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 160
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482
HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.
Other pioneers of whom we have but little account were Daniel Wyman (1770), Joseph Maynard (1770), Edward Wing, from Warren, William Meader, from Nantucket, Stephen Grover, John P. Tucker, Jacob Barrett, and Seth Burk
Samuel Narramore, two miles west of the meeting-house. Children : Nathaniel, Capt. Joseph, Thaddeus, Alpheus, Mrs. Whitcomb, and Mrs. Dr. Kittredge. Caleb Cushman. Chil- dren : Rufus and Ralph became ministers, and Calvin, the well-known missionary; and there were five daughters,- Wealthy, Theodama, Minerva, Vesta, Polly. Jared Hawks settled in Goshen soon after the Revolution, and married the daughter of Col. Nehemiah May. Elijah Billings, the long- time blacksmith, came from Belchertown in 1816. His grand- father was a Revolutionary soldier.
William Hallock, from Long Island, settled in Goshen in 1766. He had nine children who lived to grow up, seven of them daughters. The two sons were Rev. Moses Hallock and Jeremiah Hallock.
The Fourth of July, 1806, was celebrated at Goshen, Ches- terfield and Cummington uniting in the affair. An oration was delivered by Rev. Samuel Whitman. The dinner was served at the house of Maj. May. One of the toasts was, " The Government of Massachusetts: may the main pillar continue to be STRONG."
ORGANIZATION.
The people of the different portions of the town of Chester- field and of Chesterfield Gore found it difficult to harmonize upon a common centre for either public business or public worship. The distance of Ireland Street from the northeast portions was considerable, and the long struggle over the location of Chesterfield meeting-house is not surprising when these distances are considered, and when there is also added the rough topography of the surface, rendering travel in some directions vexations and difficult. These things soon led to a project for a new town. It was opposed for a time by Chester- field, as is usually the case when an attempt is made to divide an existing jurisdiction. The opposition was not, however, very strenuous or long continued. The people of Chesterfield felt as if their meeting-house had been located to please the peo- ple of the Gore, and that the latter ought not to secede. But the reasons offered were sufficient to influence the General Court, and the town of Goshen was therefore incorporated and organized as shown in the following records :
ACT OF INCORPORATION.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
In the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-one.
An act for the incorporation of the Plantation called Chesterfield Gore and the Northwesterly part of the town of Chesterfield, in the County of Hampshire, into a town by the name of Goshen.
Whereas, the inhabitants of the plantation called Chesterfield Gore, formerly known by the second additional grant made to Narragansett Township, No. 4, and those on the Northerly part of the brst additional Grant to said Narragan- sett Township, now included in the town of Chesterfield, aforesaid, have repre- sented to this court the great difficulties and inconveniences they labor under in their present situation, and have earnestly requested that they be incorpo- rated into a town.
Be it therefore enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, the plantation called ('hes- terfield Gore and that part of the first additional Grant to Narragansett Town- ship aforesaid, now included in the town of Chesterfeld, and bounded as followeth, viz. : Beginning at the Southeast corner of the second additional Grant, or Ches- terfield Gore, thenre North, bounding Westerly on nuappropriated lands eight hundred and sixty-four rods to Ashfield South line; thence cust nineteen do- grees South on said Ashfield South line till it comes to Conwny west line ; thence South nineteen degrees west on said Conway west line to a bounds formerly known by Hatfield Northwest corner; thence South eleven degrees west on Wil- liamsburgh west line to the Southeast corner of the first additional grant to said Narragansett, Number 4 ; thence west on the South line of said grant six hun- dreil and fifty-fonr rods, including the whole of the four-tier of the original lots on the said brst additional grant ; thence North eleven degrees east on the west line of the aforesaid four-tier of original lots four hundred and fifty rods to the Northwest corner of the original Lot No. Twenty-nine ; thence west three hun- red and twenty-six rods to the Southwest corner of lot No. Ninety-four, being
the Northwest corner of the Pine-tioiber lot so called; thence North eleven degrees East four hundred rods to the South line of the second additional grant, or Chesterfield Gore ; thence west to first-mentioned bounds, be, and hereby is, incorporated into a separate town by the name of Gosben, with all the powers, privileges, and immunities that towns within this Commonwealth bave or do enjoy.
And be it furtber enacted that Jacob Sherwin, Esq., be, and hereby is, em- powered to issne his warrant to some principal inhabitant of said plantation, requiring him to call a meeting of said inhabitants, in order to choose such: officers as, by law, towns are empowered to choose, in the month of March annually, provided, nevertheless, the inhabitants of that part of the first addi- tional grant, which are included in the town of Chesterfield, sball pay their proportionate part of all such State and county taxes and town taxes, so far as respects the raising of men and supplies for the Continental army, as are already set upon them by the town of Chesterfield, in like manner as though this act had not been made.
In the House of Representatives, May 14, 1781. This Bill, having had three several readings, passed to be enacted.
CALEB DAVIS, Speaker.
In Senate, May 14, 1781. This bill, haviog had two several readings, passed to be enacted.
JEREMIAH RUSSELL, President.
Approved, JOHN HANCOCK.
A true copy. Attest, JOHN AVERY, Secretary.
WARRANT FOR THE FIRST TOWN-MEETING.
HAMPSHIRE COUNTY, SS. :
To Mr. Nehemiah May, of Goshen, in said county, greeting : Whereas the Great and General Court of this Commonwealth did, at their session in May instant, by an act of said Court, erect the Plantation called Chesterfield Gore, formerly known by the second additional grant, made to Narragansett township No. 4, and those in the northwardly part of the first additional grant to said Narragansett Township, in said county aforesaid, into a town by the name of Goshen. investing the inhabitants thereof with all the powers, privileges, and immunities which the inhabitants of the towns within this commonwealth do enjoy, and at the same time empowered me, the subscriber, one of the justices of the peace within and for the said connty of Hampshire, to issue my warrant for calling the first meeting.
These are therefore in the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, to require you forthwith to notify and warn the inhabitants of Goshen aforesaid, lately belonging to Chesterfield, qualified by law to vote in town-meetings, to as- semble themselves together and meet at the dwelling-bouse of Mr. John Williams, in the town of Goshen aforesaid, on Wednesday, the 23d day of May instant, at one of the clock in the afternoon, theo and there, after a moderator being chosen, to choose all such officers as are required by law to manage the affairs of said towa.
Ilereof fail not, but make returns of this warrant with your doings thereupon unto myself on or before said dny.
Given under my hand and seal at Ashfield, this 19th day of Muy, in the year of our Lord 1781, and in the bfth year of our independence.
JACOB SHERWIN, Justice of the Peuce.
Another warrant was issued by Jacob Sherwin, Esq., at the time, and same in substance with the above, directed to Mr. Barzillai Bannister, to warn the second additional grant.
Attest : SOLOMON WEEKS, Town Clerk.
MINUTES OF THE FIRST TOWN-MEETING.
At a legal Meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Gosben, beld at the house of John Williams in said town on the 23d day of Mny, 1781, Jacob Sherwin, Esq., Moderator, said inhabitants made choice of Thomas Weeks for their Clerk; Mr. Joshmia Abell, Treasurer for said town; Capt. Wm. White, Lieut. Lemuel Lyon, and Maj. Christopher Bannister, Selectmen for said town. Voted that the above selectmen be assessors for said town. Voted to choose two constables. Mado choice of Thomas Brown and Ebenezer Parsons for constables in said town. Voted that Messrs, Lemuel Bannister and Faroum White serve as Tythingmen, Voted that Farnum White, Lemuel Bannister, Ebenezer Putney, Lieut. Timothy Ly- man, Thomas Weeks, and Barzillai Baanister be Surveyors of Ways and Bridges. Voted that John Smith and Maj. Christopher Bannister he Fence-Viewers. Voted that Samuel Olds be Leather-Sealer. Voted that Barzillai Bsnoister be Deer- Reeve. Voted that John Williams be Scaler of Weights and Measures. Voted that Nehemiah May, Daniel Brown, Barzillai Bannister, and Lemuel Bannister be Hog-Reeves. Voted that the Surveyors of Ways and Bridges he Collectors of Taxes for the same. Said meeting was then dissolved.
The newly-elected selectmen immediately called another town-meeting, that assembled at the house of John Williams on Monday, the 4th day of June, 1781 :
Capt. Wmn. White was chosen Moderator. Voted to raise the sum of fifty wwounds, silver money, for the use of Repairing the Highways in said town. Voted that the said sum of fifty pounds be laid out upon the Highways at the rate of 3 shillings per day for a man, 1 shilling 6 pence for a good yoke of oxen, and one shilling for a cart and the same for a plough for a day. On a motion whether logs should run at large, passed in the negative. On a motion whether the town would raise a sum of money for the use of hiring preaching, passed in
483
HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.
the negative. Voted to raise the sum of eight dollars, silver money, for the use of purchasing a book for the records of said towo and paper for the said town. On a motion whether the town would petition for a part of the State's land and the Chandler grant lying west uf said town, to he annexed thereto as will best accommodate said town, voted in the affirmative, but it was afterward reconsid- ered and uo action authorized. Voted to give Mr. Joseph Barker a call to settle with them in the work of the ministry. Voted to make proposals for the settle- mient of Mr. Barker, and appointed Maj. Banuister, Thomas Brown, Lemmel Bannister, Lieut. Timothy Lyman, and Ebenezer Putney a Committee to draw up said proposals. Voted to adjourn to Thursday, Jnue 21st, at 4 o'clock P.M.
June 21, 1781 .- Met according to adjouroment. Voted that said town will give Mr. Joseph Barker the guin of 100 pounds as an encouragement, provided he should settle with them in the work of the ministry,-the same to be paid at the rate of rye 3s. per bushel and Indian-corn 2s, per bushel.
Voted that if he should settle with them his salary shall be forty pounds the first year, and after that to increase annually five pounds until it amounts to sixty-five pounds, and then to he stated at the said sum of sixty-five pounds an- nually at the rate above described.
Voted that Messrs. Lemuel Bannister, David Stearns, and Thomas Brown be a committee to wait upoo Mr. Barker with the proceedings of said town with respect to the offers made him above.
Tuesday, Aug. 21, 178I .- Voted to accept the doings of the militia officers and selectmen in raising three militia subliers for three months.
Voted to raise the sum of thirty-six pounds three shillings for the purpose of paying the houoty and wages of three soldiers for three months' service, agree- ably to a Resolve of the General Court of the 30th of June, 1781.
Voted to procure five linen shirts, five pairs of stockings, fivo pairs of shoes, and two blankets, for the Continental army, agreeable to a resolve of the General Court passed June 22, 1781.
Voted to procure this town's proportion of beef for the army according to the act of June 22d, viz.,-210I pounds of beef,-and to raise the sum of thirty-two pounds of money for said purpose.
Voted that Ebenezer Putney, Lemnet Banuister, and Thomas Hamilton be a committee to purchase said bref.
At a towu meeting Oct. 16, 17x1, Capt. Wm. White, Moderator.
Vutell a committee upon preaching, viz.,-Lemuel Baunister, Thomas Brown, Farnum White, Thomas Weeks, David Stearns.
Voted to raise fifteen pounds for the above purpose,
Voted a committee to divide said town into school districts, viz.,-Ebenezer Putney, Timothy Lyman, Thomas Hamilton, Benjamin Burger, Oliver Taylor, Christopher and William Hallock.
Voted to pay vue pound to John Williams for the use of his house the year past.
At a town-meeting Nov. 7, 1781, Maj. Christopher Bannister, Moderator.
Chose a committee of seven to set up a stake iu the most convenient place to set a meeting-house on the hill in Lient. Lyman's field, and another in the most convenient place for said house south of the burying-ground. The committee were David Stearns, Lemuel Lyon, John James, Lemuel Baunister, James Packard, Thomas Hamilton, Joshma Abell.
Adjourned the meeting fifteen minutes,
The committee made prompt work driving those stakes, for when the meeting assembled at the end of the fifteen minutes, it was voted " to set the meeting-house south of the burying- yard where said committee had set up a stake for that purpose."
Voted "to build a meeting-house 50 feet in length and 40 in width; the posts to be tico feet shorter thun Chesterfieldl meeting-house."
Voted to build a porch in front of said house for the accommodation of going up gallery.
Voted a committee on plan and on the sale of pews, viz .: John James, Bar- zillai Bannister, Ebenezer Putney, Artetuas Stone, and Lemuel Bannister.
The committee were to lay out the money arising from the sale of pews in building the meeting-house.
Nov. 15, 178I .- Voted to reconsider the former action for oue porch, and voted to have tico porches, one ut euch end.
Voted to reserve the pew on the right hand next to the pulpit for the use of the town.
Voted that the pew ground on the lower floor be divided into thirty-eight equal parts, as near as may be.
Voted to raise the sum of 25 pounds for schooling.
Tuesday, Dec. 21, 1781 .- William White, Moderator.
Voted that Mr. Joshua Abell be the person to receive the donations that may be given in this town to the support of the sufferers in the Southern States, agreeable to a brief from his Excellency, Johe Hancock, and pay the same to the gentlemen said brief directs.
Voted that the committee to hire preaching are hereby instructed to hire Mr. Abraham Fowler to preach ten Sabbaths more after the next Sabbath.
Voted to choose a committee of three to give reasons to the General Court (in behalf of said town) why a number of inhabitants of this town should not be set off to Chesterfield as lust they can. Committee: Capt. William White, Maj. Christopher Baunister, and Barzillai Baomister.
Jan. 10, 1782 .- Maj. Christopher Bannister, Moderator.
Voted that the town will make answer to a petition of Moses Dresser and others why the prayer of said petition should not be granted at the next sitting of the General Court.
Capt. William White, Maj. Christopher Bannister, Lieut. Lemuel Lyon were Damed as a committee to draft said answer.
Voted that the Selectmen be instructed to make a just representation to the General Court of the valuation to be taken from Chesterfield aod set to this town.
At the first regular March meeting, held on the 4th day of the month, 1782, Mr. John James was chosen Moderator; Thomas Weeks, Town Clerk ; Thomas Brown, Town Treasurer; Capt. William White, Maj. Christopher Bannister, Lieut. Oliver Taylor, Selectmen; John James, Reuben Dresser, Capt. William White, Assessors ; Barzillai Banister, Nehemiah May, Constables; Faroum White, John Smith, Tythingmen ; Maj. Christopher Bannister, Faruum White, Moses Dresser, Barzillai Baonister, Artemas Stone, Ebenezer Putney, Surveyors of Ways and Bridges; James Packard, Adam Beals, Fence-Viewers; Samuel Olds, Leather- Sealer; Christopher Grant, Deer-Reeve; John Williams, Sealer of Weights and Measures; Justin Parsons, Daniel Brown, David Stearns, Capt. William White, Cyrus Lyon, Hog-Reeves. Voted to allow Thomas Weeks the sum of nine shil- lings for his service surveying roads in said town. Voted that each school district draw their proportion of the money granted by said town for the purpose of schooling.
At another meeting, April 1, 1782 .- Voted to accept several roads laid out during the previous year by the surveyors. Voted to allow the Widow Margaret May the sum of four pounds eight shillings, for Wwarding Mr. Barker four weeks at 68., and his horse do., at 2s., and boarding Mr. Fowler seven weeks, at Gs., and his horse do., at 2s. Total £4 8s.
At a town-meeting, April 3, 1782, presided over by the Selectmen, the follow- ing votes were given : For Governor, John Hancock, 11 votes; James Bowdoin, 5 votes. Lieutenant-Governor, Thomas Cushing, 13 votes, For Councillor and Senator, Noah Goodman, 14 votes; John Bliss, 14 votes; Samuel Mather, 14 votes; David Smead, 14 votes.
April 1, 1782 .- Wm. White, Moderator. Voted to raise 65 pounds for repairing highways. Voted to allow 3s. per day for a man to the last day of July, and 2s. 6d. from theo to the last of October. Voted that the town confirm what the assessors have done with respect to classing said inhabitants to raise two Conti- mental soldiers, agreeable to the resolve of the General Court. John James, Oliver Taylor, and Reuben Dresser were appointed a committee to settle with the treasurer. Voted to choose a delegate to send to the County Convention at Hatfield, and elected Wm. White said delegate. Yoted to raise 20 pounds for the support of preaching.
April 6, 1782 .- Voted to accept the report of the cotumittee to settle with the treasurer,
May 13, 1782 .- Voted that the Ministry Committee be hereby directed to hire Mr. Fish to preach eight Sabbaths more than he is now engaged for. Voted Dr. Benjamin Burger to be a delegate to the Convention to meet at Hatfield, May 14th. Ebenezer Putney, Mr. Orcutt, Capt. White, Lieut. Taylor, and Reuben Dresser were appointed a committee to instruct said delegate.
May 20, 1782 .- Capt. Wol. White, Moderator. Voted to centre said town and build a meeting-house in the centre, or the nearest convenient placo thereto. Chose Renbeen Dresser, Thomas Hamilton, Joshua Abell, Barzillai Bannister, and John James a committee to fiod the centre of the town. Voted that swine run at large the present year, yoked and ringed, as the law directs. Voted to hear the report of the agent returned from the County Convention. Voted to reconsider the vote to set the meeting-honse where the timber now lies. Voted to accept the report of the committee upon the centre of the town. Voted an- other committee to find the nearest convenient place to the centre to set the meeting-house. Committee, Reuben Dresser, Thomas Hamilton, Joshna Abell, Barzillai Bannister, Julin James, Maj. Bannister, Dr. Burger, Ebenezer Putney, Ebenezer Parsons, and Lemuel Lyon. Adjourned for half an hour. Called to order again. Committee returned, and report accepted, and, as it appears, in accordance therewith, voted that the town " would set the meeting-house abont teu rods North of Lieut. Lemuel Lyons' house, a stake being set up for the South- east corner thereof."
May 21, 1782 .- Maj. Christopher Bannister, Moderator. "Voted to choose an indifferent committee to affix a place to set the meeting-house in the centre of the towo or the nearest most convenient place thereto." Chose Deacon Eben- ezer Suell, of Cummington, Capt. Benjamin Phillips, of Ashfield, Josiah Dwight, of Williamsburgh. Voted to add three to the above committee, with the pro- viso that the former or either of themu should fail of attending, viz., William Ward, Jacob Sherwin, and William Bodman, Voted said committee be requested to attend a meeting of said towo on Monday next, at 9 o'clock. Voted that the committee be governed by plans already drawn for finding the centre of the town. Voted a committee of five to wait upon the committee from abroad, viz., Capt. Win. White, Joshua Abell, Thomas Hamilton, Reuben Dresser, Barzillai Bannister. Voted that any person or persons should lay any papers or reasons before said committee for their consideration respecting setting or affixing a place for said house.
May 30, 1782 .- Capt. William White, Moderator. Voted to set the meeting- house on the division line between Lieut. Lemuel Lyon and the Widow Margaret May's lands, on the east side of the road leudling from the Widow May's to said Lyons.
This was the final decision.
One account of the selection of the name is given by Mrs. William Tilton. Her mother told her she heard Oliver Taylor say, after returning from a preliminary meeting on the sub- ject of division, that they were going to call the new town Goshen, because it was the best part of Chesterfield, as ancient Goshen was the best part of Egypt.
Local home independenee shows out strong in the following :
484
HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.
Sept. 22, 1783 .- Voted not to pay any Continental, State, or County taxes uutil Con- gress resvindt their former rote about allowing fire years' pay to the officers of the Con- tinental urmy.
In the warrant for a meeting, Jan. 16, 1797, one article was this :
" To see if the town will agree to let any person hure the small-pox in this town by way of inoculation which have not been exposed to jt, or what order the town will take upon it." And accordingly the town appointed Dr. Benjamin Burger, Ebenezer Putney, Deacon Oliver Taylor, Capt. Ambrose Stone, Lient. Nehemiah May, Justin Parsons, Deacon Thomas Brown, Lieut. Ebenezer Parsons, a com- mittee "to conduct the business respecting the small-pox as they shall see fit."
And thus we reach the end of one year's work by the new town of Goshen, the above account being an almost ver- batim transeript of the entire records of the year found in the office of the town clerk. They show what a variety of ques- tions the town was compelled to consider at the very outset of its official existence. It was yet unsettled whether a national government was to be established, or whether these States were again to become provinces under the dominion of his Majesty George III. Churches, schools, roads, taxes, the support of the poor,-in short, all the minute details of domestic neces- sities,-were to be adjusted in the very presence of the over- shadowing storm of civil revolution.
Bravely, steadily they met all these responsibilities. They voted, sometimes in close connection, to furnish soldiers for the army, buy beef to feed them, procure clothing for them, hire a minister, establish schools, open roads, permit hogs to run at large if properly yoked, drive stakes to designate a site for a meeting-house, send out a committee to drive them over again in half an hour, audit a bill for the board of the minister, guard the integrity of their own territory, send agents to Boston to resist applications for a division, face the incipient troubles of the hard times that a little later culminated in Shays' rebel- lion,-and all this in the first year of their history ! Surely the men of Goshen were men of whom any age might be proud,-men worthy to be the founders of a nation, as they were the organizers of a town.
At a town-meeting, April 1, 1805, voted to accept a grant made to the town in the will of the late John James, said grant being the sum of $100, to be placed on interest and to accumulate for one hundred years ; all expense of the invest- ment to be paid by the town, so that the revenue from the principal shall not be diminished at all by the care of the fund. At the end of one hundred years the principal and the accu- mulated interest are to constitute a vested fund forever, the interest of which shall be annually used for the support " of a gospel minister in said town of the Congregational standing order, so called," for the support of schools, and for the sup- port of the poor in said town, or for the building and repairing of public buildings, as the case may be. There is a good time ahead for the Goshen taxpayers of 1905.
In the warrant for a town-meeting, to be held April 4, 1808, was the following clause : " To see if the town will forward a memorial to the Congress of the United States, praying for an explanation of their measures respecting the Embargo and re- dress of Grievances, or what order they will take upon it." And the town voted a committee to draft such a memorial,-Deacon Taylor, William White, Deacon Parsons, and Col. May.
The warrant for a meeting Aug. 23, 1808, contains the clanse: "To see if the towu will forward a petition to the President of the United States, asking for a suspension of the Embargo." This action was taken in view of a circular letter from the selectmen of Boston.
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