USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Brimfield > Annals of the Church in Brimfield by the Pastor of the Church (with map) - Springfield, Mass: Samuel Bowles and Company , Printers, 1856. > Part 6
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70
THE CHURCH IN BRIMFIELD.
DATE OF ADMISSION.
NAMES.
HISTORY.
Nov., 1840. 1. Elizabeth, wife of Jeremiah
Burt.
Jan., 1841. 1. Dauphin Brown, Dea.
66
1. Abby, wife of Dauphin B.
March, 6. 1. Phebe, wife of William S. Nichols, dis. Monson, 1844.
Oct .. .. 1. Stillman Eastabrook, dis. Rutland, 1842.
1. ****** , wife of Stillman E.,
April. 1842. 1. Ward Davis, dis. Ware, 1844.
1. Sarah, wife of Ward D ..
June. 1. Sophia, wife of Rev. G. C. Patridge.
..
1. Asa M. Knight.
Sept., p. Newton S. Hubbard. 6 p. William Upham,
..
66 p. Simon B. Ward,
66 p. Clark R. Griggs.
c. c. 1845.
p. Susan, wife of Timothy Bliss.
p. Lydia A. Griggs, died 1854.
..
p. Sarah Upham.
D. Mary (Hubbard,) Tower,
dis. & rec'd.
66
D. Jane (Hubbard,) Fenton, died 1852.
..
p. Josephine (Howard,) Sum- ner, p. Laura (Fenton,) Spaulding.
dis. Any Evan.ch. 1851.
Dec.,
1. Sarepta, wife of Harvey Janes.
March, 1843. p. Submit Browning. 66
p. Lydia, wife of Samuel Hub- bard.
66
p. Anne Johnson.
May, 66 1. Mary,wife of Aaron Lyman.
June, 1. Sarah,wife of Newton Hub- bard.
Aug., 6: 1. Eunice Knight.
66 .. 1. William Cady,
dis. Warren, 1844.
6. 1. Lucinda Haynes.
1. Harriet Burnham,
dis. Palmer. 1854.
Sept., 66 p. Sophia, wife of Penuel Parker, died 1856.
p. Sarah, wife of John Prouty.
06
p. Sarah D. (Lincoln,) Hale.
..
p. Eudosia (Converse,) Flynt, dis. Monson. 1852.
66
p. Adeline (Brown,) Kendall. died 1847.
.. p. Calvin L. Upham.
66
p. Sarah Bliss.
July, 1844. 1. Lucinda, wife of David Lawrence.
dis. Spencer, 1850, dis. S. Boston, 1845.
71
THE CHURCH IN BRIMFIELD.
DATE OF ADMISSION.
NAMES.
HISTORY.
Mar., 1845. 1. Owen Griffith.
66
p. Catherine Brown.
May,
p. Margarett Fairbanks.
Mar., 1846. 1. Clarissa, wife of Wm. Ward, dis. Warren, 1852.
May,
1. Horace Nichols.
1. Sarah, wife of James Blair.
Mar., 1847.
1. Luther Walker,
died 1855.
1. Experience, wife of L. W.
..
1. Jairus Walker.
1. Lucy, wife of Jairus W.
1. Tyler Childs,
dis. Chicopee, 1850.
..
1. Nancy, wife of Tyler C.,
1. Rebecca, wife of Amasialı Robinson.
.. 1. Lucinda, wife of Abner Hitchcock.
1849. 1. Azubah, wife of Aaron Johnson.
1. Hannah, wife of Wilson Homer.
Jan., 1850. 1. C. R. Warren, wife of J. M. Warren.
..
p. Mary, (Sherman,) Stebbins, dis. 1856, Scott. Wis.
Feb.,
1. Jason Morse, Rev.
6
1. Abbie Parsons, wife of Ja- son Morse,
died 1852.
April, .6 1. Ednah, wife of Henry Lyman. May
1. Betsy Drury.
July,
p. Harriet (Homer,) Arnold,
dis. Cleveland,O.,1855.
66 66 D. Elizabeth (Parker,) Spear, died 1855.
p. Ursula J. Shaw.
p. Henry E. Hitchcock.
6. p. Calvin A. Marsh.
Sept., 6. 1. Perlinsa, wife of Elias Smith.
Feb., 1851. 1. Catherine (Morse,) wife of Orson Sherman.
July ..
p. Ruth C. Sherman.
..
p. Minerva B. Walker.
p. Charles M. Barrows.
6.
6. p. Edwin B. Allen.
Jan., .
1852. p. Sarah J. Warren.
p. Sarah S. Brown.
1. Elias L. Snow.
May,
1. Lovan, wife of Elias Snow.
Nov.,
p. George B. Hitchcock.
1. Mary Drury.
72
THE CHURCH IN BRIMFIELD.
DATE OF ADMISSION.
NAMES.
HISTORY.
Nov .. 1852. p. George W. Paige. .. D. Mary L. Paige.
Jan., 1858. p. Elijah Allen.
D. Sarah, wife of Elijah A.
66 p. Elisha C. Marsh. I. Catherine, wife of James T. Brown. p. James T. Brown.
D. Wilson Homer.
p. Emory Livermore.
p. Almira, wife of Alfred Con- verse. p. Lucy, wife of Henry F. Brown.
Mar., 1853. p. Eliza (Knight,) Wilcox, died 1824.
6.
..
D. Martha H. Bliss.
..
p. Emily J. Brown.
D. Fidelia L. Alexander.
p. Frances M. Howard.
May,
p. Hannah, wife of George Wight.
66
p. Mary, wife of David Moul- ton.
66 p. Harriet (U.) Marsh, wife of C. A. Marsh.
..
..
p. Sarah J. Blashfield.
..
p. Albert S. Prouty.
p. George H. Le'doyt.
66
p. David W. Janes.
Mar ..
1854. p. Olive, wife of J. W. Brown- ing
6.
.. p. Chloe, wife of Elliot Alex- ander.
p. Mary Tarbell.
May. .. 1. Sophia Parsons, wife of Ja- son Morse.
May, 1855. 1. Salina, wife of Edwin Allen.
..
p. Alured Homer.
..
..
p. Ruth, wife of Alured H.
.. p. Charlotte A. A. Homer.
..
6. p. Heli W. Howard.
.. Candace, wife of Heli H.
..
1. Marionette, wife of Solomon Homer.
June, 1856. p. Mary Lawton Brown.
-
APPENDIX A.
From records already referred to, it appears that in 1734, certain persons resi- ding in the south part of the town, declared themselves Anabaptists. In 1736, these with some others were organized as a church, with Rev. Ebenezer Moulton as their Pastor. In 1756, others were added to their number. Their first meet- ing house was erected between 1757-when they petitioned the town for liberty to build-and 1764, when the house is spoken of as already built. The cost could not have been defrayed by the town, and was probably paid by private subscriptions. The following are the ministers, who down to the present time have succeeded Mr. Moulton. Rev. James Mellon, ordained 1765; Rev. Mr. Erving, ordained 1771 ; Rev. Elijah Codington, ordained 1773; Rev. Joshua Eveleth, ordained 1826 ; and from that date to this, Rev. John M. Hunt, Rev. T. Wakefield, Rev. G. Mixter, Rev. W. Cooper, Rev. V. Church, Rev. S. K. Allard, Rev. H. H. Hazleton, Rev. S. Barrows, Rev. A. A. Robinson and Rev. Wm. S. Philips.
1 Dec. 15, 1795. The town of South Brimfield, (Holland having been sett off in 1784.)
Voted to purchase the old meeting house of its owners and repair it.
Voted to raise $350 for the purpose of repairing it. Chose John Munger, Darius Munger and Oliver Wales, a committee to superintend repairs.
This vote was subsequently reconsidered.
May 2, 1799. Voted to buy the meeting house of the owners and chose a committee to report a plan for its repairs.
The committee reported a plan for the house, and numbered the pews, pros- pectively. These were sold at auction and deeds given. But,
Sept. 7, 1799. Voted to reconsider all that had been done.
In Nov. 1800, the town purchased the old house of its owners.
At the meeting of the town Feb. 9, 1802, a committee was chosen to report a plan for building a new house. The committee reported that it be built by sale of pews, and that each denomination buying pews, have the use of the house for such a part of the year as the money they contribute shall be of the whole cost. In accordance with this plan, a house was begun at the south end of the old one in 1802, and completed during the following year. The old house was sold at auction, by sections, Oct. 3, 1803.
1. Town Records of South Brimfield.
10
74
THE CHURCH IN BRIMFIELD.
In the first apportionment, the Baptists had the use of the house thirty-five Sab- baths of the year, Restorationists twelve, and the standing order (Congregation- alists) eight. The relative numbers in these different denominations, varied in different years. In 1805, the Baptists occupied the house twenty-five Sabbaths. Res. nine, Cong. fifteen. The arrangement ' continued until 1819, the Baptists only, having an organized church. During that year a Congregational church was organized. They never had a settled pastor, but continued their organization until they sold their rights in the house to the Baptists. They, having pur- chased all the rights offother denominations in the house, altered it to its pres- ent form.
APPENDIX B.
Monson was set off from Brimfield as a "district," in 1760; there having been at that time forty-nine families within its limits. About the same time, these families began to hold religious meetings alternately, at Benj. Mun's, two miles south-east from the centre, and at Thomas Stebbins, 1 two miles north. 2
In May, 1762, the meeting house was raised, and in June following, Mr. Abi- shai Sabin was ordained, a church being organized at the same time. A larger part of the original members of the new church were from the church in Brim- field. Most of these made no change of residence, having from the first lived in the west district. 3 Mr. Sabin was dismissed July, 1771, after a ministry of nine years. Rev. Jesse Ives was installed June, 1773, and contined pastor until his death 1805, a period of thirty years. In Dec. 1806, Rev. Alfred Ely was or- dained in the place of Mr. Ives. In 1441, Rev. Samuel Bartlett was ordained his colleague. In 1846, he was dismissed to accept of a Professorship in Western Reserve College. Rev. Charles B. Kittridge was installed colleague pastor with Dr. Ely, Oct. 1846, and dismissed June, 1853. Rev. T. G. Colton, is the present Junior Pastor of the church.
The old meeting house was taken down in 1803, it having stood forty-one years. The present structure was erected in 1802-completed and dedicated Nov. 1803.
1 Thomas Stebbins, probabiy a brother of Dea. John Stebbins, at first lived on the other side of the way from his brother, half a mile north of Simeon Coy's. Ile removed thence to Monson. He was the great grandfather of Lewis and Abner Stebbins.
2 See Historical Sermon by Rev. Dr. Ely.
3 There were some exceptions to this remark, among them, Mr. David Hitchcock.
75
THE CHURCH IN BRIMFIELD.
APPENDIX C.
In 1762, the south part of the town became a separate district. A Baptist church had existed in the west part of this district for nearly thirty years, and at about this date a Baptist meeting house was erected nearly on the spot where the present meeting house now stands in Wales. But this was regarded as a private enterprise. Only a minority of the people were Baptists. The district, therefore, as soon as incorporated, proceeded to procure a minister of the standing order, (Congregationalist.)
1 Oct. 19, 1762. Voted to hire preaching.
Voted that preaching be kept at the house of Isaac Forster, in the east part, and at the house of Dr. James Lawrence, 2 in the west part.
Voted to choose a committee to agree with Mr. Benjamin Conchelin to Preach with us.
Now followed a controversy of two or three years, as to the location of a meet- ng house. It was first " voted to build at the N. E. corner of Edward Web- iber's land." Afterwards chose the N. W. corner of John Danielson's farm." These votes were both reconsidered.
March, 14, 1763. Voted that preaching be kept at Capt. Joseph Blodgett's house.
April 19, 1763. Voted William Ayres, Edward Davis, and Jacob Dresser, Esqrs., be a committee to fix upon a place to set the meeting house.
The site which this committee selected is not known, but probably near Dr. Dean's, where the house was afterwards built.
June 10, 1763. Voted not to build on the place fixed by the committee.
Oct. 17, 1763. Leave being desired to build on Moses Lyon's plain,
Voted in the negative.
Feb. 16, 1764. Voted to build in the centre of the district, and chose John Morse of Sturbridge, Joseph Colton and Joseph Crafts of Monson, to say where the centre is.
Voted that Jona. Burk, Joseph Blodgett and Robert Brown, be a committee to see said house built."
The frame of a house was accordingly put up on the old county road, & mile and a half south of Joseph Blodgett's, between Grandy and Rattlesnake Hills. It was afterwards sold and removed to Westford, Ct.
1 Voted to go after Mr. Ezra Reave, to get him to preach on probation.
1. Records of South Brimfield.
2 .Just east of the Baptist Meeting House in Wales-the other side of the way.
76
THE CHURCH IN BRIMFIELD.
Feb. 23, 1764. The vote locating the house in the centre, was reconsidered by the voting of three Baptists, who have no right to vote in this matter. Then by the same three voting, Joseph Belknap, John Belknap and Benjamin Perrin, voted to build where the stuff now lies, (that is, where a committee had previously located it, near Dr. Dean's, I suppose.)
Benjamin Perrin, and probably the Belknaps, had in 1756, declared themselves separate from the standing order, and so were not entitled to vote in its affairs.
The legality of this vote was therefore contested, but the house was meanwhile so far completed as to be opened for use.
May 2, 1765. Voted to give Mr. Ezra Reave a call to settle in the ministry. Voted to give Mr. Reave £200 settlement, and £60 yearly salary.
A church was organized and Mr. Pease settled Sept. 13, 1765. He graduated at Yale, 1757, and continued bis ministry in South Brimfield-afterwards Hol- and, till 1818, when he died in the 85th year of his age.
Oct. 9, 1769. Voted that the meeting house which has been set up in the east part, be the meeting house for the future, and that money be raised to finish it.
1 June 8, 1792. Voted that Col. Lyon have liberty to remove the meeting house to the plain, at a stake set up, and there finish it, on condition that he give to the district of Holland, a sufficiency of land on the plain for all conveniences of Roads, Training-field and other accommodations necessary for a meeting selves the house.
2 Rev. Encch Burt, was installed in 1821, and dismissed in 1821. He now re- sides in Manchester, Ct. During Mr. Burt's ministry, the question arose as to the right of the Baptists in the meeting house, and they in 1819, built for them- house which now stands unoccupied.
Rev. James Sanford, supplied the church with pastoral labor most of the time from 1832 till 1846. In 1835, the present meeting house was built, and in 1839, the old one taken down.
Rev. C. C. Paige was installed Dec. 3, 1851, and dismissed in Feb., 1853.
APPENDIX D.
INDEX TO THE MAP.
RESIDENCES OF THE FIRST SETTLERS.
N. B. The figures before the names refer to the place of residence, as indica- ted on the Map. The exact location of those enclosed in brackets, (-) is doubt- ful. Such are, for the most part in the west section of the town. The figures following the names, refer to the Book of Surveys.
1 Holland Town Records.
2 Ilampden Pulpit:
THE CHURCHI IN BRIMFIELD.
1. Nathaniel Hitchcock, 1 12, 13. Hubbard's Hill road, West side about 40 rods of north of B. Sibley's.
2. Ebenezer Graves, 14. Pond road-not far from the Townsley place.
3. David Hitchcock, 15. Road west from Meeting house, near John Lum- bard's-sold to Mr. Treat, and removed to the west part of the town, near Chic- uppee Brook.
4. Benjamin Cooley, 16. At B. Sibley's, joining the Treat farm on its north line.
5. Leonard Hoar, 18. On Hubbard's Hill, at Timothy Bliss'.
6. John Sherman, Esq., 19. Pond road, at Orson Sherman's.
7. David Morgan, Dea., 21. do do a little north of Elijah Tarbell's.
8. Peter Haynes, 23. East side of the road to Woodstock, on the hill north of Dea. Paige.
9. John Migbill, 25. On the way to New Medfield, a few rods west of Har- vey Russel's, at the corner.
10. Nathan Collins, 28. Road to Hubbard's Hill, west side, south of Wm. Brown's.
11. Deliverance Brooks, 27. At Alfred Hitchcock's (said to have sold and removed to east part, Elijah Lumbard's.)
12. John Russel and Daniel Hubbard, 28. On Hubbard's Hill, west side, at or near Harvey Fenton's.
13. John Atchinson, 29. On King's Hill, south of Ezra King's house lot. Exact location doubtful.
14. Joseph Blodgett, 30. On the South Meadow Road, at Calvin Polley's.
15. John Stebbins, Dea., 30. On the road to Hubbard's Hill, against Harvey Griggs'. His house was located at the west end of his lot, { mile north of Sim- eon Coy's.
16. William Nilson, 31. On the road to Stafford, (ex. loc. doubtful.)
17. John Charles, 33. 20 rods north of Sibley's.
18. John Lumbard, 35. At J. T. & G. A. Brown's. )
19. David Lumbard, 36. 80 rods north of Sibley's.
20. Samuel Hubbard, 37. At N. S. Hubbard's.
21. Joseph Haynes, 37. At Walter Haynes'.
22. Peter Montague, 38. North of Hubbard's Hill-east side of the way, and south side of the road to Brookfield.
23. Henry Burt, Dea., 39. At John Wyles.
24. Thomas Stebbins. 40. Near his brother, north of Simeon Coy's-sold and removed to Monson district.
25. William Nichols, 41. House located on the west end of his lot, at the Daniel Nichols place.
26. Micah Townsley, 42. " At the Elbow of Chicuppee River," (ex. loc. doubtful.)
27. Eleazer Foot, 43. West of John Post, i. e. at the Lincoln place.
28. William Warriner, 45. Near Benjamin Sherman's.
29. James Thompson, 46. On Thompson's, or Danielson's Hill.
30. George Erwin, 48. South of Penuel Parker's, (ex. loc. doubtful.)
31. Joseph Frost, 49. " On Chicuppce River, south of Micah Townsley's," (ex. loc. doubtful.)
1 The house now occupied by H. F. Brown, is of later date, and was built on a lot of 34 acres, surveyed to said Hitchcock, in the right of his son Moses.
78
THE CHURCH IN BRIMFIELD.
32. David Shaw, 50. Road to Springfield, near Mr. Noyes'.
33. Daniel Burt, 51. At J. Morse's, sold and removed to cast part.
34. Joshua Shaw, 52. " Between the mountains on Elbow Brook," (ex. loc. doubtful.)
35. Samuel Bliss, 53. At Wm. Brown's-sold to Rev. Mr. Bridgham, and removed to the north part, (Warren.)
36. John Keep, 54. Westerly side of King's Hill-Daniel Carpenter place.
37. Samuel Allen, 55. North of Robert Moulton's, centre of Wales.
38. Nathaniel Miller, 56. At or near Alured Homer's. See Town Records, also Road No. 6.
39. Ezra King, 57. House and Grist Mill on Elbow Brook ; also a house on King's Hill, south of the Grout School House.
40. Samuel King, 57. Near his brother, Sylvanus King place.
41. Anthony Needham, 58. At west side of South Pond.
42. John Miller, 59. On Chicuppee Brook, (loc. doubtful.)
43. 44. 45. 46. 47. Non-residents.
48. Robert Moulton, 60." Road to Stafford, west side-Wales centre.
49. Robert Moulton, Jr., 61. A little north of his father.
50. John Nilson, 62. Road to Stafford, north of Wales centre, (loc. boubt- ful.)
51. Benjamin Mun. 63. On King's Hill.
52. Benjamin Warner, 63. On Warner's Hill road to Stafford.
53. Joseph Davis, 64. Road to South Meadow-Lovell place.
54. Daniel Groves, 65. On King's Hill, joining John Keep, (loc. doubtful.)
55. John Danielson, 66. South of Peter Haynes. North of Dea Paigc.
56. Daniel Fuller, 67. On Chicuppee River, (loc. doubtful.)
57. Nathaniel Clark, 68. " 1
58. Ebenezer Scott, 68. Near John Lyman's Pond road.
59. Samuel Munger 70.
60. Thomas Green, 71. Road to Stafford, west side of South Pond.
61. John Bullen, 72. East side of South Pond.
62. Samuel Allen, Jr. Sold to Nathan Collins, included in his.
63. Thomas Mirick, 74. (loc. doubtful.)
64. Joshua Olds, 74. Near Chicuppee River, (location doubtful.)
65. Samuel Shaw, 74. On Chicuppee River, (loc. doubtful.)
66. Seth Shaw. Near Shaw's Meadow, (loc. doubtful.)
67. Daniel Killum. On Chicuppee Brook, (loc. doubtful.)
(68.) Rev. Richard Treat, 76. At Calvin Ward's-sold to Benjamin Morgan.
(69.) Burial place, 89. Laid out January, 1730, but used previously.
(70.) First Grist Mill, 89.
(71.) Meeting House. Also Common. Described as road-Town Records, 1734.
(72.) Traces of a Smith's Shop.
(73.) Cemetry, south part. W
(74.) Cemetry, west part.
Respecting the generation succeeding, much less can 'be said. Usually the sons erected dwellings upon out-lots belonging to their fathers, but to this there were some exceptions. Others from older towns, were constantly becoming resi- dents by purchase of the proprictors. The following list indicates all that we have learned respecting these who by inheritance or purchase, became associated as citizens with the first settlers previous to 1748.
79
THE CHURCH IN BRIMFIELD.
1 Bezaleel Sherman, son , of John S., res. Benjamin Sherman's.
Beriah .
Ledoyt's.
James
West of Capt. Charles'.
Phinehas
David Lawrence.
Thomas
66
Homestead.
Leonard Hoar, Jr., son of Leonard H., 66 Alured Homer's. Sol. Homer's.
1 Joseph "
Charles
Edmund
NearCol. Hoar's place, Monson.
Nathan
66
1 Joseph Morgan, son of Dea. David M., Jonathan
Benj.
66
1 John Charles, son of John C.,
Abraham "
Jona
Aaron 66
1 Moses Hitchcock, son of Nath'I H., Nath'l, Jr. “ Noah
1 Paul Hitchcock, son of David H.,
1 John Stebbins, Jr., son of John'S.,
1 Moses Nilson, son of William N.,
1 Nathaniel Collins, son of William C., Joseph Blodgett, Jr., son of Joseph B., Other sons lived in the same vicinity. Jonas, the youngest,
Daniel Burt, Jr., son of Daniel B., Simeon Hubbard, son of Samuel H., Ichabod Bliss,
Ebenezer Scott,
Near A Lumbard's.
Enoch Hides,
(Uncertain.)
John Webber,
66 Bradney place, East[Hill, M.
Thomas Ellenwood,
Sumner Parker's.
Jabez Warren,
(Uncertain.)
Humphrey Gardner,
H. Gardner place.
William Janes,
« Janes Hill.
Jona Burk,
" (Uncertain.)
Francis Sikes,
Robert Dunklee,
66
Adonijah Russell,
John Bishop,
South part.
Robert Brown.
Ebenezer Wallis,
Wallis place.
Jonathan Brown,
"
Patty Charles'.
John Draper,
Lemuel Lumbard's.
James Draper,
Gleason place.
Rodolphus Hoar's place. .
Mrs. S. Alexander's.
Grigg's place, (East Hill.) Calvin Ward's.
Solander's.
Darius Charles'. [stands.
Where the School House now
Sumner Parker's.
H. F. Brown's.
Removed from town.
Nathan H. place.
(Uncertain.) Homestead.
(Uncertain.)
Near Calvin Polley's.
" Near Frost place. Homestead.
West of H. Fenton's.
Nicolas Groves,
Luke Blashfield,
I Had a share in the original division of the land.
80
THE CHURCH IN BRIMFIELD.
(69.) The present Cemetry in Brimfield, has been in use from the earliest settle- ment of the town. The original lot contained about one quarter of an acre at the north-west corner of the present enclosure. It was doubtless selected when the first occasion for it occurred, because of its convenient location. In 1732, the proprietors of the town by vote, enlarged it to two acres, and adopted it as their place of burial. It falling within lots already surveyed to Henry Burt and John Lumbard-six acres on the east side of Burt's Hill were given them in compen- sation. A right of way to the cemetry from the town street, near the present road, was granted, but the usual way of access was from the east across the brook. 1
Nothing now remains to show the precise resting-places of the earliest residents, save a few crumbling head-stones with half legible inscriptions. The following are all that can be made out. David Hitchcock, Jr., died 1726, aged 18. Thomas King, died 1738, aged 37. Samuel Hubbard, died 1750, aged 53. Hannah, his wife, died 1781, aged 81. John Keep, died 1758, aged 59. Abigail, his wife, died 1767, aged 87. Elenor Nilson, died 1753, aged 9. Mrs. Margaret Morgan, died 1754. Eleazer Foot, died 1758, aged 75. Wm. Warriner, died 1765, aged 68. Ichabod Bliss, died 1766, aged 61. Leonard Hoar, died 1771, aged 87. Joseph Davis, died 1778, aged 77. Adonijah Russel, died 1775, aged 62. Luke Blashfield, died 1813, aged 91. Thomas Ellenwood, Wid. Eliz. Hoar, Daniel Burt, Jr. All the rest lie undistinguished ; the mounds that once covered them, worn to a level with the plain.
As the south part of the town became more thickly settled, a necessity arose for a burial place there.
1 Att a meeting of ye Proprietors on ye 5th day of Sept., 1732, voted 1 and 4 acres of land for a Burying place at ye south-easterly part of ye South Pond, where Robert Moulton, Sen., now dwells.
(73.) This ground, in which the venerable fathers of the south part of the town- ship sleep, has fallen info neglect-been appropriated by adjoining residents, and is now planted with potatoes, only a single grave being visible, and that in the border of the field, marked by rude stones, with the initials "C. D.," and the date " 1753." Shame on the sons, in so broad a land as this, to till the soil above the graves of such worthy sires.
Brimfield, March 19, 1755. Wee ye subscribers being Inhabitants of ye West part of ye town Humbly Sheweth. Whereas we, living a great Way from town & soe from ye Present Burying place, by reason of the Badness and length of ye way cannot Bury our Dead with that Convenience and Order, which such solemnities require It being no matter to the Body where it lies when Dead. Therefore we request the town would be pleased to grant us a Burying place among Our Selves, that we may bury our Dead out of our sight with less Diffi- culty & Trouble.
Thomas Stebbins,
David Hitchcock,
James Shaw,
John Keep,
James Mirick,
Nathaniel Mun,
Samuel King,
Nath'l Mun, Jr.,
Benj. Mun,
Joseph Colton, Thomas King, Francis Sikes,
Edmund Hoar, Ebenezer Mirick.
(74.) The lot granted to this request was probably not laid out until about 1760. Capt. Hitchcock the first person buried in it-died 1763. It lies half a mile
7 Book of Surveys, pg. 89.
THE CHURCH IN BRIMFIELD. 81
from the meeting house in Monson, east of the Chicuppce Brook. When loca- ted, it was near to a road that ran from Chicuppee river, (Palmer,) on the east side of the Brook as far south, as the road leading down the hill from John Keep's, (Daniel Carpenter's.) This lot is now overgrown with brush, and lies unenclosed. Not a single inscription is legible on its few and fallen headstones.
ROADS AND BRIDGES, PREVIOUS TO 1740 .- The first roads were merely paths indicated by marked trees. It is doubtful whether any highways were au. thoritatively located previous to 1730. At that time the town began to take action in the matter.
Sept., 1731. A road was laid out from the meeting house and John Post's,! (Morse,) east to Henry Burt's, (Wyles,) thence to Peter Paynes, [John Daniel- son's (Paige,) Joseph Davis, Joseph Blodgett's, (Polley) to So. Meadow and Colony line towards Union, Ct.
# Sept., 1731. Laid out a road from Stafford bounds N., to Thomas Green's, Anthony Needham's, Robert Moulton's, Robert Moulton, Jr., Samuel Allen's, John Nilson's, Wm. Nilson's to Joseph Haynes', ( Walter Haynes.)
June, 1732. A road from Robert Moulton's, (N. end of So. Pond,) east to the road that leads from Meeting to So. Meadow, coming into it N. of Joseph Blodgett's.
June, 1732. A road from Anthony Needham's, (W. side of So. Pond,) west to the road that leads from King's Hill to Stafford.
June, 1732. A road from N. end of So. Pond, east by John Bullens' to So. Meadow.
Oct., 1733. A road from Nath'l Miller's, and Leonard Hoar's corner, (Hub bard's Hill,) W. N. W. to the old Springfield and Brookfield road.
Sept., 1733. A road from the Stafford road ncar John Nilson, east to the Saw Mill, (Shaw's,) and thence to the So. Meadow road.
March, 1734. The road from the meeting house E. S. E. to Union widened and further described, especially the Common. Book of Surveys, pg. 147.
March 1734. A road from the Stafford road at Joseph Haynes, (Walter Haynes,) N. down the hill, and N. E. to the So. Meadow road.
March, 1735. A road coming into the Union road on Thompson's, or Dan- ielson's Hill, from the south east, marked on the map-doubtful.
March, 1737. A road from John Post's, (Morse,) by the W. end of the meet- ing house N. to Leonard Hoar's, thence to Leonard Hoar's, Jr. to the road lead- ing west.
March, 1737. A road from the town street N. to John Sherman's, then by the side of the Pond to Joseph Morgan's, (Alexander's,) thence to John Charles, Jr., (Solander's,) thence to the great Meadow.
March, 1737. A road from the Meeting house west, across the plain, and still west to Benj. Cooley's, Jr., house, (near the Luke Charles place,) thence to Da- vid Shaw's, thence down the hill to the saw mill, thence to Micah Townsley's, James Mirick's, and so on to Chicuppee Brook.
March, 1737. A road from Joseph Haynes, (Walter Haynes,) west N. west to the Springfield road .- doubtful.
March, 1738. A road from New Medfield line west to the road that leads out of the town southerly to Union.
March, 1738. A road from the Pond road near Capt. Sherman's, west, up the hill to Ensign Hoar's road.
March, 1738. A road from Capt. Sherman's east over the hill to the N. end of Allom Pond.
77
82
THE CHURCH IN BRIMFIELD.
March, 1738. A road from the Springfield road at the going down of the hill, across Elbow Brook, up the hill west over to the west side near Chicuppee Brook.
March, 1738. A road from this at the top of King's Hill, south to Benjamin Mun's.
March, 1738. A road from Benjamin Mun's, south to the Colony line.
March, 1739. A road lying along Chicuppee Brook on the east side. (loca- tion doubtful.)
BRIDGES.
1732. (1.) At Mr. Treat's, (Ward's.) (2.) At the Plain Brook. (3.) Near Benj. Cooley's, Jr., (Luke Charles.) (4.) Over Elbow Brook, near the Saw Mill, So. of Wight's. (5.) Over Chicuppee Brook, near Robert Old's. (6.) Near Henry Burt's, (Wyles.) (7.) At Cooley and Scott's fields, (near W. Upham's.) (8.) Between Thompson's and Warriner's Meadows, (doubtful.) (9.) Near Sam- uel Allen's, (Wales centre.) (10.) Near Robert Moulton's, (South Pond.) (11.) (12.) Near John Sherman's.
BROOKS AND RIVERS.
Is it not due to our worthy fathers that these hills and vales and flowing streams should continue, for all times to be called by the names which they bestowed or found in use among the Indians and adopted ? Are not the links which connect us with honored ancestry too few and too precious for us to allow any of them to be broken ?
Sherman's Pond-near Orson Sherman's. pp. 162, 165.
South, or Moulton's Pond, Wales. pp. 60, 378.
Kesioge, and Piquog Ponds, Holland. p. 105.
Allom Pond-so called now. pp. 22, 197, 91, 106.
Deer Pond, or Mark Ferry's Pond-W. part on Twelve Mile Brook. pp. 213, 276, 282, 403.
. Hitchcock, or Great Brook, running into Willis Mill Pond. pp. 32, 172.
Erwin's, or Mill Brook, running through Erwin's Meadow. pp. 45, 47, 63, 66, 117, 167.
Stoneiard Brook and Meadow-as now. pp. 35, 40, 69, 91.
Taylor's Brook-near John Prouty's. pp. 37, 147.
Tuft's Brook and Meadow-near and north of Wilson Homer.
Elbow Brook-near George Wight's. pp. 52, 70.
Chicuppee Brook, runs through centre of Monson. p. 57.
Twelve Mile Brook-W. part of Monson, W. of Chicuppee Hill. pp. 100, 101, 180, 190.
Broad Brook, or Mill River-S. of Alfred Lumbard's. pp. 172, 223.
Penny Brook-N. side of Cooks Mt. p. 194.
Pond Brook-running into and out of Sherman's Pond.
MEADOWS AND MOUNTAINS.
: 1 Chicuppee Hill-W. S. W. of Palmer Depot. pp. 77, 78, 101, 132, 213, de- cisive.
1 It is a mistake to call the Hill between Monson and Brimfield by this name. Possibly the few who first came out from Springfield so called it, but in all the surveys it is known as King's Hill. "Chicuppee," is the name which belongs to the high grounds west of Palmer Depot, and near to Chicuppee River.
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THE CHURCH IN BRIMFIELD.
Sheep Pasture Ifill-N. of meeting House-W. of B. Sherman. pp. 19, 21. Allum Pond Mt .- W. of Allum Pond. pp. 22, 91, 197, 105. Hubbard's Hill-now Tower Hill. pp. 27, 28, 37. Thompson's Hill-Dea. Paige's Hill. pp. 46.
Burt's Hill-back of J. M. Warren. pp. 156, 160.
Blodgett's, or Williams Mt .- S. E. of Calvin Polley. pp. 140, 294.
Hayne's Hill-S. of Absolom Lumbard. pp. 71, 76, 161.
Rattle Snake Mt .- E. side the old South Meadow Road. pp. 140, 287, 305.
Grandy Hill-W. side the old South Meadow Road.
Warner's Hill-half mile S. of South Pond. p. 63.
Pisgah Mt .- W. of Wales centre. pp. 97, 114, 236.
Wottagnottuck, or Woddagnottuck range-W. of Brimfield centre-east W.
and west W. p. 19, comp. Blodgett's hand book. 95, 96, 107, 116, 144, &c. Steerage Rock, on Watt. p. 252.
Erwin's or Cook's Mt .- so called now. pp. 151, 159, 194, 196.
Tuft's Mt .- N. W. of Tuft's Meadow. p. 343.
Mark's Mt., on the old Brookfield line. pp. 115, 137, 163, 194.
King's Hill-East Hill, Monson. pp. 57, 62, 130. This Hill is never called " Chicuppee Hill." in the old Surveys.
Great Mt .- S. of Capt. Nichols. p. 141.
Millstone Mt .- N. of Capt. Nichols. pp. 141, 251.
Sawmill Mt .- W. of Wight's Mill. pp. 49, 77, 206, 258.
Cedar Swamp Mt .- near Cedar Swamp. pp. 166, 174.
Merrick's Mt .- W. of G. Merrick's, Monson. pp. 346. 407.
Center Hill-S. of Meeting House, Monson. p. 344.
Peaked Mt .- S. W. part of Monson. pp. 315, 331, 408.
Black Rock Mt .- on Springfield line. pp. 303, 407.
Moose Mts .- Great and Little. W. S. W. parts of Monson. pp. 217, 222, 315. Wache Inoche-S. W. of Stoneiard Meadow.
Bald Peak-the W. point of Chicuppee Hill. p. 192.
Pinnacle Mt .- near Twelve Mile Brook. pp. 182, 242.
Bauld Mt .- N. of E. branch of Tuft's Brook. p. 108.
Stone House-the Rock House, Monson. pp. 129, 185, 310.
Mt. Misery-the point W. of David Lawrence. p. 197.
Indian Hill-N. of HI. Ferry's. p. 138.
Grass Hill-N. of Lemuel Allen» p. 13.
Breakneck-so called now. pp. 142, 184, 198.
Great Meadow-S. of Otis Sessions place. p. 162.
Great Swamp-S. E. of Alfred Lumbard. pp. 23, 46.
South Meadow-2 or 3 S. of Calvin Polley. pp. 30, 60, Erwin's Meadow-see Brook.
Moss Meadow-S. E. of Great Meadow. pp. 33, 40, 98.
Beaver Dam Meadow-S. E. part of Holland. pp. 108, 131.
Cedar Swamp-S. of King's Hill. pp. 88, 79.
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