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 175
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Rev. Ethan Smith was a son of Deacon Elijah Smith (bro- ther of Deacon Joseph), born in Belchertown, Dee. 19, 1762. lIe graduated at Dartmouth College in 1790, studied theology with Rev. Dr. Burroughs and Rev. Dr. Burton, and was or- dained and settled in the ministry at Haverhill, N. H., Jan. 25, 1792. He was dismissed June 23, 1799, and installed in the pastorate of the church at Hopkinton, N. H., March 12, 1800. lle remained there till Dee. 16, 1817, when he was dis- missed and installed over a church at Hebron, N. Y., Feb. 26, 1818. He was dismissed from that charge Aug. 29, 1821, installed at Poultney, Vt., Nov. 21, 1821, and dismissed Dee. 29, 1826. He was installed at Hanover, Mass., May 16, 1827, and dismissed about 1832. Subsequently he acted as city mis- sionary in Boston, and as an agent for various Bible societies, continuing his active labors in the ministry until his death, Aug. 29, 1849, in the eighty-seventh year of his age. He published several works,-one " On the Prophecies" and an- other, " A Key to the Revelations,"-which were favorably received.
Rev. Josiah Towne, son of Amasa Towne, was born in Bel- chertown, Dec. 13, 1787. He graduated at Middlebury College, Vermont, in 1812, studied theology with Rev. Mr. Griswold, and was ordained in the ministry at Hanover Centre, N. H., June 22, 1814. Ile continued there eighteen years and five months, and died May 3, 1855, at the age of sixty-seven.
Rev. Giles Lyman, son of Josiah Lyman, was born at Bel- chertown, March 16, 1802. He graduated at Amherst College in 1827, at Andover Theological Seminary in 1831, and was ordained at Jaffrey, N. II., Jan. 11, 1832. He was dismissed May 3, 1837, and installed at Marlboro', N. II., in December, 1840. lle remained there until 1867, and died Nov. 11, 1872, aged seventy.
Rev. Lewis Sabin, D.D., was born at Wilbraham, Mass.,
April 9, 1807; came to Belchertown with his father, Thomas Sabin, Jr., when but six years of age, and passed his early life in town. lle graduated at Amherst College in 1831, and was valedictorian of one of the largest and best classes of that institution. He was four years principal of Hopkins Acad- emy, studied theology, and was ordained in June, 1836, as a missionary to Canada. Was installed pastor of the church in Templeton, Mass., Sept. 21, 1837, and continued there until Sept. 24, 1872, when the relation was terminated at his own request. He was for many years trustee of Amherst College, and frequently taught the classics to private pupils.
One of the most eminent men whom the town has produced is Dr. Josiah G. Holland, son of llarrison Ilolland, who was born in the north part of the town, and passed the first ten years of his life there. His wide reputation as a writer of both prose and verse, and his high standing as an author and editor in the literary world, render a fuller reference to his career unnecessary .*
Prof. William L. Montague, of Amherst College, is a native of the town, and a son of Deacon Ephraim Montague; also Prof. Elihu Root, of the same institution, son of Deacon HIar- rison Root, of Belchertown. The former is professor of the modern Romaie languages; the latter of physics. Other citizens of the town have adorned the various walks of life, and attained to eminence and distinction.
CIVIL ORGANIZATION.
The first meeting of the settlers of Cold Spring, held by legislative authority for police purposes, for choosing precinet officers, for raising money to support the gospel, and for other prudential affairs, was eonvened April 28, 1740. The precinct continued until the incorporation of the town. As early as 1757 measures were taken to obtain an act of incorporation, with town privileges, but did not meet with success for several years. At a precinct meeting, held Dee. 29, 1760, a committee was appointed to present a petition to the General Court for an act of incorporation as a town. In March, 1761, the peti- tion was presented, and on June 23d following an act was passed incorporating the town by the name of Belcherstown, in honor of Jonathan Belcher, formerly a large owner of the territory of the town and Governor of the Province of Massa- chusetts from 1730 to 1740. The letter " s" has since been dropped from the name. The right of choosing a representa- tive to the General Court was not confirmed by the act of incorporation.
A warrant was issued by the General Court for calling the first town-meeting to Eleazer Porter, Esq., one of his Majes- ty's justices for the county of Hampshire, and the meeting was duly convened Sept. 30, 1761. Nathaniel Dwight was chosen Moderator and Clerk ; Deacon Aaron Lyman, Lieut. Abner Smith, and Joseph Bridgman, Selectmen and Assessors ; Nathaniel Dwight, Treasurer ; Joseph Graves and James Walker, Constables and Collectors; Sergt. Hezekiah Root and Sergt. Daniel Smith, Wardens ; Joseph Smith and Is- rael Cowles, Surveyors of Highways ; Joseph Bardwell and Moses IIannum, Tythingmen ; Benjamin Morgan and Ebc- nezer Warner, Fence-Viewers ; Lieut. Abner Smith, Clerk of the Market ; Joseph Bridgman, Sealer of Leather ; Benjamin Morgan, Deer-Reave; and Caleb Clark and John Cowles, Ilog-Reaves.
The following is the list of the principal precinct and town officers, so far as furnished by the records of the town, together with the list of representatives to the General Court :
COMMITTEE OF THE PRECINCT.
1742 .- John Smith, Aaron Lyman, Nathaniel Dwight.
1743 .- John Smith, Samuel Bascom, Nathaniel Dwight.
1744 .- John Smith, Aaron Lyman, Nathaniel Dwight.
1745 .- John Smith, Jonathan Graves, Nathaniel Dwight.
1746-48 .- Joseph Bardwell, Walter Fairfield, Joseph Smith.
* See biography in this work.
I hoto. by J. L. Lovell, Amherst.
JOSEPH R. GOULD.
527
HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.
1749,-Walter Fairfield, Moses Hannum, Joseph Smith. 1750 .- Stephen Crowfoot, Benjamin Billings, Aber Smith. 1751-52 .- Abner Smith, Joseph Bardwell, Aaron Lyman.
1753 .- Elijah Smith, Joseph Bardwell, Hezekiah Root, 1754-53,-Nathaniel Dwight, Abner Smith, Joseph Bridgman. 1756,-Nathaniel Dwight, Abner Smith, Elijah Smith. 1754,-Nathaniel Dwight, Thomas Chapin, Nathaniel Thwing.
1739,-Aber Smith, Hezekiah Root, Caleb Clark. 1760,-Joseph Bardwell, Joseph Smith, Moses Hannum. 1761 .- Jonathan Bardwell, Joseph Smith, Moses Hannnm.
SELECTMEN.
1761 .- Aaron Lyman, Abner Smith, Joseph Bridgman. 1762 .- Aaron Lyman, Joseph Bridgman, Daniel Smith.
1763-66 .- Nathaniel Dwight, Joseph Bridgman, Daniel Smith.
1767 .- Nathaniel Dwight, Joseph Bridgman, Jonathan Bardwell.
1768,-Nathaniel Dwight, Elijah Smith, John Cole,
1769 .- Nathaniel Dwight, Daniel Smith, Samuel Howe.
1770,-Nathaniel Dwight, Elijah Smith, Israel Cowls.
1771 .- Nathaniel Dwight, Daniel Smith, Joseph Smith, Samuel Howe, James Walker.
1772 .- Nathaniel Dwight, Joseph Bridgman, Israel CowIs, Samuel lowe, Daniel Smith.
1773-74 .- Nathaniel Dwight, Samuel lowe, Daniel Smith, Jonathan Bardwell, Joseph Graves.
1775 .- Nathaniel Dwight, Nathan Kingsley, Daniel Smith, Israel Cowls, Joseph Smith.
1776,-Nathaniel Dwight, Caleb Clark, Benjamin Morgan, Daniel Smith, Zacha- riah Eddy.
1777 .- Nathaniel Dwight, Caleb Clark, Daniel Smith, Joseph Smith, Deacon Clough, Zachariah Eddy, Henry Dwight.
1778 .- Joseph Smith, Israel Cowls, Jacob Wilson, Henry Dwight, Samuel Worth- ington.
1779,-Nathaniel Dwight, Daniel Smith, Samuel Howe, Joseph Williams, Elijah Chapin.
1780 .- Israel Cowl4, Joseph Smith, Henry Dwight.
17×1 .- Joseph Smith, John CowIs, Isaac Stacy, Josiah Lyman, Reuben Barton. 1782 .- Joel Green, Estes Howe, Jonathan Flint.
1783 .- Estes Howe, James Walker, Josiah Lyman.
1784 .- Ilenry Dwight, Gideon Stebbins, Henry Smith,
1785 .- Estes lowe, Josiah Lyman, Edward Smith, 1786 .- Josiah Lyman, Estes Howe, James Walker.
1787 .- James Walker, Josiah Lyman, Henry Dwight.
1788 .- Ebenezer Warner, Estes Howe, Simeon Bardwell.
1789 .- Ebenezer Warner, Justus Dwight, Thomas Wilson.
1790 .- Justus Dwight, Estes Howe, John Cowls.
1791 .- Justus Dwight, Ebenezer Warner, Thomas Wilson.
1792-93,-Park Holland, Henry Dwight, Justus Dwight.
1794 .- Henry Dwight, Justns Dwight, Eleazer Clark. 1795,-Estes Ilowe, Amasa Smith, Eleazer Clark. 1796 .- Park Holland, Justus Dwight, Thomas Wilson.
1797-98 .- l'ark Holland, Thomas Wilson, Martin Phelps. 1799 .- Instus Dwight, Thomas Wilson, Jonas Holland.
1800 .- Estes Howe, Justus Dwight, Eliakim Phelps.
1801 .- Justus Dwight, Eliakim Phelps, Robert Dunbar. 1502 .- Justus Dwight, Eliakim Phelps, Eleazer Clark.
1803-4 .- Eliakim Phelps, Eleazer Clark, John Gilbert.
1805-6 .- Eliakim Phelps, Eleazer Clark, Thomas Wilson.
1807-8 .- Eliakim Phelps, Eleazer Clark, Jonas Holland. 1800 .- Eliakim Phelps, Jonas Holland, Eldad Parsons. 1810 .- Wright Bridgman, JJason Walker, Zenas Stebbins. 1811-13 .- Eliakim Phelps, Wright Bridgman, Jonas Holland. 1×14 .- Wright Bridgman, Jason Walker, Bela Barber. 1815-16 .- Jonas Holland, Joseph Bridgman, Jr., Justus Forward. 1817 .- Eliakim Phelps, Wright Bridgman, James Whitman. 1818 .- Wright Bridgman, James Whitman, Jonathan Dwight.
1819 .- James Whitman, Jonathan Dwight, Eneas Clark. 1820 .- James Whitman, Jason Walker, George Gilbert.
1821 .- Jonathan Dwight, Joseph Bridgman, Jr., Henry Mellen, Smith Barrett, Theodore Bridgman.
1822 .- Jonathan Dwight, Joseph Bridgman, Jr., Henry Mellen, Smith Barrett, Jonas Holland.
1823 .- James Whitman, Smith Barrett, Reuben Cook.
1824 .- Smith Barrett, Reuben Cook, Mark Doolittle.
1825,-Smith Barrett, Mark Doolittle, Daniel Wils i.
1826 .- Justus Forward, Jonas Holland, Jonathan Olls. 1827-28 .- Jonathan Olds, Enoch Burnett, Joseph Bridgman. 1829,-Mark Doalittle, Eneas Clark, Reuben Cleveland. 1830 .- Smith Barrett, Israel Towne, William Bridgman. 1831 .- Justns Forward, Israel Towne, William Bridgman.
1832 .- Justus Forward, Israel Towne, Leonard Barrett. 1833-34 .- Justus Forward, William Bridgman, Gideon Ames 1835,-Gide m Ames, Israel Towne, Sammel Perry. 1836-37 .- Gideon Ames, Israel Towne, Simeon Pepper.
1838,-Gideon Ames, James H. Clapp, Simeon Pepper. 1839 .- Gideon Ames, Israel Towne, James H. ('lapp. 1840 .- tii leon Atnes, William Phelps, James H. Clapp.
1841-42 .- Gideon Ames, William Phelps, Jonas Holland. 1843 .- Israel Towne, Roderick Dorman, Jonas Holland. 1844 .- Gideon Ames, George Abbey, Harrison Root.
1845,-Gideon Ames, Leonard Burrett, Francis Forward. 1846,-Israel Towne, Humphrey T. Filer, Henry Bridgman. 1847 .- Israel Towne, Henry Bridgman, George Chandler. 1848 .- Israel Towne, Calvin Bridgman, William Phelps. 1849 .- Calvin Bridgman, Harrison Root, Roswell Allen. 1850 .- Roswell Allen, George Chandler, Leonard Barrett. 1851 .- Calvin Bridgman, Humphrey T. Filer, Roderick Dorman.
1852 .- Myron Lawrence, Henry Bridgman, Harrison Root.
1853 .- Henry Bridgman, Augustus L. Gates, George Chandler.
1854 .- Ebenezer Warner, George Chandler, Amos L. Mason. 1855 .- Ebenezer Warner, Luther Holland, Jesse Morse. 1856 .- Luther Holland, Samuel A. Shaw, Phineas Bridgman. 1857-58 .- Wright Bridgman, John T. Thurston, Butler Barrett. 1859 .- Wright Bridgman, John T. Thurston, Wareham C. Gilbert. 1860 .- Jonathan Webber, Harrison Root, Sewall Randall. 1861-62 .- Joshua G. Longley, Martin Sedgwick, Henry J. Chandler. 1863,-Leonard Barrett, Joshua H. Longley, Wright Brilgmau,
1864-65 .- Joshua G. Longley, A. R. Owen, Ilenry J. Chandler.
1866,-J. G. Longley, A. R. Owen, Samuel D. fowles. 1867 .- Thomas 1. Green, Addison Burnett, F. M. Bardwell. 1868 .- Amasa Town, Addison Burnett, Elliot Bridgman.
1869,-Elliot Bridgman, Joshua G. Longley, Amasa Town.
1870 .- Joshua G. Longley, A. R. Owen, Asahel H. Dorman.
1871 .- J. G. Longley, Asahel 11. Dorman, Dexter Davis. 1872 .- A. R. Owen, Leonard Barrett, Nathaniel Dwight. 1873 .- Nathaniel Dwight, Abner D. Hitchcock, A. R. Owen.
1874 .- Franklin Dickinson, D. V. Fuller, Martin Sedgwick. 1875-77 .- Franklin Dickinson, Enoch Burnett, Martin Sedgwick.
1878 .- Franklin Dickinson, Enoch Burnett, J. R. Gould.
1879 .- A. Wells Stacy, William Henry Bridgman, Joseph R. Gould.
PRECINCT CLERKS.
1742, Nathaniel Dwight; 1746, Moses Ilannum; 1748, Abner Smith ; 1755, Nathaniel Dwight; 1759, Caleb Clark.
TOWN CLERKS.
1761, Nathaniel Dwight; 1778, Joseph Smith ; 1779, Nathaniel Dwight; 1780, Elijah Dwight ; 1782, Dr. Estes lowe; 1783, Elijah Dwight; 1784, Josiah Lyman ; 1785, Justus Dwight ; 1786, Klijah Dwight; 1787, Dr. Estes Howe ; 1789, Oliver Bridgman; 1791, Estes Howe ; 1796, Elisha Warner ; 1799, Eleazer Clark ; 1809, Justus Forward, Jr .; 1815, Philo Dickinson ; 1818, Joseph Bridgman, Jr. ; 1819, William Bridgman ; 1824, Philo Dickinson; 1826, J. D. Lyman; 1827, Philo Dickinson; 1830, Wright Bridgman, Jr .; 1846, Henry A. Longley ; 1857, E. R. Bridgman ; 1873, Nathaniel Dwight; 1874, Charles L. Washburne.
REPRESENTATIVES.
1780, Joseph Smith, Daniel Smith ; 1781-83, Caleb Clark ; 1784, '85,*'87, Joseph Smith; 1788, Justus Dwight; 1792-94, 1796-98, Park Holland; 1799, Eleazer Clark ; 1800, Park Holland ; 1801-4, Eleazer Clark ; 1805, Eliakim Phelps, Joseph Bridgman, Jr. ; 1806, Eleazer Clark, Eliakim Phelps ; 1807, Eliakim Phelps, Eklad Parsons; 1808, Eleazer Clark, Eliakim Phelps, Joseph Bridgman, Jr .; 1800, Elia- kim Phelps, Joseph Bridgman, Jr., Ehlad Parsons; 1810-11, Eliakim Phelps, Wright Bridgman, Eldad Parsons; 1812, Eliakim Phelps, Wright Bridgman, Phineas Blair ; 1813, Eliakim l'helps, Wright Bridgman, Justus Forward, Jr. ; 1814, Ehakim Phelps, Wright Bridgman, Mark Doolittle; 1815, Eliakim Phelps, Joseph Bridgman, Jr., Mark Doolittle; 1816, Joseph Bridgman, Jr., Eliakim Phelps ; 1817, Joseph Bridgman, Jr .; 1818, Eliakim l'helps : 1819, Philo Dickin- son ; 1820, Justus Forward; 1821, Joseph Bridgman, Jr. ; 1822-23, James Whit- man ; 1824-25, Mark Doolittle; 1826, Dr. Win. Bridgman ; 1827-28, Joseph Bridg- man, Myrou Lawrence; 1820, Jonathan Oldls, Justus Forward; 1830, Joseph Bridgman; 1831, Justus Forward; 1832, Jonathan Forward, Jonathan Olds ; 1833, Justns Forward, Wm. Bridgman, Daniel Phelps; 1834, Justns Forward, Jonathan Olds, Wm. Bridgman ; 1835, Israel Towne, Daniel Phelps; 1836, Israel Towne; 1837, Israel Towne, Sammel Strong; 1828, Brael Towne; 1839, lev. Chester Tilden, James 11. Clapp; 1840-41, James 11. Clapp; 1843, Gideon Ames; 1844, Ilenry A. Bridgman; 1845, Roderick Poruan: 1846, George B. Woods; 1847, Harrison Root; 1848, Ilenry A. Longley; 1849, Myron Lawrence; 1850, Leonard Barrett ; 1851, Henry A. Longley; 1852, Calvin Bridgman ; 1853, Ilenry A. Longley ; 1855, Ebenezer Warner; 1856, Sammel A. Shaw; 1858, Charles L. Washburne; 1859, Samnel D. Cowles ; 1861, Luther Holland ; 1862, William N. Fay; 1864, Ilarrison Root ; 1866, Joshua G. Longlex; 1868, Henry B. Blake; 1870, Phineas Bridgman ; 1872, Addison Burnett; 1874, W. E. Bridgman ; 1877, Thomas R. Green.
VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. BELCHERTOWN POST-OFFICE
is the principal village in the town, situated at the geograph- ieal centre. It is ranged principally along the road leading from Northampton to Ware, and is about a mile in length. It comprises three churches, a town-hall, a public-house, a
* The town was fined for nuit sending a representative in 1786.
528
HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.
number of stores and mechanics' shops, and a large number of dwelling-houses. The inbabitants are cultivated and re- fined.
In the centre of the village is a beautiful common. This was presented to the town, together with the land upon which the Congregational Church stands, by Col. Elijah Dwight, by deed dated April 1, 1791. It was neatly fenced by the Bel- chertown Park Association, in 1873, and presents a pleasing and attractive appearance. The village was the site of the earliest municipal enterprises of the town, and has always been the chief point of interest.
BARDWELL VILLAGE
is a place of some consequence situated in the southeasterly part of the town, and has been the site of a considerable man- ufacturing business. The Methodist Church formerly stood near there. It derives its name from the Bardwell family.
DWIGHT'S STATION is the name given to a small hamlet in the northwestern part of the town, named in honor of the Dwight family.
SLAB CITY, formerly known as " New Mills," is a small hamlet in the eastern part, on Swift River, and marks the site of the best water-privilege in the town.
BARRETT'S JUNCTION, in the south part of the town, is where the Springfield, Athol and Northeastern Railroad crosses the New London Northern.
EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS.
There is no record of any money appropriated by the town for educational purposes prior to its incorporation. Whatever was done before that time was by individual effort.
The first mention of money for a school was at a precinct- meeting, held Nov. 18, 1756, when Nathaniel Dwight, Treas- urer, was by vote authorized to receive of Edward Pynchon, County Treasurer, for the support of a school, the money " granted out of Sheffield's fine."
An article was inserted in the warrant for the March meet- ing, in 1762, to argue upon some measure for setting up and maintaining a school in the town. Accordingly, on March 3d of that year the town
" Voted to raise 6 pounds, lawful money, for the paying a schoolmaster the next winter season to teach children to read and write. Chose Joseph Bridgman, Caleb Clark, Jonathan Bardwell, Benjamin Morgan, and Isaac Coles a committee to get a schoolmaster, determine what time next fall he shall begin the school where he shall keep in each quarter, who shall board him, and what wages he shall have."
In December of the same year it was voted that the school be moved to the several places ordered by the committee.
Dec. 20, 1762, Joseph Bridgman was " voted four shillings for going to Amherst for a schoolmaster."
Dec. 19, 1763, it was
" Voted to raise 12 pounds, to be sequestered to the use of a school or some other necessary use that the town shall see fit to put it to."
In 1764 the sum of £8 was appropriated for a school, and in 1766 the amount was increased to £10. Dec. 5, 1767, Ileze- kiah Root, Moses Hannum, and Israel Cowles were chosen a committee " to pitch upon three places to set school-houses to accommodate the town and report ;" and they reported "one to be set on the plain at the top of the pine hill, this side of Hannum's ; one on the road between 'Jabesh' and ' Gilead,' and one near to Mr. James Walker's."
The town voted to accept the report of the committee, and Moses Hannum, James Walker, and William Kentfield were appointed a committee to get the timber for the houses. The whole vote was afterward reconsidered.
In 1776, £25 were appropriated for schools, and in 1780 " £1000 to support a school,"-an apt illustration of the state of the times at that period and the condition of the finances. In 1783, £60 was appropriated to be laid out in schools, and a committee of seven was chosen to district the town. This was done in 1784, and each district was authorized to build a
school-house. The names of the districts at that time were New State, No. 1, Middle of the Town, Dark Corner, Turkey Hill, West Side of Great Hill, East Side of Great IFill, North End of Great Hill, and Loggtown. In 1796, £100 were ap- propriated for schools; in 1802, $500; in 1806, $600; in 1810, $700; in 1812, $1100; and in 1815, $800.
At the present time there are 18 schools in the town, including a high school and grammar school. The number of scholars in attendance upon them is 572. The average attendance for the year 1878 was 363; number of teachers, 27; aggregate length of all the schools, 142 months and 15 days. The appropriation for school purposes in 1878 was $3500, and the addition of other funds raised the cash resources of the schools for that year to $5662.44. The appropriation for 1879 was $3500.
Some of the early teachers in the town have been Horatio B. Haskett, James B. Hadley, Eliza Burk, Mary A. Burk, and Laura Abbey. In the Cold Spring district the following persons taught from 1816 to 1825 inclusive : Roderick Dorman, Ambrose Edson, Ellis C. Scott, Austin Russ, Wm. II. Whitte- more, Orin Carpenter, Leonard Lewis, Calvin White, Wm. J. Sherman, Fra Stacy, Loren Cleveland, Diana Phelps, Mary Newell, Azubah Hamilton, Elizabeth Whitman, Emily White, and Eliza Burk.
SCI100LS.
Besides the public schools, a number of private schools of great excellence have been taught, prominent among which was the Belchertown Classical School, which was incorporated in 1836, and which had an attendance of 60 pupils the year following.
NEWSPAPERS.
A newspaper entitled the Hampshire Sentinel and Farmers' and Manufacturers' Journal was started in Belchertown, in the year 1826, by J. R. Shute. The first number was issued in November of that year. Mr. Shute died March 21, 1828, at the age of twenty-eight years, and was succeeded by C. A. Warren, who carried on the business for three months, and was in turn succeeded by Warren & Wilson. Their first number was issued Aug. 6, 1828.
This firm published the paper until Sept. 8, 1830, when it was published by S. W. Andrews, as the Hampshire Sentinel, for certain owners whose names did not appear in the columns of the paper as proprietors. The last number of the paper was issued May 4, 1831, when it was consolidated with the North- ampton Courier, at that time owned by Atwell & Turner. At the time of the union the Sentinel had about 500 sub- seribers, but was never a paying enterprise.
CHURCHES.
CONGREGATIONAL.
As in most of the New England towns, the first denomina- tion of Christians to establish themselves in Belchertown was the Congregational. This church was for many years the sole religious body in the town, and to its support each of the in- habitants were compelled to contribute, as to any other town institution.
No sooner had the first permanent settlements been made than the work of organizing a church and settling a minister was begun. The precise date of the establishment of the former is not known. No church records are extant anterior to Feb. 26, 1756, but the church was probably organized in the spring of 1737.
The subject of erecting a meeting-house was brought up in that year. A year after, the building was ready for use, though not actually finished until 1746, when it was "done in a manner suited to their embarrassed circumstances." Their first building erected as a place of public worship stood on the westerly side of the road leading south from the centre, and about seventy-five rods south of the present house.
The first male members of the church were probably Samuel
529
HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.
Baseom, Benjamin Stebbins, Aaron Lyman, John Bardwell, Jonathan Graves, John Smith, Ebenezer Bridgman, Moses llannum, Eliakim Phelps, Jos. Bardwell, Nathaniel Dwight, Oliver Smith, Joseph Bridgman, Thomas Graves, Benjamin Billings, Stephen Crawfoot, Joseph King, and Robert Brown, who have been already referred to as the pioneer settlers of the town.
The early struggles of these men to establish religions wor- ship in the town have already been referred to, and the peti- tions sent by them to the General Court in the first years of their settlement indicate, to some extent, the serious obstacles and discouragements which they were compelled to encounter.
During the excitement which occurred about 1825, in re- lation to the institution of Freemasonry, the church was divided, and a separate organization, denominated the " Brai- nerd Church and Society," was established on Sept. 30, 1834. The two churches were reunited on Aug. 31, 1841, and the beantiful house of worship which the Brainerd Church had erected in 1834 passed into the hands of the Baptist denomination.
The house of worship now ocenpied by the society was erected in 1789, but was not dedicated until Sept. 12, 1792. In 1828 it was inneh enlarged and the interior entirely recon- strueted at an expense of over $3000. Again, in 1850, it was remodeled and better adapted to the wants of the minister and congregation. It was put into its present condition in the summer of 1872, being reconstructed and refurnished at a cost of $7000. It was rededieated Sept. 12, 1872, on the eightieth anniversary of its first dedication. The exercises of the occasion ineluded a sermon by the pastor, Rev. P. W. Lyman, an historical address by Rev. G. A. Oviatt, and dedicatory prayer by Rev. H. B. Blake, former pastors.
Pastors .- The first pastor of this church was Rev. Edward Billing, a native of Sunderland, and a graduate of Harvard College. Hle accepted the call in a letter dated Feb. 22, 1739, and was probably ordained in April, 1739. He was dismissed in April, 1752. In 1754 he became the first pastor of the church in Greenfield, where he died about the year 1757.
Rev. Justus Forward, the second pastor, was born in Suf- field, Conn., May 11, 1730; graduated from Yale College in 1754; taught school in Hatfield, where he studied theology ; was licensed to preach in the fall of 1755, and was ordained Feb. 25, 1756. He was sole pastor till March, 1812, when a colleague was settled. He died March 8, 1814, in the fifty- ninth year of his ministry, and the eighty-fourth year of his age, having followed to the grave more than 900 of his people. During his ministry 380 members were received into the church, of whom 294 joined on profession of faith. Several revivals of religion occurred during his connection with the church, the most remarkable of which was in the years 1785-86.
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