USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > History of the county of Berkshire, Massachusetts, in two parts > Part 28
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John B. Perry.
Stephen 'Thacher.
Abijah Merrill.
William Porter, Jun.
Nathaniel Tremain. Walter Laflın.
Lawson D. Bidwell.
Charles M. Owen,
Hubbard Bartlett.
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360
A HISTORY
OF THE
TOWN OF PITTSFIELD.
BY HENRY K. STRONG, A. M.
IN the year 1752, the settlement of this town was commenced by Solomon Deming, who moved his family fron Wethersfield, Con., and built a dwelling in the east part of the town, near where Win. Wells now lives. Cha's. Goodrich came next ; and soon after a number of oth- ers. Most of the interesting facts and anecdotes rela- ting to the first settlement, are now lost. Ten years ago, many of the intelligent fathers were alive to tell the story ; but now no daring pioneer of the wilderness can tell how the Indian roamed through the forest, or fished and hunted by the side of our rivers.
M . Goodrich, who died in 1815, in the 96th year of his age, drove the first cart and team into the town from Wethersfield, being obliged to cut his way for a number of miles through the woods.
Mrs. Deming was the first white female that came in- to the town ; and was often left alone through the night by the necessary absence of her husband, when there was not another white inhabitant in the town, and the wilderness was filled with Indians. She was the last, as well as first, of the settlers, and departed this life, March, 1818, aged 92.
In 1753, Simeon Crofoot, Charles Goodrich, Jacob Ensign, Solomon Deming, Stephen Crofoot, Samuel Taylor, and Elias Willard, obrained an act from the General Court, incorporating them by the name of " The Proprietors of the settling lots in the township of Poontoosuck." Poontoosuck was the Indian name
363
PITTSFIELD
of this place, which it retained until 1761, when the town was incorporated by the name of Pittsneld, in ho- nor of the celebrated English statesman, William Pitt, On the 30th day of July, 1753, the proprietors notie fied Hon. Joseph Dwight, of Stockbridge, that he was appointed by the government to call the first town meet ing. . Accordingly, on the 12th of September following, the first town meeting was held at the house of Elias Willard, when Hezekiah Jones was chosen moderator, and David Bush town clerk. The first vote that passed after the meeting was organized, was to raise money for the support of religious instruction, and the second was to build a meeting-house.
The proprietors were driven off once or twice by the Indians in the time of the second French war; and in the year 1755. a man by the name of Stephens, of Len- ox. was shot from his horse in the south part of thar town, while attempting to flee to Stockbridge. His horse was likewise killed : while a young woman by the name of Piercey, from this town, who was on the horse with Mr, Stephens, escaned.
The inhabitants erected three small forts. as places of safety against the Indians; two in the east, and one in the west part of the town.
The one in the west part, was erected about 50 rods south of the West pond, on an eminence that overlooks all that part of the town. The one in the east part was erected a few rods west of the house of Joseph Shearer, Esq .. and the other near where Gen. Willis now lives.
The records of the town have been regularly kept, from the time of the first town meeting to the present, excepting from August, 1953. to September, 1758. more than four years. It is supposed to be occasioned by Indian hostilities in the French war.
The first house for public worship was erected a little south of the present Congregational meeting houre. The Rev. Thomas Allen received a unanimous call on the 5th of March. 1964, and was ordained on the IS.h of April following. Mr. Allen continued the paster of a happy and united congregation for about 40 years.
During the presidency of Mr. Jefferson, that spirit of political rancour that infected every class of citizens in this country, arraying fathers, brothers, sons, and
364
HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE.
neighbours, against each other, entered even the sanctuary of the church. A number of Mr. Allen's church and congregation withdrew, and were incorpora- ted by the Legislature into a separate parish in 1808. Thus presenting to the world the ridiculous spectacle of a church divided on party politics, and known by the party names of the day ; a federal church in opposition to a republican church. Mr. Thomas Punderson was ordained pastor of the dissenting parish on he 26th of October, 1809, Worn down by trouble and the infirm- ities of age, Mr. Allen died on the morning of the 11th ef February, 1810, aged 63, and in the 46th year of his ministry.
The bereaved church and congregation invited Mr. William Allen, now President of Bowdoin College, to settle over the congregation of his father. He accepted, and was ordained in October, 1810. The two churches remained separate about 3 years. At length it was seen that party spirit was not the spirit of Christ, and both parishes were united again in 1817. Mr. Allen and Mr. Punderson were both dismissed, and the Rev. Heman Humphrey, now President of Amherst College, was installed over the united congregation, Nov. 27, 1817. Mr. Humphrey, unusually beloved by his chuich and congregation, continued a successful pastor, until called by the trustees of Amherst College to preside over that institution, in 1823.
He was succeeded by the Rev. Rufus W. Bailey, who was ordained April 15, 1824, and dismissed in 1827, on account of ill health. The Rev. Heury P. Tappan, the present minister, was ordained Sept. 17, 1828.
There have been two powerful revivals of religion in this church and congregation ; one in 1821. during the ministry of Mr. Humphrey, and another in 1827, du- ring the ministry of Mr. Bailey.
There is a Bantist, an Episcopal Methodist, and a small Reformed Methodist church in the town.
The Rev. John Francis was the first Baptist minister. The church were deprived of the services of this excel- lent man in 1813. The Rev. Augustus Beach is the present pastor of the Baptist church.
These churches have been frequently blessed with re- vivals of religion.
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PITTSFIELD.
The first thing that appears on the records of the town, relating to the Revolution, was a petition for a town meeting, about a year before the commencement of hostilities. As nothing of this kind can be uninter- esting. I shall take the liberty to insert it :-
" We, the subscribers, inhabitants and freeholders in the town of Pittsfield, do humbly request the selectmen of said town, to issue a warrant directed to the consta- bles, or otherwise to post the same on the meeting- house, for the assembling the freeholders and other in- habitants of said town, to convene at said meeting-house on Tuesday next, at 3 o'clock, P. M., to act and do what the town shall think proper respecting the circular letters to this town from the town of Boston, and other towns in this Province : and such other things and mat- ters as the said town shall think proper in regard to the invaded liberties and privileges of this country.
James Easton, John Brown,
John Strong, Matthew Wright,
Ezekiel Root, David Noble,
Oliver Root, Daniel Weller,
Timothy Childs, James Noble.
Pittsfield, June 24, 1774."
The selectmen called a town meeting on the 30th of June, when the following gentlemen were chosen a standing committee of safety and correspondence, to correspond with the corresponding committees of this and other provinces, viz. Rev. Thomas Allen, Deacon James Easton, Col. John Brown, Deacon Josiah Wright, Capt. John Strong, Capt. David Noble, and Capt. Da- vid Bush.
It was then voted to enter into a covenant of mutual defence with the other towns in the Province, and to adopt the covenant, drafted at Worcester, literally. It was next voted to send delegates to meet in County Convention at Stockbridge ; and James Easton, Col. John Brown, and John Strong, were appointed dele- gates.
Ou the 15th day of August, 1774, Dr. Timothy Childs and Capt. John Strong were chosen a committee to draw up a petition to the " Hon. Old Court," as it was hen called, " not to transact any business this term." This
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HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE.
was among the first acts of opposition to the King's courts in this country. The following is the petition : " To the Honourable His Majesty's Justices of the In- ferior Court of Common Pleas for the County of Berkshire : The Petition of the inhabitants of the Town of Pittsfield, assembled in town meeting, on Monday. the 15th day of August, 1774,
Humbly sheweth : 'That whereas two late acts of the British Parliament, for superceding the charter of this Province, and vacating some of the principal and inva- luable privileges and franchises therein contained, have passed the Royal assent, and have been published in the Boston papers, that our obedience might be yielded to th m ;
We view it of the greatest importance to the well be- ing of this Province, that the people of it utterly refuse the least submission to the said acts, and on no conside- ration to yield obedience to them, or directly or indi- rectly to countenance their taking place of those acts among us, but resist them to the last extremity.
In order in the safest manner to avoid this threaten- ing calamity, it is in our opinion highly necessary that no business be transacted in the law; but that the courts of justice immediately cease, and the people of this Province fall into a state of nature, until our griev- ances are fully redressed, by a final repeal of these in- jurious, oppressive, and unconstitutional acts. We have the pleasure to find that this is the sentiment of the greater part of the people of this province, and we are persuaded that no man that duly understands the state of our public affairs, who has business at the approach- ing term, but will advise and consent to the same, and willingly undergo personal inconvenience for the public good. We do therefore remonstrate against the hold- ing any courts in this County, until these acts shall be repealed : and we hope that your Honours will not be of a different opinion from the good people in this Coun- ty. Our reasons for holding no courts in the present situation of affairs, are as follows :- Some reasons why our Inferior Court cannot be held in its ancient form, and agreeable to charter, now the new acts are pub- lished :
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PITTSFIELD.
1. If they are now held n the ancient form, this will be in direct violation of those laws, and in denance of them.
2. Whatever business shall be transacted in the an- eient form. now those laws are in force, will be illegal, and hable afterwards to be wholly set aside.
3. The Honorable Judges will expose themselves, by not submitting the new acts by transacting business in the old form. or agreeable to our charter, to an imme- diate loss of their : ommissions.
4. It will be much greater contempt of those laws, te trausact business in the ancient form, or agreeable to our charter, than to do none at all.
5. This course of procedure will tend to bring matters to a more unhappy crisis, which we would choose by all means to avoid, than to neglect to do any business.
6. The new acts will insensibly steal in upon us, un- der pretence of doing business after the ancient consti- tution ; therefore, as soon as the new acts are in whole or in part in force, as they now are, no court ought to be held in the ancient form.
Our reasons why our Inferior Court ought to be held at the approaching term, are as follows :
1. We have undoubted intelligence from York and Boston that the said acts have passed the Royal assent,
2. We also are informed of their arrival in Boston.
3. It is highly probable they are published in form by the Governor by this present time, in order due obe -. dience be rendered to them.
4. We ought to bear the most early testimony against those acts, and set a good example for the rest of the Province to copy after.
5. Some parts of those acts have taken place already : that part of which dissolves the Council by whose ad- vice the former commissions were granted out, and that part of which empowers the Governor to grar; new commissions without advice of the Council, and also that which respects town meetings. For these, and other reasons, it plainly appears to be of dangerous consequences to do any business in the law, until the repeal of those acts, as would most certainly imply some degree of submission to them, the least appear- ance of which ought not to be admitted. The honour
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HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE.
of the Court has good grounds to neglect to do business in the-law, and the people just occasion to petition for it, and insist upon it, without admitting a refusal."
Many patrio.ic acts and resolves appear on the town records, of which no mention can be made in this work. But thar posterity may know that their ancestors did something besides pass resolves, we insert the follow. ing votes, passed the 24th of January, 1774 :
"' Voted, Ist. That the town pay the sum of one shil- ling and six pence per day, to each and every piquet or' moute man, that have or shall hereafter enlist into the piquet company in the town of Pittsfield, under the command of Capt, David Noble : Provided. that each and every man enlisted as aforesaid, shall equip and furnish himself with proper and sufficient arms and ac- coutrements fit for war, and stand ready at a minute's warning to march and oppose the enemies of our coun- try, if called thereto. And provided, nevertheless, that each piquet man, as aforesaid, appear and exercise 3 hours for each and every half day ; and in case any person enlisted as aforesaid, shall make default in ap- pearing as aforesaid to exercise, after being properly notified for that purpose, each and every person making such default, shall forfeit the sum f three shillings per day, to be paid or deducted out of his wages hereby granted him ; unless such person making such default have a reasonable excuse for his absence ; and the offi- cers of said piquet are hereby appointed judges to de- termine the performance of the premises aforesaid.
2d. That the piquet company exercise four half days per month, from this time until further orders from this town."
Iu March 30, 1978, the following vote passed, viz. " That money sufficient to purchase 32 shirts, 32 pair of stockings, and 32 pair of shoes for the use of the sol- diers now in the Continental army, from this town, be made into a tax ; said money to be raised immediately, in the saine method that the other town taxes have been laid this year."
In May following, it was voted by the town, " That the commissioned officers be empowered to promise £180 10 6 able bodied men, to serve in the continental army the term of 9 months."
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PITTSFIELD.
On the 20th of December, 1780, a committee, cho- sen by the town to devise what measures the town would take for raising 16 Continental soldiers, made the fol- lowing report, which was accepted by the town :
" That it is the opinion of the committee that the town choose two thorough men to act as a committee to hire sixteen men ; and to obligate theinselves on the credit of the town to pay each man the sum of £30 in hard money, over and above State and Continental pay and rewards, within three weeks; or otherwise to pay.such persons to their acceptance and satisfaction."
The following votes passed in town meeting, March 25, 1776. Those who have read Trumball's McFin- gal, especially the method of handling Tories, as it was called, cannot but think it exceedingly funny that the poor fellows should not only pass through the ordeal of handling, but be obliged to pay for it.
Directions for the Committee of Inspection.
" Whereas the committee of inspection and corres- pondence have made application to this town at their March meeting, 1776, for directions how to recover pay for handling persons that appeared to be inimical to their country ;
Voted, Ist. That this town determine that said com- mittee, consisting or having consisted of who they may, are one and the same from their first appointment to this day, and that all their transactions and determina- tions ought to be considered the actions and procedures of an adjourned court. Consequently. all matters and things that have no: been finally determined, shail have day with them; and that if there be any matters and things before them that are not yet determined upon, they, the committee, as it now stands, have as full pow- er and authority to act upon as ever they had ; and if any persons have upon trial appeared inimical to their country, or hereafter ou trial shall appear so, they are hereby empowered, so far as our united influence can support them, to tax such persons for their time therein expended on trial, and for all other necessary charges ; and on refusal, to be committed to the common gaol, or be otherwise confined till paid. and in all other respects to deal with them as to punishment according to the di-
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HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE.
rection of the Continental Congress, Provincial Com gress, or General Assembly.
Voted, 2d. That if said committee shall apprehend any person or persons and convene before them whom they suspect to be inimical to their country, or to be guilty of any other misdemeanors, and upon trial are found innocent, in that case the said committee have no pay for their ume and cost.
Voted. 3d. 'That if any complaint shall be brought before the said committee by any person or persons, and if any complaint so brought be supported, chen the offender be ordered by the said commitee to pay all costs; . and if the offender shall refuse to comply in paving costs, then the offender shall be ordered to con- finement in the common gaol or elsewhere, until he comply and pay the cost, together with the confinement, with the charge thereof; and in case any complamant shall not support his complaint, said complainant shall be holden to pay all costs, and on his refusal, shall be holden and committed as aforesaid."
Pittsfield is situated near the centre of the County of Berkshire. It is bounded on the north by Lanerbo- rough ; on the east by Dalton and Washingion ; ou the south by Lenox and Richmond; and on the west by Hancock and Richmond. It is tix miles square, and contained in 1×20, 2765 inhabrams. It now contamis probably 3600. about 100 to a square mile.
The stage road from A bany, passing Lebanon Springs, through Northampton. to Boston, passes through the centre of the town, as well as a new road now working from Albany through Springfield to Boston. The only stage road from Hartford to Bennington, and the stage read through the southern part of the County from Hudson to Bennington, likewise passes through this town. ' Forty-two stages, besides ex.ras, arrive and depart weekly.
The pabuç wymare, in the centre of the town, where the north ard .outh, east and west road. cross each or- er a+ righr angies. contains about 4 acres of lard. The land on the south side was given to the town by the How. John C. Williams. The public buildings on the north side are, the Town House and Congregational
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PITTSFIELD.
Church ; on the east, the Berkshire Medical Institution, and on the south, the Agricultural Bank. In the cen- tre is a beautiful elm, which never fails to attract the at- tention of strangers. It is 126 feet in height, and 90 feet to the limbs.
There are in the town 20 stores. 7 woollen factories, one of which manufactures about $211,000 worth of cloth per annum ; 1 gun factory, which manufactures . for the U. S. Government 2200 stand of arms, which amount to $30 000 annually ; 1 carriage factory, which manufactures $30.000 worth of carriages, mostly for the New York market ; 1 extensive tin establishment, 1 brewery, 1 extensive last factory, 2 large cabinet ware establishment, 4 flour mills, 1 distillery, &c.
There are three meeting-houses in the centre of the village, ornamented with spires or steeples ; one Con- gregational, one Baptist, and one Methodist. The Re- formed Methodists have a small house in the west part of the town.
The Agricultural Bank, incorporated in 1818, with a capital of $100.000, is located in this town. The Berkshire Medical Institution, situated on the public square, ha six professors and about 100 students. There is a Lyceum of Natural History connected with the Institution, iucorporated by an act of the Legisla- ture.
The Berkshire Gymnasium, somewhat on the plan of the European gymnasia, was established about two years since, a little north of the public square. This splendid establishment was built up by Mr. Lemuel Pomeroy, whose enterprize has done much to beautify and adorn the town. Three large and elegant buildings have been erected on an elegant site, ornamented with trees and walks, and overlooking an extensive garden and pleasure grounds of uncommon beauty. Rev. Chester Dewey, late Professor of Natural Philosophy, Mathematics and Chemistry, in Williams College, is the Principal, assisted by teachers in the English branches of education, and the ancient and modern lan- guages.
The Pittsfield Seminary for Young Ladies, now under the superintendence of Mr. and Mrs. Hyde, is one of the most deservedly popular institutions of the
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HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE.
kind in the country. Teachers of eminence in the solid as well as the ornamental branches of education, are emnloved.
Besides the schools abovementioned, there are two private schools in the town, in which the number of pu- pils is limited to 20 or 25. In these schools, the pupil- for the time is adopted into the family of the teacher, and enjoys at all times the society as well as instruction of his teacher. The first school of this kind was estab- lished about three years since, by Mr. Charles Dilling- ham. formerly one of the teachers of the Deaf and Dumb Asylum in Philadelphia, with complete success: His scholars are mostly from Albany, New York, and Philadelphia. Henry K. Strong, formerly Preceptor of the Pittsfield Academy, has just commenced the other. In all the literary institutions in Pittsfield, there are are about 300 students from abroad.
Besides the schools already mentioned for scholars from abroad, the town are doing much for the education of their own children. The sum of $1600 is raised by the town in an annual tax for the support of common schools, while a number of select schools are supported by individuals.
There are two newspapers published in the town, the Pittsfield Sun and the Argus. The Pittsfield Sun was commenced in 1801, by Hon. Phinehas Allen, its pre- sent conductor. The Argus was established in 1827, by Henry K. Strong, and is now conducted by Samuel W. Bush.
The Berkshire American was commenced here in 1826 by Dr. A. Greene. It was moved to Adams in 1827.
The Berkshire Reporter was published here in 1812, but is now discontinued.
Pittsfield has no mountains, except a point of Lenox mountain on the south, which extonds a short distance into the town. The Taconic mountain in Hancock, however. runs nearly parallel with the town line on the west. and a continuance of the Green Mountain range bounds the town on the east.
The Housatonic river, which is formed by a number of brooks in the mountain towns east of Dalton, enters this town at the north-east corner, and after running
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`PITTSFIELDE
about 4 miles in a south-westerly direction, and within half a mile of the centre of the village it takes a south- erly direction, which it preserves through the town: There are some fine water privileges on this stream; some of which are unoccupied.
The Pontoosuc river, or as it is sometimes called, the western branch of the Housatonic, flows from a small but beautiful lake, partly in this town and partly in Laresborough. It is a beautiful sheet of water, about a mile and a half long, and a mile wide. The river is formed by the outlet of the lake, which is at the south- east corner. This stream runs nearly south, and passes the village of Pittsfield, about half a mile to the west. It pursues a southerly course about three-fourths of a mile to the south of the centre of the village, where it turns to the east and unites with the Housatonic. As this stream originates in a lake, it is not affected by droughts or freshets, while the fall is so considerable as to furnish a great number of invaluable water privileges: Most of the factories in the town are on this stream.
The Shaker brook originates in Richmond pond, on the south line of the town. It runs north-easterly and unites with Pontoosuc river. There are good water privileges on this brook, two of which are already occu- pied.
The soil is generally rich and productive. There is little or no waste land in the town. There is a large quantity of alluvial land on the rivers, especially on the Housatonic, which usually overflows its banks in the spring. There was formerly much wheat and rye rais- ed in this town for market, and the merchants exchan- ged beef, pork, butter, and cheese, for goods in New York. This is not now the case. A manufacturing and mechanical population, together with the schools, have within ten years created a market at home. No butter, cheese, beef, or pork, is now carried out of the town, but considerable quantities are now brought in from the neighbouring towns ; and more than, 3000 bbls. of western flour are retailed by the merchants annually.
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