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 5
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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No. 4, Town lot, 7 rods - prob. for road
No. 5, Mr. Atherton's heirs, 12 rods
No. 6, Martin Kellogg,
5 rods 14 feet.
No. 7, Samuel Marsh,
9 rods 12 feet.
No. 8, William Gull,
26 rods 6 feet.
No. 9, John Allis,
48 rods
-
12 feet.
No. 11, Benjamin Wait,
20 rods
No. 12, William Arms,
13 rods
No. 13, Philip Russell,
19 rods
A highway, Io rods
No. 14, John Cowles,
37 rods
No. 15, Widow Graves,
ro rods
No. 16, Edward Church,
25 rods
No. 17, Richard Morton,
28 rods
6 feet.
No. 18, Obadiah Dickinson,
II rods
2 feet.
No. 19, Samuel Gunn,
5 rods
8 feet.
No. 20, Samuel Allis,
19 rods
-
No. 21, Widow Fellows,
II rods
12 feet.
No. 22, Samuel Taylor,
21 rods
6 feet.
No. 23, John Hubbard,
17 rods
-
No. 24, John Coleman,
37 rods
6 feet.
No. 25, John Wells,
25 rods
-
No. 26, Daniel Belding,
13 rods
II feet.
No. 27, Thomas Bracy,
5 rods
-
No. 28, Samuel Baldwin,
27 rods
6 feet.
No. 29, Thomas and Noah Wells, come in lot 48.
No. 30, Thomas Hastings, A highway, Io rods
9 rods
5 feet.
No. 31, Eleazer Frary,
25 rods -
14 feet.
No. 10, Mr. Chauncey,
5 rods
-
1
f
5
S
e
S
ut
t.
to
s
of
le
1
No. 32, Samuel Foote, II rods 14 feet.
No. 33, Isaac Graves, 14 rods 6 feet.
No. 34, Walter Hixon, 7 rods [2 feet.
No. 35, Joseph Boardman, 5 rods
14 feet.
No. 36, Beriah Hastings,
Io rods
-
No. 37, Samuel Partridge,
Io rods -
No. 38, Hezekiah Dickinson,
9 rods
No. 39, John White,
14 rods
13 feet.
No. 40, John Field,
20 rods S feet.
No. 41, Robert Page,
4 rods
8 feet.
No 42, Joseph Field,
9 rods
4 feet.
No. 43, Stephen Tailors' heirs,
3 rods
10 feet.
No. 44, Samuel Kellogg,
15 rods . 8 feet.
No. 45, Samuel Gillett's heirs,
5 rods
4 feet.
No. 46, Daniel White,
24 rods
12 feet.
No. 47, Samuel Field,
II rods
-
No. 48, Noah Wells,
7 rods
IO feet.
No. 49, John Steel,
5 rods
Io feet.
No. 50, John Graves,
15 rods
IO feet.
No. 51, Samuel Carter,
5 rods
8 feet.
No. 52, Ephraim Beers.
6 rods
8 feet.
No. 53, Samuel Billings' heirs,
6 rods
-
No. 54, Samuel Wells,
Io rods
2 feet.
No. 55, Thomas Loomis,
18 rods
-
No. 56, John Smith's heirs,
5 rods
3 feet,
No. 57, Daniel Warner,
37 rods
No. 58, Joseph Belknap,
24 rods
8 feet.
No. 59, Benjamin Barrett, A highway, Io rods
5 rods
4 feet.
No. 60, Nathaniel Dickinson,
40 rods
-
The remaining 9 lots are in Whately.
No. 61, William King, 5 rods 14 feet.
No. 62, Thomas Meekins, Sr.,
13 rods
2 feet.
No. 63, Samuel Graves, Jr.,
9 rods
2 feet.
No. 64, Stephen Jennings,
14 rods
Io feet.
No. 65, William Scott,
14 rods
I foot.
No. 66, Samuel Belding, Sr.,
31 rods
6 feet.
No. 67, Stephen Belding,
14 rods
12 feet.
No. 68, Samuel Dickinson,
32 rods
-
No. 69, Robert Bardwell,
Io rods
4 feet.
-
1086 rods LI feet.
-
-
-
46
47
The lots in Whately measure 146 rods, I foot, 6 inches.
The second division of Commons, abutting upon a high- way on the west side of the Mill River swamp (Chestnut Plain street so called), and part against the wet swamp and part against the Great river easterly. This measurement is on the west end.
rods
feet
inches
No. 1, Daniel White,
28
5
2
No. 2, Stephen Tailor's heirs
3
O
4
No. 3, Walter Hixon,
8
2
I
No. 4, Samuel Gunn,
5
6
II
No. 5, John Smith's heirs,
3
16
4
No. 6, Widow Graves,
9
II
9
No. 7, Thomas Hastings,
8
9
5
No. 8, Samuel Allis,
18
9
II
No. 9, Mr. Chauncey,
6
14
I
No. 10, Richard Morton,
27
7
4
No. 11, Hezekiah Dickinson,
8
9
5
No. 12, Benjamin Wait,
19
I2
3
No. 13, Edward Church,
24
14
8
No. 14, William King,
5
6
No. 15, John Allis,
45
II
IO
No. 16, Samuel Kellogg,
II
T3
II
No. 17, Martin Kellogg,
5
6
II
No. 18, Joseph Belknap,
22
5
2
No. 19, John Wells,
2I
2
No. 20, Samuel Marsh,
IO
4
No. 21, John Coles,
3 I
I2
2
No. 22, Samuel Dickinson,
28
5
2
No. 23, Philip Russell,
18
4
3
No. 24, Town lot,
6
14
I
No. 25, Ephraim Beers,
6
14
I
No. 26, Robert Page,
4
9
I
No. 27, Samuel Graves, Jr.,
7
II
7
No. 28, Thos. Meekins, Jr.'s heirs, 6
9
6
No. 29, Daniel Belding,
12
9
6
No. 30, Robert Bardwell,
9
2
6
No. 31, Samuel Partridge,
9
7
3
No. 32, Benjamin Hastings,
9-
7
3
No. 33. Stephen Belding,
12
14
3
No. 34. Samuel Wells,
9
2
6
No. 35, Samuel Field,
10
15
2
48
rods
feet
inches
No. 36, John Coleman,
3I
I2
2
A highway, Christian lane,
IO
-
-
No. 37, Thomas Bracy,
5
2
6
No. 38, Isaac Graves,
I3
6
6
No. 39, Samuel Belding, Sr.,
28
I
5
No. 40, William Scott,
12
14
3
No. 41, Joseph Field,
8
I3
II
No. 42, Samuel Foote,
II
2
5
No. 43, Nathaniel Dickinson, Jr.,
6
4
4
No. 44, Samuel Carter,
4
9
I
No. 45, Samuel Gailord,
22
5
2
No. 46, Widow Fellows,
II
7
IO
No. 47, Samuel Billings' heirs,
5
12
No. 48, William Gull,
25
2
. 2
No. 49, Thomas Meekins, Sr.,
I2
14
5
No. 50, Samuel Gillett's heirs,
5
6
II
No. 51, John Steel,
5
6
II
No. 52, Joseph Bodman,
5
6
II
No. 53, John Graves,
9
-
No. 54, included in Noah Wells'.
No. 55, John Field,
II
16
5
No. 56, Thomas Loomis,
9
12
7
No. 57, John Hubbard,
9
IO
IO
No. 58, Stephen Jennings,
7
I5
2
No. 59, Samuel Belding, Jr.,
I5
9
IO
No. 60, Samuel Graves, Sr.,
8
12
2
No. 61, John White,
8
12
2
No. 62, William Arms,
7
9
II
No. 63, Noah Wells,
4
7
4
No. 64, Mr. Atherton's heirs,
7
IO
II
No. 65, Obadiah Dickinson,
6
2
8
No. 66, Benjamin Barrett,
4
2
6
No. 67, Daniel Warner,
20
4
5.
No. 68, Eleazer Frary,
14
8
7
No. 69, Nathaniel Dickinson, Sr., 21
7
5
No. 70, overplus to Mr. Williams, 8
3
IO
879
OO
4
-
The third division as copied from Hatfield records as laid out 21, October 1684, beginning at the northwest side of the highway that leadeth to Northampton and all the sandy hill.
49
rods
feet
No. 1, Samuel Graves, Sr.,
I37
No. 2, Nathaniel Dickinson, Sr.,
217
-
No. 3, William King,
5
9
No. 4, John White,
I3
I2
No. 5, Samuel Carter,
5
2
No. 6, William Scott,
I3
No. 7, Ephraim Beers,
6
I
No. 8, Joseph Boardman,
5
IO
No. 9, Obadiah Dickinson,
I3
-
No. 10, Robert Page,
4
3
No. II, John Graves,
14
8
No. 12, Samuel Tailor,
19
I2
No. 13, Eleazer Frary,
23
I
No. 14, Thomas Bracy,
4
12
No. 15, John Field,
18
I6
No. 16, Stephen Jennings,
13
9
No. 17, Town lot,
6
8
No. 18, John Smith's heirs,
5
2
No. 19, Walter Hixon,
7
2
No. 20, Widow Graves,
IO
I
No. 21, Benjamin Barrett,
4
I5
No. 22, Samuel Foote, A highway,
IO
-
No. 23, William Gull,
25
5
No. 24, Thomas Meekins,
I2
3
No. 25, Samuel Wells,
9
5
No. 26, Samuel Belding, Jr.,
26
7
No. 27, Daniel White,
23
-
No. 28, John Cowles,
34
3
No. 29, Daniel Belding, Sr.,
I3
2
No. 30, Samuel Dickinson,
29
II
No. 31, John Hubbard,
15
I2
No. 32, Robert Bardwell,
9
6
No. 33, Martin Kellogg,
5
7
No. 34, Rev. Hope Atherton's heirs,
I2
I2
No. 35, Thomas Loomis,
7.
6
No. 36, Mr. Chauncey,
5
7
No. 37, Stephen Belding,
13
II
No. 38, Noah Wells,
7
2
lid
No. 39, Thomas Hastings,
8
IO
he
No. 40, Samuel Graves, Jr.,
8
5
II
I
50
rods
feet
No. 41, Joseph Belknap,
22
II
No. 42, Joseph Field,
8 ·
8
No. 43, Philip Russell,
I2
I
No. 44, Thomas Meekins, Jr.,
7
5
No. 45, John Allis,
44
4
No. 46, Hezekiah Dickinson,
9
4
No. 47, Isaac Graves,
I3
5
No. 48, John Steel,
5
4
No. 49, Stephen Tailor,
4
6
No. 50, Samuel Partridge,
9
3
No. 51, Daniel Warner,
34
3
No. 52, Samuel Gillett's heirs,
5
2
No. 53, Samuel Allis,
I7
9
No. 54, Thomas Wells, with Noah Wells,
No. 55, Samuel Marsh,
9
I
No. 56, John Wells,
23
3
No. 57, Samuel Field,
IO
3
No. 58, William Arms,
I2
2
No. 59, Samuel Belding,
29
3
No. 60, Samuel Kellogg,
14
5
No. 61, Samuel Gunn,
5
2
No. 62, Edward Church,
23
2
No. 63, Benjamin Hastings,
9
4
No. 64, Widow Fellows,
IO
I5
No. 65, Richard Morton,
26
5
No. 66, Nathaniel Dickinson, Jr.,
9
I
No. 67, John Coleman,
34
II
No. 68, Samuel Billings' heirs,
II
-
No. 69, Benjamin Wait,
18
9
No. 70, an overplus of about
6
I281
6
Ending with ye uppermost lot laid out in Mill River swamp. These lots were laid out east and west bounded by Mill swamp lots highway east, and on the end of the six miles from Great River west.
Nine last lots of this third division are in Whately, 147 rods, 16 feet wide in all.
The fourth division of Commons, laid out 29 April, 1716.
This division is bounded east by Chestnut Plain street, north by Deerfield and Conway, west by the west town line and south by the third division.
51
rods
feet
inches
No. I. Joseph Field,
9
9
No. 2, Widow Graves,
9
15
3
No. 3, Samuel Foote,
II
7
-
No. 4, William Arms,
7
12
9
No. 5, Stephen Belding,
13
3
No. 6, Robert Bardwell,
9
6
-
-
-
-
No. 10, John Coleman,
32
8
6
No. 11, Hezekiah Dickinson,
8
13
No. 12, Samuel Wells,
9
6
No. 13, David White,
29
--
-
No. 14, John Smith's heirs,
4
I
6
No. 15, John Field,
I2
5
No. 16, Widow Fellows,
II
II
4
No. 17, John Steel,
5
8
IO
No. 18, Edward Church,
25
8
-
-
No. 20, Daniel Warner,
20
12
3
No. 21, Eleazer Frary,
I4
5
4
No. 22, Samuel Gailor,
22
14
-
No. 23, John Cowles,
32
8
6
No. 24, William King,
5
8
IO
No. 25, Samuel Gillett's heirs,
5
II
6
No. 26, John Hubbard, A highway,
. 9
14
6
No. 27, John White,
8
I5
7
No. 28, Samuel Belding, Jr.,
I5
16
I
No. 29, Samuel Field,
II
2
No. 30, Samuel Belding, Sr.,
28
I3
4
No. 31, Ephraim Beers,
7
No. 32, Daniel Belding,
I2
14
6
No. 33, William Gull,
25
12
4
No. 34, Samuel Carter,
4
IO
IO
No. 35, Stephen Tailor's heirs,
3
2
7
No. 36, Thomas Wells, with Noah.
No. 37, Samuel Partridge,
9
II
-
16.
No. 38, Thomas Loomis,
9
16
2
eet,
No. 39, Samuel Kellogg,
16
3
II
and
No. 40, Obadiah Dickinson,
8
II
-
-
-
-
Ip.
np
eat
ds,
No. 7, Samuel Allis,
19
6
No. 8, Samuel Dickinson,
29
No. 9, Rev. H. Atherton's heirs, 9
I5
-
6
9
16
No. 19, Nathaniel Dickinson, Sr., 21
52
rods
feet
inches
No. 41, Thos. Meekins, Sr.'s hr's, 13
3
No. 42, Richard Morton,
28
2
-
No. 43, Mr. Chauncey,
7
-
6
No. 44, Robert Page,
4
IO
IO
No. 45, John Allis,
45
14
IO
No. 46, Samuel Gunn,
5
8
IO
No. 47, Samuel Graves, Sr.,
8
I5
7
No. 48, Martin Kellogg,
5
8
IO
No. 49, Thomas Meekins' heirs,
7
3
I
No. 50, Isaac Graves,
I3
II
8
No. 51, Benjamin Barrett,
4
6
6
No. 52, Thomas Bracy,
5
4
6
No. 53, 'Town lot,
7
6
No. 54, Benjamin Hastings,
9
II
No. 55, Samuel Graves, Jr.,
7
I5
No. 56, Joseph Boardman,
5
8
IO
No. 57. Samuel Billings' heirs,
7
6
II
No. 58, John Graves,
9
3
5
No. 59, Joseph Belknap,
22
14
No. 60, Samuel Marsh,
IO
4
No. 61, Philip Russell,
19
5
6
No. 62, Noah Wells,
4
9
I
No. 63, Thomas Hastings,
8
I3
-
No. 64, Walter Hixon,
8
6
5
No. 65, Stephen Jennings,
6
2
-
No. 66, Benjamin Wait,
20
3
6
No. 67, Nathaniel Dickinson, Jr., 6
5
IO
No. 68, John Wells,
23
12
No. 69, William Scott,
13
3
-
-
887
1
3
-
-
-
-
It is proper to say that the lot left for a highway between lots 26 and 27 was never used for that purpose. This would have made the road west between the houses of Horace Man- ning and Donovan brothers, while it actually was built near the house of W. I. Fox, but later changed to south of the pres- ent hotel and the Doctor Bardwell house to accommodate Elijah Allis at the time he built the hotel in 1820, the town assent- ing thereto.
Perhaps in this connection it will be proper to say that the method of division of the Commons was upon the estates as
53
inventoried by the assessors. The following schedule will show the difference in a few of the valuations : Ichabod Allis, 132£, 7s ; while Josiah Scott, 255, 18s; Joseph Scott, 28£ ; Benjamin Scott, 6{ and David Graves, 236, 45, 6d. So the large inven- tory received a wide piece of land, while the small tax payer but a narrow one. The same method of division was used in the dividing of the three-mile addition, now a part of Williams- burg, and also in the division of the 8064 acres, known as the Hatfield Equivalent (the eastern part of Hawley). The three- mile addition was granted by the General Court in 1695 and allotted to the inhabitants in 1740. The Hatfield Equivalent was granted and the allotment made in 1744, on the basis of estates. 'T'he man of large estate received a large area, while the man of small estate received but a small amonnt of it. As the history of Hawley says: "Verily, to him that hath shall be given, and to him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath." The lots were from two to four miles in length, over hills and swamps and arable lands, but perhaps not over five or six rods wide, wholly unsuited for a farm, while the wealthy man, like Mr. Allis, had a strip 293 rods wide and three miles long, making over 1500 acres.
Among the Whately inhabitants I find the names of John Waite, Abner Dickinson, David Graves, Josiah Scott, Josiah Scott, Jr., Joseph Scott, Benjamin Scott, Elisha Smith, Joseph Belden, Ebenezer Bardwell, who were among the number who had lands in the three-mile addition and Hatfield Equivalent.
It will be noticed that allusion is often made to the Mill swamp division. This was a meadow on both sides of Mill riv- er, varying in width from 40 to about 55 rods. These lots were divided among Hatfield residents, only three or four of them lying in Whately. The north lot is now owned by Rufus M. Swift, east of Mill river, and on the west side by Ashley G. Dickinson.
It was intended that the north line of the Mill swamp divi- sion should be coincident with the south line of the second divi- sion of Commons. There is really only about 15 feet of differ- ence. The Mill swamp line is about that much too far north to exactly correspond. The lines in the second division run at a different point of compass than those in the Gov. Bradstreet grant, so when the lots extended past the Gov. Bradstreet grant to the Connecticut river there were several lots from 15 to 20 rods wide on the bank of the river that were gores, running to points before reaching 250 rods, the width of the Bradstreet farm.
v that tes as
ween rould Man- near pres Elijah ssent-
54
Each lot was reduced in width about two feet to the rod, at the west end of the second division of Commons, so each lot is wedging, and we here give the per cent. of increase in width from Chestnut Plain street to the Connecticut river, for each half mile.
The width on Chestnut Plain street is 886 rods, 7 feet, 4 inches, or in decimals 886.4394 rods.
First half mile, 917.7250 rods.
Second half mile, 947.6823 rods ..
Third half mile, 979.4722 rods.
Fourth half mile, IOI1.2054 rods.
Increase in all for the second division, 124.7660 rods.
The Major Gen. Dennison grant and the Gov. Simon Brad- street grant demand considerable of our attention. In 1659 a grant was made to Gov. Bradstreet of 500 acres, to be located by him by some unoccupied lands on the west side of the Con- necticut river. Gov. Bradstreet had the first choice, and took 500 acres in Hatfield north meadow, and Maj. Dennison took his 500 acres north of Bashan. This last extended from one rod in Hatfield pond north on the line of the river one mile, and west from the Connecticut river, 250 rods.
After much agitation over Gov. Bradstreet's location, the town exchanged with him, allowing him 1000 acres lying and abutting upon the Maj. Dennison farm, and extending north on the line of the Connecticut river two miles, with the width of 250 rods west from the river. This brought the whole of the Bradstreet grant into Whately. In addition to the increased amount of land, the town had to pay Gov. Bradstreet 200 pounds sterling. Gov. Bradstreet died in 1697 and after his death Edward Church, Robert Bardwell and Samuel Partridge were among the syndicate who purchased the farm of his heirs. It is probable that there was a company of 10 interested in the purchase, as I find that Samuel Partridge, Jr., sold to John Belden of Hatfield his interest (1-10) one-tenth part of the Gov. Bradstreet farm. The deed bears date of 11 Jan., 17012, really 1702, and conveys his right, viz .: one lot in each of the four divisions ; two lots in the north, or upper mile, containing 50 acres; the two lots in the southern mile, containing 14 acres, lying east of the highway, as agreed upon by the proprietors, the remaining 36 acres lying west of the said highway, and as yet undivided, to be divided as the proprietors may agree.
55
The boundaries then were as follows : The first half mile, south on the Maj. Dennison farm, north on land of Robert Bard- well, east on Connecticut river and west on the highway; the second half mile bounded south on land of Robert Bardwell (he owned the north lot in the first half mile and south in the sec- ond half mile), east on Great river, west on the highway and north on the south lot in third half mile; the third half mile bounded east on Great river, west on second division of Com- mons, south on Dea. Church land and north on Robert Bard- well land; the fourth half mile, east on Great river, west on Hatfield woodlands, or second division of Commons, south on Robert Bardwell land and north on Dea. Church land and sec- ond division of Commons.
Speculation in land was active and the owners were often changed, and the names we give as the owners in 1719 were soon entirely changed as settlements in the north part of Hat- field progressed.
The proprietors of the Dennison and Bradstreet grants were finally found acting together in holding their meetings and in keeping their records. And having made copious extracts from their book of records, and realizing the importance from a historical point of view, I will now make some extracts from my notes.
In 1883 I helped survey out the Bradstreet farm, measuring carefully from south to the north side and from the Connecticut river west on three points, and found it slightly in excess of 250 rods, perhaps the slight curving in the river bank would account for that, yet at each place measured it was slightly in advance of 250 rods. We will give an extract from the deed of Josiah Scott, Sr., who owned the uppermost lot, to his son, Josiah, Jr., and he gives the boundaries thus : "West on second division of Commons, east on Great river, south on land of Dea. Dickin- son and north on the second division of Commons, containing 371/2 acres, 24 rods wide, 250 rods long east and west on which I now live, with the buildings thereon, dated 6 Nov., 1745."
Mr. Scott was then 84 years old and was in his old age cared for by Josiah, Jr. But he had formerly lived in the Straits, on the place owned by the heirs of Charles F. Pease, as will appear from these votes passed by the proprietors of the Brad- street farm. "At a legal meeting 16 May, 1718, voted by said proprietors to allow a highway to run from the upper end of the first (or lower mile) mile, three rods wide to Deerfield road,"
1
I 0 S, 5, as
1 1
56
This language is plain and explicit. The upper end of the first mile was near the paint mill of Elihu Belden, the site of Belden's sawmill. This road was afterward moved to accommo- date Mr. Scott, asshown by the following vote ; "Voted, II May, 1730, by the proprietors of Bradstreet farm. That they allow Josiah Scott, Sr., the use and pre-improvement of the highway to the country road, Josiah Scott, Sr., binds himself and his heirs to said proprietors, that he will allow them a good 'sofish- ant' highway from time to time, and at all times, for the use and benefit, and also to provide and maintain a 'sofishant' great gate, to lead out to Deerfield road." This allowed Mr. Scott to move the road south where the hill was less difficult.
At the meeting held 16 May, 1718, it was also voted by said proprietors "That we will have a highway to run through the upper mile in the most convenient place." And now we find that Josiah Scott and Ebenezer Bardwell were appointed to make and set up great gates, convenient for carts to pass through. Then the proprietors voted: "The said Scott shall set his up between the lower and upper farm (doubtless mean- ing between the upper and lower mile), and Ebenezer Bardwell shall set his up at the upper end of the two miles."
Then they voted to complete the fencing of the lower mile. This was passed by vote of Nov. 27, 1721, and was to be suf- ficient to secure the first or lower mile and, when completed, the fence between the lower mile and the Dennison farm could be removed. And they had a fence at the upper end of the two miles, as they voted March 29, 1726, to maintain their propor- tion of the fence between said farm and Canterbury field and that they in fact took turns in fencing down the river banks.
We have sought to show by these extracts that a road existed through the Bradstreet farm two miles, connecting it with Canterbury road to Sunderland, and was practically where it now runs. And also that houses were built in the Straits sooner by some years than has been generally supposed. To further elucidate this last point, I will quote from a deed dated 17 Jan., 1728, from Samuel Wells to Nathaniel Coleman, two lots in Bradstreet's grant, both of Hatfield. After describing the boundaries it says : "With all the buildings standing thereon." These buildings sold by Samuel Wells probably had been the home of Mr. Wells soon after his marriage, about 1710. He removed to Connecticut a few years later.
It seems very probable that these buildings were occupied
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before 1720, as houses were built at an early date on the Den- nison farm. It is perhaps proper to say that a syndicate of seven Hatfield men bought the 500 acre Dennison farm about 1700, perhaps a little earlier. These were John Field, Joseph Field, Robert Bardwell, William Arms, Samuel Field, Samuel Gunn and Andrew Warner.
They laid it out in seven divisions. Each proprietor was given a lot in each of the divisions from five to 16 acres and 19 poles. They also had in the second division, seven house lots with roads or streets through the center, on the east side and the north side. There were four house lots on the east portion and three on the west. The west lots were assigned to Robert Bardwell, Samuel Field and Joseph Field. The four east ones were to S. Jennings, Samuel Gunn, William Arms and Daniel Warner.
Just how many of these house lots had farm buildings erect- ed upon them I do not know, but several of them did as within my recollection the old cellar holes and debris of demolished buildings remained in plain view, but repeated plowings have wiped out all remains of the cellars. It was and is valuable farm land and found ready purchasers.
Even before the house lots were assigned we find that John Field had sold to Stephen Jennings. Later David Graves was found here and perhaps his brother, Abraliam Graves. The settlement was compact, as our ancestors well knew that in case of Indian wars, isolated dwellings were sure to be pillaged and burned and the occupants murdered or dragged into a terrible captivity.
As it was they were often fired upon by the bands of ma- rauding Indians and many a bullet hole was made in the board covering to their buildings-some pieces of boards were pre- served for a long time -and the writer was shown one fully 75 years ago as taken from the buildings of his great-grand- father, David Graves.
The people of the present day have but a slight idea of the troublous times when at any moment they might be called upon to defend their wives and little ones from the assaults of prowl- ing Indians, aside from attacks of wild animals.
Names of the proprietors of Bradstreet grant, 1719.
First, or lower half mile.
No. 1, Samuel Gunn.
No. 2, Joseph Smith.
No. 3, Ebenezer Bardwell.
Second half mile.
No. I, John Waite.
No. 2, Ebenezer Morton. No. 3, Joseph Smith.
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d
1
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No. 4, Samuel Belden.
No. 5, John Belden.
No. 6, John Crafts.
No. 6, Zachariah Field.
No. 7, Jonathan Smith.
No. 8, Josiah Scott.
No. 9, Nathaniel Coleman.
No. 10, Samuel Gunn.
No. II, John Belden.
No. 12, Ebenezer Bardwell.
No. 13, Samuel Belden.
Third half mile.
No. I, Jonathan Cowles.
No. 2, Zachariah Field.
No. 3, Joseph Smith.
No. 4, John Crafts.
No. 5, John White.
No. 6, John Smith.
No. 6, Ebenezer Morton.
No. 7, Ebenezer Morton.
No. 7, Jonathan Smith.
No. 8, John Waite.
No. 8, John White.
No. 9, John Crafts.
No. 10, Joseph Smith.
No. II, Zachariah Field.
No. 12, Josiah Scott.
It now appears satisfactorily that the town of Whately was constituted, or made up, from the whole of the second and fourth divisions of Hatfield Commons or Woodlands, as they were often called, together with nine lots from the north side of the first and third divisions.
The nine lots in the first division were 146 rods, I foot and I inch wide ; and the nine lots in the third division measured I47 rods, 16 feet wide, as measured on Chestnut Plain street, which was the dividing line between the divisions. On the west end it measured in all 1025 rods, I foot and 5 inches, while at the east end on the Connecticut river, including the Gov. Bradstreet grant two miles up the river, it measured 1157 rods, 4 feet and 11 inches, or about 12434 rods on the east end more than on the west end, and the same diminishing of width.con- tinued in the fourth division, making all the lots wedging, while in the first and third divisions no such discrepancy appears.
The importance of retaining the numbers of the lots will appear when we say that most of the old deeds are for such a lot of land in such a division in the first, second, third or fourth half mile. as the land conveyed might lay.
ROADS .- The location of the public (in distinction from the proprietors') roads properly deserves attention in connection with
No. 7, Josiah Scott.
No. 8, John Waite.
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