USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Greenfield > History of Greenfield : shire town of Franklin county, Massachusetts, Vol. I > Part 19
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49
221
CAPT. HUGH MORRISON'S BILL
1759]
remains still; but your petitioner by an exchange of Prisoners is returned home, but in a poor State of health. Your peti- tioner therefore humbly prays, whereas he has endured great hardships whilst in the hands of the Indians and sustained much Damage in his Temporal Interest, that your Excellency and honours would commisserate his Circumstances, and grant that his wages may be continued whilst your petitioner was in Captivity, or any other wages as in your great Wisdom you shall think best; and your petitioner shall,in duty bound ever pray, &c.
" ColRain Dec. 26, 1759. JOSEPH McCOWEN."
Captain John Hawks certified to the truth of this state- ment, and { 4 was allowed the petitioner "in full consideration for his service and sufferings within mentioned."
Hugh Morrison rendered the following bill to the Treasury for war expenses :
1758. Province of Massachusetts Bay to Hugh Morrison Dr.
To 90 meals Victuals to men sent up to Colrain in a Larim (alarm) at 6d per (meal) £2. 5.
1759. To 3 qts Rum for ditto 4. 6.
To 35 meals of victuals to men in the yr 1759 17. 6.
To 2 galls of Rum for ditto 12.
To 3 men which I had by Col. Williams order at The beginning of the ware before any soldiers was sent up to us which I boarded and paid them their wages Viz William Stewart and John Harmon II days each and Elliot Harmon 7 days which all amounts to 2. 5. 4.
6. 5. 4.
HUGH MORRISON, .
[1759
THE CAPTURE OF QUEBEC
222
Hampshire, ss. May 23, 1761, Then Hugh Morrison ap- peared and made oath to ye truth above acct.
CORM. ELIJAH WILLIAMS, Jus. Pacs.
The army under Lord Amherst moved down Lake George to Ticonderoga and on the 27th of July, without opposition, it took possession of that great fortress. The French aban- doned the lakes and fled to the river Richelieu.
September 18th, in that memorable battle upon the Plains of Abraham, the English under General Wolfe defeated the French under Montcalm, and both the brave commanders yielded their lives in their countries' cause. Quebec was sur- rendered a few days afterward to General Townsend.
The village of St. Francis in Canada had for many years been the starting point for numerous expeditions against our frontiers, and had been the scene of many orgies when the victorious marauders returned loaded with the spoils of vic- tory. In September, 1759, General Amherst detached the celebrated ranger Major Robert Rogers with one hundred and forty-two of his devoted followers, and directed him to proceed to Missisquoi bay in boats, and from thence march across the country and punish the St. Francis Indians. In his order he said : " Remember the barbarities that have been committed by the enemy's Indian scoundrels, on every occa- sion where they had opportunity of showing their infamous cruelties on the King's subject, which they have done with- out mercy. Take your revenge, but do not forget that though these villains have dastardly and permiscuously mur- dered women and children of all ages, it is my order that no women or children are killed or hurt."
When Rogers arrived at Missisquoi bay he left his boats with a guard of two men, and began his march across the country for St. Francis. Within two days his two men over- took him and told him that the enemy had discovered his march and were in pursuit with four hundred men. He made
1759
ROGER'S RANGERS PUNISH THE ST. FRANCIS TRIBE 223
a forced march and arrived at the Indian village, at dark, where he found the enemy enjoying a great dance after a wedding feast which they kept up till four o'clock in the morning. Rogers formed his men in three divisions and half an hour before sunrise they made a joint attack, so sudden and sweeping, that the enemy had no time for resistance. Two hundred were killed, twenty women and children made prisoners, and fifteen children "suffered to go their own way." All the village was burned excepting three houses reserved for their own use. Five English captives were rescued. Of the Ran- gers, Captain Ogden and six privates were wounded and one Stockbridge Indian killed. Major Rogers retreated up the St. Francis and crossed to the headwaters of the Connecticut, but his men were forced by hunger to separate into small parties and suffered untold miseries by starvation, reaching the settlements in exhausted condition. Rogers lost forty-six men on this expedition, nearly all by starvation.
After the capture of Ticonderoga and Crown Point, General Amherst ordered the dismissal of the garrisons in all the frontier posts excepting Forts Massachusetts, Hoosac and Dummer. The movement upon Montreal was delayed until the next season, and the army went into winter quarters at Crown Point. A plan was matured by which the main army was to attack Oswego and passing down the St. Lawrence meet the division going down the lakes, before the walls of Montreal, while General Murray, in command at Quebec, was to push up the river St. Lawrence and join the army under General Amherst. So perfect were the arrangements that Gen- eral Amherst and General Murray reached Montreal the same day and Colonel Haviland, with the lake forces, the next. On the 8th of September, 1760, Vaudreuil, the Governor of Canada, finding further resistance useless, surrendered the whole province of Canada to the English. The war still continued in Europe, but with the exception of a few depredations by Indians in the upper Connecticut valley and along the eastern coast vil-
224
FRENCH POWER IN AMERICA ENDED
[1760
lages, hostilities had ceased in New England. Articles of peace were signed at Paris, February 10, 1763, and at last the provinces were at rest.
The inhabitants of the colonies, happy in their relief from their long existing troubles, could hardly express their joy, and at once re-occupied their abandoned settlements, and com- menced new plantations, bringing much new territory under the hand of progress.
"On every side the cleaving axes sound ; The oak and tall beech, thunder to the ground."
"Lt. Oliver Atherton, used to relate a thrilling incident which occurred to him during this war. He was required to go on express to Colrain fort. He was mounted on a spirited mare, and passing just beyond where Col. Samuel Wells last lived (the B. B. Noyes place) a little farther on was the meadow gate, there being no open road ; the roadsides were covered with trees and bushes. The mare suddenly snorted and other- wise gave such signs of fear as satisfied him that she scented an Indian, and he gave himself up for lost, when he thought of the hindrance of the meadow gate. The faithful and sagacious animal did not fail her master in this his hour of utmost need. She darted forward with the rapidity of lightning, and so thrust her nose between the gate and the post, as to remove the fastening, and passed directly on her way through the river without delay or slackening her pace, and he was not forward to check her onward career. It is most likely she received many econiums on her arrival at the fort, and good horse meat and stabling, and still more likely that Atherton did not return alone, although a resolute and brave man. He often related the incident, and in his later days the relating of it affected him to tears." Willard's History of Green- field.
CHAPTER XX
TOWN AFFAIRS
" To duty firm, to conscience true, However tried and pressed ; In God's clear sight high work we do, If we but do our best."
T O return to the every day affairs of the town, we find that in 1754 Joseph Severance and Samuel Munn were elected fence viewers on the west side of Green river " from Colrain Gate Southward taking in ye River."
James Corse and Ebenezer Wells for the " west side of Green River taking in ye Gate North and so taking in the River." Edward Allen and Daniel Graves for the " East side of the Green River." This gives us some idea of the location of the gates in the meadow fence.
In September of the same year, "Voted that they Picquet three houses in this District forthwith-that Joshua Wellses and James Corses house and Shubal Athertons House be the houses that are to be picqueted."
In December voted "that Samll Mun Jonathan Smead Thos Nims be a committee to finish picketing James Corses and Thos Nimses Housen."
Voted " to give Joseph Severance four pounds ten shillings old tenor for Drumming this year." (To call public meetings, Sundays and other days.)
In December, 1755, voted "that they would give James Corse thirteen pounds old tenour for the use of his House to meet in on Sabbaths and other Necessary meetings this year."
225
I5
226
BURYING GROUND-MEETING HOUSE
[1753-1760
Voted " to give Aaron Denio 4 Shillings for Beating the Drum on the Sabbath & other Necessary meetings."
Voted " to let the Revd Mr. Billing have a garden in the street this year."
Voted " that Thos Nims Samll Mun and Jonathan Smead be a committee to make a road to the burying yard." This action related to the old burying yard on the brow of the hill, where Miles street now runs. There was a lane one rod in width from Main street to the yard, which had been absorbed by some party.
March, 17, 1757. Voted, "that Daniel Nash Jonathan Severance and Tho8 Nims be a committee to provide the Revnd Billing with wood this year."
Voted " to give James Corse 2 pounds for his house to meet in on the Sabbath and other Necessary Meetings, He giving the signal to meet."
In December 1759, we find the first action of the town in re- lation to the building of a meetinghouse. Votes had been passed each year for paying James Corse for the use of his house, and for a committee to supply the minister with wood, or hire him to get his own wood. Now they commenced to build a meetinghouse, which must have been a large under- taking for the few people then located in Greenfield, there hav- ing been but 192 inhabitants in what is now Greenfield and Gill in 1756, and not much increase could have been expected during the continuance of the war. At this meeting it was voted "to Build a Meeting House this Year forty five feet Long and thirty five feet wide, upon the spot where the general court hath prefixt it, and to Shingle Ruff Board & glaze it and Lay the under floor and make the doors."
Voted " that Ensign Childs Eben" Wells Daniel Nash Sam11 Mun & Sam11 Guild be a Cmmittee to Carry on the Affair of the Meeting House."
At a meeting held October 28, 1760, a second vote was taken "to build the meeting house where the Gen" Courts
227
FORTS DISMANTLED
1760-1765]
Committee fixt it," so it seems that not much progress had been made by the committee who were to "carry on the affair," but the people's ideas of their needs had enlarged, for they voted to "build the meeting house 50 feet long and 40 wide" and to "Couver and glaze it & build a Pulpit & lay the floors and make the Doars." They also chose a new committee "to carry on the work." Canada had surrendered, Montreal and Quebec had fallen and they believed the war to be over, so "Lieut. Ben" Hastings Ensgn Childs & Sam11 Stebbins were made a committee to sell the mounts and Pickets."
Reverend Mr. Billing having died, the town voted "to give Mr. Bulkley Orcutt a Call to the work of the Ministry," but he declined the invitation.
The Reverend Mr. Orcutt had supplied since Mr. Billing's death which occurred in 1760, but the exact date of that event is unknown. 1761. Voted " premium upon vermine, viz :- three pence upon a woodchuck four pence a crow one penny a blackbird two pence a squeril." 1762. The selectmen were made a committee to provide Reverend Mr. Newton's wood. A small item, perhaps, but he had use for fifty loads each year. Voted "Amos Allin, Timothy Childs, Dan11 Nash be a commit- tee to Lay out the Houses and Horse Houses on the Meet- ing House Square according to the Rates Each man paid the Year the Meeting House was built." Voted "to Reconsider the three Last points of the Compass on the Mill Brook Road."* December 2, 1765, the meetinghouse is not yet finished, for it is voted "Eb" Arms Sam11 Stebbins and John Graves be a Committe to provide fifteen Thousand feet of Boards for the Meeting House." March 3, 1766. Voted "Hogs should run att Large in yt part of the District
* The "Mill brook road" (Elm street) as originally laid in 1736 ran to the brow of the hill just east of where Alonzo Graves's house now stands, then by " the three Last points of the Compass " turned northeasterly and ran along " ye edge of ye hill to ye (town) bounds." It was first laid ten rods in width, and by this vote its direction was probably changed to near its present location through the Country Farms division lots.
228
GREENFIELD WANTS A NEW ORGANIC ACT
[1765-1769
from Ben' Hastings Jr. to west end of the Street Includ- ing Sam11 Wells only they are to be kept ringd and Lawfully Yoauked."
Each year since the organization of the district, committees had been chosen to lease the town lands, to supply the district with bulls and boars, to furnish the minister with his supply of wood, to furnish schoolhouses and hire schoolmasters and schooldames, to settle and pass "men's bills," and generally the selectmen were made a committee to "settle with the treas- ury." One of the most important board of officers was the "Tithing men," two being chosen each year. March 3, 1768. Voted "yt Aaron Denio Samuel Hinsdale and Ben' Hastings Be a Committee to look out a proper place for a Burying yard." It is evident that the meetinghouse was now in use, if not fully finished, as Benj. Hastings Jr., was voted thirteen shillings and four pence for sweeping it "this year."
Voted "Amos Allen Eben" Wells and Ben' Hastings be a committee to Lay out a Burying Place and to make a Report to the District for their Approbation." This action probably resulted in the burying ground on High Street. March meeting, 1769. Voted "the Select men be a Committee to Glaze the Meeting House."
May 29, 1769. Voted " Messrs Lieut Ben' Hastings Sam11 Hinsdale Aaron Denio Amos Allin Eben" Wells Jonathan Severence & David Wells be a committee to Prefer a petition to the General Court to make a new act with Regard to our being set off from the town of Deerfield Sd act to be made agreable to the Report of the Committee that was mutually Chosen by the town and us for the purpose Sª report being excepted by the town and District."
The result of the action of this committee was not very satisfactory to the town, as the General Court seemed to ignore the main question, i. e., the fact that the organic act did not coincide with the report of the committee chosen to partition the town. ,
229
A PETITION FOR RELIEF
" A petition of Benjamin Hastings and others, a committee of the District of Greenfield in the County of Hampshire, set- ting forth-That in the year 1753 the inhabitants of the said District being desirous to be erected into a District Corporation applied to the town of Deerfield (of which they were a part) for that purpose. That the said Town thereupon appointed a Committee among other things to determine the lines of the said District and what proportion of the Sequestered Lands should be assigned to them when set off; That said Comtee after hearing the Parties made their Report, which at a meet- ing of the said Town of Deerfield was accepted, and in conse- quence thereof it was proposed that by an act of the General Court the said Report should be fully confirmed ; but by what means they know not, an act was made very different from the said Report ; and greatly to the damage of the said District, and praying relief.
" In the House of Representatives : ---
" On the Petition of the District of Greenfield ; Ordered That Petitioners notify the Town of Deerfield by serving their Clerk with a copy of this Petition that they may shew cause if any they have, on the second Tuesday of next May session why the prayer thereof should not be granted.
"In Council, Read and Concurred."
"A petition of Benjamin Hastings and others, a Committee of the District of Greenfield, as entered the 27th day of March last ;
" In Council Read and ordered That the Petition be re- vived, and that Artemas Ward Esq. with such as the honble House shall join, be a Committee to take the Petition and answer into consideration and report what they think proper for this Court to do thereon.
" In the House of Representatives ; Read and concurred in, and Col's Cushing, Col. Marcy and Mr. Bigelow of Wor- cester with such other Gentlemen as the honble Board shall appoint are joined.
230
ACTION OF THE GENERAL COURT
"In Council ; Read & Concurred in and James Humphrey Esq ; is joined in the affair.
"The Committee appointed the 3d, of October last, on the Petition of a Committee of the District of Greenfield, made the following Report ; viz :--
" The Committee of both Houses on the Committee of the District of Greenfield and the answer of the Town of Deerfield thereto, having attended that service, fully heard the parties and duly Considered of their several allegations, are of the opinion that the prayer of said Petition be so far granted as that the Petitioners have liberty to bring a Bill of Repeal of a certain clause in the Act Incorporating the District of Greenfield ; vizt :- That clause impowering the non-resident Proprietors of Land in said District to Vote in the Meetings of said District with regard to building a Meeting house and also with regard to the Salary and settlement that shall be given to a Minister.
" ARTEMAS WARD, per order.
" In Council ; Read and Accepted and ordered That the Petitioners have leave to bring in a Bill accordingly.
" Sent down for concurrence."
December, 1769, Voted " to provided materials to finish the Meeting house " and a large committee was chosen to carry the vote into effect.
Voted " to allow Araon Denio 8s 8d for drink." Araon Denio kept a tavern about where the Nims livery stable now stands.
Voted " to allow Amos Allen five shillings for fetching a Box of Glass from Boston."
Voted " to allow Benj. Hastings jr 13/4 for sweeping the meeting house & 4/ for 2 day work at ye meeting house."
Voted " to Send Eben" Wells to Boston to get our petition through."
Voted " to raise thirty pounds to provide Boards & Slit- work to finish the meeting house." A committee was chosen
231
THE QUESTION OF TAXATION
to finish the meetinghouse and another to make a settlement with Deerfield of the trespass suits, as before recited.
Voted " thanks to the Revd Mr. Newton for his relinquish- ment of ten pounds of his sallary this year."
Voted " that the money Mr. Newton abated from his sal- lary shall be taken off the Pools (Polls)."
February, 14, 1771. Voted " to Repeal a vote made Last December annual meeting to raise thirty pounds to purchase Boards to Finish the meeting house, the committee are or- dered not purchase any Boards for that purpose."
March 4, 1771. Voted " the Selectmen be a committee to provide the Revd Mr. Newton's wood; a middleing Load to be appraised at 4/."
Voted " Messrs Timothy Childs Amos Allen & Eben" Wells a Committee to Lay out Burying yards."
" Att a Legal meeting of the Inhabitants of Greenfield held Feby ye 3 : 1772, Voted Messrs Saml Hinsdale Jonathan Severance and Leiut. Ben Hastings should be a Committee to Petition the General Court for an order to lay one half of the Town & County rates on the Pools and the other half on the Estates of the District.
" Voted that the Assessors should Put off making the rates till the last day of June next ; if an order of Court is not ob- tained to lay one half the rates on the Pools and the other half on the Estates of the District before that time, and that the Assessors that are then in office shall have full power and be obliged to make an Assessment of the whole sum that the District is in Debt at this day."
" Chapter 14 Province Laws : Acts 1772.
" Whereas the inhabitants of the district of Greenfield are apprehensive that an assessment upon the inhabitants of the said district, agreeable to the general laws of this province re- specting the proportions of taxes on polls and estates, for want of a true and just valuation, will be very unequal and
232
A NEW ORGANIC ACT PRAYED FOR
oppressive, and has for years past been found productive of many evils to said district : for remedy whereof,-
" Be it enacted by the Governor, Council and House of Representatives,
" That the assessors of the district of Greenfield, for the time being, be and hereby are authorized and directed, from time to time, to assess on the inhabitants of said dis- trict, liable by law to be taxed, in the following manner, until a new valuation of the estates in this province shall be compleated, and a tax shall issue thereon ; viz., that one moi- ety of all the taxes which shall hereafter be laid on said dis- trict, shall be assessed on the polls, the other, on the estates, real and personal, of the inhabitants of said Greenfield ; the assessors observing the same rules and directions, in all other respects, as, by law, is already provided ; and that every thing the said assessors shall do, agreeable to this act, shall be deemed good and valid, to all intents and purposes, with the restrictions above specified ; any law or usuage to the contrary notwithstanding." (Passed April 25, 1772.)
March 2, 1772. Voted " to provide twenty thousand of timber for the meeting House."
May 19, 1772. Voted " yt Samuel Hinsdale is appointed to prefer a petition to the General Court that Greenfield Bill of incorporation may be Repealed & that we may be incor- porated into a Parish unless we may be intitled to all the Privileges & Immoluments agreeable to the Report of the Committee appointed by Deerfield for that purpose which Re- port Confirmed by a Vote by the Town of Deerfield further- more Sª Hinsdale is directed to obtain the best advice he can & then to act according to the best of his discretion in sd af- fair."
December 7, 1772. Voted " that this meeting be ad- journed to Thomas Nimes."
Voted, " to Raise one Hundred Pounds of Money for the Meeting House."
233
THE MEETINGHOUSE FINISHED
Voted " to finish the Meeting House in the year 1773."
In May the church voted that " Jonathan Severance & Eleazer Wells are to tune the Psalm when Amos Allen shall be absent."
July 1, 1773. "The church (made choice) of Agrippa Wells, Ezekiel Bascom, Ariel Hinsdale & Reuben Wells to tune the psalm."
March 26, 1773. Voted " that the body of the Meeting House to be all pewd."
August II, 1773. Voted " to seat the Meeting House."
Voted " that age, state (estate) Qualification to be the Rule for seating the Meeting House." A committee was chosen to "seat sd House."
November 1, 1773. Voted " Samuel Hinsdale, Daniel Nash, Ebenezer Allen a Committee to sell the Remainder of what was left of Boards, Plank & so forth of the Meeting House." It was now fourteen years since the first vote to build a meetinghouse, and it seems that it is now called completed. " That Mr. Samuel Field, Sam11 Hinsdale Dan11 Nash (be) a Committee to draw up sumthing to send to the Committee of Correspondence in Boston and make report at ye Next December Meeting."
The agitation preceding the Revolution had commenced, this being the first action of the town on record in regard to the troubles with the mother country.
December 6, 1773. Voted That". . . be a committee to petition the General Court for the benefit of the Fishing Falls by Ensign Childs."
The fishing at Turners Falls had always been open to all, but now private parties were about to claim exclusive privi- leges at " Burnham's Rock, "and the town was much exercised about the matter.
" That Sam11 Hinsdale Lieut Allen Sam11 Stebbins a Com- mittee to Return thanks to M' David Wells for the Gift of a Cushion for M' Newton to lean on."
234
PREPARATION FOR WAR 1
If the sermons in our days were as long as in those of our forefathers, our church goers would think they were the proper persons to receive the gift of " cushions to lean on."
March 7, 1774. Voted " to divide the District into Squad- rons for the best advantage for the Publick Schools."
September 13, 1774. " At a full meeting of the Inhabit- ants of Greenfield, Voted Miss's Samuel Hinsdale Ensgn Tim- othy Childs Dan11 Nash Ebnr Arms Thos Nims Sam11 Wells Benj" Hastings to be Committee Sum one or more of them to meet with the Provincial or County Congress."
" To build a Bridge over Fall River if Bernardson will Build their part." (At the Iron Works.)
" That be a Committee to Examine into the Town Stock of Ammunition & settle with those men that have kept it and Supply the Stock." Getting ready to fight if nec- essary.
October 3, 1774. Voted " That Mr. Dan11 Nash be a Del- egate to Represent us at the Provincial Congress to be held at Concord on the Eleventh of this Instant."
January 10, 1775. Voted "that the Select men purchase for a town stock one Hundred Wt of Powder & one Hundred wt of Led over and above what is now in the Town Stock."
" That the Collector Shall keep the money Belonging to the Province in his own hands till further orders he is to idem- nify the Town."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.