USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Pelham > History of Pelham, Mass. : from 1738 to 1898, including the early history of Prescott > Part 2
USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Prescott > History of Pelham, Mass. : from 1738 to 1898, including the early history of Prescott > Part 2
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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
The following is a copy of the Memorial, as printed in Parker's History of Londonderry, N. H.
MEMORIAL TO GOV SHUTE
To His Excellency the Right Honorable Collonel Samuel Suitte Governor of New England.
We whose names are Underwritten, inhabitants of ye North of Ireland, Doe in our own names, and in the names of many others of our Neighbors, Gentlemen, Ministers, Farmers and Tradesmen, Commissionate and appoint our trusty and well beloved friend, the Reverend Mr. William Boyd of Macasky, to His Excellency the Right Hororable Collonel Samuel Suitte Governor of New England, and to assure His Excellency of our sincere and hearty inclinations to transport ourselves to that very excellent and renowned Plantation upon our obtaining from his Excellency suitable encouragement. And further to act and Doe in our Names as his Prudence shall direct.
Given under our hands this 26th day of March, Annog. Dom 1718.
The favorable report brought back to Ireland by Mr. Boyd caused the larger part of those who had signed the above Address to Gov. Shute to convert their property into money, and as many as one hundred families embarked for Boston in five ships, where they arrived in safety, August 4, 1718. They were the descendants of Scotchmen who went from Argyleshire in Scotland, in 1612, and settled upon the lands in Ulster county, Ireland, from which the rebellious Catholic subjects of King James had been removed because of their rebellious action.
9
THE FIRST SETTLERS.
It is said that a goodly portion of these people remained in Boston · and with other Scotch people already there, organized the first Pres- byterian church, and Rev. John Moorhead was pastor. Some went to Andover. Sixteen families left in a body, and finally settled at Nutfield-now Londonderry, N. H. Others of them, and probably some of the first settlers of Pelham, went from Boston to Worcester, and settled, but the colony dispersed later, some, as we have said, being in the colony that purchased the tract of 16,662 I-2 acres included in the towns of Pelham and Prescott, of Col. John Stoddard of Northampton.
Others of those who landed in Boston went west and settled in the state of New York. Some families settled in Spencer, some in Stowe, some in Hopkinton, a few passed over into Connecticut. There were fresh arrivals in the years following 1718, and with the pioneer families were among the settlers of Palmer and Colraine, in this state, as well as Pelham, and probably other towns.
Just when the negotiations began for the purchase of the tract of land on which these Scotch Presbyterians settled does not appear, but the closing of the bargain is shown in the Articles of Agreement.
DESCRIPTION OF THE TRACT OF EQUIVALENT LAND PURCHASED BY THE NORTH OF IRELAND SCOTCHMEN IN 1738.
The lands purchased of Col. John Stoddard of Northampton were a portion of a large tract known as the Equivalent lands, which is now included for the most part in the towns of Belchertown, Ware, Pelham, a portion of Prescott and a portion of Enfield. Prescott was a part of Pelham up to 1822, and the part set off from Pelham was equivalent land, but territory not of the' equivalent lands has been added on the north.
The designation " Equivalent lands" was adopted and applied at the time the state of Massachusetts made a grant of the tract above- mentioned to the state of Connecticut as an equivalent for the towns of Woodstock, Somers, Enfield and Suffield in the last named state, which, through some blunder or error in surveying, were supposed to be within the boundaries of the state of Massachusetts for many years. After it became certain that the south line of Massachusetts was not far enough south to include these four towns within its limits and that the towns were in the state of Connecticut, the state of Massachusetts instead of acknowledging the error and giving up
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IO
HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
control over these towns, still claimed and exercised jurisdiction over them. As an offset to this absurd claim, and instead of giving up the claim, the state of Massachusetts offered to give the state of Connecticut a tract of wild land equal in extent to that of the four towns named, as an equivalent. After sixty-five years of controversy 107,793 acres were granted and accepted by the state of Connecticut in full satisfaction of the absurd claim. The state of Connecticut held the legal title to the tract of equivalent lands, but it was always under the jurisdiction of Massachusetts.
As early as 1716 Connecticut began selling the Equivalent Lands, and the whole tract brought but £683, or about one farthing per acre. A company formed in Boston, of which Hon. Jonathan Belcher, a former governor of the state, was a member, purchased a large portion of the tract. Men in Northampton also purchased, Rev. Jonathan Edwards being an owner of equivalent lands at one time. All the money from the sales went into the funds of Yale College.
Probably there were no land syndicates in those early days of the modern pattern, booming settlements on these wild lands, but the price per acre (one farthing) which Connecticut realized for her Equivalent Lands, and the price paid Col. Stoddard, per acre, by the North of Ireland Scotchmen (2 1-3 pound new tenor) indicates that there were thrifty land speculators in those days, looking for cus- tomers upon whom they could unload at an advance. After a time the people living in the four Connecticut towns threw off the control Massachusetts had exercised, preferring the jurisdiction of the state they resided in to that of Massachusetts.
The negotiations of Robert Peibols, blacksmith, and James Thornton, yoeman, and both of Worcester, was for a tract of land about three and one-half miles wide and seven and three-quarters miles in length,-the several range lines running due east and west, and contained 16,662 1-2 acres. Its west line was the east line of Hadley (now Amherst). The tract consists mainly of two high ridges of land running north and south across the tract and the Great Hollow lying between. In this hollow, with its abrupt sides, the west branch of Swift river runs south, and combining with the east branch below Enfield, forms a sizable stream for manufacturing purposes.
From the east line of Amherst to the top of Pelham West Hill it is a little more than six miles, and in that distance there is a rise of
THE FIRST SETTLERS.
about nine hundred feet. The old meeting house is not quite 1200 feet above tide water, but Mount Lincoln and another elevation a little south of the center is quite 1200 feet above tide, while Amherst center is but 300 feet above tide level. From the West Hill east to the Hollow, the descent is abrupt and continues for about two miles. When the West Branch is crossed; then for about two miles, the up grade is sharper if anything than the descent from the west. When the summit of East Hill is reached, straight west over the Hollow and at about the same level, is the West Hill in full view. The descent to the east from the East Hill begins at once and ends on the plains of Greenwich, through which flows the waters that make the east branch of Swift river. These two ridges are by no means smooth and rounded, but are broken into ravines along either slope, down which flow the sparkling rivulets on their way to the lower ground. On the westward side of the West Hill is a deep depression, known as the Valley, which leads out towards Amherst.
Judge Ithamar Conkey, in his centennial address at Pelham, Jan- uary 15, 1843, spoke of this tract as follows :
"This town and the adjacent territory, previous to their being settled, were distinguished as being excellent hunting grounds-they abounded with deer and other valuable game, and much damage was undoubtedly done to the lands by those persons who resorted here for that purpose. It was a practice among the hunters, in those days, to set a line of fires, encircling a large plot of ground, which, burning in every direction, would gradually encompass the game in a narrow circle and so it would become an easy prey to its pursuers. Thus in process of time the native forests, which were extensive and valuable, and which covered the lands with a dense foliage were nearly destroyed, and much of the vegetable substance which usually collects in a forest were consumed, thereby rendering the lands less productive and much less valuable.
This practice was continued many years, and the fires were known to burn in some parts of the territory, especially in the low marshy places, for several months together. But the lands which had been thus burned over were soon covered with a species of wild grass- growing rapidly and luxuriantly-thus giving it the appearance of an extensive rolling prairie, and affording very excellent pasturage for cattle. For many years great numbers of cattle and horses were sent out from the towns on the Connecticut river to graze on these hills
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12
HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
during the summer season, and to make the pasturage sweeter and facilitate its growth, the practice of burning over the lands was con- tinued a considerable time after the first settlement of the place, and in fact until the inhabitants of the town chose a committee to prose- cute the offenders and thus save their lands from further destruction."
Of the wisdom of the settlers in selecting this tract, Judge Conkey says: "Could we be transported back to those days and view this land as it was thus situated, see the natural make and construction of the soil,-the beautiful streams of water which flow through it, the granite formations and the easy and natural facilities for improve- ment, when compared with some of the adjoining territories, we should be convinced of the wisdom and good judgment manifested in the selection. No spot of, ground east of Hadley and west of the then existing settlements in Worcester county could be found more favorable to successful agricultural improvement."
The condition of the soil, at the time of the purchase, despite the frequent burnings was doubtless more fertile than at present, a fact that applies to most hill-town tracts, and the east hill was better than the west for agricultural purposes, not being as stony and rough as the west hill. Rye, oats, corn and other grains were raised, as well as flax. The forest growth is remarkable in regard to quick- ness with which newly cleared land will clothe itself again, and this fact has been the reason why the people for the last fifty years have been able to furnish lumber, railroad ties, and wood to neighboring towns, in large quantities; in fact, relying upon this method, and the furnishing of stone for building purposes, for income rather than upon the raising of agricultural crops for the market. Potatoes of the finest quality are produced, and have always been considered better than those raised along the Connecticut Valley .*
From the common on the west hill near the old meeting house there is a fine view of the Connecticut valley, and to the north-west Greylock, the highest land in the state can be seen, and also the
* The potato is said to have been raised in Pelham as early as 1740, or ten years before the people of Amherst and Northampton raised them. The potato was regarded as a curiosity rather than for use as food at that time, and was coarse giained and rank in taste. It is said Josiah Pierce of Hadley raised eight bushels in 1763, to the great wonder and aston- ishment of his neighbors who wondered what he could do with them. The potato was regarded by some as a sort of forbidden fruit, and a hill or two was planted in gardens as a curiosity. It is said that Rev. Jonathan Hubbard of Sheffield came near being handled by the church for raising twenty bushels in one year, it being thought a matter of sufficient importance for the church to take action upon as a moral question.
13
THE FIRST SETTLERS.
Green Mountains of southern Vermont. Almost due east, Wachuset, the next highest mountain in the state, is visible, and looking north- eastward, across the hill-top village of New Salem, Monadnock looms up across the state line in New Hampshire. The air upon these two hilltops is pure and healthful, and the Great Hollow between is not swampy or malarious, the soil being light and sandy and more easily cultivated than in portions more rough and stony along the slopes.
BOOK NO I This Book belongs To the Proprietors of ye Northerly Half of a Tract of Equivalent land Lying on ye East of Hadley &ct & is Libo A JOHN CHANDLER JUN Proprietors Clerk
Lisburn So Called.
WORCESTER SS-WORCESTER FEB 26 1738-9.
John Chandler Jun Esq being chosen clerk of the Proprietors of a tract of land lying in the county of Hampshire East of and adjoining to Hadley which James Thornton Robert Peibols and others purchased of John Stod- dard Esq was sworn to a faithful discharge of his office the day and year above said by me
WILLIAM JENISON
Justice of the Peace
Entered from Original by JOHN CHANDLER JUN Proprietors Clerk.
Articles of Agreement Indented and made ye twentyeth day of October seventeen hundred and thirty eight Between Robert Peibols of Worcester in the county of Worcester and Province of Massachusetts Bay in New Eng- land, Blacksmith, on the one part and James Thornton of Worcester afore- said yeoman on the other part witnesseth, That Whereas on the 26 day of September last past the said Robert Peibols and James Thornton have Jointly covenanted and contracted with Honorable John Stoddard of North Hampton in ye County of Hampshire Esq for one fourth part of that tract of Equivolent Lands Lying Easterly of Hadley ( Except eight hundred acres ) which he bought of the Executors of Dame Mary Saltonstall Late of Boston D'sd which land was Laid out by Matthew Allen Roger Wolcott and Ebenezer Pomroy Esqr for Twenty nine Thousand Eight hundred & seventy
14
HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
four Acres, And also for one Eighth part of said Tract of Land which said John Stoddard purchased of Capt Roswell Sallonstall of Brandford in the county of New Haven and also for an Eighth part more of said tract of land which fell to or belonged to said Stoddard by Division, making the whole ye one Half of said Tract of Land Excepting Eight hundred part of ye fourth part which ye said Stoddard Purchased of the Executors of Dame Mary Saltonstall as aforesaid.
And Whereas they have covenanted to pay for the Same as follows Viz : Fifteen hundred pounds within Twelve months from the 26th day of Sep- tember as Aforesaid & Three Thousand pounds more in Eighteen Months from said Date, and both sums to sd Stoddard, and Also the Sum of Nine hundred pounds to Josiah Willard of Boston Esq and the other Executors of Said Dame Mary Saltonstall' aforesaid Deceased on or before the 30th day of June 1739, and the further sum of Nine hundred Pounds more to said Executors on or before the Thirtieth Day of June 1740 Together with Law- ful Interest from the 30th day of June last Past and also the sum of Five hundred to ye Aforesaid Roswell Saltonstall at or before the Seventh Day of September next Ensuing, and the Further sum of Five Hundred pounds on or before ye Seventh day of September which will be in the Year of our Lord 1740, Together with Lawful Interest Therefor from the Seventh of September last Past, All said sums of Money amounting unto the Sum of Seven Thousand and three hundred pounds and are to be paid in Bills of Credit of ye Old Tenor & for which the said Robert Peibols and James Thornton are within six months from the Said Twenty sixth day of Septem- ber last past to procure and Deliver him said Stoddard Good and Sufficient Bonds Executed by Persons of Sufficient Estate & such persons whose Bonds shall be to said Stoddards Acceptance of a certain Instrument of that well Executed and called an Indenture under the Hands and Seals of said John Stoddard Robert Peibols and James Thornton will fully and at large appear Reference thereto being had.
And Whereas the Said Robert Peibols & James Thornton being fully determined to Bring forward the Settlement of Said Lands by Settling fourty Families thereon in the Space of three years from Date hereof Viz Each of them Twenty familys. And in order to proceed therein with the more despatch as well as the better to enable them Raise the money for which they are Joyntly to pay for the Purchase as aforesaid and for the building and Erecting a Meeting House for the Publick Worship of God and Settling a Minister and laying out of suitable and convenient Highways and for Making all needful Bridges causways and Roads in said Settlement they do by these Presents Each one for Himself and for his Heirs executors and Administrators Absolutely covenant and engage to ye other in ye Way and Manner following. That is to say. Imprimis, the said Robert Peibols for Himself and for his Heirs executors and adms engages to present proper security in the time and Manner Aforesaid to said Stoddards Acceptance for the one half of all ye aforesaid sums of Money. And the said James Thornton for himself and for his heirs Executors and Administrators
15
THE FIRST SETTLERS.
engaged to procure proper Security in ye time and Manner aforesaid to Said' Stoddards Acceptance for one half of all the aforesaid sums of Money.
Secondly-That they will forthwith or with as Much speed as conveniently they can, have said land Measured and Bounded and then proceed to lay out Sixty one Lots of One Hundred Acres Each so as best to Accommodate them for Settlements, in the doing of which they will lay out Needful and convenient Roads and ways all which Lotts shall draw an equal proportion in all after Divisions till the whole of said Land shall be laid out.
Thirdly, that one of said Lots shall Immediately be Sequestered and Sett Apart for ye settled Ordained Minister in said Plantations with all future drafts and the Same is hereby Ratified to him his heirs and assigns forever, and to be laid as convendable as the same may be and they Oblige them- selves to Ratify and Confirm ye same to ye Person who shall be first settled and Ordained as Aforesaid for the Incouragement of those persons they shall admit as Partners or Settlers with them.
Fourthly, that as soon as ye said Ministers Lot shall be sett off that then the said Robert Peibols shall have the Liberty of Choosing Two lots In that he sees cause without Draft and when he has so done then the said James Thornton shall have Liberty to choose two lots as he sees cause without Draft. That the remaining lots shall be numbered and drawn for by said Partys or those they shall admit as partners or Settlers with them-so that each party shall have with those who held under them Thirty Lots.
Fifthly, That the charges arising in said Plantation by the surveying and bounding of ye whole of said tract and Laying out the lots as aforesaid and the After Divisions, all needful ways and Roads and Making Bridges and Causways and the settling of a Minister and building and finishing a Meeting House and all unforeseen Charges for ye proposing and com- pleating what is aforementioned shall be borne by the Persons owning the said Lotts Viz-One Lott to pay one sixtieth part and so proportionately for what each party shall own.
Sixthly, The said Robert Peibols engages for himself and for his heirs executors and Administratsrs To have with himself Twenty familys of Good Conversation Settled on the Premises who shall be such as were Inhabitants of the Kingdom of Ireland or their Decendants being Protestants and none be admitted but such as bring good and undeniable Credentials or certifi- cates of their being Persons of good conversation and of the Presbyterian Persuasion as used in the Church of Scotland and Conform to the Discipline thereof unless they shall otherwise agree hereafter, said families to be actually settled on the premises in three years from the date hereof Each to have a House of at least Eighteen feet Square and Seven feet studd well Inclosed and made Habitable and upon one of said hundred Acre lots, and have three acres part thereof improved by Plowing and Mowing and the said James Thornton engages for himself for his heirs executors and adms to have with himself Twenty families settled on the Premises in the time and way and Manner and in all regards as discribed as aforesaid nothing excepted or Rejected and who shall each one perform as to laboring and
16
HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
Improving as aforesaid Viz as is to be done on the part of said Robert Peibols.
Seventhly, That each party have liberty in his own name and right to dispose of his share and Interest in the premises as he sees cause to Inable him fully to comply with what they respectively have engaged to do as herein already stated.
Eightly-That in the first and all future Divisions all Persons who shall be admitted as Partners or Settlers shall have a vote in propartion to his Right in all Meetings Hereafter to be called unless Debarred by some Previous contract.
Ninthly-They Each one engage for themselves and all those who shall hold under them that none of them shall take any cattle to Feed in ye woods in ye bounds and Limits of the aforesaid Settlement in the Sumor season but what are their own property unless ye settlers hereafter shall agree to ye same and, Finally, that they will with convenient speed procure a Legall Meeting of ye Proprietors of said Lands as soon as they have heard of all or part of their settlers, and in the proprietors book entered the foregoing articles of Agreement as ye foundation of their Settlement and future Intending. Hereby Covenanting for themselves and for their several and Representative Heirs executors administrators and assigns that they will proceed agreeable to what is above written on the Forfeiture of Five Hun- dred pounds by him who shall Fail to be paid to the other besides Treble Damages.
In Witness whereof the Party to thees Presents have hereunto affixed their Hands and Seals the day and year aforesaid.
It is agreed Notwithstanding aforemention that Peibols shall choose one of his two Lots then Thornton one, Then Peibols his Second Then Thornton his Second.
ROBERT PEIBOLS (Seal)
JAMES THORNTON (Seal)
Signed Sealed and Delivered
in presence of us
MATHEW GRAY JUN JOHN CHANLDER JUN
WORCESTER SS -- WORCESTER OCTOBER 26, 1738
Robert Peibols and James Thornton The Subscribers personally appearing and respectively Acknowledged the foregoing Instrument containing Seven Pages to be their act and deed before Me
JOHN CHANDLER JUN Im-Pa
Entered from the Original by
JOHN CHANDLER JUN Clerk.
DEED FROM COL. STODDARD.
To all people to whom these presents shall come. Greeting
Know ye that John Stoddard of North-Hampton in ye County of Hamp- . shire in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, for and in
I7
THE FIRST SETTLERS.
Consideration of the Sum of Seven Thousand three Hundred Pounds in bills; of Public Credit of ye Old Tenor in hand already Received of the Persons hereafter named the Receipt whereof he doth hereby Acknowledge and himself thereby fully satisfied and contented, hath given granted, bargained and sold, And by these presents doth fully freely Clearly and Absolutely Give grant, Bargain sell Release convey and confirm unto them their heirs . and Assigns forever one half (excepting Eight Hundred acres) of that tract of equivolent land Lying and being in ye County of Hampshire bounded Westerly on Hadley, Southwardly on another Tract of Equivolent land Commonly called Cold Spring Township, Eastwardly on land called Quabbin North on land now called Wells Town, Which Tract of land was laid out by Mathew Allen, Roger Woolcott, and Ebenezer Pomroy Esq's for Twenty nine Thousand Eight Hundred and Seventy four acres, A More particular Discription of which land does appear by Abar (Cohun) entered in ye Secre- taries office in Boston, which half part ( Excepting Eight Hundred acres as aforesaid) by a Division lately Made by the owners or proprietors of said Equivolent Land is laid seperatly and contained in ye first lott and does con- tain ye whole of said lott (excepting thirty eight acres two Roods and thirty three perches which belongs to Mr. Elisha Williams (Doct) of Yale College,. which lott Lyeth on the north part of said Equivolent Land and from said line Extends South one Thousand and Eleven Rods and Eleven feet to . Monuments Raised at Each End and does Extend from Hadley bounds on the west to the East Bounds of said Equivolent land, A more particular description of which lot may be seen in ye Deed of Partition bearing date ye seventh day of September 1738, which said half (excepting as aforesaid ). the said John Stoddard doth hereby sell and confirm as aforesaid, to the following persons and in ye following proportion (viz) To Robert Peibols five sixtieth parts; To Patrick Peibols one sixtieth part; To Robert Loth- eridge two sixtieth parts, to William Gray Jun one sixtieth part, To John McConkey, one sixtieth part, To Alexander McConkey one sixtieth part, To Alexander Turner one sixtieth part, to John Stinson one sixtieth part, to James Hood one sixtieth part, To Adam Johnson two sixtieth parts, To Ephraim Cowan one sixtieth part, To George Cowan one sixtieth part, To Samuel Gray two sixtieth parts, To John Gray Jun three sixtieth parts, To Thomas Dick one sixtieth part, To John Dick one sixtieth part, To John Alexander one sixtieth part, To James Allexander one sixtieth part, To. James McAllach one sixtieth part, To Samuel Thomas one sixtieth part, To James Taylor two sixtieth parts, (All the above named persons are of Wor -. cester In the County of Worcester, except George Cowan who is of Concord in the Couuty of Middlesex) To John Fergerson of Grafton one sixtieth part, To James Gilmore of Boston two sixtieth parts, To Abraham Patterson of Liecester in ye County of Worcester one sixtieth part, To Thomas Low -. den of Leicester one sixtieth part, To John Chandler of Worcester one sixtieth part, To John Johnson of Shrewsbury one sixtieth part, To Adam Clark of Worcester one sixtieth part, To James Thornton of: Worcester- fourteen sixtieth parts.
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