USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > Williamstown > Centennial discourse, delivered in Williamstown, Mass., November 19, 1865 > Part 5
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shall actually by themselves or assigns reside on said house lot five years in seven from the time of their being admitted-and that they do settle a learned Orthodox minister in said Town within the term of five years from the time of their being admitted-And in case the aforesaid conditions are not fulfilled, according to the true intent and meaning thereof-that then such settler or settlers' right shall be forfeit and revert back to the Province to be disposed as the Gen. Court shall and may hereafter order and determine-any thing in their grant to the contrary not- withstanding.
And that the sd Com. be further directed to take a bond of each person by them admitted as a settler of the penal sum of fifty pounds money payable to the Pro- vince Treasurer or his superiors in sd office for the faithful performance of the conditions of sd grant-the sd Com to make report of their doings-and due re- turu of sd bonds to the Province Treasurer as soon as may be-who shall be paid for their service out of monies received of the settlers-And as to the Easternmost Township to be settled as the Gen Gourt shall order. Sent up for Concurrence.
THOS. HUBBARD, Speakr Pro Tempore.
In council Apr 6. 1750
Read and Concurred and James Ninatt Esq is joined in the affair. Saml Hol- brook Depy Secretary
Consented to S. Phipps.
The committee entered upon their work without delay. Sixty- three lots, fourteen rods wide, were laid out on each side of a broad street running from Green River to Hemlock Brook, and a portion of them disposed of in 1761-many of them to officers and soldiers in Fort Massachusetts-as appears from the following petition of Capt. Williams, presented to the General Court in. Feb., 1750 (1751 New Style), and the order of the Court thereon Feb. 1750-Petition of Ephm Williams Commander of Fort Massachusetts :
Most Humbly showeth that your petitioner hath been detained in Boston ever since ye last of Nov. past waiting for money due to him and Company out of tho Province Treasuary for which he hath his warrants duly executed But there be- ing no money in the Treasury for the payments of them, he must either wait lon- ger (which is very expensive) or return home without ; ye later of which will be very Detrimental (as also the former hath been) by reason that fifteen of the Lotts in ye land to the westward of sd Fort Massachusetts, an (by the Committee ap- pointed for the sale of them) virtully Bargained to some of his soldiers upon con- ditions they speedily pay what they bargained to give, which they (foremost of their money due aforesd) are unable to do and so consequently must lose them, and as that would be a great disappointment, therefore your petitr Humbly prays Your Honr and Honrs would direct the Comee aforesd to take ye warrants above mentioned into their own hands, they advancing the Contents of them to your Petitr, which will not only enable sd soldiers to pay for sd Lotts, but Save your Petitr a vast charge, which he humbly hopes your Honor and Honors in your known wisdom will do and as in duty bound will ever pray-signed E. Williams Jr-(own hand)
HOUSE REPS. FEB. 7, 1750.
Reed and Ordered that the Comee for admitting settlers in the West New Tewn- ship at Hoosuek, be and they hereby are directed and impowered out of the monys
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which they shall receive from the said Settlers to pay the within named Williams the money due on said warrants-He delivering the sd committee with proper or- ders on the Treasurer to discount the same with them.
And the said committee are also allowed to admit as many of the Soldiers at Fort Massachusetts, as Settlers as they shall judge proper. Sent up for concur-
T. HUBBARD Spkr. rence.
Concurred-Consented. T. Phipps.
Deposition of the proprietors who purchased lots with the in- tention of settling on them, together with other persons who had purchased of original grantees and commenced work in the new township. But as yet no provision had been made for their legal organization as a "Propriety " as it was called. The following petition, presented in Sept., 1753, informs us of the time and manner of securing the proper legislation for that purpose :
To His Exelly William Shirly Esqr Captain General &e., the Honble his Majisty's Council, and House of Representatives in General Court assembled Sept. 1753.
The Petition of us the Subscribers in behalf of ourselves and Others, Proprie- tors of the West Hoosuck Township at Hoosuek, Lately sold by the General Court Humbly Sheweth
That the General Court was pleased to open the sd Township and lay out the House lots under the Direction of the Courts Comtee, and the Proprietors owners of said lots an divers of them at work upon them and bringing forward Settle- ments; but upon advisement find they are incapable of Calling and Holding meet- ings, without the Aid of yr Excelcy and Honours which are exceedingly want in order to agree upon the building a Meeting House, Setling a Minister, Making Di- vision of other Lands and to do and Transact all such matters and things as may be necessary and proper for proprietors of New Townships to do. We thereforo Humbly pray yr Excelr and Honurs to appoint some proper person to call a Meet- ing of said proprietors for such purposes as may be necessary and direct a method of calling meetings of said proprs in the future, and as in duty bound shall Ever pray &c.
ELISHA HIGGINS SILAS PRATT TYRAS PRATT GIDEON WARRIN EZEKL FOSTER
ISAAC WYMAN ALLIN CURTISS DARIUS MEAD SETH HUDSON THOMAS TRAIN EBENR GRAVES ELIIIU CURTISS
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SEPTR 10. 1753
Read and Voted that Israel Williams Esqr one of his Majs Justices of the Peace for tho County of Hampshire Issuo his Warrant for calling a meeting of the pro- prietors of the West Township at Hoosuck so called Directed to one of the princi- pal proprietors of sd Township, Requiring him to set up a Notification in some public place in sd Township Setting forth the timo, placo and Occasion of sd Meet- ing fourteen days beforehand, which Meeting shall be holden in sd Township, and such of the proprietors as shall be present at sd Meeting are hereby authorized and impowered by a Maj. vote to Determino upon a Division of all or a part of the Lands in said Township not already allotted, also Chuse a Comtec or Comtees to
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lay out the same, also to raise moneys to defray the Charges that may arise by means of laying out sd Lands, also for Clearing Highways, as also to Chuse a pro- prictors' Clerk, Treasurer, Assessors and Collectors and also to agree and deter- mine upon a method of calling meetings of said proprietors for the future.
Sent up for Concurrenco
T. HUBBARD Sp'k'r
In Council Sept. 10. 1753-Read and Concurred
TIJOS CLARK Dop. Sec'y
Consented to
W. SHIRLEY.
By virtue of the above provision the proprietors were duly organized, and meetings held, the official record of one of which is still extant.
These hardy pioneers were not permitted long to continue the work of " bringing on " their new settlement without molestation. In the summer of 1754, the settlement at " Dutch Hoossuck " (Hoosie Falls) was broken up by the Indians, some of the people killed and the remainder forced to flee to Fort Massachusetts for protection. The settlers at " West Hoosuck " immediately aban- doned the place. Those having families sought shelter at Fort Massachusetts and others returned to their homes.
The following petition for aid, presented to the General Court in October or November, gives an interesting account of their condition, and discloses the names of those who first occupied the town with their families, and thus are entitled to the designa- tion of the "first settlers."
To His Excellency Wm Shirley Esqr Captn Genl and Governor in Chief in and over his Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts Bay and &c.
To the Honble his Majestys Council and The House of Representatives in Geul Court Assembled-Oct. 17. 1754.
The Petition of the inhabitants of West Hoosuck-Humbly Sheweth
That upon Survey of the Plan of sd Township and from the information of the Gentn of this Honourable Court that sold us our Respective Lotts we are abun dantly Satisfied that the Government designed it for a Barrier Town into which Succour upon any rupture would be thrown, which induced us to take up with Narrow Lotts less than fourteen Rods wide and thereby subject ourselves to the in- conveniences of living in a Huddle, also to give moneys for our Land (which the Government has had the Benefit of) which used to be given upon the promise of sel- ling and Large Bonds to the Province Treasurer for Settleing which now lie against 11s &c. But may it please your Excellency and Hours Such is our caso upon the lato Alarm we for Shelter ran to fort Massachusetts and aro there with our family's who Clutter the Fort, and make our lives and that of the Soldiers very uncomfort- able-in this poor Situation your Pettnrs are waiting your Excellencies and Hon- ours Directions how to Bestow our ourselves, and would let your Excellency know there is about ELEAVEN FAMILIES of Us that would gladly Return to our Settle-
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ments, and a considerable number more, could we receive proper incouragemt from this Honable Court, Whose Determination we all Humbly wait
And as in Duty bound shall ever pray &c
Signed by
JONA MEACHM GIDEON WARRIN BENJ. SIMONDS OLIVER AVERY
THOMAS TRAIN
SETH HUDSON WILLIAM CHIDESTER
EZEKL FOSTER
ALLIN CURTISS
JABEZ WARRIN Junr
JABEZ WARRIN
The Government does not appear to have responded favorably to this petition for aid. Col. Israel Williams, the military com- mander of the " Western Frontier," did not deem it wise to attempt to sustain the new settlement while a French and Indian war was imminent. He advised the settlers to remove their gathered crops of wheat and other effects to a place of safety. A portion of them, of whom Jonathan Meacham was one, entered the service under Ephraim Williams, and were with him in the expedition to Crown Point during the following year. The first evidence of any attempt to renew the work of settlement, is con- tained in the following petition of William Chidester for aid to erect a block-house-which was presented to the General Court on the 18th of January, 1756 :
Province of the Massachusetts Bay
( To his Honour Spencer Phipps Esq Commander in Chief in | and over His Majesty's province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, To the Honourable His Majesty's Council, and House of Representatives in General Court assembled the 18 ( Day of Jany 1756
The Petition of William Chidester of the Place called Hoosuck in the County of Hampshire in said Province Humbly Shews :
That your petitioner purchased several lotts of land in the Westerly Township called Hoosuck Townships, which lays about four miles to the westward of fort Massachusetts, and had Removed his family on to said lots In order to Perform the Duties Injoined the several Purchasers of lotts in the said Township, with an ex- pectation that the other purchasers would have followed him to fullfill their obliga- tions on their Respective lotts, and so strengthen the Town, that they might not only Defend ourselves against the common Enimy, but be a Barrier to Province, But so it is that Your Petitioner and Some Others, TO THE AMOUNT OF FIVE FAMI- LYS are left alone in the said Westerly Township as he apprehends in Emmenant Danger of being Murthered, and their substance destroyed by the Common Enimy, as there is but about five familys between his habitation, and the place Coled Scoto- hook (Schaghticoke) in the Dutch County which the Indians and French burnt and distroyed the last fall, Notwithstanding our forces were at lake George at the same time. . Your Petitioner therefore humbly Prays your Honour and Honours would be Graciously pleased to take his Distrest Condition into your wise Consideration and grant such Releife as in Your great Wisdom you shall see meet. And as in Duty bound shall ever pray WILLIAM CHIDESTER
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IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, JANY 18. 1756
Read and Ordered, That the prayer of this Petn be so far granted as that the Commander in Chief be disired to give orders, That if the Proprietors of said Township or any part of them shall at their own cost and charge erect a sufficient Block house in said Town, IN THE PLACE CALLED THE SQUARE by the tenth day of March next, that then there be allowed Ten Soldiers, either out of the number now Stationed at FORT Massachusetts, or otherwise by a new Levy as this Court shall judge best : and that the sd proprietors or such of them as shall appear and labour in the Erecting of sd FORT be allowed their Subsistence out of the province stores for the space of two MONTHS; and that if the Proprietors shall not appear by the tenth of March next to ereet a Block-house on the place called the square, that then the Petitioner with such as shall appear spirited with him, and shall erect a Block-house ROUND HIS HOUSE AND THE TWO OTHER HOUSES CONVENIENT TO BE TAKEN IN, shall be entitled to the same subsistence above sd while building said Block-house, and that when sd Block-house is finished Ten of the Inhabitants which shall have Erected said Block-house be put into pay and subsistence during ye Courts pleasure, and that the Commander in Chief be disired to give orders that there be a Guard of Ten men taken from Fort Massachusetts to guard the Labour- ers while they are work on sd Block-house
Sent up for Concurrence
T. HUBBARD Spkr
In Council Feb 2. Read and Concurred
THOS CLARK Depty Sec'ry
Consented to W. SHIRLEY.
On the 6th of Feb., Gov. Shirley issued an order in accordance with the foregoing request, authorizing Chidester to build a block- house on the square if a sufficient number should join him so as to complete the work by the 10th of March; otherwise to build around his own and two other houses. Chidester, aided by Ben- jamin Simonds, Seth Hudson and Jabez Warren proceeded at once to erect the block-house on the eastern line of his own lot, which was the third west or twenty-eight rods from the present Mansion House, on the north side of the street.
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Ten men from Fort Massachusetts served as a guard to the work- men from Feb. 29th to March 29th, when the work was completed. Others, who had left the place on the alarm in 1754, returned and aided in the work, amongst whom were Nehemiah Smedley and Josiah and William Horsford.
In obedience to the following order of the General Court, Capt. Wyman, March 23d, detailed five men from Fort Massa- chusetts under the command of Sergeant Samuel Taylor, to guard the new work, in connection with the men who had built it.
MARCH 9TH 1756
Ordered, That thore be Forty Men at Hoosuck and no moro. Thirty whereof to be postod at Fort Massachusetts, and ten at the West Township, the said Ten at ye West Township to be inhabitants of sd Township, if there shall be so many in-
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habitants effective for the service, alwaies including the men that shall have been concerned in building the Block-house agreeable to the vote of this Court of the 28th of Jany last
Dissatisfied with this arrangement, Chidester went to Boston in April and obtained from Gov. Shirley a Sergeant's commission and authority to supersede Taylor in the command of the fort.
Meanwhile a portion of the settlers were not satisfied with the proceedings of Chidester and his friends, and on the 27th of May, Thomas Train in their behalf presented the following petition for aid to build another fort.
To Ilis Honour Spencer Phipps Esq-Lieut Govr and Commander in Chief of His Majisties Province of Massachusetts Bay &c
The Honble His Majistics Council and ye IIonble House of Representatives in General Court Assembled-May 26. 1756.
The memorial of Thomas Train of West Hoosuck in behalf of himself and Di- vers others of the Proprietors of West Hoosuck, Humbly Sheweth :
That your Memorialist and others of the Proprietors of ye aforesaid Township, would with ye countenance and encouragement of ye General Court build at their own proper cost and Charge a Block-house at said place upon the Square so called which will be of special service in order to bring forward a settlement iv said place, and beg leave to Represent that ye Block-house (if it wil bear ye name) built by William Chidester and others answers no good purpose and was erected contrary to " the minds of ye Proprietors in general, and as we think contrary to ye design and order of ye Genl Court ; therefore your memorialist humbly begs leave to ercet a Block-house at ye aforesaid place of ye following Dimensions viz: Eighty feet square, two mounts twenty fect square, with a sufficient Watch Box to ye same-al with Hewn Timber. And that your Honours in your wonted goodness would sub- sist your memorialists whilst erecting said Block-house and grant them such a num- ber of men to mantle ye same (During their perilous season) as your Honours in your great wisdom shall see best and as in Duty bound shall ever pray.
THOMAS TRAIN
Mit Records Vol 9. p. 882
Attached to said petition is the following subscription, to wit :
FORT MASSACHUSETTS MAY YE 10. 1756.
We the subscribers do promise to pay unto Any Person or persons the several sums subscribed if they will undertake and finish a sufficient fort on the Square in the West Township at Husack so called at the compleat finishing said fort-the Dimentions are as followeth viz. said fort to be 80 feet square with two mounts cach 20 feet square, the said Fort to be built of hewn timber and a sufficient Watch Box -and we the Subscribers do promiso to pay the several sams subscribed or to work till we have Completed the Superscription, as witness our hands --
ISAAC WYMAN 6-0-0
THOMAS TRAIN 3-0-0
BEN SYMONDS
3-0-0
ELISIIA INIGGINS 1-10-0
WILLIAM MEACHAM 3-0-0
WILLIAM TRAIN 1-10-0
TYRAS.PRATT I-6-8
· JOSEPII HAWLEY 0-18-0
GAD CHAPIN 3-0-0
JONATIIAN MEACHAM 2-0-0
JOIIN WELLS 3-0-0
DERICK WEBB 0-1-10
NOAH PRATT
I-6-8
SAMI, TAYLOR
3 0-0
3-0-0
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Eight or ten of the above subscribers were settlers. Train was the son-in-law of Simonds, and his descendants are still resi- dents of the town. No response appears to have been made to his petition.
Meanwhile there were rumors of an approaching enemy. The block-house was destitute of artillery and with only ten men as a garrison. Early in June, Chidester went to Boston again, and presented the two petitions which follow, and which, with their signatures, seem to throw light upon the condition of affairs at that time.
Neither of the petitions received any response. Other matters were pressing too heavily.
To his Excelleney William Shirley Esq. Capt General, &c, and to the Honble his Majesty's Council, and the Honourable House of Representatives in General Court Assembled.
The Petition of the Proprietors of the West Hoosuck Humbly sheweth,
That whereas ten of the Proprietors of West Hoosuck have obtained Liberty from the Ilonble Court to build a Fort in sd township with the Incouragement of the Pay and Subsistence of the Province as Soldiers, and as there is allowed forty men for the Defence of the western fronteers at fort Massachusetts and West Hoo- suck, fort Massachusetts is a Considerable Part of it fell down and it is Daly expec- ted the rest will fall-and Concluding the Province will Either Rebuild that fort agin or Bild some other for the Defence of the fronteer, your Petitioners Humbly Prays that Massachusetts fort may not be Rebeilt but that we may Have the Lib- erty of Erecting a fort in our township that shall answer the (same) intent of the Government as that, and that we may have the artillery and the seame strength al- lowed as was there-and inasmuch as those ton of our Proprietors Have already ben at great cost in Erecting a block-house in town, and Have Don it in such a marer as with some addition will accomadate the whole propriety, your Petitioners Humbly Praieth that we may Have the Like Encouragement allowed us as those ten Have, and we will forthwith join those ten, and by adding other work to the fort allready, Built make it a sufficient fort to answer the intent of the Government as a fort instead of Hoosuck fort, which will at once Build up this town & will be as much Defence to the Government and for less Charge, the Determination of which your Pettrs shall wait and as in Duty bound shall ever Pray-
JOSIAHI DEN
ELISHA HIGGINS
SAMUEL KELLOGG
SETII KENT
NEHEMIAHI SMEDLEY
JOSIAHI HORSFORD
JONATHAN KYLBORNE
JESSE SAWYER
SOLOMON BUEL
ELNAATHAN ASIIMUN
ELISILA CHAPIN
TYRAS PRATT
NOAH PRATT
ENOS IIUDSON
GIDEON WARRIN
June 9th 1756-presented. Referred to ye next Sitting
PETITION OF WILLIAM CHIDESTER.
BOSTON, JUNE 10. 1756
May it please your Honor,
Whereas there are now two small swivel Guns in Fort Massachusetts unimproved
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by said Garrison who are otherwise supplied with Artillery, and the same would bs of Singular Service at the Block-house at Hoosuck where they are destitute of any artillery. This is to pray the Favor of your Honours regard to our circum- stances in Exigency as to give Orders that the same may be removed from thence to said Block-house at Hoosuck, with ammunition for the Improvement of said Swivel Guns in ease of need. Or otherwise supplyed as your Honour shall judge necessary at this time of Danger. And your Petitioner as in duty bound shall ever pray &c WILLIAM CHIDESTER
To the Honourablo Spencer Phipps Esq. Ltt Govr & Commander in Chiefe of the Province of Massachusetts Bay.
Chidester returned to his fort. But his term of service was drawing to a close. On the 11th of July " the block-house was " beset by a large party of the enemy," and Chidester, one of his sons and Capt. Elisha Chapin were killed. They were probably surprised without the fort; for it is stated that on the 2d day from the attack, "Capt. Wyman sent twenty men to search for the body of Capt. Chapin, who found him and buried him in a decent manner and returned with his family to Ft. Mass."
Seth Hudson succeeded to the command of the fort, which re- ceived considerable accessions of men at various times during the next two years. Ammunition and subsistence were supplied from the older fort, and the work of settling the town went on gradually.
But the principal body of the settlers felt themselves aggrieved at what they conceived to be the stinted and niggardly supplies of men and provisions received from the commander at Fort Mass. On the 11th of January, 1757, they presented to the Legislature a petition for a redress of their grievances. This is herewith given, with the names attached, as a graphic recital of the perils and trials to which they were subjected.
To His Honour Spencer Phipps Esq Lieut Govr &c, The Honourable His Majesty's Council, and the Honble House of Representatives in Gen. Court Convened at Boston
Potition of a number of the Proprictors of West Hoosuck in behalf of ourselves and divers others of the Proprietors of West Hoesuck Humbly Showeth :
That your Honours Petitioner's Have Built a Sufficient Block-house in said town- ship agreeable to the orders of the Government which will be of Special Service in order to bring forward a Settlement in said place if we can but Support our Hold which we trust we Could Well Do, Had we but a little more Strength and a Suffi- cient Quantity of Stores within our walls. But since we are allowed but Ten men and all our storos to fitch from fort massachusetts or to subsist our Solves without aney allowance from the Government the matter is somewhat Precarious-for dur- ing the Perilous Season the Sumer Past we with our teams was under a Necessity of taking one Part of them and to turn out and go to fort massachusetts once in 14 days for our Subsistence-Nor could we prevail with Capt Wyman to Let us Have
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ony more than 14 Days allowance at a time and then stay until that was allinost gon before He would Let us Have any more-so that many times we had Had not a Days allowance in the fort at a time when we had Reason to think we should be at- tacked by the Enemy Daly by the frequent decoveries we made of them .- We havo made application to Major Williams as we under Stood He was ordered by tho Government to Subsist us, & likewise to Col Isearl Williams and to the Comaseary Generel, But all to no purpose as we apprehend, for the Last Stores we went for we Could not Get but 14 Days allowance, and a Number of us Have not Had any bread for three weeks past, only what we are forced to Provido for our Selves. Your Poor Petitioners Humbly Prays that your Honours in your great Wisdom & goodness would Consider our Distrest Circumstances, and if your Honrs in great wisdom can See fitt we Pray that we may be allowed twenty more men to be added to our Number, as we are the most remoat and most Exposed of aney Place in the Government, and that we yr Honrs Petitioners that are not already in the Pay and Subsistence of the government may be some of those that may be put in, and that we may be allowed the Liberty of Subsisting our Selves and be allowed therefor the Seame Consideration that is allowed the Comascrey for Hoosuck, for as there is a number of us Have our familys Hear we must Provide for them, and with a little more expense we could Subsist our Selves also, and could we but obtain leave therefor it woold Be a great Incouragoment Settlers to come for it woold Provide a sufficient Store of Provision in the Winter Season, so that we might not be layed under aney obligation of turning out in the Perilous Season- furthermore our allowance is but Small and not Sufficient to live on, for we receive but five lbs and a half of flour for Seven Days allowance of Bread and six pounds and 2 ounces of pork pr week and six gills of rum for Seven days and half a point of pease pr Day wine measure, which is the Whole that we get as allowance, and if aney man is gon from the fort on what ocasion So Ever Ile Hires His Duty Dono and looses His Subsistance, for notwithstanding a mans Doing His Duty Capt Wy- man stopes all his allowance so many Days as He is abcent, and we By no means might be allowed to make Known our Carcumstances to the Honourable Court but our officers Wholy refused us that Liberty, but now at Last we have obtained a fur_ lofe (furlough) for one man, he not knowing our Design, but notwithstanding his furlo He must Hire his Duty Don at the fort and Loose His Subsistance. We fur- thermore Pray that we might Have an officer amonst our Selves one that would Do us Justice and lett us Have what is allowed by the government and not put it in to his own pocket, thus your Honrs petitioners Humbly beg that your Honours would do for us as in your great wisdom & goodness you see Best, and your petitioners as in Duty bound shall evey pray-
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