USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Palmer > History of the town of Palmer, Massachusetts, early known as the Elbow tract : including records of the plantation, district and town 1716-1889 > Part 13
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
The date of his resignation must have been about Nov. 1, 1747. The date of his dismission by the Presbytery is not given ; but be- fore July, 1748, as witnesseth the following "recate :"
KINGSTOWN, July the 5, 1748.
Recaved from Mr. Barnard McNitt the full of my Reates, Sallery and Wood-reates, during his collection. Ney, the full due to me since my com- ing to the Elbowes, which has been seventeen years past, the Eleventh day of may Last, as witness my hand this fifth of July 1748.
Mr. John Harvey.
Witness preasant
Samuell Shaw, Juner."
After leaving the Elbows, Mr. Harvey resided for a time in Peter- boro', N. H., where no church then existed, but afterwards a Presbyterian church was formed. He then removed to Blandford, Hampden Co., Mass., which was settled largely by his country- men, where he lived on a farm until his death.
Our plantation was without a settled pastor for several years. Rev. Benjamin (?) Lord supplied for a few Sabbaths in the spring of 1748, and was paid four pounds, old tenor, per Sabbath. Rev. James Morton and Rev. - Mitchell preached for a few weeks in May and June, 1748. Mr. Mitchell was then living in Litch- field. Rev. Alexander Boyd was then employed as minister and
124
HISTORY OF PALMER.
was paid seven pounds per Sabbath, "and he to board himself." He appears to have given general satisfaction to the people, and at a meeting of the Proprietors and Grantees Nov. 22, 1748, it was " voted to give Mr. Boyd a call to settle in the work of the ministry here. Voted, as a Settlement 600 pounds, old tenor bills. And for salary and wood, voted 400 pounds, old tenor. And Mr. Boyd to find his own fire-wood ; and to pay the sª salary to Mr. Boyd every year that he shall continue a minister to this Congregation, agreeable to ye old tenor bills as it is now passing between man and man, and to be raised agreeabl as in manner following, that is to say, Endian Corn at 20 shillings old tenor per bushell, rye at 30 shillings per bush., wheat at 40 shillings, and ye salary to rise and fall according to the stated price of grain aforesaid, as it shall rise and fall annually ; together with the use of ye Ministry Lot; all which during his ministry in this place, and no longer. Voted James Smith, Robert Bratton, David Spear, Thomas McClenathan, John Thomson, Wm. Scott, Jun., Benjamin Parsons, Barnard McNitt, Andrew Rutherford to be a committee to manage Mr. Boyd's settling." At another meeting it was voted " to endeavour to have Mr. Boyd settle in the work of the ministry here according to ye Presbyterian Church Government." Mr. Boyd preached some time longer, but declined the call. It was voted in June, 1749, "not to have a committee to supply us with preaching this sum- mer." Before March, 1751, Rev. Mr. Mitchell had supplied the pulpit again, and Rev. John McKinstrey had preached for a time. And it was "voted that John Glasford shall board the ministers who shall preach for us for six months from this time and rest his horse, for which he shall have two shillings & 8 pence lawful money for each week's board."
The annals of the pulpit will be taken up again in the next chapter.
THE OLD FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR, 1744-1749 .- The only reference on our Plantation Records to military matters during this war is the following article in the Warrant for April, 1751 : " To see how the money is laid out that Capt. Samuel Shaw took of such men as was Impressed into his Majesty's service, and did not go but payed their fines, and chuse a committee to see ye money laid out according as ye Proprietors and Grantees shall order." " Voted not to act on ye article." A probable explanation is found in an order to Col. Pynchon : "Col. Pynchon is ordered to im- press twenty men from his regiment, viz. five for Col. Israel Williams, and fifteen for Col. J. Willard at Fort Dummer." June 24, 1749.
125
THE ELBOW TRACT-A PLANTATION, 1726-1752.
From papers in the State Archives we learn the names of men engaged in the service who were settlers on our territory. Capt. Jabez Olmstead was in the expedition against Louisbourg in 1745. He commanded the 10th Co. in Col. Samuel Willard's 4th Mass. Regt. Timothy Brown was captivated May 5, 1746, by the Indians on the road between the two Ashuelots (while returning from Bos- ton, where he had been the bearer of important dispatches), carried to Canada, where he was held one year, three months and fifteen days .*
Among the men posted at Fort Pelham under Capt. Samuel Childs was Samuel Allen of Kingstown, mustered into service May 1, 1748.
In Capt. Thomas Buckminster's Co., at Fort Dummer, Aug 6, to Aug. 20, 1748, were Obadiah Cooley, Andrew Cowee, John Blair, Peter Blackmer, James Paterson.
LIST OF EARLY SETTLERS, INHABITANTS AND LANDHOLDERS, 1716-1745.
[Those marked Proprietors bought of Lamb and Company, 1728-9, whose titles to home-lots were confirmed by the General Court. Those marked Grantees were squatters, whose home-lots were a gratuity from the General Court in 1733. Dates indicate when the name first appears on record. ]
ALLEN, SAMUEL, and wife Mary had daughter Eleanor born April 1, 1740.
AMES, JETHRO, from Lancaster, proprietor of 50-acre home-lot ; house named 1733.
APPLIN, JOHN, blacksmith, from Watertown ; inhabitant 1733 ; clerk of Proprietors 1743-46.
BACKUS, PETER, proprietor of 100-acre home-lot originally laid out to Benjamin Stebbins ; but without "after rights" in the Commons.
BAILEY, ANDREW, proprietor, 100-acre home-lot confirmed to widow and heirs by Gen. Court 1733.
BARRY, JAMES, an inhabitant 1739.
BARTLETT, BENJAMIN, an inhabitant 1733.
BEDORTHA, SAMUEL, from Springfield, bought 100 acres of Lamb and Company 1728 ; sold Jan. 25, 1731 to John Combs.
BELL, WILLIAM, 1742, drew 70 acres in the First Division of Commons, on S. Southgate's right.
* Mass. State Archives, 73 : 686.
126
HISTORY OF PALMER.
BEMON, (Beaman), JOHN, grantee of 100-acre home-lot 1733 ; located earlier,
BETHUNE, NATHANIEL, Esq., of Boston, assignee of James McClelan before 1742 ; drew one hundred acres each in the First and Second Division of Commons.
BLACKMER, JOHN, 1746, drew 63 acres in the Second Division of Commons, on John Paterson's right.
BLACKMER, PETER, 1743, drew 30 acres in First Division of Commons, on Joseph Brooks' right.
BLAIR, JOHN, from N. of Ireland, admitted an inhabitant Nov. 1734, having bought home-lot of Joseph Brooks, Sen.
BLAIR, DAVID, 1735, and John, drew 50 acres in First Division of Commons, 1742, on William Scott's right.
BLANCHER, (Blanchard), NICOLAS, prob. b. Charlestown, bought 1728, a 100-acre home-lot of Lamb and Company ; died 1732 ; the General Court confirmed to the widow a 100-acre lot in fee simple.
BOOTH, GEORGE, assignee of James McElwain ; grantee of 64- acre home-lot 1733.
BOYD, ARCHIBALD, from N. of Ireland, bought 1742, a 50-acre lot of John King, at Rood's Den, so called ; drew 50 acres in First Division of Commons, on Ebenezer Mirick's right.
BREAKENRIDGE, JAMES, a native of Scotland, came from North of Ireland July 1727, proprietor of 100-acre home-lot.
BRITTAIN, (Bratten), ROBERT, w. Elizabeth ; 1743, drew 50 acres in First Division of Commons on Ebenezer Mirick's right.
BROOKS, JOHN, proprietor of 50-acre home-lot.
BROOKS, JOSEPH, proprietor, as assignee of David Ingersole, of 100-acre home-lot.
BROOKS, SAMUEL, proprietor, as assignee of David Ingersole, of 100-acre home-lot.
BROOKS, SAMUEL, a petitioner 1732, perhaps identical with last named.
BROOKS, WILLIAM, accepted an inhabitant 1733.
BROWN, JAMES, 1748, drew 100 acres in Second Division of Commons, on right of Joseph Brooks.
BROWN, MATTHEW, grantee of 100-acre home-lot 1733.
BROWN, THOMAS, son of Matthew, 1734.
BROWN, WILLIAM, son of Matthew (?) 1734.
BUCKLEY, WILLIAM, an inhabitant 1733.
BURR, ISAAC, on petition Nov. 27, 1729.
CAMP, JOEL, m. Rebecca Blancher, an inhabitant 1748.
CHADWICK, JOSEPH, from Watertown ; proprietor of 50-acre home-lot.
127
THE ELBOW TRACT-A PLANTATION, 1726-1752.
CHAPIN, JONATHAN, Jun., from Springfield, proprietor of 100- acre home-lot.
CHAPIN, THOMAS, grantee of 70-acre home-lot.
COMBS, JOHN, assignee of Samuel Bedortha, proprietor of 50-acre home-lot.
COMBS, RICHARD, bought 1728, of Lamb and Company 100 acres, which was laid out 1733 to John King, Jun.
COOLEY, NOAH, bought 1728 of Lamb and Company 100 acres.
COOLEY, OBDIAH, Sen. and Jun., joint proprietors of 100 acre home-lot, bo't by O. Jun. of L. and Co.
CRAWFOOT (Crowfoot), STEPHEN, a 118-acre lot was surveyed and laid out to him before 1738. [Records in loc. ]
CRAWFORD, WILLIAM, grantee of 50-acre home-lot 1733, pitched earlier.
CUMMINS, Capt. JACOB, from Killingby, Ct., bought land of S. Southgate in north part of town before 1742.
CURTIS (Curtice), ABEL, proprietor of 50-acre home-lot.
CWEE (Cowee), ANDREW, 1745, settled on James McElwain's right ; drew 50 acres in second Division of Commons.
DAVIS, SAMUEL, 1741, drew 60 acres in second Division of Com- mons on right of Nathaniel Dewey.
DERBY, SAMUEL, rated in Minister Tax, 1734.
DEWEY, NATHANIEL, proprietor of 60-acre home-lot.
DICKINSON, BENJAMIN, an inhabitant, 1733.
DOOLITTLE, SAMUEL, from Wallingford, Ct., (?) proprietor of 100-acre home-lot.
DOONLAP, ROBERT, from N. of Ireland 1718, grantee of 70-acre home-lot 1733 ; had pitched earlier.
DORCHESTER, JAMES, from Springfield, proprietor of 100-acre home-lot. In 1732 his house was the place of public worship one- half the time.
DORCHESTER, JAMES, Jun., proprietor of 70-acre home-lot.
DORCHESTER, JOHN, bought 1728, 100 acres of Lamb and Com- pany, which was granted 1733 to Robert and David Nivins.
DORCHESTER, JOSEPH, bought 1728, 100 acres of Lamb and Company, which was granted 1733 to John Moor.
DUMBLETON, SAMUEL, an inhabitant 1739.
ENGLISH, JAMES, drew 1742, 100 acres in First Division of Com- mons, on Thomas Jennings' right.
EWING, ALEXANDER, before 1741, bought 50 acres of John Hen- derson ; drew 100 acres in First Division of Commons on Barnard McNitt's right.
FARRALL (Ferrell), ROBERT, proprietor of 100-acre home-lot.
128
HISTORY OF PALMER.
FARRAND, ANDREW, bought 60 acres of Lamb and Company 1728, which he assigned to John Paterson : grantee of 100-acre home-lot 1733.
FARRAND, THOMAS, bought 100 acres of Lamb and Company, which he assigned to Duncan Quinton.
FERGUSON, SAMUEL, an inhabitant 1737.
FLAMONT (Flemming), JOSEPH, from N. of Ireland 1718 : grantee of 100-acre home-lot 1733.
FROST, SAMUEL, from Billerica or Springfield, pitched as early as 1725 ; proprietor of 100-acre home-lot.
FULLER, DANIEL, proprietor of 100-acre home-lot.
GARDNER, HUMPHREY, grantee of 100-acre home-lot.
GERISH, JOSEPH, a petitioner 1732.
GLASFORD, JOHN, Sen., had a house and lot on Ware river 1741.
GLASFORD, JOHN, Jun., in 1741, drew 67 acres in First Division of Commons, on S. Southgate's right.
GLASFORD, PAUL, son of John, Sen., bo't a farm in 1734 ..
GRAVES, DANIEL, from Springfield, located early on the Brim- field Addition.
GREEN, JOSEPH, merchant of Boston, drew 100 acres in First Division of Commons, 1740 on James McElwain's right.
HALL, ELISHA, and Thomas Farrand, joint proprietors of a 100- acre home-lot.
HARMON, THOMAS, in company with Robert Farrall built a grist- mill in 1735 or '36.
HARPER, ROBERT, an inhabitant 1732.
HARVEY, Rev. JOHN, from N. of Ireland, first settled minister ; grantee of 100-acre home-lot.
HAINS (Haynes), DANIEL, wife Anna (Hannah) had children born 1730 and 1732.
HENDERSON, JOHN, grantee of a 100-acre home-lot 1733.
HENDERSON, JAMES, brother of John, owned a 50-acre lot ad- joining his brother.
HIGGINS, SAMUEL, and wife Martha had son John born April 4, 1739, at Dean's Farm.
HILL, THOMAS, grantee of 50-acre home-lot 1733, had built a house.
HOLLOWAY, WILLIAM, in 1742 drew 100 acres in First Division of Commons on right of Joseph Brooks, Jun., and 100 acres in Second Division.
HUNTER, ROBERT, bought about 1738, the Southgate saw-mill lot of 70 acres.
129
THE ELBOW TRACT-A PLANTATION, 1726-1752.
INGERSOLE, DAVID, was an inhabitant 1727, bought in 1728 100 acres of Lamb and Company, which he assigned to Joseph Brooks, to whom it was confirmed in 1733 ; was taxed 1733.
JENNINGS, THOMAS, proprietor in 1733, assignee of Thomas Sweetman, who bought 1728 100 acres of Lamb and Company, con- firmed to T. J.
KILBURN, BENJAMIN, bought 1728 of Lamb & Co. a 100-acre lot which was confirmed to him by the General Court in 1733 " without after Rights." In 1739 the lot was laid out to John McMaster.
KILBURN, DANIEL, owned 100 acres near the Old Centre.
KILBURN, JOHN, settled before 1726; proprietor of 100-acre home-lot.
KILBURN, SAMUEL, son of John ; grantee of 100-acre home-lot 1733.
KILLUM, DANIEL, bought 100 acres of Lamb and Company, which was laid out in 1729, but not recorded ; grantee of 50-acre home-lot 1733.
KING, JOHN, Sen., the first settler 1716 ; proprietor of 100-acre home-lot on King's brook.
KING, JOHN, Jun., 100 acres, the Tamar spring lot, originally laid out to Richard Combs, was confirmed to him by the General Court " without after Rights."
LAMBERTON, JAMES, from Londonderry, N. H., 1727, grantee of 100-acre home-lot 1733.
LAMONT (Lemmon), JAMES, from N. of Ireland 1718; grantee of 50-acre home-lot 1733.
LAMONT, JAMES, Jun., and SAMUEL, early settlers.
LENOX, SAMUEL, wife Jean, had children born 1734-39.
LITTLE, THOMAS, petitioner 1732, grantee of 100-acre home-lot 1733.
MCCLELAN, JAMES, proprietor of 100-acre home-lot.
MCCLENATHAN, THOMAS, grantee of 100-acre home-lot 1733.
MCCLENATHAN, WILLIAM, grantee of 100-acre home-lot 1733.
MCELWAIN, JAMES, Sen., bought 1728 of Lamb and Company, 100 acres at junction of Ware and Swift rivers, which he sold 1729 to Green and Walker, merchants of Boston ; died soon ; wife Elenor.
MCELWAIN, JAMES, Jun., petitioner 1732; proprietor of 100- acre home-lot.
MCELWAIN, TIMOTHY, son of James, Sen., proprietor of 100- acre home-lot.
MCKEE, ANDREW, petitioner 1732, proprietor of 100-acre home-lot.
·
130
HISTORY OF PALMER.
MCMASTER, HUGH, Oct. 15, 1741, a 50-acre home-lot was laid out to him on Chickobe river, originally granted to John Brooks.
MCMASTER, JOHN, Jun., in 1739, a home-lot of 100 acres was laid out to him, originally granted to Benjamin Kilburn.
MCMASTER, JOHN and JAMES, in 1740 drew 100 acres in First Division of Commons, on James Dorchester, Sen's right.
McMIGHILL (Mihill, Michill), WILLIAM, son-in-law of Robert Smith.
McNITT, ALEXANDER, b. N. of Ireland, County Donegal, came over with his son, d. Feb. 10, 1746, aged 90; wife Sarah died May 10, 1744, aged 84.
MONITT (McNight), BARNARD, son of Alexander, petitioner 1732, proprietor of 100-acre home-lot.
MCQUISTON, JAMES, proprietor of 70-acre home-lot.
MAGOON (McCune), ISAAC, from N. of Ireland, petitioner 1732, grantee of 100-acre home-lot, 1733.
MAGOON, ISAAC, Jun., petitioner 1732, proprietor of 100-acre home-lot.
MILLER, JOHN, rated in Minister tax 1734.
MIRICK, EBENEZER, from Springfield, son of Thomas, assignee of James Dorchester, proprietor of 100-acre home-lot. His house was a place of public meetings.
MOOR, JAMES, from N. of Ireland 1718, grantee of 100-acre home-lot 1733.
MOOR, JOHN, from N. of Ireland 1718, proprietor of 100-acre home-lot. His house was a place of public meetings.
NELSON (Nilson), AARON, petitioner 1732.
NELSON, WILLIAM, " his hay stack " is named 1735.
NEVINS (Nivins), JOHN, in 1728 bought 100 acres of Lamb and Company. See his petition, ante p. 58.
NEVINS, DAVID, petitioner 1732.
NEVINS, ROBERT, petitioner 1732. The two were joint gran- tees of the 100-acre home-lot laid out to John Dorchester.
NEVINS, SAMUEL, petitioner 1732. Grantee of a 100-acre home- lot 1733.
OLDS, MOSES, in 1728 bought 67 acres of Lamb and Com- pany, which was granted to Steward Southgate for a grist mill lot.
OLMSTEAD, Capt. JABEZ, from Brookfield, bought Apr. 2, 1729, the Hollingsworth Grant, 500 acres.
OLMSTEAD, JEREMIAH, son of Capt. Jabez, grantee of 100-acre home-lot 1733.
ORCOTT, or OLCOTT, JOSEPH, rated in Minister Tax 1733-34.
131
THE ELBOW TRACT-A PLANTATION, 1726-1752.
PARKER, JOHN, taxed in 1733.
PARSONS, AARON, petitioner 1732.
PARSONS, BENJAMIN, from Springfield, connected with James Dorchester, proprietor of 100-acre home-lot.
PARSONS, DANIEL, petitioner 1732.
PARSONS, JOSHUA, son of Benjamin, 1733.
PATERSON, JOHN, from N. of Ireland 1718, assignee of Andrew Farrand, proprietor of 60-acre home-lot.
PATERSON, WILLIAM, brother of John, grantee of 50-acre home- lot 1733.
PATRICK, JOHN, admitted an inhabitant Nov. 1734, bought the farm of Joseph Brooks, Sen.
PEEBLES, (Pibles) JOHN, m. Nov. 1740, Dorothy Harvey, daughter of Rev John ; had children born till 1748.
POST, JOHN, in 1741 drew 100 acres in Second Division of Com- mons on Samuel Doolittle's right.
PYNCHON, COL. JOHN'S heirs draw 100 acres each in the First and Second Division of Commons, on John Kilburn's right.
QUINTON (Quintin), DUNCAN, petitioner 1732, assignee of Thomas Farrand, proprietor of 100-acre home-lot.
ROGERS, ROBERT, from N. of Ireland 1718, About 1740, bought a farm on Quabaug river.
ROOD, MICAH, bought 100 acres of Lamb and Company, which was laid out by their orders May 15, 1729, lying on Qua- baug river. In 1733, the lot was laid out to the wife of Nicholas Blancher.
RUTHERFORD, ANDREW, petitioner 1732, grantee of 50-acre home- lot, on which he built a house in 1733.
SCOTT, JOHN, son of William, proprietor of 100-acre home-lot.
SCOTT, WILLIAM, proprietor of 100-acre home-lot.
SHAW, SAMUEL, had built a house before 1732, proprietor of 100- acre home-lot.
SHAW, SETH, came to America 1720, and pitched in Brimfield ; removed to the Elbows 1735 or 6, and built the first framed dwelling-house ; it stood on Ware river near the outlet of Potta- quattuck pond ; was taken down by Mr. E. B. Gates at the end of 100 years.
SHAW, WILLIAM, a petitioner 1732, proprietor of 50-acre home- lot.
SHEARER, JAMES, a petitioner 1732, had large house, where public meetings were held ; grantee of 100-acre home-lot.
SHEARER, JOHN, son of James, admitted an inhabitant 1734, on Abel Curtis' right.
132
HISTORY OF PALMER.
SHEARER, WILLIAM, son of James, bought 100 acres of land, a lot in First Division of Commons.
SLOAN, WILLIAM, petitioner 1732, proprietor of 100-acre home- lot.
SMITH, JAMES, son of Robert, bought part of the Col. Partridge Farm, also the Robert Thomson and the Daniel Fuller farms.
SMITH, JOHN, son of James, drew 100 acres in First Division of Commons on right of Elisha Hall.
SMITH, PATRICK, son of Robert, a petitioner 1732, grantee of 100-acre home-lot, 1733.
SMITH, ROBERT, from N. of Ireland 1718, bought part of the Col. Partridge Farm.
SOUTHGATE, STEWARD, from Leicester, employed by Lamb and Company as surveyor of their claim, and to lay out lots to pur- chasers; afterwards surveyor to the Proprietors of the Elbows; Proprietors' and Grantees' clerk; proprietor of two 100-acre home-lots, and 70-acre mill-lot. The original grants, and rights in the Commons, amounted to 728 acres. He returned to Leicester in 1744.
SPEAR, DAVID, had built a house before 1732, grantee of 100- acre home-lot, 1733.
STANFORD, ROBERT, grantee of 100-acre home-lot 1733, which he assigned to Matthew Brown.
STEBBINS, BENJAMIN, bought 1728, 100 acres of Lamb and Company, which was granted by the General Court to Peter Backus in 1733. Probably Stebbins never took possession.
STEVENS (Stephens), JAMES, a petitioner 1732; had built a house; grantee of 100-acre home-lot 1733.
SWEETMAN, THOMAS. In 1728, bought 100 acres of Lamb and Company, which he assigned to Thomas Jennings, to whom it was confirmed.
TACKELS, ALEXANDER, from N. of Ireland ; petitioner 1732, grantee of 100-acre home-lot 1733.
TACKELS, HUGH, blacksmith ; an early inhabitant.
TACKELS, WILLIAM, an inhabitant 1739.
THOMSON, JOHN, from N. of Ireland 1718 ; pitched 1725 ; pro- prietor of 100-acre home-lot.
THOMSON, ROBERT, from N. of Ireland 1718; petitioner 1732; grantee of 50-acre home-lot 1733.
TOUSLEY, MICAH, had built a house on south side of Quabaug river before 1723 ; petitioner 1732.
VOSE, ELIJAH, brother-in-law of Andrew McKee, petitioner 1732, grantee of 50-acre home-lot.
133
THE ELBOW TRACT-A PLANTATION, 1726-1752.
WALKER, ISAAC, merchant of Boston ; in 1740 drew 100 acres in First Division of Commons, on right of James McElwain.
WEBBER, JOHN, bought farm of Andrew Farrand ; drew 100 acres in Second Division of Commons, in right of John Thomson.
WILSON, NATHANIEL, an inhabitant 1739.
WRIGHT, JOSEPH, from Springfield, a petitioner 1726, proprietor of 100-acre home-lot.
WRIGHT, JOSEPH, Jun., a petitioner 1732; bo't 100 acres of Lamb & Co .; proprietor of 72-acre home-lot.
CHAPTER IV.
PALMER A DISTRICT-1752-1776 : A TOWN-1776-1812.
INTERNAL CONDITION OF AFFAIRS-TWO CLASSES OF INHABITANTS, AND THE CONSEQUENCES-FIRST MOVEMENT FOR TOWN PRIVILEGES-DRAW- BACKS-SUBSEQUENT EFFORTS-ACT OF INCORPORATION AS A DISTRICT -WHY A DISTRICT RATHER THAN A TOWN-SUPPLEMENTARY ACT- THE NAME PALMER-FIRST DISTRICT MEETING -PREACHING - REV. TIMOTHY SYMES-REV. EBENEZER KNIBLOW-REV. ROBERT BURNS- SESSION RECORDS - SCHOOLS -BRIMFIELD ADDITION -SMALL POX- JUSTICE OF THE PEACE-LAST FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR, 1754-1763- MUSTER ROLLS- MEETING-HOUSE - SEATING THE MEETING-HOUSE- SUPPORT OF POOR-GRAVES' TAVERN-WAR OF THE REVOLUTION-FULL RECORDS-MUSTER ROLLS-THE PALMER DECLARATION OF INDEPEN- DENCE, AND ASSUMPTION OF FULL TOWN RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES, WHICH MARK THE YEAR 1776 AS THE TOWN'S BIRTHDAY-AFTER THE WAR-SHAY'S REBELLION-LIST OF TAX PAYERS, 1786-THE HANGING OF SHAW-PLAN OF THE TOWN, 1795-BURYING GROUNDS-NEW MEET- ING-HOUSE-REV. MOSES BALDWIN-TURNPIKES AND STAGES.
T' HE period of our history covered by the last two chapters, was to the settlers a time of bearing burdens, and struggling with difficulties incident to a new plantation in a rough country. And they had to contend with difficulties peculiar to themselves, and imposed by their organic constitution. Some of these drawbacks have already been named. The two classes or parties into which, for reasons of justice and wisdom as the legislature believed, the inhab- itants were divided by the conditions of their land grants, neces- sarily produced inequality and antagonism of rights and social position, whose results of jealousies and discords were radical and far-reaching. And these anomalous conditions of land tenure and taxation,* imposed with our organic law, with their logical se- quences, suggest a lesson in political economy, both interesting and instructive to the philosophical student. The history of none other of our Massachusetts plantations and towns furnishes a more strik- ing example.
Then there was an active cause of contention, growing out of the want of homogeneity of the people. The Americans had taken
* See ante pp. 107-8.
135
PALMER DISTRICT-1752-1776 : A TOWN-1776-1813.
on their distinguishing features of character, and become a well defined genus. They had large self-esteem and self-trust ; and the necessities of frontier life had developed wariness, courage and clannishness. They were familiar with our customs and laws, and of course were best fitted to fill the more responsible and lucrative offices in the new plantation. Besides, it happened that they held twenty-six of the one-hundred-acre Proprietary lots, leaving only thirteen to the Ulster men.
And the Scotch immigrants possessed a strong individuality which did not readily assimilate with other nationalities. As one of themselves has said : "They were of ardent temperament, ten- acious of their opinions, and strong in their prejudices-as really and truly Scotch in their habits and tastes and characters as the natives of the 'Land o' Cakes.'" This class were hard-working, and frugal in their personal and family life, and had a high ideal of fidelity and frugality in public affairs-as was shown by their frequent votes to "call to account " their treasurers and collectors, and to "turn out" of office a board of assessors, or committees of trust, if there was a shade of suspicion as to their good judgment or honesty. The records show that it was not unusual to hold as many as seven plantation meetings in a year, the main business of at least five of them being to reconsider and undo the work of the others.
This jealousy of their rights, and suspicion of other men's mo- tives, and argus-eyed watchfulness, were fostered by the unhappy ecclesiastical contentions that arose, and assumed a race character ; and which proved a two-edged sword in social and political affairs. And all other causes of worriment were aggravated by the 500 pound debt due the Province, that weighted down enterprise and hope.
To these might be added the discouragements which attended the cutting asunder of their territory, by the organization of the town of Western on the east, and Ware River Parish on the north, which took away some of the finest land and most valuable estates-and thus diminished the taxable property without sensibly diminishing taxes.
Perhaps the pluck of our people in holding on to the plantation, under adverse circumstances, is greater matter of surprise than their internal antagonisms.
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.