USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Goshen > History of the town of Goshen, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, from its first settlement in 1761 to 1881, with family sketches > Part 1
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Gc 974.402 G69b 1127797
GENCALOUY. COLL
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01065 8018
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Present
مكر
Compliments of the 7
author
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4 Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
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https://archive.org/details/historyoftownofg00barr_1
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BENJAMIN WHITE, ESQ.
HISTORY
OF THE
TOWN OF GOSHEN,
Hampshire County, Massachusetts,
FROM ITS
FIRST SETTLEMENT IN 1761 TO 1881.
WITH
FAMILY SKETCHES.
BY HIRAM BARRUS.
BOSTON : PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR. 1881.
1127797
Goshen, April 8, 1881.
HIRAM BARRUS, ESQ.,
DEAR SIR :
The undersigned having been chosen a committee to mature and execute plans for a proper observance of the One Hundredth Anniversary of the Incorporation of the town of Goshen, desire to have you complete and publish the history of the town in season for that event.
We would also take the present opportunity to invite you to deliver an historical address on that occasion.
Most respectfully yours,
ALVAN BARRUS, GEORGE DRESSER, HIRAM PACKARD, J. H. GODFREY, T. P. LYMAN, T. I. BARRUS, ALONZO SHAW,
Committee.
GEORGE DRESSER,
Secretary.
PREFACE.
In compliance with the invitation of the Committee of the town, the History of Goshen is herewith presented. Portions of it were published in the Hampshire Gazette about fifteen years since, but nearly all has been re-written and also enlarged by the addition of much new matter. The material facts have been gathered, as far as possible, from the records of the church and town, and the archives of the state.
Copious notes of facts and incidents related more than thirty years since by some of the early residents of the town, have proved valuable aids. Among the persons who thus continue to speak through these pages, may be named Mr. Cyrus Stearns, a native of the town, who was personally acquainted with nearly every family from the first settlement of the town onward for nearly ninety years; Maj. Ambrose Stone, who was identified with the leading interests of the town from its incorpora- tion for about seventy years ; Capt. John Grant, Col. Luther Stone, Dea. Benjamin White, Mr. Moses Dresser and others, who were intelligent observers, life-long res- idents, and themselves important factors in the town's history.
The family sketches, intended at first to be only brief outlines, grew more and more extended as the work progressed and the material accumulated, till this de- partment assumed an unexpected prominence. It has involved much labor, and it is hoped will prove acceptable.
Hon. Charles Hudson, in his preface to the History of Lexington, says, "It is the fortune of those who compile our local histories, and especially if they deal with the genealogies of families, to rest under the imputation of being inaccurate." This is expected, and much care has been taken in the preparation of this work to disarm criticism by preventing errors. Yet some have crept in, and, as far as dis- covered, are corrected. Town records do not always agree with family records, in dates or names : Mary is often used for Polly, Sarah for Sally, Elizabeth for Betsey, Dolly for Dorothy, and, now-a-days, everything possible among female names is euphonized by change of termination into ie-Sallie, Mollie, Hattie, Maggie, &c. Such changes may be pleasing to the ear, but are confusing to the genealogist, and may yet result in perplexing the courts as to the identity of persons named in wills and other important documents.
The sketches of some of the families are quite disconnected and will be found on pages widely separate, in consequence of obtaining some of the facts after the others had been put in print. Proper names are usually given as spelt in the original records, and hence the spelling is not always uniform.
The record of marriages commences on the settlement of Rev. Mr. Whitman in
6
HISTORY OF GOSHEN.
1788, and continues nearly complete to the present time. Where the date of mar- riage is wanting the date of the "Intentions of marriage" is given. The records of these commence in 1783, but are missing from 1853 to 1867. The record of births previous to 1844 is very deficient, probably mislaid or lost. A list of baptisms is inserted to supply in some measure the deficiency, the date of baptism generally indicating within a few weeks or months the date of birth.
Grateful acknowledgments for courtesies received in the preparation of this work, are due Rev. J. E. M. Wright, Emmons Putney, Miss Fannie E. Hawks, Albert B. Dresser, Alvan Barrus and others of Goshen; J. Milton Smith of Sunderland ; Hon. Albert Nichols of Chesterfield; Luther James, Esq., of Ann Arbor, Mich .; Hon. James White of Boston ; Hon. Levi P. Morton, recently appointed United States Minister to France ; Rev. D. G. Wright, D. D., of Poughkeepsie, N. Y. ; Dr. Edward Strong, of the office of Secretary of State, Boston ; Miss Mary E. Stone of the Congregational Library, and Hon. J. W. Dean, Librarian of the N. E. Genealogical Society, Boston.
In conclusion, the history is dedicated to the sons and daughters of Goshen, wherever residing, in the hope that they may prove worthy of their ancestry in whatsoever things are true ; in whatsoever things are honest ; in whatsoever things are pure ; in whatsoever things are lovely; in whatsoever things are of good report.
HIRAM BARRUS.
BOSTON, May 14, 1881.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
THE TERRITORY SETTLED.
From the first settlement, 1761, to Incorporation of the town, 1781. New England enter- prise, Early pioneers, 9; First winter, Two wives and five children, Beaver meadow, The truant cow, Fall of the chimney, Other settlers, Disturbed slumbers, 10-11; More arrivals, Quabbin and the Gore, Narragansett expedition, Grants to the soldiers, 11; Chesterfield incorporated, Gore annexed and set off, Town officers, Birth of first child, Close of French and Indian War, First physician, Minute men, 12; Muster roll of Lexington men, 13-14; Days of grief, Camp distemper, Burgoyne, 14; Hard winter of 1780, Dark day and Dr. Byles, Buckskin and bean porridge, 15.
CHAPTER HI.
THE TOWN INCORPORATED, 1781.
Copy of petition, 16; Agent and committee, Act passed, and town named, First town meet- ing, 17; Other meetings, Minister called, Money raised for soldiers, School districts, Contributions for Southern sufferers, 18; Meeting-house located and built, Goshen rs. Utley, 19; I'lan of the house, Long sermons and cold weather, Honse removed, 20.
CHAPTER III.
ANNALS OF THE TOWN, 1782-1880.
First annual meeting, "Bulldozing" Congress, 21; Not an office-seeker, Paper currency "in a constitutional way," School matters, 22; Warned out of town, 23-4; School houses, Seat- ing the singers, 24; Painting the church, Dog tax and School money, Weights and meas- ures, The "James Fund," 25-6; The embargo, Congress asked to explain, Severe cold, 26; War of 1812 disapproved, Call for troops, 27; Soldiers that went, Cold summer, 28; School house built, Baptist church built, Average temperature of winter seasons, Road case in court, 29; Committee in charge of funerals, Ovation to Revolutionary soldiers, 30; Surplus Revenue, 31; Log cabins and hard cider, School districts, 32; Town house built, Money raised for volunteers in 1861, War notes, 33; Cemetery enlarged, Will of Whiting Street, Town officers 1880, Centennial committee, 34-5.
CHAPTER IV. TOWN AND COUNTY OFFICERS.
Town Clerks and Selectmen, 35-9; Representatives to General Court, 39-40; Justices of the Peace, Coroner, County Commissioner, Deputy Sheriff, 40.
CHAPTER V. CHURCH HISTORY.
Congregational church organized, Members, 41-2; First meeting for business, Pastor called, Half way covenant, 42; Non-intercourse act, 43; Chords and discords, Recogni- tion of the sisters ; Deacons chosen, Rev. Mr. Whitman installed, 44; Dancing disallowed, Missions, The Catechism, 45; Mr. Whitman dismissed, 46; Succeeding pastors, 47-8-9-50;
8
HISTORY OF GOSHEN.
List of Deacons, 51; Revivals and results, 52; Additions to the church, 53; Native minis- ters and wives of ministers, 54-62; Journey to the Choctaws, 59; Amos Dresser, 61; Nu- cleus of Fund for church building, Congregational Society organized, Mrs. Williams's Fund, 63; Singing affairs, Dr. Bushnell, 64-6; Centennial of the church, Baptist church and society, List of members, 66; Pastors, 67; First Calvinistic society, Second Advent church, 67.
CHAPTER VI. SCHOOLS-68.
Division of the town into districts, Successors of the early residents down to the present, 68-72; Early school rooms, 72; Books, 73-4; Select schools, Teachers, 74-5; School Com- mittees, 77-6; Statistics, 76-7.
CHAPTER VII. HIGHWAYS AND OTHER MATTERS.
Route of troops, 78; Method of travel, Post-office, Transportation of goods, Houses on the road to Northampton, 79; Stores and Taverns, 81-2; Highland House, Goshen scenery, 83; Physicians, 83-5; Industrial pursuits, 85-7; Mills and Trades, 88-92; Military compa- nies, 92-5.
CHAPTER VIII. WAR OF REVOLUTION, 95.
Drafted persons, Soldiers and place of service, 95-8; Capt. Weeks' Journal, 99, 100; Wm. White, delegate, -; Continental money, 101; Burgoyne's men, 101-2; Literature of the Revolution, 102-3; War of 1812, 103; The Great Rebellion, 103; Sketches of soldiers, 105-8.
CHAPTER IX. MISCELLANIES.
Geological, 108; More's Hill; Great Meadow, 109; Ponds and Brooks, 110; Population and Depopulation, 111; Wages, Indian relics, Tornadoes, 112-3; Perished in snow storms, Wild animals, 114-5; A fatal remedy, 115; First apple tree, Slaves freed, Shay's Rebel- lion, 116; Travelling in Circles, Beech trees not struck by lightning; Locofoco matches, 117-8; Casualties, 118; The burying ground, Malignant diseases, 119; Buildings burnt, Aged people, 121; Atlantic cable celebration, 122-4; Town officers for 100 years, 124-6.
CHAPTER X. "OLD TIMES."
Personified and sketched, 127-132.
CHAPTER XI. FAMILY SKETCHES, 133-216.
Additions and corrections, 207; Marriages, 216; Intentions, 223; Births, 226; Baptisms, 233; Deaths, 237.
APPENDIX.
Act of Incorporation, 246-7; Biographical-J. D. Chamberlin, 248; Rev. J. S. Burgess, 248-250; L. L. Pierce, 250-2; Centennial Committee, 252-3; Index, 255-262.
HISTORY OF GOSHEN, MASS.
CHAPTER I.
1761
1781.
The sons of New England have earned the reputation of being an enterprising people. Their love of home is proverbial, yet seldom so strong as to prevent their removal when prompted by necessity, or when by so doing they may expect to improve their condition. The rapid filling up of the older towns made emigration to new localities not only desirable but necessary, and this process continued shows how neighborhoods became towns and towns became states.
Isaac Stearns came to this country from England in 1630 in the same ship, it is thought, with Gov. Winthrop. He and "his kinsman," Charles Stearns, settled in Watertown, Mass. Charles was admitted freeman in 1646. In 16So he sold hislands in Watertown, and with his son Shubael removed to Lynn and took up his residence on the wild lands near Reading. Shubael, a soldier in the Narragansett expedi- dion, had a son Ebenezer, who married Martha Burnap of the latter town in 1717 and removed to Sutton, where the first settlers received one hundred acres of land free. David Stearns, the fourth son of Ebenezer, born 1729, removed to Dudley, remained a few years, and in 1761, accompanied by Abijah Tucker sought a new home in the un- broken forest that covered the hills west of the Connecticut river. David Stearns may have received his land here in consideration of his grandfather Shubael's service in the Narragansett expedition. They brought their families to Northampton and left them there during the summer, where they could often visit them, and then proceeded on their way, following the then recent military trail towards Albany
10
HISTORY OF GOSHEN.
for about twelve miles. Here they stopped, felled the trees, built a log house, and began to cultivate the land. The location is still ' marked by the old cellar and well, about thirty rods north of the house of Amos Hawks, near the old boundary line between Chesterfield and the "Gore." Here the two families spent the winter of' 1761-2, their only neighbors, within the present limits of Goshen, being wolves, bears and other wild beasts. Lonely as that winter must have been to these families, it was further increased by the frequent absence of the men in Northampton, where they found employment among the farmers, leaving the two wives and five children, to keep their houses and care for the cow and horse. "Beaver meadow," two miles away to the north, had furnished pasturage in the summer and hay for the winter. One day, in the absence of the men, the cow wandered away through the deep snow to the meadow, and did not return as the night came on. Neither woman would go alone for the cow, nor remain alone with the children, so they compromised by taking out the horse, loading the five children upon his back, and all went for the truant cow.
Another incident was remembered and told by one of the sons, Cyrus Stearns, who lived to be 90 years of age, and abounded in facts relating to the early history of the town. The chimney of their house was a rude affair, and one morning, while preparing breakfast, the mother saw it giving way and about to fall. She placed her shoulder against the lowering mantel and held it while the children escaped by flight, but the breakfast was buried in the ruins.
In the spring of 1762, Ezra May from Woodstock, Conn., with ten hired men and Ezekiel Corbin and wife to do their cooking, com- menced clearing what is still known as the Mayfarm, now owned by Mar- lon Damon. William White from Charlton came about the same time and boarded with May while clearing his own lands half a mile south, now in possession of Marshall Dadmun. White was an excellent marksman, and game was so plenty that it is said he killed enough on his way to and from his labors to pay his board. He once shot two ducks, cutting off both heads with a single ball, Robert Webster from Dudley and Lemuel Lyon from Woodstock came the same year. As a protection against the wild animals, the wife of Webster, when he was absent, kept a fire burning outside the cabin in the night. One night when alone with her infant child, the horse became frightened by some wild beast, and with a loud neigh came rushing through the
11
HISTORY OF GOSHEN.
doorway, which was only closed by a blanket, into the room where she slept. Another woman alone in a moonlight night was suddenly surprised by seeing a wild cat jump through an open window in the attic down into her room. The shriek of the woman was too much for the intruder, and he left as suddenly as he came.
Other settlers that came within a few years were Asa Grant from Wrentham, John James and Zebulon Willcutt from Cohasset, Joseph Blake and Edward Orcutt from Hingham, Reuben and Moses Dresser, and Ebenezer Putney from Charlton, Thomas and Daniel Brown and the five Banister brothers-John, Lemuel, Christopher, Barzillai and William-and probably Artemas and Sylvanus Stone, from Brookfield, Joshua Abell from Rehoboth, Capt. John Bigelow, Isaac Kingman, James and Joshua Packard from Bridgewater, Doctor Benjamin Bur- gess and Samuel Mott from Tisbury, John Smith, Timothy Lyman, Benjamin Parsons and his sons, Ebenezer, Justin, Solomon, Silas and Benjamin, from Northampton, Thomas Weeks and Ambrose Stone from Greenwich, and William Hallock from Long Island.
The territory included in the town of Goshen was formerly desig- nated by various names. The southern portion lying west of what is now Williamsburgh, consisting of thirty lots of one hundred acies each, was called "Quabbin," "Quabbin Proprietary, " or "First Addi- tional Grant." The northern portion lying between "Quabbin" and Huntstown, now Ashfield, containing about three thousand five hun- dred acres, was called "The Gore," "Chesterfield Gore," or "Second Additional Grant." The division line between Quabbin and the Gore extended from the N. W. corner of Williamsburgh westerly, just south of the meetinghouse, to Cummington line.
These grants were made to satisfy the claims of the heirs of the soldiers in the Narragansett expedition in King Philip's War. They were promised "if they played the man, took the fort, and drove the enemy out of the country, they should have a gratuity in land besides their wages." Pursuant to this promise the court in 1732 granted seven townships, each six miles square, to the descendants of the 840 soldiersengaged in the expedition. These townships were located in Maine, New Hampshire, and in this state. "Narragansett town- ship" No. 4, located in New Hampshire, was reported unfit for settlement, and in lieu of it, the territory called "Quabbin," now Greenwich, Mass., was granted. But this being less than six miles square, "The First Additional Grant," above named and now included
12,
HISTORY OF GOSHEN.
in Goshen, was made to supply the deficiency. This also failed to give entire satisfaction and "The Second Additional Grant" was made.
In 1762 Chesterfield was incorporated and the "Quabbin" district was included within its limits. In the following January, on petition of its inhabitants, the Gore was annexed to Chesterfield by the Gener- al Court without serving notice or asking consent of the town. Twenty-three inhabitants of Chesterfield, in their turn, petitioned to have the people of the Gore set off again, for the reason that "their being annexed had laid foundation for lasting contention, as the in- habitants living on said Grant will have it in their power to erect the meetinghouse quite out of the center of the town, the place heretofore pitched upon for it, which is on the county road." Their petition prevailed, and the Gore was dis-united in June of the same year.
The early settlers of "Quabbin" and the "Gore" had men of recog- nized ability among them, as shown by records of the first annual town meeting in Chesterfield. Of these men the following were chosen to . office: Ezra May was chosen moderator of the meeting, and also constable and chairman of the board of selectmen ; Abijah Tucker was also chosen selectman ; David Stearns, warden ; Robert Web- ster, highway surveyor ; William White, deer reeve. May served in Chesterfield six years as selectman, William White two, Abijah Tucker five, Robert Webster two, Reuben Dresser, Joshua Abell, Christopher Banister one each.
The first child born within the present limits of Goshen was Sarah, daughter of Ezra May, January 27, 1763, who married Elisha Morton of Williamsburgh ; the first male child was Samuel, son of David Stearns, March 25, 1763, who died young.
The close of the French and Indian War by the treaty of 1763 gave a new impetus to emigration to the "West," which at that time was reckoned within the limits of the state. In a petition to the General Court the people speak of their settlement, which they aver has gone on prosperously since they have been freed from the fear of the In- dian enemy. The early settlers, being chiefly young people, their occupation and the climate healthful, families became large, invalids were few, and physicians scarce. Dr. Isaac Robinson, who was here in 1771, was probably the first resident physician, and remained about eleven years-perhaps till Dr. Benjamin Burgess came.
Several men belonging in what is now Goshen, were enrolled among the minute men in Capt. Webster's company, and marched two days
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HISTORY OF GOSHEN.
after the battle of Lexington to the defence of that part of the state. The following, copied from the state archives, gives the list of Capt. Webster's company of minute men.
A Muster Roll of the Minute Men under the command of Capt. Robert Webster in General Pomeroy's Regiment, whomarched from Chesterfield in the County of Hampshire, April 21, 1775.
*Robert Webster, Captain. Ebenezer Cole,
*Christ. Banister, Lieut.
Jabez Cowles,
*William White, Serg't.
*Christo. Grant,
Daniel Littlefield,
Thos. Pierce,
*John Halbert 66
Tilly Burk,
James Cox,
Adam Beal,
Richard Silvester, Corp.
Stephen Tyler,
Nathan Web Tyler,
*Wait Burk, Asa Packard, Fifer.
George Mills, Jun.,
Privates.
Everston Beswick, John Shea,
*Richard Burk,
Josiah Brown,
*Samuel Olds,
Joseph Brown,
Josiah Clark,
Asa Spaulding,
Enoch Pratt,
*Benj. Bourn,
Zach. Curtis,
Wm. Damon,
Simeon Higgins, Wm. Turner. 3
[These were paid for six days service probably before they joined Gen. Pomeroy's regiment. Their names in October, 1775, appear with others from Chesterfield in a muster roll as the Sth Co. of the Sth Regiment of Foot in the Continental army, posted at Dorchester, under Col. John Fellows.]
The records continue :
Men's Names that Returned Home.
Travel. Time of Service.
Jere Stockwell, 2nd Lieut 230 miles.
I month, 7 days. 66
*Jona. Nelson, Corporal.
I
Justin Wright, 80 66
14 “
Edward Converse, Drummer : - 230 66
* Residents of Goshen.
Benj. Got Ball,
Luke Silvester,
Robert Damon,
Amos Crittenden,
Sam'l Leach,
*Cyrus Lyon,
Isaac Buck,
14
HISTORY OF GOSHEN.
Travel. Time of Service.
Privates.
*Timo Lyman
14 days
Elijah Warner
14 "
*Artemas Stone
14 "
*Reuben Dresser
18 "
* Barzillai Banister
I
66
*Eben'r Putney
I 66
7 66
Aaron Jewell
I
66
Prince Cowen
14 "
*Oliver Taylor
14 "
Chester Kid 68 miles. 3 "
66
Josiah Perry .
3
The men that returned home were allowed one penny per mile for travel each way-230 miles. The privates received about 25 cents per day as wages. The two rolls show the amount due the officers and men £52. 6s. 4d. Signed and sworn to by Capt. Webster, December 25, 1775. Read in Council and allowed, February 6, 1776. The names of Caleb Cushman and Nehemiah May are included in another list of minute men among the papers of Capt. Webster, each being 28 days in that service.
The early settlement had its days of sorrow. The darkest time in its history was in 1777 -8. The " camp distemper "- probably dysentery - introduced by a sick soldier, became epidemic and raged fearfully. In 21 days there were 21 deaths. In some families all the children died. Reuben Dresser lost three children in six days, Ebenezer Putney two in one day, Col. May two in five days.
Gen. Burgoyne, with his army, was then on his way from the north, and the people were expecting he would march across from Albany to Boston, laying waste the country as he passed. The probability that he might go through this section added not a little to the pre- vailing distress. The men not already in the army were called out to oppose his progress, and so many went that the ripened crops in the field stood unharvested, with few men or none to gather them. The mothers and daughters, equal to the emergency, came to the rescue, and with their own hands gathered the crops that were to supply their food for the dreaded winter. Their self-denying efforts were not lost. Burgoyne defeated at the battle of Saratoga, marched from Albany
* Residents of Goshen.
15
HISTORY OF GOSHEN.
to Boston, as a prisoner of war with his humiliated army, and the patriotic women had the satisfaction of seeing a portion of the prison- ers pass through this town under guard of our soldiers.
The winter of 17So was known among the early settlers as "The Hard Winter." Severe cold and deep snow prevailed, and for six weeks the sun did not melt the snow on the sunny side of the build- ings. Deer huddled together where they could browse among the small twigs of trees, and being unable to escape through the deep snow by flight, were easily killed with clubs, and to such an extent was the slaughter, that they were nearly exterminated. Major Ambrose Stone removed here April 20th of that year, and gave it as a fact that at that time the fences were buried in the snow out of sight, " stakes and all." The snow was then so solid that loaded teams travelled over it wherever their drivers chose.
The Dark Day of May 19, 1780, belonged to this period. An unusual darkness extended over New England nearly all day and night. Candles were needed at noon-day, fowls went to their roost, the frogs peeped as though it were evening, and in the universal gloom many people thought the final day had surely come. The cause of the darkness was never satisfactorily explained, and the answer of the punning Rev. Dr. Byles, sent by the servant, was per- haps as good as could have been given : " Tell your mistress I am as much in the dark as she is."
Luxuries in these early days were rarities. The dress of the peo- ple was prepared more with reference to comfort than to the dictate of city fashions. Buckskin mittens and breeches were in common use. Shoes with leggins were for winter wear, and boots were so rare an article that a young fellow from abroad wearing a pair was nick- named " Boots," for his extravagance. Flax was then. as for long years afterward, raised, pulled, rotted, broken, swingled, hatcheled spun, woven and wrought into clothing for summer wear ; and wool from the fleece was carded, spun, dyed, woven by the hand of woman for winter clothing. The cradle for the infant was a segment of a hollow log ; a block of wood served for a chair ; an upright block three feet high, with a cavity in the top, and a heavy pestle, was used for reducing corn to hominy for many a frugal meal. "Bean por- ridge hot, bean porridge cold," and " bean porridge nine days old," was one of the luxuries that came of a liberal preparation of potluck. Wooden plates, or no plates, was the early fashion, then came pewter dishes, and finally earthen.
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