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 66
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The first pound was built in 1761, 30 feet " squair, " and located near the meeting-house. About that time it was re- solved to provide constables and wardens with staves, and 3x. were appropriated for the purpose. In 1765 the town built "stocks," and in the same year empowered Joseph Lock to upply to the court of General Sessions to secure the town from any charge to which it might become exposed on account of a child of Elizabeth Wilder, born out of wedlock.
In 1767 the General Court was petitioned for relief from province taxes. In 1768 but £6 58. 8d. were raised to defray necessary town charges, and in 1769 the sum raised was £5 Gs. 8d.
The question of clearing and inclosing the burying-ground was agitated in 1763, and continued to be discussed until 1771, when it was resolved not to do the work. In 1781 the tract known as the North End was set off from Shutesbury and apportioned to the town of Wendell.
The records of 1778 refer to a Dr. Robert Cutler as a resi- dent, and it is likely that he was the first settled physician. In that year, the supply of grain threatening to give out, a committee was appointed " to search and examine every man's store of grain and corn, and to make a computation of what grain is necessary to support the town until the next English harvest, and supply each family." The committee reporting that they had found 984 bushels, and that 1182 bushels would be required to support the town until the next English har- vest, a committee was forthwith appointed to confer with other towns and come to some plan for supplying the need.
In 1779, Rev. Abraham Hill, refusing to pay his taxes, was forced to do so under threat of seizure, and he subsequently brought, in the court of Common Pleas, at Northampton, an action against the town to compel the restitution of the moneys thus obtained. In response to a citation to appear, the town transmitted to the court, through a committee, an answer setting forth that the town did not recognize the Brit- ish laws under which the court was framed, and would not submit the case to it. That was the last heard of the matter.
In 1782 the town voted not to accept the Excise Act passed by the Legislature, and in that year, too, financial pressure compelled the sale of the ministerial and school lands.
Besides the tract set off to Wendell, Shutesbury was also shorn of a tract on the east for addition to New Salem.
The first justice of the peace in the town was, probably, John Powers, Jr., who was appointed in 1783. The first birth in what is Shutesbury appears ( from the records) to have been Lucy, daughter of Jonathan Dickinson, born Nov. 9, 1746; the first death, Sarah Harris, in 1762; and the first marriage, Silent Wilde, of Shutesbury, and Eunice Strong, of Union, Conn., in 1763. It is probable that there were births, marriages, and deaths previous to these dates, but the records do not mention them.
William Ward is supposed to have been the first lawyer, one Marks the first blacksmith, and among the physicians Drs. Day and Carter flourished at an early period. The first tavern is said to have been kept by a Capt. Allen, a short dis- tance north of what is now Shutesbury Centre. It is related that a body of Shays men, passing through Shutesbury, rested at Capt. Allen's tavern, and the leader of the band, es- pying Rev. Mr. Smallidge standing near, cried out to him, " Whose side are you on ?" " Sir," returned the reverend gentleman, " I am on the side of the Lord Jesus Christ."
Capt. Samson, of Shutesbury, was one of the first to join Shays' cause, and was one of its staunchest supporters, · as was also Capt. Powers, of Shutesbury. { The Rev. John Taylor, Congregational minister, was also postmaster in 1816. An ancient structure, now standing in Shutesbury Centre next the school-house, was built by Thomas Kibbey about 1790, and there for many years he kept tavern.
The oldest person now living in the town is " Aunt" Lydia Pratt, aged ninety-six, and the widow of Jonas Pratt, who served in the war of 1812 from Shutesbury. The Hon. Paul Dillingham, Governor of Vermont in 1865, was a native of Shutesbury, and there were doubtless other natives of the town who achieved distinction, but their names are not at hand. Apropos of the war of 1812, Shutesbury protested against it, and sent William Ward as a delegate to the North- ampton anti-war convention.
REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES.
In 1773, Shutesbury gave abundant evidence of its patriotic principles in its reply to the pamphlet sent out to the towns by the committee of correspondence at Boston. In that reply the language was :
" Fully sensible as we are in this town of our inability to do anything con- sidlerable toward the support of liberty, yet we should in our esteem be greatly wanting to our country, ourselves, and posterity should we neglect or refuse to give our free sentiments at this time of the sense we have of our liberties and privileges. The inhabitants of this town are as loyal and as dutiful as any of
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HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY. .
his Majesty's subjects in Great Britain, and desire nothing more than to enjoy the same rights and privileges os those do in Great Britain, but, unhappily for Ha, we are denied them. We also view with gratitude and pleasure the noble stand the Honorable Council and House of Representatives have made in this truly critical time, and the great wisdom and fortitude they have discovered in so firmly standing for our invaluable constitutional rights and privileges gives us s nne ground to hope that our grievances may be redresse.l." . . .
For some unexplained reason, the town refused in 1774 to send a delegate to the Provincial Congress which assembled at Concord, and refused in 1775 to offer, as other towns did, to pay the Minute-Men for the time occupied in training ex- ercises. The first committee of correspondence was chosen in 1775, and was composed of Joseph Lock, Samuel Coney, Jona- than Dickinson, Moses Wilder, and John Powers. The same year Samuel Coney, John Hamilton, and Joseph Lock were sent to the Provincial Congress. The last town-meeting called in his Majesty's name was held in February, 1776.
In 1778 a bounty of £30 was offered per man for soldiers, and committees were appointed to provide provisions for the support of the families of Continental soldiers. In 1780 the bounty for soldiers was raised to £200 per man, and in the same year the town voted to raise £10,000 to pay bounties to Continental soldiers. At this time wheat was worth $60 per bushel, rye $40, Indian corn $32, oats $20, and flour $10 per pound .* In 1781 a committee was appointed to confer with neighboring towns about raising soldiers, and a second com- mittee appointed " to look and find how they could get seven Continental soldiers for three years," for whom bounties were offered of £100, in hard money, per man.
In the same year it was resolved to credit minors for their services in the war, and not to give the credit to masters for minors. £60 in bounty were offered later on, and then the committee were instructed to procure men on the best terms possible. In 1782 the town began to groan under war burdens, and protested to the Legislature that it should not compel the town to ineur expenditures which could not he met by taxation.
It was in this year that the town, "considering the peculiar circumstances of the present day," deemed it inexpedient to give in any votes for governor, lieutenant-governor, and sena- tors, and in 1784 and 1785 similar action was taken. In 1782 Abraham Merrifield and Thomas Shaw contracted to furnish a man for three years or the war, and for him they were to have £6 in hand and £59 in stock. Among those who went into the service from the town were Silas Temple, Frederick Temple, and Enoch Curtis.
The town records abound with evidences of the strong ef- forts put forth by Shutesbury in upholding the Revolutionary . cause, and these efforts were cheerfully made, despite the fact that they wellnigh impoverished a people not particularly blessed with worldlly goods at best.
Among those of Shutesbury who entered the service in the war of 1812 were Jonas Pratt, Benjamin Winter, John Has- kins, Luther Pierce, Ephraim Pratt, Jr., Patrick Gray, Noah Pratt, Paul Macomber, Capt. Enos Mayo, Bradyell Smith, Zadeck Pierce, Seth Fish, and Watson Leonard. The latter, now aged eighty-five, is the only survivor of the war of 1812 now living in Shutesbury. Zaecheus Crocker, of Shutesbury, was a lieutenant in a company of 61 men, from Amherst, Shutesbury, and Leverett, commanded by C'apt. Reuben Dick- inson, of Amherst, in the war of 1776.
ORGANIZATION.
The town was incorporated June 30, 1761, and called Shutes- bury in honor of Samuel Shute, who was Governor of Mas- sachusetts Bay forty years previous to that date. In recogni- tion of this honor, Gov. Shute's niece, who was the wife of Gov. Bernard, in 1761 presented to the town a handsome Bible, which is still in its possession.
The warrant for the first town-meeting was dated Sept. 20,
1761, and was issued by Eleazer Porter to Jonathan Dickin- Son. The first town-meeting was held in the meeting-house Oet. 5, 1761, and of this meeting Ebenezer Childs was chosen moderator.
A list of the selectmen and town clerks chosen by the town from 1761 to the present time is hereto appended :
SELECTMEN.
1761 .- Ebenezer Chills, Jonathan Di .kins m, Joseph Whitney, Jonas Lock, Joseph lawk.
1762 .- Ebenezer Childs, Joseph Whitney, Jonas Lock.
1763 .- Jonathan Dickinson, Za cheus Cro ker, Bezaliel Wilder, Daniel Fisk, Joseph Lock.
1764 .- Joseph Lock, John Barnard, John Powers.
1765 .- Ebenezer Chibls, Joseph Lock, John Barnard.
1766 .- Daniel Fisk, Joseph Lock, John Chamberlain.
1767 .- Zacchous Crocker, John Barnard, Lient. Dickinson.
1764,-Ebenezer Chills, John Powers, John Barnard.
1769,-John Barnard, Silent Will, Ebenezer Childs.
1770 .- Bezaliel Wilder, John Chamberlain, JJohn Crosby.
1771 .- Deacon Childs, John Barnard, Zacchens Crocker, Jr.
1772 .- John Barnard, Joseph Lock, Zaccheus Crocker, Jr.
1773 .- Deacon Childs, John Barnard, Joseph Lock.
1774 .- Joseph Lock, Moses Wilder, John Ross.
1775,-John Hamilton, Joseph Lock. Samuel Coney.
1776,-John Hamilton, Capt. Z. Crocker. James Ross, Jr.
1777 .- John Powers, Jr., Moses Willer, James Ross, Jr., Jonathan Osgood, J. Dickinson, Jr.
1778 .- Asa Powers, Simeon Vanghan, Nathan Haskins.
1779 .- Jonathan Osgood, James Ross, Seth Pierce, John Witt, Asa Powers.
1780 .- Seth Pierce, Eph. Wheeler, Sim. Vaughan, Lott Paine, Abner Stone.
1781 .- Seth Pierce, John Powr's, Lott Paine, Abber Stone.
1782 .- John Witt, Nathan Haskins, George Brilge.
1753 .- Josiah Marshall, Job Smith, Thomas Shaw.
1784 .- Seth Pierce. John Powers, Jr., Sime m Vanghan.
1785 .- Philip Hathway, Simeon Vaughan, Theoph. Crocker.
1786 .- Asa Powers, Joseph Blanchard, Oliver Allen.
1787 .- Asaph Lyon, Joseph Pettee. Isaac Church.
1788 .- Andrew Hamilton, Matthew Pratt, Jobs Smith, James Shaw. Ed. Crossett.
1789,-Andrew Hamilton, Paul Dillingham, James Shaw.
1790 .- Andrew Hamilton, Paul Dillingham, Samuel Swinerton.
1791 .- Andrew Hamilton, John Powers, Jr., Ed. Crussett.
1792 .- Andrew Hamilton, John Powers, Jr., Eliphalet Day.
1793 .- Andrew Hamilton, Nathaniel Smith, Thomas Kilibey.
1794 .- Jesse Winter. Theophilus Crocker, Jr., Thomas Kibbey.
1795 .- Luther Ivar, Theophilus t'rocker, Jr .. Thomas Kibbey.
1700 .- Andrew Hamilton, Jesse Winter, Thomas Kibbey.
1797 .- Andrew Hamilton, George Macomber, Thomas Kibbey.
1798 .- Luther Ilvar. George Macomber, Thomas Kibley.
1799-1801 .- Paul Dillingham. George Macomber, Thomas Kibhey. Is02 .- Luther Hoar, Asa Powers, Thomas Kibbey,
IS03 .- Andrew Hamilton, Henry Ward, Theo, Crocker.
1804 .- Andrew Hamilton, Henry Ward, George Macomber.
1805 .- Eli Spear, Henry Ward, Thomas Richardson.
1806 .- Ephraim Wheeler, Aber Smith, Th anis Richards m.
1807 .- Paul Macomber, AAlmer Smith, Peter Lamb.
1803 .- Paul Maromabier, Joseph Haskins. Peter Lamb. 1509 .- Paul Macomber, Asa Powers, Peter Lamb. 1810 .- Panl Macomber, Abner Smith, Peter Lamb.
1811 .- Joseph Haskins, Almer Smith, Elisha Bogne.
1812. Luther Chapin, Almer Smith, Josiah Beaman.
1813 .- Elisha Bugne, Luther Henry, Josiah Beaman.
1814 .- Liscom Brigham, Luther Heury, Penter Sampson
Is13 .- Liscom Brigham, Aber Smith, John Corkey.
1816. Liscom Brigham, Wm. Ward, John Corkey.
1817 .- Nathaniel Macomber, Josiah Beaman, Jr., Phin. Heminway.
1918-19 .- Abner Smith. Josiah Beamao. Jr .. Ph. Heminway.
1820,-Liscom Brigham, Asa Adams, Esek Baker.
1s21 .- Abner smith, John Conkey, Archs, Leonard, 1822 .- Abner Smith, Josiah Beaman, Jr., Esek Baker.
1823 .- Abner Smith, Phineas Heminway, Nathaniel Macomber. 1824-25 .- Asa Adams, Jr., Jonas Winter, John Conkey.
IS26-27 .- Asa Adams, Jr., Jonas Winter, Paul Macomber. 1824 .- William Real, Gideon Stetson, Samuel Hamilton. 1820,-William Read, Liseom Brigham, Samuel Hamilton, 1×30 .- Paul Macomber, Joel Co kling, Samuel Hamilton. 1831 .- Benjamin Winter, Jr., Joel Cuddling, Gideon Stetson.
1832,-Nathaniel Macomber, Willard Raymond, Josiah Beaman. 1×33 .- Nathan Paul, Willard Raymond, Josiah Beaman. 1834,-Nathan Paul, Willand Raym nul, Jesse Marvel. 1835-36 .- Jonas Winter, Willard Raymond, Joseph Adams. 1/37 .- Jos. L. Smallidge, Watson Leonard. Bonj. Winter. 1838 .- Nathan Paul, Watson Leonard, Benj. Winter.
1839,-Benjamin Dune, Watson Leonard, J. S. Baker.
1810 .- Thomas E. Winchester, Watson Le.mard, J. S. Baker.
1:41 .- Benjamin Winter, Josiah Benman, Alvah Ilaskins.
% All estimated in " Continental" money.
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
1842 .- Jonathan S. Baker, Wm. H. Beaman, Alvah Haskins. 1843 .- Benjamin Winter, Pascal Marvel, Samnel F. Dudley. 1:44 .- Jonathan S. Baker, James P. Heminway, S. F. Dudley. 1845 .- J. S. Baker, Nathan Paul, S. F. Dudley.
1846 .- J. S. Baker, Jonas H. Winter, S. F. Dudley. 1847 .- Benjamin Winter, Alvah Haskins, S. F. Dudley. 1848 .- Benjamin Winter, Jonathan S. Baker, John H. Davis. 1849 .- Benjamin Winter, Alval Haskins, Wm. H. Beaman. 1850 .- Benjamin Winter, John H. Davis, Wm. H. Beaman. 1851 .- Alvah Haskins, S. F. Dudley, N. D. Adams. 1852 .- Alvah Haskins, S. F. Dudley, E. C. Kellogg. 1853 .- Benjamin Winter, S. F. Dndley, S. H. Stowell. 1854 .- Alvah Haskins, Henry Pierce, S. H. Stowell. 1855 .- Nathan Paul, D. Hamilton, Jr., S. H. Stowell. 1856 .- H. G. O. Powers, L. H. Stetson, Benjamin Winter. 1857 .- Nathan Paul, Thomas Reynolds, J. P. Heminway. 1858 .- James Fisk, S. H. Stowell, J. R. Spear. 1859 .- J. H. Davis, Win. A. Gray, D. N. Hamilton. 1860-61 .- J. H. Davis, S. F. Dudley, S. H. Stowell. 1862 .- Win. H. Beaman, S. F. Dudley, S. H. Stowell. 1863 .- Benjamin Winter, E. P. Spear, J. A. Haskins. 1864 .- John H. Davis, Samuel If. Stowell, S. W. Adams. 1865 .- John H. Davis, Benjamin Winter, S. F. Dndley. 1866 .- Henry C. Winter, Samuel H. Stowell, S. F. Dudley. 1867 .- Henry C. Winter, John H. Davis, S. F. Dudley. 1868 .- Harrison Ilamilton, John H. Davis, Seth Leonard. 1869 .- Harrison Hamilton, John H. Davis, S. F. Dudley. 1870 .- Harrison Hamilton, N. A. Briggs, J. G. Reed. 1871 .- Charles Felton, H. C. Winter, J. G. Reed. 1872 .- George A. Berry, H. C. Winter, J. H. Davis. 1873-75 .- George A. Berry, J. G. Reed, Warren Ames. 1876 .- George A. Berry, J. G. Reed, H. N. Kimball. 1877 .- Harrison Hamilton, J. M. Atkins, H. N. Kimball. 1878 .- J. G. Reed, J. M. Atkins, G. A. Berry.
.
TOJEN CLERKS. 0
Jonas Lock, 1761-63; Daniel Fisk, 1763; Jonas Lock, 1764; Ebenezer Childs, 1765; Daniel Fisk, 1766; Zaccheus Crocker, 1767-68; John Barnard, 1769; Zaccheus Crocker, Jr., 1770; John Barnard, 1771-74; Joseph Lock, 1774; Daniel Coney, 1775-77 ; John Powers, Jr., 1777-85; Philip Hathway, 1785; John Powers, Jr., 1786; Asaph Lyon, 1787; Jesse Winter, 1788-91; John Powers, Jr., 1791-93 ; Jesse Winter, 1793-95; Thomas Kibbey, 1795-1811; Hngh Cunningham, 1811; Thomas Kibbey, 1812-13; John Conkey, 1814; Joseph Haskins, Is15; Josiah Beamau, Jr., 1816-20; Eliphalet S. Darling, 1821-23; Josiah Beaman, Jr., 1824- 27; Joseph L. Smallidge, 1828; Nathaniel Macomher, 1829-31; Josiah Beaman, Jr., 1832-37 ; Henry Allard, 1838-39; Hardin ITeminway, 1840-48; Harrison Hamilton, 1849-51; Henry Pierce, 1852-53; Hardin Heminway, 1854-55; Henry Pierce, 1855; Harrison Hamilton, 1856; Hardin Heminway, 1857; Henry Pierce, 1858; Josialı Beaman, 1859; Jos. A. Haskins, 1860-64; Samuel H. Stowell, 1865- 66; Horace Yeaton, 1866; Samuel H. Crandall, 1867; J. A. Ilaskins, 1868-69; A. P. Brown, 1870-72; S. 11. Craudall, 1873-75; G. A. Berry, 1876-77 ; George A. Paull, 1878-79. ~
REPRESENTATIVES AT THE GENERAL COURT.
From 1783 to 1855, when Shutesbury became a part of the Fifth Representative District, the town was represented at the court by
Seth Pierce, John Powers, Jr., Theophilus Crocker, John Powers, Asaph Lyon, Wm. Ward, Peter Lamb, Josialı Beaman, John Conkey, Nathaniel Macomber, Benjamin Winter, Jr., Willard Raymond, Joseph Adams, Joseph L. Smallidge, Jonas Winter, Phineas Heminway, Benjamin Dune, Thomas E. Winchester, James P. Heminway, Samuel F. Dudley, Hardin Heminway, James II. Winter, Edwin C. Kellogg, Samuel I1. Stowell, Samuel W. White.
VILLAGES.
The villages in the town are Shutesbury Centre and Lock's village, both of which are postal stations, although the Lock's village post-office building is in Wendell.
THE CENTRE
is located upon an eminence, whence a charming view of the surrounding bills and valleys is obtained, and contains a col- lection of thirty or forty dwellings, two churches, the town- hall, one store, a school, and a hotel. It is an attractive place in the summer, when the presence of pleasure-seeking visitors gives it a gay and lively aspect.
LOCK'S VILLAGE,
so called from Jonas Lock, the proprietor of the first grist- mill there, in 1754, is in the northwest, close to the Wendell line, and near a sheet of water called Lock's Pond. The settlement is small, and is made up of farmers and saw-mill employés.
CHURCHIES.
As early as 1735 the proprietors resolved to build a meeting- house 40 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 20 feet stud, and to place the house as near the centre of the tract as might be. Capt. Jonas Houghton, Dr. Thomas Wells, and David Farrar were chosen a committee "to let out said meeting-house, and to oblige him or them that shall undertake to make and raise the frame thereof, and to finish the outside of said meeting-house, and to lay the floor, all workmanlike, and that on or before Oct. 27, 1738." Despite this action, the voting of £380 for the expense of building the house, and the awarding of the build- ing contract to Mr. D. Dix, the scheme for some reason failed, and nothing was done toward furthering the enterprise until September, 1738.
At the last-named date it was resolved to make a change in the proposed location from the centre to " the Governor's Farm," near Jonathan Burt's; and it was further agreed to pay for the raising out of " the public stock." The building was probably completed early in 1739, for in June of that year it was voted to add 5 feet to the length and 5 feet to the width of the house, and to allow Mr. Dix £60 in addition to the contraet price, provided he made the windows larger ac- cording to the proportions of the house. In 1740 steps were taken to procure preaching, and it was agreed to give to the preacher who would preach eight Sabbaths £2 10s. per Sab- bath. The church building above referred to was erected very near the site now occupied by the Baptist Church at Shutesbury Centre.
In furtherance of the plan to obtain preaching, a committee was chosen " to manage the affair of hiring a man to supply the pulpit," and they were instructed to take the advice of the " Reverend Association of Ministers" of the county in the premises. It would appear that the church building was not furnished with pews until 1740. In that year Jonathan Burt was awarded the privilege of building " a convenient pew at the left hand of the fore or south door, upon condition that he give some land on the back-side of the meeting-house for the use of the proprietors ; said piece to be one and a half rods wide, and running the whole length of the four acres given hy Gov. Belcher."
In March, 1742, it was voted to extend a call to Rev. Abram Hill, of Cambridge (a Harvard graduate), who had been sup- plying the preaching previously. After considerable bargain- ing touching the terms of his settlement, it was finally agreed that he should have a settlement of £87 10s., a salary of £40, and the minister's lot as it lay. In his letter of acceptance he said " he depended on their goodness that they would not let him suffer on any account." The church was organized as a Congregational Church in October, 1742, and at that time Mr. Hill was ordained. Meanwhile, the church building re- mained in an unfinished state, and, the matter being brought up at a proprietors' meeting in 1745, it was voted " not to finish the meeting-house." In 1749 a cushion was provided for the pulpit, a communion-service was purchased for £6, and £320 were appropriated to finish the lower part of the meeting- house and to build convenient seats. In 1752, Mr. Hill's salary was increased to £52, and it was voted to sell at auction places suitable for building pews. But this scheme fell through; and as various individuals subsequently built pews here and there, the body of the house must have presented a singular appear- ance. Further efforts were made in 1761 and 1763 to finish the meeting-house interior ; but the building was never fully completed, and was torn down in 1820.
The records show that for some time previous to the organi- zation of the town, in 1761, the proprietors failed to pay Mr. ITill's salary, and after the organization he endeavored to compel the town pay his back salary,-without avail, however. In 1765 the inhabitants of the North End (afterward set off to Wendell) were allowed to have Mr. Hill preach to them four Sabbaths in the year, and he continued to preach for
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762
HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.
them occasionally for several years thereafter. In that year / (1765) the town ordered a church Bible from Cambridge, and allowed Ebenezer Crocker Gs. for transporting the same to the town. In 1767 the town petitioned Mr. Hill to ease them of the heavy tax they paid for his support, but it does not appear that Mr. Hill agreed to the petition.
Upon the breaking out of the Revolutionary war, in 1775, it was discovered that Mr. Ilill was a strong royalist, and, a committee being chosen to discourse with him touching his conduct, they reported that they had been unable to turn him from his views, whereupon the town resolved to discontinue the payment of his salary, and requested him to resign. Mr. Hill not only declined to resign, but adhered with even more firmness to his political principles, and a committee was ap- pointed to compel him to quit preaching, and, in the event of his refusal, to have the meeting-house shut up. Mr. Ilill re- mained more obdurate than ever, and refused the town's re- quest to have a church council called to act on his case. A committee was thereupon appointed (May, 1775) to prevent his further preaching, and to prevent his leaving the town ; and in furtherance of the latter purpose he was for a time confined in the public pound, and forced to live on herrings thrown to him over the fence. Meanwhile, the town sought to obtain another preacher, and voted money for the purpose ; but, several inhabitants protesting that Mr. Hill was still the minister, the purpose, as the records indieate, was not effected.
In this condition matters remained, Mr. Hill still holding out obdurately, and claiming that he had done nothing to warrant his dismissal, until 1778, when the town succeeded in assem- bling an ecclesiastical council composed of the pastors of neighboring churches, and, Mr. Hill's case being discussed, it was decided that his relations with the church of Shutesbury should be forfeited. Mr. HIill thereupon removed to Brook- field, and carried away the church records and Bible, which, although importuned to do so, he refused to return, and for this reason the early church records are unobtainable. For three years previous to his removal the town had withheld his salary, and for this he brought suit in 1778, and gained it. Mention may be made here that, previous to the engagement of Mr. Ilill in 1742, Hobart Estabrook, of Mansfield, preached in 1739, and he was probably the first preacher the town had.
As before noted, the old meeting-house was taken down about 1820, and it was not until 1826 that another structure was erected, when, the town declining to undertake the task, the Baptists, Congregationalists, Unitarians, and Universal- ists combined and built the house now used by the Baptists, the Baptists becoming owners of half of it, and the other de- nominations of the remainder, each denomination to use it according to the proportion of proprietorship.
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