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 14
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But the day of prosperity was dawning.
FIRST MOVEMENT FOR TOWN PRIVILEGES .- It will be remem- bered that the Act of June 1733, provided that when the several
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HISTORY OF PALMER.
conditions of the Grant of a Plantation were fulfilled, the Proprie- tors and Grantees "be allowed to bring in a bill for erecting and setting themselves off a Township."
But these "conditions" were not promptly fulfilled, and the matter lingered. Indeed, as the records show, the main effort of the settlers for several years, was to secure a modification or rever- sal of these " conditions."
The following record of one meeting will serve as a sample of many that were held, between 1734 and 1749.
" At a meeting of the Proprietors and Grantees of the Elbow Tract, held May 12, 1735 : Voted, that Steward Southgate be em- powered as an agent on our behalf to apply to the General Court at their next session, on the publick affairs of this Settlement. Voted, that our said agent shall prepare and present a Bill to the said Court for investing the Inhabitants of this Plantation with the powers & privileges of a Town, with a Petition for the same, and for confirmation of our Lands (if he finds it needful)-repre- senting the Difficulties and inconveniences we labour under in our present circumstances. Voted, that a Humble Petition be prepared and preferred by our said agent to the Great & General Court, and in our name and behalf, showing our pressing Difficulties & Great Hardships ; and therefore praying that the 500 pounds enjoined by the Act of that Honourable Court, as the condition of our Grant, to be paid into the Province Treasury next month, may be abated and taken off. Voted, that our said agent be directed, in case our said Petition for abating the 500 pounds should not be granted, that then he prepare & prefer a Petition in our name and behalf, praying that the time of payment of the said sum be protracted two years longer."
Mr. Southgate succeeded in securing the passage of an Act for granting Town privileges to the Plantation, as appears from the General Court Records : "June 25, 1735. The Bill intitled an Act for erecting the Plantation called the Elbows into a Township by the name of In Council. Read a second time, and passed in concurrence to be engrossed." But he failed to secure a release or abatement of the 500 pound tax, and the whole scheme fell through.
Two similar petitions were sent to the General Court in October, 1743, and the petitioners were " allowed to bring in a Bill for erect- ing the said Plantation into a Township." But the 500 pounds tax was still unpaid, and the Bill failed to become a law.
July 8, 1746. At a meeting of Proprietors & Grantees, it was " Voted, that Thomas Little be the man that shall go to the General
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PALMER A DISTRICT, 1752-1776.
Court at Boston in behalf of this town to get this Plantation invested with the privileges of a Township ; but if that petition be flung out, then to put in another petition to get the way of making our Rates more plain." Probably this last clause refers to the unequal rights of Proprietors, and Grantees, and the power of taxing non-resi- dents. The scheme failed.
Sept. 22, 1748. At a meeting of Proprietors and Grantees, Barnard McNitt was chosen to go to the General Court to get the place set off to be a town ; and his instructions were, that he " use all due and proper means, according to the best of his judgment in said affair, with the advice of the members of the Court, as many of them as he can have conference with." He evidently did some good lobbying, and made a favorable impression. And March 9, 1748-9, he was again chosen to go to Boston, "to get this Planta- tion set off to be a town." He presented the following petition :
"To His Excellency William Shirley, Esq.
The Petition of the Proprietors & Grantees, so called, in a new Planta- tion or Settlement commonly known by the name of The Elbows, in the County of Hampshire
Humbly Sheweth That Your Petitioners have fulfilled the orders of the Great & General Court when the land in said Plantation was granted, fifty families having been brought in and fixt there, & a Minister settled ; but recent difficulties arising between the Minister & the People, and there being little prospect of his serviceableness among them, the minister and the people parted, and the people have invited another Minister, who is near settling with them as they hope: But so it is circumstanced with them - May it please yor Excellency & Honrs, that they are likely to be much embarrased in proceeding in this affair, as well as divers others, un- less they can be erected into a Town, or some way made capable of pro- ceeding regularly & legally to do those things which the interest, peace & good order of so considerable a Number of Families as above fifty make requisite.
The Land which yor petitrs pray may be included in this Township cor- poration, abutts easterly on the Town of Western so called, and westerly on Brimfield, northwesterly on a Plantation called Cold Spring, northerly on a Tract of Land belonging to the Heirs of John Read, Esq.
And yr Petrs as in duty bound
shall ever pray &c
In the name & by order of the Inhabts abovesd
BARNARD MONITT. Elbows, May 31, 1749.
In Council June 12, 1749.
Read & Ordered
That the prayer of the petition be so far granted as that the sd Settlement or New Plantation according to the true bounds
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HISTORY OF PALMER.
thereof, and the Inhabitants that are or may be settled thereon, be and hereby are erected into a District or Precinct, and vested with such Powers & Privileges as towns by law enjoy, so far as relates to the choice of town officers, and for granting money from time to time to defray the charges of said District, setling a min- ister, erecting a Meeting-house, granting & making all needfull Roads & Ways; and for support of Schools, and other charges; and that Barnard Macnitt the petitioner is hereby impowered to call the first meeting for the choice of proper officers, sometime in the month of July next, to stand till the annual meeting in March next.
Sent down for concurrence
J. WILLARD, Secy.
In the House of Representatives, June 14, 1749. Read and non-concurred
And Ordered, that the sª Settlement or new Plantation, accord- ing to the true bounds thereof, be incorporated into a town, and have and enjoy Privileges as other towns by law have & enjoy; and that the Petr have liberty to bring in a bill accordingly.
Sent up for concurrence
JOSEPH DWIGHT, Spkr.
In Council, June 14, 1749.
Read & concurred
SAML HOLBROOK, Dep. Secy .*
[The Governor did not consent. ]
The Government of Great Britain was becoming jealous of the Colonies, and especially of the power claimed and exercised by the popular branch of our General Court. And no reason is apparent why the Governor withheld his assent to the above-named Bill, ex- cept that all incorporated towns had the right to send a representa- tive annually to the General Court.
In the fall of 1751, David Shaw was chosen agent, went to Bos- ton and succeeded in securing the passage of an Act erecting the Elbows Plantation into a District. Probably the inhabitants were disappointed at not obtaining town privileges. And at a meeting held Oct. 18, 1752, an article in the warrant was : "To grant to David Shaw so much money as shall be esteemed reasonable satis- faction for his being at ye whole of ye charges in going to ye Gen- eral Court, and getting sª town set off to be a District, so as he may have a reasonable recompence for his trouble & cost." It was put
* Mass. State Archives, cxv, 475.
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PALMER A DISTRICT, 1752-1776.
to vote whether David Shaw should have anything for his cost and charges at ye General Court at Boston-Ye house was divided, and it passed in ye Negative."
AN ACT for erecting ye Plantation called ye Elbows, into a District by the name of PALMER.
Whereas it hath been represented to this Court that ye Inhabitants of ye Plantation in the County of Hampshire, called The Elbows, labour under Difficulties, by reason of their not being incorporated into a District :-
Be it enacted by the Lieut. Governor, Council and House of Representa- tives
Sect. 1. That ye Plantation aforesaid be, and hereby is erected into a District by ye name of PALMER, bounding as follows : viz. easterly on ye town of Western ; northerly, partly on the plantation called Cold Spring, and partly on Ware River Precinct, called Read's Farm ; southerly and westerly on ye town of Brimfield ; and that the Inhabitants thereof be and hereby are invested with all ye powers, privileges and immunities that the Inhabitants of towns within this Province are or by law ought to be invested with : saving only in the choice of a representative ; which, it is represented, said Inhabitants are not at present desirous of.
Be it further enacted
Sect. 2. That all rates and taxes heretofore assessed or ordered to be assessed, pursuant to the laws and orders of this Court, upon ye Inhabit- ants of said Elbows Plantation, shall be levied, collected and fully com- pleated, agreeable to the laws or orders by which they were assessed.
Passed January 30 ; published January 31, 1752.
The above Act of Incorporation failed, inadvertently, to provide for calling a meeting of the Inhabitants, to organize the District by the choice of the necessary officers. And a supplementary Act was passed.
" Whereas by an Act made and passed at ye session of this Court in January last, ye Plantation called ye Elbows was erected into a sepa- rate District and invested with all the privileges that by law towns in this Province enjoy, that of sending a representative alone ex- cepted : But no provision being made for calling ye first meeting of ye Inhabitants of sª new District : therefore Resolved, That John Sherman [of Brimfield], upon application made to him for that purpose by five or more of ye Inhabitants of sª District, in writing under their hands, be and hereby is enabled to issue his warrant to some one of them, requiring him to warn and give no- tice to sª Inhabitants that they meet & assemble together at such time & place and for such purpose as shall be mentioned in such application : And sd Inhabitants so assembled shall have full power to act and vote as effectually as towns in ordinary cases at their
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HISTORY OF PALMER.
meetings ordered by their selectmen according to ye directions of ye law, are impowered to do.
Passed in concurrence June 4, 1752.
Consented to
S. Phipps.
Name of the District and Town. In some instances the inhab- itants were allowed to select a name for their proposed town or Precinct : but at this period it was more customary for the legisla- ture to pass the act of incorporation, leaving the name blank, which blank the governor would fill when he affixed his signature. This name was sometimes determined by local considerations ; but oftener was selected as a mark of special favor to some friend or patron. Our people petitioned to have the place called "Kingstown " (a name which they had assumed and used in local records and unoffi- cial documents since Jan. 1741-2), in honor of John King, the earliest settler on the territory. But the governor inserted PALMER, in honor of his relative, Thomas Palmer, Esq., who had recently died in Scotland. The name is not unpleasant to speak or write, but it has no associations connected with our early annals or topog- raphy.
First District Meeting. In pursuance of a warrant issued by John Sherman, Esq., and served by David Shaw, a meeting of the inhabitants of Palmer District was held at the publick meeting- house, on Tuesday June 30, 1752, at 8 o'clk in the forenoon, when the following officers were chosen : moderator, Seth Shaw; town clerk, David Shaw ; selectmen, Seth Shaw, John Thomson, Thomas McClanathan, John Applin ; assessors, Robert Rogers, William Scott, Jr., John Applin ; constables, John Moor, John King ; treasurer, William Scott, Jr .; surveyors of roads, John Thomson, William McClenathan ; fence viewers, William Ball, Robert Fer- rell, Jr .; tythingman, Robert Ferrell, Jr, Voted, that swine may run at large in ye Commons this present year, well yoked and rung according to law. Voted, to John Murray, 8 shillings, lawful money, for a copy of ye General Court's Act : and also 2 shillings to David Shaw for two warrants from a justice of the peace, in order to hold ye first meeting in Palmer District. Voted, Seth Shaw, James Brackenridge, William Scott, Jr., to be a committee to sell ye grass of our ministerial lot this year to ye highest bidder at publick ven- due, the money to be for ye publick use of said town [And after- wards ye sd committee sold ye sd grass to Dunkin Quinton for 13 pounds old tenor. ] Voted, and granted to Seth Shaw and Thomas McClanathan, for boarding Rev. Mr. Boyd, 16 shillings lawful money, and since last March, for keeping Ministers, four shillings lawful money more. Voted & granted to Seth Shaw, Jr., for going
1
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PALMER A DISTRICT, 1752-1776.
to ye presbytery last August, one pound four shillings lawful money, in consideration of the same. Voted, and confirmed to John Glass- ford, a former grant of 2 pounds 2 shillings & eight pence lawful money. Voted, to John King, Wm. Scott, Jr., and Robert Ferrell, Jr., 8 shillings lawful money, to each of them for being assessors last year. Voted, that all ye money formerly granted but not yet assessed, as appears recorded in ye town book, shall be assessed by ye present assessors in order to be collected.
SETH SHAW, moderator.
PREACHING .- The new District being thus organized, immediate steps were taken to settle a minister. For the four years since the dismission of Mr. Harvey, ecclesiastical affairs had been in a dis- tracted state. Candidates were numerous, and so were the opinions of the people.
Rev. Timothy Symes. "At a meeting of the Inhabitants of Palmer District held on Wednesday, July 29, 1752, it was voted, that Rev. Mr. Timothy Symes be our minister in sd place. Voted, to the Rev. Mr. Timothy Symes for his settlement in the work of the ministry in sª place 33 ;pounds, six shillings & eight pence ye .first year, and 33 pounds, six shillings & eight pence the second year of lawful money of this Province, for his settlement ; and also 53 pounds six shillings & eight pence, lawful money of this Prov- ince of yearly salary for the first two years ; and at expiration of ye first two years, then to add to ye sum, three pounds six shillings & eight pence yearly for a space of four years more, until ye whole of his yearly salary amount to sixty-six pounds fourteen shillings and four pence lawful money of this Province yearly, and then that to be his stated salary during ye whole of his ministry in this place ; together with the whole of the benefit of the Ministerial Lot, in sd place-Provided that ye sª Mr. Symes will join himself to our Presbyterian Government of ye Church of Scotland persuasion, and also to be a member of the same Presbytery to which Rev. Mr. John Moorhead of Boston belongs, and also oblige himself to stand by and maintain ye same rules of ye Church of Scotland persua- sion with us in our church in sª place, on ye account of ye above mentioned considerations. And further to the Rev. Mr. Symes his necessary supply of firewood yearly for his further encouragement, provided that he will settle with us as aforesaid. Voted that James Smith, Samuel Stewart, and Benjamin Parsons be a committee to carry a copy of these votes to Mr. Symes, and treat with him about sª affair in behalf of ye town."
The outcome of the movement is indicated by the following ex-
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HISTORY OF PALMER.
tract from the records : "Oct. 18, 1752. Inasmuch as ye Rev. Mr. Timothy Symes has failed of going to our Presbytery in order to join himself with sª Presbytery, and be a member of the same, and has also failed of giving ye Inhabitants of sª place an answer to ye call or encouragement which they gave to him concerning his settling with them in the work of the Ministry, neither has brought any certificate to our Presbytery nor to ye Inhabitants of sª place for their acceptance from ye Presbytery whereto he did lately be- long, Therefore it is thought very needful and necessary to chuse some meet person in order to send to our Presbytery at their next sitting for a minister to supply us with preaching, or to endeavor to get one on probation in order to settle with us. Voted, that James Smith go to"ye next Presbytery at Londonderry in order for to get a supply of preaching for ye present."
Rev. Ebenezer Kniblow. At the annual meeting March 1, 1753, it was "voted to grant Robert Bratten 40 shillings lawful money for his going to New London and bringing up Rev. Mr. Ebenezer Kniblow to preach to us in this place."
Mr. Kniblow supplied the pulpit in all fifteen sermons, as appears from the following record : "At a meeting of ye Inhabitants of this District Legally convened and assembled at ye Publick Meeting House in sª Place, August 23, 1754, ye Meeting being opened, Andrew Butterfield was chosen moderator to regulate sª meeting. On the third article in the warrant, Voted that Rev. Mr. Ebenezer Kniblow be allowed four pounds, sixteen shillings, which is eight shillings lawful money for each Sermon he preached on Sabbath Days in this District, except three Sermons which we can prove he preached other men's works."
This was not satisfactory to Mr. K. For a warrant was issued by the selectmen for a District meeting to be held Sept. 9, 1754, " To see if the Inhabitants are willing to allow Mr. Kniblow ye full of his Demands: and if they are not willing, they will consider what is proper to be done in that affair." The action of the District is not recorded.
Rev. Robert Burns. At a District meeting held on Friday, July 20, 1753, it was voted that Seth Shaw go along with Mr. Robert Burns to ye Presbytery which is to sit at Newbury next August, in order to manage in behalf of our town or District in all the affairs that shall be brought under their consideration. And also voted to raise the sum of £3 lawful money in part of their charges in the journey: and also they are to keep and bring in to ye town a true and fair account of ye expenses of ye journey, so as they may be paid the whole of it: or if it is more than what is wanted for their use,
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PALMER A DISTRICT, 1752-1776.
then they are to pay back to ye town ye overplus if any there be." The £3 fell short of actual expenses by £1, 7, 4, which sum was allowed and paid.
Sept. 14, 1753. An article in the warrant was, "To consider whether the District will concur with the call that the congrega- tion has given to the Rev. Mr. Burns." Voted in the affirmative. Also voted to give Mr. Burns as a "settlement" six hundred pounds of ye old tenor, being equal to £80 lawful money, as ye money is now stated here at this day & date amongst us: to wit, the first year there is to be paid to him 300 pounds old tenor, and ye second year 300 pounds of ye old tenor. Also voted to grant Mr. Burns a yearly salary of £53, 6, 8 lawful money, equal to 400 pounds old tenor, so long as he is in the work of the ministry in this place. Seth Shaw, Thomas McClanathan, James Smith, Barnard McNitt & James Brackenridge were chosen a committee to go & treat with Mr. Burns, and to act and carry on the affair of his settlement.
The terms were afterwards modified, so that the whole of the " settlement" money, £80, was paid to Mr. Burns the first year, and the annual salary was to be £60 lawful money.
Mr. Burns was from the North of Ireland, though of Scotch parentage. He began preaching as a candidate May 15, 1753. The date of his ordination was probably Nov. 19 of the same year, as the next day a District meeting was held, at which all arrearages were paid, including payment of Mr. B.'s preaching to Sabbath Nov. 15, and including £1, 7, 9 for Rhum & Sugar, presumably used on ordination day.
The ministry of Mr. Burns was short and full of trouble. The Session Records hint at one cause of dissatisfaction : "At the quarterly session held June 3, 1756, the Elders then present unani- mously refused to join with or assist Mr. Burns in the administra- tion of the Lord's Supper, unless he would perform ministerial visits, and catechize yearly the several quarters of the Parish; like- wise unless he would preach the Saturday before & the Monday after the Sacrament."
The District Records give few particulars relating to him. But it is known that charges of immorality were brought against him, and that he ceased to perform the duties of pastor early in the year 1757. Probably his official relation to the church was severed by act of Presbytery Aug. 23, 1757. The following receipt indi- cates his place of residence at the date :
Union, Conn., Oct. 14, 1761.
Then received of Elder Samuel Shaw, Jr., Treasurer of Palmer, the full and just sum of eight pounds, fifteen shillings and five pence, for the Dis-
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HISTORY OF PALMER.
trict of Palmer, being in full of all accounts, debts, dues & demands from the beginning of the world unto the date hereof, as witness my hand.
ROBERT BURNS.
" Mr. B. afterwards went to Pennsylvania, and spent the rest of his days there upon a farm." Wilson.
Preachers ad interim. Mr. Mitchell supplied the pulpit four Sabbaths : Mr. Peck supplied four Sabbaths : Mr. Noah Benedict supplied eight Sabbaths. And Mar. 4, 1760, the District voted that Barnard McNitt should go after Mr. Noah Benedict " to see if he will come again and preach to us, that we may have an oppor- tunity to give him proper encouragement to settle in the work of the ministry." He declined to be a candidate ; and Mr. Curtis was engaged to supply the pulpit. June 26, 1760, it was voted "to employ Mr. Curtis some time longer in the work of the ministry in order to settlement." Oct. 27, 1760. An article in the warrant was, "To see if the District will wait longer for Mr. Hedge, or send for other supplies, and to act as they shall think most conven- ient, as some have had account of Mr. Baldwin's being a person likely to suit the people." Mr. Baldwin was preferred. The record of his ministry belongs to a later period.
THE CHURCH .- As stated in a previous chapter [see ante pp. 92-3], no records are found which prove conclusively that a church organization existed in Palmer during Mr. Harvey's ministry. As bearing on the question, it may be said, the records show that no man is styled "Elder " or " Deacon " during this period. And considering the scrupulousness of scribes at that date, to give every person his proper military and ecclesiastical title, such omission goes far to show that no such office had existence in our place. The first official notice of a church in Palmer is under date of March 1, 1753. "Voted, That one of the Elders of our Session go to our Presbytery at their next meeting, in order to get a minister sent to us from said Presbytery, either on probation, or else on further trial in order for settlement in the work of the ministry."
The " Palmer Session Records " begin Nov. 27, 1753. And from this day forward the titles Elder and Deacon are uniformly and appropriately applied to town and other local officers. The Session Records extend to 1764 ; but are meagre of details having any par- ticular interest. The Elders first chosen appear to have been, Seth Shaw, Samuel Shaw, Sen., David Spear, Sen;, Robert Bratten, Sen., James Smith, and Joshua Shaw. June 4, 1755, Barnard McNitt, William McClanathan, Samuel Shaw, Jun., David Spear, Jun., were chosen, and at a later date were " set apart as Elders in
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PALMER A DISTRICT, 1752-1776.
this Parish having first received the charge, and signed the for- mula, which is as follows :
We the subscribers, do hereby declare that, besides the Word of God as our only rule, we do sincerely own and believe the whole Doctrine con- tained in the Confession of Faith approven of by the General Assembly of Westminster, and ratified by law in 1690, and frequently confirmed by di- vers acts of Parliament since that time, to be agreeable to the Word of God : and we do own the same to be the confession of our faith. Also we do own the purity of the Presbyterian government & discipline now so happily established in said Confession, which Doctrine, Worship and Gov- ernment we believe are founded on the Word of God and agreeable there- unto. And we do promise that through the grace of God enabling us, we will firmly and constantly adhere to the same ; and to the utmost of our power, will, in our station, maintain and defend the said Doctrine, Wor- ship, Discipline & Church Government as contained in said Confession, by Church Sessions, Presbyteries & Synods ; and that we will in our practice conform ourselves to said worship, & submit to said Discipline & Govern- ment : And we will never, directly or indirectly, endeavor prejudice of said established Doctrine. We promise that we will follow no devisive course from the present established Doctrine contained in said Confession, either by adding thereunto or diminishing from it: We promise to re- nounce all Doctrines, tenets & opinions whatsoever, contrary thereunto, or inconsistent therewith. These things we jointly promise we will adhere to, assert and maintain, as long as we shall be continued in the office of Elders, as the Lord shall enable us."
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