USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Bernardston > History of the town of Bernardston, Franklin county, Massachusetts, 1736-1900, with genealogies > Part 1
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49
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Engs by H W. Smith, from a Dague by J & Wappie
Leshman
BERNARDSTON, MASS.
HISTORY
OF THE
TOWN OF BERNARDSTON
FRANKLIN COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
1736-1900.
WITH GENEALOGIES.
BY LUCY CUTLER KELLOGG.
GREENFIELD, MASS .: PRESS OF E. A. HALL & Co., 1902.
F74 BBBMY
Dedication.
AS A SLIGHT TRIBUTE TO THOSE EVER CHERISHED FRIENDS AMONG WHOM THE EARLIER YEARS OF LIFE WERE SPENT, AS AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE EXCELLENT EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATIONS RECEIVED IN THESE SCHOOLS,
In Lobing Commemoration
OF THOSE IMMEDIATE FAMILY FRIENDS WHO CHOSE THIS TOWN AS THE SCENE OF THEIR EARTHLY STRUGGLES AND TRIUMPHS, AND AS THEIR FINAL RESTING-PLACE, AND TO THOSE REMAINING, WHO, IN THE COURSE OF A COMPARATIVELY FEW YEARS, WILL BE TENDERLY AND REVERENTLY LAID BESIDE THOSE GONE BEFORE, THESE ANNALS ARE MOST AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED. 1
M293164
PREFACE.
The history of this town is, by far, of much greater value and interest than a casual observer of to-day would be led to believe possible. It is, therefore, with a feeling of deepest satisfaction that the completion of this work is viewed,-all the more intense because undertaken purely from motives of veneration and cher- ished remembrances of childhood associations.
As is well known to many residents of the place, this is the third attempt made to embody in permanent form the history of our ancestors, their struggles to reclaim the land and establish for themselves a home on the frontier. The late Lieut. Governor Henry W. Cushman began making notes of conversations held with older inhabitants as early as 1835. A native of the place, and thoroughly interested in local historical research, he sedulously collected, so far as he was able, each and every item of information which, by any possible chance, he might need in the preparation of the history he some day expected to publish. His death pre- vented the fulfillment of his hopes. His papers were all bequeathed to the New England Genealogical and Historical Society of Boston (of which he was a member), and for twenty years, to those locally interested, it seemed as if the fruits of his labors were lost.
In April, 1884, the town appointed a committee to procure the papers, finish up the work as might be necessary, and publish the same. It had been said, and was supposed to be the case, that, had Mr. Cushman lived, a month's labor was all that would have been required to complete the manuscript for publication. With the aid of an amanuensis, this might have been pretty nearly correct, for, to one who had been studying the subject and collecting mate- rial for so long a time, the general plan of procedure and scope of the work must have been practically arranged, mentally at least, and the need of a certain date or fact had but to become apparent
vi
PREFACE.
when it could be almost instantly produced. As it was, the com- mittee, Rev. Stillman Barber, Dr. O. A. Wheeler and Mr. Frederic Chapin, procured from the New England Society rooms in Boston, about 1700 papers, varying in size from a piece three or four inches square to a sheet of foolscap, and containing not only items rela- tive to town matters, but also personal and business letters, invita- tions, notices and even telegrams ; altogether a most heterogeneous collection, and one which, without a thorough perusal, might well seem of no practicable application to the subject. The committee were disheartened by the presentation of so many and unexpected obstacles, and the matter was then given no further consideration.
Under the stimulus of an ever-growing desire to learn of the days of old, to prove or disprove the many traditions, and having these desires fostered by the willing relation of many facts and incidents drawn from the retentive memories of family friends, the wish grew that others, too, might be better informed. Such was the inception of this volume. As the work progressed, the fact of how much was irrevocably gone by the passing of the for- mer generation, was borne home with overwhelming force and augmented the resolve already made, that all which was at pres- ent garnered in Memory's storehouse should be culled, that the harvest might be golden.
During the winter of 1889-90 these same papers of Lieut. Gov. Cushman were procured from the late Mr. P. L. Cushman, who had accidently found, and, recognizing the hand-writing of his cousin, Lieut. Gov. Cushman, taken them to his own home for safety. A discriminating research was made, and all in any way relative to the work proposed, laid one side ; the rest were returned to the Society in Boston.
At the annual March meeting, 1900, the town passed a vote mak- ing an appropriation to assist in the publication of this work, ap- pointing Rev. D. H. Strong, Messrs. O. W. Gray and R. L. Crowell as a committee to have the matter in charge.
In the winter of 1900 there was received from Rev. C. C. Carpen- ter of Andover, a few pages of manuscript " History of Bernard- ston," written probably about 1814 by Major Stephen Webster.
vii
PREFACE.
This quaint compilation of facts had been found among the papers of the late Dr. Carpenter, and further reference is made to it on pages 245, 6, 7.
Careful perusal and consideration of the best methods of pro- cedure followed. It soon became evident that everything in hand was of a decidedly fragmentary nature, and that the only systema- tized work left, was that embodied in the lectures delivered before lyceums, several of which had been published in the County papers as they appeared. Taking these as a basis, verifying and adding to the notes left, by careful research and close examination of the original records of both town and churches, as well as by an extensive correspondence, the result is herewith presented. And it is hoped that it will be received on its merits as an at- tempted faithful narration of what has been endured by those sturdy yeomen who gave the best efforts of their lives, of their free, untramelled spirit, to our immediate progenitors that they, in turn, might enjoy greater blessings and still further pave the way for a life of comfort and comparative ease for those who should come after them. So closely were the people allied and so dependent was each upon the other that the whole record is, as it were, a grand mosaic. Separate the lives and deeds as you will, each forms a small section, complete in itself, ornamental of itself, and furnishing examples worthy of emulation. Fit these sections, cement them firmly-as the lives and common interests of our people have always been cemented-and who shall say that ours does not express a living panorama of bravery, sufferings, priva- tions and hardships, merging finally into the greatest blessings that a cultured civilization can bestow?
It remains to gratefully acknowledge the cheerful and ready co- operation which has been everywhere extended, coming, as it has in many instances, from entire strangers. Thanks are tendered to Mr. Wm. P. Greenlaw and the New England Genealogical & Historical Society, of which he is a member, for the loan of books and manuscripts; to the Town Clerks, Messrs. Slate and Crowell, and to the local pastors for their interest and kindness in looking up and loaning books and papers; to Messrs. O. W. Gray, who has generously made and contributed the valuable maps; and to
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PREFACE.
George E. Burrows for his patient and painstaking work in the matter of illustrating. Both these gentlemen have a high stand- ing in their professions and their advice and disinterested labor in this matter has been of the greatest assistance in the preparation of the work. To Hon. Geo. Sheldon, and not least of all to my dear father and grandfather, who have always stood ready to ad- vise and revise, and to give from retentive memories many facts which it would otherwise have been difficult to obtain ; to my mother, who has always lovingly lightened home duties that needed time for research might be secured, and, finally, to each and every one who, by ready response to inquiries and with words of kindly encouragement, have thus assisted in bringing the inatter to a suc- cessful termination.
Few words will suffice to place this work before the friends and former townspeople, as well as those of future generations, for whose perusal, pleasure, and it may be profit, it has especially been compiled.
The value of local history is, year by year, becoming more and more apparent in this section, so rich in historical reminiscences. It is a difficult matter to find a place so secluded that careful re- search does not disclose some fact of interest to the general public. In the primal settlements of new countries there is always a marked similarity; even before the Christian Era we see the same parallel. The "survival of the fittest."
From the days when pagan Britain surrendered to the more civilized Roman government, through the so-called dark ages down to the time of Christ; then through the centuries succeed- ing, in the old world,-the then only known world, -the result is the same,-knowledge and strength combined triumph over ignor- ance and its attendant weaknesses. So in the early settlements in our own country, the arts and means employed in military warfare eventually overmatched the daring cunning of the uncivilized races.
ix
PREFACE.
The study of ancient history and of the pre-historic races is pos- sessed of a peculiar fascination, and the lives of many of our most learned men are expended in patient research and writing regard- ing the same. If, then, this deeply buried matter is of such inter- est and importance as to thus engage the wise men of our day, is it claiming too much to assume that each and every one of us ought to have some definite knowledge, first regarding the found- ing of the places with which our individual lives are intimately connected, and secondly concerning the lives and deeds of those to whom we directly owe our very existence? It would seem that a spirit of veneration would prompt such inquiry, but unfortu- nately this has not always been proven the case. The general his- tory of countries is now taught in the schools. Hence, as a rule, the young people of to-day are better informed upon such topics than were those of fifty years ago. On the other hand, formerly the early settlement of the country was a common subject. Had those of former generations realized the value of the knowledge they held and committed the main facts to writing, how much bet- ter instructed might we of to-day be! Much is now irrevocably gone and much that remains is so obscured that the most patient research alone will separate the true from the false, and not im- possibly then the shadow of doubt must rest upon some portion of that retained.
In the time that is left, ere our aged men shall have passed be- yond, let us each strive to glean all which their retentive memories have thus far perpetuated, and then see to it that the same is re- corded somewhere and in available shape, remembering that, while each may not regard prominence in the literary or historical world, it is the sum total of the little things,-common every-day happenings if you will,-which must enter into the construction of the grand, completed whole. The chronological table is filled only when each fact occupies its appropriate niche.
No attempt has been made to connect the events transacted here with those of the outer world, except so far as is necessary to a proper understanding of the same, and it is in the hope that some degree of information may be imparted to those now upon the stage of action, and with the certainty that those of a future generation
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PREFACE.
may see here as plain a record as possible, that this work is placed before the public. To those already near the golden gate may it revive pleasant memories! As it has been undertaken in a spirit of kindly affection, that its many shortcomings may receive a kindly criticism is all that is asked.
It is only by the ready assistance of friends that much needed material has been obtained. To them and to others let it here- with be returned.
Greenfield, Mass. Feb. 1902.
LUCY CUTLER KELLOGG.
L. C. KELLOGG.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
Location and Boundaries-Additional Grants-Colraine Gore-District of Leyden-Names of the Town and their Origin-Natural Features-River, Brooks, Mountains, Glen, Soil-Productions-Anecdote of Samuel Connable. -
I-8
CHAPTER II.
Early History and Origin-The Falls Fight-Petition for a Grant-The Reply-Territorial Grants-Proprie- tors-First Proprietors' Meeting-Division of Land -Numbers of the Lots Drawn-Josiah Scott's Set- tling Bond-Collectors-Plan of the Town Ordered -The "Gore" -- First Families-Church Matters.
8-27
CHAPTER III.
First Settlements-Location of the Forts-Methods De- vised for Escape from the Indians-Mr. Norton's Dismissal-Indian Hostilities-Burk Fort and its Inhabitants-Records of Military Service-Anec- dotes-Letter from John Burk to his Wife -- Resi- dents in 1760-Rev. Mr. Wright's Call and Accept- ance-Incorporation of the Town-Pound Ordered -First Town Meeting and Town Officers-Petition for Relief from the Province Tax-First Represen- tative, Major John Burk-Extracts from his Diary- His Commissions. -
CHAPTER IV.
Roads-Votes relative to Roads and Bridges-Bridges- Mills- Taverns-Stages - Railroad - Industries -- Shoe-shops -Snath-shops - Lime-quarries - Black- smiths -Stone-work - Rope-work -Tailers - Har- ness-making-Distilleries-Cutlery-Stores - 48-72
27-48
xii
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
CHAPTER V.
Political and Military History-Patriotic Position Taken During the Revolution-Committees of Inspection and Safety Appointed-Their Duties-Case of Jacob Orcutt-Revolutionary Soldiers-Captain Joseph Slate-Action in regard to the State Convention- Amount of Supplies Furnished-Votes in the first State Election-Valuation of the Town in 1780- Shay's Rebellion-War of 1812-Civil War-First Volunteers-Roll of Bernardston Men who served in the Army-Relief Work of the Ladies-Presenta- tion to Lieut. Hurlbert. 72-95
CHAPTER VI.
District of Leyden-Fall Town Gore. 95-101
CHAPTER VII.
Ecclesiastical History-First Parish-Organization-Early History-Early Ministers-Ordination Sermon- Rev. John Norton-Rev. Job Wright-Rev. Amasa Cook-Rev. Timothy Rogers-Society becomes Unitarian-Unitarian Pastors. 101-149
CHAPTER VIII. .
Baptist Society-Pastors-Orthodox Congregational So- ciety - Pastors - Universalist Society - Pastors - Methodist Society-Pastors-Dorrellites. - - 149-190
CHAPTER IX.
Bernardston's Centennial Aug. 20, 1862. 190-222
CHAPTER X.
Cushman Library-Schools. -
222-245
CHAPTER. XI.
Historical and Local Items-Roll of those who Served in Wars of 1744-1758-Revolution-Shays Rebellion- War of 1812-Civil War -Postmasters - Town Officials. 245-272
CHAPTER XII.
Homes -Park-Public Buildings - Cemeteries - Town Farm-Conclusion. 272-282
- Genealogical Register. -
282-525
ERRATA.
Page 2, line 23, and page 14, line 16, read Bernard instead of Barnard.
Page 2, line 24, read Hampshire instead of Franklin.
Page 6, line 3, read stratum instead of strata.
Page 29, line 4, read as instead of us.
Page 30, line 32, read Rebecca Perry, Miriam and Moses Scott instead of the three latter.
Page 49, line 3, after 1795, insert see page 121.
Page 65, last line, omit word now.
Page 82, line 3, read under Kingly instead of unkingly.
Page 152, line 14, read 123 instead of 49.
Page 166, line 11, read three instead of five.
Page 296, line 23, read Burk instead of Brick.
Page 379, line 26, read Stafford instead of Safford.
Page 384, last line, read Euda instead of Enda.
Page 412, line 5, read Miss instead of Mrs.
Page 422, next to last line, read Anson instead of Allson.
Page 436, line 8, read Frank E. instead of Frank J.
Page 486, line 20, omit Stebbins.
ADDENDA.
Here are to be found some families whose records were re- ceived too late to go into the Genealogical Register in their proper places, also two or three unintentionally omitted.
CUTLER, JOEL®, (James', Abner4, Thomas3, Thomas2, James1 of Watertown), b. May 20, 1796; m. (1) Apr. 10, 1828, Charlotte, dau. of Abraham Moore of Dover, Vt., who d. Mch. 16, 1832, ae. 29 years; m. (2) Mch., 1835, Ruby Haskins, widow of Andrew A. Rawson. She was b. in Dover, Vt., Feb. 14, 1803 ; d. Nov. 28, 1888. Mr. Cutler resided many years in Dover, purchasing in 1860 a small farm in North Bernard- ston, the place now owned by - Talbot, and where he d. Mch. 20, 1890. Until over 90 years of age he was able to look after his work. He retained a vivid recollection of the events of the War of 1812. Had :
i. EPHRAIM W.1, b. Aug. 13, 1829; d. Feb. 6, 1830.
A step-daughter, Lucy Maynard Rawson, b. Feb. 19, 1825; m. Mch. 17, 1853, A. Utley Chase of Bernardston.
LANPHEAR, CHARLES and GEORGE, brothers who came from the north part of Colrain to town some years ago. Charles re- sides near the iron bridge at the village on the Lathrop Cushman place, George on the Fox Brook road.
RICE, ARLAND FAYETTE3, (Jason A.2, Jason C.'), b. in Rowe, July 16, 1860; m. Mch. 23, 1891, Mrs. Ada R. Thayer, dau. of Fay- ette Snow of Rowe. She was b. Oct. 25, 1863. Mr. Rice re- moved from East Charlemont to Bern., Dec. 5, 1891, pur- chasing the Benjamin F. Hale place on the Gill road, his present home. Children:
i. AMY HANNAH4, b. Mch. 24, 1898. .
ii. ARLAND SNOW4, b. Jan. 18, 1900.
TOTTINGHAM, E. H., is by trade a painter having his shop in the old Universalist church building. His home is the place formerly owned by George Brooks, north of the New Eng- land House.
BERN VILLAGE.
CHAPTER I.
LOCATION AND BOUNDARIES-ADDITIONAL GRANTS-COLERAINE GORE -DISTRICT OF LEYDEN-NAMES OF THE TOWN AND THEIR ORIGIN -NATURAL FEATURES-RIVER, BROOKS, MOUNTAINS, GLEN, SOIL, -PRODUCTIONS-ANECDOTE OF SAMUEL CONNABLE.
Location and Boundaries .- Bernardston is situated contiguous to the State of Vermont, in a section of the beautiful Connecticut Val- ley justly famed for the grandeur and variety of its scenery. One of the northern towns of Franklin County, its boundaries are : On the north, the State line, on the east, the towns of Northfield and Gill, on the south, Gill and Greenfield, and on the west, Leyden. It is distant from Boston about 100 miles, west by north, in lati- tude 42 degrees, 43 minutes, and longitude 4 degrees, 19 minutes, east of Washington. Its shape is nearly that of a trapezium, none of its four sides being either equal or parallel. From a survey made by Lt. Gov. Cushman in 1830 it is seen that the west is the longest and the north the shortest side. The average distance north to south is five miles, east to west, four and one-half miles. At that time it contained twenty-three and one-fourth square miles, or 14,895 square acres.
Florida Grant .- When the town was first laid out it was not defi- nitely known where the State line was, but in 1763 the line was run, and it was found that a strip about one-half a mile in width on the north side, belonged to New Hampshire, which at that time included Vermont. To compensate the proprietors for the loss thus sustained, the Legislature granted, in June, 1765, about 7,500 acres on Hoosac mountain, which land is located within the pres- ent town of Florida, and the grant was confirmed in November of the same year. In 1779 trouble began with regard to town division, which was settled in 1780 by action of the Legislature, setting off 2,576 acres lying west of Green river, to Colrain. This was in ac- cordance with the wishes of the inhabitants of the "Gore," as the land thus disposed of had come to be known. March 12, 1784, the
2
NAME.
town was again shorn of her possessions by the district of Leyden being set off. It has twice received small annexations, the first time in 1838 when a small strip of land located near Mr. Hurlbert's factory was acquired, and the second, June 10, 1886, when the south- east corner of Leyden was ceded to the parent town. To-day the town of Bernardston comprises but about one-half of its original territory.
Name .- Its early name commemorated the event to which it di- rectly owed its existence,-the Falls Fight. Doubtless because of the length of the name." Falls Fight Township" as it was first called, came the gradual contraction to " Fall Town," and the stream " Fall River " probably took its name from the town and the circum- stances of its settlement, rather than the town having been named from the river, as some in recent years have asserted. Up to 1762, the time of the formal incorporation of the hamlet into a town, this was the name by which the pioneer settlement was known. In January, 1762, the General Assembly of the Province of Massachu- setts Bay set its official seal upon the petition presented by the in- habitants, and the name of Fall Town lingered only in the memo- ries of those to whom the place was possessed of a personal interest. To the world at large " Barnardstown " suggested the little village in northern Franklin County. This name was bestowed in honor of Sir Francis Barnard, baronet of Nettleham, Lincolnshire, Old England, and Provincial Governor of Massachusetts under George the Third.
The fact that the place was named for a Tory Governor has, at times, aroused the ire of some of her citizens, but some measure of consolation may be gleamed from the truism that the man could hardly have been held alone responsible for the age in which he lived, nor yet for having been born a British subject. May not the circumstance of his being considered by his king worthy to assume such a position, serve in some degree to mitigate this feeling?
The sentiments which led to the settlement of this country and the subsequent life of the colonists,- these two things of them- . selves would prevent anyone loyal to the British ruler from being acceptable to the people. The independent spirit here fostered was directly opposed to the policy of the English government, and
3
RIVERS AND BROOKS.
oppression was the inevitable result. Had England realized the strength of her offspring we might almost have looked for more diplomatic measures. Severe indeed was the lesson she had to learn!
The present name, Bernardston,- Barnardstown suffering con- traction, -is less suggestive, and, to the casual observer, there is nothing, as in the first names, to indicate anything relative to the town's history.
River and Brooks .- Fall River bisects the town from north to south, entering the Connecticut at Riverside a little below the Falls where occurred the memorable fight. It is a beautiful, placid stream whose waters are unusually clear and cold, owing perhaps to its being fed by innumerable springs and small streams. The source of its east branch is just south of the slate quarries in Guil- ford, Vermont. On the farm of Mr. Abbott Brown in North Ber- nardston it is joined by the north-west branch, coming down from the inountain west.
As in all places, the land is irrigated by brooks, some of the larger being locally known as the " Newcomb Brook," the " Ceph Slate " or " Branch Brook," "Dry " and " Mill" brooks, the "Casey Brook," "Moll's Brook " and " Fox Brook." Many of these names suggest their origin and application. The "Newcomb," " Casey," "Fox " and " Slate " brooks ran near or through the farms of men bearing those names.
"" Moll's Brook " owes its name to " Old Aunt Moll Foster" who, in her later years, became a town charge. She lived in a log house in " Moll's Hollow" (likewise named for her) east of the Burk bridge near where the brook empties its waters into Fall River. "Dry Brook " starts on " Huckle Hill," on the David Severance, --- afterward David Streeter - farm, and acquires its name from the fact that in its course downward, in the " Purple Meadow " back of the location of the Lieut. Sheldon Fort site, it is invariably dry in summer.
One characteristic of the brooks here is, that they are all moun- tain brooks, and their course carries them down through gorge and glen, forming by the roadsides numberless picturesque scenes and cool retreats, most inviting upon a summer day, or most beautiful to behold when in the grasp of winter.
4
NATURAL FEATURES.
Natural Features .- The natural features are everywhere varied and pleasing. The town is nestled in the valley running north and south, girt about with rugged hills, offshoots of the Green Moun- tain range. The principal elevations are locally known as West Mountain, Bald and Ragged Mountain, or, as the latter has been designated of late, " Tame Cat." West Mountain is nearly 630 feet in height, the others but little less. "From the top of West Moun- tain, which is a rock but a few feet in width, there is a beautiful, variegated and extensive view of the surrounding country, extend- ing south as far as Connecticut. North the view is intercepted by the Green Mountains and north-east the Monadnock rises like an island in the midst of an ocean. At the south-east the ‘deep roll- ing Connecticut' may be seen winding its course through the val- ley, as a poet has beautifully expressed it, 'Giving verdure to na- ture and morals to man.'
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