USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Our county and its people : A history of Hampden County, Massachusetts. Volume 2 > Part 28
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
from attack. Soldiers left by Major Treat, to garrison the town, when he led his division back into Connecticut, were billeted upon the householders ; less had been planted than usual. The troublous times and the withdrawal of men for defense and for war had left what was planted in a measure uncared for, and in part, unharvested. Grain and other supplies had been levied to. supply the needs of the forces. How to husband the limited sup- plies for man and beast so as to survive the winter, was a per- plexing problem, and who could tell how soon they would be as- saulted ?
As William G. Bates has written : "In the case of our fath- ers, there was nothing to sustain them but their own fortitude, inspired by their own high hopes of the future. It was no holi- day warfare which was impending. The result was to be literally victory or death, not a death to them only, but a death of extermination of all their kindred."
"Nor can we fail to admire, also, the heroism of those, who were left almost alone in their homes of precarious safety, when the stalwart men of the settlement went forth to war. The in- firm and those of immature age, were their only defenders. It was for them to protect the families against a stealthy foe, whose war-whoop was followed, at once, by the torch and the tomahawk, which too often awoke and silenced a whole settlement. They were the guardians, who, from the summit of the watch-tower, were to watch, and listen through the long days, and the longer nights, for the approach of the savage, and to patrol, during the. same periods, along the poorly constructed palisades. In the. meantime, the anxious mothers were snatching their broken slum- bers, in the embraces of their terrified children, their rest dis- turbed by dreams of danger, and visions of disaster."
The news from the valleys of Manchester and Sunderland in Vermont, where late in the year 1675 the Indians had made their camps, was not encouraging. Two of the captives taken by the- Indians were purposely allowed full opportunity to count their rank and file, when drawn up in full array, and then freed and sent to Albany. They reported that twenty-one hundred were well armed, evidently ready to slaughter and devastate until the
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English should be driven from the land. The effectiveness of this body of Indians was increased by the knowledge and skill of those Indians who had lived near the settlements and mingled with the English.
The wasteful feasting and revelling in the camp rapidly re- duced the stores gained by pillage the season before. Soon a large division with limited rations was upon the warpath, as fierce for prey as hungry wolves. Early in March, Lancaster, Chelmsford and a half-dozen other places in the eastern part of the state were- attacked.
Broad Street, Westfield
On the 14th of March, the yells of the savages on all sides of the stockade awoke the people of Northampton to the terrific fact that the town was assaulted. The Indians with unwonted fury made the attack on three sides of the stockade. Soon they were pouring into one opening. Four houses outside and one inside were soon in flames. The soldiers of the garrison, under the lead- ership of Capt. Turner, and those of the two Connecticut com- panies, under Major Treat, who had providentially reached Northampton the night before-less than two hundred in all-in
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the lurid light of the burning buildings hemmed in the Indians within the stockade, killed many, while the others retreated through the opening. These Indians found themselves en- trapped and never after did a body of assaulting Indians rush into a stockade through a narrow opening.
The successful repulse of this impetuous assault of the In- dians seems to have effectually arrested their advance to the south. Had they succeeded, or had their loss been less severe, Westfield, the next town at that time on the south, must have suf- fered. The little settlement at Westfield with its slender garri- son could hardly have survived the attack of so large a force of Indians as swarmed that night around the stockade at North- ampton.
Companies of Indians frequently changing their camp, ever intent upon plunder, stealthily prowling about in the neighbor- hood of the towns, continued to terrify the English and to gather booty. Soon after the attack on Northampton, a large body of Indians appeared at Hatfield, but Capt. Samuel Moseley was pre- pared for them and they were not anxious to repeat the severe experiences at Northampton.
On the 26th of March, 1676, a company of people on their way to church from Longmeadow to Springfield were waylaid by Indians. Two were killed, two wounded and two women and their babes captured. During the winter, two men were killed and two houses burned in Westfield.
Harassed on every side by attacks of Indians, now here, now there, and unable to adequately garrison the towns against such numerous and ubiquitous foes, the Connecticut council sent a flag of truce up the river, asking for an exchange of prisoners, and suggesting a treaty of peace. The Indians who had enjoyed the just dealings of the people of Westfield, and tribes who had enjoyed the hospitality of towns in Massachusetts farther up the valley, were ready for peace. But the larger body of the Indians parleyed, that they might lay in a store of provisions at the spring fisheries and plant the deserted meadows of Deerfield and some other fields. April was a quiet month; the Indians were busy fishing and carousing. They were gathered in large num-
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bers in May about the falls above Deerfield on the Connecticut river.
Though Capt. Turner was too ill to undertake so hazardous an enterprise as an attack upon the Indians, he was appointed to lead. Three of the nearly one hundred and fifty mounted men, who made the night march from Hatfield to what is now known as Turner's Falls, were Westfield men. These brave men sur- prised the Indians at break of day, while they were yet sleeping off the night's debauch, the consequence of a successful raid upon the village of Hatfield, May 30th, 1676. This slaughter of Indians at the Falls, was the severest blow yet inflicted by the English upon the Indians in the valley. The courage and en- durance of the attacking party, though the Indians greatly out- numbered them, impressed the Indians with the unconquerable valor of the English. The fight at Turner's Falls, where so many Indians were slain, or, in the panic, drowned in the river, was one of the most decisive battles in Philip's war. This battle, to- gether with the repulse of the well-planned attack on Northamp- ton, the hostility of the Mohawks and disputes and disagreements that arose between sachems and tribes soon led to the disintegra- tion of the Indian forces. Still the inhabitants in the valley and those in other parts of the state could not divine when they would again unite. Indians were still prowling about in differ- ent places shooting men, occasionally stealing cattle, and com- mitting other depredations.
On the 19th of September, 1676, a party of Indians from Canada descended upon Hatfield, killing twelve men, wounding four, and taking seventeen prisoners. This was the heaviest loss of men, women and children yet experienced by any Hampshire town. On the evening of the same day, the raiding party was at Deerfield. Five men were there erecting houses on their aban- doned farms, hoping soon to reinstate their families. The five men were captured and though hotly pursued, the Indians made good their escape to Canada.
Not knowing that this was the last raid of the war, and knowing that the skill of the Indians, increased by three years of active warfare, made them, if again united, more dangerous than
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ever, the general court appointed a committee to bring the resi- dents in towns more closely together in order to better provide for their defense.
The order of the committee having jurisdiction of Westfield, as copied from our town records by Louis M. Dewey, genealo- gist, is as follows :
"NORTHAMPTON, Nov. 19, 1677.
"At a meeting of the Committee for ordering Compact Dwelling together for better defence and safety-present John Pynchon, Lt. William Clark, Mr. Peter Tilton, Lt. William Allin, En'sn Samuel Loomise. For Westfield we do order that the In- habitants there do all possess and settle together in that tract of land which lies from about Hugh Dudley's barn easterly to take in Mr. Taylor's house and their meeting house and so to turn south or southwest beyond Goodman Phelps his toward the hill by the bridge, so far that way as to have land for convenient building for all the Inhabitants; and then turning westerly all they can near over against Hugh Dudley's barn, whence to turn to that and into the street there; and all the Inhabitants there are to repair to and settle within that tract of land, except we do allow of Thomas Dewey to Continue where he is, if he desire it, in re- gard of the mill that way and security to the Common road, yet it is provided he be well fortified and take care to have 5 or 6 men with him for his defence ; and Ambrose Fowler having now built is to fortify himself well and to have 5 or 6 men with him of his family, we permit his abiding awhile till we see what next summer may come to; but for all other persons, according to order of General Court requiring our stating the compactness of their Dwellings, we order their removing and setting as above.
"In the tract of land above mentioned and forthwith to pre- pair and fit to attend the same, getting fortification this winter and ready to sett up early in the spring which will advise to be made strong and substantial, and every one of them to carry on their proportion in the fortification; and in case of their dis- agreeing about the way or rule of proportioning it, Majr. Pynch- on, with anyone more of the committee, to determine the same according to discretion we have had together and directions there
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about; and for satisfaction to such whose land must be made use of for others to build on, understanding the Inhabitants are in a way to allow land for it, we advise their agreement thereabouts ; and case of any disagreement about it, according to the rule we have set for others, Majr. Pynchon and any one more of the com- mittee to determine the same and order of the Committes."
The town having already fixed upon the area described by the committee as most suitable for defense, and having already fortified some of it readily concurred in the report of the com- mittee.
We have already spoken of the Dewey mills built on Two- Mile brook on the Windsor road. The house of Ambrose Fowler was on the west side of the road that runs from East Silver street, through the meadows and under the railroad bridge, about half way between Silver street and the bridge.
In 1679, May 30, the general court enacted the following :
"Whereas the committee appointed by the Gennerall Court in October 1677, for new modelling the dwelling of people in Hampshire, did accordingly order a coming nearer together in some of those tounes, & living more compact, for safety & se- curity of the said people, and particularly appoynting a tract of land for the inhabitants of Westfield, to build on nearer to- gether at or by their meeting house; and some of the committee aforesajd having treated the inhabitants of Westfield about it, who by a generall vote consented to the settling thereon; and the proprietors of that land also yielding to breake their home lots, & forgoe part of their right and interest in them to such other persons as should come and settle on them, they, the pres- ent proprietors, being allowed for the land they parted with two acres for one out of the tounes adjacent lands intended for home lots, or thereabouts, which was accordingly granted by the toune, to incourage the persons to bring in and sett their buildings on those particular parcells or portions of lands which were sett out and measured to them, being about half an acre, or three quar- ters of an acre to a man-now, for the full assurance of those portions of land to such persons as have removed, or are about removing, & settling, building thereon, this Court doth order
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those persons which have or ought to have parted with their land as abovesajd, having had or being tendered satisfaction from the toune, as above, they shall give deeds, and make legall confirma- tions of those small portions of land vnto those persons, who. in obedience vnto authority, have them in actual possession or in grant in order thereunto."
Philip's war, so far as concerted action of Indian tribes was concerned, was over ; but roving bands of Indians still demanded unceasing vigilance in guarding life and property.
Quaker Troubles .- The difficulties with the Quakers were mainly in the eastern part of the state. Westfield, however, was not wholly exempt. George Fyler, the first surgeon mentioned among the early settlers of Northampton, was granted a home lot of six acres and an additional thirty acres, on condition that he should build on his lot and remain four years. He seems to have come into possession of the land, but soon after sold it and removed to Westfield. At the March term of the court in 1673:
"George ffiler of Westfield being prsented by the Jury for divers disorders and being examined firstly for- entertayn- ing Quakers last summer he owns he did entertayne them being necessitated thereunto because none else would as he sayes. George ffiler sayth he shall before the World own that he is one of them whom ye world calls Quakers: Also he is prsented for absenting himselfe from God's publike wor- shipp on ye Sabbaths, he ownes he has genrally absented himself genrally last winter. His speeches have been contemptuous of the Ministers of the Word, and their work, viz. that they turne over 20 or 30 Authors a weeke to patch up an houres discourse or two on the Sabbath. And tho he would prtend that he meant not the ministry in that town or of N. England yet by testi- monyes it appears otherwise. He seems to be a very seminary of corrupt heriticall opinions tending to poysoning and corrupting the minds of them with wm he hath to doe. And in speaking of the religion of the Quakers (he speaks of it as distinct from that prfessed by our Nation in this country) ; he calls it Our re- ligion, that is his own and such as hee. The said George ffiler for his venting of his hetorodoxyes and adhering to the pnicious
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wayes of the Quakers was prtested agt by the Corte and admon- isht thereof. And for his absenting himself fro Gods Ordinances on the Sabbath haveing been formrly admonisht thereof, both by ye Worppll Major Pynchon and also by Westfield Commissionrs was now also admonisht ye of by the Corte. And it declared to him that it was in order to further dealing with him except he re- form his course therein. And for his contemptuous and scandal- ous speeches of the ministry of the country and of Christ's holy institutions as denying the Sacramts, &c., he is sentenced to pay a fyne to ye County 5s or els to be well whipt." Thomas Noble of Westfield agreed to see the fine paid.
Early Highways .- The settlers first made their way through the forests and across the glades by following the Indian trails. Some of these trails were the result of no little experience on the part of the Indians, in finding the most feasible routes over mountains, across streams, and along valleys. The sons of the forest have proved unwittingly the preliminary surveyors of many of our old highways.
As early as 1635 and 1636, the towns of Springfield, Weth- ersfield, and Hartford were incorporated. From these towns came the first settlers of Northampton. Those from Springfield went on the east side of the river. Most of those from the other towns, went by a track on the west side of the river, before the town of Westfield was incorporated. Northampton was organ- ized as a town as early as 1655, earlier than the record of any English settlers in Westfield.
The county of Hampshire, then including all Western Mass- achusetts, was incorporated in 1662. Two years later by author- ity of the county, two roads, or "cart ways," as they were called, were laid out. One road was to be on the east side of the river to connect Hadley and Northampton with Springfield, the other to connect Hadley and Northampton with Windsor and Hart- ford. As this latter road is the oldest highway crossing the terri- tory of Westfield, and is in part now maintained as a town high- way, we give its course, taken from the records at Northampton, as noted by Sylvester Judd. The road from Northampton and Hadley to Springfield and from thence "to the dividing lyne be-
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tweene the Collonyes" (of Massachusetts and Connecticut) is first outlined and then proceeding from south to north, the road on the west side of the river, as follows :
"And from the said dividing lyne on the West side of ye river towards Waranoak, in the way that is now improved, com- monly called ye new way, that is to say, to two mile brooke fourty rods, and from thence to Waranoak hill where the trading house stood, twenty rods, and from thence to ye passage of ye river where ye way now lies six rods, and from thence through ye other meddow to ye great hill as the way now lies six rodds and from thence to Munhan river forty rods, and from Munhan river to ye lotts now laid out neere ye mill river fourty rods, and from thence to the town of Northampton ffoure rods,
And the wayes and bridges from the landing place at the great river [in Northampton] unto the top of Waranoak hill to be made and mayntayned by North Hampton, and from thence unto Windsor to be made and mayntayned by Hadley and Northamp- ton mutually. And further we determine yt if Hadly and North- ampton eyther or both of them shall at anytyme hereafter see cause to desert the highway they now use and shall make the way through Springfield their comon roade to Windsor for carting, then eyther or both shall contribute to ye mending the bridge at Long Meddow. And for these several wayes and bridges to be made and repaired sufficient for travel with carts, we determine that they be done by the severall townes respectively at or before ye sixth day of June next, as also yt such stones as are movable in Scanunganunk river be turned aside out of the cartway and ye charge thereof to be paid by the County Treasurer."
For several years Springfield, Hadley and Northampton maintained these two "cart-ways" as far as Windsor, where was the line between Massachusetts and Connecticut, as claimed by the former. The number of rods given in the description of the road from one point to another is the number of rods in width. It may seem strange that the road should be laid out in some places twenty rods, and in others, forty rods wide. The explan- ations given are two: First; where the land was unoccupied and covered with trees there was more or less danger of being at-
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tacked by one or more skulking Indians, plying the business of killing and robbing on the highway. Wood and timber was scarce on many of the alluvial tracts first occupied, owing to the annual fires of the Indians, preparatory to planting and grazing, so that trees growing upon highway land could be easily removed by allowing any one to cut any trees not reserved by order of the town or of the central authority at Boston.
Another reason was that the committee laying out the road, felt that where land was unoccupied, the road should be laid out of sufficient width to allow opportunity to change the road-bed as economy or the public convenience might require. The road we have noticed was known in Westfield as the Windsor road. Tracing it in the direction it was laid out, we find it entered the southeast part of our present township in the vicinity of what is now known as Longyard, and pursuing a westerly course until it reached Two-Mile brook, crossed it, and then pursued a northerly course passing, as it now does, across the west end of Little river street at right angles to it, and, as now, reaching East Main street, near the present bridge across the Westfield river. Thence it continued westerly on the bank of the river, crossing it some distance below its junction with Little river ; then taking a north- erly direction across the meadows up the hill at Springdale, ("through the other meddow to ye great hill" as the committee described it) and across the plains on the west side of Hampton Ponds to Northampton. The present road on the west of these ponds is several rods farther west than the old Windsor road, though essentially the same.
This road and the road east of the river for nearly half a century were the main lines of transportation for all goods brought into Western Massachusetts and for all products carried out, whether the goods were from places east, south or west, or whether the products were destined for places in any one of those directions. If grain, very largely a substitute for money, beef and pork, or lumber, were to be sent to Boston in payment of taxes, or for purposes of trade, this freight was generally carted to Windsor, below the falls, or to Hartford, and thence trans- ported by water. The carting was over the same roads if the freight was to or from New York.
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The way from the valley to the west was from Westfield over the hills through Blandford, to Kinderhook and thence to Al- bany.
Among the captives taken at Hatfield by the Indians during their last raid upon towns in the valley, were the wife and three children of Benjamin Waite and the wife and two children of Stephen Jennings.
The two husbands procuring the requisite papers from the general court and appropriation toward the expenses, went to Canada whither the retreating Indians had gone. There they found the prisoners. After tedious negotiations, occupying nearly two months, they succeeded in ransoming all the captives. As soon as the people of Hatfield learned that the company under a French escort had in spite of the lingering winter, reached Albany, a company from Hatfield with horses and pro- visions started to meet the returning captives. Going by way of Westfield they met them at Kinderhook, May 27, 1678. They all returned by way of Westfield to Hatfield. For nearly a century this route seems to have been almost the only one in Massachu- setts from the valley of the Connecticut to the valley of the Hud- son.
Over this trail passed Indians before and during Philip's war on their way to and from Connecticut, avoiding Westfield, but coming near enough at times to excite great fear. Along this way during the many years of the French and Indian wars went horsemen and footmen and military supplies. For many years a fort was maintained at what is now Blandford to furnish convoy and defence and quarters for rest. General Amherst and his army on his way from Boston to Canada, destined by the aid of Wolfe and Prideaux to strike the final blow to the tottering domi- nation of the French on this continent, stopped one night at Westfield, another at Blandford, another at Sandisfield and an- other at Monterey.
During the war for independence, the teams mustered in Westfield and elsewhere to get through the snow or over the mud and the hills from Westfield to Albany, were sometimes of no ordinary size. It is a matter of history that "it took twenty yoke
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of oxen and eighty men to convey a mortar over the hills to West Point." Twenty of these eighty men would be required to drive the oxen. Whether the remaining sixty were employed in open- ing the drifts or in strengthening the rude bridges and in bed- ding the mud holes with boughs is not stated.
A part of the prisoners taken at Bennington, in 1777, passed over this road on their way through Westfield to Boston.
This road was the route of Burgoyne's army after its defeat at Stillwater, on their way to Boston. After a three days' halt at Otis, they moved on, stopping one night in Westfield, we are told. After the war, this road was designated, "The great road from Boston to Albany." It was the only road between these places directly crossing Berkshire county. Over this road came Washington when visiting New England after the war. He was for a little while the guest of General Shepard, then living on Franklin street. Other events worthy of note that occurred along this highway, however many, are not discoverable in the scanty choronicles of the past, or, if recorded, have escaped our notice. The intersection of these highways in Westfield, the one running north and south, with the "great road" running east and west, has tended to promote the intelligence of the people of West- field and to render them more cosmopolitan than people living re- mote from avenues of travel and traffic.
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