7 
: 
. 
x 
, 
. 
: 
| 
Aug. 4, 1916, 
NORTH SHORE BREEZE and Reminder 9 
The Hale Farm at Beverly 
Much of Early History of Norh Shore 
Centers About This Historic Spot 
LILLIAN McCANN 
ALE FARM lies fair and serene in Beverlv. The 
busy and pleasure loving motorists who pass its gate 
each hour during the summer season may not all be in- 
terested in the historic past for which the place stands. 
The old house was built in 1694 by the Rev. John 
Hale, who was the grandfather of Col. Robert Hate ot 
Severly. It was the parsonage of the First Parish 
Chureh (Unitarian), which was gathered in 1656 and in- 
corporated in 1667. The present church was built in 1770, 
and has a bell cast by Paul Revere. 
The poem, “Mistress Hale of Beverly,’ by Lacy 
Larcom, fittingly tells the tale of the part played by that 
genuinely appreciated woman, and of how the accusation 
her, who was the wife of the minister of the First 
Church in Beverly, broke the spell of delusion which had 
rested over the town in the “witchcraft year.” Mr. Hale 
was active in all of the proceedings of this year. ‘The 
poen tells of his good wife watching for his return from 
Salem-Side, and expostulating with him about the witch- 
craft delusions. 
“God grant his dismal day be short! Except help soon 
arrive, 
To ruin these deluded ones will our fair country drive 
If I tomorrow were accused, what further could I plead 
Than those who died, whom neither judge nor minister 
would heed? 
“IT pray thee, husband, enter not their councils any more! 
My heart aches with forebodings! Do not leave me ! 
implore ! 
Yet if to turn this curse aside my life might but avail, 
In Christ’s name would I yield it up,” said gentle Mistress 
Hale. 
The minister promised her that he would go only one 
more time to the court-room at Salem-Side. W hile there 
he heard his own wife accused of witchcraft. 
But, while the accuser writhed in wild contortions on the 
floor, 
One rose and said, “Let all withdraw! the court is closed!” 
no more: 
For well the land knew Mistress 
and worth; 
Her virtues bloomed like 
paths of earth. 
Hale’s loveliness 
rare 
flowers of heaven along the 
THE OLD HOMESTEAD ON THE “Hale FARM” 
The present Home of Robert Hale Bancroft and family on Hale Street, Beverly. 
The minister of Beverly rode home fast and _ told 
his wife to shut herself into her room “the latch-string 
keep drawn in from all save me!” He guarded her well 
until a message came across the ferry saying that the 
judges had let all the accused ones go free. 
In Salem Village there with witchcraft trials 
passed 
The nightmare-terror from the vexed New England air at 
last. 
was peace; 
Agam in natural tones men dared to laugh aloud and 
Speak * 
Naugus Head the 
Jeffrey's Creek; 
The phanton-soldiery withdrew, 
shore; 
teamster’s voice through Wenham Woods broke into 
psalms once more. 
The minister of Beverly thereafter sorely grieved 
That he had inquisition held with counsellors deceived. 
From fisher’s shout rang back to 
that haunted Glouceste 
The 
*k *k * xk xk xk * * 
Lirrors are almost trespasses; rarely indeed we know 
How our mistakes hurt other hearts, until some random 
blow 
Has well-nigh broken our own. 
k *k k * k *k xk 
The minister's long fields are still with dews of summer 
Wwe ie 
The roof that sheltered Mistress Hale tradition points to 
vet. 
Green be her memory ever kept all oz r Cape-Ann-Side. 
Where unobstrusive excellence awed As p delusion’s tide! 
The Rev. John Hale served his church many years. 
His grave-stone bears the following inscription. “Here 
lies the body of the Reverend Mr. John Hale, a pious 
and faithful minister of the gospel, and pastor of the first 
church of Christ in this town of Beverly, who rested from 
his labors on the 15th day of May, anno domini 1700, in 
the 64th year of his age.” The illustrious Col. Hale of 
~-verly owned and occupied the parsonage that had be- 
longed to both his father and grandfather, and which is 
now, after the passing of nine generations, still in the 
possession of family descendants, 
