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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01723 3708
Gc 974. 401 B45cus v. 2 Pt. 1 History of Berkshire County. Massachusetts
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/historyofberkshi21smit
HISTORY OF
BERKSHIRE COUNTY,
MASSACHUSETTS,
--- WITH
Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men.
VOLUME II. Pt.1
NEW YORK: J. B. BEERS & CO .. 36 Vesey Street.
1885.
------
1626848
CONTENTS OF VOLUME 1I.
CHAPTER 1. TOWN OF GREAT BARRINGTON.
Aborigines -- Monument Mountain .-- Talcot's Fight. Patent of Westenhook .- English Settlers -- Quarrels with the Dutch .- North Parish .- First Meeting House .- Rev. Samuel Hopkins .- French and ladian Wars .- Incorporation. - First Town Meeting .- Gen. Joseph Dwight. - Root's Tavern .-- David Ingersoll's Works .- Gill Belcher .- Court and Jail. - Dwight Mansion .- Israel Dewey. - David Ingersoll's Place. - Aaron Sheldon's Tavern .-- Episcopal Church Etince .- Main Street. - President Dwight's Visit .-- Dr. Patten's Visit .- Church Difficulties. - Dr. Samuel Hop- kins .-- Rev. David Sanford .-- Episcopal Church .- Rev. Gideon Bostwick -Alford .-- Hoplands ....
1
CHAPTER II. TOWN OF GREAT BARRINGTON (continued .
The Revolution. - The Shays Rebellion .- Growth of the Village .-- General Thomas Ives. - Incident of the Shays Rebellion .- Isaac Seeley, Esq. - William Cullen Bryant .- Increase Summer. - Business Interests .- Blue Limestone .- George R. Ives .- Roads and Bridges .- John Williams .-- Isaac Van Deusen .-- Van Deusenville .- Babylon .- Deauville .- Housatonie .- Cones' Library
CHAPTER JII.
TOWN OF GREAT BARRINGTON (continued).
Congregational Church .- St. James'-Trinity .- Methodist Church .- Zion Society .- Congregationallats at Housatonic .- Baptists .- Roman Catholics .- Burial Grounds .-- Schools .- William Sherwood. Great Barrington Academy .- Sedgwick Institute .- Housatonic Hall .- High School - Way of 1912 .- Lieutenant Wainwright .- Militia Campaigns and Political Parties-Rebellion .- Free Masons .- Hope Tire Company .- Grand Army of the Republic .- District Court. - Post office - Berkshire Courier .- Mahaiwe National Bank .- Savings Bank .-- Gas Company - Water Companies. -- Town Halls -Memorial Statue .- Libraries .- John H. Coffing. -- Clarkson T. Collins, V. D .......
CHAPTER IV. TOWN OF HANCOCK.
Settlement and Early History .- Revolution .-- Samnel Hand .- Asa Douglass .-- The Townsends .- The Gardner Family .- The Eldridge Family .- Goodrich Hollow .- Richard Jackson .- AAbel Porur. --- Harmon Whitman. - The Hazard Family .-- The Baptist Church .-- Friends' Meeting House. - The Hancock Shakers ..
CHAPTER V. TOWN OF HINSDALE.
Settlement and Early History .- First Meeting House. - Incorporation .- Congregational Pastors. - The Baptists .- The Hinsdale Famlly. - The Whites .-- A. D. Matthews. - Other Prominent Families. -- Thomas Allen .- The Kittredge Family. -- Billy Hibbard. - Methodist Church .- St. Patricks' .- Nathan Torry. - The Cady Family. - The Raymond Family. - Ichabod Entrons .- Francis E. War- ren .- Schools and Library .- Hon. Charles H Plunkett ..
CHAPTER VI. TOWN OF LANESBOROUGH.
Geographical and Descriptive .- Set lement and Early History -The Revolution. Growth of town - Prominent Citizens. Congregational Church. - St. Luke's. Baptist CHE. 6. Methodist Church. -Schools .- Industries .- Societies ..
ii
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VII. TOWN OF LEE.
Geographical and Descriptive. Indian Ocenpation .- First Settlers .- Immigration from Cape Cod .- Land Grants .- Incorporation .~ The Revolution. - The Shays Insurrection .- War of 122. - Feele- siastical. Congregational Church. The Methodists. Baptist Church. St. George's .- Roman Catholics. -- Union Chapel
124
CHAPTER VIII. TOWN OF LEE (continued).
Educational History .- Manufacturing .- Marble Quarries .- General Business Interests - Newspapers. -- Hotels .-- Lee Banks. . . Railroads. - Physicians. Agriculture. The Ch. al War. Memorial Hall. - Post Offices. Comercios. - Free Masons .- Police Court .- Fire District. - Cursus. - Centennial Anniversary. 115
CHAPTER IX. TOWN OF LEE (concluded).
Elizur and Wellington Smith. - Thomas Hurlbut. - Amos G. Hulbert .- Henry C. Hubert. -- Rev. E. F. Ingersoll. - William Porter .- Charles May 15S
CHAPTER X. TOWN OF LENOX.
Early Settlers. - Indians .-- Land Titles .-- Incorporation .- First Town Meeting .- Early Records. - Con- pregational Church -Episcopal Church .-- Methodist Church .-- Roman Catholic Church. - The Revolution. - The Shays Rebellion .- The Civil War.
CHAPTER XI. TOWN OF LENOX (concludeb.
Industries .-- Educationaland Literary .- Newspapers. - Conventions. The Library .- Present Condition. -List of Legal Voters in 183 .- Gen. John Paterson. - John Morell .-- Azariat Egleston - Gen. Caleb Hyde. - John Hotehkin .- The Sabin Family .- Hon. Julius Rockwell ..
CHAPTER XII. TOWN OF MONTEREY.
Incorporation .- Geographical and Descriptive. - Congregational Church. -- Good Templars .-- Schools .- Industrial .-- Decendants of the Early settlers .- M. S. Bidwell ..
CHAPTER XIII. TOWN OF MOUNT WASHINGTON.
Geographical and Descriptive -First Settlers .- Roads .- First Meetings of Proprieters. - Incorporation. -- Town House and Church .- Schools. - Mills and Manufactories- The Rebellion .- Sumpter Visitors.
CHAPTER XIV. TOWNOF NEW MARLBOROUGH.
Settlement and Early History .- The Revolution .- Agriculture .- Manufacturing - Roads - Post Office. -- South Berkshire Institute .- Timothy Leonard, the Hermit .- Lake Buell. - Fish and Game. - Geology .- Dry Hill .-- The Great Rainfall. - The Rebellion. - Biographical Mention ..
CHAPTER XV. TOWN OF NEW ASHFORD.
Situation and Boundaries .- Settlement and Early History .- Roads, -- Natural Features. Quarrie -.- First Meeting .- Incorporation as a District. Incorporation as a Town .- The Rebellion. Schools. -- Church .- Statistical.
CHAPTER XVI. TOWN OF OTIS.
Loudon .- Bethlehem .- Town of Otis .-- Natural Features. Productions, - Mills and Manufactories .- Stores .- Hotels. - Lumber .- Settlement .- Manners and Customs of the Settlers. Roads and Post Offices. - Otis in the National Wars .- Schools .- Churches. - Lawyers and Physicians. - Biograph- ical Mention
CHAPTER XVII. TOWN OF PERU.
Purchases and Sales .- First Town Meeting .- Ecclesiastical. - Peru During and Succeeding the Revo- lution .- Town Officers in 100, Change of Name. New Meeting Hat. Wolf Rom -First Births and Marriages. -- Biographical. 201
jii
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XVIII. TOWN OF PITTSFIELD.
Descriptive. - Grants, Surveys, Sales, -- First Attempt at Settlement .- Permanent Settlement -- Second French and Indian War. - Plantation Organization Resumed .--- Pittsfield Incorporated .- The Revolution .- The Constitutionalists. -- The Shays Rebellion ... 29
CHAPTER XIX. TOWN OF PITTSFIELD( continued).
Pittsfield at the Beginning of the 10th Century. - War of 1812. - Domestic and Social Life, Manners and Morals .- The Press. - Post Office ..
309
CHAPTER XX. TOWN OF PITTSFIELD (continued).
Agriculture and manufacturing .- Fulling Mills -Iron Works .- Tanneries .- First Woolen Manufac- turing .- Arthur Scholfield .- The Housatonic Mill .- The Pittsfield Factory. - The Pomeroy Mus. - The Pontoosue Mills .- Barkersville and Stearnsville. The Russell Woolen Mill - Peck's Fre- tories. - Taconic Milis. - Pittsfield and Bel Air Woolen Companies. - The Osceola Mill. - PPistell Cotton Factory. Coogan's Tannery .- Coltsville Paper Mill. Waconah Mills. Shaker Mill. Os- ccola River Flouring Mill .- Kellogg Steam Power Company. - William Clark & Co .- May & Chapel. -Robbins & Kellogg .- Pittsfield Tack Company .- Terry Clock Company .- Sprague Brienner Company .- Willey Robinson Company . - Berkshire Overall Company .- Berkshire Knitting Mills. -W. C. Stevenson Manufacturing Company .- Henry, Blain & Co .- Carriage Factories. - The Lumber Business .- Paper Boxes .- Gimlich & White .- William H. Teeling & Co .- Hotels and Stores .- Fire Department and Water Works. - Banks and Insurance Companies. 3.20
CHAPTER XXI. TOWN OF PITTSFIELD (continued).
First Church and Ministers .- Union Parish, -- South Church .- Second Congregational Church ... ...... 368
CHAPTER XXII. TOWN OF PITTSFIELD (continued).
The Dissenters .- First Baptist Church .- First Methodist Church .- Wesleyan Methodist Church .- St. Stephen's (P. L) Church .- St. Joseph's (R. C.) Church .- French Catholic Church .- German Lutheran Church .- Synagogue Ausha Amonium .- Cemeteries .. 391
CHAPTER XXIII. TOWN OF PITTSFIELD (continued.
Schools in Pittsfield .- House of Mercy .- Union for Home Work .-. Libraries aud Athenum .- The Sol- diers Monument .- Lodges and Societies .- Temperance in Pittsfield .--. Academy of Music ......... 411
CHAPTER XXIV. TOWN OF PITTSFIELD (concluded).
Capt. Charles Goodrich .- John Chandler Williams. - Thomas Gold -- Ashbel Strong. - Captain David Campbell .- Oliver Wendell .- Rev. Thomas Allen .- Dr. Timothy Childs .- Col. Joshua Danforth. Simon Larned .- Thomas Allen, jr .- Jonathan Allen .- Rev. William Allen .-. Herry Haisey Childs. -Sames D., and Samuel D. Colt .- John B. Root .- Joseph Shearer .- Phineas Allen - Jonathan Allen. 2d .- John W. Hulbert .- Ezekiel Bacon - Thomas Melville. jr .- Henry Clinton Brown .-. Hon. William C. Jarvis. - Col. S. M. Mckay. - Hon. Thomas B. Strong - Henry Hubbard. - Hon. Edward A. Newton .- Ezekiel R. Colt. - Gen. Nathan Willis. Solomon Rus-di. Hon. Edward Learned .-- Hon. E. H. Kellogg. . Nathaniel Fairfield .- Calvin Martin .- Thoras F. Plunkett - William Pollock .- Thaddeus Clapp. - Almiron D. Francis. - Charles Bailey, M. D .- Hi. B. Wellng- ton .- E. S. Francis .- J. N. Dunham .- Edwin Clapp .- Hon. Joseph Tucker .- Cebra Quackenbach Lemuel and Theodore Pomeroy .-- Abraham Burbank. 4.5
CHAPTER XXV. TOWN OF RICHMOND.
Descriptive. Sale of No. 8 .- Settlement. - Division of Town. Richmond Iron Company. - Ecclesias- tscal History .- Schools. - College Graduates nnd Prominent Citizens
CHAPTER XXVI TOWN OF SANDISFIELD.
Grants, Surveys, Sales -Incorporation and First Town Meeting. - Location and Physical Features Productions - Manners and Customs. -- Dwellings of the Settlers. First Births, Marriages, and Denths. - War Record -Congregational Churches and Ministers .- Baptist Church .- Episcopal Church. - Physiclans and Lawyers .- Schools. - Libraries. - Post Offices, Ronds and Bridges -. Early Settlers and Early and Later Business. - Magistrates. - Town Ofbeurs -Biographical
iv
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXVII. TOWN OF SAVOY.
Grants, Sales. an i Survoys .- Settlement .- Population. - Present Condition .- Schools. - Proment Set- tiers and Citizens .- Churches ..
CHAPTER XXVIII. TOWN OF SHEFFIELD.
Geographical and Descriptive .- Roads. - Villages .- Settlement .-- Changes in Boundary. - Churches -. Cemeteries .- Schools .- Sheffield Friendly Union. - Slavery .- Action of Town Pring to Revolution. -Sheffield in the Revolution .- The Shays Rebellion. - The Ashleys. War of 1912 -Post Othe and Stage Routes. - Hotels and Early Proprietors. - Manufacturing. . Quais Frombery - The Rebellion .-. Hon. Daniel Dewey .- Chester Deves. - Orull Dewey .- Daniel Deary Bar- hard .- Frederick A. P. Barnard. Gen. J. G. Barnard. - Bishop Janes -Orren Curtiss. J. Leland Midler, M. D .. 537
CHAPTER XXIX.
TOWN OF STOCKBRIDGE.
Scenery and Natmal Features. The Aborigines - Western Massachusetts Prior to 1290, - The Two First Grunts in the Housatonic Valley .-- Plans for Establishing a Mission. - Selection of a Mission- ary .- A New Township Proposed. -- Progress of the Mission .-- Family and Boarding Sebonis Pro- jected .- The Mission Under Edwards and West .- Summary of the Mission and its Results The Municipality .- Highways .- Allotting Individual Grants .- Mr. Edwards' Ministry - Rey. Dr. West's Ministry .- Successors of Dr. West .- Other Religious Societies.
565
CHAPTER XXX.
TOWN OF STOCKBRIDGE (concluded).
The Revolution .- The Shays Rebellion .-. War of 1812. - Schools. - Libraries .- Laurel Hit! Associatiou. -War of the Rebellion .-- Improvements and Public Benefactions .- Early Families .- Colonies from Stockbridge. - Dwellings, Ancient and Modern .- Massacre of 1:55 .- Cemeteries. Indian Monument .- Shade Trees-Intercommunication .- Manufacturing .- Public Houses. Other Pub- lic Institutions .- Miscellaneous .- Jonathan E. Field .-- Hon. John Z Ho irich
CHAPTER XXXI. TOWN OF TYPINGHAM.
Laying out the Land -First Settlement .- Roads .-. Proprietors' Meetings. - Incorporation. - Early School Houses .- Meeting House .- Rev. Adonijah Bidwell. .. Rev. Joseph Avery. - Rev Joseph Warren Dow .- Rev. Alvan P. Page .- The Settlers. - Methodist Church .- Baptist Church - In- dustries .-- Schools .- Shakers .- The Townsend Family. - Daniel Clark ...
CHAPTER XXX II. TOWN OF WASHINGTON.
Purchase .- Incorporation .-- First Church .- Washington Union Society. - Methodist Church. Schools. -- Cemeteries .- First Marriages, Births, and Deaths .- Roads and Mills. - Bridges .- Militia .- Taxes. Town Clerk3 .- Edwin D. Morgan 615
CHAPTER XXXIII.
TOWN OF WEST STOCKBRIDGE.
Incorporation and Boundaries. - Geographical Features .- Aboriginal Inhabitants and Proprietors. - Early Settlers .- Organization of the District .-- Early Settlers .- Building of the First Meeting House .- Churches and Societies, -. First Roads. - Post Offices. - The Revolution. -. War of '92. The Rebellion .-- Correteries .-- Schools. - Statistics. - Secret Societies. - Industries. -- Miscellaneous- George W. Kniffen .. 625
CHAPTER XXXIV. TOWN OF WINDSOR.
Grants, Surveys, and Sales .- Records .- Incorporation of Gageboro .- Change of Name .- The Town during the Revolution .- Congregational Church .- Baptist Church .- Schools .- Biographie !! Mention.
CHAPTER XXXV. TOWN OF WILLIAMSTOWN.
Laying out the Land .- First Meeting of the Proprietors .- Natural Features, Indian Hostilities. - Early Settlers .- The Civil War .- Churches. - Cemeteries .- Schools. - Library. Bank .- Industries -Reals'and Bridges. - Town House. - Wilinuns College ..
CHAPTER XXXVI TOWN OF WILLIAMSTOWN (concludel.)
Rer. Mark Hopkins .- The Danforth Family. Keyes Danforth. - B. F. Mille. - Summer Southworth. -Col. Ephraim Willons - Henry L. Satm. M. D. - Hon. Je ph White alla Milanis tole. The Phelps Family. Chester Partey - Stephen Williams. Enos Briggs - Hold. Der.
CONTENTS.
ILLUSTRATIONS.
PORTRAITS.
Bailey, Charles, M. D.
Barnard. Gen. J. G.,
Bidwell, Marshall S.
Clapp, Edwin, ... 104
Clapp, Thaddeus
Clark, Daniel ..
6!C
Coffing, John H.
Collins, Clarkson T., M.D
Curtiss, Orren,
Danforth, Keyes,
Dunham. From. Jarvis N
Field. Hon. Jonathan E.,
€J2
Francis, Amiron D.
Francis, Edward S
Goodrich. J. Z., ..
Hopkins, Rev. Mark,
165 106
Hulbert, Henry C ..
170 1 ::
Kniffin. George W
043 445
Miller, Dr. J. Leland,
502
Mills, Benjamin F.
601
Phelps, Thomas C
Plunkett. Hon. Thomas F.
41
Poitros, le nucl,
4:22
Pomeroy, Theodore,
Quackenbush, Cobra.
:: 16
Smith, Hon. Elizur,
15%
Sinith, Hon. Wellington
100
Southworth, Sumner
3:4
Tucker, Hon. Joseph,
Wellington, H. B ...
VIEWS.
Berkshire Atheneum. Pittsfield 120
Berkshire Life Insurance Company, Office, Pittsfield.
36.
Bishop, D). W., Residence, Lenox.
Curtis Hotel, W. O. Curtis, prop., Lenox.
First Congregational Church, Pittsfield
3 .:
Francis, E. S., Residence, Pittsfield
31.1
Glendale Woolen Mills, F. W. Adams, prop
505
Greenleaf, R. C., Residence. Lenox
151
Hurlbut Paper Co., Mills, Lee.
148
Ivison, Henry, dec., Late Residence
593
M. E. Church, Pittsfield.
Old Parsonage, Pittsfield.
3:1
Pierson. Miss C. H., Residence, Richmond
494
Pollock, Mrs. William, Residence. Pittsfield.
$1.5
Pontoosuc Woolen Manufacturing Company, Pittsfield
Smith, Hon. Ellzur, Residence, Lee
$.15
The Park in 180.
312
4:12 The Park in 1985.
MAPS & PLANS.
Plan of the First Pittsfield Meeting House ..
Plat of Pittsfield, (1:38). .. (1,52). 2.7
253
..
.. (1,59).
Map of Peru. Savoy
Hadbat, Thomas
Hulbert. Amos G
Ingersoll, Rev. Edward P
Martin, Calvin,
Pollock, William,
Rockwell, Hon. Julius,
Todd, Rev. John,
Gross, F. S., Residence, Lee ...
St. Joseph's R. C. Church, Pittsfield.
HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
VOLUME II.
CHAPTER J.
TOWN OF GREAT BARRINGTON." BY PROF. F. A. HOSMER.
Aborigines .- Monument Mountain .- Talet's Fight .- Patent of Westernbook .- English Set- tlers .- Quarrels with the Dutch .- North Parish .-- First Meeting House-Rev. Sampart Hopkins .- French and Indian Wars .- Incorporation .- First Town Meeting .-- charal Joseph Dwight. - Root's Tavern. - David Ingersoll's Works. - Gill Belcher .- court and Jail .- Dwight Mansion .- Israel Dewey .- David Ingersoll's Place. - Aaron She Men's Tavern .- Episcopal Church Edifice .- Main Street .- President Dwight's Visit. - D .. Patten's Visit .- Church Difficulties .- Dr. Samuel Hopkins. -- Rev. David Sanford .--. Episcopal Church .- Rev. Gideon Bostwick .- Alford .- Hoplands.
L ITTLE is known of the aborigines of Southern Berkshire beyond a few items of interest gleamed here and there. save what hints can be obtained from the stone implements that are not infrequently found in the valley of the Housatonic as in other parts of the State. Flint arrow tips and spear heads are quite common. stone mortars and pestles, some wronght in curious designs, tomahawks and chisels. have been occasionally discovered, and from several Indian burying grounds. ! P.p. pened upon in various parts of the river valley, pieces of rude pottery bare been exhumed. At Mount Peter, in the southern part of the village of Great Barrington, many arrow tips have been discovered, and in 1876 an
For the following brief sketch the writer is deeply indebted to the assistimos of th. Charles J. Taylor, from whose history of Great Barrington the fact- have been e bieter .
2
HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
Indian mortar, unusually well preserved, was found cut in the solid rock, and at the same time a broken pestle was dug up at the base of the hill. There is a tradition of an Indian village on the site of the Congregational church, which locality was known as the "Great Wigwam." Says the Rev. Sylvester Burt: " In addition to utensils and weapons of Indian manufacture, which have been often found, it is known that as early as 1726 the river used to be crossed half a mile below the Bridge, at what was then called the 'Great Wigwam.' This place was sometimes called the . Castle,' or rather, perhaps, the great wigwam standing upon it."
In the northern part of Great Barrington, about one half a mile south of the Stockbridge line, stands the eminence known as Monument Moun . tain, rendered famous by the well known poem of William Cullen Bryant. The name is derived from a conical pile of quartz stones on the southern slope, not far from the junction of the county and Muddy Brook roads. About sixty years since the rude monument was thrown down and an excavation made beneath, probably with the foolish hope of finding treasure. In 1884- a party of young gentlemen from the village rebuilt the monument in its original shape from the directions of Mr. Ralph Tay- lor. of Great Barrington, who saw the monument for the last time in 1821. in company with William Cullen Bryant. As long as the Indians remained in this vicinity it was their custom to add a stone to the pile whenever they passed the place. Among the different traditions con- nected with the monument one affirms that "it was raised over the first sachem who died after they (the Indians) came into this region." The story upon which Mr. Bryant's poem is founded is that an Indian girl. having formed a passionate attachment for her consin, and knowing that the religious customs of her tribe would not permit her to marry him. threw herself from the precipice, and that the heap of stones marked her grave.
Still another tradition is that the Indians of this region, learning that their territory was about to be invaded by a neighboring tribe, lay in ambush for their enemies at this place and put them to ront ; and that they erected this momument to commemorate the victory. Upon his first visit to these Indians. the Rev. John Sergeant, while passing from Great Barrington to Stockbridge in company with Ebenezer Poo-poo nuck. an Indian interpreter, November 3d, 1734, made the following entry in his diary : "There is a large heap of stones, I suppose ten cart loads, in the way to Wnah-tu-kook, which the Indians have thrown together, as they passed by the place, for it us'd to be their custom every time any one passed by, to throw a stone to it. But what was the end of it, they can- not tell ; only they say their fathers us'd to do so, and they do it because it was the custom of their fathers. But Ebenezer says, he supposes it was designed to be an expression of their gratitude to the Supreme Being, that he had preserved them to see the place again." The Indian name of this mountain was Mas-wa-se-hi, which signifies the standing up next.
3
TOWN OF GREAT BARRINGTON.
!
having reference to the precipice, which rises to the height of about 500 feet above the plain.
The first connection the English colonists had with the Indians of this region was the conflict since known as Talcot's fight.
While the scene of Talcot's fight is not definitely known, still it is quite probable that the skirmish took place at the fordway near the Great Wigwam in the village of Great Barrington.
In the office of the secretary of state at Albany there is recorded a petition dated July 11th, 1705, and signed by Peter Schuyler, in behalf of himself, Derrick Wessels and Company, for a patent of land "on a creek called Westenhook " for the purpose of trading with the Indians in beaver skins and other furs, and it is furthermore stated that the peti- tioners had already advanced money and goods to the savages and had purchased from them the said lands in October, 1703. The patent was granted by Governor Cornbury in March, 1705,# and though it is now difficult to determine the boundaries and descriptions of these lands. still it is certain that the territory included a large part of Southern Berk- shire and extended a few miles into Connecticut.
On the 30th day of January, 1732, Joseph Parsons and 176 other in- habitants of the county of Hampshire, which then included the entire valley of the Connectiont River lying in Massachusetts, petitioned the Great and General Court at Boston for grants of two tracts of land on the Housatunnuk River or West Brook, in the southwestern corner of Massachusetts. The petition was granted on the 30th of June, allowing two townships, each seven miles square, the one to have its southern boundary identical with the divisional line between Massachusetts and Connectient, the other to be located immediately north.
Colonel John Stoddard and Captain Henry Dwight, of Northampton, Captain Luke Hitchcock. of Springfield. Captain John Ashley, of West- field, and Samuel Porter, Esq .. of Hadley. were appointed a committee. to which Captain Ebenezer Pomroy, of Northampton, was afterward added. to divide the lands, to reserve lots for the first settled minister. for the schools, etc., to demand from each proprietor thirty shillings for every one hundred acres of land, and to expend this money in purchas- ing the territory of the Indians, laying out the lands, and erecting meet- ing honses. At a meeting of this committee, held in Springfield. March 19th, 1723, fifty-five settlers presented themselves and received grants of
*Of the apparent discrepancy between this date and July 11th, 1905, Mr. Charles J. Taylor gives the following explanation:
The discrepancy of dates between the petition of Peter Schuyler and the Patent of Westenhook-the latter apparently preceding the former -- is explained as follows: Until the year 1752. the English civil year began on the 25th of March, while the common year dated (as new) from January Ist: hence the custom of double dating between January Ist and March 25th, as 17046. 1:34 | 5 & c. The common year, beginning January ist. 1706, continued to be 1705 of the civil year until the 25th of March, and the proper dating within that time would be 1705-6: that is in the one case 1:06 after January 1st, and in the other 1700 until the 25th of March. The proper date of the Patent i- March 8th. 105-9; the patent was issued m 1700 of the common year, though in 1:05 of the English civil year.
4
HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
land, after complying with the conditions imposed. Measures were then taken to extinguish the Indian titles to the land, and on the 25th of April, 1724, the committee was met at Westfield by Chief Konkapot and twenty other Indians, who, for $460, three barrels of cider, and thirty quarts of rum, executed a deed conveying to the committee, with several reserva- tions, "a certain tract of land lying upon Housatonack river alius Wes- tonhook." This territory included what is now Sheffield, Great Barring- ton, Egremont, Mount Washington. the greater part of Alford, and large portions of Stockbridge. West Stockbridge, and Lee-a larger tract than was granted by the General Court.
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