USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Bernardston > History of the town of Bernardston, Franklin county, Massachusetts, 1736-1900, with genealogies > Part 2
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More than 50 towns, probably, are in sight, II churches can be seen with the naked eye and, with a telescope, more than 20 can be discovered, and a tract of country which is scarcely excelled in point of the fertility of the soil and the virtues of its inhabitants." Thus Lieut. Gov. Cushman, in 1861, described the outlook.
Passing on toward North Bernardston, Wildcat looms above the horizon to the left. This grand old mountain is seen to its best advantage from its northern approach, where its densely wooded, precipitous sides are sharply delineated, and, with its companion, Tame Cat, opposite, and the beautiful meadow farms and peace- fully flowing river between, it presents a scene of rarely equalled beauty. From the wild nature of the place rather than from the ferocious animal has the name been applied, and many have been the hunting expeditions planned in days of yore, with Wildcat as the objective point.
Upon the opposite side of the river is Tame Cat or, as it was ear -. lier known, " Ragged Mountain." This elevation has always been much more accessible, and after the timber was cut from it, the wood-choppers gave it the name in contrast to the appearance of Wildcat opposite, and Tame Cat it remains to the present. At North Bernardston the mountain at whose base lie nestled the farm and buildings of Myron Corbett, has long been known as "Crow-
WILDCAT MOUNTAIN.
.. ..... .
. .. ..
..
5
NATURAL FEATURES.
berry Hill," while across the river is East Mountain, whose south- ern elevation is " Tame Cat."
Bald Mountain .- " Ball Mountain " for short,- lies a little farther east and south of Tame Cat and is said to derive its name from a bald, rocky spot near its summit, where the only vegetation ever found is a little moss clinging here and there to the crevices.
On the east side of this mountain is "Huckle Hill," rendered memorable as being, the original site of the first church, and hav- ing located thereon also one of the first dwellings, the "Dea. Shel- don Fort." The huckleberries growing there in such profusion gave it the name. Stratton Hill is the name of a gentle rise of ground located north-west of Grass hollow, in the east part of the town, north-west of the Purple place, while east of Dry Brook is " Snow Hill," the early home of the Snow family. In that portion of the town incorporated into the district of Leyden are found " Frizzle Hill," named for the Mr. Frizzle who settled there, and " Beaver Meadow," so called from the great number of beaver for- merly found there, while in the south-east part of the town is Shel- don Hill.
Certain districts of the place have always been thus denominated, and the older people of to-day will tell with pride how the great number of geese kept by the residents on South street caused that road to be known as " Goose Lane," while " Burk Flat " was so des- ignated because of its containing the John Burk Fort in the town's early history ; and how one of the village worthies, years ago, used to facetiously call this same " Flat" " The plains of Abraham," for what reason, history is silent.
There are no very remarkable or striking curiosities here situ- ated. Perhaps the glen upon the Newcomb Brook merits more than a passing notice, from its own natural beauty, and also be- cause here was enacted one of the many tragedies incident to the Indian warfares. The place referred to is near the site of the old Connable sawmill. The passage is not more than 12 to 15 feet in width and from 60 to 70 in depth. The water here falls over the solid rock to the basin beneath. Over this place the Indians passed on a log, en route to Canada after the pillaging of Deerfield in 1704. One of the captives, (probably Hannah, daughter of Samuel Carter,) here met her death.
6
PRODUCTIONS.
The soil is largely composed of gravel, and it is due to this that the roads are so easily kept in so good a condition. In sections a strata of red sandstone appears. There are, here and there, some mineral deposits, but not in sufficient quantities or in quality pure enough to be of any practicable value. On the mountain on the north part of the Levi Park place, where the lime and iron ores are found, there are scattered small mineral springs, whose waters are impregnated with magnesia, sulphur and iron, and that to such an extent that the soil and stones are covered with a thick, yellow sediment.
Productions .- The alluvial meadow lands have been brought to a high state of cultivation. In 1828 it was estimated by persons com- petent to judge, that the town produced 8000 bushels of rye and as much corn ; also that there was made that year 5000 barrels of cider. In 1862 Mr. John Sanderson sent to the New York market his famous ox, " Constitution " or " Hero," said at that time to have been the largest beef creature ever dressed there. He was of a roan color, a grade Durham, small horn, and of the following meas- urements : height, 5 feet 9 inches, largest girth, 11 feet 5 inches, length from roots of horns to tail, 9 feet, width of back, 4 feet, width across rump, I foot 11 inches, across shoulders, 3 feet 3 inches, between forelegs, I foot 4 inches, length from hip to root of tail, 2 feet 11 inches, length from ham to brisket, 7 feet 5 inches, girth around neck forward of shoulder, 9 feet 5 inches. His dressed weight was 2,473 pounds. A large portion of this was purchased for the English market and the sum realized was invested in about 12,000 pounds of other good meat for distribution among the sol- diers' families. Just a year later, in February, 1863, Mr. Imla K. Brown slaughtered a half-blood Chester hog, age 17 months and 1 week, which at that time was considered a remarkable animal, weighing, after hanging ten hours, 752 pounds. As the years go by the Bernardston farmers keep pace with the times and take a commendable pride in their vocation and productions. The latter are of a nature to be found in all farming communities. An abund- ance of good timber abounds, chestnut being now predominant.
Anecdote of Samuel Connable .- It is a fact known to comparatively few, probably, that the inhabitants of Bernardston were among the
7
ANECDOTE OF SAMUEL CONNABLE.
first to make to any great extent, what has now grown to be a staple article of commerce in New England, namely the maple products. To whom the honor of discovery belongs or whether we must go back to the old Indian legend, we cannot tell. In " Dodsley's Reg- ister " for October, 1765, it is stated that a " method of making sugar and molasses from the sap of a certain tree called the maple, com- mon in the New England colonies, has just been discovered and put in practice at several portions of New England, but especially at Bernardston, about 20 miles from Athol." In connection with this industry is an anecdote of Mr. Samuel Connable, one of the pioneers of the place, and a man remarkable for his ingenuity and self acquired mechanical skill. Of him it is said that he gathered " the sap in a basket and boiled it in a tub," which is literally true, and was published at the time in the English periodicals, accord- ing to Lieut. Gov. Cushman's papers. The explanation of this seeming impossibility is found thus. The sap was gathered in a basket, when frozen. The boiling in a tub does not seem quite as admissable as truth, but in those days one article was required to be put to as many uses as possible, and among the possessions of Mr. Connable was an old fashioned "potash kettle " very large round, conical in shape, but withal, shallow. How to utilize this became a study. Finally his ingenuity suggested that greater depth might be acquired by placing a tub top of the kettle, so pro- curing a "set work " tub with ears to it, in which a handle could be inserted, he removed the bottom, placed the tub within the top of the kettle and firmly packed the two together, something after the manner of calking, and when his kettle -or tub-call it as you will - was suspended from an improvised crane of crotched sticks, over an open fire, he was ready in reality to " boil sap in a tub." The contrast between this and the modern methods is certainly suggestive.
And as in the subsequent pages, we see most plainly the vicissi- tudes experienced and successes achieved, and the many obvious comparisons, we may, in the same proportion, realize that
"The great eventful Present hides the Past ; but through the din Of its loud life, hints and echoes from the life behind steal in And the lore of home and fireside, and the legendary rhyme Make the task of duty lighter, which the true man owes his time."
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CHAPTER II.
EARLY HISTORY AND ORIGIN-THE FALLS FIGHT-PETITION FOR A GRANT-THE REPLY-TERRITORIAL GRANTS-PROPRIETORS-FIRST PROPRIETORS' MEETING-DIVISION OF LAND-NUMBERS OF THE LOTS DRAWN-JOSIAH SCOTT'S SETTLING BOND-COLLECTORS- PLAN OF THE TOWN ORDERED-THE " GORE"-FIRST FAMILIES- CHURCH MATTERS.
The early history of Bernardston is so closely identified with that of contiguous towns, that, in treating of it, that of Leyden, a part of Colrain, and other territory must necessarily be included.
The origin of the township properly antedates the grant of land made in 1735 by the General Court, 58 years, when at the present site of Riverside, near Turners Falls, occurred the "Falls Fight." There were two accounts of the engagement written within a year of its occurrence. One by Rev. William Hubbard of Ipswich, the other, anonymously, and signed "N. S." Both of these accounts are well worthy perusal and vary only in minor details. After careful research Rev. George Bodge prepared the following ac- count for the Genealogical Register (April, 1887), and has given it in a full and accurate manner.
Falls Fight .- " A company consisting of volunteers and many of the inhabitants of the towns along the Connecticut River mounted upon their own horses, and armed as each might be able, or from the garrison, took up the line of march in the evening of May 18th from Hatfield towards the Falls, twenty miles away, through the woods. Taking their way northwards through Hatfield meadows and on by the road where both Lathrop and Beers had met disaster and death, past the ruins of Deerfield, they crossed the river at the northerly part of the meadow (a late high authority says 'at the mouth of Sheldon's brook ') and thus eluding the Indian outposts stationed at a place now called 'Cheapside' to guard the usual place of crossing. These Indians, it is said, overheard the crossing
9
FALLS FIGHT.
of the troops and turned out with torches and examined the usual ford, but finding no traces there, and hearing no further disturb- ance, concluded that the noise was made by moose crossing, and so went back to their sleep. A heavy thunder shower during the night greatly aided the secrecy of the march, while it drove the Indians to their wigwams and prevented any suspicion of an attack. This danger safely passed, the troops rode forward through Green- field meadows and crossing Green River, 'at the mouth of Ash Swamp brook to the eastward, skirting the great swamp' (says Mr. Sheldon) they at length, about daybreak, reached the high land south of Mt. Adams, where the men dismounted, and leaving the horses under a small guard, pushed on through Fall River and up a steep hill, and halted, silently awaiting daylight, upon the slope above the sleeping Indian Camp. Here all was wrapped in pro- found sleep. It is said that a great feast had been celebrated the night before by the Indians, at which they had gorged themselves with fresh salmon from the river, and beef and new milk from the Hatfield cattle. Not a guard had been set and no preparation had been made, so secure were they and unsuspicious of an English raid. And now with advancing daylight the sturdy settlers gath- ered silently down and about their unconscious foes, to whom the first warning of danger was the crashing of a hundred muskets, dealing death in at their wigwam doors. Many were killed at the first fire, and scarcely a show of resistence was made. The savages who escaped were terrified at the thought that their old enemy was upon them and fled towards the river yelling 'Mohawks! Mohawks!' and wildly threw themselves into the canoes along the banks, but many of these overcrowding the canoes, were thrown into the river and carried over the Falls to certain death; others were shot in attempting to reach the other side ; others were chased to the shelving rocks along the banks and there shot down. It is said that Capt. Holyoke there dispatched five with his own hand. Very few of the Indians escaped and their loss was computed by contemporary writers at 300. Only one of the English was killed and he by mistake by one of his own comrades, and another was wounded in this attack. The soldiers burned all the wigwams and their contents, captured the tools of the Indian blacksmiths who
IO
FALLS FIGHT.
had set up two forges for mending arms, and threw 'two great piggs of lead (intended for making bullets) into the river.' But while this was being accomplished, the several larger bodies of Indians upon the river above and below. rallied, and from various quarters gathered in and about the English. A small party acted as decoys and showed themselves crossing the river above, and · succeeded in drawing a portion of our forces away from the main body only to meet a large force and regain the command with diffi- culty. Capt. Turner, enfeebled as he was by disease, collected and drew off his troops towards the horses, while the guards were about this time attacked by the enemy, who hastily withdrew at the coming of the main body. Mounting their horses, the English began the march for Hatfield. The Indians in increasing numbers gathered upon flank and rear ; Capt. Turner led the van, though so weak from long sickness as scarcely able to manage his horse. The intrepid Capt. Holyoke commanded the rear guard, but in ef- fect conducted the retreat. The Indians advanced upon the left and rear and several sharp skirmishes ensued, while they tried to separate the rear guard from the main. Once Capt. Holyoke's horse was shot down and he narrowly escaped capture by the In- dians who rushed forward to seize him, by shooting down the fore- most with his pistol, till his men came to his aid. On the left of the line of march, nearly all the way to Green River, was a swamp in which the Indians found safe cover. A rumor was started (by an escaped captive it is said) that Philip with a thousand warriors was at hand, and a panic ensued.
The guides differed as to the course, and some following one and some another, disorder prevailed and the command was broken up. Two parties leaving the main body were cut off and lost. Captain Turner pushed forward with the advance as far as Green River, and was shot by the Indians while crossing the stream near the mouth of the brook upon which afterwards stood 'Nash's Mills.' His body was found near the place by a scouting party a short time afterwards. John Chase of Newbury, in 1735, testified that he was in this expedition and helped to bury the body of Capt. Turner.
The whole command now devolved upon Capt. Holyoke, who led his shattered forces, fighting every rod of the way to the south
II
PETITION OF SAMUEL HUNT.
side of Deerfield meadow to the place now known as the 'Bars' (according to Gen. Hoyt's account). That the retreat did not end in a general massacre is doubtless due to the skill and bravery of Capt. Holyoke in keeping the main body together, and in protect- ing flank and rear while pushing forward to avoid the chance of ambuscades; as it was, they found on arriving at Hatfield, that some forty-five or more of their men were missing. Rev. Mr. Rus- sell's letter of May 22nd gives some account of the losses, and says that six of the missing have come in, reducing the number of lost to thirty eight or nine. Of the Indian losses he gives the report of Sergt. Bardwell, that he counted upwards of one hundred in and about the wigwams and along the river banks, and the testimony of William Drew and others that they counted some 'six score and ten.' Hence we cannot but judge that there were above two hun- dred of them slain."
Petition of Samuel Hunt .- The services and sufferings of this in- trepid band of Capt. Turner's certainly merited a fitting recognition from the government they sought to protect, and a favorable re- ply was received to the following, presented November, 1734. " A petition of Samuel Hunt, of Billerica, for himself and other survivors of the officers and soldiers that belonged to the com- pany of Capt. Turner, and the representatives of those that are de- ceased, shewing that the said company in 1676 engaged the Indian enemy at a place above Deerfield, and destroyed above three hun- dred of them, and therefore, praying that this Court would grant them a tract'of land above Deerfield suitable to make a township."
Reply .- The reply to this petition shows the condition which our former legislators deemed necessary for the welfare of the future town. In the House of Representatives Nov. 28, 1734, " Voted that the prayer there-of be so far granted, as that the petitioners have leave by a surveyor and chain-man upon oath to lay out a Town- ship of the contents of six square miles, to the Northward of the town of Deerfield, in the unappropriated lands of the Province, and return a plat there-of to this Court for confirmation within twelve months, and that the said township is granted to the petitioners and such other Officers and soldiers that were in said fight above Deerfield, commonly called the Falls Fight, and to the descendants
12
REPLY.
of any of the officers and soldiers that were in said fight and are deceased, and that shall be admitted by the committee hereafter named ; provided the grantees do within four years settle sixty families in said township, and have each of them an house eighteen feet square and five acres of land brought to English grass, or broke up by plowing, and also build a convenient Meeting House, and settle a learned orthodox Minister among them, lay out a home lot for the first settled minister, and another for the Ministry, each of which to draw a seventieth part of said township ; also a lot for the school, of one hundred acres, the remainder to be divided into equal parts among those that are admitted, and that John Stoddard, Jo- seph Dwight, Charles Church, Samuel Danforth, Esqrs., with such as shall be appointed by the Honorable Board, be a committee to receive the claims of all such as shall challenge by this grant, and are empowered and required to admit all such Officers and Soldiers as shall within a twelve months from this time put in their claims and give satisfactory accounts of their being in the fight, and shall also admit one and only one, of the descendants of each of the Of- ficers and Soldiers that were killed in said fight, or since deceased, provided they put in their claims and make their challenge within twelve months as aforesaid. And the committee are further di- rected always to give preference to the eldest of the sons of each officer or soldier, deceased, that shall put in their claims, and in case no son puts in his claim within twelve months, then to give preference to the eldest male descended from any such Officer or Soldier, deceased, that shall put in their claims as aforesaid, and all others shall be excluded."
The Grant .- The land granted included what is now within the limits of Bernardston, Leyden, a portion of Colrain, and a small belt which was afterwards proven to have belonged to New Hamp- shire, in all a tract 6 miles square. A previous grant to a Mr. Fair- weather of 500 acres, situated in the east part of the new township, together with the mountainous and waste lands included, so reduced this in value that, in 1741, as the proprietors increased numerically, they petitioned for and obtained another tract not yet covered by any prior grants.
The following is a copy of the original order for calling the first
13
THE GRANT.
meeting of the "Mantlers of Fall Town " and the return thereof. " In the House of Rep'tives, Dec. 24, 1735.
Ordered, That Thomas Wells, Esq'r, be empowered and directed to notifie the Grantees of the Tract of Land or Township made by this Court to the Officers and Soldiers that were in the Fall fight above Deerfield, and to their Descendants, that they appear at some town in the County of Hamp- shire as soon as conveniently may beto chuse a Moderator and Proprietors' Clerk and to agree upon effectual methods for the laying out and fiulfilling of their grant and to call meetings for the future.
Sent up for Concurance.
J. Quincy, Sp'kr. In Council, Dec. 26, 1735. J. Willard, Sec'y. J. Belcher.
Read and Concurred.
Consented to.
A true copy.
Examined pr Thomas Mason, Dep't Secry."
On the back of this order is the following in the handwriting of Esquire Wells.
" Hampshire ss. Dec. 26, 1735.
Pursuant to the Directions of the Within order I the Subscriber have No- tified the Grantees of the Township within mentioned by posting up notifi- cations in those towns where any of the porsons concerned Dwell to appear at ye house of Mr; Benjamin Stebbins of Northampton in sd county on Jan'y ye 27, 1735-6, for ends and purposes within mentioned.
Tho's Wells."
It will be observed that this order was signed by Gov. Belcher Dec. 24, and the return made Dec. 26. The grantees dwelt in 21 different towns in Massachusetts, scattered from Amesbury to Kingston in the east and from Deerfield to Suffield on the Connect- icut River, beside 13 towns in Connecticut. Those were not the days of fast mails and Esquire Wells does not tell us how he exe- cuted his commission.
This grant of 500 acres had its origin as follows :- Nov. 24, 1720, in Council at Boston was received a petition from John Fayer- weather in behalf of himself and others, grandchildren and heirs of Jonathan Payne, late of Boston, deceased, shewing that about 1673, by direction of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay the latter did run the southern line of said Colony to Hudsons River, having the whole charge of the business thereby incurring great expense,
14
FAYERWEATHER GRANT.
hardships and fatigue. For this service the General Court granted him, May 12, 1675, 1800 acres of land, and 4000 acres to be laid out in two different places. Payne's death occurred before he could procure the grant.
The " Plat" of the survey was returned Nov. 21, 1721, Timothy Dwight, Surveyor. The land was laid out between Northfield and Deerfield upon a brook known by the name of Dry Brook, begin- ning 20 rods west of the fordway over said brook and running north. By this we see that Dry Brook received its name at least 15 years before the grant of Falls Fight township.
Considering the circumstances of its origin, what could be more appropriate than that the name of "Fall Town" should be be- stowed, thus commemorating the "Falls Fight " of a half century before! This name the hamlet retained until its formal incorpora- tion as a town in 1762, at which time the name of " Barnardstown " was adopted in honor of Gov. Barnard, a Provincial Governor of Massachusetts Colony under King George the Third, of England.
Claimants .-- The soldiers and descendants of those deceased who were entitled to claims in the township granted were :
Joseph, only son of Hope Atherton, of Deerfield.
Nathaniel, from Nathaniel Alexander, Northampton.
Thomas, eldest son of Thomas Alvord, Middleton.
John, son of William Arms, Deerfield.
John, son of Timothy Baker, Northampton.
Samuel, son of Samuel Bedortha, Springfield.
John Field, descendant of James Bennett, Deerfield.
John, son of John Barbour, Springfield.
John, son of John Bradshaw, Medford.
Isaac, son of John Burnap, Windham.
Samuel Clesson, descendant of Peter Bushrod, Northampton.
Samuel, son of Samuel Boltwood, Hadley.
Samuel, son of Robert Bardwell, Deerfield.
Jolını Hiteheoek, deseendant of Samuel Ball, Springfield.
Stephen, son of Stephen Belden, Hatfield or Northampton.
Richard, son of Elnathan Beers, Watertown.
Samuel, son of Samuel Beldin, Hatfield.
Preserved, son of Preserved Clapp, Northampton.
Thomas, son of Japhet Chapin, Springfield.
Samuel, son of Samuel Crow, Hadley. Joseph, descendant of Josepli Crowfoot, Wethersfield.
William, son of William Clark, Lebanon.
1
CLAIMANTS.
Noah Cook, descendant of Noah Coleman, Hadley. Benjamin, son of Benjamin Chamberlain, Colchester. Nathaniel, descendant of Joseph Chamberlain. Samuel, son of John Conniball, Boston. John, son of John Chase, Newbury. William, son of Nehemiah Dickeson, Hadley. Samuel Jellett, descendant of John Dickeson, Hatfield. Benjamin, son of Benjamin Edwards, Northampton. Joseph, son of Joseph Fuller, Newtown. Samuel, son of Samuel Field, Deerfield.
Nathaniel, son of Nathaniel Foot, Colchester. .
John, son of John Flanders, Kingston. Isaac, son of Isaac Gleason, Enfield. Richard Chuch, descendant of Isaac Harrison, Hadley. Simon, son of Simon Grover, Malden. Samuel, son of Joseph Griffin, Roxbury.
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