Page:The works of Anne Bradstreet in prose and verse.djvu/44

 XXXVl INTRODUCTION.

arms, and should bring them to the public assemblies. Mr. Daniel Dennison, Mrs. Bradstreet's brother-in-law, was chosen captain for Ipswich.* Mrs. Bradstreet mentions her residing there, but we have no particulars respecting her stay in that town.

On the 4th of March, 1634-5, "It is ordered, that the land aboute Cochichowicke shalbe reserved for an inland plantacon, & that whosoeuer will goe to inhabite there shall haue three yeares iiTiunity from all taxes, levyes, publique charges & services whatsoeuer (millitary dissipline onely excepted)," &c., &c.| This is the first mention that we find of what was afterwards the town of Andover. In September, 1638, Mr. Bradstreet, Mr. Dudley, Junior, Captain Dennison, Mr. Woodbridge, and eight others, " are alowed (vpon their petition) to begin a plantation at Merrimack." X

They do not appear to have left Ipswich immediately, nor do we know the exact 3'ear when they went to Andover. It is certain, however, that these and others had already established themselves at Andover before the year 1644, § in the September of which year two churches were ap- pointed to be gathered, — one at Haverhill, and the other at Andover. ||

Mrs. Bradstreet's son Simon, afterwards minister at New London, Conn., says in his manuscript diary : —

" 1640. I was borne in N. England, at Ipfwitch Septem. 28, being Munday 1640.

t /l>/d., p. 141. X Ibid., p. 237.
 * Mass. Colony Records, Vol i. pp. 190-1.

§ Abbot's History of Andover, 1829, p. 13. II Winthrop's New England, Vol. ii. p. 194.

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