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Note: THOMAS TENNEY Thomas Tenney, a member of the Rev. Ezekiel Rogers' company from Yorkshire, England, arrived at Salem, MA., in Dec. 1638, and settled in Rowley, MA. in April 1639. (Gage Hist. Rowley) In deposition taken at Ipswich, MA., May 4, 1680, Mr. Tenney testifies in relation to an old ox pasture in Rowley, and at that date he gave his age as about sixty six years. This would have made him twenty four years old when he imigrated to America with his wife Ann. Mrs. Tenney was buried, Sept. 26, 1657. He married Feb. 24, 1658, his second wife, Elizabeth, a widow of Francis Parrat of Rowley. It does not appear as though they had any children. A survey of the town was ordered on Nov. 10, 1643. Mr. Tenney was active in much of the towns affairs, holding many differenct offices. Much of what is written about him has been left out, as it partains to land transactions between town members. The town records of Rowley, starting in Oct. 22, 1677 to the early 1690's show he was quite active in town affairs. He died Feb. 20, 1699/1700 and is buried in the old cemetery. This old burying ground was used in the first settlement of the town and remained the only cemetery until 1723, when the East parish (now the town of Groveland) burial ground was opened. The oldest stone standing and decipherable bears the date of 1681.
ROWLEY, MA Rowley, MA is situated 32 miles from Boston. It received the name from Rowley, Yorkshire, England, where the Rev. Ezekiel Rogers and some of his people had lived. It was incorporated Sept. 4, 1639, and then embraced Bradford, Groveland, Georgetown and Boxford. Most of the "by-laws and orders" were passed in 1643 and a few of a later date in 1660. Ordered: That all town streets be four rods wide, three rods to be kept clear of impediments, on a penalty of 5s. Ordered: That no person in the town shall fall, lop, bark, or girdle any tree on north or northwest side of any house or house-lot in the town within eighty rods thereof, upon penalty of 5s for every tree. Ordered: All persons appointed by overseers for the town work day, shall be ready at seven o'clock in the morning. In case of failure, he shall pay 3d an hour for lost time. Ten acres of land granted for encouragement towards building a grist mill. A full mill was built about 1643. A plain meeting house was erected and a church was organized Dec. 3, 1639. The earliest mention of a school was Feb. 3, 1656/57. The earliest tax list was June 9, 1691. The first recorded marriage was 1639. From the beginning, Rowley was a manufacturing as well as a farming town. As early as 1680, ship building was carried on at the warehouse landing. The first physician was in 1652. In 1680 there were 129 families in the town.
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