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 48
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At the next water-power above, Clark Fuller, A. Sears, and others have had saw-mills and turning-shops, and, west of this place, John Miller and C. Peck erected lumber-mills. South- ward, on King's Brook, Horace Thayer built a turning-shop, which is now operated by the Larrabees; and above, on the same stream, Warriner King had a saw-mill, which is yet operated, and a wooden-ware shop, which has been abandoned. Still farther above, near the Hampshire line, is an excellent water-power, which formerly operated saw- and grist-mills, belonging to King, Crittenden, Rice, and others. About 1840, L. Hallock became the proprietor of these privileges, and put up a large tannery, which for a time did a good business ; but nothing has been done here for many years past.
On Clesson's Brook, Levi Eldridge erected a saw-mill about 1812, which has since been carried on by his family ; and be- low that power was another mill, owned by Joshua Vincent and Healy Newton. Another abandoned mill-site was im- proved by Abraham Parker, near the old meeting-house, and on Bozralı Brook were also small powers, employed to operate clothing-works and shops. A saw-mill is here carried on by Charles Crittenden. The foregoing industries employed many persons, and their discontinuance has been a prominent eause of the diminished population.
706
HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.
STORES AND POST-OFFICES.
There is no village in the town, and the stores and post- offices are kept in the eastern and the western parts, in the neighborhood of the churches. Soon after 1800 an attempt was made to found a village in the vicinity of the old church, and here was opened the first store, by Joseph Hubbard. This stand was afterward occupied by Joshua, William, and Cal- vin S. Longley in the order named ; and they were also the postmasters while the office remained here. Some time before 1830, William Sanford had an opposition store and tavern across the way from the Longley place, where was also kept a tavern. At that time there were also several mechanic shops, and the place had a promising future, which came to a sudden termination by the location of the churches elsewhere.
At East Hawley merchandising was begun about 1833, by Whitney Hitchcock and Jonas Jones. They were succeeded by Lucius L. Clark, and he by William Longley and Leonard Campbell. Calvin S. Longley becoming the proprietor, elosed his business at the old stand and moved here with the Hawley post-office. Both the store and office are now kept by Edwin Seott. A tri-weekly mail is supplied from Shelburne Falls.
The West Hawley office was established in 1861, at the house of Willis Vincent, where it has since been kept, receiv- ing three mails per week from Charlemont. In this part of the town stores have been kept by IJarvey Baker, Aaron Ayers, Clark Fuller, and Fuster King, the latter still in business,
About 1830 the South Hawley post-office was established at the house of Col. Noah Joy, an innkeeper. It was afterward in charge of Nelson Joy, Levi Holden, and Henry Clark. While the latter owned the house it was burned, and the office was suspended about 1862.
After 1800 a Dr. Forbes located as a physician in town, living on the place now occupied by J. W. Doane. After his death his widow married Dr. Moses King, who was a prac- ticing physician in Hawley from 1820 till 1849. In the same period Drs. George Hill and Charles Knowlton were also practitioners. Since 1850 there has been no resident physician.
SCHOOLS.
In 1792, £30 were voted for the support of schools, and Ed- mund Longley, Abel Parker, Amos Crittenden, Zebedee Wood, Abel Warner, Ebenezer Hall, and Jonathan Fuller were chosen a committee to divide the town into school districts. Three years later £60 was voted and the following persons appointed to build school-houses : District No. 1, Reuben Cooley, Zenas Bangs, Ebenezer Hall; No. 2, Joseph Lathrop, Ichabod Hawks; No. 3, Elijah Hammond, Asa Blood, Asher Russell ; No. 4, Hezekiah Warriner, Samuel Hitchcock, David Parker; No. 5, Arthur Hitchcock, Phineas Scott; No. 6, Eben- ezer Borland, John Campbell ; No. 7, Thomas King, Simeon Crittenden.
" Voted that the several school-houses be built fit to keep a winter school in by the first of November next."
In 1878 the town appropriated $1000 for the support of schools, and the committee, composed of Messrs. I. S. Barton, Charles Crittenden, and J. W. Doane, reported eight districts in which schools of six months each had been taught. The number attending school was 164, and the average attendance 138.
RELIGHOUS SOCIETIES.
The formation of the first society antedates the organization of the town about fourteen years. On the 16th of September, 1778, at a council called for this purpose, at which were pres- ent the Revs. Nehemiah Porter and Jacob Sherwin, of Ash- field, Jonathan Leavitt, of Charlemont, and John Emerson, of Conway, was formed
THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN HAWLEY.
The articles of faith and covenant were signed by Thomas King, Nathaniel Rudd, Daniel Burt, Silas Hitchcock, Samuel
Hitchcock, Abel Parker, Daniel Parker, Benjamin Smith, Nathaniel Parker, Josiah Graves, Mary Burt, Mary Hitch- cock, Phebe Parker, Sarah Parker, Thankful Hitchcock, Martha Parker, Rebecca Parker, Abigail Graves, Sarah Cooley, and Elizabeth Smith.
The following additional names are reported : 1779, Na- thaniel Hitchcock, Thomas King, Jr., JJane Gilmore, Timothy Baker, Widow Sarah Strickland, Mrs. Noah Cooley ; 1780, Luey King, Elizabeth Taylor; 1781, Phineas Scott, Mrs. Hosea Curtis. From 1781 to 1793 the records are lost ; 1794, Cath- arine Warriner, Jonathan Spafford, Edward Porter, Wm. Farnsworth, Deborah Farnsworth, Noah Cooley, Jr., Asa Blood, Rhoda Blood, Elijah Harmon, Israel Clark, Dorcas Clark ; 1794, Mary Longley, Molly Crosby, Elijah Ford, Merey King, Phebe Crowell ; 1795, Sarah Longley, Joshua Scott, Rolland Sears, Thankful Sears, Nathan West, Sarah West, Martha Ruddock, Noah Pixley, Lydia Pixley, Zenas Bangs, Ruth Bangs; 1796, Urbane Hitchcock, A. Hall, Jotham Clark, Moses Clark ; 1797, Lucy Longley, Stephen Jenkins, Amos Marsh, Josiah Wilcox, Priscilla Sears, Polly Grout, Rufus Baker ; 1798, Elijah Field, Daniel Smith, John Farnsworth, Rebecca Hall, Mrs. Samuel Nims, and Mrs. Moses Clark.
The first meetings were held in dwellings and barns, and the Rev. Jacob Sherwin, of Ashfield, was the preacher, although not having a regular appointment. In 1792 the town voted to have preaching, and that half the meetings should be held at Col. Longley's, and the rest at the house of Abraham Parker; and £20 were voted to support the gospel. This year measures were taken to build a meeting-house, and Samuel Taylor, of Buckland, Aaron Rice, of Charlemont, and Wm. Wood were appointed a committee to pitch a meeting- house spot. After much controversy, it was decided in 1796 to build the meeting-house on 22 aeres of ground purchased of Abraham Parker, " who reserved the spruce growing on the same when the lot shall be cleared up." The house was " to be 40 by 50 feet, and to be built by Joseph Longley, Ed- ward Longley, Thomas King, Nathan West, and Hezekiah Warriner."
This house was used until 1824, when it was replaced by another edifice, near the old spot. In 1847 the present house of worship was built, in the southeastern part of the town. It is surmounted by a tower, and has a basement for vestry purposes. The house presents an attractive appearance, and has ample accommodations for 250 persons.
On the 23d of October, 1793, the Rev. Jonathan Grout was ordained the first pastor of the church, and continued in that relation until his death, June 6, 1835. A few years previous to that event he had the assistance of a colleague. He was born in Westboro' in 1763, and graduated from Cambridge in 1790, receiving his license to preach Aug. 7, 1792. His entire ministerial life, consequently, was spent in Hawley. The people whom he so long served erected a fine tombstone to his memory, bearing this epitaph :
"This stone was erected by the first parish in Ilawley to the memory of the Rev. Jonathan Gront, who departed this life June 6, 1835, in the 73d year of his age, and the 42d of his ministry. He was the first minister in Hawley. Great unanimity among his people prevailed during the ministry of this devoted ser- vant of Christ."
The Rev. Tyler Thatcher was installed the second pastor, May 14, 1834, and was dismissed Jan. 31, 1843. He was a native of Princeton, where he was born Sept. 11, 1801, and his ancestors for ten successive generations had been minis- ters. He graduated from Brown University in 1824, and was licensed to preach in 1825.
After Mr. Thatcher's connection had been dissolved the church was without a pastor six years, and was supplied four years by the Rev. John Eastman and two years by the Rev. William A. Hawley. The third and present pastor, the Rev. llenry Seymour, was installed Oet. 3, 1849, and has since been
707
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
its faithful minister. He was born in Hadley, Oct. 20, 1816, and graduated from Amherst in 1838, finishing his studies at the Union Theological Seminary, New York, in 1842.
The original membership of the church was much augmented by frequent revivals. In 1807, 33 were added; in 1831, 64; in 1832, 31; and in 1816 the large number of 118. In that year the membership was reported at 265.
In 1825, 19 male and 25 female members were dismissed to form the West Hawley Church, and the following year only 179 were reported.
The members in 1878 were: males 28, females 48; non-resi- dent, 17. A Sunday-school, organized in 1819, has been pretty successfully maintained since, and is at present super- intended by Enos Harmon. It has 60 members. The church clerk is S. A. Clark.
THE WEST HAWLEY CHURCHI
was organized Aug. 24, 1825, to accommodate the people liv- ing in that part of the town, and embraced, originally, the 44 members that had withdrawn from the First Church for this purpose. In 1831 the membership was increased by 12, the fruits of a revival, and in 1843 a like number was added from the same source. In 1878 there were reported 18 male and 23 female members, of whom 7 were non-resident. The church clerk was Willis Vincent, and the deacon Samuel Williams. This office was held by Ebenezer Hall and Zenas Bangs, and at later periods by Samuel Hall and Ebenezer Crosby.
For the first fifteen years of its existence the church was de- pendent on ministerial supplies, the Revs. Urbane Hitchcock, Dr. Packard, T. Packard, Jr., Anson Dyer, and JJoshua Croshy serving in this relation. The Rev. Moses Miller was installed as the first pastor, May 20, 1840, and retained his connection until Oct. 20, 1846. He was, prior to this settlenient, the pastor of the church in Heath, and is mentioned at greater length in a sketch of that town.
After a vacancy of a little more than a year, the pulpit was again occupied by a regular pastor. The Rev. John Eastman was installed Nov. 11, 1847, and continued with the church about eight years. He was born at Amherst, July 19, 1803, and had the honorary degree of A. M. conferred on him by the college of that place in 1851. He was licensed by the Frank- lin association in 1833, and ordained as an evangelist the fol- lowing year. After he left the church, the Revs. Lewis Bridgman, Joseph Baldwin, Robert Connell, Robert Samuels, John Eastman, and Lincoln Harlow supplied this people, the interest not being strong enough to maintain a regular pastor.
The first meeting-house was erected in 1825, and used until 1847, when the present structure was built. Repairs made subsequently render it a very comfortable place of worship.
No other church has been formally organized in town, al- though preaching has been maintained by the Methodists and other denominations. The town, however, has produced a long list of ministers, who are briefly sketched below.
THE CONGREGATIONAL CLERGYMEN
have been as follows :
Rev. Urbane Hitchcock was born in Hawley in 1782; grad- uated at Williams in 1806 ; was ordained to the ministry at Dover, Vt., in 1808.
Rev. Jonas King, D.D., was born in Hawley, July 29, 1792; read the Bible through before he was six years old, and every year thereafter; graduated at Williams College in 1816; studied theology at Andover; was ordained an evangelist in Charlestown in 1819; went as a missionary with Pliny Fisk
1
to Jerusalem in 1823; and in 1828 became a missionary to Greece, where his labors in behalf of the struggling Greeks attracted much attention, and resulted in promoting the wel- fare of the oppressed inhabitants.
Rev. Pindar Field was born in Sunderland, May 1, 1794, but removed to Hawley the following year ; studied at Wil- liams, but graduated at Amherst in 1822, and was licensed December, 1824.
Rev. Isaac Oakes was born in Hadley, June 10, 1795; grad- uated at Williams in 1820, and was ordained at Salem in 1823.
Rev. Thomas II. Wood was born at Bozrah, Conn., in 1772, but removed with his parents to Hawley in 1775; graduated at Williams in 1779, and was licensed to preach in 1803; he died in 1846.
Rev. Marshall L. Farnsworth was born in Hawley in 1799; graduated at Union in 1825, and was soon thereafter licensed. He died at Danby, N. Y., in 1838.
Rev. Oliver A. Taylor was born at Yarmouth, Aug. 18, 1801, but became a resident of Hawley when he was two years old. His parents were poor and unable to educate their chil- dren, but gave them the example of devout, consistent lives, and encouraged them in their efforts to educate themselves, with what success is shown by the four ministers the family pro- duced. At the age of twenty , Oliver started to walk five hun- dred miles to enter Allegheny College, l'a., but graduated at Union in 1825; studied at Andover, completing in 1829, and was licensed in April that year. He became very learned, and died in 1851.
Rev. Timothy A. Taylor was born in Hawley, Sept. 7, 1809; graduated at Amherst in 1835, and at Andover in 1838. Rev. Rufus Taylor was born in Ilawley, March 24, 1811; graduated at Amherst in 1837, and at Princeton in 1840.
Rev. Jeremiah Taylor, the fourth brother of this noted family, was born at Hawley, June 11, 1817; graduated at Amherst in 1843, and at Princeton in 1847.
Rev. Alvah C Page was born in Hawley, March 17, 1806; and was ordained as an evangelist at Charlemont in 1831.
Rev. Thomas A. Hall was born in Hawley, Sept. 2, 1813 ; graduated at Williams in 1838, and was licensed in 1840.
Rev. O. W. Cooley was born in Hawley, June 18, 1816 ; graduated at Williams in 1841, and was licensed in 1845.
Rev. Foster Lilley was born in Hawley, June 6, 1812; graduated at Williams in 1838, and was licensed in 1840.
Rev. Alfred Longley was born in Hawley, Nov. 10, 1809; studied at Oberlin, and was licensed in 1843. He died March 16, 1851.
Rev. Moses M. Longley was born in Hawley, June 14, 1815, studied at Amherst, and graduated at Oberlin in 1845. He was ordained an evangelist in 1846.
Rev. Elijah Harmon, a native of Hawley, graduated at Amherst, and is the pastor of a church in New Hampshire.
Rev. Joseph Longley became a Congregational minister, but died before he had engaged in pastoral labors.
As Methodists, the Revs. Judah Croshy, Silas Leonard, and Proctor Marsh originated from Hawley.
Josiah Hunt and Henry F. Sears, natives of the town, grad- uated at Amherst, and became successful teachers.
MILITARY.
HAWLEY REBELLION RECORD.
The following is a list of those who served in the Union army during the war of 1861-65:
Wm. J. Doane, enl. Sept. 4, 1862, Co. E, 52d Regt. Geo. C. Brayman, enl. Sept. 4, '62, Co. E, 52d Regt. Henry C. Damon, enl. Sept. 4, '62, Co. E, 52d Regt. Homer F. Damon, enl. Sept. 4, '62, Co. E, 521 Regt. Edwin Warriner, enl. Sept. 4, '62, Co. E, 52J Regt. David C. Clark, enl. Sept. 4, 1862, Co. E, 52d Regt. Lucius Hunt, enl. Sept. 4, 1862, Co. E, 52d Regi.
Nathan Baker, enl. Sept. 4, 1862, Co. E, 52d Regt. Theodore Marsh, enl. Sept. 4, '62, Co. E, 52d Regt. Noah Baker, enl. Sept. 4, 1862, Co. E, 52d Regt. Edwin Baker, enl. Sept. 4, 1862, Co. E, 52d Regt. Thomas A. Hall, enl. Sept. 4, '62, Co. E, 52d Regt. Elijah Harmon, enl. Sept. 4, '62, Co. E, 52d Regt. Thaxter Scott, enl. Sept. 4, 1862, C. E', 52d Regt.
Clinton II. Dodge, enl. Sept. 4, '62, Co. D, 52d Regt. Otis B. Ward, enl. June 14, '61, Co. 1I, 10th Regt. Albert Clark, enl. April 30, '61, Co. H, 10th Regt. Newell S. Rice, enl. May 3, 1861, Co. E, 10th Regt. John II. Larrabee, en1. May 28, 1861, Co. R, 10th Regt.
Edwin B. Cobb, enl. Oct. 1, 1861, Co. C, 27th Regt.
708
HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.
Alfred b. Mantor, enl. Oct. 1, 1861, Co. C, 27th liegt : billed at Petersburg.
Francis W Mantor, enl. Oct. 1, 1861, Co. C, 27th Rept .; died in North Carolina. Lother Elly, ent. Oct. 1, 1861, Co. 0, 27th Regt, Sam. Wollenden. enl. Oct. 1, 'G1, Co. C, 27th Regt. Edmund Longley, enl. Oct. 1, 1861, Co. C, 27th Regt .; died in the service.
Jolin A. Gront, enl. July 2, 1862, Co, C, 27th Rogt. Clas. Il. White, onl. July 2, '62, Co. C, 27th Regt. Win. J. Sanford, enl. Nov. 133, 'GJ, Co. G, 31st Regt. Robert 11. Eldridge, enl. Nov. 21, 1861, Co. B, 31st Regt.
Clark F. Sprague, enl. Nov. 22, '61, Co. B, 31st Regt. Asher B. Spague, enl. Nov. 22, 1861, Co. B, 31st Regt.
Albert E Marsh, enl Nov. 22, GI, Co. B. 31st Regt. Henry C. Mason, enl. Nov. 13, '61, Co. B, 31-t Regt. Chandler Hathaway, enl. Oct. 15, 1861, Co. C, 31-t
Regt.
Erastus Henney, enl. July 24, 1862, Co. F, 34th Rest.
Chandler JJ. Blanchard, enl. July 24, 1862, Co. F, 34th Regt.
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Peter 1. Baker, enl. July 24, 1862, Co. F, 31th Regt. Alonzo Helmes, enl. July 24, 1862, Co, F, 34th Regt. Samuel M. Hall, onl. July 24, '62, Co. F, 34th Regt. Everett W. Blanchard, enl. Oct. 1863, Co. F, 34th liegt.
Freeman L. Cobb, eul. Aug. 14, 1862, Co. 11, 37th Regt.
Sidney P. Wood, enl. Ang. 14, 1862, Co. II, 37th Rent.
Edward Peck, enl. Aug. 14, 1862, Co. JI, 37th Regt.
Edmund II. Scars, enl. Aug. 14, 1862, Co. 11, 37th Regt.
Ira Lirkins, enl. Ang. 14, 1862, Co. 11, 37th Regt. Albert Vincent, enl. Ang 14, '62, C., 1, 37th R .gt. Freeman Brackett, enl. Ang. 14, 1862, Co. 11, 37th R.gt.
Alonzo F. Turner, en1. Aug. 14, 1862, Co. 11, 37th Regt.
William A. Hallock, enl. Ang. 14, 1862, Co. K, 23d Regt.
John Brown, enl. Sept. 2, 1864, Co. C, 17th Regt.
CHARLEMONT.
GEOGRAPHICAL AND TOPOGRAPHICAL.
CHARLEMONT lies on the western border of the county, south of the towns of Rowe, Heath, and Coleraine, and west of Shelburne; on the south are the towns of Hawley and Buckland, being separated from the latter by Deertiekl River. The town is chiefly on the north side of that stream, extend- ing from east to west about eleven miles, and varying from one to four miles in width. It presents an irregular shape.
The arable parts of the town are mostly along the Deerfield River, and consist of alluvial flats from 10 to 80 rods wide. Here are the best improvements, along the winding river and street, whose borders are adorned by large maple-trees, and, with the picturesque hills in the background, form one of the most charming sections in New England. The uplands are broken by high hills and intervals, trending generally north and south. They are best adapted for grazing and fruit- culture, the apple especially yielding bountifully.
The principal elevations are Mount Peak, in the southwest- ern part of the town, over 1000 feet high ; Bald Mountain, in the central part ; and Pocomptuck, in the northeast. The lat- ter is reported 1888 feet high above tidewater. Its sides are bold and rugged, and it is one of the grandest hills in the county. The surface in the western part of the town is somewhat mountainous, and here are Coon Hill, Todd's and Hawks' Mountains, and Blue-Berry Peak, all several hundred feet above the general level. The greater part of the surface of the town was formerly covered with a fine growth of tim- ber, and on the hills a liberal supply yet remains.
Deerfield River is the principal stream. It enters at the western extremity, flows southeast, and forms the southern boundary for about five miles. It is a very rapid mountain- stream, and its power cannot be advantageously employed. In Charlemont its tributary streams on the north are Pelham, Rice, Mill, Hartwell, Wilder, and Taylor Brooks; and flow- ing from the south are Cold and Chickley's Rivers and Hawks' Brook. Most of these streams have been improved to operate machinery. There is also a liberal supply of springs and small brooks, and the town has good drainage.
ORIGINAL BOUNDS, TITLES, AND PROPRIETORS.
The original town was one of three townships granted by the General Court, June 27, 1735, to the town of Boston, each of which was to be six miles square, "and to be laid out in some suitable place or places in the unappropriated lands of the Province ;" provided the town of Boston would, within five years from the confirmation of the plan of survey, by the General Court, " settle on each of said towns 60 families of his Majesty's good subjects, inhabitants of this Province, in as regular and defensible manner as the lands will admit of,
each of said 60 families to build and finish a dwelling-house on his home-lot of the following dimensions, viz. : 18 feet square and 7 feet stud at the least ; and fence and cultivate at least 5 acres of the home-lot, and be an actual resident." Five hundred aeres were to be reserved for schools, 500 for the support of the ministry, and 500 for the first minister.
A survey was accordingly made by Nathaniel Kellogg, and on the 17th of June, 1736, bis plat was laid before the General Conrt for approval. This tract of land had a southern border of 9.93 miles, an eastern of 5.32 miles, a northern of 7.54 miles, contained 23,010 acres of land, and was bounded on all sides but the east by the unappropriated lands of the prov- ince. It was styled " Boston Township, No. 1," and on the east was " Boston Township, No. 2."
The new town was known by various names, in addition to the foregoing, as Chickley's Town, Charley Mount, Chearley's Mont, etc., but, about 1740, the present term, Charlemont, was fixed upon,-in honor, it is said, of the earl of Charlemont.
Instead of carrying out the provisions of the grant, the town of Boston decided, May 3, 1787, to sell " Township No. 1," and on the 14th of July following the selectmen conveyed it to John Read, Esq., for £1020, binding him to comply with the conditions of the original grant. This obligation was, in turn, transmitted by Read to John Chickley and Gershom Keyes, to whom he conveyed, Die. 14, 1737, the whole of the township, except 1760 acres which he reserved in the north- west part of the grant. Three days later these sold to Thomas Hancock " 500 acres at least" on the east line of the township.
No other sales are recorded until Nov. 16, 1738, when Keyes made a reservation of 6000 acres for actual settlers, and sold the remainder of the unsold and unreserved township to Ben- jamin Wood, and, in December following, Chickley gave Keyes a power of attorney to deed the alove C000 acres to settlers.
In his capacity as attorney Keyes sold, April 23, 1741, to Moses Rice, of Rutland, Worcester Co., 2200 acres of land, extending from a point nearly opposite the mouth of Chickley's River down the Deerfield to a point about half a mile below the present village of Charlemont, and also 50 acres on the river, a mile farther east.
To Nathaniel Cunningham, Benjamin Clark, and Ebenezer Storer, Keyes sold 1584 acres in the northeast part of the town the same year, and on the 18th of November he sold to Phineas Stevens, of Deerfield, 500 acres, lying south of the river in the southeast part of the town, and 500 acres on the north side of the river, directly opposite. This tract of land was sold by Stevens, Nov. 3, 1742, to Othniel Taylor, of Deerfield, for the sum of £1000, old tenor .*
* The ratio of "old tenor" to legal money was as 71/2 to 1.
Photo. by Popkins,
Yogurtle Lement
The Leavitt family have been distinguished for their literary at- tainmeuts,-particularly for their independence of thought; and not the least distinguished of their members is the subject of this notice,- Roger Hooker Leavitt. Ile was born in Heath, Franklin Co., Mass., ou the 21st of July, 1805. Ilis maternal grandfather was Col. Hugh Maxwell, of Revolutionary fame. A native of Ireland, born April 27, 1733, he was but six weeks old when his parents embarked for this country. fle was a devoted patriot, and rendered his country valuable service in the French war, as well as in the Revolution. Ile married Bridget Monroe, of Lexington, by whom he had seven children.
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Mr. Leavitt is a grandson of Rev. Jonathan Leavitt, of Revolution- ary notoriety, who was born in Suffield, Conn., in 1731, graduated at Yale College in 1758, and in 1761 located in Walpole N. H., where he remained four years. At the expiration of that time he removed to Charlemont, where he spent the remainder of his life.
He married Sarah looker, of Farmington, Conn. (a descendant of Rev. Thomas Ilooker, first minister of llartford), by whom he had eleven sons and one daughter, and of these Roger, the third son, was the father of the subject of this sketch. Ile was born in Heath, on the 12th of January, 1771. His educational advantages were limited, but he possessed a mind of more than ordinary power, and a retentive memory, and, although by occupation a farmer, he was active in pub- lie service. Was a member of the Legislature four terms, served as member of the board of selectmen, and held other local offices. In 1840 he was the candidate of the Liberty party for lieutenant-governor. In religious interests as well as civil affairs he took a prominent part, and for thirty-two years was a member of the Congregational Church. He died June 1, 1840. His wife was Chloe Maxwell, whom he mar- ried on the 21st of June, 1793, and by whom he had six children, viz., Joshua, Chloe (who died in infancy), Clarissa, Chloe Maxwell, Roger flooker, and Hart.
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