USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > West Brookfield > Historical discourse : delivered at West Brookfield, Mass., Nov. 27, 1828, on the day of the annual Thanksgiving > Part 6
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The first interments in the present burying ground were those of Doctor Whitman Gilbert and Lieutenant John Phipps, on the 10th of January, 1809.
South Parish.
The burying ground in the South Parish began to be used as a depository of the dead, probably as early as 1720.
Q.
" At a meeting of the Inhabitants of Brookfield, on April the 5th, 1716. Voted that Thomas Barnes be moderator for said day. Voted that Edward Walker, Senior, Joseph Banister, and Elisha Rice, do further discourse Mr. Cheney, as to his, propo- sals in order to settlement in said place, to carry on the work of the ministry. Having considered Mr. Cheney's proposals, the inhabitants voted to give Mr. Cheney for his salary, fifty-two pounds yearly for three years, and to rise forty shillings a year until it comes to seventy pounds, and there to stay. 2dly. Voted
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APPENDIX.
that Mr. Cheney have all the land that the Committee propose to give him. 3dly. Voted to build him a house and barn according to the direction he has given ; Mr. Cheney providing glass and nails and iron. 4thly. Voted to break up, and fence in, and fit to sow, eight acres of land ; four acres upon the hill, 2 acres to be planted out with orcharding this year, and 4 acres to be broke up on the plain this year, the other two acres to be done within four years. 5thly. Voted to get Mr. Cheney twenty five cords of wood yearly his lifetime. Gthly. Voted to give Mr. Cheney each man one day's work yearly for six years, his house . and barn to be built in four years, always provided Mr. Cheney be our ordained minister.
Thomas Barnes, Moderator.
Approved and allowed by the Committee for Brookfield, May 16th, 1716, provided Mr. Cheney be their settled minister three years.
SAMUEL PARTRIDGE. JOHN PYNCHON. SAMUEL PORTER. EBENEZER POMROY.
July 16, 1717. At a meeting of the Inhabitants of Brook- field. Voted, the third Wednesday in October next is appointed and set apart for Mr. Cheney's ordination. Voted that the town celebrate and set apart a day of fasting and prayer to implore God's presence with us in this solemn and weighty matter, which day is left to Mr. Cheney to appoint; full and clear votes.
R.
To his Excellency Samuel Shute, Esq. Captain-General and Governor in Chief in and over his Majesty's Province of Mas- sachusetts Bay in New England .- The honorable Council and Representatives convened in General Court the 28th of May, 1718.
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APPENDIX.
We undernamed the Committee for Brookfield after many dis- appointments by War and otherwise which for a long time the people have labored under, by the good providence of God are now so increased, that they are now near fifty families on the place, have near finished a very convenient meeting house, have settled a Church and ordained an orthodox and learned minis- ter, we humbly propose, that they be made a Township, to order all the affairs of a Township according to the direction of the law by themselves, and said committee released ; which we sub- mit to the Courts determination and for your Excellency and Honors shall ever pray. SAMUEL PARTRIDGE. Committee SAMUEL PORTER. for
LUKE HITCHCOCK. Brookfield.
In the House of Representatives November 12th, 1718, read and ordered that the prayer of this petition be granted and that the inhabitants of the town of Brookfield be invested with all the powers, privileges and authorities to direct, order and man- age all the affairs of the said township, that other towns are or ought to be invested with ; and that the Committee be dismissed from their care of them with the thanks of Court for their faithful service. Agreed the said town to lye to the county of Hampshire*
Sent up for concurrence, John Burrell, Speaker. In Council, November 12th, 1718.
Read and concurred, with the amendments sent down for con-
J. Willard, Secretary currence,
A true copy from the files, Examined,
J. Willard, Secretary.
At a great and general Court or Assembly of his Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England held at Boston on Wednesday the 4th November, 1719. December 3d 1719. A petition of Thomas Barnes and others of the select
. Worcester County was incorporated April 2d, 1731, and Brookfield was neluded within its limits.
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APPENDIX.
men of the town of Brookfield in behalf of said town shewing that by an order of the General Court held in May, 1701, the Committee for the said town were directed to survey and make a plot of the said township containing by grants the contents of eight miles square, and lay before the Court such plot for further consideration of the bounds of the said township : that the same has been cut ; the plot being mislayed and no act of the Court passed thereon : therefore praying that the said survey and plot may be accepted and confirmed and that the inhabitants may have the same power and privileges, that other towns are vested with.
In the house of Representatives read and resolved that the prayer of this petition be granted, and that the bounds of the township of Brookfield be granted, confirmed and estab- lished accordingly and agreeable to a plot thereof and here- with exhibited, taken by Timothy Dwight surveyor; and that the inhabitants that now are, or hereafter shall be, are in- vested with all the powers, privileges and authorities that other towns have, and, that the choice of town officers made for said town in March is hereby approved and confirmed.
In council read and concurred,
Consented to, Samuel Shute.
As the population increased in the neighborhood of Brook- field, new towns were formed ; and in their incorporation some of them obtained portions of the territory included in this grant. A large part of the town of Warren, a small portion of New Braintree, and of Ware, and the whole of North-Brookfield, ori- ginally belonged to this town. Its present boundaries are north by New-Braintree, and North-Brookfield; east, by Spencer and Charlton ; south, by Sturbridge and Brimfield ; west, by War- ren and Ware. It is said to contain about 27,000 acres of sur- face. Few towns present so varied and pleasing scenery. There are two extensive ponds ; one in the west parish called Wicka- boag, the other in the south parish, called Quaboag. 'Two streams (rising from several sources in Oakham, Paxton and Spencer, the one called by the first settlers " Five mile River," and re-
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APPENDIX.
Cently " Mill River ;" and the other " Seven mile River") form a junction and empty into the north-eastern part of Quaboag pond. Near the north-western corner of the pond is an outlet called Quaboag river, which proceeds slowly in its channel through extensive meadows, till it arrives near the south-west part of Wickaboag pond ; where it receives from this pond a tributary, and takes the name of Lashaway. In Warren and Palmer it receives many other tributaries, takes the name of Chickopee, and passes westward, till it empties into the Connecticut.
Brooks and small streams intersect the town in various direc- tions, contributing to the fertility of the soil, the amenity of the place, and the convenience of the cattle ; but for want of descent they are not suitable for mills.
There are several springs, whose waters are sufficiently im- pregnated with iron and other minerals to be highly useful in some diseases. The chalybeate springs of the South Parish have been a resort of invalids ; and many are said to have been relieved by the use of the water. There is also a spring on the border of the pond near the meeting house in the first parish. In the fall and winter it has often been covered by the rise of the pond. In the few cases, in which its waters have been used for dispepsia and similar diseases, it has been found highly bene- ficial. A project is formed to protect the spring from the occa- sional inundation of the pond and to render it a pleasant resort.
The waters of the pond seem to be impregnated in a small degree with iron. Vast quantities of ore have been annually taken from it and transported to the Foundry.
Representatives in the Legislature of Massachusetts.
1719 Thomas Baker.
From this time to 1731, I have not been able to learn that the town was represented.
1731 Joseph Dwight 1735 Joseph Dwight
1732 Samuel Barnes 1736 Joseph Dwight
1733 Joseph Dwight 1737 none
1734 Joseph Dwight 7*
1738 Joseph Dwight
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APPENDIX.
1739 Joseph Dwight
1780 Dwight Foster
1740 Josiah Converse
1781 Phineas Upham
1741 Joseph Dwight
1782 Phineas Upham
1742 Josiah Converse
1783 Benjamin Rice
1743 Josiah Converse
1784 Benjamin Rice
1744 Thomas Gilbert
1785 Phineas Upham
1745 Josiah Converse
1786 Daniel Forbes
1746 Thomas Gilbert
1787 Daniel Forbes
1747 Josiah Converse
Nathaniel Jenks
1748 Joseph Dwight { Speaker
1749 Joseph Dwight y of the House.
1750 Josiah Converse
1788 Daniel Forbes
1789 Daniel Forbes
1790 Daniel Forbes
1791 Dwight Foster
1792 Dwight Foster
1753 William Ayres
1793 Thomas Hale, jun.
1754
1794 Thomas Hale, jun.
1755
1756 Jabez Upham
1757 Jabez Upham
1758 Jabez Upham
1759 Jabez Upham
1760 Jabez Upham
1761 Jedediah Foster.
1762
1763
1803 John Cutler
1764
1304 Jabez Upham
1765
66 16
1805 Jabez Upham
1766
1806 Jabez Upham
1767
66
1807 Oliver Crosby
1768
1769
1770
1771
1772
1773
1774
1775
6.6
1776 Benjamin Rice
1777 John Phipps James Converse Benjamin Rice 1778 John Lyscomb
1779 Jedediah Foster
1808 Dwight Foster Rufus Hamilton Oliver Crosby Isaac Nichols
1809 Dwight Foster Oliver Crosby Rufus Hamilton Simeon Draper
1810 Thomas Hale Oliver Crosby Elisha Hammond Rufus Hamilton
1811 Thomas IIale Oliver Crosby
1795 Thomas Hale, jun.
1796 Thomas Hale, jun ..
1797 Phineas Upham
1798 Thomas Hale
1799 John Cutler.
1800 John Cutler
1801 John Cutler
1802 John Cutler
1751 Joseph Dwight
1752 none-and in conse- quence of their failure the town was fined £ 14.
APPENDIX.
79
Jabez Upham Elijah Clapp 1812 Oliver Crosby Elisha Hammond Simeon Draper 1813 Samuel B. Rice Oliver Crosby
1814 Seth Field Oliver Crosby
1815 Elisha Hammond Simeon Draper
1816 Simeon Draper Israel Smith Samuel B. Rice
1833 Solomon Gilbert Rufus Harrington
1817 Seth Field
Simeon Draper
1835 Ebenezer Merriam. Lewis Abbott
1818 Seth Field Simeon Draper
1819 Simeon Draper Seth Field
1837 Harrison Hathaway Aaron Kimball
1820 none
1821 Joseph W. Hamilton
1822 Seth Field
1823 none
1839 Amos Prichard
Francis Howe
1825 Thomas Bond
1840 Luther Stowell
1826 Ileman Stebbins
1841 none
1827 John Homans
1842 Francis Howe
The following inhabitants of Brookfield have been Senators for the county of Worcester in the Legislature of Massachusetts during the period designated by the dates connected with their respective names.
1780 Honorable Joseph Dorr* 1783. 1793 Honorable Thomas Hale 1810. 1808 Honorable Pliny Merrick ISUS. 1815 Honorable Oliver Crosby 1818. Representatives in Congress. 1793 Honorable Dwight Foster 1801. 1807 Honorable Jabez Upham 1809.
* At the time of his election he resided in Ward.
Ebenezer Merriam 1828 Alanson Hamilton John Homans
1829 Simeon Draper Ebenezer Merriam Alanson Hamilton 1830 Simeon Draper Alanson Hamilton
1831 Abraham Skinner
1832 Solomon Gilbert Rufus Harrington
1834 Lewis Abbott Isaac Gleason
1836 Ebenezer Merriam Lewis Abbott
1838 Ebenezer Prouty Silvanus Thomas
1824 none
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APPENDIX.
Senator in Congress. 1800 Honorable Dwight Foster 1803.
S.
At a legal meeting of the Inhabitants of Brookfield on Mon- day the 28th day of November, 1748. Then voted Joseph Dwight, Esq. moderator for said meeting. After a long debate the question was put by the moderator, whether they would grant the prayer of the petition of Captain Witt and others, praying to be set off a separate precinct with butts and bounds as set forth in said petition and it passed in the negative .- Then voted that the petitioners and such others of the northeasterly part of the said town, who shall signify their desire under their hands to the clerk of the town therefor within three months from this day, provided their possessions do not exceed a third part of the said town for quantity and quality be set off a distinct and separate parish. And then voted to concur with the vote of the Church: in their choice of Mr. Elisha Harding to be their minister.
December 22d. Met according to appointment, and after a considerable debate thereon voted that there be given and grant- ed to Mr. Elisha Harding for his encouragement to settle in the Gospel ministry in said town the sum of one thousand pounds old tenor currency. 2dly. Voted that there be given and grant- ed to the said Mr. Elisha Harding for his yearly salary and sup- port during the time of his continuance in the ministry aforesaid the sum of five hundred pounds old tenor currency accounting the same as though to be paid in Indian corn at 20s. per bushel and rye at 30s. per bushel, and wheat at 40s. per bushel, and so the five hundred pounds to be diminished or increased yearly in proportion to the prices of those commodities as they shall yearly rise or fall and be commonly bought or sold in said town ; provided he release to the town all right to the ministry lands or in case he inclines to have the improvement thereof he have the liberty thereof allowing and paying as much as any other person or persons would give therefor.
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APPENDIX.
T.
In consequence of the annoyance occasioned by Indians in- stigated and employed by the French it was deemed expedient to undertake an expedition for the conquest of Canada. Exten- sive preparations were made by the inhabitants of this place to bear their part in carrying the project into execution. Arms and ammunition were procured and stored in the house of General Dwight, now owned by Mr. Nathaniel Lynde. Winter was re- garded as the most favorable time for the expedition, and hence a quantity of "snow shoes" were made and deposited in the same place to facilitate the enterprise .*
At a town meeting in May, 1776, the question was asked " whether the town would support the Honorable Congress in the measure, if they for our safety should see fit to declare the colonies independent of Great Britain, and it passed in the af- firmative almost unanimously," and during the whole of that eventful struggle they did not yield to despondency, nor fail to redeem the pledge which they had given.
In 1787, when the insurgents under Shays disturbed the peace of the State and threatened to destroy our civil institutions, the inhabitants of this place were not uninterested spectators of the scene. And though it is admitted, that a portion of them were found in the ranks of the insurgents, yet it cannot be denied, that the government received from the remainder a prompt and effi- cient co-operation. A company was sent to Worcester to pro- tect the Court about to sit in that place. These were soon or- dered to Springfield. Others from the town were added to them. The troops from Brookfield on the side of the govern- ment consisted of a company of Infantry from the South Parish, a portion of Colonel Crafts' Regiment of Cavalry, and a compa- ny of Volunteers from the town at large, under the command of
* The " snow shoes" remained in the house till after the reduction of Que- . bec by General Wolfe in 1759: In the winter of 1761, or 2, several pairs of them were borrowed by Mr. Jesse Abbot and his friends to effect the interment of a person, who died when there was an unusual depth of snow.
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APPENDIX. .
Colonel Jeduthan Baldwin, as Captain ; Colonel Banister, and Major Goodale, as Lieutenants. This Company, joined to Col- onel Crafts' Troop, and conveyed in sleighs, was very efficient. They were sent on an expedition to a town, then called Mur- rayfield, to intercept provisions destined for Shays' men from Berkshire, guarded by 50 soldiers under the command of Colonel Ludington. By a rush on the village at midnight the whole party was taken with 14 sleigh loads of provisions and safely lodged the next day at Northampton. The next day the little remnant of Shays' men were pursued and routed at Peters- ham.
U.
" Before giving a list of the individuals of this town, who have received collegiate honors, it is proper to mention the following persons, who either resided elsewhere at the time of their grad- nation, or did not receive the advantage of literary Institutions.
Brigadier General Joseph Dwight was the son of Henry Dwight of Hatfield, born October 16th, 1703, settled at Brook- field, removed to Great Barrington, and died June 9th, 1765. He was graduated at Harvard College, 1722. Admitted to the practice of Law at Worcester on the first establishment of the county, was a member of the Council, Colonel of the Militia, Brigadier General in the expedition against Louisburg in the year 1745, and afterwards Judge of the Court in the County of Berkshire.
The following notice of the late Judge Upham of New Brunswick, taken from a recent publication by Geo. A. Ward, containing Biographical Notices of many American Loyalists and other eminent men, is thought deserving a place in this list of individuals of this town, who have received collegiate and civil honors.
" Joshua Upham, Esq. the son of Dr. Upham of Brookfield, was born in that town in 1741. He was graduated at Harvard University in 1763 in a class with several who afterwards acted im-
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APPENDIX.
portant parts on the general stage. One of the first woolen fac- tories ever attempted in this country he established in 1768, at Brookfield. On finishing his professional studies, he was admit- ted to the bar in Worcester, August 1765. He commenced practice in his native Town, pursued his business with success- ful assiduity in the courts, till 1776, or the following year. He removed from Brookfield to Boston, where he resided till 1778, and thence to New York, where he continued during the re- mainder of the War. While in New York, he was aid-de-camp to Sir Guy Carlton, and before he left the British army, became a Colonel of dragoons.
On the organization of the government of the province of New Brunswick in 1784, Upham, who had been one of the first settlers there, returned to his favorite science, the law. He was appointed Judge of the highest court in the province, and sustained the important and responsible duties of his office with industry and ability. In 1807 he was selected by his brethren on the bench to visit England, for the purpose of obtaining from the government a more perfect organization and arrangement of the judiciary in the British American provinces. He fully succeeded in the object of appointment ; but did not live to re- turn to his country. He died in London in the year 1808."
Honorable Jedediah Foster was born at Andover, and was graduated at Harvard College in 1744, and settled in Brookfield. In 1754 he was appointed a Justice of the Peace and of the Quorum for the county of Worcester. In 1751 he was appoint- ed a Major of forces raised for the defence of the country, when threatened with an invasion by the French advancing by way of Crown Point and lake Champlain. He was a member of the " Provincial Congress" and at the commencement of hostilities with Great Britain and before the government was es- tablished, he was chosen by the people as Colonel of a Regi- ment. In July, 1755, he was appointed a member of the su- preme Council. He was afterwards a Judge of Probate and al- so of the Supreme Court. In March, 1779, he was a member of the convention at Cambridge for the purpose of forming a Constitution and a member of the Committee for drafting it.
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APPENDIX.
He died much lamented October 17th of the same year, aged 55.
Honorable Joseph Dorr was graduated at Harvard College in 1752, settled in Ward, and afterwards removed to Brookfield where he died October 31st, 1808, aged 78. He was appoint. ed a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in 1776 and resigned in 1801. Judge of Probate in 1782, and resigned in 1800. In 1780 he was chosen senator for the county of Worcester.
Honorable Pliny Merrick was graduated at Harvard College in 1776, was appointed a Justice of the Court of Sessions in 1807, and in 1808 was chosen a Senator for the county of Wor- cester. He died March, 1814 aged 59.
IIonorable Oliver Crosby was born at Brookfield June 3d, 1766. Though he did not receive the advantages of a public education, yet by his solitary efforts, and the excitement produc- ed by a society* for mutual improvement, he acquired a strength of mind and an acquaintance with facts which qualified him to fill several important stations. In 1814 he was appointed a Jus- tice of the Court of Common Pleas, and in 18!5 he was elected a Senator for the county of Worcester. He died July 24th, 1818.
Honourable Diederick Leertouwer consul of their High Mightinesses, the States General of the United Netherlands for the States of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, resided many years in this town. He died August 24th, 1798, aged 38. Ilis family have returned to Europe.
GRADUATES OF DIFFERENT COLLEGES. 2
HI. U. denotes Harvard University. Y. C. Yale College. B. U. Brown University. D. C. Dartmouth College. U .. C. Union College. M. C. Middlebury College. W. C. Wil- liams College. A. C. Amherst College.
Joshua Upham. II. U. 1763. Judge of the Supreme Court, in the Province of Mew-Brunswick.
* This association was formed chiefly by the influence and enterprize of the Honorable Oliver Fiske. Its records are said to be still extant. It is believed that a developement of the plan, exercises, and especially of the effects of this society would cast light on the subject of modern Lyceums-and furnish youth with strong inducements to engage in the business of mutual instruction.
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APPENDIX.
85
Enos Hitchcock. H. U. 1767, D. D. Minister in Providence, R. I.
Theodore Foster. B. U. 1770. Lawyer in Providence R. I. and for 13 years a member of the United States Senate.
Dwight Foster. B. U. 1774. Lawyer in Providence and on the death of his father the Hon. Jedediah Foster, he returned to Brookfield. In 1779, he was elected a member of the conven- tion for forming the Constitution. He was commissioned a justice of the Peace and of the Quorum in 1788, Special Jus- tice of the Court of Common Pleas, for the county of Worcester 1792, and in June of the same year, High Sheriff of the Coun- ty. In 1792, He was chosen one of the Electors of President and Vice-President of the United States. He was commission- ed Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas for the county of Worcester, in July, 1801; and continued in that office till 1811. He was a member of the Council of Massachusetts in 1818 ; and died April 29, 1823, aged 66.
Tilly Rice. B. U. 1777.
Samuel Hinckley. Y. C. 1781.
Peletiah Hitchcock. H. U. 1785. Lawyer in Brookfield.
Merrick Rice. H. U. 1785.
Jabez Upham. H. U. 1785.
Amos Crosby. H. U. 1786.
Benjamin Joseph Gilbert. Y. C. 1786.
Oliver Fiske. H. U. 1787. Physician in Worcester. Mem- ber of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and of the Massachusetts Medical Society. Register of Deeds for the county of Worcester, from 1816, to 1821. Member of the Executive Council from 180S, to 1810, and from 1812 to 1815. Justice of the Peace and of the Quorum through the Common- wealth, and Special Justice of the Court of Common Pleas, for the County of Worcester.
George Baxter Upham. H. U. 1789. Lawyer in Claremont, N. H. and member of Congress.
Phineas Walker. B. U. 1790. Judge of Probate, New. Hampshire.
8
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APPENDIX.
Samuel Fiske. H. U. 1793.
Lovell Walker, D. C. 1794.
Daniel Gilbert. D. C. 1796.
John F. Jennison. D. C. 1797. William B. Bannister. D. C. 1797.
Joseph Williston. HI. U. 1799. Sailing Master United States' Ship, Java. Mediterranean.
Jonathan Parsons Hitchcock. B. U. 1799.
Enos Cutler. B. U. 1800. Tutor from 1800 to 1801.
Samuel Upham. D. C. 1801.
Charles Gilbert. D. C. 1801.
IIenry G. Rice. H. U. 1802.
John Reed. Y. C. 1803.
John Foxcroft. II. U. 1807.
Harvey Jenks. B. U. 1810.
Joel Hawes. B. U. 1813.
Pliny Merrick. H. U. 1814. Lawyer in Worcester. County Attorney.
Samuel B. Rice. II. U. 1816.
Alfred Dwight Foster. H. U. 1819.
Henry Upham. H. U. 1819.
John C. Nichols. Y. C. 1824.
Lucius W. Clark. B. U. 1825.
Caleb Sprague Henry. D. C. 1825.
Israel Hamilton. M. C. 1825.
Albert Spooner. U. C. 1826. Arad Gilbert. Y. C. 1826.
Hollister B. Gilbert was three years a member of W. C. and took a dismission in 1825.
Since the incorporation of North Brookfield as a town the fol- lowing persons have been graduated.,
Thomas Adams. D. C. 1814. Pastor of the Church in Vassalboro, Maine.
Ebenezer Strong Snell. A. C. 1822. Chosen Tutor 1825. Preceptor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy, 1827.
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APPENDIX.
V.
The FIRST CHURCH, in Brookfield, was formed October 16th 1717, and is the oldest of those between Marlborough and the towns on Connecticut River. The Subjoined COVENANT is not known to have been materially altered since the formation of the Church. -
You do now in the presence of the great and holy GOD, the elect Angels, and this assembly of witnesses, enter into a solemn and perpetual covenant, never to be forgotten, never to be broken.
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