History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. I, Part 147

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 147

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

445

HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.

1831 .- Austin Bryant, Darins Ford, Noah T. Packard. 1832 .- Darius Ford, Alexis Painter, Eliphalet Packard.

1833-34 .- Eliphalet Packard, Alexis Painter, James Dawes.

1835 .- James W. Briggs, Elisha Carpenter, James Robinson. 1836,-Nathan Orentt. James W. Briggs, Elisha Carpenter. 1837 .-- Nathan Orcutt, Elias Cobb, Elisha Carpenter. 1838,-Nathan Orcutt, Eliphalet Packard, Royal S. Packard.

1839 .- Nathan Orcutt, William O. Hubbard, James Robinson. 1840 .- Eliphalet Packard, Lewis Ford, Charles O. Fanning. 1841 .- Eliphalet Packard, Lewis Ford, Elisha Gardner. 1842 .- Lewis Ford, Royal L. Packard, Charles Shaw. 1843 .- Nathan Orcutt, Royal L. Packard, Lewis Tucker.

1844 .- Nathan Orcutt, Elisha Mitchell, R. L. Packard, Charles Shaw.

1845 .- Nathan Orcutt, Royal L. Packard, Lewis Tucker. 1846 .- Nathan Orcutt, Royal L. Packard, Elisha Gardner. 1847 .- Nathan Orcutt, Royal L. Packard, Spencer Shaw. 1848,-Nathan Orcutt, Robert Dawes, Jr., Spencer Shaw. 1849 .- Eliphalet Packard, Spencer Shaw, Lewis T. Cobb. 1×50 .- Robert Dawes, Jr., C. W. Mitchell, N. F. Orcutt. 1851 .- Eliphalet Packard, C. W. Mitchell, Lewis T. Cohb. 1852 .- Franklin R. Joy, Jesse Reed, Jacob Bates. 1:53 .- Josiah Barber, Lewis T. Cobb, Elisha Gardner. 1854-56 .- Nathan Orcutt, Franklin R. Joy, Josiah D. Nelson.

1857 .- Nathan Orentt, William I1. Guilford, Elisha Gardner.

1858 .- Nathan Orentt, William H. Guilford, Lucius U. Robinsou. 1859 .- Nathan Orcutt, John C. Reed, Noah L. Gloyd. 1860,-Nathan Orcutt, William W. Mitchell, Noah L. Gloyd. 1861,-Nathan Orentt, William W. Mitchell, Charles Harlow. 1862-64 .- Nathan Orcutt, John C. Reed, Charles Harlow. 1865 .- L. J. Orcutt, L. E. Dawes, Cyrus MI. Tillson. 1866 .- N. F. Orcutt, Henry S. Elder, Austin M. Shaw. 1867 .- N. F. Orcutt, F. D. Streeter, Il. S. Elder. 1868-69 .- N. F. Orentt, Charles Harlow, F. D. Streeter.

1×70 .- N. F. Orcutt, T. Il. Whitmarsh, L. H. Tower. 1×71-72 .- N. F. Orentt, Charles Harlow, Alexis Wells. 1873 .- N. F. Orentt, E. G. Allen, Alexis Wells. 1874 .- N. F. Orentt, E. G. Allen, Jasou Willentt. 1×75 .- N. F. Orcutt, E. G. Allen, C. W. Streeter. 1876 .- N. S. Stevens, C. M. Babbitt, Fordyce Packard. 1877-78 .- N. F. Orcutt, Abrahaus Osborne, Lorenzo Shaw.

TOWN CLERKS.

Barnabas Packard, 1779; Wmn. Ward, 1780-85; Adam Porter, 1786-92; Wni. Ward, 1793-95: Abel Packard, Jr., 1796-1816; Philander Packard, 1817-24; Na- than Orcutt, 1:25-35 ; James W. Briggs, 1>36; Eliphalet Packard. 1837-38; Na- than Orcutt, 1839; Royal L. Packard, 1840-41 ; Lewis Tucker, 1842 ; Lutber M. l'ackard, 1843-52; Lyman E. Dawes, 1853-54; Almon Mitchell, 1855-79.

REPRESENTATIVES.

William Ward, 1786-91 ; James Richards, 1793; William Ward, 1796-97 ; James Richards, 1798 ; Ebenezer Snell, 1800; James Richards, 1801; Ebenezer Snell, 1802: James Richards, 1803 ; Ebenezer Snell, 1804 ; James Richards, 1805; Peter Bryant, 1806; Adam Packard, I>0G; Peter Bryant, 1808-9: Abel Packard, 1810; Peter Bryant, 1811-13; Robert Dawes, 1815-16; Robert Dawes, 1818-19 ; Robert Dawes, 1822; Eliphalet Packard, 1825-26; Amuos Cobb, 1827; Wiu. Swan, 1829- 30; Jonathan Dawes, 1831-33; Alexis Painter, 1834; James W. Briggs, 1835; Nathan Orcutt, 1836-37 ; Philander Packard, 1838-39; Joseph Orcutt, 1840-41 ; Royal L. Packard, 1842-43; Robert Dawes, Jr., 1844-45; Iliram Steele, 1846-47 ; Dr. Royal Joy, 184>-49; John Ford, 1850; Charles Shaw, 1851; N. F. Orcutt, 1852-53; Ebenezer Shaw, 1854; Spencer Shaw, 1859; Almon Mitchell, 1863; Richmond Kingman, 1868; Lysander J. Orcutt, 1874.

VILLAGES. CUMMINGTON VILLAGE

is handsomely located in a narrow valley lying along the Westfield River. It is surrounded with a series of romantic and picturesque hills. Some of these are bold, rocky eleva- tions ; others are of more graceful curves and crowned with forests ; mingling with these are the cultivated slopes of the open farming-lands and the meadows around the river; the whole forming a landscape of mingled beauty and grandeur.

Thomas Tirrell, a farmer, was an early, if not the first, set- tler at this point. ITis place was where the Widow Bradley now lives. The store of Seth Williams and his tavern were very early, dating nearly, if not quite, back to 1800.

Levi Kingman gives the following description of the vil- lage as it was in 1817 : Below the bridge at the east was the house of Obed Shaw, and a little farther down the place of his son, Leonard Shaw. West of the bridge, tracing up the street, on the north side, were the store and tavern of Seth Williams, nearly at the present Robbins place. Next was the house of James Shaw, the present place of A. F. Pettengill.

Next, a house built several years before by one Miller, a shoe- maker, and probably the oldest house in the village. Mr. Kingman went there for a pair of boots in 1808. Miller was a brother-in-law of Seth Williams. Next was the house of Asa Pettengill, the present place of Austin Shaw. Then above was the house of Oak Shaw, built in 1816, now the place of Richmond Kingman. Next was Lewis Thayer's house, who removed not many years later to Ohio. It was built by Josiah Hayden, and is now the place of Charles Bart- lett. Beyond, on the corner opposite Lovell's store, was the old place of Squire Eliphalet Packard, between the blacksmith- shop and the main road, about the present place of E. B. Bruce. Returning to the east end of the village, and tracing the south side of the street, the first house was that of Thos. Tirrell; then a long space with no buildings as far as the present house of Austin Cowing. Levi Kingman moved to that place in 1817. Hatch Noyce had built the house. It was enlarged and improved by Mr. Kingman. Next was an old house, about in Prof. Mitchell's present garden, and a blacksmith-shop near. The old school-house was a little out of the village, on the south road, where the ruins and the brick remaining identify the spot. Some 14 houses, all told, comprised the village of sixty years ago.

Mr. Kingman, in 1818, took an interest in the store of Dawes & Co., and soon after bought the entire business. In 1820 he united the store to his dwelling, enlarged the build- ings, and opened a tavern; carried on both store and tavern for some twelve years, when he retired to enter upon the busi- ness of farming with his family of growing sons.

The tavern of Seth Williams, and afterward of Mr. Sawyer, was the sole tavern for a time. This was closed out by fire about 1845. Other taverns have been that of Alonzo Gurney, for three or four years, on the present place of Francis Rich- ards. Dr. Bemus, just opposite, also kept public-house a while. William White built the present Union House, 1846 to 1848, and it has been continued by various proprietors to the pres- ent time. E. B. Bruce kept the house 1871 to the spring of J878. It then passed into the hands of its present proprietor, Charles M. Babbitt. It is now an excellent house, with abundant entertainment and polite attention. With the sur- rounding scenery and the fine opportunity for charming drives in so many directions, there are many things here to tempt the tourist and the summer visitor.

The present village, with its churches, school-building, stores, business-places, and pleasant private residences, differs very much from that of 1817.

A post-office was first established at Cummington village in 1816, or about that time. Previous to that date the mails had come to Worthington and newspapers were delivered by post- riders. The first postmaster was Maj. Robert Dawes. ITis successors have been James Dawes, John Albro, Francis Bates, Col. William Swan, and the present incumbent, D. W. Lovell.

WEST CUMMINGTON

is a pleasant village finely situated at the foot of Deer Hill, upon the banks of the Westfield, with wild and rocky hills rising beyond. The place was largely founded by two men, Wm. llubbard, who established his tannery in 1805, nearly upon the site of the E. L. Brown paper-mills, and Elisha Mitchell, who came here as a merchant in 1823, and entered upon his long and prosperous career. The Hubbard tannery did a large business, employing many men, and stimulating the whole town into a greater degree of activity than at any time before, or perhaps since.

Mr. Mitchell had a large country trade. The two men co- operated in many useful enterprises for the benefit of the place.

On the site of the Hubbard tannery, Jonah Beals' tannery had done a limited business, extending back earlier than 1790. There was also a very early saw-mill here.

446

HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

A post-office was established at West Cummington about 1823 or '24. Elisha Mitchell was the first postmaster. His successors have been Josiah D. Nelson, Henry Howes, Albert Winslow, Ethan Clark, Charles Harlow, and the present officer, L. E. Bicknell.

The village at the present time comprises quite a number of private residences, the store of. L. E. Bicknell, the store of Joseph Tirrell, at the old Mitchell stand, the grocery-stores of E. G. Allen and H. A. Mason, the hotel by Ebenezer Hunt, two churches, the saw-mill and turning-shop of Charles Har- low, the shop of Wm. G. Atkins, several mechanic shops, the clock-repairing establishment of Amos Eddy, the pen-holder factory by Henry Elder & Son, and the lower paper-mill of F. A. Bates, employing ten or twelve hands, and making manilla paper.

West Cummington owes its present business prosperity very largely to the excellent paper-mills located just above. The buildings were erected in the summer of 1856, being raised June 26th of that year. Nelson Shaw & Co. were the pro- prietors. After two years they retired, and the mills stood unused for nearly the same length of time. They were tben bought by Amos Eddy and Mr. Crombie, of New York. Eddy removed to this place and experimented in the manu- facture of photograph paper. After running about two years the property passed to the Hollister Paper Co., L. L. Brown, President; Stephen D. Hollister, Agent; Calvin Whiting, Superintendent and Treasurer. In April, 1870, the firm was changed to L. L. Brown & Co. In 1872 the " L. L. Brown Paper Company of Adams" was formed, and these mills be- came a part of their property, and remain in that ownership to the present time. Abram Osborn is the general superin- tendent of the company, and his son, Abram Osborn, Jr., agent and resident superintendent of these mills.

The buildings are in fine condition, having been recently repaired and improved, at an expense of nearly $5000. The amount of paper made in 1877 was 225,155 pounds. The number of hands employed is about 30. The line of work consists of fine writings, linens, bond, and fancy, of all colors. The company have a boarding-house (the old Wm. Hubbard dwelling-house) and a farm of 400 acres connected with the property. The paper is finished in Adams. The company do their own teaming,-all westward to Adams, fourteen miles. George West, the Ballston Spa manufacturer, superintended these mills just before going to Saratoga County and com- mencing his career of unequaled success.

SWIFT RIVER VILLAGE,

locally known as " Babylon," is situated in the southeast part of the town, at the junction of the two branches of Swift River. It comprises a few dwelling-houses, a post-office (established in 1869, with William H. Guilford postmaster ; he was succeeded by John Hussey), the wood-turning shops of M. B. Crosby, J. Lovell's plane establishment, and the Guilford works, including saw-, planing-, turning-, and pen- holder-mill. The scenery in the vicinity is romantic, the hills steep, the streams rapid, and the place is subject to frequent damage by freshets.

CUMMINGTON HILL.

This well-known name designates an extensive place. First settlers are spoken of as living on " the Hill," and yet from one to two miles apart. The centre, or business point, was at the location of the meeting-house, above the pound. The store of llubbard was located there. The old sexton, Heze- kiah Ford, lived there. In front of the church site, at the in- tersection of the roads, is still an open space, constituting the common of old times. Intensely quiet now, it yet has many interesting reminiscences to the okler people of this town and those who went out from here to settle the towns of the fertile West.

SCHOOLS.

The records of the proprietors' meetings contain no pro- visions for schools except the setting apart of certain lots for their future benefit. After the town was incorporated, the subject came up at the early meetings, but no definite action was taken for a year or two. March 5, 1781, a proposition to raise a sum of money for the support of schools was voted down. A year later, May 2, 1782, a more liberal view was taken, and £20 were appropriated. In 1783 and 1784 the same sum was voted. In 1785 they appropriated £30, but returned, in 1786, to £20. In 1787 the town was divided into six school districts, or "ricks," as they are described in the records.

The names of a few early teachers are gathered from an old order-book of the selectmen : Chloe Bradish, 1793; Amariah Robbins, 1795; Lieut. Nehemiah Joy, 1797; Hatch Noyes, 1794; Amos Cobb, 1797; Ebenezer Snell, Jr., 1795; Nabby Dawes, 1796; John Bradish, 1798; Clark Robinson, 1796 ; Miss Nancy Warner, 1799 ; also Leah Beals, Col. Bradley, Deborah Porter, Susannah Shaw, David Bigelow, 1800; Elizabeth Robbins, Betsey Holbrook, 1801; Nabby Reed, Ilannah Williams, 1803; Seth Reed, Jr., J. Wiswell Briggs, Nicholas Cottrell, Jonathan Dawes, Rosy Warner, 1804; Philena Davison, 1805; Daniel Richards, Mehitable Allen, 1806. Nehemiah Joy taught thirty-five winter terms in suc- cession, and afterward two more.

The school known as "the Academy," though it was not an incorporated institution, was established by a few citizens about the year 1830, and was a valuable addition to the educa- tional facilities of the town. A large number of young people secured there the elements of a higher education.

Various teachers, some of noted prominence in later years, were employed. The names of Rawson and Brown are re- called by the people, Zalmon Richards and Eli Hubbard. The movement for an academy was led by Rev. Roswell Ilawks, who had the ability to inspire other men with his own enthusiasm in the cause of education, and who assisted Miss Mary Lyon in founding Mount Holyoke Seminary. A con- venient building was erected upon the west side of the street in Cummington village.

The school was continued for only ten or twelve years. The building is now a dwelling-house.

Other private schools have also been maintained at times in the town. One, rather noted for two or three terms, was taught by students from Amherst College. It was held in a hall over the old Roswell Hubbard store on the Ilill. Six young men of the town, who afterward entered college and graduated, studied there at the same time,-Wm. W. Mitchell, Henry L. Dawes, Joseph Porter, Horatio Porter, Charles Packard, Cullen Packard.

From this part of old Township No. 5, the far-famed " Cum- mington Hill," there went out five distinguished men, all within a mile of each other, all in the Bryant School District : Wm. Cullen Bryant, IIon. Luther Bradish, Rev. Thomas Snell, Dr. Theophilus Packard, Hon. Henry L. Dawes.

The appropriations by the town from 1805 to 1828 were usually $300 annually. Two or three years of the time they increased to $400, and once to $450. In 1827 the town organ- ized the schools under the new act by the appointment of Rev. Roswell llawks, Daniel Richards, and Nathan Orcutt as school committee. Increased attention to education seems to have been awakened at that time. More money was appropriated. In 1838, $500 was voted; in 1839, $500, and also " the income of the surplus revenue and the sum received from the State." In 1848, and for four years following, there was annually voted $700 for schools.

The school-houses of the town are in good condition. At Cummington village is a large building, with rooms conve- niently arranged for two teachers. The Bryant District has

447

HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.

a very fine building. William Cullen Bryant made a hand- some donation toward its erection.

The following is a list of college graduates natives of Cum- mington : Jacob Porter, Nathan Straw, Abel Packard (2d), Joseph Porter, Cullen Packard, Charles Packard, Ambrose Tillson, Royal Reed, Noah Thomas, Jr., Calvin Briggs, C. M. Briggs, Edward Hawkes, Martin Lazell, Royal Joy, E. H. Porter, Alfred Gilbert, E. N. Bates, Zalmnon Richards, Francis J. Warner, and Walter G. Mitchell.

Besides these should be mentioned others, who, though not graduates, yet have in many instances a national reputation : Theophilus Packard, D. D., Thomas Snell, D.D., Hon. Luther Bradish, llon. Jocl Hayden, Wm. Cullen Bryant, llenry L. Dawes, Wm. C. Otis, Eli A. Hubbard, Shepherd Knapp.

SCHOOL STATISTICS.

January, 1837 .- Ten schools; attending in the summer, 251; average, 203; winter, 278; average, 230; in town, between 4 and 16, 356; summer schools, 34 months ; winter, 25 months, 21 days ; summer teachers, 1 male, 9 females ; win- ter, 9 males ; average wages of male teachers per month, $17.33; female teach- ers, $11.

January, 1847 .- Number of schools, 10; attending in the summer, 292; average, 219; winter, 355 ; average, 279; number in town between 4 and 16, 349; attend- ing under 4, 10; over 16, 35; summer schools, 33 months, 7 days; winter, 34 months, 21 days ; total, 68 months ; summer teachers, 9 females ; winter teachers, 5 males, 5 females ; male teachers' average wages per month, $21.80; female, $11.69.

January, 1857 .- Ten schools ; attending in summer, 187; average, 154; win- ter, 262; average, 206; attending under 5, 26; over 15, 52; in town, between 5 and 15, 196; summer teachers, 10 females; winter, 4 males, 6 females ; summer schools, 29 months, 6 days; winter, 28 months; total, 57 months, 6 days; av- erage wages male teachers per month, $18.75; female, $13.66.

January, 1867 .- Ten schools; attending in summer, 228; average, 176; win- ter, 251 ; average, 202; under 5, 12 ; over 15, 23; in town, between 5 and 15, 222; summer teachers, 10 females ; winter teachers, 10 females; summer schools, 32 months; winter, 34 months; average wages of female teachers per monthi, $20.80.

January, 1878 .- Ten schools; attending, 202; average, 152; under 5, 7; over 15, 49; in town, between 5 and 16, 156 ; teachers, 1 male, 12 females; two from normal ; school 61 months, 10 days ; average wages of male teachers per month, 844; female, $20.67; taxation, $1200; expense of superintendence, $69.75 ; print- ing, $22 ; income of local funds and dog tax, $33.91; town share of State fund, $225.18.

CHURCHES.

Action to secure public worship was taken at the very outset of the settlement. There were only ten or twelve families in the town when the first vote was taken to procure a minister "four Sabbaths next summer." The location of the first meeting-house seems to have required a long discussion in nearly every town. As it was the most important building to be erected, and public worship the most important thing to be established, they evidently gave to them their most careful thought, and quite probably exercised something of the iron will which a hundred years before had made Puritans such invincible soldiers under Cromwell.

Cummington was not an exception, and the first committee " to pitch upon a site" was succeeded by many others before the place was really chosen and the house built. The fol- lowing further minutes are taken from the records of the proprietors and of the town:

Dec. 28, 1772 .- Voted to clear three acres for a meeting-house. spot. Voted to have two Sabbaths' preaching more.

Feb. 3, 1773 .- Voted to appoint Mr. Stephen Farr, Capt. Joseph Warner, and William Ward a committee to supply the township with preaching. Voted not to send for Mr. Reed to preach on probation, nor to renew the former call.

From which it appears that the project of ordaining Mr. Reed failed at the time before appointed, and a month later the town again refused to send for him.

April 13, 1773 .- Voted to meet for public worship at Mr. Packard's, in the east part of the town, and at Mr. Stevens', in the west part.

Nov. 19, 1773 .- Voted that the committee agree with Mr. Porter to preach longer. Voted not to build a meeting-house.

March 21, 1774 .- Voted to settle Mr. Porter as their minister in said township, and offered him forty pounds salary the first year, and raise five pounds a year until it amounts to sixty, and then stand at that; also voted him a settlement, -- 100 acres of land, £26 13s. 4d.

Security was, however, to be taken of him for the two lots

granted to the first settled minister ; which means, we suppose, that if he took the 100 acres now offered, he must not also claim the two lots originally set apart for the support of the gospel.

April 11, 1774 .- Voted that the 8th day of June next be the day to install Rev. Mr. Porter. Messrs. Barnabas l'ackard and Timothy Moore be a committee to provide entertainment for the council.

This must have failed also, for July 18, 1774, they voted Abraham Beal, Ebenezer Snell, and Ensign Abel Packard a committee to hire preaching, and not to hire more than four weeks at a time without orders from the town.

Dec. 12, 1774 .- Voted to build a meeting-house 45 by 35. Appointed David Leonard, Ebenezer Suell, and Stephen Warner a committee to build the house. Voted to hear Mr. Billings preach a few Sabbaths in the spring of the year.

Nov. 28, 1775,-Voted to hire Mr. Hotchkiss to preach four Sabbaths upon pro- bation.

Dec. 12, 1775, the people were in a decidedly negative state of mind. They voted not to build a meeting-house in the centre of said township, and voted not to choose a committee to hire preaching. Dee. 27th, they were more affirmative again. They voted to build a meeting-house on Lot No. 71, in the first di- vision. Negotiations to secure Rev. Mr. Briggs seem to have begun in 1778, November 23d.

Feb. 15, 1779 .- Voted a call to Mr. Briggs, offering him 200 acres of land and §200 as settlement, the money estimated according to rye at 38. 4d. per bushel, and a salary of fifty pounds the first year, adding five pounds a year until it amounts to £60.

This was accepted. The ordination was appointed for July 7, 1779, and Capt. Reed, Ebenezer Snell, and John Bradish, appointed a committee to provide a place for the council.

The record of the council is found in full in the old Proprie- tors' Book. John Porter was moderator, and Rev. Thomas Allen scribe; and thus Plantation No. 5 had at last a settled minister five and a half months before the town of Cum- mington was organized.

The first baptism occurred July 18, 1779,-Abigail, daughter of Abel and Esther Packard; the second, Aug. 29, 1779,- Bethiah, daughter of Edmund and Mary Lazell.

The ordination of Mr. Briggs is stated by Mrs. Deacon Rogers to have taken place in the open air, under some trees not far from the site of the last meeting-house on the IIill. This account is hardly consistent with the general belief that the meeting-house at that time was a mile or two farther west ; and still it may be correct.

Oct. 30, 1780 .- Voted to raise 55 pounds for Rev. Mr. Briggs' salary the present year, rated at rye 34 per bushel. Voted that Capt. Reed, Deacon Suell, and Lient. Colson be a committee to lay out the Rev. Mr. Briggs' lot of land voted him by the town.

The meeting-house " on the south side" was built so as to meet in it some time in 1781, for Oct. 4, 1781, the town voted to warn town-meetings in the future on the south side at the meeting-house, and on the north side "where they meet for publie worship." Propositions to remove the meeting-house appear in the records for 1790.

In 1791 they voted to finish the old one where it stands, and not remove it. But Nov. 28, 1791, they voted to build a meeting-house on the north side of the road, by Mr. Hezekiah Ford's house ; voted to move the old house to this place, and make a porch in front of it. This seems to have been done, for further arrangements about pews are soon after made, and this was the house that stood so long above the pound.

A few later notes from the town records are added :

April 1, 1805 .- Voted Hezekiah Ford Jr., to take care of the meeting-house,-to wash it twice, and sweep it once a month, and sweep the alleys once a week, for 85.

April 7, 1806 .- Voted to paint the meeting-house anew, and to paint it white. Committee, Abel Packard, Stephen Warner, Nehemiah Richards, At the same meeting let the care of the meeting-house to James Loud, at 84.75. Voted for the Rev. James Briggs' salary, $200.

This same year votes were passed to provide a belfry. A pew was bought of Mr. Asa Gurney to make room for

448

HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

an entrance from the belfry to the floor of the meeting- house. Gallery-pews were also sold, showing that the house was undergoing changes and repairs at this time. Before this subject was disposed of they voted not to open a door on the lower floor, nor to allow Mr. Gurney any damages for cover- ing his window. The belfry was erected on condition that a bell should be placed in it by subscription, and there is the fol- lowing entry in relation to it the next year : " Voted to accept of the bell, and send the tongue to Mr. Holbrook and have one bigger, or as big as he will warrant the bell with." In 1818 it was voted to unite with the church in requesting neighboring ministers to supply the pulpit while Mr. Briggs is unable. Voted to pay Rev. Mr. Chaddock seven dollars a Sabbath.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. I, Part 147

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