History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. I, Part 161

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 161

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The warrant for a meeting Jan. 31, 1814, contained the clause : " To see if the town will prefer a memorial to the Legislature of this Commonwealth relative to an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, and to attend to amy other matters the town shall think proper relative to our unhappy situation as

At the meeting a long series of resolutions was adopted, the first three of which are as follows :

Resolved, That the present war in which we are involved is impolitic, unneces- sary, unjust, and consequently wicked, and that we will not voluntarily afford nny nid, directly or indirectly, in currying it ou.

Resolved, That if the war in which we are engaged were ever so just and neces- Anry, yet the way and manner in which it has been carried on argues the weak- news of the present administration to be without a parallel.

Resolved, That although we utterly disapprove of rising against Government,

yet the taxes that are soon to be collected of ns that have been laid by the na- tional Government we shall pay with the greatest reluctance.

These resolutions were accompanied by a memorial to the Massachusetts Legislature.

The first intention of marriage on record in the oldest town- book is between James Hunter, of Pelham, and Widow Sarah Nelson, of Goshen, April 21, 1783; the next, between Justis Lewis, of New Hartford, and Eleanor King, of Goshen, June 30, 1783. The first births on record are those of the Samuel Grimes family, commencing with the oldest, James Grimes, born Feb. 7, 1769, at Brookfield. Then follow the families of Stephen Graves, Joseph Narramore, Cyrus Lyon, Daniel Brown, Cheney Taft, Samuel Olds, Lemuel Lyon, William Bannister, Abner Baker, Caleb Cushman, Farnum White, and many others. There is a large amount of family history in these volumes, as the custom of publishing intentions of marriage brought them all to the town clerk for record. Several pages, too, are full of the marriages solemnized by Rev. Mr. Whitman and by Oliver Taylor, Esq.

On page 73 of the second volume of town records there is a report upon the James fund, showing it to amount to $367.74 in the year 1827.

Town-meetings were held "at the house of Jolin Wil- liams," now the homestead of Hinckley Williams, until the meeting-house was partially finished in the winter of 1782-83, and there they continued for fifty-one years. The meeting for Nov. 10, 1834, was called at the hall over the store of Ebenezer W. Town, and there they continued for several years. The first meeting called at " the town-hall" was that of Nov. 11, 1839. A meeting for Sept. 29, 1842, was called " to meet at the Congregational meeting-house." After that they met at " Bridgman's Hall" until the meeting of Nov. 12, 1849, which was the first called at the present town-hall.

SELECTMEN.

1781 .- Wm. White, Lemuel Lyon, Christopher Bannister. 1782 .- Win. White, Oliver Taylor, Christopher Bannister.

1783 .- Wm. White, Reuben Dresser, Lieut. Oliver Taylor.

1784-85 .- Wm. White, Reuben Dresser, Ebenezer Parsons.

1786 .- Dr. Benjamin Burger, Thomas Brown, Christopher Bannister, Samuel Grimes, Ebenezer Putney.

1787 .- Dr. Benjamin Burger, Deacon Oliver Tayler, Thomas Brown.

1788-89 .- W'm. White, Thomas Brown, Oliver Taylor.

1790 .- Reuben Dresser, Oliver Taylor, Benjamin Burger.

1791 .- Reuben Dresser, Lemuel Bannister, Barzillai Bannister.

1792 .- Reuben Dresser, Benjamin Burger, Oliver Taylor.

1793 .- Oliver Taylor, Thomas Brown, Nehemiah May. 1794 .- Oliver Taylor, Ambrose Stone, Nehemiah May. 1795 .- Nehemiah May, Ebenezer Parsons, Joseph Narramore.

1796 .- Reuben Dresser, Ebenezer Putney, Ambrose Stone.

1797 .- Licut. Nehemiah May, Joshua Abell, Jr., George Salmon.

1798 .- Oliver Taylor, Ambrose Stone, George Salmon.

1799,- Oliver Taylor, Ambrose Stone, Justin Parsons. 1800 .- Justin Parsons, George Salmon, Alpheus Narramore.

1801 .- Oliver Taylor, George Salmon, Alpheus Narramore. 1802 .- Oliver Taylor, John Williams, Solomon Parsons.

1803 .- Reuben Dresser, John Williams, Capt. Joseph Narramore.

1804-5 .- Justin Parsons, Ambrose Stone, George Salmon. 1806 .- Reuben Dresser, Ellis Coney, John Williams. 1807 .- Renben Dresser, Ambrose Stone, John Grant. 1808 .- John Grant, Giles Lyman, Gershom Cathcart.

1809 .- John Grant, Gershom Cathcart, Timothy Lyman, Jr.

1810-11 .- Jolin Grant, Joshua Abell, Jr., Timothy Lyman, Jr.

1812 .- John C. Lyman, Joshua Packard, Jr., Oliver Taylor. 1813 .- Oliver Taylor, Ambrose Stone, John C. Lyman. 1814 .- Maj. Stone, John C. Lyman, Benjamin White. 1815-16 .- John C. Lyman, Joshua Packard, Jr., Benjamin White. 1817 .- Maj. A. Stone, T. Lyman, R. Dresser.

1818,-Timothy Lyman, Benjamin White, Joseph Putney.

1819 .- Timotby Lyman, Benjamin White, Robert Welister. 1×20-23 .- Timothy Lyman, Robert Webster, Luther Stone. 1824 .- Benjamin White, Capt. John Grant, Joshna Sinnons.

1825 .- Benjamin White, Asahel Billings, Francis Lyman.

1826 .- Benjamin White, Luther Stone, Joshua Packard.

1827 .- Benjamin White, Joshua Simmons, Asabel Billings.

1828 .- Timothy Lyman, John Grant, Samuel Luce.

1829-31 .- Timothy Lyman, John Grant, Luther Stone.

1832 .- John Graut, Asahel Billings, Horace Packard.

1:33 .- Luther Stone, Asahel Billings, Horace Packard.

485

HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.

1834 .- Luther Stone, Asahel Billings, Franklin Narramore. 1835,-Asahel Billings, Moses Dresser, Horace Packard. 1836 .- Asahel Billings, Barney Prentice, William Titson. 1837 .- Emmons Putney, Fraucis Lyman, Selah Bardwell. 1838 .- Luther Stone, Asahel Billings, Moses Dresser. 1839 .- Luther Stone, Moses Dresser, William Abell. 1840 .- William Abell, Franklin Narramore, Horace Packard. 1×41 .- Luther Stone, Asahel Billings, Franklin Narramore. 1842 .- Benjamin White, West Tilson, Daniel Williams. 1843-44 .- Franklin Narramore, Luther Stone, Francis Dresser. 1845 .- Franklin Narramore, Ralph Utley, Freeman Sears. 1846 .- Ambrose Stone, Freeman Sears, West Tilson. 1847-49 .- Freeman Sears, Francis Dresser, West Tilson. 1850 .- Freeman Sears, Franklin Narramore, West Tilson. 1851 .- Franklin Narramore, Asahel Billings, George Abell. 1852 .- Asahel Billings, George Abell, John M. Smith. 1853-54 .- Asa White, Franklin Narramore, Ralph Utley. 1855,-Freeman Scars, Asahel Billings, Reuben Gardner. 1856 .- Freeman Sears, Hiram Barras, Calvin A. Packard. 1857 .- Freeman Scars, Hiram Packard, Henry White. 1858-59 .- Iliram Barrus, Calvin A. Packard, Caleb C. Dresser. 1860 .- Freeman Scars, Hiram Packard, Ralph E. Smith. 1861 .- Biram Barrus, Calvin A. Packard, Caleb C. Dresser. 1862 .- Calvin A. Packard, Caleb C. Dresser. Alonzo Shaw. 1863 .- Calvin A. Packard, Caleb C. Dresser, George Dresser. 1864 .- Calvin A. Packard, Alonzo Shaw, George Dresser. 1865-66 .- Calvin A. Packard, Alvin Barrus, Joshua Knowlton. 1867-68 .- Freeman Sears, Daniel Williams, Timothy D. Pierce. 1869 .- Calvin A. Packard, George Dresser, Alvin Barrus. 1870 .- Alvin Barros, T. P. Lyman, John H. Godfrey. 1871-72 .- Alvin Barras, John HI. Godfrey, Joseph Beals. 1873 .- William S. Packard, George Mayor, Elisha II. Haydeo. 1874 .- William S. Packard, Elisha H. Hayden, Lorin Barrus. 1875-76 .- William S. Packard, Lorin Barrus, John H. Godfrey. 1877-78 .- Alvin Barrus, Hiram Packard, John H. Godfrey. 1879 .- Alvin Barrus, Hiram Packard, Alonzo Shaw.

TOWN CLERKS.

Thomas Weeks, 1781-82; W'm. White, 1783-1813; Joseph White, 1814-27; Benjamin White, 1828-42; Elijah Billings, 1843-48; Ilattiel Washburn, Jr., 1849-51; Elijah Billings, 1852; Benjamin White, 1853-61; Alvin Barrus, 1862; Benjamin White, 1863; Joshua Knowlton, 1864-66; Elijah Billings, 1867-80.

REPRESENTATIVES TO THE GENERAL COURT.

Justin Parsons, 1805; Nehemiah May, 1806; Samuel Whitman, 1808; William White, 1809 ; Oliver Taylor, 1810-12; Nehemiah May, 1813; Oliver Taylor, ISH4 ; Ambrose Stone, 1815; Timothy Lyman, Jr., 1816; Ambrose Stone, 1827; . Joshua Simmons, 1828; Asahel Billings, 1834; Wm. Hubbard, 1836; Luther Stone, 1837; Asahel Billings, 1840; Fred. P. Stone, 1841; Franklin Narramore, 1842; Luther Stone, 1849; Wmn. Tilton, 1851 ; Asahel Billings, 1852; Franklin Narra- more, 1853; John C. Thompson, 1862; Calvin A. Packard, 1867; Hiram Packard, 1873; Alvin Burrus, 1879.

VILLAGES-LOCAL NAMES. GOSHEN CENTRE

is the only place that has any elaim to the name of a village in town. This consists of one street nearly a mile in length, extending from the cemetery and the residence of Hinckley Williams on the north, to (perhaps it may be proper to say) the place of Emmons Putney on the south. It includes quite a number of substantial private residences, some of them the old-time mansions of the last century ; the meeting-house of the Congregational Church ; the chapel of the Second Advent Society ; the town-hall ; the store of J. H. Godfrey ; and the Highland House. This is a large and convenient hotel, kept by the well-known. Maj. Hawks, a favorite with the traveling publie, and with those summer tourists who have discovered how charming a place this mountain village is in the hot months of the year. Once located here under the care of the major, upon the highest land in Hampshire County, enjoying the purest air of the Green Mountain chain, it is no wonder that guests are loath to leave and quick to come again. No- where does day dawn over the eastern hills with lovelier tints, nor paint the western sky with more resplendent colors. From the wide and pleasant piazzas of the Highland House charm- ing views greet the eye in every direction,-landscapes of un- equaled beauty, comprising mountains and valleys, forests and fields, rural homes and village mansions. But this is not all. Beautiful and romantic drives are everywhere open to the tourist. Moore's HIill is but a short distance away,-a fine

rounded elevation of open fields and unobstructed views, ris- ing six hundred feet above Mount Holyoke,-with a far wider range of vision. The whole town is so elevated that to climb the highest summit is an easy affair, neither fatiguing the traveler nor requiring a perpendicular railway. The cascade, the Devil's Den, and Lily Pond are worth many a visit, while numerous unnamed localities offer abundant attractions. The geologist may gather the choicest specimens known to science, and the botanist cull flowers of rich and rare beauty.

SCHOOLS.

Prior to the incorporation of the town, schools were kept mostly in private houses. The first school-house is said to have been built near the place owned in later years by Charles Barros, but the date is uncertain. James Richards, afterward of Plainfield, was the first teacher in that building. About the same time another school-house was built, near or on what has been known as the Putney farm, in the south part of the town.

As a part of Chesterfield there had already been schools kept within the present limits of Goshen, though we have little or no account of them. During the first six years the appropriations were small, and not regularly made. Some action was taken, however, to encourage the inhabitants to establish schools for themselves. A committee was finally appointed to divide the town into definite districts. This committee made a report, which has a double value. It shows not only the school districts, but the general location of the pioneer families ; and further, it is proper to suppose that it includes all the families of the town at that date, Oc- tober, 1781, and is therefore a valuable statement of early settlement complete.

Oct. 23, 1781 .- Voted to accept the report of the Committee upon school Dis- tricts, as follows : That Samuel Olds, John Hatch, Deborah Narramore, James Packard, Isaac Kingman, Ezekiel Thomas, Wait Burk, Samuel Snell, Joshua Packard, James Orr, John Jepson, Moses Elwell, Ambrose Stouc, Justin Parsons, Caleb Cushman, Barzillai Bannister, Sylvanus Lyon, Nathan Bigelow, and Thomas Hamilton constitute District No. I. That John James, Oliver Taylor, Lemuel Bannister, Ebenezer Amadon, Joel Gustin, Barnabas Potter, David Stearns, Cyrel Leach, Jesse Willcutt, William Bannister, Benjamin Bourn, Christopher Bannister, Samuel Grimes, Isaac Tower, Cyrus Lyon, aud Thomas Weeks constitute District No. 2. That John Smith, Ebenezer Parsons, Johto Williams, Lemuel Lyon, Nehemiah May, Benjamin Burger, Timothy Lyman, Artemas Stone, Widow Halbert, Reuben Luminis, Jedediah Buckingham, Ste- phen Grover, Thomas Brown, Daniel Brown, Dexter May, Edward Orcutt, Farnum White, Christopher Grant, Asa Grant, Adam Beal, William Hallock, Adam Beal, Jr., William Meader, and Benjamin Abell constitute District No. 3. That Joshua Abell, William White, Ebenezer Putuey, Reuben Dresser, Richard Tower, Thomas Tower, Moses Dresser, John King, Daniel Wyman, Nathaniel Vinton, James Lull, Joseph Blake, Ebenezer Paine, Ezekiel White, Widow White, Noah White constitute District No. 4.

Jan. 1, 1787 .- Voted to raise 150 pounds to build school-houses.

March 3, 1788,-School-house committees were appointed. For the Southwest District, Lemuel Bannister, Cyrus Lyon. For the Northwest District, Capt. B. Bannister and Abraham Stone. For the Northeast District, Nathaniel Abell and Capt. Jonathan Snow.

Dec. 8, 1789 .- Voted to raise the sum of 30 pounds for schooling.

Oct. 4, 1790 .- Voted to raise 30 pounds for schooling for the present year.

From 1790 to 1795 considerable change took place in the school districts. It seems to have been difficult to make a convenient arrangement adapted to all, either because of the irregular figure of the town, or the direction of the roads, or the face of the country as to hills and valleys. The four original districts seem to have been reduced to three, and then in later years changed to four again. In the earlier times ap- propriations do not appear to have been made every year for the support of the schools. The little given by the town was supplemented by the citizens of each district. The wages of teachers were low, so that schools were pretty well sustained for quite a portion of each year.

April 3, 1797 .- Voted to raise $250 for schooling.

March 5, 1798 .- Voted to raise 75 pounds for schooling.

March 11, 1799 .- Voted to raise 250 dollars for schooling, and William White Reuben Ilawes, Justin Parsons, Ambrose Stone, and Moses James were appointed school Committee.

486

HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

April 1, 1800, the dog tax was appropriated to the support of schools, and this year there were five districts and a com- mittce appointed for each. In 1802 a general school commit- tee was appointed,-Deacon Parsons, Deacon Taylor, Na- thaniel Abell, Joshua Abell, and Cyrus Stearns. Each one of these probably had special oversight of a particular district. In 1803 it was voted to raise $300 for schooling; 1804, $200; 1805, $300. The school committee of 1809 were Reuben Dresser, John V. Hunt, John Cargil, Jared Hawks, Green- wood Brown. In 1812, $300 were voted for schooling, and this was the usual sum for many years.

Under the act of the General Court, "Further to provide for the instruction of youths," the town chose, April 3, 1826, the following school committee: Rev. Mr. Wright, Joseph White, Capt. Grant, Dr. G. Wright, David Carpenter, Jared Hawks, Jr., Emmons Putney. This was the commencement of the modern management of the schools, succeeded a few years later by the appointment of a State secretary of educa- tion.

Select schools were frequently taught in this town in former years, and have flourished to some extent in later years, af- fording to many young people a better opportunity of educa- tion than the district schools afforded. Mr. Bradford taught one in 1824. E. W. B. Canning, afterward a poet of con- siderable renown, conducted one in 1830; Alfred Longley in 1832; Frederick Vinton in 1836; Mr. Partridge in 1837; L. F. Clark in 1839-41 ; W. H. Sheldon, 1840; R. C. Allison, 1848; Iliram Barrus, 1852-58; Miss Myra Holman, 1862.

In this connection we give a list of graduates and distin- guished men and women natives of Goshen. The facts are derived from Barrus' sketches of Goshen :

Rev. Wm. Hallock-not exactly a native, but coming here in 1766, six years old-became the well-known minister for forty years at Canton, Conn. He was a brother of the cele- brated minister and educator, Rev. Moses Hallock, of Plain- field.

Ralph Cushman graduated at Williams College, became a minister in Kentucky. His brother, Rufus Cushman, became a minister, and preached at Fairhaven, Vt.

Levi Parsons graduated at Middlebury College, 1814, An- dover, 1817; sailed for Palestine as a missionary, Nov. 3, 1819; reached Jerusalem, Feb. 17, 1821, and was engaged for a time in Bible and tract distribution. His health failed, and he died at Alexandria, Feb. 10, 1822.

Horatio Bardwell spent most of his boyhood in Goshen, though not born here; graduated at Dartmouth, 1814; or- dained a missionary, Oct. 23, 1815 ; arrived at Bombay, Nov. 1, 1816. His health failed, and he returned to this country after a few years.

Jason Olds became a minister, and settled in Ohio. Justice Parsons became a minister late in life, and preached in Ver- mont, at Whiting. Erastus Parsons entered the ministry and settled in Vermont. Silas also entered the same profession. Benjamin Parsons, at first a lawyer at Chesterfield, afterward entered the ministry. Preston Taylor, like Justice Parsons, left his farm in middle life to preach the gospel. William Williams graduated at Amherst, a classmate of Henry Ward Beecher, became a professor in Lagrange College, Alabama. Benjamin F. Brown graduated at Amherst, became a minister, and went to Virginia. Ezekiel Cheever Whitman graduated at Williams, became a minister and author. E. Putney Sal- mon entered the ministry, and settled in Ohio.

Alvan Stone commenced a course at Amherst, but left be- fore graduating, to enter upon an active career of religious work in Illinois, where he died at twenty-five in 1833.

Frederick W. Burgess studied at Williams, graduated at Union, died in 1838, at the early age of twenty-seven. B. Franklin Parsons graduated at Williams, became a noted teacher, also entered the ministry.

A very noted event in missionary history is the departure

from Goshen, Sept. 13, 1820, of John Smith, Elijah Bardwell, Calvin Cushman, and their families, as missionaries and teachers for the Choctaws in Mississippi. Their voyage and subsequent eventful eareer may almost be styled a missionary romance, proving that facts-and religious facts, too-are often stranger than fiction.

Goshen has been rather famous in furnishing wives for ministers and missionaries. Rhoda Bardwell married Rev. Wm. Fisher in 1807. Laura Bardwell, Rev. Calvin Cush- man, missionary to the Choctaws, and Sarah Bardwell, Rev. James Richards, missionary to Ceylon. Abigail Hallock married Rev. Joel Chapin. Esther Hallock, Rev. Josiah Hayden. Hannah Dresser married Rev. Abel Farley. Electa May, Rev. Mr. Kingsbury, missionary to the Choctaws. Hannah Putney, John Smith, of the Choctaw Mission. Pru- dence May married Rev. Wm. Babbitt. Electa Hawks, Rev. Wm. 11. Boardman. Theodocia Stowe, Rev. Rufus Cushman. Sophia Dresser, Rev. Samuel Walley. Ellen Smith, Rev. Robert C. Alison. Clarinda B. Williams, Rev. Lucius M. Boltwood. Martha Baker Williams, Rev. Wm. Carruthers. Silas Lyon entered the profession of law, and Lyman James ; Silas A. Burgess also. Wm. White, Jr., studied medicine, but died young. Araunah Bardwell became a physician, and George M. Burgess. Alfred White, a journalist.

SCHOOL STATISTICS.

January, 1847 .- Number of schools, 5; attending in summer, 118; average, 86; winter, 148; average, 113; in town, between 4 and 16, 134; under 4, 5; over 16, 15; summer schools, 19 months; winter, 14 months, 7 days; total, 33 months, 7 days ; summer teachers, 5 females; winter, 4 males, 2 females; male teachers' average wages per month, $16.67; female, $10.24.

January, 1857 .- Five schools; attending in summer, 100; average, 81 ; win- ter, 107; average, 83; under 5, 17; over 15, 15; in town, between 5 and 15, 93 ; summer teachers, 5 females; winter, 2 males, 2 females; summer schools, 16 months, 10 days; winter, 11 months, 3 days; total, 27 months, 13 days; average wages of male teachers per month, $28; female, $16.42.

January, 1867 .- Five schools; attending in the summer, 81; average, 69; winter, 93; average, 75; under 6, 5; over 15, 11 ; in town, between 5 and 15, 82; summer teachers, 5 females; winter, 1 female, 4 males; summer schools, 13 months; winter, 14 months; average wages of male teachers per month, $32; female teachers, $18.

Jannary, 1878 .- Four schools; repairs, $12.29; attending, 92; average, 56; under 5, 3; over 15, 18; in town, 67 hetween 5 and 15; teachers, 2 males, 5 fe- males; 2 from normal school; 25 months, 10 days of school; share of school fund, 8210.14; average wages of male teachers, $24 per month; female, $22; taxation, $350; board, fuel, etc., voluntarily given, $211; superintendence, $30.50; printing, $7.00.

CHURCHES.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF GOSHEN.

Immediately after the civil organization of the town the selectmen, as already stated, called a special meeting to con- sider matters connected with public worship.

The call then voted to Rev. Joseph Barker did not secure him as a regular pastor, though he preached for them some time. Calls were extended to others through several years,- Rev. Abraham Fowler, Rev. Reuben Parmalee, Rev. Elisha Hutchinson, Rev. Jeremiah Hallock, Rev. Jesse Remington, and Rev. Mase Shepard. All of these preached in Goshen for longer or shorter periods, but no one of them accepted the relation of settled pastor. Before the incorporation of the town the organization of the church had taken place, Dec. 21, 1780. It was constituted by Rev. Mr. Kilburn, of Chester- field, as it is stated, or perhaps by a council over which he pre- sided. The confession of faith and the covenant were only signed at the outset by Thomas Weeks and wife, Lemuel Lyon, Thomas Brown and wife, Daniel Brown, John Smith and wife.

After the long series of unsuccessful " calls," mentioned above, Rev. Samuel Whitman, of Ashby, finally accepted the overtures of the church. He was dismissed in 1818, owing, it is said, to some change in his belief that seemed to be a de- parture from the established doctrines of the Congregational Church. The desire for a change, which in later years has made pastorates so much briefer than formerly, undoubtedly

487

HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.

had some influence in bringing about the termination of Mr. Whitman's lahors.

The installation of Mr. Whitman took place Jan. 10, 1788, and was an occasion of much interest. The eouneil ineluded Rev. Timothy Allen, of Chesterfield; Rev. Joseph Strong, of Williamsburg ; Rev. Aaron Baseom, of Chester ; Rev. James Briggs, of Cummington. It will be seen that his pastorate lasted thirty years, and his name was a household word in all the families of the town. He had buried the dead of a gen- eration ; baptized the children ; united them in marriage, and pointed them all to the better life beyond.

Meeting-House .- The controversy shown in the town records of 1781-82 over the site of the meeting-house was evidently settled during the summer of 1782. Dec. 19, 1782, it was voted that John James, Capt. White, and Maj. Bannister be a committee to agree with Mrs. May and Lieut. Lyon for a quantity of land to set the meeting-house upon. At the same meeting plans for galleries and pews were considered, and the discussion over the site seems to have heen ended. Committee on plan for the galleries were Artemas Stone, Barzillai Ban- nister, Moses Hallock, Capt. Wm. White, Farnum White. 20th of January, 1783, chose the first wardens,-William IIal- loek and Oliver Taylor.

The first town-meeting held at the meeting-house was Dee. 19, 1782. August 6th they had met at the house of John Williams, so the house of worship was probably completed sufficient for use between those dates; and it was located "on the division-line between the lands of Widow Margaret May and those of Lieut. Lemuel Lyon," and must have actually been erected before any complete bargain was made for the land.

It was evidently expected that Rev. Abraham Fowler would be ordained at one time, as a committee was chosen to make arrangements. He did not, however, become the settled pastor.

Mrs. May was allowed an account for boarding Mr. Elisha Fish. Ile was probably a minister.

Oct. 2, 1784, Farnum White was allowed £1 48. " for riding after ministers."

July 26, 1786 .- Voted to raise the sum of fifteen pounds to build a pulpit in the meeting-house.

April 1, 1793 .- Voted that "the singers improve the fore seats in the gallery in the meeting-house on the Lord's day."

Propositions to remove the meeting-house began to appear in the town-meetings, 1796 to 1800.

Joshua White was an early singing-master in town.

April 4, 1818, the sum of $20 was voted to pay Rev. Abell Farley for preaching the past winter.

April 4, 1826 .- Voted a Committee to procure a base Viol for the church.

From 1825 to 1830 church notices grow less upon the town- books and disappear. The latest clauses in the warrants are in the following form : "To see if the Congregational Society will raise," ete. The old order of things was passing away. The union of church and town died out under the increase of different denominations and the impulse of modern views of religious liberty.

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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 161

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