USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Palmer > Historical address delivered at Palmer, Mass., July 5, 1852, in commemoration of centennial anniversary of the incorporation of the town > Part 6
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By A. V. BLANCHARD,-
The Rev. Samuel Backus .- It is one of the most pleasant inci- dents of this occasion that he is here. He is welcome to our homes and our hearts.
Mr. Backus responded, neatly and appropriately. (See page 52.) By F. T. WALLACE, Esq.,-
The Orator of the Day .- He has endeared himself to us beyond expression, by placing in our hands the link which unites us with the past ; and our only regret on the occasion is, that though a great public act, it is his last to us.
Mr. WILSON replied in a brief and apt speech ;- referring to the interest taken in. the historic recollections of the day, and to the duty we owed to posterity to transmit to them what was now veritable his- tory concerning our " illustrious predecessors," ere it should become only dim and uncertain tradition. He closed by offering the follow- ing sentiment :-
The Town of Palmer .- Though some other places may bear the palm in antiquarian lore and stirring incident ; yet in all that pertains
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to the welfare of any community,- to patient industry, general is ligence and sound morals,- may we ever be Palm-er.
By FRANKLIN MORGAN, --
Our Living Statesmen .- To-day we celebrate the memory of those who struck the first blow which gave our country Independence. Let us not forget to do honor to those great Statesmen of our own times, who have successfully labored to defend and uphold our glorious Constitution and the Union of all the States.
By J. B. MERRICK,-
Hon. Henry Clay .- (Now no more. ) His mortal remains have gone to the dust. His virtues are embalmed in the hearts of the American People. His memory will be cherished until the star- spangled banner shall cease to float in the breeze, and the light of Liberty be extinguished from the earth.
By DR. J. B. THOMAS,-
It is said that the Crown that Queen Victoria wears cost ten thou- sand pounds. God grant that no American Crown shall ever exceed a dollar and ten cents.
By G. M. FISK,-
Yankee Perseverance .- It was first illustrated in Boston Harbor, when a few Patriots went to take tea with the British without invita- tion.
By A. V. BLANCHARD,-
The Ladies .- However they may differ with the men on other matters, they are unanimously in favor of the Union.
Supposed to be by a rich Bachelor of Palmer,-
To the Single Ladies of Palmer .- Though I am in no sense a military man, I am ready to present arms.
By MRS. A. V. BLANCHARD,-
Modern Ladies .- Though they may possess less courage and bravery than our ancient and venerable grandmother Ferrell, to with- stand the assaults of the Indian and the panther, they have improved upon the skill of their ancestors in the duties of the kitchen .- Mod- ern Men acknowledge their prowess.
By a GUEST,-
We rejoice that among the numerous manufactories in town, the farmer's wants are not forgotten in an important article of cutlery. Gentlemen Farmers, you are reminded that it is just before haying.
A. V. BLANCHARD, a manufacturer of " farmer's cutlery," re- sponded :-
MR. PRESIDENT,- Although I have been engaged many years in the manufacture of cutting instruments, I should regret extremely to be instrumental in the least in causing any damage thereby to any-
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body ; but there are various instruments used for cutting, and many modes of doing the cutting, and there is considerable cutting done without instruments. I recollect seeing, many years ago, in a picture book, Time represented as an old man with a scythe in his hand, and underneath a verse, which read, " Time cuts down all, both great and small;" and I have heard of Merchants who were said to have cut the throat of a man with a feather, but if there are any merchants present I think they will pardon me as I do not wish to be personal ; and I have heard of Lawyers who were very cutting in their argu- ments before a jury, especially when they expected a good fee ; I have also heard the ladies accused of cutting an acquaintance some- times ; and when I was a young man I frequently heard conversation about cutting out, particularly when a pretty damsel was concerned ; but I was taught in my early days to handle Edge Tools with care, and never found any difficulty when I did so ; but not to enlarge on the cutting process, I give you sir :
The young Men of Palmer .- Whatever other cutting they may do, may they not fail to cut off all their bad habits.
By. G. M. FISK,-
Our attentive Host .- May the good things which he has provided the citizens of Palmer to-day, stimulate them to encourage and Foster him.
Mr. FOSTER answered concisely and gave :-
The Town of Palmer .- May the sunshine of prosperity and the star of Liberty shed their refulgent rays upon the town for the com- ing century, as they have done for the century past.
By F. T. WALLACE, Esq.,-
The President of the Day .- May his services on this occasion meet with an adequate re- Ward.
Mr. WARD responded briefly and gave :-
Our worthy Toastmaster .- The sentiments from him come so direct, and with such force that I need a Wall-ace to Ward them off.
By SAMUEL D. BACKUS,-
The Town of Palmer .- May it celebrate its second centurial an- niversary, as this, with renewed youth.
Other toasts were offered and remarks made which are not pre- served, but which added to the pleasure of a scene which all who participated in, will hold in grateful remembrance. Throughout the festivity the interest was greatly enhanced by the excellent music from the Band. Everything connected with the Celebration passed
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off pleasantly and in good order; and, though we do not expect to be there to enjoy it, we hope the next Centennial Anniversary will be observed in like manner ; and may it prove to those who shall then participate in it, as joyous as, or, if that be possible, more gladsome than the delightful scene through which we have just passed. Our blood will flow in the veins of some of them ; and we feel, therefore, that they will be " bone of our bone, and flesh of our flesh." There- is thus a community of interests ; and we, their Ancestors, send down our Benediction to them, our Posterity.
At the close of the services a Committee of three, consisting of Messrs. JACOB B. MERRICK, FRANKLIN MORGAN and FREDERICK T. WALLACE, Esqs., were appointed to request a copy of the Address for publication. On motion of Rev. THOMAS WILSON the Celebra- tion was adjourned for One Hundred years !
D.
REPRESENTATIVES FROM PALMER TO THE GENERAL COURT.
The following is the Representative History of Palmer front the adoption of the State Constitution to the present time :--
1783 Capt. David Spear.
1784 Capt. David Spear.
1785 William Scott.
1786 Capt. David Spear.
1787 to 1794 - seven successive years - Capt. David Shaw. 1794 Capt. Thomas McClenathan.
1795 Capt. David Spear.
1796 Lieut. David King.
1797 Lieut. James Smith.
1798 Isaac Warren. 1799 Aaron Merrick.
1800 James Smith.
1801 James Smith.
1802 James Smith.
1803 to 1809 - six successive yrs. Aaron Merrick. 1809 Jesse King.
1810 Jesse King.
1811 Jesse King.
1812 Alpheus Converse.
1813 Alpheus Converse.
1814 Alpheus Converse.
1815 Jesse King.
1816 Col. Amos Hamilton.
1817 Col. Amos Hamilton.
1818 James Stebbins, Esq.
1819 Voted not to send.
1820 James Stebbins, Esq.
1821 Clark McMaster.
1822 Clark McMaster.
1823 Voted not to send.
1824 John Frink.
1825 Voted not to send.
1826 Asa Ward.
1727 Voted not to send.
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1828 David King.
1829 John Sedgwick.
1830 Cyrus Knox.
1831 Joseph Lee.
1832 Joseph Lee.
1833 David King.
1834 Robert Hitchcock.
1835 Cyrus Knox.
1836 A. V. Blanchard, Emelius Bond.
1837 Sylvester Parks, John Ward.
1838 Abel Calkins, Marble K. Ferrell.
1839 Wm. J. Blanchard, James Gamwell.
1840 F. Morgan, Asa Shumway.
1841 Olney Goff.
1842 John Ward.
1843 Abel Calkins.
1844 Gilbert Barker.
1845 A. V. Blanchard.
1846 Lambert Allen.
1847 A. V. Blanchard.
1848 Calvin Torrey, Esq., who re- signed and J. B. Merrick was elected for the extra session of that year.
1849 J. B. Merrick.
1850 Jobn D. Blanchard.
1851 Joseph Brown, 2d.
1852 Amos C. Billings.
E
ACT OF INCORPORATION.
"An ACT for erecting the Plantation called the 'Elbows' into a District by the name of Palmer.
" WHEREAS, It hath been represented to this Court that the in- habitants of the Plantation, in the County of Hampshire, called the Elbows, labor under difficulties by reason of their not being incor- porated into a District :-
" Be it Enacted, by the Lieut. Governor, Council, and House of Representatives, that the Plantation aforesaid be, and is hereby erected into a District, by the name of [PALMER, ] bounding as fol- lows : viz., Easterly, on the town of Western*, Northerly, partly on the plantation called Cold-Springt, and partly on Ware River Pre- cinct, called Read's farmt, Southerly and Westerly on the town of Brimfield ; and that the inhabitants thereof be and are hereby in- vested with all the powers, privileges and immunities, that the in- habitants of towns within this Province are, or by Law ought to be,
* Now, Warren.
+ Belchertown. # Ware.
1
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invested with, saving only the choice of Representative, which it is represented said inhabitants are not at present desirous of.
" Be it further enacted, That all Rates and Taxes heretofore assessed, or ordered to be assessed, pursuant to the Laws and Orders of this Court, upon the inhabitants of said Elbows plantation, shall be levied, collected, and fully completed, agreeable to the Laws or Orders by which they were assessed."
The engrossed Bill passed to be enacted Thursday, January 23d, 1752 .- [Proprietors' Record, Vol. I, p. 242.]
F.
Copy of a letter to John King, the first settler of Palmer, from his mother in England :-
" EDNARSTON, April 20th, 1718.
" DEAR SON,- I received your letter April 6th, and there could nothing in the world be welcomer to me, except yourself. You send me word you are married. I pray God to bless you, and grant you both a happy life together. You send me word you have met with hardships since you left me, which is a great trouble to me; but I am glad to see in your letter, that you have overcome them. But I think I shall never overcome my grief to think you are so far off that I have but little hope of ever seeing you again. But, if it is possi- ble, let us meet once more again, which if I had not hopes of, my heart would break. But since we cannot enjoy your company, I beg of you to miss no opportunity of letting me hear from you.
" I am where you left me, and hope I shall be as long as I live. My son Jonathan and my daughter Mary are with me. I am sorry to hear you live in such a desert place, without neighbors. I often wish myself with you. Some of our neighbors here talk of going. I wish they may. I will encourage them what I can. And, I doubt not, but the Gentleman that brought the letter to me will be a good neighbor and friend to you. I pray God he may be.
" Your brothers and sisters are all overjoyed to hear from you, and
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desire you to send as often as you can; and pray send word how we may direct to you. You send me word you have a son, I pray God to bless him ; he is the only grandson I have. Your brother Wil- liam and your brother Thomas have two brave daughters apiece. I pray God to bless you and your wife and child. I could wish your child with me. I have sent a small token to you of ten shillings ; and your brothers and sisters have sent one shilling apiece to the child, which is fifteen shillings in all.
"""I am glad to hear you live under the ministry of the Gospel. I pray God to give you grace to improve by it. I hear you keep good tires. I often wish myself with you. The Gentleman has almost per- suaded your brother Jonathan to come, if I could spare him. *
" Your ever loving mother, * * KING."
F84466.976
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