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 34
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77
* Hoyt's Indian Wars. The ground where this disaster took place is still called Beers' plain, and the hill where the captain fell, Beers' mountain. At a sandy knoll on the west side of the road, near the place where the attack commenced, the bones of the slain were a few years since to be found bleaching in the sun. The mail route from Montague to Northfield formerly passed over the ground ; it now runs a little to the west. Janes' mill is situated a small distance north of the place of attack.
268
ORANGE.
C. Allen in 1795; Thomas Mason in 1799; George W. Hosmer in 1830; Oliver C. Everett in 1837. The Trinitarian church was formed in 1825. Eli Moody and Bancroft Fowler have been min- isters of this church. The Methodist church stands in the south- ern part of the town.
[From the Boston Post Boy, May 12, 1746.]
" By an express from the westward, we are informed, that the Indians kill'd a man who was going from Lunenburg to Northfield, about a fortnight ago, but was not found until last Monday. He had been to Boston, and was on his return home, with about four or five hundred pounds with him in paper bills, which he was carrying up to Northfield to pay the' billeting of soldiers .- And that at No. 4, another man was killed last Friday sev'night, the circumstances of which are pretty remarkable. Maj. Willard with several soldiers went as a guard to some women, not far from the fort, who went out to milk their cows. Two of the party having separated to go to the barn, one of them seeing a door of the stable open, ran before to shut it, fearing the cat- tle might have got in there ; and just as he had got to the door, he saw 7 or 8 of them in the stable ; upon which he cried out, the stable is full of Indians ! They not minding it, the Indians rushed out and fired upon them, and shot this man. The major and guard hearing the guns, called the men to arms, and advanced in haste toward the enemy ; but before they got nigh enough, they saw one of the Indians, a very stout fellow, run up to the man they had shot and strike him on the head, which entirely dispatched him ; but the major getting good aim, fired, and supposes to have struck him, as they were scouring off, this fellow being seen from the fort to drop at some distance, but was carried off by the others ; also much blood was seen at the place, and his blankets, very bloody, were found."
The following inscriptions were copied from monuments in the burial-ground in this place :
Rev. John Hubbard, A. M., second minister of this town, died Nov. 28, 1794, in the 69th year of his age, and 45th of his ministry.
A man he was to all his people dear And passing rich with eighty pounds a year ;
Remote from towns, he held his godly race, Nor ever changed, nor wish'd to change his place. In duty, faithful, prompt at every call, He watch'd, and wept, and pray'd for all ; He try'd each art, reproved each dull delay, Allur'd to brighter worlds, and led the way.
In memory of the Rev. Mr. Benjamin Doolittle, first pastor of the church in North field, who died Jany. ye 9th, 1748, in the 54th year of his age & 30th year of his minis- try.
Bless'd with good intelectual parts, Well skilled in two important arts, Nobly he filled the double station Both of a preacher and physician. To cure men's sicknesses and sins, He took unwearied care and pains ; And strove to make his patient whole Throughout, in body and in soul.
He lov'd his God, lov'd to do good,
To all his friends vast kindness show'd ; Nor could his enemies exclaim, And say he was not kind to them.
His labors met a sudden close,
Now he enjoys a sweet repose ;
And when the just to life shall rise, Among the first, he'll mount the skies.
ORANGE.
THIS town was incorporated in 1783. The face of the township is generally rough and uneven. Miller's river, which now passes through the central part of the town, affords valuable water privi- leges. Mr. Emerson Foster and Mr. Chandler are the only minis-
269
ROWE.
ters who have been settled over the old church in Orange, now in the northern section of the town. Mr. Foster was minister here about 1798. Mr. Chandler was in the place but a short time. In 1837 an ecclesiastical council convened and organized a church, called the " Evangelical Church of Orange."
Southern view of Orange, (central part.)
The above is a southern view of the flourishing little village of Orange, now in the central part of the town. Miller's river, which passes through the place, was formerly the southern boundary of Orange. The northern part of New Salem has been quite recently annexed to this town, so that this village is now in the central part. The forests have been recently cleared away in the immediate vicinity, and the place presents the appearance of a new settlement springing up in the wilderness. Population of the town in April, 1837, was 1,543. Distance, 75 miles from Boston. In 1837, there were manufactured in this town 72,300 palm-leaf hats, the value of. which was $12,050.
ROWE.
THIS town was incorporated in 1785. It has an elevated situa- tion, and was originally purchased by a Mr. Jones. In 1838, the legislature annexed a part of an unincorporated tract, called Zoar, to this town. This tract comprised 1,875 acres of land, adjoining the south part of the town, on which were six families. One of the cordon of forts erected about 1744 for a defence against the French and Indians was situated in this town. The ruins of this fortifi- cation, called Fort Pelham, are situated south-east of the Congre- gational church in the center of the town, on Pelham brook, a small stream, being the only one passing through the town. Rev. Preserved Smith, the first minister, was settled here in 1787; his successor was Rev. Jonathan Keith, was settled in 1808, and was
270
SHELBURNE.
succeeded by Mr. Smith, who again settled in 1812. His successor was Rev. William D. Stearns, was settled in 1835. Rev. John C. Thompson was settled over the Trinitarian church in 1835. There are four religious societies and four meeting-houses in this town. Population, 688. Distance, 22 miles from Greenfield and 130 from Boston. There is a woollen mill in this town. In 1837 there were 302 Saxony, 1,630 merino, and 364 of other kinds of sheep, producing wool to the value of $4,249 80.
SHELBURNE.
1
THIS town was originally a part of Deerfield, called Deerfield North-West. It received its present name from Lord Shelburne, of England. It was incorporated a distinct town in 1768. The first settlement was made in the eastern part of the town ; the first meeting-house, which was built of logs and plastered, stood about half a mile north of the present Congregational church in the cen- ter of the town. The first Congregational minister was Rev. Ro- bert Hubbard, who was settled in 1773; he died in Middletown, Ct. in 1788, aged 45. His successor was Rev. Jesse Townsend, who was settled in 1792, and resigned in 1797; the next pastor was Rev. Theophilus Packard, D. D., who was settled in 1799; he was succeeded by his son of the same name in 1828. The Shakers came into this town in 1782; they continued here about three years, when they removed to New Lebanon : a Mr. Wood was their elder or leader. The oldest house now standing in Shelburne Falls village was built by these people. The first Baptist church in this town was formed in 1788, and their first minister was a Mr. Green; in 1792 Rev. David Long became its pastor, and con- tinued his labors nearly forty years. The Unitarian society was formed in 1828. The Rev. Pliny Fiske, a missionary to Palestine, who died at Beyroot, in Syria, in 1825, was a native of this town.
The following is a S. Eastern view of Shelburne Falls village, on Deerfield river, on the western boundary of the town. It consists of about thirty dwelling-houses, a church, an academy, and other buildings. The descent of the river at this place is forty-seven feet in the distance of forty rods, which affords abundant water power for several mills for different purposes. This village is uncom- monly neat and beautiful in its general appearance. The engra- ving shows the northern part. Deerfield river runs a few rods westward of the houses represented; it bends round to the east- ward, passing over a rocky bed, falling in some places perpen- dicularly, foaming and roaring. This; with the elevated banks on each side, covered with forest trees, presents a wild and pictu- resque scene.
The church seen in the engraving in the distance is the Baptist church, erected in 1836. The second Baptist church was formed in 1833, and the Rev. John Alden, Jr., was constituted pastor.
* **
271
SHUTESBURY.
South-eastern view of Shelburne Falls Village.
The Franklin Academy, located in this village, was incorporated in 1823. Two buildings are connected with the institution : one, (the academy) is a brick edifice, 52 feet by 38, and three stories in height. It is seen in the engraving in the distance, with a small tower or steeple on the roof. The other is the house occu- pied by the principal, and others connected with the academy. It is 80 feet by 30, and stands about 60 rods east of the brick building. The average number of scholars for the last five years has been about 90 each term. Ever since its formation it has been under the charge of Mr. Alden, the Baptist clergyman mentioned above. This place is 4 miles from the center of the town, 9 from Greenfield, 25 from Northampton, and 100 from Boston. Popula- tion, 1,018. In 1837 there was one woollen mill; 1 scythe manu- factory, which manufactured 7,200 scythes, the value of which was $9,400. Fifteen hands were employed in the manufacture of scythe snaiths ; capital invested in this manufacture was $10,000. There were 6,000 palm-leaf hats manufactured, valued at $1,000. The value of wool produced in the town was $4,500; boots and shoes, $4,000.
SHUTESBURY.
THIS town was incorporated in 1761. The town was first set- tled mostly by people from Sudbury, in 1754, and was at that period called Road Town. The land is uneven, encumbered with stones, and the soil is generally of an inferior quality. The Rev. Abraham Hill, the first Congregational minister, was settled here in 1742. Imbibing political sentiments hostile to the American cause, Mr. Hill was alienated from his people; and was regularly dismissed, in 1778; the church was reduced to one member. It
272
SUNDERLAND.
was reorganized in 1806 with 20 members. Rev. John Taylor was settled here, 1816 ; his successor was Rev. Martyn Cushman. Population, 816. Distance, 16 miles from Greenfield, 9 from Amherst, and 78 from Boston. In 1837, there were 22,000 palm- leaf hats manufactured.
The following account of Mr. Ephraim Pratt, of this town, who lived to a very advanced age, is from the second volume of Dr. Dwight's Travels, page 358.
"He was born at Sudbury, Massachusetts, in 1687; and in one month from the date of our arrival (Wednesday, Nov. 13th, 1803) would complete his one hundred and sixteenth year. He was of middle stature ; firmly built ; plump, but not encumbered with flesh ; less withered than multitudes at seventy ; possessed of considerable strength, as was evident from the grasp of his hand and the sound of his voice ; and without any marks of extreme age.' About two months before, his sight became so impaired, that he was unable to distinguish persons. His hearing, also, for a short time had been so imperfect, that he could not distinctly hear common conversation. His memory was still vigorous ; his understanding sound; and his mind sprightly in its conceptions.
" The principal part of the time which I was in the house, he held me by the hand ; cheerfully answered all my questions ; readily gave me an account of himself in such particulars as I wished to know ; observed to me that my voice indicated that I was not less than forty-five years.of age, and that he must appear very old to me ; adding, however, that some men, who had not passed their seventieth year, probably looked almost, or quite, as old as himself. The remark was certainly just ; but it was the first time that I had heard persons who had reached the age of seventy considered as being young. We were informed, partly by himself and partly by his host, that he had been a laborious man all his life ; and particularly, that he had mown grass one hun- dred and one years successively. The preceding summer he had been unable to per- form this labor. During this season his utmost effort was a walk of half a mile. In this walk he stumbled over a log, and fell. Immediately afterwards he began evi- dently to decline, and lost in a considerable degree both his sight and hearing. In the summer of 1802, he walked without inconvenience two miles, and mowed a small quantity of grass.
" Throughout his life he had been uniformly temperate. Ardent spirits he rarely tasted ; cider he drank at times, but sparingly. In the vigorous periods of life he had accustomed himself to eat flesh, but much more abstemiously than most other per- sons in this country. Milk, which had always been a great part, was now the whole of his diet. He is naturally cheerful, and humorous ; apparently unsusceptible of tender emotions ; and not much inclined to serious thinking. According to an account which he gave his host, he made a public profession of religion near seventy years before our visit to him; but was not supposed by him, nor by others acquainted with him, to be a religious man. He conversed easily, and was plainly gratified with the visits and conversation of strangers. When he was ninety-three years old, he made a bargain with his host, (who told us the story,) that he should support him during the remainder of his life for £20.
"He was never sick but once, and then with the fever and ague. It is scarcely necessary to observe, that a man one hundred and sixteen years old, without religion, was a melancholy sight to me.
" Three or four years before this time I saw in a newspaper an advertisement, written by a person who professed and appeared to be acquainted with him and his con- cerns, in which it was said that his descendants, some of whom were of the fifth generation, amounted probably to more than 1,500."
SUNDERLAND.
THIS town was originally a part of Hadley. It was incorpo- rated as a town in 1718, and the Rev. Josiah Willard was ordained the first minister the same year. Mr. Willard died in 1790, aged
273
SUNDERLAND.
ninety years. The following ministers have succeeded him, viz. William Rand, who settled here in 1724; Joseph Ashley, in 1747 ; Asa Lyon, in 1792; David H. Williston, in 1804; James Taylor, in 1807; Henry B. Holmes, in 1833.
The central village of Sunderland is pleasantly situated on a fine interval of land on the east bank of Connecticut river. It consists of about fifty dwelling-houses and a Congregational church. The village street is about three fourths of a mile in extent. The North village is about three miles from the center, and contains about fifteen or twenty dwellings, and a Baptist church. Plum Tree village is three miles south, and is about the size of the north village. At the central village there is a bridge over the Connecticut, 858 feet in length ; it was built in 1832, at an expense of $20,000. The village is handsomely built, and the scenery in the vicinity is uncommonly interesting : the Sugar-loaf mountain rises at about half a mile's distance, on the western bank of the river, in solitary and striking grandeur ; while Mount Toby rises to the eastward. Population, 729. Distance, 10 miles from Greenfield, 10 from Hadley, 5 from Montague, 29 from Spring- field, 70 from Albany, N. Y., and 85 from Boston. The value of corn brooms manufactured in this place in 1837 was $11,415.
Mount Toby is a sand-stone mountain, elevated about a thousand feet above Con- necticut river, and lies partly in Sunderland and partly in Leverett, and is almost covered with forests. On the north-west side of this mountain, in the north part of Sunderland, are a cave and fissure which have attracted some attention. "The follow- ing section will, I apprehend," says Prof. Hitchcock in his Geological Report, "ren- der intelligible, not merely the form and situation of this cave and fissure, but alsc the mode of their production. They occur in a conglomerate rock of new red sand-stone,
a
d
מ
B
A
b
on the north-west side of Mount Toby, in the north part of Sunderland. The conglome- rate strata are several feet thick; and immediately beneath this rock lies a slaty micaceous sand-stone, which is very subject to disintegration ; as may be seen a little north of the cave, where the conglomerate projects several feet beyond the slate, whose ruins are scattered around. The spot is, perhaps, 300 or 400 feet above Connecticut river ; yet there is the most conclusive proof in all the region around, that water once acted powerfully, and probably for a long period, at various elevations on the sides of this mountain ; and not improbably this aqueous agency assisted in undermining the conglomerate rock by wearing away the sand-stone."
At A and B, the rock is but slightly removed from its original position ; but in the space between these points, the slate appears to have been worn away, so as to cause the whole conglomerate stratum, which is from 50 to 60 feet thick, and consequently of immense weight, to fall down, producing the fissure a and the cavern b. The fis- sure is 9 feet wide at the top, and open to d, 40 feet; below which it is filled with rubbish. The cavern is wider than this in some parts, though very irregular in this respect. Its bottom also is rendered very uneven by the large masses of rock that have tumbled down. In the deepest spot (56 feet) the rocks are separated to the surface,
35
274
WENDELL.
so as to let the light from above. The whole length of the cavern is 148 feet. Its general direction is nearly east and west ; but towards its eastern part it turns almost at right angles to the left, in consequence of the rock A having been broken in a north and south direction from the mass of the mountain."
WARWICK.
THE Indian name for this town was Shaomet. It was incorpo- rated as a town in 1763. The first church which was formed here, in 1760, consisted of twenty-six members. Rev. Lemuel Hedge, the first minister, was ordained here December 3d, 1760, on the day of the formation of the church; he died in 1777, aged 44 years. His successor was Rev. Samuel Reed, who was settled here in 1779 ; he died in 1812, aged 57. Rev. Preserved Smith, the suc- cessor of Mr. Reed, was settled in 1814. The church and society now worship in the third house that has been built for the society ; it was erected in 1836. The Trinitarian church in this place was organized in 1S29, and consisted at that time of thirty members. Rev. Samuel Kingsbury, the first minister, was installed pastor in 1833, and resigned in 1835. His successor was Rev. Roger C. Hatch.
There is in the central part of the town an insulated, mountain- ous elevation, called Mount Grace, from which there is a fine prospect. There is a scythe factory in the town. In 1837, there were manufactured here 47,000 palm-leaf hats, which were valued at $6,400. Population, 1,111. Distance, 14 miles from Green- field, 22 south from Keene, N. H., and 78 from Boston. In 1812, there was a glass manufacturing company established here, with a capital of $70,000.
WENDELL.
THIS town was incorporated in 1781. It is mostly a farming town, composed of scattered plantations, there being no considera- ble village in the town. The surface is uneven, but not much broken or precipitous. There are two houses of worship in the central part of the town, one a Congregational, the other a Bap- tist church. Rev. Joseph Kilburn, a Congregational minister, was settled here in 1783; he died in 1815, and his successors have been Rev. Hervey Wilbur, Rev. John B. Duncklee, and Rev. Wil- liam Claggett.
Miller river, which forms the northern boundary of the town, is here a fine stream, and adds much to the beauty and fertility of this part of the township. Population, 847. Distance, 14 miles from Greenfield, and 80 from Boston. In 1837, there were 37,000 palm-leaf hats manufactured here, valued at $5,000; the value of boots and shoes manufactured was $5,250.
275
HAMPDEN COUNTY.
WHATELY.
THE territory comprising this town was a part of the original grant of Hadley, from which it was separated, with Hatfield, in 1761, with which town it remained one hundred years, till its incorporation in 1771. The Rev. Rufus Wells, the first Congre- gational minister, was ordained here in 1771; he died in 1834, at the age of ninety. Rev. Lemuel P. Bates, a native of Blandford, Scotland, was settled as colleague with Mr. Wells in 1822; he resigned in 1832, and was succeeded by Rev. John Ferguson in 1836. There is a small Baptist church in the western part of the town.
There is a considerable quantity of interval land on Connecticut river, but it is not of the first quality. The town street, which passes by the Congregational church, runs parallel with the river about two miles westward; between this street and the river there is an extensive tract of swampy land, called Whately Swamp, extending from north to south almost the entire length of the town. Westward of the street above mentioned, the township is hilly, and the soil in many places rich and fertile. In 1837, there were 3 woollen mills, which consumed 52,500 lbs. of wool, employing 36 hands, 13 males, 23 females ; 57,000 yards of cloth were manufac- tured, valued at $37,000. The value of palm-leaf hats manufac- tured was $7,500; value of gimblets manufactured, $11,125; value of brooms and brushes manufactured, $6,877; value of pocket-books and wallets, $16,000; value of stone ware, $3,000. Population, 1,140. Distance, 11 miles south of Greenfield, 9 from Northampton, and 92 from Boston.
HAMPDEN COUNTY.
HAMPDEN county was incorporated in 1812, previous to which it formed the southern part of the old county of Hampshire. The soil is generally quite fertile and well cultivated, particularly on Connecticut river, which centrally intersects the county. There are also fine lands on Westfield river. Chicopee river and its branches afford great water power; it flows westward, and passes into the Connecticut in Springfield. Agriculture has been the principal business of the inhabitants; of late years great attention has been paid to the manufacturing business. The New Haven and Northampton canal runs through the eastern section of the county, and promises great facilities for the transportation of various articles to, and from southern markets. The Western railroad from Boston to Albany is now in progress, and will extend through the whole length of this county from east to west. A range of the Green mountains lies along the whole western bor- der of this county; separating it from Berkshire. The Lyme range of mountains rises in the eastern part, and extends in a southerly line into Connecticut. The following is a list of the towns, which are 18 in number.
1 4 e e
276
BRIMFIELD.
Blandford, Longmeadow,
Russell,
Westfield,
Brimfield, Ludlow,
Southwick,
Chester, Monson,
. Springfield,
West Springfield, Wilbraham.
Granville,
Montgomery,
Tolland,
Holland,' Palmer,
Wales,
The population of this county in 1820 was 28,021; in 1830, it was 31,610; in 1837, it was 33,627. 1
BLANDFORD.
THIS town was incorporated in 1741. The inhabitants to a great extent are descended from a company of emigrants, of the Presbyterian denomination, from the north of Ireland, by whom this town was originally settled. The Rev. Mr. McClenathan appears to have been the first minister; it is supposed that he was from Ireland. Joseph Patrick and James Morton appear to have been the next in order, Joseph Badger and Jonathan Keep the next. Mr. Badger was for three years a soldier in the revolutionary war. Rev. Dorus Clark was settled here in 1823, he resigned in 1835 ; he was succeeded by Rev. Charles J. Hinsdale, in 1836.
This township is situated principally upon the eastern side of a range of the Green mountains. In this town commences the ridge of rocky hills which extend to Pittsfield, in Berkshire county. In 1837, there were in this town 1 woollen mill, with 2 sets of machinery; 13,000 yards of cloth were manufactured, valued at $18,000; 1 paper-mill, which manufactured 60 tons of paper, val- ued at $2,500. There were 1,535 cows; cheese manufactured, 230,000 lbs .; butter, 20,000 lbs .; value of cheese, $16,100; butter, $3,000; males employed, 200; females, 300; capital invested, $60,000. Population, 1,443. Distance, 15 miles from Springfield, and 116 from Boston.
BRIMFIELD.
THIS town was granted by the general court, in the year 1701, to a number of petitioners, inhabitants of Springfield. The town- ship as originally granted was 8 miles square, and was at first designated by the "Plantation adjoining Springfield ;" but the committee, for the sake of convenience, as stated in the records, soon gave it the name of Brimfield. The first grants of land were made in December, 1701, to 13 persons. Very little seems to have been done towards the settlement of the place for a conside- rable time, owing probably to the embarrassments occasioned by the war with the French and Indians. In 1717, the proprietors' committee petitioned for an extension of the township 3 miles fur- ther east, which was granted. After this the settlement progressed rapidly. Among the early settlers who came from Springfield are found the names of Sherman, Lombard, Pynchon, Hitchcock,
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.