USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > Tyringham > Hinterland settlement Tyringham, Massachusetts and bordering lands > Part 8
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only one cow left, I then paid tax for cow and pole. My wife soon after this died. I was then left alone. My son-in-law, Frederic Cone, and his wife advised me to give up keeping house and live with them. I have done so. A few years after we eat up the cow, since then I was taxed for a pole only and Cone has generally paid that and my name was on the list of voters. I was called on this year by the surveyors to work my tax on the highway. Cone said he paid it"-"I voted this year at town meeting on the 2nd day of Nov. There was a great fuss at the poles, it was so crowded I sat down and waited some time but the crowd not giving away, I went to coazing and crowding and wid sum fuss I got in sight of the selectmen and balet box. The box was instantly put out of sight. The first selectman set looking on a paper supposed to be the list of voters. He didn't look at me. I saw him make a cross on the paper. As he did not look at me I put the balot against his hand. He said he did not take the vote they was put into the box. I said where is the box. He said, the fact is they don't consider you a voter. I says why not, he said I had not paid my taxes. I said, Cone says he has paid them. He says that cannot be for the last two years I had not bin taxt and last spring when they was making up the taxes they thought it best not to tax me. He told them that would not do for I should be at town meeting in the fall and if paid the taxes then I should be a voter and if not they would abate my taxes. The town clerk then rise up and looked at me and says, I have got a pole tax against you for the sum of one dollar and fifty cents and I demand payment. The selectman says, there now if you pay that sum you can vote, if not we will abate your taxes. I seys, this is neither more nor les than that I must give you one dollar and fifty cents for the prevelidg of voting and for no other purpose, on that ground I wont pay one cent. At that time Cone came in and says what is the difficulty, se- lectmen says he has not paid his taxes. Cone said he had paid them Selectmen says that cant be for the two last years he was not taxt. Cone says I have worked his rode tax this year. Selectman says a highway tax dont make a voter. Cone says then it is the money you want. Yes, says the selectman. Cone says I will pay it now I have got the money in my pocket. I will be sponcer for it. Selectmen asked town clerk if he receives that as payment. Town clerk says yes. Selectman ordered the box to be produced the 3rd selectman held the box in his left hand and with permission I put my vote into it". Sounds some like the Old Bay State today, doesn't it?
During the last years of Capt. Tom's life, troubles heaped up on his head and heart, like the demons from Pandora's jar. His aged mother was bedridden for several years and had to be cared for by Tom and Lydia. About 1917, Cynthia Judd Heath, his granddaughter, told of her visits to his home, when she was a child. Her great grand mother, Hannah, living at the time, "was a cantankerous old lady. From her bed she ruled the household with an iron hand and had everyone jumping at her beck and call. She refused to drink from any
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but a small handleless cup, used in colonial days by her mother. Special foods had to be prepared for her, her tea had to be brewed in a certain pot, her fire tended promptly at unreasonable hours; she drove Lydia to distraction and an early grave. Hannah lived to be ninety-two. Grandfather made pets of the wild birds around his place and trained his horses to do tricks. Men came from neighboring towns to see and buy his horses".
Hannah received a pension from the government, through her husband's service in the Revolution. Capt. Tom used it for her care, medicines and burial. After her death, another son, Oliver (living in Lenox) and a daughter, Hannah, demanded their share of the pension money. There was none left and Thomas produced an itemized ac- count of her expenses to prove it. Even so, he was committed to jail in Lenox in 1839, to await trial. While there he kept a daily account of activities from April 14, to June 25. Here it is: "Apr. 14, went to Lenox, got there quarter past eleven o'clock, went into prison a little before night. Cited Oliver to appear on Mon. 20th to show cause why I should not take poor debtors oath. Snow on ground yesterday and today. Moaning wind blowing very hard from northwest cold. Thurs. 16, pleasen in the morning. Crane did not notify Oliver last night. Gone this morning. Bought a candle Tues. night, last evening bought some molasses, shaved today. Crazy man not so ravin. Fri. 17, eat no supper last evening. Very little breakfast this morning, quite unwell. Pleasant weather. Oliver cited yesterday. Sent word back he will attend to me after. About eight o'clock the crazy men begin to improve their talents, kept it up to a late hour in the evening then still to about one or two o'clock then begun and are at it now after noon. Yesterday I was much unwell got a little milk porridge for dinner, some more at night. Eat some-then drink some hot coffee, eat no meat. Dr. Sabin did not call yesterday as I expected, nor this morning. He is now at home. I hear women sing now and yesterday I heard them sing and felt the floor quiver as they danced. Weather fine so far this morning. I cannot say as I am better or worse, I have no appetite to eat. Afternoon some better, cloudy rain some. Dr. Sabin and Bishop has been here this afternoon near or quite eight in the evening. Dark, thunder, rain hard and lightening. Crane is going to bring me porrige for supper. Sunday 19th, crazy man quite peaceable, rained hard in later part of night, this morning clear, wind northwest, done break- fast. Had talk with Crane, haint got through, expect him up again. The bell has rung for meeting. Crazy man low voice most part of the time silent. Noon a smart shower, Crazy man ball a little. Sent a letter to F. Cone. Dark wind blows hard northwest. Crazy man rav- ing, swear, damning, pounding, stamping, traveling, the other crazy man helping what he can, midnight ravin mad. Mon. morning- Milton Judd (son-in-law) come here. Crane sent after a Justice to set in court with Tucker court, failed could not find another Justice. Mon. 21, After noon Milton Judd went home by way of Stockbridge
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to see Byington. Citation taken out again at night Crane came and informed me that Citation could not be served under thirty days from the Service of the first Service. There we stopped, I being very much unwell all day. Crane brought me some porrig for supper. Eat it and went to bed. Crazy man quite moderate. Tues. morning 21, not so much unwell as I was yesterday, had hot coffe and some bread and cheese that Milton brought me here yesterday. Crazy man very raving last night and this morning. Middle of forenoon Frederic Cone and Jemima came here, brought me a bed and some provisions. Fred went to Pittsfield. Jemima made tea and we all took dinner together in the prison. Made up my bed. Mr. Crane made a friendly visit with us after dinner. After that Fred and Jemima went for home, left me the watch. The young men have been in here and the crazy man on a visit. Night comes on, I have eat my supper and must go to bed. I forgot to state the conversation I had with one of the women in prison under my floor. I set up the window and with that open one of the women sung a tune, after that she stopt. I hum the Soldiers' Return. When I stopt she sang out that is well done, Grandpa. I said, well then, you do better. She said, I cannot for that is first rate. I said, I heard you sing and felt the floor move as you danced. O yes, and this woman that is here with me stopt me saying that I would disturb the old gentleman over head. I told her that it did not disturb for them to amuse themselves any way that they could and thought of getting a fiddle and see if I could hear them dance after it. She said, O Lord, I wish you would, can you fiddle? I answered no, but I could make a noise on it. She said O well it will do some good to hear it squeek and I will jig to dance loud enough for you to hear me. Since then they have kept it up. Wed. the 22, some one got my breakfast. Drinked one dish of tea, poured out another but could not drink it. Eat a little but gave up, traveled the room, grow sick, went to bed, had two spells a puking, very sick, raised nothing but water. Went to bed, lay to betwixt a 11 and 12, some better, begin to write. Crazy man stidy hum, only once in a while rip out a little. At this time the one in his sell is making it go at a great rate. His cage rattles well. 10 minutes of one o'clock, I have bin in bed most of the day. Got some porrige for supper. The trees is a leafing fast .- Thurs. 23, Crazy men was still at it at 9 or 10 and re- mained till about sunrise, since then kept up a continal hum, the sound rising and falling. I am tolerable well. Got breakfast half after seven had hot coffey pleasen weather not much sunshine. Doctor Sabin has been here two hours left me a fine apple and gone home. It lacks a few minutes of twelve. I have just spoke to the crazy man. All the answer is to go to hell, that keeps repeating over very often. I had some talk with the woman below. Frederic and Sarah has come here, brought provisions and other things, had bin and got advise of Byington, also Bishop got up another citation. Crane has cited Oliver to appear on Saturday at ten in the morning, came up here and in- formed me what he had done. A little after nine I went to bed. Crazy
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man peacable all night and as yet this morning. Has been in here sev- eral times, talks about taking a school. 9 o'clock and woman singing and at work on ground floor. Fri. 24, about noon Nathan came here, came in was locked in with me till about night when I rang my bell when Crane came and let him out. Sat. 25, Milton came about noon. I was let out, went before the court. Lester Filley and Thomas Twing- ing, Justices, attended all day. At night adjourned till the next Fri- day, first day of May. Court set till Saturday night, 2nd. day of May when it was adjourned till the 22nd day of May and Discharged after keeping me bound over from the 25th of April to the 29th day of June at night, then appealed it up to the higher Court of Common Plees". (Imprisonment for debt was abolished in 1855).
In spite of these hardships at 73 years, there was still a few sparks left in the old man. For a back-country man in those days, Capt. Thomas Stedman was well informed and kept his interest in events of the times, especially in politics. He was a prolific corre- spondent with his relatives back in Rhode Island. Through excerpts from a letter he wrote the year before he died, one gathers the gist of his convictions: "How disappointed I am to find you so ignorant about Massachusetts. I understood it better before I came into it. I am sure when you was led by the No Nothings and other rebellious societies that I was not led by hired priests and lawyers for I had the same information. Can any suppose that these priests or lawyers, that was going from place to place preaching for either of the candidates for president, it makes no odds which printers that told the people when and where they was coming, did all this without any compensation or expecting any. Washington was right, he said all political combina- tions, of whatever name or nature tend to eliminate the general gov- ernment and would sooner or later overflow it. All these parties are formed, planned and set in operation by those who want office and have failed in getting it. They will promise as many benefits to be put in power as the Devil did to Christ and on the same principle. Where was the first start of the Abolition Society, Massachusetts. Where was the Free-Soil Party started, New York. Where was the 'merican party started, New York and Filidelfi. Where was the No-Nothing party started, Baltimore. Where is this last party started, the most rebellious of any before it, Popular Sovereignty against Congressional Sover- eignty, and Duglass against the World-this I find in the Cleveland weekly Plaindealer, Ohio. Where did the Cansus (Kansas) difficulty start, Boston. Nary one of these parties can beat the Dimecrat. These parties scrape up all the dirty, dusty matter and git it into the pan, then call it Republickcan, this smudge may git into the government, thin what will they do, 'Whoran' and that is about all they have ever done when they have had the government in their hands, first John Q. Adams, the second Herryson, 3rd Taler (Taylor). I must stop for a ream of paper would not be anough to record all that I wish to. One thing more I as being cant git red of it, bears so hard on my mind, that
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DRUM &
Tyringham Drum Corps, 1900
Left to right - Lewis Stedman, Ira Brewer, George Warren, Myron Ward, Fred Heath, Newton Heath, Frank Dorman and Will Stedman.
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Blacksmith Shop and Warren's Wagon Shop above the bridge (south of store)
a man bairing the sacred name of William Steadman his great gran- father bore who saw a gang of murderous and rebbels heging money to carry on a war against the government of the United States to join them and pledg himself to vote with them and did so there can be no dough (doubt)".
Parts of this letter echo down through the generations and ring loud and clear in this election year of 1962. Capt. Thomas Steadman (Stedman) died in Feb. 1859. Men such as these were the builders of this great nation. Teddy Roosevelt said, "The old days were great because the men who lived in them had mighty qualities".
The tragedies and comedies of life are played out in small places as well as in large ones and the men and women of old Tyringham were no exception. Many another saga of the old houses and their in- habitants could be recounted but from what has been written the reader can surely sense the life of the pioneers of this Hinterland.
CHAPTER XI-CULTURE, FUN AND OTHERWISE
The cultural heritage of the inhabitants is clearly disclosed by an article in the town warrant, dated Oct. 1785, which asks whether the town will set up a singing school at their own expense; in the old scrap book from a program headed, "Concert of Sacred Music, No. Tyringham, Feb. 22, 1838"; and still again as those, now gone, told of the big sings each year at the close of Prof. Emerson's Singing School. The roving artist, as he rode from town to town, in the early nineteenth century, stopped to paint grandfather's portrait or stencil the walls in his house.
As far back as 1829 the town had two small select, circulating libraries-one formed in 1791 with 67 volumes, the other, in 1802 had 104. In 1891 the present library system had its origin.
Josiah Holbrook from Connecticut, originated the Lyceums which were debates or discussions. The gatherings were local at first but gradually spread to bring in outside speakers. Not to be outdone, Tyringham too, had its Lyceums with Dwight Thatcher as leader.
The citizens never missed an opportunity or excuse for holding a concert, social, donation or anniversary celebration. In 1887 on a severe cold evening a big crowd gathered in the attic of the Old Turkey Mill to hold a donation for the Rev. Woolsey. There were six stoves a going and plenty of hot coffee and tea, baked beans and pork and sweetmeats. One hundred dollars in money besides food was raised for the worthy man. The attic was large enough to accommodate eight sets for square dancing to the tune of old Billy Van Allen's fiddle with a fife and organ added. At times supper was served at Riverside before the dance started.
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At wedding or anniversary parties there was always a big feed, speech making, music, and a special poem, composed by a native bard, read. One written and read at a 40th wedding anniversary in 1871 follows:
FORTY YEARS AGO
How wondrous are the changes Fred, Since forty years ago; When girls wore woolen dresses And boys wore pants of tow. When shoes were made of calf-skin And socks of homespun wool, And children did a half day's work Before the hour of school.
The girls took music lessons, Fred, Upon the spinning wheel And practiced late and early On the spindle-swift and reel. The boys rode horseback to the mill A dozen miles or so, And hurried off before 'twas day, Some forty years ago.
The people rode to meeting, Fred, In sleds instead of sleighs
And wagons rode as easy then As buggies now a days; And oxen answered well for teams, Though now they'd be too slow, For people lived not half so fast At forty years ago.
O, well do I remember, Fred, That Wilson's patent stove That father bought and paid for In cloth our gals had wove; And how the neighbors wondered When we got the thing to go, They said 'twould bust and kill us all Some forty years ago.
Read at Frederic Cone's 40th wedding anniversary by M.V.B.S.
It was only a jingle but it provided entertainment and helped to vent their inborn creative instincts.
However not all wedding parties were gay celebrations-there were exceptions. One man married in the forenoon and took his wife and household goods home with him on an ox sled. In the afternoon he gathered sap, expecting his bride to help. Years after, another, per- haps his descendant, recently discharged from the navy, was married in the evening and the next morning he re-enlisted for five years.
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A. L. Heath, writing in 1905 of his boyhood on the old farm at the south end of town, said he was a member of the Ball Nine and the Old Home Drum Corps, which must have existed about 1830. After the Civil War the Stedman Drum Corps was formed and remained in existence for 65 or more years. George R. Warren organized it in his youth and after Ed Stedman's death was leader. In 1930 Warren wrote a history of the corps which can best be told in his own colorful lan- guage. "We started out with the following musical instruments: one 12 inch snare drum, played by Frank Heath; one willow whistle about 14 inches long, made by elderly Abram Garfield and played by Thomas H. Clark. Then I, George Warren, made a pair of wooden cymbals about 9 inches square, and I, the Big Dog, played them. We used to march up and down our highways and everyone said we kept real good time. As you can see, this was a very small beginning. I don't remember just how long we played these instruments but I do recall that Mr. Clark did wear out the Willow Whistle and the bunch of us pitched in and bought a tin whistle for about 15 cents. Not a fife for it blows in the side and a whistle blows in the end."
In 1872 Edward Stedman says to us boys, 'Come over to my house tonight and lets play a little'. So over we went; Ed had bought a drum the day before, Frank Heath had his but my wooden cymbals and Tom's willow whistle was not allowed in the duet. It was nice so far but how was I to get a drum? I was earning only 40 cents a week driving cows to pasture and my father was unable to pay for one. As it happened I struck a piece of luck for my uncle came to visit and he heard Ed and Frank play. He says to me, 'Boy, why don't you learn to play?' It didn't take me long to explain the reason. 'I haven't any drum'. 'Why', says he, 'I have a drum over home and you can take it'.
In the meantime Nelson Stedman, Ed Dowd, Tom Clark joined us and we borrowed a bass drum and got new cymbals and a fife. When we went other places to drum we had a little man from South Lee for fifer and don't forget, he could play. If we went to Lee, Pitts- field or Great Barrington to play, we had Capt. Shannon to lead us. In those days we were drilled to march. With such a leader we could do it up in good shape for Capt. Shannon would put us through the sprouts in dress parade".
Stedman's Drum Corps lasted until 1880 when Ed Stedman, the leader, was killed. Ed was formerly Drum Major in the 49th Regiment during the Civil War and became noted for his ability to roll. None could equal him.
After Stedman's death in 1881 it was known as The Tyringham Drum Corps with changes in membership and leaders. To quote again: "Of course we had some memorable experiences. I recall our part in Presidential campaigns, torch light parades with hundreds in line. I have marched in Pittsfield from nine in the evening till midnight. I believe the largest and longest procession was in the campaign of Hayes and Wheeler and Tilden and Hendricks. It was said at the time that the line of march was over two miles long. When we marched
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down North Street with torches and fireworks and red and green fire, it certainly was some sight to remember; these were called Rallys. They had speakers in some big hall who preached political gospel and threw mud etc. In those good old days we always had plenty to eat on such occasions with some good old beer to wash it down so it wouldn't get stuck in your throat. Now we have no such safe guard, just simply get choked and be dam -- d. I recall at this same Hayes-Wheeler campaign how the people of Tyringham had first a Republican Rally and a torch-light parade, how we marched up and down the main street, the windows in all the houses illuminated (I mean Republican win- dows) but when you came to a democrat's residence it surely looked as if there was going to be a funeral next day. And sure nuf, after election, most generally there was. Well. we Republicans was having our Rally and marched to the Baptist church and we was going to march and drum right in. Behold a good brother stood in the doorway and ex- claimed, 'You cannot come in God's house this way, no sir!' About this time the whole drum corps landed in a heap down on the ground, in all shapes. By the way, this gentleman who set up this house clean- ing was a good old Democrat. Well, we finally got inside and seated. I remember the Hon. Wellington Smith of Lee delivered the address. A few nights after this, the other party had a Rally and they also marched. Of course the Democrats had their houses illuminated, I mean what few there was. Now this same gentleman who instructed us that we were not going into God's house, instead of pushing from the inside out-he pushed like thunder from the outside in. Now this same man had thousands of bushels of apples and some erring indi- vidual left the gate open next day and let his cows out. One of them got an apple stuck in her throat and choked. He found her dead next morning. I happened along and was a sympathizing with him. 'Well', he ses, 'You can't expect anything else, it's Republican times, it's Republican times'. At that time Tyringham was a Republican town with 5 or 6 votes to one Democrat.
I also recall when we had reunions of the 49th Regiment. We drummed at one of these in Stockbridge one time and the affair took place in a grove back of the High School. They had a line of march that ended at this grove, had speaking and singing and finally to create a little pep for the occasion, they court marshalled Capt. Weller of Pittsfield for stealing chickens. If you will believe it, those 49ers caught it right and left, in all directions, for I think he was one of the wittest little fellows I ever saw. I say little, he weighed 300 pounds or over."
When this Drum Corps was first organized, Clerk of the Court in Lee, John Wilson, drafted a set of rules and regulations that each member had to sign and abide by, in order to become a member of the organization. The signatures are George R. Warren, Frank Heath, John French, George E. Stedman, Jason T. Fenn, Eddie Dowd and Simeon Collette.
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THE FAMOUS TYRINGHAM CANNON
This cannon never went to war but had many a battle fought over it, even under the law. It was originally purchased by the boys of the town and played an important part in every patriotic celebration for 75 years. Suddenly, after many years, there was one remaining purchaser, in his dotage, who laid claim to full ownership and posses- sion. The old cannon would appear and disappear, sometimes held by the young boys, then again by the old man on the mountain. Finally it was captured and buried at the rear of George Warren's house from whence it mysteriously emerged at midnight on July 4, 1907 to belch forth on the school house hill. Seven times the boys loaded, fired and ran for cover behind the school house. Much to their con- sternation, after the seventh report, the cannon disappeared. Imagine the chagrin on their faces! Had the old man again won the battle? Then one boy noticed a big hole in the ground whereupon the whole gang investigated. The old firing iron had returned to its earth in pieces! Now, more than fifty years later, the breach of this once famous piece of artillery resides in a place of honor-the Tyringham Library.
Before this event, on each midnight eve heralding July 4th, the flash and roar from this cannon echoed forth from Cobble Hill across the valley, synchronized with the tolling of both church bells, to awaken all inhabitants. Householders prepared in advance for a sleep- less night.
One of the town's biggest celebrations was Old Home Week in 1905 when the library building was dedicated. The brief History of Tyringham by John Scott was on sale at that time. There was a dance, a clam - bake, picnics, parade, visits to historic spots and speeches. Old-timers reminisced by visit or letter. Several notables took part. Everyone worked to make it the great success it was. It lasted a full week.
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