USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Pelham > History of Pelham, Mass. : from 1738 to 1898, including the early history of Prescott > Part 15
USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Prescott > History of Pelham, Mass. : from 1738 to 1898, including the early history of Prescott > Part 15
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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
ANNUAL MEETING, APRIL 2, 1792.
The meeting was adjourned to April 17 and it was then "Voted to Chuse a Committee and to Provide for the Support of the Poor the present year. Chose James Dunlap, Lt Benoni Shurtlieff and Robert Makliam, for sd Committee." A committee had been chosen in 1790 "To Inspect the Poor," and then excused from serving; the election of the above committee to provide for the support of the poor comes the nearest to overseers of the poor that the town had come, up to this time. It was found that the poor could not all be ejected from the town by a constable, and provision must be made for them. This year Justice Ebenezer Gray, David Huston and Jeremiah McMillen were serving the town -not as hog reeves, but under the more dignified title of "Hog Constables."
There was a regularly warned meeting held this same 17th of April for other business.
Dr. Nehemiah Hinds petitioned for a favor professionally, as the warrant indicates:
" To see if the town will grant Dr Hinds Liberty to set up a Pest House in sd town Providing it shall be set in such a place as shall be thought safe for the Inhabitance of sd town."
The vote was favorable to the project of the doctor, and is thus recorded :
" Voted Dr Nehemiah Hinds Liberty to set up anocalation House in said Town Provided it is set in such a place that the Inhabitance will not be Exposed to catch the Infaction."
ANNUAL MEETING MARCH 3, 1794.
" Voted to set up the Cost of Keeping of Mr. McFall and wife to the Lowest Bidder. Struck off to William Baldwin for £8 ros for one year, the Doctors Bill Excepted."
Mr. William Baldwin stands first on the long list of those who followed his lead and supported this plan of dealing with the unfort-
167
TOWN MEETING RECORDS.
unate by bidding off the poor to support at the inverted vendue, or lowest bidder.
" Minits of a road altered by the Selectmen on the road leading from the County road to what is Called the Valley, the alteration is. as follows (viz.) Beginning about twenty rod East of whare said road leaves the County road at a White pine staddle north of the road where now traveled, then bearing North of East to a white pine Staddle and then to a pich pine tree and then to a white pine tree by the mill brook a little north of the Bridge that is over the Mill brook. Sª trees is on Mr. John Harkness land and are marked on the south side. Then keeping the road where it is now traveled to. the bottom of the hill, then leaving the said road on the north of a chestnut tree marked on the south side, from thence East bearing south still in John Harkness land to the new Dug Way to land lately owned by Major Egleston, then through said Eglestons land to John Rinkins land, from thence to an old seller where Torrance lately lived and from thence to the road now travelled. Sd road is laid out. two rod wide southerly of the Marks."-Pelham, April 6, 1795.
MEETING, April 6, 1795.
Under a separate warrant the town was called to act on business contained in the following article :
" For the purpose of Collecting their Sentiments on the Needsessity or Expedeency of revising the Constitution in order to Amendments agreeable to the Provition made in Sª Constitution."
Vote on above article : " Five voats for revising and fifty-six against revising."
MEETING, AUGUST 25, 1795.
" Voted for the town to set up posts and Bords at the corner of the roads through Sd town to Direct Travellers to the Next town where Sd road leads.
DAVID CONKEY, Moderator."
The assessors of Pelham one hundred years ago had very different methods in making up the valuation for taxation from those of to-day, when the valuation is fixed somewhat close upon the real value of farm property. In 1795 the valuation of all the property in Pelham, including 209 polls and the non-resident lands, amounted to only $6028.05. Squire Abbott's valuation was placed at $190 and then a line was drawn across it as though it was a mistake. Dr. Nehe-
¥168
HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
miah Hinds valuation for taxation was only $157, and yet the doctor paid the highest tax of any man in town, though it was only about $24 annually. They made the valuation very low and the rate suffi- cient to raise all the money needed for public purposes.
ANNUAL MEETING, MARCH 6, 1797.
"Voted to adjourn this meeting to Ensign John Coles for fifteen min- nits, then meet and first voted to adjourn this meeting for ten minnits to the meetinghouse then meet and first was voted to set up the keeping of Mr. McFall and wife to the lowest bidder, the Purchaser is to return him with as much Property as he Receives with him Sd Town is to pay all Extraordinary Doctrine. Struck of the keeping of Mr McFall and wife to Matt Clark for £14 IOS."
The meeting adjourned to the first Monday in April following. In the mean time Matt Clark repented him of his purchase and asked to be relieved of his bargain. The record concludes as follows :
" Then met according to the above adjournment and first voted to Except Mr. James Latham in the room of Mr. Matt Clark, the keep- ing of Mr. McFall and wife was struck of to Mr Matt Clark at £14 ros which sum Sd Latham is to have."
The unfortunate Mr. McFall and wife had similar experience for many years.
From 1797 to 1809.
Transfer of Pews in the Old Meeting-house, 1798 .- Permission voted to build " Horse Shades " 1799 .- Sale of town lands at Vendue, 1801 .- Opposition to the Building of Turnpike, 1802 .- A town Pound established, 1804 .- Robert Lotheridge sells his pew in the Old Meeting-house .- Voted to hold one-third of the town meetings in the Second Parish, 1805 .- Attempts to have the Toll-gate Abolished, 1806 .- Samuel .and Andrew Hyde petition to have their lands set off to Amherst, 1807.
MEETING, MARCH 20, 1797,
was called especially and only for action on this one article :
" To see if the Town will grant Liberty for the anoculation of the Small
169
TOWN MEETING RECORDS.'
Pox in said Town and Establish a House or Houses for the Caring on the same for any length of time that they shall judge best when convened."
Action on above article was prompt and decisive. "Voted not to have the anoculation of the Small Pox in town.
WILLIAM CONKEY, Moderator."
CONTRACT FOR THE CARE OF THE POOR.
Mr. McFall and wife were struck off again for f16 to Joel Conkey" and Lieut. Jeremiah McMillen, under the following written agreement: " Pelham April 4th 1798. This may certify that Lt Jeremiah McMillen and Joel Conkey has agreed Before us that Conkey is to take McFall and his wife this year for Sixteen Pounds without the cow, and Conkey to have the cow towards the Sixteen Pounds, if the. Town Consent to sell her for what sum Conkey and the Town shall agree for at the Aprisal of Men such as Conkey and the town shall. agree upon these to the other selectmen of Pelham.
NEHEMIAH HINDS, ALEXANDER BERRY, DAVID CONKEY, JOHN PEEBLES, Selectmen. "
The transfer of pews in the first parish meeting-house from one to another was made by deed in due form. Here follows the deed of Jonathan Killogg to Levi Gray. The deed conveys one-quarter of Killogg's pew, and is the same pew that Andrew Abercrombie sold to Killogg on the 25th of June, 1796, for $13. The sum Gray pays for one-quarter indicates over 100 per cent. advance in the value of pew property in two years.
" Know all men by these Presents that I Jonathan Killog of Pelham in the County of Hampshire, cordwainer, Do in Consideration of Seven Dol- lars to me in hand paid by Levi Gray of town and County above Named, do Bargain with and sell unto the said Levi one 4th of a Certain Pew in the West Parish Meeting House, sd Pew is situated under the Gallery Stairs at the South East Corner of the Meeting House ath of sd Pew is improved by Ezekiel Baker and Samuel Rodes and is Bounded west by Dr Southworths pew, North by the Alley to the stairs, East by the stairway, south by the walk of sd meeting house, to have and to hold the above one 4th of sª pew free from all Incumberance of Every Name or Nature and that the sd Jona- than do Warrant secure and Defend the same to the s'd Levi his heirs and Assigns against all Claims and Demands Whatever, in Witness hereof I have set my Hand in Presents of JONATHAN KILLOGG
Attest, CHRISTOPHER PATTEN
Pelham Dec 12th 1798"
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170
HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
MEETING, SEPT. 10, 1799.
The main business of this meeting is set forth in article two of the warrant :
"To see if the Town will grant a privilege to a Number of their Inhabit- ance to Build Horse Shades near the first Parish meeting house where the Town shall see fit."
It was " Voted that their is a privilege to any Person that has a mind to Build Horse Shades,-Voted to chuse a committee to see where it is Most Convenient to Build Horse Shades on the Town Land, sd Committee is Dea Gray, Nahum Wage and Jonathan Hood. -said committee reported that their opinion is that it is most con- venient to Build Horse Shades on the south side of the grave yard wall.
DAVID CONKEY, Moderator."
MEETING, MAY 5, 1800.
The vendue master's services were called in at this meeting as per record :
"Voted to set up Francis Straton to the Lowest Bidder by the week to the next Annual Meeting, they that bids him oft is to Bord wash and Nurse him in Common health and the Extraordinary Doc- tring Nursing and Clothing is to be paid by the Town in time of Sickness,-Struck of to Ebenezer Wright at six shillings a week."
MEETING, Nov. 2, 1801.
Originally there were ten acres of land set apart at the center of the town for a common, training field and burying ground, and by the plan of the tract containing the first division into homelots it will be seen that a portion of this ten acres was taken from lot No. I or the minister's lot. Some of this land was east of the burial ground and the town had been called upon to lease or sell it in a number of town meetings. In the warrant for this meeting was the following article :
" To see if the town will sell the land belonging to said Town lying East .of the Graveyard and North of the turnpike road at the Request of a num- ber of Petitioners, and pass all votes Nesessary to carry such sail into effect."
Action on article as recorded : "Voted to sell the land Belonging to the Town East of the Graveyard and North of the turnpike road as far south as the south side of the school house, with a reserve of
I7I
TOWN MEETING RECORDS.
the Land the school house stands on and the Cross Road .- Voted to sell said land at Publick Vendue, and to chuse a Committee to accomplish said Sale .- Nehemiah Hinds, David Conkey and John Rinken Committee. Voted that the above Committee shall guarantee to the purchaser that the Town shall not Use their land Southerly of the school house and North of the turnpike road, for any use except a Common.
NEHEMIAH HINDS, Moderator."
About this time the people became somewhat excited by a propo- sition to build a turnpike from Belchertown to Greenwich and Hard- wick which would leave the town sidetracked, and they began to work in opposition to the project upon information received from Capt. Isaac Abercrombie, then representative at the General Court.
MEETING, FEB. 1, 1802,
Was called to act on a matter of public interest as per article :
" To see if the town will send a Memorial to the General Court against the proposed turnpike Road from Belchertown to intersect with the Sixth Massachusetts turnpike somewhere between Major Powers of Greenwich and General Warners in Hardwick according to the Request of a Letter sent to the Selectmen of Pelham by their Representative."
The people assembled and " Voted that the Selectmen shall send a remonstrance to the General Court against the proposed turnpike in behalf of the town. JOHN RINKEN, Moderator."
MEETING, SEPT. 17, 1802.
It was " Voted to chuse two agents to attend on the Committee appointed by the General Court of the Commonwealth to Examine and report to the said General Court Respecting the Expedincy and Utility of the Road Petitioned for by Benjemin Hooker and others to be Established as a turnpike Road at Esqr Fields in Greenwich on the 2 1 day of this instant. Chose Esq' Isaac Abercrombie and Dea Nathaniel Sampson agents for the above purpose."
MEETING, NOV. 1, 1802.
Was called to consider a very important proposition as set forth in warrant :
" To see if the Town will consider the Request of a Committee from New Salem in Joining the Neighboring towns Respecting or otherwise providing a work House for the Reception and employment of the Poor at the joint expense and for the Common Benefit of such towns and Chuse an Agent or
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I72
HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
a Committee to meet at the House of John Smith, Inholder, in New Salem on the first Monday of January Next at Eleven oclock A. M. with such Instructions as the town shall think Proper."
Meeting dissolved without action on the article.
The people of Pelham had known but little about the poor ; the word pauper is not found on the records up to the receiving of the above proposition to build a Work House for the common benefit of the neighboring towns, including Pelham. Probably for fifty years from the incorporation of the town they had kept the poor from set- tling in the town, or warned them out if such persons came into the town without first obtaining permission to settle, and consequently were not in sympathy with the proposition from New Salem. They did nothing to encourage poverty or shiftlessness, and perhaps thought building a work house would encourage people to apply for aid, and. who would prefer a snug home in a work house rather than being vendued to the lowest bidder.
MEETING, SEPT. 7, 1804.
" Voted to raise $70 to purchis town stock of military stores for the town. Dr. Hinds, David Conkey chosen committee to purchis the town stock.
Voted $70.99 to defray the expense of building a bridge over Swift river, so called.
Voted to set up Samuel Nashs boarding and washing by the week to the lowest bidder until next annual meeting unless it proves he is not an inhabitant of the town, then struck of as proposed above to Nahum Wage the Keeping of Samuel Nash at Ninety-Nine cents per week."
MEETING, Nov. 5, 1804.
The sole business of this meeting was to consider the question of building a pound. The last one built was at the southwest corner of the graveyard near the meeting-house ; it was built of wood and had probably become useless by this time.
" Voted to build a Pound in said Town. Voted that the Pound shall stand on Mr Hach'es land below the Blacksmith shop on the Rite hand side of the turnpike Road. Voted that the Pound is to be made with a stone wall of five feet thick at the bottom and six feet and one half high with a Squair timber on the top of Eight inches squair."
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I73
.
TOWN MEETING RECORDS.
Voted to chuse a committee of three men (Viz) Esqr Abercrombie, Doct Hinds and Landlord Hach to build said Pown
SAMUEL JOSLINE, Moderator."
DEED OF A PEW IN THE FIRST PARISH MEETING-HOUSE.
Robert Lotheridges Deed to Freedom Chamberlain. Know all men by these Presents that I Robert Lotheridge of Pelham in the County of Hampshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts Cordwinder, in Consider- ation of ten Dollars paid by Freedom Chamberlain jun of Pelham in the County and state aforesaid Cordwinder the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge-do Hereby grant sell and convey unto the said Freedom Chamberlain a certain half of a Pew in the first Parish Meeting house in Pelham upon the Lower floor-Said Pew stands in the southwest corner of the Body Pews in said meeting house formerly belonging to My Honored Father Reuben Lotheridge Decest, with reserve of one seat for my Honored Mother so long as she remains a widow or Removes from said Pelham. To have and to Hold the above granted premises to the said Freedom his Heirs and assigns to his and thair use and behoof forever and do Covenant with the said Freedom his Heirs and assigns that I am lawfully Seized in fee of the above granted premisses, that they are free of all incumbrances, that I have good right to sell and convey the same to the said Freedom and that I will warrant and Defend the same premisses to the sd Freedom his Heirs and Assigns forever Against the Lawful Claims and Demands of all Persons. Dec. 24, 1804.
ROBERT LOTHERIDGE, MARY LOTHERIDGE.
MEETING, APRIL 1, 1805.
" It was voted that one third of the town meetings should hereafter be held at the second parish meeting house."
MEETING, MAY 29, 1805.
The town was called together to consider the proposition contained n this article :
" Article 2 For the town to vote that all those Persons living on the turnpike Road to work out their proportion of thare Highway taxes the year ensuing on sª turnpike Road Providing the Directors of sd turnpike road will Discontinue the gate in sd town of Pelham the year ensuing."
Israel Conkey was chosen moderator and Article 2 was passed over in short order and the meeting was at an end. We learn by this that the directors of the turnpike company had a toll gate in the town.
I3
I74
HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
MEETING, OCT. 23, 1805.
There had been a vote passed to have one-third of the town meet- ings at the Second Parish. This was the first town meeting called at the Second Parish meeting house. For sixty-three years or more all town meetings were held at the First or West parish meeting- house and the assembling of the voters on Pelham East hill must have been a day to be remembered. The business of the meeting was stated in the second article :
"For the Town to Grant a sum of money to Defray the unexpected expenses of Supporting the poor of said town."
As the fixed belief of the town from its settlement was that there should be no poor persons in the town this call for more money for the Poor was not pleasant, and when the second article came up the people promptly passed it over, but on second thought recalled it and " Voted to raise $roo to Defray town Charges." rather than "for supporting the Poor," as expressed in the warrant. Joseph Akers was moderator.
MEETING, Nov. 22, 1805.
The location of the school-house in the middle district of the first Parish was not satisfactory to some and this meeting was called to act upon the question of changing the location, and we copy the recorded vote: "Voted Liberty to have the school house in the Middle District of the West Parish of Pelham Removed to near the Eand of the stone wall North of Robert Ormstons store and on the East sid of the Cross Rode Leeding thairby provided Mr Ormston moves it on his own Cost and puts it in as good Repair as it now stands. Voted to Chuse a Committee of three,-said Committee is Lt Rinken, Doct Hinds and David Conkey. Voted that said com- mittee is impowered to Transfair by Deed or otherways the Land the said school House now stands on for a school House spot Discribed in the second vote of said meeting. Voted to adjourn this meeting to Landlord Haches for one Hour.
JOHN RINKEN, Moderator."
It seems that Mr. Ormston was in the mercantile business; he had a store, and was to pay the cost of moving the school-house. The place selected was on the east side of the cross road that crossed the middle range road; the middle range road running east and west, and the cross road north and south.
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175
TOWN MEETING RECORDS.
ANNUAL MEETING, MARCH 3, 1806
Was called at the West parish meeting-house, and after the officers were chosen the meeting adjourned to the Second parish meeting- house at 2 P. M. the same day to complete the list, and transact other unimportant business; quite an undertaking when we consider the condition of the roads in the month of March, and that the Second parish meeting-house was three and a half miles away.
After the first, second and third divisions of land were drawn by lot there were still portions of land left and termed common lands, and the third article of the warrant for this meeting had reference to such lands.
" 3ª to see if the town will Look up the Common Lands in said town and accertain what Number of acres thair are, and whether they will sell it, and pass all votes the Subject requires."
" Voted to chuse a committee to look up the Common lands so called-sd committee is Isaac Abercrombie Esq Lt John Rinken and Joseph Akers. They also voted that the Proprietors book containing a record of all the lands in town should be lodged in the town clerk's office.
ISAAC ABERCROMBIE, Moderator."
MEETING, Nov. 20, 1806.
Those living along the turnpike were not at all satisfied with the action of the voters who lived at a distance from the turnpike in voting at a former meeting to "pass the article " asking to be allowed to work out a portion of their taxes on the turnpike, and the town was called together again on the same business. This time the true inwardness of their desire is expressed in the wording of their article in the warrant. They asked as before to work out a portion of their taxes on the turnpike " Provided the turnpike gate in said town shall be kept open and free from tole." It was of no use-the voters away from the turnpike sat down on the proposition by "vot- ing to Pass the Article. JOSEPH W. HAMILTON, Moderator."
MEETING, MARCH 2, 1807.
In the records of the west or first parish found elsewhere is the action of the parish upon the petition of Andrew Hyde and others living near the west border of the town who wished to be set off to Amherst as far as pertained to parochial purposes in 1812 ; but Article 7 of this warrant shows that an attempt to be set off
176
HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
from the town, with their farms, had been made by Samuel and Andrew Hyde, who lived in the southwest corner of the town on the farm now (1897) occupied by Hiram Ballou.
The article on which Samnel and Andrew Hyde asked action was : "To see if the town of Pelham will vote to set off Samuel Hyde and Andrew Hyde from Said town and annext them to the Town of Amherst with their lands in Said town of Pelham."
The town voted to pass the article. The meeting was then adjourned to the east parish meeting house on the first Monday in JOHN CONKEY, Moderator. May.
MEETING, MARCH 7, 1808.
It was voted to hold the May meeting at the East parish. Voted that the selectmen be a committee to examine the road from the turnpike to Samuel Arnold's house and report as they think best at the May meeting.
It will be noticed that Marson Eaton, the collector of the West parish for the year 1808, was on record to do the work for nothing and Joseph Akin, the collector for the East parish, was to do the work and pay two cents on each pound for the privilege.
From 1809 to 1815.
Two Candidates for Representative to the General Court, 1809 .- Taxes Upon the People, 1809 .- The Abercrombie Brothers, Isaac and James, Candidates for Representative, 1810 .- The 6th Mass. Turnpike Corporation Tries to Discontinue Their Road Through Town, 1810 .- County Road to Enfield Laid Out, 1811 .- Gov- ernor Petitioned to Restore the Two Military Companies to their. Former Regiments, 1812 .- Fear of a Draft for the War of 1812 .- Wages of Detached Soldiers Raised, 1814 .- The East Parish asks to be Set Off As a Town By Itself, 1815.
The following is a copy of the Pelham tax bills, A. D. 1809 :
"Committed to Jonathan Wood and Marson Eaton Collectors of said Town Containing the following Sums. Viz-State Tax set at 30 cents on poll, 2 cts on the Dollar contains the sum of $225.19
THE JEWETT FARM HOUSE.
J. R. ANDERSON'S HOUSE.
.
I77
TOWN MEETING RECORDS.
School Tax set at 61 cents on the pole and 4 cents on the Dollar Contain,
$454.46
Town Grants and County Tax set at 61 cents on the Poll, and 4 cents on the Dollar Contains
$454.39
Which they are to Pay to the said Treasurers Directed in these Warrants.
Pelham Sept 1809.
JOHN RANKIN JUN Assessors ROBERT CROSSETT of
DAVID CONKEY JUN. Pelham."
EAST PARISH.
Atkins, Joseph
8 81
Hoar, John 8 84
Airs, Beunos
3 72
Hoar, Calvin
I 52
Ballard, Joshua
82 Jennings, Roswell
7 82
Baker, John
2 05
Knight, William
6 44
Berry, Alexander
IO 67
Millen, Levi
2 32
Butler, Daniel
2 12
Millen, Jonathan
II I7
Brigham, Barnabas
8 44
Millen, William
14 27
Brigham, Liscomb
6 62
Miller, John & Rufus
9 44
Clifford, P. Daniel
I 52
Meklam, John
13 94
Crossett, James
4 62
Mills, Brigham
6 25
Conkey, Alexander
3 30
Mills, James
3 92
Conkey, James
I 70
Miller, David & William
5 53
Conkey, William
12 04
Powers. Isaac Doct
32
Conkey, Thomas
8 67
Richardson, Jonathan
9 14
Cooley, Obadiah
5 82
Sears, Roland
5 84
Crossett, Robert
8 72
Sloan, Samuel
7 94
Conkey, Alexander Jun.
3 30
Sloan, David & Gardener
5 42
Felton & Conkey
IO 86
Staples, Elias
5 08
Felton, Nathan
4 75
Sloan, Samuel Jun.
I 52
Gray, Patrick Jun.
I 52
Sloan, Andrew
I 52
Gray, Patrick
3 75
Titus, Sylvester
5 27
Gray, Moses 2ª
2 41
Taylor, Lyman
52
Gray, Daniels heirs
2 00
Vaughn, Thomas
4 27
Green, John
52
Williams, Silas
4 12
Hunter, Wilkins
12 08
Wright, Gad
2 60
Hinds, Nehemiah
24 02
Wheeler, Edward
4 67
Hunt, Alden
52 1
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