USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > Berkshire County. Its past history and achievements > Part 2
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Berkshire's pre-eminence in organiz- ing the government on a sound and scientific basis; compare this with the fact that about as late as a century ago there was only one post office in Western Massachusetts, and that in Springfield; and the further fact that the only newspaper in the county was obliged to frequently print half
a sheet, as no paper could be gotten for any more. Do we not here again find scanty tools for communicating intelli- gence combined with the greatest re- sults, secured with those tools?
A second illustration of the same principle is found in the striking his- tory as to Berkshire's relation to means of transportation and facilities for conveying news. Her postal facil- ities have been already indicated, the roads which Nature had provided, have been already referred to; the roads any where in the early part of this century being no better than the roughest kind of mountain wood roads now; people coming to church on horseback or afoot. Now this is not precisely the region from which to ex- pect any great leadership or advanced ideas on the subject of roads and transportation, and the rapid circula- tion of news. But what were the facts ? In 1806 a student of Williams college broached the idea of a railroad from Boston to Albany (long before any railroads in the world; ) the idea being suggested by reading of a horse rail- road in Wales for transporting slate. In 1826, by urgency of Stockbridge people, the idea was seriously ad- vanced in the legislature. And the Boston and Albany railroad began to be constructed, and in climbing the Berkshire mountains proved to the world for the first time that railroads were a possibility not merely on the level but up and down severe grades. Also in 1826 an elevated railroad was proposed by Theodore Sedgwick of Stockbridge. As is well known, one of the first large railroad tunnels in the world is also in Berkshire; it be- ing proposed as early as 1826. And still further, the principle of electric railroads was first patented by Steph- en Field of Stockbridge. So much for
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what Berkshire has done for the world, despite her own early peculiar hardships, in the way of transportation within the memory of persons now living.
And as to circulation of news, what can more eloquently appeal to the imagination than the contrast between the one post office in western Massa- chusetts, the best the world could do for Berkshire, and the oceanic cables of today, flashing the world's news about the globe ,the return gift of a son of Berkshire to the world.
It is not alone in material things that Berkshire has taken the lead in inaugurating new projects. As is well known, the Agricultural society whose fair ground is located in Pittsfield, was one of the first societies in the United States of any practical character, to elevate agriculture and to inspire farmers to advance and improve and get out of and beyond the ruts of their own ways. To my own mind the es- tablishing the Aggasiz association, branches of which-now all over the Union, is not the least important of all the noteworthy things this county has been instrumental in blessing mankind with. A great blessing which we take as a matter of course is the matter of religious equality, but men not very aged may remember that it was owing to its earnest labors of Pittsfield men that Massachusetts at last removed the remaining relics of Puritan legisla- tion and made all religious bodies ab- solutely equal before the law.
In some quarters ,the chief distinc- tion of this region lies in the fact of Williamstown being the well-known spot which witnessed the revival of foreign missions and the rising to the conception that in Christian work the sympathies of men should know no limit narrower than the whole world; a conception which found a suitable home in a county of the varied and cosmopolitan sympathies of Berkshire.
It is interesting to notice that the doctrine of the possibility of Christian perfection in this life in the form in which has been widely held of late,
appears to have been first held Williamstown.
An historical fact of very different significance is that when the Mor- mons commenced their aggressive missionary movement, they selected West Stockbridge as their sphere of operations, and when compelled to withdraw from this region, several of the Berkshire converts became emi- nent in the counsels of that objection- able sect. It is certainly somewhat singular that this same region should have been also the seat of the exactly opposite sort of sect of the Shakers; Lebanon itself at one time being with- in the borders of this county.
It is claimed that the world owes to these Lebanon Shakers, the buzz-saw, metallic pen, brush brooms and rais- ing of medicinal herbs.
People whose memory goes back for 60 years will recall the excitement connected with the Millerite teaching connected with their proclaiming the end of the world in 1843; but possibly they do not recall that Mr. Miller from whom the movement gained its name, was a resident of West street, Pitts- field. Many other things took their rise in Berkshire,too numerous for mention, but it would be a great omission to for - get the village improvement move- ment which we owe to Stockbridge, and possibly some besides the children may feel a debt of gratitude to Berk- shire when they are reminded that it is believed that the Stockbridge In- dians were the first discoverers of how to utilize the sap of the maple tree for the making of sugar. It is somewhat melancholy to read that when the whites perceived this new syrup, the only reflection it inspired was the hope that it would afford a good basis for the manufacture of rum.
Taken as a whole it may well be doubted whether any county in the United States has contributed more to the well being of mankind,and sure- ly none is more worthy of the ancient benediction of the Hebrew Leader, "In Thee and in Thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed."
ORIGIN OF THE NAMES
~ OF THE ~
TOWNS AND VILLAGES OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
DALTON.
Dalton was so named from Tristram Dalton, speaker of the House of Rep- resentatives at the time of the incor- poration of the town. There are two theories as to the origin of the name Dalton. The most probable makes it from Daletown that is, a town in a valley. Some, however prefer to de- rive it from the French word, D'Alton, that is, "of the mountain." A life of the statesman who gave his name
to the town is given below: Tristram Dalton, senator, was born in Newbury, Mass., May 28, 1738. He at- tended Dummer academy, at Byfield, Mass., and graduated from Harvard in 1755. He inherited from his father a large fortune and studied law as an accomplishment. He also devoted his time to the cultivation of a large estate called "Spring Hill" in West Newbury, where he entertained among other prominent men, George Wash- ington, John Adams, Louis Philippe and Tallyrand. Represented his state in the convention of committees of the New England provinces, December 25, 1776. He served in the state legisla- ture as representative, speaker of the house, and a senator. In 1778, he was elected a United States senator and being assigned by lot the short term he served through the 1st congress, 1789 to 1791. In 1791, when the city of Washington was founded, he invest- ed his entire fortune in land and lost
all, through the mismanagement of his business agent. At the same time, a vessel freighted with his furniture and valuable library were lost on the voy- age from Newburyport to Washington, anu he was left penniless. The gov- ernment at once tendered him a choice of several official positions and he ac- cepted that of surveyor of the port of Boston. He was a fellow of the Amer- ican academy of arts and sciences. He died in Boston, Mass., May 30, 1817.
TYRINGHAM.
Tyringham derives its name from Tyringham, England, which was connected with the family of Governor Bernard. This was so called from be- ing settled by the Thuringiams, a pow- erful tribe in Central Germany, from whom the institution of the Salic law was in part at least derived. Thur- ingia was so called from being con- quered and settled by a tribe bearing une name of Durii, who originally came from Greece. Durii is an abbreviation of Hermanduri, which was derived from Hermione, the wife of Orestez, and the daughter of Menelaus and Helen concerning whom was vaged the celebrated Trojan war, 110 vears B. C.
The Tyringham family has recently become extinct. The following is an obituary of the last member of the family who it will be seen bears the name of the governor of Massachu- setts at the time Berkshire county was
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settled. Sir Thomas
Tyring-
ham Bernard, of Winchendon.
Priory, Bucks, died on the Sth inst., in his 92d year. He was the fourth son of Sir Scrope Bernard, Mor- land fourth Baronet. He was educated at Eton and at Christ Church, Oxford. He sat in Parliament as member for Aylesbury, from 1857 to 1865 and was for 25 years Lieutenant Colonel of the Bucks Yeomanry. In 1816 he served as high sheriff and in the same year succeeded to the title, at the decease of his brother, Sir Francis Morland. On July 26, 1819 ,he married Sophia Charlotte, only child of Sir David Will- iams Bart of Rose Hallhersts; second- ly, Oct. 12, 1840 ,Martha Louise Mun- shall, and thirdly, Ellen of Marcham Park. By his first wife, he had two sons, both deceased and two daughters, Charlotte, who died in 1865, wife of Mr. Francis Pigott, and Sophia, wife of Mr. Napier Higgins. The Baro- net not leaving any male issue his title became extinct.
EGREMONT.
This was so called from Charles Windham, the earl of Egremont, who was the secretary of state in England at the time of the incorporation of the town. Windham was elected to the Parliament as early as 1734, being at that time a Tory. He soon after- wards became a Liberal and was a great friend of the American cause. All estimates of Egremont's character agree in ascribing to him a large share of the inordinate pride of his maternal grandfather, the "proud duke" of Som- erset. Walpole also adds to his bad qualities ill-nature, avarice, and not always speaking the truth. He denies him parliamentary ability and busi- ness capacity, but allows him humor and sense. Chesterfield thought him- self sufficient but incapable. Lord Standhope's pronouncement that Egre- mont owed his advancement to his fa- ther's name rather than to his own abilities seems scarcely tenable in view of the fact that for the greater part of his career he was in close alli- ance with leading whigs. He married on Mar. 12, 1751, a reigning beauty,
Alicia Maria, daughter of George Car- penter, second baron Carpenter of Killiaghy. In 1761 when she was the lady of the bedchamber of Queen Char- lotte, some verses were written in her honor by Lords Lyttellos and Hard- wicke. June, 1767, she married as her second husband, Count Bruhl and sur- vived till June, 1794. By her marriage with Egremont, she had four sons and three daughters. Of the latter, Eliza- beth married Henry Herbert, and Frances married Charles Marsham,
first earl of Romeny. There is one other town in New England deriving its name from the above, Windham, Maine. The place was located in the incidents referred to in Holmes' poem, "The One Hoss Shay."
ALFORD.
This town was so called from the Hon. John Alford of Boston. He was a man of large wealth and was distin- guished as the founder of the Alford professorship of Natural Religion and Moral Philosophy at Harvard college. He was baptized at the Old South church, July 5, 1685 and died Septem- ber 30, 1761.
SHEFFIELD.
This town was named after Sir Ed- mund Sheffield, the second duke of Buckingham. His grandfather was King James, the second. He died Oc- tober 30, 1735, and his title became ex- tinct. His father was one of the lead- ing statesmen under Queen Anne.
OTIS.
This town was So called
from Harrison Gray Otis, who was speaker of the House of Representatives at the time of the in- corporation of the town. Mr. Otis was born in Boston, October 8, 1765, and was a nephew of the celebrated James Otis. He was admitted to the bar in 1786, and soon became a distinguished orator. He was aide to Gen. Brooks in the Shay's Insurrection in 1786, was a member of the Legislature in 1796, and a prominent leader of the Federal party in 1797 to 1861. He was United States district attorney in 1801, and
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also was a member of the Legislature from 1803 to 1805. He was president of the state senate and was mayor of Boston from 1829 to 1832. Promi- nent member of the Hartford conven- tion in December, 1814, the views and proceedings of which he afterwards wrote and published a series of letters upon. The name Otis is derived from a Greek word which means, "quick of hearing."
BECKET.
This was the birthplace of Governor Bernard in Berkshire County, England, and he naturally named one of the first towns he had the opportunity of naming, in honor of that fact. The word Becket means Big War, being derived from the two celtic words, Big Had having that meaning.
FLORIDA.
This town is so called from the ac- cession of what is now the state of Florida in the United States about the time of the incorporation of the town.
PERU.
Peru is called from Peru in South America, which was revolting from the Spanish domain at the time of the in- corporation of the town, and with whose efforts for freedom aroused great sympathy. Peru itself was so called by Gen. Birou, who was one of its celebrated heroes.
MARLBOROUGH.
This town is named after Marlbor- ough, England, which was SO called from the celebrated Saint Maidulf. The earlier name was called Madluf's borough, which was shortened to Mailsborough and after marl or clay was discovered in the neighborhood the spelling was altered by mistake to Marlborough, its real origin being for- gotten. It is a singular coincidence as clay was also discovered in our Marlborough, which was derived from Clayton, one of its villages.
CLARKSBURGH.
This place was named after the Clark family extensively represented among the first settlers.
HINSDALE.
Named after Theodore Hinsdale, one of the first settlers. The name Hins. dale appears to have been originally Endsdale, apparently meaning the fam- ily that lived at the end of the valley.
WASHINGTON AND MT. WASHING- TON.
Both named of course for President Washington. The origin of the name is suggested by the original spelling of the word, Wessington, which is com- pounded of three words, Wys-mean- ing creek washing in from the sea, ing-meaning low ground-and ton being an abbreviation of town. The word therefore means a town lying on the lowlands by an estuary of the sea, " which is somewhat similar in contrast with either of the Berkshire Mt. Wash- ingtons.
GREAT BARRINGTON.
At whose suggestion this town re- ceived its name "Great Barrington" is now unknown. In the petition for its incorporation no name was presented, and in the preliminary stages of the bill in the House of Representatives, the name of the town was left blank. It was formerly currently said by the old inhabitants that the town was named in memory of Lord Barrington of England, then deceased, who during his life had manifested an especial in- terest in and had been particularly friendly to the colonies of New En- gland. At the time, the divisional line between Massachusetts and Rhode Is- land was unsettled and in controversy. The town of Barrington, now in Rhode Island, lay near the disputed line and had been in some degree subject to the jurisdiction of Massachusetts, but as it was uncertain whether by an ad- justment of the line, Barrington would fall within Massachusetts or Rhode Is- land, and to obviate the possible im- propriety of having two towns of the same name in the province, it was de- termined that the new town be called Great Barrington. Lord Barrington- John Shute, a son of Benjamin Shute, and a younger brother of Samuel Shute, governor of Massachusetts from
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1716 to 1723, born in 1687 and died at the age of 56 years. He was a Protes- tant dissenter and in 1701 published pamphlets "in favor of the civil rights of Protestant dissenters to which class he belonged." "On the accession of George 1st, he was returned as a mem- ber of Parliament for Berwick upon Tweed in 1720. The King raised him to the Irish Peerage by the title of Vin- cent Barrington of Ardglass." Four of his sons became distinguished, and the eldest, William, succeeded his father as Viscount Barrington.
SANDISFIELD.
Was named after Samuel Sandys, the president of the board of trade in Boston and great friend of the Ameri- can cause. He was celebrated for his opposition to lotteries, the favorite re- sort in those days for raising money. The only exception to this rule which he was ever known to make was in fa- vor of Harvard college, the raising of money for which he considered so good a cause as to justify the use of the lot- tery.
SAVOY.
Was so called on account of Savoy in Italy, coming into prominence about the time of the incorporation of the town in connection with the victo- ries of Napoleon.
ADAMS.
Was so named for the celebrated pa- triot, Samuel Adams, whose name car- ries us back to the parent of the human race. The name Adams is sup- posed to mean, the created thing. The Adams family find their earliest ap- pearance in history in Wales, a great many centuries ago, one bearing the name of Ap Adams, being the one first recorded. The ancestry of the family may be found in Volume 7 of the New England Genealogical Register, Page 39.
WILLIAMSTOWN.
Was named after Colonel Ephraim Williams, who was very celebrated in the early annals of Berkshire as the constructor of several of the principal forts found in Western Massachusetts, including Fort Massachusetts itself.
A full sketch of Colonel Williams will be found in Professor Perry's "Origin of Williamstown." The Will- iams family is one of the oldest fami- lies in the world. They can be traced back 1100 years before Christ to the first king of the British Isles. They also were the ancestors of the royal house of Tudor, including Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth.
HANCOCK.
Was named for John Hancock, who was at that time president of the Con- tinental Congress, and was the first one to sign the Declaration of Inde- pendence, just two days after the in- corporation of the town. The name Hancock goes back to the earliest days of Anglo-Saxon history. The earlier form is Endicott and the last syllable is a modification of the word, Goth, car- rying us back to our Scandinavian an- cestors.
MONTEREY.
Was incorporated just after the bat- tle of Monterey, in the Mexican war.
STOCKBRIDGE AND WEST STOCK- BRIDGE.
Appear to have been named after Stockbridge, England, probably on ac- count of their mutual resemblance. There is no evidence that any of the early settlers of Stockbridge, Massa- chusetts, came from Stockbridge, En- gland, but some of them appear to have come from its vicinity. Professor Frost, in his essay on the origin of the names of Berkshire towns claims that the names Woodbridge and Stock- bridge were originally identical and that Timothy Woodbridge, the second settler of the town suggested the
name. This I believe to be a pure myth. It is also a curious fact, that the Williamses who were the first set- tlers of Stockbridge came from that part of eastern Massachusetts where the Stockbridge family is extensively represented. It is possible that some relationship between the two families may furnish a clue to the mystery, but the explanation first given seems the most probable.
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PITTSFIELD.
Was named after William Pitt, at that time Prime Minister. The learned essay by Joseph Smith on the circum- stances connected with the choice of this particular name renders any fur- ther explanation unnecessary.
WINDSOR.
Was named after Windsor, Connec- ticut, which was named after Windsor in Berkshire county, England, the seat of Windsor Castle and the home of British royalty for many centuries and scene of Shakespeare's play, "Merry Wives of Windsor"; the name is a modification of Windle shore, meaning the town on the shore of the river Windle.
CHESHIRE.
Was named after Chester, England, the oldest town with a continuous history in that country and the seat of many notable historical events. It is a singular coincidence, that Cheshire county, England, is principally cele- brated for the unusually fine brand of cheese produced there and that our Cheshire is probably best known to most people from the mammoth cheese sent by its inhabitants to President Jefferson.
LEE.
Was named after Charles Lee of the American army. The name Lee is of great antiquity. It first appears as Lega, De La, De la Lee, and of various spelling, gradually taking the present form, Lee. In the "Doomsday Brook" Lega and Lee are often used to denote the same family. The name has also sometimes assumed still other forms, as Lea, Leigh, Lay and Ley. The word "Lee" signifies a "pasture, meadow or grass land." Previous to the use of surnames, persons were designated by the place of their residence, or some epithet descriptive of their personal character or occupation. Thus, John, residing near the lee, eventually be- came "John Lee," Samuel, very pale ur white, became "Samuel White," and William the carpenter, became "Will- iam Carpenter," etc. The family of Lee is one of the most ancient in En-
glish history. In the eleventh century the name of Launcelot Lee is associ- ated with William the Conqueror, and is of Norman origin, and in the divi- sion of estates by that chieftain, a fine estate in Essex county was bestowed upon him. Lionel Lee "raised a com- pany of gentlemen cavaliers," at the head of which he accompanies Richard Coeur de Leon, in the third crusade, A. D. 1192. For gallant conduct at the siege of Acre, he was made "earl of Litchfield," and another estate was
given to the family, which was later called "Ditchly." The armor worn by the crusaders is still preserved in the Horse Armory, Tower of London. They were devoted followers of the Stuarts, and distinguished for loyalty to the crown, and, for their acts of valor, re- ceived various honors and distinctions. Two of the name have been Knights of the Garter, and their banners, sur- mounted by the "Lee Arms," may be seen in St. George's Chapel, Windsor.
LENOX AND RICHMOND.
Were originally one town and were named after Charles Lenox, Duke of Richmond and when the town was di- vided one portion took one part of the name and the other the other. The name Lenox is derived from the words Llevan-ax, meaning smooth flowing wa- ter. The river Llevan still bearing that name flows past the Lenox state in the south of Scotland. It is in the immediate neighborhood of Dumbarton Castle associated with Shakespeare's play, Macbeth, and the memories of Robert Bruce. The name of Richmond is derived from the old Saxon root, ric, which means conqueror, and which ap- pears in our word rich, meaning a con- queror of wealth. A sketch of the life of Lenox, one of the great friends of the American cause, is given below:
Charles Lennox, third duke of Rich- mond and Lennox (1735-1806) third son of Charles, second duke of Rich- mond and Lennox, was born in Lon- don, Feb. 22, 1735. He was educated as a town-boy at Westminster school, where Cowper remembered seeing him set fire to Vinney Bourne's "greasy locks and box his ears to put it out
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again." He graduated at Leyden Uni- versity on Oct. 28, 1753, and subse- quently travelled on the continent. Having entered the army he was gazet- ted captain in the 20th regiment of foot on June 18, 1753, lieutenant-colo- nel in the 33rd regiment of foot, June 7, 1753, and colonel of the 72nd regi- ment of foot in May 9, 1758, and is said to have served in several expedi- tions to the French coast, and to have highly distinguished himself at the battle of Minden in August, 1759. He succeeded his father as third duke of Richmond and Lennox on Aug. 8, 175: and took his seat in the House of Lords for the first time on March 15. 1756. On November 25, 1760, he was appointed a lord of the bedchamber, but shortly afterwards quarreled with the king, and resigned office. He car- ried the sceptre with the dove at the coronation of George III, in September, 1761, and became lord-lieutenant of Sussex on October 18, 1763. He subse- quently broke off his relations with the ministry and attached himself to the duke of Cumberland. Upon the formation of the Marquis of Rocking- ham's first administration he refused the post of cofferer, and in August, 1765, was appointed ambassador ex- traordinary and minister plenipoten- tiary at Paris, being admitted to the privy council on Oct. 23 following. Though young and inexperienced he conducted his mission with great pru- dence and temper. Upon his return to England he became, in spite of the king's dislike, secretary of state for the southern department in place of the Duke of Grafton, and retired from office on the accession of Chatham to power in the following August. During the debate on the bill of indemnity on December 10, 1766, Richmond called Chatham "an insolent minister," and when called to order replied that he "was sensible that truth was not to be spoken at all times and in all places." Both lords promised that the matter should go no further. After this quar- rel during the remainder of his admin- istration he appeared no more in the House of Lords. On June 2, 1767, Richmond moved three resolutions in
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