USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Amherst > The history of the town of Amherst, Massachusetts, pt 1 > Part 1
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48
Gc 974.402 Am47ca pt.1 1776034
M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00826 0777
1731
1896
THE HISTORY ·
OF THE
TOWN OF AMHERST,
MASSACHUSETTS.
PUBLISHED IN TWO PARTS. PART I .- GENERAL HISTORY,
OF THE TOWN. PART II .- TOWN MEETING
RECORDS. COMPLETE £
IN ONE VOLUME.
COMPILED AND PUBLISHED BY CARPENTER & MOREHOUSE.
AMHERST, MASS .: Prese of Carpenter & Ztlorshouse. 1896.
240
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AMHERST.
1776034
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Carpenter, Edward Wilton, 1856-
344025 .2 The history of the town of Amherst, Massachusetts. Published in two parts. Part I .- General history of the town. Part II .- Town meeting records. Complete in one volume. Comp. and pub. by Carpenter & Morehouse. Amherst, Mass., Press of Carpenter & Morehouse, 1896.
GC xxiii p., 1 1., 640, (2; p., 1 1. 263 p. front., plates, ports., map. 24em.
974.402 Amille
At head of title: 1731. 1896.
! The eastern portion of Hadley was made a separate parish in 1735 as "Hadley Third precinct," (becoming Second precinct in 1753) ; and became the District of Amherst in 1759. It was incorporated as a town in 1775. The records begin 1735.
pt.1. 1. Amherst, Mass .- Hist. 2. Amherst, Mass .- Hist .- Sources. I. More- house, Charles Frederick.
0
1-13358
73166 Library of Congress CHELF CARL F74.A5C3
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/historyoftownofa01carp
--
OF AN
TOWN
INCORPORATED
ST
1759
MASS.
F844025.2
73166
7
To the memory of THE " EAST INHABITANTS" OF HADLEY
AND OF THEIR
HONORED DESCENDANTS WHO HAVE MADE THE TOWN OF AMHERST WHAT IT WAS AND IS THIS VOLUME IN LOVE AND REVERENCE IS DEDICATED
PREFACE.
AMHERST is child of Hadley, grandchild of Hartford and Wethers- field, great-grandchild of the settlements that, clustering around Boston Harbor, united to form the Province of the Massachusetts Bay. Never was there more honored lineage, never a more honorable descendant. The life-story of those strong men and true-hearted women who braved the perils of the North Atlantic and dared the dangers of a wilderness unknown that, in a stranger land, they might find the freedom which a jealous and imperfect civilization denied, who built their rude cabins in Roxbury and Cambridge and Charlestown, surrounding primitive meeting- houses wherein they found "freedom to worship God," their story, rich in heroism, in devotion to principle, in glorious self-sacrifice, has been written and rewritten, in poetry and prose, in song and legend, in history and romance, until it has become a classic. Nor has the historian slighted the doings of that goodly company who sailed from Boston Harbor, rounded Cape Cod, traversed the waters of Long Island Sound and ascended far up New England's fairest stream, the broad Connecticut, until they reached the fertile meadows where they planted the first inland settlement and called it Hartford. Hadley's history has been written by a master hand, a noble history, bravely written, a wealth of information secured to generations yet to come. What of Amherst? A settlement in 1731, a district in 1759, a town in 1776, its history has, up to this time, remained unwritten save in the pages of old record books, with naught else to preserve it save the memory of succeeding generations. The history of Amherst should have been written long time ago; each passing year destroys or renders less available historic matter of interest and value; each year removes from the scene of life's activities men and women whose memories are treasure- houses of historic fact. These facts borne in mind furnished a leading motive to those who have compiled and published this History of the Town of Amherst. Claiming no special fitness for the work, realizing that others might, if they would, achieve greater success in such an undertaking, they believed that the time for action had come, that a history of Amherst should be written, and written now. Realizing fully the magnitude of the work involved, they entered upon it with the determination that no effort should be spared to make the history worthy of the town. In what they have succeeded, in how much they have failed, time must bear witness.
INTRODUCTION.
A TOWN, not without a history, but without an historian. Such a dis- tinction is not to be coveted, but it has rendered Amherst unique among the towns of any considerable size or importance situate in Massachusetts or New England, dating back in time of settlement to the earlier years of the Eighteenth century. Amherst is not a town of mushroom growth such as dot the prairies of the West, whose history can be written in one brief paragraph. It is rich in historic incident and association ; it occupies historic ground. The forests that clothed its hills and valleys once resounded with the savage cries of King Philip's dusky warriors as they rallied to the attack upon Old Hadley, the parent settlement. Along its highways marched the captive troops of Burgoyne on their weary journey from Saratoga to Boston. Later on, these same highways re-echoed to the hurried tread of Shays' insurgents retreating to Pelham after their unsuccessful attack upon the arsenal at Springfield. Amherst militia-men were in the army that Gov. Strong reviewed on Boston common when a British fleet threatened invasion during the war of 1812. For more than one hundred and sixty years Amherst, as settlement, precinct, district and town, has borne an honored and honorable part in history-making events in the life of the grand old Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The history of such a town is worth the writing, and the reading. T'hat writing might well have engaged the services of some student of history, some polished rhetorician, but such have failed to embrace the opportunity and, lacking these, the task has fallen upon one who may, with some propriety, be regarded as an intruder in the field of historical writing. The importance of the work and the inexpediency of longer waiting may excuse what otherwise might seem presumption on the writer's part.
For many years the proprietors of the Amherst Record have been engaged in the collection of material relating to the history of the town of Amherst. This was done, at the first, with no settled purpose of writing and publishing an historical work, but with knowledge that such material is of value and should be preserved. When the suggestion of compiling and publishing a history of Amherst was first made to some of the older and more influential residents of the town, it was received with such hearty favor and so warmly encouraged that a determination was formed to enter
viii.
INTRODUCTION.
upon the work forthwith. After careful consideration, it was decided to arrange and print the history in two parts, to be bound together in the same volume. The first should contain such matters relating to the general history of the town and its inhabitants as could be gathered from available sources of information, the second, a transcription of the records of town- meetings from the earliest days of the settlement down to the year 1800, with a record of the more important votes passed at such meetings from 1800 up to and including the year 1865. The material for the second part being already in hand, the work of printing began at once. The records from 1735 to 1800 have been copied entire, and generous extracts made from the town books covering the period between 1800 and 1866. The value of these records can hardly be estimated in dollars and cents. They are a mine of information, and by placing them in print they have been made easily accessible and rendered secure from loss or injury.
The matter contained in Part I. has been collected from sources almost innumerable. Two aims have ever been in mind, completeness and accuracy. The task involved was the greater in that there had been no previous attempt at historic writing in connection with the town of Amherst. The lands comprised in the township of Amherst once formed a part of Hadley, hence for the earlier history of the settlement recourse must needs be had to the records of the parent town. The Hadley records were carefully examined and afforded an abundance of interesting and valuable information. Other facts relating to the town's beginnings were gathered from Judd's History of Hadley and from the unpublished manuscripts of Sylvester Judd, now in possession of J. R. Trumbull of Northampton, to whose courtesy in permitting free access to this most valuable collection the publishers are greatly indebted. In the arrange- ment of matter it was thought best that the opening chapters should follow closely the chronological order of prominent historical events up to the time of the founding of Amherst College, while after that date particular subjects should be treated under separate chapter headings. Thus the first eight chapters of the History are devoted to a review of the causes leading to the settlement of Hadley, the early history of that settlement, the setting off from Hadley of its "Third Precinct," the first settlers in the precinct, the founders of Amherst families, the organization of the First church and settlement of its first pastor, the first school-houses, the boundaries of the lands comprised in the precinct and annexations of land as made from time to time, the laying out of highways, and matters of interest concerning the early settlers, their homes and their occupations. In the ninth chapter is recorded the service of settlers in the precinct in the French and Indian wars, largely compiled from manuscript archives on file in the state-house at Boston. This is followed by a chapter containing facts relative to the
ix.
INTRODUCTION.
wetting off of Amherst as a district, including an interesting biographical sketch of Jeffery, Lord Amherst, written for this work by Prof. Herbert B. Adams of Johns Hopkins University. A very complete and accurate history is given of the part borne by Amherst and its inhabitants in the war of the Revolution. But little of this matter has before appeared in print in any form. The list of Amherst soldiers who served in the war is compiled from original muster-rolls now on file among the state archives. Especial interest must attach to the story of the treatment accorded by the patriots to the tory element which was powerful in the town.
The next prominent event in Amherst history was the effort made to divide the town, and the bitter controversy which led to the organization of the Second parish ; these subjects are treated at considerable length. Three chapters are devoted to the "Shays Rebellion," one of the most unique events in Massachusetts history, which affected the whole commonwealth , but had its storm-center in Western Massachusetts, with Amherst and Pelham as rallying points for the insurgents. Much of interest concern- ing this attempted revolution is gathered from. Minot's history, printed at Worcester in 1788, while valuable documents concerning it have been copied from the state archives and are printed for the first time in this volume. The history of Amherst Academy is of peculiar interest, from the fact that it was the first literary institution established at Amherst which gained more than local celebrity, and that it furnished a foundation for Amherst College. The originals of the petition for establishing the acad- emy and the charter granted it by the state are copied entire from the state archives. Four chapters are devoted to an outline history of Amherst College, especial attention being paid to the part borne in its establishment by Amherst citizens. Brief sketches are given of the presidents of the college and prominent events of their several administrations.
Nearly 80 pages are devoted to the churches and other religious organ- izations of the town. This material was gathered largely from church and society records, access to which was readily granted by those having them in charge. Of particular interest are the records relating to the controversy between the First and Second parishes, the ownership of the meeting-house in the North parish and the great church quarrel in the South parish. The doings of the Hampshire East Association and Hampshire East Conference are here recorded. A chapter is devoted to educational institutions, includ- ing public and private schools. Extracts are made from records of the old school districts and sketches given of the Mount Pleasant Institute, the Amherst Female Academy, and other academies and schools well-known in their day. A chapter on agriculture gives a very complete history of the Hampshire Agricultural society, describing the old-time cattle-shows, and the controversy that arose over the purchase of the society's grounds
x.
INTRODUCTION.
at East Amherst. Two chapters are devoted to a review of manufacturing industries, prominence being given to the textile industries which flourished for a time at North Amherst and the many manufacturing enterprises which centered at East Amherst and about the New London Northern depot. Residents of Amherst at the present time will be surprised to learn the extent and variety of the industries that from time to time have found a home in Amherst. Some twenty pages are devoted to a history of the various railway enterprises in which the town and its citizens have inter- ested themselves. The " Hampshire and Franklin" and "Amherst Branch" railway companies may well be considered as the forerunners of the two railway lines that now pass through the town.
Other subjects treated under special chapter headings are banks, post- offices and courts, newspapers and printing, libraries and lyceums, fire organizations, militia companies, taverns and stage-routes, liquor selling and societies for the promotion of temperance, the care of the town's poor, cemeteries, village improvement, public improvements, including street-lighting, concrete walks, water supply and sewers, highways and bridges, public buildings, crimes, accidents and epidemics, schemes for acquiring wealth, including the " mulberry craze," the "mining craze " and assessment insurance, old business firms, old houses, town politics, amuse- ments and celebrations, weather phenomena, the "old cannon," slavery and the abolition movement, authors and scientists, natural features of the town, locality names, society organizations. Fifty pages are devoted to the part borne by the town and its inhabitants in the war for the preservation of the Union. This feature of the History is as complete and accurate as careful investigation of all available sources of information could make it. It is presented in a form calculated to make it especially valuable for reference. An outline history of the Massachusetts Agricultural College occupies nearly forty pages, containing matter which must prove of value to the future historian of the college.
Six appendixes contain lists of town officers and representatives to the General Court, an exhaustive review of the town debt, showing how it was contracted and what payments have been made upon it, tables showing appropriations made for certain specific objects since the first settlement, a tabular review of total appropriations and expenditures for the past fifty years, valuation lists and tax-rates for the past thirty years, complete valu- ation lists for the year 1759, when the district was set off, and the year 1776, when it became a town, a voters' list compiled in 1802 and original documents of interest in connection with the town's early history. A special feature of the work is its illustrations, comprising a large number of portraits of some of the best known of the earlier inhabitants, together with many landscape views and pictures of old buildings, some of the
xi.
INTRODUCTION.
latter yet standing, others existing but in memory. The work involved in. securing the originals of these illustrations was very great; many of them were copied from old daguerreotypes and oil paintings ; many were pro- cured from parties residing in distant parts of the country. The publishers. consider themselves fortunate in having secured the portraits of so many representative men ; they regret that of others whose names frequently occur in these pages no portraits are in existence. For the uniform excel- lence of these illustrations great credit is due to J. L. Lovell, the artist photographer, who secured nearly all the negatives from which the plates. were made, and in them may be found some of his best work. The half- tone plates from which the illustrations were printed are the work of the Springfield Photo-Engraving company. It will be noticed that this History does not contain a portrait of any man now living. There are many residents of the town yet living whose portraits would honor these pages, but all could not be printed, and the task of selecting certain ones. among them would be ungrateful.
In compiling the material contained in this volume the publishers. have received valuable assistance from many sources. A complete list of individuals who have willingly and gladly aided in the work would occupy more space than the publishers feel at liberty to devote to it. There are some whose services deserve special recognition, and the publishers take pleasure in extending their cordial thanks to the officials in charge of the state archives at Boston, to James R. Trumbull of Northampton, to Presi- dent Henry H. Goodell of the Agricultural College, to Librarian William I. Fletcher of Amherst College, to Town Clerk Charles H. Edwards, to Charles O. Parmenter, to Henry Jackson, to Deacon Thomas B. Read of South Amherst, to Loomis H. Merrick, and to any and all who have in any way aided them in their labors. The citizens of Amherst generally have shown a generous interest in the undertaking and have gladly furnished any desired information in their possession. Without their cordial coop- eration success would have been impossible. Many valuable manuscripts. have been contributed by lineal descendants of the earlier settlers.
This History contains no attempt at fine writing, makes no claimn to especial literary merit. It is a record of facts, written in language concise and fairly intelligible, and so arranged that the reader will have little diffi- culty in referring to particular subjects. Comprehensive in design, it deals with many subjects in detail, the aim being to make it especially valuable as a book of reference. It is compiled in the main from original manu- scripts ; copies have not been used when originals could be obtained. Many interesting and valuable documents are copied entire, liberal extracts being made from others. Especial prominence has been given to matters pertaining to the earlier history of the town. Anything of possible value
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xii.
INTRODUCTION.
concerning that history that could be secured is here preserved. So far as possible the line has been drawn between fact and tradition. While an attempt has been made to bring the History down to date the happenings of recent years have been accorded comparatively little space.
The publication of this volume will naturally invite criticism. While an attempt has been made to secure accuracy in all its details, it is hardly to be expected that it should be entirely free from errors. In many instances there has been discovered a conflict of authorities concerning matters here recorded ; where such has occurred that authority has been accepted which has proved most uniformly accurate and reliable. Great difficulty has been experienced in insuring accuracy in recording the names of the earlier inhabitants. Old-time methods of spelling were largely phonetic, and a man's name underwent surprising transformation as it was recorded byone and then by another of his contemporaries. The common names such as Smith and Clark and Strong, could generally be recognized despite the various orthographical indignities to which they were subjected. Abbre- viations were common, some readily recognized, others, like " Toon " for Mattoon and ." Crummy " for Abercrombie, taxing the resources of one not an expert in philology. Confusion is also caused in many cases by the number of persons bearing the same name, family names being handed down from generation to generation. Such names as Daniel Dickinson and Jonathan Cowls and Edward Smith have figured on the assessors' rolls from the date of earliest settlement down to the present time. In indexing these names but one title has been used, although apparent that the refer- ences relate to different persons. The names of Cowls and Cowles are indexed together, being of common origin.
Several persons who have expressed a deep interest in the publication of this History have urged that space be accorded to genealogical reviews of the families of the earlier settlers. The publishers would have been glad to accede to this request, had they not realized that the addition of any considerable amount of matter to that already in hand would necessi- tate the publishing of the History in two volumes, making it more cum- bersome and less convenient as a book of reference. There can be little question that, at some time in the future, probably not far distant, the gen- ealogies of families prominent in the first settlement of Amherst will be written and published : the tendencies of the times are encouraging to labor in the field of genealogical research. There is hardly a family that can trace back its ancestry to the earlier settlers in New England but numbers among its members some one who is engaged in collecting statistics concerning the family history. Valuable beginnings for the genealogies of Amherst families may be found in the genealogies of Hadley, Amherst. Granby and South Hadley families compiled by Lucius M. Boltwood and published in
xiii.
INTRODUCTION.
Judd's History of Hadley, and in the lists of Amherst families compiled by James W. Boyden and now on file in the office of the Amherst town Jerk. These sources of information are in the main correct and are of great interest and value.
Brief biographical sketches are here presented of certain citizens who were prominent in the town in their day and generation. The list is not as complete as might be desired; it is possible, even probable, that names have been omitted from the list whose owners well deserve special mention. In making their selections the publishers have been largely governed by the prominence accorded to individuals in the town records and in the mass of historical data which they have collected. Information concerning many men known to have been prominent in the earlier history of the town has been gained with great difficulty. Some of the families once leaders in the community have no living descendants so far as can be ascertained. While it is matter for regret that these sketches are incomplete there is, on the other hand, reason for congratulation that so much of information con- cerning the early settlers has been secured and is here recorded.
CONTENTS.
PART I.
CHAPTER I.
PAGF ..
Indian Deed of Lands-River Indians-Original Bounds of Hadley-Causes Leading to Hadley's Settlement-Beginnings of the Town of Hadley- Indian Wars, 1675-1748, . I
CHAPTER II.
. Early Settlements in Hampshire County-Division of Hadley Outer Commons -Equivalent Land -- Flat Hills Lands-East Inhabitants in 1731. . 10
CHAPTER III. ..
Founders of Amherst Families-Biographical Sketches of the Early Settlers, 22
CHAPTER IV.
Burial Ground for East Inhabitants-Occupations-Wild Animals-Hadley Votes Concerning East Inhabitants-Third Precinct Set Off, . 29
CHAPTER V.
David Parsons, the First Minister-Organization of the First Church-Mr. Parsons' Salary and Firewood-The First Meeting-House, 34
CHAPTER VI.
School Appropriations by Hadley and by the Third Precinct-First School- Houses -- Lands Comprised in Hadley Third Precinct-Annexations of Land, . 41
CHAPTER VII.
The First Highways-Encroachments on Highways-Hadley Votes Concern- ing Roads and Bridges-John Morton and NathanDickinson-New High- ways Laid Out, . 48
CHAPTER VIII.
Innkeepers-Cemetery and Town Lot-Occupations-Pauper Expenses- Negroes-Physicians-Lawyers, .
56
CHAPTER IX.
French and Indian Wars-An Old Lawsuit-Amherst Troops in the Wars-
Petitions for Relief-Militia Company, 61
CHAPTER X.
Petition to Become a District-The District Organized-Amherst and Lord Amherst-Province Taxes-Statistics in 1771, . 65
xvi.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XI.
Amherst in the Revolution-Minute Men-Tories-The Canadian Campaign -Names of Amherst Soldiers,
CHAPTER XII. 77
The Committee of Safety-Tories Imprisoned-Simeon Strong's Blanket-
The Battle of Saratoga-Hiring and Drafting Soldiers, . 86
CHAPTER XIII.
Prominent Patriots-Ebenezer Mattoon-Leading Opponents of the Revolu- tion-Josiah Chauncey -- John Field-The Boltwoods, · 98
CHAPTER XIV.
Proposed Division of Amherst-Petition Against a Division,
CHAPTER XV. 102
Controversy Concerning a New Minister-Dr. David Parsons-Action by Church and Parish-Ecclesiastical Councils -- Second Parish Organized, IOS
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