USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Granville > History of Granville, Massachusetts > Part 2
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The impulse of speculation, the getting of much for little, still remained to be reckoned with, which in a few months caused events to move up another notch nearer to settlement.
Atherton Mather, a planter living in the town of Suffield, which was then within the jurisdiction of the Province of the Massachu- setts Bay, had found out that the wilderness land in the hills west of Westfield could be bought at a price. He looked the proposition over, prospected around among the hills and finally agreed to pay £30 in current bills of credit for this strip of wilderness. The trans- action was consummated on June 26, 1713, in Simsbury before Samuel Humphries (or Humphry), Justice of the Peace. Once more the parties to the transfer of this thirty-six square miles of mountains went home happy; the sellers with their £30, and the buyer with his deed. It will be noted that land values had risen in these hills in twenty-seven years, from the traditional gun and six- teen brass buttons to £30.
The following is a copy of the deed from James Cornish and William and Damaris Tuller to Atherton Mather :
Know all men by these presents that we James Cornish and William Tuller, both of the Town of Simsbury in the County of
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THE PROPRIETORS
Hartford & Collony of Connecticut, In New England for Divers Considerations & Especially for the valuable sum of thirty pounds In bills of publick Credit secured to be paid the receipt whereof we do hereby acknowledge, doe for our selves our heires Executors Administrators; sell alienate set over & Confirm unto Atherton Mather of the town of Suffield In the County of Hamisheir, in the Massachusetts Collony a certain tract of land Lying near the town- ship of Westfeild Stony Brook & Simsbury containing six miles square be it more or less or the contents thereof, bounded on land granted to Willm Leet Esq" southerly & by Land granted unto John Williams of Windsor northerly & runs westerly towards Housa- tunnuck & easterly by the land belonging to Westfeild by the road running from the lower end of the ponds unto two mile Brook near Westfeild on a straight line, to him his heirs Executors Adminis- trators of assigns. To Have and to Hold posses occupie and enjoy according to the tenor of an Instrument of Conveyance Given by Toto Indian Captain unto James Cornish Deceased bearing date the tenth of June one thousand six hundred Eighty six, as fully freely & Clearly as we our selves doe, without any let hinderance or Molestation or whatsoever, with all or title Rite Interest with all privileges profits streams timbers mines minerals or other advan- tages whatsoever & we James Cornish & William Fuller for our selves and heirs Doe hereby Warrant unto the said Atherton Mather, that from all former gifts Grants bargains & Incum- brances whatsoever & from all Claims & Claimes Deriving any Right from by of under Us Will forever Defend, & we doe hereby Confirm the abovesd Premisses unto sª Atherton Mather himself & heirs forever as witness or hands & seales this twenty sixth of June Annoqe Domini one thousand seven hundred & thirteen.
Signed Sealed & Delivered
James Cornish and seal
In presence of us
William Tuller and seal
Timothy Woodbridge
John Fuller
John Colyer
I Damarise the wife of William Tuller do give my free Consent to the above Conveyance as witness my hand the day & year above. her
Damaris X Tuller mark
James Cornish and William Tuller the subscribers to the within mentioned premises Personally appeared In Simsbery this 26th of June 1713 & acknowledged it to be their free & voluntary act and Deed before me.
Samuel Humphries Justice peace.
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HISTORY OF GRANVILLE
On the 13th day of August 1715 This Deed was Received and was then here Registered from the original.
John Pynchon Regst
It may be here noted that at the time this deed was executed the law was such in Connecticut that a husband could dispose of any property of his wife with or without her consent.
So another page in the history of Granville had been written, but as yet it was only wilderness without either name or settlers.
In most newly settled regions boundary lines are vague and uncertain and when such conditions exist, disputes are likely to arise. In the period of settlement the boundary line between the Province of the Massachusetts Bay and the Colony of Connecticut was no exception. Many, and sometimes hot, were the disputes as to just where the Provincial line was, and whether a farm, and some- times whether an entire town, was within the jurisdiction of the Province or the Colony. Disputes and arguments became so heated that at last a joint Commission was appointed to settle the matter, establish the line and, with the two Governors, hear any com- plaints which might arise therein and quiet the title of any one affected by the establishment of the divisional line. This Commis- sion, after sundry sessions, finally reached an agreement as to the location of the correct line between Massachusetts and Connecticut on July 13, 1713, which was less than three weeks after Atherton Mather had become the owner of the tract of wilderness "lying west of Westfeild" and bordering on Connecticut.
Realizing clearly that the agreement of the Boundary Commis- sion might jeopardize his title, Mather at once filed his claim with the Commission and in due time it was heard and a decision thereon was rendered October 19, 1713, as follows :
Whereas an agreement for the Stating and Setling the divisional line between the Province of the Massachusetts Bay and the Colony of Connecticut and quieting the properties of land bordering thereon made and Concluded the thirteenth day of July Anno Domini 1713 between Elisha Hutchinson, Isaac Addington Esqrs on the one part of the said province and William Pitkin and William Whiting Esqrs on the part of the said Colony, Commissioners Appointed and Im- powered for the said Ends by the Respective Governments of the said Province and Colony,
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THE PROPRIETORS
It is considered that the Challenges of many particular persons to land near or about the said line could not be made known to be determined by the said Commissioners as the particular properties of some persons where-(sic) And it is thereupon provided that all such Persons should have Liberty Within the space of Twelve Months next Ensuing the date of said Agreement to lay before his Excellency Joseph Dudley Esq", Present Governor of the sª Province and the Honorable Gurdon Saltonstall Esq", present Governor of the sª Colony, together with the said Commissioners, Such there Challenges and Claims to be by them heard and Finally determined and Whereas pursuant to the said provision the Claim of James Cornish Sent of Westfield in the County of Hampshire and in the province aforesaid and his assigns to a certain Tract of land bor- dering in the sª Divisionall line has been laid before us the Sub- scribers Which said Tract of land Containeth in Quantity Six miles Square and is bounded by land Granted by Toto an Indian Sachem unto William Lette Esq" Southerly and by land Granted by sª Toto unto John Williams of Windsor northerly & Runs Westerly To- wards Housetunnuck bounded by the Mountains and Easterly by land belonging to Westfeild or Springfeild by ye Highway or Road Running from ye lower End of ye ponds unto two Mile Brook near Westfeild and it appearing to us that ye sª Tract of land was granted to ye sª Cornish his heirs & assigns forever by deed mad and Exe- cuted in due form bearing date ye tenth day of June 1683, (sic),* Acknowledged as ye law Requires ye twenty Eighth day of ye same month and Enrolled in the Records of ye sª County.
Wee have Considered and Determined and do hereby Conclude and Determine that the sd Tract of land Excepting Only all such parts of it as may happen to fall within the bounds of the Towns of Westfield or Suffield in the Province aforesª or within the Bounds of the Towns of Windsor or Symsbury in the Colony aforesd and Excepting also all such parts of it as may have been given by the respective Governments of the said Province and Colony to any other person or persons by any act Grant or Conveyance Prior to ye said deed with all ye Priviledges thereunto belonging Shall be held by the Said Grantee his heirs and assigns forever in testimony whereof wee have hereunto Set our hands the nineteenth day of October in the Twelfth Year of the Reign of our Soveraign Lady Ann of Great Britain &c Queen Annoq Dom 1713.
J. Dudley Elisha Hutchinson Js. Addington
G. Saltonstall
William Pitkin
Wm. Whiting
* The year 1683 is a scrivener's error. The date of the deed from Toto to James Cornish is 1686.
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HISTORY OF GRANVILLE
A true Copy of Record. Examª per Hez. Wyllys, Secret"y.t
Atherton Mather was a very different sort of man from James Cornish. Having secured a confirmation of his title by the Boundary Commission and Governors, his next idea was to turn his land into cash. This could not be done so quickly. He realized that land, even though it were fertile, or covered with timber, as were the Gran- ville hills, was of little value unless the land was tilled or the timber cut. He knew that settlers were necessary. Settlers must be had, and as a preliminary to settlers, others beside himself must be inter- ested in the development of his wild land. So he forthwith set about creating such interest as the first step in turning his land into money. His acquaintance must have been wide or his business connections extensive or his energy without limit. In about twenty years he had sold the entire area between the western boundary of Westfield and the Farmington River, apparently interpreting the expression con- tained in Toto's deed "Westerly towards housatunnik" as "westerly to a river" (now known as Farmington) and the expression "six myles square or the contents thereof" as being of no significance. More than one-third of the buyers of this land lived in Boston, Marlboro or Lancaster, Massachusetts, and many are described as living in Hartford, Wethersfield and Mansfield, Connecticut. Others lived in nearby towns, Simsbury, Suffield, Westfield, Spring- field, Northampton, Hatfield.
Atherton Mather's first deed is dated August 13, 1715, con- veying 2000 acres in three pieces in the southeasterly part of his tract, to Dr. Oliver Noyes, of Boston, for the consideration of "a certain sum of Currant Money of New England." and is recorded in Hampshire County land records in Volume C at page 80.
For the next few years Mather found that sales of his wild land were not easy to make. Without doubt he felt the need of having a name by which he could refer to his wilderness, because in his next deed which is dated April 7, 1719, conveying 1400 acres to his son William, he describes the land as lying "in the tract of land called Bedford lying west of Westfield." So at last the wilderness which was to develop into the present Town of Granville had acquired a
+ Massachusetts Archives, Records of Governor and Council, Town Series, Volume 114, page 291.
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THE PROPRIETORS
name, as it was said to be commonly called Bedford as early as 1722, and a long step toward settlement had been taken. It is not known either how or why this name of Bedford was chosen, but chosen it was and this name was used for the next twenty-five years.
Now, having adopted a name for his corner in the frontier wilderness, and having made two sales in six years, thereby secur- ing the interest, and perhaps help, of at least two other persons, he moved more rapidly toward success. Two more deeds were made and delivered in 1719; three in 1720; five in 1721 and ten in 1722. Clearly, the ball had begun to roll.
In giving the location of the land described in his deeds, Mr. Mather used varying phrases, some of which are as follows: "in the bounds of Bedford" (1719) ; "in Bedford, so-called" (1721) ; "lying and being in Bedford, commonly Soe Called" (1722) ; "At a Place or Plantation commonly called Bedford" (1723) ; "in a place known by the name of Bedford" (1724) ; "lying in my plantation called Bedford" (1724).
In this manner, it is believed, arose the habit of referring to this area as the Plantation of Bedford. A Plantation, however, pre- supposes the existence of planters, or farmers, and there was as yet not a single settler or planter in Bedford, but the title sounded well, and so it was used.
An extremely exact and comprehensive statement of what an early New England plantation was, is that of Dr. William DeLoss Love in his classic work, The Colonial History of Hartford. He says :
"In common usage the term 'plantation' was applied to an original settlement in a new country, where certain individuals, called 'inhab- itants,' had secured land rights. There was an important distinction between such a settlement and an organized town, especially in the matter of government. Its affairs were ordered in a meeting of these legal inhabitants. They met, elected a moderator, passed votes and appointed committees to carry them out."
This procedure is exactly that followed by the settlers in Bedford. Mr. Mather merely used the term fifteen or more years before settlers began to arrive.
Another thing which assisted toward settlement was the fact that parts, if not all, of Bedford were surveyed and boundary points established as early, at least, as 1721, and probably before 1719.
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HISTORY OF GRANVILLE
The northeast part of Bedford was partly surveyed by one Jonas Houghton as appears by a reference in a deed from Atherton Mather to Timothy Woodbridge, of Simsbury, and William Mather dated February 6, 1723/4, recorded in Hampshire County land records in Volume E at page 167, conveying 2000 acres "in- cluded in a survey by Jonas Houghton May 9, 1721, which contained 2500 acres, 500 of which were conveyed to William Mather Apr. 7, 1719."
Another survey is mentioned in a deed from Atherton Mather to Thomas Boylston of Boston, dated March 9, 1731/2, and recorded in the above mentioned records in Volume F at page 203 conveying 1000 acres "according to a survey and Platt thereof made Nov. 1721 by Mr. Timothy Dwight, Surveyor." Timothy Dwight lived in Northampton at that time and Mr. Mather had conveyed to him 1000 acres on April 11, 1722.
Still another survey is referred to in a deed from Atherton Mather to John Arnold of Mansfield, Connecticut, dated October 12, 1725, and recorded in the above mentioned records in Volume D at page 623, conveying 1000 acres "laid out by Mr. Surveyor Dwight, May 1723."
It is most probable that these three surveys were of comparatively small areas and that there was no single survey of the entire area lying between Westfield and the Farmington River until 1738, which will be mentioned later.
On October 19, 1733, Mather sold and conveyed his last bit of land in Bedford. It was about twenty years after he had bought the mountain wilderness "lying west of Westfeild" and had paid £30 for it. If he received all the consideration set forth in his forty-four deeds of the land in Bedford, and there is no reason to believe he did not receive it, he took in the substantial sum of £5317 18s. A very nice sum to realize on an investment of £30, even if it did take twenty years to get it. To be sure, surveying cost something, but not such a great lot, and he had no taxes to pay, no upkeep for roads and bridges, no insurance for buildings. This had been one land speculation which proved to be successful and demonstrated the accurate foresight of James Cornish when he bought the hunting ground from Toto nearly a half century before. Land values had
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THE PROPRIETORS
again risen in the Granville hills. This time from £30 to over £5300. Thus another page of Granville history had been turned. A name had been secured, the owners of the land had been greatly increased, but still the imperative need was settlers.
The only trace of settlers in the deeds of Atherton Mather is found in a deed from him to his son William dated May 15, 1729, conveying two pieces of land, the first of which was one mile square "which has buildings erected on it Called by the name of a Cellar." Just what sort of a building this might have been, the reader may, or may not, be able to guess. It may have been intended for the basement of a dwelling, or it may have been an underground room, perhaps in the side of a hill. Most likely the latter. But whatever it was, it evidenced an intention of some one to live there. This is the earliest record, so far as known, of a definite permanent abode within the area of Bedford.
One element in the policy of Atherton Mather did not lend itself to securing settlers. With very few exceptions, all his conveyances of land in Bedford were to people living remote from that place. These people had no idea of going to Bedford to live and probably very few, if any, ever saw any portion of the tract, or even the sky over it. They were just speculators, men who had purchased large acreage with the expectation of selling it again at an advance in price. They cared nothing about the actual settlement of Bedford. All they were interested in was profits. But they all faced the same condition. The land must be tilled and the lumber cut. All of which came to one and the same thing: settlers. Settlers must be had; settlers at any cost. If they could not be prevailed on to buy land in Bedford, then land must be given to them if they would settle on it.
This vital factor of securing settlers forced itself upon the pro- prietors some time between 1722 and, probably, 1736 when prepa- rations were being made for the survey dated November 12, 1738, of which we shall hear more later. Whatever policy may have been suggested, and whatever plans were made to meet this imperative need of the proprietors, we know the result. It was determined to donate a certain proportion of the land in Bedford to those who would come in and settle. It was to be a gift and each proprietor was to give one-fifth of his holding, whether large or small. The
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HISTORY OF GRANVILLE
land so given to settlers as a premium for settling in Bedford is spoken of in many places as "settling land" or "settling lots." The original document showing this agreement bears neither date nor signatures. If it did, it would clear up a lot.
It is mutually agreed by us ye Subscribers that if any proprietor lose his Land or any part thereof that is in the Northern or Western Range the rest of us the Subscribers agree to bear their proportion of ye Loss according to their respective Interests.
Every proprietor shall give a fifth part of his Land in order to ye bringing forward ye plantation whereof 4000 Acres shall be given to 40 persons to settle ye residue to be disposed off for publick uses as ye proprietors shall think proper .*
Tradition has it that Samuel Bancroft was the first settler in Bedford, arriving in 1735, but it is interesting to note that no deed of land in Bedford is on record showing Samuel Bancroft to be a land owner until one from Jonas Clark, of Boston, dated April 28, 1759, and recorded on August 13th, of that year, which described a plot of land about one mile square "excepting out of the same 100 acres granted to the said Samuel Bancroft and 18 acres granted to Nathaniel Bancroft for settling land." This clearly shows that 100 acres of land had been given to Samuel Bancroft at some time prior to 1759 to induce him to settle there. It is to be regretted that no record evidence has yet come to light about that "100 acres of settling land," given to him. Rev. Timothy M. Cooley, in his address at the Granville Jubilee in 1845, says he remembers Samuel Bancroft, the first settler, and that he used to come to church in his great wig and cocked hat, a conspicuous character. The late Wilbur S. Jones, who was born in the northeasterly part of the town, not far from the site of the Bancroft homestead, in 1846, and lived in Granville all his life, told the writer that the site of the Samuel Bancroft house was on the west side of the original road from West- field to Granville where the road formerly went through the hollow which is now covered by the water in the Granville Reservoir of the City of Westfield. It was near the place where Henry Hollister used to live, and is about half a mile from the four corners where the Wild Cat Road branches to the west from the present location of
* Massachusetts Archives, Town Series, Records of the Governor and Council, Volume 114, page 295.
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THE PROPRIETORS
the Old Road to Westfield and the now private road of the City of Westfield branches to the east. Mr. Jones said no one had ever lived at the Bancroft location since he could remember, but he clearly recalled having been told when a small boy that that was the place.
King Philip's war had broken out in 1674 and was over long before James Cornish cast longing eyes in the direction of the Granville hills, and it seems a far cry to say that that war had any- thing to do with the settlement of Bedford, but that fact appears upon a little investigation. It came about in this way. Like the general run of Indian raids and warfare, the brunt of King Philip's war fell upon the outlying and exposed settlements. The fringe of civilization dwelling on the frontier felt the shock of the heavy blows. When an Indian war was in progress, the frontier settlers abandoned their farms and villages and fled to larger villages and other places of safety for protection. If they did not so flee, they quite generally were killed.
After the death and destruction suffered in King Philip's war, the Great and General Court of the Massachusetts Bay considered the situation and, believing it could remedy the condition, at least in some degree, passed a law on May 28, 1679, which was expected to operate for greater safety for all pioneer settlements. This law explains itself. It is as follows :
For the greater comfort and safety of all people who are intended to resettle the villages deserted in the late war, or the planting any new Plantation within this Jurisdiction,
It is Ordered and Enacted by this Court, and the Authority thereof; That no deserted Town, or new Plantation shall be in- habited until the people first make application unto the Governour and Council, or to the County Courts, within whose Jurisdiction such Plantation is. And the Council, or the County Court, are hereby Ordered and Impowered to appoint an able & discreet Com- mittee (at the charge of the people intending to plant) which Committee are Ordered and Impowered to view and consider the place, or places to be settled, and give directions and orders in writing, under their hands, in what form and manner such town shall be settled and erected wherein they are required to have a principal respect to nearness and conveniency of habitation for security against Enemyes, and more comfort for Christian Communion and
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HISTORY OF GRANVILLE
enjoyment of God's worship, and education of Children in Schools and Civility, with other good ends. And all such planters are hereby Injoyned to attend and put in practice such orders and directions as shall be given by such Committee upon the penalty of one hundred pounds Fine to the Country, to be inflicted upon them by order of the Council, or County Courts for their neglect or refusal to attend this order.
Approved May 28, 1679.
Colonial Laws of Massachusetts 1672-1686, page 267.
The effect of this law upon Bedford was to compel the proprietors to submit their plans of settlement to one of the authorities men- tioned in the statute, for approval and terms of settlement which they must meet. This was done a little later as we shall see.
About this time another thing came to pass to annoy and vex the proprietors. It was rumored, and finally said out loud, that there was trouble about the title. Some went so far as to point out that the proprietors had no title whatever to the larger part of Bedford. This defect was stoutly denied, but it was impossible to cover it up or keep it quiet. As time passed and habitations were erected farther away from Westfield, the settlers and proprietors began to fear that the confirmation of the title in 1713 by the Boundary Commis- sion and Governors was not sufficient. That confirmation only cov- ered six miles square. Bedford had come to be much more than six miles square. Indeed, it was, after the re-location of the Provincial line between Massachusetts and Connecticut, about five miles wide at the east end, about nine miles wide at the west end and about fifteen miles long from east to west. It was high time something was done about it and the proprietors rose to the occasion.
We can well believe that sundry meetings were held at which there was much wagging of heads, because it was finally decided that the only way out of the trouble was to have a petition prepared and presented to the Great and General Court, praying for relief, and a survey and map of Bedford must be made, to help clarify the petition. In the late fall of 1738 such a survey was finished. John Hunt, Jonas Clarke, John Wendell and Belcher Noyes were chosen as a Committee to see that the petition was made and pre- sented. The phraseology used in the petition indicates that it was
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