USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Southampton > Address delivered at Southampton, Mass. : at the centennial celebration of the incorporation of that town, July 23, 1841 > Part 4
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On you, indeed, rests a different responsibility. You can- 'not, however much you might long to do it, help them in their wearisome labor, and in their wasting anxieties. There is no call to send succor to the poor in Boston, straitly shut up by a siege, nor to the soldiers in the camp at Cambridge. ' You are not obliged to wade fifteen miles through a deep snow, to hear tidings from a brother or husband in a prison at Quebec, or in an old hulk at New York. Other obliga- tions press on you. Be not recreant to them. Your time is brief. The years in which to act are fast rolling away. An- other century now begins. Long before it shall have finished
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its round, you will have joined the silent congregation. So live, that when the second solemn festival of this nature shall return, your descendants shall look back to you with tearful gratitude ; shall remember you with such affection as we bear to our good old fathers; shall gather around your wasting dust, and bless God, that they were descended from men who were not degenerate, who lived for their children and their childrens' children.
APPENDIX.
NOTE A. p. 11.
We here subjoin a few notices, compiled from various sources, of the thirty original settlers of Southampton.
JONATHAN BASCOM. Thomas Bascom came from the north of En- gland about the year 1650, and settled at Northampton. He married Mary Baldwin, who died Feb. 3, 1676. He died Sept. 11, 1689. He had two sons, Thomas and John. Thomas married Hannah Catlin, who survived him many, years, and died in 1747. He died Feb. 3, 1714. They had four sons and four daughters. One of the daughters, Mary, married Noah Sheldon, who removed to Southampton. Jona- than, one of the sons, and the original settler of Southampton, married Mindwell King. He died April 20, 1780, aged 74. His wife decea- sed April 4, 1789, aged 89. Their children were Jonathan, Elisha and Rachel. Elisha married Lucy Sheldon, daughter of Israel Sheldon, and sister of the late Silas Sheldon. He died in the service of his country, at Ticonderoga, Sept. 18, 1776, aged 37. He was hientenant of a company of militia. He was a brave soldier, and a highly re- spected citizen. His widow died March 15, 1810, aged 67. Their children were Irena, King, Elisha, Lucy, Asenath and Naomi. King died Dec. 4, 1827, aged 63. Jonathan Bascom's house (the first set- tler) stood on the lot afterwards owned by Perez Clap, now by Mr. Graves.
SAMUEL BURT. Henry Burt removed from Roxbury to Springfield, soon after the settlement of the latter. His son, David, was one of the settlers of Northampton. He had a son Henry : and Henry, a son David, who was the father of Samuel, who removed to Southampton. His residence was in the place where his son, the late Dea. Sammel Burt lived and died, and which is now owned by Stephen E. Searl. Sanmel senior was one of the leading men in the affairs of the town for many years. In the revolutionary times, he was an ardent whig. Dea. Sammel Burt was the father of the three ministers by the name of Burt, mentioned in a subsequent note.
ROGER CLAP. The Memoirs of Capt. Roger Clap, one of the first settlers of Dorchester, are well known. Among his sons are the names of Preserved, Hopestill and Desire. One of his danghters was named Wait. He died Feb. 2, 1691, aged 81. Preserved was one of the early settlers of Northampton, and died Sept. 20, 1720, aged about 77 years His son, Roger, had a son of the same name, who was one of
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the settlers of Southampton. He resided where Mrs. Arunah Searl now lives. His son Joel, who is referred to on p. 23, lived to an old age, and had treasured up, in a retentive memory, a multitude of local facts.
AARON CLARK. William Clark lived many years in Dorchester, and thence removed to Northampton. His son John had six sons, viz. John, Nathaniel, Ebenezer, Increase, Noah and Josiah. Three of the Clarks, who emigrated to Southampton, Jonathan, Joseph and Selah, were sons of Nathaniel ; Aaron, Elisha and Dea. John, were sons of John. Timothy, who settled later in Southampton, and who was, for some time, town clerk, was a son of Noah. John Clark, one of the settlers of Springfield, was not related to William Clark of Northamp- ton. There were Clarks at Hartford, Windsor, Hadley, etc. conten- pory with William, but it is not known that there was any relationship between them.
Aaron Clark lived where the late Hiram Clark lived and died.
ELISHA CLARK built a house a few rods west of the house where Oliver Clark now lives, on the opposite side of the road. The cir- cumstances of his death are mentioned p. 19.
DEA. JOHN CLARK resided on the place where the late Gaius Ly- man lived. He was much esteemed as a citizen, as well as an officer in the church.
JONATHAN CLARK lived in a house opposite to that formerly owned by Calvin Torrey.
JOSEPH CLARK built a house a few rods east of the house where Asa Searl lives. Soon after he came to this town, his wife died. This affliction so discouraged him, that he removed to Northampton, and never returned here. His place was taken by his brother,
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SELAH CLARK, who was numbered, instead of Joseph, as one of the original thirty settlers. Selah and his wife died within fourteen days of each other, in Nov. 1806, he being 90 years and eight months old, and she 91 years and four months.
SAMUEL DANKS was descended from the Robert Danks who was one of the first settlers of Nashawannuck, in Easthampton (p. 9.) He · lived in a house which stood a few rods east of the house of the late Moses Danks, now occupied by Simcon Lyman and Schuyler Shel- don. The name is now very uncounnon.
EBENEZER FRENCH was a son of Jonathan French of Northamp- ton, and a grandson of John French, who removed, as it is conjectured, from Rehoboth, Ms. to Northampton. He was connected with the Kingsleys. Ebenezer lived in a house which stood thirty or forty rods north of the house of the widow of James Thorp.
ELEAZAR HANNUM. William Hannum settled in Windsor, Ct., and thence removed to Northampton. He had a son John, and a grand- son Jolin, who was the father of the settler at Southampton. He lived on the place where Gilbert Bascom now resides.
JUDAH HUTCHINSON was a son of Judah Hutchinson, and a grand- . son of Ralph Hutchinson, who came to Northampton from Dorches-
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ter. Judah Hutchinson was a tailor. He lived in a house, a few rods east from that now owned by Ephraim Marsh. His dwelling and that of Thomas Porter, were the first erected in the town.
PHINEAS KING was a son of Joseph King, and a grandson of John King, who came from Northampton in England to Northampton, Ms., and married a daughter of a Dea. Holton. Phineas King resided, as did, also, his son Dea. Douglas King, in a house which stood between the street, and the house built by Lemon Gridley, now owned by He- man Searl. Joseph King, a brother of Phineas, was accidentally kil- led while hunting, by Samuel Burt.
EBENEZER KINGSLEY. Enos Kingsley came from Dorchester to Northampton. His father, Jolm, seems to have lived, at a later period, at Rehoboth. Enos had a son John, who was the father of Ebenezer. The latter resided near the house, which was occupied, many years, by the late Rev. Mr. Gould ; now by widow Kingsley. His son, and sergeant Eliakim Wright, whom Mr. Jndd calls "two hopeful and valuable young men," are referred to on p. 23. Ebenezer senior, was, for many years, precinet clerk, and afterwards town clerk. He was, also, a school teacher. He appears to have been among the most use- ful men in the town. '
ELIAS LYMAN. Richard, John and Robert Lyman were among thie first settlers of Northampton, where the name has continued, with re- putation, to the present time. "Their father might have been," says Mr. Farmer, " Richard Lyman, who was admitted freeman in Massa- chusetts, in 1633." Elias Lyman was the son of Elias, the grandson of Moses, the great grandson of Moses, and the great great grandson of John, mentioned above. He lived where his grandsons Joel and Isaac Lyman now reside. He was a very prominent actor in the af- fairs of the town and of the church.
NATHAN LYMAN was the son of Jolin Lyman and the grandson of Richard, alluded to in the first line of the last paragraph. He built a house near where Samuel Lyman now resides. His nephew, the late Dea. John Lyman, was born at Fort Dummer, and removed from Northfield to Southampton.
JOHN MILLER. After residing some years in Southampton, he re- turned to the old town. His house is supposed to have been near the residence of Royal Burt. He was a descendant of William Miller, one of the first settlers of Northampton, who removed, as Mr. Farmer conjectures, front Ipswich to North Hampton.
NOAH PIXLEY. William Pixley lived sometime at Northampton, but, for the most part, at Westfield, where he died in 1689. He had a son Thomas, who was the father of Noah. The latter resided where Rainsford Root now does. The circumstances of his death are allu- ded to p. 19.
THOMAS PORTER was the son of Robert Porter of Northampton. He made preparations to build a house on two or three localities near the house of Elisha Edwards. A part of the dwelling which he erect- ed is now the S. W. corner room, lower story, of the house of E. Ed-
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wards. His house and farm were purchased by Dea. Samuel Ed- wards senior, who removed to Southampton in 1753. Mr. Porter then retired to a place a little south of Gamaliel Pomeroy's house, where he died. Jehiel Porter was his son.
ELIAS ROOT. Thomas Root, who settled in Northampton, came from Hartford, where he lived many years. He may have been the Thomas Root who lived in Salem in 1637. Elias Root built a house nearly opposite that of Lysander B. Bates.
STEPHEN ROOT lived in the same honse with his brother Elias. Af- ter some time, he removed to Northampton, where he remained.
NATHANIEL SEARL. John Searl, one of the settlers of Springfield, died in that town, Jan. 1642. His widow, originally Mary Baldwin, was married to Alexander Edwards, who removed from Springfield to Northampton, and who was the ancestor of the varions families of that name in Northampton, Southampton and Westhampton. Jolm Scarl left one son, John, who came with his father-in-law, Edwards, to Northampton. John had a son Nathaniel, who was the father of Na- thaniel, the settler at Southampton. One of the brothers of the latter had a son, John, who was a clergyman. Nathaniel Searl's house stood a nam- ber of rods south . of the house of Zophar Searl, on the same side of the road. He had nine sons, and for that reason, perhaps, built a house with two rooms, the only dwelling in the town that had more than one room for ten or fifteen years. He furnished boarding for the ministers who preached in the town prior to Mr. Judd's settlement, and entertainment for the council that ordained Mr. Judd. His de- scendants are very numerous.
ISRAEL SHELDON. The Sheldons, Israel, Noah and Stephen, werc sons of Ebenezer Sheldon, and grandsons of Isaac Sheldon of North- ampton. The family removed from Dorchester to Windsor, and a branch of it thence to Northampton. Israel Sheldon lived where Ab- ner Sheldon now does.
NOAH SHELDON resided in a house thirty or forty rods north of that of the late Ralph Edwards.
STEPHEN SHELDON lived where his grandson, Rodolphus Sheldon, now does.
EZRA STRONG. Elder John Strong came, in 1630, to this country in company with Messrs. Warham, Maverick and others. From Dor- chester, he removed to Windsor, Ct. in 1635 or 1636, and thence to Northampton in 1659, where be died in 1590, aged 94, sustaining a high reputation for wisdom and piety. He married his second wife, Abigail Ford, in Dorchester, in 1630. His father's name was Richard. He had eighteen children. Five of the sons, viz Jedidiah, Ebenezer, Samuel, Josiah and Jerijah appear to have been residents of North- ampton. The late Gov. Strong was descended from Ebenezer, and Judge Simeon Strong of Amherst from Samuel. It is not known from which of these sons Ezra Strong descended. His house stood near the one (now demolished) owned by the late Israel Sheldon, and nearly opposite to the house of Alvan Bates. He died in 1748, and
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his father came from Northampton, and removed the widow and her children to the old town.
ICHABOD STRONG was the son of Jonathan, whose father was Ebe- nezer, above mentioned. His honse was a few rods south of the house of the late Gains Lyman.
DEA. WAITSTILL STRONG was the son of Waitstill, whose father, Thomas Strong, was one of Elder John Strong's children. His dwell- ing was a few rods east of the house of the late Jonathan Judd, Esq.
JOHN WAIT lived on what is now known by the name of the " Wait . Farm." He was the son of John Wait, whose father, William Wait, came to Northampton in 1680, and married a Kingsley. His origin is not known.
MOSES WRIGHT lived in a house a few rods south of that of Luther Loomis. He was the son of Preserved Wright, the grandson of James Wright and the great grandson of Samuel Wright. The last named was one of the first settlers of Springfield, and. subsequently, of Northi- ampton. Moses Wriglit died, unmarried, in 1748.
NOTE B. p. 23.
On the 13th of May, 1704, O. S., the Indians attacked the village of Paskhomuck, now in Easthampton, and killed nineteen persons, six adults and thirteen children. About twenty years afterwards, Nathaniel Edwards, jr. of Northampton, was killed by the Indians, as he was wa- tering his team, at the small stream of water, north of Lorenzo Clapp's house in Easthampton. Another person was wounded. The houses of Joseph Bartlett and Samuel Janes were fortified in the Indian wars, and were used as watch-houses.
NOTE C. p. 26.
Dr. Woodbridge did not abuse the trust which was reposed in him, by the town, nor disappoint the expectations which were formed of him. He was a skilful and conscientious physician, and enjoyed an . extensive practice for many years. He was a member of the Massa- chusetts Medical Society. He married Mindwell Strong of Northamp- ton. Their children were Mrs. Gould, John Woodbridge, D. D. of New Hartford, Ct., and Rev. Sylvester Woodbridge.
NOTE D. p. 27.
From Dea. THOMAS JUDD, all of that name in New England have descended. He probably came to this country in the company of Rev. Thomas Hooker. He removed to Hartford, (it is supposed, with Mr. Hooker and others), in 1636. He lived there a few years, and then settled in Farmington. He was the first deputy from that town to the General Court. After the death of his wife, he removed to Northampton, and married the widow of Thomas Mason. He died
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in Northampton, Nov. 12, 1686, being above eighty years of age. He had nine children.
WILLIAM JUDD, the second son of the preceding, was born about 1635, or 1636. He married Mary Steel, March 30, 1658. He died in 1690; his widow in 1718. They had seven children.
THOMAS JUDD, oldest son of William, was born in 1663. He mar- ried Sarah Freeman, Feb. 9, 1688. He had eight children. He was a captain in the militia, and deacon in the church, in Waterbury, Ct. He died Jan. 4, 1747, aged eighty-three. His wife died Sept. 28, 1738.
WILLIAM JUDD, eldest son of Thomas, married Mary Root, Jan. 31, 1713. They had nine children. She died Dec. 10, 1751. He had a second wife. He died Jan. 29, 1772, aged 82.
NOTE E. p. 27.
The children of Mr. Judd were,
Jonathan, born Oct. 7, 1744, died Jan. 30, 1819. Silence, 66 Dec. 16, 1750, Sept. 9, 1839. Sylvester, Dec. 1, 1752, Sept. 19, 1832.
Saralı, . July 12, 1755, 66 March 24, 1837.
Solomon, Jan. 26, 1758, " Nov. 8, 1830.
Frederick,
Jan. 29, 1760, May 23, 1840.
Clarissa Oct. 2, 1764, Ang. 8, 1337.
Silence was the wife of Dea. Sammel Edwards of Westhampton ; Sarah, of Mr. Timothy Clark of Southampton ; and Clarissa, of Mr. Luther Edwards of Southampton.
NOTE F. p. 30.
Among those who were engaged in the eight months service at Cambridge in 1775, were Capt. Abner Pomeroy, Serj. Lemuel Rust, Serj. Gershom Pomeroy, Corp. Stephen Clap, Corp. Samuel Edwards and Corp. Ezekiel Wood, together with fourteen privates. Stephen Clap, born 1749, (brother of Roger,) died of a fever near Boston, Aug. 1775. Ebenezer Gee, one of the privates, went on the Quebec expe- dition.
Obadiah Frary of Southampton was killed and scalped by the In- dians, Aug. 1777, on a retreat to Stillwater from Moses' Creek, near Fort Edward. Elisha Edwards was in his company. Stephen Shel- don, brother of Simeon, died in a wagon, in Gates's army. Dea. Ros- well Strong was with him. Darius Searl, brother of' David, died in the service, probably on Long Island. Aaron Strong, (father of Aaron Strong who died suddenly, July 1-41,) was killed by a cannon ball, in an intrenchment at Saratoga. Oliver Pomeroy, a son of Capt. Abner Pomeroy, died in the service near the close of the war. It is believed, that a young man, by the name of Hall, a son of John Hall, also died in the army. In June, 1779, the General Court ordered a reinforce- ment for the Continental army. The proportion of S. Hampton was
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six soldiers. At another time, the following soldiers from Southamp- ton were engaged in the service, Serj. Jacob Pomeroy, Joseph Bart- lett, Elisha Bundy, Samuel Coleman, Silas Pomeroy, Gad Pomeroy, Noble Squires and Phineas Searl ; the last named was in Capt. John Carpenter's company ; the others were in Capt. Ebenezer Pomeroy's company.
Gad Clark was attacked with sickness, while he was in the army, and died soon after he reached home.
NOTE G. p. 30.
Mr. Silas Sheldon was one of the most liberal men, his means being considered, whom we have ever known. He acquired his property by hard personal labor on an uninviting farm. He gave in his life-time $1000 to the Hampshire Education Society, $1000 to Amherst college, and between $2000 and $3000 to form the academy which bears his name, besides smaller donations to many other objects. To a num- ber of young men, preparing for the christian ministry, he loaned money from time to time. He, also, educated several adopted chil- dren, having none of his own.
NOTE HI. p. 31. List of College-Graduates, natives of Southampton.
Grad.|
Name.
1
Coll. |
Stud. Divinity.
| Res. and Miscell.
1703 Jonathan Judd
Yale Dart.
1784 David Searl
1801 Rev. Ashbel Strong
Will.
1802
" Lyman Strong, M. D.
1904:
" Sylvester Burt
66
Dr. Lathrop
1804
" John Woodbridge. D.D.
1804 | Martin L. Hurlburt
1505 Rev. Sanl Clark
1505 Theodore Pomeroy, M. D.
Harv. Will. Yale
Dr. Lathrop
Merch. S. Ham. Dead. In State of Del. Teacher, Col- chester, Ct. Gr. Barrington, d. Jan. 20, 1536. New Hartf. Ct. Resides in Phil. Bethany, Ct. Physician, Uti- ca, N. Y.
1808
Rufus Pomeroy
1810
Thaddeus Pomeroy
1811
Isaac Parsons
Yale Will.
1811
William Strong
1812
Federal Burt
Dr. J. Lyman
Durham, Me. d. Feb. 9, 1523.
1813
Sylvester Woodbridge
1813
66 Rufus Hurlburt
1513
Noble D. Strong
1515
Aretas Loomis
1816 Justin W. Clark
1817 Rev. Medad Pomeroy
Will.
1818 Chandler Bates
Lemuel P. Bates
1815 Philetus Clark
Mid. Rev. J. Benedict | Windsor.
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Sudbury.d.1840 Died 1833. [Vt. E. Bennington, Lawyer, North- ampton.d le33. Otisco, N. Y. Parina. N. Y. Flint, Mich.
Auburn Rev. J. Benedict Princeton
South Deerfield Otis. Gorham, Me. E. Haddam, Ct. Ohio.
1808|Rev. Samuel Ware
Will.
Rev. Mr. Gould Dr. Packard Andover
Andover
Harv. Mid. Will. Harv.
Rev. Mr. Gould
Rev. A. Hooker
Rev. A. Hooker
1
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Grad.|
Namo.
1 Coll. 1 Stud. Divinity. ! Res. and Miscell.
1822 Rev. Erastus Clapp
Union
Prof. R. Emerson | Northampton. &. Dr. Beecher
1824
Jairus Burt
Amnh.
Auburn Andover
1824
Bela B. Edwards
1825
Abner P. Clark
Yale
Auburn
1825 1829
Joseph B. Clapp
1829 |Rev. Jeremiah Pomeroy
1830
Alvan W. Chapman, M. D.
1830 Gideon Searl
Union
1831 Rev. Jesse L. Frary
1831 Edward R. Thorp
1532 Israel W. Searl
1832 Mahlon P. Chapman
1833 Rev. Philander Bates
1833 Rufus C. Clapp
1834 David Gould
1835; Rev. Sereno D. Clark
1835 Justus L. Janes
1935 Lemuel Pomeroy 1835 Alexander H. Strong
1837 | Rev. Lewis F. Clark
1837 Wm. H. Sheldon
1539|Spencer S. Clark
NOTE I. p. 36.
The population of Southampton, in 1840, was 1158. The river Manhan passes twice through the township. The Farmington canal, connecting New Haven with Connectient river at Northampton, pass- "es near the centre of the place. The lead mine in the north part of the town, is not now worked. The town is eight miles south of Northampton, and about seven miles north of the western rail-road at Westfield.
NOTE J. p. 36.
The following persons have been deacons of the church.
1743 Waitstill Strong, jr. 1790 Elisha Edwards
1743 John Clark 1801 Samuel Burt
1766 Elias Lyman
1801 Roswell Strong
1766 Samuel Edwards
1824 Ansel Clark Theodore Strong
1781 Douglas King
Walter Bates Theodore Stearns.
1786 John Lyman
The last two now officiate as deacons.
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-
-
Canton, Ct. Prof. Andover Theol. Sem. d. Augusta, N. Y. Feb. 6. 1:35. Parına, N. Y. Stud-law Brook- lyn, N. Y. Troy, N. Y. Studied med. at the South. d. at Greenville O.Aug.14,1837.
Amh. Hamil. Amh.
Princeton & Lane Apple Cr'k, Mo. res.at the South. Agt. Liberia, d. Oct. 1834. D. at Andover, Sept 1. 1834. Utica, Mich. Tinmouth, Vt.
Andover " Andover & East Windsor
Law. N. Y. City. Ashfield. Guilford, N. Y.
Andover E. Windsor and Rev. M. E. White East Windsor
Will.
Andover
Smyrna, N. Y. D. Texas, Sept. 1840. Goshen.
Amh. Yale Amh.
Dr.J. Woodbridge
" Ralph Clapp
Ainh. 66
Auburn
---
---
1780 Abner Pomeroy
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Dea. Samuel Edwards senior kept a school in Northampton and Southampton more than forty winters. He was, also, many years, town treasurer, as was his son Dea. Elisha Edwards. Dea. John Lyman was a man of great weight of character and exemplariness of life. He was equally remarkable for his wit and his wisdom. He and his contem- poraries Capt. Lemuel Pomeroy and Jonathan Judd, Esq., were among the ablest and most useful men, who have resided in the town. Capt. Pomeroy was, for a long series of years, representative to the General Court.
We may mention in this connection, that Mr. Gould's salary was $333 and 30 cords of wood. He had $1000 settlement. Mr. White is a native of Ashfield, a graduate of Dartmouth College, and of An- dover Theol. Seminary. Rev. Mr. Shepard of Bristol, R. I. preached his ordination sermon.
PROCEEDINGS AT THE CELEBRATION.
The people of Southampton, at a legal meeting holden April 5, 1841, voted to celebrate the centennial celebration of the settlement of the town ; and to request the Rev. B. B. Edwards of Andover, a native of the place, to deliver an address on the occasion. The following in- dividuals were chosen a committee of arrangements, viz. Rev. Morris E. White, and Elisha Edwards, Asahel Birge, Asahel Chapman and Stephen Strong, Esquires.
The celebration accordingly took place on Friday, July 23, 1841. The public exercises commenced at IL o'clock, A. M. in the village meeting-house. The day was propitions, though the heat of the at -. mosphere was intense, till it was somewhat mitigated by a slight shower in the afternoon. The house was crowded, and some were compelled to remain around the door. Many individuals from the neighboring towns were present, and some strangers from a distance.
The exercises were as follows. Invocation and reading of the Scriptures by the Rev. Morris E. White. The whole congregation then arose and sung, in the tune of Mear, the following old version of the 44th Psalın.
We with our ears have heard, O God, Our fathers have us told What works thou wroughtest in their days, Ev'n in the times of old.
How thy hand drave the heathen out, And planted them thou hast, How thou the people didst atilict, And out them thon didst cast,
:
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For by their sword they did not get The land's possession ; Nor was it their own arm that did Work their salvation.
But thy right hand, thine arm also ; Thy countenance's light ; Because that of thine own good will, Thou didst in them delight.
Prayer was then offered by Rev. Lyman Strong, of Colchester, Ct., a native of the town. This was succeeded hy the following Ode, written for the occasion, by Mrs. L. HI. Sigourney of Hartford, and sung in the time of St. Ann's.
One hundred years ! one hundred years ! Could they reverse their track, And bear upon the wide-spread wing Their varied annals back,-
What buried forms, what altered scenes Would in their record' glow,- The uushorn wood, the thicket rude, The Indian hunter's bow-
The grey-hair'd fathers here would stand, Whose trust in Heaven was strong, When loud the savage war-cry peal'd These verdant fields along :-
And ye who in their places rise, With every blessing fraught, Give praise for all the glorious change One hundred years have brought.
An address was then pronounced by Rev. B. B. Edwards, which occu- pied about an hour and a half in the delivery. The exercises were con- cluded with prayer by the Rev. Arctas Loomis of East Bennington, Vt., a native of the town ; music from the choir ; and a benediction by Rev. Mr. Strong. The following Ode, written by Daniel W. Chap- man, Esq. of Rochester, N. Y., a native of Southampton, was, unfor- tunately, not received in season to be included in the performances. It was read by Mr. Strong.
A hundred years have passed away, Since here wide waving, old and gray, The unshorn forest stood- Since here the savage fierce and grim, Ranged its wild haunts and shadows dim, Dark dweller of the wood !
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But they who first amidst the wild, On high their Christian altar piled, And, consecrate to God, Cast their glad offering in its blaze And sang aloud their hymn of praise, Now rest beneath the sod !
And we have come from mountain side, From field and valley spreading wide, From many a fruitful plain, Where homes of plenty smile and bless,
The men who from the wilderness Redeemed its old domain ;
To banish from the darkening past The shadows Time hath dimly cast On our reverting view ;- To commune with the loved and dead
And 'round their deeds and virtues shed Our memory's light anew.
And may, (as we turn pago by page The records of a by-gone age, Whose ' simple annals' tell Of noble men)-their virtues stern
Still o'er their graves like incense burn, And with the living dwell.
A hundred years !- when Time's swift wing ! Another century's close shall bring, And other men shall rise And call their own each hill and stream,
Which round in light and beauty beam, And these their native skies-
When they like us shall gather here To read what cach returnless year Hath graven on the past, Be ours the high and holy aim, That deeds of good may round our name A brightening halo cast !
After these exercises were closed, the whole audience repaired in a procession, preceded by a band of music from Williamsburg, to the orchard in the rear of the house of the Rev. Mr. White, where tables were spread for the accommodation of from 800 to 1000 persons. For the tasteful arrangement, and ample supply of food, well prepared and in great varieties, the ladies of the town merited and received much credit. All the accommodations were called into requisition ;
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while the children were feasted in primitive simplicity, the ground serving the purpose of seats and tables. Every article of food upon the tables was the product of the town itself. A blessing was pro- nounced, and thanks were returned by the Rev. Joab Brace of New- ington (Wethersfield), Ct. Pertinent and stirring addresses were made by the Rev. Messrs. John Todd of Philadelphia, A. W. McChire of Malden, L. Strong of Colchester, Ct. and J. Burt of Canton, Ct. The hymn, beginning, " Blest be the tie," etc. was sung, and the benedic- tion was pronounced by Mr. White.
" Thus passed off;" says the editor of the Hampshire Gazette, " one of the most pleasant and agreeable celebrations it has ever been our happiness to participate in. There was so much simplicity, cordiality, and good feeling, that none whose heart was not poisoned by the cor- roding influences of corrupt fashion, could fail to be pleased. The people of Southampton can look back upon the event with unmingled pleasure."
It may be subjoined, that the "Southampton Association of Minis- ters," was formed in August, 1826. A large number of ministers, natives of the place, were then present, and adopted measures for securing fu- ture meetings. These have been held triennially. The religious ex- ercises, on these occasions, have commonly extended through two or three days, and have been attended with much interest. The num- ber of ministers present has varied from thirteen to thirty. The next · meeting of the Association is to be held on the third Wednesday of September, 1844.
NOTE. As the preceding Address and Notes have been prepared at a dis- tance from the scenes and objects to which they relate, errors in dates and other matters may have escaped the author's notice. Rev. Mr. Gould, (p. 32) was born in 1773. P 31, line 12, for forty-six, read forty-seven; line 13, for thirty-two, read thirty-three.
F 84469 3.25
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