USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > History of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Volume II pt 2 > Part 39
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The town is well watered, not wholly by those streams already men - tioned, but also by numerous springs which issue from the sides of the hills, insomuch that nearly every farm in the town has a supply of living water.
The general character of the soil is clayey, but not so hard and stiff as to prevent its fertility except in a few places. Loam predominates in some localities, and a few spots may be called gravelly. The best lands lie along the Hoosick, especially in the east part of the town, and were mostly the original subdivision of meadow lots. A large tract in the south part of the town about the junction of the two principal branches of Green River, and along up those streams is also particularly fertile and beautiful. The farms that lie along the base of the mountains on the west through " Oblong" and over Bee Hill and to the northern border of the town are productive and valuable, but many of the hill farms on which, in the earlier years of the settlement of the town, residences were built and families were reared-and which were then fairly fertile, suited both to grazing and tillage-have been abandoned, except for pasturage. But few acres have been cleared of timber during the last fifty years. The forests have encroached upon the cleared ground, and there are less acres of improved land in the town now than fifty years ago.
The settlements of the town were retarded by Indian hostilities. The
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TOWN OF WILLIAMSTOWN.
valley of the Hoosick was one of the natural routes by which the French and Indians were enabled to reach the English colonists of Massachusetts Bay. The route was down Lake Champlain and the Hudson until the valley of the Hoosick was reached-twenty miles above Albany-then eastward along this valley and that of the Deerfield, and southward toward the settlements in Connecticut. This had been the pathway by which the colonists had been approached through a long series of years. Fort Massachusetts was built to check and prevent these in- cursions. This fort, however, failed to fully protect the " West Town- ship," situated three or four miles down the valley, westward : and when, in 1754, the settlement at " Dutch Hoossuck " (Hoosick Falls) was broken up by the Indians and some of the people killed, the settlers at " West Hoosuck " abandoned the place and those with families sought shelter at Fort Massachusetts and others returned to their homes.
Early in 1756 William Chidester, an original proprietor of the town, having drawn house lots Nos. 6 and 24. petitioned the General Court for authority and aid to build a " Block-house in the Westerly Township." This petition was granted and on the 6th of February following Governor Shirley issued an order authorizing Chidester to build a blockhouse on the "Square," if a sufficient number should join him so as to complete the work by the 10th of March following. otherwise to "erect a Block- house round his house and the two other houses convenient to be taken." Chidester, aided by Benjamin Simonds, Seth Hudson, and Jabez Warren proceeded to erect a blockhouse on his own honse lot, No. 6, on the north side of the street, twenty-eight rods west of the present site of the Mansion House. Others who had left the place at the alarm of 1754, re- turned and assisted in the work, amongst whom were Nehemiah Smedley, and Josiah and William Horsford. On the 9th of March, 1756, the Gen- eral Court issued the following order :
" Ordered that there be forty men at Hoosuck and no more. Thirty whereof to be posted at Fort Massachusetts and ten at the West Township, the said ten at ve West Township to be inhabitants of sd Township if there shall be so many inhabit- ants effective for the service, always including the men that shall have been con- cerned in building the Blockhouse agreeable to the vote of the court of the 28th of January last."
The command of the fort was given at first to Sergeant Samuel Tay- lor, and he was succeeded, in April following. by Chidester. he having obtained a sergeant's commission.
On the 11th of July. 1756, the blockhouse was beset by a large party of the enemy, and Chidester and one of his sons and Captain Elisha Chapin were killed. Seth Hudson succeeded to the command of the fort, which received considerable accessions of men during the next two years, and ammunition and subsistence from Fort Massachusetts. Peace was concluded between France and England in 1763, the town was in. corporated in 1765, and these events led to a rapid increase of population.
Col Benjamin Simonds was one of the original proprietors of the
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HISTORY OF BERESHIRE COUNTY.
town and among the early settlers. He came from Northampton, and was here in 1760. He drew house lot No. 22, and built upon it. After- ward he built and kept a tavern (the first tavern in the town) on house lot No. 3. The house was long ocenpied by General Thomson J. Skinner, and was on the same premises where Dr. Henry L. Sabin lived and where his family still reside. He also built the house where Leonard Cole lived, the present residence of George H. Prindle-north of the Hoosick-on the road toward Pownal, and which was also a tavern. It is said that Rachel, his daughter, born April 8th, 1763, was the first child of English parentage born in the town. He commanded the forces from Berkshire at the battle of Bennington, and wa's active and prominent in the military affairs of this section of the county during the entire war. His name appears as among the most conspicuous and influential in the affairs of the town, and he enjoyed the esteem and confidence of the people in a marked degree.
Richard Stratton came from Western (now Warren). His name ap- pears often in the records, as clerk (or clark as he wrote it) of the pro- prietors, and he was an active and leading man in the early history of the town. He was here as early as 1761, and built the first two-story house in the town, now owned and occupied by James M. Waterman.
Thomas Train, who drew house lot No. 30, was one of the earliest settlers, was chosen collector for the proprietors at their first meeting, and lived near where John M. Cole now lives. He located afterward at the south part of the town, near the road that leads from the Hickox place to the Townsend place. He was a son-in-law of Colonel Simonds, and his descendants are still residents of the town.
Jonathan and James Meacham were cousins from New Salem. Jon- athan was here in 1753, and his family in 1754. They all took refuge in Fort Massachusetts upon the alarm occasioned by the attack of the In- dians on " Dutch Hoosuck " or Hoosick Falls. At the first meeting of the proprietors, in 1753, he was chosen as one of the committee to lay out the lands of the township. He entered the military service under Col. Ephraim Williams, and was with him in the Crown Point expedi- tion in 1755. Subsequently he returned, and in 1766 lived near College Spring, and afterward on Bee Hill.
James came later, in 1762, and settled near where the family have since resided, in Water street. on the Green River road, on the place known as the " Meacham Place."
Thomas Dunton, from Western, lived on the Hoosick near Noble's now Depot Bridge, and Derick Webb between John M. Cole's and Green River.
Elkanah Paris, a Quaker, lived on the south side of the street, near Green River, and afterward built the house in " East Street," long oc- cupied by Stephen Bacon and his descendants. Capt. Isaac Searle lived where Timothy Northam lived, near " Northam Bridge," and where Mrs. John Lindley now lives.
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TOWN OF WILLIAMSTOWN.
William and JJosiah Horsford (or Hosford), came very early from Canaan, Conn. Josiah lived opposite West College, on the lot on which stands the residence of the president of the college. William built the house and lived where the merchants T. and J. P. Whitman subsequent- ly resided. His name appears often in the early records, occupying places of trust, especially as clerk of the proprietors.
Capt. Nehemiah Smedley. from Litchfield, Con .. came very early and. in 1754. built the house on house lot No. 1, long occupied by Mrs. Ben- jamin, and which has lately given place to a college society building. The same year he planted the orchard on this place. said to be the oldest in town. and in bearing in 1765. In 1776 he built the house, the next oldest now remaining in town, in which Benjamin F. Bridges, one of his descendants, now lives, east of Green River and known as the Smed- ley place. The old oven in the basement still remains, and it is related that during the absence of her husband at the battle of Bennington Mrs. Smedley baked in this oven a large quantity of bread, and sent it by her son, a lad of seventeen, to the Revolutionary army at Bennington. It is quite certain that Captain Smedley commanded the company from the north part of the town at this battle.
John Smedley lived by the side of the Hoosick near the Barrett place. The following is in the Proprietors' Book, July, 1763 :
"Voted John Smedley liberty to build a saw mill on Broad Brook and to carry the water acrost the highway on his own cost, also two acres and a half of land to accommodate sd. saw-mill. Sd. land to be ' Reducted' out of his next draft or pitch of land."
Jedediah Smedley located on the farm afterward owned by John Day, later by Asa E. Daniels, and now by John B. Gale, of Troy. N. Y. David Nichols, from Middletown, Conn., a tanner, settled where Henry Hurlbut formerly lived, and carried on the tanning business, now owned by Mr. Tyler. Stephen Davis located on the Oren Kellogg farm, now owned by Mrs. Albert Green. Titus Harrison, from Litchfield. Com., settled near " Towns Mills," which he built and owned. Josiah Wright. from Wethersfield, Conn., born in 1764, was where William Blair and his family lived, now owned by Dr. C. L. Hubbell.
Derrick Smith, an early settler from Connecticut, lived in the house on the line between this State and Vermont. This house was afterward a tavern, kept by Timothy Ware, who was a Vermont magistrate, quali- fied to perform the marriage ceremony. The north part of the house was in Vermont, and frequently the Massachusetts law was evaded by parties who passed just over the line into the north room and were married. Joseph Talmadge, from Colchester. Conn., was an early settler on the farm held till lately by his family, on Northwest Hill, where Wil. lard Sherman lived.
Elisha Baker, from Roxbury, Conn., settled near where Ira Ford formerly lived, on the farm now owned by Eher Sherman, on the road
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HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
toward North Adams, and the bridge beyond, over the Hoosick. is known as the " Baker Bridge."
The best lands in the south part of the town were laid out very early as a part of the first and second divisions of fifty-acre lots, but the settle- ments were begun later. Isaac Stratton, son of Richard Stratton, began in 1760, on the farm afterward owned by Bartholomew Woodcock, and lately by William E. Johnson, and now by Samuel H. Rhodes. He was there alone three or four years, and built the house now on the farm and which was kept for a time as a tavern.
Daniel Burbank. from Western, built about 1761 on the next farm south. His first house was a building of one room. This gave place to the house by the pine tree in which Samuel and Rachel Burbank, brother and sister, lived and died, the last of the family in town.
Thomas Roe, from Canaan, in the same year began where J. C. Richmond now lives, the farm formerly owned by Dan. Foster, and Aaron Deming about the same time located where Andrew Thomas re- sides.
Bartholomew Woodcock, from Milford, Conn., in 1765, began on the place where Deacon Andrew Beers lived. His brother, Nehemiah, came in 1769, and built at Woodcock's Corners (so called) a mile north of the village, on the road leading over "Stone Hill." It is tradition that he and his wife rode on horseback from Milford, their native place, and brought their entire stock of housekeeping furniture with them on the two horses.
Ichabod Southwick, from New Salem, came as early as 1763, and settled on what was long known as the Hubbell farm, now owned and occupied by Stephen A. Hickox, on the Green River road. Robert Mc- Master, from Brimfield, began in 1763 on the farm known as the Mc- Master place, where George Field now lives, and his brother, John, at the same time near where Charles Young now lives, and Moses Rich near the same place.
Elijah Rich lived near the Sweet Brook, south of the old house formerly the home of Benjamin Briggs, now owned by Daniel H. Phelps. In the grave yard at the south part of the town are twelve short graves, indicated by as many unlettered stones. These are the graves of twelve children of Elijah Rich.
David Johnson. from Middletown, Conn., settled on " Stone Hill," on the Gurdon Bulkley farm. General Samuel Sloan, from Canaan, Conn., began between the village and Woodcock's Corners, about 1766. and afterward build the house which has always been a tavern, and now known as the "Sabin House," in the south village, and later he built and occupied the mansion in the north village, now the property of the college and the residence of the president, Dr. Carter. His brother, Alexander Sloan, built the house formerly occupied by Gershom Bulk- ley, and where Cassins D. Phelps now lives.
William and John Torrey came about 1787, from Middletown. Wil-
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TOWN OF WILLIAMSTOWN.
liam settled where his son David and his grandson William lived, now the residence of Lewis J. Gardner. John was southeast of him, between the site of the old MeMaster school house and Sweet Brook, and carried on the business of tanning.
Capt. Samuel Clarke, from Washington, Conn., came about 1765, and built the house where William Young lived, latterly the home of Loring W. Smith, and now of his son, George W. Smith. He commanded the company which went from the south part of the town to the battle of Bennington. It consisted of sixty-five men. The old military line ran east and west on the south line of the Williams farm, by the site of the old Blair school house, and on Stone Hill north of the Bulkley residence and between the homes of David Torrey and Joseph Torrey, dividing the town into two nearly equal parts. The members of that company all lived south of this line. It is related of them that at the close of the battle of Bennington they were ordered to guard a quantity of provisions that was transported to Pittsfield ; that the whole time of their absence from home was eight days, hence a pay-roll which has the names of all the company.
Moses and Andrew Young were here before 1770. Moses located first on the road toward Lanesborough (then called New Framingham) and built the house -- lately burned-where Deacon William White lived. He sold to his brother Andrew, and settled on the Hancock road and built the house where his son James Young lived, and now the residence of his grandson, Erastus B. Young. He also built for a store for his son Reuben, the house near the Sabin House, and now owned by William Drew.
Titus Deming located on the road toward New Ashford, where Mrs. Quincy A. Roys now lives. Asa, Amasa, and Joseph Corbin, from New Haven, Conn., settled on the road toward Hancock, and built the " Cor- 'bin Mills," and the house formerly occupied by their descendants. Isaac. Samuel, and Jonathan Sherwood were here before 1770. Jonathan lived on the corner where Norman Sweet now lives. His house was for many years the place for Methodist meetings. Isaac settled on the eastern part of what was known as the Eldridge farm, now owned by Charles and Frank Young. The house in which he lived stood south of the road leading to " Oblong," and east of the present residence of Frank Young. Zebediah Sabin, David Johnson, 2d, and Samuel Mills located on the " Oblong " road.
The following is an extract from Child's Gazetteer of Berkshire Co., published in 1885 :
"Capt. Samuel Mills was born in Wallingford, Conn., and came to Williams- town before 1770. He purchased several original lots of land on the "Oblong," where he cleared a farm and erected a house and barn. The house he continued :3 occupy till his death, in 1814, and it is still standing. Mr. Mills was early identified with the military interests of his town, was a captain of militia, and participated in the battle of Bennington. He married Jemima Harrington, the union being blessed
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HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
with four sons and three daughters. Two of these, John and Reed, settled as far- mers on the 'Oblong,' and occupied the old homestead. Theodore S., the third son, became a successful physician and settled in the town of Western, Oneida county, N. Y., but later emigrated to Half Day, Wisconsin, where he located his large family and remained till his death. Samuel, the youngest son, died in early manhood. John raised a family of five sons and four daughters. The sons went West and became farmers. Reed had a family of three sons and one daughter. Ben- jamin F., his oldest son, and his brother Josiah A .. inherited the old homestead and possessed it together until 1883. when they sold it. In 1842 these brothers organ- ized 'Greylock Institute.' Josith .A., who was a lawyer, severed his connection with the institute in 1858, and located in Buffalo, N. Y., and subsequently, viz., in 1873, in Chatham, N. Y., where he died in March, 1884."
The farm referred to is now owned and occupied by Edward C. Young.
Zebediah Sabin lived where Charles A. Sabin, his great-grandson, now resides. He was a lieutenant in a company which went from this town to Canada. in the winter of 1776, where, with others of his townsmen, he laid down his life in the service of his country.
Of those who came later, but before 1800, Dr. Samuel Porter, from Northampton, located near Woodcock's Corners, on the farm now known as the Morey farm. His son. Dr. Alanson Porter, built the brick house near the meeting house, in the south part of the town. The brick for the house were made on the farm on the lot south of Green River. Jon- athan Danforth, from Western, and Thomas F. Hoxie, from Kingston, R. I., located in " Buxton," and the merchants T. and J. P. Whitman, from Hartford, Conn., in the north village.
Hon. Daniel Dewey was a native of Sheffield. in this county, studied law with Judge Sedgwick, of Stockbridge, and came here in 1790. He was eminently successful in his profession, was a member of the Gov- vernor's Council in 1809 and 1812, and a member of the Thirteenth Con- gress. In 1814 he was appointed one of the justices of the Supreme Ju- dicial Court, and died May 26th. 1815, in his 50th year.
John, Peter, and William Krigget were here in 1767, and had per- mission, by a vote of the Proprietors, to "set up" a grist mili at " Tay- lor's Crotch," so called, on these conditions, that they have all the se. questered land on the west side of the branch. " Provided that they keep sd. mill in order." In 1769 they had liberty to "set up" a saw mill on the east branch on similar conditions.
William Starkweather, from Preston, William B. Sherman, from Kingston, R. I., Obadiah Bardwell and Daniel Davies, from Heath, Samuel Rossiter, from Richmond, and Charles Kellogg, from Bolton. Conn .. came here before 1800.
The town received also a large number of inhabitants at different times between 1779 and 1800 from Colchester. Conn .. including the Bulkless, Bridges Chamberlains, Days, Fords, Judds. Northams, Skinners. Tyler Judah and Elisha Willians, Elijah. Thomas, and Solo-
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TOWN OF WILLIAMSTOWN.
mon Wolcott. Col. Thomson J. Skinner came in 1775, and early ac- quired an extensive influence in the town and county. He at different times represented both in the Legislature, was many years chief justice of the Court of Common Pleas for the county, and treasurer of Williams College. He was major general of militia, a representative in the Fifth Congress, marshal of the District of Massachusetts, and treasurer of the State. He died at Boston, January 20th, 1800, in his 57th year. The Chamberlains, Fords, and Tylers settled on "Northwest Hill," the Bridges and the Northamis on the banks of the Hoosick.
Reuben Judd located on the Green River road where Mark Galusha lately lived. He was a clothier, and his shop was on the bank of Green River a few rods below the " Townsend bridge." Judah Williams lo- cated first on the road toward North Adams, but came into the village and built the brick house which is now the home of JJohn M. Cole. Capt. Stephen Hickox came from Granville, Conn .. in 1781, and locatel on "Bee Hill," and cleared a large farm of 600 acres, which was occupied many years after his death by his two sons, Stephen, jr., and John. He built the residence now owned and occupied by his grandson. Chauncey A. Hickox, in 1813, and later, with the help of his sons, built the house now the home of John Prindle, on the same estate.
Benjamin Briggs, originally from Rhode Island, came here from Berlin, N. Y., and settled on the " Holmes " place, now owned by Daniel H. Phelps. He became a large land owner and was accounted wealthy. When over 80 years old he was summoned as a witness to attend court in Lenox, and testified that it was the first that he had ever testified in any court.
Daniel Galusha came from Vermont in 1797, and settled where his grandson, Daniel B. Galusha, now lives, on the " Torrey's Woods" road.
Daniel Phelps came from Northampton, in 1799, and brought with him his son. Thomas C. Phelps, then only four years old. He located between the villages, and lived to a good old age.
Thomas C. Phelps became prominent in the public affairs of the town, was esteemed for his integrity and uprightness, and was honored frequently by election to places of trust and responsibility. He was de- cided in his political views. He was originally a democrat, and repre- sented that party in the Legislature of 1838. Later he was a " Freesoil democrat," and upon the formation of the republican party. in 1856, was identified with it. He died September 7th. 1866, aged 71 years.
Nathan Eldridge came from Shaftsbury, Vt .. in 1796, and located on the farm on the Hancock road where Samonel Kellogg now lives. His son, Col. Reuben, lived on the old homestead, and died in 1856, aged 62 years.
Captain Daniel Giles, an early settler, located on the road toward Oblong, and built the house in which Reuben Young lived, now the home of Dr. H. W. Young.
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HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
The following is an extract from the " History of Williams College." by Rev. Calvin Durfee :
"Hon. Daniel N. Dewey died at his residence in Williamstown, January 14th, 1859. He was born in Williamstown, April 4th, 1800. He completed his college course at Yale College in 1820. His legal studies were pursued in the office of the Hon. Elisha H. Mills, of Northampton. Soon after he was admitted to the practice of his profession he became a permanent resident in his native town. He was a representative to the General Court, a member of the Executive Council, and was a Judge of Probate from 184S until the time of his decease. He held the responsible post of treasurer and secretary of Williams College for twenty-nine years, managing its financial affairs with care and economy. He was a man of unbending integrity and uprightness. Though a lawyer by profession, he very much discouraged litiga- tion. Judge Dewey was a religious man, deeply interested in the welfare of the church of which he became a member in 1838, and was liberal in his contributions for the support of the institutions of religion at home and abroad."
Williamstown partook largely of the feeling which pervaded the country during the rise and progress of the civil war. The town fur- nished 260 men, which was a surplus of eighteen over and above all de- mands. Six were commissioned officers. The action taken by the town with reference to the war was in part as follows :
Special town meeting, June 31, 1861 : William E. Johnson, modera- tor. Voted "To appropriate five thousand dollars for the support of families of such persons, residents of Williamstown, as are or may be mustered into the service as volunteer soldiers of the United States in the present war against Southern Rebels."
Special town meeting, August 2d, 1862 ; James M. Waterman, mod- erator. Second article in the warrant, "To take into consideration the call upon the town for twenty-nine volunteers to fill up the quota of the commonwealth toward the three hundred thousand soldiers called for by the last proclamation of the President of the United States and to see if the town will raise and appropriate money for bounties to enlisted men."
At the adjourned meeting, August 9th, it was voted "To give the committee authority to borrow the sum of thirty-one hundred dollars and to pledge therefor the faith and credit of the town, and to pay to each soldier mustered in on said quota the sum of one hundred dollars as bounty money."
Special town meeting, September 6th, 1862; Hon. Joseph White. moderator. Second article in the warrant, "To see if the town will vote to give a bounty of one hundred dollars to each individual volunteering to enlist in the army to avoid a draft."
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