USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Longmeadow > Proceedings at the centennial celebration of the incorporation of the town of Longmeadow, October 17th, 1883 > Part 19
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
The earliest interments appear to have been made at the eastern end of this grant, remotest from the Main street, and thence in suc- cessive years for more than a century westward, until the interments had approached within two hundred feet of the Main street. Further interments in this direction were then prohibited, and an additional strip of land eastward of the original grant, and of the same width, and extend- ing so far east " as to come within five rods of the east end of the home lot of Major Luther Colton deceased," was by formal vote of the Town assigned for the same purpose. Four years later twenty rods of this extension was enclosed with the occupied portion of the origi- nal grant, leaving about two hundred feet of the front portion of the old burying ground grant upon the corner of Meeting House Lane and the Main street unenclosed. The expediency of selling or leasing this corner was more than once considered in town meetings, as ap- pears from such votes as the following :
" April 7, 1788. Voted to raife a Committee of Five to look into and confider the propriety of leafing fome part of the burying ground on any confideration and to make report to fome future meeting. Capt. David Burt, Deacon Nathaniel Ely, Jofiah Cooley, Ebenezer Blifs and Hezekiah Hale were chofen faid Committee."
A portion of this corner was subsequently occupied-presumably under a forty-years lease, though no record of the fact appears-by a blacksmith's and a wheelwright's shops; whose unchallenged occupancy for a longer period ultimately gained for them a right of possession which it cost the parish several hundred dollars finally to extinguish.
The remaining portion of this corner was in 1853, by formal vote of the Town, granted to the First parish, and was then occupied by it, first as a location for its new chapel building, and afterwards, upon the removal of this to the lot southward in 1874, as the site of the removed and remodeled church edifice. By this apparently fortuitous
26
200
course of events the old burying ground has become at last in truth the church-yard, and the latter building has found, it is to be hoped, a final location not less appropriate than its former central position up- on the village green.
By further votes of the Town in 1808, the burying ground was extended still further eastward "to come within twenty feet of the west side of Widow Ann Field's dwelling house," successive portions of which extension were by votes of the Parish, in 1837 and 1857, en- closed and laid out into burial lots which were gratuitously assigned to such heads of families as applied for them. By vote of the Town also, in 1846, permission was given to the Parish " to remove the fence on the north side of their burying ground to the north side of the row of trees standing near the said burying ground, and to improve said land thus enclosed as they shall think proper ;" which grant furnished about ten feet of additional space for the roadway, which now extends the entire length of the burying ground upon its northern side.
It was at this critical point in the history of the old burying ground, when nearly two acres in all had been thus fully occupied, and the limit of desirable extension eastward had been obviously nearly reached, and when the unfortunate experience of so many other ancient bury- ing grounds might so easily have become hers, in the diversion of public interest and affection to a new and perhaps remote modern cemetery, resulting finally perhaps in the disuse and neglect of the old one-it was at this critical point that the opportune purchase of an equal area immediately adjoining the old burying ground upon the south, by a legally organized Cemetery Association consisting of twenty prominent citizens, all deeply interested also in the old burying ground, solved the problem of cemetery extension for at least a cen- tury to come, and secured for the sacred resting-place of the fathers and the children a perpetual unity of enclosure and of interest.
A Contract of Record was at once entered into between the two burial properties, as represented by the Parish Prudential Committee duly authorized thereto and the executive officers of the Cemetery Association, by which all separating lines and fences were at once and forever abolished, and perpetual rights of way across each mutually secured ; so that the eye of the sharpest observer now recognizes only one burial enclosure in the whole. The Contract of Record, by which this unity of use and interest was secured, is perhaps of sufficient in- frequency, interest, and importance, to warrant the insertion of its main text here in full, as a possible precedent for other places. It reads as follows :
201
" This agreement made and executed this Thirtieth day of July in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and seventy-two by and between the First Parish in Long- meadow in the County of Hampden and Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Longmeadow Cemetery Association in said Longmeadow, witnesseth; that whereas the lot which the said Association has appropriated for its cemetery adjoins the burying ground of said Parish, now for the more convenient use of the grounds by the parties respectively for the purposes of burial, it is hereby agreed as follows :
I. All fences separating the said cemetery lot and the said burying ground shall be removed, and no fence nor wall nor other partition shall ever be placed between the same.
II. Each of the said parties shall perpetually maintain a sufficient and suitable fence upon all other portions of its own boundary except that separating the two lots.
III. Each of the said parties shall have all rights of way across the grounds of the other necessary for convenient access to said lots respectively.
IV. Said lots shall respectively be forever devoted to purposes of burial, and neither party shall make nor suffer to be made any use thereof inconsistent with said purpose."
With all the usual legal formalities of execution and registry in the Hampden Registry of Deeds ; in which office also was recorded a plan of the cemetery lots, as the basis of the Deeds which the Asso- ciations gives to the purchaser of its individual lots and records in its own Registry of Deeds.
It is for the loving care and adornment of this entire burial property as thus constituted that an effort has been recently inaugurated toward securing a Perpetual Cemetery Fund, to be held in trust by the Cemetery Association and administered by it, in co-operation with the Parish Prudential Committee, for the impartial benefit of the whole property.
As the first fruits of this effort, and of the interest probably stimu- lated by the Centennial celebration, nearly a thousand dollars has been already pledged by friends from abroad, while an equal sum is sub- stantially assured from home contributors. The donors thus far are Mr. Gideon Cooley Hixon, of Lacrosse, Wisconsin, $500. Rev. John R. Keep of Hartford, $100. Mrs. Susan H. Page of Boston, $100. Mrs. Geo. G. Crocker of Boston, $100. Mrs. S. D. Warren of Boston, $100. Mrs. G. W. Hammond of Boston, $50.
It is hoped that the success already attained, encouraging as it certainly is, may prove but the beginning of an universal interest alike among residents and non-residents, which shall result in a fund whose annual income shall insure such affectionate care of the entire grounds as shall make the Longmeadow burying ground a model one among New England rural cemeteries. Subscriptions to this end may be addressed to the care of R. S. Storrs, Secretary and Treasurer of the Longmeadow Cemetery Association.
202
Similar subscriptions and manifestations of interest on the part of non-resident friends of the East Longmeadow burying grounds will be also welcome there, though no similar effort has been there organized.
In regard to the several burying grounds in that part of the town, no record appears until April 14, 1806, when it was voted that Stephen Taylor, Israel Spencer, Thaddeus Billings and Elijah Burt be a com- mittee to find a suitable place for a burying yard in the eastern part of this town. No record appears of the success attending this search; but April 6, 1818, a vote is recorded requesting the selectmen "to view the several places for burying grounds in the east part of the town, and see to the title of said grounds and make report thereof to the next meeting, so that the town may fence the same if they see fit." Also, that the selectmen " may order the burying grounds aforesaid to be fenced provided they shall receive a satisfactory title." And May 8, 1818, it was voted that the selectmen " be directed to order the sum of eight dollars to defray the expenses of fencing each of these several places of burying ground, respectively near Capt. Luther Markham's, Henry Fuller's, and Thaddeus Billings, Jr.'s, provided they shall ob- tain a satisfactory title to them," and "Capt. Luther Markham, Aaron Crane, Ensign Daniel Porter, Gideon Gardener, Henry C. Fuller, Abel Pease, Theodore Billings, Jr., Theophilus Swetland, Loring Lathrop, and Lieut. Thaddeus Billings were appointed a committee to superintend the fencing of the aforesaid burying grounds."
It may be of interest in this connection to note a few of the oldest precinct votes in regard to the fencing and care of the original bury- ing ground.
Jan. 23, 1718. It was furder voated to fence and clear for a burying yard, ten rods in length of thatt parcel of land granted by the Committee of the Town for the precinct and four rods in breadth as they have granted and the committee for the prudential afairs of the precinct fhall pitch upon the plan moftt convenient and see that the work be accomplished as aforefaid on the charge of the precinct."
" March 18, 1742. Voated that the committee provide a biere for the ufe of the precinct on the charge of the precinct," and
Nov. 3, 1742. As appears by the Committee Book they "Granted to Nathaniel Burt for making a byer for the ufe of the precinct ten thillings old tenor. Granting alfo at the fame date twenty fhillings old tenor to be laid in the Treafury out of which to prepare the burying yard."
March 17, 1779. The following votes are recorded in the Precinct Book showing how near the old burying ground came, more than a hundred years ago, to being en- closed with a stone wall from the East Part quarries.
"The meeting met at 6 o'clock according to adjournment and voted that the burying ground be fenced with a wall of rufftone. Voted that the Parith Commit- tee be directed to enclofe the burying ground with all convenient fpeed and expedi- tion with ftone agreeable to the laft vote and to make a jutt apprifement of the fame." Which vote seems to stand as yet both unreconsidered and unaccomplished.
203
The following are sundry votes of the Town in regard to monu- ments :
March 23, 1784. Voted to raife a monument over the grave of Rev. Dr. Williams on the Town's coft, and that the felectmen be defired to fee the fame effected.
Voted to grant the fum of £3 to procure a decent pair of grave ftones for the grave of Nathaniel Burt who gave lands to this town for the ufe of the minifters and for the ufe of fchools, and that the felectmen be directed to procure faid ftones with a proper infcription on the fame.
April 4, 1820. The Parish voted to grant the fum of Twenty-five dollars to pro- cure a monument to be placed at the grave of the Rev. Richard S. Storrs.
The total number of monumental stones now standing in the old Longmeadow burying grounds is 914, viz .: in the oldest part, with the head toward the north, 444 ; in the first extension eastward, reaching to and including the Burt tomb, 333, with the head toward the west ; and in the second extension eastward from the tomb, 137; with some twenty later interments in the new cemetery addition on the south. Of these 200 bear the family name of Colton, 65 that of Burt, 59 each of Bliss and Cooley, 37 of Keep, 34 of Hale, 29 of Stebbins, and 24 each of Ely and Field ; these nine family names comprising consider- ably more than half of the total. The oldest stone now standing in the yard is one indicating no actual interment, but brought from Springfield by permission of its authorities, when the old Springfield graveyard was ploughed through by the track of the Southern Rail- road, and all its monumental stones removed to the new cemetery. The following is the partial inscription upon this fragmentary stone : MARY COLTON-ALIAS MARY DRAKE-WHO DIED OCT. 10, 1682-MY DAYS ARE FEW-MY GLASS IS RUN-MY AGE 32 AND ONE-YET AM * The following are a few of other inscriptions copied verbatim et literatim with the termination of lines typographically indicated by upright bars :
In Memory of | The Rev. STEPHEN WILLIAMS D.D. | who was a prudent and La- borious Minifter, | a found and evangelical Preacher, | a pious and exemplary Chrif- tian, | a fincere and faithful Friend, | a tender and affectionate Father and | Confort, a polite and hofpitable | Gentleman, and a real and difinterefted | Lover of man- kind; departed this life | with humble and cheerful hope of a | better, June Ioth, 1782, in the 90ih year | of his age, and 66th of his miniftry |
Softly his fainting head he lay Upon his Maker's breaft ; And laid his fleth to reft.
His Maker kiffed his soul away,
In Memory of Mrs ABIGAIL WILLIAMS, | the Amiable Confort of the Revd STE- PHEN WILLIAMS. | born July 14, 1696, | died Aug. 26, 1766 | Genefis 35, 20 | And Jacob fet a Pillar | Upon Her Grave |
In Memory of M's SARAH WILLIAMS | Late wife of Revd | STEPHEN WILLIAMS D D | Who Died Nov. 18, | 1790 | in her 85th Year. This ftone ftands but to tell | where her duft lies, not what the was | when faints fhall rife that day will fhow | the part the acted here Below. |
:
204
Sacred | to the memory of | the Rev. RICHARD | SALTER STORRS | Paftor of the Church | in Longmeadow. | He was born | at Manffield Conn | Aug. 30th 1763. | Graduated at Yale | College in 1783. | Ordained Dec 7, 1785. | died Oct 3, 1819.
In the private rela | tions of life He emi | nently illuftrated | the graces of the | Chriftian charactter. | As a Minifter of Chrift | He was distinguifh | ed for his ap- propri | ate perfpicuous and af | fectionate Exhibition | of Evangelical Truth, | for propriety rich | nefs and fervor in focial | prayer, and for his in | structive con- verfation | and Chriftian fympathy ; in paftoral duties.
In testimony of | their affectionate | remembrance of | his perfonal worth | & high regard for | his Ability, Zeal, and | Ufefulnefs as their | Chriftian Paftor, | his mourning | Congregation | erect this | Monument.
" RELIGION. | Her Almighty breath Amidft that calm | of fweet repofe
Rebuked the winds | and waves of death ; To Heaven his | gentle fpirit rofe."
" Bleffed are the | dead who die in the | Lord. for they reft | from their labour | & their works do | follow them." |
Sacred to the Memory | of SARAH Confort of the | Revd Richard S. Storrs and | of their infant E. WILLIAMS. | Mrs Storrs at an early | period of her life gave | reafon to hope that ihe | was a veffel of mercy | preparing for Glory. | Poffeffed of fuperior | natural and acquired | accomplifhments the filled her itation with | dig- nity and ufefulnefs ; | exhibiting an eminent | example of the conjugal | and parental virtues and | of all focial and Chriftian | affections | In the full affurance of hope | and in the triumph of faith | the died Jan 29th 1793 aged 33 |
In Memory of SARAH W. relict of | Rev. | RICHARD S. STORRS | & Grand- daughter of | Rev. | Stephen Williams | D.D. | She died Feb. 7, 1846 | Aged 81 |
In Memory of | M' | THOMAS BLISS | who died | Aug + 12. 1758 | In His S5th | year | - | Our Life is Ever | on the Wing | And Death is Ever Nigh | The Mo- ment When Our Lives Begin | We all Begin to Die.
In Memory of | Mr. EBENEZER BLISS | who died | March 2nd 1S08 | aged 82. Bleffed are the dead which | die in the Lord, that they | may reft from their la- bours | and their works do follow them. |
MR. NATHANIEL BURT. | a refpectable and worthy | Father of the | Town of Longmeadow | was born A. D. 1636 | and died Sept 29th 1720. | This Monument is erected to | his memory | by the inhabitants of faid Town | as a token of gratitude for | donations in lands made by him | to them, for the fupport of the | Gofpel and public Schools | -Ifaiah 32. 8. The liberal devifeth | liberal things, and by liberal things | fhall he itand.
How art thou fallen in the | Midit of the Battle | O very pleafant hatt | thou been. | In Memory of | LIEUTENANT NATHANIEL BURT | Who was flain in the memorable | Battle near LAKE GEORGE | September Sth 1755 | When his COLONEL and other | BRAVE OFFICERS fell | Yet a fignal Victory was obtained | Over the ENEMY. | Mr Nathaniel Burt | Was A Deacon of this Church | An Exemplary Chriftian | A Man of PUBLICK Spirit | & A good SOLDIER, Well beloved at home and in ye Army A concern for pure RELIGION | caufed his going into ye military | Service. He died in his 45th year. | 2 CHRON. 35th and 25th | & JEREMIAH | lamented over | JOSIAH. |
205
In Memory of | Adjt JONATHAN BURT | who departed | this life in a fudden | and Surprifing manner | April 18th 1794: | in his 56th year. |
How fhort how precarious how | uncertain is life. how quick the | Tranfition from time to Eternity ? | How foon the thread of life is fpun | -A breath a gafp a grone or two | and we are feen no more. | Yet on this britle thread of life | hangs a vaft Eternity. |
In Memory of | CAPT ISAAC COLTON | who died | Jany 23rd 1757 | In his 57th year. Capt. I. Colton had a military Genius, commanded a Company | at Louif- bourg in 1745. | Was refpected and ufeful at Home. | Was a man of Prayer. | Ifa 3ª: 3. For Behold the Lord | Doth take away the Captain.
HERE LIES INTERR'D THE BODY | OF CAPT THOMAS COLTON WHO | DEPARTED THIS LIFE SEPTEMBER | THE 30th 1728 AGED 77 YEARS. | PRO. X, 7. THE MEMORY OF | THE JUST IS BLESSED. |
In Memory of | M' HANNAH | Wife of | Cap Thomas | Colton | who died | Nov" 6th, 1737 | In Her 73"d | Year. | Pro. 11. 16 | A virtuous Woman | Retaineth Honour. |
Here lies interr'd ye | Body of MR SAMUEL | COLTON who was born | Jan'; 17, 1679 and dyed | March 13 1742 Our | Life is a paffage to | Eternity and ought to be a | preparation for Eternity. |
Here lies Buri'd the Body | of MRS. MARGARET COLTON | Wife of Mr. Samuel Colton | Who was born Sept 11th | 1684 and dyed Jan'y | ye 19th 1735. | A true Chriftian has | Nothing to fear beyond | the Grave. |
Sacred to the Memory of | Mr SAMUEL COLTON | Merchant | who departed this life | Nov. 5, 1784 in the 57th year | of his age. |
The Sun's too quick revolving beams
Then happieft he whofe lengthened fight Purfues by virtue's conftant light
Apace diffolves the humane dreams And brings the appointed hour. A hope beyond the fkies
Too late we catch his parting ray
And mourn the idly wafted day No longer in our power.
Where frowning Winter ne'er fhall come But rofy Spring forever bloom And Suns eternal rife.
In Memory of | Mrs FLAVIA Wife of | M' SAMUEL COLTON | Who died April 19. 1763 | In her 22 Year | My fellow youth ftop here awhile | & View my Monu- mental pile | Once I like you alive But ah ! | am nothing now but Native clay.
Sacred to the Memory of | Mrs LUCY COLTON | Relict of Mr Samuel Colton, Mer- chant | She died Dec 7 A. D. 1799. Æt 57. | She poffeffed a mind much above | the common ftandard and | practiced the focial virtues | in an eminent degree. She was an | affectionate and faithful Partner | Parent and Friend. Being | liberally en- dowed, the judicioufly | and liberally contributed to public | purpofes and caufed the heart of the | Widow and the Fatherlefs to rejoice | Thus the honored the Lord with her | Subftance and her Memory is bleffed. | She was an underftanding Believer | in the doctrines of Christianity | Serious attendant on Divine | In- ftruction, & died in the hope of an | immortal and glorious life.
Death ! Great proprietor of all ! 'tis thine To tread out Empires and to quench the ftars.
The Sun himfelf by thy permiffion fhines
And, one day, thou fhalt pluck him from his fphere.
206
In Memory of | Mrs. LUCRETIA wife of | Rev. SIMEON COLTON and | daughter of Capt Gideon | Colton. She died at Pal | mer July 14. 1821 aged 33; | her hufband being at that | time Paftor of the Church in | that place. With her are de | pofited two ftill born children | Affectionate in her difpofition, | fervent in her piety, fhe was | eminently ufeful in her ftation, | and in death was much | lamented. Enjoying the confo | lations of religion in her laft | moments, the with calm refig | nation committed her foul to | her Savour, and died in the full | hope of a glorious refurrection. | " Bleffed are the dead who die in the Lord."
To the | Memory of | ELIZA W. CONDIT | confort of | Rev. Jon B. Condit | who died Jan. 7. 1835. | E' 24. | Selah S. Woodhull | their Son, | died March 15. 1835 | E' 3 Months & 4 days. | -How flender all the proudeft ties | That bind us to a world like this. |
In Memory | of | Enfign | Samuel | Keep | Who died Augst | 23rd 1758-aged 85.
In Memory of | DEA. WALTER WHITE : | who died July 14. 1819 : | Aged 54. | In a long & diftreffing | ficknefs he proved himfelf | to be the man of God | & exhibited the excellenc'y & | fure fupports of the | Christian Religion. | In the duties of his office | he was fignally faithful, | in the home of the mourning | a comforter, in the | conference room a Guide. | Help Lord for the godly man ceafeth.
A notice of Longmeadow burying grounds would not be complete without mention of an aboriginal one which antedates all the others. Many years ago, at the lower end of the long meadow, the encroaching freshets in their annual assaults upon the river bank laid bare pro- jecting human bones which examination showed to be regularly interred Indian skeletons. These were usually found, when the floods had not already disturbed them, with the lower limbs somewhat drawn up, but without other observable peculiarity of interment. The number of skeletons found and other indications do not warrant the belief that this was a principal Indian burying ground, which probably would be found in some more secluded and sheltered portion of the adjacent Pecowsic Valley ; but it was probably the adjunct of the summer camp- ing ground of the tribe when the meadow cultivation invited their more exposed sojourn near the main river bank. Not very far from this place abundant traces have been found of what must have been a sort of manufactory of stone arrow-heads, hatchets, hoes, ete .; the ground being literally full of the chippings incident to such manufac- ture, with occasional specimens of the rudely finished articles them- selves as well as of Indian pottery ; of which the present owner of the spot, Mr. David Booth 2d has collected quite a respectable little museum -the sole present relics of the former lords of the meadow manor.
" And as sunbeams leave a blessing, Fading slowly in the West, Grudge we not our benediction To the red man's place of rest."
207
H .- THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
The Longmeadow history abundantly illustrates the patriotic senti- ment as well as the daily anxieties, and what pastor Williams calls "tumults and uneasiness" of a highly sensitive and more or less divided community. A few selections from his diary will suffice to put us into the very midst of those perilous days.
April 15, 1775 .- By the accounts brought by the post, things appear more threatening. The court at home seem determined to treat us as a people in rebellion. Great uneasiness in the nation .- 17. 'Tis reported this day by the way of New York, from home, that the court have purposed to put off their violent measures for the present to see what we will do in this land.
20-This morning as soon as it was light, the drum beat and three guns were fired as an alarm. The story is that some of the troops had marched from Boston to seize some military stores at Lexington, or Concord, and that some men had been killed, but the accounts are vague-we must wait. The Lord mercifully prepare us for the tidings we may have. The minute men are gone to town and men are collecting from various parts, and we have reason to fear that much mischief is done.
21-This morning at 4 o'clock another message is come advising that there has been a smart engagement at Concord between the regulars and our people, and many killed, but we have but an uncertain account. 'Tis said houses are burnt, and women and children killed-sad work, indeed- more men are collected and going forth. I prayed with a company. The Lord be pleased to go with them and prosper them; keep them in thy fear. This day we met together for prayer in the meeting house and I offered some remarks from the 3d chapter of Jonah.
[The muster-roll of the Longmeadow minute men who marched at the Lexington alarm, on April 21st, 1775, is as follows :
First Lieutenant and Acting Captain,
David Burt.
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.