USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > New Marlborough > History of New Marlborough : 1735-1944 > Part 3
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THE HARTSVILLE METHODIST CHURCH
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HISTORY OF NEW MARLBOROUGH
a year. Needless to say, after such a record, his parishioners felt very sad when Mr. Carr announced he wished to retire from serv- ing our churches. We miss Mr. and Mrs. Carr and the church paper with the news of the parish. Mrs. Carr was an able helper in the work of the parish. Having studied music at Syracuse University, and with a background of several years in Y. W. C. A. work in China, she was ready for almost every situation. She taught classes in Sunday School and Vacation School, sang in the choir, played the organ in church when the regular organist was absent, and helped in many other ways. Gould Farm is very for- tunate in acquiring these talented and purposeful people.
Under present practice all Congregationalists in the town worship together in the old North Parish Church for the summer months, in a way symbolizing the fact that the three churches are still one, despite the needs which brought about the separate meeting-houses.
Early deacons of Southfield were:
Nathan Butler, moved to Paris, N. Y .; Joseph Fitch, moved to Geneva, Ohio; Ebenezer Smith, Esq., died September 8, 1816; Benjamin Smith; Isaac Turner (His great, great grandson is a present deacon); Gideon Can- field.
In the Spring of 1850 the name "Southfield" was given, by the Postmaster General, to the postoffice in South New Marl- borough.
The Hartsville Methodist Church Society was formed in the extreme north-western part of the town, in the village of Harts- ville, in 1844, just one hundred years ago. Services were first held above the postoffice and store. In 1849 a meeting-house was built, and dedicated November 14th of that year. We are told that the meeting-house was built by Henry Baldwin, who also built and ran the local machine shop and iron foundry and pro- duced heavy machinery. The iron ore was brought from what is now Monterey. The writer has also been informed that some ore came from Salisbury. Mr. Baldwin was a very energetic man and under his moving spirit and watchful eye the building was soon completed and dedicated.
The first minister of the new church was affectionately called "Father" Merwin. When the bell was put up it was pulled into
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HISTORY OF NEW MARLBOROUGH
place with tackle-blocks and a very long rope. Our "authority" states that the rope reached to the river and that men and boys strove for places on it to the very end. This bell was made in England and was greatly admired.
Among the pastors of the Hartsville church have been the following: William Winchell, Robert Houghtaling, Melville S. Pressey, Edward G. Wahl, H. H. Clements, George Stac (r)k, William Sleep, - --- Wixon, Vealey, Thomas Martin, Ackerman, George Smith, A. B. Eaton, Clifford M. Wittstruck,
Mac Cumber, L. B. Scott, Purdy Halstedt, Jr.
William H. Baldwin took much interest in the church. He came to Hartsville in 1846 and for twenty-one years was connect- ed with the foundry and forge there, leaving for New Haven in 1867. Castings as heavy as 3000 pounds were turned out. The firm was then Lincoln & Hobbs, and Mr. Baldwin entered as a partner.
In 1846 a Baptist church was organized in Southfield with twenty-four members and a meeting-house erected which was dedicated in February, 1847. In May of that year the Rev. Amos N. Benedict became the pastor. He continued in that capacity until April, 1850. On June 18, 1847, Levi Barber was chosen moderator of the first formal meeting. The Rev. Amos Benedict was chosen clerk. Deàcon Lovel Hartwell led in prayer. Dea- con Lovel Hartwell and Abiel Webster were appointed a commit- tee to prepare Articles of Faith and Covenant. A Resolve was passed "that we will embrace the first opportunity to request Let- ters of Dismission from the several churches to which we now be- long." At the next meeting it was voted that Lovel Hartwell and Abiel Webster serve the church as deacons, and that William R. Baldwin serve as church clerk. It was voted to plan for the ordination of Mr. Amos Benedict. To that end delegates were invited from churches at Sandisfield, Egremont, Hop Brook, Colebrook and Norfolk.
An ecclesiastical council convened July 14, 1847, which pub- licly recognized the church and ordained Amos N. Benedict. In May, 1850, the Rev. William Bogart succeeded Mr. Benedict. In May, 1852, Rev. Henry Barlow took the place of Mr. Bogart. Then followed, in 1856, Henry M. Jones, a Licentiate; in 1858,
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THE MILL RIVER CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
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HISTORY OF NEW MARLBOROUGH
Rev. William Goodwin; in 1866, Rev. W. W. Whitten; in the same year, Rev. J. Fairman; in April, Rev. Dwight Spencer; in 1869, Rev. Charles H. Hickok; in 1871, Rev. M. R. Favor; in 1875, C. E. Van Allen, Licentiate. In 1879 the Rev. Amos Bene- dict again took the pastorate of the church and continued until 1896, when he resigned because of his age. The Rev. J. H. Bigger took his place. In 1897 came Alfred S. Hill; in 1898, Rev. Harry S. Mabie. At about this time the parsonage burned and Mr. Mabie, who was formerly an architect, drew plans for the present parsonage. In 1902 Mr. Mabie left, and was followed by Mrs. Mary Hadley for a few months.
The Rev. Harry E. Hinkley accepted a call in 1902. In 1912 Rev. W. R. Terry came to the pastorate. He resigned in 1920 after serving one of the longest and most successful terms. He was followed by Ivan Benedict, grandson of the first pastor. In 1921 the Baptist church united with the Southfield Congrega- tional church with the Rev. Ivan Benedict as pastor.
In 1870 a third Congregational Church and Society was es- tablished, at Mill River, by about fifty persons, about equally divided in numbers from the North and South churches. The Rev. Thomas Crowther formerly pastor at the Southfield church, became their first pastor. For five years this church shared with the north parish the services of Professor S. T. Frost, a licentiate of South Berkshire Congregational Conference. In Mr. Sisson's history it is stated that "on the second day of February, 1871, Edwin I. Adams, J. N. Adams, J. P. Wadsworth and forty-five others, were formed into a church and that much credit is due to Captain John Carroll for the great energy and pecuniary aid be- stowed by him upon the enterprise."
A condition of Mr. John Carroll's gift to the Mill River Congregational Church was that the building be built on the hill opposite his own very fine residence, so that he could see the meeting-house from his window. Following generations have been thankful for his foresight.
The first deacons were Jarvis N. Collar, Edwin I. Adams and John S. Wolfe. In spite of the fact that between his initial offer and the building of the church, Captain Carroll's mill burned to
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HISTORY OF NEW MARLBOROUGH
the ground, uninsured, he still insisted on contributing to within a few dollars of the amount he originally promised.
Succeeding pastors have been* Rev. Henry C. Granger, Rev. John Marsland, Rev. S. R. Butler, Rev. Albert I. Chittenden, Rev. John B. Lewis, Rev. Garret V. Stryker, Rev. George N. Kar- ner, Rev. E. J. Hanford, Rev. P. S. Levonian, Rev. Monte Fuller, Rev. R. B. Edwards, Rev. Clarence Carr and Rev. Arthur Sim- mons
Miss Katherine Doyle, of the famous family of that name in New Marlborough, had the following to write about the Catholic Church:
"The first mass in the village was celebrated in 1848, in the home of Stephen Wrinkle, whose father, Timothy Wrinkle, was the first native of Ireland to make settlement in the town. By 1865 the matter of building a church took shape. Father Meni- .etti started the ball rolling with a contribution of a hundred dol- lars, upon which Michael Brennan, Michael Curtin, Michael Doyle and Dominick Garrahan each contributed a similar am- ount, and the building fund was on its way. William Huntley presented land for the site and the church became the first to be built in the village of Mill River.
"Priests have been, among others, Rev. Menietti, Rev. Charles Grace, Rev. P. Eagan, Rev. James Hennessey, Rev. John H. Murphy, Rev. David Moyes, Rev. Martin Murphy, Rev. Thomas Fitzgerald, Rev. James A. Hurley, Rev. Owen McGee, Rev. Philip Lee, Rev. T. B. Cunningham, Rev. Joseph Mckeown, Rev. Patrick A. Manion, Rev. William Lucey, Rev. Patrick Carey, Rev. Patrick Coyle, Rev. R. P. Lawless, Rev. Richard J. Dee."
In the southern part of New Marlborough, near the beauti- ful and famous "Campbells' Falls," is a section of the town bordering on the Connecticut line which has been known as "Huxley" district. This section was named for Captain Huxley, a leading citizen in "the old days." A large tract of land, several hundred acres, still retains the old name given it by the first set- tlers, "East Indies." In this neighborhood lived Ebenezer Fitch. His brother, Gershom Fitch, lived a little to the west of Campbell Falls. The latter's son, Robert, became an editor of The Boston
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HISTORY OF NEW MARLBOROUGH
Transcript. The important Gaylord family lived in this district. Grove Gaylord was a Democratic leader and a Representative at the Massachusetts General Court, as was also John P. Wadsworth, who also lived in this section. Origen Gibson ran a large saw- mill. Here William Gibson lived to the grand old age of one hundred years and seven months.
At the junction of the Southfield-Norfolk road with the Campbell Falls road, in the Huxley district, is a neat little church. This succeeds what, a generation ago, was a Baptist church. All . denominations, including Quakers, united. There were numer- ous Quakers in this part of the town, and over the Connecticut line they had a Quaker church. The old burying-ground is still continued in use.
The Clayton Union Church Society was formed March 28, 1891. The warrant calling the meeting was issued by Henry R. Bunnell, Justice of the Peace, on the petition of Lyman A. Smith, William J. Ferguson, H. R. Bunnell, Mrs. George W. Curtis, Mrs. Sarah M. Rood, Mrs. Sarah J. Smith, Jacob Decker, Mrs. Jennie E. Decker, E. W. Rood, Willie L. Barnes, George W. Curtis, Mrs. Willie Barnes, Mrs. Albert Barnes, Mrs. George McIntyre, Mrs. W. Sardam, Albert E. Barnes and William Sardam.
Meeting at the house of William Barnes, the meeting was called to order by B. N. Clark of Sheffield. By ballot, Albert E. Barnes was chosen clerk and Henry Bunnell was chosen moder- ator. Other officers elected were Elisha M. Rood, treasurer; Henry Bunnell, George McIntyre and William Ferguson, trus- tees. William Sardam, Willie Barnes, Flisha Rood, Jacob Decker, Lyman Smith, William Ferguson, Mrs. H. Bunnell and Mrs. George McIntyre were elected to the committee on by-laws. Henry Bunnell, Elisha Rood and George McIntyre were elected to form the building committee.
It appears from the treasurer's book that the first preaching service was on December 24, 1891, and that a Mr. Utterwick was the preacher. The second preacher seems to have been Mr. Hiram Eddy, on January 3, 1892. Mr. Stone preached on Janu- ary 17, and Mr. Amos Benedict on March 3.
The Berkshire China Clay Corporation, through its presi- dent, James H. Lyles, gave and deeded land on which to build a chapel. This was on July 23rd, 1891.
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HISTORY OF NEW MARLBOROUGH
Among interesting by-laws adopted by the society are the following:
Article 9. The Standing Committee shall have supervision of funds and property and shall open the chapel (that is soon to be erected) to be used for religi- ous services when so requested to do by any Protestant Christians hereinafter designated as belonging to said Union, to hold meetings and for any and all purposes that they may deem to be for the interest of said Society.
Article 13. The Clayton Union Church Society shall embrace the following denominations, viz .: Con- gregationalists, Episcopalians, Methodists and Baptists. To these have lately been added the Seventh Day Ad- ventists.
EARLY PHYSICIANS
Elihu Wright, Ebenezer Parrish, Ephraim Guiteau (remov- ed to Norfolk, Conn.), David Church (removed to New Orleans, La.), Benjamin Smith, Elijah Catlin (died 1823), Reuben Buck- man, Gilbert Smith (died 1804), Ira Smith (removed to Auburn, N. Y.), Edward C. Peet (died 1828), Remus M. Fowler (removed to Washington, Conn.), John Scoville, Aretas Rising.
EARLY MAGISTRATES
Jabez Ward (died 1787) Jabez Ward (died 1786), Obadiah Ward (moved away), Daniel Taylor (died July 6, 1814), Eben- ezer Smith (died Sept. 8, 1816), Benjamin Wheeler, Joseph Fitch, Jason Warren, Edward Stevens, Isaac Turner, Benjamin Shel- don, Warren Wheeler, Levi Smith.
THE CATLIN HOUSE
There are several houses in New Marlborough which deserve mention as exhibiting the architecture of pre-Revolutionary America, but the house of Dr. Catlin, now owned by Mr. Tick- nor, is, to the writer's mind, the most noteworthy. Records indi- cate that the house was built in 1745. Undoubtedly the ell part was built then, for it contains the old sink, hewn out of solid rock, and the old well with its well-top a mighty slab of solid stone, measuring five feet by seven, with a hole drilled out in its center just the diameter of the well. Lafayette slept in the old
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HISTORY OF NEW MARLBOROUGH
bedstead in an upstairs bedroom, and family tradition has it that Cincinnatus Lodge of Masons, whose charter bears the name of Paul Revere, then Grand Master, organized in this house. The old writing-table of Dr. Catlin is still in its usual place, and the sermons of Dr. Catlin are intact in one of its drawers. For a picture of the best of New Marlborough as it was two hundred years ago, one should see this house. Even the furniture has been preserved. There is even a portrait in oil of Dr. Catlin himself.
New Marlborough in the Country's Wars
THE REVOLUTIONARY RECORD
T'
HE Revolutionary records of the town are exceedingly inter-
esting. A warrant, calling for a town meeting, dated June 17, 1774, contained articles relating to the correspondence re- ceived from Boston and the choice of a town "Committee of Cor- respondence." The meeting was held June 23rd, and Noah Church, Dr. Ephraim Guiteau, Jazez Ward, Zenas Wheeler and Dr. Elihu Wright were chosen a committee to attend a conven- tion of the "Town Committees" at Stockbridge.
On the second Monday in July the people met again and heard the report of their committee. A long list of resolutions 1 was reported, acknowledging their allegiance to George the Third, asserting that the people of the colonies were entitled to all the rights enjoyed by any citizen of Great Britain (rights con- veyed in the Province charter), condemning the tea tax and all of its incidental usurpations, and favoring the adoption of a non- consumption covenant. (It should be remembered that in 1770 had occurred the "Boston Massacre," so-called, in which British soldiers had fired on Americans and killed three. It should also be remembered that on December 16, 1773, six months previous to the formation of the above committees of the town, the ship- load of British tea had been thrown overboard into Boston harbor.)
Soon after meeting to hear the report of their committee, the town began to collect materials for defense. On September. 12, 1774, the town voted to procure "for a town stock" 224 pounds of powder, 600 pounds of lead and "nine gross of good flints." Thirty-five pounds in money was voted to meet the expense. January 24, 1775, a "Committee of Inspection" was chosen, con- sisting of Captain Zenas Wheeler, Jabez Ward, Major John Col- lar, Captain Caleb Wright, Gideon Post, Eleazer Taylor and Cyrus Brookins. (This was a month and a half before the first blood of the American War of Independence was shed at West-
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HISTORY OF NEW MARLBOROUGH
minster, Vt.) The committee were charged "to see that the ad- vice of the Continental Congress be strictly adhered to." Oba- diah Ward, Daniel Taylor, Captain Zenas Wheeler and Gideon Post were chosen a committee to collect donations for the poor of the towns of Boston and Charlestown. (The Continental Con- gress had been in session the previous year, meeting in Philadel- phia, and British troops in great numbers were quartered on the Boston people.) At this same meeting Dr. Ephraim Guiteau was elected a delegate to the Provincial Congress.
On March 14, 1775, it was voted "to pay each Minute-man that is equipped within twenty days, one shilling for every half day he shall train, until the 14th of May, next, and not to exceed ten half days in said term." (One wonders if the news of the Westminster, Vt., Massacre of the day before could have possibly reached New Marlborough in twenty-four hours.)
On April 22, 1775, a committee was chosen to look after and take care of the families of those men who might be called to go .in defense of the country. (This action was taken three days after the battles of Lexington and Concord and the famous ride of Paul Revere.)
Following the Lexington alarm, Caleb Wright, with a com- pany of minute-men from New Marlborough, marched to Rox- bury.
The votes that occur after this consist of offers of bounties for enlistment, of answers to requisitions for supplies of men and means.
On August 16, 1777, the people passed a resolve "they would support the selectmen in impressing horses for men to ride to Bennington in the present alarm." (The previous year Tom Paine had published Common Sense, in behalf of the American cause, the Declaration of Independence had been signed. Now General Burgoyne was marching down from Canada with a large army of English, Indians, Canadians and Hessian soldiers. They had captured Fort Ticonderoga and were now marching on southward, part of the army going towards Albany, later to fight the battle of Saratoga and be captured by the Americans, and a second force was headed for the Berkshires by way of Benning- ton. This latter force of Indians, Canadians and Hessians were
!
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HISTORY OF NEW MARLBOROUGH
under the command of Baume. Colonel Stark, with a force of eighteen hundred men, many of them minute-men like those of New Marlborough for whom the horses were being impressed so that they might ride to Bennington, attacked Baume "in front and rear." The Indians and the Canadians ran away but the Hessians put up a brave fight. Colonel Baume was killed. The Hessians were taken prisoners and the New Marlborough min- ute-men rode their "impressed horses" home again and waited for another "alarm." Colonel Stark was made a brigadier general.
Within a few days General Burgyone and all his army were being marched over "the Great Road" to Boston as prisoners of war. The British officers and men were treated with great kind- ness on their way to Cambridge. At Great Barrington, Burgoyne, who was "indisposed and depressed in spirits," remained for sev- eral days the guest of Colonel Elijah Dwight in the Henderson house. Many of the soldiers were sick, and it is related that Captain Truman Wheeler collected roots, boiled them down, and personally distributed the concoction among the invalids with good effect, and one of the British officers presented Captain Wheeler with a substantial token of his appreciation.
The last town meeting called "in His Majesty's name" was called by a warrant dated May 30, 1775. On August 16, 1777, a warrant commenced: "In the name of the People and State of Massachusetts Bay." (Two months earlier the Continental Con- gress had adopted the "Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union," so that such a warrant was deemed legal and proper although the thirteen states had not ratified the action of the Continental Congress at. the time of the above warrant.)
It is probable that the New Marlborough men enlisted in the two Berkshire regiments, one commanded by Colonel Fellows of Sheffield, and the other by Colonel Paterson of Lenox.
Ebenezer Smith as captain, and John Collar as colonel and paymaster, served through the entire war. Captain Luke Hitch- cock was killed in a duel with his own lieutenant at West Point on the Hudson while the American army was stationed there.
Below is the "Muster Role and 'Larmlist of the South Com- pany of New Marlborough," dated October 16, 1779. We take it for granted that since this was designated the "South" company,
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HISTORY OF NEW MARLBOROUGH .
that there was another one in the north of the town whose muster roll and alarm list we do not have:
Capt. John Collar
Nodiah Gillet
Liut. Eli Harmon
Asel Gillet
Liut. Aaron Spalding
Thomas Gifford
Clerk Dan Canfield
Jonothan Harmon
Sgt. Reuben Beeman
Eli Harmon, Jr.
Sgt. Nathan Smith
Josiah Harmon
Sgt. Samuel Norton
Asa Harmon, Jr.
Sgt. Isaac Collar
Jehiel Harmon
Corpl. Uriah Spalding
Uriah Harmon
Corpl. William Griswold
Moses Harmon, Jr ..
Corpl. Joseph Hewet
John Harmon
Corpl. Zebediah Adams
Asa Huet
Drummer, Rufus Harmon
Dan Huxley
Fifer, Gideon Post, Jr.
John Herrick, Jr.
Jonathan Allen
William King
Rufus Allen
William More
Jabez Brooks
Alexander Knap
Shadrach Brooks
Seth Norton
Ephraim Blackmore
Phineas Norton
Levi Barber
David Norton
Isaac Barber
Benjamin Owin
David Baldwin
Eleazer Peck
Salmon Butler
Phineas Pumrey, Jr.
Daniel Brooks
Simeon Pumrey
Luther Brooks
Solomon Shepherd
Obediah Brown
Nathaniel Sheperd
John Collar, Jr.
Josiah Squire
Solomon Cook
Samuel Smith
Samuel Chaffee
David Smith
Joseph Camfield
Richard Smith
Thomas Camfield
Andrew Stevens
Jochobud Case
John Stanard
Moses Coller
Hezikiah Sage
Seth Case
Lovet Taft
Zebediah Deen
Josiah Whiting
Levi Darling
Thomas Wilcocks
Below is the "'Larmlist" (Minute-men.)
Capt. Ephraim Guiteau
Samuel Camfield
Capt. Gideon Post
Samuel Barber
Liut. Reuben Briant
Barzchil Rice
Liut. Richard Briant
Moses Harmon
Daniel Herrick
Amos Allen
Abel Kidder
James Brooks
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HISTORY OF NEW MARLBOROUGH
Liut. Amos Smith
Abraham Sabin
Liut. Simon Adams
Phinehus Pumrey
Obediah Ward
Nathan Butler
Nathan Smith
Daniel Shepherd
John Gillet
Jarid Huxley
John Gillet, Jr.
Ephraim Hewet
John Herrick
Gideon Canfield
David Harmon
Hopstill King Darius Post Hezikiah Cook
Jonah King
David Brooks
Robert Taft
Ezekel Wright
Peter Chapin
Asa Harmon
Joseph Blackmore
The reader will notice that simplified spelling got an early start in New Marlborough.
Captain John Collar, commanding officer of the above "South Company of New Marlborough," received his commission as Captain on October 14, 1777, and his commission as Lieuten- ant-Colonel on July 1, 1781, signed by Governor John Hancock. (It is interesting to know that New Marlborough had this speci- men of John Hancock's famous signature.)
Jabez Ward (fourth generation in America) was born in 1708 in Marlborough. He married Phoebe Eager of Marl- borough. They moved to New Marlborough and he became a magistrate. Among his eight children a son, Jabez, married Jemima Allen, a first cousin of Colonel Ethan Allen of Green Mountain fame. Colonel Ethan Allen had an iron works up on Mt. Riga, out of Salisbury, Conn. There was forged the chain which was thrown across the Hudson river to prevent the English gun-boats from sailing up to Albany. (When the writer was town clerk of New Marlborough he received a letter from a per- son who was writing a biography of Ethan Allen, asking where the land of Ethan Allen in the town of New Marlborough had been situated.) The old Allen Iron Works still stand on Mt. Riga and are worth a trip to see, situated at the end of a beautiful chain of lakes. These lakes are not shown on most maps.
THE WAR OF 1812
In the war of 1812, New Marlborough responded promptly to the call of the country. During the summer of 1814 Captain
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HISTORY OF. NEW MARLBOROUGH
Joseph S. Catlin, with Luke Harmon for lieutenant, Benjamin Smith, Jr., for ensign (now called second lieutenant), and Jono- than Arnold for fifer, marched the New Marlborough company of militia to Boston. Once again "the Great Road" resounded to the tread of soldiers' feet and the shrill of martial music. The Harmon home was in sight of "the Great Road," and one can imagine with what mixed feelings the family watched Lieutenant Luke Harmon march away to the music of the fife. After about three months' service, the company was returned home. At the point where the company had been stationed the British gun- boats outside Boston harbor could be seen.
THE CIVIL WAR
The roll of honor on our town book of "Soldiers' Records" for the Civil War bears the names of 202 persons, of whom twenty-one went out "to return no more forever." One hundred and nine enlisted and served in Massachusetts regiments, twenty- four in Connecticut regiments, and nineteen elsewhere. The list follows:
Adams, Adrian M. Barrow, John
Carroll, Edward
Andros, Darwin C.
Brown, Samuel
Clark, Welles
Adams, Edwin S.
Barker, George
Clark, Henry
Adams, Harvey D.
Bay, Joseph
Cameron, Thomas
Adams, Willis
Cowles, Henry
Cleveland, Stratton
Adams, James H.
Cook, Edward C.
Curtin, Timothy Chapin, Alvin W.
Barber, George
Barber, Hubert L.
Britt, Josiah W.
Brooks, John C.
Brooks, Jabez C.
Clemens, Henry
Duncan, George
Duncan, Wm. J.
Duncan, Wm. H.
Dunbar, Wm.
Decker, Jacob
Durant, Peter
Driscoll, Timothy
Dow, George M.
Durant, Edgar
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