USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Granville > History of Granville, Massachusetts > Part 6
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About 1750 settlers began to locate in the western part of Bed- ford. James Barlow is reputed to be the first of these, and in a few years it became customary to refer to the different portions of the District as East Granville, Middle Granville and West Granville, and quite as naturally, each section developed a sort of nucleus which grew into a village. There can be but little, if any, doubt that their
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actual location was fixed by the factor of transportation. Each of the three villages was on the main east and west road, and each was at an important north and south road. At each of these cross roads an enterprising merchant set up a general store and soon a little cluster of houses arose which developed into the villages we now know in these localities.
Now that all political restrictions, except one, had been removed, these hardy settlers proceeded to enter upon their enlarged free- dom with a just gratification. One of the first things to be done was to call the first meeting of the inhabitants of the District in accord- ance with the terms of the act of incorporation. We may easily visualize a little group of these men, including Phineas Pratt, David Worthington, Col. Timothy Robinson, John Rose, Ephraim Mun- son, and a few others, gathered at some convenient house in Middle Granville, perhaps Lieut. Brown's, to discuss the important affair ; the time when this first meeting should be held; the list of offices to be filled; and who would fill them best. There may have been more than one such conference. But, be that as it may, the winter had advanced to some time in February, or later, and we know what February and March can be in the hills. Finally they decided on March 28th as the day when this long awaited event should occur. The contents of the warrant for that first meeting had been deter- mined and John Worthington, having written the separate items down, one by one, signed his name at the bottom and surveyed the document with satisfaction. He handed it to the "principal citizen" of his choice, who forthwith posted it in the place, or places, already decided upon. There was little need for advertisement, for the news of such an important event can only be compared to the expected arrival of the first railroad train over a newly completed stretch of track. Everybody spread the news. From one neighbor to another the glad tidings went until even the remotest settler knew it.
Finally the great day came. The snow was mostly gone. But there was mud, plenty and to spare. However, such travelling was not so much of a difficulty then, for no one had a buggy. Few had farm wagons. But on foot or on horseback they came to the meeting house by the Great Rock and made a day of it. The following is a
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list of the offices and the names of those elected at the first Town meeting March 28, 1754:
Moderator, Phineas Pratt
Selectmen, Phineas Pratt, Samuel Bancroft, David Rose Constable, Nathaniel Gillet Town Clerk, Jonathan Church Treasurer, James Barlo
The meeting then adjourned to the following Monday, April 1st, at which time Nathaniel Gillet was excused from acting as Con- stable and Thomas Gillet elected in his place. Jonathan Church was also excused as Town Clerk and Joseph Clark was elected. James Barlo was also excused as Treasurer and John Spelman elected. Then the remainder of the roster was as follows:
Highway Surveyors, Timothy Robinson, John Rose, Nathaniel Bancroft Tithingmen, Nathan Barlo, David Rose Fence Viewers, John Tibels, Ephraim Munson Hog constables, Timothy Robinson, Phineas Pratt Sealer of weights and measures, Joseph Clark Sealer of leather, Ebenezer Seward "Sesers" the Selectmen
Choosing the Selectmen to act as assessors was merely following the former usage when the legally chosen assessors performed the duties of Selectmen. But this was changed the next year when one assessor was chosen, and not until 1769 were assessors regularly chosen as a part of the District officers.
Some of the officers appearing in the early records were peculiar to the times. For example, the Deer Reeve. Nothing appears as to what his duties were, but it is submitted that his position was com- parable to the present day game warden. At least the election of such an officer shows that deer were plenty in those days and it was deemed necessary to have some one to look after them. Perhaps the presence of numerous deer accounts for the frequent appearance of wolves. That wolves added to the other tribulations of the farmers and were too plenty for comfort, appears from the offering of a substantial bounty. At a District meeting March 6, 1767, it was voted: "That Each and Every Person or Persons for Each and Every Grone Wolf by him or them Killed since the eighteenth Day
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of August, 1766, and that shall or may be Killed before the Eight- eenth of August, 1767, shall be Paid out of the Public Treasure of the Town two Pounds and for every Wolfs whelp Killed as before said one Pound for every whelp."
Tithingmen are ordinarily thought of as officers of the church, but it must be remembered that the church was a town institution in those days.
A few years later (1764) we find among the District officers a "Surveyor of clap boards, shingles, hoops and staves," which would indicate that the settlers were turning the forests to account, and that the manufacture of these commodities had reached a con- siderable volume.
Settlers who were vainly wished for a quarter of a century before, were now coming in steadily. One by the name of Hubbard, a mill- wright, had settled on the stream which bears his name, where he erected and operated a grist mill and a saw mill. So far as appears, these mills were the first to be erected on that stream. Exactly when they were built cannot now be determined, but it was before 1759, for on March 26 of that year the District voted "To build a bridge over Hubbards River in the rear of his grist and saw mill."
As the number of settlers increased in the western part of the District, there grew up the desire to have the District divided, and at the annual meeting in 1760 the matter came to a vote. The separa- tionists were defeated. The subject then slumbered along for several years, but again came to a vote in 1766, when it was voted that the District "was willing the west part of the District as far east as Ore Hill Brook be set off." However, it does not appear that any committee was chosen to set off that part of the District, or if such a committee was chosen, it appears that nothing was done to that end, for in 1774 it was voted "to have a different committee to divide the District." Again, however, the names of such committee have escaped from the record. It may well be that this slight over- sight was due to the great interest of these hill men in the strained and straining relations between the Colonies and the Mother Country.
The arrival of General Gage in Boston early in 1774 as Governor and Commander in Chief, with the avowed purpose of curbing the
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rebellious spirit of the inhabitants, only stirred up resentment throughout the Colony, and when he ordered the removal of the General Court from Boston to Salem, he raised a storm of non- cooperation. Then later, on June 7, 1774, when he decreed that after August 1, 1774, "No Town Meeting shall be called by the Select Men, or at the Request of any Number of Freeholders, with- out the leave of the Governor in Writing, first had and obtained, except the Annual Meeting in the Month of March, for the Choice of Select Men, Constables and other Officers .. . " he roused the spirit of independence to the point of resistance. Did Granville observe and obey this ruling? The people of Granville paid no more attention to it than did the birds in the trees. Special town meetings were held in Granville on November 14, 1774, January 30, March 20, May 24, 1775, and April 16, 1776, without any permission from His Excellency, the Governor. The arbitrary and dictatorial attitude of the Governor inflamed the people of Granville no less than those living in Boston or Virginia. It was the chief topic of conversation. At the plow, at the mill, at the cobbler's bench, at the village store, at the tavern, the question of rights and wrongs was discussed pro and con. But the hard working farmers on the Gran- ville hills were not to be stampeded by any flying rumors or un- authentic reports. They proposed to find out about this business and get to the bottom of it, and in the mean time they proceeded to get ready for eventualities, among other things, keeping their powder dry.
As the first step, a District meeting was called to determine what was advisable to be done, in view of the situation. This was held July 11, 1774, and at that time it was voted "that a Committee be chosen to inspect the debate between the Colonies and Great Britain." Very diplomatic language that : "to inspect the debate." Verily, the velvet glove on the iron hand. The Committee as selected was composed of the following men :
Timothy Robinson Luke Hitchcock
Oliver Phelps Josiah Harvey
Samuel Bancroft
Nathan Barlo
John Hamilton
Let us pause and look at this committee and see what manner of
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men had been selected to report on this serious matter. For it was a serious matter, and none knew it better than the members of this committee. It might in the end mean war, and in fact it did mean war, as we, their posterity, know.
Timothy Robinson was the District Clerk and had been such for eighteen years. He was also one of the Selectmen and had been for a year or two, as he continued to be for many years thereafter. Later he was one of the Town's representatives to the General Court. He was one of the few educated men at that time living in Granville.
Luke Hitchcock was one of the Selectmen and had held that office for fourteen years and continued to hold it until his death while returning from his term of enlistment in the Continental Army.
Samuel Bancroft was one of the Selectmen and had been such for several years, beginning with the first board in the District in 1754, and he continued to hold his office until he joined the Con- tinental Army.
Oliver Phelps, who later was Town Clerk, first Selectman and Representative to the General Court, probably had the keenest intellect and greatest ability of any man who ever lived in Gran- ville. He successfully completed the purchase of the greatest num- ber of acres of land ever transferred at one time in this country when he and Nathaniel Gorham purchased the entire interest of Massachusetts in the so-called Genesee Country, about 6,000,000 acres.
Josiah Harvey was the physician residing in Granville. Later he was a member of the board of Selectmen and also Representative to the General Court. Another educated man.
Nathan Barlo had for several years been one of the Selectmen and later he, too, represented the Town in the General Court.
John Hamilton was later a Representative to the General Court.
Such then was the committee chosen to examine into the trouble with the Mother Country and make its report to the citizens of Granville, a committee the equal of any in the Province, a commit- tee having intelligence and experience, whose report could be trusted and followed. Here is its report :
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1. Resolved that King George III is our rightful soverign and king and that we will at all times bear all allegiance due unto him.
2. That the inhabitants of his Majesty's Province, and the other Colonies in America, are justly entitled to all the rights, liberties and privileges that the inhabitants of Great Britain are entitled to, which rights, liberties and privileges are in a peculiar manner confirmed to the inhabitants of this Province by the charter, and that we would humbly request and confidently challenge these rights, liberties and privileges to us belonging as free and natural born English subjects.
3. That it is our opinion that the aforesaid acts of Parliament (Stamp Act) are calculated to perplex and enslave this, his Majesty's free and loyal province, and are destructive of our invalu- able liberties and privileges; and have a manifest tendency to alienate the affections of his Majesty's faithful subjects, and are in the highest degree oppressive and unconstitutional.
4. That in order to obtain redress from the difficulties and calamities in which we are so deeply involved by the aforesaid acts of Parliament, it is our opinion that some uniform and constitu- tional resolves be agreed upon, for a universal rule to be observed throughout all the colonies, the construction of which we refer to the wisdom of the General American Congress, soon to meet. And we would humbly offer to their consideration, that it is our opinion that a suspension of all commerce with Great Britain, under proper regulations, and a convenient engagement of non-importation and non-consumption of their maufactures, to be solemnly subscribed by the people, will be the most likely means to produce the desired effect. And that such non-importation and non-consumption agree- ment is neither unwarrantable, hostile nor treacherous, or contrary to our allegiance due to our king; and that it is the indispensible duty of every person who would reserve to himself and posterity the inestimable blessing of liberty, by all constitutional ways and means in his power to endeavour to avert the much dreaded con- sequences of these arbitrary and oppressive acts.
5. That we greatly applaud the patriotic zeal of the merchants and other inhabitants of Boston, and especially the vigilance and assiduity of their committee of correspondence; and although we approve of the sentiment and spirit of their covenant presented to us to subscribe, yet we are of opinion that the same is rather pre- mature and too precipitate, as it is a matter of the utmost impor- tance to the British American colonies, and requires the most serious consideration, fearing it will breed discord among the inhabitants, and that a division of sentiment may be destructive of the good effect. We propose, therefore, and rather choose to defer the sub-
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scription thereto, but wait the determination of the American Con- gress. And do, as christians, promise and pledge our faith, that whatever constitutional determination and resolves shall be agreed upon and published by them, as a general rule of observance by all the provinces, we shall subscribe to, and in all particulars abide by. A faithful adherence to this, we make no doubt, may be the happy means to reduce the ministry to a sense of their duty, and restore unto us our rights, and harmoniously unite us to our mother country, and be the lengthening out of the tranquility of the British Empire.
6. That we do abhor all unconstitutional riots and tumultuous assaults upon the person or estate of any one who is personally in the execution of his own lawful business, but will, to the utmost of our power, endeavour that peace and good order be maintained.
7. That there be a committee of correspondence to correspond with other committees in this and the neighboring colonies, and give due information of all infringements upon our rights and liberties.
8. That a letter of construction be written by the Committee of Correspondence, in behalf of this District, to the inhabitants of the town of Boston, to assure them of our firm attachment to the common cause, and promise faithful assistance in all constitutional ways to encourage to a firm and steadfast perseverance in all the ways of well doing.
This report was made at a District meeting held the first Monday in August, 1774, and was adopted as made and a copy was sent to the Committee of Correspondence in Boston.
The result of this report was another District meeting November 14th, at which it was decided that Granville could be of some assist- ance in the approaching conflict, and that they must have accurate, first hand information as to what was going on. A Provincial Con- gress was called to sit November 23rd at Cambridge, Boston at that time being uncomfortably warm for certain of the colonists. Delegates were sent from all parts of the Province to this meeting, and Granville promptly fell into line and chose one of its best citizens, Timothy Robinson, for that duty. And such was the stern temper of the citizens of Granville, that at the same meeting they thrashed the matter out, and in order to be ready for eventualities it was voted to "divide the residents into two companies of military at the Great Valley." If it was coming to a fight they proposed to be in a position to be ready for it.
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Representing Granville, Mr. Robinson went to Cambridge and attended the session of the Provincial Congress. When he came home he reported the temper of the delegates and the probability of war. Every one was so wrought up over the situation that little thought was given to the ordinary routine of business. Preparedness was the chief topic of the day. They did more than talk about it. Another Congress of Delegates was called to assemble again at Cambridge on February 1, 1775. Again a District meeting and again Timothy Robinson was chosen to go. In addition to selecting him for this task, a committee was chosen "to advise the delegate from time to time, also to supply the minute men with powder and lead if called into action." Here indeed was action of the grimmest kind. Minute men. Powder and lead. Stern measures these. But Granville did not propose to do things by halves. Men they had. Men familiar with guns. Marksmen, who could hit a bumble bee on a thistle blossom. But they knew little of military terms and usages, so at the annual District meeting March 21, 1775, they voted, among other things, "to raise fifty pounds as bounty for min- ute men," also "to pay fifteen pounds to every minute man for six half days of training who should enlist in the army one year, and fifteen shillings to pay for an instructor." The men of Granville certainly meant business. They were getting ready. Such little matters as dividing the District into two, the idea of having another church society, whether or not the Rev. Jedediah Smith should be retained or dismissed, were of small consequence and if mentioned were given short shrift. Injustice, taxation, rights, training days, powder and lead, liberty, these were the things talked about in the home, in the fields, in the taverns, and the men of Granville were dividing into Tories and Patriots.
Then suddenly the spark, which was to explode all this tense emotion and involve the people of Granville in the long war for independence, fell when his Majesty's soldiers were fired upon by an overwrought citizenry on that fateful, and to some fatal, morn- ing April 19, 1775, on the march from Boston to Concord to destroy the supplies gathered there by the provincials.
Just when the report of this "battle" reached Granville is not now certain, but it came, and it came soon, and the effect was elec-
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trical. All farm work was held in abeyance. There was only one task to be done. That was to get the minute men started. It has been stated that they were on the road within twenty-four hours after the news of Concord and Lexington was received; but whether that is a fact or not, it is a fact that Capt. Lebbeus Ball got his company together with such equipment as was at hand and left Granville with his men on April 29, 1775, for Cambridge. The following list shows how much in earnest the people of Granville were. The list may not be complete, but it is the best obtainable.
Captain Lebbeus Ball 1st Lieut. Lemuel Bancroft 2nd Lieut. Jesse Munson Sergeants
John Stiles Benjamin Stow
Joel Bancroft Elijah Stiles
Corporals
Ebenezer Smith Jacob Bates
John Cornwall Jonathan Forbs
Fifer Merrick Hitchcock Privates
John Bancroft
Lemuel Haynes
Abner Barlow
Reuben Hickcox
Ebenezer Barlow
George Hubbard
Linus Bates
Jesse Miller
Albert Black
Ephraim Munson
Richard Brown
Abner Rose
Amos Clark
Daniel Rose
Israel Coe
David Rose
Ebenezer Curtiss
Fenner Foster
Jonathan Rose
Peter Gibbons
Russell Rose
Ebenezer B. Gould
Eber Spelman
Asher Granger
John Wright
Seth Granger Jeremiah Griswold
Stephen Wright
Daniel Cooley
Elijah Rose
Gad Rose
Another Provincial Congress was called to meet at Watertown, Cambridge being too near Boston, on May 31, 1775, and again
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Timothy Robinson was chosen to represent Granville, but this time Nathan Barlo was also chosen to be a delegate with him. These two worthy men forthwith went to Watertown and met with the other delegates. There was more talk of resistance. By this time Mr. Robinson was pretty well known to many of the delegates and his sound advice was much sought and needed. Inasmuch as Boston was no safe place for the Provincial Congress, which really was a sort of war council, to meet, it was deemed best to have the coming session of the Great and General Court also held outside of Boston. It was decided that it would be safe to hold it in Watertown, so this was done.
It must be borne in mind that Granville was not yet a town and had no right to send a representative to the Great and General Court, but the times were uncertain and full of peril, and Granville had no desire to be behind, so we cannot be surprised to find that at a meeting of the District held July 12, 1775, it was voted that "Samuel Bancroft be chosen as delegate to the Great and General Court at Watertown from July 19, 1775, to the last Wednesday in May next."
Thus Granville had three of her best and sturdiest citizens in the thick of the fray : Timothy Robinson, Nathan Barlo and Samuel Bancroft.
At this time there were in the Province of Massachusetts Bay quite a few Districts, as distinguished from Towns, no one of which had the right to be represented in the Great and General Court. Now the war clouds were looking very ominous, and with a stroke of the pen all these Districts were freed from their disability and by a general law made into full fledged Towns. Probably this was done in view of the threats of war. In any event Granville was not caught napping, for Samuel Bancroft was right on the spot when the good fortune fell. This act was passed by the Council and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, on August 23, 1775. The pertinent words of the act are as follows :
"And be it further enacted and declared . . . That every Cor- porate body in this Colony, which in the act for the incorporation thereof is said and declared to be made a District, and has, by such act, granted to it or is declared to be vested with the rights, privi-
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leges or immunities of a Town, with the exception above mentioned of chusing and sending a representative to the Great and General Court or assembly shall henceforth be, and shall be holden, taken and intended to be, a town to all intents and purposes whatsoever."*
At last, at a time when little heed was given to the fact, Granville had become a Town. It had outgrown its childhood and had become of age.
* Acts and Resolves of the Province of Massachusetts Bay passed 1775-1776, Chapter 3, Section 3 (Volume 5, page 420).
The Town of Granville to 1810
W HEN the vision of Phineas Pratt and his associates was real- ized and Granville had indeed become a Town, the even tenor of the life of its people was very much upset. Warlike preparations created a buzz comparable to the excitement around a nest of hornets which had been disturbed. They had one company of soldiers at the front and two more companies in training. They were laying up stores of powder and ball, guns and flints too, as fast as they could be obtained. Clothing had to be found, as well as shoes and other equipment. Every scrap of news about the condition of the Continental Army was told and retold. Every stage and courier from the east brought information of the doings of other towns as well as from the army. Excitement and emotion ran high. Every artisan was busy, every one had his hands more than full. There was no idleness in Granville in those days. Money also had to be raised and sent forward and in this our farmers did not fail.
At the Town meeting March 18, 1776, Nathan Barlo, Lieut. Lemuel Bancroft, Capt. Dan Robinson, David Parsons and Samuel Stedman were chosen as a Committee of Correspondence, Inspec- tion and Safety. With this Committee to conduct their war affairs at home and Timothy Robinson to represent them in the Provincial Congress, the people of Granville were well taken care of. Nor was money squandered. Mr. Robinson was voted the sum of two pounds eight shillings as his proper compensation for eight days service in the Provincial Congress of April 1775.
Military training had gone on enthusiastically and Capt. William Cooley with a company of seventy-three had gone to the front in Col. John Moseley's 5th Massachusetts regiment. This regiment saw active service in the battle of White Plains, New York, in the fall of 1776, in the unsuccessful effort to keep Lord Cornwallis out of New York City.
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