USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Our county and its people : A history of Hampden County, Massachusetts. Volume 3 > Part 20
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rivers. Anson V. Parsons, former judge of the courts in Penn- sylvania, was a grandson of David Parsons.
Gathering information from various reliable sources, it is learned that among the first settlers in Granville, in addition to those of the Durliam colony, there may also be mentioned Daniel Cooley. William Cooley (father of Rev. Timothy M. Cooley), Jonathan Rose, Samuel Gillett, Thomas Spelman, John Root, Ephraim Manson, Phineas Pratt and Thomas Brown. A little later there came Jabez Dunham, Peter Gibbons. Jonathan Church and Asa Seymour. each of whom was elosely identified with the early history of the town, and many of whose descendants are still here. Jonathan Rose attained the remarkable age of 103 years, and then perished in the flames of his burning buildings. His three sons were Sharon, Daniel and Timothy, the latter an old revolutionary patriot, and subsequently the founder of the colony of Granville, in Ohio, an offshoot from the mother town Granville in Massachusetts. Still other early settlers whose names should be mentioned in these annals were Levi Parsons. David Clark. Ezra Marvin, Josiah Hatch. Lnke Hitchcock, Oliver Phelps. Josiah Harvey, Lieut. Samuel Baneroft (of revolution- ary fame). Nathan Barlow, John Hamilton, Isaac Chapman, Enos Seaward. John Bartlett and others.
Col. Jacob Bates was a lieutenant in the army during the revolution and later acquired the title of colonel. He served under Gen. Washington and was of the brave party that crossed the Delaware in the attack on Princeton. Col. Timothy Robinson was a justice of the peace, representative in the general court, deacon in the church, and for many years a "father of the town." In the time of Shays' rebellion he and a company of the "court party" while on their way to Springfield were met by a party of the mob, and, after a skirmish near the "great roek" in Granville, were made prisoners. The next day was Sunday and in prison the good deacon talked and prayed with his captors with such earnestness that they were converted, and on the following Monday all marched together to Springfield. Oliver Phelps, an early settler here, was a man of strong ehar- aeter and excellent business qualities. He was the principal
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THE TOWN OF GRANVILLE
promoter of the historic Phelps and Gorham proprietary that purchased from Massachusetts the pre-emption right of all that region of New York state which lay west of Seneca lake, this vast tract having fallen to this commonwealth as a result of the historie Hartford convention of 1786.
According to the historical sermon delivered by Rev. Dr. Cooley on the occasion of the Granville jubilee in 1845, the first house in the middle parish (long known as Middle Granville) was built by David Rose, who appears to have been the pioneer of that locality. The other early settlers there were John Bates, David Clark, and the Robinson, the Parsons, the Curtis, the Coe and the Baldwin families. In the west parish (now Tolland) the first settlers were James Barlow, Samuel Hubbard, Moses Goff, Titus Fowler, David Fowler, Robert Hamilton, Thomas Hamilton and James Hamilton.
The proprietors of the Bedford plantation lived chiefly in Boston and that vicinity, and of their entire number Samuel Gillett alone became an actual settler on the lands. The planta- tion originally was called Bedford, but as a town of that name then existed in the state a change was made as soon as the new territory was recognized by the general court. Nearly all the settlers were of English parentage, some of them direct descend- ants of the noted Plymouth colony ; but of whatever nationality or creed, they were a hardy people, well prepared to face and overcome the hardships of pioneer life in a new region. Having provided a shelter for their families and prepared the land for crops, their first care was for the establishment of a church and then of a school for the education of their youth. Indeed, this same thoughtful consideration seems to have characterized all later generations of inhabitants in Granville, as the town long has been noted for the attainments and high character of the men it has sent into professional and public life. Other towns having greater population, more ample educational and commer- cial facilities, perhaps may furnish a longer list, but among them all, in proportion to population and natural advantages, Gran- ville holds a conspicuous position for the moral and mental worth of its native sons.
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A contemporary writer has said : "Mother Granville, sterile and barren as she is, is not without merits. The good old lady has sent a name abroad, and she has a fair elaim to a seat, although a low and humble one, in the temple of fame. She has produeed a prolific progeny, and I may say, an honorable and a patriotie one : none more so. They may justly be said to possess the spirit of enterprise as well as the blood of their fathers. The sons of Granville are scattered abroad, and are found in every station and every situation in life. Many of them are in the learned professions, adorning the pulpit, the bar, and the
Granville Corners-Baptist Church
bench of justice. No matter how exalted the station, they are adequate to its dignity. They are neither idle nor dull. Their views are not bounded by plain nor distanee. They are on the shores of the Atlantic and the Paeifie."
Civil History. In 1754 the plantation of Bedford had ae- quired a considerable population, and its great extent of terri- tory then was comparatively well settled. Previous to this time there was no township organization and sueh authority as was necessary in the region was exercised by the proprietors' agents
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and the civil officers of Hampshire county. Soon after 1750 the inhabitants began discussing measures for a separate organiza- tion, and on January 25, 1754, the general court entertained an application and granted the district a limited incorporation- limited only in that the district was not given a representative in the legislature. Even this restriction was set aside August 23, 1775, and thereafter Granville became a town with full corporate powers. The territory then included all that is now Granville and Tolland, the latter having been set off in 1810.
When Granville was established as a district a full board of town officers, except representative, was chosen and from that time its civil record has been continuous. Unfortunately, how- ever, the town records from 1830 to 1859 have not been carefully preserved, hence much that is of interest in the civil history of the town during that period is lost. From such records as are in existence the following list of selectmen and town clerks has been taken :
Selectmen: 1754, Phineas Pratt, Samuel Bancroft, David Rose; 1755, Phineas Pratt, Samuel Bancroft, John Spelman ; 1756, Samuel Church, Samuel Bancroft, John Spelman; 1757, Phineas Pratt, Samuel Bancroft, John Spelman; 1758, Luke Hitchcock, Samuel Bancroft, John Spelman; 1759-60, Luke Hitchcock, Phineas Pratt, John Hitchcock; 1761, Timothy Robin- son, Luke Hitchcock, Eliakim Stow; 1762-64, Timothy Robinson, Luke Hitchcock, John Rose: 1765, Timothy Robinson, Luke Hitchcock, Phineas Pratt; 1766, Timothy Robinson, Joseph Miller, Phineas Pratt ; 1767, Timothy Robinson, Luke Hitchcock, Phineas Pratt: 1768, Justis Rose, Luke Hitchcock, Phineas Pratt : 1769, Benjamin Old, Stephen Hitchcock, Phineas Pratt; 1770-72, Timothy Robinson, Luke Hitchcock, Nathan Barlow; 1773-76, Timothy Robinson, Luke Hitchcock, Samnel Bancroft; 1777, William Cooley, Timothy Robinson, Titus Fowler, Nathan Barlow, Samuel Coe; 1778, Timothy Robinson, William Cooley, Titus Fowler. Joel Bancroft, Samuel Thrall; 1779, Timothy Robinson, Oliver Phelps, Titus Fowler, William Cooley, Dan Robinson : 1780, Timothy Robinson, Oliver Phelps, Titus Fowler, Wm. Cooley, Josiah Harvey; 1781, Timothy Robinson, Oliver
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Phelps, Titus Fowler, Richard Dickinson, Josiah Harvey; 1782, Timothy Robinson. Oliver Phelps, Titus Fowler, Richard Dick- inson, David Parsons; 1783, Timothy Robinson, Oliver Phelps. Titus Fowler. William Cooley, Jacob Bates; 1784, Timothy Robinson, Oliver Phelps. Titus Fowler, Ezra Marvin, Jacob Bates; 1785, Timothy Robinson, Oliver Phelps, Titus Fowler, Clark Cooley, Jacob Bates; 1786-87, Timothy Robinson, Oliver Phelps, Thomas Hamilton, Clark Cooley, Jacob Bates: 1788-90, Dr. Josiah Harvey, James Hamilton. Lemuel Bancroft, Clark Cooley, Amos Baldwin ; 1791-93, Dr. Josiah Harvey, Timothy Robinson. Titus Fowler. Clark Cooley. Ezra Marvin: 1794, no record: 1795, Dr. Josiah Harvey, Timothy Robinson. Abraham Granger. Clark Cooley, Ezra Marvin ; 1796, Dr. Josiah Harvey, Enoch Bancroft. Abraham Granger, David Curtis, Stephen Spel- man : 1797, Dr. Josiah Harvey. Jacob Bates, Abraham Granger, Titus Fowler, Ezra Marvin; 1798. Ezra Marvin. David Robinson, Titus Fowler. Jacob Bates, William Cooley: 1799. Ezra Marvin, Jacob Bates. Titus Fowler, William Cooley, David Curtis; 1800, Israel Parsons, David Robinson. Thomas Hamilton, Asa Seymour, Seth Parsons; 1801. Israel Parsons, David Robinson, Thomas Hamilton, Seth Parsons, Perez Marshall, jr .; 1802, Asa Sey- mour, David Curtis, Abraham Granger. Timothy Rose, John Phelps : 1803, Asa Seymour. Jacob Bates, Titus Fowler. Timothy Rose, Abraham Granger: 1804, Israel Parsons. David Curtis, Titus Fowler, John Phelps, James Coe; 1805, Israel Parsons, John Phelps. Abraham Granger; 1806, Ezra Marvin. Jacob Bates, Abraham Granger: 1807, Israel Parsons, Joel Robinson, Abraham Granger; 1808. Amos Root, Joel Robinson, Abraham Granger; 1809, Israel Parsons. John Phelps, Wm. Twining, 2d .; 1810, Asa Seymour, David Curtis, Wm. Twining. James Coe, Joel Parsons : 1811. Asa Seymour, Joel Parsons, James Barlow; 1812. Asa Seymour, Hezekiah Robinson, Lyman Baldwin; 1813, Israel Parsons, Hezekiah Robinson. Elihu Stow; 1814, James Barlow. Hezekiah Robinson, Perry Babcock: 1815, James Bar- low. Perry Babcock. Joel Root, Lyman Baldwin, Stephen Spel- man; 1816. Lyman Baldwin. Joel Root. Isaac Miller, James Cooley, John Robinson: 1817. Israel Parsons. Joel Root, John
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Selden, Lyman Baldwin, Dudley Ilumphrey; 1818, Patrick Boies, Joel Root, Hezekiah Robinson, E. Barlow, Jr., Nathan Parsons ; 1819, John Selden, IIezekiah Robinson, James Barlow; 1820, Francis Stebbins, James Barlow, Hezekiah Robinson ; 1821, Francis Stebbins, James Barlow, Jonathan B. Bancroft; 1822, Francis Stebbins, Bela Bancroft, Denison Parsons; 1823, James Barlow, Denison Parsons, William Marvin ; 1824, Denison Parsons, William Marvin, Benjamin Barnes, Jr .: 1825, Denison Parsons, Joel Root, Stephen Spelman : 1826, IIezekiah Robinson, Joel Root, Nathan Parsons; 1827, Stephen Spelman, Hezekiah Robinson, James Barlow; 1828, Hezekiah Robinson, James Bar- low, Nathan Parsons ; 1829, James Cooley, Noah Cooley, Jonathan B. Bancroft : 1830, Noalı Cooley, Elijah Seymour, Vincent Hol- comb; 1831-1858, records missing; 1859, O. Z. Hugens, Jas. H. Andrews, James P. Cooley; 1860, D. M. Wheeler, O. Z. Hugens, Jas. H. Andrews; 1861, Edmund Barlow, D. M. Wheeler, Edward Holcomb ; 1862, John D. Bifley, Wm. Wells, James W. Spelman ; 1863, Jas. W. Spelman, R. H. Barlow, Daniel H. Drake; 1864, D. M. Wheeler, Franklin Robinson, D. HI. Drake; 1865, R. II. Barlow, Silas Noble, James W. Spelman; 1866, W. W. Baron, D. H. Drake, L. B. Marks; 1867, James W. Spelman, Edwin Sey- mour, James H. Andrews; 1868, James W. Johnson, Edwin Sey- mour, Nelson Goddard; 1869, E. H. Seymour, James O. Rose, James W. Johnson ; 1870, E. II. Seymour, S. O. Brocker, Franeis Clark : 1871, Rufus Smith, James H. Seymour, William Clark ; 1872, Rufus Smith, Wm. C. Clark, E. L. Brown; 1873, Wm. C. Clark, E. H. Seymour, James W. Johnson ; 1874, Win. C. Clark, Orville Carpenter, G. W. Territt ; 1875, Orville Carpenter, M. J. Rose, Rufus Smith : 1876, Orville Carpenter, M. J. Rose, L. B. Marks: 1877-78, Miles J. Rose, E. L. Brown, William E. Barnes ; 1879-80, J. C. Carpenter, E. L. Brown, William E. Barnes ; 1881, J. C. Carpenter, Milo Miller, Wmn. E. Barnes; 1882, J. C. Car- penter, James H. Seymour, M. C. Pender ; 1883, J. C. Carpenter, M. C. Pender, D. A. Clark; 1884-85, J. C. Carpenter, M. C. Pender, M. V. Stow; 1886-88, J. C. Carpenter, M. C. Pender, E. F. Roberts; 1889-90, Samuel B. Root, Win. E. Barnes, E. F. Roberts; 1891, E. H. Seymour, W. E. Barnes, W. H. Spelman ;
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1892, E. H. Seymour, J. C. Carpenter, Chas. D. Treat; 1893-94, E. H. Seymour, W. E. Barnes, M. J. Rose ; 1895, E. H. Seymour, W. E. Barnes, C. W. Ives; 1896, E. H. Seymour, E. P. Sullivan, C. W. Ives; 1897-98, E. H. Seymour, E. P. Sullivan, Joseph Welch; 1899, E. H. Seymour, C. L. Stow, JJoseph Welch; 1900, E. P. Sullivan, C. L. Stow, Joseph Welch; 1901, L. F. Henry, W. S. Pomeroy, Joseph Welch.
Town Clerks: Jonathan Church, 1754; Joseph Clark, 1755-56; Timothy Robinson, 1757-76; Joel Bancroft, 1777; Oliver Phelps, 1778-86; David Robinson, 1787-96: John Phelps, 1797-99; Israel Parsons, 1800-01: John Phelps. 1802-3; Israel Parsons, 1803; John Phelps, 1804-7: Thaddeus Squier, 1808-9; John Phelps, 1810-11; James Cooley, 1811; John Phelps, 1812-13; Joel Parsons, 1814; James Cooley, 1815; Patrick Boies, 1816; James Cooley, 1817; Patrick Boies, 1818; James Cooley, 1819; Patrick Boies, 1820; James Cooley, 1821; Patrick Boies, 1822; James Cooley. 1823; Vincent Holcomb, 1824; James Cooley, 1825: Vineent Holcomb, 1826; James Cooley, 1827; Patrick Boies, 1828; Elijah Seymour, 1829; Patrick Boies, 1830; no record from 1830 to 1859; Chapin F. Brown, 1859; W. L. Boies, 1860: Ralph S. Brown. 1861; Lyman W. Shepard. 1862; Ralph S. Brown, 1863; Lyman W. Shepard, 1864; Ralph S. Brown, 1865; Lyman W. Shepard, 1866; J. M. Gibbons, 1867-71; Ralph S. Brown. 1872-74; J. M. Gibbons, 1875 ; Ralph S. Brown, 1876-77; J. M. Gibbons, 1878-89; J. Sweet. 1890: E. E. Smith, 1891-1900; F. N. Gibbons. 1901.
Town Officers, 1901: Joseph Weleh (chm.). Lawrence F. Henry, William S. Pomeroy, seleetmen, assessors. overseers of the poor. and board of health ; Fred N. Gibbons, town clerk and treasurer; Charles A. Clark. Ralph G. Hires, auditors: Charles H. Treat, colleetor; Roswell O. Rowley, Chas. A. Sheets. consta- bles; Clinton L. Stow, superintendent of streets; Miles J. Rose, J. W. Phelon, E. H. Seymour. Joseph Welch, justices of the peace : Silas B. Root (chm.). Ralph B. Cooley, Wm. S. Pomeroy, trustees of Granville public library ; B. F. Hurlburt, librarian.
At the time of the colonial eensus in 1776, hardly more than two score years after the first settlements were made in this part
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of old Hampshire county, it was found that the whole number of inhabitants on the plantation was 1,126, the district then standing fifth in population among the towns comprising the county. During the next fifteen years the population increased rapidly, and in 1790 Granville contained four hundred more inhabitants than Springfield, although its territory was less in extent. The maximum population in this town was reached in 1800, the number of inhabitants then being a little more than 2,300. After Tolland was taken off the mother town retained its comparative numerical strength until about 1830, since which time the tide of settlement has gradually turned toward the commercial centers, and to-day Granville has 500 less population than in 1810, although during that time there has not been any reduction in its area. However, without an attempt to explain the reasons for this deerease, let us have recourse to the census reports and discover the fluctuations in population of the town since the colonial eensus of 1776, viz .: In 1776 the number of inhabitants was 1,126; 1790, 1,979; 1800, 2,309; 1810, 1,504; 1820. 1.643; 1830, 1,649; 1840, 1.414: 1850, 1,305: 1860, 1,385; 1865, 1,367; 1870, 1,293: 1875, 1.240; 1880, 1,205; 1885, 1,193; 1890, 1,061 : 1895, 1,005; 1900, 1,050.
From the period of its earliest settlement Granville has had an interesting history. As an early settled region its inhabitants were almost wholly from the eastern localities of the province of Massachusetts Bay and the large colonies of Connecticut, hence they were accustomed to the hardships incident to pioneer life and also prepared to withstand the depredations of the un- friendly Indians who frequently infested the region. Fortu- nately, however, we have not to record any savage attacks upon the settlers in this peaceful loeality, although during the closing years of the French wars the frontier was constantly harrassed by marauding hands of warriors who plundered and burned wherever chance presented an opportunity. But within a very few years after the echoes of the last French and English war had died away the town was thrown into a state of excitement on account of the alarming difficulties between the mother country and her American colonies.
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In the struggle for independence Granville played an active part in the advocacy of American freedom and in sending the strongest element of its population to bear arms in that great eause. The mounted courier who rode into Springfield with the news of the attack on Lexington, also warned the minutemen of Granville, and on the 29th of April. 1775, Capt. Lebbens Ball's company marched from the town for Boston. This was a notable band of strong young men who had previously organized them- selves into a militia company for just such an emergency. The whole town, too, was truly loyal, and by way of encouragement voted a small bounty to each man who would enlist for service against the British. The call to arms met with ready response, and throughont the long period of the war Granville's record for patriotism was as honorable as that of any town in the entire re- gion. laving recourse to an old record. a roster of Capt. Ball's company of minutemen has been found, and may be regarded as reasonably accurate. A few of the men returned to their homes after a few days' service, but the majority were regularly enlisted and served as occasion required, some in the provincial regiments and others in the continental army.
Capt. Ball's company comprised these men : Lebbeus Ball, captain : Lemuel Baneroft. first lieutenant : Jesse Munson, second lieutenant ; John Stiles, Benj. Stow, Elijah Stiles, Joel Baneroft, sergeants; Ebenezer Smith. Jacob Bates, John Cornwell, Jonathan Forbes. corporals: Merrick Hitchcock, fifer: John Wright. Asher Granger, Ebenezer Curtis, Linus Bates. Lemnel Haynes, David Rose, Reuben Hiekox, Ebenezer Gould, Elijah Rose, Ebenezer Barlow, Gad Rose, Peter Gibbons. Jesse Miller, Amos Clark, Albert Black, Russell Rose. Fenner Foster, Daniel Rose, Seth Granger. Israel Coe. Daniel Cooley, John Bancroft, George Hubbard, Abner Barlow, Eber Spelman, Richard Brown, Ephraim Munson, Jonathan Rose. Stephen Wright. Jeremiah Griswold, Abner Rose, privates.
Mr. Holland's history of Western Massachusetts says that Capt. Ball's company comprised 60 men. nearly all of whom were residents of the town. In 1776 a delegate was sent to the Northampton convention, and in the same year a second company
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THE TOWN OF GRANVILLE
from the town, of 73 men, formed a part of the 5th regiment of state troops commanded by Col. Moseley of Westfield. The officers of this company were Wm. Cooley, captain; Edmund Barlow, first lieutenant ; Samuel Bancroft, Jr., second lieutenant ; Richard Dickinson, Joel Strong, Samuel Williams, sergeants ; Joel Bancroft, clerk; Samuel Stiles, drummer; Timothy Spel- man, fifer; John Cooley, Thomas Gillett, James Coe, corporals. One record says that fourteen Granville men laid down their lives in the service during the war, and mentions Isaac Chapman, who fell at Ticonderoga; Deacon Luke Hitchcock, who died en route home and was buried in Springfield; Enos Howe and John Bartlett. In the old cemetery in West Granville there are buried these old revolutionary patriots : Linus Bates, Jonathan Corn- well, Enoch Coe, Seth Coe, Jacob Baldwin, Titus Hubbard, Ezra Baldwin, Israel Canfield, David Bates, Col. Timothy Robinson, Col. Seth Parsons, Capt. Dan Robinson, Capt. Benj. Barnes, Lieut. John Tibballs, Capt. Aaron Coe, Alexander Stewart, Jesse Hall. Lemuel IIaynes, Amos Baldwin, Samuel Baldwin.
Many present residents in Granville and hundreds of others who have gone therefrom to other localities can trace their an- cestry to some of these old heroes of the revolution. Following the period of the war the townspeople returned to the peaceful arts of agriculture and trade, and while the disturbed conditions which arose through the rebellions action of Shays' insurgent horde had its effect upon the town, we are not aware that any Granville citizens took sides with the riotous element, but they did lend assistance to suppress it. In the troublous period just preceding the war of 1812-15 the town showed decided leanings toward federalism, and sent a delegate (David Curtis) to the "peace" convention at Northampton. From that time to the war of 1861-5 no untoward event marred the progress of local affairs and peace and prosperity prevailed on every hand. During the war last mentioned this town furnished about 125 men for the service, nearly all of whom were attached to the infantry and artillery regiments to which the county contributed.
One of the most notable events in the history of the town was the semi-centennial festival-the Granville jubilee-which
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
was celebrated August 27, 1845, in commemoration of the fiftieth year of the pastorate of Rev. Timothy M. Cooley of the First Church of Christ in Granville. The exercises of the oeeasion were continued two days, and comprised addresses, reading of especially written poems, and a powerful historical sermon by the venerable Dr. Cooley himself. Strictly, the celebration was an affair of the church. yet it resolved itself into a general jubilee gathering in which all the townspeople took an earnest part, while hundreds came from other localities. When the services were ended the assemblage adjourned to meet again half a een- tury later, and accordingly, on August 28, 1895, the church and
The church on Granville Hill
people enjoyed another jubilee festival, although few indeed of the participants in the first event were then present.
The foregoing brief allusion to the jubilee ceremonies naturally suggests a like reference to the history of the church in Granville, which in fact antedates the creation of the town and reaches back to the days of the Bedford plantation. "The First Church of Christ" in Granville was formed in 1744, as a result of the preaching of Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards, which was the means of a revival known as the "Great Awaken- ing." The first pastor, Rev. Moses Tuttle, was ordained and settled in 1747, and the erection of the first church edifice was largely due to his efforts, the structure standing on the next hill
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THE TOWN OF GRANVILLE
west of the present site. The edifice now in use by the society was built in 1802, and was thoroughly repaired in 1890. Mr. Tuttle was succeeded in the pastorate in 1756 by Rev. Jededialı Smith, who retired in 1776. Dr. Cooley became pastor in 1795 and ministered to the spiritual wants of the inhabitants until 1854, a period of fifty-nine years. For more than 150 years the church has been an institution for good in the history of the town, and during all that time its reeord has been continuous. On its membership rolls is found the names of hundreds of persons who were well known in loeal annals, but at the present day the number of members does not exceed 75. The pastor at this time is Rev. Gilbert A. Curtis.
A second Congregational society in Granville was formed in the middle parish in 1781, and took the name of West Granville church upon the separation of Tolland from the mother town. Indeed the church soeieties in what now is West Granville also in Tolland were offshoots from the parent society to which refer- ence has been made. In 1786 the West parish settled its first pastor, Rev. Aaron Booge, and in 1788 a meeting house was erected. The society has since maintained a healthful existence, although it has not been self-supporting at all times.
The Baptist church in Granville, the seat of the society being at Granville Corners, was organized by dissentients from the mother Congregational society, and dates its history from 1791. Previous to that year the constituent members were known as "Separatists." A house of worship was erected in 1800 and the society has always enjoyed a continuous existence and comparatively healthful condition in respect to numerical strength. The church is now under the pastoral care of Rev. Benj. F. Hurlburt.
A Universalist society was formed at Granville Corners in 1863, and a church edifice was built the same year. Numerically the society never has been strong and during the last quarter of a century only occasional meetings have been held.
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