History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. I, Part 54

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 54

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174

HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

petitions, orders, ete., that gave a " local habitation and a name" to Non-o-tuek, and next in order is to mention the names of those sturdy pioneers who left the rude comforts and conveniences of the plantations in this valley, that had been settled more than a decade, and had already taken upon them many of the attributes of the Eastern home, for an abode in the wilds of Non-o-tuck. It required no prophetic eye to discern that the rich intervales of this section must soon become the site of a flourishing settlement, and it is not surprising that the project of John Pynchon met with a hearty response, and that the people were anxious to rear their homes in the fertile valley of the Connecticut, on Non-o-tnek, within the shadows of those grand upheavals of creation, Mounts Tom and Holyoke.

Among the first of those courageous pioneers who located at Non-o-tuck, erecting the standard of home in the midst of a dense, uninviting wilderness, surrounded by wild beasts and the treacherous savages, were Thomas Judd, John King, Joseph Parsons, Thomas Bascom, Isaae Shelden, John Strong, Thos. Ford, Edward Elmore, Aaron Cook, John Hillyer, William Hulburt, Thomas Woodford, Samuel Wright, Robt. Bartlett, John Lyman, James Bridgman, Thomas Root, Alex- ander Edwards, Wm. Miller, David Burt, Samuel Allen, William Hannum, William Hulburt, Nathaniel Phelps, and John Stebbins.

The healthful climate and fertility of the soil of the " Plan- tation of Non-o-tuck," as the place was called, soon attracted the attention of others, and the years 1658 to 1662 witnessed an influx of sturdy yeomen from the adjoining settlements of Windsor, Hartford, and Springfield. Among them are men- tioned the names of Edward Baker, John Searle, Eleazer Mather, Alexander Alvord, Wm. Clark, Henry Woodward, Enos Kingsley, Aaron Cook, John Strong, Medad Pomeroy, Jonathan Hunt, and John Taylor. Soon after came Israel Rusk, Preserved Clapp, Caleb Pomeroy, Solomon Stoddard, Robert Danks, Samuel Judd, and Thomas JJudd.

It is a somewhat singular fact that of the twenty-four peti- tioners for the settlement of Non-o-tuck only eight settled here, viz., Edward Elmore, William Miller, Thomas Root, William Clark, William Holton, Robert Bartlett, John Webb, and William Janes.

The home-lots of the first settlers were located in the vicinity of what is now known as Market, Pleasant, King, and Haw- ley Streets. As the plantation increased, settlements were next made west of the " old church," and later south of Mill River.

The pioneers evidently gave but little attention to the lay- ing out of streets, and it has been said that they were laid out by the cows, the inhabitants building wherever these animals made a path.

The causes which drove the fugitives from their native country to Plymouth Roek were still fresh in their minds, and the settlement had hardly been effected ere a movement was made toward the erection of a house of worship. It was placed under the control of the town, the town voting for the selection of a minister, his wages, ete .* The first meeting- house was contracted to be built by five of the settlers, and to he completed by the middle of April, 1655.

March 13, 1657, the town employed an agent " to obtain a minister, and to devise means to prevent the excess of liquors and cider from coming to town." This commission alone clearly portrays the character of the pioneers of Northampton. They were religious and temperate, firm in the right, and with a strength of character that rendered them conspicuous. They left their impress upon the following generations, and the " New England traits of character" have ever been synonyms with honesty, uprightness, sobriety, and Christianity.

During the first four years the expenses of the plantation

must have been very light, as the first record of a tax voted was under date of March 29, 1658, when they voted a tax of thirty pounds to pay the town's debts ; this doubtless covered the period from the date of settlement to that time. At that meeting it was also voted that a ferry-boat be built for the common use of the people.

" January 4, 1658, " The Town voted to pay Mr. Mather twenty-five pounds for half a year, in good and merchantable pay in wheat, in this place." They also granted eighty acres of land for the ministry.

December 20, 1658, " The Town voted one hundred pounds to build a minister's house."

It is quite certain that hospitality was not reckoned as one of the virtues of the good people of Northampton in 1672, as the town records for that year disclosed the following order :

"4th (1) '72, '73. Whereas a great deal of trouble, detriment, and change have been brought upon this Town by reason of receiving into the same Foreigners and Strangers, we do, therefore, by this order, and by this it is ordered, that who- svever in this town shall bring into it or receive into his family a foreigner or Stranger, or any man from abroad, or entertain him in his house above Ten days without Liberty from the Selectmen, shall forfeit to the Town Ten Shillings for every week so entertaining him. By the Selectmen, David Wilton, William Clark, Wm, Ilulton, Henry Woodward, and Medad Pomeroy."

Feb. 8, 1657, it was voted that three men should be ehosen " to end small causes. They shall first choose one, and he that hath most votes by Papers Shall Stand for one and for the rest in order." It seems, however, there were but two chosen, William Holton and Thomas Bascom.

In 1658 thirty pounds were levied to pay the town debts.

In 1661 it was voted that the mill be free, and " that the Town will build a new boat."

It seems in those early days there was a penalty for being absent from town-meetings, as under date of Feb. 9, 1658, it was ordered that whosoever he be that absents himself from the town-meeting, after having been warned by the townsmen, shall forfeit the sum of 12d. A fine of ld. was also ordered " if they be not at the beginning of the meeting when it is orderly begun."

Some trouble was evidently experienced in the town-meet- ings, as the following order appears on the town-book :

" Northampton, 19th of 12th mo., 1660. At a meeting of the Selectmen, con- sidering that might be for the well ordering of town-meetings, and finding by experience that Tumults and many speaking at one time in Such a Tumultuous manner that it hinders the work in hand, and is dishonorable to God and grievous to many persons, do therefore order whilst any common business is in hand, or under consideration and debate, every man shall apply himself to the common work, and not to be more speakers than one at a time, lovingly and moderately, upon the Penalty of 12/ for every such offence, to be levied by distress. We intend not to hinder any man to give his advice in any matter one at a time."

On the 31st of the 10th month "it was voted and agreed that the town rates for this present year wheat shall go for 3s. 6d. per bushel."

" Cornelius, the Irishman," was dealt with as follows :

" 17th day, 9th mo., 1663. At a legal Town-meeting there was then granted to Cornelius, the Irishman, three acres of land, upon condition he build upon it & make improvements of it within one year; yet not so as to make him Capable of Acting in any Town affairs no more than he had before it was granted to him.'

The price of grain for the year 1664 was fixed as follows : wheat 3s. and 4d ; " pease," 3.s. per bushel ; and Indian corn at 2s. and 3d. per bushel, " till they see cause to alter it."

"2 April, 1664, Capt. Cooke brought a wolf's head to my house, & I cut off his ears, according to law.

" Per me. DAVID WILTON." " Capt. Cooke" was evidently a wolf-hunter, as the records show that within a few months he killed twelve of these ani- mals, all of whose "ears were eut off" by David Wilton, "according to law."

The sport of " horse-raeing" was not in mueh favor with the " goodmen" of the parish away baek in 1664, as it voted in that year " that if any shall run races with their horses or mares in any Street in this Town shall for every such offense pay 2s. 6d., the one-half to the town the other half to its Informer."

* See history of the First Church.

175

HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.

THE INDIANS-KING PHILIP'S WAR.

The Indians of whom the plantation was purchased still roamed the forests, and were given the right to hunt on all the lands sold. A friendly intercourse was maintained, and not the slightest discord arose to mar the brotherly feeling ex- isting until the breaking out of King Philip's war. The mu- tual confidence between them can be no better illustrated than by the following permit to erect a fort, which appears on the old town records under date of April 7, 1664 :

" At a Town-meeting the Indians advised a place to build a fort. The Town granted they should, provided they would attend these articles underwritten. The men that the Town choose to deliver their mind to the Indians were David Wilton, John Lyman, and Joseph Parsons. The Town's mind was declared to the Indians by us April 13, 1664.

"5: 2 mo., 1664, upon the Indians' request to the Town to have liberty to build a fort on our land, on which the Town declare on what Terms they may make a fort on our land, viz. :

" 1. First, they shall not break the Sabbath by working er gaming, or carrying Burdens or the like.

" 2. They shall not Powwow on that place or any where else amongst us.

"3. They shall not get Liquors or Cider and drink themselves drunk as So kill one another as they have done.

"4. They shall not take in other Indians of other places to seat amongst them, we allow Nowntague Indians that were the inhabitants of the place.

"5. They shall not break down our fences and let in cattle and Swine, but shall ge ever a stile at one place.

"6. The Murderers, Callawane & Wuttowhan & Pacquallant, Shall not seat amongst them.

"7. They shall not hunt or kill our cattle or sheep or swine with their dugs; if they do, they shall pay for them."

The cause that led to the building of this fort was doubtless their fear of other Indians. "The fort," says Rev. Solomon , Williams, in his " Historical Sketch of Northampton, " a ser- mon delivered April 13, 1815, " is said to have been built on the northerly end of Fort Plain, which is now in Easthamp- ton."*

When King Philip sounded the war-whoop through this beautiful valley, these natives in the vicinity of Northampton were inclined to remain true to the English, with whom they had dwelt so long in peace, never receiving any but the kind- est treatment, but the proud chief of the Wampanoags roused their lurking treachery, and they joined the hostile savages.t

As soon as it was discovered that the Indians bere had joined Philip's warriors, and that the coming contest was likely to be of a serious nature, a barricade was built around the town-a sort of Chinese wall-to defend the settlement against a surprise. This was constructed of palisades,- pieces of wood about eight feet long firmly planted in a trench. March 14, 1676, a body of Indians assaulted this de- fense, and forced their way through, but were driven back by the soldiers. In this attack they killed six persons, among whom were Robert Bartlett and Thomas Holton, and burned a number of buildings. No further attempt was made by the Indians to molest this town; but in the contest at Deerfield, May 19, 1676, fifteen residents of Northampton were killed. The town, after the close of Philip's war, remained in com- parative quiet, and the barricade was allowed to decay. In the year 1790, during King William's war, the town was again thrown into a state of alarm, and the place was sur- rounded by piekets, located near the site of the old barricade. No attack was, however, made, and in fact Northampton was never after molested by the enemy. In 1704, old style, the village of Paokhomuck, located in what is now Southampton, was attacked by the Indians, and all the inhabitants were either killed or taken prisoners. As an instance of the bar- barity of the savages, it is stated that, not content with the horrible butcheries just perpetrated on the unsuspecting in- habitants of the little settlement, they conveyed the wife of Benjamin Janes to the top of Pomeroy's Mountain, where she was knocked in the head and scalped. She was found in

* Dr. Dwight in his Travels says, " This fort was built in the heart of the town, at the distance of perhaps twenty rods from the most populous street."

+ See history of King Philip's war, in the general history of this work.

this condition, and was carried to Northampton, and lived until she reached the age of over eighty years.

For a number of years after, the savages roamed the adja- cent forest, committing depredations, and, Jan. 9, 1708, killed Samuel and Joseph Parsons, and in 1711, Samuel Strong, Jr., was killed, and his father taken prisoner. In 1724, Nathaniel Edwards was killed, and in 1747 the prowling savages mur- dered Elisha Clark, and soon after Noah Pixley also fell by the hands of these murderous marauders. The two latter lived in what is now Southampton.

Although, as stated above, the inhabitants of this town were not attacked after Philip's war, nevertheless they dwelt in almost constant alarm until the conquest of Canada, in 1759. In 1745 there were fourteen "forted" houses in the town; and in 1755, during the French-and-Indian war, a wateb was kept during the nights, and a number of soldiers were stationed here for the defense of the inhabitants of this vicinity.

In the year 1749 the resolute little band of settlers in this frontier plantation, who had retained and defended their forest home through the various wars, believing that peace was soon again to settle down over this beautiful valley, voted, under date of .lune 12, 1749, " That the forts, mounts, and fortifica- tions in the town of Northampton be demolished, and that Lieut. Ebenezer Clark, Mr. Josiah Parsons, and Benjamin Alvord be a committee to sell and dispose of the timber, boards, etc., to the best advantage of the town."

THE REVOLUTION.

When the tidings of the firing of the first gun at Concord reached the settlement, and the hideous head of British oppres- sion rose in this free land, the inhabitants rallied around the colonial standard, and, during the eight long years of that arduous struggle, contributed freely in both men and means.

In 1775 a committee of " Correspondence, Inspection, and Safety" was organized with the following persons : Joseph Hawley, Robert Beck, Ezra Clark, Josiah Clark, Jacob Par- sons, Col. Seth Pomeroy, Elijah HIunt, Ephraim Wright, Elias Lyman, Elijah Clark, Capt. Joseph Lyman, Quartus Pomeroy, Martin Phelps, Caleb Strong, Jr., and Dr. Shep- herd.

Among the leading spirits of Northampton at the beginning of the Revolution was Seth Pomeroy, who was instrumental in raising troops, and subsequently became a brigadier-gen- eral.

The following is a copy of a letter written to his son, Capt. Pomeroy, of Southampton, under date September, 1776:

" NORTHAMPTON, Sept. 18, 1776.

"DEAR SIR,-The affair of enlisting one 5th of ye men To go in this the present exigency is of ye greatest importance, and thay must be equipped and sent off as soon as possible, and carry with them as much provision as to last them down; and I think they had better take horses,-that is, I think a horse to two men will do, lest thay may take turns to ride. So leave yr horse at a place as they shall agree for ye other to take when he comes to him. This town and Southampton will make a company when raised; they shall have such officers as they shall choose.

" In great haste. " From your Loving Father, "SETH POMEROY." " CAPTAIN POMEROY.

Gen. Pomeroy was made a brigadier-general June 22, 1775. He was a volunteer at , the battle of Bunker Hill, and also served in the French war under Sir William Johnson. He died in February, 1777.

Maj. Jonathan Allen and four brothers also served with dis- tinetion. Capt. Elisha Hawley, Lieut. Daniel Pomeroy, and Thomas Wait, natives of this town, were killed in battle at Lake George, in 1755.

It seems that two companies of soldiers were sent to the army from Northampton, in 1776, as the records of March 3, 1777, contain the following vote: "That those persons that

For names of Revolutionary soldiers see Chapter XVII.

176

HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

shall now engage in the service of the Continental Army, who belonged to Capt. Allin's and Capt. Chapin's Company, the last year, both officers and Privates, Shall have full compensa- tion for all losses by them sustained in Cloaths and other arti- cles where such losses were unavoidable, and not through the negligence of those who sustained then."

At the same meeting a bounty of $15 was voted ; and a committee also ap- pointed "to examine and consider what persons have in the town been delin- quent in doing their proportion in promoting the publick canse." This com- mittee was constitued as follows :

"Capt. Jonathan Allin, Lieut, Elijah Clark, Lieut. Enoch Clark, Mr. Benjamin Clark, and Mr. Robert Breck, for the first company."

Lieut. Simon Clap, Lieut, Joseph Cook, Dea, Josiah Clark, Mr. Elias Lyman, and Mr. Abner Barnard, for the second company.

Lient. Elijah Lyman, Lieut. Hezekiah Russell, Mr. Asa Wright, Mr. Samnel Clark, and Mr. Jacob Parsons, for the third company.

Lieut. David Lyman, Messrs. Jonathan Janes, Samuel Judd, David Chapman, and Joel Parsons, for the fourth company.

Messrs. Martin Clark, William Bartlett, Aber Clafflin, John Smith, and Aza- riah Lyman, for the fifth company.

In 1779 it was voted " that every able-bodied man that shall engage to serve in the Continental army for the term of nine months shall have paid to him by the town, according to the rate of eighteen pounds for nine months for the term he shall actually serve, in wheat at four shillings per bushel, rice at three shillings per bushel, or Indian corn at two shillings per bushel." Sixty pounds bounty was also voted them, and "two shillings per mile for mileage."

Ang. 9, 1779, the town promptly voted to raise 1500 pounds " to pay for the clothing that is called for from this town by the General Court for the Continental army."

At a meeting held Oct. 15, 1779, a motion was made by Capt. Cook that the town should refund to the militia officers money which they had paid " for liquor to facilitate the raising of men." The motion " passed in the negative."

June 5, 1780, under a call for men by the General Court, the quota of this town was twenty-two men, and the following were appointed "a committee to manage and transact the whole business of raising the twenty-two men: the militia officers, together with Maj. Ilawley, Quartus Pomeroy, Elijah Clark, Stephen Baker, Capt. Samuel Clark, Benj. Sheldon, Samuel Judd, Nathaniel Edwards, and Ithamer Strong."

The treaty of peace between Great Britain and the United States, signed on the 3d of September, 1783, was duly cele- brated at Northampton, and a sermon was preached on the occasion by Rev. Mr. Spring. The proclamation was read from the court-house steps by the sheriff of the county to the militia under arms and a large assembly of gentlemen, "and the evening was concluded with decent mirth and hilarity." It seems that the ladies of the town were allowed no part in this demonstration, and, much incensed, on the following day celebrated the event by drinking to Lady Washington and Congress, after which the following toasts and sentiments were given : " Reformation to our husbands," " May the gentlemen and ladies ever unite on joyful occasions !" " Happiness and prosperity to our families," " Reformation to the men in gen- eral," and " May refined husbands ever find obedient wives !"

Some rhymster of the day caricatured them as follows :

" The presidentess, spry to leap, Led just as shepherd leads the sheep; The rest rush in with sturdy straddle, With each in hand a pudding-paddle. By neat tow-strings, all at their backs, Inng thirteen pretty little sacks, All tied tight; they did conceal Jnst thirteen quarts of Indian meal. Each had a spoon of white-wood metal, Each at her side a nice tin-kettle. Thus fixed, they march right through the town, Nor would be stopped by spark or clown. Old Dido with her Tyrian band Ne'er ent a flash one-half so grand, While they moved on with pomp and show, To take some tea and pudding too."

LAFAYETTE'S VISIT.

. The name of this honored chieftain and soldier, who left his home in sunny France to assist the struggling and op- pressed colonists in 1776, will ever be revered by the American citizen. Ilis visits to the country which he had helped to free from the yoke of Britain were a series of ovations, towns vying with each other in paying him tributes of respect.

The papers of the day announced that in 1826, when he passed through here, he entered the village attended by the sheriff, the committee, the cavalry, and private guests, under Col. Shepherd, chief marshal. At the village the procession was met by the infantry, artillery, and volunteer companies of the town. He visited the Round Hill school, then con- ducted by Bancroft & Co., afterward returned to Warner's Hotel, and was introduced to the selectmen of the town. He then drove through the principal streets of the town, attended by his suite and attendants, and stopped at the church, where he was introduced to various persons. After partaking of a feast at two o'clock, he proceeded on his journey westward, and Northampton had met and honored Lafayette.

OTHIER EARLY SETTLERS.

In addition to the other pioneers noted on a previous page, the following list, which was compiled by Wm. Allen, D.D., in 1854, is subjoined :

Samuel Allen* was the son of Samuel Allyn, who died at Windsor in 1648, and who is supposed to have been the brother of Mathew Allyn, of Hartford and Windsor, and of Thomas Allyn, of Middletown. His lot was north of Mr. Woodford's, afterward Jonathan Edwards', in King Street. lle married Hannah Woodford in 1659, and died Oet. 18, 1703. His chil- dren were ten, of whom Samuel, who died in 1839, was a deacon of the church in the time of Mr. Edwards. Deacon Samuel's son, Joseph, was the father of Thomas Allen, the first minister of Pittsfield, and of other sons.

Nehemiah Allen, son of Samuel, of Windsor, married Sarah Woodford in 1664, and died in 1684. He had nine children. Samuel removed to Deerfield in 1706, and thence to Coventry. His son Joseph, born in 1708 at Deerfield, mar- ried Mary Baker, of Woodbury, and was the father of Col. Ethan Allen, of Vermont.

John Allen, son of Samuel, of Windsor, married Mary Hannum in 1669 and removed to Deerfield, where both were killed by the Indians in May, 1704.

Alexander Alvord settled here in about 1658.

Edward Baker was here as early as 1655. Osmyn Baker, at one time member of Congress, was a descendant.

Thomas Bascom came from the north of England and set- tled here in about 1650, and died in 1689.

James Bridgman was also an early settler. Thomas Bridg- man, a descendant, published a work entitled "Inscriptions on the Grave-Stones of Northampton," and several other works relating to cemeteries in Boston and elsewhere.

Daniel Burt was a son of Henry Burt, of Springfield.

Preserved Clapp was born Nov. 23, 1643, and died in 1720. A descendant, Simeon Clapp, was at Saratoga during the Rev- olution, and was also a guard of Maj. Andre at his execution. Ile died in 1851.

William Clark removed to Northampton, and was one of the pillars of the church in 1661.

Capt. Aaron Cook came to this place in 1661. Robert Danks was also an early settler.

Alexander Edwards located here in 1655. Prof. Bela Bates Edwards and Dr. Justin Edwards were descendants.

Joseph Ilawley, grandfather of Maj. Joseph Hawley, men- tioned elsewhere, was here as early as 1678.

Nehemiah Strong, professor of mathematics and natural philosophy in Yale College, graduated in 1755, and died in

* Spelled Allyn in the old records.

177

IIISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.

1807. lle heard Edwards preach the sermons constituting his " History of Redemption." Simeon Strong, LL. D., judge of the Supreme Court, was born here in 1735. He died in 1805. Joseph Strong, LL. D., and his son, Henry Strong, LL. D., both died in Norwich, Conn. Caleb Strong, minister, of Mon- treal, died in 1847. He was a grandson of Gov. Caleb Strong.

The name of Lyman has ever been prominent in the history of Northampton. Richard Lyman was here in 1658, and died in 1662. A descendant, Jonathan H. Lyman, was re- corder of the proprietors of Non-o-tuck from 1654 to 1657. John Lyman, brother of Isaac, was here as early as 1658.

Among other early settlers were William Holton, William Hulburt, Jonathan Hunt, William Janes, Thomas Judd, John King, Enos Kingsley, David Lee, William Miller, Joseph Parsons, Nathaniel Phelps, Eldad Pomeroy, Thomas Root, John Searle, Isaac Sheldon, John Stebbins, John Strong, Thomas Woodford, Samuel Wright, and Benjamin Tappan.

EMINENT MEN.

Northampton has ever been the home of men prominent in the councils of the State and nation. ller record is a noble one. In addition to the long list of talented and venerated divines who occupied the pulpit of the First Church, and whose history may be found in the sketch of that church, there were men whose talents and genuine worth elevated them to many of the highest councils in the land.

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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 54

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