USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Hadley > Historic Hadley : a story of the making of a famous Massachusetts town > Part 3
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The winter of 1675 and 1676 was a season of gloom. The Indians seldom fought when the trees were destitute of leaves, and so it was determined to prepare for a state of siege. In spite of the cold and storm all able- bodied men were compelled to work upon the "pali- saides," which were built crossing the home lots behind the buildings on both sides of the street, and across at either end. Solid stakes of timber eight feet long were split and sharpened, then driven close together two feet into the ground. To these were nailed heavy
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horizontal slabs a few inches below the top, thus making a fence too high and formidable to climb and too thick for bullets to penetrate. This fortified enclo- sure was about a mile long, with strong gates in each of the four sides. The fighting men were divided into military watches, called squadrons, and constant guard was kept both night and day. Rumors were abroad that Philip and his men were hovering near, and though all these reports were unconfirmed, yet in imagination the mountain sides swarmed with the followers of that dreaded chieftain whose very name struck terror to the bravest heart. One morning in April, 1676, Deacon Richard Goodman, with a party of men, went cautiously out to work in Hockanum meadow. The deacon carelessly moved a little beyond the guards, the better to observe his fences, when he fell shot through the heart, and a scouting party, rushing from the woods, seized upon Thomas Reed and dragged him away. Thus a widow and eight children were added to the helpless ones to be main- tained and protected by the town fathers. After this it was ordered that when the farmers were having in Hockanum and Fort meadows all the garrison, except eight left for the security of the women and children, should attend them as a guard, and that not less than forty nor more than fifty men at one time should work in the meadows.
About this time Samuel Smith, Lieutenant of the
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"train-band," being near eighty years of age, requested to be freed from military service, and Philip Smith, his son, was chosen in his place. That same year Joseph Kellogg was an ensign, and the next year he was promoted to be lieutenant. Aaron Cooke, who was captain of the militia for thirty-five years, inherited from his father a book entitled "The Compleat Body of the Art Military," and from his study of this prob- ably acquired his excellence in the profession of arms. But the glory of the Hampshire troopers caused the plain militia men to seem but insignificant, although when active service was required the farmer soldiers were always at the front.
The minister's house being the headquarters of the officers of the troop, it has been supposed that Goffe, the regicide, removed to the home of Peter Tilton, where he remained the rest of his life. Others believe that fearing it would be impossible to keep his presence a secret when the town and even his place of refuge was filled with soldiers, Parson Russell contrived to have his guest escorted to Hartford, and settled among friends. The fact that Goffe's diary, from which much is learned about his life in New England, was found among the effects left by Parson Russell, gives us reason to believe that the wanderer was permitted to return and spend his last days in Hadley among the few faithful ones entrusted with the secret of his presence. Communication with his wife and children
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failed, and for this reason, wherever he was, he died a broken-hearted man. The tradition in Hadley that two strangers were buried in Parson Russell's cellar gives rise to the belief that the graves of both regicides may have been concealed beneath that gloomy chamber where they had so often taken refuge. Wherever their graves may have been, their poor bodies remained undiscovered, and rested in peace.
Thomas Reed, the captive carried away from Hock- anum meadow, escaped and returned with the infor- mation that the Indians were gathering in force near Deerfield and were "secure and scornful," boasting of great things they had done and should do. Alarmed by this report the troops and citizens of the river towns agreed to strike a decisive blow at the enemy, and if possible to attack him in his camp by night. A company of fifteen Hadley men, under sergeants John Dickinson and Joseph Kellogg, crossed the upper ferry and joined the mounted force of one hundred and fifty soldiers from Springfield, Westfield, North- ampton, and Hatfield, commanded by Captain William Turner. The Indian encampment was reached under cover of the darkness, according to the plan, and the inmates suffered a "great and notable slaughter"; but the outcome of the expedition was disastrous, for on the return march the Indians fell upon the line, killed Captain Turner and thirty-eight of his men, and captured others, some of whom were afterward tor-
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tured and burned at the stake. Isaac Harrison and John Crow of Hadley were among the victims, and Jonathan Wells, wounded and suffering, reached the settlement after wandering three days in the woods. A great number of Indians perished in this "Falls Fight," and many were drowned in the river. The loss of the English was so great, however, that it could hardly be considered a victory on their part, for the Indian camp was not broken up, and those remaining were aroused to a greater fury by the attack, which resulted in the death of many of their women and children.
It seemed now most imperative that the headquarters of the Indians should be permanently destroyed so that the settlers could cultivate their fields and harvest their crops in peace. With this in view another expe- dition into Hampshire County was organized by sol- diers from Connecticut and southern Massachusetts, and the first division, consisting of two hundred and fifty mounted Englishmen and two hundred friendly Indians on foot, started from Norwich and on the seventh day arrived in Hadley hungry and footsore. The horsemen were mostly from towns along Long Island Sound, and the Indians were Pequots, Mohe- gans, and Niantics, whose appearance in the streets almost caused a panic, as the inhabitants had never before seen so large a body of friendly Indians together, and could not realize that although they had copper-
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colored faces, their "hearts were white." June 8, while waiting for the Massachusetts contingent, a great parade was held, and the "Army from Connec- ticut," four hundred and fifty strong, with colors flying, marched up and down Hadley street to the sound of drum and fife. Provisions of bread, pork, and liquor were brought from Norwich, but not in a sufficient quantity to satisfy the soldiers, who were billeted in the homes of the citizens, and fed with such supplies as could be secured. Their bread was found to be unfit for use on account of a "blue mould" with which it was discolored, and the tobacco demanded was difficult to obtain.
The town was filled with troops and every home was crowded in most uncomfortable fashion. Joseph Kellogg and Samuel Partrigg were kept busy ferrying passengers and horses across the river, Samuel Porter acted as a nurse, Richard Montague, the grave-digger, baked the soldiers' bread, and Timothy Nash repaired their arms. Dr. William Locke, who came to Hadley with Captain Lothrop, dressed wounds and dispensed physic to each in turn, as need required. Mr. Russell recorded that the board of the officers, whom he enter- tained, was paid, but that his wife Rebecca never received anything for her great "trouble, cumber and care." Probably at this time she was assisted by the negro slaves whom her husband left as part of his estate. Those of the citizens who were inclined to
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murmur were thankful indeed when what might have been a terrible calamity was turned into a victory by the presence of their troublesome guests.
June 12, 1676, a double surprise occurred, for about two hundred river Indians, not knowing that four hundred and fifty soldiers from the south had recently arrived, made an attack on Hadley and were "terribly frighted with the report and slaughter made amongst them by the Great Gun." Whether the town had ob- tained this terrible weapon, or whether the soldiers brought it with them, we cannot tell, and the enemy did not stop to find out. It was only a very small cannon, but it did good service on this and other occasions and caused the Indians to keep at a respectful distance. This attack aroused the settlers to take extra precautions for the safety of the helpless ones entrusted to their care. Stockades were built around the meeting-house that the women and children might have a place of refuge in case the enemy should get inside the fortifications. Every man was compelled to go to meeting armed, or to pay a fine of twelve- pence, and his arms were not to be stacked at the door but were to lie ready at his hand. In this manner the Hadley people lived, year after year, fearing for their lives until the very fear became a custom. Armed men gathered in town-meeting and voted to build new fortifications, with rails ten feet long and three inches thick, set two feet into the ground. Each squadron
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erected a watch house within whose shelter one of their number always was on guard. All the males over sixteen, with an escort of soldiers, went out to clear the Pine Plain east of the town to make it fit for pasture. The Indians burned the corn mill with the house adjoining, and continued their depredations on outlying property which was of necessity left un- guarded. It was hoped that the death of King Philip in 1676 might bring the Indian warfare to a close, but his followers, having tasted blood, were no longer dependent on him as a leader in their struggle with the whites. War between England and France caused friction among the colonies, and resulted in battles in which the Indians were used as allies, and many more years of anxiety were spent in "scouting in woods," "watching by day and warding by night," repairing fortifications, and raising the wherewithal to pay the burdensome taxes. Hadley, at this time having three hundred and twelve inhabitants, had a curious way of settling accounts. The town, being indebted to a citizen, subtracted his tax rate and the rates of others to whom he owed money, and paid him the balance in wheat and Indian corn.
Realizing that war was demoralizing, those in au- thority tried to exercise the greater watchfulness as to the manners of the people. Gershom Hawkes was fined for having in his possession a pack of cards, and refusing to tell where he obtained them, and "Joseph
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Kellogg, Jr., and Gershom Hawkes were fined 10s. each for breach of the Sabbath, having travelled till midnight the night before the Sabbath." The gen- ealogy tells us that the said Gershom Hawkes "died young," so his unruly actions did not long trouble his associates, and probably Joseph Kellogg, senior, was not sorry. Jane Jackson, servant of Lieutenant Philip Smith, was given twenty lashes on her bare back before the court for stealing from her master. Parents were obliged to pay for glass in the meeting-house windows broken by their mischievous boys. Samuel Nash, nine years old, having been killed by a fall from his horse, which was frightened by a dog, the boy's father brought suit against Mr. Goodwin, the owner of the dog. The jury returned the following verdict: "It doth not appeare yt Mr. Goodwin or Mrs. Goodwin had suffi- cient notice given them of their dog's curstness or any warning to restrayne their dog, and therefore the Corte doth acquit them, and accounteth Goodman Nash or his wife blameworthy in not having a more strict watch over their son, but letting him goe to fetch ye mare from pasture with such mean tackling."
As if Hadley had not enough to endure from with- in and without, to the natural fears of her citizens were added superstitious terrors, for in the midst of the second Indian war Mrs. Mary Webster, reputed to be a witch, began to cast an evil eye about her to see what mischief she might do. As a consequence,
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cattle would stop in front of her house and stand trembling until by her magic power she allowed them to pass. A load of hay, upset by her machinations, returned to its normal position without help from human hands, when the woman was threatened by the driver. She entered the door of a neighbor's house, when lo, the baby in the cradle was raised three feet in air, and replaced by an unseen power upon its pillow. A hen flew down the chimney into a pot of boiling water, and the witch was found to be suffering from a scald. Enraged, the citizens " haled her down to Boston," where, after trial, she was acquitted and returned in triumph to her home, only to revenge herself upon Deacon Philip Smith, "a man for devo- tion, sanctity, gravity and all that was honest, exceeding exemplary."
This valuable citizen was, according to Cotton Mather, "murdered with an hideous witchcraft." "A wretched woman of the town, being dissatisfied at his just care about her, expressed herself unto him in such a manner that he declared himself apprehensive of receiving mischief at her hands." He began to be "very valetudinarious" and, after wonderful manifes- tations in the sick-room, died, and his body was found "full of holes that seemed to be made with awls," all of which is related in the Magnalia, with full particulars added. While the sufferer was yet alive, a number of brisk lads dragged the witch out of the house, hung
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her up until nearly dead, and then buried her in the snow, but, according to the record, "It happened that she survived and the melancholy man died." Mary Webster lived eleven years after her hanging, and died a natural death, a proof to many minds that she really was a witch.
Parson John Russell, after the death of both the regicides had removed the shadow from his home, was able to devote more time and energy to the work among his chosen people. His letters from Hadley to officials in Boston, during the Indian wars, contain much valuable information concerning the history of the town. May, 1665, he preached the election sermon at Boston, taking for his text the words, "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. They shall prosper that love Thee." This appeal from one living in Hadley at that critical period was most significant and must have come home to every heart. Worn out with Indian alarms, hiding regicides, and fighting witchcraft, on December 10, 1692, John Russell, the first minister of Hadley, died, and in the depth of winter his body was carried to the burying-ground and laid beside his wife Rebecca. The inscription on the table of sand- stone placed above his grave is studied to-day with exceeding interest by the many visitors to this historic cemetery. His memory is honored as that of one who was, by virtue of his courage and fidelity, the hero of Old Hadley.
CHAPTER III
THE CHURCH IN OLD HADLEY
I. The Pastorate of Rev. Isaac Chauncey
THE bell procured in 1690 by Goodman Partrigg rang out a clamorous peal at early dawn the 16th of October, 1695, and soon the voters of Hadley were wending their way to the little meeting-house on the hill. The forests were resplendent in gay autumnal garb, but the town fathers, intent on business vital to the welfare of the community, had no time to note the beauties of nature. With guns in hand, they took their seats in the dilapidated sanctuary, and there, in town-meeting assembled, voted: "That we doe ernestly desire ye Rev. Mr. Isack Chancy that he would be pleased to settle amongst us to be our minister."
Immediately after Parson Russell's death, two " mes- sengers" had been appointed to secure a pastor, but the candidates discovered, Samuel Moody and Simon Bradstreet, though acceptable in the pulpit, each re- quired as salary more corn, wheat, and peas than the people could afford to pay. At last, July, 1695, Rev. Isaac Chauncey, son of Parson Israel Chauncey of
THE RUSSELL CHURCH. ERECTED IN 1808
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Stratford, and grandson of Rev. Charles Chauncey, the august president of Harvard College, was engaged as a supply, and the hearts of his hearers were taken by storm. In their cautious and dignified manner they proceeded to make overtures to this bright young preacher, and were rejoiced when he accepted their call, on terms with which they could comply. The parish bought of Samuel, the son of Parson Russell, the home of their first minister for £120, and spent £20 on repairs and improvements. They offered Mr. Chauncey the home lot and buildings, twenty acres of meadow land, a salary of £70 a year in "provision pay," for three years, and afterwards £80 annually and his firewood. After his ordination the new pastor betook himself straightway to some unknown place for Sarah, his bride, and the newly married pair set themselves bravely at work to do their utmost in the parish to which the Lord had called them. The en- thusiastic utterance of a youth but twenty-five years old, and fresh from Harvard College, must have caused some agitation among the grave and reverend fathers in his congregation, but their minds were so much perturbed by alarms from without that they had no inclination to quarrel with their minister, who soon was to be called upon for sympathy and consolation in an hour of urgent need.
A party of Indians from Albany, encamped above Hatfield, though supposed to be friendly, were the
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cause of much anxiety to the elders in the community, who, remembering the days of old, felt their presence to be a menace. Another typical October morning dawned in the lovely valley. Richard Church, the Hadley tailor, and grandson of Richard the first settler, accompanied by Samuel Barnard and Ebenezer Smith, went hunting in the eastern woods. Toward night two badly frightened boys rushed into the broad street, with news that after leaving their companion they had heard gun shots, accompanied by savage yells, away in the depths of the forest. Then there was gathering of forces from three neighboring towns, and hurried departure through the evening shadows, and noiseless searching among rocks and underbrush and fallen trunks of trees, until, almost at daybreak, the seekers found the object of their quest. Trans- fixed by arrows and mutilated by bullets, with scalp torn away and clothing destroyed, the body of Richard Church was tenderly carried to the home where waited his poor young bride, Sarah Bartlett, and his mother, Widow Mary Church.
Determined that the murderers should be punished, the friends and neighbors of the hapless young man started in hot pursuit, and having had long years of training in the ways of savage warriors, beat the red miscreants at their own game. The guilty Indians were discovered deep hidden in a cave on the west end of Mount Toby, and were "haled" not too gently
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to Northampton, loaded with irons hastily constructed by the village blacksmith, and, as there was no prison, were confined in a private house with a grim constable as their jailer. John Pynchon, Samuel Partrigg, Joseph Hawley, and Aaron Cooke, "Esquires," and Joseph Parsons, "Gentleman," were especially com- missioned to hold a court of Oyer and Terminer, October 21, 1696, for the trial of these cases, and Sheriff Samuel Porter of Hadley took care that the criminals were produced before the judges. Other Indians, frightened at the determination of the settlers, turned state's evidence and the prisoners were speedily convicted and sentenced to be shot to death. Their execution in Northampton was witnessed by an im- mense crowd from all the country round. This was the first instance of capital punishment in Hampshire County. Thus with a tragedy among his people was inaugurated the pastorate of Rev. Isaac Chauncey, and one of the first duties of that opening year must have been to extend the consolations of religion to the widowed bride and bereaved mother of Richard Church.
Mr. Chauncey came to Hadley just in time to settle the controversy about the dignity of the seats in the meeting-house gallery. It was voted that "Ye first seat in ye front gallerye is look to be eaquall with ye second seat in the body of ye meeting-house, and that ye west end of ye side gallerye to be eaquall with ye third seat in ye body of ye meeting-house." The
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building itself, having been used as a fort and place of refuge for so many years, was in a dilapidated condi- tion, but war time was not a propitious season in which to build a new one. At last the peace of Utrecht ended the long struggle, and the citizens thanked God and took courage.
Now came a busy time for Hadley. Her people, cooped up so long behind the fortifications, tore down the stockades, planted new fields, mended the fences, repaired their dwellings, and resumed the business of peaceful every-day life. The work of collecting tur- pentine from pine trees and shipping it to Hartford, though very profitable, had to be restricted lest all the pines remaining be permanently injured. The town gave Deacon Smith and Lieutenant Nash permission to get turpentine from the trees on Spruce Hill, the quantity not to exceed one thousand boxes. The tur- pentine was often exchanged for rum, as minister and deacons and all the church members drank liquor as regularly as they ate their daily bread, and the licensed innkeepers, Hezekiah Dickinson and Joseph Smith, could not buy or make enough to supply their guests. Sometimes men were allowed to sell rum in their own homes, as in the case of Richard Goodman, who was a "retailer" before he kept the ferry. Philip Smith was permitted to sell to those "in real need," and Samuel Partrigg to sell to the "neighbors." Andrew Warner was a "Maltster," and Samuel Porter had a
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"still and worm," and doubtless both ministered to these "real needs " of neighbors far and near. Orange Warner was the last maltster of Hadley. But alto- gether the people could not manufacture enough of any kind of drink to satisfy the demand, so aqua vitæ was imported, and rum was brought in hogsheads and sold in small amounts to those inveterate drinkers, who seldom became drunken.
Visitors to the valley, after its people had repaired the ruin wrought by the Indian wars, saw perched upon Hadley hill a fine new meeting-house, modern in style as became the temple in which a progressive people worshiped the Lord. The little old first edifice was falling in pieces when, in 1713, another important town-meeting was held, over which Samuel Porter presided as moderator. Here the people voted "That we will build a new Metting Hous" and "That the Meting house that we have agreed to build shall be 40 foot in length and 40 foot in breadth, with a flattish roof and a Bellcony on one end of said house." The committee, Samuel Porter, "Left." Nehemiah Dickin- son, "Sargt." Daniel Marsh, Peter Montague, and Samuel Barnard, were instructed to buy glass, nails, "clabbords," and shingles, and to hire workmen, "im- proving our own inhabitants as conveniently as may be."
The second meeting-house was finished in 1714, and stood for ninety-five years. The "flattish roof"
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would now be considered steep. The "bellcony," built up from the ground, was the first steeple in Hampshire County. The bell tower was probably not at once completed, the committee finding it necessary to get the frame raised and covered and plastered, and to set the "joyners" windows firmly in their places, before spending time and money on what was purely ornamental. The beams overhead were hidden by plastering, but the posts and braces were painted and left in sight. When the building was almost finished "Captain Aaron Cooke, Esq., Ensign Chileab Smith, Mr. Samuel Porter, Esq., Jonathan Marsh, Deac. Nathaniel White and Deac. John Smith" put their wise heads together in a vain endeavor to seat the new meeting-house in a manner more acceptable to the aristocracy than had been the arrangement in the old one. In 1717 more pews were built, the gallery and desk were painted, "pentices" were placed over the doors, and efforts were made to keep the rain from spoiling the plastering by beating under the eaves. After a time Eleazer Porter, son of Samuel, the first settler, replaced the simple pulpit and sounding-board with new ones more elegant than those in Northampton or Hatfield, and also presented a handsome new desk for the minister's use. The children gazed with wonder on the elaborate wooden canopy which seemed to project in air with no visible support above the parson's head, and threatened to come down with a
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crash when in tremendous tones the reverend speaker thundered forth the terrors of the law. Their fears were not without reason, for, although through all these theological thunderings the sounding-board remained firm, yet the little diamond-shaped panes of glass did become loosened from the leads which held them and were replaced in a firmer fashion with "square glass" of a later style. Square pews built by individuals, and considered much more respectable than narrow slips, took the place of the old-fashioned long seats. Eleazer Porter owned a square pew, and other well-to-do people built similar ones, with supports fastened to the floor, so there could be no clattering, such as was heard in many churches when children moved about.
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