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Tag: Newbury

Gathering Salt Marsh Hay

August 3, 2026August 29, 2026 Gordon Harris2 Comments

Salt marsh hay is still gathered on the North Shore today. The grass was stacked on staddles to raise it above the high tides, and was hauled away on sleds over the frozen marsh in mid-winter.

Posted in Places, Stories, VideoTagged hay, Newbury, Plum Island, salt hay, salt marsh

John Eales, Beehive Maker

January 6, 2026 Gordon Harris1 Comment

The inhabitants of Newbury perceived bee-keeping as a new and profitable industry, but needed someone with experience. John Eales, an elderly pauper who had been sent away to Ipswich, was returned by the Court to Newbury to assist them in their efforts. An old English customs was his assistants "telling the bees" when their keeper died.

Posted in StoriesTagged apiary, bee keeper, bees, honey, mead, Newbury

The Witchcraft Trial of Elizabeth Morse of Newbury, 1680

November 21, 2025 Gordon Harris34 Comments

Elizabeth Morse of Newbury was accused and found guilty of being a witch. She was initially sentenced to be hanged, but after spending a year in the Boston jail, she was sent home

Posted in LegendsTagged 1680, Newbury, witches, women

Lydia Wardwell on her Presentment for Coming Naked into Newbury Meeting House

November 18, 2025 Gordon Harris4 Comments

In 1661, Lydia Perkins of Newbury had become a Quaker, and the church issued demands that she appear and give reasons for her withdrawal. Her angry response was to appear naked in the Meeting House. She was ordered to appear at the Salem court, and was then taken to Ipswich and severely whipped.

Posted in StoriesTagged 1633, Court, Newbury, Quakers, women

William Franklin of Newbury, Hanged for the Death of an Indentured Child in 1644

April 10, 2024November 13, 2025 Gordon HarrisLeave a comment

Nathaniel Sewell, a child taken from England, was with continual rigor and unmerciful correction, exposed in the winter season with diverse acts of hardship.

Posted in StoriesTagged 1644, child, hanging, indentured, Newbury

Old Roads and Bridges of Newbury and Newburyport

January 29, 2023December 1, 2024 Gordon Harris2 Comments

Published by the Newbury 350th anniversary Committee.

Posted in Roads, StoriesTagged Newbury

A romantic tale from the Great Snow of Feb. 21-24, 1717

January 29, 2022December 1, 2024 Gordon HarrisLeave a comment

Snowstorms on the 20th and 24th of February 1717 covered the earth up to 20 ft. deep. In some places houses were completely buried, and paths were dug from house to house under the snow. A widow in Medford burned her furniture to keep the children warm.

Posted in Stories, StormsTagged 1717, Newbury, snow, storm
Ipswich MA historic photos by William Varrel

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Ipswich Massachusetts Revisited by William Varrel

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