USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > Lee > History of the town of Lee, Mass. : a lecture, delivered before the Young Men's Association of Lee, March 22d, 1854 > Part 2
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In these movements, the fathers of Lee were not idle spec- tators. I regret that I am unable to give the names of all the Lee men who were out in the Revolutionary war. I am told that the following gentlemen were among the number :- Jesse Bradley, Eli Bradley, Jesse Gifford, Fenner Foote, Ephraim Sheldon, Joseph Handy, - Tilden, - Totman, Jolin Percival.
Perhaps the year 1780 is a good sample of other years during the war. Dec. 20, 1779, the town voted £210 law- ful money, as a bounty to her soldiers in the army, and to such as should enter the service. "June 19, 1780, voted to raise, for a bounty for the same purpose, £108 hard money, and that each soldier should have £12." By this vote, it appears that Lee intended to have nine men in the Conti- nental army. This would be one-quarter of her men. And then, in July, the town voted to give two other men the same that the others had. These eleren men appear to have been what was termed " three months' men, and six months' men." Their regular wages were forty shillings per month. In Nov., "Voted to raise £55 silver money, to be assessed immediately, to purchase beef for the use of the army :" and near the close of the year, we find the following, " Voted to raise seven men, to serve in the Continental army for three years. or during · the war." Jan. 8, 1781, it was "voted to raise the sum of £6818, to be assessed immediately. Voted, that grain shall be received for pav, viz .. Wheat at $72 per bushel ; Rye, $48 per bushel; Indian Corn at $26; Oats, $27."
Here we have a little town, three years old, with not more
13
HISTORY OF LEE.
than thirty-five families, all of whom would now be considered poor, voting to send one-half of their able-bodied men into Washington's army, voluntarily taxing themselves $35,000 to support these soldiers and their families, and supplying the army with beef. About $2000 of it was to be in hard money, or its equivalent ; whilst $33,000 was to be in con- tinental money, or its equivalent. Verily our fathers were sincere, when, a year before, they passed the following vote : " Voted, That we hold ourselves bound to support the civil authority of this State for the term of one year, and bound to obey the laws of this State."
As a specimen of the patriotism of our fathers, allow me to refer you to the acts of two men who came into town at the close of the war. Cornelius Bassett, father of Lemuel, took a lively interest in that contest. For a time, he was engaged in privateering. He succeeded in capturing a prize which brought him £100, and so desirous was he to keep up the credit of the State, that he invested the whole of this sum in the depreciating continental money. Afterwards, he exchanged it for a watch, which he gave for the place now owned by Sheriff Pease.
Capt. Amos Porter was a resolute man. He was in the French and Revolutionary wars. He devoted a large pro- perty in the support of his company ; and when Peace was declared, he led his company of 64 men up to Toucey's, and treated them each with a bowl of grog, at $60 a bowl, making a bill of $3840.
Jesse Bradley, then only 14 years of age, enlisted under Col. Brown, and was at the battle of Fort Stanwix. In the confusion of the defeat, an Indian chased Jesse for several miles, when the lad turned around, and fired in the direction of the Indian. Not being troubled any more with his pur- suer, Mr. Bradley, through life, looked back to the event with some compunctions of conscience, fearing that he might have killed a man.
These, and many other incidents of a similar character, indicate the generous patriotism of these lovers of freedom and of their country.
At the close of the war, many valuable families moved into this town ; most of whom sleep among the thronged dead, but who have left to their children the best of all patri- mony, a legacy of strict morality, stern integrity, and untiring industry. At this time, a minister, Mr. Parmeley, their first pastor, was settled. Mr. C. Bassett and Major Dillingham erected the Red Lion, on Mr. Pease's lot, which was used for a tavern for fifty years. This was the first two-story house built in Lee, and I am told that in it was the first store in Lee, kept in the buttery. Job Hamblin went to Boston to get a load of salt, and it required forty days to make the journey.
7
14
HISTORY OF LEE.
SHAY'S WAR.
At the close of the war, in 1783, the people found them- selves overwhelmed in debt. Massachusetts came out of the war with a debt of £3,050,000, including her proportion of the national debt. This, with private debts necessarily con- tracted by men engaged in the war, for the support of their families, and their own personal affairs having been for so long a time neglected, disaffected the minds of many. They were unwilling to embarrass themselves farther with enor- mous taxes. This originated what is called the Shay's war.
The people in this county were the first " to put a stop to Courts" at the commencement of the Revolution. No Pro- bate courts were held here from 1774 to 1778, and during the last two of these years, no deeds were recorded. With this contempt of courts, as we might suppose, the people reluctantly consented to have Courts of Justice set within their bounds. In 1786, there were 800 of Shay's men assembled in Great Barrington, under arms; and soon after, a company of 250 assembled in Lee, composed of men of Lee and vicinity. This company finally concentrated their forces on the Perry place, in Cape street, which Dea. Culver now owns. Gen. Pattison, at the head of the Government forces, came from Stockbridge, and took his position on Mr. Hamblin's hill, upon the opposite side of the Greenwater river. This hero had engaged Dr. Sargent, with a company of assistants, as the surgeons of his army, who occupied Lyman Foote's house. And while the army was preparing for battle, the surgeons were tearing up sheets and other linen for bandages for the wounded, preparing tables, blocks, and other necessary things pertaining to their work. Gen. Patti- son's men had cannon, but the Shay's men had none. To supply this deficieney, the Shay's men put Mrs. Perry's yarn- beam upon a pair of wheels and drew it up back of the house. The ramrod, and other appendages for cannon in actual ser- vice, were exhibited to their enemies in the most impressive way. The ignited tar-rope was freely swung in the air, and the men were running in every direction to put everything in order for battle ; and when Peter Wilcox, their leader, with a stentorian voice, heard by their enemies, gave the order to fire, the valiant Pattison, with his inen, fled for life before Mother Perry's old beam.
Peter Wilcox and - Austin were arrested for treason, and cast into our County prison, where they lay for several months. Their wives were allowed to visit them occasionally, and carry to them articles of food. On one occasion, these women carried to their husbands a loaf of bread, in which was the saw used in amputating the frozen feet of John
15
HISTORY OF LEE.
Winegar. Early the next morning, Wilcox and Austin, hav- ing sawed off the irons upon their feet, passed out of prison habited in their wives' clothes. When the jailer carried in breakfast to his prisoners, the men were gone, and in their place were their wives, dressed in men's clothes, who were soon after released.
Peter Wilcox repaired to a cave on Henry Bowen's farm, in the rear of the Academy, where his friends fed him till the civil authorities withdrew the prosecution. The cave to this day is known as " Peter's cave."
As another illustration of the patriotism of the women of Lee, I will allude to another incident, which, at that time, caused no little merriment. The house now occupied by Lyman Foote was the head quarters of the Shay's party for some time after " Mother Perry's victory." The Court party concentrated their forces in Stockbridge. Most of our fathers and mothers sympathized with the Shay's party. Scouting parties from Stockbridge frequented the farm of Mr. Foote, for the purpose of arresting those who had driven them from Hamblin's hill. This became intolerable to the Shay's party, and they were determined to stop it.
Lovice Foote and Sarah Ellis, two young ladies of Lec, put on gentlemen's coats and hats, and, with guns in hand, sallied forth in the first of the evening ; when they saw two gentlemen riding up on horseback. On their arrival, these girls ordered the men to dismount. They refused at first ; but, on the presentation of the unloaded guns in the ladies' hands, with the assurance, that if they did not obey, they should receive the contents of their guns, the gallant fellows dismounted, and were ordered to enter the house, where it was ascertained that they were Ebenezer Jenkins, jun., and . Crocker Taylor, two young bucks of Lee, and intimate ac- quaintances of their captors. The Shay's men were molest- ed but little after this event. Most of our fathers enlisted into this movement. Ira Parsons led 400 Berkshire men to Springfield, " to oppose the Courts ;" but when some of our Lee men saw the rabble that composed the major part of that army, they were ashamed of their company, and immediately left for home.
WAR OF 1814.
While on this subject, it may be proper to allude to the part that Lee bore in the war of 1812.
At the commencement of the war, an order came for four- teen men. This number was accordingly draughted; but it was not till 1814 that they were called into service, when, I am told, that fourteen men of Lee joined a company formed
16
HISTORY OF LEE.
in the south part of this county. These men were John Nye, Thomas E. M. Bradley, John Olmsby, Samuel D. Sturgis, J. M. Remoley, Silas Garfield, John Norcort, Eben C. Brad- ley, Horace Treat, John Woolly, John Howk 3d, Benj. G. Osborn, John Allen, Arthur Perry, and - Keith.
Mr. Nye was elected captain of the company, and Mr. Garfield was Ist sergeant; and Gen. Whiton, of this town, was major-general of a division in that war. These good men and true fought valiantly at the heavy-loaded tables of Boston generosity, and returned home in six weeks without seeing the enemy.
V. CIVIL HISTORY.
The Town Meetings were held at first in Peter Wilcox's house and barn ; afterwards at Major Dillingham's tavern ; and then at the meeting-house. The warrants for these meetings were for many years posted upon the three grist- mills, Mansfield's, Lee's, and Winegar's; and also upon the whipping-posts and stocks, which were located near Joseph Bassett's front-gate.
By the records of the town, and the statements of our oldest citizens, it is evident that our town has ever been dis- posed to regard impartially the different interests of the town, which appropriately came within her jurisdiction. The elec- tion of Town, County, and State officers; the raising of funds for religious instruction and schools ; the repairs of roads and bridges, of which we have seven spanning the Housatonic ; are among the prominent objects attended to in these town meetings.
The following Table contains the names of all the Town Clerks, Selectmen, Representatives to Boston, votes for Gover- nor, and the total vote, for each year since our organization :
1
金鲁生:学
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YEAR!
TOWN CLERKS.
SELECTMEN.
REPRESENTATIVES.
VOTES FOR GOVERNOR.
1777
Prince West
William Ingersoll, Jesse Bradley, Oliver and Prince West, Amos Porter
.
1778
66
Arthur Perry, Samuel Stanley, Amos Porter Wm. Ingersoll, Jesse Bradley, Hope Davis Oliver West, Josiah Yale, Lem. Crocker
John Hancock 24
James Bowdoin 6
.
1780
27
11
1781
.
J. Yale, Amos Mansfield, Jesse Bradley Eben Jenkins, Oliver West, A. Mansfield Thomas Crocker, Josiah Yale
Eben Jenkins
13
1
1784
Jesse Bradley, A. Mansfield, Joshua Wells J. Wells, Seth Backus, Isaac Davis
Thomas Cushing 16 John Hancock 4
Bowdoin
8
1785
=
David Porter, Jesse Bradley
36
2
1787
Nathan Ball, Seth Backus, Prince West
Josiah Yale
40
25
1788
66
S. Backus, N. Ball, P. West
Eben Jenkins
49.
50
1
1790
66
Enoch Garfield
J. Yale
66
50
1798
Daniel Wilcox
66
66
Not represented
Win. Cushing
67
1794
Samuel Adams
47
Wm. Cushing
9
1795
Increase Sumner
4S
J. Sullivan
1
1797
J. Whiton,
59
Gill
51
1798
.
66
66 J. Yale
Joseph Whiton
1
Caleb Strong
106
8
1800
=
J. Crocker,
A. Chadwick
81
E. Gerry
21
1801
66
J. Yale,
Nathan Bassett
66
118
66
8
1802
66
J. Whiton,
David Ingersoll
66
66
113
66
24
1804
66
152
Sullivan
30
1905
Eben Jenkins, jun.
J. Yale,
Elijah Garfield
Jared Bradley
1806
N. W. Thayer C. T. Fessenden
Nathan Ball,
Elijah Garfield
66
156
88
.
091779
66
13
4
1782
Thomas Beecher
13
Gen. Lincoln 1
1783
Nathan Dillingham
Enoch Garfield, J. Wells, Jesse Bradley
Not represented
E. Jenkins
66
39
1791
42
1792
Archelas Chadwick 66
E. Jenkins
Not represented
1796
66
J. Yale, John Nye, A. Chadwick
J. Yalo "
72
68
1799
1803
J. Yale, Eli Bradley, Nathan Bassett J. Nye, John Stearns
66
194
~166
29
J. Nyc,
J. Whiton
1807
Gerry Sam. Chadwick 1
13
1786
1789
J. Yale, Jolin Nye, N. Dillingham
Jared Bradley, J. Whiton, Seth Abbott
YEAR
TOWN CLERKS.
SELECTMEN.
REPRESENTATIVES.
VOTES FOR GOVERNOR.
1808
C. T. Fessenden
J. Whiton, J. Nye, Eli Bradley
J. Whiton
Gore
185
Sullivan
34
J. Yale
66
194
Gerry
49
1810
66
Jared Bradley
J. Whiton
66
192
45
1811
16
Joseph Whiton, Jas. Whiton, Jared Bradley J. Yale, Tim. Thatcher, " J. Nye, Eli Bradley
"
66
194
66
39
1813
"
Jos. Whiton, " Eben Porter
James Whiton
66
198
Dexter
46
1814 1815
Nathan Dillingham
A. Hall, Eben Porter, G. Bassett
John Brooks
189
6
38
1816
R. Ilinman
" J. Nye, jun.,
J. B. Perry
66
165
Crowninshield
24
1818
6
N. Tremain
16
172
27
1819
66
G, Bassett, R. M. Ashley, Lem. Bassett
66
132
66
33
1822
=
J. Nye, jun., Tim. Thatcher, A. Merrell, jun. -
Lem. Bassett
Otis
181
66
55
1823
Francis Hearick, Wm. Merrell
Hubbard Bartlett
Lincoln
180
Morton
2
1825
Joshua West,
W. Laffin
C. M. Owen
66
79
Morton
17
1829
II. Bartlett
Thomas Hulbert,
R. Loomis, C. M. Owen
66
126
66
57
1832
.
66
Wm. Porter,
"
J. Yalo, A. G. Welch, N.Tremain
250
66
62
1834
C. M. Owen,
A. G. Welch, W. Laffin
Everett
193
66
· 149
W. Laffin, Wm. Merrell
206
66
159
1836
66
1837
1838
1839
L. D. Bidwell, Asa Stebbens, Lyman Foote James Keep, Crocker Thatcher, Cutler Laflin, C. Hinckley C. M. Owen, Z. Winegar, I. M. Ives Billings Brown, "
Leonard Church, Eli Bradley "
=
213
66
155
66
187
Dearborn
35
1817
R. M. Ashley,
J. Yale, J. Nye, Joseph Whiton
J. B. Perry
66
142
66
32
1821
G. Bassett John Nye
Samuel Lathrop 177
89
Mills
3
1826
Leonard Church
1827 1828
R. Hinman
G. Bassett,
Wm. Merrell, J. Yale, jun., 66 Eli Bradley, jun.
Win. Porter, jun.
62
66
30
1830
1831
L. D. Bidwell, S. A. Hulbert
W. Laflin, J. Yale
J. Davis "
91
11
1833
1835
Z. Winegar, James Wakefield
R. Loomis, Stephen Thatcher
66
176
06
20
T. Hulbert, W. Lafin
255
66
101
1824
Wm. Porter
J. Yale,
Moses Hall
191
Lincoln
14
1809
Jared Bradley
Strong
192
48
1812
206
46
Gersham Bassett
169
Eustus
26
1820
Lem. Bassett
87
20
Wm. Merrell
280
113
109
240
YEAR!
TOWN CLERKS.
SELECTMEN.
REPRESENTATIVES.
VOTES FOR GOVERNOR.
1840
II. Bartlett
I. M. Taylor, L. Beach, Jared Bradley
S. A. Hulbert
Davis
269
Morton
187
Not represented
197
66
172
1841
R. Ilinman
S. S. Dorr,
Charles Thateher
Isaac Ball
Briggs
. 228
159
66
29
1848
J. II. Royco, Henry Smith, 66
A. G. Hulbert
Lewis Beach
246
Bancroft
168
31
1844
F. N. Lowrey,
G. W. Platner
"
208
"
89
66
14
1816
E. S. May,
C. B. Phinney
IIenry Smith
66
215
C.Cushing 120
66
12
1817
II. Bartlett
B. Brown,
Not represented
66
260
Boutwell
55
195
1819
Thomas Steele
F. N. Lowrey, Lucius Crocker,
H. Garfield
"
253
66
188
31
1850
R. Ilinman
Henry Smith, Eli Bradley, W. P. Hamblin
66
J. H. Rovce
Winthrop 256
282
Bishop
229
Mann
60
1852
Leman Phinney,
II. Garfield
W. P. Hamblin
Washburn 274
"
190
Wilson 45
1858
Jesse Bradley was a Delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1787; James Whiton do. do. in 1820; S. A. IIulbert do. do. in 1853.
194
Palfrey 22
1851
Win. G. Merrell,
C. B. Phinney
Clifford
206
J. Davis
109
17
1815
I. M. Taylor
Elizar Smith
254
"
14
Philips 184
1818
Zack Winegar
188
164
Sewall
26
1812
"
-
20
HISTORY OF LEE.
By this Table, it appears that we have had 12 Town Clerks, some of whom held their office for a long time. Nathan Dillingham was Town Clerk 13 years, Daniel Wilcox 12, Hubbard Bartlett 15, while Ransom Hinman is upon his 20th year.
Some of our fathers were on the Board of the Selectmen for a long time. 'Squire Yale filled that office for 20 years, John Nye, sen., 22, Joseph Whiton 10; and yet the duties of that office have been performed by 72 different men.
Lee has represented herself in our General Court 66 years of the 71 since the adoption of our Constitution, leaving 1789, '93, '95, 1841, and '49,-five years, in which she has not been represented. We have sent to our Legislature SO Represen- tatives in the persons of 33 different citizens. Some of these were elected for several years. Mr. Jenkins held a seat in the Massachusetts Legislature 8 years, 'Squire Yale 6, Jared Bradley 7, while Joseph Whiton's term extended through 9 years. Five men, Jenkins, Yale, Jared Bradley, Joseph and James Whiton, represented the town for the first 33 years; since then, this office has been generally held by the same per- son for only one year.
The vote for Governor, usually the full vote of the town, has run from 14 to 541. At the close of the Revolutionary war, so many of our men were in the Army, that the vote for two years was only 14; and then again, in the Shay's war, the 17 votes cast for Governor indicates the absence of many of our voters, for the next year it increased to 38. For the first 10 years, the largest vote of the town never reached 25. For the last few years, our vote has rapidly increased, till the votes actually cast for Governor constitute us the third town in the County.
Lee has furnished the County with four Senators in our General Court-
Joseph Whiton, for the years 1813 & 1814
William Porter, 1834 & 1835
Samuel A. Hulbert, 66 1846 & 1847
Asa G. Welch,
1851
John Nye held the office of County Commissioner six years, from 1846 to 1852.
Allowing 30 families in town at the time of its incorpora- tion, and five persons to a family, Lee had a population in 1777, when she received her Charter, of 150 souls.
In 1791, the 1st Census, she had 1170
1800, 2d
1262
1810, " 3d 6 1305
1820, " 4th 66 1384
1830, " 5th
1825
1840, 6th 66 " . . 2428
1850, " 7th
3220
1854, we have not less than 3700
21
HISTORY OF LEE.
VI. PROFESSIONAL MEN.
MINISTERS.
Lee has had 56 settled Pastors,-7 of the Congregational church, 17 of the Methodist in Lee Centre, 3 of the Free- will Baptist, 1 of the Baptist, 4 of the Branch of the Baptist church in Tyringham, located at South Lee; and allowing for the Methodist Society at South Lee one preacher for two · years, 24 more. I shall speak of them again at another time.
JUSTICES.
Lee has had 44 Justices of the Peace, of whom 21 are now living in town,-enough to keep us all just. Their names are-Ebenezer Jenkins, Wm. Ingersoll, Josiah Yale, Jared Bradley, John Nye, sen., Jedediah Crocker, William Sturgis, John Freese, Abijah Merrell, jun., William Merrell, James Whiton, John B. Perry, John Nye, jun., Lemnel Bas- sett, Hubbard Bartlett, Alvan Coe, Augustus Collins, R. C. Dewey, William Porter, Stephen Thatcher, L. D. Bidwell, C. M. Owen. W. Laflin, Asa G. Welch, Leonard Church, N. Tremain, jun., Franklin Sturgis, Alden Werden, Lewis Beach, G. W. Platner, Harrison Garfield, Franklin Cham- berlin, Thomas Greene, Ransom Hinman, Alexander Hyde, Caleb Belden, J. F. Cook, F. N. Lowrey, Albert M. Howk, L. D. Brown, G. H. Phelps, Wm. T. Fish, Marshall Wilcox, John Branning, and M. D. Field,
LAWYERS.
We have had 13 Lawyers in town, 6 of whom are now · in Lec.
Alvan Coc was the first lawyer in Lee. He was a native of Granville. Came into town in 1807, and left in 1809. He afterwards became a preacher in Sandusky, O.
Augustus Collins was a native of Guilford, Ct. Moved to Westfield.
Rollin C. Dewey was a native of Sheffield. Admitted to the Bar in 1813. Moved to Indiana.
William Porter, native of Hadley, graduated at Williams' College in 1813. Admitted to the Bar in 1817. Died in 1853.
Edward V. Whiton, native of Lec. Admitted to the Bar in 1831. Now Chief Justice of Wisconsin.
L. D. Bidwell, native of Tyringham, graduated at Williams' College in 1814. Admitted to the Bar in 1817. Now living in Stockbridge.
Franklin Sturgis. native of Lee, admitted to the Bar in 1830. Jonathan F. Cook, native of Minisink, Orange Co., N. Y., admitted to the Bar in 1839.
22
HISTORY OF LEE.
John Branning, native of Amenia, Duchess Co., N. Y., ad- mitted to the Bar in 1845.
Franklin Chamberlin, native of Dalton, admitted to the Bar in 1845. Now of Springfield.
L. D. Brown, native of Lee, admitted to the Bar in 1841. Marshall Wilcox, native of Lanesborough, graduated at Williams' College in 1844. Admitted to the Bar in 1847. N. W. Ayer, native of Preston, Ct., graduated at Brown
University in 1840. Admitted to the Bar in 1843.
PHYSICIANS.
Lee has had 18 Physicians, 6 of whom remain with us.
Gideon Thompson, a native of Goshen, Ct., was the first physician in Lce. He moved to Galway, N. Y.
Dr. Rathburn followed Dr. Thompson.
Erastus Sargent, a native of Stockbridge, a graduate of Dartmouth College in 1792.
Nathaniel Thayer, native of Boston, died at Westfield.
Hubbard Bartlett, native of Richmond, received his honor- ary M. D. from Williams' College in 1835.
Asa G. Welch, native of Norfolk, Ct., received his honorary M. D. in 1831, at Williams' College.
Coriden Guiteau, native of Norfolk, Ct., graduated at Berk- shire Medical College in 1830.
James Welch, native of Norfolk, Ct. Now in, -.
Eliphalet Wright, native of Hinsdale, Mass., graduated at Berkshire Medical College in 1841.
HI. S. Lucas, graduated at Berkshire Medical College in 1842. Now lives in Chester, Mass.
Charles M'Allister, practiced in South Lee. He is now in Stockbridge.
Horatio S. Cobb, native of Hawley, Mass., graduated at Berkshire Medical College in 1845. Died in California in 1850.
Asariah Judson, graduated at Berkshire Medical College. Now in California.
L. R. Way, native of Meriden, Ct. Now in Portland, Ct. Received his Diploma from a Medical Institute at Hart- ford, Ct.
Samuel G. Harrington, native of North Brookfield, gradu- ated at Berkshire Medical College in 1850. Now in North Brookfield.
John B. Gifford, native of Lee, graduated at Berkshire Medical College in 1849.
M. C. Lathrop, native of Tolland, Ct., graduated at Worces- ter Medical College in 1852.
J. M. Leonard, native of Liverpool, England, graduated at Berkshire Medical College in 1851.
الهد التكليف
23
HISTORY OF LEE.
Besides these, Drs. Heywood, Ebell, Cady, Mills, Fuller, and others, spent some time with us, but whose residence among us as physicians was of a short duration.
POST-MASTERS.
While on this subject of Professional Men in Lee, it will not do to omit so important a one as Post-Master, with whom we all have to do. We now have three Post-offices in town.
Jedediah Crocker was the first post-master in Lee. His office was in his public-house, now owned by John Baker, in Cape street. He filled the office from 1803 to 1811, when Richard Brush assumed its duties. The bar-room of the above house served the treble purpose of bar-room, post- office, and tailor's shop, Mr. Brush himself working at that business when his other engagements would allow.
Rollin C. Dewey, in 1816, received the appointment, and had the office in the old house next north of Eldridge's Block, then standing opposite to Dr. Bartlett's.
In 1817, J. B. Perry was appointed, who also held the office one year ; when, in Jan. 1818, Hubbard Bartlett was appointed, who filled the office till 1845, 27 1-2 years; when L. D. Brown took it, who was succeeded by Geo. HI. Phelps, and Albert M. Howk, the present incumbent.
In 1848, a new post-office was created at East Lee, called " East Lee Post-Office," and S. D. Sturges was appointed P. M., who held the office till Jan. 1, 1850; when Lyman Smith received his appointment for that office. April 12th, 1850, Wm. P. Hamblin became P. M., who was suc- ceeded by the present incumbent, George R. Sturges, in October last.
. A. post-office was opened at South Lee in 1826. Thomas . Hurlbut was P. M. from Nov. 1826 to 1848; L. D. Bidwell, from 1848 to 1850; Wm. G. Merrell, from 1850 to 1853; A. B. Manley, from 1853, and is the present incumbent.
VII. EDUCATION.
The first public school in Lee was established in 1784, when the town appropriated £40 for schooling that year, and divided the town into four School Districts. The 1st District embraced all included in the roads running from the Park to Stockbridge and Tyringham. The 2d District embraced all that were left upon the west side of the river, except Ashbell Lee and James Penoyer. The 3d District included all east of the river not included in the 1st, as far east as Freeman's and Stanley's, and so on to the northern line. The 4th Dis- trict included all that were left in the eastern part of the town.
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