USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Greenfield > History of Greenfield : shire town of Franklin county, Massachusetts, Vol. I > Part 34
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ARMS
Ebenezer Arms, born in 1721, and Abner Arms, born in 1731, were early settlers and prominent men at the Green River farms. They were sons of Daniel who was son of William, a soldier under Captain Turner, and the first of the name to settle at Deerfield. Ebenezer married Elizabeth, and Abner, Tabitha, daughters of Edward Allen, the settler at Green River. Ebenezer had eight children and Abner twelve. Both were able men and active in the affairs of the new community. Ebenezer was a captain in the militia and served as such in Colonel David Wells's 10th regiment in the Revolutionary War. . He was the father of Moses, who was also a captain and was the father of Ira Arms, the benefactor of the village of Shelburne Falls. The Ebenezer Arms place was the well known John Thayer farm in the lower meadows, and the Abner Arms homestead was the place in Country Farms owned for many years by Seorem B. Slate. The de- scendants of the Turners Falls soldier, William Arms, are numerous in Deerfield, Greenfield, Conway and Shelburne, the late George A. Arms of this town, Richard C. Arms of Deerfield and Elihu G. Arms of Greenfield being of this blood.
BASCOM
Moses Bascom was an early settler, and a member of the Constitutional Convention in 1788, and deacon in the church many years. He was the son of Ezekiel, the first of the name
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to settle in Deerfield, and great-grandson of Thomas of Dor- chester, 1634: Ezekiel was a soldier in Queen Anne's War and became a weaver. Moses Bascom had nineteen chil- dren, nine of whom died young. Reverend Ezekiel Lysander Bascom, was a son of Moses, born in Greenfield, graduated at Dartsmouth in 1786. Ezekiel, a brother of Moses, was a deputy sheriff in .1795 and settled in that part of the town which is now Gill, and Elias, another brother, a soldier in the French war, lived in Deerfield. Lemuel and Joseph Bascom also were early settlers in Greenfield and established clothing works at Fall river and above Cheapside. Moses P. Bascom is a descendant of Deacon Moses. The name has been prominent in Greenfield and Gill for many genera- tions.
BILLING
Reverend Edward Billing settled in Greenfield in 1754. He owned Fort Stocking, which he sold to Ebenezer Nims in 1757.
BROOKS
William Brooks, born in 1610, came to Deerfield in 1686. He died in 1688. His son Nathaniel and his wife and their son and daughter (being his whole family) were captured in 1704, and his wife was killed upon the journey. Only Mr. Brooks returned, being recovered by Ensign Sheldon on his second expedition to Canada. Nathaniel, Jr., born in 1710, lived at Cheapside in 1734, and came to Greenfield about 1743. He was a soldier in Father Rasle's War, was taken prisoner by the Indians at Country Farms in 1756, and known to be in Canada in 1758, but nothing more is known of him. His name often appears in the early records of the district. Another son, Eliakim, was a member of Captain Burke's Rangers in 1757 and a soldier under Captain John Hawks during the last French war. None of this family are known to be living in Greenfield to-day.
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BURT
Simeon Burt was an early settler and sold land to Elijah Williams in 1769 and Isaac and John Newton in 1770 and to Samuel Pickett in 1771.
CHADWICK
William Chadwick lived in Greenfield in 1769, having a farm near the Bernardston line. Nothing is known of his de- scendants, if he left such.
CATLIN
The ancient and honorable name of Catlin was at an early day represented at Green River by Jonathan, son of John of Deerfield. He owned the saw mill on the Mill brook from 1764 to 1784 and sold it to Daniel Nash. Richard Catlin also at one time lived in Greenfield, but at a much later day. None bearing the name of Catlin now reside in town.
CARY
Richard Cary came here from Deerfield before 1765 and lived in the northeast part of the town. He had at least two sons, Seth and Jesse.
CHILDS
Timothy Childs inherited from his father (Captain Timothy Childs of Deerfield, the old Indian fighter) large tracts of land near Turners Falls and built where Timothy M. Stough- ton now resides. He was born in 1720, settled in town very early, and was one of the principal men in the organization of the new district. He was a captain in the last French war, was chosen captain of militia April 22, 1776, led his company to Ticonderoga to resist the Burgoyne invasion and resigned his command in April, 1780, but Sheldon says he did not " lead his company to Cambridge," at the time of the Lexing- ton alarm, as Willard declares that he did. His son Timothy, born in 1748, became a celebrated physician, and served with distinction as an officer in the Revolution. Three of the sons of Dr. Timothy graduated at Williams College and another from West Point, each becoming distinguished in his chosen
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profession. Dr. Timothy died in Pittsfield, February 25, 1821. Men of his family are numerous in Deerfield and Conway.
CUNNINGHAM
Samuel and Thomas Cunningnam lived in Greenfield in 1781, and sold lands to Samuel Newton. Nothing is known of their descendants.
CLAP
Captain Caleb Clap was a trader in this town about the the period of the Revolution. He was a native of Worcester county, and was a captain in the Revolutionary War, a "gentle- man of the old school, intelligent, affable, polite and accessible to all." His twin brother, Captain Joshua Clap, also a Rev- olutionary soldier, of Montgomery, Vt., often visited him in Greenfield. They both served through the war and were re- markable men. Major Thomas W. Ripley was a grandson of Captain Caleb Clap. They descended from Captain Roger Clap, who came from England on the "Mary & John" which sailed March 20, 1630, and arrived off Nantasket, May, 30th of that year. He settled at Dorchester. The names of Captain Roger Clap's children were, Samuel, William, Eliphalet, Waitstill, Preserved, Experience, Hopestill, Wait, Thanks, Desire, Thomas, Unite, Supply.
CORSE
James Corse came to Deerfield about 1690. He married Elizabeth, daughter of John Catlin. She and her daughter Elizabeth, about eight years of age, were captured in 1704, and the mother was killed on the journey to Canada. The child never returned, but was known to be alive in 1716. James had two sons, Ebenezer and James. James was born in 1694, and was the one who settled at Green River. He was the historic hunter, trapper, and scout, a fit subject for the author of the Leatherstocking tales.
His common hunting ground covered the Deerfield, Green and Fall River valleys, up into southern Vermont. His traps
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were marked with three hacks, and he generally kept two chained together. One was found early in the nineteenth cen- tury, near the old Indian spring opposite the house of Mrs. Luke Ballard. This spring was a favorite resort for game, al- most equalling the southern licks. Willard says that it was currently asserted by some that James Corse received bounty on wolves amounting to £600, by others said to be $600, and that some said that he had killed nine hundred wolves, but " at any rate he realized a snug fortune for those days." He served under Captain Kellogg of Deerfield in Father Rasle's War, and through the French and Indian wars of 1743-63. His house stood just east of the Mansion House, was pali- saded during the wars, was burned down, and his son Dan built where the Dr. Deane house now stands, this building being moved across the street and taken away from there when the Masonic building was erected.
James Corse's house was the public meeting place before the meetinghouse was finished, and here the people came at the sound of the drum or the conch shell. Under the pass- port of Governor Dummer, Mr. Corse made a journey to Canada in 1730 in search of his sister, an interesting journal of which will be found in this work. He died September 20, 1783, aged ninety years. He was the father of thirteen chil- dren. Gad and Asher, his sons, were soldiers in the French wars. None of the name now reside in Greenfield, although there are descendants in the female line still having their res- idence in town. Dan at one time owned the farm in the meadows, now the home of Rollin S. Bassett. The Asher Corse place was the Larrabee farm.
DAVIDSON
Barnabas Davidson born about 1739 was a son of Josiah Davidson of Deerfield, and was a resident of Greenfield before 1775. He and his father were both soldiers in the French and Indian wars. He enlisted for the town of Bernardston in 1781 for the term of three years, but was later re-
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ported discharged for disability, receiving a bounty for his service.
DENIO
Reverend Mr. Williams in his Redeemed Captive speaks of " Three Frenchmen " living in Deerfield at the time of the massacre. One of these was Aaron Denio, who three weeks before that fatal day had been married to Abigail Stebbins by Mr. Williams. Their wedding journey was as prisoners, and their destination Canada, from which they never returned to Deerfield. But their son Aaron, born in 1704, was, when about ten years old, during an interval of peace, brought by In- dians to Deerfield to visit his grandfather Stebbins. When the Indians were ready to return the boy could not be found, he having been hidden by his grandfather, who made him his heir. He learned the trade of a shoemaker, but was a soldier under Captain Samuel Barnard during Father Rasle's War, was corporal at Fort Massachusetts, and an ensign in the Canadian campaign of 1756. He for a long time kept a tavern upon the lot in Greenfield, near where Nims's livery stable now stands. He was like so many of his nation, erratic, active and lively. Mr. Willard, in his History of Greenfield, tells many stories of him. "One day he said to Mrs. D., ' My dear, what shall we have for dinner to-day? What have you got in that pot?' To this she made no reply, or merely said, 'Victuals.' He persisted in his inquiry. 'My dear, what have you got in the pot? I vill know !' She, with the same indif- ference, answered as before. Whereat the little patience with which nature had gifted him became extinct. Nature could bear no more. He incontinently seized the aforesaid pot from its smoky hangings, saying, ' I swear I vill know what is in that pot,' and hastily made his way to the brow of the steep hill back of the house, and furiously threw the unoffending vessel down the hill, and on it went, rolling and tumbling and toss- ing horribly, pudding, potatoes, pork, beef, cabbage, beets and turnips, still on went the pot to the bottom of the hill, to
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the utter dismay and consternation of all peaceable, well dis- posed and good-pot-luck-loving citizens, and in evil example to all others in like kind to offend. He gained his point, but lost his dinner." His sons, Aaron, Joseph and Seth, were soldiers in the French wars, Seth also serving in the Revolu- tion, as well as his grandson Aaron. Another grandson, Sol- omon, was killed in the battle of Lake Erie, September 10, 1815. This name which was prominent in the earlier years of Greenfield is now quite unfamiliar to this region. The various branches of the family began to migrate to other towns as early as the time of the Revolution, and within twenty-five years afterward they had nearly all gone.
René de Noyon, better known as Aaron Denio, the keeper of the Frenchmen's tavern, had six sons and as many daughters. The names of the daughters merged into the names McLaren, Sheldon, Bascom, Catlin, Caldwell and others. The fourth son, Eli, was killed at the age of eighteen in the old French and Indian War, and left no family. The remain- ing five sons married and became heads of families. The eldest son, Aaron, 2d, died before his father, but left five sons whose descendants are about as numerous as those of their four uncles. There were nine families of the sons and grand- sons of René de Noyon, seven of which migrated from Green- field before 1810. The sons were Joseph, Seth, Baptist and Solomon. The grandsons were Frederick, Enos, Aaron, Eli and Israel.
Joseph Denio lived and died within the limits of old Green- field. A large part of his family went to Delaware County, N. Y., and a goodly proportion of his descendants still live in that state.
Seth Denio went with his family to Bennington, Vt., about 1790. One daughter there married Stebbins Walbridge, and her grandson, James H. Walbridge, was colonel of the 2d Vt. regiment in the Rebellion. In 1800 Seth Denio removed to Bakersfield in northwestern Vermont and was accompanied
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by the rest of his family. A grandson achieved prominence in Boston and left a memorial in the Museum of Fine Arts in the " Sylvanus A. Denio Fund." A great-grandson, Reve- rend Francis B. Denio, is a professor in the Bangor Theological Seminary and has kindly furnished information concerning the family history.
Baptist Denio came into possession of the real estate of his father at the death of the latter. Soon after he sold it to Be- riah and Ruel Willard and went to Great Barrington, Mass., where he shortly died. His family returned to Greenfield. His son, " John the printer," published the Gazette in Green- field for twenty-seven years. Later he published in Albany and various other places in the state of New York. A grand- daughter of John Denio, Elizabeth H. Denio, formerly pro- fessor in Wellesley College, now lecturer in Rochester Uni- versity, was one of the first, and is one of the few women who have achieved the degree of Ph. D. in a German Uni- versity.
Solomon Denio emigrated at an early date to the region of Buffalo, N. Y., whence his descendants scattered far and wide, both south and west.
Of the grandsons, Frederick, Israel and Aaron, 3d, went to Bennington, Vt., and after a few years the families of the first two went to the state of New York. Two sons of Frederick, Zelotus and Elon, became manufacturers of agricultural tools at Otsego. Zelotus is believed to have been the first maker of forks in this country. Israel's son Hiram probably achieved the highest distinction of any of the name for he was a long time Judge of the Court of Appeals in New York and his de- cisions are often mentioned by lawyers with respect.
Aaron, 3d, died in South Shaftsbury, Vt., and many de- scendants are living in Vermont. Enos Denio died in Green- field leaving no sons. Eli Denio and his family went to Isle La Motte in Lake Champlain and soon they went into northern New York.
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After 1810 the next generations of these families were caught in the general drift to Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa to which states many migrated by 1860. There are yet a great many of the name in the state of New York.
In 1889 authentic, and incomplete, records showed that the descendants of René de Noyon exceeded 1,400 in number, and that more than 400 of them had borne the name Denio. Probably if a complete record could have been secured the numbers would have been at least one fourth greater. The eighth generation had then begun to appear. The third gen- eration from René de Noyon was not entirely gone. Doubt- less there are now at least 800 descendants of René de Noyon living of whom more than 200 are surnamed Denio.
At least four sons of Rene fought in the French and Indian War, and three sons and as many grandsons in the Revolution. Six grandsons or more fought in the War of 1812. This was a truly representative American family. Two Denios in the fourth generation from Rene, sons of a southern mother and bred by their mother's kin, fought under Lee, while their own father and at least twoscore of their Denio kin were on the other side.
For the most part the race has been composed of hard working people who have kept clear of both wealth and poverty, and have helped to constitute the real strength of our nation. A few have preached the gospel ; a few have turned to the law ; a few have turned to some form of literary pursuits. Mer- cantile life may have grasped a few, banking has won more followers. Very many have turned to some mechanical pur- suit for which the race has unusual aptitude and natural talent. The majority have been connected with agricultural life, as is fitting to any race which is truly a benefit to their country.
FOSTER
Isaac Foster, tanner, was a son of Sergeant John Foster who was born in Ipswich in 1702, served in French and Indian
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wars, and lived in Deerfield and Bernardston. Isaac was not one of the first settlers at Greenfield, but he came before the Revolution, and was one of the Committee of Safety, and a prominent man in town affairs. He was a soldier in the French and Indian wars in 1741-1746 and 1757. He was also a soldier during the Revolution and was at Ticonderoga and Bennington. It is many years since any of his descend- ants have lived in town, but Addison G. Foster, United States Senator from the state of Washington, and Everett W. Foster of Washington, D. C., are his great grandsons.
GODDARD
Joseph and Robert Goddard, while not settlers in this town, lived for a short time at Deerfield, and were allotted homesteads and land at Green River. They owned the land at the west end of the Green river bridge at Nash's Mills, which in early times was called "Goddard's Meadow." They both returned to the Bay, from whence they came. In 1719 Joseph sold all of his holdings here to Samuel Barnard.
GRENNELL
George Grennell, of Saybrook, Connecticut, came to town about 1776, and succeeded in business Samuel Bliss, who came from Boston, and was a trader. He had a store and a house on the lot where Arms's block is now located. Bliss was a Tory, and fled to the British, who made him a captain. Mr. Grinnell at one time owned a farm which later was a part of the homestead of the late Colonel David Wells of Shel- burne. The house was in Greenfield, and Mr. Grennell re- sided there for some time. He purchased the place at the head of Main street from Colonel William Moore in 1792, Dr. John Caldwell having owned it in 1774. Although Mr. Grennell cannot be called one of the very early settlers, yet he and his descendants have had great influence in shaping the destiny of Greenfield. George Grennell, Jr., his son, and James S. Grinnell, his grandson, having been members of the Franklin bar, will receive attention in another chapter. George
28
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Bird Grinnell, Ph. D., the well-known writer upon Indian habits and customs and kindred subjects is a grandson of Judge Grennell.
GRAVES
Descendants of Thomas Graves, Hartford, in 1645, after- ward Hatfield, were early settlers in Deerfield, and from thence came to Greenfield to share in the newly granted lands divided among the proprietors of Pocumtuck. Isaac and John, sons of Thomas, were killed by Indians under Ashpe- lon, September 19, 1677. They each left large families. Daniel, the grandson of John, was killed at Country Farms in 1756. His son Daniel was with Colonel Ephriam Wil- liams, and was killed with him at the time of the " Bloody Morning Scout," September 8, 1755. Ebenezer, another son, was a settler at Green River, and a soldier at Fort Massachu- setts in 1746-52. He was a deacon in the Greenfield church and a prominent man in town affairs. He was the father of twelve children. His sons, Ebenezer and Job, were Revolu- tionary soldiers. Daniel's son John, a boy of seventeen, had a very narrow escape at the time his father was killed, and only his youth and fleetness of foot saved him.
GOODMAN
Elihu Goodman, blacksmith and tavern keeper, came from South Hadley to Greenfield before 1784. He purchased the old Reuben Wells tavern stand in the meadows in 1789, the same recently owned by his grandson, Elihu Goodman Arms.
HASTINGS
Thomas Hastings, the son of Thomas, of Watertown, came to Deerfield before Philips's War, but afterward went to Hadley. His brother Benjamin made a permanent settlement in Deer- field, and his son Benjamin, born in 1699, became a settler on the Green River lands. He was a soldier in Father Rasle's war, a deacon, and lieutenant in the militia, and died in 1774. Benjamin, son of Benjamin, born in 1728, became a leading
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citizen of Greenfield, was a soldier in the French and Indian wars, lieutenant in 1755, captain in 1759, and was also a lieu- tenant in the Revolutionary Army. He had ten children, three of whom Oliver, Benjamin and Selah settled in Green- field. Joseph and Lemuel, sons of the first settler, Benjamin, were substantial men of the town. The name has been an honored one in this community, some of the blood obtaining national prominence.
HAWKS
The Hawks family of Deerfield was not represented in Greenfield until about 1854, when Frederick, a great-grand- son of Colonel John Hawks, "The Hero of Fort Massachu- setts," became a resident. He was born in Deerfield September 26, 1817, learned the trade of bridge building of Major Sheldon of Cheapside, and came to Greenfield soon after. He was a good citizen, an enthusiastic member of the Pocumtuck Society, and died at the age of eighty-two years, August 24, 1899.
There is fair prospect now that this honorable family name will not become extinct in Greenfield.
HINSDALE
Samuel Hinsdale, the son of Robert, one of the early set- tlers of Dedham, was the first settler of Deerfield. He built his cabin there before 1669, and was killed with Lothrop at Bloody Brook, together with his brothers, Barnabas and John. Experience, another brother, was one of the guides at the time Captain Turner was killed, and was also a victim of that disas- trous retreat. Mehuman, son of Samuel, was the first white child born at Pocumtuck. He with his wife were captured and taken to Canada in 1704, and their only child killed. They probably returned with Ensign Sheldon in 1706, and he was again captured and returned to Canada in 1709, while driving an ox train from Northampton, and came home from captiv- ity by way of France and England. He became a great land- owner, having about 5,600 acres. Samuel, the son of Mehu-
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man, was a settler in Greenfield, was often selectman and very prominent in town affairs. He was born in 1708 and died in 1786, and was the father of eleven children. From him de- scended the Greenfield branch of the Hinsdale family. Sam- uel, son of Samuel and grandson of Mehuman, born in 1784, lived in Greenfield nearly all his life, but died in Bernardston in 1871.
HOWLAND
George Howland, with John, Seth and George, his sons, were early settlers in that part of the town, now Gill, and the old family homestead near Turners Falls is still in the family name. For many years they were licensed innholders.
HOYT
Only one representative of the celebrated Hoyt family of Deerfield ever ventured in early times to settle in the Green River district, or what is now a part of Greenfield. This was Jonathan, born in 1728, who removed to Cheapside, that debatable land, which he never thought would become a part of Greenfield. He was a Tory, and built what was called " The White Horse Tavern," but known to some of our older peo- ple as the David R. Wait place.
JOHNSON
Richard Johnson was from Old Haddam, Conn. He was a lieutenant in the Revolutionary Army, and was in town so early that he " worked in building the first meetinghouse." He died February 27, 1811, aged seventy-seven.
KELLOGG
Captain Martin Kellogg of Deerfield, Indian fighter and interpreter, was granted a home lot at Green River, but I do not learn that he ever became a resident. He was a famous man in all matters relating to the management of Indian affairs.
LESTER
Francis Lester, born in 1742, was a resident of Greenfield and a soldier in the War for Independence. Nancy Lester,
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the widow of the son Francis, died in Greenfield in 1881, aged one hundred and five years.
LOGAN
James Logan came to Greenfield before 1800.
LUCAS
Richard Lucas sold land to Wm. Clark, Jr., in 1774 and lived near Nash's mills in 1775, and sold land to Lemuel Martin- dale and to Samuel Doane Cook, lying on both sides of Silver street.
LYMAN
Elihu Lyman came from Northfield and settled in Green- field before 1790. He was a strong man; captain under Benedict Arnold when he made his expedition against Quebec and served through the Revolutionary War; was a major when he died at Greenfield, September 12, 1823. His son Elihu, graduated at Dartmouth, was a lawyer, high sheriff of Frank- lin county, and state senator. Jacob S., another son, graduated at Dartmouth, settled at Cooperstown, N. Y., and became a member of Congress in 1819. Another son, Theodore D., became a Colonel in the Massachusetts militia.
McHARD
John McHard was an early settler, and was a soldier in the last French war. From him " McHard's brook " received its name.
MARTINDALE
Lemuel Martindale, son of Edward of Deerfield, born in Hatfield, October 20, 1730, married Christina, daughter of Abel and Anna (Dwight) Caldwell of Westfield, March 20, 1755, and had Molly, Ebenezer, Uriah and Justin. He settled in Greenfield in 1762, and became the progenitor of the once numerous Martindale race of Greenfield, through his son Uriah, but no one of the name remains within the present limits of the town. Mrs. Samuel O. Lamb is of this blood.
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