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 15
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Rev. Mr. Colton, who had access to all public and official papers extant in 1811, says : "Mr. Baldwin kept no Church Records."
SCHOOLS .- In a strictly chronological order, the establishment of a school, and building school houses, would come in here. But the general importance of the subject, and its vital connection with the whole life of the town, seem to indicate that the matter of schools and education should be treated of in a separate chapter. In this way, a clearer and more definite impression will be secured, and votes and facts will appear in their true relations.
For many years succeeding the incorporation of the District, the records are largely filled with the doings relative to roads, bridges, and matters of local concern, which had importance only in their day.
1755. Hampshire ss March 26, 1755.
Then Samuel Shaw, Jun., took the oath respecting bills of the neighboring governments, and at the same time took the oath of office for a clerk of Palmer.
Coram Josiah Dwight, Just. of Peace.
146
HISTORY OF PALMER.
March 28, 1755. The selectmen of Palmer took the oath re- specting bills of the neighboring governments.
Samuel Shaw, Jun., Clerk.
The oath referred to was a refusal to take for public use, bills of credit issued by the provinces of Rhode Island and Connecticut, which had greatly depreciated, while Massachusetts had provided for the redemption in silver of her bills issued before 1749.
Mary Blackwood from Ireland, mother of Mary the wife of David Shaw, died January 18, 1755, in the ninety-ninth year of her age.
Brimfield Addition. April 23, 1760, that part of Brimfield lying north of the old Country Road, between the Chicopee river at Scott's bridge and Springfield line, was annexed to Palmer.
April 25, 1760, the District of Monson was incorporated, bounded northerly by the River, and from Scott's bridge to Springfield line by the old Country Road. This left the Road belonging to neither town, and both towns refused to keep it in repair. April 18, 1761, the General Court passed an Order that as Palmer had received a valuable acquisition in lands and inhabitants, the whole of said Road should belong to Palmer.
The intent of this order was plain enough, but the terms were not explicit, and it did not determine the liability for the support of the bridge. Committees were appointed by Monson and Palmer, who made an attempt to reconcile differences and decide on a plan for keeping the road and bridge in repair. But they failed to agree. A petition was sent to the General Court, asking relief from what was regarded an unjust burden. In the mean time the highway was neglected, and an indictment was found against the District for said neglect.
The following extract from the General Court Records explains the situation and outcome of the affair :
In the House of Representatives-The House being informed by divers members that the bounds of Brimfield, the Districts of Mon- son and Palmer, in the County of Hampshire, as settled by this Court, is so uncertain that many disputes have arose, and, without the interposition of this Court, many more are like to arise within said town and Districts and their surveyors of highways, respecting the repairing the Great Road leading from Boston to Springfield through part of said Districts, and the two bridges erected over Chicopee River, one on the easterly side of said Palmer between said Palmer and Brimfield, and the other on the westerly side of said Palmer near William Scott's dwelling house-Therefore for the preventing all such disputes for the future, and that the said
147
PALMER A DISTRICT, 1752-1776.
town and Districts, and the surveyors of highways within their limits may fully understand their duty, and that the said Road and bridges may be kept from time to time in good repair-RESOLVED, that the bridge over Chicopee River on the east side of the District of Palmer between Palmer and the town of Brimfield upon said River, be annexed to the town of Brimfield ; and that the town of Brimfield shall keep the same in good repair from time to time as there shall be occasion, and shall be liable to the same pains and penalties of the law respecting the same, as other towns respecting highways are. And that the District of Palmer be alike enjoined to maintain and keep in good repair the other bridge over said River near the dwelling house of William Scott in said Palmer, and the whole of the Country Road from the last mentioned bridge towards the east line of the town of Springfield, until it is full one- half the way thither, wheresoever the same shall happen ; and that the remainder of said Road to Springfield line be annexed to the said District of Monson, and the inhabitants thereof be alike en- joined from time to time to keep the same in good repair.
In Council Read & Concurred.
Consented to by the Governor.
February 7, 1763.
Small Pox. At a meeting held Mar. 3, 1761, this District voted, that Lieut. Wm. Scott have liberty and the consent of the District, to build a house of his own in the turn of the River north of the County road, and in that part of the District lately taken off from Brimfield, to be a small pox hospital, to be used for inoculation, or make use of the house Daniel Graves now lives in, set it apart for the same purpose, in case liberty be obtained from the said Daniel."
Nov. 15, 1763. "Granted to Ens. Samuel Shaw, £2, 5, which sum he paid Andrew Rutherford, on account of Abraham Wil- moth's having the small pox at his house."
Justice of the Peace. March 3, 1761. " Voted to choose a com- mittee, viz. Samuel Frost, Timothy McElwain, Barnard McNitt, Robert Rogers, and John King, to petition His Excellency the Governor to commission some person as a Justice of the Peace in this town. Then voted the following instructions to the abovesaid committee :
That after due consideration and deliberation, debating the affair, we do find that William Scott, Jun., is a person most likely to be of public service to the society in the commission of the peace : And we do expect that you will as soon as you have opportunity, make application to the Governor in behalf of this town, that a commission of the peace might be procured for Mr. Scott, he being a person of considerable knowledge of the law, and
148
HISTORY OF PALMER.
also of a very good character. We therefore put confidence in you, that you will take every proper measure you can think or imagine necessary ; and so proceed from time to time till you have obtained the same."
THE LAST FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR, 1754-1763 .- What is known in history as the Old French and Indian War, was ended by the Treaty of Aix La Chapelle, signed Oct. 7, 1748, and proclaimed in Boston, May 10, 1749. But it proved to be little more than a truce. The Indians, in the interest of the French Government, re- commenced hostilities in May 1754, and threw our colonies into a general state of alarm. Assuming that there could be no lasting peace in her American colonies so long as the French power was dominant on the northern frontiers, Great Britain determined to effect the conquest of Canada.
The English government called on the Provinces to furnish their full quotas of men for the great expeditions against Louisbourg, Crown Point, Fort Niagara with its outpost, Fort DuQuesne, and the French possessions on the River St. Lawrence ; these forces were placed under the command of British officers, who were often ignorant of the country, and inexperienced in frontier service, and Indian tactics ; and in the meantime the intermediate frontiers were left in the main to look out for themselves. No greater proof of loyalty to the crown and love of home and country could be given, than the readiness with which the Massachusetts authorities and militia, answered the calls, and met the hard conditions.
June 21, 1754, Gov. Shirley issued orders to the commanders of regiments, to make a thorough inspection of the state of the militia, and report to headquarters. The several towns were also required to supply themselves with the full stock of ammunition required by law.
- Our District records contain no allusion to this war, neither as to military orders, nor as to men and means furnished, nor the casual- ities of the service. Even the lists of the active Militia, and the Alarm men, which all towns were required to make out and send to head-quarters, cannot be found. That our militia was organized according to law ; that requisitions for men to be raised by enlist- ment or draft, were received and promptly met, is proved by the State records. It is inferred that all orders and drafts sent to the District authorities were handed to the captains of the militia com- panies, (Capt. John Thomson and Capt. Samuel Shaw); that they executed the orders ; and the returns were placed on file, which files are lost. Probably the orders came through the colonel of the regiment to which our companies were attached ; and the men re- ported to him for duty.
149
PALMER A DISTRICT, 1752-1776.
The following statistics of service of Palmer men (evidently in- complete, but all that were found after a diligent search) are copied from papers and muster-rolls preserved in the State Archives at Boston.
1755. Four military expeditions were planned in the spring of this year : one against the French in Nova Scotia ; a second against Fort DuQuesne; a third against Crown Point ; and a fourth against Niagara.
In Capt. Ebenezer Moulton's Co., Crown Point expedition, in service Sept. 11 to Dec. 25, were the following Palmer men :
Sergt. Hugh Tackels
William Fleming
Samuel Frost
Jonathan King
John Lamberton
Henry Webber
David Bratten
Isaac Applin
Timothy Farrell
Robert McMaster
John Hill
Josiah Farrall
John Millard, aged 19, is credited to Palmer, in the service of 1755.
1756. The plan of the campaign this year embraced the reduc- tion of the forts at Crown Point and Niagara. Massachusetts raised an army of near 7,000 men ; but through the incapacity of Gen. Abercrombie, the British commander, "the summer passed in fruitless labor."
In Capt. Tristam Davis' Co., Crown Point expedition, in service Feb. to Dec., 1756, were Sergt. Hugh Tackels, b. Ireland, age 31, blacksmith ; Aaron Nelson, Daniel Allen, William Geary, Samuel Smith, all of Palmer.
William Carlyle was impressed April 22, 1756.
Benjamin King, son of John King, Sen., enlisted in the spring, and was killed by the Indians at Fort Massachusetts, June 7, 1756. Sylvanus Walker was in Capt. Solomon Keyes' Co., Mar. to Dec. Stephen Blackmer and Simeon Brooks were in service from July 10 to Dec. 31.
Samuel Lemmon enlisted this year, and continued in service through '57, '58 and '59.
Roll of Minute Men of Col. John Worthington's Regiment.
Capt. Samuel Day Lieut. Timothy Bliss
Corp. John Bliss
Corp. John Sloan
Ens. John King Clerk, Samuel Warner
Corp. Isaac Applin
Corp. John Hill
Sergt. William King
Drum' Jona. Ely
Sergt. Caleb Stebbins
Benoni Atchinson
Sergt. Francis Brakenridge John Langdon
.
150
HISTORY OF PALMER.
Abner Chapin
David Bratten
John Hitchcock
David Shaw
Moses Warriner
John Millard
Jesse Warner
Hugh Smith
Benj. Warner, Jun.
James McMighill
John Jones
Nero Mirick
Eleazar Bliss
William Shaw
Benjamin Smith
James Moore
Thomas McClanathan
William Man
Martin Waite
Joshua McMaster
John Lamberton
Robert McMaster
William Fleming David King
Matthew Spencer
Twenty-one or twenty-two of these men belonged to Palmer. The nature of the service performed is not stated ; but the account was allowed June 14, 1757. [Archives, xcv. 405.]
1757. This was the eventful year of the war, noted for the dis- astrous campaigns of the combined British and American forces, and remembered and spoken of by our fathers for three generations as the year of " The Great Alarm about the taking of Fort William Henry."
The expedition planned against Crown Point and Ticonderoga was popular. Many of the men who were out last year continued in the service, and recruits were easily procured. But by order of Lord Loudon, then commanding in the Provinces, the bulk of the forces were drawn off in an expedition against Louisbourg, which proved a failure.
While the main army were at the eastward, only 7,000 men- 4,000 under Gen. Webb at Fort Edward, and 3,000 under Col. Munroe at Fort William Henry-were left for the defence of the northwestern frontiers.
At this juncture, Gen. Montcalm gathered a French and Indian army of 11,000 men, and concentrated at Ticonderoga. August 3, with 9,000 of his best troops, including 1,000 Indians, he invested Fort William Henry. For six days Col. Munroe, with an effective force of 2,372 men, held the great army at bay, constantly expect- ing aid from Gen. Webb, then lying only fifteen miles distant. But no help came ; and on Aug. 9, the fort was surrendered. The defence had been so gallant that Col. Munroe was admitted to an honorable capitulation, viz., that his troops should be allowed to march out with the honors of war, retaining their arms, baggage and one field-piece. The articles of capitulation, however, were shamefully broken. The Indians attached to Montcalm's army, without hindrance from the French officers, commenced to plunder
151
PALMER A DISTRICT, 1752-1776.
the more valuable baggage, and then to murder both officers and men in cold blood. The numbers thus massacred could never be known, but it fell little short of 300.
This disaster spread consternation throughout Massachusetts. All the militia rushed to arms, and were quickly on the march "for the relief of the army at Fort William Henry." The com- panies from the towns near the scene of conflict reached the neigh- borhood of the devastated fort, but too late to be of essential ser- vice. The more distant companies were halted on the march, and reached home at the end of from seven to seventeen days.
Apprehending that Montcalm might take advantage of his suc- cess, and make a descent on the defenseless towns of our state, Gov. Pownal issued orders to Sir. William Pepperell at Springfield, dated Boston, August 13, noon-" If the enemy [Montcalm's forces of French and Indians] should approach the frontiers, you will order all wagons west of the Connecticut river to have their wheels knocked off, and to drive the said country of all horses, to order all provisions that can be brought off, and what cannot, to destroy ; and you will receive this as my order, not to be executed but in case of necessity, and then not to fail to do it.
Signed THOMAS POWNAL."
But the French commander did not pursue his advantage. The neighborhood of the Connecticut river was too full of armed men. But the sudden excitement in the heat of dog-days, and forced marches without suitable clothing and provisions and shelter, brought on sickness among our troops. Hospitals were established at Westfield, and other places on the routes westward ; and there was great suffering and many deaths.
Of Palmer men, Sergt. Hugh Tackels, and Samuel Lemmon con- tinued in the service. Samuel Allen, Moses Scott, Thomas Hen- derson, William Mitchell, John Blackmer, Stephen Crowfoot and John King, were in Israel Williams' Co., out from Jan. to Nov.
David Brewer was in Capt. John Chadwick's Co., Col. John Worthington's Regiment.
Capt. John Thomson and his company were ordered out, and marched ; but the muster-roll cannot be found.
The following certificates speak for themselves :
"I hereby certify that my son, Thomas Ferrand was captivated by the French and Indians at the surrender of Fort William Henry last year ; he was in Col. Frye's Regiment, and Capt. Jonathan Ball's Co .; he was seen in Canada by several who have since returned home, and there is a flying rumor of his being sent to France, but it wants confirmation.
Palmer, Sept. 15, 1758.
THOMAS FARRAND.
152
HISTORY OF PALMER.
"I hereby certify that my brother, James Man, of Capt. Waldo's Co., was taken by the French and Indians at the surrender of Fort William Henry last year, and was afterwards seen in Canada, in possession of the French, and it is reported that he was sent to France, but the story wants confirmation.
WILLIAM MAN.
Palmer, Sept. 18, 1758."
Many of the soldiers of that ill-fated army disappeared at that date, and their fate, whether by death or captivity was never known.
1758. The plan of the campaign for this year included the in- vestment of Louisbourg ; and expeditions against Ticonderoga and Fort DuQuesne. The first and last were successful ; that against Ticonderoga was a disastrous failure, though it was in part compen- sated by the capture of the French fort Frontenac on Lake Ontario.
Massachusetts raised 7,000 men for the army. Isaac Ferrell of Palmer was in Capt. Jonathan Ball's Co., Col. William Williams' Regiment, from April 18 to May 31, 1758.
Early in the year Col. Williams received orders to prepare his Regiment to march for the Reduction of Canada. Some of the companies were mustered March 13, though the march was not begun till the roads were settled in May. The route was by way of Westfield river, Pittsfield, Greenbush, Lake George, etc.
A Muster Roll of Capt. Daniel Burt's Co. of Foot, for the Reduc- tion of Canada, in Col. William Williams' Regiment, 1758.
Names.
Residence.
Mustered.
Discharged.
Capt. Daniel Burt
Brimfield
March 13
Nov. 20
Lieut. Stephen Dewey
Sheffield
13
1
Davenport Williams
Springfield
13
Oct. 18
Ens. John King
Palmer
13
Nov. 4
Sergt. Aaron Mirick
Brimfield
April
14
5
Gad Astin
Sheffield
66
13
Oct. 31
Phineas Dingey
Brimfield
10
Nov.
5
Hugh Tackels
Palmer
10
66
4
Corp. Josiah Holbrook
Brimfield
14
66
5
66 Paul Keyes
Sheffield
May
2
Oct. 31
Timothy Ferrell
Palmer
April
10
Nov.
4
Stephen Hatch
Brimfield
66
14
Oct.
1
Jasper Needham
Sheffield
13
Oct. 31
Zebulon Sacket
66
8
31
Israel Taylor
66
10
31
Josiah Fox
66
10
31
David Walker
66
66
5
31
Asa Bush
66
10
. “
31
4
Drum' Isaac Mund
10
Nov. 5
Samuel Harmon
10
66
31
Noble Smith
14
153
PALMER A DISTRICT, 1752-1776.
Names.
Mustered.
Discharged.
John Astin
May
2
Oct. 31
Ebenezer Fosgate
2
31
Elijah Spencer
April
5
31
Samuel Gutteridge
66
May
2
31
Joshua Le Baron
2
July 26
Jabez Joslin
April
11
Oct. 31
Benjamin Sheldon
May
2
31
Lemuel Covell
66
2
Oct. 31
Abner Colton
Springfield
April
20
Nov. 3
John Fermon
Sept. 17
Moses Cooley
Palmer
66
14
Nov. 4
Luke Chapin
Brimfield
66
14
Oct.
9
James McNitt
Palmer
10
Nov.
4
William McMichell
4
David Bratten
10
4
John Moor, Jun.
66
66
10
Nov. 4
James Nelson
10
4
Joshua McMaster
10
4
Samuel Patterson
66
10
4
Isaac Applin
66
66
10
60
4
Moses Parsons .
66
66
10
4
Isaac Walker
Brimfield
May
2
66
5
Benjamin Blodgett
66
2
5
Jonathan Moulton
66
April
28
Sept.
4
Isaac Bliss
28
Nov.
5
Archibald Graham
66
28
5
William Garey
5
Nathaniel Mighill
14
66
5
Reuben Towsley
13
66
5
Phinehas Graves
14
July 31
Simeon Keene
66
14
Nov. 5
Ebenezer Stebbins
66
66
14
5
Elnathan Munger
66
10
66
5
John Shaw
10
60
5
John Harris
66
66
14
66
5
Peter Graves
66
14
5
Smith Ainsworth
66
14
d. Oct. 17
Daniel Sherman
66
66
13
July 23
Berial Sherman
66
14
Nov. 5
Joseph Morgan
66
14
5
Asa Belknap
66
66
14
5
Israel Janes
66
66
14
5
66
10
July 20
Joel Camp
2
66
5
Timothy Walker
2
July 26
Noah Hosford
20
10
4
Aquila Moffett
Residence. Sheffield
Isaac Scott
66
14
Nov. 5
14
10
154
HISTORY OF PALMER.
Names.
Residence. Brimfield
Mustered.
Discharged.
Peter Follen
April
14
Nov. 5
Asa Holbrook
66
14
5
Thomas Hobart
d. Sept.
4
Reuben Hoar
66
66
14
Nov. 5
Jacob Ainsworth
14
Aug. 18
Matthias Hartman
66
May
2
Nov.
5
William Nelson
John Morgan
66
2
Sept. 16
John Rosebrook
66
2
Nov.
5
Richard Bishop
66
66
2
66
5
Samuel Webber
2
5
Samuel Mitchell
66
2
66
5
John Thomson
66
66
2
5
Reuben Lilly
66
2
66
5
Aaron Nelson
Palmer
April
14
4
James Lemmon
66
10
Oct. 31
Samuel Church
66
10
Joab Astin
66
14
66
31
John Collins
May
2
21
John Beals
66
12
Oct. 31
Noah Frost
Springfield
66
14
Nov. 3
Paul Hitchcock
Brimfield
66
14
Oct.
4
Jotham King
66
14
d. Aug.
9
Benjamin Nelson
66
May
2
5
Benjamin Webber
66
66
2
5
Enoch Noble
Sheffield
2
Oct. 31
7
4
Jesse Beers
66
10
4
Gideon King
Sheffield
April
8
Sept. 16
Josiah Church
14
Nov.
5
Benjamin Carpenter
" I hereby certify that my son Matthew Spencer, was captivated by the French and Indians, about the middle of June Last, as he was on a scout- ing party from Lake George to Ticonderoga- He was a soldier in Maj. Rogers' Co. of Rangers. SARAH SPENCER, Widow.
Palmer, Sept. 19, 1758. .
1759. The taking of Louisbourg in July of last year gave the English control of the eastern gate to Canada. The only strong- holds 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 division under Gen. Amherst July 22, and after a short seige taken : when Crown Point was abandoned by the
·
4
James Taylor
66
2
5
2
July 23
Joseph Thomson
14
31
155
PALMER A DISTRICT, 1752-1776.
French, who retired to the Isle aux Nois, at the northern extremity of the Lake.
While these operations were going on, Gen. Wolfe was prose- cuting 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.
Descriptive Roll of men enlisted in Col. John Worthington's regiment, invasion of Canada, 1759.
These men were attached to Capt. John Furnass' Co., and served in the battalion commanded by Col. T. Ruggles :
Samuel Lemmon, of Palmer, age, 27, enlisted March 23, dis- charged Sept. 25.
Joseph McMichel, of Palmer, age 26, enlisted Mar. 31, dis- charged Dec. 4.
Thomas Hill, son of Mary H., of Palmer, age 19, enlisted Mar. 28.
John Millard, of Palmer, age 23, enlisted Mar. 29, discharged Dec. 8.
Jonathan Chapin, of Palmer, age -, enlisted Apr. 6, discharged Dec. 3.
John Davis, of Palmer, age -, enlisted Apr. 6, discharged Dec. 8.
Benjamin Trask, then of Brimfield, afterwards physician in Palmer, age 35, enlisted April 6.
In Capt. Silvanus Walker's Co., Crown Point expedition, out from May 15 to Dec. 27, 1759, were Stephen Hatch and John Recky of Palmer.
Thomas Dunham, Benjamin Hutchinson and Jesse Warner of Palmer enlisted in Capt. John Bancroft's Co., Crown Point expedi- tion, and were in service March 31, to Dec. 27.
1760. The capture of Montreal was all that remained to be done to complete the conquest of Canada. Gen. Amherst concen- trated the three divisions of the army before Montreal, Sept. 6 and 7 ; and on the 8th the whole Province of Canada with its depen- dencies surrendered to the British crown.
Descriptive Roll of men enlisted from Palmer in Capt. Tristam Davis' Co. for Reduction of Canada. The Co. was mustered Mar. 5 and discharged Nov. 25, 1760.
John Recky, b. Palmer, age 18, enlisted Mar. 1, lived with Thos. McClanathan.
Nathaniel Hews, b. Palmer, age 35, enlisted Mar. 31.
156
HISTORY OF PALMER.
James McNight, b. Palmer, age 20, enlisted Apr. 10, son of Barnard McNitt.
David English, b. Palmer, age 17, enlisted Apr. 11, lived with David Shaw.
Moses Cooley, b. Palmer, age 19, enlisted Apr. 10, son of David Cooley.
Isaac Magoon, b. Palmer, age 17, son of Isaac Magoon.
Aaron Nelson, of Palmer.
William Nelson, of Palmer.
Joseph Patterson of Palmer, enlisted in Capt. Robert Field's Company, out from June 10 to Dec. 2, 1760.
Elnathan Samson was in Capt. Williams' Co., Col. Thomas' Regiment, service at the westward.
Petition of Capt. John Thomson.
"Your petitioner's son, Benjamin Thomson, enlisted himself into the Provincial service last summer, into Capt. Barnard's Co., Col. Saltonstall's Regiment, and was taken sick at Montreal the third day after the reduction of it; from thence was carried to Crown Point, and underwent great hard- ships and wet in the battoes, which sickness proved to be the small-pox, and had it very bad, and lost one of his eyes with the same distemper. Yr petr went after him October 29, and came home November 25,-27 days. Found his son in the S. P. Hospital at Crown Point, very low, which detained him some days, and then came very slow, which was a great ex- pense of money and time. Could get no relief or billeting at Province cost, but yr petr discharged all expenses. Prays for a reasonable reward in money.
JOHN THOMSON.
Palmer, March 17, 1761.
The General Court ordered four pounds to be paid to William Scott for the Petitioner, in full.
Allowance granted for sick and wounded soldiers.
£1, 16, 6, to Z. Foster, for Ebenezer Mirick.
£5, 12, 8, to 66 for Isaac Magoon.
Massachusetts levied 3,000 men for the army in 1761 : and about the same number in '62 ; but the war was substantially ended. A treaty of peace was signed at Paris, Feb. 10, 1763.
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.
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