USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Hawley > History of the town of Hawley, Franklin County, Massachusetts : from its first settlement in 1771 to 1887, with family records and biographical sketches > Part 1
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HISTORY
OF THE
TOWN OF HAWLEY,
Franklin County, Massachusetts, FROM ITS
FIRST SETTLEMENT IN 1771 TO 1887.
With Family Records and Biographical Sketches.
BY WILLIAM GILES ATKINS.
"Breathes there the man with soul so dead, Who never to himself hath said, This is my own, my native land? Whose heart hath ne'er within him burned, As home his footsteps he has turned From wandering on a foreign strand?"
WEST CUMMINGTON, MASS: PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR. 1887.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations, 1896
-
PREFACE.
In compliance with a long cherished desire to compile a work of this kind, the History of Hawley is herewith presented. The author does not present it with the expectation or desire of being noted as a histo- rian, but to arrange in a substantial form the archives of his native town, adding such facts, reminiscences, statistics, incidents, sketches and general items, as shall interest the general reader, or at least those who have emanated from the old town, and their descendants.
We were aware from the first that the quality of the work would be in proportion to the amount of research made, and have endeavored to can- vass thoroughly and carefully in its interests, still, there are cn issions -the reader will supply them, there are errors-you will generously and kindly correct them.
In the arrangement of the work, the matter is unavoidably somewhat mixed, as material was constantly arriving after other matter of a kin- dred nature was in print. The family records, as furnished by the town records, are very incomplete, and in many cases disagree with records furnished by families themselves, but correctness has been the aim; oth- ers could have done better-if they would-but the lot fell on us.
In the compilation valuable assistance has been rendered, and special thanks are due to Town Clerk, Lucius Hunt and family, Rev. Henry Seymour, Mrs. Ann Eliza Scott and others of Hawley, Geo. D. Critten- den of Shelburne Falls, P. L. Page of Ann Arbor, Mich, P. F. Cooley of Pittsfield, Mrs Alfreda Stebbins of Deerfield, James M. Crafts of Whately, and others who have given acceptable aid. Copious notes have been taken from the records left by Mrs. Jerusha King, some of which date from the first settlement of the town, and are regarded in the main as authentic, also from Dr. Holland's "History of Western Massa- chusetts" and Evarts' "History of the Connecticut Valley."
There are also many to whom no thanks are due, who have not so much as answered our correspondence.
We now produce the result of these researches, hoping it will be ac- . ceptable to those of present and future generations. Let the reader fol- low the generations here recorded, associating with each the events of which they were the witnesses; follow them through their rough pio- neering; through the dark days of war, and through their subsequent prosperity; note their joys and their trials, their hopes and their fears. By a little stretch of fancy place yourself among them and live over the quaint customs of the olden time, their manner of thought, of speech, of dress, of worship, of amusement, and it will not only make a reality of history but will introduce to you your ancestors as tlky really were.
It will be seen that an individual is but a link in the chain of human- ity; that a lifetime, at the longest, is an hour on the dial, and that what- ever we would that the past generations had done for us, it is our duty to do for those to come.
The following pages will portray the origin, rise and progress of one of the rural towns, peopled with a noble race, early inculcating the prin- ciples of virtue, temperance and religion. While we are forced to sec its mild decay, we look with a degree of pardonable pride to those, past and present, who have been and now are wielding a power for good in the great drama of life. And while we regret the absence of so many from the ancestral acres and the paternal hearthstone, this fact must ever force itself upon us, that it is a good place in which to be born.
Finally, the history is dedicated to the sons and daughters of Hawley, wherever they are, in the hope that they may prove worthy of their an- cestry in whatsoever things are true; in whatsoever things are honest; in whatsoever things are pure; in whatsoever things are lovely; in what- soever things are of good report.
WM. G. ATKINS.
West Cummington, Mass., June, 1887.
CONGRATULATORY.
"I am rejoiced that its history is to be written." P. L. PAGE.
"I wish you success in this, your good undertaking."
MRS. LOUISA M. HUNT.
"Success to you." (REV.) HENRY SEYMOUR.
"Success in your worthy undertaking." H. A. LONGLEY.
"I wish you success in your undertaking." THOS. K. BAKER.
"Wishing you every success in your undertaking."
JAS. M. CRAFTS.
CONTENTS.
OUTLINE HISTORY PAGE 5
HATFIELD EQUIVALENT
6
ACT OF INCORPORATION 8
ORGANIZATION 9
LOCAL TITLES
12
CEMETERIES & REV. J. GROUT'S EPITAPH
13
JONAS KING'S INSCRIPTION 15
SCHOOLS AND HIGHWAYS 16
ECCLESIASTICTAL HISTORY 17
21
REBELLION RECORD
23
TOWN OFFICERS
26
SELECTMEN
28
REPRESENTATIVES AND DIRECTORY
31
TOWN FARM
32
MILLS AND MANUFACTORIES
33
STORES AND HOTELS
35
POST OFFICES
36
POPULATION AND EARLY SETTLEMENT
37
FIRST THANKSGIVING AND YOUNG AMERICA'S MILITARY RECORD
38
ACCIDENTS, FIRES, &C.
39
FAMILY RECORDS
42
MARRIAGES
69
DEATHIS
74
MISCELLANIES
83
IN OUR GRANDMOTHER'S DAYS 88
THE OLD SCHOOLHOUSE AND ORTHODOXY VS. INFIDELITY 91 94
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
BOZRAH 100
NATIVES ABROAD 103
PERSONAL REMINISCENCES OF P. L. PAGE
109
SKETCHIES AND INCIDENTS
111
REMINISCENCES OF P. F. COOLEY
117
APPENDIX
129
INDEX TO FAMILY RECORDS
131
CONGREGATIONAL CLERGYMEN
A BEAR STORY 41
HISTORY.
OUTLINE HISTORY.
From the time of the first settlement within the limits of New England, at Plymouth, Mass., Dec. 1620, to the present time, the tide of emigra- tion has been "Westward Ho." The arrival of the Mayflower having formed a nucleus, other emigration from Europe soon followed, and towns in the eastern part of the state were rapidly settled and organ- ized. The first settlement in Western Massachusetts was made at Springfield, in May, 1636. In a few years other towns were founded up the Connecticut river, the Hadleys, Northampton, Deerfield, North- field, Greenfield, &c. From this natural avenue civilization still push- ed westward, particularly up the valley of the Westfield river, and up the Deerfield as far as Chailemont, leaving the entire territory of the Green Mountain range unknown to civilization for more than a century after the arable lands of the Connecticut valley had been opened as homes to the white man. As those desirable localitics became filled up, the population, following the spirit of their ancestors, sought new fields of adventure, that they might enjoy civil liberty and religion ac- cording to the dictates of their own conscience, establish local govern- ment for themselves, appropriate the fertility of the virgin soil, which in those days
"Still on her bosom wore the enameled vest, That blommed and budded on her youthful breast."
Thus many people sought the primeval forest to rear homes, in pursu- ance of the spirit which has reigned ever since those days, that of going to the frontier, and beyond the border of civilization. So far as we know, the original settlers of all these mountain towns were from some portion of this state, all the way from the salt waters of Cape Cod to the Connecticut valley, and in some instances from towns west of the river. The pioneer settlers were generally from the old puritan stock, and, as a rule, adorned their religious profession, and early established church- es and schools.
A large tract in the western part of the original County of Hampshire, now comprising ten towns, was sold at auction by the General Court, June 2, 1762. No. 7 of that series, afterward named Hawley, was bought by Moses Parsons for £875. Parsons in turn sold to other land-specula- tors; but those records are not attainable, and it is believed that none of the first proprietors became actual settlers. A portion of the east part of the town was known as the "Hatfield Equivalent," previous to the purchase of Parsons, which will be treated in a subsequent chapter. It is therefore reasonable to conclude that that portion was not included in the purchase of Parsons, it being previously owned by other parties.
6
HISTORY OF HAWLEY.
The original town of Hawley was larger than at present; June 3, 1803, a tract was taken from the south side, and a strip from the north line of Cummington were united to form the town of Plainfield. The present town of Hawley contains about thirty square miles. It is bounded on the north by Charlemont, on the east by Buckland, on the south by Plainfield, in Hampshire County, and on the west by Savoy, in Berk- shire County, making it the southwest corner town in Franklin County.
The natural features are broken and hilly, making a natural business center impracticable. Some of the south and east part of the town might be termed table-land, although the extreme eastern part has quite a descent towards Buckland, while the northeast portion descends in a like manner towards the Deerfield valley in Charlemont. Through the west part of the town a deep valley is traversed by Chickley's river, flow_ ing north the entire length of the town into the Deerfield. Southeast of the center is the highest elevation in Franklin County, called "Parker's Hill." A similar elevation is also in the extreme south part of the town, called "Beals' Hill." On both of these peaks signal flags have recently been placed to assist in a U. S. topographical survey. The streams flow north and east, and help swell the waters of the Deerfield before reach- ing Shelburne Falls. The people have generally followed agriculture as an occupation, but water privileges have been utilized to some extent for manufacturing purposes, such as saw mills and other wood-working machinery and the tanning of leather with hemlock bark. But as the forests have become depleted and the population decreased, these latter industries are of less importance than formerly.
The point around which the most historic associations cluster is called the "square." This was for a long term of years the Mecca of the peo- le of the town. Here was the first meeting house, where the people met alike for religious services and the transaction of town business. Here was also the first post-office, store and hotel, altogether making it the central business point. But in the lapse of time the business merged from that point and became scattered. In those primitive days the social and financial interests of towns were much more individualized and lim- ited by geographical lines than at present.
Hawley is in latitude 42 1-2 degrees North, and about 73 degrees West longitude.
HATFIELD EQUIVALENT.
In 1659, in consideration of some services rendered, the General Court granted to Mr. Simon Broadstreet, afterward Gov. Broadstreet 500 acres of land, and also Maj. Daniel Denison 500 acres of land, with the privi- lege "that they might locate the same at any place west of the Connec- ticut River, provided that it be full six miles from the place intended for
7
HISTORY OF HAWLEY.
Northampton meeting house, upon a straight line." Gov. Broadstreet had the first choice, and he chose Hatfield north meadows, beginning at the north end of the street and running north and west to the ponds. Maj. Denison took his north of the ponds, extending north on the river one mile, and west from the river 250 rods.
Immediately after this Hatfield was settled, and the inhabitants began to murmur about these grants. As they were not then set off from Had- ley, that town induced Gov. Broadstreet to remove his claim and accept 1000 acres lying north of Major Denison's, and in addition they were to pay the Gov. £200. So after the transfer had been made they had a strip three miles long and 250 rods wide, taking all the meadow land for three miles on the river.
After Hatfield became a separate town she felt uneasy about this posses- sion of so much of her best farm lands. So she petitioned to the "Great and General Court" for some redress for her grievance and the legisla- ture, in 1744, gave them the lands lying adjacent to Huntstown, now Ashfield, in all 8064 acres as an equivalent for the lands originally granted to Broadstreet and Denison. The basis of the division of the Hatfield Equivalent was the valuation of estates for taxation, after the manner of the original division of the town of Hatfield in 1684. So peo- ple with large estates drew large lots, while those with small estates drew but a small proportion. "Verily to him that hath shall be given, and to him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath."
There were 83 recipients of this bounty, which included all the tax- payers of Hatfield at the time the grant was made, and parties who came into the town after the grant did not receive any of the land. The names of these 83 proprietors are given in the records, with the number of acies and rods given to each, together with the width of each lot, given in rods, feet and inches. The length of the lots is not given, but we conclude they were of uniform length, and that the width was estab- lished so as to give each one the amount of land required, and preserve this uniformity in length.
The proprietors of the grant met at Hatfield, on Monday, May 6 1765, and the following votes were passed relative to the Hatfield Equivalent.
Voted, that a way be laid out North and South through ye whole tract, half way from ye West way voted by ye town to ye West line of ye grant
Voted, two ways be laid from sd way to ye middle way in such places as ye Committee who shall stake out ye land shall judge best.
Voted, that two ways be laid by ye Committee as aforesaid from ye middle way to ye East way that rums through ye tract.
Voted, that a way be laid by sd Committee Two hundred rods North of ye Northermost way voted by ye Towne, which runs East & West and from ye East line till it meet with ye West line of ye grant.
Voted, that a way be laid in some convenient place by sd Committee from ye last mentioned way to run South Two hundred rods to ye way next South.
S
HISTORY OF HAWLEY.
Voted, that each of ye ways agreed upon & voted at this meeting be four rods wide & so laid by ye Committee as not to divide any proprie- tor's lot.
Voted, by ye Proprietors, that they will draw division lots for their several portions in sd property, & that No. 1 begin at ye Southeast cor- ner of ye traet, & ye lots be laid East & West as far as ye Northeast cor- ner of Mr. Mayhew's farm. Then ye lots to be laid North & South, bounding North on ye Southway that runs East & West so to continue to yo East line of ye grant. Then to begin at East side of ye next range North & procced to ye East way running through ye traet voted by ye town. Then to begin at ye North end of ye West range of ye first Divis- ion & to continue to ye South line. This completes ye first Division.
Voted, that No. 1 in ye second Division to begin at ye Northwest cor- ner of ve traet & to run South through the Westermost range. Then to begin at ye South end of ve adjoining range & to extend North to ye North line of ye grant, then to run East in ye South range of this Divis- ion & procced to ye West side of ye grant. This completes se second Division.
Voted, that when it so happens in cach Division that a lot is not fin- ished at ye end of a range it shall be completed at ye end of next range.
Voted, that the Proprietors will now proceed to stake & set out their land to each Proprietor his portion, & that Elisha Hubbard, David Wait, Elijah Morton, Lt. Bardwell & Ebenezer Cole be a Committee for that purpose.
Evarts, in the History of the Connecticut Valley, says that a portion of the Hatfield Equivalent was merged into the town of Plainfield, but whether the pioneer settlers bought of the original Hatfield proprietors, we are not informed.
ACT OF INCORPORATION.
Commmonwealth of Massachusetts:
In the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and ninety-two. An Act to incorporate the Plantation of Number Seven, so called, in the County of Hampshire,* into a Town by the name of Hawley.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, that the aforesaid Plantation, bounded north on Charlemont, east, partly on Buckland and partly on Ashfield, south on Plainfield and west on the County of Berk- shire, be and hereby is incorporated into a town by the name of Hawley, with all the powers, privileges and immunities that towns within this Commonwealth have or do enjoy.
*This was before the division of the original County of Hampshire.
9
HISTORY OF HAWLEY.
And be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, that David Sexton Esq. be and hereby is empowered to issue his warrant, directed to some prin- cipal inhabitant of the town of Hawley, requiring him to notify the in- habitants of the said town, qualified as the law directs, to assemble and meet at some suitable place in said town and choose such officer or officers as towns by law are empowered to choose at their annual meet- ings in the month of March or April. In the House of Representatives February 1 1792. This bill having had three several readings passed to be enacted.
DAVID COBB, Speaker.
In Senate, February 6 1792.
This Bill having had two several readings passed to be enacted.
SAMUEL PHILLIPS, President. Feb. 7 1792. By the Governor. Approved, JOHN HANCOCK.
ORGANIZATION.
Now that the town had become incorporated and entitled to assume rank among the sister towns of the Commonwealth, the next duty in- cumbent upon the people was to form a municipal organization.
During the first years of the existence of the town the municipal and church interests were so closely identified that we give a condensed sketch of the records.
The warrant for the first town meeting was made by David Sexton, Esq. of Deerfield, issued to Edmund Longley, Esq., to notify the in- habitants of the town to meet at the house of Edmund Longley, on Monday, Apr. 2, 1792, to choose the necessary town officers.
The election resulted as follows; Town Clerk, Edmund Longley; Se- lectmen, Thomas King, Joseph Longley, Zebedee Wood, Amos Crit- tenden, and Ebenezer Hall; Treasurer, Joseph Longley; Constable, James Parker; Assessors, Zenas Bangs, Samuel Hitchcock, Zepheniah Lathrop; Tithingmen, David Parker, Whalen Hawkes, John Burroughs, Joseph Bangs, Thomas King; Sealer of leather, Zenas Bangs; Lumber nspectors, Nathan West, Elisha Wells; Highway Surveyors, Oliver Edgarton, George Eddy, Amos King, Ebenezer Burroughs, Arthur Hitchcock, Josiah Willard, David Parker, A. Rogers, John Taylor.
May 7, 1792, Voted to keep the 24th day of May as a day of fasting and prayer, and neighboring ministers were invited to participate.
Voted to raise £30 for schooling. Chose a committee of seven to di- vide the town into school districts.
Voted to raise £100 for the repair of highways. Voted to allow 4 shil- lings per day for work on highways until Sept. 1, and 3 shillings from that time, and the same for a good team.
Voted to raise £10 to defray town charges.
10
HISTORY OF HAWLEY.
Voted to raise £20 for the support of the gospel, and to have picach- ing one half the time at Col. Longley's, and the other half at Abraham Parker's. Chose a committee of three to pitch a meeting house spot, and voted to abide their judgment.
Sept. 10, 1792, Voted not to accept the report of the meeting house committee, and chose another committee of seven for said purpose.
Sept. 27, 1792, Voted to choose a committee of three from out of town to fix a meeting house spot. Chose one from Dalton, one from Rowe and one from Conway.
Nov. 2, 1792, Voted to accept the report of the last committee.
Jan. 14, 1793, Voted to build a niceting house, 40 by 50 feet. Chose Joseph Longley, Thomas King, Edmund Longley, Nathan West and Hezekiah Warriner to superintend the work.
Voted to apply to Mr Jonathan Grout to preach with us the ensuing season. An order was issued to several families , by order of the select- men to the constable, to depart from the town. The reasons for issuing this order are not given. Other similar orders followed.
Oct. 25, 1793, Rev. Jonathan Gront ordained; council met at Edmund Longley's. Salary, £200, in semi-annual instalments. A remonstrance against setting off a part of the town to Plainfield was sent to the Gen- eral Court.
July 7, 1794, Nathan West was chosen to provide a town stock of powder, leads and flints.
In 1795 the town appropriations were double the amount of those first made, in 1792.
The transactions of the town during the years 1795, 6 and 7 seem to be mainly directed to the location and building of a meeting house. Various committees were chosen from time to time for that purpose, and their action was invariably repulsed at the next meeting, and twelve re- considerations of votes relative to proposed sites are recorded during those three years. The town records do not give date of buiding the house, but a record of March 5, 1798 says, voted to sell the pews in the meeting house; also April 2, voted to raise £50 to paint the meeting house. So from the import of those records it is reasonable to conclude that the house was built in 1797.
OTHER RECORDS.
May 6, 1799, Voted to accept a road from Camp rock west to Savoy line.
March 3, 1800, Voted to pay 25 cents a day for a man and the same for a team on the highways.
Nov. 15, 1802. Voted that the selectmen be a committee to remon- strate against a part of Hawley being set off to Plainfield.
Apr. 4, 1803. Voted that no cattle (except what is called yearlings) shall be allowed to run on the common the present year under the penalty of
11
HISTORY OF HAWLEY.
the law. Similar votes were passed during succeeding years.
Nov. 15, 1804, Voted, tha', a committee estimate the pew notes and say what each man shall pay on th dollar for paying Rev. Grout his salary. Dec. 26, 1805, Voted to send a representative to the General Court against the County being divided.
May, 1808, Voted to pay 25 cents a head for crows killed in town.
In 1808, the town sent a committee with a petition to the President to suspend the embargo.
Nov. 13, 1809, Voted to establish a school district on West Hill.
1810, Voted $ 300 for schooling.
1812, Voted that scholars shall be reekoned between 4 and 21 years of age. 1813, Raised $ 350 for schooling.
Nov. 7, 1814, Voted to choose a committee to enquire what propor- tion of provisions MI. Grout's salary would buy now, compared to the worth when settled.
May 7, 1817, Voted to petition the General Court for assistance to build a bridge over the Deerfield river.
At the annual meeting, Mar. 6, 1818, the following rules for regula- ting town meetings were adopted. It would be well if business meet- ings at the present day could be governed by the same rules.
Meetings shall be opened within one hour after the time given in the notice, extraordinary cases excepted. When called at the opening of a meeting, we will take our seats and remain seated, except we rise to vote, speak, or leave the place of said meeting.
We will suspend all private business in time aud place of said meet- ing. No person shall speak in meeting without leave of the moderator.
No person shall be interrupted by another except to call to order or correct a mistake. A person when speaking shall address the moderator.
No person shall speak more than once to one question until others who have not spoken shall speak if they desire it, nor more than twice without leave of the meeting.
The Moderator shall preserve decorum, speak to points of order, decide all questions of order, subject to an appeal to the meeting, on motion regularly seconded.
We will aid the Moderater in the discharge of his duties, who is bound to keep the person having leave to speak to the point in question or c:ill him to order.
The Moderator shall not delay business by introducing any subject in the time of a meeting that is not regularly before the meeting by a warrant.
Dec. 6, 1821, Voted to take measures to procure a stove for the meet- ing house, and close a committee for that purpose. Previous to that time there had been no arrangements for warming the house. Some of the women carried foot-stoves, a square frame about eight inches square into which were placed some hot coals from the fire-place, on which they
12
HISTORY OF HAWLEY.
would set their feet for warming, and during the intermission on Sunday they would go to the nearest house and replenish the coals. Think of people going four or five miles to church in winter, and sometimes on horseback at that, going into a house where the semblance of fire had never been, and remaining through two long services. It would be : question at the present day, whether the necessities of church services would compensate for such self-imposed barbarons treatment!
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