History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. II, Part 174

Author: L.H. Everts & Co
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts
Number of Pages: 896


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 174


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the Corners, Hon. Ethan Robinson, the present Representa- tive in the Legislature from this district, has another drum- factory, employing about 15 persons.


Agriculture is scarcely in a flourishing condition. The soil is generally sterile and stony. Farmers prefer to buy their grain, as they say they can do so cheaper than they can raise it. Good grazing-lands are plentiful, and stock-raising, to- gether with a limited production of butter and cheese, are the principal pursuits of the husbandman. Tobacco is grown, but this industry, important here some years ago, is gradu- ally being abandoned. The total assessed valuation of the town in 1877 was $383,795, on which there was a tax of $6077.61, a rate of nearly 16 mills on the dollar. The value of manufactures in 1875 was $65,680, and that of agricultural and domestic products $122,840. The farms number 220, and the dwelling-houses 256.


REBELLION RECORD.


Appended will be found the names of those who served during the war of the Rebellion, 1861-65 :


William Il. Atkins, 10th Mass.


Chauncey Gowdy, 10th Mass. George S. Harger. 10th Mass. James Justin, 10th Mass. Ed. N. Bliss, 27th Mass. William II. Bancroft, 27th Mass. William H. Beach, 27th Ma-s. Charles E. Baldwin, 27th Mass. Milo HI. Cooley, 27th Mass. S. P. Conley, 27th Mass. Erastus Cook, 27th Mass. George W. Cone, 27th Mass. Geurge F. Green, 27 h Mass. H. W. Green, 27th Mass. John V. Ilull, 27th Mass. Justus W. King, 27th Mass. J. C. Messinger, 271h Mass. Martin Osborn, 27th Mass. Roderick Pomeroy, Jr., 27th Mass. A. B. Pomeray, 27th Mass. Daniel Pomeroy, 27th Mass. Nathan B. Pomeroy, 27th Mass. John R. Rowley, 27th Mass.


Joseph Tyler, 31st Mass. Silas L. Keep, 30th Mass. George L. Church, 34th Mass.


J. G. Brewer, 27th Mass.


Charles C. Brewer, 27th Mass. Chauncey P. Ilowe, 27th Mass.


Stephen W. Knox, 27th Mass.


N. A. Randall, 27th Mass. Hiram L. Chase, 2d H. Art.


Andrew Cuok.


Patrick Donovan, 31st Mass.


George G. Lewis, 20 11. Art.


D. W. McAllister.


Joseph Murphy.


I. L. Hummeston. Ilarvey Rose, 2d Il. Art. B. F. Treat, 31st Mass.


Isaac Wetherell, 24th Mass. George L. Bancroft, 46th Mass.


William C. Clark, 46th Mass.


llenry Kerwin, 31st Mass.


John Lynch, 31st Mass.


llenry Champlin, 46th Mass. Joseph L. Clark, 46th Mass. Aaron S. Clark, 46th Mas -.


B. F. Cooley, 31st Mass. Nathan E. Coe, 211 11. Art.


O. S. Dickinson, 46th Mass.


O. C. Dickinson, 46th Mass. S. D. Ilayden, 46th Mass.


llenry Krollman, 2d II. Art. William S. Maloney, 2d HI. Art.


James M. Justin, 46th Mass.


Charles 11. Mcintyre, 17th Mass.


Henry E. Miner, 46th Mass. Chauncey Newton, 46th Mass.


Marvin Osborn, 46th Mass.


U. 11. Pierce, 46th Mass.


E M. Peebles, 46th Mass.


HI. F. Rowley, 46th Mass.


N. C. Randall, 46th Mass.


Buell Seymour, 46th Mass. L. C. Farnham, 34th Mass.


L. L. Rose, 46th Mass. Ira L. Root, 46th Mass. Henry M Ripley, 46th Mass.


M. V. Srow, 46th Mass. Ephraim Wells, 46th Mass. Luther Gardner, 46th Mass.


Albert Treat, 46th Mass.


Robert Rice, Z. F. Cooley, John Cooley, Samuel Cooley, William Smith, J. E. Bidwell, Patrick Burns, Chapin Brown, Erastus Cook, Edward Carpenter, William Granger, Chauncey Hodge, llenry Randall, 1I. E. Cornwall, Alvin Rice, Henry Saunders.


.SOUTHWICK.


GEOGRAPHICAL.


SOUTIIWICK lies in the second tier of towns to the west of the Connecticut River, and is bounded on the north by West- field; on the south by the State of Connecticut ; on the east by Agawam, in Massachusetts, and Suffield, in Connecticut ; and on the west by Granville, in Massachusetts, and Granby, in Connecticut.


The portion of the tract projecting beyond the direct bound- ary between Massachusetts and Connecticut embraced origi- nally a tract extending as far east as the present line between


Southwick and Agawam, being divided nearly in the centre by Congamuck Pond. This tract was in dispute between Con- necticut and Massachusetts as late as 1800, and, according to Dr. Holland, the settlement of the dispute was effected as fol- lows : one Roger Moore, living on this tract, being warned to do military duty, refused, whereupon litigation ensued, and the case being presented for adjustment to the Connecticut Legislature, the matter was settled by making the pond the dividing line, those on the west remaining in Massachusetts and those on the east in Connecticut, the decision being ren-


Myron J. Rose, 27th Mass. Salem P. Rose, 27th Mass. Jos. W. Roberts, 27th Mass. Jas. [1. Smith, 27th Ma-s. John D. Searl, 27th Mass. Ilenry W. Tryon, 27th Mass. Charles W. Terrett, 27th Mass. Calvin J. Treat, 27th Mass. Daniel Collins, 27th Mass. Stiles Couch, 31st Mass. Willis Humison, 31st Mass.


George Lee, 31st Mass. Jerry Lynch, 31st Ma-s. James Spelman, 31st Mass. Daniel McCarty, 31st Mass.


George II. Atkins, 34th Mass.


Leigh R. Brewer, 34th Mass. John Cuonnings, 34th Mass. R. N. Farnham, 34th Mass. George H1. Justin, 34th Mass.


Frederick Krollman, 34th Mass. Isaac S. Nash, 34th Mass. James Saunders, 34th Mass. Samuel P. Winchell, 34th Mass.


William Champlin, 2d 11. Art. William B. Nelson, 21 Il. Art.


William D. Ilayden, 46th Mass.


Il. C. Clement, 2d Il. Art. James Bruce, 2dl 11. Art. E. W. Rice, 27th Mass. Charles W. Roberts, 27th Mass. Henry Ryther, 27th Mass. John W. Brewer, 27th Mass.


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HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.


dered in accordance with the wishes of the inhabitants. The area of this projecting traet is equal to about six square miles. The New Haven and Northampton Railroad touches the town on the east, at Southwiek village, four miles from the village of Westfield.


NATURAL FEATURES.


The surface in both the east and the west is mountainous, but north and south the land is generally low, the soil being rocky on the elevations and sandy in the lowlands. Although the timber-land has been cleared to a considerable extent there is still an abundance of timber, chief among which may be reckoned oak and chestnut, with numerous other varieties. In the southeast there is a vast pond, or, more properly speak- ing, four connected ponds, covering a large area, and known as Congamuck Pond. Many years ago an English company undertook, at great expense, to reclaim this tract for cultiva- tion, but the undertaking proving greater than anticipated it was abandoned as impracticable. The only eminence of conse- quence is Sodom Mountain, in the west, at whose base flows Munn's Brook, the only brook of size in the town. There are in Southwick numerous inviting rural retreats, within pleas- ant leafy woods, and near the shores of the numerous ponds found within its borders. These retreats are largely visited in the summer by people from adjoining towns, as well as from Southwick itself.


EARLY SETTLEMENT.


The settlement of Southwick proper did not begin until 1706, when it was incorporated as a district. Previous to that year it was a portion of Westfield, and a history of the earliest settlements on the tract will necessarily be found in connection with the early history of Westfield. Reference is, however, made to the statement that the first settler on the tract is said to have been Samuel Fowler, who located in 1734, in the north section, on what was known as " Poverty," in compliment to the barrenness of the soil thereabouts.


Among the early settlers were Gideon Stiles, Noah Loomis, Silas Fowler, Abner Fowler, Matthew Laffin, Ephraim Grif- fin, Israel Perkins, John Kent, William Moore, David Nel- son, George Granger, Jas. Smith, John Campbell, Joseph Moore, John Berry, Moses Root, Phineas Southwell, Stephen Sexton, Ephraim Chamberlain, Phineas Perkins, Thomas Hough, Brigham Brown, Isaac Coit, David Ives, Shubel Stiles, Samson French, Doras Stiles, David Fowler, Ilo]- comb Granger, Joseph Forward, Abner Forward, Job Lang- ton, Solomon Stephens, Enos Foot, and John Rockwell.


The greater portion of the descendants of these early set- tlers are now residing out of Southwick, many of the first generation having responded to more alluring agricultural inducements and " gone West."


From the town records under date October, 1781, it is learned that the settlers in Southwick at that time included David Nelson, David Hastings, Thomas Hanchet, Amos Noble, Gideon Stiles, Benjamin Rising, Jr., George Sexton, Stephen Sexton, Solomon Munsel, Wm. Campbell, Samuel Johnson, Amos Johnson, Moses Hays, Israel Hays, James Campbell, Daniel Wait, John Woodbury, John Pierce, John Pierce, Jr., Moses Noble, Matthew Laflin, Joseph Moor, Israel Perkins, Phineas Perkins, Benjamin Loomis, Jr., Enos Loomis, Elijah Hough, James Smith, William Moor, John Bishop, Moses' Mitehell, Jonathan Wilcox, Eldad Graves, Samuel Johnson, Jr., Benjamin Rising, Silas Fowler, Stephen Russell, Abner Fowler, David Fowler, Titus Bigelow, Phineas Southwell, Benjamin Loomis, Nehemiah Loomis, Israel Loomis, Abraham Page, Jr., Abraham Page, Hezekiah Jones, Joseph Barber, Roger Root, Gideon Root, Jonathan Tilletson, Josiah Kent, Ezca Kent, Gad Allen, James Nel- son, John Kent, Elijah Blackman, Martin Holeom, William Marther, Zur Root, William Miller, Joshua Button, Mary Granger, Samuel Haynes, John Wilcox, Trustum Story,


John Story, Jacob Cook, Isaac Fowler, Abner Rising, Joseph Hide, Jr., Pliney Sacket, Noah Loomis, Noah Loomis, Jr., Shem Loomis, Moses Olds, Samuel Olds, Moses Allen, Moses Root, Samuel Kellogg, Jesse Sacket, Jared Bush, Josiah Kel- logg, Amasa Ives, David Ives, Thomas Hough, John Berry, Thomas Campbell, John Campbell, Amos Rising, Solomon Stevens, Nathaniel Gilberd, Silas Stevens, Freegrace Norton, Isaac Gilberd, Daniel Lee, Eldad Norton, George Granger, George Granger, Jr., Levi Palmer, Eldred Palmer, Gad Dewey, Simon Weatherbee, Samson French, Philip Hays, and Daniel Griffin.


Of the descendants of John Rockwell, Miss Lovica, a daughter, still resides in Southwick, at the age of ninety-two, the oldest person in the town, and the veritable " oldest in- habitant ;" Abigail, another daughter, died some years ago; John Tully, a son, removed early to Tioga, Pa. ; Uzal, an- other son (now dead), had sons,-Lawton, who died young; Joseph W., now residing in Southwick; Theron (dead) ; Owen, living in Westfield; Lawton, living in Boston; and Uzal, Jr., living in Springfield.


Thomas Hough's sons were Ensign, Joel, Horatio, and John, but no descendants thereof are now living in South- wick.


A daughter of Enos Foot, Mrs. John Mills, of Springfield, died a few months ago. His other children died unmarried.


Job Langton's children were Lewis, Charles, Jarvis, Julia, and Catherine. Julia married Orvis Carrington, and removed to Ohio ; Catherine married Oliver Utley, and died in South- wick ; Jarvis died young ; Lewis removed to Kentucky ; and Charles is now living in Northampton.


Dr. Isaac Coit, the first physician of the town, died child- less.


Anson Stiles, a son of Gideon Stiles, still lives in South- wick.


Joseph Forward's children were Joseph M., Pliny, Robert, George, Polly, Perley, and Catherine. The sons are all dead. Robert died a bachelor ; Joseph M. left Homer M. (now dead), Joseph M., and A. J., the two latter still living in South wick. His daughters were Mrs. B. Y. Butler, of Southwick (now dead), Mary R. (dead), and Mrs. Hinsdale Smith, now living in Springfield. Pliny had one son, Pliny M., now living in Southwick, and three daughters, viz., Mrs. David P. Holton, of New York ; Mrs. Thomas Rood, of Westfield; and Mrs. Silas Norton, of Southwiek (now dead). George had two sons, Robert and Egbert, and four daughters, Jane, Ruth, Emerett, and Delia. All of these (save Ruth, who is dead) are residing in Ohio.


Matthew Laflin's children were Matthew Jr., Heman, and Luey. Lucy married David Campbell, of Pittsfield, and is now dead. Matthew Jr. left Roland (now dead), whose son Chuneey lives in Southwick; Winthrop (dead), whose child- ren live in New York; Luther, who lives in Saugerties, N. Y. ; Walter, who died in Pittsfield ; and Matthew, who lives in Chicago. The daughters of Matthew Jr. were Mrs. Case, of Canton, Conn. ; Mrs. Joseph Boies, of Saugerties, N. Y. (both dead); and Mrs. Charles Jessup, now living in West- field. Ileman's children were Cutler, Lester Wells (all dead), Heman Jr. (now living in New Haven), and Mrs. Matthew D. Field (now living in Southwick).


Noah Loomis drew largely upon the Bible, and named his four sons Noah Jr., Shem, Ham, and Japhet. Noah Jr.'s sons were Noah, Walter, and Russell. Four of Walter's sons-B. B., George, Edward, and Oliver-are now living in South wick. Ham had ten sons and two daughters. Of these the only one living in Southwick is John W. The living daughters of Walter (above named) are Mrs. Charles M. Phelps, Mrs. Robert Hosmer, and Mrs. llenry Hamilton, all of Westfield. Shem had two sons, Japhet (dead) and Shem, now living in Springfield. Of his daughters, Beckie married Mr. Weatherby, of Southwick ; Pollie married Mr. Stocking,


JOHN BOYLE was born in County Kilkenny, Ireland, Aug. 7, 1803, being the only son of Richard and Ann Boyle. He emigrated with his mother to Canada in 1819, where she died ; and he finally removed to Southwick, Mass., in 1826, where he commenced work by the month on the canal then being built between Northamp- ton and New Haven, and he afterward took a contract on the same canal. Has followed the business of railroad con- struction ever since, having built a part of the Syracuse and Binghamton Railroad, besides


working on many of the New England roads. He had no op. portunity of receiving even a common-school education. He has been twiee married, both of his wives being dead. He has two children by his first wife still living,-Robert and William, both residents of Southwick. He has also one by his second wife living,-Jane E., wife of William W. Phelps, of Southwick. He is a Demo- crat in politics, and was a mem- ber of the State Legislature in 1864. He is a liberal, enter- prising, and publie-spirited citi- zen.


Photo, by Moffitt,


John Boyle


RESIDENCE OF JOHN BOYLE, SOUTHWICK, MASS.


SARDIS GILLETT.


We are unable to give many facts in regard to the early history of this gentleman's ancestors, and cannot trace the genealogy of his family farther back than to Seth Gillett, his grandfather, who set- tled in the town of Southwick about one hundred years ago, and raised a large family of children, of whom Rodolphus was the father of Sardis. He was born Nov. 18, 1771, and married Eunice Cush- man, Aug. 11, 1794, she having been born Jan. 1, 1770. They had a family of seven children,


viz. : Tacy, Sardis (1st), Sardis (2d), Socrates, Mary, Seth, and Eunice, all of whom lived to maturity except the two eldest. This worthy couple lived to a ripe old age, and died within a few months of each other; Mrs. Gillett passing away Sept. 15, 1849, followed by her husband, Nov. 19, 1849.


Sardis was born in Southwick, Sept. 1, 1798, and passed his early life on his father's farm. He was married, Jan. 14, 1822, to Ursula, adopted daughter of Reuben Clark, of Southwick. She was a native


Photo, by Moffitt, Springfield.


Sardis Gillette


of Connecticut, having been born June 22, 1799. Their family consisted of six children, four of whom are now living, as follows : Sardis Wells, now a resident of Cleveland, Ohio; Harrison Gray Otis, now located at Waterford, Pa. ; William Wirt, who dwells on his father's old homestead in Sonth- wick, together with his sister, Kate E.


Politically he was a member of the Republican party ; held several offices of trust and honor. He was also a member of the Episcopal Church. Dur-


ing his life he used to tell the story that he had lived in three counties, viz., Hampshire, Hamp- den, and Hartford, and two States, viz., Massa- chusetts and Connecticut, without changing his place of residence. After fifty years of married life he was called upon to mourn the death of his wife, who died Oct. 24, 1867. He died Dec. 28, 1878, leaving friends and neighbors to regret his loss, and a large fortune which had been accumu- lated by years of hard toil.


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HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.


of Southwick ; Thirza married L. B. Platt, of Pittsfield ; and Sallie married Mr. Judson, of Springfield.


Of the descendants of Isaac Gillett, Sardis, Charles, and Cratus are now residing at Gillett's Corners, about two miles south of Southwick village.


REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES.


South wick was lrue in the stormy days of the Revolution, and upon the alarm from Lexington, in 1775, the town called a meeting, and voted to raise "twenty-five minnet-men," and further that "the minnet-men shall reg their gons upon the town's cost that ant abel to reg their one gons, and the eost to be taken out of their wages." In this year Jon- athan Ilare was sent as a delegate to the Continental Con- gress. The first committee of correspondence mentioned in the records was appointed in January, 1776, and was composed of Noah Loomis, Silas Fowler, Wm. Moor, John Kent, Deacon Morton, Solomon Stephens, and Ephraim Griffin. In this year it was resolved " to be an independent state if Congress think proper," by which it was doubtless meant to endorse a declaration of national independence. A bounty of 30s. per man was offered nine men to enlist in the Continental service to go to " Canady," and it was further resolved "to Chus a Comety to borrow the money for the Solgers, provided the truserer Can't Colect it." A vote in 1778 directed " the ofeeers, selectmen, and Comety to make a neferge (meaning perhaps an 'effort') in drafting the Conti- mental Solgers." Fifteen pounds bounty per man were given Levi Bradley and Thomas Lesul for enlisting in the service, and shortly thereafter it was voted " to give the three men that Inlest in the Continental Sarves thirty pound Eich." At the same time it was resolved " to git the clothing for the Conti- nental Solgers, viz., Shurts, Stockens, and Shus." The records set forth that about this time John Kent was chosen " vendew" master " to Sel the Stel Sent to the town from ye Bord of War."


In 1780 the town voted not to have Capt. Silas Fowler (in command of a company in the service) go on and draft sol- diers for the Continental army, and agreed further to indem- . nify the officers for all cost that might arise by reason of the town's default in not raising the above men. A committee was also chosen to inquire into the drafting order issued by the General Court, the inference being that the town was not quite satisfied as to the legality of the orders. The resolution to stop the draft was probably rescinded, for directly after- ward it was decided to raise only three men out of the six ordered by the General Court, and for these three men it was agreed to pay $1000 each (Continental money) as a bounty, and 20s per month in addition to the State's wages, in silver money or its value in grain. A record of date 1781 shows that early in that year Southwick had nine soldiers in the Continental army. In December, 1781, an effort was made to raise more three years' soldiers ; £45 were raised for soldiers' bounties, and the militia officers were directed to call their men together to see if the three years' soldiers could be ob- tained.


Previous to this, in 1780, three months' soldiers were offered $500 each, and 20s. per month in silver. Six months' men were offered $1000 bounty, and 20s. per month. Thirty-seven hundred pounds in Continental money, or £93 in new emission, were called for early in 1781 to buy Continental beef, and a com- mittee was chosen to go to the army and inquire into the num- ber and state of the soldiers sent by the town. The beef was bought for £120 per hundred,-more than a pound of money for a pound of beef. The records refer at this time to Gideon Stiles as a lieutenant in the service, and to the fact that Abner Fowler was sent to the Cambridge Congress, The town was fined £28 in 1781 for not raising seven six months' men or- dered by the General Court. With a vote in 1781 to raise £15 in silver to pay for five three months' men the town


records close their history of the town's action upon matters concerned in the Revolutionary struggle. Upon the close of the war in 1783, the town refused to pay the commutation or five years' pay to Continental officers, as ordered by Congress.


Among the soldiers who went into the war of 1812 from Southwick were Enos Foote, as colonel, and Abraham Rising, Robert Forward, David Noble, Elisha Steer, Benjamin Loundsberry, and Leonard Smith, as privates.


NOTEWORTHY INCIDENTS.


The earliest recorded road in the town was laid out in 1775, between Mr. Forward's land and Jas. Smith's land, "from the County road that leads to the Mills, to the town road that leads to the meeting-house." Twenty pounds were raised for highways in 1776; it was resolved to purchase a grave-eloth, and further resolved to build no bridge over Two-Mile Brook on the county road that " Leds through the Shepaster." In 1776 it was determined " not to have Enoculation sat up," but in the following year it was decided to " set up" the small- pox.


Jonathan Hare was chosen as an agent to "converse with other towns and inquire into the acts of the General Court," and it was voted in December, 1786, that "the Superior Court sha'n't set at Springfield the last Tuesday of this instant." A pound was built in 1777 "by James Smith's house, near the road to Poverty, 40 feet squair." A road was also opened from John Story's to the Simsbury road, and £45 raised for town charges, for which in the following year £368 were appropriated, when a road was laid out from the Sims- bury road to Griffin's by the way of Root's marsh.


According to the records, the first person born in what is now Southwick was William, son of George Granger, in 1763; the first marriage that of Joseph Hide and Eunice Gil- bert in 1771; the first death that of Samuel Fowler, Jan- uary, 1771. One of the earliest taverns, if not the first, was kept by Saul Fowler on the site of the present hotel in South- wick village, about 1780, and in the same building also he kept a store. Dr. Isaac Coit, who flourished in Southwick at an early date, was a surgeon in the American army during the Revolution, and was Southwiek's first physician, and he served in the town as justice of the peace as well for many years.


In 1779, Southwick voted to have a new State constitu- tion, and in 1782 it was decided that the innholders and re- . tailers of Southwick should not take out a license unless two- thirds of the county should,-referring, no doubt, to the exeise aet passed by the General Court. But £30 were raised in 1783 for town charges, and in 1786 a road from Granville line to the notch in East Mountain was opened.


The oldest residents of Southwick in January, 1879, were Ileaton Granger, aged eighty-eight, and Miss Lovica Rock- well, aged ninety-two. The oldest building in the town is one built by Mr. Fowler, in 1778, in the northern section, and now owned by King Fowler. July 15, 1809, the town was ealled upon to mourn publicly over a sad calamity whereby four young ladies-Julia Stratton, Mary Langdon, Orpha Cannon, and Charlotte Cannon-were drowned in Congamuck Pond while out for a pleasure sail. The first and only lawyer the town ever had was lohn Mills, who settled in Southwick about 1815. About the year 1855, Amasa Holcomb manu- factured teleseopes in Southwick, and achieved in that pursuit some distinction. After being carried on in Southwick until 1875, the business was removed to Springfield. There was a Masonic lodge in Southwick village previous to 1830, but it passed away beneath the anti-Masonic storm that swept over the State at that time.


A eurious feature, incident to the geographieal changes to which Southwick has been submitted since the early settle- ment, is related in connection with the will of Roger Moore, who died about 1818. Upon the probate of his will it was shown that he was born in Westfield, Hampshire Co., Mass.,


137


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HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.


subsequently lived in Simsbury, Hartford Co., Conn., later in Granby, Hartford Co., Conn., and died in Southwick, Hampden Co., Mass. Yet in all these changes he never left the place of his birth, although he was during his life a citizen of two States, a voter in four towns, and a resident in three counties. The place he lived on is now known as the Plymp- ton place.


ORGANIZATION.


Originally a portion of Westfield, Southwick (so called from its relative position in the original town) was incorporated as a district in 1770, and as a town in 1779. The records of district- meetings from 1770 to 1775 have been destroyed, and the earli- est action of the district officials, as well as the list of the names of the officials themselves between those periods, cannot of course be ascertained. The subsequent records are, however, well preserved, and the names, therefore, of those who have served as selectmen and town clerks from 1775 to the present time are here given :


SELECTMEN.


1775 .- Gideon Stiles, Noah Loomis, Silas Fowler.


1776 .- Gideon Stiles, Silas Fowler, Abner Fowler, Noah Loomis, Mathew Laflin. 1777 .- Noah Loomis, Gideon Stiles, Abner Fowler, Eph. Griffin, Israel l'erkins. 1778 .- Noalı Loomis, Gideon Stiles, Mathew Laflin, John Kent, Abner Fowler. 1779-80 .- William Moore, David Nelson, George Granger.




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