USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Pelham > History of Pelham, Mass. : from 1738 to 1898, including the early history of Prescott > Part 12
USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Prescott > History of Pelham, Mass. : from 1738 to 1898, including the early history of Prescott > Part 12
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48
James Caldwell McMullen and Rev. Richard Crouch Graham are the first names that appear on the records with what is commonly
132
HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
known as a middle name up to this time. Hitherto no ink was wasted in writing out long names upon the books and there was no ambitious desire to bestow such names upon the children born to the early settlers. There was not a man among them that was hampered with a middle name. James or John was a common name and con- sidered enough to place before any surname, consequently the appearance of the middle name must be noticed as an innovation. If attention is given to this matter it will be noticed that the middle name did not increase very fast and there were very few up to 1800 and beyond that date.
From 1777 to 1786.
Valuation of Property for Taxation Established 1777 .- Rev. Mr. Merrill's Appeal 1779 .- Large Increase of Salary 1780 .- Measures Taken to Secure Men for the Army 1780 .- Bounties Offered .- Action Taken to Procure Beef for the Army 1781 .- Daniel Shays on Committee of Safety 1781 .- Selectmen Refuse to Call a Town Meeting 1782 .- Trying to Settle With the Three and Six Months Men 1783 .- Allowance to Soldiers in the Late War 1785 .- The Town Votes to Have a Bank of Paper Money Made 1786.
April 14, 1777. " It was voted that the East Hill School Quarter be divided Into two Squadrens Provided they build their School- houses on their own Cost Without any troble or Cost to the town."
William Crossett " Was allowed { for Carring Down Provisions to the army at Cambridge " and Hugh Johnson, Abraham Livermore and Alexander Conkey were each allowed the same amount for the same errand and journey.
THE ROCKING STONE.
HOUSE ON JOEL GROUT FARM .- NOW OWNED BY HENRY COOK.
₱
I33
TOWN MEETING RECORDS.
MEETING, MAY 12, 1777.
"May 12, 1777, it was Voted that there is £18 allowed to each man that Will Inlist in the Continental service for three years," but at an adjourned meeting this vote was " Recaled " and it was " voted that all those men which have served Personally or Engaged a man in the Service of the United Stats shall have Credit for so many months as they have served or engaged in said service."
Hugh Johnson was moderator at a meeting Dec. 23, 1777, when the valuation of property for taxation was fixed.
20s. was laid on each acre of home lot not improved, Ios. laid on each acre of third division, 15s. on each acre in second division, and the valuation of personal property for taxation was as follows :
" One pair of oxen four years old is £18
Cows at three years old,
£ 6
Steers at three years old, £ 6
Steers and Heifers at three years old,
£ 4
Yearlings at
£ 2
Calves, £ I
Horses at three years old,
£12
Colts at two years,
£ 6
Yearling Colts,
£ 4
Spring Colts,
£ 2
One Sheep,
9s.
MR. MERRILL'S SALARY INCREASED.
April 14, 1777, £60 was added to Mr. Merrill's salary in 1778, and the next vote recorded was that rams be shut up from the first of August till the fifteenth of November yearly.
MEETING, MAY 15, 1778.
May 15, 1778, "£92-13s .- 2d. was granted for Clothing sent to the Contental Soldiers, to be assessed in the first Assessment assesed by the Assessors."
Meeting Jan. 24, 1779, is thus recorded :
" John Crawford, Moderator. Voted that this meeting be adjourned to the House of Joseph Packard, Inholder. Voted that the Arms Coming from Boston be sold at Public Vendue to the Highes Bidder, None to bide But the training band & Larm list.
I34
HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
Voted that the Ammonition be Divided Equally. Voted that the steel be cut in Pound Peices & Sold at Public Vendue to the Highes Bidder."
MEETING, MARCH 29, 1779.
The money of the country had evidently become very much depre- ciated, for at a meeting March 29, 1779, f100 was voted for schools in place of £30 for the years previous and it was voted that each pole be allowed $5 per day on the roads. £250 was voted for repairing the roads where £60 had been the usual sum in previous years.
At the adjourned meeting on the same warrant it was also " Voted April 16, 1779, that the town has agreed to have a new Constitution formed, also Voted that they empower there Representative to vote for the calling of a state Constitutioual Convention for forming a new Constitution.
WILLIAM CROSSETT, Moderator."
MEETING, MAY 12, 1779.
In a warrant for a town meeting called for May 12, 1779, the fol- lowing articles appear after the one for choosing moderator.
" Secondly : To see if the town will Recall there Vote of April 16 in add- ing Sixty Pound to Rev. Mr. Merrills yearly Sallery as we think it is, not sufficient to Mentain a Gentleman and his family.
Thirdly : If the town Recall Said vote to see what Honorable addition the town will Pleas to add to his yearly sallerry.
Fourthly : To see if the town will Allow Money for those families Which there Men Are Gone into the Service."
The record of the action of the town upon this warrant is not long but was decisive. On the second article it was " voted to recall the vote of April 16 of the same year in adding £60 to Rev. Mr. Merrills sallery for the present year."
" Thirdly, Voted that there is four Hundred and twenty Pound added to the Rev. Mr. Merrils Sallery.
Lastly Voted, that there is Nothing Acted on the Last Article of the Warrant. DANIEL GRAY, Moderator."
The warrant for a meeting on the 4th day of June of the same year is interesting and is addressed to Mr. James Peibols and Reuben
I35
TOWN MEETING RECORDS.
Lotheridge, Constables. The first article is to choose a moderator,. and other articles in the following order :
Secondly to See if the town Will make an Addition of Two Hundred & fifty Pound to the Highway Rate as we suppose there is Some Misunder- standing in the former vote, or if note the Above Sum, any other Sum the town shall think Proper.
Thirdly, to See if the town Recall there Vote of the twelth of this Instant Granting the Rev. Mr. Merrill four Hundred & twenty Pound Addition to His Sallery for this present year as it is very burdensome to many who are Groning under Heavy taxes Already.
Forthly to See if they Will Agree to Mak the Addition by a Volentry Superscription for no one Can Dout but how (who) have been so free for laying it on in a tax will be as free in thare Superscription-so that there Dear Brethren May Riceive the two Above Articles is at the Requist of a Number of the Freeholders of Pelham.
Fifthly-if the town will Recall the third article of this Warrant & Don't act on the forth Article, to see what Honorable Addition the town will be Pleased to Make to the Rev Mr Merrills Stated Sallery for this Present year.
Hereof fail Not and Make Return to one of us the subscribers sometime before Said Meeting. Given under our Hands and Seal Dated at Pelham May the 26 one thousand Seven hundred & Seventy Nine & in the fourth year of Independence.
HUGH JOHNSON, JOSEPH PACKARD, JONATHAN HOOD, Selectmen of Pelham.
Daniel Gray was chosen moderator and further action under this above warrant follows: Under second article, " Voted that there is Five hundred and fifty Pound Granted by Way of addition to the Two Hundred & thirty Granted for Repairing the Highways for the Present year.
Thirdly, Voted that there is nothing acted on the third article of the Warrant.
DANIEL GRAY, Moderator."
It will be seen that the third and fourth articles were practically ignored and the former vote of £60 addition to Mr. Merrill's salary having been recalled, because it was believed to be much too small an addition, the newly settled minister was left with only the original salary voted at the time of his being called, the additional appropria- tion of £420 with the currency much depreciated, and the addition was not paid for a long time.
MEETING, JUNE 25, 1779.
This town meeting had nothing to do with ministers' salaries or highway matters but upon more important and pressing business.
136
HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
The meeting was warned to meet at the meeting house, June 25, 1779, and there were only two business articles in the warrant after the one for choosing a presiding officer.
Article Second. To see if the town will come into any Method to inable Commition officers to Raise Men for the Contenantal Service & for the Militia.
Thirdly to see if the town will Come Into any Method to Make an Equal- ity throughout said town by assessment or any other Method they shall think Proper.
Action on the second article of the foregoing warrant :- " Voted that the town is Come Into a Method to Assess a sum of Money to Raise the Present Quota of men to be paid by those that are Delin- quent in order to bring Every Individual upon a Proper Everidge,- the tax and other Charges to be Raised in the Common Method of Town Charges.
Thirdly. Voted that there is a committee to be Chosen to Assist the Militia Officers in Hiring Men to go into the Contenintel & Militia Service.
Forthly. Voted that there is five men to be Chosen as a Commit- tee to find those men. Said Committee is Daniel Gray, Samuel Hyde, John Rinken, Andrew Abercrombie & William Dunlap.
HUGH JOHNSON, Moderator."
MEETING, AUG. 16, 1779.
The warrant for a town meeting on the 16th of August, 1779, had the following articles :
" Secondly, to see if the town will agree to Send a Delgate to Cambridge for the Sole Porpuse of forming a New Constitution, said Convintion is to Sit on the first Day of Sept. Nixt.
Thirdly, to see if they will chuse a Man or Men to take Into Consideration the Prices of Marchandise and Contry Produce and to Make such Regula- tions as they shall think Proper to Act on.
HUGH JOHNSON, JOSEPH PACKARD & GEORGE PETTESON, Selectmen."
Action on the second article resulted as per record: "Voted that Joseph Packard is Chosen a Delegate to Go to Cambridge to Sit in Convintion for the Sole Purpose of forming a New Constitution:
Forthly. Voted there is nothing acted on the third article.
JOSIAH DUNBAR, Moderator."
I37
TOWN MEETING RECORDS.
MEETING, AUG. 27, 1779.
A meeting called on Aug. 27, 1779, was for action on less impor- tant matters than matters of state and was to see if the town would stand up behind its constables who had sold land for taxes.
The second article explains : "To see if the town will support Adam Clark Gray and Mathew Gray, Constables, in an action Com- menced against them by Obediah Dickinson of Hatfield for Selling some of his Land for taxes."
" Thirdly, to see if the town will chuse a man as Delegate or Delegates to Go to Northampton to meet a County Convintion in order to state the Prices of Such County Produce & Marchandise as shall come before them -and any other article that the town shall think Proper when Assembled."
The town ignored the second article which involved the constables by a record as follows : "Voted that there is nothing acted on the. second article."
" Thirdly-Voted that Thomas Johnson is Chosen a Delegate in Behalf of said town to meet the Convintion at Northampton the Sec- ond Wednesday of September Nixt.
Forthly-Voted that there is a Committee to be chosen to state the Pricese of Articles,-Said Committee is Thomas Johnson, Peter Bennet, John Rinkin, Timothy Packard & Mathew Clark.
HUGH JOHNSON, Moderator."
MEETING, SEPT. 27, 1779.
The town was called together on the 27th of September, 1779, to act on the following business :
" Article Second to see if the town will accept the Resolves of the Con- vintion in Regard of Stating the Prices of Contry Produce or Not if they Do to order the Committee Chosen to state the same in this town.
Thirdly :- To see if the town will Chuse a delegate to Go to Concord to a State Convintion for to sit there on the Second Wensday of October Nixt in order to State the Prices of Marchandise and Other Contry Produce.
Forthly to see if the town Will come into Any Method to Inable the Selectmen to Provide Money to Get the Contenental Cloathing & any other Article they shall think Proper when assembled."
The town acted as follows : "Secondly, Voted that the town has Excepted the Prices of Sundry articles that the Convintion that meet at Northampton agreed on.
Thirdly. Voted that Capt David Cowden is Chosen a delegate to
138
HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
Represent the town at the Convintion to Meet at Concord the Second Wensday of October Nixt.
Forthly Voted that the Selectmen are allowed to Draw Money out of the treasury to pay for Soldiers Clothing.
ISAAC GRAY, Moderator."
MEETING, DEC. 10, 1779.
On the Ioth of December, 1779, the town was called to act upon " the following Particulars at the Request of Rev Mr Merrill, the fol- lowing articles with the Reasons are Set Down &c."
"Secondly, As I have Disposed of My farm to have the Advice of the town as to Laying out my Money or not for Another to there Satisfaction.
Thirdly, to know the Will and Pleasure of the town Respecting my stay- ing among them or not, I think its Noised by some as if it was not Desired, Maks me uneasy Not being Willing to Crowd upon any People and as my State is now at Such Looss Ends to Determine my mind about laying out my money.
Forthly-if it the Pleasure of the town I should Stay to Know what the town is Willing Chearfully to vote for my Support towards making up my Sallery for the Insuing year as I am unwilling to take it but from Chearful Givers & if they are Willing to Make up my sallery as they have Mr Wil- liams and Mr Baldwins and others I will be as free that they shall take out my Proportionable Part of Extrorny Charges so that I be no more Burden- som than when I first Came amongst them, and as I think its said by some as if they were Deceived on aCount of my familys Circumstances and tho I did What I could that they might not be Decieved even then so I am Wil- ling if they are Dissatisfied that they should act thare Pleasure. Now Undecieved about it & and as my Last years Sallery is out Sometime Past & the money about spent togither with Sum Hundreds of Pounds put in of my Personal Estate.
Fifthly, to see what the town will alow Adam Clark Gray and Mathew Gray, Constables, to Compleat the Loss they have sustained by the Seal (sale) of Leu" Dickinsons land."
Action on this warrant follows: "Voted, that there is nothing acted on the second article of this warrant.
Thirdly-Voted that there is four hundred and twenty Pound voted as an Addition to the Rev Mr Merrills Sallery for the Present Year.
Forthly Voted that there is nothing allowed Adam Clark Gray & Mathew Gray Relating to the Case Between Leu" Dickinson and them.
CAPT JOHN THOMPSON, Moderator."
I39
TOWN MEETING RECORDS.
While the town seems to have been negligent in paying Rev. Mr. Merrill's salary promptly, and it had forced him to draw upon per- sonal funds for the support of himself and family, it must be remem- bered that the struggle for liberty was going on in the land, and every town in the state, including Pelham, were straining every nerve to furnish their respective quota of men and supplies ; taxation was frequent and heavy to raise money to meet the many and various heavy expenses of a public nature, and it is not strange that some of the demands for money were not met as promptly as they should have been. That the minister's salary was behind some of the time is not surprising although the support of the Gospel was considered one of the most important duties resting upon them as a community.
The appeal of Rev. Mr. Merrill to the town as recorded in the foregoing warrant for a town meeting was evidently carefully consid- ered and the prompt action of the people in town meeting assembled was undoubtedly most satisfactory to Rev. Mr. Merrill and is cer- tainly a most agreeable record for us whose eyes are permitted to scan the faded record more than one hundred years after the record- ing officer spread it upon the book.
ANOTHER MIDDLE NAME.
Adam Clark Gray is the third name that appears on the books up to this time with the middle name or initial. This particular Gray and Matthew Gray were constables of the town and in some unex- plained way had involved themselves in loss of money by selling lands of Lieut. Obadiah Dickinson of Hatfield for unpaid taxes. An article in the foregoing warrant was to see if the town would allow money to these public servants to remunerate them for their loss in the service of the town but the constables were doubtless chagrined and perhaps angered when the voters refused to act upon the article in their interest. They did not give up the fight for their rights how- ever, for in the very next warrant for a Town Meeting appeared an article calling upon the town to act upon this claim of the two Grays, constables. Another article in the same warrant was " To see if the town will Come Into some Safe Method in order to Stop the Collec- tion of the last tax Come to Pelham from the State Treasurer for the Present as we Suppose a part of it to Rise from the Distribution Fleet at Pennobscut, or any other article the town shall think Proper
140
HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
to Act on Relation to the same." The meeting was held Jan. 28, 1780. The selectmen were chosen a committee to settle with the two Grays, constables, thus proving that persistence in the right is the safe course. "Lastly voted that there is nothing acted on the last Article of the Warrant.
JOHN THOMPSON, Moderator."
MEETING FEB. 18, 1780.
The next Meeting was called for Feb. 18, 1780, and the second article was " To see what Method the town will Come into to pay the tax and Charges that has Arisen on thirteen lots that was Assessed and put into Reubin Lotheridges Constables hands to Collect and no Person Appearing to pay the taxes the Said Reuben Lotheridge posted said Lots for Seal as the law Directs, but Could not sell them."
" Hugh Johnson was Chosen Moderator and it was voted that there is a man or men to be Chosen to Purches those Lots that Can't be Sold by the Constable at Vendue, Said Committee is Isaac Gray & William Dunlap. This Meeting is Continued by Agreement to the House of Mr. Abercrombie at four of the Clock in the After- noon,-Meet according to the above adjourment and first voted to pay the tax & Charge that May Arise on the Lots Aftermentioned to wite Third Division No 37, 17, 16, 14, 7, 5, 2. Second Division 31 Third Division No. 47 and Intervening Charges that shall. or may arise on Said Lots for the space of three years and to take the Con- stables Discharges if now owner appears within said term of time."
ADJOURNED MEETING.
At a meeting on March 23, 1780 "Three thousand pounds was allowed for Repairing of the High Ways the present year."
This shows how much depreciation there had been in the value of the Currency up to this time. It was also "voted that there is £2000 added to Rev Mr Merrills £500 for the Present year."
THE NEW CONSTITUTION SUBMITTED TO THE PEOPLE OF PELHAM, MAY 9, 1780.
In the warrant for a town meeting, May 9, 1780, was one article after the one for choice of a Moderator which was as follows :
14I
TOWN MEETING RECORDS.
Secondly to see What sanction the Town Will Put on the New form of Government or Constitution, or any other article the town Shall think Proper to Act on.
HUGH JOHNSON, JACOB EDSON THOMAS JOHNSON, SAMUEL HYDE JOHN RINKEN, Selectmen.
The meeting was called at 9 o'clock in the forenoon and William Crossett was chosen Moderator.
About the Second article we find this record :- " Secondly-that there is a Committee to be Chosen to Inquire into the New Con- stitution said Committee is Doct Robert Cutler, John Thomson, Thomas Johnston, John Crawford, and John Hamilton. This Meet- ing is continued till five aclock in the afternoon of said Day May 9th then Meet a Cording to Said adjournment & Continued by a Second adjournment till Monday the twenty Second day of Said May Cor- rant at ten of the Clock in the forenoon to Recieve the Report of Said Committee With Regard to the New Constitution. Meet according To appointment & first Voted that this Meeting is adjourned for one Hour to the Meeting house.
Meet & first Voted that Each Pole at the age of Sixteen years & Upwards His a Right to Vote for there officers. Secondly-Voted that the New Constitution is Concord With Agreeble to the Com- mittees Remarks on the same.
WILLIAM CROSET, Moderator."
The above record shows that the people of the town promptly accepted the new constitution and placed themselves in line with all other patriotic communities in the state.
The meeting of May 22, 1780, was for the choice of a man to represent the town at the great and general court which was to assemble at Boston on the last Wednesday of May, and Capt. John Thompson was chosen to represent the town for the session of 1780.
MEETING, JUNE 15, 1780.
June 15, 1780, the town was called together to consider the ques- tion of taking a new Valuation of the " Rale and Personal Estate," and the Assessors were instructed to go from " House to House Round the whole town and make a new valuation."
Another important question for consideration was the choice of a "Committee of Safety " and John Thompson, Isaac Gray, Andrew
II
142
HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
Abercrombie, Timothy Packard and John Maklem were chosen to act in this capacity.
Isaac Gray was Moderator.
The town had been called upon to furnish more men for the army, but just how many is not stated in the record, but a town meeting was called on the 20th of June, 1780.
"To see what Method the town Will Come into to Raise the Men now Caled for into the Service. Thirdly, to see what encourage- ment the town Will Give Said men."
The action of the town upon this warrant was peculiar.
After choosing John Thompson Moderator there was an adjourn- ment for " one Houre " and on reassembling " voted that the Delin- quents Raise the Present Cotow of Men Called for." " Also voted that James Pebles is allowed the Rats of that Land that Reuben Lotheridge sold at Public Vendue. Lastly, Voted that there is No Credit to be Sold by any man in the town."
The delinquents were to raise the men called for, and nothing seems to have been done to encourage them to enlist.
MEETING JULY 3, 1780.
The warrant for the Meeting held July 3, 1780, at one o'clock in the afternoon gives information as to the number of men the town had been called upon to furnish.
The language of the warrant follows: "Secondly-as the General Court has Called in the Most Pressing Manner for the town of Pel- ham to Raise Seventeen men more than was first Required and as those that Were Indeted are brought Principly to the Present Aver- ige, to see What Method the town will take to Raise said Men and any other article the town Shall think proper to act upon."
The action of the town upon this warrant in answer to the pressing demands of the General Court for more men we copy from the rec- ord : "Voted that men be Raised for the War by Pole & Real & Personal Estate for the Futter as other taxes is Raised. Fifthly voted that the Selectmen is Impowered to Heire the Contenental Soldiers as Chape as they Can-Either in Speci or Silver or Con- tenentel Money.
JOSEPH PACKARD, Moderator."
I43
TOWN MEETING RECORDS.
It was not an easy matter for the selectmen to raise the number of men the General Court had demanded as the town was called together again August 24, 1780, to act upon the matter of filling the quota of men,-and the question was placed before them in the fol- lowing form :
" Secondly-To see what Directions the town Will Give the Selectmen Concerning two Six months men they Cannot Raise by Hire nor by Draft- ing. Thirdly to See what Method the town will come into to Raise Money to Procure Clothing for the Army."
The meeting was at once adjourned after choosing Joseph Packard Moderator, to the 6th of September at nine o'clock A. M. and on assembling on that day it was "Voted that there is twenty-five pound Granted to Buy Shirts, Stokens and Blankets for the Support of the Army.
Secondly, Voted that the town Stock of Powder that is come to the town is to be sold out Both to the training Band and Larmlist.
Thirdly Voted that John Bruce is allowed three hundred & four Pound Sixteen Shilling for Lodging the Ministers Presbyterie Time.
Fourthly-Voted that Joseph Packard is Allowed two Hundred & Sixty four Pound six shilling for tending the Convention at Boston. JOSEPH PACKARD, Moderator."
FIRST GOVERNOR ELECTION, SEPT. 4, 1780.
The Meeting for the choice of the first Governor under the new constitution was held on the fourth day of September, 1780 and is of interest as it shows the number of votes cast in the town. The result of the balloting is copied from the report of the meeting.
" Made choice of the Honorable John Handcock Esq Governor for the Ensuing year by a full vote containing Sixty one votes.
Made choice of the Honorable James Bowdoin to be Leut Gover- nor & his son rly seven vots Mr. Samuel Adams two vots. Made choice of Con1 Bliss of Wilbreham Noah Goodman of South Hadley Caleb Strong of Northampton Doctor Mathers of Westfield each forty Vots for Counclors."
The stirring times did not allow the people much rest ; there were calls for men, for clothing and other supplies all the time.
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