USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > History of the county of Berkshire, Massachusetts, in two parts > Part 8
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Elijah Dwight, of Great Barrington, from 1761 to 1781 Henry W. Dwight, of Stockbridge, 1731 1803
Joseph Woodbridge, do. 1803 1821
Charles Sedgwick, of Lenox, 1821
County Attorneys.
Theodore Sedgwick, of Stockbridge, from - to 1802
Ashbel Strong, of Pittsfield, 1802
Daniel Dewey, of Williamstown, 1811
John Hunt, of Stockbridge, 1311 1814
John Whiting, of Great Barrington, 1814
County Treasurers.
It is not known that any treasurer was appointed in the County earlier than 1766. Then, and since, the following. gentlemen have been appointed treasurers, and probably some others, viz.
Silas Kellogg, of Sheffield, April 29, 1766
Mark Hopkins, of Great Barrington,
Henry W. Dwight, of Stockbridge, Moses Ashley, do.
May 17, 1774 Sept. 14, 1784 Feb. 5, 1788
Barnabas Bidwell, do.
Sept. - , 1791
Caleb Hyde, cf Lenox,
Aug. - , 1810
Joseph Tucker, do.
Sept. - , 1.813
109
HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE
Sheriffs.
Elijah Williams, of W. Stockbridge, from 1761 to 1777
Israel Dickinson, of Pittsfield,
1777
John Fellows, of Sheffield,
1781
Caleb Hyde, of Lenox,
1781
1791
Thompson J. Skinner, of Williamstown,
1791
1792
Simon Larned, of Pittsfield,
1792
1812
Henry C. Brown, do.
1812
A Probate. Court was established in Berkshire at the formation of the County.
Judges of this Court.
Joseph Dwight, of Great Barrington, from 1761 to 1765
William Williams, of Pittsfield,
1765
1778
Timothy Edwards, of Stockbridge,
1778
1787
Jahleel Woodbridge, do.
1787
1795
William Walker, of Lenox,
1795
1824
William P. Walker, do.
1824
Registers of Probate.
Elijah Dwight, of Great Barrington,
1761
1781
William Walker, of Lenox,
1781
1785
Edward Edwards, of Stockbridge,
1785
1795
Nathaniel Bishop, of Richmond,
1795
1823
George Whitney, of Stockbridge,
1823 Dec. 1825
Henry W. Bishop, of Lenox,
1826
Probate Courts are holden at three places in Berk- shire ; at the Court House in Lenox on the first Tues- day of every month, excepting September, when the Court is holden on the first Tuesday after the first Wednesday ; at Great Barrington on the second Tues- day in February, May, August, and November, and at Lanesborough on the second Tuesday in January, A- pril, July, and October.
Registry of Deeds.
From 1761 until 1790, there was but one registry of deeds in this County, and that was kept at Great Bar- rington,
By Mark Hopkins, of that town, from 1761 to 1776 By Moses Hopkins, do. 1778 1790
In 1790, the County was divided into three districts, the Middle, Southern, and Northern ; and all the pre-
109
COURTS.
-
ceding records were removed to the Middle Dis- trict, the office of which is kept at Lenox. The oth- er offices are at Great Barrington and Lanesborough. The towns belonging to the Middle District are Lenox, Pittsfield, Richmond, Stockbridge, Tyringham, Lee, Otis, Becket, Washington, Hinsdale, and Peru. The towns to the south of these, belong to the Southern Dis- trict, and those at the north to the Northern District.
Registers of the Middle District.
Caleb Hyde, of Lenox,
from 1790 until 1796
Samuel Quincy, do.
1796
1801
Joseph Tucker, do.
1801
Registers of the Southern District.
Moses Hopkins, of Great Barrington, from 1790. Registers of the Northern District.
James Barker, of Lanesborough, from 1791 until 1796
Timothy Whitney, do.
1796
1806
Samuel Bacon, do.
1806
1811
Luther Washburn, do.
1811
1824
George N. Briggs, do.
1824
Before this County was formed, five persons only re- sided within its limits, who were engaged, after their settlement here, in the practice of law, viz. John Hug- gins, John Ashley, Elisha Huggins, Mark Hopkins, and Theodore Sedgwick. These were admitted to the bar in the original County of Hampshire. Since 1761, one hundred and thirteen have been admitted to the bar in Berkshire, (whose names will appear in the history of the towns where they lived) making, with the five just men- tioned, one hundred and eighteen. Of this number, thirty have died while inhabitants of the County ; about for- ty have removed to other parts of the country, most of whom are still living ; from six to ten have retired from practice, or engaged in other pursuits, leaving about for- ty in the County still in the profession.
In September, 1815, the members of the bar formed themselves into a Law Library Association, for the pur- pose of procuring books to be used during the sessions of the Courts. They have now 310 volumes.
From the records of the Courts, the following facts have been obligingly furnished by the Clerk, which
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110
HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE.
show something of the judicial business among a popufe. lation, averaging at the times specified, probably, about. 37,000. The actions were entered at the Court of Com- mon Pleas.
Actions entered.
Tried by Jury.
Carried to Supreme Court without trial.
In 1810, 1385
25
71
1816, 1484
29
69
1826, 911
14
38
1827, 722
15
48
1828, 691
14
50
The diminution of actions since 1816, is owing to the gradual removal of the embarrassments produced by the late war with Great Britain, and to some extent, it is believed, to an improvement in public morals.
Besides discharging the immediate duties of their pro- fession, the members of the bar in Berkshire have been called to fill many town offices, not a few in the State, and some under the government of the United States. Omitting the honors which some have ob- tained in other parts of the country since leaving the County, this bar has furnished one United States Sen- ator, one Member of Congress under the Confedera- tion, and six Members since the adoption of the Con- stitution, one of whom was Speaker of the House of Representatives ; one Comptroller of the United States Treasury ; two Judges of the Supreme Judicial Court® of Massachusetts ; one Attorney General ; four Judges of the County and Circuit Court; one Judge of Pro- bate; seven State Senators, and four members of the Governor's Council.
There have been six executions in the County for capital offences. It is not known that either of the criminals was born in the County, though one or two of them had lived in it for some time.
John Bly and Charles Rose, one a foreigner and the other an American, were executed Dec. 6, 1787, for burglary committed in Lanesborough, under pretence of getting supplies for men engaged in the Shays' Insur- rection.
Ephraim Wheeler, of Windsor, was executed Feb. 20, 1806, for a rape, committed upon his own daughter.
F
111
· STATE SENATORS.
Ezra Hutchinson, of Stockbridge, was executed for the same offence, Nov, 18, 1913.
Peter Johnson, a black man. from Sheffield, but a na- tive of the State of New York, was executed for the same crime also, Nov. 25, 1819.
Samuel P. Charles, an Oneida Indian, who had lived some time in West Stockbridge, ard been distinguished for debased morals, was executed Nov. 22, 1826, for murdering a man of colour in Richmond.
These executions were all performed in Lenox, and drew together an immense multitude of spectators. It is much to be questioned whether such publicity in put- ting criminals to death, subserves the cause of justice and public virtue.
Since the adoption of the State Constitution, Berk- shire has been a district for the election of State Sena- tors. The following is a list of those who have been elected to this office :-
Names. Towns in which they lived. Years of service.
Jahleel Woodbridge, Stockbridge,
James Barker, Cheshire, 1780
Jahleel Woodbridge,
John Bacon, Stockbridge, 1781 and 2-
Jahleel Woodbridge,
Jonathan Smith, Lanesborough, S 1783
Jahleel Woodbridge,
Theodore Sedgwick, S Stockbridge 1784
Theodore Sedgwick,
Thompson J. Skinneer, Williamstown, S 1785
Thompson J. Skinner,
Elijah Dwight, Great Barrington, 1786 and 7
Elijah Dwight,
William Whiting, S do. 1788
Elijah Dwight,
1789, 1790-1-2 and 3
Thompson J. Skinner,
Thompson J. Skinner,
John Bacon, 1794-5 and 6
Thomas Ives, Great Barrington, 1797
William Williams, Dalton, S
John Bacon,
Thomas Ives, 1798
-
112
HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE.
William Williams,
1799, 1900:
David Rosseter, Richmond,
Thompson J. Skinner,
1801-2
Barnabas Bidwell, Stockbridge,
John Bacon,
Barnabas Bidwell,
John Bacon,
Timothy Childs, Pittsfield,
Timothy Childs,
1807-8-9
Timothy Childs,
1810
William P. Walker, Lenox,
William P. Walker,
1811
William Towner, Williamstown,
William Towner,
Lemuel Barstow, Great Barrington,
Joseph Whiton, Lee,
1813-14
Wolcott Hubbell, Lanesborough,
Timothy Childs,
William P. Walker, S
Caleb Hyde, Lenox,
1816
John Whiting,
1817
Daniel Noble, Williamstown,
Caleb Hyde,
1818
Daniel Noble, $
Caleb Hyde,
1819-20
Phinehas Allen,
1821
Lemuel Moffit, West Stockbridge,
Lemuel Moffit,
1822
Jonathan Allen,
1823
George Hull, Sandisfield,
George Hull,
1824
Rodman Hazard,
1825
Samuel Shears, Sheffield,
Samuel Shears,
1826
Peter Briggs, Adams.
Peter Briggs,
182%
Joseph B. Hill, West Stockbridge,
1803-4
1805-6
Azariah Eggleston, Lenox,
1812
1815
John Whiting, Great Barrington,
Phinehas Allen, Pittsfield,-
Jonathan Allen, Pittsfield,
Rodman Hazard, Hancock,
REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS. 113
Charles Mattoon, Lenox,
Robert F. Barnard, Sheffield, 1828
Robert F. Barnard,
1829
Samuel M. McKay, Pittsfield,
Members of the Governor's Council.
About the time disturbances were commencing be- tween this country and Great Britain, Timothy Wood- bridge, of Stockbridge, is said to have been appointed a member of the Council by mandamus from the King. But he did not accept the appointment.
From 1775 until 1780, Timothy Edwards, of Stock- bridge, was a member of the Council, as it existed in virtue of the English charter ; a period in which the government of the State was very much entrusted to that body. Since 1780, the following gentlemen have been honored with this appointment, viz.
Daniel Dewey, of Williamstown, in 1809 and 12 - John C. Williams, of Pittsfield, 1817 and 18
Daniel Noble, of Williamstown, 1821 and 2
William P. Walker, of Lenox, - 1823
Nathan Willis, of Pittsfield,
1824-5 and 6
Joshua Danforth, do. 1827 and 8
George Hull, of Sandisfield, 1829
Before the adoption of the present Constitution of the United States, and while Representatives to Con- gress in Massachusetts were appointed by the Legisla- ture, Timothy Edwards, of Stockbridge, was appointed a Representative in 1779, but declined. Theodore Sedgwick, of the same town, was appointed in 1785 and 6, and accepted.
About 1788 or 9, Massachusetts was districted, for the purpose of electing members to Congress by the freemen. Berkshire, with a part of the old County of Hampshire, was made a district. Three towns are now attached to it from Hampshire County. The members from this district have been as follows : A
Theodore Sedgwick, of Stockbridge, from 1789 to 1797 Thompson J. Skinner, of Williamstown, 1797 1799
1799 1801
Theodore Sedgwick,
John Bacon, of Stockbridge,
1801 1803
10*
-
114
HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE.
Barnabas Bidwell, do.
1803
1806
Simon Larned, of Pittsfield,
1806
1807
Ezekiel Bacon, do.
1807
1813
Daniel Dewey, of Williamstown,
1813
1815
John W. Hulbert, of Pittsfield,
1815
1817
Henry Shaw, of Lanesborough,
1817
1821
Henry W. Dwight, of Stockbridge,
1821
REVOLUTIONARY WAR .- The inhabitants of Berk- shire, with very few exceptions, partook largely of the feelings which pervaded the country during the rise and progress of the war of the Revolution. Having been successfully engaged in subduing a forest and in laying a foundation for the happiness of themselves and fami- lies, they had acquired a high sense of their personal rights and a fixed determination to defend them. They had become inured to privation and hardship, and were familiar with enterprize and adventure. The attempts of the British Parliament to tax the Americans without their consent; the closing of the port of Boston; the subversion of the charter, and other oppressive meas- ures, therefore, produced strong sensations in their minds, and prompted them at once to concur with their brethren eastward in the earliest measures for securing a redress of grievances. Of this, the doings of the County Convention in 1774 (or Congress, as it was then called) are sufficient proof. The minutes of this convention are too interesting not to be inserted in this place.
" BERKSHIRE, JULY 6, A. D. 1774.
At a Congress of the Deputies of the several Towns within said County, [convened at Stockbridge,] on Wednesday, the sixth day of July, 1774, (viz.) from Sheffield-Jno. Ashley, Esq., Capt. Nathaniel Aus- tin, Deac. Silas Kellogg, Mr. Theodore Sedgwick, Capt. Wm. Day, Mr. Wm. Bacon, Doct. Leml. Bar- nard.
Great Barrington-Mark Hopkins, Esq., Doct. Wm. Whiting, Mr. Truman Wheeler.
Egremont-Mr. Ephraim Fitch, Capt. Timothy Kel- logg, Mr. Samuel Culver.
Stockbridge-Timothy Edwards, Esq. Jahleel Wood-
115
REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
bridge, Esq., Saml. Brown, Jr. Esq., Mr. Thomas Will- iams, Doct. Erastus Sergeant.
Lenox-Messrs. Caleb Hyde, Capt. Edward Gray, Leml. Collins, Jno. Patterson, William Walker.
West Stockbridge-Messrs. Elisha Hooper, Benja- min Lewis.
Alford-Messrs. Ebenezer Barritt, Deodate Inger- soll, William Brunson.
Richmond-Capt. Elisha Brown, Lieut. David Ros- seter, Mr. Nathaniel Wilson.
Pittsfield-Messrs. Jno. Brown, James Eason, Jno. Strong.
Lanesborough-Messrs. Gideon Wheeler, Peter Cur- tiss, Francis Gittau.
Jerico [Hancock]-Capt. Asa Douglass.
Williamstown-Messrs. Robert Hawkins, Elisha Ba- ker, Jacob Meach.
E. Hoosuck [Adams]-Mr. Eliel Todd.
Sandisfield-Messrs. Jacob Brown, David Deming. Partridgefield [Peru]-Mr. Nathan Fisk.
Hartwood [Washington]-Messrs. William Spen- ger, Moses Ashley.
Becket-Messrs. Nathaniel Kingsley, Peter Porter, Jonathan Wadsworth.
New Marlborough-Messrs. Elihu Wright, Jabez Ward, Noah Church, Zenas Wheeler, Ephm. Gittau.
Tyringham -- Messrs. Giles Jackson, Benjamin Warner, Ezekiel Herrick.
JOHN ASHLEY, Esq. in the Chair.
THEODORE SEDGWICK, Clerk.
The question is moved and put-Whether this Con- gress will advise the inhabitants of this County to non- consumption of British manufactures, under such lim- itations and exceptions, as to them shall appear proper -it passed in the affirmative.
Moved and mut-Whether this Congress will choose a Committee to take into consideration the Acts of the Parliament of Great Britain, made for the purpose of raising and collecting a Revenue in America, and report their sense of them-that said Committee consist of five persons ; and Mr. Thomas Williams, Mr. Peter Curtiss, Mr. Jno. Brown, Mark Hopkins, Esq., and Mr. Theodore Sedgwick, were chosen.
116
HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE.
Moved and put-Whether a Committee be appointed to take into consideration, and report the draught of an agreement, to be recommended to the Towns in this County, for the non-consumption of British manufac- tures, said Committee to consist of five persons. Pass- ed in the affirmative, and
Timothy Edwards, Esq., Doct. William Whiting, Doct. Lemuel Barnard, Doct. Erastus Sergeant, and Deac. James Eason, were chosen.
Voted, That the Members of this Committee do re- commend to the inhabitants of the several Towns of this County to which they belong, to set apart Thursday, the 14th inst. for a day of FASTING and PRAYER, to implore the Divine assistance that He would inter- pose, and in mercy avert those evils with which we are threatened ; and the several members of this Commit- tee are enjoined to inform the several Ministers of the religious assembly to which they belong.
Adjourned to 8 o'clock to-morrow morning.
July 7th-Met according to adjournment.
The Committee appointed to take into consideration the Acts of the British Parliament, made for the pur- pose of raising and collecting a revenue in America, and to report their sense of them, Reported, which was unanimously accepted.
Adjourned to 2 o'clock.
Met according to adjournment.
The Committee appointed to take into consideration the League and Covenant, reported. Read, paragraph by paragraph, and accepted.
Put to vote. That the several members of this Com- mittee be desired to recommend to the charity of the . inhabitants of the several towns in this County, the dis- tressed circumstances of the poor of the towns of Charlestown and Boston, and that the same be remit- ted to them in fat cattle in the fall, by such ways and means as shall hereafter be agreed upon.
Voted, Thanks be given to the Chairman ..
Voted, That the Clerk be enjoined to transmit a copy of these Resolves to the Committee of Correspondence in Boston.
WHEREAS the Parliament of Great Britain have, of late, undertaken to give and grant away our money,
117
REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
without our knowledge or consent; and in order to com- pel us to a servile submission to the above measures, have proceeded to block up the harbour of Boston ; also, have, or are about to vacate the Charter, and re- peal certain laws of this Province, heretofore enacted by the General Court, and confirmed to us by the King and his predecessors. Therefore, as a means to obtain a speedy redress of the above grievances, We do sol- emnly and in good faith covenant and engage with each other :
1st. That we will not import, purchase, or consume, or suffer any person for, by, or under us, to import, purchase, or consume, in any manner whatever, any goods, wares, or manufactures, which shall arrive in A- merica from Great Britain, from and after the first day of October next, or such other tirne as shall be agreed upon by the American Congress ; nor any goods which shall be ordered from thence from and after this day, until our Charter and constitutional rights shall be re- stored ; or until it shall be determined by the major part of our brethren in this and the neighboring Colo- nies, that a non-importation or non-consumption agree- ment will not have a tendency to effect the desired end, and until it shall be apparent that a non-importation or non-consumption agreement will not be entered into by the majority of this and the neighboring Colonies, ex- cept such articles as the said General Congress of North America shall advise to import and consume.
2dly. We do further covenant and agree, that we will observe the most strict obedience to all constitutional laws and authority ; and will at all times exert our- seives to the utmost for the discouragement of all licen- tiousness, and suppressing all disorderly mobs and riots."
3dly. We will exert ourselves as far as in us lies, in promoting peace, love, and unanimity among each oth- er ; and for that end, we engage to avoid all unnecessary lawsuits whatever.
4thly. As a strict and proper adherence to the non- importation and non-consumption agreement will, if not seasonably provided against, involve us in many diffi- culties and inconveniences, we do promise and agree, that we will take the most prudent care for the raising of sheep, and for the manufacturing all such clothes as
1
118
HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE.
shall be most useful and necessary ; and, also, for the raising of flax, and the manufacturing of linen ; further, that we will by every prudent method endeavour to guard against all those inconveniences which might oth- erwise arise from the foregoing agreement.
5thly. That if any person shall refuse to sign this, or a similar covenant, or, after having signed it, shall not adhere to the real intent and meaning thereof, he or they shall be treated by us with all the neglect they shall justly deserve, particularly by omitting all commercial dealings with them.
6thly. That if this, or a similar covenant, shall after the first day of August next, be offered to any trader or shop-keeper in this County, and he or they shall refuse to sign the same for the space of 48 hours, that we will from thenceforth purchase no article of British manufac- ture, or East India goods, from him or them, until such time as he or they shall sign this or a similar covenant."
In subsequent years, repeated conventions were held, composed of the most intelligent, virtuous, and influen- tial men, elected by the several towns, in which the cir- cumstances of the County and country were considered, and measures for promoting the general welfare devised and recommended.
Nor did the patriotism of the people spend itself in conventions, in speeches and resolutions. The very year in which the first convention was held, two regi- ments of minute men were raised by voluntary enlist- ment ; one in the middle and northern part of the County, under Col. John Patterson, of Lenox, after- wards Gen. Patterson; and the other in the southern part, under Col. John Fellows, of Sheffield, afterwards Gen. Fellows. These regiments marched, immediately after the battle of Lexington, to the vicinity of Boston, where they were re-organized and enlarged. The men enlisted into the service of their country, at first for eight months ; most of them enlisted afterwards for a longer period, and some during the war. Lexington battle was fought on the 18th of April, 1775 ; news of it arrived in Berkshire on the 20th, about noon, and the next morning at sunrise the regiment of Col. Patterson were on their way, completely equipped in arms, and generally in uniform, This marched to Cambridge,
119
REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
and consisted, after its re-organization, of ten compa- nies. Patterson was commissioned colonel of it, Jere- miah Cady, of Ashuelot Equivalent (Dalton,) was. ma- jor, and Charles Dibble, of Lenox, Nathan Watkins, of Partridgefield (Peru,) Thomas Williams, of Stock- bridge, David Noble, of Pittsfield, and Samuel Sloane, of Williamstown, were captains. The other principal officers were taken from other parts of Massachusetts, with the exception of Capt. John Mckinstry, who be- longed to Hillsdale, New York. Animated with the same zeal, the regiment from the south part of the County proceeded to Roxbury. Fellows was formally constituted colonel of it, William King, of Great Bar- rington, William Bacon, of Sheffield, Ebenezer Smith, of New Marlborough, a Mr. Soule, of Sandisfield, Will- iam Goodrich, of Stockbridge, and Noah Allen, of Tyr- ingham, were captains; Samuel Brewer, of the last men- tioned town, was adjutant. A few weeks after, Peter Ingersoll, of Great Barrington, raised a company, which joined the same regiment.
Beside those pertaining to these regiments, many others entered into the service of their country, at the commencement of hostilities, or on subsequent occa- · sions, by voluntary enlistment, or at the call of govern- ment, for shorter or longer periods, on some particular emergency, or as the state of the country more generally demanded. The Stockbridge Indians, equally devoted with the whites about them, furnished a company, com- manded by Capt. Abraham Nimham, one of their own tribe. In the course of 1776, Samuel Brewer, who had been adjutant in Col. Fellows' regiment, was made a colonel, and proceeded at the head of a regiment from Berkshire to Ticonderoga. In December of the same year, Col. John Brown, of Pittsfield, conducted a regiment of drafted militia to Mount Independence. In 1777, large bodies of militia were despatched to assist Gen. Stark and Gen. Gates in opposing the troops of Burgoyne. In consequence of an order of the General Court, passed Dec. 2, 1780, 222 men were raised in the several towns for the Continental service, to serve three years, or during the war, 22 in Sheffield, 7 in Egremont, 11 in Great Barrington, 3 in Alford, 12 in Stockbridge, 7 in West Stockbridge, 10 in Tyring-
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HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE.
ham, 12 in New Marlborough, 12 in Sandisfield, 5 ir Becket, 3 in Loudon (part of Otis, ) 13 in Richmond, 10 in Lenox, 15 in Pittsfield, 3 in Ashuelot Equivalent, 4 in Washington, 7 in Lee, 15 in Lanesborough, 2 in New Ashford, 13 in Williamstown, 7 in Hancock, 6 in Partridgefield, 8 in Windsor, and 15 in Adams. Many parties also were formed, which made sudden irruptions into the adjoining parts of New York, for the purpose of quelling the efforts or taking the persons of those (ex- isting there in considerable numbers) who were inimical to the American cause.
No class of men espoused the cause of America more heartily than the clergy, who plead for it in pub- lic and private. The Rev. Mr. Avery, of Windsor, sought a dismission from his church, that he might go into the army as a chaplain. Several others left their congregations, for limited periods, that they might serve their country in this capacity. The late Mr. Allen, min- ister of Pittsfield, is said to have used his musket very dexterously in the battle of Bennington. .
A strong enthusiasm indeed pervaded all classes of society. Females felt the subject deeply, and despised
. the man who was in the vigor of life and the enjoyment of health, and yet unwilling to bear arms in defence of his country's rights. They not only gave up their hus- bands, brothers, fathers, and sons, to serve in the army, but oftentimes went into the field, in their absence, and labored with those who were too aged, or too young, or too infirm to go abroad, that they might provide food for their families. The pious, in secret, and in little cir- cles of three, five, and ten, sent up their cry to the God of armies, that he would have mercy upon them and theirs, and save their country.
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