USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Whately > History of the town of Whately, Mass., including a narrative of leading events from the first planting of Hatfield, 1660-1871 : with family genealogies > Part 15
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TANNERIES .- The tan-house built by Paul Belding before 1771, has been already mentioned. A tannery with a shoe- maker's shop connected, was established in Canterbury by Dea. Thomas Sanderson, soon after the close of the Revolutionary War. The business was continued by his son Thomas, and his grandson John Chapman, till within a recent period.
Solomon Adkins, Jr., built a tan-house at the foot of Gutter hill, north of the cemetery, probably in 1789. He had carried on the shoe-making business after 1784. This tannery was sub- sequently owned by Stalham Allis, and Dexter Frary.
Asa Sanderson carried on the tanning business for many years at West street. He commenced about 1795. As the tanner usually worked up a considerable share of his own leather into boots and shoes, the net profits were large. Dea. Thomas San- derson was rated on "faculty " in the State tax of 1789, five shillings ; Solomon Adkins, Jr., one shilling. This "income" tax," as it would now be called, was laid on inn-holders, trades- men, and mechanics, who were considered as doing a prosper- ous business.
BLACKSMITHS .- John Lamson had a blacksmith shop near where Samuel Lesure now lives, as early as 1776, and contin-
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ued the business till 1791. Near the same carly date a shop was built in the Straits, about twenty rods south of Stephen Bel- den's, but by whom occupied is not now known. Nathaniel Dickinson, after serving his apprenticeship with Mr. Lamson, did blacksmith's work, and boarded with Rev. Mr. Wells, in 1782. Jehu Dickinson built a shop under the hill, south of Lyman Dickinson's, in 1783. Later, he built a new shop near the top of the hill. He carried on a large and prosperous busi- ness for many years. His brother Alphens was for a time asso- ciated with him. David Cook set up a smith's shop in 1793, and remained in town a year or two. Oliver Morton, Jr., built a commodious shop, about 1798, just south of his dwelling house. In more modern times this shop was occupied by Horace B. Fox. Roswell Train, Isaac Chapman, and Reuben JJenney, Jr. have had shops in the west part of the town. Israel Scott, Jus- tin Smith, and S. W. Fox carried on the business, at different times, in the Straits. Benjamin Larrabee and Chester Wells had shops in Claverack Mr. Wells removed to Chestnut Plain street, and in connection with Leander Clark carried on an ex- tensive business in blacksmith and carriage work. James Cutter had a blacksmith shop in 1816.
IIATTERS-Amasa Smith, the hatter, was in town 1785 to '92. In 1799, Benjamin and Joseph Mather had a shop which stood at the south-east corner of Dr. Harwood's front lot. Benjamin Munson did hatter's work in a shop in the Straits, just north of Hatfield line. In 1804, Joel and Benjamin Munson had a hat- ter's shop, near the south-west school-house. Jerry Allis served an apprenticeship with them.
BRICK-MAKING .- In 1778, the town voted, " that John Locke have liberty to make bricks in the road near Capt. Stiles's house." Daniel Morton, Jr., and Lewis Stiles, continued the business near this spot from 1782 till 1827. The clay was crushed and mixed by treading with cattle or a horse in a circu- Jar pit. Bricks were also made at various places on the banks of Mill River, by Thomas Crafts, Justus Crafts, Chester Wells, Oliver Dickinson, Levi Bush, Jr. and Luke Wells. The returns for 1855 show the manufacture to amount to 25,000 bricks, at a valuation of $2,500.
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POTTERY AND STONE WARE .- About 1777, Stephen Or- cutt began to manufacture common pottery ware just across West Brook, in Ilatfield. Afterwards, in connection with Lem- uel Wait, he built a shop on the Whately side.
Thomas Crafts started a pottery in the Lane in 1802. The shop stood a few rods east of the dwelling-house of Erastus Crafts. After five or six years he moved the shop to Claverack, on the east side of the road from his house. From 1821 to 1832, he made black tea pots, to the value of $4,000 annually.
Quartus Graves had a pottery in the Lane, where Lucius Graves now lives, from 1816 to 1826.
A pottery was built in the Straits by Heman Swift, on the place now owned by Edmund Quinn. Obed Wait, Luke Wait, and Mr. Orcutt built a shop on the lot now owned by Justin Wait ; subsequently they manufactured stone ware, on a small scale, for five or six years.
Sanford S. Perry & Co., started the manufacture of black tea pots about 1820, on the lot now owned by M. W. Jewett. Their sales amounted to an average of $2,500 per annum.
A small pottery was built just north of Lyman Dickinson's, by Thomas and Justus Crafts. In 1831, the latter built the house, now of Anstin Crafts, and occupied one half of it for a pottery.
Brown earthen flower pots were made by Ralph E. Crafts for some years, near Elbridge G. Crafts's barn. This shop was burned in 1843, and he built a new one on the brow of Mill swamp hill, on the lot where he now lives.
The manufacture of stone ware was commenced by Thomas Crafts in 1833, and continued fifteen years. His business amounted to $6,000 per year. The works were carried on for several years by his son James M. Crafts. Constant employ- ment was given to ten hands, and ware to the value of $10,000 per annum was made. The shops were all closed before 1860. James M. Crafts and others carried on quite an extensive busi- ness in the manufacture of drain tile, from 1854 to 1863.
CARRIAGES .- Till after 1730, the only method of land travel in the valley, for either long or short distances, in summer or winter, was on foot or horseback. In 1753, there were in all Hampshire county only two private carriages, and these were
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two-wheeled chairs ; one owned by Moses Porter, of Hadley, the other by Israel Williams, of Hatfield. Ilorse sleds, or " sleys," -being simply a box with seats upon runners, for winter travel, -were in use before wheel carriages. Perez Bardwell had a pung in 1773; Selah Graves had one in 1782. Josiah Allis had a painted pung, of extra finish, in 1776. Dr. Benjamin Dick- inson had a sleigh in 1790. Rev. Mr. Wells had a framed and painted sleigh in 1792 ; and Dr. Francis Harwood had a similar one a little carlier.
CHAISES .- Two-wheeled carriages came in use before those with four wheels. Rev. Mr. Wells owned the first chaise in town as early as 1784. Dea. Thomas Sanderson had one soon after. One-horse pleasure wagons were unknown in this region till 1808. A wheelwright's shop, for making and repairing carts and lumber-wagons, was built in the Lane, just cast of the J. C. Loomis's house, as early as 1795. Cart-wheels were made earlier than this by JJacob Rosefield. About 1809, Elijah San- derson began the wagon-making business at West street. In 1812, Thomas Crafts commenced building one-horse wagons. They were destitute of springs ; the body resting on the axle- trec. The price then was thirty-five to forty dollars. Simeon Reed, who worked with Mr. Crafts, afterwards set up the busi- ness in the centre. Dea. JJames Smith did considerable wagon work at his shop in West street. Eurotas Graves made wagons at the Lucius Graves's place ; Luther Wells and Simeon Graves, where Alonzo Crafts now lives.
TOBACCO .- Tobacco was raised as a garden plant from the first settlement of the Connecticut valley. It was smoked in pipes, long before it was used for chewing or snuffing. Cigars did not come in use before 1783.
The Indians and whites smoked tobacco ; and the pipe of wel- come, as well as the pipe of peace, were a customary formality among both before King Philip's war. Mrs. Rowlandson speaks of being invited by Philip to smoke, and says that " it is a usual compliment now-a-days among saints and sinners." She adds, "though I formerly used tobacco, yet I have left it since I was first taken. I remember with shame, how formerly, when I had
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taken two or three pipes, I was presently ready for another ; such a bewitching thing it is."
Tobacco was raised in Deerfield in 1696. Daniel Belding had cut his crop, and hung it up to dry in his attic, before the Indians attacked his house in September of that year ; and some of his children hid among it, and thus escaped the notice of the sav- uges .*
Both the cultivation and the use of tobacco increased rapidly after the close of the Revolutionary War.+ Most of the farmers had small patches ; and it became an article of ready barter and sale. It is mentioned in Mr. Wells's account book as early as 1780. In 1784, he appears to have raised an extra crop. Hc sold four pounds to Parson Emerson, of Conway, at five pence per pound. The price for good went up to six pence, where it held for many years.
Joshua Beldin, Levi Morton and Perez Wells, were among those who raised it most largely ; and as early as 1800, they sent it out by peddlers for sale in the hill towns to the west and north. The method of cutting and curing was the same as is practiced at the present time, only it was taken down when partially dried and put in piles for sweating, with an occasional overhauling, till it was slightly burned and turned black. "This took out some of the bitter, and made it milder and more plea- sant to the taste," so it was said. It was then put up in hands or twist. After some years, this method of euring and market- ing the crop went out of date, and the pressed tobacco from the South took its place.
The culture of seed-leaf tobacco in this region, as a field crop, is of recent origin. It was introduced into Whately in 1845, in which year Horace Dickinson and Lewis Wells procured some seed from Connecticut, and started a branch of business, which is now the leading industry of the town. The first year they planted about an acre apiece, and sold the crop at two cents
* Ilon. George Sheldon.
+ When the barn, which was erected by Capt. Lucius Allis, was moved down to the spot where Col. Josiah Allis built his house, it was raised upon skids, and drawn by oxen over dry rails and poles laid upon the ground. These rails took fire from the friction, and Master Scott forbid it to be put out till he could fill and light his pipe at the blaze.
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per pound for fillers, and six cents for wrappers. At the end of ten years, the number of acres in cultivation was sixty-nine, and the value per acre was $133, or $9,165 in all. In 1865, the number of acres returned was three hundred and three ; the val- nation of which was $105,344. The price per pound that year, was about twenty cents through ; the average yield was near seventeen hundred pounds per acre.
The following curious law of the Colony, passed September 3, 1634, is here inserted. " It is ordered, that no person shall take tobacco publiekly, under the penalty of 2s. 6d., nor pri- vately, in his own house, or in the house of another, before strangers, and that two or more shall not take it together, any where, under the aforesaid penalty for every offence."
BROOM-CORN AND BROOMS .- Up to the close of the last cen- tury, the brooms in common use in this country, were what are known as the Indian, or peeled brooms. These were made from birch, or ash, by splintering the end of the stick up about eight inches, and then peeling from the handle and bringing down these longer splints over a solid space of half an inch, left for the head of the broom. The balance of the stick was then shaved down for the handle. When properly bound and sea- soned, this was a comfortable sweeper. Parlor brooms were made of bristles ; oven brooms were made of husks. The manufacture of the peeled broom was carried on largely by the Indians. They were also the winter evening's work of the farmers.
Broom-corn was planted, as a curiosity, in this vicinity, as carly as 1785. But according to Mr. Judd, Levi Dickinson, of Hadley, first introduced its cultivation as a branch of industry. Ilis first planting was in 1797 ; his first brooms, made by himself and Heber his colored man, were peddled in a horse cart in Wil- liamsburg, Conway and Whately. The raising of broom-corn, and the manufacture of brooms, were commenced in this town about 1805, by Messrs. Francis, Reuben and Aaron Belden. For ten or twelve years the business was limited ; the Indian brooms being preferred by the majority, because they were lighter and more durable than the corn brooms first made. After the war the tide turned ; and about 1820, some energetic
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young men learned the trade of tying brooms, and a better article was made, which soon became popular. From this date, the industry rapidly increased, till the advent of tobacco. The value of brooms and brushes manufactured in town in 1837, was returned at $ 6,877 ; in 1855, $26,800; in 1865, $11,162.
At first, the handles were made of hemlock or other saplings, and were rough and clumsy. To tie on the brush, the workman fastened one end of the string to the side of the room, and the other end to the handle, and stood off the length of the string ; then stepping slowly he would roll the handle over and over, drawing the while as tightly as the string would bear. After- wards the twine was wound on a roller and held under the feet, while the workman sat on a bench, holding the handle and brush on his lap. For many years the brooms were round, or slightly spread, by fastening a thin strip of wood across the brush. When the fashion changed, the broom was flattened, by pound- ing it with an axe or mallet ; or a large lot were put under the cider press. Later, two strips of joist were framed or bolted to a post in the shed, and made to squeeze the broom by means of a screw bolt or wedge. Then a sort of clamp was devised by Francis Belden, to be fixed upon a bench or form, and made to grip tightly by a wedge. This great improvement was made in 1827 : and led to the invention of the jaw-horse, soon after 1880.
The Messrs. Belden continued to be large raisers and manu- facturers for many years. The introduction of the turned handle, and fine wire in place of twine, and this new invention for flattening, secured a light, firm broom, which quickly super- seded the old-fashioned round one. Most of the farmers tied on their own crops, and disposed of the brooms by peddling through the country. When the demand became greater, the brooms were sent to New York, and sold by R. T. Morton, who acted as agent for the producers.
Among those who have made a specialty of manufacturing brooms, and selling them on their own account, are Abel W. Nash, who commenced in a small way as early as 1822, and continued the business till 1868 ; Solomon Mosher, who began about 1824, and continued the business in Whately till 1840; Carlos Swift, who was in the business from 1826 till quite
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recently. Eliphas H. Wood commenced the manufacture of brooms and brushes as early as 1830, and gradually enlarged it, till his estimated sales in some years amounted to $30,000. He has been located since 1847 at the Depot village, and is now the only broom manufacturer in town. JJ. M. Cooley started the business for himself in 1835. At the end of ten years, his sales amounted to near $ 18,000 per annum. He left town in 1847. Lucius Graves, and many others, have been engaged more or less extensively in the business.
The yield of broom brush, per acre, averaged near six hun- dred pounds ; and the price varied from five to seven cents per pound. In favorable seasons, the seed was considered of suffi- cient value to pay the cost of cultivation. It was mixed with other grains and ground for provender.
POCKET-BOOKS AND WALLETS .- This branch of business was started by R. B. and J. F. Harwood in the year 1826, and was continued by them till 1852. In some years their sales amounted to $22,000. Stephen Belden commenced the busi- ness on his own account about 1845, and manufactured goods to the value of $8,000 per annum in favorable years. Lemuel Graves carried on the business for a few years at the Depot vil- lage, when it was arrested by his early death. Miles B. Morton was engaged in the wallet manufacture about seven years. W. F. Bardwell has been long engaged in the business as foreman, or manufacturing on contract for other parties.
INN KEEPERS, OR ORDINARY KEEPERS. - Public inns for rest and refreshment are as old as civilized society. Some of the earliest laws passed by the Massachusetts Colony relate to this subject, and are here copied. "1634, Sept. 3. It is ordered that no person that keeps an ordinary shall take above 6d. a meal for a person, and not above ld. for an ale quart of beer, out of meal time, under the penalty of 10s. for every offence, either of diet or beer. Likewise that vietualers, or keepers of an ordinary, shall not suffer any tobacco to be taken in their houses, under the penalty of 5s. for every offence, to be paid by the vietualer, and 12d. by the party that takes it." " 1635, March 4. It is ordered that no person whatsoever shall
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keep a common victualing house, without license from the court, under the penalty of 20s. a week." "1638, Sept. 6. The inn- keepers, or ordinary keepers, shall have liberty to brew the beer which they sell in their houses, or to agree with the brewer as they can."
The first settlers in the valley used great care in the selection of their inn-keepers. Men of high character-perhaps the oldest deacon, and only old men were chosen deacons then-were licensed to sell wine to persons " in real need." In March, 1678, Samuel Partridge had liberty to sell liquors " to the neigh- bors " " for their helpfulness," first in Hadley, and after 1685, in Hatfield. The county court always held its sessions at the inns ; and it not only required good men to be licensed, but it required them to keep good liquors. In 1674, Nathaniel Ely, ordinary keeper at Springfield, was fined 40s. " for not keeping beer that was according to law," i. e., made with four bushels of barley malt to the hogshead.
The laws forbidding the sale of strong waters of every kind to the Indians, were striet, and were commonly enforced ; though sometimes the temptation to exchange six quarts of rum for a good beaver skin, or one quart for two fathoms of wampum, was more than a trader could resist. An illicit traffic was carried on with the natives, greatly to their injury and the injury of the whites. And though Indian testimony was not commonly allowed in court, yet, in this matter, the General Court in 1666, ordered, that " if any Indian do accuse any person of selling or delivering strong drink unto them, such Indian accusation shall be accounted valid against any such persons accused."
In 1670, a law was passed, enjoining the selectmen of towns to take special care and notice of all and every person, or persons, that spend their time and estate by drinking and tippling in taverns and ale-houses, and require him, or them, to forbear frequenting such houses or taverns ; and if, after such warning, any person be legally convicted of drunkenness and mis-spending precious time and estate, he shall forfeit 5s. for every offence, or sit in the stocks, as the judges shall see meet.
Wine and beer were the liquors first imported from England.
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Brandy was distilled from the wine; and a strong liquor, called usquebaugh, was made from beer. Barbadoes rum, from the West Indies, came in use as early as 1650. New-England rum, made from molasses, was in use about 1700.
TAVERNS IN WHATELY. - The first " baiting place " in town was " Poplar Spring," situated about forty rods north of the Zebina Bartlett place,-on the Indian trail. Teamsters in going between Northampton and Deerfield, would take with them the feed for their cattle and lunch for themselves, and stop here for the noon-rest and refreshment.
Daniel Morton opened a house of entertainment for the emi- grants on their way to settle the district of Conway, soon after he built, in 1759, and kept a tavern for many years.
John Lamson is named as an inn-keeper in 1779. His house stood a little north of where Samuel Lesure now lives. John Crafts succeeded Mr. Lamson,-probably in 1788. In 1789 he was taxed on "faculty," or income, Sd. He kept accounts with his regular customers by a chalk score : a long mark was his charge for a mug of flip, a short mark for half a mug.
Samuel Grimes had an inn in connection with his store, as early as 1798.
Elijah Allis opened a tavern at the house opposite Reuben Winchell's brick dwelling-house, in 1818; he afterwards kept tavern on the corner west of the old meeting-house.
Gad Smith kept a house of entertainment, in connection with his store, in the Straits. He was in business as early as 1779. Ilis faculty tax in 1789 was 4s. A few years later, Joel Wait, known far and near as " Landlord Wait,", opened a tavern in the Straits, which was a noted stopping place for stages, when these public conveyances were first started. His faculty tax in 1789 was 1s. 8d.
David Stockbridge, Jr., bought the David Graves place in the Straits, and opened a tavern, perhaps as early as 1803. Hc continued in the business here till 1833, when he opened a pub- lie house at his new stand, on the river road.
As early as 1796, Joshua Belden opened a tavern at his dwelling-house, which was continued by his sons for several years.
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In the west part of the town, Lieut. Noah Bardwell kept a tavern at his house on the Hog mountain road. The records show that he was in the business from 1783 to 1799.
Charles Dickinson occupied the Oliver Graves place, in Chris- tian Lane, as a tavern from 1801 to 1803.
DISTILLERIES .- The distillation of corn and cider has been carried on at different times, on a small scale, in this town by Messrs. Reuben and Aaron Belden, Zenas Field, Levi Morton, Lieut. John Brown, and Peter Wing (at West brook). Edward Phelps built what is known in the records as the "old distillery," about 1818, just east of the road from Gutter bridge. He had carried on the business earlier, under temporary sheds, on the west side of the road near the tannery. Dexter and Noah Crafts had a small distillery at a later date.
BELDEN'S FERRY .- When the road was opened from a point eight rods north of Joshua Belden's house to the river, in 1785, Mr. Belden put in a boat, and established the only ferry across the Connecticut, within the limits of Whately. For many years the boat was put across by setting poles. In more modern times a wire was in use. In 1820 the business was so considerable that a ferryman was engaged for the season. Samuel Bartlett had charge of the ferry for four years, near this date. It was given up soon after 1830.
BOATING ON THE RIVER .- Some local business, in log boats and canoes, was done before the opening of the canal at South Hadley Falls in 1795. After this date, all the heavy freighting from below was carried in flat-bottomed boats. The usual size of these boats was forty feet long by sixteen feet wide. They were rigged with two short masts and sails. After the eanal was deepened, the business steadily increased, till the opening of the Connecticut River Railroad in 1846.
For many years the stopping place for the boats was at Bel- den's landing, by the ferry, which made business lively both at the wharf and the tavern. Several of the boats were accustomed to lay up for the winter at this landing. The time of hauling up in the fall, and launching in the spring, was a famous scene of merry-making and carousal.
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David Stockbridge had an interest in boating and rafting, as early as 1801. He built a wharf, just cast of his new tavern stand in 1830, at the time when the Connecticut River Valley Steamboat Company was formed. This company built a small steamboat, with wheel abaft. for towing purposes, which was run from South Hadley falls to Turner's falls. She was named the " Ledyard," commanded by Capt. Crawford ; and was blown up in 1840, and her captain killed, just above South Hadley falls. A second boat was built, and commanded by Capt. Dewey, which continued to run till 18446.
UMBER AND SIENNA .- The following description of the local- ity and character of this ocherous ore of iron, is taken mainly from a statement of Prof. C. U. Shepard. " These valuable pig- ments form a thin stratum, or bed, near the residence of Dea. Elihu Belden, and cover about half an acre of ground. The deposit presents itself immediately below the turf, forming a somewhat irregular stratum, of from thirty inches to seven feet in thickness. The chemical character of the deposit, taken in connection with its geological position, leads me to believe that it originated in the out-flow at this place, of a strong chalybeate or iron spring. It contains from fifty to seventy per cent of iron. The natural colors of the unburnt material vary from the most intense ochre-yellow, through the paler shades of the same, into many varieties of red and elove-brown, including the much prized sienna-brown. Each of these colors may be obtained apart at the locality, by a careful working of the bed ; while by blending them in different proportions, their number may be greatly augmented. This bed was discovered by accident upwards of fifty years ago ; and was then prepared in a rude way, and used to some extent for staining floors and plastered walls. It was re-discovered, also by accident in 1864; and appears to need only skillful manipulation to become a valuable pigment, for fresco painting, and all the uses of the best Italian sienna."
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