USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Amherst > The history of the town of Amherst, Massachusetts, pt 1 > Part 9
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58
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF AMHERST, MASS.
Chauncey, 1759-67 ; Peter Smith, 1759-60 ; Nathaniel Coleman, 1761-62 Elisha Ingram, 1766-73 ; John Field, 1768-73 ; Eli Parker, 1773 ; Solomon Boltwood, 1773 ; Elijah Smith, 1783 ; Jacob McDaniel, 1783-85 ; Elijah Hastings, 1788 ; Ephraim Kellogg, 1783; Moses Rowe, 1783 ; Simeou Peck, 1782; Samuel Peck, 1783 ; Stephen Smith, 1785-87 ; Chiliab Smith. 1778 ; Thomas Bascom, 1778 ; Moses Cook, 1779-87 ; Zebina Montague. 1784-88 : Ebenezer Mattoon, Jr., 1779-80; Elisha Smith, 1780-SI : John Nash, 1784; Andrew Kimball, 1785-88 ; Ebenezer Boltwood, 1782-SS : Eli Putnam, 1782-84. In 1789, Seth Wait, Nathaniel Peck, Joseph Pettis and Oliver Clapp were innkeepers; in 1790, Gideon Parsons. In 1785. John Nash kept a tavern near where the house of Mrs. Edward Tuckerman now stands. Some of these taverns or inns had more than a local celebrity and were closely connected with public events of great importance. Of such was the old " Clapp tavern " at East Amherst, a sketch of which will be given in connection with the events of the Revolutionary war and the Shays rebellion.
In January, 1730, the Town of Hadley voted to its " east inhabitants " liberty for a burying place and appointed a committee to lay it out ; in March of the same year the committee reported that they had laid out an acre and twenty rods of land "joyning on Nath'l Church's lot west." This, with additions made later on, comprised the land in the old " West cemetery." From time to time the inhabitants of the Precinct, District and Town passed votes in relation to fencing and caring for this cemetery. The first person to be buried there was John Scott, who died Oct. 3, 1737. aged 27. He was a school-teacher and came from the " Elbows ", now Palmer. March 14, 1764, it was voted to provide a grave cloth for the use of the district. Hearses for conveying the dead to the cemeteries were unknown in this section until the beginning of the 19th century. There is a story to the effect that when Deacon Eleazer Mattoon died in 1767 the snow was so deep upon the ground it was proposed to draw his body to the cemetery, two miles distant, upon a hand-sled, but the Rev. David Parsons would not listen to the proposition and the bearers placed the coffin upon their shoulders and walked with it through the snow the entire distance to the place of burial.
Amherst had a town-lot, that embraced some of the land upon which the Amherst College buildings now stand, and extended to the north and south. March 5, 1739, the town of Hadley passed the following vote :
" Voted an addition to the West end of the Town Lot Lying in the 3ª Precinct of Hadley, said addition to Extend twenty two rod west upon the north side of said Lot and twenty rod on South side of said Lot, and said addition to Extend four rod north against Nathaniel Smith's lot."
3
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SIGN OF JOHN NASH'S TAVERN.
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PAUPER EXPENSES.
This town lot or common was partly a swamp and partly grown up to white birch ; it was used as a pasture ground for cattle. On the east side there was a goose-pond skirted with alders.
The Kelloggs, who were the first innkeepers, seem also to have been the first to engage in milling. The first grist-mill was owned by Ephraim Kellogg and was situated "far up on Mill river." March 3, 1740, Hadley " granted to Nathaniel Kellogg liberty to erect a saw mill on Mill river at the place called the biggest falls." In 1744, Nathaniel Kellogg had a corn- mill on Mill river, 340 rods north of the upper end of the second division. There was a mill on Fort river prior to 1748, but the name of the owner is not recorded. In 1741, Hadley voted that " 15 rods wide of the highway joining south on Jacob Warner, leading through the second tier, should be given up to the East Precinct, they to dispose of it to Aaron Warner to encourage him to set up a blacksmith's trade among them." There were few traders in the settlement ; in 1764, Ephraim Kellogg traded in molasses, salt, rum, etc. Between 1759 and 1764, Josiah Chauncey and Elisha Ingram were licensed to sell tea, coffee and chinaware.
The expense of caring for the poor was small. Jonathan Atherton suffered from stone in the bladder, which when extracted by surgeons in 1743 weighed three ounces ; he was aided by the precinct and by individuals. Of the French people who were driven from their homes in Nova Scotia and dispersed among the British colonies in 1755 and 1756, nearly a thou- sand came to Massachusetts and one family was sent to Hadley in 1761. They were known as " French neutrals " and were supported by the town. Amherst contributed to their support and in 1767 appropriated 50 shillings to aid in sending them to Canada. Daniel Smith was insane for many years and was partly supported by Hadley and partly by Amherst. In the Province laws, under date of Jan. 12, 1759, by the same act that erected the Second Precinct into a district, it was ordered that Daniel Smith. "an indigent person in said town, be supported at the Expence of the Town of Hadley and of said District in equal Moieties." In 1779 and after, Moses Hawley and wife, and in 1789, widow Mehitable Smith, received aid from the town. In 1807, Aaron Kellogg, insane, and Caesar Prutt, an aged negro, were put up at vendue and the former was bid off for a year at $50 and the latter at $65. In 1789, the town appropriated £6 for the support of the poor; in 1793, 520; in 1801, $75, and in 1809, $150.
In 1765, there were six negroes in Amherst ; three at least were owned as slaves, one by Josiah Chauncey, one by John Adams and one by Ephraim Kellogg. There were other slaveholders in earlier years. In 738. Zechariah Field had a slave valued at £130. Ebenezer Kellogg owned slaves. Richard Chauncey, John Ingram, Sr. and Daniel Kellogg had each a negro, probably a slave.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF AMHERST, MASS.
Nathaniel Smith was the first resident physician in the Third Precinct. where he practiced his profession until his death in 1789. Dr. Crouch c. Hadley also had considerable practice in the East Precinct. Physicians in the early days used medicines of undoubted strength if not efficacy. With them it was frequently a case of kill or cure. Bleeding and blister ing were standard remedies for almost every known or unknown ailment: calomel was in high repute. They also used medicines that at the present day are unknown to the pharmacopoeia. In 1762, Dr. Crouch paid five shillings, old tenor, to David Blodgett of Amherst for five snake balls : these balls were made of parts of the rattlesnake and were esteemed to possess great medicinal virtues. Seth Coleman began the practice of medicine in Amherst in 1767 and died in 1816. William Kittredge was a physician here in 1784, remaining but a few years. Perhaps the mos: noted of the earlier physicians of Amherst was Dr. Robert Cutler, who began to practice in Pelham, in 1770, removed to Amherst before 1787 and did not die until 1835. Residents of Amherst now living remember well old Dr. Cutler. Samuel Gamwell practiced his profession in Amherst as early as 1793.
The first justice of the peace in Amherst was Josiah Chauncey. appointed about 1758, the second, Simeon Strong, in 1768. Simeon Strong was one of the most noted of men who have resided in Amherst. He was son of Nehemiah Strong and was born March 6, 1736, in North- ampton. He removed with his father's family to Amherst in 1741, was graduated from Yale College in the class of '56, read law with Col. Wor- thington of Springfield, was representative to the General Court in 176; and 1769, and senator in 1792 and 1793, arose to great eminence in his profession and in 1800 was appointed one of the justices of the Mass. supreme court. He died while in office, Dec. 14, 1805. He was one of the incorporators of an association chartered in 1792 for the purpose of building canals around the falls in the Connecticut river at South Hadley and Turners Falls. His son Simeon, born Feb. 22, 1764, was graduated from Yale College in 1786 and practiced law in Conway and Amherst. Another son, Solomon, born March 2, 1780, was graduated from Williams College in 179S, practiced law in Royalston. Athol, Westminster and Leom- inster, was member of Congress 1815-19: in 1819 was appointed judge of the circuit court of common pleas and in IS21 judge of the court of common pleas, a position he held until 1842. Two other sons of Judge Strong, Hezekiah and John, practiced law in Amherst. Both Josiah Chauncey and Simeon Strong lost their office as justices because they were unfriendly to the cause of the Revolution, and in their stead were appointed. in 1775, Moses Dickinson; in 1781, Nathaniel Dickinson, Jr., and in 1783. Ebenezer Mattoon, Jr.
THE HENDERSON HOUSE.
HOUSE BUILT BY NEHEMIAH STRONG. 1744. (Oldest House in Town )
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FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS.
CHAPTER IX.
FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS .- AN OLD LAWSUIT .-- AMHERST TROOPS IN THE WARS .- PETITIONS FOR RELIEF .- MILITIA COMPANY.
In 1744, some fifteen years after the first settlement was made at East. Hadley, war between Great Britain and France began in Europe and soon extended to the colonies. In this, as in the earlier wars, France made allies of the Indians. To guard against attacks from the savages Massa- chusetts maintained garrisons at Heath, Rowe, and " East Hoosuck", after- wards Adams. There was also a fort garrisoned by Massachusetts men at Charlestown, N. H., which was attacked in April, 1747, and bravely defended. Among the garrison were five men from Hadley South and East Precincts, Eleazer Smith, William Boltwood, Nehemiah Dickinson, Nathaniel Church, Jr., and Ebenezer Dickinson. In a list of mounted soldiers that went in quest of the enemy to " Capt. Bridgman's fort, above Northfield," under command of Captain Seth Dwight, Oct. 22, 1747, and were out six days, are found the names of Sergeant Solomon Boltwood, Joseph Clary, Aaron Smith, Pelatiah Smith, Hezekiah Belding; Samuel Ingram and William Boltwood.
As a result of the scouting expedition to the north in October, 1747, a lawsuit was brought by Ephraim Kellogg against Solomon Bolt wood, which was among the celebrated cases of the time. Lieut. Boltwood was ordered to go with a detachment of men to the relief of the people on the northern frontiers, who had been assaulted by the enemy. The order was. given by Lieut. Jonathan Smith of Hadley, who procured Ephraim Kellogg's mare for Bøltwood to ride on. Soon after. Kellogg sued Boltwood, claim -- ing that the latter had rode the mare so severely she was in a great measure ruined. The matter came before the courts and a great mass of evidence was taken. Among the witnesses was Isaac Hubbard, who testified as follows :
" In October I happened to be at the House of Charles Wright when M' Sol- omon Boltwood and Company returned from up the Country the time when Mr. Boltwood had Ephraim Kelloggs mare and there I heard one of the Company Setting forth how Exceeding quick they came from Sunderland; and Altho I Cannot Speak Positively Concerning the Number of Minutes, yet I well Remember that in the time of it I made a Calculation how far they would Ride in one Hour and I Remember it was Above Twenty Six mile so that it must be made Ten minnits the Space they Rode was four miles So Calld by Every one that is Acquainted with the Road: and went out of the House and viewed the Horses. and found they Sweat Exceedingly and smoke very much."
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF AMHERST. MASS.
A mare that could cover four miles of poor roadway in ten minutes must have been considered a very valuable animal in those days, and it is small wonder that her owner desired a round sum to recompense him for her "ruin". But Jonathan Smith testified for the defence, his evidence going to show the mare was little injured. His testimony was, in brief, that he was the officer that sent out the party for the relief of the frontiers, by order of Col. Porter, in the fall of the year 1747. Mr. Solomon Bolt- wood was the head of the party and he rode upon Ephraim Kellogg's mare. After their return, hearing that Kellogg complained that his mare was abused, he took notice of her from time to time and never saw her otherwise to appearance than sound and well. She was then with foal, had afterwards a likely colt, and to all appearances remained sound up to the time of the trial. The case was before the courts for a long time, was left out to arbitrators and finally settled by agreement.
In the company under Capt. William Lyman at Fort Massachusetts in " East Hoosuck" in 1747-48 were William Murray and Isaac Goodale. In the company of Capt. William Williams, out from March 10 to Oct. 20, 1748, were Jonathan Dickinson, Eleazer Mattoon and Aaron Smith. In Col. Joseph Dwight's company, on the Western frontiers from Aug. 7 to 21, 1748, were the following from the East Precinct : Ensign Solomon Boltwood, Corp'l Joseph Hawley, Josiah Chauncey, Ebenezer Dickinson, Ebenezer Kellogg, William Boltwood, John Ingram and Nathaniel Church, Jr. There were, probably, men from the Third Precinct of Hadley in the army that besieged and captured Louisburg in 1745, but their names are not known. Soldiers were enlisted for this expedition in all the Hampshire county towns. This war continued until 1748, when it was ended by the treaty of Aix la Chapelle.
The last- of the French and Indian wars was begun in 1754, continu- ing for nearly ten years. Many men from the East Precinct took part in the struggle. In the company commanded by Capt. Israel Williams in 1754-55 were Corp'ls Nathan Dickinson and Preserved Clapp. A part of this company went to Huntstown (now Ashfield) to guard the inhabitants while they were gathering their corn. In 1755, an expedition was undertaken by the English against Crown Point, a French fortress on Lake Champlain. Capt. Moses Porter of Hadley led a company in this expedition and among the men under his command were the following from the East Precinct : Serg't Reuben Dickinson, David Dickinson, David Smith, Jonathan Moody, Jr., Nathaniel Dickinson, Preserved Clapp: in a company under Capt. Elijah Smith of " Cold Spring " (Belchertown) were Josiah Chaun- cey. Samuel Cutler, Oliver Cowls, Abner How, Eleazer Harwood, Philip Ingram ; in Thomas Edward's company of Col. Joseph Dwight's regiment were Joseph Clary. David Dickinson, Oliver Cowls, Samuel Hawley, Jr.
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AMHERST SOLDIERS IN THE WAR.
ad his son Elijah. The latter died previous to March 19, 1757. His 'ather received, by order of the General Court, " the full allowance for his ·on's subsistence on his return from ye army at Lake George in 1755." In Lieut. Jonathan Dickinson's company, Col. Israel Williams' regiment, illed out to defend the Western frontiers when Fort William Henry was csieged in 1757, were Lieut. Jonathan Dickinson, Nehemiah Dickinson t ind Abner Adams. In Col. Williams' regiment at Charlemont from Jan. '4 to Nov. 30, 1757, were Nathaniel Dickinson, Jonathan Moody, Asahel Moody, Justus Williams and Simeon Smith. In Lieut. Joseph Billings' company that marched to the relief of Fort William Henry when it was nvested in 1757 were John Billing, Samuel Church and John Nash. In 1758, an expedition was organized for the invasion of Canada, and a regi- ment was raised in Hampshire county by Col. Israel Williams for this service. In Elisha Pomeroy's company, among the men who enlisted in April and May and were paid on an average for 45 days' service, were Corporals David Smith and Joseph Dickinson and Oliver Cowls, David Dickinson, Noadiah Lewis, Thomas Morton, Caesar Prutt and Justus Williams. Others from the East Precinct who took part in this expedition were Nathan Dickinson, Jr., John Keet, Jr., Micah Guilford, Alexander Smith, Abner How, Moses Warner, David Blodgett, Lemuel Moody, Eli Colton, Paul Guilford, Charles Chauncey, Samuel Graham, Eleazar Har- wood, Isaac Ward, Abner How, Charles Wright, Philip Ingram. In Selah Barnard's company in 1760 were Ebenezer Harwood, Solomon Sawtell, Micah Guilford, Benjamin Harwood, Zechariah Harwood, Simeon Rude, jabez Snow, Josiah Chauncey. Aaron Smith, Jr. was in Major Roger's Rangers, and was captured near Ticonderoga, March 13, 1758.
A list of those from the East Precinct who took part in this war, com- filed by Judd, contains the following names that do not appear above : Elijah Baker, Peletiah Bucknanı, Benjamin Bucknam, Nehemiah How, Isaac Temple, Nathan Davis, Simeon Walker, John Gould. In the fight- ing in the vicinity of Lake George, Sept. 8, 1755, Zebadiah Williams, " perhaps of Amherst," was killed.
There is no minute concerning these wars in the precinct records. Counties were paid by the government to the soldiers who enlisted for the expeditions against Louisburg and Crown Point; most of those who engaged in the service were young men, attracted by the liberal pay and with a desire to travel and see something of the world.
Soon after the close of the French and Indian wars the General Court was flooded with petitions for aid by relatives of soldiers who had been Alled, wounded, or carried into captivity. The following, on file among the state archives. were presented by residents of Pelham and East Hadley :
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF AMHERST, MASS.
"Petition of John Conkey of Pelham & Aaron Smith, Sr. of Hadley, to : Hon. Andrew Oliver of Boston, secretary for the province.
PELHAM Septhr ye 19th 1758.
Honoured Sir }
In as much as there is notification to those that have their relations in Capti. to make it known to you-
These are therefore to inform that my son Joshua Conkey of Pelham .. Aaron Smith of Hadley who were in the Publick Service under Major Rogers a was taken the 13th of March last Near Ticonderoga and as we are informed . alive now in Keneda we therefor pray that you will take proper Care that they brought home as soon as may be which is all at present from your Hum Servants.
JOHN CONKEY AARON SMITH, Sen""
March 19, 1760, Petition of Isaac Ward.
" Whereas my Son Isaac Ward of Captain Elijah Smith's Company was. November last, left Sick at Crown Point, without any Provincial, being allowed Stay, to take care of Him : upon receiving Information thereof, I was at the Char. of Sending two men to his relief ; who proceeded as far as Green Bush with th .. horses, and finding it impractable to Cross the Lake at that Time Returned Ho: again, without Getting any Intelligence of my Said Son ; whereupon I Sent anot !. man who went with his horse as far as Said Green Bush where he got Intellige :: that my Said Son Died about the twentieth Day of December last, and So pr ceeded no further : and as my Said Son is made up in Said Captain Smith's Mus: Roll, many Days Short of the Time when he Died-
I Humbly Pray that Your Excellency and Your Honours would Gracious Grant what You in Your Wisdom Shall Judge reasonable for the Charge I was . on account of my Said Son : and also Wages for him from the Time he was mat. up to in Said Captain Smith's Muster-Roll to the Time of his Death."
This was accompanied by a bill of expenses amounting to over {1: the General Court allowed him 56, 2, 4.
May 23, 1764, Benjamin Rhoades petitioned the Governor, Counc and General Court for pay for the loss of the services of his apprenti Thomas Quiggle, who was a private soldier at Crown Point and afterward. at Ticonderoga, when, being sent by his officers after some provisions " 1 froze his feet in so Terrible a manner that he Lost all his toes & hath bec under ye care of chirurgeons ever since & is not yet Healed-by which your Petitioner hath greatly suffer'd in ye Loss of his Labor & ye Cos .. of his Maintenance &c." The committee of the General Court to who .. the petition was referred, reported in favor of giving Mr. Rhoades £3.
A militia company was organized in the precinct soon after 1740, 1: first officers being Jonathan Smith, lieutenant, and Ebenezer Kellos- ensign. Jonathan Smith became captain about 1749 and Ebenezer Kellos lieutenant. Some of the first settlers had taken part in the earlier India. wars, so the military spirit was not lacking. The training received in the-
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SECOND AND THIRD PRECINCTS.
companies and the experience gained in the campaigns against the French and Indians were of incalculable service later on when the war against England began. The colonists while few in number, possessing little knowledge of the science of war, were naturally good fighters, and having a thorough acquaintance with the country were enabled to take advantage of the frequent mistakes of the enemy. The militia companies of the early days were intended not so much for ornament as for service. Their discipline was hardly of the character inculcated at West Point, and their maneuvers would excite more laughter than applause if executed at the present day, but they learned how to fight and how to obey, two necessary attributes of the soldier of to-day as of him who lived one hundred and fifty years ago. They were sadly lacking in arms and equipment and uniforms, viewed from a modern standpoint, but they possessed fighting qualities that would put to shame many of the finely equipped companies of the present time.
CHAPTER X.
PETITION TO BECOME A DISTRICT .- THE DISTRICT ORGANIZED .- AMHERST AND LORD AMHERST .- PROVINCE TAXES .- STATISTICS IN 1771.
In 1753, the Second Precinct of Hadley was erected into the district of South Hadley, and-the old Third Precinct became the new Second. The lands at South Hadley were settled earlier than those at Amherst, and the settlers south of the mountain increased more rapidly than those in the East Precinct, in 1731 outnumbering the latter two to one. There was, however, a steady growth in the East Precinct that was destined in a few years to give it a larger population than South Hadley or even the parent settlement, although for many years the latter continued to rank first in wealth and taxable estate. For many years before they were set off as districts, the South and East Precincts could have united and out-voted the First Precinct and controlled the town, but there is nothing in the old records to show that such action was ever attempted or even contemplated. A majority of the selectmen were always chosen from the old village, excepting in 1751 and 1757. The first selectman and the first assessor to represent the East Precinct were chosen in 1732. In 1756 the inhabi- tants in the East Precinct exceeded those in the old First Precinct. 5
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF AMHERST, MASS.
As long as the precinct organization was continued, it was necessary for the transaction of town business to go to the old village ; this, as years passed by and the population of the East Precinct steadily increased. came to be regarded more and more as a hardship. The need of a district organization was apparent, and in 1758 steps were taken to bring it about. The following paragraphs, quoted from the Province Laws in 1758 and 1759, show the method of procedure :
"June 8, 1758. A Petition of John Nash and Others, a Committee of the Second Precinct in Hadley in the County of Hampshire-Setting forth the incon- veniences they Labour under by being connected with the first Precinct, as well on account of their high Taxes, from which they do not reap a proportional Advan- tage, as on account of their Distance from the Place where their Town Meeting> are constantly held, and praying that they with the Addition of some of the Inhab- itants of the said first Precinct may be erected into a distinct and separate District agreeable to the Limits mentioned, accompanied with,
A Certificate from Isaac Ward and Others, Resident on a Tract of Land, lying in the first Precinct in said Town, and adjoining to the second, shewing that they are desirous of being incorporated with the said second Precinct, as a separate and distinct District, they being much more conveniently situated for transacting Business there, than where they now belong.
In the House of Representatives Read and Ordered. That the Petitioners serve the Clerk of the first Precinct in the Town of Hadley with an Attested Copy of this Petition, that they shew cause, if any they have, on the second Friday of the next Sitting of the Court why the Prayer thereof should not be granted.
In Council. Read and Concurred."-Council Records, vol. XXII., p. 381. " January 9, 1759. A petition of the Inhabitants of the second Precinct in Hadley Praying as entered 8 June last to be erected into a District.
In Council Read again together with the Answer of the first Parish in the Town of Hadley ; and the other Papers accompanying the same. And Ordered That Benjamin Lynde and William Brattle, Esq's with such as the honourable House shall join be a Committee to take the Petition and papers under considera- tion and report what they judge proper to be done thereon.
In the House of Representatives Read and Concurred and Mr Tyng, M' Niles and Capt. Stevens are joined in the Affair."
" Jan. 12, 1759. The Committee appointed the 9th Instant on the Petition of the Inhabitants of the second Precinct in Hadley reported according to Order. In Council. Read and Accepted. And Ordered That the Petitioners have leave to bring in a Bill for erecting the Second Parish in Hadley into a District agreeable to the foregoing Report. And further Ordered That Daniel Smith an indigent Person in said Town be supported at the Expence of the Town of Hadley and of said District in equal Moieties.
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