USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Hawley > History of the town of Hawley, Franklin County, Massachusetts, 1771-1951, with genealogies > Part 13
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"But poor Jack came to a tragic end. On a fateful day he was gored to death by a frisky heifer which had been allowed to go past his stall to drink. Sadly his body was carried to the edge of the woods until such time as the ground had melted sufficiently to permit grave digging. Up- on hearing the screech of a wild cat during the evening, the boys ran out to salvage the body of their pet mule. When nearly at the edge of the woods, the screech of another wild cat in back of them caused them to run for the shelter of the house. This was the end of poor Jack!"
The following was taken from material written by Mr. George D. Crit- tenden in 1895:
"Looking south from the summit of Parker's Hill in Hawley can be seen the birthplace of William Cullen Bryant. His father was a country physician, unable to give his boy advantages of a college education. Wil- liam attended Williams College one year. At the age of fourteen he wrote the satire, "The Embargo", which was an attack upon Mr. Jefferson and the policy of the Democratic Party. It showed such marked ability that people were reluctant to believe that a boy so young had written it. When at the age of 83 yrs., Mr. Bryant wrote his last poem, "The Flood of Years". While studying Greek with Rev. Mr. Hallock of Plainfield, he walked from his home to Plainfield. On one such occasion while ascend- ing the mountain north of the valley of the Westfield River, he saw a waterfowl very high it the air. It suggested to him his outstanding poem, 'To a Waterfowl. '
"Also looking south from Parker's Hill one may see Lenox on a clear day. Lenox was the home of the famous actress, Fanny Kemble Butler. When at Lenox, it is told, she hired a farmer to take her to ride in his carryall. He had a voluable tongue but subjects that he discussed did
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF HAWLEY
not interest her. She did not care to hear about his crops or cattle, nor the signs of the weather. One day when he was. rattling on, sne lost pa- tience and said, "Sir, I hire you to drive for me, not to talk to me." The farmer's feelings were hurt but he said nothing. At the end of the season she asked for an itemized account. She notice an item that read: 'Sass, $5.00.'
'What is this ?' she asked.
'That is for sass, Ma'm I don't ginnelley take any on't but when I dew I charge fer it'. She paid without comment.
"Turning a little to the right, there may be seen in Adams, the birth- place of Susan B. Anthony, a strong advocater for the rights of women, and at one time president of the World's Federation of Women's Clubs. Next appears Whitingham, Vt., the birthplace of Brigham Young, who had enough executive ability to rule an empire.
"In the same direction may be seen the childhood home of Charles Dudley Warner, called one of the ablest literary men of his day. He was b. in 1829. His book, "Being a Boy", is a description of his life in the vicinities of Hawley and Charlemont. "
The following items have been taken from "Our Neighbors in 1880 as I Remember Them", written by Mr. Will Doane for the Hawley Reunion , Aug. 13,1951:
"We lived on the road that ran east and west from Poverty Square to Buckland, known as the Doane district. The first neighbors east of us were Mr. and Mrs. Henry A. Holden and their children, Clarence, Flora and Adelbert. The Holden house was of brick, one of the few brick houses in Hawley. Nearly opposite the Holden place was the Doane school, where there were usually from twelve to eighteen pupils enrolled. The Holdens had a number of good apple trees near the school, which the school children were especially fond of. One day Mr. Holden said we could have all of the apples on one tree next to the school if we would leave the rest alone. We agreed to the plan and lived up to it.
"Mr. and Mrs. Francis Holden occupied the next house, with their children Nellie, Minnie and Arland, and Mr. Holden's father, Ira. The Doane Cemetery was next on the opposite side of the road. 'The next house was that of Erastus Graves. They had three children: Jennie, Chester and O rissa. The next house down was occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Atkins. The next house was occupied by Grandma Warriner and her two sons, Justin B. and Henry W.
"Next came the Damon homestead. On the east road to Charlemont a short distance north of the Graves place was the Cobb residence.
"The first house west of us was occupied by my grandmother, Mrs. Cordelia Doane, and later sold to Mr. A. J. Kendall. Over the hill to the west was Poverty Square. The first house was occupied by Abraham
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF HAWLEY
Parker 3d and his family. A little to the south lived Mr. and Mrs. Luther Gould and two daughters. Mr. Gould and others some time before built a short line of railroad with wooden ties and rail and some type of car and used to bring in cord wood from the further end of the line. Across the road from them lived Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Gould and children. To the northwest and on the old potash road was the home of Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Carrier and their seven children. Off from the old potash road a little to the southwest lived Mr. and Mrs. James M. Parker and his father, Mr. Abraham Parker Jr. Mrs. Parker's daughter, Georgiana (Braman) Hillman, was founder of 'Sons and Daughters of Hawley'. Wil- bur Parker was president of this association for several years.
"The old potash road was the shortcut from East Hawley to the town house, which was supposed to be located in the centre of the town. It was only about a mile from the Carrier place to the town house. The road, since discontinued, went down a very steep hill. Ten cellar holes and five houses are all that remain of our old neighborhood. "
The following was taken from material sent to the writer by members of the Vining family in 1950:
"The Vinings moved to Bozrah in Nov. , 1879. The children were Flora, Rose, Florence, Jessie and Cheri. Their father engaged in the business of manufacturing hand-made hoops for lime barreis, until the factory- made hoops came on the market. Rose remembers going through the flume with her father before water was allowed to run through it. This flume was built to carry water from the pond nearby to Charles Crit- tenden's sawmill, which stood across the road from where the Vinings lived. Flora and Rose remember the finishing of the 'new road' which branched from the highway passing their home, taking a course along the brook through the woods northerly, joining a highway farther on, a little above the M cKendrid Hicks place, where guide boards were set up. They also remember the log schoolhouse in Bozrah which was later re- placed by a new and more modern building. .. An added feature was in the form of a paper chain in colors of red, white and blue, which was made by the children, teacher, and some of the ladies of the neighborhood. The chain was festooned a little below the ceiling on the wall around the room. This chain, apparently increasing in sentimental value with the passing of time, hung on the walls for many years.
"Other features of community activity we're the Lyceums which were held periodically during a few winter seasons. During some of the sum- mer vacations religious services were held on Sunday afternoons. The Bozrah schoolhouse during those years became a real community center.
"Mr. Vining's great-grandfather, Levi Leonard, was a builder. He built the house located on the opposite side of the road a little above the Vining home, also a house and barn located in the south meadow, this field being a part of the farm of Mr. Charles Crittenden when Mr. Vin- ing lived in Bozrah. "
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF HAWLEY
Mr. Erastus Brayman was a large, tall man. He walked with two long canes. His cow pasture was a long way from the barn. There was no brook road at the time, so Mr. Brayman was obliged to drive his cows from the barn, up the hill past the Bozrah schoolhouse, down the hill past the cemetery, across the bridge, up the hill past the Charles Crit- tenden place, (later the Edward Carrier place), one mile further, to the pasture. This place in 1948 was owned by Mr. Harry Clark.
"A native of the neighborhood, who has long been abroad, gives the location of the families about 1820:
Copied from Atkins' 'History of Hawley:'
"On the hill, south, was Eben Maynard and his mother; at the foot of the hill, Ethan Hitchcock, next, Widow Taylor, Ichabod Hawkes, Abisha Rogers, Elisha Sanford, Samuel Wing, Andrew Wood, Simeon Critten- den, Zephaniah Lathrop, Ezekiel Edgerton; at the foot of the hill, north, Isaac Packard; commencing east. Capt. Ellis, Noah Look, Oliver Edger- ton, Levi Leonard; in the "Turkey pen", Seth Salisbury; next, Oliver Patch, Abel Parker. Mr. Parker succeeded Mr. Patch in the clothier business. A man whose name I cannot recall, once lived on the Samuel Wing farm and accidentally killed his wife by falling a tree on her."
At a town meeting held May 6, 1799, it was voted to accept a road from Camp rock west to Savoy line. This rock is a little east of the site of the house of Chester F. Hunt, and a little north of the site of the Theophilus Crosby house. It stands in a smooth field, and its highest point is about 15 ft. high, sloping each way from its apex to the ground, having a length of perhaps 50 ft., running north and south. Its eastern face is smooth and nearly perpendicular the entire length, while the west side is sharp incline from top to bottom, making it something the shape of a quarter of an egg, cut lengthwise.
"It is said that when Thomas King came to Hawley, in the spring of 1772, with his family, this rock was made a camping place over night, hence the origin of the name, 'Camp rock', By its peculiar shape, it made a natural protection from the west wind, and a stream near by fur- nished water. Whether this place was appropriated as a camping place for only one night, or while they prospected for a location, tradition does not say. The spot where Mr. King located and built was about a mile and a half west of this rock. "
MISCELLANY
in the Greenfield Recorder in Feb., 1949, was found this item: "50 years ago. Elisha Hunt of Hawley has two cords of wood stove length which has been in his shed 30 years, which he is burning this winter, sound and in as good condition as the day it was put in the shed. He also has two piles of four-foot wood, two cords each; one pile has been in 40 years and the other, 52 years. He has no wood on his own farm and has to buy all he uses.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF HAWLEY
"The mail has failed twice during the week, the stage being unable to go through on account of storm and drifted roads. "
Written by Mr. Wm. G. Atkins: "Aunt Charity's chair" is an old land- mark, being a rock by an old discontinued roadside, in which is a de- pression, making, by its shape and height from the ground, a natural seat.
"Just east of Mr. Hunt's buildings there run a long, narrow strip of swamp, which has been reclaimed, making good meadow land. There is a tradition that when one of the settlers came into town, his wagon became mired and was overturned while crossing that swamp, and some table knives were lost.
"Bozrah which is in the north part of the town, a mile and a half south of Charlemont village, was settled in 1775 by five families from Bozrah Ct., a small town which was formerly a part of Norwich.
" The heads of four of these families were Zebedee Wood, Joseph Edgerton, Zephaniah Lathrop and Gershom West. The name of the fifth family is not known. "
Judah Crosby deeded one-nalf a pew in south gallery of the Church, the 7th in number from the southwest corner, to Asa Vining, May 1, 1815.
Taken from Gazette and Courier, Greenfield, Mass., Dec. 1,1888: "Hawley.
The crows left us several weeks ago, indicating a cold winter. Last week, Friday morning, the mercury went down to zero. Our mail was carried on runners last Monday.
"Two nice stones have recently been placed at the graves of John F. and Carrie E. King in the cemetery in the Fifth district, also a new stone at the grave of Willie Kennedy in the Fourth district. There are six cemeteries in town, most of which are kept in due order. The places where the remains of our departed friends repose should be properly cared for.
"The Gazette and Courier failed to reach us last Saturday. A screw loose somewhere. "
.
Taken from a letter written by Mr. Newton C. Graves to be read at the Hawley Reunion in 1924: "Fifty-five years ago this summer (1869) John Fitzgerald, who was then employed by Mr. Edwin Scott, and I set out the trees on the Common. About three years later Mr. Scott set out those directly in front of the store. Ithink it was the summer of '64 or '65, Mr. Bassett built the large barn, 102 ft. long, which is now standing. It was a gala day for Hawley the day it was raised. It was surprising the amount of doughnuts and coffee which were consumed that day.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF HAWLEY
On Oct. 30,1950 an old land mark in West Hawley burned. It was a large house, with a long low porch across the front. Situated beside the Second Congregational Church, it was an old building, at one time used as a tavern. The fire was caused by a defective chimney. The family was away at the time, coming home later to find their home and furnish- ings in ruins.
Copied from Atkins' 'History of Hawley':
"The year 1816 was remarkable for its cold summer. It is said that spots could be seen on the sun. Severe frost occured every month.
"June 7th and 8th snow fell, and it was so cold that crops were cut down, even freezing the roots, but they were replanted. In the early Autumn when corn was in the milk it was so thoroughly frozen that it never ripened and was scarcely worth harvesting. Breadstuffs were scarce and prices high and the poorer class of people were often in straits for want of food. It must be remembered that the granaries of the great west had not been opened to us by railroad communication, and people were obliged to rely upon their own resources or upon others in their immediate locality.
"The town received its full complement of damage and subsequent ex- penses by the memorable flood which swept like a tidal wave over New England, Oct. 4, 1869.
"In the spring of 1834, the following families removed from Hawley, most of them going to Ohio: Solomon Graves, John Hadlock, Rev. John Breed and Elder Wagner. At that time the 'Western Reserve', or 'New Con- necticut', in Ohio, was just opened and was an objective point to many emigrating west.
"April 20, 1856, the families of Luther Rice, Calvin Rice and Nicholas Dubey removed west, several members of the family having preceded them. Sept. 4,1857, their parents, Capt. Luther Rice, and wife went to join them.
"A fewyears after the marriage of Ansel Rice, he moved with his fam - ily to Ohio, going the entire distance with an ox team, with which he car- ried his family and some furniture. A cow was tied to the wagon, which furnished milk during the journey. The family usually slept in the wagon, occasionally putting up at a private house. On the morning of their de- parture, their neighbors for quite a distance assembled to leave parting congratulations, making as much capital of the event as a presidential party would at the present day. "
Mr. Walter W. Allen committed suicide in Hawley on Apr. 3,1932. Aged 75 yrs. , he lived on what was formerly known as the Hawley Town Farm. His only survivor was a brother, Hector, of Troy, N. Y. Copied from Atkin's "History of Hawley:"
"Otis Longley, a native of Hawley, moved to Lawrence, Kansas, in middle life. He was foully murdered Aug. 23,1863, at the age of 51, by
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF HAWLEY
Quantrell's gang in their raid upon the town. Abbott, in his History of the Civil War, describing the scene, says, 'The wife and daughter of a man threw themselves on his body, begging for his life. One of the rebel gang thrust his revolver between them and shot the man. Mrs. Longley later married Dea. Samuel Williams of West Hawley. The daughter, Ang- eline, married Dr. Ashley, a western clergyman.
"Jonathan King's house and contents were burned in the early years of the town's history.
"Theophilus Crosby's house was burned in 1809 or 10.
"Warriner King's sawmill and a large lot of lumber were burned about 1820.
"The Col. Noah Joy place, including hotel, two barns, and most of their contents, was burned in 1865.
"Chandler Blanchard's house and barn were burned in Dec., 1880.
"Other fires without record of date were Ichabod Hawkes' place, Nat- han Clark's house, S. Burt's house, the Jonas King house, occupied by the Larrabee family, the Union schoolhouse, C. W. Fullers store, kept by A. G. Ayres, a house at Fullerville, occupied by a French family, a schoolhouse at West Hawley, P. Starks' shop and sugar house, a saw- mill run by Elisha Hunt and Zenas Thayer. The well-remembered flood of Oct. 4, 1869, was very disastrous to property, particularly on Chick- ley's river, where every bridge was carried away, also Edward Peck's sawmill, and other mills were disabled."
Copy of a subscription paper for the support of a school: 'We, whose names are hereunder signed, being disposed to have a school amongst us the ensuing winter, hereby bind ourselves to pay the following sum affixed to our names, provided we can pay the same in the products of the earth. Furthermore, agreed to have Mr. Nash keep an exact account of every day each scholar comes, and if any subscriber in the district does not subscribe his proportion according to what he sends, hereby obligate ourselves to make it up according to what we do send.
Zebedee Wood 13 shillings
Nathan West 8
Jacob Hunt 10
=
Zebulon Benton 7
Aephaniah Lathrop 7
Ichabod Hawkes 8
In 1865 there were living in the old seventh district, which then num - bered apopulation of about 70, thirteen persons who were over 70, ele- ven being over 75, seven over 80, and one over 90. An issue of the Greenfield Gazette in December of that year gave their names and ages, and we reproduce it, with the addition of the date of death and age.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF HAWLEY
Ethan Hitchcock,
92
died May 30, 1866, aged
93
Mrs. Esther Longley,
89
Dec. 7,1886,
90
Daniel Rice
88
Sept. 10,1867
90
Mrs. Sarah Rice,
87
Dec. 24, 1867
89
John Taylor
84
May 13,1866
85
John Starks
82
May 2,1867
84
Mrs. Anne Starks
80
Feb. 3,1868
-
83
Mrs. Polly Crittenden
79
Mar. 19,1879
92
Warriner King
78
Feb. 27,1877
90
Mrs. Jerusha King
77
May 30,1882
93
Zachary Hall
75
Nov. 2,1878
87
Jonathan Fuller
73
Dec. 16, 1882
90
Mrs. Pamelia Fuller
73
April 18, 1868
76
Copy of a record from an account book kept by Warriner King.
"Hawley, Nov. ye 6, 1811.
"Then reckoned and settled all accounts with John Starks from the be- ginning of the world to this date.
Warriner King John Starks. "
Copied from Atkins' History: "There are in the possession of Mr. Grout's granddaughter, Mrs. C.A. Stebbins, of Deerfield, two sermons de- liveredby Mr. Grout, printed in pamphlet form, one on the occasion of a Fourth of July celebration in Heath, in 1803, the other at the close of a singing school in Cummington in March, 1811. She has other relics from the ancestral homestead, also some articles from the Grout fam- ily are placed in Memorial Hall. "
The following notes have been gathered from various Town records by Mrs. Florence Holden: Town meeting held at the house of Samuel Hitch- cock, Feb. 24,1778, Thomas King, moderator. Voted to hire Mr. Sher- win to preach. Voted a committee, including Samuel Hitchcock, Silas Hitchcock and Nathaniel Parker, to lay out a highway from Mr. Curtis' place to the "Grant".
Dec. 23, 1790, No. 7 held discussion about having a school.
Taken from "Records of the First Parish in Hawley:' Chester Smith being the lowest bidder, he is to take charge of the meeting house for the year for $5, 80. To sweep the house once a month while the seasons re- main warm and once every two months in the winter, and dust down the seats and the front work in the gallery twice each time after sweeping. To cause a fire to be kindled in such seasons when needed to have the house warm to such a temperature of heat, by the thermometer, not less than 62º nor more than 65° and to be kept duringthe time of all meetings of the Parish Society.
Hawley First Parish Sabbath School report, Oct. 1833.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF HAWLEY
"The Library is in aflourishing state, having increased about one-half in value since 1831, numbering at present 729 vols. -- 60 vols. have been added this year. Cost, $14. 76. The whole cost of the Library about $123. 00." This report was written in 1833.
Sept. 16,1847. First mention of building a new meeting house. Voted to choose a committee to select a spot to set a meeting house. Dec. 6, 1847, voted to build a new meeting house and take down the old one and build with the same lumber as far as it will go.
School Districts in 1847:
2 George Lathrop
3 Francis Mantor
4 Franklin Howes
5 Elisha Clark
6 Ansel Heminway
7 Thomas Wheeler
Union Elijah Scott
9 Calvin Cooley
Copied from Atkins' History : "The following records of a meeting of the inhabitants of No. 7, bearing date Feb. 24,1778, is furnished by Geo. D. Crittenden, having been left in an account book kept by Zebedee Wood, before and after his coming to Hawley. It will be noticed that the date is 14 years before the incorporation of the town, and it appears that Mr. Wood was clerk of the meeting. The record is given to show the customs adoptedby the pioneer settlers, and the disadvantages under which they lived.
"Feb. 24, 1778: At a town meeting held at the house of Samuel Hitchcock, Thomas King, Moderator: Voted Nathaniel Rudd, Samuel Hitchcock and Thomas King a committee to get the town salt and distribute the same.
"Voted, they will do nothing about getting a town stock of powder and lead.
"Voted, Thomas King to go and talk with the proprietors and see what they will do about building mills and getting on the rest of the settlers.
"Voted, Thomas King, Daniel Burt and Nathaniel Rudd committee men to go and see after a council.
"Voted to hire preaching this year, and to raise money by subscription to pay the same.
"Voted Nathaniel Rudd to draw up a paper and get signers.
"Voted to hire Mr. Sherwin to preach.
"Voted David Parker to agree with him.
"Voted Samuel Hitchcock, Silas Hitchcock and Nathaniel Parker coni - mittee men to lay out a highway from Mr. Curtis' to the grant.
(In May, 1794, Edmund Longley was chosen representative to the Gen- - eral Court. In that year it was also voted to provide a town stock of pow- der, lead and flints. )
"May 6, 1799, Voted to accept a road from Camp rock west to Savoy line.
"March 3, 1800, Voted to pay 25 cents a day for a man and the same for a team on the highways.
"Nov. 15, 1802, Voted that the selectman be a committee to remonstrate against a part of Hawley being set off to Plainfield.
"April 4, 1803, Voted that no cattle (except what is called yearlings)
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF HAWLEY
shall be allowed to run on the common the present year under the pen- alty of the law. Similar votes were passed during succeeding yrs.
"Nov. 15, 1804, Voted, that a committee estimate the pew notes and say what each man shall pay on the dollar for paying Rey. Grout his salary.
"Dec. 25, 1805, Voted to send a representative to the General Court against the Country being divided.
"May, 1808, Voted to pay 25 cents a head for crows killed in town.
"In 1808, the town sent a committee with a petition to the Pres. to sus- pend the embargo.
"Nov. 13, 1809, Voted to establish a school district on West Hill.
"1810, Voted $300 for schooling.
"1812, Voted that scholars shall be reckoned between 4 and 21 yrs. of age.
"1813, Raised $350 for schooling.
"Nov. 7, 1814, Voted to choose a committee to enquire what proportion of provisions Mr. Grout's salary would buy now, compared to the worth when settled.
"May 7, 1817, Voted to petition the General Court for assistance to build a bridge over the Deerfield River."
"At the annual meeting, Mar. 6, 1818, the following rules for regulating town meetings were adopted:
"1. Meetings shall be opened within one hour after the time given in the notice, extraordinary cases excepted. When called at the opening of a meeting, we will take our seats and remain seated, except we rise to vote, speak, or leave the place of said meeting.
"2. We will suspend all private business in time and place of said meet- ing. No person shall speak in meeting without leave of the moderator.
"3. No person shall be interrupted by another except to call to order or correct a mistake. A person when speaking shall address the moderator.
"4. No person shall speak more than once to one question until others who have not spoken shall speak if they desire it, nor more than twice without leave of the meeting.
"5. The Moderator shall preserve decorum, speak to points of order, decide all questions of order, subject to an appeal to the meeting, on motion regularly seconded.
"6. We will aid' the Moderator in the discharge of his duties, who is bound to keep the person having leave to speak to the point in question or call him to order.
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