History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. I, Part 177

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 177

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

The Belchertown Woolen Company, at Bardwell village, formerly carried on quite a business in the manufacture of satinets, and Bugbee & Tirrell formerly manufactured paper- hangings, and J. & S. Clark wrapping-paper.

A small " shoddy" factory formerly existed at "Slab City," and a large number of saw-mills and several grist-mills have utilized the various water-privileges. The Boston Duck Com- pany, whose mills are situated near the south line of the town, at Bondsville, in the town of Palmer, contemplate establishing another mill on the Belchertown side of the river.

MILITARY.

The part which the town took in the earlier wars cannot . with accuracy be ascertained. Nathaniel Dwight went into the French war with a captain's commission, Aug. 9, 1757. He received an order from Col. Williams, of Ilatfield, then a militia captain, to muster and march his company, without delay, for the relief of Fort William Henry, near Lake George, which was attacked by a French-and-Indian army under Montcalm. The company, under marching orders, met the regiment at Westfield, proceeded to Kinderhook, received in- telligence that the fort had capitulated, were discharged, and returned home. Doubtless a large number of Belchertown men were in this company. Among these were Daniel Wor- thington and Capt. James Walker. Stephen Crawfoot also served in the French war from Belehertown, and William Kentfield, son of Ebenezer, died in the army, near Lake George, in 1756. Capt. Elijah Smith was a captain in 1755.

THE REVOLUTIONARY RECORD

of the town is especially noteworthy. From the beginning to the close of that memorable struggle the highest patriotism and most self-sacrificing devotion was manifested hy the citi- zens. The odious " Port Bill" was met by the following vote of the town :

"Voted and chose ten men to inspect the town and see that there is not any goods exposed to sale in Belchertown that were imported after the 1st day of December last."

In the month of September, 1774, the people, in public meeting assembled, affixed their signatures to the following compact :

Photo. by J. L. Lovell, Amherst.

DEACON LYMAN SABIN.

Deacon Lyman Sabin was born in Belchertown, Aug. 15, 1813. His father, Thomas Sabin, now in his ninety-sixth year, was born in Ellington, Conu., Dec. 22, 1783, and March 20, 1806, married Abigail Durfey, who was born July 3, 1787, and died March 10, 1846. He bought a farm in Wil- braham, Mass., for $800, which, after seven years, he sold for $1700, and bought the present one, April, 1, 1813, for $2000.

Deacon Sabin married Lucy C. Stebbins, daughter of Samuel H. Stebbins, Oct. 10, 1839, who was born Nov. 2, 1812. Their children are Maria Dickinson, born Aug. 24, 1840; married T. G. Longley, of Belchertown. Abigail Durfey, born July 13, 1842 ; married Lewis K. Williams, of Kent, Ohio. Laura Sophia, born Dec. 3, 1844. Their only grandchild, Marion Sabin Longley, was born Oct. 15, 1874.

Deacon Sabin's responsibility in farm manage- ment dates from his marriage, at which time the as- sessor's valuation was,-real estate, $2150 ; personal, $295. May 29, 1840, the house and some out-build- ings, with most of their contents, were burned; in- surance $600, of which $200 canceled a debt. The remaining property was $400 insurance, 150 acres of land, much of which was in a rough, unculti- vated state, and no buildings except inferior barns. Good farm buildings are now on the premises, the fields are substantially walled, lowlands drained and made productive, while five acres of prime orchard- ing swell the farm products. Some years since the Hampshire Agricultural Society awarded this farm

a premium as the best-managed farm in Hampshire County. Assessed valuation 1860,-real, $5300; per- sonal, $1000. Assessed valnation 1878,-real, $6500; personal, $1385. Increase from 1840, $5440. Dur- ing this period $2000 have been paid to those who have left the homestead, besides educational expenses ; while within ten years not less than $1000 have been given for exceptional church expenditures, besides liberal annual payments for current church expenses and charities.

These acquisitions have not been made regardless of domestic comfort, neither as life's end and aim, nor without ordinary reverses of fortune, though a good Providence is gratefully acknowledged. They are mentioned here simply as showing that New England farming may be made profitable even in hill towns, and in the hope to counteract a little the tendency of young men to leave the farms.

On the fertile soil of the river-towns the gains might have been greater. Yet the salubrious air and fine scenery here enjoyed are regarded as more than a compensation. Deacon Sabin wishes his ex- perience to suggest to young men "that it is not necessary to leave New England, or to seek city homes, in order to secure a competency."

The subject of this sketch is a Republican in poli- tics. He has been a member of the Congregational Church here since 1835, and a deacon since 1863. He is a man of unquestioned integrity, of generous impulses, one of the foremost financial supporters of the church with which he is connected, and a Puritan pillar in society.

Photo. by Moffitt.

HENRY GRAVES JR.

Henry Graves, Jr., now living in Belchertown, was born in South Hadley Falls, July 21, 1819. At the age of five he removed with his parents to Chicopee, whence after a stay of one year he went to Ware, and, remaining there six years, removed in 1830 to Ludlow, of which place he remained a resident until 1853. On the 15th of December of that year he became a citizen of Belchertown, loca- ting on the place now his residence.

Oct. 9, 1844, he was married to Hannah, daughter of Jonathan Wales, of Belchertown, and became the father of a son, Moses W.

Mrs. Graves died April 17, 1863, and May 8, 1866, he married Nancy, daughter of Joseph Witt, of Granby. Aug. 7, 1862, Mr. Graves enlisted in the 37th Massachusetts Regiment, and served through the war of the Rebellion, participating in all the battles in which the regiment was engaged, inelud- ing the conflicts at Gettysburg, Fredericksburg, the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, and Winchester, at which latter he was wounded in the head, and subsequently confined in the MeClel-

lan Hospital at Philadelphia for five months. Dur- ing his entire three years' term he was absent from his regiment on but two furlonghs, once to bury his wife, and once to vote for President Lincoln.

Upon being mustered out of the service, he re- turned home and resumed his agricultural pursuits, which he has followed to this time. He has never sought political preferment. Early in life he was a Democrat, but the war made him a Republican, and with that party he has since affiliated.

At the age of fifteen, experiencing religion, he joined the Congregational Church at Ludlow; but church dissensions led to his withdrawal and sul :- sequent attendance at the Baptist Church, which or- ganization he joined at Three Rivers in 1842, and later joined the Baptist Church at Belchertown. Since 1858 he has served the church as deacon.

Mr. Graves' father was born Aug. 19, 1793, in Williamsburg, Hampshire Co. Nov. 6, 1817, he married Selima, daughter of Lieut. Philip Smith, of Chicopee. Their children were four in number,- Sophia S., William, Austin Lyman, and Henry, Jr.

533

HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.

" We declare that we will take no unreasonable liberties or advantage from the suspension of the course of law ; but we engage to conduct ourselves agree- able to the laws of God, of reason, and of humanity; and we hereby engage to use all prudent, justifiable, and necessary measures to secure and defend each other's persons and families, their lives, rights, and properties, against all who shall attempt to hurt, injure, or invade them ; and to secure and defend to our- selves and our posterity our just and constitutional rights and privileges."

In the County Convention, held about this time, the town was represented by Col. Caleb Clark, Joseph Smith, and Nathaniel Dwight. The latter was then town clerk, and re- cords the fact that delegates were present from every town in the county (Old Hampshire) but Charlemont, and that

" They spent the day in considering the distressed state of the government, as the port of Boston is shut up by the King and Parliament, and eight or ten regi- ments stationed there upon the Neck, and digging trenches and fortifying them against the country ; and a number of men-of-war are round about Boston, in order to oblige the province to acknowledge the right of Great Britain to tax North America at their pleasure."

Capt. Samuel Howe represented the town in the First Pro- vincial Congress, in 1774, and in the Second Congress, the year following.

On Nov. 7, 1774, the people of the town convened at the meeting-house for the purpose of organizing a military com- pany. Caleb Clark was chosen captain ; Joseph Graves, first lieutenant ; John Cowles, second lieutenant; Elijah Dwight, ensign ; and Oliver Bridgman, clerk. Dec. 12, 1774, the town voted 10s. 8d. to Capt. Zachariah Eddy " for his horse's jour- ney to Providence to fetch powder for the town's use."

The town chose committees of safety throughout the war, and gave them active support.

May 22, 1775, Nathaniel Dwight was ehosen a member of the Provincial Congress called to meet at Watertown. The town voted

"That said Nathaniel Dwight shall go armed cap-a-pie, as there is every day danger of au invasion by the King's troops that are now stationed at Boston, viz., about 4000 meu, and the government, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire, have 30,000 men that are stationed round about Boston."

The records contain still further evidence of the patriotism of the town, of which the following is a fair sample :

" At a full meeting of the inhabitants of Belchertown, held at the meeting- house, June 25, 1776, Deacon Aaron Lyman was chosen moderator. The ques- tion was put by the moderator, whether should the honorable Continental Congress, for the safety of the United Colonies in America, declare their inde- pendence of the kingdom of Great Britain, they, the said inhabitants, would solemnly engage, with their lives and fortunes, to support them in the measure ; and it passed in the affirmative by a universal vote."

Men and supplies were regularly furnished in support of the war.

For purposes of drill and enlistment the town had two militia companies, known at home as the East and West Companies. They were the Third and Ninth Companies of the 4th liamp- shire Regiment. Of the Third, which was the West Com- pany, Jonathan Bardwell, Aaron Phelps, and Henry Dwight were in command, and of the Ninth, Elijah Dwight, James Walker, and Edward Smith.

A large number of Belchertown citizens served at various times in the Continental army. Capt. Josiah Lyman, with his company, went on the expedition to Canada, in 1776. ITis brother, Maj. Elihu Lyman, a native of the town, was also an officer in the war, and started with Benedict Arnold on the expedition through Maine to Canada, but was deputed to carry back sick and disabled members of the command. He was then a captain, and not a resident of Belchertown at the time.

The following is the list of those who are known to have performed actual service in the army : Elijah Dwight, Pliny Dwight, Joseph Reed, Asaph Kentfield, James White, Samuel White, Thomas Fuller, Wm. Hannum, Reuben, Asa, and Whitney Shumway, Elijah Parker, Moses Cowles,* Stephen Darling, Joseph Towne, Caleb Stacy, Salmon Kentfield, Nath. Dodge, Nath. Doakes, Luther Clough, Enos Smith, Joel

Greene, Eb. Chamanan, Elijah Walker, Samuel Pollesey, Benj. Burden, Zeph. Sturtevant, John Hamblen, Jonathan Bardwell, Moses Ilowe, Josiah Lyman, James Walker, P. Gilbert, F. Davis. A large number of others are supposed to have rendered personal service in the army, but the lists do not indicate whether they so served, or by proxy. Twenty of the citizens of the town are believed to have lost their lives in the struggle.

After the close of the war the town

" Voted that this town will at all times, as they have done to the utmost of their power, oppose every enemy to the just rights and liberties of mankind; and that after so wicked a conspiracy against those rights arul liberties by certain ingrates, most of them natives of these States, and who have been refugees and declared traitors to their country, it is the opinion of this town that they ought never to be suffered to retura, but to be excluded from having lot or portion amongst ns."

SHAYS' REBELLION.

The town records contain the following names of those who participated in the Shays rebellion :

" A list of the names of several persons that were concerned in the late re- bellion, who lived in Belchertown, and took and subscribed the oath of allegiance before Caleb Clark, Esq .: Jonah Hunting, Samnel Ward, Walter Eaton, Obadiah Ward, Sewell Abbott, Seth Warner, Mark Stacy, John Stacy, Ephraim Hunatt, Daniel Shaw, John Coal, Jr., Solomon Hanmim, Jobn Woods, David Converse, Nathan Davis, Ebenezer Bliss, Thomas Hulett, Nathan Kinsley, Calvin Kinsley, Elijah Parker, Justin Olds, Amos Ackley, Sammel Ackley, Enoch Thayer, James Smith, John McMullin, Sav'a Rand, Isaac Livermore, Samuel Ackley, Jr., Thomas Thurston, Benjamin Clough, Ebenezer Chapman, Luther Clough, David Bartlett, Jr., Ephraim Clongh, Jonah Drake, Silas Lovel, Josiah Whitney, Benj. Burthan, Zebulon Dagg, Abel Clough, Thomas Brown, Benjamin Billings, John Ward, Jr., Daniel Kneedham, Joseph Ramsdil, Barnabas Fay, Jacob Wilson, Israel Robinson, Thomas Wilson, Nathaniel Goodale, Stephen Thurston, Thomas Torrane, John Saurin, John Sumner, Nathaniel Perry, Jr., Mason Hulett, Cyril Leach, Erastus Kentfield, Asahel Iulett, David Town, Wm. Town, Christopher Patten, Thomas Wheeler.

" Attest : E. DWIGHT, Town Clerk "

WAR OF 1812.

With the war of 1812 the town had no sympathy, but passed resolutions strongly condemmatory of it. The following eiti- zens are among those who served in the army at Boston : Simeon Pepper, Horace Walker, Samuel II. Stebbins, HIeze- kiah Walker, Jr., Salem Fisher.

WAR OF 1861-65.

The patriotic part that the town bore in the late war is matter of recent fame. Suffice it here to record that Bel- chertown contributed nobly to the preservation of that Union which her sons had so bravely struggled to ereate in the earlier days of the republie. The following names are from the ad- jutant-general's report :

Perez R. Brown, 42d Mass, Regt .; Myron P. Walker, Chas. H. Atwood, Benton Barrett, Wm. R. Barrows, Chas. Benson, Oliver Ilyde, Reuben S. Rob- bins, David K. Shumway, Frank R. Smith, George Strong, Frank Wiley, Nelson O. Willey, Benj. F. Brady, all in 10th Mass. Regt. ; Martin V. B. Brown, Joha Il. Parker, James II. Pratt, Dwight Barrett, Stillman D. Clark, James II. Montagne, Chas. A. Pettingill, Edwin H. Atwood, Ly- man J. Bennett, Solomon Roads, Augustus D. Alden, Thomas H. Dewey, Samuel J. Filer, Elisha J. Griggs, Edwin C. Hayes, George F. Shumway, Dwight Sloan, E. P Warner, all in 27th Mass. Regt. ; Chas, B. Jackson, George M. Abby, Wm. L. Bishop, Jerome Draper, Richard F. Underwood, Warner Pratt, W'm. L. Ayers, Win. L. Bishop, Wm. Blodgett, Edwin C. Chapin, Lyman Chamberlain, Frederick Cutler, George A. Goodwin, John Henry, Lucas B. Jeaks, Thomas Jenks, Henry M. Kentfield, Lemnel S. Mason, Truman C. Munsell, Win. J. Peeso, Amos M. Ramsdell, Richard Ramsdell, Daniel B. Bichardson, Cbas. S. Rebbias, Joseph D. Richardson, Russell A. Robbins, Chas. O. Thomas, Francis B. Thomas, Harrison D. Towue, Richard F. Underwood, all in 31st Mass. Regt. ; Thomas Shannon, Reuben S. Robbins, Wm. McDowell, Albert C. Allen, Wm. Bell, Francis Bishop, Hiram Blackmer, Dwight B. Chamberlain, Norris Chamberlain, Daniel B. Dwight, Ray mond C. Flowers, Emplus B. Gillett, Philo Hogency, Lorenzo Joslyn, Lorenzo Leech, David Leman, Andrew B. Owen, Horace C. Ramsdell, Lyman A. Shaw, Frederick E. Smith, Jobu Il. Smith, Monroe Snow, Jerry W. Squires, Jonas H. Thayer, John Mclaughlin, James Whittaker, all in 37th Mass, Regt.

Acknowledgments are due to Chas. L. Washburn, town elerk, Rev. Payson W. Lyman, Austin Billings, S. W. Long- ley, Daniel Sawin, Cyrus S. Bartlet and wife, and other citi- zens of the town. "Doolittle's Sketches," and the Easthamp- ton Centennial Address of Rev. P. W. Lyman, have also been found useful.

* Moses Cowles' house was bur ned in October, 1776, while he was serving in the war, and three of bis children were burned to death in the conflagration, the eldest being five years of age.

GREENWICH.

GEOGRAPHICAL.

THE town of Green wich is situated in the northeastern corner of Hampshire County, and is bounded on the north by the town of Prescott, in the same county, on the south by the town of Ware, in the same county, on the east by the towns of Dana and Hardwick, in Worcester County, and on the west by the towns of Prescott and Enfield, in Hampshire County. The average length of the town is about eight and a half miles, and the average width about two and three-quarter miles. It contains 12,402.8 acres of land, 450 acres of pond and streams, and 216.5 acres of roads, the length of the latter being forty- two and a quarter miles.

NATURAL FEATURES.

The township is situated in a valley, running north and south, and skirted on either side by a range of hills. The landscape is pleasantly diversified by several hills of promi- nence, by the east and middle branches of Swift River, which traverse the town throughout, and by numerous ponds scat- tered over its surface. Mount Pomeroy lifts its peculiar con- ical form just north of the village of Greenwich Plains, and probably attains an altitude of 700 or 800 feet. Mount " Liz," or " Lizzie," Jies about a mile and a half south of Mount Pomeroy, and south of the village, and probably attains about the same altitude as the former. The origin of their names is elsewhere referred to. Cooley's Hill, also quite elevated, lies farther south, near the Enfield line. The two branches of Swift River afford a number of fine water-privileges, several of which are not utilized. The east branch discharges its waters into Moose Pond. The outlet of this pond unites with the middle branch and passes on to the Chicopee River. Numerous small affluents of the river drain the different sec- tions of the town, of which the principal is Sunk Brook, in the south part of the town. The principal ponds are Warner, in the north part of the town, Curtis, about a mile farther south, East or Moose Pond, lying east of the geographical centre of the town, and Davis Pond, south and west of Greenwich Plains.

The soil of Greenwich is fertile, producing the cereals, with the exception of wheat, in abundance, but is unfavorable to the production of grass. Being comparatively free from rocks and stones, it is not difficult of cultivation. The geological formations of the town are not of special importance, con- forming to the general description of them elsewhere given in this work. Two rocky bowlders on the Blackmer farm, in the southerly part of the town, have attracted considerable notice. They are of many tons in weight, and rest upon a flat rock. A slight degree of power applied serves to set them in motion.

STATISTICAL.

The present population of the town is given at 606. By the census of 1776 it was 890. The highest population ever reached in the town was in 1800, when it was 1460. Sinee that time the town of Enfield has been set off from Green- wich, accounting largely for the difference in population. By the census of 1875, the total products of the town are placed at $117,363. The assessor's report for the year 1878 furnishes the following ; Number of polls, 187; of dwelling-houses, 141; of horses, 144; of cows, 297; of sheep, 157; of acres of

land taxed, 11,107; value of personal property, $72,090; of real property, $200,000 ; rate per cent. of total taxation, 1.65.

RAILROADS.

The Springfield, Athol and Northeastern Railroad passes through the town from north to south, and was first opened to traffic in 1873. It has two stations, one at Greenwich Plains, and the other at Greenwich Valley.

The Massachusetts Central Railroad, yet in an unfinished condition, proposes to enter near the upper village of Enfield, and pass in a northeasterly direction through the town, having stations at the two villages.

MEN OF DISTINCTION.

Among the men of distinction which the town has produced may be mentioned E. E. Marcy, M.D., editor and author ; Gen. Amiel W. Whipple, born in 1817, died from wounds received at Chancellorsville, May 7, 1863,-a brave and able officer ; Hon. James E. Cooley, of New York City, a former State Senator of that State ; and Albert White, M.D., author of a volume of poems.

INDIAN OCCUPATION AND RELICS.

Undoubted evidences of the occupation of the soil of Green- wich by the Indians are to be found within the town. The chief traces of savage occupancy are found in the southern part of the town, in and around Davis Pond, and near the junction of the east and middle branches of Swift River. The remains of an Indian, apparently buried in a sitting posture, are said to have been found on the old Cooley farm many years ago ; and on the farms of William R. Hale and Lorenzo Davis have been found many Indian relies, consisting of pestles, broken utensils, arrow- and spear-heads, parts of tomahawks, and other unique remains. The former gentleman has a spe- cially valuable collection of these trophies, and takes great interest in accumulating them. Mr. Davis also has a few of rare interest. One stone, owned by Mr. Hale, apparently of Pelham granite, contains on one side the head of an Indian squaw, and on the other a bow and arrow, fixed ready for shooting, both of which were probably carved by savage hands. Mount Pomeroy and Mount Liz also testify to the presence of the Indians. The former is said to have derived its name from the fact that a man named Pomeroy was burnt at the stake by the savages, and there buried .*

Mount " Liz" is said to have been named after Elizabeth Rowlandson, an unfortunate Indian captive, who was put to death there by the savages. She was a daughter of the Rev. Mr. Rowlandson, the minister at Lancaster, Worcester Co., whose house was burned and his family either killed or carried captive in the memorable attack on that place, on the 10th day of February, 1676, by the Wampanoag, Narragansett, Nip- muck, and Nashaway Indians, led by King Philip.t

SETTLEMENT.

The territory at present comprising the town of Greenwich, as well as that of Enfield, was formerly known as Quabbin.t

* Another less authentic story is that Pomeroy killed a bear there.

+ Barber's Historical Collections, pp. 575, 576.

# The name of every Indian usually has a signification, and the translation of the name Quabbin has been given as " Many Waters," a name that would be appropriate to the tract of land which bore that early name.

534

535

HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.

This name was given to it in honor of King Quabbin, an Indian sachem, or chief of a tribe, whose headquarters lay near the junction of the two branches of the river, in the southern part of Greenwich.

On June 30, 1732, the General Court granted seven town- ships of land, eaeli six miles square, to the descendants of the soldiers who destroyed the Narragansett fort, on Dee. 19, 1675. The number of soldiers was 840. This gave a township of six miles square to each 120 soldiers. These grants were made on condition that each township should settle at least 60 families on its territory within seven years after the grant, settle a learned orthodox minister, and lay out a lot of land for him and one for the school. If these conditions were not complied with the grant was to be void. On the 6th of June, 1733, the proprietors met on Boston Common, at two o'clock in the afternoon, when they voted that the grantees should be divided into seven societies, one township to be given to each society. Narragansett township, No. 4, was first laid out in New HIamp- shire, at a place called Amasskeage,* but, that land proving unsatisfactory, a committee was appointed Nov. 17, 1735, to search out better land in exchange. Quabbin was the tract of land chosen, and is described as "bounded north by Salem Town, casterly by Lambstown (now Hardwick), southerly by the Equivalent Land, and westerly by Wm. Reed's land." The meetings of the proprietors were held for a good while at Rehoboth, in the county of Bristol. This is accounted for by the fact that many of the original grantees never actually entered upon their lands, but resided in the eastern part of the State. Hence the meetings were held at the most convenient place. The names of some of the first grantees were Joseph Allen, 2 rights ; John Foster, 3; Benjamin Coppee, 2; Edward Shove, 14; Shubael Conant, 6; Ebenezer Mun, 1; James Redaway, 1; John Robbins, 1; Timothy Ide, 1; John Butter- worth, I; Thomas Dickens, I; Isaac Dagget, 1; Joseph Whe- ton, 1; Samuel Childs, 8; Thomas Maeumber, I; Comfort Carpenter, 1; John Reed, I; John Hill, 1; and John Wood- ward, 19.

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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 177

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