Elisha Perkins was a physician, whose residence was in Plainfield, Conn. He was widely known, having a very extensive practice in the surrounding country.

He was well fitted by nature for his work by a strong and vigorous constitution, which enabled him to endure great fatigue. It is said that he was often obliged to ride horseback sixty miles a day to see his patients. He used no spirituous liquors or stimulants, though they were then in common use at that time; three or four hours' sleep daily sufficed him.

He was a man of the kindest and most sympathizing nature, always ready with a helping hand and a kindly word; taking the sick into his own home and family, and, when restored to health by his skill and kindness, they were loud in his praises.

Dr. Perkins became more widely known by his invention of the "metallic tractors," which he used in the treatment of various painful diseases, as neuralgia, rheumatism, etc.

These tractors were two pieces of metal, about three inches in length and of dissimilar kinds, each being pointed at one end. In use they were drawn over the painful part, from above downwards, for about twenty minutes at a time.

This method of cure was recommended by physicians of three institutions in the United States. In Copenhagen, twelve physicians in the Royal Frederick Hospital used and recommended them. In London, the tractors were introduced by a son of Dr. Perkins, and a hospital was opened in that city, under the presidency of Lord Rivers for the benefit of the poor. An almost incredible number of cures were recorded; eight professors, forty physicians and surgeons and thirty clergymen testifying to their efficacy.

Dr. Perkins also brought forward an antiseptic remedy which he used with success in the treatment of ulcerated sore throat (diphtheria?) and typhoid dysentery. Anxious to try the efficacy of this new remedy in yellow fever which was prevailing in New York at that time, he visited that city, and after four weeks of unremitting toil he died of the disease in Sept., 1799.

After the decease of Dr. Perkins the tractors fell into disuse and were ridiculed. It should be stated that he had been expelled from the Connecticut Medical Society in 1797, for advocating the use of his tractors. His antiseptic was not heard of again at that time; but the world moves on. Dr. Elisha Perkins was seventy-five years in advance of his age, and we cannot fail to see in his tractors the germ of the use of electricity, so extensively employed in our day for the cure and alleviation of disease; and in his antiseptic, the dawn of one of the most important improvements of modern medicine; particularly in surgery.

Let us give honor to whom honor is due, even if it be but a tardy post-mortem honor.

Invented the first machine to make complete nails in 1790. He was sent to the district school at the usual age, and continued to receive instruction there until he was twelve. His father being poor, he was then apprenticed to a goldsmith in Newburyport named Davis, having indicated a fondness for the mechanic arts, which probably germinated by hearing a watch tick, and in the execution of a purpose to know why and how it ticked. The business of the goldsmith was the making of gold beads, which were then commonly worn by girls and women. Mr. Davis died three years later, and Mr. Perkins, then only fifteen, continued the business, adding the manufacture of the then popular shoe-buckles. He discovered a new mwthod of plating shoe-buckles and was by the new process enabled to undersell all competitors. When twenty-one, he was employed by the master of the Massachusetts mint to make a suitable die for striking copper coins, and the result of his genius was the die which formed the old cent bearing the engraving of the eagle and the Indian.

At the age of twenty-four, in 1790, he invented machines for cutting and heading nails--machines which, with subsequent improvements, increased the daily product of one man's labor from one thousand nails to one thousand pounds. It is said that he produced this machine at Byfield, where he made the first cut nails in America, in the barn of Leonard Adams.

At the age of 77 was tried and convicted for witchcraft 28 Jul 1692, but not hanged. She was defended by Major Robert Pike, grandfather of Henry True).

1) Rev. James Allin testified to the character of Mary Bradbury. "Robert Pike also affirmed to the truth of Mr. Allin's statement, from 'upwards of fifty years' experience,' as did John Pike also: they both declared themselves ready and desirous to give their testimony before the Court." (Charles W. Upham, Salem Witchcraft, 1867)

2) Samuel Endicott (aged 31 years) testified against Mary about the spoiled butter incident at sea that had happened 11 years before. Sorry, I don't know what happened to him after the trial.

3) "Mary Bradbury was sentenced to hang too, but friends helped her to escape... Rumors circulated, however, that because Thomas Bradbury had friends in positions of authority, there had been little real effort to capture his fugitive wife." (Carol F. Karlsen, The Devil in the Shape of a Woman, 1987)

"By the middle of July, there are clear indications that an effective underground had been organized to help suspects with sufficient political and economic resources... Likewise, Captain Bradbury managed to rescue his wife, Mary, only days before her scheduled execution on September 22. By early October, at least twelve suspects were in flight from the law, and, like Mary Bradbury, most had tried to defend themselves by conventional means before engaging in more extreme forms of resistance. (Richard Weisman, Witchcraftt, Magic, and Religion in 17th-Century Massachusetts, 1984)

"Mary Bradbury was allowed to escape." (Enders A. Robinson, Salem Witchcraft and Hawthorne's House of the Seven Gables, 1992)

She had a graduate's education and studied for the stage.

Desc. of Geo. Spear: The author has given the mother of Mary Heath as Mary Perry instead of Mary Cramphorne as given by Walter Gooding Davis in his treatment of the Heath family of Roxbury, MA in "The Ancestry of Annis Spear of Litchfield, Maine, 1945."

A second and conflicting view is shared by this author as it appeared in the Jan., 1978 issue of The New England Historical Genealogical Register entitled "The Emigrants from Hertfordshire 1630-1640: Some Corrections and Additions by Peter Walne." The author has corresponded with Mr. Walne who is the County Archivist at Hertfordshire, England.

The author questioned the date given in Mr. Walne's article for the burial of Mary, wife of William Heath because it conflicted with William Heath's second marriage to Mary Perry. Mr. Walne's reply, quote "I am sorry that the reference to the burial at Great Amwell of Mary, wife of William Heath of Ware End is wrongly dated, an error which I discovered too late to correct before my article was printed in 1978. The correct date, checked in the register, which is beside me as I write, is 24 November, 1621. This revised date makes my account of William Heath's marriages and children clear. I think and I hope that, the corrections made, you will accept my findings and incorporate them in your account. My apologies for the confusion I caused.

You query two spellings - Nazeing is the usual spelling and Cramphorne is the correct spelling of that name, Crampthorne is quite wrong."

Rena Mortensen and children emigrated from Oslo Oct. 9, 1885.

Abby Noyes, age 64y, was enumerated in Falmouth in 1850 with her children. She was still there in 1860, age 74y.

He was a blacksmith. Owned the covenant about 1752, and was taxed in Portland, First Parish, 1766-1777. Lived on Fore street; his house was destroyed by the British, under Mowatt, in the bombardment, and the family fled to New Casco, where they continued to reside. He sold his rights in the estate of his father, Benjamin P., dec., late of Newbury, Oct. 20, 1787. Abigail Pettingell, widow, sold land in Newbury (on Merrimac street) July 6, 1797.

He was a pupil in Theophilus Parsons' school in 1771. Was the owner of land in Portland in 1798. Benjamin Pettingell of New Casco, Me., was in Wm. McCobb's co., Col. Jonathan Mitchell's regt., on the Penobscot expedition, enlisted July 8, discharged Nov. 26, 1779. A Benjamin Pettingell was in Capt. Joseph Seavey's co., Col. Benj. Foster's regt., on the Machias alarm Aug. 20, 1777.

Benjamin Pettingell, Jr., of Falmouth, bought land in Falmouth of Phinehas Bennett Sept. 24, 1790.

He was a shareholder in Boscawen, N. H., and on the committee to lay out the lands. His trade was that of a feltmaker. He sold his interest in Rolfe's lane, from the green to Merrimac river, to the town of Newbury Dec. 24, 1735. Bought land of Richard Brown May 3, 1717. He signed a petition of certain inhabitants May 24, 1770, for liberty to attend religious service where they desired and pay where they attended.

A letter of his is extant, which is here presented:

Newbury ye 3d, 1774.
Son & Daughter, I remember my love to you and your children and hope that these few lines will find you all in good health. Through the goodness of God I am able to go abroad. Blessed be God for it. Sara and David remember their love to brother & sister & children. Daniel I am obliged to you and your wife for sending so many good things to me. Daniel I think you have not me forgotten. Sara has sent three forks, two for you and one for Benjamin. I have put aboard Timothy Noyes a bushel of rye and flax & Sara has sent a little oat meal. So no more at present but I remain your loving father Benjamin Pettingell. Daniel money dont make marridg but virtue and good carridg.

He was a cooper and a mariner. Dec. 18, 1782, he bought land of his brothers and sisters adjoining that of his mother. He was a soldier in Rogers' co., Gerrish's regt., April 19, 1775 (the Lexington alarm), and served seven days; in Rogers' co., Baldwin's regt. (14th), on pay abstract August, 1775; in Badlam's co., same regt., December, 1775; on roll dated April 19, 1776, at New York; at Trenton, Dec. 31, 1776, he agreed to serve six months more. After his death Edmund Smith was appointed administrator, Dec. 2, 1837; testimony to his having been a soldier and pensioner was given, that his children might receive arrears of pension.

Private in train band. French and Indian War, 1757. Was in Col. John GREENLEAF'S Co. of Militia, 8th June, 1757.

Revolutionary War soldier.

He was admitted to full communion Dec. 3, 1727. He was a hatter and feltmaker; was listed in the command of Sergt. James Jackman July 15, 1707. He sold land in Newbury Feb. 1, 1768; signed a petition for liberty to form the church now known as the "Old South" in 1745. He bought land on Muzzy's lane Sept. 18, 1714.

Took the Oath of Allegiance in 1678, aged 30. Having lost the sight of one of his eyes, he was released from ordinary training in 1682, paying 5s. a year for the use of the company. He died intestate and on August 2, 1714, the court granted administration to his widow Sarah. No inventory ws filed, but the document showing division of the estate survives. The widow received £126, Nathaniel Pettingill, the eldest son, £50:12:0, and each of Matthew, Hannah, Nicholas, Cutting, Sarah, Mary, John, and Abigail Pettingill £25:6:0. [Essex Probate, 311:191]

Matthew is said to have lived on the old road from Newbury to Boston, just beyond the 37th milestone; his grandson Nicholas lived there awhile, then removed to the house on the high road with brick ends, near the head of Ocean avenue. Matthew's house was torn down in 1830 and the little white house built near it. Matthew Pettingell, Sen., took the oath of allegiance in 1678, "aged 30." He bought land of Joseph Woodbridge Jan. 11, 1699; sold land to Ezra Rolfe Oct. 1, 1707; to Samuel Homans same date; bought land of James March Nov. 3, 1708; bought marsh land on Little River of Robert Hale Oct. 26, 1710; bought from the heirs of John Wolcott 22 acres at the upper common June 10, 1691. He was a feltmaker.

Oct. 24, 1714, he willed to his wife; to eldest son Nathaniel and other children, Matthew, Hannah, Nicholas, Cutting, Sarah, Mary, John and Abigail. In the papers relating to the division it appears that Joanna was the wife of Joseph Mussey and that the other daughters were still single; that Major James Noyes was guardian for Abigail. [Pettingell Gen.]

Matthew's name is attached to a petition relating to a division of the Salisbury church, Jan. 31, 1743. He bought land in Hampton, N. H., June 20, 1738. He and his wife were admitted to the Salisbury church July 28, 1723. They sold land in Newbury, on Muzzy lane, to Thomas Clark April 27, 1721. Bought land in Salisbury of Wm. Daniels, 11 acres, Jan. 10, 1721-2. Residing at Salisbury he bought other lands there on the highway to Sargent's ferry, Sept. 26, 1729.

He willed his property to his sons Abraham, Benjamin and Samuel; his daughters Judith and Esther; to the children of his daughter Joanna Worcester and daughter Mary; and to his wife, Joanna; proved Dec. 6, 1756. Caleb Cushing was a witness to the document.

Settled at Salem, Massachusetts, before 1641, admitted freeman June 2, 1641. He had a grant of 10 acres at Enon (now Wenham), Massachusetts in 1642 and was a witness to the will of Samuel Smith of Enon in December of that year. He soon married Joanna Ingersoll, daughter of Richard Ingersoll of Salem who names him as one of his sons-in-law in his will of 1644. He was still a member of Salem church when on July 7, 1644, he and his brother-in-law John Ingersoll were appointed "to walke forth in the time of Gods worshippe to take notice of such as either lye at home or in the fields without giving good account thereof" and report them to the magistrates. This duty fell to them on every seventh Sunday from the date of the order. He was constable of Wenham in 1648, and in that year he was a witness against George Norton for "scandalizing" the church. After Wenham had a church Pettingill was received by letter from that of Salem on August 4, 1649.

In 1651, having sold his Wenham house and land to Samuel Foster, Pettingill moved to Newbury where he obtained various grants of land. He was chosen by Newbury as a trial juryman in 1654 and 1671 and grand juryman in 1658, 1665 and 1672. He took the Oath of Allegiance in 1678. In 1654 he, regrettably, acknowledged that he was sorry that he had signed the petition to the General Court in favor of Lieut. Robert Pike. His first judgement was the better.

In 1669 Pettingill, aged about 45, deposed in the case of Ingerson v. Barney that John Knight came home to Newbury and told his wife (Joanna Pettingill's mother) that he had sold to Mr. Pain some timber on the lot at Frost Fish river. She was much troubled and asked him why he had sold her timber, whereupon Knight said that she should have 20s. for it and acknowledged that he had no right in the land. [Records and Files, IV:111].

During the PArker-Woodman controversy which rocked Newbury in 1671 Nicholas Noyes said that he had heard Richard Pettingill say that he had had dismission from the Salem to the Newbury church. It was decided that, although Richard was listed as a member of the Newbury church, he was not so. "richard petinggill never desmision from Salem." The Wenham church was ignored. [Records and Files, IV:357, 360-362].

A most interesting deposition is that of October 14, 1673. Pettingill, aged about 52, said "I being very well acquainted with Giles Fuller of Hampton, deceased, & with Mrs. Fuller of Bastable [Barnstable], doctor, both in old England & here in new england & both told mee they were of Kinn : & ye sd Giles Fuller have told me in old England & new that Marth. Fuller Doctor now of Barnstable was ye nearest kinsman he had." [Records and Files, V:244]. Dr. Matthew Fuller was a son of Edward Fuller who was a Mayflower passenger, and followed his father to Plymouth. The Fullers were from Redenhall, co. Norfolk. [Register, 55:102].

In King Philip's War Richard supplied for the troops cheese at 19s., a pair of bandoleers 3s., bullets 6d., a pound of powder and a worm 2s., a horse for 20 weeks 30s., a knapsack 2s. 6d., a saddle and bridle 22s. He asked 5s. for curing a horse. [Records and Files, VI:448, 449, 454].

Richard Pettingill did not make a will but divided his houses and lands between his three "loving and dutiful" sons by deeds. On July 15, 1695, he granted to his son Matthew the two acres on which Matthew then dwelt, several other small acreages, and a one-third interest in the third of the farm of 70 acres in Salem which his father-in-law Richard Ingersoll had conditionally willed to him. Two days later, on July 17, he granted to his son Samuel the upland where Samuel then dwelt and similar small lots, but the one third of one third of the Ingersoll farm was to go to the grantor's grandson, Samuel's son Samuel. On the same day his own homestead of five acres and other small lots went to his youngest son Nathaniel together with a third of a third of the Ingersoll farm in Salem. [Essex Deeds, 10:184; 13:33; 14:282].

Savage, Vol. 3, p.403: Came from Staffordsh. tradit. says, was first at Salem.

He went to sea when ten years of age; was wrecked in the schooner Minerva at the Bay of Chaleur, off Prince Edward Island, in 1841, all the others of the crew being lost; he was saved by clinging to the bottom of a boat, and was picked up after drifting several miles. He made twenty-seven voyages to West India ports; afterwards he sailed to European ports till 1849, when he went to California as mate in the brig Forest, Captain Varina. When off Cape Horn he was washed overboard with six others, three of the number being drowned. After a year in California he returned and built the schooner General Cushing, investing every dollar of his property in her; she was lost with no insurance.

He went to Australia in 1853; engaged in various enterprises with good success; upon his return to Newburyport he took command of the ship George Griswold, and went to Ireland in 1861 with a cargo of provisions for the Lancashire sufferers [?]. On his return he was captured by the Confederate cruiser Georgia off Rio Janeiro, and was freed by giving a large bond. In 1867 he built the ship Panama, and engaged in Asiatic trade three years. In 1870 he retired with an ample fortune; invested largely in real estate. Since 1862 he has been a member of the Newburyport Marine Society. He spelled the name "Pettingell."