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 65
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1856 .- David Mowry, Chester Suverauce, F. W. Carlton.
1857 .- David Mowry, Henry Sheldon, Samuel Newton. 1858-59 .- David Mowry, Heury Sheldon, S. C. Brown. 1×60 .- Jesse Heury, Edward Denison, Chester Severance, 1-61-63 .- David Mowry, Oliver Chapin, Russell Richmond. 1864 .- Henry Sheldon, Edward Denison, Zadock King.
1×65 .-- Oliver Chapin, A. J. Denison, Zadock King. 1866-67 .- David Mowry, A. J. Denison, Henry Sheldon. 1868-69 .- D. N. Carpenter, A. J. Denison, Henry Sheldon.
1870,-D. N. Carpenter, Oliver Chapin, Henry Sheldon.
1871 .- D. N. Carpenter, David Mowry, C. W. Severance. 1872 .- D. N. Carpenter, Henry Sheldon, C. W. Severance. 1873 .- D. N. Carpenter, David Mowry.
1874 .- D. N. Carpenter, David Mowry, C. W. Severance.
1875,-D. N. Carpenter, Davil Mowry, Oliver Chapin.
1×76 .- S. B. Buddington, A. J. Denison, Oliver Chapin.
1877 .- D. N. Carpenter, C. W. Severance, Oliver Chapin.
1878 .- D. N. Carpenter, C. W. Severance, David Mowry.
TOWN CLERKS,
Alphons Barstow, 1784-87; Andrew Henry, 1788; Alpheus Barstow, 1789-97; Lemuel Foster, 1798; Alphens Barstow, 1799-1801 ; Joseph Babcock (2d), 1802-4 ; Joseph Shephardson, 1805-7; Asa Hebard, 1808; Nathaniel Carpenter, JJr., 1809; Benjamin Green, 1810 ; Nathaniel Carpenter, Jr., 1811; Benjamin Green, 1x12-14; John Barstow, 1815-20: Hezekiah Newcomb, 1821-22; Renben Sheldon, Jr., 1823- 25; John Barstow, 1826-29; Briggs Putter, 1830; Albert G. Green, 1831-32; Hurace Potter, 1833; Willard A. Wilkins, 1834-39; E. W. Packer, 1840-67; David Mowry, INGS; T. T. Darling, Jr., 1869-79.
REPRESENTATIVES AT THE GENERAL COURT.
Between the year 1809 (when Leyden was incorporated as a town) and the year 1857 (when it became a part of Repre- sentative Distriet No. 1), it was represented at the General Court by the following in succession :
Hezekiah Newcomb, Selah Chapin. Jr., George Mowry, Elisha Chapin, Hezekiah Newcomb, Jr., Rufus Hastings, John Barstow, Renben Shellon, David N. Carpen- ter, Jesse llenry, E. W. Packer, S. L. Shattuck, F. W. Carlton.
VILLAGES. LEYDEN CENTRE
is the only village in the town having a post-office. It oceu- pies a commanding position upon a lofty eminence, whence the view of the surrounding country is expansive and inviting.
The only church building in the town is located here, and in this building is a hall used for town-meetings, lyceum debates, etc. Here is, too, the Glen Spring Cheese factory-building, unused, however, at present. There is also a store at this point, -the only store in Leyden.
BEAVER MEADOW SETTLEMENT, in the northeast, is also a small rural village, and, as in Leyden Centre, the inhabitants have surrounded their homes with many evidences of taste as well as comfort.
CHURCHES.
No action touching church affairs seems to have been taken until the year 1785, when the district discussed the question of building a meeting-house, but nothing was done. In 1789 the subject was revived, and there was some talk about selling the ministry lands for the purpose of building a meeting-house, but, as before, the discussion was fruitless. In 179] there was another revival of the matter, when it was decided that no meeting-house should be built. Previous to that date, how- ever, in July, 1780, a Baptist Church was organized. The members of the church worshiped probably in Coleraine, as well as in dwelling-houses at home, until the ereetion, by a company of individuals called " the meeting-house proprie- tors," of a church building in Leyden, in 1797. In 1796 the district again took up the church question and voted to build a meeting-house, 46 feet long by 36 feet wide, with two " good and convenient stories,"
There was a protracted discussion touching the place the house should occupy, and, after appointing local committees to fix upon a site and rejecting their reports, a committee from neighboring towns was solicited for the purpose of ad- justing the difficulty, but the report of this committee, too, was rejected ; and, after more wrangling, it was eventually decided to raise £350 to build a meeting-house, and to locate it near where the Leyden church now stands. A committee, consisting of l'eleg Babcock, John Buddington, and Ezra Fos- ter, was chosen to procure the timber; but lo, after the timber was obtained and conveyed to the appointed ground, the dis- triet concluded to abandon the meeting-house project. Shortly thereafter, in 1797, a number of persons, eoncluding that the district would never build a house, purchased the timbers, and, without further delay, erected a church edifice upon one of the highest points of ground in Leyden, half a mile west of where the present church stands, and near where Mr. John Newcomb now lives. Not long after the completion of the meeting- house, the district voted to raise $1000 to purchase it, but almost immediately reconsidered the vote ; and that, it appears, was the final effort made by the district to obtain a house of worship.
The people in Leyden at this time were chiefly Baptists, and they began, therefore, to worship in the new meeting-house, which was, however, known as the Leyden meeting-house then, and always thereafter ; and by that designation too, it may be observed, the present meeting-house has been known since its erection, in 1841. Previous to 1796, Elder Joseph Green preached for some years to the Baptists in Leyden. The district records set forth that, in April, 1798, " Eller Asa Hebard, with his family, enme to Leyden from Putney, Vt., and took pastoral care of the church and people of said Ley- den." Elder Hebard preached to the people until his death, which occurred in 1830. During his ministrations, Bap- tists, Congregationalists, Methodists, and Universalists wor- shiped in the meeting-house and under his teachings. Shortly after his death, the Baptist Church being dissolved, no effort was made to continue preaching in the meeting-house, which, after remaining unused for a long time, was torn down about the year 1850. Although the Baptists were largely in the ma- jority in the early days, there is now (1879) but one person- Lura Worden-of that persuasion in the town.
Early in this century the Methodists in Leyden began to have occasional public worship, sometimes in dwellings,
1828 .- Josiah Avery (20), E. Chapin (2), Jesse Henry. 1829 .- Josiah Avery (21), Geo. Mowry, Elijah Brown. 1:30 .- Josiah Avery (24), Geo. Mowry, Hezekiah Newcomb.
757
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
and at times in groves and barns. A church organization was effected in 1810, but no church building was used by the organization until 1841, when the present Leyden meet- ing-house, erceted in that year, was occupied. A Universalist Society was organized in Leyden in 1830, but endured only three years. Thirty-four years afterward, in January, 1867, the Universalist Church of Leyden was organized with 24 members. The Leyden meeting-house is used by the Uni- versalists and Methodists. The latter, whose pastor, in 1879, was Rev. Emery Howard, occupy the house three Sabbaths of each month, while the Universalists, who depend for preach- ing upon periodical supplies, occupy one Sabbath each month.
No Congregational society or church has ever been organ- ized within the town,-a singular circumstance, since the Orthodox or Congregational Church was the first established in the carly settlements of nearly all the towns in western Massachusetts.
SCHOOLS.
Not much can be written touching the early history of schools in Leyden, since the public records make seareely any reference to educational matters. The reason for this is found in the fact that shortly after the incorporation of Leyden the district was divided into four school districts, and each school district was charged with the conduet of its own educational interests. The only publie appropriation for the support of schools for many years after its incorporation was in 1789, when £50 were set apart for the purpose.
There are now (1879) five school districts in the town, and for the support of schools in 1878 seven hundred dollars were appropriated. The daily attendance of pupils at the public schools in that year was about one hundred. An excellent select school at Leyden Centre has been well supported for many years.
BURIAL-PLACES.
Although the first distriet burying-ground was established in 1788, there was a burying-place at Beaver Meadow as early as 1776. The one first referred to is probably the ground south of Leyden Centre, on the Greenfield road. Besides this ceme- tery there are three others in the town : one at Beaver Meadow, one in the west, and one near Frizzel ITill. Among the oldest tombstone inscriptions are the following : Priscilla Budding- ton, 1798; Mary Henry, 1797; Mary Ellis, 1802; Matthew Severance, 1801; Reul Severance, 1800; Robert Corss, 1800; Azell Washburn, 1805 ; Sally Corss, 1804 ; Elizabeth Morton, 1805; Cephas Severance, 1807; Miranda Severance, 1707; Mchitable Severance, 1805; Mary Morton, 1808; Capt. John Budington, 1810.
INDUSTRIES.
Although Leyden is an execedingly hilly town, it contains much excellent farming-land, and many of its farmers have
grown wealthy upon the fruits of their agricultural labors. It is a natural fruit-and-grass region, and of these products the annual yield is large. Much attention is paid to the raising of stock and the manufacture of butter and cheese. The " Glen Spring Cheese-Factory" was erected at Leyden Centre in 1870, but the enterprise did not prosper, and in 1876 it was abandoned. The general character of the soil is loamy, and it has yielded profitable crops of tobacco, but very little of the " weed" is now grown in the town. Leyden was also quite famous at one time for sheep-raising, and produced yearly large quantities of wool. The only manufactories in the town in 1879 were three saw-mills and three grist-mills. In 1875 the products of the manufactories were valued at $2454, and the value of the agricultural and domestic products $95,260. The total assessed valuation in 1878 was $194,378, of which $163,912 was on real estate. The total tax-State, county, and town-was $3138.01, a rate of about $1.60 per $100.
MILITARY.
LEYDEN REBELLION RECORD.
The following list of soldiers who served during the war of 1861-05 is taken from the adjutant-general's report :
Elijah Brown, enl. Oct. 11, 1862, 52d Regt., Co. A; disch. Ang. 14, 1863.
Edwin C. Newton, eul. Oct. 2, 1802, 520 liegt., Co. A.
John W. Buddington, 2d lient., enl. Oct. 11, 1862, 52d Regt., Co. B; disch, Ang. 14, 1×63.
Uriah T. Darling, corp., enl. Oct. 11, 1862, 52d Regt., Co. B; dischi. Aug. 14, 1863.
Simon 8. Keet, mus., enl. Oct. 11, 1862, 52d Regt., Co. B; disch. Aug. 14, 1863. Albert R. Robertson, enl. Oct. 11, 1862, 52d Regt., Co. B; disch. Aug. 14, 1863. James P'. Robertson, cul. Oct. 11, 1862, 520 Regt., Co. B; disch. Aug. 14, 1863. Samuel C. Severance, enl. Oct. 11, 1862, 52d Kegt., Co. B; disch, Ang. 14, 1863. W'in. Il. Severance, enl. Oct. 11, 1862, 52dl Regt., Co. B ; disch. Aug. 14, 1863. Ezra A. Shattuck, enl. Oct. 11, 1862, 5211 Regt., Co. B; disch. Aug. 14, 1863. Charles Conners, enl. Dec. 24, 1864, Ist R. H. A.
W'm. O. Cook, enl. Jan. 22, 1864, 1st Cav., Co. E; disch. June 26, 1865.
Chas. S. Babcock, eul. March 12, 1862, Co. 1, 21st Inf .; disch. to re-enlist March 15, 1864.
Reuben W. De Wolfe, sergt., enl. Sept. 20, 1861, Co. C, 27th Inf .; disch. Nov. 5, 1562, for disability.
David C. Mowry, corp., eul. Sept. 13, 18GI, Co. C, 27th Inf .; died Det. 10, 1862, at Washington, N. C.
l'eter F. Baker, enl. Sept. 20, 1861, Co. C, 27th Inf .; died Feb. 4, 1×62, at An- napolis, MIJ.
Frank C. Brown, enl. Aug. 4, 1862, Co. C, 27th Int .; died Oct. 8, 1862, at Wash- ington, D. C.
Eugene T. Morey, enl. Sept. 13, 1861, Co. (, 27th Inf.
Ilaut E. Morey, enl. Ang. 4, 1862, Co. C, 27th Inf. ; disch. May, 1865.
Franklin D. Hamilton, enl, Feb. 29, 1864, C'o. B, 28th Inf .; disch, June 1, 1865. Calvin L. Hamilton, enl. March 3, 1864, Co. D, 28th Inf .; disch. June 1, 1865.
J'hilip Hayes, el. Dec. 24, 1864, Co. A, 37th luf. ; trans. June 20, 1865, to 20th Inf.
W'in. B. Wood, enl. Ang. 13, 1864, Co. II, 37th Inf .; disch, May 16, 1865, for dis- ability.
1 Wmn. Owen, enl. Dec. 24, 1864, 54tlı Inf.
SHUTESBURY.
GEOGRAPHICAL.
SAUTESBURY, like a majority of the towns of castern Franklin, covers a hilly region, and ineludes within its borders many elevations of more than ordinary magnitude. It oecu- pies one of the southeastern sections of Franklin County, and by the projectimm of its southern border makes a conspicuous break, and the only one in the otherwise straight line de- scribed on that portion of the southern border of Franklin. It is bounded on the north by Wendell, on the south by Hampshire County, on the. cast by New Salem and Hamp- shire County, and on the west by Leverett and Hampshire County. It is untouched by railways, nor is it possessed of water-courses more important thau mountain streams. The
town contains about 20 square miles of territory, covering 16,120 acres.
NATURAL FEATURES. '
The surface of the town is rocky and mountainous, and of its many prominent elevations, Morse Hill, which overlooks Lock's village in the northwest, is the greatest. Near here a species of mineral called molybdenite is found, and here also may be seen in profusion immense rocky bowlders, of which it is the popular belief that they were conveyed to their pres- ent resting-places, by a vast but remote upheaval of nature, from some distant quarter .* East of Lock's Pond and near the
* They are simply relics of the great drift period. See geological chapter, in the general history.
758
HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.
northern boundary of the town is Mount Mineral Spring, famous in days gone by as a place of resort for invalids, and believed to possess remarkable curative properties. Its chief ingredient is muriate of lime, with which it is strongly im- pregnated.
A fine large hotel was kept at this point for several years, up to 1876, when it was destroyed by fire, and since that time the property has been abandoned, although measures were afoot in the winter of 1878 looking to its restoration. The' company owning the property, known as the Mount Mineral Spring Company, was incorporated in 1867.
A mineral spring possessing similar properties was discov- cred about the year 1808, in the village of Shutesbury Centre, and a hotel built upon the spot, and still known as the Pool Tavern, was for years much visited by invalids from far and near. An earth-cave filled the well some time ago, and since then the Pool Tavern has been used as a private dwelling.
Shutesbury has long been noted for the healthfulness of its climate, and instances of extreme longevity among its inhab- itants are plentiful, one of its citizens, Ephraim Pratt, having reached the remarkable age of upward of one hundred and sixteen years.
Swift River, furnishing good water-power, fringes the east- ern border of the town, and Roaring Brook performs similar but less important service, while in the northwest Lock's Pond is a noticeable natural feature. Gravel and sand are the char- acteristics of the soil, and of woodland there is a great abun- dance. Soapstone has been found, but not in quantity sufficient to warrant the business of quarrying it.
The hills of Shutesbury offer charming displays of wildly picturesque scenery, and the region is much visited in sum- mer and autumn by tourists as well as by those who seek the beneficial effects of a salubrious climate.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
About the year 1783, 95 persons, a majority of whom re- sided in Lancaster, constructed a public highway from that town to the Connecticut River, and upon the plea that their private enterprise, effected at considerable cost, had resulted in great publie benefit in shortening the distance from certain towns in Hampshire County to Boston, they joined in a pe- tition to the General Court asking for an appropriation of lands to recompense them for their outlay. The petition was presented by William Richardson, and on Dec. 11, 1734, the House of Representatives ordered " that the petition be granted and the petitioners allowed and empowered by a surveyor and chainman, on oath, to survey and lay out a tract of the un- appropriated lands of this province of the contents of six miles square." The conditions of the grant were that it should em- brace land near the highway laid out by the petitioners, that four years after the return and acceptance of the plat 60 fam- ilies should be settled, and that cach family should build a house 18 feet square and 7 feet stud, and clear and break four acres of land for tillage and four acres for English grass. The settlers were also to lay out a lot for the first settled minister, one for the ministry, and one for a school, to build a meeting- house, to settle a learned and orthodox minister, and to fit the road, upon which the grant was based, for a cart-way,-all to be done within the space of four years. The council declined to concur in the order then, but did so in 1735, and on the 13th of May of that year the proprietors held their first meeting, in Lancaster, at the house of William Richardson. Capt. Oliver Wilder was chosen moderator, and Jonathan Iloughton pro- prietors' clerk.
As before noted, the original petition to the General Court bore the names of ninety-five persons, as follows :
Benjamin Ballard, Oliver Wilder, Ezra Sawyer, Joshua Church, Nathaniel Wilder, Richard Wilde, Peter Atherton, John Goes, William Gloss, Jonathan HJoughton, Samuel Sawyer, Joseph Moore, Nathaniel Sawyer, Jonathan Osgood, John Wilder, Jr., John Fletcher, Josiah Richardson, Shubael Bayley, Ebenezer Pulley, Benjamin Houghton, Jr., Ephraim Wilder, Jr., James Ross, Benjamin
Atherton, Thomas Sawyer, Naham Willard, Gamaliel Beaman, Ephraim Wilder, David Osgood, Jonathan Powers, Daniel Rugg. Joshua Houghton, Benjamin Houghton, Thomas Fairbank, Hezekiah Gatrs, Daniet Albert, John lingg, Joseph Beunett, Peter Joslin, Nathaniel Carter, Hezekiah Whitcomb, William Richardson, Joshua Oagood, Josiah Osgood, Fairbank Moore, Hooker Osgood, Jr., Oliver Moore, Thomas Tooker, Daniel Houghton, Andrew Wilder. Jonathan Houghton, Jr., John Snow, Ephraim Wheeler, John Sawyer, John Whitcomb, Samuel Carter, Samuel Willard, Jr., Edward Phelps, Bezaliel Sawyer, Moses Osgond, Gardner Wilder, Josiah Willer, Abner Sawyer, Jonathan Whitcomb, Thomas Carter, Ephraim Sawyer. Jonathan Bayley, Benjamin Osgood, Jonathan Wilder, Thomas Wright, John Rugg, Ahijah Willard, John Bennett, Thomas Dix, Joshua Phelps, James Willer, Jr., Jonathan Sawyer, Benjamin Whitcomb, Thomas Wells, Dr. Thomas Wells, Jonathan Burt. John Barnard, Ebenezer Sheklon, Jonathan Dickinson, David Smith, Jonas Houghton, Bezaliel Wilder, Thomas Temde, Joseph Clary, John Toon, James Warren, Shubael Gorham, Andrew Belcher, John Little, Elisha Bighy.
At a meeting of the proprietors in October, 1735, it was voted that the persons named above, together with three asso- ciates,-to wit, Col. Job Amey, Thomas Dudley, and John Chandler,-be declared the proprietors of the new township in equal parts, each paying an equal proportion of the past charges, and being subject to the conditions of the grant re- specting the settlement, Joseph Clary and Thomas Wells being alone excused from said obligations. The tract secured by the petitioners in the grant was more than six miles square, and included, besides the tract now covered by Shutesbury, the southern portion of the present town of Wendell, and a strip of land set off on the east to New Salem. It was about ten miles long, and six miles wide at its widest part.
At the first meeting of the proprietors, in May, 1735, a com- mittee was appointed to lay out the tract in lots to be appor- tioned to the proprietors, no one of whom, however, was to draw his lot until he had paid into the common treasury £5 10s. for past and future charges. From this payment Col.' Dudley and Andrew Belcher were relieved on account of ser- vices rendered the proprietors. By reason of the grant being made on account of a highway the place was first called Road- town, and that name it retained until the incorporation of the town.
Lots were drawn by the proprietors, Oct. 30, 1735, and in the proprietors' record of the assignment of lots it is shown that 50 persons agreed to settle upon the lots drawn by them, but who of them actually settled it is difficult to determine from the records. Many of them did not settle as they agreed to, and the proprietors, as will be hereafter shown, used urgent measures to compel them to do so. Forty-four of the persons who drew lots chose to be relieved from the obligation of set- tling, and were thus relieved by giving the proprietors their notes at two years, pledging the payment of £18 each for the concession, it being understood that the money received for the notes was to be used in building a meeting-house. After the apportionment of lots and the payment of all debts the treasury of the proprietors had on hand a surplus of £119 138. ' The first actual settlers were undoubtedly Jonathan Burt and Bezaliel Wilder. Each was granted a lot, conditioned " that he build a house upon it and dwell therein as a settler by May, 1737." The road from Lancaster to Sunderland was, according to the order of the General Court, improved and cleared in 1735, and in this work the proprietors paid for labor Ts. per day to cach man, " he to find his own subsistence."
In the assignment of lots, a tract of 500 acres lying south of the road from Lancaster to Sunderland was reserved for the use of the then governor, Andrew Belcher. This tract was known as " the governor's farm," and out of it the governor deeded 4 acres adjoining the road to the inhabitants of Road- town " for the building of the meeting-house and school- house, and for a burying-place and training-field, forever." Besides Burt and Wilder, Thomas Temple, John Barnard, Benjamin Houghton, the Osgoods, and the Sawyers settled as carly as 1737.
A saw-mill was built on the south branch of Roaring Brook in 1737 by Jonathan Burt, Bozaliel Wilder, Nathan Farrar, and James Wilder, who, as an encouragement thereto, were
1.
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
759
granted 20 acres of land and £50. The saw-mill proprietors were to furnish the settlers good pine boards at 40s. per thou- sand for ten years, or "saw to the halves," or for 20s., the settlers finding the logs.
The proprietors' meetings were held in Lancaster until Sept. 6, 1738, and after that they were held in Roadtown, the first one being at Jonathan Burt's house, June 6, 1739. From this fact it would seem that by the latter date there must have been a considerable settlement in Roadtown.
In 1740 the proprietors, seeing that many persons who had agreed to settle upon the tract had neglected to do so, peti- tioned the General Court for measures to compel the delin- quents to fulfill their obligations. Several of those, too, who had given their notes to be free from obligations to settle, had refused to pay the notes at maturity, and suits were instituted against them.
In 1744 it was agreed that timber which should fall and lie twelve months unclaimed should be "any man's." In this year 15s. were assessed upon each original right, to defray the charges of the ensuing year.
In 1743, Bezaliel Sawyer was granted 120 acres of land to encourage him in the building of a corn-mill, but, he failing to ratify the contract, the grant was transferred to Benjamin Harris in 1747, and in that year Mr. Harris built a grist-mill in the southeast part of Roadtown, on what was known as Harris' Brook. In 1754, Jonas Lock built a grist-mill at what is now known as Lock's Pond.
Roads were built in 1756 from the meeting-house to the north line of the tract, from the meeting-house to the south line, and from New Salem west line to Sunderland east line. On these roads men were paid 28. per day for labor. In 1758 the Quarter Sessions was applied to for a county road through Roadtown, and in that year another effort was made, by peti- tion to the General Court, to compel those who had promised but failed to settle to do their duty in the matter. A road was opened in the north end in 1756, another in 1763, and in 1766 there was one from the north line tu Caleb Whitney's, and one from Oliver Wetherbee's to the middle county road. The non-settling proprietors caused much vexation, and in 1765 they were proceeded against to compel them to settle, but with what success is not recorded. Two of Roadtown's early set- tlers-Richard and James Wilde-enlisted at Northfield, 1760, in Capt. Salah Barnard's company, and marched in Gen .. Amherst's army upon Montreal, which. in September of that year, passed, with the entire province of Canada, into the possession of the British crown.
NOTEWORTHY INCIDENTS.
The town never suffered from Indian depredations, but as a precautionary measure a fort was built in 1748, near the residence of Rev. Abraham Ilill, and his house picketed. The fort occupied a site close to where Mr. J. Hayden now lives, about a half-mile north of Shutesbury Centre.
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