USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Deerfield > History of Deerfield, Massachusetts: the times when the people by whom it was settled, unsettled and resettled, vol 1 > Part 56
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As to the killed and wounded of the enemy is uncertain. We see them carry off but two, just as the fight was over. This is certain, a great many of the men fired 4, 5 or 6 rounds apiece in fair sight & at no greater distance than 15 rods, a great many not over 7 rods. Lt. Hawley was shot in the leg; Samuel Abbot shot below his naval, the shot cut out of his buttock. [ He lived but a day or two. ] Eze- kiel Wells shot in the hip, the bullet lodged in his groin *
X * All behaved like men, not one flinched.
The assailants were forty-six Canadians and ninety Indi- ans, who left Canada July 6th, under Chevalier Jean Baptiste Boucher de Niverville. He is the same officer who made the unsuccessful assault at No. 4. Chevalier Niverville on his re- turn found, at Fort Frederick, letters from the Governors of Massachusetts and New York to the Governor of Canada, dated August ist, 1748, [O. S.] with a copy of the King of England's proclamation for a cessation of hostilities. These he took charge of and delivered on his arrival home August 16th. He reported that his men fought but indifferently in the attack, "so that there were killed only 5 Englishmen," and that he had two Indians wounded.
August 19th, Galissonniere sends back word that he has "ordered all hostilities to cease, and so far as depends on him, will put a stop to all hostilities on the part of our Indi- ans." The war between France and England had now virtu- ally closed. A treaty of peace was signed at Aix la Chapelle,
565
CLOSE OF OLD FRENCH WAR.
Oct. 7th, 1748. But the Indians made occasional incursions until the treaty with the Eastern Indians at Falmouth was signed, Oct. 17th, 1749.
A large number of Deerfield men served on the frontiers during the war. Many of them held important positions. Lieut. John Catlin was second in command at Fort Massa- chusetts, and was in charge of Fort Shirley, with Joseph Al- len and Adonijah Atherton as under officers, and thirty-eight men. Lieut. Samuel Childs commanded at Fort Pelham, with John Foster as sergeant and Samuel Barnard as clerk; his other Deerfield men were Josiah Burnham, Ezekiel Fos- ter, Joshua Wells, Jacob Foster and Joshua Hawks; twenty- two other men were on his roll.
Capt. Ephraim Williams was sub-commissary for the west- ern forts ; Col. William Williams, with Col. Josiah Willard of Fort Dummer for the northern forts, and this town. was a place of great activity during the whole war. It was the ren- dezvous of the Connecticut troops sent up on special occa- sions. Some of the billeting charges show that the soldiers were quartered on the inhabitants and their bills paid by the Province.
One bill by David Field, dated June, 1748, is for soldiers under Capt. Elijah Williams. He charges for " meals of vit- uals" Is 9d, and, Is 2d each meal. For "lodging," uniform- ly, 6d. The usual liquor charges are "¿ point of rhum, Is 8 d."
Samuel Bardwell's account shows that he entertained Nan- niad Curtis, Ealy Scott, and Zebediah Ealis of the same com- pany, John Pease and John Beaman of Capt. Kent's company; Aleheuale [Elihu Yale?] John Winchell and Darius Pinney of Capt. Pettibone's company ; William Daget, Robbard Rob- bens, Joseph Ealey and Timothy Pike of Col. Williams's company.
Considerable difficulty was experienced in furnishing sup- plies for the swarm of soldiers which it was necessary to keep on the western frontiers, and the commissaries had a perplexing task. Col. William Williams had his headquar- ters in his store, which stood on the lot where the Everett House was burned ; Capt. Elijah Williams at his store just op_ posite, on the corner of his home lot, the historic lot now oc. cupied by the Dickinson Academy, known to the older gen-
566
TAYLOR SURPRISED. AARON BELDING KILLED.
eration as the " Ware Corner." Three original papers, pre- served in the Sheldon family, are given as being of historical value and interest :-
HAMPSHIRE SS., DEERFIELD, June 12, 1748.
To the Constable or Constables of the town of Deerfield aforesaid, or either of theni, greeting: In His Majesties Name you are hereby Required fourth with to Impress fifteen Eable horses & make Re- turns of this Warrant & your doings thereon to mne.
THOS. WELLS, Justice peace.
In this case success does not seem to have followed his en- deavor, and a higher authority was appealed to :-
HATFIELD, June 14, 1747.
I received your verbal message, that the horses could not be ob- tained. I now send you a Warrant to Impress them, which you must give to ye Constable & have the business done forthwith. Tell your Sister Childs not to deliver any Provisions to any Scouts or parties of men without my Express order in Writing. Attend my former directions in writing.
I am yr Sevt., ISR. WILLIAMS.
Don't let it be known you have a warrant. See to it that ye Con- stable does his business without delay. It will be best you accom- pany him.
[Addressed]
On His Majest's Service, to Mr. John Sheldon at Deerfield
pr Capt. Pettibone.
Warrant to Impress Wheat :-
HAMPSHIRE SS. To the Constable of Deerfield in said County or either of them, Greeting :
Whereas application has been made to me, the subscriber, one of his Majest's Justices of the Peace, by Maj. Josiah Willard, setting forth: That he is under absolute necessity of about one hundred and thirty bushels of wheat in order to supply the Garrison at No. 4, with bread, without which the said Garrison must be deserted for want of Provision, contrary to the design and order of the Govern- ment, and that sundry Persons in the Town of Deerfield are Posses'd of Considerable Quantitys of wheat, who refuse to part with the Same for the use aforesaid. These are therefore in his Majestys name to require you immediately to Impress one hundred and thirty bushels of wheat in the Town of Deerfield, for the use and purposes aforesaid, and the same deliver to Maj. Willard aforesaid, for which he must pay a reasonable price, by you to be paid to the Person or Persons or from whom you shall Impress the wheat; for all which this shall be your sufficient Warrant.
Hereof fail not at your Peril. Dated at Deerfield this 23 day of Sept. in the twenty-second year of his Majesty's Reign, Anno Dom. 1748. Is. WILLIAMS, Just. Pac.
[Endorsed ] Major Willard left £5 Ios with me.
JOHN SHELDON.
567
MEN SERVING IN THE OLD FRENCH WAR.
In October, 1748, Willard and Williams resign their office of commissaries on account of the difficulty of supplying the forts, but they seem to have continued in the service on in- creased pay.
The following list of names of men serving in this war is gathered from the account book of the commissary for this period. It will prove of interest to the genealogist if to no others. They are not all Deerfield men :-
Allen, Edward
Georgaw, Noah
Murray, Daniel,died Dec.
Allen, Joseph
George, Thomas 1748
Allen, John
Gillett, Adonijah
Nash, Daniel
Allis, Zebediah
Goff, William
Nevers, Phineas
Amsden, Isaac
Graves, Aaron
Nims, Elisha
Arms, Daniel
Graves, Bela
Osborn, William
Atherton, Adonijah
Graves, Ebenezer
Parker, Abraham
Atherton, Shubel
Graves, Elisha
Parsons, David
Avery, Oliver
Graves, Samuel,
Peck, Abraham
Baker, Thomas
Green, Barrilla
Pitts, Joseph
Bardwell, Ebenezer
Guage, John
Porter, James
Barnard, John
Guage, Nathaniel
Prince, Abijah
Barrett, Benjamin
Guild, Benjamin
Quangued, George
Bebe, Simeo
Hale, Moses
Rankin, Reuben
Brooks, Moses
Harmon, John
Rider, James
Brooks, Nathaniel
Harvey, Moses
Rose, Richard
Brooks, Samuel
Harvey, Peter
Sawyer, Jesse
Brown, Andrew
Hascal, John
Sedawdy [Indian]
Burke, John
Haven, Ebenezer
Severance, Joseph
Button, John
Hawks, David
Sexton, Gershom
Carey, Richard
Hawks, Eleazer
Smead, Ebenezer
Catlin, John
Hawks, Gershom
Smead, William
Chamberlain, John
Hawks, John
Somerville, Robert
Childs, Asa
Henderson, John
Stebbins, Asahel Stiles, Amos
Coats, Charles
Houston, William
Stoddard, James
Cole, David
Hubbard, Isaac
Swan, William
Cook, Jonathan
Huntley, Elijah
Symons, Joseph
Crocker, John
Huntley, Jonathan
Taylor, James
Crosby, David
Kellogg, Ephraim
Taylor, Moses
Crossman, Thomas
Knights, Benjamin
Taylor, Othniel
Daniel, Ichabod
Knights, Simeon
Taylor, Thomas
Day, Timothy
Lamb, Thomas
Tawney, Joseph
Denio, Aaron, Jr.
Lamberton, James
Town, Edward
Ellis, Reuben
Lincoln, Josiah
Walker, Daniel
. Elmer, Edward
Lock, James
Ware, James
Elmer, Hezekiah
Loveredge, Joseph
Wells, Ebenezer, Jr.
Ely, Joel
Lovering, Joseph
Wells, Samuel
Ely, Nathaniel
Marshall, Benjamin
Wells, Simeon
Evans, Jonathan
McKenney, Daniel
Wheelock, David
Fenton, William
Meacham, Ebenezer
Whipple, David
Ford, Jonathan
Mitchell, Joseph
Wickwise, James
Frost, John
Morse, John
Woolworth, Reuben
Georgaw, Simon
Munn, John
Wight, Nathaniel
Foster, John
Moore, Philip
The following who served for short terms are found on "A muster roll of the company in His Majesty's Service under the command of Thos. Wells, Captain, vis., began the 23d of April, 1746:"-
*
Childs, Samuel
Houston, Seth
568
AARON BELDING KILLED. LIST OF SOLDIERS.
Elijah Williams, Capt.
Elea'r Patterson, Sent.
Dan'll Danilson, Sent.
Jon Hoit, Lt.
Dan'll Arms, Jr.
Jno. Taylor,
Jos. Clesson, Capt. Jon'th Wells,
Sam'll Taylor,
David Field, Sergt.
Phinehas Nash,
Timo. Childs,
Mathew Clesson, "
Jno. Nims.
Thos. Williams,
Nath'l Hawks,
Sam'll Bardwell, Jr.
Aaron Scott,
Jos. Barnard, Clerk.
Eldad Bardwell, 6
Aaron Denior,
Rubin Bardwell, Sent.
Jon'th Catlin,
Jos. Stebbins,
Jon'th Severance, "
Moses Nims,
James Couch,
Sam'll Stebbins,
Josh. Hawks,
James Corse,
Isaac Foster,
Asael Wright, =
Benj'n Mun, Jr.
David Hoit,
Sam'll Allen,
Josh. (?) Wells,
Eliz Wells,
Thos. Phillips,
Jon'th Hoit, Jr.
..
Jos. Smead, ..
Richard Ellis,
Dan'll Graves, ..
George Howland,
Įno. Amsden,
Eber Atherton.
..
Eben'r Arms,
Jno. Sadler,
Jno. Sheldon,
David Wright,
Abner Barnard,
Benj'n Hastings,
Amasa Nims,
Samuel Gunn,
I have never met with any reference to a military hospital in the Connecticut valley. Probably the sick and wounded soldiers were cared for in private families. Representative bills for such service are given below. Ezekiel Wells was wounded at Fort Massachusetts, Aug. 2d, 1748.
Province of the Massachusetts Bay Debtor
to William Arnis for Extraordinary Charges of Bedding, firing candles, tendance &c for Ezekiell Wells Whilst Sick and Wounded at his house from Nov 6, to January 17, 10 weeks and 2 days at Ios per week NT £5 00
HAMPSHEAR SS DEERFIELD March 27 1748-9
William Arms appeared and made oath to the truth of the above account and that he had not received any reward for the same before me
THOS WELLS Just peace
Deerfield March 27 1749 Alowd by the Com"
Province of the To Samuel Bardwell of Deerfield Dr 1749
Massachusetts Bay S
To Nursing & Attendance of Sam'l Trumble one of Cap't Phine- has Stevens's men In his Long & very Grevious Sickness from Apr'l ye 8th to August 30th Twenty Weeks & four Days at Is pr Day £7
To Twenty one pounds of Butter @ Is per lb
I
I
O
To Twenty Six pounds of Suger @ Is 3d
I
12
6
To Six pounds of Candles @ Is 2d
O
7
O
To Fire Wood 30S
I IO
O
To Damage Done my Beding 30s
I
IO
O
Totall New Tenor £13 4 6
The above acct Is Justly Charged Errors Excepted by me SAMUEL BARDWELL HAMPSHE sct Nov: 25th 1749
Mr. Sam11 Bardwell made oath That the abov Acct Is a Just & True Acct: & That he has Never Received any Consideration of the Province or any other theirfor before me THOS WELLS Just peace
Read and alowd by ye Comtee to be pd Col HINSDAL J OSBORNE
4
0
569
HOME HOSPITALS.
Deerfield Nov 5th 1748
Province of the Massachusetts Bay To Sarah Wells Dr
s d
To Nursing & Attendance Jonathan Stone whilst Sick & In the Province Service vist 3 weeks at 7s 6d pr week
I 2 6
To Sundry Necessaries vist Sugar Ilb 2s 6d. Candles 2s Butter I lb 2s Wood 14 Load I2s 6d
I9
Damage done Bed & Beding 5s 5
£ 2 6
6
Aug 30 1749 To Nursing & Attendance on Samuel Trumble whilst Sick vist Six Weeks at 7s 6d pr week
2
5
To Sundry Necessaries vist Candles lb i 2s Sugar lb iv 5s Butter & Lard 1b 12 12s Wood 2/3 of Load 7s 6d
I 6
6
Damage done Bed & Beding IOS
IO
4
I
6
Brot Down
2
6
6
N. Tenor
6
8
L. M.
3
8
3
True amt Error Excepted
SARAH WELLS
HAMPSHIRE SS DEERFIELD Mar. 12. 1749
Then Sarah Wells Subscriber to ye above Amt personally appear- ing made Solemn oath to ye Truth of the same & that she had recd no Consideration for any Part thereof Com Wm Williams
Alowd by the Comtee J Osborne
Just8 Pace
CHAPTER XIX.
MUNICIPAL AND JUDICIAL AFFAIRS, 1714-1774. GREEN RIVER AFFAIRS. SEQUESTERED LAND. MILLS. GAME. SUR- GEONS. FERRY. SUGAR LOAF. CONWAY SET OFF;
SHELBURNE SET OFF ; BLOODY BROOK
WANTS TO BE. HIGHWAYS. PRICES.
At the close of Father Rasle's War the settlers at Green River made a permanent lodgment. Some of them lived in houses on what is now West Main street ; others settled on farms which fell to them in the division of commons, two, three or four miles distant. Schools were founded for this part of the town as early as 1732, and money was granted for preaching when communication was difficult. Specimens of town legislation on these matters will be given :-
April 12, 1736, voted to have a school Master in ye Town & a School Dame at Green River which shall be paid pr scholar four pense pr week.
Jany 15, 1739, Upon hearing ye Petition of the Inhabitants of Green River with respect to yr being Sett off for a Separate Parish &c as may be seen at large by yr petition on file, &c The Question was put whether the prayer of ye Petition be Granted and it past in the negative
Mch 30, 1740, Voted not to build a school house at Green River. Voted that ye Town will hire a room or House at Green River for a School house there proportionable part of ye year yt ye School is to be there. Voted that the Selectmen shall be a com'ttee to deter- mine when and how long ye School shall be at Green River & so at Town.
Nov. 22, 1742, Voted that ye Selectmen are Directed to provide a School Master also to get some person to preach at Green River for this winter or so long as they shall think best.
What seemed "best" to the selectmen probably fell short of what was desired by the ambitious people north of the river ; at any rate, a movement was soon on foot to be set off from the old town with the name of Cheapside.
At a Meeting March 7, 1743, the Question being put whether the petition of the Inhabitants of Green River so called with respect to their being set off as a precint should be granted & it past in the negative.
571
FIRST APPEARANCE OF THE CHEAPSIDE QUESTION.
November 15th the same petition was again presented. The bounds asked for were these :-
North on ye North bounds of ye Town East on Connecticutt Riv- er South on Deerfield River to extend up sd River to Sheldons brook so called & y" to run West by ye needle till it comes to ye West line of ye seven miles square & then to extend northwardly by sd line, till it comes to ye north bounds of ye Town.
The Question being put after the matter had been fully Debated whether they should be set off as aforesaid and it unanimously passed in the negative.
The Question was put whether the matter of Green River being set off as a Precinct should be left to Comtee to consider of some proper bounds to sett off sd Inhabitants by and it passed in the neg- ative.
Upon hearing the Request of Green River Inhabitants &c and the matter being fully Debated the Question was put whether the Town will set off said Inhabitants as a Town with the following bounds, viz .: North by the North bounds of the Town East by Conneticot River South by the Eight Thousand acre line so called, & a line West by the needle from the Northwest Corner of sd eight thousand acres so far as to ye west side of the seven miles square & West by the west additional Grant made to ye Town and it passed in the affirma- tive.
It seems that the people of Greenfield were not ready to cut loose and set up housekeeping for themselves unless they could take along the name and territory of Cheapside. Here we find the elements of a strife, carried on with great bitter- ness for more than a hundred years. At the same meeting there was voted to Green River to provide preaching, "forty shillings Old Tennor a sabath, for three months." One point was thus gained ; the money allowed for preaching was to be expended at their own will instead of at the will of the se- lectmen.
At the annual spring meeting in 1744, a committee was chosen to "fix the boundaries of the Green River homelots and deliver them to the town clerk." A committee was also chosen, --
To Consider what may be thout Reasonable to allow Green River towards maintaining Preaching & Schooling this year *
* * & were Impowered to look into Green River affairs respecting the schooling & preaching for ye last year & Make their Return to the Town that they may make their vote upon it accordingly.
Green River people were found to have been faithful stew- ards, and the committee reported accordingly, recommending that henceforth thirty pounds a year be allowed them, to be
572
MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS. GREEN RIVER.
expended in preaching or on schools, as they should elect. The question of secession seems to have been abandoned dur- ing the war which was now upon the country. The usual ap- propriations were made for preaching and schools.
In 1749, " voted that the sum of thirty shillings, Old Tenor, be granted to the School Dames at Green River for their serv- ices per week in the summer past." By this it appears that more than one school was kept; but no schoolhouse appears to have been built. This year the selectmen defined and put on record a plan of "Green River Street." This is the pres- ent Main street of to-day.
Dec. 18, 1750, Voted to allow the People of Green River a School master two months, provided they can procure a suitable room to keep the school in.
Dec. 9, 1751, Voted that a School be kept at Green River 3 months in the winter season this year & yt ye school be omitted 3 months in ye Town, in ye summer, [thus robbing Peter to pay Paul, -and to provide preaching on their side of] ye river at such seasons as it is difficult for them to attend the Publick Worship in Town.
A schoolhouse was probably built this year, for at the spring meeting in 1752, it was "Voted to allow the people living at the Farms the Liberty of the School House on Sab- eth Days, they finding their own wood."
All concessions to the demands of the Green River people seem to have made them more determined to become a sep- arate political organization. The population of Greenfield at this date is not known, but in 1755, three years later, it was one hundred and ninety-two souls. At a meeting,-
Jan'y 3, 1753, In answer to the Petition of Green River People this day presented to this Town Requesting that they may be set off as a Separate District or a District Precinct by such meets and bounds as may be thoat proper for them & us &c Voted that the Town are willing & do consent that they should be set off Into a Seperate Dis- trict or Precinct, provided their bounds and limits be as follows, viz .: To begin at the northeasterly corner of the Township on Con- necticut River and to proceed Southerly on sª River until they come to the Line of the Eight Thousand acres & then proceed Westward- ly on said Line to the end of it & Continueing sd Line to the West end of the first Tier of Lots west of the seven mile line and from thence to proceed Northerly taking in said lots to the north end of our bounds & then to go East on the Town Line untill they come to the first mentioned boundary on Connecticut River.
The petitioners do not appear to have been satisfied with this action and sent another petition to the meeting held
573
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE.
March 5th, 1753. This paper is not found. The reply to it is, "Green River Petition being heard and Considered, voted to dismiss the same."
Still strenuous that the Deerfield river should be their south bound, the petitioners caused a town meeting to be called for April 2d, when it was,-
Voted that Colo Oliver Partridge Doctº Samuel Mather and Lieut Ebenezer Hunt be Desired to Consider and Determine where the Dividing line shall be between the Town and the proposed District on the north side of Deerfield River; and also to Consider and De- termine where the Meeting house shall be placed in said District & also to consider and determine whether the alloted and Divided lands in sª District shall be subject to a tax towards building a Meetinghouse and Settling a Minister, and if they think it proper it should be taxed then what Tax it shall pay pr acre, pr annum and for how many years, and also to Determine what part of the Publick tax they shall have laid on them, and also what part of the Seques- tered land they shall be entitled to and for what term. In all these things to act and Determine as if there had been no votes of the Town Previous to this with Regard to said Land or District with re- spect to the Boundaries.
Voted that the said Committee shall be paid for their Trouble by the Town if the Committee shall bring their South Line further South Than the Town have voted it already, and if they do not then the Inhabitants of Green River are to pay them.
Voted that Mr Aaron Denio be Desired to notifie the Gentlemen of their being chose and to get them to do the business they are chose for.
Voted that Messers Elijah Williams Aaron Denio Capt John Cat- lin & Ebenezer Wells the second be a Committee in behalf of the Town to wait on the Committee before chose and to let them know what is expected they will take into consideration and to acquaint them with the Lands as far as they are able.
Williams and Catlin represented the town, the others Green River.
At an adjourned meeting, the commissioners to whom these large powers had been mutually intrusted reported :-
Whereas the Town of Deerfield at their Town Meeting April ye 2d, 1753 voted that we the Subscribers should be Desired to Consid- er and Determine where the Dividing Line shall be between the Town and the proposed District on the north side of Deerfield River. Also to Consider and Determine whether the unimproved lands lying in said District that are Divided and aloted shall be subject to a tax for building a Meeting house and settling a Minister, and if so how much pr acre & for what term of time, also to Determine where the Meeting house shall be placed in said proposed District, and what part of the Country Tax shall be paid by said District & also what proportion of the Sequestered land the said District shall be Intitled
574
MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS. SEQUESTERED LANDS.
to &c In Complyance therewith we met at the Town of Deerfield upon the ninth day of said April and on the next Day we proceeded to view the Lands proposed for a District being attended by a Com- mittee of said Town two whereof belongeth to the old Town and two to the proposed District after we had made a thoro view of lands by passing thro the same in various places we heard the alligations of the Committee on both sides upon articles above mentioned and having maturely considered the same do adjudge and Determine it to be Reasonable that the said District be set off in the manner fol- lowing, viz.
That a line be run as far northward as the line known by the name of the Eight Thousand acre line to run from Connecticut River West to the west end of the first tier of Lots which lie west of the seven mile line so called, thence North 19º east to ye north side of ye Town bounds, thence East on the Town line to the Connecticut River, thence as the River Runs to the first Bounds
We further judge it Reasonable that the lands lying in a certain meadow or Intervale which lies north of Deerfield River known by the name of Cheapside which belongs to Timothy Childs Jr and Da- vid Wells who Dwell in Said proposed District should pay taxes to said District when set off
We are further of opinion that it is Reasonable that a tax of one penny farthing pr acre Lawful money be levied upon the unimproved cleared lands in sd District so soon as the frame of a Meeting house be erected in said District and a further tax of one penny pr acre upon said unimproved lands so soon as a minister is settled in said District to be Imployed for building the Meeting House and settling a minister
We have also fixed the place for erecting a Meeting House at a place called Traps plain where we have fixed a white oak stake. We further Judge it Reasonable the same proportion of the Country tax laid on the town of Deerfield hereafter, be paid by the said Dis- trict when set off as was laid upon the Inhabitants and Ratable Es- tates in the limits of said Districts for the last Tax, and that the said District have the Improvement of one-half of the Sequestered lands in said Town of Deerfield lying north of Deerfield River.
OLIVER PARTRIDGE. SAMII MATHER. EBENEZER HUNT.
Deerfield, April ye 12th, 1753.
June 9th, 1753, the district was incorporated with the name of Greenfield, by an act of the Legislature, agreeable to the provisions of the above award, excepting, that the provision for sharing the rents of the Sequestered lands should only continue "untill there shall be another District or Parish made out of the town of Deerfield;" and further, that the right to tax the Cheapside lands of Childs and Wells should continue no longer than they were owned by persons living in Greenfield.
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