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 35
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The number of rateable polls at this date was 170 ; total valua- tion, £3980 19s. Voted, that property be assessed at the following rates for the current year :
Home-lois at
£180
Oxen at
£9
Great meadow, ift qual. pr. a.
9
Cows,
3 12
Three years old,
2
Two years old, I IO
Pauchaug, 1 ft
2d
7
Horfes,
5
Pine meadow, 16
2d 2
2 2
Moofe plain, per acre 2 0
Log plain,
Swine,
I
Pauchaug plain,
3
Wheat, per bufhel, Rye,
0
4
Cow plain,
I IO
Second Divifion lois,
0 10
Corn,
0
2
Third & Fourth do.
0
6 Flax, per pound,
8 pence.
Good Pafture,
66
2
2d
7
3d
+
9
Yearlings, 1
3
Colts 3 years old,
5
Sheep,
7
3
O
3
1781. SCHOOLS .- Up to this date, there had been but one organized school district in town, and but one school house. After 1765 money was regularly appropriated for a school at the Farms ; and after '75 the families living near Bennett's meadow had a small allowance for
339
Abridged Annals.
a school among themselves ; but these schools were kept at private houses. Dec. 24, '81, the town voted to divide the village into 3 school districts, the upper district to extend from Mill brook north including the farmers ; the middle district to extend from Mill brook to Shammah Pomeroy's ; the lower district from Mr. Pomeroy's south. A new school house for the upper district was built in the highway, on the easterly side, just above the Capt. Colton place ; the middle district retained the old house ; the south district built a new house on the westerly side of the street in front of the Zechariah Field home-lot. At the same time a school district was organized at the Farms, and one on the west side of the river.
CEMETERIES .- Mar. 19, 1781, the town voted to lay out a burying- place on the west side of the river ; committee on location, Ebenezer Severance, Eliphaz Wright, Lemuel Holton. It was laid out as follows ; "to begin at a pair of bars that lead through Bennett's meadow ditch near the southeast corner of Hunt's Frizzel farm, thence southerly on the east side of said ditch about 14 rods to a gulf or steep valley ; thence easterly by the said valley about II rods to the brow of the meadow hill ; thence northerly about 13 rods to the meadow ditch ; thence westerly about 9 rods to the bars first mentioned, and which contains by estimation about one acre.
The cemetery at the centre has a varied history, a part of which was given in preceding chapters. In 1769, it was cleared of brush and enclosed with Virginia fence, at a cost of £3 Ios. Iod. In '84 the town voted to clear the burying-ground and build a post and board fence around it, with a gate sufficiently wide for the passing of sleighs. In '93, it was voted, " to let out the centre burying-ground to pasture sheep on."
May II, 1811, the town bought one-fourth of an acre of land of Apollos Morgan, for a burial-place, near said Morgan's house at the Farms, for $18.50, with liberty of passing to said yard - he to build a good board fence around the lot.
In 1814, at the request of Asa Robbins and others, a piece of land was purchased and laid out for a cemetery at the southeast part of the town.
FERRIES .- March 1781, the town voted to approbate John Moffatt to keep the ferry from Northfield to Bernardston. This was the ferry between Bennett's meadow and Great meadow, which was es- tablished at a very early date, and where the town had maintained a canoe for personal conveyance, and a scow for the transport of teams
340
History of Northfield.
and farm produce. The scow was moored at this crossing ; and was taken to the ferries above for the space of 10 or 12 days twice a year to accomodate the proprietors of the Moose plains and the meadow owners above. In '63, the town voted " to build a house at Bennett's meadow ferry, 23 X 18 feet, and to build a boat, and to employ some person to keep the ferry." After 1781, this was known as Moffatt's ferry. In 1795, the town voted, that the treasurer be di- rected to execute to Edward L. Tiffany a lease of the ferry-place at Bennett's meadow, for the consideration of his ferrying the inhabitants of the town at 2d. per man and horse, and in that proportion for a foot- man and teams. In 1799, it was voted that the selectmen take charge of Tiffany's ferry, and a committee was appointed to lease it. The committee was instructed to try the town's title to said ferry ; and at a later date reported ; " Ist, they think the privilege of said ferry to be a valuable property, and affords an annual income of about $300. 2d, this property is claimed by Capt. Elisha Hunt, and he is determined to hazard a legal process rather than relinquish his claim. 3d, the committee regard the privilege too valuable to be given up without a struggle ; and 4th think it expedient to appoint one or more agents with full powers, to act for the town. And Timothy Dutton, Solomon Vose, Rufus Stratton and John Barrett were accordingly appointed." No further record of the case has been found.
The Moose plain ferry was established in 1686. In 1771 it was known as Prindle's ferry, from Nathan Prindle who was then em- ployed to keep it, and who continued in charge for many years.
Little Meadow ferry, crossing at the upper end of Pauchaug, is named in 1753. Samuel Belding bought the Little meadow property about 1790, and the crossing-place was afterwards known as Belding's ferry. At that date there was an old house called the " ferry house" standing on the meadow, which would indicate a valuable franchise ; but it was probably a private enterprise, and no mention is made of town action in maintaining it. Munn's ferry, between Northfield and Gill ; and Stacy's ferry, near the mouth of Four mile brook ; and Hol- ton's horse-boat ferry near the old bridge, were started at a later date, and were individual enterprises.
THE SIXTH DIVISION OF COMMONS .- At a meeting of the pro- prietors of common and undivided lands in Northfield, Oct. 29, 1781, it was voted, that the committee be impowered to sell and convey these lands to those men that are now in occupancy of them, or to prosecute and dispossess them by due course of law.
These undivided lands consisted of numerous detached tracts scat-
341
Abridged Annals.
tered over the entire township, and of different values according to location. Some lots had been built upon by squatters, and some had been improved by adjacent owners. Sept. 30, 1782, the pro- prietors voted to apportion to the inhabitants all the common lands not embraced in former divisions. Voted to begin to number of the lots of the sixth division at the great river south of George Field's land, and to go easterly ; then to begin on the east side of the county road above the Committee's Farms (so called) and to extend northerly up to Beers's plain : Then to begin on the west side of the county road near Elijah Stratton's and extend north up the deep gully on Second brook : Then south and east of Capt. Alexander's pasture : Then above Pauchaug meadow near the fishing place (so called) : Then above Moose plain : Then at the county road west of Lemuel Holton's : Then at Grass hill. The list of grantees is substantially the same as the proprietors of the Fourth Division, on page 282.
Capt. Elisha Hunt was sent as a delegate to a convention held at Hatfield on Wednesday Aug. 7, 1781.
1783. Lieut. James Lyman was chosen delegate to a convention to be holden at Hadley, March 25th instant.
OLIVE MOFFATT .- The sudden change of the fashion in materials for dress goods, which came with the opening of the Revolutionary war, made famous this maiden of humble birth. She was of Scotch descent ; and the Scotch emigrants that settled at Londonderry, N. H., and Killingly, Ct., were long noted for their skill as weavers. Born in 1757, Olive was in '73, when the people made up their minds to take care of themselves, just at the age to be stimulated by the special. favor shown to accomplished spinners and weavers. She was employed by most of the well-to-do families in town ; and in 1780, and for many years thereafter her loom was considered indis- pensable in all fashionable wedding outfits. Her linsey-woolsey cloth was inimitable for evenness of texture ; and she had a pattern of linen damask which no one else in town could weave, and which, of course, all brides coveted. Some of the table linen of her handy work has been preserved in the Elihu Stratton and other families till a recent period, and perhaps may still be found. And what was of special consequence at the earlier date, she understood perfectly how to color the fine lamb's wool yarns with madder. All the housewives knew how to use logwood and indigo ; but it required peculiar tact to get the right shade of red. Olive would never spin over two skeins of fine linen thread, even in the longest day, and would charge 6d. and 7d. per skein. Of fine woolen she would spin four skeins, and
342
History of Northfield.
charge 3d. per skein or 8d. per " run."" When she felt just like it, she could weave 3} yards of yard wide cloth ; but commonly 3 yards was a day's work.
The selectmen were instructed " to hire a school-master that will answer the law ;" and Joseph Cummings was employed to teach in the middle district through the fall and early part of the winter.
1784. Number of rateable polls, 145 ; dwelling houses, 71 ; barns, 71 ; shops and stores, 9 ; saw and grist-mills, 5; barrels of cider made, 502 ; stock in trade, £460 ; horses, 143 ; Oxen, 156 ; cows, 225 ; sheep, 372 ; swine, 275.
It was voted that it is the opinion of this town that there should be a division of the county of Hampshire into two parts ; and Lieut. James Lyman was sent as delegate to a convention at Deerfield to act on this subject.
1786. May 4, the town chose Capt. E. Hunt and Lieut. E. Janes delegates to a convention to be holden at Col. Seth Murray's in Hat- field on the 2d Wednesday of May instant.
Aug. 14, Capt. E. Hunt was sent as delegate to a convention at Hatfield to be holden the 22d inst.
1788. Lieut. Ebenezer Janes was elected delegate to the state con- vention for ratifying the federal constitution.
Prices. Fulled cloth, per yard, 6s. ; tow cloth, 2s. ; men's thick shoes, 7s. 6d. ; carpenter's wages, 45. 6d. ; board 5s. per week ; shin- gles Ios. per M.
1791. DISTILLERY. - Samuel Brewer from Boston set up a small distillery in the back part of his store this year. And thus was intro- duced a branch of business which assumed large proportions a few years later. Before 1811, William Pomeroy built a large distillery for making whisky from rye and corn, on the north side of the turn- pike, at the corner of the second section of the Great swamp lots : Ebenezer Warner put up similar works on the south side of the turn- pike ; and Elihu Phelps and Rufus Stratton set up a distillery on the river bank at the west end of the Aaron Burt home-lot. These were all closed soon after 1830. Barzillai Wheeler had a distillery for making cider brandy in 1814.
1794. The town voted that the school money be divided to the several districts according to the number of scholars in each district.
November 28. Rev. Mr. Hubbard died.
" A " run " of yarn consisted of twenty knots, a knot was composed of forty threads, and a thread was seventy-four inches in length, or once round the reel. A skein of yarn con- sisted of seven knots.
·
343
Abridged Annals.
The ministry of the second pastor of the church, Rev. John Hub- bard, was not marked by any thing of special personal interest, except, in a single instance at the breaking out of the war of the Revolution. He appears to have given his life and his love to the people of his pastoral charge ; and was singularly happy in their reciprocal affection and confidence.
The records furnish no evidence that his original salary of £66 135. 4d., was either cut down or increased. His settlement of £133 6s. 8d, was paid promptly ; and it seems to have been taken for granted that this money, and the home-lot and outlands given him, placed him in independent circumstances. Hence his salary, though paid, was never paid punctually. For the first ten years it was paid in about two years after it fell due ; from '60 to '70 it was paid at the end of 12 months after the proper time. In 1775 it was badly in ar- rears ; but by a special effort that year it was brought up to within one year's payment. In 1790 it had fallen 5 years behind. But to the honor of the town be it said, when the currency depreciated, the loss was made up by an addition of the required per centum. In 1780 he was paid by an allowance of 72 for I.
The pastor's annual supply of wood was an important item of town concern. The matter was sometimes put in charge of the selectmen, sometimes given to a special committee ; and they were instructed to inspect the loads to see if they held out in quantity and were of the standard quality.
The unhappy controversy, which was the only break in the har- mony of Mr. Hubbard's pastorate grew up in this wise. In the public prayers on the Sabbath, like all other ministers, Mr. Hubbard had always offered a petition for God's blessing on his majesty the King of Great Britain. After the battle of Lexington, when men's minds were intensely agitated, and their indignation aroused against the royal cause, he continued to repeat the accustomed petition.
The committee of safety, Dea. Samuel Smith, Ens. Wright, Dea. Root, Ens. Alexander and Seth Field, who were the only acknow- ledged source of political power in the town, as the committee at Boston was the head of power in the Province, held a consultation, and determined (Esq. Field only dissenting) to rule out the obnoxious petition, and to do it in a summary way. And on the next Sabbath, after the congregation was assembled and when the service was about to commence, Dea. Smith arose and forbid the pastor offering prayer, informing him that he would be allowed only to read the psalms and preach the sermon. Mr. Hubbard regarded this as an assault upon his rights as pastor of the church, and declined to submit to dictation.
344
History of Northfield.
The committee had taken a public stand, and to recede would subject them to ridicule. They were supported by the military leaders and young men generally, who constituted a majority of the legal voters. Mr. Hubbard had the countenance and support of Esq. Field, Dr. Mattoon, Ebenezer Stratton, Alexander Norton, Aaron Whitney, Shammah Pomeroy, and the majority of the church. The war of words, and looks, and actions raged fiercely for a couple of years, when Deacons Smith and Root and their friends withdrew from the communion of the church, and absented themselves from meeting on the Sabbath.
In '78 Mr. Hubbard proposed to the town that if they would pay him up in full his salary now due, he would submit the question of dismission to a large mutual council. As this would necessarily in- volve an inquiry into the conduct of the Deacons and others in ab- senting themselves from the ordinances, the proposition was declined.
July 7, 1779, the town proposed to Mr. Hubbard, that if he on his part would ask a dismission and obtain it by a small council called for that purpose, then the town on their part (the church agreeing thereto) will, I, make good his salary agreeable to Mr. Hubbard's own proposals : 2, the town will give him the privilege of his pew in the meeting-house, during his stay with us : 3, the town will not im- pose any office on Mr. H. that shall be disagreeable to his inclina- tions, but will endeavor that he shall be honored for the good that he hath heretofore done in the town : 4, the town will not rate his poll in the town or state tax during his stay amongst us - he also continu- ing a peaceable member of society : Or, 5, If Mr. Hubbard chooses to submit the whole of the matter of our uneasiness and want of re- conciliation to a council of nine churches, viz. the churches in Brattleboro,' first in Suffield, Southampton, West Springfield, Belcher, Granby, Barre, first in Brookfield, Athol (the church agreeing thereto), the town consents and is contented, on condition that if a reconcilia- tion cannot be effected then the council shall be authorized to dismiss Mr. H. from his pastoral charge.
This alternative proposition for a mutual council, though so care- fully guarded by its condition, and the known sympathies of the churches named, was accepted by Mr. Hubbard and his friends - they only requiring that the churches at Southampton and West Springfield be omitted and two others substituted.
The council convened Nov. 17, and was in session four days. Without waiting for its decision - evidently following somebody's wise suggestion - the town's committee drew up the following paper, for " an accommodation between ye pastor of ye church in Northfield
345
Abridged Annals.
and his adhering brethren, and ye people who are dissatisfied with his conduct."
" It having pleafed the wife and holy God to fuffer great difficulties and di- vifions to arife between the Paftor and the majority of ye people of this town which have arifen on account of differences in principle and conduct with re- ference to ye controverfy fubfifting between Great Britain and thefe United States :- Sincerely defirous to heal thefe unhappy divifions, we propofe that our Rev. Paftor fhould, on his part, acknowledge that his want of union with the body of the people in thefe ftates in political fentiment and conduct has been the occafion of ye uneafinefs fubfifting among us; that in his public ad- miniftrations and private deportment he has done and faid that which afforded great difquietude in the minds of his people, and paffed over feveral things which would have been a great relief and comfort to their minds, under the grievous afflictions and public troubles of our land ; that the Paftor exprefs his fenfe of the grief which this would raife in the minds of his flock, and his determination to give them every relief in his power :- For this end that he give affurances that he will conduct as a quiet and peaceable fubject of thefe United States ; that he will endeavor according to the duty of his office to submit himfelf and yield obedience to ye authority and government of thefe independent ftates ; that he will ufe his endeavors that the prefent conftitution, laws and liberties of his country be fecured and perpetuated ; that he publicly pray for the profpe- rity of the American arms againtt our Britifh enemies and all others in their attempts to overthrow our independence ; that he receive in love and embrace with affection thofe who have been in oppofition to him during thefe our un- happy controverfies ; that he treat them with that kind intercourfe and famili- arity which they experienced in former years ; that he forgive every matter of real or fuppofed offence in the conduct and converfation of any of his people ; that he inculcate this fame fyftem of friendly conduct upon thofe termed his adhering brethren, and perfuade them to a ready compliance with thefe pro- pofals, wherein they can be applied to them refpectively .- Upon which com- pliance of theirs, we engage cordially to embrace thefe adhering brethren as fellow members of Christ's vifible body, and defire to excufe every exception- able part of their conduct towards us, and that every part of our conduct towards them that has been exceptionable may be buried in oblivion ; that the Paftor caft no grievous imputation upon any part of his flock, exercifing meeknefs and gentlenefs towards them all. On our part, we acknowledge that many things grievous to our paftor may have taken place among thofe of our number ; and efpecially that, although at the time we acted in the integrity of our hearts, yet we might heretofore have purfued different meafures for obtaining reconcilia- tion ; and inftead of withdrawing commmunion in the manner we did, might have purfued the more orderly and fcriptural way of procedure by the counfel and advice of fifter churches ; which neglect we pretend not to juftify.
Upon thefe conditions, we feel ourfelves heartily willing to receive and ac- knowledge ye Rev. Mr. Hubbard as our fincerely refpected and dearly beloved
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History of Northfield.
Paftor ; and will endeavor to walk with him as chriftians, and .will fubmit our- felves to his gofpel administrations, and demean ourfelves towards him with all that love and elteem which is due to ye faithful minifters of our Lord's King- dom. - Remembering with pleafure our former affection, the comfort and in- ftruction heretofore received from his pious labors, we are fincerely anxious once more cordially to unite with him in the facred bonds of the Gofpel of Peace.
Signed SAMUEL SMITH, PHINEHAS WRIGHT, THOMAS ALEXANDER, & Committee. EBENEZER JANES, SAMUEL ROOT,
Northfield Nov. 20, 1779.
We accede to the foregoing propofals,
JOHN HUBBARD, Paftor. SETH FIELD,
EBENEZER STRATTON, ALEXANDER NORTON,
Committee.
SAMUEL MATTOON, AARON WHITNEY,"
Mr. Hubbard was a graduate of Yale College, 1747 ; was ordained May 30, 1750, and was consequently in the ministry here 443 years. About 200 were received to church membership on profession, and 50 by letter, during his pastorate. Rev. Dr. Lyman, in his funeral sermon says :
" He lived in the confciences and affections of his people, and preached to them the gofpel of the grace of God with much acceptance. He in general poffeffed their cordial love and efteem. A momentary eftrangement between him and this people took place in the time of our public trials. But that eftrangement was not natural ; it could not laft ; upon the mediation of their common friends it foon vanifhed. He and they returned to the love of their efpoufals. For many fuccefive years he has ferved this people with increafing affection on their part, and growing comfort on his. I need not tell you how firmly he was in fentiment attached to the doctrines of grace, thofe peculiar and leading doctrines of the gofpel. As he fincerely believed them, so, with ftrict uniformity, with pious contention and pathetic zeal, he preached them to his people. He loved his people ; he loved his work ; he loved his Mafter. By the uncorruptnefs and purity of his life, he exemplified the doctrines which he taught. He labored after that minifterial greatnefs and dignity which confift in found doctrine and holy living ; a greatnefs which is not buried in the grave, but goes along with us into heaven."
1795. REV. SAMUEL C. ALLEN .- Friday Oct. 9, 1795, the town at a legal meeting chose Capt. Elisha Hunt moderator. Voted, to
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Abridged Annals.
settle the worthy Mr. Samuel Clesson Allen in the gospel ministry over us, on condition that when two-thirds of the people are desirous of his being dismissed, three months' notice shall be given him, and he be dismissed by an ecclesiastical council. And that Mr. Allen have the same liberty of leaving, by giving a three months' notice. Voted, to give Mr. Allen £120 lawful money (afterwards declared to mean $400 in the currency of the United States) annually during his continuance in the ministry amongst us. Col. James Lyman, Solomon Vose Esq. and Mr. Oliver Watriss were appointed a com- mittee to present these votes to Mr. Allen.
In his answer of acceptance, dated Oct. 23, Mr. Allen states that he shall claim 6 Sabbaths the first year, and 4 Sabbaths in each suc- ceeding year, for journeying and the like, if he find it necessary.
The ordination took place Nov. 25; Rev. Allen Pratt of West- moreland, N. H., preaching the sermon. The council, professional gentlemen, and members of college present were invited to dine at the house of Capt. Elisha Hunt ; and the singers to dine at the house of Mr. Shammah Pomeroy.
During his ministry of two years, Mr. Allen was regarded as Cal- vinistic in his views of doctrine. He had in a large degree the con- fidence of his church and people, and was acceptable as a preacher. After his dismission, Jan. 30, 1798, he studied law with John Bar- rett Esq., and became a successful practitioner. He was a member of the state senate, 1812 to 1815, and again in 1831 ; was a member of congress 1817-'29 ; councillor 1829, '30 (see Genealogy).
Part of Northfield set off to Gill. In 1793, Ebenezer Field Jr., Josiah Parmenter, Benj. Carter, Jona. Childs, Sereno Field, Rodol- phus W. Field, Nathan Holton, Elisha Mun, and Abner Severance petitioned the General Court to be set off from Northfield and an- nexed to Gill. The next year the town of Northfield voted to grant leave for the transfer ; and Feb. 28, 1795, an act was passed in ac- cordance with the prayer of the petitioners. The bounds were as follows : beginning at the northeast corner of Gill, running northerly on the west bank of the river 134 rods to the mouth of Bennett's brook, thence W 13º N 30 rods, thence W 9º S 12 rods, thence N 15° W 40 rods, thence N 22° W 63 rods, thence N 26° W 57 rods, thence W 44º N 37 rods, thence W 10º 30' S 43 rods, thence S 14° W 36 rods, thence S 34° W 61 rods, thence W 27º N 50 rods, thence N 2º E 124 rods to the county road leading to Ber- nardston, and on the middle of said highway to the line between Northfield and Bernardston, thence S 11º E 333 rods to the line of Gill, thence E 5º N 278 rods to the point first mentioned.
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