Taken from the History of Essex County , Lawrence

North Andover Library 

A few negroes were held to servitude in Massachusetts, in that dim past, which, when mentioned in story, is spoken of as "once upon a time"; a sturdy farmer's wife, living in that part of Andover now Lawrence, made a journey to Salem on horseback.  Salem was then the market, and once or twice each year, the husband, or wife, or both, went shopping to "the port."  This good lady astonished the family by bringing among other purchases, a fine negro boy-baby that she had bought for a trifle, and brought in her arms all the way, over plains and through woods.  When the young African cried, she set the family nag into an easy canter, and the little waif went off into dreamland, perhaps the only young resident known to have been rocked to sleep by horse-power.  He had not even a name, but the men called him Salem, and the lady's name was Poor, so "Salem Poor" became his name, and Shawsheen fields his habitation.  Like "Topsy" he had no knowledge of his birth or ancestry, but he grew to stalwart manhood.  In the Revolution his master was drafted, or in some way chosen for the army.  He sent Salem as a substitute.  In one of the closely-drawn battles, the British soldiers seemed likely to overthrow the Yankee forces, and the red-coated commander led a charge, waving his sword, and cheering on the men.  Salem, from a shelter, where he was fighting on his own hook, drew a bead upon him and fell a corpse, causing confusion amount his followers!  Salem returned to peaceful life a hero, fell in love with a half-breed Indian woman, was married, and the fruit of the union was one son named Jonah.  This Jonah became insane, and there were no palaces for insane people in those days, so he was a sort of wanderer in the region.  Her persisted in swimming in the Merrimac again and again, and was seen to stop, throw up his hands, and sink, never more to be seen!  Whether swallowed by a great fish, like the older Jonah, or taken with cramp, is not known; but in old English book, published in 1625, we read that "sturgeon in Merrimac river are sometimes eighteen feet long!:  So the former might not be impossible if the old author did not allow distance to lend enchantment to his view, and length of the Merrimac sturgeon.

Old Boise was a full-blooded African, who spent his years of final freedom in South Lawrence.  The bridge over the old ferry-road crossing the Shawsheen was known as "Boise's Bridge."  He would grow wild when recounting the history of his capture by slavers; and, drawing a huge knife, would make furious attacks upon the trees, thus taking revenge upon an imaginary foe.  Caesar Frye, a negro of American birth, also spent his years of jubilee in the same locality. 

    In this connection all old citizens will remember the case of the "Slave Betty," brought here by a Southern family in 1865, and Judge Shaw's decision that she was free to return with her master, or claim her freedom, as she might elect.  Betty chose to return to the South.  The affair caused some excitement at that time.  Gov. Andrew appeared as counsel for Betty, or rather for her abolition friends, who longed to pluck one ebony idol from the hand of the Southerner.   

     The above was transcribed by MET January 16, 2006