.i^^ ^"^ 3. "-v^* A° >, >^ .A .-^ ,* 'y ^?» -.' 6-^-4 4.V V * J. » o ' , V (• %/' H; ^^-^. -- -3', W t . o. 'v/^- ,-'5 O M O .S^^o 0^ \J> • ^ - / 7/ / «3i - s ^ - Ml ^ AN 1$ e$$, DELIVERED AT THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF THE INCORPOKATIOX OF THE TOWN OF WILBRAHAM, . JUNE 15, 1863. BY RUrUS p. STEBBINS, D. D, Wixih mx S.ppcntrh'. BOSTON": OEOROE C. RAND A AVERY, rillNTEIlS, 3 CO UN HILL. 1864. n4- COBBESrONDEJ^^CE. WiLBRAHAM, JUNE 18, 1863. To Kev. K. p. Stebbins, D. D. Dear Sir: — Tlie undersigned, appointed by the Committee of Arrangements of the Centennial Celebration of this Town, do respectfully solicit a copy of your Centennial Address, delivered before the inhabitants of the town, on the loth instant, for publication. A compliance with the above request will confer a great favor upon the citizens of the town. Respectfully yours, JOHN B. MORRIS, JOHN W. LANGDON, JOHN M. MERRICK, Com. of Publication. WoBURN, June 26, 1863. Gentlemen : — Your letter of the 18th instant, requesting a copy of my Centennial Address, delivered before the inhabitants of the town of Wilbraham, on the 15th in- stant, for publication, is before me. I am happy to comply with your request, believing that no town is so obscure, much less ours, that its history is not worthy of being written, as both instruction and inspi- ration to its citizens. The favor with which the Address was received when delivered encourages me to hope that it may not be entirely destitute of interest when read. The haste with which it was prepared will render it necessary for me to thoroughly revise the manuscript, and thus cause some delay in sending it to the press. Accept, gentlemen, my thanks for the favors you have shown, and my best wishes for the prosperity not only of yourselves but of your fellow-citizens. Respectfully, Your former townsman and continued friend, RUFUS P. STEBBINS. John B. Morris, John W. Lanodon, and John M. Merrick, Esqrs., Committee of Publication. B iBmeATB® TO THE §cscenbmTts 0f tfjc Jfirst <§£ttte of Milbraljnm, SCATTERED ABROAD, OR STILL RESIDENT, A N D T O ITS PRESIMTT eCTCgiNS, THIS ADDRESS, PREPARED, DELIVERED, AND FRUITED BY THEIR INVITATION, IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED B T THE AUTHOR. xtiutaxQ. ^^^HE following Address and Appendix have been prepared 15'^ almost entirely from the Records of the Town, the Parishes, and the Churches. I have found hardly a sentence in print which has given me any assistance. If any histori- cal sermons were preached by any of the ministers of the town, they were either not printed, or I have failed to [(d) find them. This fact has made my labor very difficult and slow, as well as severe. I have thoroughly searched the records of the town of Springfield during the period antecedent to the incorporation of Wilbraham, and copied all that referred to our history. I am indebted to the kindness of Mr. Folsom, City Clerk, for aid in finding that portion of the records which I needed. I obtained a copy of the Indian deed of a portion of the town from the office of the Registry of Deeds, and the clerks kindly volunteered to make scru- tiny to discover, if possible, other deeds. I spent several days in the Archives of the State Department, at the State House, in Boston, and was greatly assisted by the clerks, Messrs. Strong and Coolidge, and especially by Alanson Hawley, Esq., who kindly copied for me several pages from the " Revolutionary Rolls," and aided me in other ways most generously. I have obtained invaluable assistance from Samuel Warner's Journal, and from Doctor Samuel Fisk Merrick's Journal of his two expeditions in the Revolutionary War, and from his MS. address at the conclusion of a century from the settlement of the town, delivered Juite, " election day," 1831. I have not been able to find any Revolutionary correspondence save 5 two letters from John Langdon. I regret it, as private letters throw grea light on history, — on the spirit of its actors. From Hon. Oliver Blis Morris I have received many hints and helps. John M. Merrick, Esq has sent me many papers of great value. Mrs. Stebbins very kindly entrusted to me some most valuable papers, collected by her late husbant Calvin Stebbins, Esq., when he was engaged, with others in the towi twenty years ago, in endeavoring to save the early traditions from perisl ing. I have visited the oldest people, and learned many incidents of intei est. In a word, I have spared no labor to gather my facts and tradition: The result is before the reader. I have written for the citizens of Wilbraham, that they might knoi what manner of persons their ancestors were, and how the town has grow to its present condition. I have endeavored, therefore, to let our fathei and mothers speak for themselves. I have copied and printed to the lettc the records and old documents. ■ The same word will be found spelle differently in the same sentence, and names are often spelled differentl in the same document. I have kept all, or have attempted to, as th record has it. I do not flatter myself that I have made no mistakes in this most di: ficult and laborious work of copying. I throw myself on the compassio as well as generosity of my late fellow-citizens. Only about half of th Address, owing to its great length, was delivered ; and some words, throw in to diminish the tedium of the hour, are not printed. Messrs. Rand & Avery have done their part well. It will be remen bered that Mr. Avery, of this firm, is son of the late Abraham Averj Esq. ; and I may add that Mrs. Rand, the wife of the other member < the firm, is daughter of the same former citizen of the town. The limits which I had set to myself have been overrun, and I con menced omitting some of my materials. This accounts for the removal ( Dr. Russell's second speech from its proper place, after mine, at the din ner, to page 289. I was cheered, however, in my work, by the unan' mous voice of the town to save everything. Most hearty thanks for th: kind confidence and indulgence. I place my year's work in your hand with distrust and hope. R. P. S. Cambridge, March 3, 1864. HISTORICAL ADDRESS Sons axj> Daughtjems of Wilbsaham .- — TT7ELC0ME! This is a memorable day. We meet ' * with gladsomeness to pour into the lap of our venerable mother whatever honors and successes we have won in the various pursuits of life ; to render her thanks for the spirit she nourished in us, the industry, the economy and thrift she taught us ; and to congratu- late her that she has attained her hundredth year, is now a full century old, with no wrinkle on her brow, no dimness in her eye, no heaviness in her step, the still prolific mother of still enterprising and heroic sons, of still beautiful and enlightened daughters. There is no foot of her soil which does not glow with bright mem- ories to some of us. Her very name is music to all our ears. It was a happy thought of the children in the old homestead — accept our thanks for it, brothers and sis- ters — to call us wanderers back again, t^at we might brighten the chain of kinship and neighborhood ; that we migbt clasp hands in the fervors of young friend- ship ; that, above all, we might unitedly offer thanks to 10 Almiglit}^ God for his favoring care, and the heritage of our fathers. It will do us good to rehearse the story of our ancestors, to trace the growth of the town from the day when Nathaniel Hitchcock, coming out to the '•' mountains," commenced breaking up the two acres which he sowed with wheat, and biult his log cabin, and for one long year dwelt here with his family alone, with no neighbor to share his friendly fire or frugal flire, nearer than Springfield Street, till villages, thrifty farm-houses, manufactories, schools, and rich, broad harvest-fields fill all our borders. Nor is this all. The history of our town is the his- tory of liberty. These little municipalities were the nurseries of those principles of freedom, and trained our ancestors to that capacity of administration, which have made us a great nation of freemen, extending from the rising to the setting sun, a name and a praise in the whole earth, wherever human rights are respected and liberty loved. In our town-nieetings our fathers learned to legislate ; in our town-offices they learned to admin- ister ; and when the hour came, they were ready for the birth, and sprang into existence a nation of freemen, prepared for all the responsibilities of legislation and administration. We shall learn the history of liberty as we trace the growth of the town ; for " the doctrine of the sovereignty of the people came out of the town- ships and took possession of the State." We shall not only express our gratitude by these services, but we shall inflame our patriotism, kindle anew the fires of 11 liberty, and leurn, from the heroic sacrifices of our fathers, how to preserve it, now the " gates of hell have rebelled agjainst it." The history of our town naturally divides itself into four periods. I. The first period extends from its first settlement, 1731, and somewhat antecedently, to its incorporation as the fourth precinct of Springfield, Jannary 6, 1741. During this period, all public business, both municipal and ecclesiastical, was transacted in Springfield, and the first settlers were struafo-linsf with the stubborn soil and beasts and birds for the necessaries of life and the secu- rity of their persons. It was a period of luird labor, poor returns, patient endurance. II. The second period extends IVom the incorporation of the " outward commons," or " the mountains of Springfield," into the fourth parish or precinct for the support of a minister, January 6, 1741, to the incorpo- ration of the town, by the name of Wilbraham, June 15, 1763. This period is occupied chiefly by ecclesias'^ tical afftiirs, — the organization of a religious society, the gathering of a church, the settlement of a minister, the building of a meeting-house, and the adjustment of those troubles which parishes and churches tlien, as now, found it hard to settle. III. The third period extends from the incorporation of the town, June 15, 1763, to the division into two 12 parishes, the North and the South, June 20, 1782. The town ceases from this time to have charge of ecclesiasti- cal affairs, and its history is limited to secular business, — the laying out of roads, the opening of schools, the building of school-houses, and especially to the raising of troops and commissary stores for the Revolutionary War, and to the struggle with the difficulties arising out of a depreciated paper currency. IV. The fourth period extends from the division of the town into two parishes, June 20, 1782, to the pres- ent day, June 15, 1863. It includes the history of the gradual growth of the town, — its improvements in agri- culture and means of education, the formation of new religious societies, and of troubles in the old ones, the erection of shops, mills, manufactories, and of the foun- dation and success of this noble institution, to whose spacious halls we have been this day welcomed by the generous hospitality of its principal, my friend and class- mate, the Rev. Dr. Raymond. Such is the outline of my story. — The settlement of the town, the establishment of religious institutions, the organization of the town and the administration of its affairs, under the act of incorporation, till the formation of two parishes at the close of the Revolutionary War, and its subsequent growth and improvement. I shall neither challenge nor weary your patience by an attempt to relate it all ; but, like the old chroniclers at the Grecian games, I shall go on with my tale of 13 struggle and growth, of endurance and success, " and leave it half told when hearers give signs of weariness or the herald proclaims that the feast and the games are ready." I. What is now the town of Wilbraham was a part of the territory of Springfield, whose settlement was commenced by William Pynchon and his associates, in 1636, ninety-five years before the settlement of this town. The territory of the town of Springfield was about twenty-five miles square, extending from Connect- icut River east to the present line of Monson, west to Russell or thereabouts, and from Warehouse Point, or about the south line of Enfield, to the mountains or thereabouts on the north. I do not undertake to trace accurately the boundary line, as it is not necessary to my purpose. On the east side of this territory, extend- ing from Connecticut line to the north line of the town of Springfield, as then bounded, there was a strip four miles wide, called the " Mountains," or "^ outward com- mons of Springfield." There was also a strip on the west side of about two-thirds the same length, and whose breadth is determined by specified bounds called " outward commons of Springfield, on the west side of the Great River." These " outward commons " on each side of the river, though within the original purchase of Pynchon, had not been specially appropriated to any of the inhabit- ants of Springfield, and there was reason to fear that 14 Sir Edmund Andros, Governor of Massachusetts, would take away the charter of the colony, as he threatened to do, thus causmg all the unappropriated lands to revert to the crown, — become the property of the king. The inhabitants of Springfield, therefore, to avoid such an undesirable transfer of ownership of their '* common lands," voted, in town-meeting, February 3, 1685, that after reserving three hundred acres to the ministry, and one hundred and fifty acres for schools, on the " east side of the river," and a due proportion to the ministry and schools on the " west side of the Great River," the remainder be divided among the one hundred and twen- ty-three heads of families or legal citizens ; among these is included, by special vote, " our reverend teacher, Mr, Pelatiah Glover." A '' ministry-lot " and a " school-lot " are also to be given from the land. There are, therefore, one hundred and twenty-five proprietors, among whom the land is to be divided. The division is to be made according to estates and polls, — each poll to be valued at £12. It was also voted, that all male children, under age, should be counted as polls ; and further, that while these lands are unfenced, any person can use them for grass, herbage, and timber, and that they shall be free from taxes till improved. As the lands appropriated would necessarily vary very much in value, and as it was not only just, but desirable, that each j^roprietor should have at least a chance to secure a good lot or a portion of one, these '• outward commons " on the east side of the river 15 were divided into three portions, and those on the west side into two portions, making iive portions in all. These portions w^ere numbered from one to five, begin- ning with the northernmost portion on the east side ; and each of the one hundred and tv^^enty-five proprie- tors was to have one share in each portion, making five shares in all. Omitting all further reference to the " commons," which were not included in the present boundaries of the town, only stating that the " com- mons " on the east side of the river were about twelve miles long, and therefore that each of the divisions was four miles north and south, and that nearly the whole of the first division and part of the second were north of Chicopee River, the so-called "outward commons," constituting the principal part of the present town of AVilbraham, included the greater part of the second and the whole of the third division. The second divi- sion extended from about a mile north of Chicopee River south four miles to the south line of the farm of Deacon Moses Burt, and west from Monson line four miles, to the line of the ''inner commons" near the Stony Hill road, which runs north and south. The third division was bounded north by the second divi- sion, east by Monson line, and extended south to near the top of the old Potash Hill, to what was then sup- posed to be the line of Connecticut, and west to the line of the " inner conunons," which was near the road iLinning south from Stony Hill, the most of the way to Somers. The " inner commons " was that territory 16 which extended from the " outward commons " to the settled portions of Springfield, sometimes called the " plains." The general bomidaries of the "commons" are de- fined, and the proportions of the several proprietors in the respective "divisions" are graduated; how can their several portions of the common property be located ? Each of these divisions was to l)e appropriated to one hundred and twenty-three persons, and a lot for the ministry, and one for the schools. For my purpose, we may say there were one hundred and twenty-five pro- prietors, or persons, between whom each division is to be divided. There will be therefore one hundred and twenty-five lots in each " division." These lots are num- bered, beginning: at the north side of each division ; the north lot being one, the next two, and so on up to one hundred and twenty-five. These same numbers are drawn from a box like a lottery ; from another box, at the same time we may suppose, is drawn a proprietor's name. The proprietor who drew No. 1 would have the first "lot" in the "division," he who drew No. 2 would have the second lot, and so on till the whole number, one hundred and twenty-five, was drawn. Then lots would be drawn for the second division, and so on till all the divisions were drawn. After the number of the proprietor's lot was settled, the next step was to de- termine its width ; its length was four miles of necessity, because the lots extended across the " commons," from east to west. The width was determined by adding to- 17 gether the value of all the polls and estates, and then, as the whole amount would represent all the land in one division, or the whole extent north and south of four miles, so each man's estate and polls would represent his individual portion of the four miles, or the width of his lot; a problem in simple proportion. John Holyoke was chosen to make out a list of the estates and polls, and very probably to superintend the allotment. The lots varied in width, from one hundred and thirty-three rods, fifteen feet, and nine inches, which was the width of Col. Pynchon's, lying north of Sylvanus Stebbins's farm, being No. 81 in the "third di- vision," and north of Chicopee River, being lot No. 2 in the " second division," down to only eight feet and nine inches in width, the lot of William Brooks, not far from the late Noah Merrick's, being No. 13 in the " third divi- sion," and No. Ill in the *' second division." If this allotment saved the " commons" from reversion- to the king, it hardly conferred any benefit on the pro- prietors. A farm eight feet, or even ten rods wide, — and most of the lots were less than ten rods in width, — and four miles long, was worthless for all prac- tical purposes. A man could not turn his cart round without trespassing on his neighbor, much less could he build a house. Indeed, there is no reason to suppose that this allotment was intended to give permanent pos- session ; it was doubtless a mere resort to save the land from confiscation or reversion to the crown. The subsequent history of ownership seems to confirm this 18' view. The wealth of Col. Pynchon is indicated by the great Avidth of his lot, one hundred and thirty-three rods. The lot of Mr. Holyoke, which is the next in width to Col. Pynchon's, is only twenty-six rods wide. No satisfactory survey was made of these lots, though several were attempted, till 1729, when Mr, Roger New- bury ran the line acceptably. One of his boundary stones is now standing, or rather lying nearly buried, on the north side of Sylvanus Stebbins's farm, about ten rods west of the road which passes his house ; and an- other was said to be standing on the north side of the late Dr. Samuel F, Merrick's house-lot, about thirty years ago. It was many j'ears before these allotments were defi- nitely marked, and the heirs of many of them were found with great difficulty, or were all dead, so that ailother allotment was attempted in 1740, fifty-five years after the first, to about four hundred persons ; and again in 1754, on a different principle, to five hun- dred and forty-four persons. But serious difficulties were in the way of the new allotments, and they were but partially acceptable. It is said that the Pynchon heirs, having obtained excellent portions, some of the best land, under the first allotment, would not agree to any new arrangement. In Newbury's survey of the original lots, for some unknown reason, only sixteen feet were allowed to a rod ; so that there were sixty-two rods in width of " overplus land." as it was called, on the south side of 19 the third division, where now are John W. Langdon's and Mr. Endicott's farms ; and by some further mis- take, supposed to be the loss of a tally, there were eighty-two rods in width of '-overplus land," on the south side of the "second division," including; with others the farm of Deacon John Adams, ^ Such was the division made of the land ; and the vote of the town of Springfield, by which this distribu- tion of the territory of this town was made among the early proprietors, constitutes the original legal title which the present occupants have to the soil. These divisions and lots are always mentioned in the early deeds conveying land in the town, and by examining these deeds, the situation of many of the oi'iginal lots can be found, and the names of the original proprietors determined. No record was made however of New- bury's survey till 1774 at least, for I find that a com- mittee was chosen at a town meeting, held March 15th, of that year, '' to desire Edward Pynchon, Esq., to record a tested coppy of Roger Newberry's survey of Laying out the ^ outward commons,' So Called, on the east side of Connecticut River ; " and as late as May 20, 177(3, a committee is chosen by the town to ■" make application to the general court for an Establishment" of this survey. The appearance of the coimtry was not attractive. Nearly the whole territory^ called by the Indians, Min- nechaug, " Berry land," had been so devastated by fires, that in many places there were no forest trees, — and ^ Appendix A. 20 in other portions hardly any shrubbery grew. The low, swampy grounds and swales afforded a coarse grass which was mowed and cured for the support of cattle during the winter season, and the burnt hills furnished abundant pasturage during the summer. The tradition is handed down to us, that the country was so bare in many places that a deer could be seen from mountain to mountain. The late Samuel Chapin was accustomed to say, that in his father's day all the land south of Scantic from the mountain to the Potash Hill and west of the present road nearly half a mile was so destitute of trees and brush, that a deer could be seen distinctly at a great distance. Game was very abundant, and continiied to be till long after the settlement of the town. Deer filled the pastures and the woods ; wild turkeys ran in llocks over the fields and hills ; the ponds were covered with ducks ; squirrels on the trees filled the air with their barking, and were seen leaping in all directions over the rocks ; beavers built their dams in Pole Bridge Brook, and muskrats swarmed upon the banks of Scan- tic and other streams, sharing with minks the bounties of both land and water. The brooks abounded with that prince of fishes, the trout ; pickerel darted like arrows in the clear waters of the ponds, and salmon, weighing from seven to twelve pounds, came up the Chicopee River as far as Twelve Mile Brook, where thev were cauo;ht in o-reat abundance with seines. Beasts of prey were not abundant, if we except the fox, 21 Avhicli cunningly sought his rent of the intruders by securing the choicest of the poultry for his own eating. Sometimes bears made their appearance and feasted on the unripe corn, much to the annoyance of the planter and the terror of his children. It was not uncommon for devout aunts to still the restlessness of the children, wdio were left in their care, both on Sundays and on other days, when their pranks were annoying, by telling them that the bears would hear them and come and carry them away into the woods and devour them. Bounties were given at an early day, for the destruc- tion of wdld-cats, by the town of Springfield. No Indians inhabited the town after it was settled ; nor probably for many years previous. Seldom, if ever afterwards, was it visited by them in any numbers. Springfield on the west, and Quabog, as Brookfield was called, on the east, were more attractive, and furnished much 'better planting-ground. These mountains were their hunting-grounds, and were undoubtedly aban- doned soon after King Philip's War, 1675. One Indian squaw alone remained after the settlement commenced. Her wigwam was on a little brook, southeasterly of Mr. Pliny Merrick's house, and gave the name to " Wigwam Hill," on w^hicli his house stands, and ^vhere the first meeting-house and parsonage were erected. No one knows her origin or end. Alone, the last of that mys- terious race who had chased the deer over these fields, trapped the beaver in these streams, speared the sal- mon in these rivers, enjoyed the freedom of these hills. 22 * kindled their evening fires by these springs, and, as they smoked their pipe, beheld the western sky lighting up when the sun went down, as if with the smile of the Great Spirit and of the heroes who had fallen in battle, and buried their kindred under these trees, she lived soli- tary, the curiosity of the early settlers, harmless, quiet, meditative, seldom entering any dwelling, and providing for her own wants. At last even she disappeared. Of the manner of her death, or of her burial-place, no man knoweth. She passed away, as a shadow of the van- ished race, and joined the company and pastime of her fathers, " the hunter and the deer a shade," in the land of the sunset, beyond the western hills which she had so often seen empurpled at eventide. There was nothing to hinder the enterprising from entering in and taking possession of the land ; and in the summer of 1730, Nathaniel Hitchcock came out from Springfield Street, and cleared and broke up two acres of ground, and erected a log hut where the house of Mr. James Merrick, the great grandson of the first minister, now stands. After sowing his two acres with wheat, Hitchcock returned to Springfield Street to spend the winter and make the few preparations which Avere necessar}^ to remove his young wife, whom he had married that year, to his hut by the " Mountains," in the spring. In May, 1731, one hundred and thirty-two years ago, he came out with his wife to his narrow field and low hut, and resided here a full year, with no neigh- bor nearer than Springfield Street Nine miles away. 23 he planted his corn, he gathered his wheat, he mowed his grass, dried and stacked his hay, husked and stored his corn under the roof of his cabin ; and when the long, dark, stormy winter evenings came, he was solaced with the music of his wife's song, and the voice of his child, and the crackling and roaring of the fire in his great open fireplace, in the corners of which, in later days, the children were delighted to sit and gaze up through the huge chimney at the sparkling stars. At last the spring opened, and not only the robins and the bluebirds returned, but what was better for him and for Hannah, his wife, Noah Alvord came and settled near him, on the place where Mr. Lorenzo Kibbe now resides. Sweet counsel did these two neighbors take respecting the field to be cleared, to be planted, to be sown ; and often did Hitchcock, that summer, take his axe and go over to his Neighbor Alvord's to work by his side, softening the hardness of the labor by the pleasure of society. And you might have seen Alvord, of an early morning, with his hoe in hand, going over to make Hitchcock's long day's work shorter by his helpfulness. Nor was there any rivalry between the two wives, ex- cept to most lovingly and abundantly render all needed service to each other. The report of the land was good ; and the next year, 1733, came Daniel Warner, and settled where the Widow Brainard Brewer now resides, near both Hitch- cock and Alvord. In 1734, the next year, Mr. Nathan- iel Warriner, afterwards a prominent citizen, the donor 24 of the ministry and school-fund, located himself where Mrs. Gale and Mrs. Mears now reside. Of these four earliest settlers no descendant remains in town. Na- thaniel Warriner had no children. Of Noah Alvord's four children, none had children. And the descendants of Hitchcock and Warner all left the town years ago. It is possible that some other settlers may have come in before 1734. Moses Burt, grandfather of our oldest vice-president, Deacon Moses Burt, now^ hale in his ninety-first year, and thrice welcome to our festivities, an industrious weaver and reed-maker, settled on the Burt Farm, perhaps as early as 1733, for in that year the deed of his farm, given by Mary Day, is dated. Then Samuel Warner settled on Stony Hill ; Samuel Stebbins on the mountain not far from Mr. Richards's ; David Merrick built his house where Mr. John M. Mer- rick resides ; John Jones settled on Mr. Buell's place ; Abel Bliss, great grandfather of Mr. John Wesley Bliss, on the Bliss Farm ; Daniel Lamb, on the Bay Road, west of Jenksville ; Thomas Merrick, father of the young man bitten by a rattlesnake, immortalized in song, on Mr. Cross's Farm ; David Warriner on the Academy lot ; Isaac Brewer on Edwin Brewer's place ; David Chapin and Moses Bartlett over and on the mountain ; and Nathaniel Bliss near Samuel Stebbins. But the time would fail me to name all those, few though they were, who settled in the town before 1741, or during the first ten years, — the first period of our history. In May, 1740, there are twenty -six names attached to the petition for incorporation as a separate precinct. All these are from what is now called the North Parish. I find no evidence that there were any settlers within the limits of the present South Parish before 1741. Of these petitioners, two were not landholders, and soon removed, so that there were but twenty-four, — some say but twenty-two, — who paid taxes. Few and scattered as the settlers were, they were not indifferent to the education of their children. As early as 1737 I find that the town of Springfield appropri- ated three pounds for the support of a school in the " outward commons on the east side." There were at this time, as nearly as I can ascertain, but eleven fami- lies. The same amount was appropriated the following year. In 1739, the sum was increased to four pounds ; and in 1740, two pounds more were added, making six pounds for the education of these children, our grand- fathers. The Testament was the text-book in schools, as well as the oracle in the church. Dilworth's spelling- book was their guide in spelling. Of geography noth- ing was taught ; of arithmetic but little. Writing re- ceived more attention. The means of education were very scant at the best, and the instruction, given in the houses of the different families in turn, was prob- ably very imperfect. During this first period, to Jan. 1, 1741, there were thirty-eight children born, and but three persons died ; not one of them was buried in the town. Widow Eliza- beth Cockril, who had come from Boston to reside w^ith •t 26 a relative, and who died April 26, 1741, was the " first person y* was Bured in y'' town." Comfort Warner, daughter of Daniel Warner and Jernsha Warner, his wife, was the first child born in the '•outward commons on the east side of the Great River," March 15, 1734. The first death was that of " David Jones, son of David Jones, and Hannah Jones, his wife, August 19th, 1736." These pioneers w^ere hardy and industrious, and pros- perity, such as they sought, as bounteous as they ex- pected, was their reward ; and eminently w^as fulfilled to every householder the promise of the Psalmist, '' Thy w^ife 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 " out- ward commons" at the close often years. Twenty-four families, or twenty-six, scattered over an area of four miles long and two miles broad, possessing only the barest comforts of life, include all the population. Most of their houses, it is true, Avere framed, the saw- mill at Sixteen Acres sujoplying lumber, but they Avere poorly finished, scantily glazed, and meagrely fur- nished, and rarely even j^'^^^'tially plastered. Their fields were still narrow, and but insecurely fenced. The bears and squirrels shared their scant harvest. The penurious soil did not make large returns, at best, for their labor. They were far from store and * Appendix 15. •li mill. They had no roads' for wheel-carriages, nor any conveyances of this kind, even if there had been roads. From the sides of the mountain, the friendly smokes of the settlers on the banks of the " Great River" could be seen rising above the trees. Between, there spread out an unbroken forest, swamp and meadow, save where a pond interrupted the continuity, whose j)lacid waters mirrored the heavens. 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, snows blocked their path in winter. Yv^hen the Sunday morning came, Daniel Lamb could comfortably make his way along the Bay Road to the sanctuary. But Hitchcock and Bliss and Warriner and Merrick, and the rest, some on horseback, their wives on their 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, striking the Usquaick, or Mill River, at Sixteen Acres, and en- tering the Bay Road near Goose Pond. The young men and maidens, for reasons easily divined, preferred to walk even when there was no necessity ; and it is re- ported, 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. But the elders wearied of the way ; the briers were sharp, the swamps were miry, the fords were insecure, the storms were drenchiuix. Their souls lomred for the 28 courts of the Lord, their hearts and their flesh cried out for the hving God. They had enjoyed the blessing of the preached word in their own homes on a few occa- sions, and it was pleasant to their souls. They cher- ished tenderly, yet timidly, their desire to establish the " means of grace " in their settlement. They talked over the subject in their families, and with each other in the field and by the way. They became courageous by speech, and gained assurance by intercourse. At last, Hitchcock and Warriner and Bliss and Burt and Brewer and Stebbins, and the rest, met, we may suppose, at Mer- rick'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 brethren in the first parish, Springfield Street, and of Longmeadow, incorporated as a precinct, in 1713, and see if they would not consent to their being set off as a separate precinct, and aid their petition to the pro- vincial government to that end, so that there may no longer be a " dearth of the word of the Lord " on the " Mountains." Their petition is favorably received by Longmeadow, and it is voted, March 10, 1740, "that "the outward commons of Springfield, be set off for the benefit of the gospel ministry." The first precinct j)assed a similar vote March 21. There is now no lion in the way, and these modest 29 "outward commoners" take courage, draw up a paper (Miipowering their agents, and certifying to their author- ity and responsibihty, and send up their petition, signed ill their behalf by Thomas Merrick, 2d, and Abel Bliss, to the provincial governor and council, wdiich should be given in full in their own words: — " To his Excellency Jonathan Belcher Esq Captain General and Governour in Chief in and over His Majes- tys Province of the Massachusetts Bay To the hon- oble His Majestys Council and House of Representa- tives in General Court assembled at Boston May A D 1740. " The Petition of Abel Bliss and Thomas Mirick Sec- ond for themselves and the rest of the Inhabitants set- tled at the mountains So called at the east side of the great river in Springfield on the land called the Outward Commons, being the second and third divisions of said Commons " Humbly Sheweth that your Pet'"* live nine miles from the said Town of Springfield, which distance makes it very inconvenient for them to attend the 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 of the weather, which makes the roads very bad and renders them al- most impossible to travel in, — " That the land lying in the Second and Third Divi- sions of the S'^ outward commons being in length north and South eight miles and east and west four miles are 30 very convenient and Commodious for a Precinct which your jjef* are very desirous of, for the building of a meeting house for the Pubhc 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 Pet'** would suggest to your Excellency and Honours That the first Parish and Longmeadow Parish in S^^ Springfield whereto they belong voted their consent that your Pet'"* should be set off a sepa- rate Precinct from the said Parishes. "And therefore your Pet'"* humbly pray that your Ex- cellenc}^ and Honours would be pleased to set them off and also to set off all those Lands which lye in the Sec- ond and Third Division of the said outward Commons being in length north and south eight miles, and east and west four miles a Separo.te Precinct, and grant unto them all such powers and libertys priviledges and Im- munitys as other Precincts have and enjoy with and imder such restrictions and limitations as your Excel- lency and Honours shall deem meetj and that all the lands lying within the limits aforesaid may be taxed further to enable your Pet'* to settle a minister &c for such term of time, and at such rate as your Excellency and Honours shall think proper. "And your Pet'"* (as in Duty bound) shall ever pra}^ "THOMAS MIRICK, 2-^ "ABEL BLISS." 31 Thus pathetically and hopefully did they send up their prayer to those in authority. Their petition was received by the House of Repre- sentatives, 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 granted." It was sent up to the council for concur- rence the same day ; and on the next day, June 27, the petition was read and the "Order" concurred in, and consented to, by the governor. The petition was taken up by the House at the next session, January 2, 1741, "and it appearing that the non-resident Proprietors have been sufficiently notified, but no answer given in, Ordered that the Prayers of the Petition be so far granted as that the Petitioners To- gether with all the lands petitioned for lying southward of the River called Chicuepe River runing Easterly and Westerly through the said Second Division of said Com- mons be erected into a Separate and distinct Precinct and that they be vested with all the Powers liberties Privilido-es 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 p'" acre p'' annum for the space of Four years Next Coming the money arising thereby to 82 be applyecl for the building of a Meeting house Settle- ment and support of the Ministry among them." This " Order " was sent up to the council for concurrence on the same day. January 5, 1741, the council concurred. On the next day, January 6, it was consented to by Jonathan Belcher, Governor, and the " Outward Com- mons on the East Side of the Great Eiver," or '• Moun- tanes 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 kind- ness to them. The axe was plied more vigorously, and the winter fires burned more cheerily because the ark of the Lord was to be set up among them.^ II. We now enter upon the second period of our his- tory. The precinct is incorporated, and no time is lost in entering upon the new and difficult work before the incorporators. A petition was sent, January 25, 1741, nineteen days only after the act of incorporation was passed, for a warrant to call a precinct meeting. And the first warrant, for that purpose, was issued February 13, 1741, one month and seven days after the act of incorporation was "^ consented to," by " Wm. Pynchon, Esq., one of his Majastes Justeses of the Peace for Hampshire County," to Mr. Nathaniel Warriner, " upon application made by Nathaniel Bliss, 2d, Sam'l Stebbins, ' Api)en(lix C. i 33 Jnnr., Samuel Warner, 2d, Noah Alvarcl and Nathaniel Warriner," requiring him " to Notifie the Freeholders and other inhabitants of said Precinct Quallified to voat in town affairs, that they meet and assemble togeather att the Dwellinii; House of David Mirick in said Precinct on the second Thursday [the 12th day] of March next att one a clock afternoon." The meeting was held at the time and place specified, and was organized by the choice of " William Pynchon, Esq., Moderator. David Mirick was chosen Clerk and sworn. Thomas Mirick, 2d, Isaac Brewer, Nathaniel Warriner, Committee of the Precinct for the year en- suing. Isaac Brewer, Treasurer, sworn ; David Mirick, Thomas Mirick, 2d, 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 y*^ second Wednesda}^ of March annually." Four very difficult and important undertakings are to test the skill, ability and patience of the members of the precinct : — The choice and settlement of a minister, the location and erection of a meeting-house. Six dif- ferent meetings are held before the first day of June, in about two months, to agree upon a minister and ar- range 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 dwelHng-house of Isaac Brewer, March 25, 1741, 5 34 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 neighboring 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 advice they voted " to hier Mr. Noah Mirick to Preach the word of God to them three Sabbaths besfinnino; the first Sabbath in C5 D April next ensuing." Mr. Merrick had been preaching for them previously as appears from subsequent votes, and had preached in all twenty Sundays before his or- dination. 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 Precinct." 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 rods wide. This land was owned by the heirs of the one hundred and twenty-five original pro- prietors. 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. On the 17th of April, without waiting lor the " advice of three neighboring ministers," 35 they '-unanimously voated a Call or Desier that the Wor- thy Mr. Noah Mirick .«liould settle with " them " in the work of the Ministry ; chose Aaron Stebbins to assist \Yarner and Chapin 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 encourtT-gement to settle." The meeting was adjourned to the " Twenty-fourth of this instant, April ; " and at the adjourned meeting it would seem that they had re- ceived such " encouragement " from " worthy Mr. Mirick that he w^ould settle," as to justify them in choosing " five men as a Committee 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 tlie " Overplus Land " is indicated by their voting that their committee on that subject " shall hier a Justice Peace to take acknowledg- ments 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. The}^ state that they have taken the matter into serious con- sideration, and that they find " the money or Coin in this Province is so variable and uncertain as to its value in Proportion with other commodaties that they can't think it a medium whereby the salarj^ can be settled or assertained with any safety or security either to the Minister or People." "Wherefore," they continue, " we have considered the value or Currant Market Piice of 36 the several Commodaties hearafter mentioned, viz : Indian Corn att 6s. per booshel ; Wheat, lis. per boosh- el; Rie, 8s. 6d. per booshel; Barle}^, 8s. per booshel; Oats, 4s. per booshel ; Flax, from y^ swingle, Is. 6d. per pound ; Beaf, 5d. per pound ; Pork, 8d. per pound." They further recommend " that Mr. Mirick be Elovved 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 com- mittee shall annually agree with the minister upon price, " before the meeting 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 fill 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 considered, as it was, a generous settlement. They conclude their re- port in the following words: "and for the further en- couragement of Mr. Mirick's settling with us, it is Pro- posed that we Cut and Boat of a suficient Quantity of Raingrino; Timber for a Dwelinor House for him and con- vey 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 " voat- ed that the same be Excepted, Granted and Elowed in the value maner and Proportion, as is expressed and set forth in the Report." They choose a committee to "wait upon Mr. Noah Mirick with a Copy of said Report and the aforesaid voat, for his Answer," and adjourn to the " Eighteenth Da}^ " of the month, seven days, to give Mr. Merrick time to consider the conditions and prepare his answer. To us of the present day, when we consider the smallness of the number and the poorness of the possessions of the members of the precinct, the salary and settlement seem generous. Mr. Merrick evidently had some of the wisdom of the children of this world, as well as that of the children of light. At any rate, at the adjourned meeting, " it was considered that the offers for the encouraii-ement of Mr. Noah Mirick's set- tling with us as our minister were not sufficient." This is certainly very modestly stated, and relieves Mr. Merrick from all suspicion of having offensively pressed a bargain of his solicitous hearers. It is very probable that he had hinted some additional flxvors which they might render him, which, while they would cost little but labor, would be to him as acceptable as gold, for they vote "to provide the timber for a Dwel- 38 ing House for said Mr. Mirick, which was not included in the former voat ; " also to "•' Hue, frame, and Raise said building, for said Mr. Mirick." Meanwhile Joseph Wright and Daniel Warner, who were chosen a com- mittee to take the advice of three neighboring min- isters, have made their weary journey through the woods to South Hadley, obtained the opinions of three ministers there assembled, and have safely returned with the advice of Samuel Allis, James Bridgham, and Edward Billing-s, whicli is in the followino; words : "These may signifye that upon Application made to us by a Committee from a Place called Springfield Mountains, of their choice of Mr. Noah Mirick for their minister, that we approve of their Choice, and Heartily Commend him and them to the Divine Blessing." The advice is acceptable, of course, for these men of " a Place called Springfield Mountains" had already strained a point to make the salary and settlement satisfactory to the minister. The meeting adjourns to the 26th, and receives the answer that " the worthy Mr. Mirick gave to the call that he should settle in the Ministry heare," in the fol- lowing letter : — " To the inhabitants of the fourth precinct in Springfield convened, and "Dear Friends: I have now more thoroughly Con- sidered your voats Relating to my settling among you, and must Confess that the matter Looks dark Enough 39 with Regard to my support, Your encouragements, you must needs be sensible, being but small ; but, however, Considering your Present Circumstances and the great need you stand in of a minister, and considering fur- ther the unanimity you have Discovered in your Choice and the seeming call of Divine Providence, I dare not think of leaving you. "1 have therefore determined (puting my trust in him who Careth for us all) to Excej)t of your invitation with hopes and Expectations of your future Kindness to me, and your Readiness, att all times, to contribute to my support and comfort, as God shall give you ability ; and the Lord grant that we may live togeather in Love while we are hear, and when we go home may set down too:eather in the Kins2;dom of our Lord and Sav'" Jesus Christ, to whom be glory, both now and for- ever. Amen. "Noah Mirick. " Springfield, May 26, 1741." The meeting at once votes to " Chuse a Committee to confer and agree with Mr. Noah Mirick Relating to the time of his ordination, and also what Churches to apply to for assistance in the ordhuition, and to act in other affairs Dependent thereupon," who are to make " a Return of their Proceeding to the next meeting that shall be called." Events now thicken. The great day of desire is near at hand. A special meeting of the precinct is called, by a new warrant, May 29. Daniel Par- 40 sons " moderates " the meeting ; and, witli a pride which we cannot quite admire, and with an indiscre- tion which the fervor of their enthusiasm at the near prospect of having a minister all their own will cer- tainly excuse, they voted " That the Ordination of the worthy Mr. Noah Mirick shall be in the oldest Parish in Springfield, if Liberty can be obtained ; " and, " that the Committee shall take care that suitable Provisions be made for the Entertainment of those called to Assist in said Ordination, att the expense of the Precinct." Whether "Liberty " could not be obtained, by a wise overruling of Providence, or by the obstinate unbroth- erliness of the " oldest Parish in Springfield," or whether the Warriners and Blisses and Warners came to their right minds after the meeting, which is to be hoped, they were saved that long, dreary, wearisome journey across the plains, through the woods and swamps, by a final determination to have the ordina- tion of their own minister among their own dwellings. Accordingly, a large oak-tree was selected as the place of ordination, then standing in front of the house where Mrs. Brainard Brewer now resides, and a rude pulpit of rough boards was constructed, and a few seats of boards and logs arranged around it to accommodate the people. The morning of the great day to this people came at last ; but it came not clear and balmy and fra- grant as June mornings usually are ; it was lowering, and the sky was unpropitious. The " ministers and 41 their dellegates and students," had come from Hadley and Springfield and Longmeadow and Brimfield, and the grave council was sitting in solemn deliberation, we may suppose, at Nathaniel Warriner's. The people were gathering, — Daniel Lamb from the plains, David Chapin from the mountains, the Bartletts, and Blisses, and Burts. The venerable oak seemed to feel the honor done it, and beckoned them lovingly to its shelter, if not to its shade. The little children were restrained in their desire to run upon the seats and even climb into the rude yet sacred pulpit, by the stern rebuke and grave remonstrance of their parents : " There might be bears in the swamp ! " The sun was getting hio;h, and the clouds were a:rowino; thick. Yet the council did not come. A very serious difficulty had arisen, which the learned and worthy ministers and their " Dellegates " could not remove. In organizing the church, before proceeding to ordain the minister, they found that there were but six members, — an in- sufficient number. There must be, said the venerable council, seven. On what ground this reason for not proceeding with the ordination was set up, does not appear ; indeed, there is no record of either the mem- bers or the proceedings of the council. Seven mem- bers, for some reason, must be had, and there were but six. The proceedings were all in abeyance. At last, grace was given to one man, who stated that he had long thought of joining the church, to give in his name, and make up both the sacred and required 42 number seven, thus relieving the reverend council of their difficulty, and the wondering audience of their impatience. But they were not soon enough to escape the gathering storm. Hardly had they reached the hospitable oak, when it began to rain, and they were compelled to adjourn the service to a neighboring barn, on the place where Mrs. Gale and Mrs. Mears now reside. Here the ordination services were performed. The hymn was sung, the prayer was offered, the charge was given, the sermon preached, the benediction pro- nounced, and the audience departed to thSir homes, with hearts overflowing with joy, that the Lord had heard their prayers, and given them so good a man for their minister as him whom they loved to call the " worthy Mr. Mirick." The reverend council, their del- egates, and students, after again partaking of the hospi- talities of these frugal people at the houses of Warri- ner and Brewer, and spending the night, start in the early morning for their distant homes, leaving behind them good wishes and prayers fragrant as the flowers.^ The promises are made. We must now trace with faithful pen the fulfilment of those promises, — the struggle of the people to pay what they had pledged in the hour of ardent desire, and the struggle of the minister to retain the affections, rebuke the sins, and cherish the virtues of his parishioners. The work before them is difficult, and they will need wisdom ; it will be long, and they will need patience. The " Wor- ^ Appendix D. 43 thy Mr. Mirick's " house is to be built ; the meeting- house is to^be located and built ; the expenses of the ordination are to be paid ; enough is to be done to challenge all their strength, and command all their skill. At the first precinct meeting, held after the ordina- tion, Nov. 6, 1741, it was voted, by what authority I know not, but as if in gratitude for having secured a shepherd to care for the sheep of the great Shejoherd, " to build a pound in this precinct att the Charge of the precinct," so that the cattle should also be saved from doino; themselves or their owners harm. Then came before them next the very difficult subject of locating the meeting-house, for now settlers had begun to come into the extreme southern portion of the precinct. To give time for consultation apparently, the meeting is adjourned for " half an hour." The question is too im- portant to be determined in half an hour, and the meet- ing is adjourned for one month, to Dec. 7, " att nine of the clock in the morning." They met but were not ready to act, and " adjourned to one of the clock in the afternoon." Once again they met. They are resolved ; and it was "Voted that the 1st Meeting House or House for the Public Worship of God shall be sett on the Land Called the Over Plus Land in the Middle Division," a strip across the precinct from east to west, four miles long, as will be remembered, and eighty-two rods wide. This was as near as they could come to agreeing upon a location after a month's special consideration and four 44 meetings. To determine on " what Place or Sj)ot in the Over Plus Land of the Middle Division said Meeting House shall be Erected," they "voted to choose three men," and accordingly chose " James Wood of Summers, John Shearman, Esq., of Brimfield, and Ephraim Terry of Endfield," for that purpose. Another meeting was called, Dec. 14, 1741, w^ithin just one week, at which the chief business was to raise and appropriate money. They " Voted and granted to Rev. Mr. Noah Mirick Fifty Pounds in money for half a years salary'; " to " Nathaniel Warriner six pounds, one shilling and sixpence for his keeping the Minister's Del- lagates and Scholars at the time of the Ordination ; " to " Aaron Stebbins for the Expense he was att in Geting the Deed of the Over Plus Land further executed one pound ten shilling ; " to " Isaac Brewer ten shilling for keeping the Ministers Dellagates and Scholars Horses att the time of the aforesaid Ordination ; " and also " Ten Shilling for the Boards and Nails he provided for a Pulpit and y*^ work he did tords y^ same ; " to " David Mirick four shillings for the work he did tords the same ;" to " Rever"'^ Mr. Noah Mirick Forty Pounds for Twen- ty Sabbaths Preaching before he was ordained ; " to " Nathaniel Wariner for keeping Mr. Mirick and his Mair Eleven Pounds Ten Shilling ; " to " Sam" Stebbins, Jun'"., Three Shilling for keeping the Rever"'^ Mr. Mir- ick's Mair Last Spring ; " to " Thomas Mirick, 2d, one Pound Twelve Shillings for his Expense in pursuing a Petition in the General Court in Behalf of this Precinct:" 45 to " Abel Bliss fifteen Shilling " for the same service ; " Granted also Seven Pounds in money for Contingent Charges to be DisjDOsed of by the Committee of this Precinct ; " to " Daniel Warner for his Geting Mr. Mir- ick's Mair kept Last Spring two Pounds ; " " Voated to Chuse a Committee to se that Mirick's house be sett up agreeable to the Precinct's Obligation ; " " Granted Twenty Pounds to Defray the Charge of Providing a Scriber and Building a House for the Reverend Mr. Mir- ick • " " Voated that Isaac Brewer " (he seems to have kej)t a house of public entertainment or infant " tavern ") Shall entertain the Committee appointed to Determine a Place or spot " for setting the " first Meeting House att the Charge of the Precinct ; " " Voated that fourty one Pound fifteen shillings and six pence of the money Granted at this Meeting shall be Raised of the Poles and Rateable Estates of the Inhabitants of this Precinct;" and finally, " Voated that the whole sum of one Hundred fourtf/ one Pound fifteen Shilling and six pence, that was Granted att this meeting shall be Disposed of by the Committee of this Precinct." Such was the generous sum raised to liquidate past obligations and accomplish future undertakings. It will be observed that the smallest services rendered by any inhabitant of the Precinct were paid for. Very little if anything seems to have been voluntarily given. This peculiarity will be more prominently manifested hereafter than it is now, and the items of money raised and appropriated are sometimes ludicrously small, as for '46 instance, (1757) "Voted and Granted to Mr. Mirick's Negro for fetching Clay from Town four pence three farthings;" and at another meeting of the Precinct Dec. 5, 1741, "fifteen shilhngs" each was " Voated to Daniel Warner and Joseph Wright for their service in Procuring advice of the Neighboring Ministers Respect- ing Mr. Mirick's settling as their Minister." Certainly justice was done, if generosity was not abounding. At this meeting the Committee on locating the meeting- house presented their report. We can easily imagine with what eagerness and solicitude these " freeholders and Other inhabitants of the fourth Precinct in Spring- field qualified and assembled according to law att the Dwelling House of Isaac Brewer" listened to the im- portant finding of their disinterested Committee selected from " neighboring towns." It is too important a docu- ment to be passed over with a simple reference. It read as follows : — " Whereas we the subscribers being Chosen a Com- mittee by a vote of the Freeholders and inhabitants of the fourth Precinct in Springfield to Determine what Place or spot in the over plus land in the Middle Division where the first Meeting House should be Erected or set up and haveing heard the Pleas of the inhabitants Re- lating to the said Affair and having Considered maturely thereon, Doe mutualy Agree and Determine said Meet- ing House to be set up on that hill lying in the over plus Land and about six score Rods East of the Wester- most Rode in said Precinct and about sixty or seventy 47 rods West or Westerly of the top of wigwam Hill so Called and Southerly of a Run of Water that Runs out of the mountains there being a small Black Oak Tree marked on the South side with a cross on said Hill. "Springfield, December 17th, A. D. 1741. "John Sherman, "i James Wood, )>Committe." Ephraim Terry, J When the reading was finished, it was " Voated, Ex- cepted in the full intent Contents and limitations Ex- pressed and set forth in said Committe's Report." The great question now apparently settled, there is a lull in the storm of Precinct meetings, and work is com- menced in earnest on Rev. Mr. Merrick's house. At a meeting, held May 14, 1742, no less than twenty-nine separate grants, in sums from five pounds down to six shillings, are made of money in " old tenor," to pay for work on it. Rather perhaps I should say that each man's work was credited on his tax, so that when he " hewed," " carted slit work up the mountain," " sleded rafters," " worked a framing," " drew timber," " sled limbe," or " furnished his Team and Boy for most of a Day " the amount earned was deducted from his tax ; or if the value of his work exceeded his tax he was paid the balance in money. The work on Mr. Merrick's house seems to have been pushed forward so that it was soon occupied by its owner. Of the progress of building the meeting-house, we 48 hear nothing till Nov. 4, 1742, when "Eighty Pound Old tenor bills are Voated and Granted to Provide Matterials toard Building a Meeting House in this Precinct, viz : Nails, Glass, Covering, &c ; " and " David Mirick, Sam^^ Stebbins, Daniel Cadwell, Sam" Bartlett and Abel Bliss are chosen a " Committee to Take Care and Provide Materials in Order to Build said Meeting House." The winter of 1743 is improved by drawing " good pine boards, one inch thick," and " quarter boards," and " good Marchantable pine Boards," and " good Seader Shingles," and " good Spruse Shingles without sap" up "on that Hill aponted by a Committee Chosen by this Precinct to Erect the first Meeting house on." The labor warms on the bleakest days as the teams of Merrick and War- riner and Bliss and Stebbins and Brewer and Burt and Langdon smoke, dragging their loads up " Wigwam Hill." In Ma}^ the Precinct "voates" them their pay for work done, and we imagine that the hammers and saws, the hewers and the framers are following close upon the " Scriber " as he lays out the work, improving every day, between planting and hoeing, and haying and sowing, so that when the autumn comes, the doors of the sanctuary will be opened for worshippers. Alas for human anticipations ! Instead of this expected result, we find that at a Meeting, Nov. 29, an attempt is made to change the location of the meeting-house ; but it was not successful, for, Dec. 8, 1743, it is " Yoated to build a meeting-house on that spot of Land that this Precinct voated to build one on in a former meeting," and also 49 thcat the " Precinct Committee shall take care to Pro- vide a Place for the Carring on the Worship of God." So the matter rested for more than a year ; for the next information we have is in the doings of the precinct meeting, April 18, 1745, when it is " Voated that the meeting house shall be set by the West Rode of this Pre- cinct on the Land Called the Over Plass Land in the Midle Division." The " good pine boards," and " Seader Shingles" had been dragged two years before up the great " Wigwam Hill," nearly half a mile east of the " west Rode." Surely the wisdom of the fathers is fail- ing them. The " Worthy Mr. Mirick " has already built his house there, among other reasons perhaps, because the meeting-house w^as to be built there. A storm is evidently gathering. The precinct has secured a " Law Booke " to aid and guide its action. This fact is omi- nous. The " Wigwam Hill " and the " west Rode " parties rally their strength at the next meeting, Oct. 28, 1745, and the favorers of the " hill " carry it ; for it is " Voated to Build the Meeting House on the Hill Called Wigwam Hill" and "to Chuse some judicious men to advise us to some measure whereby we may Establish a Place wdiere to Erect a Meeting^ House in this Precinct ; " and it was •' Voated that Mr. John Worthington, Mr. Francis Ball, and Mr. Timothy Nash be advisers in the affiiir afore- said ; " and Caleb Stebbins is to " apply himself to said advisors in behalf of the Precinct." Caleb Stebbins failed in his mission, or the Committee would not act, or could not be assembled, or else they were merely to 7 50 give advice, and did advise a Committee, for, Nov. 4, 1745, it is " Voated to Chuse a Committee to determine the Place or Spot on the Overplus Land on y*" Middle Division, vieiving the land at large, where the first Meeting House shall be erected," and that "Ensign William King, Lieutenant Abraham Adams, and Leut. Thomas Jones " be that Committee. Surely this array of military talent must put to rout all opposers. The next vote which is passed at this meeting seems to specify more definitely the powers of the Commit- tee, and the purposes of the precinct. " Voated, That Leut. Abraham Adams, of Suffield, Ens'" William King, of Suffield, and Leut. Thomas Jones, of Endfield, be a Committee to appoint and Determine in what Place in the Over Plus Land in the midle division in this Precinct, it is most fit for this Precinct to build their Meeting House, and that the Place which they shall appoint shall he the Place of Set- ing it, and that the Meeting House he set there accord- ingly, at the charge of this Precinct, and of such De- mentions as this Precinct shall determine ; " and Na- thaniel Warriner is directed " to apply to the Commit- tee," and " Daniel Parsons and Nathaniel Bliss to wait on the afores'^ committee in showing of them the Land." The meeting was then adjourned to Nov. 18, — two weeks, — when the report of the committee was received, whose decision they had voted should be final. The committee say : '• Pursuant to the trust Reposed in us by said Precinct, after viewing the Land and hear- 51 ing the Pleas in said Precinct, we Judge and Deter- mine tliat the Meeting House be built on a Hill Com- monly Called Wigwam Hill, about seven or eight and twenty Eods southward of the house of Rev. Noah Mirick [which was opposite the place where Pliny Merrick's house now stands], and about seven Rods south westward from a pine tree which we have markt with an ax as wittness our hands this sixteenth day of November, 1745." The good people generously paid Adams and King, of Suffield, each " four pounds," and ^' Jones, of Enfield, three pounds, fifteen shilling, old tenor, for their services ; and Nathaniel Bliss and Daniel Parsons each '' one pound five shilHngs for Rideing with the Committe 2 days & half ; " and Dea. Nathaniel Warriner " one Pound six Pence for Procuring the Committee, and two Pound twelve shil- ling & six Pence," all in " Old Tenor, for Keeping said Committe and their Horses." The meetings on Sunday having been held in Daniel Parsons's house, he was paid for its use for the year ending March 22, 1746, "two Pounds, old tenor;" and in May there are '^ Voated and granted to Isaac Brewer, att the Rate of three pounds old tenor per year, for the use of his Chamber to Cary on the pub- lick worship in," and " that he shall have Reasonable Elowance for fitting up said Chamber for the Decent Carrying on the worship in." Subsequently, March 17, 1747, there was " Yoated and granted to Isaac Brewer two shillings, old tenor, for his service in Riging up his 52 chamber for the Publick Worship, with the nails he Provided," Everything now seems to be very well arranged. A temporary ^olace of worship is provided, and the site of the meeting-house decided ; nothing remains but to go on and finish the building. Still things did not run smoothly. The Precinct had for some cause got into a law-suit with Daniel Parsons; the owners would not pay " the two pence per acre " land tax, and suits wxre growing up because the lands were sold to pay them. It seemed desirable to some " that the Lands that were given to the Rev. Mr. Mirick should be exempt from the tax laid upon it, Either in whole or in part ; " and, more than all, the old meeting-house question would not remain settled, but thrust itself up through votes, decisions of committees, and repeated settlements ; and, March 4, 1747, the Precinct " Voats to Chuse Ensign Joseph Sexton, of Summers, Leut°* Joseph Blocket, of Brimfield, and Lent''* Gersham Makepiece, of Western, a committee " to locate the meeting house, and that they have liberty to set it in any ijlace in the Precinct, and said committee shall view the lands of said Precinct at large, or till they he satisfiecir They no •longer confine their inquiries even to the " Overplus Land." The town is " all befoi'e them where to choose." A committee is chosen *•' to show them the land ; " another, to entertain them; another, of six members, "to take care to build the meeting-house, at the cost of the Precinct where it is located," making it " forty-five feet long, thirty-five feet wide, and of suitable height." On the " first Monday in May, at 3 o'clock in the afternoon," it is " Voated that the award of the commit- tee be accepted and recorded ; " which was as follows : " We doe award, Prefix, & Determine that the spot or place where their meeting House ought to be set, is on the Hill Commonly Called the Wigwam Hill, the centre of said spot being att a walnut Staddle of about four or five inches Diameter, there being a fast stone in the Ground, about two feet and a half northwest of said staddle ; said staddle standing twenty-eight Rods & sixteen Links, Running by a point of compass from the southwest corner of Mr. Noah Mirick's dwell- ing-house, south sixteen degrees thirty minits East unto said staddle." ^ It is done. After a struggle of six years, the " place, or spot of setting the meeting-house " is determined. Warriner's " seadar shingles," and Brewer's " good pine timber," and Stebbins's " Marchantable pine boards," and Warner's "slit work" have been seasoning and rotting on the hill for four years, waiting for the build- ers. The hour has come. Teams, boards, saws, ham- mers, axes, are now busy ; and so much progress had been made in the work, that, December 25, 1747, a precinct meeting is to be held, '• at the house of Na- thaniel Hitchcock or House of Publick Worship." And 1 1 find l)y future notices that there was a common of about two acres on which the meetiny-house was placed. 64 again, March 15, 1748, the precinct meeting is said to have been notified in the same way. In January 23, 1749, the precinct meeting was opened at the meet- ing-house, but adjourned to the house of Nathaniel Hitchcock, because, as I judge, it was too cold to remain for the transaction of business, where they could endure to remain, warmed by the fervors of devotion, to worship. There is no date of the first assembling for worship in the meeting-house ; but it was earlier than this, for in the church records it is stated that " Charles, son of Isaac Brewer, was baptized in the meeting-house, December 2o, 1748." Unques- tionably the house was used for pubhc worship at this time. That it was not used for that purpose much earlier is rendered very probable by the record of the next earher baptism, October 30, 1748. There is no record of any dedication services. It is probable that the settlers worshipped there as soon as the building was covered. Indeed, it was a mere shell for three years. The timbers of the frame were all exposed on the inside ; the seats were loose boards, or .slabs with legs in them ; the pulpit was a rough box ; not a trowel of mortar nor an ounce of paint was anywhere to be seen. The boards on the floor were loose ; the windows were mostly of boards ; very few panes of glass were used, if indeed any ; the winds whistled through the crevices, and the snow drifted over the floor and seats in the winter. Three years after this time, January 15, 1752, it is voted to 55 further finish the meeting-house by " Ceihng and Plas- tering, in order to make it warm, and if there be any Money Remaining, to Lay it out in Procuring mate- rial for seats." Such was the house our fiithers erected in their poverty for the honor and worship of God. This was their " hill of Zion," this their sanctuary. As they went up to worship, the land lay spread out before them. From its door the whole valley of the " Great River," from the mountains on the north, Holyoke and Tom, to below Hartford on the south, was visible. The open fields of the first settlers — of Burt and Hitch- cock and Brewer and Warriner and Merrick — were under their feet; and on to the west, over forests and meadows, could be seen the blue line of vapor, signalizing the homes of the old settlers in Spring- field Street ; or the wdiite cloud of fog, lying low along the tree-tops, indicating the course of the river from its gateway between the mountains to the settle- ment at Middletown. And beyond, more than twenty miles away, rose the blue ridges of the Green Moun- tains, tipped with gold in the morning, veiled in purple in the evening ; and when the frosts touched the forest in autumn, how the red maple flamed among the trees ; and the green of the pines and the yellow of the w^alnut caused the whole vast landscape to appear like a gorgeous carpet woven in the loom of the gods. The Lord's house was exalted upon the hills, and hither the tribes came up to worship. Daniel 56 Lamb turns his face eastward ; Springfield is no more his chief joy ; and Warner, from Stony Hill, and Sykes, from the "Great Rode," and Chapin, from the moun- tain, wind their way, when the " Sabbath " morning comes, through field and bridle-path and cart-road, to the meeting-house ; and Henry Badger, from Burt's Mill, in the present South Parish, five miles away, rouses his famih' even earlier than usual from their slumbers, plentifully feeds the trusty farm-horse for his hard day's work, and before the dew is off the grass, he starts, with his wife and little ones, on the way to Zion. Benjamin Skinner and Phineas Stebbins join him as he passes, and when they reach the site of the present South Parish Church, they find that Comfort Chaffee, from the hill south of Scantic, and William King, on the corner, have already started, and are on the way. They turn to the right up the hill, wearily climbing the mountain through the woods, past where the Widow Orin Cone now resides, — a timid deer now and then pausing a moment to gaze at the strange sight, then bounding away among the trees ; a fright- ened partridge breaking the silence by whirring off through the bushes ; — till the procession, on horse- back, and on foot, — for now, as before, to Springfield, the young men and the maidens thought the walk most delightful, — reached the road that came up from the west side of the mountain, at Samuel Stebbins's, where they met Paul Langdon, with the only wagon in the precinct, who had not only taken in his own 57 family, but Abner Chapin's, south of the Scantic, and Stephen Stebbms's, north of it ; and Lewis Langdon and Aaron Stebbins, who had come on horseback with their wives and Httle ones ; and they all went on to- gether up to the place of the sanctuary. They made their horses fast to the trees about the meeting-house, and after Christian inquiries for such news of their households and the precinct as their curiosity compelled and reverence could not restrain, they entered the sanctuary, of which, if they could not exclaim with David, " How amiable are thy tabernacles," they could cry out with the royal poet, " The sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, Lord of Hosts, my God and my King!" After they were as comfortably seated as possible on the benches, in such order as had been prescribed, the " Worthy Rev. Noah Mirick," with wig or powdered hair and cue, bands and small-clothes and silk stockings and shoe-buckles of silver, entered the house, the con- gregation all rising as a token of respect. He read a hymn, then handed the book over the top of the rough pulpit — for there was but one hymn-book in the precinct, and that was the minister's — to Deacon Nathaniel Warriner, who named the tune, gave the pitch, read one line of the hymn, and commenced singing it; Warner and Brewer and Langdon and Stebbins and Moses and David and Hosea and Hul- dah and Jemima and Ruth following after, as ability 58 and strength permitted ; the deacon considerately, and as became the service of God's house, waiting, before he gave out another hne, till the most dilatory had finished. When the hymn was ended, the minister solemnly prayed, the congregation all reverently rising. When the prayer was over, another hymn was sung in the same manner. Then the sermon was preached, not seldom interspersed with the twittering of swal- lows above, or the crying of babies below. At last the benediction is pronounced, and the minister leaves the pulpit and passes out first, the congregation all stand- ing, as when he entered. The families now gather about in groups to eat their frugal dinners from the logs and stumps, which were abundant. The short intermission over, the afternoon service follows, similar, in all respects, to the morning ; after which they mount their horses, Paul Langdon again loading his marvel- lous wagon, and reach their homes at the going down of the sun, grateful that God has cast " their lines in pleasant places, and that they have a goodly heri- tage." Saturday evening is " kept " by these pioneers. So when the " chores " are done, and the sun is set, they are already "dressed," and ready to call upon their neighbors in a social or more affectionate way. Thus passes the " Sabbath," now the " Meeting House " is built on "Wigwam Hill, and the "Worthy Mr. Mirick prophecies " therein. But I must not linger any longer around these early 59 days and doings of our fathers ; a long way is yet before us to travel, and heroic deeds yet invite our rehearsal. The " Meeting House " is occupied, it is true, but it is far from being finished; and the remaining sixteen years of this period are witness to more or less earnest labor to build pews and seats ; to put in galleries ; to plaster about the pulpit; to lay the gallery floor; to build seats in it; to plaster under it; and finally to plaster the house wholly in 1756, nine years after it was occupied for worship. Before the last finishings were made, while the town was a precinct, the com- mittee are enjoined to repair the roof, which was leak- ing badly. The gallery seats were not all put in till the summer of 1761, sixteen years after the house was opened for worship. But finishing the meeting-house was an easy thing to do compared with the difficulty of " seating " it. This was work indeed. As there were no pews built for the first six years, there was no " seating " of the congrega- tion till Sept. 24, 1753, when a committee was chosen to attend to that duty. The precinct voted, " that the Rev. Mr. Noah Mirick have Choice of a pew ;" " that the men and Wimen be seated togeather ; " "' to Leave it with the Committee how Young Persons shall be seated;" and also " to Leave it to the Discreasion of the Committee by what Rule they shall be seated." There is no record either of the " seating " or of the " Rule " of this " seat- ing;" nor is there any record of the rule adopted at any of the subsequent " seatings." We know, however, 60 that it was customary to "seat" persons in order of age, or of civil or military dignity. The eldest persons oc- cupied the best, or highest pew, — for the highest pew in honor was often far from being best in position, — and those younger, the lower pews ; and only heads of families occupied the pews on the floor of the house. The young men and maidens, the boys and the girls, were " seated " in the gallery^ after it was so far finished that it could be occupied, where the opportunities and temptations of fun were abundant and not seldom at- tractive and irresistible, and where the services of the Lord's house were not always visible and sometimes not audible. Persons were often dissatisfied with their seats ; and it was not till after repeated trials that the audience were quietly disposed in their allotted pews and seats. I find that in 1754 a committee was chosen to "Rectify the mistakes of the former committee and to dignifie the seats." After further seats had been built and galleries put in and finished, January 1, 1760, the meeting-house is seated anew, but the " seating" was so unsatisfactory that another committee was raised in March to review the work of the former committee. The report of the first committee is recorded, that of the last is not. Here for the first time we have the names of the fami- lies in the precinct, and we can make a tolerably cor- rect estimate of the number of inhabitants here at this time. There are seventy-three men and six widows named, who are presumed to be heads of fixmilies, and 61 who occupy pews and seats on the lower floor. Of these, twenty-one are from what is now the South Parish. 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 persons, at least ; per- haps there were four hundred ; of these about one hun- dred and ten or twenty were within the bounds of the present South Parish. Another very important subject, and difficult to man- age, 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 Rev. Mr. Merrick's house stood, had been sold to him, but that on the south side of the Third Division, where the Langdons had settled, was still the common property of all the proprietors, and of course in part that of the precinct, as the " Ministry Lot " was by sup- position a proprietor. After long and tedious delays and impending lawsuits, the whole matter was at last disposed of so far to the satisfaction of all parties that it tvas disposed of, and could no longer be matter of question or dispute. As there were two " Ministry Lots " within the bounds of the precinct, — the one in the Middle or Second Division running across where Warren Collins's farm is, and the other in the Third Division where Mr. William V. Sessions's farm is, — and as these "lots" were the 62 common property of the town of Springfield, and hence the other precincts — Springfield, West Springfield, and Longmeadow — had a right to a proportionate share of their value, it was^ no easy task to satisfy, in any con- siderable degree, any of the parties. At last, however, this was also arranged, after repeated conferences of committees and years of discussion and concession. The income of the money obtained by the sale of these " ministry lots " is part of the fund for the support of the ministry which the respective parishes 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 eight hundred and seventy-five acres, were so disposed of as to leave him a large and valuable farm, and the larger sympathy of his people. It is much to the credit of all parties that these land questions, so complicated and delicate, where so many proprietors were concerned, so many interests involved, were at last disposed of with so little ill blood and so equitably. The adjustment of Mr. Merrick's salary, which was estimated by the market value of certain necessary articles of consumption, became exceedingly difficult as the prices of the articles were fluctuating, and especially as the "Old tenor" currency so rapidly depreciated, and "Lawfull money" took its place in 1749. No new estimate of prices is recorded as having been made since his settlement in 1741 up to this time. We find that a large committee of " nine men " w^as raised, Dec. 24, 63 1750, "to make a new agreement with the Reveren*^ Mr. Noah Mirick Relatmg to his salary for the future." It is evident that the committee found their task a hard one, for there is no report from them till January 9, 1753, three years after they were chosen. They then report a new scale of prices of commodities, changing the value of money from " Old Tenor " to " Lawfull Money," calling £326, 10s. Id. £43, 10s. 8d.; and every year hereafter, till 1760, a committee is chosen to agree with Mr. Merrick on the prices of commodities, and thus fix the value of his salary. In that year, January 1, 1760, they "choose a Com*'^'^ to State y*^ Rev'^ M""- Mir- ick's Salary for the time to come." They report a fixed sum " in Lawfull Money " and nothing is said of " com- modaties." Each year, for three years, a committee was chosen to agree with Mr. Merrick upon the amount of his salary till the town was incorporated, when the old system of prices of commodities was revived. It is probable that troubles arising out of Mr. Mer- rick's claims to so much land, which necessarily brought him into antagonism with many of his people, and the almost insurmountable difficulties in arranging his salary, were the cause of some church difficulties which arose about 1754. I find that at a precinct meeting held, June 10, 1754, the following votes were passed, " Voated and Granted the sum df five Pounds Lawfull Money for defraying the Charges of Entertaining the Counsel to set in this Place on y" 17th of June next," also "Voated & Granted to Dea. Nath" Warriner the 64 sum of ten shillings Lawful! Money for Keeping the former Counsel." There is no record in the precinct or church books of the calling of this " former Counsel," nor of the proceedings or objects of either. But I find in the church records, June 21, 1754, that six persons make " publick confession of y'' guilt in absenting from y"" Lord's table," and four more, with five of these, " make publick confession in publickly Exhibiting and signing a Paper of Reproachful Charges ag* y Pastor." They " were accepted by y® church." What this paper was, what these charges were, I have found no means of determining. Eight out of the ten persons " making confession" were of the present South Parish. It is very probable that the "counsels" spoken of in the pre- cinct records had something to do with this difficulty. So the " Worthy Rev. Mr. Noah Mirick " found that the chastenings of the people if not of the Lord were laid upon him. We may learn that ministers and parishes now are not more troubled by " exciting sub- jects " than were those of " the olden time." It is not the quality of the subject, but the nature of man, which causes division; and till he can run away from himself there will be found occasion and existence of contention. Our ancestors, though so engaged in the establishment of their religious institutions, did not forget their schools. As I have already stated, the toivn of Springfield com- menced appropriations for schools in the '' Outward Commons, on the east side of the Great River, commonly called the Mountain," as early as 1737, and <£16 were 65 appropriated, during the four years next preceding the incorporation of the precinct. During this period of the precinct, a regular annual appropriation of money for the fourth precinct was made by Springfield till 1763, when the town was incorporated. The whole amount appropriated up to 1755, during which years the sums annually appropriated are stated in the Spring- field records, was one hundred and fifty-five pounds, thirteen shillings and three pence, averaging ten pounds, seven shillings and six pence a year. For nine years this money is in '• old tenor " which was about seventy- five per cent, discount for " Lawfull money," which was the rate of reckoning after 1749. The amount usually appropriated annually during these last six years was four pounds, thirteen shillings and four pence ; and in 1755, when the " rate of distribution was changed," we received '• six pounds, sixteen shillings and seven pence." This money was often put, by vote, into the hands of Dea. Nathaniel Warriner, to be disposed of as he judged best for the interest of schooling in the precinct.^ Before 1754, a school-house was built nearly opposite to where the present Congregational Church stands, for, January 31, 1754, a precinct meeting is held "att the School House in said Precinct." The name and fame of the early teacher, for years town and church 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 ' Aj)peTi(Hx K. Q6 girls, some probable, some true, some gross, some ingen- ious. That he was a good penman the records of both town and church testify, and I certainly, if no one else, owe him a debt of gratitude for the excellent manner in which he has kept the records and blessed my eyes. 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 neigh- borhood 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 cat away the trees and bushes when they intruded too closely on the path.^ No literary productions have come down from this period except the precinct records, specimens of which are now for the first time printed ; a remnant of the " Jurnal of Samuel Warner," entitled " Clark," kept during the expedition, of which he was a member, to Ticonderoga and Crown Point during the French War, 1759; and a celebrated poem, on the death of "Leut. Thomas Mirick's only Son," who " dyed, August 7th, 1761, By the Bite of a Ratle Snake, Being 22 years, two months and three days old, and very nigh marridge," as faithful Clark Warner records. This poem had a wide circulation in both manuscript and print, and is the great Elegy of the '■ Mountains." Like the author of another immortal poem, the Iliad, its author and his residence are alike mythical; but his work and his fame have ' Appendix F. 67 endured, and if, as in the case of the author of the im- mortal Greek poem, " Ten famous towns contend foi* Homer dead, Through which the living Homer begged his bi-ead," Longmeadow and Ludlow and Springfield will strive to rob Wilbraham of the honor of giving him birth and guarding his ashes, thej cannot rob us of the unspeaka- ble glory of having within our borders the grave of the immortal subject of the poem. Without waiting to in- voke the aid of muses or gods, either sacred or profane, the poet, seized and carried away with the magnitude and inspiration of his subject, burst forth, — " On Springfield Mountains there did dwell A Likely youth who was known full well, Leutenant Mirick's only sone A likely youth nigh twenty-one." I may well be excused from repeating the pathetic lines which follow, as I am informed that better justice can be done them by the plaintive music of '• y'' olden tyme " in which they will be sung after we are refreshed at the table. ^ 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, the precinct furnished at least twenty-two men, whose names are enrolled in the ' Appendix G. 68 archives of the State as among the patriots of that early period. Of these was Samuel Warner, who kept a Journal of the expedition of 1759, many of whose precious leaves have perished, and Isaac Colton, od, a precious memorial of whose patriotism is a will, made June 14, 1759, in which he disposes of his estate " on condition of not returning from s'^ expedition," and wit- nessed by •' Noah Merick and Abigail Merick." Thus early the spirit of patriotism inspired our citizens which has grown deeper and stronger to this hour/ The agricultural products of the town 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 in the winter season. Still there was little which would gratify the tastes or supply what would now be called the necessaries of a comfortable home. Bare floors, bare walls, scant furniture, the oaken table and chest and pine "settle" were the chief adornings of the frugal home. One marked exception is made, however, to this condition of the houses of the early settlers. Ensign Abel Bliss, whose enterprise and thrift have lost nothing in descent through three generations to his great grand- son, your townsman, John Wesley Bliss, who inherits and improves the old estate, is said to have gathered pine-knots and hearts, called candle-wood, with which our grandfathers and grandmothers illuminated their dwelhngs, in the south part of Ludlow and Belchertown, * Appendix U. 69 — it being forbidden to gather them but for hghts in the precinct, — and built a tar-kiln from which he made two hundred barrels of tar, which he sold for five dollars a barrel, realizing one thousand dollars, and built there- with a house which was the admiration, perhaps the envy, of all the people.^ At the commencement of this period, families began to come into the south part of the town. But, as 1 have already stated, there was not a settler within the pres- ent limits of the town south of the present division line of the parishes before 1741. South of a line draw^n due east and west across the town, on the south side of Mr. Cross's farm, there was not a house or culti- vated field. Stand with me on the top of the hill by Mr. Isaac Watts Leach's house, (the people of the South Parish will understand me,) and lift your eyes toward the south and west and northwest. Where now you be- hold fruitful fields and white farm-houses, one of the loveliest prospects in the town, was then unbroken by plough, untrodden by man. Spaces desolated by fires, and extended forests, are spread out before you. Not a smoke ascends from a settler's cabin, not an axe- blow breaks the profound silence. The Scantic flows through the mountains unobstructed by dam, unvexed by water-wheel ; and through the meadows it creeps languidly under the overshadowing alders and button- w^oods and elms, whose tops were covered with grape- ^ A|)iK'ii(iix I. 70 vines pendent with purple clusters which no hand plucked, no lips relished. The trout floated securely in the pure current ; no treacherous hook was yet cast by cunning hand to draw him from his native element. Now change the outlook. We stand on the spot where Samuel Beebe, Esq. now resides. Look up that beauti- ful valley of the Scantic for two miles, the mountains ris- ing gracefully on the south, less regularly on the north. No sign of human life is there. The deer feeds undis- turbed in those openings ; the squirrel sports without dread of the hunter in those extended forests ; up past Stacy's on the right, up past the Cones' on the left, the embosomed side-valleys glory in the wild luxuriance of nature. Where are now a thriving village, busy ma- chinery, rich farms, luxurious homes, was wilderness, the "forest primeval." Such was the South Parish at the commencement of this period. In the spring of 1741, Stephen Stebbins, my great- grandfather, came out through the woods from Long- meadow and settled on the north bank of the Scantic, where Mr. Orville Pease now resides. The house which he built was removed more than half a century ago, and is now used for a barn and shed on the place of the late Col. John McCray, and the boards on the north side of that building are the same — so runs the tradition — as those which were put on by him one hundred and twenty-two years ago. Aaron Stebbins, his brother, built a few rods north, where Rev. Mr. Rock- wood now lives ; both these were brothers of Samuel, who settled some years before on the mountain, east o{ Mr. Cross's. Lewis Langclon settled on the corner, be- tween them, and built the first saw-mill in town, in 1750. Abner Chapin, from Chicopee, took the first lot south of the Scantic, where his thrifty grandsons, Ralph Sumner, and Silas, Chapin, now reside. Capt. Paul Langdon, who brought the first four-wheeled wagon into the place, in which he moved his worldly goods and family, first from Salem, then from Hopkinton, then from Union, settled near the Potash Hill, on the farm which his great-grandson, John Wilson Langdon, now cultivates. On the east side of the mountain was Wil- liam King, a large land-owner, whose house was directly in front of the Congregational church. William Stacy, from Salem, settled where Gilbert Stacy now resides ; Moses Stebbins, a fourth brother, where Mrs. Beriah Smith resides ; Comfort Chaffee, who came from Wales, settled betw^een them, where Lothrop Chaffee, his great- grandson, resides. Li the east, on the Scantic, were Hen- ry Badger, from Union ; Isaac Morris, from Woodstock, grandfather of our President on his father's side ; and Benjamin Skinner. Jabez Hendrick settled near where his grandson, Hiram, has literally made the stones bread ; Daniel Carpenter, on the present Carpenter farm ; Ezekiel Russel, on Albert Beebe's farm, and Row- land Crocker, a little above. In the north part of the town, Jonathan Ely settled on the mountain, on the middle road ; Caleb Stebbins located on the fiirm now occupied by his great-grandsons, Jason and George ; 72 Daniel Cadwell near him ; Joseph Sikes on the '' Great Bay Rode ;" Phihp Lyon south of "Wigwam Hill," on the road leading to the south part ; Benoni Atchinson on Stony Hill, and not least, though last named, Ezra, entitled " Master," Barker, near Atchinson, — a goodly goodly company. The distance of the Precinct from Springfield Street, the regularly increasing population, the different inter- ests of the people, and their demonstrated capacity to administer affliirs, prompted the inhabitants, as early as January 16, 1749, "to cliuse 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 unfavorable 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. Sam" 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 — insert- ed 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 Com*"'' to apply to the Town for their Consent that we be set of a District ; " and, in the fol- 73 lowing March, 24, 1761, it is '•' voted that the same QQ^^tee ^vJiici-j 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 new resolutions. They determine to try what virtue there is in new men and more of them, the south part of the precinct coming 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 Com*^^ 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 in March following, 22, 1761, 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 in renewed vigor, they vote, January 3, 1763, " that Dec" Nathaniel Warriner, L" Tho' Mirick and Stephen Steb- bins be a Com*''*' 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 Im- powerd to Persue our Petition to the General Court in Ord^' to be Sett of afores*^." This committee succeeded in their endeavors. Four- 10 74 teen years after their first petition went to Springfield, delayed, defeated, but never subdued or discouraged, they at last wring, by their tireless importunity, a fa- vorable answer to their prayer. Their petition was granted, and the Act of Incorporation was signed by Sir Francis Bernard, Governor of the Province, June 15, 1763, — one hundred years ago this day, — by which act the fourth parish in Springfield was erected into 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 excep- tion of the power of choosing a representative to the General Court ; in this election, they must still unite with SjDringfield. The consequence was that we did not have a representative till 1773, ten years after in- corporation, the two representatives assigned to the town being chosen the one from Springfield Street, and the other from West Springfield; and even then we were favored with one rather by the rivalries and jeal- ousies of the two sides of the river than by any love of justice in either party. West Springfield was es- pecially offended with Springfield Street, or the First Precinct, on account of the large share of town school- money which was appropriated to the support of the "Grammar School" on the east side. They there- fore conferred with Longmeadow, and agreed to give them the Springfield representative if they would unite with them and sustain their municipal policy. The bait took. Longmeadow went over to the west-side-of- 75 the-river policy, and sustained its platform. The old town, however, was apprised of the bargain and came out to the mountains to see what could be done. John Bliss — the grandfather on his mother's side of our honored President, and in whose veins the Bliss blood is fresh and strong and swift now, at four-score years, as when he saw the morning of the nineteenth century whose titles rise steadily, in the Records, from Mr. to Esquire, and from Esquire to Colonel, and from Colonel to Honorable — had recently removed from Long- meadow to Wilbraham, and was very popular there, as he came afterwards to be here. The Springfield men said to the Wilbraham men, " Vote with us and we will give you John Bliss for representative of Wilbraham." This was too shining a prize to be rejected. Town- meetino; came : and the " mountains " sent forth their hardy voters, for almost the first time, to make good the pledge and secure the honor. The West Spring- field men were filled with amazement when they came to the polls to see a host of strangers, of rough ex- terior, in deerskin breeches and rusty hats, and asked, "Who are these?" Their fate was sealed. John Bliss's old friends in Longmeadow, as soon as they learned that he was a candidate, voted for him, and he was chosen ; and as the Wilbraham men turned homeward, and the sun at his going down was making the mountains glow, they looked higher and nobler in their eyes, for their town had been honored above their neighbors that day, and they felt that they were a power in the State. 76 But I am running before my story. The territory of the Precinct was enlarged, in the act of incorporation, by the addition of a strip of land on the west side, from the " inner commons," half a mile wide, extending from Chicopee River to Connecticut line. In 1780, when the line of Connecticut was accurately surveyed, there fell to our portion another strip of land, called the " Ob- long " or " Wales," about a mile in width at one end, and three-quarters of a mile at the other, across the whole width of the town. And finally, to render any further allusion to the territory of the town unneces- sary, I will add that, in 1799, thirty-six years after the town was incorporated, that portion of the first divison of the " outward common of Springfield," w^hich lay on the east' side of Chicopee River, now called the "El- bows," then "Kingsfield or the Elbows," was added to the town. By these additions, the town was made four and a half miles wide, as far north as its western line extended. Its length, on the west side, was eight miles and one hundred and fifty-two rods ; and on its eastern side its length was ten miles and one hundred and thirty rods. But some of the early settlers had gone, and enjoyed not the ripe clusters of their hopes and labors. A few had left the precinct. Of the pioneers, David Merrick, Abel Bliss, Samuel Stebbins, and Paul Langdon, had died. There had been births to rejoice and deaths to grieve them during this period. Infancy and manhood went down to the grave, and the " grave-yard," which 77 they had raised many pounds to keep " decent," was becoming the sacred treasury of many of their dear ones. There had been eighty-eight deaths since the settlement, three before the incorporation of the pre- cinct. There had been also three hundred and twenty- five births, and if we include those born in the half- mile added from the "inner commons" and in the strip called Wales, annexed to the south end of the town, there had been three hundred and sixty-six births. The population of the town at the time of incorpora- tion, June 15, 1763, could not have varied much from four hundred and fifty or five hundred souls.^ III. The Third Period of our history now opens. The " Outward Commons on the east side of the Great Elver," the "Mountains of Springfield," the Indian " Minne- chaug " or " Berryland " has become a town, with all the rights and honors of a town of the Province of Massachusetts Bay ; Wilbraham is henceforth to be its name. The first warrant for a town meeting was issued by John Worthington, Esq., of Springfield, to Stephen Steb- bins, of Wilbraham, Yeoman, bearing date August 8, 1763, requiring him " to warn the Inhabitants of Said Town of Wilbraham Quallifyed by Law to Vote in Town affairs that [they] meet and Assemble together at the Meeting House in S^ Wilbraham on Thursday the Twenty-first Day of Aug' Currant At one of the Clock 1 Appciulix J. 78 in the afternoon Then and there to Choose a Moderator to preside and Conduct the Said Meeting — -and then to Choose all such Town Officers as may be Necessary to Manage the affairs of Said Town and Towns in this Province are by Law Oblige to Choose," " Stephen Stebbins, Yeoman, failed not " to " warn " the people, nor were the people slow to hear and obey the warning. They " assembled and met together " as required, Aug. 25, 1763, and it was "Voted that L* Thom^ Mirick Should be Moderator for S*^ Meeting. Voted that Ezra Barker [he who was called Master Barker] Should be Clerk for Said Town." The meeting then adjourned to one o'clock the next day to give the " Clerk " opportu- nity to go to Springfield to be sworn, for there was no Justice of the Peace in Wilbraham in those days. " Josiah Dwisrht Jus* Peace " certifies that Ezra Barker •' took the Oath Respecting the Bills of the other Gov- ernment and the Same Time the Oath of Office as a Clerk for Said Town of Wilbraham." ^ Barker hastens back to town meeting at one o'clock, when the rest of the town officers are duly chosen: " Selectmen, Treas- urer, Constables, Assessors, Tithing Men, Surveyors of Highways, Fence Viewers, Dear Reaves, Sealers of Leath- er, Hogg Reaves, Wardens, Surveyor of Shingles, Cla- boards, &c.. Surveyors of Wheat." There is no tradition that there had been any caucusing previously to the meeting, but there was some sly waggery among these 1 This office he held ten years to 1773, when James Wariiner was chosen in his stead, and held tlie office for twelve years to 1785, beyond the limit of this Period. 79 grandfathers of ours on town-meeting day. It is re- corded by Ezra, the Clerk, that " Serg* Moses Burt & W™ Stacy Hogg Reaves (were) not Sworn at This Time being ahscntr Four days after, the honest clerk records that « Serg* Moses Burt and W™ Stacy Refus*^ taking their oath of Office, Thef/ heing chosen Hogg Reaves!" Three officers are named here whose duties ceased, long since and of which the younger portion of this as- sembly require an explanation. The " Warden's " duty was to see that no trespasses were made on the common lands, by destroying the timber, and carrying off valua- ble property for private uses contrary to law. The "Dear Reaves" were to see that deer were not hunted and taken at unsuitable seasons of the year. The " Tithing Men " were to see that the Sunday laws were obeyed, and especially that frisky boys and girls in the o-alleries at the meetino;-house should restrain their playfulness and dumb telegraphing to each other w^hile the sacred services continued. The latter was a task requiring ceaseless vigilance, and often was regarded as " labor spent for naught and in vain." The town is now organized. Money must be raised and appropriated for highways, schools, the poor, and the ministry. We may well arrange our survey of this period under the three general heads of Municipal, Ecclesiastical, and Revolutionary History. At the second meeting, held, December 1, 1763, the first money was raised and appropriated : for the " Sup- port of Schooling," £15; for Mr. Merrick's salary, £51, 80 2s.; for the support of the poor, £2, 5s; for fines, 15s; pound, £2; service of bulls, £3, 10s.; contmgent charges, £1 ; in all, £76, 2s. The first money appropriated, be it known, and let it be borne in everlasting remembrance, was for the " Support of Schooling," an indication not to be mistaken of the value set by our fathers upon education. The sum is small, it is true, but they were poor, their harvests were scanty, their families large, and they were still struggling for the common comforts of life. At the next meeting, January 3, 1764, a committee of five is chosen to divide the " Town into Districts for Schools ; " and it is voted " that the said Committee Should Divide tlie Money Granted at this meeting for the use of Schooling in This Town and Proportion the same Equally to each District when Divided in method following, viz : one-half of said money to be Divided upon Poles and Estates and the other half to be Divided upon Children from 4 to 12 years of age." Thus in the very beginning was laid the unwise and troublesome system of school-districts, which have in many ways done much to render schools expensive and inefiicient. Though these districts were laid out in 1764, I find no record of their number or boundaries till 1775, when the old districts were remodelled and ten districts were formed, and the same year the town raised about one hundred and twenty-six dollars for schools, which would give to each district only the poor pittance of twelve dollars and sixty cents for the support of a school. The 81 whole amount of money raised for schools to 1774, ten years from the incorporation of the town was £217, an average of a little over £21 a year, or about $70. The two " School lots," which were assigned for the support of schools in the allotment of 1684, and also the share of Mr. Clark, who left the county and gave his land for the support of schools, were sold after very much diffi- culty and hesitation on the part of the town and of buy- ers. The income from this fund was added to the sum which the town raised. But one school-house w\is built in town during this period. It was on the mountain near where Mrs. Green now lives, and was erected at the ex- pense of that school-district. There were but two school- houses in the town, this and the one which stood, as early as 1754, nearly opposite the site of the present Congregational Church in the north parish. The schools were kept in the rooms of private houses, and not seldom were taught by the farmers who could read and write a little. There were three celebrated teach- ers, however, — Master Barker in the north part of the town, and Masters Moses and Enos Stebbins in the south part. The "lesser lights" of knowledge were few and dim. Dillworth's Spelling-Book and the Psalter, and later Webster's Spelling-Book and Third Part were the books used for reading and spelling ; Ilodder's and Root's Arithmetic for ciphering, when any scholar ventured upon that dark art. The master only had an arithmetic and the sums were given out to the scholar and written down; he "did" them at his leisure. No slates were 11 82 used till after this period ; ink and paper, coal and board, nail and birch-bark were the mathematical apparatus. The knowledge commiinicated was very meagre, child- ren rarely attending school after twelve years of age, if the limit in the division of the school money enables us to determine.^ Passing from schools to Highways, we find that the first roads were accepted, March 20, 1764, " upon Con- dition that those Persons who are benefited by said Roads or Highways would Endemnify this Town from any Charge arising on Account of said Roads or High- ways." This principle was adhered to till after the Revolutionary War, perhaps through the century. The first Road "Established" was from "Third Brook so Called," near Miss Experience Stebbins's, in the south part of the town, running easterly and southerly through the southeast part of the town to " Wales " so called. A part of the way it was in the " Old Path." Paul Langdon was surveyor. The second road estab- lished was in the north part of the town, running from the " West Rode " or " Main Road," west to Stony Hill, not far from the present road. The roads varied in width from one to three rods and much care was taken to " establish " them so that they should run on dividing lines, or cross a lot at right angles when that must be done. Perhaps I may as well say here as anywhere, once for all, that the roads or paths appear to have been arranged according to a general principle or by a chance which proved to be a principle. ^Appendix K, 83 The '^' Bay Road," as I have said, was on the north end of the town, crossing from west to east. From this road there ran south throuo;h the whole leng-th of the town, four paths, more or less used for foot-travellers, bridle-paths, or for wheels ; — the " West Road," so called usually, on the west side of the mountain ; the " Middle " or " Ridge Road," following the top of the mountain about a mile east of this in the north part of the town, descending the east side as it passes south, running over the Scantic and upjhe hill, south to Con- necticut line ; the " East Road," about a mile east from this, startinoj near " twelve-mile " brook and runnino; south to the south-east corner of the town; then one mile west of the " West Road " was the road on the west side of the " outward commons," nearly correspond- ing to the present road. By these roads the town was divided into four parts, each a mile wide, and the west one eisfht and the east one ten miles lono;. The roads crossing east and west had a similar regular ir- regularity. They were five in number ; — the Bay Road on the north ; the next road south, nearly where the present road comes from the mountain and crosses at the Methodist meeting-house going west ; the road cross- ino- the " West Road " at Deacon John Adams's : the road ffoing; west from the school-house a mile further south, and, two miles south of this, the road through, or rather over, the mountain ; for it ascended the hill from the present south parish common to Mrs. Beriah Smith's, then crossed the north end of the south moun- 84 tain, and, descending, crossed the " West Road" a little below Mr. Ralph S. Chapin's, bearing off westerly to Lono;meadow. These roads were all laid out or " estab- lished " at different times before, and from 1763 to 1772, after the incorporation of the town. They were mere paths. Probably there was not a wrought road in town during this period. The bridge over the Scan- tic, near Mr. Silas Chapin's, was not built till 1768- This poor condition of the roads will appear evident from the money expended on them. The first three years no money was raised for roads, and £7, 17s. 8d. were paid as a line for " defective highways." Up to 1773, ten years, the whole amount raised was .£257, or $837.67, which is but $83.76 a year. This sum would hardly clear the paths of stones and cut away the intruding bushes. Fast horses and two hundred pound bug-o-ies would be at a discount on such roads. There was very little riding but on horseback during this period, except when there was snow. There were but two two-horse wagons, and but five two-horse sleighs in the north part of the town before 1782. A man and his wife on the pillion behind him, one child on the pommel before, and the baby in the mother's lap were the usual travellers in these paths.^ The Ecclesiastical Affairs of the town went on by no means smoothly. The south part of the town was in- creasing rapidly in population, both by births and im- migrations, and was not disposed to aid in repairing the meeting-house, or building new pews in it ; and not ' Appendix L. 85 seldom the controversies were sharp and long on these topics. Once, at least, as a compromise, persons were permitted to build pews at their own cost. The method of " seating; " the meetingi;-house was productive of more and more dissatisfaction, the doings of the " seating committee " being sometimes wholly rejected, and very often, almost always, amended. The proverbial difficulty of managing singing, and especially singers, was felt most keenly and treated most unwisely. It is evident that the " rising genera- tion," our grandfathers, were weary of the "leading" of good Deacon Warriner, who had now, from the " dea- con's seat" under the pulpit, raised the pitch, and lit- erally led the singing for over twenty years. The people generally felt that there was fulfilled among them the prophecy of the Prophet Amos, " The songs of the temple shall be turned into bowlings." Singing masters had made their way to the new town. New music came with them. The old tunes were laid aside. Strange feats of voice and limb were performed by mouth Jind arm when the new singers came into the seats in the gallery. The congregation could not sing. The poor deacon's voice was silent. Great were the " searchings of heart " among the ancients. Most un- fortunately of all, the town took the matter in hand. The wisdom of the fathers forsook them. The flames burned all the more fiercely for being fanned. The second article in the warrant for town-meeting, Sep- tember 24, 1770, was "To see whether they will come 86 into some method or ao;reement for more Resi-ular Car- rying on the Singing in the PubHc worship in this town than it is at the present time ; " and the third, " To see whether the Town will be willino; to sino: four Times in the Publick worship on the Sabbath for the fu- ture." It is pretty evident that this movement origi- nated with the new singers. They appear to be ambitious to excel in quantity as well as quality. There seems to have been no opposition worthy of record to choosing the committee asked for, and ten men were chosen " to be a Com., to take into considera- tion the Broken state of this Town with reo:ard to Singing in the Publick Assembly on Sabbath Days, and to consult together and agree upon some Plan or Method whereby to encourage & promote regular and Universal Singing in said assembly, & make report there- of to this or some future meeting." On the 22d of Octo- ber, at the adjourned meeting, the committee of ten, Nathaniel Warriner, John Bliss, Thomas Mirick, Moses Stebbins, William King, Ezra Barker, Daniel Cadwell, John Jones, Eliezer Smith, and Phineas Newton make an elaborate Report covering two pages of the book of Records in Master Barker's best handwriting, in which a list of twenty-three tunes, — " called Low Dutch, Windsor, Old lOOd, New lOOd, Stroudwater, Meer, Buckland, Broomsgrove, Bangor, St. Martin's, Warwick, St. Hellens, All-Saints, Little Marlborough, Cambridge, Portsmouth, Southwell, Quercy, Worksop, Wantage, Standish, New York and 149 Psalm Tune," — 87 is given, which " shall be made use of in the Publick worship of God in this town;" this " List is to be trans- mitted to Mr. Morgan (now singing-master in this Town) in order that he may Teach or Instruct his scliol- lars to Sing them according to Rule." No other tunes are to be introduced without "consent." Dea'' Nath'l Warriner is to (Ave the lead in sing-ino- on the fore- noons on each Sabbath & one of the Young Men lately Instructed by Mr. Stickney (as they shall agree among themselves) give the lead in singing in the afternoon of each Sabbath for the space of three months from the Date hereof, excepting when Mr. Morgan is present, then it is expected he Avill carry the singing." They also report " that all who Assist in Singing Shall be at their pleasure either to Stand or Sit when Singing with- out giving Offence to any ; that the singers lately In- structed by Mr. Stickney who are seated in the Gallery of the Meeting House are at their Liberty to make a decent and orderly Exchange of Seats as They Shall agree among themselves and so to Set for the SjDace of Three Months from the Date hereof and no lono-er, or else to continue to Set as they were last Seated; " and '" Gthly " and lastly, " that w^hoever shall lead in the singing shall be at Liberty to Use the Motion of his hand while singing for the Space of Three Months from the Date hereof or a shorter Space as need shall re- quire." Thus far " the committee " " propose to be tr^ed by Vote." The committee then recommend, that "as the Beating with the hand in the Congregation 88 when singing is offensive to some it be laid aside as quick as may be and confine the same to the school only ; that all in the Town whose voices will admit of it speedily use proper means to get themselves ac- quainted with the art of Singing Ruleably & well, — in the mean time " they " recommend to all both old and Young to Join in Singing in the Worshiping as- sembly and to sing as well as they can ; and lastly," say they, " we cannot but recommend to ourselves & others to studdy the Things which make for peace, and the things whereby we may Edify one another." The town voted what the committee recommend- ed. But it is evident that the flames were not to be quenched by any such appliances. " Three months " grace and " no longer " is given to " Beating with the hand " and occupying " exchanged seats " if they can agree to exchange, which is very doubtful. The con- gregation are all to " sing, as well as they can," it is true, but to " Join in Singing " at any rate. The Stick- neyites in the " Gallery " would hardly be satisfied. The compromise is like Nebuchadnezzar's image, gold in the head, but " clay and iron " in the legs and feet. So it turns out, as the "three months" are expiring, that an article is inserted in the warrant, January 7, 1771, "to pass any votes in further addition " to those before passed " as the Town Shall think proper by further leng-thenino; the Time of the Present Mode of Sino-ins:." This article came from the " Gallery " party evidently. It is followed by another which came from the " dea- 89 con's seat," as evidently. Hear it : " to make Inquiry into the conduct of those ivlio call themselves the smge7^s in this Town, and see wheatlier they have conducted or proceeded agreeable to the report of the Town's Cora*"", and the Town's vote thereupon at our last Meeting and pass such Vote or Votes as shall be thought Necessary in Consequence thereof." Greek has now met Greek. At the meeting it is voted, " that Dea" Nath'l Warriner Shall continue to Set the Psalm as Usual Durino; the Town's Pleasure ; also that Moses Warriner and Jona- than Bliss do the same." The "young men" are voted down ; tlie " Galleries " are in a minority ; so it would seem. But there is abundant life in young blood, and, rallying their strength, "a motion was made whether the singing should be performed in the congregation according to the late mode by Beating with the hand, &c. ; it being put, and the House being Divided it passed in the afhrmative, 25 against about 19." The "Deacon's Seat" now loses, but does not ^deld ; for "a motion was made" to Deside it by the Town List or by Lawful Voters, and after some Debate it was thrown by and the following vote passed, namely. Voted that the Piev. Mr. Mirick be Desired to call a Society meet- insj: in order to come into some method of Reconcilia- tion with regard to Singing in the Publick worship." They adjourn ; and no more is recorded or known of the result. Poor Mr. Merrick had cares enough of an- other kind, as we shall soon see, without being dragged into this controversy about the singing. Thus ended 12 90 the great struggle of the town respecting the method of " Carrying on the Singing in the PubHc Worship of God." I have dwelt upon it at greater length than the subject itself deserved, because it is a good illustration of the attempts of our ancestors to regulate minute affairs by town action. Let us learn wisdom from their mistakes. Another and much graver difficulty called for all the wisdom and patience of the town. The conditions of the " Worthy Mr. Mirick's " settlement were of such a kind as to render it more and more difficult to fulfil them. Every year a Committee conferred with him and agreed upon the price of commodities : and then there was the use of the " Ministry land" whose income he was to have, and whose leasing and renting and care were a great annoyance. More than all, I think Mr. Merrick was as good a farmer as preacher, and that his thrift on the "Overplus Land," given to him as a settle ment, was not a small occasion of delay and dislike in paying his salary. A good farm is a dangerous thing for a minister to own among; farmers. His thrift is all open to view and begets envy. Mr. Merrick had a fam- ily of promising boys now entering upon manhood, some already arrived at it, and two negroes to aid in the field and one in the house, giving him an appear- ance of abundance and increasing riches. The town were not disposed to aid any more than they could help in " multiplying his prosperity." As early as Jan. 7, 1771, a movement is made to give 91 up the attempt to settle the salary on the prices of "Sundry Species of Commoditys," and the sum of " Fifty one Pounds Ten Shillings, lawfuU Money of this Province " is voted by the town and accepted by Mr. Merrick instead, and papers were exchanged between the parties, January 6, 1772. It is also agreed that the " Ministry Land " shall be sold, on condition that £6 be added annually to Mr. Merrick's salary, and the sale is made and bonds are given amounting to £348, 13s. 5d. or $1162.20, the interest on which is to be paid annu- ally for the support of preaching. Mr. Merrick's health failed in 1772, and difficulties, in addition to all the others, of a serious nature arose about supplying the pulpit and paying his salary while he was sick. Matters came to a crisis, July 14, 1775, and the town not only refused to raise Mr. Merrick's salary, but, after hearing read a very frank statement made by him of his sickness and offering to relinquish five Pounds out of his salary for the current year in case the town should " Employ Some Learned Licenced Preacher for three months next ensuing," and in the " same propor- tion " for " every three months thereafter in case " he " should not be able to supply the pulpit before the Ex- piration of Said Term," and provided also that he " should be paid the remaining part " of his " salary according to" their "agreement," yet after a "Long Debate a motion was made and Seconded to Dismiss Mr. Mirick ; then voted to Dismiss Mr. Mirick from the Gospel Ministry upon his being willing; then voted to 92 adjourn to the 4tli day of September next. At that meeting " Mr. Mirick's answer was read " again " and not excepted by the town." The committee of confer- ance is enlarged and are directed to " Wait on Mr. Mir- ick again and see if their Grievance couki not be re- moved." Tliey " weighted on Mr. Merrick with two votes passed " and received the following answer : — " To the Inhabitants of Wilbraham in Town Meeting assembled, Friends and Neighbours : Considering my bodily Infirmity and Difficulty of Supplying the Pulpit Steadily for the present, I hereby engage (provided you accept of it) to relinquish out of my annual salary Eight Shillings per Day for as many Sabbaths as you shall be obliged to hier a preacher on account of my failing through inability. S'^ Engagement to continue one year from date hereof & no longer — if my Life should be continued so Lons;. "Yours, - N. Merrick. " Wilbraham, September 4, 1775." This answer was read in " a very full Town meeting & not Excepted." They vote " to chuse another com- mittee to draw up a List of Grievances and Lay them before Mr. Mirick & agree with him to Call in Sister Churches ; then after a Long Debate," says the town clerk, " there was no Committee chose." The old com- mittee was directed " to wait on the Rev'^ Mr. Mirick to Know if he will ask for and Receive an Honorable Dis- 93 mission from the work of the Ministry in this town and unite with the to^vn in Cahing a Council for that pur- pose — further voted as the opinion of this town that a Minister has no Right to any Salery or maintenance as a Minister any Longer than he performs the work of a Minister." The clerk adds, " N. B. the above votes past by a very grate majority then the meeting disolved." These votes do not read well after a century. The spirit is harsh w^ien we remember that Mr. Merrick was sick and has shared with them the days of small things. It is evident, however, that the mind of the town is not only made up, but also made up very unanimously and decidedly. The subject of Mr. Merrick's " sallary " came up again at the next town-meeting, November 6, 1775, and we read that " the Rev'^ Noah Mirick's Salery w^as put up two or three times to be Granted from Jan. 1, 1775 to January 1, 1776, but no vote could be obtained," though he sent to the town-meeting a letter in which he proposes to relinquish out of his salary "four pounds," because the town " had hired some Sabbaths j)reaching in the preceding Summer by reason of" his "failing through bodily Infirmities " which is the " proportion agreed upon," if they would pay him the remainder of his "salary according to Engagement." The subject came up again, November 20th, but "no vote could be obtained to grant the Rev'^ Noah Mirick's Salery." Op- portunity for consideration and consultation only fixes more deeply the purpose of refusal. At a meeting, held February 23, 1776, whose business was exclusively that 94 of endeavoring to adjust this difficulty, a committee of seven, " Lieut. John Hitchcock, John BHss, Esq., Moses Stebbins, Ser* Daniel Cadwell, Cap* James Warriner, Ser* Philip Lyon & Cap* Paul Langdon," was chosen " to wait on the Rev*^ Noah Mirick to ask for and see if he wont be willing to relinquish his Clame or Challing to any Sallary from this people for the future." There is no record of any report from this committee at the next meetincT, March 19, thous^h there was an article in the warrant to receive their report. If any was made, it was unsatisfactory, for at the next meeting, March 28, they " Voted to make Mr. Mirick an offer of a sum of money yearly during life in Case he will ask for a Dismission & join with the town to call a Council for that purpose," and then chose a new committee of five persons to " wait on the Rev*^ Mr. Mirick." The meeting " ad- journed for the space of one hour, then met and opened said meeting and Voted and Dismist the Rev*^ Mr. Mirick from the work of the Ministry in this town." And they further chose a committee of three, Moses Stebbins, L* Daniel Cadwell and Ser* Noah Stebbins, " to apply to Sum orthodox Candidate to supply the pulpit in this town for one month." This is pressing the matter with earnestness, if not with either prudence or justice. Another committee is chosen in May to " hire preaching two months." Mr. Merrick grows feebler and the town grows bolder. In May, the parties show themselves more clearly than before. It is evident that there is some relenting on the part of a joortion of the town. 95 though it appears from the record that the church had also voted to call a council. Nothing is said of this, however, in the church records, nor of this trouble. When the subject comes before the meeting, May 20, 1776, they pass over the article " to see if the town will coincide and join w^ith the church in calling a Council to settle the unhappy Diference betwixt the Rev. Noah Mirick and town and make provision for S*^ Council and Support the Charge," and vote to reconsider the " former vote past, March 28, 1776, viz: Voted and Dismist the Rev. Mr. Mirick from the work of the ministry in this tow^n, which vote is Reconsidered made nul and void." ^ The day dawns. There is yet hope of a safe and honorable deliverance. We wait, therefore, with worthy solicitude the action of the meeting, July 2d. A new committee of five persons is chosen to " wait on the Rev'^ Mr. Merrick and ask what his demands are on the town;" and it appears that his reply was, " What the town owes me," for they put themselves right in the case by further voting all Mr. Merrick's "Sallary to the 28 Day of Last June that has not been granted heretofore." The wisdom of the fathers is returning. They choose a committee to hire preaching, for Mr. Merrick is too ^A Council was held, however, June 25, for, December 9, the sum of £5, 5s. 4d. is "granted to tlie Church Com'" to pay Mr. Ellsworth for speaking at the Council," and to " Mr. Seth Adams for keeping the Council in June 25, 1776, £3, 15s.," and to Capt. James Warriner for 5 jornies for himself and horse and expense of minis- ters, £1, 8s. 4d." "and Nov. 3, 1777, to Gideon Burt, 17s. 6d. for keeping Mr. Ellsworth and horses for the Council in June, 177G," and this Council recommended that a Council of both town and church be called to dismiss Mr. Merrick, for I find an article in the warrant for a town-meeting to be licld on the 4th of November, 1776, to that effect. 96 infirm to perform '* the worlv of the ministry," and another committee " to wait on our Rev*^ pasture to make a final settlement with him and report at this or some future meeting." They adjourned to September 2d ; met and adjourned to October, " and but four per- sons met no meeting could be opened so the meeting Concequently Disolved of it self" Mr. Merrick's health was still declining and a committee was chosen to sup- ply the pulpit for six months, at a special meeting held in September. In November there is an article in the warrant to see if the " town will unite with the church and chuse a Council to Dismis our Rev'^ pasture agree- able to the Late result of the Rev'^ Council & Chuse a Com"'"' for that purpos." The meeting met and ad- journed to December 9, when no vote was passed re- specting calling a Council, but Capt. John Shaw, Mr. Moses Stebbins, & L* Noah Stebbins were chosen a " Com"*''' to wait on Mr. Mirick with a coppy of the Last Grant made him of his Sallary and see if he will accept and be content therewith and Give a Discharge from any further Clame on the Town by way of Sallary and make a Reporte at some futer meeting." This is the last recorded action in this protracted and painful transaction.^ The " Worthy " Mr. Merrick was rapidly sinking to his grave ; going to his reward. He died, December 22, 1776, aged sixty-six years, after a ^ The final settlement with the heh"s of JNIr. Merrick was not made till 1784, eight years after his death. The town then " Granted to the heirs of tlie Kev* Noah Mirick what was Due to him for his Salary & Avhat was Due by tl^e sale of the ministry laud included the sum [of] £48, 15s. Id. 2f" 97 ministry of thirty-five years and six months. He was son of Jaines, the son of Thomas Merrick wlio came from Wales and settled in Springfield, 1636. He was born, August 6, 1711, and graduated at Yale College, 1731. He was a good scholar and preacher for his time. " He had a well-balanced mind, trained to close application and study. The doctrines inculcated by the text were logically treated. His style is plain rather than orna- mental." '• I infer," writes his grandson, " that his reading was not extensive and systematic. His Scripture quo- tations were appropriate, and show a thorough knowl- edge of the Bible, which was his best library. He did not always write out his sermons, but made sketches like lawyers' briefs, from which he preached. He was very methodical in his habits, exact in all his Avays and punctual in the performance of every duty. Saturday was his preparation day for the solemn duties of the Sabbath. At an early hour he retired to his study, and no one was permitted to interrupt him. His meals were carried to his room, and he did not appear in his family till Sunday morning." He was an Arminian in his opinions, if universal tradition can be relied upon, and it is not improbable that this may have had some influence in breedino- disafTection at last in the town and O church. The church-book shows the usual amount of success in the ministry. One hundred and seventy-two joined the church, one hundred and three owned the covenant, and six hundred and four were baptized, and thirteen were dismissed to other churches. Cases of 13 98 discipline were very few, and never resulted in expul- sion, or if so, no record is made of the fact. Mr. Merrick's labors were not disturbed by the con- troversies of intrusive sectaries till near their close, when the Baptists appeared in the northeast part of the town, organized a society in 1768, and Rev. Seth Clark was settled, 1770. No serious collision appears to have arisen between the churches, however, and the harmony of the town Seems, not to have been disturbed. One lesson, at least, we may learn from this long struggle : there was trouble among the fathers not less than among us in their ecclesiastical aflfairs, and no one who reads their records attentively can sigh for the old ways and the times of the fathers.^ From the death of Mr. Merrick, 1776, there was no settled minister in the north part of the town till 1787, a period of eleven years. But the people in the south part of the town had so rapidly increased that, as early as 1765, they made application to the town for money to support preaching among them in the winter, which was promptly refused. At the December meeting, 1767, the town refused the "Southpart" the privilege of having " Two Months Preaching in the Winter Sea- son upon there own cost!' Such a vote would not con- ciliate the Stebbinses and Langdons and Morrises and Chaffees. They rally in 1772, and ask to be set off as a town, but are voted down summarily. In 1778, after a struggle at several adjourned meetings, and the 1 Appendix M. 99 report of a committee, they vote to divide the town into " two parishes ; " but it was afterwards reconsidered. In 1780, they again urge their claim to be a parish upon both town and General Court, and press it with vigor till at last they gain their object, and are set off as a Parish, June 11, 1782. The line between the parishes from Springfield to Monson was on the south side of David Bliss's farm, those adjoining the line being permitted to choose whichever parish they pleased.^ Near the close of this period, January 10, 1780, Deacon Nathaniel Warriner, one of the first four settlers of the town died, in the seventy-seventh year of his age. He was called to the most important offices of trust in both precinct and town. Besides the important office which he held in the church from the very be- ginning, and to which he gave a " full sacramental furni- ture," he was moderator of many of the precinct meet- ings, sharing the honor with Thomas Merrick, and al- most exclusively moderator of town meetings for seven years to 1770, when John Bliss of the south part ap- pears on the stage, and succeeds for many years to the deacon's honors. Having no children, on whose shoul- ders the mantle of his virtues and the results of his industry and economy could descend, he gave at his decease £400 " Lawfull money" or about $1300 to the town, " to be the one-half given to the support of a Gospel Ministry, the other half to be to the use and Sup- port of Schools in this town, Provided that all other ^ Appendix N. 100 Churches which are or may be in this town of a Differ- ent Constitution from the Standing order of Churches in this Land Shall Forever be Excluded from Receiving any Benefit from the same." He is the first, and, I am sorry to say, the last benefactor of the town, who has giv^n a sum for public purposes equalling this donation. The children in our town are to-day reminded of the worthy deacon who first and last remembered gener- ously our public schools, by additional advantages which his testamentary act gives. Thus closes this period of the Ecclesiastical History of the town. There are now two Parishes, the North and the South, and the Baptist Society, which had erected a meeting-house in 1779. Hereafter the municipal affairs of the town will be separated from the ecclesiastical, and the course of our history will be more easily traced. The epic of this period yet remains to be recited, — the words and deeds of our fathers during the Revolu- tionary War. Having so long detained you, I hardly know whether I should beg your pardon for the present challenge of your endurance in this crowded hall, and close here and now my story, or whether I should be encouraged, by patience so long-suffering, and attention so steadfast, to take my manuscript in my hand and read in your ears the heroic deeds and acts of your fathers. [The President loudly said, " Go on, Sir, go on ; " and his words were caught up with great earnest- ness all over the platform and through the hall.] I ac- cept your challenge of strength and endurance thank- 101 fully, and girding myself anew for the task, will, in words as worthy as I may, all unworthy, at the best, of the theme, rehearse the doings of the town during the war of Independence. The subject is as rich in inspiration as in instruction for us, — the children and grandchildren of these men, — in this hour of our country's trial and peril, when the continent trembles under the tread of contending armies, and the air is torn with the thunder of cannon, and the war-shout. The records are fidl of the proceedings of the town, — passing resolutions of sympathy with the suffering city of Boston ; sending aid to the families whose members were killed or wounded at the Lexington fight ; sending men into the field by the payment of large bounties ; furnishing their share of beef to the commissary; giving clothing to the half- naked soldiers; choomig committees to '■Hake care of 'per- sons " inimical to the State ; struggling with a depreciated currency; voting one silver dollar in paying taxes to be equivalent, first to seventy-five, then to eighty, then to two hundred and fifty dollars of paper money ; filling a draft of every seventh man; and leaving the crops in the field to be harvested, as well as planted, by the old men, the children, and the women. Such is a glance at the deeds I am to rehearse, and to whose recital I sum- mon your renewed attention, and challenge your iron patience.^ The great cause of the Revolutionary War — taxation without representation — had stirred up a deep feeling of ' Appendix O. 102 hostility to the mother country, and the indirect man- ner in which the tax was levied — by a tariff on import- ed goods from Great Britain and the British possessions — only added fuel to the flame. They could not escape the tax, unless they ceased using the goods imported. If they made no purchases, they would pay no taxes. Accordingly an association was formed in 1769, by the merchants in Boston, whose members pledged them- selves to import no more of the taxed articles, and the citizens were petitioned to cease trading with all mer- chants who would not pledge themselves to import no more of them from England or her dependencies. This pledge of the citizens was not only circulated in the town of Boston, but was also sent to all the towns in the colony. The appeal from the merchants reached the citizens of this town in the spring of 1770, and at a town-meeting held May 1, of which Lieut. Thomas Merrick was moderator, it was " Voted that the Mar- chants not only of our Metropolis but thro' the con- tinent have acted Generous and as becoming; Gentlem [en] of a Free Constitution and as well wishers of their Fellow Men in that they have Nobly Preferred the Public good to their own private Interest, and with a view to obtain a Redress of those Grievances so Justly complained of have by a Certain agreement engaged to Suspend their Importations from Great Britain, a Meas- ure which cannot but be approved by every wise and Generous Man, and which we hope will prove Instrumen- tal to Effect the Salutary Design in View." " Voted that 103 the above vote be recorded in the Town Book and a Copy thereof to be transmitted to the committee of In- spection in the Town of Boston in order to be Pub- lished." This is the first voice from Wilbraham, five years before the battle of Lexington, and it is every way worthy of the men and the crisis. Our hearts swell with gratitude as we repeat the words. We feel taller and stronger as we remember they were the words of our ancestors. " , ^ The town clerk, the renowned Master Barker, adds to his record of the above vote, " N. B. It was moved in the Meeting to pass some Votes relating to not pur- chasing goods of those, who, contrary to the merchant's agreement, continue to Import, and also relating to the Horrid Murther lately committed in Boston by the Soldiers: but a rumour that the Duty acts were repealed, and being an Infant town [mark the modesty as well as the manliness of the fathers, for the town was not yet seven years old] in the Province, the Meeting thought Prudent not to Show themselves too forward in passing many votes in the affair." Their patriotism is sur- passed by nothing but their modesty. They desired no quarrel with the mother country, and hoping the '' ru- mour of repeal" was true, they passed over without action the article "to see if this town will take care Speedily to Procure and Provide a Stock of Powder and Ammunition." No further action was taken by the town lor the 104 next three years. The controversy was carried on mainly between the colonial Governor and the citizens of Boston, though active correspondence was kept up with other towns in the State. At at own-meeting, held April 6, 1773, Ezra Barker, Isaac Brewer, Eleazer Bliss, John Bliss, and Nath'l Warriner were chosen a commit- tee " to take into Consideration Corresponding with the town of Boston relative to the Crown fixing Sala- ries upon our officers without our Consent." At an adjourned meeting, held April 20th, '-at 3 o'clock, P.M.," this committee make their report in reply to the appeal of the Boston Committee, drawn up in part by Samuel Adams and Joseph Warren, and presented to the town- meeting of Boston, November 20, 1772, by James Otis, that flaming torch of the Revolutionary struggle. In what words could these simple citizens of young Wil- braham respond to the sentences of fire which came blazing from the pen of Adams, and thundering from the lips of Otis ? Listen to them, — modest, maYily, heroic: "We, the Inhabitants of the town of Wilbra- ham this 20th day of April A. D. 1773 in town-meeting Lawfully assembled by adjournment Take this oppor- tunity to acknowledge the favour of a Pamphlet printed by order of the town of Boston at their meeting Nov. 20th, 1772, wherein the rights of the Colonists are Stated together with a List of publick Grievances or Infringements of those rights, &c., we freely acknowl- edge that we are a few Days later than might justly be Expected, & perhaps some will say that we are fore- 105 closed on account that the Honorable House of Repre- sentatives have taken the matter in hand, others may venture to Say that Seeing Wilbraham is bid an Infant town, the Inhabitants thereof are bold and Imprudent in meddling with the affair : Since the most anticent towns in the Same Country [Mr. President, Sprhigfield must look to her laurels] have lain still and done nothing ; we answer that ive have a call to be very bold to stand for and maintain our JUST RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES, 652?e'c/a//y «/ this SO CRITICAL TIME. And if we may be allowed to use Scripture Language we would have recourse to the words of Elihu and say, I am young and ye are very old, wherefore I was afraid and Dust not Show you mine opinion. I Said Days should Speak, and multitude of years should teach wis- dom. Bat there is a Spirit in man, &c., — Therefore I Said Hearken to me I also will Show mine opinion. — Behold, / ?t'mV^c? for words, &c. Thus far the Introduction, and after taking thankful notice of the late conduct of the honorable house of representatives we will proceed to a few resolves." In these resolves the committee say it is (1) " the Opinion of this town that the rights of the Colonists as stated in the Boston Pamphlet in general are well and Justly Stated and we have too much reason to believe that there is an attempt made to abridge us of those rights, which is Cruel and unreasona- ble ; (2) that in faithfulness to ourselves to our pos- terity and as friends to the English constitution and nation as well as faithful and Loyal Subjects to our Sovereign Lord the King, we may not dare Sit Still a.-i 14 106 Idle Spectators and do nothing, Wherefore Considering ourselves a part of the tvhole, and members of the same Body and that our Interests are Joint Interests (3) we are willinor & will unite and Join with our Brethren in pursuing all Proper & Lawful methods whereby we may gain redress of those Grievances So Justly Com- plained of and which are like to prove So hurtful to the good Subjects of the King as well as Dishonorable to his Crown. (4). Resolved as the opinion of this town that we are not Sensible that we or our Brethren of this Pro- vince have Done anything thus to forfeit our Just rights or to merrit the Displeasure of our Sovereign, but on the other hand we verily Believe that the People of this Province and throughout the whole British america are as true and as Loyal Subjects as any in the King's Dominions, at the Same time we Cannot omitt Saying that it is with Pleasure we observe Stiddiness and firmness of the people in their resolutions as well as good temper in standing for and maintaining their Just rights and Priviledges and that all mobs, routs and riots are laid aside — and Further- more we are of opinion that if petitions for redress in a proper Channel were repeatedly and humbly presented to our King & our earnest prayers Continually put up to the King of kings the Same accompanied ivith a universal reforma- tion this w^ould give us reason to hope that our Priviled- ges wold be restored & Continued to us and that we might yet remain a happy People." Resolves every way worthy the age of heroes and sages. After the report had been read, it was " Voted that 107 the above be Recorded in the Town book, & that the town clerk transmit a coppy thereof to the Committee of Correspondence in the town of Boston as quick as may be." The clerk is careful to note at the bottom of his record, "A copy sent to Boston." Thus the echo went back from the " mountains " to the sea, and the hearts of the people were strengthened. The state of affairs grew no better, and in December, the tea was thrown overboard in Boston Harbor by a party of citizens disguised as Indians, among whom was Robert kSessions, who soon afterwards settled in this town and became one of our most worthy and influen- tial citizens. No action was taken by the town, March 15, 1774, on an article in the warrant "to see if the town will pass any votes relative to the Letters Sind [signed] by our present Governour & Lieut. Goyernour & some other Gentlemen Sent home and returned to Boston and Sent to Wilbraham to be Emiditatelv Laid before said town." These fathers of ours had no time to give to a consideration of the reasons ofl^ered by their tory "Governour and Lent. Governour," Hutchinson and Oliver, why they should surrender " their Just Rights and Priviledges ; " even the Prayer of the Colonies for redress, presented to Parliament by the hand of Frank- lin, had been spurned from the house. Their arms were as strong as their hearts, and their muskets as true as their principles. In June of this year, 1774, Gage filled Boston with troops, and the Common was covered with tents. A 108 special meeting of our citizens was called, June 23d " to see if the town will take into Consideration the Preca- rious State of the Liberties of North America & more Especially the Present Distressed condition of this In- sulted Province & pass any vote or votes on the Let- ters or Covenant which are So Called sent from the town of Boston to the town of Wilbraham to be Sub- scribed by all adult Persons of both sexes in S*^ town and pass all such votes on the above Said articles as the town Shall by any way or meathod think proper or Convenient." The town-meeting was " very full." " Mr. John Bliss was chosen moderator. It was voted that Dea. War- riner Should Desire Mr. Mirick to Come and Pray accord- ingly Mr. MiricJc opened S'^ meeting hy prayer." This is the first record of a prayer being offered at a town-meeting, and eminently significant of the deep seriousness felt by the citizens, and their consciousness of the moment- ous interests which were at stake. After the prayer, they take up the business before them with- a mixture of dependence and independence on foreign direction as well as with patriotic devotion. "After several Letters or Covenants sent from the town of Boston to the town of Wilbraham were read, it was further voted after Largely Discoursed upon that Some tvords Shoidd he Dashed aid in the first article in the Covenant and some he aded, voted that the Last article in the Covenant should be all Dasht oid, & voted there Should be ivords aded under the Last article in the Cove- 109 nant ; voted and chose Dec'' Warriner Lieut. Thomas Mirick & James Warriner a Com*'' to make Enquiry to See what oilier towns Do before they send S*^ Covenant to the town of boston & voted that S'^ Com**^ Should not Send Said Covenant without further orders from S'^ town. This covenant says, "there being no alternative between the horrors of Slavery or the Carnage and desolation of a Civil war but a Suspension of all Com- mercial intercourse with the island of Great Britain, we do solemnly Covenant and engage with each other (1) that from henceforth we will Suspend all Commercial intercourse with said island of Great Britain * =="' '='■ and (2) that we will not buy, purchase or Consume or Suffer any person by for or under us to purchase or Consume in any manner whatever any goods weres or mer- chandize which shall arrive in America from Great Britain * * * === and that we will break off all trade Commerce and dealings whatever with all persons who Preferins; their own Private intrist to the Salvation of their now perishing Country shall stiU continue to Im- port goods from Great Britain or shall purchase of those who do Import and (3) we agree to purchase no article of merchandize of any who do not sign this covenant." Then follow the signatures of one hundred and twenty-five patriotic men, who, it is to be presumed, were heads of families.^ A " very full town-meeting " was held a month after, July 29, 1774, at which Messrs. Daniel Cadwell, William ■ Appendix P. no King, Moses Stebbins, Eleazar Smith, John Sterns, John Bhss and Ezra Barker, were chosen a committee " to draw up some resolves agreeable to the house of repre- sentatives respecting the Covenant Sent from Boston." After an adjournment of the meeting " for a Short Space in order that said Commitee prepare S** Resolves," the meeting is again opened and the committee, after professing loyalty " so far as " their " Liberty and the nations Good will Admit," report that " the Continuation of a trade with Great Britton under our present Situa- tion wold be unprofitable & very Dangerous," and that " a non Importation & agreement Should be universally adopted by all the British Collonies in america but being sensable of the Impropritu of this tonm Prescribing meas- ures for the ivliole of America we do Cheerfully approve of the measures adopted by the Late Honorable House of Representatives '=' * * Proposing a Congress of the Colonies '•■ '=' '•' whose result & advice we Shall Stand ready to adopt as far as tve can consistent ivitli good Con- sciencer While they deprecate mobs and riots as " in- jurious to the cause of Liberty " they recommend " the moderate peaceble & Steady persuance of Some Proper means for Redress with Dependance upon a divine Benidiction." They continue their resolves by saying, "we Do Sincerely Intend Speedily to contribute to the relief of Boston & Charlestown suffering under the rod of oppression," '•' * "we cannot look upon any person or persons who will not adopt these salitary measures as friends of their country T * * '•' " We shall not think our- Ill selves Oblige''," continue the committee, " to Shoiv any Special regards to them: if they be judges in Law or attorneys at the bar we tvill neglect them as much as jjossi/jle, or if ministers of the Gospel or common people tve shall think ourselves under no obligations to /Special Beneficence to themr And further " Resolved that for the Encoura^ce- ment of the Hono"" Gentlemen Chosen as a Committe for the Congress" the same persons be a committee to communicate these above "Resolves to them & they are hereby desired & Impowered to communicate the Same as quick as possible ; " and " our proportion of the money for the gentlemen to the Congress" was sent with the resolve, the faithful clerk is careful to inform us. These fathers of ours felt that higher wisdom than man's was needed in the " great crisis " and they finally " Resolved that as God in his providence is frowning upon the Inhabitants of this Land in the Civil Distresses ivhich lue hegin to feel & mang others which we Can Easily fore bodc^ we think it proper to Set apart one Day in three months as a Day of fasting & prayer to All Mighty God for his help in our Deliverance and in this way Look to that being for Relief by whom Kings Reign k princes decree justice, Sensable for our Encouragement that in this way God was wont to relieve people of old, & that the appointment of the particular Day be left to our Rev'' Paster or the Select [men] of the town." They then " Voted very unanimously & Granted tiventy- five pounds to provide a town Stock of ammunition as the Law directs. 112 The Provincial Government and the people were be- coming more and more hostile, and in October of the same year, 1774, at "a verij fall meciing Maj. John Bliss was chosen a Deligate for a Provincial Congress to be holden at Concord on the Second Tuesday of October Instant with in Structions : " " which Said in Struction that was given him," says the clerk, "was taken out of a newspaper;" "and a Commitee of Correspondance & Inspection w^as Chosen consisting of Missrs. Nathaniel Warriner, Ser* Daniel Cadwell, Lieu" Wm. King, Maj. John Bliss, and Elezar Smith." Though I can find no record of his having been chosen by the town, it is evi- dent that John Bliss had been previously sent to a " county Congress " at Northampton, for I find under date, Nov. 11, that the town " Voted and Granted to Maj. John Bliss for 25 Days Servise as a Deligate in weighting upon a County Congress held at Northampton some time in the month of September & as a Deligate in weighting upon a Provincial Congress held at Concord on the Second Tuesday of October, 1774, at 5s per day the sum of Six pounds five Shillings." It was important that no more money should be paid to the Provincial Government, that the sinews of op- pression might shrivel. Accordingly, November 14, 1774, the constable or collector of the town w^as directed not to pay any more money into the hands of "Harrison Gray, Esq., treasurer of the province, but to pay it into the hands of Henry Gardner, Esq., of Stowe, who is ap- pointed receiver general by the provincial Congress." 113 There were tories in town and some professedly neu- tral persons who needed attention, and, January 2, 1775, a committee of fifteen was chosen " to See that the Con tin en til and Proventil Cons-resses associations and resolves are Strictly attended to." At the same meeting they chose " Maj. John Bliss a Deligate for a provential Congress proposed to be held att Cambridge the first day of february next or Sooner if Cald for ; " and chose a committee of seven " to Collect a Dona.tion for the Poor of the town of Boston and See that the Same is Transported as soon as may her A body of "minute men " had already made " Extraordinary preparation " for " immediate Service," and that service was soon to be called for and promptly rendered. General Gage, commander of the British troops in Boston, had determined to get possession of the ammu- nition and arms of the province which he heard were stored at Lexington and Concord. On the night of the eighteenth of April the troops stole out of Boston hoping to reach Lexington without being discovered, but the concerted signal flashed from the spire of the New North Churcji, and Paul Revere was instantly on his way from Charlestown to Lexington, rousing the inhabitants on the road, so that when Major Pitcairn, who led the advance of the troops, reached the Com- mon he found the " minute men " of Lexington drawn up in arms before him. He ordered them to disperse. They stood their ground. He ordered his men to fire. That volley opened the Revolutionary War. Couriers 15 114 were despatched on the fleetest horses to arouse the people everywhere and carry the flaming torch of alarm through the country. On the 20th, we may suppose just as the sun was passing the meridian, a rider was seen coming down the Bay Road at full speed, his horse dripping and smoking with sweat, who barely checked his pace before Samuel Glover's door, and announced the fight, calling upon the "minute men " to hasten to the rescue. He was off" and out of sight on his wa}^ to Springfield in a moment. Blood had been shed ! Glover mounts his horse and rides, as he never rode before, down by Jones's and Bliss's, calling on them to come on as he goes. Brewer and Merrick, and Warriner the captain of the minute men, rush in from the field. The long roll is beaten by Charles Ferry, so that the mountain answers it from Oliver Bliss's to Noah Steb- bins's. Merrick mounts his horse and flies down the west road to the Hitchcocks, and the Stebbinses, the Chapins, and the Langdons, by the Scantic. Burt tells his most vigorous son to cross the mountains by Rattle- snake Peak as swift as the winds ever swept over them, and rouse the Crockers, the Cones, the Russells, the Kings, and to stay not his speed till all the men of the south valley, from the corner to Isaac Morris's, were summoned to the march ; then to return without delay along the east road by the Chaffees', Hendricks', and Car- penters', and over the mountains by Rev. Noah Merrick's, home. It was done as quick and as well as said. " Edward," said Isaac Morris to his son, your father, 115 Mr. President, " bring the horse." And as soon as he had slung his powder-horn over his shoulder, put his bullets into his pocket, and taken down his trusty gun from its hooks, the faithful steed was at the door. Breathing a prayer for his heroic wife, standing by in speechless submission, he was off at full speed on the track of young Bart, and passing up the same road. Comfort Chaffee and Jesse Carpenter joined him, and rocle for the mountain, while Enos Stebbins and Asa Chaffee, from south of the Scantic, rushed over to Wil- liam King's and together up the middle road, taking Ezekiel Russell and Rowland Crocker in company, and all joined those coming up the west road and over the mountain, at a barn then standintr near the site of the present school-house on the main street. Before the mountain ceased to glow with that day's departing sun, thirtj^-four men, with the blessing of their wives, and the prayers of the fathers who were too old to go into battle, w^ere on the "great Bay Road," hastening on their way to defend and, if need be, to die for their rights. But the "red-coats" had returned to Boston in fewer numbers and more rapidly than they left it, and our "minute men" returned after ten days to the quiet and security of their own homes. Such was the " Lexington alarm." ' A company of forty-five men, thirty-four of whom were of this town, was at once organized under the com- mand of Capt. Paul Langdon, as eight months' men ; ' Appendix Q. 116 they were encamped in Roxbiiry and formed jDart of the army which besieged Boston.^ While these miUtary movements were made, the mu- nicipal action of the people did not slacken. At a town- meeting, May 26, 1775, which was " very full, Maj. John Bliss was chosen a deligate to represent the town in a Provincial Congress proposed to be held at Watertown on the olst day of May with the following instructions," namely, " that the provincial Congress pertition to the Governour to call a General Court that the Representa- tive body may pertition to the king & parliament that our Gravience may be repealed, not to act under the new Council appointed by the King, but act under the old Council & to see whether the Kino; wold not herken to a pertition from a representative body that our greavi- ence may be strictly attended to & herd by the king & parliment an be Repealed." Little did these honest farmers of Wilbraham know of the heart of a king, especially of that of King George III, " by the Grace of God King of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales," but not, thank Heaven, much longer to be king of these colonies. As well might these an- cestors of oars have attempted to soften the rocks of their mountains with their " humble pertitions " as his heart; as well might they have attempted to turn the Scantic back to the hills as to turn his purpose. Our fathers were' in earnest, however, and voted that " Each of the Resolves of the Continental & Provintial Congress ^ Appendix li. 117 should be Strictly attended to by the town," and two persons were chosen in " addition to the former com- mittee of Correspondence." It is evident that a very close watch was kept upon those who were suspected of faithlessness in heart or weakness in knee, for, at a town-meeting, September 2, 1776, an unsuccessful attempt was made, after a "Large debate," to remove " L* Wm. King and Mr. Enos Steb- bins " from the committee " of Correspondence, Inspec- tion and Safety & in the rome and Sted thereof Chuse two other members for S'' Com"^" The Article to see if the town " will immediately furnish themselves with a town stock of amoiunishon & fire arms if it can be procured " was also " past over & not acted upon." In the autumn of 1776, there was fear of an invasion from Canada, and the town furnished thirty-two men, under the command of Capt. Daniel Cadwell who ren- dered service "at Ticonderoga from December 5, 1776 to April 2, 1777." The town, as well as the whole State, was startled, September, 1777, by what was called the " Bennington Alarm/' and a company of fifty-two men, under the command of Capt. James Shaw, left town, September 24, for the seat of danger. They were present on the opposite side of the river at the surren- der of Burgoyne at Saratoga. As there was no call for further service, they returned and Avere discharged, Oc- tober 18, after a campaign of only thirty-two days. The next November the town voted to pay the soldiers marched on the alarm towards Bennington, £11.' ' Appendix S. 118 It was found very difficult, after the first gush of patriotism was spent, to obtain men for the war, espe- cially for any long period of service, and £12 bounty was offered for volunteers, March 18, 1777, to fill up the town's quota of " every seventh man." From organizing the militia, and furnishing soldiers for the army, the town turns to framing a constitution ; and instructions were given, May 23, " to [Maj. John] Bliss and [Capt. John] Shaw," representatives from the town, to form " Such a Constitution of Government as other Kepresentatives of this State in one body with the Council Shall Judge best Calculated to promote the happiness of this State,"'which body they are directed to join ; but they are " to take head in all their Doings and be StricUt/ careful in forming jSaid Constitution that the just RIGHTS, Leberties & Priviledges OF THE PEOPLE in General he loell guarded & Secured against all unjust Incroachments whatever '■''■ * '=' that in all their proceedings they have Special recorse (as an assistance) to a Little book or Pamplet Intitled ' The People the best Governors, or a Plan of Government, &c.,'" and finally, that '' they use their influence and endeavors that such acts or Laws as have ben already anacted and are like to prove hmiful to this or any State be amended or repealed." Jealousy of power in the hands of government is shown most distinctly in these instructions, and will be found deeply ingrained into the very heart of our fathers all through their history. At this time, the trouble with the depreciating paper 119 currency begins to make its appearance. Silver coin, in which taxes must be paid, could not be obtained ex- cept at a high premium, and it was very difficult, almost impossible, for the people to pay their taxes. Instruc- tions are therefore given by the town, November 21, 1777, to Col. John Bliss and Capt. John Shaw, represen- tatives, " to use their influence to repeal the act made for Calling in the States money." The suffering's of the soldiers in the field and of their families at home were becoming so severe as to call for the action of the town, and at a meeting, held January 5, 1778, five men were chosen a committee ^' to Collect Donations for the Continential Soldiers belonging to this town. And L* John Hitchcock, Lewis Langdon and L* Ebenezer Russel were chosen a committee to take care of those families that their husbands are (/one into the war for the term of three years or During the Avar." Bounties, and gratuities, sir, to suffering soldiers in the field, and destitute wives and children at home, were the custom and glory of our fathers, and I cannot, I will not attempt to, repress my indignation which burns along the nerves of my wdiole frame, at the miserable miscre- ant and miser, who now, in this day of our country's peril, sneers at the calls repeatedly made in aid of our gallant soldiers in the field and of their worthy families at home; impudently asserting, in his criminal ignorance, that our revolutionary heroes were not made of such penurious stuff, when his own mother or grandmother was fed by the hand of charity, and his fi\ther or grand- 120 father welcomed with tearful eyes and bursthig heart the shoes and stockings, sent him by his considerate friends at home, to protect and warm his bleeding, naked feet. It is hardly Christian to have patience with such shrivelled souls. Let them receive the contempt of every noble-hearted man and woman ; and let their names become a hissing and a by-word wherever hero- ism is admired and generosity honored. I will not beg pardon for this outburst of indignation. I must speak. The blood of the dead, the sighs of the living, compelled me. If there is a craven or a traitor here, let him speak, for him only have I offended. The constitution or frame of government which had been framed for the State during the past year was submitted to the people for acceptance, and this town, March 26, 1778, voted against it, "24 votes in favor and 51 against." There is no record of its objectiona- ble features. A call was made upon the town for its quota of seven men to join General Washington's army at Fishkill, New York, and a bounty of £60 was of- fered. May 11, 1778, to those who should volunteer; and if none volunteered, the same sum was to be given to the seven men who might be drafted. Two days after, at another town-meeting, clothing was voted to the soldiers "equal to one-seventh part of the male In- habitants, agreeable to a late act of the General Court." And I find an article, in a warrant for a town-meeting to be held in August, " to see if the town will make Choise of Some person or persons to procure Shirts, 121 SJioes and StocJdngs for the Continential Soldiers agreeable to a Late act of the general court of this State." There is no record of choosing such a committee. The town- clerk was absent and a clerk inv tern, officiated. It is probable he did not make full returns, for I find that money is appropriated at the November meeting '• to pay for cloathing procured for the Continential Souldiers, £101, and for one pair of shoes omitted for a Continential Soldier, £2, 2s." ' The difficulty of raising men increased as the war went on. Paper money was rapidly depreciating, and the volunteer could not rely, for a month, upon the nominal value of his pay. The town endeavored to obviate this difficulty by offering grain, at a fixed price, instead of j)aper monej^, to all who would " Inlist." It was voted, June 22, 1779," that Each man who would Inlist into the Continental army for the Term of nine month and Join the Continental Army for that Term for Each months Service they shall have Forty Shillings Pr. month, wheat at 6s. Pr. Bushel, Rie at 4 Shillings Pr. bushel. Corn at 3 shillings Pr. Bushel, oats at Is 6d Pr. Bushel, wool at 2 shillings Pr. Pound, flax at lOd. Pr. Pound in addition to their Continental Pay & State Bounty." A committee is chosen " to Procure the above articles," and to draw on the treasury for money. After an adjournment of half an hour, apparently for free consultation, wheat is put at " 4s. Pr. Bushel, Rie at 3 shillings Pr. Bushel and Indian Corn at 2 shillings ' Appendix T. 16 122 Pr. Bushel." The meeting adjoarned for half an hour, then for six days, when it is voted, June 28, that, if men do not volunteer, the men who are drafted shall have the same bounties ; and, also, to quicken action, it is " voted that this Town will advance 200 dollars ad- vance pay to be Reducted out of their forty Shillings a month according as the above S*^ Committee Shall ad- judge Right and Equitable Between the Town and Said Soldiers." Agreeable to the advice of the delegates, who met at Concord, another convention is called to form a new constitution for the State, to meet at Cambridge, and Capt. Phineas Stebbins was chosen " Deligate," August 16, and the following carefully prepared instructions were given him, — which show most signally that our fathers were scrupulously, if not wisely, jealous of the personal rights of the people and of the power of the government, — namely, (1) "As to the Choice of Gove- nor Lieut. Govenor & Counsil that they be Chosen An- nually by the People; (2) That all Civil officers be Chosen Annually by the People; (3) That no Town in this State be allowed to send more than two Represen- tatives in one year to the General Court; (4) that no Civil officer be a Legislative Officer at the same time ; (5) that all the abov^ officers Shall be Professors of the Protestant Religion." Thus instructed, their " Deligate" joined his associates at Cambridge on the first Wednes- day of September. The prices of commodities had become so irregular 123 and uncertain that an invitation was sent out from a "Committee who set at South Had ly, Signed E. Porter," to the towns "to choose delegates to meet in convention at Northampton to adopt a scale of prices which shall be uniform and permanent." " Lieut. John Hitchcock and Doctor Sam'l F. Merrick" were chosen delegates. In September, a committee of eight is chosen to take their report into consideration, and to report " to the Town what they think the Prices of the Several Arti- cles (therein set Down) ought to be." I find no report of this committee. It was found, probably, that the subject was too complex to admit of the application of any specific rules. The enemies of their country grow bolder as the burdens of the war increase, and renewed vigilance is demanded of the friends of freedom. A committee of seven was chosen in September " to take Care of Per- sons IN THIS TOWN Suspected to be Enemical to the American States," and they are "directed to demean themselves accordins; to the Present Laws of this State." The difficulties which hindered the raising of men continued to accumulate. The demand was imper- ative, the work, well-nigh impossible. A desperate rally was made in October, and £400 were raised for the soldier's bounty and mileage money, and subscrip- tions were opened that the money might be promptly obtained, the sums subscribed to be deducted from the taxes of the persons subscribing. Forty-three names 124 are recorded as subscribers. Lieut. John Hitchcock subscribed the largest sum, fifty-five dollars. In No- vember, the town voted £2,860 (the sum shows how paper money had depreciated) to the soldiers gone for nine months.^ The convention, which assembled at Cambridge to frame a constitution, finished their work in the winter and sent it out to the people for ratification. This town at their meeting, April 28, 1780, chose a com- mittee of nine members " to take into Consideration the frame of Government agreed upon by the Deli- gates of the People of the state of Massachusetts Bay and make a report to the town-meeting in May next." This act is most characteristic of the early citizens of Wilbraham, and clearly indicates their desire to have their wise men examine deliberately the form of gov- ernment they were asked to accept and adopt. The committee did their duty thoroughly, and, at the meet- ing. May 29, no less than ten amendments were pro- posed by the town, all of them limiting the powers of the government, shortening the terms of offices, and extending and securing power in the hands of the people. As amended, the constitution received forty votes; and there were thirteen votes given for it "as it stood in the book." The constitution was adopted by the State, and the first town-meeting was held under it September 4, 1780, when John Hancock received sixty- nine votes and James Bowdoin ten votes for governor ; 1 Appendix U. 125 and James Warren nineteen votes, " Thomas Quishin " [Gushing] sixteen votes, Samuel Adams twelve votes, John Adams eleven votes, and James Bowdoin eleven votes, for lieutenant governor. The uncertainty of po- litical popularity is signally proclaimed by the fact that a few years after John Hancock received but one vote for governor. The war is drawing to a close. Washington succeed- ed in shutting Lord Cornwallis up in Yorktown, and the whole British army, under his command, surrendered October 19, 1781. But the heart of the king was not softened, and men and money, and beef and blankets, and shoes and stockings, were yet needed and demand- ed. The town granted, October 13, 1781, £8,000 to procure 8,310 cwt. of beef, and in November they granted £2,000 more to finish the purchase, directing their committee*" to give no more than one hundred & twenty pound pr. hundred for S*^ beef" In the same month. November 23, 1781, the town "voted that the Committee pay out all the money Granted for the nine months Soldiers at 80 Dollars pr. bushel for wheat, 50 dollars pr. bushel for rie, 33 Dollars and two shillings pr. bushel for Indian corn, that is not paid out." In answer to the call for fifteen men for three years, or during the war, it was voted that " 150 silver dollars or paper at the exchange " be paid to each man who en- lists. It is evident enough from these prices that patri- otism was no more fervent and self-sacrificing in those days than it is in ours. More beef is demanded, and 126 £480 "new Corency " is voted '-'to procure 15,957 cwt of beef." The difficulty of obtaining silver with which to pay the State tax had so increased that the wisest could not tell how to procure the money, and the bold- est were ready to repudiate the tax. A committee was chosen, February 26, 1782, to petition the General Court about the " Silver rate and all other grievances." They presented their petition to an adjourned meeting ten days after. It was " Sagely Debated," but as the meeting was small, no vote was taken at that time, but at the next meeting it was voted to send the petition ; then the vote was reconsidered, and after debating the subject at five adjourned meetings, continued into April, the meeting was dissolved. These particulars indicate the strong feeling which was growing up in the town respecting the deranged condition of the State and national finances. • Soldiers could not be raised in the usual way, and the town was divided into classes, and a soldier assigned to each class. I understand by this, that fifteen dis- tricts were made of the town, according to population or wealth, and that each one of these districts must furnish a man, either of their own number or from some other place, or pa}^ the fine imposed for non- compliance, which at this time was about £45. As the town could not pay the money in hand which they had agreed to give the soldiers on entering the service, they gave a note for the principal, and paid the in- terest. The town is also required to furnish 6,585 cwt. 127 more beef, and £132 are granted, July 25, to purchase it. A new requisition of men is made, and it is voted to give the soldiers v^^ho were to serve for three months " 50s. per month and they draAV their own wages [i.e. of the State or nation] or £4 per month and the town draw their wages," and also voted to pay " each soldier 40s. before he march." The men could not be obtained; and a week after, the town granted 20s. in addition to the £4 per month, and voted that " each soldier be paid £3 before he marches," and to pay the whole £180. In November, £60 more are granted to purchase the bal- ance of the beef of the old requisition, and £140 to purchase what a new requisition required ; and in pay- ing rates it is voted that "one Silver Dollar Should answer 75 Dollars " [in paper money.] It becomes more and more difficult to raise money ; and the town in their perplexity and distress went so far, May 12, 1783, after the treaty of peace had been signed, as to vote to " Instruct their Representative not to grant Congress the impost Requested by them for the express purpose of raising a revenue Independent of the States nor to mpplij Congress any imy iintlll the half pay to the officers of the army in the Communication thereof be settled and entirely given up." The war closed, but not the financial difficulties. Paper money sank in value rapidly, — sank to worthlessness very soon. It would not pay debts, nor buy bread ! ^ Creditors began to press their helpless debtors. Sil- 1 Appendix V. 128 ver, the only legal tender, could not be had. The un- principled took advantage of the times and forced the payment of debts, securing liens on real estate worth im- mensely more than the amount of the real indebted- ness. The courts were thronged. It is said that twelve hundred suits were presented at one term of the court at Northampton. There was no peace, though peace was proclaimed. Men who had poured out their blood, either from their own veins or from those of their sons, were now to be deprived of the farms they had cleared, the houses they had built. The blessings of liberty and prosperity, for w^hich they had fought, seemed to be escaping their grasp. Their own friends seemed to have become foes. The people were en- raged, and their rage was fanned into a consuming flame by deluded and designing demagogues, and es- pecially by one Samuel Ely, a discarded minister, who had preached for a time in Somers. As early as 1781, there was an article inserted in the warrant for April meeting to see if the town "would send a member or members to the County Convention to be held at Hat- field as Requested " [It will be remembered that the three counties on Connecticut River made but one county at this time] ; but no action was taken. Feb- ruary 22, 1782, " Deacon John Hitchcock, Dr. John Sterns, and Abner Chapin were chosen Delicates to set in a county convention, to be holden in Hatfield on the first Tuesday in April next." The same month, a mob led by Ely disturbed the holding of the court at 129 Northampton. He was arrested and imprisoned at Springfield, but was released by a mob. Suits became more and more vexatious, and money more and more worthless. In October, ITS-S, another delegate was chosen — Dr. John Stearns — " to set in a County Con- vention to be holden in Hatfield at the Dwelling house of Colonel Seth Murry." The tumult increased in dif- ferent parts of the State, and arms were not seldom resorted to by the mob. In April 25, 1786, Capt. Phineas Stebbins and Mr. David Burt were chosen dele- gates to sit in a county convention at Hatfield ; and in August of the same year, " Lt. Noah Stebbins is chosen to Eepresent the town " in another convention to be held at the same place ; and in the ensuing November, Elijah Parsons is chosen to represent the town in a con- vention to be held in Hadley the next day. So the flames raged. Soon after this time, Luke Day, of West Springfield, had organized his forces, on the west of the river, and Daniel Shays was coming on, with what forces he could muster, from the east. It was the pur- pose of these men to take the arsenal, on the hill at Springfield, and seize the arms. Gen. Shepard had as- sembled about 1,000 loyal men at Springfield to defend the arsenal, and Gen. Lincoln was pressing on with his army from Worcester. It was important that Shays, and Day, who had 1,900 men, should attack Gen. Shep- ard before Gen. Lincoln cotdd reinforce him. On the 24th of January, Shays reached Wilbraham and spent the night, with his soldiers quartered on the inhabit- 17 130 ants. That day he had sent a messenger with a letter to Day to be ready for the fight the next day ; but the messenger, on his way back, pinched with the cold, went into a tavern in Springfield to warm himself, and some yomig men present, suspecting all was not right, so plied him with friendly draughts that they soon put him into a drunken sleep and got from his pocket Day's letter to Shays, saying that he could not fight till the 26th. Of this. Shays knew nothing. But worse was to befall him. The men of Wilbraham were not idle. "Asaph King, at that time deputy sheriff. Col. Abel King, Dr. Samuel F. Merrick, and Dea. Noah Warriner met to devise a way of conveying to Gen. Shepard in- telligence of the proximity of the force. It was at last decided that the job belonged to the sheriff! On the morning of the 25th, Shays moved toward Springfield, "on the Bay Road;" when King mounted a splendid young horse, that stood saddled in his barn, and started him across the fields to the " stony bill road." The snow, knee-deep to his horse, was covered with a crust, and he was obliged, in some ins-tances, not only to make a path for his horse, but to pull down or leap fences. When he came out upon the road, the legs of his horse were streaming with blood. He was far ahead of Shays, and, spurring on, reached the arsenal in forty-five minutes from the time he left Wilbraham." Shepard now learned all the particulars of the number and proximity of the force of Shays, which were important to him, and prepared to meet him. The marching was 131 bad, and Shays did not make his appearance on the road till about four o'clock in the afternoon. After some parleying, and some boasting on the part of Shays, his column moved on toward the loaded cannon of Shepard, who had threatened to fire if he did not halt. The insurgents passed on, not believing that Shepard would dare to fire. It was no time for dally- ing ; yet Shepard, to show all possible forbearance, fired first to the right, then to the left, then over the heads of the column. Buf still they came on, the harmless roar of the cannon friorhtening the village more than the insurgents. They are within fifty rods of the bat- tery, and pressing on. It was now time to fire in earnest. The cannon are trained on the centre of the column ; the match is whisked in the air ; the column comes on ; the priming is touched ; the smoke belches forth, and the shot fly. Soon the smoke lifts. The column is broken and flying, crying, "Murder!" Three men lie dead, and four are mortally wounded. Shays could not rally his men, and they fled with the utmost precipitation till the scattered column, the disorganized mob, reached Ludlow, where they spent the night. I am not aware that any Wilbraham men joined Shays; but John Langdon, the hero of two wars, then over sixty years of age, who was in Shepard's army, used to take keen delight in narrating how, with his old "Queen's Arm" at his eye, he frightened a whole squad of Shays-men to throw down their arms and surrender. 132 The insurrection was soon after this wholly put down. The insurgents dispersed to their homes, and an amnesty almost general was declared. By special legislation the pecuniary affairs of the State were ad- justed so as to relieve to a great extent the sufferings of the people, and soon prosperity filled the purses and garners of the town. The popularity of Shays was very great, however, among some people, and, as late ■as forty years after the rebellion, " Hurrah for Shays ! " was as common an exclamation, in the mouths of many persons, as " Hurrah for Jackson ! " was, twenty ^^ears later. The great struggle for independence is over ; the rebellion, consequent on a state of universal bank- ruptcy, is put down ; the constitution of the State is adopted; the ordinary channels of business are opening to the enterprising ; prosperity, peace, and happiness succeed the poverty, tumult, and anxiety of war.^ IV. The Fourth Period of our History now opens. I have run a little over the time of the Third Period that 1 might connect the rebellion of Shays with its causes. Though the constitution of the State was adopted 1780, no representative to the General Court was chosen by the town till 1786, when Capt. Phineas Stebbins was elected for that and for three successive years. This neglect was, undoubtedly, owing to the fact that the towns were required to pay the expenses of their own 1 Appendix W. 133 representatives. If the town sent no representative, the}'- had none to pay ; and the town was so poor, at the close of the war of independence, that it was no small object to save the pay of a representative. It is doubt- fid whether they would have sent when they did, had they not been fined £47. 18s. 4d. for not sending in 1781, '82, wdiich fine they petitioned, most humbly, in 1783, to have abated. Very stringent instructions were given Capt. Stebbins when first chosen, relating to the appro- i priation of money. In 1787, the newly formed consti- tution of the United States was offered to the several States for their acceptance or rejection, and Capt- Phineas Stebbins was chosen a delegate to sit in the convention to be holden in Boston for the i:)urpose of examining, and adopting or rejecting, this constitution. The people of this town were always jealous of bestow- ing power upon their rulers ; and it was thought that the constitution took too much power from the State and gave it to the nation. This fear controlled Capt, Stebbins's vote, wdiich he cast in the negative. The constitution was, however, accepted by the State, but not without prolonged debate and proposed amend- ments. The political history of the town from this time has been marked by no extraordinary action. None was demanded. The war of 1812-15 called forth no mu- nicipal measures worthy of mention. Governor Strong called for seven men, who were furnished, went to 134 Dorchester and staid seven months, and then were discharo;ed.^ In 1820, Abel Bhss Esq. and Luther Stebbins were chosen delegates to a convention called to amend the constitution of the State. Wlien the town were called upon, the next year, to vote upon the acceptance or re- jection of the amended articles, only two out of the four- teen were accepted. The same jealousy of conferring power upon government prevailed then as thirty years before. In 1824, an attempt was made by the town to obtain possession of the "Minister Money," especially that portion of it realized by the sale of the " Ministry Lot." It was unsuccessful, as it should have been, and the fund remains in the possession of the two jDarishes to this day. There was some little friction between the north and south parts of the town, and January 19, 1824, there was a vote upon an article " to see if the town will petition the General Court, at their next session, to divide the town of Wilbraham into two towns." The proposition was rejected by 114 nays to 67 yeas. But the subject would not rest, and was again agitated with no little interest and some asperity but a few years ago, and brought before the Legislature. Calvin Steb- bins gave much time and labor in opposition to the measure and, I suppose, it was owing in no small degree to his influence that it was not carried. 1 Appendix X. 135 When the call was made upon the town for troops to put down the present infamous rebellion, the re- sponse was prompt and patriotic as when James War- riner's men started for Lexhigton almost one hun- dred years before. One hundred and forty-two of the sons of the town rushed to the rescue. At Fair Oaks, at Malvern Hill, at Newbern, they have been in the thickest storm and thunder of battle, and have shown that the noble blood of the flithers is not thin. Wound- ed on the fields, pining in Richmond prison, dying in the hospitals, they have honored their ancestors, the town, and humanity, and they will do so till this rebellion is crushed and peace is triumphant. The ecclesiastical afiiiirs of the town opened not very favorably, at the commencement of this period. The South Parish was no longer tempted, by their distance and individual interests, to interfere with the society in the north part of the town, but the disastrous condi- tion of the finances of the country affected every parish and home. It was very difficult to agree upon salaries for a minister, even when an agreement upon a minister had been obtained. The freedom of thought on all subjects, religious as well as political, which had been introduced by the Revolutionary War, now drawing to a close, had caused divisions of opinion which were pro- motive of strife. Denominational strife succeeded the clangor of arms. The Baptists, as I have said, came into the northeast part of the town, on the Bay Road, in what is now called the North Village, as early as 136 1765; organized a churcli in 1768; ordained the Rev. Setii Clark, 1770, and built a meeting-house, 1779, in the pine grove, near the house of Mr. John Powell. For a time, the society prospered, but was the occasion of much difficulty in the collection of taxes assessed by the parish. From 228 members, reported in 1802, the church diminished so that in 1807 it is reported to have " lost its visibility," The meeting-house remained, how- ever, and occasional preaching was had till about 1830. The house was destroyed by fire in 1833. As the tide of this society ebbed, the waters broke out in another quarter. A society was organized in the borders of Monson and Wilbraham in 1794, and was in a pros- perous condition for many years, especially under the pastorate, — from 1810 to 1836, — for twenty-six years, of the Rev. Alvin Bennett, whose genial nature, earnest devotion, and apostolic thrift, won him many friends out of his communion. Elder Bennett preached, during these twenty-six years, 4505 sermons, and attended 504 funerals. In 1817, a meeting-house was erected for the society at a cost of about two thousand dollars. The society declined after his ministry closed, and, nine years ago, 1854, the Wilbraham members erected a meeting-house in the South Parish village, where they now worship. The Methodists also came into the town as a flame of fire at the commencement of this period. Lemuel Smith and Jason Lee kindled the flame in Abner Chapin's kitchen, then in the school-house. Menzies 137 Kayner opened the campaign against sin and Satan in the North Parish, in Charles Brewer's house. The fervor, the boldness, the burning enthusiasm of their ser- mons, prayers, and exhortations, set the whole town in a blaze. Those who turned the world upside down had indeed come hither. Those who came to scoff went away to pray. Many of the most bitterly prejudiced were carried away by the hearty zeal of these cavalry scouts of the Lord's hosts. For some cause imknown to me, a society did not at once take root in the South Parish, where the trumpet which startled the town was first blown ; but in the North Parish, where the opposi- tion was fiercest, and violence was threatened to the preachers, a church was organized, in 1791, which has grown, in spite of all opposition, and a refusal to grant an act of incorporation, till, outgrowing one meeting- house, it has built another, commanded some of the best talent in the denomination for its preachers, and if you would know the fruit of Menzies Rayner's labors, which he commenced in peril of bodily safety, look around you, — these commodious edifices, these rich cabinets and thronged lecture-rooms, that spacious boarding- house, without a rival in the State for convenience, finish, and safety, — the rich result of the wise thought and indomitable perseverance of my most respected friend, Rev. Doctor Raymond, the principal of the insti- tution, who, from the very ashes of his hopes, caused superior beauty to rise upon our eyes, — I say in all these you see the ripe fruits of those early toils, priva- 18 138 tions, perils, sufferings. It is always so. Persecution is the best culture of truth. As the tide rose in the North, it began to flow back to the South, Parish, and after the school-houses on the west and east sides of the mountain had been used for preaching several years, a meeting-house was built on the hill north of the common, which was finally out- grown, and a new edifice was erected a few years since, on the main street, with which a very pleasant parson- age is connected. The entrance of the Methodists into the South Parish was not in perils, and their growth has been quiet. No serious difficulties ever arose between them and the " Standing order." ^ The more men think, the more they are likely to dis- agree on the doctrines, the philosophy, of religion, how- ever fully they may agree upon its princii^les and pre- cepts. Wilbraham was full of thinkers. If there was what men call heresy anywhere in the region round about, it would be sure to find a believer and an advo- cate here. Hence the Universalists also came into the South Parish, and organized a society in 1826, but never built a meeting-house, using instead the different school- houses for their religious services. After a few years, however, the society became extinct. Then came the Millerites, or " Adventists " as they are now called, and awakened great interest and not a little terror in some minds, by their " demonstrations " from the horns of Daniel's beasts, and the " time and times and half a 1 Appendix Y. 139 time " of his prophecies, that the world would be burned up in April, 1843. Fortunately or unfortunately, the consuming fire did not descend nor the watching saints ascend, and the " demonstrations " failing, a large por- tion of the interest failed with it, and some of those who were most earnest in their advocacy, and most mathematical in proof of their doctrine, have left the care of the flock of the Great Shepherd for the raising of bullocks and the tilling of fields. Having thus glanced at the origin and progress of other societies, whose existence, in some instances, seri- ously affected the peace and prosperity of the Parishes, I return to the history of these both North and South. When the town was divided into two parishes, 1782, June 11, the Rev. Noah Merrick had been dead six years. The people in the south part of the town had become so numerous, and they were so poorly accom- modated on " Wigwam Hill," that they opposed all effi- cient action ; and the engrossing demands of the war still increased the difficulty of the settlement of a min- ister. The North Parish, however, at once set about the double labor of removing their meeting-house to a more central and accessible spot, and of settling a minister. After a struggle of five years, and hearing and calling, or attempting to call, five candidates, four of whom de- clined to accept, on grounds of sahuy or of doctrine, — for the society still held fast to their liberty, — Mr. Joshua Willard was "effectually called," March 29, 1787, and ordained the fourth Wednesday of May following. 140 The struo;o>le about the removal and location of the meeting-house was not so brief. Meetings were held, more or less frequently, for tivelve years, in which it was voted to move and not to move ; to repair ; to build ; to locate on " David Warriner's land east side of the road ; " "to move the meeting-house on Charles Brewer's lot ; " " to set it on the south side of Joseph Saxton's lot in the centre of the street ; " and finally " to purchase of Jonathan Merrick a piece of land on the north side of his lot, to place a meeting-house on, for £33." The house was to stand in the middle of the land purchased, side to the street, with porches at each end ; and who- ever would, might at their own expense put a "steeple on the north porch." The tabernacle of the Lord is moved down from " Wigwam Hill " into the street with as much joy to all beholders as David moved the ark of the Lord from the house of Obed Edom into Jerusalem. Mr. Willard did not remain to see this glory ; for the parish voted, 1793, one year previously, " that solely considering the state of the parish and Mr. Joseph Willard's health," a dismission of the Rev. Joseph Wil- lard from the relation of pastor to this parish take place, " on condition that he relinquish his salary for half a year." Mr. Willard did so and left. For three years the parish was without a pastor, experimenting with candi- dates, which resulted in the call and ordination of Mr. Ezra Witter, August 16, 1797. He was a man of learn- ing, had a large library for those days, and received many scholars from neighboring towns, some of whom 141 he fitted for college. He was a farmer, also ; and his farming did not aid him as a pastor among his peo- ple, as they thought, and he was dismissed, April 11, 1814, after a ministry of seventeen years. The society prospered, however, under his ministrations. The meet- ing-house was repaired, a bell purchased, hung, and rung in 1802, the first Sabbath bell of the '^ Mountains." There was, however, during this and the previous pastorate, and the years intervening, much "trouble" with the Baptists and Methodists. Sometimes, the taxes of the members of these societies are abated; some- times not. Sometimes, it is voted " to exempt Metho- dists and Babtes and all other denominations, who have obtained certificates, from taxation." Then taxation of all without respect of persons is resorted to. These heretics would conscientiously or obstinately come into parish-meeting and vote, and disturb, thereby, the peace of Zion ; so it is voted that the Methodists and Baptists shall not vote. Bat they did woi' obey. The "moderate Calvinist," and peacemaker generally, Rev. Joseph Lathrop, D. D., of West Springfield, preached a most ac- ceptable sermon to them, it would seem, in the winter ,of 1794, for the parish raise a committee to present him thanks " for his Ingenius and pertinent Sermon," and " to request a copy for the Press," and that " they de- liver one Book to Each Family in the Parish." In spite of the good doctor's ointment, the sores multiplied and grew more inflamed. Suits were com- menced for taxes. Piety was evidently giving place to 142 pluck on all sides. Even the jail-doors were opened long enough to aid and gratify the spirit of martyrdom. Goods were seized ; sometimes worthless articles were placed in the way of officers to ensnare and mortify them. Sometimes, the heretics would come into parish meeting in such a body as to outvote the orthodox, as in 1819, when Augustus Sisson was chosen moderator, and Abel Bliss, Jr., clerk. Compromises were attempt- ed ; but like all compromises, they had in them the ele- ments of their own destruction. The controversy wore itself out and expired by a change in the fundamental law of the land.^ Attempts were made during the four years subsequent to Mr. Witter's dismissal, to settle another minister. But it is evident that the liberal and exclusive elements in the parish itself were working more actively and rendering any agreement upon a pastor more and more difficult. Two ministers were called, Mr. Joel Fairchild and Mr. Calvin Colton, but neither accepted. A special effort was made to secure Mr. Colton ; and the church caused a paper to be drawn up in which the evils of controversial, sectarian preaching are deprecated, and a desire expressed that their pastor should confine his- teaching on controverted points to the language of in- spiration, or not to speak upon them at all. They re- quested a committee to present the paper to Mr. Colton expressing their confidence that, as he had " in a good measure conformed himself to that rule " thus far, " he would increase more and more in that and all other 1 Appendix Z. 143 divine graces which tend directly to the harmony of the church and the prosperity of Zion." Mr. Colton dechned, however. Wliether the graces expected were not attractive to him, or their acquisition impossible, does not appear, and Mr. Ebenezer Brown was called, Dec. 16, 1818, by the parish, 47 for, 17 against; by the church, 21 for, 4 against. The parish were evidently not satisfied, and 28 voted against paying the council. Mr. Brown's pastorate was a turbulent one, for the man's foes were they of his own household. The Methodists and Baptists had rest. It is hoped they en- joyed their repose more than they did the old society's quarrels. Society and church were both tossed and rent. Mr. Brown ruled so firmly that his throne crum- bled under him, and the society well-nigh was lost by his attempt to save it. In 1821, three years after his settlement, the parish lost twenty tax payers, and granted their rates amounting to $139.84. The church is constantly harassed with cases of discipline and coun- cils, nearly twenty pages of the record being occupied with such painful troubles. It became evident that the method adopted with refractory members would neither convert nor restore them, and, July 5, 1827, Mr. Brown was dismissed. A greater part of those who had left the parish and the chiirch returned, and apparent peace again visited Zion. From this time to the close of the century, 1863, or thirty-six years, there have been four pastors, one of whom was connected with 144 the church nineteen years. The Parish Ministry Fund is now eight hundred and fifty dollars. The old meeting-house was first repaired, and then after its third period of service, it was removed again, not to shelter worshippers, but beasts, and a new church was erected on the spot where it stood. The old par- sonage house of the " worthy Mr. Mirick," and the old meeting-house, which stood by it for almost half a cen- tury, both served the hospitable purpose of housing and sheltering beasts after they had rendered good service to man. The parsonage, some years since, by its own decrepitude, and the assistance of a storm, escaped viler uses which it foresaw near at hand. The old meeting- liou e, now a livery stable, still stands near the new one, the " ranging timber " of Hitchcock, Brewer, and Steb- bins as sound as when they dragged it up " Wigwam Hill." It is time that I tarn to the South Parish. My story will be short ] for the records of the first nine years are lost, and there were few wars and rumors of wars of which history is made. The parish was incorporated, June 11, 1782. Previ- ous to this, however, there had been preaching in the place. In the summer season, the services were held under the oak-trees, which some of us remember as standing behind the church half a century afterwards. In the winter, they were held in private houses. Capt. Paul Langdon had the meeting-house ready to raise in June, 1783. I suppose I am safe in saying that there 145 is no person present in this crowded audience who was present at the raising, except our respected President, whose mother carried him in her arms to the spot wlien he was nine months old ; and a noble boy he was. The house was placed in the street, nearly opposite the pres- ent residence of Mrs. Aaron Warren, much to the an- noyance of the town and the comeliness of the village ; and several attempts were made to remove it before the present generation purchased the site where it now stands, remodelled and convenient, and pleasant to look upon. For ten years, it was a mere shell, rough-boarded on the outside, with board windows, with no seats but rough slabs and boards, and a box of the same rude material for a pulpit ; the timbers of the walls and roof were all exposed, and the swallows built their nests and raised their young on the beams and rafters, over the heads of the congregation. In 1703, £246, 15s. were appropriated to finish the house and "see it glassed." A church was organized in 1785, and Rev. Moses Warren was ordained pastor September 3, 1788, when the church contained sixty-five members. His settlement was £150, and his salary was £58, 14s. ($188.33), one-half to be paid in commodities, and twenty-four cords of wood yearly. The wood was usually taken by the lowest bidder per cord, in lots of from four to six cords. It is not to be supposed for a moment that his parishioners would bring to their pastor either short measure or poor wood, yet it was 19 146 found convenient in 1816 to commute the wood for money, and about thirty dollars seem to have been thought a just equivalent. Seating the meeting-house was a cause of offence io many persons, and caused so much dissatisfaction, as also the raising of Mr. Warren's salary by taxing the polls and estates of the members of the parish, that an attempt w^as made, 1796, to raise money and remove rivalry and jealousy, by selling the pews to the highest bidder for choice for one year, provided the sum realized by the sale should be sufficient to cover parish expen- ses. At the first sale a sufficient sum was not realized^ and it was declared void. At the second sale several persons who bid at the first sale were outbidden, or did not bid at all, and for some reason took no pew. This method was accordingly laid aside, and not re- vived till within a few years. The old method of seat- ing, with all its irritations, was again resorted to and continued till 1829. Attempts were made to remove the meeting-house out of the road, in 1817, 1822, 1824, but in vain ; the parish refusing to do it at their ex- pense, and individuals not succeeding in raising money to do it at theirs. They did, however, in the last year, succeed in raising money by subscription to paint and shingle it; and in 1838, the parish voted that, if no ex- pense to the parish, individuals might remove the meet- ing-house to where it now stands, and it was done. By a subscription among all the inhabitants of the parish, a bell was put into the tower, and for the first time the 147 mountains around that beautiful valley echoed to the tones of the church-firoin": bell, in the sacred stillness of Sunday morning. Some cases of discipline arose in the church, some foolish, some painful ; yet compared with churches gen- erally, it may be said that the brethren lived in peace. The inroads of other denominations caused some diffi- culty in levying taxes ; and as members left to join other societies, the pressure of parish expenses made the members feel restive. But generally it may be said that a commendable degree of good-will prevailed, and the wounds w^ere soon healed which offences had made. It was w^ise not to open the meeting-house to everybody, on their asking for the key, and it was not often refused, if ever, when application was made in a suitable manner to the proper authorities. No marked seasons of religious interest occurred during Mr. War- ren's ministry till 1822, In the summer of that year, Rev. Asahel Nettleton, a famous revivalist, who was preaching as an evangelist in Somers, where there was a great awakening, came into the place, and by his in- strumentality, sixty-two persons united with the church in October; and in November, thirty-one more; in all, ninety-three additions. Other subjects of the revival joined other churches, so that the whole number of con- versions was over one hundred. Mr. Warren continued his ministry till his death, February 19, 1829, in the seventy-second year of his age, and the forty-first of his ministry. He had baptized four hundred and sev- 148 enty-eight adults and children. He was the only man the parish knew as a minister. He was identified with all the interests of religion and education ; and by his encouragement and instruction, no less than fourteen young men of his parish were fitted for college. He published but one sermon, that on the death of Mr. Abdiel Loomis, about 1800. He was a good man, meek, modest, scholarly, devout, — not a popular preacher. His style of writing was free from boldness and imagi- nation, and his manner of delivery was quiet almost to tameness ; yet not seldom the good man's lips trembled and his tongue faltered when he spake of " righteousnesss, temperance, and judgment." Of un- sullied integrity, of unchallenged piety, of sincere and unquestioned humility, he "Allured to brighter worlds, and led the way." The Rev. William L. Strong, of Somers, preached his funeral sermon, February 23d. He says of Mr. War- ren, " He was peculiarly a man of prayer. His breth- ren in the ministry will long remember with w^hat eagerness he entered upon ' those seasons of prayer, and other devotional exercises, which were sometimes observed in their meetings for mutual improvement. :i: * * ^g r^ minister of Christ, Mr. Warren discharged his duty with fidelity. '''■ '''• '^' In his intercourse with his people, they will bear me out when 1 say that he was most kind and affectionate. In his pastoral \dsits, and his visits to the sick and dying, he co-mmended himself 149 to the conscience. '■'' * * In respect to his qualifications for the ministry, he always spoke with diffidence. So impressed was he with the greatness of the work, and with the high qualifications requisite to discharge suc- cessfully the duties of the sacred office, that he was often heard to say, that if he could have anticipated the labors and trials and difficulties he was to realize, he should scarcely have dared to be a minister. But it pleased God to employ him in his churcli, and we believe he has been enabled so to demean himself as to magnify his office. Nor has he been left with- out a witness that his labors were approved of God. "^ =!= =;= The approach of death did not fill him with alarm. When nature was nearly exhausted, he bade f^irewell to his family and friends, and fell asleep, and we doubt not became an inhabitant of that world which the Saviour has gone to prepare for all his people." ^ From the death of " The Good Man," Rev. Mr. War- ren, 1829, till the present time, 1863, thirty-four years, there have been six pastors over the society. The longest pastorate was eight years and six months, and the shortest eighteen months. For two years a stated supply was employed. Of these pastors, it would not be w^ise to make any special remarks, as their service is of too recent date to admit of the calm judgment of history. It may be said, however, tliat the inuncdiate successor of Mr. Warren, Rev. Mr. Clarke, who ten years since went to his reward, little under- 1 Appendix AA. 150 stood the temper of the parish, and the gentle spirit of his predecessor. The consequence was, as in the case of the Rev. Mr. Brown of the North Parish, contention and division, which culminated in the unharmonious dismission of Mr. Clarke in three years. The wounds were seven years in healing, even under the ministra- tions, a portion of the time, of that saintly man. Rev. Ebenezer R. Wrioht. The parish is as prosperous as can be reasonabl}^ ex- pected, where, with so small a population, there are two other prosperous societies also. The whole number of persons admitted to the church from its commence- ment, down to February 2, '1862, is 488; of these, forty-eight were admitted in the spring of 1861, when there was no settled pastor, by Rev. Messrs. Doe, Almon, and Underwood. The Ministry Fund is now nine hundred and fifty dollars. To a thoughtful friend of Zion it seems a calamity that evangelical Christians, so called, who admit the Christian character of the members of their different churches, cannot agree to unite their means in the sup- port of one society, and thus economize means, and strengthen both the brotherhood and religion. They could thus afford to sustain a pastor, without disagreea- ble selfsacrifice, who would command by his talents the respect, and enlighten by his scholarship the minds, of the community. No people can be lifted from the murkiness of superstition, and the narrowness of sect. 151 but by one who stands high above them in generous manhood and large culture, as well as fervent piety. Sunday schools were opened in town about forty years ago. The scholars mostly committed hymns and verses from the Bible, which were recited to their teach- ers, or rather hearers, for very little instruction was given. At a later period, question-books were intro- duced, and information was given by the teachers. Pre- miums were offered at first to those scholars who com- mitted the greatest number of verses, thus by inflaming the worst passions, — jealousy, rivalry, envy, — vio- lating the spirit, to obtain the letter, of Scripture. At an earlier period, the "Assembly's Catechism" was learned in the public schools, and the minister was accustomed to go in once a month, on Saturdays, and hear the children recite it. Sometimes, the children went to the meeting-house or to the minister's house, on Saturday afternoon, and recited it there to him. These were great occasions to the little folks. It is not to be supposed that they understood the awful mys- teries unfolded in the words which they repeated. They did understand, however, that they were, in this exer- cise, reciting what was sacred, and reverent feelings arose under the influence of unmeaning sounds. The public schools in town were not forgotten in the contentions and anxieties which followed the Revolu- tion. Though embarrassed with debt, and burdened with taxes, our fathers understood that knowledge was one of the corner-stones of the republic. There were 152 but two school-houses in town at the close of the Revo- lution, — one on the street near the present Congrega- tional meeting-house ; the other east, on the middle road, on the mountain ; both in the North Parish. The school-districts had done what they could, probably, to erect school-houses, but they were too poor to do much, or to undertake much, and the town came to their aid in 1791, and appropriated .£100, to be divided among the districts in proportion to the money they paid into the treasury, and this was to be assessed in a tax by it- self. This appropriation was continued for three years. To elevate the tone of education, and give better op- portunities to those who were aspiring for more instruc- tion, the town appropriated, in 1792-3, £12 each year, " to the School District in which lives Samuel F. Mer- rick, Provided they keep a Grammar School six months from the present time and the Inhabitants of the whole town have Liberty to send scholars to said School, said School to be under the direction of the selectmen." The town furthermore voted " that the scholars of such parents as did not furnish one quarter of a cord of wood cut fit for the fire before the first of January, should not be taught at school, and if any teacher violated the rule no order should be given for wages." A vote was also passed about this time that there should be no " work " done in the schools. The teachers " boarded round," remaining at each house where there were scholars, from three to twelve days. This system was continued down to a recent period, — into my own days 153 of school-teaching, and perhaps since. It was a great occasion, for the children especially, to have the school- master come to their house to board. The i>:oodies were to be arranged in tempting richness and abundance upon the table. If not the ftitted calf, the fatted pig was killed, and the last trembling chicken was sacrificed to honor the guest. With what bewitching grace of mingled fear and delight W'Ould the little girl, her face all rosy with modesty, her eye sparkling with expecta- tion, stammeringly, half-curteseying, half-hesitating, an- nounce to you the thrilling news that all things were now ready, and that " mother wants you to come and board to our house next week." And when you gave the welcome repl}^, " I shall be happy to go," how lightly and jocundly she bounded away to announce the news to the envious group of her companions ! From that night on, what a stir was under that roof! The candlesticks are scoured, the andirons put in order ; the best bed, which had not been occupied for half a year, perchance, overhauled ; the best knives and forks taken out of their quiet resting-place and polished; the baby's dresses looked after and ironed out ; in short, there was a universal brushing up and smoothing down of the w^hole premises. Especially did Jemima experi- ment on the possibility of an unaccustomed curl or crimp in her auburn hair. And wdien tlie time came for the master to make one of the household, how many benedictions did he pronounce on the extra rye- and-indian bread ; the luscious sparerib ; the smoking 20 154 cakes ; and above all on the sweet, darling baby ! And with wdiat earnest importunity did the proud mother insist upon his taking one more piece of the cake redolent of the molasses coating, and making refusal impossible by insinuatingly announcing that Jemima made it ! Ah, these were halcyon days, — the elysium of schoohiaasters ! Books were less abundant than food, and in spite of the town vote, days would sometimes pass without wood; or the wood -would defy the power of fire. Green pine did not make good kindling ; white birch did, but went out when your expectations were highest. The school-houses were poor, cold, inconvenient. Yet I cannot agree with some of the opinions uttered re- specting the generosit}' of our fathers to the schools. They gave more of their poverty than we give to-day of our abundance for the same object. Money was hard to get, but labor they could furnish. They could work on the roads, but not in the school-room. They will appear generous to the schools w^hen we consider their condition. From 1790 to 1799 inclusive, the town appropriated $3496.96, for educational purposes. From 1831 to 1840 inclusive, the town appropriated, for the same purposes, $7,200, only about twice as much, after a period of forty years of thrift, and reck- oning the income of the surplus revenue, amounting to $82 annually. Our ancestors have no reason to be ashamed of their appropriations for schools. Poor as their schools and their school-houses were, they denied 155 themselves as many comforts as we do to keep the torch of knowledge burning. Our schools have been constantly improvmg. A geography wdth an atlas was introduced as early as 1820. Dabol superseded Pike ; and Smith, Dabol. It is only in very recent times that boys generally have been rash enough or bold enough to study grammar and geography, or girls hardy and courageous enough to study arithmetic. I remember the first boy who was presumptuous enough to venture on fractions ; and I remember the one Avho did all his sums by proxy, compensating for the work by drawing ships, at which he was an adept, on his substitute's slate. I believe I was myself the first person who taught Colburn's Intel- lectual Arithmetic in town ; it was in 1828. Never, probably, were the public schools in better condition than to-day. Gradual improvement has marked them from the beginning. There is yet, however, abundant room for improvement, and you will make it. This year you pay seventeen hundred and forty-two dollars for the support of your schools, in the midst of a terri- ble civil war, while only twenty years ago, in 1840, in a time of profound peace you paid not half as much, — only eight hundred dollars. Onward ! the path grows brighter and brighter. Posterity will be more grateful for nothing you leave them than for good public schools. Without Intelligence, piety degenerates into superstition, and power becomes satanic. Besides the public schools, there have always been 156 men in town who have taught private schools, where better instruction was given. They Avere the worthy ministers, who knew that piety without knowledge is superstition. Mr. Witter, of the North Parish, was a scholar. Mr. Brown had a grammar school. Mr. War- ren, of the South Parish, had scholars till his death ; and Elder Bennett not only had private scholars, but sometimes taught a public school. By these means, the children of the town were enabled to obtain a very re- spectable education without leaving its limits. Acad- emies were opened in Springfield and Monson, and some of the most thrifty and earnest sent their children abroad. In 1826, however, the necessity and desire ceased, for this academy was founded, by the self-sacri- fice and persistent labors of Calvin Brewer, Abel Bliss, Abraham Avery, and others. They were not ashamed to accept the day of small things. A regenerated tavern was made a boarding-house, and that building,^ only half-finished, for want of funds, was dedicated as a school-house by Wilbur Fiske, the principal. Would you know the result ? Look around you. How has the little one become a thousand ! Twice burned to ashes, the boarding-house has risen like the fabled Phoenix in renewed strength and greatness, till she now invites her children, from ocean to ocean, to walk around her and number her towers; and princely merchants from Boston to the Golden Gate lavish on her their treasures. Bish- ops, Presidents and Professors of Colleges and Theological 1 The speaker pointed to the old academy building. fe Lm 65 e^ 157 Schools, Teachers in Seminaries, Lawyers, Physicians, Mechanics, Farmers, through the land, rise up and call her blessed. May her glory be still further spread! May her children be still further multiplied ! For many years after the settlement of the town, it was necessary to draw all lumber from the saw-mill at Sixteen Acres. Lewis Langdon erected the first saw- mill, as I have said, about eighty rods below the Ravine Factory on the Scantic in 1750 ; Abner Badger's saw-mill, on Third Brook, where the old mill now stands, near the late Capt. Chaffee's, was in operation before 1772. In 1762 the town ojave Caleb Stebbins of Wilbraham and Joseph Miller of Ludlow a deed of four acres of the Ministry lot on Twelve Mile Brook, as a site for a grist- mill. Some years intervened before there was a grist- mill in the south part of the town ; but before the close of the Revolutionary War, and most probably some time previously, Langdon erected a grist-mill, afterwards owned b}' Bcnanuel Leach, about a hundred rods below his saw-mill. David Burt erected one shortly after on or near the site of the present mill in the southeast part of the town. One was also erected about the same time by Mr. Wright not far from the residence of the late Benjamin H. Russell, on Middle or Second Brook. In the early part of this century, Mr. Bacon of Brimfield built a crrist-mill where the " Ravine Factorv " no\v stands, but sold soon after to Christopher Langdon, grandson of Lewis. It passed through the hands of Jacob W^ood and Hubbard Arnold into those of William Moseley, who 158 thoroughly remodelled the mill, rebuilt the dam, erected a saw-mill and added a shingle-mill. It was burnt down a few years since, and a wrapping-paper manufactory built on its ashes, which has in turn given place to the present factory. At the "turn of the river," so called, was the saw-mill of Capt. Charles Sessions, and after it fell to pieces, another was erected the north side of the river, near the road, on the spot where the " South Wilbraham Manufacturing Co." has its mill, to make place for which, the saw-mill again crossed the stream to the south side. Before the close of the last century, an attempt was made by Capt. Joel Pease to erect a mill near Mr. Roswell Phelps's on the plains, and a dam was erected ; but the country was so flat that the overflow of the pond was seriously objectionable and the project was given up. Meantime a saw-mill had been erected by Caleb Stebbins at his grist-mill, and Burt also erected one on his dam. At last, as if the waters of the Scantic and its tributaries had not been worked sufficiently hard, Milton Stebbins erected a grist and saw mill just south of the bridge on the west side of the mountain, about thirteen years ago, making from first to last seven saw- mills, five grist-mills, and one shingle-mill. Nor was this all. Clothing was needed as well as food and shelter. Mr. A. Worthen brought into town from Mendon, in 1803, August 10, the first carding ma- chine and placed it in a building erected by Jonathan Kilborn on the site of the present Satinet Factory on Twelve Mile Brook, by the side of Stebbins's Mill. 159 Fulling mills and carding machines were soon erected by Walter Burt near Burt's Mill, by Jonathan Flint just below the village bridge ; and Laban Button, near Burt's had a fulling mill. Beriah Smith and Brothers, who bought out Flint, did a large business in dyeing and dressing cloth. Just below Smith's was Roper's Clover Mill which was famous in its day. He added the man- ufacture of chairs to the cleansing of clover-seed. Walter Burt invented a pair of shears for cutting the nap of cloth, but they worked imperfectly and were superseded by other and better machines. The amount of wood consumed by the early inhabi- tants gave an overplus of ashes for home consumption, and William King manufactured potashes in the south village near the old meeting-house, and Paul Langdon by the Potash Hill. Thomas and Hervey Howard erected a tannery at an early day on the road from the street to Stony Hill, and Abraham Avery had one near his late residence. Mr. West followed the business in the South Parish at the foot of the hill by the brook over the bridge, and then on the spot which his descendants now occupy. The Chaffee Brothers, Daniel and Jonathan, had a tannery near the site of the present one. The time would fail me to name the cider-mills or even the cider-distilleries. Stewart Beebe's was much the largest of the latter. Orchards were very numerous and large on the mountains, and a farmer often made three hundred barrels of cider — and sometimes, with 160 sorrow be it spoken, drank thirtj^ and a barrel of brandy to give it tone. The temperance reform, thirty years ago, swept them all away, and we glory in our sobriety and clear cool springs and deep refreshing wells instead of rows of cider barrels and kegs of proof brandy. To Deacon Sumner Sessions belongs the faith and foresight and energy of erecting the first woollen mill in Wilbraham, which now turns off eve'ry day one thousand yards of three-fourth satinet. Below the "South Wilbraham Co.," is the "Ravine Manufacturing Co.," started 1856, w4iose mill manufactures two thou- sand yards of doeskins a week. The factory of Gates and Nelson on Twelve Mile Brook is in full operation, turning off one thousand yards a week of low grade satinet, and near by it is the mill of Messrs. Ellis and Houghton which makes about two thousand yards a week of the same style of goods. The capacity of all these mills is about eleven thousand yards a week, or six hundred thousand yards annually. Near our. bor- ders, at Jenksville, there have been for many years large mills, whose operatives have furnished a good market for the productions of our soil. There was no post-office in the town till 1821 ; all our letters came to Springfield. I have been there for letters in my boyhood. Matthew Gardner brought the first mail to the town in a one-horse wagon, — a poor wagon and- a poorer horse ; and Coombs, once a week, came riding through the streets, blowing his horn, with the papers. I remember how we children would stare at Mr. Gardner, the wonderful mail-man, as he passed. IGl The first regular mail and stage line in New England, if an open wagon can be called a stage, was started by the enterprise of Reuben Sikes of this town and Levi Pease of Somers, 1772. It left the Lamb Tavern in Bos- ton every Monday at 6 A, M., and reached Hartford on Wednesday; another stage or. wagon left Hartford at the same time and reached Boston Wednesday night. The same team was driven all the way, stopping nights. The old Sikes' tavern was standing many years ago on the " Great Road " not far from Mr. Baldwin's.^ Many years after, about 1823, a mail and stage line was started from Springfield to Providence ; this was the first stage which passed through the South Parish. In 1828, a company was formed to run a line of stages from Hartford to Ware, which went through the town on the main road. Both these lines were suspended after a few years. Though the line of the telegraph has gone out through all the earth and thus passed through both parts of the town, still its voice is not heard in our bor- ders ; its significant click makes no heart tremble with fear of loss or hope of gain. The message from Boston to San Francisco passes you unheeded as you work in your fields. Our habitations and domestic habits and comforts have changed not less than our fields and mills. The gar- ments of our fathers changed from skins and breeches to cloth and trousers. Yet the coarse cloth and plain * Appendix BB. 21 162 colors were of domestic manufacture and dyeing. Wool was spun and woven at home and prepared for garments at the clothier's. The " tailoring" was done at home by women who went from house to house fitting garments. The old horse was roused at an unaccustomed hour of a cold morning, and while the stars were yet bright was started off after the " tailors " ; who were in turn hur- ried back that they might do a good day's work and earn their money. We children got down the old but- ton-bag, and with an eye to the attractive in other, gentler eyes selected the buttons, and then with vigor- ous application to the soles of our shoes, made the dull metal glow and sparkle with becoming brightness for its new office. Flax was raised, broken, and swingled by the men ; and all through the winter day and long win- ter evenings the whole house was made musical by the hum of the "foot" and " great" wheel as the mothers spun the flax and the girls spun the tow. The girls were ambitious to have the largest bunches of yarn hung upon the wall and to be reputed the best spinners in the neighborhood. And when the spring came, and the sounding loom and flying shuttle had done their work, there might be seen long pieces of cloth on the clean grass bleaching to snowy whiteness for the tidy house- wife's use, or, what was better, for the garnishing of the womanly daughter's new home ; for when, in spring-time, it was observed that a larger piece of ground than usual was sown to flax, the prophecy was read of all that Hannah was, the next season, to bless John with a happy home 168 and lovino; heart. Cotton cloth is a modern notion, and has driven the prophetic tiax and busy wheels and sounding looms from our homes, almost from our mem- ories. The braiding of straw and palm-leaf succeeded spinning and weaving, and often the whole family, boys as well as girls, spent the long evenings manufacturhig straw hats and bonnets, and palm-leaf hats. The income from this occupation purchased the cloth which had be- fore been manufactured at home. Hundreds of thou- sands of yards of straw braid were sold from the town. This also is past now. The hands of the young are turned to other employments. The " nicely sanded floor " gave place, about fifty years ago, to the first car- pet; and I doubt if there were a dozen in town in 1810. As late as 1800 there were log-houses here, and some who hear me were born in them. Capt. Paul Langdon had the only clock in the Scantic district for many years, and at nine o'clock in the evening he was accustomed to blow a horn to signify the time to the neighborhood. The first cooking stove was brought into town by Cal- vin Stebbins in 1814 ; now they are as numerous as the houses. Crockery was rare ; wooden plates, called trenchers, and wooden or pewter spoons were used by adults as well as by children sixty or eighty years ago. Very few men or women and no children wore shoes in summer, and some would have been thankful for them in the winter. A pair of boots was a wonder. Woollen mittens served for kids. Who had a watch in 1800 ? Who hasn't one in 1863 ? Our ancestors of the 164 last century and the old people of my boyhood said, "coold" (could), woold (would), shoold (should). They pronounced daughter, '• dafter" ; nation, na-ti-on ; motion, mo-ti-on. Educational prejudices were as much shocked when Webster directed these words to be pronounced, " nashun," " moshun," as religious prejudices were when Master Morgan ventured to beat time with his hand while singing in church, and when Watts' Psalms and Hymns were substituted for Tate and Brady. But edu- cation spread in spite of the one as religion did in spite of the other. The use of the iron plough did not de- stroy the fertility of the soil, nor did plaster of paris turn the garden into a desert. In the latter part of the last century and the first quarter of this, there was no market for the farmer which would quicken his enterprise and prompt to thrift, by a demand for the surplus products of his farm- Springfield was but a village, and a poor one, in 1780, numbering but a few inhabitants more than this town. Indeed, this town, before the commencement of the Rev- olution, had nearly as many inhabitants as Springfield. The land, at the foot of the mountains and in the val- leys between them, was more productive than that of the mother town. The surplus rye and corn, therefore, which the farmer raised, was of little value, till distiller- ies were erected at Sixteen Acres, Springfield, Still Water, and AVarehouse Point. At these, rye and corn were sold and cash paid in return ; not seldom, a barrel of gin being taken in part payment. After the tempest 165 of the temperance reformation swept over the country, the gin distilleries went down with the cider distilleries. The market was closed. But at about the same time the Western Railroad was opened. Springfield immedi- ately grew from a sparse village to a crowded, enterpris. ing cit}^ ; and a new and ready market was opened at greatly enhanced prices for all that the farmer could raise. I remember how the farmers predicted that opening that road, by which the productions of the endless, inex- haustible gardens of the west could be brought to our market, w^ould ruin them and render their farms worth- less. Behold the change ! These farms are within less than two hours' drive of one of the best markets in the State, and all the products of the firm now command much more remunerating prices. Thrift has conse- quently taken the place of indifference, and within thirty years the farms of the town have been improved vastly. The desert has become a garden. The moun- tains and the hills, with their wood and stone ; the fields and meadows, with their harvests of grain and burdens of grass, have enriched the population. Such, fellow-citizens, is the history of our town. No harmful rivalry has seriously disturbed the harmony of the separate parishes, though town-meetings have some- times witnessed a friendly struggle for the honors of office or the championship in wrestling. The winding bridle-paths of the olden time have been straightened, without regard to the symmetry or sacredness of fields, meadows, or gardens. The furor for straightness has 166 succeeded the policy of crookedness, and at last the locomotive came roaring, screaming, tearing through the mountain, where the old "Bay Path" once hardly fur- nished footing for Thomas Glover's horse, lifting its col- umn of smoke above the rocks, flashing its cyclopean eye of fire through the darkness, making all the moun- tains rock and reverberate from the Chicopee to the Scantic. From blazed bridle-path to iron railway ; from plodding steed to thundering locomotive ; from the old wooden plough, by whose use it would be hard to tell which was the more tormented, the holder or the soil, to the cast-iron beaut}^ ; from the narrow corn-patch and consumptive rye-field to rich meadows and broad and fertile acres ; from cattle which rivalled Pharaoh's " lean kine " in greediness and leanness to fat and sleek oxen and generous milkers ; from swine too lank even for the spirits of Gadara to find a home in, and swift of foot as greyhounds, to porkers whose eyes are closed with fat- ness and which sit dignifiedly to eat ; from sheep whose hairy wool was to be gathered from the bushes of the • pastures through which they searched for food to the beautiful merino whose fleece is silk ; from unfurnished houses and log-cabins to tasteful homes and rich furni- ture ; from frowsy garments to attractive apparel ; from poor school-books and lean instruction to constantly in- creasing means of good culture, the town has risen during these one hundred and thirty years, and most of this progress has been made within the last quarter of this period. 167 Through all its history the town has been signalized by the equal distribution of its property. It has had few men above competency, few below it. None rich ; very few poor. The prayer of Agur has been fulfilled here. Healthful competency ; neither poverty nor riches, has been the portion of the town ; and she has looked with pride not with envy, Mr. President, upon the splendor of her mother's achievements and renown. Virtue, the usual attendant upon industry and competency, has been the crowning glory of our town. Of crime it has hardly known anything. The murder which startled the whole country, committed on the " Great Road " at the commencement of the century, 1802, was the act of for- eigners. Of calamity we have known also but little. Besides the accident in the last year of the last century? by which five young persons were drowned in Nine- mile Pond, very few casualties have befallen our citizens. We have been preserved from fiood and fire. Of vice there has been but little and that little has been grow- ing less, for it is not true that the sons have dishonored the fathers, that vice has taken the place of virtue, irre- ligion that of piety. These fields have not improved more in fruitfulness, these dwellings have not improved more in commodiousness, nor our garments more in at- tractiveness than the population have improved in all true, manly. Christian nobleness. The millennium is before, not behind. These ancestors of ours were sturdy men. They were hardy, tough, iron-fibred. Their muscles were 168 knitted and firm and large. They were strong and vigorous and compact. Tliey were of the Egyptian not of the Corinthian order of architecture ; massive more than graceful. Their minds were less cultivated than their bodies. They were of strong appetencies; im- pelled by animal passions more than guided by refined tastes. The refined, the beautiful, the graceful attracted them but little, living as they did among the bears and stumps. Animal desires were most clamorous and first gratified. Their propensities were necessarily of the earth, earthy. They had to contend with poverty and storm and beasts. The strong, the bold, the grotesque were, therefore, attractive to them. What they could wear and eat and drink was most valuable to them. We must be just to these tough pioneers. We must not expect from them what we, with all our superior ad- vantages, have not attained. Their age was not one of poetic ease, but of stern and tough reality, — of hard work and coarse fare, of small means and rigid econo- my, of desperate shifts to escape sufferingj and patient endurance of destitution. Under such circumstances, what can a reasonable mind expect but the sterner vir- tues and the coarser vices ?^ In reading the records and studying the history of the town I have found no reason to decry the lapse of the sons nor to apologize for the sins of the fathers. They had their errors ; we have ours. We are here to- day to vindicate our own claim to improvement by ren- ' Appendix CC. 1(39 deriiig a tribute of honor and gratitude to them for the richness of our heritage. By a just appreciation of their industry, economj^, patriotism, heroism, do we show ourselves worthy to be their sons. Honor, then, all honor, as we stand upon the height of the century, to the early settlers of the town, the founders of its institutions, and the fathers of its thrift. Their names shall be household words. They live in their sons and their son's sons even to this day. Indus- try, economy, piety, — these were the crowning virtues of our fathers ; they are those of their descendants, im- proved by better culture, enlightened by a purer faith. Many of their sons have graduated from college and entered upon the various professions, to which they have done honor, — some have risen to high and responsible stations. And we reckon many more who, without the aids of college culture, have made themselves useful or eminent in professional life.^ The town has produced no one great man who has eclipsed the glory of all others, or who gathered to him- self all the honors of the town. Her sons have shared the talents as they did the wealth of the town, in very equal proportion. As they nobly bore their share in the burdens and perils of the war of invasion, of independence, so now you rise in the glory of your strength to crush rebel- lion and vindicate freedom. If Warriner, and Warner, and Merrick, and Bliss, and Brewer, and Chapin, and ' Ai)pcii(Iix 1)1). 170 Langclon, and Stebbins, and Morris, rushed to the field to throw off the yoke of British oppression, and wring from royal lips the confession of our indejDendence and nationality, their sons, not less patriotic, not less heroic, have left home and wife and child, to wrench from the clutch of traitors the sacred ark of liberty and the holy standard of freedom. The blood of the loved and the brave has been poured out like water that the sin of oppression may be atoned for; and the cry for help from the struggling country, writhing in the scaly folds of the rebellion, will not be disregarded While Wilbra'am has a man to die, A woman left to close his eye, To eat a single crust. But the hour has come for the feast and the games. The herald gives the signal. My voice must hush. Sons and daughters of Wilbraham, w^e stand upon the threshold of a new century. None of us will behold its close. Let us pass on gratefully, trustfidly, giving room to the coming generations. Let us so live that those who come after us will honor our memory for our thrift and virtue as we honor that of our fathers. Pass on, venerable representatives of the past gener- ation. We, in the strength and vigor of mature man- hood, take the torch of civilization from your hands, and the words of exhortation from your lips, with honor and gratitude. Arouse, ye in life's meridian glory ; worthily pass on the flaming brand, loudly pronounce the golden words. Hail, ye youthftd company, fresh with the dews 171 of the morning, receive the ancestral fire rom onr hands, the ancestral wisdom from our lips. Advance, ye future generations. Take the heritage we bequeath to you, and not only preserve but improve it. Announce, as you gather in nineteen hundred and sixty-three to do honor to your ancestors, that the message of this first centennial assemblage to you is, that Eternal Vigilance is the price of liberty, immaculate justice the foundation of national perpetuity ; that neither liberty nor perpe- tuity has any firm basis but in personal virtue, virtue none but in knowledge ; and " that neither freedom nor virtue nor knowledge has any vigor or immortal hope except in the principles of the Christian faith and the sanctions of the Christian Religion." Appendix APPENDIX. AN ACCOUNT OF THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF THE INCOR- PORATION OF THE TOWN OF WILBRAHAM, AN,D THE SPEECHES AT THE DINNER. THE town clerk of Wilbraham, Mr. H. Bridgman Brewer, while ex- amining the records with Charles Stearns, Esq., of Springfield, dis- covered that it was nearly a century since the town was incorporated. He thought that some public notice should be taken of the day ; and after con- sulting with some of the citizens, he laid the subject before the selectmen, who inserted an article in the warrant for the annual April meeting, 1862, " to see what the town would do in relation " thereto. It was " voted to raise a committee of nine to take the matter into consideration," and " John B. Morris, John W. Langdon, Samuel Beebe, Pliny Merrick, Cal- vin Brewer, William V. Sessions, John Wesley Bliss, Samuel L. Bliss, and John M. Merrick were chosen that committee. This committee met November 4th, and instructed John B. Morris to correspond with some person to prepare an address to be delivered before the inhabitants of the town on the approaching anniversary, June 15, 1863. At a meeting held April 6, 1863, the committee organized by choosing John B. Morris, chairman, and John M. Merrick, secretary. Mr. Morris reported that he had corresponded with Hon 0. B. Moms, Bcv. Dr. Russell, and Rev. Dr. Stcbbins, and that Rev. Dr. Stebbins had accepted the invitation and would deliver the address, and presented the following letters : — LETTER OF INVITATION. South Wilbrahaji, Jan. 30, 1803. Rev. Rufus P. Stebbins, D. D. My Dkar Sir: The town of "Wilbraham was incorporated on the 14th of June, 1763, in the third year of the reign of King George the Third. The inhabitants, being desirous of eelebrating that occasion, chose a committee to carry the same 176 into efFect, and have selrc-tcd you to adilivss thcni on that occasion ; and I do now, on behalf of said committee, invite you to perform that service, and sincerely hope you -will not decline. Be pleased to give as early an answer as you can conveniently. Yours, very respectfully, JOHN B. MORRIS, for the Committee. Rev. K. V. isTEBBiNS, D.D.,Woburu, Mass. Ji E P L Y. WoBUUN, Feb. 4, 18(5:3. John B. Mokris, Esq. My Dear Sir : Accept my thanks for the honor your committee have done me by their invitation to deliver the address at the Centennial Celebration of the incorporation of the town of AVilbraham. I was born thare, and there rest the ashes of my ancestors, near and remote. 1 should feel as if I lacked gratitude if I permited other, even pressing, duties to hinder my saying what history will justify in honor of the place of my nativity. I therefore accept your invitation, in the hope that the memories of the day may make the place of our birth dearer to those of us who have strayed from it, as well as to those who still cleave to it. Yours, most trulv, rufus p. stebbins. John B. Morris, Esq., and others, Committee of Arrangements. Immediately invitations were prepared and sent abroad to the scattered children of the town, and officers appointed to make special arrangements for the celebration. The address was to be delivered in Fiske Hall, and the dinner to be taken in the dining-hall of the Academy boai-ding-honse, by the kind permission of Dr. Raymond, Principal of the Institution. By a mistake in the printed act of incorporation, the supposed day of the anniversary, the 14th of June, would fall on Sunday, and the com- mittee had determined to have the celebration on the 17th. Several invita- tions had been sent out before the misprint was discovered. It was dis- covered that the parchment copy of the act in the State archives gives the 15th as the day the act was signed by the governor. The time for the services was therefore changed to the real day, Monday, 15th. The day came, and was all that could be desired for clearness, though warm. The citizens began to gather at an early hour, and long before the procession was to start from the Congregational church for the Hall, the main street was filled with people exchanging most hearty congratula- tions. Flags were flying, and a band of music was playing. At 1 1 o'clock the line was formed, and the procession moved for the Hall. When it reached Rev. Dr. Raymond's house. Dr. Stebbins and a few per- sonal friends joined it, and passed up the beautiful academy grounds to Fiske Hall. It was evident that but a small portion of even the proces- 177 sion, to say nothing of the multitude standing around, could enter the Hall. After the Hall, platform, and stairways had all been packed to suffoca- tion, and the band had played a patriotic air, the chief marshal of the day, Samuel L. Bliss, Esq., called the assembly to order, saying, "My services will be relieved for a time, and I take great pleasure in intro- ducing to the audience, as president of the day, the Honorable Oliver Bliss Morris, a native of this town, though now a resident of Springfield, but who has never forgotten the place of his birth, which he now honors by his presence, as he has always honored it by the integrity which has marked his services in so many stations of responsibility in the County and State." As Judge Morris rose, ruddy and vigorous, though over eighty years of age, a profound feeling was manifested throughout the hall. He said, " First of all it becomes us to address the throne of grace. I call upon the Rev. Mr. Skeele, of Wilbraham, to lead in prayer." After the prayer, the President said, " I thank you for this honorable position, citizens of Wilbraham. The occasion which has brought us together is one of deep and joyful interest. We have come to do homage to the memory of our fathers, to examine the record of their history, and to bow in humble gratitude to Heaven that we are descended from' a most worthy ancestry. I welcome you, therefore to this occasion, fraught with so much interest to all the inhabitants of the town. Especially do I welcome, as the organ of the town, those of her children who have come from abroad. Though civil strife fills the land, and the voice of war sounds through all our borders, we meet in these quiet scenes to forget, for the hour, the distress and tumult around us, and to exchange congratulations that we have so goodly a heritage. Much might be said, but the demands of the occasion will be better met if, instead of saying more, I introduce to you, as I now do, the Bev. Dr. Stebbins, of Woburn, born on the banks of the Scantic, on the very spot where his ancestor pitched his tent, more than a century ago, in the then unbroken wilderness." Dr. Stebbins then rose, and from a short brief, which he had made of his manuscript, delivered his address, which is printed in this volume. He held the attention of the crowded hall, and even of those in the ante- rooms, and on the stairways, for over two hours, though the heat was most oppressive. When the address was closed, the gentlemen on the platform, near the speaker, crowded around, uttering the most hearty commenda- tions, while the chief marshal gave notice that the procession would be formed at once, and proceed to the dining-hall of the boarding-house. 23 178 The President addressed the audience, saying, " There can be but one opinion on the motion which I am requested by all those about me to put ; it is this : It is moved and seconded, by those near me, that a copy of the address, to which we have all listened with so much delight, be requested for the press. As many as are in favor of the printing, say, Aye." An unanimous "aye " rose from every part of the hall. The procession immediately proceeded to the dining-hall, where over three hundred sat down, at three long tables, to a sumptuous repast, pre- pared by the efficient steward, Horace Sessions. J^lessing was invoked by the Rev. Dr. Raymond, principal of the institution. After the physical man had been refreshed, and the Rev. Mr. Peabody, of East Longmeadow, had returned thanks, the President said, "There is- something still remaining of the rich feast which the people of Wilbraham have prejmred for themselves. Her sons have come from afar, and I know that their voices will be grateful to you. I am most happy to introduce to you Honorable Judge Merrick, of Boston, Justice of the Supreme Court of the State, and grandson of the first minister of Wilbraham, the "worthy Rev. Noah Merrick." Judge Merrick rose and said, — I do not feel at liberty, Mr. Pi-esident, to forhear from responding, very briefly, to the call you make upon me. But I may be permitted to say here, the chief mo- tive which has induced me to come and participate with you in this Centennial Commemoration is my desire to revisit a place for which and the people toward whom I cherish, alike from my ancestral and personal relations, an attachment of no ordinary interest; and that it was, accordingly, my purpose to be only a silent observer of these scenes, and a gratified listener to whatever might be said by the resident or native inhabitants of the town. And although I now waive all ex- cuses, I am not insensible to the serious difficulty of exciting any interest, or of attracting any favorable attention, so immediately after the close of the excellent address to wliich we have all had the pleasure of listening this morning, and which is justly entitled to the great favor and the becoming applause with which it was received ; and he must be mucli bolder than I can pretend to be who would will- ingly venture to expose himself to the criticism which might easily be provoked by such juxtaposition. It has been my lot, from my way of life, to have heard not unfrequently some of the ablest scholars and orators of the country, and I think it no exaggeration to affirm that the address, in its exact appositcness to the occasion, in its complete and exhaustive use of all the befitting materials at com- mand, and in the simple, but significant and felicitous language in which it was closed, combined all that is really essential to eloquence, and may fairly challenge comparison with the best productions which occasions like this have anywhere elicited. My own interest iu this Commemoration arises, in no inconsiderable degree, as you will all feel it naturally must, from the relations which those from whom I am descended have, in times past, sustained to the town. Those relations go back to 179 a very early period in its history. Twenty-two years before the day of which this is the one hundredth anniversary, and when twenty-five or six families compre- hended the entire population then dwelling upon its territory, my grandfather became the ordained minister of the first religious society organized within its limits, and he continued to serve the people in that capacity during a period of thirty-six years, and to the close of his life. I was gratified to learn from the mu- nicipal record, of that early date, which was read in your presence this morning, that, when first called to that high service, he was described by those who extend- ed to him their invitation to it, as " the worthy," as well as " the reverend Mr. Merrick." I was touched by the reading of that word the more that I had very recently seen on the plain but enduring tablet, beneath which his remains repose in the neighboring cemetery, the same description of their departed minister and friend, — thus evincing that, to the close of life, he maintained the same good reputation with which he commenced his ministerial career, and left behind him an unblemished name, the best of all riches, as the inheritance of his children. My father, who was his youngest son, spent the early and a very happy portion of his life here ; and I know that he always regarded the place of his nativity with filial affection. It was in the indulgence, and in the nurture, of this sentiment that, in my early youth, he sent me here to commence the studies preparatory to my col- legiate education, and placed me under the instruction of the Kev. John Witter, then the pastor of the parish over which his father had so long held the ministerial charge. I remained here but a few months, less, I think in the whole, than a year ; but some portions of this period, and not a few of the persons whom I then knew, are still vivid to my recollection ; and it has been most agreeable to mc that I have met some of them to-day, who yet hold in rcmemljrance our early acfiuaintance. Grateful for the advantages I enjoyed, and for the kindness extended to me by all, and particularly b}' my respected instructor, I am happy to avail myself of this op- portunity to pay to his memory the humble ti'ibute of my lasting esteem. Mr. Witter was a wise, upright, and eminently gcx)d man, — conscientiously scrupulous in the performance of all his duties. He was a diligent, faithful, and able teacher, not only to the pupils under his immediate charge, but, in the wider sphere of his profession, to the people to whom he ministered at the altar. His attainments as a scholar were highly respectable, and his knowledge, as well as his collection of books, was wide and various. Assiduously devoted to his calling, he shrunk from no labor which seemed to him essential to its successful exercise. His public discourses were prepared with uncommon care, and were written in a style so clear and perspicuous tiiat tiiey were easily and readily understood and appreciated by his hearers. In the reading of his sermons he was extremely modest and unjjre- tending. Invariably calm and dispassionate in manner, he yet always made iiim- self felt as a devout and earnest preacher. While lie convinced the mind, he did not fail, also, to make effectual appeals to tlie iieart. His power in commanding the attention, and in controlling the emotions of his audience, was quite remarkable ; making upon all, even upon the youngest among them, a deep and abiding im- pression. Even now, after the many years that have since elapsed, and though I was then but in my early childhood, I remember one occasion when, availing him- self of a subject of local, but painful, interest, as the theme of his discourse, he so ilealt with it, — in showing how the ways of Providence, if dark in their present aspects, arc yet designed in mercy, and, if rightly improved, may lead to all the 180 best and liappiest issues, — that a tearless eye could scarcely be found in his con- gregation. Upon his public ministrations I believe I was a constant attendant, and, in a limited sphere, was in daily intercourse with him; but of his more imme- diate and personal intercourse with his parishioners, my age and opportunities did not permit me to be either an observer or a judge; but from what I knew of him in other respects, I feel sure that it must have been, as I have been told at a later period, by some of them, that it was, most agreeable, beneficent, and instructive. He became separated from his parish several years after I was one of his pupils, and from this period I ceased to have further knowledge of his pursuits or life. Since then many changes have necessarily occurred in the parish and in the town. The excellent educational institution, in whose halls we have assembled, and the beautiful portion of the village built up around it, had then no existence. The men of that generation have nearly all passed away ; but others have been supplied, worthy, I am most happy to believe, to take their places and caiTy on the good works which, more than a hundred years ago, were here begun. In one of the early I'ecords Avhich was read to us this morning, Ave find that the inhabitants of the town assembled in public meetings, adopted a resolution in which they warned and instructed their representatives to see to it that the rights, privileges, and liberties of the people should not be sacrificed or in any way invaded or in- fringed. That was a wise and good resolution, veiy fit, I dare say, then to be adopted, and certainly worthy to be upheld and acted upon at all times, and in all possible circumstances ; and more emphatically so whenever the practical value of the principle involved in it shall be endangered by the treacherous delusions of some pretended present majority, — the ever ready, but deceptive apology for every lawless assumption and encroachment. In the perpetual maintenance of that principle, in the enlargement of your population, and in the advancement of all your moral, educational, and religious institutions, which I believe have hitherto had a constant and regular, though gradual, growth from the first settlement of the town, it is my earnest hope that no impediment may hereafter intercept your still increasing prosperity', welfare, and hapijiness. The President : Tliere is a song, to which the speaker alluded in his address, which we now propose to sing in the old fashion of "lining ofF." Judge Henry Morris "did" the "lining," and the band, with a few select voices, led, while all who wished, sung or tried to sing. It was remarked that the " grave and reverend seniors " became very boys again during this exercise. "A little nonsense now and then, Is relished by the gravest men." The President : I see before me a worthy son of Wilbraham, whose ancestor was one of the earliest settlers in the south part of the town. I introduce to you the llev. Dr. Russell, of East Randolph, in this State. 181 MU. I'lJESIDENT, LADIKS AND GENTLEMKN, Fellow-Citizens oe the Town of Wilbuaham: None of us were born at Rome, and for our first views of nature, none of us looked out upon its eternal hills, and its classie but muddy stream. Such a cruel fate was spared us in the allotments of the Providence of God. This is our Mantua. Here we have driven the flocks and the herds afield, and when the " shadows fell east from the pile," and the darkness thickened along the woods and the feeding grounds, we have been filled with fearful imaginings at sights s^en and unseen, as we have been compelled to return them to their enclosures at night. It is true that there are here within the vision's range no Alps, no Po, and- perhaps no such beauty as is mingled in an Italian sky. But there are attractions here, and they are felt by you, Mr. President, and by this great assembly convened to-day. We can conceive, sir, of circumstances more favorable to mental cidture, and to some of the forms of intellectual development and taste, than those in which our existence begun. But wc have never regretted that we were born in Wilbraham. There are various methods in which mental powers are unfolded, directed, educated, and the man becomes fitted for a sphere of successful action in life. The work of education is not done exclusively in the school, the college, or the seminary of learning. There ...are other scenes and other influences that perform for us this work. The mountain-range, the peak, the crag, the valley, the stream, the spread- ing landscape and sky, the fireside, and the mother's smile do for us all this work of education. It is with unutterable emotions, therefore, that we return to this spot of earth on which our eyes were first opened, and look from the eminence where, eighty years since, last December, you, Mr. President, were first pressed to a mother's bosom, upon the beautiful panorama among the hills that is from that home of your child- hood spread before us. Those mountain-slopes, those valleys, those woodlands and streams, can never be separated either from the thoughts or the feelings of those whose cradles were rocked in that amphitheatre among the hills. Nay, those streams to-day, as they roll sparkling in the sunshine, the clouds themselves, as they hang over the landscape, are to us all voice, and they call up in our bosom memories that refuse to be uttered save in the quivering lip and the moistened eye. These scenes have done for us, Mr. President, a work that we would not undo if we could ; and " Time but the impression stronger makes. As streams their cliannels deeper wear." After the able and eloquent discourse to which wc have listened with so much pleasure from the orator of the day, and the just and effective tribute that has fallen from the lips of the distinguished gentleman that has just taken his seat, anything beyond a mere allusion to the past will of course not be expected from nie. Yet fidelity forbiils me to leave unnoticed the first pastor and religious teacher of the South Precinct in Wilbraham. The Rev. Moses Wan-en graduated at the University of Cambridge in 1784, was installed and ordained pastor of the Congregational church in South Wilbraham in 1788, where he continued the functions of his office till his death, in 1829. He was fond of the Greek and Latin classics, as are all the sons of Harvard, and did himself, during the first half of his forty years' ministry, conduct the preparations 182 of some eighteen or twenty young men for college, besides performing the work of a grammar-school instructor for the sons and daughters too of very many of his parishioners. For this noble work that good man should not be forgotten in the festivities of this passing hour. As a preacher, if not always analytic and profound, he was still earnest, truth- ful, sincere. If he did not always instruct and settle minds pei-plexed with the unsolved problems of religious tiiith, he did utter in his preaching the spirit of his Master and exemplify in his life the beauty of his character. His mental disci- pline, his acquisitions of learning, he consecrated on the altar of a confiding peo- ple. Youth's green spring he devoted to his charge, and the vigor and the strength of manhood's prime. The timid he encouraged, the desponding he cheered. He wept with his people in their sorrow and anguish, and rejoiced in their success and prosperity. The sick greeted his coming, and his presence lighted up a smile on the countenance that was becoming pale in death. He was " Simple, grave, sincere. Anxious that the flock lie fed should feel it too." " He tried each art, reproved each dull delay, Allured to brighter worlds, and led the way." Such, briefly, was this good man, who, unnoticed by the world, fulfilled his course among these hills for forty years. There is, in most of our New England villages or communities that shrewd sense, that sound judgment, that unflinching integrity and moral principle and worth, that to every discerning eye constitute their great attraction. This character is a rampart of strength. It resists the encroachments of vice, becomes a lever that elevates the mass, and a power that softens and refines. It is not always deemed best adapted to the purposes of a celebration; it is not often the theme of newspaper commendation. When the subject of discus- sion, it is seldom that it creates any available sensation. But it is this daily life of truthfulness, sincerity, honesty, and strong religious affections, exemplified in the homes of our fathers and our mothers, that invests us, their sons and their daugh- ters, with whatever distinguishes us, — if distinguished we be. It has been to us, and is to-day in its influence upon us, like the dews and the showers that descend on these hill-sides and vales — quickening, refreshing. It has given life here its highest form, its meaning, and invested it with its most substantial attractions and charms. It has made our homes sweet, their memory precious. It will ever be, therefore, the language of each of our hearts, " Wilbraham ! with all thy faults, I love thee still !" The first pastor of the South Precinct in this town did not a little in shaping and moulding this character, to which we have referred, of our fathers and mothers, who have gone with him to their rest, and left it as a " heritage to their children's children." A century with all its cares, toils, hai'dshijis, hopes, fears, joys, which it brought to the bosoms of our fathers, has passed away. Like them, we are passing, too, our human duration ; and when , " That lingering star, with lessening ray. That lov'st to greet the early morn," shall usher in the 15th of June, 1963, you and I, Mr. President, and this great 183 assembly, will be elsewhere, amid other scenes, and forever engaged in other employments. Long have you, sir, already lingered here, and brightened the ]3athway that you have trod. In your responsible position, with the ])roj)erty of the whole county passing through your hands, as it must have done, the ermine of the judge has remained unstained, and the blessings of widows and of orphans have fallen thick on your head. You, doubtless, arc little aware of the influence of your own exam- ple in stimulating others of your native town to exertion in the career of an hon- orable ambition. The seventeen from the little parish of South Wilbraham, that have received a public education, could probably state things unknovra to yourself in this regard. If Cicero, as he assures us, was vehemently stin'cd to action as he looked on the marble statues of his distinguished countrymen, surely none of us can be excused for not being moved by the salutary examiDle of a fellow-townsman who lives not in the marble, but walks in his own person among us. Your years are not yet full, we devoutly trust. Long may the freshness and the vigor ex- hibited to-day linger here and bless our vision. Serua in Ccelum redeas ! Ladies, gentlemen, fellow-citizens of Wilbraham, I have detained you too long. For us all there yet remain duties, trials, conflicts. Our country is in a furnace of fiery flame. Its agony is intense. A parallel to it in the history of the world can nowhere be found. But if just, true, faithful, in all our relations, however dark and appalling the prospect in any of our circumstances, prosperity and joy will in the end spread their wings over every son and daughter that has waked to life on the slopes and plains and valleys of this our native town. The President : Wilbraham is ricli in her children, who do her honor wherever they go. I see down the table another of her sons, who has come from a remote State to enjoy and honor this day. I introduce to you the iiev. Horatio Stebbins, of Portland, Maine. Mil. PKKSinENT, Friends, Neighbors, Kindred, Natives of Wilbraham: Let not my unwillingness to take the place offered me upon the platform in the hall, neither my declining the uppei'inost seat at the festive board, nor yet my reluctance, which the President has hinted at, to speak on this occasion, be con- strued into any indifference or want of sympathy with the occasion itself. Indeed, the distance I have come to be here to-day would be a sufficient answer to all that; and if you needed anything more to persuade you, I might tell you how light and happy that journey has been, — my heart thro*l)bing with all boyhood sympathies, and gladness of homeward return. I have declined to sit near you, Mr. President, and your filial mind will not esteem it any disrepect, because this place in company with the remnant of my father's house litis a greater persuasion for me; and I have shown thus far a reluctance to open my mouth, because the occasion oppresses me and distracts my thoughts, 'twixt the memory of the past and the associations of the present. IMy kinsman, the orator of the day, who has rendered us such dis- tinguished service, and for which I desire to thank him, will pardon mc if I have 184 seemed to listen with half-intent and wandering mind, for I have been everywhere to-day, not by my own will or forethought, but drawn by magic powers of the air wliithersoever they would. I have lived my life over. I have been back to child- hood, laugh and rollic and morning sunshine of existence, and all the varying cloud and sky of human lot have passed over. All the hilltops have blazed in recollec- tion, and cast their light and shadow far down the slope, and across the level plain. How delightful and refreshing the sensation of boyhood and youth ! — like a gentle wind from the sweet southwest coming in upon noontide heat and dust ! How wonderful to be renewed in feeling, and to look upon this world afresh ! How sweet that youthful sensibility which exalted everything it looked upon, and nestled in the heart a source of beauty and wonder ! It comes back to me to-day, and I am a boy again ! My senses have been renewed, and I see the earth and sky again as they seemed spread above and around my father's house ! All things are enhanced and glorified ! The hills are mountains, and prop the heavens with everlasting support ; the "goat rocks," half way up the sloping hillside, rise grim and gray, and my voice echo^ in the cave beneath, peopled with shadows and half-terrors ; the Scantic River is a flood rolling in might and majesty toward the sea ; the old mill in the mountain-pass grinds away, and I grope carefully in its dusky light, with a childish curiosity and wonder; and no huntsman "in at the death" so thrills with tremu- lous delight, as I, when drawing the bleating flock closer and closer, they stand huddled beneath the great buttonwood, at the sheep-washing. Mr. President, you never saw such a tree as stood before my grandmother's door ; it was a mighty tree ! — the noon-tide glory rested upon its head, its branches reached from the east to the west, and touched the morning and the evening ; it was a wonderful tree, by mid-day or moonlight ; beauty, grandeur, and strength had their abiding-place in it ; in the winter, cold and bare, it stood shadowless, severe and unrelenting ; in sum- mer, it was benignant, kind, and merciful ; it always had the same aspect with the heavens, and, like the heavens, seemed to have stood forever ! But the prosaic suggestions of mature years hint that all this is a sort of child- ish wonder and exaggeration. As I was riding into town this morning, and came iipon the sandstone ridge which skhts our western borders, I quoted the words of the Preacher, " One generation goeth and another generation cometh, but the earth abideth forever." The mountains stood in front, familiar, unchanged. I re- marked to my brother their permanence and rest, their familiar look and aspect, to which he replied, " They are not as big as they were." " Not as big as they were ! " that tames me down to the fact that something is gone from all this out- ward world ; commonplaces and mediocrity have ustirped the place of wonder and beauty. A great religious poet has said it well : — " There was a time when meadow, grove, and stream, The earth, and every common sight, To me did seem Apparelled in celestial light, — Tlie glory and the freshness of a dream. It is not now as it hath been of yore; Turn wheresoe'er I may, Ky night or day, The things which I have seen I now can see no more. 185 " TIio rainbow conies and goes, And lovely is the rose; The Jloon doth witli delight Look roiin, to tiirust asiile 24 186 those sentiments of filial regard which recollection awakens, and which press upon the mind with something of the authority of claim. Our fathers take their seats by our side whether we will or no ; and that is indeed an unfilial heart that does not involuntarily give them room. I have counted one in my company that is not here. The century was a little too slow for him, and he could not wait. Mr. President, you knew my father. He was a man gifted in intellectual and moral powers above the ordinary measure of men ; of limited and provincial expe- rience, his mind showed rays of native light, such as enfolds the round sphere of truth. He was a century before his time, and he lacked the ingenuity to justify himself to the present. But he was never discouraged concerning God or man. He was one of the firmest believers, and one of the most ardent and invincible hopers I ever knew. He was almost a moral enthusiast, and in that fact is to be found the account of some of the most striking defects of his mind and character. He was a polemic in politics, morals, and religion. Never can I forget the sharp skiraiishes and word-battles with neighbors before the open evening fire. His house was a natural resort for ministers, but he agreed with none of them ; and his theological discussions were always a claim for a more wide-open and humane interpretation of the divine Goodness. Yet, notwithstanding all this difference and keen dissent, in a period less tolerant than the present, no man of God ever went out from beneath that roof without leaving his deep and heart-felt benedic- tion. I can never lose the impress of his religious influences, though he was called a doubter by almost everybody. It seems to me that he had the finest ap- preciation of childhood of any man I ever saw ; — his appreciation of young men was not so keen, through defect of education or limitation of experience. Can I ever forget the stories he told, the hymns he sung, with a voice like the month of June, and the lessons of love and good-will to all, which he enforced with such tender persuasion ? debt of filial love ! — sweet burden of gratitude, from which my heart would never go free ! My friends, I could not help this, and I know you will forgive me since there is nobody here but ourselves. Natives of Wilbraham : What instinct has brought us here to-day, from afar, to commemorate the establishment of human society on these hills ? It is the instinct most deeply rooted in man's nature, affirming that human society is the chief in- terest on earth ; that, wherever human souls are spoken into being and the solitary set in families, there a thousand ties of earth and heaven centre, drawing toward the one Almighty providential purpose. In swift review to-day, we have been through the records of those early be- ginnings of the fathers, made in such industry, frugality, and piety, as gives us all an honorable ancestral pride, and which a hundred years have matured to this de- gree of beauty and strength. Have we not cause for gratitude that our lot has been so happy, and that here each generation has been able to bequeath some better things to the generation that should come after, — thus making every man partaker of the power of humanity 1 We are suiTOunded to-day by those tokens of material, intellectual, moral, and religious growth, which, to the observer of man and his destiny, are the fairest objects on which the eye can rest, and the loftiest which the mind can contemplate. An intelligent industry has made these hills and plains a fit habitation for man. A wise regard for that knowledge which puts man in superiority to the powers around him, has placed within the reach of all, the means of intelligence; and those common sentiments of our nature which 18^ Tract of Land soe bounded & described together w"' all the profits & comoditys thcrcvpon or thcrevnto belonging the said Elizur Holyoke, George Coulton, Benjamin Cooley, Samuel Marshfield, «& Anthony Dor- chester for the vse & behoofe, service & Employm* of the Towne of Springfield, & not otherwise, are to have hold & enjoy for themselves & their heircs for Ever, w"^out let trouble or molestation from the said Indian called Wequompo, or any other:, ^iia the said Wequompo Doth for himselfe & his successo''s for the vse, behoofe & benefit of the Inhabitants of Springfield for Ever quit al claim to & al his right. Title & Interest in any of the Lands aboyc mentioned to be sold & w<='i are Contained wi">in the bounds above expressed : Except liberty of Fishing & Hunting w<^'> he reserveth : ^no it is the intent of these p^sents That y" s the Town, or otherwise then they have legal Eight therein, or may be granted by the Town, for that the Lands sold by the Indians above named, are so sold for & to y^ onely vse & behoofe of the Inhabitants of Springfield & to be wholy at their disposure. i Febr 4*. 1678. Being desired at a Town meeting in Springfield to declare what I know concerning the Purchase of the Lands abovcsaid; I doc declare and attest as followcth viz : That The Indians above named, viz. Wcquaugan & Wawapaw & Wecombo the true & proper owners of al the Lands above mentioned Did scl and by sale forever passe away al the Land above mentioned to M"^ Elizur Holyoke, Geo. Colton, Bcnja. Cooly, Saml Marshfield & Anthony Dorchester for the vse & behoofe of the Town 195 of Springfield : The bargain being made in my prscncc, and as I remember It was in the yeer 1674 or thereabouts ; I was often w"^ y"' in Treaty about it, w'^^ at last came to a conchision, to be as abovcmcntioncd, the payment also for the Lands as above cxp''sse'' , passing through my hands to the Indians, which they Gladly accepted, & did willingly own the sale to me after this Deed was Drawne, they comeing particularly one at a tyme to me to subscribe it, when I told them they must come altogether, the want of which was the onely obstruction, for they often sevcraly acknowledged the sale, & this writing to be according to their mind, and meaning. Also testifying their Rcadincs to come altogether & sub- scribe, w'^'i as they promised, so doubtles they avouUI have done but that the Jndian Warre happening in the year 1675, They w"i other Jndians were drove away, before which time they made the above express'i Sale, And I do declare they did come personally & owne & acknowledg the conveighance & sale of the Land above mentioned, as above exp'"ssed. This then done & by yo Indians Wcquaugan & Wawapaw & Wecombo owned & acknowledged Before me JOHN PYNCHON, Assi'skmt. This cntrcd these Records for the County of Hampshire July 12th 1679 as Attest JOHN HOLYOKE, Ecco'^':': I regret that I have not been able to find the original deed conveying the land east of the line indicated by this deed. There are many tradi- tions respecting the claim of a blind Indian to the territory of the town, and of some compensation made to him to liquidate it. I can find no suf- ficient evidence to render the tradition reliable as a fact. I have come to distrust traditions. The following is a copy of the vote of the town of Springfield by which the land of the " Outward Commons " was allotted. The copy from which I print was made a century after the vote was passed : — FiCR'i' 3d, 1GS4. (10S5 as wc reckon). Att a General Town Meeting. Further forasmuch as the additional bounds or Grant of Lands to this Town by the Hono'-'i Gen^i Co"-' May last 1G84, was & is to the present Inhal)itants & proprietor of Springfield their' Heirs & assigns forever. Many of whom arc desirous of & moving for their Share in s^ lands, upon W^" w"^ other Considerations In- ducing, It was at this Meeting Voted & Concluded that the Eastern line or bound of the plantatation of Springfield being run & Stated from Hadley Town bound on the North to Enfield Town bound on the South, Then all the land from the s'l Eastern line for four miles westward toward the s^ Springfield from both the Northern & Southern bounds is hereby Granted & agreed to be laid out in Proprietys to Each p'-scnt Inhabitant & proprietor his Heirs & assigns forever his due propor- tion, & also the lands on the west Side of the Great River from John Rdey's Brook Northward to Northampton bounds, & to Westfield bounds westward. Also the 196 land from the head of the Brook beyond Thomas Coopers that runs into three mile Brook unto Southficld Southward & unto Wcstfield westward be alike dis- tributed to Each Inliabitant & propricto'" their Heirs & assigns forever; & in special it Avas Voted that thi-ee hundred acres at the least be granted to the Minis- try on the East side the River out of the land hereby first Voted to be laid out as afores'', & that one hundred & fifty acres be to the School out of the same & that the ministry & tlie School have their projiortions in the lands on the west side of the Great Kiver. As also that o'' Reverend Teacher M*"- Pelatiah Glover have his proportion in the Lands hereby agreed to be laid out on both Sides of the Great River. It was further Voted & agreed that the lands on the East bounds of the Town Shall be laid out in three Divisions & that the lands on the west side the gr't River shall be laid out in two divisions to Each man his proportions. It was also Voted that these divisions to each man shall be by Casting of lotts, & that division by Casting lots, be by as many lots or Casting of lots as thei'e be divisions. It was further Voted that the first lot begin on the Northerly part of the land to be divided ; also it was further Voted that these divisions ])e by Estates and poles, & that the poles lie Esteemed in the Rate at twelve pounds p'' pole «&. that all Male Children under age be Valued as rateable polls viz. 12.£ p"' pole. It was further Voted & Concluded that these Lands when divided while Common or Unfcnced shall be Common or free to all the Inhalntants for Grass, herbage & Timl)cr & free from Rates till Improved & then Rated only as Improved, & that Jno. Holyokc draw a list of Estates & poles of the Inhabitants for the Measurer. The following is a copy of the allotment, made from the records of the town of Springfield. There was one division, — the first, — lying wholly in the present town of Ludlow, north of this second division, which was mostly in what is now the town of Wilbraham. A LIST OF THE LOTTS IN THE SECOND OR MIDDLE DIVISION OF THE OUT- WARD COMMONS ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE GREAT KIVER IN SPRINGFIELD ARE AS FOLLOWS, VIZ.: Jiods. Ft. In. Samuel Marsh field IS 'J Collo. Pvnchon l^'i ] J David Throw I 5 .Jolin Warner 11 1 Samuel Stebbins 9 11 James Stephenson 1 4 Benjamin Knowlton .') 11 Joseph Stelihins Id 12 Ohadiah Miller, Junr H Ebenezer Jones G 7 Elinkim Cooley U I .lonathan Burt.Juiir 5 ]•*> Widow Bedortha 4 Increase Sikes.Junr 10 8 John Bnrt, Senr 5 4 James Petty 4 (j Quartermai>ter Colton 25 7 James Mnnn I V2 Josepii Ely 1 5 Widow Sikcs, Senr I> (! C John Stewart 7 7 10 Joseph Cooley R 14 Jonathan Moi(;;in. 5 10 .lonutlian Taylor's Estate .5 11 John llolyoke 20 4 Henry Rogers 9 8 John Colton 1 5 John Lamb 17 I'l John Miller H 5 School Lot IS U Kods. Ft. In. Revd. Mr. Glover 21 8 '.) Thomas Miller 8 4 Lnzunis Miller 2 Nathaniel Pntchard 8 I 11 Henty Gilhert 4 2.. Samu-1 Bliss. Junr W H Tliomas Taylor 1 10 3 Ministry lott .,7 4 .. Victory Sikes 1 U 1 'I'honias Stebbins .'i 1" Thomas Gilhert 5 8 4 Obadiah Cooley, S-nr 20 5 .s James Warriner, Senr 20 .. 8 Daniel Cooley 13 9 ,5 Nathaniel Munn .'! 8 10 PeterSwink :! li ■' Sntnuel BliSS, Senr 18 S 9 John Bli^s IS 9 .. Sinnuel Miller 5 7 Nicholas Rnst ( Nath.aniel Sikes, Senr 4 .. 9 GoodwifeKostei's Estate 5 8 1 Edward Stebbins 5 4 5 Henry Chapin 19 14 Samuel Jones -l I'i Joseph Bedortha 9 0.. St. Abel Wright 10 14 4 V\ ido. Parsons lo 8 .John Scott 7 9 7 Widow Bcauion 8 12 .. 197 A'"- Rods. Ft. In. (II John Clnrkc 2 13 U <;.' Thorn IS Sivcntniin 2 in .. U: John Clark's E tatc G 11 2 (;t .l..hii Dirinhleton 114 (r. Joscli \>iil,.v 14 11 4 Di (Ihadi h :\Iiller, Junr 2 ].-> 3 (w .I'.h.i Klicip'sEstalu (i 3 .. (!■! Philip M.iitoon 5 II U'.t Se. .J,,hM ll.tchcnc-k 22 2 4 'D Dni.l Liunbaril M 1 11 71 . 1, )hii Withers 1 o .. 72 Jns.ph brinks 1 5 .. 7.'! D;niiul BtMMion 15.. 74 .ToliM Xi.rt.m 8 .-5 8 7) Thoinis I);ir, Seiir Hi 3 5 7(; Eilwai.l Foster !) 7 4 77 Saiiiu,! Bedortha 4 14 3 75 Siinii-l Osbiirn 1 l.i G 7:) .Ion;itluin Ball 11 13 .. S'l SaiTiii. 1 Kerry. Seiir !) G 11 Si Isaa'- Coltoii 1.". 3 3 K2 David JI,)rs m U 13 fi 8! John Barber 11 4 81 James Oshurii 2 .5 2 M Knsn. Coolev Estate G 1) 10 8; J.iiiJthnn Ashlev 14 11 4 87 John Bair'''s Cliildreii G 2 5 8S J.Miies Barker .■> 4 .. 8!i Joseph Cn.wf-nts Estate 7 14 .. '.!) Dencil. lierja. I'irsons 12 G 7 m Capt •I'hi.iiiisC.lton 19 13 8 il.' SamiulEly, Seiir 11 7 !) SC Isaac Morgan 13 1 Rorh, Ft. Jn. Joseph Thomns 5 2 Samuel Bliss, yd 2 14 4 John Uorehester 22 2 U Joseph Leonard 14 8 U l.'ike lliteheock, Scnr. 10 7 B Wido.Munn 2 10 .. I^enjaniin Cooley 7 3 G Wiiio. Rilev 4 13 lU Abel Leonard G 3 9 Bei.jamin S(ebbins. Senr 5 4 10 Janns Do Chester, Serir 12 11 Japhct Cliapin 23 2 1 Thomas Merrick, Scnr ]S l.> 7 Thomas Jones 1 10 .. Samnel Owen 'J G 11 J din Harmon 13 .. liowland Thomas 12 G 7 Wdliam Brooks 8 Beniamin Leonard 10 13 3 Josiah I-ponard 10 ]0 7 Charles Ferry, Senr 14 10 U Wido. Ilorton ID 2 'J Miles Morgan 10 1 10 Deacn. Jona. Buit 12 G 7 Richard Wait 15.. Thonnis Cooper IS 7 3 Jolm Crowfoot 3 8 .. Nathaniel Bliss, Senr 9 8 10 : Samuel Bad 12 4 .. Nathaniel Burl. Senr 23 .. 4 James Tax lor, Senr G 7 3 Ephraim Colton, Senr 15 10 8 A LIST OF THE LOTTS OF THE OUTWARD COMMONS ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE GRE.4.T RIVER IN SPRINGFIELD, ARE AS FOLLOWS, VIZ. THIRD DIVI- SION: I Vo. nods. FL Jn. 1 Thomns Tarlor 1 10 3 2DaMdThro"w IS.. 3 Jonathan Mo -an 5 10 1 4 Wi.low Beanien 8 12 .. 5 Obailiiih Cooley, Senr. 20 5 8 G Joseph Ti oinas 9 5 2 7 Japhet Chnpin 23 2 1 8 Benjamin SteLbns, Senr 5 4 10 1/ John Warner U 1 7 in Nathaniel Mnnn 3 8 !0 11 Thomas Cooper IS 7 3 12 Viclorv Sik. s 1 U 1 I! Wm. Brooks 8 9 14 John Ciowfoot 3 8 .. 15 Rjv. Mr. Glover 21 8 9 IG Samuel Jones 3 13 .. 17 Sf. Abel Wright IG 14 4 18 John Scott 7 9 7 19 Mies .M<.r!.'an 10 1 10 20 Joseph Cooley 5 14 G Jl Jonathan Taylor's Estate 5 11 .. 22 J..hn.\o,ton 8 3 8 21 Thomas l.dbert 5 8 4 24 Deacon Hurt 12 li 7 2.1 Ebene/er Jones G 7 10 .'G Joseph Be, lortha 9 G .. 27 N;ithaiiiil I'riteliard 8 1 11 28 Edwaril Stebbins 5 4 5 29 Jonathan Ashlev 14 II 4 id Ensn. Conley's Estate G 9 10 31 Joseph Marks 15 .. jJ Ben) iinin Cooley 7 3 G V; Tnomas Swetniau 2 10 .. W James <),-h.,rn 2 5 2 ;.-, John lilis- 18 9 .. !li Jos.-ph Stel.l.ins 1-5 ]2 .. !7 Oiiadi ill Mider, Senr 8 8 9 N L-.,zarns Miller 2 G G ;9 Samuel Eiv, Scnr 11 7 9 in John Stiwait 7 7 10 11 Widow liedortha 4 3 4 12 Siniu.l Hall 12 4 .. 3 Simiiel Mcrshficld 13 '-i C 14 John Lii.il) 17 10 2 I,-, Siniml TeiTV 9 G 11 IG Thom IS Merrick, Senr 18 15 7 1? John Uirmon 9 13 .. 18 Joseph Ashley 14 U 4 19 Increase Sikes, Senr 10 8 .. iO John Barber U * >. liocls. I J,t. Hitchcock 22 i Peter Swink 3 ! Samu.l Bliss, 3d 2 1 Nicholas Rnst 7 i Samnel Mille;- 5 ! Charles Ferrv, Senr 14 ■ David Morgan 9 i Isaac Mor-an ) Benjamin Knowlton 5 t James Dorchester, Senr 12 . Philip Maltoon 5 ! John Ki ep's Estate G I Widow Ilorton 19 I IMinistrv Lolt 37 , J.isiph tlv 1 : Nathaniel'Sikes, Sen 4 ■ David Lumbar.l 8 j Thomas Day, Senr IG I Jaim s Stephenson 1 I James Petty 4 Capt. Thomas Cidton 19 ! John Clark's Estate G I Is^acColton 13 John Leonard 14 ; John Dorchester 22 I James Tavlor, Senr G John Withers 1 1 Eliakim Cooley 11 Widow Riiev * I lien rv Rogers ... 9 Col. Pynchoii 133 Samnel Bedortha 4 Thomas Mi, Icr 8 Daniel Cooley 13 John Bapgs Children G Sam uel ( isburn I George Colton 23 Heniv Gilbert 4 John' Miller * Dea. Ben j. Parsons G Edward Foster 9 Nathaniel Burt, Senr 23 Serjt. Hitchcock 10 Thomas Jones 1 Nathaniel Bliss 9 J.din Burt. Senr 5 Kicluird Wait I \\idow Sikes 9 James Munn J JouatlianEall H r. I 198 No. Iio(7s. Ft. In. Ko. Rods. Ft. In. 101 Samnel Owen 9 VH Joshih Leunard 10 ]l)3 Samuel Siehbins ]01 Samuel Bliss Scnr IS 1(1.5 Abel LeMiiard G IW) J lines Barker 5 1117 Widow Parsons 10 lOS Thomas Stebbins 5 1(10 James Warriner, Senr 2(1 110 Ephraim Colton, Senr 13 lU School T,'>tt 18 II.) Widow Minn 2 IKi Sinuiel Bliss, .lunr KJ lir U.miel Beanion 1 US .Jonathan Burt, Junr 5 11!) Mr. Ilolvoke 2(i y>» K'.wlancl Tlioinas 12 Ul John Colion 1 122 John Clarke 2 liS Joseph Crowfoot's Estate . . lU Beniainin Leonard 10 ],•! ;i | I-H Joiin Diimhleton U 312 Henry Chapiii i:i 14 ..' Ii5 Obad:ah Miller, Junr 2 113 Goodn Foster's Estate 5 8 1! NOTKS ON THE AnovE SCHEDULE OF A' LOTMENTS.— The sonth lot of the Second Division was bonnded by the south line of Dea. Moses Burt's farm. On the smith of tliis lot, No. 12."). was the overplus land of Di- vision Second, eighty-two rods wide, tlien commenced lot No. 1, of the Tliird Division. I have not been able to locate all the prcsi-nt farms on these lots, as I did not know the wirltli of all the farms. I will, however, give such n clew to their location that their owners will tasily be able tn ditemiine their original lots. Com- mence on the south line of Dea. Burt's farm, and reckon north. It will he seen by the Schedule that the lot of Ephraim Colton, Sen. is the south lot, 12.')th, and is 1.5, 10, 8, in width. Count no' th till any piirticular farm l.s reached by adding the width of the lots and conipariiiR them with the width of the farms. John M. Mer- rick's farm includes most of lots lOj, lOG. lOr. The first road to Stony Hill, which crossed the street not far from the present Boarding House, was on the north side of Ilil. The farm of John Weslev Bliss includes fiO-7t; Mr. Jones's, 50-58; Mr. Merrill's, 48-i5: Mr. Bliss's, 43-47! Mrs. John Bliss's, .39-42; Mr. Warren Col- lins's, 38, the north ministry lot; Mr. Baldwin's, 31-37: .Mr. Collins's, '22-311, or to Chicopee River. These es- timates are only approximatelv correct, as I do not know the eT«i< width of ihese farms. The south boundar.v of the Third Division was in John W. Langilon's farm; ihe rest of his farm is on the overplus land. John W. Langdon's farm includes lots 121-12.'): Mr. Chattee's, I'.'i-lJI; Ralph S. and Silas Cha- pin's, 110-114, irii-luding the south school lot; Mr. Pease's, 1(18-110: Mr. , lO.VIi 7: Mr. lliss to Prefer a Petition to the General Court to be set off as a Precinct " : — " We the Subscribers who arc settlers on tlic Lands Called the Outward Commons Dwelling Some in the Second and Some in the Third Division of the Said Comons In Springfield on the East Side of Connecticutt River do Hereby appoint and Im- power Thomas Miriek 2d & Abel Bliss Settlers on the said Place to Prefer a Peti- tion to the Next General Court that we with our Lands and theirs together Avith all the Lands within Said Divisions being In the whole in length Eight Miles and in weadth four Miles May be Set of 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 House and other Publick charges that so we may be Enabled to INIaintain the Gos- ])el among us. Witness our Hands May 7th 1740. Joseph Sikes, David Mirick, Daniel Lamb, David Warrinek, Daniel Parsons, David Jones, Benjamin Wright, Isaac Breaver, Henry Wright, Samuel Warner, 2d, Thomas Glover, Aaron Parsons, Cornelius Weeb, Nathaniel Hithcock, Daniel Warner, Nathaniel Warriner, Moses Bartlit, Nathaniel Bliss, 2d, 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 2d and Abel Bliss," signed to the Petition, the whole number is twenty- six. It will be seen that these names differ from those given in Dr. Merrick's manuscript address, deposited in the town-clerk's office The above document was copied from the Records of the General Court in the office of the Secretary of State. The Petition and the action of the General Court are contained in the Address, with the exception of the formal signing of the officers of the two branches and the governor. D. p. 42. MR. MERItlCK'S ORDINATION. I regret to say that I have not been able to obtain any information respecting the members of the council or the services of the occasion. I have written to the churches, then established in Hampden County, but I 203 can obtain no aid. There is nothing recorded. I was confident I should find something on the subject in the Diary of the Rev. Dr. Stephen Wil- liams, of Longmeadow, but I was disappointed. For the supposed facts of the difiiculty which arose respecting the number of church members, of the oak-tree, the rain, and the barn, I am indebted to Dr. Merrick's manuscript address. I have striven to construct an account of the service out of these facts which should awaken in the reader a feeling of its reality, and which should correspond at least with the truth. E. p. 65. ''OLD TENOR" AND " LAWFULL MONET." I have used these terms frequently in the Address, and they need ex- planation. In the early settlement of the country most articles of manu- facture were imported from the mother country, and were paid for in cash, that is, in coin or in produce. The drain was so great that it became necessary to issue paper money, promises to pay, like our bank-bills, but as there were no banks, it was done by the State. This paper-money was not worth so much as coin, just as now it takes a dollar and a half paper money to obtain one dollar in coin. The diflference in the value of paper and coin increased so rapidly that in 1749 it took nearly ten dollars of paper to obtain one of coin. " Lawful currency " was the value of coin ; "old tenor" was the value of "paper." Thus, one thousand dollars " old tenor " was one hundred dollars in " lawful money." A 7ieiv issue of paper was afterwards made, which was called sometimes " New Tenor ; " this paper was of the same value as coin, was " Lawful Money." SETTLEMENT WITH SPRINGFIELD RESPECTING THE SCHOOL AND MINISTRY LANDS IN THE SECOND AND THIRD DIVISIONS. I have stated on p. 61, that a settlement "was made." There is no record of particulars. Several committees were chosen to consider the subject ; but there is no final report, which I have found, stating the con- ditions of the arrangement, and the subject disappears from the records in a fog. SCHOOL MONEY GRANTED BY SPRINGFIELD TO THE PRECINCT BEFORE IT IFAS INCORPORATED AS A TOWN. Page 64. 1737, Nov. 21. " Granted to the Inhabitants at the Mountains on the East Side of the Great River for supporting Schooling there three pounds and to he paid as it becomes due to Nathan^ Warriner." 204 1738. £3 " to be paid to David Mirick as it becomes due." 1739. £4 "at ye mountain Parish to be p^ Nath" Warriner." 1740. £6 "to be paid as it becomes Due to Nath" Warriner and the School to be Kept where and when the Selectmen Shall Direct." 1741. £8 "to be paid as it becomes due to David Mirick 3*1 the school to be under the Regulation of y^ Selectmen." 1742. £ 10 " to be paid as Due to Isaac Brewer." 1743. £ 10 " to be Kept as the Selectmen Shall order and the Money to be paid as they Shall Direct." 1744. £ 12 " to be paid as it becomes Due to Nathaniel Warriner & y" School to be under y^ Direction of the Selectmen." 1745. £12 " to be paid as it becomes Due to Nathaniel Warriner." 1746. £ 12 " to be paid as it becomes Due to be under the Regulation of y^ Se- lectmen." 1747. £ 14 " to be under the Regulation of the Selectmen and they to order the payment thereof as it becomes Due to whom they shall think fit." 1748. £21 " to be disbursed as above (1747)." 1749. £35 " to be disbursed as above (1747)." 1750. £4 13s. 4d. "LawfuU Money" School "to be kept at Place or Places as Selectmen order." Rest as before. 1751. £4 13s. 4d., as in 1750. 1752. £4 13s. 4d., as in 1750. 1752. Nov. 8, " Voted that Mr Jacob White Mr Nath" Burt & L*" Samuel Mi- rick be a Com'^e to Examine the Circumstances of the Inhabitants of the INIountain Parish with Respect to the Towns Granting them a sum of money towards De- fraying the Charge of building the School House already built in said Parish & make Report at this meeting." 1753. £4 13s. 4d., as above to be distributed. 1754. £4 13s. 4d., as above to be distributed. 1754. Nov. 4. A committee 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 " consist- ing of Mr Simon Cotton Mr. Roljert Harris & Mr Luke Hitchcock 2"^ " and s'^ Com«- " "are directed to make report as soon as may be." 1754. Nov. 25, There is " Granted the Sum of £6 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 who were at the Expense of building the Same in Equal Proportion according to what they Severally advanc* 1763 — This Bill having been read three several Times in the House of Representatives Passed to be enacted. TIMo RUGGLES Spkr June 14* 1763 — This Bill havin 1763 — By the Governor I consent to the enacting of this Bill. FRA BERNARD BIRTHS AND DEATHS WHICH TOOK PLACE BEFORE THE INCORPORA- TION OF THE TOWN, AS RECORDED BY SAMUEL WARNER. I omit the name of the mother, the surname of the child, and some other words which he uses, in order to abbreviate the record. It seems important that the names should be saved from perishing with the leaves of this frail manuscript of Warner's. A few births are supposed to have taken place in Longmeadow and Springfield which Warner has not en- tered. In case of sickness, persons sometimes went to their friends in those towns. Danl. Parsons, b. Feb. 27, David Jones, July 14, 1737. Saml. Warner, Aug. 10, " Cornelius Webb, Mar. 8, Noah Alvord, July 22, 173S. Abel Bliss, Oct. 5, " Danl. Warner, Oct. 15, •' Samuel Stebbins, Jan. 8, Daniel Farsons, Feb. 24, Danl. Lamb, Apr. 3, 1T.39. Beiij. Warriner, Apr. 3, '* David Mirick, May 22, •' Thos. Mirick, May 24, " Aron Parsons, May 30, " Conifer, dr. of Aaron, son of Eunis, dr. of Marcy, dr. of 1735. Hannah, dr. of Mary, dr. of Marcy, dr. of Daniel, son of David, son of Oliver, son of Gideon, son of 25, 1736. Sarah, dr. of 1736. Jose. Knowlton, Aaron, son of 1737. Danl.Warner, Mar. 15, 1734. Noah Alvord, July 29, 17-34. Moses Burt, March 29, 17.35. Nathl. Hitchcock, June .30, Saml. Warner, July 8, 17-35. Saml. Stebbins, Aug. 23, " David Mirick, Oct. 8, " Danl. Warner, Dec. 26, " David Jones, d. — , 19, 1730. Abel Bliss, b. Nov. 20, " Nath'l. Hitchcock, b. Nov. Daniel Lamb, b. Dec. 4, ( ?) d. Feb. 11, 1737. Aaron Parsons, b. Feb. 14, 28 Ester, dr. of 1737. Hannah, dr. of Marcy, dr. of Eleah, dr of 1738. Elisabeth, dr. of Abel, son of Jesse, son of Seth, son of 17-39- Giddion, son of 17-39. Gad, son of Eunis, dr. of David, son of Timothy, son of Rubin, son of 218 Rhoda, dr. of Saml. Warner, Sept. 7, 1739. Silas, son of Nathl. Hitchcock, Oct. 6, " Abel&Seth.s.of Benj. Wright, Feb. 8, IBO. Mary, dr. of David Warriner, Mar. 23, " -Ithiel, son of David Chapin, Mar. 2C,, " Eunis, dr. of Isaac Brewer, Apr. 2U, " Merreham, dr. of Moses Bartlit, July 15, " Charles, son of Cornelius Webb, Sep. — , " Moses, son of Moses Burt, Oct. 27, " Jemima, dr. of Abel Bliss, Oct. 12, " Ithyel, son of David Chapin, d. Dec. 8, " ZeneSjSonof Aaron Parsons, b. " 11, " Wid. Elisabeth / d. Apr. 20, 1741, and was Cockril, ^1 the l^' person y' was bur- ( ed in yo moun '»■ Thomas, son of David Mirick, b. May 16, 1741. Marther, dr. of Danl. Lamb, Sept. 10, 1741. Bethia, dr. of Phynius Chapin, Aug. 8, " Jonathan, son of Jonathan Ely, Sept. 14, " Bethia, dr. of Pliineas Chajjin, d. atChi- cobe, Sept. 23, 1741. Elisabeth, dr. of Saml. Warner, b. Oct. 7, '41. Noah, son of Saml. Stebbins, Oct. 13, " Marther, dr. of Danl. Lamb, Oct. 17, " Jerushe, dr. of Danl. Warner, Aug. 17, " Nathaniel, son of Natli'l. Bliss, Nov. 20, " Enoch, son of David Chapin, Jan. 1, 1742. Charles, son of Cornelius Chapin, Jan. 5, " Thomas, son of David Mirick, d. Feb. 0, " Darius, son of Dav. Warriner, b May 13, " Jacop & Israel, of Benj. Warriner, May 19, " Jaris,sonof Phines Chapin, July 22, " Charles, son of Aaron Parsons, Sept. 17, " Benon'y Barnard Marsey Brooks, d. Aug. " Mary, dr. of Saml. Stebbins, Aug. 27, " Seth, son ol Saml. Stebbins, Sept. 1, ■' Isaac, son of Isaac Brewer, b. Aug. 17, " Pharon, son of Phines Chapin, d Sept. 15," —Moses, son of Moses Bartlit, b. Sept. 13, " Eunis, dr. of Thomas Mirick May 8, " Martha, dr. of Daniel Lamb, Oct. 21, " Jonathan, son of Jonathan Ely, d. Nov. 8, " Ester, dr. of Jonathan Ely, b. Dec. 18, " Joseph, son of Joseph Sikes, April 9, 1713 Silas, son of Abel Bliss, April 15, David, son of David Jones, Sept. 15, " Gad, son of Daniel Lamb, d. Sept. 5, " Loes, dr. of David Mirick, b. Oct. 12, " Treypheny,dr. of John Brooks, Nov. 8, " Bethia, dr. of Phineas Chapin, Aug. 24, " Electy, dr. of Joseph Sheldin, Sept. 22, " Nath'l Edw'd, of Sam. Wai-ner, Jan. 24, 1744 Simeon, son of Danl. Cadwcll, Feb. 20, " Hannah, dr. of John Jones, Feb. 29, " Edatha, dr. of David Chapin, Mar. 15, " Mary 2d, dr. of Saml. Stebbins, Mar. 25, " Charles, son of David Warriner, Apr. 15, " Elijah, son of Aron Parsons, Apr.l7, 1744. Treypheny, dr of John Brooks, d. May 31, " Othniel, son of John Hitchcock, b. Aug. 10, 1741. Samuel, son of Moses Warriner, Aug. 30, 1744. , dr. of Marcy Brooks, Oct. 8, 1744. William, son of Isaac Brewer, Nov. 8, " Gad, son of Daniel Lamb, Nov. 9, " Mather, dr. of Calep Stebbins, Feb. 15, 1745. Elesaberth, dr of Moses Bartlit, Feb. 23, 1745.- Lidya, dr. of Jonathan Ely, Mar. 22, " David & Jona., of Nath'l. Bliss, April 4, " one that day was a fast upon the acoumpt of the Cape breton armey. Levi, son of Abel Bliss, May 7, 1745. Lucy, dr. of Joseph Sikes, July 13, 1745, in a very grate clap of thunder ( 1 1). Eunice, dr. of Joseph Shelden, Aug. IC, " Gideon, son of Moses Burt, Aug. 10, " Isaac, son of Benj. Warriner, Aug. 28, " John Brooks, dyed Oct. 11, 1745. Noah, son of Kev. Mr. Noah Mirick, b. Nov. 1, 1745. John, son of John Hitchcock, Jan. 4, 1740. Rachel, dr. of David Chapin, Jan 14, 1740. Ruth, dr. of Steph'n Stebbins, Feb 10, " Ruben, son of John Jones, Feb. 24, " Joshua, son of BenonyAtchason,Mar.l3," David, son of Daniel Warner, Apr. 11, " " " " " d. " 12, " Phanuel, son of Saml. Warner, b. June 19," Ann, dr. of Moses Warriner, Aug. 10," Margarit, dr. of David Warriner, " 12, " Jonathan, son of Jonathan Ely, Oct. 11, " Levi, son of Daniel Cadwell, Oct. 13, " Luse, dr. of Thos. Mirick, Nov. 11, " Lydia, dr. of Saml. Bitrtlit, Nov. 10, " Benjamin, son of Benj. Wright, Feb. 8, 1747. Maroy, dr. of Saml. Stebbins, Feb. 12, " Phinias, son of Phinics Chapin, Mar. 1, " Jonathan, son of David Mirick, Mar. 21, " Sarah, dr. of Rev. Mr. Noah Mirick, J'ne 4, 1747. Asa, son of David Jones, June 12, 1747. Thankfull, dr. of Danl. Warner, June 19, " Thomas, son of Nath'l. Bliss, Nov. 25, " Aaron, son of Aaron Stebbins, 2d, Dec. 18, 1747. Eleuer, dr. of Moses Bartlit, Dec. 26, 1747.- Asa, sonof Stephen Chapin, Jan. 22, ■ 1748. Jonathan, son of Joseph Sikes, Feb. 20, 1748. Solomon, son of William King, Feb. 17, " Jerusha, dr. of Daniel Lamb, May 2, " Stephen, son of Daniel Cadwell, May 30, " 219 Rhoda, dr. of Benj. Colton, June 9, 1748. Mary, dr. of Aaron Stebbins, June 19, " Phebe, dr. of David Cliapin, July 2, " Daniel, son of Danl. Warner, d. " 22, " Asuba, dr. of Jobn Hitchcock, b Aug 6, " Hannah, dr. of Stephen Stebbins, "10," Marcy, dr. of Jonathan Ely, Sept. 7, " Ann, dr. of Moses Warriner, d. Sept. 9, 1748. Benjamin, son of Benj. Warriner, Sept. 16, 1748. Noah, son of Moses Warriner, b. Oct. 27, 1748. Cliarles, son of Isaac Brewer, Dec. 18, 1748. This was the first Baptised in our meet- ing hous. Justin, son of Calup Stebbins, Jan 3, 1749. Marcy, dr. of Saml. Bartlit, Mar. 1, " Asenath, dr. of Saml. Warner, March 8, " Rachel, dr. of Benj. Wright, Apr. 16, " Abner, son of Abner Chapin, May 29, " Chiliab Brain'd, Rev. Mr. Noah Mirick, May 31, 1749. Lues, son of Lues Langdon, June 15, 1749. Hannah, wife of Noah Alvord, d. Aug. 25, 1749. Lydia, dr. of Jonathan El.v, Sept. 1, 1749. Jonathan, son of David Warriner, b Sept. 16, 1749. Joseph, son of Joseph Chapin, Sept. 27, 1749. Abiah, dr. of Benj. Colton, d Oct 28, 1749. Jerushe, dr. of Danl. Warner, Nov. 1, " Persis, dr. of Benj. Warriner, b. Jan. 5, 1750. Tabitha, dr. of BenonyAtchinson, Jan. 13, 1750. Abigale, dr. of Thos. Foot, d. Feb. 6, 1750. Epliraim Bartlif, Deyed Feb. 19, in the 77th yearofhisEage, he was tlie first male ChUd that was Born in Suflield. Sarah, dr. of AVm. Stasey,b. Mar. 18, '50. David, son of Benoni Banester, Mar. 19, 1750. Aaron, son of Aaron Stebbins, Mar. 20, '60. Moses, son of Moses Stebbins, May, 1750. -Locs, dr. of Moses Bartlit, May 18, 1750. Jerusha, dr. of Henry Bagger, June 1750. Jemina, dr. of William King, July 4, 1750. Mary & Eunise, Aaron Stebbins 2d, Aug. 7 1750. ~ Alener, dr. of Moses Bartlit, d. Sept. ],'50. Margarit, dr. of Stephen Davis, b. Sept. 17, 1750. Stephen, son of Stephen Stebbins, Sept. '50. Joanah, dr. of Dan. Cadwell, Sept. 30, '50. Natha., son of Moses Warriner, Oct. 18, '50. Obed(?)& Jona., David Chapin, Nov. 15, 1750. Both died same day. Noah, son of Joseph Sikes, Dec. 9, 1750. Lowis, dr. of Daniel Lamb, Dee. 22, 1750. Benjamin sou of Benj. Warriner, Mar. 3, '51. Funis, dr. of Sam. Bartlit, Mar. 21, 1751. Gersham, son of Isaac Skinner, Mar. 30, 175 L- Lidya, dr. of Joua., Ely. April. 12, 1751. Reubin, son of John Hitchcock, May 1, '51. Stephen, son of Steph. Stebbins, d. " 24, '51. Hannah, dr. of Sam. Warner, d. May 2(), " Mary, dr. of Benj. Wright, b. July 24, '51. Calvin son of Moses Stebbins, July 30, '51 . Abigale, dr. of Abner Chapin, Aug. 14, '51. Samuel, son of Sam. Stebbins, Sept. 8, 1751. Mirye, dr. of Thomas My rick, Sept. 9, '51. Sam. Fist, [Fisk] Rev. Noah Mirick, " 13, "51. Jarusha, dr. of Henry Bagger, d. Oct. 4. '51. Abner, son of SimeonWillard, Nov. 15, '51. Elizabeth, dr. of " " " 21, '51. James, son of Aaron Stebbins, 1st, b. Dec. 31, 1751. Mary, dr. of Lues Langdon, Jan. 11, '52. David Justin, s. David Chapin, Jan. 14, 1752. Lidaah, dr. of John Bliss, Mar. 9, 1752. Joel, son of Aaron Stebbins, 2d, Mar. II, 1752. Samuel, son of Philip Leyon, Mar. 27. '52. Stephen, son of Stephen Stebbins, April '52. Lovice, dr. of Moses Burt, May 25, 1752. Rachil Stiles, d. at Wales, buried here May 14, 1752. son of Jas. Warriner, b. Ju. 4, 1752. Nathaniel, s. of Henry Hagger, June, 1752. Mihitabel, dr. of Benj. Skinner, b. Ju. 20, " Elliner, dr. of Moses Bartlit, b. Ju. 25. '*- Luse, dr. of Thos. Mirick, d. Oct. 15, 17^2, new stile. And on 4th day old stile. This is the first in new stile. Ebenezer, son of William. Stasey, b.Oct. n. 8. Luse, dr. of Wra. King, b. Nov. 19, 1752 Ann&Abnerc.of MosesWarriner, b. Dec. ), " old stile ; 12, new stile. Willard, son of Benj. " b. Feb. 17, 1753. Mary, dr. of Eben., Bliss, b. Feb. 26, 1753 Moses, son of Jno.IIitcIicock,b.Mar.I9, " Keziah, dr. of Sam. Bartlit, b. Apl. 27, " Judah, son of Jona. Ely, b. June 24, 1753. , son of Sam. Stebbins, b. July 17, died July 27, 1753. Lidiah, dr. of Rev. Mr. Noah Mirick, b. July 20, 1753. Soloman, son of James Warriner, b. Aug. 16, 1753. Gains, son of Isaac Brewer, Aug. 28, 1753. Hannah, dr. of Isaac Skinner, Aug. 29, '• Mary, dr. of David Warriner, died Oct. 15, 1753. Jame.=, son of Jiimes Twing,b.Nov.28, '53. 220 Aaron, son of David Cadwell,Dec. 23, 1753. Nathan, son of Joseph Sikes, b. Jan. 4, 1754. Ester, dr. of Abner Chapin, Dec. 7, 17$4. Mary, wife of Samuel Stebbins, died Aug. 1750, att Longmeadow. Samuel Stebbins who was the head of a famaly in this phise, Dyed att Somers the 10th Day of february, yc year 1754, in the 4Ctli year of his age and left his 2d wife a widow. Loviso, dr. of Daniel Lamb, b. Feb. 12, '54. Dolly Pynchon, Marcy Warriner, Feb. 17, " Hannah, wife of Isaac Colton, Jr., d. Mar. 11, 1754. Ruth, dr. of Sam. Warriner, b. May. 14," David Chapen dyed May 16, 1754. dr. of Ezra Barker, May 24, 1754. Miream, wife of " " " " 26, 1754. Mary, wife of Sam. Warner, June C, 1754. Lamewell,8on of Henry Bagger, b. July 3,1754. Lydia, dr. of Philip Lyon, July 19, 1754. Jacob, son of Widow David Chapin, July 21, 1754. This child was born 9 weeks and 3 Days after its father's Derth. Benj., son of Benj. Skinner, Ju. 21, 1754. Seth, son of Aaron Stebbins, Sept. 5, " Lovise, dr. of Moses Burt, d. Sept. 26, " Moses, son of Moses Colton, b. Oct. 7, 1754. c. of Aaron Stebbins Jr. d. Oct. S. Ester, dr. of Lewes Langdon, b. Nov. — son of JamesMirickJr.Jan.lO, '55. Lideah, dr. of John Bliss, d. Jan, 29, 1755. Ester, dr. of Moses Stebbins, b.Jan. 28," Luse, dr. of Ebenezer Bliss, Jan. .30, " Ester, dr. of Benj. Warriner, Feb. 19, " Luther, son of William King, Mar. 22, " Luse, dr. of Caleb Stebbins, .\pl. 13, 1755. Anne, dr. of Jabez Hendrick, March — Elener, dr. of SamuelWarriner,Mayl2, " Thankfull, dr.of Sam. Bartlit, May, 13, 1755. Henry, son of Jona., Ely, May 15, 1755. Sarah, dr. of John Langdon, Ju. 11, 1755. Sarah, wife of " " died July 22, in the 22d year of her age, and 2d person yt was burid in the south buring place. Plinney, son of Rev. Mr. Noah Mirick, born Sept 13, 1755. Margarit, dr. of AbnerChapin, Sept.24, 1755. Moses, son of Daniel Cadwell, " .30, 1755. Elisabeth, dr. of William Stacy, Oct, 29. 1755. Mary, dr. of Nath. Hitchcock, d. Nov. 13. Joseph, son of Henry Badger, Jan. 5, 1756. Marcy (.') dr. ot James Twing,b. Jan. 8, '56. Daniel, son of Moses Warriner, " 16, 1750. Lydia, dr. of John Bliss, Jan. 19, 1760. Miream, dr. of James Warrener, " 22, '56. Gad, son of StephenStebbins,Feb.l3, " Apollus, son of Isaac Skinner, Feb. 17, 1756. ApoUus, son of Steph.Colton, d. Mar. 21, '56 Natha., son of Natha. Hitchcock, b. June 15, 1750. dr. of Sam. Warriner, Ju. d. 28, " Aaron, son of John Hitchcock, Sept. I, " son of Benj. Warriner, b. Sept. 20. son of Ezekiel Wright, d. Sept. 20. Icobod, son of Philip Lyon, Oct. 2, 1756. John, son of Daniel Lamb, Oct. 2, " Hannah, dr. of Joseph Sikes, Oct. 22, 1756. Amhus, son of Moses Stebbins, October. Eeubin, son of Reubin Warriner, Nov. 17, 1750. Louise, dr. of William King, Dec. 7, 1756. Henry, son of Henry Wright, Dec. 17, " Hannah dr. of Moses Colton, Dec. 26, 1756. Capt. (.') Coats a Soldier, sickened and dyed January 4, 1757. Sam'll, son of Philip Lyon, d. Jan. 12, 1757. Oliver, son of John Bliss, Jan. 13, 1757. Abigail, dr. of Stephen Colton, b.Jan.27," Aaron, son of Benj. Wright Jr. " 28, 1757. Martha, dr. of Aaron Stebbins, Feb. — " Joseph, son of Henry Badger, Feb. — " Lowis, dr. of Aaron Stebbins 2d, " — " Ezra, son of Ezra Barker, Mar. 20, " son of Sam. Warriner, d. Mar. 28, 1757. Eliza., dr. of j'ona. Ely, b. May 15, 1757. Louise, dr. of Sam. Bartlit, July 11, 1757. Doratha, dr. of Jabez Hendrick, Ju. 10, " Comfort, dr. of Dan. Warriner, d.Ju. 14, 1757. She was the firs person born in this pre- scint. Catarine, dr. of Stephen Bliss, b. Aug. 1757. Leusee, dr. of Abner Chapin, Aug. 29. " Lusee, dr. of Rev. Mr. Noah Mirick, b. September 4 and died the 10th, 1757. Katarine, dr. of Joseph Miller,d.Sept. 12,'57. Reubin, son of Reubin Colton, " 26, 1757. Isaac Skinner, died October 3, 1757. Rachel, dr.of Lewes Langdon, b. Oct. '57. Elisabeth, dr. of Benj. Skinner, Oct. 2, 1757. Mary, dr. of Nathaniel Hutchinson, d. October 24, 1757. Lydah, dr. of Benj. Warriner Jr. Nov. 5, 1757. Sarah, dr. of Reub. Warriner, Dec. 2, '57. Do David Mirick, of the fourth Church in Springfield, Dyed No^' 30th 1757. Sarah, dr. of Reubin Warriner, Jan. 17, 1758. son of Sam. Warriner, Fob. 17, '58. Hannah, dr. of Dan.Cadwell,b.Mar.5,175S. Miream, dr. of Moses Warriner, Apl. 1, '58. Ann, dr. of Ezra Barker, May 22, 1758. Samuel, son of Paul Langdon, Sept. — '58. son of James Warriner, 175S. 221 Samuel, son of Philip Lyon, in ye Somer. Mable, son of James Twiiig, in ye Somer. John Bliss, 1758. Stephen Colton, 1758. William King, Nov. — 1758. Samuel Warner, " 17, 1758. lieubinVVarriner,Nov'. — " William King d.Sept.— 1758. Keubin Warriner, Nov. " Keuben Warriner, died Dec. 29, 175S. Sarah, dr. of Natha., Hitchcock, b. Feb. 5, 1759. son of dr. of Abiah, dr. of dr. of Walter, son of Ann, dr. of dr. of Louise, dr. of son of Sam. Warriner, Feb. 22, '59. Moses Stebbins, '58. ■ Icabut, son of Philip Lyon, d. Mar. 3, 1759. John Wilson, s. JohnLangdon,b.Mar.ll,'59. Moses, son of Moses Stebbins, d. Apl. '59. Richard, son of William Stacy, April 1759. •Elizabeth, dr. Hy. Wright, b. Apl. 28, '59. Clowe, 7th dr. of Samuel Bartlit, 1759. Experience T.dr.Moses Colton, 1759. Marcy dr. of Stephen Bliss, 1759. Lovise dr. of Daniel Cadwell, 1759. Luse dr. of Jabes Heudrick May 23, '59. Mrs. Day dyed, bured west side y« River, May 18, 1759. Marcy, wife of Isaac Brewer, d. May 20, '59. Widow Rachil Chapin, June 3, 1759. Samuel Baker 1759. Ezekil Wright, child 1759. Ester, dr. of Lues Langdon " Sergant Aaaron Stebins lost two cliildren " John son of Noah Bowker b. Jan. 17 1700 died. Benjamin son of Ezekial Russel b. 1759. Jerusha. dr. of Henry Badger, 1759 Bershabe, dr. of Benjamin Warrener, Jr., Feb. 10, 17()0. Kebekah, dr. of Benjamin Skinner, Feb. 17, 1700. Moses Stebbins, Feb. 1700 Henry Chapin, Mar. 4, " Oliver Bliss, Mar. 13, " John Hitchcock, Mar. 18, David, son of James son of Achsah, dr. of Phebe, dr. of 1700. Isaac, son of 1700. Samuel, son of 17C0. Arthemus, Mariah, dr. of Stephen Colton, April 12, Samuel Warriner, May 24, John Langdon, May 25, Abner Chapin, June 7, 1700 Stephen, son of James Warriner, June 8, Crease, dr. of Comfort Chaffee, June 22, 1700. Thankful, dr. of Paul Langdon, June 27, '00 Mable, dr. of Philip Lyon, Aug. 9, 1700 Actilus (?) son of Lewis Langdon, (.') Aug. 22, Isaac, son of Isaac Osborne, Sept. 18, '00. James son of Aaron Stebbins, b. Oct. 4. Actilus, son of John Langdon, d. Oct. 16. Seth, son of Samuel Warner, Jr. b. Dec, 2, 1700. Aaron, son of 0, 1701. Seth, son of Daniel Sear(.') John, son of Lusi, dr. of Aaron Parsons, Juner, Jan. Aaron Stebbins, 2d, Jan. 20, Nath. Hitchcock, Jr. Jan. 29 James Twing, Jan. 27, 1701 John Bliss, Mar. 1, 1701. Rachil, dr. of Henry Wright, Mar. 3, '61. Horace or Oliver William King, Mar. 24, '01. Daniel, son of James Mason, Mar. 29,'Gl , dr. of John Bliss, d. Mar. 31, 1761. Mary, the Avife of William Stacey, Ap. 11, '61. Aaron, son of Aaron Bliss, b. May, 9, 1701. Martha, dr. of Silas Hitchcock, May, 28,'fll. Stephen, son of Stephen Bliss, June 24, '01. Hannah, dr. of Samuel Warner, July 20, '61. Louise, dr. of Henry Badger, July, 28,' 01. Nathan, son of Moses Colton, July 29, 1761. Timothy, son of Thomas Mirick and Mary Mirick, was Bit By a Ratel Snake one Aug. the 7tii, 1701, and Dyed within about two or three ours he being twenty two years two months and three Days old and vary near the point of marridge. Abijah, son of Jabes Hendrick, b. Aug. 10, John, son of Henry Chapin, Sept. 13, '61. Simeon, son of John Hitchcock, Sept. 2'^, Martha, dr. of Jonatlian Ivelborn, Sept. 29, Aasa, son of Ezekel Russill, Oct. 10, '61 Elisabeth, dr. of William Stacy, d. Nov.4,'61 Lt. P. Langdon Dyed Disember 3, 1701. Aaron son of Samuel Warriner, b. Dec. 13 Ethan, son of Ezra Barker, Jan. 1, 1702. Gad, son of Benjamin Warriner, Jan. 29 Samuel, son of Samuel Bartlit, Jan. .30. '62 Samuel, son of Abner Chapin, Jan. 31, '62. Mary dr. of Oliver Bliss, Feb. 4, 1702. '—, son of Asa Simons, Feb. 12, 1702. Sabrare, dr. of Stephen Colton, Mar. 17,'02. Lucy, dr. of John Biiss, Mar. 28, 1702. Joseph Millar has lost two children born here AVidow Sarah Sheldon, Dyed over the River and is Bured in this place Mar. 23, 1702. James, son of John Langdon, b. Mar. — Abigale, wife of Samuel Kilborn Dyed Brim- field, Ap. 4, 1702, Burid here. Timothy, son of Moses Stebbins, b. Ap. 17, Ensign Abel Bliss, Dyed Ap. 30, 1762, he was in the 54th year of his age. Sarah, dr. of Joel Bliss, b. May 13, 1702. Louise, dr. of Samuel Warner, Jr. May 26, Martha, dr. of Asa Challc, May 19, 1762. Bershabee,dr. of Comfort Chaffee June—, '62 Nathan, son of Samuel Brooks, July 2, 1762. Noah, son of Rev. Mr. Noah Mirick of 222 Springfield fourth parish had Bin about three years in Collidge. Drowned at Came- bridge on Thusday the 24tli Day of June in year 1762 in tlie 17th year oi his age. Olive, dr. of Benjamin Skinner,b. July 4, Noah, son of Joseph Silses, d. July 11, '02 Silos, son of Joseph Jones, b. Aug. 26, Jesse, son of Jesse Warner, Sept. 11, '62. Achsah, dr. of Joseph Sikes, Sept. 17, Azubah, dr. of Isaac Osborn, Sept. 30, 1762. rhilip, son of Piiilip Lyon, Sept. 28, 17(i2. Ester, dr. of Lewis Langdon, . 28, '02 Hannah Jones wife of David Jones, Dyed Nov. 30, 1762. Enoch, son of Aaron Stebbins, 2d b. Jan. 5 1703. Aaron Bliss, Jan. 13, died. Elisha Ferres, child, dyed Jan. 13, 1763. , son of Henry AVight, b. Mar. — , '63 b.Mar. 14, 1763. Henry Badger, ('omitted^ [defaced] Jerusha, dr. of Sept. — , 1759 , dr. of Tabatha Day, Mar. 20, 1763. Samuel Warriner, Ap. 28, Nathll. Hitchcock, Jr., b. 1703, died Luse, dr. of May 27, 1703. Ethan, son of James Warriner, b. July 8, 1703, the first Child that was born in Wilbra- ham, after set of as a town. Births, 366, deaths 65. In another place Warner numbers 88 deaths, which includes those in Wales and the Half mile, I presume. k:. 82. MINISTRY AND SCHOOL LOTS. Page 81. Dr. S. E. Merrick says, in his address, 1831, that the ministry and school lots were leased for nine hundred and ninety-nine years because they could not be sold. This is a mistake. They were sold. But they were leased year by year, before they were sold. I have before me a deed given to Oliver Bliss by a committee chosen by the town to sell a portion of the Ministry Lot, in the Second Division, making part of the farm of the late John Bliss. The deed is dated Feb. 29, 1776, and conveyed all " the land between the main and middle road," a strip " Thirty-seven Rods and four foots wide." Bliss agreed to pay " the sum of one Hun- dred and Twenty Two Pounds Ten Shillings LawfuU Money " for the Land. I have another deed, given to Jonathan Miriek, June 8, 1772, of a por- tion of the Ministry Lot in the Third Division, extending from the top of the mountain east of Mr. WilKam V. Sessions's to the middle road. The " consideration" was " forty-one Pounds nine Shillings and Sixpence." The school lands were leased for 1768, as follows: "To James Eddy £0. 3.0; To Sam' Glover £0. 12. ; To Isaiah Chaffee £0. 4. ; to Amos Chaffee £0. 4. ; To John Bliss £0. 6. : Total £1. 9. 0." A considerable portion of the ministry lands were sold in 1772 ; for in that year the committee chosen to sell the lands delivered to the town ' ' nine bonds for Money on Interest Due to said town on aceonnt of the sale of the Ministry Lands so far as they have sold of the same," viz : — 223 James Ferry, one, Dated June 8th, 1772, £9.3. 2. Jonathan Min-iek, I^zekiel Russell, " " 1st, Amos Hitchison, " May 28, Joseph Dunham, Benj. Farmin, " June 8, Oliver Bliss, Levi Bliss, Caleb Stebhins, and over plus lands. Total, "Lawfull Money," £.349. 3. 41. 10. 10. 17. 8 12. 10. 31. 18. 3 .39. 18. 27. 8. 7€. 9. 6 15. 0. In April 1769, it was voted '• that the Com'^^ which was chosen to Sell or Lease the School Lands in this town shall Sell or Lease the same in such manner as is most for the Interest and Benefit of this Town and according to their best skill and Judgement and that they give to the Pur- chasers good Title of or to the same by Lease or deed on behalf of this Town on conditions following (viz) that the purchaser or Purchasers shall at Bargaining for said Lands pay the Cost for the same, or find two good Sureties with themselves who shall be firmly Bound for Sure payment, further Voted * * * that said Committee make report of their doings to some future Meeting." There is an article in the warrant for a meeting, Jan. 1, 1770, "to receive the Pteport of the Com'*''' which was chosen to lease or sell the School Lands." Their report is not recorded; but a committee is chosen " to take care of the money which the School Lands wore sold for, and to see to it that the same is safe and that the Interist of the same be paid yearly and lodged in the town treasury," etc. In the same year an easement is made to Samuel Warner on the sum which he paid "for a part of the School Land since Warner purchased of the Town," etc. And finally it is said that the " Ministry Lands " were disposed of on the same conditions as the " School Lands." They were sold, not leased. 224 L. p. 84. A LIST OF THE ROADS FIRST LAID OUT IN THE TOWN. 1. From the Brook at the Sand hill to Stafford & up to the north and South road near Joel Chaffee's. 1764 March 2. From David Warriner's west to Stony Hill, the west side of Outward Com- mons. 1764 March. 3. Alteration in Middle road from the late John Bliss's to Bay Road. 1764. March. 4. From Dea. John Adams's west to Spd line. April 1765. 5. From the First Road by Henry Badger's round by Butler'.s ; altered from the Road 1764. 1767, March. 6. Road altered a few rods by Samuel Warner's in main St. or Road, 1767. 7. Road from Joel Chaffee's to Monson line, by David Lyon's, 1767. 8. From Jabez Hendi'ick's north to Bay Road. 9. From Moses Bartlett's, on middle road, to west Road at Dr. John Sterns's, 1768. 10. Road from Meeting house south of Philip Lyon's and Nath' Bliss's. 1768. 11. Present Stony Hill Road from main road to the end of North West course, where it turns and runs Strait west, 1769 12. From Gideon Kibbe's North to "Longmeadow path," 1770. 13. From Jabcz Hendrick's to Joel Chaffee's. 14. From Levi Bliss's, altered to Bay Road, 1771. 15. From the present School House by Mr. Cross's to Sp'^ line, 1771. 16. Fi'om Monson line, East of Comfort Chaffee's west to north & south road, between John & Joel Chaffee's. 17. From Jabez Hendrick's north to east and west road on overplus land 18. From Monson line on overjjlus land to Middle Road. 19. From Monson line to Abner Badger's saw mill. 20. From the Scantic bridge, by Jacob Wood's. ]\X. p. 98. ANCESTRY OF REV. NOAH MERRICK, ETC. Thomas Mirick (as the name was then spelled) is said to have come from Wales through Koxbuiy and Hartford, and settled on the south side of Agawam River, in what is now called West Springfield. He married, July 7, 1639, Sarah, daughter of Rowland Stebbins, and for a second wife, 1653, Elizabeth Tilley, by whom he had James, 1670, the father of Noah, born August 6, 1711, the first minister of Wilbraham. Noah 225 graduated at Yale College, 1731. Nothing more is known of him till 1735. Where he studied theology I am unable to discover. I find an appropriation of £5. 10s. made for his preaching " two Sabbaths and one Thanksgiving " in Springfield, 1735, entered April 24th in the Records, and another, entered Feb., 1736, "for preaching two Sabbaths, £4." This was before the settlement of Rev. Mr. Breck. This is all I can learn of his history before his name appears on the records of Wilbraham. After his settlement here he was married, October, 1744, to Mrs. Abigail Brainard, widow of the Rev. Mr. Brainard, of Eastbury, Ct., and daugh- ter of Rev. Phineas Fisk, of Haddam. He was called to attend councils and ordinations in adjoining towns and parishes. He was at John Mc- Kinstry's ordination as first minister in Chicopee, September 27, 1752. He preached from Matthew x. 16, at the fast held before the ordination of Joseph Lathrop, August 18, 1756, and he offered a prayer at the ordina- tion, August 25. There were at this time but nine churches in the county, and but seven had pastors. Mr. IVIerrick attended the ordination of Syl- vanus Grriswold, first pastor of the second church in West Springfield, called Feeding Hills, November 17, 1762. The following entry in the journal of Dr. Samuel F.Merrick, his son, dated "Dec. 22, 1776," gives an account of Rev. Mr. Merrick's death and funeral : — This day departed this life ray Hon"! Father in the 66th year of his age & 36th of his ministry (if I mistake not) he having laboured under great bodily infirmities for many years & for about eleven months had not been able to preach at all, he declined gradually till the 21st instant a little before nine at night he was taken senseless and motionless, he lay in that situation till the next day, being Sun- day, a little before three P. M. he closed his eyes in death & launched into the eternal world & left his Avife and children to mourn for the loss of so good a Hus- band and Parent * * * * His body was decently interred the Wendsday following when a sermon suitable to the ocation was preached by the Eev. Mr. Breek of Springfield from those words in 2 Corinthians 4 : 7, we have the treasure in earthen vessels. Mrs. Abigail Merrick, his wife, survived him thirty-one years, and died September 12, 1807, in the ninetieth year of her age. The following is the inscription and epitaph on the table monument over their graves : — 29 226 Here lies interred the Body of The Revened and Worthy NOAH MERICK Pastor of the Church of Christ in this Town, Who Died December ye 22, A. D. 1 776, in ye 66 year of his age And 36^1^ of his Mincstry. O Thou great Arbiter of hfe and Death With the Patriarchs joy Thy call i follow to the land unknown i trust in The and know in whom i trust At his right side lies Abigail his wife Who Died September 12th 1807 in the 98th Year of her age. As A Shock of Corn fully ripe Cometh forth in its season TV. p. 99. SETTING OFF THE SOUTH PARISH. At town meeting, Dec. 24, 1781, a committee from out of town was I" chosen to consider the question of having two parishes. w 227 REPORT OF THIS COMMITTEE. To the Inhabitants of the town of Wilbraham : — Gentlemen : We have taken into our Deliberate consideration (pursuant to your desire) the several matters you by your Committee thought fit to lay before us, which has brought to a determination, that some division of your Town is necessary. Concerning the manner of which you have been pleased to refer your- selves to us for aid and advice Our opinion upon the matter submitted to us you have in the following report. The Committee consider it a great unhappiness that a town so Respectable as the Town of Wilbraham is, Should in the management of their Publick affairs, suffer such animosities to arise amongst them, as to have any Tendency to prevent the general benefits and advantage that might otherwise arise to them, by inculcat- ing those generous Sentiments of love and esteem, which is so essential to the well- being of every society. Whether by the Local Situation of the Inhabitants of the several parts of said Town, or whether by the supposed or real Indiscretion of any persons ; in the ami- cable management of your public affairs make it expedient that a Division should take place amongst you, we pretend not to say. Though the manner of it seems only to be referred to us, yet we conceive it may not be improper to declare our Concurrence in Sentiment with you, that some Di- vision is become necessary : • Touching the mode of it and how it shall be made (which appears to be the principal object) It is the united opinion of the Committee and which they conceive will best accommodate the Inhabitants of the Several Parts of the Town that it be Divided into two Parishes, by the name of North and South Parishes, by a line Coinciding with the South Line of the Lot whereon Nathaniel Bliss Decesed lived, from the westward Bound of said town to Monson Line : — (with this exception) that the Inhabitants of said Town living on the west from the top of the mountain to the south side of Lieut Thomas Mer- rick's Lot to the westward Bounds of said Town with their Estates be annexed to the North Parish and that the Inhabitants living East from the top of the moun- tain from said South side of S'^ Bliss's Lot north to the south side of Lot originally Laid out to Jonathan Taylor's Estate to Monson line, be annexed to the South Parish with their Estates, if each or any of said Inhabitants Should Choose so to do — they making their Choice previous to said Parish being Incorporated, and they thus Choosing to be annexed to the Respective Parishes forever. And that each part of said Town have and Enjoy equal parts of the Land Se- questered for the use of the Ministry, or the Monies or Securities for money that may be in the Treasury — the proceeds of the Sale of Said Lands or any other money or Security for money or Donation for the support of the Gospel, be and remain to each Parish in equal parts. And the Meeting House Standing in the North part of Said Town be and be- long to the North Parish so long as they continue to meet in it for the Publick Worship of God. Should that love and Union take place which your Committee earnestly recom- mend, and which is so Essential to the well being of every Society, they are of opinion, that said House be and remain, for the use of the whole of said Town for the purpose of carrying on their Meeting in future. 228 We sincereljf wish that love and harmony may again take place among you, that we may have the satisfaction of Knowing that our poor Endeavors have in some measure Contributed toward the effecting an event so important. We are Gentlemen with sentiments of Love and Esteem your Friends and Humble Servants. JOHN HALE LUKE BLISS WM. PYNCHON, JR. Springfield, Feb. 21, 1782. PETITION FOR JNCORPOUATJON. Common Wealth ( To the Hon^^« Senate ^ House of Representatives In Gen- OF Massachusetts ( eral Court Assembled — The Petition of the Inhabitants of the Town of Williraham — Humbly slieweth — That Whereas it is of Great Importance that We Constantly attend upon the Preaching of the Gospel, and as by the Annexing of Wales to the South Part of Sd Town the Present Meeting House is much out of the Center — And By the Blessing of Heaven We are So Multiply'd that the attendance upon the Preaching of the Gospel is Rendered "Very DiiKcult, and almost Impossible for Great Num- bers, to Attend on a Preached Gospel and Whereas there is at Present No Settled Minister in S'l Town and as the Wants of a Division of S^^ Town, Will Probably if not Inevitably Prevent the Settlement of one, to the Real Hurt of S<^ Town — We are Humbly of Opinion that it is an Opportune Season to Have Sd Town Divided — and as We Hope We are Able to Support two Ministers and as Nature Has Seemed to form us for two Parishes Being Near Nine Miles North & South, and four Miles and an Half East & West — We The subscribers Therefore (in Behalf of this Town ) Petition y^ Hon''^ to Incoi-porate this Town into two Par- ishes, By the Name of the North and South Parishes — By a Line Coinciding With the South Line of the Lot Whereon Nath" Bliss Deceased Liv'd, from the Westward Bounds of S Jones Rowland Crocker .... Darius Chaffee Eben'' Cadwell Joshua Eddy . . . Enos Clark . . . . Ezeki Wright . Calvin Stebbins. Tho^ Coleman . Gideon Burt . . . Abel King . Charles Brewer . ,\Benj. Colton . . . John Stearns . . . Time of Service Days. 2. 9 8. 6 5. 17. 1 17. 1 17. 1 14. 2 4. 3 14. 2 14. 2 11. 4 2.10 14. 2 180 180 180 180 180 180 160 180 60 180 160 50 180 15 15 15 15 15 15 13.4 15. 5 15 13.4 4.2 15 For Inn- holders. (I) £2.17. 9 2. 3. 6 2. 0. 1.12. 1 1.12. 1 1.12. 1 1. 9. 2 1. 9. 2 1. 7. 8 1. 9. 2 0. 9. 3 19. 2 17. 6 1. 4. 8 0. 7. 19. 2 50.10. 5 Dec 5"i 1775 The Persons above named living in the Town of Wilbraham who marched with their arras & ammunition occas^ by Lexington fight some before & some came after me who pray that they may have pay agreeable to a late resolve of tlie Gen" Court of this Colony agreeable to the services that are fix"! to their names which is the time and service alBxt to each man in this Roll according to y*' best of my Knowledge Attest JAMES WARRINER, Cap*" Hampshire ss. Decr 13, 1775 The above named James Warriner personally appeared and made solemn Oath to the truth of the foregoing pay Roll by him subscribed Sworn Before John Bliss Just. Pec. 1 It will be observed that these men run up no bills at taverns for the country to pay. 30 234 The following letter, borne by the messenger from Boston, has been found in the city clerk's office, Springfield, among the old papers recently opened : — Watertown[W^^^"««*l^y , , 5 morning 10 clock To all the Friends of american liberty be it known that this morning before break of Day a Brigade confisting of about 1000 or 1200 men Landed at Phips' Farm in Cambridge and marched to Lexington where they found a Company of our Colony militia in arms ; upon whom they Fired without any Provocation & killed six & wounded four Others by an express this moment from Boston we find another Brigade are now on their march from Bofton supposed to be about 1000 Tlie Bearer Mr Isaac Bifsell charged to alarm the country quite to Connec- ticutt and all Perfons are Desired to furnish him with such Forfes as they may be needed. I have spoke with severall Perfons Avho have feen the Dead & wounded Pray lett the Delegates from this Colony to Connecticutt see this. they know J. Palmer one of the Com. of S y Colo Foster is one of the Delegates i Tt. p. 116. "A return of Capt. Paul Langdon's Company, in Col. Davidson's Reg* of all the meii's names in s'^ Company, & Specifying what town Inlisted from of those Dead and of those on Command at Quebeck Oct. 6th 1775." Paul Langdon Capt Drums ^ Fifes Daniel Cadwell \st Lieut Charles feny Drum"" „ Abner Warriner fifer bargts. Noah Wiirriner Privates Names John Langdon Daniel CaiTJenter Philip Lyon Aaron Cadwell Jonathan Sikes on Command Quebeck Corporals. geth Clark Aaron Stebbins Abner Chapin Othniel Hitchcock Nathan Sikes Moses Simons 1 I have not been able to learn any particulars of the Lexington alarm in Wilbraham ex- cept that the whole town was greatly excited, that couriers were sent about the town, and that the men assembled, before marching, in the barn referred to in the address. I have endeavored to give a description of the " alarm," which will convey to the present genera- tion a true idea of the event, and still conform to the truth of history. 235 Phaniiel Warner on command Quebeck John Langdon 2d Ichabod Barker Ludlow Cyprian Wright " Ezekiel Beebe " Lothrop fuller " Solomon Cooley " John Johnson " Joseph Jenings " Daniel Swcetland Somers, go to Quebeck Daniel Simons Wilbrahara Charles Chooley Ludlow Simon Stacy Wilbraham i/ John Wilson Chaffee Wilbraham Ephraim Wight " Discli^ Josiah S wetland Somers gone to Quebeck John Davis Wibraham Reuben Shayler Nathaniel Mighets Ephraim Dunham Joseph Dunham William Clark Belchertown Edward Cotton Ludlow Moses Ellsworth East Windsor Ephraim Wight Jr Wilbraham, Dis. Benjamin Chubb Dead Moses Rood Eli Beebe Simeon Bates Total, 45. RoxBUEY Camp, December 25*, 1775. To the Committee of Cloathing in Watertown we the Subscribers Soldiers in Capt. Paul Langdons Company in Col. Danielsous Regiment Desu'e you to De- liver for Each of us the money Due to us for a Coat which was Promised to us at the time of our Inlistment to Capt. Paul Langdon and his Receipt Shall be a Dis- charge from us as witness our hands. his Othniel X Hitchcock, mark John Langdon, 2'1, Abnee Warkinee, Daniel Caepentee, Aaeon Cadwell, Seth Clark, Abnee Chapin, Nathan Sikes, Moses Simons, Aaron Stebbins, Ctpeean Wright, Lathrop Fuller, Joseph Jinnings, Eli Beebe, (^ Simon Stacy, John Wilson Chaffee, Josiah Swetlanu, Moses Ellsworth, Joseph Dunham, John Davis, Timothy Burr, Moses Rood. I do hereby certify that the soldiers here named belong to my Company. Paul Langdon. RoxBUEY Camp Nov. 27, 1775. To the Committee of Cloathing at Watertown AVe the Subscribers Soldiers in Capt Paul Langdon's Company and in Col Timothy Danielsons Reg Desire you to Deliver to Each one of us a Coat Solomon Cooley, Charles Cooley, Ichabod Beckwirth, John Johnson, and this Receipt Shall lie your Discharge Per Paul Langdon Capt 236 WiLBRAHAM Jan. 19, 1776. To the Committee of Cloathing Gentlemen this may Scrtify that Edward Col- ton Jonathan Sikes, Reuben Shayler and Phenuel "Warner ware in my Company and have not Rec'^ their coats. Paul Langdon, Capt. The following are the only letters of Revolutionary Correspondence whicb I have been able to obtain : — RoxBURY Camp July y^ 24"> 1775 Dear wife these Comes with my tender affection to you hoping they will find you all well through the great goodness of almighty God I am in a good Steat of helth for which I disier to be thank''"'^ their was a man Shot through the breast with a muskit ball and Expierd that night it was Joseph wood that livd with mr Brown last Summer he was Shot last thursday night \ last thursday a Party of our men with their whale Boats went to the light house and burnt it tuck five prisenors one boat and burnt another tuck two S^vevels guns they broke of the lamps two barrels of power two of oyl without the loss of a man their is a great deal of news in the Camp* but I cant write more I Sec maj'' Bliss he told me you ware well I should be glad to have a pair of white linnen breach<=s my old Sockens are wore out almost I would have you hier Som help to do your haying and harvest and do as well as you can and the Lord bless you all my love to my dear Children John & James lie good boys and be kind to your mother no more but I remain your most affectionate Husband. John Langdon my duty to my hon"! mother & al friends in heast RoxBURY Camp July 31<» 1775 Dear wife these may inform you that through the great goodness of almighty god I am in a good State of helth and I Hope that you enjoy the Like Blissing I Rec"^ your letter dated July 24"^ which I Rec South Parish Calvin Stebbins, ) of W'dhraham. la 1819, forty-two inhabitants of Wilbraliam, Palmer, and Monson, petitioned to be incorporated as ' ' The Third Religious Society in the town of Wilbraham," alleging that they were situated about four miles from the nearest place of public worship, and that they had twenty years since- formed themselves into a separate religious society, and erected a house of worship, and supported preaching almost constantly since that time ; but at length, finding it inconvenient to do so, in consequence of the want of an act of incorporation, granting to said society power to lay and collect a tax for that purpose. The act of incorporation was not passed, and it is hardly necessary to copy the names of the petitioners. They were, I suppose, the supporters of the Baptist Society in the North Village. Z. p. 142. THE PRESBYTERIAN SADDLE. The collectors found it very difficult at times to get the taxes of the heretics in town ; and no little cunning, as well as spunk, was sometimes 255 displayed in escaping payment. Abraham Avery was a prominent man in the town, a tanner and saddle and harness-maker ; a man of oreat en- ergy, indomitable persistency, pious and plucky to admiration ; from hair to heel a Methodist. He was cunning withal, and liked a practical joke, so be it was worthy of his religious profession. He owed a tax. He wouldn't pay it. The collector of the parish determined to have it. "Get it then," said Avery. Now Avery could make a good saddle, — one that the Queen's horse-guards would be proud of in finish, and whose strength would have carried any one of the sis hundred through the immortal charge of Inkermann. So, in his meditations, Avery determined to make a sad- dle to pay his tax withal. He selected the pieces of leather which best pleased the eye, and fitted them together as he well knew how, being a skilful worker in leather, and mounted it with shining metal, so that it was very tempting to look upon, like the forbidden fruit of Eden. Avery knew that the strength was not equal to the beauty thereof; but as it was not for sound doctrine he made it, so he delighted in correspond- ency. The collector came ; the shop had been cleared of most of the finished work besides, and when he cast his eye upon the saddle, he did covet it much for his taxes, and was much delighted when Avery declined to pay them. "I must take this nice saddle, then," said the publican. " Take it then," quoth Avery, gruffly. It was taken. Avery's face was sparkling all over with delight as the constable put the prize in his wagon and drove off. It was sold at auction and brought a great price, far above the amount of the tax ; for it was known that Avery's saddles were of the best. The constable offered the excess of the sale over the tax to Avery, but he would not take it. The constable tendered to him the balance in gold ; Avery said he would have nothing to do with it. The saddle was purchased by a man from Belchertown. He was tempted to try it early. It looked magnificently on his horse's back. He sprang upon it. Out came one stirrup ! down broke the seat ! out came the bridge ! ofF dropped the sides ! and he spake words of Avery and the saddle which were not lawful to be spoken, and should not be written. He- came to Avery in great wrath, and asked him if he did not warrant his saddles. "Certainly," said Avery. "Well, then," he replied, " look at this saddle." "Ah," said Avery, " that is the ' Presbyterian saddle,' I have nothing to do with that." And, with a relish of satisfac- tion, he again drew his strong waxed-end through the leather upon which he was at work, for he enjoyed hugely what had come to pass. 256 J^ A. p. 149; PREAMBLE TO THE VOTE INVITING MR. CALVIN COLTON, OF LONG- MEADOW, TO BECOME PASTOR. Page 142. " Whereas the controversies between Arminians, Calvinists, Unitarians, and Trinitarians have been productive of great evil in the world, and unless speedily prevented, are like to produce the same with us, and we know of no so feasible method to prevent it as for our public teachers, when speaking upon the points which distinguish those sects, to confine themselves to the language of Inspiration or not to speak upon them at all ; Whereas, Mr. Calvin Colton, of Longmeadow, whilst he has been with us, has in a good measure conformed himself to that rule, and hoping that he will increase moi-e and more in that and all other divine graces which directly tend to the harmony of the church, and the prosperity of Zion, Voted," &c. Words of golden wisdom, of which the world is not even yet worthy. MINISTERS IN THE NORTH PARISH AFTER REV. MR. BROWN. Page 143. John Hyde, Installed April 22, 1828 ; Dismissed October 20, 1831. Israel G. Rose, " April 18, 1832; " January 21,1835. John Bowers, " Dec. 13, 1837; " May 11, 1859". John P. Skeele, " Nov. 30, 1858. SETTLEMENT OF REV. MOSES WARREN. Page 145. At a legal meeting of the South Parish, April 18, 1773, Voted, to give Mr. Moses Warren, a call to settle, 55 to 7. Voted, to give one hundred and fifty pounds as settlement, — one hundred to be paid in one year, and fifty within two years from time of settlement, 45 to 10. Voted, as Salar}^ Seventy Pounds yearly, 46 to 11, and to find twenty -four cords of wood, 48 to 7. [I do not understand this vote giving ^70 salary, for there are but £58 14s. ever raised for it.] At a church meeting June 16, 1788, Voted to give Mr. Warren a call to settle, 22 to 1. At a legal Parish meeting July 14, 1788, Voted to alter the vote of April 18th, respecting Mr. Warren's salary, so that one-half of it shall be paid in Wheat, Eye, Indian Corn, Oats, Wool, or Flax, at the current Market price. MK. warren's letter OF ACCEPTANCE. " T'o the Church and Socieli/ in the South Parish of Wilbrahnm. " Brethren and Friends : — " I have taken into serious consideration the Invitation which you gave me to settle with you in the Avork of the gospel Ministry. The proceedings of your meetings have been laid Ijcfore me by your committee. " And, looking up to Heaven for direction, I have endeavored impartially to at- 257 tend to the arguments for and against my settling; have considered your circum- stances, as to Union ; have attended to the proposals you made for my temporal support ; and to the prospect of my being useful among you : " Giving all the arguments their just weight, I think at present they preponderate in favor of my settling, And, therefore, following, as far as I know my own heart, the dictates of Providence and duty, I would present you with my answer in the affirmative. " Should nothing turn up altering the present appearance of things, I am now willing to proceed with you to the necessary steps for Ordination. Brethren, you must be sensible that the work to which you invite me is great and arduous, you will allow me, then, earnestly to solicit an interest in your prayers to the great Head of the Church, that should Providence fix me here as your watchman, I may have grace to be faithful, and wisdom to be successful. Should such a connexion take place, may it serve to promote our Mutual happiness here «Sb hereafter, & the advancement of the Eedeemer's kingdom. All which, with suitable respects, is the sincere desire & prayer of him who devotes himself to your service in Christ. "MOSES WARREN. " VVlLBKAHAM, SOUTH PARISH, July 17, 1778." At a church meeting held July 21, it was voted that the following churches, by their Pastors and Delegates, be requested to sit in council ... on Tuesday, the second day of September next, at one o'clack in the afternoon, to assist in the ordination of Mr. Moses Warren. Rev. Elisha Fish, Upton. Rev. Walter King, Norwich. Elisha Fish, Jr., AVindsor. " David Sanford, Medway. Charles Backus, Somers. " Alexander, Mendon. Richards. Storrs,Longraeadow, " Samuel Stebbins, Simsbury. " Joseph Willard, North Parish. " Jos. Lathrop, W. Springfield. " Bazaleel Howard, Springfield. " Prudens, Enfield. " Jesse Ives, Monson. " John Willard, Stafford. There is no record of tlie ordination services, — at least I have found none. CHURCH DISCIPLINE, Page 147. One of the foolish instances of church discipline I will give for instruction and warning. Mr. John Williams was proposed for church membership, March 7, 1792. Difficulties were so far removed that he was admitted on the 14th. April 4, 1794, Brother John Williams made confession for speaking unadvisedly " By George." " He had been accused publickly of profaning the name of God which he denied he did." The church came to no vote respecting the confession but chose a committee of Jive " to inquire, obtain light, and report to the chh." On the 13th the church was notified to meet on the 17th. The chh. met and chose two men to bring forward a complaint, which they did, and one man to sup- port the complaint, and voted to send the accusation to Brother Williams ; then adjourned to April 28th. Met as agreed. Bro. Williams denied the charge. The managers for the church caUed two women and one man to sustain it. The two 258 women, after solemn caution to be careful and tell the truth, said that Brother Williams did say "By God." The man was not so confident, "but rather thought he did." Brother Williams chose Col. Bliss to manage his case. Two witnesses were called, both men. After being solemnly cautioned, one said he didn't hear only " By " ; the other positively knew he said " By George " ! ! After remarks on the evidence by both parties, the church voted that the complaint was supported, and suspended Brother Williams from communion till he should make satisfaction. Brother Williams asked for a mutual council. Church not ready to grant it; but adjourned to Friday previous to first Sabbath in June. Met; voted to unite with Br. Williams in calling a mutual council, and to call in the assistance of the churches in Somers, Longmeadow, and Springfield, to meet July 1st, and chose three men to lay the case before the colincil. Council met, organized, reviewed the case, and adjourned to the next day. Met ; stated that they " did not think the charge supported in manner and form as alleged," but admonished Mr. Wil- liams to take special heed to his ways, and especially to his tongue; (!) and the church were rebuked for not complying with Matt, xviii ; then said that the church should consider Br. Williams' acceptance of their verdict ground of restoration. When asked if he accepted, he said " Yes." Tlie church wished for time before answering; but at last yielded, and voted Br. Williams back. We are not through. Three men had a church meeting called, July 27, to see if the church would not reconsider their vote. They met. They reconsidered. They offered Br. Williams another mutual council ; then dissolved. In September, Br. Williams petitioned for a committee to lay his case before the association. The church would not unite in the choice of a committee ; but offered a mutual council, which Br. Williams declined in turn. Then the church chose a committee of three to confer with Br. Williams, and see if some method could not be adopted to heal the unhappy breach, and adjourned to Friday. Met ; prayed ; committee reported, "could effect nothing." Then could not agree to send to the association. The trouble biibbles faster. Dea. Hitchcock asks to be dismissed from the deaconship, because John Bliss had not represented him fairly before the ecclesiastical council. He was " much grieved." " Much was said about the matter," but the church could neither censure Bliss nor release the deacon then, and adjourned to the 24th. Church met; prayed. Deacon Hitchcock persisted in resigning; church voted he should not ; he did. Col. Bliss was not dealt with ; wholly dropt. In October, 179.5, Dea. Hitchcock asked a certificate of dismission from the church; got it. Where is brother Williams ? Not a ray of light is thrown upon his des- tiny. He is left suspended between the church and the world, in perilous proxim- ity to the latter. Let who will choose the old paths ! Rev. Moses Warren was born in Upton, 1758 ; graduated at Harvard College, 1784; studied theology with Rev. Mr. Fish, of Upton; was licensed at Milford, 1785; was ordained, September 3, 1788 ; married Lydia Bliss, 1789, (1) and died, Feb. 29, 1829, aged 71. MINISTERS IN THE SOUTH PARISH AFTER REV. MR. WRIGHT. Page 150. James A. Hazcn, ordained Jan. 30, 1839, discharged June 22, 1847. ,j Hubbard Beebe, installed April 19, 1848, discharged April 1, 1852. 259 E. Skinner, ordained May 19, 1853, discharged April 11, 1855. James C. Houghton, installed April 11, 1855, discharged October 1, 1856. John Whitehill, ordained December 11, 1861. BB. p. 161. HISTORY OF THE WESLEYAN ACADEMY. Page 157. • BY DR. RAYMOND. The Wesleyan Academy, as its name indicates, is in some way connected with the Methodist Church. A recognition of this connection is essential to a correct knowledge of its history. It is not now, at this Centennial Celebration of the Incorporation of the Town of Wilbrahara, quite one hundred years since the first Methodist Church in America was organized. During the first fifty yeai-s of this period the activities of the church were mostly employed in pioneer labor, — in the missionary Avork of establishing churches, — but few efforts were made to found educational institutions. Cokesbury College, in Maryland, was built, and, after having been consumed by fire, was rebuilt; but Providence permitting it to be again destroyed by the flames, nothing further, worthy of record, was done in the cause of education by the Methodist Church in America till the year 1818. At that time the New England Conference embraced within its limits the entire territory of the New England States, except a small portion included in the New York Conference. Under the patronage of the New England Conference, and chiefly by the agency of its ministers, the Wesleyan Academy was inaug- urated, and was located for a time in Newmarket, New Hampshire. Its act of incoi'p oration passed the New Hampshire Legislature, June 23d, 1818. The acceptance of its charter, adoption of its by-laws and the first organized meeting of its Board of Trustees occurred July lOth of the same year. The close con- nection between the Academy and the Conference is sufficiently evinced by the fol- lowing quotation : — " By-laws of the Trustees of the Newmarket Wesleyan Academy, adopted at their first meeting, and sanctioned by the New England Annual Conference. — Art. 1. These by-laws, rules, and regulations, and such others as may hereafter be made and receive the sanction of the New England Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church for the time being, shall be binding and obligatory on the Trus- tees and officers of the Academy, and shall not be annulled, suspended, or altered at any time, without the consent of said Conference, certified in writing by their president, and countersigned by their secretary." The same connection is equally manifest in many subsequent acts and resolves. The course of study prescribed, included, besides the usual academic studies, the " Hebrew, Chaldcc, and Syriac languages, and divinity," showing that the prepa- ration of candidates for the ministry was one of the objects contemplated by the founders of the institution. A by-law providing that any surplus funds in the hands of the treasuter at any time should be appropriated to the education of sons of Methodist travelling preachers, the New England Conference having the pcrog- ative of selecting candidates, shows another purpose of the founders. 260 The Wesleyan Academy had but very limited success dui-ing the entire time of its location at Newmarket, and on the 30th of December, 1823, the following vote was passed by the trustees : — " Whereas, the Academy under our superintendence has not met with that encouragement which we were induced to expect, Therefore, voted, that we sus- pend our operations for the present." Subsequently, by vote of the board, their effects were transferred to the trustees of the Wesleyan Academy at Wilbraham, Mass., and the corporation of the New- market Wesleyan Academy became extinct. Previous to the suspension of operations in the Newmarket Academy, its found- ers, with other friends of education in the Methodist Church, who had become asso- ciated with them, were inquiring for a more favorable location, and proposals from different localities were invited. The citizens of Wilbraham offered valuable inducements, and the present site of the institution was selected, a board of trus- tees was nominated, and an act of incorporation was obtained from the Massachu- setts Legislature, which act was approved by the Governor on the 7th of February, 1824, a few days more than a month after operations were suspended at Newmarket. The Wesleyan Academy at Wilbraham and the Newmarket Wesleyan Academy are one and the same institution, with a change of location and legal authority ; under the patronage of the same ecclesiastical organization, founded by the same men, sustained by the same agencies, organized for the same purposes, and one every way identical (with the exceptions just mentioned). The Wesleyan Academy, therefore, claims the honor of being the oldest existing literary institution, under the patronage of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in Amer- ica. The Maine Wesleyan Seminary at Readfield, Maine, and the Oneida Conference Seminary at Cazenovia, New York, were both commenced about the time of the removal from Newmarket to Wilbraham, and the latter commenced the work of instruction a short time before the ojjening of the school at Wil- braham. These few and then feeble forerunners among Methodist literary institu- tions have been followed by a very numerous train. In 1860, the northern division of the Methodist Episcopal Church had under its care one hundred and three insti- tutions of academic or higher grade, -with six hundred and thirty-three professors and teachers, 21,616 pupils, and a property estimated to be worth, above indebted- ness, $4,085,465. So that, from the time the Wesleyan Academy, — then the only Methodist institution of learning on the continent, — was removed to Wilbraham, to the year 1860, when the above statistics were collected, the Methodist Episcopal Church, in the non-slaveholding States, did, on an average, every four months establish an educational institution of academic or higher grade, with, on an aver- age, two hundred students, six teachers, and a property of $40,000. The connec- tion of the Wesleyan Academy with a church whose zeal in the cause of education is such as these statistics evince, explains, at least in part, the secret of its success. On land donated by the late Wm. Rice, Esq., of Springfield, formerly of Wilbra- ham, known as the "Academy Lot," with the avails of donations collected by agents who travelled extensively through the Conference, the " Old Academy " building was expected. A farm of sixty acres, — one-half of the Warriner home- stead, — was purchased, and the old farm-house was enlarged and fitted for a board- ing-house. The school was opened for the reception of students, November 8th, a! H 261 Access>t9. William L. Smith, Esq., 1835, Joha M. Merrick, Esq., 1836. Joel M. Lyman, 1836, Rev. Bartholemew Otheman, 1836, Rev. William Smith, 1839, Prof. Aug. W. Smith, LL.D., 1840, Rev. Miner Raymond, D.D., 18i2. Roderick S. Merrick, 1842, Rev. Phiueas Crandall, 1844. Rev. Charles Adams, D.D., 1844, Robert R. Wright, 1845. Rev. Amos Binney, 1845. .James Luke, 1847, Samuel Warner, 1848, Lee Rice, 1848, Rev. Edward Otheman, A.M., 1848. Horatio N. Hovey, 1848, Rev. D. P. Robinson, A. M., 1849. William North, Esq., 1S49, Lee Claflin, Esq., 1850. Hon. Jacob Sleeper, 1850. Rev. Loranus Crowell, A.M., 1851. Exilus. I Accesms. 1836. Rev. Charles H. True, D.D., 1851. Harvey Danks, Esq., 1851, 1857. David Smith, 1852. 1849. Pliny Nickerson, 1852. 1844. j H. Bridgman Brewer, 1S53. 1800. Rev. John W. Merrill, D.D., 1853, Isaac Rich, Esq., 1854. 1853. Hon. Thomas P. Richardson, 1854. Harrison Nevvhall, 1854. 1853. John Wesley Bliss, 1857. Truman Kimpton, 1857, Rev. William Rice, A.M., 1858, 1862. Amos B. Merrill, Esq., 1859. 1858. Horace M. Sessions, 1859. 1857. George C. Rand, 1860. Philip P. Tapley, 1860. 1851. I Rev. Joseph Cummings,D.D., 1800. Rev. E. O.Haven,D.D.,LL.D., 1861. 1859. I Porter Cross, 1863. Francis J. Warner, 1803. ! Horace Smith, 1863. I Lewis H. Tavlor, 1863. OFFICERS OF INSTRUCTION AND GOVERNMENT. PRINCIPALS. Accessus, JExitus. Rev. Wilbur Fisk, D.D., 1825, 1831. Rev. AV.McK. Bangs, A.M., 1831, 18.32. Rev. John Foster, A.M., 1832, 1834. Rev. David Fatten, D.D., 18.34, 1S41. Accesstis. Exitus. Key. Charles Adams, D.D., 1841, 1845. Rev. Robert AUyn, A.M., 1845, 1848. Rev. Sliner Raymond, D.D., 1848. TEACHERS. Accessus. Exitus. Nathaniel Dunn, A.B., 1824, 1829. William Magoun, A.M., 1827, ' 1832. David Gould, A.B., 1828, 1829. Rev. John Foster, A.JI., 1829, 1832. William Jlitchell, 1830, 1839. Rev. Edw. Otheman, A.M., 1832, 18-33. Samuel P. Dole, 1832, 1833. Prof. Dan.H. Chase, LL.D., 1833, 1834. Rev. Miner Raymond, D.D., 1833, 1841. Rev. B. I.Diefendorf,AM., 1834, 1835. Rev. John Roper, A.M., 18:}4, 1842. Prof. Harvey B.Lane, A.M., 1836, 1838. Isaac T. Goodnow, A.3I., 1836, 1847. Rev. Henry DeKoven,D.D., 1837, 1838. William H. Bussell, A.M., 1838, 1855. Rev. Robert Allyn, A.M., 1841, 1843. Charles F. Stockwell, A.M., 1841, isi-'. Rev. John H.Twombly, A.M., 1843, 1>I > Oliver Marcy, A.M., Rev. Samuel F. Beach, A.M., Orang'e Judd, A.M., Prof. Fales H. Newhall, A.M Rev. Geo. M. Steele, A.M., Rev. Oliver S. Howe, Simeon F. Chester, A.3L, Rev. Henry W. Warren, AM. Rev. Edw. B. Otheman, A.M Emerson Warner, M.D., Rev. Albert D. Vail, A.M., Rev. Nath'l "Fellows, A.M., Rev. Chas. N. Stowers, A.M. Edwin B. Harvey, A.M., Truman H. Kimpton, A.B., Phillip B. Shumway, .\.B., Hcv. Lorenzo White, Accessue. Exitus 1845, 1862. , 1846, 1847. 18-17, 1848. ., 1848, 1853. 1849, 1853. 1853, 1847. 1853. ., 1853, 1855. ., 1855, 185G. 1855, 1803. 1857, 1858. 185S, 1860. ., USOO, 1862. 1862. 1862. 1S62, 1804 1864. 262 rRECEPTRESSES. Accessrts. Exitus. Accessus. Exitus. Charlotte L. Tilling hast. 1820, 1827. Clarissa F. Abbot, 1841, 1842 Susan Brewer, 1827, 1829. Emeline B. Jenkins, 1843, 1845 Lucy "SVinsor, 1830, 1831. Isabella Hill, 1845, 1848 IMaria Steele, 1832, 1833. Louise E. Landon, 1848, 1849 Catherine Hyde, 1833, 1835. Sarali North, 1849, 1852 Nancy Holland, 1835, 1836. Caroline J. Lane, 1852, 1854 N. Miranda Nash, 1836, 1837. Isabella H. Binney, 1854, 1857. Allen, 183-, 1838. Ruby Warfield, 1857, 1864. Hannah M. Tliomp I>. p. 169. GRADUATES OF COLLEGES. Aaron Bliss graduated at Yale College, 1776 ; did not enter, profes- sional life ; settled as a farmer ; was a man of great eccentricity, but of stern puritan piety; was married, but left no children; died, 1824. Pliny Merrick, son of Rev. Noah Merrick, Harvard College, 1776. •'After completing his collegiate course, he devoted himself to the study of divinity, and was duly licensed to preach as a minister of the Congre- gational denomination ; but he never officiated in the capacity as a candidate for settlement in any parish or religious society. His particular attention was very soon aftei'wards attracted to the legal profession ; and to prepare himself for its practice he placed himself under the instruction of Oakes Angier, Esq., of Bridge water, who was one of the most distinguished law- yers of the day. Having been admitted to the bar in the county of Ply- mouth, Mr. Merrick returned to his native town and opened an office there. But, after residing there one or two years, he removed to Brook- field, then one of the most populous and flourishing towns in the county of Worcester, and resided there during the remainder of his life. He attained to high social position, and to an eminent rank in his profession. And he was esteemed by all his acquaintances nut only as a faithful, able, and eloquent counsellor, but as a good citizen, and a worthy, just, and up- right man. He died the second of March, 1814." His only surviving son is Hon. Pliny Merrick, Judge of the Supreme Court. Walter King, son of William King, was born November, 1758 ; gradu- ated at Yale College in 1782 ; was ordained pastor of the church in Nor- wich (Chelsea), Conn., May 24, 1787 ; was dismissed in August, 1811 ; was installed at Williamstown, Mass., July 6, 1813 ; and died of a fit of apoplexy that seized him in the pulpit, December 1, 1815, aged fifty-seven. He pubhshed a sermon at the ordination of Daniel Hale, 1797, and a I 269 sermon on taking leave of his people at Norwich. -- Dr. Spragues An- nals of the American Pi§pit, Vol. ii., p. 319. Joseph Badger, son of Henry Badger; Y. C, 1785. He was in many respects a very remarkable man ; had a relish for hard service, and was in it all his life. He was a soldier in the Ee volution for many years, and his education when he left the army was very limited. He paid his own way 'through college, prepared for the ministry, and settled in Bland- ford, October 24, 1787. In 1800 he became a missionary of the " Con- necticut Missionary Society," to the "Western Reserve," Ohio. His hardships were great, as well as his perils. He preached to the Indi- ans as well as to the whites. He died in Wood County, Ohio, in 1846, aged eighty-nine years. A most interesting account is given of his labors and sufferings in the Quarterly Register, Vol. xiii., p. 317, and also in "A Memoir," published at Hudson, Ohio, 1851, by Prof Henry N. Day. Timothy Burt, " son of Gideon Burt, graduated at Yale, 1794 ; settled in Canandaigua as a lawyer, after being admitted to^he bar, and gave prom- ise of attaining a high social and professional position, which he did not live to realize. Died, 1811." Oliver Bliss, " son of Oliver, graduated in 1795, at Yale ; pursued the profession of law in Western Pennsylvania, where he died in 1824." " Gordon Bliss, son of Levi, graduated at Dartmouth College, 1797. He had just completed his legal studies and been admitted to the bar, when he met with an untimely death in Nine-mile Pond, with five others, April 29, 1799." Henry Ely, Yale College, 1798. "A clergyman." Judah BHss, son of Abel; Williams College. He "practised as a physician in town for a time; afterwards in Tolland, Conn., and in the city of Hartford. He removed to Buffalo, New York, m 1819, and en- gaged extensively in land speculations, which did not prove fortunate. He died near the year 1830. He had the reputation of being a skilful physician." Oliver Bliss Morris, son of Edward; Williams College, 1801 ; read law with Hon. George Bliss, of Springfield, where he settled ; entered the bar, 1804 ; represented the town in the Legislature for three successive years, from 1809 ; was Register of Probate for several years, and ^^- pointed Judge of Probate, 1829, which office he held till 1858. He was also for many years County Attorney. He is an eminent advocate, a sound lawyer, an upright judge, and steadfast friend. Stewart Beebe, son of Stewart; Williams College, 1803. He settled 270 as a lawyer in Connecticut ; then returned here, where he died, October 7, 1851. Enoch Burt, Princeton, N. J., 1805; "He was a machinist in early life, and possessed uncommon inventive powers. Was missionary in the .West till 1820 ; settled in Tolland, May 19, 1821 ; in Manchester, Conn., 1824-28, and was residing there 1854." Walter Beebe, son of Stewart ; Williams College, 1810 ; died at Cadiz, Ohio, Jan. 24, 1836. Henry Dwight Chapin, son of Jason ; Yale College, 1814. A lawyer, first in New Marlborough, Maryland, now in Baltimore. Robert Russell ; Williams College, 1811. Moses Warren, son of Rev. Moses; Williams College, 1812. William S. Burt; Union College, 1818; a celebrated teacher; tutor in Amherst College ; preceptor of an academy in Newburg, New York, and afterwards of one in Ithaca, N. Y., where he died, 1855. Noah C. Saxton ; Union College, 1818; licensed as a preacher, Octo- ber, 1819; editor of the New York Evangelist ; assistant of the revival- ist, Rev. Asahel Nettleton ; and died June 19, 1834. John B. Warren, son of Rev. Moses; Brown University. He preached in the South for many years. Warren Isham ; Union College, 1819. A clergyman and editor in the West. Horace Sessions, son of Robert; Yale College, 1821 ; studied theology at Andover; graduated, 1824. "Spent a few months as agent of the United Foreign Mission Society, then became an agent of the American Colonization Society. He collected a company of colored peoi^le, and went to Liberia, Africa, with them. He died on the passage home, March 4, 1826." Jacob F. Warner; Amherst College, 1829; clergyman. Ezekiel Russell; Amherst College, 1829; studied theology in An- dover, after teaching in Hadley Academy ; tutor in college ; settled in North Adams, 1836-39; pastor of the Fourth Church in Springfield, 1839-49 ; settled as pastor of the Congregational Church in East Ran- dolph, May 8, 1850, where he now preaches ; received the honorary degree of D. D., 185-. He has written much for religious papers and quarter- lies, and has usually had several private pupils under his instruction. Asahel Utley; Brown University, ; "Practised law with con- siderable success, in East Haddam, Conn. ; and afterwards in the city of Middletown, where he died, 1832." Orlow M. Dorman; Amherst College, 1831. Went to Florida. 271 John "W. Merrill; Wesleyan University, Conn., 1834. An able preacher and scholar, now Professor in the Biblical Institute, Concord, New Hampshire. Rufus P. Stebbins ; Amherst College, 1834 ; Theological School, Cambridge, 1837 ; honorary degree of D. D., Harvard College, 1851 ; settled in Leominster, September 20, 1837-44; President of the Mead- ville Theological School, Meadville, Pa., 1844-56; pastor of a chm-ch in Woburn, 1857 — , where he now resides. He has written for relio-ious papers and journals, and published several sermons and literary addresses. Annis Merrill; Wesleyan University, 1835. Lawyer in San Francisco. Lycortes L. Brewer; Amherst College, 1836. Physician at Baton Rouge, La. Frederick Merrick; Wesleyan University, 1837. Professor in the University, and now President of the Ohio Wesleyan University, Dela- ware, Ohio; D. D. Francis Lord Fuller ; Amherst College, 1834. Preacher at the West. William L. Bliss ; Wesleyan University, 1842, and Yale Medical Col- lege. Emilius Brewer; Amherst College, 1845; attorney and editor, Port^ Gibson ; died, 1855. George H. Bliss ; Wesleyan University, 1842. Horatio Stebbins ; Harvard College, 1848 ; Cambridge Theological School, 1851 ; settled at Fitchburg, then at Portland, Me., where he now preaches. Joel B. Clough, Wesleyan University, 1848. Chief Engineer, Alex- andria, Va. William Lothrop Burt; Harvard College, 1850; law school. Harvard College, LL. B., 1853; practising law in Boston; on the staff of Maj.- Gen. Johnson, of Texas. George H. Merrick ; Amherst College, 1850 ; died, 1841. Marshall Calkins ; Union College, 1853 ; Philadelphia Medical College. Dr. Calkins "was for six years professor in different departments of medical science in two of the medical colleges of Philadelijhia ; was joint author, with the late Dr. Norton, of a work on ' Thoracic Diseases,' which has passed through two editions, and, at the sohcitation of his relatives and former friends, he located in Springfield, where he quickly obtained a large and lucrative practice." William A. Smith ; Wesleyan University, 1854 ; preacher in Illinois. Solomon Chapin; Wesleyan University, 1857 ; tutor and preacher. Edwin W. Virgin ; Wesleyan University, 1857 ; preacher. 272 John W. Virgin ; Williams College, 1858. Charles H. Gates ; Amherst College ; clergyman. Gilbert Webster; Union College, 1858; attorney. William E. Morgan ; Wesleyan University. George C. Bo wen; Amherst College, 1859. Calvin Stebbins ; Amherst College. 1862. PROFESSIONAL MEN NOT GRADUATES OF COLLEGE. Samuel F. Merrick,* M.D. After studying with Dr. Brainard, of Had- dam, Conn., he was admittted to practice medicine. During the Revolu- tionary War he was a surgeon in Col. Porter's regiment that went through the wilderness to reinforce the army before Quebec, and was in the disas- trous retreat from Canada. After the war he settled in his native place as a farmer, and died in 1836. He was long a leading magistrate of the town. Isaac Wood,* M.D. Judah Stebbins,* M.D. John W. Langdon,* Methodist preacher. Oliver Langdon,* " " Solomon Langdon,* " " Cyrus Stebbins,* D.D., Methodist preacher, then Episcopal rector. Elijah Stebbins,* Methodist preacher. Samuel Stebbins,* Congregational preacher. Artemas Stebbins, Methodist preacher. Calvin Brewer, " " Henry Battin, " " Lorin Collins, " " Dixon Stebbins,* " " Edwin Crocker, Universalist preacher. Andrew Jackson Stebbins, Universalist preacher. Daniel E. Chapin, D.D., Methodist preacher. Jonathan Chapin, " " Luther Brewer, M.D. Timothy Burr,* M.D. Jesse W. Rice,* M.D. Daniel D. Merrick,* M.D. Moses K. Brewer, M.D. * Those with stars are dead. 273 Pitkin B. Rice, M.D. Ralph Glover, M.D. Emery Thayer, M.D. William Carpenter, M.D. Lorenzo Firmin, M.D. Jared Cone, M.D. Edwin McCray, M.D. William McCray, M.D. Roderick Stebbins, M.D. Hon. George Merrick, judge and attoniey. Richard D. Morris, attorney. Anson L. Brewer, attorney. Lewis Knight, attorney. Hon. Thomas E. Merrick, Judge of the Supreme Court, New Orleans. Daniel S. Brewer, attorney, St. Francisville, La. William M. Merrick, draughtsman, Mil. Sec, Alexandria, Va. EDUCATED LADIES AND TEACHERS. Susan Brewer, Preceptress of the Wesleyan Academy 1328-9, and Principal of Tuscumbia, Tuscaloosa, and Washington Female Colleges. Lucinda Stebbins.* Jennette M. Brewer, Grad. Wesleyan Academy, 1848. Lucy A. Merrill, '■ " " 1849. MaryF. Mowry, " " " 1856. Elizabeth Moulton, Graduate Wesleyan Academy, 1856; teacher in the Academy, 1858. Sarah E. Morgan, Graduate Wesleyan Academy, 1 858. Susan E. Bushnell, " " " 1858. Lucretia Noble, Graduate Wesleyan Academy, 1857 ; teacher in Boston. Susan J. Parker, Graduate Wesleyan Academy, 1860; preceptress. Emma E. Wright, " ' " 1860; teacher. Mary G. Deane, " " " 1862. Lydia A. Sessions^ Holyoke Sem., 1856; teacher in the same insti- tution 1856-9, then Principal of Lake Erie Female Seminary at Paines- ville, Ohio, where she still teaches. Harriet E. Sessions, Mt. Holyoke Seminary, 1856 ; teacher there. J Sarah Bebee, " " " 1856 ; teacher in Monson Academy. Ellen P. Bowers, Mt. Holyoke Seminary, 1858 ; teacher there. 35 274 istillaiieows. TOWN CLERKS OF WILBRAHAM. 1741-55 1756-63 1763-73 1773-78 1779-80 1781-85 1785-86 1786-90 1791-92 1793, 1 793-1 8i 1805-10 1810-11 1811-12 1812-14 1814-20 1820-24 1824-25 1826, David Men-ick, Prcc't Clerk. Isaac Brewer, " " Ezra Barker, Town Clerk. James Wan-iner, Noah Warriner, James Warriner, Pliny Merrick, Samuel F. Merrick, John Bnckland, Daniel Dana, , Robert Sessions, Philip Morgan, Augustus Sisson, Abel Bliss, Philip Morgan, Moses Burt, Calvin Stebbius, Luther Brewer, William Wood, 1827, 1828, 1829-36, 1837-38, 1839, 1840-41, 1842, 1846-47, 1848-49, 1850, 1851-52, 185.3-54, 1855, 1856, 1857-58, 1869-60, 1861, 1862, 1863, Luther Brewer, Town John Me Cray, Sylvanus Stebbins, Luther Brewer, Luther B. Bliss, John M. Merrick, John McCray, Roderick S. Merrick, Solomon C. Spelman, Jesse W. Rice, Liither B. Bliss, Horace M. Sessions, Roderick Burt, Ralph Glover, William P. Spelman, IL Bridgman Brewer, Howard Staunton, James Staunton, John M. Merrick, Clerk. REPRESENTATIVES FROM WILBRAHAM TO THE GENERAL COURT AT BOSTON. The following is a list of the Representatives sent to the General Court from 1786 to' 1863. From 1763 till the llevolutionary War, the town voted witli Springfield for Representatives : — 1820, Abel Bliss. 1821-23, None. 1824, Abel Bliss. 1825, Voted not to send. 1826, Abel Bliss and DtuUey B. Post. 1827, Abel Bliss and Robert Sessions. 1828, Luther Brewer. 1829, Luther Brewer and Jacob B. Mer- rick. 1830, William S. Burt and Jacob B. Merrick. 1831, Moses Burt and Wm. S. Burt. 1832, Abraham Avery and Wm. S. Burt. (And I believe this was the year that Alicl Bliss was elected to the Senate.) 1833, Stephen Stebbins. 1834, Abraham Avery and Stephen Steb- bins. > 1835, Walter Stebbins and Wm. Knight. 1836, Walter Stebbins and Wm. Knight. 1837, Walter Stebbins and Wm. Wood. 1838, Jesse W. Rice, M.D., and William V. Sessions. 1839, Stephen Stebbins. 1840, John Newell. 1841, Marcus Cady, M.D. 1842, John Carpenter. 1786- 88, Phineas Stebbins. 1789- 92, None. 1793- 94, John Bliss. 1795, None. 1796- -1803 , John Bliss. 1804, None. 1805, Phineas Stebbins. 1806, None. 1807, Wm. Rindge and Solomon Wright. 1808, None. 1809, William Rindge and Augus- tus Sisson. 1810, Augustus Sisson and Wal- ter Stebbins. 1811, Walter Stebbins and Abel Bliss, Jr. 1812, None. 1813, Wm. Clark and Joseph La- throp. 1814- 15, Robert Sessions and Joseph Lathrop. 1816, Robert Sessions and Moses Burt. 1817, Robert Sessions and William Wood. 1818- -19, None. 275 1 84.3, Samuel Beebe. 1844, Voted not to send. 1845, No choice. 1846, A^oted not to send. 1 847, John Smith. 1848, None elected. 1849, No choice; two meetings for the purpose. 1850, EoderickS. Merrick, second meet- ing. 1851, S. C. Spelman. 1852, No choice. 18.53, 1854, 1855, 185G, 1857, 1858, 1859, 1860, 1861, 1862, 1863, Philip P. Potter. Jolin W. Langdon. John Baldwin. John B. Moms. Roderick Burt, Dist. No. .3. Rep. from Longmeadow, Wm. P. Spelman, Rep. from Longmeadow, Joseph McGregory, Rep. from Longmeadow, Walter Hitchcock, THE WOODLAND DELL CEMETERY. This is very pleasantly located, near and east of tlio village, in the North Parish. The grounds now occupied by this association, containing ten and a half acres, were first purchased by R. R. Wright, H. Budy Brewer and J. M. Merrick, at the cost of eleven hundred dollars. The association was organized under the General Statutes, February 12, 1858. A board of trustees, nine in number, are chosen annually, who have the care of the property. The first burial in these grounds was Mrs. Louisa W. Wright, the wife of R. R. Wright, who died December 26, 1851. The number of burials to November 20, 1863, is fifty-nine. The num- ber by removal from other localities is forty-three ; total, one hundred and two. The officers are R. R. Wright, president ; Albert Smith, vice-president ; and J. M. Merrick, clerk and treasurer. John Stearns, Gordon Percival, Samuel F. MeiTick, Judah Bliss, Abiah South-worth, Converse Butler, LIST OF PHYSICIANS. Luther Brewer, Jacob Lyman, Elisha Ladd, Gideon Kibbc, Jesse W. Rice, John Gondalc, Daniel Ufford, Edwin McCray, Marcus Cady, Bottom. LIST OF LAWYERS. William Knight, Asa Olmstead, Otis Norcross. The two latter were in town only a few years, about thirty or forty years ago. I believe there has been no lawyer in town for some years. 276 ^ EARLY TAVERS^ ON BAY ROAD. RICHARD FELLOWS'S PETITION. That the General Court at Boston grant him Two Hundred Acres of u])land & Meadow to be laid to George Cotton & Bcnj. Cooley, on Cliicopee River, (now corner of Monson), to be Rate free under the following condition : Build a House suitable to entertain travallers man & Beast with lodging & food with Beer Wine & strong liquors provided they Build within one Year & Maintain & Entertain travellers for Seven Years. The Court granted their request October 23, 1657. MAPS AND PAINTINGS OF WILDRAHAM SCENERY. There are two maps of Wilbraham in the State archives. The one pro-, traeted on a scale ten parts to an inch, each of which parts represents twenty rods. It is dated May 29, 1795 ; James Shaw and Robert Sessions, Committee. It is drawn with "pen and ink. There is a straight line west of the mountains, from Chicopee River to Somers, to represent the west road ; another on the north end to represent the " Great Road ; " another through the mountain in the South Parish, and bearing southeast, to the corner of the town. A crinkled line represents the Scantic and Chicopee Rivers, and Twelve-mile Brook. A rough figure of a house represents Caleb Stebbins's mill, the North and South Parish Meeting-houses, and Bui't's and Leach's mills. A long oval represents the North Mountain, from the Scantic to the Chicopee; a short one, truncated at the south end, the South Mountain. Five ovals or circles represent as many ponds or swamps on the west side of the town. The "elbows" had not been annexed when this map was projected, and are omitted. The other map was projected by A. Bliss about forty years ago, from a survey ordered by the State. It is shaded with different colors to represent different soils and forests, and is withal a pretty ambitious work. Monson map, the work of the same surveyor, shows the same tinted glories. The dimensions of the town, according to Bliss's survey, are as follows : West line, begin- ning at Chicopee River, south two and one-half degrees east, 1,478 rods be- tween Springfield and Wilbraham ; and south three and one-half degrees east, 1,234 rods between Longraeadow and Wilbraham ; in all, 2,712 rods on the west side. The south line on Connecticut measures 1,420 rods. The east line, north one and one-half degrees west, 2,62G rods between Monson and Wilbraham ; north one and one-sixth degree west, 704 rods between Palmer and Wilbraham ; east line, in all, 3,330 rods. The older map gives the dimensions as follows : — 277 Commencing at Chicopee River, as before, south three degrees easf, four miles to the corner of Longmeadow ; then south the same point three miles on Longmeadow to Connecticut. Then east seven degrees south on Connecticut line, four miles and one-half to Monson Corner. Then north three degrees west, 2,250 rods to the Post Road, being a corner of Mon- son and Palmer. Then on the same point on the west line of Palmer, 320 rods. Then west three degrees south, on land belonging to Spring- field, 240 rods to Chicopee River. Then follow the river to the place of starting. It seems that the "elbows" carried the east line of the town 384 rods further north than it went before they were annexed. PAINTINGS OF THE SCENERY IN WILBRAIIAM. I am most happy to report that the beautiful scenery of Wilbrahara has found an artist and a patron. I have seen and been charmed by the two paintings described below, in an article taken from the Zions Herald, Feb. 10, 1864. They are all that the critic describes them to be. I have also seen two others, just finished, of equal, if not greater, beauty. One is an autumn scene, taken from a little lower down the mountain than the first two were, and looking out over the plains to the Western Mountains. The foliage is admirably tinted, and the autumnal haze lies on the distant plains and mountains. The other is taken from the north end of Nine-mile Pond, the view being toward the south, the mountains forming the distant background of the picture. The execution is most admirable. " Wilbi-ahatn has many layers of her scenery no less than of her school ; but she has hitherto found no way of revealing her beauties to other eyes than those that have been fastened upon her. But she need lament her lot no longer. Two paintings, at Williams & Everett's gallery, in this city, proclaim her beauty to every eye. They were painted for Abralia,m Avery, of Boston, by Mr. Bricher, a young artist of great promise, and, judging from these works, of great achieve- ment. The views are taken from a spot well-known to every Wilbraham student, — at the head of the upper grove that contains 'the pulpit,' on the road winding up the mountain, behind the church. It is across the street from the little red cot- tage of the Goody Blake, of that neighborhood, whose ' hut was on the cold hill- side.' On the left of the picture are these favorite woods, the scene of many a prayer-meeting, oratorical explosion, lounging, reading, or musing solitaries, or of the law-breaking trysts of love's young dream. The trees arc superbly paintcil, being full of rich color and shade. One could almost transport himself thither, they are so life-like and enchanting. But the eye must not linger in their gotliic greenness, nor dwell too long upon the truthfully-rough fields under the feet or on the little old cottage aforesaid, snugly tucked away in the hillside in the opposite corner. More familiar scenes lielow allure it. There creeps the street, its few houses sprinkled among the many trees, like white flowers blossoming on a green river. No stiller in the'picture than in the fact is the pleasant old road. With pre-Baphad- 278 ite faithfulness the artist puts upon it no living creature, though he might have painted the aged gray postman with his aged gray horse, and still had it void of life, so ghostly is that sole animator of the seemingly-deserted village. The im- mense and not inartistic pile of the hoarding-house, most inartistic though it be in location, is partially hidden by the projecting woods behind the Academy hill, which grove prevents the sight of the Academy buildings. " Beyond lie the plains, patched with herbage, ploughed fields, trees and houses, and flecked with the shade and sunshine of a midsummer day. A lover of nature could gaze on it for hours without weariness, a lover of Wilbraham with ever- increasing pleasure. " The companion picture gives us the northwestern view from the same spot. The foreground is fictitious, in order to avoid repetition, though the rock in the left-hand corner is a veritable cojiy of the bonlder perched upon the hill back of the house of J. Wesley Bliss, Esq. The woods in the foreground are more beauti- ful, if possible, than those in the first picture. The outlook is true to the fact. The broad champaign, beautifully toned and varied, and relieved of its flatness, gathers to the gorge between Mounts Holj'oke and Tom. These mountains are perfect, even to the bits of houses that mar their summits. Through the opening is seen Northampton. The mountains rise behind her, and conclude the scene. "We understand that others are on the easel, representing the Nine-mile Pond, Glen, etc. The paintings attract much attention, and have been highly commended in the Transcript and the Gazette. We hope they and their forthcoming kindred will be engraved. The first, at least, should be, as many a child of the Old Wcs- leyan Avill wish it, on his walls. The thanks of all her ten thousand children, more or less, will assuredly be given to the munificence of the gentleman who ordered the works, as well as to the artist who executed them." I have gathered from various sources the following facts and traditions, which may be of interest to the curious in such matters. They are mostly obtained from the papers left by Calvin Stebbins and John Bliss, Esqs. Agriculture. — The first potatoes were brought to town by Dea. Na- thaniel Warriner, about 1754, or about twenty-three years after the town was settled. There was but a peck of them. Broom-corn was first raised by Thomas Jones or Joshua Leonard. At a later period, Paul Langdon and Calvin and Sylvanus Stebbins raised it in considerable quantities and manufactured it into brooms. Plaster of Paris, or gypsum, was first brought from West Springfield by Gad Lamb, about 1776. Calvin Stebbins brought the first plough with iron mould-board into town ; and, if I mistake not, Daniel Isham used the first castriron plough some forty years ago. Hops were cultivated about thirty years ago, by Calvin Steb- 279 bins. The mulberry fever raged thirty years ago, much to the pecuniary damage of many speculators. Grafted fruit took the place, at about the same time, of the old varieties or cider apples. Flax ceased to be culti- vated at the same time. Hemp was raised by a few farmers in the war of 1812. Piscatory. — It was considered disreputable in early times for farmers to go after shad. They were said by their neighbors to be "out of pork." Hence, persons, going for shad, went in the morning before their neighbors were up, and did not return till they were in bed. Salmon were so abun- dant, and farmers were so unwilling to take them, that the fishermen required that so many pounds of salmon should be taken for every dozen of shad. About twenty-five years ago bull-heads or horn-pouts made their appearance in the Scantic, and the trout all disappeared, much to the mortification of the anglers. A few years ago the "pout" disappeared, and the " trout " returned. There was a furor ran through the country a few years ago of obtaining pearls from fresh-water clams. Some of respectable size and value were found in the clams in the Scantic, Buildings. — The first wood-house was built by Oliver Bliss, 1786. Log houses were occupied till nearly 1800. Conveyances. — Lieut. Paul Langdon brought the first wagon into town. In 1781 there were but two two-horse wagons, and five two-horse sleighs. In 1804 Jesse or Pliny Bliss introduced a one-horse wagon. First buffalo robe brought from Montreal, 1805 ; cost $5.00. Inventions, — Lewis Langdon invented a machine for turning cider- mill screws ; Walter Burt, shears for cutting the nap of cloth. Edwin Chaffee, a native of this town, invented the use of India-rubber prepara- tions for cloth. Probably this is the most important invention made by any of the natives of the town. Vermin, — David Chapin brought the fii'st rat to the town in a sack of wool from Rhode Island, and permitted it to live. Hence, rats in Wil- braham. Stock. — Capt. Charles Sessions introduced Merino sheep, and had a large flock. Capt. Josepli Lathrop and sons introduced Saxon sheep, and kept a flock of several hundred. Improvement was not made in cattle till a later date. The breed of swine received earlier attention. Names of Places, Mountains, Brooks, etc. — The North Village long since outgrew its name of " Sodom ; " and the South Pari.>^h that of 280 " Pokeham; " and the South Village that of " the city." The Goat Rocks were so called as being the favorite resort of William King's goats, one of which got entangled there, and was found dead. These rocks are a ledge about thirty-feet perpendicular, at the south end of the North Moun- tains. Rocky Dander was many years ago the name of the region south of Burt's mill. Pole Bridge Brook was so called from the bridge first built over it ; it was also called Beaver Brook, because the beavers bad built a dam in it ; Twelve-mile Brook, because t«velve miles from Spring- field; Nine-mile Pond, because nine miles from Springfield; Rattlesnake Peak, because a rattlesnake was killed there ; Wigwam Hill, from the Indian squaw's wigwam near it ; Stony Hill, because it was stony ; Peggy's Dipping Hole, because Peggy, in her desire to attend upon the means of grace furnished at Springfield, ventured, in her pilgrimage thither, to cross some recently-frozen ice, and went through into the water ; Steep Pitch, because years ago the turn in the road toward the South Village from the late Col. John McCray's, was very steep and narrow. The Legend of Kibbe's Shirt. — An alarm was once raised in Wik braham that the Indians were coming. It was on this wise : One Kibbe went into the woods on Sunday, to get his cow, and, not having the fear of either God or the law before his eyes, he took with him his gun in case he should meet any game. Not long after he left home, the report of two guns was heard, and Kibbe came running back in great apparent trepida- tion, saying that he had been fired at by two Indians, and that there were more lurking in the woods. The whole country was alarmed, and the woods were scoured in search of the " salvages." None were found, nor were any traces of them discovered. Suspicion began to be excited that all was not right with Kibbe. A more particular examination of his shirt was instituted. He declared that he received one shot in his breast, and when he turned to run, another shot took him in his back. Lo, it was even so ; a bullet-hole was made through his shirt before ; another through his shirt behind. But alas for Kibbe's veracity, not for his comfort, there was no hole into or through his body, where the bullet went ! He saw he was caught, and made confession that seeing game, he was tempted to fire ; that he at once bethought himself that he was exposed to prosecution for violating the Sabbath, and took off his shirt and fired through it, to make his neio;hbors believe that the Indians had attacked him. So originated and ended the only alarm of an attack upon Wilbraham. 281 ^pitapljs of some of lb (Buxh Settlers. H W Dye d IN Ma y 26 1751 E. 16 M w WIF e OF c W Dyed 1 lUN 6 1754 4-7 E Hannah Warner, daughter of Samuel Warner, and Mary his wife. Mary Warner. " C." is used for S. — Samuel Warner. Mrs Miriam ye wife of Mr Ezra Barker, who Died May 26 1754. Aged 22 years alfo of her ftilborn daughr by her side Thine Anger turns our Frame to Dust By one O ffe nee to The. Adam and all his Sons have lost there Imortality Here lies the Body of Mrs Mary Brewer late wife of Mr Ifaac Brewer who Died May ye 20th a.d. 1759. Aged ^1-3 years & 2 months, they were marr ied April 22 1736 & lived together 23 years & 1 month 282 Here lies ye Body of Mr. Timothy Mirick son of lieut Thomas & Mrs Marry Mirrick 1 who died Agut yth 1761 in ye 2^rd year of his age He Cometh forth hke a flower and is cut down He fleeth also as a shadow And comith not Here Lies the Body of Dea'; David Mirick who Died Nov'' ye 30th iy^7 in ye 59th Year of his Age It if Sown in dishonour It is raised in glory. Bitten by rattlesnake. Here lies the Body of Mr 1 Noah Alvord i he Died Sept ye 1st 1763 in ye 63rd year of his Age Death is a Debt that is natur's Du which I have Paid & fo 1 must you. In Memory of Thank full Experience ye Daughtr of Mr Moses & Mrs Hannah Colton Who Died May ye 1st ijj^ in ye 16 year of her age. 283 In MeMory of M^ Moses ColtoN wh Died of the Small Pox Februa ry ye 24. th AD 1777. In ye 53 year of his Age. IN MEMORy of MR NATHANIEL BLISS who Died Nov 5 AD: 1782 in ye 4.1th year of his Age Mark thE par feet man & bEhold thE upright for thE end of that man is pEace Here lies the Body of Lieut Jesse Warner who died Fe bru ar y y 20 th AD 1784 In ye 4.6^^ year of his Age The fweet Re membrancE of ye Juft : Shall flourifli tho. t^ey fleep in DUST. ALAS the brittle clay in ye morn of life Aged 15 DiEd Lois Bliss Dau ghter of Mr Oli ver & Mrs KA thaRine Bliss August 30th 1786 youth blooming learn your mortal state how fra'l your life how short ye Date. 284 In Memory of Deacon Nathaniel Warriner who died Jan/^ lo: 1780 In Hif 77**" year He difcharged a variety of important offices with integrity. He held out the arm of charity to the indigent He prized the Gofpel and was not unmindful of the cause of Christ in his dying moments (a generouf legacy was bequeathed by him for the Support of the ministry and Schools in this town) He was a lover of peace a friend to Zion his morals unblemished his piety undifembled. He lived beloved, and died lamented In hif lait iicknefs a placid cerenity o'er spread his countenance, his evidences for heaven were clear and satisfactory he bid a cordial welcome to the mefsenger of death and fweetly fell afleep in Jefus Mark the perfect man and behold the upright For the end of that man is peace 285 In memory of En: Abel Blifs who Died Apl ye 30 A:D 1762 in ye 54th year All of his Age one go unto Place all are of the dust and all turn 1 to dust again Here lies y^ Body of Mr Samuel Warner who died at Lebanon Sep* 10 A : D 1787. in the 75 year of his age In memory of Mr Isaact Brewer who died May 19'^ AD 1788 in the 75'^ year of his Age 286 SOUTH PAEISH BURYING-GROUND. The first burial in the grave-yard of the South Parish was Lydia, a child of John Bliss, Esq., March 29, 1755 In Memory of Mrs Sarah In Memory wife of Mr of M' Stephen John Stebbins Langdon who died who died July 2 2*^ 1 7 5'5 Aged 21 Feb. 26. 1768 in his 57 year. years. In memory of In Memory of L* Paul Langdon M"" John Firmin who died . who departed this life Dec. 3^^ I 7 6 I Jan''^ 21^' 1802 In y« 69'^^ Year of In the 89"' year his Age of his age. 287 Sacred to the memory of M' Ezckiel Russel who died Jan'"^ 3*^ I 802 Aged 80 years. In Memory of Mr Isaac Morris who died June 2 1805 in the 57 year of his age. In Memory of Mr David Burt who departed this hfe July 6*'^ 1809 in the 73*^ year of his age. In Memory of MXomfort Chaffee Who Died June 4*^ 181 1 Aged 74 years 288 In Memory of Capt. Steward Beebe who died June 13 1824 M. 72. Rev. Moses Warren Died Feb. 19^^^ 1829 Aged 71 Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. BUKTING-GROUND AT THE FOUR CORNERS. The first person buried in the East Burying-Ground was a Shaw. But he had no gravestone, as there were woods there, also a pubhc road passing through. In Memory of Mr. Caleb Stebbins who died Feb. 2 2"^ 1796, Aged 86 years. In memory of Caleb Stebbins, jun. who died March 28*\ 1787, Aged 46 years. 289 Sr. gusselCs Spectlj in rcplg to gx. ^kbhxm. Dr. Russell was sick the day of the celebration, and though able to be at the table was hardly able to speak, and was compelled to leave it once. After I had finished my speech, Dr. Russell could not reply, but wrote out what he would have said, and sent it for publication. When' the excess of matter on hand was discovered, I commenced omitting, and as this speech was not delivered, omitted it; but since the town have so generously cheered me onward, I have obtained Dr. Russell's consent to insert it, though out of place. Mr. President : I did not intend to occupy the attention of this assembly . another moment. I rise again, simply to say to you, sir, to these neighbors and fellow-townsmen, and to my able, learned, and eloquent friend, — the orator of the day, — that I take the responsibility to which ho has referred. I will not go around, pass by, blink, or shun it in any form. I take it; I take every part and parcel of it. Nay, I take the whole responsibility which he has just told you rests on my shoulders. And I will say further, sir, I have no alarming apprehensions that our good fos- ter-mother, the town of Wilbraham, will send either my friend the orator or mj'- self to dcmce anywhere within its precincts for our peccadillos. I think, sir, that any service that he or I might attempt to perform to Terpsi- chore, or be compelled to perform in honor of that graceful goddess, would not only not draw a smile of approval from any of the "Sacred Nine," but be so essentially ludicrous, that the town will take good care that its soil may never be marked by any such "light, fantastic toes," as ours. If the powers that be should actually come to any such conclusion as that to which the gentleman has referred, either in respect to himself or to me, I should I'xpect that they would vote that we should be sent to Wigwam Hill, of which we iiave heard so much to-day, to Rattlesnake Peak, or to Prospect Heights, and that the dancing should all be done at a time when neither sun, nor moon, nor stars for many days had been seen. And I should expect further, sir, after any such per- formance on our part, that the scene of the dance on the heath in Shakespeare's Macbeth, would be so far outdone that we should always have an engagement when that great tragedy comes on the stage. But, sir, let all this pass. It so happens that the gentleman and myself have been acquainted in other days. Ho knows me, and I know him. It may seem surprising to this assembly, for a good many reasons, — yet so it was, — I had the honor of being tutor of his class, during its Sophmore year in college. On my part, sir, it was an honor wholly undeserved, as I am willing to confess and deny not. I heard him, therefore, in Greek and mathematics all that year. In the Lyrics of Pindar, the Tragedies of Sophocles, the Orations of Demosthenes, or the demonstrations of the sections of the cone, he always did in the recitation room, Mr. President, just as he has done before us all to-day. He was never found in the vocative. He was always thorough, manly, clear. He always grasped with a strong hand, and made the most of himself and of everything around him that deserved his attention. He was always primus inter pares, as he is to-day in 37 290 the religious body with which he stands connected. And further, sir, he was a man of unblemished integrity and honor when a Sophmgre in college. The smell of no strange or hazing fire ever passed upon him, or through him upon others, at that period. And if this be not saying all that can be said of any man in commendation, then I shall be compelled to go to school and learn how more can be uttered. I assume, therefore, Mr. President, the responsibility which he has told you, rests upon me. I expect your thanks, sir, and some distinguished memorial from the town of Wilbraham, for the service I have rendered in this matter, instead of being sent to dance on Wigwam Hill or Rattlesnake Peak. I avail myself of this opportunity, Mr. President, to tender to the Committee of Arrangements and Town of Wilbraham my thanks for the honor conferred in designating me as the speaker on this anniversary occasion. In my estimation, Mr. President, they could have bestowed on me no higher mark of their confidence and esteem. I appreciate their kindness and their partiality, and shall ever cherish its memory. I must say, Mr. President, that I never declined a service required at my hands with more hesitation, with more lingering, affectionate regret, than the one to which reference has been made by my friend the orator of the day. Could I have done otherwise, I shovild not have so done, though it must have marred what have been to us the festivities, the high enjoyments of this occasion. It is no outsider's business, Mr. President, what things we say here to-day in this family gathering. It is nobody's business but our own, Avhat things my friend the orator shall put into his book of Magnalia or Memorabilia of this now ancient town of Wilbraham. He will have such a book, without any question. And no native-born inhabitant, after its publication, will ever be deemed of age till he shall iiave read it. I say, then, Mr. President, and I know that you will agree with me, that there is no such spot on earth as this said town of Wilbraham. If the waters of the At- lantic or of the beautiful ^Egean were poured around it, a Gi'eek would believe it, without any question, one of the happy islands of the blessed. As it is, there are in it Elysian Fields. Where does the approaching morn sow the dewy landscape with more sparkling pearls ? or the beams of departing day paint the mountain- tops in richer gold ? Where, to us, does the sun shine brighter than on these hills and valleys and streams 1 Why, sir, the herds and the flocks that pace to and fro in their feeding-grounds, bask in the shade, or drink at the springs, ajii^ear to be the vei'itable descend- ants of those that listened to Orpheus of old, and make us suppose that the advo- cates of the modern development theory must have studied all they ever learned of the animal kingdom here. The ponds for swimming, the fish of the streams, the squirrels, the partridges and "coons" of the mountains, and the muskrats of the meadows, are better here than anywhere else. Had iEsop lived in Wilbraliam, Mr. President, there is but little question that his fox-literature, in the shape of fables, would have been of a much loftier cast, and would have pushed all the quailing urchins in Hampden County, that have been compelled to plod through his quadruped lore, into much more wisdom and sagacity than most of them now possess. The Avater-privileges are better here than elsewhere. And of this, the mills and water-wheels and trij)-hammers of days that are never to be forgotten, are the proof. Nowhere can Milton and Goldsmith and Thompson, and especially 291 that miignificent " HA-mn to the Seasons," be so effectuall)' studied, and its power felt, as along these slopes and forests and woodlands. " Spring " paid its earliest and its sweetest visits here. The song of " earliest bird " nowhere poured sueh music on our ears, and " the glory of the Summer months " has been nowhere so bright and effulgent to our eyes. Nowhere has the " live thunder " leaped, and the tempest poured, in more grandeur and sublimity than along these hills ; and nowhere has the " fragranee after showers " been sweeter or more ravishing to our sense. Here brown Autumn has lingered in the lap of the summer-months, and crowned the year with plenty. Winter itself has been grand and majestic as the storm has swept along these mountain-sides and howled through the valleys. And it has been unutterably beautiful when every tree of the forest and of the field has been seen bending under its icy burden, and the rays of an unclouded morning's sun have been broken into all the colors of the bow on the cloud, and poured in tides of sparkling splendor on the vision. To us, Mr. President, "beauty has literally walked forth " here. " The softening air has been balm, and every sense, and every heart has been joy." To us it is all hallowed with the associations of childhood and youth. The schoolmasters are not forgotten. Weld and Bennet and Henry ought to be immortalized to-day, for they have done good in their generation. From their lips the mysteries of Dabol and Pike, in arithmetic, and of Murray, in grammar, have fallen by piecemeals on our ears. They deserve our thanks, as also that leader of the choir, and now a deacon, whose sharp glances were such a terror to those boys who used to sit "up gallery" in those "pen- pews," crack nuts and piay "in meeting." There are female teachers, among the living, here, that have won for themselves an enviable renown, and need no commendation from us to stimulate their exertions and perpetuate their high use- fulness. They are, and have long been, sir, an ornament to the town, and will never be forgotten by those who scan the influences that give shape and com- plexion to its history. But, Mr. President, I must take my seat, and leave the orator of the day responsible for this whole train of remarks from me. There is a beautiful myth the substance of which is, that the Goddess Venus, on a journey, came to the banks of the Ccphissus, before Athens, and l)eing weary and taint, — as such celestials must of course have been, — she slaked her thirst at this delicious stream, and then breathed out her sweet breath, which henceforth became the atmosphere of all Attica. Hence the softness and the balm, it is said, of those classic skies. But something more real and precious than Grecian divinities liave breathed tliis air and looked out upon the prospect that here limits our vision. Your mother and mine, Mr. President, have here lived, here breathed out their prayers, and from these scenes have gone to their rest. Ought not this atmos])hcre to be to us balm, the ground itself hallowed, where sleeps such dust, and every object here to stir us with emotions that shall ennoble and exalt us while we live ? I repeat the declaration, therefore, already made, that I declined the service ten- dered me with many misgivings, while I knew there were hands more competent than my own to the task. I still tender my thanks to the Committee of Amingc- ments and the Town for their kind regards, and to the orator of the day for the very able and eloquent manner in which the duty assigned him has been dis- charjied. 292 ^i^ncijlogbs of tlj^ Jfiimilics of some of tin Jfirst Settlers of Milbraljam. I have not obtained all the genealogies I sought for, but such as I have obtained, I give. I do not hold myself responsible for their entire accu- racy ; but presume that they are as accurate as such tables usually are. I have not been at the labor of reconstructing them on one principle, but have printed them nearly in the manner in which they came into my hands. I think they will be intelligible to those who are interested to study them. The Coltons are nearly all gone. So of the Joneses and the Elys. The Shaws, and Glovers, and Bartletts are all gone, I believe. Nathaniel Bliss's family are all gone ; so of the Lyons, and Carpenters, and Woods, and Skinners, and Badgers. Of the thirteen families of Stebbinses, once in the South Parish, there is but one family of the name left having chil- dren. The genealogy closes usually when a family leaves town, or a female marries out of the name. The abbreviations will be readily under- stood : b. born, m. married, d. died. BEEBE FAMILY. Lieut. Samuei^ Beebe came from East Haddam, Ct., to reside in Wilbraham, about the year 1772. He married, but the name of liis Wife is unknown, and also tlie time of her death. They had two children, Stewart and Samuel, Jr. Samuel Beebe died October 1, 1780, in the 6Ist year of his age. Samuel Beebe, Jr., married, but the maiden name of his wife is unknown. They had one child named Samuel, who was married to Azubah Miner, and removed to Western New York. Samuel Beebe, Jr., died Feb. 15, 1775, in the 23d year of his age. His wife afterwards married Joel Stebbins. She died Jan. 22, 1S09, in the (iOth year of her age. Stewart Beebe, sou of Samuel Beebe, was born in East Haddam, Ct., and removed with his father to Wilbraham. He was married, April 13, 1775, to Hannah Butler. They had one child, named Margaret, who died in infancy. Hannah, wife of Stewart Beebe, died Dec. IS, 1770, aged 20 years. Jan. 14, 1779, he was again married to Huldah Beebe, of Lyme, Ct. ; They had eight children: Stewart, Hannah, Margaret, Walter, Huldah, Khoda (who died in infancy), Rlioda, and Samuel. Huldah, wife of Stewart Beebe, died Oct. 14, 1803, in the 4oth year of her age. He was afterwards married to Doro- thy Colton, of Springfield. In the year 1792, he received a captain's commission from John Hancock, at that time governor of Massachusetts. Stewart Beebe died June 13, 1825, aged 72 years. He was a man of influence in the town and held many important offices. Dorotliy, his wife, died June 1, 1843, aged 81 years. Stewart Beebe, son of Stewart Beebe, graduated at Williams College in the year 1803. He married Sophia Gilbert, of Hebron, Ct. They had five children : Junius, Lucius, Marcus, Decius, and Cyrus. Stewart Beebe died Oct. 7, 1S51, aged 72. Sophia, his wife, died Sept. 20, 1855, aged 70. Junius Beebe, son of Stewart Beebe, married Jane Phillips, of Wheeling, Va. He was killed by an accident on the Mississippi Kiver, Dec. 13, 1850, aged 41 years. Lucius Beebe, son of Stewart Beebe, married Sylenda Morris, of Wilbraham. 293 Marcus Beebe, son of Stewart Beebe, married Jlaria Walker, of Woodstock, Ct. They have had seven children : Junius, Luciuda M., Lucy J., Susan S., Mary S., EinniaO., (who died March 28, 1857, aged three years and six months), and Marcus. Decius Beebe, son of Stewart Beebe, married Lucinda Lane, of Charlestown, N. J. They had four children: Maria L., Phebe C, Cyrus, and Decius. Lucinda, wife of Decius Beebe, died 3Lay 25, 1855, aged 36. Cyrus Beebe, son of Stewart Beebe, died in the year 1843, in the 20th year of his age. Hannah, daughter of Stewart Beebe, married Jared Cone, of Wilbraham. They removed to Ohio, where she died. jl/a7-<7«re<, 'daughter of Stewart Beebe, married Martin Richardson, of Otsego, Ohio. Slie died in the year 1855, aged 72. Walter Beebe, son of Stewart Beebe, graduated at Williams College in the year 1810. He married Mary McHollum, of Lancaster, Penn. Walter Beobe died at Cadiz, Ohio, Jan. 24, 1836, aged 50. Rhoda, daughter of Stewart Beebe, married William Shatwell, of Cadiz, Ohio. nuhlah,aixng\\io\- of Stewart Beebe, died Nov. 18, 1843, aged 55. Samuel. Beebe, son of Stewart Beebe, was married Dec. 3, 1818, to Eunice McCray, of liol- ton, Ct. They have had nine children: Eleazer S., John S., Ricliard S., Sarali, Albert S., aud Elizabeth, and three who died in infancy. Eleazer S., son of Samuel Beebe, married Harriet S. Force, of Hebron, Ct. John S., son of Samuel Beebe, married Ellen M. Dickerman, of Westfield, Mass. They have had five children: Eunice M., John D. (who died in infancy), Samuel D., Ellen M., and Charles H. Richard S., son of Samuel Beebe, married Mary P. Salisbury, of Stafford, Ct. \X B REWER FAMJL J^ (1) Isaac Brewkr was the fourth son of Rev. Daniel Brewer, and Katharine (Chauncey). He was b. in Springfield, Nov. 25, 1713, and m. Mary Bliss (dr. of Ebeiiezer and Mary Bliss, of Springfield), April 22, 1736; they settled in Wilbraham; he was a farmer; had seven children; d. May 9, 17S8. His wife d. May .30, 1759. Mr. Brewer m. a second wife, who survived him, but who removed to Simsbury, Ct., and d. there. Their chil- dren were, — (2) Mary, b. 17.37, m. Jermiah Snow, and lived in Northampton ; (2) Katharine, b. June 8, 1738, m. Oliver Bliss, of Wilbraham, March 8, 1759; (2) Eunice, b. April 20. 1740, m. Joseph Stebbhis, of Springfield; (2) Isaac, b. Aug. 17, 1742, m. Sybil Miller, of Ludlow, and settled there, was a farmer; (2) William, b. Nov. 8, 1744 ; (2) ('harle>^, b. Dec. 18, 1748, O. S.; (2) Gains, b. Aug. 28, 1753. (2) William, son of Isaac and Mary Brewer, m. 3Iercy Ely. Their children were,— (3) Mercy, b. April 20, 1775, m. David Hitchcock, of Wilbraham ; (3) William, b. July 14, 1777, d. April 0, 1851 ; (3) Luke, b. Aug. 7, 1779. d. Nov. 4, 1849; (3) Luther, b. May 7, 1782; (3) Timothy, b. July 12, 1784; d. Jan. 10, 18i".3; (3) Eunice, b. Dec. 31, 1787, ni. John Morgan, of Wilbraham, and settled in Vt. Mercy, the mother, d. Oct. 4, 1802, and the father m. Jemima Boltwood, of Amherst. They had one son, — Solomon, b. 1809, d. March 14, 1814. Jemima, the mother, d. July 29, 1850. (?); Charles, the son of Isaac and Mary Brewer, ra. Anna Chatterton, of New Haven. He was a cabinet-maker and lived most of his life in Wilbraham. Ho d. Dec. 23, 18.36, aged 88. Anna, his wife, d. June -30, 1832, aged 78. Their children were, - (3) Charles, b. Jan. 23, 1775; d. .Sept. 28, 1853; (3) Samuel, b. April 2, 1777, m. Lois Bliss, of Wilbraham, d. Oct. 1, 1862; (3) Anson, Oct. 17, 1779, d. from the bite of a mad fox, Oct. 1, 1790; (3) Hannah, b. ilarch 17, 1782, m. John Merrick, Dec. 17. 1804; (3) Anna, b. Jan. 15, 1784; m. Thomas Merrick, Jan., 1807, d. Oct. 6, 1847; (3) Calvin, b. Feb. 16, 1787, m. Flavia Phelps, of Windsor, May 25, 1820; (3) Susan, b. Jan. 1790, m. CnjU. David Thomas, b. March 10, 1834, and settled in Louisiana; (3) Daniel, b. Oct., 1792, m. Emma S. Whitmore, Dec. 31, 1820, and settled in Baltimore, d. Jan. 13. 1841 ; (3) Anson- Lorenzo, b. Feb. 22, 1800, m. 1st, Harriet Dunbar, 2d, Sarah A. Ei.dlcy, set- tled in New Lisbon, Ohio. 294 (2) Gaius, son of Isaac and Mar}' Brewer, ni. Lucretia Babeock, Jan. 21, 1778. He was a • blacksmith, and lived in Wilbraliam; d. Dec. 7, 1843. She d. Oct. 19, 1829. Their cliildren were, — (3) Lucretia, b. Oct. 26, 1778, m. Elislia B.*Boltwood, of Amherst; (3) John, b. Feb. 23,1780, m. Emily Vose, of Boston, was a blacksmith, and lived in Wilbrabam, d. March 12, 1860; (3) Nancy, b. Nov. 7, 1781, m. Charles Moody, of South Hadley; she d. Oct. 8, 1855; (3) Sarah, b. July 9, 1783, m. Capt. Enos Battles, of Granby, d. June 29, 1854; (3) Henry, b. Aug.22, 1785, d. Oct. 11, 1832; (3) Lucinda, b. July 21, 1787, m. Mr. Crane, of Dalton, a paper-manufacturer ; (3) Mary, b. Oct. 17, 1789, m. Oliver Colt, of Hinsdale; (3) Andrew, b. June 25, 1792; (3) James, b. , m. Eliza Beals, of Boston. (3) William, son of AVilliam and Mercy Brewer, m. Jemima Bliss, Jan. 4, 1803. Jemima, the mother, d. July 5, 1854. Their children were, — (4) Belinda Cordelia, b. Auj;. 5, 1805, m. Abraham Avery, Sen., of Wilbraham, May 6, 1852; (4) William Ely, b. March 4, 1807 ; (4) Eloisa F., b. March 26, 1809, m. Perry Goodell, April 30, 1847; (4) Elizabeth Bartlett, b. June 3, 1811, m. John B. Rice, of Weymouth; (4) Henry Bridgman, b. July 7, 1813; (4) Edwin Bliss, b. April 11, 1815; (4) Sarah Stebbius, b. xiug. 11, 1817, and lives in Wilbraham; (4) Moses Knowlton, b. Oct. 17, 1819; (4) Jemima Boltwood, b. Dec. 8, 1823, m. Samuel Ward, and lives in Cambridge, 3Iass. (3) Lulce, son of AYilliam and Jlercy Brewer, m. Mary Bliss, of Wilbraham; 2d wife. Miss Hall. He removed to Ohio, and d. Their children were, — (4) Maria, b, Oct. 15, 1803, m. Jesse Bishop, and lives in Springfield; (4) rermelia, b. July 23, 1805, d. ; Mary, b. , m. Kendall, and lives in Springfield; (4) Franci?, b. , m. , settled in Ohio; (4) Louisa, b. ; (4) Edward P., b. April 8, 1819; (4) Lucy, b. . (3) Luther, son of AVilliam and Mercy Brewer, m. Laura Merrick, of Wilbraham. He was a physician, and practised medicine in Wilbraham, some years and afterwards gave his attention to larming. Their children were, — (4) Luther Lycortas, b. Oct. 26, 1S16, practised medicine in Baton Eouge, La., d. June 23, 1845, at Wilbraham; (4) Ajalon, b. Feb. 4, 1S19, a student of medicine, d. Dec. 18, 1840; (4) James Merrick, b..BIarch 24, 1821; (4) Emelius, b. May 0, 1823, editor, and practised law at Port Gibson, La., d. April 6, 1855; (4) Myron, b. April 23, 1825, m. Laura Luce Oct. 15, 1862; (4) Mary Cornelia, b. May 19, 1829, m. Daniel Herbert, of New Jersey, and resides there ; (4) Josephine, b. Dec. 30, 1831, m. Gideon K. Gilbert, of New Haven, Ct., Sept. 26, 1855, and removed to Minnesota. (3) Timnthy, son of William and Mercy Brewer, m. Mary Fuller, of Wilbraliam. Their children were, — (4) Isaac, b. Nov. 21, 1809; (4) Sophia Fuller, b. Sept. 11, 1812, m. Joseph G. Eustice, July 22, 1855, and lives in Wilbraham; (4) Timothy Brainard, b. April 2, 1815, d. Nov. 28, 1861; (4) Solomon B., b. May 29, 1817; (4) Amos, b. 3Iarch 18, 1819. m. Smith, and settled in Sheffield. Timothy, the father, d. Jan. 10, 1863. (3; Charles, son of Charles and Anna Brewer, m. Dorcas Smith, of So. Hadley. Their children were, — (4) Charles Franklin, b. July 23, 1806, d. in Palmer, ; (4) Catharine Chauncy, b. Dec. 29, 1810, m. Thomas N. Harding, of Southbridge, Dec. 25, 1834; where they re- side; (4) Charles Chatterton, b. , d. ; (4) Dorcas Sophia, b. April 29, 1816, resides in Abiugton; (4) Harriet Ann Susan, b. Sept. 9, 1818, m. Benjamin Sherman, and lives in Abington. Dorcas, the mother, d. Oct. 2, 1822. Charles, the father, m. for his 2d wife, Frances Rice, of Granby, Ct. Their children were, — (4) Anson Chatterton, b. Slay 22, 1826; (4) Hiram Marshall, b. March 25j 1829; (4) Fran- ces Cornelia, b. Jan. 10, 1831, d. ; (4) Daniel Delos, b. March 22, 1833, m. and lives in Slinnesota ; (4) Julia J., b. Jan. 28, 1835, m. William Bidwell, and lives in ColUusville, Ct.; (4) Wilbur Fisk, b. May 3, 1838, m. Carrie Coomes, of Lougmeadow, .June 5, 1862, and live in Springfield. (3) Calvin, son of Cliarles and Anna Brewer, m. Flavia Phelps, of Windsor, Ct., May 25, 1820. Their children were, — (4) Daniel Lorenzo, b. Jan. 9^ 1822, m. Louisa McDaniel June 29, 1848, and settled in 295 Louisiana, was a lawyer, and was liilled on board tlie Princess, by an explosion, Feb. 27, 1850; (4) Flavia Ann, b. April, 182:?, d. in La., . Flavin, the motlier, d'. May 17, 1823. Tlie father m. 2d, 3Iary Case, of Coventry, Ct., June 1, 1825. Their chil- dren were, — • (4) Harriet C. M., b. Nov. G, 1827, ni. Joseph Newell, of Mississippi, March, 1847; (4) Mary Jennett, b. Feb. 11, 18:i0, m. William H. Porter, of New Orleans, d. April '.), 1S58; (4) Samuel George, b. April 17, 1832, d. Feb. 14, 1843. (3) Henry, sou of Gaius and Lucretia, ra. Louisa Burt, of Longmeadow. He d. Oct. 11, 1832. She d. Dec. 17, 185G. Tlieir children were, — (4) Lydia Hall, b. Aug., 1812, m. Dr. Edwin N. Colt, 1832, lives in Brooklyn, N. Y.; (4) Blary Swift, b. 1814, m. Samuel D. Cooley, of Palmer, 18.39, d. 1840 ; (4) Henry Burt, b. 1818. (3) Andrew, son of Gaius and Lucretia Brewer, m. Luciuda Chapin, Feb. 22, 1810. Their children were, — (4) Luciuda A., b. Jan. 27, 1820, m. Samuel D. Cooley, of Palmer, Jan. 27, 1810; (4) Eliza, b. Marcli 12, 1822, in. Hiram B. Abbe, of Enfiold, d. May 24, 1840; (4) Dwi<;ht Andrew, b. Sept. 4, 1827. The mother d. July S, 1827. Andrew m. 2d, Martha AV'ood- ward. Tlieir child was, — (4) Martlia E., b. Aug. 28, 18.38, m. Myron A. Bliss, July 4, 1859. (4) WUlium Ely lireiver, son of AVilliam and Jemima, m. Mrs. Eliza T. Norris, 1810. Their children were, — (5) Emerson G., b. Dec. 7, 1841 ; (5) Julia H., b, June 25, 1843, ni. George W. Clement. Dec. 9, 1802, live in Willoughby, Ohio; (5) William L., b. Oct. 19, 1849; (5) Francis H., July n, 1.-49. (4) Henry liridgman, son of William and Jemima Brewer, m. Lucretia L. Giddings. Their children were, — (5) Susan J., b. May 8, 1842, m. Flavel Benton, Feb. 24, 18G3, and lives in Wilbraham; (5) Walter G., b. Aug. 4, 1843, soldier 37th Keg. JLass. Vols.; (5) George G. b. Nov. 28, 1847; (5) Herbert W., b. March 27, 1850. Lucretia S., the mother, d. Dec. v5, 1853. H. Bridgman, then m. Mary A. Butchers, Aug. 31, 1854. Their children •were, — (5) Charles B., b. March 8, 185(5 ; (5) Laura Lucretia, b. Nov. 4, 1857 ; (5) Mary, b. March 27, 1801. The ftimlly removed to Pelham, Mass. (4) Edwin Bliss, son of William and Jemima, m. Eliza Spencer, of Middlctown, Ct., 1847. Their children were, — (5) Addison Spencer, b. Jan. 0, 1849, d. Aug. 23, 1852; Francis Caroline, b. Nov. 27, 1851; (5) Edwin Avery, b. Oct. 3, 1853; (5) Mary Ellen, b. Oct. 7, 1855; (5) Freder- ick Gridley, b. Oct. 27, 1859, d. Sept. 20, 1801; (5) Emma Palmer, b. July 17, 1803. (4) James Merrick, son of Luther and Laura Brewer, m. Eliza Gilbert, Sept. 9, 1847. Their children were, — (5) Anna Gilbert, b. Jan. 23, 1851 ; (5) James, b. Feb. 17, 1854, d. April 0, 1854. (4) Jsaac, son of Timothy and Mary Brewer, m. Lydia Loveland. Their child was, — (5) Martha S., b. Dec, 1842, m. William H. Day Nov., 1802. (4) Timothy Brainard, son of Timothy and Mary Brewer, m. Mary A. Lawton, of Hard- wick, Sept., 1844. Tlieir child was, — (5) Mary Puller, b. Aug. 11, 1^55. (4) Solomon B., sou of Timothy and Mary Brewer, m, 3Iary Jane Olds, Nov. IS, 1852. Their children were, — (5) Amos D., b. Jan. 13, 1854 ; (5) Brainard M., b. Nov. -30, 1857; (5) Lillian J., b. Jlay 3, 1800; (5) Prudence O., b Feb. 21, 1802. (4) Charles Franklin, son of Charles and Dorcas Brewer, m. Diantha Hunt. Then- chil- dren were, — (5) Amanda Melissa, b. June 1, 1831 ; (5) George Monroe, b. Oct. 13, 1832. They removed to Palmer, wliere the iatlier d. . (4) Anson, son of Charles and Frances Brewer, m. 1st, Clarinda CiiafTee; 2d wile. Marietta Cady, June, 1855. Their children were,— (5) Charles Anson, b. Aug. 17, l.'^SO; (5) Oscar Cady, June 9, 1858. (4) Hiram M., son of Charles and Frances Brewer, m. Mary Staunton. Iheir child wus,- 296 (5) Mary Staiiutoii, b. May 22, 1850, d. Jan., 1SG3. The mother d. May, 1859. The father m. 2d wife, Ellen F. Lawton, May 1.3, lS(iO. TJieir cliild was, — (5) Ella, b. Sept. 26, 1801. (4) Henry Burt, son of Henry and Louisa Brewer, m. Sirs. Anna Colt. Their child was, — (5) Edward Henry, b. Dec. 12, 1851. Dwiffht Andrew, son of Andrew and Lucinda Brewer, m. Elmira Turner. Their cliildren were, — (5) Alfred Dwiglit, b. Xov. 18, 1857; (5) Charles Artliur, b. Jan. 21, 1800; (5) Emma Louisa, b. July 5, 1802. BLISS (ABEL) FAMILY. Thomas Bmss came from England; m. Margaret ; had a son Samuel, who m. Miiry Leonard, Nov. 10, 1005. Samuel liad a son, Thomas, b. Feb. 8, 1088, who had a son, Abel, b. iroO; m. Jemima Chapin, Jan. 10, 1730. Tliis Abel was the renowned Ensign Abel Bi.iss, who, as tradition says, "did carry six bushels of salt on liis back all at one time." His children were, — Oliver, b. Nov. 20, 1730; Abel, b. Oct. 10, 1738; Jemima, b. Nov. 12, 1740, m. Capt. L. AUis; Silas, b. Nov. 15, 1743; Levi, b. April 29, 17-15. Oliver Bliss m. Catharine Brewer March 8, 1759. Their children were, — Achsah, b. March 13, 1700, m. Kev. Henry Ely, of Wilbraham; Mary, b. Feb. 4, 1702, m. Kev. Joel Hayes; Catharine, b. April 24, 1704, d. Oct., 1792; Jemima, b. July 9, 17()0, d. Jan., 1774; Eunice, b. Feb. 5, 1709, m. Kev. Richard Ely, of Saybrook, Ct. ; Lois, b. March 20, 1771, d. Aug. 30, 1786; Oliver, b. Nov. 11, 1773, d. Sept. 19, 1824; Pliny, b. Nov. 10, 1776; John, b. Aug. 9, 1779. Abel Bliss, h. Oct. 10, 1738, d. Nov. 23, 1821; Elizabeth Bartlett, his wife, b. Feb., 1744, d. March 8, 1788 ; were m, Sept. 28, 1769. Their children were, — Koxy, b. Jan. 21, 1772, d. April 12,1844; Judah, b. March, 1773, d. July 4, 1775; Abel, b. May 24, 1775, d. Jan. 15, 1853 ; Judah, b. Jan. U, 1777. d. Nov. 30, 1845; Jemima, b. March 10, 1779, d. ; Lois, b. Sept. 20, 1781, d. ; Moses Bridgman, b. Aug. 28, 1783, d. 1783, and Miriam I'helps, b. Aug. 2S, 1783, d. 1783, were twins; Elizabeth, b. Jan. 29, 1788, d. Dec. 27, 1851. Abel Bliss, son of Abel and Elizabeth Bliss, m. Phebe Lathrop, of Norwich, Ct., Oct. 21, 180L Their children were, — Mary Battis, b. Aug. 22, 1802, d. Sept. 27, 1805; Laurins Lathrop, b. Nov. 20, 1803, d. Sept. 22, 1805 ; Nancy, b. Sept. 4, 1805, d.Oct. 3, 1855-; John Wesley, b. Sept. 25, 1807; Abel, b. Feb. 9, 1810 ; George, b. April, 1812; Harriet, b. Nov. 5, 1713 ; William Lath- rop, b. March 25, 1810,, d. March 2,, 1850;- Moses Bridgmau, b. March 8, 1818; George Hyde, b. April 27, 1820. Nancy Bliss, dr. of Abel and Phebe Bliss, m. Hev. Wm. Smith, of Canada. Their chil- dren were, — AVm. Augustus; Julia, d. in infancy;. Charles Edward. Nancy Bliss m. Dr. Jesse W. Kice for 2d husband. John Wesley Bliss, son of Abel and Phebe Bliss, m. Mary Ann Langdon, Nov. 20, 1834. Their child was, — Sarah Hall, b. April 29, 1839. Abel Bliss, iion of Ahc\ aud Phebe Bliss, ra. Lucinda Blukc,.of Springfield, May 6,1841. Their children were, — Mary Blake; Wm. Smith; H.Maria; Ellen J.; Josephme; Abel; Allice. Wm. Lathro]), son of Abel and Phebe Bliss, m. Jane E. Barnett, of Westville, Ct. Their child d. in infancy. ' Moses Bridcjinan Bliss, son of Abel and Phebe Bliss, m. Martha Jane Fuller, of Pittston, Me. Their children were, — Charles; Wilbur; Frederick; Nellie Jane. George Hyde Bliss, son of Abel and Phebe Bliss, m. Louisa Coe, of Middlefield, Ct. Their children were, — Emma Louisa; Selina Coe. Geo. H. Bliss m. for 2d wife, Mary Patrick, of Granby, Mass. Their children were, — 297 Fanny L.; Maria; Mary Ann; Ella Simpson. Silas miss, son of Ensign Abel and Jemima Bliss, m. Miriam Bliss, of Springfield, 1769, and removed to Cazenovia, N. Y., 180-^. They had ten children. Levi Bliss, son of Ensign Abel and Jemima Bliss, m. Martha Miller, of Springfield, Dec. 22, 1768. Their children were, — Gains, b. Oct. 20, 1709, d. Aug. 3, 1786; Gordon, b. Feb. 8, 1771, drowned, April 29, 1799; Levi, b. Dee. 2, 1772; Patty, b. March 12, 1775, m. Noah Saxton; Leonard, b. June 21, 1777, drowned April 29, 1799 ; Catharine, b. July 10, 1779, m. Stephen Jones; Lucrc- tia, b. Jan. 24, 1781, ra. James Morgan; Asenath,b 18, 1783, drowned April 29, 1799; Lovina, b. Sept. 12, 1785, m. Stephen Work; Harriet, b. Feb. 8, 1790; d. July 23, 1818. Pliny Bliss, son of Oliver and Catharine Bliss, m. Rhoda Jennison, of Walpole, N. H., June, 1812, and removed to Cincinnati, Sept., 1815. He d. March 3, 1854.* John Bliss, son of Oliver and Catharine Bliss, m. Mrs. Harriet B. Merrick, April 13, 1817. Their child was; — Catharine M.iry Ann Antoinette, b. April 13, 1818, m. Rev. S. W. Speer, D. D., Natches, Miss. Levi Bliss, son of Levi and Martha Bliss, m. Statira Shepherd, March 17, 1810. Their chil- dren were : — Levi R., b. Feb. 10, 1811; Lorenzo, b. Dec. 22,1844; Robert B. W., b. May 20, 1820; Martha Miller, b. , m. E. W. Reed. Levi Ji. Bliss, son of Levi and Statira Bliss, m. Sarah E. Perry, Dec. 10, 1840. Their chil- dren were : — Maria E., b. Nov. 21, 1841 ; Mary L,, b. July 6, 1843; George L. R., b. March 5, 1845 ; Sarah J., b. Dec. 24, 1840, d. Aug. 12, 1848. Lorenzo Bliss, son of Levi and Statira Bliss, m. Clarissa W. Miller, Sept. 10, 1837. Their children were: — Clarissa Miller, b. March 25, 1838; Henry H., b. March 24, 1840; Nancy Henrietta H., b. March 19, 1842, d. ; Ellen R., b. Oct. 15, 1844; Lorenzo Edward, b. May 31, 1847 ; Joseph M., b. March 5, 1850. liobt. B. W. Bliss, son of Levi and Statira Bliss, ni. Rowena Colton. Their children were : Amelia R., b. Nov. 24, 1844; Myron R., b. Sept 4, 1840; Josephine E., b. Sept. 11, 1848; Andrew, b. June 13, 1850. BURT FAMILY. Henry Burt, the ancestor of the Burts, was deacon in the first church in Springfield. His grandson's name was Moses, who settled in Wilbraham. He had a son named Moses. All the children of this last Moses died childless, except Moses Burt, who now lives at an advanced age, in Springfield, and one sister of his. Moses Burt's family consisted of six sons and two daughters. Four of the sons died before marriage. Two sons only remain. But one of them has children, — one sou and two daughters. THE CHAVIN (ABNER) FAMILY. Dea. Samuel Ch apin, the head of all the Chapins, hereabout, at least, came, as is supposed by some, from Wales. He took the freeman's oath in Boston, June 2, 1041, and re- moved to Springfield in 1042. The name of his wife was Cisily. The name of then- second son was Henrv, who m., Dec. 0, 16G4, Bethia Cooley, of Longmeadow. Ihey had a son, Henry, b. March 19, 1079; m. second wife, Esther Bliss, May 10, 1710. They had a son, Abner, b. July 25, 1722. This is the man who settled on the south bank of the Scantic, about 1748. He m., Dec. 23, 1742, Abigail Warner; and a second wife, Tab- itha Allen, Feb. or March, 1781 . Their children were : — * Pliny Bliss was an enterprising man, and was noted as a pioneer in navigating the western waters. He established the first steam-ferry at Cincinnati. 38 298 Abner, b. May 29, 1749, d. April 1, 1S14; Abigail, b. May 14, 1751, m. John Langdon ; Esther, b. Dec. 7, 1753, m. Timothy Brown; Margaret, b. Sept. 14, 1755, m. Stephen Davis; Lucy, b. Auf^. 19, 1757, m. Asa Bullard; Maria, b. June 7, 1700, ni. Abner Cooley; Samuel, b. Juue 30, 1702, d. April 14, 1837; Timothy, b. March 5, 1704, d. Oct. 5, 1840; Asenath, b. Dec. 0, 1782, m. Croclcer Waterhouse. Abner, son of Abner and Abigail, m. Khoda Kibbe. Their children were : — Abner, b. Jan. 12, 1771, m. Polly Adams, May .30, 1795 ; Araariah, b. Jan. 11, 1773, m. Lovina Geluton; Oliver, b. Dec. 8, 1774, d. Oct., 177G; Rhoda, b. Oct. 8, 1776, m. Elijah P. Russell; Diadema, b. Sept. 4, 1778, m. Zeno King; Beulah, b. Feb. 26, 1785, m. Uriel Cone; Daniel Shays (!!), b. Jan. 27, 1787, ni. 3Iarinda Hill; Mary, b. April 7, 1789, m. Cyrus Crane. Samuel Chapin, son of Abner and Abigail, m. (1) Huldah Wright, (2) Susannah Butts, Oct. 11, 1800. Huldah, d. June 11, 1800; Susannah, d. Nov. 4, 1859, aged 78. Children by 1st wife : — Mahala, b. Nov. 20, 1793, m. Amisa Switzer, d. May 22, 1851 ; Maria, b. Nov. 5, 1795, m. Harvey B. Pease; Ralph, b. March 27, 1798, d. March 12, 1801 ; Samuel, b. June 25, 1800, m. Sally Butts. Children by 2d wile : — Ralph Sumner, b. Oct. 13, 1807; Warner Butts, b. Nov. 7, 1810, d. Oct., 1836; Susan, b. Nov. 1.3, 1811, d. Sept. 12, 1828; Nathaniel M., b. Feb. 26, 1814; Silas Whitman, b. July 11, 181S; Huldah Wright, b. Oct. 3, 1820, d. . Abner Chapin, son of Abner and Rlioda, m. May 30, 1795. Polly Adams. She died Jan. 10, 1841. Their children were : — Polly, d. March 15, 1823 ; Lucy Edsou, b. March 29, 1798; Minerva; Caroline; Austin; Oliver; Lavinia; Leander Z. and Lucinda, twins, b. Aug. 25, 1809; David and Vashui, twins, b. April 17, 1812; Munro, b. March 11, 1815; Charlotte, b. Sept. 9, 1821. Samuel Chapin, son of Samuel and Huldah, m. Sally Butts, of Canterbury, Ct. He d. Aug., 1836. Their children were : — Abigail Dyer, b. Oct. 10, 1827, m. Henry B. Sawyer; David Butts, b. Oct. 10, 1827, m. Jane C. Couse; one child, Mary Emily, b. Sept. 22, 1857; Carlos, b. Deo. 14, 1832. Ralph Sumner Chapin, son of Samuel and (2) Susannah, m., Jan. 31, 1840,(1) Harriet Newell Cady, b. July 6, 1814; m. Jan. 30, 1855, (2) Sophia Louisa Storrs. Harriet, d. Nov. 28, 1850. Their children were : — Samuel, b. Jan. 31, 1841; Ellen Augusta, b. April 4, 1844;' Henry W., b. Oct. 28, 1840, d. Oct. 28, 1851; Willis, b. April 12, 1848, d. Sept. 16, 1851; Arthur, b. April 15, 1S5(', d. Sept. 18, 1850. Nathaniel Mason Chapin, son of Samuel and Susannah, m. Nov. 7, 1837, Maria Shephcy-d. Their children were : — Susan M., b. Feb. 19, 1838, m. Emery Stanton; Warner, b. Dec. 1, 1840; Sidney P., b. March 20, 1844; Charles D., b. March 13, 1846; Francis M., b. May 4, 1848, d. April 30, 1859; Mary, b. Jan. 24, 1851; George IL, b. Jan. 22, 1863, d. May 21, 1858; Willis K., b. Feb. 14, 1855, d. Sept. 26, 1855; Julia C, b. Aug. 7, 1856; Nellie, b. Dec. 8, 1859. HENDRWK FAMILY. Jabez Hendrick was son of Israel Hendrick, of Unjon, Conn., and settled in Wilbraham in or about the year 1749, on the farm now owned by Hiram Hendrick. His family con- sisted of nine children, four sons and live daugliters. Their names were Abijah, Daniel, Reuben, Pliny, Anna, Lucy, Lydia, Dolly, Lois. None of them arfe now living, and but two of his grandchildren are now living in town. Hiram Hendrick and Edmund T. Hendrick, sons of Reuben Hendrick, and one great-grandchild, Horton H. Hendrick, son of Hiram Hendrick, and one child of the fourth generation, Adeline Louisa, daughter of Horton H. Hendrick, are all the descendants now living in town. HITCHCOCK FAMILY. Nathaniel Hitchcock, the first settler, married, March 28, 17-30, Hannah Taylor, of Hadley. Their children were : — 299 Nathaniel, b. ; Mercy, b. June 30, 1735, d. Nov. 13, 1755; Gideon, b. Nov. 25, 1736; Silas, b. Oct. G, 1739. /, ^-'.-^y.^ Xathaniel Hitchcock, Jr., son of Natlianiel Hitchcock, married Sarah — , and removed to Springfield before 1707. Their children were : — Nathaniel, b. June 15, 1756; Mary, b. Oct. 24, 1757; Sarah, b. Feb. 5, 1750; Daniel S., b. Jan. 29, 1761; Lucy, b. May 27, 17f)i. Silan Hitchcocl-, son of Nathaniel Hitchcock, married (1) Martlia , (2) Mary Taylor, 1707. Their children were : — Martha, b. May 28, 1701; Chloe, b. Nov. 9, 176!; (2 wife), Philena, b. Sept. 23, 170S, d. Dec. 18, ; Justin, b. Oct. 23, 1769; Pliilena, b. Aug. 27, 1771; Roxa, b. Oct. 20, 1773; Zera, b. May 25, 1776. Left town at this time, I suppose. John Hitchcock, .3d, b. April 21, 1722, married Thankful Burt May, 1743; both admitted to the church, by letter from Springfield, Nov. IS, 1744. Lieut. Hitchcock was an athlete as well as a deacon and lieutenant. Had he lived in Greece, he w'ould have taken the highest prizes at the Olympic and Isthmian games. He was a man of prodigious muscular strength, agility, and endurance. A man stopped by the field where he was at work, and boasted of the speed of the horse he was riding. The deacon told him tliat ho could go to Springfield quicker than the horse. I'he man reso- lutely denied it. The deacon gave a challenge. It was accepted, and the deacon won, — ran ten miles, beating the horse. He would lift a load of hay, — such loads as were drawn then, — by getting under the axle-tree of the cart, and taking it on his shoulders in a stoop- ing posture. He would turn a cart over by taking one end of the axle-tree with one hand. When he was seventy years old, he came in to dinner, and, as usual, hung his hat on its nail on the summer. He said to his wife, " I am seventy years old to-day; you remember that when we were first married I used to amuse you by taking my hat down with my toes. I wonder if I could do it now .' " He sprang from the floor, caught the liat off with his toes, struck on his feet like a cat, hung up his hat again, turned to the table, asked a bless- ing, and feasted. He had douhle teeth in front. When he loaded grain in a cart, he would seize a bag with his teeth, and, giveing it a swing, throw it into the cart with the aid of a push with his knee. He would hold a tenpenny nail in his teeth and break it off witli his fingers. When he died all his teeth were sound. He said jocosely that he did not know a man he could not whip or run away from ! He was the first deacon of the South Parish Church. His children were : — Othniel, b. Aug. 10, 1744; John, Jan. 4, 1740; Azuba, Aug. 0, 1748; Reuben, May 1, 1751; Moses, March 19, 1753; Aaron, Sept. 1, 1750; Phebe, March 10, 1760; Simeon, Sept. 23, 1701 ; Thankful, Oct. 13, 1705. Othyiiel Hitchcock, sou of John Hitchcock, 3d, married Martha Kellog, 1760; she died Oct. 9, 17(i8, and he married for his second wife Sybel Brooks, 1772 Their cliild was : — David, b. Nov. 6, 1768. John Hitchcock, Jr., son of John Hitchcock, 3d, married Martha . Tlieir child was : - John, b. Oct. 29, 1769. Heuhen Hitchcock, son of John Hitchcock, 3d, married Hannah Tlieir cluldrcn A child, b. Feb. 8, 1774; Martin, b. Nov. 26, 1774; John, b. March 17, 1779; Polly, b. ; Eleazer, b. Feb. .3, 1782. . Aaron Hitchcock, son of John Hitchcock, .3d, married March, 17S0, Desire Maxwell. Ihe.r children were : — Ithamar, b. May 10, 1781 ; Phebe, b. Aug. 31, 1783 ; Aaron ; Sally. Jthamer Hitchcock, son of Aaron and Desire, married . Their children were : - Sophia, m. Noah G. Stebbins ; George; Sophronia; Walter; Levi; Mary. LANGDON FAMILY. Lteut P .UL L.^NGl.oN, the head of the Wilbraham Langdons, was the seventh child, and fifth son of Philip Langdon, of Boston, a mariner. There is now in the possession of John Wilson Langdon, his greal-great-grandson, an oak chest, which has every ap- 500 pearance of having been Philip's sea-cliest. Lieut. Langrton was a man of groat energy of ciiaracter, a carpenter, a niillwriglit, and a farmer. I liave before me an account- book of his, whicli is also a journal. One entry is as follows : " 1745. What wheat has been thrached and yoused and sold this being a memorandum of Wheat Keased in ye year 1745 of my nue field [in Wilbraham] 102 1-2 bushels." Lieut. Paul Langdon, b. Sept. 12, 1093, m. Mary Stacy Aug. IS, 1718. He d. Dec. .3, 17C1. Their children were : — Mary, b. Aug. 20, 1719, m. Henry Badger ; Lewis, b. May 10, 1721 ; Hannah, b. Feb. 22, 1T23, m. Meacham; Paul, b. Dec. 10, 1725; John, b. June 1, 172S; Elizabeth, b. July 1, 1730, d. Sept. 23, 1740; Anna, b. Sept. 21, 17.32, d. Sept. 12, 1740. Lewis Langdon, son of Paul and Mary Langdon, m. Cooley, of Monson. Their chil- dren were : — Lewis; John; Philip; Christopher, b. March 3, 1750; Kachael ; Sarah. Christopher Langdon, son of Lewis Langdon, m. Polly Walker. Their children were : — Lathrop ; Polly; Sylvanus; Caroline; Francis. This family removed to Ohio in 1814. Capt. Paul Langdon, son of Lieut. Paul and Mary Langdon, m. Thankful Stebbins May 6, 1757. He d. June 23, 1804.' Their children were : — Samuel, b. May 10, 1758, d. Feb. 20, 1822 ; Thankful, b. July 4, 1760, m. Burt ; Paul, b. Aug. 18, 1704; Lovice, b, Nov. 13, 1708, m. (1) — Loomis, (2) Joseph Wood, Mon- son ; Mary, b. Oct. 12, 1770, m. Jacob Wood; Walter, b. June 22, 1779. Paul Langdon, son of Paul and Thankful Langdon, m. Azubah King, Ellington, Conn. He d. July 0, 18.30; she d. — '■ — . Their children were: — Calvin, b. Sept. 5, 17S8, m. Sybil Kibbe, Somers, Conn.; Noah, b. June, 1790; Paul Ly- man; Harlow ; Betsey, b. July 9, 1801, m. Erastus H. Stebbins June 12, 1828 ; she d. 1803. Noah Langdon, son of Paul and Azubah Langdon, married Eunice Torrey, Monson, Dec. 20, 1821. He d. Dec. 27, 1849. Their children were : — Noah Franklin, b. Dec. 0, 1822, d. Aug. 4, 1823; Horatio Franklin, b. June 13, 1824, m. Sarah A. Moody, Monson ; Jonathan Torrey, b. May 20, 1829, m. Helen Bickford, W. Springfield ; Mary Emily, b. Nov. 7, 1831, m. Nathaniel A. Patten, Somers, Conn., May 14, 1853 ; Martha Azubah, b. May 21, 1834 ; Wm. Patten, b. Dec. 8, 1837, d. Oct. 6, 1838. Paul L. Langdon, son of I'aul and Azubah Langdon, m. Jael Hathaway. Their children were : — Celia ; Paul Lyman ; David King. This family left town previous to 1830. Harlow Langdon, son of Paul and Azubah Langdon, m. Laura Merrick, Monson. Their children were : — Harlow Merrick, b. April 6, 1833; Laura Caroline, bi Sept., 18.35, m. Constant M. Steb- bins, Longmeadow; Elizabeth Victoria, b. Jan. 31, 1838; Royal Clinton, b. Feb., 1843, d. May 1, 1844. Harlow Langdon m. his 2d wife, Caroline Russell, April, 1840. Tlioir child was : — Royal Clinton, b. March 1847, d. March l(i, 1848. Harlow M. Langdon, son of Harlow and Laura Langdon,, m. Lorett M. Cooley, Somers, Conn., Nov. 25, 1857. Their child was : — Grosvenor Merrick, b. Oct. 12, 1801. Walter Langdon, son of Capt. Paul and Thankful Langdon, m. Sophia Badger, N.Y., March, 1803. Their children were : — Walter Morgan, b. Sept. 15, 1804; Aibertus Badger, b. April 1, 1806; William Harwood, b. Jan. 23, 1808; JMinorva Loomis, b. Sept. 8, 1820, m. James P. Streeter, Vernon, Vt., Nov. 20, 1840; Oliver Hanson, b. March 14, 1824. Walter M. Langdon, son of Walter and Sophia Langdon, m. Sally Frost, Springfield. Their children were : — Morgan Emory, b. Oct. 2, 1827 ; Sarah Arletia, b. Dec. 8, 1829, m. Elbridge G. Smith, W. Springfield, May, 1857; Anniejean, b. April 23, 1831, m. Cheney Bemis, Spencer, Jan. 6, 1853; Rosella, b. Sept. 10, 1833, m. Robert Lathrop, N. Y. City, Jan. 0, 1853 ; Paul, b. March 14, 1835,. d. Nov., 1857; Walter Perkins,, b. Nov. 14, 1836, m. Lucy Cook, Springfield ; Emeline Elizabeth,. b. May 19,. 1845. 301 Morgan E. Langdon, sou of Walter M. and Sally Laugtlon, m. Jlary C. Kangcr, ISrookficlfl, August, 1848. Their children were : — Jaraes Emory, b. May 5, 1849 ; Alice Minerva, b. Sept. 0, 1851. Albertus B Langdon, son of Walter and Sophia Langdon, m. Nancy Batcliildcr, Jcnksville. Their children were : — Albertus, b. March 4, 1S3G ; Esther Davison, b. July 20, 18:», m. Henry Adams, Adams, Jan. 19, 18G0. WUliam H. Langdon, son of Walter and Sophia Langdon, m. Harriet N. Carley, Hatfield, Sept. 20, 1831. Their children were : — Charles Henry, b. March 20, 1833 ; Walter Carley, b. Sept. 20, 1834, m. Helen Ferry, Chicopee, 1S55 ; Mary Eliza, b. Oct. 22, ]83(), d. May 29, 1838; William Thompson, b. June 27, 1838; James Chapman, b. July 16, 1840, m. Ellen Chesebro, Springfield, Nov. 25, 1862 ; Mary Eliza, b. Nov. 13, 1842 ; Harriet Rosnbelle, b. Oct. 28, 1844 ; Jessie Wilson Rice, b. June 22, 1847 ; Emma Rosella, b. Sept. 10, 1849 ; Flora Franeelia, b. June 5, 1852; Carrie Isabella, b. May 29, 1858. William T. Langdon, son of Win. H. and Harriet N. Langdon, m. Kate B. Jenks, Ludlow, Nov., 1869. Their child was : — Anna Sophia, b. June, 1860. Oliver H. langdon, son of Walter and Sophia Langdon, m. Eliza Hubbard, Indian Orchard, Dec. 20, 1850. Their children were : — Annette Arletia, b. Oct. 19, 1851 ; Calvin Hanson, b. Oct. 18, 1853. He married his 2d wife, Mary R. Billings, Longmeadow, Oct. 15, 1858. Their childi-en were : — Mary Agnes, b. March 11, 1860; Joseph Oliver, b. April 11, 1862. John Langdon, son of Lieut. Paul and Mary Langdon, m. Sarah Stebbins Feb.. 1755. Their child was : — Sarah, b. July 12, 1755, m. Ebenezer Crocker, Kinderhook, N. Y. He m., 2d, Eunice Torrey, Mansfield, Conn., Dec. 29, 1757. He d. Oct 10, 1822. He was a man of great energy. Their children were : — John Wilson, b. March 11, 1759, m. Ashley, Springfield ; Arteraas, b. May 25, 1709, d. Oct. 2, 1760 ; Jaraes, b. March 27, 1762, m. Esther Stebbins ; Josiah, b. Jan. 12, 1765 ; Joanna, b. June 21, 1707, m. Preserved Leonard,. W. Springfield ; Oliver, b. Oct. 9, 1709; Eunice, b. Mar. 7, 1772, m. AsaMerritt, Blandford; Solomon, b. July 19, 1777. Of these five brothers, three were Methodist preachers, John W., Oliver, and Solo- mon ; and one was an " exhorter," James. The descendants of these four brothers reside in Cincinnati, Ohio, and vicinity. One of the daughters, Joanna, also re- moved to Ohio. Josiah Langdon,* sou of John and Eunice Langdon, m. Sally HaM, Middletown, Conn., Feb. 10, 1801. He d. Feb. 5, 1855. Their children were : — Josiah Hooker, b. Feb. 18, 1802, d. March 29, 1846; Seth Hall, b. April 8, 1804, d. Oct. 27, 1822; Sarah Eliza, b. July 22, 1806, m. Calvin Stebbins Jan. 16, 1833; Jo-hn Wilson, b. June 14, 1808; Mary Ann, b. Aug. 17, 1813, m. J. Wesley Bliss. John W. Langdon, son of Josiah and Sally Langdon, m. Mrs. Lydia L. McCray, Ellington, Conn., Nov. 18, 1840. Their child was : — John Morris, b. Aug. 13, 1843, d. Aug. 1, 1844. He m., 2d, Emily A. Stebbins, April 24, 1845. Their children were : — Louisa Wilson, b. May 23, 1848; Wilson Stebbins, b. Nov. 8, 1858. MERltICK FAMILY. Thomas Merrick was born in Wales, and came to this country about the year 1630, and settled in Roxbury. He removed to Springfield about the year 1635-36. He married Sarah Stebbins, of Springfield, 16.39. Tliey had five sons, four of whom, John, Thomas, Tilly, and James, married and had lamilies. Capt. John m. Mary Day, of Springfield, 1687. They had seven sons and six daughters. .Josiah Langdon was a man of literary taaU-, ai,d wrote cousiclernble poetry in I,is day. Hi. "Song of the Hoe " is the best known . 302 T/wmasm. H.annah Dumbleton, Dec, 1600. They had four sons aucl three daughters. Tilly m. .Sarah Cooley, Sept., 1004. They had one son and four daughters. James m. Sarah Hitchcock, July, 1095. They had four sons and three daughters. Thomas, son of Capt. John and Mary Merrick, married Eunice Stebbins, March, 1733, and settled in Wilbraham. Their children were : — Eunice, b. Dec, 1733, d. July, 1734. Eunice, the mother, d. July, 17.34, and Thomas, the father, m., for his 2d wife, Mary Warner, May, 1738. Their children were : — Timothy, b. May, 17.39, d. by the bite of a rattlesnake, Aug. 7, 1701; Eunice, b. Jlay, 1742, m. Dea. Gideon Burt, Jan., 1771 ; Lucy, b. Nov., 1746, d. October, 1752; Mary, b. Sept., 1751, m. Lieut. Jonathan Merrick, 1774. Dea. David Merrick, son of Thomas and Hannah Merrick, m. Mary Colton, Jan., 1735, and settled in Wilbraham. Their children were : — Mary, b. October, 1735, m. Reuben Chapin, Jan., 1701 ; David, b. May, 1739, d. in foieign lands; Thomas, b. May, 1741, d. February, 1742; Louis, b. October, 1743, m. Samuel Day, 1700; Jonathan, b. March, 1747, d. March, 1S12. Lieut. Jonathan Merrich, son of Dea. David and JIary Merrick, m. Mary Merrick, January, 1774. Tlieir children were : — Mary, b. April, 1775, m. Dr. Joel Lyman, of Ludlow; David, b. ^March, 1770, d. August, 1783; John, b. Feb., 1781; Thomas, b. May, 1784; Laura, b. March, 1780, d. Aug., 1780; Laura, b. January, 1780, m. Dr. Luther Brewer. Jonathan, the father, d. March, 1SI2; Jlary, the mother, d. Dec. 10, 1831. John, son of Jonathan and Mary Merrick, m. Harriet Brewer, December, 1804. Their chil- dren were : — John Marshall, b. December, 1806, d. December, 1806; Harriet Cornelia, b. March 21, 1808, d. Jan. 13, 1828; John Marshall, b. May 9, 1810; Susan Mary Ann, b. August, 1812, d. August, 1810. John, the father, died August, 1816; Harriet, the mother, m. John Bliss, April, 1818. Thomas Merrick, son of Lieut. Jonathan and Mar)' Jlerrick, m. Anna Brewer, January, 1806. Their children were : — Thomas Edwin, b. July, 1808 ; William Winslow, b. July, 1810; Daniel Delos, b. Nov., 1814. Thomas, the father, died Feb., 1818; Anna, the mother died at Clinton, La. John M. Merrick, son of John and Harriet Merrick, m. Mary J. Thompson of New Haven, Conn., March, 18.32. Their children were : — William Marshall, b. March 24, 1833 ; an infant son, b. December, 1830, d. December, 1836; Harriet Cornelia, b. September 15, 1843, m Rev. AVm. I. Warren, Ap. 14, 1801. Hon. Thomas E. Merrick, son of Thomas and Anna Merrick, m. Caroline Thomas, of Clin- ton, Louisiana, and settled in New Orleans. Wm. W. Merrick, son of Thomas and Anna Merrick, m. Eugene Hancock. Their children were : — Sarah Ann, b. Jan. 13, 1843, d. JLiy 16, 1844; Delos D., b. February 17, 1843. Dr. Daniel D. Merrick, son of Thomas and Anna Merrick, m. Isabella Smith, of Clinton, La., and settled in that place, and practised medicine there until his death. Wm. M. Merrick, son of John M. and Mary J. Merrick, m. Sarah M. Ketteks, Nov. 17, 1858. Their children were : — Evelyn, b. Nov. 19, 1859; Gertrude, b. Feb. 4, 1802; a son, b. Nov. 15, 1863. Rev. Noah Merrick, son of Lieut. James and Sarah jNIerrick, m. Abigail Brainard, October, 1744. Their children were : — Noah, b. Nov., 1745, drowned at Cambridge, June, 1702; Sarah, b. June, 1747, m. Col. Abel King, 1772; Chilea Brainard, b. Jlay, 1740; Samuel Fisk, b. September, 1751; Lydia, b. July, 1753, m. Rev. Aaron Church; I'liny, b. September, 1755, d. March, 1814 ; Lucy, b. September, 1757, d. September, 1757. Rev. Noah Merrick, the father, d. Dec, 1776; Abigail, the mother, d. Sept., 1807. Dea. Chileab B. Merrick, son of Rev. Noah and Abigail Jlerrick, m. Lucina Smith, Dec, 1773. Their children were : — Lucy, b. April, 1774, m. Wm. Perkins ; Lydia, b. Jan., 1776, m. George Forward ; Noah, 303 b. June, irsi ; Pliuy, b. Jim., ir.sC; Lucina Ahiiini, b. June, 1701 : Chileab I'.rai.iard b. 1793. Chileab, the father, d. Jlay 1, 1833; Luclna, the mother, d. Nov. 17, 1828. Dr. Samuel F. Merrick, son of Rev. Xoah and Abigail Merriclv, m. .Sarah Jlul^ins, July, 1780. Their children were : — Sarah, b. July, 1781, d. July 21, 1820; Abigail, b. February, 1783, drowned April 20, 1709, in Nine-mile Pond, with five others; Mary Mukins, b. March, 1785, m. S. Moseley; Thomas F. and Lydia Fisk (twins), b. December, 1704 ; Lucy, b. January, 1707. Samuel F., the father, d. Sept. 2, 1835. Pliny Merriclc, son of Rev. Noah Merrick and AbigaU his wife, m. December, 1789, Ruth Cutler, daughter of Maj. Gen. John Cutler of Brookfield. Their cliildren were : — Mira,b.at Brookfield Oct. 14, 1790; Francis F.,b. June 29, 1792, d. July 28, 1803; I'liny, b. Aug. 2, 1794; Nancy Cutler, b. Dec. 11, 1707, d. April 1, 1843; John, b. April 6, ISOO, d. September 6, 1804; Thornton A., b. Dec. IG, 1803, d. September 12, 1855; John Cut- ler, b. Dee. 7, 1809, d. May 15, 1857. Mira m., Nov. 2, 1817, Samuel Allen, of Worcester, who died February, 1803. Nancy Cutler m., 1829, Henry W. Miller, of Worcester. Koah Merrick, son of Dea. Chileab B. and Luclna Merrick, m. Statira Hayes, of Hartford, Conn., January, 1805. . Their children were : — Abigail, b. December, 1805, m. Paoli Lathrop; Roderick Smith, b. January, 1808; Rod- erick, b. January, 1810; Fanny, b. September, 1812, m. Ephraim Perkins; George Hayes, b. July, 1821, d. January 9, 1841; Hellen, b. February, 1824; Edward Dwight, b. August, 1827, d. June 7, 1830. Noah, the father, d. Nov. 10, 1850; Statira, the mother, d. November 19, 1840. Pliny Merrick, son of Dea. Chileab B. and Lucina Merrick, m. Florilla Moody, Jan., 1817. Their child was ■ — Frances Cutler, b. July 5, 1818, d. May 19, 1843. The mother d. March 28, 1819. The father m. Dorcas Newell, May, 1820 ; their children were : — Florilla, b, March 5, 1821, d. July 15, 1823 ; Dorcas Newell, b. Jan. 7, 1822, d. December 22, 1849; Pliny Kirkland, b. Jan. 10, 1824, d. in California, Dec. 8, 1849; Daniel Brain- ard, b. June 21, 1831 ; Florilla, b. Nov. 1, 1835. Samuel Fisk Merrick, son of Samuel F. and Sarah Jlerrick, m. Mary Starkweather, Septem- ber, 1812. Their children were : — Samuel Fisk, b. April 8, 1814, d. April 13, 1814; Martha, b. June, 1815, m. Mr. Gale; Abby Maria, b. June, 1817, m. Mr. Clark; Samuel Fisk, b. Sept. 27, 1819; Sarali Mu- kins, b. Nov., 1821, m. Mr. Mears; James, b. Dec, 1823; Roxanna S., b. March, 1820, m. 3Ir. Goodale; Charles S., b. November, 1828, d. December, 1844; Mary Jane, b. Aug. 4, 1831, m. J. R. Baker, d. December, 1859. Samuel F., the father, d. April 13, 1855; Sarah, the mother, d. Jan. 24, 1803. Hon. George Merrick, son of Samuel F. and Sarah Merrick, married and settled in Glas- tenbury, Conn. Roderick S. Merrick, son of Noah and Statira Merrick, m. Emily Bliss, November, 18.^3. Their children were : — Sophronia Warriner, b. February, 18.35, m. C. R. Starkweather; Abigail, b. May, 1838, m. William Seamans; Edward, b. May, 1842; Frederick, b. Nov., 1843; Emily b. Aug., 1851, d. March, 1853. Roderick, the father, d. March 30, 1853. Frederick Merrick, son of Noah and Statira 3Ierrick, m. S. Fidelia Griswold, and settled in Delaware, Ohio. Daniel r>. Merrick, son of I'liny and Dorcas Merrick, m. Anna L. Day, April 14, 1854. Their child was : — Dora, b. April 23, 1859. Samuel F. Merrick, son of Samuel F. and Mary Merrick, m. Amanda Weston. I heir child was : — Amanda Weston, b. October, 1853. 304 James Merriclt, son of Samuel F. and Mary Merrick, m. Eunice J. Libbey. Tlieir children were : — James Stewart, b. January, 1854; Fanny Jlerriam, b. September, 1.357. MORRIS FAMILY. Isaac Morkis married Sarah ChaiToe. He came from Woodstock, Conn., about the year 1760 or 01, and settled on Springfield Mountains. They had children, who bore the fol- lowing names : Hannah, Darius, Isaac, Joseph, Edward, Elizabeth, who died in child- hood; Sarah, Eunice, Chester, Ebenezer, Elizabeth, and Ephraim. Hannah Morris married John Davis. Darius married Elizabeth Fisher, and had two children, whose names were Sylvester and Asenath. His second wife was Kebecca Cliandler; tlieir children's names were, Eliza- beth, Josepli, Kebecca, Fanny, Sylenda, Hannah, and Sarah. Joseph married Lydia Russell. The names of their children v»'«re, Louisa, Delia, Abigail, Darius, Sylenda, Robert, Sylvester,, and Joseph. Isaac Morris married Irene Johnson. The names of their ehildren were, Mary, Sarah, Eu- nice, Isaac, Irene^ and Roxanna. Joseph died at Lake George, "in the service of his country," aged 21 years. Edward Morris served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War. He married Lucy Bliss. Their children were as follows : Oliver Bliss, Edward, Isaac, John Bliss, Lucy, Abby, Thirza, Richard Darius^ and Edward Alonzo. Oliver B. Morris married Caroline Bliss. Edward Morris married Sally Flynt. They had one child, Edward F, She died, and he married Mercy Flynt. The names of their children were, Sarali F., Cliarles, George F., Maria M., Henry, and Jonathan F. Sarah F. married Daniel D. Cliaffl'e, and had two daugliters, Catharine N. and Lucy M. • John B. Morris married Lucia Granger. The names of their children are, Caroline, Fran- cis G., William P., and Elizabeth L. Lucy Morris married Dr. Daniel Ufford. Their children's names .are Dixon D., Lucien, Lucy M., Mary G., Thirza M., and Edward W. Ahby Morris married Ralph R. Rollo. Richard D. Morris married Sybil Bonticou. Sarah Morris married Stephen Pease. Eunice Morris mariied Joshua Clark. Chester Morris married Betsey Wales. Ebeneser Morris married Kinda May. Elizabeth Morris married David Hume. Ejihraim Morris married I'amella Converse. BLISS (JOUX) FAMILY. John Bliss* married Abiel Cotton. They came from Longmoadow. He served as soldier in the French War, and as Lieutenant Colonel in the Revolutionary War. The names of the children were, Oliver ; Lydia, wlio died In January, 1755, and who was the first laid in the burying-ground in the Soutli Parish; Lydia; Abiel, and Lucy. Lydia married Rev. Moses Warren. The names of their children were, Moses, Lydia, John Bliss, and Aaron. Lydia Warren married Rev. Levi Smith. John B. Warren married Caroline Atwood. Aaron Warren married Betsey Stacy; the names of their children are, Lydia B., Moses H., and John B. Abiel Bliss married Josiah Cooley. Lucy Bliss married Edward Morris. (See Morris Family). • John Bliss was a man ofgreat influence, and of high native talent He was born 1727; was a self-taught man, an ardent Whig in the Revolution, a member of the Provincial Congress, a representative in the Legisla- ture for eight years, a senator, a judge of the Court of Common Fleas, a colonel of militia ; almost always, for many years, moderator of town-meetings : and he held numerous other offices of trust and responsibility. He was a public man. He died in 1809. — ■/. G. Holland. 305 n us SELL FAMILY. EzEKiEi. Russell was b. in Reading, Mass., in 1721, and d. in Wilbraham, Jan, :i, IS02. Tabatiia Flynt, his wife, was b. also in Reading, Mass., and d. in Wilbraham Jan. 4, 1808. After their marriage in Reading, they removed to Ashford, Ct., in what year it is not known. Tliey removed from Ashford to Wilbraham in 1709. Their children were as follows : — Ezekiel, b. 1753, d. 1795; Tabatha, b. 1755, d. 1778, aged 23 years; Robert, b. June 2, 1757, d. Deo. 9, 18.36 ; Benjamin, b. 17(i2, d. in the army, 1778, aged IG years; Asa, b. 1765, time of death unknown. Of these children, Esekielm. for his first wife, Susan Hills, by whom he had no children. For his second wife he m. Hannah Jleacham, of Somers, Ct., by whom he bad the following chil- dren : — Benjamin Hills, b. June 23, 1780, d. Oct. 2, 1848; Ezekiel, d. in infancy; Submit, d. in infancy; Submit, d. in infancy; Joseph, b. 1788, d. 1850; Susan, b. 1790, d. 1823. Tabatha m. Nathan Stedman. Their children were : — Nathan^ Beulah^ Sophia; Erastus ; Abigail; Achsia. Robert Russell m. Lydia Beebe. Their children were : — Hepsibah, b. Sept. 3, 1783; Lydia, b. July 9, 1785; Robert, an infant, d. Jan. 2, 1788; Robert, b. Aug., 1890, d. Feb. 10, 1825. He was a graduate of Williams College, studied law, and died at Hebron, Ct. Asa Russell m. Thankful Foot; had a number of children, who, with their parents lived and died in Western New York. Benjamin Hills Russell m. Lydia Tilden, who was b. in Stoughtou, Mass., June 28, 1780, and d. June 15, 1847. Their children were : — Ezekiel; Mary Withington ; Lydia; Cortez Flynt; Adeline; Lucy; Horace Meach am. Ezeldel Russell, and the father of the Hendricks, owned a tract of land extending from the road tliat crosses the mountain, by Samuel Beebe's, to the North Parish, eastward to the Monson line, which, after the purcliase, tliey divided between them. The Russell portion remained in the hands of the family for about one hundred and thirty years. Ezekiel Russell had a brother in Reading, who was never man led, whose name was Benjamin. He had a negro slave, whom he manuinitted, and to whom he gave all hi.s property at his deatlu STEBBINS FAMILY. The Stebbinses, not only of this town, but of the whole eoantry, are descendants of Rowland Stebbing (as the name was first spelled in this country, and as it is now universally spelled in England), who came to this country in 1634. He was born in 15'.M, near Cambridge in England, and was a friend of Wm. Pynchon. In the family name, Stebbing, the termination ing is supposed to be of Saxon origin, and means, field, so that the name is descriptive, as all family names at first were, meaning stub fi^Ul. Hence, in the early mention of the name, 1235 and 1-324, a prefix rfe is used, John de Steb- bing, Nicholas de Stybbynge. The eai-liest mention of the name yet discovered is in the chancery books of the county of Essex, 1201, where, in the hundi-ed of Hincford, there i.s a town or parish of Stebbing. The armorial bearings of Stebbing (London and Wisset-, Co. Suffolk). Quarterly, or and gu.; on a bend Sa. five bezants. — Crest, a lion's head erased ar. Rowland, aged 40, brouglit with him from England his wife, Sarah, aged 43; Thomas, aged 14; Sarah, .iged 11; John, aged 8; Elizabeth, aged fl. He stopped a short time in Roxbury, where Sarah, his wife, died Oct. 4, 1649, tlien came to Springfield, to his friend Pynchon. The father and his son John soon removed to Northampton, where Kowhmd died, Dec. 14, 1071, aged 77. His gr.ave was opened by Daniel Stebbins, M. D., 1850, aft«T the remains had been buried 179 years, and a marble slab, with suitable inscription, was Ki be placed at the head of the grave. A granite cenotaph had been erected to his memory in Dr. Stebbins's family square, as early as 1840, when his descendants had despaired o( identifying his grave. All the "up river" Stebbinses are descendants of ^oAh, of North- 39 306 ampton; the " down river" Stebbinses, of Thomas, of Springfield. Tlie Wilbraham Steb- binses came from Longmeadow. Rowland Stebbins (l), b. 159i; Sarah, his wife, b. 1591. Their cliikh-en were: — Thomas (2),b. 1620; Sarah (2), b. 1()23; John (2), b. 1620; Elizabeth (2), b. 1028. Thomas Stebhins (2), eldest son of Rowland, m. Nov. 1645, Hannah, dr. of Dea. Samuel Wright. He died Sept. 25, 1083, aged 03. She died Oct. 10, 1000, and he m. for his 2d wife, Abigail, widow of Henjamin Munn. Their children were : — Samuel (3), b. Sept. 19, 1010; Thomas (3), b, July 31, IMS ; Joseph (3), b. Blay 18, 1050, d. ; Joseph (3), b. Oct. 2-1, 1052; Sarah (3), Aug. 6, 1054; Edward, b. April, 14, 1650; Benjamin, b. April 11, 1058 ; Hannah, b. Oct. 1, 1000. Samuel Stebbins (3), the eldest son of Thomas (2), m. Joanna Lamb, July 22, 1679. Their children were : — Thomas (4), b. Dec, 20, 1081; Samuel (4), b. May 13, 108.1, and others. Samuel Stebbins (4), m. Hannah, dr. of Luke Hitchcock, Jan. 30, ir07. He d. June 17, 1707, aged 84. Their children were : — Samuel (5), b. June 19, 170S; Jonathan (5), b. Oct. 24, 1709; Stephen (5), b. Oct. 10, 1711; Hannah, b. June 10, 1713, m. Moses Parsons; Aaron (5), b. Feb. 20, 1715; Joanna, b. Nov. 1, 1710, m. James Firman, July 31, 1740; Moses (5), b. Dec. 4, 1718; Luke (5), b. Jan. 28, 1722 ; Sarah (5),b. Nov. 8, 1725, d. ; Nehemiah (5), b. April 14, 1727, m.fo Elizabeth Morgan, Oct. 3, 1753; Thankful (5), b. March 4, 1730, d. . Samuel Stebbins (5), m. Mary Knowlton, March 22, 17.34; moved from Longmeadow to Wilbraham, 17.35. She died Aug. 22, 1750. Their children were: — Mary (0),b. Aug. 23, 17.35, d. — ^r— ; Thankful (0), b. Feb. 14, 17-37, m. Paul Langdon, May 5, 1757; Seth (6), b. Jan. 8, 1739, d. ; Noah (6), b. Oct, 13, 1741; Mary (0), b. March 25, 1744, m. Enos, son of Jonathan Stebbins, April 21, 1703; Mercy (0), b. Feb. 12, 1747; Samuel (0), b. Sept. 8, 1751; Seth (0), b. July 17, 175.3, d. . Stephen Stebbins (5), son of Samuel (4), m. Oct. 9, 17-33, Sarah Bliss ; moved from Long- meadow to Wilbraham, 1741. Their children were : — Sarah (6), b. May 15, 1734, m. John Langdon; Eunice (0), b. Dec. 15, 17.35, d. ; El- dad (6), b. Aug. 13, 1737 ; Phineas (0), b. May 19, 1739 ; Zadock (0), b. Aug. 12, 1741 ; Eu- nice (0), b. Nov. 15, 1743, m. David Lyon May 17, 1764; Ruth (6), b. Feb. 10, 1740; Han- nah (0), b. Aug. 10, 1748; Stephen (0), b. Sept. 28, 1750, d. ; Stephen (6), b. April 28, 1752; Gad (0), b. Feb. 12, 1756. Aaron Stebbins (5), son of Samuel (4), m. Mary Wood, Oct. 18, 1744. Their children were : Mary (0), b. June 19, 1748, m. George Saxton; Aaron (0), b. March 20, 1750; James (0), b. Dec. 31, 1751, d. ; Seth (6), b. Sept. 0, 1754; Martha (0), b. Feb. 15, 1757, d. ; James (0), b. Oct. 6, 1700; This family removed early to Vershire, Vt. " proses Stebbins (5), son of Samuel (4), m. Dorcas Hale, June 27, 1749. Their children were: Moses (0), b. May 3, 1750; Calvin (0), b. July .30. 1751 ; Esther (0), b. Jan. 20, 1755; Am- brose (6), b. Oct. 17, 1756; Dorcas (6), b. Feb. 17, 1759, d. ; David (6), b. Feb. 29, 1760; Timothy (6), b. April 17, 1702; Dorcas (6), b. Aug. 2, 1705; Chester (0), b. Jan. 23, 1709; Thankful (6), b. March 21, 1773. Lieut. Noah Stebbins (0), son of Samuel (5), was m. to Margaret Stebbins, dr. of Jonathan Stebbins, May 22, 1706. Their children were : — Noah (7), b. Feb. 12, 1766; Azariah (7), b. Oct. 27, 1707; Margaret (7), b. May 5, 1709, m. Augustus Sisson; Elijah (7), b. Jan. 14, 1772; Luther (7), b. Oct. 25, 1773; Marcy (7), b. Dec. 8, 1775; Luther (7), b. June 12, 1777; John (7), b. Aug. 13, 1779; Charity (7), b. Nov. 23, 1781 ; Persis (7), b. Sept. 23, 1784. Eldad Stebbins (0), son of Stephen (5), m., April 11, 1705, Ann Badger, dr. of Henry Badger. Their children were : — Ann (7), b. Feb. 4, 1761, m. Noah Stebbins (7); Bina (7), b. Aug. 11, 1767, m. Samuel Lyman ; Eldad (7), b. June 13, 1767; d. ; Gilbert (7), b. March 11, 1769, m. Mary Wood, removed to New York; Luther and Calvin (7), b. March 2, 1771, d. ; Lovice (7), b. March 7, 1772, d. ; Eldad (7), b. April 4, 1774; Luther (7), b. Sept. 29, 1770 ; Calvin (7), b. March 5, 1778; Alpheus (7), b. July 28, 1780; Lovice (7), b. Dec. 7, 1782, m. Stephen Stebbins (7). I'hineas Stebbins (0), son of Stephen (5), m., May 19, 1707, Ann Chaffee. Their children were : - 307 Phiueas (7), b. July 13, 17()S ; Anna (7), b. March 7, 17f)9; Walter (7), b. Dec. 30, 1770; Silas (7), b. Oct. 30, 1772, d. ; Harvey (7), b. , removed to New York ;' Lucina (7), b. Jan. 29, 1775, d. ; Lucina (7), b. Sept. 12, 1780, m. Luther Stebbins. Zadock Stebbins (0), m. Elizabeth Fease, Nov. li), 1704. Their children were : — Zadock (7), b. April 2, 17C5; Augustus (7), b March 28, 17G7; John (7).b. Sept. 15, 17C9; riavia (7), b. Nov. .30, 1771, m. John Roper; Cliauncey (7), b. Aug. 13, 1774; Abigail (7), b. Aug-. 14, 1776. Stephen Stebbins (fi), m. Chloe Hale, 1770. Their children were : — Stephen (7), b. Oct. 18, 1779, d. 18(53; Sylvanus (7), b, Aug. 15,1781; Solomon (7), b. Aug. 2, 1783 ; Porter (7), b. , d. ; Samuel (7), b. , d. ; Chloe (7), b. , m. (1) Ira Leach, m. (2) Converse Sliepard. Moses Stebbins, (6), son of Moses (5), m. Hannah Hale, of Enfield, 1770. Their children were : — Clarissa (7) ; Warren, d. ; Asenath (7), m. Amasa Worthington, Williamstown, Vt.; Hannah, (7), ra. Geo, Calkins, Waterbury V^t.; Milo (7), m. Betsey Fisk, Wil- liamstown, Vt. ; David (7); Dorcas (7), m. Abijah White, Williamstown, Vt.; Flavel (7), m. Chloe Warner; Moses. Moses, the father, m. (2) Catharine Chapin, Ludlow. Calvin Stebbins (G), son of Moses (5), m. Sarah Saxton, May 5, 1785. Their children were : Sarah (7), b. Sept. 6, 1780, d. March 14, 1852; Experience (7), b. Sept. 30, 1787; Cal- vin (7), b. Oct. 20, 1789, m. Fanny Gager, Wellington, Ct. ; Gorhani (7), b. Dec. 24, 1791, m. Lydia Shutts, Hinsdale, N. Y.; Charlotte (7), b. Sept. 24, 1793; Laura (7), b. Dec. 25, 1795, d. Feb. 27, 1797; Amanda (7), b. Nov. 10, 1797, m. Kobert Sessions. David Stebbins (ij), son of Moses (5), m. Mary Charter, Ellington, Ct., Marcli 11. 1790. He died Jan. 24, 1844. Their children were : — Mary (7), b. Dec. 10, 1790, m. John Selden, m. Benoni Atchinsou ; Marcia (7), b. Aug. 23, 1792; John Cliarter (7), b. Sept. 28, 1794, m. Anna Greggs, Brimfield, Mass. ; Lucia (7), b. Dec. 14, 179(), m. James Stanton, May 27, 1829; Erastus Hill (7), b. Marcli 1, 1800, ra. Betsey Langdon; David Austin (7), b. Dec. 13, 1803, d. Jan. 24, 1800. Aaron Stebbins (6), son of Aaron (5), m. Mary — . Their children were : — Seth (7), b. Jan. 23, 1701 ; Enoch (7), b. Jan. 5, 1763. Noah Stebbins (7), sou of Noah (6), m. Anna Stebbins, dr. of Eldad Stebbins (0), Jan. 5, 1792. Their children were : — Ferocia (8), b. April 2, 1793, m. Ephraim Fuller, d. Sept. 3, 18.34; Sempronia (8), b. May 10, 1794, in. Daniel Mixter; Minerva (8), b. Jan. 3, 179l>, d. Aug. 14, 18.39; Anna Miranda (8), b. July 23, 1797, d. Jan. 1798; Anna Miranda (8), b. Oct. 23, 1798, d. Marcli 7, 18.38; Almira (8), b. Oct. 11, 1800, d. May 10, 1845 ; Noah Granger (8), b. July 2, 1802; Henry Badger (8), b. Jan. 20, 1805, d. Dec. 16, 18.33; Lucinda (8), b. Jan. 23, 1808, m. Edwin Walkley, Montgomery, Ala., d. . Noah Stebbins, the father, d. June 7, 1828. Anna, the motlier, d, March 10, 1861. Luther Stebbins (7), son of Noah (6), m. Phebe Hitchcock, Nov. 27, 1805. He died Aug. 18, 1800. Their cliildren were : — Orson (8), b. July 9, 1807; Laura (8), b. March 12, 1809, m. Smith Calkins ; Margaret (8), b. Feb. 4, 1812, m. Isaac W. Leach, Aug. 4, 1830; Desire (8), b. Sept. 23, 1814. d. March 2,1845; Sally(8),b. Oct. 23, 1810, m. Manassah Knowlton, Feb. 27, 1839; Milton (8), b. Junes, 1819; Phcbe (8), b. Dec. 13, 1820, m. Seymour Hills, Somers, Ct.; Hiram (8),b. April 6, 1823, m. Mary Houghton, and (2) Susan Lawrence; Lucia (8), b. June 28, 1825, m. Stebbins Fosket March 13, 1847. Luther Stebbins (7), son of Eldad (6), m. Lucina (7), dr. of Phineas (0). He d. Aug. 31, 1825, a-^ed 49. She d. Jan. 28, 1848, aged 07. Their children were : — Lutlier Lester (8), b. Feb. 7, 1803, m. Sophia Shaw, Oct. 15, 1829; Lucina Elvira (8), b Auo- .30 1807, m. Thomas Isham; Rufus Phineas (8), b. 3Iarch 3, 1810, m. Eliza C. Livermore, Cambridge, Sept., 1837; Emily Anna (8), b. Dec. 17, 1822, m. JohnLang- Calvin°Stebbins (7), son of Eldad Stebbins (6), m. Amelia Adanfis, dr. of John and Rebecca Adams, Nov. .30, 1815. He d. Jan. 22, 1859. She d. Dec. 14, 1827. He m. (2) Sarah Eliza Langdon, Jan. 16, 1833. The children by 1st wife were : - Roderick (8), b. Nov. 14, 1816, m. ; Randolph (8), b. Aug. 24, 1819, m. Sophl.a 1 . Keyes, Longmeadow, Nov. 18, (.') 1800; Horatio (8), b. Aug. 8. 1821, m. ; Calvin 308 Adams (8), b. May 29, 1825, d. Sept. 25, 1820; an infant son, b. Oct. 5, 1827, d. Oct. 10. Cliililren by 2d wife: — An infant son, b. Oct. 13, 18-34, d. Oct. 29; Calvin (8) b. April 22, 1830; Amelia (8), b. Oct. 8, 1837, d. Nov. 12, 1857. Alpheus Stebbins (7), son of Eldad (0), m. Mary Holt, West Springfield, Nov. 14, 1805. He d. Sept. 25, 1857. Their children were : — Melissa (8) b. June 2, 1802, d. ; Eldad Holt (8), b. July 1, 1809, m. Miriam Chaffee, April 3, 1832; Dwight Mason (8), b. Aug. 7, 1811, m. Tryphena Sikes, Aug. 27, 184- ; Clarissa (8), b. June 24, 1813, d. Sept. 8, 1830; Jackson (8), b. Nov. 4, 1815; Dixon (8), b. Feb. 13, 1818, d. ; Margaret A. (8), b. May 3, 1820, d. Feb. 1, 1850; Mary (8), b. Nov. 5, 1825, d. . Ste])hen Stebbins (7), son of Stephen (0), m. Lovice (7), dr. of Eldad (0). She d. May 16, 1857. He d. , 1803. Their children were : — Mary Ann (8), b. Aug. 9, 1807, d. Oct. 23, 1825 ; Celestina (8) b. Sept. 20, 1810, m. Lyman Phelps, Springfield, May 23, 1849; Angeline (8), b. Jan. 28, 1813, d. June 19, 1839; Juliana (8), b. July, 1815, d. Oct. 21, 1831 ; Jane Maria (8), b. Feb., 1820, d. July 25, 1841 ; Frances C. (8), b. Feb. 1822, d. Dec. 14, 1843; Sarah Cordelia (8), b. July 23, 1823, m. Solomon West, Nov. 14, 185-. Phineas Stebbins (7), son of Phineas (0), m. Phebe Dunham. He d. Nov. 6, 1822. She d. . Their children were : — Oliver (8), m. Rachel Dunham had William; Orin (8), m. Burleigh; MeziesRay- ner (8), m. Julia Lyman, had Edmund and Lucina; Caroline (8), b. 1800, d. Oct. 1823; Isaac (8), d. Oct. 1823 ; Persis (8), m. Reuben Cadwell, (2) Ransom Sperry. Walter Stebbins (7), son of Phineas (6) m. Azubah, dr. of John Carpenter, Oct. 0, 1801, m. (2), Esther W. King, May 1, 1837. He d. April 19, 1855. Azubah d. . Their children were : — Clark Brown (8), b. Oct. 8, 1802, m. Margaret Tobey, Springfield: Olive Chapel (8), b. March -30, 1804, m. Rodolphus Chaffee ; William Carpenter (8), b. Aug. 13, ISOO, m. Eliza Perrin, March 3, 1829, had Frances Ann Eliza, b. June 5, 1830, he d. April 8, 1801 ; Anna Maria (8), b. Nov. 13, ISOS, m. Alvin Day ; Almira Waitstill (S), b. May 25, 1812, m. Horace Pease ; Jackson Walter (8), b. Aug. 9, 1820, m. Fanny M. Burt, killed in 2d battle of Bull Run, Aug. 29, 1802 ; Stillman Needham, b. Aug. 19, 1822, killed by lightning, July 15, 1834. Augusttis Stebbins (7), son of Zadock (0). m. . Chauncey Stebbins (7), son of Zadock (0), m. Nancy Chaffee, m. (2) Huldah Chaffee. Their children were : — Chauncey ; Nancy, . David Stebbins (7), son of Moses (6), m. Mary Cone. He d. 1850. Their children were : — Persis (8), b. Nov. 25, 1814; George (8), b. March 5, 1816, m. Orissa Kingsley, May, 1836; Emily (8), b. Nov. 18, 1817, m. R. Oscar Sessions, April 13, 1843; Jane (8), d. ; Dudley (8); Alfred (8;, m. Emeline Hendrick, May, 1847; Lafayette (8); Jane (8), b. Aug., 1827; Mary (8), b. April, 1829. Moses Stebbins (7), son of Moses (6), m. Ruth Thwing. Their children were : — Horace (8); Hannah (8); Semantha: family removed to Ohio. Afoses Granger Stebbins (8), son of Noah Stebbins (7), m. Sophronia Hitchcock, Oct. 2, 1833. Their children were : — Amelia Sophia (9), b. Oct. 13, 1834; George Henry (9), b. April 29. 1838, m. Harriet Bugbee, Feb., 1802; Benjamin Franklin (9), b. Jan. 12, 1840, d. June 24, 1842; Lu- cinda Victoria (9), Oct. 16, 1842; Benjamin Franklin (9), b. May 8, 1847, d. Sept. 9, 1850; Byron G. (9), b. Sept. 28, 1850. Orson Stebbins (8), son of Luther (7), grandson of Noah (0), m. Nancy Barnes, Palmer, July 1, 1835. Their children were : — Lucinda (9), b. Nov. 1836, d. Sept. 11, 1838; Henry (9), b. 1839. Milton Stebbins (8), son of Luther (7), grandson of Noah (0), m. Angeline H. Wood, Fayette- ville, Vt., March 6, 1845. Their children were : — Jane (9), b. Aug. 2, 1840; Charles (9), b. Feb. 10, 1855. Randolph Stebbins (S), son of Calvin Stebbins (7), m. Sophia P. Keyes, Longmeadow, Nov^ 18 (•?), 1840. Their children were : — 309 Frank Randolph (9), b. 184->, d. in Hospital at Nevvbern, N. C, 1803; Amelia Sophia ('.)), b. Feb. 1844, m. ; Emma Celestina (9), b. March, 1847. Luther Lester Sfebbins (8), son of Luther (7), grandson of Eldad (C), m. Sophia, dr. or Luther Shaw, Oct. 15, 1829. Their children were : — Luther (9) b. Sept. 1.3, 1831, m. ; Lueian (9), b. Feb. 1, 1833; m. ; Cyrus (9), b. Nov. 11, 1S35; Jane Maria (9), b. Aug. 31, 1841, d. Feb. 4, 1844 ; Jane Maria (9), b. Dec. 3, 1843; Maria Jane (9), b. June 9. 1845; Rufus Phineas (9), b. Oct. 20, 1849, d. 18()1 (.'). Family removed to to Pittsfield, Pike Co., Illinois. Rufus Phineas Sfebbins (8), son of Luther (7), grandson of Eldad (0), m. Eliza C. Liver- more, Cambridge, Sept. 11, 18.37. Their child was: — Nathaniel Livermore (9), b. Jan. 9, 1847. There was an Aaron Stebbins resided on the farm north of l\Ir. Tliomas Lsham's, many years ago, whose connection with the other Stebbinses I am not able to trace. He removed to the Reserve in Ohio, long since. The children were Aaron, Joel, Dan, Enoch, Rebecca, Rhoda, Eunice, Mary, Lois. There was an Enos Stebbins, wlio lived, before and during the period of the Revolution, near Dea. John B. Morris's, who was connected with the other Stebbinses thus: — Uowland (1) had Tliomas (2), who had Samuel (3), who had Samuel (4), who had Jonathan (5), who had, Enos (0), b. July 20, 1740, m. Mary, dr. of Samuel (5), his own cousin. Their children were : — Mary (7), b. April 21, 1763; Eleanor (7), b. May 16, 1764; Jonathan (7), b. Nov. 1, 1705; Beulah (7), b. Sept. 24, 1767; Cloe (7), b. May 7, 17G9; Byram (7), b. 1771 ; Brainard (7), b. Feb. 25, 1773; Bliss (7), b. Jan. 20, 1775. Stebbins C Caleb J Family. This family is descended from Rowland, thus : — Rowland's son, Thomas (2), had Thomas (3), who had Thomas (4), who had Caleb (5), who had Caleb (6), b. Jan. 8, 1742, who came to Wilbraham, and who m. Mehitable Cliapin, (b. Sept. 4, 1740), Jan., 17C5. He died March 28, 1787, aged 45. She died Feb. 28, 1808, aged 62. Their children were : — Mindwell (1st), b. Feb. 7, 1700, d. JIarch 22, 1766; Mindwell (2d), b. April 19, 1767; Frederick, b. April 4, 1768, d. April 1, 1854; Rufus, b. Jan. 2, 1770, d. July 3, 1801; Caleb, b. 3Iarch 28, 1771, d. Feb. 9, 1777; Lois, b. Aug. 19, 1772; John, b. Sept. .3, 1773, d. Jan. 11, 1857; Elizabeth, b. Jan. 22, 1775; Roxana, b. March 25, 1776; Caleb, b. Dec. 11, 1777 ; Josiah, b. Feb. 26, 1779; Luther, b. Oct. 27, 1780; Martha, b. Aug. 4, 1782, d. Jan. 3, 1783; Lucus, b. April 10, 1785, d. June 9, 1785. Frederick Stebbins, for his 1st wife, m. Mary Parsons, of Enfield, Ct., who died Jan. 7, 1809, aged 39, and by whom he had five children : — Polly; Ralph, who d. Dec, 1852, aged 55 years; Persis; John, who d. May 16, 1805, aged 4 years ; Harry, who d. Feb. 12, 1804, aged 8 months. Frederick Stebbins, b. April 4, 1768, d. April 1, 1854, aged 86 years. Sylvia Edson, his 2d wife, dr. of Benjamin Edson, of Wilbraham, was b. May 20, 1789, m. July 1, 1810, d. June 21, 1862, aged 73. Their children were : — Minerva, b. Jan. 31, 1811, still living; Jason, b. Sept. 27, 1812, still living; Harry, b. Feb 9, 1815, d. same year; Jerry, b. March 22, 1810, d. 1817: Jane, b. Feb. 12, IS is, d. April, 1848; Charlotte, b. July 1, 1820, d. March, 1845; Sarah Ann, b. Nov. 16, 1822, still living; George H.,b. May 11, 1825, still living. „,„,- Jason Stebbins m. Elvira Colton, dr. of David Colton, of Monson, Mass., Nov. 9, 183,. Their children were : — t i i Henry J., b. Sept. 8, 18.38; Harriet E., b. Oct. 13, 1840, d. June 5, 1842; Ellen J b. <)uiu-, 1843 ; Stillman C, b. May 27, 1845; Artlmr L., b. Feb. 15, 1849; John G., b. Jeb. 23, 1851. George H. Stebbins m. Cynthia A. Billings, Jencksville, April, 1850. Their children were : Frederick L., b. Feb. 3, 1852; Frank E., b. Feb. 10, 1854; Fannie A , b. bept. 3, is,«. 310 WARNER FAMILY. Daniei^ Warner m. Jerusha Hitchcock, and settled in Wilbraham about tlie year 173'^ or 3, — tlie tliird family that came into town. Their children were : — Comfort, b. March 15, 1734, the first child b. in this town, d. July 14, 1757; Daniel, b. Dec. 20, 1735, d. July 22, 1748; Jesse, b. Oct. 15, 1738; Jerusha, b. Aug. 17, 1741, d. Nov. 1, 1749; David, b. April 11, 1746, d. April 12, 1746; Daniel, b. July 22, 1748. Daniel, the father, d. July 23, 1774, aged 66. Jerusha, the mother, d. Dec. 2, 1797, aged 88. Jesse, son of Daniel and Jerusha Warner, m. Hannah . Their children were : — Jesse, b. Sept. 11, 1702, d. Sept. 18, 1764; Jerusha, b. Jan. 15, 1705; Jesse, b. Sept. 15, 1765; Daniel, b. July 14, 1767, drowned in Chicopee Kiver Feb. 20, 1807; Clarissa, b. June 5, 1769, d. ; Ichabod, b. Aug. 22, 1771 ; David, b. Nov. 26, 1773, d. June 0, 1775; David, b. Aug. 22, 1775; Noah, b. June 29, 1777, d. Oct. 8, 1778; Clarissa, b. Jan. 10, 1780; Noah, b. Aug. 8, 1783. Jesse, son of Jesse and Hannah Warner, m. Mary . Their children were : — Polly, b. May 17, 1787, d. Oct. 21, 1799; Nathan, b. Sept. 22, 1789; David, b. ; Cla- rissa, b. March 7, 1794; Thomas, b. July 18, 1790; Jesse, b. Nov. 25, 1798; Pynchon, b. April 8, ISOl; John, b. . David, son of Jesse and Hannah Warner, m. Sarah Lyon. Their children were : — Daniel, b. Aug. 7, 1792; Wm. Colton, b. April 21, 1801; Philip Lyon, b. Dec. 11. 1803. Samuel ira,r»er (surnamed "Clark"), m. Mary Gilling July 17, 1735 (?). Their children were : — Samuel, b. 1733 ( ?); Hannah, b. July 8, 1735, d. May 20, 1751 ; Mary, b. August 16, 1737; Rhoda, b. Oct. 0, 1739; Elisabeth, b. October 7, 1741 ; Nathaniel E., b. Jan. 24, 1744; Phanuel, b. June 19, 1745, d. June 9, 1770, in the Army ; Asenath, b. March, 8, 1749. Mary, the mother died June 0,1754. The father m. Hannah . Their children were : — Hannah, b. July 20, 1701; James, b. Nov. 11, 1703; Azriel, b. August 28, 1766; Sally, b. July 18, 1770. Samuel, Jr., son of Samuel and Mary Warner, m. Ann . Their children were : — Ann, b. Nov. 17, 1758 ; Seth, b. Dec. 2, 1700 ; Louisa, b. May 26, 1762; Samuel, b. Nov. 27, 1763. The father died Dec. 14, 1823, aged 90 years. Azriel, son of Samuel and Hannah Warner, m. Betsey Shaw, Nov. 7, 1793. Their children were : — Polly Shaw, b. August 17, 1794 ; Laura Belden, b. Sept. 13, 1796; Azriel Corban, b. April 28, 1799 ; William Bowman, b. February 15, 1805. James, son of Samuel and Hannah Warner, m. Olive Kilbon, January 8, 1792. Their chil- dren were : — Lucinda, b. AprD, 1792; Caroline, b. June 11, 1795 ; James Franklin, b. Jan. 15, 1802. Samuel Warner, .Jr., son of Samuel Warner, Jr., b. November 27, 1763, m. 1792, d. September 30, 1824; Eunice Jones, his wife, b. Nov. 24, 1771 ; d. April 14, 1859. Their children were : — Abigail, b. Feb. 9, 1793, m. Orrin Webster; Vashni, b. Nov. 10, 1794, m. Nov. 10, 1817, Mer- tia Alden, d. Sept. 6, 1834; Polly, b. January 29, 1797, d. Oct. 21, 1799 ; Eunice, b April 13, 1799, d. Oct. 29, 1800; Samuel, b. May 14, 1801, m. Oct. 25, 1827, Emeline Cooley, d. Oct. 28, 1859; Mary, July 14, 1803, m. April 4, 1827, Horace Clark, d. April 9, 1828; Levi, b. Feb. 17, 1806, m. March 26, 1833, Lorinda Alden ; Hiram, b. March 17, 1808, d. Aug. 31, 1826; Lucinda, b. April 14, 1811, ni , Jan. 1, 1837, Julius Parker; Edmund, b. August 3, 1813, m. Elizabeth AVoodruflr, d. 1851. Vashni Warner, son of Samuel and Eunice Warner, m. 31ertia Alden, Nov. 10, 1817. Their children were : — Sarah, b. Aug. 25, 1818, m. December, 1843, Amos H. Putnam; Lyman, b. February 12, 1820; Eunice, b. Aug 0, 1821, m. Nov. 21, 1855, Reuben Jones; Alden, b. April 14, 1823, m. April 14, 1846, Catherine Dimmick ; Phidelia, b. February 8, 1825, d. April 10, 1845; Hiram, b. January 28, 1827, m. Jan. 16, 1850, Clarinda Eaton ; Vashni, b. Oct. 12, 1828, m. April 15, 1859, Julia E. Converse; James, b. Aug. 25, 1830, m. April, 1856, Almira Miller; Ellen, b. June 15, 1832, m. June 15. 1855, George Foster, d. April 28, 1859. 311 Samuel Warner, Jr., son of Samuel and P:iinice Warner, m. Emelinc Coolev, October 25, 1827. Tlieir chiklren were : — Francis J., b. Oct. 2C, 1S29, m. April 21, 1S53, Laura A. Diminick: Mary L., b. June .30, 1831, m. Jan. 1, 1857, William H. Lyman; Edmund W., b. June 5, 183f), d. iMarch 15, 1837 ; Emma A., b. July 1, 18.30, d. Oct. 2, 1813; Clarissa O., b. Dec. 14, 1841, d. Octo- ber 27, 1843; Dwight \Y., h. Nov. 4, 1851, d. February 24, 1852. Levi Warner, son of Samuel and Eunice Warner, m. Lorinda Akkn, March 2(;, I8.!3. Their children were : — Lucinda B., b. June 5, 1835, d. Jan. 13, 1839; Lorinda A., b. March 22, 1837, d. Jan. 25, 1830; Edmund W., b. June 28, 1838, d. August 14, 18G3, soon after discharge from ser- vice as a Mass. volunteer; George A., b. July 13, 1840 ; Levi J., b. Dee. 31, 1842, d. Augusts, 1802, in U. S. service at Beaufort, S. C. ; Simeon B. July 4, 18-14. Aklen Warner, son of Vashni Warner and Mertia his wife, m. Catherine Dimmick, April 14, 1846. Their children were : — Fidelia C, b. November 20, 1847; Ella A., b. September, 1850, d. April 17, 1857; Emma L., b. July 23, 1850; Frank A., b. Nov. 20, 1800; Silas D., b. Dec. 8, 1802. Hiram Warner, son of Vashni and Mertia Warner, m. Clarinda Eaton, January 10, 18.50. Their children were : — Jane O., b. October, 1850; Frederick B., b. February, 1850; H. Leroy, b. Jlay, 1850; Lizzie, b. July 3, 1803. Francis J. Warner, son of Samuel Warner and Eunice his wife, m. Laura A. Dimmick, April 21, 1853. Their children were: — Charles F., b. July 17, 1850; L. Roselle, b. June 20, 1850; Clara E., b. October 20, 1801. WARRINER FAMILIES. Ben.tajiin Warriner, b. 1098, m. Mercy . Their children were : — Benjamin, b. ; Eunice, b. April 3, 1730; Jacob and Israel, twins, b. May 19, 1742; Isaac, b. August 28, 1745. Benjamin, the father, d. ; Mercy, the mother, died . Benjamin TF«rrifter, son of Benjamin and Mercy, m.Persis — - . Their children were : — Persis.b. Jan. 5, 1750; Benjamin, b. March3, 1751; AVillard, b. Feb. 17,1753; Esther, b. Feb. 10, 1755 ; Lydia, b. Nov. 5, 1757; Bathsheba, b. Feb. 10, 1700; Gad, b. Jan. 20, 1702; Elijah, b. Jan. 25, 1704; Jlercy, b. JIarch 10, 1700; Zadock, b. Feb. 29, 1708; Phebe,b. April, 13, 1770; Jeremiah, b. August 22, 1772. Benjauuu, the father, d. ; Persis, the mother, died . Isaac, son of Benjamin and Mercy Warriner, m. Lydia Torrey. Tlieir children were : — Jacob, b. April 18, 1708; Sarah, b. Aug. 13, 1709; Sally, b. July 10, 1771. Willard Warriner, son of Benjamin and Persis, m. Lois Stebbins. Their children were : Bathsheba, b. April 27, 1780; Lucinda, b. July 30, 1782. Gad, son of Benjamin and Persis Warriner, m. Lucy . Their children were : — Chester, b. Jan. 1, 1784; Willis, b. July 10, 1785. Zadocl; son of Benjamin and Persis Warriner, m. 3Iary , Their children were : — Wheeler, b. Dec. 18, 1780; Polly, b. June 21, 1702, d. ; Polly, b. Feb. 12, 1795. Reuben Warriner m. Sarah . Their children were : — Eeuben, b. Nov. 7, 1750; Sarah, b. Dec. 2, 1757, d. Jan. 17, 1758. David Warriner m. Mary . Their children were : — Mary, b. March 23, 1740, d. Oct. 15, 1753; David, b. Jlay 13, 1742; Charles, b. April 15, 1744; Margaret, b. Aug. 12, 1740, d. July 8, 1824, aged 80; Jonathan, b. Sept. 10, 1740, d. April 15, 1810. David, the father, d. ; Mary, the mother, d. . David Warriner, son of David and Mary, m. Joanna Jloody. Their children wi're : — Mary. b. June 17, 1772, d. young; Joanna, b. March 14, 1774, d. April 10, 1770; Jerusha, b. Nov. 17, 1775, d. young; David, b. Jan. 3, 1778; Joanna, b, Dec. 5, 1770, ni. John Rice, Dec. 23, 1802; Charles, b. Oct. 7, 1782; Jerusha, b. March 15, 1785, ra. William 312 Rice, Sept. 17, ISOO. David, the father, d. March 26, 1827. Joanna, the mother d. March 16, 1820. David, son of David and Joanna, m. Fanny M'Cray. Tlieir children were : — Caroline, b. , m. Joel M. Lyman, July 1, 1824; Charlotte W. b. Aug. 23, 1816, m. Alvah S. Davis, Dec. 4. 1847; Emeline, b. July 20, 1818, m. Lyman Wood, Sept. 10, 1836, d. May 31, 1860; John M., b. Oct. 28, 1820; Mary J., b. Nov. 19, 1823, m. Samuel Dall, Nov. 14, 1845, d. Jan. 20, 18.57 ; David M'Cray, b. Oct. 28, 1828, d. Aug., 1851. David, the father, d. March 26, 1827; Fanny, the mother, d. Nov. 9, 1827. Charles, son of David and Joanna Warriner, m. Priscilla Paddock, June 27, 1834. Their children were : — Charles M., b. Oct. 23, 18.34; George P., b. Aug. 10, 1836. Charles, the father, d. June 3, 1852. John M., son of David and Fanny Warriner, m. Orpha A. Moses, Nov. 7, 1844. Tlioir chil- dren were : — Fanny, b. May, 1849; Emma, b. April, 1852. Charles M., son of Charles and Priscilla Warriner, m. Elizabeth C. S. Hale, June 15, 1854. Their children were : — Charles H., b. April 20, 1855; Ella B., b. June 6, 1858. George P., son of Charles and Priscilla Warriner, m. Emma J. Green, Nov. 4, 1857. Their child was : — Georse H., b. April 16, 1859. Moses Warriner m. Anna . Their cliildren were: — Moses, b. 1742; Samuel, b. Aug. 30, 1744; Anna, Aug. 10, 1746, d. Sept. 7, 1748; Noah, b. Oct. 27, 1748; Nathaniel, b. Oct. IS, 1750; Anna and Abner, twins, b. Dec. 1, 1752; Daniel, b. Jan. 16, 1756; Miriam, b. April 1, 1758. Anna, the mother, d. Aug. 22, 1795, aged SO. Moses, the father, d. . Moses Warriner, Jr., son of Moses and Anna Warriner, m. Mary Warner. Their children were : — Mary, b. Sept. 24, 1764 ; Susannah, b. Sept. 18, 1766, m, Isaac Lewis, March 28, 1787; Lydia, b. March 22, 1769, m. Noah Dean, Jan. 30, 1800; Moses, b. May 24, 1771; Eli- diah, b. June 15, 1773; Elisabeth, b. July 4, 1775, m. Jonathan Kilbon, April 28, 1796 ; Flavia, b. Feb. 18, 1782, m. Thomas Glover, Feb. 10, 1803. Moses, the father, d. Oct. 4, 1809; Mary, the mother, d. . Lieut. Noah Warriner, son of Moses and Anua,-m. 1st wife, Grace Gregory, 2d wife, Mary Ainsworth. Their children were : — Anna Gregory, b. May 4, 1778; Grace, b. Nov. 7, 1781. Grace, the mother, d. . Polly, b. July 27, 1783, drowned in Nine-mile Pond, April 29, 1709 ; Linda, b. July 23, 1785; Margaret, b. Aug. 1, 1787; Sophronia, b. July 11, 1790; Dolly, b. July 6, 1793. Noah, the father, d. Jan. 31, 1797, aged 48. Mary, the mother, d. . Nathaniel, son of Moses and Anna Warriner, m. Diiidenia Hancock. Their children were : Nathaniel, b. June 7, 1770; Diadema, b. July 17, 1777; Sarah, b. Feb. l(i, 1788; Cyn- thia, b. July 9, 1791 ; Daniel, b. April 6, 1779; Nancy, b. April 11, 1781 ; Etlina and Luther, twins, b. March 21, 1784. Nathaniel, the father, d. . Diadema, the mother, d. . Abner War-riner, son of Moses and Anna Warriner, m. Elizabeth Wright. Their children were : — Abner, b.Aug. .30, 1779; Walter, b. April 30, 1781 ; Ira, b. April 4, 1783; Warren, b. Jan. 10, 1785; Julia, b. Dec. 17,1788; Phebe, b. Dec. 27,1789; Alfred, b. May 30, 1791; Theodore, b. March 20,1793; Samuel, b. April 22, 1795; Elizabeth, b. May 20, 1797; Noah, b. May 14, 1799. Abner, the fiither, d. . Elizabeth, the mother, d. . Warren, son of Abner, and Elizabeth Warriner, m. Catharine . Their children were : — Lorenzo, b. June 11, 1807; Koxanna, b. Nov. 6, 1809; Alford, b. June 10, 1801; Wm. F b. Sept. 19, 1813. 313 Capt. James Warriner, who lead the Lexington men, m. Miriam . Thoii- chil- dren were : — James, b. 1745; Solomon, b. Aug. 10, 1753 ; Miriam, b. Jan. 22, 1756; Stephen, b. June 8, 1760; Thomas, b. , d. May 21, 1821 ; Ethan, b. July 8, 1763, d. March 28, 1815; Anna Charity, b. Jan. 25, 1768, d. May 25, 1792, aged 2;"). Solomon, son of James and Miriam Warriner, m. Mary Moore. The children were : — Solomon, b. March 24, 1778; Polly, b. Jan 29, 1780, m. Samuel Holman, Nov. 27, 1800; Sophia, b. May 11, 1782, d. Dec. 20, 1807, aged 25; Jeremy, b. June 10, 1785; Ua'lph, b'. July 1, 1787, d. 1816; Nabby, b. Oct. 19, 1790, m. Otis Colton, Oct. 26, 1814; Lorenzo, b. Aug. 30, 1792, d. July 10, 1814, aged 22. Mary, the mother, died . The father m., for his 2d wife Betsey Jones, March 1, 1795. Their children were : — Betsey, b. June 19, 1795, m. Pynchon Biiss, May 15, 1816; James, b. Aug. 5, 1797; Ku- nice, b. Dec. 10, 1800; Lyman, b. Jan. 20, 1802; Wells, b. June 11, 1807. Solomon, tlie father, d. March 12, 1816, aged 63. Betsey, the mother, d. . Stephen, son of Capt. James and Miriam Warriner, m. Elizabeth Ely and settled in Mon- son. Solomon, son of Solomon and Mary Warriner, m. Eleanor Keep, March 4, 1801. Their chil- dren were : — Solomon, b. Feb. 10, 1802, d. Oct. 21, 1860; Francis, b. Nov. 20, 1804; William Pitt, b. Oct. 29, 1806, d. May 25, 1863; Sophia Eleanor, b. June 14, 1808, d. April 26, 1848; Henry, b. May 5, 1810, d. May 25, 18.38. Eleanor, the mother died, and the father m., for second wife, Mary Bliss, July 4, 1811. Their children were : — Lewis, b. May 12, 1812; Mary Bliss, b. Feb. 11, 1814; Elisabeth Bliss, b. Feb. 4, 1816. Jeremy, son of Solomon and Mary Warriner, m. Phebe Bates, Dec. 9, 1810. No children were born to them. Solomon, son of Solomon and Eleanor Warriner, m. Sarah B. Olmstead, Jan. 21, 1836. Francis, son of Solomon and Eleanor Warriner, m. Sarah A. Hamilton, Nov. 24, 1842. Wm. Pitt, son of Solomon and Eleanor Warriner, m. Elizabeth E. Fessenden, 1842. Sophia Eleanor, daughter of Solomon and Eleanor Warriner, married Charles Merriam August 11, 1835, Henry, son of Solomon and Eleanor Warriner, m. Elisabetli A. French, 1837. Lewis, son of Solomon and Mary Warriner, m. Elisabeth L. Whittlesey, Nov. 9, 18.36. Mary Bliss, daughter of Solomon and Mary Warriner, m. Henry Morris 3Iay 16, 1837. 40 INDEX. 5-*^-*-*- 4 .--JO 2.^ K Adams, Dea. John, 19, 83. " Alvord, Noah, 23. Andros, Sir Edmund, 14. Academy, 150; history of, 259-262; property of, 202; officers of, 202. Adventists, 1.38. Avery, Abraham, his Presbyterian saddle, 259. Baptists in north village, society of organ- ized, 98 ; minister settled, 98; meeting- house erected, 100, 1.35; in Monson and Wilbraham, 1.36; in South Parish, 130; petition of, 254. Barker, Ezra, called " Master," 65. Belcher, Jonathan, Gov., 28. Bennett, Rev. Alvin, number of sermons of, 136. rewer, Isaac, 24, 33, 44; for " Riging his chamber," 51; son Charles baptized, 54; family of, 293; "Bennington Alarm," 11? ; men who went, 238. Bliss, Ensign Abel, 24, 29, 30, 45, 48 ; commis- sioned, 67; house of, 68; family of, 295; Abel, Hon., delegate to form new consti- tution 1820, 1.33. Bliss, John, first representative, 75 ; delegate to Provincial Congress, 112 ; pay for, 112 ; to Watertown, 116; to form constitution, 118 ; family of, 295. Burt, Dea. Moses, 15; family of, 297. Bounties to soldiers, 119; subscribers to, 244 ; care of families of, 119; for noxious ani mals, 21, 199. Chaffee, Comfort, 71 ; in Shepard's army, 246; in Lexington alarm, 233; in Ben- nington alarm, 258. Chapin, Abner, 71; Samuel, saying of, 20; Ralph S., 84; Silas, 84; family of, 297. Clark, Rev. Seth, 98, 130; Mr., donor of land for schools, 81. Cadvvell, Capt. Daniel, at Ticonderoga, 117; roll of his company, 237. Celebration, centennial, history of, 175-192; day of, 170; meeting, 177; dinner, 178; speeches at: Judge Merrick's, 178; Dr. Russell's, 181; Rev. Horatio Stebbins's, 183; Dr. Stebbins's, 187; Springfield Re- publican's account of, 190; Hon. George Merrick's letter, 192. Cider mills and distilleries, 159. Cemetery, Woodland Dell, 275. Cockril, widow Elizabeth, 25 ; grave of, 200. Colton, Isaac 3d, 68; Rev. Calvin, invitation of, to North Parish, 142, 250. Clothing, 161, 162. Constitution of State, representatives to form, and instructions to, 118; rejected by town, 120; new one, 122; accepted, 124. Convention to establish the price of com- modities, 122; failure of, 123. Councils, church, 94, 95, 258. Distnieries of gin, 104. Elegy on Thos. Merrick, 200; author of, 206. Epitaphs of early settlers, 281-288. Fragments, 278-280. French war, men in, 67, 207; Warner's Jour- nal of, 68, 208-213. Game, 20, 26. Graduates, 208-272; ladies, 273. Genealogies, statement respecting, of Beebe, 292 ; of Brewer, 293 ; of Bliss, 295 ; of Burt, 297; of Chapin, 297; of Hendrick, 298; of Hitchcock, 298; of Langdon, 299; of Merrick, 301 ; of Jlorris, 304; of Russell, 305; of Stebbins, 305; of Warner, 310; of AVarriner, 311. Glover, Rev. Pelatiah, 14. Hawley, Alanson, comnuinication of, 240- 243. Highways, see Roads. Hitchcock, Nathaniel, first settler, 10, 22, 23, 54 ; John, largest subscriber to bounty money, 124; in Lexington Alarm, 23-3; at Ticonderoga, 237; family of, 298; an- ecdote's of, 298. Holyoke, John, 17. Houses, finish and Curiiiture of, 26, f)S, 163. " Inner Commons," 15. 316 Indian deed of Outward Commons, 193. King, Ensign and Lieut., "William, 60, 71, ~2, 232, 233, 244. Lamb, Daniel, 24, 41. Langdon, John, letters of, 2.30; in Shepard's army, 131 ; in French war, 207 ; at Rox- bury, 234. Langdon, Lieut. Paul, 71 ; Capt. Paul, takes a company to Roxbury, 115 ; roll of, 234; coat orders, 2.35; family of, 209. Lawyers, list of, 275. "Lexington Alarm," 113, 115; roll of War- riner's Co., 2.32-2.34; courier's letter, 234. Lyon, Marcus, murder of, 206. Manufactories, 160; domestic, 162, 103, 263. Maps and paintings of Wilbraham, 276-278. Minnechaug, 19. Merrick, Dr. Samuel F., 18; journal of, 2.38- 240. Merrick, David, 34, 33, 44, 48, 72. Merrick, Hon. Judge, speech of, 178; Hon. George, letters of, 192. Merrick, Thomas 2d, 24,29, 34, 44; commis- sioned Lieut., 67. Merrick, Thomas, Jr., bitten by riittlesnake, 60; ode on, 67, 208. Merrick, Rev. Noah, a candidate, 34; called to settle, 35; conditions of settlement, letter of acceptance, 35-39 ; ordination of, 40-42, 203 ; house of, 37, 45, 47 ; tr«.uble about salary and land, 02-04 ; Council, 63; trouble about councils, death, 90-90, 225; character of, 97; ancestry of, 228; monument of, 220; end of his dwelling-- house, 144. Morris, Isaac, 71, 114, 233; family of, 304. " Mountains," or " Outward Commons " of Springfield, 13; division of, 14-19, 195; description of, 19-22; names of proprie- tors, 190-198; trespassers forbidden on, 213; Indian name of, 19, 198 ; Indians in, 21 ; early settlers of, 23, 24, 199; marriage of settlers of, 199. Money, depreciation of, 119, 121, 125, 127, 244 ; anecdote of, 245. Methodists, 137; in South Parish, 138; his- tory of, in North Parish, 247; petition for society of, 249; reply to by parishes, 250-51 ; another petition for society, 252, 253; reply to, 253, 254. Meeting-house, vote to build, 43; history of location and erection, 44-54 ; unfinished condition of 64, 59; worship in, 54-58; view from, 55; seating of, 59, 85; re- moving of to street, 1-39, 140; bell on, 141; end of, 144. Meeting, where held before building meeting- house, 51. Mills, Stebbins's, Langdon's, Leach's, Bad- ger's, 157, clothing, 158, 159; woolen, 203. Ministry- lots, 14, .36; where, and disposal of, 01, 1.34, 203, 222. Newbury, Roger, survey of, 18; record of, 19. " Overplus land," 18 ; given to minister, 36; value of, 30. " Outward Commons," see "Mountains." Parishes, North, history of, 139; Rev. Mr. Willard, 140; Rev. Mr. Witter, 140, 141; Brown, and trouble, 143; ministers in, 256; South, early worship in, 144; meeting- house, 145; Rev. Mr. Warren's settle- ment, ministry, death, character, 145- 149, 250; case of discipline, 257; Mr. Clarke, 149 ; condition of, 150; ministers in, 258. Preaching, money for, given by Springfield, 32, 201. Pynchon, William, 13. Pynchon, Col. Jolm, 17; his lot, 18. Pound built, 43. Potashes, 159. Precinct, petition for, 29, 202 ; incorporation of, 31 ; first meeting of, 32, 33 ; officers of, 33; movement to be made a town by, 72. Professional men not graduates, 272, 27.3. Population in 1741, 01. Post-office and mail-stages, 160, 161, 263. Physicians, 275. Raymond, Rev. Dr., 12, 137, 170, 178, 187; his history of the Academy, 269-262. Revolutionary war, 100; appeal of Boston merchants, 102; vote of town upon, 102, 103 ; committee of correspondence, 104 ; reply to Boston appeal, 104, 100; Gage in Boston, 108; non-consumption report, 109 ; signers of pledge of, 232 ; soldiers in, 234-243 ; died or killed in, 243; pen- sioners, 244; whole number of soldiers in, 244. Roads, 66; arrangement of, 82-84; poorness of, 84; votes by Springfield on, 205 ; those first laid out, 224. Rebellion of 1861, spirit of the people, 1.35, 169; number of men furnished, 240. Russell, Ezekiel, 71, 115; in Lexington alarm, 233; Dr. Ezekiel, his speeches, 180, 2S9; family of, 304. Russell, town of, 13. Shaw, Capt. James, " Bennington Alarm," 117; roll of Co., 238; Capt. John, repre- sentative to form constitution, 118. 317 Shays, Daniel, insurrection of, 127-131, 24ii. Slaves, 267. Scantic river, scenery of, 69, 70. Stacy, William, 71. Sessions, Robert, Boston tea party, 107 ; Sum- ner, woollen mill of, 203. Stebbins, Caleb, 40; grant of land for his mill, 263; Phineas, delegate to form con- stitution, 122; first representiitive under new constitution, 132; delegate to con- vention to consider the'Constitution of United States, 133 ; votes against it, 133 ; Sylvanus, 18; Stephen, 70; Moses, 71,81 ; Samuel, 24, 32, .33, 48; Aaron, 70; Enos, 81, suspected, 117; Luther, delegate to form State Constitution in 1820, 134 ; Rev. Horatio, speech of, 183; Rev. Dr., speech of, 187 ; family of, .305. Schools, appropiations for, 25, 64, 65 ; school- house, ()5; first money by town, 79,80 school lot, 14; districts, 80; teachers, 81 books, 81, 151; grammar schools, 152 boarding round, 151-153; money for, 154 granted by Springfield before incorpora- tion, 203-205; improvement of, 165; pri- vate, 156. Springfield, wlien settled, 13; extent of, 13; wealth of, as compared with Wilbraham, 2(J4. Sixteen acres, 26, 27. Singing, 85-90. Sikes and Pease, stages of, 263. South Parish, scenery of, 69, 70; early set- tlers of, 70-72 ; set off, 98, 99, 226, 227 ; act of incorporation, 229. Soldiers, clothing for, 120; subscription to raise money for, 123 ; difficulty of obtain- ing, 126; in present war, 135, 246. Sunday, 27, 28; schools of, 151. Tanneries, 159. Tavern, 276. Ticonderoga, expedition to, 117. Town-meeting, first prayer in, 108; quantity of beef for army, 125. Tories, 117, 123. Torrey, Nathan's, elegy on Thomas Merrick, 206. Universalists, 1.38. War of 1812, men sent to, 133 ; names of, 246. Wilbraham, periods in history of, 11 ; Indian name of, 19; description of, 19-22: In- dians in, 21 ; early settlers of, 23, 24; pe- tition for incorporation sent to Spring- field, 72,7:!,213; act of incorporation, 215; additions to territory of, 70 ; first repre- sentative, 74, 75 ; population of, 1763, 77 ; first town-meetiug, 77, 78 ; refuse preaching in south part, 98 ; modesty of, 103; provide ammunition. 111 ; refuse to pay money to colonial treasurer, 112 ; Tories in, 113; attempt to make two towns of, 1.34; changed condition of 165, 166 ; equality of condition of inliabitants, 167; character of, 167, 108, 200; origin of name of, 215 ; births and deatlis in before incorporation, 217-222, 205; valuation of property in 1771, 230, 231; expenses of, 205, 266; town clerks of, 274 ; representa- tives of, 274; maps and paintings of, 27(;-278. Wigwam Hill, 21,47-49,51,53; view from, 55. Warner, Daniel, 23 ; his daughter Comfort, 20; .38,45, 72 ; Samuel, 24, .34 ; journal of, 66, 08, 208-213 ; family of, 310. Warriner, Nathaniel, 23, 32, 41, 44, 51, 57, 04 ; disburses school money, 05, 72; dcatli, 99 ; legacies of, 99 ; Capt. James, 114 ; roll of his company, 222 ; family of, 312. Warden, oflSce of, 79. ERRATA, I beg the indulgent reader to pardon and correct the following errors : — Page 71, 6th line from the top, for " Capt.," read Lieut. Pago 71, 18th line from the top, for " Lothrop Chaftee resides," read William P. Chaffee lately resided. Page 156, 15th line from the top, for " 1826," read 1835. Page 175, 14th line from the top, for " Samuel L.," read Samuel M. Page 177, 5th line from the top, for " Samuel L.," read Samuel M. Page 178, 9th line from the top, for " Horace," read Robert O. Page 249, 17th line from the top, for " Givesey," read Livesey. Page 255, 10th line from the top, for " Inkermann," read Balahlava. Page 271, bottom, for " Edwin " read Edward. Page 278, 15th line from the top, for " Budy," read Bridgman. In the notice of " Slavery in Wilbraliam," page 267, 1 said I knew nothing of CaDsar's end. 1 have since learned that he lived, till his death, in the Merrick family ; was well cared for, nursed, and religiously instructed; died in the Christian faith, and was buried in the burying-ground. I learn, as another item, that since the incorporation of the town, June, 1763, to June, 1863, one century, there have been : — Births, 3,940 ; deaths, 1,605 ; marriages, 941 ; and mar- riages of parties solemnized in other towns, 32. These, added to Warner'.s record, page 282, make the number of births, from the settlement, 1731, to 1863, 4,306; deaths, 1,670. ' * RD-70 « PRESS OF GEO. C. RAND & AVERY, BOSTON. DD UM7 yi%^.* V t» '?>> ^ ':^^^» %.^^ -*^' \^/ -'^^ %.^^ J J^' ^'S% ..^' X ° w?! • . ^*'x •-^^••" ,/' X '^ ^ • * * '^o. ■*. '«, ''*, \ ^"^i^^ /% ^ -oV^ S^ » ^ ,0 ♦• ** V. .i,^ '■*^ v' >> ^ * • , <♦ V-^, ■•b^ '%/■ 4^^^^^ • /% o • » • .<^ ..„ * t ■ -< I' ^°-^. DOBBS BROS. .^ . , . "^ LIBKAIIV ■INOINO ,' ,•.* . MAR197' . 8T. AUGUSTINE ^ JO .<» .