USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Middlefield > History of the town of Murrayfield : earlier known as Township No. 9, and comprising the present towns of Chester and Huntington, the northern part of Montgomery, and the southeast corner of Middlefield : 1760-1763 > Part 1
USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Huntington > History of the town of Murrayfield : earlier known as Township No. 9, and comprising the present towns of Chester and Huntington, the northern part of Montgomery, and the southeast corner of Middlefield : 1760-1763 > Part 1
USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Chester > History of the town of Murrayfield : earlier known as Township No. 9, and comprising the present towns of Chester and Huntington, the northern part of Montgomery, and the southeast corner of Middlefield : 1760-1763 > Part 1
USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Montgomery > History of the town of Murrayfield : earlier known as Township No. 9, and comprising the present towns of Chester and Huntington, the northern part of Montgomery, and the southeast corner of Middlefield : 1760-1763 > Part 1
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TOWN OF
MURRAYFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS
COPELAND
Hampden Co.
Gc 974.402 C426c
Mi Lo
Gc 974.402 C426c 1127752
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
.
COLESWORTHY'S Book Store New and Second Hand Books 60 Cornhill Boston, Mass.
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01067 3868
See Chester 475
-
A HISTORY
OF THE
TOWN OF MURRAYFIELD,
EARLIER KNOWN AS
TOWNSHIP NO. 9,
AND COMPRISING THE PRESENT TOWNS OF CHESTER AND HUNTINGTON, THE NORTHERN PART OF MONTGOMERY, AND THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF MIDDLEFIELD.
1760-1783.
By ALFRED M. COPELAND, Of SPRINGFIELD, MASS.
SPRINGFIELD, MASS .: CLARK W. BRYAN & COMPANY, PRINTERS. 1892.
COPYRIGHT, 1892, BY ALFRED M. COPELAND.
1127752
East Branch
Johnson's Purchase
Middle Branch ROSE
MIXER
Granted To
MIXER
4800 Acres David. Ingersol.
1736
Nathan Lyman,
Benj Matthews
WellEr's Purchase WEbb's Purchase .
Bolton Grant 2.50 Acres
Bidwell
North Line of Montgomery
[0 ACRES)
House
Rock cor
Iner N
300 Acres .Crow.
Clap und Sheldon. . Grant
WEST Branch Westfield Hiver
Bland ford
Westfield New Addition_
S Plan of Ingersoll Grant as it was in 1765
Northampton
Eldad Taylor
300 Acres
PREFACE.
About ten years ago I began gathering facts touching the history of the town of Murrayfield. I had had occasion frequently, during my residence in the town of Huntington, to consult the book of records of the original proprietors, and had traced a copy of the proprietors' plan of the town for my own use, as occasion might require in my professional work in the neighborhood; but it had never occurred to mne to write a history of the town, nor to institute investigations in that direction.
Some time after the organization of "The Connecticut Valley Historical Society" I promised to write a sketch of the town of Murrayfield, in a single paper, to be read before the society; but several years transpired before I felt sure that I had found the start- ing point. The more I investigated, the richer the field proved. From the proprietors' records, from the registry of deeds, from the records of courts, from the records of the Colonial General Court, from original documents in the office of the Secretary of the Com- monwealth, from the records of the old town and of the old church, and from inscriptions upon headstones in the old cemetery, I gathered together a greater array of facts than had at first seemed possible.
From individuals living in Chester and in Huntington I could obtain absolutely nothing touching the early history of Murrayfield. The information obtained from the most intelligent of them related to a later period.
It was often necessary to give some collateral history of the times in order to make clear many facts which the records of the town fail to explain. It seemed undesirable to attempt to present any facts unverified by authentic records. The reader will judge whether I have erred in this. At any rate, I feel sure that the sketch of Mur-
6
PREFACE.
rayfield which is here offered to the public is worthy of a careful perusal, and that I have succeeded in snatching from oblivion many valuable facts. I feel equally certain that the early history of other towns in western Massachusetts offer a rich field to the historian. The history of Murrayfield is very like that of other towns in this part of the state that were settled too late to be involved in the Indian wars.
This history of Murrayfield presents an object lesson as to the birth and growth of inland towns in New England, and so cannot but be of general interest.
ALFRED M. COPELAND.
A HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MURRAYFIELD.
CHAPTER FIRST.
INGERSOLL GRANT IN THE OLD COUNTY OF HAMPSHIRE, MASSA- CHUSETTS.
On page 122 of book L in the Registry of Deeds, for the old county of Hampshire, is the copy of a deed as follows:
"John Stoddard and Ebenezer Pomeroy of Northampton, and Thomas Inger- sole of Westfield, all in the county of Hampshire in the Province of Massa- chusetts Bay in New England, Esqrs., on March the 26tb, 1736, were by the Great and General Court of the said Province, specially authorized and ap- pointed among other things to purchase rights of land of the proprietors of Upper Housatonick Township-so called-in the said county in order to the accommodating and bringing forward a settlement of the Indians above the Monument Mountain-so called-in said Housatoniek Township,* and to give equivalents therefore in some of the unappropriated lands of the said province to the proprietors of whom we shall purchase the land as per the said order of the said court or assembly reference to the same being had will appear. Now we, the said John Stoddard, Ebenezer Pomeroy; & Thomas Ingersole, by virtue of the said commission & authority vested in us, have purchased six rights of land in Upper Housatonick above the Monument Mountain-so called-each right containing four hundred acres, of David Ingersole of West- field in the county & province aforesaid. Now we, the said John Stoddard, Ebenezer Pomeroy, & Thomas Ingersole, as a committee aforesaid, have agreed with the said David Ingersole to give him an equivalent from the government for the aforesaid rights of land in the unappropriated land of the said Prov- ince, a certain traet or parcel of land of the quantity of four thousand & eight hundred acres; beginning at the northeast corner of Southfield+ Equiva- lent land called Glasgow; north east corner & so running upon Glasgow line West 20° North two hundred & twenty perch to a marked tree on the east bank of the west branch of the Westfield River: & thence North 15° East two hun- dred & eighty perch; thence East 40° North one hundred perch; thenee North 15° East continuing that line until five hundred & sixteen perch be completed;
* For a more particular account of this the reader is referred to the history of Stockbridge. The sketch of Stockbridge in Dr. Holland's History of Western Massachusetts gives some account of it.
+ Suffield.
8
A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
then beginning, viz: at Glasgow north-east corner, thence running south 39º east* one thousand & fifteen perch to Moss Meadowt to a tree with stones about it, which tree is Northampton south-west corner. This last mentioned line joins upon Westfield last grant; thence from said tree North 5° east, in or on North- ampton line until eleven hundred and ninety-five perch be completed; & from thence in a straight line to the northernmost point of the line before mentioned which was north 15° east, and five hundred and sixteen perch; excepting three hundred acres heretofore laid out within the bounds aforesaid to Samuel Clapp & Ebenezer Sheldin. Now, we, the said John Stoddard, Ebenezer Pomeroy, & Thomas Ingersole, by virtue of the commission to us, we do hereby give, grant, convey, & confirm unto the said David Ingersole, to him, his heirs, & assigns for ever, all the aforesaid described land, saving the said three hun- dred acres.
To have and to hold, possess & enjoy, quietly & peaceably for ever more; and further we, the said John Stoddard, Ebenezer Pomeroy, & Thomas Inger- sole, Esqrs., by virtue of said commission to us granted, and in the name, & the behalf of the said government of the said Province, we hereby covenant, promise & engage the before granted premises unto him, the said David Inger- sole, his heirs & assigns, forever to warraut, maintain, secure, and defend against the lawful claims or charges of any person or persons whatsoever.
In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands & seals this first day of June in the eleventh of the reign of George the Second, King, &c. Anno Domini 1738.
"Signed, sealed & delivered in presence of us by ) John Stoddard & Ebenezer Pomeroy, Oliver Partridge, Jr., Witnesses.
" Witness to Thomas Ingerso'e signed, &c , Benjamin Prescott, Wm. Pynchon.
JOHN STODDARD & Seal.
EBENEZER POMEROY & Seal.
THOMAS INGERSOLE & Seal."
"Hampshire ss., June 1st, 1738, John Stoddard & Ebenezer Pomeroy, Esqrs., two of the subscribers to the above instrument appearing acknowledged the same to be their act & deed.
Coram, JOB WILLIAMS, Just. Peace."
"Suffolk ss., Boston, June 20th, 1738, Thomas Ingersole, one of the sub- scribers to the above instrument personally appearing acknowledged the same to be his act & deed.
Coram, JOSHUA WINSLOW, Just. Peace."
The southeast corner of this tract was about a mile southeasterly from the present town house in Montgomery. When the town of Norwich was incorporated in 1773, Ingersoll Grant was wholly included and formed the south end of that town. When the town of Mont- gomery was incorporated in 1780, a large part of this grant was in- cluded, and formed about one-third of the territory of that town. A
* This was an error. The course in fact was S. 49° E.
+ This name should be Moose Meadow.
9
A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
small mountain called " Rock House," near which was the northeast corner of Glasgow, now called Blandford, was included by the bounds of this grant.
INGERSOLL'S DEED TO WEBB.
By a deed dated April 7th, 1738-before receiving a deed from the government-David Ingersoll conveyed to Thomas Webb of Boston, a part of his grant, and described it as follows:
"Beginning 100 rods west 20° north from a certain tree which is Glasgow's north east corner, then from said tree South 39º* east 1015 perch upon West- field line to Moss Meadow,t being the south west corner of Northampton;} then North 5° East 800 perch on Northampton line; then North 63º west 770 perch; then 600 perch to the place of beginning." It was called in the deed 3000 acres exclusive of the 300 aeres owned by Shelden & Clapp. The quan- tity of land & the length of some of the lines were exaggerated.
INGERSOLL'S DEED TO JOHNSON.
By deed dated August 14th, 1738, Ingersoll sold the north end of his grant to John Johnson of Boston, a marriner, and described it as follows:
" Beginning 800 rods from the southwest corner of Northampton on North- ampton west line; then North 44° West 750 perch; Then beginning at first bound running North 5° East on Northampton line 335 perch; then North 63º West 900 rods; then South 15° West 150 rods; then turning and running 250 rods to the westernmost end of the 750 perch line." The quantity of land was estimated to be 1500 acres.
INGERSOLL'S DEED TO BREWER.
Ingersoll sold the remainder of his grant to John Brewer of " No. 1 on the road between Westfield and Sheffield," and described it as consisting of 800 acres of land northeast of and adjoining Blandford. It was north of the northeasterly part of Blandford. The deed was dated July 8th, 1742, the year after the township called Glasgow was incorporated under the name of Blandford. The tract was described asfollows:
"Beginning 100 rods West 20° North from a pine tree which is Blandford's north east corner, then running west 20° North 127 rods to a marked tree standing on the bank of the West Branch of Westfield River; then running
* This was in fact 49°.
+ Moose Meadow.
+ Northampton had not been divided at this time.
10
A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
North 15° East 289 rods; then East 40° North 103 rods; then North 15° East 380 rods; then East 33° South 341 rods to stake & stones, being the north west bound of a tract of land sold by me to Thomas Webb of Boston; then run- ning to the first mentioned bound; & bounded south by Blandford; west by the country land; North by land I sold to John Johnson of Boston, & east by land I sold to said Webb." The consideration named in this deed was eighty pounds.
BREWER'S DEED TO WELLER AND WELLER TO BIDWELL AND TO MATTHEWS.
By deed dated August 28th, 1754, John Brewer sold this tract of land to Nathaniel Weller of Westfield. By Weller it was parcelled out to various purchasers. By deed dated April 14th, 1758 he con- veyed 50 acres of it to John Bidwell of Hartford, Connecticut, and it was described as follows:
" A certain tract of land of fifty acres out of the southwest part of a cer- tain farm I bought of John Brewer of 800 acres lying northward & adjoining Blandford in said County of Hampshire; said fifty acres is bounded east on the main river* called Westfield River, & to extend west to the line of said farm, & to bound southerly on said Blandford town line, only reserving there- out ten acrest on said Blandford line, and to extend as far north on said farm as to make the said complement of fifty acres."
The deed was acknowledged before David Moseley, Justice of the Peace.
By a deed dated May 26th, 1760, Weller sold to Benjamin Matthews of Torrington, Connecticut, in consideration of 100 pounds, two tracts of this land, one containing 107 acres and the other containing 68 acres. The description is as follows:
" Bounded at the south east corner by a hemlock tree near the river, from thence running west 20° North 86 rods to stake & stones; thence North 15° East 160 rods to a heap of stones; then East 142 rods; bounded at the river by a hemlock tree with stones about it; from thence by the river southerly to the first mentioned bound, & bounded south by John Bidwell's land.
The other parcel lying a little northerly from the above described land on the second branch of the river, bounded at the north east corner on the river bank by a tree with stones about it; so running west 30° North 6 rods; then South 15° West 205 rods to a black birch tree with stones about it; then east 63 rods to a buttonwood three on the bank of the river; then running north- erly by the river to the first bound containing 68 acres."
* This was the east branch of Westfield River, which was sometime called the main branch. + Weller sold this ten acres to Samuel Root of Southampton, December, 2d, 1761, and described it as bounded on West Branch and by Blandford line 75 rods, and up the East Branch 213 rods, and bounded it northerly by John Bidwell's land 75 rods, and located it between Bidwell's land and Blandford line.
11
A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
WELLER'S DEED TO NATHAN LYMAN.
By a deed dated July 6th, 1:60, Weller sold to Nathan Lyman of Southampton, 90 acres of this land described as
" A tract of land lying between the Branches of Westfield Great River above Great Falls, bounded at the south east corner by the river bank by a hemlock tree marked, which is Benjamin Matthews' north east corner; thence W 142 rods; thence N. 15° E. about 20 rods to a hemlock tree marked; thence E. 40° N. 103 rods; thence N. 15° E. 50 rods to a birch tree which is said Matthew's south west corner; thence 63 rods to a buttonwood staddle on the river bank; so ruuning down the river to the first mentioned bound containing 90 acres."
WELLER'S DEED TO MIXER.
By deed dated April 28th, 1762, Weller conveyed to Isaac Mixer of Suffield, Connecticut, 45 acres, located in the northerly part of his tract on the east side of East Branch, and it was described as follows:
"Beginning at a maple tree, thence E. 25° S. 80 rods; thence N. 25° E. 14172 rods; thence W. 33º N. 100 rods to the river by the falls; thence down the river which is the main branch to the first bound a little above where the second branch enters* the main branch of said river on the West side."
MIXER'S TAVERN.
Mixer built a house and kept a tavern before 1:64. Although it is not certain where this tavern was located, there is reason to believe that it was south of the land above described upon land of Weller, which Mixer afterward purchased. The records of the Court of Gen- eral Sessions in 1764 contain the following record: "Isaac Mixer of a place called Westfield River Branches, or No. 9, is licensed to be an innholder and common victualler." In 1765 Mixer made another pur- chase of Weller's land, containing 159 acres and described as follows:
" Beginning at stake & stones about 25 rods up the river above Mixer house near the bank, then E. 25° S. 144 rods; thence S. 38° W. upon the line of Samuel Webb's land 203 rods to stake and stones; thence W. 25º N. to a spruce tree at the river; thence up the river to the first bound, lying on the east side of the 'Great River' so called; thence bounded northerly upon said Weller's land, and westerly upon the river; with the dwelling house & barn, and with a saw-mill standing on the same."
MATTHEWS' DEEDS TO HIS SON AND TO HIS DAUGHTER.
On the 28th of July, 1460, Benjamin Matthews gave to his daughter Eunice Rose, wife of Israel Rose of Granville, 30 acres from the south
"This must have been further south than at the present time |1890).
12
A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
end of his sixty-eight acre tract, and to his son Gideon of Torrington, Connecticut, 50 acres from the north end of his one hundred and seven acre tract. His son and his daughter with her husband soon after located their homes in this vicinity, and he himself became a resident of Westfield about the same time.
THE OLD ROAD UP THE EAST BRANCH OF WESTFIELD RIVER.
Remains of an old road between this locality and Westfield are still in existence: it crossed Westfield river a few rods below the junction of the east and west branches by a fordway which is often used at the present time. From this fordway the old road may be traced between the river and the Boston and Albany railway which it crosses, and so continues in a northerly direction near the east bank of the east branch. This road passed Isaac Mixer's tavern, and probably continued up the river into Chesterfield and connected with a highway which was laid out from Hatfield, and passing through Chesterfield, extended to Pon- tusic-now Pittsfield-as early as 1760.
WEBB'S DEED TO ELDAD TAYLOR.
By deed dated April 30th, 1762, Thomas Webb and Samuel Webb, sons of the Thomas Webb to whom Ingersoll conveyed, sold to Eldad Taylor of Westfield, 300 acres of land described as follows:
" A tract of land in the county of Hampshire & lying northerly from West- field & adjoining to said Westfield, beginning at a tree which is now fallen down with stones on it, which tree is the north west corner bound of West- field & the north east corner bound of Blandford & from said bound to run east 39° south* 240 rods by Westfield line, & from thence to run north 39° East 200 rods, thence West 39º North 240 rods, thence south 39º West 200 rods to first bound containing 300 acres, and is bounded southerly by Westfield & the other three sides on said Webb's land." The consideration was sixty pounds.
It does not appear that any other conveyances were made from the Webbs to any one prior to June, 1762. They subsequently conveyed parcels of land, lying east of the tract sold to Eldad Taylor, to David Crow and to Thomas Crow. They also sold tracts of land to Ebenezer King, to Benjamin Converse, to James Taggart, persons who became residents of the town of Murrayfield.
JOHNSON'S LAND SOLD TO DR. SPRAGUE.
Of the tract sold by Ingersoll to John Johnson, a deed dated May 20th, 1756, was given by Johnson to Nicholas Tobb of Boston. On
* See the description in the deed to David Ingersoll as to this course.
13
A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
the following day Tobb executed a deed of the same land to Priscilla Johnson, the wife of John; and she by deed dated September 7th, 1756, conveyed it to John Sprague, M. D., of Boston. The record does not show any conveyance of this land by Sprague prior to June, 1762.
SHELDEN AND CLAPP GRANT.
The grant to Shelden and Clapp, mentioned and excepted from the grant to David Ingersoll, was made in answer to " a petition of Eben- ezer Shelden for himself and for Samuel and Mary Clapp, showing that the said Shelden and his sister Mary Clapp, in their long captivity in Canada, contracted an acquaintance with the Cagnawaga Indians. who now put them to an extraordinary charge to entertain them when they came to Deerfield; and therefore praying for a grant of province land from this court. In the House of Representatives read; and in answer to this petition ordered that the petitioners have leave, by a surveyor and chain-man on oath to survey and lay out three hun- dred acres of the unappropriated lands of this Province in the county of Hampshire, and return a plat thereof to this court within twelve months for confirmation, one-half thereof to the said Ebenezer Shel- den and the other half to the said Samuel and Mary Clapp, Wednes- day, January 12th. 1:36."
This is all that appears of record. The plat, if in fact returned for confirmation, does not appear of record, so that there is nothing to show definitely its location. It was somewhere intermediate between the northeast corner of Glasgow or Blandford and the west line of Northampton as it was at that time. It was east of the 300 acre tract sold by the Webbs to Eldad Taylor, at a distance probably of about 400 rods from Roek House corner.
SHELDEN'S DEED TO CALEB STRONG.
Ebenezer Shelden, describing himself as of Deerfield, by deed dated October 29th, 1741, sold his half of this grant to Caleb Strong of Northampton and described it as follows:
" A certain tract of land lying west of the township of Northampton & east of Suffield's Equivalent north east corner now called Glasgow north east corner containing one hundred & fifty acres being one half of a grant of three hun- dred acres made by the General Court or assembly of Massachusetts Bay to me the said Ebenezer Shelden &. my brother & sister Samuel & Mary Clapp on January 12th, 1736. The whole tract is bounded & more particularly described by a plat of the same dated June 14, 1737 & confirmed by the afore- said court in June A. D. 1738."
14
A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
STRONG'S DEED TO THE CARTERS.
Caleb Strong sold this land to William and Asa Carter of Norwich by deed dated January 7th, 1774, following substantially the descrip- tion in Shelden's deed to him.
CLAPP'S DEED TO WELLS.
By a deed dated May 9th, 1774, Ebenezer Clapp and others of Northampton, and Elijah Clapp and others of Southampton, heirs of Samuel and Mary Clapp, in consideration of seventy-five pounds, con- veyed to Joseph Wells of Groton, New London County, in the state of Connecticut, " a certain tract of land lying in Norwich, being one- half of a tract containing three hundred acres granted by the General Court, January 12th, 1736, to Ebenezer Shelden and Samuel and Mary Clapp," etc. This deed gave no description which could aid in locat- ing the grant. Subsequently Wells sold to Job Halliday of Mont- gomery; and estates belonging to Salmon Thomas, to Hiram Halliday, and to Silas Hubbill were mentioned in the deed as abutting lands.
THE GREEN AND WALKER GRANT AND WILLIAMS GRANT.
GREEN AND WALKER GRANT.
Joseph Green and Isaac Walker, both of Boston, were copartners in the mercantile business under the style of Green & Walker. They were owners of extensive tracts of land in various parts of the Prov- ince of Massachusetts Bay. They held rights of land in Upper Housa- tonnock-as it was then spelled-at the time the provincial govern- ment was arranging for a settlement of the Indians above Monument Mountain. The settling committee, consisting of John Stoddard, Ebenezer Pomeroy and Thomas Ingersoll, who had been appointed for that purpose by the General Court, purchased these rights of Green & Walker and gave them in exchange therefor other tracts of land located in the county of Hampshire. One of the tracts given to make up an equivalent for their rights in Upper Housatonnock was located about 130 rods west of the west line of the town of Northampton, and consisted of 2,000 acres of land. The southwest corner of this grant, which was known as the Green & Walker Grant, touched the north line of the Ingersoll Grant. The west line was near the east branch of Westfield River, a part of which was included toward the northwest part of the grant. The pond known as Norwich Pond was
15
A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
for the most part within the grant, occupying the northeast corner; the north line of the grant passed across the north end of the pond.
The laying out of this grant and its conveyance to Green & Walker was reported to the General Court by Ebenezer Pomeroy and Thomas Ingersoll, two of the settling committee, at the session held May 30th, 1739, but was not aeted upon until the session which began by ad- journment, December 5th, 1739. A copy of the conveyance of this traet to Green & Walker by the settling committee does not appear in the Registry of Deeds for the old county of Hampshire: but the facts are recited in a deed given by Isaac Walker to Joseph Green dated October 24th, 1744. Mr. Green retained his interest in this grant until his death, which took place some time between 1764 and 1769. Ilis widow, Anna Green, as excentrix of his will, by deed dated Janu- ary 30th, 1769, conveyed to George Green of Boston, the interest which her husband had in the Green & Walker grant at the time of his death, for the price of 400 pounds.
In 1764 a partition of this grant was made by Oliver Partridge, Elijah Williams, and Moses Graves, commissioners appointed for that purpose by court, who made and returned a report December 18th, 1764, and with it a plan upon which is the following minute: "A plan of 2,000 acres of land lying in Murrayfield laid out to Messrs. Joseph Green, Isaac Walker, Byfield Lyde, and John Green, surveyed June, 1739, and surveyed and marked anew October, 1764, by Elisha Hubbard, surveyor."
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