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 7
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60
In this war the Government paid a bounty of £10 for Indian scalps, when taken by enlisted soldiers, and £100 for each scalp brought in by the volunteers.
Massachusetts passed an act November, 1706, "For raising and increasing dogs, for the better security of the frontiers." In
the ted
's, ch rs® he rt, y a
rm d, İd, th
's ne WO er rm d.
nd el rte ed he th 1g
Tet 00. py en-
Tet ge, Six nt, es. ird
70
October, 1708, Connecticut appropriated £50, "To bring up and maintain dogs to hunt after Indians." It does not appear, how- ever, that they were of any service in killing or capturing armed Indians.
INDIANS .- Indians continued to reside in Whately for many years after its incorporation at intervals, at least, if not permanently. Three families or "lodges" were in the west part of the town, as within the distinct recollection of Orange, Chester and Charles Bardwell, sons of Lieut. Noah. One cabin was north of where Edwin Bardwell built his house.
He-Edwin-told me that he had often heard his uncles relate stories regarding them. "The old brave would get bravely under the influence of liquor and then fall to abusing his squaw and the young ones. They often had to interfere and calm him down." The land west of Edwin's house contained large quantities of black ash suitable for making baskets and they made and peddled these./ There were two more huts or cabins southwest of the southwest schoolhouse, one near the peculiar round knoll, and another east of the house of Willis F. Wait, some twenty-five or thirty rods just under the hill near the Haydenville road. These Indians were all well known by the Bardwell brothers after they were men grown.
Then just north of the land known as "Old Fields," west of Wells Dickinson's, was an Indian known as Samson Johnson or Johnson Samson. He had several sons, Eph, Dave and Cyrus, the last named being half negro. The boys used to work around in Whately, Conway and Deerfield as late as 1835. After the birth of Cyrus, the old brave tied up his squaw and whipped her most unmercifully and gave her a lecture that I have often heard, but will not relate here.
An anecdote is related of Josiah Scott, Sr., to the effect that for three successive nights he dreamed that a family of Indians, living somewhere about a mile from his house, were in a starving condition. He was profoundly impressed by the vivid recurrence of the same dream that something was wrong with his Indian neighbors, and, after eating his breakfast, took his gun and started out in the deep snow. On the way to the Indian's cabin he shot a bear. Upon reaching the cabin he found them sick and entirely destitute of food-really in a starv- ing condition. He went back, dressed the bear and gave them the meat, and afterwards carried them other things. For this kind act, it is said, that in all the wars between the settlers and
71
Indians there never was one bearing the name of Scott harmed by the Indians. These or other Indians lived just south of Sugar Loaf mountain, on land now owned by John N. White, Esq., or the Fuller place.
One more story is related of Joseph Scott. One Sabbath morning a deer was seen eating hay where he had fed his cows and his wife urged him to shoot it, but he said no, if the Lord intended that he should have the deer he would send him again on some other day. This proved true for the deer came and he shot him.
SNOWSHOES .- These were Indian inventions to enable them to travel over deep snows in hunting. Their value was demonstrated in the attack on Deerfield, as the country was then deemed impassable from the great depth of snow lying on the ground. In March, r704, the General Court ordered five hun- dred pairs of snowshoes and as many moccasins, for use on the frontiers. One-fourth of the number were intended for Hamp- shire county.
On the return of peace, in 1713, the frontiers were pushed out northerly and westerly. A permanent settlement was effected on the Housatonic river, at Sheffield. Northfield, after being twice abandoned, was permanently occupied in 1714.
From this time to the close of the fourth Indian war, which lasted from 1722 to 1726, nothing of general interest occurred in this part of the valley. A block house, named Fort Dummer, after the then Governor of Massachusetts, William Dummer, was erected in the spring of 1724, about two miles south of the present village of Brattleboro, where a garrison was main- tained which served a valuable purpose in protecting the lower towns.
The only notice extant of any incursion into this town is the following: "June 18, 1724. Benjamin Smith, son of Jo- seph of Hatfield, was slain, and Aaron Wells and Joseph Allis taken when they were loading hay, about three miles north from Hatfield street." There was just enough of danger to make people cautious and put them constantly on their guard.
The period from 1726 to 1744 appears to have been one of assured peace. The out lands for home lots were now more freely taken, houses were built in more exposed situations and the proprietors of Bradstreet's farm prepared to locate nearer to their valuable intervals. One house in each neighborhood was "picketed," and the settler depended upon this and his own vigilance and musket for defence.
le
d d
ar y
of or 1s, nd he ger ten
fect y of e in the ong ook the he pary- hem this , and
CHAPTER VI.
WHATELY SETTLED.
During the intervals of peace the owners of the lands in the north part of Hatfield, now embraced in the town of Whately, began to build farm buildings. Before Queen Anne's war one house was built within our town bounds, that of Samuel Wells, in 1710. This was a half mile or more north of the cluster of houses on the Major Dennison farm. This was afterwards sold to Nathaniel Coleman and was near the site of Jerry Hafeys' present house. Later, Josiah Scott, Sr., built where is now the house of the late Charles F. Pease. As early as 1718 the pro- prietors built a road from near Frank D. Belden's to Deerfield, or Straits road, and the said Scott was to erect gates to prevent the incursion of cattle.
Next, we find several families located near the fortified house of Joseph Belden, probably not later than 1730. Joseph Belden's house was on the site of the present Bartlett house, on what we term Bartlett's corner ; so then, we have south of Bel- den's, Josiah Scott, Sr., David Graves, John Waite and Elisha Smith while at the north we have Josiah Scott, Jr., Lieut. Ebenezer Bardwell, and probably Elijah Scott (perhaps he lived with his brother. Josiah, Jr.,) and Benjamin Scott, who lived with his father. Josiah, Sr. When about 75 years of age he lived, or was living with his son, Josiah, Jr., north of Bartlett's and he made a deed of that portion of his farm to his son, Josiah, Jr.
Lieut. Ebenezer Bardwell, and perhaps a Mr. Goss, built north of Bartlett's corner, near the Scotts. So we find that the
73
Joseph Belden house was central, and was the one to be forti- fied, and was enclosed with palisades, surrounding from a half to three-fourths of an acre of land. There the families and their stock could be secure from molestation by predatory bands of Indians.
We will only mention a few of the more prominent early settlers : Abraham Parker, who built in Canterbury, on the north lots in Hatfield, near the Deerfield line, in 1749, Joseph San- derson, 1752, both from Groton, and brothers-in-law; David Scott, 1752 ; Thomas Crafts built in 1751; Benoni Crafts, in 1760 or '61, built his house: Dea. Joel Dickinson built in 1750 or sooner, perhaps 1748, directly east of the stockade monument ; Moses Frary built where is now the fine residence of George B. McClellan, at an early period; Dea. Simeon Waite built on Christian lane in 1760; Daniel Morton built on the Rufus Dick- inson place in 1758 or '59 ; Samuel Carley built on the R. M. Swift place, from 1764 to '66. As we give in detail all of these we will use no more space in mentioning others.
Having given much time and labor to the subject of the place of location, or residence, of many of the earlier settlers of Whately, and had valuable assistance from that untiring and persistent antiquarian student, Chester G. Crafts, Esq., I have endeavored to give as near as may be the several places of resi- dence of those who first occupied the premises, with lists, more or less complete of those who have succeeded them, to near the present time. Also giving, when practicable, the original number of the lots in the several divisions and, when known, the year of building the house, or as close an estimate as we are able from data in our possession. I will give them in alphabet- ical, rather than in chronological order.
ALLIS, ELISHA, of Hatfield bought of Thomas Crafts the western end of the Crafts farm, beginning 190 rods west of Chestnut Plain street, of lots number 44 and 45, in 1769, and erected farm buildings on the Easter or Mt. Easter road to Con- way. The house was built some 20 rods north of the present house of Irving Allis. This was first occupied by Capt. Lucius Allis and subsequently by his son Col. Josiah Allis, who came on the place in the spring of 1775, then by his son Elijah Allis. In 1826 Daniel Dickinson bought the farm and built the present commodious house and some of the extensive farm buildings. The Dickinson heirs sold to Elliot C. Allis, and it is now owned by his son, Irving Allis.
lt je
a t. d d
e 's 1.
d
e 1-
e
f
t
h
74
ALLIS, ELIJAH, removed to the center of the town and was in trade several years where William Cahill now lives. In 1820 he built the hotel where he remained until 1830 and then built on the farm, in Bradstreet's grant, where Silas W. Allis, his grandson now lives. This farm had several owners-two houses were upon it. The hotel property was sold to Levi Bush and has had many owners, among them being Loren Hayden, Darius Stone and several others.
ALLIS, RUSSELL, lived several years where now is the Alonzo Crafts house. He bought, April 13, 1814, the place first owned by Joseph Belden, now known as Bartlett's corner. His son-in-law, Zebina Bartlett, lived with Deacon Allis and kindly cared for the old people in their declining years. Then Zebina W. Bartlett occupied the place and since his decease, George D. Bartlett has resided there. Before Deacon Allis was Joseph Belden, Jr., then Aaron Pratt. Deacon Allis built the small cottage house east on the road to the cemetery for his son-in-law, Thomas Marsh, about 1816.
ALLIS, DANIEL, owned and lived on the farm since owned by David Morton, Capt. Rufus Smith and son, Henry. The house was removed 1855 or thereabouts and the farm was sold to Hiram Smith and E. Smith Munson. The farm is off the main road about 60 rods north, with a private road leading to it.
ALLIS, AUSTIN, a son of Daniel, lived at what used to be called "The City," on the east side of Poplar Hill road next north of the bridge over West brook, formerly owned by James Cutter, built about 1815 .. The place has since been owned by Sumner Smith and his heirs. There was an old house on this site, torn down to give place for the new structure. It was then an old house and no clue to the original builders can be obtained.
ASHCRAFT, JOHN, lived in the Straits, about opposite the old Gad. Smith place, and Ashcraft built the cottage house about 1848. It is now owned by Henry C. Pease. There had previously been a set of buildings on the place and probably occupied by Nathan Hastings and others before him. This place is in the Bradstreet grant.
ASHCRAFT, DAVID, lives on the place built by Chapman Smith about 1842. This is also in Bradstreet's grant, and is about 40 rods south of the road leading to the cemetery.
ATKINS, SOLOMON, SR., lived in a house in the Straits on the east side of the road, near where is the house built by John
75
Woods and now owned by the heirs of Charles F. Pease. The old house, torn down, was built probably by Josiah Scott and occupied by his son. Mr. Atkins came from Middletown, Conn., about 1778.
ATKINS, SOLOMON, JR., a tanner and shoemaker, bought the place where Hubbard S. Allis now lives and built the house before 1788, as he owned the place before Martin Graves bought it in 1788. As near as I can learn he bought in 1786. He also built the square house, now the Congregational parson- age, for one of his sons, probably Enoch. These are on lot No. 34, second division of Commons, on the east side of Chestnut Plain street. Sold to Stalham Allis, March 20, 1826 and the square house in 1834.
ABERCROMBIE, ROBERT, about 1779, built a house on the place now owned by William H. Atkins. He came to Whately in 1776. He married a daughter of Abiel Bragg and bought 55 acres of land of Mr. Bragg and put up a house. This has been owned by many people, among them Pliny Graves and E. A. Atkins.
ALEXANDER, JOSEPH, lived about 1795 or '96, on the Ru- fus Sanderson place, or where old Peter Train and his son, Lemuel, lived. The house was built about 1761, on Poplar Hill road, fourth division of Commons.
ALEXANDER, LEVI, about 1831, built the house at Canter- bury, since owned by Alfred Gray, George Bates, William H. Fuller and now by John N. White, probably on lot 68 or 69, second division of Commons.
ALLEN, THOMAS, came from Connecticut, 1770, and lived in a house at the lower end of the Straits, west side of Deerfield road, probably on lot 13, second division of Commons, south of Josiah Gilbert's some few rods. Afterwards occupied by Ben- jamin Bacon and was sold in 1791 to Elijah Smith. The house was gone at least seventy-five years ago, when I was a boy.
BACON, BENJAMIN, came from Connecticut in 1774 or '75. Lived in the Allen house at the south end of the Straits and sub- sequently removed to the gamble-roofed house, afterwards vacated by Martin Graves, 1788, now owned by the Quinn fam- ily. He lived with his son, Philo, and died in 1814, aged 87 years.
BARDWELL, LIEUT. EBENEZER. As early as 1736, he built a house a half mile or more above Bartlett's corner, prob- ably on land that was owned by his father, in the upper half
- s on John
d is
use had bly This
man
the
ed he old he it. be ext nes by bis hen be
he st is ly па ge ph all
as 20 It IS es id
76
mile in the Bradstreet grant. This contained 50 acres. His father died in 1732. In 1752 he sold the place to David Scott and built in the fourth division of Commons, on lot No. 63. This was then on the road that was afterwards built across the wet land north of G. W. and A. J. Crafts' house, where it was originally laid. This he sold to David Scott Dec. 30, 1760. He then built what is generally known as the Dexter Dickinson house. This he sold to Gideon Dickinson, the father of Dexter, and it is now owned by Jonathan W. Dickinson. Then he and his son, Ebenezer, Jr., lived at first in a log house in Claverack about two and one-half rods south of the present structure, in 1778, then built the farm house now going to decay (1899). This is on lot 22, second division of Commons.
BARDWELL, SAMUEL, son of Lieut. Ebenezer, in 1766 lived on lot No. 68, fourth division of Commons, at the place now owned by Wells Dickinson. He sold in 1768 to Nathaniel Hawks and removed to Ashfield. He bought the east end of lot 68, fourth division of Commons, of Joseph Billings, March 5, 1760.
BARDWELL, EBENEZER, JR., son of Lieut. Ebenezer, com- monly known as "Captain George," lived and died at the house built by his father and himself in Claverack, as did his son, Asa and grandson Horace, who left the place to Walter W. Bardwell.
BARDWELL, LIEUT. NOAH, came from Hatfield in 1762, bought part of lot 20, fourth division of Commons, and built a log house the year before his marriage. At a later period he built the large house that he opened as a hotel. This is on the Poplar Hill road. When he came out to Whately, a good dis- tance from West brook, there was no road and travelers had to go by marked trees. The large house has had many owners and is now owned by Samuel Wills.
BARDWELL, ORANGE AND CHESTER, bought the farms on "Dry hill" that were owned by Capt. Amasa and Jonathan Edson, and occupied both places. I do not know whether the Edson brothers built the farm buildings or not. The Bardwells bought the two farms in 1797.
BARDWELL, CHARLES, built an addition to the house where George W. Moore lives, on Poplar Hill road. There was a small house or shop built there before, but for or by whom, I do not know.
BARDWELL, CAPT. SETH, built the house, about 1833, on
77
the site where Abram Turner, Jr., lived, at the foot of the hill from the Chester Brown place and next above the Elder Good- nough house, on the west side of Poplar Hill road. He also built, about 1840, on the new road near the woolen factory that was burned, the house occupied by Lyman A. Munson.
BARDWELL, EDWIN, built, about 1850, a house and farm buildings nearly opposite his grandfather's, where his son, Charles E., now resides.
BARDWELL, OTIS, built a house and farm buildings east of the southwest schoolhouse near the bridge over the West brook, in 1830. The place is now occupied by his son, Henry W. Bardwell.
BARDWELL, DR. CHESTER, built the house, recently owned by Dennis Dickinson, in 1816 or '17. It is now occupied by Mrs. G. W. Reed.
BARDWELL, CHESTER, JR., bought the Dea. Daniel Brown place about 1859. Now owned by his son, Hiram Bardwell.
BARDWELL, SPENCER, bought the Elder Goodnough place. He sold that and bought the Dea. Davis Saunders place on Mill hill, opposite the mill pond, about 1865. Now owned by Dea. Francis G. Bardwell, his son.
BARDWELL, CHESTER 3D, son of Asa, built the house and farm buildings, in 1840, on lot 50, second division of Commons. Since owned by Charles R. Crafts, then by Thomas Flinn.
BARDWELL, SHERMAN, built the house at the Straits, since owned by Luther G. Stearns. Now occupied by Dwight Dick- inson.
BRAGG, ABIAL, came from Watertown and bought the Calvin S. Loomis place and 115 acres of land of Dea. Simeon Waite and his son, Gad. The buildings are on lot No. 37, but his farm included parts of lots 37, 38 and 39, on the north side of Christian lane and south of the road, and parts of lots 34, 35 and 36. Mr. Bragg sold in 1787 to Dr. Benjamin Dickinson. Eleazer Frary bought of Mr. Bragg five acres, now known as the Alonzo Crafts place. After Mr. Frary came Simeon Graves, Luther Wells, Amasa Lamson and Franklin Graves who pulled down the old house and built the present one. Alonzo Crafts built a large barn and tobacco barn. It is now owned by Fred L. Graves, the blacksmith.
BARDWELL, COTTON, bought the Wm. Mitchell place, sold that and bought the Chester Brown farm about 1870. This place is now owned by Victor D. Bardwell. His son, Edward W., bought the John and David Scott place.
d Is
ht
use ere by on
2 e e
78
BARTLETT, ZEBINA, bought in 1803, the Pliny Graves place. He afterwards bought the Dea. Russell Allis place, now known as Bartlett's corner, and since owned by Zebina W., and now by his son, George D. Bartlett.
BARNARD, EBENEZER, perhaps with his father, Joseph Barnard, bought the part of the Capt. Oliver Shattuck farm which was annexed from Deerfield, in 1787. They came from Sunderland, and were succeeded by William, and another house was built for Ebenezer. William was followed by his twin sons, William and Walter, and the last named sold to Noah Dickinson. It is now owned by his son, Hiram R., or the heirs of Noah.
BELDEN, JOSHUA, from Hatfield, built near Belden's ferry where Frank D. Belden now resides. Joshua was succeeded by his sons, Reuben and Aaron. Aaron removed to Amherst and Reuben to North Hatfield. Elihu took the old farm and now Frank D. has possession. This is near the north part of the second half mile in Bradstreet's grant. The place was bought of many different parties, and some west of the road, as late as 1806.
BELDEN, DEA. ELISHA, built on Chestnut Plain street about the time of his marriage in 1764. The house is on lot 22, second division of Commons. Since his decease it has been owned by Jacob Walker, William Mather, Chester Wells, Luke B. White, J. Pomeroy Dickinson, J. A. Elder, and now by William Cahill. Deacon Belden sold to Jacob Walker in 1883, his house and home lot, reserving a fine farm farther east. He built the house on lot 22, second division of Commons, on the Claverack road, where he died in 1808. His son, Elisha, Jr., and his son, Allen, and son, Edwin M., followed. It is now owned by John Halloran and son.
BELDEN, JOSHUA, JR., settled near the south line of Whately in the Bradstreet grant. He bought the farm, Feb. 5, 1796, including the buildings thereon. It was probably on this farm that the first set of farm buildings in the limits of Whately were built, by Samuel Wells, about 1710 or '12, and afterwards sold to Nathaniel Coleman; most likely where Jerry Haffey lives. An old house was torn down by Richard Tower Morton early in his married life and the present structure erected. The old Joshua Belden house was built about 1787 or '88, now owned by Nicholas Haffey.
BELDEN, AUGUSTUS, built a house that stood where now
79
are the more pretentious premises of Stephen Belden, on the west side of the Straits road in the Bradstreet grant.
BELDEN, SETH, built the house that stood where A. W. Nash built his nice residence, now occupied by his son, Charles W. Nash.
BELDEN, FRANCIS, built first a small house and afterwards put up a brick house. This was burned and his son, Alfred, built anew. The farm was partly a portion of his father's land and the first house was built in 1797. This was all in Brad- street's grant.
BELDEN, SHAYLOR F., built a house next north of Jerry Haf- fey's about 1840. This has been occupied by his son, Alfred S.
BIRD, ENOCH, built a house and farm buildings on "Grass hill," about 1790 to '94. His farm was located one mile from the east line of the three-mile addition to the east line of his farm, on the road from the Jonathan Waite house and the Capt. Rufus Smith place on the east side of the road, probably in the fourth division of Commons. The buildings have been gone a long time.
BROWN, EDWARD, built as early as 1761 on the west side of the Poplar Hill road, where now stands the barn of Austin Brown, his great-grandson. He bought parts of lots 27, 28, 29 and 30, fourth division of Commons. Probably his house was on lot 28.
BROWN, ISAIAH, son of Edward, built from 1795 to 1800, a house on part of the old farm of his father, and south some 20 rods or more. The house was built on the west side and barns on the east. This was later owned by Dea. Daniel Brown, and now by Hiram Bardwell.
BROWN, JOSIAH, son of Edward, bought the Abraham Turner farm, 116 acres and sixty-three rods, in November, 1782, for £660. The deed describes him as of Colchester, Ct. Two exceptions are made in the deed, one of two acres sold to Ed- mond Taylor, and forty rods sold to Nathan Starks, in the southwest corner, where is the house known as the Elijah San- derson place and the Austin Allis place now owned by Sumner Smith's heirs. The farm contained parts of lots 39, 40, 41 and 42, in the fourth division of Commons, bounded west by Poplar Hill road. The house stood north of the Easter road and has been gone for years, but the barn remains.
BROWN, LIEUT. JOHN, built on the west side of Poplar Hill road on parts of lots 46 and 47, fourth division of Commons.
h m m er is to ne
ry ed st d of as as
et 2, en ke by
He he
of 5, this tely rds fey rton The
now
LOW
S
80
He bought these lots in 1769 and built about 1772 or '73, but I do not know which lot he built upon. He kept house here be- fore his marriage, Dec. 5, 1776, when he married his house- keeper. This was afterwards owned by his son, Chester, who built a new house, and then by his son, Myron, who sold to Cot- ton Bardwell, and it is now owned by Victor D. Bardwell.
BROWN, WILLIAM AUSTIN, built a house on the east side of Poplar Hill road opposite of where the house of Edward Brown stood, and on part of the old farm, about 1840 or '41. Now owned by his daughter, Mrs. Elisha L. Grover.
BROWN, JOSEPH, about 1810, bought a house about twen- ty-five rods south of the house built by Elijah Allis and his son, Josiah, in 1830. This house was probably built by Abner Nash, a brother of Joseph, who had a house a little north of Abner's. Both houses are gone, the one vacated by Joseph Brown being pulled down about 1833. These two houses were both in the Bradstreet grant. 'The Nashes were here some time before 1783. When first married he lived in the Isaac Smith house, in the Straits.
BUSH, LEVI, JR., came to Whately about 1823. He bought the Dr. M. Harwood place where William Loomis lived. When Loomis removed to Haydenville Mr. Bush bought the place. It has been occupied by C. R. Chaffee since the death of Dr. Harwood.
CHAPIN, DR. PEVEZ, bought the Dea. Joel Dickinson place east of Stockade monument, at the junction of the "Mother George" road. It is probable that Dr. Chapin built the present house. The land now belongs to David P. Wells. Dr. Chapin bought this farm in 1778. It was made up by parts of lots 29, 30: 31, 32 and 33, second division of Commons, fifty-three rods, eight feet. This extended north from land of Rev. Rufus Wells to land of Martin Graves. John Lamson bought the lot later owned by John Crafts, where Lamson built the old gable- roofed house that was for many years a hotel kept by Lamson, and later by John Crafts. It was destroyed by fire. In its dilapidated condition it was a nest for gamblers and worse criminals, and was doubtless burned by general consent some- where in the 40's Thus the good people disposed of what was an intolerable nuisance.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.