USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Easthampton > Historical address delivered at the centennial celebration, in Easthampton, Mass., July 4, 1876 > Part 7
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the chief of which have been $1,000 each from Mr. Williston and Mr. Sawyer, and $500 each from Christopher Meyer, John R. Ford, and James Sutherland. Thirty five persons have made them- selves life members by the payment of $50 each. Any citizen of the town can consult the books freely at the library, and can withdraw them on payment of one dollar per year. There are at present 320 subscribers, besides the life members. The whole number of books is 4,995. There were drawn last year 13,918 books. This fact alone shows that it is a great public benefit. Miss Dora C. Miller has been the librarian from the outset, and her services have been invaluable. The present officers are E. H. Sawyer, President ; H. G. Knight, Vice-President ; W. G. Bassett, Secretary ; C. E. Williams, Treasurer ; Rev. S. T. Seelye, Rev. A. M. Colton, Lafayette Clapp and E. T. Sawyer, Directors.
The laws of the State empower Library Associations, if they so choose, to establish and maintain Museums. Our Association un- dertook the enterprise early in 1872, putting the matter into the hands of C. B. Johnson, H. N. Rust and Lafayette Clapp, who soon had it in successful progress. The two former have made extensive private collections, and on that account were especially well fitted for the duty assigned them. The Committee, to which L. D. Lyman was added on the departure of Mr. Rust, have worked with enthusiasm; and, with the co-operation of others, have been able to make a most valuable collection. The articles are displayed in the library reception room, and constitute a feature of decided interest, both to citizens and strangers. Many relics of the late war, and other rare and curious articles, have been collected. Some of these are illustrative of local history ; others of antique customs, or of the habits of uncivilized people. Hon. E. H. Sawyer has been a steadfast friend of the work, giving to it some $300 at the start. He, with Mr. Rust of the Committee, Dr. Seelye and George S. Clark, have been the most exten- sive depositors. Space and time are wanting to mention the articles in detail. There are muskets, swords, knives, and other relics of the war, as, e. g., a piece of a rail from the field of An- tietam, riddled with bullets ; a bust of John Brown, and one of his pikes; a case of stuffed birds, the work of David M. Strangford ; a collection of sea shells ; curiosities from the South Sea Islands; and other articles. Some of the articles have a local association, such as a set of table glasses, used about 1740, by Maj. Jonathan
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MUSEUM-FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Clapp; the bullet pouch that saved the life of Lemuel Lyman at Lake George, September 8, 1755; the deed of School Meadow, executed in 1745, by the agents of the town of Northampton, to Dea. Stephen Wright and Benjamin Lyman, ancestors of the Wrights and Lymans of the town ; a musket made by Moses Chapman and carried by Nathaniel White in the Revolution ; Rev. Mr. Williston's license to preach, signed by Jonathan Ed- wards ; his corner clock, and an oil painting of him, presented by Mrs. Emily G. Williston ; also an oil portrait of Rev. Wm. Bement, painted by Sylvester S. Lyman of Hartford, (a native of the town,) and in part donated by him. Besides the portraits, the walls are adorned by several fine engravings. The Museum Committee have a wide field from which to gather, and it is much to be hoped that the people will co-operate with them, by placing in their custody articles of historic value, which otherwise might be lost to the public. Also that they may be furnished with the means to obtain portraits of Hon. Samuel Williston, and of other representative men. If they could in any way secure photographic likenesses of those whose names are upon the tablet, their careful preservation would be a patriotic work.
Among the public improvements should be mentioned the lay- ing of nearly five miles of concrete sidewalk, at an average cost of some twelve dollars per rod. Few towns are so thoroughly supplied with sidewalk as is this.
There is also a regularly organized and thoroughly equipped fire department, of which E. T. Sawyer is chief, and E. R. Bos- worth and Wm. Hill, assistants. Pipes have been laid through the principal streets (in all 6,500 feet of iron pipe) with hydrants at proper intervals. There are at the upper mills no less than five pumps, each connecting with these pipes and capable of forc- ing water through the village. One is a Bucket Plunger steam pump of the largest size, owned by the town. There are two other steam pumps, and two rotary pumps run by water power, which are owned by the corporations. In case of fire, force can be instantly applied sufficient to lift a stream of water over any building within reach of a hydrant. The Williston Mills village is protected in the same way by a pump at each mill. Several of the corporations have trained hose companies, and there is be- sides in the town a hose company, a hook and ladder company, and the old Manhan engine company, all of which forces are under the command of the fire engineers.
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CEMETERIES.
Another noteworthy improvement is the laying out of Brook- side Cemetery. As early as 1870, the cemetery committee called the attention of the town to the fact that, though there were fre- quent calls for burial lots, no more were available. The matter was not taken in hand till the following year, and, though a com- mittee examined locations and prices, consulted as to plans, and reported progress from time to time, no full and definite recom- mendations came before the town from then till June 9, 1873. At that time they reported a preliminary survey of land border- ing the pond at the upper village on its west side, and owned by Mrs. Williston, J. D. Ludden, J. P. Searl, Edson White and the heirs of Daniel Rust, 2d, and recommended the purchase of a suitable amount of land, the building of a bridge across the pond near the Nashawannuck office, and the construction of a road. The town voted to adopt the plan recommended, and provided a sum of money for the purpose. Ernest W. Bowdich of Boston, a civil and topographical engineer, made the final survey, beginning his work Oct. 27, 1873. This gentleman, with extensive acquaint- ance, declares that he knows no more finely located cemetery in Western Massachusetts, than is this. It has been named Brook- side Cemetery, from its proximity to the water which adds greatly to its beauty. To interest the people in the enterprise, and to familiarize them with the location, a general invitation was given them to come together Nov. 5, 1873, and construct an avenue upon it. About 150 responded to the call. The cemetery, exclu- sive of the enclosing avenue, contains nearly twenty-nine acres. The whole number of lots laid out is 807, of which fifty-seven have been sold. There is ample room to increase the number of lots to 1,000 if desirable, and still leave spaces for decorative pur- poses. The prices range from $6 to $50 per lot. It is now in charge of a committee, E. H. Sawyer Chairman, Lafayette Clapp Secretary and Treasurer, and E. S. Janes Superintendent ; with whom were associated in the early history of the enterprise, A. L. Clark, L. D. Lyman, Wm. N. Clapp and R. C. Dresser. The whole cost up to date is not far from $9,800.
Among Mr. Williston's bequests was one of $10,500 to the town for the improvement and care of the cemetery now in prin- cipal use. Of this sum, $6,500 was to be a permanent fund for keeping the cemetery in repair, and the balance was to be ex- pended in constructing an iron fence along the front. A tasteful iron fence, with suitable gateways, has been set up as directed,
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RAILROAD-PRESS-SOCIETIES.
which adds much to the beauty of the grounds. If the cemetery is ever removed, or the ground used for any other purpose, or if it is not kept in repair, the $6,500, with any interest not expended for repairs, is to revert to Williston Seminary. Mr. Williston deserves grateful remembrance for this generous bequest. A fino granite monument, one of the finest in Western Massachusetts, has recently been erected on Mr. Williston's private lot in this cemetery, at a cost of some $4,000, and the lot itself has been tastefully enclosed.
Increased railroad facilities have been furnished the town by the building of a branch from the Mt. Tom Station, on the Connecti- cut River railroad, to the village, to a station across the highway from the station of the New Haven and Northampton railroad. Over this branch the river road runs six trains a day each way, connecting with their principal trains, and collecting and deliver- ing passengers at the Williston Mills, and at three flag stations in East Street.
In the fall of 1875, H. DeBill started, in connection with a job printing office, a weekly news sheet called The Easthampton Leader. The first number was issued October 14. Mr. DeBill enlarged it twice, and continued it through thirty-three numbers, when he sold it to H M. Converse, who changed its name to The Enterprise, and still continues its publication, doing along with it a job printing business.
For the sake of fostering and promoting a spirit of taste, and aiding in its public expression, a society called The Village Im- provement Society, has been recently organized under favorable auspices. The Farmers' Club is as vigorous as ever, and enlivens the winter evenings by discussions and social festivities, at the houses of its members. Other organizations are the Easthampton Mutual Relief Association, designed to do a life insurance work for its members ; the Ionic Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons; the Doric Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star, a society somehow associated with masonry, and open to the mothers, wives, sisters and daughters of masons ; the Humboldt Lodge, D. O. H., No. 97; the Caledonian Thistle Club, and the St. Pat- rick's Mutual Benevolent Society, mutual relief societies among the Germans, Scotch and Irish, respectively ; a branch of the So- ciety of the Grangers; the Young People's Literary Society ; a successful Lyceum ; and a Young People's Temperance organiza- tion.
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S2
LIST OF COLLEGE GRADUATES.
To supplement the list of Easthampton College graduates given in the History of Easthampton, the following facts may be put on record.
The class of '67 in the Classical Department of Williston Sem- inary contained four Easthampton boys. Of these, Henry H. Sawyer graduated from Amherst College in 1871, since which time he has been in business ; Charles H. Knight, from Williams College in 1871, and afterwards from the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City ; Alvin E. Todd, from Yale in 1871, and afterwards from Yale Theological Seminary ; Frank Warner was two years in Williams College, and afterwards stud- ied music a year in Leipsic, Germany.
Frank E. Sawyer concluded his studies in Williston the same year with the four, and went thence to the U. S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, where he graduated in 1872.
George H. Baker graduated at Williston in 1870, and at Am- herst College in 1874. A part of the time since he has been pursuing historical studies in Germany.
William B. Sawyer graduated at Williston in 1871, and at Amherst in 1875; since which time he has pursued the study of medicine in New York City.
Fred M. Leonard is now in Harvard College, and Arthur Wainwright is in Amherst.
Several of the young ladies of Easthampton have pursued ad- vanced courses of instruction at Mount Holyoke and elsewhere during the last ten years.
Among these are Misses Eunice A. Lyman and Alice C. Par- sons, who graduated at Mt. Holyoke in 1873. Misses Cordelia Ferry, Sarah G. Lyman, and Nettie C. Janes have taken partial courses there ; and Misses Lizzie M. and Nellie J. Mayher and Sarah E. Lyman are at present in that institution. This list may not be complete, even as respects Mt. Holyoke; and cer- tainly is not as respects all higher schools.
INDEX.
N. B .- The subjects treated of in the Appendix are indexed under the heading, Easthampton. The most important matters are indexed; but it would require too much space to give a full index of names.
Arnold, expedition to Quebec through Maine, 35.
Bartlett's Mill, 7.
Bement, Rev. William, 63.
Beef for the army, 51.
Belchertown's non-consumption agreement, 17; She respects the provincial tax levy, 22; Agrees to support independence, 29 ; Her Canada soldiers, 37; Appoints and backs a Committee of Safety, 39; To whom Capt. Lyman complains, 41, 42 ; Iler price list, 51, 52.
Berkshire regiment, Col. Patterson's, 24.
Breck, Rev. Robert, 28.
Burgoyne's surrender, 48.
Clapp, Maj. Jonathan and sons, 7, 12, 45, 46, 78 ; Joseph, 13, 14 ; Benjamin, 53. Clark, Phinehas, 53; Capt. Philip, 13, 14.
Clergy, the, as patriotic leaders, 27, 28.
Clothing for the army, 50. Committees of Correspondence and Safety, 9, 39-44.
Committee on paper rags, 51.
Congresses-Berkshire, 19; Hampshire, 20; First Provincial, 21.
Continental money, depreciation of, 51.
Cooper, Rev. Dr., 27. Corse, Sergt , Ebenezer, 8, 9.
Danielson, Col. Timothy, 20, 23.
Dwight, Nathaniel, 41.
Easthampton - Settlement, 5-8; Separate organization, 13; Population in 1790, 15; Militia Company, 46; Revolutionsry soldiers, 52-54 ; Fur- nishes clothing, 50; Events of the last decade, 61-80, as follows : Banks-First National, 72; Savings, 73.
Churches-First, 14, 61 ; Payson, M. E., and Episcopal, 62.
Citizens-Notice of; Colton, Rev. A. M., 61; Henshaw, Rev. Marshall, 1). D., 67 ; Lyman, Rev. Solomon, 65; Seelye, Rev. Samuel T., D. D., 62; Wright, Rev. Luther, 65; White, Ezekiel, 66; Deaths of, 66. Manufactures - Williston Mills, 70; National Button, Nashawannuck, Glendale, Rubber Thread, Gas, and Valley Machine Companies, 71; Mt. Tom Thread Company, 72.
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INDEX.
Easthampton-Public Life-Town Officers, Legislators, Justices, etc., 73, 74 ; Professions, 75; Tradesmen, 73; Printer, 81; Post Office, 75; Sta- tistics, 75.
Public Improvements-Cemeteries, 80; Fire Department, 79; Hotel, 75; Library, 77, 78; Memorial Tower and Tablet, 77; Museum, 78; Side- walk, 79; Town Hall, 76, 77.
Williston, Hon. Samuel-Last days, death, and funeral, 64; Bequests, 65; Williston Mills, 70; Purpose as to the Seminary, 69; Gift for the Cemetery, 80.
Williston Seminary-Quarter centennial, 67, 68; Alumni association and record, 68; Endowment, present plans and faculty, 69.
Hadley, otherwise Norwottuck, purchase and settlement, 4. See also Porter, Col. Elisha, 20.
Hampshire-Conventions, 20, 21, 41; Uprising after Lexington, 23, 24 ; Req- uisitions for troops, 36, 44-5-7-8-9.
Hardships, 35-6-8-9, 43.
Hannum, John, and Eleazer, 8, 13.
Hendrick, Israel, 9.
Hawley, Maj. Joseph-Denies England's right to legislate for us, 17; We must fight, 19; Letter to Samuel Adams, 30; As a legislative leader, 31- 34; Urges the defence of the lower Champlain, 35; Chairman of Com- · mittee of Safety, 40; Letter to Col. Porter as to deserters, 43; His trust in God, 55.
Ilitchcock, Rev. Gad, 27.
Indians, the Norwottucks, their sale of Nonotuck, 2; of Capawonk, 3; of Had- ley, 4; Rights retained, 4; Their Chiefs, 5; Forts, 11; Departure, 11;
Massacre at Pascommuck by foreign Indians, 6; of N. Edwards, 10; Anxiety from them, 12.
Independence dawning, 25, 26; making haste, 29; declared, 30, 31.
Janes, Dea. Obadiah, 14.
Judd, Rev. Jonathan, 9, 28.
Lyman, Dea. Elias, 21-40; Maj. Elihu, 35; Maj. Josiah 36, 37, 41; Capt. Joseplı 39, 46; Benjamin, 7, 13, 14; Benjamin, Jr., 8, 54.
Mahew, Rev. Jonathan, 27.
Montgomery, Gen. Richard, 35, 36.
Nonotuck-Its purchase, 1, 2; Boundaries, 2; Settlement, 3.
Northampton-First to pay the provincial tax levy, 22; Her Committee of Safety, 40; Iler soldiers, 24, 37-8-9, 44-6-9; Votes them bounties, 44- 7-9; Furnishes clothing and beef, 50, 51.
Pascommuck-Settlement, 6 ; Indian Massacre, 6.
Pomeroy, Col. Seth - Trusts reposed in him, 21, 22; At Bunker IIill, 25 ; Committee of Safety, 40.
Pomeroy, Samuel, and Eldad, 8.
Phelps, Josialı, 8.
l'orter, Col. Elisha-28, 30; Washington appoints him to lead a regiment to
Quebec, 36 ; Ilis diary, 37-39; Letter from Elbridge Gerry, 30 ; Is vili- fied, 42; Letter from Maj. Hawley, 43 ; Entertains Burgoyne, 48. Prices regulated, 51, 52.
Quebec, expedition to, 35-39.
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INDEX.
Revolution-A struggle to maintain ancient rights, 16; Stamp act, 17; l'ort bill, 17; Restraining acts, 17; Regulation acts, 18; The people favor re- sistance, 19, 20 ; l'rovincial Congresses, 21-23 ; Martial preparation, 22; Lexington, 23; Bunker Hill, 25; Independence, 29, 30; Military History, 35-54.
Settlements - Northampton, 3; Hadley, 4; Easthampton, 5-8; Southamp- ton, 9.
School Meadow, 7, 79.
Southampton-Trains minute men, 22; Her soldiers, 24, 35, 44; Her Com- mittee of Safety, 40 ; Furnishes clothing, 50.
Spirit of '76-44, 45.
Strong, Hon. Caleb, 34.
Town Meetings, their importance, 18; Pittsfield, 19.
Webb, Jolın, 1, 3, 5, 6.
Williston, Rev. l'ayson, 14; Hon. Samuel, 64-9, 79.
Williston Seminary, 67-69.
Wright, Dea. Stephen, 7, 13, 14.
Belchertown War Record.
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PREFATORY REMARKS.
IN the course of the Author's preparation of the foregoing address, he had occasion to consult the records of Belchertown. These-with the aid of C. L. Washburn, Town Clerk-he found to contain many facts of interest respecting the doings of the fathers in preparation for, and in defence of, Independence. Such of these facts as he had space for, and as he judged of general in- terest, he embodied in the address. Other facts, which are of local interest, he has collected from the records and elsewhere; and presents in the following supplement, which will only appear in those copies of the work, intended for sale in Belchertown, and which is no part of the work as published by authority of East- hampton. The reader will notice, in the ensuing pages, refer- ences to those parts of the address where anything is recorded as to the action of this town. It will be well to read the parts of this supplement in connection with the address, as one reads notes in connection with the text. Thus the action of this town will be associated in the reader's mind with the general progress of the National cause. To facilitate such reading, the supplement will have references to the main work. The people of this town have reason for pride in the prompt and patriotic action of their fathers. It is to be regretted that the fathers did not leave behind a more complete record of the names, and amount of ser- vice, of those who had a personal share in the campaigns of the period. But have we done any better than they ? It is worthy of present inquiry, whether we do not owe it to future genera- tions to leave behind us some more authentic and full record than is now extant, as to the part borne by citizens of this town in the lute war.
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BELCHERTOWN WAR RECORD.
ACTION OF BELCHERTOWN.
The committee to prevent the sale of imported goods, which was referred to on page 17, were Ephraim Clough, James Walker, Estes Howe, Benjamin Morgan, Lieut. Joseph Smith, Lieut. Na- than Kingsley, Reuben Barton, Serg. Joseph Bardwell, Israel Cowles and Aaron Phelps.
I copy the following item from one of the papers of Hon. Mark Doolittle, who was the most diligent and accomplished student of her history that Belchertown has ever had, and whose published and manuscript writings must always be, next after original doc- uments, the best authority as to her early history. He says : "I find a vote September, 1774, when the regular forms of justice were suspended, (see page 20,) and the evils of anarchy and in- subordination sorely felt, according to which the people, in public meeting assembled, affixed their signatures to the following sol- emn compact. 'We declare that we will take no unreasonable liberties or advantage from the suspension of the course of law ; but we engage to conduct ourselves agreeable to the laws of God, of reason, and of humanity ; and we hereby engage to use all pru- dent, justifiable, and necessary measures, to secure and defend each other's persons and families, their lives, rights, and proper- ties against all who shall attempt to hurt, injure, or invade them ; and to secure and defend to ourselves, and our posterity, our just and constitutional rights and privileges.'" In this declaration one cannot but discern the spirit of a law-abiding, patriotic, people.
In the County Convention (referred to on page 20) held about this time, this town was represented by Col. Caleb Clark, Joseph Smith and Nathaniel Dwight. The latter was then Town Clerk, and records the fact that there were present delegates from every town in the County,-Old Hampshire,-but Charlemont. "'They spent the day," says Dwight, "in considering the dis- tressed state of the government, as the port of Boston is shut up by the King and Parliament ; and eight or ten regiments sta- tioned there upon the Common and upon the Neck, and digging trenches and fortifying them against the country ; and as a num- ber of men-of-war are round about Boston, in order to oblige the province to acknowledge the right of Great Britain to tax North America at their pleasure." At said Congress they passed a num- ber of resolves, among other things, "that it is the opinion of this Congress that a Provincial Congress is absolutely necessary."
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BELCHERTOWN WAR RECORD.
Belchertown afterwards ratified the resolves of this Conven- tion, and on Oct. 4, 1774, chose Capt. Samuel Howe to represent it in the First Provincial Congress, which met in Salem on the second Tuesday of that month, chose John Hancock president, and adjourned to Concord (see p. 21).
Jan. 16, 1775, Capt. Howe was chosen to sit in the Second Congress of the province, which was to meet in Cambridge, Feb. 1; and he was voted £7 15s. for his services in the first. Pur- suant to advice of the County Convention, and of the First Con- gress (see p. 19,) whose doings they afterwards voted to sustain, the people of this town met at their meeting-house, Nov. 7, 1774, to organize a military company. They chose Caleb Clark, Captain, Joseph Graves, 1st Lieut., John Cowles, 2d Lieut., Elijah Dwight, Ensign, and Oliver Bridgman, Clerk. Foreseeing the evil, they had previously voted a sum of money for the purchase of a stock of ammunition, which they placed in the hands of Elijah Dwight. He was to sell it as it was needed, and replenish his stock from the proceeds of sale. Dec. 12, 1774, the town voted 10s. Sd. to Capt. Zachariah Eddy "for his horse's Journey to Providence to fetch Powder for the Town's Use."
Jan. 16, 1775, Belchertown honors the tax requisition of the first Provincial Congress. (See p. 22.) Feb. 9, 1775, appoints her first Committee of Safety, and passes a vote of support to that committee, which shows that toryism was at a discount here. (See p. 39.) The committee consisted of the following persons : Daniel Smith, Nathaniel Dwight, Joseph Bardwell, Israel Cowles, Ephraim Clough, Ebenezer Moody, Benjamin Morgan, Oliver Bridgman.
At the ensuing March meeting, a new Committee of Safety was chosen, consisting of Capt. Samuel Howe, Serg. Joseph Bard- well, Ensign Jonathan Bardwell, Lieut. Nathan Kingsley, Israel Cowles, Daniel Smith, Capt. Josiah Lyman.
Committee of 1776-Israel Cowles, Benjamin Morgan, Wm. Kentfield, Joseph Bardwell N. Dwight, Col. Caleb Clark, Eben- ezer Warner, Moses Hannum, Daniel and Joseph Smith, Dea. E. Clough, Capt. Z. Eddy, Lieut. Jos. Graves.
Committee of 1777-N. Dwight, Col. Clark, Daniel and Joseph Smith, Jacob Wilson, Capt. Josiah Lyman, John Cowles, Benj. Morgan, Lieut. Jos. Graves.
Committee of 1778-Capt. John Cowles, Lieut. James Walker, Benj. Morgan, Ephraim Clough, Moses Hannum.
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BELCHERTOWN WAR RECORD.
Committee of 1779-Capt. Jonathan Bardwell, Capt. Josiah Lyman, Jacob Wilson.
The conflict which was precipitated at Lexington, roused the country to arms. Belchertown, Ware, Greenwich and Hardwick, speedily raised a company for Col. Danielson's regiment. (See p. 23.) Its officers were Capt. Jonathan Bardwell and Lieut. Moses Howe, both of Belchertown, and Lieut. Wm. Gilmore, of Ware.
Most of the men who went at this time from the county, it is said served eight months. The battle of Lexington hastened the meeting of Congress, who were summoned by the Executive Com- mittee of the province. (See p. 23.) May 22, 1775, about a month after the battle, Nathaniel Dwight was chosen a member of the Provincial Congress called to meet at Watertown. The town voted "that said Nathaniel Dwight shall go armed cap-a-pie, as there is every day danger of an invasion by the King's troops that are now stationed at Boston, viz : about 4,000 men, and the government, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire, have 30,000 men that are stationed round about Boston." The town did not propose to give their representative full power, but chose Col. Howe, Joseph Bardwell, Daniel and Joseph Smith, and Nathan Kingsley, to give him instructions.
Maj. Josiah Lyman complains to the Committee of Safety. (See pp. 41 and 42.) He leads a company to Quebec. (See page 37.) His brother, Maj. Elihu Lyman, accompanies Arnold through Maine. (See p. 35.) Though a native of this town, the latter may not have been resident here at that time. He settled in Northfield, and finally in Greenfield.
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