USA > Massachusetts > Historical collections, being a general collection of interesting facts, traditions, biographical sketches, anecdotes, &c., relating to the history and antiquities of every town in Massachusetts, with geographical descriptions > Part 31
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Eastern vien in the central part of Charlemont.
The above is an eastern view in the central part of Charlemont, showing the Baptist and Methodist churches ; 17 miles from Green- field, 16 from Adams, 55 from Troy, N. Y., and about 104 from Boston. The Baptist church is the nearest building in the view, having six windows on the southern side; the Methodist church, a small building, is seen farther northward; it has a tower, and stands on an elevation of ground. There is a little village north- ward of these churches, which is but partially seen in the engrav- ing. The highest mountainous elevation, seen in the distance, is called Mount Peak, and is upwards of 1000 feet in height. Deer- field river, which flows at the foot of this elevation, winds through the whole length of the town. High hills and mountainous eleva- tions in many places rise immediately from its banks, affording many views of picturesque and delightful scenery. Agriculture is
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COLERAINE.
the principal business of the inhabitants. In 1837, there were 3,355 merino sheep, and 1,398 of other kinds; the value of wool produced, $7,460. Population of the town, 994. In 1838, a large proportion of an unincorporated tract of mountainous and broken land, called Zoar, with few inhabitants, on the western border of the town, was, by an act of the legislature, added to this town.
COLERAINE.
COLERAINE* was incorporated in 1761. It was previously called Boston Township. It was partly settled by emigrants from Ireland, who were Presbyterians in religious sentiment. The church in this place was Presbyterian till 1819, when it became Congre- gational. The first minister, Rev. Alexander McDowel, it is be- lieved, was from Ireland. Rev. Daniel McClallen was born in Pennsylvania, but educated in Ireland. Very little is known of the early state of the religious affairs of the people, as either no church records were kept, or if kept have been lost. Mr. McDow- el, the first minister, was settled in 1753; Mr. McClallen in 1769. The third minister, Rev. Samuel Taggart, was settled in 1777, and died in 1825 ; he retained his connection with his church and so- ciety till the close of life. He was a member of the house of representatives of the United States, from 1804, for 14 years. He is said to have remarked to a christian friend, that he had read the Bible through at Washington every year during the time he had served as a member of congress. Rev. Aretas Loomis succeeded Mr. Taggart in 1829.
Coleraine has a larger population than any other town in Frank- lin county. It is finely watered by two branches of North river, a tributary stream of Deerfield river, affording water-power for a number of factories in various parts of the town, which are now in successful operation. After the union of the two branches of the North river in this town, in its course towards Deerfield river, it passes through a very narrow defile, with lofty elevations on each side, particularly on the north bank; the road, in some places, passes at a great elevation from the bed of the river, and to a lover of natural scenery in its varied forms this place possesses uncom- mon attractions. The engraving is a western view of part of the village in the central part of the town. The Methodist church ap- pears on the right, and the Congregational on the left. This place is surrounded by lofty elevations on almost every side. It is 9 miles from Greenfield, 30 from Adams, 30 from Northampton, .70 from Albany, N. Y., and 100 from Boston. Population, 1,998. In 1837 there were 3 cotton mills, 5,000 cotton spindles; 125,000 lbs.
* It is said that this town was named from Lord Coleraine, in Ireland. His lordship was so well pleased with the honor done him that he sent the inhabitants a fine bell ; but, through the unfaithfulness of the agent to whom it was intrusted, it never reached them. It is believed to be still in existence, and used in one of the churches in Boston'.
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Western view of Coleraine, (central part.)
of cotton were consumed ; 930,000 yards of cotton goods manufac- tured, valued at $59,500; 40 males and 120 females were em- ployed. There were 4,340 merino and 1,414 other kinds of sheep in the town; value of wool produced, $9,133 11 ; capital invested, $14,385. There were two air and cupola furnaces ; 150 tons of iron castings were made, valued at $17,500. Various other articles were also manufactured in the town.
One of the first settlers in this town was Deacon Thomas McGee, a Protestant, from Ireland; he located himself about two miles south from the center of the town. James Steward, who officiated 'as town-clerk for a number of years, lived a little east from Mr. McGee. Hugh McClallen located himself in the south-western part of the town; he filled various public offices, and. was the first acting magistrate. John Cochren, from Pelham, Hampshire coun- ty, located himself in the center. He built the whole or part of the Barber House, so called, near the Congregational church : this house is now standing. John Clark, of Irish descent, had a house about half a mile north of the meeting-house, on land which was given to his father by the proprietors of Coleraine. Mr. Clark's father was killed in the last French war. Hugh Morrison located himself about one and a half miles north of the center. He was a captain, and commander of the north or Morrison's fort. Dea- con George Clark settled' about a mile casterly from the center. Capt. John Wood, from South Hadley, kept the first tavern, a build- ing now standing. The first meeting-house built by the propric- tors stood about 80 rods north of Capt. Wood's tavern ; it was two stories in height, and was never completed on account of its loca- tion. Rev. Mr. McDole, or Dowel, the first minister, lived about 80 rods north, in a building used as a fort. Besides the two forts men- tioned, there were two others: one, called the east fort, was situated about two miles castward of the meeting-house . the south fort was
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near Deacon McGee's. Hezekiah Smith, from Woodstock, in Con- necticut, settled about two miles south-west down the North river. Thomas Fox and Deacon Moses Johnson were early settlers. Deacon Elliot Harroun and Joseph Thompson settled near Hugh McClallen, in the north-western part of the town.
In May, 1746, Matthew Clark, with his wife and daughter, and two soldiers, were fired upon by the Indians. Clark was killed, and his wife and daughter wounded. One of the soldiers returned the fire and killed one of the enemy, which gave them a check, and the wounded were brought into the fort and saved. In July, David Morrison was captured by the Indians. In 1756, John Morrison and John Henry were wounded near Morrison's fort, but getting on to a horse, made their escape. The enemy burned a house and killed some cattle on North river. In 1759, John McCown and his wife were captured, and their son was killed.
CONWAY.
THIS town was incorporated in 1767. The first minister of the place was Rev. John Emerson, who settled here in 1769. At this time the town contained but 400 or 500 inhabitants. Mr. Emerson afterwards shrewdly remarked, that when he came "it was lite- rally John preaching in the wilderness." He lived to see a popula- tion of about 2000 souls. Mr. Emerson was eminently a prayer- ful and devoted minister of the gospel. "For several of his last years he had an impediment in his speech ; it was, however, scarce- ly perceptible in his devotional exercises, showing it was more natural for him to pray than to converse." Rev. Edward Hitch- cock was settled as colleague with Mr. Emerson in 1821. Mr. Emerson died in 1826, aged 80. Mr. Hitchcock was succeeded by Rev. Daniel Crosby, in 1827.
The following is a southern view of the central part of Conway, as it appears from the road passing over the elevated ground south from the village. The village, which consists of about thirty dwelling-houses and other buildings, lies principally in a narrow valley between two elevated hills, the one westward called Beal's Hill, the one eastward Billings' Hill. South river, a mill-stream, passing into Deerfield river, divides the village into two parts. There are two churches in the village, one a Congregational, the other a Baptist church. The Congregational church is seen in the engraving in the southern part of the village. The Baptist church is without a spire, and stands in the northern part, on elevated ground. Distance, 7 miles S. W. from Greenfield, and 100 from Boston. Population, 1,445.
In 1837, there was one cotton mill, 924 spindles; cotton con- sumed, 10,045 lbs. ; cotton goods manufactured, 151,140 yards, valued at $16,625; males employed, 8; females, 20; capital in- vested, $10,000. One woollen mill, which manufactured 3,500 yards of cloth, which employed 18 hands. There were in the town
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Southern view of Conway.
2,415 merino sheep; other kinds of sheep, 2,415; merino wool pro- duced, 7,245 lbs. ; other kinds of wool, 7,245; average weight of fleece, 3 lbs .; value of wool, $5;071; capital invested, $7,245.
The following votes, passed during the "Revolutionary times," are copied from the records of this town. They will serve to show the process used against those who were disaffected towards the American cause, and who dared, like freemen, to let their senti- ments be known. The orthography is retained.
At a legal meeting, held June 25, 1777, Voted to try the minds of the town with re- gard to the enemical persons that the selectmen have entered in a list and laid before. the town as such seperately.
Voted, the following persons are dangerously enemical to the American States, viz. Joseph Catlin, Elias Dickinson, Joseph Brunson, Elijah Wells, Elijah Billings, James Dickinson, Wm. Billings, John Hamilton, Jonathan Oaks, Capt. Consider Arms. Eben'r Bedfield, and David Field. Voted, that Capt. Alexander Oliver be the person to collect the evidence, and lay it before the court, against the above enemical per- sons.
At a legal meeting, held August 27th, 1777, Voted, that we proceed in some mea- sures to secure the enemical persons called Tories among us. Then the question was put, whether we would draw a line between the Continent and Great Britain ; voted in the affirmative. Voted that all those persons that stand on the side of the Contanant take up arms and go hand in hand with us in carrying on the war against our unnatu- ral enemies ; such we receive as friends, and all others treet as enemies. Voted, that the broad ally be a line, and the south end of the meeting-house be the Continant side, and the north end the British side ; then moved for trial, and found 6 persons to stand on the British side, viz. Elijah Billings, Jonathan Oaks, Wm. Billings, Joseph Catlin, Joel Dickinson, and Elias Dickinson. Voted to set a gard over those enemical persons. Voted the town clerk emmediately desire Judge Mather to issue out his warrants against those enimical persons returned to him in a list heretofore.
DEERFIELD.
DEERFIELD is the oldest town in Franklin county. In 1669, a tract of 8,000 acres of land was granted by the general court at Pocumtuck to a company at Dedham, embracing most of
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the interval lying on Pocumtuck or Deerfield river, and the plain southerly as far as Hatfield bounds. The proprietors first met at Dedham in 1670 ; at which time it was agreed to lay out the lots at Pocumtuck. By subsequent grants it comprehended within its limits the present towns of Deerfield, Conway, Shelburne, Green- field, and Gill. Whether the whole was purchased from the natives does not appear. A deed, however, of a part of the early grant, is still extant; it was made to John Pynchon, Esq., of Springfield, " for the use and behoof of major Eleazer Lusher,
Southern vien of Deerfield, (central part.)
ensign Daniel Fisher, and other English at Dedham, their asso- ciates and successors," by Chauk, alias Chaque, the sachem of Pocumtuck, and his brother Wapahoale, and is dated Feb. 24, 1665, prior to the grant by government. The deed is witnessed by Wequonock, who "helped the Sachem in making the bar- gain ;" and reserves to the Indians " the right of fishing in the rivers and waters; hunting deer, or other wild animals ; the gath- ering of walnuts, chesnuts, and other nuts, and things on the com- mons." The first settlement at Deerfield commenced in 1670, and within four years a considerable number of buildings were erected. In 1686, the Rev. John Williams was settled as minister of the place, on a salary of £60, to be paid in wheat at three shil- lings and three-pence the bushel, pease at two shillings and six- pence, Indian corn at two shillings, and salted pork at two-pence halfpenny the pound.
Deerfield is finely situated on the west bank of Connecticut river. Deerfield river, a large and beautiful stream, meanders through the center of the town, and on its banks are large tracts of interval land, the quality of which is equal to any in the state. The principal street runs north and south on a beautiful elevation above the meadows, which spreads out from the foot of East or Deerfield mountain.
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DEERFIELD.
The engraving on the opposite page, is a view (looking to the north ward) in the central part of the village, showing the Unita- rian Congregational church, and some other public buildings. The ancient house, which escaped destruction at the time the Indians burnt the town in 1704, is seen in the distance, standing a few feet westward of the church. Deerfield is principally an agricultural town. In 1837, there was one manufactory of cutlery, which employed seventy hands; the value of cutlery manufac- tured was $100,000. The value of palm-leaf hats manufactured was $7,800; the value of corn brooms made was $10,990; the value of pocket-books, &c., $11,000. Population, 1,952. Distance, 3 miles south from Greenfield, 18 miles north of Northampton, 60 to Hartford, Conn., and 95 from Boston.
Monument and Sugar-loaf Mountain, Deerfield.
The above is a north-western view of the monument at Bloody Brook, erected in memory of Capt. Lathrop and his men, who fell on this spot, in an ambuscade of the Indians. This monument stands perhaps 30 or 40 rods southerly from the Congregational church. South-easterly from the monument is seen Sugar-loaf Mountain, a conical peak of red sand-stone, about 650 feet in height. In 1835, the 160th anniversary of the destruction of Capt. Lathrop and his men was commemorated in this place. The Hon. Edward Everett, now governor of Massachusetts, was appointed orator for the occasion, and General Epaphas Hoyt, of Deerfield, was appointed to make the address at the laying of the corner stone for the monument. About six thousand persons were present on this occasion. Governor Everett delivered his address under a walnut tree, a few rods eastward of the monument, the top of which is seen rising between the two mountainous elevations in the back ground. About forty years after Capt. Lathrop and his men were killed, a rude monument was erected to their memory, but the different occupants of the soil removed it so many times, that it was a matter of uncertainty where he or his men were
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buried. In 1835, the committee of investigation, guided by the tradition of some aged people, found the spot where he and about thirty of his men were interred ; the grave was just in front of the door-yard of Stephen Whitney, Esq., and about twenty feet north- west of his front door. Their bones were in a state of tolerable preservation, but fell to pieces on exposure to the air. "A grave, probably containing the bones of the ninety-six Indians who were slain on that day, was likewise found by accident about the same time, nearly one hundred rods west of the road leading from Bloody Brook to Conway, by Mr. Artemas Williams, and a little more than half a mile south-west of the grave of Lathrop."
The monument is six feet square and about twenty feet in height; it is constructed of marble, by Mr. Woods, of Sunderland. On its completion an address was delivered at its foot by Mr. Luther B. Lincoln, of Deerfield. The following is the inscription on the monument :-
On this ground Capt. Thomas Lothrop and eighty-four men under his command, including eighteen teamsters from Deerfield, conveying stores from that town to Had- ley, were ambuscaded by about 700 Indians, and the Captain and seventy-six men slain, Sept. 18th, 1675, (old style.)-The soldiers who fell were described by a co- temporary Historian, as "a choice company of young men, the very flower of the County of Essex, none of whom were ashamed to speak with the enemy in the gate."
· " And Sanguinetto tells you where the dead Made the earth wet, and turn'd the unwilling waters red."
This monument erected August, 1838.
The bearing and distance of the grave of the slain (south 21 rods) is inscribed on the monument, and a stone slab placed on the spot. In order to defend the frontier settlements from the Indians in Philip's war, a considerable number of soldiers were posted at Hadley, and it became necessary to procure provisions and forage for their subsistence. The Indians having burnt the principal part of Deerfield, it was abandoned by the inhabitants; their grain, consisting of about 3,000 bushels of wheat, remained stacked in the fields, having escaped the conflagration. Deter- mining to avail himself of this supply, the commanding officer at Hadley detached Capt. Lathrop and his company, with a number of teams and drivers, to thrash it and transport it to head-quarters. Having thrashed the grain and loaded his teams, Capt. Lathrop, on the 18th of September, commenced his march for Hadley. As no Indians had been seen in the vicinity, he did not probably appre- hend any danger. The following account of the fatal attack of the savages at Bloody Brook is taken from Hoyt's Indian Wars, published at Greenfield in 1824.
" For the distance of about three miles, after leaving Deerfield meadow, Lathrop's march lay through a very level country, closely wooded, where he was every moment exposed to an attack on either flank; at the termination of this distance, near the south point of Sugar-loaf Hill, the road approximated Connecticut river, and the left was in some measure protected. At the village now called Muddy Brook, in the southerly part of Deerfield, the road crossed a small stream, bordered by a narrow morass, from which,
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the village has its name; though more appropriately it should be denominated Bloody Brook, by which it was sometimes known. Before arriving at the point of intersection with the brook, the road for about half a mile ran parallel with the morass, then, cross- ing, it continued directly to the south point of Sugar-loaf Hill, tra- versing what is now the home lots, on the east side of the vil- lage. As the morass was thickly covered with brush, the place of crossing afforded a favorable point of surprise. On discovering Lathrop's march, a body of upwards of seven hundred Indians planted themselves in ambuscade at this point, and lay eagerly waiting to pounce upon him while passing the morass. Without scouring the woods in his front and flanks, or suspecting the snare laid for him, Lathrop arrived at the fatal spot; crossed the morass with the principal part of his force, and probably halted, to allow time for his teams to drag through their loads. The critical moment had arrived-the Indians instantly poured a heavy and destructive fire upon the column, and rushed furiously to close attack. Confusion and dismay succeeded. The troops broke and scattered, fiercely pursued by the Indians, whose great superiority enabled them to attack at all points. Hopeless was the situation of the scattered troops, and they resolved to sell their lives in a vigorous struggle. Covering themselves with trees, the bloody con- flict now became a severe trial of skill in sharp shooting, in which life was the stake. Difficult would it be to describe the havoc, barbarity, and misery that ensued; 'fury raged, and shuddering pity quit the sanguine field,' while desperation stood pitted, at 'fearful odds,' to unrelenting ferocity. The dead, the dying, the wounded, strewed the ground in all directions; and Lathrop's devoted force was soon reduced to a small number, and resistance became faint. At length the unequal struggle terminated in the annihilation of nearly the whole of the English; only seven or eight escaped from the bloody scene, to relate the dismal tale; and the wounded were indiscriminately butchered. Capt. Lathrop fell in the early part of the action. The whole loss, including teamsters, amounted to ninety."
Capt. Mosely, who was at Deerfield with his company, between four and five miles distant, hearing the musketry, hurried on to the relief of Lathrop, but it was too late; he found the Indians had done their bloody work, and were stripping the dead. Rush- ing on in close order, he broke through the enemy, and, charging back and forth, cut down all within the range of his shot. After several hours of gallant fighting, the savages were compelled to seek for safety in the surrounding swamps and forests. Lieuten- ants Savage and Pickering greatly distinguished themselves by their skill and bravery. Just at the close of the action, Major Treat, of Connecticut, who on the morning of this day had marched towards Northfield, arrived on the ground with one hundred men, consisting of English, Pequot and Mohegan Indians, and shared in the final pursuit of the enemy. Captain Mosely lost but two men in the various attacks, and seven or eight only were
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DEERFIELD.
wounded. The loss of the Indians in the various attacks of the day was estimated at ninety-six, the greatest proportion of which fell in the engagement with Mosely. On the approach of night, Treat and Mosely proceeded to Deerfield, where they encamped for the night, and the next morning returned to the field of slaugh- ter to bury the dead. The day after this disaster, the Indians appeared at Deerfield, on the west side of the river in that town, and, displaying the garments they had stripped from Lathrop's slain, made demonstrations of an attack on the fortified house, which then contained a garrison of only twenty-seven men. The commander held out delusive appearances of a strong force,- caused his trumpet signals to be given, as if to call in additional troops, which so intimidated the Indians that they withdrew with- out making an attack. This post, however, was afterwards abandoned by the garrison, and the place was soon after des- troyed by the enemy.
During the French and Indian wars, Deerfield was often exposed to the incursions of the French and their savage allies. In the evening of the 29th of February, 1704, Major Hertel de Rouville, with 200 French and 142 Indians, after a tedious march of between 2 and 300 miles through deep snow, arrived at an ele- vated pine forest, about two miles north of the village, (now called Petty's plain,) bordering Deerfield meadow, where they lay con- cealed till after midnight. Finding all quiet, and the snow being covered with a crust sufficient. to support the men, Rouville left his snow-shoes and packs at the foot of the elevation, and, crossing Deerfield river, began his march through an open meadow before daylight with the utmost caution, which, however, was unneces- sary, as the guard had retired to rest a little before daylight. Arriving at the north-west quarter of the fort, where the snow had drifted in many places nearly to the top of the palisades, the enemy entered the place, and found all in a profound sleep. Parties detached in different directions broke into the houses and dragged the astonished people from their beds, and wherever resistance was made they were generally killed. A party forced the door of the house of the Rev. Mr. Williams, who, awakened by the noise, seized a pistol from his bed tester and snapped it at one of the Indians who were entering his room. He was seized, bound, and kept standing in his shirt for near an hour. His house in the mean time was plundered, and two of his chil- dren, with a black female servant, were murdered before the door. They then permitted him and Mrs. Williams, with five other chil- dren, to put on their clothes. The house of Capt. John Sheldon was attacked, but as the door at which the Indians attempted to enter was firmly bolted, they found it difficult to penetrate. They then perforated it with their tomahawks, and, thrusting through a musket, fired and killed the captain's wife, as she was rising from a bed in an adjoining room. The captain's son and "vife, awakened by the assault, leaped from a chamber window, at the east end of the house, by which the latter strained her ankle,
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and was seized by the Indians, but the husband escaped to the woods and reached Hatfield. After gaining possession of the house, which was one of the largest in the place, the enemy reserved it as a depot for the prisoners as they were collected from other parts of the village. The whole number made prisoners was 112, and the number of killed was forty-seven. Having collected the prisoners, plundered and set fire to the buildings, Rouville left the place when the sun was about an hour high. Every building within the fort was reduced to ashes except the meeting-house and that of Captain Sheldon, which was the last fired, and saved by the English, who assembled immediately after the enemy left the place. This house is still standing near the center of the vil- lage, of which the annexed engraving is a representation.
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