USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Middlefield > History of the town of Murrayfield : earlier known as Township No. 9, and comprising the present towns of Chester and Huntington, the northern part of Montgomery, and the southeast corner of Middlefield : 1760-1763 > Part 15
USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Huntington > History of the town of Murrayfield : earlier known as Township No. 9, and comprising the present towns of Chester and Huntington, the northern part of Montgomery, and the southeast corner of Middlefield : 1760-1763 > Part 15
USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Chester > History of the town of Murrayfield : earlier known as Township No. 9, and comprising the present towns of Chester and Huntington, the northern part of Montgomery, and the southeast corner of Middlefield : 1760-1763 > Part 15
USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Montgomery > History of the town of Murrayfield : earlier known as Township No. 9, and comprising the present towns of Chester and Huntington, the northern part of Montgomery, and the southeast corner of Middlefield : 1760-1763 > Part 15
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To Peter and Sarah Williams: Eunice, February 3, 1768; Elisha, June 24, 1770.
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A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
To Phineas and Molly Wheeler: Betsey, April 11, 1784.
To Abner Witt and wife: Polly, February 10, 1788.
To William Witt and wife: William, October 9, 1783.
To Edward and Cloe Wright: Edward, June 8, 1775; Cloe, April, 1777; John, April 5, 1779.
To Joshua and Triphena Wright: Joshua, October 15, 1771.
To Joseph and Elizabeth Wright: Joseph, January 16, 1787; Daniel, Feb- ruary 16, 1789.
To Nathan and Mary Wright: Polly, April .8, 1784; Nathan, August 26, 1786; Sibil, October 16, 1788.
To Henry and Sabbahis Vadekin: Henry, September 10, 1783; Philip, May 25, 1786.
MARRIAGES.
Very few entries of actual marriages appear upon the town records of Murrayfield. They were kept no doubt by the clergymen who per- formed the service, and possibly many appear upon the church records. The intentions of marriage were required to be published three times " at some public lecture or town meeting, in both the towns where the parties or either of them do ordinarily reside, or be set up in writing upon some post of their meeting house door in public view, there to stand so as it may easily be read, by the space of fourteen days." The parties to the marriage were required to produce to the minister or the magistrate performing the service, a "certificate of such publish- ment under the hand of the town clerk or constable of such towns respectively." A record of intentions of marriage was required to be kept by town clerks. The statute also required that " all mar- riages shall be registered by the town clerk of the same town where they are consummated." . The absence of records of marriage of Mur- rayfield men may be explained by the assumption that many of them married women residing in adjoining or in distant towns, so that only their intentions of marriage would appear.
Below is a list of intentions of marriage that appear in the first record book of the town, arranged in alphabetical order, and with them the marriages, so far as they appear of record, between the following named persons:
January 13, 1783: Abiel Abbott and Sarah Mann. They were married Jan-
uary 23.
March 19, 1781: Ebenezer Abbott and Anna Wright. Married December 31, 1781.
May 18, 1784: Isaac Averet and Bethiah Fuller of Norwich.
January 8, 1771: Samuel Buck of Chesterfield and Susanna Palmer of Mur- rayfield.
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A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
January 8, 1772: John Barnard of Westfield and Deliverence Holaday of Mur- rayfield. They were married January 16.
June 15, 1780: Samuel Bell and Elizabeth Campbell.
October 13, 1780: Roswell Benjamin of Norwich and Thankful Cooley of Murrayfield.
January 16, 1773: Patrick Bulkley and Anna Williams.
April 24, 1773: Samuel Boyes, Jr., of Blandford and Elizabeth Black of Murrayfield.
April 29, 1774: George Black and Anna Boyes of Blandford.
December 25, 1790: Daniel Bigelow and Mercy Wood. They were married January 27, 1791.
April 3, 1791: Elijah Bacon of Whitestown, N. Y., and Lucy Sizer of Chester. September 30, 1787: John Bigelow and Persa Wright. They were married November 29, 1787.
May 10, 1778: James Campbell and Lorena Smith.
January 27, 1783: James Campbell of Blandford and Isabel Elder of Mur- rayfield. Married December 18, 1783.
January 25, 1789: Matthew Campbell and Isabel Lindsey of Blandford.
January 9, 1790: Matthew Campbell and Sarah Bell of Oakham.
December, 1786: Joseph Campbell and Jemima Moore. They were married November 6, 1787.
June 24, 1780: John Carlile and Sarah Smith.
July 13, 1788: James Carlile and Dorothy Smith.
May 7, 1789: William Carlile and Lovina Cooley. They were married May 28 September 28, 1782: John Clark and Sela Anderson of Chesterfield.
April 19, 1789: Joseph Clapp of Easthampton and Susanna Lyman of Ches- ter. They were married May 28, 1789.
October 19, 1788: Daniel Collins and Anna Williams of Worthington.
July 29, 1787: Timothy Cooley and Rebecca Smith. They were married Sep- tember 12.
December 6, 1770: David Crow and Hulda Button.
March 4, 1771: Timothy Culver and Margaret Williams.
November 20, 1770: Ebenezer Dowd and Sarah Dunn.
October 20, 1781: Isaac Dowd and Elanor Osborn of Lower Salem.
October 28, 1787: Abraham Drake of Worthington and Susanna Hamilton of Chester. Married December 24.
November 4, 1789: Vester Edwards of Northampton and widow Polly Smith of Chester.
February 19, 1774: Samuel Eggleston and Mary Taylor.
October 9, 1774: Benjamin Eggleston and Mary Gordon.
November 16, 1772: Thomas Elder and Margaret Moore.
March 8, 1784: William Elder and Sarah Campbell.
March 2, 1788: Thomas Elder and Nabby Fellows. Married April 17.
September 26, 1778: John Elder and Sarah Moore of Rutland.
March 13, 1791: Samuel Ellis and widow Dolly Tracy.
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A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
May 31, 1779: Deodatus Ensign of Westfield and Abigail Woolworth of Mur- rayfield. Married February 9, 1780.
November 25, 1773: Samuel Fairman of Norwich and Joanna Williams of Murrayfield.
August 10, 1786: Ozias French and Elizabeth Dayton of Blandford. They were married August 24.
January 17, 1790: Jabez French and Sarah Johnson: Married April 1, 1790. September 29, 1771: Joseph Geer of Worthington and Lydia Bell of Chester.
July 13, 1777: Allyn Geer and Perimelia Daniels of Worthington.
July 13, 1783: David Gleason and Sarah Gleason.
June 21, 1784: John Grims of Chatham and Esther Shepard.
August 28, 1790: Luther Granger and widow Ruth Goodwill.
September 18, 1790: Nathan Goodwill and Lucy Fairbanks of Mendham.
March 31, 1791: Nathaniel Goodwill and Molly Bell.
December 8, 1781: Aaron Hale and Martha Loomis.
February 10, 1788: Samuel Hamilton of Chesterfield and Susanna Hamilton of Chester. Married March 6.
January 25, 1789: John Hamilton and Sarah Fleming of Palmer.
May 25, 1772: John Haskel and Debora Meacham.
January 8, 1771: Jonas Henry of Murrayfield and Margaret Henry of Bland- ford.
October 6, 1780: Andrew Henry and Jael Elder.
March 3, 1783: Joseph Henry and Lydia Kelso. Married March 10.
April 9, 1781: Solomon Hingham of Becket and Molly Wright of Murrayfield.
January 23, 1791: William Holland and Polly Moore.
October 12, 1780: Samuel Hulbert of Kent, Conn., and Lucy Smith of Mur- rayfield.
October 1, 1780: Zebulon Isham and Rose Ellis of Hebron, Conn.
August 7, 1790: Selathial Judd and Irena Day.
November 16, 1772: Daniel Kirtland and Theodosia Mixer.
May 3, 1779: Jethro Kenney and Ruth Jackson of Spencer.
March 22, 1784: Phineas King of Southampton and Lola Smith of Chester.
October 15, 1773: John Laccore and Sarah Smith.
August 9, 1778: Capt. Daniel Lamb of Springfield and widow Martha Jones of Murrayfield.
November 15, 1777: Noah Leonard of West Springfield and Lydia Taylor of Murrayfield.
August 25, 1770: Stephen Lyman and Anna Blair of Weston.
July 3, 1786: Deac. 'Stephen Lyman and widow Hannah Clark of South- ampton.
April 4, 1790: Lucas Matthews and Polly Brooks.
December 14, 1786: Ebenezer Nathan Messenger of Becket and Sally.Camp- bell of Chester. Married December 14.
July 25, 1778: William McIntire and Roxana Campbell.
July 8, 1787: Oliver Millard and Zillar Lee.
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A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
January 30, 1791: Oliver Miller and Cynthia Black.
August 20, 1773: Samuel Moore of Rutland and Elizabeth Elder.
July 25, 1781: James Moore and Mary Henry of Becket.
December 28, 1787: Robert Moore and Dorothy Abbott.
July 7, 1771: Moses Moss of Preston and Anna Mixer.
December 14,1786: Benjamin Mussey and Elizabeth Ingall. Married Janu- ary 4, 1787.
July 20, 1777: Reuben Parks of Westfield and Betty Clark.
March 7, 1790: Tabor Pelton of Middlefield and Anna Moore.
December 7, 1782: William Prior aud Elizabeth Ellis.
September 20, 1789: Heman Prior and Mitte Sanderson. Married October 15. March 15, 1789: Hugh Quigley and Molly Mulhollan. Married July 12, 1789. November 24, 1781: William Russell and Penelope Northrop.
January 24, 1790: Gershom Rust and Sally Matthews. Married April 1, 1790. April 22, 1787: Justin Rust and Margaret Shepard. Married August 31. 1787.
July 25, 1785: Tyrol Sanderson of West Springfield and Elizabeth Smith of Chester.
October 7, 1787: William Scott of Norwich and Lovisa Miller. Married July 1, 1787: Job Searle of Southampton and Esther Matthews. July 2.
October 2, 1786: Noadiah Seward, Jr., and Diadema McIntire. Married
October 2.
December 25, 1772: Dr. David Shepard and Lucinda Mather. Married January 7, 1773.
March 13, 1791: Asa Slayton and widow Sarah Anderson.
November 10, 1767: John Smith and Abilene Core were married.
August 13, 1775: 'Abner Smith, Jr., and Abigail Pomeroy of Southampton.
January 4, 1780: Daniel Smith and Keziah Pomeroy.
April 9, 1781: John Smith and Lydia Seward.
April 12, 1781: William Smith and Lucy Converse.
April 3, 1784: Jacob Smith and Elizabeth Lunnon.
November 14, 1784: Ebenezer Smith and Nice Pomeroy. Married November 25.
April 1, 1787: April 1, 1787: Ebenezer Smith and Damoras Snow. Married April 19.
Enos Smith and Lucy Bently. Married August 16.
March 11, 1787: Daniel Smith, 3d, and Prudence Wood. Married April 12.
January 23, 1791: William Smith and Sally Anderson.
January 17, 1790: John Stevenson and Nella Walker.
November 2, 1789: Gershom Sylvester of Chesterfield and Polly Durger French. Married November 18.
December 4, 1778: Ebenezer Tillotson of Farmington, Coun., and Roxana Laccore.
November 9, 1788: Samuel Augustus Thorp and Polly Hamilton.
December 30, 1771: Daniel Twadwell and Martha Crow. Married January 9, 1772.
January 26, 1784: Daniel Twadwell and Abigail Tracy.
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A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
May 3, 1778: Jonathan Wait, Jr., and Margaret Smith.
July 24, 1774: John Ward and Susanna Beard of Hartwood.
December 22, 1771: Jonathan Hart Webber and Keziah Cooley of Springfield.
November 17, 1781: Jude White and Roxa Loomis of Southampton.
May 29, 1784: John Williams and Relief Abbott.
April 26, 1784: Eli Woolworth and Sally Olds.
July 26, 1786: Samuel Woolworth and Bersheba Crossman.
May 25, 1772: Edward Wright, Jr., and Cloe Pomeroy.
July 14, 1776: Bezeliel Wright and Sarah Whitney of Waltham.
May 20, 1786: Joseph Wright and Elizabeth Parmenter.
DEATHS.
I am certain that the records of the town of Murrayfield fail to show all the births or all the marriages; and I feel certain that they do not show all the deaths in the town during the period of time covered by the records. It is probable that some deaths of inhabitants of the town occurred outside of the town and were not for that reason recorded. I give below a list of deaths so far as they appear in the records, and the date of their occurrence.
Joseph Abbott, January 30, 1770.
Phebe, daughter of John and Louise Abbott, June 22, 1779.
John Cheney Bell, son of Aaron and Mary, May 10, 1781.
James Blackman, October 31, 1787.
William Campbell, January 19, 1782.
Sarah Campbell, wife of Matthew, May 6, 1788.
Margaret Elder, wife of Thomas, October 20, 1785.
Ebenezer Flagg, son of Gershom and Edith, July 7, 1785.
Lucy French, April 29, 1781.
Eunice, daughter of Samuel and Susanna French, October 2, 1776. Susa, daughter of Samuel and Susanna French, September 26, 1776. Aaron, son of James and Mary Holland, age 7 years, November 16, 1777. Roxana, daughter of Jesse and Sarah Johnson, September 27, 1776.
Mabel, daughter of Jesse and Sarah Johnson, October 1, 1776. Nathan Mann, December 21, 1770.
John, son of Samuel and Elizabeth Moore, September 12, 1780. an adopted son of Samuel Matthews, March 29, 1777. Nice Pomeroy, May 27, 1787.
Patty, daughter of Gershom and Mary Rust, December 29, 1789, age 14 years. Russell, son of Gershom and Mary Rust, March 26, 1776.
Abigail, wife of John Smith, August.12, 1767, aged 37 years.
David Smith, aged 78 years, January 6, 1771.
Patty Smith, daughter of John and Lydia Smith, May, 1785. Nice, wife of Ebenezer Smith, January 2, 1785.
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A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
Bernice, son of Ebenezer and Nice Smith, January 9, 1785.
Ezekiel Snow, January 28, 1776.
Triphena, daughter of Edward and Triphena Wright, October 8, 1775.
John, son of Edward and Triphena Wright, October 11, 1775.
Jonathan, son of Edward and Triphena Wright, September 17, 1776. Pela Hart, son of Jonathan Hart and Keziah Webber, November 8, 1775. Olive Witt, wife of William Witt, January 3, 1789.
HIGHWAYS.
The surveys of the highways approved at the March town meeting in 1769, being of interest in several respects are given in full: " Worth- ington road through Murrayfield to Westfield, beginning at Worthing- ton south line at a hemlock tree marked on east side of the highway, S. 5 deg. E. 20 rods, S. 8 deg. E. 38 rods, S. 5 deg. E. 29 rods, S. 15 deg. E. 53 rods, E. 22 deg. S. 90 rods, E. 41 deg. S. 20 rods, S. 15 deg. E. 90 rods, S. 30 deg. E. 40 rods, S. 25 deg. E. 12 rods, S. 45 deg. E. 24 rods, S. 20 deg. E. 100 rods, S. 90 deg. E. 60 rods, S. 20 deg. E. 90 rods, E. 30 deg. S. 90 rods, S. 16 deg. E. 90 rods, two miles from Worthing- ton; S. 16 deg. E. 100 rods, S. 7 deg. W. 100,2% rods, S. 11 deg. E. 180 rods, S. 4 deg. W. 20 rods, S. 28 deg. W. 60 rods, S. 20 deg. W. 100 rods, S. 15 deg. W. 9 rods, S. 5 deg. W. 36 rods, S. 31 deg. W. 90 rods, S. 31 deg. W. 60 rods to a small beech tree on a ridge marked 4 miles from Worthington; then same course 7 rods to a small beech tree near the Middle Branch east side of the branch, then southeasterly by the east bank by Mr. Wait's mill by said east bank to the road that crosses the ford way westerly of Mr. Timothy Smith's one mile and 50 rods by said branch, then E. 10 deg. S. by Mr. Smith's house 30 rods, S. 31 deg. E. 8 rods, S. 5 deg. E. 68 rods; thence southerly to a hemlock tree near bank of said branch, thence by said branch to the ford way a little west of Mr. Taggart's; thence S. 21 deg. E. by Mr. Rose's house, S. 38 deg. E. by Mr. Scott's land on the ridge against Mr. Fobes', E. 29 deg. S. across the river by Mr. Fobes'; thence east side of the river on the bank by Mr. Mixer's 70 rods, S. 15 deg. E. 132 rods, S. 4 deg. E. 32 rods, E. 30 deg. S. 26 rods, E. 35 deg. S. 20 rods, E. 30 deg. S. 6 rods, S. 19 deg. E. 39 rods, S. 36 deg. E. 90 rods, S. 25 deg. E. 98 rods, S. 45 deg. W. 32 rods, S. 18 deg. W. 16 rods, E. 27 deg. S. 99 rods, S. 14 deg. W. 19 rods, S. 20 deg. E. 26 rods, S. 25 deg. E. 36 rods, E. 40 deg. S. 46 rods, E. 45 deg. N. 20 rods, E. 22 deg. N. 42 rods, S. 25 deg. E. 8 rods, E. 34 deg. N. 46 rods by Mr. King's house, E. 10 deg. S. 58 rods, E. 33 deg. S. 16 rods, S. 38 deg. E. 64 rods, S. 44 deg. E. 40 rods, S. 33 deg. E. 120 rods, S. 45 deg. E. 100 rods, E. 45 deg. S. 30 rods,
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A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
S. 5 deg. E. 50 rods, S. 5 deg. W. 40 rods, S. 20 deg. E. 28 rods, S. 37 deg. E. 32 rods, E. 12 deg. S. 26 rods, E. 45 deg. S. 54 rods, S. 17 deg. E. 40 rods, S. 30 deg. E. 40 rods, E. 21 deg. S. 30 rods, E. 30 deg. S. 18 rods to Hampton line on Westfield mountain from Worth- ington line through Murrayfield eleven miles and one hundred and seventy-six rods to trees marked on the east side of the highway." The present highway from Norwich Bridge in Huntington to Westfield through Montgomery past the meeting-house is a part of the same highway.
Another is as follows: "Road to the meeting house from the ford- way west of Mr. Timothy Smith's by Mr. Ebenezer Webber's thence northerly as the river runs west side of the branch 110 rods, W. 16 deg. N. 8 rods, N. 30 deg. W. 80 rods, N. 10 deg. W. 50 rods-2 rods south of Mr. Ebenezer Webber's house; thence W. 14 deg. N. 29 rods, W. 40 deg. N. 40 rods, W. 35 deg. N. 50 rods, W. 5 deg. N. 68 rods, W. 5 deg. S. 16 rods, N. 40 deg. W. 19 rods, W. 35 deg. S. 14 rods, W. 55 deg. S. 8 rods, N. 40 deg. W. 16 rods, W. 25 deg. N. 100 rods, N. 35 deg. W. 18 rods, W. 25 deg. N. 22 rods, W. 16 deg. S. 123 rods, from Mr. Ebenezer Webber's to the meeting house 1 mile and 286 rods."
Another is as follows: "Beginning at a hemlook tree 8 rods north from the meeting house, W. 5 deg. N. 20 rods, W. 31 deg. S. 198 rods, S. 25 deg. W. 8 rods, W. 16 rods, W. 10 deg. S. 176 rods between Lyman and McIntire's; thence N. 30 deg. W. 90 rods, N. 15 deg. W. 66 rods, N. 31 deg. W. 119 rods, W. 38 deg. N. 39 rods, N. 20 deg. W. 60 rods, W. 21 deg. N. 20 rods, W. 15 deg. N. 20 rods, W. 42 deg. N. - rods, N. 41 deg. W. 26 rods, N. 10 deg. W. 64 rods, N. 25 deg. W. 30 rods, W. 45 deg. N. 90 rods, N. 3 deg. W. 20 rods, N. 13 deg. E. 30 rods, N. 10 deg. W. 89 rods, to Mr. James Brown's from the meet- ing house 2 miles and 270 rods. Trees marked on the southwesterly side of the road, laid four rods wide."
Also: "From Mr. James Black's to the above-laid road: Begin- ning at the west end of Mr. Black's house, N. 8 deg. E. 90 rods, N. 10 deg. E. 100 rods, N. 30 deg. E. 100 rods, N. 8 deg. E. 60 rods, N. 19 deg. E. 30 rods, N. 30 deg. E. 70 rods, N. 35 deg. W. 90 rods, N. 45 deg. E. 40 rods, E. 19 deg. S. 20 rods, E. 23 deg. N. 19 rods, E. 18 deg. S. 26 rods to road north of Mann's."
Another: "From Mr. Gordon's by Mr. Laccore's to the meeting house: Beginning a little east of Mr. Gordon's house, N. 22 deg. E. 20 rods, S. 45 deg. E. 156 rods, to the road from David Blair's; from Blair's S. 5 deg. W. 32 rods, S. 23 deg. W. 28 rods, S. 10 deg. W. 520 rods, S. 35 deg. E. 40 rods, S. 30 deg. E. 100 rods, S. 40 deg. E. 8
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A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
rods, S. 10 deg. E. 20 rods; to the meeting house from Gordon's 3 miles and 16 rods."
Another: " From William Campbell's by Matthew and Abner Smith's to the meeting house: Beginning east side of Mr. Campbell's house, S. 5 deg. W. 20 rods, S. 10 deg. E. 40 rods, S. 20 deg. W. 20 rods, S. 3 deg. W. 20 rods, S. 21 deg. E. 40 rods, S. 20 deg. E. 160 rods, S. 19 deg. W. 76 rods, S. 15 deg. W. 60 rods, S. 5 deg. W. to Laccore's road; to the meeting house 1 mile and 316 rods. Trees marked on east side of road."
Another: "From meeting house by Henry's to the fordway against Fobes': Beginning on Webber's road from the meeting house 90 rods, then S. 30 deg. E. 30 rods, S. 15 deg. E. 40 rods, S. 30 deg. E. 90 rods, S. 12 deg. E. 35 rods, S. 40 deg. E. 25 rods, E. 35 deg. S. 27 rods, S. 10 deg. E. 1 mile and 31 rods, E. 14 deg. S. 46 rods, E. 45 deg. N. 14 rods to a little hemlock tree, thence E. 36 deg. N. 4 rods, S. 45 deg. E. 22 rods, E. 32 deg. S. 14 rods, S. 41 deg. E. 30 rods, 22 deg. S. 44 rods, S. 44 rods, S. 20 deg. E. 23 rods, S. 18 deg. E. 60 rods, E. 38 deg. S. 16 rods, S. 2 deg. W. 22 rods, S. 25 deg. E. 42 rods, E. 6 deg. S. 16 rods, E. 41 deg. S. 10 rods, S. 20 deg. E. 42 rods. E. 35 deg. S. 14 rods, S. 16 deg. E. 10 rods, S. 34 deg. E. 22 rods, E, 5 deg. N. 24 rods, S. 13 deg. W. 30 rods, E. 14 rods, E. 2 deg. S. 40 rods, E. 140 rods, N. 23 deg. E. 14 rods, N. 21 deg. W. 26 rods, thence northerly by Mr. Scott's to the road from Worthington against Mr. Fobes' 4 miles and 288 rods. Trees marked on the east side of road."
This is the road from Chester Center by the Brunley place to Nor- wich Bridge.
Another: " Beginning at Worthington road above Mr. Wait's mill east side of the [middle] Branch, N. 30 deg. W. 50 rods, W. 40 deg. N. 50 rods, N. 15 deg. W. 40 rods, then across the Branch W. 35 deg. N. 4 rods, then north on the west bank of the Branch 160 rods, N. 19 deg. W. 20 rods, W. 30 deg. N. 25 rods, W. 5 deg. N. 35 rods, W. 27 deg. N. 23 rods, W. 25 deg. S. 40 rods, W. 20 deg. N. 20 rods, N. 14 deg. W. 30 rods, W. 30 deg. N. 160 rods, S. 30 deg. W. 20 rods, W. 10 deg. S. 40 rods, W. 20 deg. S. 70 rods to Abner Smith's house 2 miles and 130 rods from Worthington road. Trees marked on westerly side of road."
Another: " Beginning at a chestnut stump a little east of Peter Williams' house, S. 24 deg. W. 52 rods to the bank of the brook, thence on said bank to the river ;* on the bank of said river 140 rods,
· West Branch.
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A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
S. 43 deg. W. 60 rods, W. 15 deg. S. 28 rods, W. 8 deg. N. 4 rods, W. 38 deg. S. 38 rods to Blandford line to John Bolton's 323 rods; then W. 30 deg. N. 70 rods, W. 13 deg. N. 36 rods to east bank of the West Branch; on said Branch northerly 138 rods to Blandford line. Beginning at Blandford line on said bank 132 rods, N. 11 deg. W. 40 rods, W. 13 deg. N. 34 rods, W. 30 deg. N. 30 rods, W. 45 deg. N. 180 rods, N. 40 deg. W. 20 rods to the bank of said Branch 60 rods to a beech tree marked facing the river from Blandford line to the bank of the Branch, N. 30 deg. E. 15 rods, W. 35 deg. N. to the fordway above David Bolton's by said bank, then down the east bank to Mr. Bolton's 8 rods, N. 8 deg. W. 100 rods, N. 6 deg. W. 40 rods, N. 25 deg. E. 24 rods, N. 6 deg. W. 16 rods, N. 10 deg. W. 141 rods, N. 5 deg. W. 80 rods, N. 10 deg. W. 96 rods, W. 5 deg. N. 10 rods, N. 20 deg. W. 136 rods to Col. Chandler's saw mill to his house, N. 14 deg. E. 32 rods, E. 45 deg. S. 14 rods, E. 23 deg. N. 14 rods, E. 31 deg. N. 20 rods to Smith's house from the meeting house S. 28 deg. E. 50 rods, S. 35 deg. E. 20 rods, S. 10 deg. E. 20 rods, S. 22 deg. E. 40 rods, S. 10 deg. E. 50 rods, S. 20 deg. E. 8 rods, S. 15 deg. E. 6 rods, S. 10 deg. W. 20 rods, S. 10 deg. E. 40 rods, E. 42 deg. S. 20 rods to Smith's house; then to the road from Henry's E. 40 deg. S. 20 rods, S. 40 deg. E. 66 rods, E. 40 deg. S. 104 rods to the road from Henry's."
Another: "To Col. Chandler's saw mill from McIntire's corner by Lyman's, S. 2 deg. W. 60 rods, S. 34 deg. E. 26 rods, S. 24 deg. E. 76 rods, E. 10 deg. S. 20 rods, E. 35 deg. S. 68 rods, E. 18 deg. S. 30 rods, S. 40 deg. E. 40 rods, S. 16 deg. E. 20 rods, S. 4 deg. E. 30 rods, S. 45 deg. E. 10 rods, S. 15 deg. E. 24 rods, E. 26 deg. S. 18 rods, S. 40 deg. E. 18 rods, S. 25 deg. E. 28 rods, E. 10 deg. S. 12 rods, N. 24 deg. E. 20 rods to the saw mill."
Also: "Beginning at Chesterfield line at the highway, then south- easterly and westerly to the mouth of the East Branch, S. 45 deg. W. across the river, thence southerly on the west bank of the river 206 rods, W. 24 deg. S. 20 rods, S. 15 deg. W. 42 rods, S. 2 deg. W. 20 rods, S. 33 deg. W. 12 rods, S. 35 deg. E. 16 rods to bank of the river, on the bank 100 rods, S. 22 deg. W. 26 rods, S. 18 deg. E. 34 rods, S. 30 deg. E. 34 rods, S. 4 deg. E. 26 rods, S. 10 deg. E. 28 rods, S. 2 deg. W. 52 rods, S. 26 deg. W. 12 rods, S. 20 deg. E. S rods to bank of the river, 30 rods by said bank, W. 16 deg. N. 40 rods, W. 15 deg. S. 40 rods, W. 43 deg. S. 20 rods to Mr. Miller's house, S. 31 deg. W. 12 rods, W. 19 deg. S. 14 rods across Miller Branch, S. 10 deg. W. 20 rods, S. 3 deg. E. 10 rods; then southerly on the bank of the river [ East
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A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
Branch] 288 rods, W. 12 rods, W. 14 deg. S. 40 rods. W. 27 deg. S. 26 rods, S. 34 deg. W. 20 rods, S. 13 deg. W. 26 rods, S. 15 deg. W. 20 rods, S. 40 deg. W. 18 rods, W. 8 deg. N. 16 rods, W. 33 deg. S. 28 rods, S. 24 deg. W. 30 rods, S. 15 deg. W. 44 rods, W. 43 deg. S. 43 rods, W. 12 deg. S. 16 rods, W. 23 deg. S. 4 rods, S. 35 deg. W. 70 rods, S. 45 deg. W. 60 rods, W. S deg. S. 20 rods, W. 39 deg. N. 76 rods, W. 6 deg. S. 18 rods to the Middle Branch east of Mr. Eben- ezer Webber's 5 miles and 93 rods from Chesterfield to said Branch."
These were the first highways laid out by the town, and it is prob- able that they were laid on the lines of paths already formed by travel. It is altogether probable that these roads were rough and difficult to travel, very unlike the roads of the present time. Teaming from one part of the town to another was done mostly by ox teams, and traveling was mostly on horse back.
JOHN SMITH'S ACCOUNT BOOK.
Below I give some specimen entries in the book of account kept by John Smith, one of the early settlers, and who was a member of the first board of selectmen chosen by the town of Murrayfield. It is in- teresting as a specimen of the method of keeping accounts that pre- vailed among these people, and as throwing light upon their ways of doing business, and also as giving the prices of some of the ordinary commodities and of labor.
The book from which I copy was bought by John Smith in October, 1775. One of the earliest entries is as follows:
£ s. d.
ye 30th: 1775
" November then Mr. Moses Clark Dets to me John Smith for my oxen two Days, to sled boards and logs, 0 2 5
to: eating some meals of victuals, . 0 0 9"
" October
then Mr. Clark Credt by the hand of Mr. Peter Montague, 3 | 6 0 3 6" then Mr. Peter Montague Det.
ye 3, 1778
to: pastouring your hors six Days, 0
1 2
March ye
to: my oxen one Day to git wood, 0 1 2
16th: A. D. 1779 to: an ox yoke, 0
2 0
to: one pare of old shoes new mended up, 0
2 9 to: keeping your oxen five Days, 0
1 6
October ye 28th ) then Mr. peter montague Deter for Discharging
A. D: 1779 Mr. Moses Clark's acoumpt on your Desire, 0 3 2
1 7 9
ye 28, 1779
" November
to: keeping your hors one week, 0
1 6
160
A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
s. d. £
May ye 2 to: keeping your oxen a spell, . 0
0 8
A. D. 1780 $ to: a bag of hay seed
0 0 9
Nov. ye 1: to: keeping your calf sixteen Days, 0 0 6 ye 15. to: my oxen half a Day, . 0 0 9
January ye 22: 1781 S
) to: my oxen and sled two Days, 0
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