History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. I, Part 184

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 184

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" Voted that ye aforesaid Committee for Building a Pulpit is to Build a l'ulpit for Dignitee Like unto haddley third Precinct Pulpit.

"Voted yt ye Selectmen are Directed to Provide Sutable Cloth and have it made up to Covire Coffens with in Buriog of our Dead at the Charge of ye town."

The various measures taken by the town toward the work of organization are elsewhere detailed.

The following persons have filled the principal town offices, and served as its representatives to the General Court :

SELECTMEN.

1743,-Alexander Conkey, Robert Peibles, John Alexander, John Gray, Robert Lothridge.

1744 .- Conkey, Peibles, Gray, Jaures McCulloch, Thomas Dick.

1746 .- Alexander Conkey, James Mcfulloch, Adam Petteson, John Clark, Bobt. Mecklem.

1747 .- George Cowan, Wm. Gray (3d), James Thornton, James McConel, Ephraim Cowan.

1748 .- James Thornton, George Cowan, Ephraim Cowan, James McConel, John ('lark.

1749,-Thomas Dick, John Fergeson, John Johnson, John Ilunter, John Dick.

1750 .- Ephraim Cowan, James McCulloch, James Conkey, William Crosset, John Cuukry.

1751 .- Ephraim Cowan, James McCulloch, John Conkry, James Conkey, William Crosset.

1752 .- John Savage, Patrick Peibles, John Johnson. John Blair, Thes. Johnson.

1753 .- l'atrick Peibles, Thos. Johnson, John Favage, John Blair, George Cowan. 1754 .- Thomas Ilamilton, Alexander Turner, John Fergeson, William Conkey, Davil Thomas.

1755 .- Thomas Hamilton, Alexander Turner, Wm. Conkey, John Fergeson, David Thomas.

1756 .- John Fergeson, David Thomas, Thomas Johnson, John Blair, James Ilarkness.

1757 .- Archibald Crosset, Wn. Crosset, Patrick McMullen, Thomas Hamilton, James McConel.

1758 .- William Harkness, Alexander McCulloch, John Hunter, John Crawford, William Conkey.

1759 .- William Crosset, James Berry, William Clark, David Cowdan, Robert McCulloch.

1760 .- James Ilarkness, Thomas Johnson, William Ferguson, Thomas Dick, Robert Lothridge.

1761 .- Thomas Dick, David Houston, David Cowdan, Robert McCulloch, John Dick.

1762 .- Hugh Johnson, James Cowan, Robert Mecklem, George Petteson, Isaac Gray.

1763 .- Robert Mecklen, Ilugh Johnson, George Petteson, Isaac Gray, James Cowan.

1764 .- Isane Gray, William Crosset, Alexander Conkey, Thomas Johnson, John Crawford.

1765 .- WD. Crusset, Daniel Gray, Patrick McMullen, Thomas Cochran, James Ilulbert.

1766 .- John Crawford, Thomas Johnson, George Petteson, The mas Dick, James Cowan.

1767 .- James Halbert, Archibald Crosset, Robert Mecklem, Wm. Conkey, James Harkness.

1768 .- William Conkey, Robert Hamilton, Archibald Crosset, John Dick, David Cowden.

1769,-James Halbert, David Cowden, John Crawford, Bobert Ilamilton, George Petteson.

1770 .- Bobert Hamilton, David Cowden, George Petteson, James Berry, Archi- baldl Crosset.

1771 .- James Berry, Robert Hamilton, George Petteson, John Dick, James Hal- bert.

1772 .- John Ilamilton, John Dick, Hugh Holland, Robert Hamilton, William ('rosset.

1773 .- William Harkness, Daniel Gray, John Crawford, John Thompson, Robert Ilamilton.

1774 .- Thomas Cochran, David Cowden, Daniel Gray, Hugh Johnston, John Crawford.

1775 .- Daniel Gray, Hugh Johnston, Robert Hamilton, George Petteson, John Crawford.

1776 .- William Ilarkness, James Dunlap, Jonathan Gray, Ingh Johnston, John Thompson.

1777 .- Isaac Gray, George Petteson, James Cowan, Matthew Clark, Ebenezer Gray.

1778 .- Josiah Packard, Daviel Gray, James Taylor, Jonathan Hood, Abraham Livermore.

1779 .- Hugh Johnston, George Patteson, William Dunlap, Jonathan Hood, Daniel Packard.

1780 .- Samuel Ilyde, Ingh Johnston, Jacob Edson, John Rinken, Thomas Johnson.

1781 .- Joseph Packard, Daniel Gray, Nehemiah Hinds, David Cowden, Caleb Keith.

1782 .- Aaron Gray, Joseph Hambleton, Jonathan Hood, William Dunlap, Thos. MeMullen.

1783 .- Aaron Gray, Jonathan Hood, William Dunlap, Joseph Hamilton, Thomas McMullen.

17×4 .- Joseph Hamilton, Nathaniel Sampson, Timothy Packard, John Peibles, James King .*

1×16 .- John Hankin, Jr., Henry Kingman, John Taylor, David Miller, James Crosset.

1817 .- John Rankin, Jr., Jesse F. Peck, Luther Chapin, Moses Gray (2d), Con- stant Ruggles, Esq.

1818 .- John Rankin, Jr., Luther Chapin, Jesse F. Peck, Moses Gray (20), Barna Brigham,

1819 .- Henry Kingman, Dr. Abia Southworth, John Gray, David Mellen, Joseph Pierce.

1820 .- Sammel Clark, Oliver Smith, David Conkey, Jr., Moses Grny, Barna Brig- ham.

1821 .- Oliver Smith, Jr., David Conkey, Jr., Daniel Fales, Barna Brighanı, Jo- siah Pierce.

1822 .- Oliver Smith, David Conkey, Jr., Daniel Fales.

1×23 .- Henry Kingman, Samuel Hall, Luther Chapin.

1824-25,-Oliver Smith, Ezra Brown, Reuben Westcott.

1826-27 .- Oliver Smith, Jr., Ezra Brown, Beuben Westcott.

1828 .- Ezra Brown, Cyrus Kingman, Pliny Hannum.

1829,-Cyrus Kingman, Ziba Cook, Rufus Grant,

1830 .- Rufus Graut, Samuel Clark, Jr., Benjamin Randall.

1831 .- Oliver Smith, Reuben Westcott, David Conkey.

1832 .- Reuben Westcott, Martin Kingman, Ezra Brown.

1833 .- Oliver Smith, Martin Kingman, Ezra Brown.

* For some reason, there seems to be an hiatus in the records from 1784 to 1816.

553

HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.

1834 .- Ezra Brown, Asahel Aldrich, Whipple Cook. 1835 .- Ezra Brown, Rufus Grant, Luther Chapin. 1836 .- Luther Chapin, John Harkness, James Thurston. 1837 .- Luther Chapin, Cyrus Kingman, Joseph Barrows. 1838 .- Luther Chapin, Levi B. Hall, Jared T. Westcott. 1839,-Jared T. Westcott, Cheney Abbott, Levi Gates. 1840-41 .- George B. Pitman, Nehemiah W. Aldrich, James Thurston. 1842 .- Cyrus Kingman, Asahel Aldrich, James Thurston. 1843 .- Cyrus Kingman, Asahel Aldrich, Benjamin Randall. 1844 .- Cyrus Kingman, Asahel Aldrich, Wyat Richerson. 1845 .- Cyrus Kingman, Ziba Cook, John T. Thurston. 1846 .- Cyrus Kingman, Levi B. Hall, Joel Packard. 1847 .- Levi B. Hall, Cheney Abbott, George B. Pitmao. 1848,-Calvin D. Eaton, Thomas Thurston, Austin W. Conkey. 1849,-A. W. Conkey, Thomas Thurstoo. N. W. Allrich, 1850 .- Austin W. Conkey, Nehemiah W. Aldrich, Horace Grey. 1851 .- Calvin D. Eaton, Nehemiah W. Aldrich, David Abercrombie. J852 .- Nehemiah W. Aldrich, Monroe Eaton, Lemuel HI. Newell. 1853 .- Ansel A. Rankin, Moses L. Ward, Philo D. Winter. 1854 .- Ansel A. Rankin, P. D. Winter, Emery Ballou. 1853 .- Thomas Thuiston, N. W. Aldrich, Philander Bartlett. 1×56 .- Thomas Thurston, Philo D. Winter, David Abercrombie. 1857 .- Thomas Thurston, Isaac B. Barrows, Marcus Grout. 1858 .- C. D. Eaton, M. C. Grout, 11. Gray.

1859 .- Calvin D. Eaton, James M. Cowan, Lemuel If. Newell. 1860 .- Lemnel II. Newell, James M. Cowan, John Janes. 1861 .- James M. Cowan, Warren Randall, Asahel Gates. 1862 .- James M. Cowan, Lemuel H. Newell, Philander Bartlett. 1863-64 .- Julin Jones, Dexter Thompson, Alfred Taylor. 1865 .- John Jones, Alfred Taylor, Aretus J. Cadwell. 1866 .- John Jones, Alfred Taylor, Philander Bartlett. 1867-68 .- Marcus C. Grant, Albert Finman, Ansel A. Rankin. 1869 .- Mareus C. Grant, Sanford Boyden, Ansel A. Rankin. 1870 .- M. L. Ward, Lewis Dodge, Samuel R. Davis. 1871 .- Moses L. Ward, Thomas W. Stratton, Samuel B. Davis. 1872-74 .- Sylvester Jewett, T. W. Stratton, Alonzo C. Randall. 1875 .- Sylvester Jewett, James Hanks, Israel Taylor. 1876 .- Sylvester Jewett, James Hanks, Thomas W. Stratton. 1877 .- Sylvester Jewett, T. W. Stratton, A. C. Randall. 1878 .- Sylvester Jewett, T. W. Stratton, John Jones.

TOWN CLERKS.

1743, William Gray; 1746, John Dick ; May 18, 1781, Ebenezer Gray ; 1782, William Conkey, Jr .;* 1816, Ithamar Conkey ; 1819, Dr. Abia Southworth ; 1820, David Abercrombie; 1827, Samuel Clark, Jr .; 1830, Martin Kingman ; 1831, Daniel Thompson ; 1833, Cyrus Kingman; 1836, Lemnel C. Wedge; 1837, Rufus Grout ; 1839, Asa Tomson; 1840, Calvin D. Eaton ; 1845, Lyman Jenks; 1849, Francis Kingman ; 1850, Lyman Jenks; 1852, William Conkey ; 1853, Erastus P. Boyden ; 1>54, E. P. Boyden; 1854 (April 9), A. G. Craig; 1855, Lyman Jenks ; 1858, David Abercrombie; 1861, Calvin D. Eaton; 1867, Lyman Jenks; 1$68, Calvin D. Eaton; Ist1, G. W. Shepard; 1872, A. C. Keith.

REPRESENTATIVES.

1780, Capt. John Thompson ; 1783-84, Thomas Johnston ;* 1816, Capt. Henry Kingman ; 1819, Isaac Abercrombie; 1824, Oliver Smith; 1827, Ezra Brown ; 1828, Cyrus Kingman ; 1829-32, Ziba Cook ; 1832-33, Lewis Draper; 1834, Whip- ple Cook ; 1833-36, Luther Chapin ; 1>38, Joseph Barrows; 1839, Pavil Aber- crombie ; 1840, John Palmoter; 1841, George B. Pitman; 1842, James Thurston ; 1843-47, Calvin D. Eaton ; 1850, Nehemiah W. Aldrich ; 1851, David Abercrom- bie ; 1853, Thomas Buffum ; 1854, Rufus Grout ; 1865, John Jones ; 1869, Sylves- ter Jewett; 1873, Asnhel Gates.

In this connection it will prove of interest to consider a few

NOTES FROM THE RECORDS,

as illustrative of the manners and customs of the people and their methods of conducting town affairs.

On April 16, 1754, the town voted to petition the General Court for permission to levy a tax of a half-penny per acre on the lands of the non-resident owners.

Feb. 11, 1765, " Voted that the whole body of the meeting- house is to be made in Plain Puews."

Feb. 26, 1766, " Voted that Thomas Dick is alowed one shilling and two pence for one Quart of Rum."

As the use of strong drink was common in those early days, especially upon all publie occasions, such as the raising of a meeting-house, the building of a bridge, and the " perambu- lating" of the town-lines, this appropriation was probably for some such service.

May 13, 1819, " Voted not to set off the East Parish as a separate town." This opposition was of no avail, as Prescott was duly incorporated Jan. 28, 1822.

Jan. 31, 1854, " Voted to surrender this town's Charter ac- eording to the Warrant calling this Meeting ;" 73 in favor, 86 against. " Voted to choose three Committee to Carry the same into effect." Chose Minor Gold, Isaac B. Barrows, and Grove W. Hannum. " Voted to choose a special Committee of Four to visit adjoining towns to circulate Petitions."

This attempt to divest themselves of town privileges is be- lieved to be without precedent in the State. It failed of suc- eess, and on March 15, 1870, it was again voted to surrender the charter of the town, and, dividing the town into two divisions, merge one-half in Belchertown or Enfield, and the other half in Amherst. This movement likewise failed.

VILLAGES.

There are no regular villages in the town. The two largest settlements are on " Pelham Heights" and at the " west end" of the town. The former was the original "centre" of the town, where was erected the first meeting-house, and where the " minister's lot" was laid. The ancient frame of the first meeting-house still stands there, performing duty as a " town- house," and is a unique and formidable structure yet, and excites much interest. Ilere also stands its successor. Be- sides these, there are a store, a post-office on the " heights," and 12 or 15 dwelling-houses.

The post-office has been in existence many years, the ex- act date of its establishnient not being known. It was prob- ably near 1810. One of the first postmasters was Martin Kingman. He was followed by Calvin Eaton, and he by Enos S. Richardson. M. E. Boynton, the present postmaster, has filled the position for several years. The west end of the town is the most thickly settled, although the houses are some- what widely scattered, and are ranged along the road leading to Amherst. Here is the Methodist Church, a manufactory of fishing-rods, a saw- and planing-mill, and the Orient Springs House (a noted health institution), besides a large number of dwellings. The inhabitants of this part, being distant from the village of Amherst only two miles, transact the most of their business at that place.

PACKARDSVILLE is a small hamlet in the southeast corner of the town, adjoining the towns of Enfield and Belchertown. It sprang up about fifty years ago in connection with the Baptist Church which formerly existed at that point. It now comprises a Congregational Church and a few dwelling-houses. A store formerly existed there.

SCHOOLS.

The first formal vote passed by the town in behalf of edu- cation was on April 26, 1744, when it was " voted that their be a Scole Keept in town For ye space of two Months, one moneth at ye Dweling-house of Ephraim Cowans; one month at ye Dweling-house of William Grays." From that time on the subject received yearly attention from the town. May 14, 1745, it was " voted that their be a Schoole Keept in town this Present year ; ye time for Keeping said Schole is in ye months of august and Sept., and ye Place is at ye meetting-house of said Pelham." April 15, 1746, it was also " voted yt there be a Schol Keept in ye town ye six months Insuing, or as soon as Conveney Will alow. Voted that ye Schole he Keept two months at ye meeting-house, two months at Ephraim Cowans and two months at Alexander Conkeys." Thirty-six pounds were appropriated at the meeting to " Pay a Schole master for keeping Schole." On March 19, 1747, it was voted to have school for six months of that year, commencing with June 1st, "to go no Further East than ye Nole Betwixt James Taylors and Alexander Conkeys, and two months att ye meeting-house, and to go No further West than ye Bridge at Ephraim Cowans."

On April 16, 1754, the town was divided into three parts for schooling purposes, and the sum of £8 was appropriated for a school. The following year £6 was appropriated for schools,

* For some reason, there seems to be an hiatus in the records from 1784 to 1816.

554

HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

and they were kept at the meeting-house, at the " east hill" and the "west end." The same year it was also " voted that there Be a Scole House Built at the meetting-house, at the West End and at the East Hill." On March 24, 1756, £40 was appropriated for schools, and the town was divided into five parts for schooling purposes. In the year 1760 a com- mittee to select a location for the erection of new school- houses was chosen, and in the following year £40 was granted for erecting the same. In the year 1816, $500 was appropri- ated for schools; in 1818, $600. The town was redistricted in 1823, 1846, and 1851, there being at the latter date eight school districts. In 1870 the appropriation was $1000.

At the present time there are four public schools in the town, having in attendance about 100 pupils. They are under control of a board, one member of which is elected each year for three years.

CHURCHES.

PRESBYTERIAN-CONGREGATIONAL.

As we have seen in the paragraph on the settlement of the town, the first settlers were of Irish descent, and in religious matters. of the Presbyterian persuasion, according to the Church of Scotland.

No sooner were the people located on the lands than measures were immediately taken to provide public worship according to that faith. At a proprietors' meeting held Aug. 6, 1740, it was voted to build a meeting-house, to raise £100 toward building it, and choose a committee to agree with a workman to raise the house, and provide for the settling of a minister. The meeting-house was to be 46 feet in length, 36 feet wide, and 25 feet high between the joints. The committee appointed in accordance with the vote were James McCullough, James Thornton, and Samuel Gray. Subsequent to the first vote £220 were raised in two instalments, for the erection and com- pletion of the structure. As in most of the new towns, it was several years before the edifice was finished. In 1818 it was removed a few feet from its original location, and thor- oughly repaired. It was again repaired in later years, and removed a few feet farther back. It is now used as a town- house, and bears evidence to its antiquity in its unique archi- tecture and ancient form. The records of the church are ex- tremely meagre.

In the year 1740 the sum of £30 was appropriated for preaching. A Rev. Mr. Johnston, of Londonderry, was first called to settle as pastor, but the call was not accepted. On March 5, 1744, a call was extended to Robert Abercrombie to become the pastor. He was certified to by Rev. Messrs. Jona- than Edwards, David White, David McGregore, and David Persons, Jr., and had acted as supply to the church since the summer of 1742. The call was accepted by Abercrombie, he to receive the minister's lot and an annual salary of £50, new tenor, for eight years, and he was ordained on the 30th of August following. On the following day a protest against the proceedings of the meeting that called him was entered by James Gilmore, William Ferguson, Samuel Ferguson, Adam Petteson, John Gilmore, Thomas Dick, James Thornton, James McCulloch, Alexander McCulloch, Hugh Gray, Robert King, William Thornton, John Sterling, James Gilmore, Robert Ferguson, John Ferguson, Robert McCulloch, James Ferguson, James Dunlap, Thomas Petteson, George Petteson, and John Dick.

Rev. Mr. Abercrombie was a native of Edinburgh, Scot- land, and was there educated. He was a profound scholar, and possessed a library surpassed by few in its time, which is now in the possession of one of his descendants. The exact date of his dismissal is not recorded, but it was probably in the year 1754. In the year 1755, Rev. Messrs. Dickeson, Clintock, and John Houston preached. Rev. Richard Crouch Graham was installed as the second pastor of the church, July 8, 1763, on a settlement of £100. lle was a young man of ability, and died in the pastoral relation, Feb. 25, 1771, in his

thirty-second year. His remains were interred in the old burying-ground adjoining the meeting-house. After the death of Mr. Graham, the pulpit was filled by different per- sons, including Rev. Mr. Mordak and Rev. Andrew Bay.

On Nov. 23, 1774, a call was voted to Rev. Nathaniel Mer- rill, on £70 settlement and £80 salary, and, it being accepted, he was installed soon after. He remained in that relation until about 1783, when, certain difficulties arising in the church, he withdrew from the town. In the interval succeed- ing his departure, the notorious Stephen Burroughs appeared, under the name of Davis, and supplied the pulpit for nineteen Sabbaths .*

The next regular pastor of the church was Rev. Andrew Oliver, who was called Dec. 10, 1792, and installed soon after. Rev. Solomon Spalding had been previously called. Mr. Oliver sustained the pastoral relation until the year 1804, when he ceased to officiate,-for what reason the meagre rec- ords of the town and church fail to indicate.

The next pastor, Rev. Elijah Brainard, was installed in the spring of 1805, and was dismissed Oct. 17, 1811. On Jan. 2, 1815, Rev. Winthrop Bailey was called as the next pastor, and installed soon after. Ile was dismissed by council in the fall of 1825.

The church now seems to have undergone a decline, interest in religious matters ceased, and the ordinances of the gospel were almost entirely suspended.

A reawakening does not seem to have occurred until the year 1837. On October 25th of that year a council was con- vened by letters missive, at the house of Nathaniel Pratt, in Pelham, and measures were taken for the reorganization of the society. Unfortunately, the records of the revived church are in worse condition than those of the first. It is difficult to trace the history of the church at this point.

The first minister of the new church seems to have been Rev. Frederick Janes, but when he was installed, and when dismissed, is uncertain. His apparent successor, Rev. A. C. Page, was installed in January, 1848, but when he ceased his labors is not stated. The church had no settled pastor in the year 1855.

In the year 1861, Rev. W. II. Dowden was pastor, but when he became so, or when he was dismissed, we are not informed.

In the year 1866, Rev. Matthew Kingman, of Amherst, was stated supply. He was succeeded for a time by Rev. William K. Vaill ; and in September, 1874, Mr. Vaill, pastor of the Union Congregational Society of Packardsville, became the aeting pastor of the church, and still sustains that relation.

It will thus be seen that this church has passed through various transmutations, beginning as a Presbyterian Church and becoming-for what purposes, at what time, or by what means we are not informed-a Congregational Church. It is probable that the Rev. Elijah Brainard was the last Pres- byterian pastor, and that Rev. Winthrop Bailey opened the era of Congregationalism ; but this is mere conjecture. A second meeting-house was erected about the year 1838, and, standing near its ancient predecessor at the " old centre," is still in use. The present membership of the church is 29, and a Sabbath-school is connected therewith. A Sabbath-school library is also owned by the society.

BAPTIST.

In the year 1831 a petition was addressed to the First Bap- tist Church of Belchertown, by a number of persons residing in the north part of that town, and in the adjoining towns of Enfield and Pelham, asking leave to organize a distinct society at Packardsville. Previous to that time meetings had been held for a great many years in private residences in Belcher- town, under the oversight of the First Baptist Church.

* Sce Notes and Incidents.

555

IIISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.

The application was favorably received, the society was formed, and a church edifice was soon after ereeted at Packards- ville. The movement flourished more or less for a period of some thirty years, under the pastorate of Rev. Messrs. Bige- low, Burt, Vaughan, Smelledge, Snell, Emerson Ilill, and others, but finally experienced a deeline.

THE FIRST UNION CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

was organized at Packardsville, July 24, 1859, being com- posed of those who had been connected with the Baptist Society and other evangelical Christians in that locality. The new society occupied the Baptist meeting-house, and were minis- tered to frequently by students from Amherst College. The meeting-house was destroyed by fire in the spring of 1809. In the mean time the

UNION CONGREGATIONAL SOCIETY,

of Packardsville, was organized, Dec. 4, 1868, by the following persons : Albert Firmin, Oren Sikes, Philander S. Knight, Ziza A. Hanks, Lorenzo W. Miller, Asahel B. Shaw, David Randall, Ansel C. Shaw, George S. Calkins, Horton B. Ward, Ebenezer Ward, George W. Knight, and A. A. Howard. The church formed by this society was duly recognized Jan. 5, 1869. The meeting-house used by the society, and now standing at Paekardsville, was erected in the summer of 1869, at a cost of about $6500, upon the original site of the Baptist meeting-house, and was dedicated June 28, 1871. The church- bell was presented by one of the classes of Amherst College. On the same day the first regular, and the present, pastor of the church, Rev. Wm. K. Vaill, was installed. Mr. Vaill is a son of Rev. Joseph Vaill, D.D., for many years pastor of the churches at Brimfield and Palmer, in Hampden County. He was born at Brimfield, was subsequently in attendance at Amherst College, and when called to his present pastorate was sustaining the relation of pastor to the church at Shutes- bury, in Franklin County. Under his care the new society has prospered, and now comprehends a membership of 30 persons. A flourishing Sabbath-school is connected with the church, of which Darius Chickering is superintendent.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL.

The beginning of permanent Methodist worship in Pel- ham was in the spring of 1831, when Rev. Isaac Stoddard was invited to preach. Previous to that, meetings of a general character had been held in the town. Mr. Stoddard was formally settled as pastor by the Conference of 1831.

In 1832 the society had grown to a membership of 125. In 1834, Pelham and Greenwich were connected together under the same pastoral charge. In 1836 the society occupied the old meeting-house on Pelham Heights, near the town-house. Between 1838 and 1843 the present Methodist meeting-house in the west end of the town was erected. The deed of the land was given to "the Proprietors of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Pelham," by Augustus Webster. The deed for the original parsonage at the west end was made by Emory Bal- lou, July 5, 1847, " for the benefit of such men as shall be em- ployed by the Methodist Episcopal Church to preach in the west part of Pelham," to the following trustees : Rufus Grout, David Newell, Lemuel C. Wedge, Ilorace Gray, Zadoe Pres- ton, Ansel A. Rankin, and John Sisson. This parsonage was used by the various ministers who have been in charge, until Aug. 11, 1875, when it was sold, and a new one erected, at a cost of $1050, on land given for that purpose by Russell Whipple.

The following ministers have served as pastors of the so- ciety : Isaac Stoddard, 1831-32; John W. Case, 1833 ; Erastus Otis, Wm. Gordon, 1834; Onesiphorus Robbins, 1835-36; James Dean, 1837 ; Joseph W. Lewis, 1839; John Cadwell, 1840 ; Wm. P. White, 1841-42; Windsor Ward, 1845-46; J. B. Bigelow, 1847; Judah Crosby, 1850-51; B. W. Wright,

1852-53; Franklin Fisk, 1854; John Jones, located 1855-57; John W. Lee, 1858-59; I. L. Esty, 1860; L. A. Bardwell, 1861; Gilbert R. Bent, 1862; John II. Gaylord, 1863 ; JJohn Cadwell, 1864-65; O. W. Adams, 1866-67; John Noon, 1868- 69; George News, 1870-71; N. II. Martin, 1872-73; W. II. Adams, 1874; Nathan A. Soule, 1875; Jonathan Neal, 1876- 77; Geo. E. Chapman, 1878-79.

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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 184

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