r152 B.L.Merick writes in 1832 in his History of Haverhill underthe date 1690,"Six garrisons were appointed, and ordered to bekept in a state of defense; and four houses were appointed forrefuge, then called 'houses for refuge'. One of the garrisonswas commanded by Sergeant John Haseltine. A part of the house isnow standing, and is occupied by Mr. Samuel Pecker." "Sergeant John Haseltine took the command of a garrison in thespring of 1690." The garrison commanded by Sergeant JohnHaseltine was situated on what is now Broadway, about half wayup Pecker's Hill on the north side of the road. The house andland in the vicinity was owned by a Mr.Marsh.1697 "On the 19th of April, a committee was chosen to agree withMr. John Haseltine about the peculiar work of the meeting house,the workmen providing all to the turning of the key, the otherwork without and within being done; and a turret also for abell, provided the whole do not exceed four hundred pounds inmoney." "At a meeting on the fifth of July, it was again voted'that it should stand on the common land near Mr.Keezar'sdwelling house.' The second house was accordingly built, aboutfifty feet in front of the present (1832) Congregational church.It was built without a cupola or tower, as at was then morefrequently called, and with two doors, one for the women and onefor the men. The Committee that was appointed to examine itafter it was finished, reported that it was '50 1/2 feet inlength, 40 1/2 feet in breadth and 19 feet studd.'" The churchdescribed above was located on land now included in the common.