USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Wilbraham > The history of Wilbraham, Massachusetts; > Part 8
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
Extensive changes have been made in the looks of the house in the past year, by building a piazza across the front. A poem was written on this sad event, which has had a wide circulation. In the Stebbins History it is called the great "Elegy of the Mountains."
There are many versions of this old ballad. I give the one printed in the Stebbins History.
ELEGY OF THE YOUNG MAN BITTEN BY A RATTLESNAKE
On Springfield mountains there did dwell A likely youth who was knowne full well Lieutenant Mirick onley sone
A likely youth nigh twenty one
One friday morning he did go in to the medow and did moe A round or two then he did feal A pisin sarpent at his heal
When he received his dedly wond he dropt his sithe a pon the ground And strate for home wase his intent Caling aloude stil as he went
tho all around his voys wase hered but none of his friends to him apiere they thot it wase some workmen calld and there poor Timothy alone must fall
So soon his Carful father went to seak his son with discontent and there his fond onley son he found ded as a stone a pon the ground
And there he lay down sopose to rest with both his hands Acrost his brest his mouth and eyes Closed fast And there poor man he slept his last
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
his father vieude his track with great consarn Where he had ran across the corn uneven tracks where he did go did apear to stagger to and frow
The seventh of August sixty one this fatal axsident was done Let this a warning be to all to be Prepared when God does call"
This poem was read at a banquet in Springfield in May, 1886, and printed in the Springfield Republican June 6, 1886. It was again printed on Nov. 23, 1911, with an article written by Miss Evanore O. Beebe of our town, descriptive of the event, and the scenes surrounding it. This last insertion brought six or more letters to the Republican, one each from Salem, Mass., Greeley, Col., West Suffield, Conn., Bridgeport, Conn., Green- field, Mass., and Virginia City, Nev.
The letter from Nevada is especially interesting, as it was written by the great-great-grandson of a brother of George Washington, and is as follows:
"That 'Springfield Mountain' song got down into old Vir- ginia. It used to be sung to me by the negroes when I was a child. They used a sort of whining refrain that was most striking and amusing. This is what I remember of it :-
"One dreadful day John went away For to help his father make the hay;
When just as the horn blew for the noonday meal 'A pisenous sarpient' bit him on the heel.
"With a rigdum ski skinny drigdum rowe. (Chorus repeated several times)
"Then Mollie, his sweetheart, came along and found John dying, and this is what she is supposed to have said :-
" 'Oh, John! Oh, John, why did you go Down to the meadow for to mow?'
'Oh, Mollie dear, I thought you knowed, It was father's hay and must be mowed.' "
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
There was a version which I think was sung here at an "Old Folks' Concert," about forty-five years ago. It was sung as a solo, and all the troupe joined in the chorus.
On Springfield mountain there did dwell A nice young man, I knew him well. Sing Tu-ri-lu ri-tu-ri-lay, Sing Tu-ri-lu ri-tu-ri-lay.
On Monday morning he did go Down to the meadow for to mow,
(Chorus)
He scarce had mowed half round the field, When a pesky sarpent bit his heel.
(Chorus)
He raised his scythe and struck a blow Which laid the pesky sarpent low.
(Chorus)
He took the sarpent in his hand And posted off to Molly Brand.
(Chorus)
"Oh, Johnny dear, why did you go Down to the meadow for to mow?"
(Chorus)
"Oh, Molly dear, I thought you knowed T'was fathers field and must be mowed."
(Chorus)
Now this young man gave up the ghost And did to Abraham's bosom post.
(Chorus)
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
And thus he cried as up he went, "Oh, pesky, cruel sar-pi-ent!"
(Chorus)
Now all young men a warning take, Beware of the bite of a great big snake."
(Chorus)
I think sometimes the chorus was:
Singing tu-ral-li-lu-ral-li-lu-ral-li-lay, Singing tu-ral-li-lu-ral-li-lu-ral-li-lay.
Altogether I have seen seven or eight versions of this famous ballad, generally written just as the writers remembered to have heard their grandfathers, or grandmothers sing, or repeat it, a good many years ago.
In one of the versions there is still another touch of sadness, as follows:
"Then Molly Bland she squatted down And sucked the pizen from the wound, But, O! she had a rotten tooth, And the venom soon affected both."
The name, or the residence, of the author of this famous poem are alike unknown. The Stebbins History says, that "Nathan Torrey has the honor of authorship, if any reliance can be placed upon the most direct and authentic tradition on the subject." The grave of the unfortunate young man is in the Deacon Adams Cemetery, near the easterly part of the older portion. His epitaph reads :-
"Here lies yę body of Mr. Timothy Mirick Son of Lieut Thomas and Mrs. Mary Mirick Who died August 7th 1761 in ye 23rd year of his age
"He cometh forth like a flower and is cut down He fleeth also as a shadow and continueth not."
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
OLD MERRICK HOUSE, REMODELED IN 1913. Present home of Walter Bliss.
The military eclipsed the literary renown of this period. Capt. Samuel Day, Lieut. Thomas Merrick, and Ensign Abel Bliss were commissioned as officers before 1754; and for the French War, which raged during this period, 1755-1760, twenty- two men were enlisted from the fourth precinct as among the patriots of that early period. The names are all entered as from Springfield, but the following were probably from what is now Wilbraham: In 1755, for three months, John Langdon, Timothy Wright, Philip Lyon, William King, Jr .; in 1755, for eight months, Sergt. Daniel Cadwell, Sergt. Paul Langdon, Corp. Isaac Colton, Corp Aaron Bliss, Aaron Alvord, Aaron Warriner, Stephen Bliss, Jesse Warner, Aaron Parsons, Benjamin War- riner, Samuel Warner, Benjamin Wright. They were in the battle near the southern extremity of Lake George, with Baron Dieskau, and Lieutenant Burt of the company was killed; In
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
1759, Benoni Atchinson, Moses Bartlett, Thomas Dunham, Paul Hitchcock, Samuel Warner, Sr., Samuel Warner, Jr., Moses Warriner.
Samuel Warner, Sr., who is the so-called "Clark" Warner, kept a Journal of this expedition, which is still in existence and from which I will make a few extracts. He was in Capt. John Bancroft's Company, and Col. Timothy Ruggles's Regiment. I will commence with the brief account he gives of the trip from Albany to Fort Edward.
"I now give an a Coumpt of our March from Albana to fort Edward. We loaded 19 Barrils of flower and pork in a batoo and Carrid them within three miles of Stillwarter and there on Looded in the hull of our Regiment there was about 1100 Barrils and then we went to Stillwarters and Looded 25 Barrils in Each Battoo which made about 1400 and Carrid them up to about a mile above Sototoga and onloded the Same and then went about one mile and then Looded 22 Barrils which made 1300 and Carrid them to the fott of the falls at fort miller onloded them there the Batoos was caried about half a mile and the provision and then Looded againe 20 Barils 1150 and Carrid them to fort Edward this is a treu acount a varey hard voige we had. frey Day 8th Day (June) this Day varey Clowday. Ran and Cold in the morning and afterwards more moderate and Sun Shine. Varey Cold att Night and just in the morning We had a varey grate Larrom by the polesy of the jeneral amhers[t] ordered a party of men att the falls to fier there guns att a marke varey Brisk on purpos to See what Readynes the armey would Be in the armey was all Drawd up in arms.
"Sabday 10th this day 6 o'clock the hilanders fierd one Round Distinct one after a nither and a fare plesant Day after- wards our soldiers went to Battooing onley saveing the quarter guard and a few that was not well.
"Thosday 14th-This morning there was two Rodeisland men whipt for Desart one of them 500 the other 999 this day is the first prayer we heard at Night.
"Saturday 16th this Day there was one of the Conecticots Brought to place of Execution in order to be shot to Death for Desartion & after giving warning to others and then makeing of a prayer he was placst upon his Knees & his cap over his face Reseved a pardon yesterday and to day we Looded about 300 Batoos and they was carrid to half way Boock and 100 teems.
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
"Monday 18th_this morning I was put under gard.
"Tuesday 19-a Cort Marshil upon a young man and Rise & myself to-day for Nothin worth a menshing the young man Becas his gun went of upon half Bent and myself Becase I did not goo So quick and Call my sun when Sergeant Daniel Miller Bid me goo I Being upon other Duty the same time yet I went Not Withstanding But I had my dismisshon without any thing more said to me.
"Thursday 21st this Day we marcht from fort Edward with about ten Reigements we struck our tents about brake of Day slong our packs about Sun Rise and stood with ym on a full ouer then marcht forward Nor onlooded Nor Rested till we got within five miles of Lake gorge there Rested about one ouer and half varey hot men allmost Beet out By going without vittuals in the morning about 500 teems and wagins the officers had no packs the general and other big officers had horsis and Servens they did not Consider the poor solders Had they Had any Com- passhoon upon poore Solders they wood not a dun as they Did one man Dyed By Reson of Such Hard traveling and Drinking of warter this was a Conectucut man and two or three more it was said they ware a Dying the armey was marcht of in the morning on a sudden and had not time to git any Refreshment to Carey with them But God in His providence has spared men's Lives & Carrid threw heathen to we shall not Dey Before our time.
"Sabday 17th there was a flagg of truse Came in to half way Bruck to see whether we had any prreasners to Exchang.
"Tuesday 26-this Day order Came out in general that No solder should drink any warter without it Being Boild Except he had ginger in it.
"Wensday 27-Benoney atchinson and Isaac Whittemore Come here to Day.
"Sabday July 1st-Orders Came out that every one of us shoold fix a wooden flint in his gun two Capt Came in this Day from the french
"Munday 2d-about ten o'clock in the morning a partey of about 60 of the inemy fell on a party of the gersey Bleu and Kild 8 and scalpt them upon the Spot and wounded 3 more this was in full view of our armey a more protickular a compt there was 18 of the garsey bleu went to git Bare one the North of our Camps and thare was it was soposed about three or five score of the inemy got Between our men and the gard-
"Saturday 7th I went about the Element Hill on the North End of it there is a fort of 14 squares or turns in it made with
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
wood and stoane and a Horspottal of Stoanc the Length about 8 Roods the wedth about Eighteen feet from out side to out side the thickness of the Wale two feet and 12 the hith about five feet.
"Sabday 8th-three men Belonging to Coll Whiteens Rimt Dyed in one Horspiteetel this Day was a Varcy grate Day of Blooing of Rocks.
"Munday 9th-We have the News of gen1 Woolfs takeing of some strong place up Canaday River this Day there came in a party of the Indions under the command of Capt Jacob that went down the Lake some Days ago tis said the Indias fel on him & wounded ye Capt and another of his men. I tuck more observation of Buldings and in sted of one Hospotitel there is three more all in a few Roods of one a nither one stoon two wood Housen.
"Saterday 21st this day the armey marcht for ticonderoga they struck there tents about three o'clok in the morning and about sun rise the Bigest part of the armey got to the warter side they Borded three Batoos about Sun an ouer and half high and set of about twelve o'clock they ware out of sight and they Cep a going of all the Day afterwards 10-20-30 Batoos to a time till sun one ouer and 12 high att night then the Sloop set sail and att Sun Down she was about 15 miles of tis soposed to be 12000 men 15 morters 12.12 pounders 6.24 pounders of Brase 3 18 pounders of Iron & a grate numbere of swivels this Day there is a grate morning among the Wiming as if they had Lost there Husborns-
"Thusday [August] 2ª this day 12 o'clock news came that crown point was Blown up By the french the truth I will waight for Esq Woodbridge says it is treu without fail and the french are a fortifying about ten or 15 miles Beyond.
"Teusday 7th By the Reson of the Heat the Injineare and two or three more ware Carid from thare work to thare tents and I ware varey much put to it to keep upon my Leegs.
"Munday 3d [September] Rain the bigest part of the day and ye coll said Dam it you shall work so we Did and it rained all night.
"Saterday 15th about one o'clock had orders to march to crown point and about dark I sot of for the same with 30 men.
"Sabday 16th morning we landed att tyconde Roga Before Sun Rise and then marcht Right of to crown point and got there Sun two ours high
"Thosday 1st [November] Last Night a Number of men
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under gard for tempting to goo hum and to Day a member of the garsey Blews under gard but Dismist to Day.
"Sabday 25th [17 Days lost of the Journal] ground frose hard We marched to Davises fort and campt there.
"Munday 26th cold and snow and hold to while noon then Rain. We marched to Northfield and Lay there Capt putnam of Rode Island Dyed att
"Teusday 27th Cold Rainy Day I marcht from Northfield to Sunderland I logged at Carsons Warner's.
"Wensday 28th This Day fare and plesant morning and south winds varey raw afterwards I went from Sunderland to my one hous this day."
The distance of the precinct from Springfield Street, the regu- larly increasing population, the different interests of the people, and their demonstrated capacity to administer affairs, prompted the inhabitants as early as January 16, 1749, "to chuse three men [David Mirick, Isaac Brewer and Nathaniel Warriner] a Committee to Represent the Precinct to the town of Springfield in taking some measures to get set off for a town in this fourth Precinct." The action of the town of Springfield was un- favorable to their cause; and they delayed further attempts till December 31, 1753, four years, when they again "voated to chuse a committee [Dea. Nathaniel Warriner, David Mirick . and Lt. Sam11 Day] to apply to the town of Springfield to see if they be willing we should be set of a District." Nothing seems to have come of this petition, for I find an article-on which, however no action seems to have been taken-inserted in the warrant for a meeting, January 1, 1760, "To chuse a Committee to apply to the town to set us of to be a District." Again January 1, 1761, it is "voted that Deacon Nath. Warriner, Daniel Warner, William King be a Comtee to apply to the Town for their Consent that we be set of a District;" and, in the following March 24, 1761, it is "voted that the same Comtee which were Chosen to Apply to the Town to set us of a District be further Impowered to Apply to the General Court for a Confirmation of the same on the Precincts Cost and Charge."
As obstacles rise, their courage rises. Failure inspires with
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
new resolutions. They determine to try what virtue there is in new men and more of them, the south part of the precinct com- ing to the rescue, and the next year, January 7, 1762, it is "Voted that John Bliss, William King, Daniel Cadwell, Stephen Stebbins and James Warriner be a Comtee to apply to the Town for their Consent that we be set of a District or Town." Not much progress appears to have been made in softening the hearts and subduing the wills of the town, for on the following March 22, 1762, it is "Voted that Stephen Stebbins, James Warriner and Daniel Cadwell be a Committee to Apply to the Town and General Court, if need be, to see if they will sett of this Precinct a 'separate Town or District." These repeated petitions are evidently producing their effect, for once more, with renewed vigor, they vote, January 3, 1763, that "Decn Nathaniel Warriner, Ltt Thos Mirick and Stephen Stebbins be a Comtee in behalf of the Precinct to Apply to the Town of Springfield for their Consent to be Sett of a Separate Town or District, & that they be fully Impowerd to Persue our Petition to the General Court in Order to be Sett of aforesd."
This committee succeeded in their endeavors. Fourteen years after their first petition went to Springfield, delayed, defeated, but never subdued or discouraged, they at last wring, by their tireless importunity, a favorable answer to their prayer. Their petition was granted, and the Act of Incorpora- tion was signed by Sir Francis Bernard, Governor of the Province, June 15, 1763,-one hundred and fifty years ago,- by which act the fourth parish in Springfield was erected a separate town by the name of Wilbraham, and there were granted to the town all the privileges and immunities of other towns with the anomalous exception of the power of choosing a representative to the General Court; in this election, they must still unite with Springfield.
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
ACT OF INCORPORATION
ANNO REGNI
REGIS
GEORGII TERTI
HERE IS THE COLONY SEAL
TERTIO
[In the third year of the reign of George the Third]
An Act for incorporating the Fourth Parish of Springfield in the County of Hampshire into a separate Town by the name of Wilbraham.
Whereas the Inhabitants of the Fourth Parish in said Spring- field have represented to this Court that they labour under great Inconveniences and Difficulties in attending on the Publick Affairs of the said Town, by reason of their great dis- tance from the usual Place where they are transacted etc: and that they are increased to such numbers that it may be fitting that they should be incorporated into a separate Town, and have accordingly petitioned this Court therefor-
Be it therefore enacted by the Governor, Council and House of Representatives, That the said fourth Parish in said Springfield with the addition of half a mile West from the West line of Said Parish from Chicobee River on the North, to the northerly Line of the Township of Somers on the South be erected into a separate Town by the name of Wilbraham and that the inhabi- tants of said Town be invested with all the Powers and Privi- ledges that Towns in this Province enjoy by Law, that of send- ing a Representative to this Court only excepted. And that the said Town shall have full Right and Liberty from Time to Time to join with said Town of Springfield in the choice of Representatives, to represent them at the General Assembly, And that the said Town of Wilbraham shall from Time to Time be at their Proportionable Part of the Expense of such Representatives, and the Freeholders and other Inhabitants of Wilbraham shall be notified of the Time and Place of Election
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in like manner as the Inhabitants of said Springfield, by a warrant from the Selectmen of said Springfield, directed to the Constable of said Wilbraham, directing him to warn the In- habitants of said Wilbraham to attend the said meeting at the Time and Place therein assigned and that the Pay of said Representatives be borne by said Towns of Springfield and Wilbraham in the same Proportion from Time to Time as they pay to the Province Tax. And in order effectually to Prevent all future Dispute that might otherwise arise between the said Towns of Springfield and Wilbraham respecting their joint Interests or joint Duties;
Be it Enacted, That the said Town of Wilbraham shall enjoy the two Ministry and School Lots in said Town, in full Satisfac- tion of their Share in the Ministry and School Lands in said Town of Springfield, and of the Money and Debts due to said Town: That they pay their due Proportion of the Town Debts already contracted, and have their due Proportion of the Town Stock of Ammunition: That they pay to the Support of the present Poor of said Town of Springfield (now supported at the Town Charge) Eleven Pounds in One Hundred so long as they shall Continue a Charge to said Town; and that this Act shall not be construed to hinder or prevent any Persons, Inhabi- tants of said Springfield from Cutting Timber or Taking Herbage or Stone on any of the Lands in said Wilbraham so long as they remain unfenced, any more than if this Act had not been made.
And be it further Enacted, That John Worthington, Esq. be and hereby is empowered and directed to issue his Warrant directed to some principal Inhabitant of said Wilbraham requiring him to warn the Inhabitants of said Town qualified to vote in Town affairs to assemble at some suitable Time and Place in said Town, to choose such Officers as may be necessary to manage the affairs of said Town, which at such meeting they are hereby empowered to choose.
Provided, nevertheless, the Inhabitants of said Wilbraham shall pay their proportional Part of all such Province and County Taxes as are already set upon them by the said Town of.
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
Springfield in like manner as tho' this Act had not been made.
And be it further Enacted, That of the sum set on the Town of Springfield as their Proportion with other Towns in a Tax of one Thousand Pounds, for the future of the said Town of Spring- field, shall retain the sum of Eleven Pounds two Shillings and ten Pence two Farthings; and that there be set on the said Town of Wilbraham the sum of one Pound thirteen Shillings and six Pence as their Rate or Proportion for their Payment of publick Taxes.
June 14th 1763-This Bill having been read three several Times in the House of Representatives-Passed to be enacted. TIMº RUGGLES Spkr
June 14th 1763-This Bill having been read three several Times in Council-
Passed to be Enacted.
A. OLIVER Secy
June 15th 1763-By the Governor
I consent to the enacting of this Bill.
FRA BERNARD
In his address in 1831, speaking of the incorporation of the town, Dr. S. F. Merrick says: "In 1763 the parish was incor- porated into a town by the name of Wilbraham, the name was very grevious to us and we are hardly reconciled to it yet." It seems strange that a name should have been selected, that was "very grevious" to the people of the town.
The Stebbins History says, "The town appears to have received its name either from an English Baronet of the name of Wilbraham or from the Parish called Wilbraham, situated near Cambridge in England .- Sir Thomas Wilbraham died in 1692 .- If the people of Wilbraham supposed their town was named for this bitter royalist and anti-Puritan, it may account for their dissatisfaction."
"But there is another way of accounting for the name. Wilburgham, or Wilbraham, as the modern spelling is, is a parish or town in the hundred of Staine, County of Cambridge,
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
seven miles from Cambridge, northeasterly. There are two villages, 'Wilbraham Great,' and 'Wilbraham Little.'- "Rowland Stebbins, the ancestor of the Stebbinses, and William Pynchon, the ancestor of the Pynchons, and the original pro- prietor of Springfield, originated in the near neighborhood of these Wilbrahams, and came from near them to this country." It is very probable that through the influence of the descendants of Stebbins and Pynchon, the name Wilbraham may have been selected for this town." In a History of New England, pub- lished in 1879, I find the following relating to the meaning of the name: "The inhabitants of Wilbraham, at the time of its incorporation, objected strenuously, but vainly, to the name attached to them, which has the significance of 'Wild Boar's Home."
There are a few persons in this country with that name. And several years ago there was a firm in Philadelphia, Pa., dealing in carriage makers' supplies, of the name of "Wilbra- ham Bros." Sometime ago, as I have been told, there was a student here at the Academy, of that name. One day, soon after his arrival, he rushed into the post office, at the time of the distribution of the morning mail and cried out, "Any letters for 'Wilbraham' to-day?" The postmaster thought he was acting a little "fresh," and answered, "Well! I should say there was." But as he did not pass out any, the young man soon explained that Wilbraham was his name.
Today, one hundred and fifty years after the incorporation of the town, we have no feeling of resentment against the anti- Puritan Baronet, "Sir Thomas Wilbraham;" we have a kindly feeling towards "Wilbraham Great," and "Wilbraham Little," of Old England; we can afford to laugh at the supposed mean- ing, "Wild Boar's Home," and we are all glad that the name of our dear old town is WILBRAHAM.
About fifteen years ago, while in a southern state, I was telephoning a message to the central office, to be sent by tele- graph to this town. A negro was taking the message and when that was finished, I told him over the telephone that I wanted to be sure that he had the name of the town right, as there were
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