USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Longmeadow > Proceedings at the centennial celebration of the incorporation of the town of Longmeadow, October 17th, 1883 > Part 18
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
But principally and above all, I give, and bequeath as my laft legacy, to all my dear children, my ferious and folemn advice, that they choofe the Lord Jehovah for their GOD. " He hath been my Father's God, and I truft and humbly hope, mine alfo, He hath been with me in great difficulties, and troubles. He has remarkably helped, delivered, and faved me. I do recomend him to my children, folemnly charging them to make it their firft care to feek peace with God and reconciliation thro' a crucifyd Chrift, and being reconcild to make it their perpetuall ftudy to pleafe him in all things; it is my repeated charge to them all to follow GOD, follow him early, follow him fully. I have devotd you all to God ; and there is nothing I fo much defire for you, my dear children, as to HAVE this ftand ; that you may be the Lord's, and ferve him, with a perfect heart, and willing mind ; the LORD GOD himfelf de- termine your hearts to feek him, and may he be your portion and provide for you." See Chronicles xxviii : 9.
Finally I nominate and appoint my beloved fons, John and Sam1, to be my fole executors of this my laft will and Teftament, and I give and bequeath, my black cloak, and my two beftt black coats, to my three fons, Stephen, Warham, and Na- than, they to agree, to take each one of them, one of thefe garments, as may beft fuit &c.
25
192
And inafmuch as I expect, and direct, my executors to difcharge all my debts and dues (as fpecifyd in the firft leaf, or folio of this inftrument) I do further give and bequeath, to my above mentioned executors, my fons John and Sam1, all my wearing apparell of every kind, the cloak and the two black coats, above mentioned, ex- cepted. I do alfo give and bequeath to my fd executors, all the right, and title, I have to the land in South-Hampton that was my Honourd uncle's Warham Mather, Esq. late of New Haven, deceafd I do give to them, their Heirs and Affigns, equally my right and title to fd land ; to them alfo I give all my eftate-whether reall or per- fonall, that I have anywhere, whatfoever, that I have not alienatd, bequeathd, de- vifd, or given away by this will or fome other way. And I do by thefe prefents, re- voke and disanull, all wills and teftaments, by me made heretofore, declaring them to be null, and of no force, or virtue.
And I do confirm this to be my laft will and Teftament, in witnefs whereof I have hereunto fet my hand and feal, the day and year before mentioned.
STEPHEN WILLIAMS.
Signed-fealed-publifhd and pronounced by fd Stephen Williams, that what is above and contained in the three preceding pages, or folios, is his laft will and tefta- ment, in prefence of us, who fign as witneffes, in the prefence and at the defire of the Teftator, &c.
NATH1 BURT, GIDEON BURT, NATH' ELY, 4th, JACOB CHAPIN.
A CODICILL OR SCHEDULE TO MY WILL OR TESTAMENT.
Know All men, by thefe prefents, that I Stephen Williams of Springfd, Clerk, do on this eleventh of Auguft, 1773, declare my approbation and confirmation of my will da- ted the fixth of March 1771. And now add this Codicill, or Schedule thereto. viz. I do give to mydear wife Sarah, in cafe the outlives me, the free ufe and improvement of the North Room of my Houfe, and the ufe of the Cellar, as far as the needs, with free lib- erty of paffing to and from the fd room, to the well, and ftreet, &c, fo long as the contin- ues my widow ; this is to be underftood as liberty for her and family to live in, and not to Let or Leafe to any other perfons. Item, inafmuch as my fon John Williams is in an infirm ftate of health, I do nominate and appoint my Belovd Son-in-Law, Sam1 Raynolds, Efq' of Somers, an Executor of my laft will and teftament, in con- junction with my Beloved fons, John and Sam1 mentioned in my will, and expect my fd fon-in-law be paid for his trouble and pains out of money that may be due to me at my deceafe, or out of the ftock, or Hufbandry utenfils, &c.
STEPHEN WILLIAMS.
Signd feald and pronouncd by fd Stephen Williams, that the above Codicill is his will and mind, in the prefence of us who fign as witneffes in the prefence and at the defire of fd Stephen Williams.
NATH1 BURT, GIDEON BURT, JACOB CHAPIN.
193
QUARTERMASTER GEORGE COLTON'S WILL.
I George Colton of Springfield in Hampfhire of the Province of the Maffachu- fetts Bay in New England being fenfible of the weaknefs of my Body and yet through the Mercies of GOD having comfortable ufe of my Underftanding and Memory and not knowing how foon my Change fhall come, do make this my laft Will and Tettament as followeth. Imp, I commit my foul into the hands of GOD who made it, and unto Jefus Chrift who hath redeemed it, and my Body I defire when it fhall pleafe the Lord to releafe me hence, that it may be committed unto the Earth in decent manner, there to lie till the Refurrection of the Juft when Body and Soul thall be united by a Joyful Refurrection, which I hope for through the Lord Jefus Chrift. And as for my Worldly Goods and Eftate which the Lord hath gra- cioufly beftowed on me I difpofe of it as followeth.
I give and bequeath unto my four fons Isaac, Ephraim, Thomas and John all my Lands in Springfield to be after my deceafe equally divided between them, and to continue to them and their male Heirs and of their own Bodies lawfully begotten forever, and for want of male Heirs, to their Female Heirs of their own Bodies lawfully begotten forever. Provided always and my further will and meaning is that my fª four fons Shall pay unto their three natural Sifters, my own Daughters, the fum of Forty Pounds apiece in good merchantable form at current Prices, or in Cattle as they fhall be indifferently prized (Horfe flefh only excepted unlefs they de- fire them.) Further my will is that the Forty pounds apiece which my three Daugh- ters are to receive thall be paid to them or their Heirs within the Compafs of Six Years after my Deceafe. Further my Will is that my fd four fons fhall pay unto my daughter Sara, deceafed her three Children Rebecca, Samt and Jofeph the fum of Forty pounds in Current pay as aforefd viz, unto Rebecca Twenty Pounds and to Sam1 and Jofeph ten pounds apiece when they come to be Married and Settled in the World. Provided always and my further will is that if my fon John fhall have a male Heir that his Land thall pay unto his now Daughter Abigail Fifty Pounds in Current Country pay, and in cafe of no male Heir then the aforefd Abigail fhall pay out unto the reft of the Children if there be any what indifferent Judges fhall think to be convenient. And for the performance of the Legacies aforefd to my fa three Daughters all my aforefd lands fhall be obliged to be refponfible, provided al- ways. and my further will and meaning is that if either of my fons their Heir or Heirs or either of them do or thall attempt or go about to do any act or acts, thing or things to alien or difcontinue the Lands bequeathed unto them or any Part or parcel thereof as abovefd by me bequeathed unto them either by fale Feoffment Mortgage or otherwife by any ways or means, fo that the f" Lands and every Part and Parcel thereof may not or cannot defcend, come, revert and remain and be in manner and form as before in this my laft Will and Teftament limited declared and appointed and according to the true intent and meaning hereof, that then immedi- ately and from thenceforth the Eftate, Intereft or Title of him or them so attempt- ing or going about any fuch Act or Acts, thing or things (as aforefd) of and in the fª Land and any part thereof fhall ceafe and be fully and clearly determined and extinguithed and that then immediately and thenceforth the fame remain and belong to fuch perfon or perfons as by this my laft Will and Teftament is limited and appointed in fuch manner and form and upon the like Conditions as though he or they fo at- tempting or going about any fuch Actor Acts, thing or things as aforefd in form aforefd were departed this Life anything before in this my laft Will and Teftament mentioned and declared to the contrary notwithftanding.
194
And I¿do make and ordain my two Eldeft fons Ifaac, and Ephraim my whole and fole Executors of this my laft Will and Teftament and in cafe of any Ambiguity or Doubt, my defire is they fhould explain and interpret the Same according to their wifdom and underftanding of the fame.
And in witnefs hereof that this is my laft Will and Teftament, I have hereunto fet my hand and feal this 2ud day of April 1697 and in the 9th year of the reign of Wm ye 3'd King of England &c.
Signed fealed in prefence of
his
THOS RICH MARY TAYLOR mark
GEORGE + COLTON.
·his
BENJ + BROOKS mark
JNO HOLKOKE
HAMPSHIRE SS Jany IIth 1699
Ifaac Colton and Ephraim Colton prefented the above Instrument as their Father George Colton decª his laft will and teftament when (before me Judge of Probate) appeared Mr Jno Holyoke and Benj Brooks each of whom made Oath that being prefent at the time of it they faw George Colton, then of found difpofing mind, fign and feal the fame as his laft will and testament, to which they then fet their hands as witneffes with the other two perfons now abfent.
Sworn to Jany 111h 1699 before JNO PYNCHON Hampshire Probate Office.
In the fettlement of Ifaac Colton's Eftate Sept. 25th 1700 is as follows-
" And whereas Qu' George Colton, father to fa Ifaac Colton decd, by his laft " will and teftament did fettle certain lands in Springfield to the value of £318.17.9 " unto his f" fon and the male heirs of his body lawfully together equally, and there " being fons each one's equal fhare is, to George Colton one of 1ª male heirs £106.5.10-to Jofeph Colton 2ª of fa male heirs £106.5.10-and to Beni Colton a 3'' male heir £106.5.10-all which to be fet out to them in fu appropriate Lands as to quantity and quality equally which is mott agreeable to the fame aforefª will, and the f' Jofeph and Beni Colton not being yet of age to receive their fª portions, the fd Mary Colton their Mother to have the ufe and improvement of their fhares or parts in Lands till they come of age, viz 21 years of age, and if either or any of them die before of age the furvivor to receive it in proportion according to the will of the decd.
Sept. 25. 1701.
PRECINCT TAX WARRANT.
Hampfh: ff. To Nathanael Ely Conftable of the town of Springfield within the County of Hampfhire Greeting-
In his maisties name you are Required to Levy and Collect of the Several Per- fons named in the Lift Herewith Committed unto you each one his Respective Pro- portion therein Set down of the Sum Total of Such Litt Being a tax of affeffment Granted and agreed upon by the Inhabitants of the Precinct of Longmeadow within the Sd town Regularly affembled for Defreying of the neceffary Charges arifing within the Same and to deliver and pay in the Sum and Sums which you fhall So Levy and Collect unto Charles Pynchon treafurer of the Sd Precinct and to Com- pleat and make up an account of your Collections of the whole Sum at on or before the forth Day of May next and if any perfon or perfons fhall neglect or Refufe to make payment of the Sum or Sums whereat he or they are Refpectively affeffed and fet in the Sd Litt to deftrein the Goods or Chattles of fuch perfon to the Value thereof and the Diftrefs or Diftreffes fo taken to keep by the Space of four Days at
195
the coft and charge of the owner, and if the owner do not pay the Sum or Sums of money fo affeffed upon him within the fª four Days, then the fª Diftrefs or Diftreffes fo taken you are to Expofe and openly Sell at an outcry for payment of the fª money and Charges, notice of fuch Sale being pofted up in fome Public place within the fame precinct twenty four hours beforehand and the overplus coming by fª Sale if any be befides the Sum or Sums of the Affeffment and the Charges of taking and Keeping of the Diftreffes to be Immediately Reftored to the Owner and for want of Goods or Chattels whereon to make Diftrefs, you are to feize the Body or Bodies of the perfon or perfons fo Refufing and him or them Commit unto the Common Goal of the f" County there to Remain until he or they pay and Satisfy the feveral Sum or Sums whereat they are Refpectively affeffed as aforef" unlefs upon application made to the Court of General Seffions of the Peace the fame or any part thereof thall be abated.
Dated in Longmeadow in Springfield the 22 Day of January. In the twenty firft year of his majesties Reign Anoq Dom. 1749. (Signed) EPHRAIM COLTON JUN' JOHN HALE Affeffors. AARON COOLEY
TOWN INCORPORATION ACT.
An Act to incorporate the Second Parith in Springfield called Longmeadow, into a Town by the Name of Longmeadow.
Whereas it is reprefented by the Inhabitants of the S4 Parifh, that they labour under great burdens and inconveniences by reafon of their Situation, and the Sepa- rate Interests in the Sª Town ; and it appears to this Court to be expedient that the Se Parith be incorporated into a Separate Town :
Be it enacted by the Senate and Hous of Reprefentatives in General Court affem- bled and by the authority of the Same. That the Second parith in Springfield called Longmeadow, in the County of Hampshire and all that tract of Land known by that name and bounded as Follows, viz. Weft on Connecticut River, South on the towns of Somers and Endfield, Eaft on Wilbraham and North begining at the mouth of Pecoufick-Brook (so called) and runing eaft on the parith line to the Town of Wilbraham, be, and hereby is incorporated into a Town by the Name of Longmeadow, with all the powers privileges and immunities that towns in this Com- monwealth have or do enjoy; and that the Sd town of Longmeadow pay its juft proportion of publick taxes affeffed on the Sd town of Springfield, agreeable to the prefent valuation, and untill a new valuation is taken, and bear its due proportion of the expence and charges towards the Suppoart of the prefent poor thereof, and pay its proportional part of the publick debts now owed by the Sd Town, and receive its Shares of publick Moneys and Debts now due to the Sd town, and the common Stock thereof, in the Same proportion that they paid to the laft State tax affeffed on the town of Springfield.
And be it further enacted that the Honorble John Blifs Efq' be and he is hereby impowered to iffue his warrant to Some principal inhabitant of the S' town of Longmeadow requiring him to call a Meeting of the Sd inhabitents in order to chufe Such officers as by Law towns are impowered to chufe in the month of March annually.
This act Paffed October 13th 1783.
196
DROWNED LANDS' WARRANT.
The following warrant for the compulsory levying of a tax upon the proprietors of the flooded "Drowned" or "Pond " portions of the meadow land, under the highest authority of the Commonwealth nearly a hundred years ago, may well engage the attention of the same proprietors, or of the town itself, as a possible precedent at the pres- ent day, when the area of the same lands is apparently annually in- creasing and their malarious influence more and more suspected :
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS HAMPSHIRE SS. To Ebenezer Blifs Collector for the Proprietors of the Drowned Land in the Town of Longmeadow within this Commonwealth of Maffachufetts in the County of Hampfhire Greeting-
In the Name of the Governor and Councel of the fd Commonwealth of Maffachu- setts you are hereby required to levy and Collect of the feveral Parfons named in the Lift herewith Committed unto you each one, his refpective proportion, therein fet down, of the Some total of fuch lift, it being £20.16.6 each proprietor propor- tion of a Tax or Affeffment of twenty Pound, Sixteen Shilling and Six pence, Agreed upon by the Commiffioners appointed by his Excellency the Governor and Councel aforefd, at a meeting appointed for that purpofe in f Longmeadow on the fifth Day of May Seventeen Hundred and eighty five, for defraying the neceffary Charges of Dreaning and Flowing f1 weat or Drowned lands of fd proprietors and you are to tranfmit and Pay in the fame unto M' Sam1 Keep Treafurer and recever of the above fª Tax, appointed by the Commiffioners of fd weat lands or to his fucceffor in that Office, and to Compleat and make up an account of your collection of the whol fum on or before the first Day of April, feventeen Hundred and eaghty eaght and if any parfon fhall refufe or neglect to pay the Sun he or the is affeffed in the f lift to Dif- train the Goods or Chattels of fuch parfons to the Value thereof and the Diftrefs fo taken, to keep for the fpace of four Days at the Coft and Charges of the owner and if he or the fhall not pay the fame fo affeffed, within fd four Days then you are to fell at Public Vandue the Diftrefs fo taken for the payment thereof with Charges, firft giving forty eaght hours notice of fuch fale by pofting up advertifeinents thereof in fome public place in the Town, and the overplus arifing by fuch fale if any there be, befides the fum affeffed and the neceffary Charges of taking and keeping the Dittrefs, You are immediately to reftore to the owner ; and for want of goods or chattels whereon to make Diftrefs (befides tooles or implements neceffary for his trade or oc- cupation, beafts of the Plough neceffary for the cultivation of his improved lands, Arms, utenfils for hous-keeping neceffary for upholding life, bedding and apparel neceffary for himielf and family) for the fpace 'of twelve Days, you are to take the body of fuch parfon fo refufing or neglecting and him Commit unto the Common Goal of the County, there to remain until he or the pay the fame or fuch part there- of as fhall not be abated by the Commniffioners for the time being, or the Governor and Councel of this Commonwealth.
Given under our hands and Seale by Virtue of a Commitfion from the Governor and Councel aforefd, this first day of June, in the year of our Lord one thoufand, feven Hundred and eaghty fix, in the tenth year of the Independence of the United States. (Signed) GIDEON BURT
SAMI KEEP Commiffioners.
Longmeadow March 10th 1788.
JOSIAH COOLEY S
197
TITHING MAN'S COMPLAINT AND WARRANT.
To Ethan Ely, Efquire one of the Juftices of the Peace within and for the County of Hampden, complains upon oath William Burt, Tithing man within the Town of Longmeadow in fd County. That L- N- of Longmeadow, labourer refi- dent in the family of Amos Parker, on the twenty fecond day of March inftant, being the Lord's Day, at fd Longmeadow, Did within the walls of the Revd Baxter Dick- infon's meeting houfe being a houfe of public worfhip in fª Longmeadow behave rudely and indecently againft the peace and dignity of the Commonwealth and con- trary to a law of the fame, and entitled, An Act providing for the due obfervation of the Lord's Day and repealing the feveral laws heretofore made for that purpofe.
WM. BURT.
Dated at Longmeadow March 27th 1829.
Hampden SS. The above named Wm Burt made oath to the truth of the forego- ing complaint, March 27th 1827. before me ETHAN ELY, Juftice of the Peace. Hampden SS. To the Sheriff of the County of Hampden or either of his Dep- uties or either of the Conftables of the town of Longmeadow in fª County Greeting.
Forafmuch as the foregoing complaint hath this day been made upon oath to me the Subfcriber, one of the Juftices of the Peace for the County of Hampden, Thefe are therefore in the name of the Commonwealth of Maffachufetts to require and command you forthwith to apprehend the body of L- ---- N- ---- therein men- tioned and bring him before me or fome other of the Juftices of the Peace for the fª County of Hampden that he may be examined touching the premifes and delt with as to law and juftice fhall appertain, and you are alike required to fummon the Complainant to appear and give evidence relative to the fubject matter of fª Com- plaint when and where you fhall have the fª L- · N-
Given under my hand and feal this 27th day of March AD. 1829. ETHAN ELY.
Hampden SS. 28th March 1829. By virtue of this warrant I have arrefted the body of the within L- B. N- - and have him before Ethan Ely one of the Juftices of the Peace for the fd County, and alfo have fummoned the within Com- plainant to appear at the time and place mentioned. JOSEPH PARKER Conftable.
Fees. Service 50c. Travel 8c. Summoning witneffes 10c. Travel 8c. Keeping prifoner & attendance 1.00 -- 1.76.
March 28. 1829 There came before me L -- N- and anfwered not guilty to the within complaint and put himfelf on trial before me ETHAN ELY, Juftice of the Peace. upon full hearing of witneffes it appears that the defendant is guilty and is fined $1.00 and coft of profecution comp' & warrant 50c. entering examination &c 75c. witnefs Wm Burt attend 34c. travel 8c. office fees 1.76. Total $8.43.
DEED OF MINISTRY LAND.
The following deed of the north half of the "Ministry " five-acre lot originally given to the Precinct by Nathaniel Burt-it being a por- tion of his grant No. 15, (see page 181)-and subsequently sold by the Precinct to Pastor Storrs, is of interest both as incidentally showing the terms under which the Precinct originally received the whole prop- erty from Mr. Burt, and also the somewhat complicated legal steps necessary for its subsequent transfer to Pastor Storrs in fee simple. It seems to have been thought necessary for the pastor himself to join
198
with the Precinct Committee in relinquishing his right in the land as "Orthodox Nonconformist Incumbent" for life and the Precinct's rights in fee, respectively, to an indifferent third party, Wm. Ely of Springfield ; by whom upon the same day, and for the same sum, the same property was then re-transferred to Pastor Storrs personally.
The former only of these deeds is here given, the latter being nearly its duplicate in substance :
To all People to whom thefe prefents fhall come Greeting
Whereas M' Nath1 Burt of Springfield in the County of Hampshire by his certain Deed dated the firft Day of May Anno Domini 1716 did convey and make over to the then Parifh of Longmeadow in Springfield being the Prefent town of Long- meadow among other Lands therein defcribed-one certain Part or Parcel of Land lying a little north of the meeting houfe in f1 Longmeadow and butting Wefterly on the Street or highway-containing five Acres more particularly described in f1 Deed to have and to hold the fame and the fame to be and remain to the ufe and improve- ment of the Orthodox Nonconformift minifters of f Parifh Succeffively forever And whereas at a meeting of the Inhabitants of fl Town of Longmeadow on the Twenti- eth Day of February in the Year of our Lord one thoufand feven hundred and eighty fix legally convened for that purpofe it was Judged expedient and for the fur- therance of the Intentions of the original Grantor to Sell and difpofe of the Same Land and it was then and there voted by the fd Inhabitants that Nath Ely Gentle- man Mofes Field Gentleman and Jon" Hale Jun' Efq' all of fl Longmeadow be a comtee vefted with full power and authority in behalf of fd Town to bargain and fell the fame Land and in behalf of fd Town to make and execute good and fufficient Deed or Deeds of the fame according to Law.
Therefore know ye that We Richard Salter Storrs of fl Longmeadow Clerk and incumbent minifter of fª Town of Longmeadow formerly Parifh of Longmeadow aforefd and the !" Nath1 Ely Mofes Field and Jon" Hale Jun" in f' Capacity for and in confideration of the Sum of forty Pounds lawful Money to us in Hand paid be- fore the enfealing hereof by W" Ely of Springfield in f' County of Hampshire Gen- tleman the Receipt wher. of we do hereby acknowledge have bargained Sold and conveved and do by thefe prefents bargain Sell and convey and confirm to him the [' W" Ely his Heirs and Affigns the Northeily half of the aforef! Tract of Land bounded wett on the Highway aforef" North on Land of Azariah Woolworth eaft on land of Sam1 Williams fouth on the remaining part of faid Lot extending ten rods north and fouth and forty rods eaft and weft, containing two acres and an half To have and to hold the aforef1 Premifes with the Appurtenances to him the fd Wu Ely his Heirs and Affigns as a good and indefeafible Eftate in fee fimple forever. In Witnei's whereof We the fd Richd Nath' Mofes and Jond have hereunto fet our Hands and Seals this Twelfth Day of September in the year of our Lord one thou- fand feven hundred and Ninety one.
Signed Sealed and delivered in prefence of
JOHN BLISS DAVID BURT.
RICHA S. STORRS NATH' ELY MOSES FIELD TONa HALE JUNI
x
l'astor William- Table. Capt. Thomas L'idton . Table.
The Els Deli-k
The Merchant Colton Tables.
THE FRONT AND OLDEST FEELING OF THE OUR LONGMIRADOR BURYING GROUND.
.
199
G .- BURYING GROUNDS.
The old burying ground of the Town of Longmeadow consisted originally of just one acre of land "granted " out of the town highway leading eastward from the main street into the commons-literally a "God's acre," in area as well as in assignment of sacred use. By the records of the Committee charged with the duty of modeling and laying out the Longmeadow settlement upon the hill 1703, it appears that this highway was first laid out ten rods wide, and that then a strip four rods wide upon the south side of the highway, commencing at the Main street and extending thence eastward forty rods, was granted out of this "for a burying ground."
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.