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 25
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On the day appointed eighty-eight delegates from fifty- seven towns of the three counties assembled at the court-house in Northampton. Upon calling the roll the following-named delegates answered to their names and took their seats in the convention :
Springfield .- John Hooker, Chauncey Brewer, Justin Lom- bard, Joseph Pease.
Northampton .- Joseph Lyman, Isaac Clark, Elijah H. Mills, Lewis Strong.
Hadley .- Charles Phelps, Samuel Porter.
Hatfield .- Isaac Maltby, Israel Billings.
Deerfield. - Ephraim Williams, Epaphras Hoyt, Pliny Arms.
Sunderland .- Simeon Ballard.
Blandford .- Jedediah Smith, Alanson Knox.
Pelham .- Isaac Abercrombie.
Palmer .- Amos Hamilton, Alpheus Converse.
Southampton .- Luther Edwards, John Lyman.
South Hadley .- Mark Doolittle, Bezaleel Alvord.
Greenfield .- Richard E. Newcomb, Samuel Wells.
New Salem .- Samuel C. Allen.
Montague .- Henry Wells.
Granville .- David Curtis.
Greenwich .- Robert Field, Joseph Williams.
Amherst .- Ebenezer Mattoon, Samuel F. Dickinson, Simeon Strong.
Monson .- Deodatus Dutton.
Belchertown .- Joseph Bridgman, Justus Forward, Phineas Blair.
Colerain .- John Drury.
Shutesbury .- William Ward.
Ware .- William Paige.
Chesterfield .- Asa White, Spencer Phelps.
South Brimfield .- Darius Munger.
Warwick .- Caleb Mayo.
Wilbraham .- Robert Sessions, Aaron Woodward.
Ashfield .- Henry Bassett.
'Charlemont .- Stephen Bafes.
Chester .- Asahel Wright.
/ Conway .- Elisha Billings, John Bannister.
Granby .- Eli Dickinson, Levi Smith.
Shelburne .- William Wells.
Worthington .- Ezra Starkweather, Jonathan Brewster.
Whately .- Phineas Frary.
Williamsburg .- William Bodman, John Wells.
Norwich .- William Fobes, Jesse Joy.
Westhampton .- Sylvester Judd, Aaron Fisher, Jonathan Clarke.
Buckland .- Levi White.
Cummington .- Peter Bryant.
Montgomery .- Edward Taylor.
Wendell .- Joshua Green.
Goshen .- Oliver Taylor.
Middlefield .- Erastus Ingham.
Rome .- John Wells. Heath .- Roger Leavitt. Hawley .- Thomas Longley.
Gill .- Gilbert Stacey. Plainfield .- Nehemiah Joy.
Easthampton .- Thaddeus Clapp.
Holland .- John Polley.
Tolland .- Eleazer Slocomb.
The irregular delegates were Rufus Stratton, from North- fieldl; Hezekiah Newcomb and Caleb Chapin, from Bernards-
ton ; Pelatiab Bliss and Timothy Burbank, from West Springfield ; and Rufus Graves, from Leverett.
The convention was organized by choosing John Hooker, of Springfield, President, and Isaac C. Bates, of Northamp- ton, Secretary.
An excentive committee was appointed, which drew up a memorial to be presented to the President of the United States praying that commissioners might be appointed for the speedy negotiation of terms of peace with Great Britain, which was unanimously adopted. The committee also reported in favor of a State convention, and recommended that four del- egates be appointed from each county to attend the same, pro- vided other portions of the Commonwealth coincided with them in the call ; and also, that committees of correspondence and safety be appointed in each county and town throughout the State ; which recommendations were adopted.
But notwithstanding their determined opposition to the war on general principles, the people of Connecticut Valley were not found wanting in ardor or patriotism when their services were required to defend the country. Caleb Strong was at that time Governor of the State.
Upon the first overthrow of Napoleon I. and bis banish- ment to the island of Elba, Great Britain concentrated her powerful navy against the American States, and blockaded, at least theoretically, the whole coast of the Atlantic, from the Bay of Fundy to the southern cape of Florida. Occa- . sionally troops were landed, and on the 1st of September, 1814, a body of them took possession of Castine, a port on the Penobscot River, without opposition. The region erected into the State of Maine in 1820 was then a province under the jurisdiction of Massachusetts, and this aggressive proceeding ended at once all political discussions and opposition to the war, and united the people unanimously against the common enemy.
Governor Strong, apprehensive of a descent upon the coast of Massachusetts, immediately issued a proclamation calling out the militia, who were ordered to assemble forthwith at Boston. Western Massachusetts responded nohly. A regi- ment of infantry was raised in the northern part of old Hamp- shire County, and marched under command of Col. Thomas Longley, of Hawley; another was reeruited in the southern portion of the county, and placed under the command of Col. Enos Foote, of Southwick; and a regiment of artillery was made up in the Connecticut Valley, under the command of Col. William Edwards.
In those days there were no telegraphic lines or rail ways, and all information was conveyed by post-riders, or the slower method of the old-time stage-coach ; and the troops, when raised and prepared for the field, were compelled to march over the hundred miles which intervened between the Con- necticut River and the sea-board, instead of being whirled in the space of three or four hours on board a flying train to their destination.
Most of these troops were probably drafted or volunteer members of the State militia, and hurried to Boston in the ordinary dress of citizens,-the infantry armed with old " flint-lock" muskets, many of which had done good service against this self-same enemy nearly forty years before at Bun- ker Hill. One company of the artillery regiment was from Springfield, commanded by Capt. Quartus Stebbins ; one from Northampton, under Capt. Asahel Strong ; one from Belcher- town, under Capt. Bridgman ; and one from Northfield and vicinity, under Capt. Mattoon. An entire regiment of in- fantry was also raised in Berkshire County.
The commander-in-chief of this force was Maj .- Gen. Whi- ton, of New Marlborough. Among the staff-officers were Col. Henry Dwight, of Stockbridge, and Col. Sloane, of Lanesborough. Jacob Bliss, of Springfield, commanded a brigade. The force commenced its march for Boston about the middle of October. The Springfield artillery company
11
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HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.
left on Sunday morning, after a prayer and benediction by Rev. Dr. Osgood.
On their arrival at Boston, the troops from the Connecticut Valley were cantoned at Dorchester, and the Berkshire regi- ment at Cambridgeport.
After a sojourn of nearly six weeks in camp, during which time they had a very pleasant experience and were reviewed by the Governor, apprehensions of a descent by the British troops having ceased, they were discharged from further duty, and returned to their homes without having the satisfaction of firing a gun at the enemy. This little episode in the mili- tary history of Massachusetts was subsequently known as " Governor Strong's War."
The IIartford Convention met on the 15th of the following December, and consisted of twenty-six delegates from the New England States, of whom twelve were from Massachusetts. Two of these were from Western Massachusetts,-George Bliss, of Springfield, and Joseph Lyman, of Northampton.
The definitive treaty of peace concluded in the early part of the following year (1815) was hailed with the utmost satis- faction by the people of New England, and from henceforth her development in every branch of human knowledge and industry was rapid and permanent.
The Mexican war of 1846-47 was generally opposed by the better classes of New England; but notwithstanding this feel- ing a regiment was raised and forwarded to the seat of war, where many of its officers and men laid down their lives, among whom was the gallant Col. Truman B. Ransom, of Vermont, who fell in the attack upon the castle of Cha- pultepee .*
II.
THE WASHINGTON BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.
The Washington Benevolent Society was a secret political organization, which, early in the present century, spread itself over. the Northern and Eastern States. This society was formed to further the interests of the Federal party. It sought to bring back by this means the country to what the Federalists thought were sounder views on the questions of a strong eentral government as opposed to State sovereignty. In a word, it advocated the views of Hamilton and Adams in opposition to Jefferson and the Democratic party. The ostensible object of the society was benevolence. But the candidate, upon his initiation into its secret workings, soon discovered that it really had more to do with polities than with charity.
There was a society at Northampton, and probably societies at other places in Ilampshire and Franklin Counties.
We copy the following papers from the book of records of the county society at Springfield. From these papers the reader will be able to gather the objects and aims of the society :
" WASHINGTON BENEVOLENT SOCIETY OF THE COUNTY OF HAMPDEN & COMMON- WEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
" Many persons being desirous that the Washington Benevolent Society should be instituted at Springfield, in the county of Hampshire, by the name of the Washington Benevolent Society of the County of Hampden, the following per- sons, viz., John Hooker, Esq., Thomas Dwight, Esq., Jonathan Dwight, Jr., Esq., Edward Pynchon, Esq., Moses Bliss, Jr., James Wells, and Edward Bliss, mem- bers of the said Society established at Northampton in the County of Hampshire, having obtained the constitution of said society at Northampton, adopted the same as the constitution of said Society in the County of Hampden; and having met at the Dwelling-Honse of Eleazur Williams in Springfield, on the twenty- seventh day of April, in the year of our Lord Eighteen Hundred and Twelve, and having chosen John Ilooker, Esq., President pro tempore, the following persons were proposed for admission, viz., Doct. William Sheldon, Oliver B. Morris, Esq., Daniel Bontecon, Edmund Dwight, Doct. Sammel Kingsberry, Samuel Orne, Amasa Parsons, Jonathan Packard, Henry Bates, and John Howard, and being Inilloted for, were elected turmbers, and were then admitted and initiated into said Society according to the Constitution.
" CONSTITUTION OF THE WASHINGTON BENEVOLENT SOCIETY OF THE COUNTY OF HAMPDEN.
"Considering that the wistlom and experience of ages have sanctioned the fart that public virtur, founded in the integrity, discernment, magnanimity, and good faith of the individuals composing the community, is the only sure basis of na- tional honor, prosperity, and glory ;
" Considering how deeply we are interested for ourselves and for our posterity in the welfare of our country, and, consequently, iu the permanence and pros- perity of our Government ;
" Considering that a foundation for national glory laid deep and secured in the affections and virtuous principles of the people most certainly insures the performance of those offices of charity, kindness, and brotherly affection which so well become members of one great family in a state necessarily exposed to the iofirmities and sufferings of humanity and all the vicissitudes of mortal life; being convinced that associations founded on humane and benevolent princi- ples, proposing the highest model of human excellence for their imitation,-yet imitable because human,-embracing the inexperience of youth and the wis- dom of gray hairs, and inviting to a free interchange of opinion, but carefully guarding against the influence of passion, prejudice, or vice,-cannut fail of af- fording one of the surest methods of inculcating pure and correct doctrines, of promoting good morals and social affection, of essentially advancing the good of the community, and guarding against the evils which threaten it, especially in times of publie danger and distress,-
" We, whose names are here underwritten, do associate together for the pur- pose above expressed, and we adopt the following articles as the Constitution by which we will be regulated and governed:
" FIRST .- The Society shall be denominated the Washington Benevolent Society of the County of Hampden.
"SECOND .- The officers of the Society shall consist of a President, three Vice- Presidents, a Secretary, Treasurer, four Stewards, a Standing Committee of ten persons, a Doorkeeper, and an Assistant Doorkeeper, all which officers (when the Society shall be permanently organized) shall hold their offices during the period of une year, and shall be elected annually, at such times as the Society shall ap- point. If a vacancy happen it may be filled at the next regular meeting of the Society.
"THIRD .- The Society shall hold regular meetings on the first Tuesday uf every month, and may adjourn from time to time at the discretion of every meeting.
"The President, or in his absence the oldest Vice-President, or in the absence of the Virr-Presidents a President elected for the purpose, shall preside.
" FOURTH .- The Secretary shall keep the books and papers, and shall record such proceedings as the l'resident shall direct.
" FIFTH .- The Stewards shall provide a place of meeting for the Society, pro- cure nessessary accomodations, distribute and collect ballots, assist in keeping order, and be the acting officers of the Society under the direction of the Acting l'resident, and their accounts of disbursement shall be paid by the Treasurer.
"SIXTH .- The Standing Committee shall distribute the benevolent donations of the Society, reccommend persons proposed as members, and attend to such other duties as the Society shall direct. No benevolent donations shall exceed the sum of five dollars to any one person in one month without the consent of the Society first obtained. Report shall be made to the Society every three months what donations have been made, and to what persons; and the Com- mittre shall have power to draw on the Treasurer for such sums as they shall have expended.
"SEVENTH .- The Treasurer shall hold the funds of the Society, collect initia- tion fees and dues of the members, and report every three months the state of the Funds.
" EIGHTHS .- Every member of this Society shall, on his being initiated, pay the sum of one dollar, and then afterward he shall pay every three months twenty- five cents so long as he shall continue a member of the Society.
" NINTH .- Honorary members may be admitted on such terms as the Society shall direct.
"TEXTII .- Persons proposed as members must be reccommeoded by three or more of the Standing Committee at a regular meeting of the Society, and bal- loted for, at the same or next meeting of the Society, by black and white balls. The President shall examine the ballots and declare whether the candidate is admitted. Two-thirds of the members present voting in favor of the candidate, he shall be admitted, otherwise he shall not be admitted. No person shall be halloted for unless fifteen members are present.
" ELEVENTH .- The President shall address the Candedate wben initiated, par- ticularly recommending the nessessity of morality, benevolence, sociability, and brotherly love. The forms of initiation shall be signed by the President and certified by the Secretary. The President shall keep a copy for bis own use, and deliver the same to his successor in office for the use of the Acting President.
"TWELFTH .- The Society shall have power to make such By-Laws as they shall think nessessary, but no part of this Constitution or the By-Laws sball be altered without the consent of the majority of the members of the Society.
" SPRINGFIELD, April 27th, 1812."
INITIATION SERVICE.
After being balloted for and admitted the president ad- dressed the candidates as follows :
"GENTLEMEN : Yon have been balloted for and admitted members of the Washı- ington Benevolent Society, established in this place ; but before you can be enti- tled to all the privileges of membership it is my duty to explain to you more parti ubuly the principles upon which this Society is founded. We believe that
* This officer was the father of Gen. T. E. G. Ransom, who died at Rome, Ga., in October, 1864, while in command of the 17th Army Corps.
83
HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.
it is better, by inculcating sound principles of morality, sobriety, amd integrity, to endeavor to guard our fellow-citizens against the distress consequent upon immorality and ignorance than to trust to alleviating them by donations in in mey when too late to prevent the pernicious consequences to the putdi .. We believe that the best method of preventing distress among the citizens of any country is the institution of a government for themselves which makes pro- vision for the security and free exercise of their inalienable rights. And such government we verily believe to be sacredly guaranteed to us by the Constitution of the United States. No system of government, however, can be so perfect but it may, if perverted and mal-administered, become ruinous and destructive to the liberties of the people. While the illustrious Washington was at the head of the administrati m of the Federal government, our unparalleled prosperity proved that our national affairs were conducted with purity and wisdom. Then the Constitution was strictly and sacredly regarded, and the rights and privileges of the people not only acknowledged, but constantly cherished aud promoted. But during the disastrous administration of Thomas Jefferson and his successors in office our Constitution has been openly violated, public sentiment has been cor- rupted, virtue and talents have been proscribed, and the rights and interests of the people have been made the sport of unprincipled ambition. A government like ours cannot well be administered when individual distress becomes general. It is therefore the duty of every good citizen to use all exertions to prevent cor- ruption, whatever specious mask it may assume, from destroying our Constitution. Having, with deep regret, observed the baneful effects produced by combinations against the morals and politics of our fellow-citizens, having marked the dangerous influence of ambitious and designing men, uniting to obtain by means of popular leception every honorable and profitable office under the government, and being convinced that very many of those who are loudest in their professions of love of the people, love of liberty and equality, have no other object than the attainment of power and the building of fortunes upon the ruin of their country, we have adopted as our motto, 'By their fruits ye shall know them.' When bad men con- bine good men must unite. The members of this Society have thought it necessary to associate themselves for the purpose of inenleating and maintaining the true principles of our government, and of more effectually promoting and cherishing among ourselves and our fellow-citizens friendship, benevolence, mutual confi- denve, and union of sentiment ; to relieve the nufortunate, and to diffuse such useful information as will tend to promote the general welfare and fundamental principles of this Society.
"Gentlemen, are you willing to join a society avowing and solemnly pledged to support these principles? You will then, on your sacred honor, answer nie to such questions as I shall put to you. Are you firmly attached to the Constitution of the United States? Are you willing to use your exertions to preserve and de- fend it against the inrows and contaminations of aristocracy, monarchy, desput- ism, and democracy ? Will you endeavor to divest yourself of all partialities for foreign nations, more especially when such partiality will interfere with the in- terest of the United States? Will you use your endeavors to have the govern- ment administered upon the principles of our beloved Washington? Do you pledge your word that you will exercise your privilege as a citizen, and vote at all elections for such men as yon conscientiously believe will be faithful to the Constitution and as are attached to the political principles which distinguished the glorious administration of Washington ? Will you endeavor to aid and assist the members of this Society in their several lawful callings, when it will not in- terfere with your interest or your duty to others? Do you promise never to com- municate anything said or done in this Society unless it be to a member of the same, or when compelled to do so by due process of law? To the support and practice of all these principles and things you pledge your sacred honor, in pres- ence of all these witnesses, whom I now call on to notice the transaction."
The last meeting of this society was held on the 22d day of February, 1813. The constitution above copied was fol- lowed by the signatures of seven hundred and nineteen members.
CHAPTER XX.
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS- EARLY ROADS - TURNPIKES AND TOLL-BRIDGES-FERRIES.
BY SAMUEL W. DURANT .*
I.
THE earliest roads traveled by human beings in Massachu- setts-at least, since the advent of the Indian race-were no doubt simple paths or " trails," which threaded the mazes of the unbroken wilderness from one settlement to another. The savages always traveled in a single line, one behind the other, and their trails were well defined, and in places so worn down into the soil as to have remained for many years after their dusky travelers had passed away.
These highways of the red man were no doubt made use of by the early English settlers for " bridle-paths," and when
wheeled vehicles began to appear they were widened and eleared up to accommodate the new mode of travel.
It is well known that many of the old war-trails of the Indians were adopted by the whites, in various parts of the Union ; among them the great Iroquois trail from the Hudson River to Lake Erie, and the celebrated " Nemacolin's trail" through Maryland and Pennsylvania, and, no doubt, the " Bay Path," which was one of the first important roads laid out in the province of Massachusetts Bay, followed substan- tially a great trail of the savages which ran from the neigh- borhood of Boston-or "Shawmut," as it was called by the Indians-to the Long River, and thence over the mountains to the valley of the Hudson.
This famous ronte followed substantially the present line of the Boston and Albany Railway, striking the Quaboag River probably in Brookfield, and thence following that stream and the Chicopee River to the vicinity of Indian Orchard, when it bore away from the river and entered Springfield by what is still called the " Old Bay Road" and Bay and State Streets, passing near, and perhaps partly over, the ground now occupied by the United States armory and arsenal.
11.
TURNPIKES.
Turnpikes began to multiply quite rapidly in the years fol- lowing the close of the Revolutionary war and the Shays rebellion. From the elose of the latter business began to revive, and improved means of travel and communication were demanded. Macadamized and plank-roads had not been introduced into America at that date, and an improved com- mon road, built by a chartered corporation with ample capital, was for many years considered the ne plus ultra of high ways.
" The Second Massachusetts Turnpike Corporation" was chartered by the General Court on the 8th of March, 1797, for the purpose of constructing an improved road from the west line of Charlemont, then in Hampshire County, to the west foot of Hoosae Mountain, in the town of Adams, in Berkshire County. The charter was granted to Asaph White, Jesse King, and their associates.
On the 9th of March, 1797, the Third Massachusetts Turn- pike Corporation was chartered to build a turnpike from the east side of Roberts' Hill, in Northampton, to the east line of Pittsfield, and passing through Westhampton, Chesterfield, Worthington, Peru (then Partridgefield), and Dalton. The principal members of this company were Jonah Brewster, Elisha Brewster, Jonathan Brewster, Samuel Buffington, and Tristram Browning.
According to Dr. Ilolland, there was no Fourth Massachu- setts Turnpike Company chartered; but the Williamstown Turnpike Company properly occupied its place. This was or- ganized on the Ist of March, 1799, for the purpose of building and keeping in repair a road from the west side of Hoosae Mountain, commencing at the termination of the road of the Second corporation, in Adams, and thence running through the towns of Adams and Williamstown to the line of Peters- burg, Rensselaer Co., N. Y.
The Fifth corporation was chartered on the Ist of March, 1799, for the building of a road from Northfield, through War- wiek and Orange, to Athol, in Worcester County, and also from Greenfield, through Montague and the unimproved lands, to Athol, where the two roads were to be united and proceed through Templeton, Gardner, Westminster, and Fitchburg to Leominster.
The Sixth Massachusetts Turnpike Corporation was char- tered the 22d of June, 1799, for the construction of a road from the east line of Amherst to Worcester, passing through the towns of Pelham, Greenwich, Hardwick, New Braintree, Oak- ham, Rutland, Holden, and Worcester, and uniting with the " great road in Shrewsbury," leading from New York to Boston. This road was to be not less than four rods in width,
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