Essex-Statewide County MA Archives Biographies.....Emerson, John February 1625 - December 2, 1700
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Fran Chancellor http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00016.html#0003841 February 28, 2014, 9:49 am

Source: Standard History of Essex County, MA, Embracing a History of the county from the first settlements to the present
Author: Fran Chancellor

John Emerson, son of Thomas Emerson and a Harvard graduate, was called to his 
church on Cape Ann in 1661 where he and his wife, Ruth, served for more than 
forty years.  The church ordained Mr Emerson October 6, 1663.  His original 
salary, per annum, was 60 lbs of Indian corn, pense, barley, fish, mackeral, 
and beef or pork.  In 1672, his salary was changed to include 1/8 to be paid in 
money.  And, in 1678, additional changes to his salary included another 1/8 to 
be paid in money and firewood.  It is recorded that "Mr. Emerson's ministry was 
highly successful, his methods in spiritual as well as secular affairs were 
energetic, and the congregation had grown at his death to three times the 
number at his settlement."  It was in 1673 that the town voted to erect a 
parsonage.

The Emersons were one of about 15 families living in the tract known as 
the "neck of houselots."  The mill, meeting house, and tavern were located in 
this vicinity.  In an area called Dogtown, the dwellings were little more than 
shanties.  A feature of the dwelling was a cellar hole, for food storage, dug 
under the floor at one end of the room.  This hole was lined with unmortared 
stone.  It is possible that John and Ruth raised their family in such a 
dwelling.

When women of the town were imprisoned on the ground of being witches and the 
Frech and Indians were creating incidents of trouble for the settlement, Rev 
Emerson, clergyman of the town, wrote in defense of his parishioners that "all 
rational persons will be satisfied that Gloucester was not harmed for a 
fortnight altogether by real French and Indians, but that the devil and his 
angels were the cause of all that befel the town."

John Emerson and Ruth Symonds, daughter of Samuel Symonds, had six (known) 
children.  They were Ruth, born August 26, 1660; Martha, born November 28, 1662 
(she married William Cogswell); Mary, born March 7, 1664; Elizabeth, born 
August 25, 1667; John, born March 14, 1670; and, Dorothy, born July 6, 1675;

The large areas of the forests of Cape Ann that were cleared by early settlers, 
for farm and pasture land, have since been reclaimed by new growth of forests.  
History records that, in 1710, a house known as the White-Ellery house was 
erected for Rev Emerson's successor.  Time marshes on and expansion and 
population growth occur.  Rev. John Emerson planted a solid foundation of 
spiritual insight for his era, our time, and the future of our country.

Additional Comments:
ADDITIONAL SOURCE:  History of the town and city of Gloucester, Cape Ann, MA by 
James Pringle

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