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Essex, Mass. - Chronology |
The events listed below are selected for their usefulness to those doing genealogical research of Essex families. Until the town incorporated in 1819, the governing bodies for Chebacco Parish were the Ipswich selectmen and the Parish Commitee. Essex did not record births, marriages, or deaths before 1844. Those records are found in the various ministerial and church archives of the period. For those reasons, local church history is included with this chronology of town history.
Associated with this chronology is one for Weather phenomona and epidemics, and another for roads and buildings
YEAR EVENT 1633 Agawam (Ipswich) settled 1634 Church gathered and organized in Ipswich (Rev. Nathaniel Ward, minister)
Parish organization set up to govern Ipswich settlement
William White and Goodman Bradstreet first two settlers granted land in Chebacco1679 Rev. Jeremiah Shepard called to preach in Chebacco, in private homes 1680 John Wise engaged to preach in Chebacco
One acre of ground granted to Chebacco Parish for a burial place1682 Chebacco people officially released from membership in the First Church in Ipswich 1683 Organization and gathering of Chebacco Church - officially known as the Second Church in Ipswich
John Wise ordained as the first minister of Chebacco Church
Organization of Chebacco Parish as the governing body for the settlement - officially the Second Parish in Ipswich
First "training day" for citizen soldiers in Chebacco1700 Chebacco (population about 300) consisted of a church, a school, a military company, five sawmills, one shipyard, three bridges, two causeways. Farming, fishing, and boat building the major occupations. 1712 Burying ground fenced in by a stone wall 1725 Death of Rev. John Wise
Rev. Theophilus Pickering became second minister of Chebacco Church1746 Dissention in Chebacco Church and Parish, causing a rift among the people; formation of the Separated Church ('Separatist Society") which became officially the Fourth Church in Ipswich
Ebenezer Cleaveland, brother of John Cleaveland, minister in Separated Church first six months1747 Rev. John Cleaveland ordained as minister of the Separated Church 1749 Death of Rev. Theophilus Pickering 1750 Nehemiah Porter ordained as minister of the original Chebacco Church (January) 1752 "Separatists" gained official release from Chebacco Parish and were granted a separate precinct - officially the Sixth Parish in Ipswich 1766 Nehemiah Porter resigned
Proceedings started for reuniting 2nd and 4th Churches (Chebacco Church and Separated Church)1768 Informal agreement by both churches to worship together temporarily, one half a year in each meeting house with Rev. John Cleaveland assuming the ministry for both churches (1766-1775) 1770 Chebacco inhabitants voted to abstain from buying tea unless the Revenue Act was repealed. 1774 Official vote by both the Second Church and the Fourth Church favoring uniting as The Second Church in Ipswich 1775 Sixth Parish reunited with the Second Parish; the union named The Second Parish in Ipswich
1775 Revolutionary War (1775 - 1781)
Declaration of Independence1783 Peace treaty with England - Revolutionary Army disbanded 1787 Population in Chebacco 1,200 1799 Death of Rev. John Cleaveland after 55 years as pastor
Josiah Webster chosen as minister1806 Light Infantry company formed 1807 Rev. Josiah Webster resigned 1808 A Baptist minister formed "The Christain Society" in southern section of Chebacco 1809 Thomas Holt, minister at Second Church in Ipswich
The Christian Baptist society erected a meeting house on site of present United Methodist Church1812 War of 1812 1813 Rev. Mr. Holt resigned as minister at Second Church in Ipswich 1814 Robert Crowell, minister at Second Church in Ipswich 1818 Grave robberies at the Burying Ground (8 bodies removed) 1819 Chebacco Parish, separated from the Town of Ipswich by the Massachusetts Legislature; incorporated as the Town of Essex
The Second Church in Ipswich (Chebacco church) renamed The First Congregational Church in Essex.1827 The Christain Society disbands 1829 The Universalist Society formed in Essex 1834 Support of churches by general (public) taxation abolished by state law 1837 Light Infantry Company and Militia Company disbanded 1844 Massachusetts Legislature passed a law requiring the clerk of each town to register births, marriages, and deaths 1848 Christain Baptist society formed 1852 Spring street Cemetery established 1874 Founding of the First Methodist Episcopal Church 1893 Construction of Essex Town Hall; transfer of all Town offices and all town meetings from the congregational church to the new building 1910 Electricity installed in some buildings in Essex
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