USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Palmer > History of the town of Palmer, Massachusetts, early known as the Elbow tract : including records of the plantation, district and town 1716-1889 > Part 1
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PALMER PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 8134 0010 8025 1
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HISTORY
OF THE
TOWN OF PALMER,
MASSACHUSETTS,
EARLY KNOWN AS
THE ELBOW TRACT:
INCLUDING RECORDS OF
THE PLANTATION, DISTRICT AND TOWN. 1716-1889.
By J. H. TEMPLE, AUTHOR OF "HISTORY OF WHATELY," "HISTORY OF NORTHFIELD," " HISTORY OF FRAMINGHAM," "HISTORY OF BROOKFIELD."
WITH A GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.
PUBLISHED BY THE TOWN OF PALMER.
1889.
CLARK W. BRYAN & CO., PRINTERS AND BINDERS, SPRINGFIELD, MASS.
INTRODUCTORY NOTE.
S OME years since a few citizens of Palmer commenced to agitate the subject of having a history of the town written before the older portion of the community, who were the con- servators of many facts, should pass away.
Through their influence the matter was brought before the town in 1883, and a Committee on Town History was appointed, con- sisting of O. P. Allen, C. B. Fiske, John Clough, E. B. Gates, Dr. William Holbrook, David Knox and G. A. Murdock. Dr. W. H. Stowe was added to this Committee in 1884. Mr. Clough died in 1884, and subsequently Mr. Murdock removed from town and ceased to act with the Committee.
Soon after its appointment the Committee entered upon the work of collecting material. Mr. Gates accepted the onerous task of preparing the genealogy of the older families and of tracing out, by means of the records, the sites of the farms and residences of the first settlers, as well as preparing a new map of the town. In 1887, the Committee asked for an appropriation for the purpose of procuring a competent person to write the history of the town. The sum of $500 was voted for that purpose. On investigation that amount was found to be inadequate, so the matter was deferred until 1888, when an additional appropriation of $1,000 was voted. The Committee then made choice of Rev. J. H. Temple of Framingham as a competent man to do the work, as he had had extensive experience in this line of literature. In the judgment of the Committee, the result has justified the choice made. Mr. Temple has been able to gather more valuable material from archives outside of the town records than would probably have been done by others less conversant with such work.
4
INTRODUCTORY NOTE.
The members of the Committee have devoted much time to the work and have sought to have it done in a most thorough manner. It has been the aim of all concerned to have a full and faithful history of the town presented. If anything has been omitted, it is because the material could not be obtained in shape to use. It is hoped the history now presented will meet the expectations of all. At the annual town meeting in 1889, the Committee reported that the history would be ready for publication during the season, and asked for an appropriation of $1,500, which was granted, and the Committee was authorized to publish the history on its completion.
O. P. ALLEN,
CHAS. B. FISKE, E. B. GATES,
Town
WM. HOLBROOK,
History
DAVID KNOX,
Committee.
WILLARD H. STOWE,
PALMER, MASS., July 26, 1889.
PREFACE.
T T HE materials of this history have been gathered from official sources, viz., the Elbows Plantation and the Palmer Dis- trict and Town Records, the General Court Records and reports and papers in the State Archives at Boston, the old Hampshire and the modern Hampden County Registries of Deeds and Probate, and the several Church and Parish books. In most cases official documents are copied verbatim et liberatim-this method being most satisfactory to antiquarians, and best illustrating the peculiari- ties and changes in the use of words and phrases, and the orthogra- phy of different periods and scribes.
The Records of the Plantation are well preserved and are quite full. The District and Town Records, though the volumes are all extant, are meager in details and provokingly incomplete. Matters of the utmost importance would be brought before the town for consideration, would be discussed in Town Meeting and referred to a committee, which committee would report. But the only record made by the clerk was the fact that said committee reported and the report was accepted, with no intimation what was the character of the report. It is likely that the report was placed on file; but the old files and papers have been largely used to kindle fires in the Town House. By the thoughtfulness and courage of Dr. W. H. Stowe some of these papers were saved, and have added great value to these annals; but the wanton waste of the larger part of these old town documents is highly reprehensible. And many of the family records and papers-in existence fifty years ago-have disappeared and no one knows how. Even the letter of the mother of John King, our earliest settler, cannot be found among any of his descendants. Fortunately a copy was made, and a transcript of this copy appears in this book.
6
PREFACE.
The several Church and Parish records are (or were) sufficiently full for denominational purposes, while the actors were upon the stage and their memories good, but they fail to answer important historical inquiries. Except for a period of ten years-1753-1763 -no records of the Presbyterian Church, which flourished for sixty years, have been found.
The studies preparatory to the writing of this history were em- barrassed by an unlooked-for difficulty, viz., the prevalence of some wrong notions which had taken root in the community re- specting an early Indian deed, which was supposed to cover the territory embraced in the Elbow tract, and the action of certain parties claiming to hold the lands under guaranty of said deed. Printed addresses and sketches and some more pretentious ac- counts were found in circulation and commonly accepted as reliable authority, that recognized the validity of these claims, and formu- lated conclusions accordingly. These premises and conclusions were flatly contradicted by state papers and county documents, and the searcher after the truth was left in perplexity. It was not until the writer discovered, by a critical examination of the deed itself, that the conveyance covered not a foot of Palmer territory and that all claims of title under it were consequently fraudulent; that the way was cleared for successful investigation. His conclu- sion was fortified by the General Court records and other cotempo- rary papers; and once on the right track, it was easy to understand the doings and sayings of the early settlers and describe the man- ner in which they gained valid titles to their homesteads, and laid the foundations of a bona-fide Plantation.
The course of events is narrated, in the main, in chronological order, with an occasional episode to bring out and complete a picture of related transactions which over-lapped specific dates. The exception to this rule are the chapters on Schools and Industries, which seemed to require a continuous account, cov- ering the whole period of the town's life.
The headings of the several chapters, and the connected table of contents will guide the reader in finding any given matter of in- terest to him. And the Index at the end will contain all the
7
PREFACE.
names of individuals mentioned in our earlier records, and the subjects treated of in the historical part of the book, as well as a reference to the different families grouped in the Genealogical Reg- ister.
In the war records great pains have been taken to procure full and accurate rolls of officers and privates, with terms of enlistment and places of service. All the records extant relating to the French and Indian war, the Revolution, and the Rebellion of 1861-5 are copied in extenso.
The lists of names of the early settlers and of residents at va- rious dates down to modern times, will possess special interest to genealogists, and may supply some missing links in family reg- istries.
The thanks of the author are hereby tendered to the several members of the Town Historical Committee, The Town Clerk and the several Church and Parish clerks, the agents and owners of the manufacturing companies, and other friends who have en- couraged and aided him by furnishing information and making timely suggestions.
JOSIAH H. TEMPLE.
FRAMINGHAM, MASS., July 29, 1889.
ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS.
On p. 21, foot note, for 1734 read 1737.
On p. 44, fifth 1. from bottom, for soil read evil.
On p. 75, fifth 1. from bottom, for chairmen read chainmen, and same correction on p. 99.
Ferrell's Grist Mill. As stated on p. 83, the first mill was destroyed, but it was rebuilt at a later period, as see p. 270.
On p. 197, for enlistment of William and John Carlyle, see pp. 149, 183.
HISTORY OF PALMER.
CHAPTER I.
TOPOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION.
THE ELBOW TRACT-EXTENT-BOUNDARIES-ADDITIONS AND SUBTRACTIONS -STREAMS - FORDWAYS-MILL-SEATS-TAMAR SPRING-MOUNTAINS- POINT OF ROCKS-PLAINS-BREAKNECK HOLLOW-WASHINGTON ELM- BEAR TREE, ETC.
T HE town of Palmer, Massachusetts, originally lay in the old county of Hampshire, and so remained till the new county of Hampden was incorporated, February 20, 1812. It is bounded on the north by Belchertown and Ware; on the east by Warren and Brimfield ; on the south by Monson; on the west by Wilbraham and Belchertown. It is very irregular in shape, and contains about 20,000 acres.
At the date of its first settlement by the whites and recognition as a plantation, it was known as the Elbow Tract, the north bounds of which were within a half mile of the present Hardwick line ; and on the east it was bounded by the old Brookfield township .* The area of the Elbow Tract, according to Dwight's Survey and Plan of 1723, was 23,619 acres. But the territory actually covered by the General Court's grant, under authority of which lands were laid out to public functionaries and to the Proprietors and Grantees, much exceeded this amount.
A considerable slice of the southeasterly part of the Tract was cut off and included in the town of Western (now Warren) when that place was incorporated in 1741-2, and the northeasterly part was set off as the Ware River Parish in 1742, and was incorporated as the District of Ware when the Parish was changed to a District, November 25, 1761.+ Just before this date the Magoon estate was
* As originally laid out, the west bound of Brookfield was a straight line, eight and one-half miles in length. This wouldicarry Brookfield northwest corner, 160 rods north of the range of the present north line of West Brookfield, if said line be extended across Ware river.
In laying out land grants in the Elbow Tract in 1742, Nathaniel Dwight, the surveyor, placed the north line of the most northerly lot at Brookfield northwest corner. [See Map, by E. B. Gates.]
t The writer has found no record to show when the District of Ware was incorporated into a Town.
10
HISTORY OF PALMER.
taken from Palmer (then a District) and annexed to the Parish. The General Court Records, under date of May 29, 1761, recite : " Petition of Isaac and Alexander Magoon, sons and heirs to the whole of the estate of Isaac Magoon, late of Ware River Parish, in the County of Hampshire, deceased, setting forth that they own about 400 acres of land in the northerly part of Palmer, which lies five miles from Palmer Meeting-house, through a bad road, and but two miles from Ware River Meeting-house, and the road natur- ally good, praying that they may be annexed to Ware River Parish, etc. Notice was ordered to be issued and served on the District of Palmer.
"Nov. 18, 1761. Ordered, that the estate described in the afore- mentioned Petition be annexed to the Parish of Ware River, and the inhabitants or possessors of said estate to do duty and receive privilege there."
Brimfield Addition. "In General Court, Resolved and Ordered, that the Inhabitants, together with all the lands lying in the town of Brimfield north of the Country Road leading from Boston to Springfield, be and hereby are set off to the District of Palmer, by the following bounds, viz .: beginning at the Bank of Chicopee River on the north side of said Country Road by the foot of Scott's Bridge, so called, thence following said Road and bounding south thereon, to Springfield line ; then turning north in said line to said River, then turning up said River bounding northerly and easterly thereon, to the bridge aforesaid-and made part and parcell of said District, there to do duty and receive privilege.
" Consented to, T. POWNALL. " April 24, 1760."
Under date of July 15, 1794, the town records state: "On the petition of William Cowee and Elizur Cook of Western, dated May 7, 1794, voted and granted the request of said petition, that their land lying in Palmer and joining their land in Western, be set off from the town of Palmer and annexed to the town of Western."
February 7, 1831. "That part of Western lying west of the described line, beginning at a Rock in the line between the two towns, marked W. P., running N. 423°, E. 192 rods, to a monu- ment in the line between the two towns marked, W. P .- being the same territory set from Palmer to Western, January 5, 1764-is hereby annexed to Palmer."-Gen. Ct. Records.
The surface of the ground in Palmer is best described by the word broken, hills and narrow valleys occupying the larger part.
11
TOPOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION.
The rivers are bordered by comparatively small meadows, and except the neighborhood of the junction of Swift and Ware rivers, there are no plains of considerable extent.
STREAMS .- The profile view makes the mountains appear the prominent feature of the face of the country; a bird's-eye view shows the greater importance of the three rivers that bound or cross the territory, and furnish power to the chief productive industries.
Quabaug River [sometimes called, incorrectly, the Chicopee- earlier Chikuppe]. This stream is formed of two branches, one rising in the east part of Oakham, the other in the southeast part of Rutland, which unite at the village of East Brookfield. It then flows through Brookfield, West Brookfield and Warren, striking the line of Palmer at a point just below the village of West Warren, whence it forms the curving boundary of the town for about one- third of its entire circuit. The stream then turns sharply to the north, receiving the united waters of Swift and Ware rivers a short distance from the south line of Belchertown. The enlarged stream here takes the name of Chicopee, and flows westerly to the Connec- ticut. The two elbows, one at the southeast, near the corner of Brimfield and Monson, and the other at the southwest, gave the original and significant name to the Plantation.
Mill-seats. Blair's saw mill was put in near the Warren line, and was in use in 1830. The privilege is now unused.
The privilege at Blanchardville was occupied as early as 1800, perhaps earlier. In 1805 Captain - Hyde had mills here. In 1818 Elisha Converse's mills are named in the records. In 1830 - Bugbee had a saw and grist mill here.
In 1824 the Blanchards built their scythe factory on this fall, a little below the grist mill, and established what proved to be one of the most important of the early industries of Palmer. This, and the cotton mills put in at the junction of the three rivers, will be fully treated of in the chapter on Palmer Industries.
Fordways. Indian trails and the early bridle-paths and roads of the whites crossed the large streams at natural fording-places, i. e., where a bar made shallow water and a hard bottom.
There was an early fordway about a mile above the southeast elbow, where the "Old Country Road " from Brookfield came to the river.
Another important crossing-place was just below the mouth of Elbow brook, known in the early records as "the fordway against Micah Tousley's house."
12
HISTORY OF PALMER.
There was a fordway at Scott's bridge, where the "Bay Path " crossed into the Elbow Tract.
Shearer's Ford, where the old Indian trail crossed the stream, was about forty rods above the junction of the three rivers.
Ware River rises in Westminster, crosses the easterly part of Hubbardston, the northerly part of Rutland, the east and south parts of Barre, forms the dividing line between Hardwick and New Braintree, enters the town of Ware at its northeast corner, and so passing along the easterly side of said town and through the north central part of Palmer, unites with Swift river a half mile north- easterly of the village of Three Rivers. The main fall and privilege on this stream in Palmer is at Thorndike village, where a grist mill was put in in 1736, a saw mill at a later date, a fulling mill in 1797, and the cotton manufactory in 1836-8. [See chapter on Palmer Industries. ]
Fordways. Tackel's ford, called a "shallow bar," was near Whipple's station, and is named on our earliest Plantation records. A bridge was built here in 1747.
Hall's ford is a short distance above the junction of Ware and Swift rivers. Later it was known as Chapin's ford.
Swift River rises in the centre of Wendell, and runs a nearly south course through Shutesbury, forms the dividing line between Pelham and Prescott, through Enfield, between Belchertown and Ware, between Belchertown and Palmer, and for less than a mile in Palmer town. The fall at Bondsville is 21 feet, and was utilized early for a grist and saw mill, then for a fulling mill, then for a woolen factory, and since 1845 has been in the occupancy of a prosperous cotton manufactory. [See chapter on Palmer Industries. ]
Brooks. There are several brooks in our town limits, some of them permanent, but mostly small conduits of the melting snows and frosts of the hill-tops. When fed by springs, they are marked by fertility and power. But their chief historical value is as land- marks of early grants and deeds.
Pottaquattuck Brook, known in modern maps as King's brook, has its rise on the slope of the mountain of the same name, runs southerly through a hollow in Cedar mountain, and empties into the Quabaug near the Col. King place. A small saw mill was once built on this stream; and a fulling mill, which in 1790 was owned by Benj. S. Cummings.
Wigwam Brook, often wrongly called Salisbury's Brook, is west of the one last named, and empties into the Quabaug. In 1793 a saw mill was put in on this brook by Wm. King, Thomas Quinton,
13
TOPOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION.
and others, each partner to share the income in proportion to his stock. The result of the venture is not known.
King's Brook is the early name of the small stream, or outlet of some living springs, on which the Palmer Carpet Mills are located. Earlier a batting factory was established here. The brook runs through the farm where John King, Sen., located and lived most of his days.
Dumplin Brook runs from the Old Centre, through Breakneck Hollow, and empties into the Quabaug. McMaster's saw mill stood on this brook.
Cedar Swamp Brook drains the Cedar Swamp, and flows north- erly into Pottaquattuck pond. A small saw mill was built on this brook, on land now owned by Josiah Gates.
Jabez Brook crosses the great plain and enters Ware river near Hall's ford.
SPRINGS .- The Iron Spring comes out of the hills near the War- ren town line, and flows towards the Quabaug. It was once sup- posed to possess important medicinal qualities.
Tamar Spring, and its outlet Tamar Run, were notable landmarks in early times. The spring was on the Richard Coombs home-lot, adjoining the home-lot of John King, Senior. Charles Upham now lives near by.
CEDAR SWAMP was southeast of the Old Centre, north of the farm of Rev. John Harvey, the first minister of the Elbows Plan- tation.
PONDS .- Pottaquattuck Ponds [pautaquatuck, pau-ta-quam-ut], Great and Little, lie on the left bank of Ware river, southwest of the mountain of the same name. The first saw mill in the Plan- tation, erected under the auspices of the Proprietors, was put in at the outlet of this pond in 1730 by Steward Southgate. He put in a grist mill here in 1737. The privilege was occupied by a fulling mill in 1795. It is now utilized for saw and grist mills.
Crawford Pond is a small body of water, a short distance south of Bondsville. The story goes, that a young man of the name of Crawford (Crofoot), whose father lived near Palmer Old Centre, was working for the summer in Belchertown, but went home on the Sabbath. This pond was on his way, and one morning in June he stopped and waded in to get some lilies, and was entrapped in one of the spring holes that abound in the bottom, and was drowned.
Glassford's Pond, sometimes called in the records "Beckwith's
14
HISTORY OF PALMER.
pond," is a still body of clear water, on the farm of George Brown, a little way above the junction of Ware and Swift rivers.
Knox's Pond, sometimes called Backus pond, lies in the high land to the north of the residence of David Knox.
HILLS AND MOUNTAINS .- Cedar Mountain Range extends from near the Palmer Carpet Factory in a northeasterly direction through the town. The southerly end is known as Tamar hill; the north end in Palmer is called Chestnut mountain. Then, after a depression through which a brook finds its way, the range appears again as Rattlesnake hill, and Colonel's mountain, lying partly in Palmer and partly in Warren.
Pottaquattuck Mountain, the highest point of land in town, stands in the north part, east of Ware river. It was at about the geographical centre of the Elbow Tract, as first laid out.
Ware River Hill, sometimes called King's mountain, lies east- erly of Thorndike and extends towards Palmer Old Centre.
Chicopee Hill is between Palmer Village and Old Centre.
Dumplin, a steep, craggy eminence, and striking feature of the landscape, is between Shearer's Corner and the Four Corners. The Ware River Railroad runs at its westerly foot.
Point of Rocks, or as it is called in the earliest surveys and deeds, " The Rocky Ledge," is a well known sharp eminence in the west- erly part of Palmer village, on the old Bay Path.
Tamar Hill, as before stated, is north of Tamar spring.
Baptist Hill. This was the name given by vote of the town, in 1855, to the eminence west and southwest of Three Rivers.
Long Hill is a name early applied to the range on the west of Ware river; that extends from E. G. Hastings' northerly into Ware. After these lands came into possession of the Thomson family the range was often called Thomson hill.
BREAKNECK HOLLOW is named in the early records. It was east of Dumplin.
WIGWAM HOLLOW, or SALISBURY HOLLOW, is on the brook of the same name, east of Blanchardville.
Ross' PLAIN and Ross' DEN were near the southeast corner of Bradford's one-hundred-acre grant, in the northwest corner of the Elbow Tract.
TAR KILN HOLLOW was in Alexander Tackel's one hundred acre Home Lot, laid out in 1733.
" ROOD'S DEN, so called," is named in a survey of 1742 as being on Archibald Boyd's fifty acre First Division Lot (No. 29), which he bought of John King.
IVE6
CROBEICÚP'& WEST END. CO. PHILA.PA.
THE WASHINGTON ELM.
15
TOPOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION.
GREAT PLAIN was an early name applied to the comparatively level land lying within the bend formed by the coming together of Swift and Ware rivers.
The land in the neighborhood of Four Corners is sometimes designated the Pine Plain, as were several other level spots then covered with the pine forest.
THE WASHINGTON ELM .- This noted and stately tree stands on the south side of the Old Bay Path, one-fourth of a mile west of Scott's bridge, on the farm now owned by M. W. French. It measures fourteen feet in circumference near the ground, and spreads about one hundred feet.
The place is an old Tavern stand, once owned by Daniel Graves, who obtained license to keep a house of entertainment before 1760, which license was renewed to his son, Aaron, in 1761. This son, who as captain served in the Revolutionary War, and afterwards rose to the rank of major, and was for many years a leading man in our civil and political affairs, kept the tavern during his life- time. The house was a large square building, with a huge stack Of chimneys in the centre. The house had fallen down, but the chimney was standing in 1850.
The Elm took its name from the tradition, apparently well at- tested, that General Washington, when on his way to take command of the American army, accompanied by his Staff, General Lee, and the deputation sent from Cambridge to Springfield to meet and escort him to headquarters, halted with his party under the shade of this tree to rest and lunch about noon, June 30, 1775. Very naturally the party ordered milk and other necessaries from Captain Graves' tavern opposite.
As to the story of Washington's second visit in 1789 and address- ing the people from a platform erected under this tree, there is less of probability. Everett, in his " Mount Vernon Papers," says : " Washington left New York October 15, 1789, in a chariot drawn by four horses, accompanied by several of his state officers and his own servants. He passed through New Haven, Hartford, and reached Springfield at 4 o'clock on the 21st October, where he in- spected the stores kept at the arsenal, and put up at Parsons' tavern. He left Springfield Thursday morning, 22d, at 7 o'clock, and arrived at Palmer, stopping at the old Scott tavern, where he breakfasted. He then went east, reaching Brookfield at noon, and dined at Hitchcock's tavern."
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