USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Gazetteer of Hampshire County, Mass., 1654-1887 > Part 11
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87
September 27, 1786. the legislature met in special session. The senate was in favor of vigorous action, but the house could not be brought to appro- priate money for the suppression of the law breakers, and the session accom- plished little in behalf of government. Shays and his followers were corres- pondingly encouraged in their lawlessness, while the friends of order and stability were yet more alarmed than before. On December 26th Shays came into Springfield at the head of about three hundred men and prevented the session of the court of common pleas appointed for that day. At last the patience of law-abiding citizens with such violent proceedings gave way to prompt and vigorous action. The merchants of Boston advanced the money which the legislature refused to appropriate, and the governor immediately issued orders for the raising and equipping of forty-five hundred men to enforce the authority of the state. Twelve hundred of these were to be raised in Western Massachusetts, under direction of Gen. William Shepherd, but the chief command of the army was entrusted to Gen. Benjamin Lincoln.
As this sketch relates chiefly to the part taken by the present county of Hampshire in this "rebellion," it will suffice to state merely the result of the Springfield collision. General Lincoln moved with unexpected vigor and celerity in spite of the winter weather. He re-established the authority of the government at Worcester, pressed on to Springfield where Gen. Shepherd had posted his men for the defense of the United States arsenal. Shays's followers were in need of arms, to resist Lincoln's advance, and he made his plans for an attack upon the arsenal on the 25th of January, 1787. But Shays and Day did not co operate. The reaction from lawlessness had already begun, and the moment Gen. Shepherd ordered his single piece of artillery to be discharged into the ranks of the insurgents (a few discharges meant only as a warning and harmlessly aimed, had produced no good results) the mob broke and fled in terror. Only three were killed and one mortally wounded, but the backbone of "Shays Rebellion " was thoroughly broken by that discharge of the government field-piece. Shays wanted to rally his men and renew the
105
HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.
attack, but it was in vain that he attempted so to do. The bubble of vanity had been pricked and it speedily collapsed. He retreated to Chicopee to re- unite his scattered forces, and on the way two hundred of his men deserted. Lincoln reached Springfield and joined his forces with those under Shepherd, and Shays retreated to Amherst, a town which was full of sympathy for him, and to which Captain Billings, one of his subordinate officers, belonged. On the way they gave evidence of their utter demoralization by plundering even private houses and taking whatever they saw fit to lay hands upon, South Hadley being an especial sufferer in this respect. Lincoln hoped to intercept the retreat of the disordered mob at Amherst, but his troops, wearied with their forced march through the winter snows, failed to cut off the escape to the hills of Pelham. Amherst tradition reports that eleven loads of supplies sent to the insurgents from Berkshire county sympathizers reached Amherst just in advance of Gen. Lincoln's horsemen. The teams were hurried towards the Pelham hills, at whose foot a little guard of twenty men so displayed themselves as to give the impression of a large number of armed soldiers, an impression increased by their bold leader who rode towards Lincoln's horse- men and waved his hat defiantly as if challenging him to the contest. As the supporting infantry was three miles behind them, the horsemen dared not make an attack, and the wagons reached Shays without molestation.
There was now a cessation of hostile efforts for some days. General Lin- coln's wearied troops, who had marched from Boston, rested in Hadley and vicinity, while Shays's followers were disappearing from the Pelham hills, seeking their own homes in full recognition of the failure of their efforts. Shays made several efforts to come to terms with the state officials, but they were not disposed to be lenient at this time. So numerous were the deser- tions from his "army," Shays determined to take them farther away from their homes, and on the afternoon of February 3d he started for Petersham, in Worcester county. Lincoln was watching his movements so closely that in spite of the efforts to deceive him he learned immediately of Shays's move- ment and its destination. His own troops started that evening for another forced march. Leaving Hadley at eight o'clock, they entered Amherst, turned north, and passing through North Amherst, they climbed the Shutes- bury hills and continuing in spite of the falling snow and the blustering wind, without either rest or refreshment, they completed a march of thirty miles in twenty-four hours, and came upon Shays and his men just as the latter were preparing breakfast. The surprise was complete, and the " rebels " were cap- tured ot dispersed most effectually. Shays escaped to New Hampshire, but was unable to put forth any farther opposition to the legal authorities. He went from New Hamsphire to Sparta. New York, and there died in poverty, in 1825. Fourteen of his captured companions, who were considered leaders in the " rebellion," were condemned to death, but were finally pardoned by the wise clemency of Governor Hancock. Among them were Henry Mc- Cullock, of Pelham, and Daniel Luddington, of Southampton.
106
HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.
While the people of Hampshire county, in connection with most New Eng- landers, were from principle opposed to a second war with England and strongly advocated pacific measures, they were by no means lacking in pat- riotism nor tardy in responding to all calls made upon them. Governor Strong. of Northampton, was then governor of the state, and his wise, judi- cious course is well known as a matter of general history. The treaty of peace in 1815 was hailed with unbounded satisfaction.
The war sentiment was the same during the Mexican war of 1847-48-a regret that other measures were not used, but a willing response to the call for aid. The county furnished a regiment which performed well its part.
From this time down to 1861 our country never echoed the clash of arms. But the sun arose that 12th of April morning upon a terribly fateful day. That first shot upon Sumpter sounded the death knell of hundreds of thou- sands of noble ones ; it cast a pall of sorrow over the broad land whose shadow even now is but partially lifted. Massachusetts immediately came to the recue, and side by side with her sister states took her place at the front. She sent 159,254 of her sons into the breach, a surplus of 13,492 over all calls.
In 1860, the year before the war broke out, the census reports show Hampshire county to have had a population of 37,822 souls, and a valuation of $17,737,649.00. According to the returns made by the selectmen in 1866, the county furnished 3,793 men, which is very near the exact number. Each town furnished its full contingent upon every call made by the president for men, and at the end of the war had a surplus over and above all demands, which, in the aggregate, amounted to 344. The total amount of money ap- propriated and expended by the several towns on account of the war, exclu- sive of state aid, was $415,042.76. The total amount raised and expended during the war for state aid to soldiers' families, and which was afterwards repaid by the commonwealth, was $184,075.07, making the total expenditure $599,117.83. For the part each town furnished towards making up these large totals we refer the reader to the respective town sketches further on in this work.
ROSTER OF FIELD, STAFF AND COMPANY OFFICERS.
The following roster of those who went out from the county as commis- sioned officers, or who, enlisting as privates, were subsequently promoted to a commission, is compiled from the state adjutant-general's reports. Many officers not here recorded, who served in other divisions and went from other places, however, have made their home in Hampshire county since the war :
Abbott Hubbard M., of Northampton, age 23, 2d Lieut. 37th Regt., Oct. 31. '63 ; ist Lieut., Sept. 23, '64; Capt., May 24, '65 ; mustered out as Ist. Lieut., June 21, '65.
IO7
HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.
Allen William B., of Northampton, age 35, ist Lieut. roth Regt., May 19, 64; transferred to 37th Regt., June 20, '64 ; mustered out Oct. 18, '64. Bartlett Joseph F., of Pelham, age 21, 2d Lieut. 37th Regt., May 24, '65 ;
transferred to 2d Regt .; ist Lieut. June 1, '65 ; mustered out July 15, '65. Billings Henry P., of Hatfield, age 27, 2d Lieut. Co. K, 52d Regt., Oct. 11, '62 ; mustered out Aug. 14, '63.
Bishop Willard I., of Northampton, age 25, 2d Lieut. roth Regt., Aug., '62 ; Ist Lieut., Sept. 29, '62 ; Capt., Sept. 23. '63 ; mustered out July 1, '64. Bissell Edwin E., of Westhampton, age 30, Capt. Co. K, 52d Regt., Oct. 1I, '62 ; mustered out Aug. 14, '63.
Bliss George L., of Northampton, age 23, Capt. Co. G, 52d Regt., Nov. 19, '62 ; died of wounds at Port Hudson, La., June 16, '63.
Bliss William, of Northampton, Ist Lieut. 37th Regt., Aug. 27, '62 ; Capt., Dec. 5, '63 ; resigned as Ist Lieut., Dec. 23, '63.
Bond Nelson F., of Ware, age 22, Ist Lieut. 31st Regt., Feb. 20, '62 ; Capt., April 15,'64 ; mustered out Sept. 9, '65.
Bond Sylvester B., of Ware, age 22, 2d Lieut. 31st Regt., Jan. 10,'63; Ist Lieut., Dec. 4, '63 ; Capt., June 7, '65 ; mustered out as Ist Lieut., Sept. 9, '65.
Bradford Ansel K., of Plainfield, age 37, 2d Lieut. Co. E, 52d Regt., Oct. II, '62 ; Ist Lieut., Oct. 23, '62 ; mustered out Aug. 14, '63.
Brewster Charles H., of Northampton, age 27, 2d Lieut. 10th Regt., Dec. 5,'61 ; Ist Lieut., Sept. 29, '62 ; mustered out July 1, '64.
Bridgman Edward, of Northampton, age 45, 2d Lieut. 37th Regt., Aug. 27, '62 ; Ist Lieut., Jan. 29, '63 ; Capt., May 16, '65 ; mustered out as Ist Lieut., June 21, '65.
Bridgeman Elliott, of Belchertown, age 31, Capt. 3Ist Regt., Feb. 20, '62 ; Col., Oct. 9, '63.
Bridgeman Malcolm, of Granby, age 28, 2d Lieut. Co. H, 52d Regt., Oct. II, '62 ; mustered out Aug. 14, '63.
Brown Henry A., of Northampton, age 24, 2d Lieut. roth Regt., Sept. 29, '62 ; Ist Lieut., Jan. 25, '63 ; mustered out July 1, '64.
Brown Martin V. B., of Belchertown, age 23, Ist Lieut. 27th Regt., May 15, '65 ; mustered out July 26, '65.
Chapin Samuel, of South Hadley, age 21, Ist Lieut. 14th Battery, Lt. Art., Feb. 25, '64 ; mustered out June 15, '65.
Chauncey Chauncey R., of Northampton, Ist Lieut. 34th Regt., Aug. 6, '62 ; Capt., March 18, '64 ; mustered out June 16, '65.
Clapp Egbert I .. of Easthampton, age 25, 2d Lieut. 31st Regt., June 7, '64; mustered out Sept. 9, '65.
Clapp Lewis, of Easthampton, age 40, Ist Lieut. Co. K, 52d Regt., Oct. II, '62 ; mustered out Aug. 14, '63.
Clark Edwin C., of Northampton, age 34, 2d Lieut. 27th Regt., Oct. 16, '61 ; Ist Lieut. Co. C, 52d Regt., Oct. 2, '62 ; Qr. M. Sergt., Nov. 21, '62 ; Qr. M., Oct. 2, '63 ; mustered out Aug. 14, '63.
Clark James W., of Northampton, age 28, 2d Lieut. Co. I, 52d Regt., Oct. II, '62 ; mustered out Aug. 14, '63.
Clark Luther A., of Northampton, age 23, 2d Lieut. Co. C, 52d Regt., Dec. I, '62 ; mustered out Aug. 14, '63.
:08
HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.
Clark William S., of Amherst, age 35, Maj. 2Ist Regt., Aug. 19, '61 ; Lieut .- Col., Feb. 28, '62 ; Col., May 16, '62 ; resigned April 22, '63.
Cole George, of Hadley, age 27, Sergt .- Maj. Co. E, 2d Regt. Heavy Art., June 23, '64 ; 2d Lieut., March 29, '65.
Conwell Russell H., of Worthington, age 21, Capt. Co. F, 46th Regt., Oct. 15, '62; mustered out of service July 29, '63.
Cook George E., of Amherst, age 23, 2d Lieut., Dec. 25, '63; died of wounds at Spottsylvania, May 12, '64.
Dennison Ami R., of Amherst, age 26, Ist Lieut. 27th Regt., Oct. 16, '61 ; Capt., Nov. 16, '62 ; resigned Feb. 16, '64.
Dunham Andrew J., of Northampton, age 24, 2d Lieut. 27th Regt., May 15, '65 ; mustered out June 26, '65.
Dyer Fordyce A., of Plainfield, age 21, 2d Lieut. Co. F, 46th Regt., Jan. 28, '63 ; ist Lieut. 2d Regt. Heavy Art., June 8, '63 ; died Oct. 26, '64.
Edwards Charles L., of Southampton, age 33, Ist Lieut. 37th Regt., Aug. 27, '62 ; Capt., April 5, '64; Maj., June 26, '64; mustered out as Capt. June 21, '65.
Edwards Elisha A, of Southampton, age 36, Capt. 31st Regt., Feb. 20, '62 ; resigned Sept. 5, '62.
Edwards Samuel F., of Southampton, age 21, 2d Lieut. Co. D, 52d Regt., Oct. 11, '62; Ist Lieut., Nov. 13, '62 ; mustered out Aug. 14, '63.
Goodell Charles S., of Amherst, age 33, 2d Lieut. 36th Regt., Nov. 1, '64; mustered out June 8, '65.
Harris Erastus W., of Northampton, age 29, 2d Lieut. 37th Regt., Oct. 15, '62 ; ist Lieut., June 3, '63 ; mustered out June 21, '65.
Hillman John R .. of Northampton, age 32, 2d Lieut. Co. C, 52d Regt., Oct. 2, '62 ; rst Lieut., Dec. 1, '62, ; mustered out Aug. 14, '63.
Hinckley Henry R., of Northampton, age 24, 2d Lieut. 5th Regt. Cav., March 8, '64; resigned May 23, '65.
Holden Daniel, of Ware, age 42, Capt. 34th Regt., Aug. 6, '62 ; resigned Nov. 8, '62.
Hooker Edward D., of Westhampton, age 23, 2d Lieut. 37th Regt., May 24, '65 ; mustered out June 21, '65.
Hopkins William S. B., of Ware, age 25, Capt. 31st Regt., Feb. 20, '62 ; Lieut .- Col., Dec. 24, '62 ; resigned April 14, '64.
Howard Oscar H., of Ware, age 22, 2d Lieut. 2d Regt., May 21, '61 ; ist Lieut., Sept. 17, '61; Capt., Aug. 10, '62 ; Capt. in U. S. Sig. Corps.
Howland John W., of Amherst, age 26, 2d Lieut. Ist Regt. Cav., Jan. 16,'64; ist Lieut., Nov. 13, '64 ; mustered out June 26, '65.
Jones George N., of Hadley, age 27, 2d Lieut. 37th Regt., Jan. 17, '63; Ist Lieut., Dec. 24, '63 ; Capt., Feb, Ist, '65; transferred to 20th Regt.
Judd John H., of Easthampton, age 22, 2d Lieut. 27th Regt., Jan. 2, '63 ; Ist Lieut., May 17, '64; mustered out as 2d Lieut., March 21, '65.
Kellogg Justin P., of Amherst, age 24, 2d Lieut. Co. G, 52d Regt., Oct. 1 I, '62 ; Ist Lieut., Nov. 10, '62 ; mustered out Aug. 14, '63.
Kirkland Charles H., of Huntington, age 34, 2d Lieut. Co. F, 46th Regt., June 9, '63 ; mustered out July 29, '63.
Lawton Joseph W., of Ware, age 23, 2d Lieut. 27th Regt., Feb. 13, '62 ; killed March 14, '62.
109
HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.
Lewis William E., of Ware, age 23, 2d Lieut. 37th Regt., June 26, '65 ; mus- tered out June 21, '65.
Lincoln Rufus P., of Amherst, age 23, 2d Lieut. 37th Regt., Aug. 27, '62 ; Capt., Oct. 15, '62 ; Major, July 27, '64; Lieut .- Col., March 4,'65 ; Col., May 19, '65 ; transferred to 20th Regt. as Lieut .- Col., March 4, '65 ; mustered out July 15, '65.
Lilley Erastus V., of Huntington, age 32, 2d Lieut. 44th Regt., Sept. 1, '64 ; Ist Lieut. Nov. 25, '64 ; mustered out May 15, '65.
Loomis Joshua A., of Northampton, age 24, Ist Lieut. 37th Regt., Aug. 27, 62 ; Capt., June 4, '63 ; discharged for disability, Nov. 19, '64.
Lyman Justus, of Easthampton, age 29, 2d Lieut. 27th Regt., Feb. 17, '64; Ist Lieut , June 5, '64 ; Capt., May 15, '65 ; mustered out as 2d Lieut., June 26, '65.
Lyman Luke, of Northampton, age 37, Lieut .- Col. 27th Regt., Sept. 17, '61 ; resigned May 27, '63.
Lyman Timothy P., of Goshen, age 27, 2d Lieut. Ist Regt. Cav., Sept. 3, '64 ; ist Lieut., May 26, '65 ; mustered out June 26, '65.
Marsh William R., of Northampton, age 33, Maj. 10th Regt., June 21, '61 ; resigned June 14, '62.
Montague George L., of Amherst, age 28, Capt. 37th Regt., Aug. 13, '62 ; Maj., Aug. 27, '62 ; Lieut .- Col., Jan. 17, '63 ; mustered out for disabil- ity, March 3, '65.
Moody Marcus T., of Northampton, Capt. 37th Regt., Aug. 27, '62 ; Maj., Dec. 5, '63 ; mustered out for disability, July 26, '64.
Morrill William C., of Northampton, age 22, 2d Lieut. 37th Regt., Dec. 5, 63 ; rst Lieut., Oct. 7, '64 ; mustered out June 21, '65.
Morse Horace F., of Southampton, age 29, Ist Lieut. 31st Regt., Feb. 20, '62 ; Capt., Aug. 17, '63 ; mustered out Nov. 18, '64.
Mott Abner R., of Ware, age 22, 2d Lieut. 21st Regt., Sept. 7, '64; trans- ferred to 36th Regt. ; Ist Lieut. Oct. 12, '64 ; mustered out June 8, '65. Munyan Alanson E., of Northampton, age 24, Ist Lieut. roth Regt., Dec. 26, 62 ; died of wounds May 21, '64.
Nichols Samuel E., of Northampton, age 20, 2d Lieut. 37th Regt., Aug. 30, '64 ; Ist Lieut., May 15, '65 ; mustered out of service as 2d Lieut., June 21, '65.
Page Seldon, of Hadley, age 34, 2d Lieut. 4th Regt. Heavy Art., Feb. 18, '65 ; mustered out June 17, '65.
Parsons Joseph B., of Northampton, age 33. Capt. 10th Regt., June 21, '61 ; Lieut .- Col., July 20, '62 ; mustered out July 1, '64.
Perkins William, of Hadley, age 41, Capt. Co. H, 52d Regt., Oct. 11, '62 ; mustered out Aug. 20, '63.
Polley George F., of Williamsburg, age 21, Ist Lieut. 10th Regt., May 6, 64 ; killed at Petersburg, Va., June 20, '64.
Rust Charles S., of Easthampton, age 25, 2d Lieut. 31st Regt., April 1, '63 ; Ist Lieut., Feb. 3, '64; resigned as 2d Lieut., April 20, '64.
Rust Fordyce A., of Easthampton, age 31, ist Lieut. 3 Ist Regt., Feb. 20, '62 ; mustered out Nov. 18, '64.
IIO
HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.
Sagendorph Milton, of Ware, age 22, 2d Lieut. 31st Regt., Dec. 1, '62; Ist Lieut., Aug. 17, '63 ; Capt., Aug. 26, '64 ; mustered out as Ist Lieut., Sept. 9, '65.
Sampson Orange S., of Huntington, age 29, 2d Lieut. 2Ist Regt., Sept. 2, 62 ; Ist Lieut., Oct. 30, '62 ; Capt., April 26, '63 ; killed at Poplar Grove Church, Va., Sept. 30, '64.
Shaw William, of Belchertown, age 42, Ist Lieut. Co. H, 46th Regt., Oct. 15, '62 ; mustered out July 29, '63.
Shaw William H., of Cummington, age 29, 2d Lieut. 37th Regt., March 4, 65 ; mustered out June 21, '65.
Sheldon Flavel R., of Southampton, age 32, 2d Lieut. 37th Regt., June 27, '64; Ist Lieut., March 4, '65 ; mustered out June 17, '65.
Shumway Solomon C., of Belchertown, age 53, 2d Lieut. 2Ist Regt., Aug. 21, '61 ; resigned May 19, '63.
Shurtleff Flavel, of Northampton, age 32, 2d Lieut. 10th Regt., June 21, '61 ; Ist Lieut., Dec. 5, '61 ; Capt., July 31, '62 ; mustered out July 1, '64.
Skinner J. Leander, of Amherst, age 23, 2d Lieut. 27th Regt., July 1, '62 ; Ist Lieut., May 29, '63 ; Capt., Sept. 29, '64 ; mustered out as Ist Lieut., Dec. 31, '64.
Sloan Timothy W., of Amherst, age 34, Capt. 27th Regt., Oct. 16, '61 ; re- signed Nov. 15, '62.
Smith Charles P., of Northampton, age 25, Capt. 27th Regt., June 4, '63 ; died of wounds May 21, '64.
Smith James W., of Hadley, age 25, Ist Lieut. 34th Regt., Aug. 6, '62 ; re- signed July 26, '63.
Smith H. Walworth, of Northampton, age 37, 2d Lieut. 4th Regt. Cav., Jan. 19, '64 ; Ist Lieut., Oct. 13, '64 ; Capt., April 7, '64; mustered out Nov. 14, '65.
Spaulding Mark H., of Northampton, age 34, Ist Lieut. 27th Regt., Oct. 16, '61 ; Capt. Co. C, 52d Regt., Oct. 2, '63 ; mustered out Aug. 14, '63.
Spear Asa A., of Amherst, age 21, 2d Lieut. Co. C, 52d Regt., Nov. 10, '62 ; mustered out Aug. 14, '63.
Stearns Frazar A., of Amherst, age 21, Ist Lieut. 2 Ist Regt., Aug. 21, '61 ; killed at Newbern, N. C., March 14, '62.
Stockwell John W., of Northampton, age 24, 2d Lieut. 37th Regt., April 5, 64; Ist Lieut., Oct. 13, '64 ; mustered out June 21, '65.
Storrs Samuel J., of Amherst, age 25, Capt. Co. G, 52d Regt., Oct .. 11, '62 ; Lieut. Col., Oct. 13, '62 ; mustered out Aug. 14, '63.
Taylor Lucius E., of Chesterfield, age 32, Ist Lieut. Co. I, 52d Regt., Oct. II, '62 ; mustered out Aug. 14, '63.
Tileston Charles E., of Williamsburg, age 31, Capt. Co. I, 52d Regt., Oct. II, '62 ; mustered out Aug. 14, '63.
Tower Elisha C., of Worthington, age 27, Ist Lieut. Co. K, 46th Regt., Oct. 22, '62 ; mustered out July 29, '63.
Tyler Mason W., of Amherst, 2d Lieut. 36th Regt., July 30, '62 ; Ist Lieut. 37th Regt., Aug. 13, '62 ; Capt., Jan. 17, '63 ; Maj., March 4, '65 ; Lieut .- Col., May 19, '65 ; Col., June 26, '65 ; transferred to 20th Regt. as Maj.
III
HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.
Ward William W., of Worthington, age 23, Com .- Sergt. 52d Regt., Oct. 14, '62 ; mustered out Aug. 14, '63.
Warner Almon M., of Plainfield, age 19, 2d Lieut. 37th Regt., June 7, '65 ; mustered out June 21, '65.
Wells William L., of Northampton, age 29, 2d Lieut. 2d Regt. Cav., Dec. 18, '62 ; died July 26, '63.
Wetherell James H., of Northampton, age 33, Ist Lieut. 10th Regt., June 21, '61 ; Capt., Sept. 8, '62 ; died of wounds June 20, '64.
Whitney Edward A., of Northampton, age 19, Qr. M. Sergt. 52d Regt., Oct. 2, '62 ; mustered out Aug. 14, '63.
Whitney Henry M., of Northampton, age 19, Sergt .- Maj. 52d Regt., Oct. 2, '62 ; mustered out Aug. 14, '63.
Whitney Edwin, of Williamsburg, age 25, Ist Lieut. Ioth Regt., Nov. 26, '62 ; mustered out July 1, '64.
Williams S. Alonzo, of South Hadley, age 29, Ist Lieut. Co. H, 52d Regt., Oct. 11, '62 ; mustered out Aug. 14, '63.
Wright Frederick C., of Northampton, age 22, 2d Lieut. 27th Regt., Oct. 16, '61 ; Ist Lieut., Oct. 30, '62 ; died of wounds June 27, '64.
II2
TOWN OF AMHERST.
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
T HE TERRITORY now known as the town of Amherst was originally the eastern portion of the town of Hadley. Religious dissensions in Connecticut caused the settlement of Hadley, and in 1659 and 1660 the " ox-bow," which the Connecticut river makes just above the present city of Northampton, was occupied by families from Hartford, Weathersfield and Windsor, Conn., who were dissatisfied with the tendencies and decisions of their ecclesiastical authorities in Connecticut. Their situation was easily defended during the troubles with the Indians, and the town of Hadley probably suffered less in the Indian wars than any other town upon the river. As soon as there was sufficient growth of population to make the narrow limits of the first settlement insufficient for their accommodation, the more resolute began to look towards the east and the south for new homes and wider fields, and in a town meeting held March 4, 1700, it was voted to divide the common land east of the " new swamp," as the lowlands between the present towns of Amherst and Hadley were called. The town measurers, Capt. Aaron Cooke, Cornet Nehemiah Dickinson and Samuel Porter, were instructed to lay out these lands into three divisions, separated from each other by a highway forty rods in width, and to assign to each householder of Hadley one fifty-pound allotment, and to each unmarried man, and to parents for each son between the ages of sixteen and twenty-one, one twenty-five pound allotment. This vote was carried out by the town measurers and gave to the new settlement the general outline which, in the essential features, it still retains. The two broad highways separating the three divisions became the West street and the East street, respectively, between which and on either side of which the town home lots were located; while from near the old church, in the broad front street of Hadley, another highway running east "goeth over New Swamp and runs down to Foot's Folly." This highway doubtless corresponded very closely with the present highway in its northern division, for it passed through the present center of Amherst, a little north of
NOTE -For this sketch of Amherst we are largely indebted to Rev. George H. John- son, of North Amherst.
II3
TOWN OF AMHERST.
the present location of the Amherst House, and ended near the place where the second parish church now stands, in the East street. Upon these three highways still fluctuates the main part of Amherst's business and pleasure, and mainly around them are still the homes of the town, in spite of the large number of highways which have since been opened. Each of these highways was originally laid out forty rods in width, enabling the traveler to go around mud-holes and steep ascents without trespassing on private land. One other highway of great importance in the days of stage traveling, but of much less account in these days of railroads, was situated at the extremne southern limits of the town, and was known as the " Bay Road," because it led eastward through Brookfield and on to Boston and the towns on Massachusetts bay.
In April, 1703, the town measurers recorded their assignments of land in these three divisions as made by drawing lots, and the student of history may still find upon the Hadley records, and in older histories, the names of those who received lots of land, and also the location and measurement of the lots.
The first division, located nearest to the Hadley settlement, was two hund- red and forty rods in width, east and west, and extended from the Bay Road on the south to the Mill river in North Amherst, being 1,96 1 rods in length. This was divided into sixty lots with spaces for two additional highways par- allel to the one from Hadley to " Foot's Folly." The land comprised in this division amounted to 2,760 acres.
East of this division and separated from it by the West street, lay the sec- ond division, including the land now forming the very heart of Amherst. Like the first, this division was 240 rods in width, with allowance for the extension of highways corresponding to those in the first division. Beginning at the Bay Road, in the south, this division ran north only 1,674 rods and was thus nearly three hundred rods shorter than the first; a town lot of sixty acres was reserved in this. and its thirty-seven lots comprised 2,343 acres. The num- ber of inhabitants entitled to land in this division of the commons appears to have been ninety-seven, and the measurers ceased to lay out lots in the second division when each of those entitled had received his portion ; this accounts for the second division being so much smaller than the first.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.