One of the most distinguished of Haverhill families was and is the Saltonstall family, who are first mentioned in the history of that town through Nathaniel, who was born at Ipswich and who came to Haverhill and married Elizabeth, the daughter of John Ward, December 28, 1663; from this union are descended all the people of that name in America. Saltonstall is spoken of by Sewall in his diary, where he tells of "Son Saltonstall comforting me on account of his father-in-law's health;" and Whittier, in a supposed journey of his heroine, tells of a visit to this man who later on lived in a fine house.
Saltonstall was in command of the militia in Newbury and many adjoining towns and is mentioned as among the most popular and well principled military men. He was judge of the Inferior Court of Pleas for Essex until his death. Samuel Sewall, who gossiped about everybody, gives us a little glimpse of this noted man, who was appointed one of the judges for the trial of witches, but who would not sit upon the case, being very much dissatisfied with the proceedings.
His grandson Richard became a judge of the Superior Court in 1736, and it is of him that the celebrated Samuel Moody speaks.
"Lynde, Dudley, Remington and Saltonstall
With Sewall meeting at the judgment hall,
Making a learned, wise and faithful set
Of Godlike judges by God's counsel met."
Judge Saltonstall had three sons: Colonel Richard, who lived at Buttonwood, a loyalist and refugee; Leverett, who died in the British army, and Doctor Nathaniel, who was descended through his mother from the patriotic Cooke family in Boston. It was he who built the house which is now situated on the border of Lake Saltonstall in Haverhill, Massachusetts.
Plate LXVI.—The Saltonstall House, Haverhill, Mass.
This mansion is one of the historic houses in Massachusetts. It is a large, square dwelling, painted yellow with green blinds, showing at the front a porch ornamented with dentation. The house has never been out of the possession of the Saltonstall family.
He was a descendant of Sir Richard, who came to America with Winthrop in the Arabella and helped to form the settlement at Watertown, bringing with him cattle and servants, showing thereby that he was a man of property.