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 30
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It is the beacon to all the world, with " welcome " to our shores, expressed upon it as legibly as it is traced on yonder arch in evergreens, by the fingers of some of these fair ones, inviting all to their hospitalities. That pendant, symbolie bunting-the emblem of our nationality-is but the type of national strength and equality. It enforces just what the nation wills. Blind confidence in, and supple devotion to its folds, will not perpet- uate the power and freedom it now heralds. Vigilance, as of yore, can alone be the price of liberty. To the institutions of New England ; her moral aims ; her virtues ; her religious tone, and unswerving loyalty, does the nation look for the guaranty of national liberty, equality and perpetuity. The true civiliza- tion that becomes the body of the people, bent upon upholding these rights and this nationality, must be based upon a general as well as progressive education of the masses, brought to the safest test for a proper enlightenment of the understanding and
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the heart, and that is, that the worth of educational and political information is in proportion to its bearing upon some of the activities of life. Just as surely as the granite underlies this State, do we assuredly trust you for fidelity to all that ennobles us as a nation.
All of that frugality, economy, industry, ingenuity and moral- ity which combine to bless you with prosperity, we prize if we do not strictly imitate. It is at least the germ of our ideal, and beckons us on to higher aims. Broad and vast as our land, resources, and institutions are, we comprehend the fact that the field of education outruns States, so that with all that is so lau- dable in New England character and attainments, we do not overrate the necessity for the utilization of these characteristics. In other words, the abstract and metaphysical of the East finds its complement in the practical of the West.
The West has its beau ideal as well as the East. In the com- bination of both will be the real stature of national progress, civilization and power. Earlier years are better spent in this atmosphere, and you hold the advantage of first impressions, which I know you do not undervalue. The maturity of life can find a more fruitful field westward. Scope and versatility invite all these. Tutored and tethered boyhood here, develops into vigorous, independent manhood there. The two harmonize, enlighten and civilize. We can work and live apart, but nobly act together. With one origin, one aim, one destiny, we build to fall no more. Let unity cement our national strength, and Massachusetts will read in the growth of other States, the force of her example and the fruition of her inspiration.
9. The Religion of our Fathers-The guide of their earthly lives and ground of their immortal hopes; the foundation of our free institutions, the cause of our enlightened civilization, inspiring our progress, ensuring our stability ; may their descendants affectionately and reverently regard and maintain this precious inheritance and transmit it to coming generations in its purity and power.
Responded to by Rev. S. H. Lee, of Greenfield, who spoke substantially as follows :
Mr. President and Citizens of Whately :
It is only as taking the place of one of your former pastors, who was expected to respond to this sentiment, that I consent to
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stand here on this occasion, which belongs properly to the natives and residents of Whately.
The religion of our Fathers !- What a theme is this ! What a noble fact it was and is ! The Religion of our Fathers ! We have had suggested to-day, in the historical address and in sub- sequent remarks, many affecting incidents, many important events, and many principles of inestimable value. But we touch bottom here, and here only. All through we have felt the deep religious spirit of our ancestors. The sentiment just read truly declares that their religion was the guide of their lives. Whatever else our fathers were, or were not, they were godly men. They lived under the power of their religion. They gave up life to it and sacrified life for it. "The ground of their immortal hopes," says the sentiment. Our fathers did not live for this world. Beyond any class of men, at least of modern times, they were filled with the sense of eternal things, and rejoiced in hope of a glorious immortality through our Lord Jesus Christ. It was beneath the sway of these high thoughts that they settled this wil- derness and founded here our free institutions. It was under a reli- gious impulse that they came to these shores, that they might belong to, constitute, and establish a church according to the New Testament. In the exigencies in which they found them- selves here, they founded civil government on that model, which they learned from the Scriptures belonged to the church. Our democratic government was an inference from that ecclesiastical polity-the Congregational -- which our Fathers had drawn out of the teachings of Christ and His Apostles. Thus was their religion the shaping power of our free institutions.
It was interesting to note, this morning, how the minute local history to which our attention is turned, was but the exhibition of the same spirit and ideas. The historian told us, in his very excellent discourse, that Hadley was settled by men who migrated from Connecticut, because the ministers and churches there were departing from the original Congregational, New Testament church polity. It was a movement like that of the Pilgrims of 1620, on account of religious principle.
You heard, too, that the original settlers on this side of the river organized a church and instituted the ordinances, that they might have a place of worship accessible at all seasons of the
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year ; that a township being deemed necessary to the main- tenance of a church, the town of Hatfield came into existence. The church was before the state, as on the Mayflower. It was said too, that Williamsburg, the twin sister of Whately, was set off for the same reason. A religious motive thus caused these towns to exist.
The sentiment read declares this religion the cause of our enlightened civilization. Our fathers believed in education. But their reason for doing so was a religious one. They founded Ilarvard College and Yale, but they had little thought of civiliz- ing the world through liberal culture. They established these institutions in order to train a Christian ministry who should ably expound God's word. The address this morning showed that our common school system arose from a similar desire. The welfare of the church required that children should be taught to read the Bible. It was not that they might succeed in life that children were taught to read, but that they might learn from God's word the way to life eternal. Hence, people became asso- ciated together in the education of their children, and in due time the common school system was devised. So true is it that the religion of our Fathers was the cause of our enlightened civiliza- tion.
But what was the religion that had such power in those days ?
First, our fathers recognized profoundly and absolutely the will of God as the supreme law in all things. They obeyed God's will, whatever it cost. Their humble regard for him and his laws lies at the foundation of all the sternness, strength and gran- denr of the Puritan character. This original spirit of New England is our noblest inheritance from the past. It is the source of the vigorous moral sense which prevails in this part of the land. It accounts for the exceeding serupulousness in the minute affairs of life which so characterizes us as a people, which is often jeered at, yet is noble and Christian. It is the spring of the uncompromising spirit which will show no favor to evil.
A Second prominent feature of their religious life was their reverence for the Bible. They revered it because they implicitly received it as the revelation of the will of God. It was to them, driven forth from their native land, with few of the pleasures of this life, their guide and consolation for time and eternity. Here
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they found God's thoughts, here his purposes, here his salvation. Accordingly, just in proportion to their regard for God they loved the Bible. Hence we have it in our life so intimately connected with our institutions, not only reverenced in the home, but in the schools, courts and legislative halls.
A third fact of their religious life was a profound reverence for the Sabbath, as the day of the Lord. Whatever we may think of some of their methods of its observance, we cannot but approve of keeping it sacred, and of their motive for doing so. It grew like everything else out of their reverence for the will of God. In order that men might learn that will, in order that they might become through preaching, acquainted with those truths which vitally concern their welfare here and hereafter, they most heartily kept the Sabbath holy. One day in seven they kept clear of all worldly pursuits and thoughts, that then they might prepare better to live in the world or leave it. Standing at their point of view, feeling the commanding importance of the will of God, piercing by faith the veil which hides eternity, all men can readily see the practical power which one sacred day in the week would have, a power of which we to-day are witnesses.
If we shall with them hold to these three points in life, we shall fulfill the service expressed in the sentiment you have heard, and transmit the precious inheritance of a true religion to coming generations in its purity and power.
And whatever may be our impressions of this religion in the abstract, it always commands our admiration in the individual life. In days when it is somewhat the fashion to speak depreciatingly of the Puritan character, it is nevertheless delightful to meet it. There was an incident in our war down on the Peninsula, the hero of which nobly exhibited that strength and tenderness which Macaulay finds in the Puritan. He was the son of a missionary. Hle was fitting for college at Andover, in view of a missionary life, when he thought it his duty to go to the war. He was wounded, and died shortly after in the hospital. When his time drew near, he gave away his effects, some of his money to the Christian Commission, and the rest to the American Board, in whose service he had expected to spend his life ; sent words of love to his brother, and the noblest message possible to his com- rades in arms. " Tell them," he said, " Tell them to stand by the
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dear old Flag, and cling to the Cross of Christ." There is patri- otism and piety blended. There is boldness and humility. It was Puritan throughout. As he thought of his country and her enemies, he was a man that could dare and do, " Stand by the dear old Flag." As he thought of himself before God, as a needy sinner, he was prostrate and dependent on the divine mercy. "Cling to the Cross of Christ." This in all generations is the religion of our fathers ; certainly it must command our respect and obedience ; certainly we must hand it down in its surpassing excellence to them who come after us.
10. The Armies of the two Revolutions-Animated by the same devoted patriotism, they demonstrated the strength of a citizen sol- diery-potent to build up and potent to save a nation.
11. Deerfield and Whately-Intimately associated in the perils of early times, it is fit that the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association should assist us to celebrate our first Centennial celebration.
Responded to by Rev. J. F. Moors, of Greenfield.
12. Agriculture-That ancient and useful art whose biography discloses a thousand pleasant points of contact with that perennial stream of human action and interest, whose current as it rolls, is History, and whose eddying ripples and sunny reflections of the sky are Literature.
The sentiment was intended for Leander Wetherell, editor of the Boston Cultivator, but he had been obliged to leave the assembly to take the southern train before the sentiment was read, much to the regret of those who had the matter in charge.
13. The Press-We recognize as one of the elements of our local and national prosperity the thoughtful, considerate and enterprising newspaper press. Its issues come to our workshops and our house- holds in yearly increasing numbers, and we hail their visits as of one who cometh with glad tidings from a distant land. May it rise with the rising and swelling tide of the country's material and intellectual prosperity, and continue to be a source of pleasure, profit and power to all our people.
Address of Mr. H. S. Gere, of the Hampshire Gazette.
You do well, Mr. President, in recognizing as one of the elements of your local prosperity, the influence of the news- paper press. Its issues have come among you from the first
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organization of your town, and have been read in every house- hold within your limits. The absence of the old post-rider, with his bell or horn, and the old stage-coach, with its clarion-voiced bugle and four-in-hand, are not less suggestive of the progress of the times, than your present comfortable residences and houses of worship, when compared with the homes and churches of fifty years ago.
Your newspaper is really one of the family. It gives you advice, and receives yours. It brings you the news of the day, both at home and abroad. It gathers up the domestic news of the town, and comes in, like a kind neighbor, to entertain you with choicest and freshest items. It gives you story, sentiment, fact, and sound sense ; tells you what your neighbor is doing, and apprises him of what you are doing ; and it is no wonder that both he and you become attached to the good old family journal, hang it up on the wall as an heir-loom, and manifest your appre- ciation of it by giving practical effect to its political teachings on election day.
Precisely how much benefit you have derived from the differ- ent journals you have supported, cannot of course be determined, but an approximate idea may be obtained by attempting to ascertain what your present position would have been without their visits throughout the long years which now go to make up the great and eventful century which has gone with the advent of to-day.
This is no time for light or trivial words. This large gather- ing of people is for no ordinary purpose. A hundred years to your town have gone. A hundred years ! And such years ! So full of great events, so full of memorable deeds, so full of the progress of great and noble principles. There has risen here within these years a great nation,-great in numbers, great in deeds, and greater still in the ideas which are embodied in its form of government. And in this wonderful achievement, some of this goodly town have acted an humble, but not insignificant part. We call it humble, but it is oftentimes great. There goes out from these liill-side homes an influence that is mightier and more far-reaching than we are apt to think. I have often thought how much we owe to these rocks, and these hills, and this shallow soil. You know how flint, and emery, and grit,
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produce fire. You know how wealth corrupts the mind and debauches the body ; how it relaxes energy and dries up the foun- tains of the heart. Do you think that if your town were all a prairie, and the soil two feet in depth, and crops sprang up, and bountiful harvests greeted the farmer with little toil, you would be gathered here to-day to celebrate the great prosperity you now enjoy ? It is these hills, and these rocks, and the incentives to exertion which are inseparable from New England life, that have given, and are now giving, to the country its choicest men. Look where you will,-here, or elsewhere,-you will find that the men who wield power, who command influence, who move the community and the State, were of humble origin, and not unlikely their homes were on hill-sides like these.
O, sir, I love these New England hills, and these rocks, and these valleys, and these trees. They speak to me of years that are gone,-of youthful years, full of glowing anticipations ; of families that once flourished, but now are scattered and far away ; of acts that once seemed unimportant, but which since have grown and ripened into great results. Here in these rural com- munities is the nursery of the nation. Here the seeds of char- acter are sown,-here the foundations are laid. Men may go to the far west, in search of wealth or fame, or to California to dig gold, if they choose ; but for me, give me our good old New England,-the New England of the past, the New England of the present. New England ! with its hills and its mountains, its rocks and its sterile soil and its hardy climate. New Eng- land ! with all its virtues, and all its faults, and all its much abused "isms." Go on, fathers and mothers of Whately ; con- tinne to inculcate those principles of thrift, of economy, of vir- tue and humanity, which have made your ancestors what they were, and yourselves what you are, and you will leave a record which your descendants will be proud of, and will be glad to meet here to celebrate a hundred years hence.
Thus hour after hour was spent in listening to pleasant speeches, interspersed with appropriate music by the bands. It is matter of regret that the addresses of the other speakers have not been furnished for publication.
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As the descending sun began to throw the shadows of Spruce Hill athwart the valley, the following Hymm was sung to the tune of " Old Hundred," the audience standing, and rendering the grand old air with the greatest feeling and effect.
CLOSING HYMN. BY MRS. A. H. HALL.
But made His own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock .- P's. 78: 52.
So we, Thy people, and sheep of Thy pasture, will give Thee thanks forever; we will show forth Thy praise to all generations .- l's. 79: 13.
Great Shepherd of the living fold Which, scattered o'er a thousand hills,
Or safe in heavenly pastures, hold The memories that this hour distills.
We lift our grateful song to Thee For blessings rich, that clustering far,
Now crown the closing century, And bring our wandering children near.
Earth-wide the range of pilgrim-feet, Since first they trod these native vales ;
Dear shadowy forms their coming greet, Whose love like evening dew, exhales.
Love, that o'er all these acres fair, The fragrance of a home hath shed ; And hovers still, in praise and prayer, On every waiting, reverent head.
We come to plead the covenant grace That binds all hearts at Thy behest :
Our children's children thus embrace- One fold ! one Shepherd ! and one rest ! -
Then, while we watch the outer courts, Spirit of Love, Spirit Divine, Spread Thy broad wing of tenderness, Brightly above each inner shrine.
Heed Thou the prayers from fervent lips, Some sealed in death-some quivering still- Guard Thou these hearth stones. With Thy breath, Breathe through them all with quickening thrill.
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Brood o'er the place with jealous love While future years to centuries roll- With thy sweet tones, Thou Heavenly Dove, Gather them in,-Enfold them all.
The benediction was pronounced by Rev. George R. Ferguson, and the great assembly slowly dispersed, with the universal feel- ing that the day had been well spent, and that the best anticipa- tions had been fully realized.
INDEX.
Abercromby, Robert, 195 | Bardwell, Robert, 38, 57 Bardwell, Capt. Seth, Addition, Three miles, 17 Adkins Genealogy, 195 Adkins, Solomon, Jr., 172, 195 Alden, Barnabas G., 196 Alexander, Joseph, 196 Alexander, Levi, 196 Allen, Thomas, 196 Allis, Aaron, 198
Allis, Daniel, 198 Allis, Capt. Elisha, 88, 197
Allis Genealogy, 196
Allis, Col. Josiah, 130, 143, 160, 171, 175, 176, 190, 191, 192, 193 Allis, Capt. Lucius, 61, 66, 86, 148, 176, 185, 196 Allis, Russell, 147, 148, 198
Allis, William, 15, 19, 28,42 Allis, William, Jr., 30 Apples, 75 Asheraft, John, 198 Assessors, 192 Atherton, Rev. Hope, 19, 30
Bacon, Benjamin, 198 Baker, William, 199 Baker, Edward, 199 Bannister, John F., 199 Baptist Society, 107, 110, 118
Bardwell, Chester, M. D., 193, 203
Bardwell, Lt. Ebenezer, 57, 60, 61, 86, 99, 137, 141, 199 Bardwell Genealogy, 199 Bardwell, Lt. Noah, 87, 101, 107, 131, 141, 116, 117, 170, 182, 186, 200 Bardwell, Lt. Perez, 91, 129, 136, 142, 157, 199 Bardwell, Remembrance, 89, 200
170, 201 Bardwell, Rev. William, 117 Bardwell, William F., 179, 203 Barker, Rev. Stephen, 119 Barley, 38, 73
Barnard Genealogy, 203 Barron, J., 204
Bartlett, family of, 204 Bashan, 43 Bates, Rev. L. P., 112, 114, 193, 204
Beals, Caleb, 142, 147, 148, 205 Bears, 54, 61 Beckwith, Ezekiel Philo, 205
and
Beer, 76, 180
Beef, for war, 145, 151, 160 Belden, Rev. Pomeroy, 117 Beldin, Joshua, 61, 87, 99, 141, 147, 148, 176, 181, 205
Belding, Daniel, 50, 176 Belding, Elisha, 99, 208 Belding Genealogy, 205 Belding, Joab, 144
Belding, Joseph, 60, 109, 209
Belding, Paul, 70, 87, 137, 141, 146, 172 Belding, Reuben, will of, 129 Belding, Samuel, 15, 19, 33
Bennett, Daniel W. and George W,, 210
Bigelow, James, 210 Bills of credit, 150 Bills, Rev. George, 119 Bird, Enoch, 210 Blacksmiths, 172 Blankets, for war, 145, 161
Boating on Connecticut river, 182, 288
Boating, History of, 288 Bolts, 75 Bounties, soldiers', 151, 152, 162 Bowker, Henry, 210 Bradstreet's grant, 55 Bragg, Abial, 62, 210 Bragg, Joab. 141 Briek-making, 173
Bridgeman, 210 Brooks, John, 210
Broom-corn and brooms, 177 Broughton, Wait, 211 Brown, Edward, 61, 62, 87, 107, 139, 141, 141, 147, 170, 211
Brown, George, 212 Brown, Joseph, 212 Brown, Josiah, 142, 146, 211 Brown, John, 141, 147, 151. 211 Brown, William, 148, 211 Bunker Hill battle, men from Whately, 143 Burroughs, Stephen, 212 Bush, Levi, Jr., 192, 213 Byram, Joseph, 62, 137, 213
Callahan, David and Thomas, 213
Candlewood, 18 Canterbury, 61 Capawong brook, 11, 188 Captives taken at llat- field, 32 Carey, Richard, 136, 116, 117, 213
Carley, Samuel, 61, 62, 88, 136, 118, 213 Carriages, 174 Casey, John, 213 Castle or Castwell, Thomas, 213
Cemeteries, 19, 185 Centennial Celebration, 295 Chaises, 175
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Chapin, Ariel, 213 Chapin, Rev. Horace B., 118 Chapin, Rev. Perez, 117
Chapin, Perez, M. D.," 149, 151, 189, 191, 213 Chapman, Rev. Lucius W., 117 Chapman, Isaac, 213
Chauncey, Richard, 99, 194, 214
Chestnut plain street, 48, 120, 122
Chickons, 8, 11
Chimneys, stone, 66
Christian Lane, 49, 120, 129, 123
Church, Hadley, 14
Church, Hatfield, 18, 19
Church, Whately, for- mation of, 95; origi- nal members, 99, 109 ; number of members, 110 Church, Second Cong., 110, 118
Church, Richard, killed by Indians, 54 Cider, 76 Claghorn, Alvin N., 214 Clapboards, 17
Clark, Dexter, 214
Clark, Justin W., 3
Clark, Justus, 214
Clark, Leander, 173, 193, 214
Clark, Peter, 214
Clark, Stephen, 214
Clary, Apollos, 214 Claverack, 121
Clerks, Town, 191
Cloth, home-made 70
Clothiers, 73, 170, 171, 172
Coleman, Nathaniel, 57, 61, 87, 92, 147, 158, 159, 214 Coleman, Niles, 129, 141, 214
Coleman, Noah, 215
Comb Factory, 171 Committees of Corres- pondence, 139, 141 Common fields, 11, 16, 17, 18, 43
Commons, 16, 43; four divisions of, 44 Communion furniture, 115 Conch-shell, 109 Cone, William, 215 Convention, Deerfield, in 1782, 157
Convention, Hatfield, in | Dollar, first named, 194 1782, 158 Convention, Northamp- ton, in 1777, 153 Conway path, 49, 123 Cook, David, 173, 215 Cook, James P., 215
Cooley, Benjamin, 215 Cooley, Dennis, 215 Cooley, Justin Morton, 179, 215
Cooley, Lemuel, 215
Corn, Indian, 8, 18, 74 Covenant, half-way, 100
Cow-herd, 43
Cows, run on Commons, 91
Cowing, George, 216
Crafts, Benoni, 61, 216
Crafts, Gaius, 136, 142, 216
Crafts Genealogy, 216
Crafts, Thomas, 38, 41, 61, 66, 99, 104, 216 Crawford, Capt. J. D., 291
Crump, James A., 163, 223
Curtis, Hosea, 223
Cutler, James, 170, 223
Cutting brush on Com- mons, 18
Dark day, 194 Deacons, 115
Deaths, summary of, 190 Dedham Grant, 55
Deer, 54
Deerfield, abandoned, 27 ; destroyed, 58 ; part of annexed, 81
Delegates to Constitu- tional Convention, 193 Delegates to Provincial Congress, 140
Denison's Grant, 56
Dewey, Capt. T. M., 288 Dickinson, Abner, 137, 147, 225
Dickinson, Benjamin, M. D., 189, 191, 226 Dickinson Genealogy, 223 Diekinson, Gideon, 86, 142, 190, 223
Diekinson, Joel, 61, 86, 136, 226 Diekinson, Moses, 61, 223 Diekinson, Nathaniel, 15, 50 Distilleries, 182 Doane, Samuel, 226 Dogs, law against, 43 ; to hunt Indians, 59
Donovan, Edmund, 227 Drain, the great 187 Dress, excesse in 39, 40, 41 Dress, homespun, 65, 70 Drinks, 76 Dyeing, 68, 72, 140
Eaton, Asa, Jesse, Wil- liam, 227
Ecclesiastical history, 93 Edson Genealogy, 227
Edson, Jonathan, 62, 142, 143, 146, 148 Egypt road, 48, 123 Elder, family of, 228 Elm, set by Oliver Graves Jr., 61 Emmons, Richard, M. D., 189, 228 Equivalent, Hatfield, 47 Errata, 332
Estates, for div. of lands 16 Estates and polls in 1771, 87 Estates, valuation of, 190 Esther mountain, 188 ; road, 120, 123 Excesse in apparrell, 40
Faculty Tax, 172 Fairchild, Rev. E. B., 119, 228
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