History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. I, Part 60

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 60

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

" Personal peculiarities can also thus be more satisfactorily studied, and refin- ing influences more successfully exerted. Instead of formal lectures on decorum and social proprieties, the aim is, through the natural daily intercourse of a well- ordered family, to develop the best social characteristics.

" In these different hooves the young ladies receive their friends, enjoy their games and festivities, and their smaller sociables from time to time, while in the larger hall in the college billing they also frequently meet, with invited guests, for various entertainments. Instead of being shut up entirely to their own so- eirty, they are thus made acquainted with intelligent and refined people of many different classes. Musical concerts and readings are interspersed to give variety to their life.

"The private rooms of the young ladies are designed to suit different tastes. Some of them are for two persons, with study and bedroom ; some are arranged as single rooms; all are well ventilated and comfortably furnished.

" The style of the main collegiate building is secular Gothic. It is built of brick, trimmed with stone, and the interior is elegantly finished in unpainted native woods. On the lower floor are the recitation-, reading-, and dressing- rooms. A large, well-furnished laborat wy is finely arranged in a single story, suf- ficiently disconnected from the main building to prevent any annoyance from gases.

"On the second floor there are the large social hall, cabinets, art-gallery and art lecture-rooms, and offices. The main rooms of the second story are so ar- ranged that they can all be thrown together whenever it is desirable for literary or social entertainments, and other purposes. The social hall, also used as a chapel, affords a striking combination of elegant architecture and beauty of finish. The art-gallery, even unfurnished, would delight the eye of an artist. This gallery is divided into alcoves by an ingenious arrangement of Gothic screens, which are covered with several hundred autotype copies of representative paintings of the Italian, Flemish, Dutch, German, and Spanish schools. The ends of these screens are finished to foro effective backgrounds for casts representing noted statnes. There are also oil copies of celebrated paintings of the different schools. The art lecture-room has its walls covered with illustrations of the French school, and an adjoining room is to be devoted to the English school of art."

The following extract from Miss Smith's will gives a general idea of the scope and aim of the institution :

"Sensible of what the Christian religion has done for my sex, and believing tbat all education should be for the glory of God and the good of man, I direet that the Holy Scriptures be daily and systematically read and studied in said college, and, without giving preference to any sect or denomination, all the edu- cation aod all the discipline shall be pervaded by the spirit of evangelical Chris- tian religion ; I direct also that higher culture in the English language literature be given in said college; also in Ancient and Modern Languages, in the Mathe- matical and Physical Sciences, in the Useful and Fine Arts, in Intellectual, Moral, and Esthetic Philosophy, in Natural Theology, in the Evidences of Christianity, in Gymnastics and Physical Culture, in the Sciences and Arts which pertain to Education, Society, and Government, and in such other studies as coming time may develop or demand for the education of women, or the progress of the raee. I would have the education suited to the mental and physical wants of woman. It is not my design to render the sex any the less feminine, but to develop, as fully as may be, the powers of womanhood, and furnish women with the means of usefulness, happiness, and bonor, now withheld from them."

The diploma of Smith College covers as high a degree of literary merit as that of Ilarvard, Amherst, or Williams. The following is an outline of the course of study :

194

HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

The course of study will extend through four years. Dur- ing the first year the same studies will be required of all the regular students. After the first year elective courses have been arranged, designated, respectively, classical, literary, and scientific.

The classical course is distinguished from the others by the greater attention given to Greek and Latin ; the literary, by the greater attention given to the modern languages, and es- pecially to the English ; and the scientific, by the greater atten- tion given to mathematics and the natural sciences.

Optional studies in art and music are arranged in connection with all these courses. Any student may also, under the direction of the faculty, vary the optional courses by select- ing from them those studies which best suit personal tastes or acquirements.

Enough, however, of the characteristic studies of a collegi- ate course will be required of all the students to secure a cul- ture as thorough and complete as that demanded in our best New England colleges.

The college is now in a prosperous condition, and the esti- mated value of the real estate and the productive funds is $525,000.

The faculty is as follows : Rev L. Clark Seelye, D.D., Presi- dent, and Professor of English Literature; Rev. Henry M. Tyler, M.A., Professor of Latin and Greek ; M. Stuart Phelps, M.A., Ph. D., Professor of Moral and Mental Philosophy ; John II. Stoddard, M.A., Ph. D., Professor of Physics and Higher Mathematics ; Samuel A. Fiske, M.A., M.D., Lec- turer on Physiology and Hygiene; Edward P. Crowell, M.A., Lecturer on Latin Literature; Richard H. Mather, M.A., Lecturer on German Literature; William C. Esty, M.A., Professor of Astronomy ; Benjamin K. Emerson, M.A., Ph. D., Professor of Geology; Herbert B. Adams, M.A., Ph.D., Pro- fessor of History ; Rev. John W. Churchill, M.A., Lecturer on Elocution ; J. Wells Champney, Professor of Drawing and Painting ; Benjamin C. Blodgett, Professor of Music ; James Lalor, Professor of Vocal Music; Louis C. Stanton, Assist- ant Teacher of Music; Miss Bessie T. Capen, Teacher of Chemistry ; Miss Maria Whitney, Teacher of French and German ; Miss Eliza II. Lord, Teacher of Mathematics ; Miss ITeloise E. Hersey, Teacher of English ; Miss E. Harriet Stan- wood, Teacher of Latin; Miss Lucy D. Hunt, Teacher of Gymnastics; Mrs. Elizabeth J. Hopkins, lady in charge of the Dewey House; Mrs. E. B. Richards, Indy in charge of the Ilatfield House ; Miss Mary Fosdick, lady in charge of the New House.

The present board of trustees is as follows: Rev. L. Clark Seelye, D.D., President ; Rev. William S. Tyler, D.D., LL.D., Professor at Amherst ; Rev. Julius II. Seelye, LL.D., Presi- dent of Amherst; Hon. William B. Washburn, LL.D., of Greenfield; Rev. Edwards A. Park, D.D., Professor at An- dover ; Hon. Joseph White, LL.D., of Williamstown ; Hon. Birdseye G. Northrop, LL. D., of New Haven ; Hon Edward B. Gillett, of Westfield; Hon. George W. Hubbard, of North- ampton ; Rev. Andrew P. Peabody, D. D., LL.D., Professor at Cambridge; A. Lyman Williston, Esq., of Northampton ; Rev. Robert M. Woods, of Hatfield ; Rev. William R. Hunt- ington, D.D., of Worcester ; Rodney Wallace, Esq., of Fitch- burg.

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. FIRST CHURCH AND PARISH .*

First Meeting-House .- In the original document asking per- inission to plant a new settlement on the " Conetiquot" River, the petitioners described Nonotuck as a suitable place for " propagating the gospel, . . . whereby they might live and attend upon God in his holy ordinances without distraction." Accordingly, the first public act of the early settlers was the

creetion of a house of worship. They arrived in October, 1654, and in April, 1655, the building was completed. The contraet for this house is as follows :

" William Holton

Richard Lyman

Joseph Parsons

John Lyman

They are to build a house for the Towne of Northamap- ton, of Sawen Timber, 26 foot long & 18 foot wide. 9 foot high from the lower pt of ye cell to the upper part of the raisens.

Edward Elmore

" And to frame the Roofe of Sawen Timber 4 pair of Rafters with Coller beans, 7 great laths 5 inches broad 3 inches wide, the Spars 6 inches one way & 5 the other, with the punching for the gable ends 5 below the coller beams, one above. Two chimny-peeces, 4 braces for the roofe nailed on, only the Towne nulist find ye nails & help to raise ye roofe. Two halfe Somers & one Somer & Mortis, the Somers for the joyce & to make a doorway, two window places, the peeces 8 inches thick below & 6 above this, to be done by the midle of April next, under the same forfeit which the Towne agree for their part, for which the said partyes are to have £14 of the Towne & ye foresuid partyes must out of this pay their rates to the house, & the rest of the £14 the Towne is to pay in worke or corne as they shall agree upon by the midte of April next, 55."

This instrument has no date; there is no intimation that the house was intended for religious purposes, and no entry on the town records of any vote authorizing such a building. That it was so used, however, there can be no doubt, for in 1658 the burying-place is fixed upon " Meeting-House Hill," which would not be thus designated unless a meeting-house stood upon it, and in 1661 a vote was passed to erect a " new meeting-house." The location of this building is not known other than it was upon Meeting-Ilouse Hill, and upon that elevation a house dedicated to the worship of God has ever since occupied a prominent position.

First Minister Called .- When this house was completed no church had been formed, and two years elapsed before a min- ister was called. Religious services were undoubtedly observed on the Sabbath, probably conducted by persons who had held the office of deacon before removing to Northampton, but there is no record concerning them. The congregation was small, the settlement containing at the commencement of its fourth year but thirty-eight able-bodied men. The first reeord of any action relative to securing a minister was that of a meeting held March 18, 1657. William Holton was then chosen agent, with instructions to "Sollicit the general Court" with reference to several town matters and endeavor to obtain a minister. He was also " to desire advice what course to take about the preventing of excess of liquors in coming to our Town and of Cider." Mr. Holton attended to his duties,-at least, so far as the ministerial question is concerned ; for at the session of the court held on the 26th of May, 1658, the "condition" of the Northampton petitioners, " in relation to a minister," is " forthwith commended to the reverend elders." Under the same date is to be found the following record :

"This Court being solicited by one of the inhabitants of Northampton, in the name of the rest, to comend theire condition-wanting an alle minister of the gos- pell to administer the things of God vnto them-to the reverend elders, weh this Court take themselves bound to further what ljeth in theire power, and vnder- standing that some of the sajd inhabitants hane an eye vnto Mr. Eliazer Mather as a fitt man to administer the things of God vnto them, this Court judgeth it meete to declare yt in case God so inclines the harts of those who are concerned therein, yt Mr. Mather goe vnto North Hampton to minister vnto the inhabitants there in the things of God, they both approove thereof and shall be ready at all times to encourage him in that service, as there shall be occasion, in whatsoever niny rationally and meetly be expected."

At a meeting held June 7, 1658, the town " agreed by unani- mous consent to desire Mr. Mather to be a minister to them in a way of trial in dispensing his gifts." This invitation was ac- cepted, and Mr. Mather came at once. In October the town voted to pay him £25 for half a year, in " good merchantable pay in wheat," to be "levied on every inhabitant according to his due proportion." Another vote was passed in the follow- ing Deeember to raise £100 for building a " minister's house," and in June of the next year "the five town's men" were in- structed to contraet for building the house and to see that the appropriation of £100 for that purpose was levied upon the in- habitants. Several persons having signified their intention of removing from Dorchester to Northampton with Mr. Mather,

* By J. R. Trumbull.

195

HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.

a portion of land, to be laid off in lots, was donated for their use by those who had already received grants. For this pur- pose 163 aeres were given by 37 settlers-probably every owner of a house-lot then in town-in lots containing from two to ten acres. The name of each contributor and the number of acres given by him are recorded in the book of " Proprietors' Rec- ords." The whole was laid off together at the upper end of " Munhan Meadow," probably in the vicinity of what is now South Street.

" April 16th, 1660, It was voted and agreed at a Town-meeting that Joseph Parsons, Rubert Bartlett, and William Jeanes were chosen by the Town and ini- powered to measure out Twenty-nine acres of land in the Middle meadow, and Twelve acres of land more at the end of the Second Square, lying at the rear of the Ventures's field; and this 41 acres aforesaid is Sequester'd for a perpetual standing lot for the ministry, and never to be alter'd, but to continne successively to that function for the. encouragement of the ministry in the Town of North- ampton. Considering the absolute necessity of the promoting God's Honur and the good of Posterity, it is further voted and agreed that William Jeanes, Robert Bartlett, and Joseph Parsons are to take care to see that the aforesaid 41 acres of land he recorded according to the true intent of the Grant abovesaid."

That traet, as originally laid out, is still in the possession of the parish, and the yearly income of the "meadow land" is devoted to the payment of parish expenses. For the year beginning April 12, 1660, a salary of £80 was voted to Mr. Mather. The home-lot of four acres and the house built upon it, together with forty acres of meadow land, were also granted to him, in case he should remain in town four years; the property, should he die within that time, to go to his heirs. This grant to Mr. Mather places his homestead, according to the boundaries of the original deed, at the corner of Main and Pleasant Streets, including the homestead of Maj. Kirkland and the sites of several stores on Shop Row and Pleasant Street.

Mr. Mather preached three years before a church was organ- ized. During that time a controversy seems to have arisen relative to the manner of conducting services on the Sabbath in the absence of the minister. So great was this disagreement that a petition to the General Court concerning it was deemed necessary. At the session of May 28, 1659, the following vote was passed :

" And in relation to theire carrying on the duty of the Saboath in Mr. Mather's absence, wherein the doe so much disagree, that though in some cases private men may exercise theire guifts, where there are such as are knowne, able, np- pruved, and Orthodoxe, yet for present, as things as are circumstanced wtb them, the Court judgeth it theire best, safest, and most peaceable way, in the absence of theire minister, to assemble all at one place, and to spend the Saboath together, besides praying and singing, in reading and repeating of knowne godly, Ortho- doxe bookes and sermons."

It can readily be imagined how such a question should arise. For three years they had carried on Sabbath services among themselves, When the minister came-investing as they did his office with reverence and awe-they would naturally seru- tinize with care the qualifications of any who should presume to take his place in the pulpit or in conducting religious exer- cises, especially before the formation of a church.

Organization of the Church .- Seven years elapsed after the arrival of the first settlers before a church was established. The meeting-house had been built and the minister called by vote of the town. The people, fearing God and planting them- selves in the wilderness for the purpose of worshiping him " without distraction, " had attended faithfully all these years upon the ministrations of their chosen pastor, readily granting from their slender resources all that was needed for his en- couragement. Now the time had come for the establishment of the visible church, and on the 18th of June, 1661, that work was accomplished. The original entry on the records of the church is as follows :

" The Church was gathered at Northampton, 18, 4, 1661.

"The persons that begun that worke were in number 8, viz. : Mr. Eleazer Mather, David Wilton, William Clarke, John Strong, Henry Cunliffe, Henry Woodward, Thomas Roote, Thomas Hanchett, Messengers that were present were from 4 Churches. Mr. Peletiah Glover, Deacon Clap, Thomas Tilstine, from the ('hnreh of Christ, at Dorchester; Mr. John Eliot, Sen., Goodnum Wil- liams, from the Church of Christ, at Roxbury ; Capt. John Pynchon, Deacon Chapin, from the Church at Springfield ; Mr. John Russell, ye Pastor, Mr. Good-

win, Goodman White, from the Church of Christ, at Hadleigh. And at the same day, after they had entered into Covenant, they chose Mr. Eleazer Mather to the office of a Pastor, which they had concluded to due before, and desired Rev- erend Mr. Eliot and Reverend Mr. Russell to ordain bim, which accordingly wus done."

Annexed is the covenant adopted at that time, and the names of those by whom it was signed :

" The forme of wordes expressing the Ch. Covenant entered into the 18 of the fourth, 1661, by those that then begun that worke, and afterward by such as were admitted into Ch. estate and subscribed their names thereunto.

" Disclaiming all confidence of and any worthinesse in ourselves, either to bee in Covenant with God or to partake in the least of his mereyes, and allsor all strength of our owne to keep Covenant with him, or to performe the least spirituall enty any further than hve by his free spirit shall assist, But relying vpon the tender mercy and gracious assistance of the Lord, through Jesus Christ, wee doe promise and Covenant in the presence of the Lord, the searcher of all hearts, and before the holy Angells, and this Company, thirst, and chiefly, to cleave forever vnto God with our uhol hearts, as our chiefe, best, yea, and only good, and vuto Jesus Christ as our only Saviour, Husband, and lord, and only High- Priest, Prophet, and King. And for the furthering of this holy communion with God, the father, and Christ Jesus, his sonne, we promise and engage to observe and maintaine according to or place and vtmost power all the holy institutions and ordinances which bee hath appointed for his Church, bewaileing the neglect thereof, and the sinful defilements of the same with the inventions and corrup- tions of men. . . . And as for this particular company and society of Saints, wee promise and engage in the presence of the lord that wee will cleave one vnto another in brotherly love, and seeke the best spirituall good, each of other, by frequent exhortation, seasonable admonition, and constant watchfullnesse, ac- cording vnto the rules of the Gospell, and to performe each vnto other all duties that the Lord in his word duth require of us as brethren in Christ, and as fellow- members of the same individuall hody of Christ, as long as the Lord shall con- tinue our Church relation each to other. . . . And allsoe wee promise and engage mutuall subjection one to another in all the Administrations and Dispensations, according vnto God, of all those dutys which by our covenant to God, and one to another, wee are bound to the performance. . . . These things wee all promise in the syncerity of our hearts as before the Lord, the examiner and tryer of all hearts, beseeching him soe to Messe vs as wee shall truely endevour by his grace the faithfull observation of the same, and when wee through weaknesse shall fay le, then to wayt and rely vpon the Lord Jesus Christ for pardon, acceptance, healing, for his name's sake. To this covenant, and every part of it, wee wil- lingly and syncerely ingage ourselves, and subscribe our names thereunto.

" NORTHAMPTON, 8th, 4, JOCI.

"Samuel Wright, John Marsh, Thomas Woodford, Rathbern Wilton, Abigaile Strong, Margaret Wright, Arthur Williams, Mary Alford, Sarah Bridgman, George Allexander, Isaac Shelden, Mary Sheldon, Allexander Edwards, William Hanum, Nathaniel Phelps, Rathbern Williams, Ann Battlet, Deliverance Han- chet, George Langton, Esther Mather, Darius Lyman, Ruth Baker, Hannah Langton, Honor Hanum (these two were added to ye Ch. 18 of 6, 'G1), Aaron Cooke, William Holton, Joane Cooke, Mary Holton, Sarah Clarke, Susan Cun- leife, Elizabeth Woodward, Alice Hutchinson, Susan Allexander, Richard Lyman, Hlepzibalı Lyman, John Lyman, John King, John Ingersol, Mary Burt, Sary King, Abigail Strong, Josias Dney, Mary Strong, John Stiblins, Eleazer Mather, David Wilton, William Clarke, John Strong, Henry Cunliffe, Henry Woodward, Thomas Ruote, Thomas Hanchet, William Jeanes, Thomas Baseum, William Julburd, Avis Bascom, an Hulburd, Elizabeth Curtis (these six last were added vnto the Ch. 14th, 5 m., '61), Joseph Eliot, Clemente Mason, Elizabeth Phelps, Robert Bartlet (excommunicated; readmitted), Richard Weller, Sarah Smith, Joseph Leeds, Ffreedom Strong, Sarah Hanum, Sarah Allin, Samuel Smith, Mary Smith, Joseph Parsons."

Such was the foundation on which was established the First Church of Christ in Northampton, 219 years ago. Many of the persons whose names are appended to the covenant were ancestors of the present inhabitants bearing the same family name living in this and neighboring towns. In 1668 a Con- fession of Faith containing 46 articles was adopted, together with an amended and enlarged covenant. The population of the town, when the church was organized, was probably not far from 300. In 1663, 78 settlers had arrived, and as all or nearly all of them had families, it may be supposed that the number was more rather than less.

Mr. Mather officiated about a year after the formation of the church without assistance. In December, 1662, it was voted that two teaching officers should be appointed, and " that it was the duty of every Ch. to doe what lyst in them that they may bee furnished with two teaching officers.". .. "Jt was then alsoe declared, by vote of all unanimously, that this church had neede of another teaching officer, to bee joyned to their Pastor." This vote seems to have been soon supple- mented by town action, the people voting in January to invite Mr. Joseph Eliot to settle among them as teacher. AAbout

196

HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

this time the church voted to choose a ruling elder and a deacon. Brother John Strong was chosen to the former, and Brother William Holton to the latter, office. On the 13th of May, 1663, these two persons were " ordained," the elder " by the imposition of ye hands of Pastor and Mr. Russell, Pastor of Hadleigh. The Deacon afterward by the imposition of the hands of Pastor and Elder." Messengers were present at this ceremony from churches in Hadley and Springfield, the right hand of fellowship being given by Mr. Holyoke, of the latter place.

In accordance with the Cambridge platform, the offices of pastor and teacher were distinct. Preaching and exhortation were the special work of the pastor. The duty of the teacher was to explain and enforce the doctrine. The ruling elder was to join with the pastor and teacher in acts of spiritual rule, in admitting members, ordaining officers, and excommunica- ting offenders. This distinction of offices had then been gen- erally adopted in the colony, but it gradually declined, and soon after entirely ceased.

In 1666 it was "Voted and unanimously agreed by this Ch. that each person will contribute toward defraying the charge of the Sacrament three peeks and halfe of wheate for a yeare, this to bee paid in to the Deacon about the last of September, when hee shall call for it."

In 1668, Thomas Hanchet was chosen deacon.

Second Meeting-House .- The first meeting-house was used for public worship about seven years, and but one settled minister occupied its pulpit. It had no steeple, no bell, and there was little except location to distinguish it from the rude log houses of the settlers. In 1663 it was converted into a school-house. So rapidly did the plantation increase in popu- lation that a new meeting-house soon became necessary, and on the 12th of July, 1661, about a month after the organiza- tion of the church, the town voted to build. The vote speci- fied that the " Inhabitants of this Town would build a new meeting-house of 42 feet square, and that they will lay out about £150." Six persons were "chosen and empowered to carry on and finish this work," viz., William Holton, En- sign Milton, Robert Bartlett, Joseph Parsons, John Stebbins, and William Clark. The location of this building is un- known, except that it stood on Meeting-House Hill. The house was square, with roof rising from each side to a point at the centre, and was surmounted by a cupola for the bell. The bell-rope hung down in the broad aisle, where the ringer stood. Though the town voted to spend "about £150" for the new meeting-house, it is not probable that so much was needed. In the statement of town taxes for 1663, the sum of £115 88. 9d. is named as the rate to be assessed for the new meeting-house. No additional sum is afterward recorded as having been raised for that purpose, and that was probably its cost. The same year £70 98. 2d. were raised for Mr. Mather and £50 for Mr. Eliot. The pews being owned by the town, it became necessary that the seats in them should be assigned to the members of the congregation. Accordingly, a com- mittee of seven persons was chosen in 1664 for that purpose, and this is the first record of seating the meeting-house in the annals of the town. This committee was instructed to con- sider "age, estate, qualifications, only respecting commissioned officers and impartiality." In 1670 side-galleries were put in, and in 1680 a gallery was built upon the " front side" of the meeting-house. In 1677 the Indians were troublesome, sev- eral settlers having been killed and their houses burned. The year previous palisades had been erected about the town, but the Indians succeeded in breaking through them. For better security, and as a place of refuge in case of a similar disaster, in 1677 the meeting-house was fortified. Up to that time there had been no bell, the drum or trumpet serving to call the people together. In 1677, 1678, and 1679, Jed- ediah Strong was paid 18s. a year for blowing the trumpet. The town voted in 1682 to procure a bell, and ordered the

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

History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. I, Part 60

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