USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Pelham > History of Pelham, Mass. : from 1738 to 1898, including the early history of Prescott > Part 43
USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Prescott > History of Pelham, Mass. : from 1738 to 1898, including the early history of Prescott > Part 43
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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 QUAKER BURYING GROUND.
At one time during the early part of this century there was a small body of Quakers or Friends in town, led by Uncle Eseck Cook, whose kindly thee and thou the writer remembers, and their "meeting house " was about half a mile east of the West Pelham Methodist church. Here the little band used to gather on Sunday and await in silence for the spirit to move. Out on the plain west of the meeting house, which is now used as a barn, the " Friends" were buried as
476
HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
one after another they finished their earthly course. The space set apart was not large nor was it ever enclosed by fence or wall. Thirty or forty perhaps were buried here but no marble headstones inform the visitor who they were or when they shuffled the mortal coil. Some of the graves show like low swelling mounds of grassy turf with ordinary stones gathered from the field at the head and feet. Many tenants have occupied the small farm but the plow has never invaded the little burial place upon the plain. No name-inscribed stones are seen, no dates, nothing to indicate who the dead are who lie here, and possibly no person living can identify a single grave or tell whose remains lie beneath one of the slightly raised mounds covered with green sward of June. Once 'tis said an inscribed stone was set up on this spot to mark the grave of Dr. Gulley Potter, a young med- cal student, who was a son of Dr. Olney Potter, whose parents were Quakers. This act of sacrilege was not looked upon with favor by the Quaker brethren and it is said the stone was twice removed after being erected, as a gentle hint that it was not wanted. As the stone was contributed by fellow students at the medical school, and Dr. Olney Potter wished to have it stand above his son's grave, he was obliged to disinter the remains and bury them elsewhere.
THE ARNOLD BURYING GROUND.
Thirty or forty rods north of the little Quaker burial place, on a sandy hill slope is the burial place opened by the father of S. F. Arnold. The pines are thick on the north and west sides, and a wall of stone incloses the whole. Here rests the families of Arnolds, Stephen and Leonard Ballou, Pliny Hannum, the Cundals, Lovetts, Braileys, Croziers, Jillsons, etc. Here we find the grave of Dr. Gulley Potter, referred to above, and find that he died June 20, 1821, aged 26. Beneath the inscription is the following terse declaration of fact, "Life, how short, Eternity, how long !" The most costly stone here is that erected in memory of Col. Chas. C. C. Mower, who died of cholera in New York in 1849.
THE JOHNSON FAMILY BURIAL PLACE.
High up on the west slope of Mt. Lincoln and within half a mile of the summit George Johnson, a protestant Irishman from Dundalk, Ireland, settled in the year 1837. Here he lived and brought up his family of girls. One married John Gardner and a child by this mar-
TOMB IN THE SMITH PRIVATE CEMETERY.
1
THE ARBA RANDALL FARM HOUSE.
477
OLD BURIAL PLACES.
riage sickened and died of what was thought to be small-pox. Con- sequently burial was refused in the public burial places and Mr. Johnson buried his grandchild upon a plot of land near his home. A few square rods of land is walled in and fifteen or twenty burials of his family and relatives have been made within the little enclosure. George Johnson the ancestor of the family was buried in 1853 and among the graves are those of two soldier sons-in-law, Lieut. George Johnson of the 25th Mass. and Patrick Bailey of the 27th Mass. and each Memorial Day flags are planted above them which float in the wind until worn out by the blasts that career about Mt. Lincoln.
THE SMITH PRIVATE BURIAL GROUND.
In 1843 or thereabouts James Smith, Daniel Holbrook and Arba Randall set apart a small tract of land upon the farm of the last named and it has been used since for the burial of the members of these families and their friends and neighbors until there are quite a cluster of graves. The yard is pleasantly situated a little to the right of the county road leading to Enfield and a mile and a half from the Methodist church. More has been expended here in beau- tifying the spot and in erecting costly monuments than in any private burial place in town. A heavy bank wall surmounted by an iron rail surrounds the grounds and a weeping willow waves near the tomb at the northeast corner. James Smith and his wife, Betsey Otis Smith, together with their daughters and daughter's husbands or some of them are buried here. There are Randalls and Browns and Chapmans and Lymans and Smiths, all more or less related to the original founders of the grounds. Robert Brown a soldier of the Revolutionary war is buried here; he died in 1849 at the age of 84, and his son, Martin V. B. Brown, who recently died in Hadley, was the youngest son of a revolutionary soldier in this state if not in the whole country, he being but 55 years of age. James Smith and Bet- sey Otis Smith his wife, the father and mother of Sidney Dillon's wife, the great railroad builder and millionaire, president of the Union Paci- fic railroad, recently deceased at New York, are resting here near their: old home farm on the hilltop beyond.
BURIAL GROUND NEAR GEORGE KNIGHT'S.
A mile or more along the same county road towards Packardville is another burial ground close by the roadside and not far from the reservoir at the head of Springfield's water supply. It is well cared.
32
478
HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
for except now and then a plot that shows the lack of loving friends. Three tall spruce trees stand near together within the enclosure, otherwise there are few trees or other attractive features. Here we find the names of Browns, Wards, Pratts and Westons and in the southeast corner of the grounds we found the grave of Rev. William K. Vaille, for some years pastor of the Union church at Packard- ville and the Congregational church at Pelham center. The most unique inscription of all is found upon a white marble slab not far from the road side fence, which reads as follows :
Warren Gibbs, Died by arsenic poison March 23, 1860 Aged 36 years 5 months and 23 days.
Think my friends when this you see How my wife hath dealt by me She in some oysters did prepare Some poison for my lot and share Then of the same I did partake And nature yielded to its fate Before she my wife became Mary Felton was her name. Erected by his brother Wm Gibbs.
No punctuation marks seem to have been used in the above charge of crime where it was possible to get along without, and the marble worker doubtless followed copy.
PACKARDVILLE BURYING GROUND.
Close by the Union church, where the ground begins to slope to the north is a small number of graves, ten or a dozen in all : quite a number of the stones bearing the name of Hanks, and there is a monument to the memory of the wife of Levi W. Gold. That so few are buried here, is accounted for by the fact that a larger and older burial ground is not far away just over the town line in Enfield which has been used, and is still by both towns.
THE VALLEY CEMETERY
is very pleasantly located in what is known as the Valley district of West Pelham, it is on a sandy hillock above the highway and is one of the later and better cared for of all the burial places visited. It was opened for burials in 1848 and the first person buried here was a Mrs. Wylie, a sister of Asahel Gates, whose farm is not far away. Among the well cared for lots are those of John B. Ward, a citizen of Amherst, Joseph G. Ward, Asahel Gates, Levi B. Hall, and Rufus
479
OLD BURIAL PLACES.
Grout. Thomas Buffum and many of his family are lying here. Horace Gray, a former resident of the town, now of Northampton, and a descendant of the Grays that lie in the West burying ground, above described, has a fine monument erected here. Here we read the names and ages of three wives of a well known man now living, who died at 20, 22 and 26 years of age. A monument bears the date of birth and death of four wives of a man now living happily with his fifth wife: the dates of their deaths are as follows, 1855, 1871, 1882 and 1889. The space set apart is nearly all plotted and the lots taken, but more equally high and dry land surrounds it, and is available when needed.
THE WEST PELHAM BURYING GROUND
is located on the county road not far from the Orient grounds, so called, and was laid out about the year 1830, William Harkness being the first person interred in it. Here lie ten or twelve of the same name, once so common. The father, mother, brothers and sisters of Dr. H. W. Harkness of San Francisco are among them. There are other well known names of men prominent in town affairs fifty years ago, among the fifty to seventy-five persons who are buried in this quiet resting place.
In these burial places of the town there are resting many more people than are living in the town now, and many more than were ever living in it at any period since the town was settled. Other causes besides death have been instrumental in removing people from the old town until by the last census there are but 486 inhab- itants, where more than double that number dwelt in more prosper- ous days. The young and active have been going out from the old farm houses where they were born to seek success in the far away cities or at business centers not so remote, until the abandoned farms and the cellars of deserted homes are quite common. Of the living who went forth to battle with the world for success, there is a note- worthy record. Of those who lived here until their life work was finished and whose remains were deposited in one or another of these hillside burial places we may truthfully say :
" In these villages on the hill,
Never is sound of smithy or mill :
The houses are thatched with grass and flowers
Never a clock to toll the hours ;
The marble doors are always shut,
You cannot enter hall or hut ;
S
1
480
HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
All the villagers lie asleep : Never again to sow or reap ; Never in dreams to moan or sigh, But silent and idle and cold they lie."
THE CEMETERY ON THE PRESCOTT SIDE OF EAST HOLLOW.
Having described ten separate burial places in the present town of Pelham it is necessary to include at least one that was in Pelham before Prescott was set off as a town and where many of the people whose names appear quite often among the active men of the town on the records of town and church, are now resting after life's fitful fever. This cemetery was probably opened as a burial place some- time previous to 1780 and is situated on a sandy bluff perhaps 150 feet above and overlooking the west branch of Swift river, whose waters are spread over the low ground by the dam near the bridge until it has the appearance of a small lake or inland pond, making a pretty view looking westward from the northwestern portion of the enclosure. To the east, the great ridge on which Prescott center is located, looms up, seemingly covered by a thick forest growth. Toward the northeast and less than half a mile away is the site of the old Conkey tavern. Near the northwestern corner of the ceme- tery, William Conkey, the first landlord of the tavern lies at rest. He died Nov. 5, 1788, aged 70, and his wife, Rebeckah Hamilton, is not far away ; she died in 1811, aged 84. William Conkey, the second landlord of the tavern, died Jan. 8, 1841, in his 90th year. The moral lesson engraved upon his stone is as follows :
" 'Tis but a few whose days amount To three score years and ten ; And all beyond that short account, Is sorrow toil and pain."
The second William was known to everybody during life as " Uncle Billy." Mrs. Mary Maklem Conkey, wife of the second William, died Sept. 13, 1819, in her 66th year. Mr. John Conkey died in 1784 at 76. John Conkey, Esq., died April 15, 1824, aged 77. His wife, Margaret Abercrombie, died Feb. 1, 1800, aged 53. David Conkey died in 1828, aged 80, and his wife, Patty, in 1840, aged 74. Another David Conkey died in 1861, aged 85. The wife of the latter died in 1819, aged 73. There are many other Conkeys, both old and young, resting here, and among them Ansel and Robert, sons of Uncle Billy.
James Peebles finished his work Mar. 6, 1787 at 48. Another stone informs us by its sculptured story that " Mrs. Rachel Hyde
481
OLD BURIAL PLACES.
successively the wife of James Peebles and Dea. Samuel Hyde died June 25, 1795." Capt. Isaac Gray, the revolutionary soldier, died in September, 1786, in his 57th year. Dea. Daniel Gray, a leading agitator during the Shays' rebellion, died in December, 1803, at 77. James Abercrombie died in 1836 at 82 years of age. Margery, his wife, died in 1832, aged 75. James Abercrombie, Jr., died in 1859, aged 69. David Abercrombie died in 1851, aged 55. The McMul- lens-Millens-Mellens, are here ; twenty or more graves with this well known surname, but spelled in different ways according to usage at the time they lived. Dr. Nehemiah Hinds, the active physi- cian and man of affairs, lies here ; he died July 11, 1825, aged 79. On the stone at the head of his grave is the following inscription :
" This friend lamented is not dead, But gone the path we all must tread : He, only to that distant shore Where all must go, has gone before,"
Anna, relict of Dr. Hinds, died in 1835, aged 81. Nehemiah Hinds, Jr., Lazetta, a daughter, and John Hinds, the latter dying at 47 in 1826, are also lying here. Barna Brigham, Esq., son-in-law of Dr. Hinds, is also near by. He died in 1834, aged 49 years.
The plot containing the remains of the Chapins is surrounded by an iron fence of elaborate pattern. Within this enclosure lie the descendants of Luthur Chapin, a prominent citizen in his time. His son Alanson had several wives and on the stone marking the grave of Almira Harrington, first wife of Alanson, is the following inscrip- tion :
Died Jan. 16, 1824, aged 24 years. " Affliction sore long time I bore, Physicians were in vain ; Till God was pleased to give me ease, And free me from my pain."
There are also Cowans, and Smiths and Berrys beside other well known families, who lived and labored actively in the years that are gone, for the best interests of the church and the town, who having finished their labors have been brought here for their long rest. This cemetery is in use now by people in Pelham as well as Prescott. It has been well cared for generally and has an iron fence along the roadside front. The oldest stones are moss grown and worn by storms, and the finger of time has nearly obliterated many names and dates.
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1 r
Taverns and Landlords.
THE TAVERN OF THOMAS DICK.
Thomas Dick was the first taverner and landlord, and he opened by license in 1749. He continued in the business until 1770 or thereabouts. Further notice of Landlord Dick and his tavern will be found on page 249.
THE OLD CONKEY TAVERN.
No man driving along the dusty highway leading past the site of the old Conkey tavern in the lonely valley of the west branch of Swift river, would ever suspect that in the old tavern, sitting beside the wide open fire-places, the hardy yeomanry of this section gathered to mutter of grievances, and later to sally forth in armed rebellion against the constituted authorities, and government of Massachusetts. But so it was.
It was the ideal spot to gather together the discontented and debt burdened country people from far and near, to rehearse their griev- ances with each other, and to devise ways and means for relief. There were no telegraph lines, no telephones; no reporters lurking about to hear what was said, and learn of their plans, for there were no morning papers that could be reached in which to publish excit- ing accounts of rebellious gatherings in the old Conkey tavern, and probably no mail that came oftener than once a fortnight. However loudly they threatened there was no danger of their doings being spread before the public the next morning. They were as safe and secure from interruption as it was possible to be anywhere within the state. The East hill was high and steep, and across the west branch of Swift river rose the companion ridge known as Pelham West hill. Look in whatever direction one chooses as he stands on the site of this old tavern to-day, not a building or habitation can be seen, and so it must have been in 1786-7 when these excited and determined men plotted rebellion, and from the old tavern sallied forth under arms to encounter disaster and defeat.
The tavern was built by William Conkey in 1758. The upright part was two stories in height but low studded and contained but two rooms on the ground floor, and the same number above on
OLD CONKEY TAVERN SIGN, (Front and Back.)
THE OLD CONKEY TAVERN.
483
TAVERNS AND LANDLORDS.
the second story. The rooms were all roughly sheathed, no plaster- ing anywhere. The tavern faced the south and the east room was the dining room and the west room was the all important bar-room ; between the two rose the great stone chimney, ten feet or more square at the base. There were large open fire-places in the dining and bar rooms. Across the north side of the upright part a leanto was built for the long ample kitchen with a pantry at each end. In the middle of the south side of the kitchen was the great fire-place where the long back log was rolled to its position to receive the assaults of blazing brands thrust underneath, and piled upon the forestick and backlog. At the right of the great fire-place was a door that led from the kitchen to the bar-room, where the bar with its array of bottles and decanters was set up across the southwest corner. On the left of the great kitchen fire-place was the door leading to the dining room. On the wide stone lintel over the great fire-place in the kitchen was this inscription " William Conkey, June ye 2 1 A. D. 1776." Another stone lintel inscribed " William Conkey," but having no date, was over the fire-place in the bar-room.
The date was cut in the stone to mark the year that changes and improvements were made at the tavern. Silas S. Shores of Pelham has these lintels in use as thresholds in the basement of his house. The front door opened into a narrow hall from which a narrow stairway wound up to the two chambers already mentioned ; turning to the left on entering the front door led to the bar-room, and a turn to the right into the dining-room.
On the southeast corner of the main building swung the tavern sign, consisting of a board perhaps two feet in length by one and one-half feet in width ; on one side was painted a mounted horseman and on the reverse side was a horse held by a groom. This sign is in possession of Milo Abbott of Prescott, who also has the old clock that ticked off the time at the tavern. The furniture of the tavern was of the plainest kind, made for use rather than for show.
In the open space in front of the tavern Captain Shays drilled the man, who gathered at the headquarters, in the manual of arms. The wide casing on the big beam in the ceiling of the bar-room showed many a circular indentation answering in form to the muzzles of the muskets which the thirsty insurgents carried, and which they thrust. against the smooth board overhead while impatiently waiting for their turn in front of the bar.
484
HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
The cellar of the tavern was important because it was there that Landlord Conkey stored his large stock of liquors, as well as a good supply of cider. It was of good depth and the walls instead of being built perpendicular, inclined outward from the bottom. It was in this cool receptacle that the barrels of West India rum and casks of wine and brandy, orange and clove, were stored, and drawn from to replenish the bar. The cellar also furnished storage for a goodly supply of salt pork and beef as well as an ample supply of potatoes and garden vegetables. East of the house was the well with the long well-sweep from which was hung the pole and bucket for draw- ing the cool water. West of the house were located the barns and other out buildings usually needed upon a farm, and further west towards the West Branch were the acres of mowing and cultivated land belonging to Landlord Conkey's farm from which he filled his barns.
Landlord Conkey kept a good supply of assorted liquors in his cellar sufficient to drown the griefs of discouraged farmers and no doubt the men organizing the rebellion improved the opportunity when argument and discussion became dull and unsatisfying. We offer a copy of one bill of liquors that Landlord Conkey put in his cellar as early as 1772 to show his liberality in providing for the thirst of his patrons :
BOSTON, OCT. 31, 1772.
MR. WILLIAM CONKEY bought of JOHANNET & SEAVER. 2 Bbls rum 63 gallons at 12 shillings
£37-16-0
32 Galls West India Rum at 22 shillings 6d 36-00-0
4 Brandy 30 shillings,-Keg 13 shillings 6 10-13-6
4 Annas seed 17 13 6 66 66 66
4-3-6
6
66 Clove-at 17-6-Keg 15 66
6-0-0
3 3-4 Orange 17-6 13 6 I Wine 30- I-10
3-19-2
£100- 2-2 BOSTON, OCT. 31, 1772. · £6-0-0 Received of Wm Conkey six pounds in lawful money on account.
JOHANNET & SEAVER.
BOSTON, FEB. II, 1773.
Received the within to balance in full. JOHANNET & SEAVER.
Another bill of liquors that went into the cellar of the old tavern two years later is added proof of Landlord Conkey's liberality in providing for the comfort of his guests many years before men gathered at his hostelry to plot armed opposition to the state govern- ment, and before the Revolutionary war began.
ZIBA COOK'S TAVERN.
WATERFALL ON THE DUNLAP BROOK.
485
TAVERNS AND LANDLORDS.
BOSTON, HI FEB'Y, 1774.
MR. WILLIAM CONKEY AND SON WILLIAM bot of JOHANNET & SEAVER.
4 Bb's Rum 32
32 212 292 125 Galls a 138
81- 5-0-
I Bb" West India 302 a 22-6 34-6-3-
15₺ Gall& Brandy
a 3-6 29- 1 -- 3-
134 Galls Molasses a 2-6 8- 5- 5-
8% Galls Wine a 30
13- 6- 3 --
8 Galls Orange ¿
Iog Galls Clove S 18} Galls
a 15
13-II-10-
I Bb'l 27-6 } Bbl 22-6
2-10-
I Bb'l Sugar
2-3-8
19
£2-2-17 - a £15 39-15-7-
£222- 1-7-
William Conkey, the original builder and landlord of the tavern was succeeded by his son William, who continued business at the old stand after his father died. Both father and son were promi- nent in town affairs for many years. The latter was known to every- body during the latter part of his life as " Uncle Billy " Conkey, and he lived until 1841, and died in his goth year. East and West Hills remain substantially as they were in 1786-87 and the great hollow lies between. The snow covers all in winter as it did at the time of the insurrection, though not as deeply as then, butis white and cold just the same. The men, armed and excited, who were marching over the hills and through the Hollow and gathered at the old tavern,-have all gone ; all marched over into the silences eternal. The old tavern has disappeared, but we can, in a measure, bring back to mind the exciting scenes enacted within and about the old hostelry long years ago. The people who now live upon these two hills and in the great Hollow are at peace ; and if not rich, are not so burdened and distressed by debt as those who gathered about the old tavern more than a century ago.
DR. HINDS' TAVERN.
Dr. Nehemiah Hinds was a noted landlord as well as physician and business man. His tavern was on the East hill and was first licensed in 1783. He continued as taverner until 1802.
Landlords Benoni Shurtlieff, Christopher Patten, John Bruce, Harris Hatch, and John Cole appear quite often on the town records, as town meetings were adjourned to the tavern of these land- lords, and about in the order named. It should not be understood that these taverns were all in existence at the same time, but it may
486
HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
have been the same tavern stand with successive landlords. The tavern must have been near the old meeting house in order that an adjournment of fifteen minutes to the tavern could be made and business resumed in so short a time, and the tavern must have been on the West Hill.
KINGMAN'S TAVERN.
Martin Kingman was in the field as a popular landlord on the West Hill as early as 1820. The location of his tavern was on the site of the residence of Town Clerk J. W. Keith, perhaps the same building. Kingman was in the business until 1838 almost continu- ously. Calvin D. Eaton was the next landlord of this hostelry begin- ning in 1842, and the last license as innkeeper issued to him was for the year 1848. Mr. Eaton was a popular landlord and the tavern was a noted place for gatherings of young people who danced the time away until the small hours to the music of "Old " Fenton's fiddle.
COOK'S TAVERN.
Ziba Cook's tavern was about half a mile south of the Methodist church on the road to Enfield. It was opened as a tavern in 1829, and the last license was issued in 1835. It was a popular resort during the few years it was open to the public. At that time the large carriage factory of Knowles & Thayer at East Amherst was in full blast, employing perhaps 125 young men, and delegations of these workmen were often guests at Cook's tavern until late at night, and went home towards daybreak in a jolly mood which attested the good cheer dispensed at the tavern on the hillside.
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