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Ge 974.402 G837t v.1 1682-1900 1129636
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
M. L: 1000 20
Bertrand Smith's
ACRES of BOOKS
CINCINNAT
Franklin Co.
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01100 9427
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/historyofgreenfi1168thom
1682
1900
HISTORY
OF
GREENFIELD
SHIRE TOWN OF
FRANKLIN COUNTY
MASSACHUSETTS
BY
FRANCIS M. THOMPSON
VOL. I
The puir man that has patience to mak' a buik, has some claim to the patience o' him wha only reads it .- ELIOT WARBURTON.
GREENFIELD MASS
1904
Entered according to an act of Congress in the year 1904 by FRANCIS M. THOMPSON, In the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington.
GREENFIELD, MASS. PRESS OF T. MOREY & SON.
1129636
TO GREENFIELD,-
WHO ADOPTED ME AS A LAD, WELCOMED ME HOME FROM THE ROCKIES, HONORED ME BY MAKING ME HER SERVANT, AND, THAT I MIGHT FOREVER BE HER DEBTOR, GAVE TO ME MY WIFE,-
I DEDICATE THESE STUDIES OF THE TOWN'S PAST, WITH HIGH HOPES FOR HER HONORABLE FUTURE.
-
PREFACE
" All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players ;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts."
I 1 N this work, undertaken at the call of my fellow towns- men, I have endeavored to picture to the present gener- ation something of the parts played by the men and women who occupied the local stage during the last two cen- turies and more, their entrances and their exits, and the manner in which they played their several parts upon the stage where the Great Manager of human events had placed them.
I will say at the outset, that the events of the first seventy years of the building of Greenfield were so interwoven with those that took place in the mother-town of Deerfield that the very thorough work done in the public archives and else- where by Hon. George Sheldon during the many years he spent in gathering the material so ably woven into his " His- tory of Deerfield " has very much simplified my labors in collecting the data of this period. In a much condensed narration of these early events I could but magnify those in- cidents which occurred in that part of Deerfield now Green- field, and curtail the narration of those scenes and incidents which were local to the old town. The work of Mr. Sheldon in writing on such broad lines the history of the old mother- town of this portion of the Connecticut valley, in organizing the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association and in gathering an immense amount of local historical material in print, manu-
V
vi
PREFACE
script and antiques, has accumulated a store of wealth which can be fully appreciated only by those persons who are deeply engaged in antiquarian research. His work has been thorough and the results remarkably correct. I have availed myself of them in no stinted measure.
Miss C. Alice Baker's wonderfully successful endeavor to trace the lives of those New England people who were, during the old French and Indian wars, " carried captive to Canada, whence they came not back," has made available to the student of history a field of romantic story of the most intense interest. I acknowledge my indebtedness to her diligent study and re- search.
My thanks are due to Rev. C. C. Carpenter of Andover for the loan of several volumes of clippings from the Green- field papers and other interesting local historical material. His recollections of the Greenfield of half a century ago, when he was a resident, are vivid, and his interest in the town is active and cordial.
Mrs. Lucy Cutler Kellogg's History of Bernardston, just published, and the Trumbull History of Northampton have been of great assistance in the preparation of this work.
Acknowledgments are due to John D. Bouker, our register of deeds, for his efficient work in preparing maps and deter- mining the location of many intricate land grants, and to the selectmen and town clerks of both Deerfield and Greenfield, the county officers at Northampton, the officials at the public archives, the state library and the adjutant general's office, and to the librarian of the New England Historic Genealogical Society.
I desire to express my gratitude to Mrs. Mary P. Wells Smith, Robert Abercrombie, Mrs. Samuel O. Lamb, Miss Eliza B. Leonard, Miss Fanny Wilson and Miss Sarah P. Smead for the loan of valuable historical papers, and to many others for the encouragement I have received from their in- terest in the progress of the work.
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PREFACE
I have made free use of not only my own contributions to the " Centennial Gazette," but also those of Rev. Dr. Moors and other writers for that very valuable contribution to the history of the town and county.
To particularize the aid rendered, and the very encouraging interest in the work which I had undertaken, exhibited by the professional and business men of the town and by former residents of Greenfield, would require the enlargement of this preface beyond reasonable limits. Family histories and in- teresting old letters have been loaned, access has been given to complete files of the local papers since 1792 and ancient account books showing former business methods, and tradi- tions have been repeated to the writer. For each and all I tender my grateful acknowledgment.
From all these and many other sources of information I have endeavored to glean the story of the building of Greenfield, to write in a plain and unadorned manner, and to embalm it by the use of that art which preserves all art, the printer's type.
In preparing this history of the town it has seemed to me that to make the work as complete as possible it was necessary to commence with the first settlement of Deerfield, for what now constitutes Greenfield was a component part of the original town until 1753. The lands lying in Greenfield were all owned by the Deerfield settlers and the first settlers of the Green River lands were mostly sons and daughters of the early proprietors of the Pocumtuck grants.
The owners of the original Dedham common rights shared in the additional grants made to the settlers on the Deerfield lands, and as their children came upon the scene of action many a son took his share of the family estate in the lands at "Green River," and the daughters married others who were ready to occupy and build homes upon the portions which came to their wives. Farming was almost the only business known, for every farmer was a "jack at all trades,"
viii
PREFACE
and even the few who followed some of the learned professions depended largely upon the farm for support.
Although a few venturesome people had settled on what are now Greenfield lands as early as 1682, the name of none is known except that of Joshua Pumry, and the destruction of Schenectady in 1790 precluded all further occupation of homesteads at Green River until after the peace of Ryswick in 1797.
The little history of the town written by David Willard, Esquire, in 1838, has been of great assistance in calling atten- tion to matters which might otherwise have escaped notice, and which deserved much more extended treatment than the limits of his work afforded. It is remarkable to observe the spirit of inquiry and research in matters of local history which has within the last few years come over the people. Un- doubtedly the work of the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial As- sociation, so ably conceived and carried to success, has done much to excite public interest in such matters in this locality ; but had the deep interest which now prevails among the people been felt a century earlier, what stores of most interesting knowledge of the passing events of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries would now be ours. The town does well to put in imperishable form the knowledge of the early days still retained, and by so doing to impress upon the coming generations the importance of gathering and preserving the history we are making day by day.
It has been the intent of the writer to gather all the avail- able history of the town, so as to make the work as nearly as may be a complete hand book of what has taken place in Greenfield since its settlement. The story is told in a plain and methodical manner without any attempt to theorize upon any disputed points which may have arisen in regard to the usually accepted story of former times. The writer has his views ; the reader may have his or her views of these mooted points.
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PREFACE
Considerable space has been given to publishing the marriages and deaths found recorded in an old diary of Rev. Dr. Newton. The reason for this is apparent when it is re- membered that of very many of these events no other record is to be found. Other statistics given space may seem to the casual reader dull, but to those specially interested in a par- ticular item the information here found may seem of great im- portance.
There is as much individuality in the character of towns, as in the character of persons. The town of Greenfield has always been noted as one of the most delightful places of residence in the whole commonwealth. Upon its two hun- dredth anniversary may the historian be able to truthfully say that the City of Greenfield has ably sustained the reputation achieved by it as a town.
The preparation of this work has been to the writer a labor of deep interest and pleasure. For many years all the leisure he could command has been given to searching out facts re- lating to local history, but not until recently has he had suffi- cient freedom from business cares to warrant his undertaking to write the history of the town. With fear and trembling he submits the result of his labor to the public, hoping that the story of the upbuilding of this model New England town will so interest the reader that he will forget to criticize.
Greenfield, December, 1903.
F. M. T.
مالي
1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER I
EARLY SETTLEMENTS ON THE CONNECTICUT RIVER
PAGE
The Pilgrim's story-The Puritan's story-Rev. John Cotton -Rev. Thomas Hooker-The Pequot war-Starvation relieved by the Pocumtucks-Hampshire county estab- lished.
I-6
CHAPTER II
DEDHAM AND THE POCUMTUCK GRANT
The Praying Indians-Nonantum Hill-Natick-Dedham- Dedham gets 8000 acres of lands-Its location-Spies sent out by Dedham-They discover Pocumtuck- Capt. John Pynchon purchases the Indian title-An " artist " lays out lots-Samuel Hinsdale's mission- Eight thousand acre line established-More land granted -Seven mile line fixed-" Proprietors of Pocumtuck " organized-Story of Apostle Eliot.
7-14
CHAPTER III
THE POCUMTUCK AND OTHER VALLEY INDIANS
Sahada, the Mohawk prince-The Mohawk and Pocumtuck fight-Four Indian deeds-Cow commons and sheep commons-Laying out the home lots-The name Deer- . field first used-Fish and game. 15-21
CHAPTER IV
THE POCUMTUCKS
The fur and peltry trade-The Wampanoags and King Philip -Swanzey and Brookfield attacked-Major Willard to the rescue-Troops gather at Hadley-Attawamhood
xi
xii
CONTENTS
and his Mohegans-Deerfield and Squawkeag gar- risoned-The Indian fort at Hatfield-Disarming the Indians-Capt. Beers ambushed at Sugarloaf-Houses palisaded at Deerfield-Pocumtucks attack Deerfield -Capt. Beers ambushed and slain-Major Treat relieves the settlers at Squawkeag-Squawkeag abandoned.
22-28
CHAPTER V
THE "ALARM " AT HADLEY
The story of the " Angel " Goffe-Sunday attack on Deer- field-The north fort burned-Capt. Appleton relieves the village-Pynchon orders wheat to be sent from Deerfield to Hadley-The Bloody Brook massacre- Deerfield threatened-Deerfield abandoned-Indian fort at Springfield-Pynchon and his men at Hadley -Springfield burned-The impudent Narrangansetts -The Narrangansetts destroyed-The attack on Hatfield-Philip at Squawkeag-Philip visits Canada -Winter camp on the head waters of the Deerfield. .
CHAPTER VI
THE FIGHT AT PESKEOMPSCUT
Canonchet taken prisoner and executed-Indians gather at Peskeompscut Falls-Thomas Reed, prisoner, escapes -A plan to surprise the Indians-Capt. Turner's march-Attack on Philip's forces-Its success-The English retreat-Capt. Turner killed-Capt. Holyoke saves the command-Great Indian losses-Jonathan Wells' remarkable escape-Rev. Hope Atherton's story -Martha Harrison's complaint.
CHAPTER VII
ATTACK ON HATFIELD
Hadley largely reinforced-Indian attack on Hadley-In- dian village destroyed on Smead's island-Peace in the valley-Capt. Church finishes the war-Philip killed- Peace declared-Attack on Hadley notwithstanding
PAGE
29-37
38-52
CONTENTS
declaration of peace-One person killed and four taken captive at Deerfield-Ben Waite and Stephen Jennings -Quinten Stockwell's letter-Ben Waite's appeal- Re-settlement of Deerfield-The " insolvencyes " of the Mohawks-Settlement of a minister-The sequestered lands.
xiii
PAGE
53-60
CHAPTER VIII
ANDROS AND THE COLONIES
The governor imprisoned-A "Council of Safety "-King William's war-Home lots designated at Green river- Settlers retire to Deerfield-Expedition against Canada -Attack on Deerfield-Joseph Barnard killed-Two captives taken on Green river-Stephen Williams' nar- rative.
61-70
CHAPTER IX
TOWN LEGISLATION
Mischievous "friendly " Indians-Indians attack Hatfield settlers-Maintenance of the meadow fence-Rules re- lating to care of stock-Joseph Parsons and his mill -Town roads-Death of Col. John Pynchon-Build- ing of a schoolhouse-Opening of the eighteenth century -Habits and customs of the settlers-Their sturdy common sense and Christian character.
71-79
CHAPTER X
QUEEN ANNE'S WAR
Eastern settlements attacked-Fortifications at Deerfield -Zebediah Williams and John Nims taken cap- tives-Warning from Albany-Old and new style -The Deerfield massacre-The story told in the Winthrop manuscript-The list of the dead and of the captives-The lower towns alarmed-The Meadow fight-Deeds of valor. 80-89
CHAPTER XI
REDEMPTION OF THE CAPTIVES
The march to Canada-Death of Mrs. Eunice Williams-The
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CONTENTS
Williams monument-" Their manner was if any loi- tered, to kill them "-Massacre of the Allen family-De Boucour's large army " turned back ashamed "-The woods full of Indian spies-Numerous Indian depreda- tions-Capt. Caleb Lyman's successful scout-Thomas Baker's captivity-Ensign Sheldon goes to Canada -Negotiations for exchange of prisoners-Sheldon re- turns-Young William Dudley's mission-Baker, Nims, Petty and Kellogg escape from captivity-Joseph Pet- ty's narrative-Sheldon and Wells return to Canada -Ensign Sheldon returns bringing captives-Rev. Mr. Williams reaches Boston-Mr. Williams returns to Deer- field-Mr. Sheldon goes to Canada for the third time-De Rouville again leads a party against the English-Preparations for the invasion of Canada -Mehuman Hinsdale's second captivity-Capt. Ben- jamin Wright's scout-Lieut. Samuel Williams and party go to Canada-Greylock visits his old home as an enemy-Queen Anne's war ended-Rev. John Wil- liams and Capt. John Stoddard go to Canada on a mission.
PAGE
90-108
CHAPTER XII
MILL AND LAND GRANTS
Mills erected on Green river-Grant to Capt. Jonathan Wells-Green river home lots-Grant to Quinten Stockwell-Regranting certain lots at Green river -Meadow fence on Green river-Green river meadow lots granted-Country Farms Division laid out-First division of lands " north of Cheapside and East of Green river"-New method of division called " choice pitch " -- Highways located-Each proprietor's share in commons, acres and rods-Joseph Brooks, squatter -Petty's Plain divided.
109-127
CHAPTER XIII
FATHER RASLE'S WAR
His life and character-John Stoddard's instructions to Capt. Barnard-Greylock's war party kills Rev. Joseph
1
XV
CONTENTS
Willard-Erection of Fort Dummer-Three scouts killed in what is now Greenfield-Mohawk warriors en- listed at Fort Dummer-Scouting-A skirmish near the Green river mills-Death of Father Rasle-Green River men in this war-Earthquake-Death of Rev. John Williams-Peace declared-Many grants of land made-James Corse makes a pilgrimage to Canada.
PAGE
128-140
CHAPTER XIV
INDIAN CONFERENCE AT DEERFIELD
Governor Belcher and the Council-Committee of the House-Distinguished guests-First conference with the Cagnawagas and St. Francis Indians-The Gov- ernor's speech-Auountauresaunkee replies-Presents distributed-Second sessions-Houssatounocs in at- tendance-Governor's address-Capt. Cuncaupot re- plies-Third conference-Scautacooks and Moheegs attend-The Governor speaks-The Indians reply -Presents distributed-The fourth conference- Speeches by the Governor and Auountauresaunkee -Exchange of wampum-The fifth conference-The Houssatounocs in council-The Governor and Cun- caupot talk-The Indians submit a written request-The sixth conference-The Cagnawagas present-The Governor and Auountaussoogoe exchange compli- ments-The Governor gives a dinner-Seventh con- ference-The Governor makes particular answer to the Houssatounocs-Capt. Cuncaupot answers-Om- pawmet sick-Eighth conference-Scautacook's day -Naunautookeau the orator-The ordination of Rev. John Sargent.
CHAPTER XV
THE OLD FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS
Forts built at Green River-Line of forts established-In- dians seen on North and Green rivers-Matthew Clark's brave deed-John Stewart's cow bell-The de- fense of Fort Massachusetts-Humane treatment of captives-Soldier killed at Green River-Massacre of
141-161
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CONTENTS
PAGE
the Allens and Amsdens-Fort Massachusetts re- built-Brave defense of No. 4-The Hobbs and Sackett fight-Peace declared at Aix-la-chapelle-The roll of honor. · 162-171
CHAPTER XVI
GREENFIELD SET OFF FROM DEERFIELD
Arbitration in olden times-Green River settlers claim Cheapside-Green River loses its case-Arbitrators' report-Organic act-Meetinghouse located-Warrant for the first town meeting in Greenfield-The first meeting-List of officers elected. . 172-183
CHAPTER XVII
RIVERS AND STREAMS
The territory of the new district-The Shelburne brooks- Green river-The Glen brook-Mill brook-Fall river-Cherry Rum brook-Fall brook-Noah Eager's remarkable spring-Localities-Little Hope-Blakeley Hollow-Petty's Plain-The Gulf-Lower Meadows- Upper Meadows-Flanders-Irish Plains-Bassville -Country Farms-Log Plain-Lampblack-Halfway Hill-Lovers Lane-Pudding Lane-Goose Lane- Factory Hollow-Charlestown-Cheapside-" Round the Mountain "-Judith's Point-Fort Hill-Sequest- ered land-Hay Meadow-Goddard's Meadow- Rocky Mountain-Poet's Seat-Bears Den-Canada Hill-Music Hill-Science Hill-and Nash's Mills.
184-193
CHAPTER XVIII
TOWN AFFAIRS
Settlement of a minister-Division of the sequestered lands -Greenfield surprised-The quarrel over the sequest- ered land-Greenfield gathers the crop-Greenfield has to pay for trespass-The Organic Act differs from the arbitrator's report-The referees sustain Greenfield- Trespass suits settled-Case taken to the General Court-No redress given. . 194-201
xvii
CONTENTS
CHAPTER XIX
THE LAST FRENCH WAR
PAGE
Preparations for the great struggle-Settlers ambushed and
slain at Charlemont-The people in distress-But seventy men left in Greenfield-Pastor McDowell's pe- tition-The army at Lake George-" The Bloody Morning Scout "-Col. Williams's death-Greenfield petitions for relief-List of Greenfield soldiers-Local forts garrisoned-Skulking savages-The Country Farms' tragedy-Canada expedition a failure-Green- field again appeals for aid-Pitt's rise to power encour- ages America-Indian depredations-2,000 men slaught- ered at Ticonderoga-Captives in Canada-Enthusi- astic support of the new campaign-Joseph McCowen's troubles-A successful campaign-Quebec taken- Deaths of Wolfe and Montcalm-Rogers punishes the St. Francis tribe-Montreal taken-Canada becomes an English possession-Peace at last-Lieut. Atherton's story.
202-224
CHAPTER XX
TOWN AFFAIRS
The Meadow fence-The building of the meetinghouse- Death of Rev. Mr. Billing-Action in regard to a burial place-Greenfield petitions for a new Organic Act- Gets small consideration-Petition for relief in taxa- tion-The meetinghouse is finished-Rule for seating the meetinghouse-District divided into school squad- rons-Forerunners of the Revolutionary War-Com- mittee of correspondence-Filling the quota-Purchas- ing supplies for the army-Depreciation of the paper money-Agitation of the "North-east " people to be set off as a district-The minister's wood is a burning question. . 225-239
CHAPTER XXI
PRE-REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD
The Whigs and the Tories-The State street massacre- The Boston tea party-List of residents of Greenfield
xviii
CONTENTS
PAGE
before 1760-Population-Property-Committees of correspondence, inspection and safety-Provincial Con- gress-Col. Israel Williams, Tory-Concord and Lex- ington-The call to arms-Capt. Agrippa Wells -- Roll of Honor-List of re-enlisted men-Capt. Timothy Childs -- Battle of Bennington-Burgoyne's surrender -- Prisoners' march to Boston.
240-252
CHAPTER XXII
THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR
Capt. Timothy Childs' company in service-Furnishing supplies for the army-Capt. Isaac Newton and his men-Quarantining Tories-Rev. Dr. Newton's loyalty -Rev. Jonathan Ashley's influence apparent-Ex- change of pulpits-Rebuking an Elder-No afternoon service-"I am not the devil !"-Capt. Newton's enlisted men-State constitution adopted-First Legis- lature -- Reorganization of the army-Massachusetts at Yorktown-Cornwallis surrenders-The desperate con- dition of affairs-The Constitution of the United States adopted-The nation assumes the war debt of the states.
253-262
CHAPTER XXIII
ANNEXATION OF CHEAPSIDE
Continuation of the struggle-Philo Temple's petition- Population and valuation-Committee make a favorable report-The Legislature goes back on its committee- The bill is defeated -- Rejoicings at Deerfield-David R. Wait's petition-Alleged misunderstanding in regard to sitting of committee-The Wait petition withdrawn-Philo Temple against annexation-David R. Wait's second petition-Charles H. Munn's remon- strance-Annexation is again defeated-Deerfield decorated and celebrated-Joel DeWolf's petition- Annexation refused-Local citizens' petition-Every legal voter in Cheapside signs it-Statistics of valua- tion and population-Deerfield voters prevent the raising of money to oppose the petition-Legislative committee have a hearing-Committee unanimously
CONTENTS
report in favor of annexation-A sharp and able fight -Success of the petitioners-The claim of our fore- fathers justified-" The 8000 acre line" no longer " remains the north line of Deerfield."
CHAPTER XXIV
THE SHAYS REBELLION
The immense public debt-Distress of the people-Conven- tions and conferences-Samuel Ely, insurgent-Mi- litia called out to preserve order-Moderation of the government-Bitter feeling against the legal profession -Insurgents prevent the sitting of the court at North- hampton-Attempt at Springfield frustrated-Court held at Worcester under protection of the militia- Defense of the Arsenal-The mob warned by Gen. Shepard-Shays's men are fired upon-Capt. "Grip " Wells loses four men of his company-Flight of the insurgents-Terrible winter march -- The insurgents are scattered-Rebellion in Berkshire county-Bernardston man kills a pursurer-Tried, convicted, led to the gal- lows, pardoned-500 militia quartered in Greenfield -Capt. Moses Arms and the members of his command -Greenfield men who took the oath-Major Buffing- ton-Sample of " Shays's " poetry.
CHAPTER XXV
TOWN LEGISLATION
The town gets a Justice of the Peace-Division of Hamp- shire county called for-The military spirit of the times -Seating of the meetinghouse -- More trouble about Mr. Newton's wood-North-east wants a meetinghouse -The town consents to "North-east " being set off- Thomas Dickman publishes a newspaper in Green- field-Business men in Greenfield in 1792-" Voted that the town can be accommodated with one meeting house "-Protest against a toll bridge at Cheapside- Gill is set off-Conditions of consent-The town en- courages a singing school-The Upper Locks and Canal at Montague-Cheapside bridge chartered- Seating the meetinghouse.
xix
PAGE
-
263-270
271-284
285-294
XX
CONTENTS
CHAPTER XXVI
ITEMS FROM TOWN RECORDS AND OTHER SOURCES
Library notice-Raising the road near Capt. Ames's house- Stores in Greenfield meadows-The town passes resolu- tions upon the alarming state of public affairs-Town purchases a poorhouse-Franklin County incorpo- rated-Court of Sessions calls for proposals for build- ing a courthouse and jail -- The town passes resolutions condemning the war-The town purchases a stove for the meetinghouse-List of Revolutionary pensioners. .
PAGE
295-304
CHAPTER XXVII THE WAR OF 1812
British aggressions-John Henry and his confessions-New England against the war-Disasters upon the land, suc- cess upon the sea-The Embargo-Second campaign meets success-The Emperor of Russia offers to medi- ate -- Treaty of Ghent-Jackson's great victory at New Orleans-Greenfield's contribution to the war. .
· 3º5-308
CHAPTER XXVIII
TOWN RECORDS AND TOWN GOSSIP
The town aspires to a college-The great fire on Federal street-Interesting statistics-Agrarian rules-The road in Federal street-The people want canals-The Green -. field Young Ladies' High School organized-The new Mansion House is opened-Cholera scare-Fellenberg school incorporated-John Russell & Co. commence business-County railroad meeting-Bernardston gets a corner of Greenfield-The surplus revenue-Build- ing a town hall-The great Whig convention in 1840- Many railroad meetings-Gen. Devens's first military commission-Village improvements-The cars arrive in Greenfield-Volunteer cattle show-St. James Church consecrated-New buildings-The Greenfield Tool Company- Washington Hall erected -High school opened-Town subscribes to build the Troy & Green- field railroad-Preparing for war-Filling the town's quota. .
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