USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Wilbraham > The history of Wilbraham, Massachusetts; > Part 7
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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
At later "seatings," after giving the names of the men for each pew, the report reads "and their wives with them."
The first Seating of the Meeting House that was recorded:
1760
"We the Subscribers being Chosen a Committee at a Meeting in the Fourth Precinct in Springfield Held Jan 1st 1760 To Seat The Meeting House in Sd Precinct and to make Return of our Doings at ye Adjournment of Said Meeting ye 22d of Sd Janu Instant-We according mett and Seated ye fore Sd House In the manner Following, and now Offer it to your Consideration for acceptance-Viz-
In the Fore Seat of the Body Lt Paul Langdon Thos Glover- Isaac Colton Benjn Warriner Simeon Willard John Jones: Noah Alvard & The Widw. Mercy Bartlett the oposite Side-
In The Second Seat- John Steel Ezekiel Russell-and Jabes Hendrick
In the Pew No. 1st- Nath1 Hitchcock & Nath1 Bliss
In the Pew No. 3d- John Hitchcock Ltt Henry Chapin Abner Chapin & Lewis Langdon.
In the Pew No. 14th- Saml Bartlet Benoni Atchason Henry Badger & Willm Stacey
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
In the Pew No. 4- Paul Langdon John Bliss and the Widw Hannah Skinner
In the Pew No. 13th- Moses Colton & Ezra Barker -
In the Pew No. 2d- Decn Nath1 Warriners Wife Decn Sam1 Days Wife, The Widow Mary Mirick-
In the Pew No. 20th- Ltt Thos. Mirick Ensn Abel Bliss and Sergt Moses Burt-
In the Pew No. 19th- Dan1 Warner Moses Warriner and Sergt Dan1 Cadwell-
In the Pew No. 8th- Sergt Wm King Stephen Stebbins Caleb Stebbins & Dan1 Lamb.
In the Pew No. 9- Sam1 Warner Moses Bartlet Jonth Ely & Isaac Brewer
In the Pew No. 21st Benjn Skinner John Langdon Philip Lyon & Hannah Langdon
In the Pew No. 18th -- James Twing Benjn Warriner Junr and Stephen Bliss-
In the Pew No. 5th- Sam1 Warriner Dan1 Cadwell Junr and The Widw Sarah Warriner
In the Pew No. 12- Nath1 Hitchcock Junr Moses Alvard and Timothy Wright-
In the Pew No. 22d- Noah Bowker Henry Wright- and Sam1 Warner Junt --
In the Pew No. 23d -- Sergt Aaron Stebbins Aaron Steb- bins and James Warriner.
In the Pew No. 16th David Warriner Joseph Sikes and Moses Stebbins
In the Pew No. 6th Stephen Colton Silas Hitchcock and Isaac Osborn :-
In the Fore Seat in the Front Jesse Warner Timo. Mirick Mathew Cadwell Phineas Stebbins Abel Bliss Moses Burt Junr & Enos Stebbins-
In the Fore Seat in ye Upper Tr Elijah Wright Joel Atchason Benoni Atchason Thos. Jones Nath1 Bliss Junr Caleb Stebbins Junr and Zadock Stebbins-
In the Pew No. 17th- Oliver Bliss Aaron Bliss: and Comfort Chafie-
In the Pew No. 11- Aaron Alvard Reuben Webb- Noah Lamb Eldad Stebbins Joel Bliss Ebenr. Cadwell and Aaron Warriner.
Fore Seat Middle Tear Eunice Warriner-Roda- Warner-Esther Day- Miriam Bartlet- Jemima Bliss-and Elisabeth Badger-
Second Seat in the Front Eunice Cadwell Eunice Mirick Elizabeth Warner Eunice Steb- bins Esther Ely Eunice Stebbins & Lois Mirick
In ye fore Seat in ye Middle Tear Jacob Warriner Israel Warriner David Warriner Junr Isaac Brewer Junr. Moses Warriner Zenas Jones Moses Bartlet Junr. & Wm King Junr.
In the Second Seat in the Front Sam1 Day Junr. Silas Bliss :- Joseph Sikes & Willm Barnes
Female Side Fore Seat Front Martha Day Orpha Day- Ann Cadwell Mary Mirick Phebe Willard & Sarah Lamb-
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
Fore Seat in the Upper Qr Tabitha Day Dorcas Frost Elisabeth Alvard Mary Warner Ruth Stebbins Elisabeth Brooks Eunice Brewer Hannah Colton-
Second Seat Upper Quarter Ann Badger Mercy Atchason Rebecka Stebbins and Martha Lamb -
Signd-by-us-
Samuel Day
Nath1 Warriner
Thos Mirick
Dan1 Warner
Dan1 Cadwell
Commtee"
Stephen Stebbins
Jonathan Ely
Aaron Stebbins
Willm King
This "seating" was so unsatisfactory that another committee of nine was chosen, about three months later, "to "seat" the meeting house anew."
On March 24, 1761, the precinct "Voted that the present owners of the first Tear of Pews in the Body of the Meeting House alter the place of their Pew Doors of their Respective Pews at their own Cost if they please." Of the record of the "seating" of the meeting house in 1760, the Stebbins history says: "There are seventy-three men and six widows named, who are presumed to be heads of families, and who occupy pews and seats on the lower floor. Of these, twenty one are from what is now the South Parish." [Now Hampden] "In the galleries there are seated twenty six young men and thirty one young women, fifty seven in all. We shall not be far from the truth, therefore, if we estimate the whole population of the precinct at this time at three hundred and fifty per- sons."
Another very important subject, and difficult to manage, was the disposal which should be made of both the "Ministry Lot" and the Overplus Land, a part of which, that the south side of the Middle Division, on which the Rev. Mr. Merrick's house stood, had been sold, or set to him, as the settlement accorded to the first settled minister of the precinct; but that on the south side of the Third Division, where the Langdons had settled, was still the common property of all the pro- prietors, and of course in part that of the precinct, as the "Ministry Lot" was by supposition a proprietor. As there were two "Ministry Lots" within the bounds of the precinct,- the one in the Middle or Second Division, No. 38, running across
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
the precinct from east to west, and about one-half mile south of the Chicopee River, on our Main Street, and the other, No. 64, about one mile south of the present south line of our town. As these "lots" were the common property of the town of Springfield, and hence of the other precincts, Springfield, West Springfield, and Longmeadow, each had a right to a propor- tionate share of their value, it was no easy task to satisfy, in any considerable degree, any of the parties.
At last, however, this was arranged, after repeated con- ferences of committees and years of discussion and concession. When the precinct was incorporated as a town, the two ministry and school lots in the precinct were set to the town of Wilbra- ham, so that the interests of the other precincts in them were ended. The income of the money obtained from the sale of these "ministry lots," is part of the fund for the support of the ministry which the two original church societies of the "stand- ing order" now have.
By repeated conferences and compromises, the claims of Rev. Mr. Merrick to all the "Overplus Land of the Middle or Second Division, about six hundred and fifty acres, were so disposed of as to leave him a large and valuable farm, and the larger sympathy of his people.
It is probable that troubles arising out of Mr. Merrick's claims to so much land, which necessarily brought him into antagonism with many of his people, and the difficulty in arranging his salary, which for some years was based on the prices of certain commodities, were the cause of some church troubles which arose about 1754. At a precinct meeting held May 10, 1754, the following votes were passed; "Voated and Granted the sum of five Pounds Lawfull Money for defraying the Charges of Entertaining the Counsel to set in this Place on ye 17th of June next," also, "Voated and Granted to Dea. Nathaniel Warriner the sum of ten shillings Lawful Money for Keeping the former Counsel." There is no record in the pre- cinct or church books of the calling of this former Counsel," nor of the proceedings of either, but the following is copied from the church record of that time:
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
"June 21: 1754. Steph Stebbins, Aaron Stebbins, Lewis Langdon, & Abner Chapin, made publick confession of yr guilt, in absenting from ye Lords table, and publickly Exhibit- ing agt ye Pastor a paper of Reproachful Charges .-
"Dan11 Cadwell, Henry Badger, Wm Stacy & Moses Steb- bins, made publick Confession of yr guilt in publickly Exhibiting a paper of Reproachful Charges agst ye Pastor .-
"Nath" Hitchcock made publick Confession of his guilt, in casting Diverse Slanderous aspersions upon ye Character of ye Pastor without any just and sufficient ground; and in absenting from ye Lords table; and in signing a paper of Reproachful Charges agt ye Pastor .-
"N. B. All ye above mentioned persons, upon making yr respective Confessions, were accepted by ye Chh.
"June 23: 1754 Isaac Brewer made publick Confession of his offense, in absenting himself from ye Lords table .- and was accepted .- "
It is very probable that the "counsels" mentioned, had something to do with this difficulty.
At the precinct meeting, December 31, 1753, after voting the minister's salary, 44 p. 18 s. 2 p. the precinct, "Voated and Granted to Sd Mirick twelve shillings & eight pence one farthing Excepted as Rearages of all his salary for the time past." Also, "Voated and Granted to said Mr. Mirick two pounds seaven shillings and five pence one farthing for his Boarding Mr. Kirtland." [I have the impression that "Mr. Kirtland" was a singing master.]
January 5, 1756, there was an article in the warrant for the precinct meeting, "Article 4. to know the minds of the Precinct Relating to Singing & what versions of the Psalms shall be sung in the Public Worship." There was no action under this article, but the question came up again and again.
Our ancestors, though so engaged in the establishment of their religious institutions, did not forget their schools.
The town of Springfield commenced to make appropriations for schools in the "Outward Commons, on the east side of the Great River, commonly called the Mountains," as early as 1737, and every year thereafter until 1763, when the town was incorporated, beginning with the year 1737, when the amount
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
was 3 pounds and increasing year by year until 1749, when the amount was 35 pounds old tenor, which was at 75 per. cent discount, or more. In 1750 the amount was 4 pounds 13 shillings 4 pence, lawful money, and the same amount for the years 1751, 1752, 1753, 1754, and 6 pounds 16. S. 7 p. 1 farthing for the year 1755. For the next eight years the total amount raised is given, but the sum allowed the fourth precinct is not stated. On November 8, 1752, the town of Springfield elected a com- mittee of three "to Examine the Circumstances of the Inhabi- tants of the Mountain Parish with Respect to the Towns
SCHOOL HOUSE NOW STANDING IN PRESENT TOWN OF HAMPDEN. Erected about 1790.
Granting them a sum of money towards Defraying the Charge of building the School House already built in said Parish & make Report at this meeting." On November 4, 1754, a com- mittee was chosen "to view and Consider the more proper Place or Places for School Houses to be built in the Mountain Parish & what sum is Proper to allow said Inhabitants for the School House already built there, and sd comee are directed to make report as soon as may be." At another meeting, held twenty days later, the town "Granted the sum of 6 pounds to be paid to Ens" James Warriner For and Towards the Charge of Building the school House lately built at the Mountain Parish so Called and to be by him repaid to the Several Persons
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
who were at the Expense of building the Same in Equal Propor- tion according to what they Severally advancd for that purpose they certifying to him what cach advancd and what they are severally to Receive out of the said Sum therefore." So it seems that a school house had been erected in the outward commons, or fourth precinct, previous to November 8, 1752. It is said to have stood on the west side of Main Street, some twenty or thirty rods south of our present Springfield Street and nearly opposite where the present Congregational Meeting House stands. The name and fame of the early teacher, for years town and Parish Clerk, Ezra Barker, usually called Master Barker, have come down to us bearing a multitude of traditions of his wit and of his rod, of the pranks of the boys and the tricks of the girls, some true, some probable. That he was a good penman the records of both town and parish testify, and any- one who is called to search the records of those days, owes him a debt of gratitude for the clear and legible manner in which he did the work. And in this connection it may be said that the writing of James Warriner, who was also town and parish clerk for a number of years, about the same time, is very legible and easy to read, after more than a hundred years. A few roads were laid out by the town of Springfield within the precinct, and some by the county; but they were mere cart- or bridle paths leading from one neighborhood and clearing to another. No work appears to have been done on them but to pick out a few stones, make crossings over a few brooks, and cut away the trees and bushes when they intruded too closely on the path. The Bay Road was subject to some changes and alterations. Some of the names given to localities are of interest to us today. On May 3ª 1732, some changes were made in it. The main thing that we are interested in is, that as the surveyors came along from the east, they passed through the "Elbows or Kingstown" [that portion of our town lying north of the bay road, and east of Chicopee River], and the surveyors go on to say-"and to keep the path as it now goeth along by Nine Mile Pond into Springfield." Also, in 1744, some other changes were made. [I have abbreviated the record.] Highway Spring-
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
field to Kingston, by nine mile pond. "That the Road begin at the Old Road on the easterly side of said Pond and extending thence easterly 4 rods wide, thence East 2 Deg 30, So. 31 rods, thence East 3 Deg. 30. So. 39 rods to a rock and stones on it, thence east 3 d. No. 4912 rods to a stump and stones near Lambs Door, thence east, 9 d. so. 34 rods to a small white oak marked-which road is running through the school lot."
In 1755, the town of Springfield laid out a "highway from the parting of the Paths against Goose Pond" [now Winchester Square] "to the Outward Commons," [very much abbreviated until the present west line of Wilbraham is reached] "to the east side the brook at Stone Pitt" [perhaps now, Watershops Pond, or the small brook about one-half mile further west], "then-to Mr. James Warriners fence-to Warriner's Bridge- to the northwest corner of a scheme lot laid out to Samuel Warner 2nd then east 80 rods to the meadow at Kilborn's Bridge, then east 14 rods to the east side the causeway then east 20 rods-by David Jones house, then 12 rods, then 20 rods to a heap stones, then north 45° east 4 rods then 14 rods, then east 812 rods to the outward commons." [The variations from due east are not given here.] This is our present highway from the Centre Village to Springfield, west of the line of the outward commons, now called Springfield Street, and this record is principally interesting because of the names given to localities, such as, "Stone Pitt," "Warriner's Bridge," "Kilborn's Bridge," and "David Jones house." The two last are in our town. "Kilborn's Bridge" was at the crossing of the most westerly brook, on that road, in our town. The meadow, through which the brook runs, is often called in the early records, "Worlds End Meadow," and the brook "Worlds End Brook." The brook is called by that name in the record of the "Newbury Survey" in 1729. We also learn where David Jones lived in 1755. Evidently the good people of Springfield, in those early days, thought they were a long way from home, when they got out to "Worlds End Meadow." It is somewhat singular that four of the brooks we cross, as we go along Springfield Street westward, are the same brook, although the first one, west of
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
Main Street, is only a branch which runs into "Pole Bridge Brook" before it reaches West Street, which street it crosses 50 or 60 rods north of the "Tinkham Road," and continuing on westward 50 or 75 rods, turns to the northward and again crosses Springfield Street about one-fourth of a mile east of our west bounds. The brook continues on northerly, then westerly, then southerly until it flows into the Watershops Pond. Some of us remember when there was a broad meadow where the pond now is, and when we drove through the brook there to water our teams.
It seems, from the early records, that there were milestones set along the Bay Road to indicate the distance from Boston. I find this in the record of an alteration made in that road in 1777. The surveyors, going eastward, mention a stone marked 89 miles from Boston, and then say, "-just by Cornelius Webb's old Chimney about 2 rods north east of the stone marked 88 miles from Boston." It may not be known now, to all of our townsmen, that the Bay Road, after passing Nine Mile Pond, continued along easterly, crossing Main Street and continuing along what is now called Maple Street, past the Grace Church and on up the hill south easterly, to compara- tively level ground, where it again turned easterly, going on down the hill by a course which is quite plain to be traced today, and entering the present road a little west of "Eleven Mile Brook," [frequently called twelve mile brook].
As the time passed the agricultural products of the precinct were becoming more various and more abundant; the cultivated fields were growing broader and richer every year. The houses were more convenient and more comfortable. Still there was little which would gratify the tastes or supply what would now be called the necessaries of a comfortable home. Bare walls, bare floors, scant furniture, the oaken table and chest and pine "settle" were the chief adornings of the houses in those days, with perhaps a few exceptions. Among these was that of Ensign Abel Bliss, who, as tradition says, "did carry six bushels of salt on his back all at one time." As I have already said, he built
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
his log house on the west side of the mountain, or Ridge road, on an elevated portion of his farm, about 1736. At about the same time he set out an apple orchard. The difficulty of getting water on the elevated ground induced him to change his loca- tion to a place a little north of the most northerly brook which crosses that road, and to its east side. He was a man of great energy, like so many of those early settlers, and erected a "tar- kiln" on the "river lot," and is said to have gathered pine-knots and hearts, called candle-wood, with which our great grand- fathers and great grandmothers illuminated their dwellings, in the south part of Ludlow and Belchertown,-it being forbidden to gather them but for lights in the precinct-and made two hundred barrels of tar, which he sold for, what would now be, five dollars a barrel, realizing one thousand dollars, and in 1744 began to erect a large two-story house 32 x 40 feet.
The plan was so pretentious that it is said the Rev. Noah Merrick, ascertaining what a grand mansion his parishioner was about to build, and perhaps fearing that his people were becoming inflated with worldly pride, thought it incumbent on him to check such tendencies at the beginning. So on a Sunday morning, he took for the text of his sermon the words, "Build not your house too high." Whereupon the rebuked Abel cut off the upright posts of his house seven inches, lowering the first story that much. The text in question caused a great rustling of Bible leaves throughout the parish, and there was much discussion as to where in the Holy Word the minister had found such a text. Finally some inquisitive person began to search the catechism, and the mystery was solved. The house is said to have been the first in this section to have square panes of glass in the windows, all the others having diamond shaped panes. There is a quaint story in connection with this place which was told me, a few years ago, by a woman who was told the story by her grandmother, who was living near there at the time the incident happened. An Indian chief had brought his son there to be taught the white man's ways by the Bliss family; and instructed somewhat in book "larning.". The family had a large dog named "Pomp" which was a great playmate for
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
the boys. One day the Indian boy was told to go out into the orchard and bring in some apples, from a particular tree, for baking. Every instinct of his nature, from his early training, rebelled at the thought of doing such "squaw's work." An hour or two passed and there were no apples brought. When remonstrated with by Mr. Bliss for his neglect to obey, he drew himself up to his full height and answered with great dignity, "Let Pomp pick up apples." Later in the day, when one of the girls of the family asked him to show her where that par- ticular tree was, so that she might get some, he led her all around the orchard before bringing her to the right tree, which was not very far from the house. Taking his revenge in that way for the indignity put upon him. This place, now known as the "Speer Place," has been in the same family for about one hundred and seventy-seven years. It descended from Abel to his son Oliver, from Oliver to his son John, from John to his daughter Catherine Mary Ann Antoinette (Bliss) Speer. She told me once, that she thought she was named after all her aunts. She also told me she had heard her father say that when he was a boy, he went out to the Bay Road and was honored with a bow from General Washington, as the General was passing along the road on the way to Boston. General Washington, writing in his diary about his passing along the Bay Road at that place says, "it was rough and rocky." Probably it was, on the part now abandoned. There are reports that the house was once a tavern, and that Washington spent a night there. But I do not think it was so.
It is said in the Stebbins History that there were no inhabi- tants in the south part of the precinct, previous to 1741. In that year, Stephen Stebbins came from Longmeadow and settled on the west side of the main road to Somers, a few rods north of the Scantic, where Mortimer Pease now lives. Aaron Stebbins, his brother, built a little north of the present school- house near there. These were brothers of Samuel, who had settled some years before, as I have said, on the "Stebbins Road."
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
In the year 1743, Israel Kibbe of Somers, my great-great- grandfather [on my mother's side], purchased quite a piece of land near the southwest corner of the precinct, and in 1764 he sold that, with some more land, to his son, my great-grandfather, Gideon Kibbe, who lived there about thirty years, when he moved to the Baptist District in East Longmeadow.
About the year 1810 he built the house on the east side of our Main Street, now standing, about ten or fifteen rods north of Federal Lane (where Mr. Bryant now lives), for his son, Dr. Gideon Kibbe, who followed his profession here for almost fifty years, and is still remembered by some of our older resi- dents. He wished me to be a physician, and in 1853, when I was nine years old, he prevailed upon my mother [his niece], to allow me to come and live with him, and since then Wilbraham has been my home. The doctor's father was a lieutenant in two different regiments in the Revolutionary War, and I have the powder horn which he carried while in the service. It is finely ornamented with etchings, made I suppose with his Jack-knife, of several different designs, among which are the masonic emblems of the square and compasses, also the date "1776," and his initals, G. K., cut in the bottom.
As we approach the close of the precinct period of our town, the record contains the account of the sad tragedy of the death of Lieutenant Mirrick's son. Faithful "Clark" Warner records as follows: .
"No. 84, Timothy Mirrick, the son of Lt Thomas and Mary Mirrick was bit by a ratel snake on August the 7th, 1761, and died within about two or three ours, he being 22 years, two months and three days old and vary near the point of marridg." The place where this young man lived is now the most south- erly place in our town, on the Main Street, and is owned by Ethelbert Bliss. The meadow where he was mowing when bitten, is off to the southwest, some seventy to ninety rods from the home of Mr. Bliss [in 1863 the place was owned by Porter Cross] and the tragic spot can be plainly seen from
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
the Sessions homestead, about half a mile farther south, [now owned by Mr. Hayes].
About forty years ago, William V. Sessions, who was born in 1801, showed me the place, and said that the summer of 1761 was very dry and it was supposed that the serpent had come down from "Rattlesnake Peak," on the mountain, where there were known to be a few, to the meadow, in search of water. He also told me that a search for the snake was made the next
OLD MERRICK HOUSE. Built in 1761 for the young man "vary near the point of marridg."
day, and it was found coiled up near the seythe of young Timothy, and was killed.
The house which was being built for the young man, so near the "point of marridg" is still standing on the east side of the road and is occupied by Walter Bliss. The front is two stories high, but the rear has the long steeply pitched roof slanting down to quite near the ground, in old-time fashion.
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