USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Pelham > History of Pelham, Mass. : from 1738 to 1898, including the early history of Prescott > Part 13
USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Prescott > History of Pelham, Mass. : from 1738 to 1898, including the early history of Prescott > Part 13
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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
Oct. 20, 1780 the town voted as follows: "Voted that the town has Agreed to Procure the beef that is sent for.
144
HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
Thirdly-Voted that there is a committee to be Chosen to Procure Said Beef. Said Committee is Caleb Keeth, Mathew Clark & John Maklem.
Voted that the Remainder of the old Stock that is at William Blairs house be sold at Publick Vendue this Ivining. Also Voted Andrew Abercrombie is to have the Care of what is left of the New Stock,-this meeting is continued till tusday nixt at three of the Clock in the afternoon at the Meeting house of said town to Receive the Report of Said Committee.
Voted that the Above Committee is to take care of the Cattle they have Purchased & Deliver them to the Commisery.
JOSEPH PACKARD, Moderator."
The raising of the quota of men called for had not been accom- plished as we judge by action taken at a meeting held Dec. 21, 1780 when it was
"Voted that there be a Committee chosen to Procure these Men Called for-said Committee is Daniel Gray, David Cowdin & Nathaniel Samson."
The Meeting adjourned to Jan. 4, 1781 to hear and act upon the report of this committee when it was
" Voted, that there is fifty Shilling pr Month Granted by the town as a Bounty agreeable to the Court Act. Ray at three & four pence pr Bushel or Money Equivalent thereto to Each Soldier that will Inlist for three years or During the War.
Secondly-Capt Daniel Gray was chosen to Represent the town at the Convintion at Northampton Provided said Convintion Do Meet.
DANIEL GRAY Moderator."
MEETING JAN. 18, 1781.
A meeting held January 18, 1781 had one important article in the warrant as follows :
" To see what Method the town will take to Procure the beef Required of this town Agreeable to the Act of the General Court Deated Decr the fourth one thousand seven hundred and eighty, or any other article the town Shall think Proper when Assembled.
Daniel Gray was Chosen Moderator, and Secondly, "Voted that there be a man Chosen to Go to Northampton to Enquire of the
145
TOWN MEETING RECORDS.
Commisary what they Give pr Hundred In Money or Grain for Beef.
Thirdly Voted that Capt Daniel Gray is Chosen a Committee man to Go to Northampton to Enquire at the Commisary the Price of Grain & how he will Change for Beef. This Meeting is continued till the twenty-fifth of this Instant. Meet and then it was voted that there is three hundred & Nine Pound Granted to Procure the Beef for the Continental Army."
MEETING, FEB. 26, 1781.
At a Meeting held on Monday the 26th day of February, 1781 it was "Voted that there is £1200 continental Money Granted for the Support of the Gospel.
Thirdly that Hugh Johnston is allowed for Assessing Rats twenty nine days £230 and John Rinken £208 for twenty six days assessing Rats.
Fourthly-John Conkey is allowed fourty five Pound for taking Care of the Meetinghouse the past year. Ebenezer Gray allowed £90 for being treasurer the past year. John Maklem & Kaleb Keeth are each allowed £3 7s for purchasing the beef for the Army.
Adjourned to the 5th day of March 1781 and then Chose John Thompson, Samuel Hyde, Jonathan Hood, John Rinkin and Andrew Abercrombie a Committee to "Settle the Everidge"-also voted that ye former Committee viz Daniel Gray, David Cowden, Nathaniel Samson is freed from Being a Committee to Raise Men for the War.
JOSEPH PACKARD, Moderator."
The meeting of March 5, 1781, was the Annual Meeting for the choice of officers and little other business was done.
Anjourned to the 9th day of March when Jonathan Hood, John Thompson, Daniel Sheas and Aaron Gray were Chosen as the "Com- mittee of Safety."
The record of this Annual Meeting is notable from the fact that the name of Daniel Sheas, or Shays, appears for the first time on the town books in the capacity of a town officer, and shows that the man who a few years later was to become the leader of a remarkable rebel- lion against the state government, was a citizen of the town for quite a number of years before the discontent took the form of open rebel- lion.
146
HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
MEETING, MAR. 22, 1781.
£6000 was voted for the repairing of highways. It was also "Voted that there vote of Dec. 21, 1780 granting the Soldiers to be Raised fifty Shilling per Month the old way is Recald by said town. -Voted that the Assessors is to Class the town into ten Classes to Raise the Soldiers as Called for. Also Voted y" one of the Com- mittee of Safety meet the Convention at Hatfield the twenty seventh of March Corrant.
JOHN CRAWFORD, Moderator."
On the 18th of May, 1781, there was a town meeting when it was " Voted twenty three Hundred and twelve pound ten shillings old Contenental Money to be Assessed to Enable the treasurer to Settle with Rev. Mr. Merrill."
MEETING, JULY 17, 1781.
The warrant for a meeting, July 17, 1781, had the following important articles :
" To see what Measure the Town will Take in the order to Rase four thousand two hundred and thirty nine pounds of Beef for the Army as quick as it is Called for in the Court Orders. Also to warn a Meeting to be held on said Day at three o'clock afternoon at the same place of all the Mail Poals of twenty one years old and upwards to Make choice of Militie officers that is wanting in said town Acording to the New Constitution."
The above is written in a different hand-writing from records of former meetings, all having been in substantially the same hand almost from the incorporation of the town, John Dick having served as town clerk thirty-five years.
Action upon the above article concerning beef was as follows : " Voted to Rase the Beef sent for by the Court-thirdly voted that there shall be a Committee to purchis said beef. Committee is Caleb Keaith, Alexander Berry and John McLeane.
Forthly Voted Seventy five Pound in hard Money or Grain Equiv- olent thereto to Enabel the above mentioned Committee to Purchis the above mentioned Beef.
Fifthly, Voted that the Bounty Granted for the six and three months men by the Court which served in the year 1780 shall be assessed. JOHN THOMPSON, Moderator."
MEETING, JULY 25, 1781.
" Voted to Raise Hard money to Purchis the Sixth part of Beef now called for.
I47
TOWN MEETING RECORDS.
Thirdly voted to Raise Hard Money to Purchis the Second Sixth part of sd Beef. CALEB KEITH, Moderator."
At a meeting July 30, 1781, there were important articles in the warrant, among them this one :
" To see if the town will reconsider a vote passed April Last to Raise £2312 IOS Contenantal Money to Redeem a Note Given to Mr Merrill by the Treasurer."
The town assembled and Joseph Packard was chosen moderator. The meeting was then continued to Friday, the 3d of August. Assembled as per adjournment, and another continuance or adjourn- ment was voted for " teen Minits " to Landlord Samson's in said town. What this special adjournment to the tavern of Landlord Samson's was for does not appear on the record. We only know that there was such an adjournment and on reassembling they passed the following vote, and this is all that resulted. "Voted thirty Pounds to be assessed in Hard Money for the supply of the Pulpit." This indicates that Mr. Merrill had been dismissed.
There was a town meeting on the 27th of August, 1781, with the following articles in the warrant :
"Secondly, To see what the town will do Concerning Raising the Remain- der Part of the Beef called for by the General Court.
Thirdly, to see if the town will Reconsider a vote Passed to Divide the town into two Compenys or Divide in any other Method that the town shall see fit-Also to warn Both the Train Band and Larm List that they appear at time and Place to Chuse officers."
" Voted that the Committee formerly Chosen to Purchis the Beef last Caled for from the Court is to give thare Obligations for Hard Money for sd Beef.
Thirdly, Voted forty Shillings per hundred for the above Mentioned Beef if it cant be Purchased under.
Forthly-Voted to Recal a vote Pased on the 17th of July Last of Seventy five Pound Hard Money or Grain Equivolent to Purchis Beef."
MEETING, OCT. 25, 1781.
The voters were called together again on the 25th of October, 178I, to consider the question of beef and the six and three months' men. The warrant asked for action on the following particulars :
" Secondly to see what Method the Town will take in order to Purchis the Beef that is Delinquent for the year 1781."
)
148
HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
" Voted to Chuse a man to Go to the Superintendant to see about an Execution supposed to be Against the Town for Beef.
Secondly Voted Nathaniel Samson to be the Man.
Voted to Rase the Beef Called for by the Superintendant that he has a Execution against the town for.
Secondly Voted that Doct Nehemiah Hinds be a Committee Man to Purchis sd Beef.
Voted that this meeting is continued by adjournment twenty Minits to Landlord Bruce's .- Meet According to Adjournment and Voted & Chose John Bruce to Hire a three years Man to serve in the Continental Army for the town of Pelham.
CALEB KEITH, Moderator."
Nov. 28, 1781, the town was called together and after voting that "the Selectmen shall not Give out Orders to the six and three months men-and that their shall be a Average-the meeting was Continued to the 12th of Dec at nine o'clock in the morning, when it was voted that the Average shall be from the Beginning of the War.
Secondly Voted that the Average shall be Settled by a Committee out of town Said Committee to be Daniel Shaw of New Salem, Capt Isaac Powers of Grenidge, and Capt Metoon of Amherst.
Voted that the orders for Raising the six and three months men Shall be Precured and Red in the town, and that Doct Nehemiah Hinds Procure the above mentioned orders.
Voted that the Average Money shall be settled according to Debt and Credit. NEHEMIAH HINDS, Moderator."
MEETING, JAN. 9, 1782.
".Fifthly, Voted Not to Allow Credit Dun in other towns to be Brought into the Averege.
Sixthly, Voted that those New comers that have Cominto the town of Pelham During this Present Ware Shall be Looked upon an Equateble Level at the time of there Coming in with the Inhabitants of sd town Respecting Services Dun in this Present War.
Seventhly Voted to Chuse a Committee to take the Credit and Settle the Average in Case it Give Satisfaction to the town, if not to be Left to the former Committee out of town sd Committee to Con- sist of Seven-James Taylor, Daniel Gray, John Renkin, Daniel Shess (Shays), John Peibols, Doct Nehemiah Hinds, Joseph Peckerd. Also Voted that Capt John Thompson is to attend the above Com- mittee to give what Light into the Credit he Can."
149
TOWN MEETING RECORDS.
The action of the town at the above meeting concerning the issuing of orders to the six and three months men was not satisfactory to quite a number of voters and their protest not being heeded and their petition for a town meeting ignored by the selectmen, a petition to a justice of the peace to issue a call for such a meeting was made, which we copy in full.
WARRANT FOR MEETING, JAN. 22, 1782.
HAMPSHIRE SS
. To Abiah Southworth, Mathew Brown, Isaac Backer, Constables of the town of Pelham in the County of Hampshire and Commonwealth of Massa- chusetts, Greeting,-Whereas Application has Been made to Me the Sub- scriber by John Conkey Jun, James Thompson, Hugh Johnston, Robert Selfridge, William Croset, William Balden, Thomas Thompson, Thomas Montgomery, Andrew Abercrombie, James Abercrombie, Isaac Conkey, Jacob Proute, John McLem, and Caleb Keith, Inhabitants of the town of Pelham Qualified to vote in town meetings this fourteenth day of January in the Year of Our Lord 1782 that at said Pelham on the 12th day of Jenury Instant there was Grate necessity and occasion of a Town Meeting for Ser- tain Business of Publick Concern to the Said Town and the Inhabitants
their to be Don, that is to say to see whether the town will Recall the Vote Past the Ninth Day of Jenury Instunt Allowing the Selectmen to give Orders to the Six and three months men for the Stats Average or to see if the town will stop the Giving of Orders till such time as the Average is Settled and that by Reason and Necessity as aforesaid they the said Per- sons Aforesaid Did then and there make Due Application in writing unto the said Selectmen of the said town of Pelham Requiring them to Issue there Warrant according to Law for the Calling a Meeting of the Inhabit- ants of said town to be Assembled to act upon the Business Matters and Articles as aforesaid and that the Selectmen aforesaid having Before them the Application Aforesaid Did then and thare Unreasonably Deny to Call such meeting as aforesaid on the Public reason aforesaid and Making Application to Me the Subscriber as one of the next Justices of the Peas for and within the same County for a Warrant to issue in Due form of Law Calling a Meeting of the Inhabitants of said town to act on the Matters and Articles aforesaid. These are therfore in the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to Require you forthwith to warn all the Freeholders and Other Inhabitants of the town of Pelham lawfully qualified to Vote in town meetings that they assemble at the Meetinghouse in Pelham on Tuesday the twenty second Day of Jenury Instant at two of the Clock in the after- noon then and their after a Moderator Chosen to see whether the town will recall the Vote Pased the Ninth Day of Jenury instant allowing the Select- men to give orders to the Six and three Months Men for the Stats Average or to see if the Town will stop the giving of Orders till such time as the Average is settled.
Given under my hand and seal Jan 14, 1782
JOHN CHES WILLIAMS, Jus of Peas.
150
HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
The meeting called under the above warrant was a short one and resulted in a reconsideration of the vote of the 9th of January : " Voted that the vote passed Jenury the Ninth day of this instant Respecting the Selectmen to Give orders to the six and three months men is Recalled
THOMAS JOHNSON, Moderator."
" Settling the Average " was something desirable but not so easily accomplished. It had been left to a committee from surrounding towns. Committees of this town of Pelham had endeavored to settle it but it would not down.
A warrant was posted for a meeting Feb. 4, 1782, the meeting to be held Feb. 8, giving only four days notice.
" Thirdly to see if the town will Chose one or more Agents to Meet the Agents from the other towns in this County at Hadley on Monday the eleventh day of February Instant.
Forthly, to see if the town will Com in to Som effectual method to Settle the Average according to Law."
Acting on the third article " It was Voted that three Delegates should attend the County Convention Viz: Capt Daniel Shass (Shays) Aaron Gray and Jonathan Hood, Committee of Safety. Voted to chuse a Committee in town to Settle the Average-said Committee to Consist of thirteen, Viz : Daniel Gray, Jonathan Hood, Samuel Hyde, Hugh Johnston, Nehemiah Hinds, James Taylor, John Harkness, Caleb Keith, John Renkin, Samuel Samson, William Croset, John Peebles, James Dunlap. Secondly Voted that the above Committee is to Velow the Town's Don in the Service."
This last paragraph we interpret to mean that this committee of thirteen was instructed to make a valuation of what the town had done during the war up to this time to assist in settling the vexed average.
" Voted to sink the state and town Average from the beginning of the War and to Rais the Men for the future for the Present War in Equal Proportions as other taxes are Raised. Secondly Voted to Withdraw the bill of State Everage out of the Constables Hands.
NEHEMIAH HINDS, Moderator."
The regular Annual meeting for the choice of officers was held on the 18th of March, 1782 and the voters shelved David Cowden, Nehe- miah Hinds, Daniel Gray, Caleb Keith and Joseph Packard, the board of selectmen that had refused to call a town meeting on peti- tion, and by a vote of hand chose a new board consisting of Aaron Gray, Joseph Hamilton, Jonathan Hood, William Dunlap and Thomas
15I.
TOWN MEETING RECORDS.
McMellin ; and Mathew Clark, Caleb Keith, Capt. Daniel Shays,. Capt. Isaac Gray, Lieut. John McLem, Committee of Safety.
MEETING, MAY 13, 1782.
At a town meeting held on 13th of May, 1782, Henry McCulloch and Thomas Johnson were chosen delegates to attend a convention. to be held at Hatfield on the following day. It was further voted to choose a committee to instruct the delegates to the convention, and. Caleb Keith, Ebenezer Gray, William Dunlap, Mathew Clark, and. Dr. Nehemiah Hinds were chosen for that duty and after the dis- charge of the duties laid upon them the town accepted the instruc- tions as good.
It did not require very long notice to the freeholders and other inhabitants of the town to assemble them in town meeting, for the record shows a warrant bearing the date August 5, 1782, warning the voters to assemble at four o'clock on the afternoon of the 6th of August, the main business being to choose delegates to sit in county convention at Colonel Murray's in Hatfield on the following day .. Daniel Gray and Thomas Johnston were chosen delegates and then Hugh Johnson, John Hamilton, Samuel Hyde, Henry McCulloch and John Renkin were chosen a committee to instruct the delegates .. in their duties. This done, the meeting adjourned for one hour and a half to the house of Landlord Bruce to give the committee time to instruct the delegates; at the expiration of the hour and a half the voters reassembled at the meeting house and hearing the report of the instructions given the delegates, the instructions were accepted by the town. Samuel Hyde was moderator.
There was a town meeting called on the 19th day of September,. 1782 to " see what method the town would come into to pay the men for their Beef Bought in 1781," and it was "voted that the Selectmen examine into the Debt of the town and find out what the town is in Debt for Beef.
JOSEPH PACKARD, Moderator."
The town was not called together again in town meeting until Jan ... 22, 1783, and the only business was to choose wardens for the town under a new law of the General Court. James Taylor and Reuben Lotheridge were chosen. Nehemiah Hinds was moderator.
No more town meetings until March 3, 1783, which was the regu- lar annual meeting for the choice of officers.
March 26, 1783, there was a meeting for general purposes. Henry
S
t
152
HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
McCulloch was allowed 12s. for attending county convention, Capt. Shays, 12s. for attending a county convention, and officers of the town were voted various sums for their services. Three shillings per day was voted for workmen on the highways, etc.
The people of the east parish of Pelham began the agitation for having that part of the town set off by itself, and articles had appeared in several warrants for action upon the question and at an adjourned meeting, June 30, 1783, the matter was brought up and decided in the negative.
MEETING, MARCH 25, 1784.
At this meeting the old question of paying the six and three months men their bounty money came up and the following is the record : " Voted to pay the six and three months men that was raised in the year 1780 thare several Bountys according to the States Everage, but they also voted to take advice of an attorney to see what method the town will take to settle an Everidge. The meeting was continued by adjournment to the house of Landlord Bruce for a quarter of an hour-then met and Vandued to Mathew Clark the Collection of the Bills taken out of Abraham Livermores hands if Clark provide suffi- cint bondsmen.
SAMUEL HYDE, MODERATOR."
April 14, 1784 there was a town meeting when a committee con- sisting of Dr. Nehemiah Hinds, Aaron Gray, Andrew Abercrombie, Capt. John Thompson, Nathaniel Sampson and Thomas Johnston were chosen to act as follows: "To treat with the six and three months men and Likewise every other Inhabitant of the town in order to Settle the Lose of the Late War in some shorter method than making a Everidge." This meeting was adjourned three times, and then was dissolved without further action.
On the 26th of May, 1784, the town voted £450 to settle with the six and three months men, and this probably cleared the vexed ques- tion from the town docket.
The question of an " Everidge " was on again and while we may not grasp the matter completely, it was a desire to learn just what the town was indebted to the state after the services of the town to the state during the war, which had recently ended, was duly credited.
On Friday, Feb. 4, 1785, the voters were called together again to act on these articles :
153
TOWN MEETING RECORDS.
" 2ly to see if the Town will Petition the General Court to Chuse a com- mittee to make an Everidge for the Town of Pelham-awaiting that the Verdict shall be Decicive.
3ly If the Town is not a mind to Petition the General Court then for the Town to Value the Tours Done in the Late war in order to settle the Everidge."
The assembled voters did not take kindly to the proposition to petition the General Court but " Voted to Choose a Committee out of town to Make an Everidge. Daniel Shaw of New Salem, Col Mc- Clallen of Coldrain and John Powers of Shutesbury is sª Committee."" Esquire Powers of Greenwich was afterwards selected in place of Daniel Shaw.
It was also "Voted to Chuse a Committee of three in order to Notify and appoint the Setting of the Above Committee and Likewise to lay before the sd Committee all Papers Respecting Raising Men and all town votes that Respects the same-Said Committee is not to Communicate anything to the Above Committee or Suffer any other Person excepting under oath .- John Rinken, Lt Sampson and. Mathew Clark is said Committee." it was also "Voted that the Result of Said Committee Shall be Decisive.
SAMUEL HYDE, Moderator."
The inhabitants of Pelham living on the East Hill and beyond had been dissatisfied for some time because of the long distance to travel to church and town meetings-they were obliged to go down the hill on which they lived into the valley of the West Branch and then climb to the top of the West Hill where the meeting house was located; there were frequent town meetings on week days, and on Sundays they were obliged to go over the same hard road again until they felt it a burden more than they could bear. They were desirous of having a meeting-house on the East Hill for worship on Sundays and petitions had been offered to the town on several occasions ; articles had been in the warrants for town meeting asking that the east part of the town might be set off as a town by themselves, but " Nothing was acted " on such articles,-but the people in that part of the town were not discouraged thereby, nor did it turn them from the purpose they had set their hearts upon, but were more deter- mined than ever to effect some sort of separation.
In the warrant for a town meeting, May 9, 1785, there appeared the following article :
154
HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
" 2dly To see if it is the minds of the Town to sett off the East End of Pelham Relative to a Petition that May be Presented for that Purpose."
The town promptly considered the petition and action followed as per vote :
" 2dly Voted to Sett off the East Part of the Town as far as the West Branch of Swift River unto a distinct Town by them Selves.
SAMUEL HYDE, Moderator."
The result of this vote was not so sweeping as the language would indicate, and did not make a new town at once, but it made it pos- sible to establish the East Parish and was the entering wedge which caused a division of the town of Pelham and the incorporation of that part of Pelham east of the West Branch of Swift river as Pres- cott in 1822.
The meeting, July 18, 1785, was an important one. There was but one article in the warrant which we copy.
" 2dly to see if it is the Minds of the Town to Abide by the Prisel of Towrs as the Committee out of town Prised the Towrs or Make Such alteration as the Town shall think Proper or any other article the Town shall think Proper to act upon."
Action on above article :
" Firstly Voted to Allow Those men that Did Service in the Late war in the year 1783 (viz) the Eight Months Men Per Month Nine Pence.
2dly Men that Served six weeks in the year 1775 Per Month Nine Pence.
3dly Voted to Allow Those men that Did Service in the year 1776 at ticonderoga Dorgester White Plains and Morriston Per Month one Shilling.
thly Voted to alow for Towers Done in the year 1777 (viz) at 4 Moser Creek Stilwater Benington alarm Taking Burgoin and Ticon- teroge Per Month one Shilling.
5thly Voted to alow for Service in the year one thousand Seven hundred and Seventy eaight (viz) Towers at Springfield Clerecreek Roadiland and New London Per Month Nine Pence also for Towers in 1779 (viz) Eaight Months men to fill up the Towns quota for three years-nine months men to fill up the Vacancy of the Army and Eaight months men of the militia Per month one Shiling.
thly Voted that David Sloan and John Harkness Should be alowed one year Each-for Robert Conkeys Service in the three years Ser- wice, and the sd Credit withdrawn from Alexander Conkey.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.