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 3
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Through some misapprehension about the town bounds, in June 1732, the General court of Massachusetts granted to Governor "Jonathan Belcher 500 acres of province land, " beginning at a black oak standing on the east bank of the Connecticut river, at the north end of Merry's meadow ( so called ), and runs from thence E. 39º 30' N. 190 perch, thence S. 39º 30' E. 367 perch, thence W. 39º 30' S. 190 perch to an elm tree, standing in the corner between the Connecticut river and the little brook emptying into the river at the lower end of Merry's meadow, thence along the Connecticut river to the place of beginning."
Upon remonstrance by the Northfield proprietors the matter was investigated by the colonial authorities, and as sufficient evidence ex- isted that the tract in question was within the limits of Northfield, the grant to Belcher was annulled, and an equivalent elsewhere laid out to him.
The original proprietors of Merry's meadow, were Eleazar Mattoon, Daniel Shattuck, William Wright, Peter Evens, Joseph Petty, Jr., Robert Cooper, Nathaniel Mattoon, Moses Nash, Zachery Lawrence, Benoni Moore, Benjamin Palmer. The lots varied in size from five acres to fifteen acres. The first meeting of these proprietors for organization was held April 5, 1736. It was voted, That the meadow be fenced according to law by the 20th of this instant April. Fence viewers were chosen, who were ordered to lay out ye fence and proportion it to each proprietor, in proportion to ye place where it lies
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Introduction.
and return a list to ye town clerk of Northfield. Voted, That lots be drawn to find where men's fence shall lie, beginning at the lower end of sd meadow. In the same year, a highway two rods wide was laid by the town, from Pauchaug to Merry's meadow.
In 1731, Jonathan Janes took one of his choice lots of 453 acres above Merry's meadow. It was bounded west by the Connecticut river, north by the north line of Northfield, east by the Fourth division of Commons. He sold this lot August 9, 1745, to John Mun, weaver, of Northfield.
In 1753, among the Fourth Division lots apportioned to the North- field inhabitants, lying east of or against Merry's meadow, was one of 89 acres to widow Martha Dickinson which "lay east of Col. Hinsdell's lane ; " and another of 1564 acres to Simeon Alexander, which lay " north of widow Dickinson's land."
On the west side of the river, beginning at the south, is :
Bennett's Meadow, so called after James Bennett, an early explorer and settler of 1675. The Indian name as given in the original deed was Nallaham comgon or Natanis ; as given in a deed of Joseph Par- sons's heirs, August 12, 1715, it was Halbacum comgane, or Huffanus. It contained about 200 acres ; and notwithstanding the inconvenience of crossing the river, the lots here were esteemed of great value. The lands in this meadow were surveyed and allotted out and first recorded June 9, 1686. The list names sixteen proprietors. It was resurveyed and new bounds set to the lots, October 13, 1716. The south side of this meadow was the original south bound of the town on the west of the river.
Little Meadow is described in the early records as lying " opposite the upper end of Pauchaug," and contained twenty-four acres. Its south bound was Little meadow brook, now Belding's brook.
Third Meadow, next above, was separated from the preceding by only a narrow ravine or gully. It was estimated at thirty-six acres. Both of these intervals are now known as Little meadow.
Wells's Meadow was the name applied to the interval lands lying above Rock island. The Wells-meadow draught included some part of the low lands on the opposite side of the river.
Fifth Meadow, or " Great meadow above the town," as it is called in the records, embraced the low lands lying northerly of Wells's meadow, and extended above Pomeroy's island. The Fifth-meadow draught took in the upper part of the Doolittle meadow. In some deeds the name Doolittle's meadow is applied to the whole of the Fifth-meadow draught.
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History of Northfield.
Stebbins's Meadow, near Clary's island, was part of the Ashuelot draught.
Cold-spring Meadow was near the north line of the town, and adjoined the Bridgeman farm.
ISLANDS (in the Connecticut). - Clarke's Island, off the upper end of Pine meadow, was granted by the town to William Clarke in 1686, and confirmed to his heirs Feb. 23, 1723. It then contained Io? acres. By the growth of trees and consequent accumulation of soil, it increased in size to sixteen acres. But since the wood was cleared off the freshets have swept away the larger part of the island. This has been known as Field's island, and Stratton island.
Like so many places- possible and impossible - this island was reputed to be one of the spots where Captain Kidd the pirate buried a chest of gold. The legend is, that Kidd and his men ascended the river - how they got over the three falls with their ponderous load is not stated -till they reached this secluded island. Here, having placed the heavy chest in its hole, they sacrificed by lot one of their number, and laid his body a top of the treasure, that his ghost might forever after defend it from all fortune-seekers. Many a man longed for the gold, but had not the courage to disturb the ghost. But in an evil hour, Abner Field, after consulting a noted conjurer, and ascer- taining the exact spot where the chest was buried, resolved " to tempt the devil on the haunted isle." Intrusting the secret to two confede- rates - for nothing could be done without the presence of three - he waited for the propitious time, which was when the full moon was directly over-head at midnight. They were to form a triangle around the designated point, and work in perfect silence - as a word spoken would break the charm ! Having reached the island, and fixed upon the spot, they begin. The hard labor and terror of the still midnight, with its imagined dusky sprites, brought out the big drops of perspira- tion ; but they dug with desperation, for if the cock should crow the spell would dissolve. Raising the crow-bar for a mighty stroke, down it goes - clink ! against the iron lid. " You've hit it !" ex- claims one, forgetting the charge of silence. Alas ! for that word. The charm is broken ; and instantly the chest settled down out of reach ; and as instantly the disturbed ghost appeared, flitting around them ! And before they can collect their scattered senses, Satan himself - full six feet tall - rises from under the bank, crosses the island " like a wheel," going right through a hay-stack, and plunges into the river with a yell and splash ! Thus was the hope of anxious
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Introduction.
months blasted ! But the diggers ever after insisted - as they told the story to the eager group gathered of an evening before the blazing fire - that they struck the iron lid ; and might have been rich men, but for the unlucky exclamation, "you've hit it !"
Some were malicious enough to say that the secret of the expedi- tion was betrayed in advance ; and that Oliver Smith and an accom- plice were on hand to personate the ghost and the evil one.
Fanes's Island, named in the early records, and then containing twelve acres, was " just above Pauchaug." It was granted in 1686 to Elder William Janes ; and afterwards to his son Joseph.
Nov. 15, 1721. Benja Janes and Jona. Janes sell this island to Stephen Belding ; and it is named in a French map, published some years later, Belding's island.
At that time it was wholly separated from the river bank, and the easterly channel was so deep as to allow the flat-bottomed boats to pass up. At present this channel is substantially filled up, so that the island has become a part of Doolittle's meadow.
Rock Island, a short distance above, near the west bank, is now only a ledge of bare rock.
Pomeroy's Island is about 100 rods below the mouth of the Ashue- lot. . It once contained about twelve acres, but the wearing of the current on the easterly side, has reduced the area nearly one-half. It was named for Nathaniel Pomeroy of Deerfield, who was killed here by the Indians July 15, 1698. The story is told in chapter IV.
Clary's Island, now known as Stebbins's Island, contains thirty acres, and is situated below the Great bend, and about one-fourth of a mile above the mouth of the Ashuelot. It was granted to John Clary Jr. in 1685. For several generations it has belonged to Capt. Joseph Stebbins and his descendants. This island is intimately connected with the history of the Indian occupancy, and will be often referred to in subsequent chapters.
Wright's Island, now Elmer's Island, lies between the mouths of Salmon and Cold brooks. According to the records, it contains five acres, and was granted in 1731 to the heirs of Benjamin Wright Jr. It afterwards belonged, by grant or purchase, to Hezekiah Elmer, and was held by his sons.
Spring Island, is named in the records, as early as 1731, and de- scribed as lying " against Merry's meadow."
PLAINS .- As this term was used by the early settlers, it had a restricted meaning. It was not applied to level lands in general, but
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History of Northfield.
to certain well defined tracts that had some common peculiarity of soil and condition, were nearly free from trees, and could be readily cultivated. With a few exceptions, the lands so designated lie on the first and second terraces back of the river meadows.
On the east side of the river, beginning at the south, was
Four Mile Brook Plain, which lay northerly from that stream. This was granted to settlers who came between the years 1716 and 1723; or to speak more definitely, this plain was the bait held out to tempt young men to come and settle. When an unmarried man of good character visited the place, or his name was brought to their notice, the Committee would vote him a grant of ten acres of upland, to be laid out at Four mile brook plain, or some convenient place ; it being understood that a title was only secured by actual residence in town. About twenty such grants were made, some of which were accepted and some forfeited.
Cow Plain, or South Plain, extended from the lower end of the Three-little meadows, skirting the said meadows, to Saw-mill brook. It was granted to settlers who came to Northfield between 1714 and 1720, mostly in lots of five and ten acres each. The lots were laid out east and west. Benjamin Janes had the ten acres next to Saw-mill brook. Col. Stoddard's farm took in a considerable part of this plain, together with all the land in Little meadows " south of the northernmost brook that crosses said meadows." Joseph Petty had thirteen acres south of the Stoddard farm. The proprietors of this plain organized as a body corporate in 1746.
There is pretty clear evidence that this plain was the planting field of the Indian tribe which dwelt on the adjoining plain and neighbor- ing bluffs. If so, it will account for the fact, stated in the first grants and deeds, that in the early settlement of the town, the slopes of both the meadow hill and the hill east were covered with an old growth of spruce trees, some standing and some fallen down from age. The dictate of self-preservation would induce the natives to spare the ad- jacent lands from the devastation of their annual fires, and thus these primeval trees remained.
Beers's Plain. This historic spot lies east of Cow plain and extends to Saw-mill brook. It received its name from Capt. Richard Beers, who with his company was ambushed here by the Indians September 4, 1675, and he and the larger part of his men slain. This plain was the site of an Indian village, as attested by the remains of their granaries, and their large burial places - a full account of which, as well as of the onset of 1675, will be found in the body of this work.
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Introduction.
These lands were not distributed by special grant, like those of the plain west, but were included in what is known as the " First Division of Commons," and were allotted to the inhabitants in 1731. The soil was originally free, though abundantly fertile ; but by continual cropping with rye, it became exhausted, and the lower part is now mainly a pine barren and shifting sand.
Pauchaug Plain was the table of land lying east of the meadow of the same name. It was divided into ten acre lots, which were appor- tioned, early in the Third Settlement, to such of the inhabitants as had no lots on Cow plain.
Log Plain lay to the north of Pauchaug brook and west of Staddle hill. It was distributed to the settlers in the same manner as the plain below.
Wells's Plain is mentioned in the records of 1686. The name was applied to the high lands above Pauchaug, and on the west side of the river opposite, back of Little and Third meadows. The west side portion was of a broken character, and was not esteemed especial- ly valuable. Some of the east side lands belonging to this tract were allotted in the Second Settlement.
Moose Plain was on the west side of the river. It took in the first table or high bank between Mallory's brook on the south and Little- meadow brook on the north. It was divided to the settlers in 1685, and contained 120 acres. At the commencement of the Third Set- tlement, it was a famous place for raising wheat and rye.
Second-moose Plain lay directly back of Moose plain. It is first named in the records in 1717, and was divided to the new inhabitants April 5, 1720. It was estimated at 185 acres. September 1, 1740, the proprietors of the two Moose plains met and organized as a single corporation, and voted to build a fence around the entire tract. The rule of fencing adopted was, "one rod and thirteen feet to each acre held by a proprietor." January 4, 1773, the proprietors of First- moose plain organized as a distinct corporation.
SWAMPS .- As used by our fathers in the earliest times, this term did not necessarily denote marshy ground ; but flat land which from its peculiar location had escaped the ravages of the annual fires set by the Indians, and was covered with an old growth of wood. The only tract in this town thus mentioned in the records of the First and Second Settlements was :
Great Swamp, which lay directly east of the town plot. During the first occupancy of 1673-75, it was held in common. When the
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History of Northfield.
settlers returned in 1685, it was divided into thirty-two lots, of differ- ent sizes, and each householder received his proper proportion. These lots were 160 rods long, running east and west. As is well known, the mountains and hills, at this date, were mostly bare of wood ; and, except the ravines, and the protected slopes bordering the meadows and plains, this swamp was the only place handy to the street, where the settlers found timber suitable for building purposes.
Dry Swamp, which was in brushwood in 1673, and had become well timbered with oak and hard pine in 1714, lay to the south and east of Great swamp. The name was applied to the lands drained by Miller's brook, extending from the home-lots on the west to the six rods highway on the east.
This tract was lotted out after the settlement of 1714, and appor- tioned to such new comers as had no rights in Great swamp. The lots were laid north and south ; were about 100 rods long, and mostly contained five acres six rods each, except Ebenezer Field's, which had ten acres thirteen rods. This large piece was given to him, because, being a blacksmith, he needed abundance of charcoal.
The Great swamp, as it is now known, east of the mountains, was too far away to be of much account to the early settlers. The north part was then a reedy marsh or pond (called Crane's pond) ; the south part was heavily wooded. Mrs. Rowlandson, in company with about 2000 Indians, spent the night of Monday, March 6, 1676, by the side of this swamp. The camp was near where the highway to Wendell crosses Keeup's brook, to the east of Crag mountain.
THE COMMONS .- The plains and meadows and the two swamps, that were allotted to the settlers, and thus became individual estates, comprised by a small portion of the territory. By far the largest part of the lands in old Northfield was known by the name of the commons, and was, till 1731, open to all the inhabitants alike for pasturage, and for gathering candle wood, and under certain restrictions, fuel. The account of the subsequent division of these common lands, will form a curious chapter in these annals.
There are certain special tracts, and noted landmarks, and points of historic interest, that deserve mention in this connection.
The Commonwealth is a tract of about sixty five acres of high broken land, to the east of Dry swamp. It lay common till taken up by Gen. John Nevers in the early part of the present century. It was here that young Benjamin Wright was shot by the Indians, Au- gust 11, 1746.
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Introduction.
" Wigwam, is the name applied in deeds and tax lists, to a consider- able tract lying south-west of Roman T. It appears to denote the spot of an Indian encampment, and was named for the remains of a large granary found here in early times.
Crooked Hollow is a serpentine ravine or gully, east of Pine meadow.
Old Soldier's Hole .- This is a deep ravine leading from the plain to the river, one-fourth of a mile south of the lower point of Three- little meadows. The story is, that a soldier, in flying from the In- dians, at the time of Beers's fight, jumped into this gully, and secreted himself, and so escaped the notice of the savages. It marks the south boundary of the First Division lots.
Cooper's Cave .- This is a deep gully at the bottom of Meadow hill, west of the Nathaniel Mattoon home-lot. Tradition has it, that in the war of 1722-6, Robert Cooper went out from the fort to the spring for water, and finding himself cut off by an Indian scout, hid in this hole, till relieved by friends who became alarmed at his long absence.
Stratton Hollow .- There were two spots known by this name. One was in the Great meadow, just west from Cooper's cave. An- other was near Pine meadow. Both were called after the owners of the land.
The Gulf, and The Ice Cave, and Rattle-snake Den, have been suffi- ciently indicated in the description of Brush mountain.
Cooper's Point, has been already named, but needs a more particular description. It lies inside the Great bend in the Connecticut, and is now in the town of Hinsdale, N. H. It was named from Robert Cooper, who had land here, and who built a house just above, near the site of the old Hinsdale meeting-house, as early as 1738. He may have built a little earlier, as the records refer to Cooper's Point in 1735.
Council Rock, was a noted spot in Northfield's early history. It was a huge mass of pudding-stone that cropped out in the middle of the town street, just against the south Warwick road. The rock rose three feet above the general level of the ground, was nearly flat on the top, and about 20 X 30 feet in diameter. Here the old men were accustomed to gather, on summer evenings, to hear the news, discuss politics and tell stories ; and the boys were on hand, to listen to the stories, or have a game of goal. About the year 1821, the rock was blasted away, and the fragments put into a stone wall, which stands a little way to the south-east. The travelled way, which for-
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History of Northfield.
merly ran on the east side of the rock, now passes directly over the centre of its ancient bed.
Belding's Rock stands in the highway just north of Mill brook. It marks the spot where Aaron Belding was shot and scalped by the Indians, July 23, 1748.
The Meeting Oak. A cluster of half a dozen yellow oaks, then old trees, was standing in 1673, near the lower end of the town street. It is a tradition that the settlers held a Sabbath service of public wor- ship under the shade of one of these trees during their first summer's residence in Northfield, where Elder William Janes preached to his fellow adventurers. The last of these memorable trees, which stood in front of the house of John Wright, was burned down July 5, 1869.
Shade Trees in Northfield Street .- The two elms standing close to- gether and near the line of the highway, in front of the Parson Doo- little home-lot, now Lewis T. Webster's, and several others in this immediate neighborhood, were set in 1782 by Caleb Lyman, who then owned the homestead. The two in question stood on either side of his front door. The remaining trees of large size, in the central part of the village, which add so essentially to its beauty and comfort, were set in 1813-15, by Thomas Power, Esq., then a resi- dent in the town.
a
BELDING INSCRIPTION.
CHAPTER I.
The River Indians.
AGAWAMS - NONOTUCKS - PACOMPTOCKS -SQUAKHEAGS- ORIGIN OF THE TRIBE - INDIAN FORTS - VILLAGE SITES - DOMESTIC LIFE - CUSTOMS- FOOD - GAMES - RELIGION.
N 1670, the Indians living in the valley of the Connecticut river, within the territory claimed by Massachusetts, were located in detached villages, at points which commanded the readiest means of subsistence and safety. They had previously sold to the whites the major part of their best lands - re- serving in all cases what alone was valuable to them, viz : their plant- ing fields, and the right of hunting, fowling and fishing, and setting wigwams on the commons ; and the two races were holding a sort of joint occupancy. The white settlers had in every instance been wel- comed ; had paid for the lands to the satisfaction of the original owners ; and though there was no mingling of races, and no social equality, the two lived on neighborly terms - with as little of friction and quarreling as the nature of the case allowed.
The Agawams occupied the region above and below Springfield. Here were fine meadows for corn, and the foot of the falls above was a noted fishing place.
The Nonotucks or Norwottucks, who originally claimed the country from the head of the falls to Mount Wequomps (now Sugarloaf), had villages and forts on both sides of the river. They had several plant- ing fields of 12 to 20 acres each ; the hills to the west were covered with chestnut trees which furnished a store of nuts; and the swamps and plains abounded in deer, wild turkeys and other game.
The Pacomptocks occupied the valley of the Deerfield river; and the Squakheags claimed the country north, both above and below the present state line.
It is a commonly accepted opinion that these tribes or clans immi- grated from the eastward. According to Gookin, who wrote Historic- al Sketches of the Indians, the Pacomptocks (including the Nonotucks)
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History of Northfield.
were subject to the sachem of the Massachusetts nation. It may seem presumption to differ with an author so well informed and reliable ; but it is submitted that their war record proves that they were accus- tomed to act independently both of the Massachusetts tribe, and the Massachusetts colonial authorities.
The date when the red men settled in the valley is unknown. That they had been here for many generations, and had once been large in numbers and formidable in power is evident ; but whether they were swept off by the malignant distemper that was so fatal to the eastern Indians in 1612-13, or had perished in war, it is not possible to deter- mine. That they had recently suffered severe losses in a war with the Mohawks is certain; and their partially crippled condition and the fear of their powerful enemy at the west, probably had an influence in bringing about the special favor with which they at first treated the English.
Of the exact numbers of these several tribes, at the date named, it is somewhat difficult to form an estimate. Their 'villages were not attractive to white visitors ; their general gatherings for powows and games were seldom or never witnessed by the English, and if present, an outsider could hardly distinguish between residents, and delegates from other tribes. And their mode of warfare-when they assumed the offensive against our people a few years later-rendered it im- possible to determine the number engaged in a given assault. They never showed themselves in the open field in force; and their simul- taneous fire from behind the scattered trees of a thicket, or their sudden appearance at detached points of attack were well calculated to de- ceive as to numbers. And fear always multiplies dangers. Taking the names attached to the several deeds of land sold to the whites, which were signed by the heads of the leading families ; the capacity and appearance of their different villages and forts, as described by witnesses and attested by authentic remains ; and the numbers known to be actually engaged in some of their important expeditions, it is believed that the aggregate number of the four tribes named did not exceed, at the date under consideration, 1200, of whom not more than 300 were warriors.'
Of these tribes, the Pacomptock was the largest, most warlike, and best known. This and the Nonotucks were evidently of common origin, and were closely allied in purpose and interest. Indeed, the
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