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 183
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" Imprimis. The said Robert Peitiles, for himself and for his Heirs, Execu- tors, and Adm's, Engages to procure proper Security in the time, way, and manor as aforesaid to said Stoddard's acceptance for the one-half of all ye aforesaid sums of money. And the said James Thornton, for himself and for his Heirs, Execurs, and Admrs, Engages to procure proper security in ye time, way, and mannor ;y aforesaid to said Stoddard's acceptance for the other half of all the aforesaid sums.
" Secondly. That They will forthwith, or with as much speed as conveniently they can, have said land measured and well bounded, and then proceed to lay out Sixty-one Lotts of one hundred acres each, su'as best to accomodate them for settlements, in the doing of which they will lay out needfull and convenient Roads & ways, all which Lotts shall draw an Equall proportion in all after Divisions, till the whole of said Tract shall be laid out.
" Thirdly. That one of said Lotts shall Immediately be sequestered and sett apart for ye settled ordained minister in said Plantation with all future drafts, and the same is hereby Ratified to him, his heirs and assigns forever, and to be laid as accomodable as the same may be, and they oblige themselves to Ratific and Confirm ye sante to ye person who shall be first settled and ordained as aforesaid for the Incouragement of those persons they shall admit as Partners or Settlers with thein.
" Fourthly. That as soon as ye said minister's Lott shall be sett of, That theu the said Robert Peibles shall have the Liberty of Choosing Two lots such as he sees cause without draft, and when he has so done, Then the said James Thoru- ton shall have Liberty to Choose Two Lotts as he sees cause withont draft. That the Remaining Lotts shall be numbered and drawn for by said Partys, or those they shall admitt as Partners or Settlers with them, so that each party shall have, with those who shall hold under them, thirty lotts.
"Fifthly. That all the charges ariseing in said Plantation by the Surveying and Bounding out of ye whole of said Tract & laying ont the Lotts as aforesaid, and all the after Divisions, all needfull ways & Roads, making Brilges and Causeways, Roads & ways, the Settling of a minister, and building and finishing a meeting-lIonse, and all unforseen Charges for perfecting and Compleating what is afore-mentioned shall be born by the persons owning said sixty Lotts, viz't: one lott to pay one-sixtieth part, and so proportionably for what each party shall own.
" Sixthly, The said Robert Peilles engages for himself and for bis heirs, Execu's and adm's To Have with himself Twenty familys of Good Conversation settled on the prentises, who shall be such as were Inhabitants of the Kingdom of Ireland, or their Descendants, being Protestants, and none to be admitted but such as bring good and undeniable Credentialls or Certificates of their being persons of Good Conversation and of the Presbyterian Persuasion as used in the Church of Scotland and conform to ye Discipline thereof, unless they shall otherwise agree he: eafter ; said familys to be actually settled on the premises in three years from the date hereof, each to have a House of at least eighteen teet
550
HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.
square and seven feet studd, well Inclosed and made Habitable and upon one of said hundred-acie Lotts, and have three acres, part thereof, improved by plowing and mowing; and the sand James Thornton Engages for himself and for his lleis, Execu's and admits To Ilave with himself Twenty familys settled on the premises in the time, way, and manner in all Regards as are described as aforest, nothing Excepted or Reserved, and who shall each one perform as to building and Improving as aforesaid, viz't, as is to be done on the part of the said Robert Pribles.
" Seventhly. That each party have liberty in his own name and Right to dis- pose of his Share and Interest in the premises as he sees cause, to Inable him fully to comply with what they Respectively have engaged to do, as herein is already expressed.
"Eightbly. That in the first and all future Divisions all persons who shall be admitted as Partners or Settlers shall have a vote in Proportion to his Right in all meetings hereafter to be called, unless debarred by some previous contract.
" Ninthly. They each one engage for themselves and all those who shall hold under them that none of them shall take any cattle to Feed in ye woods in ye bounds and Limits of the designed Settlement in the land's aforesaid but what are Bobe File their own property, unless ye Settlers hereafter shall agree to the same.
" And, Finally, That they will with Convenient speed procure Legall meeting of ye Proprietors of said lands as soon as they have admitted of all or part of their settlers, and in the Proprietors' Book enter the foregoing articles of agree- ment as ye foundation of their Lott Count and futme proceeding, hereby cov- enanting for themselves severally, and for their several and Respective Heils, Execurs, and admis, that they will proceed agreeable to what is aforesaid writ- ten, on the Forfeiture of five Thousand pounds by him who shall fail, to be paid to the other, besides Threeble Damages.
" In witness whereof, the partys To these presents have hereunto affixed their hands and seals the day and year aforesaid.
" It is agreed, notwithstanding what is above written, That Peibles shall choose one of his Two Lotts, then Thornton one, then Peibles his Second, then Thornton his second.
" ROBERT PEIBLES. [SEAL.] " THOMAS THORNTON. {SEAL. ]
" Signed, sealed, and delivered in presence of us.
" MATHEW GaAY, JUX".
" JOHN CHANDLER, JUXT."
" WORCESTER, October 21, 1738. " WORCESTER, &x. : Robert Peibles & James Thornton, the Subscribers, Person- ally appearing, and Respectively acknowledged the foregoing Instrument, con- taining seven pages, to be their act and Deed, before me.
" JOHN CHANDLER, JUST, Jud. Pacis."
Soon after the making of this contract, measures were taken to organize a body of proprietary settlers, and take possession of the lands. These so far met with success that on the 31st of the following January a deed was given to a company of persons by Col. Stoddard, of which the following is a copy :
" To all to whom these presents shall come, Greeting: Know yee that John Stoddard, of North Hampton, in ye County of Hampshire, in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in New England, for and in Consideration of the sum of seven thousand three hundred pounds, in bills of Public ('reditt of ye old Tennor in hand already Received of the Persons hereinafter named, the Receipt whereof he doth hereby acknowledge, and himself thereby fully satisfied aud Contented, hath given, granted, bargained, and sold, and by these presents loth fully, freely, clearly, and absolutely Give, grant, Bargain, Sell, Release, convey, and confirm uuto them, their heirs, and assigns forever, one-half (excepting eight hundred acres) of that Tract of Equivalent Land, lying and being in ye County of Hamp- shire, hounded Westerly on Hadley, Sonth wardly on another Tract of Equivalent land, commonly called Cold Spring Township, Eastwardly on land called Quobbin, North on land now called Well's Town, which Tract of land was laid out by Mathew Allin, Roger Woulcott, and Ebenezer Pomroy, Esqs., for Twenty-nine Thousand Eight Hundred and Seventy-four acres, a more particular Description of which land does appear by their Return, entered in ye Secretary's office at Boston, weh half part (excepting Eight hundred acres, as aforesaid), by a Division In tely made by the owners or proprietors of said Equivalent land, is laid in sever- alty, and contained in ye first lott, and does contain ye whole of said Lott (except- ing Thirty-eight acres Two Roods and thirty-three perch, which belongs to Mr. Elisha Williams Doct., of Yale Colledge), which Lott Lyeth on the north part of said Equivalent Land, and is bounded north by ye north Line of said Equivalent Land, and from said Line Extends south one Thousand and Eleven Rods and Eleven feet, to monuments Raised at Each end, and dors extend from Iladley bounds on tho West to the east bounds of said Equivalent land, a more particular description of which lott may be seen in ye Deed of partition, bearing Date ye seventh day of September, 1738, which said half (excepting as aforesaid) 'I'be said John Stoddard doth hereby sell and Confirm, as aforesaid, to the following persons, and in ye following proportion (viz't): To Robert Pribles, five-sixtieth parts ; To Patrick Peibles, one-sixtieth part; To Andrew Me Farland & Mathew Gray, Jun", Three-sixtieth parts; To Robert Lothiidge, Two-sixtieth parts; To Robert Barber and William Johnson, Three-sixtieth parts; To William Gray, Jun., one-sixtieth part ; To John McConkey, one sixtieth part; To James Mc- Conkey, one-sixtieth part: To Alexander McConkey, one-sixtieth part; To Alexander Turner, one-sixtieth part; To John Stinson, one-sixtieth ; To James Wood, one-sixtieth part; To Adam Johnson, Two-sixtieth parts; To Ephraim C'owen, one-sixtieth part ; To George Cowon, one-sixtieth part; To Samuel Gray,
.
two-sixtieth parts; To John Gray, Jr., three-sixtieth parts; To Thomas Dick, one-sixtieth part ; To John Dick, our-sixtieth part; To John Alexander, one- sixtieth fait ; To James Alexander, one-sixtieth pant; To James McAllach, one- sixtieth part; To Samuel Thomas, one-sixtieth part; To James Taylor, two-six- tieth parts (all the above-named persons are of Worcester, In the County of Worcester, except Gevige Cowon, who is of Concord, in the County of Middle- sex); To John Forguson, of Grafton, one-sixtieth part; To James Gilmore, of Boston, two-sixtieth parts; To Adam Patterson, of Leicester, in ye County of Worcester, one-sixtieth part; To Thomas Lowdon, of Leicester, one-sixtieth part; To John Chandler, of Worcester, Esq., onesixtieth part; To John John- son, of Shrowsbury, one-sixtieth part; To Adam Clark, of Worcester, vue-ix- tieth part; To James Thornton, of Worcester, fourteensixtieth parts.
" To have and to hold the aforesaid half part of said Equivalent Land (except the Eight hundred avres, as before excepted), and in that part Thereof above described, with ye appuntenances and priviledges thereto belonging to them, the above-named persons, their heirs and assigns, forever, according to their several and Respective proportions as before expressed, To their severall and Respective proper nse, lenefitt, and bchoofe for evermore. And the said John Stoddard for himself, his beins, &c., doth covenant and engage to and with the before-named persons, their Respective heirs and assigns, that before and untill the ensealing herrof he was ye true, sole, and lawfull owner of the premises, aud stood seized thereof in his own right, in Fee Simple, and had in himself good right, full power, and lawfull authority to giant, largain, sell, alien, release, convey, and confirm the same, as aforesaid, and that free and clear and clearly executed, acquitted, and discharged of and from all former and other Guifts, grants, Bar- gains, sales, leases, mortgages, wills, entails, Joyntures, Thirds, Executions, and In cumbrauces whatsoever; and the said John Stoddard doth hereby further covenant and engage the before-granted prenses with ye appartenances to them the before-named persons and their Respective heirs and Assigns forever, to warrant same and defend against the Lawfull Claims and demands of any and every person and persons whatsoever.
"In Witness whereof, he hath herennto set his hand seal this thirty-first day of January, in the twelfth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Loud George of Great Britain. &e., King Annoq. Dom. 1738-39.
"JOHN STODDARD. [SEAL.]
" Signed, sealed, & delivered in presence of us, witnesses,
" ELISHA MARSH.
" ('ORXE's WALDO."
" WORCESTER, &S. :
" WORCESTER, Feb'ry 2, 1738.
"John Stoddard, Esq., ye sul scrit er to the foregoing Instrument, personally appearing, freely acknowledged The same to be his Art and Deed Before me, WILLIAM JENISON, Justice of the Peace."
" IIAMPSHIRE, 88. :
" SPRINGFIELD, Feb'y 3, 1738-39.
"Rec'd and Recorded in ye Records of Deeds for the County of Hampshire, Libo L, folo 220, &c.
" Per War. PYNCHON, JUx'n, Reg."
The persons named in this deed, together with a few others, became the first settlers and proprietors of the soil. A petition for the issuing of a warrant to call a proprietors' meeting was addressed to John Stoddard, Feb. 1, 1789, by the following persons : Robert Barber, Robert Lothridge, John Dick, Par- triek Peibles, John Chandler, James Thornton, Robert Peibles, William Johnson, John Stinson, and Samuel Gray. It was acceded to, and Partrick Peibles was authorized to convene the first meeting, which was held Feb. 26, 1739, at the house of Capt. Daniel Heywood, in Woreester.
John Chandler, Jr., was chosen moderator and clerk ; An- drew McFarland, Robert Lothridge, and Samuel Gray were elosen a committee, with a surveyor, to take an exact survey of the whole tract of land, to lay out the same into six equal ranges, the range lines to run east and west, and between each range to leave two perches wide for a highway, except between the central ranges, where they were to leave four perches wide for a highway. In the centre of the tract they were to lay out ten aeres for a meeting-house, burying-place, and training- field. From these ten aeres was to be laid out a highway four perches wide, to run north and south from the north and south bounds of the whole tract. They were further to lay out 61 home-lots, of 100 acres each, and to proportion the lots " quantity for quality," so as to make them as equal as possible. One of these lots was to be set apart for the first minister, as near the meeting-house as possible, and between every three lots there was to be a highway two perches wide. Such was to be the general arrangement and disposition of the land. The compensation of the committee was to be nine shillings per day, and of the surveyor, Wm. Young, fourteen shillings per day.
551
HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.
The survey was duly returned May 1, 1739, and the first division of lots was made. At this meeting it was also voted that the sum of £15 be allowed and paid toward making a road to the meeting-house (so called ), and from thence to East Hadley, viz., a bridle-road. It was also decided to separate the remaining lots into two divisions, cach lot to contain 40 aeres, and to be 61 lots in each division. The second and third divisions were drawn Nov. 5, 1739.
The following table shows the names of those who drew the original lots, and the numbers of those lots in each division :
No. 1. No. 2. No. 3.
Minister's Lott.
1
56
G
James Layton ...... 33
51
29
Robert Peibles.
2
52
13
Adam Johnson. 34
31
19
Robert Pribles
3
11
2
James Hond ..... .... 35
13
27
James Thornton .....
4
16
1
William Thornton ... 36
55
20
James Thornton ...
5
40
1
Samuel Thomas. 37
25
16
John Dirk
6
17
James Thorntonn ... 3% 3
14
Partrick Prihles.
7
43
7
And. Me Farland ..... 39
39
John Gray
27
34
James Brackenridge 40
54
24
.John Gray
9
8
50
Nathan Thornton ....
41
58
45
John McConkey
10
61
35
48
Samuel Gray.
43
26
James Thornton
12
42
3
Robert Barber.
33
James Thornton.
13
22
55
Robert Barber.
29
22
Thomas Dick
15
18
8
Alexander Turner ... 46
39
12
Robert Pribles
16
6
42
John Gray
47
37
James Gilmore,
17
41
50
John Ainson.
21
18
Mathew Gray
15
26
25
James Alexander .... 49
61
James Thornton .....
14
+5
James Thornton .....
51
1
30
James Thornton.
21
31
57
Adam Johnson. 52
1.
32
Adam Patterson
2:2
23
51
James Thornton ...
53
43
James Gilmore.
23
33 36
James Thornton
54
57
2
Adam Clark ...
30
53
Alex. M. Conkey
55
53
3
John Chaudlier .... . 25
59
39
Jame's Taylor ....
50
20
29
John Alexander ..... 26
49
17
Robert Luthri lge ....
57
3
John Johnson ...
27
43
51
Thomas Lowden ..... 58
59
James McAllah ..... 23
32
15
Sammel Gray
Robert Lothridge .... 29
4
31
Mathew Gray ......
GO
47
James McConkey ... 31
35
37
Robert Peildr's .... 61
48
60
William Jolinson .... 32
50
10
The meetings of the proprietors continued to be held in Worcester until Aug. 6, 1740, when the first meeting was held on the new territory, at the house of John Ferguson. The name of " Lisburne, " or " New Lisburne," was conferred upon the tract, and by this name, with its variations, it continued to be known until the incorporation of the town with its present naune.
May 16, 1743, the settlers purchased the land owned by Elisha Williams, referred to in the original deed, for £38, old tenor.
The first settlers of Pelham are among those whose names have been set forth in the foregoing draft of lots. Some of them, such as the MeConkeys (afterward Conkeys) and the McMullens, and some of the Grays lived in the territory now comprising the south part of Prescott. Just who was the first to locate on the land is not definitely known. It is probable that they removed from Worcester about the same time, erected houses, and took possession of the land. It seems that John Ferguson had a house erected in 1740, and doubtless most of the other settlers were as well provided for. Rev. Robert Abercrombie, the first minister of the town, located in 1742, and it is probable that the house which he occupied, still standing, near the store on Pelham Heights, was erected soon after that date.
It is possible that some of those who drew the original lots never actually settled in Pelham. Among those who are posi- tively known to have taken up their land, and established themselves thereon, may be mentioned Alexander Conkey, Robert Peibles, John Alexander, John Gray, James Taylor, Robert Lothridge, James McCulloch, Thomas Dick, Adam Petteson, Ephraim and George Cowen, James Hood, James Thornton, William Gray, John Ferguson, Adam and John Johnson, Samuel Thomas, Alexander Turner, and others. Other families of influence came in a little later. John Hunter appears to have been there in 1749, and John Clark and John Stinson some time before. The Crossett family, still repre- sented in Prescott, came in about 1750. In 1752 appear Jobn Savage, Patrick Peibles, and John Blair. The Hamilton family, afterward one of the most prominent in the town, ap-
peared in the person of Thomas Hamilton about the same time, and the house that one of them occupied is still standing near Pelham Hollow. A little later came David Thomas and James Harkness. The Berry family put in an appearance about 1755, along with John Crawford, David Houston, aud David Cowdan. Then appear in rapid succession the Meck- lams (some of whom lived in Prescott), the MeMullens, Hal- berts, Hollands, Thompsons, Livermores, and others. The Kingman family, who were identified with the growth and development of the town for several generations, came in at the opening of the present century, and the Southworths a little later. Samuel Arnold, father of Savannah Arnold, and grandfather of S. F. Arnold, still living in the town, located in the first part of the present century. Nathaniel Gray settled in Pelham at an early day. His son John, father of Ho ace Gray, living in the west end of the town, was born in 1773. Oliver Smith came from Walpole, and settled eighty-one years ago on the "old Smith place," now occupied by Arba Randall, who married his daughter, Esther N., still living in the town. The Fales family, living in the west part of the town, is also one of the oldest now living in the town, having settled there the first part of the present century, being first represented by Daniel and Sewell Fales,-the latter the father of Abijah. The Newell, Jewett, Stratton, Dodge, Ward, Cook, and Brewer families are also among the oldest and most influential now living in the town. Benjamin Randall was born in Belchertown, and settled in Pelham about fifty years ago. Wyatt Richardson, who married an Abercrombie, settled in 1835, and is still living there. Arba Randall, living in the south part of the town, located on his present farm forty-five years ago.
Alexander Keith came from Easton and settled in Enfield, near the Pettingill bridge, in the last part of last century. Ile moved to Belchertown and there died. Ariel C. Keith, the present town clerk of Pelham, is descended from Daniel, son of Alexander. He was born June 15, 1816, in Enfield, after- ward lived successively in Ludlow, Chicopee Falls, Belcher- town, and Palmer, and finally settled in Pelham, in March, 1856, where he has pursued the occupation of a farmer, ae- quiring wealth and influence.
TAVERNS.
One of the first houses of public entertainment was kept by Thomas Dick, about the year 1760. A man named Bruce kept one somewhat later, which stood about where Adam Cole now lives, on Pelham Heights. A man named Ketch kept one there in 1815. Walter Eaton succeeded soon after, then Eli- phaz Packard, and finally William Smith, about 1820. Smith died, and his wife, Rebecca (Abercrombie) Smith, continued the business for a time. Martin Kingman erected the building now occupied by Ariel C. Keitb, early in this century, and kept store and tavern there for upward of twenty years. Ile was succeeded by Calvin Eaton and others.
STORES.
Of early stores mention may be made of one kept by a man named Armiston, in the last part of the last century, on the "heights." Marston Eaton kept a store in an old building that stood about where A. C. Keith now lives, early in the present century. Jle was succeeded by Martin Kingman, who erected the present building. Calvin Eaton succeeded Kingman about 1820. Job Miller had a store about the same time where M. E. Boynton now lives, following Chancellor Wheeler, and being succeeded by William Conkey and E. S. Richardson. M. E. Boynton has had a store at the same place for a few years past.
At Packardsville a man named Ramsdell had a store where the Widow Stevens now resides, about forty-five years ago. After several years he was succeeded by James Hanks, who kept the store for ten or twelve years, and was followed for
14
58
Win. Johnson. . 5
John Forgeson ...
50
47
21
George Cowan
20
10
Ephraim Cowan.
52
William Gray
11
60
19
24
23
Alex. Mr.Farland ..
John Chandler ....... 30
No. 1. No. 2. No. 3.
8
James Thornton
552
HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.
short periods by a man named Whitney and Abraham Stevens. Mr. Stevens died, and no store has been there sinee.
At the west end of the town, Lewis L. Draper had a store which stood opposite the Methodist meeting-house about fifty years ago. He was followed in turn by a Mr. Hemingway and a Mr. Hill. Barrows & Gaskell last traded there, about twenty years ago.
PHYSICIANS.
The town of Pelham has had a full supply of physicians. One of the earliest was Dr. Nehemiah Hinds, who lived within the present territory of Prescott, and practiced as early as 1785. Dr. Abiah Southworth was a contemporary of Dr. Hinds, but did not commence practice until about 1819. Dr. King en- gaged in practice soon after. With him studied Dr. Daniel Thompson, who subsequently engaged in practice. Dr. Olney Potter lived in the west part of the town, and practiced in the first part of the present eentury. He subsequently removed to Amherst. Dr. Eaton practiced about thirty-five years ago, and was succeeded by Dr. Adam G. Craig, who was succeeded by Dr. Code. Dr. George W. Rhodes, Dr. Beers, and Dr. M. Feed have been physicians in charge of the Orient Springs House, in the west part of the town, the latter of whom is still there.
ORGANIZATION.
The town of Pelham was incorporated by act of the Gen- eral Court, passed Jan. 15, 1743, with the following bounds :
" Bounding easterly on a tract of Land Commonly Called Quabin, Granted to a Number of Canada and Narragansett soldiers, southerly on a lot of Equivalent Land, so called, belonging to the Reyd Mr. Edwards and Mrs. Rebecca Hanley, Westerly on yo east bounds of the town of Iladdley, and Northerly partly on the New Township commonly called Roadtown, and partly on a New Township commonly called New Salem."
April 5, 1743, Robert Peibles, one of the " principal in- habitants," was empowered to convene the people of the town for the first meeting. This was held on the 19th of the same month. John Stoddard acted as moderator of the meeting, and among the officers chosen were Alexander Conkey, Robert Peibles, John Alexander, John Gray, and Robert Lothridge, Selectmen ; William Gray, Clerk ; John Stinson, Treasurer; James Taylor, John Conkey, John Johnson, Ephraim Cowan, Surveyors. Tythingmen, constables, fence - viewers, hog- reeves, assessors, and deer-reeves were also chosen.
The following votes were passed by the town at the same meeting :
" Voted that there be a committee chosen to Invite three ordained neiglibor- ug ministers to keep a day of fastiug and prayer with us, and to consult with ye same Whome we shall Call to be our Minister.
"Voted that there be a Committee Chosen to Provide Glass, and to Glass the mretting, and to Build a Pulpit, and to finish ye under Piniog of ye meeting- house at ye charge of ye town, and said Work to be Done Before Winter.
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