USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Wilbraham > The history of Wilbraham, Massachusetts; > Part 4
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
tlers in the south part of the Outward Commons previous to 1741. "Few and scattered as the inhabitants were, they were not indifferent to the education of their children. As early as 1737 the town of Springfield appropriated three pounds for the support of a school in the "outward commons on the east side." The Stebbins History says, "there were then, as nearly as I can ascertain, but eleven families." The same amount was appropriated the following year. "In 1739, the sum was increased to four pounds, and in 1740 to six pounds." "The Testament was the text-book in schools, as well as the oracle in the church. Dilworth's spelling-book was the guide in spell- ing." Of geography nothing was taught; of arithmetic but little. Writing received more attention, but the means of education were very scant at the best. During the first ten years, 1731 to January 1, 1741, there were thirty-eight children born. The first one recorded is "Comfort Warner, daughter of Daniel Warner and Jerusha Warner, his wife, was born Mar. 15, 1734." The first death recorded is that of "David Jones, son of David and Hannah Jones died Aug. 19, 1736. Burried at Springfield." Dr. Merrick says in his address, that the father did not want his child to be the first tenant of the Burying Ground. Two other deaths occurred before 1741, and both were interred at Springfield. The first tenant of the Burying Ground, now called Deacon Adams Cemetery, was "Widow Elizabeth Cockril who Dyed Apr. 26th 1741. She was the first person yt was Bured in ye mountains." Dr. Merrick says of this incident: "In April 1741, Elizabeth Cockrel of Boston on a visit to her sister, who was Samuel Warner's wife, sickened and died here. Mr. Warner buried her here, and though he was not a stone man (stone cutter) he got two flat stones and engraved her name, the time of her death, and that it was the first grave. Though I knew of the stones, they were so covered with moss that they could not be read. I got the moss scraped off and pointed (?) so that now it is legible."
The stones are in the southeast quarter of the old burying ground, and are lettered as follows:
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
E. C. IS
the FIRST
THAT IS
LAId HEAR
HeAr Lys the
Body OF ELisAb
eth Cock ril Wo
Dyed April ye 26
1741 EAG 39
"Those early pioneers were hardy and industrious, and prosperity, such as they sought, as bounteous as they expected, was their reward; and eminently was fulfilled to every house- holder the promise of the Psalmist, 'Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house; thy children like olive- plants round about thy table.'
"Such was the condition of the settlement in the 'outward commons' at the close of ten years. Twenty-four families, or twenty-six, scattered over a territory of about four miles square, possessing only the barest comforts of life, include all the popu- lation. Most of their houses were probably framed, the saw- mill at Sixteen Acres supplying sawed lumber, but they were poorly finished, scantily glazed, and meagerly furnished, and rarely even plastered. Their fields were still narrow, and but insecurely fenced. The wild animals shared their scant harvest. They were far from store and mill. They had no roads for wheel-carriages, nor any conveyances of this kind, even if there had been roads.
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
"They were religious men and women; and the way was long and difficult to the first parish meeting-house. The sun smote them in summer, snow and ice blocked their path in winter. When the Sunday morning came, some on horseback, their wives on the pillions behind, and the baby on the pommel before, and some on foot, started in the early morning for the meeting- house, nine miles away, by way of Pole Bridge Brook, over Stony Hill, along the Usquaick, or Mill River, at Sixteen Acres, and entering the Bay Road near Goose Pond" (now Win- chester Park). "The young men and maidens, for reasons easily divined, preferred to walk even when there was no neces- sity; and it is reported, not slanderously it is to be presumed, that the way seemed all too short to Zion, and all the more lovely because so few went up to her solemn feasts."
On a Sabbath morning in winter, in that long ago, it is told how a certain Miss Peggy, clad in her "Sabba day" fixings and finery, mounted her horse and started for the distant sanctuary, passing along the highway which leads off to the westward from our West Street about midway between Springfield Street and Ludlow village. While crossing a shallow marsh, over which the trail led, the thin ice broke under the combined weight and the horse, the fixings, the finery, and-Miss Peggy, were all dipped in the freezing water. The place has since been known as "Peggy's Dipping Hole." The marsh, of some four or five acres, was drained about thirty-five years ago, and nowadays, in the good old summer time, the clatter of the mowing machine is heard, where then the screams of Miss Peggy resounded. For, of course, she must have screamed, when she saw that all of her fixings and finery were ruined.
The way to Zion, by way of Springfield, seemed long and difficult, and the elders wearied of the way. "The briers were sharp, the swamps were miry, the fords insecure, the storms were drenching. Their souls longed for the courts of the Lord. They had enjoyed the blessing of the preached word in their homes on a few occasions, and it was pleasant to their souls. They cherished tenderly, yet timidly, the desire to establish the 'means of grace' in their own settlement." They talked over the subject in their families, and when they met by the way.
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
"At last, Hitchcock and Warriner and Bliss and Burt and Brewer and Stebbins, and the rest, met, we may suppose, at Merrick's house, in the midst of winter, and talked the matter over, before the great fireplace. They are few, they are poor; they are not famous. But they loved the sanctuary and the ordinances of religion. They have faith in endeavor. They resolve to try the heart of the bretheren in the first parish, at Springfield Street, and of Longmeadow, incorporated as a pre- cinct in 1713, and see if they would consent to their being set off as a separate precinct, and aid their petition to the provincial government to that end, so that there may no longer be a 'dearth of the word of the Lord' on the 'Moun- tains.' "
Their petition was favorably received by Longmeadow, and it was voted, March 10, 1740, that "the outward com- mons of Springfield, be set off for the benefit of the gospel ministry."
The first precinct passed a similar vote March 21. The "Outward Commoners" take courage, draw up a paper em- powering their agents, and certifying to their authority and responsibility, and send up their petition, signed in their behalf by Thomas Merrick 2d, and Abel Bliss.
The following is the appointment of "Thomas Merrick 2d and Abel Bliss to Prefer a Petition to the General Court to be set off as a Precinct."
"We the Subscribers who are settlers on the Lands Called the Outward Commons Dwelling Some in the Second and Some in the Third Divisions of the Said Comons In Springfield on the East Side of Connecticutt River do Hereby appoint and Im- power Thomas Mirick 2d & Abel Bliss Settlers on the said Place to Prefer a Petition to the next General Court that we with our Lands and theirs together with all the Lands within Said Divisions being In the whole in length Eight Miles and in weadth four Miles May be Set off a Separate and Distinct Precinct and that all the Lands Lying in said Divisions may be taxed at Such Rate as the General Court shall think Proper the better to Enable them to Settle a Minister Build a Meeting
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
House and other Publick charges that so we may be Enabled to Maintain the Gospel among us.
Witness our Hands May 7th 1740.
Joseph Sikes
David Mirick
Daniel Lamb
David Warriner
Daniel Parsons
David Jones
Benjamin Wright
Isaac Brewer
Henry Wright
Samuel Warner 2ª
Thomas Glover
Aaron Parsons
Cornelius Weeb
Nathaniel Hitchcock
Daniel Warner
Nathaniel Warriner
Moses Bartlett
Nathaniel Bliss 2ª
Noah Alvord
Benjamin Warriner
Samuel Stebbins Jr.
Samuel Bartlit
David Chapin Jr.
Moses Burt."
"There are twenty-four of these subscribers. Adding the names of Thomas Mirick 2ª and Abel Bliss, (committee) signed to the Petition, the whole number is twenty-six." These names differ from those given in Dr. Merrick's address. The Stebbins History says they were copied from the Records of the General Court in the office of the Secretary of State.
The Petition of Thomas Mirick 2ª, and Abel Bliss is as follows:
"To his Excellency Jonathan Belcher Esq. Captain General and Governour in Chief in and over His Majestys Province of the Massachusetts Bay To the hon-oble His Majestys Council and House of Representatives in General Court assembled at Boston May A. D. 1740.
"The Petition of Abel Bliss and Thomas Mirick second for themselves and the rest of the Inhabitants settled at the mountains So called at the east side of the great river in Spring- field on the land called the Outward Commons, being the second and third divisions of said Commons-
"Humbly Sheweth that your Pet's live nine miles from the said Town of Springfield, which distance makes it very incon- venient for them to attend Publick Worship of God especially, in the winter season, that they cant attend the Service and Duties of Gods House as they ought, by reason of the badness
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
of the weather, which makes the roads very bad and renders them almost impossible to travel in,-
"That the land lying in the Second and Third Divisions of the Sd outward commons being in length north and South eight miles and east and west four miles are very convenient and Commodious for a Precinct which your petrs are very desirous of, for the building of a meeting house for the Public worship of God in the said Precinct that so they may attend the Dutys and Service of God's House seasonably and constantly as they ought to do.
"And your Petrs would suggest to your Excellency and Honours That the first Parish and Longmeadow Parish in Sd Springfield whereto they belong voted their consent that your Petrs should be set off a separate Precinct from the said Parishes.
"And therefore your Petrs humbly pray that your Excellency and Honours would be pleased to set them off and also to set off all those Lands which lye in the Second and Third Divisions of the said outward Commons being in length north and south eight miles, and east and west four miles a Separate Precinct, and grant unto them all such powers and libertys priviledges and Immunitys as other Precincts have and enjoy with and under such restrictions and limitations as your Excellency and Honours shall deem meet; and that all the lands lying within the limits aforesaid may be taxed further to enable your Petrs to settle a minister &c for such term of time, and at such rate as your Excellency and Honours shall think proper.
"And your Petrs (as in Duty bound) shall ever pray.
Thomas Mirick 2d Abel Bliss."
Thus pathetically and hopefully did they send up their prayer to those in authority.
Their petition was received by the House of Representatives, June 26, 1740, and it was "Ordered that the petitioners serve the non-resident proprietors of land with a copy of this Petition, by posting the same at the town-house in Springfield, and by inserting it in one of the Public Newspapers, that they may show cause (if any they have) on the first Tuesday of the next session of this Court, why the Prayer thereof should not be
1128691
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
granted." The petition was concurred in by the council, and on the next day, June 27, it was consented to by the governor.
At the next session, January 2, 1741, the petition was taken up by the House "and it appearing that the non-resident Pro- prietors have been sufficiently notified, but no answer given in, Ordered that the Prayers of the Petition be so far granted as that the Petitioners Together with all the lands petitioned for lying southward of the River called Chicuepe River running Easterly and Westerly through the said Second Division of said Commons be erected into a Separate and distinct Precinct and that they be vested with all the Powers liberties Privilidges and immunities as other Precincts hold and Enjoy and that all the lands Petitioned lying Southward of the River as aforesaid be subjected to a tax of two pence old tenor Bills pr acre pr annum for the space of Four years Next Coming the money arising thereby to be applyed for the building of a Meeting house Settlement and support of the Ministry among them." This Order was concurred in by the council January 5, and was consented to on January 6, 1741, by Jonathan Belcher, Gov- ernor, and the "Outward Commons on the East Side of the Great River," or "Mountanes of Springfield," became the "fourth precinct of Springfield."
"There was joy in those households when the success of their petition was known, and more than one man called upon his neighbor to bless the Lord for his kindness to them.
"The ax was plied more vigorously, and the winter fires burned more cheerily because the ark of the Lord was to be set up among them."
On January 3, 1739, Springfield "Granted to ye People of ye mountains for ye procuring preaching 10 Sabbaths Twenty shillings pr Sabbath provided they do not exceed Teen Sab- baths." On December 12, 1739, and on December 9, 1740, twenty shillings per Sabbath were granted for each Sabbath, provided they do not exceed twelve Sabbaths, to be paid to David Mirick as it becomes due.
"For three winters, therefore, our fathers were saved the
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
painful journey, in cold and snow, of nine miles, to hear preach- ing." If there is any record of who preached for them, the papers of David Mirick must contain it. (Some of those papers are now in the possession of Mrs. Myron Bruuer.)
The first warrant for a precinct meeting was issued February 13, 1741, by Wm. Pynchon Esq., "one of his Majastes Justeses of the Peace for Hampshire County," to Mr. Nathaniel War- riner, "upon application made by Nathaniel Bliss 2d, Sam' Stebbins Junr., Samuel Warner 2ª, Noah Alvard and Nathaniel Warriner," requiring him "to Notifie the Freeholders and other inhabitants of said Precinct Qualified to voat in town affairs, that they meet and assemble togeather att the Dwelling House of David Mirick in said Precinct on the second Thursday [the 12th day] of March next att one o clock afternoon."
The meeting was held at the place specified, and was organized by the choice of "William Pynchon Esq. Moderator. David Mirick was chosen Clerk and sworn. Thomas Mirick 2ª, Isaac Brewer, Nathaniel Warriner, Committee of the Precinct for the year ensuing. Isaac Brewer, Treasurer, sworn; David Mirick, Thomas Mirick 2ª, Samuel Stebbins, chosen Assessors, sworn. Nathaniel Warriner, chosen Collector, sworn." Thus the precinct was organized, and it is voted, that "the annual meeting for the choice of precinct officers shall be ye second Wednesday of March annually."
Six different meetings are held before the first day of June, to agree upon a minister and arrange his settlement and salary; for it was customary at that time to pay a considerable sum to a minister, at the commencement of his ministry, called a "settlement," in addition to his annual salary. At the first meeting, held at the dwelling-house of Isaac Brewer, March 25, 1741, called, among other things, to see "wheather they will give the worthy Mr. Noah Mirick a call in order to settle in the work of the ministry in case they have the advice of the neigh- boring ministers," they chose Joseph Wright and Daniel Warner a committee "to make application to three neighboring ministers in behalf of said precinct for advice who to settle in the work of the ministry," and pending the procurement of this
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
advice they voted "to hier Mr. Noah Mirick to Preach the word of God to them three Sabbaths beginning the first Sabbath in April next ensuing." Mr. Mirick had been preaching to them previously, as appears by subsequent votes, and had preached in all twenty Sundays before his ordination.
They also direct their committee to "further pursue and execute a Deed that is Given of the Land called the Overplus Land given to the first settled Orthodox minister of this Pre- cinct." This overplus land, it will be remembered, consisted of two lots four miles long from east to west, the one on the south side of the Second Division being eighty-two rods wide, and the only one probably which was deeded to the first minister, the one on the south side of the third Division being sixty-two rods wide. This land was owned by the heirs of the one hundred and twenty-five original proprietors. Phineas Chapin and Samuel Warner, the committee, have no small labor committed to them to hunt up these heirs and obtain their signatures to the deed of conveyance.
The following is a copy of the Deed of the overplus land of the second division in the Outward Commons. Recorded in Book U, page 96, Registry of Deeds, Hampden County.
"To all People to whom These presents shall come Greeting. Whereas There is a Tract of Land lying and being in the Town- ship of Springfield in the County of Hampshire and province of the Massachusetts Bay in new England In the second or Middle Division of the outward Commons so Called on the East side of Connecticut River being in length about four Miles and in Breadth about Sixty rods lying on the Sowarly side of the said Middle Division and adjoyning to the third or lower Division of said Commons Called overplus land which has not as yet been Divided and alloted to the Proprietors or owners of the Same but lyes Common. And Whereas there is about or Near Twenty Families already settled on the said Commons southward of Chickabee River, and tis probable that in some short time they may be set off a separate and Distinct Precinct. And in Order to Encourage the same and Especially for the Encouragement of the first settled and Orthodox Minister there when they shall be set off a Precinct. We the Subscribers whose hands and seals are hereto affixed
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
some of the owners and Proprietors of the Said Tract of Land called overplus land as aforesaid being in Breadth about Sixty rods as aforesaid and in Length Four Miles. For the Encour- agement of the First Minister of the Gospel that shall be Ordained and Settled at the said place when they shall be set of a seperate and Distinct Precinct. Do hereby Give Grant Pass over Convey & Confirm to the First Orthodox Ordained Minister of the Gospel that shall be there Ordained and Settled among the People of that place all such Right Estate Title Interest proportion and Dividend of Land whatsoever which we and Each of us Have of in and to the said overplus Land Described as aforesaid. To be holden by him his Heirs and assigns to his and their own use benefit & benefit and behoof forever. So that we the Subscribers our Heirs and assigns from all Right Title to and Interest in the Premises by Means hereof shall be Secluded and forever Debarred, Saving only That we Reserve Necessary Highways through the same, as also so Much of the said Land as shall be suitable for the Place- ing a Meeting House on and for a Burying Yard. This Deed not to Take Effect Except the Major part of the Proprietors in the sd overplus land sign this Deed or at Least so many sign as to convey the Major part of it:
"In Testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands and affixed our Seals this Twenty Second Day Februry an. no: Dom: 1739/40. In the Thirteenth year of his Majesties Reighn George ye 2ª King &c-
Signed sealed and Delivered in Presence of
The first nine signed in pres- ence of us Luke Bliss Charles Brewer.
The Eight following the first nine signed in presence of us Noah Hale Benjamin Woolcott
John Pynchon and seal
John Burt and seal
Sam11 Leonard and seal
James Warriner and seal
Henry Burt and seal
David Mirick and seal
Nath11 Warriner and seal Nathaniel Hitchcock and seal
John Mun and seal
Nathaniel Bliss and seal"
Seventy-five different persons signed the Deed, and sixty- four of them appeared, at seven different times, before Charles Pynchon, Justice of the Peace, and acknowledged the same, and also on two occasions, before Wm. Pynchon, Justice of the Peace, for the same purpose. Several of the signers died with-
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
out acknowledging it, and, at different sessions of the Court, two persons would testify that they were present and saw the deccascd person sign the Deed. All of which is recorded with the instrument.
It will be remembered that Samuel Warner was one of the committee, chosen by the precinct, "to further pursue and execute a Deed that is Given of the Land called the Overplus Land" etc .- , and that they "shall hier a Justice Peace to take acknowledgements of the same att the Charge of the Precinct."
In connection with this subject, I have found among the papers, left by Samuel Warner, the following:
"1745, Dec. 16. Resaight
Recd of Samuel Warner 20 shillings old tent in full for taking sundry acknowledgements of a Deed made to Mr. Mirick Joseph Pynchon"
On the 17th of April, 1741, without waiting for the "advice of three neighboring ministers," they "unanimously voated a Call or Desire that the Worthy Mr. Noah Mirick should settle with" them "in the work of the Ministry;" They also chose Aaron Stebbins to assist Chapin and Warner in getting "More Signers to a Deed of the overplus Land and get the same acknolidged;" and to "hier Mr. Mirick Four Sabbaths more, if he Give encouragement to settle." The meeting was adjourned to the 24th of April, and at that meeting they chose a com- mittee of five to "State, Regulate and Draw up a scheem Relating to the Encouragement of Mr. Mirick's settling with them in the work of the ministry."
The importance of securing a deed of the "Overplus Land" is indicated by their voting that their committee on that sub- ject, "shall hier a Justice Peace to take acknowledgments of the same att the Charge of the Precinct." They then adjourn to the "Eleventh Day of May next." At this May meeting the committee chosen to "Regulate a salary to ofer to Mr. Mirick" make their report. They state that they have taken the matter into serious consideration, and that they find "the money or Coin in this Province is so variable and uncertain as
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
to its value in Proportion with other commodaties that they can't think it a medium whereby the salary can be settled or ascertained with any safety or security either to the Minister or People." "Wherefore," they continue, "we have considered the value or Currant Market Price of the several Commodaties hereafter mentioned, Viz: Indian Corn att 6s. per booshel; Wheat, 11s. per booshel; Rie, 8s. 6d. per booshel; Barley, 8s. per booshel; Oats, 4s. per booshel; Flax, from ye swingle, 1s. 6d. per pound; Beaf, 5d. per pound." They further recom- mend "that Mr. Mirick be Elowed either money for his salary Bills or other Commodaties or Considerations Equal to One Hundred Pound a year for the first four years of his being settled and after the fourth year to Rise five Pounds a year till his sallary amount to one Hundred and forty Pound per annum in the Currancy above said so long as he continue to be their minister." They further recommend that a committee shall annually agree with the minister upon price, "before the meet- ing for Granting Precinct Charges," so that "the sum shall be Equal in value as above specified, and "that the whole of the salary be paid in by the Last Day of March Annually." They also suggest "that for his further encouragement he have the improvement of that part of the Ministry Land that will fall to the Ministry of this Precinct."
They also estimate, "by a moderate computation," that the "Overplus Land," of which they are obtaining a deed for the minister, is "worth three Hundred Pounds," which is consid- ered, as it was, a generous settlement. They conclude their report in the following words: "and for the further encourage- ment of Mr. Mirick's settling with us, it is Proposed that we Cut and Boat of a sufficient Quantity of Rainging Timber for a Dwelling House for him and convey the same to the Place where he shall Determine to Erect said Building." Such is the offer which these twenty-two or twenty-four landholders make to the "worthy Mr. Mirick to settle" with them in the ministry. The meeting "voated that the same be Excepted, Granted and Elowed in the value maner and Proportion, as it is expressed and set forth in the Report." They choose a com-
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
mittee to "wait upon Mr. Noah Mirick with a Copy of said Report and the aforcsaid voat for his Answer," and adjourn to the "Eighteenth Day" of the month, seven days, to give Mr. Merrick time to consider the conditions and prepare his answer.
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