USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Greenfield > History of Greefield, shire town of Franklin county, Massachusetts, Vol. II > Part 25
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Admiral Potter, a native of New Bedford, was another of the ancient fishermen. His favorite spot was an eddy a few rods below the Deerfield bridge, and there he met his death by losing his balance while fishing from his canoe. He was seventy-five years old.
Another of the craft was John Pinks, a native of England and one of Burgoyne's men,-the master tailor of his army. He died here February, 1835, aged seventy-nine.
WITCHES AND HOBGOBLINS
The " Hollow" or "Factory Village" was once called "Northeast" and there were many there who believed in witches. An old lady Thatcher was supposed to be one, and she told fortunes occasionally. One of her neighbors had a calf bewitched ; and a woman by the name of Dewey fre- quently screamed out in the night, and when her friends went to see what ailed her she was found in profuse perspiration and wet as if taken from the river. This continued, and she was taken to be bewitched ..
Ezekiel Bascom, the owner of a gristmill and fulling mill there, a man of strong mind and much thought of, asserted that one night when he slept at the Falls a horseshoe came
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OLD-TIME CUSTOMS
into his room and performed various evolutions, and although a strong, resolute and determined man, he so far yielded to superstitious feeling as never to lodge there 'again. A horse- shoe was nailed up at the mill to keep off witches. It was pretended that the mill wheels sometimes stopped and could not be induced to go; Mr. Bascom's cattle and cart stopped in the road without his being able to make them go ; he said he heard female voices under the cart; a fox soon came out from under it, and the cattle went on again and all was well. In fine, Northeast was a sort of enchanted ground, the residence of witches and hobgoblins, and furnished many stories for the credulous.
EARMARKS
Before farms were fenced the cattle and other domestic ani- mals ran in the woods, and before turning them out in the spring all stock was marked, so that the owner might know his own when they were brought into the fold. Each man had a mark, which was registered by the town clerk. For ex- ample :
" Benj. Hastings, two half pennys the upper side the near ear." This meant that all Benjamin Hastings stock had cut from the upper side of the near ear two notches the size of a half penny.
" Daniel Nash, a swallow's tail on the near ear."
" Ebenezer Allen's mark, a half penny cut the under side the near ear and a slit on the top of the same ear."
" Samuel Deane Cooke's mark is a square hole through the left ear."
" George Grinnell's earmark is a crop in the left ear and two half penny cuts in the upper side the right ear."
WARNING OUT OF TOWN
Towns were given the privilege to warn such persons as came into their jurisdiction without leave to settle, " to depart
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" NOTICE TO QUIT"
the limits thereof, " and by complying with the statute, the towns cleared themselves from liability ; such persons could not obtain settlement and the town could not be held for their support in case of their becoming paupers. When an un- vouched for stranger came into town to reside the person or family harboring him or her were required to notify the se- lectmen, and it was their duty to give the legal notice required by law.
The town records of Greenfield show several instances where the ancestors of well known families of the town were so notified.
" Hampshire, ss. To the constable of the town of Green- field, county of Hampshire, Greeting :
" You are, in the name of the Commonwealth of Massachu- setts, directed to warn and give notice to James Moore, a for- eigner from some part of the British Dominions-Laborer- who has lately come into this town for the purpose of abiding therein, not having obtained the towns consent therefor, that he depart the limits thereof within fifteen days.
" And of this precept and your doings thereon you are to make return to the office of the clerk of the town within twenty days next coming, that such further proceedings may be had in the premises as the law directs.
"Given under our hands and seals at Greenfield aforesaid this eighth day of April, 1793.
"SOLOMON SMEAD, ) Selectmen of " HULL NIMS, Greenfield.
" Hampshire, ss. I warned the within named James Moore To Depart the limits of this Town according to the Direction of this Warrant.
" GEORGE GRENNELL, Constable.
" Greenfield, April 10, 1793.
" A true record, attest ;
" DANIEL WELLS, " Town Clerk."
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ENTERTAINING STRANGERS
The following Greenfield people were warned out of Ber- nardston in 1790: Timothy Wilcox, Samuel Shattuck, Sam- uel Nichols, Ebenezer Severance, Levi Wells, Thomas Love- land, Joseph Utter and Joseph Wood. (Kellogg's History of Bernardston.)
In close connection with the "warning out" was the law requiring people of giving notice of having received strangers into their families or as tenants. The following is copied from the Deerfield records :
" Deerfield, May 11th, 1764.
" To the Selectmen of Deerfield : Gentlemen; This is to give Notice to you that there came to my House April 29th, 1764 Zebulen Tubbs his wife Esther Tubbs & two Children viz. Theuel & Esther where they now are. They came last from Hinsdale in the Province of New Hampshire their cir- cumstances being something low in worldly things having no other estate that I know of but one Horse & two Cows.
" JOHN HENRY. " A true Copy of ye Notification " attst THOR WILLIAMS T. Cler."
The notice relieved John Henry from responsibility for their future support.
PISGAH TALE
In an address delivered upon a public occasion in Gill Feb- ruary 5, 1868, the late Josiah D. Canning told the following story.
According to tradition, a man by the name of Brooks, in the time when Gill was a wilderness and a part of Deerfield, was sent up to the region later known as the Stacy place, to herd cattle. His wife accompanied him, and according to the tradition was a brave resolute woman. He built him a cabin where the Haywood barn used to stand, and while he put in the crops she tended the cattle and kept watch and ward.
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TROUBLES OF A PIONEER
One day Brooks spied an Indian upon a large rock on " Stacy's mountain." The Indian gave some war whoops when he was discovered, and Brooks thinking to frighten him fired upon him. Though the distance was great his bullet took fatal effect, and Brooks and his wife frightened at the prospect of being the vic- tims of Indian revenge, abandoned their home and fled to Deer- field. When men went to look up the cattle they found the hut had been burned and his growing crops ruined. Canning as- serted that the bones of an Indian were found a few years ago upon the top of a natural mound near the mountain, and they were supposed to be those of the Indian killed by Brooks, thus substantiating the truth of the tradition.
" CHARLESTOWN "
The vicinity in the neighborhood of the Union House was in the height of its prosperity between the years 1790-1810. Colonel William Moore built a large store where the Union house now stands, and erected a fine residence where Mr. Cummings now lives. The store was moved down to Cheap- side when that became the " port of entry," and stood nearly opposite the Abercrombie tavern. Near " Charlestown " was a woolen mill, an oil mill, a beef-packing establishment, a tannery, a gristmill, a sawmill and several other industries.
HUNTING
The hunting instinct was keen among the early settlers, and the salt pork and potatoes and mush and milk diet was frequently flavored with vension, fowl and fish. Pigeons were numberless, and the lads often scattered seed in front of some place of concealment, thus turning the unsuspecting birds on to the meshes of the net, while he nestled behind the hedge with string in hand to let go the spring pole at just the right moment to secure the flock. Every boy understood the mystery of making the figure four trap, and the velvet footed rabbit ere he knew it was dandling at the top of some black-ash staddle. Many a cock partridge found himself ensnared in
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HUNTING
the horsehair loop that some skilful Nimrod had placed on his favorite drumming log. The cunning of the Indian showed in the boy who waded for a half mile up the flowing brook with his trap and some old hen who had come to an untimely death, slung over his shoulder, keeping to the water so that the keen-scented Reynard should not smell his tracks, and at some convenient spot setting his trap in the stream while he hung the bait over it, so that master fox would set his foot in the trap as he leaped and snatched the hen.
GAME, ETC.
" For many years after the first settlement the inhabitants were very much annoyed by wolves. They killed sheep, goats, calves, swine and deer. The colony paid a bounty of twenty shillings for grown wolves and less for whelps. According to the treasurer's returns, the colony paid between 1700 and 1737, bounty on 2,852 old wolves and 191 whelps. Five wolves were killed in Greenfield as late as 1 765. Many were taken in traps; some in pits called wolf pits. A bounty was also paid for wildcats, and between 1728 and 1736, the colony paid bounty on 2, 181 old wildcats and 88 young ones.
" In 1742 a bounty was given on bears, ten shillings for old ones and five shillings for cubs. These were less numerous and less destructive than wolves and lynx, and did little dam- age, except during seasons when acorns and nuts were scarce. Bounties were also offered for catamounts or panthers (called painters in the olden time) but few were killed. They had a terrific scream but were shy of the human species.
" Many of the towns paid bounties for the destruction of crows and blackbirds, and some towns included the woodchuck in their bounty list.
" Moose were very scarce in old Hampshire, although two were killed in Brookfield and one in New Braintree, since 1765. Deer were very plenty indeed in the early days, and formed an important part of the diet of the people and the deerskins
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PLENTY OF GAME
were used largely for clothing. They were protected by law as early as 1700, deer reeves being appointed in every town. John Pynchon purchased much venison from the Indians, selling it to the people at about two or two and a half pence per pound. The dressing of deer, moose and beaver skins, was a regular trade as well as that of ' leather breeches maker and glover.' Wild turkeys were abundant and could be found in the fall near every beech, oak or chestnut forest. As late as 1820 they sold for from 10 to 1212 cents per pound.
" Countless multitudes of pigeons filled the woods and fields. In 1634 Wood says ' we could see neither the beginning nor ending of these million of millions.' They were at times caught so abundantly that they could neither be sold nor eaten, and after being picked were given to the hogs. The feathers were used for beds and pillows. Partridges and ducks were much more abundant than now, but quail were always scarce." (Judd's Hadley.)
In the diary of Christopher C. Baldwin, Librarian of the American Antiquarian Society of Worcester, between 1827 and 1835, I find the following concerning pigeons : " Asa Hosmer, Jr. (Templeton, Worcester county, Mr. Baldwin's birthplace) is a hunter by profession. He does nothing but hunt, and has made it his whole business for about ten years, and what is remarkable, he gets a good living by it. He told me that last year (1831) he caught over eight hundred dozens of pigeons in Templeton, and that this was not one-half the number taken in the town. Mr. Joseph Robbins and a per- son by the name of Parks, in Winchendon, caught thirteen hundred dozens ; and a Mr. Harris of that town about seven hundred dozens more. They have taken nearly the same number for several years past. They find a market for them in Boston, Worcester, Providence and their vicinity. They sell from one dollar and fifty cents to two shillings per dozen, and the feathers sell for more than enough to pay all ex-
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PIGEONS : OMENS OF WAR
penses. Innumberable thousands of pigeons have been seen during the fore part of this month of this year (March, 1832) in various parts of New England ; an appearance which, with our ancestors, would have created the most alarming appre- hensions. It is said their flight portends bloody war. I can well remember that in the spring of 1811 a flock passed over Templeton that was many hours in sight, and so large as to cover the whole horizon. They first appeared about half an hour before sunrise and continued until after ten o'clock. They were going northeast.
" All the old people said it was a sign of war ; and whether the pigeons had anything to do with the affairs of men or not I cannot tell, but this is nevertheless true, that the United States did declare war against England within fourteen months from that time. And many old ladies gave accounts of the great flocks that appeared in 1774, the year before the Revolu- tion. And it is said in a manuscript account of Bacon's Re- bellion in Virginia, in 1665 and 1676 that the flight of pigeons there the year previous was reckoned an alarming omen."
FISHING
The Connecticut river and its tributary streams were from the first settlement of the whites celebrated for the great abundance of fish which filled these waters. Shad, salmon, bass, pickerel, eels and other fish in their proper seasons, abounded far beyond the wants of the settlers. The Pes- keomskut Falls was one of the most celebrated places for tak- ing them, and from time immemorial had been the gathering place of the savages for their annual harvest of fish, which constituted so large a part of their sustenance. In old times it was considered disgraceful to be without pork in the pork barrel, and to eat shad signified a want of pork, therefore it was discreditable to eat shad, and it is said that one family about to dine on shad, hearing a knock at the door, the good- wife slipped the plate of shad under the bed. Salmon were
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SALMON AND SHAD
less plenty, and at times the shad were returned from the net to the river while the salmon were saved. Before 1733 the price of shad did not exceed a penny apiece, and salmon were only two or three pence per pound as late as 1787. The first dam was built at South Hadley Falls in 1795, and it nearly stopped the running of salmon in the river. There was a celebrated fishing place for shad a short distance above the bridge at Montague city opposite land owned by B. N. Farren, Esq. Shad-time brought large numbers of people to the fishing places, where there was much frolicking and old- fashioned horse-play which the early settlers so much de- lighted in.
The disappearance of salmon from the Connecticut river was much more sudden than from the Merrimac. In 1797 they were plenty, but in 1798 a dam sixteen feet high was built across the Connecticut just below the mouth of Millers river. Until 1808 salmon were caught below these falls, but by 1820 the extinction was complete. They continued much longer in the Merrimac, and the reason given by scientists is that the Merrimac was not so sluggish a stream as the Connecti- cut, and its waters below the dam were better aërated than were those of the Connecticut below this dam. The Connecti- cut is well calculated for shad but rougher waters are neces- sary for salmon.
No mention is made of trout fishing by the early settlers although the smaller streams must have abounded in fine specimens in those days.
BOUNTY ON BEARS, WOLVES AND WILDCATS
Under the colony laws for many years bounties were paid for the destruction of bears, wolves and wildcats, which caused havoc among the domestic animals of the settlers. Great care was taken to prevent fraud by the claimants of these bounties, and the ears of the killed were to be cut off in the presence of a town officer, and a certificate given, on
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BOUNTIES ON BEARS, WOLVES AND LYNX
which the town treasurer recouped the bounty upon the colony treasury.
We find in the accounts of Thomas French, treasurer of Deerfield from 1737 to 1747, the following memoranda con- cerning bounties :
" March 1737/8; Received from ye province Treasurer for wolves and wildcats £47, 0, o. Annoque Dominy, 1738, paid by order from ye Select men to Sundry persons, as may appear by their receipts for Wolves and Wildcats ye sum of £47,0, 0.
" June, 1738 ; Resd from ye province Treasurer ye sum of £22, 0, 0."
" July, 1738 ; pd pr order from ye select men to sundry persons for Wolves {22, 0, 0."
The amount of bounties paid in 1743 was £14, 10, 0 ; 1744, £12, 15,0; 1755 £15,15,0.
Memoranda as to who received the bounty are as follows :
" 1742 I gave receipts to Aaron Deniour, I bear-Jº Mitch- ell, 1-Daniel Field, a cub-to Joseph Atherton, a woolf-to Jona Smead, two cats-ditto to Corss. David Field, two cats -. August 10, 1743, David Field, bear-ditto a woolf and cat.
" April 20, 1742, in ye blank then sent (to province treas- urer) £57 old tenour, of which there is to be paid, to Eben" Sheldon one wolfe £4, 0, 0; Joseph Mitchell, ditto £4, 0, 0; J. Corss, 2 ditto & a cat£13, 0, 0; Thos. Wells 2nd, a cat, £4, 0, 0,"
"Oct. 25, 1743, in ye blank y" sent £13, 0, 0, 4 bear onto J. Corss, I Cat to Nath. Hawks-I woolf and two bears from David Field-one woolf from Jno Hawks-two cats from Thos French."
" Dec. 1, 1743. Mr. Williams (selectman) gave Receip to Jo Severance for a woolf."
" May 7, 1746. Cut for Capt. Moses Rice, a woolf." (Cut off his ears.)
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THE SUCCESSFUL HUNTERS
" March 4, 1746. David Field, a cat."
" Corss, a woolf to be pd to David Field."
" March 21, 1747. Received Hugh Morrison's Receipt for one grown Wolf."
" March 29, 1748, then J. Shelden (selectman) cut a cate- mount for Martin Ashley in presence of D. Field."
" August. J. Shelden, cut 2 cubs for D. Field."
" 1748, Jan. 3. T. Childs, constable cut a cat for D. Field."
" 5 wolvs & I cat bought & pd for as by Receipts ap- pears."
" April 26, 1749. Eb Barnard cut one wolfe for myself."
(T. French.)
" May 2, Eb Barnard cut 5 do. for my self." (Barnard being selectman.)
In 1765 Reuben Wells of Greenfield got bounty on six wolves.
WOLF STORY
In Colrain the wolves made great havoc among the sheep, which caused the young hunters and trappers to try their skill in taking those animals, and many were secured in different ways. But there was one old offender in the neighborhood of Catamount Hill, who had killed three dogs, and once was taken in a trap, from which he escaped, leaving a part of one foot. He undertook to contend with me. Near the trapping ground was a large wild meadow, and in approaching this meadow, on the 20th of May, 1785, I discovered the hero in the open field, but not within a gun shot ; he at the same mo- ment saw me. It appeared that he, like the savages of the forest, was unwilling to risk a field fight. He fled to the mountain on the east of the meadow, and there began his howl and savage yell (as I supposed to call a reinforcement) and continued his war whoop for nearly an hour, I in the mean time advancing in order for a shot at him, and he re-
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CATAMOUNT HILL STORY
treating and advancing. At length I saw him on the side of a hill in a quarterly position, about twenty rods from me. My piece was loaded with two balls and my aim was quick ; I fired, and one ball hit the wolf on one hind leg above the gambrel joint, and broke all the bones off. The other ball went through a fore leg near the body (no more howling after this). He came tumbling heels over head down the hill, to within ten rods of me. By this time he found he had some legs left. I followed him a short distance by the blood and bones that fell from his legs, then I went home for my dog and help. Mr. John Call, a fine sportsman, went with me, and the dogs pursued the wolf a half a mile to a place partly under a ledge of rocks, and there the dogs guarded him safely until their masters came up, and then they fell upon him in the most violent manner, for the space of fifteen minutes, when the wolf laid still. He measured from the end of his nose to the end of his tail, six feet and six inches.
ISAAC JOHNSON.
From the " Gazette & Herald," September 22, 1829. 63
CHAPTER LXII
CURIOUS AND INTERESTING EVENTS
JUDGE SEWELL'S VISIT, 1716
M ONDAY, August 27th, set out with Mr. Davenport for Springfield, David waits on me, Trowbridge on him and Mr. Cooke; Treated at N. Sparhawk's, Dine at Wilson's ; Mr. Justice Lynde came to us at Water- town Mill. Got to How's about 1/2 hour by Sun.
August 28th. Din'd at Capt. Wings old House at Wor- cester ; Writt to Mr. Parris at Rice's, eat Roost Turkey near Strawberry-Hill, I eat mine at Sarah Stebbings's. Got to Brookfield a little after sunset.
August 29th. To Springfield. Were met by the Sheriff Hitchcock within 10 miles of the Town. Got thither about 5. P. M.
August 30. Open'd the Court. Mr. Brewer pray'd. Mr. Taylor of Westfield din'd with us.
August 31. Col. Partridge conducted me to Hatfield. Log'd at his House.
September I. Col. Partridge brings me going to Sugar Loaf. Returns. My Pilot, Sam Childs, shews me where Capt. Lothrop and his Essex Soldiers were slain. Din'd with Mr. Williams. (Rev. John.)
September 2. Very refreshing rain last night. Sat with Mrs. Williams in her pue. Mr. Williams's Text, "This their Way is their Folly." Sing well at Dearfield.
September 3. Mr. Williams, Capt. Wells, Mehuman 994
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MISCELLANEOUS
Hinsdal, went with me to the Falls, where Capt. Turner slew so many Indians. In return saw Green-River, where their Mills are, in which Capt. Turner was shot in his Retreat from the Falls ; Saw the Neck; as had seen Cheapside going thither. Din'd at Mr. Williams, who with Capt. Wells brought us going to Muddy-Brook. Got to Hatfield by Night. Lodg'd at Wait's.
MATRIMONIAL
The following letter which was written by a young gentle- man born in 1762 and his lady love in 1772, is introduced to show the difference in formalities used upon such occasions a century ago, and now. Descendants of this couple are now living in this town, and names are therefore omitted.
It is with Delight and Satisfaction that I have this opportunity to write to you to introduce myself to the Friendship favour and affection of your selves and family. It is by the mutual acquaintance and the endearing connection of social friendship that has taken place with me and your Daughter Lydia with a view of joining in the conjugal bands of Matrimony,-and we Doo now sincerely ask your advice and consent to our proceedings and request your Prayers for us that we may join that endearing relation with a just sense of the importance of its institution so that we may receive the Blessings which flow therefrom and Dwell together in peace and true Friendship & pass throu the troubled scenes of this world with a wise reference to Eternity that we may meet the cold messenger of Death with calm and undisturbed serenity and be prepared to enjoy the Blissful scenes of immortality in the world of Glory,-with childlike fear and fillial affection we request an answer to this according to your best wishes and Desires."
AN OLD MONUMENT
There stood in the Federal street cemetery for many years
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AN OLD MONUMENT
a small red sandstone monument bearing the following singu- lar inscription :
"John, 2d, apparently drowned, August, 1814, but rescued by Captain Anderson, of Newbury, Vermont."
The quaintness of the inscription excited the curiosity of many people, and writers in the Chicago Record and Public Opinion made it the subject of their remarks.
The explanation is this : Calvin Munn, a soldier of the Revolution and the landlord of the old Munn tavern, erected this stone in memory of an event which came near costing him the life of a favorite child.
The lad, John, 2d, when about nine years old fell from a canal boat into the basin at Montague City, and to all appear- ance was dead when taken out by Captain Anderson. After strenuous efforts the lad was resuscitated, and lived for sixty- eight additional years, dying in Northampton, December 27, 1882, and his body now rests in the Green river cemetery.
He became a resident of New York, and in grateful re- membrance of Captain Anderson, who died leaving a widow in needy circumstances, he assumed the responsibility of her maintenance during her life.
The little red sandstone monument was removed and broken up for a foundation to the present Munn family monument.
A CONGREGATIONAL DOG
In Greenfield meadows about 1848 lived one Edwin Smead, a farmer, who had a dog who was as constant as his master to attend the church at Nash's mills. At that time the meetinghouse contained a high pulpit, which was ap- proached by winding stairs in front of the gallery which con- tained the singers. When the congregation entered the church, the old dog, with the utmost gravity of manner, would climb the pulpit stairs and compose himself for a nap. Mr.
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FAITHFUL TO IHIS CHURCH
Smead died and in 1850 the farm was sold to E. A. Par- menter, a good Baptist deacon, who attended church in the village. The dog stuck by the farm, but did not take to the new religion. Every Sunday morning when the family started for church, he was ready and trotted along beside the wagon until he came to the place where the road turned off toward the Congregational church, where he parted company with the family and stood by his own creed. About 1851 extensive alterations were made in the meetinghouse, the seats were turned around, a platform erected in the other end of the audience room and a modern desk placed thereon. When the day came for the reopening of the church, the old dog walked in with the rest of the congregation, and looked for the pulpit stairs, which, alas ! had disappeared forever. With an appearance of the deepest disgust, he walked up one aisle and down the other, looking disturbed and apparently aware that he was the object of ill-suppressed merriment, until at last, hearing the voice of good old Dr. Chandler in the open- ing services, he reluctantly and shame-facedly mounted the modern platform and composed himself to slumber. For many years longer, the old dog was the most constant at- tendant upon the service, never missing, let it rain or shine, until his dog days were over.
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