History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. I, Part 135

Author: L.H. Everts & Co
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts
Number of Pages: 700

USA > Massachusetts > History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. I > Part 135

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1815 .- Elisha Hubbard, Jr., Sylvanus Hubbard, Joseph Bodman.

1816 .- Thomas Nash, Sylvanus Hubbard, Joseph Bodman.

IS17-18 .- Josiah Dwight, Sylvanus Hubbard, Matthew Coffin.

1819-22 .- Josiah Dwight, Sylvanus Hubbard, Samuel Graves, JJr. 1823-26 .- Josiah Dwight, dosiah Hanmum. Samuel Graves. 1827 .- Sammel Graves, Sylvauns Hubbard, Levi Hitchcock.

1828,-Sammel Graves, Cornelius Tileston, Jr., Levi Hitchcock. 1829,-Klisha Hubbard, Jr., Cornelins Tileston, Jr., Levi Hitchcock.

1830,-Sammel Graves, Thomas Mayhew, Lovi Hitchcock. 1831 .- Sammel Graves, Edward Gere, Levi Hitchcock.

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HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.

1832 .- Thomas Mayhew, Edward Gere, James Mayhew. 1833 .- Elisha Hubbard, Jr., Sylvanus Hubbard, Samuel Graves.

1831 .- Elisha Hubbard, Jr., Enoch James, Jason Miller. 1835 .- Elisha Hubbard, Jr., Isaac Gere, Leonard Dwight. IS36 .- Melzar Warner, Isaac Gere, Leonard Dwight. 1837 .- John Wells, Salmon H. Clapp. Leonard Dwight. 1838,-llenry Merritt, Salmon II. Clapp, Spencer Root. 1839-40 .- Leonard Dwight, Hiram Nash, Spencer Root. 1841-42 .- Leonard Dwight, Hiram Nash, Joel Hayden. 1843 .- William A. Nash, Hiram Nash, Joel Hayden. 1×44,-William A. Nash, Lewis Bodman, Butler Merritt. 1845-46 .- William A. Nash, Lewis Bochnan, Stephen Meekins. 1847 .- Edwin Everett, Hiram Nash, Erastus Graves. 1×48 .- Henry Merritt, Iliram Nash, R. H. Fairchild. 1849-50 .- Lewis Bodman, Erastus Graves, R. H. Fairchild. 1851-52 .- Elnathan Graves, Hiram Nash, Samuel S. Wells. IS53 .- Elnathan Graves, Lewis Boilman, Samuel S. Wells.

1854 .- Elnathan Graves, William A. Nash, Francis S. Warner.

1855,-William A. Nash, Francis S. Warner, Thomas II. Ives.

1856 .- William A. Nash, Otis G. Hill, Royal C. Fairfield. 1857 .- Edwin Everett, B. F. Sears, Royal C. Fairfield. 1858 .- Hiram Nash, D. F. Morton, Elnathan Graves. 1859 .- Hiram Nash, D. F. Morton, Joseph T. Thayer. 1860 .- William A. Nash, D. F. Morton, William E. Thayer.

1861 .- William A. Nash, William E. Thayer, Nathan C. Wrisley. 1862-65 .- Thomas Nash, Elnathan Graves, Nathan C. Wrisley. 1866 .- Thomas Nash, Elnathan Graves, Oliver Nash. 1867 .- Thomas Nash, Elnathan Graves, Nathan C. Wrisley. 1868-69 .- Thomas Nash, Elnatban Graves, Thomas S. Hayden. 1870 .- William E. Thayer, Elnathan Graves, C. D. Wait. 1871 .- William E. Thayer, E. W. Merritt, C. D. Wait. 1872-73 .- Thomas Nash, E. W. Merritt, Benson Mayan. 1874 .- B. S. Johnson, John O'Neil, Benson Munyan. 1875-76 .- Aaron R. Morse, Jolin O'Neil, T. M. Carter.

1877-78 .- Thomas S. Hayden, John O'Neil, T. M. Carter. 1879 .- Thomas Nash, John O'Neil, Benson Munyan.

A noted instance of long service among town officers is that of B. S. Johnson, who has been elected assessor twenty-eight years,-first in 185]; then from 1856 to 1864 inclusive; next from 1867 to 1874 inelusive; and again commenced a new term of service in 1878.

TOWN CLERKS.

John Nash, 1771 ; Simeon White, 1772-73 ; Elijah Paine, 1774-76; Elisha Nash, 1777-78; Josiah Dwight, 1779-89; Asn White, 1790-93; Seth Dwight, 1794; Elisha Hubbard, 1795-1805; Obadiah Skiff, 1806-19 ; Elisha Hubbard, Jr., 1820- 24; Hervey (. Thayer, 1825-27 ; Isaac Gere, 1828-31; Elisha Hubbard, 1832; Thunnas Meekins, 1833-34; Ambrose Stone, Jr., 1835-40; Win. Stearns, IN41 ; Otis G. Ilill, 1842-44 : Win. Stearns, 1845; Otis G. Hill, 1846-54; Henry Stearns, 1855; Otis G. Hill, 185G ; John B. Gleason, 1858-60; T. M. Carter, ISGI-80.

DELEGATES TO THE PROVINCIAL CONGRESS AND TO CONSTI- TUTIONAL CONVENTIONS.

March 13, 1775 .-- Russell Kellogg chosen to attend the Provincial Congress at Concord, " he to find horse, and give his time by agreement, the town to bear his charges or expenses."

1820 .- John Wells chosen to Constitutional Convention.

1853 .- ITiram Nash chosen to Constitutional Convention.

Wm. Bodman represented the town in the State Convention that ratified the Constitution of the United States in 1788.

REPRESENTATIVES TO GENERAL COURT.

Josiah Dwight, 177%; Joshua Johnston, 1779; Josiah Dwight, 1780-82; Wmn. Bodman, 1783-96; Elisha Hubbard, 1800-1; Wm. Bodman, 1805-6; Capt. Juhu Wells, 1808-12; Thomas Mayhew, 1813-16; Joseph Bodman, 1819: John Wells, 1821-24; Elisha IFubbard, Jr., 1826-31; Samuel Graves, 1832-33; Dr. Thomas Meekins, 1834-35; Isaac Gere, 1836-37; Elisha Tileston, 1839-40; Ambrose Stone, Jr., 1841-42; Joel Hayden, 1844-45; Erastus Bodman, 1846-47: Hiram Nash, 1849-50; Iliran Hill, 1851-52; Samuel S. Wells, 1832; Joseph Bodman, 1853; Erastus Graves, 1855; Dr. Thomas Meekins, 1856; Otis G. Hill, 1857 ; Albert D. Sanders, 1859; Elnathan Graves, 1:50, extra session ; lliram Nash, 1860-G1; Daniel F. Morton, 1863; Thomas Nash, 1866; Stephen M. Crosby, ING9; Thomas M. Carter, 1872; Henry L. James, 1875 ; Aaron R. Morse, 1877.

VILLAGES.

WILLIAMSBURG VILLAGE

was settled later than other parts of the town. Between the location of Fairfield and Miller at the site of Ilaydenville, and the Dwights and Mayers on " Meeting-house Hill," was a distance of three miles. In early times the road was a sort of bridle-path, marked out by blazed trees.

The present place of Williamsburg village was low ground, covered with hemlocks and alder-bushes. The village grew up by reason of the development of the water-privilege at the junction of Mill Brook with Mill River. Its early settlement and general business are shown elsewhere.

Before the damage done by the flood of 1874, it was a large and thriving village. The houses then destroyed have not been rebuilt to any extent, and there is yet to be seen evidence of the ruin then wrought.

In the village are the Congregational and Methodist churches, the school building, and the town-hall. There are some pleasant homesteads and fine private residences, espe- cially on South Street and on North Main Street.

The buildings along South Main Street were mostly de- stroyed by the reservoir disaster. The station upon the rail- road is half a mile or more from the centre of the village.

Williamsburg is an important point of stage communication with several western towns. Stages leave every day for Ches- terfield and Worthington by one line, and for Goshen and Cummington by another. From Worthington and Cum- mington. lines daily connect with Hinsdale on the Boston and Albany Railroad. Williamsburg is thus the point of railroad business for a large extent of country in Western Hampshire County, said to be the focal point of seven towns.

Its present business ( March, 1879) may be stated as follows : The stores of E. M. Carter, L. D. James, Wm. E. Thayer, S. K. Wait ; Il. L. James, woolen-factory ; W. E. Thayer, hard- ware-factory; IT. G. Hill, buttons, button-molds; H. W. & J. W. Hill, tassel-molds and other varieties of wood-work; Woodward and Lyman, buttons, button-molds; Hill & War- ner, grist-mill; hotels, Hampshire House and the Orcutt House ; shops of various kinds ; Smith's Insurance Agency. The post-office was the only one in town for many years.

ADDITIONAL ITEMS.

From 1816 to 1860 there was a store kept on the lot next east of Lewis Bodman's residence. The first building used was moved away and became a store-house for A. E. Lyman's rake-factory. This was erceted in 1816, by Erastus Hubbard and Augustine W. Fox. They traded for three or four years, and sold to Abner Williams, who traded there for a time. His successors were D. W. Graves, Isaac, Edward, and Frederic Gere; D. W. and Ebenezer Graves, Alvah Miller, and W. F. Bodman (the latter from February, 1837, to 1858), then a Union Company, and lastly T. M. Carter and Wm. B. Avery. Lewis Bodman about 1837 moved the old Mayhew store from the Hill to the village. This was burned in 1860.

In July, 1831, Ezra, Willison, and Seurs, sons of Eliphalet Thayer, purchased of Edmund Taylor a valuable property along Mill Brook, including an old saw-mill and a grist-mill. Sears Thayer sold out in a short time. The others erected a store, and, besides ordinary mercantile business, they carried on an extensive trade in clocks. They made the cases in the old mill buildings, and brought the running parts from Connecti- cut. They employed six or eight peddlers. They dissolved. Ezra continued business for a time, met with large losses, and finally removed to Cayuga Co., N. Y. Willison Thayer gave his exclusive attention to clocks for a time, but gradually changed to other articles, including hardware and furniture. In 1848 he erected the three-story factory of granite and wood at a cost of $5000. Soon after, W. E. Thayer became associ- ated with him, and the firm added the making of wooden but- tons, the first made in this country. William Thayer died in 1859, and W. E. Thayer continued the business. He soon after erected a new factory near the fork of the Goshen and Chesterfield roads.

Isaac Gere and Edward Gere, whose names became inti- mately associated with the mercantile and manufacturing in- terests of Williamsburg, were sons of Isaac Gere, a well-known citizen of Northampton in the olden times. They removed to

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HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

Williamsburg after graduating from college, and went into business there. Edward afterward removed to New York.

Tanning was carried on for many years by Graves & Lamb, and by Joseph Bodman and Stephen Hopkins.

Earlier than this, tanning was done in the building opposite the old Deacon Bodman homestead, by Samuel Bodman. Horse-power was used in grinding the bark. In this building was a printing-office for a short time, and here was published a book known as " Bodman's Orations."

While Bodman & Hopkins were associated in tanning, they added the manufacture of boots and shoes. This was continued afterward by Luther & Walker Rice.

Williamsburg Post-Office .- This was established about 1814 or 1815. Previously, Williamsburg had been supplied from the Northampton office. Thomas Mayhew was the first post- master, and he kept the office on the hill until 1824, when it was removed to the village, and kept in the store of the Messrs. Thayer. Mr. Mayhew remained postmaster until 1839, but after the removal to the village Wm. E. Thayer was deputy. Lewis Bodman was appointed in 1839, Mr. Metcalf in 1848, Lewis Bodman again in 1852, followed by the present incum- bent, H. L. James.

In 1812, Prince and Phineas Williams built and operated a cotton-factory on Mill Brook, at the site of Mr. Thayer's fac- tory in later years. The firm suffered a severe loss at the con- clusion of peace in 1816, and the business elosed.

Joseph and Southworth Jenkins devoted the building to a grocery-store for a time, and then Isaac Gere began to manufacture broadcloth there. His successors (though in a great variety of businesses) have been Edward & Charles Talbot, Mason & Moffit, J. Pierson, Charles Gloyd, Ezra Thayer, Marcus & Henry Way, D. W. Graves, O. G. Spell- man, and Wm. E. Thayer.

A second cotton-mill was erected by Erastus Hubbard and Edmund Taylor. This flourished only during the war with England.

In 1806, and for several years, a fulling-, dyeing-, and dress- ing-mill was operated by Sylvester, Artemas, and Theophilus Bodman, sons of William Bodman.

SEARSVILLE

is on Mill Brook, northwest of Williamsburg village. It takes its name from Nathaniel Sears, who carried on manu- facturing operations there for many years. The water-privi- lege at this point is valuable, and has been improved from early times down to the present.

Searsville was happily exempt from the disaster of 1874. It is, however, situated upon the stream at the head-waters of which are the great Goshen reservoirs. There is felt here by some persons a nameless dread of a possible similar catastrophe from them.

The danger is doubtless somewhat imaginary. The dams of the Goshen reservoirs are very solid structures; they have been carefully examined, as the whole system of reservoirs is and will be, and a close supervision is kept of them. It is be- lieved the damage by the flood of Dec. 10, 1878, was less in all this valley by reason of the Goshen reservoirs. They held back a large amount of water at the time, and prevented the quantity coming down from being of as great volume as it otherwise would have been.

Searsville has now but little business. The saw-mill of G. M. Bradford is used, and a blacksmith-shop has a good busi- ness. The old woolen-mills stand idle, as such machinery does at so many other points in these " hard times" of 1879.

William E. Thayer's present business of making hardware at Williamsburg commenced at the site of the old cotton-spin- ning-works of Capt. Southworth Jenkins of 1812. After Jenkins, Isaac Gere, 1822 or so, opened a woolen-factory in the same building and used the same wheel. He sold to David Mason, who, associated with Mr. Moffett, continued the fac-

tory. Ezra Thayer and Mr. Gloyd succeeded them. Next was the firm composed of Mason and two Talbots, brothers of the Governor. The latter spent some months in Williamsburg at one time. Finally, William E. Thayer took the property on the west side of the river, and by prudent, quiet industry has developed a safe and successful business.

About the year 1806, Stephen Graves started a mill for full- ing, dyeing, and dressing cloth. He continued for a few years at Searsville.

Versel Abell manufactured woolen yarn, flannel, and fulled cloth. Ilis mill stood south of the river and a few rods north of the Sears factory.

In 1819, Nathaniel Sears came to this point with a capital, it is said, of only $50. He obtained a right in the old water- privilege of Stephen Hyde, put up a small building, and com- menced cloth-dressing. In 1828 he enlarged his building, put in machinery for manufacturing, but continued the custom dressing-work. In 1837 and '38 he built his main factory, the old one burning after he commenced the new. In 1853 he devoted his mill exclusively to the manufacture of white flannel.

Josiah IIannum was one of the most successful mechanics in Williamsburg. For thirty-five years he made axes. He oc- cupied for fifteen years the house that stood opposite the old meeting-house. His shop was up the road, on the east side, about twenty-five rods above the meeting-house.

He worked at this place until 1811 ; then he bought the old Seth Paine farm. He built a shop west of the road leading to Goshen. During the war with Great Britain steel rose to one dollar a pound. At that time Mr. Hannum bought a quantity of steel and iron in Montreal. He got it home to Williams- burg by sleighing. He had a large market West. His make amounted sometimes to one hundred and ten axes a week, mostly ground and ready for use.

He died about 1836. The Hannums and the IIydes (the latter having a trip-hammer) became known far and wide as axe-makers, and the latter as scythe-makers also.

Levi llitcheock built below Sears' mill about 1831 and made axes, and Benjamin K. Baker about 1835.

SKINNERVILLE

was on Mill River, below Williamsburg, below the mouth of Unquomonk Creek. It is spoken of under the head of " Fac- tories," and in the account of the disaster of 1874.

HAYDENVILLE.

This was the earliest settled point in Williamsburg, but the village is mainly the growth of the last thirty-five years. It is situated near the south line of the town. The village de- rived its name from the Haydens, who were so largely instru- mental in developing the manufacturing interests of the place. Other ·public-spirited citizens were associated with them, but the Haydens were cordially recognized as the leaders in every important business. The public buildings of the place are the Congregational church, the Catholic church, and the school building. There are many substantial private dwellings.

The Post-Office was established in 1839, with a daily mail to and from Northampton and Williamsburg. At the open- ing of the railroad, the service was increased to twice each day, and later to three times. Josiah Hayden was the first postmaster. His successors have been Ellsworth H. Hyde, Maj. Lewis Warner, Stephen W. White, Spencer Root, Fred- erick L. Ilayden, and Joel Hayden, Jr., who is the present incumbent of the office.

The Fire-Engine Company was organized in 1848. An en- gine was purchased at a cost of $500 (the town paying $250 and individuals the remainder). Samuel S. Wells was chosen Foreman ; J. A. Root, Assistant Foreman ; Clerk, It. L. Tiles- ton ; Second Assistant Foreman, J. B. Hayden. The com- pany was disbanded after a few years.

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HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.

The Haydenville Gas- Works were wholly a private matter, and belonged to the Hayden Manufacturing Company. A few private houses were lighted, and the streets and the mills. The works were not rebuilt after the flood of 1874.

Business of Haydenville (1879) .- The Hayden Company manufacture brass goods. William B. Hale operates the old cotton-factory. There are a variety of mechanic shops. The hotel and livery business of Luther Loomis & Son, who are also extensive farmers, and do a large firewood business. The merchants are noted elsewhere.

SCHOOLS.

A school-house had been built before the town was organ- ized. It was a substantial structure of hewn logs, used sev- eral years for town-meetings and for religious worship as well as for education.

It stood on the hill. The first town-meeting was called at the house of Josiah Dwight, but, after organizing, an adjourn- ment was made to the school-house.

Dr. Meekins locates Josiah Dwight at the forks of the Ash- field and Chesterfield roads, and infers that the pioneer school- house was near the present place of' Wm. Leonard.

The votes passed at various meetings of the town show the steps taken to found the system of public schools.

May 13, 1771 .- Voted to give the proprietors of the school-house two-thirds uf the cost that they were at for the building thereof, and that each proprietor's bill of eust be accepted by a committee chosen for that purpose. Voted that the committee consist of Joshna Warner, Jonathan Thayer, Abel Thayer, Voted that Amasa Frost, Joshua Warner, Jonathan Warner be a committee to repair the school-honse in such a manner that it shall be fit to meet in for public wor- ship according to their best discretion. Voted to raise ten pounds to repair the school-house.

March 18, 1777 .- Voted that there be five women schools kept up from the Ist of May till the 1st of October. Voted to have two men's schools three months in the winter season.

Dec. 3, 1777 .- Voted to have a woman school four months in the summer season in the centre of the town, and as many more women's schools in the remote parts of the town as may be necessary to accommodate the whole. Voted to hire a school four months in the winter season in the centre of the town. Voted to raise money sufficient to pay all the charges. Voted that James Bangs, Lient. Joshua Warner, Elisha Allis, Alijah Ilunt, and Elisha Nash be a com- mittee for the schools to provide the tutors, and appoint the places for the schools to be kept.

The appropriations of early times seem small in amount compared with those of later years, but for the times they were no doubt equally liberal.

The school district at Haydenville was formed Dec. 3, 1810, consisting of James Clark, Ira N. Fairfield, Josiah Hayden, Daniel Hayden, Aaron Hemenway, Jesse Wilde, Beriah Shepherd, Samuel Wales, Joshua Thayer, Jr., Lieut. Joshua Thayer, Daniel Truesdell, Pliny Kingsley, Cyrus Mil- ler, Simeon Guilford, and the Widow Parsons.

Samuel Fairfield and Elias Root declined to be set off from the central district at that time, though living adjoining the others.

The first school-house was erected in 1811, at the southern end of the dugway. There had, however, been a school at this point as early as 1790, kept in the house of Samuel Fair- field.

Eunice Mather is remembered as an early teacher. The brick school-house that used to stand near the old Fairfield homestead (the Delevan place) was built in 1839.

Twenty years later the fine building now standing next west of the meeting-house was erected for a school building and a public hall. Its cost was $5500, of which the district paid $2500, and individuals the remainder. Win. K. Searles, of Easthampton, was the builder, and W. F. Pratt, of North- ampton, the architect. Four teachers are employed at the present time (1879).

At Williamsburg village the public school, though not a high-school, has a good building, and there are usually em- ployed three teachers.

Dr. Meekins recalls a few names of early teachers,-Seth

Warner, Mr. Cooley, Dr. Smith, Salmon II. Clapp, Mr. Lnd- den, from Southampton, and Erastus Hubbard. Rev. Mr. Strong had a few students at various times, assisting them in preparing for college.

To the notice of the schools we add a list of natives of Williamsburg who were college graduates :

Ansel Nash, Williams College, ministry.

John White, Williams College, law.

Chester White, Yale College.

Addison II. White, Yale College, law.

Elisha Hubbard, Jr., Yale College, law.

Wales Tileston, Yale College, ministry.

Bainbridge Rice, Yale College, teaching. Chester Lord, Amherst College, ministry.

John B. Miller, Union College, ministry. Charles Lord, Amherst College, ministry. William Ludden, Yale College, teaching. William II. Hayden, Yale College, business.

IIenry Warren, Wesleyan College, ministry.

William Warren, Wesleyan College, ministry.

Davis H. Mayhew, Williams College, teaching.

Other professional men who did not graduate from college were Alanson Nash, Hiram Nash, Manoah Bodman, and Hiram Warner, lawyers ; Thomas Meekins, Thomas Meekins (2d), Isaac Johnson, Roswell S. Ililhnan, Morris Dwight, Edwin Bartlett, Sumner Nash, physicians ; William Nash, a minister.

SCHOOL STATISTICS.

January, 1837 .- Eight schools; attending in the summer, 343; average, 251 ; winter, 343; average, 220; in town, between 4 and 16, 343; summer schools, 33 mionthis, 7 days; winter, 20 months; summer teachers, 9 females; winter, 5 males, 3 females; average wages of male teachers per month, SIG.50; female, $11.42.

Jannary, 1847 .- Nine schools; attending in summer, 259 ; average, 207; win- ter, 312; average, 208 ; in town, between 4 and 16, 374; attending under 4, 10; over 16, 14; summer schools, 27 months, 21 days; winter schools, 20 months, 14 days; total, 48 months, 7 days ; summer teachers, 9 females; winter, 5 males, 4 females; average wages of male teachers per month, $20.60; female, $10.04.

Jannary, 1857 .- Twelve schools; attending in summer, 275; average, 221; winter, 205; average, 164; attending under 5, 12; over 15, 4; in town, between 5 and 15, 305; summer teachers, 1 male, 10 females; winter, 3 males, 7 females ; summer schools, 35 months, 14 days; winter, 29 months; total, 64 months, 14 days ; average wages of male teachers per month, $35.75; female, $16.27.

January, 1867 .- Thirteen schools; attending in tho suminer, 412; average, 325; winter, 412;"average, 329; under 5, 13; over 15, 89; in town, between 5 and 15, 469 ; summer teachers, 2 males, 11 females; winter, 3 males, 10 females ; summer school, 59 months, 10 days; winter, 35 months; average wages of male teachers per month, $52.75; female, $24.87.

January, 1878 .- Thirteen schools; repairs, $12; childron attending, 460; average, 284; under 5, I; over 15, 35; in town, between 5 and 16, 464; teachers; 3 males, 16 females, 2 of them normal ; school, 100 months, 2 days; average wages of male teachers per month, $57.11; female, $32.28; taxation, $2800 ; ex- pense of superintendence, $50; printing, $18; vested funds, $16,485; income, $1157; other income and dog tax, $116.69; 2 high schools ; 3 teachers ; 90 schol- ars; supported by taxation ; 9 months, 15 days; salary of principals, $610 and $394; town share of State funds, $229.70.

CHURCHES.

The first thought in early New England settlements may have been to secure a home for themselves and families, but the next was to make arrangements for public worship. And so we infer that meetings were held during the few years of settlement preceding civil organization. The pioneers were between two old towns, Hatfield and Northampton, and had assistance from the ministers of both places.

When the first town-meeting was fairly over and the civil officers installed in their places, a second meeting was held May 13, 1771, only a week later than the first.

The business at this was to provide for religious services, as the following proceedings show :

May 13, 1771 .- At a legal district-meeting Simeon White was chosen modera- tor. Voted to raise £20 to be laid out in preaching before next March meeting. Voted that Samuel Fairfield, Jonah Dwight, and John Nash be a committee to lay ont the money voted for preaching, according to their best discretion. Voted that public worship on Lord's day from the first of May to the first of October begin at ten of the clock in the morning, and at two of the clock in the after- nuon, and from the first of October to the first of May to begin half an hour

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HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

after ten in the morning and at one in the afternoon. Voted that the selectmen provide a signal to notify the time when to begin public worship. Voted that Joshua Thayer have fifteen shillings for blowing the conk shell and keeping the school-bunse fit for public worship this year. And further action was had at subsequent meetings,

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History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. I, Part 135

Author: L.H. Everts & Co Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts Number of Pages: 700

Author: L.H. Everts & Co
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts
Number of Pages: 700