USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. II > Part 171
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The first physician was Dr. Ashley, who flourished in 1745. The first grist-mill, probably the one erected by Capt. Kelso, previous to 1745, but just when cannot be told. The first tan- nery, the one erected by John Watson, about 1760, not far from where the hotel in Blandford Centre now stands, The house now occupied by Mr. Bartlett in Blandford Centre was built by John Watson,-it is said in 1770. Justin Ashmun
1078
HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.
kept tavern in 1790, on the site of the present hotel at Bland- ford Contre, and abont then and near the same place Russell Atwater kept a store. Where Enos W. Boies now lives Ab- ner Peuse kept tavern, as far back as about 1800, and at least twenty years before that date the house now occupied by the Widow Robinson, at Blandford Contre, was built. The first postmaster was Timothy Hatch, who was appointed in 1795.
Blandford was not behind her sister-towns in patriotic impulses and efforts during the trying times of the Revo- lution, and upon the first alarm from Lexington, sent out, with Chester, a company of 36 men, under the command of Capt. John Ferguson, of Blandford. During the war, the town furnished men and money with untiring zeal, and the carly records hear abundant witness to continued labors in behalf of the cause of independence. Blandford was, how- ever, opposed to the war of 1812, and sent Jedediah Smith as a delegate to the Northampton Convention. Of the soldiers sent by Blandford into the war of 1812, none are known to be living. Among those who went were Asa Harrington, Eben- ezer and Eleazer Slocomb, Henry Tracy, - Wilson, and Isaac Gibbs.
The road of the Eighth Massachusetts Turnpike Associa- tion, laid out in 1800, passed through Blandford, and so on to Chester, as did the road of the Eleventh Turnpike Association, running from the south line of the State to Becket by the Pittsfield road.
The first recorded marriage seems to have been that of Solo- mon Stewart to Sarah McCononghey.
The chair used, in 1774, by Rev. William McClenathan, in the pulpit of the Congregational Church, is still preserved, and is the property of Enos W. Boies, Esq., of Blandford Centre. Mr. Boies owns also the original deed, of date 1787, by which Jacob Lawton, the original proprietor of the tract, conveyed three-fourths thereof to Francis Brinley, John Faye, and Francis Wells.
An important new departure in the industries of Blandford was effected by Mr. Amos Collins, a Connecticut merchant, who settled in Blandford in 1807. He introduced the business of butter- and cheese-making, and carried it forward with such success that he not only greatly contributed to the pros- perity of the town, but gained a comfortable fortune for him- self during the nine years of his stay.
ORGANIZATION.#
Nov. 10, 1741, the town was incorporated under the name of Blandford. In honorable remembrance of Scotland, whence their ancestors had migrated to Ireland, the early settlers had called their settlement New Glasgow, and in their petition for incorporation they desired the town to be named Glasgow. This desire was, moreover, in furtherance of a wish to obtain the gift of a church-bell, which had been promised by the people of Glasgow, Scotland, provided the new town was given that name. It appears, however, that Wm. Shirley, who had just been appointed Governor of the province of Massachusetts, came over from England in the ship " Bland- ford," and in honor of that vessel he chose to give that name to the new town, to the loss, by the people, of their promised bell.
SELECTMEN.
1742-43 .- David Boies, Robert Cook, Jas, Hassard, John Stewart, John Young. 1744 .- Win. Knox, David Boies, John Stewart, Jas. Hassard, Jas. Montgomery. 1745 .- David Boies, Win. Knox, John Stewart, Jas. Montgomery, Jas. Hassard. 1746 .- Thomas Bead, John Hamilton, Matthew Blair, William Donohne, David Campbell.
1747 .- David Boies, Robert Wilson, James Montgomery, John Stewart, John lIamilton.
1748,-Samuel Crooks, Israel Gibbs, Matthew Blair, James Baird, Robert Black. 1740 .- Walter Stewart, Israel Gibbs, John Knox, Robert Black, Matthew Blair. 1750 .- David Boies, Robert llenry, Israel Gibbs, Wm. Knox, Matthew Blair.
1751 .- Robert Henry, Walter Stewart, Matthew Blair, Wm. Boies, Robert Black.
* By an act of the General Court, passed May 25, 1853, a small portion of this town was set off to Norwich, now Huntington.
1752 .- David Boies, David McConoughey, Israel Gibbs. Walter Stewart, William Boies.
1753 .- Robert Inston, Israel Gibbs, Wm. IInston, Robert Henry, Jolin Boies. 1754 .- Robert Henry, Robert Blair, Wm. Boies, Robert Black, John Boies.
1755 .- Robert Henry, Wm. Boies, Matthew Blair, Robert Black, John Boies. 1756 .- Robert Henry, Bobert Black, Wm. Boies, John Boies, John Hamilton. 1757 .-- Robert Henry, Robert Black, Samnel Buies, David Black, Wm. Knox. 1758 .- Robert Henry, John Knox, David Black, John Boies, Jas. Montgomery.
1759 .- Robert Henry, Israel Gibbs, John Knox, Matthew Blair, John Hamilton. 1760 .- Robert Henry, John Knox, Robert Black, David McCononghey, John Hamilton.
1761 .- Robert Henry, David McConoughey, Robert Black, William Mitchell, W'm. Knox.
1762 .- Saml. Boies, David Black, John Hamilton, Nathaniel Pease, Wm. Knox. 1763 .- Samuel Boies, Nathaniel Pease, William Knox, William Bries, Robert Blair.
1764 .- John Hamilton, Robert Henry, David McCononghey, Nathaniel Pease, William Boies.
1765 .- William Boies, William Knox, Israel Gibbs, William Mitchell, John llamilton.
1766 .- Robert Blair, John Wilson, William Mitchell, William Knox, Samuel Ferguson.
1767 .- John llamilton, Robert Blair, William Boies, John Knox, Wni. Mitchell. 1768 .- Robert Blair, William Boies, John Hamilton, Israel Gibbs.
1769 .- Robert Blair, William Boies, John Hamilton, John Scott, Jr., Alex. Osborn.
1770 .- Robert Blair, William Boies, William Knox, Israel Gibbs, David McCon- oughey.
1771 .- William Boies, Robert Blair, William Knox, John Scott, David McCon- onghey.
1772 .- William Knox, Bobert Blair, Samuel Boies, William Carnahan, William Boies.
1773-74 .- William Knox, William Carnaban, Solomon Brown, John Ferguson, Judah Bement.
1775 .- Judah Bement, David McConoughey, William Carnahan, Willian Knox, Sammel Boies.
1776 .- Sammel Boies, Jndab Bement, David McConoughey, Samuel Sloper, Jolin Knox.
1777 .- John Knox, Sammel Boies, Judab Bement, Solomon Stewart, Isaac Gibbs. 1778 .- William Boies, Samuel Sloper, Solomon Stewart, John Ferguson, Isaac Gibbs.
1779 .- Samuel Sloper, David McCononghey, Nathaniel Taggart, Ephraim Gibbs, Solomon Brown.
1780 .- John Wilson, John Ferguson, William Knox, Robert Blair, Israel Gibbs. 1781 .- Wareham Parks, Justin Ashman, Jobn Gibbs, Samuel Ferguson, Samuel Cannon.
1782 .- Wareham Parks, David McConoughey, William Boies, Justin Ashman, John Scott.
1783 .- William Boies, Wareham Parks, John Scott, Renben Boies, John Ilam- ilton.
1784 .- Wareham l'arks, John Scott, Samuel Boies, Samuel Sloper, John Fer- guson.
1785 .- Wareham Parks, Samuel Sloper, John Scott, Jolin Watson, Robert Law- head.
1786 .- Samuel Sloper, Samuel Boies, John Ferguson, Justin Ashmun, John Watson.
1787 .- Samuel Sloper, Samuel Boies, John Cochran, David Boies, Asa Blair. 1788 .- John Ferguson, Samuel Beard, Reuben Boies, Isaac Gibbs, Samuel Knox. 1789 .- Jolin Ferguson, Benben Boies, Robert Blair, Jr., Timothy Blair, Timothy Hatch.
1790 .- Robert Blair, Jr., Reuben Boies, Timothy Hatch, Asa Blair, Samuel Boies. 1791-92 .- Robert Blair, Jr., Reuben Bojes, Timothy Hatch, Timothy Blair, David Boies.
1793 .- Samuel Sloper, Reuben Boies, David Boies, Ebenezer Bruse, Adam Blair. 1794 .- David McConoughey, David Boies, Asa Blair, Samuel Knox, Timothy Hatch.
1795 .- David McCononghey, David Boies, Reuben Boies, Rufus Blair, William Knox.
1796 .- David McConoughey, William Knox, Timothy Hatch, William Knox, Jr., Jedediah Smith.
1797 .- David Boies, Jedediah Smith, William Knox, Reuben Boics, Samuel Knox. 1798 .- David Boies, William Knox, Asa Blair, Abner Pease, Russell Atwater. 1799 .- David Boies, Asn Blair, David MeCononghey, Abner l'ease, Jotin Crooks. 1800 .- David Boies, William Knox, Renben Boies, Asa Blair, David MeCon- onghey.
180I .- Asa Blair, Russell Atwater, Wm. Knox, Reuben Boies, John Hamilton. 1802 .- David Boies, Reuben Boies, Adam Blair. Russell Atwater, Reuben Blair. 1803 .- Asa Blair, David Boies, Benben Boies, Reuben Blair, Eli P. Ashmun. 1804 .- Reuben Boies, Eli P. Ashmun, David Boies, Asa Blair, Samuel Knox. 1805 .- Eli P. Asbmun, David Boies, Wm. Knox, Reuben Boies, Abijah Babcock. 1806 .- Eli P. Aslımun, Samuel Knox, Reuben Blair, William Knox, Abijah Babcock.
1807 .- David Boies, Wm. Knox, Samnel Knox, Asa Blair, Nathaniel Cannon. 1808 .- William Knox, Reuben Boies, Adam Blair, David C. Osborn, Samuel Boies (2d).
1809 .- David Boies, Asa Blair, Samuel Knox, David Boics (2d), Robert Lloyd. 1810 .- Samvel Knox, David Boies (20), Andrew Wilson, Robert Lloyd, John Hamilton.
1079
HISTORY OF HAMPDEN COUNTY.
1811 .- Samuel Knox, Renben Blair, David Boies, Samuel C. Gibbs,
1812 .- Samuel Knox, Andrew Wilson, Reuben Blair, Solomon Noble, Isaac Lloyd.
1813 .- Samuel Knox, Keulen Blair, Andrew Wilson, David Boies (2d), David Blair (2d).
1814 .- Samuel Knox, Andrew Wilson, David Boies (2d), David Blair (2d), Isaac Lloyd.
1815 .- Samuel Knox, Reuben Boies, David Buies (2d), Andrew Wilson, Aber Gibbs.
1816 .- Reuben Boies, David Boies (2d), Isaac Lloyd, Amthew Wilson, Abner Gibbs.
1817 .- Reuben Boies, David Boirs (2d), Abner Gibbs, David Blair (2d), John Gibbs.
1818 .- Abner Gibbs, David Blair (2J), Isaac Lloyd, Reuben Boyes (2d), Israel L'annon.
1819,-Abner Gibbs, Reuben Boies, Jr., John Gibbs, Stephen Rowley, Henry Knox.
1820 .- Abner Gibbs, David Boies (20), David Blair, Jr.
1821 .- David Blair, Jr., Reuben Boies, Jr., David Boies (3d).
1822 .- Reuben Boies, Jr., David Botes (3d), Robert Lloyd, Enos Boies, Israel Cannon.
1823 .- Reuben Buies, Jr., David Blair, Jr., Israel Cannon.
1824 .- David Blair, Jr, Israel Cannon, Henry Tracy, Justin Wilson, James Watson.
1825-26 .- Israel Cannon, Henry Tracy, Justin Wilson.
1827 .- Henry Tracy, Justin Wilson, David Boies (3d).
1828 .- Henry Tracy, Justin Wilson, Adam Blair, Jr.
1829 .- Henry Tracy, Adam Blair, Jr., Curtis Kuox.
1830 .- Adam Blair, Jr., Justin Wilson, Oliver Watson.
1831 .- Abner Gibbs, David Parks, Curtis Hall.
1832 .- Logan Crosby, Alfred Smith, Porter Gibbs.
1833 .- Logan Crosby, Alfred Smith, Kilbonrn Bates.
1834-35 .- Kilbonrn Bates, Curtis Hall, Spelman Gibbs. 1836 .- Kilbonrn Bates, Lester E. Gibbs, Joel Hall. 1837 .- Lester E. Gibbs, David Parks, Reuben Boies.
1838 .- Edward Ely, Curtis Hall, Milton Boies.
1839 .- Orrin Sage, Lyman Gibbs, Justin Wilson.
1840 .- Lyman Gibbs, Orrin Sage, Olcott Osborn. 1841 .- Orrin Sage, Olcott Oshorn.
1×42 .- Olcutt Osborn, Leverett Sackett, Wni. C. Clark.
1843 .- Justin Wilson, Leverett Sackett, Kilbourn Bates.
1844 .- Justin Wilson, Adam Blair, Edwin Ely.
1845 .- Adam Blair, Edwin Ely, Kilborn Bates. 1846 .- Edwin Ely, Orrin Sage, Justus Knox. 1847 .- Justin Wilson, F. W. Gibbs, Albert Knox.
1848, -- George C. Gibbs, John F. Collister, Westley L. Boies.
1849,-W. L. Boies, John F. Collister, Thomas S. Chaffe. 1850 .- T. S. Chaffe, Leverett Sackett, John Parks.
1851 .- Albert Knox, John Parks, S. A. Bartbolemew.
1852 .- Albert Knox, S. A. Bartholomew, Thos, Ilerrick.
1853 .- Thos. Herrick, S. A. Bartholomew, John Cross.
1854 .- Albert Knox, Leverett Sackett, Curtis Hall.
1855 .- Thos. S. Chaffe, Linus Shepard, Stephen Burton.
1856 .- S. A. Bartholemew, Israel M. Gibbs, Eli I'. Hayden.
1857 .- Samuel A. Bartholemew, E. W. Shepard, Eli H. Osborn. 1858 .- E. W. Shepard, Alva Foot, Eli Osborn. 1859 .- E. W. Shepard, Eli Osborn, Charles Lee. 1860 .- Geo. C. Gibbs, Frank C. Knox, B. S. Brocket. 1861 .- T. S. Chaffe, Lyman K. Norton, David Bates. 1862 .- Jas. C. Hinsdale, Wm. N. Lewis, Alfred l'eckham. 1863 .- W. E. Boies, Francis Bates, Eli A. Crosse. 1864 .- Samnel A. Bartholemew, Wm. M. Lewis, H. D. Tinker. 1865 .- Wm. M. Lewis, Eli Osborn, Geo. C. Collister.
1866 .- Eli Osborn, Charles M. Waite, Henry K. Herrick. 1867 .- George C. Gibbs, F. C. Knox, Wm. H. H. Blair.
1868 .- Francis Bates, Franklin C. Knox, Alva Bishop. 1869 .- F. C. Knox, Wm. H. H. Blair, Eli A. Crosse. 1870 .- Franklin C. Knox, Eli A. Crosse, Charles M. Waitc. 1871 .- Henry K. Herrick, Noah B. Nye, James F. Blair. 1872 .- E. W. Shepard, George C. Collister, Jas. W. Knox. 1873 .- Franklin C. Knox, Henry S. Burdick, Lewis C. Nye.
1874 .- F. C. Knox, S. A. Bartholomew, Lewis C. Nye. 1875-79 .- H. K. Herrick, Jas. W. Knox, Jarvis J. Lloyd.
TOWN CLERKS.
James Hassard, 1742-45; David Boies, 1745-48; John Knox, 1748-50; David Boies, 1750-52; David McCononghey, 1752-53; Wm. Huston, 1753-54; Robert Black, 1754-57; Robert Henry, 1757-62; Wm. Buies, 1762-66; Robert Black, 1766-67; Wm. Buies, 1767-73; Judah Bement, 1773-78; Robert Blair, 1778-79; David McCononghey, 1779-90; Sammel Sloper, 1790-94; David McConoughey, 1794-1805; Jos. Bull, 1805-9; Reuben Blair, 1809-11; Alanson Knox, 1811-19; Orrin Sage, 1819-21; Alanson Knox, 1821-30; Russell A. Wilson, 1830-32; Orrin Sage, 1832-36; Saminel S. Day, 1836-38; Orrin Sage, 1838-39; Enos Bvies, 1839- 42; T. S. Chaffee, 1842-49; D. P. Robinson, 1849-50: Justin Wilson, 1850-52; Thomas S. Chaffee, 1852-54; W. E. Bvise, 1854-55; E. W. Shepard, 1855-56; Timothy R. Buies, 1856-57; W. E. Boies, 1857-58; Norman N. Lewis, 1858-65 ; B. B. Norton, 1865-66; E. W. Shepard, 1866-79.
REPRESENTATIVES AT THE GENERAL COURT.
Blandford was not represented in the Legislature until 1787. For many years no one would accept the office of representa- tive. In the early records it was frequently voted " to send if we can get any one to accept." Since 1787 the representa- tives have been as follows :
Timothy Blair, John Ferguson, Reuben Boies, Jedediah Smith, Wm. Knox, Eli P. Ashmun, David Boies, Joseph Bull, Edward Pynchon, Samnel Knox, Alansun Knox, Andrew Wilson, Isaac Lloyd, Abner Gibbs, David Boies (2d), David Blair (2d), Reuben Boies, Jr., Israel Cannon, Orrin Sage, David Parks, Lyman Gibbs, Justin Wilson, Lester E. Gibbs, Logan Crosby, Kilborn Bates, Milton Boies, Curtiss Hall, Russell A. Wilson, Daniel Collins, Adam Blair, S. S. Day, S. W. Loring, HI. G. Lewis, W. E. Boies, Edwin Ely, Leverett Sackett, Sharon Bradley, Vincent Bradley, Rev. A. G. Bowker, Albert Knox, Chauncey S. Brown, William B. Miller, Sammel E. Lord, Ralsa Taggart, James C. Hinsdale.
Mr. Hinsdale represented the town in 1856. After that Blandford became a portion of the Eleventh Representative District.
VILLAGES.
BLANDFORD CENTRE.
Of the two villages in the town, Blandford Centre occupies the site of the early settlements of Blandford, and although small, having a population of perhaps 300, is tastefully laid out, and attractively embellished with many handsome dwell- ings. There are at this point two churches, one hotel, two stores, a post-office, school, fair-grounds, and two cemeteries. The villagers are for the most part engaged in agricultural pursuits.
NORTH BLANDFORD,
distant three miles from the centre, was some years ago quite a manufacturing point, but in this direction its interests have latterly suffered a decline. At present there are a cattle-card factory, a cheese-factory, a tannery, a church, school, two stores, post-office, and a population of 300. Although North Blandford has lost important business interests, it is still a place of substantial thrift.
CHURCHES.
From the date of the earliest settlement of Blandford, the inhabitants devoted much care and thought to the subject of procuring means for the observance of divine worship. Much of the business transacted at the early town-meetings related to this matter. The first meeting-house in the town was erected in 1740, by the original town proprietors. The agree- ment stipulated that the structure should have " glass win- dows," but these were not supplied until twelve years later. For thirteen years the building had no floor save a few loose boards, the earth, and rocks. The seats were blueks, boards, and common benches. The pulpit was nothing but a square box. In 1759 it was voted " to make a pulpit for the minis- ter and to build seats." In 1786 the house was first plastered. It was not until 1805, sixty-five years after it was commenced, that the house was completed.
The leaders of church music were chosen at town-meet- ings, and were enjoined to conduct it in " the good old way." In 1771 the question was raised whether the singing should be carried on with the beat, and was negatived. Caleb Tay- Jor, of Westfield, was the first singing-master, and when he named the tune and sang with the beat, many were so shocked at what they termed the."indecency of the meth- od" that they left the church. This church was originally Presbyterian, but in 1800 was changed to Congregational, " from the inconvenience," it is said, "attending its first form." The earliest pastors were Wm. MeClenathan, 1744 to 1747; James Morton, 1747 to 1767; Joseph Patrick, 1772. The organization of this first church of Blandford is said to date back to 1735, when, in Hopkinton, the settlers, prepar- ing to move toward their new homes in what is now Bland- ford, effected the religious organization which flourished contemporaneously with their early settlement in the wil- derness.
1080
HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.
A town-meeting held in April, 1743, was chiefly devoted to the consideration of the business of obtaining a minister. The votes upon the subject were as follows :
" That the town suppliente the Rev. Mr. John Harvey to come and preach a day to us now, before the next Presbytery ; that the town send two ' Comishon- ers' to the Presbytery with respect to affairs betwixt the town and Mr. John Caldwell, on ' condishon' we rest satisfied with the determination of the Pres- bytery in this affair ; thnt David Boys and John Huston be sent to the Presby- tery by the town as Comishoners to act for us at the Presbytery ; that our Comishioners supplicate the Presbytery for a supply to us; that there be granted fifty-two shillings per day or Sabbath, old tenor, to those that preach to us, either sent to us by the Presbytery, or belonging to the Presbytery, or by the mutual agreement of the town, and they to pay for their . bord.""
September, 1743, an appropriation of 12%, old tenor (prob- ably meant to read 52x. ), was made to pay Samuel Dunlap for one day's preaching. At the same meeting it was resolved to supplicate the Presbytery for "any supply they can find for uis for less or more time, only Mr. John Caldwell excepted ;"' but why Mr. Caldwell was excepted does not appear, but it is found from an carlier record that Mr. Caldwell did some preaching for the town and engaged subsequently in a controversy with the selectmen. In October, 1743, it was voted that "the town write to the Presbytery for a present supply for the pulpit, and to see what they can or will do for us as concerning a minister in order to ballot whether they will send or join with us in sending home to England for one." Fifteen shillings were offered in old tenor, per week, to "any thatt will bord the ministers for time to come." The bid for a minister declined at this time to " forty shillings a day and pay for their board."
It was resolved to send for Mr. Harvey, to preach "a part to us and a Sabbath, as soon as his convenience will allow of;" and further, a committee was chosen " for to consult and con- trive for the supply of the pulpit this year, not exceeding six weeks for one tryal." May, 1744, it was voted not to send to the Presbytery, but to continue Mr. Munson for another space of time " after he hath stayed out his present invitation." It was decided also to adhere to the doctrines of the Church of Seot- land, and the Westminster confession of faith. In July, 1744, it was voted to settle the Rev. Wm. " McClanachan" as the town's pastor, and he was to have £150, old tenor, as a settlement, and a yearly salary of the same sum, the settlement money to be paid him in work within the space of two years after his settlement. Mr. MeClenathan was ordained as pastor in October, 1744, and concerning his transfer from Boston to Blandford with his family, it is interesting to note that they were provided for the journey with " two horses and chairs to convey them to Westfield." The town voted to pay for the transportation of Mr. MeClenathan's goods from Boston to Westfield, and "the charge of taking the chairs back to Boston." By a vote, every man in the town of the age of twenty years and upward was ordered to give Rev. Mr. McClenathan one day's work toward getting his firewood for the ensuing year.
In October, 1746, the town decided to ask a dismission from Mr. MeClenathan, and Israel Gibbs was chosen to go to Boston to secure the dismission of the minister, in the event that the latter declined to consent to a dismission from the town. The records indicate that Mr. MeClenathan accepted his dismis- sion promptly, although no reason is given for the action of the town.
Rev. James Morton, the next settled pastor, was installed in August, 1847, but for some reason he didn't please the town, and in 1753 there was trouble between pastor and people, for in December of that year it was voted " to Let the Defekulty Rest for a Letil Tiem Withe Respekt to the Revrent Mr. Mortn." Ecclesiastical councils were called to consider the matters at issue, but failed to effect an adjustment, and despite the fact that the town wished to get rid of him, Mr. Morton continued to preach until 1767. He continued to reside in Blandford thereafter, and died there in 1793, aged seventy-
nine. Rev. Joseph Patrick succeeded him in June, 1772, and of him it is related that at his ordination he was publicly reproved by the Presbytery for having ridden from an adjoin- ing town on a Sabbath evening. Mr. Patrick was, after a brief season, dismissed the following December.
There was no regular preaching thereafter until 1787, when Joseph Badger was installed. He was dismissed in 1800, and went as a missionary to Ohio. John Keep, a graduate of Yale, served from 1805 to 1821. Dorus Clarke was installed in 1823, and continued to be the pastor until 1835. Charles J. Hinsdale took charge in 1836, and remained the pastor about twenty years. The present pastor is Rev. Aaron W. Fields. The congregation numbers 75 members. The pres- ent church building, which is located at Blandford Centre, was erected in 1822, and is an ornamental as well as a sub- stantial edifice.
THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF BLANDFORD
is said to have originated in the " unconditional election" doc- trine preached by Mr. Badger, pastor of the Congregational Church. Many of the members of the latter, who objected to that doctrine, withdrew and formed the Episcopal Church.
Although they enjoyed occasional preaching, they had no church edifice until 1830, when they erected one on the road to Chester, about a mile and a half from Blandford Centre. This church building stood until 1870, when it was torn down, the society having dwindled away to such small proportions, fifteen years before, that no regular services were maintained. A remnant of this society still exists. The last sermon de- livered in the church was preached by a Rev. Mr. Jones, who, when he left, stole the communion-service, and shortly there- after-about twenty years ago-murdered a peddler on the highway, near Russell. For this last erime he was hung.
A BAPTIST SOCIETY
was organized in 1826, and for several years thereafter listened to the preaching of Rev. Charles A. Turner. The society never owned a church edifice, and, although there are still a few members who hold occasional meetings, they have had no preaching since 1848.
THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
was erected at North Blandford in 1845. It has prospered fairly since that time, and is at present in charge of Rev. W. T. Miller, the pastor also of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Blandford Centre. This latter society, now numbering about 70 members, has a fine church edifice. It was organ- ized in 1846, and in the following year built a church.
A small Methodist Episcopal Society, dating its organiza- tion back well-nigh a century and a quarter, has its existence in the south part of the town, known as Beach Hill, but has no preaching.
SCHOOLS.
Naturally, the town possessed in its early days limited educational advantages, and it was not until 1756 that fav- orable public action touching schools was taken, it having been voted in 1755 not to support a school. It was then voted "to grant three pounds to Be Layed out to Hyre a school- master." The first regular school was taught by James Carter, an ex-sea-captain, in the house of Robert Black. In 1758 it was voted "to Hiar a School Deame, and to Dispurs the five pounds, and two pounds more, Granted by the Gen- eral Court, to Defra the charges." In 1762 the town was divided into three school districts, and three school-houses were erected. One of these was near the house of George Chine, one near the residence of Henry Wilson, and the third near where Stanton Clark lived in 1850. In 1802 thirteen school districts were created, which is the present number.
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