History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. I, Part 166

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 166

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CHURCHES.

Very early arrangements for religious worship were made by the people of Chesterfield. The next year after the incor- poration of the town the sum of £200 was voted " to build a meeting-house, settle a minister, and repair the roads." This may seem to the people of these modern times as blending some unlike things in one resolution ; but it was one of the most important advantages of good roads that people could get to meeting by means of them. In this view the vote provided for a meeting-house, for a minister, and for roads, so that the people could go to hear him,-propositions all germane to each other, and naturally connected in one vote. Committees were ap- pointed to carry out this vote. They were to find the centre of the town, build a meeting-house at or near that point, and provide preaching. It was several years before all this was accomplished, but the preaching was secured immediately, and meetings were held alternately at two houses in different parts of the town. Rev. Thomas Allen, afterward the well-known patriotic minister of Pittsfield, preached in Chesterfield in the summer of 1763.

We quote from the actual records some account of the trans- actions alluded to above :

At a town-meeting, May 9, 1763, Ezra May, Moderator, among various items of business were the following : " Chose Ezra May, Daniel Winter, Eleazer King a committee to provide preaching. Voted to build a meeting-house in the centre of the town of Chesterfield aforesaid, if it be a convenient place, and if not, the next convenient place from it. Chose Joseph Buruell, Benjamin Bonney, Ezra May, Joshna llealy, Everton Beswick a committee to build said meeting-house. Chose Benjamin Bryant, Joseph Burnell, and Lemnel Lyon a committee to find the said centre of Chesterfieldl. Voted to meet every other Sabbath at Mr. Rob- ert Webster's, aud every other Sabbath at Mr. Jeremiah Stock well's."

Robert Webster's was the present farm of Hiram Bates, in the town of Goshen, and Jeremiah Stockwell's was on what is called "the monnt," near, and a little north of, the present residence of Rev. Edward Clark.

Aug. 8, 1763 .- " Voted to cancel and disannul all the votes that were passed at the meeting of May 9th, relating to a proper spot to set a meeting-house upon, also all the votes that were passed relating to building a meeting-house, and also for raising money to build a meeting-house."

Having thus swept away the former action, they proceeded :

" Voted to build a meeting-house. Put to vote to see if the town will set the meeting-honse on the highest piece of land on Mr. Archplaus Anderson's wheat- field,-decided in the negative. Then voted to come into a method to set the meeting-house in the centre, or the nearest place to the centre that shall be thought convenient. Chose five men as a committee for said purpose,-Ezra May, Joseph Beal, Robert Hamilton, Benjamin Bonney, Seth Burk,-and made choice of Benjamin Tupper for a surveyor. Also chose a committee to agree with the owners of land to set the meeting-honse apon, viz. : Benjamin Bouncy, Seth Sylvester, Benjamin Bryant. Voted to build a meeting-house fifty feet wide and sixty feet long. Chose as building committee Benjamin Bonney, Ezra

500

HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

May. Archelaus Anderson, Prince Cowing, and Joseph Burnell, Voted to hire Mr. Allen for a longer term to preach on probation. Voted to meet one-half of the time at Archelaus Anderson's and the other half at Joseph Burnell's."

Oct. 3, 1763 .- Committee upon place reported that, by the aid of the surveyor, they had determined " the centre to be about 24 rods Nuith of the County Road, a little east of the first slough east of Archibald Anderson's wheat-field ; and that not being a convenient place, the committee agreed to set the meeting-house 16 rods Southwest, on a more convenient plare." This report was accepted by the town.

March 5, 1764 .- Voted to cancel the vote accepting the report of Oct. 34; and voted, further, " that Ezra May and Joseph Burnell be a committee to find the centre of the town to build a meeting-house upon or the nearest convenient place to it, and also have the assistance of Capt. Dwight, of Cold Spring, as a Surveyor; and if it shall be judged by the aforesaid Capt. Dwight that the centre is where the former committee declared it to be, then the abovesaid Ezra May and Joseph Burwell are not to be paid for their trouble ; but if the centre shall be judged to be from that place, then the town will pay the cost of finding it." Building Committee again appointed,-Benjamin Bonney, Robert Webster, Benjamin Bry- ant, and Joseph Burnell. Voted the meeting-house to be 45 feet wide and 58 feet long. Voted a committee to procure a minister to preach on probation,- Ezra May, Jeremiah Stockwell, and Jeremiah Spalding.

May 10, 1764 .- Capt. Dwight reported as follows: " 1 went in company with Mr. Ezra May and Josepb Burnell, in order to find the centre of the town, and began at a certain known boundary on the north line of the town, and run 114 rods without any allowance, and came out at the foot of the hill just over the dead River. Then I added 38 rods to the measure, which carried us near the top of the hill, which is the centre of the town; and that not being a convenient place to set a meeting-house, we looked around and found a convenient place about 20 rods further southwestward, and we run to that, where we marked a beech-staddle thus, E M; J B; N D; J F ;* with stones by it, which staddle stands 124 rods east of Archelaus Anderson's fence the east side of his field, where we marked a maple-staddle.

" NATHANIEL DWIGHT.

"SALMON KENTFIELD,

" JONATHAN FOSTER,

Chain-men."

This report was accepted by the town, and we infer that Ezra May and Joseph Burnell were entitled to receive pay for their services.

This is a part of the town action. The whole is too long for this sketch, and we can only give a summary statement of the final action. It may, however, be an interesting study for the young surveyors of Chesterfield now to determine the site designated by the first committee, and also that of the second, and find the location of the "becch-staddle" and of the " maple-staddle."

It could easily be inferred from the above record that there was no meeting-house for several years. The first committee of 1763, as shown above, was succeeded by several others before the centre of the town was found and a house of worship erected. The aid of outside parties appears to have been in- voked, and in June, 1767, Maj. Selah Barnard, of Deerfield, and Col. Wm. Williams, of Pittsfield, reported in favor of a site, and it was accepted by the town. But in March of the next year, in order to better accommodate the people living in " Chesterfield Gore" (afterward Goshen ), the site was changed, and the town voted to remove the timber to the new site, which was about a mile north of the centre, at what is now known as Utley's Corners, and there it was at last actually built, the " raising" taking place in July, 17G8. The house was used as soon as possible, while in an unfinished state, pews neither on the ground floor nor in the gallery being completed. It was not finished until some twenty years later, and soon afterward the necessity of accommodating the Gore ceased, Goshen having been incorporated and a separate church formed. This meet- ing-house was accordingly taken down in 1791, and the ma- terials used to build another, on the site ever since occupied for that purpose. But, though the fathers contended earnestly for the right place to build, yet they were united in providing for religious worship somewhere, and this was not delayed by the controversy.

July 19, 1764 .- Voted to give Mr. Benjamin Mills a call to settle in the min- istry; voted to offer him 150 pounds settlement, lawful money, to be paid in one year, exclusive of a right of land in said town, and a salary of 42 pounds the first year, with 5 pounds to be added yearly, until the sum should amount to 80 pounds, and that to be the fixed salary. Chose a committee to lay those votes before Mr. Mills, viz .: Eleazer King, Joshua Healey, Benjamin Tupper, Ezra May, Seth Sylvester.

Oct. 22, 1764 .- Chose a committee to ask the advice of neighboring ministers in a council, viz. : Ezra May, Joshua Healey, Benjamin Tupper. Same com- mittee directed to provide for the ordination of Mr. Mills.

ACCOUNT OF EXPENSES FOR THE INSTALLATION OF REV. TIMOTHY ALLEN, AUDITED AND ALLOWED BY THE TOWN, JUNE 4-20, 1785.

By Capt. Ilealey :

€

To 5 gallons of West India run ... 1

" 1, 1b. of allspice.

1 0

" 12 1 14 1b. of pepper. 0

" 6 1bs. of sugar .. 0

" a journey to Northampton and expense. 0

" 1 1b. of coffee, 18. 4d. time and expense.

" sundries lld., 5 lbs. loaf sugar 18. 3d. 0

" 1 oz. nutmeg.

" 46 1hs. veal at 3d.

11 f

" 25 lbs. flour.

" 11 lbs. cheese 0

" 1 bus. French turnips.

- 4

By Col. Benjamin Bonney :

€

To 8 lbs. pork at 7d ..

" time and expense. U

By Capt. Amasa Clapp:

€

To 12 lbs. veal at 3d.

" 8 1bs, butter at &dl ..

By John Russell :

it.

To 7 lbs. butter at &d.

" I duz. eggs ..

" time and expense

To Mr. Thomas Rodgers for temdling. 0

" Mr. Qnance for help to cook.

" Mrs. Quance for help to cook. 0

" Mrs. Abigail Tucker for help to cook. 0

II 0

Total 6

It is evident that the town made ready for a good time in the way of material things as well as spiritual.

All the preliminary movements for religious services were made by the town in its official capacity, as was the custom in New England. Church organization soon followed.

THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF CHESTERFIELD

was formally organized Oct. 30, 1764, and the ministers assist- ing were Rev. Samuel Hopkins, of Hadley, and Rev. John Hooker, of Northampton. There were seven members besides the Rev. Benjamin Mills, who had received a call from the town the preceding July, had accepted, and commenced his labors. He was installed as the first pastor of the newly- formed church November 22d, three weeks after the organiza- tion. The first members were Benjamin Mills, Joseph Bur- nell, Joshua Healey, David Stearns, Ezra May, Robert Ilamil- ton, Benjamin Tupper, and Geo. Buck. Their names are signed to the covenant. Ezra May and Benjamin Tupper were chosen the first deacons January 9th of the following winter. The former was afterward the well-known Maj. May of the Revolutionary times. The latter became Gen. Tupper, and, removing to Ohio, was one of the pioneers at Marietta.

The first meeting-house was repaired in 1814-15, and stood till 1835, having been in use ahout sixty-seven years. The new house was dedicated Nov. 18, 1835. July 4, 1838, it was voted to build a parsonage, and it was erected not long after.

Record of Pastors .- Ist. Rev. Benjamin Mills, ordained Nov. 22, 1764; dismissed by reason of poor health, Dec. 21, 1774; he continued to reside in town, and became prominent in public affairs during the war of the Revolution. 2d. Rev. Josiah Kilburn, ordained Nov. 9, 1780; died while absent from the town, in September, 1781, probably about twenty- six years old. 3d. Rev. Timothy Allen, installed June 15, 1785; he had already preached one year ; was seventy years

" G Ibs. of rice ....

# 1g 1h. Boliea tea.

4 9 lbs. Malaga raisins at 18. 2d. 0

" time and expense 4

* The town record is obscure.

501

HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.

old when installed ; his services ceased in 1796; he remained in town, and died Jan. 12, 1806. 4th. Rev. Isaiah Waters, ordained Nov. 22, 1796; he remained for thirty-five years, when, at his request, he was dismissed. He died at Wil- liamsburg, N. Y., Dec. 23, 1851. Rev. Benjamin Holmes supplied the pulpit for two years. 5th. Rev. Israel G. Rose, installed Nov. 18, 1835; he died while still pastor, Feb. 5, 1842, at the age of forty-three. 6th. Rev. Oliver Warner, ordained June 6, 1844; his services closed by reason of ill health, June 5, 1846. Mr. Warner, however, supplied the pulpit considerably before the settlement of another pastor. 7th. Rev. Samuel W. Barnum, ordained Jan 25, 1853; dis- missed Jan 25, 1855, and there were services by Rev. O. M. Sears for a time. 8th. Rev. John E. Corey, stated supply, commencing, as appears by the first entry, May 1, 1856; labors closed April 29, 1859. 9th. Rev. J. W. Allen, labors commenced May 15, 1859; closed May 11, 1862. 10th. Rev. William W. Rose, stated supply, labors commenced May 25, 1862; ordained by a council that met Dec. 28, 1862; labors terminated April 30, 1864. 11th. Rev. J. A. Wilkins, May 1, 1864; services closed at the end of the year, May 1, 1865. 12th. Rev. Edward Clarke, May 1, 1865, to April 30, 1872. 13th. Rev. I. P. Smith, May 1, 1872; services continued about a year. 14th. And lastly, Rev. William A. Fobes; services commenced the last Sabbath of June, 1873, and he con- tinnes, the present pastor.

The list of deacons includes Ezra May, Benjamin Tupper, Benjamin Pierce, Thomas Halbert, Nathaniel Coleman, Spencer Phelps, John Russell, Benjamin Pierce, Asahel Searl, Timothy A. Phelps, Seth Healey, Rufus Burnell, Sidney S. Smead, David Healey, and William Baker. The last named is the sole acting deacon at present ; he was chosen May 17, 1861. Deacon Smead removed to Sunderland ; Deacon David Healey to Westfield ; Deacon Rufus Burnell died at Aurora, Ill., March 7, 1875; Deacon Seth Healey died a few years since ; Deacon Phelps died in South Deerfield.

The first baptism recorded, Jan. 13, 1765, Joel, son of Lem- uel Lyon ; second, March 10, 1765, Electa, daughter of Daniel Winter ; third, April 14th, Mary, daughter of Abijah Tucker.

BAPTIST CHURCH OF CHESTERFIELD.

A number of the families of Chesterfield subsequent to the Revolution were inclined to the doctrines of the Baptist Church, and an organization was effected at an early date. The first house of worship was situated near the road where it turns on Ireland Street from the road leading by the Gate to Worthington. An accident is noted in connection with the raising : Charles Beswick, Jr., fell from the frame and was taken up apparently dead, but afterward recovered. Rev. Ebenezer Vining was ordained the first pastor, June 16, 1791. Elder Ebenezer Smith made the introductory prayer; Elder Peter Werden preached the ordination sermon, from 1 Tim. iii. 15; Elder Asa Todd made the ordaining prayer; Elders Stow, Warren, and Hamilton joined in the laying on of hands ; Elder Obed Warren gave the charge, Elder Adam Hamilton the right hand of fellowship, and Elder Stow made the con- cluding prayer. This account is found in the Hampshire Ga- zette of that year. Mr. Vining was dismissed in 1802. The next year Rev. Asa Todd was installed, and continued pastor for twenty-one years.

In connection with this church it is interesting to notice that among the first settlers were some families of Baptist sentiments nearly thirty years before a church organization. Under date of July 27 and Aug. 17, 1767, there are recorded in the town books certificates signed by Rev. Ebenezer Smith, pastor of a Baptist Church in Ashfield, stating that Mr. Moses Bacon and Mr. Wm. White, of Chesterfield, "are conscien- tiously of the Anabaptist persuasion," and attend church in Ashfield. We infer that this certificate procured their release from church taxes in Chesterfield.

Mr. Chandler Macomber furnishes the following valuable paper in relation to the work of the Baptist Church in Chesterfield :

" According to the ancient records, the first meeting of this church was held at the lionse of Zebulon Robertson [Robinson], on the 220 of September, 1789, with Luke Bonney as clerk ; and for a long time after, the meetings were held at private houses. Oct. 6, 1789, a committee consisting of Luke Bonney, Zebu- lon Robinson, and Seth Taylor was chosen to provide a fencher, Jan. 26, 1790, it was reported from this committee favoring and recommending the engagement of Brother Vining as minister, and, the report having been accepted, it was voted to raise £45 14s. Ud. by subscription to defray the expenses of vidaining Brother Vining, moving his family, and furnishing him with a snit of clothes. June 15, 1790, Elder Vining was ordained pastor of the Baptist Church in Chesterfield. In the following May it was voted to move the meetings to Mr. Stone's barn, and in 1798 we find a meeting reported as being held in the meeting-house, with Dan Damiels, of Worthington, clerk,-an office which he held for thirty years, assisted in the later years hy his son, Ira Daniels. Jan. 30, 1801, Samuel King- man, of Worthington, and William Keene, of Chesterfield, were chosen deacons to wait on the church.

"Some time during the year 1803 the name of Asa Todd appears as the second minister of the church, and in 1805, Deacon Keene having removed, Noah White was chosen deacon. Jan. 31, 1807, Deacon Kingman was dismissed. In March, 1808, David Macomber was chosen, and July, 1815, Timothy Austin was chosen in place of Noah White, dismissed. In January, 1817, the name of Job Cudworth appears as one of the deacons.

"In the year 1817, by the death of one of the brethren, a fund was left to the church for the support of the communion-table, and a committee consisting of Deacon Macomber, Deacon Anstin, and Dan Daniels was chosen 'to obtain the money left to the church by our brother, Reuben Hitchcock, of Worthington.'

«Previous to this time-and, as tradition has it, long before the organization of the church-there had been a small body of Baptists in the east and northeast part of the town, holding their incetings at a house now occupied by Morris J. Thayer, and in the year IsIs they erected a meeting-house in the east part of the town, and we find records occasionally of church meetings in this house, showing that they were considered a part of the same church organization, with the same officers and minister.

" Nov. 2, 1820, Elder Todd was dismissed from the church in consequence of a dissatisfaction among some of the church members on account of his having joined the Free Masons, and also from difficulties of a more personal nature ; but he continued to live in the town till July 17, 1847, when he died at the ripe old age of ninety-one.

" In June, 1822, Rev. l'aul Ilines was received into the church as pastor. At this date there appear alwont 225 names of members on the records, among which we find names not yet extinct,-of Curtiss, Hayden, Davis, Macomber, Thayer, Torry, Bisbee, Litchfield, Bryant, Cole, Todd, Cudlworth, Carr, Higgins, Stanton, Tower, Metcalf, Kendall, Taylor, Cowing, Sampson, Angell, French, Kingman, Moore, Bissel, Robinson, and Bates.

"From this time forward the records are lost, and exist only-as far as known -in the memory ; but the facts are fresh in the memory of many now living, though the precise dates are lacking. About 1825 the meeting-house-a large, rambling building-was taken down, condensed in its proportions, and removed from its location on 'Ireland Street' to a more central situation,-at 'the Gate,' so called; and ahont the same time the meetings in the east part of the town were discontinued, and Rev. Ambrose Day appears as pastor till about 1845.

"Some time during the ministry of Elder Day it appears there were three deacons,-David Todd, Job Cndworth, and Asa Rolinson; but a serious difficulty having arisen in the church concerning the seniority of the deacons, in connec- tion with the bequest of Reuben Hitchcock, Deacon Robinson, with about 40 others, was expelled from the church; the main body of the church erected a new meeting-house at the centre in 1845, and Almon Higgins was chosen one of the deacons. This meeting-house was occupied about fifteen years, with Rev. Win. Smith, Z. Richards, F. Bestor, and Win. S. Phillips as pastors, when, hy the removal of many of the infinential members and the gradual depopulation of the hill-towns, the burden became too heavy for those remaining, the meet- ings were given up, and in 1874 the meeting-house was taken down.

" The church still (1879) keeps up its organization, with about 30 members still living, who meet with the other churches wherever they happen to be located, and the avails of the fund left them by the late Dr. Robert Stark weather are generally given to the Congregational Society."

SECOND BAPTIST SOCIETY OF CHESTERFIELD.

Those families in the southeastern part of the town who belonged to the Baptist Church were at such a distance from meeting that they finally erected a house of worship for them- selves about the year 1818. The building is still standing. A church organization was effected, lasting about seven years. In 1825, owing to a change of doctrinal views and under the leadership of Isaac King, Esq., this church became the First Liberal Baptist Society of Chesterfield, more generally known as the Free-Will Baptist.

METHODIST CHURCH OF CHESTERFIELD.

In the year 1843, several families of Methodist sentiments being resident in town, meetings were held in the town-hall.

502

HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

Josiah Hayden, of Williamsburg, a licensed exhorter, and Mr. Mason, from the same place, conducted the meetings regularly for about a year. In 1844, Rev. Daniel K. Bannister, a former native of the town, was sent here by the conference. In 1845, Rev. E. A. Manning preached here, a church was formed, and a house of worship erected. The edifice is the present town- hall, and is a neat and handsome building, founded literally " upon a rock," standing at the southeast corner of the public square. Rev. Mr. Manning remained three years. In 1848, Rev. Mr. McClouth, an Englishman, officiated for one year. About that time individuals interested in the success of the church bought a parsonage near the Eleazer King (now the Nathaniel W. Ingram) farm. In 1849, Rev. Wm. Bardwell occupied it as the Methodist parsonage, remaining two years. Hle was succeeded for two years, 1851-53, by Rev. I. B. Bige- low. Rev. John Smith followed for two years, 1853-55 ; Rev. E. B. Morgan succeeded him for one year. The last pastor was Rev. Mr. Jordan, in 1856, who remained two years. At the expiration of his term Methodist preaching was discon- tinued. The bouse of worship was sold a few years later for a town-hall, and the parsonage was sold to Joel Ingram, who still occupies it. Among the members of the organization, 1843 to 1845, were Abner Damon and wife, Elisha Tilden and wife, Elisha Bisbee and wife, Joel Ingram, Jr., and wife, An- drew K. Baker, Benjamin B. Bryant, Martin Shaw and wife, Elijah Tilden and wife, John Hayden and wife, with several others from adjacent towns.

BURIAL-GROUNDS.

The wife of Benjamin Bonney was the first person who died in town, in 1764. Her grave was dug in the present central yard, by Abiel Stetson, and the boundaries of this burial-place were afterward defined as follows : " Beginning five rods west of Benjamin Bonney's wife's grave, thence running east eigh- teen rods by Archelaus Anderson's north line, thence south thirteen and one-third rods, thence west thirteen rods, thence north eighteen rods to the place of first beginning, containing one acre and a half." This ground was obtained as the result of the following official action, though it appears from the de- scription that it had been used before the organization of the town,-at least, in the burial of Mrs. Bonney :

May 9, 1763,-It was proposed at a town-meeting to agree upon a place for a burying-ground, but the proposition was voted down.

May 10, 1764 .- Voted a committee to purchase land for a burying-ground, and clear and fence the same.

Ort. 22, 1764 .- At a town-meeting held at Mr. Benjamin Tupper's, an inn- holder, the committee on burying-ground reported that they had agreed with Mr. Archelans Anderson for one acre and a half of land, laying upon said Anderson's IIill, for 2 pounds 8 shillings, lawful money.

BENJAMIN BONNEY, BENJAMIN BRYANT, SETH SYLVESTER,

Committee.

Though this burial-place was purchased of Archelaus An- derson, yet the deed a year or two later was from Rev. Ben- jamin Mills, who must have succeeded to the farm of Mr. Anderson, either wholly or in part. The oldest inscription appears to be, " Mrs. Esther, wife of Peter Strong ; died July 6, 1775, aged 87." Others are "Jemima, wife of Eleazer Strong, Feb. 17, 1787, aged 87." " Benjamin Ludden, May 23, 1789, aged 71." " Elisha Warner, Dee. 2, 1787, aged 66." Besides this central burying-ground, there are several others. One of these is in the east part of the town, known as Bofat, near the residence of Calvin Damon. Another is located in the south part of the town, on the old Torrey farm. There is a burying-ground on Ireland Street, near the residence of Mr. Ephraim Cole. Another public burial-place is in the district known as " the Gate," and near the place of Asa Todd. And yet another old cemetery is located farther north, near the residence of Rev. Edward Clarke.

l'laces of private family burials are quite numerous. At the extreme south end of Ireland Street was formerly a burial- place, once carefully protected by a stone wall and later by

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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 166

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