USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Gazetteer of Hampshire County, Mass., 1654-1887 > Part 45
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
Those who succeeded Mr. Williams were : Mark Tucker, 1824-27 ; Ich- abod S. Spencer, 1828-32 ; Joseph Penny, 1833-35 ; Charles Wiley, 1837- 45 ; E. Y. Swift, 1845-51 ; John P. Cleveland, 1853-55 ; Zachary Eddy, 1858-67, and William S. Leavitt succeeded Mr. Eddy in 1867, and was fol- lowed by the present pastor, Rev. Herbert W. Lathe.
It was a common remark in the first half of the present century, that to be a member of the " Old Church " and own meadow-land assured the social po- sition of any citizen of Northampton. Probably no inland town or city in New England can show such an imposing array of learned, able and eloquent ministers as the First Congregational society of this city. Every one of them was superior to the average preachers of his time.
The fourth meeting-house was a spacious edifice, erected in 1812. It was one hundred feet in length and seventy-five in width ; and the spire reached an elevation of one hundred and forty feet. One thousand persons could be
389
CITY OF NORTHAMPTON.
comfortably seated in its pews. It was destroyed by fire, June 27, 1876. The present church, erected on the site of the former one in 1878, is a large and imposing structure of stone.
The Second Congregational church, Unitarian .- In the beginning of the present century a liberal element was manifesting itself in the Congregational churches of New England. This gradually assumed the form of Unitarian- ism, and was irreconcilably adverse to the opinions and views of the conserv- ative or Calvinistic party. Unitarianism had made some inroads upon the Old Church. One-third of the taxable property of the society belonged to men of liberal sentiments, and among their number was a large proportion of the leading men of the town. They had remained quiet under the ex- pectation that when a new pastor was settled some respect would be paid to their peculiar opinions in the way of ministerial exchanges. Space will not permit a statement of the details of the controversy that ensued on the set- tlement of Mr. Tucker as the colleague of Mr. Williams. It is sufficient to say that all attempts to harmonize the differences of the two parties utterly failed. The liberals were voted down on every proposition they made to the majority, and no alternative remained but to secede and form a new church society. This was done on the 22d of February, 1825, by the organization of the "Second Congregational church and society of Northampton." The church edifice was completed and dedicated the same year, on which occa- sion a sermon was delivered by Rev. Henry Ware, Jr., of Boston. Many families of wealth, refinement and culture united in the formation of this re- ligious society. The ministers have been Edward B. Hall, Oliver Stearns, subsequently professor of systematic theology in Harvard university ; John S. Dwight, now, or recently conducting Dwight's Journal of Music; Rufus Ellis, later a popular preacher in Boston ; William Sillsbee, William L. Jen- kins, William H. Fisk and Charles B. Ferry. The church building erected in 1825 is still in use. The present pastor is Rev. C. E. St. John.
The Edwards Congregational church .- This society is an offshoot of the Old Church, and was organized in 1833. It received its distinctive appellation in remembrance of Jonathan Edwards. The first pastor was Rev. John Todd, well known as the minister of the First church in Pittsfield. Other pastors were John Mitchell, E. P. Rogers, George E. Day, who was professor of Bib- lical literature in Yale Theological seminary, Gordon Hall and Isaac Clark. Their church building, erected in 1833, did service till 1872, when the present structure was built. The society now has 355 members.
The First Baptist church .- The Baptist church owes its existence mainly to the missionary labors of Elder Rand, who resided in that part of West Springfield now included within the limits of the city of Holyoke. Other clergymen of this denomination occasionally preached here. Subsequently, Benjamin Willard labored under the direction of the Baptist Missionary Soci- ety, performing much neighborhood work, and some conversions occurred. Mr. Willard encountered much opposition and many discouragements. It is
26*
390
CITY OF NORTHAMPTON.
said that when the rite of baptism was administered a great concourse of peo- ple assembled on the bank of the river to witness the immersion of the candi- dates. A Baptist society consisting of eleven persons was organized in 1824, and a church two years afterward. By slow but constant accretion it now numbers nearly three hundred. The pastors have been Benjamin Willard, Abel Brown, Jr., noted for his zeal in the anti-slavery cause, W. M. Dootittle, H. D. Doolittle, D. M. Crane, D. Burrows, E. Jerome, I. D. Clark, G. L. Hunt, C. Y. Swan, E. T. Hiscox, A. W. Jefferson.
First Methodist Episcopal church .- There was preaching in Northampton by clergymen of the Methodist denomination in 1830, but the church was not organized until twelve years afterwards. The pastors have been numerous, as frequent changes is the established usage of the Methodist church, and may not be enumerated. The present pastor is Rev. Wellen N. Richardson.
St. John's Protestant Episcopal church .- It was not until 1826 that any movement was made for the organization of a Protestant Episcopal church here. The idea appears to have originated with Mr. Joseph G. Coggeshall, who, in connection with the famous historian, George Bancroft, was conduct- ing a school for boys on Round Hill. But it was not until 1829 that the building was opened for religious worship. The consecration services were performed by Bishop Griswold, of the diocese of Massachusetts. Numerous changes have occurred in the rectorship of the church, but it seems to be in a prosperous condition, ninety communicants, and Rev. William P. Brush, rector. The first rector was Rev. Joseph Muenscher.
St. Mary's Roman Catholic church .- Strange as it may seem, the imposing ritual of the Roman Catholic church was first chanted in the Old Church, celebrated for its Calvinistic creed and Puritanic usages. The occasion was the religious services preparatory to the execution of James Holligan and Patrick Daly for the murder of a man named Lyon, at Wilbraham, in the old county of Hampshire, in the beginning of the present century. The trial of the alleged perpetrators of the crime was conducted in the meeting- house, the primitive court-house being found inadequate to contain the mul- titude that assembled to witness the proceedings. Jonathan Edwards Porter, a grandson of the great Northampton pastor, defended the criminals, and James Sullivan, afterwards governor of the commonwealth, conducted the prosecution. Both of these gentlemen won much distinction by the ability they displayed during the trial. It is yet an open question, in view of all the known facts of the case, and the very slight evidence adduced on the trial, which was purely of a circumstantial nature, whether these miserable men were actually guilty of the horrible crime with which they were charged. The masterly sum- ming up of Porter and Sullivan probably excelled any intellectual effort within the walls of the old building. The celebrant of the mass was Father Cheverus, of Boston. He afterward returned to France, of which country he was a native, and became a bishop of the Catholic church. But it was at a com- paratively recent period that the regular services of the church were estab-
-
391
TOWN OF PELHAM.
lished. Religious worship was first conducted in the house of a man named Foley at Straw Hollow, now Leeds. In 1834 a lot on King street was se- cured for a church, but the building was not erected until ten years later. It has been enlarged several times. Recently the site of the old Mansion House was purchased, and a beautiful church has been erected. At first Northampton was attached to the Chicopee parish, and so remained until 1866, when it was detached and Rev. P. V. Moyce appointed pastor. The present resident pastor is Rev. M. E. Barry, a native of South Boston. This church has expanded in a marvellous manner and now constitutes a numerous con- gregation.
Florence Congregational church .- This church was organized in 1861, the first pastor being Rev. H. C. Hovey. He was succeeded in 1866 by Rev. E. G. Cobb, the present resident minister. Their church building, a fine wooden structure, was built in 1861.
The Florence Methodist Episcopal church .- This church was organized in 1871, and, in accordance with the custom of the church, has had several pastors whose term of service has been of limited duration. The first pastor was Rev. T. W. Bishop. The society now has 150 members, with Rev. James F. Allen, pastor. Their church building was completed in 1884.
The Free Congregational Society of Florence .- This is an institution some- what peculiar in its character. It has no formulated creed, but seeks the truth and professes to make it the rule of life. "The brotherhood of the hu- man race and the equality of human rights " are recognized, and " no dis- tinction as to the conditions and rights of membership " are made "on ac- count of sex, color, or nationality." The congregation occupy an elegant building erected at a cost of $40,000.00. A free platform is maintained by the society, and at various times it has been occupied by some of the most profound thinkers and orators in the country. The resident speakers have been Charles C. Burleigh, Mrs. Elizabeth Powell Bond, Rowland Connor and David H. Clark.
Church of the Immaculate Conception of Florence .- This society was or- ganized by the Rt. Rev. P. T. O'Reilly, D. D., of Springfield, in 1877, and Rev. C. M. Foley was the first pastor. The church building was erected in 1880. The present pastor is Rev. John J. McMahon.
A Catholic church has been lately organized in the city by the Canadian French portion of the population.
P ELHAM lies in the northeastern part of the county, and is bounded north by the county line, east by Prescott and Enfield, south by Enfield and Belchertown, and west by Amherst. Its average length, from east to west, is five and one-quarter miles, and its average width three and one- half miles, thus giving it an area of about 15,207 acres.
392
TOWN OF PELHAM.
The surface of the town is rough and mountainous, presenting a wild and picturesque contour. Mt. Orient, the principal elevation, lies in the north- western part of the town, affording a grand view from its summit, about 1,000 feet above tide water. Mt. Lincoln, in the southern part of the town, and Pine hill, in the central part, are also prominent elevations. Though the country is so rough, rendering agriculture difficult, the soil is fertile and pro- ductive. Springs and streams are abundant. The principal of the latter is Fort river, which rises near the northern boundary of the town and flows a southwesterly course into Amherst, and thence on into the Connecticut. A branch of Swift river makes up the eastern boundary of the town. Both of these streams have several affluents.
Grant and Settlement .- Pelham originally formed a part of the " Equiva- lent Lands," whose history we have given in connection with the history of Belchertown. It only remains to say then, that this section of the " Equiv- alent Lands" was purchased by Col. John Stoddard and others, of North- ampton, whence it took the name of "Stoddard's Town," and remained in a wild and unsettled state with no effort made towards its settlement down to the year 1739.
On the 26th of September, of that year, Robert Peibles and James Thorn- ton, of Worcester, entered into a contract with Stoddard for the purchase of the land, with the purpose in view of taking thereto a colony of settlers. This project so far met with success that on January 31st the following deed was given to a company of persons, viz :-
"To all to whom these presents shall come, Greeting: Know yee that John Stoddard, of North Hampton, in ye County of Hampshire, in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in New England, for and in Considera- tion of the sum of seven thousand three hundred pounds, in bills of Public Creditt of ye old Tennor in hand already Received of the Persons herein- after named, the Receipt whereof he doth hereby acknowledge, and himself thereby fully satisfied and Contented, hath given, granted, bargained, and sold, and by these presents doth fully, freely, clearly, and absolutely Give, grant, Bargain, Sell, Release, convey, and confirm unto them, their heirs, and assigns forever, one-half (excepting eight hundred acres) of that Tract of Equivalent Land, lying and being in ye County of Hampshire, bounded Westerly on Hadley, Southwardly on another Tract of Equivalent land, commonly called Cold Spring Township, Eastwardly on land called Quobbin, North on land now called Well's Town, which Tract of land was laid out by Mathew Allin, Roger Woolcott, and Ebenezer Pomroy, Esqs ., for Twenty- nine Thousand Eight Hundred and Seventy-four acres, a more particular Description of which land does appear by their Return, entered in ye Secre- tary's office at Boston, wch half part (excepting Eight hundred acres, as aforesaid), by a Division lately made by the owners or proprietors of said Equivalent land, is laid in severalty, and contained in ye first lott, and does contain ye whole of said Lott (excepting Thirty-eight acres Two Roods and thirty-three perch, which belongs to Mr. Elisha Williams Doct., of Yale Col- ledge), which Lott Lyeth on the north part of said Equivalent Land, and is bounded north by ye north Line of said Equivalent Land, and from said Line Extends south one Thousand and Eleven Rods and Eleven feet, to
393
TOWN OF PELHAM.
monuments Raised at Each end, and does extend from Hadiey bounds on the West to the east bounds of said Equivalent land, a more particular de- scription of which lott may be seen in ye Deed of partition, bearing Date ye seventh day of September, 1738, which said half (excepting as aforesaid) The said John Stoddard doeth hereby sell and Confirm, as aforesaid. to the following persons, and in ye following proportion (viz't): To Robert Peibles, five sixfieth parts; To Patrick Peibles, one-sixtieth part; To Andrew Mc- Farland & Mathew Gray, JunT , Three-sixtieth parts; To Robert Lothridge, Two-sixtieth parts ; To Robert Barber and William Johnson, Three-sixtieth parts ; To William Gray, Jun., one-sixtieth part ; To John McConkey, one- sixtieth part ; To James McConkey, one-sixtieth part ; To Alexander Mc- Conkey, one-sixtieth part; To Alexander Turner, one-sixtieth part; To John Stinson, one-sixtieth ; To James Wood, one-sixtieth part; To Adam Johnson, Two-sixtieth parts; To Ephraim Cowon, one-sixtieth part; To George Cowon, one-sixtieth part; To Samuel Gray, two-sixtieth parts; To John Gray, Jr., three-sixtieth parts ; To Thomas Dick, one-sixtieth part ; To John Dick, one-sixtieth part; To John Alexander, one-sixtieth part ; To James Alexander, one-sixtieth part; To James McAllach, one-sixtieth part ; To Samuel Thomas, one-sixtieth part; To James Taylor, two-sixtieth parts (all the above-named persons are of Worcester, In the County of Worcester, except George Cowon, who is of Concord, in the County of Middlesex) ; To John Forguson, of Grafton, one-sixtieth part; To James Gilmore, of Boston, two-sixtieth parts; To Adam Patterson, of Leicester, in ye County of Worcester, one-sixtieth part ; To Thomas Lowdon, of Leices- ter, one-sixtieth part ; To John Chandler, of Worcester, Esq, one-sixtieth part ; To John Johnson, of Shrowsbury, one-sixtieth part; To Adam Clark, of Worcester, one-sixtieth part ; To James Thornton, of Worcester, fourteen- sixtieth parts.
" To have and to hold the aforesaid half part of said Equivalent Land (ex- cept the Eight hundred acres, as before excepted), and in that part Thereof above described, with ye appurtenances and priviledges. thereto belonging to them, the above-named persons, their heirs and assigns, forever, according to their several and Respective proportions as before expressed, To their severall and Respective proper use, benefitt and behoofe for evermore. And the said John Stoddard for himself, his heirs, &c., doth covenant and engage to and with the before-named persons, their Respective heirs and assigns, that be- fore and untill the ensealing hereof he was ye true, sole, and lawfull owner of the premises, and stood seized thereof in his own right, in Fee Simple, and had in himself good right, full power, and lawfull authority to grant, bargain, sell, alien, release, convey, and confirm the same, as aforesaid, and that free and clear and clearly executed, acquitted and discharged of and from all for- mer and other Guifts, grants, Bargains, sales, leases, mortgages, wills, entails, Joyntures, Thirds, Executions, and In cumbrances whatsoever ; and the said John Stoddard doth hereby further covenant and engage the before-granted premises with ye appurtenances to them the before-named persons and their Respective heirs and Assigns forever, to warrant same and defend against the Lawfull Claims and demands of any and every person and persons what- soever.
" In Witness whereof, he hath hereunto set his hand seal this thirty-first day of January, in the twelfth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George of Great Britain, &c., King Annoq. Dom. 1738-39.
" JOHN STODDARD."
394
TOWN OF PELHAM.
On June 28, 1786, the eastern part of the town, with a part of New Salem, was incorporated as the East Parish of Pelham, and on January 28, 1822, this was set off to form the present township of Prescott.
Those named in the above deed and a few others became the first settlers of the town, about 1740. The territory took on the name of " Lishburne," or "New Lishiburne," by which it was known down to the time of its organ- ization, in 1743. The first proprietor's meeting held in the new township was August 6, 1740, at the house of John Ferguson. The growth of the town- ship's population may be seen from the following figures : In 1776, its popu- lation was 729; 1790; 1,040 ; 1800, 1, 144 ; 1810, 1, 185 ; 1820, 1,278; 1830, 904 ; 1840, 956 ; 1850, 983 ; 1855, 789 ; 1860, 748; 1865, 737 ; 1870, 673 ; 1875, 633; 1880, 614.
It is possible that some of those who drew the original lots, never actually settled in Pelham. Among those who are positively known to have taken up their land, and established themselves thereon, may be mentioned Alexander Conkey, Robert Peibles, John Alexander, John Gray, James Taylor, Robert Lothridge, James McCulloch, Thomas Dick, Adam Petteson, Ephraim and George Cowen, James Hood, James Thornton, William Gray, John Fergu- son, Adam and John Johnson, Samuel Thomas, Alexander Turner, and others. Other families of influence came in a little later. John Hunter ap- pears to have been there in 1749, and John Clark and John Stinson some time before. The Crossett family came in about 1750. In 1752 appear John Savage, Patrick Peibles and John Blair. The Hamilton family. afterward one of the most prominent in town, appeared in the person of Thomas Hamil- ton, about the same time. A little later came David Thomas and James Harkness. The Berry family put in an appearance about 1755, along with John Crawford, David Houston and David Cowdan. Then appear in rapid succession the Mecklams (some of whom lived in Prescott), the McMullens, Halberts, Hollands, Thompsons, Livermores and others. The Kingman family, who were identified with the growth and development of the town for several generations, came in at the opening of the present century. Nathaniel Gray settled in Pelham at an early day. Oliver came from Walpole, and set- tled on the " Old Smith place." The Fales family, living in the western part of the town, is also one of the oldest now living in the town, having settled there the first part of the present century. The Newell, Jewett, Ward, Cook and Brewer families are also among the oldest and most influential now living in the town. Benjamin Randall was born in Belchertown, and settled in Pel- ham about 1830.
Isaac Presho, son of Zadok, was born in Raynham, Mass., in 1766, mar- ried Sarah Joslyn, and had born to him three children, William, Zadok and Lyman. Mr. Presho died April 25, 1808. William was born in 1792, mar- ried Melissa Crawford, had born to him two children, Anna and Merrick, and died in 1870. Zadok was born in 1795, married Betsey Robinson in 1817, and came to this town in 1820, locating on the farm now owned by his
395
TOWN OF PELHAM.
son Dwight. He reared nine children, viz. : Sarah A., Jane, Susan, Lurana, Rosina, Lyman, Betsey, Dwight and Julia. Mr. Presho died in 1869, aged seventy-four years. His widow is ninety-two years of age and lives on the homestead with her son Dwight. The latter was born in 1836, married Arvilla Phelps in 1861, and has three children, Fred D., Charles H. and J. Gertrude.
Seth Chapin married Mary Wood, in 1804, and reared six children, as fol- lows : Emma, Cynthia, Sally, Seth, William and Calvin. The last mentioned was born in Dedham, Mass., July 14, 1816, came to Pelham to live with his uncle at the age of seven years, where he remained fourteen years. He mar- ried Amy Wedge, and has three children, Frances A., Mary A. and Frank W. Frances A. was born in 1843, married George W. Shaw, and has three chil- dren, Amy M., Hattie F. and Carl S. They live in Prescott. Mary A. was born in 1844, has married twice, first, Emory S. King, who died in 1876, leaving two children, Jennie A. and Jessie M., and second, Arthur O. Alden, and has two children, Ida A. and Sidney.
Sylvester Jewett was born in Northampton, August 18, 1824, married Maria, daughter of Cecil Jewett, in 1849, and has had born to him six chil- dren, viz. : Arthur C., Frank I., Charles P., Fred S., Maria and Martha A. (twins). Mr. Jewett came to this town in 1854, and is chairman of selectmen, which office he has held fourteen years.
The town of Pelham was legally incorporated by the general court, Janu- ary 15, 1743, and was duly organized April 19, of the same year, at which meeting the following list of officers were elected : John Stoddard, modera- tor; Alexander Conkey, Robert Peibles, John Alexander, John Gray and Robert Lothridge, selectmen ; William Gray, clerk ; John Stinson, treasurer ; James Taylor, John Conkey, John Johnson and Ephraim Cowan, surveyors. There were also some other minor offices filled.
The military history of the town is an honorable one. In the war of the Revolution it is said that nearly all the male residents took part in it. Just after the war, too, the town came into prominence as the dwelling-place of Daniel Shays, whose rebellion we have detailed on page 100. In 1812-15 the town furnished among others the following : Capt. John Taylor, John T. Conkey, Grove Hannum, Luther Thompson, Sydney Hannum, Henry Hannum, Luther Lincoln, James Smith, Amasa Jillson and Leonard Blue. In the late great war the town furnished seventy-eight men, being five over all calls. Of her wealth she gave $7,501.00, exclusive of the $4, 125.96 which was sub- sequently reimbursed by the state.
VILLAGES.
There are really no villages in Pelham, though there are three quite con- siderable hamlets. The one containing the Pelham postoffice is located in the eastern part of the town, at what is known as " Pelham Heights." In the
396
TOWN OF PELHAM.
western part of the town, on the same street, is the "West End," another hamlet. In the extreme southeastern part of the town is the hamlet of Pack- ardsville.
MANUFACTURES.
Eugene P. Bartlett's fishing rod factory, located on what is called Amethyst brook, off road II, was established by Horace Gray & Son, in 1860. They sold to Ward & Latham, in 1874, and they in turn to Bartlett Bros., in 1880 Eugene P. became sole proprietor in 1883, and has since largely increased the business. He employs about twenty hands, uses about 30,000 feet of native wood and $800.00 worth of lance-wood per year, making about 3,000 dozens rods, in 250 different styles.
L. W. Allen's saw-mill, located in the western part of the town, on Ame- thyst brook, gives employment to four men, cutting 250,000 feet of lumber. Mr. Allen also manufactures boxes here.
David Shores's saw-mill, on Purge brook, has a capacity for cutting 5,000 feet of lumber and 10.000 shingles per day.
W. J. Harris's turning and repair shop is located on road 26.
CHURCHES.
The Congregational church, located at the "Center," was coincident with the settlement of the town, though it was originally Presbyterian in form. As early as 1740 it was voted by the proprietors to " build a meeting-house," though it was several years before the building was completed. The first pastor, Rev. Robert Abercrombie, was ordained August 30, 1742. The present church building was erected in 1838.
The Union Congregational church of Packardsville was organized Novem- ber 29, 1868, with nineteen male and fourteen female members, and Rev. W. K. Vaill was the first pastor, who still holds the office. The church building was erected in 1869. It will seat about 200 persons and is valued at about $4,000.00. The society now has about twenty members. Mr. Vaill also acts as pastor of the church at the "Center."
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.