USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Goshen > History of the town of Goshen, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, from its first settlement in 1761 to 1881, with family sketches > Part 17
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Children : Clarinda Boardman, born Aug. 31, 1836 ; Hinckley Wright, born Oct. 8, 18.44, died Aug. 25, 1864-a student in Amherst College ; Sarah Russell, born May 3, 1850.
Clarinda B., daughter of Hinckley Williams, graduate of Charles- town Female Seminary, married, June 6, 1860, Hon. Lucius Manlius Boltwood, graduate of Amherst College, 1843 ; member of the Mas- sachusetts Senate, 1860-1 ; Librarian of Public Library in the city of Hartford for several years, now of New Haven; historian and genealogist of high repute.
Sarah Russell Williams, youngest daughter of Hinckley and Elvi- ra Williams, was a young lady of more than usual attainments and ability. She was a graduate of Westfield Normal School in 1868, and for seven years afterwards was a prominent and successful teach- er in Hartford, Conn. In 1873 she formed one of a party of teach- ers who visited the Vienna Exhibition. Two years later an affection of the throat and lungs compelled her to give up teaching, and for four years she spent most of her time in California and Colorada, in the hope of regaining her health. The struggle was in vain, and she died in Boulder, Col., Aug. 24, 1879, aged 29 years. She had a strong and ready sympathy for those in suffering, and did much to brighten the lives of others, like herself, far from home. She was amiable, energetic, persevering, with a controlling will that made her a leader wherever she was. She brought to her Goshen home many interesting mementoes of her travels, which are highly prized as memen- toes of herself. The obtaining of one of these, a fine bamboo rod from Panama, shows her power to interest and influence even strangers. When crossing the Isthmus, she requested the conductor to stop the train near a grove they were passing, that she might obtain a speci- men rod to carry home. The conductor complied, and sent one of his men, who brought her the desired keepsake.
Louisa, daughter of Capt. Nathaniel and Hannah (Williams) Tower, graduated at the young ladies' seminary in Charlestown, and taught in the High Schools in Chicopee, Mass., and in Michigan.
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She married Hon. John C. Dexter of Evart, Mich., and died in that place, Feb. 23, 1881, aged 60 years.
Almira, second daughter of Capt. Nathaniel and Hannah Tower, married Warren J. Ball, Oct. 30, 1845, and had Delia A., who mar- ried Allen R. Stanley, Sept. 22, 1869 ; Charles W., born July 3, 1849 ; John.
John Williams was Justice of the Peace, a good business man, careful and prudent, and an esteemed citizen. He was one of the founders and chief supporters of the Baptist church in this town, and lived and died a consistent member of that branch of the christian church. He died Nov. 15, 1834.
Squire Williams was a man of much shrewdness as well as solidi- ty of character, and amassed a respectable property. He had a habit of drawing lessons from circumstances, that was often made quite instructive to others. He sometimes related for this purpose, his attempt at learning to sing. When he first came to the town he said he joined the choir, thinking he might not only learn to sing but: be able to do a little good in that line. During the singing of the first tune, the chorister gave him a friendly nudge, saying : "Mr. Williams, you haven't quite got the pitch." Again Williams started off with redoubled power, and again came the reminder, "Williams, you haven't got the pitch." "I sat down upon that," said. Williams, "and I have since seen a great many men who begin life with as ear- nest an effort to do something, as I made to sing, but they fail, because they don't get the pitch." A fellow, who was in the habit of imbibing too freely when he had the opportunity, brought a bottle, saying his father was sick and had sent him for a pint of rum. "John," said W., "I believe you are trying to deceive me; you want the liquor for yourself." "No," said John, "father is sartinly sick and wants me to hurry right back with it, and he told me not to taste of it, and I won't, sartin." "Well, John, if you promise that you won't taste, I'll fill the bottle." John promised, the bottle was filled, and bottle and boy went off together. In a few minutes, however, both came back, John in a rage and the bottle empty. "Mr. Williams ! Mr. Williams ! you filled my bottle with water !" "How did you find that out ?" coolly inquired the merchant. "Well-I didn't know but it might be water, and I thought," said John, "I'd better just try it and see."
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Of the sons of Squire Williams, Seth was a prominent business man in Cummington for many years ; John was a merchant in Ash- field ; Levi in Northampton ; Hinckley in Goshen ; and each of them noted for energy of character and devotion to business.
Jonah Williams, brother of Squire John, married Anna Graves of Hatfield in 1791. A large family of sons and daughters was born unto them, and grew up to manhood and womanhood. The sons were Artemas, Amasa, Abishai, George, Jonah, Daniel and William ; the daughters, Ann, who married Lyman Randall, May 31, 1827 ; Clarissa, who married Thomas Thayer, June 18, 1828 ; Wealthy, who married Harvey Nichols of Chester, Ohio, April 17, 1834; and Phebe married in the West. William was a graduate of Amherst College, in the same class with Henry Ward Beecher. He and his youngest sister, Phebe, were for many years engaged in the South in the work of teaching, and he was subsequently professor in Lagrange College, Alabama. Upon the breaking out of the rebellion he came North, and in 1864 made a six weeks' tour of volunteer service among the soldiers of the army of the Potomac. His labors were of a deeply interesting character, and in Camp Distribution there was almost a continuous revival while he was there. He distributed thousands of religious newspapers, tracts, testaments, preached often, delivered addresses on temperance, and participated extensively in religious meetings. President Lincoln at a later date appointed him hospital chaplain at Memphis, Tenn. At the close of the war he returned South, where he died several years since.
Artemas Williams removed to South Deerfield. He died Feb. 7, 1881, aged 88 years, 9 months, 7 days. The following notice of him is taken from an obituary published in the Congregationalist :
Mr. Williams was born in Goshen in 1792. His ancestors were of Welsh origin, relatives of Oliver Cromwell, whose original name was Williams. The direct ances. tor, Richard Williams, was one of the original purchasers of the tract of land from the Cohannet Indians, known as the eight-mile square, and was in 1640 incorpora- ted as Taunton. He was called the father of the town. His descendents were the earlier settlers of Goshen and Williamsburg, for whom the town of Williamsburg was named.
Mr. Williams received his early training at the district school in his native town, with the loved playmate of his boyhood, Rev. Levi Parsons, one of the first mig- sionaries of the American Board to Palestine, and later at Parson Hallock's School for boys at Plainfield, an institution widely known in those days for thorough instruction in the common branches and for good moral training. He was married
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in 1817 to a daughter of Capt. Elijah Arms, a lineal descendant of Rev. John Wil- liams, the first minister of Deerfield, who was captured and carried to Canada by the Indians. He was one of the founders of the South Deerfield Congregational Parish in ISI8 ; only one member survives him. When the church was built he contributed generously for its erection, and brought from Hartford with his team the bell that for many years called the worshipers at the sanctuary he loved, and where for more than sixty years he was never known to be absent on the Sabbath unless detained by sickness or the infirmities of age. He was elected parish clerk in 1822, and held that office over forty years. The old parish book, containing 200 pages of records in the clear handwriting of Mr. Williams, is treasured by the fam" ily as a sacred heir-loom and is of great historic value. At his house the earlier ministers of the parish were examined for settlement, and his house was always the minister's home. For years the weekly church meetings were held there, and there many a worker in educational and benevolent causes was entertained by the hospitable Christian man.
In the enterprise of securing funds for the Bloody Brook Monument he took an active part. For nineteen years he was a member of the board of assessors of Deerfield. Esteemed as a citizen and magistrate, beloved by all who knew him, there was but one expression in regard to him, that of entire confidence, love and esteem. His kindly traits of character shone out so that there was no doubt of what there was within. Such transparent honesty and so high a standard of Chris- tian principles as were his, that not to make mention of them would seem to be an injustice. He was a rigid Puritan. When in early life the Holy Spirit revealed to him a Saviour mighty to save, he thus narrates in his journal the great change :
"One Sabbath morning, after long struggles and darkness, on my way to the sanctuary, the clouds were scattered. light broke in upon my soul, and the infinite love of God in all His beauties and glories was revealed to me. I had nothing to do but accept and be saved. Christ had done the work, and in the full assurance of faith made me believe in Jesus, and all was happy."
Mr. Daniel Williams and Miss Permelia, daughter of Mr. Silas Blake of Ashfield were married Nov. 12, 1828. The fiftieth anni- versary of their marriage-the golden wedding-was observed Nov. 12, 1878, at their residence in this town. The following account of the event is condensed from the Hampshire Gazette. William Ban- croft of Chesterfield was master of ceremonies ; Miss Fannie Hawks and Mrs. T. P. Lyman had charge of the entertainment. The wood that made the fire for the cooking was in the woodshed fifty years ago. Two table cloths made by Mrs. Williams and some of the crockery on the tables had been in use by the family for fifty years. Congratulatory remarks were made by Mr. Hinckley Williams, M. Alanson Washburn, Rev. Edward Clarke, Rev. C. B. Ferry and Henry S. Gere, Esq., of Northampton.
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Mr. Washburn was present at the original wedding fifty years ago. He was one of the famous corps of stage drivers that drove on the route from Northampton to Pittsfield and Albany. Ile took a four-horse team and a "Concord coach" and took the bridegroom from his home on the day of the wedding, and drove to the home of the bride, about two miles distant, and brought them back.
The remarks made were of a pleasant character, and it was noticed as notewor- thy that there was so much that could be said. Mr. and Mrs. Williams are among the most solid and substantial people of the town. They have been remarkable for their industry and thrift, and their example is a good one for the younger people to follow.
After the remarks, a poem selected for the occasion was sung by Mrs. Vining of Williamsburg. During the afternoon, supper was served to 65 guests seated at the table in frequent relays. Letters were read by Mr. Bancroft from Frederick W. Lyman of Kenosha, Wisconsin, Rev. J. C. Thompson of Belvidere, Ill., and N. H. Wood of Portage, Ohio, all former residents of Goshen or its vicinity. A letter was read from Mr. Williams' brother, Mr. Artemas Williams of South Deerfield, now 86 years of age, and blind. There were present three of the original wedding guests-Mr. Hosea Blake of Ashfield, aged 83, Mr. Hinckley Williams and Mr. Washburn. Also, several other aged people, among them Mrs. Hosea Blake, aged 78, Mr. Emmons Putney, 79 years old, and as smart as a steel trap, and Mrs. Hinckley Williams, 69 years old. Also, Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Knowlton, of North- ampton, Representative Hiram Packard, Mr. and Mrs. O. G. Spelman and Mrs. Lyman D. James of Williamsburgh, and Miss Millie W. Warren of New York, the latter, the adopted daughter of Mr. Williams.
Mr. and Mrs. Williams are now 74 and 71 years of age and still hale and hearty. They live on the old road from Goshen to Ashfield, in the house built by his father, Jonah Williams, in 1816. It was built for a tavern, and was kept as such several years, until the division of the county cut off the travel from Ashfield, Charlemont, and other towns in that region to Northampton as the shire town, which spoilt their tavern business The house has been famous for its parties, and good cheer and hospitality have always abounded. One of the old landmarks in the house is a large eight-day clock, bought by Mr. Williams' father 70 years ago, and has been doing faithful service ever since.
Mr. Williams relates that he has never called a physician for himself but four times in his life, and then he went for him himself. Once when the Doctor came, he was feeling so much better that he dismissed him and called for his bill. The Doctor charged him five dollars, saying, "I could have kept you along. a good while, if I had had a mind to." That Doctor was "old Dr. Knowlton," of Ashfield. and the incident occurred forty years ago.
An address, prepared for the occasion by Hiram Barrus, Esq., of the Boston C.us- tom House, was read by Rev. B. C. Ferry, of Northampton, and was listened to very attentively by all present.
EXTRACTS EROM THE ADDRESS :
It is not the first time that some of us gather here to pass a pleasant hour and evening. For many years Mr. and Mrs. Williams annually invited the choir of
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singers belonging to their society and other friends, to meet here and devote an evening to social converse and singing. It may not be out of place to remark that the choir in its day has done much good singing, and has included in its member" ship many worthy persons of each generation. Among its leaders of long ago were Dea. Asahel Billings, Frederick P. Stone, Dea. Elijah Billings, J. M. Smith, and Major Joseph Hawkes, who is still doing good service, and has been connected with the choir for nearly the entire period which is passing in retrospe ct before us this evening. There were also the Dressers and Hunts, instrumental musicians ; the Smiths, Stones, Putneys, Dressers, and scores of other well-remembered vocalists, that under this roof have taken part in, and enjoyed these annual gatherings.
We remember how grandly some of those old anthems rung out, as the choir was led by "Uncle Fred,"-as we called him,-one of the noblest of men, and a model leader. Organs and melodeons were not so numerous then as now, and the usual accompaniments, if any, were stringed instruments. When these were not at hand, the steel tuning fork gave "the pitch" from which the chorister with a "Do, Mi, Sol, Do," took his bearings, and then all plunged into the tune with a heartiness and spirit that the moderns do not surpass. We have listened many a time since to paid soloists and quartettes in city churches, but rarely, indeed, have we heard vocal music that would stir the soul as did the music of that old choir.
But we pass to other matters. Though it has not been the happiness of Mr. and Mrs. Williams to rear children of their own, it has been their privilege to adopt and bring up others. One of these was Calvin Gilmore Williams, who passed his early years here, and is remembered as a bright and interesting lad, a wide-awake and intelligent pupil in our schools, and always a good boy. His early death, in an- other state, recalls one of the shadows that have fallen upon this household.
We remember another as the adopted daughter of a few years-Martha Baker- the sunny face and merry voice of the child ; her winning ways, her attendance at school, where she stood first among the first in all that was good and commendable; the development of the bud into the blossom as she passed from girlhood and be- came at an early age the wife of one of our respected and gifted clergymen, Rev. Wn. Carruthers, and then, after a brief period of happiness and usefulness, took one more step upward and was numbered with the angels.
Our memory calls up with pleasant recollections another name that it always reckons as one of this household, that of Miss Permelia Warren, the popular teach- er, whose field of labor is in the city of New York.
We remember Mr. and Mrs. Williams as among the first and foremost in reliev. ing the sick and suffering, in sympathizing with the afflicted, and in assisting to pay the last sad duties of respect to the departed. We do not forget that the services of Mr. Williams have been sought, in and out of town, for conducting funerals, nor the fact that he has assisted in committing to their final resting-place the remains of not a few persons belonging to the first, second, and third generations that lived in this town.
Over the doorway of one of the Roxbury homesteads, still occupied by the descendants of Robert, is wrought the family coat of arms. It bears the motto, "What God willeth, will be."
Fifty years ! That period carries us back to the era before the days of railroads
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and ocean steamers; before the days of sending messages by lightning acress conti- nents and around the world ; before the days of daguerreotypes, tin-types, photo- graphs, autograph albums, and telephones ; before the days of friction matches, kerosene lamps, cook stoves, sewing machines, ready-made clothing, and shoddy cloth ; before the days when postage fell from twenty-five cents a letter to three cents ; before the days of daily mails and daily papers in Goshen ; before the days when bibles were printed in hundreds of languages by one society, and sold for 25 cents a copy.
"What God willeth, will be." The past, present, the future, is in His hands. May His benediction rest upon each of you till the golden bowl be broken, and then may it be your happy lot to walk the golden streets, where they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels forever.
[NOTE. Since the above was prepared for the press, Mr. Williams has passed away. His death occurred March 15, 1881.]
John Williams, "Carpenter," was from Uxbridge, and perhaps not connected with the other families. He married Deborah, daughter of John Smith, Dec. 24, 1795, but had no children. By patient in- dustry, rigid economy, and careful investments at a moderate rate of interest, with the help of a wife, like minded, he accumulated a hand- some property. Mrs. Williams survived her husband some years and very considerately made the liberal donations, which have been else- where mentioned in these pages. Mr. Williams died May 17, 1843, aged 74 years. Mrs. Williams died Sept. 19, 1859, aged 86 years
Zebulon Willcutt was born in Cohasset, son of Jesse, and brother of Lieut. Jesse. The three probably came at the same time, April 6, 1772, and settled at once on the place still owned by Joel Willcutt (every body's "Uncle Joel,") and his sons Martin and Alvin. Zebulon prob- ably cleared the farm, a portion of which is still owned by his descen- dants. Zebulon was a strong, able-bodied man, and once borrowed a five pail iron kettle in Northampton for boiling sap, which he car- ried on foot to Goshen and returned in the same way. He had Lois, who married Hollister Damon, 1831, and two sons, Rev. William and Francis. Rev. William married Betsey Daniels, and had Jackson, who married Amanda, daughter of Calvin Loomis ; Jason, who married Elvira, daughter of Ebenezer Shaw; Hester, who married Almon B. Loomis ; Harriet, who married Joseph Bush, Dec. 25, 1844 ; Eliza, who married Alonzo Shaw, 1845 ; Elvira, who married Andrew Shaw ; William, Jr., who married Rosina, daughter of Joseph Crosby ; Lorenzo, married - Partridge.
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Jackson Willcutt had Andrew J., born July 5, 1845 ; and Edward. Jason Willcutt removed to Cummington and had Brackley; Clarinda.
Children of Harriet and Joseph Bush : Henry, who married Mar- tha Stone ; Hattie and Alice.
Children of Eliza and Alonzo Shaw : Charles Nelson, married, and resides in Adams ; Georgiana ; Mary Ann ; Willie E., who married Eva V. Merritt, June 29, 1878 ; Florence.
Francis Willcutt married Mehitabel Daniels, and had Harvey, who died Nov. 9, 1851, aged 26 ; Horace, married - Robbins ; Hiram, married Eunice L. Robbins ; Mary, who married, first, Milo Milliken, second, Lafayette Eddy, Dec. 14, 1854 ; Noah, died April 23, 1851, aged 16 ; Mehitabel, born Jan. 3, 1843, married Stephen Parsons of Plainfield, May 10, 1870 ; Emily, married Horatio Culver, Jan. 15; 1879.
Enoch Willcutt, son of Lieut. Jesse, married, first, Sally Wood, 1801, second, Hannah Knight, 1826. Children . Philip, died unmar- ried ; Mercy, who married Theodore Damon, June 6, 1831 ; Hannah, who married Joseph Cole, Sept. 23, 1838 ; Candace, who married John Allis, Jan. 29, 1840 ; another son.
Alpheus Willcutt, brother of Enoch, married Chloe -, lived for a time in Goshen, had Harrison ; John, who married Mary, daughter of Ebenezer Shaw ; and other children. Mrs. Chloe married, sec- ond, Pardon Washburn, Dec. 5, 1842.
Rhoda Willcutt, sister of Enoch, married, first, - Ball, father of Warren J. Ball. Mrs. Rhoda, married, second, Eleazer Hawks, and had one son-William.
Capt. Edward Wing probably came from Warren, Mass., where his first child, Edward, Jr., was born ; his other children were born in Goshen. His wife was Elizabeth
Children : Edward, Jr., married Polly Blood, Dec. 15, 1802 ; Nel- son, born April 6, 1778, married Betsey Tilton, Nov. 25, 1802 ; James, born Dec. 30, 1780, drowned June 7, 1797; Elisha, born Sept. 7, 1782, married Desire Hall of Ashfield, 1807 (published Sept. 27) ; Elizabeth, born March 14, 1784; Isaac, born Jan. 20, 1786, married a daughter of Rev. Mr. Keyes of Conway ; Rebekah, born Feb. 18, 1788, married Nathaniel Clark of Ashfield, June 1, 1809 ;. Sally, born June 21, 1791 ; Samuel, born Feb. 25, 1792, married Patty Bond of Conway, 1816, (published Sept. 30.)
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Isaac Wing married -- Keyes, and had Samuel, who married Catherine Wolf of Deerfield, 1839 ; Isaac, Jr., married Nancy Ladd, 1841 ; Mary A., married Oscar Washburn, Dec. 12, 1848, died. May 2, 1852.
There was a Benjamin Wing, perhaps son of Edward, who married Jane Bond of Conway, 1819.
Rev. Samuel Whitman was born in Weymouth, March 1, 1751 ; graduated at Harvard College, 1775 ; settled in Ashby, 1778 ; dis miss: d, 1783 ; settled in Goshen, 1788 ; member of the Legislature, 18c8 ; dismissed from his pastorate here, July 15. 1818.
He published several sermons, and an 8 vo. volume, entitled "Key to the Bible Doctrine of Atonement and Justification," and "An In- partial History of the Proceedings of the Church and People of Goshen m the dismission of their minister, &c.," 1824.
Mr. Whitman married Grace, daughter of Ezekiel Cheever of Bos- top. Their children were : Samuel : Ezekiel, born 1783 ; and Grace, probably born before coming to Goshen ; David, born 1783, clied unmarried ; Sally, born 1791, died unmarried ; Polly, born 1792 : Betsey, born 1794, manied Hazo Parsons of Belchertown, and removed to Middletown, Va. ; Ephraim, born 1796, printer, died Sept. 14, 1819 ; Stephen West, born 1797, physician, died Aug. 13. 1826, on his way from Ohio to visit friends here. leaving a wife and child : Abby, born ISoo, married Oren Carpenter, Boston, died 1542.
Mr. Whitman passed through many and severe trials, which he bore with christian fortitude. It has been said that he was dismissed from his pastorate on account of a change in his religious opinions. In a letter written in August before his death, he said : "I have been attending to Mr. Ware's Theology, reading nine sermons of his in a volume sent me. If I do not think in all points just as he does, I have no more right to say he is destitute of religion than he has to say I am destitute of it, because I do not ho'd with him in all points. He is a man of good sense, and he writes like a sincere man, a man who has a good heart. If hearts agree in uniting to Christ, we shall meet in heaven where Christ is, and there our understandings and judgments will be rectified. Not to hold communion and fellowship with a man because he believes that there is but one God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, is unreasonable and borders on persecution." In one of the last letters he wrote-perhaps the last
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-dated Nov. 13, 1826, he speaks of being under the care of Dr. Starkweather, but hopes to be better to-morrow. It is written to his daughter Abby in Boston, where she was residing with her aunts, in reference to her approaching marriage. After giving her some good advice, he closes, saying : "I rejoice that you rejoice in Zion's pros- perity. We hope that the religious revival in Boston will be great, and also elsewhere. I hope that Unitarians, wherein they err, will be reformed, that they and all others will speculate correctly, and that sinners will be converted from total moral depravity to the love of the truth, as it is in Jesus. If we love Christ we shall be saved, if we do not believe as some others do." These extracts will be suf- ficient, perhaps, to show the direction in which his departures from the orthodox standards of his times were thought to have been made, as well as his general views relating to the main truths of the gospel.
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