USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Blandford > Address delivered before the Literary Association, Blandford, Mass., Sept. 21, 1850, upon the history of that town > Part 1
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Gc 974.402 B61g 1786188
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01095 3872
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2010 with funding from Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center
http://www.archive.org/details/addressdelivered00ingibb
ADDRESS
DELIVERED BEFORE THE
LITERARY ASSOCIATION,
(2) BLANDFORD, MASS.,SEPT. 21, 1850,
UPON THE HISTORY OF THAT TOWN. :
BY WILLIAM H. GIBBS.
PRICE TWENTY-FIVE CENTS.
121592
1 SPRINGFIELD :
G. W. WILSON, PRINTER, CORNER MAIN AND STATE STS. 1850.
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1786188
F
844095 .4
1:
Gibbs, William H.
Address delivered before the Literary associati( Blandford, Mass .. Sept. 21, 1850, upon the history of tl town. By William HI. Gibbs ... Springfield, G. Wilson, printer, 1850.
76 p. fold. geneal. tab. 181mm.
1. Blandford, Mass .- Hist.
1-1123(
Library of Congress
F74.B45G4
10065
OHELP CARD
REQUEST FOR PUBLICATION.
" WHEREAS, our President, Mr. WILLIAM H. GIBBS, in researches after the facts embodied in his Historical Address upon Blandford, has incurred much trouble and expense, therefore, -
" Resolved, That the members of the Blandford Literary Associa- tion consider it an able, interesting, and valuable document, well worthy of preservation, by which the compiler has not only con- ferred honor upon himself, but also produced a work which needs but an examination to be duly appreciated.
" Resolved, That in expressing our cordial thanks to Mr. GIBBS for this Address, we would earnestly request and advise its pub- lication.
" Resolved, That a copy of the above resolutions, signed by the Secretary of this Association, be presented to Mr. GIBBS, as a testi- monial of our regard for himself and his Address.
" HENRY B. LEWIS, Secretary.
" Blandford, Mass., September 21, 1850."
18865
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PREFACE.
IN presenting this Address to the public, our only apology will be, the earnest request of the Association before which it has been delivered, and the encourage- ment and advice of many of our prominent towns- people.
We commenced its compilation with the thought, to amuse ourself in tracing out the numerous pleasing incidents connected with the early history and first settlers of Blandford ; and ultimately, if deemed worthy, to present the product of our labors to the present citizens, in the form of an Address. Our object is accomplished in the work which we now introduce to your favorable notice.
The plan has proved to be more difficult than we had anticipated. We should scarcely have undertaken it, had we conceived the perplexity and expense which the act involved. Many of the facts here presented, were obtained from a Historical Sermon, preached by the
Kim. 96.
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Rev. John Keep, in 1821, and from a Centennial Ad- dress delivered in 1835, by Ilon. Patrick Boies.
We have also consulted the aged people, who are living witnesses among us, diligently searched the town records, and visited the tombs of our ancestors.
Our acknowledgments are likewise due the following gentlemen, viz. : - Col. Justin Wilson, Reuben Boies, Esq., Mr. James Watson, Enos Boies, Esq., Mr. John Gibbs, and many others of our friends, for information furnished us, and to Mr. Francis H. Firmin, of Spring- field, for his valuable attention during the publication.
We trust these brief pages will be found interesting, not only to the citizens of our own, but also to those of the adjoining towns, and of the State generally.
W. H. G. Blandford, October 1st, 1850.
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ADDRESS.
THE study of History, is now extensively regarded a useful as well as pleasing occupation. In the general history of a country we read the nation's biography, and from its bright and dark periods gather lessons to guide us in future action. Indeed from the history of smaller communities, our individual states and even towns, much interesting information may be gleaned. And no portion of history more deeply engages our attention than that which narrates the sufferings and triumphs of our immediate ancestors. In the history of our town, which fills but a brief chapter, we have collected the fresh memorials and recent traditions of our progenitors, and are enabled for the time to mingle with their spirits. To pursue a few reminiscences of the past history of our town, to bring again into notice some of those whose names we bear, and whose places we occupy, and to present such lessons as their experi- ence may inculcate, is the purpose of this address. As the state records were burned in Boston, and as the early settlers kept no record until six years after the settlement, the materials for the commencement of this history are scanty and obscure. It appears from the facts which we are now able to offer, that about the year 1732,* the land embraced in the town plot was granted hy the General . Court of the province of Mas-
* P. Boise's Address.
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sachusetts Bay, to certain proprietors of common and undivided lands in the town of Suffield, Ct., as an equiv- alent for a tract of land taken from them in establishing the dividing line between Massachusetts and Connecti- cut. The dimensions of the township were then esti- mated at six miles square. The proprietors soon after conveyed the whole tract to Christopher Jacob Law - ton, then a resident in Suffield. In January 1735, Mr. Lawton by deeds of conveyance, sold (2) two undivided fourth parts of the land to Francis Wells and John Faye, and in July of the same year he conveyed one undivided fourth part to Francis Brinley. In these conveyances by Mr. Lawton, there was made a reservation of certain portions as lots for settlers. Messrs. Lawton, Wells, Faye and Brinley thus became proprietors in common of the township. These proprietors engaged General Roger Newbury of Windsor, Connecticut, to survey the township and divide it into five hundred acre lots. Tradition informs us that the proprietors ordered the township to be surveyed seven instead of six miles square. This was a stratagem, and was carefully conceal- ed from the Crown and Colonial Legislature to whom it was disguised as a mistake. Since, however, they had incurred a great amount of expense in the survey, the proprietors claimed the entire seven miles square, and the Colonial Legislature regarding the position as a frontier settlement, granted the bequest, but with one condition, that fifty emigrants should be procured and settled immediately, to repel the aggres- sions of the Savages, and afford a defence to the interior townships. To fulfill the stipulations entered into with the Legislature, the proprietors issued proposals for
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the settlement of the first fifty families. Two sixty acre lots were promised as a reward, one of which should be located on the Main Street as it now runs, and the other in the Easterly part of the town, well known by the name of " second division," from its being the sec- ond range of lots. In view of the advantages of this offer, the fathers of this town came here from Hopkin- ton and vicinity, 34 miles west of Boston, to make the settlement. . - Previous to their coming, they sent a number of bold and courageous young men to select the best route and erect habitations for their reception. These hardy adventurers reached the center of this town in the latter part of April, 1735. On the day of their arrival, a severe snow-storm commenced and con- tinued three days, leaving a body of snow on the ground to the depth of three or four feet. We can but faintly imagine their sufferings. No friends were there to administer consolation and comfort, no fireside sent forth a genial heat, no shelter save the Canopy of Heaven, to ward off the rude blasts.
But the snow soon began to waste, and the sufferers were enabled to prosecute the object of their pilgrim- age. A few brush were cleared away, trees were felled,and temporary cabins were erected. The first families arrived the following Autumn, the residue the succeeding Spring. Hugh Black was the first man who arrived with his family. He settled near the place where Mr. John Osborn now resides. Nearly opposite Mr. Oshorn's was erceted the first dwelling house ever inhabited in Blandford. Here the wilderness first began to buckend blossom, the result of the toil and enterprise of civilized man. The next individunl who emigrated
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to this town with his family was James Baird. He erected a rude dwelling near the place where William Culver now resides, a distance of nearly four miles from Mr. Black's. Why did not these families settle in the same neighborhood ? This question may be of diffi- cult solution, except that we advert to the fact that those individuals who possess the enterprise and hardihood to penetrate the unbroken forest, manifest a preference for secluded homes, where the surrounding improve- ments may testify that "my hands did this." At the house of Hugh Black the proprietors began to number the farms they designed to give the first fifty families.
The settlers selected their farms by lot, and the names of several families who obtained farms on the west side of the town street, are left on record, viz : Messrs. Black, Reed, McClinton, Taggart, Brown, Anderson, Hamilton, Wells, Blair, Stewart, Montgomery, Boise, Ferguson, Campbell, Wilson, Sennett, Young, Knox, and Gibbs. The majority of the above-named persons became permanent residents upon the lots they drew. The north lot drawn was the one now occupied by Isaac Gibbs. The entire country betwen this house and Montreal in Canada, was a trackless wilderness without a single English inhabitant to relieve its gloom
A fort had been constructed at Williamstown, and another at Crown Point, which were occupied only by a few soldiers in time of war. The nearest settlement was Westfield, ten miles east. The first framed house was erected upon the farm now occupied by Stephen Burton, and the first framed barn, upon that now owned by Jolin Gibbs.
The team which drew the first cart that entered the
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town, was driven by Widow Moses Carr while the men were repairing the road. It is said that the team belonged to Israel Gibbs, who settled upon the farm now owned by John Gibbs ; and his son Israel was the first male child born in this town.
'The number of families which emigrated with the second company, cannot be ascertaincd. Their pro- gress in ascending the mountain through Russell, was laborious and disheartening. They commenced the ascent at " Sackett's Tavern," (on the old Westfield road), a distance slightly exceeding seven miles to the center of this town. The ascent of the mountain began on the margin of the river, and continued up a rocky ledge, which, from its rude and forbidding appearance, acquired the name of " Devil's Stairs." Such was the difficulty of forcing a passage up the hills and through the unsubdued forest, that the team was able to travel only two miles the first day. As night came on, they encamped in the forest. The second day they reached the top of "Birch Hill," and again encamped for the night in the midst of beasts of prey and venemous reptiles. On the third day, these wearied families arrived at their anticipated home, and seated in their log hut, partici- pated in the bounties it afforded. That cabin was erected on the place now occupied by David Hamilton.
Soon after a part of these families removed farther north, in reaching their locality they had to pass through the " Causeway," then a pathless hemlock swamp. This passage required a day of severe toil. James Baird, an athletic man belonging to the company, was so fatigued in accomplishing this task, that on leav- ing the swamp, he immediately threw himself upon the
*1
Y
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earth and quietly slumbered during the night beneath the branches of a large hemlock. Ilis family consisting of eight persons, is believed to have removed with him. In a similar manner other families urged their toilsome way to their respective places of residence. The trial and perplexities which they endured, cannot be deserib- ed ! Probably there is not a parallel in the history of the settlement of any town upon the mountains.
But these discouragements are in a measure expe- rienced in the settlement of all new colonies, not how- ever in the eminent degree that they were by the settlers of these regions.
The adventurer who now penetrates the far west, may carry with him some of the comforts of civilized life, but when our fathers emigrated to this town, few of the luxuries of existence were known in the country, which may perhaps account for the health and vigor of their constitutions. These early settlers were men of great decision, boldness, and independence.
* In 1737 the proprietors became owners of their lands severally by a t deed of partition. By this they
* P. Boise's address.
t Chis Indenture, made the Thirtyth Day of March, In the Tenth year of the Reign of Our Sovereign Lord George the Second, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c ;-- and in the year of our Lord and Christ One Thousand Seven Hundred and Thirty Seven, between Christopher Jacob Lawton, now of Leicester, in the county of Wor- cester and Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, and late of Suffield, in the county of Hampshire and Province aforesaid.
Esqr., of the first part, Francis Brinley of Roxbury in the county of Suffolk and Province aforesaid Esqr., of the second part, Francis Wells of Cambridge in the county of Middlesex and Province afore-
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apportioned between themselves (51) fifty one lots of land. Messrs Lawton, Brinley and Faye took thirteen
said Esqr. of the third part, and John Faye of Charlestown in the said county of Middlesex, Merchant of the fourth part. TUbereas The said Christopher Jacob Lawton by his Deed Poll, bearing date the Eighth day of July, A. D. One Thousand Seven Hundred and Thirty five, among other things therein contained, did for the Con- sideration therein mentioned, Grant, Bargain and Sell unto the said Francis Brinley and his heirs, one undivided fourth Part (Except as in the said Deed is Excepted) of a Certain Tract of Land with the Appurteances, Sitnate lying being in the said county of Hampshire, on the west side of Connecticut River, which said Tract is reputed to be six miles square and was granted in or about the year of Our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Thirty two by the Great and General Court of the Province of the Massachusetts bay aforesaid, to the Commoners by Proprietors of the Common and undivided lands in the town of Suffield aforesaid as an equivalent for a quantity of Land taken from them in running the Line between the aforesaid Province and the Colony of Connecticut, and had been purchased of the aforesaid Commoners and Proprietors by the said Christopher Jacob Lawton and commonly ealled and known by the Name of the " GLASCOW LANDS." And also by two other Deeds Poll, both bearing date the seventeenth day of January, A. D. one thousand seven hun- dred and thirty-five (among other things therein contained) did for the Consideration therein mentioned, Grant Bargain and Sell Two other undivided fourth parts of the aforesaid tract of land (Except as the herein before first in part recited Deed and two last mentioned Deeds is excepted) To the above named Francis Wells and John Faye and their several respective heirs. To Hold the aforesaid Three undi- vided fourth parts of the said Tract of Land and premises to the use of the said Francis Brinley, Francis Wells, and John Faye and their several respective heirs and assigns, That is to Say one of the said Three undivided Fourth parts apiece to each of them the said Franeis Brinley, Francis Wells, and John Faye and their respective heirs and assigns. Subject to a certain proviso in the herein beforementioned Grant of the said Great and General Court, Ex- pressed and Contained as in and by the aforesaid Three Deeds Poll
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lots aside from the two sixty acre lots given to each of the first fifty settlers. A grant was made of a ten acre lot
(relation being thereunto had) may now at large appear : Whereby the said Christopher Jacob Lawton, Francis Brinley, Francis Wells, and John Faye are become tenants in Common of and in the atore- said Traet of Land (Except as is before excepted) and whereas the said Traet of Land (Except as is before excepted) by the mutual Consent and Agreement of all the said Parties to these presents, hath for the better making a Division and Partition of the same between them, and that each of the said Parties may hold and bring his part and proportion thereupon severally to himself, his heirs and assigns, been divided into fifty one Lotts of Land laid out and numbered as in the Plan and Division thereof in the Schedule hereunto annexed and Subscribed by the said parties (with their respective names is expressed and set forth. Now this Indenture Witnesseth, That for Dividing and Parting the afore- said Premises between the said Christopher Jacob Lawton, Francis Brinley, Francis Wells, and John Faye as is aforesaid. It is Cov- enanted, Granted, Coneluded, and Agreed by and between the said Parties to these presents, and each of them for himself and his heirs doth Covenant, Grant, Conclude and fully Agree to and with each other and his heirs and assigns in manner following : That is to say, The said Francis Brinley, Francis Wells, and John Faye, each of them severally answering for himself and his own acts only, and not one for the acts of the other, do for themselves and their respective heirs, Executors and Administrators, Covenant, Grant and Agree to and with the said Christopher Jacob Lawton, his heirs and assigns, that he the said Christopher Jacob Lawton, shall or may from henceforth have, hold, occupy, Possess and Enjoy the " THIRTEEN" following lots of the aforesaid Tract of Land, Viz : NUMBER ONE, FIVE, TEN, FIFTEEN, NINETEEN, TWENTY THREE, TWENTY-SEVEN, THIRTY-ONE, THIRTY-SIX, FORTY, FORTY-FOUR, FORTY- NINE AND THIRTY Two, Lotts thereof as the same have been laid out and Divided by Mr. Roger Newbury of Windsor, in the colony of Connecticut and according to Plan and Division thereof contained by the above mentioned schedule hereunto annexed, to him the said Christopher Jacob Lawton, his
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in the center of the town, for public uses and as a general common.
heirs and assigns in severalty in full satisfaction of his fourth part or share of the said tract of. land and Premises to the only sole and proper use and behoof of himself his heirs and assigns forever. And that and notwithstanding any act matter or thing had, made, committed, suffered or done by them the said Francis Brinley, Francis Wells, and John Faye or any of them free and clear of and from any lawful claims, Demands, and Incumbrances whatever, and the said Francis Brinley, Francis Wells, and John Faye, have Remised, Released and Quit-claimed and each of them by these presents Remise Release and forever quit-clain unto the said Chris- topher Jacob Lawton, his heirs and assigns all the Estate, Right, Title, Interest, Property, Portion, Claim and Demand whatsoever of them, the said Francis Brinley, Francis Wells, and John Faye and every of them of in and to the aforesaid THIRTEEN Lotts of Land, and every Part Thereof herein before mentioned to be allotted, assigned and appointed by these presents to him the said Christo- pher Jacob Lawton, his heirs and assigns severally for his before- mentioned part and share of the aforesaid tract of Land and Premises, and the said Christopher Jacob Lawton, Francis Wells, and John Faye, each of them severally answering for himself and his own acts only and not one for the aets of the other, Do for themselves and their respective heirs, Executors and administrators Covenant, Grant, and Agree to and with the said Francis Brinley, his heirs and assigns that he the said Francis Brinley shall or may from henceforth have, hold, Occupy, Possess, and Enjoy the THIRTEEN following Lotts of the aforesaid Tract of Land, Viz : NUMBER FOUR, FOURTEEN, EIGHTEEN, TWENTY-TWO, TWENTY-SIX, THIRTY, THIRTY-FOUR, TILIRTY-NINE, FORTY-ONE, FORTY-EIGHT, ELEVEN AND TWELVE, Lotts thereof, as the same have been laid out and Divided by the said Mr. Roger Newbury of Windsor, in the said colony of Connecticut Gent. and according to the plan and Division thereof contained in the above mentioned schedule hereunto annexed, to him the said Francis Brinley his heirs and assigns in severalty in full satisfaction of the fourth part or share of the said Tract of Land and premises, to the
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The other lands in the town were laid out in 500 acre lots. It is here worthy of remark that the exact figure
only sole and proper use and behoof of himself his heirs and assigns forever.
And that notwithstanding any act, matter or Thing had, made, committed, suffered or Done by them the said Christopher Jacob Lawton, Francis Wells and John Faye or any of them free and clear of and from any lawful claims, Demands and Incumbrances whatsoever, and the said Christopher Jacob Lawton, Francis Wells, and John Faye have Remised, Released and Quit-claimed and each of them by these presents Doth Remise, Release and forever quit- claim unto the said Francis Brinley his heirs and assigns all the Estate, Right, Title, Interest, Property, Portion, Claim and Demand whatsoever of them, the said Christopher Jacob Lawton, Francis Wells, and John Faye, and every of them of in and to the aforesaid TINRTEEN Lotts, and every part thereof herein before mentioned, to be allotted assigned and appointed by these presents to him the said Francis Brinley, his heirs and assigns in severalty for his before mentioned part and share of the aforesaid Tract of Land and Pre- mises ; And the said John Faye, Christopher Jacob Lawton and Francis Brinley, each of them severally answering for himself and his own acts only and not one for the acts of the other. Do for themselves and their respective heirs, Executors, and Adminis- trators Covenant, Grant and Agree to and with the said Francis Wells, his heirs and assigns, that he, the said Francis Wells, shall or may from henceforth, have, hold, Occupy, possess and Enjoy the TWELVE following Lotts of the aforesaid tract of Land, Viz : NUMBER THREE, SEVEN, TWENTY-ONE, TWENTY-FIVE, TWENTY- NINE, THIRTY-FIVE, THIRTY-SEVEN, FORTY-THREE, FORTY-SEVEN AND FIFTY-ONE LOTTS thereof, as the same have been laid out and Divided by the aforesaid Mr. Roger Newbury * * and according to the plan and Division thereof contained in the above mentioned schedule hereunto annexed to him the said Francis Wells, his heirs and assigns in severalty, in full satisfaction of his fourth part or share of the said tract of Land and Premises, to the only, sole and proper use and behoof of himself, his heirs and assigns forever. And that notwithstanding any act, matter or thing had,
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of the town plot and the uniformity in the location and dimensions of the lots of land, form a system of order
made, committed, suffered or done by them the said John Faye, Christopher Jacob Lawton, and Francis Brinley or any of them free and clear of and from any lawful claims, Demands and Incum- brances whatsoever. And the said John Faye, Christopher Jacob Lawton, and Francis Brinley, have Remised, Released and Quit- claimed and each of them by their presents Doth Remise, Release and forever quit-claim unto the said Francis Wells, his heirs and assigns, all the Estate, Right Title, Interest, Property, Portion, Claim and Demand whatsoever of the said John Faye, Christo- pher Jacob Lawton and Francis Brinley and every of them of in and to the aforesaid TWELVE Lotts and every part thereof herein before mentioned to be alloted, assigned and appointed by these presents to him the said Francis Wells, his heirs and assigns in severalty for his before mentioned part and share of the aforesaid tract of Land and Premises. And the said Christopher Jacob Law- ton, Francis Brinley, and Francis Wells, each of them severally answering for himself and his own acts and not one for the acts of the other, Do for Themselves and their respective heirs, Executors and Administrators, Covenant, Grant and Agree to and with the said John Faye, his heirs and assigns, that he the said John Faye shall or may from henceforth, Have, Hold, Occupy, Possess and Enjoy the THIRTEEN following Lotts of the aforesaid tract of Land, Viz : NUMBER Two, SIX, NINE, SIXTEEN, TWENTY, TWENTY-FOUR, TWENTY- EIGHT, THIRTY-THREE, THIRTY-EIGHT, FORTY-FIVE, FORTY-SIX, AND FORTY-Two
Lotts thereof, as the same have been laid out and divided by the aforesaid Mr. Roger Newbury * * * and according to the Plan and Division thereof contained in the above mentioned schedule hereunto annexed to him the said John Faye, his heirs and assigns in severalty in full satisfaction of his fourth part or share of the said Tract of Land and Premises, to the only, sole and proper use and behoof of himself his heirs and assigns forever.
AND that notwithstanding any act matter or thing, had, made, committed, suffered or done by thein the said Christopher Jacob Lawton, Francis Brinley, and Francis Wells or any of them free
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