USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > Pittsfield > The history of Pittsfield (Berkshire County), Massachusetts, from the year 1734 to the year 1800 > Part 13
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CHAPTER VI.
THE PLANTATION ORGANIZATION RESUMED.
[1759-1761.]
Proprietors'-Meetings, 1759-60. - Vote to sell the Lands of Delinquent Tax-payers.
- Committees to hire a Minister. - Col. Williams's First Election as Clerk. - Highways and Bridges. - Highway-Surveyors' Districts formed. - Condition of the Settlers at the Close of the War. - Partition of the Commons.
THE last item of the plantation records prior to their sus- pension on account of the Indian troubles was the oath subscribed, Ang. 12, 1754, by Hezekiah Jones and David Bush, faithfully to perform their duties as assessors ; to which office they, with William Wright, had been elected. The next entry was the warrant of those gentlemen, issued Sept. 16, 1758, for a meeting of the Proprietors, to be held on the 2d of October, at the house of Nathaniel Fairfield, - the same which the General Court accepted the next winter, as " one of its garrisons."
The meeting chose Stephen Crofoot moderator, and Eli Root collector of taxes; continued the old assessors in office ; appointed Deacon Crofoot, Sergeant Jones, and Ephraim Stiles a committee to hire a minister; laid a tax of six shillings upon each lot to pay him; and instructed the assessors to sell the lands of such as refused to discharge their rates. The apparent object of the meeting was to procure a chaplain for the fort, as no inhabitants of other parts of the plantation seem to have taken part in it; but a suspicion of sharp practice attaches to the vote to sell the lands of those who refused to pay their rates, at a time when many of the proprietors were dispersed at a distance, - some of them with the army at the front, - and others were straitened in their resources by the unsettled state of the country.
In the fall of 1758, the colonists had cause to be inspirited ; but
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HISTORY OF PITTSFIELD.
the more thoughtful rejoiced with trembling. The advantages gained by the English arms in the campaign just closed inspired confidence in their ultimate success, which the event justified ; but, as late as the spring of that year, murders had been committed by the Indians at Coleraine, and many months passed before the inhabitants of towns much farther within the border experienced a sense of safety. It is not merely in the gloom of the sufferings which they actually underwent, that we are to consider the plan- tations ; but in the shadow of those which they had abundant reason to dread as well. And not until the fall of Quebec, - not, indeed, fully until the cession of 1763, - could their fears be entirely dispelled. Stockbridge, in 1759, applied with earnestness to the General Court for aid ; stating that it "had fifty men in the service, which weakened its garrison for home defence, and left it almost as much exposed as Poontoosuck."
Plainly the time had not come for any proceedings, in plan- tation-meeting, which would seriously affect the owners of lands not immediately under the protection of the forts; and the voters at the meeting in question confessed as much, by refusing to make appropriations for highways and bridges.
Affairs, however, began gradually to resume the aspect which they had worn before the war. A second meeting of the Pro- prietors, held Jan. 29, although it did little more than repeat the action of that in October, was less limited in its attendance. It was resolved that the old assessors, clerk, and collector should continue to " stand " in their several offices; but Jesse Sackett was made treasurer, in place of Charles Goodrich. David Bush, Jacob Ensign, and Josiah Wright were substituted for the former " com- mittee to hire a minister." An increasing sense of security from savage prowlings was manifested by holding the meeting at the house of the clerk, David Bush, some rods west of the fort, and by restoring that as the place designated for posting up legal notices.
At the next meeting, - May 21, adjourned to May 30, 1759, - matters began to take more definite forni. Col. Williams, having returned from the wars, began his long course of civil ser- vice in the office of Proprietors' clerk, taking the qualifying oath, " Coram John Ashley, Jus. Peace." The preaching of the gospel was put upon a little more permanent footing by the appointment of Charles Goodrich, Stephen Crofoot, and William Williams " to hire some man, from time to time, to preach among us." The
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HISTORY OF PITTSFIELD.
committee was to have some fixedness, however it might prove with the minister. The attention of the meeting was specially given to highways and bridges. Some good beginning had been made in this direction before the war; and during its continuance, although the more remote roads must have retrograded in condi- tion, those favorably situated for protection, and those required for military purposes, were improved. Prior to 1753, some county roads had been laid out and worked ; including that now Wendell Street; and that which, commencing near the present junction of Wendell and Elm Streets, formed the east road to Lanesborough. Changes had also begun to be made in the rectangular town-roads, which it would be a laborious task now to trace. Doubts already existed as to the true line of West Street, and encroachments upon all the highways were complained of. Three bridges were standing, - that described in the previous chapter as built by Dea- con Crofoot, and those respectively near the present crossings of the Housatonic by West and South Streets. The record of the action of this meeting concerning highways and bridges exhibits clearly the manner of doing that kind of town business; and, as it is in other respects characteristic, we quote in full : -
" Voted: That eighteen pounds be raised for repairing the public and private ways within this township this year; and that twelve pounds be raised to build a bridge over the river in the country road, where it runs through Nathaniel Fairfield's lot; and that Jacob Ensign, Eli Root, and Abner Dewey be a committee to procure the materials, inspect the work, and see it forthwith accomplished, and empowered to let said work out by the great, or employ the proprietors at day-labor; that nine pounds fifteen shillings be raised and allowed to Charles Goodrich, as it shall become due from him for his rates upon his settling lots, he building a good and sufficient bridge over the river, in the country road, near his house. He giving bond (according to his own proposal) to the Proprietors' clerk to finish it in two months from this day, and keep it in repair twenty years next ensuing; and that the builders of the South Bridge should be paid for it, at the rate of highway work, on condition that David Bush, to the Proprietors' clerk, gives bond to keep an open road, during their pleasure, two rods wide, from the highway or town-road down the river, where the path is now trod, two rods wide, to said bridge; and from the said bridge southerly, two rods wide, to the aforesd. road; and that the builders of the west bridge be paid at the same rate, upon condition Josiah Wright gives bond as aforesd. for free passage to and from it with horses, carriages, &c., during pleasure, in case it proves to stand on his lot.
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HISTORY OF PITTSFIELD.
" Voted: That £9. 1. 4. be now raised to pay Deacon Crowfoot for building the bridge over the river in his lot ; and that the assessors forthwith make a rate, including all the aforesd. grants of money ; and that the builders of the south and west bridges, as soon as may be, bring in their accounts to the assessors, or be excluded in this present assessment."
At this meeting, the first division of " all the public and private roads" into Highway-surveyors' districts was made, with the following bounds; and the surveyors, whose names are given, were assigned to them for the following year : -
No. 1. - From the west line of the township to the West River. Daniel Hubbard, surveyor.
No. 2 .- Between the East and West Rivers, including the two bridges, east and west. Sylvanus Piercey, surveyor.
No. 3. - All the roads east of the East River, and the county road. William Williams, surveyor.
The building of bridges, the re-arrangement of the roads, and the adjustment of taxes so that they might be conveniently paid in labor or material, occupied a very prominent place in the early plantation-meetings, even when compared with the large space which kindred subjects claim in the town-business of the present day.
While affairs at Poontoosuck were resuming the routine which the Indian mischief had so rudely interrupted, the conquest of Canada was finally accomplished; and when, soon afterwards, the storm of war ceased, the threatening cloud, which, through every former peace, had lowered along the northern horizon, was dissi- pated forever. In 1759-60, the omens were so auspicious that the most timorous and exposed settlers began to take heart for the future, and enter upon measures to repair their losses.
A very large proportion of the proprietors had kept their resi- dence more or less closely with the plantation through all its dangers; and some, if not the majority, had, in this perilous sojourning, the companionship of their wives. Others removed their families to the old Connecticut-Valley homes, and held themselves in readiness, either to serve in garrison at Poontoosuck, scout the neighboring forests, or join in the more distant and formal expeditions. Thus, it is narrated of Nathaniel Fairfield, that, on the first mischief by the Indians, he escorted his wife to Westfield, somewhat less leisurely than on their bridal tour they had come through the Green Woods, and, leaving her there,
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HISTORY OF PITTSFIELD.
served for six months in the army. At the expiration of that term he re-visited his clearing, and "found his cow and oxen safe, but grown so fat as to be unfit for use :" but let us hope par- ticularly nice eating for the gallant garrison.
The planters found the advantage of their persistent clinging to the place, in the comparatively slight deterioration of their farms; although some, and especially those in the western part of the plantation, suffered from the neglect compelled by their exposed location.
Those settlers who could cultivate their lands at all during the war may have found some compensation for the difficulties under which they labored, in the near and profitable market afforded by the army commissariat ; but whether this relief was experienced to any appreciable extent, we are unable to say. It is certain, that, if any losses were thus lightened, they were those which without this mitigation would have been least ruinous to the sufferers. The lands under the protection of the forts belonged to the wealthier planters. The diversion of their industry from the purposes upon which they intended to bestow it, and the idleness in which they were compelled to leave their capital, impoverished the settlers generally in proportion as their interests were confined to, and their capital invested in, Poontoosuck. But, upon the whole, the planta- tion was in a better condition than was to have been anticipated to resume its progress, and rapidly increase to proportions which would justify its incorporation as a town. Preliminary to that measure, however, and as a means of still further adding to the population, a new partition of the Commons, in place of that which had been annulled, became necessary,- a proceeding which was also demanded by the greatly increased number of the joint proprietors, several of whom were desirous of immediately en- joying their rights in severalty.
As early as June, 1743, Philip Livingston, in consideration of £3000, current money, sold his third of the Commons lands to Ephraim Williams, Esq., of Stockbridge, John Brewer of Town- ship No. 1 (Tyringham), near Stockbridge, Elisha Jones of Wes- ton, Israel Williams and Moses Graves of Hatfield. Jones im- mediately sold a quarter part of his purchase to Col. Oliver Part- ridge of Hatfield, and Rev. William Williams of Weston; and the latter, in 1756, "in consideration of love and affection," transferred his rights to his son Solomon, who, dying soon after, left them to
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HISTORY OF PITTSFIELD.
his brother, Col. William. Ephraim Williams, one of the founders of Stockbridge, died in 1754, leaving his Poontoosuck lands to his more distinguished son, the colonel' of the same name, who was killed the next year in battle. The lands in 1759 were in the hands of Cols. John Worthington and Israel Williams, as trustees for the legatees of Col. Williams; of which the chief was the free school, that, afterwards established at Williamstown, became Williams College.1
Col. Wendell had, as has been related, sold one-third of his in- terest - that is, one-ninth of the Commons -to Charles Goodrich.
Col. Stoddard dying in 1748, left issue, - Mary, Prudence, Solo- mon, Esther, and Israel, who, with their mother and guardian, Madame Prudence, inherited his property. The daughters had their portion of the estate assigned elsewhere: all the children, except Israel, had become of age in 1759. Only the widow and her sons received lands in the partition of the Poontoosuck Commons.
Capt. Brewer's right had been transferred to some of the other proprietors.2
Wendell, Jones, William Williams for his brother's heirs, and Graves, probably with the consent of their co-tenants, applied to the Superior Court, Hampshire September Term, 1759, for a com- mission of freeholders to make partition of the lands held in common at Poontoosuck; and the following gentlemen, having been accordingly appointed, took the qualifying oath previous to the 1st of January : Major John Ashley, Capt. Ebenezer Hitchcock, Capt. Nathaniel Dwight, John Chadbourne, and Daniel Brown. The warrant for division was dated - pro forma at Boston - Oct. 20, 1759. The Commissioners' Report, according to the plan
1 The Promised Land, described among the hills of Pittsfield, formed part of the allotment to the heirs of Col. Ephraim Williams in the partition of the Commons, as did also the beautiful place now known as "Onota,"- the noble grounds attached to the residence of Wm. C.Allen, Esq., on the south-eastern shore of the lake of that name.
2 The costs of partition, £70, were assessed one-third cach to Wendell and the heirs of Stoddard ; onc-ninth to Moses Graves ; one-twelfth to Charles Goodrich ; one-eighteenth to Elisha Jones ; onc-thirty-sixth to Col. Partridge ; and the same proportion to the heirs of Col. Ephraim and Dr. Solomon Williams, respectively. Probably Col. Wendell, in his sale to Goodrich, had agreed to pay the cost of partition ; and the amount assessed to the latter may have been upon an interest purchased by him of Brewer.
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HISTORY OF PITTSFIELD.
here given, was received at the Registry of Deeds in Springfield, Feb. 6, 1761; and recorded by Edward Pynchon, in Book 2, p. 510.
FRAMINGHAM
BISLD
34
35
36
37
38
40
41
POND 42
43
44
N
39
33
32
31
30
29
A
27
26
25
24
23
B
A
12
13
41
15
16
17
18
19
20
B 21
22
C
Bİ
A 10
9
8
7
6
5
4
D
G
F
A
B
1
48
47
46
45 33
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
70
69
68
67
66
65
64
63
62
61
60
| SOUTH POND/
PLAN OF 1759.
A Plan of the Township called Poontoosuck, in the County of Hampshire and Province of Massachusetts Bay; viz., of all the settling-lots, as they were sur- veyed by Capt. John Huston : and also a lands in said township were surveyed and bounded out by Nathaniel Dwight, in
of the year 1759, and as it was set out to each proprietor in Jannary, in the year 1760, with each proprietor's name set on his lot, with the number of the lot, and the number of acres therein contained, by John Ashley, Esq .; Capt. Eben Hitch- cock ; Nathaniel Dwight, Esq. ; John Chadwick ; and Daniel Brown, -a Committee appointed for that purpose by the Court of Assize, held at Springfield in Septem- ber last. Planned on a scale of one hundred and twenty perch in an inch.
Per Nathaniel Dwight, Surveyor.
Signed, NATHANIEL DWIGHT, by order of the Committee. Jan. 4, 1760.
[On the original plan, each square is marked with the name of the proprietor to whom it was assigned, the number of acres it contained, and the quality of the land. These particulars are transferred to the table below. Some other inscrip- tions, added by a later hand, are included in parentheses.]
---
A
B
D
3 E
2
11
WEST POND
SETLING LOTS ASTHEY WERE SET OUT BY CAPT HUSTON
71
1
28
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HISTORY OF PITTSFIELD.
Square No. 1 .- Mr. Charles Goodrich, 230 acres, 1 rod, 24 perch. 2d rate.
" No. 2. - Col. Elisha Joncs, 230 acres, 1 rod, 24 perch. 2d rate.
" No. 3. - [This square, and part of adjoining land, were subdivided, for reasons which are explained in the text. The subdivisions are indicated by letters.] A .- Col. Jones, 35 acres. B. - Col. Partridge, 19 acres. C. - Col. Eph. Williams's heirs, 21 acres.
D. - Goodrich, 31 acres. E. - Col. Wm. Williams, 25 acres, 2 rods. F. - Goodrich, 17 acres. G. - Wendell and Sol. Stoddard, 100 acres.
No. 4. - Charles Goodrich, 230 acres, 1 rod, 24 perch. 1st rate.
No. 5. - Col. Jacob Wendell, 230 acres, 1 rod, 24 perch. 1st rate. (Sold Dickinson.)
" No. 6. - Sol. Stoddard, 230 acres, 1 rod, 24 perch.
No. 7. - Ministry, 115 acres, no rods, 32 perch. Minister, 115 acres, no rods, 32 perch. 1st rate.
No. 8. - Col. Partridge, 230 acres, 1 rod, 24 perch. 1st rate.
No. 9. - Col. Jacob Wendell, 222 acres, 1 rod, 20 perch. 1st rate (I. W., -E. R.)
Col. Eph. Williams's heirs, 86 acres. Ist rate. No. 10. - A. - Mr. Israel Stoddard, 170 acres. 1st rate. B. - Mr. Sol. Stoddard, 60 acres, 1 rod, 24 perch. Ist rate.
No. 11. - Mr. Sol. Stoddard, 230 acres, 1 rod, 24 perch. 2d rate.
No. 12 .- Col. Jacob Wendell, 230 acres, 1 rod, 24 perch. 2d rate. (I. M. W .- O. W. x.)
No. 13. - Mrs. Prudence Stoddard, 230 acres, 1 rod, 24 perch. 1st rate.
" No. 14. - Sol. Stoddard, 230 acres, I rod, 24 perch. 1st rate.
" No. 15. - Col. Jacob Wendell, 199 acres, excluding pond. 3d rate. (J. W.)
No. 16. - Col. Jacob Wendell, 230 acres, 1 rod, 24 perch. 1st rate. (Hn. W. - O. W. x.)
No. 17. - Col. Elisha Jones, 230 acres, 1 rod, 24 perch. Ist rate.
No. 18. - Col. Jacob Wendell, 230 acres, I rod, 24 perch. Ist rate. (Sold Easton x.)
No. 19. - Israel Stoddard, 230 acres, 1 rod, 24 perch. Ist rate. No. 20. - Lient. Moses Graves, 230 acres, I rod, 24 perch. 1st rate.
No. 21. - A. - Mrs. Prudence Stoddard, 85 acres, no rods, 35 perch. B. - Sol. Stoddard, 85 acres, no rods, 35 perch. C. - Lient. Moses Graves, 66 acres.
No. 22. - Sol. Stoddard, 230 acres, 1 rod, 24 perch. 2d rate. No. 23. - Col. Stoddard, 242 acres, 1 rod, 24 perch. Ist rate.
No. 24. - Mrs. Prudence Stoddard, 242 acres, I rod, 24 perch. 3d rate. No. 25. - Prudence Stoddard, 242 acres, 1 rod, 24 perch.
No. 26. - Col. Jacob Wendell, 242 acres, 1 rod, 24 perch. 1st rate. (O. W. cleared 60 acres.)
" No. 27. - Prudence Stoddard, 242 acres, 1 rod, 24 perch.
127
HISTORY OF PITTSFIELD.
Square No. 28. - 1st rate. A. - Licut. Moses Graves, 310 acres, 2 rods, 21 perch. B. - Col. Elisha Jones, 103 acres, 2 rods, 21 pereh.
" No. 29. - Col. Jacob Wendell, 242 aeres, 1 rod, 24 perch. 2d rate. (H. N. W .- O. W. x.)
No. 30. - Lieut. Moses Graves, 282 aeres, 3 rods, no pereh. 2d rate. No. 31. - Col. Jacob Wendell, 242 aeres, 1 rod, 24 perch. Ist rate. (J. W. M. P.)
" No. 32. - Col. Jacob Wendell, 242 acres, 1 rod, 24 perch. 2d rate. (J. W. J. W., Jr's, heirs.)
No. 33 - Col. Wendell, 223 acres, 2 rods 25 pereh. 3d rate.
(J. W. A. & S. W .- m 6-100.)
" No. 34. - 3d rate. A. - Col. Partridge, 23 acres. B. - Lieut. Graves, 62 aeres. C .- Col. Eph. Williams's heirs, 119 aeres, 2 rods, no perch.
" No. 35. - Lieut. Moses Graves, 254 aeres. 3d rate. No. 36. - Mrs. Prudence Stoddard, 254 acres. 2d rate. (Janes & Brown.)
No. 37. - Col. Jacob Wendell, 296 aeres, 3 rods, no pereh. 2d rate. (J. W. - A. & S. W.)
No. 38. - Mrs. P. Stoddard, 251 aeres. 2d rate. No. 39. - Col. Win. Williams, 103 acres, 2 rods, 21 perch. Ist rate.
No. 40. - Wm. Williams, 248 acres. Ist rate.
No. 41. - 2d rate. A. - Sol. Stoddard, 90 aeres. B. - Col. Wendell, 163 acres.
(E. M. W. O. W. x.)
No. 42. - 2d rate. A. - Partridge, 207 aeres. B. - Col. Jones, 26'aeres.
No. 43. - School-land, 262 aeres, 3 rods, no perch. 3d rate.
No. 44. - 3d rate. A. - Ministry, 112 acres, no rods, 8 perch. B. - Minister's Lot, 151 acres, 2 rods, 8 perch.
No. 45. - Mr. Charles Goodrich, 150 acres. 1st rate. No. 46. - Mr. Israel Stoddard, 240 acres. 1st rate.
No. 47. - Mr. Sol. Stoddard, 240 acres. 1st rate.
No. 48. - Licut. Moses Graves, 240 acres. Ist rate.
No. 49. - Mr. Charles Goodrich, 230 aeres, I rod, 24 perch. 2d rate.
No. 50. - Col. Jacob Wendell, 230 aeres, 1 rod, 24 pereh. 1st rate. (Sold x.)
No. 51. - Lieut. Moses Graves, 230 aeres, 1 rod, 24 pereh. Ist rate. No. 52. - The heirs of Col. Eph. Williams, 239 aeres, 2 rods, no perch. Ist rate.
No. 53 .- Col. Jacob Wendell, 230 acres, 1 rod, 24 perch. 2d rate. (Sold.)
No. 54. - Col. Jacob Wendell, 230 aeres, 1 rod, 24 perch. 3d rate. (I. M. W .- O. W. x.)
No. 55. - Col. Elisha Jones, 230 acres, 1 rod, 24 perch. 2d rate.
No. 56. - Col. Jacob Wendell, 230 acres, 1 rod, 24 perch. 1st rate. (I. M. W .- O. W. x.)
128
HISTORY OF PITTSFIELD.
Square No. 57. - Col. Jacob Wendell, 230 acres, I rod, 24 perch. 1st rate.
[N. B. - Across lots 56 and 57 is the following : " Col. Wen-
dell's meadow included in these two lots, chiefly valuable."]
No. 58 .- Mr. Sol. Stoddard, 230 acres, 1 rod, 24 perch. 2d rate.
No. 59. - Gol. Jacob Wendell, 230 acres, I rod, 24 perch. 2d rate. (I. M. W .- O. W. x.)
No. 60. - Col. Jacob Wendell, 298 acres, 3 rods, 8 perch. 2d rate. (J. W. - S. H.)
No. 61. - Mr. Sol. Stoddard, 298 acres, 3 rods, 8 perch. 3d rate.
No. 62. - Col. Jacob Wendell, 298 acres, 3 rods, 8 perch Some meadow
in this lot. Ist rate. (J. W.)
" No. 63. - Mr. Israel Stoddard, 298 acres, 3 rods, 8 perch. It is meadow included. Ist rate.
" No. 64. - 1st rate. A .- Mr. Charles Goodrich, 248 acres, 2 rods, 32 perch.
B. - Lieut. Graves, 49 acres, 1 rod, 11 perch.
No. 65. - Mr. Israel Stoddard, 298 acres, 3 rods, 8 perch. 2d rate.
No. 66. - Mrs. Prudence Stoddard, 298 acres, 3 rods, 8 perch. 3d rate.
No. 67. - Licut. Moses Graves, 311 aeres, 2 rods, no perch. 2d rate.
No. 68. - Col. Jacob Wendell, 298 acres, 3 rods, 8 perch. Ist rate. No. 69. - Col. Jacob Wendell, 272 acres, 1 rod, 24 perch. 2d rate. (I. M. W. O. x. - Sold part.)
No. 70. - Mr. Sol. Stoddard, 287 acres, 3 rods, 24 perch. Ist rate.
The mode of division adopted, which was much more likely to secure an equitable result than that followed in 1752, was this : Nathaniel Dwight, the professional surveyor to the commission, first divided the land into "squares," generally of from two hun- dred and thirty to three hundred and twenty-six acres in extent, although some, either from the encroachments of the lakes, or as make-weights, were much smaller. The squares were then classi- fied in regard to their arable qualities, as first, second, and third rate. The three sixty-third parts reserved in the patent of the township for the first settled minister, and for the perpetual support of the schools and of the ministry, were then set off; and the com- missioners proceeded to apportion the remaining lands to the several proprietors, square by square, in proportion to their in- terests. Either by previous agreement, or by courtesy, the spots upon which some of the proprietors had made improvements were included in their allotments ; and no dissatisfaction appears to have arisen with the report of the commissioners.
Among the more noticeable allotments, Col. Wendell received the squares which contained the valuable Canoe Meadows, and the fine knoll upon which his grandson, Oliver Wendell Holmes, built his villa. Col. Williams got one hundred thirty-two acres on the
129
HISTORY OF PITTSFIELD.
south, and two hundred and forty-eight upon the west shores of Poontoosuck Lake; of which he boasted a few years later, as the finest pieces of pine-land in all this region, and "certain always to supply New Framingham (Lanesborough), as that place was entirely destitute of this tree." The beautiful rural cemetery of Pittsfield occupies the larger portion of two semi-squares, of about one hundred and fifteen acres each, which fell to the minister and the "ministry;" the former getting the oblong upon Wahconah Street, the latter that upon Onota.
The Commons lands, now no longer Commons, were thus opened for settlement; and population soon began to extend to them.
9
CHAPTER VII.
PITTSFIELD INCORPORATED.
[1761-1774.]
Towns receive Names from the Governor. - Berkshire County erected. - First Pittsfield Town-Meeting. - Town-Officers. -- Highways and Schools. - Pau- perism. - Slavery. - Crimes and Misdemeanors. - Cattle restrained. - Wolves. - Anecdote of Mrs. Janes. - Grist-Mills, Saw-Mills, Fulling-Mills, and Malt-House. - Growth of the Settlement. - Col. Williams's House and Gar- den. - Other Dwellings. - Early Settlers' Names. - Condition and Prospects of the Town. - Taxation of Non-resident Proprietors.
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