USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Whately > History of the town of Whately, Mass., including a narrative of leading events from the first planting of Hatfield, 1661-1899 : with family genealogies > Part 29
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lege of setting up a suitable stone as a monument to mark the site. Indeed, we worked together. He furnishing his oxen and stone boat to draw the stone to fill the excavation to place the monument upon, and George W. Moor came with horses and contributed the pedestal which he brought from his house, and then drew the yellow flint boulder from Spruce Hill road. Then this was suitably marked, "Site of stockade, 1754-1888."
A meeting of the citizens of this and adjoining towns was held 19 Sept., 1888, at the Town hall, presided over by Lyman A. Crafts, Esq. Addresses were made by James M. Crafts, followed by Hon. George Sheldon of Deerfield, his topic being relative to the Indians of New England; then they adjourned for a collation served in the vestry of the Congregational church. After reassembling sprightly speeches were made by Thaddeus Graves, Silas G. Hubbard, Daniel W. Wells, Esqrs., and Rev. R. M. Wood, of Hatfield; Rev. Eugene M. Frary of Colraine, and Rev. W. C. Curtis of Whately. An excellent choir, under the leadership of Micajah Howes, furnished fine vocal music, and the Whately brass band also contributed largely to the success of the celebration. A large and enthusiastic audience filled the hall even to standing room. In every way the meet- ing was a success, largely due to the labors of the committee in charge. As all the expense attending this was borne by Mr. Crafts, he now says, "That on account of its success the citizens kindly passed in their money to an extent that nearly equaled the expenditure, without solicitation. The first dollar came from that public-spirited man, E. F. Orcutt, while others over- whelmed by the success, even against many expressed doubts, gathered about the writer and thanked him for what had been done and nailed their thanks by financial assistance towards the expenses."
The remarks by Mr. Crafts were published and we will give a short extract: "In attempting to give a historical sketch of the early settlement of this town we are met at the outset with the difficulty of finding documentary material from which we can weave our history. Our only resource is to draw upon the memory of aged individuals who, in the days gone by, have heard the fathers relate the story of their trials and their perse- vering efforts to overcome the difficulties that lay thick in their pathway. It was not simply the taking up of new land, build- ing houses and barns in peace and security ; all about him was to be found the hostile Indian, waiting and watching for an
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opportunity to steal upon him and secure his scalp, and thus add to the list of such bloody trophies that ornamented his dis- tant wigwam.
"To secure our hardy ancestry from harm we find that forts and stockades were erected. War was almost continuous be- tween France and England and this, of course, opened the flood gates of war between their dependencies, Canada and New England. The last of these wars was from 1754 to 1763, and our little settlement cast about for some means of safety and de- fense. In 1754 it was determined to build a stockade about the buildings of Deacon Dickinson. This was done, probably under the direction of Col. Israel Williams of Hatfield, then in com- mand of the Hampshire county troops, who was experienced in the construction of means of defense against the attacks of the Indians, and it is claimed that while he directed, the citizens of Hatfield assisted our people in the construction of the stockade. The stockade is supposed to have surrounded from one-half to three-fourths of an acre of ground. It was built of hewed logs set firmly in the ground and securely fastened on the inside by stout poles fastened by substantial pins so that no single post could be removed. In times of alarm or danger the families . fled to the stockade. Here their cows and other stock were brought and kept until the danger was over. I have heard old Great-aunt Martha Crafts say that she had lived in the fort for two weeks at a time and helped to milk the cows. She was born 28 May, 1748, and died 28 August, 1836, and would have been fourteen years old before the war was over. Her memory of the fort was full and perfect, and from her I learned much. 'Why,' she said, 'Our cows, horses and pigs were all there and those of the other neighbors.' My father, born in 1781, had often heard all the details of life in the fort, and Uncle Perez Wells, a Revolutionary soldier, and many others from whom we gathered much of the information that we have obtained.
"There was another stockade about the house of Joseph Belden that stood where now is what we call Bartlett's Corner. Of its size I have no knowledge, but it was large enough to afford protection for the families of Benjamin Scott, Josiah Scott, Jr., David Graves, Elisha Smith, John Waite and any others living near, with their stock. Each family while in the fort appeared to have a domicile of their own and, notwithstand- ing the danger, the young people had great times together."
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COPY OF OLD LETTERS.
We give here a letter written by Lieutenant Abel Scott of Whately, while in the Revolutionary army, to his "betrothed sweetheart," Miss Martha Graves, a daughter of David Graves, Jr., of Whately :
Irvington, N. Y., 15 Oct., 1780.
"I having a opertunity, I cannot forbear riting to let you know that I through the goodness of god, I am well as I hope these lines will find you and the rest of friends and acquainteces. Sept. the 6th I reseived about ten of the clock at night a letter from you which was pleasant and was very good to hear from you for it came very unexpected to me sent there and for the notis that you had in writing. I am very much obliged to you for it aspeshally for that branch of doing my duty. Your cor- shon is good, but needless. And as for news we have a plenty concerning the afares of the enemy, but that don't concern you very much, but I will give you a few hints of the afare of Sept. the twenty-six. General Arnul deserted to the enemy and the agedant general of the british army came out as a Spy and he is in our hands at present, and a Capt. of the same tropes is with him. And so no more concerning the enemy.
"But for the afare of the flesh pleasing life we have fruit, apples and peaches very good, and good sider, but the best of all are the duck gates are very plenty so that there (here are a few words that I can't decipher). Graves Crafts desires to be remembered to you and all the rest that inquire after him aspa- shilly to Joan and tell her that he cannot forget her how that he did in old times. The hole that went from Whately sends their complyments to you and all the rest that inquire after them, aspeshally to the girls. So no more at present.
I remain your well wisher,
ABEL SCOTT.
I desire to be remembered to Mr. Eleazer Frary and to his frow, and let them know that I am well."
I have a letter written by Paul Belden, who was in Capt. John Burke's company, expedition to Canada, 1759, one hun- dred and forty years ago :
Camp at Albany, May 29, 1759.
loving brother and sister after my love to you and your children hoppin thes lynes will find you in good helth as tha leav me through the goodness of God and some of our men have
1
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gon up the mohork river cutten. And when we shall march from this place we dont no. We have mete a noufe and that is good some butter and rise today and thare wasaman shot to deth for desartion which was a orfful site to se. And I would have you remember me en your prays that god wold cep me from all danger and return me en safety to my frinds and quantans agan.
And I renan your loovin Brother and well Wisher PAUL, BELDING. (his hand)
ESCAPE OF SERGEANT O'CONNELL.
Among the soldiers in the 27th Regt. of Infantry were a number of Whately boys, prominent among them Bartholomew O'Connell. He was killed at the battle of Southwest Creek, 8 March, 1865, while in connand of his company, being then the ranking sergeant. The commissioned officers were either wounded or away on detached service. Bartie, as we all knew him, was a bright, scholarly boy and a general favorite in Whately.
He was taken prisoner at Drury's Bluff in Virginia, in 1863. The prisoners were placed in a freight car and started for Andersonville, Ga. After they left Augusta, Ga., Sunday, 29 May, 1863, Sergt. O'Connell set to work with others to cut a hole through the bottom of the car with the view of escaping. There was a guard of three confederate soldiers in the car, but a number stood up so as to screen them from the view of the guard and they worked diligently. They succeeded in getting the hole large enough to let a man through when they stopped. Three of them slipped out and escaped to the woods, his com- panions being Corporal Brizee and Private Taylor. The plan they first formed was to strike north towards Nashville, Tenn., distant fully 350 miles. They traveled nights and lay concealed days. They were fed by the black men who would not take a cent from them, but were only too glad to help them. It was May 29th when they escaped and June 16 they reached the coast and were taken on board of one of our gun-boats, "The Winona," and taken to Port Royal, S. C., where they were cared for by Admiral Dahlgren and by him sent to Philadelphia, and through the kindness of friends were enabled to reach their homes. We have the history of their escape from Bartie, and Corporal Brizee furnished an account to the historian of the regiment.
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Among his Whately companions were Andrew M. Weth- erell, brought up by Elbridge G. Crafts. He died at Anderson- ville 20 Aug., 1864, aged twenty-five years; and Patrick Mur- phy, a fine young Irishman, who worked for the writer. When my son, Irving B. Crafts, and Andrew M. Wetherell enlisted Pat said "If the boys are going I'll go too." He died at Ander- sonville 16 March, 1865.
Two other of Whately's soldiers died at Andersonville, viz., John Brown, Jr., who was in the 57th Regt., taken prisoner and died 12 Oct., 1864, leaving a widow and two or three children. He was born in Whately in 1820; and Edgar Howard Field, an adopted son of Paul W. Field, who was in the 37th Regt., captured at the battle of the Wilderness 6 May, 1864, died 15 Aug., 1864. My son, Irving B., was discharged for disability in 1863 and so escaped this imprisonment as he was in the same company the bulk of whom were captured.
THE GREAT SWAMP DRAIN.
The Great and General Court authorized Governor Hutch- inson to appoint a board of commissioners to take charge of the work of constructing the great drain and apportion the tax on the proprietors of the land benefitted in the so-called Great Swamp in Hatfield and Deerfield. (The drain extended into that part of Deerfield that was annexed to Whately.)
The first rate or tax made bore date 21 Aug., 1770. From the size of the tax it is presumed but little had been done before this date. We find the amount assessed to one of the proprie- tors, Nathaniel Hawks, 21 Aug , 1770, was 1f 9$ 5d if; at a subsequent time, to wit, 12 April, 1774, 6{ Is 9d 2f. This he refused to pay and the collector, John Waite of Whately, levied on nine acres of land west of the road by the Barnard place, being lot No. 8 now held by Noah Dickinson's heirs. The col- lector made a lease of this lot for nine hundred and ninety-nine years to Capt. Oliver Shattuck, the said Shattuck yielding and paying therefor to the said Hawks "One pepper corn" annually as the rental for the same.
It is not known that anything further was done on the drain after 1774 until 1795, this time under authority of the state of Massachusetts. At this time the old drain was cleaned out, enlarged and new lateral ones opened. The commissioners for this last work were Gad Smith, Gideon Dickinson and William Tryon of South Deerfield, the work being finished 12 Sept., 1799. I will copy an account from their books : Martin Graves
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is credited for labor done in Great Swamp Drain, by clearing out
9234 rods at 8d, £3 IS IOd 78 rods at 9d, 2 18 06
44 rods at 37/2 d 12 IO
£6 13$ 2d
We have the names of David Graves, Reuben Crafts, Lieut. Zebadiah Graves, Azoniah Cooley, 'Squire Cooley, Eliakim Ames, Capt. Abner Cooley, Lieut. Elihu McCall, Rev. Rufus Wells, Perez Wells, Samuel Marsh, James Hale, Eber Allis, Elisha Belden, Asa Bardwell, Benjamin Parker, Moses Crafts, Graves and Seth Crafts and twelve or fifteen others who all worked and earned from one pound to six or eight pounds. The number of rods dug was 3,81014, or II miles, 29014, rods, making a cost in all of £158 18s 3d, the average cost per rod being a trifle over ten pence. Probably the owners of the land were allowed to work out their proportion of the tax. There were many branch drains. These facts are gained from the book kept by the commissioners and are deemed perfectly reli- able. I have an extended copy of their account.
The section of land still known as Great swamp extends into Hatfield, through Whately into South Deerfield, about four miles north and south, and before it was drained from about fifty rods to near a mile in width. What is now known as the North swamp, above Christian lane, was the widest and furnished much the largest amount of water. This was mostly carried off by what we call Little river. The South Great swamp had its outlet near Egypt road, and it crosses Claverack road, and the hills on each side have always been known as Great swamp hills. The drain enters Mill river, near the Hat- field line, on the Gad Crafts farm.
CHAPTER XIX.
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
A meeting of the citizens of Whately was held May 1, 1871, to take some action relative to the celebration of the centennial of our town ; Capt. Seth Bardwell presided, and Levi Ford was secretary. It was voted unanimously "That we observe the town's centennial anniversary on the Fourth of July next." It was voted to choose a committee of twelve, two from each school district, to solicit funds and make all necessary arrangements for the celebration, and the following persons were chosen as the committee :
Southwest district, Capt. Seth Bardwell and Edwin Bardwell; Northwest district, David Scott and Hiram Bardwell;
North centre district, Elon C. Sanderson and Walter Crafts; South centre district, Francis G. Bardwell and James M. Crafts; Southeast district, Elihu Belden and Charles F. Pease;
Northeast district, Edward C. Sanderson and Silas White Allis.
At a subsequent time the committee organized by choosing Capt. Seth Bardwell chairman and Elon C. Sanderson as secre- tary. Voted, "To raise by subscription $500 to pay the neces- sary expenses of the celebration," and the following sub-com- mittees and officers were appointed :
Treasurer, Dennis Dickinson;
Committee on correspondence, James M. Crafts ;
Committee on location, Edward C. Sanderson, Walter Crafts, Francis G. Bardwell ;
Committee on music, Edwin Bardwell, Capt. Seth. Bardwell, Walter Crafts ;
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President of the day, Elihu Belden, Esq .;
Vice presidents, James M. Crafts, John Chapinan Sanderson,
Esqs. ;
Chief marshal, Capt. Seth Bardwell;
Assistant marshals, Lieut. Henry Brown, Francis G. Bardwell; Toast masters, Rev. J. W. Lane, William H. Fuller, Esq.
The committee on selection of a suitable place for the hold- ing of the gathering reported that the beautiful maple grove on the farm of Seth B. Crafts could be had, and their report was accepted by the committee. This is on the original Thomas Crafts farın (the writer's great-grandfather), where he settled in 1751. It was, and still is, a beautiful location. Great interest was manifested by our people, and from the first success was assured.
The day was beautiful and the crowd of people that surged into the fine, shady grounds was in every way gratifying to all that had labored so constantly to make it a success. Descend- ants of many families were present to add something to the glad- some time. We had the pleasure of meeting and greeting friends from Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan and Canada. The neigh- boring towns furnished many hundreds of interested visitors, all intent upon listening to the many interesting as well as eloquent speeches that were made.
A large platform was erected for the speakers and invited guests, and seats were arranged for about three thousand peo- ple. The aged people, who were present in large numbers, had reserved seats directly in front of the speakers. There were some present who had passed their four score and ten years. The large audience was regaled with lemonade and a substan- tial collation, with more than twelve baskets left. Indeed, the whole thing was a success.
We would be pleased to present many of the speeches, as well as the beautiful poem written by Rev. Rufus P. Wells, but our limit forbids, so we will only reproduce the opening speech by Elihu Belden, Esq. This was preceded by the singing of America by the entire audience led by the bands, and a prayer by Rev. John W. Lane. Then Esquire Belden gave the open- ing address of welcome :
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN :
It has fallen upon me as a representative of the descendants of one of the earliest settlers in this town, and in behalf of its
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citizens, to extend to you to-day our kindly greetings; and I assure you that I but express the feelings of all our hearts when I bid you a cordial welcome. We welcome you to the old homesteads and all that is left to remind you of bygone years. We welcome you to our firesides and all that is new. We wel- come you to the festivities and associations of this our hundredth birthday.
Some feelings of sadness will mingle with our joys on an occasion like this, as we look around and miss familiar faces; as we recall the past, which returns not, and recount the perils and hardships of our ancestors, when these now pleasant fields and meadows were almost a wilderness. And yet we come as dutiful children, with our votive offerings of affectionate remem- brance. And there is a special fitness, which I need not take pains to set forth at length, that we, their descendants, should gather ourselves together on this centennial anniversary of the incorporation of the town, to testify our admiration of their vir- tues, to review the scenes and deeds of their eventful lives, and unite in commemoration services, which may transmit their names to the generations yet to come who will occupy the places now allotted to us.
We can speak with pride and gratitude of those great-grand- fathers and great-grandmothers, those grandfathers and grand- mothers, those fathers and mothers, who toiled and struggled for us; who dared the onsets of savage warfare, endured the privations of frontier life and made any required sacrifices in order to secure for us the inheritance we now enjoy.
We welcome with feelings of peculiar interest those who were once our citizens or children of our citizens, who have come from the more distant parts of our land and from the Queen's dominions, to keep jubilee with us to-day. We extend to you the right hand of fellowship; we receive you with a happy greeting, and rejoice that your prosperity in your new homes has not extinguished your interest in your old native town.
We welcome the citizens of Hatfield, and are especially glad that our mother town has not forgotten us, and we hope to prove to you that we are proud of the relationship.
We welcome the citizens of Williamsburg, our sister town, "Twinned at a birth."
We welcome all who share with us common memories and kindred blood.
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May God grant that the impressions received here to-day from our rehearsals of the past, our common offerings upon the old home altars and our rekindled hopes may but strengthen the cords that bind us together and make us better friends, neighbors and citizens.
But it is not well for me (even if I could) to occupy more of your time. We have those present who are capable of holding your silent attention at their will, and whose words of wisdom you are waiting to hear."
CHAPTER XX.
SECRET ORDERS.
There has been for many years a few of our citizens con- nected with orders of Free Masons and likewise of the Odd Fel- lows, and I deem it of sufficient importance to give, so far as I can, the names of such members as I can recall as belonging to either of these orders. First, we will give those of the Free and Accepted Masons, and as far as I can, will give the year they were initiated :
Peter Clark, 1796,
Asa Frary, Ist, 1797,
Elijah Allis, 1797,
Selah Munson, 1801,
David Stockbridge, 1800,
Zebina Bartlett,
W. I. Fox, Albert S. Fox,
Capt. Salmon Graves,
Miles B. Morton,
Deacon James Smith,
Rev. John R. Goodnough,
Chester Brown,
Jonathan Smith, 1818,
Austin Allis,
Dr. Richard Emmons,
Elijah Sanderson, David Sanderson,
Dr. Francis Harwood,
Hubbard S. Allis, 1846,
Martin Crafts. 1843,
Justin R. Smith, 1866,
James M. Crafts, 1869,
Thomas S. Dickinson,
Myron Brown, Nov., 1870,
William H. Fuller,
Luther W. Clark,
C. H. Stockbridge,
Edwin T. Smith, Joseph L. Smith,
John C. Faulkner, Dr. J. D. Seymour,
Rev. E. B. Fairchild, William B. Orcutt, W. W. Sanderson, Freeman A. Crafts,
Charles E. Crafts,
George E. Sanderson,
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Dwight L. Dickinson, 1866, Victor D. Bardwell. L. L. Eaton, 1868,
During the excitement growing out of the alleged abduc- tion of William Morgan, Jerusalem lodge at Northampton, though it did not surrender its charter, yet in accord with the demands of the Anti-masonic party, suspended its meetings at Northampton, yet the members continued to hold meetings, in connection with their brethren from Greenfield and adjoining towns, at Whately at the hotel of David Stockbridge in his hall, where the insignia painted on the walls is still visible. This was soon noised abroad, and then they had a commodious room fitted up in the two-story house of Capt. Salmon Graves, on the site of the present house of C. A. Graves. I have seen both of these places of meeting, and there is also similar insignia on these walls. After the excitement had in a great measure abated the various lodges were reopened and, for a wonder, are very popular, and the Connecticut river still flows on as peacefully as of yore.
In consequence of the violent and unreasonable opposition raised to Masonry Rev. John R. Goodnough, pastor of the Bap- tist church in Whately, was compelled to renounce Masonry or leave the fellowship of the churches, and he decided to retain his connection with the Masons and his personal independence.
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows organized lodges at Greenfield and Northampton. Nonotuck, No. 61, was insti- tuted in Northampton, 11 March , 1845; Pocomptuck, No. 67, perhaps two years later; Alethian, No. 128, 13 Sept., 1848, at Shelburne Falls.
These lodges became at once popular and quite a number of our citizens joined them, mostly Nonotuck, No. 61. I will give a list of the names, as fully as I can, of Whately citizens : Col. R. B. Harwood, ) George W. Moore,
Samuel Lesure,
Rufus M. Swift,
. Samuel B. White,
George E. Wood,
E. H. Woods, J. R. Smith,
Micajah Howes,
Ryland C. Howes,
James M. Crafts,
Charles A. Coville,
Edwin Bardwell,
Leander F. Crafts,
Paul W. Field,
Charles R. Crafts,
Salma W. Field,
Edmund B. Crafts,
Charles H. Field,
Henry S. Higgins,
Josiah Allis, A11 before 1847.
Samuel C. Wood,
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Charles E. Bardwell, Hiram Bardwell,
Edgar M. Bardwell, Lyman A. Munson,
Henry J. Hoar,
John C. Field,
Nelson H. Damon,
Selah Smith Graves,
Hubbard S. Allis, 1841.
REMINISCENCES.
Sometimes the memory of old times will impress me with some curious scenes that used to occur in the old meeting-house at Whately, and I seem to see clearly the old-time faces that were then so familiar to me. As I think over these incidents I seem to live over again the scenes that then impressed them- selves upon my mind. Seventy-four years ago I was a boy of eight years of age and my parents, having great confidence in me that I should behave myself properly, allowed me to occupy a seat in their pew in the gallery, but didn't want me to sit be- hind the singers, as it was called, where a good many mischiev- ous young men and boys congregated.
Then people, old and young, went to meeting forenoon and afternoon and often at five o'clock unless the day was extremely unpleasant. In warm weather the boys went barefoot and the men, if they took a coat, carried it on their arm often not put- ting it on during the day. Wagons were not as plentiful as now and many walked two or three miles, carrying their shoes and stockings in their hands until they were near the meeting- house, and when going home they would take them off again and walk home barefoot.
But what we have to relate has to do with some of the scenes enacted in the church. The singers' seats comprised a double row of seats on three sides of the gallery. The singers occupied the east side of the gallery facing the pulpit, while the other seats on the south side were filled with young men and boys, and the north side by young ladies and girls. It is need- less to say that various flirtations were in progress between the boys and girls, to say nothing of laughing and giggling, snap- ping apple seeds and throwing apple cores and other missiles. If they failed to reach across the 30-foot space they would fall upon the older people on the ground floor. To keep order among the young bloods of both sexes one or more tything men were among the singers. The particular one of which I shall speak was Deacon James Smith, a really pleasant man, but he fully understood his business. He was a large man of
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