USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > Pittsfield > History of the town of Pittsfield, in Berkshire County, Mass., with a map of the county > Part 7
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all the plate, merchandise and plunder of the town of Boston, to pay them for their ignominious expedition which, in my opinion would not be at all inconsistent with the shameful principles of those who have sent them on so inglorious an expedition.
I fervently pray, Sir, that our Council of War may be inspired with wis- dom from above, to direct the warlike enterprise with prudence, discretion and vigor. O may your councils and deliberations be under the guidance and blessing of Heaven. Since I began, an intelligible person, who left Ti- conderoga Saturday before last, informs me, that having went through there and Crown Point about three weeks ago, all were secure; but on his return, he found they were alarmed with our expedition, and would not admit him into the fort : that there were twelve soldiers at Crown Point, and he judged near two hundred at Ticonderoga : that these forts are out of repair and much in ruins : that it was his own opinion our men would undoubtedly be able to take them ; and that he met our men last Thursday, who were well furnish- ed with cattle and wagons laden with provisions, and in good spirits, who he supposed would arrive there last Sabbath day, and he doubted not but this week they would bein possession of those forts. He informed them where they might obtain a plenty of ball, and there are cannon enough at Crown Point, which they cannot secure from us ; that he saw the old Sow from Cape Breton, and a number of good brass cannon at Ticonderoga. Should this expedition succeed, and should the Council of War send up their orders for the people this way to transport by land twenty or thirty of the best can- non to head quarters, I doubt not but the people in this country would do it with all expedition. We could easily collect a thousand yoke of cattle for the business.
Since I wrote the last paragraph, an express has arrived from Benedict Arnold, commander of the forces against Ticonderoga, for recruits : in con- sequence of which, orders are issued out for a detachment of eighteen men of each company in this regiment to march immediately, who will be on their way this day. I am, Sir, with great respect, your humble servant, THOMAS ALLEN.
[General Pomeroy, to whom the above letters were addressed, appears to have been at Cambridge at their respective dates.]
NOTE E.
Members of the Congress of the United States from Pittsfield.
Simon Larned, from 1806 to 1807 .. George N. Briggs, from 1831 to 1843. Ezekiel Bacon, 1807 to 1813. Julius Rockwell, 1844.
John W. Hurlbut, " 1815 to 1817.
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Members of the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, from Pittsfield. John Brown, Feb. 15, 1775. Charles Goodrich, March 22, 1775.
Members of the Senate of the State.
Timothy Childs, 1805 to 1809.
Samuel M. Mckay, 1829.
Phinehas Allen, 1819 to 1821.
Thomas F. Plunkett, 1841 and 42.
Jonathan Allen, 1822 and 23.
Members of the Governor's Council.
John C. Williams, 1817-18.
Joshua Danforth, 1827-8.
Nathan Willis, 1824-5, 6.
Representatives to the State Legislature.
Pittsfield first represented May 31, 1769, by
1785, 1801,
Capt Charles Goodrich. 1770, Capt Charles Goodrich. Joshua Danforth. 1786, 1802,
Capt. Charles Goodrich 1771, Dr. Timothy Childs. Joshua Danforth. 1803, William Williams. 1772, 1787, Henry Van Skaack, Joshua Danforth. 1804, William Williams. Capt. David Bush. 1788, Dr. Timothy Childs, Thomas Allen, Jun. 1805, Thomas Allen, Jun., Simeon Griswold. 1806,
1773, Capt. Charles Goodrich. Capt. David Bush, 1774, James Easton. 1775,
Capt. Charles Goodrich, Israel Dickinson. 1776, Valentine Rathbun, Israel Dickinson. 1777, Capt. Daniel Hubbard, Dr. Timothy Childs. 1793, Capt. Daniel Hubbard, Dr. Timothy Childs. 1794, John C. Williams. 1795,
Valentine Rathbun, Josiah Wright, Eli Root.
1778,
Col. John Brown. 1779,
Col. William Williams,
James Noble. 1780, John C. Williams. 1796, Capt. Charles Goodrich. John C. Williams. 1781, 1797, Col. William Williams. John C. Williams. 1782, 1798, No one. 1783, John C. Williams. 1799, Ashbel Strong. 1800, John C. Williams.
No one. 1784, Dr. Timothy Childs.
Woodbridge Little. 1789, Woodbridge Little. 1790, Woodbridge Little. 1791, Simon Larned. 1792,
Joshua Danforth, Simeon Griswold. 1807, Simeon Griswold, John Churchill. 1808, Joshua Danforth, John Churchill, Joseph Shearer. 1809, Simeon Griswold, John Churchill, Joseph Shearer. 1810, John Churchill, Joseph Shearer, James Brown, Oren Goodrich.
1811,
Timothy Childs, James Brown, Oren Goodrich, Horace Allen.
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1812, Timothy Childs, Oren Goodrich, Jonathan Allen, John B. Root.
1813,
John B. Root, Caleb Wadhams, John Dickinson, Simeon Bromn.
1814,
Timothy Childs, Simeon Griswold, John Churchill, Phinehas Allen.
1815,
Oren Goodrich,
John Dickinson,
Phinehas Allen, Oliver Robbins.
1816,
Jonathan Allen,
Oliver Robbins,
Joel Stevens, Henry H. Childs.
1817,
Jonathan Allen.
1818,
Phinehas Allen.
1819,
Oren Goodrich. 1820,
Jonathan Allen. 1821,
Jonathan Allen,
Josiah Stearns.
1833,
Samuel M. Mckay,
Thomas Melville,
John Churchill, Charles B. Francis. 1834,
Samuel M. Mckay, Julius Rockwell,
Robert Campbell, Charles B. Francis.
1835,
Julius Rockwell, Robert Campbell,
Matthias R. Lanckton,
Jabez Peck, Daniel Stearns, Jun., 1836,
Julius Rockwell,
Jabez Peck,
Matthias R. Lanckton,
Butler Goodrich,
Jason Clapp.
1837,
Julius Rockwell,
Butler Goodrich,
Jason Clapp,
Henry Daniels,
Amos Barnes.
1838,
Amos Barnes, Henry Hubbard.
1839,
George W. Campbell,
Solomon L. Russell. 1840,
Jabez Peck, James Francis, Comfort B. Platt. 1841,
James Francis, Comfort B. Platt.
1842,
Abel West. 1843,
William C. Jarvis. 1822, William C. Jarvis. 1823,
William C. Jarvis,
Daniel B. Bush, Samuel M. Mckay, Oren Goodrich.
1824,
William C. Jarvis, Samuel M. Mckay.
1825, Samuel M. Mckay. 1826, Samuel M. McKay, Matthias R. Lanckton. 1827, Matthias R. Lanckton,
Thomas B. Strong,
Daniel B. Bush,
Henry H. Childs. 1828, Thomas B. Strong,
Daniel B. Bush,
Samuel M. Mckay,
Daniel H. Francis.
1829, Thomas B. Strong. 1830,
Daniel H. Francis,
Jonathan Allen,
Joseph Merrick,
Hosea Merrill, Jun. 1831,
Nathan Willis,
Hosea Merrill, Jun.,
Jonathan Allen,2d, Josiah Stearns.
1832,
Nathan Willis,
Thomas B. Strong,
Jonathan Allen, 2d.,
Ensign H. Kellogg, Griffin Chamberlain. 1844,
Ensign H. Kellogg, Titus Goodman.
NOTE F.
Cemeteries-Mortality-Remarks on the general healthfulness of the place.
" In the midst of life we are in death," and though our great concern should be to have our souls prepared to go and dwell with God, yet provision should be made for the decent interment of the body, destined to lie in the dust until the resurrection. In the first warrant for calling a meeting of the proprietors of this township, after their incorporation in 1753, one article
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was, " to see if they could agree upon some suitable place or places for the burying of the dead." The ground first contemplated for this purpose, was probably that in the centre, back of the Congregational Church, which has been used by the English inhabitants as their principal cemetery, until recently. The first burial in town took place, and it is supposed here, in 1757 ; though the yard does not appear to have been cleared then, nor for many years afterwards ; for in Nov. 1769, the people voted " to clear ground for a burying place." Some forty or fifty years since, a small grave yard was laid out in the west part of the town, and another in the extreme east. In 1834, a large lot of eight or ten acres, a little northeast of the central yard, was appropriated as a cemetery, and much of it has been sold in lots for the accommodation of families. Many recently dead have been buried in it, and many bodies have been removed to it from the old yard, (now forbidden to be used any more for the purposes of interment.) Numerous monuments already appear in it.
From 1757 to May, 1808, a period of fifty-one years, the Rev. Mr. Allen, the first minister of the town, states in round numbers, that the burials in town were 1000, making nearly twenty a year on an average. The popula- tion of the town for a large portion of this period, is too imperfectly known to authorize from this statement any very definite calculations respecting the general healthfulness of the place. It is apparent, however, from this, that the town could not have been considered on the whole as sickly. On the other hand there are facts in abundance to show that the place is favorable to health and longevity, in common with the towns in the vicinity. Owing to the greater breadth of the Housatonic valley, and to the number of streams and ponds, it is true " the air is more humid than in some parts of Berkshire, and the quantity of dew is considerably greater." The humidity does not appear to affect essentially the health of residents. There are here no pecul- iar local causes of disease, and endemics have been less frequent than in some towns in the County.
Among the evidences that the town is healthy, one is the longevity to which a considerable number have attained. The Rev. Mr. Allen, before referred to, affirms that in 1808, there were twenty-two men then living, over 72 years of age. Before and since that time we find the following persons, among others, dying very aged :- David Bush, Aaron Baker, Simeon Crofoot and Timothy Cadwell, died aged fourscore; John Baker and Oliver Root, aged 85; Nathaniel Fairfield aged 87; William Francis aged 88; Jacob Ensign, Daniel Sacket and Benj. Keeler, aged 89; Zebadiah Stiles died at 90; Mrs. Deming, wife of Solomon, at 92; and Charles Goodrich, Esq. at 96.
There have been years of unusual sickness and mortality here as in other places ; but they have not been very frequent. In June, 1775, it is mentioned in a vote of the town, as a reason for requesting Dr. Timothy Childs to return home from the army, that it was very sickly : what the sickness was is not stated. That year, however, the deaths were only twenty-one. The only endemic here of importance, originating from a known cause, was a fever of the intermittent type, occasioned by a dam over the west branch of the Hou- satonic, causing the overflow of an extensive marsh back, beginning about
80
1783, and continuing several years. By this, sickness was spread extensively in the town, and the mortality somewhat increased. In other years, when there has been the greatest mortality, some epidemic has prevailed more or less over this region of country. In 1808 and '9, the scarlet fever prevailed' and in the latter year there were forty-nine deaths, though in the former there were but twenty-four. In 1810, in the rage of the spotted fever, there were forty deaths, and in 1811, forty-one. In 1812 and 13, a disease prevailed, sometimes styled the " old epidemic," (pneumonia typhoides.) In the first year, however, there were only twenty-four deaths; in the second, there were sixty-eight, (a very great mortality ; ) and the year following there were forty.
With the exception of these years, and some few others, the people have been blessed with general health. Most who have gone to the great congre- gation of the dead have gone in the ordinary course of Divine Providence.
[The subjoined statement is given, though not referred to in the text. ]
Support of the Poor.
The inhabitants of this place many years since were in the habit of sup- porting their paupers by employing persons to keep them, who were willing to keep them on the lowest terms, one, two, three or more in a family, as cir- cumstances rendered most convenient. . Thus they were scattered in differ- ent parts of the town. From 1812 to 1832, they were kept together by the lowest bidder ; for the first ten or twelve years, for #1100, and for the remain- der of the period, for about $1350 a year. In 1831, a farm was purchased in the west part of the town, and every necessary was procured for the recep- tion of the poor by the 1st of May, 1832.
The farm (containing ninety acres,) cost $2323 50
Stock,
315 52
Farming utensils,
51 82
Buildings and repairs,
592 26
" Furniture,
423 94
Total, $3707 04
The people were fortunate in the purchase of the farm, and in the selec- tion of an overseer, and the result is a great saving of expense to the town, while the poor are placed in circumstances of greater comfort, and are more contented and happy. The pastors of the churches visit and instruct them Should the temperance reformation go on to its desired consummation, the number of paupers here as well as elsewhere, will be greatly diminished ; and as for those who are poor through Providence of God, nothing can be more reasonable, than that their more favored brethren should provide for their support. They ought to be furnished not only with subsistence, but with the means of grace, that through the blessing of God they may be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which God has provided for them that love him.
ERROR .- On p. 19, 18th line from top, for seventy, read, about 75 or 80.
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