History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott and Nahant

Front matter

Class Book

COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT

H-r^ o

Preface

It may properly be remarked that the volume n«nv in the reader's hand, is intended in one sense to be complete in itself; that is, to embody a general view of our history, from the beginning of the settlement to the present time. Yet, so far as its record is in the form of annals, it is supplementary to the 1865 edition of the History of Lynn ; and the reader as he proceeds will find many references to that work. This course was adopted for the purpose of economising in the matter of space, by avoiding repetition, and at the same time apprising the reader where further information upon a given topic might be found. For the same general purpose, also, occasional reference is made to the " Centennial Memorial." And the writer is, on the whole, prepared to claim, with some confidence, that this volume, in connection with that of 1865, embodies a full and reliable history of the place from the first settlement, in 1629 down to 1882, with as few repetitions, reviews, or recapitulations as would be consistent with an intelligent and comprehensive view.

There has been no waste space to be provided for ; and some things have been omitted with hesitancy, where the press of matter upon the writer's attention allowed him only the privilege of choice ; a privilege that he has always exercised in a manner that seemed most desirable for the reader.

There is, in a work of this kind, far more danger of omission than redundancy. And it is almost certain that the reader will

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iv Preface.

think of some topic which it appears to him has not been set forth with desirable fullness. But before concluding that there is an omission, accidental or intentional, it would be well to consider whether the matter is of general interest or of interest only to himself and perhaps a few others, or to any limited or particular class.

While it has not been thought expedient, when speaking of persons, to extenuate in a degree to give false coloring to character, nothing has been set down in malice. The endeavor has been to give an honest and fair account of whoever and whatever has come under notice.

With the reception of his former imperfect works by those whose opinions are of value, the writer has had abundant reason to be pleased ; and all courteous and well-intended suggestions have been gratefully received and duly considered. Whether his escape from criticism is attributable to excellence or insignificance is a question about which he need not trouble himself The unfledged critic, as every writer knows, often fancies that he has demolished an author when he has only amused him. And it is well for both writer and reviewer to bear in mind that no author can be written down by any pen but his own — nor written up, as to that matter.

That the book is entirely free from error, is beyond the bound of expectation, though much care has been taken to have all the statements correct. It would be extreme arrogance to claim for it what perhaps no other printed book ever yet possessed — perfect accuracy. A word is said, on page 253, touching the duties and perplexities of authorship. And on page 251 an account is given of the different editions of the History of Lynn. The present volume corresponds in the size of page and general style with that of 1865, and both are stereotyped.

Contents

I. Introduction : beginning on page 9 :

This Section embraces remarks concerning the Northmen, and their supposed early visits to our coast, together with a brief notice of the Indians found here.

II. Annals: beginning on page 17: