USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > History of the county of Berkshire, Massachusetts, in two parts > Part 22
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HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE.
gion, and 31, the subjects of it, were some years after- wards added to the church."?
The Rev. Joseph Avery, who had been previously settled in Alford, was installed over this church, Feb. 25, 1789. He was a native of Stonington, Con., and though not publicly educated, " was a pious, useful, and res- pectable minister. His labors were blessed. Under his ministry, which continued 19 years, there were two revivals of religion among the people of his charge, and 62 were gathered into the church. A controversy at length arose in opposition to him ; not however from the friends of order and religion, but principally from those who are not in the habit of attaching much impor- tance to the christian ministry. An article was inserted in the warrant for town meeting, which was, in sub- stance, to know whether the town considered Mr. Avery any longer as their minister. At the town meeting, all the voters of the opposition were rallied ; the motion was put and negatived, 69 to 66. He was accordingly dismissed, in the year 1808. As the party through whose agency his dismission was effected, refused to lend an assisting hand in paying the arrearages of his salary, he commenced a civil process against the town, in which he had the good wishes and co-operation of the respectable minority. In this process, the judgment of the Court was in his favour ; but the opposite party, by certificating, finally got rid of their taxes, and threw the whole burden of the arrearages on those who adhered to Mr. Avery."
" In this unhappy state of religious affairs, which boded evil to the church, exertions were made by the Congregationalists, to establish a religious fund for the permanent support of the gospel, in which they were successful. June 15, 1809, they became a corporate society. These exertions were followed by a revival of religion, which in its operations was confined principally to those families who attended public worship, and con- tributed for its support. Scarcely an individual, be- longing to the party whose conduct has just been des- cribed, shared in the blessings of the revival. In the year 1809, 96 were added to the church, 82 of whom" were subjects of this religious awakening."
Mr. Avery died March 3, 1814, aged 70.
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TYRINGHAM.
The Rev. Joseph Warren Dow, the present pastor, was ordained July 10, 1811. He is a native of Ken- sington, N. H., and a graduate of Harvard College, 1805. His support is derived from the interest of the fund just mentioned, and from subscriptions. The fund yields anuually about 260 dollars. The agitations which prevailed in the town about the time of Mr. Avery's dis- mission, have subsided, and a good degree of harmony now prevails.
There were revivals here in 1815 and 1818, which resulted in the admission of about 50 to the communion. In 1821 and 1827, the people were also visited in mer- cy. The admissions under Mr. Dow's ministry are 172.
The whole number who have belonged to the church from the beginning, including the 8 original members, is 428. The members at the commencement of the. present year were 168.
Deacons.
John Jackson ; chosen 1753 ; died March 13, 1757, aged 53.
Thomas Orton ; do. do. 1790, aged $2.
William Hale ; do. 1764 ; do. Aug. 31, 1807, 83.
David Talcot ; ; removed to Williston, Vt.
Nathan Abbot ; -- -; do. Pompey, N. Y.
Joseph Chapin ; chosen 1804.
Justus Battle ; do. 1810; removed to Connecti- cut Reserve.
Systra Taylor ; do. do. West Stock- bridge.
Amos Langdon ; do. 1817.
John Bentley ; do. 1824.
It has been mentioned that the people were Congre- gationalists until near the close of the Revolutionary war. About that time. several individuals living in the south-western part of Hop-brook, or North Tyringham, began to attend the meetings of the Shakers in New Lebanon and Hancock. In the month of April, 1782, William Clarke, Henry Herrick, Elijah Fay, and Jo- shua, Abel, and William Allen, who had just moved into the place from Coventry, Con., set up meetings, according to the customs of this sect, at each others' houses. These were joined, two years after, by Abisha
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HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE.
Stanley, James Pratt, and Thomas Patten, from Bel- chertown. In 1792, they collected together in a body, on the spot which they now occupy, and formed them- selves into what they denominate church order. They own about 1300 acres of land, which lie together, spread- ing from Hop-brook south-westerly on to a high hill or mountain, and 200 more in the neighborhood. Their settlements consist of two clusters of buildings, half a mile distant from each other, on a street running near- ly parallel with this brook, midway up the hill, between which is a remarkably fine grove of sugar maples, inter- spersed with beach, birch, &c. They have a house for worship, an office, a school-house, four dwelling-houses, various shops and out-houses, and near by, a pocket furnace and saw-mill. Their number for several years past has been about 100. The males are employed, as in other Shaker settlements, in husbandry, horticulture, manufacture of wooden ware, &c. Their street, build- ings, fences, and every thing about them, wear the ap- pearance of industry, neatness, quietness, and order. They bold one meeting on the sabbath, at which the elder exhorts. and then all unite in dancing ; and they usually meet from one evening to another in smaller collections for family worship, which is conducted in a similar manner.
The spiritual concerns of the three settlements at Ty- ringham, Hancock, and Enfield, in Connecticut, are su- perintended by a presiding elder, assisted by a subor- diuate elder in each settlement. The elders also ad- vise in secular concerns.
There have long been two Baptist churches in San- disfield, near the south-western and south-eastern cor- ners of this town, at which the Baptists from this town formerly attended worship, and where some still at- tend.
A Baptist church, called the Baptist church of Lee and Tyringham, and consisting of members from both places, was formed Aug. 22, 1827. The members were then 20, 7 males and 13 females, taken partly from the world, and partly from other churches. Several addi- tions have been made to it, and in May last it consisted of 37 members.
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TYRINGHAM.
Élder Ira Hall, who had been a number of years pas- tor of the church in Canaan, New York, has supplied this church with preaching since its formation. He preaches alternately at Hop-brook or North Tyringham, and at South Lee.
There are some Episcopal Methodists in this town, connected with others in New Marlborough. There is also a small society of Reformed Methodists in Hop- brook.
The first school-house erected in town, was within a few rods of the present Congregational meeting-house ; and the first in Hop-brook, was half a mile south of the meeting-house there. The number of common schools now in the town, is fourteen. A fund, arising from the sale of the school-lot, yields about 40 dollars annually.
There are two small but select libraries, one formed in 1791 or 2, containing 67 volumes ; the other formed® in 180%, containing 104 volumes.
Only twelve inhabitants of the town, of five different families, have tasted the sweets of a liberal education. Five of these are clergymen, and two are lawyers.
Thomas Benny, Giles Jackson, Amos Carpenter, Ja- cob Kingsbury, Elijah Fowler, and Ara J. W.Ich, were successively physicians. Dr. Welch is now settled in Lee. Our present physicians are Millen Sabin, a na- tive of Lenox, and William E. Buikley, a native of Colchester, Con.
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A HISTORY
OF THE
TOWN OF NEW MARLBOROUGH.
BY REV. HARLEY GOODWIN.
NEW MARLBOROUGH is one of the south towns in the County of Berkshire. It was originally called No. 2. It is bounded west by Sheffield, north by Great Barring- ton and Tyringham, east by Sandisfield, and south by Norfolk, Con. A small tract was annexed to this town from Sheffield in 1798, and another from Tyringham in 1811. Its length is SẺ miles from north to south, and its width 5 miles from east to west, forming an area of 42} square miles, or 27,200 acres.
The surface is generally uneven and hilly, and like most of the more elevated towns in the County, stony ; though at the time of its settlement, the stones were so deeply covered with vegetable mould, that the first in- habitants are said to have expressed their fears lest they should not find stone in sufficient quantities to answer the purposes of building. Their fears were removed by finding a quarry of white flint or sand stone, split by the hand of Nature into blocks of different sizes, nearly square, on an elevation of land in the north part of the town, called Dry Hill.
The soil is as various as the surface ; some parts of it being best suited to grain, and some to mowing and pasturage, while other parts are adapted to either. It is generally strong, and improves by cultivation. being not alluvial, but formed chiefly by the decomposition of rock.
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NEW MARLBOROUGH.
In the north-west part of the town is a pond about two miles in length, extending into the south-west part of Tyringham, and bordering on the south-east part of Great Barrington, called Six-mile Pond. It was so called first by several families of Indians, who resided six miles distant in Great Barrington, and resorted to it for the purpose of fishing. Its outlet is at the south end.
A most melancholy event occurred at this pond, July 23, 1812, the day of the National Fast, on account of the war which had a little time before been proclaimed against Great Britain. Seven persons were upset in a boat, viz. Almond Benton, Solomon Jackson Tracy, and Ruth Mills, of New Marlborough ; and Cynthia Garfield, Abigail Buel, Lucy Upham, and Cynthia Up- ham, of Tyringham. Almond Benton, aged 19, Ruth Mills, aged 18, and Betsey Garfield, aged 21, were drowned. The others were saved. For his great exer- tions in rescuing these, a Mr. Buel was honoured with a medal by the Washington Benevolent Society of Berk- shire.
It is sometimes observed that sudden and alarming providences are seldom followed with saving benefit to the subjects. But it ought to be noticed here, to the honour of divine grace, that the 'four persons just na- med, who were delivered from death, have since made a public profession of religion. They all date back their first serious impressions to this time of peril and of mercy. Mr. Tracy is now a candidate for the holy ministry.
A stream rises near the east line of the town, and run- ning north-west, passes into Tyringham, and uniting with a stream which flows from a pond in that town, re- turns in a south-westerly direction into New Marlbo- rough, and having furnished in its course four or five mill-seats, joins the outlet of Six-niile pond. It is af- terwards called Konkapot or Iron Work river. It re- ceived the name of Konkapot, from the circumstance that an Indian family of the same name lived by its side, in the border of Sheffield. The streani, which perpe- tuates their name, runs south through the western part of the town, and after passing a little over the line into Sheffield, runs south by east into Canaan, Con. Then
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390
HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE.
bending round to the north-west, passes again into Shef- field, and unites with the Housatonic not far from the line between Sheffield and Canaan. It furnishes eight or ten mill-seats.
A stream called Umpachene, rises in the east part of the town, and passing by the centre, runs south-west, furnishing three or four mill-seats, and empties into the Konkapot. The Umpachene derived its name from an Indian, whose residence was on its western side, about one mile south-west from the north meeting-house. This Indian, and also the Konkapots, so far conformed to the customs of the whites, as to do something towards cul- tivating the farms on which they lived.
In the south part of the town is a pond, denominated Harmon pond, which covers several acres. This pond, and also the other ponds in town, as may, perhaps, be true of all other ponds, are becoming less in dimension, owing to the washing in of earth and the collection of vegetable matter about their shores, or to the deepening of their outlets, or to both.
In the south-east part of the town is a pond, a mile and a half or more in circumference, called by the dif- ferent names of Hermit, Knapp, Norton, and East pond, which is the source of a stream that runs south- west into Canaan, affording in its course three or four mill-seats. This pond derived its first name from the circumstance that a hermit lived for several years on its south-eastern side. The name of this hermit was Timothy Leonard. He came from Fredericksburglı, Dutchess county. N. Y., five or six years before the Revolutionary war; and though he purchased a farm, he led a solitary life till the day of his death. He died June 13, 1817, from infirmity and old age, being as was supposed in his 70th year. Unwilling that any one should remain with him during a single night, he died as he lived, alone and unattended. The cause of his leading such a life is supposed to be explained by the fact that he was an inveterate hater of women. His description of them was-" They say they will, and they won't." Let none smile at the history of Timothy Leonard ; for he is not the only one who has suffered disappointed hope and mortified pride to blot out the
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NEW MARLBOROUGH.
social affections, and produce uselessness, wretchedness and ruin.
Towards the south line of the town is a cave of some little note. A description of it would be like many de- scriptions which have been given of subterranean cav- erns. It is beneath a ridge of rocks, a few rods east of one of the roads which lead to Canaan. Its aperture is small. It has several apartments of various dimensions, whose sides and roofs are limestone, on which stalactites are contiuually forming.
About one-fourth of a mile south-west from the south meeting-house, is a rock, judged to weigh 30 or 40 tons, so equally balanced on another rock, that a man may move it with his little finger.
The township was granted in 1736 to 72 proprietors, mostly belonging to Marlborough and its vicinity, in the county of Middlesex, by " The Great and General Court or Assembly" [as the style then was] " of His Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts' Bay in New England, held at Boston." The proprietors obtained the township of the Indians by deed; and the deed was confirmed by the "General Court." Among other di- visions of land into which the township was surveyed, were house lots, consisting of 60 acres each, excepting where the land was of an inferior quality, or inconve- nient for a residence, in which cases a greater number of acres was allowed for a house lot, or some other di- vision of land was granted to make up the defect. The number of house lots was 63, besides 1 for each grantee. Of the 63 lots, 3 were reserved as public property, one being designed for the support of schools, one for the first, and one for the second minister.
The first improvements were made in 1739, by Mr. Benjamin Wheeler, from Marlborough. During the winter of 1739-40, which was one of what have been called " memorable hard winters," Mr. Wheeler re- mained the only white inhabitant in town, and continued to fell the forest. A family of natives resided near the outlet of Six-mile pond. These, or the Indians gene- ally, though in most respects friendly, forbade him the use of a gun, lest he should kill the deer, and thus with- held from him a part of the means on which, perhaps, he had depended for support. His nearest white neigh-
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HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE.
bours were in Sheffield, at a distance of ten miles. Some of these, on snow-shoes, came to see him in the course of the winter, and afforded him such proofs of their friendship, as his circumstances required. Du- ring the following summer, he visited Marlborough, and returned with his family.
The other first settlers came as follows : Noah Church, Jabez Ward, Thomas Tattlow, Elias Keyes, Joseph Blackmer, Jesse Taylor, John Taylor, William Witt, and Philip Brookins, from Marlborough or vicin- ity, in 1741.
Samuel Bryan, some time previous to 1744, from Marlborough.
Joseph- Adams, Moses Cleaveland, Silas Freeman, in 1744, and Charles Adams, Solomon Randsford, Na- than Randsford, and Jarvis Pike, in 1745, from Can- terbury, Con.
Families by the name of Sheldon, Wright, and Allen, from Northampton, about 1745.
Not long after, families by the name of Sheldon, Norton, and Harmon, from Suffield, Con.
William Alexander and John Thompson, natives of Ireland, from Dedham, about 1746.
And about 1760, families by the name of Bullard and · Rawson, from Mendon.
The first born in town were twins, children of Mr. Brookins, a son and a daughter ; the latter of whom is still living.
The first church was organized Oct. 31, 1744, con- sisting of the following persons: Moses Cleaveland, Samuel Bryan, Jesse Taylor, William Witt, and Jo- seph Adams. On the following day, Rev. Thomas Strong, native of Northampton, and graduate of Yale College, 1740, was ordained as pastor of this church. Mr. Strong's salary was £50. He also bad the use and disposal of the lot of land which has been mentioned. Towards raising his salary, a tax was paid for several years by the proprietors of the township, many of whom resided at a distance. Thus was manifested the desire of our forefathers to establish the preaching of the gos- pel in new settlements. To all their descendants it may with propriety be said, " Freely ye have received, freely give."
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NEW MARLBOROUGH.
Mr. Strong died Aug. 23, 1777, in the 62d year of his age, and in the 33d of his ministry. According to the inscription on the stone which stands over his re- mains, " he was equally removed from levity and aus- terity, and possessed those social virtues which made him the agreeable friend and companion. In his min- isterial office, he made it the business of his life to in- struct the ignorant, reclaim the vicious, visit the sick and afflicted, and extend the hand of charity to the needy and distressed." During his ministry, not far ·from 170 were admitted to the church, some by profes- sion, and some by recommendation.
Rev. Caleb Alexander, D. D., native of Northfield, and graduate of Yale College, 1777, was ordained Feb. 28, 1791, and dismissed June 28, 1782. His ministry was useful, in inducing the church to discontinue " the half-way covenant," and receive none but those who gave evidence of " being renewed in the spirit of their minds." According to the grant of the proprietors, he was entitled to the second ministerial lot, or a quantity of land equal in value.
After his dismission, and previous to the settlement of his successor, about 50 were gathered into the church. These were principally the fruits of a revival which took place under occasional preaching.
After leaving New Ma.Iborough, Dr. Alexander was settled at Mendon, in this State, where he is said to have performed faithful labours. He was dismissed from that place for the want of support, in 1803. After this, he became preceptor, first of the Academy at Fair- field, and then of the Academy at Onondaga Hollow, New York. He died at the latter place in April, 1828.
Rev. Jacob Catlin, D. D., native of Harwinton, Con., and graduate of Yale College, 1784, was ordained July 4, 1787. He died April 12, 1826, aged 63. His char- acteristies were industry, patience, frankness, meek- ness. His intellectual faculties were clear and vigor- ous, adapted to reasoning and investigation, rather than to description. His religious views were thoroughly Calvinistic, and he preached much and with success up- on what are frequently termed " the doctrines of grace."
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HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE.
He published a work on theology, entitled " Catlin's Compendium ;" which does honour to his understand- ing and his heart, and which has been printed a second tiine. Not far from 250 persons, most of them the sub- jects of three or four different revivals, were added to the church during his ministry.
The present pastor was ordained, as colleague with Dr. Catlin, Jan. 4, 1826. During his ministry, 61, by profession, have been admitted to the church, which Jan. 1, 1929, consisted of 199 members, 68 males, and 131 females.
Deacons of this Church.
Nathaniel Harmon ; elected Dec. 1749 ; removed to Bennington, Vt.
Seth Strong ; elected June, 1756 ; removed to Eg- remont.
Jesse Taylor ; elected between 1761 and 6; died Nov. 1782.
Caleb Wright ; elected May, 1772 ; died Jan. 1315, aged 90.
Ephraim Guiteau ; do. do. removed to Nor- folk. Con.
Samuel Sheldon ; elected July, 17S0 ; died August, 1818, aged 84.
Artemas Brigham ; elected April, 1797; died Jan. 1798, aged 46.
Ezra K. app; elected March, 1799; removed to Wolcott, N. Y.
Abner Hitchcock ; elected June, 1806; died June, - 1827, aged 84.
Seth Sheldon; elected May, 1808; died July, 1827, aged 80.
Zenas Wheeler ; elected Oct. 1812.
David Walker; elected May, 1817.
Nathan Chapin ; elected Oct. 1826.
Moses Shepard ; elected June, 1827.
The first meeting-house, though not immediately co- vered and prepared for use, was erected in 1743, near- ly on the ground where the present north meeting- house stan 's. The expense of building it was defrayed by the proprietors of the township.
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NEW MARLBOROUGH,
The second, which is the present north meeting-house, was built in 1793. In consequence of a disagreement with regard to the location of this house, another house was built the same year; and in 1794 the town was di- vided by the Legislature, and a new parish, called the South Parish, incorporated.
On the twenty-fifth of April, in the latter year, the second or south church, was organized of mem- bers from the first church. 21 in number. Eight more, who were dismissed with a view of being united with them, were united after the settlement of Mr. Stevens.
The first pastor of this church, Rev. John Stevens, na- tive of Danbury, Con., and graduate of Yale College, 1779, was installed Oct. 22, 1794. `He had previously been settled in New Concord society, town of Chatham, N. Y. He died Jan. 6, 1799, aged 49. He was a man of uniform and affectionate seriousness, and greatly be- loved. During his last illness, he wrote an address to his people, and delivered it to Rev. Dr. Catlin to read at his funeral. Much of the language of this address was as though it had been uttered from the invisible world. The effect was deep and solemn ; and several who had disregarded the living voice of the preacher, now listen- ed to his entreaties, and began their preparations for eternity. He received 9 to the church during his min- istry, besides the S recommended from the first church before his installation. In the interval-between his death and the ordination of his successor, nineteen were received to the communion.
Rev. Nathaniel Turner, native of Norfolk, Con .. and graduate of Williams College 1798, was ordained July 10 1799. He died May 25, 1812, aged 41. He was cheer- ful, sociable, prompt, active ; uncommonly easy of utterance, and prepared as by intuition for all occasions. Few of his sermons were written; but many of them are engraven on the memories, and some of them on the hearts of those who heard them. He admitted 52 to the chureh.
Rev. Sylvester Burt, native of Southampton, and graduate of Williams College, 1804, was installed A- pril 21, 1813, and dismissed Dec. 31, 1822. He ad- mitted 85 to the fellowship of the church.
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HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE.
Rev. Alvan Somers, A. M., native of Sharon, Con., was installed May 11, 1825. and dismissed May 26, 1829. The admissions by him were 11.
There have been several seasons of revival in this town. Both parishes were visited in 1827.
Deacons.
Nathan Butler ; moved to Paris, N. Y.
Joseph Fitch ; do. Geneva, Ohio.
Ebenezer Smith, Esq .; died Sept. 8, 1816, aged 71. Benjamin Smith.
Isaac Turner.
Gideon Canfield.
The South Parish have an ecclesiastical or ministerial fund for the support of the gospel, obtained by subscrip- tion in 1794, amounting to $3,152 : it is lent on inte- rest, and yields yearly $189 12. The trustees of this fund were incorporated June 19, 1812.
The town was incorporated in 1759. It is divided into 12 school districts. The public grant for the sup- port of schools is $600 annually. In addition to this, about $125 a year arises from a fund, which in part re- sulted from " the school-lot," and in part was created by the town. For three or four years past, an inde- pendent school for young ladies has existed.
There are two public libraries ; one formed in 1795, containing at the present time 30 or 90 volumes ; the other, in 1805, containing about 115 volumes. Both have once or twice been sold out, and renewed.
The sum expended for maintaining the poor, for se- veral years past, has been from 600 to 800 dollars an- nually. The poor are kept by the lowest bidders.
There are 278 dwelling-houses, 4 grist-mills ; 15 saw- mills, 1 stone saw-mill, 1 forge, 5 clothiers' works, 4 carding machines, 2 post-offices, one established in 1806, the other in 1828 ; 6 stores, and 1 tavern.
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