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 32
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3º5
The Last French and Indian War.
from Lake George to Half way Brook. Friday October 131h, Sergeant Patterfon returned home from Lake George. Monday 16th, Sergeant Taylor went home in order to fetch horfes. Saturday zift, it fnowed at night. Sunday zzd, we received orders to march home. 23d, marched as far as half way Brook and brought 9 bateaux with us. 24th, we came to Miller's fort. 25th we marched from Fort Miller to the Great Fley. 26th, we camped at Half way houfe. 27th, we camped at Greenbufh. 28th, we took our allowance. Sunday Oct. 29, we marched to Canterhook. 30th, we marched to Spurr's."
Mention is made in the preceding Diary of the return home of Sergt. Patterson Oct. 13. The following petition gives the parti- culars :
" Y' petitioner ferved as a foldier in the Canada Expedition in the year 1758, in Capt. Salah Barnard's Co .: was taken fick at Lake George Sept. 13 ; con- tinued fick there 28 days, then difmiffed an invalid to return home. Was at the expenfe of felf man and horfe fent from home to the Lake to help me along the road being unable to travel on foot and alone, which charge amounted to $10 ; befides 4 pounds I paid to the man for himfelf and horfe going to the Lake, being 20 days from the time he left home till we returned ; and I was confined to my houfe 3 months inore - Afks for help from the public treafury. ELEAZAR PATTERSON."
Bill of Expenses at the Lake.
£.
s. d.
For rum,
O
6
0
Wine,
9 0
3 lbs. fugar,
O 4
6
Expenfe on the way home,
3 O
0
At home, nurfe 13 weeks at 4 fhillings, 2 12
2 galls. rum, 0 12
8
5
O
10 lbs. fugar,
6
8
Peck of Indian flour,
O
8
2 lbs. oat meal,
O
6 0
12 lbs. candles,
1 lb. raifins, O O 8
Total,
8 11 2
I gall. wine,
10 lbs. butter,
8
The General Court granted him, 3 19 o
The principal events of local interest this year, were the attack by Indians Mar. 6, on the house of Capt. Fairbanks Moor, situated on West river, when the captain and his son were killed, and the son's wife and her 4 little children were taken captives ; and the attack on No. 4, Aug. 27, when Asahel Stebbins was killed, his wife with Isaac Parker and a garrison soldier taken captive. [See Genealogy.]
306
History of Northfield.
1759. The taking of Louisburg in July of last year, gave the English control of the eastern gate to Canada. The only strongholds held by the French outside of Montreal and Quebec, were Niagara, and the two forts at Ticonderoga and Crown Point which guarded Lake Champlain. Niagara was invested by Gen. Prideaux July 6, and was taken on the 24th. Ticonderoga was reached by the di- vision under Gen. Amherst July 22, and after a short siege taken ; when Crown Point was abandoned by the French, who retired to the Isle aux Noix, at the northern extremity of the Lake.
While these operations were going on, Gen. Wolfe was prosecuting a most important enterprise, viz. the reduction of Quebec. This brilliant achievement, which resulted in the victory on the heights of Abraham Sept. 13, and the immediate surrender of the city of Quebec closed a series of victories on the side of the English, which made the year 1759 a memorable one in American colonial history.
THE DESTRUCTION OF ST. FRANCIS .- On the same day that Wolfe defeated Montcalm on the heights of Abraham, Sept. 13, Gen. Amherst issued orders to Maj. Robert Rogers, then at Crown Point, to proceed with all despatch to Missisquoy Bay (Gray Lock's old site) and thence across the country to the village of St. Francis, and destroy the Indian settlement there. Rogers started with 200 men ; but his force was reduced by various causes to 132 before reaching his destination. With this small band, he came to the outskirts of the Indian village on the evening of Oct. 4. The Indians were engaged in a festive dance, and were wholly unsuspicious of danger. Having divided his men into three parties, Rogers made his attack just before day-break, when all were in a pro- found slumber. Out of 300 Indians, not less than 200 were killed. Our men found, as they judged 6 or 700 English scalps suspended on poles, the trophies of former barbarities. They re- covered five English prisoners, and brought away 200 guineas in money, a silver image weighing near 10 pounds, and large quantities of wampum and clothing. One officer and 6 privates of Rogers's force were wounded, and one, a Stockbridge Indian, was killed.
Without waiting for rest, and scarcely for refreshment, Rogers started on his return, by way of Memphremagog Lake, Coos and No. 4. He was followed and twice attacked by the infuriated savages, and several of his men were killed or taken. Failing to find pro- visions at Coos, as he had ordered, and expected, Rogers and his men were reduced to the greatest straits. In his journal he writes : " Finding a fresh fire burning in his camp [at Coos], I fired guns
· 3º7
The Last French and Indian War.
to bring him back, which guns he [Lieut. Stephens with the provi- sions] heard, but would not return, supposing we were the enemy. Our distress upon this occasion was truly inexpressible. Our spirits, greatly depressed by the hunger and fatigues we had already suffered, now almost entirely sunk within us, seeing no resource left, nor any reasonable ground to hope that we should escape a most miserable death by famine." Game was scarce; and they were forced to subsist on ground nuts and lily roots. Some perished of fatigue, and some of actual starvation. On arriving at Crown Point the first of December, Maj. Rogers found that he had lost by exposure and in other ways, since leaving the ruins of St. Francis, three lieutenants and forty-six sergeants and privates.
This sad ending of a bold and successful expedition was the result of the indifference and cowardice of Lieut. Stephens who was sent to Coos with supplies. His orders were "to await the arrival of Maj. Rogers and his men ; " but he staid only two days ; and returned to No. 4, taking all the provisions with him - and only hurrying his pace when he heard the signal guns of the Rangers, six miles in his rear.
The names of Northfield men, and others more or less directly connected with our history, out in the service this year, are as follows :
In Capt. John Burk's Company, Col. Timothy Ruggles's regiment, Expedi- tion to Ticonderoga and Crown Point, March 31 to Dec. 25 ;
Lieut. Eben" Bardwell, Hatfield
Aaron Petty, Northfield
Ens. Samuel Taylor, Northfield
Reuben Smith 66
Sergt. Sam1 Merriman
Jofeph Merchant
Sergt. John Brown
Samuel Bardwell, Hatfield
Corp1 Seth Lyman
Paul Belding
John Alexander €
Jofeph Sanderfon Jr. "
Joel Alexander
Silas Smith
Jonathan Burr
Eben' Warner
Benjamin Burt
John Norton, Northampton
Joel Holton
Caleb Pomeroy
Jofeph Dickinfon ..
Thomas Starr
John Mun Jr.
Afahel Danks
Thomas Temple, Roadtown.
In Capt. Salah Barnard's Company.
Reuben Alexander, Miles Alexander, Mofes Bafcom, Ezekiel Bafcom, Joel Baker, Nehemiah How, Benj. Mun, Solomon Sartwell, Job Smith, Amos Tute, Eben" Scott of Sunderland, who died on his return at Fort Maffachufetts.
308
History of Northfield.
Enlifted men in Col. Is. Williams's regiment.
Abner How, Amherft
Gaius Crafts, Hatfield
Elifha Wait,
Hatfield
John Moffatt, Northfield
Seth Wait
Jonathan Hunt
Seth Murray
Reuben Petty
Eben' Belding . ..
Eldad Wright
Eben' Belding Jr.
Nath1 Chamberlain "
Jothua Warner
Sam1 Frizzell
Seth Field, Montague
Aaron Field
Jofiah Johnfon, Erving
John Severance
Abel Dinfmore, Deerfield
Elias Bafcom
Ifrael Warner
Charles Wright, Amherft
ITEMS. In an account, commissary William Williams charges :
£. s. d.
Cafh paid Ifrael Dickinfon for rum and bringing medicines from Dr. Samuel Mattoon in Northfield to No. 4, ...
3 18 10 Paid burial Expenfes of Elijah Niles of Eafton, Col. Willard's regi- ment O 6 0
Paid burial Exp. of - Goff of Capt. Williams's company O 8 O
Paid Ens. Sawyer for bringing medicines from Northfield to No. 4, 0 6 O
Paid do. for self and horfe to carry J. How of Col. Willard's reg. from No. 4 to Nfd., 1 13 O
Paid Capt. Hunt at Nfd., for billeting J. How 6 days, O 9 O
Credits Dr. Sam Mattoon of Nfd., medicines, 3
8 0
and names the following sick men leftat No. 4, Nov. 1759 ; Stephen Parker of Shrewsbury, of Capt. Fay's company ; Simon Newton of Southboro, Capt. Fay's company; Benj. How of Upton, of Capt. Bent's company.
In October the garrisons stationed in the several towns and block- houses on our frontiers, except at Fort Dummer, were dismissed, for the reason that the possession of Crown Point and the regular opera- tions of the army would effectually cover the settlements.
1760. The capture of Montreal was all that remained to be done to complete the conquest of Canada. Gen. Amherst, having per- fected his plans, concentrated the three divisions of the army before Montreal, Sept. 6 and 7 ; and on the 8th, the whole Province of Canada and its dependencies were surrendered to the British crown.
309
The Last French and Indian War.
The Indian depredations ceased, when the French power was broken.
Capt. Salah Barnard enlisted a large company, which joined Gen. Amherst's division, and marched for Montreal. The company was mustered Feb. 19 and dismissed Dec. 12. Among the names are :
Ens. Samuel Taylor, Northfield Sergt. Nehemiah How, Hatfield Sergt. Eben" Stoddard, So. Hadley
Thomas Elgar, Northfield
Benj. Gardner
Eben™ Holton
Uriah Morfe
Corp. John Petty, Northfield
Solo. Sartwell, Amherft
Simeon Olmited
Elias Alexander, Northfield
Daniel Wright
Miles Alexander,
Richard Wilds, Roadtown
Afa Alexander
James Wilds
Reuben Alexander
Reuben Webb, Springfield
Benjamin Burt
John Conkey, Pelham
Ens. Samuel Merriman was out in one of the Hampshire regiments, in this campaign. In his diary he writes : " Aug. 25, at Isle aux Noix ; Sept. I, at St. John's ; Sept. 5, at camp Shamblee ; Sept. 8, we came to Montreal."
The small pox broke out in the French army in Canada in the year 1756, and spread among some of the Indian villages. During the campaign of the present year many of the English soldiers took the disease, and were brought home sick or infected. Some of our men brought the infection to Northfield ; and Ens. Samuel Merriman's house on Beers's hill (which he had built in '51 or '52) was taken by the town for a hospital. It was used through the winter and spring ; and the town at a meeting in August, 1761, voted "To pay Ens. Merriman the sum of £ 11 2 0 for the use of his house and other damages sustained thereby."
In the fall of '59 Lt. Col. Hawks cut a road through the forest from Crown Point towards No. 4 ; and in the early summer of '60 Col. John Goff of New Hampshire, with his regiment, opened the eastern end of this new path, beginning at Wentworth's ferry, two miles above the fort at No. 4, and running 26 miles, when he struck Col. Hawks's work.
Massachusetts levied 3000 men for the army in '61 ; and about the same number in '62 ; but the war was substantially closed. A treaty of peace was signed at Paris Feb. 10, 1763.
Perez Bardwell, Hatfield
Abner Wright
310
History of Northfield.
COST OF THE WAR .- From May 1755 to May 1763, Massachusetts raised and expended $4,217,000, of which sum four millions were proper war charges. Great Britain refunded to us one and a half millions ; and the balance was borne by the Province, and was a grievous burden.
From the opening of the war to and including the year 1760, the seasons proved remarkably fruitful in New England. The colonies were able to supply the wants of the army from their own resources. But a drought set in in the spring of '61 and continued through '62, which cut short the crops, and made it necessary to send abroad for provisions to supply the ordinary wants of the people.
1761. Seth Field taught school during the fall and winter of this year, and was paid by the town ro shillings per week.
1762. In June Uriah Morse (b. in Holliston) and Hannah his wife, who had been in Northfield during the war, removed to the town of Haverhill N. H., and were the first family upon the ground.
MISCELLANY .- During the disturbance of the late wars, and the absence of Indian hunting parties, and the service in the army of the settlers who were expert with a gun, wild animals increased in the forest with great rapidity, and became troublesome to the farmers. In 1754, as appears from the town files, Northfield paid a bounty on 7 wolves, 8 old bears, 8 bears' cubs, and 2 wild-cats, killed within the town limits.
The first notice of a wheeled vehicle for pleasure travelling in Northfield, is in 1763, when Lt. Jonathan Belding owned a "chair." He once let it to Eleazar Pomeroy for a journey to Northampton.
TAVERN .- Capt. Samuel Hunt kept a tavern during the period covered by this chapter. His slave boy Misbap was a noted character among the frequenters of the house. His charges were : for meals, 8d. ; lodging, 2d. ; horse keeping per night, 8d. ; } a pint of rum, 8d.
PHYSICIAN .- Dr. Samuel Mattoon was in practice here at this date, and continued the leading physician for many years.
SHOEMAKER .- Alexander Norton commenced business in town as early as 1751, and carried on tanning and shoe-making till his old age.
CARPENTER .- Ebenezer Harvey was exercising his trade here as early as 1759.
CHAPTER X.
1763-1773.
A NEW MEETING-HOUSE - NEW SCHOOL-HOUSE - CHURCH FORMED AT HINS- DALE - LOGS IN THE RIVER - SINGING - HUNT'S SAW-MILL - POTASH HOUSE - LIST OF POLLS AND ESTATES 1771 - WARNING PEOPLE OUT OF TOWN - ANNEXATION OF PEMBROKE GRANT AND HACK'S GRANT - BOUNTY ON CROWS - INDUSTRIES.
NE of the first matters to enlist the interest of the North- field people, when it became certain that the French power was effectually broken, and peace with the Indians was established, was the erection of a new house of worship in place of the one built in 1718.
A town meeting was called the first week in August, 1761, to coll- sider the question, and decide whether they would build, and if so, where the house should be placed. After consideration, it was found that there was substantial unanimity in favor of a new house ; but there were conflicting sentiments about the proper site for it. And it was voted to leave the selection of a site to a disinterested com- mittee, consisting of Capt. Orlando Bridgman of Hinsdale, Dea. Enos Nash of Hadley and Joseph Barnard of Sunderland. Ens. Phinehas Wright, Ens. Thomas Alexander, Sergt. Ebenezer Stratton, Sergt. Moses Field, Aaron Burt, Seth Field Esq. and Philip Mattoon were appointed a committee " to build a meeting house on the place the committee shall determine upon."
The committee on location decided that the best place for the new house was in the middle of the street, just north of the old one. At a meeting of the town in November, 1762, it was voted to build the meeting-house on the spot staked out by the committee ; to raise the sum of £20 by taxation ; and to sell the town land in the Great meadow and a part of the sequestered lands, to pay for the same. The timber was got out in the course of the winter and brought upon the ground and partly framed. But some of the inhabitants became dissatisfied with the location ; and a town meeting was called May 9, '63, " To determine whether the meeting-house shall be raised on the spot where the committee set the stake, or carried back to the west side of the street, or into the front of Mr. Pomeroy's and widow
312
History of Northfield.
Field's home-lots, if they permit it." A large majority voted to carry the house to the west side of the street. The town then proceeded to sell the Great meadow lots, and the sequestered lands lying south of the village. One mug of flip and two gallons of rum were consumed at the vendue, at the expense of the town.
The stone for the foundations of the new house were drawn and laid, and the frame raised in the early part of summer. To supply the requirements of the " raising," the committee purchased 2 barrels . of New England rum, which cost £ 9 2 4, and 4 gallons of West India rum at 8 shillings per gallon.
At the meeting May 9, the town voted to build a steeple to the meeting-house ; and at a meeting Dec. 12, it was voted to procure a bell. Seth Field Esq. was appointed a committee to make the pur- chase. Hophni King was probably the master carpenter on the meeting- house and set out the frame by the square rule. Tradition says that this was the first building in Northfield so laid out.
From various bills on file, it appears that the house was not fully boarded in the first season ; and in the spring of '64 £50 additional was raised towards finishing the meeting-house. Aaron Burt sold the committee a lock for the meeting-house door, on the last of May this year, which would indicate that it was substantially enclosed. But the house was not finished for three years.
May 14, 1765, the town chose Capt. Samuel Hunt and Seth Field Esq. a committee " to make sale of the. 50 acres of sequestered land lying in Winchester, the proceeds to be applied in payment for still further finishing the meeting-house." Dec. 29, '66, the town voted to raise the sum of £60 in order to finish the meeting-house.
August 6, 1767, Ebenezer Walbridge gives the town a receipt for £14 8 " in full for work done at the meeting-house." He seems to have been employed in putting in the pulpit and pews ; and this was the date when the house was considered as completed - though the bell was not put in place till the next year.
Sept. 8, 1767. At a town meeting this date, it was voted " To seat the meeting-house." The following committee was appointed : Capt. Samuel Hunt, Lt. Joshua Lyman, Ens. Phinehas Wright, Seth Field Esq., Sergt. Simeon Alexander, Sergt. Ebenezer Stratton, Samuel Root, Stephen Belding and Zebediah Stebbins. Voted, that Mr. Hubbard have the choice of the pews for his family.
The house then built was 55 by 44 feet, with a steeple at the north end. It stood near the west line of the street, just against the dividing line between the Parson Doolittle and the Joseph Parsons home- lots, fronting to the east. The inside was finished with ground floor,
313
Matters of Interest.
and galleries on three sides - the pulpit standing on the west side, with a sounding board suspended above. The pews were enclosed in panel work, according to the fashion of the time. The plan on the next page, reduced from one drawn by Seth Field Esq. will give an
FERGUSONA BANK
THE OLD MEETING HOUSE.
idea of the lower floor ; and the peculiar numbering of the pews will indicate the " dignity " of each seat as estimated by the first com- mittee on seating the house. [This numbering was afterwards changed - sometimes to suit the views of each new committee.] By common usage, the two pews directly in front of the pulpit ranked the highest ; but the choice of a side pew (No. I, on the plan), by Mr. Hubbard, made it proper to designate that as the highest in dignity ; and the rest were numbered to correspond.
The seating of 1780. No. 1, Mr. Hubbard's family. No. 2, Esq. Field, Col. Wright, Mrs. H. Mattoon. No. 3, Eleazar Stratton, Capt. Stratton, widow Stratton, widow Mattoon. No. 4, Mr. Stebbins, Dea. Smith, Mr. Todd. No. 5, Hezekiah Stratton, Lucius Doolittle, widow Christian Field. No. 6, Capt. Hunt and family. No. 7, Ebenezer Field, Samuel Field. No. 8, Philip Mattoon, Jona. Belding No. 9, Mr. Norton, Lieut. Janes, Samuel Mattoon. No. 10, Simeon Lyman, Lieut. Wright, Seth Lyman. No. 11, Shammah
Pulple
Old Ladies
No. 1
No. 6
No. 20
Deacon's Scal
No. 11
No. 12
No. 3
No. 14
No. 11
No. 22
No. 23
No. 9
No. 10
No. 24
South Door
No. 18
No. 34
No. 31
No. 31
No. 38
No. 26
No. 35
No. 36
·
Gallery Stairs
No. 30
No. 16
No. 8
No. 7
No. 15
No. 29
Gallery
Stairs
·
Front Door
North Door
No. 33
No. 17
.
No. 37
No. 15
No. 28
No. 27
No. 5
No. 4
No. 19
No. 13
No. 2
315
Matters of Interest.
Pomeroy, Elijah Mattoon. No. 12, Mr. Whitney and family. No. 13, Sergt. Holton, Lieut. Alexander, Capt. Alexander. No. 14, Ens. Field, Capt. Merriman, Theophilus Merriman, Mrs. Joanna Lyman. No. 15, Ebenezer Field Jr., James Lyman. No. 16, Reuben Smith, Tabitha Wright, Capt. Smith. No. 17, Zebediah Stebbins, Reuben Wright, Reuben Morgan, Noah Morgan. No. 18, William Field, Lemuel Holton, Samuel Holton. No. 19, Pedajah Field, Benjamin Brooks, John Moffatt, widow Reuben Petty, Benjamin Miller. No. 20, William Holton, Ebenezer Severance, John Mun. No. 21, George Field, Capt. H. King, widow Robbins. No. 22, Oliver Wright, Elisha Stebbins, Abner Wright. No. 23, Moses Dickinson, Titus Dickinson, Benoni Dickinson, Mary Dickinson. No. 24, Joseph Cook, David Wright, Josiah Parmenter, widow Stebbins. No. 25, Elijah Stratton, Lieut. Lyman, Dr. Marcus Marble. No. 26, Ebenezer Severance, Oliver Smith. No. 27, Elijah Holton, Elisha Alexander, John Holton. No. 28, Capt. Doolittle, Asahel Stebbins, Rufus Field. No. 29, Oliver Watriss, Eliphaz Wright. No. 30, Rufus Stratton, Samuel Field Jr. No. 31, Simeon Alexander," Medad Alexander. No. 32, A. Field, Jonathan Janes. No. 33, Nathan Flint, Nathan Prindle, John Field, Eunice Field. No. 34, Elisha Smith, Caleb Morgan, Consider Cushman, Amaziah Roberts. No. 35, H. Gaylord, Gad Corse. No. 36, Caleb Lyman, William Belcher. No. 37, Barzillai Wood, Nathaniel Sanger, E. L. Tiffany, William Askey, Peggy Petty, Ruth Miller. Old ladies pew, Mrs. Lyman, widow Dickinson, widow Wright, Mrs. Root, Mrs. Janes. There were also twenty-five singers seated in the orchestra, and about a hundred young people in the galleries, each of whom had a special seat assigned him or her.
The widow Wright swept the meeting-house, the first year after it was opened, and received therefor £ 1 6s. 8d. : Billy Field was em- ployed that year, to ring the bell, and was paid £ 1 4s. od.
Sept. 22, 1768, the town voted to let out pews in the meeting- house to people living in the neighboring towns. In'69, a committee was chosen to procure stone steps and horse-blocks for the meeting- house.
1783. The town voted, that William Field be directed to ring the bell in future on the Lord's day precisely at 9 o'clock in the fore- noon. Voted, that the intermissions between the public worship on the Lord's day shall be one hour from Oct. I, to April 1 ; and for the months of April, May and September, the intermission shall be one and a half hours ; and for June, July and August, two hours. Chose Seth Field Esq., Capt. Ebenezer Stratton and Mr. Aaron
316
History of Northfield.
Whitney a committee to wait on Mr. Hubbard and acquaint him of the foregoing votes of the town.
Aug. 14, 1786. The town voted, that those persons seated in the northwest corner pew in the body of the meeting house, and those in the southwest corner have liberty to make a window to each of said pews, on condition that they make them at their own cost and expense.
The meeting house was seated anew, in '72, '80, '86, and so once in 5 to 8 years, till 1830. The number of heads of families and old people, who were assigned seats below, in 1780, was 103 ; in '86, 133; in 1818, 268.
1787. The house remained unpainted till 1789. At the annual . town meeting in '87, it was voted to raise the sum of £12, " to re- pair and colour the meeting-house." But this improvement was a matter of time. In '88, many of the farmers took extra pains with their flax fields ; and in the winter the town bought of them their surplus seed, amounting to 42} bushels, at 3s. 6d. per bushel. The fax-seed was sent to Boston by teams, where it was exchanged for paints and oil ; and the house was colored in the summer of '89.
This house stood till 1833.
NEW SCHOOL HOUSE .- When it was determined to build a new meeting house in 1762, it was also voted to remove the old school house (which stood just where it was first decided to set the meeting house) into the lane by Capt. Hunt's. The matter was delayed, and in '64 the town voted to build a new school house, 21 X 20 feet and 7 feet stud, with a chimney at the north end. This was set in the lane aforesaid, and stood till 1797 or 98, when the present house was built on the same spot.
The town had but one school district proper, and one school house, till 1781. Seth Field kept school for about 20 weeks in most of the years between 1736 and 1775, at Ios. per week ; and for many years Phinehas Wright was paid by the town for teaching a longer or shorter time. In '65 he kept a school 63 months ; in '69, 24 weeks ; in '72, 25 weeks, at 5s. per week. In '73 Lydia Warner kept school 18 weeks at 5s. per week. In '79 the town voted to pay Mr. Daniel Babbitt 100 dollars continental currency per month and his board, for keeping the town school so long as he shall keep said school. In '85, Mr. Abishai Colton of Longmeadow was employed as school master. To account for two school masters and but one school house, it is to be considered that Esq. Field kept what was called the winter school, and Ens. Wright the summer school. It is also known that Mr. Wright kept a school in his dwelling house as did also
·
317
Matters of Interest.
his wife ; and it is not unlikely that two schools were going on at the same time. And as early as 1765, and thenceforth, the town made appropriations for a school among the farmers in the south part of the territory. This latter appropriation varied from £3 to £12. In December 1768, the town voted to raise £6 for the sup- port of a school at the Farms ; and that their proportion of the winter school rate shall be improved for a school amongst themselves, and be under the direction of the selectmen as well with regard to the master as to the time and place of keeping the school. The select- men acted as school committee till '83, when the several districts were allowed to manage their several schools in their own way. After this date however, the selectmen were empowered to take charge of the schools till 1800, when a school committee was chosen by the town.
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