Chebacco) boat was built by 
a Burnham, in the garret of an ancient house, which 
stood ‘‘near the old and new road to Manchester,’’ and 
that the garret window had to be cut away before they 
could launch her. 
An interesting tradition of the women of colonial 
Essex is indicative of their decisive and assertive char- 
acters, suffragettes a bit in embryo, in the development 
to timber and fasten joint to joint. There was no stop 
until the labor of love was done. 
This labor of religious love resulted adversely. 
The Major General of Ipswich sent his constable to 
Essex to bring the wives of Wm. Goodhue, Thomas Var- 
ney and Abraham Martin to him for trial at the Ipswich 
court for their contempt of authority in helping to raise 
a meeting house at Chebacco. They were tried in Ips- 
wich, found guilty and bound over to the next court in 
Salem. May 28, 1679, they were tried but the General 
Court dismissed them after they expressed their sorrow 
for offending and prayed for forgiveness. 
The first pastor of the church was Rev. Mr. Wise, a 
tall, stout, majestic man of great muscular strength. 
In April, 1680, the meeting house was dedicated. Much 
Testivity and colonial hospitality resulted in Essex on 
that red letter day. 
The forefathers of Essex were intelligent and edu- 
