USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Greenfield > History of Greenfield : shire town of Franklin county, Massachusetts, Vol. I > Part 2
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309-336
XXI
CONTENTS
CHAPTER XXIX
THE WAR OF THE REBELLION
Southern aggression-Lincoln's election the climax-The attack on Fort Sumter-Patriotism of the people -- Mass meetings-The Greenfield Guards-Disheartening re- verses-The Draft-Disloyalty rampart-The Home Guard-The burning of the Cheapside bridge-The Fifty-second regiment-Returning soldiers-Notices of deceased soldiers-The soldiers' monument-Soldiers' burial places-Greenfield's Roll of Honor-Enlist- ments in the navy-Naval officers.
PAGE
337-384
CHAPTER XXX
DAILY EVENTS
Attempt to kidnap Gen. Asa Howland-Hoosac Tunnel loan bill passed-Action toward better water supply-High- way robbery-Attack on Fort Sumter-Loss of life at fire-Railroad celebration at Shelburne Falls-Great flood-Glen water works completed-William B. Wash- burn nominated for governor-Hoosac Tunnel completed -Free bridge at Montague City-President Garfield wounded-Railroad accident at Bardwell's-Death of selectman Warner-Greenfield gets a judge of the Su- perior Court-All Souls church dedicated-Electrics between " the Arch" and Turners Falls-They come through " the Arch "-Franklin County Hospital opens -Franklin District Court organized-O'Neil's trial- Death of Judge Conant-The Greenfield Recorder. . 385-403
CHAPTER XXXI
TOWN RECORDS
Soldiers' monument provided for-School districts abolished -Building of the Turners Falls road and bridge-Troy & Greenfield railroad comes to town-The town builds the main sewer-Free library established-Miles street laid out-Shortage in town money-Change of grade at the railroad station-No license-Electric railway granted a location-Annexation of Cheapside-Park commissioners elected-Greenfield gets an allowance
xxii
CONTENTS
PAGE
for state road-Money appropriated for the writing of a history of the town. . 404-415
CHAPTER XXXII
THE WAR WITH SPAIN
The Second Massachusetts Infantry-Company " L "-Off for the war-Experiences at Florida camps-Landing in Cuba-On duty at Guasimo-Advance on Santiago- The battle of El Caney-Death of Lieut. Field and others-Terrible sickness-Men ordered to Mon- tauk-The homeward passage-Many deaths by sick- ness-Arrival home-Muster out.
416-420
CHAPTER XXXIII
THE EARLY SETTLERS OF GREENFIELD
Edward and John Allen-Adonijah and Shubal Atherton- Ebenezer Arms-Moses Bascom-Jonathan Catlin -Timothy Childs-Caleb Clap-Barnabas David- son-James Corse-Aaron Denio-Isaac Foster- George Grennell-Ebenezer Graves-Benjamin Hast- ings-Samuel Hinsdale-George Howland-Martin Kellogg-Francis Lester-Elihu Lyman-John Mc- Hard-Lemuel Martindale-Elijah Mitchell-Asa Munn-Daniel Nash-Thomas Nims-John Newton- Joshua Pomroy-James Ryther-John Russell-Jona- than Severance-Ebenezer and Jonathan Smead- Samuel Stebbins-Ebenezer Wells-Beriah and Ruel Willard, and many others.
CHAPTER XXXIV
ECCLESIASTICAL AFFAIRS
First preaching services-Greenfield's set off-Prayer and fasting-Ministerial advice solicited as to candidate- Rev. Edward Billing called-Mr. Ashley's opposition -Failure of first council-Second council-Mr. Billing installed-Death of Rev. Edward Billing-Mr. Roger Newton called-Terms of settlement-Long ministry- Rev. Gamaliel S. Olds elected colleague to Mr. New- ton-Effort to locate a new meetinghouse-St. James
421-452
xxiii
PAGE
CONTENTS
parish formed-Location of meetinghouse causes trouble-Mr. Olds resigns-Death of Dr. Newton-A non-resident committee selects a site for the meeting- house-Not accepted by the parish-The town votes to set off the town of " Green Meadows "-The Second Congregational society is incorporated-Rev. Sylvester Woodbridge settled over the first church-New meet- inghouse at Nash's Mills-Rev. Amariah Chandler called-His long and successful pastorate-The Second Congregational society-Petition to the General Court -Society incorporated-Meetinghouse erected-Rev. Charles Jenkins becomes first pastor-Rev. William C. Fowler-Rev. Dr. Caleb S. Henry-Rev. Thomas Bel- lows-Rev. Samuel Washburn-Rev. Lorenzo L. Langstroth-Rev. George C. Partridge-Rev. Phineas C. Headly-Rev. Artemas Deane-Rev. Samuel H. Lee-New church building erected-Rev. Franke A. Warfield-Rev. Edward O. Bartlett-Rev. William A. McGinley-Gen. Erastus Blakeslee-Rev. David K. Nesbit-Rev. Henry Hyde-Prof. G. Glenn Atkins- Rev. Charles E. Beals-The St. James Episcopal so- ciety-Rev. Titus Strong-His life and character-Rev. William Flint-Rev. S. Russell Jones-Rev. Julius H. Waterbury-Rev. Samuel Hollingsworth-Rev. Peter Voorhees Finch-The soldier, the pastor, the man- Rev. Sidney Hubbell Treat-The Third Congrega- tional society (Unitarian)-Rev. Samuel Willard of Deerfield-Orthodoxy versus Liberal Christianity-So- ciety organized-Meetinghouse erected-Rev. Win- throp Bailey-Rev. F. W. Holland-Rev. John Parkman, Jr .- Rev. John F. Moors-His life and services-New church edifice-Rev. Arthur A. Brooks -Rev. John Dumont Reid-The First Methodist Episcopal society-Its old meetinghouse-List of pastors-New church edifice erected-Removed to new location-Holy Trinity Church-Description of fine building-Rev. H. L. Robinson-Rev. P. McManus- Rev. Walter A. Henneberry-Rev. Jeremiah McCarthy -His tragic death-Rev. Terrence Smith-Rev. D. H. O'Neil-Rev. Mark E. Purcell-Rev. Michael J. Car-
xxiv
CONTENTS
roll-German Methodist Episcopal society-Its pastors -German Lutheran Church-Ministers-The First Baptist Church-Its early struggles and success- Church building erected-Its many pastors-The Second Baptist society-Its church building-Rev. Miles N. Reed-Rev. W. Roy Timeson.
PAGE
453-504
CHAPTER XXXV
CHEAPSIDE
The home of the Pocumtucks-Its ferries and bridges- Head of navigation-Merchants and business men -Salt and New England rum-The steamboat era- Old stage lines-Its ambition to become the county seat-The reasons urged-Greenfield's plea-Cheap- side loses its case-The railroad comes-The passing of Cheapside-Renewed prosperity.
505-515
CHAPTER XXXVI
BOATING ON THE CONNECTICUT -
Early ships and ship building-The Pocumtuck supply fleet -Flat boat navigation-Canal charters-Man power- Wind power-Steam power-The Barnet and the Blanchard-The steamer Greenfield-Her explosion- Death of Capt. Crawford-Allen and Root-Poleing a boat-South Hadley falls-The " Fandago "-The " silver rock" at Mad Tom-Sol Caswell's escape- Capt. L. L. Luey-Names of old river men-Modern logging on the river-Loggers' camps at Turners Falls and Indian dam.
516-529
CHAPTER XXXVII
BURNHAM'S ROCK
The great fishing place-Struggle for ownership-Green- field men purchase it-Montague men in possession- Capt. Mack outwits his opponents-The first canti- lever-Man over the falls-Great catch of fish. ·
530-535
XXV
CONTENTS
CHAPTER XXXVIII
THE OLD MEETINGHOUSE
Letter of Rev. Charles C. Corse-His early recollections --
No artificial heat-The galleries-The pew over the stairs-Pitching the tune-Beating the drum and blow- ing the conch shell-Seating the meetinghouse-The bulletin board-Intention of marriage posted-The sounding board-What became of it-Great crowds at ordination-Were the old times better-Old choristers Rev. Aaron Burr-Repairs in 1796-Reminiscences by Rev. Preserved Smith-Church buildings-Usages and customs-Use of liquor-Old times not better.
PAGE
536-547
CHAPTER XXXIX
NEWSPAPERS IN GREENFIELD
William Coleman-Thomas Dickman-The Impartial Intel- ligencer-The Greenfield Gazette-Rivals in the field -Consolidation-Gazette Courier-Col. Ansel Phelps-Samuel S. Eastman-E. A. Hall-A good family paper-The Franklin Democrat-R. R. Taylor -Samuel O. Lamb-The Miricks-Franklin Federa- list-Franklin Post & Christian Freeman-The Amer- ican Republic-A " Free Soil " paper-Dea. C. J. J. Ingersoll-The Franklin County Times-Its succes- sors-Good Cheer-The Greenfield Recorder. . 548-555
CHAPTER XL
ROADS AND BRIDGES
Pine Hill ferry road-Road to ye Green River lands-The country road to Northfield-The meetinghouse com- mon-The era of turnpike roads-Federal street- Streets in Greenfield village-Sewers-The Plain road -Bridges-Toll bridge at Cheapside-Green river bridges-New iron bridge at west Main street-Brick yards-Early pottery.
556-580
xxvi
CONTENTS
CHAPTER XLI
SCHOOLS
PAGE
Early schools at Green River-Selectmen acting as com- mittee-School "Squadrons "-Division into school districts-Ancient school orders-Building of the south schoolhouse-School boys see a steamboat-High school established-Chapman street schoolhouse- District system abolished-Town purchases the school- houses-Second high schoolhouse built-Other new schoolhouses-Third high schoolhouse, on Federal street-Burning of the Federal street schoolhouse. . 581-599
CHAPTER XLII
PRIVATE SCHOOLS
The Young Ladies' High School-Fellenberg Academy- James H. Coffin-Passing of the manual labor school -The sale to the village school district-The Green- field Institute-The Misses Stone-Miss J. Drapers' school-Removed to Hartford-Miss Charlotte Catlin -Dr. Francis Dana-Proposed medical school-Select schools at Nash's Mills-The Misses Russell's school -The Misses Williams' school-The Prospect Hill school-James C. Parsons-Ida F. Foster-Caroline R. Clark. .
. 600-607
CHAPTER XLIII
GREENFIELD LIBRARIES
Rev. Roger Newton librarian-North Parish Social library -Village library in 1852-The Greenfield Library As- sociation-The Greenfield Horticultural Association- Librarians-The Library Association buildings-Gov. Washburn's gifts-The Library fair-Liberality of George B. Grinnell and others-Anson K. Warner's legacy-List of officers-Legacy from Mrs. Maria H. Hosmer-The Public Library-Establishment in 1880 -Its popularity and success-List of officers-Banks and financial institutions.
608-621
xxvii
CONTENTS
CHAPTER XLIV
FIRES IN GREENFIELD
Col. Phelps building-Nash's Mills-Pond's and Hollister's blocks-Potter & Nash's building-Cutler's shoe shop- Union block-Greenfield Tool Co .- A way cleared for the masonic block-Botsford block-Warner Manu- facturing Co .- J. P. Felton's barn-Lowe farm fire -Thomas Moore burned.
PAGE *
622-633
CHAPTER XLV
OLD TIME MILLS AND MANUFACTORIES
Annual burning of timber lands-First stream improved called " Mill brook "-First mill on Green river- Capt. Wells's Green river mills-Col. William Moore, promoter-Woolen mill-Cotton mill-Tannery-Iron foundry-Oil mill-John Russell chisel maker-New quarters-Goff and Starr's mill-Hemp raising-Mar- tindale's woolen factory-Nash's mills-Wiley & Russell Co .- Warner Manufacturing Co .- Simond's rake shop-Wells's sawmill-Glen sawmill-Barton's tannery-Factory Village-Hall's sawmill-Iron works' property-Greenfield Tool Co.
634-644
CHAPTER XLVI
WHERE PEOPLE LIVED
Irish Plain-Bassville-North Meadows (Flanders) -Old Taverns-South Meadows-Smead neighborhood- Shelburne roads-Nash's Mills-Pudding lane- Country Farms-Log Plain-Stage road-Lampblack -Meetinghouse-Factory Village-Fort Stocking- Petty's Plain-Cheapside. 645-692
CHAPTER XLVII
BURYING GROUNDS AND CEMETERIES
The first burial place-Condemned to public use-The High street yard-Lower Meadows cemetery-The Upper Meadows cemetery corporation-The Country Farms yard-The Northeast burial place-The Federal street cemetery-Green River cemetery-The old Catholic cemetery-Cavalry cemetery. 693-699
xxviii
CONTENTS
PAGE
CHAPTER XLVIII
MARRIAGES
Marriages performed by Rev. Roger Newton, 1761-1816- Marriages in other towns, when one party was of Greenfield. · 700-716
CHAPTER XLIX
REV. ROGER NEWTON'S DIARY
Quarrelsome and contentious members-Persons elected to " tune ye Psalm "-Patriotic resolutions-Members " dealt with "-Restored to charity-Jonathan Leavitt, deacon-Self-examinations-Too many printers-Poor old Finner-Purchases books for the " town library "- Reads a novel-Mourns for his son Roger-Building his new house-The trial of Tabitha Coleman-Tes- timony in the case-Street lines-His relations with his people.
717-734
CHAPTER L
DEATHS IN GREENFIELD RECORDED BY REV. ROGER NEWTON
List of deaths from 1761 to 1814, from Rev. Dr. Newton's Diary.
735-748
CHAPTER LI
OBSERVANCE OF WASHINGTON'S DEATH
Old meetinghouse-Military display-Oration by Proctor Pierce-Sketch of life of orator. 749-751
CHAPTER LII
GREENFIELD TAVERNS
Hot flip and toddy-Meetings and meetinghouses-Corse's tavern-Landlord Aaron Denio-The old Willard tavern-American House-Mansion House -- River taverns-Ahaz Thayer's tavern-Meadow taverns- Lieut. John Clark's-The " White Horse Inn "-Aber- crombie's.
752-762
xxix
CONTENTS
CHAPTER LIII
PHYSICIANS OF GREENFIELD
PAGE
Sketches of their lives-Resident list in 1902. . 763-775
CHAPTER LIV THE CIVIL LIST
Senator-Governor-Representatives in Congress-State Senators-Members of Governor's Council-Represen- tatives-Judges of probate-Registers of probate-Dis- trict attorney-Sheriffs-County commissioners- Clerks of court -- County treasurers-Registers of deeds -Court criers-Messengers-Members of the Franklin bar- Selectmen- Assessors- Town clerks- Town treasurers-School committee-Miscellaneous. · 776-802
CHAPTER LV
MEMBERS OF FRANKLIN COUNTY BAR
Notices of those deceased or removed from Greenfield. 803-832
CHAPTER LVI
MINISTERS, NATIVES OF GREENFIELD
Sketches of their lives.
.
833-840
CHAPTER LVII
SKETCHES OF FORMER CITIZENS
Brief notices of some of Greenfield's deceased citizens. 841-886
CHAPTER LVIII
GREENFIELD MILITARY OFFICERS, SINCE 1800
Rank and title-United States direct tax-Real estate owners in Greenfield in 1798-Values of houses and lands-Class 1, buildings worth more than $100- Class 2, buildings worth less than $100-Summaries. 887-897
CHAPTER LIX
SOLDIERS OF THE REVOLUTION
Records of Greenfield soldiers in the Revolutionary War- - Names and service. .
· 898-942
XXX
CONTENTS
CHAPTER LX
MEN OF NOTE
PAGE
William Coleman-Rev. Henry Coleman-James Roberts-
William Grennell-Jerom Ripley-Rev. George Ripley -Lieut. Calvin Munn-Deborah Sampson-A military family-The Martindales-Thomas £ Dickman-Col.
Ansel Phelps-Lieut. John Clark. 943-958
CHAPTER LXI
OLD HOMES AND HOMESTEADS
Houses of the olden times-In general-The Jonathan Smead house-Daniel Nash house-The Hollister house-The Leavitt or Hovey house. 959-967
CHAPTER LXII
FOSSIL FOOTPRINTS IN THE NEW RED SANDSTONE
Discovery of " Bird Tracks "-Dexter Marsh-Dr. James Deane-Professors Hitchcock and Silliman-Marsh's museum-" The Hugh Miller of America "-Dr. Rose- · well Field-Timothy M. Sloughton. 968-972
CHAPTER LXIII
GREENFIELD VILLAGE IN 1801
Rev. Preserved Smith-Munn's tavern-Willard tavern- The Gun house-Col. Gilbert's tavern-The grist- mill-Col. Wells's sawmill-Stagecoach days-Express freight lines-The post rider-Stories from Willard's history-Earmarks-Warning out-Game-Hunting- Fishing-Bounties-Wolf story. 973-993
CHAPTER LXIV
CURIOUS AND INTERESTING EVENTS
Judge Sewall's visit in 1716-" Sing Well at Deerfield "- Asking consent-Terrible sickness-" The Brides in Blue "-Savory advice-Fort Stocking-Ancient ac- counts-Strong men-The Houston & Gill campaign. 994-1016
xxxi
CONTENTS
CHAPTER LXV
THE DEERFIELD CANNON
PAGE
Its early history-Captured and recaptured-The tug of war-Henry Wait's story-Henry Briggs's recollections -Antiquarians swap stories-Capt. Thaddeus Cole- man's diary-Samuel Leonard the hunter-Log Plain hurricane-Hats and hatters-Depreciation of paper money-Christopher C. Baldwin's diary-Visit to Greenfield in 1833-The new version-The Newcombs -The Dorrellites-Old gravestones-Deerfield visited. 1017-1040
CHAPTER LXVI
MISCELLANEOUS
Franklin County Public Hospital-Greenfield Waterworks -Gas Light Company-Electric Light and Power Com- pany-Rural club-Masonry-Odd Fellows-G. A. R. 1041-1054
CHAPTER LXVII
THE VILLAGE STREET
Located in 1686-Plan recorded in 1749-Home lots- Names of early settlers-The common-The country road-Forts-Old taverns-Stores-Public buildings. 1055-2072
CHAPTER LXVIII
OLD HOME WEEK ASSOCIATION
Organization-Celebration at old meetinghouse spot-Loan exhibition-Interesting letters. · 1073-1074
CHAPTER LXIX
MAJOR ALVORD'S ADDRESS
His early life in Greenfield-Alvord house burned-The old Fellenberg schoolhouse-The Clapp lot-School- mates-War days. · 1075-1088
CHAPTER LXX
REMINISCENCES BY JOHN E. RUSSELL
Shrinking of the world in size-Pharioh's chariot-" Other times, other customs "-Travelling in the "40's "-
Xxxii
CONTENTS
PAGE
Greenfield taverns-Military-The circus-Ecclesias- tical-The Millerites-Peter Sprague-Sanitary notes. 1089-1102
CHAPTER LXXI
SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION IN 1903
General committee-Liberality of the town-The work laid out-The great parade-The military-The grand army-The fire department-The schools-The Coaching club-All civic and industrial associations and citizens unite in the work -- The honored guests- Judge Fessenden's speech-Governor Bates's address. 1103-1133
CHAPTER LXXII
SESQUICENTENNIAL CONTINUED
Senator Lodge's oration-The middle of the eighteenth cen- tury-Men and women who made the town-Time counts not by periods but by events-The defeat at Bloody Brook and the victory at the falls-A rapid sketch of epoch-making events-A glance at Cuba- The Valley settlers-" They looked facts in the face and did the duties nearest to their hands with all their strength." . · II34-1154
CHAPTER LXXIII
LETTER FROM CHARLES ALLEN
Review of ministers, physicians and lawyers of fifty years ago-Business men-Leaders of society-Good wishes for Greenfield. · 1155-1157
CHAPTER LXXIV
LETTER FROM JOHN E. RUSSELL
Local history-When Greenfield was "set off " -- Its natural meadows-The great river-Natural highway-Boating days-Manufactures-Love of birth place-" Feel an exile when away "-After-notes of celebration-The Grand Army boys-Compliments to the town. . 1158-1167
xxxiii
CONTENTS
CHAPTER LXXV
RECOLLECTIONS OF MARY P. WELLS SMITH
PAGE
" I suppose now Greenfield will think it must have a rail- road "-Sending produce to Boston-Education of females-Miss Filley-The Pierce farm-Tea parties -Court parties-Gen. Devens-War times-Lectures -Library fair-" The best thing about old Greenfield . was the people themselves "-Charles Allens's recollec- tions-Thackery sings at a Davis party-The great Elms-Deerfield Academy-Library association- Gov. Washburn's liberality-Gen. Devens's speech- Barnard A. Newell-Notable guests entertained at George T. Davis's-Reminiscences by John E. Russell -Old time musters-Fife and drums-Phrenology- Liberty pole-Town pump-Dress occasions-Samuel O. Lamb's recollections-Sixty years in Greenfield- Samuel Wells's house-George W. Mark-Peter T. Sprague-David Willard-Asher Spencer-Clay Hill -William Wilson-Dexter Marsh-Old Methodist Church-Clapp's lot-Leavitt house-Mansion House -The Bird place-Capt. Ambrose Ames, democrat- St. James Church-Rev. Messrs. Langstroth, Strong and Chandler-Judges and lawyers-Major Keith- David N. Carpenter-George W. Potter-H. W. Clapp-Thomas, Albert H. and Lucius Nims-Lucius Dickinson. .
. 1168-1203
Index. . . 1205
HISTORY OF GREENFIELD
CHAPTER I
EARLY SETTLEMENTS ON CONNECTICUT RIVER
" What others said and others did How others died and others lived."
E NGLISH born, the first settlers of New England fled from religious persecution in their native land. Happily for America and for the world, they took their political schooling in the Netherlands, the country which at that pe- riod had become the most advanced of any in the principles of civil liberty and religious freedom.
There, these Separatists imbibed that spirit of sturdy inde- pendence which they so well expressed in the words of that " Solemn Compact " drawn up and executed in the cabin of the Mayflower, the influence of which has been so potent in shaping the destiny of this mighty nation.
Settlement of the Connecticut. * " Having had formerly converse with ye Dutch (as is before remembered) they, The Pilgrims' Story. seeing them (the Pilgrims) seated here in a barren quarter, tould them of a river called by them ye Fresh River, but now is known by ye name of Conightecut River, which they often comended unto them for a fine place both for plantation and trade, and wished them to make use
Bradford's History.
(1)
I
2
[1633
PLYMOUTH MEN SETTLE ON CONNECTICUT RIVER
of it. But their hands being full otherwise they let it pass. But afterwards ther coming a company of banishte Indians into these parts, that were driven out from thence by the po- tencie of ye Pequents, which usurped upon them and drive them from thence, they often sollisited them to goe thither, and then they should have much trad, especially if they would keep a house there."
So the Plymouth men "tried diverce times, not without profite, but saw ye most certainte would be by keeping a house ther to receive ye trad when it came down out of ye inland."
Wahquimacut, chief sachem of the " banisht Indians " think- ing the presence of the English would make it safe for his people to return to their homes, and seeing that the Plymouth men were slow in accepting his offer of land, laid his griev- ances before the Boston people and invited them to settle upon his lands. Governor Bradford sent men to examine the river and Governor Winthrop of the Bay at first entered into the project with him, but on further consideration gave it up as unimportant, and left the matter with the men of Plymouth. So the Plymouth men determined to erect a trading house upon the river, and Governor Bradford commissioned one William Holmes to command the expedition.
" But ye Dutch begane now to repente, and hearing of their purpose & preparation, endeavoured to prevente them, and gott in a little before them, and made a slight forte, and planted 2 pieces of ordnance, threatning to stopp their passage. But haveing made a smale frame of a house ready, and haveing a great new barke, they stowed their frame in her hold & bords to cover & finishe it, haveing nailes & all other provisions fitting for their use. This they did ye rather that they might have a presente defence against ye Indians, who were much offended that they brought home & restored ye right Sachem of ye place, (called Natawanute) so as they were to encounter with a duble danger in this attempte, both ye Dutch and ye Indians, When they came up ye river, the Dutch demanded
3
THE BELLIGERENT DUTCH
1633]
what they intended, and whither they would goe; thay an- swered, up ye river to trade; (now their order was to go and seat above them.) They bid them strike & stay, or else they would shoote them, & stood by their ordnance ready fitted. They answered they had commission from ye Govr of Pli- moth to go up ye river to such a place, and if they did shoote, they must obey their order and proceede ; they would not molest them, but would goe on. So they passed along, and though the Dutch threatened them hard, yet they shoote not. Coming to their place, they clapt up their house quickly and landed their provissions and left ye company appointed, and sent the barke home; and afterward palisadoed their house aboute and fortified themselves better."
The Dutch reported what had taken place, to the govern- ment at Manhattan, and the next season they sent seventy men to drive the Plymouth men out, but finding them deter- mined to " hold the fort " and that it could not be taken without a bloody contest, they gave it up.
" Some of their neighbors in ye Bay hereing of ye fame of Coneghtecute River, had a hankering mind after it (as was be- fore noted) and now understanding that ye Indians were swepte away with ye late grate mortalitie . .. they began to prose- cute it with great egerness."
The Puritan's Story. Between 1630 and 1640 more than 20,000 settlers sought homes in New England. King Charles was ruling England without a parlia- ment, and the situation was simply intolerable. Fourteen ships arrived in June, 1634, and in 1635 eleven came in one day. In 1638 twenty ships bringing 3000 immigrants ar- rived within three months. The newly arrived declared that they preferred to risk their lives in a wilderness, notwithstand- ing all its terrors, rather than submit to the injustice of the King and his Archbishop Laud. The influx of people was so large and the accommodations for their reception so meagre, all the available land near the Bay being occupied, that planters
4
JEALOUSIES OF THE GREAT DIVINES
[1633-1635
began to extend their explorations to more inland parts of the country.
Arriving here, the immigrants implicitly followed the lead of their clergymen, who ruled in everything. The great leaders were Reverend John Cotton of Boston and Reverend Thomas Hooker of Newton .* Each was intensely jealous of the growing power of the other. Mr. Hooker was liberal and democratic in his views, maintaining that the foundation of authority is laid in the free consent of the people. " John Cotton was aristocratic and autocratic, and declared that de- mocracy was no fit government for church or for common- wealth." Both were wise enough to refrain from open quarrel, and Mr. Hooker applied to the Governor for leave to remove his people to a new land.
Rev. William Hubbard, the minister of Ipswich, quaintly discloses one principal cause of this movement when he says : " Some men do not well like, at least, cannot well bear, to be opposed in their judgments and notions, and thence were not unwilling to remove from under the power, as well as out of the bounds of the Massachusetts. Nature doth not allow two suns in one firmanent, and some spirits can as ill bear an equal as others a superior."
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