History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. I, Part 179

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 179

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).

REPRESENTATIVES.

1775, Joseph Hendrick ; 1776, Nehemiah Stebbins; 1777-81, Caleb West; 17X8-89, Nehemiah Stebbins; 1792-96, James Fisk; 1798-99, Thomas Powers; 1801-4, Robert Field; 1805-6, Abijah l'owers; 1808-9, Reuben Colton; 1810-11, Thomas Powers; 1812, Robert Field; 1813-14, Abijah Powers; 1816, '17, '18, '19, 124, '26, '27, '28, '30, '40, '41, '48, Laban Marcy ; 1829, John Warner; 1832, Thomas

Smith; 1833, Dr. Mason C. Darling; 1834-35, Jonathan F. Sears; 1837, John Northam ; 1838-39, 1842, Ira Haskell ; 1843, Samuel HIale; 1844, Cullen Warner; 1850, Luke Earle; 1851, Ezra S. Gibbs; 1853, Ira Haskell; 1854, Benjamin Honse; 1860, Elias Smith ; 1864, Albert L. Doak ; 1866, John T. Warner ; 1870, Sylvester F. Root.

VILLAGES.

The town contains two villages ; of these,

GREENWICH PLAINS,

as it is designated, is situated south of the geographical centre of the town, between Mount Pomeroy and Mount Lizzie. It contains the Congregational Church, the old cemetery, a store, a post-office, a hotel, a plating-shop, a railroad depot, and a number of dwelling-houses. The post-office is supposed to have been established about the year 1810, and a large num- ber of persons have filled the office of postmaster, including William Marcy, Laban Marcy, Selim Newton, Dr. Levi Chamberlain, Dr. Mason C. Darling, Pliny Allen, Joshua Shaw, Thomas Smith, James Hanks, Samuel Warren, G. R. Dickinson, Lorenzo S. Blaekmer, Sylvester F. Root, H. C. Longley, and F. O. Bliss. Edward T. King is the present incumbent.

GREENWICH VILLAGE,

situated in the northeasterly section of the town, is more extensive, containing several stores, a hotel, blacksmith- shop, saw-mill, post-office, and a larger number of dwelling- houses. It is pleasantly situated along the east branch of Swift River, and at the base of a considerable range of hills. The post-office is said to have been established about the year 1807, and the first postmaster is said by some to have been Warren P'. Wing, and by others to have been Gen. John Warner. The office has since been filled by a large number of persons, among whom may be mentioned Ira Haskell, David Allen, Sylvester F. Root, Henry M. Brown, and Levi N. Chamberlain, the present postmaster, who was appointed in 1878. The mail was carried from Northampton on horse- back for many years by an odd character by the name of Chas. Hannum .*

SCHOOLS.

The cause of education received early attention in the town. As early as 1737 a committee was appointed by the original proprietors to lay out a lot for a school, and provision was made for the establishment and support of schools in the orig- inal grant of land.

After the incorporation of the town, the regular and sys- tematic support of schools began. In the month of Janu- ary, 1759, it was " voted to raise £9 for the support of a school for this town ;" also, " voted that there be three men chosen a committee to divide the town into three parts, in order for the school to be kept in."

The committee chosen in accordance with this vote divided the town into three districts, as follows : "All north of the county-road leading from llardwiek to Pelham to be one part, and all south of the aforesaid road to William Fisk's, and across that into Mr. Benjamin Cooley's, to be a second or middle part, and those south of said line, be the other or third part." This division of the town continued for many years.

Various appropriations for the support of the schools have been made from time to time. On Oct. 11, 1761, £10 was appropriated. The same amount was appropriated the follow- ing year, and a committee was appointed to locate school- houses. In 1764 the sum of £20 was appropriated, and the same amount the following year.

In the month of November, 1765, the committee appointed to locate school-houses reported as follows: "1. In the south quarter, on the south side of the road, by a little brook, to the

* Hannum also acted as a sort of express and general purchasing agent for the community, and is said to have carried a cross-eut saw on horseback from Northampton to Greenwich, for twenty-five cents.

539

HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.

west of John Rea's. 2. At the meeting-house in Greenwich. 3. In the north part, near widow Wright's house. 4. At the north end of the old field south of Isaac Powers'."

In 1793 the town voted £60 for schools; in 1795 this had increased to £100, and the same year the town was re-districted and divided into eleven school-districts. In 1798, $400 was appropriated for schools, and that sum remained the amount of the annual appropriation for several years. In 1814, $500 was appropriated; in 1856, $700; in 1867, 8800; and in 1878, $900. In 1870 the town was divided into seven school-dis- tricts, which division is still in force, the number of scholars in attendance being about 100.

One of the first schools in the town was kept in an old barn that stood on the "old Ayres place." The school in the " middle district" was kept in an old house near Samuel llale's, and was tanght by a man by the name of Hogan for a time. The school in the south district was near the road lead- ing from Enfield to Bond's village, in Palmer.

The first school-house at the "village" was part of the present residence of Mrs. Selina Morse. The next was a brick building that stood half- way between the old and present tavern stand, where Charles Record's blacksmith-shop is.

Of the early school-teachers mention may be made of Relief Sears, Elsie Marvin,-who is also said to have established and taught the first Sabbath-school, about 1816,-Daniel Knight, Daniel Lindsey, a Mr. Foster, and a Mr. Davenport.

CHURCHES.

CONGREGATIONAL.

This branch of the Christian Church, known also as the "Or- thodox," or "Standing Order" of Christians, was the first to become established, and for many years received direct town support. Provision for the establishment of a church and the settlement of a "learned orthodox minister" was made in the original grant of land, 300 acres of which were to be re- served for the first settled minister, and a like amount for the second.

The proprietors of Quabbin met on the 14th day of May, 1740,* and voted to build a meeting-house 40 by 30 feet in ground dimensions and 20 feet between the joints. It was subsequently, Nov. 27, 1744, changed to 35 by 45 feet, but the house was not finished until 1745, because boards could not be procured, as there was no saw-mill in the settlement prior to that date. The house was built upon, or near, the spot where Capt. N. Powers' house afterward stood, near the corner of the old grave-yard. Each proprietor was taxed forty shillings to defray the expenses of preaching for twelve months. This meeting-house, which is said to have had a veritable latch- string ever at the door, and to have had its acoustic properties greatly enhanced by the addition of an immense " sounding- board," remained in use until 1824, when the present one was dedicated, it having been erected in accordance with a vote of the town passed Dec. 16, 1822.

Meetings were held as early as 1745, different ministers officiating. On Oct. 31, 1745, John Patterson, Timothy Rug- gles, and others protested in writing against paying money to support an "unorthodox minister," and demanded that whoever preached should be first "approbated" by Rev. Messrs. Cheney, of Brookfield; Edwards, of Northampton ; White, of Hardwick; Woodbridge, of Hatfield; and Wil- liams, of Hadley. The same date the sum of 50s., old tenor, was voted to James Wright, for " victuals and lodging pro- vided at the raising of the meeting-house." On Oct. 4, 1749, the sum of £60 each was voted to Amos Monson and

Benjamin Dickinson for preaching. John Searl preached in 1747.

On Nov. 4, 1749, the parish voted a call to the Rev. Pelatiab Webster as their first regular minister, offering him £500, old tenor, for his settlement, and a like sum for his first year's salary, and afterward the equivalent of 200 bushels of Indian corn, 100 bushels of rye, and 75 bushels of wheat. Webster accepted, provided that after the first year's salary they should pay him the equivalent of 180 ounces of silver, current money, or passable bills of public credit. The terms being mutually satisfactory, Mr. Webster was installed the first regular min- ister of the church Dec. 20, 1749. Ile was a graduate of Yale College, of the class of 1746, and remained pastor of the church for a period of nine years, during which time quite serious difficulties occurred between him and the parish, mainly upon points of church government and discipline. The town, in October, 1754, voted not to accept the "articles of church discipline drawn up by Mr. Webster." He was dismissed in October, 1755. On Feb. 15, 1757, a call, which was not accepted, was extended to the Rev. Philip Payson, of Walpole. Rev. Belcher Hancock then supplied the pulpit for a time, and received a regular call Aug. 16, 1758, which, for some reason, he did not accept. July 5, 1759, the town voted "to hire Robert Cutler to preach 6 Sabbaths on pro- bation." He seems to have satisfied the people, and was regularly called Sept. 4, 1759, being offered at first £54 settle- ment and £50 salary. £12 13s. 4d. was afterward added to the settlement, and he was duly installed as the second regular pastor Feb. 13, 1760. Mr. Cutler was a graduate of Harvard College, in the class of 1741, served a long and useful min- istry, and died " in the harness," Feb. 24, 1786, at the age of sixty-eight, and in the fortieth year of his ministry. His re- mains lie buried in the ancient burying-ground of the town.

Mr. Cutler was succeeded by Rev. Joseph Blodgett, of Staf- ford, Conn., who was settled Nov. 8, 1786, and who died Nov. 26, 1833, at the age of seventy. six. Rev. Joseph H. Patrick was settled as colleague pastor Nov. 17, 1830. He was a grad- uate of Brown University in 1817, and a native of Warren. After the death of Rev. Joseph Blodgett he remained pastor of the church until Dec. 21, 1842, when he was dismissed. Rev. Edward P. Blodgett, the present pastor, a graduate of Amherst College, in 1838, was installed July 5, 1843. He has filled the pastoral office with great fidelity and success for a period of nearly thirty-six years. The church is in a prosperous con- dition spiritually, though somewhat in need of a new meeting- house, the storms of over fifty winters having visibly affected its ancient frame. The society embraces a membership of 128 persons ; the average attendance upon the Sabbath-school is 67; number of volumes in the Sabbath-school library, 200; superintendent of Sabbath-school, J. B. Root.

METHODISTS.

This denomination began to exist in the town about fifty years ago. The first established minister was Rev. Mr. Stod- dard. Among those who followed him have been Rev. Messrs. Harwood, H. Morgan, J. Knight, Philetus Green, Philo Hawks, J. Lewis, and others. Meetings were held alternately in the " Masonic Temple," so called, at Greenwich village, and in the meeting-house on the "plain," a division of its use having been made between the Congregationalists, Meth- odists, and Unitarians. For some unexplained cause the movement finally died out, and no regular society has existed in the town for the past twenty-five years.

UNITARIANS.

The believers in the unity of the Deity are said to have been quite numerous at one time. In the year 1829, and about that time, the society divided the use of the meeting-house with the Congregationalists and Methodists. As they have no present organization in the town, the names of the pastors, if any, who have regularly officiated for the society cannot be given.

* The proprietors present at this meeting were Jedediah Emmous, John Kidder, Kenelin Winslow, Thomas Gibbs, Enoch Flines, John Hardwood, John Nevins, Elijah Fitch, Jonathan Bort, James Wheeler, Timothy Ruggles, John Brayman, Samuel Morris, Jr., Wm. Rand, Edward Shove, John Foster, Robert Fenton, Gershom Keyes, David Nevins, John Robbins, James Redaway, Josiah Perry, and ---- Reed.

540

HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

BURIAL-GROUNDS.

The town is fortunate enough to have but one place of public burial within its limits. This is the " Old Burying- Ground" at Greenwich Plains. The one which formerly existed in the south part of the town is within the town of Enfield.

The ground was laid out by a committee appointed by the proprietors of Quabbin May 12, 1737, consisting of John Foster, Shubael Conant, and Samuel Childs. Ten acres of land were set apart for the meeting-house and burying- ground. On May 20, 1772, it was voted to "fence the bury- ing-ground with stone fence, the yard to be 20 rods square." On Nov. 25, 1822, it was " voted to make a good board fenee for the burying-ground, to be painted."

Most of the early settlers, especially of the north part of the town, are buried in this cemetery, although some were never honored with tombstones, and those erected to the memories of others have crumbled away. The oldest stone in the yard at present is a small one on which are inscribed these words:

" In memory of Deacn James Wright, who Dec'd July ye 7th, 1754, in the 5Ist year of his age."

Mr. Wright was among the very first settlers of the town, but from the fact that he died so early, both in respect to time and age, no trace of him can be found save this stone.

Other inscriptions in the yard are the following :

" Spe Salutis Eterna .- Rev. Robert Cutler, Feb. 24, 1786, in the 65th year of his age, & 40th of his ministry."

"Elizabeth ('utler, wife of Rev. Robert Cutler, died of an apoplectic fit, Sept. 2, 1774, aged 43."

" Roland Sears, who died March 22d, 1851, aged 88. A Revolutionary Soldier under Washington."

" Moses Robinson, who died May 22d, 1839, aged 82. A Revolutionary Soldier under Washington."

" Lieut. Jacob, Gibbs, who died Nov. 13th, 1777, aged 51.

" Mrs. Ruth, wife of Capt. Joseph Hooker, who died April 7th, 1804, in her 79th year."

" Rboda, daughter of Lieut. Jacob Gibbs, who died Feb. 7th, 1767."

Two unique inscriptions are the following :

"Miss Delly Poor, who died Nov. 28th, 1808, in the 36tb year of her age.

" Delicate she look'd & fair, Open, generous, and sincere, Like an angel did she seem, Lovely, artfull, and serene,

You'd joyn with me had you her seen ;

pity fil'd her tender breast, of every virtue she profest. O may the beavens befriend her there, Renowning blessings ever more."*

"Sacred to the memory of the dead, And the pride of the living, Of Mary, wife of Andrew Harwood."

The ground is in good condition, and contains a number of handsome stones and monuments.

Danforth Trask has had charge of it for many years, sue- ceeding his father.

SOCIETIES.

KINO HIRAM ROYAL ARCH CHAPTER OF MASONS

and a lodge of Knights Templar are said to have existed at Greenwich village about 1827 or 1828, and to have been established chiefly through the instrumentality of Gen. John Warner, Wm. Walker, Warren P. Wing, and John T. Jordan. The chapter was afterward removed to Ware. The building known as "Masonic Temple" was erected by these Masons, and some exciting experiences are reported to have occurred within its walls. No regular organized body of the order now exists in the town.

The only surviving members of this early enterprise are said to be Horace Hunt and Henry Fobes, of Enfield, and John T. Jordan, of Greenwich.

FRIENDSHIP ORANQE, NO. 55, PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY,

was established May 22, 1874. It is in a flourishing condition, and meets in the " village." The present officers of the society are J. H. Morgan, Master ; Pliny Clifford, Overseer ; Joseph P. Vaughn, Sec.

GRANITE LODGE, NO. 36, I. O. G. T.,

was organized in 1876, and meets weekly at Farmer's Hall in the " village." The present officers are H. H. Vanghn, Worthy Chief; William Carrick, Sec.

NOTES AND INCIDENTS.

The records of the town contain the following minutes :

" 1806, June 16th .- Total eclipse of the sun. It was viewed with admiration ; the darkness was so great that candles for lighting the rooms was necessary ; stars appeared brilliant."

" 1816 .- The summer of this year was remarkable, what is generally known or call'd the cold summer. Grass was very light, and the erops, except English grain, was universally eut off through the country. English grain was remarkable heavy and good, commanded from $1.50 to $2 per bushel ; much suffering ensued."

On May 22, 1876, a severe hurricane passed through the town, unroofing several buildings including the town-house, carrying the roof one hundred rods away. " Bailey's Grove" received great damage.

Jan. 9, 1878, the depot of the Springfield, Athol and North- eastern Railroad, at Greenwich village, was destroyed by fire.

In early times every man had a certain " mark" for his cattle, which he had recorded in the books of the town, and by which they could be identified as his property. A record of " strays" was always kept in the town books. The follow- ing is the record of one of the earliest :

"Taken up and strayed by Jeremiah Powers, of Quabbin Parrish, a year and uantide steer marked with the toop of his left Ear Cut of, and is of a Cherry Brindle, with a leetel white spot In his fore head and his two hinde feet white. " Quabbin, November the 27th, 1752.

" ABRAHAM GIBBS. " Parish Clerk."

INDUSTRIAL PURSUITS.

The principal industrial occupation of the town has always been agriculture. Other branches of industry have, however, flourished to a greater or less extent, the splendid water-power of the town being especially utilized at Greenwich village.

In the early part of the present century, Gen. John Warner established a factory for the manufacture of scythes at that point. He was afterward joined by David Allen, his son-in- law, who finally succeeded him. The factory was burned about 1858, but was afterward rebuilt, and the business resumed for a short time. Work was then stopped, and the machinery removed to Warren.

About 1818, Ezra Ayres engaged in the manufacture of pewter buttons at the old " Ayres place." The building in which the enterprise was pursued was afterward moved into Greenwich village, and is now a dwelling-house, owned by Dwight Johnson.

One of the first blacksmiths at the "village" was Gad Wright, whose shop was near Warner's seythe-factory.

About fifty years ago, Warren P. Wing engaged in the manufacture of "cards" at the " village." Somewhat earlier, Nathan Powers had a woolen-mill at the place where David Parker's saw- and grist-mill now is.

The business of braiding hats has been quite a branch of industry since the first part of the century, being followed by both sexes, but principally by females. A large number are still made in the town.

The first saw- and grist-mill was built about the year 1745, by a man named Holmes, near or on the spot where David Parker's mill now stands, at Greenwich village. Ilolmes also erected one of the first houses in the town, which stood where the tavern now is in 1768. "Capt. Hitchcock" owned the mill.

* The author of these lines is said to bave been Dr. Nehemiah Hinds, an early physician of Prescott.

JOHN H. MORGAN.

An extract from the genealogical record of Rev. John C. Morgan, late of Naples, N. Y., which he compiled when eighty-one years of age:

Miles Morgan was & son of Wil- lism, of Landaff, Glamorganshire, Wales. Miles emigrated from Wales to Bristol, England, and from there to America, and settled at Spring- fiold, Mass., May 14, 1636. Soon after his arrival in Boston, William Pyn- chon, Esq , with a number of families, removed from Roxbury, and settled the town of Springfield. He joined these emigrants in their enterprise, and on their arrival at their place of destination the land upon what is now the main street in Springfield was divided into shares, and distrib- uted by lot among the settlers. The tract of land which was allotted to Morgan extended on the south side * of Ferry Lane, now known as Cyprus Street, from the main street to the river. It is a rich and beautiful tract, the house being about twenty rods from the river.

In the first records of the town of Springfield we find that, in 1646, he was taxed nine pounds sixpence for thirty-four and one-half acres of land. From 1647 to 1656 he was surveyor for the upper part of the town. In 1657 was chosen one of the selectmen of the town, and held the office for many years. As one of the selectmen he signed a contrset with William Pynchon, Esq., for the building of a grist-mill upon Mill Brook for the grinding of corn.

Supposed to have been born in 1615. Was married in 1643, at the age of twenty-eight, to Prudence Gilbert. Miles became acquainted with Pru- dence on his voyage to the "New World," and subsequently correspon- ded with her. In 1643 he engaged two of his intimate friends and an Indian guide to accompany him to the town of Beverly, where she lived, they taking with them ao old horse to convey the furniture of the bride to her future habitation, and their muskets, with which they might "turn to flight the armies of the aliene," who might molest them in their pilgrimage to and from the land of the people of the East. Prosperity attended the journey of our patriarchal ancestor, and on his arrival the hymneneal torch was kindled. The matrimonial contract having been ratified in "due form," the old horse received his destined burden, the bridegroom and his companions shouldered their muskets, and thus escorted the bride to Springfield, who walked the entire distance from Beverly to that place, that is, about one hundred and twenty miles. By this marriage Miles had eight children, as follows:

2. Mary, born 1644. 3. Jonathan, born 1646. 4. David, born 1648. 5. Pela- tiah, boro 1650. 6. Isaac, boro 1652. 7. Lydia, born 1654. 8. Hannah, born 1656. 9. Mercy, born 1658.

Prudence, wife of Miles, died Nov. 14, 1660.

Milos (1), or Sergt. Miles Morgan, as he was then called, married Elizabeth Bliss, Feb. 15, 1669, and bad one son, Nathaniel (10). Miles Morgan (1) died May 28, 1699.

Nathaniel (10), born June 14, 1671, married Ilannah Bird, Jan. 19, 1691, when in his twentieth year. He settled in West Springfield, on Chicopee Street, where he lived to the age of eighty-one years, and died Aug. 30, 1752. He had seven sons and two daughters. All of his sons and one daughter lived to the age of seventy years, and some of them attained a still greater age. They all married, and settled in the first parish of West Springfield. Their names were: 30. Nathaniel, Jr., born February, 1692. 31. Samuel, born 1694. 32. Eben- ezer, born 1696. 33. lanoah, born 1698. 34. Miles, born 1700. 35. Joseph, born Dec. 3, 1702. 36. James, boru 1705. 37. Isaac, horn 1708. 33. Elizabeth, born 1710.

They possessed some of the finest farms in that town, but their descendants are scattered, and none remain to tell the places of their fathers' sepulehre.

Sic Tempora Mutant.

Joseph (35), fifth sou of Nathaniel, married Mary Stebbins, daughter of Ben- jamin Stebbins, of West Spingfield, in 1735. In 1751 they removed to the north parish, now called Holyoke, and settled on land opposite South Hadley Falls, one mile northwest of the city of Ilolyoke, where they spent the remainder of their lives, and saw their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren settled around them on the old plantation. The children of Joseph (35) were:

44. Joseph, Jr., born February, 1736. 45. Titus, who died young. 46. Titus, second, born July 19, 1740. 47. Lucas, born 1743. 48. Elizabeth, born 1745. 49. Judalı, born 1749. 50. Jesse, twin of Judah. 51. Hannah, born 1751.

Mr. Joseph Morgan, Sr. (35), died of phthisis, Nov. 17, 1773, aged seventy-two years. Mary, his wife, long survived him. She died Dec. 7, 1798, aged eighty- six. Of the other sons of Nathaniel (10) or their posterity little is known.

Titus (46), son of Joseph, married Sarab Morgan (41), May 19, 1763, at West Springfield. They were both great-grandchildren of Miles (1) in two distinct lines. An extract from Sarah's (41) genealogy ;

Miles (I), the son of William.

David (4), Miles' second son, married Mary Clark in 1673. Their children were: 16. Prudence, born 1674. 17. Pelatiah, born 1677. 18. David, born 1679. 19. Abigail, born 1681. 20. John, born 1682. 21. Jonathan, born 1685. 22. Mercy, born 1688. 23. Ebenezer, born March 7, 1692. 24. Benjamin, born 1695. David (4) died in 1731, aged eighty-three years.

Ebenezer (23), fifth son of David, married Mary Horton, in 1719. She died io 1736, and he married, in 1737, Sarah Warner; she (Sarah) was born Feb. 2, 1710. Their children were:

39. Ebenezer, Jr., born 1738. 40. Samuel, born 1740. 41. Saralı, born 1742.

42. Catharina, born 1744. 43. Chloe, born 1746.

Titus (46) and Sarah (41) were mar- ried May 19, 1763. Their children were:

84. Erastus, born 1764. 85. Gaius, born 1766. 86. Quartus, twin of Gaius. 87. Julius, born 1768. 88. Plinney, born 1780. 89. Archipas, born 1772. 90. Titus, Jr., boro 1776. 91. Sally, horn 1779. 92. Iliranı, born 1781. The most of these lad large families. Titus (46), with his four brothers, all settled on the old plantation of their father, Joseph (35), about a mile southeast of Mount Tot. 1 well re- member sixty years ago (1811) they were surrounded by their descend- ants of the second and third genera- tions, but now (1871) not one of the name remains in the parish. Sarah (41) died at the age of seventy-seven years. Titus (46) died at the age of ninety-four years and six months.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. I, Part 179

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