USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > North Brookfield > History of North Brookfield, Massachusetts. Preceded by an account of old Quabaug, Indian and English occupation, 1647-1676; Brookfield records, 1686-1783 > Part 24
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1754, June 21. Gov. Shirley issued orders to the commanders of regi- ments, to make a thorough inspection of the state of the militia and report to head-quarters. The several towns were also required to supply themselves with the full stock of ammunition required by law.
Martin How and Arthur Tucker of Brookfield enlisted June 26, and Levi Hamilton, Nov. 9, in Capt. John Wright's Co., expedition to the Eastern Frontiers. In the same expedition, in Capt. Jos. Wilson's Co., Apr. to Nov., were John Tute and Wm Hair of B. In the same expe- dition, in Capt. Eleazar Melvin's Concord Co., were Rich. Burk (then of Ware River), Wm Brabrook, Caleb Dodge, Ephraim Hayward, Levi and Seth Hamilton, Joseph and Thomas Waite and Corp. Nathaniel Wool- cott, out from May to Nov. David Hinckley, John Tute, and Jona. Waite were at Coleraine, Aug. '54 to Mar. '55.
1755. Four military expeditions were planned in the spring of this year : one against the French in Nova Scotia ; a second against Fort Du Quesne ; a third against Crown Point ; and a fourth against Niagara.
Brookfield furnished her full quota for the Crown Point expedition. Capt. Jeduthan Baldwin was in command of a company ; Wm Dorothy was out, Mar. 27 to Sept. 8; Corp. Jos. Waite, Wm Brabrook and John Tute were in Capt. Is. Williams' Co .; Comfort Barns was in Capt. Luke Hitchcock's Springfield Co., Apr. II to Oct. 1 ; Corp. Thomas Barns, Jos. Gilbert, John Green, Thomas Stevens, and Eleazar Warner enlisted in Capt. Sam. Robinson's Hardwick Co .; Sergt. Jos. Hamilton, Abra- ham Adams, Nathan Hamilton, John McClure, Phinehas Slayton, Solo- mon Rood, and Jacob Wood were in Capt. Andrew Dalrymple's Petersham Co., Aug. 9 to Dec. 27 ; Peter Harwood was ensign in Capt. Ephm Doo- little's Co., Aug. to Dec .; Wm Blackmor was in Capt. Benj. Johnson's Woburn Co., Sept. 8 to Jan. 3, '56. The following men enlisted in Sept., under Col. John Murray : Jona. Abbott, Obed Abbott (of Bedford), Daniel Ainsworth, Joseph Barr, Adoniram Bartlett, Daniel Bemon, Samuel Bliss, Thomas Cheney, Henry Chadwick, James Clark, Robert Clark, Josiah Cutler, Robert Cutler, Samuel Dorothy, Josiah Farrell, Ebenr Foster, Jr., Wm Galloway, David Getchell, Nathan Gould, Jason Hinds, Ephm Hayward, Abraham How, Jr., Amos Marsh, Joshua Morris, Joseph Old, Wm Ranger, Isaac Rice, John Rice, Daniel Walker. Dr. Benj. Gott was surgeon's mate on the staff of Col. Josiah Brown, Sept. 9 to Dec. 15, and remained at Fort William Henry with Col. Bagley till Mar. 31, '56. In a petition, Dr. Gott says : " I was at Fort William Henry last winter and know that Capt. Jeduthan Baldwin dealt out from his private stores, Rum, brandy, sugar, coffee, tea, wine, etc., to the sick in the Hospital, the Com-
211
LAST FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR.
missary being destitute : After the army was disbanded in Nov., your petitioner volunteered to stay and garrison the fort, and did so under Col. Glazier after Col. Kingsbury left in Jan., and staid till May." Com- fort Brabrook enlisted in Capt. Whitcomb's Co., and died at Sheffield on his return. Nathan Thompson was in Col. Titcomb's regiment ; was sent out in the detachment under Col. Ephraim Williams to intercept the French under Dieskau, Sept. 8; was wounded by 3 shots, two of which broke his left arm in two places, the third went through his lungs, by which he was rendered helpless ; granted a pension of £4, for 3 years. Samuel Barns, Uriah Gilbert and Joseph Walker enlisted in Capt. Daniel Brewer's Co. ; were all sick ; Gilbert died.
1756. The plan of the campaign this year embraced the reduction of the forts at Crown Point, and Niagara. Massachusetts raised an army of near 7,000 men ; but through the incapacity of Gen. Abercrombie, the British commander, "the summer passed in fruitless labor."
Capt. Jabez Upham, by direction of the town, bought in Boston 200 wt. of Powder, to recruit the town stock, at the cost of £17. 13. 4 lawful money. The whole stock was 300 lbs. Powder, 600 lbs. lead bullets, 900 flints.
Brookfield sent into the service this year : Ens. Joseph Waite, Sergt. Thomas Riggs, Breed Batcheller, Jedediah Deland, Jona. Dodge, Walter Dorothy, John Goldsbury, Abraham Hair, Wm Ranger, John Tute and John Woolcott, in Capt. John Burk's Falltown Co., Feb. 18 to Dec. 17 ; Gideon Abbott, in Capt. James Reed's Co., Feb. to Dec. ; Lieut. Eph. Hayward, Ens. Joseph Hamilton, drummer Tho. Weeks, Wm Ayres, Jr., Edward Ayres, Eliphalet Hamilton, Abraham and John Adams, Ebenr Davis, Jona. Dodge, Solo. Flagg, Nathan Hamilton, Abner Old, Jos. Rut- land, Daniel Walker, Benj., Jacob and Joseph Wood, in Capt. Edmund Bemis' Spencer Co., Feb. to Dec .; Corlis Hinds, Jedediah How, Arthur Tucker, Simeon, Levi and Sylvanus Walker, Joseph Witt and Josiah Wood in Capt. Solo. Keyes' Co., Mar. to Dec .; Sergt. Jona. Gilbert (died Dec. 9), Corp. Oliver Woolcott, Corp. Silas Walker, Joel Abbott, Onesiphorus Ayres, Samuel Barns, Stephen Blackmor, Simeon Brooks, John Davis, Oliver Evens, David Gilbert, Joseph Gilbert, Ebenezer Hay- ward, Caleb How, Joseph Hatfield, Philip Reed, Henry White, John Williams, Ezekiel Woodbury, Obadiah Wright, in Capt. Daniel Brewer's Concord Co., July 10 to Dec. 31 ; Daniel Gilbert, Philip Goss, John Green, and Samuel Hair enlisted in Col. Thatcher's regiment in July ; Corp. Ephm Brown, aged 21, enlisted at Deerfield in Capt. Colton's Co. July 26. Col. Joseph Dwight's regiment took part in the Crown Point expedition. Capt. Bemis' and Capt. Burk's companies, (above named) were under his command. The following Descriptive Roll has value :
212
BROOKFIELD RECORDS, 1718-1786.
Sergt. Thomas Riggs,
b. - ,
age 35,
res. Brookfield.
Corp. Joseph Davis,
b. Bkfd.
30,
Breed Batcheller,
b. Wenham,
66
16,
Jedediah Deland, b. Bkfd.
23,
Jona. Dodge,
b. Beverly,
16,
66
66
Walter Dorothy,
b. Bkfd.
20,
Benj. Emmons,
b.
66
25,
Greenwich.
John Goldsbury, b.
I7,
Western.
Abram Hair, b.
26, 25,
66
66
John Tuffs,
b. Ireland,
45, 66
Descriptive Roll of Capt. Saml Robinson's Co. at Fort Edward.
Sergt. Wm Dorothy,
b. Worcester,
age 25,
res. Brookfield.
Corp. David Getchell,
" Hardwick,
21,
Robert Claflin, Jr.,
" Westboro', " 18,
40,
Thomas Cook,
" Concord,
26, 66
Philip Gilbert,
" Bkfd.
2I,
Thomas Lamson,
" Ipswich, 66
27,
66 New Braintree.
Benj. Stevens,
" Andover, 66
22,
Bkfd.
Ephm Kellogg, " Bkfd. 66
45,
Peterboro' N.H.
John Peacock, " Ireland,
45,
" New Braintree.
Saml Buckminster,
" Framingham, 23,
Simeon Walker,
" Bkfd.
26, Spencer.
Gideon Abbott, Seth Banister, Timothy Bowen, Eli Gould, Isaac Stone, Roger Stevens, enlisted for Crown Point Sept. 6.
Muster Roll of Capt. Obadiah Cooley's company, Sept. 20 to Nov. 24, 1756.
Capt. Obadiah Cooley, Brookfield
Asa Bacon
Brookfield
Lt. Joseph Stone
Christopher Banister
Ens. David Keyes Western
Joseph Banister
Clerk, Moses Barns Brookfield
Matthew Bartlett
Sergt. Benoni Banister, Western
Moses Bragg
66
Silas Walker, Brookfield
Cornelius White
Jabez Crosby Obadiah Deland
Corp. Moses Jennings
Caleb Dodge
Dan1 Matthews
Josiah Dodge 66
Nathaniel Paige
Joseph Gilbert 66
Francis Stratton Western
John Goss
Samuel Gould
66
Drum' Philip Deland Brookfield Jabez Ayres
Ebenezer Hayward 66
66
Samuel Church,
" Hardwick,
Bkfd.
Wm Rainger,
b. Boston,
66
66
Hatfield.
Noah Emmons, b.
18,
66
" Bkfd.
66
213
LAST FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR.
Peter Hill
Brookfield
Jeremiah Woodbury Brookfield 66
Caleb How
66
Wm Wright
Ebenezer Killen
66
John Barrows
Western
John Rainger
66
Abner Brooks
66
John Rich
66
Phinehas Brooks
Thomas Slayton
John Davis
66
Nathan Smith
66
George Hayward 66
Elijah Temple
66
John Hayward
66
Adoniram Walker
Cyrus Rich
66
Joseph Walker
66
Adonijah Marks
Reuben Walker
66
John Smith
66
John Walker was in Capt. Moseley's Co. at Lake George, and died at Sheffield on his return.
1 757. This was a year of disasters to the English and American forces, and was remembered and spoken of by our fathers for three genera- tions, as the year of "The Great Alarm about the taking of Fort William Henry."
The expedition planned against Crown Point and Ticonderoga was popular ; many of the last year's men re-enlisted, and new men were readily secured. But by order of Lord Loudon, then commanding in the Provinces, the bulk of the army was drawn off in an expedition against Louisbourg, which proved a failure. Only about 7,000 men- 4,000 under Gen. Webb at Fort Edward, 3,000 under Col. Munroe at Fort William Henry - were left for the defence of the north-western frontiers.
Gen. Montcalm, with an army of 11,000 French and Indians concen- trated at Ticonderoga, and Aug. 3, invested Fort William Henry. Col. Munroe had an effective force of only 2,372 men ; but gallantly held the great army at bay for six days, and surrendered Aug. 9. By the terms of capitulation, Col. M. and his troops were allowed to march out with the honors of war, retaining their arms and baggage. But the Indians attached to Montcalm's army, without hindrance from the French offi- cers, plundered the most valuable stores, and murdered in cold blood about 300 officers and men.
The alarm of the peril of our troops reached this town before the sur- render ; and our companies began the march for relief, Aug. 9. Find- ing themselves too late, our men returned in a short time.
The Brookfield soldiers in service this year were : Peter Harwood, Joseph Perry and Amos Tute, under Maj. Is. Williams, Jan. to Nov .; John Gilson, under Lieut. Joseph Blake ; Jabez Ayres, Samuel Barns, John Goss, Eliphalet Hamilton, Caleb How, Asa Lamson, and Wm Virgin aged 60, (then of Chelmsford) ; Breed Batcheller, Josiah Ban-
214
BROOKFIELD RECORDS, 1718-1786.
ister, Jedediah Deland, Samuel Gould, Reuben Hamilton, and David Palmer ; Christopher Banister, in Capt. Learned's Co .; and those that turned out on the " Alarm" were : Jonathan Pellet, then of Sheffield ; Joseph Barns, David, Jr., Jedediah and Solomon Gilbert, Eliakim Spooner and James Thompson, in Capt. Eleazar Warner's New Brain- tree Co.
Muster Roll of Capt. Nathaniel Woolcott's Co. that marched Aug. 9, and was out 16 days.
Capt. Nathaniel Woolcott
Lt. Abraham How
Ens. Benj. Adams
Sergt. John Witt
Thomas Taylor
Corp. Aaron Bartlett
Timothy Hall
Joseph Hatfield, Jr.
Oliver Hayward
Corlis Hinds
Caleb How
Onesiph. Ayres
Wm Ayres 3d.
Ephraim How
Abner How
Jedediah How, Jr.
Thomas Ball
Silas How
Aaron Barns
Adoniram Bartlett
Joseph Bartlett
John Lamson
Matthew Bartlett
Daniel Matthews
Nathaniel Bartlett
Daniel Potter
Zachariah Brown
Joseph Stone
Arthur Tucker
Samuel Chapman Benjamin Cooley Nahum Eager Solomon Flagg
David Witt
John Woolcott
Oliver Woolcott
Joseph Gilbert
William Wright.
Muster Roll of Capt. Jabez Upham's Co. that marched Aug. 9, and was out 17 days.
Capt. Jabez Upham Ist Lt. Obadiah Cooley 2d. Lt. John White Ens. Benj. Walker Sergt. Eben' Jennings
Sergt. Nathan Hamilton
William Old
Benjamin Rice
Corp. James Brigham ¥ Josiah Hobbs
John Baker, Jr.
Jacob Ball
John Goodale Jeremiah Gould
Nathan Gould
Samuel Gould, Jr.
John Hair
66 Wm Watson
" WVm Ayres
66 Daniel Gilbert
Moses Ayres
Elijah How
Nathaniel Jones
Asa Lamson
215
LAST FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR.
Corp. Ezekiel Old
Philip Deland
Gideon Abbott Abraham Adams Abraham Adams, Jr. David Aiken Joseph Banister Seth Banister John Belenger Moses Bragg David Bridge
Daniel Rolf John Rainger Ephraim Rice John Green Stephen Green Josiah Hamilton Jonas Rice Oliver Rice
Solomon Rice
Uriah Bush James Converse
Samuel Rogers Phinehas Slayton Thomas Slayton Josiah Stephens
Jabez Crosby Ebenezer Davis
Roger Stephens John Waite, Jr.
Daniel Deland
Obadiah Deland
Abraham Walker Adoniram Walker Joseph Walker Edward Walker
Thomas Dodge
Amos Hamilton, Jr.
Eliphalet Hamilton Ezra Hamilton
Phinehas Walker Reuben Walker
Thomas Hamilton Samuel Hinckley John Jennings Moses Jennings
Daniel Walker John Woolcott Ithamar Wright
David McClure John McClure Comfort Old
John Hamilton William Henshaw
Reuben Old
Asa Partridge Asahel Peters
Ebenezer Hayward, Jr. Benjamin Jennings
Muster Roll of Capt. Jacob Abbott's Co. that marched Aug, 9, [not in the capitulation ].
Obadiah Wright Richard Vorce
Capt. Jacob Abbott Lt. Thomas Gilbert Ens. Abner Brown Clerk, Jona. Abbott Sergt. Joseph Wood Robert Claflin Uriah Abbott Caleb Dodge Josiah Dodge
Walter Dorothy Abner Gilbert John Gilbert Othniel Gilbert Philip Gilbert Seth Gilbert John Goss Peter Hill Joseph Loring
216
BROOKFIELD RECORDS, 17IS-1786.
Abraham Martin Stephen Martin David Palmer John Peso John Phipps William Ranger Moses Rich Philip Rich
Thomas Rich James Roaff
Charles Rice, k. by the Indians William Tuffs John Watt
Samuel White Jeremiah Woodbury
1758. The plan for the campaign this year included the investment of Louisbourg, and expeditions against Ticonderoga and Fort Du Quesne. The first and last were successful ; that against Ticonderoga was a disastrous failure.
The Brookfield men in the service this year were: Gideon Abbott, Capt. Jacob Abbott, Joel Abbott, Jacob Ainsworth, Jabez Ayres, Asa Bacon, Capt. Jeduthan Baldwin, Josiah Baldwin, Daniel Ball, Thomas Ball, Breed Batcheller, Wm Batcheller, Nathan Barns, Tho. Brown, Samuel Chapman, Ebenezer Davis, Jedediah Deland, Jona. Dodge, Josiah Dodge, Charles Dorothy, David Getchell, Tho. Gilbert, 3d., Abraham Hair, Amos Hamilton, Jr., Elisha Hamilton, Benj. Harwood, Peter Harwood, Zachariah Harwood, Wm. Henderson, Elijah How, Samuel Joslin, Asa Lamson, Andrew Kimball, Tho. McClure, Abner Old, David Palmer, Wm Parkman, David Patrick, Thomas Rainger, Wm Rainger, Abner Rice, Asahel Rogers, Wm Tuffs, Gideon Walker, Jacob Walker, Isaac Walker, Silas Walker, Samuel White, Daniel Wyman.
In the House of Representatives, Apr. 28, 1758, " Ordered, that the selectmen of Leicester be allowed to remove from said town to the town of Brookfield, Jaques Morris, with eleven of his family, being French Neutrals (so called) placed in L. in 1756, by order of the General Court ; and the selectmen of Brookfield are hereby required to provide for said French people."
1759. The taking of Louisbourg, in July of last year, gave the English control of the eastern gate to Canada. The only strongholds held by the French outside of Montreal and Quebec, were Niagara, Ticonderoga and Crown Point. Niagara was taken July 24, Ticonderoga was in- vested July 22, and after a siege taken; when Crown Point was abandoned by the French commander.
In the mean time, Gen. Wolfe was prosecuting a most important enterprise, viz. the reduction of Canada. Sept. 13, he achieved his memorable victory on the heights of Abraham, which insured the fall of Quebec.
Capt. Jeduthan Baldwin was in the service, Mar. to Dec.
In Capt. Wm Paige's Hardwick Co., Crown Point expedition, were
217
LAST FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR.
men from Brookfield : Sergts. Silas Walker, Gideon Walker, Caleb Dodge, Corporals Joel Abbott, Wm Rainger, Rufus Putnam, Drummer Breed Batcheller, and privates Gideon Abbott, Jacob Ainsworth, Asa Bacon, Nathan Barns, Wm Batcheller, Zeph. Batcheller, Thomas Brown, Samuel Chapman, Robert Claflin, Jr., Jedediah Deland, Daniel Deland, Jona. Dodge, Josiah Dodge, Charles Dorothy, Joseph Gibbs, Thomas Gilbert 3d., Amos Hamilton, Nathan Hamilton, Wm Henderson, Elisha How, Asa Lamson, Tho. McClure, Abner Old, David Patrick, Tho. Rainger, Asahel Rogers, Roger Stevens, William Tuffs, Isaac Walker, Jacob Walker, Sam1 White.
Muster Roll of Capt. Sylvanus Walker's Brookfield Co., out fr. May 15 to Dec. 27 : Capt. S. W., Lt. Eliphalet Hamilton, Ens. Daniel Walker, Sergts. Tho. Riggs, Reuben Old, Christ. Banister, Corps. Obed Abbott, David Gilbert, James McClure, Privates Ebenezer Davis, Abner Gilbert, Nathan Goodale, Erastus Hamilton, Job Lane (servt. to Rev. E. Forbes), Cyrus Rich, Moses Rich, Daniel Rolfe, David Slayton, Gad Smith, Reuben Stevens, Arthur Tucker, Benj. Walker, Jr., Oliver Walker, Zeb- ulon Walker, Henry Wisdom, Isaac Wood.
Jacob Ball and Peter Bowen were in the Cr. Pt. Expedition.
Rev. Eli Forbes served as chaplain to the First Battalion, Gen. T. Ruggles' regiment, Crown Point expedition, Mar. to Dec. In a petition he says : "In 1759, I was chaplain in the army, and undertook to per- form duty to two of Gen. Ruggles' battalions : soon after I joined the army at Fort Edward, the battalions were separated to a distance of several miles, but I faithfully administered to both: they united at Lake George, and then were regularly observed morning and evening prayers, attendance on the sick and criminals, and preaching on the Sabbath. After the army passed the Lake, the battalions were often stationed 3, 10, 15 miles apart, yet I never failed of praying and preaching with each, visited the sick in the hospitals and the criminals at the Provost guards ; I sometimes travelled on foot 15 miles to reach all the hospitals. Towards the close of the campaign, Rev. John Brainard and myself had 400 invalids committed to our charge, and were ordered to march with them to Albany; and humanity obliged us to advance our own money, and perform all kind offices for the relief of these poor distressed men, who otherwise must have suffered greatly, there being no suitable hospital stores available."
Francis Stone, Sen., was in the army under Gen. Wolfe, and was killed.
1760. Gen. Amherst concentrated the army in three divisions before Montreal, Sept. 6, and on the 8th, the Province of Canada and its dependencies were surrendered to the British crown.
The Muster Roll of Capt. Daniel McFarland of Worcester contains
218
BROOKFIELD RECORDS, 1718-1786.
the following Brookfield names : Sergt. Jona. Dodge, Corp. Eben' Hay- ward, Charles Dorothy, Abraham Gilbert, Nathan Hamilton, Cornelius Hinds, Steph. Jennings, Abner Old, Samuel Robinson, Daniel Rolfe, Jona. Streeter, Samuel Streeter, Josiah White, Jacob Wood. The com- pany was out Feb. to Dec.
In the Muster Roll of Capt. William Paige of Hardwick, Mar. to Dec., Brookfield is credited with Lt. Daniel Walker, Sergts. Zeph. Batcheller, Obadiah Wright, and Eben' Davis, and privates Nathan Abbott, Jona. Barns, Nathan Barns, Wm Batcheller, Comfort Gilbert, Ezekiel Gilbert, John Goodale, Nathan Goodale, Solo. Goodale, Caleb Green, Elijah How, John McFarland, Asa Partridge, Asahel Rogers, Ezra Rood, Gad Smith, Aaron Tute, Nathan Tyler, Zebulon Walker, Tho. Weeks, John Woolcott.
June 6, 1760. The French people, late inhabitants of Nova Scotia, were divided to the several towns for support. To Brookfield, Stanislaus Guirdo, and Mary his wife, and his daughter and an infant, Maudlin Gadrich, Isaac Guirdo - 6 in all.
1761-3. Though the reduction of Canada theoretically ended the war, yet in the spring of '61 Massachusetts levied an army of 3,000 men.
Officers of the Brookfield Militia Companies :
First Company - John White, captain, Ebenezer Jennings, Ist lieut., Phinehas Upham, 2d lieut., Nathan Hamilton, ensign.
Second Company - Thomas Gilbert, captain, Abner Brown, lieut., John Phipps, ensign.
Third Company - Nathaniel Woolcott, captain, Abraham How, lieut., John Witt, ensign.
Troop of Horse. - Thomas Hale, captain, James Stone, lieut., Ephraim Walker, cornet, Seth Lincoln, quarter master.
Our men, out in '61, were : Daniel Barns, William Batcheller, Jona. Dodge, John Everden (apprentice to John Chadwick), Reuben Gilbert, Joseph Hatfield, Samuel Marsh (apprentice to Aaron Bartlett), Timothy Tyler.
Pay Roll of Capt. Thomas Cowden's Co. Mar. to Dec. 1762.
Lt. Daniel Walker, Ens. David Getchell, Stephen Ayres, Ephraim Ayres, Solomon Cummings, Daniel Dodge, Charles Dorothy, Jacob Getchell, Henry Gilbert, Jesse Gilbert, Moses Gilbert, Jonas Hayward, William Mace, Samuel Palmer, Daniel Rolfe, Caleb Thayer, Nathaniel Wait, Richard Wait, Solomon Walker, Zebulon Walker, Samuel Whiston, Samuel White, all of Brookfield.
. Pay Roll of Capt. Wm Shepard's Co. Mar. to Nov. 1762.
Ens. Jona. Dodge, Sergt. John Fletcher, Moses Ainsworth, Jesse Barns, Nathan Barns, Caleb Green, Samuel Marsh, Abner Old, Samuel Parker,
219
SECOND MEETING-HOUSE.
Beamsley Pottle, David Pratt, Job Smith, Lemuel Smith, Jesse Vose, John Whetstone (apprentice to Jacob Bigelow), all of Brookfield.
Pay Roll of Capt. John Nixon's Sudbury Co. July '62 to Jan. '63. Brookfield men : Wm Batcheller, Solomon Goodale, Asa Humphreys.
James Wesson of B. was lieut. in Capt. Simon Jefferd's Wells Co., May '62 to Nov. '63.
A treaty of peace was signed at Paris, Feb. 10, 1763.
For the sake of clearness, it seemed best to give a full account of the struggle for supremacy in New England between France and England, in a single section, though this method has in a measure broken the thread of our narrative. The question of supremacy was settled in Eng- land's favor, by the treaty of Paris. We now return to matters of direct domestic concern.
SECOND MEETING-HOUSE. - The question of building a new meeting- house began to be agitated in 1746. The setting off of the southwest corner of the town to Western, had left the remaining portion in a very irregular shape, and carried the geographical centre to Slate hill plain. This point however was not the centre of population ; was an inconven- ient place to be reached from the south, and would add a mile's travel to the families living in the extreme northwest district. The real gain in distance of travel and advantage of location would accrue to the north- easterly inhabitants. These northeasters were united in the plan ; the southern and western men were united in opposing it, but were divided in opinion as to the proper location of a meeting-house.
Rev. Mr. Cheney. At this juncture, the Rev. Mr. Cheney, pastor of the Church, was disabled by sickness, and died Dec. 11, 1747. Thomas Cheney, son of William and Rebecca (Newell) Cheney, was born in Rox- bury Jan. 29, 1688-9 ; graduated at Harvard University 1711 ; married (1) Dorothy Hawley, daughter of Hon. Joseph of Northampton ; (2) May 22, 1746, Mary Cotton, daughter of Rev. John. He was ordained Oct. 16, 1717, and consequently was pastor thirty years. "He is de- scribed as an acceptable preacher, and as sustaining the character of a good man, and faithful pastor."
The death of Mr. Cheney loosened some ties which had bound the people to the old Centre, and its surroundings, and gave the opportunity for the northeastern inhabitants to renew their efforts for a new location of the meeting-house.
An article was inserted in the March warrant, 1748,
"To hear and act upon a Petition of a number of ye Inhabitants of sd Town living in the Northeasterly part of sd Town requesting that the town find a Centre as the Town now lies, and build a meeting-house there, or as near as the ground will admit, otherwise to set them off as a distinct Precinct agreeable to their Petition -
220
BROOKFIELD RECORDS, 1718-1786.
" At a Town meeting March 14, the Question was put, if the Town will build a Meeting-house in the Centre of the town as it now lies : passed in the Negative : If the Town would set off the petitioners with a quarter part of the Township as it lay before Western was set off, or a third part as it now lies : and it passed in the Negative."
This refusal of the town, led to the sending of a Petition to the Gen- eral Court, asking for the incorporation of a new Precinct in the North- easterly quarter ; and to the erection of the frame of a new meeting-house there. And after a series of moves and counter-moves, the new or Second Precinct was incorporated Mar. 29, 1750. [The history of this Precinct belongs to the next Chapter.]
In the mean time, and before the formation of the Second Precinct, steps had been taken to settle a new minister. Oct. 17, 1748, "The town voted, that Thursday come forteen night be set apart for fasting and prayer to God for his direction with respect to settling a Gospel minister amongst us in this place."
In Town meeting Nov. 28, 1748, "Voted, To concur with the church in their choice of Mr. Elisha Harding to be their Minister. At an adjourn- ment, Dec. 22, Voted to give Mr. Harding for his encouragement to settle in the Gospel Ministry in sd Town the sum of one thousand pounds old tenor currency : 2d, To give the sd Mr. Harding for his yearly salary and support during the time of his continuance in the Ministry aforesd the sum of five hundred pounds old tenor, accounting the same as tho' it be paid in Indian Corn at 20s. pr. bush., Rye at 30s. per bush., Wheat at 40s. pr. bush., and said 500 pounds to be diminished or increased yearly in proportion to the prices of these commodities as they shall yearly rise or fall, and be bought or sold in sd Town - Provided he release to the Town all right to the Ministry Lands : or in case he inclines to have the improvement thereof, he have the liberty thereof, allowing and paying as much as any other person would give therefor. Voted, Joseph Dwight, Esq., Left. Elisha Rice, Dea. John Gilbert, Amos Rice and Capt. Thomas Buckminster a committee to acquaint Mr. Harding of the vote aforesaid. At an adjournment, voted to Mr. Harding free liberty to cut and get his wood on the Common Land of said Town known by the name of The Rocks, sd Mr. Harding not to make waste of sd wood, especially of the young wood. Voted, That Mr. Harding have the use and improvement of the 20 acres of Ministry Land between Capt. Buckminster's and Mr. Simeon Dwight's free from rent for two years, and then he is to allow the Town 20 pounds old tenor yearly for the same."
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