The Spanish Gold Mystery

This article is transcribed from Boston Globe article written by Willard Francis De Lue (1890-1989) historical writer and editor. Photo with story published December 1951

Salisbury Point----Most of the oldest of this prettiest of Merrimac river villages probably will have forgotten the stories they heard in childhood about the mystery of Spanish Gold. 
But some will remember Ezekiel True*--a great place for Trues in Salisbury town; and if Mr True were around today he could tell them about the Spanish Gold--and also tell them with a twinkle in his eye of how there came to be quite a flurry over it, back 50 years ago. 
Of course, Salisbury Point and neighboring Amesbury Ferry village where different sort of places in the days when the Spanish Gold was buried here. 
How far back that was I don't know; antiquarians would have to tell us that. But it was in the times when there still was a lot of shipping in the Merrimac and when two quiet villages of today were humming with industry. 

From Infant Boat Industry grew along the Merrimack

...Back in the 1800's the Ferry district had more children in its schools and paid more taxes than any other village in Amesbury. 
And about the same time Salisbury Point (annexed to Amesbury in 1836) was the thriving business center of historic old Salisbury town. 
There were shipyards and fish wharves and docks and boat building shops all along the river front. In 1810 42 vessels were built here and in others parts of Amesbury town; and though the building of large vessels fell after the Civil War, in the 1880's there were still seven boat builders at Salisbury Point who between them turned out annually around 2500 dories for the Grand Banks fishing fleets. 
Both the Ferry Village and Salisbury Point have boat shops and yards to this day. But the glorious old times are now only memories-things put down in books.
And though the Ferry does have its hat factory the two villages are mostly just nice residential places that have only taken on a serene contented look.  
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An old ironside drawbridge with its gates still hanging hopefully, though it is tight sealed by the unbroken topping on the road leads out from the Ferry village over the tide-swirled river mouth. 
At its easterly end the Point greets the traveler with both piety and patriotism---a white church giving its benediction from one side of the road and a historical monument bringing stirring memories in a little park on the other.
"Alliance Park" runs the inscription on a tablet set in a grassy place in the parks birchen grove. 

Alliance Park see more photos at Amesbury Dedicates Park To Hackett Shipyard July 22 1930

"Near this site in 1771-1778 one of the first frigates of the Confidential Congress, the Alliance was built by William and John Hackett." And it goes on to tell how the park was given to a memorial association by Augustus  N Parry and William E Biddle some 20 years ago. Biddle still lives in a big stuccoed house nearby. 

.....the Hacketts--skillful and conscientious workmen--and William especially was known as one of the smartest ship wrights along the New England coast. So here they fashioned the Alliance and saw it slide into the Merrimac--to become part of John Paul Jones' fleet in European waters, where it took several engagements and was for a time under Jones' command.  

In 1780 the famous Captain John Barry took command of her in Boston harbor, ad she was his ship until it practically sold from under his feet by a frugal Congress in 1785. Image of Captain John Barry An 1801 Gilbert Stuart portrait
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I rang the bell of a house just near the Alliance marker. 
"I am looking for some long time resident of the Point," I explained to the lady who answered.  "Someone who might know where the Blaisdells lived fifty years ago." 
"Now let me think," said she, after she had taken time to get fresh pies out of the oven. "I wonder if Mrs Merrow wouldn't know."
But, it so happened that Mrs Merrow did not. Mrs Merrow--Mrs Daniel B Merrow SR-- did not. And she was puzzled and provoked about it (and about not knowing of the Spanish Gold) because she was born at the Point ad freely confessed to remembering back a few years. Her house is one of the long arc of the white village homes that look out onto the river....
"I will find out about this Blaidell house," said Mrs Merrow. Ad find out, she did, with a little telephoning.  
It was down at the far ed of the Village; so I continued on, interested to look at it. The Blaisdell house was the house with the Spanish Gold. 
The story had its beginning sometime back in the days when shipping lay off in the stream ad seafarers roamed the village streets. Perhaps some local historian can supply all the details of it; for all I know is that a stranger once turned up at Mrs. Adam Wadleigh's sailors boarding house and some how departed again. 
But in after a few years the word got around that the mysterious stranger had hidden a bag of Spanish doubloons in Mrs Wadliegh's cellar.  A lot of digging was done for it but the gold was never uncovered. 
Eventually the house became the property of Captain Joathan Blaisdell, a Civil War veteran of the town. In 1901 it was occupied by his daughter Lavinia. 
Now comes Ezekiel True, called in by Miss Lavinia to make some repairs. And True remembering the gold story, saw a chace to have some fun. 
"See you're working down at Lavinia's," said a friend. 
True said he was, but was a bit more mysterious about it. 
"Just doing a little job there...diggin' around some..."
Later he dropped a few hints about the Spanish gold. 
So the story flew through town, "Lavinia Blasdell's having Zek True digging for gold in her cellar." 
There was so much fuss that it eve made the newspapers. 
Where the road forks to the east ed of town a couple of old square houses stand on the left of it, with a two story boat shop between them.
Lets see now! One of these was the former Wadleigh-Blaisdell House, But which? The gray house beyond the big red middle chimney?
Mrs Merrow had said, "the one before the boat shop. That would be No 4. 
But I'll let the Point people settle that matter to their own satisfaction. And then if the present owner of the treasure ever decides to have a gold-digging party, I'd appreciate an invitation to take a hand in it!

"Ames Wharf on Merrimac River - Salisbury Point". From ebay sale

Plank Road Salisbury, Massachusetts Built in 1866 to cross salt marshes leading to beach. Beach Road was laid over the early planks as remnants have been found during road work. A local legend maintains that a ship that was supposed to go to Newburyport pulled in to Salisbury and hid gold under the plank road. see Essex County Landscape Report

Merrimac Hat Company were Lavania Blaisdell worked.

Public Documents of Massachusetts, Volume 3

Hackett House o the Point from Legendary Locals of Amesbury book published by Margie Walker

*Ezekiel True (1840-1931) son of Samuel True and Mary Adams. He married Mary Currier (1840-1919)

Amesbury Daily News April 13 1931

Willard Francis deLue scrapbook, 1946-1967

Philip Call and Elizabeth Colby and their descendants

A Great Big Thanks to Cynthia Zanne,  Colby descendant who furnished this information Below is the Genealogy, Vital Records, and Various Research Sources Cited and Photo. We met at the Macy Colby House in Amesbury, Massachusetts.



First Generation

1. Philip CALL was born on 17 Jan 1659 in Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts. He died in Jan 1690 at Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire. Cause of death was.
A most revealing deed was executed in Essex County on the 4th of July 1730 (Essex Deeds, 58:141-2): "We John Pressey & Elizabeth Pressey his wife, Philip Challis and Dorothy Challis his wife and Elisha Weed, all of Almsbury... for the sum of 16 pounds... paid by Philip Call of Almsbury, our Brother... quit claim unto him... all our right, title... to a lot of land... called ye Peak... which sd lot do appertain originally to ye Right of our honored Grandfather John Colby late of Almbury aforesd... being Eight Lot in number...."
Elisha Weed, born 15 September 1689, and Elizabeth (Weed) Pressey, born 25 July 1692, were the children of Ephraim Weed and his first wife, Elizabeth Colby, of Amesbury. Elizabeth (Colby) Weed presumably died prior to Ephraim's marriage, 19 July 1704, to widow Hannah (Annis) Worthen. Philip Challis, husband of Dorothy Weed, was also her first cousin, son of Mary Colby and Thomas Challis. The relationship between Elisha, Elizabeth, and Dorothy Weed and their "brother" Philip Call is resolved by two matters heard by the Ipswich Quarterly Court in 1686. The first was among a list of presentments dated 31 March 1686: "Philip Caul, late of Ipswich, and Elizabeth Coalbee of Aimsbury, for fornication. Witness: Ebenezer Blazdell and wife" (EQCR, 9:611). The second, dated 9 April 1686, was a warrant to "Elizabeth Coalbee, for fornication with Phillip Caul of Ipswich, and to witness, Ebenezer Blazdel and wife, signed by John Appleton cleric, and served by William Allen, deputy for Robert Lord, marshal, who returned that was was said that Elizabeth Colby had gone out of the Colony" (ibid., 9:600). Ebenezer Blaisdell's wife, of course, was Sarah Colby, Elizabeth's older sister.
This evidence suggests, if not proves, that Hoyt's Philip Call, husband of Sarah Trussell, was actually Philip Call, born, apparently out of wedlock, to Elizabeth Colby and Philip Call about 1686. Philip was, therefore, the older half-brother of Elisha, Elizabeth and Dorothy Weed, and a grandson of John Colby and Philip Call. (SOURCE: NEHGS, The Essex Genealogist, vol. 14, pg. 173.)
Elizabeth COLBY (daughter of John COLBY and Frances HOYT) was born in 1660 in Salisbury, Essex County, Massachusetts. She died before 19 Jul 1704 at Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts. Cause of death was. SOURCES: (1) "The Old Families of Salisbury and Amesbury Massachusetts" by David W. Hoyt; (2) "The Colby Family in Early America" by Frederick Lewis Weis, Caledonia, The Colonial Press, pub 1970. Philip CALL and Elizabeth COLBY had the following children: Philip CALL, born about 1686, Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts; married Sarah TRUSSELL, on 20 Jan 1706/7, Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts.

Second Generation

Philip CALL (Philip-1) was born about 1686 in Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts.  (Out of wedlock.)

Philip CALL and Sarah TRUSSELL were married on 20 Jan 1706/7 in Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts.  (SOURCE: Early Vital Records of Essex County, Massachusetts to 1850 for Amesbury.)  Sarah TRUSSELL was born about 1690.  Philip CALL and Sarah TRUSSELL had the following children:

            +3                      i.    Philip CALL, born on 26 May 1707, Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts; married Dorothy HADLEY, on 17 Jul 1729, Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts.

              4                     ii.    Obadiah CALL was born on 16 Nov 1709 in Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts.  (SOURCE: Early Vital Records of Essex County, Massachusetts to 1850 for Amesbury.)

              5                    iii.    Mary CALL was born on 5 Jun 1712 in Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts.  (SOURCE: Early Vital Records of Essex County, Massachusetts to 1850 for Amesbury.)

              6                    iv.    Sarah CALL was born on 8 Mar 1715/16 in Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts.  (SOURCE: Early Vital Records of Essex County, Massachusetts to 1850 for Amesbury.)

              7                     v.    John CALL was born on 20 Feb 1717/18 in Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts.  (SOURCE: Early Vital Records of Essex County, Massachusetts to 1850 for Amesbury.)

              8                    vi.    Martha CALL was born on 7 Feb 1720 in Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts.  (SOURCE: Early Vital Records of Essex County, Massachusetts to 1850 for Amesbury.)

              9                   vii.    Moses CALL was born on 9 Jan 1725/26 in Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts.  (SOURCE: Early Vital Records of Essex County, Massachusetts to 1850 for Amesbury.)

            10                  viii.    Stephen CALL was born on 29 Nov 1728 in Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts.  (SOURCE: Early Vital Records of Essex County, Massachusetts to 1850 for Amesbury.)

Silas Call is Moses Call's son. This is a his powder horn along with his French Musket and accessories. Lieutenant Moses Call and Stephen Call are Revolutionary War Patriots and brothers. Silas also fought in the Revolutionary war. After an amazing and very interesting connection of long lost cousins Cynthia was put in touch with family members that have artifacts from my family dating back to the French Indian Wars and the Revolutionary War. 
Third Generation
3. Philip CALL (Philip-2, Philip-1) was born on 26 May 1707 in Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts. (SOURCE: Early Vital Records of Essex County, Massachusetts to 1850 for Amesbury.) Philip Call and Dorothy his wife, of Richmond Co. York, Maine, sold to Obadiah Call of Comtoocook, in 1740, land in Amesbury, belonging to the said Dorothy.
Philip CALL and Dorothy HADLEY were married on 17 Jul 1729 in Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts. Dorothy HADLEY (daughter of Samuel HADLEY and Dorothy COLBY) was born on 20 Jul 1712 in Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts. She died about 1793 at Corinth, Orange County, Vermont. Cause of death was. SOURCES: (1). "The Old Families of Salisbury and Amesbury Massachusetts" by David W. Hoyt; (2). "The Colby Family in Early America" by Frederick Lewis Weis, Caledonia, The Colonial Press, pub 1970. Philip CALL and Dorothy HADLEY had the following children:
11 i. Mary CALL was born on 4 Feb 1729 in Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts. (SOURCE: Early Vital Records of Essex County, Massachusetts to 1850 for Amesbury.)
12 ii. Phillip CALL was born on 27 Dec 1731 in Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts. (SOURCE: Early Vital Records of Essex County, Massachusetts to 1850 for Amesbury.)
+13 iii. Elizabeth CALL, born on 20 Apr 1734, Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts; married Daniel HEATH, on 2 Mar 1753, Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts.
14 iv. Dorothy CALL was born on 24 Apr 1736 in Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts. (SOURCE: Early Vital Records of Essex County, Massachusetts to 1850 for Amesbury.)
15 v. Ruth CALL was born on 3 Dec 1738 in Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts. (SOURCE: Early Vital Records of Essex County, Massachusetts to 1850 for Amesbury.)
16 vi. Sarah CALL was born on 8 Sep 1740 in Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts. (SOURCE: Early Vital Records of Essex County, Massachusetts to 1850 for Amesbury.)
17 vii. Martha CALL was born on 6 Jan 1742 in Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts. (SOURCE: Early Vital Records of Essex County, Massachusetts to 1850 for Amesbury.)
18 viii. Hannah CALL was born on 20 Dec 1744 in Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts. (SOURCE: Early Vital Records of Essex County, Massachusetts to 1850 for Amesbury.)
19 ix. Mary CALL was born on 21 Jan 1747 in Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts. (SOURCE: Early Vital Records of Essex County, Massachusetts to 1850 for Amesbury.)
20 x. John CALL was born on 4 Feb 1751 in Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts. (SOURCE: Early Vital Records of Essex County, Massachusetts to 1850 for Amesbury.)
Fourth Generation
13. Elizabeth CALL (Philip-3, Philip-2, Philip-1) was born on 20 Apr 1734 in Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts. (SOURCE: Early Vital Records of Essex County, Massachusetts to 1850 for Amesbury.) Elizabeth CALL and Daniel HEATH were married on 2 Mar 1753 in Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts. (SOURCE: Early Vital Records of Essex County, Massachusetts to 1850 for Amesbury.) Daniel HEATH was born on 25 Feb 1733 in Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts. Elizabeth CALL and Daniel HEATH had the following children:
21 i. Sarah HEATH was born on 26 Oct 1754 in Plaistow, Rockingham County, New Hampshire.
22 ii. Samuel HEATH was born on 22 Apr 1756 in Plaistow, Rockingham County, New Hampshire.
23 iii. Hannah HEATH was born on 9 Oct 1757 in Plaistow, Rockingham County, New Hampshire.
24 iv. Elizabeth HEATH was born on 6 Apr 1760 in Plaistow, Rockingham County, New Hampshire.
25 v. Joshua HEATH was born on 10 Sep 1761 in Plaistow, Rockingham County, New Hampshire.
26 vi. Daniel HEATH was born on 22 Jan 1764 in Plaistow, Rockingham County, New Hampshire.
27 vii. Mary HEATH was born on 5 Feb 1766 in Plaistow, Rockingham County, New Hampshire.
Elizabeth Colby was born in Amesbury MA daughter of John Colby and Frances Hoyt. John Colby, son of Anthony and Susanna Colby, married Frances Hoyt. John was a planter and granted extended lands. John Colby was baptised on 8 Sep 1633 in the First Church, Boston. He died on 1673 in Amesbury.11 Feb 1673/4 He married Frances Hoyt on 14 Jan 1655/6 in Salisbury. John Colby mentions two sons and five daughters in his will of 22 Jan 1673/4. John and his brother Isaac were on a Jul 1667 list of those with meeting house seats in Amesbury. John Colby sued the town of Salisbury because he bought Mr Samuel Groom's estate in the town and claimed that he had not been accorded the town rights and privileges associated with the estate. John was on the trial jury at the Hampton Court on 8 (8) 1667. He was one of several soldiers and inhabitants of Amesbury who signed a petition entered at the 10 Oct 1671 Court complaining that Samuel Foot had ordered them to train in Salisbury, rather than Amesbury. In a writ dated 9 Mar 1671/2, John sued Samuel Foot for reproachful speeches against the minister. John deposed that he was about 37 on 8 Apr 1673. In Apr 1673 John successfully sued Henry Palmer and Andrew Greley for not satisfying him in an agreement.

Court documents From Essex County Court Records VOL 9 1686

Sarah Trussell's Grandfather is Robert Ring. "Ring's Island" Salisbury, Massachusetts

 

           Philip Call house in Ipswich built 1658 on High Street

Probate Records Philip Call Essex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1638-1881

 Plaque is in Franklin, New Hampshire next to the Webster Farm

From Memoirs of Daniel Webster:
The spot where Mr Webster spent the greater part of his childhood and youth is known as the Elms Farm and is only about three miles from his birthplace It contains one thousand acres lies directly in a bend of the Merrimac and is one of the finest farms in New Hampshire It has been in the possession of his brother Ezekiel and himself ever since the death of their father in 1806 and though intrinsically of great value yet to the admirer of the great and good in human intellect it must ever be a kind of Mecca and possess a value not to be estimated by money A portion of it is interval land while the remainder comprehends a number of picturesque hills from some of which may be seen the White Mountains including the grand summit of Mt Washington and between Keursage and the Ragged Mountains the picturesque peak of Ascutny in Vermont It is pre eminently a grazing farm and one of the meadow fields alone contains nearly one hundred acres and as it is encircled and occasionally dotted with graceful elms it presents a truly charming appearance especially so during the haying season when a score or two of men are wielding the scythe in a kind of cavalcade or when as in autumn it is the pasturing ground of herds composed of the Devon Ayrshire and Hereford breeds of cattle Near the centre of the above field are the almost obliterated remains of a fort which links the farm with its early history when this particular region was the frontier of the British colonies and when the Indians as the allies of the French made it their chief business to destroy the pioneer inhabitants The fort stood on a ridge of land south of the burying ground and the plough which passes over it at the present day frequently brings to light warlike memorials of the olden times But a Sabbath peace now broods over the domain of the Webster family the wilderness has indeed blossomed as the rose the war whoop has given place to the lowing of cattle the bleating of sheep and the tinkling of bells and yet it is pleasant to know that the changes are not universal for the same morning and evening atmospheres the same healthful breezes and the same loud singing birds with the whip poor will too are here to make glad and to soothe the heart in the evening as once in the morning of his days of that great and good man who was born among these hills and whose name has baptized them with a classic fame One of the last Indian murders committed in New Hampshire that of Mrs Call was on this estate Here yet remain the cellar of her habitation and the visible plot of her garden where her husband raised his Indian corn one hundred years ago and down to the period of Mr Webster's recollection parsnips in this garden had perpetuated themselves The tradition is that Philip Call and his son were at work in a meadow In the house Mrs Call the elder and her daughter in law who at the time had an infant in her arms Seeing the Indians coming the young woman crept in behind the chimney hushed her child and was not discovered by them Mrs Call was killed and the Indians departed Mr Webster's father bought the farm of Philip Call and John Call the preserved child Mr Webster knew in early life.

                                       
More on History in NH Early Settlers and Generations 

 

More information provided by John Jacob Dearborn History of Salisbury NH:

Susan Call married Samuel Couch, son of Deacon John Couch a descendant of Joseph Couch who came to Newbury MA

John Call marriage to Dolly Sanborn, daughter of Benjamin Sanborn a descendant of John Sanborn who came to Boston in 1632 settled in Hampton married Rev Stephen Bachiler's daughter.

 Moses Call brother

From Webster, Shaw Corner

Deed Records from NEHGS

                                                     

Hazen Hoyt's Children: Joseph Lowe Call (1840-1897)
Calvin Tracy Call (1841-1914) Hellen Call (1843-1843)
Dana Wesley Call (1845-1924) Horace Marshall Call (1847-1876) Hellen Victoria Call (1849-1865)David Sleeper Call (1851- 1903) Frederick William Call (1855-1873)

                                                       Nellie B and Francis Edwin Call

Francis Edwin Call when he was a boy with his father, Charles H. Call

 

Uncle Wesley holding Francis Edwin Call

Charles Herman Call

                                   

Dana Wesley and Nellie Bunton Call  

Francis Edwin Call as a cadet (Cynthia's father)

Cynthia Zannes Grandfather's "favorite" chair.  The reason being, it is that it was given to his father Dana Wesley Call by Daniel Webster.  The Webster family were very close friends and in some instances relatives to the Calls.  After all Daniel Webster's grandfather had purchased the Franklin land now known as the Webster Farm from the Calls after the massacre of Sarah Call. I remember a darling story my father relayed to me, of when he was a boy.

 

Pleasant Hill Cemetery 

Merrimack County

New Hampshire, USA

Dana A Call's Children:
Charles H Call
Some more Sources: 
The ancestry of Samuel Blanchard Ordway, 1844-1916
Andover NH
Philip Call III
Cemetery Photo by  Rick Pickwick