USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Wales > An address delivered in Wales, October 5, 1862 : being the centennial anniversary of the municipal organization of the town; with additions to January 1. To which is annexed a "Roll of honor," being a catalogue of the names, etc. of soldiers from this town who served in the late civil war > Part 2
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The SHAWS were domiciled here at an early period. Two brothers, Joshua and Seth, held the title to a large tract lying upon either side of where now runs the line between this town and Brimfield, three-fourths of a mile east from the north-west corner of this town. Joshua settled on the Brimfield side of this tract, and Seth upon this town's side, in 1731, upon the premises now making the homestead of Mr. Eli Gardner. Seth remained here till 1736, then removed to Palmer. He had other broth- ers than Joshua, and perhaps parents then resident in Brimfield, and our present townsmen, Messrs. Daniel,
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Calvin and Selim C. Shaw are among the descendants of the brothers of Seth.
The other Shaws now of this town are of a different lineage. Most of these trace their origin to one John Shaw, who came hither from Grafton in 1752, and settled upon what is now the homestead of Mr. Sewell Shaw, who is grandson of the said John. He had two sons, John and Samuel; the first of these was father of our former respected townsman, Mr. Sylvanus Shaw, and the second was father of our much esteemed townsmen, Messrs. Aaron and Solomon Shaw, deceased, and Sewell Shaw, now living.
The GARDNERS bear an ancient family name of this town. In 1736 Seth Shaw traded lands with Humphrey Gardner of Palmer, whereupon Seth removed to Palmer, and Humphrey came hither. There is a legend to the fol- lowing purport touching this trade. Humphrey and his family were so vexed and troubled with witches in Palmer that they could not endure their vexations and troubles, therefor was he induced to make the trade he did with Mr. Shaw, and to remove here. Whether he left those vexatious witches in Palmer, or whether they followed him hither, the legend saith not. Humphrey remained and died here, and all the lands he acquired from Mr. Shaw in this town, have been owned and improved by him and his descendants of the Gardner name, from that day to this, a term of about 130 years. A parallel case the records of the town do not afford. He reared three sons, Charles, William, and Humphrey. The two first of/ these remained, reared families, and died in this town ; Humphrey settled in the south part of Monson, there reared a family and died at an advanced age.
A number of DAVIS families have been of this town, and divers their origin, or lines of descent. One or two only of these can be noticed. Captain Trustrum Davis is shown by olden records to have been here as early as 1732, domiciled on what we designate as the "Houghton
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Place," toward the north-east corner of the town, and he is reputed to have been the first settler upon that farm. He seems to have been a very active, prominent man of the place, for some thirty or more years, after which we hear no more of him or any of his family, except his daughter Sibyl, who became the first consort of the elder Asa Houghton.
Our late highly esteemed townsman, Deacon Moses Davis, unrelated by any recognized ties of consanguinity to Captain Davis, came to this town from Charlton in 1801; died here September 5, 1854, aged 85. He was Dea- con of the Congregational Church organized in this town, and was father of our present townsman, Mr. Moses Davis.
The GREENS of this town have been pretty numerous. They sprung from two sources. Thomas Green, son of one Thomas Green of Brimfield, came hither in 1737, and established his abode upon the lands now of the home- stead of Mr. William Nelson, west of the pond. He was in some respects peculiar, and rather eccentric. Our for- mer townsmen, the elder Daniel and Aaron Green were his sons. Daniel was a chip of the old block; his eccen- tricities were proverbial.
Robert Green came here in 1743 from Tolland, Ct. October 11, 1744, he wedded Sarah Rogers, sister of Icha- bod and Deacon Joel Rogers, and fixed his after-life home in almost the extreme north-west corner of this town, his dwelling being but few rods south of that corner, and almost exactly upon ground through which now runs the line between this town and Monson. All the Greens that have dwelt in the western part of this town have de- scended from him, among whom are to be reckoned our former respected townsmen, Messrs. Joel, Amos and Reu- ben Green, his sons, with all the other families and per- sons to be counted as of their posterity.
To one or two of the BROWN families heretofore of this town must we give a passing notice. Among the early
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settlers here was one Robert Brown, who came hither from Brimfield, and was the first occupant of the old " Hassett Farm," now the homestead of Mr. Carlton L. Stebbins, upon which he remained and died.
Robert Brown, Jr., son of Robert afore-mentioned, married Mary Needham, daughter of Captain Anthony, and established his abode half a mile west of his father's residence, near Monson line. The closing chapter in his history, as avouched by tradition, makes his case in one particular so remarkable that the annals of the town afford no parallel. Upon a certain day he left his dwell- ing, giving his family no intimation or reason to suspect that anything new or strange was to occur; his family knew not whither he went, and, though great effort was made to find him, or ascertain what became of him, the sequel was, nothing ever after was seen or heard of him by his family, or any one else, that could be verified as certainty.
The CARPENTERS, though never numerous, were once noted here. William Carpenter came hither about 1740, wedded Hannah Needham, daughter of the first Anthony, reared a large family, abode here till 1782, then removed to Stafford, and there died March 9, 1809. His homestead in this town consisted of what we call the "Walbridge Place," in the south-west quarter of the town, and he is credited with being the primitive occupant of that farm. Our old town records show that he generally officiated as Moderator of the Town Meetings of his day. He repre- sented the town of South Brimfield in the Convention of 1780, for the formation of our State Constitution. It is not known that any of his posterity of name or blood have dwelt in this town for sixty years past.
The ROGERS families have been somewhat noted here, in regard to both numerical and characteristic matters. Two brothers, Ichabod and Joel, were the progenitors of all the Rogers family circles of this town. They came here from Windham, Ct., in 1748, and here remained and
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died. Ichabod is shown by olden records to have had thirteen, and to have reared twelve children, eight of whom were sons. All these sons but one married and had families here, and some of them very large families yet there is not now here one of the descendants of Ichabod of the Rogers name, and hardly a dozen of any other name. He settled in the centrally south part of the town, a mile from Stafford line, where he died January 19, 1800, aged 81.
Deacon Joel Rogers, brother of Ichabod, has a long and an honorable record here in many respects. Not only was he honored with official station and trust in the Baptist Church, of which he was a very worthy member, but likewise by his townsmen, in the repeated bestowment of almost every municipal office of responsibility and trust ; and among the many tokens they gave him of their confidence and respect was that of selecting him to repre- sent the town in the General Court of 1797. He settled, and was the first settler, upon the place now being the homestead of Mr. Harding G. Back, in the north-western part of our town. Our present somewhat aged and much respected townsman, Mr. Joel Rogers, is his grandson.
Here we propose to digress a little from our wonted course, and briefly touch upon the matter of longevity, as relating comparatively to some individuals heretofore of our town.
Samuel Shaw died here September 15, 1841, aged 92 years. James Walker died here March 8, 1847, aged 94 years, nearly. Deacon JOEL ROGERS died here June 1823, (no grave-stone or other record gives the day,) aged 94 years and 8 months, being, as is believed, the oldest man that ever yet died in this town.
Widow Marcilva Needham, relict of Captain David Need- ham, died here May 20, 1853, aged 94 years. Widow Rebecca Bond died here July 22, 1845, aged 943 years. Widow RACHEL TRASK died here August 9, 1845, aged 99 years, 1 month, 12 days, being, as is believed, the old- est person that ever died in this town.
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JOSHUA MELLEN, son of Rev. James Mellen, pastor of the Baptist Church here one hundred years ago, was born here September 14, 1765, and died in Westborough in this State, February 22, 1858, aged 93 years, 5 months, 8 days, an age greater than any other man born in this town is known to have gained.
ANNAH NEEDHAM, daughter of Captain Anthony Need- ham, was born here March 2, 1742, and died in Union, Ct., in the year 1844, at an age of over 102 years, and she is believed to have attained to a greater age than any other person ever born in this town.
The FENTON families of this town have been few, but to some extent distinguished. William Fenton, of Irish birth, settled here in 1750, in the north-west part of our town, on land now making the homestead of Mr. Anson Baker, where he died November 14, 1804, aged 88. He married Anne Shaw, niece of Seth Shaw, of whom notice has been taken. They raised a family of two sons and seven daughters.
John Fenton, first son of William, married Marcia Moulton, daughter of John Moulton, of whom some ac- count has before been given. He removed to Brimfield in 1792, where he reared a large family, and died Septem- ber 7, 1826, aged 66.
Timothy Fenton, second son of William, remained upon the paternal homestead, married Sally Wales, daughter of Oliver Wales, senior, and died in this town October 23, 1834, aged 70. He had no offspring. He was a man of considerable distinction in town ; held many of the most important town offices, and was the town's representative to the Legislature in 1819.
The NELSONS have been quite numerous here in times past, though not so at this day. Our former much esteemed townsman, Mr. George Nelson, lived here nearly all his days, and died here October 13, 1841, aged 79. He descended from John Nelson, in early life a resident of Brimfield. "Uncle George," as we familiarly called him,
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was all Nelson, for his mother's maiden name was Eliza- beth Nelson, as shown by the olden record of the connu- biał connection of herself and husband. His consort was Susan Fenton, daughter of William Fenton, of whom some account has been given. Of their eight children, all but one have either departed for the spirit land or be- come scattered about our country elsewhere than here.
Most of the other Nelsons hitherto of this town, not of the posterity of George, were, or are descended from Wil- liam Nelson, who settled here about 1740, upon the place where his son, our late respected townsman, Mr. Timothy Nelson, lived and died. He reared ten children, nine of whom were sons. Our former townsman, Mr. Hezekiah Nelson, was, and our present townsman, Mr. William Nelson, is, grandson of William.
Of the DIMMICKS here, Shubal was the first, and pro- genitor of all the others. Shubal Dimmick came here from Mansfield, Ct., about 1750, and first settled upon what we call the "Royce Place," east of the pond. After- wards he erected and run a grist-mill, which stood nearly upon the site of Mr. Eden D. Shaw's newly erected factory building. From the erection of his mill, the brook whereon it stood, acquired, and for a half century there- after retained, the designated appellation of " Mill Brook," as is evinced by old records and deeds wherein mention thereof is made. He died in February, 1797, aged 82. He had two children-a son and a daughter.
Gideon Dimmick, son of Shubal, was a respectable citi- zen of our town, and died here June 23, 1820, aged 69. He reared a large family, of whom Mr. James Dimmick, who recently died in this town, was one, and another is Mrs. Anson Soule, now living here at an age of nearly ninety years.
The WINCHESTERS must not be herein omitted, though none of the name or blood have lived here for the last fifty years. Captain Daniel Winchester came hither from Roxbury about 1758, and died here October 4, 1797, aged
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64. He succeeded Mr. Dimmick in the ownership and occupancy of the "Royce Place," where he many years kept a store, such as small country towns in those days afforded. He had no children. He was an active, influ- ential man ; was sent Delegate from South Brimfield to the Provincial Congress that convened in Salem Octo- ber 7, 1774 ; and twice represented the town in the State Legislature.
Benjamin Winchester, nephew of Captain Daniel, was once a prominent inhabitant of this place, resided here about twenty-five years, then connected himself with the society of Shakers of Harvard, Mass., and removed thither with his family in 1815.
Numerous FISK families have abode in this town, all from one progenitor, Captain Asa Fisk, senior, who was an immigrant from Hampton, Ct., in 1762. His first lodg- ment here was upon the place which subsequently became noted as the "Wales Tavern Stand," where for a time he pursued the vocations of inn-holder and farmer. After that he purchased a large tract upon the elevated ground in the south part of the town, which has not inappropri- ately been called " Fisk Hill," and there made his after- life home upon the premises now being the homestead of Mr. Moses Davis. He was a man of much energy and decision of character, and in midlife exerted a largely controlling influence in the affairs of the town. He had eleven children, most of whom became heads of families here, and some of whom, particularly his sons, Captain Hezekiah and Captain Asa, became distinguished among the town's inhabitants. He died February 8, 1812; no record gives his age.
Few have been the ANDREWS families of our town, but we give them a brief notice. Robert Andrews, the first of the name here, as conclusively proved by the old town records, came hither from Coventry, Ct., in 1761. He was domiciled on the "Farrington Place," contiguous to the northern extremity of the pond. In 1789 he emigra-
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ted hence to the State of New York; and about the same. time all his sons and their families, excepting his son Robert, removed from this place. Robert Andrews, junior, continued through life here, and died February 14, 1838, aged 79. He married Eunice, daughter of Nehe- miah Needham, and made his residence in the central part of the south border of the town, upon a naturally uneven, rough, rocky farm, which, by judicious calcula- tions, unwearied and laborious industry, he made very. fertile and productive. This farm, at his decease, became the homestead of his son Alvin, who died thereon, April 4, 1862, aged 73, deeply lamented in his death, as he had been greatly honored and respected in life for his many virtues.
The WALES families here seem next to command atten- tion. Oliver Wales, senior, came to this town from Union, Ct., in 1766, and here married Elizabeth, daughter of Dr. James Lawrence ; staid here till 1778, when he swapped farms with his brother Elijah Wales, and returned to Union, and Elijah came hither. In 1787 these brothers again traded farms and exchanged residences, after which Oliver continued and died here March 23, 1816, at the age of 72. His residence here was upon the premises repeatedly hereinbefore mentioned as the "Wales Tavern Stand," whereupon he abode and followed the double vocation of farmer and inn-holder to the day of his demise. He was twice married and reared ten children to adult life. He was twice, 1800, 1801, chosen to repre- sent his town in the State Legislature.
James Lawrence Wales, Esq., first son of Oliver, has already been honorably named as the donor of a liberal bequest to the town which bears his name. His many virtues, aside from the matter of his legacy, will long hold him in the honoring recollections of his townsmen. He died July 3, 1840, aged 70, leaving no posterity.
Our late highly esteemed townsman, Royal Wales, Esq., was the second son of Oliver. Several of his first adult
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years he abode here, then dwelt several years in Coventry, Ct., next lived some years in Brimfield, whence he returned hither in 1838, and died here August 30, 1857, aged 84. In his will he left a legacy of $500 to the Baptist Society of this place. He was thrice chosen representative from this town to the Legislature, that was in 1810-11-13.
Captain Oliver Wales, third son of Oliver, senior, was an honored resident here till his removal hence to the West in 1838. He died in Indiana, September 26, 1855, at the age of 76 years.
REV. JAMES MELLEN, second pastor of the Baptist Church of this town, came hither from Framingham in 1765, and officiated in his pastoral and ministerial duties till 1769, when his health failing, he left the place for the seashore, hoping for a recuperation, or, at least, a check of the wasting malady then preying upon his vitals. But he survived his departure from here but a few weeks, and died very suddenly while on a visit to his friends in Dover in this State, aged 37. He had one son born here, an account of whose death and longevity has already been given.
REV. ELIJAH CODDINGTON, fourth pastor of the Baptist Church here, now claims our special consideration, because of his extraordinarily long term of pastoral service, and the strongly inwoven connection of his biography with the town's history. He came to this town from Middle- borough in 1773, and continued and died here, May 7, 1830, at the ripe age of 88 years. He was married in Wrentham, November 4, 1773, to Miss Sarah Heaton ; just one week after, November 11, he was ordained and installed pastor of the church here; and on the 8th of December following he removed hither his wife and effects. He filled the pastorate here fifty-three years ; served as Town Clerk two years ; as Chaplain of a regiment of our State militia ten years; and, as shown by his own private record, officiated at three hundred and fifteen marriages. He was not, certainly not in his latter years, overborne
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with bigotry ; was possessed of rather liberal Christian sentiments and feelings; was bland and affable in social circles, and everybody liked him. For his ministerial services he was compensated by and in the way of volun- tary contributions, made up of such donations and pres- ents as the people saw fit to bestow. Anything of value, provisions for support of himself and family, labor upon his land, or aught beside, were always and very thankfully accepted. His practice was to keep an exact account of all his donations and presents, with the estimated value of the same, and at the close of each year read from his pulpit a synopsis of his account, so that all might know how much he received, and from whom the same was received. Everybody in town almost felt it a bounden duty to contribute to him something reasonable, annually. ' He had two children, daughters, one of whom was the first consort of Royal Wales, Esq., the other the wife of our late respected townsman, Mr. James Babcock. His old gambrel-roofed dwelling still may be seen upon the high ground at the northern extremity of the main street in the central village of our town. There may it long stand monumentally of its former reverend and venerable occupant.
The HOUGHTONS, though few, claim our consideration. The first of these was Asa Houghton, senior, who came to this town from Union, Ct., in 1779. His homestead was what we have called the "Houghton Place," then aforetime having been the place of residence of his father- in-law, Captain Trustrum Davis. Upon this farm he lived, died, April 17, 1829, aged 87, and his remains were interred agreeably to his own wishes. He was one of the sound, substantial yeomanry of the town, and much respected. He was the third representative from here in the Legislature of the State, 1784. He was followed in the ownership and occupancy of the old homestead by his son, Captain Asa Houghton, who, like his father, abode, died, April 2, 1855, aged 61, and was buried thereon.
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Numerically large have been the WALKER families of this town, and they nearly all sprung from Benjamin Walker, who came here from Bridgewater in 1777, and purchased a tract of land in the south-west quarter of the town, whereon he seated some of his sons, and at a later day, himself; for he was a ship-carpenter by trade and remained away, laboring at that employment till 1788, at which date he fixed his home here, continuing and dying here in 1816. His descendants that have dwelt here have nearly all and always resided in the immediate vicinity of his location. All his sons, James, Marshal, Joseph, Ben-' jamin, and Linus, resided here more or less with their families, some of which were quite large.
The WALBRIDGE families here have not been many, nor very much distinguished. William Walbridge was pro- genitor of all the others of the name here living. Time of his first coming is not ascertained. Esther Shaw, said to have been a niece of Seth Shaw, made his first companion. They had several children-quarreled -separated-he went to Stafford and there staid some years-there he and his wife are said to have been divorced-after that he re- turned hither with another wife and family of children, remained and died here in May, 1807, aged 76. His sec- ond wife was Rebecca Moulton, daughter of Jonathan Moulton, whose settlement here has been briefly noticed. He abode and died upon what herein-before designated as the "Walbridge Place," in the south-west part of the town.
Ames Walbridge, son of William by his second wife, succeeded his father as owner and occupant of the pater- nal homestead, whereon he died, July 27, 1851, aged 69. In midlife he was reckoned among the most prominent and substantial of our town's farming population.
The PERRY families here have always resided in the ex- treme south-east part of the town. Manasseh Perry came here from Douglas about 1770, and settled within a fur- long's length of the south-east corner of the town, where
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he remained through his residue of life. His sons, Ab- ner, Josiah, Isaac, and Micah, all married and abode here with their families for a while, but subsequently scattered off, excepting Abner, who dwelt upon the premises now making the homestead of Mr. Oliver A. Perry, and who died here December 11, 1820, aged 60. He was the father of our late respectable townsman, Mr. Silas Perry.
Captain Joseph Perry, between whom and Manasseh no ties of consanguinity were recognized, came hither from Sturbridge in 1795, staid here till 1802, then emi- grated to the then District, now State of Maine. His son, our late very worthy townsman, Mr. John Perry, remained here upon the premises now being the homestead of his son, Mr. Samuel B. Perry, and died here at the age of 64, September 8, 1844.
The TIFFANY families next command attention. James Tiffany, senior, came to this place from Douglas in or about 1780, continued here till 1795, then left. James Tiffany, junior, son of the first James, came here with his father, was here married in 1781, to Mary Howe, suc- ceeded Captain Winchester as owner and occupant of the "Royce Place," and also in merchandising or store-keep- ing upon a small scale thereon, and died here March 25, 1823, aged 62. His sons, Dexter, Lyman, Bela and Lor- ing, all became noted here and elsewhere in the world of business and trade, manufacturing, merchandising, and otherwise.
Bela Tiffany, Esq., son of James, junior, was here in childhood and youth, and till 1808; was then off else- where in business till 1825, at which time he returned hither with his family, and here tarried till 1830, when he left again. He died in August, 1851, aged 66-his death being the result of an injury in being thrown from his wagon as he was returning from Palmer to his home in Southbridge. Though he was not faultless more than others, yet, as the originator of the first manufacturing establishment in this town, he is entitled to the honored
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and grateful remembrance of all desirers of our town's prosperity. We have now no right to say there would be at this time any cloth manufactories in this town, had it not been for the start and impetus given by him to that branch of industry; and he must be a dolt indeed who does not understand in some good degree the benefits by our town derived from the manufacturing business done in this place.
The first of the STEWARTS, that was James Stewart, came hither in 1780 from New Braintree. He remained and died here. Among his descendants are to be num -. bered some very good men that were counted with our town's inhabitants in days past. Of these may be named his son, Mr. Paul Stewart, who died February 22, 1851, aged 87, and his grandson, Captain Joseph Stewart, who died May 2, 1857, aged 69, both of whom were highly es- teemed by their neighbors and townsmen, for their moral rectitude and excellence of character.
The WIGHTS bear not a name known here at a very early day. The first here was Mr. Daniel Wight, who came in 1791, from Wrentham, and who continued and died here, January 20, 1800, aged 46. He run a grist- mill here which stood upon the south side of the highway, and nearly opposite the dwelling-house of Mr. Warren Shaw. Captain Nathan Wight, a distant relative of Dan- iel, came hither from Bellingham in 1797; staid here till 1820, then removed to Attica in Western New York, where he died in 1832, aged 75. His employment when here was in the agricultural line, in the cultivation and man- agement of his farm situated a mile and more west of the central village of our town. During a term of some years of his stay here he exerted much of a controlling influence in the affairs of the town; but this influence was nearly, if not entirely, lost before he left the place. From him descends the ancestral line of all bearing the Wight name who have been dwellers in this town for the last fifty years.
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