History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. II, Part 43

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

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ORGANIZATION.

December 16, 1761, " some of the proprietors of Falltown" presented to the General Court the following petition :

" To HIS EXCELLENCY FRANCIS BARNORD, ESQ., Captain-General, &c :

" To the Honorable his Majesty's Council and House of Representatives : The me- morial of some of the proprietors of Falltown Humbly Sheweth that whereas the proprietors of Falltown did, in the year 1741, settle a minister who was obliged to leave said town on account of ye war, and the said proprietors did the last year settle another minister, which has been very heavy upon ye said pro- prictors, your Memorialists therefore humbly pray that the inhabitants of said Falltown may be incorporated into a town by the name of Barnard, and be in- vested with all the privileges of the rest of the Towns in this province, and may be directed to raise their taxes and definy their charges as the rest of the towns dlo, excepting a reasonable tax upon the unimproved lands for the present ; and considering the large number of proprietors in said township, their great ex- pense in settling two ministers, and a large tract of land falling into New Ilaumpshire, your Memorialists humbly ask that the proprietors of said Falltown may have a tract of land granted to them, to make them equal with other grantees of the government, for service done, etc.

" EBENEZER SHELDEN, JR. JOHN SEVERANCE. ELIJAH SHELDEN.

JOHN BURK. DANIEL DEXTER. JONA. A. ASHLEY. THOMAS WILLIAMS.

JOSEPH ALLEN.

" FALLTOWN, Dec. 16, 1761."

In accordance with the foregoing petition, the town was in- corporated March 6, 1762, and called Bernardston, honoring, as will be seen, Francis Bernard, then governor of the prov- ince. The boundaries given in the act were the province line on the north, Greenfield and Deerfield on the south, North- field on the east, and Coleraine on the west. This tract in-

eluded what is now Bernardston and Leyden, a part of Cole- raine, then known as Falltown Gore, and a strip on the north about half a mile wide, afterward found to belong to Ver- mont. It was in 1761 that, upon a survey, the north line of Massachusetts was found to be farther south than supposed, and a strip half a mile wide, on the north side of Falls Fight township (or Bernardston), was decided to belong to New Hampshire, which then claimed what is now the State of Ver- mont. To compensate the proprietors for this strip of land the General Court gave them 7500 acres in what is now Flor- ida, Mass. The original tract above noted contained 36 square miles.

In 1779 the Falltown Gore (so called), containing 2576 acres, was set off to Coleraine, and in 1784 Leyden was set off' as a district, leaving to Bernardston about 24 square miles. To this tract a few acres were added from the northeast corner of Greenfield, in 1839.

Ebenezer Sheldon, Jr., served the warrant for the first town- meeting, which was held at the house of Lieut. Ebenezer Sheldon, May 11, 1762. The names of those who have served the town as selectmen and clerks from that time to 1879 will be found here appended :

SELECTMEN.

1762 .- John Burk, Moses Scott, Remembrance Sheldon.

1763 .- Zebulon Allen, Moses Scott, Remembrance Sheldon.

1764 .- Julin Burk, Zebulon Allen, Remembrance Sheldon.

1765 .- John Severance, Aaron Ficll, Amasa Sheldon.

1766 .- John Burk, Remembrance Sheklon, Zelmlon Allen.

1767 .- John Burk, Ebenezer Shellon, Sampson Howe.

1768,-John Burk, Ebenezer Sheldon, Remembrance Shellon.

1769 .- John Burk, James Couch, John Severance.

Photo, by Popkins.

Ir J., Cutler

NAHUM S. CUTLER was born in Vernon, Vt., on the 7th of April, 1837. His grandfather, Thomas Cutler, was a native of Guilford, Vt., and was born on the 24th of May, 1774. His great-grandfather, whose name was also Thomas, was a native of Paxton, Mass., and removed to Guilford, Vt., where he and his brothers were the first settlers. Zenas Cutler, his father, was born in Wilmington, Vt., on the 18th of March, 1804. He was married on the 5th of December, 1826, to Lucy, daughter of Thomas Wood, of Warwick, by whom he had seven children, viz. : Lucy J., born Oct. 14, 1828 (deceased) ; George T., born Oct. 9, 1830 (deceased) ; Leroy Z., born Aug. 14, 1834, and is now a resident of Springfield, Mass .; Nahum S .; Laura S., born Dec. 16, 1840, and married D. C. Warner, of Springfield ; George T. born Aug. 18, 1844, and now residing in Nebraska ; and Ella B., born Nov. 21, 1849 (deceased).

Mr. Zenas Cutler removed to Vernon, Vt., in 1840, and thence to Bernardston, and bought what was known as the Connable farm, in the uorth part of the town, where he resided until his children reached their majority. He now lives with his son, and, at the advanced age of seventy-five years, retains a fair degree of health and vigor. He has occupied various town-offices, and now holds the office of deacon in the Unitarian Church, of which he has been a member for many years, and as a man is highly esteemed by all who know him.

The subject of this sketch, after pursuing the usual ele- mentary branches in the common schools, was also clas- sically instructed in the Goodale Academy and Powers' Institute.

A part of his minority was spent on the farm. He also taught school two winters. When he reached his majority he entered the employ of L. C. Smith, of Springfield,

Mass., as clerk in his boot and shoe store, and remained with him three years, when be formed a copartnership with his brother-in-law, D. C. Waroer, in the same business.

He remained with Mr. Warner something over two years, when they sold out, and engaged in the wholesale boot and shoe trade as members of the firm of Cutler, McIntosh & Co. They also manufactured a few goods, and the busi- ness was carried on very successfully for nine years, at which time Mr. Cutler withdrew from the firm, and removed to Bernardston, where he purchased what was known as the " Dr. John Brooks' place," and established a manufactory of ladies', misses', and children's fine shoes. His goods have always been in good demand, being made of first-class material and by good workmen. He employs from thirty- five to sixty hands, and turns out from two hundred to three hundred pair of shoes per day.

Mr. Cutler is a thorough business man, but also takes an active part in promoting the social and educational inter- ests of the community in which he lives. He is a trustee of Powers' Institute, and has been prominent in all the im- portant public enterprises of his town. He is a great lover of music and a good musician, possesses a genial and generous disposition, and throughout his life has been gov- erned by principles of honor and integrity.

He was married on the 24th of November, 1864, to Hattie I. Hoyt, by whom he has two children,-Lucy J., born Oct. 3, 1866, and Henry H., born Oct. 15, 1868.

Mrs. Cutler is a daughter of Richard Hoyt, of Ber- nardston, who is a descendant of the Deerfield family of that name renowned in the Indian war, and a prominent and influential citizen ; he has held many public offices of trust, is now a member of the Legislature, a trustee of Powers' Institute and of the Cushman Library.

Photo. hy Popkins.

IMLA K. BROWN was born in Guilford, Vt., May 4, 1815. Isaac Brown, his grandfather, removed to Guil- ford from Dover, about the year 1803. His father, whose name was also Isaac, was born in Dover, Vt., March 1, 1793, and was ten years old when he went to Guilford, where he spent the remainder of his life. He was a farmer, and as a man was widely known and respected. He was ever active in promoting the public and social interests of the community in which he lived. He was a member of the Episcopal Church, and in the town held various public offices, serving as selectman thirty successive terms. IIc also held, in 1813, a commission as captain in an indepen- dent company of militia in Guilford. He married Delinda Keep, who was born in Groton, Mass., in August, 1790. They had a family of seven children, viz. : Imla K., Han- nah D., Mary M., Isaac E. (deceased), Abigail A. (deceased), George R. (deceased), and Alfred S., who resides on the old homestead in Vermont.

Imla K., like most farmers' lads, and particularly elder sons, was required at an early age to assist in the farm labor. He, however, attended the district schools a portion of each year until he was nineteen years of age. Subse- quently he attended the academies of Brattleboro' and Townsend, and during the winters of 1837 and 1838 he taught school in Bernardston, Franklin Co., Mass. While there he was married, March 27, 1838, to Emma Eunice, daughter of Captain Jonathan and Aseneth Connable, who was born in Bernardston, July 2, 1814. To them were born three children,-two daughters and one son,-all of whom are living. They are Laura K., born Jau. 16, 1841;

Emma W., born April 2, 1846; and Abbott E., born April 23, 1849. Immediately after his marriage Mr. Brown removed to Bernardston, and located on the place where he now resides, and which at that time was owned by Mr. Connable, his father-in-law. He afterward purchased the property, which he has considerably improved. He has devoted his attention to farming, and has been uniformly successful.

In politics he is a Republican, but not a partisan or office-seeker, his aim being rather to promote the best in- terests of the community without reference to party or creed, and the offices he has held are such only as contribute to the general welfare of the town in which he lives. He has been a trustee of the Powers' Institute since its establish- ment, and is a trustee of the Cushman Library, of which he has also been president since the decease of Mr. Cushman in 1866, and is, besides, agent for the town of Bernardston in the Cushman estate. Mr. Brown is a member of the New England and the Franklin County Agricultural Societies, and for two years has been president of the latter. He has also for three years represented the county in the State Board of Agriculture at Boston. He has been a member of the board of selectmen a number of terms, and in the various positions to which he has been called he has won, by the fidelity with which he has discharged the duties of each, the confidence and respect of the people.

His first wife died June 4, 1872. He married for his second wife, Nov. 17, 1874, Hallie C., youngest daughter of Capt. Hart and Clarissa Larrabee, who was born in Greenfield, March 26, 1838.

091

HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.

1770 .- John Burk, Aaron Field, John Severance. 1771 .- John Burk, Elijah Shellon, Joel Chapin. 1772 .- Jolin Burk, Elijah Shellon, James Couch. 1773 .- John Burk, Samuel Hastings, Moses Scott. 1774 .- Elisha Burnham, Elijah Kingsley, Caleb Chapin. 1775 .- Elijah Burnham, David Rider, Ezekiel Foster. 1776 .- John Burk, Aaron Field, Jona. Sheblon. 1777 .- John Burk, Elisha Burnham, Amasa Shellon. 1778 .- Moses Scott, Ezekiel Foster, Samuel Hastings. 1779 .- Hezekiah Chapin, Ilezekiah Newcomb, Johu Burk, Joseph Slate, James Conch.

1780 .- Aaron Field, Moses Scott, Elisha Burnham. 17/1 .- Caleb Chapin, Samuel Guild, Daniel Lomis.

1782,-Amasa Sheldon, Joseph Slate, Hezekiah Chapin, Jared Crandall.

1787 .- David Rider, Hezekiah Chapin, Alphens Barstow, Hezekiah Newcomb, Charles Packer.

1784 .- Aaron Field, Reuben Shattuck, Zebulon Allen. 1785,-Job Wright, Jonathan Sheldon, Zelnilon Alleu. 1786 .- Joh Wright, Asaph Allen, Artemas Cushingn. 1787 .- Job Wright, Joseph Slate, Hezekiah Newcomb. 1788 .- Elisha Burnham, Samuel Hastings, Artemas Cushman. 1789 .- Job Wright, Hezekiah Newcomb,, Joseph Allen, 1790 .- Jonathan Sheldon. Artemas Cushman, Seba Allen. 1791 .- Jonathan Sheldon, Caleb Chapin, Ir., Sola Allen. 1792 .- Joseph Slate, Automax Cushman, Sela Allen. 1793 .- Joseph Slate, Caleb Alvord, Seba Allen. 1794 .- Asaph Allen, Caleb Alvord, Samuel Ilastings. 1795 .- Elias Parmenter, Caleb Alvord, Sammel Hastings. 1796 .- Elias Parmenter, Caleb Alvord, Seba Allen. 1797 .- David Severance, Prince Snow, Seha Allen. 1798-99 .- David Severance, Stephen Webster, Gideon Ryther. 1800,-Samuel lastings, Caleb Chapin (20), Juna, Allen, 1801 .- Thomas Hoseley, Gideon Ryther, David Severance. 1802 .- Samuel Flagg, Stephen Webster, David Severance. 1803 .- Samuel Flagg, Stephen Webster, Samuel Sykes, Jr. 1804 .- Thomas Hoseley, Gideon Ryther, Jonathan Allen. 1805-6 .- Samuel Sykes, Jr., Gideon Ryther, David Severance. 1807 .- Samuel Sykes, Stephen Webster, Jona. Allen. 1808 .- John Hamilton. Stephen Webster, Oliver Cooley. 1809 .- John Hamilton, Gideon Ryther, George Alexander. 1810 .- Samuel Root, P. L. Cushman, George Alexander. 18]1 .- Samuel Root, S. Webster, Ezra Purple, Jr. 1812 .- Johan Hamilton, Samuel Green, Ezra Purple, Jr. 1×13 .- John Hamilton, S. Webster, Jona. Allen. 1814 .- John Hamilton, S. Webster, Socrates Sheldon. 1815 .- John Hamilton, Job Goodale, David Denison. 1816 .- John Hamilton, Jonathan Allen, P. L. Pushman. 1817 .- P. L. Cushman, Jonathan Allen, Rufus Hastings. 1818 .- Job Goodale, Ralph Cushman, Orra Sheldon. 1819 .- Jonathan Allen, Hatsel Purple, George l'armenter. 1820 .- Jonathan Allen, Hatsel Purple, John Hamilton. 1821 .- Jonathan Allen, Hatsel Purple, Oliver Root. 1822,-Pliney Warner, Hatsel Purple, John Hamilton. 1823 .- George Parmenter, Joseph Connable, John Hamilton. 1824 .- George Parmeuter, Joseph Connable, Z. C. Newcomb. 1825 .- IFatsel Purple, Elizer Chamberlain, Samuel Rout. 1826-28 .- Ilatsel Purple, Elizer Chamberlain, Jona. Allen. 1829 .- Hatsel Purple, Isaac Burrows, Joseph Slate. 1830 .- Oliver Root, Isaac Burrows, Adolphus Hale. 1×31 .- Ralph Cushman, Isaac Burrows, Hatsel Purple. 1:32 .- Ralph Cushman, Isaac Burrows, Adolphus Ilale. 1833 .- Oliver Root, Joseph Slate, Rufus Chase. 1834 .- Oliver Root, Adolphus Hale, Rufus Chase. 1835-37 .- Isaac Burrows, Adolphus Hale, Rufus Chase. 1838 .- Ralph Cushman, Adolphus Hale, Joseph Slate. 1839 .- Luke Gore, Adolphus Hale, Isaac Burrows. 1840,-Otis Warner, Adolphus Hale, S. B. Slate. 1841 .- Otis Warner, Adolphus Ilale, Isaac Burrows, 1842 .- A. E. Parmenter, A. Hale, D. W. Temple. 1843 .- A. E. Parmenter, Isaac Burrows, D. W. Temple. 1844 .- A. E. Parmenter, A. R. Kingsley, John E. Burk. 1845 .- D. W. Temple, Rufus Chase, John E. Burk. 1846,-D. W. Temple, John S. Allen, John E. Burk. 1847 .- D. W. Temple, Jolin S. Allen, A. E. Parmenter. 1848,-D. W. Temple, Isaac Burrows, Richard Montague. 1849-51 .- John E. Burk, Samuel I. Green, Ed. H. Snow. 1:52 .- John E. Burk, Joel N. Dewey, L. 11. Sprague. 1853 .- D. W. Temple, Israel P. Hale, R. R. Park. 1854 .- D. W. Temple, Israel P. Hale, S. B. Slate. 1855-56 .- S. B. Slate, Israel P. Hale, Zenas Cutler. 1857 .- S. B. Slate, Samuel J. Lyons, I. K. Brown. 1858-50,-Marcus Chapin, P. L. Cushman, I. K. Brown. 1800 .- Lathrop Cushman, P. L. Cushman, S. J. Lyons. 18Gl .- Imla K. Brown, P. L. Cushman, S. J. Lyons. 1862 .- J. M. Slate, P. L. Cushman, G. J. Green. 1863 .- J. M. Slate, P. L. Cushman, John F. Hale. 1864 .- J. M. Slate, B. S. Burrows, J. F. Hale. 1865 .- I. B. Butler, B. S. Burrows, J. F. Ilale.

1866 .- II. B. Butler, R. H. Hoyt, Henry O. Root.

1467-72 .- Almon Newcomb, R. H. Hoyt, 11. O. Root.

1872-78,-E. S. Hulbert, S. H. Atherton, 11. O. R .t. 1878 .- E. S. Hulbert, C. R. Hills, HI. O. Root.

TOWN CLERKS.

Maj. John Burk, 1763-85; Job Wright, 1785-88; Seba Allen, 1788-90: Job Wright, 1790; Seba Allen, 1791-98; Gideon Ryther, 1798-1801 ; Jonathan Allen, 1×01 ; Gideon Ryther, 1802-10; Jonathan Allen, 1810-13 ; Ralph Cushman, 1813- 19; Jonathan Allen, 1>19-22; Ralph Cushman, I>22; Jonathan Allen, 1823; Zebina C. Neweminh, 1824; Jonathan Allen, 1825; Ralph Cushman, 1-26-34; Henry W. Cushman, 1834-53; Silas N. Brooks, 1853-72; S. J. Green, 1872-77; Ileury Slate, 1877-79.

REPRESENTATIVES AT THE GENERAL COURT.

Bernardston was first represented at the General Court in 1764, when Maj. John Burk was the representative. From that date to 1857, when Bernardston became a part of district No. 1, the town was represented by the following persons :

Elisha Burnham, Hezekiah Newcomb, Alpheus Barstow, Caleb Alvard, Jona- than Budington, Lemuel Foster, Gideon Ryther, Stephen Webster, George Alexander, John Hamilton, P. L. Cushman, Hatsel Purple, John Brooks, Jona- than Allen, Henry W. Cushman, Adolphus Hale, Daniel W. Temple, Isaac Burrows, John E Burk, Samuel S. Wright, E. S. Hullwrt.

In 1784, Leyden was set off from Bernardston as a district, and in 1809 became a town. Between those years Bernardston and Leyden joined in the election of a representative.

VILLAGES.

Of the two villages in the town. BERNARDSTON VILLAGE, on Fall River, and about a mile and a half from the Greenfield line, is the most important. It is a station on the Connecticut River Railroad, is the seat of town government, and peopled chiefly by thrifty and prosperous farmers, whose neat and homelike residences materially beantify the village, which covers a broad sweep of river valley overlooked on both the east and the west by towering hills.

Here, too, are a fine town-house, built in 1877, at a cost of $3000, the Powers Institute, Cushman Hall, the Cushman Li- brary, Cushman Park, five churches, three stores, one hotel, and a large shoe-factory. It is worthy of mention that its two chief thoroughfares, Main and Church Streets, are lighted at night with street-lamps provided by individual enterprise.

NORTH BERNARDSTON, near the Vermont line, a small ag- ricultural settlement, contains, besides about a dozen dwell- ings, a store and a hotel, the latter familiar for years as " the old Chase tavern. "

CHURCHES.

At a proprietors' meeting in June, 1739, a committee was chosen to see to the building of a meeting-house, which was to be 50 feet in length, 40 feet in breadth, and 23 feet between joints. This house was set up and framed in the fall of 1739, and, after some discussion, it was finally set upon lot No. 3, owned by Capt. Wells, ou Huckle Hill, and on land now owned (1879) by P. L. Cushman. It is northeast of Ber- nardston village and a half-mile south of where J. B. Field lives. The house was finished in the summer of 1740, when £20 where appropriated to procure preaching for the en- suing winter. In September, 1741, it was agreed to engage Rev. John Norton, of Berlin, Conn., to settle in the ministry. As a settlement he was to have a seventieth part of the town- ship, or an equal part of the township with each proprietor, the use of the ministry right during his abode in the ministry, and £200, of which latter one-half was to be in money, and one-half in labor or materials for building. His salary was to be £130 per annum for the first five years, and then to advance £5 yearly until it amounted to £170 (the bills to be equal to silver at 20×. per ounce), and his firewood brought to his door. Mr. Norton, accepting the call, was ordained in Deerfield, November, 1741, and at the same time a church was organized. In March, 1745, it was decided, owing to the distractions brought about by the Indian war, to abandon the efforts heretofore made in support of the ministry, and a com- mittee was appointed to aseertain from Mr. Norton upon what

692

HISTORY OF TIIE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

terms he would consent "to remove from the work of the ministry in Falltown for the present." What the agreed terms were does not appear, but Mr. Norton relinquished his charge, and shortly thereafter was appointed to be chaplain at Fort Massachusetts, and was there subsequently captured by the Indians and taken a prisoner to Canada, whence he returned, and settled in Chatham, Conn.

The prevalence of Indian troubles between 1715 and 1750 caused a partial abandonment of the township, and it was not who until 1750 that anything more was done touching church matters, when the proprietors appointed a committee to pro- cure some person to preach for them. There was, however, no settled preacher until 1761, when Rev. Job Wright, of East- hampton, was settled, with a salary of £66 138. 4d. yearly, together with 40 cords of wood and a settlement of £138 6s. 8d. Incidental to the preparations for the ordination of Mr. Wright, in July, 1761, it was voted " to carry 3000 of boards to lay in the galleries of the meeting-house, so that the people may set with more convenience at the time of the ordination."

In the latter part of 1764 the meeting-house was much out of repair, and during the winter of that year it was not used for worship, services being held at the houses of Joel Chapin and Hezekiah Chapin, who were paid Is. Gd. each for every Sabbath their houses were so used. In the spring of 1767 the meeting-house had doubtless been repaired, but of pews there were probably none. The town voted " that any two persons, -that is, heads of families,-or any four young men that are agreed to set together, they belonging to this town, shall have liberty to build a pew in the meeting-house, but that they shall be entitled to that place no longer than the town shall give liberty." The meeting-house must have been in disfavor again in the winter of 1767, when Sabbath worship was held at the houses of Joel Chapin and Remembrance Sheldon. Pre- vious to that time and for several years thereafter, there was a vast deal of discussion about repairing and moving the meet- ing-house to some location more convenient for those residing in the east part of the town. There was a great waste of words in the controversy, committees were appointed to nanie a location for the house, and their reports were subsequently rejected ; all proposed plans met with sturdy opposition, and the meeting-house remained where it was, and in such bad condition that it was unfit for use in the winter season. These fruitless discussions about locating the meeting-house con- tinted until 1772, when, a committee from neighboring towns being called in to choose a location, the vexed question was settled, and in December, 1772, the structure was moved bodily, by men alone, from fluckle Hill to a spot just south, near where Albert G. Chapin now lives. It took some time to make the meeting-house fit to meet in after its removal, and mean- while public worship was held at the houses of Deacon Shel- don, Samuel Connable, and Remembrance Sheldon.

In December, 1773, it was voted " to fling up the plan the pews in the meeting-house were builded upon, and the seat- ing, and go altogether upon a new plan, and that the pews shall be built the same for largeness every way as the pews in the Greenfield meeting-house." Those who chose to build pews were to have the use of them for one year, and the seat- ing committee were enjoined to be governed in seating the house by the rule of age, estate, and qualification.

In 1779 the meeting-house began to run to ruin again, and a committee was chosen " to nail on the boards that are come off; to nail up the windows, and ye windows in ye lower part to be made so as to slip np." In 1781 it was agreed that the people in the west part of the town should be relieved from the minister rate, and have preaching among themselves. In 1782, Rev. Mr. Wright, who had served the church twenty- one years, was dismissed at his own request, brought about by reason of the town's being largely in arrears to him, on salary. Mr. Wright continued, however, to reside in the town.

Rev. Amasa Cook, of Hadley, was ordained December, 1783,

as Mr. Wright's successor, and received a settlement of £140 and the promise of a salary of £60, which was to be increased £3 yearly until it reached .£75.

In 1791 the meeting-house was again moved, to the forks, just south of Mr. John Morey's place. Here it remained un- disturbed until 1823, when, following the concentration of the town's settlement, it was removed to the site now occupied by the Unitarian Church in Bernardston village.

Rev. Mr. Cook served the church until 1805, when he was dismissed by reason of certain alleged immoralities, His sue- vessor, Rev. Timothy F. Rogers, was ordained in 1809, and continued in the ministry until his death, in 1847. During Mr. Rogers' term of service the church became Unitarian, in obedience to his teachings, and as such has always remained since his time.

The church was rebuilt in 1824, and in 1850 it was re- modeled, repaired, and enlarged, as it now appears. Mr. Rogers' successors were Revs. Asarelah Bridge, Thomas Wes- ton, William Hubbard, Mr. Renney, John B. Green, Charles Canfield, S. Barker, Henry F. Campbell, and Samuel B. Flagg, the latter being now in charge, 1879. This church has a fund of $5000, of which the income goes toward the sup- port of the pastor. Its Sunday-school has a fund of $500, and the church owns also a fine parsonage, the former residence of llon. H. W. Cushman. The funds and the parsonage were left to the church by Mr. Cushman upon his death, in 1863. The church structure is supplied with a fine pipe-organ pur- chased in 1871, at a cost of $1200.

THE BAPTISTS

flourished in Bernardston as early as 1782, when the town generously voted to relieve the people of that faith from the payment of a minister's tax. In 1788, however, they were called upon to pay the tax, but in 1789, at the request of Rev. Amasa Cook, the Baptists were again relieved, and were not afterward called upon to pay it. A Baptist society was or- ganized in that year, and in 1700 a meeting-house was erected, although a church was not organized until 1808. The first fchurch building, which was located near where the present Baptist Church stands in Bernardston village, gave place to a new one in 1817, and this latter to the present edifice in 1851. The building erected in 1817, and replaced in 1851, is now occupied as a residence by Mrs. I. Phillips. The last of the members composing the church at its organization, in 1808, died in Bernardston village in 1878. His name was Reuben Park, and his age was ninety-eight. The other members present with him at the church organization were Moses Smith, William Fox, Samuel Sikes, Jr., Jonathan Sanderson, Selah Hastings, Reuben Alger, Eunice Smith, Mary Park, Susanna Hastings, Abigail Green, Rachel Carey, and Louisa Darling. Eller Hodge, who was the society's first pastor, was ordained in 1790, and remained in the pastorate until 1800. After him the ministers were Revs. Peter Rogers, Edward Green, B. L. Remington, Aaron Burbank, Erastus Andrews, Charles Farrar, John Green, George E. Fuller, Calvin L. Baker, Henry Crowley, George Stockwell, George 1. Ruberg, Thomas Wrinkle, B. L. Tuck, and J. II. Par- melee, the latter being the present pastor (1879).

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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. II, Part 43

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

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