USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Warwick > History of the town of Warwick, Massachusetts, from its first settlement to 1854 > Part 6
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
thirty feet square, and well framed, and handsomely underpinned with stones ; the sills to be eight by ten inches square, the rails to be three by five inches, and the plates six by seven inches square ; and it was put up at auction to the lowest bidder, and struck off to Gilbert Mellen for thirteen dollars and eighty-three cents.
I 796.
In April the town voted that the selectmen be a committee to sell school-lot No. 26, at the adjourn- ment of the meeting. Nathaniel Cheney (of Orange) represented the district.
I797.
It was voted to raise thirty pounds for killing wild- cats the year past, and to continue the bounty, at twenty shillings per head, the coming year.
The town allowed the assessors for taking the in- voice and assessing the taxes in 1796, ten days, at eighty cents per day. Considerable difficulty existed in the town about this time, in regard to the school districts. The districts No. 2 and No. 3 had been joined together, and afterwards separated. They could not agree where to build the schoolhouse in No. 2 ; and the town voted and chose Dea. Chamber- lain of Winchester, Maj. Alexander of Northfield, and Oliver Chapin of Orange, to decide the dispute, and assign the spot to build upon, the district to pay the expense. Oliver Chapin was chosen representative.
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
The town voted one hundred dollars in addition to the Rev. Samuel Reed's salary.
1798.
William Heath had fifty-eight votes for governor, and fifty-seven for lieutenant-governor.
Josiah Cobb was chosen representative.
The Rev. Samuel Reed considering that the town- did not support him agreeable to their first contract, requested an article to be inserted in the warrant to dismiss him from the ministry ; but, on the particular request of his friends, he had the article withdrawn.
Nov. 5, this year, it was voted to discharge the tax on dogs by one day's work on the highways for each dog ; and that they fetch a certificate from the high- way surveyor under whom they work to the selectmen, certifying that the services are done.
I 799.
A committee was chosen to look into the situation of the school districts ; and they reported to have the town divided into seven districts, and each one to draw an equal share of the school-money. They also voted and chose a committee to appraise the school- houses, and another to see what articles are neces- sary for building new schoolhouses, and to put up the stuff at vendue, and the work also.
It was afterwards voted to have the districts remain as they were ; viz., that there should be nine.
Oliver Chapin was chosen representative.
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
1 800.
The town voted not to choose a representative this year.
1801.
It was voted to raise four hundred dollars to pay for preaching, and each denomination to draw what they pay.
1802.
Josiah Cobb was chosen representative.
A committee was raised, consisting of Mark Moore, Peter Proctor, Josiah Pomeroy, Jacob Rich, Caleb Mayo, Asa Conant, and Ebenezer Williams, to look into the state of the treasury, and to make a report what sums there are that belong to the ministry, and what other unappropriated moneys were to be found there. The committee subsequently reported that there was $1,222.85 ; that $796.67 had been received from the sales of the ministerial lands, and $499 from the sale of the school-lands ; that there was $332.85 of unap- propriated money in the treasury, besides Mr. Hedge's . donation, which amounted to $93.33. This donation, as we have been informed, was from Mr. Elisha Hedge, the father of Rev. Lemuel Hedge, our first minister. We have never learned the amount of this gift, but have found in the old Congregational society's records, that a committee was chosen, consisting of Dea. James Ball, Col. Samuel Williams, and Joseph
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
Mayo, to send a letter of thanks to Mr. Hedge for his generous donation towards the fund. This was the 12th of August, 1779. The presumption is, that it was a sum that, with the interest added, after the dis- solution of the fund to the time of this report, which is dated March 31, 1803, would amount to $93.33.
The committee reported that there was a deficiency of the money that the ministry and school lands sold for of $166.15. The town voted to raise the last- mentioned sum, and to have it placed on interest, and to be applied annually for the use of schooling. Here terminates the continual strife and fluctuation of our funds in this town ; and from this date we may con- sider them settled, permanent, and secure, amounting to $1,383.
1805.
In 1805 a town-meeting was called, to hear a circu- lar letter, respecting dividing the county of Hamp- shire ; and Caleb Mayo was chosen an agent, to meet other agents at Greenfield to petition the General Court for said division. The division was not effected at this time ; but the subject was frequently agitated : and in November, 1810, Justus Russell, Esq., was chosen agent for the town ; and the final division was consummated in 1812.
In 1805 the town was, perhaps, as much divided on political matters as at any period since its first settle- ment. Federalists and Democrats were the assumed names of the parties ; and the contention ran so high,
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
that fathers, children, brothers, kinsmen, and fellow- townsmen, when convened to exercise the elective franchise, appeared more like angry contending foes, marshalled in battle-array, than like freemen and fellow-citizens. There was no neutral ground. Each party had for its motto, "He that is not for us is against us." The regulations of the law made it neces- sary, that, to be a voter in the choice of a repre- sentative, you " must be a resident in the town for the space of one year next preceding, and have a free- hold estate within the town of the annual income of ten dollars, or any estate to the value of two hundred dollars." Very few were to be found that could not show two hundred dollars' worth of property on the day of election, when perhaps the day before, or the day after, you could not collect a just debt of five dollars. The aged, the lame, and the sick were alike compelled " to come in," to swell and strengthen the one, or to overpower the opposing party. The parties were almost equally balanced here : while the district of Orange was united with us in the choice of a rep- resentative ; and they were as divided, as acrimonious, and as uncompromising, as we were. At the May meeting this year, the inhabitants of Warwick and Orange assembled to choose a representative. All Yankees are naturally jealous of their rights and liberty, but rendered doubly so by the impulse of party feelings, - each party distrustful of the other, and each determined to gain the ascendency, and carry the vote. The presiding officers, for the time being, were critically situated ; and, do right or do wrong, bitter imprecations fell on their devoted heads.
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
The jealousy and distrust ran so high, that they agreed to leave the meeting-house, and go out upon the Common, each party with their respective leaders : accordingly they marched out in Indian file, and pa- raded in two parallel lines, so that each, being single, might put in his vote without a chance for deception, or of voting twice ; and each might be counted, viz. the number of voters, and the number of votes given in. The town-clerk and selectmen carried the ballot-boxes to the voters. The candidates at this election were Caleb Mayo, Esq., Federal ; and Eben- ezer Williams, Esq., Democratic. On ascertaining the number of votes, E. Williams, Esq., had one hundred and forty-eight, and C. Mayo, Esq., had one hundred and fifty-four, and was chosen. The language and looks and gestures of the contending parties this day, the pen of a Milton, perhaps, could have ade- quately described ; but mine would fail in the attempt.
1806.
In 1806 Caleb Mayo, Esq., and Josiah Cobb Esq., were the opposing candidates, and Esquire Cobb was chosen. For the benefit of future generations, I have now recited some of the principal incidents in this regularly fought battle of the contending. political parties, presuming that no other record of it is now extant, excepting in the memories of our fathers and fellow-townsmen, which will soon be lost forever.
Voted to repair the meeting-house, and to accept of the request of. Caleb Mayo and others for the town
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
to relinquish their right and privilege, granted them by the proprietors, of two of the back seats on each side of the broad aisle on the lower floor, and four- teen feet of the seats at the north end of each of the side galleries in said meeting-house, so as to enable the proprietors to erect four pews on the lower and four pews in the gallery of equal size of the other pews in said house, the sale of which to defray a part of the expense of repairing and painting said house. These petitioners were Caleb Mayo, Abraham Ste- vens, Daniel Whitney, Jonathan Blake, Nathaniel G. . Stevens, Benjamin Conant, Josiah Smith, Eben- ezer Williams, Zachariah Barber, and John Gale.
Caleb Mayo, Esq., William Cobb, jun., and Perez Allen, were chosen a committee to superintend the repairing of the meeting-house. In December the town voted their consent that the Baptist society, which was partly in Warwick and partly in Royalston, should be incorporated.
1807.
The town voted two hundred dollars to pay for repairing the meeting-house.
1808.
This year the town of Warwick and the district of Orange voted to send two representatives ; and chose Ebenezer Williams, Esq., and Josiah Cobb, Esq. (both
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
Democrats). The militia companies of this town were called to Hadley to a division-muster this year ; and the town voted to pay the officers and soldiers that should attend said muster one dollar each from the treasury. Also the town voted to concur with the town of Boston in preferring a memorial to the President of the United States for the repeal of the embargo, and chose Caleb Mayo, Josiah Pomeroy, Josiah Proctor, Jonathan Blake, jun., and Justus Rus- sell, a committee to prepare a memorial, and adjourned the meeting half an hour. On the meeting being opened, the following petition was accepted unani- mously : --
To his Excellency Thomas Jefferson, President of the United States.
The petition of the inhabitants of the town of Warwick, in the County of Hampshire and Commonwealth of Mas- sachusetts, in legal town meeting assembled, beg leave to represent : That the inconveniences and privations of property already experienced in consequence of the em- bargo on the vessels and export-trade of the United States fill them with serious apprehensions for the evils that must necessarily result from a prohibition of the exports of the surplus produce of the present season.
They sincerely regret the necessity (if such existed) of the laws laying an embargo on the extensive navigation of the United States, and prohibiting internal intercourse. By the first, the commercial enterprise of the New-England States, that secured to the farmer a sure market and high price for his produce, is wholly destroyed ; and the grievous privations occasioned by the latter have produced in some of the less patriotic sufferers a relaxation of principles, and a
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
contempt for the laws, more to be deplored than the loss of property, and more to be feared from its consequences than from the hostility of any nation whatever. That professing a firm attachment to the constitution of government, under which they have enjoyed unexampled prosperity and happi- ness, they have in all respects observed a due submission to the embargo laws, and measures of your administration, however distressing or unequal their operation, and im- pressed at all times with the feelings and sentiments of free- men, and jealous of their rights as independent Republi- cans, will ever stand ready with their lives and fortunes to support the constituted authorities of their country, when- ever it is necessary for the defence of those rights and privileges so essential to the happiness of the United States, and of which they claim an equal share. They regret the necessity they are under of calling the particular attention of your Excellency to their relief ; but are happy in the enjoyment of the privilege of peaceably and respectfully petitioning for a redress of grievances, whenever they exist. And as our national legislature, contemplating a change of circumstances that might render the embargo unneces- sary, have vested in you the power of suspending its opera- tions, and humbly conceiving that such a change has taken place as will justify the measure, they have a full confidence in your early attention to the true interests of your country, and the suffering of its citizens.
Your petitioners therefore pray your Excellency, in pur- suance of the aforesaid power, to suspend the operations of the embargo, in whole or in part, as your superior wisdom shall direct, and as in duty bound shall ever pray.
Which was signed by the aforesaid committee.
It was then voted that the selectmen sign the peti- tion, and transmit it to the President of the United States.
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
1812.
This year it was voted that the selectmen procure a funeral hearse with four wheels (the former funeral carriage had but two) ; and it was voted to raise fifty dollars to pay for the same .*
On the thirty-first day of July, 1812, Rev. Samuel Reed died, aged fifty-seven years, having been minis- ter in the town nearly thirty-three years. In Septem- ber the town voted two hundred dollars to defray his funeral expenses, and to procure preaching the re- mainder of the year ; and chose Caleb Mayo, Ebenezer Pierce, Samuel Ball, Justus Russell, and William Cobb, a committee to provide some person or persons to supply the pulpit until the next annual meeting.
I will here record as a matter of history a brief ac- count of the Franklin Glass-Factory Company's pro- ceedings in this town, with the rise and origin of that presumptuous adventure, its short but moment- ous life, its premature and lamented death.
This year Dr. Ebenezer Hall, an inhabitant and practising physician in this town, possessing a con- siderable share of natural powers of mind, and a peculiarly fascinating and alluring address, more bril- liant than solid, more theoretical and visionary than practical and real, conceived the idea that he could make glass. After a few experiments, not, however, attended with very flattering prospects of success, he had the good fortune (or rather misfortune) by his persuasive and flattering tongue to inspire many of
* This hearse is the same that we now use ; viz., 1832.
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
his neighbors and friends with a belief in the sound- ness of his theories, and the certain prospects of suc- cess that awaited them provided they would embark in the undertaking, and assist him to erect suitable buildings, procure workmen, and provide materials. Numbers of the solid and persevering cultivators of the soil, captivated by his Utopian schemes, were in- duced to lay aside the plough, the axe, and the spade, and mortgage their possessions, and lend their names and their influence to the proposed undertaking.
After considerable delay and many perplexing oc- currences, they succeeded in completing the buildings of the manufactory and dwellings for the workmen ; and, having cast sand and salt and potash into the fire, it came out glass.
New adventurers were added to the list ; and consid- erable assistance was received from abroad : men of wealth and ambition were induced to come in and share in the prospective dividends that so surely awaited them.
They finally succeeded in making excellent cylin- der glass; * and were incorporated by the General Court, under the name of the Franklin Glass-Manu- facturing Company, in Warwick. They did consider- able business for a while, having obtained the confi- dence of the public generally. But a scarcity of money prevailing in the community tested the solv- ency of their capital: the banks refused to discount for a while ; and this proved a death-blow to all their operations. The fact was, that the business had been
* The first melting of glass blown here was on Sunday, Sept. 5, 1813.
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
got up and commenced without funds, or any knowl- edge or experience in the art of manufacturing glass : they had procured a foreigner (a Scotchman) of con- siderable ability, but of questionable integrity, to superintend their business, both in erecting the buildings, and superintending the workmen. They paid him extravagant wages ; and, what was worse than that, they were subjected to his complete control, not having the ability or power to calculate for themselves, for want of knowledge in the art: they were conse- quently compelled to submit to his directions, and follow his ludicrous whims, however expensive, through- out all their various operations, to the no small detri- ment of their business and their purse. Workmen were also procured, and very high wages paid to them, and to those that understood blowing glass : months passed away before they were wanted ; and large bounties in addition to all this were paid them to buy them off from their former employers, under the false pretext that it would be impossible to procure that particular kind of artisans unless the utmost secrecy was observed, and a liberal bonus offered as a tempta- tion to induce them to leave other factories, and re- move their families to this new and untried scene of operation.
The transactions of the Company had been carried on hitherto with too little attention to economy, which is so needful and necessary in all such estab- lishments, especially in their infancy ; and it could not withstand, all circumstances combined, the financial shock ; and it sank to rise no more. Thus ended the speculations of the time : thus died the hopes of its
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
friends ; and thus were blighted the quixotic visions of its deluded projector. But the void that remained after their dissolution was not so easily to be filled up -in particular, the ruined fortunes of many of the industrious inhabitants of this town, which must require years of untiring industry to amend and re- trieve.
In December, 1813, the town voted their consent that the Universalist society in said town should be incorporated, with all the privileges and immunities granted to other religious societies.
1814.
This year the present pound was built : it was put up at auction, and struck off to Mr. Elliot Rawson for thirty-eight dollars.
In June the town voted unanimously to concur with the church in giving the Rev. Preserved Smith, jun., a call to settle in the gospel ministry in the town of Warwick; and a committee of nine persons was chosen to inform Mr. Smith of the proceedings of the town ; viz., Caleb Mayo, Ebenezer Pierce, Samuel Ball, Dr. Medad Pomeroy, Jonathan Blake, Justus Russell, William Cobb, Elijah Fisk, and Perley Leland. The town voted to grant Mr. Smith five hundred dollars annually for an encouragement to him to settle with us in the gospel ministry, and to pay him the first year's salary quarterly.
Sept. 5, it was voted to accept Mr. Smith's answer reported by the committee as follows, viz. : -
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
To the Church and Society in the Town of Warwick.
MY CHRISTIAN FRIENDS, - Having received by your committee an invitation to settle among you in the gospel ministry, I have endeavored to bestow all that attention to the subject which its importance demands. If I rightly understand the purport of the call you have been pleased to give me, I am to receive my stipend annually, so long as I continue your pastor.
Laying the above construction upon the subject, I do now, after having earnestly supplicated wisdom from the true source of all perfection to direct me in this decision, present you with this notice of my compliance with your request. In this procedure I have been influenced by the unanimous voice which so far prevailed in your exertions to re-establish a stated ministry, and in your proceedings towards electing me to that sacred office. And, in thus complying with your request, I trust I have studied duty and those things that may promote our mutual peace and happiness. It is not without fear and diffidence that I accept the important trust which you have judged expedient to devolve upon me : with diffidence, lest I do not possess those endowments which are of so high importance in constituting a faithful and success- ful minister of Christ ; with fear, lest I should not discharge my functions to the glory of God, and to the saving of your souls. I therefore ask your Christian candor that you would look on me as composed of the same perishable materials as yourselves ; that you accept my services, how imperfect soever they may seem in your opinion, as being the result of sincere intentions. For I feel the force of the apostle's exclamation, "Who is sufficient for these things ?" Who is equal to this arduous work ? And, while I bear your eternal interests in my remembrance at the throne of grace, I earnestly entreat you to commend me in your prayers to the great Head of the Church, that the divine
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
grace, which alone is profitable to instruct and direct, may be my guide ; that, when I have proclaimed the glorious prize of immortality to others, I shall not at last be rejected, as unfit for it, myself. Notwithstanding the gospel treasure of unspeakable value has been committed to earthen vessels, yet the power that accompanies its promulgation is derived from God. It is, therefore, incumbent upon us, as fellow- soldiers in the Christian warfare, to offer our united prayers to Deity, that his blessings may attend the ministration of his word, that not only our immortal interests may be pro- moted, but the glory of his moral government advanced, and the great laws of it more generally obeyed; that all who hear the voice of Christ may acknowledge him as the only Bishop of their souls, as in the Redeemer's kingdom there shall be only one fold and one Shepherd.
Bearing such reflections in mind, let us ever adhere with firm and inflexible steadiness to our Christian profession, and aim at making continual improvement in it, from a full persuasion that our labors in love, and attention to Christi- anity, will finally be accompanied with a glorious reward.
PRESERVED SMITH, JR.
It was proposed in town-meeting to choose a com- mittee of five, to transact the business of the ordina- tion ; and chose William Cobb, Ashbel Ward, William Burnett, jun., Perez Allen, and Justus Russell ; and it was voted that the expense of the ordination be drawn out of the ministry money then in the treasury. Accordingly the Rev. Preserved Smith, jun., was or- · dained as pastor over the First Congregational Church and Society in Warwick, on Oct. 12, 1814.
In April, 1815, a report of a committee on the petition of Caleb Mayo, Esq., in favor of Widow
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
Abigail Reed, was reported to the town, and accepted, which was as follows ; viz. : -
We, the subscribers, being appointed a committee at the annual meeting in March last to take into consideration the request of Caleb Mayo, Esq., for, and in behalf of, the widow of the late Rev. Samuel Reed, have attended to the business of our appointment, and report as follows :-
That, in examining the former records, Mr. Reed was settled in the gospel ministry in this town in 1779, and was to receive his stipend in proportion to rye at three shillings and sixpence, and corn at two shillings and ninepence, per bushel, and pork at threepence half-penny per pound, from an incorporated society ; and that he continued to receive his salary in full for fifteen years. We find, by contract entered into the third of March, 1794, Mr. Reed did be- come the town's minister, and after that to receive his salary in silver and gold ; and we do not find by any of the records that he received any thing different from his stated salary for ten years from that date ; and in further examination we find that from 1804 to 1811, which is eight years, Mr. Reed received $312.75 more than his stated salary. We learn that when Mr. Reed became the town's minister he received a certain sum of the town's money, and secured the town by mortgage of his real estate. We learn by Mrs. Reed's signing the mortgage she is debarred of any dowry in his real estate. We also learn that by the aid of Mrs. Reed's friends, before the judge of probate, she is to receive $200.00 out of Mr. Reed's estate for her own use and dis- posal. We also learn, that, since Mr. Reed's decease, Mrs. Reed, by the aid of her friends, has had the good fortune to get upon the list of the Massachusetts Congregational Charitable Society for the relief of destitute widows and children of deceased ministers, and has for two years past
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