USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Pelham > History of Pelham, Mass. : from 1738 to 1898, including the early history of Prescott > Part 22
USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Prescott > History of Pelham, Mass. : from 1738 to 1898, including the early history of Prescott > Part 22
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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 above license seems to indicate that Dick added to the busi- ness of merchant to that of innholder and furnished the common necessities of life for his fellow townsmen.
The location of Landlord Dicks' tavern cannot be determined with certainty. It is claimed that it was a mile west of the center of the town at the fork of the roads, and that the house now owned by William O. Kimball was the site and perhaps a part of the old tavern. But a reference to the plan of the town shows that Thomas Dick's land was all on the east side of the West Branch, as drawn by lot. Thomas Dick purchased a tract of land of Martha Gilmore in 1758-a part of lot No. 6, second division, in range 4,-this was near where some say his tavern was located. Thomas Dick died in 1774. In 1795 a Thomas Dick, probably a son of the original Thomas, transferred lands to Margaret Dick, which he described as " the farm on which I now live-bounded westerly on lands of Thomas Hincks and Benoni Shirtlieff-Northerly on range line- Easterly on the Cross Road-and Southerly on county road and by the Meeting house lot and burying ground." This is a complete description of home lot No. 50, originally drawn by John Fergerson. Possibly Thomas Dick, the original settler, purchased Fergerson's land and kept a tavern there,-and the son Thomas was an inn- holder on the same farm in 1784.
1772, William Conkey, senior, was licensed as innholder. The license being more particular in its terms than that first issue to Thomas Dick, and reads as follows :
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HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
" William Conkey of Pelham is licensed to be an Innholder Retailer and Common Victualer in his dwelling house there for one year next ensuing and the same William now here in court recognizes to ye Lord the King as principal in the sum of ten pounds and Messrs. Curtis Loomis of Southampton and Eli Parker of Amherst .also came here and as sureties for the said William annexed to ye Reconysaizance prescribed for Innholders by act or law of this Province in such cases made and provided entitled an act for the Inspecting and suppressing of Disorders in licensed Houses etc."
1773, William Conkey was a licensed innholder.
During the years from 1774 to 1778, there was an intermission or suspension of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in the county of Hampshire and consequently no records of licenses granted for those "years, if they were granted ; possibly those already licensed was suf- ficient to continue as innholders during those years. Licensed inn- holders for the year 1778 were John Cole, Christopher Patten and Nehemiah Hinds ; and Robert Ormston, John Cole and James Lind- sley received retailers license. 1779, David Sloan, William Conkey, John Cole and Nehemiah Hinds were innholders and Asa Conkey, Andrew Abercrombie, Robert Ormston and Nathan Felton were retailers.
Robert Ormston was a merchant and it is possible that Felton was in the same business, as it was the custom for all country merchants or grocers to keep liquors to sell to their customers and to treat good customers to a drink now and then.
1780. Innholders, David Sloan, William Conkey and Samuel Sampson. Retailers, Andrew Abercrombie and Henry McColloch. 1781. Innholder, John Bruce. Retailers, Alexander Barry and Nathaniel Sampson.
1782. Innholder, Samuel Sampson. Retailer, Nathaniel Samp- son. The Sampsons seemed to have a monopoly that year.
1783. Innholders, Samuel Sampson, William Conkey, John Bruce, Nehemiah Hinds. Retailers, John Conkey, jun., Alexander Barry, Nathan Rankin.
The license of Landlord Bruce reads as follow ; "John Bruce of Pelham is licensed to be an innholder in his house there for the year next ensuing & Samuel Sampson as principal in behalf of said John recognises to the Commonwealth in the sum of fifty pounds with :sureties, viz., William Conkey and John Conkey jun., in the sum of
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MILLS, MANUFACTURIES, ETC.
£25 each to keep good rule and order in his House and duly observe the laws made for the regulation of such houses and also to keep and render the accounts and pay the Duties the law requires."
It will be noticed that Bruce's bondsmen and sureties were in the same business and probably Bruce reciprocated the favor and doubt- less his name could be found as bondsman or surety for some of those holding licenses that year.
1784. Innholders, William Conkey, John Bruce, Nehemiah Hinds, Thomas Dick. Retailers, Alexander Barry, John Conkey, jun., William Ashley.
1785. Innholders, John Bruce, Nehemiah Hinds. Retailers, John Clark, jun., Wm. Ashley, Elihu Billings, Ebenezer Gray.
1786. No record of innholder or retailers this year.
1787. Innholder, Nehemiah Hinds. Retailer, Wm. Ashley.
1788. Innholder, Benoni Shurtleiff. Retailers, Wm. Ashley, John Conkey, Isaac Abercrombie.
1789. Innholder, Nehemiah Hinds. Retailers, Wm. Ashley, John Conkey.
1790. Innholder, Benoni Shurtlieff. Retailers, Wm. Ashley, John Conkey.
1791. Innholders, N. Hinds, John Stickney, Benoni Shurtlieff. Retailers, John Conkey, Nathaniel Sampson.
I792. Innholders, and retailers same as in 1791.
1793. Innholders, Nehemiah Hinds, Benoni Shurtlieff. Retailers, Luke Montague, Jacob Packard, John Thompson, jun., John Stickney. 1794. Innholders, John Stewart Parks, Nehemiah Hinds, John Conkey, Lebbeus Howard. Retailer, Luke Montague. 1795. Innholders, John Conkey, N. Hinds. No retailers recorded. 1796. Innholders, John Conkey, Nehemiah Hinds, John Cole. Retailer, Asaph Lyon.
I797. Innholders, John Cole, Christopher Patten, Nehemiah Hinds. Retailers, Robert Ormston, David Hannum, Asaph Lyon.
1798. Innholders, John Cole, C. Patten, N. Hinds. Retailers, Robert Ormston, John Cole, James Lindsley.
I799. Innholders, John Cole, Nehemiah Hinds. Retailers, Robert Ormston, Nathan Felton.
1800. Innholders, Christopher Patten, Nehemiah Hinds, Harris Hatch. Retailers, Robert Ormston, Nathan Felton.
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HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
1801. Innholders, Harris Hatch, Nehemiah Hinds. Retailers, Robert Ormston, Harris Hatch, Nathan Felton.
1802. Innholders, Nehemiah Hinds, Harris Hatch, John Rich- ardson. Retailers, Nathan Felton, Harris Hatch, John Richardson, John Conkey.
1803. Innholders, Harris Hatch, Joseph W. Hamilton, N. Hinds, Retailers, Robert Ormston, John Conkey, Nathan Felton.
1804. Innholders, Harris Hatch, Joseph W. Hamilton. Retail- ers, Nathan Felton, John Conkey, Robert Ormston.
1805. Innholders, Harris Hatch, Joseph W. Hamilton. Retailers, John Conkey, Nathan Felton.
1806. Innholders, Joseph W. Hamilton, Walter Eaton. Retail- er, Marston Eaton.
1807. Innholders, Walter Eaton, Chelles Keep. Retailers, Marston Eaton, Nathan Titus, Isaac Conkey.
1808. Innholder, Walter Eaton. Retailers, Marston Eaton, Nathan Felton.
1809. Innholder, Walter Eaton. Retailer, Marston Eaton. 1810. Inholders, Nathan Felton. Retailer, Marston Eaton.
ISII. Innholder, Eliphaz Packard. Retailer, Marston Eaton.
1812. No Innkeepers License. Retailers, Marston Eaton Luther Chapin. 1813. No Innkeeper Licensed. Retailers, Marston Eaton, Isaac Conkey. 1814. Innkeepers, William Smith, Amariah Robbins. Retailer, Marston Eaton.
1815. Innkeepers, Nathan Felton, Rebecca Smith. Retailers, Barna Brigham, Marston Eaton.
1816. Innholder, Nathan Felton. Retailers, Stacy Linzee, Barna Brigham, Isaac Abercrombie, Jr., Marston Eaton.
1817. Innholder, Marston Eaton. Retailers, Marston Eaton, Stacy Linzee, Isaac Abercrombie Jr.
1818. Innholder, Nathan Felton. Retailers, Packard & King- man, Isaac Abercrombie, Jr., Stacy Linzee.
1819. Innholder, Stacy Linzee. No Retailers. I820. Innholders, Martin Kingman, Nathan Felton. Retailers, Martin Kingman, Stacy Linzee.
1821. No Innholders. Retailers, Martin Kingman, Stacy Linzee. I822. Innholder, Martin Kingman. Retailer, Martin Kingman.
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MILLS, MANUFACTURIES, ETC.
1823. Innholder. Martin Kingman. Retailers, Martin Kingman, Wells Southworth.
1824, Innkeeper, Martin Kingman. Retailers, Abial B. Smith, Rufus Southworth, Martin Kingman.
1825. Innkeeper, Oliver Bryant. Retailers, Rufus Southworth, Martin Kingman.
1826. Innkeeper. Oliver Bryant. Retailers, Martin Kingman, Rufus Southworth.
1827. Innkeeper, Ralph Kellogg. Retailers, Martin Kingman, Bryant & Kingman.
1828. Innkeeper, Ralph Kellogg. Retailers, Martin Kingman, Lewis L. Draper, Bryant & Kingman. 1829. Innholders, Martin Kingman, Ziba Cook. Retailers, Martin Kingman, Lewis L. Draper.
1830. Innholder, Martin Kingman, Ziba Cook. Retailer, Martin Kingman.
1831. No Innholder licensed. Retailers, Lewis L. Draper, Martin Kingman.
1832. Innholder, Martin Kingman, center of the town, Ziba Cook Southwest part of the town. Retailers, Martin Kingman, Lewis L. Draper, at store in Southwest part of the town.
1833. Innkeeper, Martin Kingman. Retailer, Martin Kingman, at his shop center of the town.
1834. Innkeeper, Martin Kingman, Ziba Cook. No Retailers. 1835. Innholders, Martin Kingman, not Licensed to sell spirits. Ziba Cook, licensed to sell spirits. No retailers.
1836. Innholders, Martin Kingman, not licensed to sell spirits. No retailers.
1837. Innholders, Benjamin Randall, at his house on the county road from Amherst to Enfield, licensed to sell spirits. No retailers.
1838. Innholders, Martin Kingman, licensed to sell wine at his old stand ; Ziba Cook, licensed on application of the selectmen to sell wines, beer, ale, but not distilled spirits.
1839. Nathan Weeks, licensed as a retailer of wines and fer -- mented liquors, at the store formerly occupied by Joel Packard.
1840-41. Innholder, Benjamin Randall.
1842-'43-'44. Innholder, Calvin D. Eaton.
1845. No licensed innholder.
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HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
1846-'47-'48. Innholder, Calvin D. Eaton.
1849. No license granted.
1850. William Newell, licensed an innholder and common victu aller at his dwelling house and at the public house near the mineral springs which he had discovered on his farm. Calvin D. Eaton was also a licensed innholder that year.
No licenses granted from 1851 to 1861. Nor any of record from the last date until 1890, although the Orient house built in 1861, was kept open for summer guests and invalids until 188 1 when it was burned. In 1890, Theodore F. Cook was licensed as a common victualler and opened Hotel Pelham at the center of the town, and has run the house as a hotel since that time to date.
MERCHANTS.
It is probable that Thomas Dick was the first merchant as well as the first tavern keeper, as in addition to his license as tavern keeper in 1763, he was " licensed to sell Tea, Coffee and China Ware out of his house in Pelham. The said Thomas to render the accounts and pay the duties required by the law of this Province."
Robert Ormston was a merchant in the town but at what date he opened business is not easy to determine. He was a licensed retailer of spirits, first in 1778, and as most of the grocers were retailers of spirits it may not be unfair to assume that John Cole and James Lindsley or Linsey and Nathan Felton, who were also licensed retailers for several years, may have been small dealers in groceries and other necessities, having stores in different parts of the town.
Robert Ormston who is known to have been a merchant, continued to appear as a licensed retailer of spirits down to 1804 as did Nathan Felton and John Conkey. Ormston's store was on the West Hill.
Marston Eaton's name appears the year after Ormston's ceases to appear. Eaton was a merchant and Nathan Felton continued to appear as a retailer down to 1810. Felton resided in that part of Pelham now Prescott.
Kingman & Packard were in company for a year or more from 1818 and then Martin Kingman was merchant and retailer at the center of the town. Not a little of his trade is said to have come from Amherst people who came out to Kingman's store for bargains. Kingman continued in the business of merchant and tavern keeper
M. E. BOYNTON'S RESIDENCE.
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TOMBSTONE TO MEMORY OF EDWARD AND ELIZABETH SELFRIDGE.
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MILLS, MANUFACTURIES, ETC.
for some years. He closed his career as innholder in 1838, and probably continued as a merchant well down to that time. He was a capable business man and used to take quantities of wood in exchange for goods, which he marketed at Amherst.
In 1823 the name of Wells Southworth appears as a licensed retailer. His store was a building on the south side of the Com- mon, opposite the old meeting house and stands near, and a little west of Hotel Pelham, and is still owned by the Southworth family. Rufus Southworth was connected with the business for several years, keeping the goods usually sold at country stores in those days. The last license to Rufus Southworth as retailer was issued in 1826.
Wells Southworth sold out his store, also the homestead of the family, and removed to South Hadley Falls in 1828 and engaged in the mercantile business.
A syndicate, consisting of Jared T. Westcott, Cyrus Kingman, Lyman Jenks, Dr. I. H. Taylor, Asa Thompson, Lemuel C. Wedge, Chancellor Wheeler, and perhaps others, built a store east of Martin Kingman's tavern and store, with a shop in the upper story for making shoes about the year 1845, and Chancellor Wheeler con- ducted the business that was done there, the business having been first started in the house of Lyman Jenks, which has since been remodeled into Hotel Pelham. Wheeler died in 1850 and William Conkey, son of Warren Conkey, succeeded Wheeler. Job Miller was the next proprietor of the store, and was followed by Enos S. Rich- ardson. Richardson was the village merchant for a number of years or until 1866 when Myrett E. Boynton purchased Richardson's inter- est and continued as grocer and postmaster in the same building until 1895 when it was burned, and another and better store was built. Mr. Boynton continues to be the only merchant and postmaster in town.
About the year 1828 Lewis L. Draper opened a small store oppo- site where the Methodist church now stands at West Pelham, in a building now used as a barn on the north side of the road just west of the church. Draper was licensed as a retailer of spirits, and the last year his name appears was 1832 when he was licensed " to sell in his store in the southwest part of the town."
Hardin Hemmenway of Shutesbury succeeded Mr. Draper, and after Hemmenway, Elijah Hills, a brother of Leonard M. Hills of
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HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
Amherst, occupied the store and dealt in palm-leaf hats, taking them in exchange for goods.
George L. Shaw, a son-in-law of Ziba Cook, was in business at this stand for a short time and then the store was closed.
William Barrows and Chester Gaskell reopened the store formerly occupied by Lewis L. Draper and others under the firm name of Barrows & Gaskell in 1847 or thereabouts, and put out split palm- leaf among the people of this town and Shutesbury to be braided into palm-leaf hats. They kept groceries and some dry-goods to supply their customers. The firm was not very successful and closed the business after running about a year.
In 1853 or '54 Chester Gaskell went in company with Warren C. Wedge in a building forty or fifty rods west of the Methodist church and now occupied as a dwelling by James Miller. Wedge had opened a shop for manufacturing shoes and kept a small stock of groceries and dry goods. The men both worked at shoes and tried to build up a paying business, but did not succeed as well as they had hoped, and the firm was dissolved after being in business for a short period, Wedge going to Chicopee to meet with better suc- cess in business.
In 1873, James A. Murray and John F. Murray of Boston obtained control of the asbestos lands on Butter Hill, and opened the mine for getting out the asbestos. J. F. Murray opened a grocery store in the building east of the Methodist church, afterwards used by Alfred Tuttle as a carpenter shop, but continued the business only a short time. The Murrays left the asbestos mine and the grocery business in 1874. John sold his goods to Martin D. Gold, who continued in the busi- ness about a year and then closed the store. Edwin J. Powell started in the grocery business in 1882. In 1884 he built a house and store opposite the Methodist church and opened for business as a grocer and butcher. The daily mail having been established between the center of the town and Amherst, a post-office was opened at the store. Mr. Powell was postmaster from March 30, 1887 to Aug. 1, 1893. The business venture not proving sufficiently profitable, Mr. Powell sold his goods to W. J. Harris, July 5, 1893. Harris ran the store about a year and gave up the business, and the post-office was dis- continued in 1893.
.
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MILLS, MANUFACTURIES, ETC.
BUSINESS AT PACKARDVILLE.
About the year 1840, Joel Packard and John Thurston, both Pel- ham men, built a shop at the south part of the town, on the county road from Amherst to Enfield, and started the manufacture of wagons under the firm name of Packard & Thurston, and since that time that hamlet has been known as Packardville. The wagons they built were good, strong, durable vehicles, being equipped with what was known as "thorough braces" instead of steel eliptic springs, which were then unknown. Packard & Thurston were practical workmen at the business themselves and employed a few men besides. The firm finally decided to remove their business to Bel- chertown, and did so, taking down the old shop and removing that as well as the business. The first store in this part of the town was opened by Anson Ramsdell and James Hanks at Packardville near where the roads cross. Ramsdell put in five or six barrels of liquor to sell with other goods. Hanks found that the liquor business was ruining the trade and sold it all out at once to an Enfield tavern keeper. They gave up business and removed to Hardwick.
In the year 1860, James and Warner Hanks of Greenwich came to Packardville and built a store on the site of the wagon shop and fill- ed it with a suitable stock of dry goods and groceries and opened for business. They continued in business nine years and sold their stock of goods to Jared Gould, renting him the store. Gould ran the business for two years, when Elmer Whitney succeeded him. Mr. Whitney was in business for nearly two years when his health failed and he died.
Abraham Stevens was the next merchant at Packardville ; he began business in January, 1873 and continued for nearly two years, when he died. Since then there has been no store at Packardville and the building has been taken down.
Silas S. Shores built a small store at the Hollow and used it for a flour and meal business for a short time previous to 1872, when he rented the store to J. Monroe Packard who put in a stock of groceries and a small line of dry goods. Packard continued the business for a year and a half and then relinquished the venture because of the limited trade. Mr. Shores still owns the building, which has since been converted into a dwelling.
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HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
Dea. Ebenezer Gray was commissioned as Justice of Peace on petition of the people in 1786, and was probably the first one in town up to that time. James Abercrombie, Isaac Abercrombie, John Conkey, Jr., Barna Brigham, Constant Ruggles, Henry Kingman, Oliver Smith, Jr., Ezra Brown, John Rankin, Jr., Cyrus Kingman, John Parmenter, David Abercrombie, Horace Gray, John Jones, A. C. Kieth, John F. Dyer, C. D. Eaton, Minor Gold, and per- haps others have served the town in the capacity of Justice of Peace. Probably Henry Kingman was as notable as any. He came to Pelham from Bridgewater early in this present century, being the first of that name in the town. For many years he was appealed to for professional services. Many important cases were brought before him for trial as his docket or record book gives abundant evidence. Civil and criminal cases were numerous seventy- five years ago. Squire Kingman was a fine penman, and his services were sought for in drawing up transfers of property, such as deeds and mortgages, etc., and also in the settlement of estates. J. W. Keith, Mrs. J. W. Keith and Silas S. Shores are the Justices now under commission in the town.
PHYSICIANS.
Dr. Robert Cutler, the son of Rev. Robert Cutler of Greenwich, was born at Epping, N. H. He began the study of medicine at Hardwick ; began practice in Pelham in 1770; married Widow Esther Guernsey of Northampton, and daughter of Elisha Pomroy, Dec. 22, 1773. He was a physician at Pelham until 1787, when he removed to Amherst. Dr. Cutler was a prominent man in town affairs and served on the school committee. He was not in sympathy with the insurgent element led by Capt. Daniel Shays in 1786-'87 and vigorously opposed the plans of the rebel leader. The Shays men were determined that he should fall into line with them and appointed a night on which he was notified they should call upon him and insist on his accompanying them to Springfield in the capacity of surgeon. The doctor was not at home when they called. Being disappointed in not finding him they demanded food of Mrs. Cutler and she set before them what food there was in the house. When the food was eaten they demanded cider and liquor. Mrs. Cutler placed herself in front of the door leading to the cellar, and
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MILLS, MANUFACTURIES, ETC.
declared that all cider or liquor obtained would be secured by pass- ing over her dead body. The rebels made some threats, broke some dishes but went their way without tasting the Doctor's cider.
Dr. Nehemiah Hinds was a man of affairs as well as a physician and his name appears very often in town and church records from 1780 to 1825.
Dr. Isaac Powers was in town early in this century.
Dr. Henry Williams name is found in connection with his services attending the poor of the town.
Dr. Abiah Southworth was another prominent man as well as physician from 1785 to 1828.
Dr. Olney Potter lived at the west end of the town on the farm now owned by George P. Shaw.
Dr. Albigence King was practicing in town as early as 1817, per- haps earlier ; he also served the town as school committee.
Dr. Daniel Thompson was a native of Pelham and was a practic- ing physician for twelve years before removing to Northampton. He served as school committee.
Dr. Nathaniel Ingraham was a physician in 1839.
Dr. Israel H. Taylor was also a native of the town and was a suc- cessful physician in his native town before removing to Amherst.
Dr. Adam C. Craig was in town a few years.
Dr. Code was in town for a short time.
Dr. Rhodes was connected with the Orient house for several sea- sons, as was Dr. Beers.
Dr. Herman Heed was the proprietor of the Orient Springs House when it was destroyed by fire in 1881. Since his removal from town there has been no resident physician in Pelham.
BLACKSMITHS.
Robert Peibols one of the leading men in the purchase of the tract of land and starting the settlement, was the first blacksmith. Where his shop was located is not known, but the ring of Peibols' anvil was the first heard in the settlement.
Doubtless other blacksmiths came when Peibols laid down his hammer for the last time, but no record tells who they were during the latter part of the eighteenth century. Early in the Nineteenth, Thomas Harlow worked as a blacksmith at the west end of the town near the Methodist church.
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HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
Jonathan Pratt had his forge in the Valley, and David Hannum had a blacksmith shop on the county road at the west end of the town.
Abijah Bruce was a blacksmith in the Hollow for many years and lived on the place now occupied by John Vanstone. His shop was on the opposite side of the highway.
Nathaniel Dodge was a farmer and blacksmith on the main road from the center of the town to Packardville and was succeeded by his son, Ellison Dodge.
Samuel W. Russell and his brother John S. Russell worked at blacksmithing at that part of the town called Packardville.
In more recent years Ansel Hill was the village blacksmith, a short distance west of the center of the town.
At present Justin W. Canterbury works at the business towards the south part of the town, and Charles A. Holcomb towards the south part, but nearer the center than Canterbury.
POPULATION OF PELHAM AND AMHERST COMPARED.
YEARS.
PELHAM.
AMHERST.
YEARS.
PELHAM.
AMHERST
1765
371
1045
1855
789
1776
729
1860
748
3206
1790
1040
1865
737
1800
II44
1352
1870
673
1810
1185
1875
633
1820
1278
1917
1880
614
4298
1830
904
1885
549
1840
956
2550
1890
486
1850
983
1895
486
4785
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.
The First Presbyterian Church History gathered from the town and parish records, the old church records having been lost or destroyed.
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
As all records of the organization of the Scotch Presbyterian church at Pelham are lost or not accessible it is impossible even to fix upon the exact date of its organization. It is well known that the settlers of the town begun to build the meeting house in 1739 and that the first service was held long before it was finished.
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