USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Warwick > History of the town of Warwick, Massachusetts, from its first settlement to 1854 > Part 5
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I 785.
This year the town was divided into nine school- districts by a committee, who named the inhabitants
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
that should belong to each ; and in this imperfect man- ner they have remained ever since, excepting some small alteration, and a division of the north-west dis- trict, making ten in the whole.
In August a meeting was called to see what the town would do with William Houghton's rates ; and it was " voted that the selectmen be chosen to inspect and oversee William Houghton, and see that the pro- , duce of his labor be appropriated towards paying his taxes as far as may be ; and if the produce of his labor finally fails, and his taxes cannot be recovered, the town shall indemnify the constables respecting his taxes."
I 786.
In 1786, the inhabitants met in town-meeting, and chose Capt. John Goldsbury as a suitable person to be commissioned as a justice of the peace, and for- warded a petition to the governor, in recommenda- tion of him. A minority of the voters protested against the proceedings, declaring that a justice of the peace could not be chosen by the town constitutionally.
About this time the public mind was considerably agitated by a rebellion of a part of the good citizens of Massachusetts. The insurgents, with one Daniel Shays, a native of Pelham, at their head, threatened to break up the government of the State, and to put down all the authority of its members. They actually assembled a considerable force ; and for a while they increased in numbers to such a degree as actually to spread terror and dismay through the Commonwealth.
71
HISTORY OF WARWICK.
The government raised a large body of men to quell them, and several lives were lost before they were brought to terms. This town did not escape the shock, being considerably divided. Some espoused .the cause of the rebels ; while others stood by their rulers. .
Several town-meetings were called ; they chose a delegate to send to a convention in Hatfield, to devise means to allay the disturbance. Mr. Jacob Packard . was the delegate chosen. They called a town-meet- ing to see if the town would assist the selectmen, they having been imprisoned for acting in their office. But the article was passed over.
In September, 1786, there is an agreement with Capt. Samuel Langley to build a new meeting-house recorded as follows, viz. :-
" The house to be fifty-eight feet long and forty-two feet wide, with a porch on the front of the house, sufficient to contain convenient stairs to go up into the galleries. There is to be forty pews on the lower floor (agreeable to a plan herewith exhibited) ; there is to be galleries in the front, and at each end of the house, fourteen feet wide from the wall, with pews on the back of said galleries, five feet eight inches wide from the wall ; the rest of the gallery to be seats with a convenient alley round, agreeable to a plan herewith submitted. The seats in the front gallery to be for singers to sit in ; the seats in the side galleries to be for persons to sit in, as the Congregational Society shall direct. The house to be completely finished off by the first day of September, 1788, in the following form and manner : viz., The pews to be with wainscot work, with frieze panels or banisters, and one seat in each pew. The front of the
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
body-seats and the deacons' seat to be wainscot-work, with a convenient communion-table. The body-seats on the lower floor, and the seats in the gallery, to be all framed. The pulpit to be built after the Doric order, with fluted pil- lars, and architraves by the sides of the window. The bot- tom of the canopy to be an octagon panel in the centre. The remaining part by the same rule, the top to be turned with an O. G. ; the entablature to be by the Corinthian order, except the modillion ; the breast-work of the gal- leries to be one wide panel with dental cornices, and built with six turned pillars under the galleries, and panel pil- lars over the same on the breast-work. One eight-panel door at each end of the house, with pediments and double architraves. One double door and two single doors to the porch, with architraves, cornice, and caps; double doors with six panels each at the entrance of the house, out of the porch, above and below. The frame to be as follows : The sills to be of yellow pine, nine by ten inches square. Five lower summers to be twelve inches square. Four cor- ner posts ten inches square ; to be oak, with cock tenons. Eight pine cock-tenon posts ten inches square. Four prick posts ten inches square. Eight pair of rafters nine by ten inches square. Six pair of compass rafters. Four king- posts broad studded, twelve inches over on each side ; the joists in the lower floor to be within two feet of each other, and those in the roof to be three feet from each other. The house to be braced up and down, in every place where the windows and doors will admit. The boards on the roof to be jointed. The roof to be shingled with good fifteen-inch shingles, with double cornice at the gable ends, with one compass window in each gable end ; thirty-three windows in the body of the house, of twenty-four squares in each window of eight by ten London crown or Bristol glass, with good frames, cornice, and solid caps ; and one window in
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
the porch of the house ; and the porch to be clapboarded with good sound clapboards planed. The floor to be dou- ble, the upper floor to be jointed, the pew floors to be jointed and planed. The gallery floor to be double. The ceiling over the body of the house and under the galleries, and the walls (except the board ceiling from the floors), to be lathed and plastered The house and porch to be well underpinned with good stones.
" And the said Samuel Langley do hereby promise and engage to build the house, and finish it off workmanlike, agreeable to the foregoing directions, by the time before mentioned, on the following conditions : viz., That a suffi- cient number of the society appear to purchase thirty-nine pews on the lower floor (the pew next adjoining the pulpit stairs to be for the use of the Congregational minister for the time being), the said thirty-nine pews to be nine pounds each on an average, and to be paid for in the following manner : viz., Two pounds in cash for each pew when the meeting-house is raised ; two pounds more for each pew when they are finished off ; the rest of the pay for each pew to be paid for in neat cattle, sheep, or flax-seed, at the cur- rent price when the meeting-house is completely finished. The pews in the gallery to be five pounds each, on an aver- age, to all such persons that return their names to the com- mittee to become purchasers by the fifth day of October next. After that day any person may purchase any of the pews in the gallery of the said Langley, as he and they can agree ; as those pews are to be his property till sold. The body seats on the lower floor to be used and improved by any persons that shall choose to occupy them, as the Con- gregational Society shall order. And I, the said Samuel Langley, do further agree and engage that I will receive of the purchasers of the forementioned pews, towards pay for the same, the following materials, at the prices fixed to each
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
article, of each man's proportion as it shall be apportioned by the Society's committee, if each person shall give notice to the committee by the first day of November next that they will provide their said proportion of the materials at the spot by the time hereafter prefixed. And if any person shall neglect to notify the committee as aforesaid, he for- feits his chance of paying in such materials, and the com- mittee may employ any other of the purchasers of pews as they shall think just ; so that there may be no failure of the materials being all on the spot by the time hereafter men- tioned. The materials are as follows : viz., Ten thousand of good ceiling-boards, one inch and one-eighth thick, at one pound, ten shillings. Twenty-five thousand good mer- chantable inch boards, at one pound, five shillings. Five thousand half-inch pine boards, at one pound. Nine thou- sand half-inch chestnut boards, at one pound. Eight thou- sand of good sawed clapboards, six inches wide, at one pound, five shillings. Twenty-nine thousand of good fifteen- inch shingles, at eight shillings per thousand. One hun- dred pieces of slit-work fourteen feet long, four by five inches, at the rate of twenty-eight shillings per thousand. Eighty pieces fourteen feet long, four by five, at twenty-six shillings per thousand. Thirty pieces twelve feet long, four by four, twenty-six shillings per thousand. Sixty pieces, nine feet long, three by five, same price. Ten hogsheads of good stone lime, at two pounds, fourteen shillings, per hogshead. And if any of the proprietors of pews shall see fit to pay any of the following articles at the prices thereto affixed, towards paying for their pews, I will receive the same, and receipt on delivery, and receive their receipt in pay for their pews. The articles are as follows: viz., Six thousand of double tens at thirteen shillings per thousand. Thirty thousand tenpenny nails, at nine shillings per thousand. Ninety-four thousand fourpenny nails, at three shillings and
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
four pence per thousand. Five thousand of fivepenny brads, at six shillings per thousand. Three thousand of threepenny brads, at three shillings per thousand. Sixty- two pair of pew-door hinges, at one shilling and four pence per pair. Six boxes of London crown or Bristol glass, eight by ten size, at five pounds, two shillings, per hundred feet. The pews in the gallery that are purchased by the first day of October next to be paid for in the following manner : viz., One dollar in cash when the meeting-house is raised, and one dollar more when the pews are finished ; the next to be paid in neat stock, sheep, or flax-seed, when the meeting-house is completely finished. The slit-work to be at the spot by the first day of May next. The boards, shingles, and clapboards, by the first day of June next. The lime by the first day of September next.
" And I, the said Samuel Langley, do further agree and promise, that if there should be any donations in labor or in any other way given towards the meeting-house, that I will render an account to the committee of the same, towards the pay of the thirty-nine pews on the lower floor, and in the gallery, as it shall be apportioned by the committee.
" And I, the said Samuel Langley, do agree that the com- mittee shall inspect and view the workmanship and materi- als of the meeting-house when finished ; and if they judge that there is any deficiency in the work or materials, that I will leave the matter out to disinterested persons that under- stand such business, that the committee and I shall mutu- ally choose ; and I will oblige myself to abide their judg- ment.
" As witness my hand,
" SAMUEL LANGLEY. " WARWICK, Sept. 15, 1786."
And further respecting the meeting-house, it was first decided to face it to the west ; but afterwards it was agreed to face it to the south, as it now stands.
76
HISTORY OF WARWICK.
A meeting was called in August, to hear the peti- tion of James Ball respecting the meeting-house, which is as follows : viz., To see if the town will vote to take the windows that are in the old meeting-house in War- wick, and divide them equally among the school-dis- tricts proportionally as the school-wards stand on the town invoice ; and also proceed to sell the old meet- ing-house for what it will fetch at vendue, and the money or securities arising by the sale of said old meeting-house, bring into the town treasury of War- wick, to defray the public charges of the town, or other- wise dispose of the said meeting-house as the town shall see fit, on condition the petitioners produce to the town an agreement or vote of the Congregational Society in Warwick, that all persons of any denom- ination of Christians in Warwick may and shall have free liberty to meet with the said Congregational So- ciety on the Lord's days and other times, for public worship in the new meeting-house ; and that the town may and shall have the same right to meet in the new meeting-house in Warwick at all times hereafter, to transact the town's public business, as the town now has in the old meeting-house.
At this meeting it was proposed, whether the town would give the old meeting-house to the proprietors of the new one, on condition that the Society give to the town of Warwick a good deed of all the privileges in the new meeting-house, agreeable to a vote of the Society ; and this vote passed in the affirmative.
At this meeting the selectmen were chosen a com- mittee to receive the deed for the town from the So- ciety.
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
It appears that Capt. Langley built the above-men- tioned meeting-house, by the job, for the sum of fifteen hundred dollars ; and the thirty-nine pews on the lower floor at nine pounds each, and twenty pews in the gallery at five pounds each, make but a trifle over this sum. The pews were called equal in value ; and the members of the society cast lots for the first choice on the lower floor. Old Mr. Thomas Gould got the first choice ; and he chose the pew where Mr. Elijah Fisk now sits, on the right-hand side of the broad aisle near the centre of the house. Mr. Moses Fay had the last choice, -" Hobson's choice,"-that or none ; and he had the south-west corner pew. Capt. Langley made a losing job, as he had the gallery pews at five pounds each ; and they were not all sold for many years, and then at a very low price ; and his loss was increased by his losing his dwelling-house, with the principal part of his furniture, by fire ; and he had almost finished all the pews and doors for the meeting-house, which were all thus suddenly con- sumed. The Society made him some remuneration, but not enough to compensate his loss.
1787.
In March, 1787, the town assembled as usual, and, for some cause now unknown, adjourned the meeting until April ; and at this meeting it was insisted on, that the meeting should be regulated according to an act of the General Court, published in February, 1786. Whereupon the selectmen and assessors exhibited a
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
list of voters, which was read ; and, after some debate, it was moved that a vote should be taken, whether the town would proceed ; and it passed in the affirmative. And the records say, that " Maj. Joseph Mayo protested against the meeting." This transaction is noted, be- cause it was the first time a list of voters was read in town-meeting in this place, and also to show the pro- pensity of mankind to oppose and object to every thing new, right or wrong. The assessors' account for the last year's service was allowed, it being only one pound, twelve shillings, each. At the close of the record of this meeting, it is stated, " That the above chosen officers in general have taken their respective oaths." "The officers required by law have taken and subscribed the oath of allegiance."
A meeting was called in August to choose a con- stable ; and the fourth article in the warrant is here noted for its novelty ; viz., "To hear any request of the inhabitants of the town of Warwick, or act any thing thereon as the town shall think proper." This article must have been broad enough to have satisfied the most querulous and gainsaying without any additional words. But the article was passed over.
Another meeting was called in October, one article of which was to see if the town will assist the select- men in their being taken and imprisoned in May last for acting in their office, and to prosecute those per- sons that took them, or act any thing on that matter that the town shall think proper ; and choose attorney or attorneys to carry on the same, as the town shall think fit. Josiah Cobb, Thomas Rich, and James Goldsbury, were the selectmen ; and I have never been
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
able to find out the particulars of this affair of impris- onment, but suppose it originated in transactions in the Shays Rebellion. The town, however, passed the article over.
In March, 1789, we have the first record of peram- bulating the town-lines. That part of the line between Warwick and Orange was perambulated Dec. 26, 1788, by James Goldsbury and Mark Moore for Warwick, and Levi Cheney and Joseph Metcalf for Orange ; and their report not agreeing with the act of incorpo- ration of Orange, is the original source of the difficulty that now exists between the towns, respecting the lines between them. Capt. John Goldsbury was chosen representative to Court.
I 790.
In March, 1790, the town voted fifteen pounds for the support of the poor. They also voted, and chose Josiah Cobb, James Goldsbury, and Samuel Langley, a committee to stake out suitable places on the meet- ing-house common, for people to build noon-houses and stables on, if requested by the inhabitants.
John Goldsbury, Esq., was chosen representative for Warwick and Orange. He was also chosen in 1791 and 1792. In 1791 an attempt was made to form a new county, by joining with a part of Worces- ter County. It was voted this year that the school- money be divided according to the number of scholars in the several wards, and the selectmen directed to number the scholars in each ward.
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
It appears that the Rev. Samuel Reed had been supported by a fund for a number of years. This fund was created in the following manner: Each individual that meant to support him gave a note to a committee appointed to receive them, of the amount he was willing to put in ; which several notes, bearing interest at six per cent, constituted the fund, the inter- est of which paid the salary, so that each man's inter- est on his note was his minister-tax. In August this year, it was voted unanimously, that it was their minds that the fund that was raised in Warwick for the sup- port of a Congregational minister ought to be dissolved, on condition and agreeable to the petition of Ezra Conant and others, and for the future a gospel minis- ter be supported agreeable to the Constitution of this Commonwealth. The aforesaid fund had been legally incorporated ; and Mr. Ezra Conant's petition was one that had been presented to the General Court to re- peal the fund act. It had had a hearing, and an order of notice had been served on the town, to give them a chance to object against the repeal of the act if they thought proper.
In November, 1792, the town voted for electors of president and vice-president for the first time, an act of the General Court having authorized them to do so at the June session previous.
I793.
At the annual meeting this year, there was but five pounds raised for the support of the poor.
8I
HISTORY OF WARWICK.
John Goldsbury, Esq., was chosen representative.
This year a committee was raised by the town to look up the school and ministry rights of land, and to see what had been done respecting the sale of them. They reported, May 6, at an adjourned meeting, that two hundred and ninety-one acres of the school-land had been sold for one hundred and twenty-eight pounds, fourteen shillings. Lot No. 26, in the fifth division, containing fourteen acres, not sold. Also that three hundred and five acres of. the ministry- land had been sold for two hundred and thirty-nine pounds.
This is the source from which the town now re- ceives interest-money to help support the minister and schools. The interest we receive annually towards supporting the minister is fifty-four dollars ; and each of the ten school-districts draws three dollars annually from the school-fund, making thirty dollars.
This year the town voted that each school-district should draw what money it pays. At a subsequent meeting, they voted that Mr. Jonathan Gale be em- powered to provide a funeral carriage. Also voted, and chose Dea. James Ball, Capt. Mark Moore, and Lieut. Jonathan Gale, a committee to divide the town, and establish a line between the two militia compa- nies. Previous to this, there had been two companies ; but every soldier, when he became liable to do military duty, had his choice which company to join. This prac- tice gave rise to some unpleasant feelings ; as, each cap- tain or commanding officer being anxious to secure the new recruits, means were sometimes resorted to which could not be justified by gentlemen of honor.
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
But this intangible line had the same effect that the stupendous Chinese wall had in another case ; and the competition ceased. The old north road to North- field, and the road to Royalston, by Caleb Mayo's, each leading from the meeting-house, was the line established. In October, the town was convened to choose a delegate to meet a Court's committee at Asa- hel Pomeroy's, in Northampton, respecting a division of the County of Hampshire. John Goldsbury, Esq., was chosen, and instructed to oppose the division, stating that they considered it would be detrimental to the town and the county at large.
I 794.
This year John Goldsbury, Esq., was again chosen representative. Eight pounds, three shillings, were voted to pay Jonathan Gale for the funeral carriage. It was also voted to build a house for said carriage ; which was put up at auction, and struck off to David Mayo for five pounds, two shillings. This year the town chose a committee, consisting of Mark Moore, Caleb Mayo, and Abraham Gale, to invite the Rev. Samuel Reed to extend the relation subsisting between him and the Congregational Society in Warwick to the town, so that he might be the town's minister, instead of the Society's, upon the town's agreeing to pay him his salary ; with a proviso, that all persons of other denominations were to be exempted from taxa- tion for ministerial purposes. The town then agreed to pay him seventy pounds in silver, at six shillings
83
HISTORY OF WARWICK.
and eight pence .per ounce, and twenty cords of mer- chantable wood yearly, and every year, so long as he shall remain their minister. And they also voted, that he should have the money that the ministry-lots of land were sold for, by giving good security therefor, and deducting the interest out of his salary yearly.
The Rev. Samuel Reed returned the following an- swer : -
" GENTLEMEN, - I have received by your committee the explanation of your grant of my salary, and also the addi- tional grant of the improvement of the ministry money on the mentioned conditions, and am happy in the confidence I find, after so long a connection and acquaintance, you still place in me. And now I freely, and agreeably to your re- quest, extend my ministerial relation to all the Congrega- tional inhabitants of the town of Warwick, and will endeavor faithfully to discharge my trust, as far as my many imper- fections will admit, charitably trusting that I shall meet with that friendship and candor which is so absolutely necessary. for enjoyment and happiness in such a relation. My friends, if we all study those things that make for peace, we shall gain the invaluable Pearl ; and the God of love and peace who has so long propitiously beheld this church, we may humbly hope, will grant that we still rejoice under his smiles ; and on his wisdom and goodness may we constantly rely, in humble and cheerful obedience to his will. May his grace be sufficient for us, to lead, protect, and defend us in this militant state ; may we grow in knowledge and every Christian virtue, and finally come to the stature of per- fect men in Christ, and be thought worthy to join his church above !
" To this our great God and King, and to the mercy of his
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
grace, I commend you, and desire to be commended by you ; and under him, and depending on his promises, I subscribe myself your sincere and humble servant,
" SAMUEL REED. "Nov. 3, 1794."
1
Mr. Reed's salary was to commence at the above date. The town chose a committee, consisting of Rev. Samuel Reed, John Goldsbury, Esq., and Capt. Mark Moore, to petition the General Court to repeal the act whereby the Congregational Society in War- wick was incorporated, and a fund raised, for the sup- port of the gospel ministry.
I795.
This year there was a town-meeting, called to collect the sentiments of the town on the expediency of amending the Constitution. Twenty-one voted in favor of amendment, and nineteen against it. John Goldsbury, Esq., was chosen representative. On May II the town empowered the selectmen to lease out that part of the Common west of the road, for any term of time not exceeding twenty years. They also empowered them to exchange lands with Josiah Pomeroy, jun., in order to straighten the line between the said town and the said Pomeroy.
The town granted twenty dollars to erect guide- posts, - the first that had been erected by law. They also reconsidered a former vote to build a stone pound, and voted to build one of wood ; said pound was to be
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