USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Holland > History of the town of Holland, Massachusetts > Part 7
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250
NATHANIEL ROCKWELL
Non resident land 650
REV. EZRA REEVE
Farm same on which said Reeve now lives Improved by the settled minister. Woodlot bought by Daniel G. Haynes Not assessed
BENJAMIN REEVE
Bounded north on the road East on Ebenezer Morse South on said Morse West on said Morse One bark house (including tanyard) 20 x 28 feet 260
GERSHOM ROSEBROOKS
Bounded north on Ezra Webber East on Chandler Webber South on Ichabod Goodell
94
THE HISTORY OF HOLLAND, MASS.
West on Quinnehaug River Barn 28 x 40 feet Barn 28 x 36 feet
1700
CYPRIAN STEVENS
Non resident land
400
ABIJAH SHUMWAY
Non resident land 600
SETH SMITH
Bounded north on Isaac Partridge Last on pond South and west on road Barn 18 x 20 feet 50
BENJAMIN SMITH
Bounded north on Thomas Wallis East on Rinaldo Wallis South on colony line West on Robert Henry
250
BENJAMIN SMITH
Bounded north on Ezra Reeve East on Edward Webber South and west on the road 45
MARK STACY
Bounded north on Calvin Glazier East on the county line South on Reuben Allen West on Rufus May
: 300
95
HOLLAND'S GENERAL HISTORY.
JOHN SMALLEDGE
Bounded north on Dorral land East on Robert Henry South on colony line West on the road Barn 28 x 26 feet Cooper shop
700
EBENEZER STONE
Bounded north on Zephaniah Gibbs East on Peter Belknap South on Chandler Webber West on the road Barn 30 x 40 feet
1000
JEREMY SHERMAN
Bounded north on Thomas Wallis
East on the Quinnebang River South on Jacob Thompson West on David Anderson Barn 30 x 40 feet 1300
JACOB THOMPSON
Bounded north on Jeremy Sherman
East on Quinnebaug River South on David Fay West on Thomas Wallis Barn 30 x 40 feet 800
Lot, north on Reuben Webber
400
East on David Fay
RINALDO WEBBER
Bounded north on James Fuller East on the road South on William Belknap West on the pond Barn 30 x 40 feet
600
96
THE HISTORY OF HOLLAND, MASS.
SAMUEL WEBBER
Bounded north on David Fay
East on Samuel Webber Jr.
South on Trenance Webber West on the road
Barn 25 x 35 feet
400
Lechmere land
250
ANDREW WEBBER
Bounded north on Alfred Lyon
East on said Lyon
South on Joseph Bruce
West on Edward Webber
Barn 20 x 30 feet
500
TRENANCE WEBBER
Bounded north on David Fay
East on Samuel Webber
South on Ezra Reeve
West on Timothy Anderson
Barn 30 x 40 feet 1000
REUBEN WEBBER
Bounded north on the road East on David Fay South on said Fay West on David Wallis 500
SEWALL WEBBER
Bounded north on Isaac Partridge East on Joseph Bruce South on Isaac Partridge West on James Marey Barn 26-x 28 feet 180
HOLLAND'S GENERAL HISTORY.
CHANDLER WEBBER
Bounded north on Widow Stone's East on the county line South on Calvin Glazier West on the road
200
930
SAMUEL WEBBER, JR.
Bounded north on James Frizell East on said Frizell South on Alfred Lyon West on Samuel Webber Barn 30 x 36 feet
700
BRADLEY WEBBER
Bounded north on the road East on Alanson Wallis South on Rinaldo Wallis West on the road Barn 26 x 34 feet 600
EZRA WEBBER
Bounded north on Alfred Lyon East on Jonathan Ballard South on Gershom Robert West on said Lyon
600
(7)
97
EDWARD WEBBER
Bounded north on Ezra Reeve East on Andrew Webber South on Ephraim Bond West on the road Barn 26 x 30 feet
98
THE HISTORY OF HOLLAND, MASS.
DAVID WALLIS
Bounded north on Brimfield line
East on Moses Graham South on said Graham West on the road Barn 27 x 40 feet
700
THOMAS WALLIS
Bounded north on Brimfield line
East on David Wallis
South on said Wallis West on Quinnebaug River
Barn 28 x 34 feet Barn 27 x 37 feet 800
Eliphalet Janes' lot Bounded west on Ezra Reeve
North on Trenanee Webber 200
Let bounded north on road East on Alanson Wallis
South on Bradley Webber
West on Darius Hinds 500
ALANSON WALLIS
Bounded north on Sarel Perrin East on Zuriel May South on Rinaldo Wallis West on Thomas Wallis Barn 28 x 36 feet 700
RINALDO WALLIS
Bounded north on Bradley Webber East on Zuriel May Sonth on colony line West on Benjamin Smith Barn 30 x 38 feet 800
99
HOLLAND'S GENERAL HISTORY.
EBENEZER WEATHERBEE
Bounded north on Joseph Browning
East on Ebenezer Morse South on John Wade West on the road
200
The greater part of these homesteads will be easily located by one acquainted with the town.
The constable's berth was one not very desirable and used to be auctioned off to the lowest bidder. The occasion was time for considerable jollity and not a little banter. Some- times liquid refreshments were on hand to give zest to the occasion, for we find ten shillings voted for liquors in vendue- ing the constable's berth. Holland, however, has been a tem- perance town.
By reference to the map it will be observed that a few families were situated close to the town line, in the south- west school district and would be more conveniently accom- modated, if they were allowed to send their children to the "meadow district" in South Brimfield. We consequently find a vote to that effect, which also enables us to decide who lived on the house sites there. In 1808 we find record of a muster at Hadley when forty dollars was voted to the soldiers who went. 1808 was the year of distress owing to the effect of the Embargo Act of President Jefferson, which prevented trade with Europe. This period of distress is reflected by the choice of a committee to draft a petition to the president about that act. The committee to draft the petition were: Jacob Thompson, Ezra Webber and Capt. Benjamin Church. It is inanifest that Boston had prepared a petition, for the district votes that "the substance of the Boston petition be ours," and the selectmen are made a committee to forward it. We note that in 1809 the votes to give town land to Luther Carter,
100
THE HISTORY OF HOLLAND, MASS.
provided he builds a tavern, and the land offered was a part of the common lying west of Brimfield road and north of road to Andrew Webber's.
In 1811, the question of dividing Hampshire County was before the people. Holland was opposed to sueh division. Probably their opposition was based upon the ground of ex- pense. William Putnam, who lived on what later became the Geo. L. Webber place and who was Holland's representative to General Court for 1812 was chosen delegate to a county convention called to consider the matter. The convention voted to divide the county giving to the eastern part the name of Hampden, while the western part retained the name of Hampshire. Holland therefore became a part of Hampden County with Springfield as its shire town. This is why the records at Springfield do not antedate 1812.
The town warrant for special meeting July 11, 1812, has the following artiele.
Secondly. "To take the minds of the distriet respeeting an alliance with France, er aet anything they think proper re- speeting said business when met."
Thirdly. "To choose a delegate, or delegates, to meet in county convention to be holden at Northampton on Tuesday the 14th day of July inst. at two o'eloek in the afternoon to petition the President and Congress that war may be averted and peace restored to our country." John Polley was chosen dele- gate to sit in the convention.
They also chose Capt. Benjamin Church, Jacob Thompson, Esq., and James A. Lynn for committee to draft resoltions. The war of 1812 was not a popular one with New England, especially at first. England's aets on the high seas were in- tolerably tyrannical, and done to drag the United States into another fight whereby she hoped to win baek what she had lost by the Revolution. England and Franec being at war, and, the United States anticipating war with England, natur- ally the U. S. would turn to her old ally, France.
101
HOLLAND'S GENERAL HISTORY.
In 1819, Holland by unanimous vote petitions the General Court for the privilege of having their deeds recorded with the distriet clerk. Why such a petition as this should be sub- mitted to the legislature is not made clear. Convenience of entry for their deeds, as well as case in consulting them may have had an influence. Perhaps it was the outeropping of an opposition to the division of Hampshire County which went into effect seven years before. The evils that such permission would have invited are better imagined than deseribed. Land- owners should be protected by all the safeguards of definite and permanent bounds, careful, permanent, and disinterested registry. This could never be seeured in a town registry. Town records have been too frequently destroyed, and law- suits over land-ownership are too frequent, as it is. The select- men in whose name the petition was sent were :- Samuel Web- ber, E. G. Fuller, David B. Dean. Leave to withdraw the petition was granted June 3, 1819.
Towns, finding it a rather expensive luxury to send a representative to General Court, used to neglect to elect one now and then. Consequently, General Court would sit minus many representatives. They could do this for the representa- tive was paid out of the treasury of his town at this time. The evil grew until finally an act was passed imposing a heavy fine upon towns thus neglectful, and many towns were fined. The law was again changed making the pay of repre- sentatives a charge upon the state treasury which has held ever sinee. Because of the old law we find Holland, in 1837, voting not to send a representative to General Court. Hol- land's list of representatives shows that her eivie life has been active in all her history although now the small town seldom ยท gets a chance to send a representative.
By a meeting held Nov. 9, 1846 we find the following :
102
THE HISTORY OF HOLLAND, MASS.
Voted to choose a committee of four to preserve good order in society.
Chose Benjamin Wilson Jonathan Sikes
Ezra Allen John Wallis
Voted to choose five in addition to the above named com- mittee.
Grosvenor May Freeland Wallis
Squire J. Ballard
Wm. A. Robbins
Adolphus Webber
Also that the above named committee serve without pay.
What had happened to destroy good order in society we are not told. That no revolution such as threatened the very existence of civil and social order such as there was in 1774 (see page 62) did not then exist is very manifest. Will the oldest inhabitant please rise and explain ?
When the Hamilton Woolen Manufacturing Co. construct- ed the dam for the reservoir they were required to construct the road or causeway across it. It was constructed a little south of where the road had been, the old abutments being visible at low water. The causeway was built so poorly that the town voted to "post" it to avoid responsibility in case of accident, and has not accepted it to this day.
In 1869, voted to see what could be done to secure the Baptist church with good title for a town hall. A committee was appointed for that purpose.
Committee :
Orrin W. Brown,
Lewis C. Howlett.
The Church was obtained by deed of gift under nominal restrictions, it being left free to use for religious purposes. It was then voted to repair the church at a cost not to exceed $500, and to be done by Oct. 1, 1870. The committee to repair it was: Geo. L. Webber, Wm. A. Robbins, and O. W. Brown.
The town was agitated over the Southbridge and Palmer railroad in 1870. The town voted to invest $7,200 in it with
103
HOLLAND'S GENERAL HISTORY.
conditions, but soon reconsidered its vote and instructed its treasurer not to pay anything whatever to the S. & P. R. R. This was a wise move, and recent events in railroad management give emphasis to the vote.
HOLLAND'S POOR
One of the things that is a Christian duty incumbent upon a town is the care and relief of her poor, and that this be done in a Christian manner. It was the custom in the early days of Holland to auction off to the lowest bidder the care of those who were partially or wholly town charges. Other towns did the same but it grew into disfavor as perhaps, savoring too much of the auction block of a slave mart. The more respectable way, for the town to have a farm which is man- aged by a keeper, under direction of "overseer of the poor" is certainly a more dignified way of dealing with the town poor, and especially so where the town is large and has a consid- erable number of those who need such help. But where a town is small and has few, if any paupers, such a method is very expensive. Some states use the county system, while others use the district system wherein towns agree to unite for mutual advantage, one of the towns having the farm and each sharing the expense according to the number of paupers it has in the home. Holland wisely consented in 1904 to form part of such a district thereby securing less cost to herself and better service for her poor.
The story is told that at town meeting years ago when the question of expense and care of the poor was up for dis- cussion, one of her citizens, seated in the rear who had been very reticent during the discussion, got up and said, "I have positive proof that the moon is not inhabited; for if it were, some of them would come down to Holland and claim residence here, we treat our poor so well."
Mrs. Eunice Halladay is mentioned as one whose needs, in addition to her own efforts, had to be met by the town.
104
THE HISTORY OF HOLLAND, MASS.
She lived on house site No. 123 on the map and her house was repaired or built periodically. She was helped but never had her keep put up at auction. How she avoided such indignity is not made clear. Ruth Swinnerton was a town pauper for a long series of years, and auctioned off to the lowest bidder. We read "struck her off" for fifty-five cents per week except liquors and doctoring. She became heir to a legacy which the town instituted proceedings to secure but we judge without avail. She died in 1828.
One cannot read the records without surprise and regret to learn that Eliphalet Janes who was Holland's first district clerk, in his old age became a dependent of the district. He sold his farm and mill and moved to Western, now Warren. What misfortune overtook him to reduce him to this necessity we have not discovered. He made a good town clerk, writing- with clear, plain hand and interesting style. Holland insti- tuted legal proceedings to secure his support.
Benjamin Smith, who lived on house site 101 on the map, and who was a revolutionary soldier, also beeaine a town charge, with his wife. The town assumed ownership of his farm to reimburse itself. His son, Levi, started the homestead later known as the Thomas Williams' place, No. 96 on the map.
"May 12, 1802. Voted to give Jonathan Ballard two dollars a week for keeping Mrs. -, exclusive of doctor's bill and 'sperits,' till the first of next March if she lives," is an entry we find, interesting and suggestive.
POUNDS
Towns from early date have found a pound in which to confine unruly animals, of which their owners were neglect- ful a necessity. The first pound built in Holland was placed on the hill south of the church, and on the east side of the
105
HOLLAND'S GENERAL HISTORY.
road above the Bugbee tavern, later Dr. Dean's home. It was built of stone and the foundation ontline is still traceable. When it was built no one knows, probably about the time the church was built, 1764. When the church was moved on to the plain, or soon after, a new pound was built on the com- mon. In 1797 the distriet voted four pounds and 15 shillings to build a pound and Col. Alfred Lyon and Lt. Ichabod Goodell were given the contract. It must have stood at or near the southwest corner of the present library grounds by the de- scription of the turnpike road when laid out from Hartford to Worcester, 1803, and when the parsonage came to be built was found too close thereto and a committee was chosen to select a place for the pound. The committee chosen were: Ezra Allen, Reuben Stevens, Dea. Samuel Webber, E. G. Fuller, and Luther Brown. This committee recommended that it be removed to the southwest corner of the common and finally fixed upon the present site, where it was built, a not wholly outgrown instrument of peace and neighborly good will to this day.
CEMETERIES OF HOLLAND
The first settlers of Holland, at least some of them, buried their dead on their homesteads, a custom very general here in New England. This led to the loss of all knowledge where many were buried, whom it would be of interest to know their resting place if it could be determined. The Indians had a burying ground in what is Holland, being on land of the home- stead of Elisha Marcy in the pasture baek of the house. Trad- ition says that they have been known to come there to visit the graves of their dead.
Soon after South Brimfield was incorporated we find it voted in 1763, that an aere of land for a burying ground, north of John Bishop's land, be provided. Here are the oldest graves
106
THE HISTORY OF HOLLAND, MASS.
of white settlers in the town. But this ground has been en- larged by other purchases, a vote being obtained in 1855 for that purpose which was later reseinded but in 1859 a purchase was made of Nehemiah Underwood south and east of the yard; deed bears date Feb. 25. Wm. A. Webber sold land for the same purpose, 1859. Loring B. Morse also, 1859.
It is deeply to be regretted that no plan of the cemetery was made to show position of graves and who was buried in them. Many revolutionary soldiers' graves are lost thereby, so that only eight graves for soldiers of that war are known, to say nothing of other graves which it would be of interest to know.
The hearse house now stands on the east side of the yard. But the old one stood on the north side of the roadway not far from gate, inside. This one was sold and moved up to Baxter C. Bennett's. It was built in 1836. In 1866 we find the following: "Voted to buy a good decent hearse forth- with. "'
In the southwest part of the town is the highest land in the town. It is known as Needham Hill, after the Needhams that lived nearby. Upon the northwest shoulder of this hill are a few graves marked with stones, some broken down and others tumbled down. It was known as the Munger burying ground. Here were buried members of that family and also of the Marcy family, for upon a stone there we learn that the first wife of James Marcy was buried there, 1802. His first wife being Mary Shaw of South Brimfield. It is a pity that this yard should be allowed to go neglected. There was at one time some building nearby as a foundation elose by bears witness.
In the southeast quarter of the town is a private yard, carefully walled in, elose to the Connecticut line. It was the burying place of a family named Sholes who lived where Mr. Felix Bouvier now lives. The house is in Union, Conn. Jere-
107
HOLLAND'S GENERAL HISTORY.
miah Sholes was a revolutionary soldier; he and a numerous progeny are buried there. Although the yard is in Holland, Mass., Union takes care of the yard and honors the grave of her patriot soldier, May 30, each year. It should be cleared of brush.
It would be a good plan if the graves upon the various homesteads could be moved to the cemetery, that their graves might be preserved from deseeration by the ploughman or any other cause. In one ease the author was told of the graves of a well-known Holland family on the homestead being plowed over by a subsequent owner and the ground planted. Here is a community interest which all those interested in the welfare of Holland have a share, to obviate the possibility of such desecration by the method above suggested or some other. The Munger-Marey burying ground could be bought for a nominal sum and fenced in, thereby preserving several graves of two of Holland's most noted families to say nothing of others that may be buried there. Was this started as a ceme- tery for the church built between Grandy Hill and Rattle- snake Mountain? There are some very old graves there. Who will start a cause so worthy ?
CHAPTER V.
HOLLAND ROADS
The most difficult part of the work in writing the history of Holland has been this topic of roads. The difficulty has been increased by the loss of the early records of Brimfield and South Brimfield now Wales. When the town votes to discon- tinue the road from the "Maple tree to the Gilacer (Balm of Gil- ead) tree" without further explanation as to where said Maple and Gilacer trees stand, it is somewhat of a problem to decide where the road was. It may have been definite enough to the men of the time, but it becomes very indefinite to subsequent gen- erations. So also a road from a staddle of one kind to a stad- dle of another kind may be definite in the minds of those. laying it out, but it becomes very indefinite to those of later time.
Holland like many towns was forced by circumstances to make changes in her roads, and the changes in many cases are very indefinitely expressed, the dates given on the map are taken from the records and in some cases are certainly cor- rect, in others they approximate to it as near as we could determine. What was once a well-kown town road has since become in some places only a pasture lane. In some cases no record is found to show when the road was laid out. The road from the Wales line by the Marcy Place and across the south. end of Holland is an example. It was a public highway, 1795, (See map in Mass. Archives) but how much earlier we have nothing to determine. The road over the north side of Rattle- snake mountain must have been in existence in 1764 when the west faction started to build the church between Grandy Hill and Rattlesnake mountain but certainty as to when it was laid out seems impossible, yet over this road it was expected that many of the east faction would travel to get to church.
109
HOLLAND ROADS.
If anyone desires more positive and accurate history of the roads we refer them to the records and wish their success. That a great deal of labor and money has been spent in building and maintaining the roads is very apparent. The assistance that the state renders to the good roads movement now will benefit Holland very much and already is much appreciated.
The first road through the region of what is now known as Holland, according to an old survey and map made in 1728, (Mass. Archives) was a road from Woodstock, Conn., to Brimfield. It cut across the southwest corner of Sturbridge, passed up near the lead mines and crossed the Quinnebaug River at a point about half way between Mud Pond (Partridge Pond) and Siog Lake. The crossing must have been at or near where now is the bridge near the reservoir dam. It was probably only a fording place. Thence northwesterly by a course that agrees well with the present road to Edwin Hall's and so on to Brimfield. It is not to be supposed that this road was much better than an Indian trail adopted by white men for convenience sake. It is probable that many of the settlers from Woodstock came over this trail. Tradition has it that one prospective settler, a woman, came as far as the ford near the dam, looked over the river but finally turned back and settled in Sturbridge. The first road to be laid out for territory that became Holland was South Meadow Road in 1731, a road to Union, Conn., from Brimfield. It was given this name because it passed by the large tract of meadow land where grew in great profusion the swale hay so necessary to the settlers until they could get other land cleared. Joseph Blodgett had the year before (1730) bought land on this road and also ten acres of South Meadow. The road undoubtedly was built to open up the region to settlers, and other settlers soon followed, of which Munger, Needham, Smalledge. Dunk- ley, are names well-known in the early history of Brimfield
110
THE HISTORY OF HOLLAND, MASS.
and South Brimfield as settlers on or near this road. Rev. Jason Morse's "Annals of Brimfield Church" gives the date of this road. (Brimfield Records page 46),
A highway laid out in Brimfield by us the subscribers :
Some way beyond and against Benjamin Lovejoy's begin- ning from a walnut staddle marked, and so northwest by a white oak marked, and so to another marked; and so on to James Thompson's northwest corner stake of his first division lot, and so en to a black oak tree marked on the westerly side of said way ; and so on to another white oak tree marked; and so on north- west to a white oak tree marked ; and so on more northerly to a little white oak tree marked : and so on to a great red oak tree marked; and so on to a white oak tree marked; and so on to yellow oak tree marked, etc, etc. This formed the northerly section of South Meadow Road.
Year 1731.
Mr. Charles S. Allen says this road was laid in three sec- tions.
We, the subscribers, have laid out a highway two rods wide from the former highway at Daniel Thompson's alias John Hinds' corner as followeth : viz. Upon the line between Jona- than Burk and said Hinds to a walnut stump with a stake in said stump, thence te Silas Smith's corner; thenee upon the line between said Smith and Hinds to Fitch's corner; thence through said Smith's land between the ledge of rocks and the marked trees to a chestnut marked H. in Ebenezer Cooley's land ; thence to a white oak marked H .; thence to a black oak marked H. in Deacon Cram's land; thenee to a black oak staddle with a heap of stones on ye Union line. Said highway lying on ye East side of all ye marked trees :
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