USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Holland > History of the town of Holland, Massachusetts > Part 27
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Their children were Ella J., born April 16, 1857, Fred Abner, born Oct. 13, 1859, Mary Ada, born Nov. 19, 1863 and Harriet Rebecca born June 13, 1868.
(See Blodgett Genealogy.)
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
THE CHURCH FAMILY
RICHARD CHURCH, the first one of that name to come to America, came over in the Mayflower. He evidently was splendid material for pioneer work and life, with a wife equally hardy and courageous. He married Elizabeth War- ren before emigrating to America. By her he had fifteen children. Benjamin Church, the soldier, the Indian fighter, and leader of King Philips War was the third ehild. We find that Nathaniel, the fifth ehild was the next in line as the progenitor of the Benjamin Church who lived in Holland, buy- ing the Alfred Lyon homestead near the Reservoir dam in 1806. The generations from Richard Church to Benjamin Church of Holland are as follows :-
Benjamin (5), Charles (+), Charles (3), Nathaniel (2), Richard (1). Beginning with Charles (4) Church family, father of Benjamin, we give the following genealogy :-
Charles (4) Church m. Franees Turner.
Children.
1. Charles.
2. Joseph.
3. Mary.
4. Hannah.
5. Seth.
6. Benjamin m. Mehitable Triby. He was born at Free- town, Mass.
7. Susannah.
8. John.
Of these eight children our interest is in the sixth ehild born Nov. 27, 1756.
The following letter explains why Benjamin Church should be prominent in the History of Holland.
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THE HISTORY OF HOLLAND, MASS.
Washington, D. C., Dec. 10, 1901. Mr. Salem T. Weld, Brimfield, Mass. Dear Sir,
I have been informed that you are a descendant of Benja- min Church, a Revolutionary soldier and a pensioner, who was residing at Holland, Massachusetts, as late as Oet. 4, 1832, and who was born at Freetown, now Fall River, Massachusetts. If I am correctly informed, I would advise you that Benjamin Church enlisted Jan. 1, 1776, a private in Colonel Moses Little's Regiment, from which he was transferred to the Commander- in-chief's Guard, sometimes known as Washington's Life Guard, Revolutionary War. For several years I have given much time in gathering and preparing a history of the Com- mander-in-Chief's Guard which will be published next February, and to follow out a principle of the work, I write to inquire if you will inform me when and where Benjamin Church was born and died; when, where and to whom he was married, when and where the wife was born and died; the names of their im- mediate issue, when and where they were born and died, and when, where and to whom they were married. I desire to incorporate the desired data with the military record of the sol- dier in the Commander-in-chief's Guard, which will not only serve as an identification but a tribute to the soldier, which also may be of much use to present or future generations. If I ean have you insert the data called for in the form I herewith enelose and return to me by an early date, I shall be much gratified, as my manuscript is very nearly ready for the pub- lishers.
If you will, I would also be pleased to have you inform me the name and address of some of the living descendants of the soldier, so the publishers may give them notice of the appearance of the work in the event they should desire a copy, as it will be sold only upon subseription.
Trusting I may hear from you by an early mail, I am
Very respectfully,
C. E. GODFREY,
728 Fourth St., S. E. Washington, D. C.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
BENJAMIN CHURCH enlisted Jan. 1, 1776, Cambridge, Mass., for one year as a private Twelfth Reg't., Continental Infantry, commanded by Col. Moses Little and transferred to Major General Charles Lee's Guard, commanded by Ensign Benjamin Gould; transferred to Major General Artemas Ward's Guard, March 7, 1776; transferred, Fort Washington, N. Y., August, 1776, to Captan Edward Burbeck's Co., Colonel Henry Knox's Reg't., Continental Artillery ; at Battle of White Plains N. Y., Oct. 28, 1776; transferred, White Plains, N. Y., Oct. 30, 1776 to the Commander-in-Chief's Guard, commanded by Cap- tain Caleb Gibbs; at battle of Trenton, N. J., Dec. 26, 1776; battle of Princeton, N. J., January 3, 1777 ; discharged Morris- town, N. J., Feb. 10, 1777. Born at Freetown, now Fall River, Mass., Nov. 27, 1756; residing at Holland, Mass., Oet. 4, 1832. From the "Commander-in-Chief's Guard," Revolutionary War.
By C. E. Godfrey.
A private in Commander-in-Chief's Guard drew six and two-thirds dollars per month in 1778.
The last member of the guard died at New Windsor, N. Y., July 10, 1856.
Here is General Washington's order for the formation of the Commander-in-Chief's Guard, quoted from the above ยท work by C. E. Godfrey :-
Headquarters, Cambridge, March 11, 1776.
The General is desirous of selecting a particular number of men as a guard for himself and baggage. The colonel or com- manding officer of each of the established regiments, the artillery and riflemen excepted, will furnish him with four, that the num- ber wanted may be chosen out of them. His Excellency depends upon the colonels for good men, such as they can recommend for their sobriety, honesty; and good behavior. He wishes them to be from five feet eight inches to five feet ten inches, hand- somely and well made, and as there is nothing in his estimation more desirable than cleanliness in a soldier, he desires that par- ticular attention may be made in the choice of such men as are clean and spruce. They are all to be at headquarters tomorrow
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THE HISTORY OF HOLLAND, MASS.
precisely at 12 o'clock at noon, the number wanted will be fixed upon. The General neither wants them with uniforms nor arms, nor does he want any man to be sent to him that is not perfectly willing or desirous of being of this Guard. They should be drilled men.
This guard as originally selected was composed of fifty men. To be of this guard was regarded as an honor, and a sloop taken from a Tory was named "the Life Guard," which furnished the name. Caleb Gibbs was made Captain, and George Lewis was made Lieut. Officers of this guard had special distinction as shown by the following order .-
Headquarters, New York, May 16, 1776.
Any orders delivered by Caleb Gibbs and George Lewis Esquires,-officers of the General's Guard, are to be attended to in the same manner as if sent by an aid-de-camp. This order raises them to that rank.
In order to stimulate courage and fidelity to duty, there were two badges adopted: (1) The Badge of Merit; and (2) the Purple Heart.
Benjamin Church was transferred to the Commander-in- Chief's Guard Oct. 30, 1776. He had only about two months to serve before his enlistment would expire. About Jan. 1, 1777, some of the men were discharged. But about thirty of the Guard at General Washington's request remained for an extra six weeks of service, as he wanted their aid for a special effort which he was planning. It was no less than the sudden attack at Princeton Jan. 3, 1777, for which Washington was asking their aid, and our hero was there as given in his military record. On Feb. 10, 1777, he was discharged at Morristown, N. J .; probably all of the Guard whose time had expired.
He had experienced a service such as few could boast. It was the year of greatest discouragement and depression for the army and its commander. Plots were many to capture Washington and turn him over to the British or to destroy him by poison. The Life Guard was no exception. One Thomas
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
Hickey, a member of the Life Guard was hung by Court Martial June 28, 1776, General Washington approving the sentence. He conspired to poison his Commander by a plate of green peas. The housekeeper was his confidant and she warned the General. Here is the warrant directed to the Provost Marshal for his execution.
By his Excellency, George Washington, Esquire, General and Commander-in-Chief of the army of the United American Colonies.
Whereas, Thomas Hickey, a soldier enlisted in the service of the said united colonies, has been duly convicted by a gen- eral court martial of mutiny and sedition, and also of holding a treacherous correspondence with the enemies of said colonies, contrary to the rules and regulations established for the gov- ernment of said troops; and the said Thomas Hickey, being so convicted has been sentenced to death, by being hanged by the neck till he shall be dead; which sentence, by the unanimous advice of the general officers of said army, I have thought proper to confirm.
These are, therefore, to will and require you to execute said sentence upon the said Thomas Hickey, this day at eleven o'clock in the forenoon on the ground between the encampments of the brigades of Brigadier Generals Spencer and Lord Stirl- ing; and for so doing this shall be your sufficient warrant.
Given under my hand this twenty-eighth day of June in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy-six.
George Washington.
Headquarters New York, June 28, 1776."
It is needless to say that he was executed at the time and place above specified. He maintained a defiant manner to the end and declared that General Greene would meet that fate if he did not beware. Others were found implicated in the plot for which Hickey died and evidence points to a similar fate for them. The following order found in General Washington's own orderly book is worthy of note.
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THE HISTORY OF HOLLAND, MASS.
Headquarters, New York, June 28, 1776.
The unhappy fate of Thomas Hickey executed this day for mutiny, sedition and treachery, the General hopes will be a warning to every soldier in the army to avoid these crimes, and all others so disgraceful to the character of a soldier and pernicious to his country, whose pay he receives and bread he eats. And in order to avoid those crimes the most certain method is to keep out of the temptation of them and partieu- larly to avoid lewd women, who, by the dying confession of this poor criminal, first led him into practices which ended in an untimely and ignominious death.
This event shows that even the Life Guard was not ex- empt from the taint of treasonable influences and in a subse- quent order, instructed that only native born men be chosen.
Not long after Benjamin Church's discharge, the Life Guard was re-organized (April 30, 1777).
The uniform of a life guardsman is interesting for it will give us an idea of how our townsman looked in uniform as a private. "He wore a dark blue coat, collared, faced, cuffed, and lined with buff; the bottom cut square and full behind, with a fold on each back skirt; pocket flap on either side of the waist line; ten large gilt buttons on each lapel, four on each euff, and four below each pocket flap, to button or hook as low as the fourth button on the breast, and to be flaunted at the bottom.
Vest ; red, high cut, single-breasted, with twelve small gilt buttons and pocket flaps with four similar buttons below each.
Buckskin breeches fitting to the shape with five small gilt buttons at the ankle and strapped under black shoes. White bayonet and body belts; black stock and tie for the hair and black hat bound with white tape.
This was the uniform, says Mr. Godfrey, from the earliest period. The officers had a uniform of similar material but of more tasty and showy design. General Washington declares that the uniform is modelled after his own.
399
BIOGRAPHICAL.
General Washington believed in rewards of merit. He established the Badge of the Purple Heart. Badge for non- commissioned officers three years or more of service. A nar- row piece of white cloth fixed to left arm of uniform coat.
Non-commissioned officers, service more than six years, two strips. Severe penalties were laid down for those who should assume these badges without warrant.
Major Caleb Gibbs who had commanded the "Commander- in-Chief's Guard" since it was organized, was transferred Jan. 1, 1781 to 2nd Massachusetts Regiment, and Lieutenant Wil- liam Colfay became senior officer in command. (See work by C. S. Godfrey, State Library.)
The history of "the Commander-in-chief's Guard is in- tensely interesting to Holland people not only from the fact that Benjamin Church was a member of it but from its general makeup. Formed at Cambridge, Massachusetts, March 12, 1776, it was mustered out on Constitution Island, opposite West Point, N. Y., December 20, 1783. Of the 339 Officers and Men in the Guard during its existence, S1 were from Massa- chusetts, 49 from New Hampshire, S from Rhode Island, 31 from Connecticut, 9 from New York, 41 from Pennsylvania, 18 from New Jersey, 7 from Maryland, 67 from Virginia, 11 from North Carolina, and 17 unknown. This emphasizes the loyality of the state Massachusetts to Gen. Washington, the devotion of her men to the patriot cause, and their value as soldiers.
The preceding pages give the biography of Benjamin Church before he became a resident of Holland. Why he bought and made his home in Holland is a question hard to answer. Doubtless the homestead that he purchased had at- tractions for him, to say nothing of the desire to get away from Newport, the scenes and associations of his double bereave- ment, the loss of a son and wife so near together. It is be- lieved by some that he had met in Newport, after his wife's
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THE HISTORY OF HOLLAND, MASS.
death, at the house of a friend, Elizabeth Phillips, who later became his wife, and that she was the attraction that brought him to Holland. Be that as it may Holland was fortunate in having so worthy a man choose and make his home there. Buying in the Autumn of 1806, some of his family were young men and women when he came.
The papers were passed from James Perry to Benjamin Church, a merchant of Newport, Rhode Island, Nov. 4, 1806.
The deed was recorded June 12, 1807, and conveyed 372 A, 51 rods of land, also a pew in Holland Church and horse- shed near the same. The price was $7,000. As a member of the Commander-in-Chief's Guard he had to take his turn as sentry and guard his commander's life. In battle, on the field, in camp, in his tent, night and day, his General must be guard- ed, against poison in his food or drink, against capture by the enemy, or assassination especially while sleeping, against the loss or inspection of his commander's private papers by any unauthorized person, that might reveal what his plans were, thereby giving the enemy an advantage. Benjamin Church had a position of no little responsibility and from the charae- ter of the man we may well believe that he did it well. In faet, by special request of General Washington, the Command- er-in-Chief's Guard was requested to remain in service a few weeks after their term of service had expired, as he had formed plans which he wished to carry out. Benjamin Church had enlisted for one year. He should have been discharged Jan. 1, 1777. He was not discharged until Feb. 10, of that year. Meanwhile the battle of Princeton, N. J., was fought. That he was a good soldier and a patriot, needs no proof other than his military record. His position in that guard, won as it was by serviee, although a private in it, would probably entitle him to the rank of captain, and by that title he was known in Holland.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
He was no less useful as a citizen than he was as a soldier. We soon find his name in the official list of Holland. Many, however, surpass him in the number of offices and persistency of holding them. He was on the school committee, 1809, '10, '12, '15. Moderator of special town meeting, 1818, '19, and selectman, 1817, '24, '25. His work on committees for special town business is noteworthy. He was member of the commit- tee to draft a petition to the president about the embargo act, appointed Sept. 9, 1808. He was one of a committee to hire a minister as a substitute when pastor Reeve was ill, 1812. We give the names of that committee :- Jacob Thompson. Dea. David Wallis, Lt. Ichabod Goodell, Lt. William Putnam, Capt. Benjamin Church, Lt. Ezra Allen, Willard Pike, Edward Blod- gett, Nehemiah May (Jr.), Ebenezer Howard, John Polley, Dea. Samuel Webber. Whom they hired to serve the church as minister during Mr. Reeve's illness we do not know, but the committee was a thoroughly representative one.
Benjamin Church was also appointed on the committee to arrange with Mr. Reeve an allowance from his salary when he was taken with his last illness, 1817. That committee was made up as follows :- Dea. David Wallis, Dea. Samuel Webber, Capt. Ezra Allen, Capt. Hallowell Perrin, Lt. John Weaver, Capt. Benjamin Church, Capt. Ezra Webber. We are inelined to believe that this committee radically disagreed over the course to be pursued. It was voted "that the committee lay out such a part of Mr. Reeve's salary as he shall relinquish." Their old and faithful pastor was soon to relinquish the whole of it. The records do not show the action of this committee, but we find the committee reorganized with only three mem- bers :- Dea. David Wallis, Ebenezer Morris, and John Weaver. Soon there is a call for a town meeting with an article asking for an allotment of sabbaths in the use of the meeting house proportionate to the ministers tax paid by the Baptists. It
(26)
$
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THE HISTORY OF HOLLAND, MASS.
was defeated, as also a similar article in other town meetings following. But in 1818, it was voted to divide the use of the meeting house, evenly until March 1, 1819, first one society three sabbaths and then the other three sabbaths.
Just what part Benjamin Church had in these proceedings we cannot say, but the records show that the first meeting held to organize a Baptist society was held at his house. It is also claimed by some and it is generally conceded, that Benjamin Church gave the site on which the Baptist meeting house was built and that most of the lumber, if not all of it used in its contruction was his gift. He was like his fore- fathers. They were men of pronounced opinion and conviction. We admire such when their opinions and convictions are rooted in the truth. Of course the old church was much weakened by the loss of about half its members, and half its revenue. It was a sad experience to them no doubt; but they recovered from it in due time, while the Baptist church organization set in action forces that still bless the town, for it owns its town hall as a gift from that body, and is, in a sense, a monument to Benjamin Church the citizen and the christian. But the man who rendered such distinguished service to his country, and especially the year of its greatest trial when the patriot cause was weakest, and most dubious as to the outcome, is worthy of another monument, more lasting than wood, that shall com- memorate his service as a soldier and patriot, viz. ; a monument of stone with bronze tablet suitably inscribed, said tablet the gift of the Sons of the American Revolution. This we hope will soon eventuate.
HARRIS CUTLER was elected by Holland as its repre- sentative in the state legislature for 1853. He lived on the place now owned by William Morse. He was much loved and respected. He does not seem to have held any other town office. He and Mrs. Cutler are still remembered with much affection. It
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
was a great compliment to him, that, although he had held .no other important town office, he should yet be the town's choice for this one, the most important of any that a town can bestow, while the living still bear testimony to the fact that lic was worthy of the trust.
ELBRIDGE GERRY FULLER was the son of James and Mary (May) Fuller. He was born July 9, 1789. His father owned half interest in the mill on what later became the Par- sons' place, buying the interest that Esquire Weld of Charlton bought in 1805. He was a carpenter and builder for he built the new school houses for the northeast and southeast school districts in 1803. Probably it was from his father that El- bridge G. acquired his experience in building, and ability to turn his hands in various callings. At one time he owned and ran Holland Inn, 1824-28 and seems to have been postmaster durng that time. It was while he was landlord of Holland Inn that General Lafayette stopped on his way to Boston and took lunch, 1824. People came from all the surrounding country to see him on horseback and greet him because of his aid in the Revolution. In 1827 he bought the Wm. Belknap homestead, and built the present Drake house on the new road disposing of the old house which stood on the old road, back and a little south of the present site. We think there was a saw mill there then and the dam possibly increased in height was used to form the reservoir for his brick cotton mill which grew to be quite important. It was as owner of this mill that Esq. Fuller, as he was called, wielded his greatest influence in town. Around that mill there was built a number of tenements for the mill hands.
He was an attendant at the Baptist church, and wielded an influence that enabled him to be elected to represent Hol- land and Wales at General Court 1832 and 1834 and Holland alone, 1847, Holland having become a town in 1836, and by the
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THE HISTORY OF HOLLAND, MASS.
method then in force entitled to a representative of its own. This gives him the distinction of being three times representa- tive, while John Weaver held that honor twice. E. G. Fuller was postmaster from 1836-1849, but where the post office was we cannot say unless somewhere in Fuller's village. He held town office being seleetman in 1819, '20, '33. Assessor, 1827, '30, '31, '47, '48, '56, '60. Town elerk, 1836, and other minor offices as well as receiving appointment as Justice of Peace, 1825. Opposition to him was very decided, based upon political and personal grounds, and although his cotton factory was running in the heyday period of that industry in New England, yet a mass of ruin is all that remains. Railroads were being built, giving the mills upon their lines a decided advantage against which no amount of care and economy on the part of the owner of a mill situated as Mr. Fuller's was, could make it profitable. The house and land south of the river was sold, and the cottage and land north of the river, where Arthur Childs lived, recently purchased by Thomas Kelly, became his home, and where his last days were spent.
(See manufacturers of Holland and the Fuller Genealogy.)
LT. ICHABOD GOODELL'S name is frequently met in Holland annals. We believe that he came from Woodstock to Holland although the vital records of that town fail to place him. He married Martha Webber (about 1770), daughter of Trenance Webber, and an old deed indicates that he owned land in Holland about 1780, the Eleazer Moore place. He is a tax- payer of So. Brimfield in 1782, and by a division of Holland into school districts in 1783, he is placed in the northeast distriet. He was a man whose judgment was held in high esteem for he held office repeatedly-constable five years, moderator of an- nual town meetings; also special meetings; and selectman for six years, 1794, 1800, '01, '02, '03, '04. He sold his home above mentioned and bought the place on the hill in the southeast
405
BIOGRAPHICAL.
district, later known as the Badger place, where we find him by the assessment roll of 1798. His eldest child, a daughter, born 1771, married Asarael Perrin, son of Benjamin Perrin and had a large family, while another daughter, Mary, married John Perrin, brother to Asarael, and had thirteen children, but most of them were born in Monson. Ichabod Goodell died in 1826 and his daughter Persis did also, who was never mar- ried. Her age is given as fifty-five years.
JABEZ GOODELL, only son of Ichabod Goodell, went to New York state and became a school teacher. He invested his savings in a farm the land of which was where now the city of Buffalo now stands. The date of his going to Buffalo we do not know but probably when a young man. He married Diadamia Day but had no children. He adopted his wife's niece, Dia- damia Culley, and this lady married and left issue. A street was built through Mr. Goodell's farm and the name "Goodell Street," was given to it in his honor. He kept a Tavern on the corner of Main and Goodell Streets for years. When the British took Buffalo in 1812 they burned the town, and the home of Jabez Goodell was burned also. He built again at the corner of Goodell and Oak Sts. In his later years, he gave ten acres of land to the Buffalo Female Academy, taking ten thousand dollars stock in the institution. He died September 26, 1851, aged 75 yrs. In his will five hundred dollars was given to the Buffalo Female Academy. From this bequest and from his stock the Academy realized $10,500. When the trustees of the Academy erected a building for the institution, they named it "Goodell Hall" in memory of Jabez Goodell whose bequests to it, after sale of scrip, etc., came to the total of $15,500, the building cost about $18,000, and still stands, although put to other uses, the school having removed to more modern quarters some years ago. His property at the time of his death was valued at $400,000. He made many public bequests and at the
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