USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Northfield > History of the town of Northfield, Massachusetts : for 150 years, with an account of the prior occupation of the territory by the Squakheags : and with family genealogies > Part 16
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69
Grants of home-lots and interval lands were made this year, to Samuel Orvis of Farmington, Ct. ; to Josiah Field (brother of Ensign Zechariah) ; to Benoni Crafts of Hatfield ; to Benjamin Wright Jr. : to William Sanderson, and to Theophilus Merriman of Wallingford, Ct.
March 3. At the town meeting, this date, the following officers were elected :
Maj. John Stoddard, town clerk.
Thomas Holton, constable.
Benj. Janes, Joseph Petty, fence viewers for Great meadow.
Peter Evens, Jona. Patterson, fence viewers for Pauchaug.
147
Permanent Settlement.
Joseph Alexander, Hezekiah Stratton, surveyors of highways. Benoni Moore, tythingman.
Remembrance Wright, Joseph Alexander, field drivers.
Capt. Benj. Wright, Benoni Moore, Peter Evens, Isaac Warner, a committee to provide necessaries for Mr. Doolittle ; to build a town pound ; and to take care of town affairs.
Joseph Petty, Thomas Holton, Hez. Stratton, a committee to view Pauchaug plain, and lay out a highway through Pauchaug meadow. Isaac Warner, to take care of the boat. Capt. Wright, F.liezur Wright, Benoni Moore, Peter Evens, Zech. Field, a committee to manage in the affair about building a Meeting-house.
Capt. Wright and Ens. Field, a committee to discourse with the honored Committee of the town about building the Meeting-house, and getting a petition drawn to send to the General court for some relief to defray our charge.
THE BOAT .- The town owned a boat or scow, and a canoe. The former was used to transport teams, etc., across the river to Bennett's meadow, and bring home so much of the crops as were needed for fall and early winter. The bulk of the hay was left in stack till it could be brought over on the ice. Corn was sometimes left in stook till winter. After the owners began to till their Moose-plain lots, and to mow the west side meadows above, the scow was moved from point to point as needed. Town ownership of the boat, and town management of the ferries, continued for many years.
The Pound built this year, was placed in the North lane to the meadow, a short distance off the street.
MEETING-HOUSE .- Capt. Wright and his committee urged matters ; and at a meeting of the Committee for Northfield, Mar. 18, It. was agreed to build a Meeting-house in sª Town, as soon as it can be conveniently done : and we advise that it be of the dimensions of Swampfield Meeting-house, i. e. 45 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 18 feet between joints.
The work was pushed forward, and the house appears to have been enclosed by the first of August. Probably the only " inside finish" then completed, was a rough board pulpit, and slab forms for seats. This Meeting-house stood in the middle of the street, a little south east of its successor. Sabbath meetings had previously been held at the house of such inhabitants as had the largest kitchen.
Brick-making was commenced this spring, by Eliezur Wright or his son Azariah. The clay was dug in the street, below the south
148
History of Northfield.
meadow lane. When the Committee granted a home-lot here [where John Wright's house now stands] to William Sanderson, they " re- served the rights of the inhabitants to dig clay."
PETITION FOR AID. - According to instructions given at the March meeting, a petition was drawn up, setting forth the slow progress of the plantation ; their good intentions, according to their ability to settle and maintain a minister among them ; but their inability by reason of the fewness of inhabitants, and their low circumstances ; and praying for a sum of money out of the public treasury for their assistance therein. June 27, 1718, the General court granted the sum of forty pounds, to be improved by the Committee for North- field, towards the support of the ministry in that place.
Thus encouraged, as soon as the hurry of haying was over, they proceeded to give Mr. Doolittle a call to settle in the ministry.
TERMS OF SETTLEMENT AND SALARY. - At a legal meeting of the inhabitants of Northfield, August 5, 1718,
"The inhabitants, confidering the profpect they have of Mr. Benjamin Doolittle's fettlement in the work of the Miniftry amongft them, have for his encouragement Voted :
" 1. To give him a convenient houfe-lot, and the Meadow and Swamp land already referved for a Minifter which is about fifty acres : and alfo ten acres more in fome convenient place for a Pafture.
" 2. To give him the Dwelling Houfe formerly belonging to Lieut. Thomas Taylor deceafed, (provided it can be purchafed at a reafonable price) and to finifh faid Houfe : But in cafe fd Houfe be not purchafed for him then in lieu thereof to give him Thirty pounds in money or Province Bills, and likewife to give him the Town Houfe to be adjoined to his dwelling-houfe.
" 3. To give to Mr. Doolittle one hundred pounds in money or Province Bills, to be paid in equal portions, one third in May 1719, one third in May 1720, the other third in May 1721 - all the above gifts to be on condition of his fettlement in the work of the miniftry amongft them.
" 4. To give Mr. Doolittle fixty five pounds in money or Public Bills of credit annually, for the firft fix years of his fervice next comirg after April fourteenth 1718, and feventy five pounds annually from that time forward during his continuance in the work of the miniftry in fd place. And in cafe the circumftances of his family fhall ftand in need of more, to enlarge it ac- cording to the capacity of the people.
" 5. To provide for Mr. Doolittle fuch flock of wood as the ftate and cir- cumftances of his family fhall require, for fix years next coming, and after the expiration of the faid fix years, that each man with his team fhall cart or fled wood one day yearly for Mr. Doolittle."
149
Permanent Settlement.
The above terms were submitted to the Committee for concurrence, and at a meeting Aug. 12,
" Having confidered the within voies of the inhabitants of N-field, we do confirm the fª votes, and do (for his further fecurity) hereby grant to the fª Benj. Doolittle the within mentioned lands, and also ten acres of upland fuita- ble for Tillage in fome place convenient - all fu lands are granted upon the within mentioned condition of fettlement, and to be laid out by the furveyor.
Signed
SAMEL PARTRIDGE
SAMEL PORTER JOHN STODDARD
HENRY DWIGHT
Comtee for N-field"
" Having confidered ye fore-mentioned propofals, I do hereby accept of them
. witnefs my hand BENJN . DOOLITTLE."
This is all the record, so far as known, respecting the settlement of Mr. Doolittle. It is believed that a church was organized, and Mr. D. ordained some time during the present fall ; probably on the 2d day in September.
Oct. 8, 1718. The Committee for Northfield then agreed with Deacon Hawks, administrator, to exchange Lt. Taylor's house and lot in Northfield for a lot reserved for a minister ; and the Committee have agreed to give for the odds thirty pounds in money which we have put into Mr. Dwight's hands, and ten acres of out-lands which shall (if it may be) be to the acceptance of Dea. Hawks : the instru- ments to be drawn and perfected as soon as may conveniently be done.
The ten acres of pasture land, voted to Mr. Doolittle by the in- habitants, was laid out on the west side of the street, just below Pau- chaug, which lot was known in the record as " Mr. Doolittle's Pas- ture" till the old Tavern house was built upon it.
The ten acres of tillage land, voted by the Committee was laid out on the Second-Moose plain.
In addition to the land now granted, Mr. Doolittle received sub- sequently, grants of 140 acres in the " Choice Lots" Division : 393 a. in the First Division of commons ; 552 a. in the Second, and 400 a. in the Third Division. And his widow received 106 acres in the Fourth, 26} a. in the Fifth, and Io a. in the Sixth Division ; making in all 855 acres.
. LAND GRANTS .- As a specimen of the way the lands at Northfield were disposed of by the Committee, the following examples are quoted : " 1718, Feb. 19. Then granted 10 Benoni Moore and Jona. Paiterfon each
150
History of Northfield.
ten acres on the plain on the back fide of Pachaug, provided there be fo much befides what is already granted :
" Then granted to Jofiah Field thirty acres of land, whereof ten or twelve acres of Meadow (if to be found) ; the remainder to be a Home-lot and up- land - all to be laid out conveniently for him by direction of the Committee - all on condition of his abode there four years from the above date."
All the home-lots were granted, subject to the condition of a four 'years' residence.
" Then granted to Jofeph Alexander about two acres on the Saw-mill brook, between two high hills running from .he Great meadow fence to the fall in the brook, upon condition that he allow the town liberty to dig a drain through his lower lot in the Great meadow - the town not to be at the charge of a highway to faid land.
The general theory was, that the grant of a lot of land, be it ever so small, carried the right of a feasible highway to the same.
THE TOWN STREET NARROWED .- Aug. 12, 1718. The Committee passed an order, that the three northerly lots towards the Mill brook on the east side of the street be extended westward so that the street be left but six rods wide ; and that the line be continued straight from the southwest corner of Orvis's home-lot to the southwest corner of the home-lot formerly belonging to Jacob Root.
1719. March 2, " The inhabitants of the Town of Northfield being con- vened together at a legal meeting, have chofen their officers and other confarn- ments as follows :
Jofeph Petty, conftable.
Major John Stoddard, clerk.
William Holton, Remem. Wright, fence viewers for ye Great Meadow
Eleazar Mattoon, Jona. Belding, fence viewers for Pachaug
Robert Cooper, Nath1 Mattoon, hawards for ye Great Meadow and Ben- nett's Meadow
Samuel Orvis, Azariah Wright, hawards for Pachaug
Ens. Field, Thomas Holton, surveyors of highways
Ifaac Warner, Peter Evens, tything-men
Benjamin Janes, Thomas Hoiton, Elea" Mattoon, truftees for the town [" To lay what is necefsary for the town's affairs before the Committee for their approbation and confirmation"- interlined in the handwriting of Sam1 Partridge].
Capt. B. Wright, Eliezur Wright, Enfign Field, Benoni Moore, Jofeph Petty, chofen to agree with Mr. Doolittle concerning his fettlement in the miniftry.
Hezekiah Stratton, Eleazar Holton, Nath1 Mattoon, a committee to get Mr. Doolittle's wood : and voted to allow 25. 6d per load for wood for Mr. D. this year coming. Signed, ELIEZUR WRIGHT, Moderator."
151
Permanent Settlement.
It was customary for the moderator to make a record of the doings of the annual town meeting, attest the same, and carry it to the Committee for confirmation. The mode of making out the fore- going record, as well as some of the votes passed, indicate that the people were beginning to chafe under the Committee's rule. But the latter yielded nothing, and the interlineation was acquiesced in.
The town furnished Mr. Doolittle this year sixty-two loads of wood, nominally one cord to a load, and paid for cutting and hauling the same £7 15.
BLACKSMITH. - Mar. 10, 1719. "Granted to Ebenezer Field, of Deerfield, thirty acres of land, 8 acres reserved for a smith in Ben- nett's meadow, 7 acres in the Second-Moose plain, 10 acres on the Dry brook (in Dry swamp), and 5 acres in some convenient place, all on condition of his removing to N-field with his family within 15 mouths, and his employing himself in his trade for the supply of the people." - Mr. Field appears to have removed to this town the next year. He settled on the lot then held by the Patterson heirs (Jona. Patterson having died in 1718), which he afterwards bought. This was afterwards known as the " Landlord Field place," now John Mattoon's. He put up a shop in the street, after the custom of those times. He " finished his house" in the winter of 1721. He died (was shot by mistake) in 1723, and his shop was sold to Dea. Samuel Smith, who moved it down to near the " old Meeting oak."
GARRISON SOLDIERS. - By order of the General court, June 16, 1719, seven men were allowed in the public pay to garrison North- field, till the end of Oct. next.
MR. STODDARD'S FARM. - " At a legal meeting of the inhabitants of Northfield, Nov. 14, 1719, Voted, To give to Maj. John Stod- dard all the Little Meadow that lies just below Great meadow, ex- cepting the old grants ; and so much of the Plain adjoined to it as will make up 100 acres, - Provided he will accept it for the service he hath already done as Committee-man and Clerk, and the service he hath to do for us while we shall be under the Committee's care."
Maj. Stoddard sold this farm in 1729 to Zechariah Field and Orlando Bridgman, for £550. Field soon bought out Bridgman, and the place has been known as the " Field farm " unto this day. It is now owned by Thomas J. Field.
1720. Feb. 23, The Committee for Northfield granted the stream upon Bennett's brook to Serg'. Benoni Moore, Joseph Petty, Ebenezer Field and Nathaniel Mattoon, for a saw-mill, with the
I52
History of Northfield.
lands that may be necessary for ponding, and to lay logs upon, pro- vided they build it by May come twelve-month, and improve the mill from that time forward for their own benefit and profit and the service of the town.
Land grants were made this year to Eleazar Holton ; to Eldad Wright ; to Thomas Blaksley, a relative of Mr. Doolittle ; and to Ebenezer Alexander, who became a deacon in the Church and a prominent leader in civil affairs. He bought the home-lot of his uncle, Nathaniel Alexander (the Parson Mason lot), and the Richard Lyman lot adjoining on the north. The former he sold to Jonathan Hunt ; and the latter to Samuel Hunt in 1732, and built in 1733 or '34 on the Capt. Richard Colton place. Moses Nash of Hadley also received grants of 15 acres in Second-Moose plain and in one of the upper meadows, and the next year bought the William Clarke home-lot, though it does not appear that he became an inhabitant of Northfield.
Mar. 2, 1720. At the annual Town Meeting the following offi- cers were chosen : -
Maj. John Stoddard, town clerk.
Eleazar Mattoon, constable and collector.
Joseph Petty, Jona. Belding, surveyors of highways.
Dea. Benj. Janes, tything man.
Eben' Alexander, Nath' Mattoon, fence viewers for Great Meadow.
Thomas Holton, Azariah Wright, fence viewers for Pachaug.
Robert Cooper, Dan' Wright, hawards for Great and Bennett's meadows.
Nath1 Mattoon, Eldad Wright, hawards for Pachaug.
Lieut. Eliezur Wright, Thomas Holton, Theoph. Merriman to take care of Mr. Doolittle's wood.
Lieut. E. Wright, Serg' B. Moore, Eben' Alexander trustees for the Town, and to take account of the town debts.
Edmund Grandee, to take care of the boat and canoe.
[The above officers were confirmed by the Committee April 5.]
The two matters of considerable importance to be presented in the records of this year, are I. The location of the " Country Farm," and the Committee's Farms ; 2. The resurvey of the town by Timothy Dwight Esq.
COUNTRY FARM. - It will be remembered that in the original grant of the Squakheag plantation in 1672, a "reserve of land for the country's use " was made. For obvious reasons this land had not been formally laid out, during the earlier Settlements. But the claim was still valid ; and as all the better class of lands were being absorbed
153
Permanent Settlement.
by grants to settlers, there was now a necessity that this tract should be selected and bounded out. At a meeting of the Committee, April 20, " It was ordered, that there be a Reserve of two hundred and fifty acres of land, at the southerly end of N-field bounds, bounded on the Town Line southerly, on the Common Road to Sunderland westerly, on the Common land northwardly, and on Country land eastwardly."
COMMITTEE'S FARMS .- At the same meeting the Committee voted to set apart farms of one hundred and fifty acres each, to themselves. This action was in accordance with the expressed wish of the town ; and the land was no more than a fair compensation for their services.
" Agreeably to the vote of the inhabitants of N-field on April 11, 1720, the Committee have this day [April 20] granted to Samuel Porter Efq. 150 acres of land within the Townfhip of N-field, bounded fouthwardly on a Referve of 250 acres lying next the South line of the f' Townfhip, weftwardly on the Common road that leads towards Sunderland, northwardly on land of Henry Dwight Efq. and eaftwardly on Common land - extending in length from the Road eaftwardly three quarters of a mile, and in breadth from North to South one hundred rods, it being in confideration of fervice in fettling fª place."
A farm of similar dimensions, and corresponding boundaries, lying directly north of this, was granted and laid out to Henry Dwight Esq.
And a farm precisely equal, lying north of Dwight's, was granted and laid out to Samuel Partridge Esq.
The total amount thus granted and laid out in a body, was 700 acres. And this was the origin of what was known to after genera- tions as " The Farms."
[As the " Common Road to Sunderland" was not yet a public highway, and wasa somewhat uncertain boundary line, the town voted subsequently, " that the westerly end of the Committee's Farms be extended four or five rods across the Path, to the brow of a little hill that runs North and South ; and that as much be taken out of their Farms at the easterly end."]
As stated at the close of last year's record, a Farm of 100 acres had already been granted and laid out to Major Stoddard - the 100 acres being in a better location, was considered as equivalent to 150 acres further south. The other member of the Committee, Col. John Pynchon, had been at no considerable pains in furthering the settlement, and received no grant.
NEW PLOT OF THE TOWN .- The town bounds, as originally laid out by William Clarke in 1672, have already been described in Chap-
154
History of Northfield.
ter III. In May 1685, on Petition of the Committee, the bounds on the east side of the river were extended "two and a half miles lower to a little stoney brook." But no survey and location of this additional grant was made at the time.
As the inhabitants were now rapidly increasing, and these lands were being lotted out, the bounds became a matter of consequence ; and the Committee ordered Timothy Dwight Esq. to survey and plot this tract, and readjust the other lines. Beginning at the old south-east corner [which was nearly due east 32 miles from the lower end of the Three Little Meadows] he run the line "parallel to the general course of the river," till it met a line running E. 7º 30' N. from the mouth of Four-mile brook. That south line (except the deflection to include the " Morgan farm ") has remained substantially unaltered till this day.
On the west side of the river, the line was extended south from the old south-west corner 145 rods to the Deerfield line, where it re- mained till the adjustment of the boundary lines between Northfield and Gill.
The east and west bounds, which run N. 1º 30' W. were not altered.
The north bound, which had been a broken one, i. e., at Broad brook on the west side and at Ash-swamp brook on the east side of the river, was brought down to a point about } of a mile below Ash- swamp brook and coincident with the dividing line between the Sartwell and Bridgman farms, and thus made continuous the entire width of the town. This north line began at a point three-fourths of a mile west of the river and run E. 7º. 30' N. 1440 rods. The length of the town on the east side, was 100 rods less than 12 miles ; the length on the west side, was 8 miles ; the superficial contents was 31296 acres.
By the terms of the original grant in 1672, the town was 8 miles long by 43 wide, i. e., equal to six miles square. When the addi- tional grant of 23 miles was made to the south end on the east side of the river in 1685, nothing was said in the act about taking off an equivalent portion from the north end - although this might be sup- posed to be the intention of the General court. Dwight's survey, now under consideration, assumed that the omitted north-west cor- ner should constitute this equivalent, as the space left off south of Ash-swamp brook was an equivalent for the small south-west corner addition. The town, as thus resurveyed, actually contained 8256 acres more than the authorized six miles square. This survey was not at once accepted by the General court. Although the legisla-
155
Permanent Settlement.
ture appears to have been sensible of the dilemma caused by its own carelessness ; yet it was not ready to take a decisive step towards a settlement of the question. And the disputed boundary was a source of anxiety and some controversy for many years. In 1732, the legis- lature granted to Gov. Jonathan Belcher 500 acres of land lying north of the old Fort Hill above the Ashuelot river. This included the whole of Merry's meadow and the plain lands east, which had been in part allotted to the settlers, and which Northfield had held by pur- chase and possession for half a century. This encroachment by the legislature - as it was regarded, brought matters to a crisis. The town resolved to have the question settled ; and voted to give a large and valuable tract of land as compensation to any man who would get the boundaries fixed. Stephen Belding went to Boston, and labored with the governor and legislature ; but failed of his object, and paid his own expenses. Then Capt. Benj". Wright -who was still at 73 years old a power in the town - was sent down as agent ; and by his influence with the leading men in the government, secured to the town her claimed rights, and was paid for his expenses and time. At the session June 21, 1733, an act was- passed, confirming and establishing the survey and plot of the town as made by Mr. Dwight.
The north bound remained unaltered till the new Province line was run by order of the king in 1740. This cut off 4 miles and 197 rods in width from the north part of the township, which sub- sequently became parts of Vernon, Vt., Hinsdale and Winchester, N. H.
ASSESSOR's RETURN, 1720 - Number of Polls taxed .
Non-residents and females taxed 18
38
Number acres of home-lots and meadow lands taxed 1863 " outlands taxed 298 ,
Tax on poll, 12 shillings.
LAND SPECULATION. - About this date, when it became well as- sured that Northfield was to stand, men who had ready cash began to invest it in lands in and around the plantation. As will appear in the Plan and History of the Home-lots, to be given hereafter, Henry Dwight of Hatfield, Lieut. Jona. Hunt of Northampton, and others, were always ready to advance money and take a mortgage on said lots, and to buy up grants as they came into market. But this year, Ens. Zechariah Field made a wholesale purchase - it being no less than the balance of all the desirable lands still claimed by the original Indian proprietors. His own petition best tells the story.
156
History of Northfield.
" To His Excellency Jona. Belcher ;
" It being reprefented to me that it would be for the intereft of this Govern- ment to purchafe the right of Pompanoot, fon and heir to Wawelet, one of the chiefs among the Indians, of and in a large tract of land lying upon Miller's river fo called, at a place called Paquayag (Athol) of the contents of about 30,000 acres, bounded upon large falls in faid river eafterly, extending feven miles down the river, running four miles foutherly from ye fª river and two miles northerly : And your memorialift being intimately acquainted with the faid Pompanoot, and confidering that if the land fhould not be bought of him before the Englifh began to make fome fettlement and build upon the fd land, he would afterwards demand a much higher price than if bought before fuch improvement - your memorialift for the good of the country bought the fd land of the f" Indian, in the year t720, for an inconfiderable fum, viz., twelve pounds, which is now of great worth : And the fd land by the authority of the Great and General Court has been lately granted for a Townfhip to the Englifh inhabitants - though your petitioner has it under the hand of a great number of Indians that the fd land was the right of the faid Pompanoot, by virtue of a gift from his honored father Wawelet, yet is entirely fatiffied that this grant of the Court fhould take place, provided he be recompenfed for the £12 advanced, with intereft, or receive a part of faid land.
Northfield April 1733.
ZECHARIAH FIELD.
The court granted him in satisfaction of his just claim 800 acres, to be laid out in two tracts, adjoining to Paquayag, one of which was on territory, afterwards incorporated into the town of New Salem.
Dec. 13, 1720. The General court voted, That 10 soldiers be posted at Northfield in full pay, and continued there till the last day of November next ; none of the town's people to serve.
1721. April 4, The Committee granted to Stephen Crowfoot, a home-lot of 73 acres which formerly belonged to Palmer, and 10 acres in the Second-moose plain, and ten acres in the South plain. Also granted to William Syms a home-lot of 73 acres north of Joseph Warriner's lot, and 10 acres on the Second-moose plain; and 10 acres on the South plain, if to be found when former grants are satisfied : all on condition that he continue an inhabitant there four years from this time, and fence and improve his home-lot within two years from this time.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.