USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Northampton > Northampton, the meadow city > Part 2
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4439
John King
Medad Pomeroy. 1001,
Joseph Jants
Mra De Fiske
.
4
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Dea SamtWright
Joseph Parsons 000
mittian Jase
ing "Broughton's Meadow." From the river above the latter point the line was very irregular, running in a north-easterly direction till it touched the south boundary of the town of Hatfield, a trifle east of Broad Brook. The south line commenced at "Hulbert's Pond," south of " Pynchon's Meadow," and extended westerly to Rocky Hill road, which it followed to what is now Pine Grove school-house. There the line turned directly south, touching the old road to Easthampton, near the present residence of G. Burt Lyman, which it followed to within a short distance of the Easthampton meeting- house. From the latter point to Pine Grove school-house, the east and west lines of the Inner Commons are for some distance but
SOME OF THE FIRST SETTLERS
.
Dauer Burt
I5
THE MEADOW CITY.
fifty rods apart, and at the widest point only one hundred rods distant.
South and east of the above described line were the two divisions once called " Hatefield " and
THE ALLEN HOUSE
" Lovefield," afterward thrown together under the name of " Little Division." The south line of these latter divisions extended from the East- hampton meeting-house, in a north-easterly direction to Mt. Tom, thence following the south boundary of Northampton to the Con- necticut river. More than half of these divisions were in Easthampton. West of the Inner Commons was "Long Division," which embraced all the remaining land in the west and north- westerly portions of the town. These division lines may be found plainly marked on a map of the town, pub- lished in 1831.
Though the commons were set apart to each individual, the community still retained certain rights in them. Each man received his apportionment with the distinct understanding that it was still common property for certain pur- poses while unfenced. Everybody had a right to cut timber and fire-wood upon
CORNER BRIDGE STREET AND LINCOLN AVENUE
these lands, to gather stones upon, and to pasture them.
Another division of common land was made in 1684, in which pine lands were included. Pine trees were a source of profit. Tar and turpentine were obtained from them, an industry from which considerable revenue was derived. This division embraced the land in the southern part of the town now lying within the limits of Easthampton. But there still remained the entire western portion of the town, afterward known as " Long Divis- ion." This was not divided till 1700.
There was considerable dissatisfaction concern- ing these deals in the public lands. The propri- etors complained that the apportionment of lots in so many divisions gave many of them very small holdings in the several sections, and caused considerable inconvenience in using the property to the best advantage. The matter came before the town in 1699, and during the next year a general re-division of the lands laid out in 1684, as well as an apportionment of the tract called " Long Division," was made.
It was then that the four divisions, "Inner
KING STREET
Commons," "Little Division," "Mountain Division," and "Long Division," were established. In the latter the lots were 250 rods-4, 125 feet - nearly four-fifths of a mile long. The smallest of them were but four rods -66 feet - wide, while the largest were 70 rods in width. Little wonder it was called " Long Division !"
A few years afterward a controversy arose concerning the legality of this last distribution, and in 1713, the town voted to " throw up " a portion of the west end of the westerly
16
NORTHAMPTON,
division and make a new deal. Legal talent from abroad was summoned to settle the law question. Apparently they decided in favor of the old apportionment, as there is no record of any change having been made.
The owners of these lands ob- jected of the pro- vision permitting the public at large to cut timber, pasture and gather stones upon the unimproved portions of them, and seriously protested against it in 1842. It was claimed that the clause allowing communal
In the other Divisions all public rights were rescinded. This settled the matter for a decade, at the end of which time the old question again came up. It was re-adjusted on the same grounds for another ten years, the town voting to relin- quish after that time all rights over any portion of the territory, except the highways.
In regard to this
controversy over the common lands, Rev. Jona- than Edwards writes in 1743 : " And it is a thing greatly to be rejoiced in, that the people very
Fringing the stream at every turn Swing low the waving fronds of fern .- J. G. Whittier.
rights was omitted from the agreement when the last division was made. Three " wise and judic- ious persons " were chosen by the town as arbi- trators. A compromise was affected by which the public use of this land was restricted to a certain portion of Long Division for ten years.
lately have come to an agreement and final issue with respect to their grand controversy, relating to their common lands ; which has been, above any other particular thing, a source of mutual prejudices, jealousies and debates for fifteen or sixteen years past."
THE MEADOW CITY.
THE REVOLUTION
During all these years of struggle, hard- ship, strife and bloodshed, Northampton
TOWER OF THE HOE SHOP
furnished promptly and cheerfully, her quota of men and means to aid in the pro- tection of life and property whenever called
COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE
upon. Many of her citizens held re- sponsible military and civic positions and her soldiers were found wherever duty called.
Under the lead of Maj. Joseph Hawley, the town during the period immediately preceding the Revolu- tion, took sides with the patriots, though there were some, as in all other places, who believed in the Kingly prerogative. When the struggle opened, the Minute Men of Northampton, aroused by the alarm from Lexington, at about eleven o'clock, a. m., were on the march for Boston before the sun went down. The population of the town in 1776 was 1,772 souls. The num- ber of men who served in the army
MILL RIVER BRIDGE
during the years in which the war continued, whose names have been preserved, was, as near as can be ascertained, 332. The census record shows neither the sex nor age of the inhabitants. But if the pro- portions were similar to those of the census of twelve years previous, it would appear that nearly one-half of all the males in town, including old and young, and more than two-thirds of all between the ages of sixteen and forty-five, served in the army for a longer or shorter period. The terms of enlistment, aside from the three years' men, were short, and many of the soldiers re-enlisted several times. Jonathan Allen, afterward major in the continental service, was cap- tain of the company of minute men. Among others who held responsible positions in the army from Northampton, were Levi Shepherd, Joseph Cook, Simeon Clapp, Jonathan Stearns, Asahel Pomeroy,
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
18
NORTHAMPTON,
Elihu Root, Joseph Clapp, and Solomon Allen.
Soldiers from Northampton were with Arnold in his memorable march through the wilderness to Quebec. Several of them were captives in the unsuccessful attack upon that place and others afterward marched to re-inforce the army in Canada. A number lost their lives there and all suffered incredible hardships and privations. They shared in the capture of Burgoyne, and were on duty when Andre was brought before Colonel Jameson, at North Castle. Lieutenant Allen, a Northamp- ton soldier, was
immediately sent forward with dis- patches from Jame- son to Arnold, notifying him of the capture. This was the first intel- ligence Arnold received of the miscarriage of his plans.
MAJ. JOSEPH HAWLEY
Among the lead- ing patriots of the day was Maj. Jo- seph Hawley. He was graduated at Yale College, stud- ied divinity, and preached occasion- ally, but afterward studied law and became one of the most distinguished advocates of his time. At the siege of Louisburg he acted as chaplain to one of the Hampshire county regiments. During the French and Indian wars he served in the militia and on more than one occasion marched to the relief of threatened towns. For twelve years he was chosen represen- tative and threw the whole weight of his intellect in favor of freedom. He was one of the most vigorous and conspicuous advocates of liberty and with Samuel Adams, James Otis, and John Hancock, steered the ship of state through the
KING OF THE BIRCHES
stormy period that culminated in the Revolution. In the controversy which resulted in the dismissal of Rev. Jonathan Edwards, he was one of his most bitter opponents, though he afterward repented of his unchristian acts and wrote a letter of humble apology. Throughout the Revolution he was arduous in his endeavors to promote enlistments, and on several occasions addressed the soldiers as they were mustered into the service. During the excitement in Hamp- shire county, after the war, when fre- quent conventions were held, and public sentiment was verging upon anarchism, he was many times chosen a delegate by the town, and his efforts upon the side of moderation and law, had a marked effect. In town affairs his influence was very great and it was always ex- erted for liberty and progress. It has been said of him, that he was held in such esti- mation that the people amended the shorter cate- chism, teaching their children to answer the question "Who made you?" "God and Major Hawley." Tradi- tion asserts that on one occasion, dissatisfied with the sentiments uttered by a preacher on the Sabbath, he ordered him out of the pulpit, took his place and finished the sermon. His bounty to his native town is still intact, and though the " Hawley Grammar School " is not now in existence, the income of the property he bequeathed to the town is still used for school purposes. In addition to his law practice, he carried on a farm, engaged in trade in connection with his brother Elisha and his
19
THE MEADOW CITY,
mother, and was concerned with others in the leather busi- ness. Plain and unpretending in his daily life, he never sought preferment, but refused many offices to which his friends were anxious to elect him. He lived on the street that bears his name, on what has been known in recent times as the " Burrough's place." He died in 1788. His father was Capt. Joseph Hawley, who married Rebecca, daughter of Rev. Solomon Stoddard, conse- quently he was a cousin of Rev. Jonathan Edwards, whom he so bitterly opposed.
UNITED STATES SENATORS
Four citizens of Northampton have had the high honor of representing Massa- chusetts in the United States Senate : - Caleb Strong, eight years; Eli P. Ashmun, two years ; Elijah H. Mills, six years ; and Isaac C. Bates, five years. Of these distinguished men, short sketches only can find a place here.
First and most distinguished among them was Gov. CALEB STRONG. He was cotemporary with Major Hawley. With him he studied law, and
THE PARSONS ELM, SOUTH STREET
PATT
VIEW ON SOUTH STREET
came upon the stage in the full maturity of his powers, just as his predecessor and teacher was passing away. Caleb Strong was born Dec. 29, 1744, and was a direct descendant in the fifth
RESIDENCE OF L. B. WILLIAMS, SOUTH STREET
generation, from John Strong, the first ruling Elder of the church in Northampton. He grad- uated with the highest honors, at Harvard Col- lege in 1764. Ill health and impaired eyesight lengthened the years of his preparatory law studies, and he did not commence the practice of his profession till 1771. The next year he was chosen a member of the board of selectmen. Three years after he was one of the Committee of Correspondence, Inspection and Safety, and in 1776 was appointed Attorney for the Common- wealth for the county of Hampshire, which office
20
NORTHAMPTON,
he held for nearly a quarter of a century. In the previous year he was appointed Reg- ister of Probate. He was chosen repre- sentative to the General Court the same year, and re- elected many times thereafter, the last year of his service in that capacity being in 1797. In the meantime he was for several years a member of the Governor's Council, and also State Senator for nine consecutive years. He was a member of the conven- tion that drafted the first constitu- tion, adopted by the state in 1780, and which remained for forty years the fundamental law of the Common- wealth. In 1781, he was appointed Judge of the Supreme Court, which he declined, and was again tendered a seat upon that bench, but once more refused. He was chosen a delegate to the convention which formed the present constitution of the United States, in 1787, and was United States Senator in the first Congress, 1788 to 1794. Re-elected at the close of his first term, he re- signed before its completion. While in that body he was a member of the committee which drew up the judici- ary act.
In the first year of the present century, he was chosen Governor of the state. As governor he served eleven years, seven of them consecutively. In 1816, he retired from public life, and died three years after.
Governor Strong became a professing Christian in 1772, and during the remainder of his life was an efficient member of the church. Prominent in all the benevolent enterprises of the time, he was president of the Hampshire Bible Society, one of the founders of the Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a member of the Historical Society of Massa- chusetts. The degree of LL. D. was conferred upon him by Harvard College.
In 1777, he married Sarah, daughter of Rev. John Hooker, fourth minister of Northampton. Nine children were born to them, three of whom died in infancy. His sons, Lewis and Theodore survived him, and were well known, influential and re- spected citizens.
Hon. ELI POR- TER ASHMUN was born June 14, 1770, at a small village on the Hudson, forty- five miles above Albany. At
VIEWS ON WEST BROOK
2 1
THE MEADOW CITY.
RESIDENCE OF MRS. HENRY ROBERTS - THE OLD ISAAC CHAPMAN BATES HOUSE
the approach of the British army under General Burgoyne, his father was compelled to leave everything and flee. He subse- quently opened a tavern at Blandford, Mass. Here the son remained till he reached the age of nineteen years, employed in various domestic labors, and particularly in attend- ance upon the tavern. He had up to this time received no education other than that afforded by the district school, which he attended during the winter months. In 1779, he commenced a course of study with the clergyman of a neighboring town, with the view of preparing himself for a profes- sion. The next year he entered the office of Judge Sedgwick, and commenced the study of the law. The regular period of study for those who had not re- ceived a collegiate education was five years, but his ap- plication and per- severance enabled him to obtain admission to the bar at the end of four years. He then opened an office at Blandford and obtained con- siderable business. In 1807, he re- moved to North- ampton. For several years he was a member of
the State Senate, was afterward one of the Council, and in 1816, on the resignation of Christopher Gore, was chosen United States Senator. He served but two years, when he resigned. The same year he was seized with a pulmonary complaint that was pronounced incurable, and he died May 10, 1818, at the age of forty-eight.
Eli P. Ashmun married Lucy, daughter of Rev. John Hooker. Their children were five in number. John Hooker was professor in Harvard Law School, and George was a noted lawyer and politician, well known through the valley. Mr. Ashmun lived on Pleasant street, in the house afterward owned and occupied by Dr. Sylvester Graham.
ELIJAH HUNT MILLS was born at Chesterfield, Mass., Dec. 1, 1776. He was the son of Rev.
COUNTY JAIL
NORTH STREET
Benjamin Mills, first minister of Chesterfield, and Mary, daughter of Jonathan Hunt of Northampton. Both parents died when he was quite young, and he was adopted by a ma- ternal uncle, Eli- jah Hunt, of Northampton. In 1797, he grad- uated at Williams College, after- ward studied law and established himself at North-
22
NORTHAMPTON,
RESIDENCE OF MRS. J H. BUTLER
ampton. Here he took at once a prom- inent position as an advocate, forming a partnership with John H. Ashmun, who subsequently became Royale Pro- fessor at the Harvard Law School. When Judge Howe opened his law school here, Mr. Mills became associa- ted with him in its management. This school was quite successful, and num- bered at one time forty students. While in practice here, he was fre- quently in opposition to Hon. Lewis Strong and Hon. I. C. Bates, and a large audience always gathered when these men met in legal controversy.
In 1811, he was chosen member of the Massachusetts Senate by the Federalists
and was elected to Congress in 1815, serving two terms. From 1810 to 1813, he was annually chosen representative, and was again elected in 1819 and 1820. During the latter year he was made Speaker of the House, receiving on the first ballot all but eight of the entire number of votes cast. Within a few weeks he was chosen United States Senator for the short term, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Hon. Prentiss Mellen, and at the same time for the full term which began the year following. Ill health caused him to withdraw from public life at the end of his term as Senator, in 1827, and he was succeeded by Hon. Daniel Webster.
HAWLEY STREET
Popular with his townsmen, he was much employed in town affairs. For eleven years - 1804 to 1815 - he was annually chosen town clerk, and held many other town offices of importance. After his retire- ment from public life his health rapidly failed, and he died May 5, 1829.
He was twice married, the first time to his cousin, Sarah Hunt, who died within a year after her marriage. In 1804, he married Harriet, daughter of Joseph Blake of Boston. They had seven children. Mrs. Mills died in Cambridge, in 1871, at the age of ninety. Mr. Mills lived on Elm street, on the
PHILLIPS PLACE
23
THE MEADOW CITY.
homestead now occupied by one branch of the Mary A. Burnham School.
" Into the sunshine full of the light, Leaping and flashing from morn till night." J. R. Lowell.
" A streamlet gurgling through its rocky glen."-Pierpont.
the Electoral College and cast his vote for General Harrison. In 1841, he was chosen United States Senator to fill the unexpired term of Hon. John Davis, who having been elected Governor resigned the Senator- ship. He was after- wards chosen Senator for six years, and died at his post in Wash- ington, March. 16, 1845.
Mr. Bates married Martha, daughter of Judge Samuel Hen- shaw, of Northamp- ton, in Sept. 1807. Their children num- bered eight, five daughters and three sons. He lived on Bridge street on the homestead now occu- pied by J. S. Lathrop. His dwelling house was removed to North
" But windest away from haunts of men, To quiet valley and shaded glen ;"-W. C. Bryant,
ISAAC CHAPMAN BATES was born at Granville, Mass., Jan. 23, 1779. His father, Col. Jacob Bates, was a Lieutenant in the Revolution. He fitted for college under the tutorship of Rev. Timothy Cooley, D. D., of East Granville, and entered the Freshman class of Yale College, in 1798. Mr. Bates graduated in 1802, valedictorian in a class that numbered fifty-six. During the next three years he studied law with Seth P. Staples, Esq., of New Haven, and in 1805, be- came' a perma- nent resident of Northampton. Though admitted to the bar in 1805, he contin- ued his legal studies under the tuition of Judge Hinckley, of North- ampton, and in three years was admitted to practice before the Supreme Judicial Court. He at once entered into po- litical life, and was elected a member of the Legislature in 1808 and 1809 and again in 1813. In 1827, he was chosen a member of Congress and was re-elected for four consecutive terms. Declining further service in Congress, he was again sent to the State Legislature in 1835, and in 1837 and 1838 he was a member of the Governor's Council. In 1840 he was elected Delegate at large to the National Convention and pre- sided over the conven- tion which nominated General Harrison for the presidency. He was also a member of
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NORTHAMPTON,
Out of the bosom of the Air, Out of the cloud-folds of her garments shaken Over the woodlands brown and bare, Over the harvest-fields forsaken, Silent, and soft, and slow Descends the snow.
Even as our cloudy fancies take Suddenly shape in some divine expression, Even as the troubled heart doth make
In the white countenance confession, The troubled sky reveals The grief it feels.
This is the poem of the air. Slowly in silent syllables recorded ; This is the secret of despair, Long in its cloudy bosom hoarded, Now whispered and revealed To wood and field .- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
25
THE MEADOW CITY.
street, and is now owned and occupied by Mrs. Henry Roberts.
REBELLION IN HAMPSHIRE COUNTY
When the Revolution closed, the country was bankrupt. Everybody was in debt, taxes were high, money scarce and great uneasi- ness existed among all classes. Many were in favor of an unlimited issue of paper money, this financial disease be- ing but a forerun- ner of that which has in later years spread under the name of the "greenback craze." The discontent showed itself before the Revolution ended. Loud com- plaints were made against the courts and the lawyers. The former the people denounced in conventions and endeav- ored to suppress by mobs, the latter they refused to elect to any office. An idea prevailed that
HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING
UPPER MAIN STREET
this class of men ought to be abolished. It was proposed to instruct representatives in 1786 to annihilate them. Very few lawyers at this time were elected to the House of Representatives. The courts were opposed because they enforced the payment of debts, and lawyers were tabooed be- cause they carried out the decisions of the courts.
One of the first movements in this county in opposition to law, growing out of the hard times, which the people sought to better by means of conven- tions, occurred in Northampton. In 1782, Rev. Samuel Ely, claiming to be acting under the instructions of a county convention held at Hat- field, appeared at the session of the courts here, at the head of a mob, with the intention of clos- ing their doors. He was arrested, tried, con- victed, sentenced, sent to Springfield jail, and rescued by a mob. While this contention was in progress, the mob held possession of this
ON STATE STREET
town for several days. Fortunately no blood was shed, and Ely was finally given up and punished for his crimes. These peculiar troubles culminated with Shay's rebellion in 1786. Hampshire county was its main theater
26
NORTHAMPTON,
of action, and Northampton contributed men and influence to its suppression. But that story is too familiar to need repetition here, even if space permitted. During these hard times, the citizens of Northampton suffered with the entire country, but they remained patriotic and law abiding. Few if any joined the unlawful crowds that endeavored to remedy existing evils by over riding all law. Though party spirit ran high for many years, yet as soon as men settled
THE POMEROY HOUSE, MAIN STREET
down to the peaceable pursuits of life and relin- quished the effort to legislate themselves out of debt, affairs assumed a much more promising aspect. Still political acrimony survived, as many a hard fought cam- paign between Federalists and Democrats evinces.
THE WAR OF 1812-15
The causes which led to the war of 1812-15 need but a bare allusion. British orders in council and Napoleon's Berlin and Milan decrees, estab- lishing a reciprocal block- ade between England and France, left American commerce at the mercy of both powers, and in great danger of complete annihilation. In order to preserve its ships from certain capture, the Amer- ican government, in 1807, proclaimed an embargo, which prohibited Ameri- can vessels from leaving
foreign ports and forbade foreign ships from taking cargoes at American ports. This action caused much distress throughout the country, but fell most heavily upon New England, and in a couple of years the embargo was superseded by a law prohibiting commercial intercourse with France and England. Afterward this was so modified as to exclude only British armed vessels from the waters of the United States. The con- tinuance of the blockade between France and England and the increasing frequency with which British cruisers impressed seamen from American ships, were the immediate causes of the outbreak. War was proclaimed by president Madison, June 19, 1812. This war was strongly denounced and very unpopular in this state. During the excitement growing out of the embargo and the prospective war, Caleb Strong was again elected Governor. Seven times con- secutively.he had been chosen, but in 1807, was defeated, and was not again successful till 1812. This year came the war. A large convention, composed of delegates from fifty-six towns in Hampshire county, was held in Northampton, at which a spirited address and a set of strong resolutions roundly denouncing the policy of the national administration were drawn up and pub- lished in the newspapers. Some of Northamp- ton's most influential citizens participated in this convention. Among them were Jonathan H. Lyman, Isaac C. Bates, Elijah H. Mills, and others equally eminent. During this war Governor Strong refused to obey the requisition of the general government for troops, and declined to allow the militia of the state to go beyond its borders. In this he was sustained by the highest judicial authority. Yet he put the commonwealth in a most complete state of defence, ready to resist any attack. A company from Northampton was in the service during the three years that hostilities were in progress. The
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