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HISTOEY 
 
 OF 
 
 GREAT BAERINGTON, 
 
 (Berkshire County,) 
 
 MASSACHUSETTS, 
 
 BY 
 
 CHARLES J. TAYLOR. 
 
 ' ' People will not look foncard to posterity, 
 loho nemr look backward to their ancestors.'''' 
 
 Edmund Burke„ 
 
 GREAT BARRINGTON, MASS. : 
 
 CLARK W. BRYAN & CO., PUBLISHERS. 
 
 1882. 
 

To the Inhabitants of the Town of Great Barring- 
 ton^ and those who may succeed them ; 
 
 To those whose dwelling place in time past has been 
 with us; 
 
 To all who look back to the town as the place of 
 their nativity^ or whose early associations are 
 connected loith it; 
 
 And to the descendayxts of the pioneers who founded 
 the town and its i?istitutio7is, this volume is re- 
 spectfully dedicated. 
 
 Chas. J. Taylor. 
 
 21 4 n 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 This volume of Great Barrington History is the re- 
 sult of researches begun long ago, and continued at 
 intervals of leisure through many years. These re- 
 searches were undertaken, not with the original inten- 
 tion of gathering material for a town historj^, but for 
 the gratification of my own personal tastes. My inter- 
 est in the matter was heightened in searching the 
 records of land titles and ancient boundary lines, for 
 business purposes, and the desire to know more of the 
 town and its early dwellers was thereby increased. 
 In process of years, notes, memoranda, and old manu- 
 scripts accumulated to such an extent as to appear to 
 me worthy of preservation ; and these were, eventually, 
 written out in some form of historic order. I then 
 concluded to follow my examinations with greater 
 thoroughness and to write, in part at least, the history 
 of the town, which I did, as leisure permitted, and ar- 
 ranged my gatherings in chapters. 
 
 The work had thus far j)rogressed, when Clark W, 
 Bryan, having purchased The Berkshire Courier, ap- 
 plied for permission to print, in that journal, what had 
 then been written, and accordingly did print, in short 
 weekly articles, most of the matter which was then pre- 
 pared. The publications in The Courier, beginning 
 
VI PREFACE. 
 
 on the first day of January, 1879, extended over a 
 period of fourteen months. 
 
 For the purpose of encoui'aging the pubUcation of 
 the History in book form, the Town at its adjourned 
 annual meeting, April 2d, 1881, on the motion of Mer- 
 ritt I. Wheeler, Esq., voted " That a committee of three 
 be appointed and authorized to procure the writing 
 and publishmg, for the use of the town, fifty copies of 
 a Town History, and that a sum not exceeding seven 
 hundred and fifty dollars be raised and appropriated 
 for that purpose f and Clark W. Bryan, J. Milton 
 Mackie and Justin Dewey were appointed as such com- 
 mittee. This action of the town was taken under an 
 article in the warrant, inserted without consultation 
 with or the previous knowledge of the writer. I then 
 revised and corrected that portion of the Historjr 
 which had been printed, and added to it much new- 
 material. The result is this publication. 
 
 In the preparation of the History, I have made ex- 
 amination — more or less extended — of the town records 
 of Great Barrington and Sheffield; the Proprietary 
 records of the Upper and Lower Housatonic Town- 
 ships ; the records of the Kegistries of Deeds at Great 
 Barrington, Pittsfield and Springfield ; the records of 
 the County and Probate Courts at Pittsfield ; and the 
 records and archives in the office of the Secretarj^ of 
 State at Boston. Much material has been gathered 
 from ancient manuscripts and books of accounts in my 
 own possession or which have been furnished me hy 
 my townsmen. I have also received valuable assist- 
 ance from others, to all of whom I wish here to express 
 my thanks. I am particularly obligated to Isaac See- 
 ley, Esq., — Town Clerk and Eegister of Deeds — for 
 many acts of coui'tesy in facilitating the examination 
 of the records in his office ; to Merrit I. Wheeler, Esq.y 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 for the manuscripts and account books of his grand- 
 father, — Capt. Truman Wheeler — the Town Treasurer 
 and Muster Master in the Kevolutionary period ; and 
 to Mrs. Caleb B. Culver, for a copy of the diary of Eev. 
 Samuel Hopkins. From Henry W. Taft, Esq., of 
 Pittsfield, I have received many kind attentions, copies 
 of records, and of interesting papers from the files of 
 the County Court. Henry Holland, Esq., of West- 
 field, has assisted with much genealogical information 
 of the early settlers from that town ; and Isaac Hunt- 
 ting, Esq., of Pine Plains, N. Y., has contributed many 
 items of Indian lore and history. The Rev. George 
 Mure Smith, formerly of Lenox, now of Edinburgh, 
 Scotland, has rendered valuable aid in notes gathered 
 at the ofiices of the Secretary of State, both in Boston 
 and Albany. Frank L. Pope, Esq., of Elizabeth, New 
 Jersey — a native of Great Barrington — has taken a 
 great interest in the preparation of this history, and 
 has rendered very material assistance by furnishing 
 abstracts from the state archives and from rare publi- 
 cations, but above all in compiling and drawing, from 
 data gathered by himself, the map which accompanies 
 this work. In the map, the ancient boundary lines of 
 the Upper and Lower Townships and of the Indian 
 Town are delineated from original plats and from the 
 records of early surveys ; the geographical features 
 are from Walling's map of the state ; the old roads 
 laid down and some of the town lines are from a verj^ 
 well executed — though long forgotten — map of Great 
 BaiTington, made by David Fair child in 1794, which 
 Mr. Pope discovered in the office of the Secretary of 
 State. c. J. T. 
 
 Geeat Baerington, March, 1882. 
 
NOTE. 
 
 The reference, "VIII," ou the map, '^The North Parish 
 'Of Sheffield set oflF to Great Barrington, 1761," requires a word 
 
 of explanation. The North Parish^ instituted in 1743, embraced 
 
 the whole of the territory which was, in 1761, incorporated as 
 ^Great Barrington. The tract '• VIII," is that part of the Lamer 
 
 Tmonship or the original town of Sheffield^ which was included in 
 •^fche North Parish at its formation, and later in Great Barrington. 
 
 The territorial changes arc fully explained in Chapter IX of this 
 ihi story. 
 
(JOI^TENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Westeubook, or the Patent of Westenhook, ^ 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Talcot's Fight-The Housatonic Eiver-Derivation of its ^ 
 Name, 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 The Upper and Lower Hoiisatonic Townships -1722-1733. 14 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 The Upper Township,— 1722— 1742. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Geographical and Topographical, 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Aboriginal Inhabitants -The Housatonic Indians, 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 The Indian Mission,— 1734-1736, 
 
 CHAPTER VIIL 
 
 The Indian Reservation and Indian Claims, 
 
 2^ 
 
 sr 
 
 50 
 
 55" 
 
 69' 
 
XU CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTEK IX. 
 
 Great Barrington as the North Parish of Sheffield, — 
 1742-1761, 77 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Early Settlers — Their Families and Locations, — 1726-1743, 101 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 Alarms of the French and Indian Wars,— 1744-8-1753-60, 135 
 
 CHAPTER Xn. 
 
 Oreat Barrington as the North Parish of Sheffield, — 
 1743-1761, 144 
 
 CHAPTER Xni. 
 
 'Great Barrington — Derivation of the Name of the Town — 
 Town Organization— Early Town Meetings,— 1761-1770, 166 
 
 CHAPTER XIY. 
 
 Water Power and Israel Dewey's Mills,— 1762-1791, 178 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 KeHgious Dissensions — QuaiTels over the Minister's Salary, 
 
 —1757-1769, 184 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 The Organization of the Episcopal Church — The Erection 
 of the Church— Rev. Gideon Bostwick,— 1760-1793, 196 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 •Changes and Improvements — New Inhabitants and New Lo- 
 cations,— 1761-1776, 208 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 "The Revolutionary Period, —1768-1783. 225 
 
CONTENTS. XIU' 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 Great Bai-rington the Shire Town of the County, — 1761- 
 1787, 279^' 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 Constitutional and Political,— 1774-1780. 299 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 Incidents of the Shays Kebellion,— 1786-7, 304- 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 Support of Preaching — Formation of Rehgious Societies, — 
 1769-1800. 320^ 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 New Families and New Locations — Old Roads and Old In- 
 habitants,— 1780-1800. 32&- 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 Early School Houses — Support of Schools — Formation of 
 School Districts — Select Schools^High School, 347' 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 Early Industries — Merchants — The Post Office — Stages — 
 Taverns — Magistrates — Lawyers and other Notables, 356- 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 Days of Recreation — Militia- -Changes in Inhabitants — Poli- 
 tics — Lieutenant George Wainwright — William Phillips, 374 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 Churches, Religious Denominations, and Cemeteries, 384 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 
 Improvement of Water Power below the Great Bridge — The 
 Kellogg Mill — The Leavenworth Marble Works — The 
 Seekonk Distillery, 398- 
 
.:X1V CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 Improvements at Van Deusenville, 
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 Housatonic and its Industries. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXI. 
 
 Town and Village Improvements and Institutions. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXII. 
 
 -Great Barringtou in the War of the RebeUiou, 
 
 408 
 
 415 
 
 424 
 
 443 
 
 Roll of Soldiers, 
 
 Appendix, 
 
 Index, 
 
 471 
 
 488 
 495 
 
HISTORY 
 
 OF- 
 
 GEEAT BAERINGTON. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 WESTENHOOK, OE THE PATENT OF WESTENHOOK. 
 It is well known that the province of New York 
 originally claimed all that part of Massachusetts which 
 Ues west of the Connecticut river, mcludmg the whole 
 of Beiishire and a large part of Fra^khn, Hampshire 
 ^d Hampden counties, and that the divisional line be- 
 tween thi two provinces was long a subject of con- 
 troversy between their respective governments. But, 
 whilst New York-not without apparent good reason 
 insisted upon the Connecticut river as her eastern 
 Wdar^ she neglected to extend her settlemens east 
 of Te TaghkaBiok mountains, and Massachusetts by 
 occupanc/obtamed possession and eventually esteb- 
 Ushed her right to the disputed territory. This divi- 
 s'onS Une, after long and vexatious quarrels some- 
 Zes resu ting in bloodshed, was finally agreed upon, 
 STrntand temporarily established at a general dis- 
 Lce of about twenty miles east of the Hudson river, 
 but was not permanently settled until 1 '^7. 
 
 Wnat little is preserved of the history of Berkshnre 
 previous to its ocJ-upancy by Massachuset^ts set lets is 
 of New York origin and of an earlier date than the 
 boundai-y disputes. In early records aiid documents 
 as w ell as in later historical works we find occasional 
 mention of the name of " Westenhook," apphed to a 
 Sact of country lying west of Sheffield and Great Bar- 
 r^gton, now a pa^-t ^of Mount Washington and Egre- 
 
2 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 mont, and we sometimes meet with vague intimations 
 that this tract extended eastward as fai' as the Housa- 
 tonic river. But the fact seems to have been generally 
 overlooked, that Westenhook, or the Patent of West- 
 enhook, embraced a much larger area and included a 
 very large portion of the Housatonic valley in Berk- 
 shire county. The original history of Westenhook is 
 l)riefly this : Forty years before the commencement of 
 settlements in Southern Berkshire, Peter Schuyler and 
 Denick Wessells were engaged in the Indian trade at 
 Albany. Both were members of his "iVIajesties Coun- 
 <iil," were familiar ^ith the natives who resorted to 
 Albany to barter theu" fui*s, and were interested in 
 obtaining lands from the Indians, at small cost. To 
 these men, with others, the Patent of Westenhook was 
 granted, in 1705. This patent is based upon deeds 
 given by the Indians — the record of -some of which we 
 have seen — the earhest inl685. others in 1703 and 1704. 
 The petition for the patent, dated July 11th, 1705, 
 and signed by Peter Schuyler, in behalf of himself 
 Derrick Wessells and Company, is preserved in the 
 office of the Secretary of State at Albany — (Land Papers, 
 Volume 4, page 54.) It recites that the petitioners had, 
 several years before, advanced money and goods to the 
 Indian proprietors of land on a creek called Westen- 
 hook, describes the boundaries of the two upper tracts, 
 nearly as they are wiitten in the patent, and states that 
 the Indians mortgaged the premises to the petitioners ; 
 that they had made further advancements of money 
 and goods to the Indians and had pui-chased the lands 
 of them on the first and second of October 1703 ; that, 
 the Indians being unable to pay the sums previously 
 advanced, or to obtain the money and goods which they 
 wanted fi'om any other party, the petitioners had " con 
 descended^' to make these further advancements and 
 take deeds of the lands. A waiTant for the patent was 
 granted and signed by Combuiy, the governor, Septem- 
 ber 29th, 1705, — (Land Papers, Volume 4, page 151.) 
 On the 6th March, 1705, the governor, Edwai'd Vis- 
 count Cornbui-y, gi-anted and issued a patent for these 
 lands, to Peter Schuyler, Denick Wessells, Jno. Abeel, 
 John Janse Bleecker, Ebenezar Willson, Peter Fauco- 
 
PATENT OF WESTENHOOK. '^ 
 
 nier, Doctor Daniel Cox, Thomas Wenham and Henry 
 Smith. The gi-ant, under this patent covers four large 
 tracts of land extending northerly, along the Housa- 
 tonic river from a point below Canaan Falls. 
 
 The boundaries and descriptions,— probably tne 
 same as given in the original Indian deeds,-are very 
 obscure, but sufficiently definite to show that the 
 patent included a large pai't of Berkshn-e and extended 
 southerly into Connecticut. We recite from the origi- 
 nal patent, on record in the office of the Secretary of 
 
 State at Albany. i xi, -^ ^-p 
 
 The first or most southerly tract, on both sides ol 
 the river, bounded south on the land of Mach-ah-t^ 
 hank, below Canaan Falls, and is described as Ijmg on 
 both sides of a creek "called Westenhook begmnmg 
 southerly below a gi'eat fall of water called by the 
 natives Pow-eck-tuck, (1) and so runnmg up northerly, 
 on both sides of the said creek, (to wit) on ye west side 
 as far as ve flatt land belonging to an Indian called 
 Tan-as-ke-neck ;" and on the east 'side it extended 
 "northerly to a Creek or KiU that comes out ot the 
 woods called Wata-pick-aak." (2) Within this tract, on 
 the west side of the river, were four " flatts or plames 
 the most southerly of which— "next to the falls -was 
 called He-nach-ke-kan-tick, the second Ac-kac-kanick, 
 the third Awaan-banis, the fourth and most northerly 
 Taa-shanionick. On the east side of the river were also 
 four flats ; that next the falls is described as a " Great 
 Flatt or Plaine and the southermost side thereof called 
 Pac-ack-cock, (3) and the north end So-qua.wen ; the 
 otherflatearerespectivelydesignatedNan-an-ack-quack, 
 
 Tasham, and Mach-em-ned-^kake. The who e of this 
 tract extended "mto the woods, from both sides of the 
 creek, eastward and westward to the high hills as far 
 a^ the said owners' property reaches." This tract ap- 
 pears to be mostly withm the towns of Sahsbury and 
 Canaan. 
 
 (1) Pow-eck-tuck— Canaan Falls. 
 
 (2) Wa-ta-pick-aak : this Btream is supposed to be the Kon- 
 kapot brook ii Sheffield, the name apphed to the tract, not to 
 *^(3Tpatack-cock-properly,Pack-ack-gook-Snakesonarock. 
 
4 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 The second tracts which contained two flats or 
 plains, lay entirely on the west side of the riyer, having 
 the riyer for its eastern boundary and extending west- 
 wai'd on to the Taghkanick mountain ; it is thus des- 
 cribed — " Situate lying and being on the west side of 
 ye said creek called Westenhook, butting on the south 
 side of ye flatt or plain called Tas-ham-ick, formerly be- 
 longing to Nishotowa, Anaanpacke & Ottonowa, con- 
 sisting of 2 flatts or plains, the first or southermost 
 plaine called Machaakquichkake, and the second or 
 northermost called Kaphack, and so to an Indian bury- 
 ing place hard by the said latter plaine, which is the 
 northermost bounds, andsoe, keeping the same breadth, 
 into ye woods westerly as fai- as the land belonging to 
 an Indian called Testamashatt, bearing neai' the land 
 called Tachancke." (1) 
 
 The third tract is described as "beginning at ye 
 aforesaid Indian burying place hard by Kaphack, and 
 so running up northerly on both sides the said creek, 
 to a fall or rift in the said creek, called by the Indians 
 Sasigtonack, into the woods, westerly to the bounds of 
 Kinderhook and Pathook, (2) and eastwai'd into the 
 woods four English miles." 
 
 The fourth tract began at " the said fall or rift in 
 the said creek, called by the Indians Sasigtonack, and 
 so rimning up northerly on both sides of the said creek, 
 to another rift, called by the Indians Packwake, into 
 the woods westerly to ye bounds of the Mannor of 
 Ranslaerwick and Kinderhook, and eastward into the 
 woods foui' English miles." 
 
 This, then was the patent of Westenhook, reaching 
 from a point below Canaan Falls many miles north- 
 ward ; in its southern part extending to the mormtains 
 
 (1) Tachancke — Taghkanick. The Indians, Nishotowa and 
 Testamashatt, above named, both appear as grantors in the 
 conveyance of the tract known as Taghkanick to Kobert Living- 
 ston in 1685. (Doc. Hist. N. Y. vol. 3, page 371.) The burial 
 place above mentioned is supposed to be that mentioned by Mr. 
 Bradford, in History of Berkshire, in quite the north part of 
 Sheffield, though it may have been further south and west. 
 
 (2) Pathook, sometimes written Pattkook, appears to have 
 belonged to Killian Van Rensselaer and to have been located east 
 of Claverack and south of Kinderhook. 
 
PATENT OF ^^ESTENHOOK. 5 
 
 on both sides of the river ; in Sheffield bounding east 
 on the river and running west on to Mount Washing- 
 ton ; to the north of Sheffield including four miles east 
 of the river and stretching westward to Kensselaerwjxk 
 and Kinderhook. Its northern boundary, as described, 
 the rift called Pack-wack-e ( Pack-a-wack-ne — where a 
 stream runs between high rocks) is evidently the fall 
 at Glendale. or the hmestone gorge just above, and 
 the intermediate fall '' Sasigtonack" (Sah-seeg-ton-ock, 
 — water splashing over rocks,) we have no doubt is the 
 fall at the north end of Great Barrington village. But 
 the fall at Glendale was not, in fact, the northern limit 
 of Westenliook, nor was it so understood by the pro- 
 prietors. 
 
 In one of the deeds on which the patent was found- 
 ed, Sank-hank, Cag-kan-is-seek, and AValleeg-na-week 
 — for the value of sixty beaver skins — conveyed — Sep- 
 tember 3d, 1704 — to Peter Schuyler, Jolm Johnson 
 Bleeker, and John Abeel, land on "a certain creek 
 called Westenliook, beginning from a fall or rift in the 
 said creek, by the Indians called Sasig-tan-ock, and so 
 runs up northerly on both sides of the said creek to 
 another rift on the said creek, called by the Indians 
 Pack-was-che, (Pack-wack-e) from thence up along said 
 creek on both sides until you come to ye places by the 
 Indians called Squog-kan-e-kan-eek and Kapakagh, mto 
 ye woods eastwai'd ye whole length of ye land bounds, 
 four English miles deep, and westward by ye bounds of 
 Kinderhook, and ye Colony of Renselaerwyck, contain- 
 ing ye same breadth to the said places called Squog- 
 kan-e-kan-eek and Kap-a-kagh." W^estenliook, as we 
 believe, extended a very considerable distance north of 
 Glendale. 
 
 In 1774, a plan of subdivisions of part of the Wes- 
 tenhook patent was recorded in the office of the Secre- 
 tary of State at Albany — (Land Papers, Vol. 34, page 
 75) from which it appears that the patent was then 
 claimed to extend as far north as the North Mountain, 
 — west of Lanesboro. As further evidence of the ex- 
 tent of this patent we cite the letter of Lieut. Gov. De- 
 Lancey to Gov. Shuiey, February 17, 1755, relative to 
 the disputed boundary between New York and Massa- 
 
b HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 chusetts, in which the wiiter states that the proposed 
 temporary hne "-the west side of Housatanik River to 
 100 yai'ds west of Fort Massachusetts "leaves to Massa- 
 chusetts one-thii'd of Westenhook Patent." ^Tiatever 
 its northern boundary ; it is evident that this patent 
 covered a very large part of the towns of Sheffield, 
 Great Barrington, Stockbridge, West Stockbridge, 
 Mount Washington, Egi'emont, and Alford, and that 
 the purchase made from the Indians, in 1724, by the 
 Committee for settling the Housatonic townships, was 
 — with the exception of that part of Sheffield Ijing east 
 of the river — almost entu-ely within the bounds of 
 Westenhook Patent. By the terms of the grant, the 
 patentees were requii-ed — if the same had not already 
 been done — to clear and make improvements upon 
 some part of the lands gi'anted, vdthin the space of 
 six years, and also to pay an annual rent of seven 
 pounds ten shillings. New York cuiTency, to the col- 
 lector of customs in New York. 
 
 We have no evidence that the Westenhook propri- 
 etors had made any improvements in the Housatonic 
 valley previous to its occupancy by Massachusetts set- 
 tlers ; but an explanation of the troubles which arose 
 between the earhest settlers of the Housatonic town- 
 ships and the Dutch claimants from the State of New 
 York, is found in the clashing of titles of those holding 
 lands under Massachusetts grants on the one part and 
 under the State of New York or the Westenhook pat- 
 entees on the other. 
 
 These troubles, which were rife in 1726-7, and which 
 were of serious importance at the time, are only briefly 
 mentioned, but not explained, in the records of the 
 committee which had charge of the settlements in 
 Sheffield and Great Barrington. We know that the 
 proprietors of Westenhook made gi^evious complaint, 
 in 1726, of the occupancy of their lands by Massachu- 
 setts men, and that in one instance at least, one of the 
 early settlers was an-ested, and incarcerated at Albany 
 as a trespasser upon Westenhook lands. The Letters 
 Patent of this tract called Westenhook, gi'anted under 
 the seal of the Pro\ince of New York by " our Right 
 Trusty and well beloved Cousin Edward Viscount 
 
PATENT OF WESTENHOOK, 7 
 
 Combury, Captain Gen'll and Governour in Chief in and 
 over our said Province of New York and Territoryes 
 Depending thereon in America and Vice Admirall of 
 the same, &c.," are recorded in the office of the Secre- 
 tary of State, at Albany, in Book No. 7 of patents, page 
 290. For the discovery of the record of this Patent 
 we are indebted to the Rev. George Mure Smith, for- 
 merly pastor of the Congi-egational church at Lenox, 
 now of Edinburgh, Scotland. 
 
 This tract of coimtry^, wild, forbidding, and desti- 
 tute of roads other than the Indian trail, though it lay 
 in the direct route, — via Springfield, Westfield and 
 Kinderhook, — between Boston and Albany, and was 
 occasionally traversed by bodies of soldiery in the early 
 wars and by other parties on public business, was 
 better known to the neighboring New York border, 
 whose traders w^ere accustomed to visit it for the pur- 
 pose of traffic with the Indians, than to the more re- 
 mote inhabitants of Massachusetts. That such traffic 
 was caiTied on with the Indians by Dutch traders 
 seems to be well authenticated, : and it is asserted that 
 some Dutchmen were domiciled amongst the Indians 
 when the settlers from Westfield established themselves 
 here ; but we have found no evidence c^onfirming this- 
 statement. 
 
CHAPTEK II. 
 
 TALCOT'S FIGHT.— THE HOUS ATONIC RIVEK -DERI- 
 VATION OF ITS NAME. 
 
 Talcot's fight with the Indians is, we beheve, the 
 earhest occurrence connecting this section of country 
 with history. In August 1676 in the closing events of 
 King Philhp's war, Maj. John Talcot, with a body of 
 Connecticut soldiers, and Indians pursued a party of 
 fugitive Indians into this region, and overtaking them 
 on the banks of the Housatonic inflicted severe chas- 
 tisement upon them. 
 
 The following narrative of this aftaii' is transcribed 
 from Hoyt's Antiquarian Researches. Major Talcot 
 had taken post at Westfield : " Not long after his ar- 
 rival at that place, the trail of about two hundred In- 
 dians, was discovered in the vicinity, shaping towards 
 the Hudson. Talcot immediately took the trail, and 
 pressed on to overtake the Indians, and on the tliird 
 day discovered them encamped on the west bank of 
 Housatonic liver, in the most perfect secimty. Being 
 late in the day, he resolved to postpone an attack, until 
 next morning, and di'awing back, lay upon his arms in 
 the most j^rofound silence. Towards the dawn of day, 
 forming his troops into two di^-isions, one to pass the 
 river below the Indians, make a detoui\ and attack 
 them in theu- reai', while the other was to approach by 
 a direct route opposite to their camp, and open a fire 
 across the river the moment the attack commenced on 
 the opposite side. The plan was partially frustrated. 
 One of the Indians left the camp in the night, and pro- 
 ceeded down the river for the purpose of taking fish, 
 and as the troops who had crossed the river, as had 
 been ordered, were advancing to the attack, he discov- 
 ered them and gave the usual cry, Awanux, Awanux ! 
 on which he was instantly shot. Talcot, now opposite 
 
TALCOT S FIGHT. 9 
 
 to the Indian camp, hearing the report, instantly poured 
 in a volley, as the Indians were rising from their slum- 
 bers. A complete panic ensued, and they lied in con- 
 fusion into the woods, followed by Talcot, and most 
 who escaped the first fire made good then- retreat. 
 The division below was too far distant to share in the 
 victory. Twenty-five Indians were left on the ground, 
 and twenty were made j^risoners, and among the former 
 was the Sachem of Quaboag. Talcot lost but one, and 
 he a Mohegan." This account was published in 1824, 
 and a foot note to the foregoing says " this aftair took 
 place in the upper part of Sheffield, in Massachusetts, 
 and the spot is still knoum to the inhabitants^ 
 
 Hubbard in his narrative of Indian wars — written 
 soon after the occurrence, — locates this fight on the 
 " Ausotunnoog river in the middle way betwixt West- 
 field and the Dutch river and Fort Albany." Mr. Hub- 
 bard says a great party of Indians, judged to be about 
 two hundi'ed, were observed to pass by Westfield, 
 "News thereof being brought to Major Taicot, he with 
 the Soldiers of Connecticut Colony under liis command, 
 both English and Indians, pursued after them as far as 
 Ausotunnoog River, (in the middle way betwixt West- 
 field and the Dutch River and Fort Albany,) where he 
 overtook them, and fought with them ; killing and tak- 
 ing prisoners forty 'five, whereof twenty-five were fight- 
 ing men, without the loss of any one of his company, 
 besides a Mohegin Indian. Many of the rest were sore- 
 ly wounded, as appeared by the dabling of the bushes 
 ^th blood, as was observed by them that followed 
 them a little furthur." * * * " It is written since 
 from Albany that there were sundry lost besides the 
 forty-five forementioned, to the number of three-score 
 in all ; and also that a hundi'ed and twenty of them 
 are now dead of sickness." IVIi'. Field, in Berkshu'e 
 History, mentions an opinion that it occurred in Stock- 
 bridge, and cites the fact that Indian bones were found 
 there, in preparing groimd for the foundation of a 
 meeting house in 1784, but this cannot be considered 
 good evidence, as similar Indian remains are quite com- 
 mon. Rev. Joseph W. Crossman, ia a New Year's dis- 
 .course at Salisbury, Conn., in 1803, mentions a similai' 
 
10 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 — probably the same — occurrence as having taken place 
 in the north-east part of Sahsbury, at the locahty now 
 called Dutcher's Bridge, and states — perhaps errone- 
 ously — that one Col. Whiting was the commanding offi- 
 cer in that affair. But it seems not improbable that the 
 place of conflict was at the fordway, " by the Great 
 Wigwam, ■* in the village of Great Barrington, where 
 the Indian trail from Westfield crossed the river. This 
 was the natural and direct route for a body of Indians 
 fleeing toward the Hudson river — and it is well known 
 that a large number of Indians, supposed to have been 
 fugitives from this battle, soon afterwards, passed the 
 Hudson a short distance below Albany ; — and this lo- 
 cahty corresponds with the foot note quoted, as this 
 fordway was afterwards in quite the "upper pai't of 
 Sheffield,'' as that town was, originally, incorporated- 
 We are strongly inclined to the belief that Talcot's en- - 
 counter occurred at the spot we have indicated — though ' 
 it matters httle whether it took place here or ten miles 
 below, in the edge of Connecticut — and we have only 
 introduced it here as the first well authenticated his-- 
 torical event of this part of the Housatonic Valley. 
 
 In the Patent of Westenhook, as in other New York 
 documents of a httle earher date, the river is called 
 " Westenhook" — the Dutch name — which, (as is also our 
 Housatonic) is an apparent conniption of the commonly 
 accepted Indian name of the river — " Hooestennuc" — - 
 " the river beyond the mountains." By both Indians ^ 
 and whites, the river was designated by different names • 
 
 in the different sections through which it passed. 
 
 names which apphed appropriately to adjacent territory. 
 Thus it was called by the Dutch Westenhook (some- 
 times written Westenhock — Westenook — and West- 
 ennuc) the name which they gave to the tract of country 
 afterwards the Westenhook Patent : in Massachusetts, 
 by the Indiajis Hooestennuc, the title by which their 
 settlement in Great Banington was known ; in Con^ 
 necticut, Wyantenock, the name of a large tract of 
 country in the vicinity of New Milford ; and near its 
 mouth it was known as the " Stratford" river, from the . 
 first estabhshed town upon its borders. 
 
 The earhest particular mention of this river, whicli 
 
HOUSATONIC RIVEK. 11 
 
 we have met with amongst Massachusetts authorities 
 is found in the journal of Eev. Benjamin Wadsworth,. 
 a minister of Boston, afterwards President of Harvard 
 College, who, in 1694, accompanied the Commissioners 
 of Massachusetts and Connecticut to attend a treaty 
 held at Albany between Commissioners of Massachu- 
 setts, Connecticut, Khode Island, New York and New 
 Jersey and the Five Nations of Indians. (1) The party 
 travelled from Boston to Albany, on horseback, with a 
 guard of sixty dragoons commanded by Capt. Wads- 
 worth of Hartford. They left Boston August 6th, and 
 arrived at Westfield August 9th. 
 
 Mr. Wadsworth says "We set out from thence 
 (Westfield) towards Albany the nearest way thro' ye 
 woods;" they travelled about 24 or 25 miles and en- 
 camped. " Ye road which we travelled this day, was 
 very woody, rocky, mountainous, swampy ; extream 
 bad riding it was. I never yet saw so bad travelling as 
 this was. We took up our quarters, this night, by ye 
 side of a river, about a quarter past 5," ( probably the 
 Farmington River in Otis. ) August 10th, travelled about 
 25 miles " and took up our lodgings, about sundown, 
 in ye woods, at a place called Ousetonuck formerly 
 inhabited by hxdians.. Thro' this place runs a very 
 curious river, the same (which some say) runs thro*^ 
 Stradf ord ; and it has on each side some parcels of 
 pleasant, fertile intervale land." "Ye greatest part of 
 our road this day was a hideous, howling wilder- 
 ness ; some part of ye road was not so extream bad." 
 "August 11, we set forward about sunrise, and came, ye 
 foremost of us, to Kinderhook about 3 of ye clock." 
 They continued to Albany, and, returning, took their 
 route towards Hartford, by Kinderhook, Clavarack, 
 Taghkanick, Kent and Woodbury, Ct. Leaving 'Tur- 
 connick,' they rode twelve or fourteen miles, " on our 
 left a hideous highmoimtain." About noon they came 
 to Ten Mile river, ' called so from its distance from 
 Wyantenuck, runs into Wyantenuck, by ye side of which 
 we rode, I believe, six or seven miles and passed ye 
 same a little after sundown.' " Wyantenuck river is 
 
 (1) This Journal is printed in Collections of the Mftssachu- 
 setts Historical Society, Vol. 1, 4th series. 
 
12 HISTORY OF GRK\T B.UiRINGTON. 
 
 ye same yt passeth thro' Ousetonnuck ; it is Stratford 
 river also^ 
 
 It is probable tliat ^Ii'. AVadsworth and his party, 
 following the Indian trail from "Westfield to Kinder- 
 hook, crossed the Housatonic at the fordway by the 
 " Great Wigwam'' in the village of Great Bai-rington, 
 and in that view, this abstract fi'om his joiumal is valu- 
 able as furnishing corroborative evidence of the truth 
 of the tradition that an Indian settlement had once ex- 
 isted neai' that fordway. This settlement had, then, in 
 1694, been abandoned, and it probably had not, to much 
 extent, been inhabited since the time of Iving Philhp's 
 war, eighteen years earlier. The river, then, was called 
 by the Dutch of New York, We^tenliook ; in Massa- 
 chusetts, Ousetonnuc, or Housatumiuk in various styles 
 of orthography : in the northern part of Connecticut 
 Wyantenock, and below tide water the Stratford river. 
 
 The derivation of Housatonic — which, as we have 
 said, is a corruption of the Indian name of the valley 
 — has been fi'equently discussed and we have but little 
 to add to what is known relative to it. Dr. Timothy 
 Dwight is the authority for " Hoo-es-ten-nuc*' and for 
 its signification — " the river beyond the mountains" — 
 and this is pecuharly appropriate, as relates to the 
 tribe of Indians which dwelt along the Hudson, ( from 
 which the Housatonic Indians were an offshoot) who 
 were accustomed to resort to the Housatonic valley 
 for hunting and fishing : to them both the country and 
 liver were, in fact, " beyond the mountains.'' Still we 
 believe the true meaning of Hoo-es-ten-nuc, to be ''over 
 the mountain." Such is the definition given in Morse's 
 g-eography published nearly eighty years since, and 
 such is the definition given by Isaac Huntting, Esq., of 
 Pine Plains, N. Y., who has given much attention to 
 Indian history and language. ]Mi\ Hunttmg says 
 " Hoo-est" means over, "ten-nuc" the mountain — and to 
 give the Indian idea, it must be a moimtam of trees. 
 The tree part of it, is the pith and beauty of the word : 
 rthe mountain of trees, or covered with trees." 
 
 The Eev. Jeremiah Slingerland of Keshena Wis- 
 consin — himself a Stockbridge Indian of j^ui-e blood, 
 and the minister of the Stockbridges residing there — 
 
DERIVATION OF ITS NAME. 13 
 
 informed the writer that the name, apphed by the In- 
 dians to this part of the valley was Ou-thot-ton-nook, 
 the first syllable having the sound of ou in out — defi- 
 nition "over the mountain;" but this was the name of 
 their settlement, not of the river. 
 
 In illustration of his meaning he pointed at the 
 full moon, then just rising above East mountain, 
 and said "that is Ou-thot-ton-nook — over the moun- 
 tain." But, as we have before said, the river, 
 here and fiu-ther south, derived its name from the 
 country through which it flowed, rather than from any 
 adaptedness of the names to the stream itself. The 
 different names referred naturally to the land rather 
 than to the stream. 
 
CHAPTEK m. 
 
 THE UPPER AND LOWER HOUSATONIC TOWNSHIPS. 
 
 172-2—1733 with Proceedings Relative to tJie Lower 
 Township. 
 
 The preliminary proceedings towards the settle- 
 ments of the Upper and Lower Housatonic Townships, 
 have been often wiitten, and ai'e famihai' to every reader 
 of Berkshn'e history. At a session of the Great and 
 General Court, of the Pro^dnce of Massachusetts Bay, 
 begun at Boston, on the last Wednesday of May, 1722, 
 the petitions of Joseph Parsons and one hundred and 
 fifteen others, and of Thomas Nash and sixty others, 
 inhabitants of Hampshii'e County, were presented, 
 asking for gi'ants of two tracts of land on the Housa- 
 tonic riyer. The report of the Committee, to which 
 these petitions were referred, was accepted by the 
 General Coui't, and received the approval of the Gov- 
 ernor on the 30th of June, granting to such of the 
 petitioners, or others, as might be admitted by a com- 
 mittee for laying out and settling the lands, two tracts 
 of land each to contain seven miles square, to be laid 
 out on the Housatonic river, the first tract to adjoin 
 southerly on the divisional line between Massachusetts 
 Bay and Connecticut, the second to be laid northerly 
 of and adjoining to the first tract. 
 
 John Stoddard and Henry Dwight of Northampton, 
 Xiuke Hitchcock of Springfield, John Ashley of West- 
 field, and Samuel Porter of Hadley, were appointed a 
 committee to admit settlers or inhabitants, to grant 
 lots, and manage all the prudential affairs of the set- 
 tlers. The committee were directed to settle the lands 
 in a compact, regular and defensible manner : to ad- 
 mit one himdredand twenty inhabitants or settlers into 
 
HOUSATONIC TOWNSHIPS. 15 
 
 the two townships, giving preference to such of the 
 petitioners as they judge most Hkely to bring forward 
 
 , a settlement, allowing none of the settlers more than 
 three years, from the time of the allotment of their 
 lands, in which to bring forward a settlement, by build- 
 ing a suitable house and dwelling therein by themselves 
 — or a tenant to the committees acceptance — and tilling 
 such quantity of land as the committee might dh^ect, in 
 in order to be entitled to then- gi'ants. The committee 
 were also directed to reserve a sufficient quantity of 
 land for the first settled minister, Ministry, and School, 
 
 , and to demand and receive from each grantee the sum 
 of thirty shillings for each one himdi'ed acres granted ; 
 the money so received to be expended in paying the 
 
 . Indians a reasonable sum for their rights to the lands, 
 paying the expenses of the settling committee and of 
 laying out the lands, and the residue, in building meet- 
 
 : ing-houses in the townships. 
 
 At Westfield on the 25th April, 1724, Konkapot and 
 
 . twenty other Indians — "all of Housatonack allias Wes1> 
 
 . lonook" — in consideration of the payment secured to 
 them of "Four Humdred and Sixty Pounds, Three 
 Barrels of Sider and thirty quarts of Rum," executed 
 a deed conveying to the committee — Col. John Stod- 
 dard, Capt. John Ashley, Capt. Henry Dwight and 
 Oapt. Luie Hitchcock — " A certain tract of land lying 
 upon Housatonack river aHas Westonook," bounding 
 " Southardly upon ye divisional line between the Pro- 
 ^idnce of Massachusetts Bay and the Colony of Con- 
 necticut in New England, westwardly on ye patten or 
 colony of New York, northwardly upon ye Great Moun- 
 tmn known by ye name of Mau-skar-fee-haunk, and 
 eastardly to run foui* miles from ye aforesaid River, 
 and in a general way so to extend." 
 
 The ladians reserved within this tract all the land, 
 
 , on the west side of the river, lying between the mouth 
 of a brook called " Mau-nau-pen-fe-con" and of a small 
 
 '. hrooik lying between the aforesaid brook and the river 
 called " Waumpa-nick-se-poot" or ""White River" — now 
 the Gre^n River — extending due west from the mouths 
 of said brooks to the Colony of New York, and also a 
 
 ^ "Clear Meadow" lyingLbetween the before-mentioned 
 
16 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 small brooks and ^\Tiite River. The tract conyeyed b;^'^ 
 this deed included the whole of the towns of Sheffield, 
 Great Barrington, Mount AVashington, and Egremont,. 
 the greater part of Alford, and large joortions of AVest 
 Stockbridge, Stockbridge, and Lee : a much larger ter- 
 ritory than was comprehended in the legislatiye grant. 
 As the boundary line between New York and Mas- 
 sachusetts had not then been established, the western 
 limit of this tract was indefinite. The Great Mountain 
 — '' Mau-ska-fee-haunk'' — the northern boundary m this 
 conyeyance, is belieyed to be the Rattlesnake Moimtain 
 in Stockbridge near the southern slope of which the 
 north line of the upper township ran as afterwai'd& 
 surveyed. (1) The grant of the two townships, as they 
 were finally surveyed, included the present towns of 
 Sheffield and Great Barrington, a large part of West 
 Stockbridge, Stockbridge, and Lee, and a small part of 
 Alford. The tract reserved by the Lidians, with the 
 exception of the clear meadow, lies immediately south 
 of the south line of Great Barrington and extends front 
 the Housatonic River westerly to the line of New York ; ■ 
 the cleai' meadow is included withm the recognized 
 limits of Great Barrington. This reservation will be 
 more particulaiiy noticed hereafter. 
 
 Proceedings of the Settling Committee Relative to the 
 Lower Township. 
 
 As an initiatory step toward the settlement of the 
 Lower Township, the committee called a meeting of 
 the petitioners or proposed settlers, to be held at the. 
 house of John Day, in Springfield, (5n the 13th of 
 March, 1723, but, as a joublic fast had been appointed 
 to be observed on that day, the time of the meetings 
 
 (1) Some have supposed the Great Mountain here refeiTed to, 
 to be the Monument Mountain, — and it is so stated in a copy of 
 the Indian deed printed in Yol. 8 of the New England Historieai 
 and Geneological Kegister, in 1854, but such supposition is evi- 
 dently eri'oneous, as the north line of this tract as subsequently 
 surveyed- — and accepted by the Indians— ran more than two 
 miles north of Monument Mountain, and the Indian name of the 
 latter was Mas-wa-se-hi. We have followed the orthography of 
 the Rev. James Bradford, in the Indian names in the deed, 
 though they are printed differently in the copy above mentioned. 
 
TOWN BOUNDS ESTABLISHED. 17 
 
 was postponed to the 19tli. At this meetmg fifty-five 
 persons, each having paid the sum of thirty shilKngs to 
 the committee, were accepted by them and were to 
 have lands granted to them, on condition that each 
 should build a suitable house and till twelve acres of 
 land within three years' time. At a little later date 
 John Stoddard declined serving on the committee and 
 Samuel Porter died, and Capt. Ebenezer Pomroy was 
 added to the the committee by a vote of the General. 
 Court, on the 14th of November, 1724. The records 
 of the committee do not show what, if any, progress 
 was made m the settlement of the township in the 
 three years which had elapsed from March 1723 to 
 March 1726, nor do they furnish any means of accouni^ 
 ing for the apparent delay. 
 
 On the 9th of March, 1726, at a meeting of the com- 
 mittee, it was determmed " that two of the committee, 
 at least, should go to Housatonic to make something of 
 a survey of the same, in order to a division of the two 
 towns and some projection, if they could, in order to 
 ye laying out of ye lots in ye Lower Township at least ; 
 and Capt. Ashley and Capt. Pomroy went to Housa- 
 tonic on the aforesaid message." Messrs. Ashley and 
 Pomroy evidently visited Housatonic in March, and 
 on the Sth of April the committee again assembled 
 at Springfield, and determined "that ye Lower Town- 
 ship shall extend up the Main Kiver from ye Path yt 
 goeth over ye Eiver by ye Great Wigwam, something 
 above ye middle falls, which is something above half a 
 mile from said path ; and if there shall be a mill or 
 mills sett up there in ye Great River, that each town 
 shall have ye privilege of ye stream for ^^t purpose." 
 This decree located the divisional Ime, between the two 
 townships, at the north side of the present Iron Bridge 
 — the Great Bridge — where it was afterwards surveyed 
 by Timothy Dwight in 1736. The "Great Wigwam,'^ 
 or rather the locality known by that name, was near the 
 site of the present Congregational Church in the village 
 of Great Barrington, probably a little to the south and 
 east of that building ; the " Path" crossed the river at 
 a fordway directly east of the foot of Church street. 
 The "Middle Falls" are the same now occupied by the 
 
18 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 Berkshii'e Woolen Compauy. The committee at this 
 meeting — April 8th, 1726, — proceeded to divide the 
 Lower Township into five divisions, along the river, 
 following the course of the stream from the Connecti- 
 cut line, northerly, to the present Ii-on Bridge. These 
 divisions were roughly made, and included the meadow 
 land and the upland immediately adjoining ; to each 
 di\ision a specified number of proprietors was allotted. 
 The first division extended up the river, from the 
 Connecticut line, four- hundi'ed rods ; in this division 
 were nine propiietors. The second division extended 
 up the river "about two miles" to a certain large 
 brook ; (1) in this division were nine proprietors. The 
 thii'd di^asion extended up to the "Indian Land,'' (2) 
 "being most two miles;" to this division twenty-one 
 proprietors were assigned, including the jMinister's 
 right and the School land. The f oiu'th division began 
 at the north side of the Indian Land, "neai' the mouth 
 of Green River," and extended "about a mile" to a 
 little cove (3) which emptied into the liver at the low- 
 er end of a meadow which " Joshua ^Miite improves ;" 
 in this division were fourteen proprietors. The fifth 
 division extended from the mouth of the cove men- 
 tioned, up the river " to the end of the town bounds ;" 
 to this division eight proprietors were allotted ; but it 
 was provided by the committee that the proprietors 
 should not lay out the land above the path which crossed 
 the river at the Great AVigwam. This i^ro-^ision was 
 intended as a protection to, or reservation of the water 
 power which fell TN-ithin the hmits of the fifth division, 
 and which the committee had decreed should be kept 
 for the use of both townships. 
 
 Ha^Tiig made the foregoing divisions, the com- 
 
 (1) Probably the stream which crosses the highway a httle 
 below Sheffield Plain. 
 
 (2) The ' Indian Laud' — the Indian Keservation, or land re- 
 served by the Indians in their deed of 1724. 
 
 (3) This cove is now a low piece of ground — near the high- 
 way — in the meadow next south of the Agricultural Ground. 
 The point where it emptied into the river is a little north of 
 Merrit I. Wheeler's residence. The Green river then emptied 
 into the Housatonic near the present north line of Sheffield. 
 
SETTLERS MOLESTED BY THE DUTCH. 19 
 
 mittee, at the same meeting — April 8tli, 1726 — report- 
 ed tlieii' proceedings, reading tliem over several times 
 to the proprietors, which were "well accepted by them," 
 and the proprietors, hfty-nine in number, drew lots to 
 determine in which divisions the lands to be laid out 
 to each should be located, with the exception of a few, 
 whose locations were determined by the committee. 
 The few whose locations were fixed by the committee 
 — aside from the IVIinister's Eight, the right sequester- 
 ed to the Ministry, and the School Right — may have 
 been absent from the meeting, or, as appears more 
 probable, were those who had already commenced im- 
 provements in the Lower Township, as Matthew Noble 
 and perhaps some others, had done. The breadths of 
 the several divisions along the river, north and south, 
 were estimated rather than accurately measured ; that 
 these estimates were made with extreme liberality is 
 apparent to the casual observer of the present day; 
 their extent, east and west of the river, is indefinite, 
 but was such as to accommodate each proprietor with 
 a suitable quantity of both meadow and upland. 
 
 It is to be presumed that the committee proceeded 
 immediately, after making these divisions, in April 1726, 
 to lay out home lots and other lands to the pro]:)rietors 
 in the respective divisions to which they had been by 
 lot assigned, and that some of the proprietors entered 
 upon and occupied their lands in the spring of that 
 year; but the records of the committee furnish little 
 light on this point, although they do inform us that 
 "many people were upon the land" previous to May 
 1727. Soon after the commencement of settlements, 
 difficulties arose between the settlers and certain 
 Dutchmen from the Provmce of New York, who claimed 
 the lands as within the limits and jurisdiction of that 
 Province. Of how serious a nature these troubles 
 were does not distinctly appear, but they were of such 
 moment as to become the subject of correspondence 
 between the governments of the two provinces as early 
 as the spring of 1727. 
 
 The records of the committee sum up the matter 
 very briefly, as follows : — " After ye lot was di'awn, or 
 after many people was upon the land at Housatunnuck, 
 
20 HISTORY or GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 the Dutch People molested them and caused gTeat 
 charge and trouble to ye Committee as well as ye 
 People." On the 12th of May, 1727, the Lieut. Goyer- 
 nor of Massachusetts Bay addi-essed a letter to the 
 settling committee informing them that he had receiyed 
 from the Goyernor of New York, a copy of an order of 
 Council "forbidding the inhabitants of that Proyince 
 prosecuting suits respecting those lands, or making- 
 further settlements until ye line be fixed," and he there- 
 fore directed the committee to take "effectual care that 
 the same be obseryed on ye part of ye inhabitants of 
 this Proyince." 
 
 This " Order of Council" was a response to the 
 petition of Eyert AVendell in behalf of the proprietors 
 of Westenhook. The petition, dated April 29th, 1726, 
 narrates that the proprietors purchased the land of the 
 Indians, and obtained a 2}atent in 1705, and had eyer 
 since paid the Annual Quit Eent of £7 10s, that they 
 had " lately met with great trouble and disturbance 
 from the people of Conecticut and Massatuchets, they 
 both pretending that AVestenhook will fall into theii- 
 boundaries wheneyer the partition lines between this 
 Proymce and those Colonys shall be perfected, and 
 doe begin alread}' to settle the same." The petitioners 
 ask the Goyernor and Council to interpose, and when 
 the partition line may be completed "that the said 
 proprietors may be continued in the quiet and peace- 
 able possession of such part of "Westenhook as may 
 happen to fall within the bounds and limits of Conecti- 
 cut or Massatuchets, and that the property thereof may 
 remaine as the same now stands yested." (Land Papers, 
 Vol. 10 page 4.) 
 
 In consequence of the aboye instructions, the com- 
 mittee, on the 8th of May, issued an order to the set- 
 tlers forbidding them from makmg further settlements, 
 or commencing suits against the inhabitants of New 
 York respecting the titles of then- lands. By this order 
 the 23r ogress of the settlement was stayed, and matters 
 came to a stand still, much to the discomfiture of the 
 settlers ; they howeyer maintamed theii- ground, trust- 
 ing that they would be, eyentually, sustamed by the 
 proyincial goyernment, and it is probable that they 
 
RECORDS COMPLETED. 21 
 
 were, tacitly, if not openly, encouraged, though we find 
 no evidence that anything further was done for their 
 relief until 1733. In the interim, the time allotted the 
 committee, in which to perfect the work of laying out 
 the lands and settling both townships, had exph-ed, and 
 their task was not yet completed. 
 
 On the 22d of June 1733, the General Court passed 
 an order appointing John Ashley, Ebenezer Pomroy 
 and Thomas Ingersoll a Committee to bring forward a 
 settlement of the Ujjper Township at Housatonic, their 
 " power to extend also to the Lower Township, so as 
 to confirm the settlers in . theii' property ;" the com- 
 mittee were instructed to report their proceedings as to 
 the Lower Township within twelve months from the 
 date of the order. This committee visited the Lower 
 Township in October 1733, and again in 1734, and com- 
 j)leted their work by making a full record of the lands 
 laid to each proprietor's right, and confirming the 
 settlers in the possession of their lands. During the 
 eight years which had elapsed from the commencement 
 of settlements in 1726, to the closing of the labors of 
 the committee in 1734, many of the j^i'oprietary rights 
 had changed hands, by sale or otherwise, and several of 
 the origmal proprietors had died ; amongst the latter 
 were John Huggins, Joshua Root, Lawrence Suydam, 
 Noah Phelps, Daniel Ashley and David King. The 
 proprietors whose titles were confirmed by the com- 
 mittee in 1733-4, most of whom were then settled in the 
 township were as follows : 
 
 IN THE FIRST DIVISION. 
 
 Johu Aslilej', Aaron Ashley, Ezekiol Ashley, Matthew Noble, 
 Nathaniel Leonard, Joseph Taylor, John Pell. Joseph Corbin, 
 Jonathan Westover, Benjamin Sackett and Chileab Smith. 
 
 SECOND DIVISION. 
 
 Zachariah Walker, James Smith, Jr., Thomas Lee, and 
 Joshua Boardman, Lieut James Smith, Samuel Goodrich and 
 John Westover, John Smith. Joseph Seger and Lieut. Thomas 
 Ingersoll. John Huggins — deceased, Joshua Boardman. 
 
 THIED DIVISION. 
 
 Japhet Bush, John Ashley, Capt. John Day, Phihp Callender, 
 John Huggins deceased, David Clark, Anthony Austin, Nathanit 1 
 Austin, Eleazar Stockwell. Noah Phelps, Lieut. Thomas Ingersoll, 
 Obadiah and Solomon Noble, Matthew Noble, Senr., William 
 
22 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 Goodrich, Jonathan Root, Daniel Kellogg, Stephen Vanhall 
 Samuel Ferry, Capt. John Ashley, Minister's Lot, School Lot. 
 
 rOUKTH DIVISION. 
 
 Samuel Ferry, John Phelps, Thomas Dewey, Thomas Pier, 
 (two rights,) Samuel Harmon, Joseph Noble, Joshua Root de- 
 ceased, (two rights,) Wilham Phelps, Samuel Surdam. and the 
 heirs of Lawrence Surdam, Samuel Dewey, Sen'r. and Samuel 
 Dewey, Jr. , Joseph Sheldon, Lot sequestered to the Ministery. 
 
 FIFTH DinSION. 
 
 Samuel Younglove, Coonrod Burghardt, Joshua White, Moses 
 King, Israel Lawton, Moses Ingersoll, and Stephen King. 
 
 The proprietors held theii' first meeting on the 
 12th of May, 1733, and organized the propriety by 
 choosing Daniel Kellogg clerk. This township was in- 
 corporated as a town with the name of Sheffield, in 
 January 1733 ; but at that time no regular sm-vey of 
 the town had been made,(l) and as it wasdesu'able that 
 it should include a larger tract than had been compre- 
 hended in the legislative grant of seven miles square, 
 the inhabitants and proprietors were desirous of ob- 
 taining a confirmation of the grant, which should cover 
 the excess. A i^lan of the township was prepared by 
 Capt. William Chandler, compiled partly from surveys 
 made by himself, and partly from those of adjoining 
 lands, made by Timothy Dwight ; this plan, which is 
 poorly executed and contains apparent inaccuracies, 
 was presented to the General Court in December, 1737, 
 but was not then accepted. 
 
 In 1738 the proprietors, at their meeetings in April 
 and November, discussed the matter, and " chose Na- 
 thaniel Austin agent for the proprietors of Sheffield, to 
 go to the General Assembly to get a confirmation of 
 Sheffield together with the overplus lands found there- 
 in." Mr. Austin was instructed to employ Col. John 
 Stoddard, of Northampton, to assist him in this busi- 
 ness ; but for unexplained reasons the matter was de- 
 layed in the legislature until 1741, when on the 4th of 
 August the plan of the township was accepted and 
 
 (1.) In the State Archives is a plat of a survey of the Lower 
 Township, made October 24th, 1783, by John Ashley; which, 
 however, was not accepted by the General Court. Ashley's sur- 
 vey differs somewhat materially from the one afterwards made 
 by Chandler, which was finally accepted. 
 
ACTION or PROPRIETORS. 23 
 
 received the approval of the Governor. In 1735 the 
 proprietors began laying out and distributing the un- 
 divided lands in the township, which they continued 
 to do at intervals until 1761. 
 
 At a meeting held January 31st, 1791, it w^as voted 
 " to lay out all the common land not heretofore voted 
 to be laid out," and a committee was appointed to 
 ascertain the quantity of land remaining undivided. 
 This committee made report that '• after deducting all 
 former layings, ponds, rivers, &c., there is to be laid 
 out to each proprietor one hundred and twenty acres, 
 which will comprehend all the lands in said propriety.'' 
 A general scramble for lands ensued, and for many 
 3'ears, commonage, or the right to pitch lands under 
 proprietary rights, w as for sale at low rates. The sur- 
 veys of lands were roughly made and carelessly record- 
 ed ; in many instances lands were laid out infringing 
 upon survej^s already made ; these maccuracies, to- 
 gether with a general neglect of permanent boundaries, 
 have given rise to numerous misunderstandings and 
 much litigation, particularly as regards the titles of 
 mountain lands. The propriety was finally deemed to 
 be extinct, but was resuscitated and reorganized some 
 thirty years since ; but this organization was sliowai to 
 be illegal and was set aside. It was however again 
 reorganized, and still claims to have an existence. 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 THE UPPEH TOWNSHIP, 1722—1742. 
 
 Messrs. Ashley and Pomroy of the committee for 
 laying out the to^ynships, came to Housatonic in March, 
 1726, determined the boundary, on the riyer, between 
 the two towns, and made the diyisions of the Lower 
 Township which haye been mentioned. It is to be pre- 
 sumed that some settlers were admitted into the Upj^er 
 Township in that year, and it is certain, from tbe records 
 of the committee, that seyeral of them had entered 
 upon their lands preyious to May 12th, 1727. These 
 settlers were molested by the Dutch people, who 
 claimed the lands as within the jurisdiction of New 
 York, and the progress of the settlement was, for a 
 time, delayed by the order of the settling committee, 
 of May, 1727, issued by instruction of the Lieutenant 
 Goyernor, j^rohibiting the further laying out of lands, 
 and the prosecution of suits against the New York 
 claimants. The records of the committee furnish but 
 little information, relatiye to the cause or extent of the 
 troubles with the Dutchmen. The State of New York, 
 claiming the Connecticut Riyer for its eastern bound- 
 ary, had granted the lands, along the Housatonic, to 
 the AVestenhook patentees thirty years preyious to the 
 commencement of settlements; and these patentees, 
 or others holding under them, now contested the right 
 of the Massachusetts settlers to the lands in both town- 
 ships. It is said that the New York men brought 
 suits against some of the settlers, caused them to be 
 arrested and taken to Albany for trial. (1) 
 
 (1) So late as June. 1742, Ephraim Williams, Esq., and 
 others in behalf of the inhabitants of Sheffield, Stockbridge and 
 Upper Housatonic, memorialized the Greneral Court, stating that 
 divers persons from New York, imder pretense of an Indian 
 deed, and patent from that government, had been lately running 
 lines, and surveying lands in those towns, with the intention of 
 obtaining a confirmation of their patent from the crown. 
 
TROUBLES WITH WESTENHOOK PATENTEES. 25 
 
 Some further information of the troubles with the 
 Dutch — or the Westenhook patentees is found in the 
 petition of "Coenrset Borghghardt " to the General 
 Court, November 25th, 1741, (1) from which we gather 
 the following facts : Mr. Burghardt had been em- 
 ployed by the Settling Committee, and was instrumen- 
 tal in purchasing the townshij^s from the Indians in 
 1724 ; and was requested, the next year, to measure 
 the distance from the Hudson River to the Housa- 
 tonic at their "nearest j^oint." He — then residing in 
 Kinderhook — went to Albany and emjDloyed a surveyor 
 for this purjDOse, who agreed to come, and fixed the 
 day. The surveyor not appearing at the time appoint- 
 ed, Mr. Burghardt went again to Albany and there 
 learned that the surveyor had been bribed by the 
 Westenhook proprietors "not to serve as promised." 
 
 Mr. Burghardt then went to Schenectady and en- 
 gaged another to come on a set day. This one also 
 disap2)ointed him, and, going again to Schenectady, 
 Mr. Burghardt found that he, too, had been bribed in 
 the same manner. He then went eighty miles further, 
 to King's Township, and there procured a surveyor — 
 paying him £5, New York currenc}^ in advance — who, 
 with the assistance of Mr. Burghardt and one of his 
 sons, measured the line. 
 
 In 1726, some of the people " that tras settling upon 
 flousatunnuck n^ere molested and sued as trespassers 
 by the said pyatentees^ and lost their suit in Albany." 
 Mr. Burghardt, at the request of Capt. John Ashley, 
 gave bonds for the damages and costs and was at the 
 trouble and expense of several journeys to Albany and 
 Westfield, and finally paid £70 out of his own pocket 
 to satisfy his bonds. 
 
 In consequence of the order prohibiting the laying 
 out of lands, the affairs of the settlers were greatly em- 
 barrassed : and, as the committee record, " Ye settle- 
 ment at Housatonnuck was for a considerable time, 
 much impeded and hindered ; but afterwards many of 
 ye settlers, by themselves, or others, got upon ye land, 
 and had ye encouragement of ye General Assembly." 
 A period of six years elapsed, between the stoppage of 
 
 (1) Massachusetts Archives ; * ' Lands " — Book 46, page 122. 
 
26 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 the settlements and " ye encouragement " mentioned 
 by the committee ; — a blank in the histoiy of the pio- 
 neers, upon which we have found no record casting a 
 ray of light. During this time, the settlers appear to 
 have maintained their possessions, and probably some 
 accessions were made to their numbers : but, in this 
 interval, the time allotted the committee, in which to 
 complete the laying out and settlmg of the lands, had 
 expired, and but little had been accomplished. 
 
 In 1733, June 22d, the General Court passed an 
 order appointing John Ashley and Ebenezer Pomroy, 
 Esq's., and IVIi*. Thomas Ingersoll a committee "to 
 bring forward a settlement of ye Upper Township at 
 Housatunnock, and allot ye same out pursuant to ye 
 order and direction of this Court at their session in 
 May, 1722 : the former committee not having perfected 
 their work before their power determined: the com- 
 mittee's power to extend also to ye Lower Township. 
 so as to confirm the settlers in their j)roi3erty ; and yt 
 the committee report their doings as to ye Lower 
 Township in twelve months, and ye Upjier Township 
 within two years from this date." The newly organ- 
 ized committee visited the township in October, 1733. 
 as A^ell as several times afterwards, admitted settlers 
 an 1 laid out house lots, meadow and other lands, along 
 tl e ri rer, both above and below Monument Mountain, 
 presciibing as conditions, that each settler or proprie- 
 tor should build a suitable house and occupy the same 
 by himself or a tenant acceptable to the committee, 
 and should cultivate twelve acres of land, all within 
 three years" time. The number of proprietary rights 
 originally provided for, was sixty, including that of the 
 first settled minister and the school right ; but, by the 
 grant of the township of Stockbridge to the Indians, 
 which included all of that part of the Upper TownshijD 
 which lies above Monument Mountain, the area of the 
 township was gTeatly diminished, and the proprietary 
 rights were consequently reduced to forty in number. 
 The records of the committee, which were written 
 some years later, contain no account of the lapng out 
 of the lands above the mountain ; what information we 
 have upon that point is gathered from other sources. 
 
GRANTS OF THE INDIAN TOWN. 27 
 
 Early in 1735 the committee had the misfortune to lose 
 theu' records — or papers — which were consumed in the 
 burning of the house of John Pell, their surveyor, in 
 Sheffield. This, with other "obstructions," led them 
 to apply to the legislature for an extension of time in 
 which to complete their work. After a large part of 
 the lands had been allotted to the proprietors, and 
 many below and a few above the mountain had settled 
 and made improvements, the project of granting the 
 town of Stockbridge to the Indians, was originated.. 
 It was foreseen that the proposed grant, if made, would 
 include a large and valuable part of the Upper Town- 
 ship, and that some arrangement must be made with 
 the Housatonic proprietors, and with those who had 
 already made settlements above the mountain. 
 
 On the 6th of January, 1736, the legislature ap- 
 pointed a committee consistmg of John Stoddard, 
 Ebenezer Pomroy and Thomas Ingersoll, (the latter 
 two of whom were also members of the settluig com- 
 mittee,) to confer with the Indians relative to the grant 
 of the proposed township : and, as it was expected that 
 the Indians would desire to have the meadow lands, 
 north of Monument Mountain, which belonged to the 
 proprietors of the Upper Township, and most of which 
 had already been parceled out to some of them, the 
 committee were instructed to confer with the proprie- 
 tors, and arrange terms on which they would relinquish 
 their rights to the lands above the mountain, or ex- 
 change them for other unappropriated lands of the 
 province. Tliis committee came to Housatonic in 
 February following: held conferences with both the 
 Indians and proprietors, and made an early report of 
 their proceedings to the legislature. On the 25th of 
 March, 1736, the township was granted to the Indians, 
 by the General Court. Messrs. Stoddard, Pomroy and 
 Ingersoll were apppointed a committee to lay it out; 
 and, in order to compensate the Housatonic proprietors 
 for the lands taken from them, were authorized to dis- 
 pose of the land in Sheffield, which had been originally 
 reserved, but now relinquished, by the Indians, for 
 that purpose, and also to give to the proprietors that- 
 lived below the mountain, equivalents in unappropriated 
 
28 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 lands lying adjacent to Sheffield, Tapper Honsatonic 
 and Stockbridge, and fm-ther, to make to tlie proprie- 
 tors above the mountain, equivalents in unappropriated 
 lands of the province, in different places. In April the 
 committee laid out the township to the Indians — six 
 miles square, embracing the present towns of Stock- 
 bridge and "West Stockbridge the grant of which was 
 regularly confirmed to them by the General Court in 
 May of the next year. By tlus gTant, the Upper Town- 
 ship lost 9,210 acres of its territory, and the procediu-e 
 added another to the many huidrances which had so 
 long delayed its settlement. In addition to this the 
 settling committee — as they record — were du'ected 
 ''to make no fiu'ther records in this plan." 
 
 "We are not aware that any record exists of the pro- 
 ceedings of the committee — Messrs. Stoddard, Pom- 
 roy and Ingersoll — in making equivalents to the pro- 
 prietors, and arranging terms with the settlers above 
 the mountain, by which they relinquished then* titles 
 to the lands taken from them. But from a memoran- 
 dum, found among the papers of Col. John Stoddard, 
 after his decease — apparently the draft of a report to 
 be made to the legislature — which was duly authen- 
 ticated and produced in our Berkshire coui'ts, as evi- 
 dence in some suit at law in 1782, we gather the fol- 
 lowing facts. Meadow lands, above the mountain, 
 had, then, been laid out to not less than twenty-nine 
 proprietors or proprietary rights, for which equivalents 
 were to be made. Of those who were in actual occu- 
 pancy and settled there we have the following names : 
 Jehoiakim Tan Yalkenburg, who owned 1,200 acres: 
 Richard Moor, who had one right of 100 acres : John 
 Burghardt, who owned three rights of 100 acres each ; 
 Elias Yan Scoick, who claimed four rights, — though 
 the setthng committee had agreed to report three of 
 his rights as forfeited to the province, — probably for 
 the reason that he had not fulfilled the prescribed con- 
 ditions of settlement. In addition to these ''Arent 
 Gardiner" owned one right, and probably resided there. 
 "Isaac Forsberry," fS^osburg] owned two rights above, 
 and one right below the moimtain : it is possible that 
 he lived above the mountam, though the probability is, 
 
EQUIVALENTS TO PROPRIETOKS. 29 
 
 that his residence was below. Mr. Stoddard says that 
 the Indians desired that both Van Valkenburg and 
 Moor might be permitted to abide witli them. Van 
 Valkenburg was a friend of Captain Konka]3ot, often 
 acted as an interpreter, and is reputed to have received 
 290 acres of land as a gift from that chief. 
 
 In arranging equivalents, the committee gave to 
 Isaac Vosburgh, for his two rights above the moun- 
 tain, an equivalent at the eastern end of the Indian 
 land in Sheffield; they also bought of Vosburgh, the 
 right which he owned below the mountain, (in order 
 that it might be held for the first settled minister) and 
 gave him in exchange, another tract in the Indian land. 
 To Ai'ent Gardiner, for his right above the mountain, 
 they gave "the other south part of the Indian land." 
 Thus the Indian land, or so much of it as lay within 
 the town of Sheffield, was exchanged for four rights in 
 the Upper Township. They laid out for Elias Van 
 Scoick, for . one right above the mountain, certain 
 meadow lands below ; and to John Burghardt, for his 
 three rights, four meadow lots below the mountain, 
 with the proviso that "he is to have no part in the Hop- 
 land, nor more than 1,200 acres for his three rights." 
 To Francis Clew, for one right above, they laid out 
 meadow land below the mountain. (This right was, 
 or soon after became, John Burghardt's.) To Captain 
 Stephen Vanhall and Aaron Van Dyke, for their rights 
 above the mountain, they gave each, one right below. 
 These, and other changes were amicably made; in the 
 transaction, the committee bought of non-residents, 
 several rights below the mountain, which were ex- 
 changed for rights above, giving therefor other unap- 
 propriated province land. Various other rights above 
 the mountain, owned by non-residents, were exchanged 
 for province land in different places. The memoran- 
 dum from which we have quoted, is not a full report, 
 and though it is without date, was evidently made be- 
 fore the committee had finished their business. This 
 paper continues, "the committee have taken out of the 
 Upper Housatunnuck, for the Indians, between nine 
 and ten thousand acres, and they have agreed with the 
 proprietors below the mountam that all the rest of the 
 
30 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 township shall remain to them, and that all the Hop- 
 lands should be divided to and amongst the proprie- 
 tors below the mountain." 
 
 Of those who were settled above the mountain, or, 
 are named above as having exchanged theii' rights, 
 John Burghardt removed below the mountain, and set- 
 tled where Charles Adsit lately resided. Isaac Yos- 
 burgh removed onto the Indian land in Sheffield, and 
 lived near where the late William W. Warner since re- 
 sided. Ai'ent Gardiner, is supposed to have moved 
 onto the Indian land to the westward of Vosburgh. 
 Jehoiakim Van Valkenburg continued to reside in 
 Stockbridge, until about 1738 or 9, when he removed 
 and settled at the foot of the mountain, where William 
 Van Deusen lately lived. Of Richard Moor we have 
 no account. Elias Van Scoick was a very troublesome 
 fellow, and was eventually driven away in 1739. The 
 Upper Township was finally surveyed in 1736, by Tim- 
 othy Dwight of Northampton, as follows : beginning at 
 the northwest corner of Sheffield, the line ran east nine 
 degrees, south 1,902 rods, then north forty degrees, east 
 2,256 rods, then west nine degrees, north 3,150 rods, to 
 the supposed line of New York, then south eleven de- 
 grees, west 1,950 rods, — content 31,360 acres, equal to 
 seven miles square. 
 
 The grant of the "Indian Town," (Stockbridge,) to 
 the Indians, in 1736, took from this townshij), on its 
 northern end, a tract 1,920 rods in length east and west, 
 and 770 rods in width north and south, and left a large 
 tract, known as the Hoplands, lying east of Stock- 
 bridge, now a part of the town of Lee. The land taken 
 for the Indian Town contained 9,240 acres, and the 
 area of this township was thereby reduced to 22,120 
 acres. The township in its reduced form, extended 
 fi'om the north line of the Lower Township — at the 
 Great Bridge — to the south line of Stockbridge, and 
 West Stockbridge, and included the Hoplands east of 
 Stockbridge. The forty proprietary rights were fixed 
 by the settling committee at four hundi-ed acres each. 
 In this, as in the Lower Township, many of the rights 
 had changed hands during the time which had elapsed 
 between the commencement of settlements and the 
 
OWNERS OF PROPRIETORY RIGHTS. 31 
 
 ^making up of the records of the committee. The names 
 cff the pro23rietors to whom lands were finally laid out, 
 .iMid the number of rights and acres to wliich each was 
 ..entitled, were as follows: 
 
 James Bowdoin, 
 
 7 
 
 1-2 rights. 
 
 3,000 acres. 
 
 John Burghardt, 
 
 4 
 
 
 1,000 
 
 -Cooiirod Bui'ghardt, 
 
 6 
 
 
 2,400 
 
 WiUiam Clark, 
 
 2 
 
 
 800 
 
 David IngersoU, 
 
 5 
 
 
 2,000 " 
 
 vJoseph Pixley, 
 
 3 
 
 
 1,200 
 
 Jonah Pixley, 
 
 
 
 400 
 
 Hezekiah Phelps, 
 
 
 
 800 
 
 Josiah Phelps, 
 
 
 1-2 " 
 
 1,000 
 
 David Sackett, 
 
 
 
 400 " 
 
 Itarou Van Dyke, Esq., 
 
 
 
 400 " 
 
 •€apt. Stephen Vanhall, 
 
 
 
 400 
 
 David Winchell, 
 
 
 
 400 
 
 Johu Williams, 
 
 
 
 400 " 
 
 Minister's Lot, 
 
 
 
 400 
 
 School Lot, 
 
 
 
 400 " 
 
 The right to Aaron Van Dyke, Esq., who resided in 
 Enderhook, w^as "given gratis, by the committee, for 
 Ms good services in purchasing the land of ye Indians." 
 To each of these rights, the committee laid out house 
 lots, meadow and upland along the river, from the 
 Hreat Bridge northerly to Monument Mountain. 
 
 Of the proprietors, beforementioned, John Burg- 
 ijardt — or John De Bruer, as it was sometimes writ- 
 ten, — Joseph and Jonah Pixley, Josiah and Hezekiah 
 Plielps, and John Williams resided in the township at 
 ^.e time the records of the committee w^ere made up. 
 Coonrod Burghardt lived in the Low^er Township, and 
 Ms rights were occupied by his sons and son-in-law, to 
 ^"iiom he afterwards conveyed them as follows : tw^o 
 nights to Isaac Van Deusen, — his son-in-law, — in 1743 ; 
 tiii^ee rights to his sons Peter and Jacob, in 1746; one 
 ^ght to his son Hendiick, at an earlier date. One 
 I>errick Hogaboom had owned one right, and dwelt 
 iLorth and east of the Great Bridge, but had disposed 
 -of it as early as 1742; in that year Joseph Sheldon 
 Sjeams to have been in occupancy. In addition to these, 
 ■Skere were several other settlers, tenants on the rights 
 df James Bowdoin, David IngersoU and others, but 
 iJieir names have not descended to us ; IngersoU himself 
 
32 
 
 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 may have resided above the bridge for a time, but built 
 and lived a short distance below it in 1739. 
 
 The settlement of this township, begun in 1726, 
 had been attended with peculiar difficulties. By the 
 troubles with the Dutch claimants, and the official or- 
 der of 1727, forbidding the making of further settle- 
 ments, its jDrogress had been stayed until 1733, then 
 recommenced only to be again subjected to delay and 
 inconvenience caused by the settuig off of the Indian 
 tow^n, attended wdth the loss of nearly one-thii'd part 
 of its territory, and followed by an express order to 
 the settling committee to make no further records. In 
 the meanwhile, the time allotted to the settling com- 
 mittee for the performance of their duties had expii'ed, 
 then' records, aj^parently commenced in 1735, were un- 
 finished, and it was not until sixteen years from the 
 commencement of settlements, that the records were 
 completed, and individual proprietors furnished w^ith 
 legal evidence of title to their jDossessions. Difficul- 
 ties had arisen relative to individual titles to land, and 
 some resident proprietors were in occupancy, and claim- 
 ing possession of certain lands belonging to non-resi- 
 dents ; wdiilst others had not performed the conditions 
 of settlement, prescribed by the committee, by build- 
 ing and occu^^ying a house and cultivating twelve acres 
 of land. In December, 1711, John Williams, Hezekiah 
 Phelps, and others, united in a petition to the General 
 Court, complaining that the settling committee had 
 not fulfilled their duties, and reciting their grievances 
 and the inconveniences to w^hich they were subjected. 
 This petition, followed by another from Josiah Phelps 
 appears to have awakened the attention of the legisla- 
 ture to the condition of affairs at Housatonic, and is 
 supposed to have formed the basis of an order of the 
 court, which was intended to cover all grounds of com- 
 plaint and relieve the inhabitants from further trouble. 
 
 This order, passed January 13th, 1742, after invest- 
 ing the inhabitants with limited parish privileges — 
 (which w^ill be considered hereafter) — made it incum- 
 bent upon such of the pro^metors as had not already 
 performed the conditions of settlement, to fulfill the 
 same within the space of tw^o years, under penalty of 
 
COMMITTEE COMPLETE THEIR WORK. 33 
 
 forfeiture of their lands to the iDrovince, and contained 
 the further i^rovision that in case those persons who 
 had not akeady fulfilled those conditions, and who had 
 entered into lands which had been granted to others, 
 and were holding the rightful owners out of i^ossession 
 of the same, should not, upon notice given them, de- 
 liver up possession to the rightful owners, that then 
 the rights of such so holding "shall be and hereby are 
 declared utterly null and void and shall revert to the 
 province," and that such persons should not be en- 
 titled to any share m the undivided lands in the town- 
 ship. The order also authorized the settling commit- 
 tee to give out copies of all their grants or proceedings 
 respecting the township, "which shall be held good to 
 all intents and purposes in the law, the said commit- 
 tee's power of acting as a committee being determined, 
 notwithstanding. " 
 
 The records, though bearing date 1735-7, were 
 probably not completed until after the passage of the 
 above order, and the committee, having finished their 
 labors, on the twenty-third of May, 1743, delivered the 
 record book to David Ingersoll, who had been previ- 
 ously chosen clerk of the propriety. The proprietors 
 held their first meeting March 14th, 1743, and organ- 
 ized by choosing John Williams moderator, and David 
 Ingersoll proprietor's clerk. At this, as well as at sub- 
 sequent meetings, during that year, it was voted to lay 
 out lands to certain of the proprietors named in the 
 record ; but in each instance, for unexplained reasons, 
 several owners of rights were not permitted to share 
 in the divisions of land. The lands were laid out, as 
 voted, and the surveys were properly recorded by the 
 clerk. From 1744 to 1749 no meetings are recorded. 
 The parties who had been omitted in the distribution 
 of lands, had sufficient cause for grievance, and no 
 doubt complained of the treatment which they received. 
 On the eighteenth of July, 1749, the proprietors 
 held a meeting and voted that "Mr. David Ingersoll 
 be dismissed from the office of clerk, and that he serve 
 no longer in that capacity, in said proprietv ;'' and 
 Timothy Woodbridge was chosen in his stead. After 
 ]VIi\ Ingersoll had been thus summarily deposed from 
 
34 HISTOPiY OF GREAT BAERIXGTON. 
 
 his office, he refused to dehver up the book of records 
 to the newly elected clerk, and at a meetmg held De- 
 cember 19th, 1749, a committee was appointed to wait 
 upon him and demand it, and in case of refusal, to 
 take such coui'se by law, or otherwise, as thej might 
 think proper for its recoyery. The proprietors eyent- 
 ually recoyered the book, but it is said they were 
 obliged to resort to legal. measiu'es to obtain it. By a 
 yote passed October 10th, 1749, the proprietors de- 
 clared null and yoid all diyisions of land made by them 
 to that time, for the reason that these diyisions had 
 been illegally and imjustly made, '-Especially in de- 
 ming and debarring seyeral of the proprietors of their 
 just rights and interests in the township." By this 
 yote, all diyisions made after the settling committee 
 had finished their labors, were aimulled, and set aside ; 
 and, although these diyisions are a matter of record, 
 thej haye eyer since been disregarded. Soon after- 
 wards, — December 19th, 1749, — measures were adopted 
 for diyiding all the land in the township, not preyious- 
 ly laid out by the settling committee, equally amongst 
 the proprietors. 
 
 First. — It was provided that all the lauds along the river, im- 
 mediately adjoining the home lots of the settlers, together with 
 lands on the North Plain, and a tract lying west of Monument 
 Mountain, should be so divided as to "make the home, or set- 
 tling lot, of every proprietor equal to the largest settling lot laid 
 out to any proprietor by the settling committee." The laying 
 out of the lands thus appropriated, was, however, delayed for 
 twenty years, or until 1770, when they were surveyed by Cap- 
 tain William Day, and his surveys were only accepted and re- 
 corded fifteen years later in 1785. These tracts are known as 
 the EquaHzing land. 
 
 Second. — All that tract of land lying west of the home lots, 
 and equalizing lands, on the west side of the river, extending 
 westerly to the west hue of the township, and nox*therly to the 
 south line of Stockbridge and West Stockbridge, was to be di- 
 vided into fort}' lots, running east and west, to be numbered 
 and drawn for by each proprietary right. These lots, known 
 as the " West tier of long lots," were surveyed by Samuel Mes- 
 senger, and were drawn by lot, by the proprietors, May 1st, 
 1753. These lots, with the exception of Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4, — 
 which bounded easterly on Mansfield Pond — were each two miles 
 and one hundred rods in length, east and west, with a breadth 
 of twenty-nine and one-half rods at the west, and thirty rods at 
 the east end, and contained 137 acres each. 
 
DIVISIONS ,0F THE TQ-^^^SHIP. 35 
 
 Third. — All the land on the east side of the river, east of the 
 home lots, and equalizing lauds, extending easterly to the east 
 line of the township, (now the Monterey and Tyringhanitown 
 lines) and northerly to the south line of Stockbridge, and the 
 Hoplands, — now Lee, — was to be divided into forty lots, to be 
 numbered, and drawn for by each ^proprietary right. These 
 lots, known as the "East tier of long lots," were surveyed by 
 Samuel Messenger, and were drawn by the proprietors, April 2, 
 1754; these lots were of unequal lengths and widths, and were 
 said to contain 201^ acres each. The survey of the east tier of 
 lots is not recorded on the book of records. 
 
 Fourth. — The Hoplands, — the tract lying east of Stockbridge 
 and north of the east tier of lots, — now included in the town of 
 Lee — were to be equally divided to each proprietai-y right. The 
 divisions of this tract, five in number, were made in 1752, 1753, 
 1771 and 1793. By these provisions all the lands in the town- 
 ship were divided, with the exception of " a certain gore of land 
 lying between the Stockbridge hne and lot No. 40," of the east 
 tier of lots, which was sold by a committee appointed for that 
 purpose in 1794 ; and also excepting a small piece of land on the 
 top of Monument Mountain, which was considered valueless, 
 and has never been sold or laid out. 
 
 Aside from the votes respecting the divisions of 
 land, the records of the propriety contained but few^ 
 items of interest. At the first meeting of the proprie- 
 tors, — 1743 — a committee vras appointed to lay out 
 highways in the township, — but of their action, (if any 
 was had) — no record exists. In the laying out of the 
 w^est tier of long lots, highways were provided for, run- 
 ning north and south, near each end, as vrell as through 
 the middle of the lots, and three other roads, running 
 east and west, and intersecting the north and south 
 roads, were also provided for. 
 
 In 1743, some persons had trespassed upon, and 
 laid claim to lands, which had been laid out to the min- 
 istr}^ right, and John Williams was chosen agent "to 
 sue off and eject" them. The proprietors were mind- 
 ful of the value of the streams and water privileges, 
 and with the intent that these should be held for the 
 benefit of the township, on the 5th of September, 1749, 
 voted: — "That all the streams of water belonging to 
 the propriety of Upper Housatonnock, and within said 
 township, proper and convenient for erecting mills, 
 with a suitable quantit}' of land adjoining to said 
 streams, be sequestered to the use and benefit of the 
 propriety." In the following month of December — the 
 
36 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 23roprietY granted to John Williams the privilege on 
 the AVilliams Eiver, at Van Deusenville, for the purpose 
 of erecting a saw-mill and grist-mill — pro^-ided the 
 mills should be erected within one year. 
 
 So late as January 1773, the proprietors, eighteen 
 in number, petitioned the General Coiut, stating that 
 the township was granted, and a committee appointed 
 for laying it out, in 1722 ; that, though dihgent search 
 had been made, no returns of the committee to the 
 General Coiu't had been foiuid ; that the first meeting 
 of the proprietors had been convened by the virtue of 
 a warrant issued by a Justice of the Peace, according 
 to the law ; that the warrant was not recorded, and the 
 original could not be found : that the petitioners had 
 ever since held meetings, made partition of lands, and 
 transacted other business ; that these defects had been 
 but recently discovered ; that the petitioners were ap- 
 prehensive that difficulties — to their prejudice — might 
 hereafter arise, in consequence of these defects, and 
 praying the coui't to take the matter into considera- 
 tion, and provide a remedy. 
 
 The history of the Lower Township belongs to the 
 annals of Sheffield, with the exception of the fourth and 
 fifth divisions, which were included iji the North Par- 
 ish, and became a part of Great Barrington. The set- 
 tlers and early inhabitants of these divisions, with 
 those of the Upper ToT\Tiship, will be hereafter noticed 
 in connection with the liistory of Great Barrington. 
 
CHAPTER Y. 
 
 GEOGRAPHICAL AND TOPOGRAPHICAL. 
 
 The town of Great Barriiigton as origmally incor- 
 porated, in 1761, comprehended the whole of the Up- 
 per Township, — excepting that part which had been 
 set off in the formation of the Indian Town, — and so 
 much of the Lower Township, — or the old town of 
 Sheffield — as lies between the present north line of 
 Sheffield and a line drawn nearly east and west, cross- 
 ing the Housatonic river at the Great Bridge. Its 
 area has since been material^ diminished by the elim- 
 ination of its boundary lines in the formation of the 
 towns of Alford and Lee. From 1743 to 1761 this ter- 
 ritory had a corporate existence as the North Parish of 
 Sheffield, — sometimes called Upper Sheffield, and dur- 
 ing that period was included in and formed a part of 
 the town of Sheffield. The adjoining towns on the 
 north, are Alford, West Stockbridge, Stockbridge and 
 Lee, on the east, Tyringham, Monterey and New Marl- 
 boro, on the south New Marlboro, Sheffield and Egre- 
 mont, on the west Egremont and Alford. The extreme 
 western limits of the town approach within about three 
 miles of the neighbormg state of New York, and the 
 north Ime of Connecticut is distant not more than 
 eight miles from the southern boundary of the town. 
 
 In its outline the town is of irregular form, though 
 its average length and breadth are nearly the same, — 
 a little less than seven miles. The whole area of the 
 town, as near as the roughness of its boundary lines 
 and the inaccuracies of their recorded sui-yeys permit 
 of computation, is 28,621 acres, or a little less than 45 
 square miles. In 1778 a considerable tract of land was 
 taken from the north-westerly part of Great Barring- 
 ton and included in Alford. This section was 652 rods 
 in length, — north and south — with a width of 210 rods 
 at its northern and 266 rods at its southern end ; again 
 in 1819, another piece, south of and adjoining to the 
 above described tract, was separated from this town 
 
38 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRIXGTON. 
 
 and annexed to Alford, making with the first piece, a 
 strip of 712 rods in length, and 296 rods in width at 
 its southern end. In the north-eastern section, that 
 part of the UjDper Township known as the Hoplands, 
 was taken from this town and inchided in the town of 
 Lee at the time of its incorporation, October 21st, 
 1777. By the setting oif to Alford, Great Barrington 
 lost 1075 acres of its territory, which was still further 
 reduced about 4700 acres by the aimexation of the 
 Hoplands to Lee. By these changes the whole reduc- 
 tion of area since the mcorporation of the town has 
 been nearly 5800 acres. In January, 1761, a small 
 tract, including the dwelling and part of the lands of 
 Garret Burghardt, was, on his own petition, set off 
 from Egremont and attached to Sheffield, and on the 
 incorporation of Great Barrington, a few months later, 
 fell within the limits of this town. This change causes 
 the jog or irregularity in the west line of the town 
 near the late residence of Jacob Burghardt, deceased. 
 On the south, the divisional line between this town 
 and Sheffield, which is now commonly sui'veyed and 
 considered a straight line, was formerly the north line 
 of the Indian Reservation, and in the Legislative act 
 of the 13th of January, 1742, investing the — after- 
 wards — North Parish of Sheffield, with parish privi- 
 leges, is thus described : ••Begiiuiing at the most 
 north-westerly coAer of the Indian Land, in the west 
 line of the town of Sheffield, running easterly on said 
 Indian Land till it comes to a beech tree marked, near 
 the mouth of Green river, then turning something 
 northerly, and leavmg to Sheffield a small 2:)iece of 
 meadow, or intervale of said Indian Land till it comes 
 to range the line and beech tree on the easterly side of 
 said meadow, or intervale, and then to contmue said 
 line till it intersects the east line of Sheffield Proprie- 
 ty." By this line as described, — which afterwai'ds be- 
 came the south line of Great Barrington, — the " clear 
 meadow," reserved by the Indians, was left to the town 
 of Sheffield, but in later years the crook in this hne has 
 been disregarded, and, without any known Legislative 
 enactment, by common consent of both towns, this hne 
 has been perambulated, surveyed and recorded as a 
 
MOUNTAINS. 39 
 
 straight line, thus leaving the clear meadow within the 
 limits of Great Barrington. 
 
 The mountains of Western Massachusetts form an 
 interesting and attractive feature in the landscape, and 
 Berkshire is emphatically the mountain district of the 
 state. Great Barrington, though less mountainous 
 than many of the towns of the county, has a very un- 
 even surface, and is beautifully diversified with moun- 
 tain, hill, valley and plain. In the north-easterly sec- 
 tion of the town, the Beartown mountam extends 
 south-easterly from Stockbridge and Lee into Monte- 
 rey, cutting off from the main body of the town the 
 school district of Beartown, and rendering it inaccessi- 
 ble by public highways except through the adjoining 
 towns of Stockbridge and Lee, or Monterey. To the 
 westward of the Beartown mountain, and directly at 
 its base, lies the locality known as Muddy Brook, a se- 
 cluded farming district, — extending from the top of 
 Three Mile Hill northerly to the Stockbridge line, — 
 through which flows the stream called Muddy Brook. 
 (1) This stream unites with the Housatonic river in 
 Stockbridge, and is there called Konkapot Brook, in 
 memory of Capt. Konkaj^ot, who resided upon its bor- 
 der. To the v.^estward of the central part of Muddy 
 Brook Valley the Monument Mountain rises reaching 
 northerly into Stockbridge and spreading westerly with 
 its spurs and offshoots to the Housatonic River which 
 washes its western base at the village of Housatonic, 
 in the extreme northerly part of the town ; from its 
 southern base a long range of hills extends southerly 
 along the western border of the Muddy Brook Valley 
 to Thi-ee Mile Hill (2) and there unites with the War- 
 ner Mountain, (3) a spur of the East Mountain. 
 
 Lnmediately east of the village, the East Mountain, 
 or, as it is sometimes called, the Great Mountain, rises 
 to an elevation of several hundred feet, havmg its 
 
 (1) Muddy Brook, — so called in Proprietors Records, 1743. 
 
 (2) Three Mile Hill, — called by that name in the records of 
 the settUng committee j)revious to 1740, probably from the fact 
 that its top is about three miles from the Great Bridge. 
 
 (3) Warner Mountain derives its name from Consider War- 
 ner, who long ago cleared land and dwelt upon it. 
 
40 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 northern terminus in a singularly prominent pile of 
 rocks, about one-fourth of a mile east of the Great 
 Bridge, from which it extends, with a gradually widen- 
 ing base, easterly, beyond Three Mile Hill into New 
 Marlboro, and southerly into Sheffield. Opposite to, 
 and east of the southern part of the callage, lies the 
 Little Mountain, apparently thi-OT\TL from the larger or 
 East Mountain in some great conyulsion of natui'e, and 
 still reclining in the lap of the parent mountain. Be- 
 tween the Little and East mountains a narrow yalley 
 interyenes, thi'ough which passes one of the early high- 
 ways of the town, and also the East Mountain Brook, 
 which supplies the yillage with water. The East 
 Mountain, below the village, recedes from the river and 
 in the southerly part of the town throws out an arm 
 to the westward, which extends into Sheffield, and is 
 called the June Mountain. (1) To the eastward of 
 June Mountain, between it and the East Mountain, 
 passes the road to the Soda Springs and Brush Hill, and 
 the elevated intervening valley furnishes a coui'se for 
 the Roaring Brook, which flows northerly to its con- 
 fluence with the Housatonic, near the late residence of 
 Da\4d Leavitt, deceased. In the north-westerly pai't 
 of the town the mountain called Tom Ball, in West 
 Stockbridge, and Long Pond Mountain in this town, 
 enters the town from West Stockbridge and reaches 
 along the Alford town hne, more than two miles, to 
 the valley of the Seekonk Brook. This mountain, too, 
 has an offshoot to the eastward, called Sherlock 
 Mountain, (2) the eastern base of which borders on 
 Williams River. Between the Sherlock and Long Pond 
 mountains is an elevated valley, containing good farm- 
 ing lands, and forming the basin of Long Pond, a 
 secluded and attractive sheet of water of about 100 
 acres. 
 
 The principal streams of water in the town are the 
 Housatonic, Williams, and Green rivers. The Housa- 
 tonic, having its rise in New Ashford and Windsor, in 
 
 (1) June Monutain, so called from Benjamiu June, who cleared 
 the land and dwelt upon it about 1795. 
 
 (2) Sherlock Mountain derives its name from Thomas Sher- 
 lock, one of the early settlers near Long Pond. 
 
RIVER AND VALLEY. 41 
 
 the northerly part of the county, and flowing southerly 
 through it and through the entire breadth of Connecti- 
 cut, discharges its waters into the Long Island Sound 
 below Stratford. It is a busy stream from its source 
 to its mouth, turning numerous water wheels, propel- 
 ling a vast amount of manufacturing machinery, fertiliz- 
 ing the land through which it passes and enriching an 
 enterprising population which dwells upon its borders. 
 Entering the town from Stockbridge on the north, it 
 flows centrally through it, though with varied and sin- 
 uous course, forming a valley of rare beauty varying 
 from one-fourth of a mile to a mile in width, and fur- 
 nishing valuable water power, most of which is now 
 improved. At the northern section of the town the 
 stream is confined within narrow limits by the mount- 
 ain, which rises abruptly on its eastern shore, and the 
 upland on the west, where the busy manufacturing 
 Tillage of Housatonic is built. A little to the south- 
 ward of Housatonic the river valley expands into a 
 narrow belt of meadow, beyond which on either side is 
 an extensive tract of gravelly plain land, extending on 
 the east to the foot of Monument Mountain, and on the 
 west to the valley of the Williams Eiver, which inter- 
 venes between the plain land and the eastern base of 
 Sherlock Momitain. To the north and east of Yan 
 Deusenville the upland rises from the meadows with 
 ^^acefully rounded though high and precipitous banks, 
 conveying to the observer the impression that the 
 meadows which the}^ envii'on, — now crossed by the 
 iighway leading from Van Deusenville to Monument 
 Mountain, — have in some former ages been the basin 
 of a large body of water, of which the upland formed 
 the shores or confining sides. In fact there are some 
 indications that the whole valley from Monument 
 Mountain to the Great Bridge, has once been the 
 bottom of a large lake, confined at its southern ex- 
 tremity by the rocky barrier which now forms the bed 
 of the stream at the bridge, through which the pent up 
 waters have in process of years worn a passage. In- 
 'deed, it requires no great stretch of the imagination to 
 locate its outlines and define its boundaries. Between 
 Van Deusenville and the Great Bridge, — a distance of 
 
42 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 nearly two miles, — the valley spreads out into broad 
 meadows on both sides of the river : but at the bridge 
 and for some distance below, the waters are contracted 
 into a narrow, rocky channel, with high banks, and the 
 valley is also hemmed in and contracted by the mount- 
 am on the east and a lofty curving hill on the west. It 
 is here that the village is located, nestled beneath the 
 hill, which bends gently around it, and protected from 
 winds and storms by the hill on the west and mountain 
 on the east. Below the village, the valley again ex- 
 pands, its meadows extending westerly and joming 
 with those of the Green River, presenting a wide stretch 
 of low, level land, reaching far into Sheffield, having its 
 eastern boundary on the base of June Mountain and 
 bordered on the west by the Great Hill (1) west of 
 Green River. 
 
 Aside from the Williams and Green rivers, the 
 Housatonic receives as tributaries, in this town, the 
 waters of several small streams, the principal of which 
 is the Pixley Brook, which has its source in the mount- 
 ains to the southward of Thi-ee Mile Hill, and flowing 
 westerly, unites with the Housatonic about thi-ee-fourths 
 of a mile north of the Great Bridge. The Williams 
 River, having its rise in Richmond, and in the borders 
 of New York, passing through the entu-e length of 
 West Stockbridge, enters the town on its northern line, 
 flows along the eastern base of Sherlock Mountain, and 
 unites with the Housatonic a little east of Van Deusen- 
 ville. Along the valley of this stream are good meadoTV 
 lands, rising into an extensive plain, which lies between 
 it and the Housatonic. At Van Deusenville, the Wil- 
 liams River furnishes the motive power for the blast 
 fiu'nace of the Richmond Ii'on Works, and also another 
 privilege, formerly occupied by a cotton factory, but. 
 not now improved. 
 
 The Green River — the Waumpaniksepoot — or AMiite 
 River, of the Indians, rises in Austerlitz, New York, 
 flows through tlie south-westerly part of Alford, the 
 north-easterly section of Egi'emont, and enters the town 
 on its western border. In the westerly part of the 
 
 (1) The Great HUl — called by this name in the records of the 
 setthng committee. 
 
GREEN RIVER PONDS. 43 
 
 town, it receives the waters of Seekonk Brook, (1) which 
 rises in West Stockbriclge, and has its course southerly, 
 through Alford, skirting the western slope of Long 
 Pond Mountain. The Green Kiver then continues 
 south-easterly to its confluence with the Housatonic, 
 in quite the southerly part of the town. The valley of 
 the Green Kiver, above Kellogg's mill is bounded on its 
 eastern side by the hill which curves around the village, 
 and on the west by the extensive tract of plain land, 
 which extends mto Egremont. From the mill, the 
 Great Hill extends along the course of the river for 
 some distance, and into Sheffield. Below the mill the 
 valley of the river expands eastward, with broad mead- 
 ows, to the Housatonic. This stream derives its name 
 from the color of its waters, which are of a decidedly 
 greenish hue. It was called the Green River by the 
 Settling Committee, who early discarded its Indian 
 title. It is a stream of surpassing beauty, and has been 
 immortalized by Bryant^s verse. The only bodies of 
 water, of any note in town, are the Long Pond, already 
 mentioned, and the Mansfield Pond. 
 
 The Long Pond lies between the Sherlock and Long 
 Pond mountains, in the northwesterly part of the town, 
 has an area of nearly 100 acres ; its outlet is by way of 
 the Long Pond Brook, into the Seekonk Brook. At its 
 outlet a small water power is obtained, which has been 
 improved in former years, for the purposes of a saw 
 mill. The Mansfield Pond, so named from one Daniel 
 Mansfield, who owned land upon its borders, ninety 
 years since, occupies a basm between the hills half a 
 mile west of the village, with an elevation of about 140 
 feet above it. This pond covers 24 acres, and has a 
 muddy bottom. It has no inlet, but is fed by sprmgs 
 and by the water flowing from the adjoining hillsides. 
 Its outlet, which is at its northern end, affording a 
 small water power, improved for running a plaster mill, 
 empties into the Housatonic a short distance above the 
 Great Bridge. 
 
 From the foregoing description of the town, im- 
 
 (1) Seekonk Brook, called "Seekonk Kiln," in the proprietors 
 records, probably derives its name from Seaconk, which is the 
 Indian for Wild Goose. 
 
44 
 
 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON, 
 
 perfect as it is, it will be seen that the eastern and 
 north-western sections are mountainous. The uplands 
 which surround the mountains, afford fine pasturage, 
 ^nd are extensively cultivated, whilst the summits and 
 ledges, which are insusceptible of cultivation, are left 
 to the production of wood and timber of which the 
 town would otherwise soon be destitute. As an agri- 
 cultui'al district. Great Banington compares favorably 
 with other towns in the county, and with the exception 
 of Egremont is perhaj^s, excelled by none. That part 
 of the town lying west of the Housatonic River, abounds 
 in limestone, but httle, if any of this stone, is found 
 east of and in immediate proximity to the river. ^Miite 
 marble, of fan* quaHty, is found near the Green River, 
 above Kellogg's mill. This marble was quarried and 
 worked about fifty years since ; a mill for sa\^'Ulg was 
 erected, and considerable quantities were prepared for 
 market, but the enterprise has been abandoned. 
 
 Beds of iron ore are found on the hill east of the 
 residence of Lebbeus M. Pixley and also at the south 
 end of Long Pond. Ore from the former, since called 
 Dewey's bed, was used at IngersoU's forge as early as 
 1740, and its existence near Long Pond was also then 
 Tmown. These beds have both, to some extent, been 
 worked in later years. Traditions of mineral coal, — 
 anthi-acite or bituminous, — said to have been found on 
 Monument Mountain, and brought by the Indians to 
 the village blacksmith in Stockbridge, a hundi'ed years 
 ago, have descended to us, and by some are still credit- 
 ed. And much time and some money, even within a 
 iew years past, have been expended in fruitless search 
 for this mineral. 
 
 Monumerit Mountain — Its Monument and Traditions. 
 
 The Monument Moimtain, — the Mas-wa^se-hi (1) 
 of the aborigines, is deserving of more than the pass- 
 ing mention which has been made of it, as it is a fa- 
 vorite place of resort of pleasure seekers fi'om abroad 
 
 (1) Mas-wa-se-hi ; this is the orthography given us by Rev. 
 Jei'emiah Slingerland. Definition, "a nest standing up," or 
 "the standing up nest," with reference to the form of the cliffs 
 .of the mountain. 
 
MONUMENT MOUNTAIN. 45 
 
 and from the suiTOundiug villages, and is justly cele- 
 brated for the extraordinary beauty of the scenery 
 which its summit affords. Its tradition, beautifully 
 woven in verse by our once Berkshire poet, the late- 
 William Cullen Bryant, has imparted to this mountain a 
 world-wide notoriety. The summit of the mountain,, 
 to which the Indian name, as well as its present title,^ 
 more particularly applies, and which is situated in quite 
 the north part of Great Barrington, about one half 
 mile south of the Stockbridge line, rises precipitously, 
 to the westward of the county road leading from Great 
 Barrington to Stockbridge, to the height of several 
 hundi-ed feet. It is formed of quartz rock, thrown up,, 
 in some great upheaval of nature, into wild and craggy 
 ledges, and overhanging precipices. The name which 
 is now accorded to the mountain originates from a rude 
 pile of flint stones, which formerly stood at the foot of 
 the southern slope of the higher part of the mountain, a- 
 short distance to the west of the county road. This pile, 
 which was "some six or eight feet in diameter, circular 
 at its base, and raised in the form of an obtuse cone," 
 was of aboriginal origm, and was in existence before 
 the white settlers occupied the valley. By vandal 
 hands, this monument was thrown down more than 
 forty years since, the stones scattered about, and an 
 excavation made beneath it, probably m expectation of 
 discovering hidden treasures. The stones, now thrown 
 together in a circle, still mark the site of the monu- 
 ment. Its erection has been attributed to several 
 causes. The tradition on which Bryant's poem is 
 founded — which, however poetical it is, may be deemed 
 frivolous and not in consonance with Indian character 
 — is, that an Indian maiden, having formed an extra- 
 ordmary attachment for her cousin, whom the customs 
 of her tribe forbade her to marry, threw herself from 
 the mountain precipice and perished ; that she was 
 buiied at the base of the mountain, and the accumulated 
 pile marked her resting place. (1) Another and per- 
 
 (1) This story was related by an aged Indian woman, and was 
 communicated to Mr. Bryant ; and Mr. Slingerland says that irt 
 cases of excessive grief it was not uncommon for the Indian to 
 say, "I will go and jump off Mas-wa-se-hi." 
 
46 HISTORY OF GREAT BAREINGTON. 
 
 baj^s more plausible — thongli unconfirmed — tradition 
 is, that the terntoiy of the Muh-he-kun-nucks was once 
 invaded bv a hostile tribe : that the former lav in am- 
 bush for theu' enemy m the passes of the mountain, fell 
 upon them and defeated them with great slaughter: 
 and that the pile commemorates that event. 
 
 In a letter wiitten fi'om the Indian To\\ti in No- 
 vember, 1735. the writer says of this pile of stones, "it 
 is raised over the first sachem who died after they (the 
 Indians) came into this region. Each Indian as he 
 goes by adds a stone to the pile. Captain Konkapot 
 tells me it marks the boimdary of land agreed upon in 
 a treaty with the Mohawks. The Muhecimnucks being 
 entitled to have all the country for theu- hunting ground 
 within one day's joui-ney in every dh-ection from said 
 pile. He also says a chief was bmied there but the 
 stone is added to keep distinct the monument.'" Kon- 
 kapot was an intelligent and respectable Indian, and 
 his statement is entitled to some consideration. But, 
 whether mai'king the grave of a sachem or not, this, as 
 well as other similar, though usually smaller, piles of 
 stones, vrhich were not uncommon m the country, 
 probably had its origin in a mysterious rehgious custom 
 of the Inchans. This is more fully explained in the 
 foUowmg abstract from a narrative, vrritten in 179-4, by 
 Eev. Gideon Hawley of Mai'shpee, Massachusetts, of a 
 missionary toiu' made by himself mto the Indian country 
 in New York, in May, 1753. ]Mi\ Hawley had previously 
 been a teacher amongst the Inchans at Stockbridge, 
 and was familial- with theh= habits and customs. In 
 following an Indian path along the Schoharie Creek, 
 accompanied by an Indian guide and some others, he 
 says, '"We came to a resting place, and breathed oui- 
 horses, and slaked oui* thh'st at the stream, when we 
 perceived our Inchan lookuig for a stone, which having 
 found, he cast to a heap which for ages had been ac- 
 cumulating by passengers like him, who was oiu" guide. 
 We uiquu-ed why he observed this lite. His answer 
 was, that his father practiced it, and enjoined it on 
 him. But he did not like to talk on the subject. I 
 have observed hi every pai't of the coimtry, among 
 every tribe of Indians, and among those where I now 
 
THE MONUMENT. 47 
 
 vam (Marshpee) such heaps of stones or sticks collected 
 on the like occasion as the above. The largest heap I 
 ever observed, is that large collection of small sto7ies 
 vn the 7nou7italn heUoeen Stockbrldge and Great Bar- 
 rington. We have a sacrifice rock, as it is termed, be- 
 tween Plymouth and Sandwich, to Avhich stones and 
 sticks are always cast by the Indians who pass it. This 
 ^custom or rite is an acknowledgement of an invisible 
 being. We may style him the imk^ioion God, whom this 
 peoj^le worship. This heap is his altar. The stone 
 that is collected is the oblation of the traveler, which, if 
 offered with a good mind, may be as acceptable as a con- 
 secrated animal." (1) 
 
 The Eev. John Sergeant, in passing from Great 
 JBaiTiiigton to Stockbridge, in company with Ebenezer 
 Poo-poo-nuck, an Indian interpreter, November 3d, 
 1734, on the occasion of his first visit to the Indians, 
 observed this monument, and made the following rec- 
 -ord m his chary : "There is a large heap of stones, I 
 suppose ten cart loads, in the way to Wnah-tu-kook, 
 which the Indians have thrown together, as they passed 
 by the place, for it us'd to be theii' custom every time 
 any one passed by, to throw a stone to it. But what 
 was the end of it the;f cannot tell ; only the}" say their 
 Pathers us'd to do so and they do it because it was the 
 -custom of then* fathers. But Ebenezer says, he sup- 
 poses it was designed to be an expression of their 
 ,gi"atitude to the Supreme Being, that he had preserved 
 them to see the place again." 
 
 The following incident related by Mi'. Joseph K. 
 Pelton, an aged and estimable citizen of this town, now 
 <leceased, is of a character somewhat similar to that re- 
 corded by Mr. Hawley. Many years since, and pre- 
 vious to the time when the pile was thrown down, Mr. 
 Pelton met, at the tavern then kept above Monument 
 Mountain, two Indians of the Stockbridge tribe, who 
 bad recently come to this part of the country from 
 their homes in the far west, to visit the graves and 
 bunting grounds of thek ancestors. Entering into 
 
 (1) The narative of the Kev. Gideon Hawley, from which the 
 above abstract is made, is found in Vol. 3, page 630, of the Docu- 
 mentary History of New York. 
 
48 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 conversation with Mr. Pelt on, they made enquuies: 
 about the location of the monument, and at their re- 
 quest he accompanied them to the spot. After stand- 
 ing for some time thoughtfully and in silence about 
 the pile, each cast a stone upon it and turned away, 
 Mr. Pelton enquired of them the cause of its erection ; 
 they were unable or unwilling to answer ; they gave 
 him no information, but, as in the case mentioned by 
 Mr. Hawlev, did not like to talk about it. 
 
 The Ice Qulf. 
 
 A remarkable feature in the geological formation in 
 Great Barringion, is the Ice Gulf, situated in the ex- 
 treme south-easterly corner of the town, near the New 
 Marlboro line. Its location is about three. fourths of a 
 mile west from the house of George L. Turner. The 
 Gulf consists of a chasm of from eighty to one hun- 
 di'ed rods in length, extending north-easterlj' and south- 
 westerly across the entu^e ridge of the moiuitain. The 
 mountain — of sohd rock — is here rent in twam, the 
 width of the chasm, at its present bottom, measuring 
 from forty to sixty feet, with sides of rock rising, near- 
 ly perpendicularly, in some places to a height of about 
 eighty feet. The bottom is composed of large square- 
 edged blocks of stone, which for ages have fallen into 
 the fissure, filling it, perhaps from a mere crevice, to 
 its present width. The origmal depth of the chasm is, 
 of course, unknown, but that it was formerly more 
 than one hundred feet, is palpably evident to the be- 
 holder. It is a wild gorge, into which the sun scarce- 
 ly penetrates ; and ice is preserved, in the crevices of 
 its bottom, far into the summer. 
 
 President Hitchcock, — who visited this spot — in 
 the "Geology of Massachusetts,"' classes it among the 
 "Purgatories," and attributes its formation to the ac- 
 tion of water at a period when the surrounding land 
 formed the ocean's shore. But some are of the opinion 
 that it was produced by an earthquake or other gi'eat 
 natural disruption. 
 
ELEVATIONS AND POSITIONS. 49 
 
 Ele'cations. 
 
 Earlier than 1828, a survey of the Housatonic Eiver 
 was made to test the practicabiHty of constructmg a 
 canal from Derb}^, Conn,, to the middle of Berkshire 
 county. By this survej^, as stated in the History of 
 Berkshire, the ascent of the river from tide-water at 
 Derby, was 
 
 To the top of Canaan Falls, GOG feet 
 
 To the Great Bridge, in Great Barrington, 645 feet 
 
 And the whole elevation to the foot of "Wheeler's dam," 
 
 Pittsfield, 907 feet 
 
 By the survey of the Berkshire Kailroad, the eleva- 
 tions above mean tide, are as follows: 
 
 Connecticut state line, 703 feet 
 
 Town line — Great Barrington and Sheffield, 691 feet 
 Near foot of grade — between Great Barrington and 
 
 Sheffield, 689 feet 
 
 Near the Collins House, Great Barrington, 726 feet 
 
 Near the works of Berkshire Woolen Company, 744 feet 
 
 Crossing of Williams river — Van Deusenville, 737 feet 
 
 West Stockbridge depot, 916 feet 
 
 The elevation at the Eailroad crossing, on South 
 street, will vary but little from 735 feet. 
 
 The East Mountain, east of the village, has an ele- 
 vation of about 750 feet above the river meadows : and 
 Mount Everett — the highest point in the south part of 
 the county — is 2,624 feet higher than the sea. 
 
 Geographical Positions. 
 
 Longitude 
 Latitude west from 
 
 Greenwich. 
 
 dg-. m. 8. dg-. m. s, 
 
 Mt, Everett — coast survey signal, 42 6 5 5 73 25 59 52 
 *Spire of Congregational church. 
 
 Great Barrington, 42 12 32 97 73 17 23 11 
 
 Spire of Congregational church, 
 
 Sheffield, 42 7 28 53 73 16 56 14 
 
 Spire of Congregational church, 
 
 Lenox, 42 22 39 23 73 12 38 21 
 
 *Thi8 refers to the spire of the old church, which occupied 
 nearly the same position as the present one. 
 4 
 
CHAPTER YI. 
 
 ABOKIGINAL INHABITANTS— THE HOUSATONIC 
 INDIANS. 
 
 The Indians who inhabited the southern portion of 
 Berkshire at the time of its settlement, were offshoots 
 from a tribe which was scattered along the eastern 
 borders of the Hudson River, from the vicinity of Al- 
 bany, southward. This tribe was known to early New 
 York and Massachusetts settlers as ''River Indians," 
 and is sometimes mentioned as "Mahikanders," in an- 
 cient New York history. Those of this tribe who 
 dwelt in the Housatonic Valley, were called from the 
 liver, Housatonic Indians ; and, after they were gath- 
 ered in Stockbridge, were commonly known as Stock- 
 bridge Indians, taking the name of that town. The 
 proper name of the tribe, in theii' own language, is 
 Muh-he-ka-neew in the singular, and Miih-he-ka-ne-ok 
 in the plural, which, by then* interpretation, signifies 
 " The people of the great waters continually in mo- 
 tion." The name is variously written, but the orthog- 
 raphy corresponding with the common English pro- 
 nunciation is Muli-he-con-nuc or Muh-he-kun-nuck. The 
 tradition of the tribe asserts that they came from a 
 distant country in the north-west, were scattered by a 
 famine, and wandered thi'ough the v^ilderness to the 
 shores of the Hudson, where finding fish and game in 
 abundance, they built then- wigT\'ams and made a per- 
 manent settlement. The same tradition affirms that 
 the tribe was formerly very numerous, and able to 
 bring together a thousand warriors. 
 
 At the time of the commencement of settlements in 
 Berkshire, there were but few Indians residing within 
 its limits, but that they had formerly been quite numer- 
 ous in the south part of the county, and had dwelt 
 
ABORIGINAL REMAINS. 51 
 
 here for a very long term of years is sufficiently attest- 
 ed by their many places of interment and by the great 
 number of their utensils which have been, and still 
 are, frequently brought to light. Between the meadow 
 and back roads, m the extreme north part of Sheffield, 
 and on their reserved land, was one of their places of 
 burial, the same mentioned by tlie Rev. James Brad- 
 ford in the History of Berkshhe, and not far distant 
 from their Skatekook settlement. In Great Barring- 
 ton, on the east side of the highway and just north of 
 the Agricultural Ground, about forty-five years since, 
 General Timothy Wainwright, in -excavating a sand 
 bluff, exhumed the remains of a large number of bodies, 
 and many others were afterwards found on the same 
 bluff, by the late Linus Manville. In each of these in- 
 stances, some pieces of rude potter}- were discovered, 
 most of which crumbled on exposure to the air. Near 
 the same spot, in later years, Samuel Whitwell, in dig- 
 ging a cellar, came upon two Indian skeletons ; and 
 others have since been found in that vicinity. In pre 
 paring the cellar of the house of the late David Lea- 
 vitt, a mile south of the village, the remains of six 
 bodies were disinterred. Other burial places have 
 been found on the east side of the river above the 
 Great Bridge ; in this vicinity, the Rev. Sylvester Burt, 
 in the History of Berkshire, says, "one man in digging 
 thirteen post holes to secure his barn-yard, discovered 
 the remains of six bodies." This was on the j^lace now 
 owned by Edson Sexton, formerly William Walker's, 
 and within our own knowledge, the remains of one 
 other body have since been found in excavating a well 
 on the same premises. A little further north, at the 
 gravel-bed of the late Lewis G. Ramsey, Indian bones 
 have been frequently uncovered ; and isolated graves, 
 apparently aboriginal, have also been found in various 
 other localities. Relics of Indian occupancy, such as 
 axes and pestles of stone, some of fine w^orkmanship, 
 have often been discovered here, the stone tomahawk 
 more rarely, and to this day, after a hundred and fifty 
 years of cultivation, the flint spear heads and arrow 
 points are common in the soil. A few years since, the 
 late Captain George Tui-ner, in digging a post hole 
 
52 HISTORY OF GREAT BAEEINGTOX. 
 
 near his house, east of the Great Bridge, unearthed a 
 large number of arrow points in an unfinished state, 
 apparently long since hidden and forgotten by their 
 dusk}^ owner : and, more recently. Theodore M. Chapin, 
 discovered a similar deposit in his door-vard in this 
 village. 
 
 The river in former days (for with devious and ever 
 changing coiu'se, it has flowed back and forth all over 
 the meadows), sku'ted the bluffs along the village 
 street, washed the base of Mount Peter, and came near 
 the highway south of John Brewer's house. At this 
 last mentioned spot, as John Burghardt, 3d, — '-Corner 
 John" — used to say, an old Indian told him, was the 
 best fishing groimd on the river. At the southerly 
 slope of Mount Peter, aiTow points abounded a few 
 years since, and in the summer of 1878 in opening 
 the stone quarry on the eastern side of this elevation, 
 a well preserved mortal* for pounding corn, was un- 
 covered, cut, partly, perhaps, by the aid of natural 
 agencies, in the surface of the solid rock, whilst at the 
 same time, in evidence of the practical use of the mor- 
 tar, a broken stone pestle was dug up in the soil at the 
 foot of the rock. It is remembered, too. that not many 
 years since, a fishing wier of Indian construction, com- 
 posed of large stones, laid together in the form of the 
 letter V, with its point down the stream, occupied the 
 bed of the river, near the factory, south of the bridge, 
 the stones fi'om which were to some extent used in the 
 wall of the race-way, near by. The locations chosen 
 by the Indians for then habitations, were for the most 
 part on gTavelly knolls or bluff's in proximity to the 
 river, the waters of which fiu'nished fish in abundance. 
 Fish, together with wild animals of the forest, and the 
 hmited supply of corn and beans which the uncouth 
 cultivation of theu' squaws produced, formed theu" 
 principal means of subsistence. 
 
 AYhen settlements were begun in Salisbiuy, Con- 
 necticut, about 1720, there was a small village of In- 
 dians at AVeatogue in the north-easterly j^art of the 
 town, and it is narrated by the late Judge Church, that 
 there was " a well defined Indian trail or path, leading 
 fi'om the Stockbridge tribe along the valley of the 
 
THE GEEAT WIGWAM. 53 
 
 Housatonic, through Weatogue, to the Scaticoke set- 
 tlement of Indians in Kent," and that "apple trees had 
 sprung up, and were growing along that path through 
 its wdiole extent, at unequal distances, accurately 
 enough marking its course." (1) This path led by the 
 Great Wigw^am, and crossed the river at the old ford- 
 way, east of the foot of Church street, in Great Bar- 
 rington village, and continuing northerly on the east 
 side of the river, passed over the point of the moun- 
 tain, south of the dwelling lately of Mrs. Burt, through 
 the so-called "Indian Pass," and thence northerly over 
 Monument Mountain to Stockbridge. There is a tra- 
 dition — and w^e have no doubt authentic — that the vi- 
 cinity of the Great Wigw^am w^as once the site of an 
 Indian village. This locality is wdiere the Congrega- 
 tional Church now stands, and to the east and south 
 of that building. The term "Great Wigw^am" as used 
 by the setthng committee of the tow-nships in 1726, 
 and by other writers of that time refers rather to a lo- 
 cality than to a building then staiiding, though it 
 doubtless had reference to a building wiich had for- 
 merly stood at that spot. The locality w^as " tlie Great 
 Wigwam." The Kev. Sylvester Burt, in the History of 
 Berkshire, says of the Great Wigw^am, " This place was 
 sometimes called the Castle, or rather, perhaps, the 
 Great Wigwam, standing upon it. There is also a tra- 
 dition that there was a considerable Indian settlement 
 at this spot." It is also traditional that the Indians 
 who resided here, frightened by the reverses and death 
 of King Philip in the memorable w^ar of 1676, aban- 
 doned their settlements and fled to the westw^ard. 
 Their flight was, perhaps, precipitated, and their terror 
 increased by the incursion of Major Talcot, who in that 
 year surprised and brought slaughter upon a body of 
 fleeing Indians, possibly at this very spot. In sui^port 
 of the tradition of the existence and abandonment of 
 the settlement at the Great Wigw^am, w^e have the evi- 
 dence of Kev. Benjamin Wadsw^orth, who visited this 
 place in 1694, and mentions it in his journal, — quoted 
 
 (1) Historical address, delivered at Salisbury, by Hon. Sam- 
 uel Church, October 20, 1841. 
 
54 HISTORY OF GEEAT BAEEINGTON. 
 
 in a former chapter, — as "a place called Ousetonuck, 
 forrnerly inhabited by ImJians." 
 
 In the ••Journal of the SecondEsopus Wai'/' — 1663 
 — 2)rinted in volume 4. page 54, of the '-Documentary 
 History of New York." allusion is made to a '"tribe of 
 Indians that dwelt half-way between Fort Orange and 
 Hartford," which, with fom- other tribes had then re- 
 cently assembled three miles inland from Claverack, 
 for the piu-pose of concerting plans for hostilities 
 against the Dutch of New York. This allusion may be 
 supjDosed to refer to a tribe living in Great Barrington 
 and Sheffield. It is not imj^robable that a few Indians 
 returned to the Great Wigwam and dwelt there at a 
 later date than the ^isit of ^Ix. AVadsworth, above men- 
 tioned. 
 
 From oui' own researches, and from the large num- 
 ber of relics and other evidences of Indian occupancy 
 which have been discovered, we are fully of the opinion 
 that a very considerable Indian population had its 
 dwelling place in the towns of Great Barrington and 
 Sheffield, long before the country was known to white 
 men : and there is ground for the belief that the Great 
 Wigwam was the central point, the council seat of this 
 population. However great or small the native popu- 
 lation of Southern Berkshu-e may formerly have been, 
 the Indians were few in number at the time of the es- 
 tabhsliing of the mission among them. — 1734. At that 
 time, accordmg to the history of the mission, hereafter 
 quoted. Umpachene with four other families resided at 
 Skatekook. on the reserved land, near the late resi- 
 dence of William W. Warner, deceased, in the extreme 
 north part of Sheffield, and Konkapot with fom- or five 
 other families lived in Stockbridge. on land kno"T\'n as 
 the Great Meadow, called Wnah-tu-kook, by the In- 
 dians. The dwelling of Konkapot stood on a knoll, on 
 the east side of the county road, a short distance north 
 of the brook which bears his name. As stated by the 
 Rev. D. D. Field, in the histoi-;s' of Berkshu-e there 
 were then, but eight or ten Indian families in this part 
 of the coimtv. 
 
CHAPTEE VII. 
 
 THE INDIAN MISSION— 1734— 1736. 
 
 The mission of the Rev. John Sergeant to the 
 Housatonic Indians is a part of the annals of Great 
 Barrington, as it was tere first estabhshed, and main- 
 tained for a year and a half before its removal to Stock- 
 bridge. The Rev. Samuel Hopkins of West Springfield, 
 (an uncle of the minister of the same name, afterwards 
 settled in Great Barrington,) has the credit of having 
 -originated this mission ; he took a liveh^ interest in its 
 establishment and success, and, m 1753, published its 
 history, having access to the diary of Mr. Sergeant, 
 then recently deceased, from which he made frequent 
 quotations. To this history, copies of which are now 
 rare, the present generation is indebted, for much of 
 the information relative to the mission and the Indians, 
 wdiich has been prmted in later years. He sa3's of the 
 Indians, that they had a small settlement in the north- 
 west corner of Comiecticut government, ( "Weatogue in 
 Salisbury,) and a few families resided "on the Housa- 
 tunnuk river or at Housatunnuk, which goes by the 
 name of Sheffield," and that there were four or five 
 families at each Skatekook (1) in Sheffield, and Wnah- 
 tukook in Stockbridge. 
 
 The attention of Mr. Hopkins was directed to these 
 Indians by his neighbor, Ebenezer Miller, who had his 
 information from Housatunnuk, and who informed him 
 
 (1) Skate kook, or properly Schaghticoke, according to Isaac 
 Hunting, Esq., of Pine Plains, N. Y., is ''where tlie small stream 
 empties into the large one and Corn lands adjoin." At this point 
 the Green River formerly emptied into the larger Housatonic, and 
 the adjoining Com lands of the Indians were the "Clear Mead- 
 ow" and the bluff to the south of it. Rev. Mr. SHngerland gives 
 the pronunciation "Scot-koak," and he also informs us that 
 " Wnokh-tuq-kook" signifies the " head of the stream." 
 
56 HISTOKY or GREAT BAERINGTON. 
 
 that Konkapot, the principal man among them, " was 
 strictly temperate, a very just and upright man in his 
 dealings, a man of prudence, and industrious m busi- 
 ness," and disposed to embrace the Christian Keligion. 
 The s^^mpathies of ^Ir. Hopkins were so much enlisted 
 as to induce him to call upon Colonel John Stoddard 
 at Northampton, March 11th, 1734, and consult him 
 with reference to sending a religious teacher to the 
 Indians, and also to confer with the Key. Stephen Wil- 
 liams of Longmeadow. Thi'ough the influence of these 
 gentlemen, the subject of proyiding a religious teacher 
 for the Indians was laid before the "Board of Commis- 
 sioners for Indian affairs" in Boston, with whom funds 
 for religious purposes were deposited. The Commis- 
 sioners requested Messrs. Hopkins and AVilliams to 
 visit the Indians, and to ascertain then- feelings with 
 regard to the establishment of amission amongst them. 
 Governor Belcher had then recently honored Konkapot 
 with a commission of Captain, and Umpachene with a 
 commission of Lieutenant, and these chiefs, accompa- 
 nied by Jehoiakim Van Yalkenburgh, in the capacity 
 of interpreter, went to Springfield in May, 1734, to 
 receive the honors conferred upon them. They were 
 there waited upon by Messrs. Hopkins and Williams, 
 and the subject of the proposed mission was presented 
 for their consideration, and not unfavorably received; 
 and it was arranged that these ministers should visit 
 the Indians at Housatonic in July, hold a conference, 
 and lay the matter before them. At the time appointed, 
 IVIi*. Hopkins being detained by sickness, the Rev. 
 Nehemiah Bull, in his stead, went with Mr. Williams 
 to Housatonic on the 8th of July. The Indians were 
 assembled, a conference held, and after four days 
 deliberation on the part of the Indians, they consented 
 to receive a rehgious teacher. Messrs. Bull and 
 Williams were soon afterwards authorized l)y the Com- 
 missioners to employ a missionary, and made arrange- 
 ments with Mr. John Sergeant, a graduate and tutor 
 of Yale College, to officiate in that capacity. 
 
 In October, 1734, jVIi\ Sergeant in company with Mr. 
 Bull, made his first ^isit to the Indians. They left 
 Westfield on the afternoon of the 11th, "designing," as 
 
sergeant's visit to INDIANS. 57 
 
 Mr. Sergeant records, "to lodge at a house about 
 fifteen miles upon the road," but darkness overtaking 
 them, they spent the night in the woods, without fire or 
 shelter. They arrived at " Housatunnuk" the next day 
 "a little before night," having traveled "thro' a most 
 doleful wilderness, and the worst road, perhaps, that 
 ever was rid." Giving notice of their arrival, these 
 gentlemen desired the Indians to meet them on the 
 next day at a point "near the middle between the 
 places wliere they lived," for one half of them lived four 
 miles above and the other half about the same distance 
 below the spot designated. The Indians being assem- 
 bled, Mr. Sergeant made a short discourse, aided by 
 his interpreter, Ebenezer, (1) having in his audience 
 about twenty adult Indians. The place of this meeting 
 was evidently on the east side of the river, at the upper 
 end of Pixley street, and in the vicinity where the mis- 
 sion house was shortly after built. Mr. Sergeant was 
 in temperament, as well as by previous inclination, well 
 .adapted to the position he had assumed, and though 
 necessarily teaching with the aid of an interpreter, 
 made a favorable impression upon his hearers at the 
 very outset. On the next Thursday another meeting- 
 was held, at the dwelling of Lieutenant Umpachene at 
 Skatekook. Umpachene's Wigwam was quite commo- 
 dious, "fifty or sixty feet long," as Mi-. Hopkins states. 
 
 At this meeting the interpreter, Ebenezer Poopoo- 
 nuck, made a profession of his faith in the Christian 
 religion, and was baptized by Mr. Bull. At the same 
 time the necessity of gathering together in one place, 
 the Indians residing at Skatekook and Wnatukook, 
 was discussed, and it was agreed that they should dwell 
 together for the coming winter, at a point about mid 
 w^ay between their two settlements, where a building- 
 should be erected for a church and school; "the place 
 ^selected) being well accommodated with wood and 
 water, and also near some English families, in one of 
 which Mr. Sergeant might live while he served them." 
 But it was understood that this arrangement should 
 <5ontinue only until the next spring. On the next Sab- 
 bath Mr. Sergeant made two discourses, Jehoiakim 
 
 (1) Ebenezer Poopoonuck — an Indian. 
 
58 HISTORY OF GEEAT BAERINGTON. 
 
 Yan Yalkenburgh acting as interpreter ; and on Mon- 
 day, October 21st, the erection of the proposed building 
 was begun by the Indians, at the spot designated. 
 They worked with a will, and the house was completed 
 withui two weeks. Ai'ound this, the Indians erected 
 such huts as their necessities required, and soon moved 
 mto them. Here Mr. Sergeant opened his school on 
 November 5th, and the next week had twenty-two or 
 twenty-three Indian childi-en for scholars, to which two- 
 more were added the week after. With the exception 
 of a few days spent in a journey to Albany, ^Ii*. Ser- 
 geant remained here, teaching and preaching, until the 
 9th of December, when he retui-ned to his Collegiate 
 duties at New Haven, taking with him two Indian boys, 
 sons of Konkapot and Umpachene, and leaving the 
 school in charge of IVIi-. Timothy Woodbridge, who 
 had arrived about the last of November, and who be- 
 came thenceforth the permanent school-master. 
 
 But where did the Mission-house and wigwams 
 which surrounded it, stand ? This is a question, which,, 
 so far as we know, can not be definitely answered- 
 Singularly enough, among the descendants of the fam- 
 ilies then living near it, no tradition relative to it has 
 been preserved, and fifty years since, when the History 
 of Berkshu-e was written, the Rev. Sylvester Bm-t was 
 unable to define its location, but wrote with reference 
 to it. " they (the Indians) may have been collected at 
 the Great Wigwam, but were probably further north.'^ 
 An examination of such authorities as we have, will 
 assist in defining the vicinity of its location with a 
 tolerable degree of accuracy. The prmciple points 
 considered in the selection of the site for the building, 
 were ^A>s^ that it should be located '■'■ near some Eng- 
 lish faniilies in one of lohich 3L\ Sergeant might live'''' 
 and second, that it should be "about half way between" 
 the two Indian settlements. A letter, hereafter quoted,, 
 written in November, 1735, by a person who attended 
 at one of ]Mi'. Sergeant's Sabbath services, states that 
 the same was held "in a wigwam about a mile from 
 (below) the base of Mas-wa-se-hi," — Monument Mount- 
 ain. — and a mile or two above the Great Wigwam. 
 This meeting, we have no doubt, was held at the In- 
 
SITE OF MISSION HOUSE. 59 
 
 dian Mission-liouse, and the application to it of the 
 term "wigwam," is not inconsistent, as having been 
 built by the Indians, it w^as nothing more or less than a 
 large wdgwam. 
 
 At the time of its erection some families of Pixleys,, 
 and one or more of Phelpses, w^ere settled in w^hat is now 
 called Pixley street, from the Pixley brook northward 
 to the place, lately William Walker's, now owned by 
 Edson Sexton. On this place, Josiah Phelps then 
 lived, and his w^as at that time the most northerly loca- 
 tion of the English families. To the northwai'd of 
 Phelps, between him and Monument Mountain, the in- 
 habitants w^ere exclusively Dutch. Taking these facts 
 mto consideration, the conclusion w^e arrive at is that 
 the Mission School was in the vicinity of the present 
 dwellings of Edson Sexton and Warren Crisse}^, cer- 
 tainly not farther north than Mr. Crissey's though 
 probabl}^ further east. This locality meets all the re- 
 quirements then made ; it was in proximity to English 
 families ; it was about half way betw^een the Indian 
 settlements ; and it was nearly enough about a mile be- 
 low Monument Mountam, and a mile or two above the 
 Great Wigwam, to correspond with the description 
 given in the letter above alluded to. 
 
 Early in May, 1735, Mr. Sergeant made a short 
 visit to the Indians, and again in July, having com- 
 pleted his engagement as tutor at New Haven, he re- 
 turned to his charge at Housatonic, arriving on the 
 5th of that month, and took up his permanent resi- 
 dence here. In the spring of that year, as had been 
 previously arranged, the Indians left their winter quar- 
 ters, and returned to their homes, to engage in plant- 
 ing and providmg subsistence for their families ; and 
 during the summer, schools were maintained by Mr. 
 Sergeant and Mr. Woodbridge, both at Wnatukook 
 and Skatekook. Mr. Sergeant was ordamed as a min- 
 ister at Deerlield on the 31st of August, 1735, in pres- 
 ence of Governor Belcher and a large Committee of 
 the Council and House of Kepresentatives. A numer- 
 ous delegation of the Housatonic Indians w^as also 
 present, by whom Mr. Sergeant w^as formally accepted 
 as their spiritual teacher. After the ordination, he 
 
•60 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTOX. 
 
 visited bis friends in New Jersey, and retui-ning to 
 Housatonic, commenced his labors as pastor on the 
 26tb of October. From this time forward his Hfe and 
 energies were devoted to the work of civilizing and 
 christianizing the Indians. As the first fruits of his 
 labors, on Sunday, November 2d, 1735, he baptized 
 Captain Konkapot, his wife and daughter, they respect- 
 ively taking the names of John, Mary and Catherine ; 
 and on the 16th of the same month, the rite of bap- 
 tism was administered to Lieutenant Umpachene, his 
 wife and child. 
 
 The following letter, written by a cotemporary of 
 Ml*. Sergeant, who had accompanied him on his retui'n 
 to Housatonic, and was present at the baptism of Kon- 
 kapot, is valuable and interesting in this connection. 
 It was furnished for publication to The Berkshu-e Cou- 
 rier, by the late Hon. Jonathan E. Field of Stockbridge, 
 and was x)rinted in the columns of that Journal, Novem- 
 ber 15th, 1866. It is to be regretted that neither the 
 name of the. writer or of the party to whom it was ad- 
 di'essed is given. It is written from " Indian Town," 
 .as the settlement above the mountain, — afterwards 
 Stockbridge, — was then called. 
 
 Indian Town, November 8, [3] 1735. 
 
 My icell beloved Christian Friend: — ''I have just returned 
 from Mahaiwe, (1) where I spent the Sabbath with our most 
 worth}' missionary, Kev. John Sergeant. It is only two weeks 
 since the return of ^Ir. Sergeant from New Jersej^, whither he 
 -went after his ordination at Deerfield. He was ordained on the 
 15 1st of August last. The same took place in the presence of 
 Governor Belcher, and a large committee of the Council and 
 House of Kepresentatives. 
 
 ' ' The Governor and his associates had spent the week -p^e- 
 vious in arranging a treaty with the Indians, and exchanging 
 pledges. On Sunday, August 31, the Eev. Mr. Williams of 
 Hatfield, addressed Governor Belcher, in the church, and ' hum- 
 \Aj asked if it were his Exceleucy's pleasure that the pastors then 
 convened should set apart Rev. John Sergeant for the work of 
 the salvation of the heathen. ' The Governor responded affirm- 
 datively. 
 
 "Mr. WiUiams then asked Mi\ Sergeant if he would take 
 
 (1) Mahaiwe. The true word is " Neh-hai-we, " and the 
 definition " place down stream;" our authority the Rev. Jere- 
 miah Slingerland. 
 
SABBATH SERVICES. 61 
 
 upon himself that work. Mr. Sergeant gave his assent. The 
 Indians, of whom a large delegation w^ere present, were then 
 asked through an interpreter, if they would i-eceive Mr. Ser- 
 geant as their teacher. They manifested their approval by ris- 
 ing in a body. The services of ordination were then performed. 
 Mr. Sergeant seems deeply impressed with the duty which de- 
 volves upon him. The ceremonies connected with the ordina- 
 tion at Deerfield impressed him much. All seemed calculated ta 
 urge upon him the magnitude of the task which he had under- 
 taken, and the deep rolicitude which our Christian Governor, and 
 all connected with the government of the Province feel in the 
 effort to bring the heathen into the true fold of Christ. 
 
 "At his urgent request, I went with him to Mahaiwe. We^ 
 were obliged to cross over Maus-waw se-ki, a rugged mountain 
 on the south of us. We found a trail which led by a curious 
 mound on the south side of Maus-waw-se-ki. It is a pile of 
 stones some six or eight feet in diameter, circular at its base and 
 raised in the form of an obtuse cone. It is raised over the grave 
 of the first Sachem who died after they came into this region. 
 Each Indian, as he goes by, adds a stone to the pile. Captain 
 Konkapot tells me it marks the boundary of land agreed upon in 
 a treaty with the Mohawks. 
 
 ' ' The Miihecounucks being entitled to have all the country, 
 for their hunting ground, within one day's journey in every di- 
 rection from said pile. He also says a chief was buried there,, 
 but the stone is added to keep distinct the monument. 
 
 " The services were held in a wigwam about a mile from the 
 base of Maus-waw-se-ki. The Indians gathered here from In- 
 dian Town, aud from the 'Great Wigwam.' — at the ford a mile 
 or two south. 
 
 "The church consisted of but one member, Ebenezer Poo- 
 poonah, who is the interpreter. Yesterday Captain Konkapot 
 was added, together with his wife and daughter. They were 
 baptized. Captain K. received the name of John, his wife the 
 name of Mary, aud his daughter the name of Catherine. There 
 was a large attendance of Indians and of whites,— the latter being; 
 principally Dutchmen, who have settled on the valley of the river. 
 Lieutenant Qmpachene and wife are to be baptized next Sunday, 
 and then Captain Konkapot will be [married], according to the 
 rites of the Christian religion. He has lived with his squaw 
 many years and has a large family, but he nevertheless now 
 wishes to be married. If the missionary can keep the Indians 
 away from the Dutch settlers, who furnish them with fire-water,, 
 he may succeed, but unless he can I fear the Indians will need, 
 many ceremonies before they wiU abide. I translate the vow 
 which Captain, now John, Konkapot took n presence of the 
 large masses of Indians gathered. 
 
 " ' Through the goodness of God toward me in bringing me 
 into the way of the knowledge of the Gospel, I am convinced of 
 the truth of the Christian religion, and that it is the only way 
 that leads to salvation and happiness. I therefore freely and 
 heartily forsake heathenish darkness, and embrace the hght of 
 
62 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRIXGTON. 
 
 the Gospel and the way of hohness. And do now in the presence 
 of Abnightj'- God, the searcher of hearts, and [before many] wit- 
 nesses, sincerely and solemnly take the Lord Jehovah to be my 
 God and portion ; Jesus Christ, His Son, to be my Lord and 
 Hedeenier, and the Holy Ghost to be my scantifier and teacher. 
 And I do now covenant and promise by the help of Divine Grace, 
 that I will cleave to the Lord, with purpose of heart, beheving 
 His revealed truths as far as I can gain a knowledge of them, 
 obeying His commands, both those which mark out my duty 
 and those that forbid sin, sincerely and uprightly to the end 
 of my life. ' 
 
 " Konkapot is a man of fine presence, and the solemn man- 
 ner in which, with deep, guttural tones, he pronounced the 
 above visibly affected the whole audience. I shall spend some 
 little time here. I go about a great deal, although I dishke the 
 paths which are made to avoid the wet but seek the rough. I 
 will give you in my next more of Indian life. 
 
 Thine sincerely, * * * * " ,^2) 
 
 The mission was maintained at the building erected 
 for the purpose (in Great Barrington) during the win- 
 ters of 1734-5 and 1735-6. 
 
 In the spring of 1736, the Mission was removed 
 from Great Barrington to Stockbridge. At the time of 
 the opening of the school in Great Barrington, the 
 whole number of Indians collected here was about 
 fifty; some additions were made to these, and soon 
 after the removal to Stockbridge, the number was in- 
 creased to ninety persons. The return of the Indians 
 to their homes, with the opening of spring, presented 
 an impediment to the successful operation of the Mis- 
 sion, which had been foreseen, but not provided for. 
 In order to induce them to dwell together that they 
 might be the more efficiently and advantageously in- 
 stinicted, the project of granting them a townsliip had 
 been discussed, and had indeed been proposed to them 
 early in 1735. It was desned by the Indians, as well 
 as by Mr. Sergeant and others interested in the Mis- 
 sion, that a township should be granted to them to the 
 northward of Monument Mountain, which would in- 
 clude the "Great Meadow" at Wnahtukook, where 
 Konkapot resided; but as this would embrace a large 
 portion of the Upper Township, which had already 
 
 (2) We have followed the copy in the orthography of Maus- 
 waw-se-ki ; the correct word is Mas-wa-se-hi — "Nest standing 
 upright." 
 
PROPOSED GEAXT OF INDIAN TOWN. 63 
 
 "been purchased of the Indians, and was then the j^ro- 
 perty of proprietors, some of whom were settled above 
 the Mountain, it would be necessary to purchase the 
 land of these proprietors, or make some arrangement 
 for the extinguishment of their titles. 
 
 The subject was brought before the Legislature, 
 .and on the 6th of January, 1736, a committee was ap- 
 pointed, consisting of John Stoddard, Ebenezer Pom- 
 roy, and Thomas Ingersoll, who were "empowered to 
 repair to Housatanock, to know the minds of the In- 
 dians, respecting any particular tract of land on which 
 they maybe inclined to settle, and, whereas, it is prob- 
 .able that the interval land on Housatanock river, above 
 the mountain, will be most agreeable to them, and, 
 Tvhereas, the same belongs to certain proprietors of 
 Tipper Housatanock, who may be likely to exchange 
 the same for an equivalent of the unappropriated lands 
 adjoining to the said Upper Housatanock, or near 
 thereto. That, therefore, the committee be directed to 
 consult with the said Indians and proprietors respect- 
 ing the premises, and make report to this Court what 
 they think proper for this Court to do thereon." 
 
 This committee visited Housatonic and there held 
 n conference with the Indians in the followmg month 
 of February. The report of the committee is recorded 
 in the form of a dialogue between themselves and Cap- 
 tain Konkapot, he acting as spokesman for the Indi- 
 ans. (1) The Indians expressed a desire to dwell to- 
 gether and receive the Gospel, and requested that the 
 interval land above the mountain might be granted to 
 them, that the}'- might settle thereon, on the west side 
 of the Housatonic Eiver. "But," — says the Committee 
 — "You know that land belongs to the English and 
 Dutch people. AVe bought it of you, and if you have 
 that land, we must agree vrith them people that own it 
 and give them some other land for it. Are you willing 
 to let that land go to the Committee or General Court, 
 where John Gilder (2) lives, the land you reserved for 
 
 (1) General Court Kecords, Volume XXIX, page 309. 
 
 (2) John Gilder (or Van Gilder) lived on the Reservation, 
 in or near " Guilder Hollow," in Egremont. He was an Indian, 
 •with a Dutch name. 
 
64 HISTORY OF GEEAT BAERINGTON. 
 
 3^ours, when you sold the laud to the committee, that 
 so some of the proprietors in the UjDper Housatunock 
 may have the land in part as an equivalent for the land 
 we now design to let you have?" To this the Indians 
 replied : 
 
 " Yes, we are willing to resign the land you speak of, to the 
 English; all the land that in the deed (1) we gave to the Com- 
 mittee that we did reserve to ourselves." But Konkapot said 
 the Indians allowed "three Dutch people to live upon the east 
 of Toconack Mountain," as he supposed, upon the reserved 
 land, and he desired that the government would not take from 
 those Dutchmen the land which they actually improved. 
 
 Committee : — ''There must be other land given as an equiv-^ 
 alent to the j^roprietors if the Indians have the land above the 
 mountain. Is the land between Hopp Swamp (2) and the 
 Twelve-Mile Pond, (8) yours?" 
 
 Indians: — "That land belongs to Nannehokaunut and Koh- 
 kaunupeet, and they are gone and won't be at home till next 
 summer, and we can't say anything to that." 
 
 Committee : — "Captain Conkepot, have you got no land that 
 way to the eastward of what you have sold to the committee ?" 
 
 Captain Conkepot: — "Yes. AU that land east of what I 
 have sold to the committee, south of the road to Westfield, as 
 far as Farmingtown river to Connecticut hue is all my land." (4) 
 
 Committee: — "Are you willing the committee or the Gov- 
 ernment should have some of the land eastward of what you 
 heretofore sold the committee, as an equivalent for the laud the 
 Government proposeth to let you have ?" 
 
 Captain Conkepot: — "Yes, I am very wiUing the English 
 should have what of the land they want as an equivalent, pro- 
 vided we have that land above the mountains, as you propose- 
 to us." 
 
 On the 25th of March, 1736, the General Court 
 granted to the Indians a township, not to exceed the 
 content of six miles square, above the mountain, and 
 upon the Housatonic river, and appointed Messrs. Stod- 
 dard, Pomroy and Ingersoll, a committee to lay out the 
 same. (5) The committee were directed to lay out to 
 each, the Rev. John Sergeant and Timothy Wood- 
 bridge, — the school-master, — one sixteenth part of the 
 
 (1) The deed of April 25th, 1724. 
 
 (2) " Hopp Swamp" lies easterly from South Lee. 
 
 (3) Twelve-Mile Pond, now Brewer pond in Monterey. 
 
 ' (4) This tract, as described by Konkapot, included the 
 whole of New Marlboro, nearly all of Sandisfield and a large 
 part of Monterey. 
 
 (o) General Court Kecords, Vol. XVI, page 299. 
 
INDIAN TOWN LAID OUT. 65 
 
 township, and also to lay out a sufficient quantity of 
 land for the accommodation of four English families, 
 who ^yere to be settled upon the land under the direc- 
 tion of the committee, by and with the advice of 
 Messrs. Sergeant and Woodbridge. They were also 
 empow^ered to dispose of the land reserved by the In- 
 dians in the deed of 1724, "in order to make satisfac- 
 tion, so far as the same will go, to the proprietors and 
 owners of the lands " now^ granted to the Indians ; and 
 also to give to the proprietors of Upper Housatonic, 
 living helow the mountain., an equivalent in the unap- 
 propriated land, lying adjacent to Sheffield, Upper 
 Housatonic, or to the town granted to the Indians; 
 and further to make to the projmetors, livmg above 
 the niountain, an equivalent in some of the unappro- 
 priated lands of the province. 
 
 The committee proceeded to lay out the township 
 in April, 1736, exhibiting a plan of it to the Indians, 
 by whom it was well approved, and in May reported 
 their proceedings to the Legislature. Early in May, 
 "the Indians moved into the town with tw^o new fami- 
 lies added to their number." (1) "Others moved in 
 soon after, so that by the close of June there w-ere more 
 than ninety souls in the settlement." (2) On the 7th 
 of May, 1737, "the grant of the tow^n was fully con- 
 firmed to the Indians," (3) and in 1739 the township 
 w^as incorporated as Stockbridge. (4) The township 
 was laid out in an exact square of six miles on each 
 side ; and included a tract 770 rods in breadth north 
 and south, and 1920 rods in length, east and west, 
 equal to 9,240 acres, taken from the Upper Township. 
 
 Amongst the settlers who owned lands and dwelt 
 above the mountain were John Burghardt, alias De 
 Bruer, Jehoiakim Van Valkenburgh, Elias Van Schaick 
 and Eichard Moore. Burghardt exchanged his rights 
 for land below the mountain, and removed thither. 
 Van Valkenburgh was an especial friend of Captain 
 Konkapot, often acting as an interpreter for the Indi- 
 ans, who were much attached to him, and he is reputed 
 to have received a considerable tract of land as a gift 
 
 (1) (2) (3) Field in History of Berkshire. 
 (4) Stockbridge then included West Stockbridge. 
 5 
 
66 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 from Konkapot. The Lidians desii-ed that both Van 
 Valkenburgh and Moore might be permitted to remain 
 among them ; and, as stated bv the committee, the In- 
 dians "were very fond" of Van Valkenburgh and it 
 would be "vain" to try to remove him. Van Valken- 
 burgh — probably by common consent — did remain for 
 a time, but his presence was injurious to the IMission, 
 as he sometimes furnished rum to the Indians; he, 
 finally, about 1739, disposed of his rights and removed 
 b)elow the mountain. Van Schaick, who appears to 
 have been a Dutch trader, was a very troublesome 
 fellow ; he dealt in rum, was a great annoyance to the 
 Mission, and was determined to hold on to his lands at 
 all hazards. It was not until he was forced by legisla^ 
 tive interference, — rendered necessary in order to pro- 
 tect the Indians and the ^lission, — that he relinquished 
 his rights and removed from the township. 
 
 In this connection, Hon. Charles Allen, in his " Ee- 
 port on the Stockbridge Indians," made to the Legis- 
 lature in January, 1870, says: "On the 15th of June, 
 1739, the General Court voted that certain rights 
 claimed by EHas Vauscoir [Van Schaac] ? were justly 
 forfeited to the province, and forasmuch as it appeared 
 that he was a person "of a very turbulent and haughty 
 spirit, and that he is often disturbing the quiet of the 
 Indians, and has thereby rendered himself very obnox- 
 ious to them, and should he continue among them, it 
 would greatly discourage the Indians from settling and 
 continuing there, whereby the good intentions of the 
 Government in making the grant of the town to the 
 Indians, would be frustrated," it was ordered to eject 
 him by lawful process in Coui't ; but if he would go 
 quietly to make him an allowance. The Mission was 
 continued in Stockbridge for many years, perhaps as 
 successfully as its founders had reason to anticipate. 
 Idleness, and the love of rum, with the interference of 
 unprincipled white men, who not only furnished the 
 Indians with rum, but by misrepresentations and false- 
 hoods, endeavored to dissuade them from listening to 
 the instructions of the missionary, presented serious 
 obstacles to its success; these were eventually over- 
 come ; the Indians were civiHzed ; many of them were 
 
SUCCESS OF THE MISSION 67 
 
 christianized and educated, and became respectable and 
 industrious citizens. Their numbers were gradually 
 increased by accessions from other parts of the coun- 
 try. In 1739 they numbered about twenty families, 
 fourteen communicants, and about sixty of them had 
 been baptized. Some had houses built after the style 
 of their white neighbors, and Konkapot had a "shin- 
 gled barn." In 1740 their population was 120 ; in 1749, 
 218. They afterwards increased to about 400. 
 
 We do not purpose to follow the history of the IVIis- 
 sion during the years of its continuance in Stockbridge ; 
 from the spring of 1736, forward, its annals belong to 
 the history of that town, and have been already faith- 
 fully written by the pen of a lady since deceased. (1) 
 
 Aside from christianizing and civilizing the Indians, 
 one great advantage resulting from the Mission, was 
 the securing of theii" friendship, which was of inesti- 
 mable value to the settlers of the valley duiing the 
 French wars, when their numbers, and known fidehty 
 to the English, presented a barrier and a sure protec- 
 tion to the inhabitants against the massacres and de- 
 vastation, with which many of our frontier towns were 
 visited, and they in common with their wliite neigh- 
 bors, enlisted in defending our borders against the at- 
 tacks of the allied French and Indians. 
 
 Again in the war of the Kevolution, the Stockbridge 
 Indians rendered efficient service. A number of them 
 enlisted as Minute Men, and with other Berkshire sol- 
 diers did dut}^ about Boston during the time of its oc- 
 cupancy by the British. These minute men were, by 
 a special vote of the Provincial Congress of Massachu- 
 setts, each presented with a blanket and ribbon. 
 Through Colonel John Patterson and Captain William 
 Goodi-ich, an address was made by the Congress to the 
 tribe, explaining the reasons and causes of the contro- 
 versy, and commending then- zeal in the cause. To 
 this address, the Indians after a council of two days at 
 Stockbridge, replied on the 11th of April, 1775, giving 
 assurance of their sympathy and readiness to assist in 
 
 (1) For a detailed history of this Mission, the reader is re- 
 ferred to ' ' Stockbridge ; Past and Present, or Records of an old 
 Mission Station, " by Miss Electa F. Jones. 
 
68 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 the coming struggle. (1) Of the Indians about Bos- 
 ton, eighteen petitioned the Congress in July, 1775, to 
 pay over the mone}" which was, or should become due 
 them for services, to Messrs. Tunothy Edwards and 
 Jahleel Woodbridge, "as they were sensible of their 
 [own] want of prudence in disposing of their money," 
 and were desirous that the Congress "would devise 
 some method to prevent them from getting too much 
 strong di'ink." 
 
 "A full company of the Indians, went to White 
 Plains, under Captain Daniel Ninham where four were 
 slain and some died of sickness.'' (2) 
 
 Soon after the close of the war the Indians com- 
 menced removing to a township given them by the 
 Oneidas, in the state of New York, called New Stock- 
 bridge, and by 1789 all had removed to that place, 
 
 (1) The " talk" of the Indians, will be found in the printed 
 Journal of the Provincial Congress, page 311. 
 
 (2) Field— Berkshire History. 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 THE INDIAN KESERVATION AND INDIAN CLAIMS. 
 
 In preceding chapters we have made frequent men- 
 tion of the Indian Reservation, — or the land which the 
 Indians, in theii' deed of 1724, to the setthng commit- 
 tee, reserved for theii' own use. The north hne of this 
 tract, — aside from a small piece of clear meadow, now 
 in Great Barrington, — was substantially the present 
 north line of Sheffield. It bounded east on the Hous- 
 atonic River, and extended west to the line of the state 
 of New York, and its width north and south — exclu- 
 sive of the clear meadow — varied but little from five- 
 eighths of a mile. 
 
 At the time of the beginning of settlements here, 
 the Green River emptied into the Housatonic about 
 one-foui'th of a mile further south than it now does, 
 and near where the divisional line between Sheffield 
 and Great Barrington intersects the Housatonic. The 
 relative locations of these streams have since very ma- 
 terially changed. By the constant wearing and wash- 
 ing away of its banks, the Housatonic has infringed 
 upon and absorbed the Green River, and now occupies 
 the original bed of the latter for some distance east 
 and south of the bridge, on the meadow road ; whilst 
 a little further south, the cove called "Warner's Cove," 
 running southerly to the town line, apparently marks 
 the former course of the Green River. A brook, called 
 by the Indians Mau-nau-pen-fe-con, — the same sluggish 
 stream which crosses the road south of the old Wil- 
 liam W. Warner place — then discharged its waters into 
 the Housatonic near the north line of George Kellogg's 
 land, where there is now a small cluster of maples on 
 
70 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 the bank of the river, about one hundred rods south 
 of the Warner house. The coiu'se of this brook, — east 
 of the highway, — has been artificially changed, so that 
 it now reaches the river some distance to the north- 
 ward of its former place of juncture ; but the original 
 bed of this stream is still distinctly traceable from the 
 river many rods westward. The mouth of this brook 
 formed the south-easterly boundary of the Indian Re- 
 servation. To the north of the Wai'ner house, at the 
 foot of the bluff, where is now a marsh and small run 
 of water, another and smaller brook, commg from the 
 westward, united with either the Green Eiver or the 
 Housatonic near their then point of confluence. The 
 mouth of this brook was the north-easterly boundary 
 of the reserved land, whilst between this brook and the 
 Green River was a small piece of clear meadow also 
 included in the reservation. This meadow lies imme- 
 diately to the north of the town line, and between it 
 and the bridge. 
 
 The tract reserved — (aside from the clear meadow) 
 — extended due west from the mouths of the brooks 
 we have described, across Sheffield and Egremont, to 
 the New^ York line. On this tract, and probably a 
 short distance north of the Warner house, was the In- 
 dian settlement — Skatekook — where Umpach6ne and 
 a few others had then- wigwams. This spot, which 
 long bore the name of "-Umpachene's Point,'' is a fine, 
 diT location, — a gi'avelly bluff rising abruptly from the 
 river meadows, and well adapted for the site of an In- 
 dian village. Evidences of its occupancy, such as In- 
 dian implements, biu'ned stones and charred wood 
 were formerly abundant in the soil, whilst Indian 
 graves are said to have been found there, and a more 
 extensive place of interment is known to have existed 
 half a mile to the westward. 
 
 At the conference of the Legislative committee 
 with the Indians in February, 1736, (^ which has been 
 mentioned) it was expressly stipulated, and became 
 pai't of the contract, that if the General Court should 
 grant to the Indians the township of Stockbridge, as 
 proposed, the Indians wordd relinquish to the commit- 
 tee or to the General Court the whole of this reserved 
 
DISPOSAL OF KESERVED LAND. 71 
 
 tract, in order that the land might be used in making 
 equivalents to the proprietors of the Upper Township 
 for the lands taken from them. The Legislature per- 
 formed its part of the contract by granting a township 
 to the Indians, and authorized the committee to dis- 
 pose of this reserved land in making equivalents to the 
 Housatonic proprietors. The committee did dispose 
 of that part of the reserved land which lies in the town 
 of Sheffield, by granting to Isaac Forsberry [Vosburgh] 
 about three-fourths of it — the eastern end — in exchange 
 for three rights, and the remainder — the south-western 
 part — to Ai-ent Gardiner in exchange for one right; 
 but they do not appear to have disposed of that part 
 of the tract which lies in Egremont. Wliy the com- 
 mittee did not distribute the remainder of the re- 
 served land, does not appear ; but it may be surmised 
 that they had regard for the request of Konkapot, that 
 the three Dutchmen, who lived upon a part of it, might 
 not be disturbed. However this may be, notwithstand- 
 ing the stijDulations made with the committee, the In- 
 dians, in 1740, executed a lease for ninety-nine years, 
 to one Andrew Kamer, of a considerable portion of 
 the tract lying in Egremont. Mr. Karner had, then, a 
 dwelling house upon the land thus leased, near Guilder 
 Hollow, and resided there. (1) 
 
 No satisfactory reason appears for this apparent 
 violation of the contract, on the part of the Indians, 
 but it is to be presumed that Karner was one of the 
 three Dutchmen who, as Konkapot told the commit- 
 tee, were permitted to live upon the land to the east- 
 ward of Taconic Mountam, and in whose behalf he re- 
 quested that the government would not take from 
 them the land which they actually improved. Years 
 afterwards, the General Court was making arrange- 
 ments to lay out, and make sale of large tracts of lands 
 
 (1) "Anderes Garner," in a petition to the General Court, 
 Oct. 26, 1772, states that the Indians gave one half of the re- 
 served land (in Egremont) to him, and the remainder to John 
 Vanguilder ; and that the land extended west to the mountain, 
 860 rods from the west line of Sheffield. (Mass. Archives, Vol. 
 118, page 567.) Garner was the ancestor of the Karner fami- 
 lies of Egremont, and Vanguilder was one of the parties to the 
 deed given by the Indians to the committee in 1724. 
 
72 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 in the western part of the province, and had appointed 
 a committee for that purpose, when Konkapot and 
 other Indians of Stockbridge, in May, 1762, preferred 
 a petition to the Legislature, stating that by inherit- 
 ance from their ancestors, they were the owners of the 
 lands in question, that " they nor their ancestors had 
 ever been at war with the English or dispossessed of 
 said lands," — " that they had been always faithful to 
 the English, and had lost many brave men in their 
 wars," that the government had granted away several 
 large tracts of then* lands, against which they had re- 
 monstrated, but had never obtained redi'ess, though 
 they had received assiu'ances that they should be paid 
 therefor ; that they were now informed that all their 
 lands in the western parts of the province were ordered 
 by the government to be sold, and asking that proceed- 
 ings as to the sale of the lands might be stayed, that 
 their rights should not be forced from them, and that 
 they might be heard, by some of themselves, on the 
 subject. With this petition they sent Capt. Jacob 
 Cheeksaunkun and Johannes Mtoksin to present theii* 
 case. (1) They were granted a hearing, by counsel, 
 " by the two houses," and a committee was appointed 
 " to inquke fvirther into the Indians' title to the lands 
 mentioned and report." The committee reported the 
 next day, June 1st, 1762, that the Indians had not of- 
 fered sufficient evidence to support their title to the 
 lands mentioned in then* petition ; " that the Indians 
 have for many years past, laid claims to lands in the 
 western parts of the Province, and when grants have 
 been made of townships in that part of the Province, 
 gratuities have been frequently made to the Indians to 
 prevent discontent and keep tbem quiet;" "that indi- 
 viduals had in an irregular manner made pui'chases of 
 the Indians and paid them large sums of money," 
 " which purchases ought not to be countenanced by 
 the govermnent." The committee recommended that, 
 although in strict justice nothing was due from the 
 government to the Indians, they not having shown any 
 title to the lands, as gratuities had formerly in like 
 
 (1) General Court Records, vol. xxiv, page 387. 
 
COMPENSATION TO INDIANS. 73 
 
 'Cases been made to them, and it might be of import- 
 ance to the pubhc to keep them " quiet and in good 
 temper," a sum, not exceeding one thousand pounds, 
 should be deposited in the hands of a committee for 
 the use of the Indians, to be apphed in such manner 
 as to the committee should appear equitable; "the 
 rsaid Indians, before such application be made, relin- 
 quishing all claims to any of the lands of the Province 
 to which they pretend a title." The committee further 
 recommended that the committee "appointed to make 
 sale of the lands in the western part of the Province 
 should proceed as ordered." This report was accept- 
 ed ; and on the following day, June 2d, the General 
 Coui't ordered that the sum of £1,000 be paid into the 
 hands of a committee, to be chosen, for the use of the 
 Indians, "to be applied as shall appear to such com- 
 mittee to be equitable," Provided " that before the pay- 
 ment of said sum, the said Indians shall release all 
 claim to any of the lands of the Province to which they 
 pretend a title, as also to any lands which have been 
 granted by the Province, grants to themselves except- 
 ed, and that the committee of this court, appointed to 
 make sale of the lands in the western part of this 
 Province proceed as ordered." On the 10th of June, 
 by a resolve of the General Court, the sum appropri- 
 ated was increased to £1,500, and a committee was ap- 
 pointed to receive the same and apply it to the use of 
 the Indians ; but for some reason procedures were de- 
 layed for a time. 
 
 But on the 17th of February, 1763, acting upon 
 .another memorial or petition of the Indians, the Gen- 
 <eral Court passed a resolve making an addition of 
 £200 to the sum already approj)riated, — or £1,700 in 
 the whole, — which was to be placed in the hands of 
 'Timothy Woodbridge, Esq., to be applied by him to 
 the use of the Indians as he should deem equitable, 
 provided that " before the payment of the said sum to 
 the said Indians, they shall release all claims to any of 
 the lands of this Province to which they pretend title, 
 vfts also to any lands heretofore granted by this Prov- 
 ince, (grants to themselves excepted.") 
 
 In accordance with the provisions on which the 
 
74 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 money was granted, on the 12tli of January, 1763, — 
 prior to the last action of the General Court, — Benja- 
 min Kauk-ew-ena-en-aut, John Poph-ne-hon-muk-wok, 
 alias Konkapot, and eighteen others, " all of the said 
 Muh-huk-kunnuck River Indians, or Housatonnock 
 tribe, inhabitants and residents of Stockbridge, in the 
 Coimty of Berkshii'e and Province of Massachusetts- 
 Bay in New England, Indian Hunters and claimants of 
 Land lying in the western part of said Province of the 
 Massachusetts Bay from the Great River called Hud- 
 son's River on the west pai't, and a River called West- 
 field River on the east part," in consideration of £1,800 
 " paid by the Great and General Court of said prov- 
 ince of Massachusetts " did for themselves and their 
 heii's " and in the name of and behalf of the said Muh- 
 huk-kun-nuck River or Housatonnock Tribe of Indi- 
 ans " " give, grant, release and convey unto the said 
 Great and General Court of the Province of Massachu- 
 setts Bay, to their Grantees or assigns (with the excep- 
 tion and reservation hereafter made ") " all that tract- 
 or parcel of land lying and being within the said Prov- 
 ince of Massachusetts Bay bounding north on the Di- 
 visional Line between the said Province of Massachu- 
 setts Bay and the Province of New Hampshire, south 
 on the Divisional Line between the said Province of 
 Massachusetts Bay and the Colony of Connecticut, be- 
 ing fifty miles more or less, to bound on the west 
 Twelve miles east of said Hudson's River or otherways 
 where the Dividing Lme shall or may be established or 
 settled between the said province of Massts. Bay and 
 the j^rovince of New York, or the utmost limits of the 
 said Massts. province, and to bound east on the afore- 
 said Westfield River, being thii^ty-six miles in Breadth 
 more or less, with all Rights, claims, and Rights and 
 claims of any of the said Moh-huk-kunnuck River or 
 Housatonnock Tribe of Indians,'' "only excepting and 
 reserving for ourselves and our Heirs the town of 
 Stockbridge, as gTanted and planted by a former Great 
 and General Court, and also a tract of land adjoining- 
 to the north part of said Stockbridge, bounding east 
 on said Housatonic River, south on the north line of 
 said Stockbridge, north on the south line of Pittsfield^ 
 
CLAIMS UNDER INDIAN TITLE. 75 
 
 to run west to the province of New York, saving to the 
 said Great and General Court, such tracts of land as 
 have been heretofore gi-anted within the last described 
 tract or parcel of reserved land." And the twenty 
 signers of the deed did, for themselves and their heirs, 
 release to the General Court all their rights to any 
 lands in the province, excepting the above described 
 reserved land. (1) 
 
 By this deed the Indians relinquished all their 
 rights to the Reservation in Sheffield and Egremont, 
 and also to all lands in the county excepting the towns 
 of Stockbridge, West Stockbridge, Richmond and a 
 part of Lenox. In the lapse of years the deed above 
 quoted had been forgotten, and the agreement made 
 with the Indians, relative to the Reservation, at the 
 time of the grant to them of the tow^n of Stockbridge, 
 had passed into a vague tradition. 
 
 In 1811, certain of the Indians, then residing in Oneida 
 county, New York, conveyed to one John Gragg the rights 
 of the tribe to all lands in Berkshire county which had 
 been leased by them or their ancestors, together with 
 their rights to any lands in Stockbridge or Egremont. 
 
 In 1826, a party holding under Gragg, laid claim to 
 certain lands — pai't of the Reservation — in Egremont, 
 and no less than ten inhabitants of that town were in- 
 duced to pay the sum of forty dollars each to release 
 their lands from this claim. In later years these claims 
 have been renewed. In 1865, the Indians, through 
 their agent. Dr. M. M. Davis, of the Green Bay, Wis- 
 consin, agency, presented a claim to the Governor of 
 Massachusetts for reimbursement for the lands re- 
 served in 1724, and asked an official examination, which 
 was granted. A committee of the Legislature was ap- 
 pointed to make the examination, and after a laborious 
 research reported unfavorabty to the Indian claim. 
 This committee was satisfied, from the Legislative 
 records of 1762-3, that a deed had been given by the 
 Indians in 1763, but were unable to find the deed or 
 any record of it. 
 
 (1) This deed is recorded in the Kegistry at Pittsfield, Book 
 2, page 172. By a note appended to the deed the consideration 
 is reduced to £1,700. 
 
76 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 Again, in 1868, a suit was commenced against Mr. 
 ,Seth Newman of Egremont, by parties claiming under 
 the Gragg Indian title, to recover possession of a tract 
 of land in Egremont, but the timeh' discovery of the 
 Tecord of the long forgotten deed of 1763, discomfited 
 the plaintiffs in this case and brought theii' suit to an 
 abrupt termination. (1) The claimants then turned their 
 attention to the town of Stockbridge, and endeavored 
 to gain a foot-hold there, — and make a test case, — 
 l)j obtaining possession of the Old Indian Bur^-ing 
 Oround, — so long protected and guarded with jealous 
 <3are by the inhabitants of that town ; they proceeded 
 so far as to convey lumber on to the premises, with 
 the intention, apparent or expressed, of erecting a 
 l)uilding over the ashes of the aboriginal occupants. 
 But aside from the legal beaiing of the transaction, by 
 this act of desecration the inhabitants of the town were 
 aroused, and the piincij^al or agent in the business was 
 waited upon by the town authorities, and, with his 
 Tauilding material, was speedily ejected from the prem- 
 ises. Tliis was the last, and probably the final at- 
 tempt, to estabUsh claims to lands under Indian titles 
 in the county. 
 
 (1) The record of this deed was accidently discovered by ihe 
 writer in February, 1867. 
 
CHAPTEK IX. 
 
 GKEAT BARKINGTON AS THE NORTH PARISH OF 
 SHEFFIELD. 
 
 1742—1761. 
 
 The preceding chapters have, for the most part, 
 been devoted to matters preliminary to the history of 
 the town. We come now to the consideration of sub- 
 jects pertaining more closely to that history. For a pe- 
 riod of ten years, — (from 1733 — the time of the incor- 
 poration of the town of Sheffield — to 1743 — the year 
 in which the North Parish of Sheffield was formed — ) 
 that part of Great Barrington lying south of the Great 
 Bridge was included in Sheffield ; and from 1743 to 
 1761 — a fact not now" generally known — Sheffield, by 
 an extension of its boundary lines, embraced the whole 
 of the town of Great Barrington. The transactions 
 from which these territorial changes resulted, will be 
 detailed at length in the following pages. 
 
 The history of Great Barrington properly dates: 
 from the incorporation of the North Parish of Sheffield,- 
 which was the primary stej) in the proceedings, which, 
 — eighteen years later — resulted in the erection of the 
 Parish into a town with the name of Great Barrington. 
 The Lower Township, as we have before stated, was. 
 incorporated as the town of Sheffield in 1733. The 
 Upper Township, largely reduced in area by the grant 
 made to the Indians, extended from the Great Bridge 
 to the present south lines of Stockbridge and West 
 Stockbridge. This tract remained unincorporated ; its 
 inhabitants were destitute of any municipal regulations, 
 and of any legal authority under which to manage their 
 affaii's as a community. The work of the committee 
 for laying out and settling the township had been sus- 
 pended, the time allotted for the performance of their 
 
78 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 duties had expired, the records of theii' proceedings 
 were incomplete, and the settlers had as yet no legal 
 evidence of title to the lands which they occupied. 
 
 A church had been organized at Sheffield, October 
 22d, 1735, of which the Rev. Jonathan Hubbard was at 
 the same time, ordained pastor. The Indian Mission, 
 which had been established in the Upper Township in 
 1734, had been removed to Stockbridge in 1736, and 
 Stockbridge had been incoi^orated as a town in 1739. 
 The inhabitants of the teiTitory lying between Stock- 
 bridge and the j)resent north line of Sheffield, number- 
 ing about thii*ty families and representing a population 
 of, perhaps, two hundi'ed persons, were without a 
 minister or the stated preaching of the gospel, and 
 were destitute of any religious teachings, excepting 
 such as chance threw in their way, or as were afforded 
 by the distant chui'ches of Sheffield and Stockbridge, 
 at which a few attended worship. For schooling, the 
 childi'en of the Upper Township were dependent upon 
 private enterprise, and theii' advantages in this respect 
 were very limited, whilst those dwelling below the 
 bridge enjoyed such scanty privileges as were accorded 
 them by the town of Sheffield, to which they belonged. 
 
 This condition of affaii's was detrimental to the 
 morals and welfare of the people, and a serious hin- 
 drance to the prosperity and progress of the settle- 
 ment. The exigencies of the situation demanded legis- 
 lative action for the relief of the settlers ; that they 
 should be vested with town or parish privileges, with 
 authority for levying taxes for the support of preaching 
 and of schools, and with power to control and keep in 
 check the lawless and dissolute. 
 
 It is probable that the inliabitants, as early as 1735, 
 had agitated the subject of obtaining for themselves a 
 parish or town organization, and that they were op- 
 posed by the town of Sheffield, as it appears, from the 
 Sheffield records, that that town voted, in November 
 of that year, " to send a man to the General Assembly 
 at Boston to prevent this town fi'om being parted," 
 and made choice of William Pynchon of SiDringfield to 
 represent theu' case in the Legislature. It is also prob- 
 able that Sheffield, at a later date, exercised some juris- 
 
PARISH PRIVILEGES GRANTED. 79 
 
 'diction over the inhabitants of the Upper Township, 
 4ind, either with or without legal authority, imposed 
 taxes upon them ; this we infer from the fact that 
 Sheffield, on the 1st of January, 1741, voted to send a 
 letter to Thomas Ingersoll, Esq., in Boston, to prevent 
 the proceedings of the Upper Housatonic against the 
 town of Sheffield, and also to desist from gathering rates 
 in the Upper Propriety. But, however more or less 
 frequently the situation of the inhabitants of Upper 
 Housatonic may have been pressed upon the attention 
 •of the Legislature, no action for theii' relief was obtained 
 until 1742. 
 
 In December, 1741, the petition of John Williams, 
 Hezekiah Phelps and others, ( alluded to in a former 
 -chapter) was presented to the General Court. Acting, 
 probably, upon this and other petitions, the court re- 
 ferred the subject matter of the "Housatunock aifair" 
 to a committee whose report, soon after made, formed 
 the basis of an order for the relief of the inhabitants. 
 A part of this order has been considered in a preced- 
 ing chapter; that part of it which pertains to our 
 present subject is as follows : 
 
 "In the House of Representatives, January 13th, 1742. Upon 
 reading the Report of the Committee on the Housatunock affair, 
 ordered that the Report be so far accepted as that until the 
 furthur order of this Court, the Inhabitants of the Upper Town- 
 ship together with those on the tract of land lying between the 
 said Upper Housatunock and the Indian Land (1) which tract of 
 land is bounded as followeth viz., Beginning at the most North- 
 westerly comer of the Indian Land in the west line of the town 
 of Sheffield, running easterly on said Indian Land till it 
 •comes to a beach tree marked, near the mouth of Green River, 
 then turning something northerly, and leaving to Sheffield a 
 small piece of meadow or Intervale of s'd Indian Land, till it 
 comes to range the line and beach tree on the easterly side of s'd 
 meadow or Intervale, and then to continue s'd line till it inter- 
 sects the east line of Sheffield Propriety, (2) be and hereby areim- 
 powered, by a major vote at a meeting or meetings properly called 
 for that purpose, to raise money for the building of a convenient 
 Meeting House for the Publick Worship of God, in such place 
 on said land as they shall agree upon, and also, from time to 
 
 (1) "Indian Land" — the Indian reservation in Sheffield. 
 
 (2) The line here described, became the south line of the 
 parish and afterwards of Great Barrington. It has never been 
 
 • changed by Legislative enactment. 
 
80 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 time, to agree with and Buppoit an able, learned and Orthodox 
 Minister to preach the word among them : The money to be as- 
 sessed on each Eight of the before described lands and other 
 grants to them annexed in equal proportions, suflScient for the 
 purposes af ores'd to be paid by the proprietors ; in apportioning 
 of which the land granted to Captain John Spur shall be ac- 
 counted equal to two rights ; of Coonraet Burghart's two hundred 
 acres, lying on Green River, to be accounted half a right. The 
 money to be assessed by a com'tee chosen by the proprietors, 
 and to be collected by such person or persons, on oath, as the 
 said proprietors shall thereunto appoint, in the same manner as- 
 parish rates are or may by law be collected within this Province,, 
 takeing for his or their warrant therein the order of said pro- 
 prietors com'tee : Provided that nothing herein contained shall 
 be construed to alter the right or interest of any proprietor in 
 any of said lands." 
 
 The provisions of this order extended over the 
 whole of the territory afterwards embraced in the town 
 of Great Barrington, and also included six hundred 
 acres — lying between Egremont Plain and North Eg- 
 remont — belonging to Captain John Spoor, which 
 (as appears from state papers) he had purchased of the 
 Indians about 1731, for the consideration of £30, New 
 York currency, and a suit of clothes, and of which the 
 General Court had made him a grant. Coonrod Burg- 
 hardt's two hundred acres, lying in the extreme west 
 part of Great Barrington, adjoined the Spoor grant. 
 
 Under the authority conferred by this act, the pro- 
 prietors held their first meeting on the 8th of March, 
 1742, at the house of Daniel Nash (1) in the Upper Town- 
 ship. Ephraim "Williams, Esq., (2) of Stockbridge, was 
 chosen moderator, and David Ingersoll clerk. It was 
 then voted "to build a meeting-house for the public 
 worship of God, and to erect said house on the east 
 side of the river, about thii-ty rods north easterly from 
 ^Ii'. Ingersoll's saw-mill, on the spot where some of the 
 timber now^ lies or within five or six rods of said spot, 
 — where a committee hereafter to be chosen shall 
 apiDoint." 
 
 Coonrod Burghardt, David Ingersoll, Joseph Pixley, 
 
 (1) The house of Daniel Nash stood near where Samuel L. 
 Bearing now Hves, a few rods south of Pixley Brook, on the east 
 side of the river. 
 
 (2) Ephraim WilUams, supposed to have been the magistrate- 
 who issued the warrant for this meeting. 
 
VOTE TO BUILD MEETING-HOUSE. 81 
 
 Daniel Nash, and Joseph Noble were chosen a com- 
 mittee to determine upon the site, to take charge of 
 the building of the house, and " to agree with some 
 proper person or persons that shall appear to under- 
 take the building of said house and to find all mate- 
 rials and finish said house within and without. It 
 was further voted "to raise the sum of one hundred 
 and sixty-two pounds ten shillings. Bills of the last 
 emission, for and towards the building said Meeting- 
 House. " Daniel Nash, John Williams and David In- 
 gersoll were chosen assessors, John Pixley and Joshua 
 Root collectors, and Moses Ingersoll treasurer. Daniel 
 Nash, Coonrod Burghardt and David Ingersoll were 
 ax3XDointed a committee to take care of the Minister's 
 Eight or land, to lease the same for the present year, 
 for the benefit of the proprietors, "and to agree with 
 those persons that have the same in possession." Joseph 
 Noble, Jolin Pixley and David Ingersoll were chosen a 
 committee "to provide some suitable person or persons 
 to preach the Gospel Word amongst us in order for 
 his settlement in the ministry," and Ten Pounds Law- 
 ful money was appropriated for that purpose. Pro- 
 visions were made for the calling of future meetings, 
 the warrants to be posted up at the house of Moses 
 King, (1) the meetings to be held at the house of 
 Daniel Nash. 
 
 The place selected for the site of the meeting-house 
 was near the divisional line between the two townships, 
 a few rods east of the Great Bridge. The spot on which 
 it stood is now just within the westerly line of the 
 north burial ground. It is traditional that David In- 
 gersoll gave to the parish the land on which the house 
 was built, with the green or common to the westward. 
 The site was selected with reference to the accommo- 
 dation of the larger number of the inhabitants and was 
 sufficiently central for that purpose ; indeed the earlier 
 attempts tovrards a village were in its immediate 
 vicinity. Ah-eady a saw-mill, grist-mill and a foi-ge for 
 
 (1) Moses King, at that time, lived, and apparently kept a 
 tavern, on the east side of the river, south of the meeting house 
 and sixty rods south of the fine dividing the Upper and Lower 
 townships. 
 
82 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 the manufacture of iron were standing on the river 
 bank near by — and not far distant was a store and the 
 dwelHngs of several of the settlers. The committee 
 appear to have employed one Moses Bull to build the 
 house, and the labor was prosecuted with such vigor 
 that the building was so far completed as to be ready 
 for occupancy in the following autumn. 
 
 No account of the cost of the building is preserved 
 nor do the records of the parish furnish much informa- 
 tion relative to it. The meeting-house was a plain 
 two-story structure, unpainted, about 35 by 45 feet on 
 the ground, with neither steeple, bell or chimney, and 
 with but little exterior or interior decoration. It stood 
 fronting the south, with its gables east and w^est, with 
 doors in the center of each the south, east, and west 
 sides. Its peak was siu'mounted with the frame of a 
 belfry, which remained unfinished luitil 1745, when the 
 parish voted "to make a roofe to the Beelfree, shingle 
 and clabord the said Roofe." But the belfry — if com- 
 pleted — disappeared at a period earlier than any per- 
 son now liring — familiar vi-ith the building, — can re- 
 member ; though tradition affii'ms that a sentry box 
 stood on the top of the building. The principal or 
 front entrance was at the south door, from which the 
 " great alley" led up to the pulpit. In the south-east 
 and south-west corners were staii'ways, leading to the 
 galleries which extended around the south, east, and 
 west sides of the building. The pulpit occupied the 
 center of the north side of the room, and was sur- 
 mounted by a sounding board which projected from 
 the side wall of the building. In fi'ont of the pulpit 
 was a balustrade or railing, to which was attached a leaf 
 hanging on hinges, which served the purposes of a 
 communion table. Square pews were built around the 
 four sides of the building, with alley-ways passing in 
 front of them, and the central or body part of the room 
 was fitted with seats on either side of the great alley. 
 In process of years, these seats were in part or wholly 
 removed, and pews were built in their stead. But the 
 house, though in condition to be occupied in the 
 autumn of 1742, was not fully completed, and the pro- 
 cess of finishing extended over a period of several 
 
SALE OF PEWS. 
 
 83 
 
 years, as the needs and the abihty of the inhabitants 
 increased. It was rude and primitive, — somew^iat barn- 
 like, — in its appearance, but w^as a fac simile of many 
 of the New England churches of that period, and fully 
 subserved the simple requii'ements of the settlers. The 
 pews m the meeting-house w^ere disposed of by sale to 
 the highest bidder, on the 9th of April, 1746. Previous 
 to the sale, it was provided that all rates and taxes laid 
 upon individuals for building the house and settling the 
 minister, should be deducted from the sums which 
 such individuals might bid for their pews ; and the 
 second pew east of the pulpit w^as set apart for the use 
 of the Rev. Samuel Hopkins and his successors in the 
 ministry forever. The parish records furnish the fol- 
 lowing account of the sale : 
 
 " To David Ingersoll, the first pew west of the 
 
 pulpit and adjoining the stairs of the pulpit, £77. Old Tenor. 
 To Hendi'ick Burghardt, Jun'r. the north-west 
 
 comer pew, 73, 
 
 To Luke Noble & Samuel Suydanj, the third 
 
 pew from the pulpit, north of the west door, 40, 
 To Josiah Phelps, the pew east of and adjoining 
 
 to the pulpit, 38, 
 
 To Moses Ingersoll, the pew in the north-east 
 
 corner, 63, 
 
 To James Bowdoin, Esq., the fourth pew east 
 
 from the pulpit, 97, 
 
 To Capt. John Spoor, the pew south of the east 
 
 end door, 43, 
 
 To Isaac Van Deusen, the pew between the last 
 
 pew and the stairs, 35, 
 
 To David Ingersoll, the pew west of the fore 
 
 door, 30, 
 
 To David Ingersoll, the pew cast of the fore 
 
 door. 
 
 To David Ingersoll, the pew south of the west 
 
 end door. 
 To Coonrod Burghardt, the second pew east 
 
 from the south door, 
 To Serg't Thomas Pier, the pew under the stairs 
 
 at the west end, 
 To , the second pew west from the fore 
 
 door. 
 
 60, 
 
 30, 
 
 49, 
 
 38, 
 
 34, 
 
 £707" 
 
84 HISTORY or GREAT BARKINGTON. 
 
 The fourteen pews sold, with one set apart for 
 the minister — fifteen in all — probably represented the 
 whole number then built. The sum realized from the 
 sale, £707 in Old Tenor currency, was equal, at its then 
 depreciated value, to about §470. The purchasers of 
 the pews were all proprietors of lands ; persons who 
 were not owners of pews had seats assigned them, 
 from time to time, in the central part of the house or 
 in the galleries, by committees appointed " to seat the 
 meeting-house ;" and in assigning the seats the com- 
 mittees had regard to estates, age, and official position. 
 At the time of the building of the meeting-house, and 
 for many years afterwards, the highway crossing the 
 bridge turned southerly,— as the old road now does — 
 and turnmg, nearly at a right angle to the eastward, 
 passed on the south side of the meeting-house and 
 across the present burial ground to the foot of the 
 mountain. The meeting-house, with its open common, 
 and little burial ground, occupied the angle made by 
 the tui'n of the highway. The committee appomted for 
 pro^dduig preaching obtained the services of the Rev. 
 Thomas Strong of Northampton, — afterwards settled 
 in New Marlboro, — who officiated here in 1742, and, 
 perhaps, a part of the next year ; he was the first 
 minister employed here of whom we have any account. 
 
 The erection of the meeting-house, and the estab- 
 lishment of preaching were important events as regards 
 the vrelfare of the community : but the legislative act 
 grantmg authority for the building of the house, and 
 the settlement and maintenance of a minister, conferred 
 no further powers. The inhabitants labored under the 
 same embarrassments arising from the want of munici- 
 pal regulations as before. The peace of the community 
 was disturbed by the presence of loose fellows, loafers, 
 who came here to escape the responsibihties of the law, 
 to avoid taxes, and who rendered themselves obnoxious 
 and burdensome to the projiiietors. The meeting-house 
 had been built with money raised by tax on the pro- 
 perietary rights, and funds for the f utui'e support of 
 a minister were, by the terms of the act to be obtained 
 from the same soiu'ce. Many of the inhabitants were 
 not proprietors, and were consequently free from respon- 
 
PETITION FOR INCORPORATION. 85 
 
 sibility and taxation, and whilst enjoying all privileges in 
 common with the proprietors, were not holden to con- 
 tribute to the means by which those privileges were 
 obtained. To obviate these difficulties, the proprietors, 
 through the agency of David Ingersoll, who appears to 
 have been their prominent man and spokesman on all 
 occasions, made application to the General Court, prof- 
 fering a petition to be erected into a corporate town. 
 This petition, which is found in the Massachusetts 
 Archives, volume 115, pages 193-4, is as follows : 
 
 "To His Excellency, William Shirley, Esq., Captain, Gene- 
 ral, and Govener, &c., his Majesties Councel and hous of Rep- 
 resentetives. In General Court Assembled, Eeb'ry 17-13. 
 
 "The Memorial of David Ingersole of a Parrish Lying Be- 
 tween Sheffield and Stockbridge, In Behalf of the Proprietors, 
 Humbly Sheweth : That in Jan'y, 1742, The Gen'l Court was 
 pleased to invest with parrish priviledges The Inhabitants Lying 
 On housatonnock River, betwene The Indian Land by Green 
 River, and The Township of Stockbridg, and Orders That the 
 Rates and Taxes Should Be Raised Equally Upon Each right of 
 Laud Contained In said Bounds. 
 
 ' ' Now your Memorialist Would Represent That the s'd Inhabi- 
 tants Labour Under Many Inconveniences, Not haveing the 
 powers and privelidges of a Corporate Town in Particular, by 
 Reason of many Stragling fellows Coming In Upon us. Which 
 we have no way to purg out Nor Able to Lay any Tax Upon, 
 them, to Support the burdens we are under. And further. The 
 prop'rs of said Parrish have Built a meeting-house and setled a 
 Minister With Grate Charg and Expedition, Without any help 
 from Those persons Who run in A Mong us, to Secure Them- 
 selves from paying Taxes to any place. 
 
 " I Would, Therefore, Humbly pray in Behalf of the Prop'rs 
 of Said Parrish, That The said pai'ish may Be Erected into a 
 Town With Such powers and preveleges As the Corporate towns 
 in this province are Vested With, And that a Moderate Tax May 
 be continued Upon the Rights that have not fulfilled The Con- 
 ditions of Setlement, for Such Term of Time as the hon'd Court 
 Shall Think fit. And That The Land Lying Betwene The said 
 Parish and Toucanock mountain May be added or annexed there- 
 to. And Your MemoriaHst, as in Duty Bound, shall ever 
 pray." (1) David Ingebsole. 
 
 Mr. Ingersoirs petition w^as read the second time 
 in the House of Representatives, on the 22d of Febru- 
 
 (1) The statement in the petition, that the proprietors had 
 settled a minister, was not strictly true. No minister had been 
 settled, though Mr. Strong had been employed to preach, with a 
 view to a settlement. 
 
86 HISTORY OF GEEAT BAREINGTON. 
 
 ary, 1743, and an order Tsas introduced and passed per- 
 mitting the petitioner to bring in a bill to erect the 
 lands, mentioned, into a town, but on the 29th, the 
 Council non-concurred on some of the minor points of 
 the order, and the subject, for the time being, was laid 
 aside. It is probable that the petition met with oppo- 
 sition from the town of Sheffield, which could poorly 
 afford to lose the territory and population north of the 
 Indian Land. The project, however, was not aban- 
 doned; the petition was again brought forward. On 
 the 15th of March, an order passed the House of Rep- 
 resentatives, and received the concurrence of the Coun- 
 cil, and the approval of Governor ShMey on the 16th, 
 which, though it did not erect the territory and in- 
 habitants into a separate town, — as prayed for, — en- 
 dowed them nevertheless, with full parish privileges, 
 added to theu' domain a large tract to the westward, 
 and extended the jurisdiction of Sheffield over the 
 whole. By this order the North Parish was virtually 
 incorporated mto the town of Sheffield, and its inhabi- 
 tants were vested with all and the same municipal 
 rights, which were enjoyed by the citizens of that town. 
 This arrangement was perhaps a compromise between 
 the petitioners and the town of Sheffield, and was prob- 
 ably satisfactory to the latter, as, thereby both her 
 population and taxable projjerty were considerably in- 
 creased. The following is a copy of the Order, from 
 the General Coui't Records, Volume 17, page 495 : 
 
 "On the petition of David Ingersol, in behalf of the pro- 
 prietors and inhabitants of Upper Housatonack, in the county of 
 Hampshire. 
 
 *'Inthe House of Representatives. March 15, 1743. Read) 
 and in answer to this petition, ordered, that the lands and in- 
 habitants of the Upper Housatonack, together with those lands 
 and inhabitants which lye between the said Upper Housatonack 
 and the Indian lands, which by an order of this court, in Jan- 
 uary, 1742, were made a district, excepting James Sexton, and 
 the lands he bought of Samuel Harmah, [Harmon], together 
 with a tract of land and its inhabitants, which lye west of said 
 district, between that and Tauconick Mountains, be and hereby, 
 are made a parish or precinct, and vested with all the powers 
 and privileges which other parishes or precincts within this 
 province do by Law enjoy, and that the whole of the aforesaid 
 parish be, and hereby is, annexed to and incorporated with the 
 
ORGANIZATION DELAYED. 87 
 
 Town of Sheffield, during the pleasure of this Court, there to do 
 duty and receive privileges as amply and fully as the present 
 inhabitants of Sheffield. Saving, nevertheless, to the province, 
 their right in the said lands lying between Housatonick and Tau- 
 conic Mountains. 
 
 ' ' Sent up for concurrence. 
 
 **In council, March 16th, 1743, Concurred. 
 
 " Consented to, W, Shirley." 
 
 By the terms of this act, the North Parish of Shef- 
 field was made to include all of Great Barrington, and 
 a large part of Egremont and Alford, the whole an- 
 nexed to and made part of the town of Sheffield. That 
 the jurisdiction of Sheffield ever extended over the 
 whole of this territory, seems to have escaped the ob- 
 servation of all writers of the history of Southern Berk- 
 shire, and in the lapse of time to have been forgotten. 
 The parish records contain no copy of the act of incor- 
 poration, nor even any allusion to it, and, though indi- 
 cations that Sheffield once exercised such jurisdiction, 
 ai'e occasionally found, the authority under which she 
 acted, has but recently been brought to light. But 
 this act seems not fully to have met the requirements 
 of the inhabitants, and for the space of two years they 
 neglected to legally organize themselves into a parish. 
 During this time, what little parochial business was 
 done, was transacted as before, in the name of " the 
 Proprietors of Upper Housatonack and those lying be- 
 tween said Upper Hausatonack and the Indian land," 
 under authority of the order of 1742. As before re- 
 marked, this order authorized the projyrietors to raise 
 money by tax upon proprietary rights, for the purpose 
 of building a meeting-house, settling and supporting a 
 minister, whilst the inhabitants who were not proprie- 
 tors, were exempt from any responsibility in the mat- 
 ter. After the passage of the act of 1743, fully incor- 
 porating the parish and annexing it to Sheffield, ques- 
 tions seem to have arisen, relative to the justice and 
 propriety of making it incumbent upon the proprie- 
 tors, to pay all the expenses which had already been 
 incun-ed in building the house, and settling the minis- 
 ter, and the proprietors were of the opinion^ that the 
 inhabitants, non-proprietors, should bear a portion of 
 the burden. These and other questions of similar im- 
 
88 HISTOKY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 port, doubtless delayed the organization of the parish, 
 and were made the subject of a petition to the General 
 Court, presented early in 1745, by Joseph Noble, Luke 
 Noble and Aaron Sheldon — parish assessors. 
 
 In answer to this petition, the Legislature, on the 
 29th of January, 1745, passed an order by which the 
 charges of building the meeting-house and the settle- 
 ment of the minister, were to be paid by the proprie- 
 tors, in accordance with the terms of the original order 
 of 1742, whilst money for the future support of the 
 minister, was to be raised by tax, equitably assessed 
 on polls, estates, and proprietary rights. 
 
 Soon after this— on the 29th of March, 1745— the 
 first X3arish meetmg was held, and the parish duly 
 organized. 
 
 Josiah Phelps, was chosen Moderator : AViliiam 
 King, Parish Clerk ; Moses Ingersoll, Treasurer : Jo- 
 seph Noble, Luke Noble, Aaron Sheldon, Assessors ; 
 Asahel King, John Burghardt, Collectors. 
 
 At this meeting John Pixley, one of the committee 
 appointed in 1742, for employing a minister, was re- 
 warded by an appropriation of "two pounds, teen 
 shillings. New Tenor, for going to get a minister, — to 
 he paid by the proprietors f' and also with '' thirty 
 shillings. New Tenor, for moneys wliich he paid IVIr. 
 Thomas Strong, for preaching among us." At the 
 same time, it was voted to pay " IVIi-. Moses Ingersoll, 
 two pounds, teen shillings. New Tenor, for boarding 
 Mr. Strong, when he preached amongst us, and enter- 
 taining ministers and messengers at IVIi'. Sam'l Hop- 
 kms' ordination.'' 
 
 With the exception of the above brief mention, no 
 allusion, in the parish records, is made to the Rev. IVIi'. 
 Strong, or his ministry here. 
 
 The records of the parish, — which are provokingly 
 brief and concise in statement, with never a word of 
 explanation or comment, — extending from 1745 to 1761, 
 are contained in twenty-three j^ages of cajD paper : and 
 dui'ing this long j^eriod of sixteen years, in only one 
 instance is the warrant for a meeting recorded. We 
 are therefore obliged to glean, from other sources, 
 what little can be learned of the history of the parish. 
 
MP. HOPKINS INVITED TO PKEACH. 89 
 
 "Next in importance to the erection of the meeting- 
 house, the affair which agitated the people was the 
 settlement of a minister. Mr. Strong had officiated 
 amongst them for some time, but, whether or not ac- 
 ceptably w^e have no means of knowing. 
 
 The attention of the committee for providmg 
 -preaching was, perhaps providentially, directed to the 
 Rev. Samuel Hopkins, then a young man of twenty- 
 -one years, engaged in pursuing his theological studies 
 with the Rev. Jonathan Edwards of Northampton. . Mr. 
 Hopkins had graduated at Yale college in 1741, and 
 after studying for a time with Mr. Edwards, had been 
 approved, and licensed to preach bv an association of 
 •Connecticut ministers. Having i^reached a few months 
 . at Simsbury he had now returned to Northampton, — to 
 the family of Mr. Edwards. It was here that a messen- 
 ger from the North parish, — David Ingersoll, — sent to 
 in\dte him to preach, found Mr. Hopkins in June 1743. 
 To the diary (1) of Mr. Hopkins, as w^ell as to the 
 .-autobiographcal sketches of his life, we are indebted 
 for much that is interesting, connected with the history 
 of the parish and with his ministry here. At this time 
 Mr. Hopkins was somewhat unwell, and on account of 
 ill health had recently declined an invitation to preach 
 in New Marlboro. The account of his coming to this 
 place is perhaps best told by the following extracts 
 from his diary : 
 
 "Northampton, Monday, June 20th, 1743. Came 
 from Pelham to-day ; was taken with a -paiii m my back 
 when I got on to my horse, which got into my breast 
 before I got home, and afterwards into my shoulder; 
 it very much disorders my limbs. I kept the school 
 ihis afternoon ; and when I returned to Mr. Edwards' 
 to-night, I found Mr. D. Ingersole here from Housa- 
 tonick with a desire that I would go and preach there. 
 
 (1) This diary, the original of which was in the possession of 
 the late Rev. Calvin Durfee of Williamstown, extends from 
 December 1742, to May 1747, and covers nearly four years of 
 Mr. Hopkins' ministry here. The abstracts which we have 
 made, are from a copy of the original, kindly furnished by a lady 
 ■of Great Barrington. 
 
90 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 I have given him no answer yet, but am to see him ia 
 the morning.''' 
 
 " Tuesday, Jime 21, 1743. Am troubled yet with 
 this pain. Kept the school to-day. Gave Mr. Ingersol 
 encouragement that I would go to Housatonick next 
 week.'' 
 
 " June 30th. Set out in the afternoon and rode to 
 Westfield. 
 
 " Number One, (1) Friday, July 1, 1743. I did not, 
 according to appointment and my expectation, meet any 
 body here — AVestfield — to-day from Tiumuck in order 
 to conduct me there, but accidentally lit on a man going; 
 that way so far as Mr. Bruer's (2) which is within 8 
 miles of it. I set out with hun and after a long and- 
 tedious ride in an exceedingly bad road came to IVir. 
 Bruer's between 11 and 12 o'clock. And though T 
 have tired my body, I have been comfortable in my 
 mind almost all the way, and have felt in a praying 
 fi'ame. I saw by the way, that God wanted nothing of 
 me but to do my duty in all respects and if I do he w^ill 
 give me every tiling I want, if I will be faithful to him. 
 
 " Housetumiuck, July 2, 1743. Got but little or no 
 rest last night. I went to bed after midnight, and 
 after I was abed was much troubled with gnats, which, 
 are very tedious here ; they kept a smoke b}- the door 
 all night, and made a smoke in the house, but this did. 
 not keep them off, but they came all around and into- 
 the bed, so I had not much comfort while in bed, and 
 
 I did not lie there but about four hours, and slept L 
 believe not one. The people of the house seemed to 
 be after the world, and not to savor of religion any 
 more than the heathen, only as the man in the house 
 asked me to pray in his family. Came to Tuiuiuck at 
 
 II o'clock, am kindly received and well accommodated 
 to all appearance." 
 
 (1) ' ' Number One, " — afterwards TyriDgham and Monterey- 
 
 (2) "Mr. Bruer's" was on the southerly side of Brewer'* 
 Pond, in Monterey. The route traveled by Mr. Hopkins, was 
 nearly the same as the jaresent road to Westfield,— passing, 
 through Monterey, a corner of Sandisfield, Otis and Blandford. 
 It was the same route by which the settlers from Westfield had 
 emigrated to the Housatonic Townships, following the original 
 Indian trail. 
 
IMPRESSIONS OF THE PEOPLE. 91 
 
 On Sunday, July 3d, Mr. Hopkins preached his 
 first sermon to this people, and records "the most of 
 the people seemed serious and attentive," but on the 
 next Sabbath, "the congregation seemed to be very 
 senseless and stupid." He had come to Housatonic, 
 not with the intention of remaining any great length 
 of time ; he was undetermined what to do, or w^hat 
 course he should pursue, but at the same time he felt- 
 prepared to go wherever duty and conscience might 
 du-ect. The people w^ere pleased with him, and urged 
 him to remain. His impressions of the inhabitants 
 were not favorable: they were a "very wicked people." 
 A people, for years destitute of stated preaching, could 
 not be otherwise. He left ; "giving the people en- 
 couragement that I w^ould return after two Sabbaths." 
 He did return ; and preached on Sunday, July 31st ; 
 "the people seem to be attentive though not much 
 affected." 
 
 On the next day, August 1st, he records in his 
 diary ; "Took a walk to-day m the woods, and as I re- 
 turned went into the tavern, found a number of men. 
 there, who I believe had better been somewhere else. 
 Some were disguised by diink. It appeared to be a. 
 solemn place. The circumstances of this place appear 
 more and more di^eadful to me ; there seems to be no 
 religion here ; if I did not think I had a call here I 
 should be quite discouraged." He felt that he had a 
 call to stay here ; and he therefore remained, j^reach- 
 ing, with occasional absences, until his ordination in 
 the following December. In the meantime he suffered 
 severely from the fever and ague, "a distemper;" — 
 which, as he says — "few escape who live in this town." 
 The bad roads, the gnats which he encountered at Num- 
 ber One, and the fever and ague are suggestive of 
 pioneer life in a new country. 
 
 In September, the people in^dted ]\Ii\ Hopkins to 
 settle here in the ministry, offering him sixty pounds 
 lawful money as a settlement, and thu*ty-five pounds 
 lawful money as an annual salary for the first five 
 years, and then to add forty shillings per year, — for 
 the same years, — making forty-five pounds, w4iich was 
 thereafter to remain his stated salary. Mr. Hopkins 
 
92 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 at first, objected to the sixty pounds — settlement — as 
 insufficient for the building of a house and barn, but 
 finally accepted the terms j^roposed, with some slight 
 modifications, as appears from the following abstract 
 of proceedings, from the Parish Records. (1) 
 
 "At a legal meeting of Proprietors of Upper Housatonock 
 and those lying between s'd Upper Housatonock and the Indian 
 Land, held b}- adjournment September ye 9th, 1743, Daniel 
 Nash moderator, 
 
 " Voted, — To give Mr. Samuel Hopkins a call to settle amongst 
 us in the work of the Gospel Ministry. 
 
 " Voted, — To give the said Sam'l Hopkins the sum of thirty- 
 five pounds lawful money per annum for the first five years, and 
 then to add forty shillings a year for same years, — which will 
 make forty-five pounds a year, — and that to be his stated salary, 
 being to enable him to go on with said work. 
 
 " Voted, — To give the said Sam'l Hopkins the sum of sixty 
 pounds lawful money, for his settlement. 
 
 " Voted, — ThatThos. Horton, David Ingersole, John WiUiams, 
 Joseph Noble. Dan'l Nash, Thos. Pier, Moses Ingersole, Josiah 
 Phelps and William King be a committee to acquaint the above 
 said Sam'l Hopkins of the above said vote and to receive his 
 answer and make report to the above said proprietors." 
 
 •' At a legal meeting of the Proprietors of a Parish lying be- 
 tween Shefiield and Stockbridge, assembled as the law directs, 
 Nov'r 25th 174:3, Mr. Thos. Horton moderator. 
 
 "Then the proprietors took into consideration Mr. Samuel 
 Hopkins' answer respecting his settling among us, which is as 
 followeth : 
 
 " ' To the Proprietors of Upper Housatonock and those lying 
 between said Upper Housatonock and the Indian Land. 
 
 " ' Sirs. It is some time since you gave me a call to the work 
 of the Gospel Ministry among you. and made me some offers of 
 Temporal Things for my support in the world ; and you have 
 since that manifested your wiUingness to add something further 
 to my settlement, by getting Timber for a House, to the place 
 of building, when I should stand in need of it, by drawing Logs 
 to the saw-mill, which may, when sawed, make Boards sufficient 
 to finish it, and getting the stone that shall be necessary in 
 building. I am also informed that it is your design, — tho' yet 
 forgotten, — to add to Salary by getting my firewood yearly, and 
 that you have, or are willing to state the sum of money at first 
 voted by you, by Silver at six shillings and eight pence per 
 ounce, and instead of voting lawful money, vote so many pounds 
 equal to coined silver, sterling alloy, Troy weight, at six shil- 
 lings and eight pence per ounce. 
 
 (1) In addition to the £00, settlement,— Mr. Hopkins by 
 settling here became entitled to, and the proprietor of, one 
 jright (the Ministry Right) in the Upper Township. 
 
TERMS OF SETTLEMENT. 9S 
 
 " ' I have taken the matter into consideration, and after serious 
 dehberation upon the affair and its circumstances ; if the above 
 mentioned additions be made to your first offers, and that alter- 
 ation be made respecting the stating the money, I do now find 
 myself disposed and willing to comply with your desires, and- 
 to come and settle among you in the great work to v/hich you: 
 have called me, tho' insufficient for, and unworthy of such a 
 great and sacred employment, and desire [ing] your constant 
 prayers for me, that if I do come to you, I may come in the 
 fulhiess of the Blessing of the Gospel of Christ, and as I may 
 reasonably expect [to meet] with many difficulties, trials and 
 heavy burthens, in this arduous and difficult work, I expect yoit 
 will assist and be willing to contiibute to my ease and comfort, 
 BO far as lies in your power. I am, (if my heart deceives me 
 not) willing to spend and be spent among you, if by any iiieans 
 by the blessing of God, I may be instrumental of the good of 
 you and yours, and do with my whole heai't subscribe myself 
 ' ' ' Your Servant in the cause of Christ, 
 
 Samuel Hopkins." 
 
 "Having full}^ considered the above said Sam'l Hopkins* 
 answer and proposals therein, the Proprietors as a further en- 
 couragement for his settling amongst us Unanimmisly Voted to 
 comply with the said Sam'l Hopkins' proposals, and to give, as 
 a furthur addition to what was formerly voted, all and every- 
 thing he has requested in his above answer or proposals, and 
 the said Proprietors, with the consent of the said Sam'l Hopkins, 
 voted and appointed the 21st day of December next to ordain 
 the said Sam'l Hopkins to the work of the Gospel Ministry- 
 amongst us, and the said proprietors made choice of Moses 
 Ingersole, Thos. Pier, Hendrick Burghardt Jun'r, Wm. King, 
 John Williams and David Ingersole, a com'tee in behalf and in 
 the name of the Proprietors to make suitable provision to enter- 
 tain the ministers and assistance at said ordination, and also to 
 advise with said Sam'l Hopkins, and to send to a suitable num- 
 ber of ministers and delegates to come and assist in said ordina- 
 tion." 
 
 Tlie time appointed for the ordination, — Dec. 21sty 
 was changed to the 28th of that month. The 14tli 
 was observed as a day of fasting and pra-^xr ; services 
 were held at the meeting-house, in which the Rev. John 
 Sergeant and Rev. Mr. Jenison particij^ated. It had 
 been arranged that the Rev.'d Jonathan Hubbard, — 
 who was also present, — should '^ gather the church" 
 on this occasion, but as Mr. Hopkins records, " there 
 did not a sufficient number offer themselves, so that 
 the business is put by until the ordination." He also 
 adds in this connection " I feel very much discouraged 
 about entering into the ministry ; they are a conten- 
 
94 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 tious people, and I fear I am no way qualified for such 
 a work." 
 
 A few days previous to the ordination, Mr. Hopkins 
 rode about amongst his parishioners to ascertain who 
 of them would be embodied into the church, — to be 
 organized on the day of the ordination ; he found some 
 of them very backward, which caused him some gloomy 
 reflections and led him to write, " The way looks very 
 dark before me. I am, it is probable, going to run 
 myself into innumerable difficulties b}" settling amongst 
 this people. I dare not [hoj^e] that there is one male 
 ■chiistian amongst them, and most of them opposers of 
 divine grace and the power of Godliness." 
 
 On Wednesday the 28th December, 1743, Mr. Hop- 
 kins was ordained and the church was organized. The 
 Kecords of the Upper Housatonic Propriety contain 
 this brief account of the proceedings, m the hand- 
 writing of David IngersoU : 
 
 "The record of the Rev.'d Mr. Samuel Hopkins' ordination 
 to the pastoral office of the Upper Propriety and second Church 
 in Sheffield." 
 
 " Dec. 27th, 1743 ; by letters missive from said church, to the 
 second church in Springfield, the Kev'd Mr. Sam'l Hopkins 
 Pastor ; to the church of Westfield, the Kev'd John Ballentine 
 Pastor; the first church in Sheffield, Rev'd Jonathan Hubbard 
 Pastor ; to the church of Stockbridge, Rev'd John Sergeant Pas- 
 tor; to the second church of Northampton, Rev'd Jonathan 
 Judd Pastor ; Said elders meet, with their delegates, and solemn- 
 ly set apart to the work of the ministry, by ordination the said 
 Mr. Sam'l Hopkins as Elder and Pastor to the said second church 
 of Sheffield, the day and date above. 
 
 John Sekgeant Scribe." 
 
 The date of the record " Dec. 27th" is evidently, 
 erroneous ; the ceremonies occurred on the 28th. 
 
 With the exception of the pastor, five persons only, 
 were found ready to unite with the church, which was 
 formed on this occasion ; to wit 
 
 Jonah Pixley, James Sexton, 
 
 John Pixley. Asahel King, 
 
 Jonathan Nash. 
 
 To these twelve more were added on the 5th Feb- 
 ruary following ; namely : 
 
 Ichabod Averill, Thomas Horton, Esther King, Esther King, 
 3d, Huldah King, Catharine IngersoU, Hannah Noble, Priscilla 
 
MEETING-HOUSE COMPLETED. 95 
 
 Austin, Mercy Pixley, Zeruiah Nash, Submit Ingersoll, Samuel 
 WincheU, Jr. 
 
 Eor the building of the meeting-house £162. 10s 
 '^ bills of the last emission," equivalent at its par value 
 to $541.67, had been voted to be raised by tax, by the 
 proprietors, in 1742. It is probable that tins sum was 
 expended in the erection of the house, but in the dearth 
 of records and scarcity of papers no account of the ex- 
 penditure is to be found. 
 
 As late as March 12th, 1746, the building commit- 
 tee had apparently rendered no account of their dis- 
 bui'sements, and at a parish meeting, of that date, 
 Xsaac Van Deusen, John Williams and Josiah Phelps, 
 Junior, were appointed " to call the old committee, that 
 undertook for the building of the meeting-house, to 
 ajust theii" accounts, and see what is become of the 
 money granted for that use and service." But, of the 
 result of their inquiries, these gentlemen have left no 
 record. The making of repau's, and the long continued 
 process of finishing the building, w^ere occasional sub- 
 jects of parish legislation. Thus : September 25, 1751, 
 "Vot. George King for to fasten ye windows of ye 
 meeting-house and to repair some other Breaches and 
 they will answer the bill." April 17, 1754, £15 lawful 
 money, v>'^as raised to repaii' the meeting-house and 
 Wilham Ingersoll, Timothy Hopkins and George King 
 were appointed to have the work done. June 2, 1757, 
 £30 was raised " towards finishing the parish meeting- 
 house," and a committee appointed " to dispose of said 
 money." A further appropriation of £24, lis, 7d, was 
 made for the same purpose March 14, 1759 ; but the 
 committee iov finishing, in their expenditure, exceeded 
 the amounts appropriated, and, in November, of the 
 latter year, an additional sum of £8, 3s, lOd, 2f, was 
 granted to make good the excess. 
 
 We may now consider the meeting-house as fin- 
 ished, and in the sum of the different appropriations, 
 Tve find its cost to have varied but slightly from $800. 
 The house being completed and put in order, Jonathan 
 Willard was entrusted with the key and appointed to 
 "keep the house clean." Mr. Willard occupied the 
 position of sexton — the first in that office of whom we 
 
96 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 have any record — and was the next yeai\ — 1760 — com- 
 pensated with a grant of twenty-five shiUings for his 
 year's service, /iiter the sale of i^ews, v.hich has been 
 mentioned, some changes were from time to time made- 
 in the inside arrangement of the house, by the addi- 
 tion of new pews and seats. Thus, in 1754, the paiish 
 gTanted to David Ingersoll, Esq., '-two hind seats on 
 either side of the AlUe to make him a pew : and if he 
 can exchange with ye Rev. jMi-. Hopkins it is to be al-- 
 lowed good." AMiether or not ]Mi'. iDgersoll bnilt his 
 pew, is uncertain ; but he evidently did not exchange- 
 with ^Ii\ Hopkins. November 9, 1759, the parish,.. 
 probably as a mark of respect for the character and 
 official importance of Gen. Joseph Dwight, granted 
 him liberty " to build a pew, where the three hind seats 
 on the east side of the great alley are, and that he is to 
 have for that end, one half of said three seats ; the said 
 pew to be for the benefit of him and his family dui-ing 
 his abode in this parish." This vote appears to have 
 occasioned some little dissatisfaction ; but v\-as re-af- 
 fii'med by the parish the next March, and Gen. Dwight 
 built his pew in the j^lace indicated. 
 
 November 2, 1760. It was voted " that the gentle- 
 men seated in the Great Pew in said meetmg-house, 
 have leave, at theii' own charge, to build a pew in the 
 rear of the body of seats in s'd house, adjoining the- 
 broad alley, opposite Col Dv/ight's (1) pew ; of the 
 same size with his, provided Madam Hopkins accept, 
 the same for herself and family in lieu of the present 
 pew ; and in that case that the present pew [jMi'. Hop- 
 kins'] be the seat for the said gentlemen's wives in lieu 
 of that luider the pulpit vvhich is then' present seat."^ 
 Madam Hopkins and family occupied the second pew 
 east of the pulpit, which had been set ajDart for the- 
 minister in 1746 ; whether or not she acquiesced m the 
 proposed change for the accommodation of the "gentle- 
 men's wives," does not, from the record, appear. At.. 
 the same time pro^asion was made for building twa^ 
 seats in the gaUery, one on each side of the house. 
 
 (1) Gen. Joseph Dwight is frequently mentioned as " CJol- 
 onel," in the records, — a title which he had worn for many years^ 
 
SEATING THE MEETING HOUSE. 97 
 
 Prior to 1761 two pews appear to have been put up in 
 the front gallery by some " 3'oung persons ;" and in 
 1764, the town permitted Mark Hopkins, Esq., to build 
 for himself a pew in the rear of the seats in the body 
 of the house, adjoining the pew of Gen. Dwight. The 
 foregoing are the principal changes made in the inter- 
 nal arrangement of the meeting-house, from the time 
 of its erection to 1764. The seating of the meeting- 
 house, or assigning seats to such as were not owners 
 of pews, which was then and long after customary in 
 New England, was a delicate business, and often gave 
 rise to envious and jealous feelings. Seaters were 
 from time to time appointed, and in the assignment of 
 seats, preference was given to age, wealth, and official 
 position, either civil or military. Thus, in 1750, Gen. 
 Joseph Dwight, Isaac Van Deusen, Israel Dewey, Timo- 
 thy Hopkins and Jonathan Nash were chosen seaters, 
 and instructed, in seating, " to have regard to estates 
 as contained in the last and present year's lists, and 
 also to the age of particular persons, accounting each 
 year's age, above sixteen, equal to £4 on the list, and 
 also to persons honorary, whether by commission or 
 otherwise." By the terms of the agreement made with 
 Rev. Samuel Hopkins, in 1743, he was to receive as a 
 settlement £60, — equal to $200, — and, as a salary, £35 
 per annum for the first five years, to which, at the ex- 
 piration of that time, forty shillings per year, for those 
 years, was to be added, and from that time, forward, 
 his stated salary was fixed at £45, equal to $150 per 
 year. In order to protect himself against the depre- 
 ciation of the paper money then in use, Mr. Hopkins 
 stipulated that the payments, in whatever currency 
 they might be made, should be equal to coined silver 
 at 6s, 8d per ounce. Owing to the delays in the or- 
 ganization of the parish, moneys due Mr. Hopkins 
 were not voted or raised until 1745, and after that 
 time it was customary to vote the salary, for each year, 
 only v>dth the close of the year. 
 
 August 14, 1745, the parish voted to Mr. Hopkins 
 the £60 for his settlement, in New Tenor money, to 
 be paid in Old Tenor at thirty-two shillings per ounce, 
 and also £42 Old Tenor for preaching before he was 
 
98 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 ordained ; these amounts to be paid by the proprietors 
 agreeable to the court act of 1742. At the same time 
 his salary for the first and second years, — 1742-3 — was 
 voted to be paid in Old Tenor at 32 shillings per ounce. 
 In January, 1747, £140 Old Tenor was voted, as a 
 salary for the past 3^ear, allowing £4 Old Tenor for £1 
 new. For the next year £152 Old Tenor was voted as 
 a salary, but the depreciation of this currency was so 
 great, that the amount was afterwards increased to 
 £300. A similar sum of £300 Old Tenor was granted 
 for the year 1748, to which £180 was afterwards added 
 for an-earages and dej^reciation. These votes serve to 
 illustrate the depreciation of the paper currency of 
 that day, which finally went out of use about 1750. 
 From that time, the minister's salary was commonly 
 voted in lawful money, — silver taking the place of the 
 paper currency. The parish was often remiss in the 
 payment of salary, and so late as September, 1751, the 
 salary voted for 1748, had neither been assessed or 
 collected. In addition to his salary, the minister was 
 from year to year furnished with firewood, either de- 
 livered at his door by his parishioners, or by an appro- 
 priation of money for its value. 
 
 At the time of the settlement of Mi*. Hopkins, it 
 had been stipulated that when he might need, the par- 
 ish would furnish a sufficient quantity of timber for 
 the building of a house, and logs, delivered at a saw- 
 mill, for making the necessary lumber, and also that 
 the stone needed for the house should be di'awn to the 
 place of building. 
 
 At a parish meeting March 29, 1745, a letter from 
 Mr. Hopkins — hereafter quoted — was presented, re- 
 minding the people of the agreement for these mate ■ 
 rials, and informing them of his intention to build, but 
 action on this letter seems to have been deferred until 
 March of the next year, when, in the concise words of 
 the record, the parish voted "to the Rev. Mr. Hop- 
 kins logs for boards and stone for house," and appoint- 
 ed John Pixley and Jonathan Nash " to take an ac- 
 count of the logs and stone and to prise said logs to 
 Mr. Hopkins and also the stone when brought for his 
 building." The stone had at that time, been, in part, 
 
OLD AND NEW TENOE. 99 
 
 drawn together, as Mr. Hopkins recorded in his diary 
 on the 11th of February preceding, "the people drew 
 stone for nie to-day ;" but there appears to have been 
 some remissness on the part of the parish in dehvering 
 the timber and logs, and four years later it voted to 
 give Ml'. Hopkins £50 Old Tenor, to be paid by the 
 proprietors, for the timber and logs which they were 
 to have furnished. 
 
 Old Te7io7' and New Tenor. 
 
 In order to a comprehension of the value of com- 
 modities, and of sums stated in business transactions, 
 in the early currencies of New England, a brief expla^ 
 nation of Old Tenor and New Tenor may seem neces- 
 sary, and of theii' relative comparison with present 
 values. The pound — twent}^ shillings — in New Eng 
 land currency was, then, as now, equal, at six shillings 
 to the dollar, to $3.33^. The ounce of coined silver, 
 Troy weight, of sterling alloy, — which at 6s, 8d per 
 ounce, formed the basis of value in business transac- 
 tions, — was equal to $1.11 1-9. AVhen sums are stated 
 in " lawful money," silver is understood to be the cur- 
 rency. Bills of credit, and promises to pay, were is- 
 sued by the Province of Massachusetts Bay, and were 
 in use for nearly fifty years pre\dous to 1740. These 
 bills, " equal to money," had a par value of 6s, 8d to 
 the ounce of silver ; but this currency early depreciated 
 and was subject to a constant!}^ mcreasing discount. 
 
 In 1737, the province authorized the issuing of a 
 new class of bills ; these were kno^\n as New Tenor 
 bills, in distinction from the earlier issues, which were 
 denominated Old Tenor. The terms, "Old Tenor" 
 and " New Tenor," were used merely as a distinction 
 between the old and new issues. By the terms of the 
 New Tenor bills, their value was based upon coined 
 silver, Troy weight, sterling alloy, at the rate of three 
 ounces of silver to the pound — twenty shilliiigs. At 
 this rate 6s, 8d, represented an ounce of silver worth 
 $1.11 1-9. 
 
 At the time of the issue of the New Tenor bills, 
 the Old Tenor had largely depreciated in value, and, 
 by the law creating the new issue, one pound of New 
 
100 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 Tenor was made equal to tkree pounds of the old, but 
 in business transactions, by common consent, as well 
 as by the law authorizing another issue in 1742, the 
 later bills of the New Tenor came to be passed at the 
 rate of one of the new to four of the old. Still the 
 New Tenor was not proof against depreciation, and 
 both sank rapidly, but in nearly the same proportion, 
 preserving theii' relative values of one to four. 
 
 From 1738 to 1744, the current value of Old Tenor 
 varied but little from 28s to the ounce of silver — a dis- 
 comit of about 76 per cent. From 1745 to 1749 its 
 value varied from 32s to 40s, to the ounce of silver ; 
 and after that date it fell to 60s to the ounce, or to 
 about eleven cents on a dollar. 
 
 About 1751, Massachusetts began to redeem her 
 paper money, at its depreciated rates, with specie 
 (received fi'om England in payment for her expenses 
 in the expedition against Louisburgh) and the Old 
 Tenor was redeemed at the rate of eleven of paper to 
 one of silver. 
 
CHAPTEK X. 
 
 EARLY SETTLEKS— THEIR FAMILIES AND LOCATIONS. 
 
 1726-1743. 
 
 In the foregoing chapters we have detailed the pro- 
 ceedings relative to the lapng out and settlement of 
 the Upper and Lower Housatonic Townships, and the 
 formation, in 1743, of the North Parish of Sheffield, — 
 then commonly called Upper Sheffield, — which after- 
 wards became the town of Great Barrington. At the 
 expense of some repetition, we now return to the con- 
 sideration of the early settlement of the town, and pre- 
 sent to oui' readers such facts and circumstances per- 
 taining to the pioneers, their families, and the locations 
 of their dwellings, as are gleaned from records or hand- 
 ed down by tradition. It is difficult to determine the 
 precise date, or even the year in which individual set- 
 tlers came to this place. It is, however, certain that 
 none were here earlier than 1725, and that some came 
 in 1726. 
 
 On this point we have the evidence of the settling 
 committee, whose records explicitly state, — in May 
 1727, — that in the Upper Township "some of ye settlers," 
 and in the Lower Townsliip " many people " were up- 
 on their lands, previous to which date they had been 
 molested by the Dutch, — that is by the Westenhook 
 patentees, — who claimed the lands under New York 
 grants. Further, the patentees of Westenhook, in a 
 memorial to the Governor of New York, asking 
 that their rights might be protected, recite the fact 
 that the Massachusetts men were then — April 1726 
 — beginning to settle here. It may, therefore, be con- 
 sidered an established fact that the settlements in both 
 .Great Barrington and Sheffield were begun in 1726. 
 
102 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 To Matthew Noble, of Westfield, — as we believe, — 
 belongs the credit of having been the first permanent 
 white settler in Berkshii'e County, as he apparently 
 came to Sheffield in the autumn of 1725, and remained 
 through the following winter. 
 
 In the History of Berkshii'e, the Rev. James Brad- 
 ford writes : " Mi\ Obadiah Noble was the first white 
 man that came to reside in Sheffield. He was from 
 Westfield, and came and spent the first winter here 
 with no other human associates than the Indians. In 
 the spring he went back to Westfield ; and in June his 
 daughter, afterwards the wife of Deacon Daniel Kel- 
 logg, returned here with him. She was the first white 
 woman that came into the town. She traveled fi'om 
 Westfield, when about sixteen years of age, on horse- 
 back, bringing a bed with her, and lodged one night in 
 the wilderness, in what is now the east part of Tyring- 
 ham,'' — Monterey. 
 
 This statement, though in the main correct, is nev- 
 ertheless, open to criticism. The writer has been in- 
 formed, as he believes truly, that it was Matthew No- 
 ble — not Obadiah — who first came to Sheffield. Mat- 
 thew was the father of Obadiah, and also of Hannah, 
 — born October 11, 1707, — who became the wife of 
 Deacon Daniel Kellogg, May 13th, 1731. Obadiah was 
 at that time — 1726 — under twenty-one years of age, un- 
 married, and, consequently, not the father of a sixteen 
 years old daughter. And if the pioneer who spent the 
 winter of 1725-6 amongst the Indians, was the father 
 of the young woman mentioned, he certainly was Mat- 
 thew — not Obadiah — Noble. This Matthew Noble, 
 who was about fifty-seven years of age when he came 
 to Sheffield, had a family of six sons and three daugh- 
 ters, all of whom a^^pear to have removed with him 
 fi'om Westfield. Of his sons, Joseph, — the eldest, — 
 settled in Great Barrington ; Hezekiah, Matthew, Sol- 
 omon, Elisha, and Obadiah all located in Sheffield. Of 
 his daughters, Hannah married Deacon Daniel Kellogg 
 of Sheffield ; Hester married Moses King of Great 
 Barrington ; Rhoda married Ebenezer Smith of Sheffield. 
 
 Of the first settlers of Great Baraington a majority 
 were English, several of them from Westfield and that 
 
EARLY SETTLERS. 103 
 
 vicinity, a few were Dutch from the state of New York. 
 We are unable to determine the towns from which 
 some of the famiUes removed to this place. The ear- 
 liest settlers of the town, south of the bridge, were 
 Coonrod Burghardt, Samuel Dewey, Samuel Dewey, 
 Jun'r, Asahel Dew^ey, Thomas Dewey, John Granger, 
 Samuel Harmon, Moses Ingersoll, David King, Steph- 
 en King, Moses King, Israel Lawton, Joseph Noble, 
 Thomas Pier, John Phelps, Joshua Koot, Joseph Shel- 
 don, Samuel Suydam, Lawrence Suydam, Joshua White, 
 Samuel Younglove, Samuel Younglove, Jun'r. Most 
 of these settled here from 1726 to 1730 ; it is proba- 
 ble that none of them came later than 1733. Above 
 the bridge, the forty proprietary^ rights in tlie Upper 
 Township were — in 1742 — owned by sixteen individu- 
 als, several of whom were non-residents. 
 
 The early settlers in that part of the town were. 
 Derrick Hogaboom, Hezekiah and Josiah Phelps, Jo- 
 seph Pixley and his sons Jonah, Joseph, Moses, John, 
 and Jonathan, John Williams, Isaac Van Deusen, Je- 
 hoiakim Van Valkenburgh, John Burghardt alias De 
 Bruer, Hendrick Burghardt. A little later came Wil- 
 liam King, Thomas Horton, Daniel Nash and his son 
 Jonathan, Jonathan Willard and David Ingersoll. 
 These last named appear all to have resided here as 
 early as 1740. To these settlers, or to the owners of 
 proprietary rights, house lots, with meadow and up- 
 land, were laid out by the settling committee, along 
 the valley of the river from the north line of Sheffield 
 to the foot of Monument Mountain ; and a few loca- 
 tions were made west of the Green River, in the south- 
 erly and westerly parts of the town. But with these 
 few exceptions, the settlements were for the most part 
 confined to the valley, and did not penetrate the more 
 remote parts of the town until 1753, or later. In di- 
 viding the lands the compass was but little used ; 
 courses by the magnetic needle were not laid down, 
 and in many instances, boundaries and distances were 
 very indefinitely described. It is, therefore, no easy 
 matter, at the present day, to accurately re-locate the 
 house lots and other lands of some of the settlers. Al- 
 lowances of land were made by the committee, for 
 
104 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 roads, along whieli the house lots were marked out ; 
 but these were not surveyed, nor were theii' boundaries 
 very distinctly defined. After the formation of the 
 parish, Sheffield established town roads following some- 
 what nearly the original locations. 
 
 The earliest highway through the ^-illage, coming 
 from the southward, was substantially the same as 
 now to a point near,, or a little north of the Berkshire 
 House ; here it turned to the east, and crossing the 
 river at the Indian fordway, — east of the foot of Church 
 street, — continued northerly, on the east side of the 
 river, to the place where the old meeting house was 
 afterwards built ; thence it ran east, across the burial 
 ground, to the Bung Hill corner, where it branched 
 towards Three IMile Hill and Stockbridge. For more 
 than ten years after settlements were begun, the river 
 was not bridged, and the fordway, above mentioned, 
 was the only available place of crossing, in the vicinity 
 of the village. No very early mention is made of a 
 road through Water street, but it is probable that a 
 path followed the west bank of the river, connecting, 
 near the bridge, with the road leading towards Van 
 Deusenville, which had been pro\dded by the settling 
 committee. 
 
 In the south part of the village, where the brook 
 crosses the street, north of Mount Peter, a highway di- 
 verging northwesterh' from the Main street, ran west of 
 the dwellmgs of Doctor Clark son T. Collins, and Ralph 
 Taylor, in a nearly dii'ect line to the Castle street hill, 
 west of the Asa C. Russell house, and continued north- 
 erly towards the pond. Castle street did not then ex- 
 ist, and the road we have described continued in use 
 until 1747. 
 
 In the first allotments of lands bordering on the 
 Main street, the land Ij^g between it and the road 
 last described, from the brook to the north line of the 
 premises of Frederick T. AMiiting, was not included. 
 This tract, on wliich now stand the dwellings of the 
 late Doctor Clarkson T. Collins, Ralph Taylor, Freder- 
 ick Lawrence, the late Mrs. B. F. Dm-ant, Theodore W. 
 French, and Frederick T. AVhiting, was afterwai'ds 
 taken up bypitches made by different individuals. In 
 
JOSEPH SHELDON MOSES INGERSOLL. 105 
 
 describing the locations of the early inhabitants, we will 
 first notice those lying south of the Great Bridge. 
 
 Joseph Sheldon, the proprietor of one right, had 
 a home lot of twelve acres and a ten acre lot lying 
 together on the west side of the road, just mentioned 
 as running from the brook below the late Doctor Col- 
 lins' to the Castle street hill. Mr. Sheldon's land, the 
 south line of which w^as in the rear of Ralph Taylor's 
 house, extended along that road about sixty rods, near- 
 ly to the north line of the lot on wdiich Parley A. Rus- 
 sell's* house stands. Here Mr. Sheldon built, and re- 
 sided for several years, but eventually disposed of his 
 right, and appears, for a time, to have lived near where 
 Warren Crissey now does, on the road to Stockbridge. 
 In 1742, Sheldon's house came into the possession of 
 Moses King, who removed to it from the east side of 
 the river. A house, supposed to have been the same 
 built by IVIi*. Sheldon, the remains of which were visible 
 eighty years ago, is known to have stood a few rods 
 south of the dwelling of Col. George Church, near 
 where the raih'oad now crosses South street. Shel- 
 don's homestead included all the present dwelling 
 places on the north side of South street, west of the 
 railroad, and also the home lot of Parley A. Russell. 
 
 Moses Ingersoll, or Ingersole, — as the name was for- 
 ^nerly written, son of Thomas Ingersoll of Westfield, 
 — ^born in 1694, — having resided for a time in Spring- 
 field, removed to this tow^n apparently in 1726 or 27. 
 He was the proprietor of two and one half rights, and 
 owned the land on the west side of the highway, from 
 »the north line of Edward Manville's premises to the 
 Sheldon land, above described, a distance of ninety- 
 foui- rods, and on the east side of the Main street from 
 John Brew^er's northerly to the Miss Nancy Kellogg 
 place, including Mount Peter and the meadow north of 
 it. Mr. Ingersoll's residence was, apparently, where 
 the brick house, built by his son, Capt. Peter Inger- 
 soll, in 1766, and now owned by the Pope family, 
 •stands ; but he afterwards had a dwelling on the east 
 side of the street. He was the "inn keeper" in this 
 part of the town, a large land holder, in comfortable 
 ^circumstances, a prominent man amongst the settlers, 
 
10(3 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 and held the office of parish treasurer. Mr, Ingersoll 
 died about 1750-51 ; (the distribution of his estate is 
 dated July 31, 1751). His wife survived him, and 
 died March 9th, 1772. 
 
 The children of Moses Inoersoll and his wife Cath- 
 
 Thomas, born at Westfield Juue 7, 1720 : died Noyember 6,. 
 1742. 
 
 Eleanor, born at Springfield November 11, 1722; married 
 Captain Stephen Gunn of this town, January 14, 1751 ; died 1772. 
 
 Joanna, born at Springfield February 1, 1725; married Kev. 
 Samuel Hopkins January 13. 1748; died here August 31, 1793. 
 
 Lydia, born (probabl^^ in this town) October 1, 1727; mar- 
 ried William Ingersoll, of this town, afterwards of Lee,) Decem- 
 ber 11, 1746; died in Lee, June 2, 1804. 
 
 Elizabeth, born October 9, 1729 ; married Rev. Noah Wad- 
 hams of New Preston, Conn., Nov. 8, 1758. 
 
 Peter, born May 11, 1733; resided in this town, and died 
 here in 1785. 
 
 David, born March 1, 1730; died young. 
 
 Bathsheba, ; married Rev. David Sanford of this town^ 
 
 afterwards of West Med way, Aug. 4, 1757. 
 
 Israel Lawton, a blacksmith, apparently here in 
 1726, had a house lot of twelve acres, on the west side 
 of the street, next south of Moses Ingersoll. This lot 
 had a frontage on the street of nineteen rods, and in- 
 cluded the land on which Edward Manville now re- 
 sides, and part of the ground connected with the Sedg- 
 wick Institute. Mr. Lawton had also a meadow lot of 
 twenty acres on the east side of the road, south and 
 east of the house of John Brewer, which included the 
 " Island '' formed by the river and cove, — now owned 
 by the Pope family — then known as "'Lawton's Is- 
 land,'' since "Luke's Island," from Luke Noble, and 
 more recently as "Hopkins' Island.'' Mr. Lawton is 
 presumed to have removed from town as early as 1740 ; 
 in 1743 he was a resident of Orange county, Vhginia. 
 His homestead w^as afterwards in possession of Luke 
 Noble, who came here from Westlield m 1743. The 
 site of the dwellmg occupied by Lawton, and by Noble 
 is the same on which Mr. Manville's house stands. 
 From the Sheffield records we obtain the following 
 account of the childi*en of Israel and Rebecca Lawton r. 
 
COONROD BURGHARDT. 107 
 
 Jacob, born October 28, 1726. Abigail, bom January 14, 1728. 
 Sarah,boru December 13,1731. Tabitba, born August 14, 1734. 
 
 Coonrod Burgliardt, or, as by his autograph, Coen- 
 reat Borghg-hardt, the ancestor of a numerous family 
 which has long resided in this town, was from Kinder- 
 hook, N. Y., and settled here a little later than 1730, 
 probably within two or three years of that date. We 
 find him mentioned in the Documentary History of 
 New York as a somewhat prominent resident of Kin- 
 derhook in 1702, and again in 1720 ; and in December 
 of the former year, he, with some of his neighbors, 
 was summoned to appear before the Governor and 
 Council in New York City to make answer to the 
 charge of having employed as clerk — religious teacher 
 — one Paulus Van Yleck, who had been forbidden, by 
 the governor, to preach. In consequence of the in- 
 clemency of the season, Mr. Burghardt petitioned that 
 the matter might be deferred until spring : but his 
 prayer was not granted. The parties summoned made 
 the journe}^ to New York, and appeared before the au- 
 thorities on the 11th of March, " acknowledged their 
 error, and submitting themselves theieon, were dis- 
 charged with a caution to be more careful for the 
 future." (1) 
 
 In or before 1724, Mr. Burghardt, then residing in 
 Kinderhook, being acquainted with the Kou^atonic 
 Indians, and familiar with their language, was em- 
 ployed by the settling committee to purchase the Hous- 
 atonic townships of the Indians. In this business, as 
 by his own statement, he was successful in reducing 
 the money consideration, from j£l,200. the sum asked 
 by the Indians, to £460, the amount actually paid 
 them ; and in the completion of this transaction, he was 
 present at Westiield, acting as interi^reter, and one of 
 the subscribing witnesses to the deed given by the In- 
 dians to the committee, April 25th, 1724. 
 
 In 1725, his services were obtamed by the commit- 
 tee, in measuring a line from the Hudson river to the 
 Housatonic, at the nearest point. For this purpose he 
 went to Albany, engaged a surveyor and fixed upon a 
 
 (1) Doc. His. N. Y., Vol. 3, 538-40. 
 
108 
 
 HISTORY OF GREAT HARRINGTON. 
 
 time for running the line. The surveyor failing to ap- 
 pear, Mr. Burgharclt made another journey of twenty 
 miles, to Albany, and there learned that the AYesten- 
 hook patentees had bribed his surveyor. He then 
 went to Schenectady, employed another and fixed the 
 day for the busmess ; this sui'veyor also disappointed 
 him. Going again to Schenectady he found that this 
 surveyor had also been bribed by the same parties. 
 He then went eighty miles further, to King's town- 
 ship, and by the payment of £5 New York currency 
 secured the services of a third surveyor who, with the 
 assistance of Mr. Burghardt and one of his sons, ran 
 the line. 
 
 In 1726, some of the Housatonic settlers were pros- 
 ecuted as trespassers, by the owners of the Westen- 
 hook Patent. The suits were tried at Albany : and at 
 the request of the settling committee, Mr. Burghardt 
 gave bonds for damages and costs. As the suits, in 
 New York courts, terminated adversely to the settlers, 
 Mr. Burghardt was subjected to much inconvenience 
 and expense in the matter. He was afterwards em- 
 ployed by the committee, or by IMi'. Ashley, to make 
 purchase of a tract of land further north, owned by In- 
 dians residing in the Susquehannah country, 220 miles 
 to the westward. These Indian owners came to Kin- 
 derhook, thirty-one in number, in 1731, and, as Mr. 
 Burghardt says, were entertained for seventeen days at 
 his house "with great fatigue and trouble" to himself. 
 
 In 1741, J\Ii'. Burghardt memorialized the General 
 Court, reciting at length the cii-cumstances above nar- 
 rated, and asked compensation for his services ; and al- 
 though it was shown that he had been in part remuner- 
 ated by the settling committee, the General Court — the 
 next year — granted him a tract of land of two hundi'ed 
 acres, lying (if we mistake not) in the town of Eich- 
 mond, (1) Coonrod Burghardt had a large family of 
 grown up sons and daughters, most of whom came 
 with him to this place. His house lot of six acres, was 
 on the west side of the highway, between the Sedg- 
 wick Institute and the corner north of the cemetery, 
 
 (1) Massachusetts Archives, Book 46; "Lands," page 122. 
 
COONROD BURGHARDT. 109 
 
 and had a front of eighteen rods upon the street. Be- 
 tween this lot and the corner was the house lot of 
 Joshua White, — also eighteen rods in width — which 
 soon came into the possession of Mr. Burghardt and 
 his son John. The small tenement next south of the 
 Sedgwick Institute stands uj^on the original site of 
 Mr. Burghardt's house. Directl}^ across the street from 
 the house, was formerly a deep cu'cular hollow, — now 
 nearly filled up — at the bottom of which Mr. Burg- 
 hardt had his well. The w^ell is still there, but covered 
 with many feet of accumulated rubbish. The mansion 
 house of the Burghardts, a low, Dutch looking struc- 
 ture, with a long roof sloping to the south, was taken 
 down about forty years since. This house, for the 
 space of a hundred years, was, successively, the dwell- 
 ing place of Coonrod, his son John, and his grand-son 
 John the 3d, — familiarly known as Corner John, — 
 whilst the locality was in common parlance known as 
 "Coon's Corner." Corner John, the last of the family 
 occupying the place, — then an old man, — removed to 
 Durham, Conn., about 1835, and died there. Coonrod 
 Burghardt owned tlie meadow, now the Agricultural 
 Ground, and also a tract of two hundred acres, lying in 
 the west part of the town, on both sides of Green 
 River, upon which his son Garret had settled, earlier 
 than 1736. This tract was where the late Jacob Burg- 
 hardt, Esq., formerly lived; and to this Coonrod added 
 other lands, making in all several large farms which 
 were occupied by his descendants. Mr. Burghardt 
 was the proprietor, too, of six rights of 400 acres each 
 in the Upper Township, on which his son and son-in- 
 law settled. He appears to have been the most wealthy 
 of all the settlers, and to have mamtamed an influen- 
 tial position amongst them. He died about the year 
 1750, but, as is the case with most of our early inhabi- 
 tants, no inscribed memorial stone marks his resting 
 place. 
 
 The following record of births of the children of 
 Coonrod Burghardt and his wife, Geesie Van Wye, — 
 married November 12, 1697, — is furnished by Hemy 
 Van Deusen, Esq., from a Bible of the Spoor family, 
 preserved in Sheffield: 
 
110 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 Mary, born January 27, 1698 ; married Isaac Lagrange. 
 
 Hendrick, bom January 19, 1700; died here in 1758. 
 
 Fiche, born November 30, 1702 ; married Isaac Van Deusen. 
 
 Eyche, [Ytie] born Oct. 20, 1704. 
 
 John, born November 30, 1706; Uved on the homestead of 
 Ms father, and died here June 1792. 
 
 Coonrod, born April 1, I7(t8. 
 
 Garret, born April 27, 1710 ; died here August 11, 1800. 
 
 Peter, born January 15, 1712. 
 
 Jacob, born [April 27, 1715.] 
 
 Stincha, born June 10, 1718 ; mamed Peter Sharp of this town. 
 
 (The name of Peter Sharp's wife is written both Stincha and 
 Christine). 
 
 Joshua White, the owner of one right, had a house 
 lot of six acres on the corner north of the cemetery, 
 where WilKain T. Gorham now hves, extending west 
 nearly to the railroad. He also owned part of the 
 meadow — now the Agricultural ground — which he had 
 imder improvement in 1733. Of IVIi". White we have 
 little mformation beyond the bare fact of his having set- 
 tled here. It is probable that he was from the state of 
 New York, and that he came here amongst the earliest 
 settlers. His house lot and right were in possession of 
 Cooiu'od and John Bui'ghardt at a very early date. (1) 
 
 Samuel Youngiove (probably of Suffield, Ct., born 
 September 26, 1696,) — with his son Samuel — locat- 
 ed on the west side of the highway, opposite the Ag- 
 ricultural ground, his house occupying the site of 
 that now owmed by S. O. Dev.ey, — where Harrison 
 Blackmer lately lived. Younglove's home lot was thii'ty- 
 five rods in width on the highway, and extended wester- 
 ly one hundi^ed and fifteen rods, and he also had a 
 meadow of thirty-five acres lying next south of the Ag- 
 ricultural ground. Samuel Y'oungiove, Jr., was the 
 ancestor of the families of that name who have since 
 lived in this town ; but the family name is not now rep- 
 resented here by any male descendants. The childi'en 
 of Samuel Y^oimgiove, Jr., and his wife Abigail, were : 
 
 John, born November 28, 1729 ; died February 9, 1735. 
 Jonathan, born February 14, 1732; settled where Almon 1. 
 
 (1) The name of Joshua White appears on the "roU of the 
 Independent Companie of the Manor of Livingston," Nov. 30th, 
 1715. 
 
YOUNGLOVE SUYDAM DEWEY. HI 
 
 lioring, deceased, lately lived, in the west part of the town, and 
 died August — , 1781. 
 
 Timothy, born September 18, 1734 ; built and lived where 
 William H. Day now does, at the forks of the road west of Green 
 River, and died December 81, 171)6. 
 
 Titus, born March 10, 1 789, settled on Christian Hill, oppo- 
 site the now dwelling house of Frederick A. Burghardt, and died 
 February 28, 17!>9. 
 
 Hannah, born October 28, 1744. 
 
 Mirriam, born February 13, 1748. 
 
 Abigail, the widow of Samuel Youngiove, Jr. , died December 
 1782, aged 83 years. 
 
 Samuel and Lawrence Suydam, said to have been 
 -brothers from the state of New York— Ponghkeepsie 
 — were joint owners of one right, and had lands laid 
 -out to them on the west side of the highway including 
 the homesteads of the late John Tucker and Do(^ 
 tor Samuel Camp— the old Joseph Church place. 
 The house of the Suydams is beheved to have stood 
 where Mrs. Tucker now resides. A very old house- 
 supposed to have been built by them — stood upon that 
 site fifty years ago. Lawrence Suydam died here be- 
 fore the 19th of May, 1731, when administration on his 
 estate was granted to his brother Samuel. Samuel 
 married Janiche Wliite, October 22, 1736, and resided 
 here for some years. David Church came into posses ■ 
 sion of the Suydam homestead about 1750. 
 
 Samuel and AsahelDev/ey, from Westfield, were joint 
 proprietors of one right, and had a home lot of thkteen 
 .acres, on the east side of the way, where Merritt I. \\Tieel- 
 er now resides, on which Samuel had a house standing in 
 1733. At a later date Asahel had a dwelling house 
 which stood about fifteen rods north of Mr. Wheeler's, 
 which he sold to David Stowe in 1769. He afterwards 
 -owned a house which stood on the west side of the 
 street a httle below Mr. Wheeler's, and is supposed to 
 liave dwelt there. This house — which many still re- 
 member — was taken down a few years since. It had 
 been the residence of Barnet Campbell before the in- 
 corporation of the town, then of Zebulon Olds to 1768, 
 and in the early part of this century of Capt. James Ives. 
 
 Asahel Dewey married in 1751, Elizabeth Palmer, 
 and was Hving in town as late as the Revolution. A low 
 Tough stone in the south burial ground furnishes all 
 
112 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 the record we have of his family ; this is the inscription i 
 
 Hear lies 
 
 The Body of 
 
 Elizabeth The 
 
 Wife of Asel D. 
 
 And Child. D. C. 
 
 August 31. D. 
 
 1752. 
 
 Samuel Dewey, Jr., and his wife Elizabeth, were- 
 
 residing here as early as 1730 ; their children, by the 
 
 Sheffield records, were : 
 
 Ehzabeth, born 1730. Thankful, bom 1737. 
 
 Hannah, " 1732. John, " 1739. 
 
 Samuel. " 1736. Ezekiel, " 1714. died in 174S. 
 
 Joseph Noble, who came from Westfield about 1726, 
 — son of Matthew Noble, the first settler of Sheffield — lo- 
 cated on the farm now owned by John B. Chad wick, a 
 mile south of the village. His house, mentioned in the 
 records of the settling committee — 1733, — stood nearly 
 east from Mr. Chadwick's residence, on the then loest 
 side of the highway. The road at that time ran several 
 rods east of its present location. The house of IVIr. 
 Noble, afterwards occupied by his son Eli — was stand- 
 ing within the past forty years. In addition to several 
 tracts of meadow land, Mr. Noble had also a "home 
 lot" of ten acres, laid to his right, apparently between 
 the premises of Joseph Lee and Elisha Collins, west of 
 Green River. He appears to have been an active mail 
 and to have sustained a very respectable position in the - 
 parish. His wife was Abigail, daughter of Jedediah Dew- 
 ey of Westfield, and of their family of eight childi'en,. 
 several were born before their removal to this town- 
 Mr. Noble died February 12th, 1758, at the age of 
 66. Of the children of Joseph and Abigail Noble, 
 
 Joseph, born September 22, 1718, married Thankful Dodd,., 
 and resided in Shefi&eld. 
 
 EU married Hannah Miller, remained upon the homestead of 
 his father and died here about 1797. 
 
 Preserved married Elizabeth Higlistead, resided for a time im 
 this town, on the premises now occupied by George Washington 
 Ferry, on the road to South Egremont ; he was grandfather of: 
 the late Silas Noble, Esq., of Dixon, 111. 
 
 Mary mamed Ebenezer Baldwin. 
 
 Margaret, born here, October 8, 1727, married Samuel Colver^ 
 of this town. 
 
NOBLE DEWEY PHELPS. 113 
 
 Abigail, bom September 14, 1781, was the first wife of Deacon 
 Israel Root, of this town. 
 
 Lydia, , married Warham Lee of this town, Oc- 
 tober 2, 1771. 
 
 The location of Joseph Noble was then — as that of 
 Mr. Chadwick is now — the most southerly of any on 
 the Meadow road, between Great Barrington village 
 and the Sheffield line, as the lands were low wet mead- 
 ows, and unsuitable for dwelling places. Below Mr. 
 Noble's, the meadows were regularly laid out and di- 
 vided among the proprietors, extending from the high- 
 way eastward to the Housatonic River, and westwai'd, in 
 long strips, across "Green River Swamp" to the "Great 
 Hill," as the bluff west of Green River was called. 
 
 Thomas Dewey, from Westfield, settled on the east 
 side of the river, on the farm lately David Leavitt's, 
 where his house was standing in 1733. His meadow 
 lot, bounded south on the Roaring Brook, which was 
 afterwards — 1736 — known as "Thomas Dewey's mill 
 brook." Hence it may be inferred that Mr. Dewey 
 made some improvement of the w^ater powder on that 
 stream. The house lot of Mr. Dewey apparently in- 
 cluded the ground on which the Leavitt mansion stands, 
 and it is probable that his house was in that vicinity. 
 
 It is traditional, and veiy likely true, that a fording 
 place of the river then existed in the rear of Merritt I. 
 Wheeler's house ; but no bridge was erected over the 
 river, near that place, until after 1780. To the south- 
 ward of Thomas Dewey, John Phelps was located ; 
 their lands joining. His house, — mentioned by the 
 settling committee, — as nearly as we can determine 
 from the very indefinite record, stood at the foot of the 
 hill, north of the Orson Tucker place, a few rods south, 
 of Roaring Brook, where Samuel Slate afterwards 
 dwelt. The remains of an old orchard still mark the 
 site. Of Mr. Phelps we have no information; he evi- 
 dently remained here but a few years. The locations 
 of Dew^ey and Phelps were the most southerly made on 
 the east side of the river. 
 
 West of Green River, in the south part of the town, 
 provision was made, by the committee, for a road run- 
 ning north and south, as does the present highway, 
 
114 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 along which house lots and other lands were laid out, 
 and a few settlers established. The most southerly 
 house lot in that part, was that of Samuel Harmon, 
 described as being at the south end of the plain, on the 
 east side of the road. This lot is now a part of the 
 farm of Elisha Collins. Mr. Harmon's dwelling is be- 
 lieved to have stood a few rods south of Mr. Collins' 
 barn, where, in later years, Le^d Lormg — father of the 
 late Almon I. Loring, resided. As early as 1742, IVIr. 
 Harmon sold his place to James Sexton, and after- 
 wards resided in Sheffield, where he died, at the age of 
 70, July 9, 1758. His son Samuel, born April 5, 1740. 
 married Kesiah — daughter of Asahel King of this town 
 — resided in Sheffield, and died January 31, 1830. 
 James Sexton, the successor of ]Mi\ Harmon, settled 
 here about 1742, and was, the next year, one of the five 
 original founders of Mi*. Hopkins' church. He died 
 about 1756. 
 
 To the northward of Samuel Harmon's location, 
 and separated from it by a lot of ten acres assigned to 
 Joseph Noble, was the home lot of Joshua Root, twen- 
 ty-eight rods in width, extending — as did the other lots 
 in that vicinity — from the highway east to the brow of 
 the Great Hill. This too contained ten acres, and is 
 the same on which Joseph Lee now resides. Joshua 
 Root was from Westfield,— born there November 2, 
 1682, — a descendant of John Root, of Farmington, 
 Conn. He was the proprietor of two rights in the 
 Lower Township, and is said to have come here 
 amongst the earliest settlers, probably in 1726 or '27. 
 His dwelhng is supposed to have been on or near the 
 site of the present house of Joseph Lee, which was 
 built by one of his descendants, several of whom re- 
 sided in that part of the town, and gave to it its title 
 of "Root street." Mr. Root died September 28, 1730. 
 His grave in the lower cemetery is the earliest known 
 in this town. A low rough block of limestone marks 
 the place of his interment and bears this mscription: 
 
 Hear Lies 
 
 The body of 
 
 Joshua Root. 
 
 Aged 48. 1730. 
 
JOSHUA BOOT. 115 
 
 A lot of ten acres recorded to the right of Joshua 
 Eoot, bounding north and east upon the highway, is 
 now entirely included in the south burial gi'ound. 
 Wlien this lot was laid out, a reservation was made by 
 the settling committee, of a small plot — only six by ten 
 rods in extent — at its northeast corner, for burial pur- 
 poses. Mr. Root was buried upon his own land, a 
 little south of the plot reserved, as were also many 
 members of his family. It has long been said and be- 
 lieved, that Joshua Root was the first white person 
 who died in this town ; and it is certain that his grave 
 is the oldest knovm, in our cemeteries. Both IVir. Root 
 and David King died at about the same time ; but the 
 date of decease, — as well as the place of burial — of the 
 latter, is unknown. From the probate records of 
 Hampshire county, it appears that the will of Mr. King 
 was made February 5th, and i)roved October 13th, 
 1730, and that administration on the estate of Mi\ 
 Root, (who died September 28th) was granted Novem- 
 ber 30th, of the same year. Hence it may seem prob- 
 able that the decease of Mi\ Kmg preceded, by a short 
 period, that of Mr. Root. 
 
 Joshua Root left a family of nine childi'en, — three 
 sons and six daughters, — all of whom, with the excep- 
 tion of his son Israel, were born before the removal of 
 the family from Westfield. One of the daughters — 
 Ruth — was the wife of Silas Kellogg of Sheffield, and 
 died at the age of 96, in 1818 ; the others removed to 
 more distant places. The sons, Joshua, Thomas, and 
 Israel, remained here. Joshua is said to have resided, 
 where Samuel Harmon originally located, opposite the 
 house of Elisha Collins ; he died here in 1791. Several 
 of his children, earlier than 1800, had emig»;ated to the 
 counties of Tioga and Chenango, New York. Thomas 
 remamed upon the homestead of his father, now the 
 Joseph Lee place. Israel, who was a man of worth 
 and a Deacon of the church, built and lived in the 
 house now Joel Baldwin's, where he died at the age of 
 81, in 1809. He had sons Israel and Joel, the former 
 resided m Cato and the latter in Oxford, N. Y., in 1810; 
 another son — Stephen — was killed in battle at Stone 
 Arabia, in 1780 ; and his son-m-law — Ephraim Porter 
 
116 HISTOKY OF GREAT BAERINGTON. 
 
 — was killed in the Shays fight in Sheffield, in 1787. 
 
 A not uninteresting rehc of Deacon Israel Root is 
 his wolf trap, still to be seen in the edge of a piece of 
 woodland, at the top of the hill south of Joel Baldwin's 
 dwelling. This consists of a hole sunk in the earth — 
 now more than seven feet deep — two and one-half feet 
 square at the top and considerably larger at the bot- 
 tom. Its side walls are of stone regularly laid up, and 
 flaring inward from the bottom to the top. To render 
 this trap effective in use, the aj^erture was covered with 
 Kght brush and leaves, over which a bait was suspend- 
 ed from a pole or convenient saphng. The wolf, in 
 springing to obtain the bait, falling upon the slight 
 covering, was precipitated into the hole beneath, from 
 which, by reason of the formation of its sides, escape 
 was impossible, and he thus became the easy prey of 
 his captors. 
 
 To "William Phelps of Windsor ye 2d," who was 
 the owner of one right, was laid out, amongst other 
 lands, a lot of six acres bounding westerly upon the 
 highway and northerly upon the "Great Hollow." This 
 lot was directly opposite the house of Joel Baldwin, 
 including the ground on which his barn stands. The 
 "Great HoUow," — or as also written the "Long Hol- 
 low," was the same now used by Mi\ Baldwin as a pass- 
 way to the meadows. It was decreed by the settling 
 committee that there should be a highway two rods 
 wide " down ye Long Hollow into Green River Swamp." 
 We have found no evidence that Mr. Phelps ever re- 
 sided here ; and if we mistake not, his right went into 
 the possession of the Root family. Upon the lot which 
 we have described, and within the present barn-yard 
 of Mr. Baldwin, was formerly an ancient dwelling, oc- 
 cupied sixty years ago by Yarre Notewire : but this 
 long since disappeared. 
 
 Thomas Pier, commonly known by his military ti- 
 tle of "Sergeant," had land on the east side of the 
 road, extending northerly from the "Great Hollow," 
 including the present house lot of Frederick Kellogg 
 and the plain land north of it. IVIr. Pier is supposed 
 to have built and dwelt where IVlr. Kellogg now lives. 
 A very old house formerly occupied this site, the resi- 
 
DAVID KING. 117 
 
 dence sixty year ago, of Peyton P. Wheeler, and after- 
 wards of Jesse Ford. This is presumed to have 
 been the origmal dwelling of Thomas Pier ; it was 
 taken down about forty years since. Mr. Pier died 
 in the autumn of 1778. He was the father of Thomas, 
 David, Solomon, Oliver, Ethan, and of Rhoda, the 
 wife of Benjamin Tremain of Egremont. Thomas 
 Pier, Jun'r, at a very early date, settled on the farm 
 lately owned by George G. Pierce, deceased, on the 
 road to North Egremont, where he was living as 
 late as 1785. One of his sons — Levi — removed to 
 Cooperstown, N. Y., as early as 1794. Mr. Pier's house 
 stood a few feet west from the Pierce house. These 
 were all the locations made, west of the Green Eiver, 
 by the first settlers. 
 
 David King of Westfield, — son of John King of 
 Northampton, born in 1681, — was the first inhabitant 
 in the central or business part of the village. His lo- 
 cation was in the vicinity of the Berkshhe House, 
 where his son Stephen — as mentioned beyond — after- 
 wards lived. Mr. King had, in Westfield, a family of 
 nine children, of whom Moses, Stephen and Gideon — 
 the youngest — came and resided here. We have al- 
 ready mentioned the death of David King, which oc- 
 curred in 1730. Three years later, when the records 
 of the settling committee were written, one half of his 
 right belonged to Moses Ingersoll, and the larger part 
 of the remainder, incluchng his dwelling house, was 
 owned by his son Stephen King, whilst a small tract, 
 of ten acres, now a part of the Sanford farm, west of 
 the village, was set apart to the son Gideon, then a lad 
 of eleven years, who afterwards resided in the west 
 part of the town on the Alford road. Stephen King, 
 as we have intimated, succeeded to the occupancy of 
 his father's homestead. The King house lot, of twelve 
 acres, bounded northerly on the highway, — which has 
 been described as running from a point north of the 
 Berkshire House, easterly across the river at the ford- 
 way, — westerly on the Main street, and southerly upon 
 a hollow, — probably the so-called Silver Hollow, south 
 of Mrs. McLean's house, — and with thirteen acres of 
 adjoining meadow, reached easterly to the river. By 
 
118 HISTORY OF GEK\T BABEINGTON. 
 
 additions afterwards made, this lot was extended 
 southerly to the meadow south of the Miss Nancy Kel- 
 logg house. Mr. King also owned on the west side of 
 the street, a lot of ten acres — forty rods square — hav- 
 ing its northern boundary at the center of Castle street, 
 and its southern hmit a httle north of the premises of 
 Frederick T. ANTiitmg. The site of his house is near 
 where the Berkshu'e House stands. Here Mr. King 
 resided until about 1744, when he sold his house, land 
 and right to Aaron Sheldon. Three years earlier, he 
 had bought land — the Alanson Church place — on the 
 road to Green Riyer, to which he removed, and on 
 which he resided as late as 1785. He also at the same 
 time made a purchase of ten acres lying on both sides 
 of Green River, where the Kellogg mill stands. Here 
 a fulling mill was afterwai'ds erected, which ^li*. King 
 — who was a weaver by trade — is supposed to have 
 operated for a time. Of the family of Stephen King 
 we have but little information. The Sheffield records 
 contain the marriage of Stephen King and Widow 
 Esther Miller, March 26, 1752; probably his second 
 marriage. His daughter Abigail — "Nabby" — married 
 Thomas Baker of this town, and was mother of the wife 
 of the late Captain Richai'd Bump. 
 
 John Granger, proprietor of one right, settled on 
 the east side of the river, where lands, including a home 
 lot of twelve acres, were laid out to him, opposite the 
 fordway. The north line of liis land appears to have 
 been where the north line of the Catholic chm-ch pro- 
 perty now is. Granger's house is believed to have 
 stood a few rods south from the house built and owned 
 by Jason Cooley, where evidences of a former habita- 
 tion were visible withm the knowledge of persons now 
 living. 
 
 Moses King, one of the sons of David King, is pre- 
 sumed to have come here vrith his father fi'om West- 
 field, though the eai'hest evidence we find of his resi- 
 dence here is in 1733, when he bought of John Granger 
 his land and improvements on the east side of the river, 
 where he had a house standing in that year, supposed 
 to be the same built by Granger, the location of which 
 is above described. At a httle later date, ^Ir. King re- 
 
MOSES AND \^TLLIAM KING. 119 
 
 sided a short distance further north. In 1736, hie 
 dwelling is incidental!}" mentioned in a survey by Timo- 
 thy Dwight, who describes a monument of stones, east 
 of the liver, in the divisional line between the Upper 
 and Lower Townships, as standing sixty rods north of 
 Moses King's house. From this and other circum- 
 stances we conclude that ]Mi\ King's residence was in 
 the vicmity where Mrs. Thomas Siggins now hves, on 
 the old road leading southerly from the bridge. Here 
 he resided and kept a tavern until 1742, when his pro- 
 perty, incumbered by mortgage, went into the posses- 
 sion of other members of the King family, and he re- 
 moved across the river, to the house which has been 
 mentioned, built by Joseph Sheldon, near where the 
 railroad crosses South street. Moses King died about 
 1751 ; his wife was Esther, daughter of Matthew Noble, 
 the first settler in Sheffield. 
 
 Another family — though not properly classed 
 amongst the first settlers — is that of William King, 
 perhaps a son of William of Northampton, and cousin 
 of David King of this town. This William King is sup- 
 posed to have come here from Westfield about 1740, 
 and to have had his residence at the Bung Hill corner, 
 opposite the place lately Chaiies Pixley's. He was not 
 a proprietor ; was in very moderate cu'cum stances, but 
 was, nevertheless, a man of some consequence in the 
 parish, of which he was the clerk for nine years — 1745- 
 64. He died September 1769, aged 80. His wife — 
 Esther — survived him, and died December, 1773, at 
 the age of 76. IVIi'. King had a family of four sons 
 and one daughter, — Asahel, George, Reuben, Wil- 
 liam and Huldah, — all of whom resided here, and were 
 persons of more than ordinary intelligence. Of these, 
 Asahel, the eldest, had his residence on the east side 
 of the old road, which leads fi'om the bridge southerly 
 between the mountains. His house is reputed to have 
 stood just north of a little run of water which crosses 
 the road ; its locality is still marked by a few antiquar- 
 ted apple trees. Asahel King was, perhaps, as promi- 
 nent as any young man m the parish : he was one of 
 the original founders of the church, and was selectman 
 and assessor in the old town of Sheffield. Mr. King 
 
120 HISTORY OF GREAT BAJIRINGTON. 
 
 died at the age of 36, October 30tb, 1756. He had been 
 the warm friend and earnest supporter of the Rev. Sam- 
 uel Hopkins. The death of John Pixley, another of 
 the original members of the chiu'ch, occiu-red on the 
 day following that of IVIi". King. The loss of these men 
 was a severe affliction to the minister : and the esteem 
 in which they were held by him is expressed in the 
 followmg abstract from his private diary, quoted by 
 Professor Pai'ke in his life of Hopkins : 
 
 '' Monday, November 1, 1756. Attended the funeral of Ser- 
 geant John Pixlej", who died last night about nine o'clock. Asa- 
 hel King and John Pixley were niembei-s of this church, and both 
 friendly to me and the interest of religion, and were some of the 
 most constant attenders on public worship. Asahel King was a 
 man of more than common good sense, and promised to be a 
 useful man in church and state. I and the interest of religion 
 have received a greater loss in his death than we should have 
 received, perhaps, in the loss of any other. I have in him lost 
 my greatest and ablest friend in this place. A prince is fallen 
 and I am weak." 
 
 The wife of Asahel King was Rebecca Nash of this 
 town, (perhaps a daughter of Daniel Nash,) whom he 
 married July 7, 1744. Theii- childi-en were : 
 
 Chloe, married Ehud Hopkins, Esq. , of this town, who also 
 resided in Egremont and Alford. 
 
 Kesiah, bom December 4, 1745 ; married Samuel Harmon of 
 Sheffield. 
 
 Joseph, born April 16, 1747; resided in this town. 
 
 Lucius, born April 16, 1749 ; he became a prominent citizen 
 of the town ; removed about 1 826 to Malone, N. Y. 
 
 Ehzabeth, bom September 7, 1751 : married Lieut. John 
 Powell ; resided in this town and in New Marlboro. 
 
 Asahel, born September 25, 1754. 
 
 Reuben, born August 15. 1756; died January 22, L751). 
 
 Capt. George King, son of AVilliam, had his resi- 
 dence until 1770, on the east side of the old road, 
 on land now owned by the Berkshire Woolen Compa^ 
 ny, about one hundi*ed rods south of the old meeting 
 house, where Lucius King afterwards lived. His 
 house, a small old-fashioned building, standing close 
 upon the road, disappeared thiity or forty years since. 
 He removed, about 1770, to the Bung Hill corner, 
 where his father had previously lived. Capt. Iving, 
 who was a carpenter by occupation, had somewhat of 
 the adventurous in his disposition ; was constable and 
 
GEORGE AND REUBEN KING. 121 
 
 sheriff in early times ; entered the service in the Rev- 
 olution, and died at Ticonderoga, January 17, 1777, at 
 the age of 54. A tombstone in the upper burial ground 
 informs us that George — a son of Capt. George King 
 
 " perished on the East Mountain in this town, in 
 
 April 1777, in the 4tli year of his age." The family of 
 Oai3t. King at that time resided at the Bung Hill cor- 
 ner, and, as the tradition is, were engaged in sugar 
 making on the mountain south of the house ; the child, 
 in endeavoring to follow the workman to the sap-bush, 
 wandered from the path and was lost ; and although 
 the neighbors turned out in large numbers, and dili- 
 g-ent search was made, all efforts to find him proved 
 fruitless. Several months after, his remains were dis- 
 covered beside a fallen tree on the mountain side. 
 Heuben King, son of William, mentioned in early deeds 
 ..as a "trader '' of Westfield, came to this town about 
 1741-2, and jointly with his brothers, Asahel and 
 Oeorge, purchased the farm on the east side of the 
 liver, previously owned by Moses King. He apj^arent- 
 ly had his residence where Moses King had formerly 
 dwelt, fifty or sixty rods south of the old meeting house. 
 He was an energetic man, engaged in trading, and his 
 name — during the few years of his residence here — fre- 
 quently ai^pears in the deeds and real estate changes 
 • of that period. His wife was Sarah Mosley of West- 
 field, to whom he was married October 11, 1742. A 
 stone to the memory of Reuben King, in the upper 
 burial ground, gives the date of his decease 1747, and 
 Ms age 30 years ; but there is reason to believe that 
 his death occurred a year or two previous to that date. 
 This, with other memorial stones of the King family, 
 Tpas erected more than sixty years after the death of 
 JReuben, in accordance with provisions made in the will 
 of his sister, Huldah. After the death of her husband, 
 Mrs. King, with her two children, Bohan and Esther, 
 removed to Westfield. Major William King, son of 
 William, born about 1729, became a leading citizen of 
 the town, and his name is intimately associated with 
 its histor}' during and after the Revolutionary period. 
 He married, January 16, 1755, Rachel, daughter of 
 -Samuel Lee of this town, and died in 1810, leaving no 
 
122 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 descendants. He will be more particularly mentioned 
 hereafter. 
 
 David Ingersoll, (or Ingersole) who was one of the 
 most enterprising men of the parish, in its earlier years, 
 and who, perhaps, exercised a wider influence than any 
 other of its inhabitants, was a son of Thomas Ingersoll, 
 of Westfield, and brother of Moses Ingersoll, who has 
 been mentioned as one of the very early settlers of the 
 town. The first mention we find of David Ingersoll is 
 as a trader, of Springfield, in 1731 ; he w^as soon after 
 a resident of Brookfield, — 1732-4 — and removed to 
 this town, possibly, as early as 1735. In that year his 
 house, near where Warren Crissey now resides, on the 
 road to Stockbridge, is mentioned in the records of 
 the Ux^per propriety, but it is not certain that he was 
 then living there. His first appearance as a prominent 
 man in the settlement is in 1739 : and from that time, 
 for a pel iod of fifteen years, his name is connected w4th 
 most of its busmess interests. He became the owner 
 of five rights in the Upper, as w^ell as a large land- 
 holder in the Lower tow^nship. With an eye to busi- 
 ness, Mi\ Ingersoll, early in 1739, under a title of ex- 
 tremely doubtful validity, obtained possession of the 
 w^ater power, now occupied by the Berkshire Woolen 
 Company, where he built a dam, erected a saw-mill and 
 grist-mill, and also a forge and trip-hammer for the 
 manufacture of bar-iron. These works, which were on 
 the east bank of the river, below the bridge, were soon 
 completed, and in 1740 he made u'on at his forge from 
 ore obtained from the bed east of Lebbeus M. Pixley's. 
 He had also a store and small stock of goods neai' by, 
 and was, for the time, quite extensively engaged in 
 business. 
 
 Mr. Ingersoll built his house in 1739, on the west 
 side of the way in Water street. This house, a low- 
 one and one-half story building, with a porch in front 
 formed by a long sloping roof, stood directly in front 
 of the site of the dwelling house next north of the old 
 Gorham tavern, and pai'tly withm the present high- 
 way. It w^as taken down about 1828, by the late 
 Charles W. Hopkins, Esq., w^ho built the present house 
 standing nearly upon the site of the old one. Here 
 
DAVID INGERSOLL. 123 
 
 Ml". Ingersoll resided for ten years, until 1749, when 
 he sold the house to Deacon Timothy Hopkins, and re- 
 moved to another part of the town. 
 
 Ml*. Ingersoll was the first clerk of the Upper pro- 
 priety, chosen in 1742 ; one of the committee for build- 
 ing the meeting house, and for providing a minister, 
 and is reputed to have donated the land on which the 
 meeting-house was erected. He was the first magis- 
 trate residing within the bounds of the parish, ha\ing 
 been commissioned a Justice of the Peace September 
 8, 1749, an office, at that time, of honor and trust, 
 which conferred dignity and importance upon its in- 
 cumbent, and entitled him to consideration and respect. 
 In his individual as well as ofiicial capacity he was en- 
 gaged in the interest of some of the tenants of Living- 
 ston's manor — who were then presumed to reside with- 
 in the limits of Massachusetts — in their quarrels with 
 their landlord, and incurred the displeasure of Mr. 
 Livingston, who, in a letter to Lt. Gov. Delancey, de- 
 nounced him as "that wicked varlet David Engersoll." 
 He was a captain of militia, and also a selectman of the 
 town of Sheffield. 
 
 Mr. Ingersoll was not permanently successful in hi 
 business enterprises, and in 1755, his mills and other 
 property were taken on execution to satisfy the de- 
 mands of creditors. At about the same time, — August 
 15, 1755, — in consequence of some irregularities in his 
 transactions with the government, in his official capaci- 
 ty as selectman of Sheffield, — tradition says in a mat 
 ter of bounties on wolf scalps — David Ingersoll was, 
 by order of the General Court, removed from the offices 
 of Justice of the Peace and Captain of militia, and 
 thereafter disqualified from holding any office of honor 
 or profit under the government. From this time his 
 influence waned, and his name seldom appears in parish 
 or town history. He afterwards, for a time, resided 
 upon the farm lately David Leavitt's, south of the vil- 
 lage, which he owned in connection with a large tract 
 of land to the southward ; the whole, embracing some 
 five hundred acres, was commonly known as "Inger- 
 soll's great farm." 
 
 The first wife of David Ingersoll — Lydia Child — 
 
124 HISTORY OF GRK\T BARRINGTON. 
 
 whom he married February, 1721, is supposed to have 
 died before his removal to this place. His second 
 wife was Submit Horton, daughter of Thomas Horton 
 of Sj^riiigfield and of this town; she died Nov. 23, 1770. 
 ]VIi\ Ingersoll died March 23, 1773, aged 73 years. By 
 his first marriage Mr. Ingersoll had a son William, who 
 became a prominent man in this town, and after 1769, 
 an influential citizen of Lee, for whom his father built 
 a house, apparently near where Seneca Nodine hves, 
 on Chi'istian Hill, and to whom he deeded land in that 
 locahty in 1714. The children of David Ingersoll, by 
 his second marriage, were : 
 
 Thomas Horton, born June 30, 1740. 
 
 Deodat, born April 18, 1744 ; resided in this town and in Al- 
 ford. 
 
 David, born Sept. 26, 1742 ; a lawyer and magistrate of this 
 town ; went to England in 1774. 
 
 Stephen, born Sept. 17, 1745; died July 1, 1755. 
 
 Sarah, born Jan'y 24, 1746-7 ; married Doctor Barnard of 
 Deerfield. 
 
 Lovisa, born Oct. 14, 1751 ; married William Schermerhorn, 
 Sept. 24, 1774. 
 
 Oliver, born Dec. 10, 1752 ; resided in Seekonk. 
 
 Stephen, 2d, born July 24, 1755. 
 
 The locations which have been described were all 
 in the Lower Township. North of the bridge, in the 
 Upper Township, as we have before remarked, the forty 
 proprietary rights were owned by a few indi^-iduals, 
 some of them non-residents, and as the records of that 
 township were not completed until 1742, — many years 
 after settlements were made — it is impossible to de- 
 termine, from that source, in what year indiA^dual set- 
 tlers came into this part of the town. 
 
 On the Yan Deusen^'ille road, Hezekiah Pheli^s, 
 from Westfield, had a house lot of six acres, on the 
 east side of the way, opposite the present residence of 
 Frederick Abbey. The site of his house, — standing in 
 1735, — was evidently near where IVli*. Abbey's barn 
 stands. He had also a home lot of 100 acres, includ- 
 ing the dwelling place of ^h\ Abbey, extending 100 
 rods southerly, along the west side of the highway, 
 and 160 rods westerly. ]VIi\ Phelps appears to have 
 died about 1746, and eleven years later, his farm was 
 
JOHN WILLIAMS. 125 
 
 in possession of Israel Dewey, who was soon after suc- 
 ceeded by his son Benedict, who built the house in 
 which Mr. Abbey now lives. A home lot was laid out 
 to Stephen Vanhall (or Van Allen), apparently where 
 Jared Lewis resides, but b}^ whom first occupied we 
 have not ascertained, Other lands in that part of the 
 town belonged to Daniel Sackett of Westfield and 
 Aaron Van Dyck of Kinderhook ; these or a lai^ge part 
 of them, were afterwards owned by John Williams. 
 
 John Williams was from Westtield ; originally the 
 proprietor of one right, he became a large land holder 
 and an influential citizen. His homestead included the 
 premises lately occupied by Mark Hollenbeck, and his 
 house, — mentioned in the records 1735 — stood where 
 the Hollenbeck house now does ; the road at that time, 
 and for many years afterwards, ran east of that house. 
 His son-in-law, Solomon Williams, resided upon the 
 place as late as 1781. The proprietors, in 1749, grant- 
 ed to John Williams a mill site on "the old saw-mill 
 brook," — now the Williams river, — on condition that 
 he should erect a grist-mill and saw-mill within one 
 year. Mr. Williams soon after erected the mills on 
 the north side of the stream at Van Deusenville. He 
 was active in the formation and building of the Epis- 
 copal church, and was the largest resident contributor 
 towards its erection. Mr. Williams died about 1775, 
 at least earlier than 1781. His estate, appraised in the 
 latter year, amounted to £1,900; and his then surviv- 
 ing childi'en were : John ; Hannah, the wife of Solo- 
 mon Williams ; Deske, w ife of John Freese of Lee ; 
 Content, wife of Van Deusen, resided in Salis- 
 bury, Ct. Two of his sons, Warham and Bill, had pre- 
 viously died. 
 
 At Van Deusenville a home lot of tw^enty acres, 
 bounding north on "the mill-brook" — Williams River 
 — was set to one of the rights of David Ingersoll, and 
 also another tract of the same quantity on the north 
 side of the stream. This last tract belonged to the es- 
 tate of Bill Williams, deceased, in 1781. These were 
 the most northerly divisions of land made by the set- 
 tling committee, on the w^est side of the river. 
 
 On the east side of the river. Derrick Hogaboom, a 
 
126 HISTOEY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 Dutchman from the state of New York, is rej)uted to 
 have been one of the earhest settlers. He owned one 
 right in the original division of lands, which was in 
 possession of David Ingersoll in 1735. This right of 
 400 acres, part of which was improved, and then occu- 
 pied by Joseph Sheldon, was conveyed to Ingersoll by 
 Aaron Van Dyck of Kinderhook, March 17, 1742, (per- 
 haps in fulfillment of a contract of an earlier date) for 
 the sum of £63, New York currency, equal to$157.50. 
 
 Hogaboom's location was near where the new dwell- 
 ing house of Warren Crissey stands. His home lot of 
 twelve acres bounded southerly upon the highway, 
 which then — and until 1812 — turned east, below ]V]j\ 
 Crissey's house, and ran out by the old Levi Hyde 
 place, now owned by jMi". Crissey. Hogaboom had 
 disappeared before 1735, and we have no further in- 
 formation of him. Further south, where Edson Sex- 
 ton, John H. Hyde and William I. Walker now reside, 
 Josiah Phelps, from Westfield, who was the ow^ner of 
 two and one half rights, had lands on both sides of the 
 street, fifty rods in width north and south. Mr. Phelps 
 is supposed to have resided upon the spot where Mr. 
 Sexton's house stands, and where his son Josiah after- 
 wards lived. Josiah Phelps died about 1760. His 
 son, Josiah Phelps, Jun'r, married Elizabeth Pixley 
 January 1, 1746, aDd had daughters, Anna and Ehoda; 
 the former became the wife of Deacon William Eemele, 
 and the latter married Benajah Dunham. 'Mr. Phelps 
 remained upon the old homestead, and was succeeded 
 by Deacon Remele, who died there at the age of 85, in 
 1832. The Phelps and Remele mansion was taken 
 down by the late William Walker, about 1851, who 
 erected upon its site the house now Mr. Sexton's. The 
 old "roof tree," a stately elm, then cut down to make 
 place for a modern piazza, numbered the cii'cles of 132 
 years at its base. 
 
 About 1730, Joseph Pixley came from Westfield, 
 with a family of eight childi'en, several of them grown 
 to manhood, and settled north of the Pixley Brook. 
 Erom this family that part of the town called Pixley 
 Street derived its name. The descendants of this fami- 
 ly have been very numerous in this town. Joseph 
 
JOSEPH PIXLEY. 127 
 
 Pixley— born March 9, 1676— was a son of William 
 Pixlev of Hadlev. The names of his children, in the 
 order of their births, all of whom are said to have re- 
 moved with him to this place, were : Jonah, Joseph, 
 Abigail, Moses, John, Jonathan, David and Clark. 
 Joseph Pixlev was the owner of three rights, and his 
 son Jonah of one. To these rights lands were as- 
 signed, extending from the Josiah Phelps home lot 
 southerly, on both sides of the highway eighty rods, 
 nearly to the Pixley Brook. These lands included the 
 present dwelling places of the late Lewis G. Ramsey 
 and Lebbeus M. Pixley, and perhaps also those of Mark 
 Humphrey and Jeremiah Atwood. 
 
 In this part of the town the settlmg committee es- 
 tabHshed another highway — never much used — run- 
 ning north and south along the hill, eighty rods east 
 of the County road, upon which the lands of Phelps 
 and the Pixleys abutted eastwardly. The home lot 
 assigned to Jonah Pixley apparently included the prem- 
 ises occupied by the late Lewis G. Ramsey and Leb- 
 beus M. Pixley; and the lots owned by his father lay 
 diTectly south of and adjoining to this. ^ Moses Pixley, 
 son of Joseph, is said to have had his house a few rods 
 north of Jeremiah Atwood's, where his children, Irena 
 and Erastus afterwards hved; he died in 1771. Jona- 
 tlmn Pixley, son of Joseph, and grandfather of Leb- 
 beus M. Pixley, built in 1763, a brick house, since 
 iaken down, upon the spot where the late Lewis G. 
 Ramsey's house stands. He was killed by the over- 
 turning of a load of rails in descendmg the 'hill east of 
 the house of L. M. Pixley, on the day of the battle of 
 Bunker Hill, June 17, 1775. 
 
 One of this family — Isaac Pixley — settled where 
 Mark Humphrey now lives, and kept a tavern there. 
 His house was burned in 1787, and he then built the 
 •old red house, in which David Humphrey for many 
 years resided, which has been recently taken down, 
 ^e burning of this tavern is said to have been incen- 
 diary. 
 
 The selectmen, of w^hom Isaac Pixley was one, had 
 issued thek warrant,— August 3, 1787,— to Ezra Kel- 
 logg, the constable, requiring him to notify several 
 
128 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 persons, who were without visible means of suppor^. 
 to depart the Hmits of. the town ; and the warrant had. 
 been duly served. Amongst those thus warned out of 
 town was one Daniel Forgison and his wife; and For- 
 gison is reputed to have retaliated upon Mr. Pixley bj 
 burning his dwellmg. But the fire was productive of 
 greater disaster than its originator intended, as ome 
 Peter Orcut, w^ho had been engaged in celebrating his 
 twenty-first birth day, and who had indulged too free- 
 ly in his cups, had, that night, been put to bed in the 
 garret of the tavern, where he perished in the flames. 
 Another of the early Pixleys, is supposed to have re- 
 sided where Jeremiah Atwood now does. 
 
 Isaac Van Deusen, the ancestor of a numerous fam- 
 ily, the descendants of which still reside here, 
 came in the spring of 1735, from Kiuderhook, N. Y.^. 
 having five years previously married Fitie — daughter 
 of Coonrod Burghardt. He settled and built a log 
 house, on the west side of the road to Stockbridge, on 
 the bluff south of the dwelling of the late Joseph K«. 
 Pelton, and upon land laid out to one of the rights of 
 his father-in-law. The site chosen for his domicil is 
 one of great natural beauty, and, though not now oc- 
 cupied as a dwelling place, is one of the finest loca- 
 tions in town. The rude house which he first erected, 
 was, in a few years, superceded by a larger and more 
 substantial structure, which having withstood the 
 storms of more than a centui'y, and having been suc- 
 cessively the homestead of three generations of Isaac 
 Van Deusen, was taken down nearly twenty years since, 
 B}' conveyances from Coonrod Burghardt, and from 
 David Ingersoll, Mr. Van Deusen became the proprie- 
 tor of a very large tract of land in that part of the 
 tow^n, upon which his sons were afterwards settled. 
 His sons, six in number, were notable for their uncom- 
 mon stature, the shortest having been six feet two 
 inches, and the tallest six feet seven and one-half inch^ 
 es in height. Isaac Van Deusen was a man of excel- 
 lent character, highly esteemed, and from 1762 to 1770 
 one of the selectmen of the town. He was also one of 
 the very early members of the Episcopal church, and 
 a hberal contributor towards the erection of its first.. 
 
ISAAC VAN DEUSEN. 129 
 
 house of worship. He hved to the age of 91 years, 
 and died January 14, 1796. His wife, Fitie, died June 
 28, 1777, in her 75th year. The childi'en of Isaac and 
 Fitie Van Densen were: 
 
 Jemima, born March 10, 1730; man-ied Mr. Huyck, 
 
 and lived in Lee ; died July 13, 1779. 
 
 Gesie, born August 27, 1731 : died August 29, 1738. 
 
 Abraham, born March 4, 1733; died November 25, 1810. 
 
 Coonrod, born February 4, 1735 ; died December 26, 1818. 
 
 John, born March 19, 1737. 
 
 Matthew, born August 24, 1739. 
 
 Jacob, born July 15, 1741. 
 
 Isaac, born February 18, 1744, 
 
 The sons of Isaac Van Deusen, with the exception 
 of Matthew, remained here, in the vicinity of their pa- 
 ternal homestead. Matthew removed to the Hop- 
 lands, and was an early settler of the town of Lee. 
 Abraham resided at the foot of Monument Mountain, 
 where Jehoiakim Van Valkenburgh had previously set- 
 tled, and where William Van Deusen lately lived. Coon- 
 rod built, in 1771, the stone liouse, still standing on 
 the new road to Housatonic, on the east side of the 
 river, which was for many years the residence of his 
 son, the late Jacob H. Van Deusen, Esq. Previous to 
 the building of this house he had his dwelling near 
 where the barn now stands, a few rods north of the 
 stone house. He died in 1818, in his 84th year, leav- 
 ing three sons, to wit: Deacon Isaac, John C, and 
 Jacob H. ; all now deceased. John built more than 
 100 years ago, the brick house, now the Pelton home- 
 stead, at the foot of Monument Mountain. Jacob, who 
 was not married until 1787, when he was forty-six 
 years old, lived in the north part of the house lately oc- 
 cupied by Enos Ford — the old tavern — at Van Deusen- 
 ville, and OAvned a large tract of land in that vicinity. 
 He had two daughters, Gesie and Fitie, both of whom 
 died unmarried, and one son, — Isaac L. Van Deusen, 
 Esq., who was one of the pioneers in manufacturing in 
 the south part of the county, and who built the woolen 
 and cotton mills formerly standing at Van Deusen- 
 ville. Isaac, the youngest son of the oiiginal Isaac, 
 remained upon the homestead of his father, and died 
 there May 4, 1794. He was succeeded by his son, — 
 
130 HISTORY OF GREAT HARRINGTON. 
 
 known as "Wise Isaac" — who represented the third 
 generation of Isaacs occupying the old house, and who 
 died there at the age of sixty-three, May 16, 1831. 
 
 Jehoiakim Van Valkenburgh, settled first above the 
 mountain, in Stockbridge, where he resided, the neigh- 
 bor and friend of Capt. Konkapot, frequently officiating 
 as his interpreter. His house, — twice mentioned as a 
 landmark in the surveys of Timothy Dmght, about 
 1736, — evidently stood near the road running south 
 from the Stockbridge railway station, and not far from 
 the brick dwelling of Mrs. Ashburner. At the special 
 request of the Indians, Van Valkenbui'gh was permitted 
 to remain there for two or three years after the grant 
 to them of the township, but about 1739, he removed 
 to tliis town and lived at the foot of Monument Moun- 
 tain, where Jacob H. Van Deusen now resides. As 
 his name never appears in our parish records, it is 
 probable that he did not long remain here ; and in 1758, 
 he was an inhabitant of Nobletown, — now Hillsdale, — 
 N. T. He was the ancestor of Robert Van Valken- 
 burgh, an eccentric individual, — the "Doctor Tama- 
 rack" of forty years ago, — and also of Joseph Van Val- 
 kenburgh, still remembered by the old residents of the 
 town. 
 
 John Burghardt, "abas John De Bruer" — said to 
 have been called De Bruer, by reason of his having 
 been, formerly, engaged in brewing, and j^erhaps also 
 to distinguish him from others of the same name, — 
 was originally from Kinderhook. He had settled, at 
 an early date, above the mountain, in Stockbridge, but 
 when that township was set apart for the Indians, he 
 exchanged his possessions for four rights below the 
 mountain and removed thither about 1736-7. He set- 
 tled where Deacon George Beckwith for a long time, and, 
 more recently, Thomas H. Curtis resided, on the road 
 to Stockbridge. Here he had a home lot of tv\'o hund- 
 red acres and large tracts of meadow land along the riv- 
 er. Mr. Bui'ghardt was deceased before 1770, and his 
 son John, commonly known by his military title of 
 " Ensign," built the Beckwith house, it is believed, in 
 1773. Ensign John Bm-ghardt was a man of charac- 
 ter and influence, often serving the town in pubhc of- 
 
BURGHARDT NASH. 131 
 
 fices and committees. He married, before the Rev- 
 olution, Eleanor, daughter of Israel Dewey. His 
 children were Andi'ew, who is said to have occupied 
 the old Levi Hyde place ; Hugo, a distinguished phy- 
 sician of Richmond; Catherine; and Lambert, who re- 
 moved to Kinderhook, and who was the grandfather of 
 the late Garret Burghardt, Esq., of Van Deusenville. 
 Ensign John Burghardt — perhaps seventy years ago — 
 removed to Richmond and spent the later years of his 
 life with his son. Doctor Hugo Burghardt. 
 
 Hendrick Burghardt, the son, and Matthew Goose, 
 the son-in-law of Coonrod Burghardt seem, both, to 
 have dwelt below Monument Mountain between 1740 
 and 1750. Their locations — which we are unable, defi- 
 nitely, to determine — were evidently north of that of 
 John Burghardt. Hendrick was the owner of one 
 right, conveyed to him by his father earlier than Aj)ril 
 1746. Peter Sharp, another son-in law of Coonrod 
 Burghardt, settled where Nicholas Race now^ dwells, in 
 the west j)art of the town. 
 
 The divisional line between the Upper and Lower 
 Townships, — of which we have made frequent mention, 
 commonly called the "Proprietors Line," — crossing the 
 river at the bridge and running easterly strikes the 
 south side of the brick blacksmith shop, north of the 
 Bung Hill corner. To the north of this line, between 
 it and the Pixley brook, a home lot of twenty acres was 
 laid out to the right of David Winchell. This lot in- 
 cluded the present dwelling places of Joel A. Leonard, 
 Samuel L. Dearing, Moses C. Burr, and others. Its 
 first occupant, so far as we know, was Daniel Nash, a 
 blacksmith, from the vicinity of the Connecticut River, 
 who was settled here in 1739, or perhaps a little ear- 
 lier, upon the spot now occupied by Samuel L. Dear- 
 ing. Mr. Nash died March 10, 1760, and was succeed- 
 ed by his son, Jonathan Nash, Esq., — also a black- 
 smith, — who perhaps built, and certainly lived in the 
 Dearing house, to the time of his decease in 1793. 
 Jonathan Nash also built the brick house, on the west 
 side of the street, afterwards the residence of the Rev. 
 Gideon Bostwick, now of Moses C. Burr, which bears 
 upon its front the initials of its builder, I. N., and the 
 
132 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 date of its erection, 1762. He was a prominent man 
 in the town during and after the Revokition, and will 
 be further noticed. Another member of this familj^, 
 Onessimus Nash, presumed to have been a son of Dan- 
 iel, died here September 17, 1745. 
 
 Thomas Horton, the father-in-law of David Inger- 
 soU, came here from SiDringfield, about 1739, and had 
 his residence at the point of the mountain, east of the 
 bridge, near where Mrs. Burt lately lived. Both jVIr. 
 Horton and his wife — Mercy — became members of Mr. 
 Hopkins' church soon after its organization. He died 
 in June 1754, as appears from the chui'ch records, and 
 as his wife was, at about the same time, dismissed, it 
 may be inferred that she then removed from town. 
 Directly east of the bridge, David Ingersoll was the 
 owner of the land on the north side of the present 
 highway, and on the 21st of March, 1743, he conveyed 
 to Deodat Woodbridge of Hartford, "Doctor of Physic," 
 a tract of seven and one half acres extending easterly 
 from the river "fiveteen rods,'" and thence northerly, 
 "fiveteen rods in weadth," to the bend of the river. 
 This Doctor Woodbridge, who resided here for a time, 
 and who is chai*ged on the books of David Ingersoll 
 with twenty weeks' board, — July 1744 — was the first 
 physician of whose residence in the parish we find any 
 mention. 
 
 The tract of land conveyed, was, very soon after, in 
 possession of Jonathan Willard, who built a house upon 
 it in 1743-4, and deeded the laud to Reuben King, 
 July 7th, 1744, describing it as " Whe?'e I live and 
 built a House'' Mr. King — who did not occupy the 
 premises — died soon after, and in the inventory of his 
 estate the property is thus described — '"seven acres 
 and \ and a frame on it on the north side of the way 
 £205." Sarah King, the widow of Reuben, conveyed 
 the same premises — May 10, 1750 — ^'vnth buildings'' 
 to James Root of Westfield, who removed here about 
 that time, and James Root deeded the same land ^^icith 
 the buildings thereon," May 27, 1754, to his brother Capt. 
 Hewit Root, who then established himself as a tavern- 
 keeper upon that spot. Here Capt. Root remained and 
 kept his tavern to the time of his decease in 1788. 
 
JONATHAN WILLARD. 133 
 
 The Root tavern house is now the old brown tene- 
 ment, next east of the iron bridge, owned by Miles 
 Avery ; it formerly stood about six rods further east, 
 and was removed, by Mr. Avery, to its present site a 
 few years since. It may or may not be the original 
 house erected by Jonathan Willard. We have heard it 
 stated that the first house on that spot was destroyed 
 by fire, but we have met with no confirmation of that 
 statement. Jonathan Willard was a mill-wright and 
 carpenter, employed by David Ingersoll in the erection 
 of his mills and dwelling house, in 1739-40. He set- 
 tled here and reared a family. His children were Da- 
 vid, Daniel, Susanna, Mary, Samuel and Catherine. 
 David and Daniel both resided on the Long Pond road. 
 Daniel Willard, — son of Jonathan, — born September 8, 
 1742, married Phebe Freeman of New Marlboro, April 
 15, 1779. He owned and lived upon the farm now 
 Elijah N. Hubbard's, on the road to Long Pond, and 
 was noted for his many eccentricities of character. At 
 the time of his decease, some sixty years since, having 
 no children, he devised to the Congregational society 
 the use and improvement of a large part of his farm 
 forever ; the rents or income to be devoted to the sup - 
 port of preaching. 
 
 W^e have now detailed at considerable length, and 
 with occasional digressions, the main facts which have 
 been gathered relative to the families and locations of 
 the first settlers of the town, — of all who came j)revious 
 to 1743. We have paid but little attention to the gen- 
 ealogy of these families. This subject opens too wide 
 a field of research, and we have neither the time or in- 
 clination to venture uj^on it. The brief notes of a gen- 
 ealogical character, which we have written, though un- 
 interesting to the general reader, may, w^e trust, prove 
 useful to the descendants of those who formerly lived 
 here. 
 
 It is a remarkable fact, illustrative of our changing 
 population, that of the twenty-two /a??i//y 7ianies home 
 by the first settlers, not more than four are now repre- 
 sented in town by the descendants of those settlers, to 
 wit: the Burghardts, Van Deusens, Pixleys, and pos- 
 sibly the Deweys. In addition to the settlers who 
 
134 HISTORY OF GREAT HARRINGTON. 
 
 have been mentioned were some transient persons, and 
 the "straggling fellows" complained of in Mr. Inger- 
 soU's petition; and outside of the limits of the town, 
 but within the bounds of the parish, in what is now 
 Egremont. was Capt. John SjDoor, with his sons Isaac, 
 Jacob and Cornelius. In the sixteen years which had 
 elapsed, from the beginning of settlements to the for- 
 mation of the parish, the increase of inhabitants and 
 the j^rogress of the settlement — attended, as we have 
 seen, by many hindrances and delays — had been very 
 slow. The township was still, to a great extent, a 
 wilderness, some roads had been laid out and streams 
 had been bridged, and a meetmg-house erected, but 
 the few public improvements made were only such as 
 necessity demanded. 
 
 The families we have enumerated composed the 
 parish over which the Rev. Samuel Hopkins was or- 
 dained on the 28th December, 17-43. In the autobio- 
 graphical sketches of his life, written fifty-three years 
 afterwards, in writing of the condition of the inliabi- 
 tants at the time of his coming among them, Mr. Hop- 
 kins says: ''I found they were a small people, there be- 
 ing but about thirty families m the town; that a num- 
 ber of them were poor, and generally they were without 
 any concern about religion, and given to many vices, 
 which an easy country to live in, and living without the 
 steady preaching of the gospel, or public worship natur- 
 ally produces." 
 
CHAPTEK XI. 
 
 ALAKMS OF THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS. 
 
 17 U-S— 1753-60. 
 
 We have remarked ttat uncertainty as to the lo- 
 cation of the boundary Hne between Massachusetts and 
 New York, — the governments of each claiming the ter- 
 ritory now in Berkshire County, — together with the 
 dangers of Indian warfare, incident to all fi'ontier 
 settlements, operated to prevent an earlier occupancy of 
 the Housatonic Valley by New Englanders. The con- 
 troversy relative to the divisional line seems to have 
 subsided about the year 1731, and the settlers of the 
 Housatonic Townships experiencing no further disturb- 
 ance from this source, remained in peaceful possession 
 of their improvements ; and though this controversy 
 was renewed in 1752, it was without detriment to the 
 interests of the settlers. 
 
 From the begining of settlements to 1744, was a 
 time of peace upon our borders, and the inhabitants 
 were undisturbed by apprehensions of invasion ; but 
 in the stirring events of the wars between England 
 and France, 1744-48 and 1753-60, the inhabitants of 
 the parish — occupying, as they did, an exposed situa- 
 tion on the frontier — were deeply interested. The 
 presence of the Housatonic Indians at Stockbridge, 
 whose friendship had been secured by kind treatment 
 and the liberal policy which the government had pur- 
 sued toward them, was a protection to the settlers and 
 operated as a barrier to the devastations and massacres 
 with which the French and their Indian alHes visited 
 
136 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 the more northern settlements. But though thus pro- 
 tected, the inhabitants felt insecure and were often 
 alarmed by rumors of Indian invasion. 
 
 Dui'ing these wars the direct route of communicar- 
 tion from Boston and Springfield to Albany was by 
 way of Tlu-ee Mile Hill and the Great Bridge, through 
 this town, Egremont and Kinderhook. This route, 
 " The Great Road from Boston to Albany," was then 
 an important military thoroughfare in the various ex- 
 peditions towards Lake George, Lake ChamiDlain and 
 Canada, and the passage of large bodies of armed men 
 through the town was a matter of not infrequent oc- 
 currence. Considerable bodies of soldiery were, also, 
 sometimes gathered here, — prepai'atory to marching to 
 Albany — and were quartered, or billeted, upon the in- 
 habitants ; and stores for the army were also from 
 time to time collected here. 
 
 Late in February, 1745, a militia muster was held 
 here for the enlistment of soldiers for the expedition 
 against Louisbiu'gh ; religious services which had been 
 appointed to be held on the same day were deferred 
 on account of the muster. The expedition sailed ; and 
 Louisburgh surrendered on the eighteenth of June 
 following. On the afternoon of the Sabbath, July 7th, 
 whilst the people were assembled for worship at the 
 meeting-house, a post brought the news of the surren- 
 der. The people rejoiced. On Monday the post con- 
 tinued his journey to Albany, accompanied by the min- 
 ister and Stephen King; the i^arty vrere met, '"without 
 the gate," by the principal men of the city, who wel- 
 comed them in; on the next day the messengers were 
 invited into the fort, where the gentlemen of the city 
 were assembled, bonfires were kindled, wine was served, 
 and the messengers were treated with marked attention. 
 
 Such is the account written by the ilev. Samuel 
 Hopkins in his diary, from which we gather much of 
 the material of this chapter, and although the events 
 narrated, are in themselves unimportant, they are 
 nevertheless of interest as the}^ serve to portray the 
 fears, alarms and rejoicings which in those perilous 
 times, stirred the hearts and animated the spmts of 
 our predecessors. 
 
ALARM OF 1745. 137 
 
 A little after midnight, on the morning of the 22d of 
 November, 1745, the town was thrown into a great ex- 
 citement by a report, said to be brought by two young 
 men who had fled from Stockbridge — that "Stock- 
 bridge was beset and taken" by Indians; the citizens 
 were soon after, in some degree, quieted by a contra- 
 diction of the rumor as to the taking of Stockbridge, 
 but the belief remained, and was strengthened by the 
 
 , arrival of fresh evidence, that Stockbridge was in dan- 
 ger, that a large body of Indians was in the vicinity 
 
 . and hourly expected there. Most of the inhabitants 
 fled to fortified places — probably in Sheffield — as did 
 the minister and the family with which he boarded, 
 who found shelter at Elisha Noble's fort (1) in Shef- 
 field; this was so crowded with w^omen and children 
 :that rest the succeeding night was out of the question. 
 This alarm, the foundation of which is not now appar- 
 ent, spread in all directions, and, during that day and 
 the night following, more than a hundred men came up 
 fi'om Connecticut to succor the inhabitants ; but by the 
 
 . arrival of a post from Kinderhook on the 23d it w^as 
 ascertained that the reports which had caused the 
 alarm were false. The Connecticut men returned 
 home, and the people to their dwellings and avocations. 
 But apj^rehensions of danger were still felt ; the coun- 
 try was filled with rumors, and two weeks later many 
 of the inhabitants were again driven to fortified places, 
 b}^ the reported burning of a barn in Stockbridge, sup- 
 posed to have been fired by the French and Indians. 
 
 ..At the time of these alarms, as Mr. Hopkins states, 
 there was no fort in this place. In November, 1743, 
 the General Court ordered a grant of £100 to each, 
 Sheffield, Stockbridge, and Upper Housatonic, to be 
 
 • expended in building forts or fortifying dwelling 
 houses, but w-e do not learn that any defenses w^ere 
 erected here, under that appropriation. The earliest 
 mention we find of a fortified place in this town, is of 
 "Coonrod Bui'ghardt's fort," in the spring of 1747, but 
 
 -of its character or location we have no information. It 
 may be presumed to have stood in the vicinity of Mi*. 
 
 (1) Elisha Noble's fortified house — stood at the north end of 
 ^Sheffield plain, where Jay Shears lately lived. 
 
138 HISTOKY OF GREAT B.IERINGTON. 
 
 Burgliardt's dwelling, north of the lower cemetery, or 
 it may have been simply his house palisaded. 
 
 Another alarm was caused, April 10, 1717, by the 
 report that Kinderhook had been attacked by Indians, 
 and that two persons were killed and eight taken pris- 
 oners. On the next day — Sunday — Mr. Hopkins, as. 
 he records, "preached in Coom'od Burghardt's fort, the 
 people not being willing to go to the meeting-house.'^ 
 In these troublous times, Mr. Hopkins himself did. 
 some service, presumably in the capacity of chaplain. 
 Acting in this matter upon the advice of the Rev. John 
 Sergeant, he went with a scouting party of one hun- 
 di-ed white men and nineteen Indians, which marched 
 fi'om Stockbridge September 30th, 1716, on an expedi- 
 tion to the northward, and was absent until the 25th of 
 December : but beyond the first and second days of hi& 
 service his diary contains no record of his experiences. 
 During the winter of 1746-7 preparations were being 
 made for an expedition to Canada ; about the middle of 
 February, Capt. Williams came here, having "orders^ 
 to provide for the soldiers on this river for their march 
 to Albany in order for Crown Point," and soon after a 
 large number of soldiers was gathered here preparato- 
 ry to theu' mai'ch. These were assembled at the meet- 
 ing-house on the 11th of March, and at their request, 
 Mr. Hopkins preached to them on the occasion. We 
 read m the parish records, March 22d, 1747, that Asahel 
 Dewey was chosen collector "in the place of Stephen 
 King,'bemg enlisted in his Majestie's service, can't at- 
 tend the office." 
 
 The peace of 1748, brought a season of respite to- 
 the people, which was followed by the second French 
 war. In 1754 uTuptions occurred in Western Massa- 
 chusetts, and on the borders of New York, which tend- 
 ed to alarm the inhabitants and caused a general feel- 
 ing of insecurity. The hamlet of Dutch Hoosac, north- 
 west of Williamstown was attacked and destroyed by a 
 large body of Indians, on the 28th of August, and a few 
 days afterwards, — Simday, September 1st — the house- 
 of Joshua Chamberlain, on the hill, near the village of 
 Stockbridge, was attacked by two Indians : a hired man 
 in the family, by the name of Owen, after a \dgoroiis. 
 
Hopkins' letter. 139 
 
 resistance — during which Chamberlain and his wife 
 made their escape, — was killed and scalped. The In- 
 dians also killed and scalped one child, and carried 
 away another, which, — on being soon afterwards dis- 
 covered — they killed. The news of this occurrence, 
 following that of the destruction of Hoosac — greatly 
 exaggerated, and magnified by the fears of the inhabi- 
 tants, was received here while the people were as- 
 sembled for worship, in the afternoon of the day on 
 which it took place. The meetmg was immediately 
 broken up, and terror and consternation prevailed. 
 
 The following extract from a letter written by Mr. 
 Hopkins to his friend, Dr. Bellamy, two days after this 
 event, shows to what a pitch the feelings of the people 
 were excited. This letter is dated September 3d, 1754, 
 and is quoted from Professor Park's life of Dr. Hopkins. 
 
 " On the Lord's Day, P. M. as I was reading the Psalm, news 
 came that Stockbridge was beset by an army of Indians, and on 
 fire, which broke up the assembly in an instant. All were put 
 into the utmost consternation, men, women and children. What 
 shall we do ? Not a gun to defend us ; not a fort to flee to, and 
 few guns and little ammunition in the place. Some ran one way 
 and some another ; but the geuei-al course was to the southward, 
 especially for women and children. Women, children and squaws 
 presently flocked in upon us from Stockbridge, half naked and 
 frightened almost to death ; and fresh news came that the enemy 
 were on the Plains this side of Stockbridge, shooting and killiug 
 and scalping people as they fled. Some presently came along 
 bloody, with news they saw persons killed and scalped, which 
 raised a consternation, tumult and distress inexpressible, many 
 particulars of which Mr. Wheeler, now at my house, quorum 
 magna pars fidt, — can relate, which I have not time to 
 write. Two men are killed, one scalped, two children killed 
 and one of them scalped ; but two Indians have been seen at or 
 near Stockbridge, that we certainly know of. Two Indians may 
 put New England to a hundred thousand pounds charge, and 
 never much expose themselves, in the way we now take. The- 
 troops that came to our assistance are now drawing off ; and 
 what have they done ? They have seen Stockbridge and eaten 
 up all their provisions, and fatigued themselves, and that's all ; 
 and now we are left as much exposed as ever, (for I suppose 
 they are all going.) In short the case of New England looks 
 very dark especially on the frontiers. A few savages may be a 
 terrible scourge to us &c." 
 
 The anxieties caused by these alarms continued for 
 a considerable time, and Mr. Hopkins, in order that his 
 
140 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 family might be "out of the way of fears from the In- 
 dians," moved them to Canaan, where they remained 
 until the last of October. This and other alarms 
 doubtless led to the fortification of several dwelling 
 houses ; one of these is reputed to have stood where 
 Edward Manville now resides, in the south part of the 
 village; and tradition locates another on the farm of 
 Nicholas Race in the west part of the town. 
 
 As a secure place of refuge in case of an attack, a 
 Block-house — called "the fort" — was built, apparently 
 in the spring of 1755. This stood on the west side of 
 the road leading to Van Deusenville, about fifteen rods 
 north of the residence of Frederick Abbey. Its site is 
 still indicated by a shght depression in the ground, 
 and also by a small old pear tree -sA'hich grew near the 
 west side of the building. This was a strong, substan- 
 tial structure, built of square timbers; in size about 
 thii'ty to thii'ty-five feet square on the gTOund, its upper 
 story surmounted by a watch tower. It was loop-holed 
 for musketry, and under it was a cellar; there was also 
 a well near by. This building, afterwards used as a 
 county jail, a small pox hospital in the Eevolution, and 
 later as a dwelling house and mechanic shoj) — was 
 taken down nearly fifty years ago. From among other 
 cii'cumstances recorded by jVIi\ Hopkins we select the 
 following : 
 
 Lord's Day, February 23, 1 755. A great number of Con- 
 necticut soldiers were at meeting, who are going to Stockbridge 
 and Pontoosuk, to build forts and scout &c." 
 
 1755. ''July 9. Heard to-day that the Indians have taken 
 a man and woman, and child, about ten miles to the west of us. 
 It was done yesterday, and one Indian was killed by the hus- 
 band, while he was attempting to cai-ry off his wife a captive. 
 One woman is also wounded. Two or three Indians chased a 
 man about a mile and a half west of my house. Upon this news 
 we think it not prudent to live at my house and have therefore 
 concluded to lodge at Mother Ingersoll's this night." 
 
 The house of Mr. Hopkins was where Walter W. 
 Hollenbeck now resides, on Castle street hill, and his 
 mother-in law — ]Mi's. IngersoU — then lived on the east 
 side of the street south of Mount Peter. Alarms similar 
 to those narrated, were very frequent, and common 
 throughout the war. The first news which arrived 
 
amhekst's encampment. 141 
 
 here of the battle of Lake George — September 8, 1755, 
 — was adverse to the Enghsh, and many men from this 
 region hurried forward to the assistance of their coun- 
 trjmien ; but intelHgence of the victory was soon after 
 received, and on Sunda}' the 14th, it was made the 
 theme of the minister's discourse. The great local 
 event of the war was the march of General Amherst 
 and his army through the parish on his way to attack 
 Ticonderoga in 1758. The troops of General Amherst, 
 at that time, encamped east of the Green Kiver bridge, 
 on both sides of the road leading to Egremont ; and 
 the late venerable Moses Hopkins, Esq., — then a lad of 
 seven years — well remembered riding over on horse- 
 back wdth his father, to see the General and his army. 
 Within the knowledge of the writer, musket balls in 
 considerable quantity, supposed to be relics of this en- 
 campment, have twice been plowed up on the meadows 
 of J. M. Mackie in that vicinity. 
 
 In 1755, December 5th, Mr. Hopkins records "More 
 than twenty soldiers lodged at my house last night, on 
 their return from the camp at Lake George, and a 
 number are here again to-night." And again, "Lord's 
 Day, March 16th, 1756, A great number of soldiers at 
 meeting, both forenoon and afternoon, who are on their 
 march to Crown Point. Two captains and their com- 
 panies desire prayers in their behalf this afternoon." 
 The small pox, the great scourge of the army, was oc- 
 casionally brought here by the soldiers, some of whom 
 died here. Tomb stones marking the graves of two of 
 the victims of this disease, are to be seen in the south 
 burial ground. The inscriptions are as follows: 
 
 "Lt. Davenport Williams, son of Kev. Stephen Williams of 
 Springfield, who on his return from the army, died at Sheffield 
 Oct. 18th, 1758, in the 28th year of his age." 
 
 ' ' Mr. Oliver Chapin, son of Lt. Noah Chapin of Somers, who 
 on his return from the army, died at Sheffield Dec. 7th, 1758, in 
 the 20th year of his age." 
 
 Others w4io died here in that same campaign, are 
 presumed to have been buried in proximity to those 
 named above, though no monumental stones mark their 
 graves. A hospital was established here, in which sev- 
 enteen soldiers died in less than a year in 1756-57 — 
 
142 HISTORY OF GREAT HARRINGTON. 
 
 (Judd's Histoiy of Hadle3\) Capt. Stephen Gimn, said 
 to have been a soldier in the French war, and who re- 
 sided where Ralph Taylor now does, died of the small 
 pox November 11, 1759, and was bmied a few rods 
 west of his dwelling house. The exact spot of his in- 
 terment is unknown, though his tombstone — broken 
 down more than sixty years ago — is still preserved 
 upon the premises. Pest houses, for the reception and 
 oare of those taken with the small i)Ox, were established 
 in out of the way places. One of these is reputed to 
 have stood near the old marble quany, on the farm of 
 J. M. Mackie, three-foui'ths of a mile north of the 
 bridge over Green River, and some persons are known 
 to have died there and to have been buried near by. 
 
 The wars with the French and Indians were the 
 schools m which many of the officers and soldiers after- 
 wards conspicuous in the Revolution, acquiied that 
 mihtary experience and training without which the final 
 success of the Americans in the unequal contest with 
 Great Britain, would have been impossible. 
 
 AYe have gathered but little information as to the 
 service performed by the inhabitants of the parish in 
 the French and Indian wars ; but from a cursory ex- 
 amination of the rolls of soldiers in these wars, in the 
 office of the Secretary of State at Boston, it appears 
 that Sheffield was well represented in the various expe- 
 ditions of 1755-8, and that the North Parish in propor- 
 tion to its population furnished very respectable quotas 
 of men. Thus we find the following names of resi- 
 dents of the North Parish doing service in a Sheffield 
 company in the campaign of 1755 : John Pixley, Sam- 
 uel Younglove, William King, Jr., David Pier, WiUiam 
 3runson, Samuel Dewey, Jr., Moses Olds; in 1756 — 
 John Shevalee, Samuel Dewey, Samuel Dewey, Jr., 
 Moses Olds, David Pier, Timothy Younglove, WiUiam 
 Brunson, William [Bill] WiUiams, Peter IngersoU, 
 David Walker, [AValter] Ohver AYatson. Amongst the 
 field and staff officers of Col. Joseph Dwight's regi- 
 ment in the expedition against Crown Point in 1756, 
 we have Doct. Samuel Breck — of the North Parish — 
 surgeon, and EHjali Dwight, afterwards of this town, 
 commissary of the hospital. 
 
SOLDIERS. 143 
 
 In an account of the men of Capt. Joseph Dwight's 
 -company — for he was Capt. of the first company as 
 well as Colonel of the regiment — dated Fort William 
 Heni'y, October 11, 1756, the following appear from the 
 North Parish: John Pixley, Sergt., "sick at Albany." 
 Ohver Watson, "sick at Albany." Moses Old, "gone 
 to Albany, w^ounded ; "William King. In two rolls of 
 the company of Capt. Benjamin Day, in the "Regiment 
 for the Reduction of Canada" — William Williams, Col., 
 in service from April to October, 1758, we identify the 
 following from the North Parish : Lieut. George 
 King, David Ingersoll, Titus Youngiove, Eli Noble, 
 -Oliver Watson ^^emprest May ^d^ joined the army l^th 
 JSept.,^' Jonathan Pixley, Daniel Morris. 
 
 On their return from these expeditions large bodies 
 of soldiery frequently passed through the parish ; and 
 in one of the books of French war rolls — No. 96, page 
 360 — appears the billeting bill of Aaron Sheldon, (who 
 kept a tavern where the Berkshii-e House stands); for 
 1126 meals at 6d each furnished the passing soldiers 
 on then* return home in 1758, and for nursing several 
 sick soldiers, one of whom died in his care. 
 
CHAPTER XII. 
 
 GREAT BARKINGTON AS THE NORTH PARISH OF 
 SHEFFIELD. 
 
 1743— 17V 1. 
 
 The country, into ^Ybicll the pioneers of 1726 en- 
 tered with their famihes and such scanty household 
 goods as the}^ were able to transport through the woods, 
 was an unbroken wilderness. The mountains and up- 
 lands were covered with a heavy growth of timber, and 
 the lowlands, bordering upon the streams were for the 
 most part swamps and morasses. The rivers in many 
 places obstructed with chift-wood and fallen trees, 
 spread their waters over a wide area. The mountains 
 were the homes of wild beasts ; bears, wolves and deer 
 were common, and the smaller animals abounded. 
 
 Save the intricate bridle path which formed the 
 means of communication between the Connecticut River 
 Valley and the settlements on the New York border, no 
 roads crossed this wide expanse : and for many years 
 after the commencement of settlements there were no 
 towns nearer than Claverack and Kinderhook on the- 
 west, or Westfield on the east. And so late as 1735, 
 when the first road from Westfield to Sheffield was cut 
 through the forest, there was but one house on the 
 route, and that in Blandford fifteen miles this side of 
 Westfield. (1) Few of the early settlers possessed an 
 
 (1) The route from Hartford and Springfield towards Albany was 
 then as it very long had been, through Westfield. Blandford, Otis^ 
 Monterey, Great Barrington, and Egreniont to Kinderhook. 
 The road of 173.^, following somewhat nearly this route, became 
 a Count}' road in 1754, and was called " the Great Road from 
 Boston to Albany." In the Spring of 1737 ten inhabitants of 
 Sheffield and Stockbridge ( six of them of the North Parish) 
 petitioned the Legislatui-e, stating that they, in the preceding 
 winter, had "at their own expense made a sleigh road f rom - 
 Sheffield to New Glascow" (Blandford) over which "more than 
 twenty well loaded sleighs passed and repassed to and from* 
 Westfield, " and asked for remuneration. 
 
CONDITION OF INHABITANTS. 146 
 
 abundance of worldly goods ; none were rich ; some of 
 them were poor. Their lands cost them but a nominal 
 sum — five dollars per hundred acres ; and the prospect 
 of obtaining good land at a low rate, coupled with the 
 love of adventure and that inherent desire for change 
 which characterizes the New Englanders, was the in- 
 ducement which led them hither. 
 
 Amongst these first inhabitants were no liberally ed- 
 ucated men ; all were from the common walks of life. 
 But that strong common sense, and that superior edu- 
 cation acquired by observation and experience rather 
 than from books, which, better than the training of 
 colleges and schools, fitted them to encounter and en- 
 dure the privations and hardships of frontier life, was 
 not wanting among them. With the erection of saw- 
 mills, and increase of means, the dwellings of the set- 
 tlers — at first of logs — gave place to more commodious 
 framed structures; and houses sided with plank and 
 clap-boarded were common during the last century. 
 These were called plank houses. 
 
 Brick were doubtless made in several places where 
 deposits of clay, suitable for the purpose were found ; 
 but the first brick-kiln of which we have knowledge, 
 was on the west side of the river, east of the highway 
 and north of the house of James H. Beckwith. Here 
 brick were burned in 1763, and probably much earlier ; 
 and a kiln has been m use at the same spot within the 
 past fifty years. Limestone was abundant, from which 
 the settlers easily supplied themselves with the lime 
 needed for their buildings. A lime kiln, the first of 
 which we have knowledge, stood upon the hill west of 
 Parley A. Russell's house, from which the land in that 
 vicinity came to be known as the " Lime Kiln Lot" at 
 a very early date. Thus we read in the Proprietors' 
 records' — March 1749 — of a tract of ten acres laid out 
 to the Rev. Samuel Hopkins " to correct an eiTor in 
 the Lime Kiln Lot." The business of the parish so far 
 as obtaining such supplies as the industry of its in- 
 habitants was incompetent to produce, was for the 
 most part with Kinderhook ; but after the opening of 
 the road of 1735, communication with Westfield and 
 Springfield was not infrequent. 
 
146 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 The requirements of the people were simple ; tlieir 
 liabits and style both of dress and living were inex- 
 pensive, and were necessarily Hmited by a want of 
 means, of which none possessed a surplus. Their 
 household manufactures furnished most that was re- 
 quired for clothing, and the products of theu^ lands 
 sufficed for provisions. The various mechanical in- 
 dustries were well represented ; carpenters, black- 
 smiths, shoemakers, and tanners were amongst the 
 early inhabitants, and many were capable of turning 
 their hands to any ordinary employment. The active 
 men in the conduct of parish business in the earliest 
 years of its existence, and whose names appear most 
 frequently on the parish records, were David and 
 Moses Ingersoll, Josiah Phelps, Jonah Pixley, Joseph 
 and Luke Noble, Daniel Nash and Aaron Sheldon. 
 
 Previous to the formation of the parish, we find in 
 the records of Sheffield frequent mention of individual 
 inhabitants of the north part of that town, some of 
 whom were occasionally chosen to town offices ; thus : 
 
 1734. Joseph Noble and Samuel Dewey a committee to build a 
 bridge over the Green River near the Indian Land ; 
 
 1735. Moses King chosen fence viewer; 
 
 1736. Moses Ingersoll chosen constable and highway surveyor; 
 Thomas Pier tythingman ; 
 
 1737. Coonrod Burghardt and his sons acquitted from the 
 payment of minister's rates ; 
 
 1739. David Ingersoll appointed to obtain town weights and 
 measures. After the annexation of the North Parish to Sheffield. 
 17^3. Asahel King selectman and assessor ; Hewit Root hog 
 reeve ; 
 
 1754. David Ingersoll selectman, Luke Noble constable ; 
 
 1755. Stephen Gun fence viewer; 
 
 1756. Timothy Hopkins selectman ; 
 
 1758. Joseph Dwight, selectman and moderator. 
 
 Schools. 
 
 Previous to the incorporation of the North Paiish, 
 schools were to some extent maintained by the town 
 of Sheffield in that part of the parish which hes south 
 of the Great Bridge, and there is some reason to sup- 
 pose that a schooll^ouse had been built in that part of 
 
SCHOOLS. 147 
 
 the town. But in the Tipper Township no pubHc pro- 
 visions w^ere made for schoohng though it is probable 
 that schools w^ere maintained by private enterprise. 
 
 In 1740, Sheffield provided for a school to be kept 
 in the upper part of the town ; and in 1743 having 
 raised the sum of £35 Old Tenor for schools, voted 
 that the "Inhabitants of the town of Sheffield dwelling 
 north of the Indian Land or Beech Tree, (1) shall have 
 the benefit of di'awing the money they are assest, pro- 
 vided they put it to the use of schooling.'''' This pro- 
 vision seems to coiit ey a gentle insinuation that the 
 people living north of the "Beech Tree'' took no great in- 
 terest in the matter of education. From 1743 forward, 
 the North Parish shared equally with other sections of 
 the town of Sheffield, in all appropriations made by the 
 town for the support of schools, and the inhabitants of 
 the parish were treated with as much liberality as were 
 those of other parts of the town. But these appropri- 
 ations were small, made at uTegular intervals, and the 
 schools were consequently' irregularly kept. The sparse 
 population was scattered over so large an area that the 
 children could not be conveniently assembled at any 
 one place for instruction ; school-houses had not been 
 built in different parts of the parish, and the appropri- 
 ations made for schooling were inadequate to the em- 
 ployment of a number of teachers. The custom then 
 prevailed — which was continued in later years — of 
 gathering the children of a certain section at some 
 dwelling house, or other place conveniently located for 
 the purpose, where they were taught for a stated length 
 of time ; at the expiration of this period the teacher 
 removed to another part of the parish, where the 
 children from that part were assembled and instructed ; 
 by this method the children enjoyed nearly equal ad- 
 vantages ; the teacher itinerated, and one " master, 
 mistress or dame" sufficed for nearly the whole of the 
 parish. 
 
 In April 1744, Sheffield granted £30 Old Tenor for 
 a school in the North Parish, and appointed Moses In- 
 
 (1.) The Beech tree — a boundary in the south line of the 
 parish. 
 
148 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON, 
 
 gersoU, Jonah Pixley and Isaac Van Deusen a commit- 
 tee "to see that there is a school-master or school- 
 mistress or dame provided, and also to see it be kept 
 in such places as shall be thought necessary and con- 
 venient in said Parish." Again the next year, Sheffield 
 appropriated £50 Old Tenor for the support of schools 
 in the North Parish and appointed a committee of the 
 parish to see that the money was properly expended. 
 In 1752, a grammar school was provided for by the 
 town of Sheffield, to be kept four months in the Upper 
 Parish, five months in the middle and three months at 
 the south end of the town. In 1753, provision was 
 again made for a grammar school to be kept in each, 
 the Upper Parish, the middle and south parts of the 
 town. In several of the years in which the parish 
 formed a part of Sheffield, no appropriations for the 
 support of schools were made, and if such were main- 
 tained, it may be presimied to have been done by volun- 
 tary contribution of the inhabitants. 
 
 But few votes, passed by the parish relating to 
 schools are recorded. Jonathan Willard, Jun'r was 
 allowed — March 9, 1748 — "twenty shillings Old Tenor 
 for making table for the school.'' In 1752 it was voted 
 "to divide the school, one at Younglove's, the other at 
 John Burghardt's house or thereabouts." Young- 
 love's was Samuel Younglove opposite the Agricul- 
 tural ground, and south of the cemetery ; " John 
 Burghai'dt's" was the old Beckwith house on the road 
 to Stockbridge. From these votes, and the expression 
 "the school'' it may be inferred that but one school 
 was then regularly maintained. The earliest school- 
 house, of which we have positive information, seems to 
 have been built in 1748. No vote authorizing its erec- 
 tion is found ; but that it was built, and at the expense 
 of the parish, appears from the following from the 
 palish records, December 22d 1748: 
 
 "Voted to give fifteen shilliugs Old Tenor, to those men that 
 built the school house ; fifteen shillings per day each man, and 
 withal to pay for the Glass, Nails and Plates, and Beams, and 
 Posts, Boards, Hooks, Hinges at a reasonable rate." 
 
 March 28, 174:9. " Voted to John Pixley one pound old Tenor 
 for making School-House Hearth." 
 
 Oct. 27, 1749. "Vot. to Sergeant Henry Borghghardt for 
 
FIRST SCHOOL-HOUSE. 149 
 
 four boards for the School House teen shillings old tenor," also 
 "to Josiah Phelps, Lime, Boards and work to the school twenty- 
 two shilhngs old tenor." 
 
 The location of this school-house is now unknown ; 
 but it is not improbable that it stood on the east bank 
 of the river a short distance south of the Great Bridge. 
 This spot was then central with reference to popular- 
 tion, and was the site of a school-house for many years 
 of the last and early part of the present century. 
 
 We have remarked that there is some reason for 
 supposing that an earlier school-house was standing, 
 built perhaps before the parish had an existence. In 
 June, 1757, the parish voted "to sell the old school 
 house at a vendue," and appointed Israel Dewey to 
 make the sale. The house was accordingly sold, and 
 for the sum of eighteen shillings^ as appears from the 
 records of the next year, when the parish directed 
 "that the eighteen shillings, the old school-house was 
 sold for, be laid out on the Parish Meeting-House by 
 the meeting-house committee." The school-house erect- 
 ed in 1748, was then standing and no other had since 
 been built. The expression — twice used in the record 
 — "the old school-house," indicates that another, and 
 older house, than the one built in 1748, was then stand- 
 ing. It is also evident, from the paltry sum for which 
 this house was sold, that it was older, more dilapidated 
 and less valuable than the house built in 1748, could have 
 become in nine years' time. Further, foui' years later, 
 in 1761, the town of Great Barrington, then recently 
 incorporated passed a vote "that the school for the 
 present be kept in the school-house now built,'''' from 
 which we infer that there was one and hut one school- 
 house then standing, and that this was the house which 
 was built in 1748. We may therefore conclude that the 
 house sold in 1757 was in existence previous to the in- 
 corporation of the parish. It is to be presumed that it 
 was built under the auspices of the town of Sheffield, 
 and that its location was south of the Great Bridge, — 
 probably in the south part of the present village. 
 Highways. 
 
 In making provisions for highways in the Lower 
 Township, the settling committee left lands for that 
 
150 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 pui'pose in such places as tliey thought needful ; and, 
 in dividing the lands, they made allowance in the 
 measure " so that the town is not to be at any charge 
 for paying for the land upon which the highways shall 
 go." They also decreed that m the meadow lands the 
 highways should be but two rods, and in the uplands 
 but four rods in width. But no surveys or records of 
 these highways were made, and it is to be presumed 
 that many of the earlier roads — mere paths at first — 
 became such by virtue of occuj^ancy and use. These 
 highways were afterwards laid out and recorded by the 
 town of Sheffield, and new ones were from time to time 
 established as the necessities of the mhabitants re- 
 quired. But as neither courses or distances are defini- 
 teij given in the records of the earlier highways, it 
 is in some instances, difficult to determine their loca- 
 tions. On the meadow road to Sheffield, the first 
 bridge over the Green River of which mention is found, 
 was built in 1734, by Joseph Noble and Samuel Dewey, 
 who were appointed by the town of Sheffield to over- 
 see the work, and on the road leading to Egremont the 
 Green River was bridged as early as 1742. An early 
 path, through the southerly part of the village, which 
 crossed the river near the foot of Church street, has 
 been mentioned. In March, 1737, the town of Sheffield 
 accepted a report made by its selectmen of the first road 
 regularly laid out through this part of the Main street 
 of the village. This was substantially the present 
 meadow road between Great Barrington and Sheffield ; 
 coming from the southward, it ran "northerly to the 
 fence at the northwest corner of Joseph Sheldon's 
 meadow lot, and from thence runnmg as the fence now 
 is till it comes to the top of the hill (1) above Samuel 
 Younglove's, to a Bush marked, and from thence run- 
 ning to the upper side of Joshua AMiite's right (2) to 
 a pine stump marked, and from thence strait to 
 Moses lugersole (3) by the fence up to the Brook (4) 
 
 (1) The hill opposite the south burial ground. 
 
 (2) The upper side of Joshua White's right ; ISi-ods north of 
 the corner by the burial ground. 
 
 (3) Moses Ingersole ; where Ebeuezer Pope lately dwelt. 
 
 (4) The brook which crosses the road south of the late Dr. 
 Collins' stone cottage. 
 
HIGHWAYS. 151 
 
 to a black oak tree marked, and running by marked 
 trees west of StejDlien King's barn (1) to a pine tree 
 marked, and from thence to a stump and stones, and 
 so turning easterly, so running to the River and there 
 a Pine tree marked, then crossing the River to a white 
 tree marked, so running northerly to a Heap of Stones, 
 (2) it being a monument between this town and the 
 upper town." This highway from its beginning to the 
 "top of the hill above Youngiove's" was laid out four 
 rods wide; from that point to the "Great Hollow" in 
 front of Ralph Taylor's house, it was eight rods wide ; 
 and from thence to its northern terminus it had the 
 liberal width of ten rods. Down to about this time 
 the river was not bridged, and the crossing place was 
 at the fordway — the same w^hich had been in use from 
 the commencement of settlements, — where the "path 
 by the Great Wigw^am," mentioned by the settling com- 
 mittee, had existed for untold years. After crossing 
 the river it continued — as the path had formerly been 
 — along the east bank of the stream to the divisional 
 line between the townships. The road through Water 
 street, which had been in use several years before the 
 river was bridged, was laid out by the selectmen of 
 Sheffield, and confirmed by the town in March 1745. 
 This road began at a heap of stones, about sixty rods 
 north of Moses King's, (3) — near where the Berkshire 
 House stands — and ran northerly to a point near the 
 spring, (4) at the foot of the hill in Water street — and 
 thence north-easterly to a corner of the stoop of David 
 Ingersoll's house (5) and continued in that direction to 
 
 (1) Stephen King's barn stood near where the Berkshire 
 House does. 
 
 (2) This heap of stones, was 60 rods north of Moses King's 
 house, and a little east of the Great Bridge ; a land mark in the 
 divisional Hne of the townships occasionally referred to in early 
 surveys. 
 
 (3) Moses King had then removed — from the east to the west 
 side of the river — to the house built by Joseph Sheldon, near 
 where George Church now lives. 
 
 (4) This spring, frequently mentioned in early records, was a 
 short distance north of the residence of the late Gideon M. Whiting. 
 
 (5) A corner of the stoop of Ingersoll's house, is mentioned 
 as a boundary in all the records of this road made previous to 
 1829. 
 
152 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 the town line, thence easterly across the river '■'•where 
 the Bridge now stands" to the corner of the mountain. 
 This road was laid eight rods in width, and from the 
 spring northerly bounded east on the river. On the 
 east side of the river Da\id Ingersoll's iron works and 
 coal shed, near the bridge, stood within the eight rods 
 hmit of the highway, and by special provision, were 
 permitted to remain there. At the same time with the 
 establishment of this highway, the road leading north- 
 erly from the fordway, along the east bank of the river, 
 was discontinued, as a bridge had then been built over 
 the river which rendered the further use of this road 
 unnecessary. 
 
 The earliest mention which we find of this bridge — 
 "The Great Bridge" — as a pubhc work is in the Shef- 
 field records, March 7th, 1737, when it was voted to 
 repair the Great Bridge by highway work, and in a deed 
 of land lying in that vicinity dated March 27, 1739, 
 mention is made of the "highway (now Water Street) 
 leaMng to the bridge.'''' And again, April 23, 1744, the 
 town of Sheffield appropriated "Fifty Pounds Old 
 Tenor for defraying the charge of building a bridge 
 over the River at David Ingersoll's mills." 
 
 The road — mentioned in a former chapter — wliich 
 had been provided by the settling committee, running 
 from the brook south of the residence of the late 
 Doctor Collins, northerly to the Castle street hill, near 
 the late residence of Asa C. Russell, was made a town 
 road by the town of Sheffield, March 15, 1745 ; begin- 
 ning " by a white oak tree by the Brook, from thence 
 running northerly [to] a black Oak Bush, from thence 
 running northerly into the Upper Town a top of the 
 Hill east of the pond." This highway which was four 
 rods wide, was discontinued in March, 1747, and the 
 road — now called Castle street — was then established. 
 In lajdng the Castle street road, land was taken from 
 the north line of Aaron Sheldon's ten acre lot, and as 
 a compensation jDart of the discontinued road was given 
 to him. But as the discontinuance of the old road was 
 expected to discommode Moses Ingersoll, provision 
 was made that he should " during his natural life, pass 
 and repass with slays and sleds from the 15th day of 
 
ROAD EAST OF VILLAGE. 153 
 
 ^December to the first day of March annually, ye said 
 Sheldon finding Draw Bars — said Sheldon consenting 
 to ye same." 
 
 On the east side of the river, a path — perhaps co- 
 eval with the settlement of the country — led from the 
 old meeting house, southerly, between the mountains. 
 This path, along which some settlers had early estab- 
 lished themselves, was, by a vote of the town of Shef- 
 field, in 1749, made a pent road of tAvo rods in width, 
 W'ith gates or bars, and with the proviso that " No per- 
 son or persons shall have any demand upon the town 
 for any satisfaction therefor." In process of time the 
 gates and bars, if such there w^ere, disappeared, the 
 road became a public highway' by virtue of use and oc- 
 cupancy, and was a great convenience as a means of 
 Kiommunication between the upper and lower parts of 
 the town, especially in time of freshets, which often in- 
 undated and destroyed the bridges on the river. In 
 later years a portion of it was again made a pent road, 
 by the town, and the public were afterwards debarred 
 the privilege of using it. But the town has since assert- 
 ed its right to the road, and it was reopened and relaid 
 by the county commissioners within a few years past. 
 
 Inn-keepers. 
 
 The first " Inn-keeper" of the parish of whom we 
 :find mention was Moses Ingersoll, whose residence was 
 near the site of the old brick house in the south part 
 of the village, lately occupied by Ebenezer Pope. A 
 tavern w^as also kept earlier than 1742, on the east side 
 of the river, on the old road leading south from the 
 iron bridge, by Moses King ; this was apparently near 
 where the house of the late Lieutenant Thomas Siggins 
 now stands. Aaron Sheldon also kept a tavern, per- 
 haps as early as 1744, on the site of the present Berk- 
 shire House. The taverns were places of resort for 
 the exchange of news, for social intercourse and amuse- 
 ment. The use of intoxicating drinks was common 
 "with all classes ; and intemperance was no less an evil 
 than then it is to-day. In 1744 the minister used his in- 
 ^uence to prevent a tavern beiQg kept here : on account 
 
154 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 of which, he says, " some are o£fended with me, yea 
 even rage at me." 
 
 Administration of Justice. 
 
 The distance of the parish from Springfield — the 
 shire town of Hampshire county — was so great as to 
 render it extremely inconvenient and expensive for the 
 inhabitants to attend courts there. This was perhaps 
 an advantage rather than a disadvantage to the people, 
 as it restrained litigation; and a suit at court was too 
 expensive a luxury to be frequently indulged in. 
 Earlier than 1756, no lawyers resided here. 
 
 The earliest magistrates in the parish were David 
 Ingersoll and Joseph Dwight, the latter being also one 
 of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for 
 Hampshire. 
 
 The stocks and whipping post were then in vogue 
 and furnished the means of punishment for petty 
 offences. A stray leaf from David IngersolFs Justice's - 
 records sheds some light upon the manner in which 
 justice was admmistered and the usual form of punish- 
 ment, as the following extracts will serve to illustrate:/ 
 
 "Aug. 14, 1754, 
 The King ) 
 ag't - 
 
 Elmer Ward ) for stealing sundry goods from Mr. John Brewer. 
 She confes: she stole 3 caps and \ M pins. Ordered to pay 32 
 shillings and ye goods; being 3 fold Damages and cost, and to 
 be whipt 20 stripes. All were performed." 
 
 At a court before Justices Dwight and Ingersoll, Oct. T), 1754.^ 
 "Sam'l Taylor Jun'r and Eben'r Crowfoot of Pontoosuck. com- 
 plained of for making and spreading a false alarm and diggii)g up 
 and scalping an Indian which was buried. They confessed them- 
 selves to be guilty. Taylor ordered to pay a fine of 2() shillings-^ 
 for making and spreading a false alarm and making a he and 
 spreading ye same : and for his digging up s'd Indian a fine of 
 2(« shilhngs, or be wipped 30 stripes : Neglected to pay s'd fines 
 and was whipped. Crowfutt to pay fine of 13 shillings 4 pence,. 
 for s'd alarm, and for digging up s'd ladiai 13 shiUiugs 4 pence, 
 or be whipped 20 stripes ; omitted paying and was whipped. 
 Both to pay cost being £6. 7. 6. Committed until performed."' 
 In addition they were bound for their good behavior in the sum. 
 of £.5, each. October 7, 1754. " Eliatha Rew, Samuel Dewey 
 Jun'r and Timo. Youuglove, brought before me upon complaint- 
 of Ebn'r Hamblin and Simon Cook, for firing or discharging of 
 
SLAVES. 155 
 
 several Guns in ths night following ye 3d of Oct'r current. Con- 
 viced and they sat in ye stock one hour; paid cost. Bound 
 to their good behavior until next court." 
 
 The offences of Crowfoot and Taylor, as well as of 
 Rew and Dewey were of a more serious nature than 
 appears from the simple reading of the record. At 
 the time of these occurrences the people of this western 
 frontier were in a feverish state of anxiety occasioned 
 by the devastations of the French and Indians, and by 
 the attack upon a Stockbridge family, by Indians in the 
 preceding month; and any unnecessary disturbance, 
 such as creating a false alarm, was under the circum- 
 stances a misdemeanor justly punishable to the extent 
 of the law. In addition to making an alarm, Crowfoot 
 and Taylor had the mercenary object in view of obtain- 
 ing the bounty for the scalp of the Indian, which the 
 province \\ as offering in retaliation for similar offers 
 made by the French for English scalps. A few negro 
 slaves or as they were termed " servants" — were owned 
 in the parish ; more perhaps amongst the Dutch — who 
 brought them from the state of New York — than the 
 English. These servants were not held to very severe 
 servitude, nevertheless they were chattels. David In- 
 gersoll had his men "Sipeo" and "Dick," whom he 
 sometimes hired out to work for his neighbors ; and 
 in 1741 he sells to Moses King, and charges the same 
 on his book, a servant girl "Sophia Green," for the 
 sum of £20. 
 
 IngersolVs Works. 
 
 David Ingersoll, who as we have before remarked, 
 was a man of some enterprise, kept a small store of 
 goods near the Great Bridge, in 1739 and later, and 
 was the earliest merchant in the parish of whom we 
 have knowledge. The vicinity of the bridge — and from 
 that eastward to " Bung Hill" — was then the business 
 center, and the enterprises there, which have been 
 alluded to, are worthy of more particular notice. The 
 settling committee had made a decree by which the 
 water power below the bridge, was sequestered to 
 the joint use of both the Lower and Upper Townships ; 
 but Moses Ingersoll, in disregard of the order of the 
 
156 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 •committee, laid out to his right, in 1736, a tract of land 
 lying on both sides of the river, which included most 
 of this water power. In the spring of 1739, he con- 
 Tcyed this tract to David Ingersoll, though for some 
 reason the deed was not acknowledged until ten years 
 afterwards; nor placed on record until 1752, after the 
 decease of Moses Ingersoll. David Ingersoll entered, 
 immediately, into the occupancy and improvement of 
 the water privilege and erected a saw-mill, grist-mill, 
 and iron-works, all of which were completed and in 
 operation in 1740. These w orks were all on the east 
 side of the river ; the iron works a short distance be- 
 low the bridge, and the saw-mill and grist-mill a little 
 farther down the stream. 
 
 The iron-works — a forge for making wrought iron 
 from the ore — was in operation in 1739. It consisted 
 of an open hearth, on which the ore was reduced by 
 the aid of a bellows di'iven by water power. The iron, 
 drawn from the hearth, w as, by means of a trip ham- 
 mer, shaped into merchantable l3ars ready for use. The 
 ore was mainly obtained from the bed lying east of the 
 residence of Lebbeus M. Pixley ; though it is also prob- 
 able that some ore was brought from the south end of 
 Long Pond, w^here we find the " ore bed " and the cart 
 path leading to it — crossing "Seconks kiln" — in 1743. 
 This ii'on-works, though small and unimportant in it- 
 self, is of interest inasmuch as this was one of the ear- 
 liest attempts at manufacturing ii'on in Western Massa- 
 chusetts. A forge of similar character had been erect- 
 ed in Sheffield at a little eaiiier date, on the Konkapot 
 brook, — then called the "Ii'on Works River." A week's 
 product of Ingersoll's forge in 1739, as appears from 
 Ms account book, was only 4 cwt., 2 qrs, 4 lbs. The 
 cost of labor for making the ii^on was fifteen shillings 
 per cwt. ; the price paid for charcoal forty shilhngs per 
 hundi'ed bushels ; and the price at which the iron was 
 sold from seventy-five to eighty shillings per cwt. — all 
 in Old Tenor currency. 
 
 This forge w^as worked as late as 1748, but had ap- 
 j)arently disappeared in 1755, when the grist-mill and 
 saw-mill were still standing. Cinders, supposed to 
 have been from Ingersoll's forge, were found several 
 
IMPROVEMENTS. 15T 
 
 feet below the surface of the ground, in excavating for 
 the east abutment of the ii'on bridge, which were evi- 
 dently deposited there when one of the earliest bridges, 
 was built at this point. 
 
 New Inhabitants and TmproTiements. 
 
 The parish gradually received some small acces- 
 sions to its population, and some improvements were 
 made, but its progress was not rapid. In 1744, Aaron 
 Sheldon of Northampton purchased of Stephen King^ 
 his dwelling house, and land which has been mentioned 
 as lying both sides of the village street. By other 
 purchases and additions, Sheldon was soon after, the 
 owner of all the land, on the east side of the street,^ 
 bounding easterly on the river and extending from the 
 south line of the premises lately owned by the Misses 
 Kellogg as far north as the "Rubber Bridge" in Water 
 street ; he also owned on the west side of the way from 
 Castle street southerly to the dwelling of Frederick 
 Lawrence. To the southward of Sheldon's posses- 
 sions, Moses Ingersoll was the owner of the land on 
 both sides of the way southerly to the joremises of Ed- 
 ward Manville and John Brewer; and to the north of 
 Sheldon's land Ingersoll owned from Castle street ta 
 the spring, — near the foot of the hill in Water street. 
 From the spring northerly, the river formed the east 
 line of the highway, and David Ingersoll's land — which 
 he bought of Moses Ingersoll — extended, on the west 
 side of the road, from the spring to the proprietor's, 
 line at the bridge. Such was the condition of what is 
 now the village down to 1749 ; the whole real estate om 
 both sides of the street south of the Great Bridge was 
 in the possession of three individuals, and there were- 
 apparently but three or four dwellings within the lim- 
 its we have described. At a little earlier date the 
 Rev. Samuel Hopkins had built his house, on the hill 
 west of the village, where Walter W. Hollenbeck now 
 resides. As one of the conditions of his settlement, it 
 had been stipulated that the proprietors should furnish 
 certain materials for the building of a house, when^ 
 
158 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 they might be needed ; and in anticipation of building 
 he afterwards addressed the following letter to them : 
 
 ' ' To the Proprietors of the North Precinct in Sheffield : — You 
 may remember that when you invited me to settle among you 
 in the ministry, in order to my worldly accommodation, and to 
 enable me to Build, you proposed to give me the value of one 
 hundred and eighty ounces of silvei', in money, and to get my 
 Timber and stone, and the Logs that should be wanted to the 
 mill ; and seeing that I must depend upon this incouragement in 
 the affair, I take this opportunity to inform you that I purpose 
 (by the Leave of Providence) to proceed to Build this spring, 
 and expect that you will be in some way to accompUsh what you 
 have proposed. I am your friend and servant, 
 
 "Sam'l Hopkins. 
 
 "Sheffield, March 29, 1745." (1) 
 
 But Mr. Hoj^kins, although he had anticipated the 
 erection of a house — and as a beginning of his im- 
 provements had "set out ten aj^ple trees'" in April 
 1744 — i^robably owing to some interruption of his 
 plans, did not build at the time proposed in his letter. 
 He states in his diary, February 11, 174G, ''the people 
 drew stone for me to-day." The " stone " were for the 
 cellar and underpinning of his house; and it is sup- 
 posed, from this and other cu'cumstances, that he did 
 build in 1747. 
 
 Samuel Lee, with his wife Rachel, removed to this 
 place from Westfield, in the sjmng of 1746. He set- 
 tled on the west side of the way, at the toj) of the hill 
 south of Merrit I. "Wheeler's residence, and is sup- 
 posed to have built the house still standing there, in 
 which Zina Parks lately hved. This house, which is 
 one of the oldest in town, was standing and occupied 
 by Mr. Lee as a tavern in 1763, and afterwards, for 
 many years, by his son Warham Lee for the same pui'- 
 pose. 
 
 Samuel Lee had several childi'en, amongst whom 
 were Warham — above mentioned — who became a some- 
 what prominent citizen of the town ; Samuel Lee Jun'r, 
 who died at the age of twenty-three years in 1757 ; 
 Rachel, who married Major William King. 
 
 Timothy Hopkins, from AVaterbury, Conn., a brother 
 
 (1) The original of this letter is in the possession of Rev. 
 Evarts Scudder of this town. 
 
HOPKINS GUNN BRECK. 159 
 
 of the minister, and a deacon of the church, came here 
 perhaps as early as 1744, at least before 1749. He pur- 
 chased, in 1749, of David Ingersoll, the house built by 
 the latter, which stood oj^posite the factory in Water 
 sti-eet, and may have, for a time, resided there, though 
 he afterwards dwelt on Christian Hill, near where the 
 house of Patrick McGowan now stands. Deacon Hop- 
 kins was a useful and influential citizen, and his name 
 appears frequently in the parish and town records. 
 He was deceased as early as 1774, as appraisal of his 
 estate was made April 25th of that year. His wife — 
 Jemima — died October 16, 1771. The children of 
 Timothy Hopkins, so far as we have ascertained, w^ere : 
 
 Ichabod, baptized Dec. 9, 1744, who married Sarah, the 
 widow of Elias Kansom, and lived north-east of the David Lea- 
 vitt mansion, on the old road east of the river. 
 
 Dorcas, bom May 26, 1747; married Stewart, and in 
 
 1805, was a widow residing in Hanover, Luzerne county, Penn. 
 
 Timothy, born Nov. 25, 1750. 
 , Esther, born Feb'y 8, 1752. 
 
 James, born Aug. 14, 1754. 
 
 Jemima, born May 17, 1757 ; married Stephen Sibley, Feb'y 
 -<or May) 23, 1785. 
 
 Sarah, born June 5, 1760. 
 
 Mary, born Dec. 4, 1762; married David Youngs and re- 
 moved to Hanovei', Penn., as early as 1789. 
 
 Benjamin, who resided in Bloomfield, N. Y., in 1806. 
 
 Ehud, who married Chloe — daughter of Asahel King, and 
 who resided in this town, Alford and Egremont. 
 
 About 1750 Capt. Stephen Gunn, who had then re- 
 cently married Eleanor — daughter of Moses Ingersoll 
 — settled where Kalph Taylor now resides, and erected 
 the first house upon that ground. This house stood 
 until 1815, when it was removed to make place for the 
 present dwelling of Mi'. Taylor. Capt. Gunn died here 
 oi the small pox, November 11, 1759. His widow sur- 
 vived him and remained upon the premises to the time 
 of her death, February 25, 1772. Jolm Gunn, a son of 
 Capt. Stephen Gunn, removed to Hudson, N. Y., soon 
 .after the close of the Revolutionary war. 
 
 Doctor Samuel Breck, one of the earliest physicians 
 ^f the town, came here, apparently from Palmer, in 
 1751. He is supposed to have lived in the house built 
 l>y David Ingersoll in Water street. He mai'ried Mary 
 
160 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 Long of Stockbridge in 1762, and died about two years 
 afterwards. 
 
 In 1753, Daniel Allen purchased of Aaron Sheldon 
 a tract of land on the west side of Main street, includ- 
 ing the present homestead of Frederick T. Whiting 
 and the late Mrs. B. F. Durant. and built upon the site 
 on which the stone dwelling of J\Ii-. Whiting stands. 
 He also had a carpenter's shop which apjDears to have 
 stood within the highway limits and near his dwelling. 
 The main body of the house of Mr. Allen, afterwards - 
 the residence of Gen. Thomas Ives — having been twice 
 removed — now stands near the railroad on the new 
 street south of Frederick T. Whiting's house. Mr. 
 Allen was the principal carpenter and builder, as well 
 as furniture maker of this region. He built the Hen- 
 derson house for Gen. Dwight, and also the house — 
 since removed — in which the late Charles W. Hopkins, 
 Esq., resided. That he was a fine workman the inter- 
 ior finish and wainscoting of the south front room of 
 the Henderson house sufficiently attests. IVIi'. Allen 
 died in 1767. His son, the Hon. John Allen, was a. 
 distinguished lawyer in Litchfield, Conn., and also a 
 member of Congress : and his daughter, Anna Willard 
 Allen, became the wife of Hon. Elizur Goodi-ich of New 
 Haven, Conn. 
 
 In 1757, Israel Dewey, with his wife and ten child- 
 ren, removed to this place from Westfield ; which 
 event he duly chronicled in his book of accounts, as 
 follows: "Feb'r 7, 1757. I came to Sheffield with m^ 
 family from Westfield.'' About thirty years previous 
 to that time, Thomas Dewey, the father of Israel, had 
 come here with the early settlers, and, if we mistake 
 not, was the same Thomas Dewey who located on the 
 present David Leavitt place. 
 
 The first settlement of Israel Dewey was on the 
 farm now Frederick Abbey's, on the road to Van Deu- 
 senville, where Hezekiah Phelps had formerly dwelt,, 
 and where Benedict Dewey — son of Israel — afterwards 
 resided. Four years later he purchased land in the 
 village, the same on which Major Samuel Eosseter 
 afterwards lived, and on which Henr}^ Dresser now re- 
 sides. Here he built the first house which stood upon 
 
DEWEY DWIGHT. 161 
 
 that spot ; he also erected mills on the river in the rear 
 of his dwelling. These mills will be more particularly 
 mentioned in another place. Israel Dewey was a man 
 of strong mind, of more than ordinary ability, and ap- 
 parently fond of discussion and argument. He was a 
 member of Mr. Hopkins' church, to which both he and 
 his wife came recommended from the church at West- 
 field. He was not in full accord with the minister in 
 some of the theological doctrines held and taught by 
 the latter, and engaged him in a written controversial 
 discussion, which was printed and attracted consider- 
 able attention. 
 
 Mr. Dewey died November 23, 1773, at the age of 
 sixty-one. Of his children — thirteen in number — we 
 make note as follows: 
 
 Israel, married Mary Pixley of Stockbridge aud settled in 
 Leuox. 
 
 Benedict lived on the Frederick Abbey farm, in Great Bar- 
 rington ; he was an influential man in the town ; during aud after 
 the Revohition ; he died Feb'y 19, 1796, in his GOth year. 
 
 Paul settled in Lenox. 
 
 Justin, born Jan'y 5, 1751 ; lived in Great Barriugton ; died 
 Aug. 31, 1832, at the age of 82. 
 
 Hugo, bom Dec. 4, 1752 ; Uved in Great Barrington ; died 
 April 17, 1833, aged 81. 
 
 Josiah resided in this town. 
 
 Eleanor; married Easign John Burghardt of this town. 
 
 Lydia, married Joseph Dwight — son of Gen. Joseph D wight 
 — and r^imoved to Lenox. 
 
 Abigail, married Deacon Daniel Nash of this town, and was 
 the mother of the late Lonson Nash, Esq., and of Abigail the 
 second wife of Rev. Sylvester Burt. 
 
 Justin and Hugo were the ancestors of several fami- 
 lies of Deweys, which in later years have resided in 
 this town and in Alford. They lived close together in 
 the west part of the town near the Alford line. They 
 were fine, jovial old men, always together, noted for 
 their sociability and general good feeling, for their 
 fondness of story telling, and for their attachment to 
 one another. 
 
 Gen. Joseph Dwight from Brookfield, having resid- 
 ed for three or four years in Stockbridge, took up his 
 residence here in 1756 or '57. He purchased the land 
 — the Henderson place — on which the late Deacon 
 11 
 
162 
 
 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 Allen Henderson since dwelt — of Aaron Sheldon, in 
 1759, and erected in that or the next year, the house 
 still standing on the premises. This was at that time, 
 and for many years later, the finest dwelHng in the 
 township. Gen. Dwight, who was bred a lawyer, was 
 distinguished both as a civilian and militaiy man, and was 
 a valuable acquisition to the sparsely inhabited parish. 
 A more extended notice of him will be given hereafter. 
 These were the principal changes and improve- 
 ments, which were made, south of the bridge, previous 
 to the incorporation of the town in 1761. East of the 
 bridge, John McLean, in 1750, erected a dwelling on 
 an acre of land which he had purchased of Da^id Inger- 
 soll. This house stood about eighteen rods east of the 
 river, near where IVIiles Avery now^ resides, and is de- 
 scribed in 1752, as a "Mansion House" about ten rods 
 north-west of the meeting-house. In the spring of 
 1750, James Root from AVestfield, purchased the land, 
 and house (which has been mentioned as erected by 
 Jonathan Willard) dii'ectly east of the bridge, and re- 
 moved to this place ; he also afterwards owned the 
 "Mansion House" built by McLean. Capt. Hewit 
 Root from Westfield — a brother uf James — came here 
 in 1754, and bought the house next east of the bridge, 
 where he engaged in business as an inn keeper, and 
 kept one of the most noted taverns in this region to 
 the time of his decease in 1788. To the northward, at 
 Van Deusen\ille, John Williams erected a grist-mill 
 and saw-mill, in 1750, on the Williams River, under 
 the grant of the water privilege which had been made 
 to him by the proprietors. It is also probable that a 
 saw-mill had previously stood upon this stream, as it is 
 called in the vote making the grant, the "old Saw-mill 
 Brook." Above Van Deusenville ie^Y, if any, improve- 
 ments were made earher than 1753. The settlements, 
 especially north of the bridge, were for the most part 
 confined to the valley of the river, and did not, to much 
 extent, penetrate the more remote parts of the Upper 
 Township until after the divisions of the east and west 
 tiers of Long Lots, which were made in 1753-4. Soon 
 after these di\dsions, famines by the names of Hamlin, 
 Brunson, Munger, Wilcox, Kelsey, Hoskins and Rew 
 
CHANGES. 163 
 
 located in the west part of the Upper Township; some 
 of whom were afterwards, by the change of the town 
 line, included in Alford. During the interval which 
 elapsed between the incorporation of the parish and 
 its erection into a town, through the unremitting labors 
 of the Rev. Samuel Hopkins, together with the acces- 
 sion to the population of such men as Gen. Joseph 
 Dwight, Dea. Timothy Hopkins, Israel Dewey and 
 Daniel Allen, all substantial and influential citizens, the 
 social and moral status of the inhabitants had some- 
 what improved. The church, which had been origi- 
 nally organized with but five members, had received 
 additions, iii all, to the number of about one hundi'ed, 
 and was faiiiy prosperous, though some dissensions 
 had arisen amongst the people, which afterwards as- 
 sumed a serious aspect, and the parish was already re- 
 miss in the payment of the stipulated salary to the 
 minister. 
 
 Several of the original settlers had died, amongst 
 whom were Coom'od Burghardt, Moses Ingersoll, 
 Moses King, Joseph Noble and John Pixley ; others, 
 sons of the original, had grown up, were married and 
 had families. Their names will occur in considering 
 the history of the town. By the incorporation of the 
 town of Egremont in 1760, that part of the parish ly- 
 ing west of the Upper and Lower Townships, had been 
 included within the limits of that town, and the area of 
 the parish had been correspondinglv reduced. The 
 territory now in Egremont, which with the few fami- 
 lies there living, had been included in the parish at its 
 formation, was commonly known as the "country land," 
 —"the Province land" or "the west lands." It was 
 not without some opposition on the part of the parish 
 that this territory was separated from it. 
 
 The inhabitants in that part, in 1756, endeavored 
 to obtain for themselves a separate town or district 
 organization, and at the same time demurred to the 
 further payment of taxes to the parish. The parish 
 "chose Stephen Gun to send to Boston to represent 
 the north parish and give reason why the west lands 
 should not be a district separate from\s;" and havino- 
 twice voted to defend the assessors in rating the people 
 
164 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 on those lands, in October, 1757, called in the rates 
 from the hands of the collector and appointed John 
 Williams, Israel Dewey and Jonathan Nash "to send a 
 petition to the General Court to know what the North 
 Parish in Sheffield shall do for the future concerning 
 rating those people living west of said parish." In 
 1754, and again in 1755, the parish agitated anew the 
 subject of becoming incorporated as a town or district, 
 and in each of those years, in the curt language of the 
 record, "voted to be set off a District." Their efforts, 
 however, were opposed by the town of Sheffield, and 
 at a town meeting, October 4, 1756, the question was 
 put "whether the town will vote the Upper Parish in 
 Sheffield in order to bring forward into a District or 
 not, and it passed in the negative ;" and at the same 
 time John Ashley, Esq., Nathaniel Austin and William 
 Spencer were appointed a committee "to give in ye 
 reason, to the General Assembly, why the town did not 
 vote off ye Upper Parish in order to its being formed 
 into a District." This opposition on the part of Shef- 
 field doubtless delayed the incorporation of Great Bar- 
 rington for a time ; but Sheffield finally ceased to op- 
 pose the measure, and on the 11th of March, 1760, con- 
 sented to the sepai'ation by voting "to set off the Upper 
 or North Parish in the town of Sheffield to be formed 
 into a sejoarate District or Town." Having obtained 
 the consent of the town of Sheffield, the North Parish, 
 on the 9th of March, 1761, voted "to be set off a Tow^n 
 or District as the General Court shall judge proper." 
 and made choice of Timothy Hopkins, Jonathan Nash 
 and William Ingersoll a committee to prefer a petition 
 to the Great and General Court or Assembly of this 
 Province, "to be set off a Town or District." 
 
 The committee, soon after, prepared, and presented 
 to the General Court, a petition of which the following 
 is a copy: 
 
 "To his Excellency Francis Barnard, Esq'r, Capt'n Gen'l and 
 Commander in Cheife in and over his Majesty's Province of the 
 Massachusetts Bay in New England, the Hon'ble his Majesty's 
 council, and House of Representatives, in Gen'l Court as- 
 sembled : 
 
 Humbly shew Timothy Hopkins, Jonathan Nash and "WilUam 
 Ingersoll a com'tee of the North Parish in Sheffield in the Coun- 
 
INCORPORATION OF TOWN. 165 
 
 ty of Hampshire to this purpose appointed That the Body of the 
 Inhabitants of the s'd Parish are remotely settled from the south 
 Parish iu s'd Sheffield, that tbis and Diverse other Inconveniences 
 attending ; The s'd Town having taken into consideration the 
 same and consented and voted that the s'd North Parish be made 
 into a Town or District, and the said Parish having appointed 
 the s'd com'tee to prefer a Petition to this Great and Gen'l 
 Court that the same Parish may be set off a separate Town or 
 District ; Wherefore your Petitioners humbly pray your Exe'cy 
 and Hon'rs to take the same into your wise consideration, that 
 the same may be done accordingly by the same Limits and 
 Bounds which divide the s'd North from the s'd South Parish in 
 Sheffield and as in duty bound shall ever pray. 
 
 TiMO. Hopkins, 
 Jonathan Nash, 
 William Ingeksol." 
 The presentation of this jDetition resulted in the 
 passage of an act by the Legislature, incorporating the 
 North Parish into a town with the name of Great Bar- 
 rington, with all the privileges enjoyed by other towns 
 in the Province, excepting that of sending representa- 
 tives to the General Court, which privilege the town 
 was entitled to exercise jointly with the town of Shef- 
 field. This act received the approval of Governor Ber- 
 nard on the 30th of June, 1761. 
 
CHAPTER Xm. 
 
 GKEAT BAKEINGTON— DERIVATION OF THE NAME OF 
 
 THE TOWN— TOWN ORGANIZATION— EAELY 
 
 TOWN MEETINGS. 
 
 1761—1770. 
 
 At whose suggestion the town received its name 
 "Great Barrington,'' is now unknown. In the petition 
 for its incorporation, no name was presented, and in 
 the preliminary stages of the bill in the House of Eep- 
 resentatives, the name of the town — as we are in- 
 formed — was left blank. It was, formerly, currently 
 said by the old inhabitants that the town was named 
 in memory of Lord Barrington of England then de- 
 ceased — "the first of the name and peerage of Barring- 
 ton" — who, during his life, had manifested an especial 
 interest in, and had been particularly friendly to the 
 colonies of New England. At that time — as well as 
 since — the divisional line between Massachusetts and 
 Rhode Island was unsettled and in controversy. The 
 town of Barrington, now in Rhode Island, lav near the 
 disputed hne, and had been in some degree, subject to 
 the jurisdiction of Massachusetts: but as it was uncer- 
 tain whether, by an adjustment of the line, Barrington 
 would fall within Massachusetts or Rhode Island, and 
 to obviate the possible impropriety of having two 
 towns of the same name in the province, it was deter- 
 mined that the new town should be called Great Bai'- 
 rington. Hence the prefix which is so often made the 
 subject of question and comment. 
 
 Lord Barrington — John Shute, a son of Benjamin 
 Shute, and a younger brother of Samuel Shute, gov- 
 ernor of Massachusetts, 1716-1723 — was born in 1678 
 and died in 1734 at the age of fifty-six. He was a 
 
MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATION. 167 
 
 Protestant dissenter, and in 1701 published pamphlets 
 "in favor of the civil rights of Protestant dissenters to 
 which class he belonged. " "On the accession of George 
 1st, he was returned as a member of Parliament for 
 Berwick upon Tweed, and in 1720 the King raised him 
 to the Irish Peerage by the title of Viscount Barring- 
 ton of Ardglass." (1) Four of his sons became distin- 
 guished; and the eldest— Wilham, succeeded his father 
 as Viscount Barrington. 
 
 By the act incorporating the town. Gen. Joseph 
 Dwight was authorized to issue his warrant "directed 
 to some principal inhabitant" of the town, requiring 
 him to notify and warn the inhabitants, qualified to 
 vote in town meetings, to assemble for the choice of 
 town officers. 
 
 The warrant of Gen. Dwight, dated July 18th, was 
 addressed to Jonathan Nash, who warned the first 
 town meeting. This meeting was assembled at the 
 meeting-house, on Wednesday, July 22d, 1761, at 4 
 o'clock, p. m. 
 
 Joseph Dwight was chosen moderator, and the fol- 
 lowing town officers were also chosen : 
 
 Mark Hopkins, Town Clerk ; Joseph Dwight, Timothy Hop" 
 kins, John Burghardt, Selectmen and Assessors ; Timothy Hop- 
 kins, Town Treasurer; Thomas Pier, Jnn'r, Constable; Aaron 
 Sheldon, Jonathan Pixley, William Brunson, Hog Keeves ; Timo- 
 thy Hopkins, Jonathan Nash, William Brunson, Surveyors of 
 Highways; Aaron Sheldon. Israel Root, Fence Viewers; Timo- 
 thy Hopkins, Sealer of Leather; William Ingersoll, Jonathan 
 Nash, Timothy Hopkins, Overseers of the Work-house ; WiUiam 
 Ingersoll, Jonathan Nash, Tythingmen ; Jonathan Nash, Timo- 
 thy Hopkins, William Brunson, Wardens. 
 
 It was voted that Wilham Ingersoll's house be the 
 work-house, and he the master thereof; and thus the 
 municipal machinery of the town was set in motion. 
 A second town-meeting was held on the 16th of August 
 following. The meeting-house, which had been built 
 nineteen years, was still in process of finishing ; and it 
 was voted to finish the galleries with seats, and that 
 two new pews be built in the front gallery. In this 
 gallery two pews had been previously built by some 
 
 (1) Encyclopedia Brittanica. 
 
168 
 
 HISTOKY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 "yoiing persons" at theii* owti expense, and, by an ar- 
 ticle in the warrant for this meeting, the town was now 
 called upon "to quiet them" in the possession of their 
 improvements, but refused to do anything in the prem- 
 ises. It was also provided that new and good steps 
 should be setup at the doors of the meeting-house; 
 and that Timothy Hopkins should employ some person 
 to sweep the house and keep it "clean and decent;" 
 and, as the first session of the coui^ts for the county 
 w^as soon to be held, and as no place for holding the 
 courts had yet been pro\dded, it was voted that the 
 Court of Common Pleas and General Sessions of the 
 Peace may sit in the meeting-house in this town. But 
 the more important business of this meeting was to 
 hear and act upon a list of jurors to be presented by 
 the selectmen. The list, as reported and accepted, 
 contains the names of forty-nine "freeholders" — a large 
 number for the small j)opulation of the town — and 
 probably included most of the inhabitants who were 
 competent, and not disquahfied, to serve as jurors. The 
 following is the list: 
 
 Heudrick Burghardt, David Church, Daniel Munger, 
 
 Josiah PheJps, Thomas Willcocks, Moses Church, 
 
 WiUiam Pixley, Jouathan Read, Samuel Lee, 
 
 Jonathan Pixley, Zephaniah Phelps, Asahel Dewey, 
 
 Moses Pixley, Bill Williams, Thomas Pier, Jr., 
 
 Jonathan Nash, Israel Dewey, Stephen King, 
 
 William King, Jr. , Timothy Hopkins, John Church, 
 
 Hewit Root, William lugersoll, Israel Root, 
 
 George King, Wilham Jones, Thomas Root, 
 
 Joseph Gilbert, Aaron Sheldon, Joshua Root, 
 
 Elias Gilbert, Daniel Allen, Garret Burghardt, 
 
 Peter IngersoU, Peter Burghardt, Peter Sharp, 
 
 David Sanford, Jacob Burghardt, Phineas Nash, 
 
 Nathaniel L e, Eliatha Rew, William Brunson, 
 
 John Burghardt, Anthony Hoskins, Stephen Kelsey, 
 
 Jonathan Younglove, John Hamlin, Elnathan Brunson, 
 John McLean. 
 
 The leading men in the management of town busi- 
 ness, and in giving direction to the will of the inhabi- 
 tants, were Gen. Joseph Dwight, who had had large ex- 
 perience both in the civil and mihtary affaiis of the 
 province, Mai'k Hopkins, a young lawyer of superior 
 abiUty, Deacon Timothy Hopkins, whose unswerving 
 
TO^VN APPROPRIATIONS. 169 
 
 :integrity and honesty of purpose commended him to 
 the resj^ect of the citizens. Among the younger men 
 who afterwards became prominent in town affairs were 
 WilHam King, Jun'r. — Major King — Jonathan Nash, 
 WiUiam Ingersoll, David Sanford, EHjah D wight, Bene- 
 dict Dewey, and Jonathan Youngiove. 
 
 The population of the town, numbering about 500, 
 was composed of somewhat incongruous materials, rep- 
 resenting but little wealth, with no extraordinary 
 amount of intelligence or ability, and already divided 
 on questions of morals and rehgion. Few matters of 
 special importance agitated the earher town-meetings. 
 The principal business, aside from the annual election 
 of town officers, consisted in approj)riations of money 
 for the support of preaching, schools, highways, and 
 . general town charges ; and on these matters the inhab- 
 itants were frequently at variance, and sometimes re- 
 fused to raise money for these or any other purposes. 
 
 The first appropriation of money made by the town, 
 was on the 16th of November, 1761, when £65 was voted 
 -as a salary for the Kev. Samuel Hopkins for that year, 
 £10 to provide his firewood, £30 for the support of a 
 school, and £15 for town charges. A committee was 
 -also appointed to determine in what places ''the schoor 
 should be kept, how many school-houses should be 
 built, and where they should be located. Probably, 
 .acting upon the recommendations of this committee, 
 -the town voted — April 1762 — "that there be one, and 
 but one, school-house built at the charge of and for the 
 use of said town" — "that the said school-house be 
 built on the highest of the land between Mi\ Aaron 
 .Sheldon's barn and Mr. Israel Dewey's land on the bend 
 of the river, (1) and that said house be twenty feet 
 square beside or exclusive of the chimney." The sum 
 of £25 was granted for building, and Israel Dewey, 
 Samuel Lee, and Joshua Koot were appointed to super- 
 intend its erection. This school-house, the first and 
 (until quite recently) the only one erected by the town 
 
 (1) Aarou Sheldon's barn — near where the Berkshire House 
 stands ; Israel Dewey's laud, the same now occupied by Henry 
 Dresser aud Frederick Langsdorff, 
 
170 HISTORY OF GEEAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 in its corporate capacity — was completed in the follow- 
 ing autumn, and stood near the site of the present 
 Congregational church, where it is mentioned as a 
 boundary in the east line of the county road in 1764. 
 Some misunderstanding ai'ose between the town and 
 the committee which built it, and Israel Dewey — always 
 vigorous in maintaining his own -^dews of right, both 
 in church and state — brought a suit against the town, 
 in which he eventually recovered judgment. This ap- 
 pears, then, to have been the only school-house in the 
 town; and the inhabitants voted, March 15, 1768, to 
 remove this school-house, and to build two new ones, 
 and appoiated a committee to determme to what place 
 "the present school-house" should be removed and 
 also where the two, proposed to be built, should be set. 
 But this vote was not, apparently, carried into execu- 
 tion. Still, connected with this vote are the specifica- 
 tions adopted by the town, which convey some impres- 
 sion of the appearance and cost of the average school- 
 house of that period. The town proj^osed to pay Peter 
 Ingersoll and Oliver Watson £20 ($66.67) provided 
 they would build the two houses in such 2:>laces as a. 
 committee might direct, "and in the following manner, . 
 sixteen feet wide and eighteen feet long, with two 
 floors, and three glass windows with twelve squares 7 
 by 9 each, each house. The outside or body to be 
 plank, and the roof to be well shrogled, and chimney b 
 in each ; to be completed b}^ the 1st day of September 
 next." The sum, £20, to be paid, we presume to be 
 for each building, though not so definitely expressed 
 in the record. From 1761 to 1770 approjoriations for 
 "the school" or schools were annually made, varying 
 fi'om £30 to £40. and in one year reached £50. The 
 school was maintained with some regularity, though, in 
 1764, the town was complained of, and summoned to 
 answer before the court of General Sessions "for not 
 having provided a school-master according to law."' 
 Daniel Allen was appointed to defend agamst the com- 
 plaint, and the town escaped the usual penalty of a fine. 
 For several years, one teacher only, appears to have 
 been employed, and the itinerating custom, in vogue 
 under the parish rule, was kept up. 
 
EOADS AND BRIDGES. 171 
 
 Money was from time to time, though quite iiTegu- 
 larly raised for the repau' of highways, and the inhabi- 
 tants, so disposed, were permitted to work out their 
 highway rates ; and in March, 1762, it was provided 
 "that the price of a day's work at highways, from this 
 time to the last of September next, be three shilUngs, 
 and after that, to the end of the year two shiUings, and 
 that a team of four cattle, a day, be the same price of 
 a day's work of a man." But the roads were not al- 
 ways well cared for, and in 1766, the town having been 
 presented by the Grand Jury, was fined for not keeping 
 them in repau-. 
 
 One of the early mmor improvements was the build- 
 ing of a town pound, in 1763, by Joshua Root, for 
 which he was awarded a compensation of £7. 14s. 2d. 
 The site of this pound is the now front door-yard of 
 Frederick Lawrence, where it marked the boundary of 
 the county road in 1764. 
 
 A work of considerable importance at the time, was 
 the rebuilding of the Great Bridge over the Housa 
 tonic River, which was accomplished in the autumn of 
 1766, under direction of Doctor William Whiting, 
 George King, and Oliver Watson, at a cost of £56. 18s. 
 6d. The next year the bridge over the Williams River, 
 at Van Deusenville, was built, on the site of an earlier 
 one, with an appropriation of £10. 10s. ; this was again 
 rebuilt in 1778 at a cost ot £90 in Continental money, 
 more than thirty of the inhabitants turning out to work 
 upon it. In 1770, we find Peter BurgLaLdt asking- 
 compensation for having erected a bridge over "See- 
 konks River," at Seekonk, on the road "leading from 
 the Court-house to Podunqe" — Podunk, as Alford was 
 then called. 
 
 In 1768, Deodat Ingersoll was granted 19s. 7d. If. 
 from the treasury, in consideration of his late suffering 
 by fire; and in 1771, £3. 10s. w^as approj^riated on the 
 petition of Daniel Bailey, to procure a cow for his use. 
 Timothy Younglove was desired to make the purchase 
 and see that the cow was well cared for. 
 
 The seating of the meeting-house was occasionally 
 attended to, which the selectmen, in one of their war- 
 rants, described as "a very important and difficult 
 
172 HISTOKY OF GREAT HARRINGTON. 
 
 work;" thus, in 1767, it was voted to seat tlie meeting- 
 liouse anew ; Isaac Van Deusen, Israel Dewey, Jona- 
 than Yoiingiove, WiUiam Ingersoll and Daniel Allen 
 committee for seating. Voted " that the Hst of the 
 present year be the rule for said committee to go by in 
 seating said meeting-house, and that said committee, 
 in seating, shall consider each year of every person's 
 age equal to forty shillings estate." Votes were an- 
 nually passed permitting swine, properly ringed, and 
 horses, fettered, to rim at large. Deer Reeves, to at- 
 tend to the enforcement of the law for the prevention 
 of the killing of deer, out of season, were frequently 
 chosen, and instances of prosecution and fine for the 
 violation of this statute are not wanting in the court 
 records. Tything-men, and Sabbath wai'dens were 
 annually chosen. 
 
 In the first year of its corporate existence, the town 
 chose thi-ee selectmen ; but as a larger number was 
 fomid desirable, the board for nine succeedmg years 
 consisted of five freeholders. A work-house, with a 
 board of overseers, was aimually provided, to which 
 paupers and transient persons were sent ; and the 
 custom prevailed of wai'ning out of town such new 
 comers as had no visible means of support, in order 
 that they might not become chargeable to the town for 
 theii' maintenance. The first, and for many years the 
 only paupers mentioned in the records, were Bernard 
 Campbell and his wife — -'Europeans.'' These were 
 frequently the subject of town legislation; were assisted 
 from 1768 to 1781, when they were still on hand. In 
 1777, the to^Ti haviag appropriated £10 for their sup- 
 port, coupled the grant with the proviso that Camp- 
 bell " is to be put to business, at the discretion of the 
 selectmen," and iq case of his refusal to comply, he was 
 not to have the benefit of the appropriation. Until 
 1770, it was customary to vote upon and audit all de- 
 mands against the town m open town meeting ; but in 
 that year and afterwards the adjustment of accounts 
 was referred to the selectmen or to committees. For 
 several years the compensation of the Town Clerk and 
 the Treasurer was eighteen shilliQgs per annum, each. 
 
 The early town meetings were fi'equently character- 
 
DISCORDANT MEETINGS. 173 
 
 izecl by fitful moods of temper, having their origin, for 
 the most part, in a contention which existed from 1760 
 to '69, relative to the support of the Rev. Samuel Hop- 
 kins, in which the supporters and opposers of the min- 
 ister were pitted against each other. These meetings 
 were at times of a noisy and turbulent character; es- 
 pecially so whenever the question of raising money for 
 the support of preaching was discussed ; and a dispo- 
 sition to vote down every proposition which was pre- 
 sented — however reasonable — was occasionally mani- 
 fested. Thus in May, 1763, the inhabitants — for the 
 second time in that year — refused to raise money " for 
 defraying the necessary charges of the town ;" refused 
 to choose a committee " to reckon with the treasurer ;" 
 refused to appoint a committee " to examine and pass 
 the accounts of Samuel Lee and Isarel Dewey for build- 
 ing a school-house ;" and refused to join with Sheffield 
 in the choice of a representative to the General Court. 
 But in October of the same 3^ear, the inhabitants, in 
 better temper, granted £40 for the support of " the 
 school," £20 for contingent expenses, and £55 for re- 
 pair of highways. At this meeting Mark Hopkins 
 asked permission to build for himself, at his own ex- 
 pense, a pew in the meeting-house — a privilege which, 
 the parish had formerly accorded to others — but his 
 prayer was not granted. In Januaiy of the next year 
 the petition of IVIi'. Hopkins was renewed and acceded 
 to, and he was permitted to build his pew in the rear 
 of the body seats, on the east side of the "great alley," 
 adjoining to and east of General Dwight's pew ; and at 
 the same time liberty was given to some other persons 
 to build a pew at the west end of the front gallery. 
 
 The inhabitants were averse to taxation, and scruti- 
 nized closely all approj^riations and expenditures for 
 public purposes. In 1765, they were greatly exercised 
 over the proposed purchase — by the county — of a house 
 — the lately demolished old Episcopal parsonage — and 
 an acre of land, for a jail house and site for a jail, and 
 appointed Timothy Hopkins, David Sanford, and John- 
 athan Younglove "to prefer a petition, with other towns 
 in the county, to the court of General Sessions of the 
 Peace for the county of Berkshii-e, praying that they 
 
174 HISTOKY OF GREAT BAEEINGTON. 
 
 would consider the distressed circumstances of the 
 county, and not obHge them to pay such large sums 
 for purchasing land and buying a house and barn for 
 accommodating a Gaol in said county, and also that 
 they may not be holden to build such an expensive 
 Gaol, and to represent said afiairs in such a dutiful way 
 as to them should seem proper." 
 
 By the act of incorporation. Great Barrington jointly 
 with Sheffield was entitled to the privilege of sending 
 a representative to the General Court, and Egremont 
 was afterwards united with these towns in the exercise 
 of that right. The elections were held in Sheffield; 
 and the first inhabitant of Great Barrington, chosen to 
 that office, v>'as David Ingersoll, Jun'r, Esq., in 1770. 
 Mark Hopkins, Esq., was also the representative in 1773. 
 
 The office of Town Clerk was filled by Mark Hop- 
 kins 1761-64, when Elijah Dwight was chosen; he was 
 succeeded in 1770 by William King, Jun'r, who is sup- 
 posed to have been the clerk until 1776. During the 
 first ten years the records of town proceedings were 
 intelhgibly written and well kept ; but from November 
 1771, to March 1776, no minutes of the town meetings 
 appear on the book of records, nor are such minutes 
 known to have been preserved. The eaiiy to^\^l meet- 
 ings were held at the meeting-house, and as no means 
 were provided for warming that building, were some- 
 times in inclement weather, adjourned to the tayern of 
 Captain Hewit Root near by. After the erection of the 
 court-house meetings were held both there and at the 
 meeting-house, but more frequently in the former, from 
 which they \vere often adjourned to the neighboring 
 taverns of William Bement, Gamaliel Whiting, and 
 Josiah Smith. The court-house was first occupied for 
 town-meetings October 27th, 1765, and the last meet- 
 ing, there held, was on January 21st, 1793. 
 
 Brigadier General Joseph Dwight. 
 
 Ill the foregoing chapters frequent mention has 
 been made of General Joseph Dwight, than whom no 
 individual among the early inhabitants either of the 
 town or count}' occupied a more eminent jDOsition or 
 exercised a more salutary influence ; and although the 
 
JOSEPH DWIGHT. 175 
 
 yeaxs wliich he spent in this town were few in number — 
 the nine latter years of his hfe — nevertheless the im- 
 portant part which he took in that period, in forming 
 and shaping the character of the town and in the direc- 
 tion of its affairs, together with his earlier public serv- 
 ices, both civil and military, entitle him to a particular 
 notice in these pages and to a more faithful portrayal 
 than we are able to produce. 
 
 Joseph Dwight was a son of Captain Henry Dwight 
 of Hatfield — one of the committee for settling the 
 Housatonic townships — and a descendant of John 
 Dwight, who emigrated from England m 1734-5 and 
 settled at Dedham, Mass. He was a native of Hatfield, 
 born October 16th, 1703, and a graduate of Harvard 
 College in 1722. He studied law, and resided for 
 several years in Springfield, where he was engaged in 
 trade, and where he married, August lltli, 1726, Mary 
 Pjnchon of that town. About 1730-31 he removed to 
 Brookfield, where he soon entered ujoon the practice of 
 the law, and in 1731 was the representative of the town 
 of Brookfield in the General Coui't, an office to which 
 lie was chosen in ten subsequent years ; he was also a 
 member of the Provincial Council, and in 1748-9 
 speaker of the House of Representatives. In 1739, he 
 was appointed judge of the court of Common Pleas of 
 Worcester county. In addition to his legal and judicial 
 employments, he devoted much time to military affau's, 
 was a colonel of militia, and at the time of the expedi- 
 tion against Louisbourgh, on Cape Breton, was com- 
 missioned a Brigadier General — February 20th, 1745 
 — ^by Governor Shirley. In that year he distmguished 
 himself as the commander of the Massachusetts Artil- 
 lery at the siege and capture of Louisbourgh, and was 
 commended by General Pepperell who commanded in 
 that expedition. General Dwight, soon after, raised a 
 regiment for a proposed expedition against Canada ; 
 but his regiment was for the most part employed in 
 frontier service. Not long after the death of his wife, 
 which occurred March 29th, 1751, he removed to Stock- 
 biidge, as a " trustee of the Indian schools," and there 
 married Mrs. Abigail Sergeant, widow of the Rev. 
 John Sergeant, in August 1752. 
 
176 HISTORY OF GREAT BAREINGTON. 
 
 From 1753 to 1761, he was one of the judges of the- 
 courts for Hampshire county, and at the incorporation 
 of Berkshu'e county he was appointed judge of both the 
 County and Probate courts, which offices he held to^ 
 
 the time of his decease. In the second French war 
 
 1756 — he commanded a regiment in service about 
 Lakes George and Champlain, and soon after his return 
 fi'om this campaign removed from Stockbridge to Great: 
 Barrmgton — probably in 1757. In 1759, he purchased 
 the place in the village, since occupied b}' the late 
 Deacon Allen Henderson, with twelve acres of land ad- 
 joining — including the premises on which Parley A. 
 Eussell now resides — and erected the Henderson 
 House. This house, which was at that time considered 
 a very fine one, is still well preserved, and if spared by 
 the hand of improvement, may last through another 
 century. 
 
 In the act for incoi']^)orating the town — 1761 — Gen- 
 eral Dwight was authorized to issue his warrant for 
 convening the first town meeting of its inhabitants ; 
 he was chosen moderator of that meeting and also one 
 of the selectmen of the town. General Dwight died 
 June 9th, 1765 ; his remains were interred in the south 
 buiial ground, where a broad, antiquated and some- 
 what elaborately carved slab of white marble marks 
 his grave and bears this inscription : 
 
 Sacred 
 
 To the memory of 
 
 Brig'dr Gen'l Joseph Dwight 
 
 Died June 9th 17()5. 
 
 M 62. 
 
 Though great in council and in arms, 
 The pious, good, and just. 
 Yet death her cruel debt demands, 
 Dwight slumbers in the dust. 
 
 The widow^ of General Dwight continued to reside,, 
 for several years in this town, but eventually re- 
 moved to Stockbridge, where she died February 15th, 
 1791. In a notice of General Dwight, m the History 
 of Berkshii^e, it is said: '' His personal appearance was 
 very fine. He was dignified in his manners, an upright 
 judge, and an exemplaiy professor of the religion of 
 
JOSEPH DWIGHT. 177 
 
 the gospel. No man in the county, in civil life, was 
 more esteemed ; and aged people still speak of him 
 with great respect." Another writer says, "he was a 
 man of singular veracity ; and all who knew him spoke 
 of liis virtues with enthusiasm." 
 
 Geneml Dwight had a large family of children, 
 among whom were : Dorothy, who married the Honor- 
 able Jedediah Foster of Brookfield, and whose daugh- 
 ter — Kuth Foster — was the wife of General Thomas 
 Ives of Great Barrington ; Elijah, who was first Clerk 
 of the Oounty Courts, and a prominent citizen of Great 
 Barrington ; by his second marriage — Pamela, who be- 
 came the wife of Hon. Theodore Sedgwick, and Henry 
 Williams Dwight w^ho resided in Stockbridge and was 
 for many years Clerk of the Courts. 
 
 12 
 
CHAPTEK XIV. 
 
 WATER POWER AND ISRAEL DEWEY'S MILLS. 
 
 1762—1791. 
 
 The town early dii-ected its attention to recovering 
 possessionof the water power of the Housatonic River, 
 which had thirty-five years before, been sequestered by 
 the setthng committee for the joint use of both the 
 Upper and Lovrer Townships, but which had for a long 
 time been occupied by David Ingersoll, and of which, 
 John WiUiams, as successor of Ingersoll, then claimed 
 possession. At the meeting of November 16th, 1761, 
 Joseph Dmght, Timothy Hoj^kins and Daniel Allen 
 were chosen agents, in behalf of the town, to join and 
 act wath agents that might be appointed by the town 
 of Sheffield, "in ejecting and dispossessing any person 
 or persons who may unlawfully hold the aforesaid 
 towns out of their right to such part of the Housaton- 
 nock River, so called, which is the joint right or in- 
 terest of said towns." This action was with reference 
 to the water privilege now occupied by the Berkshire 
 Woolen Company, as well as to that on which, a little 
 lower down the stream, the now abandoned, India 
 Rubber Works stand. Some allusion has already 
 been made to the earlier occupancy of this water privi- 
 lege, and to the decrees of the settling committee, made 
 with, reference to it. It will be remembered that the 
 di^dsional line between the two townships, as establish- 
 ed by the setthng committee in 1726 — afterwards the 
 north Une of Sheffield — crossed the river at the Great 
 Bridge, or, in the language of the records, ''that the 
 Lower Township shall extend up the Maine River, 
 from ye Path yt goeth over ye River by ye Great wig- 
 wam, something above the jMiddle Falls, which is some- 
 
WATER PO\\'ER RECLAIMED. 179 
 
 thing above half a mile from s'd Path, and if there 
 should be a mill or mills sett up there in ye Great 
 River ^ that each Toion shall have ye privelege of ye 
 streanie for yt Rorposs /" and that the committee also 
 decreed that the proprietors "must not divide the land 
 above the path that goes over the river by the Great 
 Wigwam." This reservation of the water power was 
 definite and explicit, and the premises were carefully 
 guarded by the provision that individuals should not 
 lay out the land adjoining the falls of the river. But, 
 in 1736, Moses Ingersoll, disregarding the decrees of 
 the settling committee, made a pitch of land, of seven- 
 teen and one-half acres — lying on both sides of the 
 river — which extended from the divisional line south- 
 erly, nearly to the present " Rubber Bridge," and in- 
 cluded a large part o-f the water power. Three years 
 later — in 1739 — Moses Ingersoll, b}^ deed, conveyed 
 this property to David Ingersoll, who — as we have be- 
 fore stated — built a dam, and erected a saw-mill, grist- 
 mill, and forge on the east bank of the stream, a short 
 distance below the Great Bridge. It is probable that 
 doubts then existed as to the validity of Ingersoll's 
 title — though we have no evidence that his right of 
 possession w^as disputed — but as his improvements 
 were both a convenience and a public benefit, it may 
 be inferred that he was, by common consent, per- 
 mitted to remain in occupancy. It is, however, a note- 
 worthy cii'cumstance in connection with this convey- 
 ance, that the deed, though dated in March, 1739, was 
 not officially acknowledged until February 1749, nor 
 placed upon record until 1752 — after th6 decease of 
 Moses Ingersoll. David Ingersoll continued in occu- 
 pancy of the premises for several years, but became 
 pecuniarily embarrassed ; and in December 1755, the 
 "corn-mill and saw-mill, mill-dam and stream," together 
 with about one and one half acres of land adjoining — 
 on the east side of the river — the whole appraised at 
 £133. 6s. 8d. — were taken on execution, to satisfy a 
 judgment which had been obtained against him by one 
 Jonathan Mason. Probably under title derived from 
 Mason, John Williams — who was also the proprietor of 
 the mills at Van Dusenville — obtained possession o 
 
180 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 the water pri\dlege and premises taken from Ingersoll 
 on this execution, and was holding them in 1761. It 
 was for the purpose of ejecting ]\Ii'. WiUiams and re- 
 gaining possession of the water power that agents were 
 appointed by the town as above narrated. 
 
 Sheffield joined with this town in the affair and ap- 
 pointed Nathaniel Austin its agent to co-operate with 
 the agents of Great Barrington. A suit was brought 
 against Williams, to be tried before the Justices of the 
 Superior Court of Common Pleas, to be held at Great 
 Barrington on the first Tuesday of September, 1762. 
 In the wTit, which bears date August 24th, 1762, the 
 plaintiffs " demand against the said John, as ye joint 
 right and inheritance of the said towns of Sheffield and 
 Great Barrington. that part of Housatonnock Eiver (so 
 called) called the falls of the Great River being in said 
 Great Barrington, near the meeting-house in ye last 
 mentioned town, which falls are one hundi*ed and fifty 
 rods in length and the breadth of said river,'' reciting 
 the fact that the falls were sequestered and set apart 
 by the settling committee for the common use and 
 benefit of both towns, " and into which ye said John 
 hath no entry but after the disseizen which David In- 
 gersoll unjustly and without judgment committed 
 against the said towns." The case was entered in court 
 at the September term, 1762. Mark Hopkins appeared 
 as the attorney for the plaintiffs, and the defendant ap- 
 peared by Daniel Jones his attorney, who plead his 
 plea, to which the plamtifts demurred. Judgment 
 w^as rendered for the plaintiffs on the demurrer, and the 
 defendant ajopealed to the Superior Court of Judicatui^e 
 to be held at Springfield on the last Tuesday of the 
 same month. A careful search of the records of the 
 Superior Court, furnishes no further trace of this suit ; 
 it is therefore to be presumed that Williams abandoned 
 his case, and his claim to the disputed premises. The 
 town had -sii'tually taken possession of the stream 
 about six months previous, and it is probable that the 
 dam and mills erected by Ingersoll were then in a 
 dilapidated condition and that the forge had disap- 
 peared. After the aj^pointment of agents in this mat- 
 ter, and before the commencement of the suit against 
 
GRANT TO ISRAEL DEWEY. 181 
 
 Williams, the town, acting upon the petition of Israel 
 Dewey, made to him a conditional grant of the water 
 power, as by the following vote passed March 10th, 
 1762. Voted, " that Israel Dewey have leave to build 
 a saw-mill and grist-mill upon Housatonnock River, 
 within any part of the same between the present Great 
 Bridge on the County road and the north part of En- 
 sign Aaron vSheldon's land, viz : his present homestead, 
 and to use and improve the same for sawdng and grind- 
 ing at the usual rates at wdiich the same is done in this 
 province ; and that he have leave to keep up and main- 
 tain the same so long as he shall keep them in good 
 repair and afford suitable attendance at them for the 
 common use and benefit of the town ; always provided 
 that the said Israel build said mills within twelve 
 months from this time." Mr. Dewey complied with 
 the conditions of the grant, and immediately proceeded 
 to erect a saw-mill and grist-mill, w^hich he did upon 
 his ow^n land. Mr Dewey at that time owned and 
 dwelt upon, tlie premises known as the Rosseter — now 
 Henry Dresser's — place, and his mills were built nearly 
 in rear of his dw^elling, on the west side of the stream, 
 the approach to them being by a lane where Dresser 
 street now is. His dam was upon the site of the present 
 Rubber Works dam, a little below which some of its 
 timbers are still visible. " The north part of Ensign 
 Aaron Sheldon's land" in the vote last quoted, was 
 near the present north line of Robert Girling's premises. 
 This vote gave Mr. Dew^ey control of all the water 
 power from the Great Bridge, southerly, to the point 
 w^here he erected his works; and if the evidence of 
 aged and reputable witnesses, taken in the trial of the 
 noted water suit betw^een the Berkshire Woolen Com- 
 pany and Horace H. Day, in 1849, is entitled to credit, 
 Dewey's dam must have rendered the works above it 
 useless, for, as w^as then testified, this dam was about 
 six feet high, set the water back above the bend of the 
 rivei', north of the bridge, and raised the w^ater two or 
 three feet at the bridge. 
 
 Dewey's mills, a grist-mill and saw^-mill, both prob- 
 ably under one roof — as was not an unusual custom in 
 building at that time — constituted, for thirty years, all 
 
182 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 the improvements, in use, of the water power of the 
 Housatonic River in this town. These mills, though 
 somewhat inconveniently located on the steep bank of 
 the river, were important works ; for, though saw- mills 
 were sufficently numerous, with the exception of the 
 Williams grist-mill at Van Deusenville, there appears 
 to have been no other place in town at which the in- 
 habitants could have their grain converted into floui' or 
 meal. 
 
 It is commonly difficult to arrive at the precise time 
 of the erection of old buildings or of the making of 
 improvements, but in the case of Israel Dewey's mills 
 this difficulty is obviated by the preservation of his 
 account book in which is recorded : 
 
 ''Oct. l+th. 1762. Wheeler Fiuished the mill and went off 
 all but Bill. Bill Lain worked five days after Wheeler went." 
 
 We also gather from the same book the names and 
 time of the workmen upon the mill as follows : 
 
 "Elijah Wheeler's workdays 72 
 
 Ehphalet Wheeler days 81, 
 
 Na'l Hen-ick, 81, 
 
 Bill Lain 106, 
 
 John Dow 86," 
 
 and the "Price of the Boking cloath £1. 17s. 3d." 
 
 Mr. Dewey operated these mills to the time of his 
 decease — 1773 — and they were afterwards in the oc- 
 cupancy of his sons, Justin and Hugo, until 1791, who 
 then conveyed the premises to Major Thomas IngersoU 
 and Moses' Hopkins, Esq., ''with all the privileges of 
 the stream which were granted to our father Israel 
 Dewey deceased, by the proprietors of Housatunauk 
 River in Great Barrington." This conveyance gave to 
 Messrs. IngersoU & Hopkins all the water power of 
 the stream fi'om the bridge southward, which had been 
 originally granted by the town to Israel Dewey. During 
 the thirty years in which the Dewey mills were main- 
 tained, no works were erected between them and the 
 bridge. 
 
 In 1792, IngersoU and Hopkins abandoned the 
 Dewey mills, and built a new dam on the site of the 
 old one of David IngersoU — the same now occupied by 
 the Berkshire Woolen Company — removing at the 
 
INGERSOLL AND HOPKINS' MLLLS. 183 
 
 same time a portion of the Dewey dam in order that 
 their work might not be impeded by the setting back 
 of water. In prosecuting this work they found re- 
 mains of the dam built by David Ingersoll more than 
 fifty years before. These gentlemen erected there a 
 grist-mill on the west side of the stream — the old red 
 mill, taken down in 1852 — and also a saw-mill on the 
 east side. These works with other improvements in 
 that vicinity will be hereafter more particutarly men- 
 tioned. The Dewey mill is said to have been removed 
 to another locality and converted into a distillery; 
 but we are uncertain as to its new location and use ; 
 though it may be surmised that it was removed to the 
 Bobbins grove on Castle street hill, where Doctor 
 David Leavenworth — several years later — had a distil- 
 lery for the manufacture of cider brandy. 
 
CHAPTER XV. 
 
 RELIGIOUS DISSENSIONS— QUARRELS OVER THE 
 MINISTER'S SALARY. 
 
 1757—1769. 
 
 We have alluded to the disagreements relative to 
 the raising of money for the salary of the minister, 
 which was a subject of dispute in the town meetings 
 from 1761 to 1769 ; but the causes of variance had their 
 origin in cii'cumstances of an earlier date. Of the first 
 settlers, the Dutch — as their traditions assert — were 
 attached to the Lutheran church, in which they had 
 been reared in the state of New York, whilst the Eng- 
 lish who had been brought up in the Orthodox faith of 
 New England were Congregationalists. But if the 
 early impressions made upon the Rev. Samuel Hop- 
 kins,, in his intercourse with these settlers, are to be 
 relied upon, there was a deplorable want of religious 
 sentiment amongst them, and but few of the whole 
 number were truly religious. The meeting-house had 
 been built by a tax equitably assessed upon the pro- 
 prietary rights to the land, and each proj^rietor, resi- 
 dent or non-resident, or of whatever religious persua- 
 sion, contributed his just proportion, according to the 
 number of rights which he owned. 
 
 In the charter of the parish, as was the custom of 
 the time, provision was made for the '-support of au 
 able, learned, and Orthodox, minister ;" for the laws of 
 the province requu-ed that the inhabitants of towns and 
 parishes "should take due care from time to time to be 
 constantly provided of a Learned, Able and Orthodox 
 minister," and further '-that he should be suitably 
 maintained by the inhabitants of the town." The salary 
 of the minister, under the law, was raised by a tax 
 upon the polls and estates of the inhabitants. Towards 
 the building of the meeting-house, the Dutch proprie- 
 
DISSENSIONS. 185 
 
 tors had j^aid their exact share ; and in raising money 
 for the support of the minister, both Lutherans (1) 
 -and CongregationaHsts were equitably taxed. So far 
 as we know, the Dutch and EngHsh united cordially in 
 giving Mr. Hopkins a call to settle here. At least the 
 call was unanimous, as is shown by the record, as well 
 -as by the statements of the minister. 
 
 In the earlier years of Mr. Hopkins' ministry, there 
 is no evidence of any want of harmony between him 
 -and his parishioners. It is true that his salary was not 
 paid with commendable prompitude ; but this, at first, 
 is attributable rather to poverty- and a general negli- 
 gence of duty than to any want of friendly feeling 
 towards the minister. Mr. Hoj^kins visited and taught 
 aHke both in the English and Dutch families, and says 
 of the latter "they appear to be a kind people," which 
 no doubt was true, for, than the Dutch none were more 
 remarked for their hospitality. But the Dutch, differ- 
 ing from the minister in their views of church privi- 
 leges, were not long, if ever, his very earnest support- 
 ers, and few if any of them united with his church. It 
 is probable also that some wxre not sufficiently con- 
 versant with the English tongue to comprehend his 
 preaching. Some of them wished to have their child- 
 ren baptized, but as they were not church members, 
 the minister could not perform the ceremony. This 
 was, with them, a cause of grievance. 
 
 It is said that the Dutch asked the privilege of hav- 
 ing preaching from time to time, by a Lutheran minis 
 ter, in their own language, in the meeting-house, and 
 that this, not unreasonable request, was denied them. 
 From about this time, some of them habitually absented 
 themselves from meeting, and their seats were vacant 
 .Sa)bbatli after Sabbath. From the events which fol- 
 lowed it may be inferred that much acrimony of feeling 
 existed both with the Dutch and with the sup23orters 
 of the minister. 
 
 (1) lu classing the Dutch inhabitants as Lutherans we have 
 followed their tradition and history as heretofore written ; but 
 we are informed, there was at that time no Lutheran church in 
 the vicinity of Kinderhook, whence they emigrated, nor indeed 
 -above the Highlands of the Hudson River. 
 
186 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 Under the stringent colonial laws, attendance upon 
 public ^YO^sllip as often as once in three months, was 
 obligatory upon the inhabitants, and negligence of duty, 
 in this resj^ect, was a penal offence. The tything men, 
 in the discharge of their official duties, lodged with a 
 magistrate, complaints against the Sunday absentees. 
 Those who had offended against the law were sum- 
 moned to api^ear before the magistrate, and having no 
 defence to offer, plead guilty to the offences charged- 
 The magistrate could do no less than pronounce upon 
 them the sentence which the law required. The penal- 
 ty prescribed by the statutes, was the imposition of a 
 fine, or confinement in the public stocks. The magis- 
 trate humanely gave them the choice of paying a fine 
 or sitting in the stocks, and at their request, kindlj 
 granted them a few days' delay, that they might have 
 time for consideration before determining their choice 
 of punishment. The delinquents chose the stocks, and 
 as there were none in the parish, were taken to Shef- 
 field to suffer the infliction. Amongst the number 
 condemned were Isaac Van Deusen, Peter, John, and^ 
 Garret Burghardt — brothers. Confinement in the 
 stocks was frequently attended and aggravated by jeers 
 and insults from the lookers on ; and on this occasion, 
 wdth the intent to protect the sufferers from alnisej. 
 Hendrick Burghardt — an elder brother of Peter, John, 
 and Garret, went with them to Sheffield, armed with 
 gun, powder-horn, and bullet-pouch, and taking his 
 stand beside the 23risoners as they were placed in the 
 stocks, made bold declaration that he would inflict con- 
 dign punishment upon any who should offer them in- 
 sult. Timothy Woodbridge, Esq., of Stockbridge, 
 whose sympathies were enlisted in behalf of the offend- 
 ers, was also in attendance and by the prestige of his 
 character as a public man aided in preserving decorum 
 and good order. The day of affliction became one of 
 hilarity and mirthf ulness ; and whatever effect the vin- 
 dication of the law may have produced U2)on the trans- 
 gressors, it reacted upon those who caused the law to 
 be put in execution. From that time the Dutchmen 
 attended meeting often enough to comply with the re- 
 quirements of the statute; and afterwards emjDloyed 
 
RESULTS OF INTOLERANCF. 187 
 
 Dutch clergymen to preach to them at stated intervals. 
 
 In the foregoing brief statement of tins ill-advised 
 and discreditable transaction, we have followed the ac- 
 count written about 1828, by "Wise" Isaac Van Deu- 
 sen, or as he is still sometimes called "the Wise man;" 
 though his history of the affair — which has been several 
 times printed — evidently written with some degree of 
 partiality, is more circumstantial m detail than we have 
 cared to be. We have not the date of these occurren- 
 ces, but the time was probably about 1758-60. 
 
 There are, ordinarily, two sides to a quarrel, and 
 such no doubt was the case in the present instance; 
 we have presented but one — that which has been pre- 
 served — the other, with whatever extenuating circum- 
 stances may have existed, so far as we know, has never 
 been written The course pursued with the Dutch, 
 savoring as it did of oppression and intolerance, proved 
 disadvantageous to the supporters of the minister. 
 But the opposition to Mr. Hopkins was not confined 
 to the Dutch ; some who differed with him in theologi- 
 cal views joined in it, and others, who cared little for 
 the support of religious institutions, were readily allied 
 against him. All these, united, constituted quite a 
 formidable party. 
 
 Though some, as early as 1760, were unfriendly 
 towards Mr. Hopkins, he was by no means unpopular, 
 but enjoyed the support, sympathy, and esteem of the 
 greater part of the people. In evidence of the truth of 
 this statement, we have the fact that the parish in 1760 
 added £15, and the town, the next year, £20, to his 
 stated salary, without (as he says) any especial request 
 on his part. During the year 1761, the disaffection 
 towards Mr. Hopkins had been on the increase, and 
 had assumed such proportions as to cause him much 
 solicitude and to lead him to doubt whether or not his 
 ministrations would long continue to be acceptable to 
 his people. He was willing to remain so long as his 
 stay might be productive of good and the people might 
 furnish him a competent support ; he had no desire to 
 leave ; he had calls to go elsewhere, which, provided he 
 could not be maintained here, he felt it his duty, and 
 for his interest, to accept, and he therefore desii-ed an 
 
188 HISTORY OF GREAT HARRINGTON. 
 
 expression of the sentiment of the people upon the sub- 
 ject. Prompted by these considerations, on the 29th 
 of May, 1762, he addressed to his church the following 
 letter — still preseryed in the tiles of the town: 
 
 " To the Bretlieren of the Church of Christ in Great Barrington. 
 
 " Deak Bretheben : — As I have devoted myself wholly to the 
 service of the people iu this place in the work of the ministry, I 
 shall willingly and cheerfully serve them so long as I shall be ac- 
 cepted and received in this character. And I now solemnly de- 
 clare that I have no desire to leave you, but choose and desire to 
 spend my life in your service, if I may be acceptable to you, and 
 have a reasonable maintenance. I mean that which is necessary 
 in order to my attending on the work of the ministry.^o as there 
 may be a rational prospect of answering the good ends pro- 
 posed. And therefore no consideration will make me think of 
 leaving you, for the sake of any offer whatevei-, unless I should 
 think myself to be rejected by you ; which I hope, and pray 
 GOD never may be. 
 
 ' ' I should be ungrateful if I did not thankfully take notice of 
 the generosity that has been shown, in making me an additional 
 grant of twenty pounds the two years past, even without my 
 asking it. And I shoald have reason to rely upon the generosity 
 of the people, and conclude they were ready to give me an honor- 
 able maintenance for time to come, were it not for some special 
 difficulties, which I need not particularly mention, as they are 
 well known to you, which have been increasing since the last 
 grant was made ; so that 'tis generally thought by you, I con- 
 clude, that 'tis at least very doubtful whether the people are dis- 
 posed to afford me a sufficient maintenance, so as to put me 
 under proper advantage to give myself wholly to the work of the 
 ministry among you ; but that most had rather jDart with me, 
 than comply with this. 
 
 "Now if this be the case, I should be glad to know it soon, as 
 I have an invitation to go to Halifax in order to settle iu the work 
 of the ministry there ; which I may think it my duty to comply 
 ■with, if I can not be received and maintained here ; but shall 
 find myself rejected by this peojole. I therefore desire that the 
 Inhabitants of this Town may be called together, that I may 
 have an opportunity to lay this matter before them for their con- 
 sideration, and that the}' may consider and determine : 
 
 "I. Whether I am so acceptable to them in the work of the 
 ministry, that they are willmg to receive me in that capacity 
 still, and afford me a reasonable and compleat support. 
 
 " II. To consider and determine what sum is reasonable and 
 sufficient to be a stated salary during my continuance in the work 
 of the ministry among them. 
 
 I am your Servant in the Gospel Ministry', 
 
 Samuel Hopkins. 
 
 Great Barrington, 29th May, 1762." 
 
SALARY ESTABLISHED. 189 
 
 In connection with this letter — which sufficiently 
 explains itself and the position of the minister — is a 
 petition, in the handwriting of Mi'. Hopkins, addressed 
 to the selectmen, requesting "that the Inhabitants of 
 the town may be called together as soon as may be " to 
 act upon the articles proposed in the letter, "and also 
 Particularly to agree upon and vote the sum they will 
 give him for his services the current year." This pe- 
 tition was signed by Daniel Allen, Josiah Phelps, John 
 Hamlin, Phin. Nash, Timo. Hopkins, Jona. Nash, and 
 Wm. Ingersoll, all members of Mr. Hopkins' church. 
 
 The selectmen called a town-meeting — held on the 
 4th of June — at which Mr. Hopkins is presumed to 
 have presented his case, and with results more flatter- 
 ing to himself than he had anticipated. The following 
 abstract from the votes passed at that time indicate 
 that he still retained the confidence and esteem of the 
 people and that they were determined to sustain him. 
 
 Voted "That the Kev'd Samuel Hopkins is so accei^table to 
 the Inhabitants of this town in the work of the ministry that 
 they are wilhng to receive him in that capacity still and afford 
 him a reasonable and competent maintenance." 
 
 Voted "That Eighty Pounds Lawful money shall be an an- 
 nual salary for the Reverend Samuel Hopkins during his contin- 
 uance in the work of the ministry here, when the following ne- 
 cessaries of life ai*e bought and sold at the following rates or 
 prices — viz : Wheat at five shillings, Indian Corn at three shil- 
 lings, Rye at four shillings and Oats at two shillings by the 
 bushel, and Labor in the summer at three shillings and in the 
 winter at two shillings by the day, and as those necessaries of 
 life shall annually either rise or fall his salary shall rise or fall ac- 
 cordingly, or in proportion ; this to be paid to him exclusive of 
 his firewood heretofore agreed and voted to be by us brought to 
 him, he the said Samuel releasing to the Town all past arrear- 
 ages to the heretofore non-payment of his fvdl salary," 
 
 By the terms of this grant, a stated salary, then 
 equal to $266.67, w^as established and Mr. Hopkins re- 
 linquished his claims upon the tow^n, and parish, for 
 all past arrearages, which amounted to a not incon- 
 siderable sum. But no provisions were made for 
 raising mone}'- for the payment of the salary, as it w^as 
 then customary to act upon this business in the autumn 
 of the year. Accordingly, at a town meeting — on the 
 29th of November — under an article of the warrant "to 
 
190 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 agree upon the ways and means by which the Rev'd 
 Ml'. Samuel Hopkins shall be paid his salary for the 
 present year and his firewood provided" the records 
 inform us that "the question was put but not voted." 
 This action indicates a disposition on the part of 
 the inhabitants not to provide for the support of the 
 minister; but a month later — December 31st — at a 
 special meeting, called on the petition of eleven leading 
 citizens, the people, in better mood — voted that the 
 salary should be raised by a tax upon the polls and es- 
 tates of the inhabitants. The next year the same un- 
 willingness was manifested towards raising money for 
 the minister's salar^^ and at a town meeting held Oc- 
 tober 4tli, 1763, '^ after some debate the c[uestion was 
 put, whether the Eeverend Mr. Samuel Hopkins his 
 salary for the present year should be raised upon the 
 polls and estates of the inhabitants of s'd town, which 
 passed in the negative." Another meeting, called on 
 the petition of the friends of Mr. Hopkins, was held on 
 the 9th of December and "it was put to vote whether 
 the town would give the Rev. Samuel Hopkins the sum 
 of eighty pounds agreeable to the grant made to him 
 on the 4th day of June 1762, for his service in preach- 
 ing, &c., the current year, and the moderator declared 
 that it w^as not a vote for said sum ; whereupon a large 
 number- of the voters arose and insisted that it was 
 clearly a vote, and after polling, the moderator and 
 said party disagreed, and the meeting finally broke up 
 in a great tumult and noise and nothing further was 
 done." Such is the brief report of this stormy town 
 meeting, as furnished by the records. The moderator 
 was himself inimical to Mr. Hopkms ; the town was di- 
 vided into two parties, and much ill feeling prevailed 
 on both sides. But another meeting was called, and, 
 on the 3d of January, 1764, the town voted to raise 
 money for the salary of £80 for the year 1763, and also 
 £ 10 for firewood, by a tax upon the polls and estates 
 of the inhabitants; and at the same time re-affii'med 
 the vote of 1762, by which the terms of salary had been 
 made permanent. Whilst these dissensions were in 
 progress the Episcopal church was organized and many 
 of the opposers of Sir. Hopkins connected themselves 
 
OPPOSITION TO THE MINISTEE. 191 
 
 with it. It is said that the Episcopahans, then con- 
 tributing to the support of a missionary who visited 
 fchem occasionally, were for a time taxed in common 
 with others, for the support of the Congregational 
 .minister. This — though strictly in accordance with 
 the law — they regarded as unreasonable and unjust ; 
 .and in this is found one of the causes of discord 
 ^Brhich arose wlienever the business of raising money 
 for the support of j)reaching was acted upon. But as 
 ,an act of justice to the Episcopalians, and to remedy 
 this cause of complaint, they were, in 1764 and after- 
 "wards, by special votes, permitted to draw from the 
 treasui'y the sums which they were assessed for preach- 
 ing, for the 2^urpose of maintaining the ordinances of 
 their own church. 
 
 The contest over the support of the minister, 
 gradually increasing in proportions, and reaching its 
 height in 1766, pervaded all the business affairs of the 
 town, and its effects are visible even in the Revolution. 
 In addition, the differences between the Colonies and 
 Oreat Britain had already begun to agitate the coun- 
 iiry. In the town a strong tory element existed. The 
 toiies opposed Mr. Hopkins strenuously, for he was a 
 whig in principle and did not hesitate to express his 
 sentiments. The annual meeting for the election of 
 town officers, in March, 1766, was adjudged to be il- 
 legal, was set aside, and another election was ordered 
 by the General Court. This meeting, at which Hon. 
 Joseph Hawley of Northampton presided, was held on 
 the 14th of July. In a private letter, dated July, 1766, 
 Mr. Hopkins writes: 
 
 ' ' Last week we had a town meeting which lasted three days. 
 The spirits of each party were raised to a very high degree. In 
 && issue, the Tories cariied the day, and have got all town af- 
 fiairs in their hands, just as they had before ; with this aggrava- 
 tion, that now they have a vastly higher degree of resentment 
 ■against me and the party that adheres to me than before. They 
 s&j they will with-hold a great part of my salary if not all ; and 
 ife appears that they intend to get me out of town. Query : 
 Since my salary seems to be the great bone of contention, the 
 strife at bottom being about money— who shall have the money 
 voted for preaching? or in one word, whether the Dutch, &c., 
 '-shall pay any part of my salary? — had I not better give my salary 
 
192 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 up, and, if those who adhere to me will r,ot maintain me by sub- 
 scription, either leave them or pi^each gratis.''^ 
 
 This letter sheds a ray of Hght upon the case, from 
 the point from which IMi*. Hopkins viewed it. That . 
 the threats of his opposers, "to with-hold a great pai't 
 of his salary," were not without foundation, is to be 
 inferred from the fact that ?.t a town meeting, on the 
 27th of October following, the inhabitants raised only 
 £45 for his support, making a reduction of thirty-five 
 pounds from his previously stipulated salary. In ad- 
 dition to this his salary for several previous years had 
 not been fully paid. 
 
 No money was raised by the town for the support 
 of preaching in YLQl ; but in that, or the early part of 
 the next year, a complaint was made against the in- 
 habitants, by William Ingersoll and others, for not 
 having duly encouraged, maintained and supported the 
 Rev. Samuel Hopkins in the work of the ministry ac- 
 cording to contract and agreement : and particularly 
 for not having paid his salary for the years 1761-62-64- 
 65-66. Ensign AVilliam King was appointed an agent, 
 in behalf of the tovrn, to defend against this complaint, 
 and £5. was appropriated for that purpose. At the- 
 same time — February 2d, 1768 — a committee was ap~ 
 pointed to settle with Mr. Hopkins relative to arrear- 
 ages of salary, but the records furnish no evidence- 
 that they attended to the business. But at a town 
 meeting, October 10th, 1768, William Brunson, David 
 Ingersoll, Jr., Esq., and Ensign William King were ap— 
 pointed to treat with I>Ii-. Hopkins relative to the ar- 
 rearages of his salary, to make a fair state of the same, 
 and lay the same before the town. (1) This committee- 
 
 (1) The following copy of a letter of the Kev. Samuel Hoj)- 
 kins, is kindly furnished by Henry W. Taf t, Esq. . of Pittsfield. 
 The original was evidently the reply of the minister, to an invi- 
 tation to a conference with the committee appointed " to trcaV^" 
 with him. 
 
 "G. Bakkington 12. Oct' 1768. 
 
 Sir : — I am obliged to be from home to-day till the evening. 
 Then I cai wait upon th-a gentleaien, the Committee, if they 
 please. Yours, S. Hopkins," 
 
 To David Ingersoll Esq. 
 
MR. HOPKINS DISMISSED. 193 
 
 reported at an adjourned meeting — November 27th : 
 
 " He demands of said town as arrearages, 
 for the years 1701, 02, 67 the sum of £67, 15, 7, 1. 
 
 and for the year 17G(i c£71, 5, 0, 0. 
 
 And it appears that Jolm Williams (Town Treasurer) has paid 
 towards his salary for the year 1766, £26. 18. 11. 1." 
 
 No measures were adopted for discharging this in- 
 debtedness, but on the 10th of January, 1769 (after an 
 ecclesiastical council had been called for dismissing Mr. 
 Hopkins) the town voted to pay him £71 as a salary 
 for the year 1768, but refused to raise money either for 
 arrearages of salary or firewood. Mr. Hopkins was 
 dismissed, by a council January 18th, 1769; and 
 brought a suit against the town to recover the amount 
 due him. David Ingersoll, Jr., Esq., and William King, 
 Jr., were appointed a committee to defend this suit ; 
 but Mr. Hopkins, ultimately, recovered judgment 
 against the town, and the inhabitants, in May, 1771, 
 voted to raise £146 for the payment of his execution ; 
 at the same time the tovrn appointed William King, Jr., 
 Israel Dev/ey and Ensign John Burghardt a committee 
 to wait upon Mr. Hopkins to see if he would '* abate 
 anything'''' from his execution. With v/hat reception 
 this proposition met from the reverend gentleman does 
 not appear from the records ; but it is hardly to be 
 supposed that, with all of his characteristic patience 
 and forbearance, he could have regarded it as other 
 than an act of effrontry on the j^art of the tovvU. 
 
 In 1767 — two years previous to the dismissal of 
 Mr. Hopkins — sp.ys Professor Park — " he requested the 
 church to refer the question of his continuance among 
 them to a council. But they refused, for they v/ere 
 determined to retain him. They adopted various ex- 
 pedients to }'aise his salary, but after an effort of two 
 years, they despaired, and then united with theii' des- 
 pondent pastor in the summoning of a council." 
 
 Nearl}^ thirty years afterwards, in the autobiographic- 
 al sketches of his life, Mr. Hopkins — referring to the 
 time of his ministry at Great Barrington — writes : "I 
 continued there in the work of the mmistry till Jan'y 18, 
 1769, twenty-five years and about twenty days, when I 
 was dismissed, by the unanimous voice of a council 
 
 13 
 
194 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 called on that occasion, and the consent of the church. 
 Doling' this time I had no great apparent success in 
 the ministry. A small number ^ere hoj^efully convert- 
 ed and a number of Christians moved into the place in 
 this time, which increased the number in the chui'ch. 
 But the congregation in general did not attend pubhc 
 worship, except sometimes ; and were not wilhng to 
 support the gospel. And a number tm-ned chm'chmen, 
 apparently, and some of them professedly, to get rid 
 of paying anything for the support of the gospel. And 
 so great a number of others refused to do anything this 
 way, that after the church, and others who wished to 
 have me stay among them, had made a number of at- 
 tempts, they declared there was, in theii- \iew, no pros- 
 pect or hope of my ha-\dng a su23port, if I continued 
 with them; and therefore they could not object to my 
 leaving them, especially, if an ecclesiastical council 
 should advise. They therefore joined with me in call- 
 ing a council, and laying the cii'cumstances of the case 
 before them ; who advised to my dismission, as men- 
 tioned above." Duiing the twenty-five years of Mi*. 
 Hopkins' ministry here, he received into the chui'ch one 
 hundred and sixteen persons ; forty-five by recom- 
 mendation and seventy-one by profession. 
 
 The church records of these early days, abound in 
 cases of discipline for profanity, libel, intemperance, or 
 other misdemeanors, the pimishment for which, if not 
 suspension,was frequently a pubhc censure administered 
 in presence of the Church and congregation, or a less 
 severe admonition before the brethren only. The case 
 of Israel Dewey, though unimportant in its immediate 
 result, is a somewhat cuiious one. ^Ii'. Dewey, who 
 did not fully concur with the minister in his doctrinal 
 views, took occasion, on a Sabbath, to manifest his dis- 
 sent fi'om the discoui'se to which he was a listener, in 
 so marked a manner as to attract attention. In what 
 the offence consisted the record does not infonn, and 
 we can only conjecture that, sitting uneasily on his 
 bench, he shrugged his shoulders or in some other way 
 manifested his disapprobation of the sermon : but at a 
 meeting of the Church, March 23d, 1758 — it was 
 "voted that Israel Dewev ouo-ht to be dealt with for 
 
ISRAEL DEWEy's BELIEF. 195 
 
 his disorderly behaviour in the time of preaching, in 
 the meeting-house lately,'' and Jonathan Willard, 
 Jonathan Nash, and William Ingersoll were desired to 
 confer with him. Mr. Dewey, having been summoned 
 by these gentlemen "appeared to confer with the 
 brethren on the 13th of April" about his conduct that 
 had been offensive, and, as he was competent to do, 
 defended himself and his doctrinal belief. But the dis- 
 cussion only added to the previous cause of grievance , 
 and the hearing was consequently adjourned for a w^eek. 
 April 20th, the record continues, " Israel Dewey 
 also appeared, and upon his making his submission to 
 the Church, and confession of liis con\dction that he 
 was out of the way m iiis conduct, at which excep- 
 tion was taken, and promising to reform, it was voted 
 that the Church would pass it by without a public cen- 
 sure ; but w^hereas he has declared before the brethren 
 of the Church, that it was an article in his belief that 
 it was not iqjon the whole best that sin should take 
 place in the world, and had in unjustifiable Avays op 
 posed the Doctrines of God's decrees, the Church 
 voted to defer this to further Consideration." A little 
 later, " upon further Conference with said Dewey," it 
 was determined " to let him pass without a public cen- 
 sm-e, but only to admonish him before all the brethren, 
 to be more modest and earnestly seek further light, as 
 we look upon him ignorant and much out of the way." 
 Ml'. Dewey — who had been previously engaged in a 
 written discussion of doctrines with the minister — ac- 
 cepted the admonition, but with views unchanged as 
 to the benificent usefulness of siiL 
 
CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 THE ORGANIZATION OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH— 
 
 THE ERECTION OF THE CHURCH— REV. 
 
 GIDEON BOSTWICK. 
 
 1760—1793. 
 
 In the discordaat state of religious affairs of the 
 parish and town, depicted in the jDreceding chapter, 
 the Episcopal church of Great Barrington had its 
 origin. Unfortunately, no record of the organization 
 of this church is preserved here. The printed and 
 commonly accejDted account of its formation is that it 
 was instituted by the Rev. Solomon Palmer, then a 
 missionary of New Milford and Litchfield, about the 
 year 1760. This statement, so far as we can learn, 
 appears to be based upon tradition rather than upon 
 records. It is not improbable that the Rev. Mr. Pal- 
 mer visited Great Barrington in 1760 and 1761, per- 
 formed the ceremony of baptism and held religious 
 services here in those veai's. But the date of the for- 
 mation of the church as well as the statement that it 
 w^as organized by IVIr. Palmer seems to us to need con- 
 firmation. It is said that the Dutch — Lutherans — and 
 a few Episcopalians together with some not original^ 
 of either of these denominations united in forming this 
 church. 
 
 By the regulations of Mr. Hopkins' church the 
 rite of baptism was accorded only to the childi'en of 
 converted parents. It is related by Prof. Park that 
 "many unconverted parents, particularly among the 
 Dutch, insisted on having their childi-en baptised ; and 
 when the number of unchiistened children amounted 
 to sixty or thereabouts, an Episcopal Clergyman w^as 
 
FOKMATION OF THE CHUECH. 197 
 
 invited to administer the rite." The date of this oc- 
 currence is not given, but it is supposed to have been 
 about the year 1760, and this was, perhaps, the occa^ 
 sion of the first official visit of the missionary of the 
 Church of England to this town. Neither are we in- 
 formed as to the name of the clergyman by whom the 
 baptismal ceremony was performed; but that the Rev. 
 Solomon Palmer officiated is highly probable, as he was 
 then located in Litchfield count}^ Connecticut, and was 
 the nearest resident Episcopal clergyman. From the 
 best information which we have been able to obtain, 
 and in the absence of any proof to the contrary, we are 
 of the opmion that both the date of the formation of 
 this church — "about 1760" — and the statement that it 
 was organized b}^ Mr. Palmer are erroneous. To the 
 Rev. Thomas Davies, who, succeeding Mr. Palmer, was 
 in September, 1761, appointed missionary to the church- 
 es of New Milford, Roxbury, Sharon, New Preston and 
 New Fairfield, in Connecticut, we believe belongs the 
 honor of having organized the Episcopal Church in 
 Great Barrington. In support of this belief we have 
 the following certificate from the pen of Mr. Davies as 
 well as his letters, quoted beyond, which distinctly 
 state that he "united the people as a church." 
 
 "This may certify all whom it concerns, that ou the 21st 
 Sept. 1762 Robert Noble, Jouathau Reed, David IngersoU, Sam'l 
 Breck, Stephen King. John Westover, Jacob Bnrgott, Warham 
 Williams, John Williams, John Williams Ju'r, Ebenezer 
 Hamlin, David Clark, Jos'h Robie, Jon'a Hill, Daniel Bay ley, 
 Josiah Loomis and Josiah Loomis Jnr. , Put themselves under 
 my care as a minister of the Chiirch of England, and accord- 
 ingly by mutual consent were formed into an assembly or body 
 of People, to be denominated hereafter members of the Church 
 of England, and moreover according to the Rules and Canons 
 of s'd Church of England, and by authority divested in me I 
 chose John Westover Clerk, and we mutually chose Robert 
 Noble and Jonathan Reed Church Wardens. And therefore the 
 above mentioned Persons, with all such Person or Persons as 
 shall hereafter join with them are reputed to be and by the Can- 
 ons of said Church of England, are esteemed members of said 
 Church of England, and are exempted from Pay any Rates or 
 taxes to Dissenters on any eclesiastical account whatsoever. 
 New Milford in Connecticut Feb. 15, 1763. 
 
 Thomas Davies, 
 Missionary for propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts." 
 
198 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 This certificate was apparently issued by Mr. Davies 
 for the purpose of exonerating the persons named 
 therein, with such as might "join with them," from the 
 payment of taxes for the support of a dissenting minis- 
 ter, and, in the absence of other records, is of histori- 
 cal interest, inasmuch as it establishes the date of the 
 formation of the church — September 21, 1762 — the 
 fact that Mr. Davies officiated on that occasion, and 
 also hands down to us the names of the seventeen 
 original members — united into a church — which are, 
 perhaps, not elsewhere preserved. 
 
 The original of this certificate still exists in the files 
 of the county court — formerly at Great Barrington, 
 now at Pittsfield — where it found lodgement at a time 
 when religious intolerance was more in favor than 
 now, and when attendance upon Sunday worship was, 
 by the law of the land, compulsory — for in those days 
 some were imprisoned, even in the Great Barrington 
 jail, for non-performance of their Sabbath-day duties. 
 The copy of the certificate quoted is kindly furnished 
 by Henry W. Taft, Esq., clerk of the coimty courts. 
 
 "A biographical sketch of the Rev'd Thomas Dav- 
 ies," published at New Haven in 1843, aftbrds further 
 light upon the early history of the Episcoj^al Church, 
 and confirms the statement that the church was organ- 
 ized by Mr. Davies. From a letter of Mr. Davies', 
 dated December 28, 1762, and quoted in the sketch of 
 his life, it appears that he preached sometime in Septem- 
 ber , 1762, ''to a large concourse of people at Barring- 
 ton, sixty miles from his place of residence [New ]\Iil- 
 ford] where there were no less than forty sober and rep- 
 utable families of the Chui'ch of England, and upon that 
 occasion he baptised some children and chose a Clerk, 
 a very regular and pious man, to read prayers to the 
 people." In another letter, of a later date, addi'essed 
 to the Society for the propagation of the Gospel in 
 foreign parts, Mr. Dalies writes — "If the honorable 
 societ}^ desu*e, I would transmit an exact detail of the 
 proceedings in that town [Great Barrmgton] since I 
 united the people as a church^'' &c. Here we have the 
 explicit statement of IVIr. Davies — confirmatory of the 
 certificate quoted — that he "united the people as a 
 
MISSION OF REV. THOMAS DAVIES. 199 
 
 church," and there can be no reason to doubt its truth- 
 fulness. Our conclusion is that Mr. Davies did organ- 
 ize the church, and at the time stated, September 21st, 
 1762 ; though we are of the belief that the Eev. Solo- 
 mon Palmer had at an earlier date held religious service 
 and performed the baptismal ceremony in this place. 
 
 Mr. Davies visited Great Barrington on the 21st of 
 October, 1764, when he administered the sacrament to 
 eighteen communicants, and on the next day baptized 
 two adults and three childi'en ; and again on the 25th 
 of December of the same year, on which occasion he 
 opened the chui'ch edifice — then recently erected — 
 with appropriate services, administered the sacrament 
 to fourteen communicants and baptized four children. 
 In his letters to the parent society, Mr. Davies com- 
 plains of the ill-treatment which the professors of the 
 Church of England received at the hands of the dissen- 
 ters in Great Barrington. The following extracts from 
 these letters will serve to illustrate the state of feeling 
 which existed here at that time, and are in other re- 
 spects of interest in connection with the history of the 
 church. In one of these letters Mr. Davies says, "just 
 before I wrote in June, 1763, they did imprison for fif- 
 teen days, two persons of as good character as any in 
 the town ; the one educated in the church, the other a 
 Lutheran, for no other reason but because they did 
 not go to meeting. As to then* rates or ministerial 
 tax which amounts to about £20 sterling per annum, 
 that they are obliged to pay without any hesitation, to 
 suj^port the dissenting teacher, although he, in almost 
 all his sermons, casts the bitterest invectives against 
 the Church of England as a church." In December, 
 1764, he writes, "I have visited Great Barrington and 
 the parts adjacent, in October last, and shall, if God 
 permit, set out directly for that place, in order to open 
 a very elegant and large church, which those people 
 have erected at great expense, and whilst laboring 
 under the severest ill treatment from their brethien, 
 the dissenters. If the honorable society desire, I 
 would transmit an exact detail of proceedings in that 
 town since I united the people as a Church, together 
 with a copy of my sermon which I shall preach at the 
 
200 fflSTORY OF GREAT BAREINGTON. 
 
 opening of theii- church." Again in June, 1765, he 
 writes, "On Christmas day I opened the new Church 
 at Great Bariington, with a numerous audience, ad- 
 ministered the sacrament of the Lord's supper to four 
 teen, and baptism to four childi^en. Mr. Bostwick, a 
 graduate of Yale College, and a candidate for Holy 
 Orders, continues to read prayers, and the Eev. Dr. 
 Warner's collection of sermons to the people. The dis- 
 senting teacher there, seems exceedingly embittered 
 against the Church people and me, and says he shall 
 write to the society about something that has offended 
 him in one of my letters. If the society consider them 
 as under my charge I would take the liberty (at theii' 
 earnest solicitation) to request a Bible and Common 
 Prayer book for the use of that Church.'' (1) Mr. 
 Davies, apparently, was not, formall}^, in charge of this 
 church under the aus2:>ices of the society, and we are 
 not aware that he held services here at any tiine after 
 the opening of the new chiu'ch ; indeed we have no e^d- 
 dence that he visited this church except upon the oc- 
 casions which have been mentioned, to wit : September, 
 
 1762, October and December, 1764. 
 
 The ReS^ Roger Yiets, missionary of Simsbury, 
 Connecticut — whose records are j^reserved — sometimes 
 officiated here. He visited this chiu'ch several times 
 in the latter part of the year 1763 and the early part 
 of 1764, and once as late as January, 1766. On the 
 occasions of these visits his records show that he bap- 
 tized tv>o children October 23, 1763, one December 13, 
 
 1763, married Nathaniel Lee and Sarah Hubbell at the 
 house of John Biu'ghardt, December 20, 1763, ba|> 
 tized five children January 29, 1764, one April 22d, 
 1764,' and another January 19, 1766. 
 
 (1) Thomas Davies was born in Hr.refordshire. England. 
 December 21st, 173(5 : Removed to this country, with his father, 
 in 1745; Graduated at Yale colhge about 17r)S: Visited Eng- 
 land, and took Holy Orders in August, 17fil ; Eeturnedto Amer- 
 ica, and on the 18th of September, 17f)l. was appointed, by the 
 Society for the propagation of the Gospel in foreign parts, mis- 
 sionary to the churches of New Milford. Roxbury. Sharon. New 
 Preston and New Fairfield in Connecticut. Litchfield was j:) rob- 
 ably added to this list. He died at his jolace of residence — New 
 Milford— May 12, 1766. 
 
REV. SOLOMON PALMER. 201 
 
 Mr. — afterwards Kev'd — Gideon Bostwick, then 
 preparing for the ministry, was officiating as Lay 
 Header to this chm-ch as early as June, 1765, and is 
 supposed to have acted in that capacity to the time of 
 his departure for England, for the purpose of taking 
 Holy Orders, in the latter part of 1769. The Kev. 
 Solomon Palmer, as before stated, is supposed to have 
 visited the Episcopalians here previous to their being 
 united into a church by Mr. Davies. He was then a 
 missionary of the towns of New Milford, Sharon and 
 Litchfield, but in 1761, was removed, at his own re- 
 quest to Amboy, New Jersey, and was afterwards — 
 1764 — established at New Haven. He was again re- 
 moved to Litchfield (probably soon after the death of 
 Mr. Davies, 1766) — and afterwards had charge of the 
 church at Litchfield and at Great Barrington. He is 
 supposed to have preached here occasionally until 1770, 
 when the Bev. Gideon Bostwick was settled here as a 
 missionary. 
 
 From the certificate of Mr. Davies, before quoted, 
 we learn the names of the seventeen original members 
 of this chui"ch, some of whom were residents of other 
 towns; those of the number residing in Great Bar- 
 rington were Jonathan Reed, David Ingersoll, Doctor 
 Samuel Breck, Stephen King, Jacob Burghardt, John 
 Williams and his sons John and Warham, Ebenezer 
 Hamlin, Daniel Baily, and perhaps Joseph Robie — or 
 Robin — as we find it elsewhere written. The Loomises 
 were of Egremont or Sheffield ; John Westover resided 
 in Egremont, and Robert Noble is supposed to have 
 been Capt. Robert Noble, (from Sheffield) an early set- 
 tler of Hillsdale, from whom that place derived its 
 ■ original name of Nobletown. It is probable that the 
 Van Deusens, Burghardts and others of Dutch de- 
 scent, who w^ere active in the early history of the 
 church united with it soon after its formation, and 
 very considerable accessions were made to its member- 
 ship previous to the settlement of Mr. Bostwick — in 
 1770. Mr. Davies, in a letter already quoted, affirms 
 that in 1762 there were in this place "no less than 
 forty sober and reputable families of the Church of 
 England," but it is probable that in this estimate were 
 
202 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 included families from other towns who attended upon= 
 his preaching here. 
 
 In the earher years of Mr. Bostwick's ministry — 
 1770-77 — the persons chosen to the offices of church- 
 warden and clerk were David IngersoU, Jr., Esq.. John 
 Van Deusen, Ensign John Burghardt, John Hickox, , 
 Mai'tin Bemelee, Peter Burghardt, Barnabas Scott. In 
 1771, we find Jogham Johnson chosen bell-man. This 
 Jogham (or Jacob) Johnson filled the office of bell- 
 ringer and sexton for many years, and, in 1783, was 
 appointed by the town to keep the keys of the south 
 burial ground; his residence was near where the dwel- 
 ling house of Major W. H. Gibbons stands. 
 
 We have the certificate of Rev. Gideon Bostwick, 
 missionary, and John Hickox and Martin Remelee 
 church wardens, dated October 24, 1775, and addressed 
 to the town treasurer, that the following named per- 
 sons were then "Professors of the Church of England 
 and usually and frequently attend the Publick worship- 
 of God on the Lord's Day with us :" 
 
 David Arnold, Thomas Pier, 
 
 John Burghardt, Martin Eemelee^ 
 
 Coonrod Burghardt, Peter Sharp, 
 
 Gerredt Burghardt, Coonrodt Sharp, 
 
 Peter Burghardt, Thomas Sherelock,. 
 
 Jacob Burghardt, Barnabas Scott, 
 
 Hendrick Burghardt, Nathan Scribner, 
 
 Ensign John Burghardt, Benjamin Stillman, 
 
 Coonrodt Burghardt, Jr., William Schermerhom, . 
 
 John Burghardt, 3d, Cornehus Sharp, 
 
 Hendrick Burghardt, Jr. , Frederick Johnson, 
 
 Peter Burghardt, Ji-., Isaac Van Deuseu, 
 
 Asa Brown, Abraham Van Deusen, 
 
 John Church, Coonrodt Van Deusen, 
 
 John Culver, John Van Deusen, 
 
 Joseph Davis, Matthew Van Deusen,. 
 
 Samuel Fowler, Jacob Van Deusen, 
 
 John Hickox, Isaac Van Deusen, Jr... 
 
 Caleb HiU, William Whiting, 
 
 Caleb Hall, Jeremiah Wormer, . 
 
 Kichard Houck, Aaron Wormer, 
 
 Oliver IngersoU, Reuben Welton,. 
 
 Stephen King, John Gun, 
 
 Samuel Lee, Isaac Preston, 
 
 Jonathan Prindle, James Taylor, 
 
 These were all inhabitants of Great Barrington. 
 
ERECTION OF THE CHURCH. 203 
 
 Notable amongst the few improvements of a public 
 character made in the town in the last century was the 
 erection of the first Episcopal church. 
 
 In December, 1763, John Burghardt, by deed of 
 gift conveyed to the Society for the propagation of the 
 Gospel in foreign parts a small plot of ground upon 
 which the church was soon afterwards built. Funds 
 and material for its erection were liberally contributed 
 by resident professors of the Church of England; of 
 these John Williams was the largest contributor, (1) 
 and Isaac Van Deusen and others are reputed to have 
 given very freely. Aid was also received from abroad^ 
 and the glass, it is said, was furnished by some friend 
 of the enterprise, in England. John Williams, Samuel 
 Lee and John Burghardt constituted the building com- 
 mittee. The house was erected in the spring and 
 summer of 1764, and was first opened for public wor- 
 ship at Christmas of that year. The site of this church 
 was a few rods south of the residence of Mr. John 
 Brewer, in the south part of the village, and nearly 
 west of his barn. The main body of the building was 
 forty by fifty feet on the ground exclusive of the porch 
 and rear projection, which added, made a total length 
 of seventy-one feet. The steeple, which was one hun- 
 di*ed and ten feet in hight was surmounted by a gilded 
 weather-cock, in the form of a rooster, and the belfry 
 was supplied with a bell — an ordinary ship bell — the 
 gift of some friend — the first which woke the echoes of 
 the East Mountain or summoned the villagers to the 
 house of prayer. The glass was freely used ; the sides 
 of the house were for the most part windows, large and 
 high, with arched tops, and composed of very small 
 panes, whilst in the east end, in rear of the pulpit, was 
 a projecting window of extraordinary dimensions. So 
 largely did the glass enter into the composition of the 
 building that it was sometimes derisively called the 
 " Glass house." Above the pulpit, suspended from the 
 ceiling overhead, hung a sounding board ; and after the 
 Revolution, a monument of wood, with a gilded ball on 
 its top, inscribed to the memory of Washington, occu- 
 
 (1) Deposition of Rev. Gideon Bostwick, in a suit against 
 Samuel Lee and John Burghardt, 1771. 
 
204 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 pied a place near the pulpit. It was some years before 
 the church was fully completed and finished. About 
 the year 1769, a portion of the bod}" pai't of the house 
 was proyided with pews, erected by indiyiduals at their 
 own expense. It was a fine structui'e for the time in 
 which it was erected, and, in its aj)pearance, reflected 
 credit upon the energy and enterprise of its builders. 
 The weather-cock, and some other material for the 
 building, was ordered by the building committee from 
 Jeremiah Hogeboom, a merchant of Clayarack, N. Y. ; 
 He afterwards sued the committee to recoyer a balance 
 due him for the articles furnished, and in the files of 
 the county coui't we find the original order, as follows : 
 
 "Grate Barringtou. May 11th, 1764. 
 Sb: — You would grately oblege us whose names are hear 
 under writen, who are a Committee appointed for the Building 
 the church at Barrington to send us the following artickels viz. 
 one whether cook and furniture exept the Iron Spindel whitch 
 can be Procured hear with Less Cost the Dimentions of it must 
 be Proportioned to the house on whitch it is to stand and the 
 workman that makes it must know the Bigness of the house and 
 height of the steple witch are as follows — Length of the house 
 50 feet exclusive the ehansell and steple witch contain 21 feet 
 more so that the whole Length is 71 feet the width is 40 feet the 
 height of the steple will be 110 feet we have sent you six Pound 
 York monej' in Part to Pay for the wethercook and furniture 
 and win pay the rest when we receve them of you we also want 
 200 lbs of 24d nails or small Duch nails and 40 lb of 20d nails, 
 and 200 lb of lOd nails, and 60 lb of 8d nails and 110 lb of 4d 
 nails and four papers of 6d Brads and three Papei's of 4d Brads 
 and one Paper of 3d Brads and half a paper of 2d Brads aad 
 three lbs of Glue and we will Pay you for them when we receive 
 them of — and we want them all in about fourteen days. Sr, 
 your compliance will obhge yours at command. 
 
 John Williams, 
 Samuel Lee, 
 John Bokghakdt," 
 To Capt. Jerimiah Hogboom. 
 
 This weather cock, which was of copper, cost, as by 
 Mr. Hogeboom's account £11 New York currency, in- 
 cluding a charge of £5 for gilding. It did seryice on 
 the church steeple until a short time previous to the 
 demolition of the chiu'ch — when it was blown down in 
 a stoiTQ — and afterwards graced the jDeak of Daniel 
 Wilcox's barn, on the David Leavitt farm. It is still 
 in existence, though not in use. 
 
REV. GIDEON BOSTWICK. 205 
 
 In this church the EpiscopaHaDs worshiped for 
 nearly seventy years ; it was taken down in 1833, and 
 such of the timber, flooring and other material as were 
 suitable for the purpose were then used in the erection 
 of the second church — the stone building, known as 
 Church block — now standing on the corner of Main 
 and Railroad streets. The little ship bell survived the 
 demolition, and was removed to the second church, 
 and continued in use about a dozen years, until, on one 
 Sabbath morning, it was broken at the first stroke, and 
 its place was soon after supplied with a larger and 
 better one. 
 
 Rev'd Oideon Bostioick. 
 
 Reverend Gideon Bostwick, the first permanent 
 minister of the Episcopal Church in Great Barrington, 
 was a native of New Milford, Conn. — born in 1742 — 
 and a graduate of Yale college in 1762. He became a 
 resident of Great Barrington as early as 1764, and if 
 we mista,ke not was employed here as a teacher of a 
 school, of a higher grade than the common schools of 
 that time. In June, 1765, as we learn from the letters 
 of Reverend Thomas Davies, Mr. Bostwick was offici- 
 ating as Lay Reader in the Church and was also pre- 
 paring for the ministry. Late in the year of 1769, he 
 went to England, w^iere he was ordained a Deacon 
 by the Bishop of London, received Priest's Orders, 
 and returning to this country in the early 23art of 1770, 
 became a missionary of the society for the propagation 
 of the Gospel in foreign parts, and was placed in charge 
 of the church at Great Barrington. The records of the 
 missionary labors of Mr. Bostwick begin with the 17th 
 of June, 1770, when he held services at Nobletown — 
 now Hillsdale, N. Y. — baptized a large number of chil- 
 dren and presided at the choice of church wardens. 
 His first record relative to the church in Great Bar- 
 rington is dated July 5th, 1770, when David Ingersoll, 
 Jun'r, Esq., and John Van Deusen were chosen church 
 wardens. Ensign John Burghardt clerk, Moses Pixley 
 and Nathan Scribner choristers. 
 
 These records extend over the whole time of Mr. 
 Bostwick's ministry ^ — twenty-three years. In addition 
 to the charge of the Church in this place, of which he 
 
206 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 was the first rector, Mi-. Bostwick's mission extended 
 to various other towns in this county, in the states of 
 New York and Yermont, and occasionally to some 
 towns in Litchfield county. His missionary labors 
 were extremel}^ arduous, necessitating long journeys 
 on horseback extending to Bennington, Arlington, 
 Manchester and other towns of Vermont on the north, 
 the Hudson river on the west, and including twenty 
 towns in Berkshire county. His records indicate that 
 the performance of his duties requu-ed constant appli- 
 cation and great industry, with protracted absences 
 from his family ; and the amount of work which he per- 
 formed in his long journeys through a rough and 
 sparsely settled country seems almost incredible. 
 
 In this town and the various places which he visited 
 dui'ing his ministry, he is reputed to have baptized 81 
 adults, 2,274 children, to have joined in marriage 127 
 couples, and to have attended upon the burial of 84 
 persons. Mr. Bostwick preached here for the last time 
 on Sunday the 2d of June, 1793, and on the 4th of that 
 month attended "the annual convention of the Diocese 
 at Middletown, Conn.," on which occasion he presented 
 the Rev. Daniel Burhans to BishojD Seabury for Holy 
 Orders. On his journey home he was taken sick, and 
 died at New Milford on the 13th of June, at the age of 
 fifty years. His remains are interred in the lower 
 cemetery in this town. In the death of IVIi'. Bostwick, 
 the church in this place suffered a severe and almost 
 irrejDarable loss, for he was very popular with his peo- 
 ple, and they were warmly attached to him. Few resi- 
 dents of the town have been more highly or more 
 generally esteemed than was Mr. Bostwick. He is re- 
 puted to have been a genial, friendly and affable man, 
 zealous and luitiring in his labors, devoted to his call- 
 ing and to his parishioners. During the twenty-three 
 years of his ministry the church was prosperous, and 
 as for a very large part of that time the Congregation- 
 alists were not provided with a settled minister, this 
 was the only church in town in which religious services 
 were uniformly and regularly maintained. The resi- 
 dence of Mr. Bostwick, for a time at least, was the 
 brick house just south of the Pixley brook, on the road 
 
REV. GIDEON BOSTWICK. 207 
 
 to StockT3ridge, now occupied by Moses C. Burr. The 
 salary paid him by the parish in this town was always 
 small: in 1771, we find it stated at £20; but he re- 
 ceived further support from the parent society in Lon- 
 don, of which he was a missionary. Previous to his 
 visit to England in 1769 — but at what date we are not 
 informed — Mr. Bostwick married Gesie Burghardt, 
 daughter of John Burghardt, one of the early settlers 
 of this towTi, by whom he had nme children, most of 
 whom survived him. His wife died May 16, 1787, aged 
 thirty-nine years. The children of Gideon and Gesie 
 Bostwick were : 
 
 Betsa Maria, baptized September 29, 1771. 
 
 Fitie , baptized November 28, 1773 ; married Herman 
 
 fCanfield, of Caufield, Trumbull county, Ohio. 
 
 Gesie, baptized November 19, 1775; died July, 1780. 
 
 Clarissa, baptized April 5, 1778. 
 
 John, baptized April 23, 1780. 
 
 Henry, baptized May 12, 1782 ; resided in Canada. 
 
 Gesie 2d. baptized August 1, 1784. 
 
 Elijah, baptized December 25, 1786. 
 , Adolphus. 
 
CHAPTEE XVII. 
 
 CHANGES AND IMPROVEMENTS— NEW INHABITANTS 
 AND NEW LOCATIONS. 
 
 1761—1776. 
 
 At the time of the incorporation of the town — 
 1761 — the straggHng hamlet of Ui^per Sheffield — it 
 can hardly be called a village — extended from Pixley 
 street south to the Great Bridge and from thence to 
 the Zina Parks' j^lace, south of Merritt I. Wheeler's ; 
 but with the exception of the old David IngersoU 
 house, which has been repeatedly mentioned, there 
 were no dwellings between the bridge and the present 
 Congregational Church, and the few dwellings south 
 of that point were scattered at v^-ide intervals. In- 
 deed nearly all the buildings in Water street have been 
 erected within the past fifty years. The central party 
 proper, of this hamlet was east of the bridge ; and its 
 not very extensive business w^as mostly in that vicinity. 
 The meeting-house, standing in the west line of the 
 upper burial ground, the mills on the river bank, erect- 
 ed by David IngersoU more than twenty years before, 
 and the very notable tavern of Captain Hewit Root at 
 the east end of the bridge, formed a nucleus about 
 which a few dwellings had congregated. Further east 
 at the Bung Hill corner was another small collection 
 of residences, a shop or two and the smithery of Jona- 
 than Nash. In laying out the lands on the east side 
 of the river, through Pixley street, the settling com- 
 mittee appear to have had in view the site of a pro- 
 spective village on the level ground in that vicinity and 
 gave to the main road in that part of the towoi, a width 
 of ten rods. The establishment of the courts and the 
 subsequent erection of Coui^ty buildings gave a slight 
 
_/^5^ 
 
 ROADS ESTABLISHED. — / 209 
 
 impulse and added somewhat to the importance of both 
 the town and village. 
 
 In 1763, a county road was laid out from the 
 corner by the south burial ground, running west by 
 way of North Egremont, towards Kinderhook ; another 
 was established, the next year, through the village, 
 crossing the river at the Great Bridge ; and in 1771, 
 another was provided froin the bridge, northerly, by 
 John Williams' mills at Yan Deusenville, and Major 
 Elijah Vv'illiams' iron vvorks at West Stockbridge, to 
 Richmond. These roads followed somewhat nearly the 
 old town highways previously in use ; and that through 
 the village had a width of six rods. Some roads were 
 laid out in the western part of the town previous to 
 1770. Amongst these, the second highway located by 
 the town authorities was that leading from the main 
 street towards Seekonk and Alford. This road, laid in 
 1764, began at the corner on Castle street hill, 
 near the residence of Henry C. Luka, while that 
 part which lies between that corner and IMain street, 
 which had been established by the town of Shef- 
 field in 1747 — with a width of only two rods — dwin- 
 dled to the insignificance of "the lane which leads 
 from the town street up to Rev. Samuel Hopkins'," 
 and so remained until 1793, when it was relaid and 
 widened. The county road east of the bridge, as sur- 
 veyed in 1764, infringed upon the burial ground — then 
 much smaller than now — and in 1768 Jonathan Nash 
 and others petitioned the Court of Sessions for an 
 alteration at that point, alleging that within the limits 
 of that highway, north of the meeting house, were the 
 graves of many of the early inhabitants. The court, 
 thereupon, authorized the selectmen to fence the high- 
 way in such manner as would least incommode the 
 public and at the same time preserve the graves from 
 desecration. It is probably owing to this circumstance, 
 that this road wliich was apparently located on the 
 north side of the meeting-house, remained unused, 
 and travel continued, as before, on the old road south 
 of that building for more than forty years. 
 
 Simultaneoushf with the incorporation of the town, 
 the business of the village, which had long been to the 
 
210 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 ■eastward of the bridge, began to move southward to 
 the present Main street. The change was gradual, but 
 with increase of population, the tendency of new settle- 
 ments was to the south, and the erection of the court- 
 house and jail, not long after, aided in confirming the 
 change. As we have before stated, Daniel Allen the 
 carpenter and cabinet maker, had aheady located where 
 the house of Frederick T. Whiting stands, and General 
 Joseph Dwight had built the Henderson house. Israel 
 Dewey erected his dwelhng in or about 1761, on the 
 place since occupied by Major Samuel Kosseter — now 
 Henry Dresser's — and the next 3'ear — 1762 — built the 
 mills mentioned in a former chapter. 
 
 Colonel Mark Hoj^kins — brother of the minister — 
 then a young law^-er, recently admitted to the bar, was 
 settled here in practice in 1761. Four years later he 
 married Electa Sergeant, daughter of Eev. John Serg- 
 eant, and step-daughter of General Dwight, and at about 
 that time built the house lately occupied by Charles W. 
 Hopkins, Esq., which stood opposite the Congrega- 
 tional Church. This house, somevrhat remodeled, has 
 been removed to Elm street and is now owned by 
 Keuben R. Brewer. Colonel Hopkins was the first 
 Register of deeds as w^ell as Treasurer for the county, 
 and had his office in a quaint, low, gambrel roofed build- 
 ing, wliich he is supposed to have erected, and which 
 stood where the brick house, in which Mrs. Judith 
 Bigelow lately lived, now does. The lower floor of 
 the building contained two rooms, the north one of 
 which was at times used for a store ; the south one 
 served for the Registry office and also from 1797 to 1840 
 for the Post-office. It still stands, without material 
 change in its appearance, on the east side of Water 
 street, wliither it was removed forty years ago, and 
 converted into a tenement. Theodore Sedgwick — 
 afterwards Judge Sedgwick — was a law student in the 
 office of Colonel Hopkins, and having been admitted to 
 the bar in September, 1765, began the practice of his 
 profession here. He remained here about four years 
 and removed to Sheffield. The death of General Joseph 
 Dwight occuiTed June 9tb, 1765 ; his son, Elijah 
 Dwight, Esq., who was clerk of the county courts, re- 
 
VILLAGE IMPROVEMENTS. Ol l 
 
 maiued in occupancy of the homestead of his fatlier 
 
 We find lunUicensed by the court in 1765 "to se He« 
 coftee, and china wai-e." *^'*' 
 
 The old Episcopal parsonage (taken down in ]87fi^ 
 apparently built by Silas Goodiich in 1763 was , J,? 
 chased by the county of Doctor Samuel Lee In l^es' 
 SaiieTT' ^^V"'^ ''°""^' ^' "-^^ «« » tevern. Docto; 
 
 J./ 01 and 1764, Joseph or Elias H-ilhAvf +i. •^^'^^^ 
 brothers-built the house wmtStl^Z^nuZ ^'''' 
 been raised up and modernized_is stmt e'niS: body 
 Elias rnT'''''"? f ^^'' ^'«^^« Kellogg. Here 
 
 ^:^^ ^- '° «- '^- '>^ hrd;p!;[!i;etr 
 
 In 1762 Daniel Ratlibun, a clothier, from Stonin^r 
 ton, Connecticut, who had a fnliino- mill on the r.f^ 
 
 sss a: ft." fer" - • ■-'? Si- 
 
 l,«rl^*'*T ?'^ *°'''" '■'"''' incorporated Aaron Sheldon 
 had kept a tavern near the site of the Berkshire House 
 which he IS supposed to have continued imtifnes' 
 when he sold his house to Daniel Kowley, wU all the 
 land outhe east side of Main street betweel he prem 
 
212 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 ises of Mrs. E. W. McLean and Frederick Langsdor£f. 
 At that time, with the exception of the Sheldon tavern, 
 there apj^ear to have been no dwelhngs upon this large 
 section of Main street. JVIi\ Rowley remained here 
 but little more than a year, when he sold the same 
 house and land to Josiah Smith from Tyringham. 
 
 IVIi'. Smith moved to this place in the spring of 1770, 
 and immediately after built a new house, where the 
 Berkshire House stands. We h^-e the date of the 
 raising of this house, June 24th, 1770. Here he kept 
 a tavern to the time of his decease, November, 1782. 
 The house built by ]VIi\ Smith continued, under va/- 
 rious proprietors, to be the principal hotel of this part 
 of the village until 1839, when it was removed in sec- 
 tions, which were converted into four separate dwel- 
 ling houses. 
 
 Doctor Joseph Lee, a young physician, settled here 
 in 1761, and soon after married Eunice Woodbridge, 
 daughter of Timothy Woodbridge, Esq., of Stock- 
 bridge ; he had his residence near where the stone cot- 
 tage of the late Dr. C. T. Collins stands, and is supposed 
 to have built there the first house which stood upon 
 that gTOund. Doctor Joseph Lee died March 6th, 
 
 1764, in the 27th year of his age. By the death of 
 Doctor Lee and of Doctor Samuel Breck, both of which 
 occurred at nearly the same time, an opening for an- 
 other physician was made. This was soon filled by Doc- 
 tor William Whitmg, who came here from Hartford in 
 
 1765. Doctor Whiting lived for a few 3^ears in the 
 house previously occupied by Doctor Joseph Lee, but 
 in 1772 purchased land on the west side of Main Street, 
 extending north from the Castle street corner, and in 
 1773 built a broad and capacious house where the 
 " Sumner Building " now stands. On the books of 
 Israel Dev/ey we find a charge to Doctor Whiting in 
 Februar}^ 1773, of "foui- trees for sills for your house"' 
 4 shillings. In the improvements made about 1839, 
 the house of Doctor T\Tiiting was removed to Bridge 
 street where it still stands, in a good state of preserva- 
 tion — the old Red house — owned by Jeremiah Atwood. 
 The name of Doctor WTiiting is intimately connected 
 with the history of the town, especially during the Rev- 
 
GAMALIEL WHITING TEUMAN WHEELER. 213 
 
 olutionary period, and will frequently aj^pear hereaf- 
 ter. Lieutenant Gamaliel Whiting, father of the late 
 General John Whiting, having previously resided in 
 Canaan, Connecticut, and in INew Canaan, N. Y., came 
 to this town in 1766. He was by occuj)ation a tailor, 
 and lived for a time in the house, before mentioned, 
 built by Daniel Eathbun. He afterwards resided in 
 the Doctor SamueJ, Lee house, which stood w^here 
 Doctor William H. Parks now^ lives. He records the 
 building of his shop in 1771 — its site unknown — but 
 probably at the corner of Main and Castle streets (the 
 site since occupied by the law office of General John 
 Whiting) where an old shop is known to have stood, 
 in which Stej)hen Sibley, in 1785, carried on the busi- 
 ness of a brazier and clock maker. About 1776-7 Mr. 
 Whiting built the "old Whiting house" — taken down 
 in 1874 — at the time of the erection of the new Town 
 Hall. The exact site of this house is marked by the 
 soldiers' monument, the foundation of which covers the 
 hearth stone in the basement of the old house. South 
 of the Whiting house, between the soldiers' monument 
 and the Episcopal parsonage, was another dwelling, 
 .erected at a very early date, but when or by whom 
 built we are unable to determine. It was apparently 
 occupied by William Whiting 2d — son of Gamaliel — in 
 the latter part of the last century, but its existence is 
 not now remembered by an}^ person living. 
 
 In the Spring of 1764, Captain Truman Wheeler 
 from Southbaiy, Connecticut, settled here as a mer- 
 chant, having his place of business south of the village, 
 and near w^here his grand-son, Merritt I. Wheeler, now 
 resides. He built in 1771, the present Wheeler house 
 — the frame of which w-as raised on the 1st of August 
 of that year — and afterw^ards had his store in the north 
 front room of that house. Captain Wheeler w^as Tow^n 
 Treasurer and county muster master in the Revolution, 
 and his name is intimately associated with the trans- 
 actions of the town in that period. 
 
 In that part of the town David Church, the father 
 of Reuben, Samuel and Joseph, raised his house, the 
 same now owned by Doctor Samuel Camp, on the 13th 
 of June, 1771, and apparently removed to it from an 
 
214 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 old one which stood where IMi's. John E. Tucker lately- 
 resided. Nathaniel Lee, from Westfield, purchased in 
 1759, of Luke Noble, the place now Edward Manville's, 
 on which Mr. Noble had previously dwelt, and with his 
 shop in that vicinity for many years followed the trade 
 of black smithing. David Stowe — grandfather of Rev. 
 Calvin E. Stowe — came here at about the time of the 
 incorporation of the town. He married Lucy Lee in 
 1762, and is supposed to have built the old yellow 
 house, which stood, until within a few years pS,st, 
 about fifteen rods north of Merritt I. Wheeler's. Mr. 
 Stowe was constable and tax collector before the Rev- 
 olution. He removed to New Haven, Vermont, about 
 1778, where he died as early as 1782. Captain Peter 
 Ingersoll, son of Moses Ingersoll, who was merchant, 
 farmer and inn-kee2)er, built upon the home lot of his 
 father, the brick house in the south part of the village, 
 lately the home of the Pope famih\ David Sanford, a 
 graduate of Yale College, came here from Milford, 
 Connecticut, as early as 1757, and in that year married 
 Bathsheba Ingersoll, daughter of Moses Ingersoll. He 
 settled on the hill west of the village, near the Mans- 
 field pond, and built, as we believe, the "Sanford 
 house" there standing and still owned by his descend- 
 ants. His father had intended him for the ministry; 
 and he began the study of theology with the Rev. 
 Doctor Bellamy, but relinquished it. Later in life, and 
 during his residence in this town, he resumed his 
 theological studies, and after a brief ^preparation was 
 licensed to preach. He removed to AVest Medway, 
 Massachusetts, and was ordained over the church at 
 that place, April 14, 1773, where he became distin- 
 guished as an eloquent, able and useful preacher of the 
 gospel. One of his sons — David — remained here up- 
 on the homestead of his father, and was the ancestor 
 of the Sanford families now residing in this town. 
 
 The principal tanner of the town, before the Revo- 
 lution was William Jones, whose works were on the 
 west side of the way at the curve of the road in Water 
 street. This tannery was in operation as early as 1760, 
 and constituted about all the improvements then made 
 in that vicinity. ]VIi\ Jones appears also to have had a 
 
JOSIAH MANSFIELD. 215 
 
 saddleiy and harness shop in connection with his 
 works. Another member of the Jones family a few 
 years later, is reputed to have had his dwelling where 
 Justin Dewey now resides ; he too w as a saddler by 
 trade, and if we mistake not was the father of Doctor' 
 Anson Jones who emigrated to Texas, achieved political 
 distinction and became president of the Texan Re- 
 public. Josiah Manslield, by occupation a blacksmith, 
 who had lost his property by fire at Weston, Massa-' 
 chusetts, in 1765, and for whose relief a subscription 
 paper — still preserved — was subscribed by John Han- 
 cock, Doctor Joseph Warren and other Boston celebri- 
 ties, removed to this place from Lexington in 1774. 
 He bought the house, erected by Doctor Joseph Lee, 
 on the premises lately of Doctor C. T. Collins, and to 
 his business of blacksmithing added that of tavern 
 keeper, which he continued to the time of his decease 
 in 1779. Mansfield's smith shop stood in the south 
 end of Ralph Taylor's garden. The house occupied by 
 Mr. Mansfield, to which additions were afterwards 
 made, was used as a tavern during and after the Revo - 
 lution and, perhaps with some intermissions, until 
 .later than 1830. 
 
 We have at considerable length, and at the risk of 
 being tiresome to the reader, detailed the principal 
 changes in inhabitants and locations, south of the 
 bridge, from 1761 to 1774. At the latter date, with 
 barely a score of dwellings between the south burial 
 ground and the bridge, the place could hardly have 
 aspired to the dignity and importance of a village. 
 The court-house and jail in the centre, the Episcopal 
 church at the south end of the street, the school house 
 — near the site of the present Congregational church 
 — and the meeting-house east of the bridge, with the 
 town pound in the Great Hollow made up the comple- 
 ment of its public buildings, and its taverns, in num- 
 ber, were apparently largely disproportioned to its 
 inhabitants. The hill-sides which environed it were 
 still covered with timber, broken at intervals by the 
 clearings of its dwellers ; but the forest largely pre- 
 dominated. The Main street crossed by brooks and 
 intersected by ravines, was rough and unattractive. 
 
216 mSTOEY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 Below the Doctor Collins house a ledge of rocks ob- 
 structed the track, rising several feet in hight on 
 either side, with but little more than room for a cart 
 to pass between. In front of the residence of Ralph 
 Taylor, the road, descending into the " Great Hollow," 
 ran nearly on a level with the adjoining meadow ; the 
 meadow itself was a morass, almost impassable, and 
 known as " Ash Swamp ;" into this swamp a brook 
 from the hill-side at the west, discharged its waters. 
 This hollow was long held in ill repute by the early 
 inhabitants, amongst whom a legend of an Indian child 
 murdered by its mother and cast into the sv.amp had 
 obtained credence. The superstitions of the time 
 peopled it with hobgobhns and ghosts. It was said, 
 and by many believed to be haunted, and rumors were 
 common of strange sights and frightful sounds arising 
 from the swamjD, which here bordered the highway. 
 It was a place to be avoided in dark nights by the 
 timid. The hill to the south of this hollow was much 
 steeper and higher than now, and to the north the 
 high bank south of the Misses Kellogg house — as is 
 still evident from its contour — continued directly across 
 the road, presenting a formidable barrier to travel, and 
 terminating in a high sandy knoll west of the Lite Mrs. 
 Durant's residence. The formation of the ground at 
 this point was such that water might rvin across the 
 road from the premises now of F. T. Whiting to the 
 door-yard of the Kellogg house. In front of the Hen- 
 derson place was the " Silver Hollow," crossed — fur- 
 ther south than no vr — by the "Ash Brook," the road 
 at that point running on a level with the south part of 
 the premises of Mrs. McLean. North of the "Silver 
 Hollow" was a hill of considerable elevation, in front 
 of the Episcopal church, which sloped northerly into 
 a ravine, which formed the bed of a small brook, near- 
 ly in front of the Town Hall To the nc^rth of Rail- 
 road street, skirting the foot of the hill on the west 
 and lying between the railroad and Main street was a 
 swamp of considerable area, first owned by Moses In- 
 gersoll, and afterwards by Reverend Samuel Hopkins, 
 from whom it derived its name of " Hopkins' Poplar 
 Swamp." This extended north nearly to the foot of 
 
HEWiT root's tavern. 217 
 
 the hill in Water street ; and we have heard of the 
 remains of a corduroy road crossing this swamp in 
 the vicinity of Elm street. 
 
 The improvements of a hundred years have reduced 
 the hills and correspondingly filled the hollows. The 
 Ash swamp has become a productive meadow, and the 
 Poplar swamp is covered with streets and dwellings. 
 East of the bridge, the tavern of Captain Hewit Root 
 — the building, since removed a few rods to the west, 
 the same which now stands near the river bank on i\ie 
 north side of the way — was a conspicuous object and 
 a centre of attraction to the villagers, as well as to 
 travellers, for "Landlord Root" was a jolly man, kept 
 a well stocked bar, and had the art of concocting vari- 
 ous palatable drinks, the names of which are now un- 
 known in hotel vocabulary. The books of account of 
 Captain Root, now in the possession of the writer, 
 show that a very large proportion of the inhabitants 
 of the town patronized his bar, and that his tavern was 
 often the scene of fun and jollity. It was here, or 
 rather at the Great Bridge close by, that a circum- 
 stance occurred, related by President Dwight — in his 
 Travels — which has been often in print — we quote 
 ii'oni the History of Berkshhe ; " A Mr. Yan Rens- 
 «slaer, a youug gentleman from Albany, came one 
 evening into an inn, kept by a Mr. Root, just at the 
 ■eastern end of the bridge. The inn-keeper, who knew 
 Mm, asked him where he had crossed the river. He 
 .answered " on the bridge." Mr. Root replied that that 
 was impossible ; because it had been raised that very 
 day ; and that not a plank had been laid on it. Mr. 
 Yan Rensselaer said that it could not be true ; because 
 Ms horse had come over without any difficulty or re- 
 Mctance; that the night was indeed so profoundly dark 
 as to prevent him from seeing anything distinctly ; but 
 that it was incredible, if his horse could see sufficiently 
 well to keep his footing anywhere, that he should not 
 discern the danger, and impossible for him to pass 
 over the bridge in that condition; Each went to bed 
 dissatisfied ; neither believing the story of the other. 
 In the morning, Mr. Yan Rensselaer went at the solic- 
 itation of his host to view the bridge ; and finding it a 
 
218 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 naked frame, gazed for a moment in astonishment and 
 fainted." The road, as we have said, after crossing, 
 the bridge, ran southerly to the old meeting-house, and 
 turning at a right angle to the east, on the south side 
 of that building, crossed the present burial ground to 
 the foot of the mountain and fell into the highway as 
 now traveled near the IVIi's. Burt house — now B. F. 
 Gilmore's. On this road, directly in the rear of the 
 Burt house, and close to the foot of the mountain, was : 
 a quaint old structure, the former dwelling j^lace of 
 Noadiah Moore and of Joseph Gilbert. Here, in 1770, ■ 
 Deacon Daniel Nash settled, with his wife Abigail, the 
 daughter of Israel Dewey. The house of Deacon Nash 
 — taken down a few years since — was uncouthly perched 
 among the rocks, in near proximity to the moun- 
 tain ledges which abounded in rattlesnakes, one of 
 which Mrs. Nash found in her cellar, on the top of 
 her pork barrel, and killed. Deacon Nash, who was- 
 from Hadley, a shoemaker by trade, came here about ' 
 1767. He was one of the pillars of the church, and 
 Town Clerk from 1776 to 1794. Captain George King, 
 one of the earl}' sheriffs of the town, who had previ- 
 ously resided on the old road, (east side of the river) 
 removed to the old L house, — still standing at the- 
 Bung Hill corner, which is also j^i'esumed to have been 
 the dwelling place of his father — William. Caj)tain 
 King died in the service at Ticonderoga, January 19, 
 1777. To the north, towards the Pixley brook, in the 
 now weather-beaten house of Samuel L. Dearmg, lived 
 Jonathan Nash, having his blacksmith shop near by. 
 Mr. Nash early became prominent in town affairs, was 
 a member of the convention which formed the State 
 Constitution, and afterwards for several years the 
 principal Justice of the Peace in town. Further east, 
 where Captain George Turner lately lived, the eccen- 
 tric Major William King had his residence, of whom 
 more will be said hereafter. There is on the mountain 
 side near the Bung Hill corner a rude cavern formed 
 by the falling together of huge masses of rock, a place 
 of some resort, known as "Belcher's Cave," connected 
 with which is a dim tradition that one Belcher, in time 
 long past, there counterfeited silver com. But of the 
 
GILL BELCHER. 219 
 
 truth of this tradition or of the facts upon which it is 
 based, but Httle is known. " Gill Belcher of Hebron, 
 Connecticut, Goldsmith,'''' as recited in an ancient deed, 
 purchased land at the forks of the roads leading to 
 Stockbridge and Three Mile Hill, in 1765, and for 
 several years carried on liis trade in that vicinity, do- 
 ing such tinkering and mending as fell in his way ; the 
 earliest silver-smith in town of whom we have knowl- 
 edge. In the weather book of an old inhabitant, who 
 has left on record a few terse memorandums of the 
 events of that period, pertaining somewhat particularly 
 to the commitments, discharges, and breakings out of 
 jail, we find the following : 
 
 "1772 July 2d Gill Belcher com't'd," (committed to Jail.) 
 "1772 Aug. 3d Belcher released." 
 
 Whether for debt or misdemeanor Belcher suffered 
 a month's imprisonment, we are not informed. A 
 httle further on in the weather book, the following en- 
 tries cast a glimmer of light ujion the tradition : 
 
 " 1772, Oct. 30. Gill Belcher, D. Lewis, J. Adams, and J. 
 Caul com. for counterfeiting;" 
 
 "1772, Oct. 31. Money makers went to N. Canaan." 
 
 This evidence is confirmatory of the tradition that 
 Belcher was engaged in counterfeiting ; and it is not 
 improbable that the cave was used as his hiding place, 
 possibly as his workshop. It may be presumed from 
 the above quoted record, that Belcher and bis con- 
 federates had circulated their spurious coin within the 
 borders of New York, were arrested here, and the next 
 day, taken to New Canaan, New York, for tiial. On 
 the old road, east side of the river, Elias Ransom, from 
 Colchester, Connecticut, located in 1770, apparently 
 having his domicil near the south end of the Little 
 Mountain, north easterly from the Leavitt mansion. 
 But Mr. Ransom died in 1773, and his widow after- 
 wards married Ichabod Hopkins and remained upon 
 the premises. Mr. Ransom was the father of "Aunt Sal- 
 ly," wife of Major William Whiting — a woman of re- 
 markable kindness, benevolence and hospitality. 
 
 North of the Hopkins place, and a few rods below 
 the brook, which there crosses the road, Ezekiel Kellogg 
 from Colchester, Connecticut, built a small house in 
 
220 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 1772 — the cellar hole still \dsible. He removed to 
 Cooperstown, New York, about 1786. IVIr. Kellogg 
 was a brother of Ezra Kellogg, Esq., whose first ap- 
 pearance here is in 1775, and who, four years later, 
 mai'ried Mary — daughter of GamalienVhiting. Further 
 north on this road, and opposite the village, lived Mrs. 
 Rebecca King — widow of Asahel King ; and her sons 
 Joseph and Lucius, had their dwellings in that vicinity. 
 
 In 1772, Capt. Silas Sprague, originally from Rox- 
 bury, settled on Chiistian Hill, where Seneca Nodine 
 now lives. He remained until about 1790, and re- 
 moved to Bloomfield, Ontario county, N. Y. Barnabas 
 Sprague, the son of Capt. Silas Sprague, having pre- 
 viously built the Sprague house, still standing on Chids- 
 tian Hill, remained here after the removal of his father, 
 and reared a family ; he was the father of William, 
 Silas, and Thomas Sprague — all now deceased — and 
 also of the late Asa Sprague of Rochester, N. Y., who 
 was the proprietor of the great line of stages between 
 Albany and Buffalo. In the period under considera- 
 tion, many new famihes came into town, and with the 
 descendants of the first settlers were scattered over its 
 more remote parts. 
 
 As early as 1772, James and William Ray from 
 Rhode Island, Heniy McGonegal from Yoluntown, 
 Conn., David and Hugh Humphrey, and Martin Remele 
 had located in Muddy Brook. Avoiding the valley — 
 then a swamp — they built along the high hill, east of 
 the brook. Heni'y McGonegal, came to this town as 
 early as 1758, and married here, in that year, Luziah 
 Pixley. His residence was on Blue Hill, near where 
 John B. Maley now hves. He remained here until 
 1792, and removed to Fabius, Onondago County, N. 
 Y., where he died at the age of eighty-five, in 1828. 
 
 About 1776, came Hezekiah Atwood, from Newing- 
 ton, Conn., Barnabas Chapman and Rice Hall. Mr. At- 
 wood's residence was near the Monterey line.where the 
 most southerly house on the Blue Hill road now 
 stands. 
 
 By or before 1776, Elizur Deming and John Pat- 
 terson had settled at the upper end of the Muddy 
 Brook section, near the Stockl3ridge line, and Nathan 
 
REDUCTION OF AREA. 
 
 221 
 
 Purdy had located in the vicmity where Perry G. Corn- 
 stock now Hves. 
 
 About Van Deusenville, in 1772, Warham and Bill 
 Williams — sons of John Williams — and in 1776, Asa 
 Eddy and Eoger Buttolj)h had their dwellings. 
 
 On the Long Pond road, in 1772, David and Dan- 
 iel Wiilard — sons of Jonathan Willard — Nathan and 
 Thomas Willcocks and Thomas Sherlock had set- 
 tled. In the vicinity of Seekonk, Eli Lyon, John 
 Hickox, Oliver Watson, Charles Parsons, Hendrick 
 Perry, and the descendants of the Burghardt and Sharp 
 families were living in 1776. At the same time. Major 
 John Kellogg, Timothy Youngiove, David Wainwright, 
 with Joshua, Thomas, and Israel Root — sons of Joshua 
 Root — are found in the Green River district ; and 
 further west towards Egremont, Preserved Noble, 
 Brian Eddy and Jonathan Youngiove. On the Alford 
 road, and in that part of the town now in Alford, sev- 
 eral families were settled as early as 1761, on the west 
 end of the Long Lots. 
 
 Reduction of Area. 
 
 In process of time the inhabitants of the west part 
 of the town (now included in Alford) were desirous of 
 being separated from Great Barrington, and incorpor- 
 ated into a separate town. In 1769 and 70, they asked 
 the consent of this town to the proposed separation, 
 but their request was refused. They then made appli- 
 cation to the General Court, to effect their j^urpose, 
 and on the 27th of December, 1770, Great Barrington 
 again took the subject into consideration and appoint- 
 ed a committee consisting of Mark Hopkins, William 
 King, and William Whiting to di'aw up the reasons, 
 why the prayer of John Hamlin and others should not 
 be granted, and to report to the town meeting then in 
 session. The committee made a report which was ac- 
 cepted, and David Ingersoll, Jun'r, Esq., (the Repre- 
 sentative of Great Barrington, Sheffield and Egremont) 
 was instructed to lay the same, with the full state of 
 the case before the General Court at its next session. 
 
222 HISTORY OF GREAT HARRINGTON. 
 
 The reasons given by the committee, in their report, 
 were in substance, as follows : 
 
 The towu has uo objections against the lands and the people, 
 ■west of the original line of Sheffield being separated, and incor- 
 porated as a town, " the same lands find people being originally 
 annexed to us at the request of said people, and without our 
 knowledge or desire," but it does object to the separation of that 
 part of the towu which was originally a part of Sheffield, be- 
 cause the whole extent of this town will not admit of more in- 
 habitants than are necessary for discharging the duties incum- 
 bent upon all towns, the maintaiuance of schools, ministers, &c. ; 
 because, as more than one-third part of the people of this town 
 are professed members of the Church of England, and have a 
 missionary settled among them, the taxes for the support of 
 preaching will necessarily be borne by a smaller number, if the 
 proposed separation is made : because, nearly one-cpiarter of the 
 township — the north-east corner, or the Hoplands — is so situated, 
 by nature, as to render its separation, when inhabited, a neces- 
 sity, "and every division weakens us :" 
 
 because a great part of the lauds proposed to be set off, belong 
 to individuals who are greatly averse to the separation : because 
 the people of that pai't of the town are not so situated, " by the 
 make of the ground, or the distance of the way, but that they 
 may attend public worship and other business here, though not 
 with such ease as if they were night-r," *'for we know not of the 
 impassable mountain, situated as mentioned in said petition ;" 
 because this town is destitute of a dissenting minister, and if the 
 separation is made, it will be, in a great degree, disenabled from 
 settling such a minister ; because the proposed separation will 
 divide about twenty -four of the west tier of Long lots obliquely, 
 to the disadvantage of the owners. 
 
 This action, for a time, prevented the proposed 
 separation. Alford was incorporated in 1773, having 
 its eastern boundary on the west line of Great Bar- 
 rington. The inhabitants of the west part of this town 
 renewed their efforts for a separation, and in 1778, pe- 
 titioned the General Court for that pui-pose ; their 
 prayer was again, though ineffectually, opposed by 
 Great Barrington, and the lands lymg west of the ridge 
 of Long Pond Mountain were soon after amiexed to 
 Alford. Previous to this time Great Barrington ex- 
 tended so far west as to include the ground on which 
 the Alford meeting-house and a considerable part of 
 the village stands. The land then taken from Great 
 Barrington was 652 rods long with a width of 210 rods 
 at the north and 266 rods at the south end. About 
 
THE HOPLANDS. 
 
 223 
 
 1819, another tract — sixty rods in length — at the south 
 end of the first, was taken from Great Barrington and 
 , added to Alford ; so that Alford now inchides the west 
 end of twenty-four of the Long lots, belonging origi- 
 nally to the Upper Township. The former north-west 
 corner of Great Barrington is still marked by a stone 
 monument standing about eighty rods west from the 
 house of Mr. Frederick Fitch in Alford. A few fami- 
 lies settled in that part of the town lying east of Stock- 
 bridge, and now a part of Lee — called the Hoplands — as 
 early as 1770. Isaac Davis, from Tyringham is reputed 
 to have been the first settler there, and to have located 
 on the farm now Hemy McAllister's, in 1760. But it 
 was not until ten years after that time that the inhabi- 
 tants were sufficiently numerous to require any special 
 town legislation in their behalf. In or about 1770, 
 William Ingersoll, afterwards a leading citizen of Lee, 
 removed from the central part of Great Barrington 
 to the Hoplands. In February, 1770, the proprie- 
 tors of the Upper Township authorized the sale of the 
 school land in the Hoplands for the benefit of its in- 
 habitants, and in the same year, by a vote of this town, 
 those inhabitants were excused from the payment of 
 ministerial, school, and highway rates. The first roads 
 in the Hoplands were established by this town in 1771, 
 and six years later — 1777 — thirty persons, inhabitants 
 of that section, were paying poll taxes in Great Bar- 
 rington. But the Hoplands, isolated and remote from 
 the central part of the town, were by nature separated 
 from it, and at the incorporation of Lee in 1777, were 
 made a part of that town without opposition from 
 Great Barrmgton. 
 
 Population— 1761— 1776. 
 
 The population of the town, in 1761 estimated at 
 500, had increased to 961, in 1776. By the census of 
 1764-5, the number of inhabitants was 550, and of 
 
 ^ dwelling houses 87. In 1772, the number of polls 
 taxed was 153, against 221, in 1776, showing a very 
 
 .considerable increase of population betw^een those 
 
224 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 dates. The census and valuation of 1776, is as fol- 
 lows : 
 
 Total populatioD, 961 
 
 Polls taxed, 221 
 
 Dwelling bouses, 128 
 
 Saw mills, 3 (probably incorrect)- 
 
 Grist mills, 8 
 
 Fulling mills, 1 
 
 Value of Real estate, £9,263, 18s. Od.. 
 
 Value of personal property Cincluding 
 
 faculty,) " ' 2.061, 6s. 6dL 
 
 Total valuation, £11,32."^, is. 6d, 
 
 Equal to $37, 750. 75. 
 
 A few individuals w^ere assessed for a tax upon 
 Faculty, the valuation of which, as jjart of their es- 
 tates, was as follows : 
 
 Doct. William Whiting, 
 
 £15 
 
 Peter Ingersoll, 
 
 £J5<^ 
 
 Timothy Younglove, 
 
 30 
 
 Daniel Nash, 
 
 20' 
 
 Josiah Smith, 
 
 40 
 
 Thomas Ingersoll, 
 
 l(r 
 
 Josiah Mansfield, 
 
 40 
 
 Jeptha Holland, 
 
 & 
 
 Only three persons were taxed for money at inter- 
 est, and the whole amount was but £278. 
 
CHAPTER XVin. 
 THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD. 
 
 1768—1783. 
 
 In the few years immediately preceding the war of 
 the Revolution, whilst the clouds were gathering — pre- 
 cursors of the storm about to burst upon the country 
 — the people of Berkshire, though remote from the 
 seaboard where the oppression of Great Britain was 
 the soonest and most severely felt, were scarcely less 
 interested than those of the eastern part of the prov- 
 ince. Denunciations from the pulpit were frequently 
 directed against the aggi-essive measures of the British 
 Ministry, the prints of the day were constantly agitat- 
 ing the questions in controversy, and a large majority 
 of the inhabitants — though loyal enough to the King 
 — when the outbreak came, were sufficiently well in- 
 formed upon the points at issue and were ready to meet 
 the emergency. A smaller number, many of them at- 
 tached to the Church of England, and through its in- 
 fluences to the British government, and who had suf- 
 fered, in some degree, from sectarian ill-treatment, were 
 either neutral upon the great questions agitating the 
 country or openly opposed to revolutionary measures. 
 
 The earliest recorded action of the town, involv- 
 ing subjects of a revolutionary character, was with 
 reference to the resolutions adopted by the inhabi- 
 tants of the tov/n of Boston, October 28th, 1767, for 
 the encouragement of domestic industry, economy and 
 manufactures, and for dispensing with the importation 
 and consumption of many articles of British manufac- 
 ture. These resolutions, together with a circular letter 
 from the Selectmen of Boston, desii'ing that similar 
 
 15 
 
226 HISTORY OF GREAT BAKRINGTON. 
 
 measures might be adopted by this town, were made 
 the occasion of a town-meeting, held on the 2d of Feb- 
 ruary, 1768, at which it was voted ''that the inhabitants 
 of this town will fully comply with the methods gone 
 into by the town of Boston relative to the ^^romoting 
 of industry, frugality and manufactures.'' Again on 
 the 10th of October, 1768, at a town-meeting called "to 
 hear the vote of the town of Boston, at theii' town- 
 meeting held on the twelfth day of September last, 
 relative to the present distressed state of this prov- 
 ince, occasioned by several acts of the British ParHa- 
 ment imposing duties on the American Colonies — the 
 dissolution of the General Assembly of this province, 
 &G.J and act and vote thereon as the town shall judge 
 wise and prudent" — the inhabitants, whilst declining 
 to choose a committee "to join with the committee of 
 convention at Boston," appointed Messrs. Timothy 
 Hopkins, William King, Jun'r, 3Iark Hopkins, Da^dd 
 Ingersoll and Jonathan Youngiove a committee to di'aw 
 up an answer to the selectmen of Boston, and author- 
 ized them to join with the committees of other towns 
 of the county and concert action with them. Unfortu- 
 nately neither the records or files of the town furnish 
 a copy of the letter of this committee : but that it was 
 a maril}^ and patriotic response to the oppressed people 
 of Boston is sufficiently guaranteed by the character of 
 the men who composed that committee, all of whom 
 were men of abihty and, with the exception of David 
 Ingersoll, did honor to the town duiing the war. A 
 f ui'ther and more emphatic expression of the sentiments 
 of the inhabitants on the exciting questions of that 
 time, is found in the proceedings of the town, the next 
 year, relative to the celebrated "ckcular letter" ad- 
 di*essed by the General Assembly of this province to 
 all the colonies, in February, 1768, ui'gmg them to 
 unite in suitable measui^es for redi'ess from the oppres- 
 sions of Great Britain. This letter was regarded by 
 the British ministry as treasonable and rebellious and 
 they forwarded to Governor Bernai'd imperative in- 
 structions that it must be rescinded. At the next ses- 
 sion of the Assembly, the Governor sent to the House 
 of Representatives, a message communicating these in- 
 
THE CIRCULAH LETTER. 227 
 
 structions and requesting tliat the circular letter should 
 be rescinded. The House, on the 30th of June, by a 
 vote of ninety-two to seventeen, resolved that they 
 would not rescind. In consequence of this refusal, the 
 Governor, in obedience to his instructions, dissolved 
 the assembly. The "famous 92" were highly lauded 
 and the "obnoxious 17" became objects of public scorn 
 throughout the state. John Ashle}^, Esq., of Sheffield, 
 who, at that time, represented the towns of Sheffield, 
 Great Barrington and Egremont in the General As- 
 sembly, was one of the seventeen who had voted in 
 favor of rescinding, and by that act exposed himself to 
 public censure. He was nevertheless re-elected rej^re- 
 sentative the next year — 1769 — much to the disgust of 
 the inliabitants of Great Barrington, who, at a town 
 meeting held June 7th, 1769 — under an article in the 
 warrant "to know the sense and opinion of this town 
 with regard to the choice lately made of John Ashley, 
 Esq., to represent the towns of Sheffield, Great Bar- 
 rington and Egremont in the Great and General Court 
 or Assembly of this province for the cm rent year; he 
 the said John Ashle^'^, Esq., being (or having heretofore 
 been) what is called a Bescinder, in that, in the last 
 House of Kepresentatives for this province, he voted 
 to rescind the resolution of a former House with regard 
 to the well known circular letter ; and whether the in- 
 habitants of said town approve of and join with those 
 who voted to rescind as aforesaid ; and to vote, re- 
 solve, and act thereon in such a legal way and manner as 
 they shall think best," passed the folio v,dng resolution : 
 ^'■Resolved, — That the conduct of John Ashley, Esq.. who rep- 
 resented the towns of Sheffield, Great Barrington and Egre- 
 mont at the last General Assembly, in voting to rescind the 
 resolution of a former House of Kepresentatives with regard 
 to the much esteemed and highly approved of circular letter, 
 was, and still is, repugnant to the sense and opinion of tlie in- 
 habitants of this town, and that we hereby disapprove the 
 same ;" 
 
 and Joseph Gilbert was instructed to furnish a QO])y of 
 the resolution for newspaper publication. However 
 merited this rebuke may have been, and whatever mo- 
 tives may have influenced the action of Mr. Ashley in 
 regard to the circular letter, in justice to his memorj- 
 
228 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 it should here be recorded that both before and after 
 the breaking out of the war Mr. Ashley was found on 
 the side of liberty, an ardent, active patriot, and free 
 from an}' taint of toryism ; the action of the town upon 
 the matter of his vote on the rescmding of the Circular 
 Letter, is quoted simply to illustrate the patriotic spii'it 
 which animated the great majority of the people an- 
 terior to the Revolution, 
 
 The foregoing are all the ante-revolutionary votes, 
 pertaining to the troubles of that time, to be found 
 upon the records of the town. 
 
 Unhappily, of the proceedings of the inhabitants in 
 their various town-meetings from November, 1771, to 
 March, 1776, a space of more than four years, and a 
 period of extraordinary interest in the history of the 
 country, no record is preserved. During tliat inter- 
 val, William King (afterwards Captain and Major) held 
 the office of Town Clerk ; he was an able and inteUi- 
 gent — though eccentric man — and it is now a mystery 
 why he so long neglected to record the town proceed- 
 ings. His fault, in this respect, is, perhaps, attributable 
 to procrastination and negligence ; but it is well known 
 that at that time similar omissions in other towns were 
 not infrequent, and it is said that such were in many 
 instances, the results of caution rather than of negli- 
 gence : for with the prospect of a ruptui'e with Great 
 Britain, and with the uncertainty of its termination, 
 both towns and individuals were loth to put on record 
 such action as might possibly thereafter be used to 
 theu' disadvantage. Neither are the files of town pa- 
 pers for that period to be found, and both files and 
 minutes for record are, probably, irrecoverably lost. 
 
 Deacon Daniel Nash, who succeeded Major King in 
 the office of clerk, left a blank space in the record 
 book, in order that the records might be afterwards 
 perfected, and many years later a vote was passed by 
 the town authorizing Major King to take the book and 
 write it up; but this business, if begun, was never 
 completed. Deacon Nash had not the requisite quah- 
 fications of an accomplished clerk, and his records — 
 sadly deficient in perspicuity and directness of expres- 
 sion — are sometimes of doubtful meaning. 
 
COUNTY CONVENTION. 229 
 
 The year 1774 was a season of busy preparation 
 and intense excitement ; the crisis of poHtical events 
 was at hand. Conventions were held in several coun- 
 ties of the province at which stringent resolutions were 
 adopted and the people took stronger and more ad- 
 vanced positions in their opposition to British rule. 
 In these matters Berkshire was in advance of, rathei 
 than behind her sister counties. A convention of sixty 
 delegates — chosen by the inhabitants of the several 
 towns — assembled at Stockbridge on the 6th of July, 
 of which John Ashle}^ Esq., of Sheffield, was chosen 
 chairman and Theodore Sedgwick (afterwards Judge 
 Sedgwick) — then of the same town — was clerk. Great 
 Barrington was represented by Mark Hopkins, Esq., 
 Doct. William Whiting, and Capt. Truman Wheeler. 
 The deliberations of the convention extended over two 
 days. Thomas Williams of Stockbridge,Peter Curtiss 
 of Lanesboro, John Brown of Pittsfield, Mark Hopkins 
 of Great Barrington, and Theodore Sedgwick of Shef- 
 field were appointed a committee " to take into con- 
 sideration the Acts of the Parliament of Great Britain, 
 made for the purpose of raising and collecting a 
 Revenue in America, and report theii- sense of them." 
 This committee reported a series of resolutions, which 
 were unanimousl}^ adopted, in which the convention, 
 whilst acknowledging allegiance to the king, asserted 
 as principles and facts : 
 
 That the inhabitants of his majesty's colonies in 
 America, were entitled — by Charter — to all the rights 
 and liberties to which the inhabitants of Great Britain 
 were entitled ; 
 
 That they could not, constitutionally, be deprived 
 of their property without their consent ; 
 
 That by the duty imposed upon teas, by the late 
 act of the British Parliament, their property was taken 
 from them, and that the act " ought to be opposed in 
 all legal and prudent ways ;" 
 
 That their right to a trial by a jury of their peers, 
 of the vicinity, was undoubted ; 
 
 That all those acts of the British Parliament, re- 
 specting the collecting of duties — the taking away of 
 the trial by jury, or " whereb}^ the ancient trial by jury 
 
230 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 is in any v^n,y altered, are unconstitutional and op- 
 pressive :'' 
 
 That the franchises and liberties granted to them 
 by charter, could not be taken from them without their 
 consent, unless by forfeiture: — which franchises and 
 liberties had neither been forfeited or resigned — but 
 that some of the most valuable of these had been taken 
 away from them "without even the form of a trial;" 
 
 That, "in order to avert the consequences of these 
 arbitrary and oppressive acts, it is prudent for the in- 
 habitants of the said colonies to enter into an agree- 
 ment, not to purchase or consume the manufactures of 
 Great Britain, under such limitations and exceptions as 
 shall be agTeed upon ; and that such a non-consumption 
 agreement is neither unwarrantable, hostile, traitorous, 
 nor contrary to our allegiance due to the King; but 
 tends to promote the peace, good order and safety of 
 the community." 
 
 Timothy Edwards, Esq., of Stockbridge, Doct. Wil- 
 liam AYliiting of Great Barrington, Doct. Lemuel Bar- 
 nard of Sheffield. Doct. Erastus Sergeant of Stock- 
 bridge, and Deacon James Easton of Pittsfield were 
 appointed a committee "to take into consideration and 
 report the di'aught of an agreement, to be recommend- 
 ed to the Towns in this County, for the non-consump- 
 tion of British manufactures.''^ 
 
 The "League and Covenant" — as it was called — re- 
 ported by this committee was read, considered, and 
 accepted paragi-aph by paragraph: It j^i'O'^'i^^ed foi' 
 the non-importation, purchase or consumption of any 
 goods, wares or merchandise, which shoidd arrive in 
 America from Great Britain after the first day of Oc- 
 tober, 1774 — or such other time as might be agreed 
 upon by the American Congress — excepting such arti 
 cles as Congress might agree to import, purchase, and 
 consume : 
 
 for strict obedience to all constitutional laws ; 
 for the discouragement of all licentiousness, and the 
 suppression of all mobs and riots ; 
 for the promotion of love, peace, and unanimity among 
 the people; to wliich end all unnecessary law-suits 
 were to be avoided; 
 
SUPPRESSION OF THE COURT. 231 
 
 for the care and preservation of sheep — the manufac- 
 ture of all such cloths as shall be most useful and ne- 
 cessary — the raising of flax, and manufacture of linens. 
 It was provided that all persons who should refuse to 
 sign this covenant, or having signed should not adhere 
 to the real meaning and intent thereof, should be 
 treated with all the neglect they justly deserved — 
 "particularly by omitting all commercial dealings with 
 them ;" 
 
 — "and that if this, or a similar covenant shall after 
 the first day of August next, be offered to any trader 
 or shop keeper in this county, and he or they shall re- 
 fuse to sign the same for the space of forty-eight hours, 
 that we will from thenceforth piu'chase no article of 
 British manufacture, or East-India goods, from him or 
 them, until such time as he or they shall sign this or a 
 similar covenant." 
 
 Thursday the 14th of July was appointed to be ob- 
 served as a day of fasting and prayer. 
 It was voted "that the several members of this Con- 
 gress, do recommend to the charity of the inhabitants 
 of the several towns and places to which they belong,, 
 the distressed circumstances of the poor of the towns 
 of Boston and Charlestown, and that whatever shall be 
 collected for them, be remitted in fat cattle in the next 
 fall, by such ways and means as shall be hereafter 
 agreed upon." The clerk was enjoined to transmit a 
 copy of the proceedings to the committee of corres- 
 pondence of the town of Boston ; and the meeting was 
 dissolved. Thus was inaugurated the first combined 
 opposition to Royal rule in Berkshire. 
 
 A few weeks later, the acts "for regulating the civil 
 government of Massachusetts Bay," and "for the more 
 impartial administration of justice" — having received 
 the royal assent — added largely to the existing dis- 
 satisfaction, and led to the prevention of the sittings 
 of the King's courts in several counties. As the time 
 for the session of the Inferior court of Common Pleas 
 for Berkshire — appointed to be held at Great Barring- 
 ton on the 16th of August — followed soon after the 
 publication of these obnoxious acts -, it happened that 
 Berkshire was foremost in opposing the courts. When 
 
232 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 the time for holding this court aiTived a verj- large 
 body of men, from all parts of the coiuity, including 
 from three to five hundred from Litchfield county, 
 assembled at Great Barrington, took possession of the 
 court-house — filling it to overflowing — and effectually 
 prevented the judges and magistrates from either oc- 
 cup3^ing the building or transacting any business. In 
 vain the sheriff endeavored to make a passage for the 
 judges. The people knew no court, recognized in the 
 judges no authority, but insisted that they should 
 leave the tow^n — which they did. David Ingersoll, 
 Esq., a magistrate, and prominent Tory of Great Bar- 
 lington was taken into custody by the Connecticut 
 men carried to Litchfield county and imprisoned. The 
 patriotism of Berkshire did not exhaust itself in hold- 
 ing conventions, passing resolutions, and suppressing 
 the King's coiu't. Two regiments of minute men w'ere 
 raised by enhstment, one in the central and northern 
 parts of the county under Col. John Patterson of 
 Lenox, the other in the southern part under Col. John 
 Fellows of Sheffield. The autumn and w^inter of 1774 
 was a season of busy preparation throughout the coun- 
 ty, in anticipation of impending hostilities. 
 
 The battle of Lexington w^as fought on the 19th of 
 April, 1775. New^s of "the excursion of the King's 
 troops" as they left Boston for that expedition — on 
 the night of the 18th — flashed from signal lights in the 
 tower of the "old North Church" across the water to 
 Paul Revere, and borne by fleet horsemen from town 
 to town was quickly disseminated in every direction. 
 Berkshu'e History avers that news of the Lexington 
 ^a^^^e arrived in this county "on the 20th about noon," 
 and that "the next morning at suni'ise the regiment of 
 Col. Patterson w ere on then* w^ay completely equipped 
 in arms and generally in uniform." 
 
 Doubts have been expressed as to the reception of 
 the news of this battle^ on the 20th, and some have 
 deemed it impossible. But the Pay Boll of Capt. Wil- 
 liam King's company of Great Barrington IMinute men 
 shows that they marched on the 21st. 
 
 The regiment from the south part of the county 
 under Col. Fellows marched to Roxbury. Both regi- 
 
MARCH OF MINUTE MEN. 233 
 
 ments, after their arrival iii the vicinity of Boston, were 
 reorganized and enlarged, Col's Patterson and Fellov^s 
 retaining their positions, the men enlisting for eight 
 months ; many of them afterwards enlisted for a longer 
 time, and some to serve during tlie war. In the regi- 
 ment of Col. Fellows, William King of Great Barring- 
 ton, William Bacon of Sheffield, Ebenezer Smith of 
 New Marlboro, William Goodrich of Stockbridge, Noah 
 Allen of Tyringham, and Moses Soule of Sandisfield 
 were captains of companies, and Samuel Brewer of 
 Tyringham was adjutant. (1) 
 
 These regiments remained in the vicinity of Eox- 
 "bury and Dorchester until the evacuation of Boston by 
 the British, in March, 1776, whence they were ordered 
 to New York. After the evacuation of New York by 
 the Americans, the regiment of Col. Fellows — he had 
 then been promoted to the rank of Brigadier General 
 -.-participated in the battle of White Plains October 
 28th, 1776. Col. Mark Hopkins of Great Barrington, 
 who was Brigade Major under Gen. Fellows, died at 
 White Plains, October 26th, two days previous to the 
 battle ; he had been for some days an invalid, and the 
 immediate cause of his death was exposure in remov- 
 ing him to a place of supposed safety. Immediately 
 upon the receipt of the news of the Lexington battle, 
 Capt. William King with his company of Minute men 
 marched to the seat of war. This company consisted 
 of forty-five men, twenty-eight from Great Barrington, 
 seventeen from Tyringham — Tyrmgham then included 
 Monterey. Twenty-eight of these, afterwaa^ds — on the 
 8th of May — enlisted in the Continental service, for 
 eight months ; the remainder returned home about May 
 26th. The gathering was hasty and the march hurried. 
 With a "good by" and "farewell," the men were ofi'. 
 We are not informed as to the equipments or uniform 
 of this company. One of the number, Josiah Dewey, 
 had no gun. This want was supplied by Capt. Tru- 
 man Wheeler, as appears by the following entry on his 
 books— April 21st, 1775: 
 
 "Josiah Dewey Dr. pr. self, To 1 Gun & Bayonet, worth 36 
 
 (1) History Berkshire. 
 
234 HISTORY OF GREAT HARRINGTON. 
 
 shillings, which is to be returned or paid for, and if returned 
 safe and sound then this charge must be Ballanced" £1. 16s. " 
 
 Cai)t. King is also charged " 1 J j-ards Girt web" — 
 probably to secure his saddle; and one of his men, 
 Levi Andrns, with a "knapsack." 
 
 The Muster Eolls of Capt. King's company of 
 Minute men are found in Book 12, Rolls 149-149|^, in 
 the office of Secretary of State, Boston ; both rolls com- 
 prismg the whole company, but so divided as to show 
 who did and who did not enlist in the Continental ser- 
 \dce at the reorganization of the regiments. In the 
 following abstract the names of the forty-five men com- 
 posing the company are given ; those marked thus f 
 were from T^^ringham, those not marked from Great 
 Barrington : 
 
 " Mnster Koll Capt. WilHam King's minute company, Col. 
 John Fellows' Regt. from the 21st of April, the day tJiey mareked, 
 to the 7th of May inclusive" (1775.) 
 
 "William King, Capt. , Solomon Pier, - 
 
 Samuel Brewer, Lieut..+ Elijah Root, 
 
 Nathaniel Crittenden, Sergt., John Shevalee. 
 
 Joel Walker, Sergt., t Henry Smith, + 
 
 Samuel Chapin, Fifer, Sturgeon Sloan, 
 
 William Denton, Drummer, James Van Guilder, " 
 
 William Adams, Samuel Willard, 
 
 Daniel Culver, William Whiting [2d], _'. 
 
 Josiah Dewey, Levi Wheelock, + 
 
 Peter FuUer,+ More Bird,! 
 
 James Gray. Jonathan Dyke,f' ' 
 
 Nathan Hale.t Martin Langton,+ 
 
 Ezra Kellogg, Jonathan Chapin, t 
 
 Daniel North, + Justice Buttle. 
 
 Roll swoAi to by Capt. King, July 29, 1776, before Moses 
 Gill, Esq., Justice of the Peace." 
 
 These men enhsted May 8th. and with many others, 
 comi)osed the company of Capt. King — Regiment of 
 Col. Fellows — in the Continental ser^dce : they had done 
 seventeen days ser\ice previous to their enlistment. 
 
 "Muster Roll of the Minute men that came in Capt. WiUiam 
 King's company, that did not engage in the service, but returned 
 home after the enlistment." "Time when marched Aprill 
 21st 1775." 
 
 Abijah Markham, 2d Lieut., + Samuel Graves, t 
 
 John Chadwick, Jr., Sergt., + Hem-y McGonegal, 
 
 John PoweU, Sergt., Lycius Pixley, 
 
EIGHT MONTHS MEN. 
 
 235^ 
 
 Samuel Worthiugton, Corp'l., 
 Amose Curtiss, Do.,t 
 John Nash, Do., 
 Johu Brown, Do.,t 
 Levi Andrus, 
 Asa Allen, t 
 
 Josiah Phelps, 
 Samuel Pixley, 
 Hezekiah Phelps, 
 Israel Boot, 
 William Koberts, 
 
 The newly enlisted and reorganized company of 
 Capt. William King, as appears from a Muster Roll 
 dated August 1st, 1775, (Book 15, Roll 40) consisted 
 of Fifty-eight men of whom thirty-one were from Great' 
 Barrington, as follows : 
 
 Wilham King, Capt., 
 G-amaliel Whiting, Lieut., 
 Nathaniel Crittentou, Ensign, 
 
 (afterwards Lieut.,) 
 Samuel Chapin, Sergt., 
 William Denton, Drummer, 
 William Adams, 
 Jedediah Buckingham, 
 Daniel Culver, 
 John Campbell, 
 Josiah Dewey, 
 Henry Williams Dwight, 
 Peter Dubois, 
 Preserved Edgecomb, 
 Asa Eddy, 
 Jonathan Puller, 
 
 James Gray, 
 Ezra Kellogg, 
 John O'Connor, 
 Solomon Pier. 
 Alpheus Bice,- 
 Elijah Boot, 
 Nathan Sperry; 
 Daniel Stillwell,- 
 John Shevalee, 
 John Spoor, 
 John Stearns, 
 Sturgeon Sloan, 
 John Thomas, 
 James V'^an Gilder, 
 Samuel Willard, 
 Wilham Whiting, [2d.] 
 
 These were in the 1st company of the 8th Regt.: 
 Col. John Fellows. Ebenezer Bement was Adjutant 
 and William Bement Armorer of the regiment, both 
 from Great Barrington. 
 
 Immediately following the march of Capt. King's 
 company, Capt Peter Ingersoll gathered a company in 
 this and adjoining towns, with which he marched, prob- 
 ably on the 24th of April— which is the date of his en- 
 tering the service, as given in the roll. After his ar- 
 rival in the vicinity of Boston he joined — in May — the 
 9th Regiment, commanded by Col. David Brewer, his 
 company being for the most part composed of men 
 from Great Barrington, Sheffield, Egremont, Alford 
 and Stockbridge. In the roll of this company, made 
 August 1st, 1775, the names of twelve men from this 
 town appear, as follows : 
 
 Peter Ingersoll, Capt., Joseph Broderick, 
 
 Silas Goodrich, Lieut., Daniel Barker, 
 
236 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 Zebulon Olds, Corpoi-al, . Charles Cormic, 
 
 Hendrick Goose, Corporal Samuel Martin, 
 
 Aaron Watson. James Welden, 
 
 John Kellogg, John Eoberts. 
 
 On the 30tb of May, Gamaliel AATiitiiig — Lieutenant 
 in Capt. King's company — marched from home with a 
 squad of men, which he ax:)pears to have enhsted, and 
 with his men joined that company. The names of 
 these appear in the foregoing roll of eight month's men. 
 
 We are able to learn but httle of the detail of camp 
 life or of the service of the men from Great Barrington 
 during the eight months of their participation in the 
 siege of Boston. We have a letter from Josiah Dewey, 
 in camp, to his brother Hugo at home, which we coj^y 
 here as a specimen of the average soldier boy's letters 
 of that time. 
 
 "Camp Dokohester. Sep. 23, 1775. 
 
 This with my love I send to you hoping it will find you well 
 as it leaves me and the rest of your friends. Hard old Tom 
 Gage sent about 110 cannon balls at us to-day and has done us 
 no harm that I know of. I believe we shall have no fighting 
 this season with small arms, unless they have more recruits. We 
 are generally well in camp : no infecting diseases prevail among 
 us. We hope to come and see you all free men as you once 
 were, or to fight and die for your freedom is our desire. I 
 should be very glad to see you, but I can-not until my time is 
 out. Please to write as often as you can ; give my Duty to my 
 mother and love to ail my friends. 
 
 And so I remain your loving brother, 
 
 Josiah Detvt^y. 
 N. B. — I say 110 shots because some of our men counted them. 
 
 To Mb. Hugo Dewey, G. B." 
 
 We find in some mutilated and fi^agmentary memo- 
 randums, wi'itten in camp by Lieutenant Gamaliel 
 Whiting, mention made of the cannonade alluded to in 
 Mr. Dewey's letter, as follows : September 23, 1775 
 " Eegl's fired 108 cannon at us and hurt none, ours do. 
 only 3 or 4 : killed one man." Also fi'om the same 
 source we gather the follo^dng, not very important, 
 items : 
 ^'1775. August 2. Abm. Tonk was shot through ye knee and 
 
 another Indian shot through ye arm by our country's [enemies] 
 August 4. This night entrenched n'r our Larm post. 
 August 5. Worked at new fort, &c. 
 August 7. Our Regt. moved to Dorchester, Sergeant Hulburt 
 
 returned with J. Spoor and J. Richenson ; 2 Burials. 
 
LIEUT, whiting's diaey. 237 
 
 August 10. Captain Wheeler, B. Dewey & Hugo & D. Nash 
 down. [Truman Wheeler, Benedict & Hugo Dewey and Daniel 
 Nash.] 
 August 25. 4 boats approached Dorchester allarmed ye Regt. 
 
 Capt. Ransom called ; officers ranked. 
 August 27th. Fighting at Cambridge 3 men killed there. 
 August 28. Lan'd Root came [Landlord He wit Root.] 
 August 29. Rainy day ; dined out ; Burned our works at Cam- 
 bridge. 
 Sept. 1. I was on Gen'l Court Marshall. 
 
 Sept. 2. Our cannon play'd at Reg's near Brown's chimneys. 
 Sept. 26. Negro buried ; Maj. Tupper & 200 went fishing & 
 
 fowling. 
 Sept. 28. Maj. Tupper returned with 11 cattle & 2 horses from 
 
 Governor's Island. 
 Sept. 80. Ye Booty taken at G's Island sold &c. 
 Oct. 2. Reg's fired at our pickets. 
 
 Oct. 3. Our Regt. mustered. I set out home. [Lieut. Whiting 
 arrived home Oct. 6th, and returning reached the camp at 
 Dorchester the 20th.] 
 
 A boat & 2 men cast away, taken by us. 
 H. & J. Pixley called. 
 Reg's landed on Letchmere's point, &c. 
 Col. & Mosses Hopkins called. 
 Peter Ingersoll try'd by Court Marsh'll. 
 Went to Cambridge. Col. Hopkins w't home. 
 Clear and cold, all Drunk at night. 
 Jan. 1. Old Regt. broke up. 
 Zurell Watson dy'd at night." 
 
 This Zuriel Watson was a soldier enlisted May 17, 
 1775, as from " Stockbridge" in the company of Capt. 
 Peter Ingersoll. Lieutenant Wliiting left the camp 
 for home January 11, 1776, and seems not, afterwards, 
 to have been engaged in the Continental service. Cap- 
 tain King was still in the service the last of April 1776. 
 A few letters written from camp by Capt. King are pre- 
 served ; these are mostly of a business character and 
 not of much historical interest. In one of them, dated 
 " Camp Roxbuiy, July 11th, 1775,'' addressed to Cap- 
 tain Truman Wheeler, he says : " Last night the last of 
 Brown's buildings on the neck was burnt down. The 
 regulars give us no disturbance since last Saturday 
 morning, vrhich was occasioned by driving off their 
 guard and burning three of Brown's buildings the same 
 morning, effected after the appearance of daylight. 
 The enemy are now entrenching this side then- old 
 
 Nov. 
 
 3. 
 
 Nov. 
 
 4. 
 
 Nov. 
 
 9. 
 
 Dec. 
 
 2. 
 
 Dec. 
 
 4. 
 
 Dec. 
 
 6. 
 
 Dec. 
 
 25. 
 
 1776. 
 
 j£ 
 
 Jan. 
 
 6. 
 
238 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 works. The design probably is to gain ground by 
 degrees and in the end get possession of Roxbury. 
 Our works go on with great rapidity. The men work 
 with great alacrity. The popular clamor against the 
 General has subsided. By the conduct of the regulars 
 ■'tis evident they feel intimidated.'' 
 
 In another letter — March 4th, 1776 — Captain King- 
 complains that two of his men — John Campbell and 
 John Spoor — who had been furnished with guns by 
 Captain Wheeler — Town Treasurer — had "lost or sold 
 or swap'd or fooled them away.'' 
 
 One, and not the least interesting of the few epi- 
 sodes of the war which have been handed down to us, 
 was the passage thi'ough the town — in January, 1776 
 — of a long train of sleighs bearing the cannon, mortars, 
 .€ohorns, and other military stores, captured by Ethan 
 Allen and his Green Mountain Boys, from Fort Ticon- 
 deroga to Dorchester to supply the sadly felt want of 
 artillery for General Washigton's army beleagTiering 
 Boston — then in possession of the British. This ex- 
 pedition was under the charge of General Henry I^jiox, 
 who with extraordinary labor removed the artillery 
 from Ticonderoga to Fort George, and thence with the 
 aid of "near 124 pairs" of horses vdth sleighs brought 
 it to Albany. The route from Albany vras by way of 
 Kinderhook, Claverack, Great Barrington, Monterey, 
 and AVestiield. General I^ox passed through Great 
 Barrington on the 9th of January, and arrived at 
 Monterey, having as he writes, "climbed mountains 
 from which we might almost have seen all the king- 
 [ doms of the earth." The anxiety to obtam intelligence 
 from the front was equal to that witnessed by the 
 present generation in the late war, and in the absence 
 of the telegraph, railroads, and postal communication^ 
 -an arrangement for supylying the news, was entered 
 into — May 3d, 1775 — by twenty-two citizens of the 
 town, by which they agreed to take turns, daily, in 
 riding to Tyringham^ or Sheffield, for the purpose of 
 obtaining intelligence from the army at Boston, the 
 same to be reported at the tavern of Josiah Smith ; and 
 jin case no regular plan was adopted by which the news 
 ■^ight be bi'Pught to those towns, then each was to pay 
 
WAH MEETING. 239 
 
 Ms proportional part of the expense of procuring the 
 same from Springfield. 
 
 It is well authenticated that at about the time of 
 t3ie commencement of hostilities, a war meeting was 
 lield on Mount Peter in the south part of the village, 
 where a calf was roasted for the occasion, and the 
 meeting was both jolly and patriotic. A flag pole was 
 erected on the eminence, and here the first Union flag 
 {of which we have knowledge) in this town, was run 
 up. The flag flaunting bravely to the breeze excited 
 the u-e of the Tories, who stealthily and by night cut 
 down the pole. The patriots then lashed their pole, 
 with the flag attached to a tree top, filled the body of 
 Hie tree with u'on spikes, and with prudent watchful- 
 ness kept their colors flying despite the Tories. 
 
 Incredible as it may seem, the tradition is well 
 authenticated that the sound of the cannonade at the 
 battle of Bunker Hill was distinctly heard in Berkshire. 
 Mi's. Mary Pynchon — the widow of Captain Walter 
 Pynchon — now deceased — who was then a child of 
 seven years — informed the writer that she well re- 
 membered, on the day of that battle, seeing the men 
 of the village apply their ears to the ground in front of 
 Ihe jail, and was told that they heard the noise of the 
 strtiller}^ ; the sounds proved to proceed from the can- 
 non directed against the works of the Americans at 
 Bunker Hill. At that time the country was to a great 
 extent a forest ; the clang of machinery and water- 
 wheels, the busy hum of manufacturing, the railroads 
 with the rushing of engines and trains — all of which to- 
 day tend to impede, and render impossible the trans- 
 mission of sounds over such a distance — had no 
 existence. 
 
 At the sessions of the first Provincial Congress of 
 Massachusetts Bay — 1774 — Sheffield, Great Barring- 
 feon, Egremont and Alford were jomtly represented by 
 Colonel John Fellows of Sheffield and Doctor William 
 Whiting of Great Barrmgtoxi ; in the second Congress 
 — ^1775 — Shefiield and Great Barrington were repre- 
 sented by Colonel Fellows and Egremont and Alford 
 Jbj Doctor Whiting ;, and in the third Congress Doctor 
 , .Whiting was the representa-tive of these four towns. 
 
240 HISTORY or GREAT BARRI^^GTON. 
 
 For the year 1775, Doctor William AATiiting, Josiah . 
 Smith and John Van Deusen were the selectmen of the 
 town ; in the spring of 1776, Colonel Mark Hopkins, 
 John Yan Deusen and Captain Truman Wheeler were 
 chosen. The death of Colonel Hopkins, at White 
 Plains, October 26th of that year, cast a gloom over 
 the town and was severely felt by its inhabitants ; it . 
 was an irreparable loss, for he was its representative 
 man, and was universally beloved and respected by the 
 people. On the 29th of November Israel Root was 
 chosen to fill the vacancy in the board of selectmen 
 caused by the death of Colonel Hopkins. 
 
 The first recorded election of a committee of Cor- 
 respondence Inspection and Safety was on the 18th of 
 March, 1776, when Doctor William Whiting, Jacob Van 
 Deusen, Colonel Mai'k Hopkins, Josiah Smith and 
 Captain Truman ^Mieeler were chosen. It is probable- 
 that a similar committee had been chosen the previous 
 year, but as the records of that and three preceding- 
 years are unwritten — we have not the names of the in- 
 dividuals composing it. The office was an important 
 one, and the powers delegated to or assumed by this 
 committee were as extended as the exigencies of the 
 times demanded. It sometimes — in the absence of the 
 coui'ts which had been suppressed and not yet reor- 
 ganized — usurped the powers of a judicial tribunal, in 
 which it was sustained by the people. This committee 
 in other years was composed as follows : 
 
 1777. David Humphrey, Enfeign Johu Burghardt, Benedict 
 Dewey, Captain William King, Deacon Daniel Nash, Ehud Hop- 
 kins, Captain Silas Goodrich. 
 
 1778. Doct. William Whiting, Lieut. Gamaliel Whitings 
 Lieut. Thomas Ingersoll, Lieut. Charles Parsons, Moses Hop- 
 kins. 
 
 1779. Josiah Nash, David Willard, Ichabod Hopkins, Jacob 
 Pratt, Thomas Pier. 
 
 lories. 
 The attention of the Committee of Safety was early 
 dii'ected to all who did not co-operate in resisting the 
 demands of Great Britain, who refused to sign the 
 " Test Bill" — as the agreement for non-consumption of 
 British goods was termed — and especially to those who 
 openly opposed the measui-es adopted by the Provin- 
 
TORIES DAVID INGERSOLL. 241 
 
 cial, and Continental Congresses ; such were classed as 
 Tories. 
 
 The Tories of Berkshire were in league with those 
 of the same kin who abounded on the New York border 
 — then known as the King's District — and are reputed 
 to have been in regular correspondence with their 
 brethren in New York City. In Great Barrington were 
 a considerable number, including a well-to-do and re- 
 spectable class of men, who were slow to adopt revo- 
 lutionary measures, some influenced by religious pro- 
 clivities, others perhaps by mercenary motives, and all 
 determined not to see and follow the right course. 
 Many of these by word and deed rendered themselves 
 obnoxious to their more patriotic townsmen. Their 
 headquarters and place of rendezvous was at the tavern 
 of Timothy Younglove, the building the same — though 
 since remodeled — in which William H. Day now lives, 
 at the fork of the roads just west of Green River; and 
 tradition asserts that this house was the receptacle of 
 plunder and contraband goods. Prominent amongst 
 the Tories, before the war, was David Ingersoll, Esq,, a 
 lawyer and magistrate. He had represented the towns 
 of Great Barrington, Sheffield, and Egremont in the 
 General Court in 1770, and by virtue of his official 
 position and ability exercised an extended and danger- 
 ous influence. He too was one of the " Addressers," 
 who presented Governor Hutchinson with a highly 
 complimentary and laudatory addi'ess on the eve of his 
 departure for England in the Spring of 1774, and by 
 this and other acts had incurred the displeasure of the 
 people. The rude treatment which he received at the 
 time of the suppression of the court in August, 1774 
 — w^hich has been mentioned — is evidence of the feeling 
 which existed against him, and doubtless had its due 
 weight m the causes which induced him to leave the 
 country. Be this as it may, he visited Boston in the 
 following September, mortgaged his house and land 
 (the same lately owned by Miss Nancy Kellogg de- 
 ceased) to John Troutbeck of Boston — in consideration 
 of £85 — and sailed for England. He was amongst the 
 number proscribed and banished by the General Court 
 in 1778. Sabine, in his American Loyalists, says of 
 
 16 
 
242 HISTORY OF GREAT BAERINGTON. 
 
 Mi\ lugersoU : " During the troubles which preceded 
 the shedding of blood, he was seized b}' a mob, carried 
 to Connecticut and imprisoned, while on a second out- 
 break of the popular displeasui'e against him, his house 
 was assailed, he was driven from it, and his enclosures 
 were laid waste." 
 
 What the occasion of this " second outbreak" may 
 have been we are uninformed. Mr. IngersoU then 
 owned and occupied the Misses Kellogg house, the old 
 front door of which — taken out a few years since — bore 
 the marks of hatchet or sword, made, as tradition as- 
 serts, at the time of a popular attack upon its occuj)ants. 
 He died in England in 1796. 
 
 The house and lands of Mr. IngersoU, as well as 
 those of Nathan Purdy, an absconded Tory of Muddy 
 Brook, were taken into possession by the Committee 
 of Safety in 1777-8 and leased, under authority of an 
 act of the General Court; and after the war Ingersoll's 
 real estate was taken upon several executions to satisfy 
 the claims of his creditors. Nathan Purdy above 
 alluded to, resided near where Hiram Comstock, de- 
 ceased, lately lived, in Muddy Brook. He seems to 
 have left town in the Spring of 1775, with his family, 
 and to have gone to the vicinity of Newburgh, N. Y., 
 where he afterwards died. He writes to Jacob Van 
 Deusen, June 10th, 1775, asking him to harvest and 
 take care of his gi'ain, and says further: "I don't ex- 
 pect to move eny of my things as yet, for if there comes 
 peacable times, as I hoap there will, I expect to come 
 to my place again." Again Januar}^ 14th, 1776, he 
 writes to Mi\ Van Deusen : " I am desu'ous to know 
 what has become of my crop and other efects that I 
 left in your care, and if my crop is not seased, I desire 
 that you would stoar it for me ; and I desire that you 
 would send me word w^hether it would be safe to come 
 and settle my afares myself." 
 
 Asa Brown, a man of no particular note, but blatant 
 and noisy on the political questions of the day, had by 
 his conduct incurred the displeasui-e of the people ; and, 
 probably in fear of being " handled," made the follow- 
 ing written confession and renunciation, the original of 
 "which is preserved lq the town files : 
 
TORIES DISARMED. 248 
 
 *' Whereas I, Asa Brown of Great Barriugton, have in time 
 past, given just reason to people of mj' acquaintance, by my im- 
 prudent talk, to think that I was not friendly to the measures 
 taken by the Sons of Liberty in opposing the British ministry, I 
 now being sensible of the evil tendency of such conduct, I now 
 heartily condemn it, and will for the future endeavor not to offend. 
 
 Witness my hand, this 29th day of December, A. D. 1775. 
 
 Asa Bkown." 
 
 In 1776, quite a large number of the inhabitants 
 had refused to sign the "Test Bill," on which account, 
 as well as by their general behavior, the indignation of 
 the people was excited against them. Threats of dis- 
 arming them, and perhaps of more severe treatment 
 were openly made ; and in order to prevent disturbance, 
 preserve the peace, and quiet the inhabitants, the Com- 
 mittee of Safety issued the following warning, ad- 
 di'essed to them, which was served upon them indi- 
 vidually by Sergeant Joshua Root. 
 
 "To Coonrod Van Deusen, Abraham Van Deusen, Isaac Van 
 Deusen, Jun'r, John Van Deusen, Jacob Van Deusen, Samuel 
 Fowler, Barnabas Scott, Martin Eemelee, John Hickok, Asa 
 Brown, Lambert Burgliardt, Peter Sharp, Coonrod Sharp, Caleb 
 Hill, Hendrick Pen-y, Peter Burghardt ye second, Abraham 
 Burghardt, Coonrod Burghardt, Jun'r, Nathan Scribner, John 
 Church, Jonathan Younglove, Timothy Younglove, Oliver Wat- 
 son, Nathaniel Lee, Elijah Dwight, Esq., Abraham Scutt, Jacob 
 Burghardt, Frederick Johnson, Midian Olds, John Burghardt, 
 Coonrod Burghardt, Benjamin Noble and Gideon Bostwick, all 
 of Great Barrington ; whereas the committee of Correspondence 
 for said Town have presented the association, by and agreeable 
 to a late act of the General Assembly, and you have refused to 
 subscribe the same ; The People of this Town are very uneasy 
 that you have not yet liesigned your ai-ms, and we find they are 
 determined to take your arms in their own way unless you resign 
 them of your own accord. In order to prevent further confu- 
 sion and mischief we advise you to resign your arms immediate- 
 ly to Sergeant Joshua Boot who the committee have desired to 
 receive & take the charge of the same, and we have desired him 
 to give you Notice of this our advice. 
 
 Great Barrington, July 9th, 1776. 
 
 M. Hopkins, ] 
 
 Wm. Whiting, \ ^ -,. 
 
 r„ ^,r ' r Committee, 
 
 Truman Wheeler, [ 
 
 JosiAH Smith, I 
 
 Sergt. Root performed the service, and a receipt 
 signed by William Whiting — one of the committee — 
 dated the 20th of October followmg, shows that he took 
 
244 HISTORY or great barrington. 
 
 one gun each from Coonrocl Van Deusen, Abraham 
 Van Deusen, Isaac Van Deusen, Jun'r, John Van Deu- 
 sen, Jacob Van Deusen, Gerrard Burghardt, Peter 
 Burghardt, Peter Sharp, Hendrick Parre, Caleb Hill, 
 Isaac Van Deusen, Nathaniel Lee, Timothy Younglove 
 and John Burghardt ; also "a cutlash without a scab- 
 bard" from Asa Brown, who had renounced toryism a 
 few months previous, but found the articles of Associa- 
 tion too stringent for his compulsor}^ patriotism. Four 
 of these guns had at that time already gone into the 
 service, as appears from the receipt. 
 
 The original order disarming the Tories bears upon 
 its back the names of seven of the parties from whom 
 guns were taken — followed by the initial letters of each 
 name — thus " Caleb Hill his mark C. H," indicating 
 that the initials were cut or branded upon the butts of 
 the muskets taken. 
 
 The next year, when the successes of the American 
 arms, culminating in the surrender of Burgoyne's army 
 at Saratoga, had cheered the spiiits of the patriots, the 
 exasperation against those who still adhered to the 
 British cause was at its height. On the 24th of No- 
 vember, 1777, the selectmen. Ensign John Burghardt, 
 Captain William Kmg, and Daniel Nash — who were 
 also members of the Committee of Safety — at a town 
 meeting, under an article of the warrant "to consider 
 of a list, exhibited by the selectmen, of persons sup- 
 posed to be enemies to this and the United States, and 
 vote thereon" — presented a list of such mimical persons 
 to which, on motion, other names were added, and it 
 was voted that Timothy Younglove, John Hecox, John 
 Van Deusen, Jacob Van Deusen, John Burghardt, ye 
 3d, James Tiler, Frederick Johnson, Mr. Gideon Bost- 
 wick, Peter Sharp, Cooni'od Sharp, Coonrod Van 
 Deusen, Jacob Burghardt, David Wamwright, Peter 
 Burghardt, ye 2d, Lambert Burghardt, David Arnold, 
 Garret Burghardt, and Joseph Davis, "have been en- 
 deavoring since the 19th of April Anno Domini 1775, 
 to counteract the united struggles of this and the 
 United States for the preservation of their liberties 
 and privileges, and that the said several persons and 
 every one of them are now so enimically disposed 
 
OATH OF ALLEGIANCE TAKEN. 245 
 
 towards this and the other United States of America 
 that their further residence in this State is dangerous 
 to the pubKc peace and safety." Ehud Hopkins was 
 appointed agent to obtain evidence and prosecute them. 
 
 What further was done in the premises does not 
 appear from the records ; but the next 3^ear — August 
 24th, 1778 — ten of those named in the foregoing hst, 
 together with "Abraham Burghardt, Hendrick Burg- 
 hardt, Ohver Watson, Cooiu-ot Burghardt, Abraham 
 Van Duzer, Isaac Van Duzer, Jr., Peter Burghardt 1st, 
 Martin Remelee and Stejjhen Ohnsted" not inchidedin 
 that hst came before Doctor Wilham Whiting, Justice 
 of the Peace, and " took the oath of Fidehty and Alle- 
 giance prescribed by one Law of this State." 
 
 By this time the Tories of Great Barrington were 
 so reduced in numbers as to no longer constitute a 
 dangerous element. Tories from other towns of the 
 county were frequently brought here and confined in 
 the jail — at the instance of the Committees of Safety — 
 where the}^ were obliged to pay their own board and 
 other expenses. One case will serve as a samjDle of 
 these proceedings : April 28th, 1777, Timothy and Asa 
 Lyon — father and son — of Lanesboro, were committed 
 to the jail as " dangerous persons" by the committee 
 of that town, they havmg declared before the com- 
 mittee "that they did approve of the measures that 
 Brittain had taken against America" — that "they 
 thought the war on the side of America was unjust," 
 and that "they would not take up arms against George 
 the Third." Similar commitments were made from 
 other towns, until finally stopped by an order of the 
 Justices of the Court — December 12, 1777 — requiring 
 the release of five men from Hancock, and directing 
 the keeper of the jail " to receive no more prisoners 
 into said jail unless committed by Legal authority." 
 
 In 1776-7 commitments to the jail were common 
 of persons, who having been " appoi7ited''^ soldiers in 
 detachments from the militia, for reinforcing the armj^ 
 refused either to serve themselves, employ a substitute 
 or pay the fine of £10, provided in such cases. The 
 sufferers in these instances were for the most part 
 Tories, and it may seem that the militia officers and 
 
246 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 Committees of Safety were not indisposed to appoint 
 men of that stripe to a service which was distasteful to 
 them. A general feeling of distrust existed towards 
 transient persons, peddlers, and all strangers not ap- 
 parently engaged in legitimate employments. In 
 December 1780, it was decreed in town meeting, that 
 no transient persons should be permitted to remain in 
 town, or to traffic or trade, for more than ten days, with- 
 out the consent of a committee, consisting of Lieu- 
 tenant Gamaliel Whiting, Ichabod Hopkins, and Daniel 
 Nash, '' appointed for the pui-pose of inspecting into the 
 political character of such persons." 
 
 At about the same time, the Rey. Gideon Bostwick 
 haying occasion to ^isit New York City on business, 
 found it expedient to ask the consent of the town, 
 which was granted, pro^'ided his Excellency the Gov- 
 ernor would grant him a passj^ort. 
 
 The following scrap of somewhat mechanical poetry 
 is from a mass of local Revolutionary papers, and 
 though destitute of literary merit, we present it as a 
 fitting finale to our reminiscences of the Tories of 
 Great Barrington. The original, on a very small piece 
 of paper, is in a fine handwritmg which we are imable 
 to identify, but is supposed to have been the work of 
 a law student in the office of General Thomas Ives : 
 
 "THE PENETENTIAL TORY'S LAMENTATION. 
 
 "Alas brother Tory now what shall we do? 
 A peace is declared I find certain true, 
 The Rebels will hang us if we tarry here, 
 Abroad there's no shelter for us I do fear. 
 Was ever poor mortal deceiv'd so before ? 
 Our lands and our houses we shall see no more ; 
 We thought of preferment, o'er Rebels to reign, 
 But now we find nothing but slight and disdain 
 Our King hath deceived us and left us forlorn, 
 O 1 curs'd be the hour wherein we were born ; 
 O I could we but tarry in our native land 
 And lovingly take our old friends by the hand. 
 The meanest employment which mortals ere had 
 We'd cheerfully enter; 'twould make us feel glad. 
 
MILITIA ORGANIZATION. 247 
 
 Biit this is deuy'd us; all hope now does fail, 
 
 We're doom'd to destruction, our sins to bewail 
 
 Unto Nova Scotia, a cold barren land, 
 
 To live upon shell fish and dig in the sand. 
 
 Then fare ye well pleasure, come children and wives 
 
 To fighting Muscettoes the rest of our lives." 
 
 In 1776, the Militia of the south part of the county- 
 constituted the Eegiment of Colonel Mark Hopkins of 
 Great Barrington, and after his decease, in October of 
 that year, it was commanded by Colonel John Ashley 
 of Sheffield. The Militia of Great Barrington was at 
 that time comprised of two companies. Hewit Root 
 was Captain, William Pixley First Lieutenant, and 
 Charles Parsons Second Lieutenant of the first com- 
 pany ; the other had for its officers Captain, Peter In- 
 gersoll ; I'irst Lieutenant, Timothy Younglove ; Sec- 
 ond Lieutenant, Warham Lee. 
 
 A list of the company of Captain Peter Ingersoll — 
 July 1, 1776 — shows that it contained seventy-eight 
 men, — not all loyal, — that its equipments consisted of 
 twenty-four guns, two bayonets, six cartridge boxes, 
 five pounds powder, four pounds balls, and six spare 
 flints. This disparity of accoutrements as proportioned 
 to the men, is evidence of the scarcity of warlike stores, 
 when every gun and ever}" pound of powder wliich 
 could be spared from home and border defence, was 
 pressed into the service, and w^hen, as we have seen, 
 the arms taken from those of doubtful loyalty, were 
 sent to do execution in the army. These two compa- 
 nies were, by a Resolve of the General Court, — Octo- 
 ber 14th, 1777, — reduced into one, and by request of 
 Colonel John Ashley, the following named were com- 
 missioned as its officei's : Silas Goodrich, Captain ; 
 Charles Parsons, First Lieutenant ; Thomas Ingersoll, 
 Second Lieutenant ; John Powell, Third Lieutenant, 
 with rank of Second Lieutenant. Thomas Ingersoll was 
 afterwards — 1781 — Captain of the Great Bai'rington 
 Militia, and later a Major. 
 
 The Militia of Berkshire performed important ser- 
 vice throughout the Revolution, and was frequently 
 called out for border service and to reinforce the arinj 
 
248 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 in different quarters, whilst detachments from its regi- 
 ments were in some years ahnost constantly in the 
 field. The summer of 1777 was an eventful period in 
 the Revolutionary struggle, and a season of intense 
 excitement, anxiety and alarm to the inhabitants of 
 Berkshire. The fall of Ticonderoga and Fort Inde- 
 pendence, the disastrous battle of Hubbardton, and 
 the advance of Burgovne's army towards Albany, em- 
 boldened the Tories whilst it aroused the patriots to 
 the necessity of renewed exertion. When the news 
 of these reverses, and the pursuit of the fleeing Amer- 
 icans to Fort Anne and Fort Edward reached Berk- 
 shire, many of the towns sent forward men to the 
 succor of Generals Schuyler and St. Clair. 
 
 On this occasion — July, 1777 — at the so-called 
 •'Fort Edward Alarm," seventy-nine men from this 
 town marched to Fort Edward and performed service 
 varying from sixteen to forty-nine days. Nearly all of 
 the able-bodied, loyal men of the town went in this ex- 
 pedition. A warrant for a town meeting had been is- 
 sued a short time before ; this meeting had assembled 
 and adjourned and again, the second time adjourned. 
 The following curious endorsement, made by the Town 
 Clerk on the back of the warrant, shows how thorough- 
 ly the voting population of the town was, for the time, 
 depleted; "at the day this meeting was adjourned to, 
 the people met and adjourned to another day. and at 
 the time of the second adjoiuiiment the people were 
 gone in the Larrum to Foui^t Edward, and so the meet- 
 ing Died; therefore shall not record it." Scarcely had 
 the Great Barrington men returned from the Fort Ed- 
 ward ex23edition, w^hen news arrived of the incursion of 
 General Baum towards Bennington, and fifty-live men 
 marched at once to the assistance of General Stark, 
 and served from two to seven days each, ^^^lether or 
 not any of these arrived at Bennington in time to par- 
 ticipate in the battle of the 16th of August, we have 
 not ascertained. Those who served two and three 
 days did not, of course, march so far as Bennington; 
 but, twelve of the number did seven days service, and 
 one of them — Levi Crittenton — afterwards a resident 
 of Richmond, is known to have been present in the 
 
MILITIA AT SARATOGA 249 
 
 battle, and to have heard the prayer made by the Rev. 
 Thomas Allen at the head of the Berkshn-e troops be- 
 fore they went hi to the fight; hence it may be inferred 
 that the remaining eleven were also particii^ants in 
 the fray. 
 
 A Httle later — September, 1777 — at the call of Gen- 
 erals Gates and Lincoln for men to resist Burgoyne — 
 and eventually to participate in the capture of his 
 army — acting, apparently, upon the impulse of the mo- 
 ment, Capt. William King, chairman of the selectmen, 
 issued his warrant on the 8th of September, calling a 
 town meeting to be held in the afternoon of the same 
 day to consider the exigencies of the situation and to 
 offer encouragement to such as would volunteer to re- 
 inforce the northern army. The town voted to pay 
 four shillings per day — afterwards increased to four 
 shillings and sixpence — in addition to their Continental 
 pay, to each non-commissioned officer and soldier who 
 should turn out in response to this call. Capt. Silas 
 Goodrich with thirty-six men volunteered and marched 
 to Saratoga in the Eegiment of Col. John Ashley, whilst 
 three others, from the west part of the town, went in 
 the company of Capt. Sylvanus Wilcox of Alford. 
 
 The general term of service of these men, with a 
 few exceptions, was from September 19th to October 
 19th. They were discharged immediately after the 
 surrender of Burgoyne. The men who went to Fort 
 Edward, and Bennington were paid four shillings j^er 
 day, and those who marched to Saratoga four shillings 
 -and sixpence per day, by the town. The original town 
 pay rolls of these comjmnies are still jDreserved, and 
 ■each bears upon its back the receipts of the several 
 soldiers for the sums awarded them. The names of 
 the thirty-six men who marched to Saratoga with Capt. 
 Goodrich— taken from the town pay roll— are as follows : 
 
 •Capt. Truman Wheeler, John Allen, 
 
 Adjt. Benedict Dewey, Kufus Dodge, 
 
 Thomas Pier, Jr. , Jonathan Cowdry, 
 
 John Nash, Moses IngersoU, 
 
 Henry McCxonegal. Ensign John Burghardt, 
 
 Daniel Willard, Lieut. John Powell, 
 
 Jedediah Buckingham, Hezekiah Atwood, 
 
 Asa Eddy, Isaac Pixley, 
 
250 
 
 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 William Denton, Daniel Granger, 
 
 John Kellcgg, William Preston, 
 
 William Whiting [2d], WilHam Ray, 
 
 Solomon Pier, Thomas Ingersoll, wagoner, . 
 
 Israel Root, Levi Crittenden, 
 
 Ebenezer Whiting, Moses Pixley, 
 
 Amaziah Baily, Eli Noble, 
 
 Daniel Nash, Hiram Wilhams, 
 
 Ezekiel Callender, Jonathan Pixley, 
 
 Gideon King, Jacob Remele. 
 
 Ill addition to these David Stihvell. Enoch Sperry 
 and EHsha Chamberlain did, each, thirty days service- 
 on this occasion in the company of Sylvanus Wilcox, 
 and were paid by the town. 
 
 With the surrender of Burgoyne, a cry of rejoicing' 
 w^ent U23 from the land. The Tories, who hacl been 
 jubilant at the capture of Ticonderoga and the victori- 
 ous march of the British army in the early jDart of the- 
 campaign, were disheartened and tremulous, and when, 
 soon afterwards, the inhabitants ui town-meeting, iiTi- 
 tated beyond forbearance, passed upon them its scath- 
 ing vote of rebuke, they were completely demorahzed 
 and broken down. 
 
 Late in October, a large part of the captured army 
 of Burgoj'ne was marched through the town en route 
 for Boston, and encamped here. A portion of the pris- 
 oners had its camp in the hollow of the hill-side, wes- 
 terly from the late residence of Mrs. Mark Rosseter, in 
 the northerly part of the village ; a larger section was^ 
 encamped in the south part of the village, on the level 
 ground lying west of the Main street and north of the- 
 road leading from the Burial-ground towards Green 
 River. The officers, amongst whom was the Hessian 
 General — Baron Reidesel — had their quarters in the- 
 old Episcopal church, opjoosite the Sedgwick Institute ; 
 and General Burgoyne, who was indisposed, and de- 
 pressed in spirits, remained here several days, the guest 
 of Col. Elijah Dwight, in the Henderson house. Dur- 
 ing their stay, the prisoners were kindly treated; more 
 so, perhaps, than would reasonably be expected at the 
 hands of an exasperated people. Many of them were 
 sick, sujffering from camp fever, and it is related that 
 Captain Truman Wheeler collected roots, boiled thenx 
 
HESSIAN SOLDIERS. 251 
 
 down, and personall}^ distributed the decoction amongst 
 the invalids, with good effect; and that one of the 
 British officers presented Captain Wheeler with a sub- 
 stantial token of his own appreciation of the kindness 
 shown the prisoners. 
 
 A large body of Hessian soldiers formed part of 
 this cavalcade ; many of whom fell from the ranks and 
 deserted, or were permitted to go at large, as they 
 marched through the country. Some of these settled 
 in this town and became good citizens. Amongst them 
 were Yarre Notewire, who in his later years, on the 
 Fourth of July and other public occasions was accus- 
 tomed to shout the orders of military drill, and hurrah 
 for George Washington ; Emanuel Hodget, who ended 
 a laborious life by falling from the bridgeway of the 
 old mill m Water street and breaking his neck — Feb- 
 ruary 7th, 1824; John Whitty, for nearly thirty years 
 a soldier in foreign w^ars, who lived to the advanced 
 age of 102 years and died in 1812, and whose tomb 
 stone in the upper burial ground bears the following 
 inscription : 
 
 " This monument is gratuitously erected 
 
 by the friends of JOHN WHITTY the 
 
 old German Soldier who died 
 
 March 24th 1812, in the 103d year of his age 
 
 nearly 80 of which he spent in the 
 
 bloody wars of Europe." 
 
 Not long after the arrival here of the British prison- 
 ers of war, the fine train of artillery captured at Sara- 
 toga was draw^n through the village. The people as- 
 sembled, and the children came out from school to 
 witness the novel exhibition; and one old lady — the 
 late venerable Mrs. Mary Pynchon — then a child — who 
 was present, informed the writer that in the train was 
 one cannon (j^robably a mortar) of enormous size drawn 
 by several yoke of oxen : so large that some of the chil- 
 dren crawled into it. 
 
 The care of the families of soldiers in the service, 
 the furnishing of supplies of beef and clothing for the 
 army, the filling of quotas, and the payments of boun- 
 ties to secure enlistments, were a constant drain upon 
 the resources of the people ; whilst the depreciation 
 
252 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 of the Continental currency, the scarcity of money, and 
 the want of a circulating medium, added greatly to 
 the general distress ; but the records indicate that the 
 town, in most instances, responded promptly and 
 cheerfully to the demands made upon it. And, though 
 the town proceedings are imperfectly recorded, and in 
 the first year of the war — as in some previous years — 
 are not recorded at all, still enough is preserved to 
 show that the inhabitants moved Avith commendable 
 spirit in furnishing men and supplies and in bearing 
 their proportion of the public biu'den. 
 
 The first recorded action, pertaining to the military 
 ser^dce, is in a vote passed November 29. 1776, " to 
 make some provision for the sick soldiers that may 
 happen in town and have not wherewith to help them- 
 selves :" for this purpose the sum of £15 was appro- 
 priated, and the selectmen were instructed to provide 
 for the soldiers. The pay rolls of the different de- 
 tachments which went in 1777 to Fort. Edward, Ben- 
 nington, and Saratoga amounted to £679, 7s : this sum 
 was paid by the town the next year in the depreciated 
 Continental currency. 
 
 November 21th, 1777, Captain Silas Goodrich, Jon- 
 athan Nash and Josiah Phelps were appointed a com- 
 mittee to provide for the families of the non-commis- 
 sioned officers and soldiers of this town in the Conti- 
 nental army. August 25th, 1778, the town appropria- 
 ted £200 for the use of the families of soldiers in the 
 Continental service ; and at the same time, in order to 
 meet a requisition of the General Court for clothing for 
 the army, the selectmen and Committee of Safety were 
 instructed to divide the inha1)itants into thirty-six 
 classes ; each class to furnish one shirt, one pair stock- 
 ings and one pair shoes. In 1780, the town having 
 been called upon, by a requisition of the General Court, 
 to furnish nine blankets, nineteen shirts, nineteen pairs 
 of shoes, and nineteen pairs of stockings, voted to 
 raise £2500. Continental money, for the purpose of 
 procuring these articles, and instructed the selectmen 
 to make the purchase, with the proviso, that if they 
 could not obtain the goods by purchase, they should 
 take them wherever they might be found, "pay- 
 
SUPPLIES FOR THE ARMY. 253 
 
 ing a reasonable price for the same." The selectmen 
 succeeded in obtaining eighteen shirts, sixteen i)airs 
 stockings, nineteen pairs shoes, and only one blanket, 
 all at a cost of £1764, Continental currency. The ac- 
 count of these purchases aptly illustrates the depreci- 
 ation of the Continental money ; the j^rice paid for 
 shirts was £36 each, and for some of better quality 
 £43, 4s., for stockings £25, 4s., and £23, 8s., for shoes 
 £30 per pair, whilst the one blanket cost £72. In 
 paying these bills, some of the parties preferring 
 specie, w^ere paid at the rate of $1.00 silver to $72.00 
 Continental, which was the then generally conceded 
 ratio of value. In 1781, £50 was raised "to purchase 
 shirts, shoes, stockings and blankets for the army." 
 A further requisition for clothing w^as filled in 1782, at 
 an expenditure of £20, 19s. in specie. In 1780, the 
 town was requu-ed to furnish nine horses for the army, 
 which was done at a cost of £102 in specie, 
 
 October 30th, 1780, it was voted to raise £9000, 
 (Continental) for procuring 8700 pounds of beef re- 
 quired for the army by the General Court, and Cap- 
 tain Silas Sprague and Ichabod Hopkins w^ere appoint- 
 ed to make the purchase. A further demand upon 
 the town for beef or grain was made in December, 
 1780, and at a town meeting, January 9th, 1781, for 
 considering this matter, the inhabitants refused to 
 honor the draft, and appointed Major William King, 
 Jonathan Youngiove, and Daniel Nash " to draw up 
 the reasons for the town not complying with the or- 
 ders of the General Court with regard to supplying 
 our quota of Beef or Grain for the army." 
 
 The reasons for non-compliance, reported by this 
 committee, were substantially as follows : 
 
 First : The beef demanded of this town is in iindue proportion, 
 as compared with the demands upon neighboring towns ; 
 
 Second : Neither beef or grain enough to supply the demand 
 can be had in town, because purchasers of beef have already 
 collected all that can be obtained, for the army ; 
 
 Third: "Monies due from the Continent for forwarding stores, 
 keeping horses &c.. can not be obtained, which with the rea- 
 sons above enumerated renders it impossible for this town to 
 comply with the requisition under consideration and other de- 
 mands upon us ;" 
 
.254 HISTORY OF GREAT HARRINGTON. 
 
 Fourth: The town in 1777, furnished its proportion of men to 
 serve for three yeai's or the war, and "ai-e notwithstanding or- 
 dered to procure the same proportion of men to serve in fu- 
 ture as if they had not procured any men to serve in the past ;" 
 other towns have not furnished all their men for three years, 
 and "some towns have not stnt any," and though the General 
 Court has made promises that deficient towns should be obliged 
 to make up their deficiencies, this 'promise we find latterly 
 left out of the orders for raising men ;" 
 
 Fifth : For several years past this town has paid an undue pro- 
 portion of taxes, "which with other reasons, above-mentioned 
 renders us unable to comply with the present requisition of 
 theCourt '" 
 
 The clerk was directed to forward a copy of the re- 
 port to the town's Representative, to be laid before the 
 General court. This, so far as we are informed, was 
 the only instance diu-ing the war, in which the town 
 demui-red to an}- demands made npon it for supplies of 
 either material or men ; but its complaints, however 
 well founded, and its reasons for non-compliance, how- 
 ever cogent, did Dot answer the purjDOse of supplpng 
 beef for the army. The beef question continued to be 
 a matter of discussion through several town meetings, 
 i:he General Court insisting upon its demand, until final- 
 ly, September 11th, 1781, — Benedict Dewey having 
 been previously appointed to purchase the beef, — £300 
 "Hard money" was raised for the j^urpose. The beef 
 was purchased, — as by the account made up by ]Mi\ 
 Dewev — to the amount of about 16,500 lbs., at a cost 
 of £264, Is. 3d. silver. 
 
 We have gleaned from the town records, from the 
 rolls in the office of Secretary of State in Boston, and 
 fi'om other sources such information as we have been 
 able relative to the action taken and the men furnished 
 for the Continental service ; and the information thus 
 gathered though incomplete and imperfect in detail, 
 we lay before our readers. 
 
 We have already made mention of the march of 
 Capt. William King and his company of minute men in 
 April, 1775, and his enlistment with thirty men of Great 
 Barrington in the American army besieging Boston, 
 .and also of the march of Caj^t. Peter Ingersoll and his 
 company, — at nearly the same time with Capt. King — 
 
FILLING OF QUOTAS. 255 
 
 .and of his subsequent enlistment with eleven men of 
 this town, in the service. 
 
 By an act of the General Court, January 21st, 1776, 
 for raising a regiment in Hamj^shke and Berkshire 
 counties, for the Canada expedition. Great Barrington 
 was required to furnish fifteen men. 
 
 In the spring of 1778, seven three years men were 
 provided by the town, to wit : Barnabas Chapman, Sam- 
 uel Hopkins, Josiah Phelps, Moses Breck, Daniel Con- 
 nor, Moses Orcut, Jonah Pixley, to each of whom a 
 bounty of £30 was paid by the town. 
 
 At about the same time, as appears by the rolls in 
 the office of Secretaiy of State, the town had thirty- 
 eight men in the Continental service. 
 
 Again in May, 1778, six nine months men went in- 
 to the service from this town, viz : Benjamin Rose, [or 
 Rase] Samuel Ransom, Jun'r, Asahel Munrow, William 
 Patterson, Isaac Preston, John Patterson. These were, 
 . apparently, drafted from the militia company of Capt. 
 Silas Goodrich, and (with the exception of the last 
 named) were in a company under his command at Fish- 
 kill in 1778. 
 
 June 28, 1779, Jedediah Buckingham, Robert Hum- 
 phi-ey, Silas Sprague, Jun'r, John Hill and Jej^tha Hol- 
 lan were mustered into the regiment of Col. Benjamin 
 Simonds; term of service not ascertained. We find 
 amongst the rolls a descriptive list of four of the above- 
 named — as follows : 
 
 Jedediah Buckingham, age 21 , height 5 feet 10 inches, com- 
 plexion light ; Robert Humi^hrey, age 28, height .5 feet 10 inches, 
 complexion light ; Silas Sprague, (Jr.) age 17, height 5 feet 9 
 inches, complexion light : Jeptha HoUan, age 37, height 5 feet 
 11 inches, complexion mullatto. 
 
 Silas Sprague, Jr., is supposed to have been a son 
 of Capt. Silas Sprague on Christian Hill. Humphrey 
 was from Muddy Brook, and Hollan the mulatto, had 
 resided here several years. 
 
 In a Regiment of " New Levies" — 1780 — this town 
 furnished eleven six months men, viz. : 
 
 John Putnam, James Fuller, Gershom Graham, 
 
 Henry Slater, Rufus Wilcox, John Stuart. 
 
 John Steward, Thomas Patterson, John Forbbs, 
 
 David Walter, Othniel Strong. 
 
256 HISTORY OF GREAT BAREINGTON. 
 
 A pay roll (Book 23, Roll 24 in Secretary's office) 
 in Captain John Spoor's company, Eegiment of Colonel 
 John Brown, New Leyies raised for three months, term 
 of seryice from July 18th to October 23cl, 1780 bears. 
 the names of twelye men from this town, yiz : 
 
 Gershom Chapman, Elias Ransom, Joseph Noble, 
 
 Jonah Pixley, Bryan Eddy, George King, 
 
 Ezekiel Callander, Barnabas ISprague. Moses Ingersoll, 
 
 Abnah Pier, Josiah Mansfield, Stephen Koot. 
 
 This company, seventy-two in number, was en- 
 gaged in the light with Tories and Indians at Stone 
 Ai^abia, October 19, 1780, in which Colonel John Brown 
 fell. The roll shows that eleven of this company were 
 killed and one taken prisoner in that action. Amongst 
 the killed were Joseph Noble — son of Eli Noble — and 
 Jonah Pixie}-, both of this town, and the one prisoner 
 taken was Stephen Root, — son of Deacon Israel Root, 
 — he is also said to have been killed, and this we pre- 
 sume to be true. 
 
 In 1780, December 14th, the town having been 
 called upon to fill a quota of twelve men, for three 
 years or the war, appointed Timothy Younglove, Eb- 
 enezer Bement, Caleb Clark, and James Root to join 
 with the militia officers of the town in procuring the 
 men, voting to reimburse them for their time and ex- 
 penses, and for any monies they might advance or ob- 
 ligations they might assume in hiring the soldiers. The 
 town-meeting was continued by adjournment, and 
 when three men had been secured — one by a promise 
 of £95 bounty and another of £75, — the assessors were 
 instructed to divide the inhabitants into nine classes, 
 each class to furnish one man, and to pay not exceed- 
 ing £60 bounty, in silver, to each soldier. At the 
 same time resolutions — presented by Major William 
 King — were adopted, for repaying to such individuals 
 as might contribute either mone}' or material towards 
 paying bounties to the men to be raised. By this plan 
 the men were speedily procured : many individuals 
 subscribing in sums varying from $500 Continental, 
 to a few shillings in silver ; but the accoimt, as made 
 up, is such a mixture of Continental currency, State- 
 dollars, and " Hai'd money," that it is almost impossi- 
 
MTLITIA SERVICE. 257 
 
 ble to arrive at the amount of bounties paid. The 
 twelve enlisted were Lemuel Cleveland, John Huxley, 
 John . Putnam, John Hill, Joseph Griffen, Richard 
 Mitchell, Samuel Taylor, Theophilus Baldwin, Thomas 
 Wood, Samuel Robertson, John Barnard, and Nathan 
 Lewis ; — but Lewis did not go into the service, and 
 Lieutenant John Powell, was directed to obtain another 
 in his stead at a bounty not exceeding £30, silver. 
 The tilling of quotas and furnishing supplies for the 
 Continental army did not constitute the whole military 
 service of the town ; her militia were frequently called 
 out for short tours of duty, whilst, as we have before 
 remarked, in some stages of the war, detachments from 
 their numbers were almost constantly in the field. 
 
 The brief, but imperfect, summary of this service 
 which we are able to present is mostly gathered from 
 the original Muster and Pay Rolls in the office of the 
 Secretary of State. Thus, Roll 20, 157, Capt. George 
 King of Great Barrington, with a company of forty- 
 three men — twenty-seven from this tow^n — in the Regt. 
 of Col. Mark Hopkins, did service at the Highlands 
 from July 15th, to August 4th, 1776 ; travel allowed 
 112 miles each way. Of this Regt. Ebenezer Bement 
 of Great Barrington was Adjutant. 
 
 Later in the same year Capt. George King com- 
 manded a company from the north part of the count}^ 
 in the Regt. of Col. Benjamin Simonds, on duty at Ti- 
 conderoga, and died there January 19th, 1777. 
 
 Roll 22, 208. Li the company of Capt. John Spoor, 
 Regt. of Col. Simonds, ordered out by Gen. Gates for 
 service at Saratoga, from April 26th to May 20th, 1777, 
 were Lieut. Warham Lee and seven others of this town. 
 
 Roll 25, 152. Capt. Peter Ingersoll with a compa- 
 ny of thirty-one men — twelve from this town — served 
 in the Regt. of Col. John Brown, at the northward from 
 July 1st to 30th, 1777 ; travel home 120 miles. 
 
 Roll 21, 181. In the company of Captain Enoch 
 Noble, Colonel Brown's Regiment, seven men of this 
 town served from June 29th to July 28th, 1777 ; or- 
 dered out by General Fellows and the Committee of 
 Safety at the request of General Schuyler. 
 
 Roll 24, 161. Seven men from Great Bai-ringtdri, 
 
 17 
 
258 msTOBY OF great barrington. 
 
 in compan}^ of Captain Sylvanus Wilcox, of Alford, 
 Regiment of Colonel John Ashley, did "service in the 
 Northern army" July 8th to 26th, 1777. 
 
 Roll 20, 106. Lieutenant Charles Parsons and twen- 
 ty-one others, of Great Barrington, served in the com- 
 pany of Captain Ephraim FitcTi, Regiment of Colonel 
 Ashley, at the northward, July 8th to August 14th, 1777. 
 
 Roll 22, 129. Capt. Hewitt Root, with forty-eight 
 of his men, marched in the Regiment of Colonel Ash- 
 ley at "the Fort Edward alarm;" service July 8th 
 to 27th, 1777 ; travel home 110 miles. In addition to 
 these, tliirty-one others went in the same alarm to Eort 
 Edward, some of whom are included in the above Rolls. 
 
 Roll 19, 135. '• Pay Roll of Captain Silas Good- 
 rich's company in Colonel John Ashley's Regiment of 
 mihtia in the county of Berkshiie at the action, at Ben- 
 nington, August 16 1778, commanded while in service 
 by Brigadier General Starks the Brave," entered ser- 
 vice August 15, discharged 21st. Such is the caption 
 of Captain Goodrich's pay roll for his company of forty- 
 six men who marched from this town at the time of 
 the battle of Bennington — August 1777 — ^the Roll 
 probably made up the next year is, evidently, errone- 
 ously dated, " 1778;" the time of service of the men is 
 two, three, five, and seven days ; the travel is twenty 
 forty, and sixtj^ miles. At the same time — as appears 
 from the town pay roll — nine others went from this 
 town on the same expedition. 
 
 Roll 19, 136. Captain Silas Goodiich, with thii'ty- 
 six men of this town, served in the Regiment of Colonel 
 Ashley at Saratoga at the taking of Bm-goyne, from Sep- 
 tember 19th to October 19th, 1777 ; whilst three others 
 were at the same time engaged in the company of Cap- 
 tain Sylvanus Wilcox. 
 
 Roll 18, 213. In a detachment from Colonel Ash- 
 ley's Regiment, ordered to Albany, Lieut. John Powell 
 with twelve other Great Barrington men did service 
 from June 4th to July 15th, 1778, in the company of 
 Capt Elijah Deming. 
 
 Roll 18, 248. In the company of Captain Roswell 
 Downing, Colonel Miles Powell's Regiment, twenty 
 men from this town served from July 19th to August 
 
IVHLITIA SER\T[CE. 
 
 259 
 
 23d, 1779. Of this Kegiment Doctor William Whiting 
 of Great Barrington was surgeon. 
 
 Roll 20, 95. At an alarm at the northward, in Oc- 
 tober, 1781, Captain Thomas Ingersoll, Lieutenant 
 John Powell and elcA'^en others marched to Stillwater, 
 and did twelve days service ; travel home eighty miles, 
 "found their own rations." 
 
 July 26, 1781, the town raised £108 to pay boun- 
 ties of £12 each to nine three months men, for the Con- 
 tinental service, and instructed the town treasurer to 
 give his obligations for the payment of the bounties. 
 
 In the spring of 1782, the town was required to fill 
 another — and its last — quota of soldiers ; how many or 
 for what length of time we are uninformed. The 
 classes, as established two years before, were instruct- 
 ed to obtain the men, and not to pay more than £30 
 bounty to each soldier. In October, it appears that 
 two of the classes were each deficient one man, b}- rea- 
 son of these men having enlisted for other towns ; and 
 at about the close of the war we find Great Barrington 
 reported as short one man on its quota. This deficiency 
 seems to have arisen from the fact that Josiali Phelps 
 and Peter Ingersoll Junior, apparently enlisted in 1782, 
 and belongmg to this town, had by some means been 
 credited to the quota of Salem, and was the occasion — 
 fifteen years afterwards — in 1797, of a hearing of the 
 towns of Great Barrington and Salem before the Gen- 
 eral Court, in which Thomas Ives was the agent in be- 
 half of this town ; the amount involved being $493.89. 
 
 In filling detachments from the militia, frequently 
 ordered, for reinforcing the Continental army or for 
 special service, the commissioned officers and commit- 
 tees of safety sometimes exercised the power of ap- 
 pointment, and drafting was also from time to time re- 
 sorted to. Men appointed, or drafted for the service 
 were required to go in person, employ a substitute or 
 pay a fine of £10. Thus in the spring of 1778, from 
 the militia company of Captain Silas Goodiich, in 
 which Charles Parsons, Thomas Ingersoll, and John Pow- 
 ell were Lieutenants, five men were drafted for eight 
 months "to do service at the Peekskills." Amongst 
 this number was the tavern keeper and blacksmith, 
 
260 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 Josiali Mansfield and his son Josiah, each of whom 
 paid a fine of £10 Lawful Money. The elder Mans- 
 field, as appears from papers preserved, had been pre- 
 viously drafted and had furnished two substitutes, one 
 for three years the other for tlii'ee months. Barnabas 
 Chapman, also di'afted on this occasion, went into the 
 service, receiving from the selectmen towards his out- 
 fit, one shii't, one pair of stockings, and one paii' of 
 shoes. In September, 1780, Moses Hopkms having 
 been di^afted paid a fine of $500 — probably in Conti- 
 nental money. 
 
 The following somewhat curious paper is an ex- 
 ample of the procedure in detachmg soldiers from the 
 militia, and also shows that Captain Goodrich, though 
 perhaps a good soldier had not achieved much scholar- 
 ly renown : 
 
 *'Gt. Bakkington, Oct. 24th, 1779. 
 Gentlemen as you have not Ben fully up to the a Gi-eament 
 mad with 3'ou j'estei'daj' I am Kow under the Disegreble Nesese- 
 ty in behalf of the Publick to Detach each one of you hearafter 
 Named to Lieut. John Van Denser, Abraham Van Deuser, Isaac 
 Van Deuser and Jacob Van Deuser Know that you are Detach'd 
 for three Months Sarvis and to be Eedy to March on tusday 
 Morning the 26 instant with your armes and aquipmeuts to Such 
 place as Gen'U Fellows May order Silas Goodkich, Capt." 
 
 We have but little to record of individual incident 
 or experience of the men of Great Barrington in the 
 armies of the Revolution. Such incidents and experi- 
 ences are for the most part unwritten, and in the lapse 
 of years but httle, even, is preserved by family tradition. 
 
 The late venerable John Kellogg, many years since, 
 informed the writer that two of our soldiers — Joseph, 
 son of Eli Noble, and Stephen, son of Israel Root — 
 were killed in a fight with Tories and Indians "up 
 above Albany."' This statement we find corroborated 
 in part in a pay roll, which has been mentioned, of the 
 company of Captain John Spoor, which was in the ac- 
 tion at Stone ia'abia, in the Mohawk Yalley, October 
 19, 1780. In that roll Joseph Noble is marked as 
 killed October 19th, and Stephen Root is stated to 
 have been taken prisoner: but as we have no further 
 account of ]VIi\ Root or of his return home, we incline 
 to the behef that he was there killed.^ Jonah Pixley of 
 
SOLDIEBS AND PENSIONEKS. 261 
 
 this town is also, in the same roll, reported to have 
 been slain. Mr. Kellogg, further informed us that 
 Abner Pier, son of Thomas Pier of this town, was 
 taken prisoner by the Indians in the same battle. One 
 of Pier's captors struck him on the head with a toma- 
 hawk, took off his scalp, and, as he lay helpless on the 
 ground, shot him, inflicting several bullet wounds. 
 Pier was then left for dead, but recovered strength 
 sufficient to crawl to a hay-rick, near by, where he lay 
 on the straw through the night and was found the next 
 day by his comrades. He was removed and properly 
 cared for, and, although terribly mutilated, recovered 
 from his wounds. Mr. Pier afterwards received a pen- 
 sion, and for several years resided in South Egremont 
 engaged in his occupation of shoemaking. Gershom 
 Dormon, who has been mentioned amongst our sol- 
 diers, was wounded and a pensioner, living as late as 
 1810. His residence was on the Alford road, where 
 Henry A. Tobey now dwells. Amongst the Revolu- 
 tionary soldiers who settled in this town after the war, 
 and who lived and died here, were the following : 
 
 Miles Avery, Esq. — grandfather of our townsman 
 of the same name ; — Mr. Avery was a native of Nor- 
 wich, Conn., born September 5, 1760, enlisted in the 
 army when a boy and served through the war. He 
 was present at the battle of Monmouth, and witnessed 
 the scene of the reprimand administered to General 
 Lee by General Washington. He died June 27th, 
 1850, aged nearly ninety years. Dimon Bradley from 
 North Haven, Conn., served through the whole war, 
 was at Fort Montgomery when it was taken by the 
 British October 6th, 1777, and narrowly escaped be- 
 ing taken prisoner. He died here at the age of 
 seventy-three, July 1st, 1828. Martin Hart, from 
 Farmington, Conn., who died here August 7th, 1842, 
 in his eightieth year. Captain Jabez Turner, from 
 Hampden, Conn., who removed, many years since, to 
 Blinois, and died there at the age of ninety-one, in 1846. 
 Fenner Arnold, who lived to the advanced age of ninety- 
 six years, and died February 29th, 1836. Jonathan 
 Ford, from Hampden, Conn., the ancestor of the Ford 
 families of this town, whose powder horn inscribed 
 
262 HISTORY OF GREAT HARRINGTON, 
 
 "Jonathan Ford his Horn, Red Hook October 1776," 
 is still in the possession of his descendants. Some 
 of these — as well as others not named — received pen- 
 sions from government for theii' services. 
 
 We have a well authenticated tradition, that at one 
 period of the war several gentlemen of rank, said to 
 have been British officers, were quartered here at the 
 Josiah Smith tavern, where they maintained a sump- 
 tuous style of living, having their own baker and other 
 servants. It is related that these gentlemen conceived 
 the idea of detaching the East Eock from the moun- 
 tain side, and rolling it into the vallej^, and that they 
 labored vigorously at this project for several consecu- 
 tive days. It is well known, and perhaps connected 
 with the same tradition, that several persons known as 
 "Refugees," did, for a time, reside here during the 
 war. Amongst these were one Jacob Yanderheyden, 
 and some members of a famiW of the name of Franks 
 from Quebec, who came here in 1775. One of this 
 family, JVIiss Elizabeth Franks, a young ladj^ and a 
 belle, made home with Colonel Elijah D wight. She 
 afterwards married, and resided in Vermont. 
 
 By reason of its central position on the great thor- 
 oughfare between Boston and Albany and between 
 Hartford and Albany, Great Barrington was at times 
 during the war a point of some importance as a depot 
 for military stores, provisions and supplies for the army. 
 Tliis was especially the case while the British occupied 
 New York city and had possession of the lower part of 
 the Hudson river, and the communication of Albany 
 with the seaboard was necessarily overland to Boston 
 or by way of Hartford. The route from Great Bar- 
 rington to Albany was at that time through Egremont 
 by way of Claverack and Kinderhook ; and the Clav- 
 erack and Kinderhook Landings, on the river, were 
 places of considerable importance. From these places 
 stores were moved either by water or overland to 
 Albany. 
 
 Moses Hopkins, Esq. — still remembered by the old 
 inhabitants of the town — was employed here in the 
 commissary department from 1777 to 1780, a part of 
 the time in connection with Thomas L. Whitbeck. Mr. 
 
COMMISSAKY STORES. 
 
 263 
 
 Hopkins is supposed to have had his place of business 
 in an old store, then belonging to the Gunn family, 
 which stood until 1820, at the north-east corner of the 
 garden of Ralph Taylor, in which he is known to have 
 carried on the business of merchandising from 1782 to 
 about 1796. The basement of the Henderson house — 
 then occupied by Colonel Elijah D wight — and also the 
 basement of the house of Lieutenant Gamaliel Whit- 
 ing — which stood upon the site of the soldiers' monu- 
 ment — were used as depositories for commissary stores. 
 An old lady — the late Mrs. Mary Pynchon — who wit- 
 nessed the scene, informed the writer that on one oc- 
 casion a hogshead of commissary rum burst, in the 
 basement of the Wliiting house; its contents running 
 into the street attracted a swarm of village topers, who 
 assembled with pans, pails, cups and such other ves- 
 sels as were at hand, to collect the precious fluid, and 
 presented an extremely ludicrous appearance. 
 
 During the campaign of 1777, previous to the sur- 
 render of Burgoyne's army, large quantities of stores 
 were gathered here and were forwarded by Moses 
 Hopkins, by way of Claverack and Kinderhook Land- 
 ings, to Albany for the use of the Northern army. 
 These supplies consisted largely of rum, salt and flour, 
 as well as of musket balls, cartridges and cannon shot. 
 After the battles of Saratoga, and when the British 
 prisoners had been marched to the eastward, flour from 
 this place was sent by way of Springfield towards Bos- 
 ton for their subsistence ; and after the prisoners had 
 sailed fi-om Boston, large quantities of flour, trans- 
 poited here from Albany, were sent to Hartford. The 
 business of transporting military stores in 1777-78 and 
 '79 furnished employment for many men and horses. 
 In 1779 the cost of transporting a hogshead of rum to 
 Claverack Landing, by wagon, was $50 Continental 
 money. At that time salt was excessively dear ; a bill 
 of sixty-five bushels bought by Messrs. Hopkins & 
 Wliitbeck in 1778 is preserved, amounting to £682 
 Lawful money or $35 per bushel. 
 
 In the later years of the war Captain Walter Pyn- 
 chon — who in 1778 had been appointed "Assistant 
 Deputy Quarter Master General for the town of Spring- 
 
2^4 HISTORY OF GREAT BAKRINGTON. 
 
 field and within thii'ty miles thereof' at a salary of $40 
 per month and thi'ee rations — having removed to this 
 town,,\Yas here engaged in the commissary dej^artment. 
 Both Moses Hopkins, Esq., and the widow of Captain 
 Pj^nchon received a pension from the government. 
 
 By a resolve of the House of Representatives, De- 
 cember 28th, 1776, Captain Truman Wheeler was ap- 
 pointed Muster Master for the county. Congress had 
 then offered a bounty of £6, and tliis state a bounty 
 of £20 to each non-commissioned officer and soldier 
 who should enhst in the Continental army for three 
 years or for the war, and the county muster masters 
 were charged with the duty of paying both the Conti- 
 nental and state bounties. From Captain ^\Tieeler's 
 memorandums it appears that he mustered into the 
 service, from January 20th, 1777 to August 1779, 
 
 for three j'ears or the war, 480 meu. 
 
 also in 1778, for three mouths, 28 meu. 
 
 for six months, 2G meu. 
 
 for nine mouths, 93 men. 
 
 in 1779, for uiue mouths, 95 men. 
 
 in 1780, for six mouths, 2G4 men. 
 
 In November, 1780, Captain Wheeler was re-ap- 
 pointed muster master in connection with Mr. Ezra 
 Hunt, for the county. He also held the office of Town 
 Treasurer during the war. 
 
 5oth before and duiing the war the adoption of 
 precautionary measures against the introduction and 
 spread of the small pox became the subject of con- 
 sideration of the inhabitants in thek town meetings. 
 In the fall of 1771, one Doctor Latham, with whom in- 
 oculation for this disorder appears to have been a 
 specialty, visited this place and desired to institute a 
 hospital for the purposes of inoculation. In his inter- 
 course with the inhabitants he made a favorable im- 
 pression, and fifteen of them, including Doctor Wil- 
 liam_ /VVliiting, Ehjah Dwight, David Ingersoll, Jun'r, 
 David Sanford, Moses Hopkins and Gamaliel Whiting, 
 united in a petition to the selectmen requesting that a 
 town meeting might be called to ascertain the minds 
 of the people relative to permitting the introduction of 
 the small pox by inoculation, and the estabhshment of 
 
SMALL POX TROUBLES. 265 
 
 ^ hospital. The petition stated that Doctor Latham 
 was "well recommended by gentlemen of character in 
 New York," and that a number of persons in town 
 were disposed to take the disorder. A town meeting 
 was accordingly held on the 13th of September, at 
 which the matter was presented, but so great was the 
 dread of the small pox amongst the people that they 
 refused to entertain the proposition. 
 
 Notwithstanding this prohibition. Doctor Latham 
 
 .-estabhshed himself at the house of John Pell, one of 
 the petitioners — who appears to have been a school- 
 master, and to have resided here for a year or two — 
 and began inoculating for the disorder on the 29th of 
 September. This procedure aroused the indignation of 
 the villagers ; but we will quote from the weather book 
 of Lieutenant Gamaliel Whiting— before alluded to: 
 
 "1771. Sept. 29. Sixiall Pox given at Pell's. 
 
 Sept. 30. Clear, moderate, but a great storm about ye Pox. 
 Oct. 1, Clear; Uproar about Small Pox. 
 Oct. 3. Doct. Latham moved to Claverack. 
 Oct. 4. 9 patients went to Claverack."' 
 
 The doctor and his patients were apparently driven 
 from town, but found an asylum at Claverack, where 
 they were joined by others from this place who went 
 there to be inoculated. 
 
 In June, 1776, inoculation was permitted by a vote 
 - of the town, and the houses of Thomas Ligersoll and 
 Benedict Dewey were designated as the places, where 
 it might be carried on under the direction of a com- 
 mittee appointed for the purpose. The house of Ben- 
 edict Dewey, m as the old Block House of the French 
 war, which stood a few rods north of Frederick Abbey's 
 residence, on the road to Van Deusenville. Here very 
 many of the inhabitants took the disorder and were 
 treated for it, in the summer of 1776 ; but the preju- 
 dices of the people against inoculation were so strong 
 that in November of that year they refused to permit 
 it to be carried on "under any restriction whatever." 
 Similar votes were passed the next year, and were re- 
 ^peated in 1783-4-5. 
 
 With a few short notices of some of the men prom^ 
 inent in town affaii's during the war, we close the his- 
 
266 HISTORY OF GEEAT BARRINGTON, 
 
 tory of the Revoliitionary period. Sketches of Colonel 
 Mark Hopkins, and some others will appear in another 
 place. 
 
 1_Capt.' Peter IngersoU. 
 
 Peter IngersoU, son of Moses IngersoU, one of the 
 first settlers of the town, was born here May 11, 1733. 
 His education was apparently very limited, and, aside 
 from his services in the fiist campaign of the war, 
 which have been mentioned, he seems to have occupied 
 no very conspicuous place in connection with town af- 
 fairs. But the alacrity with which he raised a company 
 and joined the army at the very beginning of hostili- 
 ties, with the services which he then rendered, entitle 
 him to our grateful remembrance and to a place in the 
 town history. Captain IngersoU was married in 1752 
 — soon after the death of his father — and succeeded to 
 the occupancy of the family homestead. His posses- 
 sions embraced a large farm lying on both sides of the 
 Main street, extending, on the west, from the premises 
 of Edward Manville northerly to the dwelling of the 
 late Doctor C. T. Collins, and on the east, from John 
 Brewer's to the late Misses Kellogg place. 
 
 In 1766, he built near the site of the former dwel- 
 ling of his father the old brick house — the AYainwright 
 — Pope House — in the south part of the village, and 
 there engaged in farming, merchandising and tavern 
 keeping, having been licensed as a Retailer in 1770, 
 and as an Inn-holder in 1772. Here he remained to the 
 time of his decease in 1785. His place of interment is 
 supposed to be in the south burial gTound, where, near 
 the centre of the old part of the yard, is a long row of 
 graves of the IngersoU family, of which two only are 
 marked by inscribed monuments. But no monumental 
 stone commemorates the virtues of the soldier. His 
 cenotaph is "Mount Peter'' — originally included in his 
 possessions. This was. at that time, a beautifully 
 wooded eminence, and has ever since borne his name 
 Peter — Mount Peter, for which modern sentimental- 
 ism, with its customary disregard of landmarks and tra- 
 ditions, is persistently endeavoring to substitute Petra. 
 
 Of the children of Captain Peter IngersoU : Thomas 
 
CAPTAIN SILAS GOODRICH. 26T 
 
 removed to Western New York about 1790; Moses re- 
 sided at Chenango, Tioga county, N. Y., in 1793; Peter 
 is recorded as having been a resident of Chemung, 
 Montgomery county, in 1790, and of Onondaga coun- 
 ty in 1798. Descendants of one of these, as we are in- 
 formed, are still living in the vicinity of Owego, N. Y. 
 
 Capt. Silas Qoodrich. 
 We know but little of Captain Goodrich. The first 
 mention we find of him is May 1763, when intention of 
 marriage was published between Silas Goodrich and 
 Lois Sheldon — daughter of Aaron Sheldon : and in the 
 same year he appears to have built the old Episcopal 
 parsonage — afterwards the jail house of the county — 
 which was taken down in 1876. In 1773 Silas Good- 
 rich was licensed as an Inn holder, and is presumed to 
 have occupied a house, previously owned by Doctor 
 Samuel Lee, which stood where the dwelling of Doctor 
 W. H. Parks — next south of the Episcopal church — 
 now does, and which Captain Goodrich purchased in 
 1774. At the breaking out of the war, Captain Good- 
 rich entered the service as Lieutenant in the company 
 of Captain Peter Ingersoll, which marched, as has been 
 mentioned, April 24th, 1775. In 1777 he was a mem- 
 ber of the Connnittee of Safety, and jointly with Cap- 
 tain William King represented the town at a session of 
 the General Court at Boston iu May of that year. As 
 captain of the Great Barrington mihtia he appears to 
 have been active and energetic, especially so in the 
 campaign of 1777, when with his company, or with de- 
 tachments from it, he was several times engaged in the 
 service. Captain Goodrich removed from town before, 
 or soon after, the close of the war, and appears to have 
 resided in Manchester, Yt., about 1790. Of his family 
 we have only the record of one child, a daughter — 
 Sarah — baptized by Kev. Roger Viets, April 22, 1764. 
 
 Capt. 7Yut7ian Wheeler. 
 Truman Wheeler, a native of Southbury, Conn., 
 said to have been educated at Yale College, came here 
 apparently in the spring of 1764, and engaged in busi- 
 ness as a merchant. The first entry on his books is 
 under date of June 1st, 1764. His place of business 
 
268 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 was a mile south of the central part of the village, and 
 near where his grand-son, Merritt I. AMieeler, now re- 
 sides. In this vicinity, a few years later, he purchased 
 land, built the present Wheeler house in 1771, and cul- 
 tivated a large farm. Here he continued his business 
 of merchandising for twelve or more years, until inter- 
 rupted by the war. He held the office of Town treas- 
 ui'er during the Revolution, 1776-1782, and was a mem- 
 ber of the Committee of Safety in 1776. In the latter 
 year he was appointed muster mai^ter for the county, 
 for mustering soldiers into the Continental service and 
 paying to them the state and Continental bounties to 
 which they were entitled. The important duties of 
 this office he performed efficiently and faithfully, and 
 throughout the war he labored assiduously for the suc- 
 cess of the American arms. In addition to filling va- 
 rious town offices, he was commissioned one of the 
 Justices of the Peace of the county, and in 1796 repre- 
 sented the town in the General Court. Cai^tain AYlieeler 
 was of a genial and social disposition, an intelligent 
 and useful citizen, industrious, correct and reliable, 
 and enjoyed to an extraordinary degree the esteem and 
 confidence of his townsmen. The old inhabitants who 
 knew him were accustomed to speak with great respect 
 of his many good qualities. His death occurred April 
 19, 1815, in the 74th year of his age. The sons of 
 Truman Wheeler were : Truman, Peyton R., Gideon, 
 Obadiah, and Claudius. The last named of whom re- 
 sided to the time of his decease — a few years since — 
 on the homestead of his father, which is still in the 
 possession of one of his descendants. 
 
 Major William King. 
 
 W^illiam King, born about 1730, was a son of Wil- 
 liam King, one of the early settlers of the town, from 
 W^estfield. Of his early life but little is known. His 
 educational advantages were only such as the common 
 schools of that day fm-nished ; but with an active mind 
 and a natui'al habit of observation united with strong 
 common sense, he acquu-ed a large amount of general 
 intelligence. He read a little law, in which he made 
 some proficiency, and was accustomed to appear as 
 
MAJOR WILLIAM KING. 269 
 
 counsel in ordinary cases in the Justice's courts and 
 also occasionally in the courts of the county. He is 
 described as tall in stature — six feet four inches — with 
 long limbs, large hands, not very symmetrical in his 
 proportions, and strikingly awkward in manner and 
 general appearance. His features were large ; his head 
 and face long, wdth small keen eyes and very promi- 
 nent forehead. Such is the description of Major King, 
 as communicated to the waiter by an aged citizen, since 
 deceased, who added with emphasis — "Ae ivas a pro- 
 found many In character, as in personal appearance, 
 Major King w^as original and eccentric, exhibiting 
 marked peculiarities which always attracted attention 
 and often provoked a smile. He was a man of sound 
 judgment, ready wit and sterling good sense. These 
 qualities early obtained for him a prominent position 
 amongst his townsmen, who came to regard him as an 
 oracle and to look to him for counsel and direction in 
 all matters of public welfai'e. 
 
 In the French war Major King had seen service in 
 1755-6, and previous to the Kevolution had held the 
 offices of Ensign and Lieutenant in the town militia. 
 And in the preparations made in 1774-5, for meeting 
 the expected emergency of a contest with Great Britain, 
 he became the captain of a company of minute men 
 which, as w^e have stated, marched to Cambridge imme- 
 diately after the battle of Lexington. As captain of a 
 company in the Continental army he did service about 
 Boston during the years 1775-6. Before the incorpo- 
 ration of the town Major King was clerk of the North 
 Parish, and in 1770 and several succeeding years, was 
 the clerk of the town. It w^as during the term of his 
 office that the blank in the town records — which has 
 been mentioned — occurred. Before and during the 
 Kevolution he was one of the selectmen of the town; a 
 member of the Committee of Safety in 1777 ; and rep- 
 resentative to the General Court in 1777, 1783, 1787. 
 His name often appears on committees for transacting 
 important town business, and in the county conven- 
 tions, which were common in the Eevolutionary period, 
 he frequently represented his townsmen. Few of its 
 inhabitants in the past have served the town more in- 
 
:270 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 telligeutly or more efficiently than Major King. He 
 married in 1755. Rachel Lee — daughter of Samuel 
 Lee of this town — and had his residence in a small 
 plank house which stood a few rods east of the Bung 
 Hill corner, where the brick house of the late Captain 
 George Turner now does. He died in 1810, aged about 
 eight}" 3"ears, leaving no descendants. His place of m- 
 teruient is in the Upper cemetery — east of the bridge 
 — where rest the remams of his father and mother, his 
 sister Huldah, and his brothers Reuben and Asahel, 
 and where also a stone is erected to the memory of liis 
 brother Captain George King, who died at Ticonderoga 
 in 1777 : but no monument commemorates the life or 
 ser^dces of Major "William King. 
 
 Many amusing anecdotes of Major King have been 
 preserved, the insertion of two or three of which in 
 this place may be pardonable. The following, illus- 
 trative of his character, was related to the writer by the 
 late Lonson Nash, Esq., who had it from a gentleman 
 who was present at the occurrence : More than a cen- 
 tury since, and while Major King was yet a young- 
 man, with the military title of Lieutenant, he was drawn 
 to serve as a juror at a term of the court at Spiing- 
 ' field. A suit of great local interest came before the 
 jury, attracting a large concourse of people. After the 
 hearing of the evidence and the arguments of the coun- 
 sel pro and con, the case was submitted to the jui'v, of 
 which one Mr. Pynchon, a merchant of Springfield, 
 was the foreman. The jurors having retired, the fore- 
 man, who was a somewhat arrogant and self-important 
 man, presented to his coadjutors his own views of the 
 case and of the verdict which should be rendered — a 
 proceeding not unusual at that time — and asked each 
 in turn if he agreed with him in the opinion expressed. 
 To this each assented until he came to ]Mi-. King, who, 
 as it happened, was the eleventh and last man ques- 
 tioned. Turning to IVIi-. King he addressed him in a 
 cavalier manner, "Well, Lef tenant King, I suppose you 
 agree with usf "No, Sir, I do not," was the prompt 
 reply. The foreman, surprised that any one sliould 
 presume to differ with him and his ten associates, after 
 ii Kttle parlying, endeavored to draw fi'om IVIi*. King his 
 
ANECDOTES OF MAJOR KING. 271 
 
 ireasons for dissenting. These the latter decHned to 
 give. "But," says the foreman, "when we return into 
 court you will be obliged to state your reasons." " That 
 is the height of my ambition," replied Mr. King, "that 
 is the place to express my opinions, where I will have 
 men of sense to hear them." On the return of the 
 jurors to the court room, the foreman reported that all 
 were agreed upon a verdict, with the exception of Lef- 
 teuant King, who would neither agree with them or 
 give any reasons for disagreement. The judge en- 
 quired of Mr. King the cause of his dissent from the 
 verdict of the remaining eleven. Mr. King then ad- 
 dressed the court, reviewing the evidence minutely and 
 stating his views of the case with great force and clear- 
 ness. The jurors were again sent out, and soon re- 
 . turned with a verdict in accordance with the opinions 
 expressed by Mr. King. 
 
 As we have intimated, Major King was the oracle 
 to which petty as well as grave questions were fre- 
 quently submitted for determination. It happened 
 that on a town-meeting day in the fall of the year, a 
 knot of farmers was gathered on the green in front of 
 the old meeting house, discussing the merits of differ- 
 ent cider mills and the process of cider making. In 
 -course of the conversation, one of the number advanced 
 the somewhat startling theory that by the addition of 
 water to the pomace in pressing, in the proportion of 
 two or three pailfuls to a barrel of cider, the quality 
 of the beverage was greatly improved. This proposi- 
 tion induced argument; different opinions were ex- 
 pressed, and the company were unable to determine 
 the matter satisfactorily. As Major King was passing 
 . on the street, he was called, the case was fully stated 
 to him, and his decision requested. Giving the sub- 
 ject the consideration which its importance demanded, 
 he replied, with a peculiar and emphatic gestui"e of the 
 hand, "Gentlemen, I never was led into the full belief 
 that anything made better cider than apple juice." 
 
 It is probable that Major King and his wife did 
 
 not live quite happily together, as the following well 
 
 -authenticated story leads us to believe: Mrs. King 
 
 went, on a time, to make a visit at her father's house 
 
272 
 
 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 in the south part of the town intimating to the Major 
 — perhaps in jest — that she would not return until 
 he should come for her. She kept her Vvord and 
 did not return, and the Major neither went for her 
 nor troubled himself as to the cause of her prolonged 
 absence. Time rolled on, weeks became months, and 
 months years, and years increased to the number of 
 more than twenty, still Mrs. King did not reyisit her 
 home, nor in all that long period was there any corres- 
 pondence or communication between herself and her 
 husband. At length, one pleasant morning. Major 
 King, tired of Hying alone, and haying had ample time 
 for reflection, saddled his horse and placed thereon the 
 long unused pillion. A short ride brought him to the 
 residence of his wife. Dismounting he knocked for ad- 
 mission ; his wife met him at the door, when a conver- 
 sation somewhat as follows ensued : 
 
 " Good morning, Rachel." 
 
 " Good morning. Major King." 
 
 " Rachel, haye you yisited long enough ?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " Ai'e you ready to go home ?" 
 
 " Haye you come after me. Major King f 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "Then I will go with you." 
 
 And mounting the horse they jogged home in fine 
 spirits. 
 
 Deacon Daniel Nash. 
 
 Daniel Nash, born March 22d, 1741, who, as we 
 haye elsewhere remarked, came to this place from 
 Hadley about 1767, was a kinsman of the Daniel Nash 
 who had settled here about thirty years earlier. He 
 became a member of Rey. Samuel Hopkins' church 
 August 2d, 1768, and w^as chosen Deacon in 1773. 
 Deacon Nash was a shoemaker by occupation ; he jour- 
 chased of Joseph Gilbert in 1770, the place at the point 
 of the mountain — east of the Great Bridge — lately Mrs. 
 Amanda Burt's, where Benjamin F. Gilmore now re- 
 sides, and had his dwelling in an old brown house 
 w^hich stood up under the rocks back of ]\Ir. Gilmore's 
 residence. He married May 3d, 1770, Abigail Dewey,. 
 
DEACON DANIEL NASH. 273 
 
 daughter of Israel Dewey — born October 23d 1747. 
 In the spring of 1776, Deacon Nash was chosen Town 
 Clerk, and held that office for eighteen years. The 
 town records indicate that he was active and patriotic 
 throughout the w^ar, serving at times on the Committee 
 of Safety and on the board of selectmen, and marching 
 with the volunteer militia to Fort Edward and Saratoga 
 in 1777. Deacon Nash was a very religious, consci- 
 entious and exemplary man, prompt in the performance 
 of the various duties and offices requisite to good citi- 
 zenship, and w^hich tend to promote the peace and 
 welfare of a neighborhood. He was highly respected 
 by his townsmen, and was, deservedly, the recipient of 
 their confidence and esteem. 
 
 During the long period following the dismissal of 
 the Kev. Samuel Hopkins, in which the Congregational 
 church had no settled minister, Deacon Nash, perhaps 
 more than any other citizen, w^as instrumental in main- 
 taining preaching and Gospel ordinances in the old 
 meeting-house, and in keeping united the few members 
 of the church until such time as their ability, and public 
 sentiment permitted the maintenance of an established 
 minister. He died at the age of fifty-three years, May 
 6th, 1794. His wife, who survived him, and who was, 
 equally with her husband, prominent in all good works, 
 lived to the age of 88, dying May 29th, 1836. 
 
 The children of Deacon Daniel Nash were : 
 
 Alonsoii, boru March 2.5tb, 1778; died March 27th, 1780. 
 
 Lonson, born April 22d,1781 ; a graduate of Williams college 
 in 1801 ; admitted to the bar in 1805 ; practiced law for a time 
 in Egremont, but removed to Gloucester, where he continued in 
 his profession until he was 80 years old. He then returned to this 
 town, and died here January 31st, 1863, in his 82d year. 
 
 Amanda, born Noveuiber 3d, 1785 ; married Rev. Sylvester 
 Burt (his second wife) May 18th, 1824 ; died September 3d, 1877,, 
 aged nearly 92 years. 
 
 Doctor William Whiting. 
 During the Kevolutionary period no citizen of 
 Great Barrington was more conspicuous in town affairs 
 than Doctor William AYhiting. He was the son of 
 Colonel William Whiting of Bozrah, Conn., born April 
 8th, 1730. He studied medicine with Doctor John 
 Bulkley of Colchester, became a physician and resided 
 
 18 
 
274 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 for a time in Hartford. Influenced, perhaps, by an 
 opening for the practice of his profession in Great 
 Barrington, occasioned by the death of Doctors Samuel 
 Breck and Joseph Lee, both of which occurred in 1764, 
 he soon after removed to this place and was residing 
 here early in the year 1765. His first place of resi- 
 dence was in the house previously occupied by Doctor 
 Joseph Lee, on the premises of the late Doctor C. T. 
 Collins, where he was licensed as an inn-keeper in April, 
 1765. Here he remained until 1773, when he built a 
 house in the central part of the village, nearly upon 
 the ground now covered by the Sumner building, in 
 which he resided to the time of his decease. The house 
 erected by Doctor Whiting was removed, nearly forty 
 years since to the corner of Bridge and Eiver streets 
 — west of the Berkshire House — where it still stands 
 in a fah" state of preservation — the old Red House 
 owned by Jeremiah Atwood. With a turn for pubhc 
 affairs, Doctor Whiting early took part in the transac- 
 tion of town business, often presiding over the deliber- 
 ations of the town meetings and serving in various 
 official capacities. Before the breaking out of the war 
 he was identified with those who opposed the oppressive 
 acts of the British government, was one of the dele- 
 gates of the town to the convention of July 1774, in 
 which the inhabitants of the county inaugurated a con- 
 bined opposition to those acts, and was one of the 
 committee for di'afting the non-consumption agreement 
 adopted b}^ that convention. 
 
 He, jointly with General John Fellows represented 
 the towns of Sheffield, Great Barrington, Egremont and 
 Alford in the first Provincial CongTess of Massachusetts 
 Bay — 1774. The next year he was the rej^resentative of 
 Egremont and Alford in the second congress, and in the 
 third he again represented the four towns above named. 
 In the proceedings of these congresses, the name of 
 Doctor Whiting frequentty appears, and he served on 
 several important committees. Throughout the war 
 Doctor Whiting appears to have exerted a wholesome 
 influence in the town, and his record in that period 
 is commendably patriotic. He was appointed a Justice 
 of the Peace before the colonies had asserted theii' in- 
 
DOCTOR WILLIAM WHITING. 275 
 
 dependence, and his commission was one of those pre- 
 sented to the Province Council in 1776, for alteration 
 by substituting the authority of "the Government and 
 People of Massachusetts Bay" in place of that of 
 "George the Third." During the five or more years in 
 which the courts of Berkshire were suspended Doctor 
 Whiting is said to have been " the only Justice of the 
 Peace who ventured to officiate in the county." He 
 was again commissioned a Justice of the Peace and of 
 the Quorum after the adoption of the State Constitu- 
 tion, and from 1781 to 1787 was the presiding Judge 
 of the Court of Common Pleas for the county. While 
 acting in this capacity, he was one of the number com- 
 pelled by a mob of Insurgents, in 1786, to sign a paper 
 agreeing to hold no more courts until the state con- 
 stitution should be re-formed or revised. In 1781 he 
 represented the tow^n in the General Court, having 
 been the first representative elected under the new 
 state constitution. In the disturbances occasioned by 
 the Shay's rebellion, 1786-7, Doctor Whiting incurred 
 the displeasure of the Government party, and w-as one 
 of those against whom legal proceedings were after- 
 wards instituted. 
 
 Doctor Whiting was a prominent member of the 
 Episcopal church, an intelligent and skillful physician, 
 and had a large practice in this and neighboring towns. 
 He died December 8th, 1792, in his 62d year. The 
 children of Doctor William W^hiting w^ere as follow^s : 
 
 Samuel, for several years a merchant here ; he removed to 
 Reading, Conn. , where he engaged in agriculture. 
 
 Major William, who in his old age removed to New Milford. 
 
 Mary Anna, who married Hon. Elijah Boardman of New 
 Milford. 
 
 Abraham K., for many years a physician of this town, whose 
 descendants still reside here. 
 
 Elizabeth, who resided in New Milford. 
 
 Mason, who studied law, and was admitted to the Berkshire 
 bar in 1794. but afterwards removed to Binghamton, N. Y., and 
 was one of the early settlers of that place. 
 
 Major Thomas IngersolL 
 
 Thomas Ingersoll, from Westfield, w^ho was a brother 
 of Deacon Jonathan Ingersoll of Stockbridge and of 
 the elder Captain Jared Ingersoll of Pittsfield, came to 
 
276 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 this place about the year 1774. He married February 
 28th 1775, Elizabeth Dewey, daughter of Israel Dewey, 
 and in the same year bought a small piece of land, with 
 a dwelling house — built by Daniel Rathbun — which 
 stood neai' the spot on which Frederick Langsdorff 
 now dwells. Here he settled in business as a hatter, 
 and a few years later, having in 1782 added another 
 small strip of land to his original purchase, erected the 
 " old Stanley house" — the second house north of the 
 Congregational church — now ow^ned by Eobert Girling. 
 
 Mr. Ingersoll's first appearance on the town records 
 is as constable and tax collector in 1776 ; and at the con- 
 solidation of the Great Barrington militia into one 
 company in October, 1777, he was commissioned second 
 Lieutenant under Captain Silas Goodiich. He became 
 Captain of the com]3any in 1781. We find his name 
 repeatedly in the rolls of volunteer and of detached 
 militia which performed service in 1777-8 and 1779 ; 
 and he also marched with forty men of his company 
 to Stillwater, on the occasion of an alarm in that vicinity 
 in October 1781. Mr. Ingersoll was an energetic, en- 
 terprising man ; he sustained various town offices, be- 
 came a Major in the militia, and held a position of in- 
 fluence amongst the inhabitants. In 1792 he was in- 
 terested with Moses Hopkins, Esq., in building the old 
 grist mill in Water street, but soon after removed from 
 town. The wife, Elizabeth, of Major Ingersoll, died 
 within a few years after their marriage, leaving a daugh- 
 ter Abigail six months old, who was adopted b}^ her 
 aunt — Mrs. Daniel Nash — and brought up in her family. 
 This daughter, eventually, married Guy Woodworth 
 and removed to Waybridge, Vt. 
 
 Major Ingersoll was, afterwards, twice married, 
 first to Mrs. Mercy Smith (widow of Josiah Smith) 
 May 26, 1785, who died in May, 1789, and second to 
 Mrs. Sarah Backus, — a daughter of Lieutenant Gama- 
 liel Whiting, and sister of the late General John "WTiit- 
 ing, — September 20, 1789. Some time after the close 
 of the war, the attention of Major Ingersoll was 
 attracted by a proclamation of the Canadian Governor 
 Simcoe offering to persons who would settle there 
 certain large tracts of land in Canada. He afterwards 
 
MAJOK THOMAS INGEKSOLI. 277 
 
 met the celebrated Indian chieftain, Captain Joseph 
 Brant, who gave him information respecting the lands 
 offered, and proposed whenever Major Ingersoll might 
 visit Canada, to point out to him the most desirable 
 section for settlement. Major Ingersoll went to Can- 
 ada and presented to the Canadian Council the peti- 
 tion of himself, the Kev. Gideon Bostwick and three 
 others for the grant of a township. This petition was 
 granted March 23, 1793, partly "in consideration of 
 the well known loyalty and suffering of the Eev. Gid- 
 eon Bostwick," who, as stated in the grant, " comes 
 precisely under the description of persons who ought 
 to be encouraged to settle in the Province." Major 
 Ingersoll then called upon Captaiii Brant and reminded 
 him of his promise. This chief sent six of his ^^oung 
 men to pilot Major Ingersoll through the woods to the 
 river La Tranche — now the Thames — where they 
 showed him the land best adapted for a settlement. 
 Here Major Ingersoll, with his own hands, felled the 
 first tree ; and erected a log house to which he after- 
 wards removed his family. The death of Mr. Bost- 
 wick, occurring within three months after the grant 
 was made, prevented his participation in the proposed 
 settlement. By the terms of the grant Major Inger- 
 soll was required to furnish forty settlers, each to have 
 a farm of 100 or 200 acres on payment to the govern- 
 ment of a fee of six pence per acre, and the remainder 
 of the 66,000 acres in the township was to be held by 
 Major Ingersoll for the benefit of himself and his 
 associates. 
 
 In process of time Major Ingersoll succeeded in ob- 
 taining the requisite number of settlers, to each of 
 whom a patent was issued for the land settled on ; but 
 in doing this, in the building of roads and in making 
 improvements, he expended all his resources. He had 
 also, with a view to other settlements, made arrange- 
 ments for the sale of several thousand acres of land at 
 fifty cents per acre. But at about this time — not far 
 from 1806 — "some busy body" had communication 
 with the British government, representing that the 
 course of Governor Siracoe in granting lands was likely 
 to do much harm. In consequence of this an order 
 
278 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 was sent from England annulling the grant of the 
 township. Major Ingersoll, disheartened by this act 
 of injustice which deprived him of his property, and 
 discouraged at the failure of an enterprise to which he 
 had devoted years of toil and all his means, abandoned 
 the settlement and retired to the vicinity of Toronto, 
 where he died at the age of 63, in 1812. The site of 
 Major Ingersoll's improvements is now the thriving 
 town of Ingersoll, in Oxford county, with a population 
 of five or six thousand inhabitants. By his third mar- 
 riage Major Ingersoll had eight children, one only of 
 whom is now living, to wit : James Ingersoll, Esq., of 
 Woodstock, Oxford county, Canada, who was born 
 September 10, 1801, in the log house we have men- 
 tioned, erected by his father, and who was the first 
 white child born in Ingersoll. In addition to many 
 positions of honor and trust which he has filled, he 
 he has been for forty-five years past the Registrar of 
 Oxford county : and from him we have derived most 
 of the information relating to his father's experiences 
 in Canada, contained in this article. Colonel Charles 
 Ingersoll, another son of Major Thomas Ingersoll, was 
 an officer in the British (Canadian) army throughout 
 the war of 1812, and afterwards held various public 
 offices. He was a member of the Canadian Parlia- 
 ment in 1824. '29, '30 and '32, and died of the cholera 
 in August, 1832. 
 
CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 GREAT BARRINGTON THE SHIRE TOWN OF THE 
 COUNTY. 
 
 1761—1787. 
 
 The county of Berkshire was taken from the old 
 county of Hampshire, — of which it originally formed a 
 part, — and erected into a sepai^ate county in April, 
 1761. At the time of its formation there were but 
 four incorporated towns within its limits, to wit : Shef- 
 field, (then including Great Barrington), Stockbridge, 
 Egremont, and New Marlboro. To these Pittsfield 
 was, a few days after, added ; and Great Barrington 
 was separated from Sheffield and incorporated as a 
 town in the month of June following. There were also 
 some incorporated districts and plantations, but the 
 whole population of the county did not much — if any 
 — exceed 4,000, and much the larger proportion of this 
 was in the south part of the county. In the bill, in- 
 corporating the county, it was enacted that Sheffield 
 for the present be the shire town, that the office of 
 Register of Deeds be kept in the North Parish of Shef- 
 field, and that a court of General Sessions of the Peace, 
 and an Inferior Court of Common Pleas be held and 
 kept at the North Parish of Sheffield on the last Tues- 
 day of April and first Tuesday of September in each 
 year, and at Pontoosuck, (Pittsfield) on the first Tues- 
 day of December and the first Tuesday of March. 
 
 In Jime following, the North Parish of Sheffield 
 was incorporated into a town with the name of Great 
 Barrington ; and it was enacted " that the town of 
 Great Barrington for the present shall be the shire 
 
280 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 town of said county of Berkshii-e, and the Kegister's 
 office be there kept, and the courts of General Sessions 
 of the Peace and Inferior Courts of Common Pleas, 
 appointed to be held and kept at the North Parish in 
 Sheffield aforesaid, be held and kevi in the town of 
 Great Barrington on the last Tuesday of April and 
 first Tuesday of September annually." Thus Great 
 Barrington became the county seat, and so remained 
 until the removal of the courts to Lenox in 1787. The 
 first session of the court for the county was held at the 
 old meeting-house in Great Barrington, on the first 
 Tuesday of September, 1761, the town having, by 
 special vote, granted the use of the house for that 
 pui'pose. At this session the justices in attendance 
 were Joseph Dwight of Great Barrington, — w^ho was 
 the presidiug judge to the time of his decease in 1765 
 -^William Williams of Pittsfield, John Ashley of Shef- 
 ^eld, and Timothy Woodbridge of Stockbridge. 
 
 Elijah Dwight of Great Barrington was the clerk 
 of the coui'ts, having been appointed to that office by 
 the justices above named, at a meeting held at Stock- 
 bridge on the 13th of July, 1761. It is probable that 
 the sessions of the court at Great Barrington were 
 held at the meeting house to the time of the comple- 
 tion of the court-house in 1765. 
 
 The earliest prorisions for the confinement of pris- 
 oners w^ere of a temporary character. Before county 
 buildings were erected the Block house or old fort — 
 nientioned in a former chaj^ter — which stood a short 
 distance north of the house, now of Frederick Abbey, 
 on the road to Van Deusenville, though inconveniently 
 located, was found suitable for the uses of a prison. 
 This building, a substantial structure of squared tim- 
 ber, belonged to Israel Dewey, who then had his dwel- 
 ling near by. Some repairs, and such alterations as 
 were necessary, including the laying of heavy oak 
 floors, were made upon it in the summer of 1761, and 
 i^ was converted into a jail, over which jVIi". Dewey 
 presided as prison keeper, a position which he seems 
 to have occupied for about two years. 
 
 The folloT\dng copy of Israel Dewey's account for 
 the accommodations furnished the county during the 
 
EARLY PRISONS. 281 
 
 first year of its corporate existence, is taken from the 
 original on file in the county clerk's office : 
 
 "Great Barrington^ Sept. 9tli, 17G2. 
 To the Honourable his Majestie's Justices of The Court Now 
 Holden att Great Barriugton for the County of Berkshire : 
 
 Humbly moves Israel Dewey that this Honor'd Court would 
 allow your i)etitioner the sums this Honoured Court shall think 
 proper for the following articles, Namely : 
 
 For the use of my house a year for a Goal, £4. 0. 
 
 For spikes and mending the Goal, 0. 5. 
 
 For boarding Abraham Waunaumpas Nine weeks while 
 
 in Goal @, :5-G. 1 11. 6 
 
 By taking s'd Abraham by a warrant Directed to me and 
 
 caiTying him into York Goverment and Delivering 
 
 him' to the Sheriff of the County of Albany, 0. 9. 
 
 Turning ye key for Abraham, 0. 3. 
 
 Assistance in carrjdng s'd Abraham away Landlord Koot 
 
 with Two Horses and Drink 0.12. 6 
 
 £7. 1. 
 And I also pray this Honoured Court to provide a Goal for the 
 County for the future. 
 This from your Honour's most obedient servant. 
 
 Israel Dewey." 
 
 The modest prayer of Mr. Dewey, that another 
 place might be provided for the jail, conveys the im- 
 pression that he did not consider the office of prison 
 keeper a sinecure. His account was allowed " as it 
 now stands," and, perhaps influenced by his request, 
 the court, at the same session, appointed Joseph 
 Dwight and Elijah Williams, Esq.'s, "to view and look 
 out some convenient place on which to build a County 
 Gaol, and to provide and collect materials proper for 
 the building the same." But another prison was not 
 immediately provided. The jail remained as before, 
 at the old fort, and in April, 1763, Mr. Dewey was al- 
 lowed by the court £6, " for the use of his house as a 
 Gaol for ye current year." Prisoners were kept at Mi*. 
 Dewey's until the summer of 1763, when a log jail was 
 erected on the premises of Samuel Lee, adjoining to 
 his dwelling house, and Mr. Lee was installed in the 
 office of deputy jailer or prison keeper. This Samuel 
 Lee (there were two of that name residing here) lived 
 and kept a tavern in a house still standing, on the road 
 to Sheffield, at the top of the hill south of Merritt I. 
 
282 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 Wheeler's, — the Zina Parks house : — and the log jail 
 stood directly south of that house. This jail is sup- 
 posed to have been built by Mr. Lee at his own ex- 
 pense m consideration of his appointment to the office 
 of prison keeper, and in connection with suitable 
 ground for a prison yard, duly staked out, was leased 
 by IVIi'. Lee, July 26th, 1763, to Mark Hopkms, Esq., 
 County Treasurer, for the use of the county for a term 
 of seyen years. In the lease, which is recorded in the 
 Registry of Deeds at Pittsfield, Book 2, page 181, the 
 jail is described as " the New Log House" — " at the 
 south end of said SamueFs now^ dwelling house." The 
 lease also included the south-east lower room of the 
 dwelling house for such length of time — less than seven 
 years — as Mr. Lee should remain the prison keeper, 
 and for three months after he should resign or be de- 
 posed from his office. For the privileges secured by 
 this lease, the county was to pay an " annual rent of a 
 pepper corn, if the same shall be demanded, on the 
 premises." ]Mi\ Lee's log jail subserved the purposes 
 of a prison for nearly thi'ee years, or until the spring 
 of 1766. 
 
 In the mean tune the increase of business in the 
 courts, and the general circumstances of the county 
 were such as to require better and permanent accom- 
 modations for both the courts and jail. Early in 1765, 
 the question of jDurchasing land with a dwelling house 
 for the jailer, and the erection of a jail became a sub- 
 ject of serious consideration ; and at the April term of 
 the court of General Sessions, John Ashley, Esq. hav- 
 ing offered to loan to the county the sum of £250, for 
 the purpose of purchasing land and building a jail,, 
 was, in connection with John Chadwick and Elijah 
 Wilhams, Esq.'s, appointed a committee to purchase 
 some convenient place and build a jail : the work 
 to be performed under the superintendence of Mr- 
 Ashley. At the September term of the coiu't, 1765, an 
 order was passed for the purchase, from Doctor Samu- 
 el Lee, of one acre of land with a house and bam 
 standing thereon ; and the purchase was accordmgly 
 consummated on the 17th of October. 
 
 Doctor Samuel Lee appeal's to have owned and oc- 
 
BUILDING OF THE JAIL. 283 
 
 cupied a house which stood where Doctor W. H. Parks 
 now resides — next south of the Episcopal church. In 
 January, 1765, Doctor Lee purchased of Silas Good- 
 rich the house — lately the old Episcopal parsonage — 
 demolished in 1876 — which Goodrich had built two 
 years before. This old parsonage house, together with 
 the land on which the church now stands and other 
 land in the rear, to the extent of one acre in all, formed 
 the premises which Doctor Lee conveyed to the coun- 
 ty. On this the jail was soon after built, and the par- 
 sonage house became the residence of the jailer. The 
 committee above mentioned erected the jail, and had 
 completed the building, ^vith the exception of some 
 inside finishing, by the following month of April. At 
 the April term of the Court of General Sessions — 1766 
 — the account of Daniel Allen, who was the principal 
 architect and builder of this region, ''for his labor and 
 expense in building a Gaol for the use of s'd county," 
 amounting to £40. 0. 
 
 was allowed, and also the accounts of vari 
 ous other persons for labor and material for 
 the jail, to the amount of 41. 14. 7 
 
 making the total cost of the vet unfinished 
 
 building, * £81. 14. 7 
 
 or a little less than $273. 
 
 At the same time, it was ordered by the court 
 " that the New Gaol in this county of Berkshire be 
 completed and finished in the following manner, viz. : 
 that over the upper floor there be false beams bolted 
 through, each at each end, with strong iron bolts, fore- 
 locked, and keyed at the upper ends ; that the south 
 ends of the planks in ye same floor be effectually spiked 
 down ; that the north end of the garret be closed tight 
 with plank effectually secured by spikes : that the 
 middle floor be overlaid with two inch oak plank, well 
 spiked down with bearded spikes ; that the windows 
 be cased round the grates, within and without, with iron 
 bars effectually spiked on ; that each door be secui'ed 
 with an iron bar and a padlock ; that there be a wood- 
 en block fitted to each door, with iron fastenings, and 
 that Messrs. Daniel Allen and Elijah D wight be ap- 
 pointed to perform the same or procure the same to 
 
284 HISTORY OF GREAT HARRINGTON. 
 
 be done at the expense of said county." The interior 
 finishing, according to those specifications, was soon 
 completed, and bills for the expenditures were allowed 
 by the court at its September session. 
 
 The court at its April term — 1766 — du'ected Per- 
 ez Marsh and John Chadwick, Esq.'s, to set out a 
 prison yard to the new jail ; which they did as follows : 
 "Beginning at a great rock northwest of the Gaol, 
 thence running east 15 degrees, south eleven rods to 
 a post and heap of stones, thence on the street [south- 
 erly] seven rods and twelve links to a stake and stones, 
 thence west 22 degrees North ten rods to a heap of 
 stones, from thence to the first bounds.'' The "great 
 rock" above mentioned is supposed to be the same 
 now crossed by the fence on the south line of the 
 Town Hall ground. The prison yard, or jail ground 
 limits, was afterwards enlarged, as will be hereafter 
 mentioned. 
 
 The low gambrel roofed house — the old Episcopal 
 parsonage — which occupied the ground directly in 
 front of the present parsonage — became the jail house, 
 and was the residence of the prison keepers, William 
 Bement, Ebenezer Bement, and perhaps others from 
 1766 to 1790. 
 
 The jail was constructed of square hewn timbers, 
 laid one upon another and doweled together. It was 
 tw^o stories in height, and stood fronting the street 
 with its gables north and south, a short distance south 
 of the jail house and a little further back from the 
 street than the front line of that house. It extended 
 south on to ground now covered by the Episcopal 
 church, and was, by a passage way at its north end, 
 connected with the kitchen of the jail house. Of its 
 internal arrangement but little is known, but it was 
 not, apparently, divided into cells, as are the prisons 
 of the present day. 
 
 In September, 1768, the court appointed a com 
 mittee with instructions " to finish the Gaol" by cov- 
 ering the outside with rough boards, glazing the win- 
 dows, laying a floor between the upper and lower 
 rooms, of oak plank four inches thick, upon the floor 
 already laid, and lathing and plastering the upper 
 
JAIL BREAKING. 285 
 
 room. The foregoing description and abstracts from 
 records will convey to those familiar with the locality, 
 a tolerably correct impression of the appearance of the 
 jail. However substantially this jail ma}' have been 
 constructed, it was not ahvays proof against the inge- 
 nuity and industry of its tenants ; and the court records 
 of February, 1770, show that John Van Gilder, John 
 Van Gilder, Jun'r, and one Babbitt had broken out 
 and escaped. Whereupon it was ordered by the court 
 to pay the High Sherift' £6, for the apprehension and 
 recommitment of each or either of the fugitives, and 
 measures were also adopted for repairing and strength- 
 ening the prison. 
 
 But that the jail remained quite insecure, is shown 
 by the following quotations from the old ^veather books 
 of Lieutenant Gamaliel Whiting to which we have be- 
 fore referred : 
 
 "1770. April 13. Davis broke jail. 
 June 6. Tilly broke out. 
 
 1771. March 2. Shadrick Phelps broke jail. 
 April 28. broke jail. 
 
 Sept. 4. Wright, ye horse thief, broke jail. 
 Dec. 14. Benoni Ilaskius broke jail at night. 
 
 1772. Jan'y 7. Preble whip'd and committed. 
 Jan'y 11. Preble broke out." 
 
 and so the list continues. The escapes from the prison 
 were of so frequent occurrance as to demand the 
 adoption of measures for greater security, in which the 
 county officials evidently taxed their ingenuity to the 
 utmost. In May, 1773, specific and somewhat exten- 
 sive improvements were, by the court, ordered to be 
 made upon the jail. These included, amongst other 
 things, repairs of the chiDine}-, hearths and floors ; the 
 lining of the gables with oak plank ; the removal and 
 filling up of the east door and window of the jail bed- 
 room ; the putting uj^ of a strong door, with sufficient 
 fastenings, at the passage between the bed-room and the 
 kitchen of the jail-house, "to be kept constantly locked, 
 that no person may speak with a prisoner without leave 
 of the keeper ;" the surrounding of the whole of the 
 lower part of the jail with timbers set tiu-ee feet in the 
 ground, with their upper ends spiked to the outside 
 of the building — a precautionary measure against tun- 
 
286 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 neling. It was, further, ordered that a tight plank 
 fence should be put up around the jail, ten feet in 
 heiglit and twelve feet distant from the building, its 
 toji armed with iron spikes five inches m length and 
 four inches apart : the fence to extend over the roof of 
 the jail house kitchen. Tliis work was performed under 
 the supervision of John Chadwick and Mark Hopkins, 
 Esq's., at an expense of nearly £50. The jail thus 
 hedged in, however insecure it might appear to modern 
 criminals, presented a formidable aspect to the evil 
 doers of that time. Still, in later years, prisoners 
 occasionally succeeded in making theii' escape, and ad- 
 vertisements in the New Haven newspapers, offering 
 rewards for their arrest were not uncommon. 
 
 We have been, perhaps, more minute than interest- 
 ing in our description of the jail, and in the specifica- 
 tion of the rejiairs and improvements made upon it ; 
 but in this oui' object has been to convey as neai'ly as 
 possible a correct idea of the appearance of a building 
 which was in its time one of the important institutions 
 of the village. This jail was taken down about 1791 
 or 1792, soon after the removal of the j)risoners to 
 Lenox, and a portion of its timbers was used by Moses 
 Hopkins, Esq., in building a barn upon the premises 
 nov»" occupied by Ralph Taylor, where some of them 
 still remain. The keepers of the jail, after Israel 
 Dewey and Samuel Lee, were probably Doctor Samuel 
 Lee for a time, and William Bement as early as 1768, 
 Lieutenant Gamaliel Whiting, who was appointed by 
 High Sheriff Israel Dickinson in December 1776, and 
 Ebenezer Bement, who succeeded Lieutenant ^Miiting 
 in August 1778. During the Revolution, Tories from 
 various towns, as well as those who "having been ap- 
 pointed soldiers" refused to serve, were frequently in- 
 mates of the jail: and some British prisoners are also 
 known to have been, at one time, confined here. 
 
 Before and after the war, commitments for debt 
 were of common occurrence, and debtors were some- 
 times uni'easonably persecuted. The debtor giving 
 bonds to keep within the bounds, was allowed the 
 freedom of the jail ground limits. It was while the 
 -old fort was used as a prison that a poor debtor was 
 
COURT HOUSE. 287 
 
 there confined, whose hard hearted creditor was wilHng 
 to pay board in order to keep his debtor in jail. This 
 man, having given the customary bonds for his enlarge- 
 ment, was permitted to go upon the limits — then de- 
 fined, at one point, by a stick of timber lying by the 
 roadside. The hearts of the daughters of Israel Dewey 
 — the keeper — were moved with compassion for the 
 prisoner, and they conceived the plan of removing this 
 boundary. But not daring to do it themselves, they 
 tied a roj^e to the timber, with which the prisoner drew 
 it up to the jail, and being no longer restrained by a 
 boundary which did not exist he took his departure. 
 The result of this feat was a suit, presumably brought 
 by the creditor against the bondsmen of the abscond- 
 ing debtor, in which the young ladies, who had con- 
 nived at his escape were, much to their chagrin, sum- 
 moned to appear as witnesses. 
 
 The first recorded movement towards providing a 
 permanent place for holding the courts, is found in the 
 records of the court of General Sessions in March 1764 
 when it was ordered "that Joseph Dwight, Esq., be 
 allowed and paid out of said treasury — to be laid out 
 in building a court house for said county — and to be 
 paid as he shall have occasion for the same. One Hund- 
 red Pounds, £100." The erection of the building was 
 evidently begun in the spring or summer of 1764, but, 
 as appears from the records, it was unfinished in Sep- 
 tember of that year, when a further appropriation of 
 £50 was made towards the building. It is probable 
 that the court-house was so far completed as to be in 
 condition for occupancy in April 1765, and that the 
 April term of the court was then held therein. At that 
 term it was ordered by the court to withold the -psiy- 
 ment of such part of the £150, already appropriated, 
 as then remained unexpended. In September 1768, 
 the court appointed a committee — John Chadwick, 
 Mark Hopkins and David Ingersoll, Jun'r, Esq's — to 
 make sale of part of the land which had been purchas- 
 ed of Doctor Samuel Lee, and with the proceeds of the 
 sale "to compleat and finish the court-house in said 
 county, in a good workmanlike manner with window 
 shutters" and also to make some repaii's upon the jail. 
 
288 
 
 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 The site selected for the coiirt-house was directly with- 
 in the highway or Main street of the village, at the 
 juncture of Castle street with Main street. The build- 
 ing stood so far out into Main street as to admit of a 
 pass way for wagons, on either side, to Castle street in 
 its rear. Castle street Avas then but little more than 
 a lane, and, with the exception of the house of Rev. 
 Samuel Hopkins, — on the hill, — where Walter W. Hol- 
 lenbeck now resides, there were no dwellings upon it. 
 The court-house was of wood about 30 by 40 feet on 
 the ground ; a high one and one-half story building, 
 plain and unpainted. It fronted to the east, with its 
 gables east and west, and was destitute of architectural 
 pretention or ornament, save a semi-circular window 
 in its eastern gable and some little carved wood work 
 about the fi'ont door. Standing, as it did, but a short 
 distance west from the middle of the street, it occu- 
 pied a prominent position becoming the uses for which 
 it was intended, and Vvas a conspicuous object in the 
 ill-kept and untidy village. 
 
 Previous to the formation of Berkshire, Joseph 
 Dwight of Great Barrington and Ephraim Williams of 
 Stockbridge were Judges of the Court of Common 
 Pleas for Hampshne county, and William Williams of 
 Pittsfield, Timothy Woodbridge of Stockbridge, John 
 Ashley of Sheffield, Jabez Ward of New Marlboro, and 
 David Ingersoll of Great Barrington were Justices of 
 the Peace for the same county. Mr. Ingersoll was 
 appointed a Justice September 8, 1749, but — as we 
 have elsewhere stated — was deposed from that office 
 in 1755. A presiding Judge and three associates con- 
 stituted the Court of Common Pleas. These, in 1761, 
 consisted of Joseph Dwight, William Williams, John 
 Ashley and Timothy Wood])ridge. Joseph Dwight 
 was the presiding Judge of this court to the time of 
 his decease in 1765. Other residents of Great Bar- 
 rington who became judges of this court were Doctor 
 William Whiting 1781-1787, and Elijah Dwight 1787- 
 1794. The Court of General Sessions was composed 
 of the Common Pleas Judges and all the Justices of 
 the Peace of the county. This court had jui-isdiction 
 in minor criminal cases and in ordinaiy breaches of 
 
FIRST LAWYERS. 289 
 
 the peace, and also performed the duties which now 
 devolve upon the board of County Commissioners. 
 Each of these courts held four sessions annually, two 
 at Great Barrington and two at Pittsfield. Elijah 
 Dwight of Great Barrington was Clerk of the Courts 
 and also Kegister of Probate, 1761-1781. Elijah Wil- 
 liams, of Stockbridge, was the first High Sheriff, and 
 Mark Hopkins of Great Barrington the first Treasurer 
 of the county. Mark Hopkins was also the first Kegis- 
 ter of Deeds, 1761-1776. From 1761 to 1790 there 
 was but one Eegistry of Deeds in the county and this 
 was kept at Great Barrington. 
 
 John Ashley of Sheffield was engaged in the prac- 
 tice of the law previous to the establishment of the 
 courts in Berkshire, as also John Huggins, of the same 
 town, is said to have been. With the exception of 
 Joseph Dwight, (who did not practice after his re- 
 moval from Brookfield) Colonel Mark Hopkins was the 
 first lawyer who resided in Great Barrington. He was 
 admitted to the Berkshire bar at the first term of the 
 court, September, 1761, and was the first person so ad- 
 mitted. The office of Colonel Hopkins — in which was 
 also kept the Eegistry of Deeds— was a gambrel roofed 
 building, which he erected, formerly standing upon 
 the site of the brick dwelling house of the late Mrs. 
 Judith Bigelow, and which still stands near the river 
 bank in Water street. Amongst the law students of 
 Colonel Hopkins was Theodore Sedgwick, afterwards 
 distinguished at the bar, a member of both houses of 
 Congress, and a Judge of the Supreme Court of the 
 state. Thomas Williams also studied in the office of 
 Colonel Hopkins ; he became a lawyer in Stockbridge, 
 a Lieutenant Colonel in the Revolution, and died in 
 the service at Whitehall in 1776. David Ingersoll, 
 Junior, a native of Great Barrington, was admitted to 
 the bar at the April term, 1765, and though, perhaps, 
 for a short time a resident of Sheffield, was engaged in 
 practice here until 1774. 
 
 Theodore Sedgwick was admitted at the September 
 term of the court, 1765, opened an office and practiced 
 law in this town until about 1768, when he removed to 
 Sheffield, and from thence, in 1785, to Stockbridge. 
 
290 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 The above named were all the lawyers resident and in 
 practice in Great Barrington previous to the adoption 
 of the State Constitution in 1780, though Major Wil- 
 liam King — not a member of the bar — frequently ap- 
 peared as counsel in the coui'ts, as also Joseph Gilbert, 
 a hatter of this town, is reputed occasionally to have 
 done. From the time of the suppression of the courts 
 by the peoj^le in 1774, to their reorganization under 
 the Constitution of 1780, but little legal business was 
 transacted in the county. In 1782, Thomas Ives, who 
 had previously been admitted to the bar in Litchfield 
 county. Conn., established himself in this town as a 
 lawyer, and Elisha Lee, afterwards of Sheffield, ap- 
 pears to have been, for a short time, in practice here 
 about 1784-5. Erastus Pixley also — a native of this town . 
 and a graduate of Yale college in 1780 — was for a time 
 engaged here in the legal profession. The foregoing, 
 with the others previously mentioned, comprise all the 
 lawyers of Great Barrington whilst the courts were 
 here held. 
 
 We have made mention of the establishment of the 
 "prison yard," or jail ground limits in 1766. In 1770, 
 "the prisoners in his Majestie's Gaol," to wit: Silas 
 Bingham, Jacob White, Ezra Hickok Junior, George 
 Tobey, Heni-y Sj^ring, and Daniel Harkin. (presumably 
 confined for debt) petitioned the Court of General 
 Sessions, stating that they had, and that other persons 
 who should thereafter be committed to the jail, might 
 have business to transact in the court-house, and pray- 
 ing that the prison jSLvd might be enlarged b}^ extend- 
 ing it east to "^Ae li?ie of elm trees recently planted in 
 the highvmy^^ (1) and north to what is now the north 
 line of Castle street, so as to include the court-house. 
 On this petition, the j^i'ison hmits were slightly en- 
 larged by extending them east to the line of trees, but 
 were not extended north so as to include the court- 
 house. The limits were, however, soon after enlarged, 
 and again in 1783, when they are thus described: "be- 
 
 (1) Of this line of elm trees, it is possible that the large elm 
 in front of the Town Hall is a survivor ; but those in front of the 
 church and parsonage are of more recent origin, having been 
 planted by Ezra Kellogg and Samuel Eiley. 
 
JAIL GROUND LIMITS. 291 
 
 ginning in the former line of the gaol ground, in the 
 west side of the highway, b j Ebn'r Bement's horse ■ 
 house, thence running westwardly, in the former line 
 of the gaol ground, to the line of the land sold by a 
 committee of the county to Deodat Ingersoll, thence 
 northwardly, in a line with the eastwardly hue of said 
 land, to the south fence of Gamaliel Whiting, being 
 the north line of the old gaol ground, thence eastward- 
 ly in a hue with the said last mentioned north line to 
 the south-west corner of Gamaliel Wliiting's house, (1) 
 thence in a line with the south end of said house to the 
 south-east corner of the stoop in front of said house, 
 thence in a straight line to the south-west corner of 
 the court house — within the walls thereof in term-time 
 only — thence from the south-east corner of the court- 
 house in a right line to the post standing at the south- 
 west corner of the yard before the house owned by the 
 estate of Josiah Smith, deceased, (2) thence in a' line 
 with the fence bordering said land, on the eastwardly 
 side of the highway to the north end of the bridge 
 called Ash bridge or Silver Hollow, (3) thence across 
 the street to the south post of the gate before Colonel 
 Elijah D wight's house, (4) thence in a line with the 
 fence of the said D wight, on the westwardly side of 
 the road to the first mentioned boundary." This ar- 
 rangement of the jail ground gaye prisoners "on the 
 limits" the range of the highway from Castle street 
 southerly to the Henderson house. 
 
 The courts, which in the popular revolt against the 
 British king had been suspended throughout the state 
 in 1774, were in several counties gradually reorganized 
 in 1775-77 ; and Judges for Berkshire were commis- 
 sioned in 1779, but did not hold courts. In this coun- 
 ty a strong aversion existed against admitting the 
 
 (1) The old Whiting house, takeu down in 187(), which 
 stood in front of the Town Hall. 
 
 (2) The old tavern house— where the Berkshire House stands. 
 
 (3) Ash bridge— a bridgeway— on the sidewalk— over the 
 brook south of Mrs. McLean's house. This brook was called 
 "Ash brook," and the locality was known as "Silver Hollow f' 
 the brook then crossed the street a few rods south of its preseut 
 location. 
 
 (-t) The Dwight house— now the Henderson house. 
 
292 HISTORY OF GREAT HARRINGTON. 
 
 courts of law before a state constitution should be 
 framed and adopted. But that this feeling was less 
 prevalent in Great Barrington than in most of the 
 towns of the county, is evident from its rej3eatedly re- 
 corded action. In the absence of a well founded form 
 of government this town had voted, January 13, 1777, 
 "to support the civil authority in this county, estab- 
 lished in this state, for the redressing of pubHc wrong," 
 and had at the same time refused to petition the State 
 Council not to commission Judges for the Coui't of 
 Common Pleas until January 1st, 1778. On the 2d of 
 April, 1778, the town gave its unanimous assent to the 
 adoption of the then jDroposed constitution, which was, 
 however, rejected by the people. 
 
 In August, 1778, the several towns of the county 
 expressed then- minds by yeas and nays upon a jDropo- 
 sition, put forth by a county convention, as to whether 
 the Courts of Common Pleas, and General Sessions, or 
 either of them should be held in the county before a 
 bill of lights and a constitution should be formed, and 
 accepted by the people. On this proj^osition — which 
 was negatived by a large majority of the voters of the 
 county — the vote of Great Barrington was unanimous 
 (59) in favor of admitting the Court of Sessions, and 
 stood sixteen Yeas to eleven Nays on the question of 
 admitting the Court of Common Pleas. In conse- 
 quence of the state of public sentiment in the county, 
 the courts of Berkshire were not reorganized until 
 after the adoption of the Constitution of 1780. 
 
 Great Barrington remained the shire town, and courts 
 were, alternately, held here and at Pittsfield until 1787. 
 As eaiiy as 1781 the subject of changing the places of 
 holding the courts was in agitation. Twenty years had 
 added very materially to the poimlation of the northern 
 part of the county, though the preponderance of num- 
 bers was still in the south. The questions of removal 
 and of new locations of the courts and county build- 
 ings were discussed with much warmth for a period of 
 five years, and after several comity conventions and 
 various legislative enactments coupled with visits to 
 the county of legislative committees, Lenox was fixed 
 upon as the shii'e town, and the courts were removed 
 
REMOVAL OF COURT HOUSE. 293 
 
 to that place in 1787. The jail in Great Barrington 
 continued in use until the latter j^art of the year 1790, 
 when another having been built at Lenox, the prison- 
 ers were removed thither. 
 
 From the time of its erection to 1793, the court- 
 house was frequently used for town-meetmgs and other 
 public assemblages. In 1791 the project of purchas- 
 ing, removing and repairing the building — for the pur- 
 poses of a town-house — was discussed in town-meeting, 
 but the proposition did not meet with favor. The 
 latest known occupancy of the court-house — on its 
 original site — was on the 21st of January, 1793, when 
 a town-meeting was held therein. Not long after that 
 time the building went into the possession of Captain 
 Walter Pynchon, who removed it on to ground nearly 
 in rear of Egbert Hollister's store, where for many 
 years it served as a barn, in connection with the old 
 tavern, which stood where the Berkshire House now 
 does. But with the demolition of the tavern and its 
 surroundings in the improvements made b}^ George K. 
 Ives, it disappeared, about 1839. 
 
 The quarter of a century in which Great Barring- 
 ton enjoyed the honors and maintained the position of 
 shire town of the county was eventful in the history of 
 the country and perhaps the most interesting period 
 in the annals of the town ; and in that time the county 
 buildings and the village street were the scenes of 
 many important and exciting events. Here, while 
 Massachusetts Bay was yet a British Colony were reg- 
 ularly assembled the justices and sheriffs of the King's 
 court and the lights and founders of the Berkshire bar. 
 The sessions of the court brought together the promi- 
 nent men from all parts of the county representing 
 magistrates, lawyers, clients, witnesses, and jurors; 
 and at these sessions were set on foot many of the pro- 
 jects for public improvement which marked the rise 
 and advancement of the then youngest county of the 
 Commonwealth. Here, on the 16th of August, 1774, 
 was made the first popular demonstration in Western 
 Massachusetts against Royal rule, when the peoj^le 
 rising in their might, and animated with patriotic mo- 
 tives, suppressed the King's court and dethroned his 
 
294 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTOX. 
 
 Majesty's officials. Within the walls of the old court- 
 house, in the earlier years of the Eeyolution, the citi- 
 zens of the town often assembled for town meeting de- 
 liberations, and were stirred by the manly eloquence 
 of Hopkins and the sarcastic inyectiyes of Major King 
 to resist toryism at home and oppression from abroad. 
 Here in the autumn of 1786, whilst the furor of the 
 Sha}''s insurrection was at its height, a fiendish mob of 
 insurgents, maddened with rum and led by unscrupu- 
 lous men preyented the sitting of the county court and 
 compelled the judges to sign a paper agreeing to hold 
 no more coiu'ts. Again, a little later — February, 1787 
 — another mob of insurrectionists, liberated the pris- 
 oners from the jail, insulted peaceable citizens, marched 
 towards Sheffield and finished their day's exploits in 
 the skirmish w^hich followed, in w^Lich they w^ere de- 
 feated and routed. 
 
 Col. Mark Hopkins. 
 
 Mark Hopkins, a son of Timothy Hopkins of Water- 
 bury, Conn., and the youngest brother of the Rey. Sam- 
 uel Hopkins of Great Barrington, was born September 
 18th, 1739. His father, at his decease in 1749, com- 
 mitted Mark, then in his tenth year, to the care of his 
 brother the minister, with the request that he should 
 receiye a liberal education. Mark accordingly came to 
 reside with the Rey. Samuel Hopkins, who undertook 
 the personal superyision of his education and fitted 
 him for college. He graduated at Yale college in 1758, 
 studied law, and was admitted to the bar at the first 
 session of the Berkshire court, Sej^tember, 1761. He 
 entered immediately upon his professional business in 
 this town, was the first Register of Deeds for the 
 county — an office which he held to the time of his de- 
 cease — and was also the first county treasurei as w^ell 
 as the first town clerk of Great Barrington. With a 
 good education and fine abilities Mr. Hopkins soon ob- 
 tained 2)i'ominence in the county courts and became a 
 leading man both as a lawyer and citizen. He w^as 
 also the King's attorney and a barrister, was commis- 
 sioned a Justice of the Peace in 1766, a representative 
 to the General Court in 1773 or 74, and was appointed 
 
COLONEL MARK HOPKINS. 295 
 
 Judge of Probate for the county in 1775, but did not 
 serve in that caj^acity. Before the commencement of 
 hostilities with Great Britain he espoused the cause of 
 the colonies, was a delegate from this town in the coun- 
 ty convention of July, 1774, and one of the committee 
 for drafting the patriotic resolutions adopted by that 
 convention. AVith the breaking out of the war Mr. 
 Hopkins became promment as a member of the Com- 
 mittee of Safety, and influential in the conventions of 
 committees which were then common in the county. 
 In the important public affairs of that time he exert- 
 ed a salutary influence in giving direction to the will 
 of liis townsmen, and w^as also active in organizing 
 and rendering efficient the militia of which he was 
 the Colonel. 
 
 In the summer of 1776, Colonel Hopkins command- 
 ed a detachment of Berkshire militia at Peekskill, or- 
 dered out by General John Fellows, and later in the 
 same year he served as Brigade Major under General 
 Fellows. Whilst engaged in this service he was 
 taken sick, and in a retreat of the Americans, suf- 
 fered from exposure in being removed to a place of 
 safety. By this exposure his illness was increased, and 
 he died at White Plains, October 26, 1776, at the age 
 of thirty-seven. By his death the town lost an influen- 
 tial and valued citizen, and the American cause one of 
 its most ardent supporters. But for his untimely 
 death, the talents of Colonel Hopkins, which are said 
 to have been of a superior order, would doubtless have 
 advanced him to stations of still higher honor and more 
 distinguished usefulness. It is related that the Hon. 
 Theodore Sedgwick, who had been a law student imder 
 Colonel Hoj^kins, and who was also with him at White 
 Plains, was accustomed to say that if Hopkins had 
 lived, he himself would never have attained the emi- 
 nent position as jurist and statesman which he oc- 
 cupied. 
 
 Colonel Hopkins married in 1765, Electa Sergeant, 
 daughter of the Eev. John Sergeant, missionary to the 
 Stockbridge Indians. At his decease he left a family 
 of six children. His widow in her later years removed 
 to Stockbridge, where she resided with her son Archi- 
 
296 
 
 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 bald — father of President Hopkins of Williams college 
 — and died there July 11, 1798. 
 
 David Ingersoll, Junior, Esq. 
 
 David Ingersoll, Junior, a native of Great Barring- 
 ton, and son of David Ingersoll, one of the early set- 
 tlers of the town, was born September 26. 1742. He 
 was educated at Yale college, graduated in 1761, and 
 was admitted to the bar in Berkshire, April, 1765. 
 There is some reason for supj^osing that he lived for a 
 time in Sheffield, but he was residing in Great Bar- 
 rington and engaged in the practice of the law here as 
 early as 1768. Mr. Ingersoll was appointed a Justice 
 of the Peace in 1767, and in 1770 represented the 
 towns of Sheffield, Great Barrington, and Egremont in 
 the General Court. He was prominent in town affairs, 
 and from the time of the settlement of the Rev. Gideon 
 Bostwick, an active supporter of the Episcopal church. 
 Before the Revolution he had attained some promi- 
 nence as a lawyer and public man, and when the 
 troubles between Great Britain and the colonies as- 
 sumed a serious aspect he adhered to the British cause. 
 In the spring of 1774 he was one of the "addressers" 
 of Governor Hutchinson, which, with other causes, 
 rendered him exceedingly unpopular with the patriots. 
 At the time of the suppression of the King's court in 
 the general uprising of the people — August, 1774 — he 
 was seized by Litchfield county men, carried to Con- 
 necticut and imprisoned. He was not, however, long 
 kept in confinement, as he appears to have been in 
 Boston on the 2d of September following, when he 
 mortgaged his homestead — perhaps for the pui'j^ose of 
 raising funds with which to leave the country — and 
 soon after sailed for England, where he died in 1796. 
 During his residence in Great Barrington, though not 
 then married, he owned and occupied the house in 
 which the Misses Kellogg (now deceased) lately re- 
 sided. He was one of the number proscribed and 
 banished by an act of the General Court in 1778; and 
 his homestead — which is said to have been confiscated 
 — was afterwards taken on executions obtamed against 
 him by his creditors. Mr. Ingersoll "married (in Eng- 
 
COLONEL ELIJAH DWIGHT. 297 
 
 land) in 1783, Frances Eebecca Eyley, who survived 
 liim less than three months. He left two sons, Philip 
 Eyley, who died in 1808, leaving issue, and Frederick 
 Jlorton, who was living in 1853." (1) 
 
 Colonel Elijah Dwight. 
 
 Elijah Dwight, who was a son of General Joseph 
 Dwight, was born at Brookfield, Mass., April 23, 1740, 
 .and appears to have lived there for some years after 
 the removal of his father to tliis county. The first 
 mention we find of him is in 1756, when at the age of 
 sixteen, and a resident of Brookfield, he was the com- 
 missary of the hospital in his father's regiment at Fort 
 William Henry on Lake George. But he came to re- 
 side in Great Barrington as early as 1761, when, at the 
 first meeting of the Judges of the newly organized 
 county of Berkshire, he was appointed Clerk of the 
 Courts and Register of Probate for the county, which 
 positions he held for the sj^ace of twenty years. In 
 1765, he was in business here as a merchant, having 
 been Hcensed by the court to sell tea, coffee, and china 
 ware, and after the Revolution he was engaged in trade 
 ^ith Captain Walter Pynchon, under the firm of Dwight 
 & Pynchon. He was 'the clerk of the town from 1764 
 to 1770, and town treasurer from 1768 for several 
 years, and again from 1782 to 1790. 
 
 In the war of the Revolution, infiuenced by consci- 
 entious convictions. Colonel Dwight remained conser- 
 vative and neutral, and while he did not co-operate 
 with the majority of his townsmen in resistance to 
 British rule, he refrained from opposing the measures 
 which they adopted. But such was his integrity of 
 character and honesty of purpose that he maintained, 
 in a remarkable degree, the esteem of his townsmen, 
 who, when the war was at an end, repeatedly honored 
 iiim with substantial proofs of their confidence and re- 
 gard by electing him many times to ofiices of honor 
 and trust. In 1785, Colonel Dwight represented the 
 town in the General Court, and was re elected repre- 
 sentative the next year, but declined serving; he was 
 
 (1) Sabine's Loyalists of the Revolution. 
 
298 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRIXGTON. 
 
 again chosen to the same office m 1790-91 and '93, but. 
 in each of these years was also elected to the State- 
 Senate, of which body he was a member for eight years 
 from 1786 to 1793 inclusiye. In the conyention of 
 1788, for ratifying the Constitution of the United States, . 
 Colonel Dwight was the delegate from this town, and 
 an earnest adyocate of its adoption. He was one of ' 
 the early Justices of the Peace of the county, haying 
 been appointed in September, 1765, and also one of the- 
 Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for seyen or 
 more years immediately preceding his decease. ColoneL 
 Dwight was a man of strict integrity, of amiable and 
 mild disposition, with somewhat of the suayity of man- 
 ner which characterized his father; but that he also- 
 possessed firmness and determination may be inferred 
 from the fact that when — in 1786 — a mob of insurgents- 
 forced his three associate Judges to sign a paj^er agree- 
 ing to hold no more courts, they failed to coerce him 
 into that measure. 
 
 Whilst on a journey to Boston in 1794, he was 
 taken sick and died at Brookfield — the place of his na- 
 tiyity — and was buried in the ancient burial ground at 
 West Brookfield, where we copied the following in- 
 scription from his tomb-stone manj" j^ears since : 
 
 " The Hon Elijah Dwight. Esq., of Great- 
 
 Barrington, an honest man, a respected 
 
 citizen, an exemplary Chi'istian, died at 
 
 Brookfield June 12th, 1 794, aetat 54. 
 
 Death is the crown of life 
 "Were death denied, poor 
 Man would live in vain : 
 Death wounds to cure." 
 
 There is also a monument to the memory of Colonel 
 Dwight and some of his childi'en in the south burial 
 ground m this town. 
 
 The wife of Colonel Dwight was Anna Williams, 
 daughter of Doctor Thomas Williams of Deerfield. She 
 died at Deerfield at the age of sixty-six, in 1810. Of 
 their childi-en seyeral died in mfancy, and one only 
 liyed to years of maturity, to wit : Captain Joseph Haw- 
 ley Dwight, who resided at Utica and at Oxford,. N. Y. 
 
CHAPTEE XX. 
 
 CONSTITUTIONAL AND POLITICAL. 
 
 1774—1780. 
 
 From 1774, when tlie authority of General Gage, 
 the last British governor of Massachusetts was practi- 
 cally annulled by the Provincial Congress, to the adop- 
 tion of the state constitution in 1780, no well founded 
 form of government existed in the state. The Provin- 
 cial Congresses of 1774-5, and after that, the Council, 
 with the acquiescence of the people, exercised the pow- 
 ers of a provisional government. In this period the 
 inhabitants of Berkshire held positions frequently at 
 variance with and antagonistic to the established au- 
 thority, relying more upon their county conventions — 
 composed of delegates chosen by the respective towns — 
 for the supervision of their civil affairs and the preserva- 
 tion of peace and good order, than upon the enactments 
 of the General Assembly or the edicts of the council. 
 But that Great. Barrington, in this respect, was not 
 always in full accord with some other towns of the 
 county is apparent from her vote of forty to one — 
 January 13th, 1777 — " to support the civil authority in 
 this county, established in this state for the redress- 
 ing of public wrongs," and by declining, at the same 
 time, to unite with other towns in petitioning the 
 Council not to issue commissions to the judges of the 
 Court of Common Pleas until January 1st, 1778. Again 
 August 25th, 1778, this town gave its unanimous assent 
 to the proposition for admitting the sittings of the 
 Court of Sessions in the county, and a majorit}^ in. 
 
300 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 favor of holding Courts of Common Pleas, and this at 
 a time when these propositions were negatived by a 
 very large majority of the voters of the county. 
 
 In 1777, May 20th, Caj^ttain William King and Silas 
 Goodrich were chosen to represent the towns at a ses- 
 sion of the General Coui't to be held May 28th, and 
 were instructed " to move for the repeal of the act for 
 the more equal representation, &c., and if not obtained, 
 to assist in striking out a new form of government as 
 recommended in an act of the 5th instant." The Gen- 
 eral Court to which Messrs. King and Goodi'ich were 
 chosen, produced the di'aft of the '• new frame of gov- 
 ernment," soon after submitted to the people. This 
 proposed constitution, imjDerfect and objectionable as 
 it was, and rejected by the popular vote of the state, 
 received the unanimous vote of this town for its ratifi- 
 cation. This di'aft of a constitution having been re- 
 jected, and a committee of the General Court having 
 been ap^^ointed to meet delegates of the Berkshu-e 
 towns at Pittsfield, on the 17th of November, 1778, for 
 a conference on public affairs, the town chose Jonathan 
 Nash to represent it in this conference and at the same 
 time voted iVo upon the proposition then submitted 
 — "whether under the situation of this county, not 
 having a new Constitution, and other reasons, the laws 
 of this State ought to operate among us.** 
 
 The sentiment expressed in this vote seems contra- 
 dictory, and du-ectly reverse to all the previously re- 
 corded actions of the town : and the position now as- 
 sumed was the same which had long been held by a 
 large proportion of the inhabitants of the county in 
 opposition to the authoiity of the state government. 
 The motives which influenced the inhabitants in this 
 change of front are not apparent, but probably origi- 
 nated in disappointment at the failure of the proposed 
 constitution, of which they had expected much, and 
 which they had supported with the greatest unanimity. 
 At a little earlier date — October 1778 — the town of 
 Pittsfield had adopted a series of resolutions, providing 
 — in the absence of constitution and courts — for a 
 tribunal composed of its own inhabitants — a town 
 court, with judges and jury — invested with powers 
 
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED. 301 
 
 somewhat similar to those formerly exercised by the 
 Court of Sessions. (1) 
 
 A county convention was held at Pittsfield in Feb- 
 ruary, 1779, to which Captain Silas Goodrich and Jona- 
 than Younglove were chosen delegates, with instruc- 
 tions to report its proceedings at the annual town 
 meeting in March. We are not aware that any record 
 of the deliberations of this convention is preserved, 
 but we have evidence that a series of resolutions — ap- 
 parently the same adopted b}' the town of Pittsfield — 
 were there promulgated and recommended to the 
 several towns. These resolutions, reported at the an- 
 nual town meeting, March 22d, 1779, were read and 
 voted upon, paragraph by paragraph, and were accepted, 
 by yeas and nays, though not without strenuous op- 
 position. By sanctioning these resolutions and by its 
 vote of November, 1778 — that under the circumstances 
 of the county the laws of the state ought not to operate 
 among us — the town seems fully to have committed 
 itself in opposition to the state government. But that 
 the inhabitants were not unanimous in assuming this 
 new position, and that their action was vigorously op- 
 posed, is apparent from the na^^s recorded upon the 
 adoption of the resolutions as well as from the follow- 
 ing paper — in the handwriting of Major King — which, 
 though without date, was evidently presented at the 
 same meeting at which the resolutions of the conven- 
 tion were accepted. Of this paper, or of its jDresenta- 
 tion, no mention is made in the imperfectly written 
 records, but it bears the endorsement of the town clerk 
 — "Reasons for not choosing town officers — lies on file." 
 
 " Whereas we the Inhabitants of the town of Great Barring- 
 ton in the count}' of Berkshire, in town-meeting assembled, upon 
 notice given in due form, to come to the choice of town officers 
 for the year ensuing, have, after serious consideration, come to 
 a resolution not to choose any officers, by law appointed to be 
 chosen in tha month of March annually, a Town Clerk and Treas- 
 urer excepted; 
 
 ' • And whereas the occasion of such a resolution is extremely 
 liable to be misconstrued by some and misrepresented by others; 
 we therefore think it an indispensable duty which we owe to the 
 
 (\) These resolutions are printed in full in the History of 
 Pitishel.l, by J. E. A. Smith, vol. 1, pages 381-383. 
 
:302 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 rectitude of our proceedings, to give the true reasons why we 
 have declined appointing town officers as usual, cheerfully sub- 
 mitting our conduct to the judgment of an impartial world. 
 
 " Our reasons are as follows : 
 
 ' ' Because, by a wi-etched system of policy, adopted by this 
 .county, subversive of every idea of civil liberty, courts of justice 
 are forbid to sit. Justices of the Peace insulted, threatened, and 
 .treated with every species of indignity ; 
 
 "Because, without the check of law, selectmen and asses- 
 sors are absolute Lords and masters of the property of the in- 
 habitants of their respective towns, and may cause the owners to 
 be committed to gaol, without bail or mainpernors for taxes 
 however illegally or arbitrarily assessed. 
 
 [Paper torn, three or four words wanting] "the country, on 
 mode of redress remained for the devoted people ; 
 
 "Because, those town officers, whose duty it is to preserve 
 the peace, and inform of all breaches of law which come to their 
 knowledge can not (in our present situation) answer the design 
 of their institution, but must frequently suffer the mortification 
 of seeing the law violated with impunity, though they are under 
 the oath of God to cause the culprit to be arraigned before 
 his judge ; 
 
 " Because (for the reasons above jnentioued) the inhabitants 
 .of this town in whose abilities and integrity we could with the 
 greatest safety confide, decline acting in any of the offices already 
 referred to." 
 
 This paper affords a glimpse of the position of 
 pubHc affairs as viewed by the clear headed Major King. 
 But the course which he proposed was not acquiesced 
 in by the majority, and town officers were chosen as 
 usual. The proposition for holding a state convention 
 for the purpose of framing a constitution w^as soon after 
 submitted to the people. At a town meeting — May 17, 
 1779 — under an article of the warrant " to know the 
 minds of the inhabitants to be expressed by yeas and 
 nays, whether they are desirous of having a state con- 
 vention for striking out a constitution and form of 
 government,'' the vote w^as unanimous, fifty-two yeas, 
 in favor of such convention. At the same time Jona- 
 than Nash was chosen representative to the General 
 Court, with instructions to vote in favor of the consti- 
 tutional convention, and of choosing delegates to at- 
 tend it. A constitutional convention having been 
 ^determined upon by the General Court, the town chose 
 
CONSTITUTION ACCEPTED. 303 
 
 its delegates on the 9tli of August, 1779, and appointed 
 Captain William King, Captain Silas Goodrich, and 
 Jonathan Younglove to draw up and report instructions 
 for his guidance. The constitution formed by this 
 convention was submitted to and accepted by the 
 people in the spring of 1780. The meeting for the 
 election of town officers in that year was convened May 
 8th, by precepts issued by Doctor William AYhiting, 
 rand the first election for state officers was held on the 
 4th of September following. At this election John 
 Hancock had forty-three votes and James Bowdoin 
 .nine votes for governor. 
 
CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 INCIDENTS OF THE SHAYS REBELLION. 
 
 1786-7 
 
 The insurrection of 1786-7, known in history as the 
 Shays Rebelhon, which extended throughout the Com- 
 monwealth and was particularly rife in the western 
 counties, had its rise in the distractions and distresses 
 caused by the long continued war of the Revolution.. 
 Daniel Shays, the chosen leader of the insurrection,, 
 whose name and fame are unenviably connected with 
 its history, was a native of Hopkinton, Mass., born in 
 1747, an Ensign at the battle of Bunker Hill and a 
 captain in the Continental arm3^ Upon the failure of 
 the rebellion, Shays took refuge in Vermont, where he 
 remained about a year, and on his own petition was 
 afterwards pardoned. He removed to Sparta, N. Y.,, 
 and died there September 29th, 1825. By the calami- 
 ties of the war, and by the attendant drain upon theii- 
 resources, the inhabitants were impoverished; very 
 many wxre involved in debt, whilst with an enormous 
 state debt the taxes upon them were burdensome, and 
 the country was almost destitute of money or a cu*- 
 culating medium. Many of the inhabitants had been 
 soldiers in the Continental army : had incurred debts 
 and mortgaged their farms while in the service of their 
 country. They were paid for their services in a worth- 
 less currency, with which they could not discharge 
 their obligations. And the government, while enforc- 
 ing the payment of debts, would not accept or cause- 
 creditors to accept the money which it had com 
 
CAUSES OF DISCONTENT. 305 
 
 pelled the soldiers to receive for their pay. This was 
 a great hardship, and to the common mind seems unrea- 
 sonable and unjust. With the adoption of the state con- 
 stitution, and the reorganization of the courts, numer- 
 ous suits for the collection of debts and for other civil 
 causes arose. The expenses of suits at law were un- 
 reasonably great ; imprisonment for debt was common 
 and many were thereby sorely oppressed. These were 
 causes of discontent to a large number of people, who, 
 influenced by ambitious men and demagogues, were led 
 to array themselves against the government, to obstruct 
 the sittings of the courts and the administration of the 
 laws. The people, as a mass, had not yet learned, 
 what they have since come somewhat slowly to com- 
 prehend, that the effective means of obtaining redress 
 for public wrongs, under a Republican form of govern- 
 ment, is through the ordinary constitutional and legis- 
 lative channels rather than by resort to mob law and 
 violence. The}^ had witnessed the effects of the sup- 
 pression of the King's courts in the general uprising 
 of the people, in a righteous cause, in 1774, and were 
 foolishly infatuated with the belief that the grievances 
 " of which they complained" might be relieved by a 
 resort to similar measures. In this they were wrong ; 
 but the leaders were more to be blamed than the 
 people. Great Barrington had its due proportion of 
 discontented inhabitants, and furnished its quota to 
 swell the ranks of the Shays party. It was also the 
 county seat and consequently the scene of some excit- 
 ing events connected with the rebellion. 
 
 The insurgents having on the last Tuesday of 
 August, 1786, prevented the sitting of the court at 
 Northampton, and also in the week following at Wor- 
 cester, next turned their attention to Berkshire. A 
 session of the Court of Common Pleas w^as appointed 
 to be held at Great Barrington on Tuesday, the 12th 
 of September. In the evening preceding that day a 
 crowd began to assemble, and during that night and 
 the next day the streets were filled with armed men 
 from all parts of the county. The militia had been 
 called out for the protection of the court ; the assem- 
 bled multitude was estimated at 2000 persons, four 
 
 20 
 
306 HISTOEY OF GREAT BAEEINGTON. 
 
 fifths of whom were opposed to the sitting of the 
 court. "The disproportion was so great as to preckide 
 the propriety of contention on the part of the govern- 
 ment." The mob surrounded the court-house, made 
 open threats of demohsliing it, and effectually prevented 
 its occupancy by the officers of the coui't. The court met 
 at a private house, and adjourned without day, and 
 Tsdthout transacting any business. The judges of the 
 coui-t were taken into custody by the insui-gents, and 
 conducted to the house of Doctor William AMiiting, 
 where three of them — including Doctor AVhiting — were 
 forced to sign an obligation that they would not act 
 under their commissions until grievances were re- 
 di'essed." One of the judges — Colonel Elijah Dwight 
 — "upon a proper resistance, was not compelled to 
 subscribe the obhgation." The mob then broke open 
 the jail, set at liberty such of the prisoners as were 
 confined for debt, forced off from the prison limits those 
 who had given bail for its liberty, and then dispersed. 
 A few days previous to these j^roceedings. Doctor 
 TVTiiting had written, apparently for publication — for 
 he had a taste for pohtical as well as religious disserta 
 tions — an essay upon the times, over the signature of 
 Gracchus, entitled " Some brief remarks ujDon the pres- 
 ent state of public affau's," in which he reviewed and 
 commented upon the grievances of which the people 
 were complaining. And not long after these occur- 
 rences, he prepared a detailed account of the transac- 
 tions, m which he says : " there was collected at the 
 court-house a body of about two thousand men, a very 
 great part of whom, instead of supporting the court, 
 decidedly declared themselves in opposition to its sit- 
 tings. From some particular circumstances which 
 took place at the time, I was rendered peculiarly ob- 
 noxious to the rage of the people. I was taken into 
 custody by a body of men, as I was returning from the 
 house where the court had been opened and adjourned 
 without day. With fixed bayonets, and a fury truly 
 terrifying to me, so that I deemed my hfe in danger, 
 they conducted me into my own house, and there com- 
 pelled me, together with some of my bretheren of the 
 court, to sign a paper purporting that \^ e would hold 
 
THE COURT OBSTRUCTED. 307 
 
 no more courts until the Constitution of the Common- 
 wealth was either new formed or revised. At this time 
 a numerous concaurse of men had surrounded my 
 house, with the declared intention of demoHshing it. 
 A iDcrson present (Mr. Kingman) alarmed at my situa- 
 tion at this juncture, and imaginmg that the senti- 
 ments expressed in the Essay might appease the fury 
 of the people and conduce to the safety of my person 
 and property, sent for some of their leaders and read 
 it in their hearing, with the desired effect." A letter 
 written from Berkshire county, four days after these 
 occurrences, i^pubhshed in the New Haven Gazette and 
 Connecticut Magazine) describing the proceedings of 
 the mob says : " from ten o'clock the preceding evening 
 until the evening of Tuesday, our streets were crowded 
 with men in arms. They were the discontentedest 
 people of the county, who had assembled for the sup- 
 pression of the court. Although the militia of the 
 county had been ordered by the General to appear in 
 arms for the defence of government, it served only as 
 a pretext for the malcontents to carry into execution, 
 with greater facility, their designs for its abolition." 
 " They" [the insurgents] " entered the house where the 
 jus^tices were, and with the most insolent and barbar- 
 ous' threats, under the points of their drawn bayonets, 
 extorted such engagements from them as suited their 
 capricious and absurd humors." 
 
 The house — the residence of Doctor AVliiting — in 
 which this outrage was perpetrated, stood where the 
 Sumner building now does, and is the same — the old 
 Red house — which now stands on Bridge street, east 
 of the Berkshire House. 
 
 A few weeks later, when the time arrived for the 
 session of the Supreme Judicial Court at Great Bar- 
 rington, another mob assembled, ostensibly for the 
 purpose of preventing the sitting of the court, although, 
 as was then well known, the Judges had previously 
 resolved that it was inexpedient to hold a court here 
 at that time. The insurgents on this occasion were 
 insolent and riotous in the extreme, firing upon peace- 
 able citizens, breaking into and searching dwellings, 
 and conducting with the greatest lawlessness. The 
 
308 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 rioters were desirous to obtain possession of Ezra 
 Kellogg, Esq., who held the office of Deputy Sheriff, 
 and was on that account particularly obnoxious to 
 them. 'Mr. Kellogg then resided in the jail house — 
 the old Episcopal parsonage. Receiving timely infor- 
 mation of the evil intention of the mob towards him, 
 he disguised himself in an old overcoat obtained from 
 Lieutenant Gamaliel "Whiting — his next door neighbor, 
 and made his escape, in a round-about way across the 
 lots, to the house of Captain Truman Wheeler, south 
 of the village. In theii' search for Mr. Kellogg, the 
 mob broke open liis house, abused his wife, and with 
 bayonets pointed at her breast, threatened her life un- 
 less she revealed the place of her husband's conceal- 
 ment. Baffled, and enraged at not finding him, they 
 discharged a gun through the curtains of the bed on 
 which Mrs. Kellogg was lying — setting them on fire — 
 and through the walls of the house. They also went 
 to the house of Lieutenant Whiting — kept as a tavern 
 — searched it, fired through the tavern sign and through 
 the barn adjoining. Such is the meagre account of 
 the disgraceful transactions of the day as handed down 
 by family tradition. Legal proceedings were after- 
 wards instituted against some of the actors in this 
 aftair ; and from brief minutes of the testimony, taken 
 at their examination, by General Thomas Ives, it ap- 
 pears that previous to the search for jVIi\ Kellogg a 
 body of the rioters was assembled in front of the house 
 of Elisha Blinn — the Doctor Collins place — some of 
 whom fired upon one Mr. Mansfield, who was passing 
 in the street, and also searched him and a Mr. Lee. 
 Mr. Lee, overhearing a conversation between one Tre- 
 main and others of the Shays party, threatening to 
 " handle" Mr. Kellogg, went to him and gave informa- 
 tion of then' intention. It also appears from the same 
 soiu'ce, that one Dunham was the most riotous and 
 lawless of the mob on this occasion. 
 
 A party had assembled near the house of Lieuten- 
 ant Whiting, amongst which was Dunham ; he fired 
 thi'ough the shed and the sign of Mr. Whiting, and 
 was very noisy and profane. Dunham asked for a 
 drummer, who was called and ordered to beat by 
 
KIOTOUS PROCEEDINGS. 309 
 
 Moses Wood — " an officer with a sword." A body of 
 men then searched the Whiting house, hoping to find 
 Mr. Kellogg, but failing in this they went to ^Ii\ Kel- 
 logg's, ordered away some government men who were 
 present, fired through the house, broke it open and 
 abused the family. At this examination Doctor John 
 Budd testified as follows : " I went down to Mr. Kel- 
 logg's, Dunham and others had their bayonets at Mi-s. 
 Kellogg's breast, and swore they would kill her; I 
 thought Mrs. Kellogg w^ould faint away ; Callender 
 and Dunham w^ere at the head of them." 
 
 Later in the year, parties of the insurgents ob- 
 structed the courts at Worcester and Sprmgfield, and 
 on the 25th of January, — 1787 — attempted in large 
 force to seize the arsenal at Springfield. In the month 
 of January an army of 4,400 men was organized from 
 the state militia and placed in command of Major Gen- 
 eral Lincoln. By detachments from this army the 
 Shays men were driven from point to point, many were 
 taken prisoners, some laid down their arms and re- 
 turned to their homes, and others took refuge within 
 the borders of the neighboring states of New Hamp- 
 shire, Vermont and New York. During the night fol- 
 lowing the 26th of Februar}^, a party numbering eighty 
 or ninety, who had, for several days, been lurking 
 about the New York border, entered the county, ar- 
 riving at Stockbridge about midnight. Having pil- 
 laged the dwellings of many of the villagers of Stock- 
 bridge, and made prisoners of a number of its most re- 
 spectable citizens, they started early in the morning 
 for Great Barrington, taking with them their prisoners 
 and booty. This party was commanded by Perez Ham- 
 lin of Lenox. News of their approach preceded them 
 at Great Barrington. The men of the village, with 
 such others as could be gathered, hastily assembled, — 
 perhaps to the number of forty in all — and with Cap- 
 tains Ehjah D wight and Thomas Ingersoll left for 
 Sheffield, in sleighs, intending to unite with the men of 
 that place and oppose the advance of the insurgents. 
 The Great Barrington men were scantily provided wdth 
 bullets, but took lead with them from which to supply 
 themselves. 
 
310 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 The Shays men arrived at Great Barrmgton at 
 about ten o'clock in the forenoon, where they halt- 
 ed to refresh themselves at the exjDense of the house- 
 keepers of the village. It was an hour of gloom 
 with the women, for the village, temporarily deserted 
 by its able-bodied male inhabitants, was left at the rner- 
 C}^ of the invaders. But, fortunately, the insurgents 
 were in too gi^eat haste to repeat the general pillage 
 with which they had visited the people of Stockbridge. 
 Apprised of their coming the villagers had secui'ely 
 hidden their valuables. General Ives before leaving for 
 Sheffield, placed his most important papers in a grain 
 bag and sent John Whiting on horseback to secrete 
 them under the roof, in the garret of the old Sanford 
 house, on the hill. Even pewter platters were hidden, 
 and at the Pynchon tavern, these were placed between 
 the beds that they might not fall into the hands of the 
 insurgents who sought them for material for bullets. 
 
 Leaving Great Barrington, the Shays men proceed- 
 ed towards Sheffield, taking the back road west of 
 Green River. A company of drafted men had marched 
 from Sheffield, on the previous day, for the government 
 headquarters, by reason of which the means of defence 
 in the south part of the county were materially dimin- 
 ished. This fact was known to the insurgents and 
 doubtless emboldened them to the present incursion. 
 At about one o'clock, p. m., the Sheffield men under 
 Captain Goodi'ich were gathered, and the party ready 
 to march. The whole body, numbering probably less 
 than one hundi'ed, — Berkshire History says eighty — 
 under command of Colonel John Ashley, started in 
 sleighs with the expectation of meeting the insurgents. 
 AYe quote from the History of Berkshu'e the following 
 account of the further transactions and the battle of 
 that day: 
 
 " The insiirgeutR were now supposed to be coming down to 
 Sheffield, and various rumors were abi'oad as to the course they 
 were taking. It was at first said they were coming down on the 
 meadow road, and then that they had turned off by the Episco- 
 pal church (1) westward and were making their way out of the 
 
 (1) The old Episcopal church in Great Barrington ; the in- 
 surgents did turn to the west at the corner by the south burial 
 ground. 
 
THE CONFLICT. 
 
 311 
 
 county. Upon hearing this, Colonel Ashley turned to the left, 
 passed hastily on to the tack road, and then turning by Archer 
 [Asher] Saxton's, drove furiously for Francis Hare's, in Egremont. 
 (1) He had scarcely passed the brook north of the quarry [Ches- 
 ter Goodale's quarry] when it was announced that the insurgents 
 were in the rear, coming after them. They had been marching 
 towards Sheffield on the back road, but hearing of the govern- 
 ment forces, had turned at Saxton's in pursuit of them, just af- 
 ter Colonel Ashley had diverged at that place. A halt was im- 
 mediately made, the sleighs were thrown out of the way, and an 
 attempt made to form the companies. After a few moments of 
 great confusion, Captain Goodrich directed the Sheffield company 
 to follow him through a lot of girdled trees on the west side of 
 the road ; and the Great Barrington company, under Captain 
 IngersoU, advanced through a copse of timber on the east. By 
 this time a scattering fire commenced, and continued while the 
 companies were advancing, with a rapid march, fifty or sixty 
 rods, when a weU directed fire from eight or ten who were fore- 
 most, upon a considerable body of insurgents in the road, dis- 
 comfited them and put them to flight. The whole body dis- 
 persed at once, and fled in different directions. They left two 
 of their number dead near the place of action, and niore than 
 thirty were wounded, among whom was HaniUn, their captain, 
 and a man by the name of Kathbun, who died sometime after of 
 his wounds. A body of men coming on from Lenox under Cap- 
 tain William Walker, immediately after the skirmish, enabled 
 the conquerors to take more than fifty prisoners. The loss to 
 the militia was two killed and one wounded. One of the killed 
 was a Mr. Porter of Great Barrington : the other was Mr. Solo- 
 mon Glezen,— taken prisoner at Stockbridge. The person 
 wounded was the late Dr. Burghardt of Richmond. He was in 
 the company of Captain Walker, and was wounded by a small 
 party who fired upon them before they arrived at the spot where 
 the action was fought. This skirmish took place over a little 
 valley, now crossed by the Hartford turnpike near the west Hue 
 of Sheffield." 
 
 This engagement, insignificant as it was, was the 
 most severe of the several conflicts at arms which oc- 
 curred in the Shays Insurrection. It is asserted by 
 some — on the authority of persons who were present 
 in the action — that another colhsion occurred on that 
 day, between parties of insurgents and government 
 men, at a point on the back road, near the town Hne, 
 and that Solomon Glezen was killed there ; and this 
 assertion is so well authenticated that we are con- 
 strained to credit its truthfulness. 
 
 (1) Francis Hare kept a tavern at South Egremont. 
 
312 HISTORY OF GEEAT BAERINGTOX. 
 
 The ]\Ii'. Porter, mentioned in the foregoing ac- 
 count as having been killed, was Ephraim Porter, a 
 young man — 25 years old — son-in-law of Deacon Israel 
 Root, whose daughter Anna he had married not long 
 before. Deacon Root resided on the back road, where 
 Joel Baldwin now does, and Mr. Porter seems to liaye 
 been living m the family. He had probably joined 
 the government forces on their downward march in 
 the morning, and his wife received no intimation of his 
 death until his lifeless body was brought to the door. 
 ]VIi'. Porter was buried m the south cemeter^^, where a 
 well preserved monument of dark slate stone is erected 
 to his memory. The other man killed — on the side of 
 the government — Solomon Glezen, was a school-mas- 
 ter of Stockbridge and one of the prisoners brought 
 down from that place by the insurgents. Hugo Burg- 
 hardt — afterwards Doctor Burghardt of Richmond — 
 who was wounded, was then a student in Yale college, 
 but had been for a time an mvalid at his home — the 
 old Deacon Beckwith place — on the Stockbridge road. 
 On the morning of that day he had started on his re- 
 tiu-n to college, but joined the company of Lenox men 
 under Caj^tain AYalker, which arrived after the action, 
 and was with them engaged in the pursuit of the fugi- 
 tives, when he was fired upon and severely wounded. 
 
 The prisoners captured were brought to Great 
 Barrington, and so many of them as the jail could ac- 
 commodate were here imprisoned ; the remainder were 
 taken to Lenox for confinement. Already the exact 
 site of this skirmish has become a matter of question, 
 and opinions vary in regard to it, though its general 
 locahty is well known ; but without having closely 
 investigated the subject, we will not attempt, very 2:>ar- 
 ticularly, to define it, but simply to point out the place 
 as indicated in the foregoing account, and the routes 
 pui'sued by the combatants. 
 
 At that time the " turnpike" from Sheffield to Eg- 
 remont had not been built. The route of communica- 
 tion between these place was by the present hack road, 
 from the " Marble Turn Out," northerly to the Adam 
 Pitcher place — by the white school house : thence — 
 leaving the back road — turning directly west as the 
 
SITE OF THE ACTION. 313 
 
 Toad now does, and passing through a gorge or de- 
 pression in the range of hills, to the western slope of 
 the hill. At this point the road forks, one branch run- 
 ning southwesterly, the other northwesterly. Asher 
 Saxton is said to have lived on the north side of the 
 road just at the fork where an old cellar and well are 
 still to be seen. From Saxton's the route to Egre- 
 mont was by the road which runs northwesterly to, or 
 nearly to, its intersection with the present turnpike ; 
 but from this point, if we are not misinformed, the old 
 road ran to the east of the turnpike, and crossed the 
 brook further up the stream than the turnpike does. 
 When the government men left Sheffield, on the after- 
 noon of the skirmish — erroneously supposing that the 
 insurgents were coming down to that place on the 
 Meadow road — they started north on that road to 
 meet them. But receiving information that the insur- 
 gents had gone west from Great Barrington, and be- 
 lieving it was their intention to escape through Egre- 
 mont into New York, Colonel Ashley with his men 
 *' passed hastily on to the back road," which he fol- 
 lowed as far as the white school house, and thence 
 drove westerly, by the route we have indicated, to the 
 Asher Saxton place, and northwesterly towards Egre- 
 mont. In the meantime, the Shays party, leaving 
 Great Barrington, turned west at the south burial 
 ground, and crossing Green River, took the back road 
 southerly towards Sheffield, which they followed as far 
 as the white school-house. Here, leariiing of the route 
 taken by Colonel Ashley, they turned to the west and 
 boldly became the pursuers. Colonel Ashley, hast- 
 ening towards Egremont, " had scarcely passed the 
 brook" north of the Goodale marble quarry, when it 
 was announced that the insurgents were in his rear 
 ^nd pursuing. Here a halt was made, and Colonel 
 Ashley's men marched south on both sides of the road 
 to the place of conflict. The turnpike— the present 
 traveled road — crosses the lower end of "the Httle 
 valley" (over which the action is said to have taken 
 place) about 80 rods south of the bridge by the marble 
 saw mill. The action apparently took place some dis- 
 tance east of the turnpike, higher up and perhaps on 
 
314 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTOX. 
 
 the south side of the valley, and north of a cart path ' 
 which leads from the turnpike towards the marble 
 quarry. This locality is in the northwesterly part of - 
 the town of Sheffield. 
 
 A few incidents and anecdotes connected with the • 
 transactions of that day have been preserved. "When 
 the Shays men left Stockbridge in the morning, after a • 
 night of pillage and carousal, many of them were 
 di-unk ; and then- condition, in this respect, was not - 
 improved by the addition of exliilarating drinks j^hm- 
 dered from the taverns and dwellings during their 
 short halt at Great Barrington. It was a cold morning ; 
 so cold (as ]Mi'S. Mary Pynchon used to relate) that the • 
 creaking of the sleigh shoes on the snow, as the Shays 
 men entered the village, was heard through the whole 
 length of the street. On their arrival at Great Bar- 
 rington, a party of insui'gents visited the jail for the 
 purpose of hberating the prisoners confined there. 
 The keeper of the prison, Ebenezer Bement, had gone 
 with his neighbors to Sheffield. This party called up- 
 on Mrs. Bement — *' a bright black-eyed little woman'' ' 
 — and demanded the keys of the jail. She produced- 
 the keys and unlocking the door herself, sang to them 
 as they crossed the threshold, 
 
 " Hark, from the tombs a doleful sound, 
 My ears attend the ci*y 
 Ye living men, come view the ground 
 Where you must shortly lie," 
 
 naively adding "for we will have you all in here before' 
 to-morrow morning.'' Her wit and boldness excited 
 theii' aclmu'ation, but unfortunately for the malefactors, , 
 her prophecy proved too true. 
 
 Another party called at the house of General 
 Thomas Ives — which stood where F. T. AMiiting now 
 resides. He, too, with his sleigh loaded with men, had 
 gone to Sheffield, taking with him as a diiver John 
 ^^iting — the late General AMiiting — then a lad of 16 
 studying law in General Ives' office. ]\Ii'S. Ives was 
 sick — confined to her bed — and her household affairs 
 were in charge of a spinster of the neighborhood. Be- 
 fore leaving home General Ives told his temporary 
 housekeeper that the Shays men would probably visit 
 
INCIDENTS. 315 
 
 the house, dn-ected her to treat them civilly, to follow 
 them wherever they went, and to ascertain, so far as 
 she might, who they were. He further instructed her 
 to inform them of the illness of Mrs. Ives, and to 
 request them to make no unnecessary disturbance. As 
 anticipated, a large number of the insurgents came to 
 the house at about eleven o'clock. The housekeeper 
 performed her mission faithfully, and followed them 
 about the house which they searched in the hope of 
 finding arms. Discovering an enormous hair covered, 
 trunk — now in the possession of the writer — in which 
 General Ives kept his papers, they determined to break 
 it open, believing that it contained guns ; but the 
 spinster defended it stoutly, and they at length satis- 
 fied themselves, by measuring the trunk with a musket, 
 that it was too short to be made a receptacle for arms, 
 and desisted from opening it. Having regaled them- 
 selves with such provisions as the house afforded, and 
 a large quantity of cider, which was brought by the 
 pailful from the celler by a boy, they departed without 
 subjecting the family to insolence or further incon- 
 venience. On returning home at evening, and learning 
 from his housekeeper the names of several of the per- 
 sons who had visited his house, General Ives repaired 
 to the jail — then filled with prisoners taken in the 
 fight — and looking amongst the inmates inc|uired who 
 of them had been at his house that day ; all strenuously 
 denied the imputation. He assured them that he knew 
 that many of them had been there, and that in consid- 
 eration of the little disturbance they had made, he had 
 now come to thank them and to treat them. Where- 
 upon all immediately plead guilty, and the General 
 treated them to their and his own satisfaction. 
 
 Another party visited the old Smith — Pynchon 
 tavern, where the Berkshire House stands. These 
 were turbulent and insolent. One of them ch'awing 
 his ramrod thrust it into the barrel of his musket to 
 show the woman how heavily it was charged, telling 
 them that he had "two bullets for the d — d rebels." 
 Others drove Mrs. Mary Pynchon — then a young lady 
 in the family — at the point of their bayonets to open 
 the store of Captain Walter Pynchon, that they might 
 
316 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 obtain lead to make into bullets ; but the lead had 
 already been taken to Sheffield by the government 
 men for a similar purpose. 
 
 After the battle, such of the Shays men as were not 
 captured retreated in various directions; some went 
 north on the old road on the east side of the river. 
 One of these was seen fleeing on a fine gray horse 
 v\^hich had been stolen from the barn of Colonel Elijah 
 Dwight in the morning. One man armed and on horse- 
 l)ack rode furiously thi-ough the village. He was pur- 
 sued by an unarmed citizen to Christian Hill, where, 
 being closely pressed, he left his horse and took refuge 
 in a pig-pern He was arrested by his pursuer, led from 
 his hiding place and conducted in triumph to the jail. 
 
 An amusing incident is related, which occm-red dur- 
 ing the fray, of which Moses Orcutt of this town — fa- 
 miliarly called Mut Orcutt — was the hero. Mut had 
 been a soldier in the Revolution, both from Tyringham 
 ^nd Great Barrington, and had seen much service : he 
 was moreover a man of wit as well as an extempora- 
 neous poet. A^Tiilst the fight was progressing Mut 
 stepped from the ranks and coolly kneeling down in 
 the snow, placed his hat, powder horn and gun upon 
 the ground, bared his bosom to the foe and defiantly 
 and profanely called upon the Shays men to "fire upon 
 the body of Moses :" and fire they did, wounding Mut, 
 though not very severely. During the insurrection 
 the Shays men were accustomed to weai* in then- hat 
 bands a' sprig of hemlock, and the friends of govern- 
 ment adopted, as a distinctive badge, a piece of white 
 paper also attached to the hat band. These simple 
 badges were worn by the opposing parties on the day 
 of the skirmish. 
 
 Several of the most prominent of the Berkshii'e ac- 
 tors in the rebellion were tried at a session of the Su- 
 preme Judicial Court at Great Barrington in March, 
 1787. Of these Nathaniel Austin of Sheffield, Peter 
 Wilcox of Lee, Aaron Knapp of West Stockbridge, 
 Enoch Tyler of Egremont, Joseph Williams of New 
 Marlboro, and Samuel Rust of Pittsfield were sentenced 
 to death for high treason : the first five for the aggra- 
 Tation of murder. But these sentences were not car- 
 
A QUEER ELECTION. 317 
 
 ried into execution. One citizen of Great Barrington^ 
 for seditious words and practices was sentenced to pay 
 a line of £100, to suffer seven months imprisonment, 
 and to give bonds of £300 for his good behavior for 
 five years. Although the insurrection was now sub- 
 stantially quelled, the opposition to government which 
 it had engendered did not immediately subside. Cir- 
 cumstances connected with the election of a delegate 
 to represent this town in the state convention — held in 
 January, 1788— for the purpose of ratifying or reject- 
 ing the constitution of the United States, proposed by 
 the Federal Congress, will serve to illustrate the state 
 of pubhc sentiment here at that time. At this elec- 
 tion, held November 26th, 1787, Doctor AVilKam Whit- 
 ing was the candidate of the opponents of the proposed 
 constitution, and Elijah Dwight, Esq., the candidate of 
 the party which favored its ratification ; Doctor Whit- 
 ing was elected by a small majority, and was so de- 
 clared by the selectmen presiding, and, having been 
 called upon to accept or decline the office, came into 
 the meeting and accepted it publicly. A committee 
 was appointed "to give instructions to the delegate." 
 The committee retired, prepared their instructions, and 
 returning to the meeting made report ; which appears 
 not to have been acted upon at that time. These iii- 
 structions, — preserved in the town files, — are, as a lit- 
 erary production a curiosity, but can hardly be received 
 as a sample of the average intelhgence of the party 
 whose views the delegate was expected to represent in. 
 the convention. We copy them, verbatim et literatim^ 
 from the original: 
 ** To William Whiting, Esq. 
 
 ' • Whereas the luhabitants of this Town of Grate Barrington 
 have this Day elected you their Dellegate to meet in Convention 
 en the Second tewsday of January Next to take into considera- 
 tion the new federal Constitution Lately proposed by a fedderial 
 Convention holden at Philadelphia. We think it our Deuty to 
 give you the following Instructions which you are to observe as 
 the Kule of your conduct in s'd convention (viz) 
 
 • ' First as the Constitution of this Commonwealth Invests the 
 Legslature with uo such Power as sending Delligates To a Con- 
 vention for the purpose of framing a New Systim of Fedderal 
 Govermeut— we conceive that the Constitution now offered us is- 
 Destituce of any Constitueual authority either states or fedderal. 
 
l318 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 •' 2iid had theDelligates from this state been Coustituenaly ap- 
 pointed yet their Commission extended no further than the Ke- 
 vising and amending the former ai'ticles of Confedderation — and 
 therefore they could not pretend to the Least Colour of Right or 
 authority from their Principles to Draw up a new form of Fed- 
 derial Goverment. 
 
 "3d we think the Constitution Now offerd To our Exceptance 
 and Ratification by no means Calculated to Secure to us and our 
 Poserity those Estimable Liberties and Provileges which God 
 and Nature have given us a Right to enjoy, Secure and defend ; 
 for we Do not find in the said Constitution any Security for the 
 Election of the f edderial Repx-esentatives ; nor for the Privilege 
 of tryal by Jury in Civil Causses ; neither is their Security for 
 enjoying and Preserving Enestimable Provilege the freedom of 
 the Press. You are herefore Directed Not to give your vote for 
 the adopting the said Constituion : and you are Likewise to move 
 in Convention when the grand Question is Put whether said Con- 
 stituion be adopted or not that the Question be desided by Yeas 
 or Nays and that the Names be Published that the world may 
 know who are friends to the Liberties of this Commonwealth 
 and who not. 
 
 Dated at Grate Barriugton Nov. 26th 1787. 
 
 Committee : — James Ray, Elizer Deming. Daniel, Chapman, 
 John Vandeusen. " 
 
 The meeting, evidently a stormy one, was kept open 
 until after dark, and was finally adjourned for one week, 
 at which time the inhabitants voted — (fifty-five to fifty- 
 one) — not to accept the instructions of the committee 
 to the delegate ; and also voted — (fifty-seven to forty- 
 eight) — to reconsider all the votes passed at the former 
 meeting. After this summary proceeding a ballot was 
 taken for a delegate to the convention, which resulted 
 in the election of Elijah D wight, Esq., by a small majori- 
 ty. ^\Tien the convention assembled at Boston — Jan- 
 uary 9th, 1778, — Colonel Dwight was present and took 
 his seat. A remonstrance, signed by several voters of 
 the town, was presented and read in the convention on 
 the 11th, stating, at length, the proceedings of the 
 town meeting, and joraying that Doctor AAQiiting might 
 "be admitted to his seat in the convention, the refusal 
 of the selectmen to give him a certificate, and the pre- 
 tended election of Elijah Dwight, Esq., to the contrary 
 notwithstanding.*' The remonstrance was referred to 
 a committee, which rejDorted unanimously that the re- 
 monstrance "was not supported and that the remon- 
 , strants have Hbertv to withdraw the same." This re- 
 
ANECDOTE. 
 
 319 
 
 port was accepted ; Colonel Dwiglit retained his seat 
 and gave his influence and his vote in favor of the adop- 
 tion of the constitution. If the vote upon the instruc- 
 
 , tions, above quoted, as well as for the respective can- 
 didates for delegate to the convention, may be consid- 
 
 . ered as representing the comparative strength of the 
 Government and Shays parties in this town, they w^ere 
 very nearly equally balanced. The paper itself — the 
 instructions — is indorsed in a large bold hand "Mud- 
 dy Brook Instructions to their Delegate." Of the 
 signers of this paper, three were residents of Muddy 
 
 . Brook, — the other, Johii Van Deusen, lived in the Pel- 
 ton — brick — house at the foot of Monument Mountain. 
 The Shays Rebellion engendered a vast amount of 
 ill feeling. It was a war of neighbor against neighbor 
 
 , and family against family ; a civil war on a limited 
 scale. In the personal animosities which attended the 
 rebellion, a horse belonging to a friend of government, 
 was shot and killed by his neighbor, a Shays sympathiz- 
 er. From this arose a suit for damages brought by the 
 former against the latter. The Shays man was known 
 to be guilty ; but the difficulty was to 2)rove the fact. 
 The case came up for hearing before a Justice of the 
 
 . Peace, and Major William King appeared as counsel 
 to defend the Shays man. It w^as proved beyond a 
 doubt that the defendant, at the time of the killing, 
 had been seen within half a mile of the pasture in 
 which the horse was kept, with a gun in his hands, 
 and that he was heard to hurrah lustily for Shays. 
 The evidence was not very conclusive as to his guilt ; 
 but the counsel for the plaintiff laid great stress upon 
 it, and made a labored and length}^ argument. Rising 
 to reply, Major King, in his laconic way, addressed the 
 court : " May it please your Honor ; the question is 
 simply this, whether or not hurrahing for Shays will 
 kill a horse at half a mile ;" and resumed his seat. The 
 
 ^ defendant was acquitted. 
 
CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 SUPPOET OF PKEACHING— FOKMATION OF KELIG- 
 lOUS SOCIETIES. 
 
 1769—1800. 
 
 In former chapters we have related the proceedings 
 at the formation of the Congregational and Episcopal 
 chui'ches, and have incidentally followed the histor}^ of 
 the former to the time of the dismissal of its first 
 pastor — the Reverend Samuel Hopkins — in 1769, and 
 of the latter to the decease of its first permanent mis- 
 sionary and rector — the Reverend Gideon Bostwick 
 —in 1793. 
 
 From 1769 to 1787, no settled minister officiated in 
 the Congregational meeting-house, and in this period 
 of eighteen years, its pulpit was for a great part of the 
 time unsupplied. In 1787 the Reverend Isaac Foster 
 was ordained over the Congregational church, but 
 after a pastorate of only three years was dismissed in 
 1790, apparentl}' for the reason that the town was un- 
 willing to afford him an adequate support. For "Or- 
 thodox"' ministers were then still, by law, supj^orted by 
 towns. From the dismissal of ^Ix. Foster to the ordi- 
 nation of Rev. Elijah Wheeler in 1806, another period 
 of sixteen years elapsed, in which the Congregational- 
 ists were without a settled mmister. It is not our in- 
 tention, in this place, to present a detailed history of 
 the churches, but to relate so much of the proceedings 
 of the mhabitants, in their town meetings, pertaining 
 to the support of Gospel ordinances, as will illustrate 
 the spirit which moved the people, and will afford some 
 
PEEACHING NOT SUPPORTED. 321 
 
 insight to their moral and rehgious condition. The 
 acrimony of feehng, which, it will be remembered, ex- 
 isted before the Revolution, is visible in all the action 
 of the town, and did not fully subside until within the 
 present century. 
 
 In 1769, November 3d, the town voted "to hire a 
 learned and orthodox minister to preach in the Pres- 
 byterian meeting-house in said town for the space of 
 three months," raised £20 for that purpose, appointed 
 Jonathan Nash, David Ingersoll, Junior, Esq., Israel 
 Dewey, Truman Wheeler, and Elijah Dwight, Esq., a 
 committee "to agree with and hire a minister." But 
 the vote for even this small sum seems to have caused 
 a commotion, and the Episcopalians, apparently — and 
 rightfully, too — objected to the payment of taxes for 
 the support of dissenting preaching. Two months 
 later — January, 1770 — an effort was made in tow^n 
 meeting, a,nd the vote carried, for raising £30, in addi- 
 tion to the £20 already raised, for the support of 
 preaching in the "Presbyterian meeting-house." Al- 
 though this vote was coupled with the proviso that the 
 professors of the Church of England should be per- 
 mitted to draw from the tow^n treasury such j^art of the 
 £50 raised as they should be assessed, nevertheless it 
 was immediately reconsidered. The sum of £20 was 
 then voted, and the vote reconsidered. Then £12 was 
 voted, and finally the meeting with all its proceedings 
 was "dissolved." 
 
 On the 21st of February following, another attempt 
 was made to raise money for preaching ; but this effort 
 failed, and at the same time a vote was passed allowing 
 to the professors of the Church of England the sums 
 which they paid towards the £20 raised on the 3d of 
 the last of November. These proceedings, unimportant 
 as they may appear, are in evidence of the ill-feeling 
 which existed betw^een the two religious denominations 
 of the town, which we have before commented upon. 
 The town meetings of that time were stormy ones, and 
 the subjects discussed were productive of greater ex- 
 citement than we are accustomed to witness in the 
 larger and more decorous assemblages of the present 
 day. In 1770, October 31, the town voted to raise 
 
 31 
 
322 HISTORY or great baekington. 
 
 £40, to hire "a good, learned, and orthodox minister;" 
 a committee was appointed for the purpose, and the 
 professors of the Church of England were permitted to 
 draw from the treasury, for the support of their own 
 minister, the sum which they paid towards the amount 
 raised. November 14, 1771, the town refused to raise 
 money for preaching in the "Presbyterian meeting- 
 house." From 1771 to 1777 — the time of the hiatus 
 in the town records — we have no record of money 
 raised for preaching, though we know, from another 
 source, that £30 was voted for this purpose in 1774. 
 
 It is pleasant to know, what we learn from the 
 memorandums of Lieutenant Gamahel "Whiting — the 
 old weather-book — that the celebrated Rev. George 
 Whitefield, on the occasion of his last visit to this 
 countr}", and but a short time previous to his decease, 
 preached here for several successive days. Mr. Wliit- 
 ing's memorandum is as follows: "1770, July 12, Mr. 
 Whitefield preached at Great Barrington from 2d." 
 From this place ]Mi*. Whitefield went to Canaan, Nor- 
 folk, and Sharon, and Mr. AVhiting records "Sunday 
 July 15, went to Canaan and heard Mr. Whitefield." 
 
 During these years the pulpit in the meeting-house 
 was ver}' u-regularly supplied, and this, for the most part 
 by ministers of neighboring chiu'ches or by such others 
 as could be occasionally engaged foi; a few Sabbaths. 
 
 In June, 1771, ^Ii'. Hopkins — then settled at New- 
 port — visited his old parishioners,occupied the pulpit for 
 two Sabbaths, and on one evening preached at the jail. 
 
 In 1772-3, ^Ii'. John Hubbard preached here a few 
 times, and, as Lieutenant Whiting's memorandums in- 
 form us, at a town meeting December 17th, 1772, "it 
 was agi'eed to call j\Ii-. Hubbard." 
 
 In 1773, the Rev. Daniel Grosvenor officiated for 
 eight Sabbaths. The church voted to give him a call 
 to settle here. But the inducement to settle in a town 
 which did not wilhngly pay its ministers was perhaps 
 uninviting. For his services at this time, Mr. Gros- 
 venor did not obtain payment until eleven years after- 
 wards. In 1779, the town voted to pay him the sum 
 due, stated at £8, "but agreed to pay him £64, on 
 account of the depreciation" — that is of the Continental 
 
PREACHING INTERMITTENT. 323 
 
 money. But this seems not to have been paid ; and in 
 1784, it was, again, voted to pay him £9 12s, for 
 preaching in 1773, and to allow interest after one year. 
 
 In 1777, a committee was chosen to invite and pro- 
 vide a minister to preach in the meeting-house, but no 
 money for the purpose was raised. The next year the 
 town having voted to raise money for preaching, im- 
 mediately reconsidered the vote. 
 
 April 1, 1782, the town "voted to raise £60 for preach- 
 ing" and appointed Deacon Daniel Nash, Deacon Israel 
 Root, and Josiah Phelps a committee to hire a minister. 
 This committee apparently employed the Rev. (Caleb?) 
 Alexander and a vote was passed the next year author- 
 izing them to draw money from the treasury to pay 
 him "for the time he has preached," and directmg them 
 ^^not to employ the Jiev. Mr. Alexander einy longer. '''' 
 This last clause was apparently distasteful to the good 
 Deacon Nash, who peremptorily declined serving. 
 
 The sum of £75 was raised in 1783, to repair " the 
 old meeting-house and the Church meeting.house," and 
 also £60 for the support of preaching in both religious 
 denominations. 
 
 Twice, in 1784, the town refused to raise money 
 for preaching, but in June 1785, voted to raise £80 
 "to pay for preaching in the Church and in the Con- 
 gregational meeting-house," and later in the same year 
 raised the further sum of £80 for the repair of both 
 the Church and Meeting-house. 
 
 In 1787, April 24th, the town having previously ex- 
 tended a call to the Rev. Isaac Foster to settle here in 
 the ministry, offering him a salary of £115 ($383.33) 
 which call had been accepted, the inhabitants voted 
 "to proceed to settle Mi-. Isaac Foster in the work of 
 the Gospel ministry agreeable to their former vote." 
 Mr. Foster was accordingly ordained on the 4th of May 
 following. In voting the salary of Mi\ Foster, it was 
 specified that he should have £115 over and above 
 what was voted for the Ej^iscopal minister. This in- 
 dicates an understanding, that in voting a given sum 
 for preaching each denomination should have a certain 
 proportion of the money raised, an arrangement just 
 and equitable to both parties. The town, soon after, 
 
324 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 raised £200 to pay both Mr. Bostwick and Mr. Foster 
 for preaching, the latter to have the sum of £115, and 
 at the same time assigned to him the second pew east 
 of the pulpit, in the old meeting-house — the pew the 
 same which, forty-one years before, had been set apart 
 by the parish to the use of Mr. Hopkins and his suc- 
 cessors forever. 
 
 The next year — 1788 — the same amount, £200, was 
 raised for the support of both ministers. But m AjDril, 
 1789, an article in the warrant, for raising money for 
 the support of both the Congregational and Ej^iscopal 
 ministers, was "passed over;" and although, in the last 
 month of the year, the town, already in arrears with 
 ]VIi\ Foster, voted to raise £365, for the support of both 
 ministers, still, a week later, it annulled this action by 
 instructing its assessors not to lay a tax for the sum 
 voted. 
 
 Mr. Foster — after a ministry of exactly three years 
 — w^as dismissed May 4th, 1790, for the reason that the 
 people failed to support him, and as his predecessor 
 had done, twenty-one years before, sued the town for 
 arrearages of his salary. 
 
 The necessity for the support of an orthodox min- 
 ister b}' the town, was soon after obviated by the division 
 of its inhabitants into legally constituted religious 
 societies, and thereby the one great cause of contention 
 which for thirty years had marred the tow^n meeting- 
 proceedings, was removed. This was effected — on the 
 petition of the town — by an act of the legislature, 
 passed June 18th, 1791, by which Thomas Ingersoll, 
 Elijah Eggieston and sixty others with then' families, 
 polls, and estates were incorporated into a Parish by 
 the name of the Protestant Episcopal Society of Great 
 Barrington," while by the same act it was provided 
 " that all and singular, the other persons with their 
 estates, within the said town of Great Barrington, shall 
 continue and remain a religious society by the name of 
 the Protestant Congregational Society of Great Bar- 
 rington ;" "to which shall belong the estates of the non- 
 resident proprietors in said town." 
 
 From the dismissal of Mr Foster, as we have before 
 remarked, for the s^^ace of sixteen years, no settled 
 
A SORRY PICTURE. 325 
 
 minister officiated in the old meeting house. Preachers 
 were occasionally employed for short terms ; but for a 
 very great part of this time the pulpit was unoccupied, 
 In this interval a few women of the town — as they 
 always have been and still are — were more zealous than 
 the men ; and we have it from an old lad}', now de- 
 ceased, that she when young, had been frequently sent 
 by her mother, with other girls of the neighborhood, to 
 sweep the meeting-house and put it in decent condition 
 for occupancy, when, by chance, a minister had been 
 secured for a Sabbath. We quote below from the Rev. 
 Doctor Patten a sorry picture of the condition both of 
 the people and meeting-house — about the year 1794. 
 At this time the Rev. Samuel Hopkins re-visited the 
 town, accompanied by Doctor Patten, and desired to 
 preach to his old parishioners. The latter writes as 
 follows : " the people were without a minister, nor was 
 there any convenient place in which to assemble for 
 public worship. Doctor Hopkins inquired if his former 
 meeting-house could not be fitted for the purpose for 
 one Sabbath : but it was found to be impracticable, as 
 the windows were broken, the door had fallen down, 
 and the floor had been occuj)ied by sheep, who resorted 
 to it from the Common at night, and in storms. It was 
 further said, that if a meeting should be appointed 
 anywhere else, there would be but little interest taken 
 in it ; but few would attend. It was common for those 
 who regarded the Sabbath and public ordinances to go 
 to other towns to enjoy them ; while others devoted 
 the day to visiting, to sitting in taverns, to horse racing, 
 and other amusements ; but Mr. Hopkins supposed 
 they expended much more in these wa3's, and the conse- 
 quent dissipation and extravagance, than would be neces- 
 sary for the support of the gospel ministry among them." 
 In 1798, President Dwight visited the town and 
 wrote, "It is j^robable that there has been more horse- 
 racing in these two towns [Great Barrmgton and Shef- 
 field] than in all the State of Massachusetts besides." 
 At about the same time Mr. Hopkins wrote — in his au- 
 tobiography, " They have had no minister settled among 
 them, except for a short time, since I left them. The 
 church has dwindled, and come to almost nothing, or 
 
326 
 
 HISTORY OF GREAT HARRINGTON. 
 
 worse. Tbey have not prospered in their worldly con- 
 cerns, but the contrary. And are far from being re- 
 spectable as a peojDle or town in the sight of those w^ho 
 are acquainted with them, and their chcumstances." 
 
 President Dwight, in his visit above referred to, 
 says: "The soil of Great Barrington is excellent, yet 
 we saw very few marks of thrift or prosperity. The 
 houses are in many instances decayed ; the Episcopal 
 church barely decent; the Congregational ruinous." 
 He found greater proofs of industry and wealth among 
 the descendants of the Dutch than of the English. 
 "Few^ places," he writes, "can boast of abetter soil, or 
 more delightful situation, yet I suspect few have been 
 less pros23erous or less happy. Religion has had here, 
 generally, a doubtful existence, and during the little 
 time in w^liich they have had a minister of the Gospel, 
 he has scarcely been able to find a subsistence." But 
 in later visits, about 1806, President Dwight, "observed 
 with satisfaction that the people are beginning to ex- 
 hibit more general!}' proofs of industrious exertions," 
 and he "learned with particular pleasure that the Pres- 
 byterian congregation had settled a regular and re- 
 spectable minister, after a vacancy of thirty-four j^ears. 
 A spirit of improvement was visil3ly increasing." (1) 
 
 Such are the gloomy presentations of the character 
 and condition of the people of the town at the close of 
 the last century. May we not hope that the portrayal 
 is exaggerated and overdrawn? But the fact that the 
 newly incorporated Congregational society', when the 
 responsibilit}' of the support of preaching devolved 
 upon it, permitted sixteen years to pass without set- 
 tling a minister, warrants the inference that its peoj^le 
 were not more zealous in religious matters than the in- 
 habitants of the town, as a whole, had previously been. 
 The course pursued by the inhabitants in the matters 
 which we have been considering, may to-da}- seem 
 illiberal and unwise. But of this it is not well to judge 
 too harshly, for many extenuating circumstances at- 
 tended. Some of these appear in the facts that the 
 people, from the time of the formation of the parish, 
 
 (1) D wight's Travels, Vol. 2, page 360. 
 
DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED. 327 
 
 had been divided in theii' religious views, had quarreled 
 for years over the salary of their first minister, had been 
 very poor before the Revolution, had suffered the furth- 
 er impoverishment of a seven years' war, and were bat- 
 thng wdth the many difficulties incident to that chaotic 
 state of public affairs which intervened between the war 
 and the establishment of the Federal government. 
 
CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 NEW FAMILIES AND NEW LOCATIONS, OLD KOADS 
 AND OLD INHABITANTS. 
 
 1780-1800. 
 
 With the close of the war and the advent of peace 
 many new famihes moved into the town. But the un- 
 settled state of public affaii's, the poverty of the country, 
 the town, and of individuals, caused by the war, with 
 the contentions and animosities attending the Shays 
 Rebellion, conspii'ed to prevent a speedy return to pros- 
 perity, and it was not until after 1790, that any very 
 marked improvement in the condition of the inhabi- 
 tants became noticeable. 
 
 A large portion of the new comers — 1780 to 1800 
 — were from Connecticut; many of whom were of a 
 better class than had composed the original settlers of 
 the town. We propose now, briefly to notice some of 
 the more prominent of these new settlers, and to point 
 out their locations. The descendants of many of them 
 still reside here, whilst the names of others ai'e not 
 represented amongst our inhabitants. 
 
 As earh' as 1780 Doctor JohnBudd, said to have been 
 from New Bedford and a Lieutenant in the army at the 
 capture of Burgoyne, moved into town and had his 
 dwelling for a time near the west end of the Great 
 Bridge, but afterwards owned and lived uj^on the farm, 
 BOW of John A. Cone, west of Green River. Doctor 
 Budd was an energetic, enterprising man and secui'ed 
 a large practice as a physician. He died in 1804, leaving 
 two daughters, one of whom married GaiTet Burghai'dt 
 and was the mother of th^ late John Budd Burghardt, 
 
JOHN AND STEPHEN SIBLEY. 329 
 
 and of Lonsoii N. Burghardt, who still resides here ; 
 the other became the wife of Mervin Pitkin, and was 
 the mother of Kev. John Budd Pitkin — a Unitarian 
 clergyman, who died many years since at Eichmond, 
 Ya. — and of Mervin Pitkin, who is supposed to have 
 been lost at sea when a young man. 
 
 About 1780-81, Doctor John Sibley, who had been 
 a surgeon in the army, settled here as a physician, and 
 married Elizabeth Hoj^kins, daughter of the Kev. Sam- 
 uel Hopkins. But after a few years — api^arently in 
 1784 — he removed from town and afterwards resided 
 in Fayetteville, North Carolina. One of his sons. 
 Major George C. Sibley, born in this town in 1782, 
 whose early life w^as spent in North Carolina, was ap- 
 pointed Indian Agent by President Jefferson. He held 
 various offices of public trust, and died at Elma, 
 Missouri, January 31st, 1863. 
 
 Stephen Sibley, a brother of Doctor John Sibley, 
 came here as early as 1782. His occupation was that 
 of a brasier and clock maker. He had his shop, in 1785, 
 in a building which stood at the north-east corner of 
 the new Town Hall ground — the corner of Main and 
 Castle streets — the site the same afterwards occu23ied 
 by the law-office of the late General John Whiting. 
 Mr. Sibley purchased of Benjamin June, in 1789, a 
 house, built by June, which stood on the present site 
 of the Asa C. Kussell house on Castle street, and re- 
 sided there. He is supposed — at about that time — to 
 liave built the house, on the opposite side of the street, 
 in which Lonson N. Burghardt now dwells ; and this 
 he used as a shop for his business. Mr. Sibley w^as a 
 -skillful artisan, as his works still attest. He made the 
 tall, old-fashioned, eight-day brass clocks, some of 
 w^hich are still in use. One of these, known to be 
 ninety-six years old, is still doing service in the pos- 
 : session of the writer. Mr. Sibley was for several years 
 an acting Justice of the Peace, and was intimately 
 identified with the business interests of the town. He, 
 in connection with Abel Sherman from Khode Island, 
 . first improved the water power at Housatonic, in the 
 north part of the town, as will be more particularly 
 anentioned hereafter. 
 
330 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 About 1810 Mr. Sibley removed to West Stock- 
 bridge, and not long after to Grafton, Ohio. His wife, 
 whom he married in 1785, was Jemima Hoj^kins, daugh- 
 ter of Deacon Timothy Hopkins. One of his sons, 
 Hon. Mark H. Sibley, was a prominent lawyer of 
 Canandaigua, New York, : and another, John Sibley, 
 resided in Illinois and died a few years since at an ad- 
 vanced age. 
 
 In 1782, Elisha Blinn — originally we think from 
 Connecticut, but who apj^ears for a time to have resid- 
 ed in Richmond — moved into town and piu'chased the ^ 
 land, and buildings then standing, where Doctor C. T.- 
 Collins lately lived, in the south part of the ^illag•e. 
 Here Mr. Blinn — as his predecessors on the premises ■ 
 had done — kept a tavern, and also officiated as deputy 
 under High Sheriff Caleb Hyde, but m 1788, bought 
 the farm lately owned b}' Da^dd Leavitt, on the east 
 side of the river and, not long after, removed to it. IVIr, 
 Blinn is presumed to have left town about 1796, when 
 he sold his farm to John Gibson. We have no infor- 
 mation of his family except that derived from a tomb- 
 stone in the upper burial ground, which commemorates 
 the death of two of his sons — Erastus and Ehsha, 
 aged sixteen and twelve years — "both unfortunately 
 drowned" in the Housatonic River, May 25th, 1782. 
 
 In 1782, Benjamin June purchased the premises on 
 Castle street, where Asa C. Russell lately lived, and 
 erected a house there. This, with the exception of 
 the dwelling of Rev. Samuel Hoj^kins on the hill, was 
 the first house built upon that street. Mr. June was a, 
 weaver, and for a time occupied the shop formerly 
 Daniel Allen's — which has been mentioned — which 
 stood nearly in front of the then dwelling place of 
 General Ives — now F. T. AATiiting's. Mr. June sold his 
 Castle street place to Stephen Sibley in 1789, and after- 
 wards, for a few years, resided in a house which stood 
 a little north of Edward Manville's, in the south part of" 
 the village. But June had a propensity for change of 
 location ; and we next find him domiciled near the top 
 of the little mountain, in the south part of the town, 
 which still, in its name of "June Mountain," perpetu- 
 ates his memory. Here, in 1795, he came into posses- 
 
BENJAMIN JUNE. 331 
 
 sion of fifty acres of land, made a clearing, and erected 
 the first and only dwelling which ever graced that at- 
 tractive, though somewhat isolated, eminence. The 
 house of Mr. June, which is still remembered, was 
 standing and occupied forty years ago. Its cellar is 
 still there, and the foundation of its fire-place, and the 
 old orchard which he planted, still produces fruit. Mr. 
 June disposed of his mountain home in 1802,^ and 
 later became one of the early settlers of Pompey, On- 
 ondaga County, New York. Some of his children, as 
 we are informed, still reside in that county. 
 
 Nearly forty years ago a wiiite-haired old man 
 entered the law office — in Syracuse — of the Honorable 
 Elias W. Leavenworth (formerly of this town) for the 
 purpose of retaining Mr. Leavenworth to defend him 
 in a suit for slander which had been instituted against 
 him by one of his neighbors. The slander consisted in 
 the old gentleman's having accused this neighbor with 
 stealing one of his sheep. On looking at the papers 
 presented, Mr. Leavenworth's attention was arrested by 
 the familiarity of the name "Benjamin June," and on. 
 inquiry, he learned that his client was none other than 
 the veritable Benjamin June of June Mountain memory. 
 Mr. Leavenworth defended in the suit — satisfied the 
 jury that the accusation brought by Mr. June against. 
 his neighbor was well founded — that he did steal the 
 sheep — and obtained a verdict for his client. 
 
 In the period under consideration a number of 
 families came from North Haven and Hamden (former- 
 parishes of New Haven. Conn.,) abandoning the sandy 
 lands of that region and finding new and better farms 
 in the valley of the Housatonic. Amongst these were 
 the Ives, Seele}^, Crain, Ford, Bradley, Turner, and 
 Potter families ; and these were joined by the Arnolds 
 from Haddam, Ct. Of this special emigration Thomas 
 Ives — afterwards known as General Ives — may be 
 considered the pioneer, as he was the first to locate- 
 here, and it was largely through his influence that 
 some of those named were induced to come. General 
 Ives, then a young lawyer and unmari'ied, came from 
 North Haven in 1782, and the next year purchased of 
 Mrs. Esther Austin — the widow (re-married) of Daniel. 
 
332 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 Allen — the house and land where the stone dwelHng 
 of Frederick T. AMiiting now stands. To this he soon 
 after brought his mother and sister from North Ha- 
 ven, and they, for a time, officiated as his house-keep- 
 ers. The main body of this house, since twice remoyed, 
 now stands near the railroad, west of the house of 
 Theodore AV. French. The hill m front of it was then 
 much higher and steeper than now, and the approach 
 to it from the road was through a dugway of some six 
 or eight feet in depth. 
 
 The dwelling of General lyes became the head- 
 quarters and tarr^dng place of his old friends and 
 neighbors from Connecticut, who came to the town 
 prospecting for new locations, or in the removal of 
 theii' families to this place ; and although they were 
 heartily welcomed and hospitably entertained, then* 
 visits were of such frequent occurrence that he was 
 accustomed, jocosely, to call his house the North 
 Haven tavern. General Ives began the practice of the 
 law here, having his office in the store of Moses Hop- 
 kins, which stood at the north-east comer of Ralph 
 Taylor's garden, but in 1784, built an office in his 
 door-yai'd, a short distance south of his dwelling. This 
 office — since twice removed — now forms part of the 
 main body of the house of "William T. LeHommedieu, 
 near the raih'oad crossing, on the road to Green Eiver. 
 By further purchases. General Ives soon owned a large 
 farm lying west and south of his dwelling, and includ- 
 ing, also, the land on the east side of the way, from 
 the Misses Kellogg place, southerly, to John Brewer s ; 
 and, in addition to his professional busmess, was ex- 
 tensively engaged in agricultiu'e. A more particular 
 notice of General Ives will be given hereafter. 
 
 John Seeley, a carpenter and mill-wright, fi'om 
 North Haven, came to this town about 1791, and in 
 that year purchased a house and small j^iece of land in 
 Water street, dii'ectly west of the Great Bridge, where 
 he dwelt for a time. Two years later he bought land 
 in the northwesterly part of the town, near the Long 
 Pond, and built his house back in the lots, perhaps 
 half a mile west from the present residence of his 
 grand-son — Thompson Seeley — on the Long Pond 
 
JOHN SEELEY. 333 
 
 road. At that time a road, leaving the Long Pond 
 road at a point a few rods north of Thomjison Seeley's, 
 ran directly west to the west line of the tow^n. This 
 road long since discontinued, will be hereafter more 
 particularl}^ described. It w^as on this old road that 
 John Seeley erected his house, and he also had a saw- 
 mill on the Long Pond brook — near by. Here he re- 
 sided to the time of his death, which occurred October 
 25, 1805, when he was fifty-four years old. He was 
 the father of John, Jared, and Captain Bethuel Seeley 
 — all now deceased — whose descendants still remain 
 here. Mr. Seele}^ is described as a friendly, jovial man 
 with a remarkable fund of sociabilit}^ and good humor, 
 qualities which have characterized his descendants to 
 the present day. He was also a man of great stature, 
 excelling in feats of agility and strength, and in the 
 rude sports, common in that time, was the acknowledged 
 champion of all the region round about. It is related 
 that on one occasion a party of men came from the 
 New York border bringing with them their "bully," as 
 he was termed, for the purpose of testing Mr. Seele^^'s 
 ability as a wrestler. The latter was busity engaged 
 in laying out the frame of the old grist-mill, which, a 
 few years since, stood a little below the Great Bridge. 
 The visitors informed him of their errand, and invited 
 him to a trial of skill and strength with their wrestler. 
 This jVIi*. Seeley declined : assigning as a reason that 
 he was busy and did not wish to leave his work. The 
 bully then began teasing him and removing his tools 
 beyond his reach. Mr. Seeley, for a time, bore his 
 taunts and insults wdth good humor, but finally, be- 
 coming provoked, rose from his work, seized the bully 
 in his arms and wading into the river ducked him re- 
 peatedly into the water, holding him well under, until 
 the fellow surrendered unconditionally and begged 
 piteously to be released. 
 
 Samuel Ives, w^ho from a profuse use of the word 
 "Sir" in his ordinary conversation, came to be known 
 as " Samuel Ives, Sir," located in quite the north part 
 of the town on the Long Pond road in 1793. He was 
 from North Haven, a nail-maker by occupation — for 
 cut nails were then unknown, and all nails were made 
 
334 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 by hand — and the father of the still well remembered 
 and highly respected Deacon Joel Ives and John Ives. 
 
 William Grain, from North Haven, settled about 
 .1794-5, a few rods north of the present residence of 
 Thompson Seeley, on the Long Pond road, where 
 -Joseph King had previously and Jared Seeley has 
 since lived, and where the old well still remains. IVIi*. 
 Grain was a tailor, a quiet and exemplary man. He 
 vdied many years since leaving, we beheve, but one de- 
 scendant — Miss Sally Grain — a very worthy woman 
 since also deceased. 
 
 Jonathan Ford from Hamden, Gonn., purchased a 
 farm on the Long Pond road in 1796, the same on 
 which "William Burghardt now resides, and had his 
 .dwelling where the house of Mr. Burghardt stands. 
 He died November 8th, 1815, at the age of sixty-eight. 
 His sons were Gaptain John, William, Deacon Gilbert, 
 Enos, Jesse, and Eaton Ford. 
 
 Gaj)tain John Ford succeeded his father in the oc- 
 cupancy of the homestead, and was the principal car- 
 penter and builder of the town sixty years ago. He 
 eventually migrated to Western New York, as did also 
 Ms brother Eaton. 
 
 William Ford built, and lived to the time of his de- 
 ccease in 1852, where Edwin N. Hubbard now does, in the 
 Long Pond District ; and Enos settled in the same neigh- 
 borhood, on the farm now owned by John H. Goffing. 
 
 Deacon Gilbert Ford, who was an earnest support- 
 er of the Gongregational church, resided in the brick 
 cottage, which he built, standing on the farm of J. 
 3Iilton Mackie. 
 
 Jesse Ford died a few years since in the west part 
 •of the town ; the last of the sons of Jonathan Ford. 
 
 Others of these Gonnecticut men located in that 
 part of the town called the North Plain, between Yan 
 Deusenville and the West Stockbridge line, on the east 
 -end of the Long Lots. The first of these was Dimon 
 Bradley, who came with his sons Zebe and Zalmon T. 
 JBradley — then both young — from North Haven in 1792. 
 He purchased, December 19, 1791, of Peter Bui'ghardt, 
 land on the west side of the county road, in quite the 
 .north part of the town, including a house, and a mill 
 
BRADLEY TURNER. 
 
 335 
 
 on the Williams river. This purchase embraced lands 
 on the east side of the stream — now owned by Albert 
 Itewey— on which Mr. Bradley, and his sons after- 
 wards had their dwellings— three of them— a hundred 
 rods or more west from the county road. The cellars 
 of these dwellings, as well too as the remains of the 
 old dam on the river, are still visible. Here Mr. Brad- 
 ley resided to the time of his decease, July 1st, 1828, 
 when he was seventy-three years old. The late Zal- 
 mon T. Bradley afterwards lived in the house built by 
 Wilham Turner— now Albert Rewey's— on the county 
 road, and before the introduction of spinning machine- 
 ry was engaged in the manufacture of the old time 
 spinning wheels. 
 
 About 1792 or '93, Elijah Turner from Hamden, 
 moved to this place, and in 1795, bought land on the 
 North Plain, where Noble B. Turner now lives, and re- 
 sided there for a time. But he purchased the next 
 year other land, on the road to Three Mile Hill, and 
 settled where the house of Merrick G. Hall now stands. 
 He was the father of Mix, Eli, Frederick, Captain 
 George, and David P. Turner. Captain Jabez Turner 
 
 . brother of Elijah — also from Hamden, came in 1795. 
 
 The next year he purchased of Elijah Turner his place 
 
 . on the North Plain, and of Josiah Dewey other lands 
 
 in the same vicinity, and made a permanent settlement. 
 
 . Jabez Turner removed to Monticello, Illinois, and died 
 
 there at the age of ninety-one years, about 1847 ; his 
 
 ; sons were : 
 
 Benajah W., who died a few years since, and whose descend- 
 • ants still reside here. 
 
 Bela. 
 
 Timothy, an early advocate of the temperance cause, who 
 ( died not many years since at Monticello, 111. 
 
 Zina, lost at sea when a young man. 
 
 Jabez, now eighty-five years old, residing in New York city. 
 
 William W., born January 1st, 1800, Uving in Hartford, Conn. 
 
 William Turner, brother of Elijah and Jabez, also 
 
 settled here at an early day. He built and lived in the 
 
 house since occupied by the late Zalmon T. Bradley — 
 
 now the residence of Albert Eewey — but eventually 
 
 : removed to Ohio. 
 
 The most northerly location in that part of the 
 
336 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 town, was that of Martin Hart, from Farmingtony 
 Conn., who in 1795, succeeded Pliineas Barnes in the 
 ownership of a house and seventy-six acres of landl 
 bounding north on the West Stockbridge line. ^Ii\ 
 Hart resided on this spot to the time of his decease in 
 1842, and the place has since remained in the occu- 
 pancy of his son Martin (now deceased) and his de- 
 scendants. Further south, on the North Plain, Jacob, 
 Timothy, and John Arnold, from Haddam, Conn., set- 
 tled 1795-97. 
 
 Jacob Arnold bought in 1795 the place on whick 
 Daniel E. Giddings now resides, as well as that oil 
 which Augustme Giddings, deceased, lately liyed, and 
 had his residence on the east side of the way a short- 
 distance aboye the Augustine Giddings house. Jacob 
 Arnold died at the age of eighty 3^ears. January 10th,.- 
 1826, and his son Deacon Elias Ai-nold resided upoir 
 the Augustine Giddings j^lace. 
 
 Timothy Arnold settled on the place lately owned by 
 Doctor Noble B. Pickett, which he bought in 1797, and 
 is suj^posed to haye erected the Doctor Pickett house. 
 
 John Ai'nold also bought land in the same yicinity 
 in 1796. and is said to haye built the house now owned 
 by Isaac Yan Deusen. 
 
 Abraham Seeley, from North Haven, a cooper hy 
 trade, and half brother of the before mentioned John. 
 Seeley, located on the North Plain in 1798, on land 
 which he bought, with a house then standing, of Roger 
 Buttolph. The site of this house was on the east side 
 of the road about twenty rods north of the old Deacon^ 
 Isaac Yan Deusen homestead. Abraham Seeley was 
 the father of the still well remembered Joel B. Seeley 
 — the old-time miller in Water street — whose descend- 
 ants still reside here, also of the late Abram Seeley, and 
 of Nancy who became the wife of Deacon Gilbert Ford. 
 
 Roger Buttolph, of whom Mr. Seeley purchased,, 
 had settled there many years earlier. His name was- 
 frequently written '"Buthrop," and the locality above 
 Yan Deusen ville came very early to be called "Buth- 
 rops-borough.'' 
 
 Isaac Seeley, also from North Haven, a brother of 
 Abraham Seeley, and the father of our respected towns- 
 
SEELEY POTTER WOODWOKTH. 337 
 
 mau, Isaac Seeley, Esq., settled in 1799, just above 
 Van Deusenville, in a small house formerly owned by 
 Asa Eddy. After a few years Mr. Seeley erected a 
 new dwelling, a short distance north of the old one — 
 the same now owned by John Sheridan. Mr. Seeley 
 was by occupation a tailor and in addition cultivated 
 a small farm. He was moreover a fine musician, and 
 his skill as a violinist was known and appreciated at 
 the balls and frolics for miles around. 
 
 In 1792, Job Potter from Hamden, located on the 
 farm — now owned by Nicholas Race — in the west part 
 of the town, adjoining the Egremont line. The house 
 of Mr. Potter, which stood a short distance north of 
 the dwelling of Mr. Race, and near a monument in the 
 tow n line, w^as the same previously occupied by Coon- 
 rod Sharp, and by his father Peter Sharp. 
 
 Job Potter was the father of Heman B., and Robert 
 L. Potter. The former became a lawyer and resided 
 in Buffalo, N. Y., and was a very prominent man in 
 that vicinity; the latter, also a lawyer, was admitted 
 to the bar in 1809, and practised law in this town, but 
 eventually removed to Meadville, Penn. 
 
 Major Dudley Woodworth, the father of Edward 
 P. Woodworth, Esq., from Bozrah, Conn., came in 1790. 
 He was a scythe maker, and at first made scythes by 
 hand, having leai'ned the trade in Norwich, Conn. His 
 first place of business, here, was in a shoj) erected by 
 General Ives in 1790, where the house of Charles Ben- 
 ton now stands, just north of the lane leading to the 
 Centre school house. Tw^o or three years later he re- 
 moved to the east bank of the river, south of the Great 
 Bridge, w^here he had water power, a trip-hammer and 
 other appliances to facilitate his manufacture. He 
 also, about that time, purchased the old school-house 
 near by, and converted it into a smith's shop in con- 
 nection with his business. Major Woodworth built 
 and lived in the large square house, adjoining the upper 
 burial ground, in which his son E. P. Woodworth since 
 resided. He was also for several years interested with 
 General Ives in the mills — "the Union mills" — on the 
 river in W^ater street. 
 
 Eliphalet Spencer from Connecticut, whose name 
 
 23 
 
338 HISTORY OF GREAT HARRINGTON. 
 
 j&i'st appears in the town tax list in 1788, resided a 
 little west and north of the Great Bridge, and was em- 
 ployed as a miller at the mill south of the bridge. He 
 also lived for a time — 1799 — in Seekonk where the lo- 
 cation of his dwelling — a few rods north of the See- 
 konk Brook, on the road from Simeon Sage's to Charles 
 Watson's — is still jDointed out. Mr. Spencer apjDarent- 
 ly removed from town about 180J:, and afterwards re- 
 sided at Quahty Hill, near Canastota, N. Y. The four 
 sons of Eliphalet Spencer became notable men in Cen- 
 tral New lork ; Ichabod S. Spencer as a prominent 
 law^^er at Canastota ; Joshua A. Spencer as an eminent 
 jurist at Utica; Thomas Spencer as a surgeon in the 
 Mexican war, and the founder of the Medical College 
 at Geneva; and Eliphalet Spencer as a minister of the 
 Gospel at Rome. 
 
 As early as 1788, William Hambly, an EngKshman, 
 located in the house formerly of David Stowe, which 
 stood a few rods north of Merrit I. Wheeler's. Mr. 
 Hambly was a surveyor and school master, and taught 
 here for a time, but eventually removed to Canada. 
 
 Simeon Cooper came about 1792, and kept a tavern 
 where the Doctor Colhns stone cottage stands, but 
 later, removed to the fork of the roads west of Green 
 Biver, where William H. Day now hves. 
 
 John Tucker, from Norfolk, Conn., the father of 
 Captain Orson Tucker and of John E. Tucker, had his 
 residence south of the village, but about 1795, moved 
 to the east side of the river, on the Brush Hill road. 
 
 In that part of the town, too, James Jacklyn and 
 Osesar Freeman — negroes — located very early. 
 
 Jacklyn settled about 1793, near the brook, north 
 of Mark Laird's, where he long maintained a cider 
 iDrandy distillery. He lived to the age of ninety-tlu'ee, 
 and died September 8th, 1831. 
 
 Joseph B. Osborne located, perhaps before 1800, 
 where the house of Mark Laird stands — the most 
 southerly dwelling in town, on the Brush Hill road. 
 Mr. Osborne was long a school teacher and collector 
 of the town taxes. 
 
 In 1797, Samuel Riley established himself as a 
 shoe-maker and tanner, in the village, having his resi- 
 
ROSSETER — KILBORN. 339 
 
 dence where Doctor W. H. Parks now lives, with his 
 shop and tan vats in the rear. 
 
 In the same year, Major Samuel Rosseter, originally 
 from Berlin, Conn., but who had for a few years re- 
 sided in Claverack, N. Y., came here, and located where 
 Henry Dresser now resides, and carried on the busi- 
 ness of tanning in AVater street. Major Rosseter was 
 a man of remarkable energy, industry and promptness, 
 and was for more than fifty years conspicuous in the 
 business and improvements of the village. 
 
 Robert Kilborn, from Sandisfield — the father of 
 Russell, Levi, and Joel Kilborn, all now deceased — 
 came to this town in 1796, and erected a tannery on 
 the road to Three Mile Hill, where he became a large 
 land holder and resided to the time cf his decease, at 
 the age of ninety-four, November 30th, 1857. 
 
 John Farnum, in 1797 and later, kept a tavern in 
 the house, now Jeremiah Atwood's, next north of the 
 Pixley Brook, on the Stockbridge road; and at the 
 same time George and Caleb Stanley were in business 
 as merchants at the Bung Hill corner. 
 
 As early as 1800, Benjamin Rogers was engaged, 
 with William Robb, in merchandismg at the Bung Hill 
 corner, but afterwards studied medicine, attained a 
 large practice as a physician, and eventually, — more 
 than forty years since — removed to Hartford, Conn., 
 and died there. 
 
 In the period under consideration several new set- 
 tlers located in Seekonk and its vicinity. Among these 
 were Prince Done, John and Martin Howk, Eli Lyon, 
 Peter Orcut, and Nehemiah Olmsted. 
 
 In addition to the few early inhabitants of Muddy 
 Brook, which have been mentioned, the following set- 
 tled there before 1800, and several of them as early as 
 1790; Elijah Harris from New London, Conn., with 
 his sons Elijah and Elisha; Perigrine, Ebenezer, and 
 Lancaster Comstock ; Elisha Andrews, David Dresser, 
 who died in the year 1800 ; Daniel Chapman ; Silas 
 Lester, who afterwards lived in Seekonk ; Hezekiah 
 Bolles, perhaps Jesse Martin, Anthony Stimpson, and 
 famihes of Hitchcock and Bradley. 
 
 Some of the inhabitants of the northern part of 
 
340 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 Muddy Brook petitioned the town in 1793, asking that 
 they might be set ofif to Stockbridge ; but theii* request 
 did not meet with fayor. 
 
 From 1780 to 1800, seyeral highways were laid out 
 m the Muddy Brook section, for the accommodation of 
 its inhabitants. These were mostly two rods, only, in 
 width, and were granted with the condition that the 
 town should be at no expense. The road from Stock- 
 bridge, through the yallej- to the Yorker place, and 
 thence oyer Blue Hill to Tyringham, was a county 
 road before 1792 ; and that from the top of Three Mile 
 Hill, northerly, was established by the town, m 1792, 
 with a width of two rods. This afterwards — 1803 to 
 1828 — formed part of a turnpike leading from Stock- 
 bridge, through the Muddy Brook yalley, New Marl- 
 boro, and part of Sandisfield, to the line of Connecticut. 
 
 Between 1780 and 1800, seyeral highways were es- 
 tablished in the north-easterly part of the town — the 
 Beartown district — and in that interyal a number of 
 families settled there. Prominent among these were 
 Seth and Samuel Phillips. In the early part of the 
 centui'y that section of the town contained a larger 
 population than it now does ; and ]Mi\ Leyi Beebe in- 
 forms us that on his possessions are' now the remains 
 of fourteen extinct dwellings. 
 
 The new settlers of the town — 1780 to 1800 — were 
 largety from Connecticut : many of them were persons 
 of worth and stability, and jDroyed yaluable acquisi- 
 tions to the population. During these years some 
 families, and many indiyiduals, emigrated to new lands 
 in Vermont, New York, and Pennsylyania ; but the 
 new comers were in excess of the emigration, and the 
 po^Dulation of the town shows a gradual mcrease from 
 961 in 1776, to 1,373 in 1790, and to 1,754 in 1800. 
 
 Old Roads and Old Inhabitants. 
 
 We haye already giyen some accoimts of the laying 
 out of the principal highways and county roads in the 
 town. Preyious to its incorporation, and before set- 
 tlements were general in the more remote parts, paths 
 through the woods seryed as a means of communica- 
 
OLD ROADS. 341 
 
 tion between isolated neighbors. These, by use, be- 
 came cart roads, and were afterwards, as necessity re- 
 quii-ed, regularly constituted highways. There are 
 indications that one of these early roads extended from 
 near the residence of Frederick Dellert, (beyond Chris- 
 tian Hill on the Long Pond road) northerly, past John 
 C. Munson's and along the west side of Wiihams River, 
 to the north part of the town. On this course, through 
 the woodland, between Mr. Dellert's and Mr. Mun- 
 son's, is now an occasionally used wood road Avhich we 
 believe to have been the route of this early traveled 
 path. Above Mr. Munson's — perhaps 100 rods — and 
 a Httle distance west of the Williams River is yet to be 
 seen the cellar of a former dwelling, and a house is 
 known to have stood there, but when or by whom oc- 
 cupied is now unknown. Farther north the path is 
 again traceable in the woods, and beyond this another 
 house is known to have stood, on the west side of the 
 river, and north-west of John Sheridan's — the old Isaac 
 Seeley j^lace. The sites of these ancient dwelling 
 places are remote from any highway ; but these, with 
 other evidences, lead us to believe that such a road did 
 exist and that it extended north as far as the first 
 location of the Bradley families. 
 
 The road up Christian Hill, north-westerly from 
 the Great Bridge, we find mentioned as " the old saw- 
 mill path," in 1744, and this became a traveled road 
 with a few settlers upon it — joerhaps as far west as 
 Frederick A. Burghardt's — the old Titus and Daniel 
 Younglove place — probably as early as 1760. But 
 beyond that, towards Long Pond — although a few 
 families were there located — no road was laid out be- 
 fore 1770. In 1769 Thomas Willcocks and others pe- 
 titioned the Court of Sessions to lay a road, in that 
 part of the town, from the west end of Lot No. 10, — 
 near where Mr. Dellert lives — westerly and northerly 
 to the West Stockbridge line, (a continuation of the 
 Christian Hill road). The petitioners made complaint 
 that although the selectmen had laid out a road on the 
 route indicated, still, the town unreasonably refused 
 to approve it. This road was accordingly established 
 by the court in 1770, beginning at the West Stock- 
 
342 
 
 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 bridge line and running south past the Long Pond, to 
 the south hue of Lot No. 10, "to the old road that led 
 to Podunk." The houses of inhabitants, north of 
 Thompson Seeley's, on the Long Pond road, at that 
 time, mentioned in the petition, were those of Jona- 
 than Willard, Nathan Willcocks, Jonathan Nash, Thom- 
 as Willcocks, and Thomas Sherelock. Willard lived 
 where Elijah N. Hubbard now does ; Jonathan Nash 
 owned the AYilham Burghardt farm, but did not reside 
 there ; one of the AVillcocks's owned the John H. Cof- 
 fing — Ford — place ; and Sherlock — from whom the lit- 
 tle mountain is named — had his residence a little north 
 of the lime-kiln on the Ford place. " The old road 
 that led to Podunk'' ran west in nearly a straight line 
 — from the residence of jMi's. Sarah Coyn — to the yi- 
 cinity of Seekonk, and thence continued to Podunk — 
 as Alford was then called. This road — probably long 
 unused — was discontinued by a vote of the town in 1799. 
 In laying out the west tier of Long lots, in 1753, 
 a strij) ten rods in width, running nearly east and west, 
 was left for a road between lots No. 16 and 17. This 
 strip, as the settleuient of the outskirts of the town 
 advanced, came into use as a highway. It extended 
 from a point near the house of John C. Munson — west 
 of Yan Deusenville — to the extreme west line of the 
 town near the late residence of Silas S. Dewey, de- 
 ceased, in Alford. From a point where the house of 
 Joseph Soudant stands — south of the furnace at Yan 
 Deusenville — a road, diverging from the county road, 
 ran westerly, across the present furnace bank, to the 
 east end of the Ten rod strip, near John C. Munson's, 
 and following the strip over hills and ledges, passed 
 about fifteen rods noi'th of the house of Thompson 
 Seeley on the Long Pond road, and crossmg the brook 
 a short distance south of the outlet from Long Pond, 
 intersected the road to Alford near the Silas S. Dewey 
 place. It was a hard, rough road, up hill and down, 
 varying from a straight line only so much as the pre- 
 scribed limits of the stiip permitted. From the house 
 of Thompson Seeley westward traces of this road still 
 exist, and near its western terminus it is in use as a 
 faj'm lane. 
 
OLD DWELLING PLACES. 343 
 
 It was on this road, west of Thompson Seeley's, 
 and near the brook, where are several hme stone knolls, 
 that John Seeley located in 1793, as we have men- 
 tioned. Here, too, was then standing a saw-mill on 
 the brook, built a few years earlier, apparently by Wil- 
 liam and Charles Whiting, which they sold to Mr. See- 
 ley. The water powder at this point was then consid- 
 ered valuable, and had been reserved by a former own- 
 er in making sale of the land ; for the whole tract be- 
 tween Long Pond and Seekonk was covered with a 
 heavy growth of timber. Here, near the outlet of the 
 pond, William Ford for many years maintained a 
 saw-mill. 
 
 On the north side of this old road, and midway 
 between the pond and Thompson Seeley's, Jared See- 
 ley had his dwelling, with a cooper's shop near by. 
 The cellar of the Jared Seeley house is still visible be- 
 side a large flint boulder, w^iich seems to have sup- 
 ported a corner of his house. 
 
 Not far from the site of the Seeley saw-mill, a road 
 diverging from the one last described, crossed the 
 brook and ran southerly through the woods to the 
 highway now traveled near the house of Egbert L. 
 Tullar. This road — still traceable in the woodland — 
 was used until 1812, or later, when, by the building of 
 the Great Barrington and Alford Turnpike — from the 
 foot of Monument Mountain, westerly through Van 
 Deusenville, and by way of Thompson Seeley's and 
 Henry A. Tobey's to North Egremont — its further use 
 was rendered unnecessary. 
 
 In this part of the tow^n are to be seen the cellars 
 of ancient residences, remote from the present high- 
 way. One of these stood about 30 rods west from the 
 house of Egbert L. Tullar, and is traditionally said to 
 have been occupied by Prince Done nearly 100 years 
 ago ; and an orchard — still remembered — w^hich stood 
 near it was called the Done orchard. Another is found 
 about 30 rods north-w^est of the residence of Chai^les 
 Watson, the name of its owner and the time of its oc- 
 cupancy being unknown. 
 
 John O'Brien, a stone mason, as early as 1780, set- 
 tled and had his house where Charles Watson now re- 
 
344 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 sides — the late Jared Murray place — but afterwards 
 built, farther north, the house now owned by Egbert 
 L. Tullar. He was the father of the late William 
 O'Brien, and of John O'Brien, Esq., formerly a law yer 
 of Greene county, N. Y., who died here a few years 
 since. John O'Brien had worked at the buildmg of 
 the old State House at Albany, and came here imme- 
 diately after its completion. 
 
 South of Charles Watson's, the old red house, on 
 the corner — formerly Silas Lester's — is said to haye 
 been built by Peter Orcut, a son-in-law of Moses 
 Church, who resided there to the time of his decease 
 in 1805. 
 
 Ohver Watson — grandfather of the present Oliyer 
 Watson, who is 86 years old — remoyed from the cen- 
 tral i3art of the town to Seekonk about 1773-4, and 
 built a saw-mill, where the mill of Simeon Sage now 
 stands on the Seekonk Brook. ^Ii\ Watson had his 
 house a httle south of the brook, on the east side of 
 the cross-road leading from Charles AVatson's to See- 
 konk ; and a short distance north of the brook, on the 
 same side of the road, is still to be seen the cellar of 
 a house once owned by Prince Done, and afterwards — 
 1799 — the residence of Ehphalet Spencer. 
 
 Moses Church — " Lord Church" — whose name ap- 
 pears in the first list of jurors — 1761 — settled quite 
 early in Seekonk, where he had large tracts of land. 
 He is said to haye liyed on the corner west of the 
 house of Simeon Sage — where an old wagon shop since 
 stood. Mr. Church died in 1795, leayinga son, Moses, 
 and daughters Thankful and Mary — wiyes of Peter 
 Orcut and Peter Burghardt. 
 
 The first improyements of water power on the See- 
 konk Brook, w^ere made as earh' as 1749, by Peter 
 Burghardt, Peter Sharp and others. The proprietors 
 of the Upper Township, in a yote of December 19, 1749, 
 relative to the laying out of lands, made an exception 
 of " the improyements made by Peter Burghardt and 
 Peter Sharp," " together with the saw-mill belonging 
 to them and others, with three acres of land adjoining 
 to the same for the accommodation thereof." 
 
 In 1776, a saw-mill, probably the same, or on the 
 
SEEKONK. 345 
 
 same site, was owned in equal shares, by eight indi- 
 Tiduals, seven of whom were David Arnold, John Bur- 
 ghardt, Peter Burghardt, Jacob Burghardt, 2d, John 
 Bm-ghardt, 3d, and Isaac Van Deusen. This mill is 
 supposed to have stood where Sage's mill does. It 
 Tvas afterwards owned by Peter Orcut and John Van 
 Deusen, Jr., who sold it in 1796 to Eli Lyon. A grist 
 naill had also been built upon the Seekonk Brook as 
 «early as 1787 — perhaps several years earlier. This 
 probably stood upon the site of the present mill of 
 Andrew J. Baldwin. It was sold by John Burghardt, 
 3d, to Oliver Ingersoll in 1787. Ingersoll the next year 
 conveyed it to Eli Lyon. Mr. Lyon, who resided for sev- 
 eral years in Seekonk, appears to have been an enter- 
 prising man. He eventually removed to Bloomfield, N. Y. 
 
 The name of Burghardt has been intimately asso- 
 ciated with the vicinity of Seekonk from its earliest 
 .settlement. Lambert Burghardt, the father of the 
 late Peter and Isaac Burghardt, had his dwelling a lit- 
 tle south of the main road, where his grand-son, John 
 X. Burghardt, now resides. John Burghardt at the 
 beginning of the present century resided on the late 
 Jonah A. Hulbert place, on the road from Seekonk to 
 the West plain — though there was no road there at 
 that time. This John Burghardt was the possessor of 
 a large tract of land including the farms since owned 
 by John M. and Jonah A. Hulburt. 
 
 Con Murray, who had been a soldier in Burgoyne's 
 army, and one of the prisoners taken at Saratoga, built 
 .and Kved where the house of William E. Palmer now 
 stands in Seekonk. 
 
 We have, too, the tradition of one Ninham, an In- 
 ^an, who in the last century had his cabin near the 
 bank of the brook, a little south of the bridge in See- 
 konk, and whose son Hendrick is said to have been a 
 man of some importance among the Stockbridge Indi- 
 . ans after their removal to the Oneida country. 
 
 Robert Watson — son of Oliver Watson before men- 
 tioned, and father of the present Oliver — bought the 
 ' ** Watson jDlace," now James Kelly's — between the vil- 
 lage and Seekonk, in 1805, and erected the present 
 house on the site of an older one. 
 
346 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 West of Seekonk at the corner of the Alford road, . 
 where Henry A. Tobey now resides, John Hickok set- 
 tled and kept a tavern before the Revohition. 
 
 The first settler, in this town, on the Alford road, 
 of whom we have knowledge, was Eliatha Rew, who 
 appears to have located on " the Prindle farm," next 
 west of Henry A. Tobey' s in 1762, and whose house is 
 mentioned in alterations of that road made in 1764. 
 
 Further north on that road, and adjoining the Al- 
 ford south line, Justin and Hugo Dewey j^urchased 
 land in 1791, and apparently settled there at that time. 
 The house of Justin Dewey stood where the farm-house 
 of his grand-son, Justin Dewey, Esq., now does, and 
 his brother Hugo resided in the house next north, still 
 standing, in which his son Grotins afterwards lived. 
 Justin and Hugo Dewey were notable characters, and 
 in some res^^ects remarkable men. Both were large 
 and joortly ; both were genial and sociable : and a 
 fondness for mirthfulness equally characterized both. 
 They were brothers in every sense of the word. Liv- 
 ing but a short distance apart they were almost con- 
 stantly in each other's company. They tilled their 
 farms and harvested their crops together. If they went 
 to church they went together ; if they visited the vil- 
 lage tavern it was together, and together they told 
 their stories and sipped their mug of flip. Their lives 
 were of that peaceful, unruffled nature which tends to 
 happiness and longevity, and which in their case won 
 the esteem and respect of their townsmen. Justin 
 Dewey died August 31, 1832, in his 82d year, andl 
 Hugo'^died in his 81st year, April 17th, 1833. 
 
CHAPTEK XXIV. 
 
 EARLY SCHOOL HOUSES— SUPPORT OF SCHOOLS- 
 FORMATION OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS— SELECT 
 SCHOOLS— HIGH SCHOOL. 
 
 We have in a former chapter made mention of the 
 appropriations by the town of Sheffield for the sup- 
 port of schools in this place, while it constituted a part 
 of that town, and of the existence of a very early school- 
 house here, which was sold at auction for eighteen 
 shillings in 1757. We have also chronicled the build- 
 ing of a school-house, by the parish about the year 
 1748, and the erection of another, by the town in 1762. 
 The school-house of 1748 was standing some time after 
 the incorporation of the town, but had apparently dis- 
 appeared before 1768. Its site is now unknown. The 
 school house of 1762, stood near the site of the pres- 
 ent Congregational church, and seems to have been in 
 existence as late as 1781. This, so far as we have as- 
 certained, was the only school-house built by the town, 
 until within a very recent period. 
 
 In 1768, the town voted to remove this school- 
 house, and also to build two others, and appointed a 
 committee "to determine to what place in said town 
 the present school-house shall be removed, and in what 
 places the two school-houses yet to be built shall be 
 sot." But we find no evidence that the house stand- 
 ing was removed, or that the proposed new ones were 
 built. Indeed, it is not at all probable that the vote, 
 quoted, was carried into execution. 
 
 Kef erring, doubtless, to this school-house (of 1762), 
 was an article in the warrant for a town meeting in 
 October, 1779, "to see if the town will sell the school- 
 
348 HISTORY OF GREAT HARRINGTON. 
 
 house in said town,'' the question upon which, being 
 put, "passed in the negative/' But in September, 
 1781, the town du*ected its selectmen to sell ^Hhe old 
 school-house^' at the appraisal of Samuel Pixley and 
 Ezekiel Kellogg, and to apply the proceeds to the 
 building of a town pound. As no further mention of 
 this school-house is found in the records, we conclude 
 that it was sold as ordered ; though the selectmen, in 
 May, 1783, were authorized to draw money from the 
 town treasury and build a pound. This pound was 
 built ; it stood on the south side of the way near the 
 Bung Hill corner, close up to the foot of the mountain, 
 and a little w^est and south from the present Bung 
 Hill school-house. 
 
 At the same meeting — September 11th, 1781 — at 
 which the town voted to sell its school-house, a propo- 
 sition of several individuals for building a school-house 
 at their own expense, was considered, and under an 
 article in the warrant " to see if the town inhabitants 
 wdll grant liberty for a school-house to be set up on 
 the town land near the old meeting-house in said town," 
 it was "voted to grant liberty for building a school- 
 house as within mentioned." These individuals soon 
 after erected a school house, and, a little later, pro- 
 posed to sell it to the town. But the town — August 
 29, 1785 — by vote, refused "to buy the school-house 
 in said town, belonging to certain persons, near the 
 meeting-house." This school-house, described as a long 
 building with tw^o rooms, stood upon the east bank of 
 the river, a short distance below the Great Bridge, 
 w^here it did service as a school-house for about twenty 
 years. It was purchased in 1801 by Major Dudley 
 Woodworth and converted into a blacksmith's shop, 
 -and still later, it was removed some distance south on 
 the old road east of the river, and transformed into a 
 dwelling-house, by E. P. Woodworth, Esq., but was 
 eventually destroyed by fire some forty years ago. 
 The proprietors of this building, so far as we have as- 
 certained, were : Doctor William "VMiiting, Walter Pyn- 
 chon, Ensign John Burghardt, Hall Pixley, Doctor John 
 Sibley, wSliam Whiting 2d, Ezekiel Kellogg, Major 
 Thomas IngersoU, Justin, Hugo, and Benedict Dewey. 
 
SCHOOL APPROPRIATIONS. 34^ 
 
 The statutes in force in the early years of our par- 
 ish and to\Yn organization, required that every town of 
 fifty or more famihes " should be constantly provided 
 of a schoolmaster, to teach children and youth to read 
 and write," and towns of one hundred families were 
 required to maintain a grammar school and employ 
 " some discreet person of good conversation, well in- 
 structed in the tongues, to keep such school." Under 
 this last requirement, Sheffield, in 1752, made provis- 
 ion for a grammar school to be kept four months in 
 the Upper ^^arish, five months in the middle part, and 
 three months at the south end of the town ; and in the 
 next year a similar school was provided for in the 
 North parish. 
 
 The first appropriation for schooling, made by this 
 town, was on the 16th of November, 1761, when £30 
 w^as raised "for the support and maintenance of a 
 school, and it was voted "that the school, for the pres- 
 ent, be kept in the school-house now built ;" that is 
 the house of 1748. From 1761 to '70, sums varying 
 from £30 to £40, were annually raised for schooling, 
 and in one of these years — 1768 — £50 was appropriated 
 for this purpose. From 1771 to the Kevolution the 
 unwritten records afford no information as to the ac- 
 tion taken in regard to schools, though we know from 
 another source that £30 was voted in 1774. In 1771, 
 the town refused to raise money for schools, and the 
 school was apparently unkept. In consequence of this, 
 the town was summoned to answer before the Court 
 of Sessions — February, 1772 — " for being unprovided 
 with a school," and through its agent, David Inger- 
 soll, Junior, Esq., made virtual confession, in the plea, 
 " Will not contend with the King," wdiereupon it was 
 fined £3, 6s., 8d., and costs. In 1776 the inhabitants 
 voted not to raise money for schooling ; and during 
 the war the subject of appropriations for this object 
 was seldom acted upon. Still, schools were to some 
 extent maintained by private enterprise. 
 
 The earlier votes of the town contemplated the 
 sustaining of but one school and the employment of 
 but one teacher. Thus, in 1763, a committee was ap- 
 pointed " to direct in what places the school shall be 
 
350 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 kept in said town." The school was kept in diiferent 
 locahties. One teacher only was employed; and both 
 school and teacher were transferred from neighbor- 
 hood to neighborhood, at the discretion of the com- 
 mittee. This was a common custom. 
 
 In 1762, measures were adopted by which any 
 number of inhabitants in remote parts of the town, 
 having fifteen or more children who would be accom- 
 modated by a school kept in then* vicinity, on ajDplica- 
 tion to the selectmen, might be permitted to ex]3end 
 the proportion of the school tax assessed upon them 
 selves, for employing a teacher, aj^proved by the se- 
 lectmen, to keep a school in their own neighborhood. 
 
 In 1770, Peter Burghardt, John Burghardt, Beriah 
 Thomas, Peter SharjD, Moses Chui'ch, Garret Bur- 
 ghardt, John Burghardt, 3d, Coonrod Burghardt, 3d, 
 Coom"od Burghardt, Junior, Charles Parsons and Da- 
 vid Grossman, residents of the west part of the town, 
 w^ere, by sj^ecial vote, permitted to exj^end the money 
 which they were assessed for schooling, in supporting 
 a school amongst themselves. At the same time, the 
 inhabitants of the Hoplands (now in Lee) were excused 
 from the payment of school rates, as well as ministerial 
 and highway taxes. 
 
 The early schools of the town were not of a high 
 order ; reading, writing, spelling, and arithmetic — the 
 rudiments only, were taught. The town had not at- 
 tained to the dignity of a grammar school ; and in 1769 
 a proposition to hii'e a grammar school master was 
 negatived. But there is some e-sddence that Mr. Gid- 
 eon Bostwick, before 1770, and previous to his settle- 
 ment as a missionary, was engaged here in teaching a 
 school above the ordinary gTade. The schools are sup- 
 posed to have been kept at the dwellings of the inhab- 
 itants in separate neighborhoods, as the diiferent sec- 
 tions of the town were not supplied with school-houses. 
 
 A memorandum is preserved, in the hand-writing 
 of Captain Truman Wheeler, of subscriptions made in 
 October, 1785 — " towards building the school-house" — 
 l)y Warham Lee, EHsha Blinn, Truman Wheeler, David 
 Wainwright, John Burghardt, John Kellogg, Samuel 
 •Church, W^illiam Whiting, Junior, and Jacob Johnson 
 
CENTER SCHOOL-HOUSE. 
 
 351 
 
 to the amount of £45, to which the names of Moses 
 Hopkins, Thomas Baker, Ezra Kellogg, and Amos Olds 
 are also appended, though without any sums subscribed. 
 These subscriptions were doubtless for the buildmg of 
 the school-house in the Southern District, which, for 
 many years, stood on the east side of the way a short 
 distance south of the old Episcopal church, and which 
 after the division of the town into school districts was 
 long used by the Southern District. We have no 
 doubt that this school-house was erected by the con- 
 tributions of individuals, as the one near the bridge, 
 a few years earlier, had been, and as the Center school- 
 house, soon after, was. 
 
 The old Center school-house of the Center District 
 was erected by an association of villagers, formed De- 
 cember, 15th, 1794. The gentlemen engaged in this 
 enterprise entered into an agreement for purchasing of 
 Captain Walter Pynchon one-half acre of land for a 
 building site — the same on which the Center school 
 house now stands — with a pass-way of twenty four 
 feet in width from the highway to the premises, and to 
 erect theron a building 44 by 25 feet on the ground, 
 nine feet between floors, to contain rooms respective- 
 ly 22 by 24 feet, 12 by 14 feet, and 9 by 10 feet, with 
 a fire place in each; the land and house to be held in 
 twenty-four shares, for the purposes of schooling only. 
 The shares were fixed at £5 each, and the proprietors 
 were permitted to pay two-thirds of their subscriptions 
 in material and labor. Moses Hopkins, Samuel Whiting, 
 and Stephen Sibley were appointed a building com- 
 mittee, and Thomas Ives treasurer. An annual meet- 
 ing of the proprietors was provided for, at which com- 
 mittees were to be chosen for employing instructors, 
 furnishing firewood, and making repairs; and for a 
 fund for repairs, it was agreed that a charge of nine 
 pence per quarter should be made for each scholar. 
 
 The proprietors, with the number of shares sub- 
 scribed by each, were : 
 
 '^Yalter Pyuchon, 4 shares, £20 
 
 Thomas Ives, 4 shares, 20 
 
 ' Moses Hopkins. 3 shares, 15 
 
 : Ezra Kellogg, 2 shares, 10 
 
352 
 
 HISTORY OF GREAT HARRINGTON. 
 
 Stephen Sibley, 
 
 2 shares. 
 
 Samuel Whiting, 
 
 2 shares, 
 
 John Whiting, 
 
 1 share. 
 
 Wilham Whiting, 
 
 1 share. 
 
 Isaac Turner, 
 
 1 share. 
 
 Abraham K. Whitiner, 
 
 1 share, 
 
 Aaron Olds, 
 
 1 share. 
 
 Samuel Hopkins, 
 
 1 share. 
 
 Simeon Cooper, 
 
 1 share. 
 
 10- 
 
 lO 
 
 ii- 
 
 5 
 5 
 S- 
 5 
 5 
 & 
 
 24 £120- 
 
 Tlie land was, soon after, purchased at a cost of 
 £13, and the building erected in 1795, though its in- 
 ternal arrangement varied somewhat from the plan 
 proposed. This eventually became the property of the 
 Center District, and the building continued in use until 
 1850, when it was destroyed by fire. The present 
 Center school-house was erected nearly upon the site 
 of the old one, in 1851. 
 
 No other school-houses are known to have been 
 built in town prior to the year 1800, though it is not. 
 improbable that others may have been erected in lo- 
 calities remote from the village ; and of those men- 
 tioned, two only — the Center and Southern — were then 
 in use. In 1782 and '83 the town refused to raise 
 money for schooling, but in 1785 the sum of £100 was. 
 raised and a committee appomted " to divide the town 
 into districts for the purpose of schools." A vote was 
 also passed giving to the inhabitants of each district^ 
 the sums which they might be assessed in raising the 
 above sum. The committee above mentioned, divided 
 the inhabitants into five, so called, districts. Similar 
 divisions were made in 1788, '94 and '97. But these 
 were simply classifications of the inhabitants into- 
 neighborhoods, made for the purpose of equitably ex- 
 pending the money granted, and did not constitute 
 school districts. In 1791 the inhabitants, perhaps 
 with a tinge of irony to the proprietors of the school- 
 house by the bridge, voted to raise forty shillings for 
 schools, and that the same " be expended in the school- 
 house near the Great Bridge." In 1792, and again in 
 1794, the town was indicted " for not keeping schools 
 according to law," and perhaps with good efiect. 
 
 From 1794 to 1800 an increased interest was mani- 
 
SCHOOL DISTRICTS. 35S5 
 
 fested in schools, and in that period the annual appro- 
 priations for their support varied from $300 to $500. 
 The first division of the town into legally constituted, 
 territorial school-districts was made in the year 1800, 
 by Thomas Ives, David Wainwright, Zachariah Fair- 
 child, David Dresser, and Jacob Van Deusen, a com- 
 mittee appointed for that purpose. By their report, 
 accepted November 3d, 1800, the number of districts 
 established was nine. These by changes and divisions- 
 made in later years were increased to seventeen in, 
 number, but have since been reduced to thirteen. 
 
 Soon after the establishment of the districts^ school- 
 houses were erected in several localities. A school- 
 house was built at the Bung Hill corner — ^where the 
 present one stands — in 1801 ; another in the 1st West- 
 ern district the same year ; in the 2d Western in 1804 ; 
 and the 2d Eastern is known to have had a school- 
 house on the corner, near the house of Elias F.. 
 Peck, in 1804. 
 
 The annual appropriations for the support of com- 
 mon schools for the past ten years have varied from 
 $4,500 to $5,500. The town has a small school fund 
 — $960 — arising from the sale of school lands, in the 
 Upper Township, and from sums recovered from de- 
 faulting tax collectors many years ago. It has also a 
 surplus revenue fund of $4,127, resulting from the 
 proceeds of sales of public lands. The income from these 
 funds is annually devoted to the support of schools. 
 Select Schools. 
 
 With the beginning of the century an increased 
 interest m the education of children began to be mani- 
 fested, and some schools of a higher order than the 
 common schools of that period were established. The 
 earliest of these of which we have knowledge was the 
 school begun before the year 1797, and continued for 
 several years, by Miss Betsey M. Bostwick, in the east 
 room of the old Center school-house, where boys and 
 misses were taught. Miss Bostwick was a daughter 
 of the Eev. Gideon Bostwick, a lady of education and 
 refinement and very highly esteemed. A few years 
 later, the late William Sherwood — who died at the age 
 of eighty-five, in 1871 — commenced a select school in 
 
 23 
 
354 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 the Center school house, which was continued for a 
 number of years, and in which the fathers and mothers 
 of many of the present generation, were taught in the 
 higher branches of education. 
 
 Miss Sarah Kellogg, very early, began a school for 
 boys and girls. This, in our first recollection of it, 
 was kept in the east room of the old school house, 
 from whence it was removed about 1832, to the former 
 law office of Wilham Cullen Brj-ant, where the Episco- 
 pal church stands. From this sprang the young ladies 
 boarding school — " The Eose Cottage Seminary," after- 
 wards so long conducted b}^ the blisses Sarah, Mary, 
 and Nancy Kellogg. The old law office, removed a 
 short distance, was attached to the dwelling of the 
 Misses Kellogg, and with the addition of an upper 
 story, served many years the purpose of a school house. 
 This school was maintained by the Misses Kellogg un- 
 til about 1853, when it was transferred to ]\Ii's. Martha 
 W. Allen, who removed it to her residence on Castle 
 street liill. It was finally discontinued by the death of 
 its princij)al in 1865. 
 
 About 1833, the necessity for a good school, above 
 the ordinary grade, induced an effort on the part of a 
 few villagers to establish one. To this end a large 
 upper room was leased in the house of IVIiles Bartholo- 
 mew — now of Dr. W. H. Parks — fitted up for the pui'- 
 pose, and the services of Mr. Erastus Rowley, of Rich- 
 mond, secured as teacher. This school was maintained 
 in the Bartholomew house for one or two years, and 
 was then removed to the north front room of the 
 Henderson house, where it was re-opened under the 
 charge of Mr. Corydon S. Sperry of Berlin, Conn. But 
 it was found difficult to supj)ort a competent teacher, 
 and the school was abandoned in 1836. 
 
 Soon after this, the Rev. Sturgis Gilbert estabhshed 
 a boarding and day school for both misses and boys. 
 This was kept at his dwelling-house — the place lately 
 Da'sdd S. Draper's, at that time the Episcopal parson- 
 age — and Mrs. Gilbert assisted him, as teacher for the 
 young ladies. This school was sustained for several 
 years. About 1839, E. W. Simmons began aud con- 
 tinued for two or thi'ee years a select school in the 
 
ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL. 355 
 
 Centre school house, which was well patronized, and 
 was carried on with some efficiencj^ 
 
 The Great Barrington Academy, erected in 1841, 
 by an association of citizens, incorporated for that pur- 
 pose, was first placed in charge of the late James 
 Sedgwick, who continued as its principal for eight or 
 nine years, but eventually removed to Alabama. It 
 was afterwards superintended for several years by a 
 number of different teachers, without proving very 
 successful, and was finally converted into a dwelling- 
 house, the same in which Wallace W. Langdon now 
 resides. Mr. Sedgwick— the former preceptor of the 
 academy — returned from Alabama in 1854, and insti- 
 tuted a boarding school for boys in the old Episcopal 
 parsonage, and soon after erected the Sedgwick Insti- 
 tute, in the south part of the village, to which he re- 
 moved his school, which he continued to his decease 
 in 1865. This institution which has since been con- 
 ducted by several different proprietors, is now carried 
 on by Mr. E. J. Van Lennep. 
 
 The High School. 
 Until 1868, the town had never maintained a school 
 of higher grade than that of the ordinary common 
 school. In that year— April 13th— it was voted to es- 
 tabhsh and maintain a High School, and $2,000 was 
 raised for the purpose. This school was soon after 
 opened in the Center school-house, where it remained 
 until the completion of the High School building, erect- 
 ed in 1869, at a cost of about $15,000. From that time 
 the principals of the school have been: William H. 
 Blodget, spring term, 1868 ; George W. Todd, 1868-71 ; 
 Charles C. Barton, 1871; E. C. Dudley, spring term 
 of 1872; Harry H. Scott, 1872, to his decease in 
 March, 1877; H. J. Chase, 1877-78; F. A. Hosmer, 
 1878, the present principal. For the support of the 
 High School the town has, of late years, raised annual- 
 ly, the sum of $3,000. 
 
CHAPTEE XXV. 
 
 EARLY INDUSTRIES— MERCHANTS— THE POST OFFICE 
 —STAGES— TA^TERNS— MAGISTRATES— LAW- 
 YERS AND OTHER NOTABLES. 
 
 At the beginning of the present century a large 
 part of the township was still covered with the original 
 forest. Fine tracts of white pine timber existed in 
 various sections, particularly in the vicinity of Seekonk 
 and Long Pond, though not confined to any locality. 
 The plain lands m the west and north parts of the 
 town abounded in ^^ellow pine. At an earlier period, 
 in clearing up the lands, vast quantities of timber were 
 cut and burned upon the ground. Lumber was plenty 
 and cheap. Saw mills were numerous. It is said that 
 in 1818, there were no 1-ess than foui'teen saw mills in 
 town, and all in running order. Columbia coimty, N. 
 Y., furnished the principal market for lumber, staves 
 and heading ; but the supply was always in excess of 
 the demand. The nearest point of water communica- 
 tion was on the Hudson River, beyond Claverack — the 
 old Claverack Landing, neai' Hudson — and the outlet 
 for South Berkshire produce was in this direction to 
 the New York market ; for New York was at a very 
 early period the market for the surplus production of 
 the farmers of this region. Singular as it may seem, 
 in 1764-5 Captain Truman "WTieeler transported boards 
 from this town to Claverack, which were thence shipped 
 by vessels to New York. And before the Revolution 
 fat cattle were driven from here to the New York market. 
 
 The abundance of wood, and consequently of ashes, 
 gave rise to the manufacture of potash, which was long 
 one of the staple products of the town. There were 
 
EARLY INDUSTRIES. 357 
 
 here several small establishments for the manufacture 
 of this article. One of these, owned about 1790 by 
 Moses Hopkins, Esq., stood in the door-yard, north of 
 the house of Ralph Taylor ; another of the same or 
 earlier date, belonged to Doctor Wilham Whiting and 
 was located on Castle street ; Colonel Elijah D wight, 
 too, was engaged in the same manufacture, and is sup- 
 posed to have had his works on the south side of the 
 school-house lane, where the building — afterwards used 
 for a hay press — is still remembered. 
 
 In 1770, Doctor William ^Miiting, by special vote 
 of the town, was permitted to erect works for the man- 
 ufacture of earthenware, within the limits of the high- 
 way opposite his dwelling-house — the Doctor C. T. 
 Collins place. No tradition of these works is pre- 
 served ; but it is evident, from the books of Doctor 
 Whiting, that he had large quantities of earthen ware, 
 and dealt in it extensively in that year ; and he is also 
 known to have had a "potter" named Gray, in his em- 
 ploy. We have no doubt that the pottery was built 
 and operated ; but it was perhaps an enterprise which 
 did not succeed. 
 
 The production of wool and flax were important 
 branches of agriculture, and before the innovations of 
 machinery, and the substitution of cotton for flax, these 
 were spun and woven into fabrics in the households of 
 the inhabitants. The hetchels, cards, and spinning 
 wheels were in constant employ, and many famiUes 
 were provided with looms for the weaving of both wool 
 and flax. The woolen fabric, fulled and finished at the 
 fulling mill, furnished the clothing for men and boys ; 
 and "homespun" was the dress of nearly all classes at 
 the beginning of this century. By the introduction of 
 the carding machine a great change in the labor of -pre- 
 paring wool for the spinning was effected. The first 
 machine of this kind, is said to have been set up here 
 by Booth & Gibbs. Thomas Ives and Dudley Wood- 
 worth erected a building and put in wool carding ma- 
 chinery at their works in Water street, in or about the 
 year 1803. This was in operation until about 1837. 
 The first fulling mill of the town was on the Green 
 Biver, where the Kellogg grist-mill stands. Here Dan- 
 
358 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 iel Eathbun established the business of fulHng and 
 cloth dressing as early as 1760. These works were 
 operated by Major John Kellogg during and after the 
 Revolution, and still later for many years by his son, 
 the late John Kellogg. 
 
 Shoemakers itinerated from house to house carry- 
 ing the bench and kit of tools on their backs, and sit- 
 ting down for a week or more in the farmer's kitchen, 
 provided his family with a six months supply of shoes. 
 This was called "whipping the cat." The trades of 
 shoe makmg and tanning were in some degree identi- 
 cal ; the shoe-maker in some instances carrying on tan- 
 ning on a small scale. Such was the case with "Wise" 
 Isaac Van Deusen, who, 1785-1800, occupying the 
 Misses Kellogg house, had his shop just north of the 
 brook in Mrs. McLean's door-yard, and his tan-vats in 
 rear of the Frederick Lawrence house in the hollow. 
 Samuel Riley, too, whom we have mentioned, united 
 tanning with shoe-making on the Doctor W. H. Parks 
 place. Robert Kilborn and Major Samuel Rosseter 
 were tanners on a more extended scale, both for home 
 consumption and the New York market. The latter 
 connected with tanning the manufacture of "stock 
 shoes " — men's brogans. 
 
 At a later day Caspar Hollenbeck erected a tannery 
 at the foot of Monument Mountain ; having first served 
 an apprenticeshij:* under Major Rosseter. Charles W. 
 Hopkins — also an apprentice of Major Rosseter — in 
 connection with Deacon Allen Henderson, had a tan- 
 nery as early as 1809, above the bridge, near the resi- 
 dence of James H. Beckwith. He afterwards — later 
 than 1820 — built, and for many years carried on tan- 
 works where the factory stands in Water street ; and 
 Deacon Henderson, removing to the Henderson house, 
 with his shop in the basement, became the principal 
 saddler of the town. 
 
 Tmkers traveled from village to village and house 
 to house equipj^ed with soldering iron, spoon moulds 
 and button moulds, doing all sorts of repaiiing and 
 mending, and casting pewter spoons and buttons 
 for the people. 
 
 The hatters of the last century were Joseph and 
 
EAKLY INDUSTRIES. 359 
 
 Elias Gilbert, and Major Thomas Ingersoll. About 
 the year 1801, came Timothy Ai'iiold, with his brothers 
 Feniier and Ehsha. They bought the Misses Kellogg 
 place, and Timothy established himself as a hatter. 
 His shop was in the building (previously occupied by 
 " Wise" Isaac Van Deusen) which stood in Mrs. McLean's 
 door-yard. The Arnolds afterwards built the McLean 
 house. Timothy Arnold, and his shop, is still well re- 
 membered, as w^ell as the long row of hat bodies put 
 out to dry on sunny mornings, occupying every fourth 
 picket of the fence in front of his premises. Arnold 
 was a bachelor, with a taste for the comical, which was 
 shared by his apprentices, and his shop was the head- 
 quarters for fun and frolic, the rendezvous of the wags 
 and fox hunters of the town. The shop itself, a long, 
 low building — in the improvements of the premises, 
 made by David Ives, forty years ago — was removed to 
 Castle street, and converted into a dwelling — long oc- 
 cupied by the Moore famity — but has since given place 
 to a more tasteful structure. 
 
 Blacksmithing was an important calling, for the 
 smith was the fabricator of the door-trimmings and 
 nails used in building, of many of the utensils in house- 
 hold use, and the ploughshare and general imple- 
 ments of farm husbandry, which to-day form staple 
 articles in the hardware trade. Nearly everything of 
 iron, was home-made and strongly made. In addition 
 to the blacksmiths we have mentioned earlier than 
 1800, were Moses and Rufus Dodge, in the south part 
 of the village. The Dodges were here as early as 1776. 
 Rufus Dodge lived in, and is supposed to have built, 
 about 1781, the so-called "Elm Tree House" — recent- 
 ly taken down — which stood under the great elm, just 
 north of Mount Peter. Amos Olds, too, was a black- 
 smith in that part of the town in 1785, and after 
 1800 Ede Coy. 
 
 Nail making was a trade akin to blacksmithing, and 
 as all nails were made by hand, was a business of some 
 importance. From 1796 to 1800 and perhaps later, 
 Theophilus Pynchon was the principal nail-maker of 
 the village. One Dimmock is reputed to have set up 
 a machine for making cut nails ; the first, it is said, 
 
360 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 made in this part of the country. This was probably 
 about 1812-14, though we have not the date. A httle 
 later nails were made here by machinery by Chamber- 
 lain & Alden, as will be mentioned hereafter. For 
 several years a prejudice existed against the cut nails, 
 and when in 1815, George H. Ives built the house, 
 now Ealph Taylor's, he would not permit the use of 
 cut nails in its construction. 
 
 About 1805, Aaron Mansir built the house after- 
 wards General Timothy Wainwright's, now M. L. 
 ^Tiitlock's ; he was a wagon maker and built the first 
 four wheeled vehicle made in this town. And within 
 the recollection of the writer Moses Hopkins was the 
 owner of the first one-horse wagon brought here. 
 
 The principal merchants of the town in the latter 
 part of the last century were Samuel AYhiting and 
 Dwight & Pynchon — later Captain Walter Pynchon. 
 Soon after the Ee volution — as early as 1785 — and for 
 a period of twenty years, Samuel ^Miiting had his 
 store at the corner of Main and Castle streets — the site 
 of the present Mahaiwe building — his brother Abraham 
 K. Whiting occujoying a portion of it with a supply of 
 di'ugs and medicines. The business hand-bill of the 
 Messrs. AMiiting — jDrinted about 1785, announced then- 
 place of business '-Next Door to the Court House," 
 and modestly advertised " a handsome little assortment 
 of dry goods and groceries" and a "moderate retailing 
 assortment of medicines," which they proposed to dis- 
 pose of for '"ready pay only," and ofi"ered '-the highest 
 price for ashes and other articles of produce usual in 
 the mercantile line." Samuel Whiting was a methodi- 
 cal, careful business man, well educated, and for sev- 
 eral years one of the officiating Justices of the town. 
 
 In 1805, David Leavenworth and his brother Isaac 
 Leavenworth — succeeding Samuel Whiting — settled as 
 merchants on the Castle street corner, under the firm 
 of D. & I. Leavenworth. These gentlemen erected a 
 new store upon that ground and either together or 
 separately occupied that site for neai'ly twenty years. 
 The Messrs. Leavenworth were enterprising men, and 
 took a conspicuous part in all the imj^rovements and 
 pubhc business of the town. They introduced a larger 
 
MERCHANTS. 
 
 361 
 
 slock of goods than had previously been kept here, 
 and then- store was long the principal one of the vil- 
 lage. The Castle street corner was then, and for many 
 years, considered the most desu'able location for busi- 
 ness in the village. The store of the Messrs. Leaven- 
 worth stood until 1839, when it was burned down. In 
 its upper story was a public hall — the only one in the 
 village— known as Leavenworth's Hall— frequently used 
 for balls, and public assemblages, as well as for meet- 
 ings of the Masonic Fraternity. 
 
 Aji other merchant of that period was Keuben Bacon, 
 who was here as early as 1803. He built the store 
 still standing — now occupied by C. A. Dewey, and, it 
 is said, had his dwelling and store in the same build- 
 ing. This was afterwards occupied by his son James 
 L. Bacon in connection with John Seeley, and has 
 since, to the present time, had a great variety of ten- 
 ants. Keuben Bacon was for a time until 1813 con- 
 nected with George Pynchon — under the name of 
 Bacon & Pynchon. 
 
 In 1818, Charles and Kalph Taylor, from Colchester, 
 Conn., purchased of George Pynchon a small store 
 which he had erected on the site of the present stone 
 store, and began business there. About two years 
 later they were joined by Alvenus Cone and the busi- 
 mess was carried on in the name of C. & K. Taylor & 
 'Co. Mr. Cone withdi'awing from the firm about 1824, 
 moved into the store previously occupied by the 
 Messrs. Leavenw^orth ; and John C. Kussell in that 
 year began his business life as clerk for IVIr. Cone. In 
 1827, Mr. Cone took Mr. Russell into copartnership, 
 under the firm of Cone & Russell, and three years 
 later sold his interest in the business to Mr. Russell. 
 Ml'. Russell now did business alone for two years, and 
 ihen formed a copartnership with his brother Asa C. 
 :Russell, who had previously been a clerk for him. The 
 firm of J. C. & A. C. Russell, then formed, was con- 
 tinued, in thek business relations, to the decease of 
 John C. Russell in 1873. The Messrs. Russell re- 
 mained on the Castle street comer until 1835, when 
 they removed to the stone store, which they had then 
 jrecently erected, and which they occupied until 1844, 
 
362 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 theii' business in the mean time having been merged 
 into the Berkshire Woolen Company. George Pjn- 
 chon, who had previously occupied the store, sold to 
 the Messrs. Taylor in 1818, afterwards erected the 
 brick store, (lately Edwin W. McLean s) where he was 
 engaged in merchandisin^for nearly forty years. 
 
 About 1830, Charles Taylor and David Ives built' 
 the brick store near the bridge in Water street. This 
 they conducted for a few years in connection with the " 
 mills near by and the manufacture of scythes. jMt. ■ 
 Taylor eventually removed to Newark, N. J., and jMt. ■ 
 Ives was compelled by failing health to abandon the 
 business. Although there were some others, those we 
 have named were the principal merchants of the town 
 down to 1830. Since that time the mercantile enter-- 
 prises of the town have very largely increased, and nu-- 
 merous individuals have been engaged in the business,^^- 
 
 Post Office. 
 
 Previous to the establishment of a post office here, 
 a few newspapers were taken in town which were de- 
 Hvered by a post rider traveling from town to town, 
 making his weekly rounds on horseback. The jDOst 
 rider, too, carried such letters as were committed to 
 his care, and did various errands for the inhabitants 
 along his route. Letters from a distance for this sec- 
 tion of country found a lodgement at the post office in 
 Hartford, Ct., and were frequently advertised in the^ 
 paper there printed. The first post office in the coimty 
 was established at Stockbridge in 1792, others at Pitts- 
 field and Sheffield in 1793-4, and the fourth at Great 
 Barrington in 1797. Moses Hopkins, Esq., was the- 
 first post-master here and held the office to the time of 
 his decease in 1838. a period of forty years. The jDost 
 office during all of these years was kej^t, in connection 
 with the Registry of Deeds, in the old gambrel-roofed 
 building, originally the law office of Colonel Mark 
 Hopkins, which stood nearly upon the site of the brick 
 dwelling of the late Mrs. Judith Bigelow. 
 
 Many of the older citizens still well remember 
 Esquire Hopkins with his cocked hat, short breeches, 
 long stockings, and knee and shoe buckles, seated in a. 
 
THE POST OFFICE. 363 
 
 summer afternoon in the broad front door of his office, 
 and the little rack in the rear part of the room, with 
 the red tape fastened in a diamond form across its 
 fi'ont, with a scanty number of letters sticking — super- 
 scription outward — behind the tape. 
 
 The business of the office was small as compared 
 with that of the present day. The account of Moses 
 Hopkins with the general post office, for the quarter 
 ending June 30th, 1798, shows the receipts to have 
 been, 
 
 Postage collected on letters, $9 77 
 
 Postage collected on newspapers and pamphlets, 1 44 
 
 Total receipts for the quarter, $11 21 
 
 And the j)ostmaster's commission was $5.27. 
 
 Even then the franking privilege was in vogue, aud- 
 it appears, from the account, that the number of free 
 letters delivered from the office was seventy-one, on 
 which the postmaster had a commission of two cents 
 each. Nor had the business of the post office very 
 materially increased down to 1805. For the quarter 
 ending March 31st of that year, the total receipts were 
 $14. 22 J, and the ^postmaster's commission was $4.58, 
 But the number of free letters had diminished to 
 twenty-one. 
 
 Honorable Increase Sumner succeeded Moses Hop- 
 kins as postmaster in 1838, and removed the office to 
 the old Leavenworth store — corner of Castle street — 
 which was soon after burned down. In 1841, Hezekiah. 
 Lathrop was appointed in place of Mr. Sumner, but 
 was removed in 1843 to make room for Samuel Newman,. 
 Esq. Mr. Newman kept the office about six years, 
 and was succeeded by Isaac Seeley, Esq., in 1849- 
 During the administrations of Presidents Pierce and 
 Buchanan, Samuel B. Sumner held the office of post- 
 master, and was succeeded by Isaac Seeley, Esq., in 
 1861. Miss Julia E. Seeley, the present post-mistress, 
 was appointed to the office by President Grant, about 
 eight years since. 
 
 Stages. 
 
 The earliest stages through the county, carrying the 
 mail and furnishing the means of passenger travel be- 
 
364 HISTORY OF GREAT BAERINGTON. 
 
 tvreen Hartford and Bennington and Albany, followed 
 the turnpike roads and did not pass through this 
 village. %\e have not the date at which Great Barring- 
 ton became a station on the stage route, though we 
 believe it to have been about 1819-20. But, fifty years 
 ago, and until supplanted by railroads, a hne of four- 
 horse coaches — jDlying between Hartord and Albany — 
 ran thi'ough the village, daily in the summer season 
 and tri-week\y in the winter. At that time, too, or a 
 httle later, stage communication between this place 
 and Hudson was constant, the stages ininning from 
 Hudson to Pittsfield. The notes of the chiver's horn 
 as he approached the town, and the bustle and curiosity 
 of the villagers as the stage wheeled ujd to the tavern, 
 are still remembered. For the arrival of the stage was 
 a, less commonplace event than that of the train of 
 cars of to-day. 
 
 Village Taverns. 
 
 At the beginning of the centuiy, taverns were 
 numerous in town, and not all confined to the village. 
 A tavern of considerable resort had long been main- 
 tained at the old red house — the Doctor Collins place 
 — and was then kept by Simeon Cooper, the black- 
 smith. This house, sometimes a private dweUing and 
 sometimes a tavern, was open to the public as late as 
 1833, its later proprietors being John Buel and Robert 
 Linsted. The sign '"Rum, Gin, Brandy." which 
 adorned the panels of the barroom door, remained long 
 ^fter it ceased to be a public house. Over this sign 
 the wife of one of the later tenants was accustomed to 
 paste white paper, which, to her chagrin, her husband 
 sometimes persisted in removing. This old house, 
 long since removed, is, in part, preserved in the dwell- 
 ing of Harvey Holmes, in the south part of the village. 
 The old tavern east of the bridge, estabUshed by 
 Captain Hewit Root in 1754, was maintained until 1826 
 or later. Lewis Legrand Gorham, from Stratford, 
 Conn., who came here in 1802. in the employ of Ives & 
 ^oodworth at their mills, built the well-known Gorham 
 iavem in Water street about 1815, and kept a pubhc 
 
TAVERNS PHYSICIANS. 365 
 
 house there to his decease in 1848. This has since be- 
 come a private dwelling house. 
 
 But the principal tavern of the village — built upon 
 the site of an older one — was that erected where the 
 Berkshire House stands, b}^ Josiah Smith in 1770, and 
 which he occupied to the time of his decease in 1784. 
 This was afterwards kept by Captain Walter Pynchon, 
 by Beuben Bacon — perhaps from 1803 to 1812 — by 
 Francis Knapp, and after him by Timothy Griswold to 
 his decease m 1825. Since then various parties officia- 
 ted as landlords down to the time of the late Captain 
 Asahel Beebe. During the occupancy of Mr. Griswold, 
 he erected an addition to the house, containing a ball 
 room, which was occasional^ used for lectures, exhi- 
 bitions and other public amusements. Previous to this 
 the only hall in the village was the long, low, arched 
 room over the Leavenworth store — known as " Leaven- 
 worth's Hall." 
 
 In 1838-9, the old tavern was removed in sections, 
 to different localities, which still form parts of the 
 dwellings of Clark A. Wilcox on Castle street, of Isaac 
 Seeley on Biver street, of the late Calvin C. Crane and 
 of Timoth}^ Haley on Bridge street. For the first thirty 
 years of this century the old tavern w^as a notable place 
 of resort, and the scene of much frolic and conviviality. 
 
 The Berkshu'e House, erected by the late George 
 R. Ives, in 1839, w^as first opened to the pubhc in the 
 summer of 1840. 
 
 Physicians. 
 
 Doctor Isaac Baldwin from Waterbury, Conn., settled 
 here as a physician in 1804, having his home in the Hen- 
 derson house, which he bought in that year, and in 
 which he resided until 1812. He is spoken of by old 
 people as an affable, agreeable man, with a wooden leg. 
 He continued in practice here to the time of his death 
 February 21st, 1814, when he was fifty-eight years old. 
 Doctor Samuel Bar stow, from Sharon, Conn., came 
 here in 1808, and was for a time associated in practice 
 with Doctor Baldwin. Doctor Barstow had his resi- 
 dence in connection with his brother, Gamaliel H. 
 Barstow, on the late Doctor Collins' place. He was a 
 
366 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 member of the State Senate in 1812, and died here at 
 the age of thii'ty-six, June 25th, 1813. Gamahel H. 
 Barstow removed to Broome County, N. Y. He was a 
 member of the New York State Senate, Treasurer of 
 the State, and also a member of Congress. Doctor 
 Abraham K. AMiitmg — son of Doctor Wilham Whitmg 
 — was engaged in practice here as a physician for many 
 years in the early part of the century. 
 
 Doctor Benjamin Eogers, who was in business here 
 -as a merchant, as early as 1800, studied medicine — 
 probably with Doctor Baldwin — and practiced here for 
 many years. He built the house now Bazy W. Patti- 
 son's, and resided there, but removed to Hartford about 
 1837. Many still remember Doctor Eogers with his 
 sleek horse and yellow sulkey, and with a smile and a 
 bow for everj" child he met. 
 
 Doctor Alvan "SATieeler, from New Marlboro, was in 
 practice here as early as 1829, but removed to Green- 
 bush, N. Y., about 1834, and established a boarding 
 school for boys, which he conducted for a time, but 
 eventually settled in Bmghamton, N. Y., as a farmer. 
 
 Doctor John W. Couch, who died February 16th, 
 1845, was in practice here for six or eight years previ- 
 ous to his decease. 
 
 Doctor Elias E. Hollenbeck, who studied with 
 Doctor Eogers and who was for a long time in business 
 here, is still well remembered. 
 
 In addition to these. Doctor Thomas Bolton was 
 engaged in practice here for several years prior to 1830, 
 and several others for short periodsearlier than 1840. 
 
 Magistrates. 
 The business of the Justices of the Peace, judging 
 from some of theii' records which have been preserved, 
 was much larger in proportion to the inhabitants, sixty 
 years ago, than it has been for the past thii'ty years. 
 Jonathan Nash, Esq., who became a magistrate soon 
 after the adoption of the state constitution — 1780 — 
 was the principal acting Justice to the time of his 
 decease in 1793. In addition to Samuel Whiting and 
 Ste]3hen Sibley, who have been mentioned, Moses 
 Hopkins during the early part of the century was a 
 
MOSES HOPKINS, ESQ. 367 
 
 ■Justice with perhaps more business than any other. 
 His criminal records extend from 1795 to 1829, 
 and the cases tried before him were very numerous. 
 David Leavenworth, from 1812 to 1830, did a large 
 business, more particularly in civil cases; the cases 
 entered on his records in that time numbering seven 
 liundred and sixty-four. Saturday was "Court-day" 
 sixty years ago, and the little courts before 'Squire 
 Hopkins were well attended. The petty cases of "as- 
 sault," "profane swearing," and performing labor on the 
 •Sabbath, with an occasional case of theft or other mis- 
 demeanor were numerous, and generally interesting. 
 
 Moses Hopkins, Esq., son of Rev. Samuel Hop- 
 3dns, was born in this town, March 13th, 1751. He 
 grew up with the town, resided here during life, and 
 died March 9th, 1838, aged nearly eighty-seven years. 
 His education — superintended by his father — was good 
 for the times. During the Revolution he was employed 
 here in the commissary department, superintending 
 the receiving and forwarding of military stores and 
 supplies. And after the war he was engaged in mer- 
 chandising. For sixty years — 1778 — 1838 — he held 
 the office of Register of Deeds, and was for forty years 
 — 1797 — 1838 — the postmaster of the town. He was 
 also a member of the convention for revising the State 
 Constitution 1820, and often officiated on the board of 
 .town officers. From 1780 to 1796 he owned and re- 
 sided upon the premises now of Ralph Taylor, and had 
 his store at the north east corner of Mr. Taylor's garden. 
 He afterwards removed to the house erected by his 
 .uncle, Colonel Mark Hopkins (where the late Charles 
 W. Hopkins since lived. In his habits and style of 
 dress he was a gentlemen of the old school. Havmg 
 Jbeen in active life for many years, and possessing a 
 retentive memory, he had stored up much interesting 
 information pertaining to the early times and inhabi- 
 tants of the town. This, united with a natural sociabiH- 
 ty, rendered him an agreeable companion to young men. 
 He was universally esteemed and respected by the 
 -citizens of the town and county. In his later years he 
 -received a pension for his Revolutionary services. 
 
 David Leavenworth, Esq., known as Doctor Leav- 
 
368 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 enwortb, who came here in 1805, was a native of Water- 
 bury, Conn., where he studied medicine with Doctor 
 Isaac Baldwin — afterwards of this town — and became ^ 
 a physician. He removed to the State of New York, , 
 and about 1798-9 was appointed state printer. Whilst , 
 occupying this position he resided for a few years in 
 Albany. He removed to this town, as above stated, in 
 1805, and in company with his brother Isaac, engaged 
 in business as a merchant. Doctor Leavenworth was 
 public spirited and enterprising, and for the space of 
 twenty-five years w^as one of the principal active busi-. 
 ness men of the town, sustaining his proportion of the 
 honors and burdens of its offices and taking an active 
 part in its improvements and in all its civil and re- 
 ligious affaks. For three years, 1812-14, he represent- 
 ed the town in the General Coui't, and for eighteen 
 years, 1812 — 30, was one of its principal officiating 
 magistrates. He died here May 25th, 1831, in the 
 62d year of his age. 
 
 The first place of residence of Doctor Leavenworth 
 here, was in the old Doctor Whiting house, where the 
 Sumner building stands ; but in 1810 he pm-chased of 
 Stephen Sibley, the Asa C. Kussell premises on Castle 
 street, with a house standing thereon. Here ten 
 years later — 1822 — he erected the present dwelling 
 which was then considered the finest building in 
 the village, and which gave to the street its name, 
 "Castle street." 
 
 Of the children of David Leavenw^orth, one only i& 
 now living, to wit : the Honorable Elias W. Leaven- 
 worth of Syracuse, N. Y., whose childhood and youth 
 were spent in this town. He removed to Syracuse in 
 1827, when that thriving city had a population of only 
 seven hundred, has been intimately identified with all 
 its improvements and prosperity, and has filled numer- 
 ous positions of responsibility and honor in the State 
 of New York. 
 
 Lawyers and Other Notables. 
 Colonel Mark Hopkins, David IngersoU, Junior, and 
 Theodore Sedgwick, who have been particularly men- 
 tioned, were all the lawyers in practice here before the 
 
GEN. THOMAS IVES. 369 
 
 Revolution. After the decease of Colonel Hopkins — in 
 1776 — no lawyer resided here until 1782, and as for most 
 of that time no courts were held, there was but little 
 legal business done in the county. After the reorgan- 
 ization of the courts under the State Constitution,, 
 Thomas Ives w^as the first lawyer to settle here, and 
 was for many years the principal legal practitioner of 
 the town. 
 
 General Thomas Ives was a native of North Haven,, 
 Conn., born February 2d, 1753. He entered Yale 
 college at the age of twenty, graduated in 1777, and 
 three years later received his degree of Master of Arts. 
 Whilst in college, the war broke out, and he, with other 
 students, left college for a time and did service in the 
 army. After his graduation, he studied law with Tap- 
 ping Eeeve, Esq., at Litchfield, Conn., and in March^ 
 1780, was admitted to the bar in Litchfield County. He 
 was then, for a time, in the law office of Hon. Theodore 
 Sedgwick in Sheffield, and in the autumn of 1781, was 
 wdth a brigade of Berkshire militia — of which he was 
 for the time Major — called out for special service at Still- 
 water, N. Y. During part of the next year. General 
 Ives was employed by Oliver Phelps & Co. — contractors 
 for furnishing provisions for the army — as superin- 
 tendent of their post at Burlington, N. J. Soon after 
 the expiration of this engagement, he came to this 
 town — in August, 1782 — and settled in the practice of 
 his profession. He married, March 27th, 1786, Ruth 
 Foster, daughter of Honorable Jedediah Foster of 
 Brookfield, Mass., and granddaughter of General Joseph 
 Dwight. 
 
 In 1783, General Ives was chosen, by the General 
 Court, collector of impost and excise for this county, 
 and continued in that office until the laws, regulating 
 the collection of these duties, became so unpopular, and 
 in his opinion so oppressive, as to induce him to re- 
 sign it. He represented the towai in the General Court 
 for thirteen years, between 1785 and 1811, and in 1797 
 was a member of the State Senate. General Ives was 
 much interested in military afi'airs, and filled the various 
 offices of Captain, Major, Colonel, Brigadier General, 
 and Major General, in the ninth division of Massachu- 
 
 24 
 
370 mSTOEY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 setts Militia, to which last office he was commissioned 
 by Governor Caleb Strong in 1805, and which he re- 
 signed in 1809. In 1809, he was commissioned by 
 Governor Gore a Special Justice of the Court of Com- 
 mon Pleas for the county. In the troubles incident to 
 the Shay's Insurrection, General Ives was a firm sup- 
 porter of the government, both in the Legislatui^e and 
 at home, and was present and participated in the final 
 skirmish between the Shays j)arty and government men 
 in Sheffield in 1787. In j^Jolitics he was a Federalist, 
 and a zealous one. At the time of entering upon his 
 profession here, the business of the courts — long sus- 
 pended — was reviving, and his legal practice soon be- 
 came extended and remunerative. 
 
 In addition to his professional calHng, he devoted 
 much attention to agriculture, and in 1793, became a 
 member of the Massachusetts Society for promoting 
 agricultui'e, incorporated the preceding year. General 
 Ives was much in public life, a prominent, representa- 
 tive man, and a man of great energy and perseverance. 
 For a period of thu'ty years he was identified with the 
 public improvements of the town and of the south part 
 of the county. He died March 8th, 1814, at the age 
 of sixt^^-one years. 
 
 Erastus Pixley — son of Moses Pixley — a native of 
 this town, and a graduate of Yale college in 1780, prac- 
 ticed law here for a few years, about 1784 to 1790, but 
 removed to Vermont. Some of his descendants were 
 living a few years since at Glens Falls, N. Y. 
 
 General John Whiting, son of Lieutenant Gamaliel 
 'V\Tiiting of this to^Ti, and a law student in the office 
 of General Ives, was admitted to the bar in 1792, and 
 was in practice to the time of his decease, January 13, 
 1846. General Whiting was for many years a promi- 
 nent citizen of the towTi ; town clerk from 1794 to 1811 ; 
 Representative to the General Court in 1815, and State 
 Senator in 1816-17. He was also for several years 
 District Attorney, and Major General of Militia. He 
 died at the age of seventy-five, January 13, 1846. 
 
 Robert L. Potter, was admitted to the bar in 1809, 
 began practice here and continued to about 1814, when 
 he removed to Meadville, Penn. 
 
XJuCC 
 
 IVES HYDE BEYANT. 37 1 
 
 George H. Ives, son of General Thomas Ives, born 
 April 15, 1789 ; studied law in his father's office ; ad- 
 mitted to the bar in 1810, and at the decease of his 
 father succeeded him in business. He was in practice 
 to the time of his decease, April 29, 1825. 
 
 James A. Hyde, from New Marlboro, graduated at 
 Williams College in 1807 ; admitted to the bar in 1811, 
 and was for several years, 1811-25, associated in prac- 
 tice with General John Whiting. He afterwards occu- 
 pied the office vacated by William Cullen Bryant. Mr. 
 Hyde was a useful citizen, and clerk of the town for 
 thirteen years, 1813-20 and 1825-31. His death, 
 which occurred July 4th, 1836, was caused by inju- 
 ries received in being thrown from his chaise in the 
 
 age street. 
 
 William Cullen Bryant, a native of Cummington, 
 having previously, for a short period, been in practice 
 at Plainfield, removed to this town in 1815, and w^as 
 for a time — 1816-'' 7 — associated in business with 
 George H. Ives, occ ipying the old General Ives office. 
 He afterwards, for several years, and as late as 1820, 
 had his office in the south wing of the dwelling house 
 of Bazy W. Pattison — then the residence of Dr. Ben- 
 jamin Kogers — and still later until 1825, he occupied 
 a small building, erected for him, where the Episcopal 
 church stands. This was afterwards occupied by James 
 A. Hyde as a law office, and later by the Misses Kel- 
 logg as a school-house. Mr. Bryant remained here 
 until 1825, when becoming disgusted with the profes- 
 sion, and with the petty quibblings and animosities 
 common between opposing counsel, he abandoned it, 
 removed to New York and devoted hims^elf to journal- 
 ism and to literary pursuits congenial to his nature. 
 Duiing his residence here he found much to inspire 
 his muse, in his rambles about the town. The beauty 
 of the Green River, and the quiet seclusion of its banks, 
 with the views from the intervening hill, often attract 
 ed his foot-steps in that direction. And in this period 
 several of his finer poetical effusions were penned. 
 Here, too, he married ; and this event is duly chron- 
 icled, in his own hand, on the records of the town, of 
 which he was then the clerk. 
 
372 HISTORY or great barrington. 
 
 The residence of Mr. Bryant in the first year of his 
 married Hfe — 1821-2 — was in the house now of Ralph 
 Taylor, which he then occupied jointly with Mrs. 
 Ruth F. lyes. 
 
 John C. "Wliiting, son of General John Whiting, 
 was admitted to the bar in 1825, was in practice here a 
 few years with his father, but remoyed to New York, 
 and ^died there May 7, 1834. 
 
 The late Honorable Increase Sumner, a natiye of 
 Otis, was admitted to the bar in 1825, and in that year 
 settled in this town in the practice of his profession, 
 which he continued to his decease, January 7, 1871. 
 For more than forty years Mr. Sumner was a promi- 
 nent man in town, county and state affairs. 
 
 These, with the exception of a few who practiced 
 for short periods, are all the lawyers settled here pre- 
 yious to 1840. In addition to the foregoing, Charles 
 N. Emerson, Henry "\Alieeler, Thomas Twining, and 
 John Price, all now deceased, were practicing lawyers 
 here between 1844 and 1860. 
 
 Besides the magistrates, lawyers and others who 
 haye been mentioned, a few indiyiduals, prominent in 
 conducting the affaii's of the town in the early part of 
 the century are worthy of notice. Of these was Lu- 
 cius King, a natiye of this town, son of Asahel King, 
 who died in 1756, and a nej^hew of Major AVilliam 
 King. Lucius King was born April 16, 1749. and had 
 his residence from 1772 to 1826, in a low brown house 
 which stood on the east side of the old road, east of 
 the riyer. He is remembered by the older citizens as 
 a tall, large man, moderate in his moyements, of pleas- 
 ant disposition, strong good sense, and sound judg- 
 ment. That these qualities were recognized by his 
 townsmen is apparent from the fact that he was called 
 to serye them in the capacity of selectman for twenty- 
 four years, first from 1794 to 1808, inclusiye, fifteen 
 consecutiye years, second for three years, 1810-11-12, 
 and last for six years, 1819-25. He was also frequent- 
 ly the moderator of the town meetings, and seryed in 
 the General Coui't in 1811. Haying grown old in the 
 seryice of the town, Mr. King remoyed, with his son 
 Harry, about 1826, to Malone, N. Y., and died there. 
 
WAINWKIGHT KELLOGG BECKWITH. 373 
 
 David Wain Wright, a native of Wallingford, Conn., 
 born December 27, 1750, came to this place a Httle 
 earlier than 1776, and in that year — February 19 — 
 married Kuby Youngiove, daughter of Timothy Young- 
 love of this town. His early residence here, and as 
 late as 1785, was on the farm now John A. Cone's, 
 west of Green River, but about 1790-92, he removed 
 to the old Ingersoll brick house in the south part of 
 the village, in which he lived to the time of his de- 
 cease. Mr. Wainwright was a firm supporter of the 
 Episcopal Church, and long filled a prominent place in 
 the transaction of town business. He was selectman 
 for five years— 1809-13— and represented the town in the 
 legislature in 1794, 1806-8-9-10. Short in stature and 
 portly, his personal appearance was in keeping with 
 his character, substantial and determined. He w^as the 
 father of the late William Wainwright and of General 
 Timothy Wainwright — conspicuous in the old militia of 
 the county — who removed more than forty years since 
 to Wisconsin, and died there. David Wainw^right died 
 at the age of 80, May 21, 1831 ; his wife survived him 
 until January 18, 1846, and died at the ge of 89. 
 
 Ezra Kellogg, Esq., from Colchester, Conn., who 
 came about 1775, and whose first appearance here is 
 as a member of Captain William King's company of 
 minute men in that year, married, four years later, 
 Mary Whiting, daughter of Lieutenant Gamaliel AVliit- 
 ing. He became a prominent citizen, sustained vari- 
 ous offices, and was long the principal Deputy Sheriff 
 of the town. He was an honest, straightforward man, 
 and highly respected. Mr. Kellogg was the father 
 of the late Misses Kellogg ; and of his large family of 
 children none are now living. He died September 29, 
 1833, aged 79. 
 
 Deacon George Beck with, from Lyme, Conn., about 
 1807, settled where Wellington Clapp resides, on the 
 road to Stockbridge. Deacon Beck with, long one of 
 the leading men in the Congregational Church, was an 
 eminently good man, and a valuable citizen. He was 
 a man of excellent judgment, conscientious and public- 
 spirited, and exerted a salutary influence in all the 
 moral, religious and seculai* affair's of the town. 
 
CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 DAYS OF RECREATION— MILITIA— CHANGES IN IN- 
 HABITANTS—POLITICS—LIEUTENANT GEORGE 
 WAINWRIGHT— WILLIAM PHILLIPS. 
 
 The early part of this century was a season of peace, 
 and in some degree, of prosperity. The inhabitants 
 of the town were slowly emerging from that gloomy 
 condition depicted by President Dwight, and presented 
 in a former chapter, from which he — a few years later 
 — observed some evidences of recovery. 
 
 This improvement ma}^ be said to date from 1806, 
 when a fresh interest in the support of the Gospel and 
 of schools appears to have arisen, and when a few 
 valuable additions were made to the inhabitants and 
 to the business of the town. Still the increase of pop- 
 ulation in that first decade — 1800 to 1810 — was only 
 thirty. This improvement was checked by the war of 
 1812-15, which was an unpopular measure with the 
 people, and of which little or no mention is made in 
 the town records. But the depressing effects of that 
 war, the enhancement of prices and derangement of 
 the currency, Avere severely felt by the town. 
 
 There was but little wealth among the inhabitants, 
 and the general style of living, even later than 1830, 
 was characterized by plainness, frugality and econ- 
 omy, in strange contrast with that of the present day. 
 There was, too, in that time more sociability and 
 neighborly familiarity, with less of ceremony and os- 
 tentation than now exists ; and — as we believe — there 
 was more native talent, general intelligence and man- 
 iiness of character among the young men of the 
 town, than there is to-day. But dissipation abounded, 
 
HOLIDAYS THE MILITIA. 375 
 
 and many of the younger men were swept away. So- 
 cial gatherings, balls, frolics, quiltings, bees and rais- 
 ings were frequent, and in these all classes participated. 
 
 The '' Election Day" — the last Wednesday of May — 
 the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, and the days set 
 apart for General Training and military parade, com- 
 prised the holidays. Christmas was observed, mainly, 
 by the Episcopalians, and on Christmas Eve the old 
 chui'ch south of the village, with its numerous windows 
 brilliantly illuminated, was always crowded. The 
 " Election Day" was, however, the universal holiday^ 
 and the rule prevailed amongst the farmers that corn 
 planting must be finished by that day in order for its 
 enjoyment. It was a day of general hilarity, with no 
 prescribed forms of observance, though ball playing 
 was ordinarily included in the exercises, and frequently 
 the inhabitants of adjacent towns were pitted against 
 one another in the game of wicket. Wrestling, too, 
 was a common amusement on that day, each town hav- 
 ing its champions. 
 
 The old IVIilitia system of the state, requiring the 
 enrollment, organization into companies, equipment, 
 and disciplme of all citizens capable of bearing arms, 
 is a thing of the past. But in the latter part of the 
 last and the early part of the present century the mili- 
 tary organization was an imjoortant institution, and re- 
 ceived the attention and support of the best men in 
 the commonwealth. In the years of peace which fol- 
 lowed the war of 1812-15, military discipline became 
 ii'ksome, fell into disrepute, and finally ceased in this 
 section about 1835-6. Whilst the military organiza- 
 tion was maintained with spu'it and a good degree of 
 discipline, its offices were considered posts of honor, 
 and were often the stepping stones to political prefer- 
 ment. 
 
 The Militia of Great Barrington, eighty years ago, 
 formed part of the Ninth Division of the state, in 
 which John Ashley of Sheffield, Thomas Ives of Great 
 Barrington, Joseph Whiton of Lee, and John Whiting- 
 of Great Barrington — perhaps successively — officiated 
 as Major Generals ; General John Whitmg having been 
 elected to that office about 1816. The town militia in 
 
376 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 its later years comprised three companies ; one each of 
 Light Infantry, Cavahy, and Artillery. Amongst the 
 later officers here, we recall Timoth}^ Wainwright, 
 Brigadier-General ; Ebenezer Chadwick, Colonel ; John 
 Chatfield, Major ; Levi Kilborn, Captain of Infantry : 
 Richard Bump, Gilbert Munson and George Turner, 
 Captains of Artillery — there were many others. David 
 Leavenworth was Major of Artillery, a position previ- 
 ously for a long time occupied by Dudley Woodworth. 
 
 In addition to the companies we have mentioned, 
 a new compan}- of Light Infantry, composed of Great 
 Barrington, Sheffield and Egremont men was formed 
 in 1829. Of this company David Ives was chosen 
 Captain and Clark A. Wilcox Lieutenant. Captain 
 Ives had been educated at a military school, and took 
 pride in infusing into his company more sj^irit and a 
 higher regard for discipline than existed in the old mil- 
 itia ; and his company is still remembered as having 
 made a very creditable appearance at the General 
 Training. Captain Ives having been promoted to the 
 office of Colonel, Clark A. Wilcox was chosen Caj^tain 
 of the company in 1833, and after about two years was 
 succeeded b}' Da-\dd Hudson — who commanded to the 
 final disbandment of the company in 1836. 
 
 Many still remember the awkward and grotesque 
 appearance of the Militia in its later parades : the 
 booths along the street with gingerbread and beer ; 
 the Artillery practice in rear of the old tavern sheds ; 
 the dashing show of the plumed " troopers" : and the 
 drunkenness and carousal which attended the days of 
 General Training. 
 
 The Artillery Comj^any was supplied with two fine 
 brass field pieces — six pounders — the property of the 
 state. These, with their equipments, were stored in 
 the old gun house, which stood near where Frederick 
 N. Deland's barn now does, just south of the Congre- 
 gational chui'ch. The cannon and equipments were 
 reclaimed by the state and taken to Boston, at the 
 time of the Main.e boundary disputes, forty years ago. 
 
 Some, also, remember a Brigade review, ordered to 
 be held here in 1825 — perhaps the first and certainly 
 the last ever held in town — at which the Commander- 
 
THE MILITIA. 
 
 377 
 
 in-Chief, Governor Levi Lincoln, was present to review 
 the troops. The day proved so thoroughly rainy that 
 the review could not be held, though the Military were 
 on hand for the occasion. The principal headquarters 
 were at the old tavern east of the bridge then kept by 
 Harry Seeley, and the musicians, forty or more m num- 
 ber, found shelter from the storm in the old meetmg- 
 liouse near by. . 
 
 It was with reference to Governor Lmcoln s visit 
 on this occasion, that Mr. Bryant (who entertained a 
 preconceived dishke for the Governor) wrote, not long 
 .after, in his "Meditation on Khode Island Coal;" 
 
 " And I have seen — not many months ago — 
 
 An eastern Governor in Cbapeau bras, 
 
 And mihtary coat, a glorious show ! 
 
 Eide forth to visit the reviews, and ah ! 
 
 How oft he smiled and bowed to Jonathan ! 
 
 How many hands were shook and votes were won !" 
 
 But Lincoln did not need for popularity here, as 
 the inhabitants, a few months before, had cast their 
 votes unaniyyioudy for him, a compliment repeated the 
 next year with but one dissenting vote. 
 
 Tlie only occasion on which the militia of Great 
 Harrington was called upon to perform pubUc service 
 was in 1814, when six hundred privates with officers 
 and musicians were detached from the Ninth Division 
 for the protection of Boston and its harbor against 
 the British. The men thus detached— di'afted— were 
 ordered to rendezvous at the house of Calvin Burn- 
 ham, in Lenox, on the 14th of September, with theu^ 
 .arms, equipments, blankets, knapsacks, and three days' 
 provisions, where they were formed into a regiment of 
 eight companies, and immediately marched to Boston. 
 It'^is remembered that Timothy turner went with his 
 team carrying the baggage of the soldiers from this town 
 to Boston. On the occasion of the draft for this expedi- 
 tion, the town Militia were paraded on the west side 
 of Main street, opposite the old tavern. Captain John 
 T'ord— the commander— held a hat containing the 
 tickets for the draft, from which each man in turn, 
 stepping forward, drew his ticket. Some of the men 
 .drafted were pleased and elated, and others affected 
 
378 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON, 
 
 even to tears. But the expedition proved a bloodless- 
 one, and the service was not arduous. 
 
 Jabez Turner of this town, now living at the age of 
 85 years in New York City, was a soldier in the regu-- 
 lar army, and participated in the battle of Fort Erie, . 
 September 17, 1814. 
 
 So far as we know, Great Barrington lost but one " 
 man in the war of 1812. That one was Adolphus Bur-- 
 ghardt — son of " Corner John" — who was killed at the 
 battle of Plattsburg, by a chance shot after the action 
 was over. 
 
 The Military organization in this vicinity passed 
 out of existence about 1835-6, leaving among our in-- 
 habitants a long list of worthy men — since sadly de- 
 pleted — wearing the titles of Captain, Major, Colonel, - 
 General, etc. 
 
 Earlier than 1800, many inhabitants had emigrated 
 to Vermont, New York, and Pennsylvania, and after 
 that date a large number went to the Genesee country " 
 and to Ohio ; still later to Illinois, Wisconsin and 
 Iowa. The descendants of the early dwellers of the 
 town are scattered throughout the West, in all the 
 States and Territories. 
 
 In the first years of the " Gold Fever"— 1849-50— 
 many young men went to California. Most of these 
 returned : several died, amongst whom we recall Thorn- 
 as Moore, Lewis Kipp and Jared Seeley ; John M. 
 Gushing remamed, as did also Henry T. Gibson and 
 Charles A. Sumner, who went later. 
 
 The population of the town has been subject to 
 constant change : while many have emigrated, more 
 new comers have taken their places. Prominent, 
 amongst the latter, earlier than 1810, were James A. 
 Hyde, George Beckwith, Allen Henderson from New 
 Hartford, Conn. ; Samuel and Gamahel H. Barstow 
 frOm Sharon, Conn. ; David and Isaac Leavenworth,. 
 Ebenezer Pope originally from Lebanon, Conn. ; Sam- 
 uel Ilile}^ and Timothy Pelton : between 1810 and 1820 
 — William Cullen Bryant, John Chatfield from Oxford, 
 Conn. ; Charles and Ralph Taylor, Alvenus Cone, and 
 Charles Foote, all from Colchester, Conn. ; between 
 1820 and 1830 — John C. and Asa C. Russell, Increase- 
 
PROMINENT CITIZENS. 379* 
 
 Sumner, Elijah Foster, Gilbert Munson, William M. 
 Battell, Daniel Wilcox, Linus Manville, Washington 
 Adams and Benjamin Peabody; between 1830 and 
 1840 — Noble B. Pickett, Augustine and Daniel E. Gid- 
 dings, Enos Foote, George Taylor, John C. Cone, John 
 D. Gushing, Joshua E. Lawton, Phineas Chapin, John 
 H. Coffing, George W. Sterling, John W. Couch, Hen-- 
 ry Loop, William S. Stevens, William and George 
 Stanley, and Philip Barnes. There were many others. 
 
 Death has made fearful mroads upon our popula- 
 tion, and of the heads of families residing here sixty 
 years ago, very few remain. Of the 310 voters in the 
 list for the spring of 1818, two only now reside here,, 
 to wit : Sylvester Hulbert and Oliver Watson, and,, 
 probabl^^, no others are living. 
 
 Prominent amongst the men active in town affairs 
 between 1810 and 1830, were David Wainwright, Lu- 
 cius King, Moses Hopkins, David Leavenworth, James 
 A. Hyde, John Whiting, Ebenezer Pope, George H. 
 Ives, William C. Bryant, John Seeley, Benjamin Rog- 
 ers, Samuel Rosseter, Isaac L. Van Deusen, and George* 
 Beckwith. Among those most prominent between 
 1830 and 1850 — and several of them later — were 
 Charles W. Hopkins, David Ives, Edward P. AVood- 
 worth, George Pynchon, Increase Sumner, Ralph Tay- 
 lor, Gilbert Munson, Benjamin Peabody, Prentice- 
 Com stock, Philip Barnes, Henry Loop, Isaac Seeley, 
 Charles Foote, Almon I. Loring, Joshua R. Lawton,. 
 Augustine Giddings, Loring G. Robbins, Jacob H. 
 Van Deusen, Charles N. Emerson, and Samuel Newman. 
 
 Since the dissolution of the old Federal party, the 
 town has been generally Whig in politics until 1856,. 
 and later Republican ; though on local issues the Re- 
 publican and Democratic parties are, frequently, quite 
 evenly matched. 
 
 In the spring of 1812, a branch of the Berkshire 
 Washington Benevolent Society was instituted here, 
 of which Doctor David Leavenworth was the presiding 
 officer and Major Samuel Rosseter secretary. This 
 organization had a large membership, and was in ex- 
 istence about two years, holding its meetings in the 
 Leavenworth Hall, and exerting some influence in the 
 
380 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 politics of the day. The only recorded item of inter- 
 est in its proceedings, is the award of a silver medal, 
 made by the society, September 15th, 1812, to Samuel 
 C. Buel of Tyringham, for his exertions in saving sev- 
 eral persons froip drowning on Six Mile Pond, on the 
 23d of July, 1812. The medal was duly struck and 
 presented, and the pond, in later years, has received 
 the name of " Lake Buel," appropriately commemora- 
 tive of the heroic act of Mr. Buel. 
 
 The most remarkable political event of the time 
 was the HaiTison and Tyler — "Tippecanoe and Tyler 
 too" — Convention of the 26th of August, 1840, when 
 the largest assemblage of people ever witnessed in the 
 village was gathered. The inhabitants came from all 
 the towns within a radius of fifteen or twenty miles. 
 Log cabins on wheels, with cider barrels and coon 
 skins, and banners of all forms and defaces, graced the 
 procession. The gathering place was in the lot, then 
 vacant, next south of the Congregational church, where 
 a stand for the speakers was erected. The multitude, 
 estimated at from fifteen to twenty thousand, was ad- 
 dressed by Joshua A. Spencer and Mark H. Sibley — na- 
 tives of the town — and by George N. Briggs, then mem- 
 ber of congress, while Joseph Hoxie from New York — a 
 notable singer — entertained the people with political 
 songs. 
 
 In the Mexican war Great Barrington had one rep- 
 resentative worthy of particular notice, to wit : 
 
 Lieutenant Qeorge Wainwright. 
 
 George Wainwright, a son of General Timothy 
 "Wainwright, and grandson of David Wainwright, Esq., 
 was born in this town August 6th, 1820, and passed 
 the days of his boyhood here. His youthful proclivi- 
 ties, decidedly martial — heightened, perhaps, by a few 
 months' tuition at the Academy in Canaan, N. Y., un- 
 der Captain Richard H. Ashley, a graduate of West 
 Point — led him to seek and obtain the appointment of 
 Cadet from the Berkshire district. He entered the 
 United States Military Academy at West Point in Au- 
 gust, 1840, graduated four years later, was commis- 
 sioned Brevet Second Lieutenant of Company K., U. 
 
LIEUT. GEORGE WAINWRIGHT. 381 
 
 S. Infantry, and joined his regiment at Tampa Bay, 
 Forida, just at the close of the Seminole war. At the 
 beginning of disturbances with Mexico, Lieutenant 
 Wainwright was ordered to Corpus Chris ti, Texas, and 
 was attached to the Eighth Infantry, General Worth's 
 Brigade. This Brigade, 3,300 strong, began its march 
 of 130 miles, for Matamoras, Mexico — over a desert 
 prairie nearl}^ destitute of wood and water — on the 9th 
 of March, 1846, and was engaged in the battles of Palo - 
 Alto, May 8th, and Kesaca-de-la-Palma, May 9th. In 
 these battles. Lieutenant Wainwright distinguished 
 himself by his bravery, was wounded in the neck, and 
 received a complimentary notice in General Orders. 
 The Eighth Infantry formed part of the advance corps 
 of the Army of Occupation, moving in August, 1846, 
 under General Taylor upon Monterey. 
 
 On the morning of September 22d, General Worth's 
 Division stormed the Bishop's Palace at Monterey. In 
 this attack, while ascending the hill, waving his sword 
 and cheering on his men. Lieutenant Wainwright was 
 struck by a ball in the right arm, which also pierced 
 his side, followed a rib and passing along the back 
 lodged under the left shoulder blade. While leav- 
 ing the field, he refused the proffered assistance of one 
 of his men, and slowly descended the hill. When near 
 the foot, General Worth rode up and hastily demanded 
 " Why an officer had left the field," to which Lieuten- 
 ant Wainwright, raising the shattered arm with his left 
 hand, replied: "This is my answer." General Worth 
 dismounted, examined his condition, directed a staff 
 officer to assist him to the hospital, and, remounting, 
 laid his hand on Wainwright's shoulder, and exclaimed : 
 "Wamwright, I would give ten thousand dollars for 
 that wound." 
 
 Lieutenant Wainwright remained at Monterey, after 
 its capitulation, until his wounds were healed, and was 
 ordered to Saltillo ; but for three months he was una- 
 ble to do duty wdth his company. He continued at 
 that place until his division was ordered to join Gen- 
 eral Scott at Vera Cruz. Leaving Saltillo, January 
 10th, 1847, he was able to walk with his company only 
 five days ; but he was determined to go with it, and 
 
382 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 iresorted to all sorts of expedients — wagon, horse, jack, 
 .or mule, to do so. AVriting to a friend, he remarked : 
 "Come what may, I intend to go with my regiment 
 .through this entii-e w^ar, unless death interferes.'' He 
 took part in the seige of Vera Cruz, in March, andw^as 
 .at Cerro Gordo, though not in the battle, as his regi- 
 ment was with the reserve. On the 20th of August 
 General Worth's division carried San Antonio, and on 
 the 8th of September stormed Molino-del-Rey and 
 Casa-de-Mata, the w^estern defences of Chapultepec. 
 In these battles Lieutenant Wainwright w^as severely 
 wounded in the leg, and was carried to a small village, 
 w^here he remained until after the troops entered the 
 .city of Mexico, when he, with other wounded, was 
 transferred to that place. His wounds, in consequence 
 ■of neglect, assumed a very dangerous condition, and 
 kept him confined most of the following winter. 
 
 He returned to Great Bariington in the spring of 
 1848, shattered in health and broken down by the 
 ^effects of climate, hardships, and wounds. For a time 
 his health apparently improved, and in July he went 
 to Brooklyn, N. Y., where his commission as Lieuten- 
 iint reached him ; but he failed rapidly, and died there, 
 .at the house of George E. Ives, August 3d, 1848, at 
 the age of 28 years. His remains were brought to 
 this place, and his funeral was attended at the Episco- 
 pal church. He was buned in Egremont. 
 
 One native of Great Barrington fell a victim to the 
 jage and barbarity of the Missouri Border Ruffians in 
 the attempt to force a Pro-slavery government upon 
 Kansas ; 
 
 William Phillips, 
 
 Who was a son of Samuel Phillips — an early inhab- 
 itant of the Beartown District — became a lawyer and 
 settled at Leavenworth, Kansas. When, at the elec- 
 tion of the first Territorial Legislature — March 30th, 
 1855 — Kansas was invaded by ruffians, and every elec- 
 tion district, but one, carried by force in the interest of 
 the Pro-slavery pai'ty, William Phillips saw fit to sign 
 a protest against the frauds practiced. A few days 
 Bfter, he was seized by a mob, taken to Weston, Mis- 
 
WTELLIAM PHILLIPS. 383 
 
 ssouri — eight miles distant — tarred and feathered, rid- 
 den upon a rail, and sold at auction to a negro who 
 was compelled to purchase him. Again, at the muni- 
 cipal election — September 1st, 1856 — Leavenworth was 
 invaded by a large body of ruffians, who, under pre- 
 tense of searching for arms, plundered the dwellings 
 of the inhabitants. Mi'. Phillips refused to submit to 
 their search, and bravely defended his house against 
 the assailants, killing two of them, but was himself 
 shot down and killed, m his house, which was after- 
 wards burned. His brother, Jared Phillips, who as- 
 sisted in the defense, had his arm shattered by a bul- 
 let, rendering amputation necessary. Jared Phillips 
 
 , afterwards returned to this place, and a few years later, 
 while accompan3dng a band of adventurers, overland, 
 
 ; to California, is suj^iDosed to have been slain by Indians. 
 
CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 CHUECHES, EELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS, AND 
 CEMETERIES. 
 
 The Congregational Church. 
 
 In the pages devoted to Parish history we havej.. 
 quite fully, presented the early history of the Congre- 
 gational Church. This we now briefl}^ recapitulate. 
 
 The i^arish — then the North Parish of Sheffield — 
 was formed by legislative enactments of 1742 and 1743. 
 The first meeting-house was erected in 1742 ; and the 
 first minister known to have officiated here was the 
 Rev. Thomas Strong — afterwards settled in New Mail- 
 boro — who preached here for a time, probably as a 
 candidate, in 1742-3. 
 
 The parish committee, for providing preaching,, 
 secured the services of Rev. — afterwards Doctor — 
 Samuel Hopkins, who came early in July, 1743. Mr,. 
 Hopkins, after preaching thi-ough the summer, to the 
 acceptance of the j^eople, was invited, by the unani- 
 mous vote of the parish proprietors — September 9, 
 1743 — to settle here in the work of the ministry, and 
 was accordingly ordained December 28th of that j'-ear. 
 On the same day with the ordination of Mr. Hopkins,, 
 the church was organized with five members besides its- 
 pastor. To these, twelve were added on the 5th of 
 Februai'y following, and seven others during the year- 
 1744. 
 
 Jonah Pixley was the first deacon of the churchy, 
 having been chosen, probably, at its formation ; he 
 died August 18, 1759. Other deacons earlier than 
 1840, were : 
 
 Timothy Hopkins, chosen in 1753, died about 1773; Israel 
 Root, chosen May 10, 1773, died October 7, 1809 ; Daniel Nash^ 
 chosen May 10, 1773, died May 6, 1794 ; Ehjah Kingsley, chosenz. 
 
REV. SAMUEL HOPKINS. 385 
 
 May 25, 1797, Eleazer Barrett, chosen April 3, 1800, dis- 
 missed 1816; William Remele, chosen May G, 1808, died Octo- 
 ber 17, 1832; George Beckwith. chosen October 11, 1811, died 
 September 25, 1842 ; Elias Arnold, chosen January 12, 1827, 
 resigned 1835; Gilbert Ford, chosen January 12, 1827, died 
 December 25, 1840; Allen Henderson, chosen May 1, 1835, died. 
 January 15, 1856. 
 
 Mr. Hopkins continued in the pastoral office twen- 
 ty-five years, and was dismissed January 19, 1769. 
 During these years one hundred and sixteen persons 
 were received into the church ; forty five by letter and 
 seventy-one by profession. 
 
 The Kev. Samuel Hopkins, D. D., was a native 
 of Waterbur}^, Conn., born September 17, 1721. He 
 was fitted for college under the tuition of Kev. John 
 Graham of Woodbury, Conn., and entered Yale Col- 
 lege at the age of sixteen years, whence he graduated 
 in 1741. He pursued his theological studies with the 
 Rev. Jonathan Edwards of Northampton, and was 
 licensed by a body of Connecticut ministers to preach, 
 April 29, 1742. After preaching a few times at Water- 
 bury he returned to Northampton for the purpose of 
 continuing his studies with Mr. Edwards, where he 
 remained during the summer of 1742, occasionally oc- 
 cupying Mr. Edwards' pulpit, and sometimes preaching 
 in adjacent towns. In the autumn of 1742, he sup- 
 plied the pulpit of Rev. Doctor Bellamy for a time, at 
 Bethlehem, Conn., and afterwards ministered to the 
 people of Simsbury, where he had a call to settle ; 
 which he declined. In May, 1743, he returned to 
 Northampton and resumed his studies, and from thence 
 came, early in July, to this place, where he was or- 
 dained December 28, 1743. 
 
 It was with many misgivings that Mr. Hopkins ac- 
 cepted the call to settle here, for he had serious doubts 
 as to his own fitness for the place, and a few months" 
 acquaintance with his prospective parishioners had 
 given him an unfavorable opinion of their general char- 
 acteristics. In the main the connection of Mr. Hop- 
 kins with the church, during the earlier years of his 
 ministry was, apparently, a pleasant one, though he 
 met with many difficulties and disappointments, and 
 was less successful in the conversion of his hearers, 
 
 25 
 
386 HISTORY OF GREAT BAERINGTOX. 
 
 and ill elevating the standard of the morals of his peo- 
 ple than he desu-ed. His preaching was doctrinal and 
 argumentative, and his style of delivery unattractive. 
 He was evidently deficient in elocution, and paid but 
 little attention to it, nor did he make any attemj^ts at 
 oratorical display. But as a thinker, an investigator 
 and writer, Mr. Hopkins excelled. His pubhshed 
 works have given him a world-wide reputation. He 
 was in many respects a remarkable man, and gifted 
 with wonderful powers. 
 
 Mr. Hopkins was an industiious man, and labored 
 hard for the welfare of his parishoners, exerting an in- 
 fluence for good which extended far beyond his own 
 church and people — an influence which was felt long- 
 after his removal from town. His church and people 
 were strongly attached to him, and parted with him re- 
 luctantly, for the simple reason that the town would 
 not afford him support. After his dismission from this 
 church IVIi'. Hopkins removed to Newport, Ehode 
 Island, and was installed over the First Congregational 
 Church of that place, April 11, 1770. With the ex- 
 ception of a time during the Revolution in which the 
 British occupied Newport, ]\Ii\ Hopkins remained in 
 charge of that church to the time of his decease, De- 
 cember 20, 1803. The Rev. Samuel Hopkins was 
 twice married. His first wife was Joanna IngersoU, 
 daughter of Moses IngersoU of this town, whom he 
 married January IB, 1748: she died here August 31, 
 1793, in her sixty-eighth year. His second wife was 
 Miss Elizabeth West of Newport, R. I., whom he mar- 
 ried September 14, 1794, and who survived him. 
 The children of Rev. Samuel Hopkins and Joanna 
 IngersoU were : 
 
 David, bom December 2, 17+8, resided in Maryland, and 
 died there ; 
 
 Moses, born March 13, 1750-51, a prominent citizen of this 
 town, died here March 9, 1838 ; 
 
 Levi, born March 31, 1753, died in Virginia ; 
 
 EKzabeth, born March 6, 1755, married Doctor John Sibley, 
 died October 25, 1790 : 
 
 Joanna, born May 9, 1757, married Mr. Fisher, died 
 
 June 15, 1786 ; 
 
 Samuel, born September 6. 1759, resided on the homestead, 
 in this town, until 1806, or later ; 
 
REV. ISAAC FOSTER REV. ELIJAH WHEELER. 387 
 
 j^lioda, married Capt. John Anthony, died Septem- 
 
 ^' Darnel, — died in Maryland, February 26, 1788, aged 
 
 twenty -four years. 
 
 From the dismissal of Mr. Hopkins to 1787, a pe- 
 riod of eighteen years, this church was without a set- 
 tled pastor, though several ministers w^ere from time 
 to time employed for short terms. Still, during much 
 of that time the pulpit was not regularly supplied, 
 and in this interval only twelve persons were added 
 to the church. „ ^^_ ... . ^ 
 
 The Kev. Isaac Foster, a native of VVallmgiord, 
 Conn.— born April 21, 1755— and a graduate of Yale 
 college in 1776, was settled over this church May 4, 
 1787?^ The ministry of Mr. Foster was, apparently, 
 acceptable to his parishioners, but, as had been the 
 case with Mr. Hopkins, the people were unwilling to 
 afford him an adequate support. He was dismissed 
 May 4, 1790, after a pastorate of exactly three years, 
 in which five persons were admitted to the church. 
 Mr. Foster was afterwards settled in the ministry at 
 Pittsgrove, N. J., and died there June 2, 1794. 
 
 For sixteen years after the dismission of Mr. Fos- 
 ter, the church had no settled pastor, and in that time 
 preaching was intermittent and occasional, though 
 when there was no preaching, religious meetings w;ere 
 held and sermons read on the Sabbath. In this period, 
 though eleven persons were added to the church, the 
 number of its members dwindled to twenty. 
 
 The third minister settled over this church was the 
 Rev. Elijah Wheeler, who came here in the fall of 1805, 
 and after having preached for a time, was employed, 
 the next spring, for one year. He was so well pleas- 
 ing to the people that he was soon after invited to set- 
 tle here, and was accordingly ordained September 24, 
 1806. Mr. Wheeler was a native of Pomfret, Conn., 
 born August 28, 1767. He was educated as a phy- 
 sician, and practiced medicine in South Britain, Conn., 
 but later studied theology and entered the ministry in 
 1804. The salary paid Mr. Wheeler— only $300 per 
 year— was raised by an annual sale of pews in the old 
 jneeting-house and by tax upon the members of the so- 
 
388 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 ciety. But it was found difficult to raise even this 
 small sum, and the society was continually in arrears. 
 The ministry of ^Ii\ Wheeler, of more than sixteen 
 years' duration, was highly useful and successful. In 
 that time one hundi-ed and fifty-two persons were re- 
 ceived into the church — nineteen by letter, and one 
 hundred and thirty-three by profession. Mr. A\Tieeler 
 entered earnestly into all the little expedients adopted 
 for promoting the welfare and elevating the character 
 of the people, and endeared himself to them. He was 
 dismissed on account of failing health, Februaiy 12, 
 1823, and died here March 20, 1827. 
 
 On the same day with the dismissal of IVIi-. ^Miee- 
 ler, the Kev. Sylvester Burt was installed over this 
 church. Mr. Burt, who had been previously settled in 
 the ministry in AYarren and in New Marlboro, was a 
 native of Southampton — born September 30, 1780 — 
 and a graduate of Williams College in 1801. He con- 
 tinued in the pastoral office here nearly thii'teen years, 
 and to the time of his decease, January 10, 1836. 
 During his ministry one hundred and ninety-seven per- 
 sons were admitted into the church — sixty-three by 
 letter, and one hundi'ed and thh'ty-four by profession. 
 A council had been called to consider the proposed 
 dismission of Mr. Burt, but his death intervened and 
 his funeral was attended on the day appointed for the 
 meeting of the council. 
 
 The Rev. Josiah W. Turner succeeded Mr. Burt, 
 and was ordamed and installed pastor of this church 
 April 19, 1837. The ministr}- of Mr. Turner was a 
 useful and pleasant one ; he was much beloved, and a 
 strong mutual attachment existed between him and his 
 parishioners. Mr. Turner was dismissed, at his own 
 request, September 30, 1850. Diuing his ministry, 
 the church, on the occasion of the Centennial anniver- 
 sary of its organization, December 28, 1843, observed 
 the day with appropriate services. At the close of the 
 ceremonies, the Rev. J. W. Turner, after a few re- 
 marks, presented the following motion, which was 
 unanimously adopted : " Voted, that this meeting be 
 adjoui'ned to this place until the 28th of December, 
 Nineteen Himdi'ed and Forty-Three, at eleven o'clock 
 
MINISTERS. 389 
 
 in the forenoon, for the purpose of celebrating the 
 second Centennial Ainiiversary of this Church." A 
 sermon delivered by the Eev. John Todd of Pittsfield, 
 on this occasion, was afterwards published, in connec- 
 tion with a historical sketch of the church and the 
 town by Mr. Turner. 
 
 The Eev. Stephen S. N. Greeley, the sixth pastor 
 of this church, a native of Gilmanton, N. H., and a 
 graduate of Dartmouth College in 1835, was installed 
 February 4, 1852, and w^as dismissed, at his own re- 
 quest, March 3, 1857. 
 
 The Kev. Horace Winslow succeeded Mr. Greeley, 
 and was installed January 5, 1858. He was dis- 
 missed March 19, 1862, in order that he might as- 
 sume the duties of Chaplain in a Connecticut regiment, 
 in the army. During the ministry of Mr. Winslow, 
 the present house of worship was built ; and its erec- 
 tion is due largely to his energy and enterprise. 
 
 A vacancy of nearly two years in the parochial 
 office followed the dismissal of Mr. Wmslow. This 
 was eventually filled by the Kev. Royal B. Stratton, 
 who was installed March 1, 1864, and dismissed De- 
 cember 14, 1866. 
 
 The present pastor. Rev. Evarts Scudder, was in- 
 stalled over this church, June 12, 1867. 
 
 Until 1814, the Congregational society worshiped 
 in the old meeting-house east of the bridge. In 1813, 
 individuals connected with the society united in build- 
 ing a new church in the central part of the village, 
 which was completed in the latter part of that year. 
 The building committee consisted of Deacon George 
 Beckwith, Captain Jabez Turner, and Doctor David 
 Leavenworth ; and Captain John Ford was the builder. 
 The proprietors of the meeting-house, at a meeting 
 held December 28, 1813, invited the society to occu- 
 py it, and the invitation was accepted at a Society 
 meeting held the same day. The house was accord- 
 ingly dedicated December 30, 1813, and the society 
 continued in occupancy until 1859, when the building 
 was removed to Bridge street, where it still stands. 
 
 The present church, of blue lime stone, was erected 
 by the society, upon the site of the second one, in 1859^ 
 
390 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 at a cost — including bell and organ — of about $22,000 ; 
 to this, a chapel was added in 1878, at an additional 
 cost of $5,470. 
 
 The St. James Episcopal Church. 
 
 We have already detailed the early history of the 
 Episcopal Church in Great Bariington, the cii'cum- 
 stances in which it had its origin, with some account 
 of its founders and of its first permanent missionary 
 and Rector. This church is reputed to have been " in- 
 stituted about 1760 by the Rev. Solomon Palmer," but 
 the certificate of the Rev. Thomas Davies, prmted in a 
 former chapter, indicates that he himself gathered this 
 church, September 21, 1762. 
 
 In 1770, the Rev. Gideon Bostwick, on his return 
 from England, whither he had been to receive Holy 
 Orders, was settled over this cliurch, at first as a mis- 
 sionary, and later as pastor and rector. Mi\ Bost- 
 wick remained in charge of the church until his de- 
 cease m 1793. 
 
 After the death of IVIi'. Bostwick, the pulpit was 
 supj)lied for a time by Mr. David B. Lynson, and in 
 1795, by ]VIi'. Caleb Child ; but the church was with- 
 out a settled minister until about 1805-6, when the 
 Rev. Samuel Griswold. from Simsbury, Conn., became 
 its pastor and continued until 1820. 
 
 Mr. Griswold was succeeded in 1821, by the Rev. 
 Solomon Blakesly — a native of North Haven, Conn., 
 and a graduate of Yale College in 1785 — who remained 
 untn May, 1827. 
 
 In September, 1828, the Rev. Sturges Gilbert, who 
 had been previously settled in Woodbury, Conn., was 
 placed over this church and continued in the pastoral 
 office until the spring of 1839, when he removed to 
 Hobart, N. Y. 
 
 The vacancy caused by the removal of IVIr. Gilbert, 
 was soon filled by the Rev. Samuel Hassard, whose 
 pastorate was terminated by his death January 13, 1847. 
 
 Since that time the following clergymen have offi- 
 ciated in this church, in the order in which they are 
 named, though we have not the dates of settlement or 
 terms of service : Rev. S. D. Dennison, 1848-9 ; Rev. 
 
CLERGYMEN. ^^^ 
 
 Justin Field, 1850-1; Rev. John Woart, 1851-54; 
 Rev W. Wood Seymour, 1855 ; Rev. G. Lewis Piatt, 
 1856-58 • Rev C. A. L. Richards, 1859-60 ; Rev. John 
 T. Huntington, 1862 ; Rev. Robert Weeks 1864 ; Rev. 
 John H. Rogers, 1865 ; Rev. Dr. John C. Eccleston, 
 1866; Rev. Henry Olmstead 1867-72 ; 1^^^^ O. R 
 Starkey, 1873-75 ; Rev. Daniel G. Anderson, 1875 the 
 present Rector. In addition to these the late Rev. 
 Jesse A. Penninian has at times officiated m this Church 
 
 The first church of the Episcopal Society, erected 
 in 1764, continued in use until 1833, when it was taken 
 down, and another, more centrally located, was built 
 the same year. This building-of blue stone—divest- 
 ed of its tower and pillars, and converted to busi- 
 ness uses, still stands, at the corner of Mam and 
 Railroad streets. 
 
 The present church of this society— also ot blue 
 limestone— was erected in 1857, at a cost of $16,000. 
 
 Trinity Church— Van DeiisenxUle. 
 During the ministry of the Rev. Sturges Gilbert— 
 in 1829— for the purpose of accommodating those who 
 dwelt in the north part of the town, the Episcopal So- 
 ciety erected a chapel at Van Deusenville, and Mr. 
 Gilbert, for several years, held services alternately m 
 his own church and at that place. 
 
 In 1839, a separate church— the Trinity Church- 
 was organized at Van Deusenville, of which the Rev. 
 Lewis Green was— from 1849— for about twelve years, 
 the Rector. The Rev. Jesse A. Penmman, Rev. 1. A. 
 Fiske Rev. S. P. Parker, and others have since had 
 the pastoral charge of this church. At the present 
 time Rev. Daniel G. Anderson is the Rector of both 
 the Trinitv and St. James churches. . 
 
 The Van Deusenville Society took down their 
 chapel in 1866, and erected upon its site their present 
 church edifice. The original chapel was of brick, and 
 the o-round on which it stood was the gift ot Captain 
 Isaac L. Van Deusen, who was also a liberal contribu- 
 tor towards its erection. At the building of the chapel 
 __1829— the corner stone was laid with Masonic cere- 
 monies, and in a receptacle prepared for it, was placed 
 
392 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 a box containing papers and other articles pertinent to 
 the occasion, though of small pecuniary value ; but 
 when, forty- one years afterwards, the building was 
 taken down, neither the box or any relic of its con- 
 tents could be found. 
 
 The Congregational Church at Housatonic. 
 
 At Housatonic a Congregational Church was organ- 
 ized June 18, 1841, with eighteen members, to which 
 forty-one were added two dajs after ; and the mem- 
 bership was increased to eighty-two before April of the 
 next year. jVIi\, afterwards Rev., Charles B. Boynton, 
 officiated as a supply to this church — holding meetings 
 in the school-house — until October, 1842, when the 
 meeting-house — just completed — was dedicated, and 
 Ml'. Boynton was installed as pastor. Mr. Boynton 
 remained until April, 1845, when he was dismissed at 
 his own request. 
 
 The Rev. Ebenezer B. Andrews was ordained and 
 installed over this church April 29, 1846, and continued 
 in the pastorate until April 4, 1849, when he too was 
 dismissed at his own request, for the reason that the 
 collapse of the manufacturing interests of the village 
 rendered the society unable to sustain him. 
 
 Following the dismissal of Mr. Andrews, the church 
 was without a settled minister for nineteen yeai's ; 
 though during that time its pulpit was quite regulai'ly 
 supplied. The Rev. D. N. Merritt officiated as a sup- 
 l^ly from June, 1849, to November, 1851 ; the Rev. R. 
 O. Humphi-ev for nearlv a year from July, 1852 ; the 
 Rev. Jacob (3. IVIiller in 1853; the Rev.^ Edward J. 
 Giddings from April, 1855, to November, 1857 ; the Rev. 
 Josiah Brewer from 1857 to 1866, nearly nine years, 
 when he was succeeded by the Rev. Amos G. Lawrence. 
 
 In 1869, June 2, the Rev. T. A. Hazen was in- 
 stalled over this church, and continued to his dismissal 
 July 31, 1871. The Rev. Ai-chibald Buipee officiated 
 in 1872, but was removed by death December 1, 1873. 
 The present pastor. Rev. Charles W. Mallory, was or- 
 dained and installed June 18, 1874. 
 
 T%e Methodist Churches. 
 
 The Methodist Episcopal Church of Great Barring- 
 
METHODIST CHUKCHES. 393 
 
 -ton traces its origin to the efforts of a few individuals, 
 first exerted in the spring of 1830, who, a few months 
 later, were formed into a class, of only seven mem- 
 bers, of which Comfort Koberts was the leader. John 
 Hai-mon — a prominent man among the early Metho- 
 dists of the town— the next year became a class leader 
 .and an exhorter. This denomination in 1833, had in- 
 creased to three classes. The meetings of the Metho- 
 dists, at first assembled at private dwellings, were later 
 held at the Water Street school-house, and were at- 
 tended at stated intervals by preachers of the circuit to 
 which this town belonged. 
 
 By 1841, the attendance at these meetings became 
 numerous, and a little later, the school-house being too 
 small to accommodate them, they were held at the town 
 house. In the revival, of the winter of 1842-3, the 
 Methodists received a considerable accession to their 
 numbers. Meetings continued to be held at the town 
 house until it was burned in November, 1844. 
 
 The Methodist Church was organized in 1842 ; and 
 in 1845 the society erected the church in this village — 
 since enlarged— in which it still worships. Until 1846 
 the pulpit was supplied by circuit preachers ; and since 
 that time, resident ministers, under regular appoint- 
 ments, have had charge of the church. 
 
 There is, also, at Housatonic, in the north part of the 
 town, a Methodist Church and Society, organized a few 
 years since, with a house of worship erected in 1871. 
 
 The Methodist Episcopal Zion Society (colored) 
 has an organization, and is now maintaining regular 
 preaching. This society has a site in the south part 
 of tlie village, and material gathered with which it 
 purposes soon to erect a church edifice. 
 
 Other Denominations. 
 
 There are in the town two Churches of the Roman 
 
 ^<C^tholic denomination, one in the village, the other at 
 
 Housatonic. The church in the village has a large and 
 
 regularly attending congregation. Its church edifice 
 
 was erected in 1854, and that at Housatonic in 1877. 
 
 A Baptist Society was incorporated by the legisla- 
 i.nre in 1802. This society was composed mostly of 
 
394 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 inhabitants of Muddy Brook and the east part of the- 
 to^Yn, and in 1808, numbered ninety members, over 
 whom Elder John Nichols for several 3'ears presided,- 
 It has now long been extinct. 
 
 Ceineteries — The South Burial Ground. 
 
 The South Burial Ground, now called the Mahaiwe^ 
 Cemetery, is the first place of interment of the white 
 inhabitants of the town. The early recorded history 
 of this burial place is yery brief. The Settling Com- 
 mittee, in diyiding the township, laid out to the right 
 of Joshua Root a lot of ten acres, bounding east and 
 north on the highway, with a frontage of twenty-eight 
 rods on the east, and extending west so far as to con- 
 tain the prescribed area, or about fifty-eight rods. The 
 committee, in their record of this lot, made a reserva- 
 tion for burial purposes, as follows : "It is determined 
 there shall be a Burying Place att je nor-east corner 
 of ye last mentioned Lott, Six Rods north and south 
 ten rods east and west." And this, for the space of 
 one hundi'ed and fourteen jxars from the time of its 
 first occupancy, is all the written history we have of 
 this cemetery. 
 
 As population and burials increased, a much larger 
 area was occupied than had been reserved by the com- 
 mittee, though no records of additions to the original 
 plot are found, and it is to be presumed that it was 
 enlarged by the consent of the owners of the ground,, 
 at a time when the land was of much less intrinsic 
 value than at the present day. In 1844-5 about one^ 
 and one-half acres were added to this burial ground 
 by pui"chases made by the town and by individuals ; 
 and a few years later a further addition was made to 
 the south side by other individuals. 
 
 The Mahaiwe Cemetery Association, a corporation! 
 organized in 1873, in that year, added nearly nine acres 
 on the west side of the old burial ground. This addi- 
 tion has, in part, been laid out and improved. The' 
 whole cemetery now includes not only the original ten 
 acre lot of Joshua Root, with its little burial plot of 
 six by ten rods, but much more. 
 
 Joshua Root, who died in 1730, was the first per- 
 
CEMETEKIES. 395^ 
 
 son known to have been buried in the South Burial 
 Ground. His burial place, marked by a rough block 
 of limestone — as well as the graves of other members 
 of his family — is a short distance south of the plot re- 
 served by the committee ; and other early interments' 
 appear to have been made outside the limits of the plot. 
 
 With the exception of the Pixleys, Phelpses and 
 Van Deusens, it is probable that most who died in 
 town previous to 1743, were buried in this cemetery,, 
 though we find but one inscribed tomb-stone dating be- 
 tween 1730 and 1749, and but few of an earlier date than. 
 1760. But the unmarked graves are very numerous. 
 
 Here rest the Ingersolls, Piers, Nobles, Youngloves, , 
 Deweys, and many other pioneers of the settlement,, 
 "the rude forefathers of the hamlet," with neither 
 monuments to perpetuate their memories or epitaphs'^ 
 to misrepresent their virtues. 
 
 The Upper Burial Ground. 
 
 The Upper Burial Ground east of the Great Bridge- 
 came into use for interments soon after the erection of 
 the meeting-house, in 1742. This ground, at first a. 
 small plot in rear of the meeting-house, was gradually 
 extended eastward, but no records of additions made 
 to it for the space of a hundred years are found. Tra- 
 dition affirms that the land on which the meeting-house 
 was built, with the common on the west and the buriaL 
 groiuid on the east of that building, was the gift oi' 
 David Ingersoll to the parish. But, if we mistake not,, 
 no recorded evidence exists that Mr. Ingersoll ever 
 had a title to the land. Indeed a strict construction 
 of the proprietor's records, indicates that Joseph No- 
 ble acquired a title to the premises by a pitch made in. 
 1743 — after the meeting-house was built. 
 
 In 1846, this burial ground was slightly enlarged 
 by including within its western border a small strip of 
 land on which the meeting-house, and later the town 
 house, had stood ; and again, the next year, a large- 
 addition was made on its southern side, by a purchase, 
 by the town, of one acre, and also by a gift of the 
 Misses Kellogg and Deacon Francis Whiting of two- 
 acres ; the donors, however, reserving for their own use 
 one-half of the two acres. 
 
396 HISTORY OF GREAT HARRINGTON. 
 
 In this, as in the lower cemetery, very many graves 
 are unmarked by inscribed monuments. The most 
 ancient inscription — 1747 (should, we think, be 1745) 
 is found on the tomb-stone of Eeuben King ; but this, 
 as well as some monuments to other members of the 
 King family, was erected by Major William King as 
 late as 1808, in accordance with the provisions of the 
 will of his sister, Huldah King, who died in that year. 
 
 77? e Van Deusen Burial Ground. 
 
 This Cemetery which lies a little remote from the 
 highway, and west from the dwelling house of the late 
 Joseph K. Pelton on the road to Stockbridge, originally 
 a private burial place of the Van Deusen family, was 
 located on land of the first Isaac Van Deusen. Here 
 more than a century since, Fiche, the wife of Isaac 
 Van Deusen, was laid to rest, and he himself, dying at 
 the age of ninety-two years, in 1794 was here buried. 
 Since that time many others of the Van Deusen family 
 have been buried in this ground, including "Wise" 
 Isaac, who died in his sixty-fourth year, in 1831. 
 
 On the south side of this ground, and without the 
 fence which encloses it, the negro slaves of the early 
 Dutch settlers of that neighborhood, are reputed to 
 have been interred — a httle removed from then- 
 masters ; but time and cultivation have obliterated 
 then- unmarked graves. 
 
 This burial place remained private property until 
 1819, when Joseph Pelton, into whose possession it 
 had fallen conveyed it to the town. 
 
 The Pixley Burial Ground. 
 On the west side of the Stockbridge road, and a few 
 rods south of the dwelling of Warren Crissey, is — or 
 rather there was f onnerly — a private burial place of the 
 Pixley and Phelps families. Here Jonathan Pixley the 
 settler, and many of his descendants were buried, and 
 the ground continued in use until within the present 
 century. The latest interment at this spot, was that 
 of Benajah Dunham who died, at the age of eighty-four 
 years, January 17, 1837. A fate only too common 
 with private cemeteries in New England, has attended 
 this burial place. The land on which it is situated, 
 
CEMETERIES. 397 
 
 having passed from the possession of the Pixley family, 
 has been plowed and cultivated, the mounds leveled 
 and obliterated, and even the memorial stones have 
 been removed and buried in the ground. No trace now 
 remains to indicate that the spot was ever a place of 
 sepulture. 
 
 Other Burial Grounds. 
 
 In addition to those we have mentioned, there is in 
 Muddy Brook a burial ground, used principally by the 
 inhabitants of that section for more than eighty years 
 past, and which was enlarged by the town more than 
 twenty years since. 
 
 A small burial place in the village of Housatonic 
 has been nearly filled since that place was settled, and 
 the town has witliin a few years laid out another, of 
 about ten acres, south of Housatonic, for the accommo- 
 dation of that part of the town. 
 
CHAPTEE XXVni. 
 
 ^nfPROVEMENT OF WATER POWER BELOW THE 
 
 GREAT BRIDGE— THE KELLOGG MILL— 
 
 THE LEAVENWORTH MARBLE WORKS 
 
 —THE SEEKONK DISTILLERY. 
 
 In a former chapter we have given some account of 
 :the mills and nron works of David Ingersoll, erected 
 below the Great Bridge in 1739, and of the mills of 
 Jsrael Dewey, lower down the stream, which were built 
 in 1762. The water power, extending fi'om the bridge 
 southerly, has, from the early settlement to the j^resent 
 itime, been an important factor in the business and 
 prosperity of the town. Its importance was recognized 
 .by the Setthng Committee, who, by special decree, 
 sequestered it for the use of the inhabitants. David 
 .Ingersoll occupied this priAilege under a surreptitious 
 ititle, or with no title at all; and his works had in part 
 disappeared or fallen into disuse at the time of the in- 
 rcoi'poration of the town. 
 
 This town asserted its rights to the premises in 
 1762, and granted to Israel Dewey the whole of the 
 water power, on condition that he should erect and 
 maintain mills for the accommodation of the inhabitants. 
 Dewey's mills, built in 1762, stood in the rear of the 
 present residence of Hemy Dresser — the old Major 
 Samuel Rosseter j^lace. These mills were maintained 
 '^nd operated by Mr. Dewey, and by his sons Justin 
 -and Hugo, until 1791, when they were sold to Major 
 Thomas Ingersoll and Moses Hopkins, together with 
 ithe rights and privileges of the stream, which had 
 jDeen gi-anted by ihe iowji io .Mr.jDewey. Messrs. In 
 
IIVIPROTEMENT OF WATER POWER. 399 
 
 gersoU & Hopkins, returning to the old privilege of 
 David IngersoU, built a grist-mill on the west and a 
 .saw-mill on the east side of the river, their dam occu- 
 pying the site of the old one of David IngersoU. These 
 works — perhaps begun in 1791 — were completed by 
 or in 1792. 
 
 The old red grist-mill is still well remembered, w4th 
 the plaster mill and wool carding establishment after- 
 wards added at its south end. This mill stood upon 
 the spot where the large wood building — formerly the 
 flouring mill of the Berkshire Woolen Company — and 
 now a part of then* manufactory — does. The river 
 bank at this point w^as formerly high, steep and rocky, 
 
 :.and as the mill stood at the foot of the slo2:>e, a ravine 
 of considerable depth, was left between the mill and 
 the road ; access to the mill was had by a bridgeway 
 
 .over the ravine. It was here, February 7, 1824J that 
 
 . Emanuel Hodget, one of the relics of Burgoyne's Hes- 
 sian soldiery, came to his death by falling from the 
 
 .bridge on to a pile of mill stones below^ The grist 
 
 .mill and the saw mill appeal' to have constituted all the 
 
 .improvements made by Messrs. IngersoU & Hoj^kins. 
 But in the same year — 1792 — Major Dudley Wood- 
 
 ^worth leased of IngersoU & Hopkins a sufficient water 
 power, on the east side of the river, for dri^dng a bel- 
 lows, trip hammer, and grinding stone, and there set up 
 the manufacture of scythes in a builcling already erected, 
 which stood south of the saw-mill. Major Woodw^orth 
 had previously made scythes by hand, in a shop which 
 
 tstood just north olthe lane leading to the Center school 
 house, as has been mentioned. 
 
 In 179)5, Major. IngersoU conveyed his interest in 
 
 .the mills to Moses Hopkins, who is presumed to have 
 
 ^occupied them until 1799. In 1798, the property was 
 taken . into possession, under a mortgage, by William 
 
 _Bacon of Sheffield, Truman Wheeler, David Wain- 
 wright and Thomas Ives of Great Barrington, and was 
 
 pleased by these gentlemen, for a short time, to Moses 
 Hopkins. From 1799 to 1802, the mills were operated 
 
 ,by Thomas, Ives ancl Doctor Joshua Porter in the in- 
 terest of the mortgagees under the name of the " Union 
 
 JMills" or Eorter.&Jves,;. and it is probable that in this 
 
400 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 period, machinery was added to the works for grinding- 
 plaster, as plaster was evidently ground there in 1801. 
 In March, 1802, the property was in possession of. 
 Thomas Ives and Dudley Woodworth, who carried oii 
 the works under the firm of Ives & Woodworth until 
 the decease of General Ives in 1814. During this period,, 
 and long afterwards, the mills retained the title of 
 "The Union Mills." 
 
 It is an interesting fact in connection with these- 
 works that the first machine for the carding of wool, in 
 this part of the country, was here set up. This ma- 
 chine was introduced b}' Messrs. Booth & Gibbs, who 
 occupied the Henderson house, and who seem, for sl 
 time, to have been engaged in trade here. The wool 
 carding machine was set up in the upper story of the 
 grist mill, probably in the spring of 1803, at least, it is. 
 known to have been operated there by Booth & Gibbs 
 in July of that year, and to have been running as late 
 as June, 1804. The last part}- connected with it is 
 mentioned as the "Carding Machine Company" and 
 as " Scoldfield, Smith & Woodworth." This machine is. 
 supposed to have been taken down and carried to West 
 Stockbridge, as General Ives' books show that he caused 
 the machine — probably the same — to be transported, 
 to that place on the 23d of June, 1804. 
 
 The enterprise of Booth & Gibbs — perhaps an ex- 
 perimental one — seems to have encouraged Ives & 
 Woodworth to put up new and permanent carding^ 
 machinery. Ives & Woodworth, in the summer of 
 1804, erected a building south of the grist-mill for the 
 accommodation of carding machinery and for the gi'ind- 
 ing of plaster. It is still remembered that at the raising- 
 of this mill, a bottle of rum was thrown from the frame 
 far into the river, causing a great scramble of men audi 
 boys, in the water, for its possession. This was not,, 
 then, an unusual custom. In October 1804, a new 
 carding machine with its api^endages was set up in this 
 building. The woodwork of the machine was done 
 here by Elnathan Judd, and General Ives, as his books 
 show, had obtained the necessary cards in Boston the 
 preceding winter. The new machme was soon put in 
 operation. In 1805, Lewis L. Gorham ran both the- 
 
IMPROVEMENT OF WATER POWER. 401 
 
 carding machine and the plaster mill, receiving as a. 
 compensation one-tliird of the profits of the business. 
 Mr. Gorham was, subsequently, for several years con- 
 nected with the running of the mills. 
 
 Down to 1812, these works consisted of agrist-mill, 
 plaster mill, and the carding machinery on the west 
 side of the stream, and on the east side, of a saw mill 
 and the trip hammer shojD — or scythe manufactory — of 
 Major Woodworth. Fulling mills and cloth dressing 
 machinery were subsequently added to the carding 
 machine building, and all of these works were main- 
 tamed until 1835 or later. 
 
 In 1812, Major Samuel Rosseter and Hopkins & 
 Henderson obtained a lease of water power from 
 Messrs. Ives & Woodworth, and set up machinery for 
 rolling leather in the upper part of the trip hammer 
 shop. This w^as in use as late as 1819-20. 
 
 About 1816 or 1817, Messrs. Chamberlain & Alden 
 put up machinery for the purpose and began the 
 manufacture of cut nails in the trip hammer shop ; but 
 this industry was not of long continuance, and after 
 two or three years these gentlemen removed their 
 machinery to Williamsville, West Stockbridge. 
 
 About 1823 or 1824, Major Charles W. Hopkins 
 erected a tannery, south of the carding machine build- 
 ing, and used part of the water power in his business. 
 The tanner}^ w^as a long building standing close to the 
 river, and some feet below the level of the roadway. 
 Major Hopkins also took down the old David Ingersoll 
 dv/elling-house which stood on the west side of the 
 way, and built his own house dkectly in rear of the 
 site of the old one. The house built by Major Hopkins 
 still stands — next north of the old Gorham tavern. In 
 order to make raom for his tannery, between the high- 
 way and the river, he caused the road at this point, to 
 be extended a short distance westerly. The tannery- 
 of Major Hopkins, which he occupied for ten or fifteen 
 years, remained until 1858, when it gave place to the 
 present stone factory of the Berkshire Woolen Company. 
 
 The mills we have mentioned continued in opera- 
 tion under different parties, representing the Ives & 
 Woodworth interests, until about 1826, when Charles 
 
 26 
 
402 HESTOKY or GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 Taylor and David Ives began business there, erected 
 the brick store and dwelhng house, west of the bridge, 
 :and ran the mills in connection with their store. In 
 order to supply themselves with brick for their build- 
 ing Messrs. Taylor & Ives opened a clay bed near the 
 Pixley Brook — afterwards long worked by Aaron Biut 
 — and manufactured there the first brick made at that 
 spot. They also built a shingle mill — afterwards burned 
 -down — at the south end of the saw-mill, aod revived 
 the manufacture of scythes in the old trip hammer 
 shop. This industry was continued to 1835 or later. 
 Maverick Jennison was the scythe maker, and his 
 scythes had an extensive sale and good repute in all this 
 region. l\Ii'. Jennison, about 1836, removed to Bing- 
 hamton, N. Y. The industries of Taylor & Ives, and 
 later of David Ives, were continued until 1835 ; and in 
 the spring of that year new carding machinery was set 
 up ill place of the old, and the business of carding and 
 cloth di'essing was cai'ried on under the direction of 
 Erastus Hull. 
 
 The change from the old to the new in the history 
 of this water power dates from 1836 : and since that 
 time — with the exception of the savr-mill — all of the 
 earher buildings and improvements have been swept 
 away. In 1835, David Ives sold to Thomas W. Tal 
 madge, of Poughkeepsie, and others, the giist-mill, 
 plaster mill, and clothier's works on the west side of 
 the river, the trip-hammer shop, his one half interest 
 in the saw-mill, and other property on the east side. 
 The purchasers — afterwards incorporated as the Berk- 
 shke Ii'on Company — erected a forge and puddling 
 works for the manufacture of blooms from pig-u'on, 
 on the site of the old trip-hammer shop. This was 
 run for several jesivs under the supervision of William 
 S. Stevens and Frederick Plumb. These works were 
 burned in the summer of 1845, but were soon rebuilt, 
 and were carried on by Wilham S. Stevens and Ben- 
 jamin Cole ; the last named manufacturing blooms as 
 late as 1849. Not long after this date the forge and 
 buildings were removed, and the site was afterward 
 occupied by the present machine shoj) of the Berk- 
 shii-e Woolen Company. Duiing these years 1836-49 
 
THE BERKSHIRE WOOLEN COMPANY. 403 
 
 the grist mill and its appendages remained intact, with 
 the exception that an addition was made about 1845, 
 by Major Loring G. Bobbins, to the north end of the 
 mill, and was fitted with machinery for flouring. The 
 mill thus improved, w^as for a few years operated by 
 Naaman Ford. 
 
 At nearly the same time with the purchase made 
 by Talmadge and others — in 1835 — David Ives sold to 
 Messrs. J. C. & A. C. Eussell a building site on the 
 river, together with water rights, immediately south 
 of the Hopkins tannery. On this site the Messrs. 
 Eussell, in 1836, erected a factory of moderate dimen- 
 sions and entered upon the manufacture of w^oolen 
 goods — cassimeres. This business was soon after 
 merged into the Berkshu-e Woolen Company which 
 had been incorporated in 1836, and of which the Messrs. 
 Eussell were the business managers, and eventually 
 the principal stockholders. 
 
 The Berkshire Woolen Company gradually increased 
 its manufacturing facilities by the purchase' of all the 
 immediate water power and buildings on both sides of 
 the river, and the erection of extensive works including 
 the large stone factory — built in 1858-9 on the site of 
 the old tannery — and a machine shop on the site of 
 the forge, on the east side of the river. The origmal 
 factory of the Eussells — erected in 1836 — was destroyed 
 by fire in December, 1864. 
 
 The grist-mill, after sixty years of service, was 
 taken clowm by the Berkshire Woolen Company in 
 1852, who built upon its site a flouring mill and added 
 to their business the grinding of wheat floui\ This 
 mill w^as successfully operated until 1865, w^hen, to 
 meet the increasing demand upon their manufacture, 
 the Woolen Company removed the flouring apparatus 
 and substituted machinery for the manufacture of 
 w^oolen goods in its stead. 
 
 Previous to 1836 there was but one building on 
 the river bank betw^een the tannery of Mark Eosseter, 
 at the foot of the hill in Water Street, and the Hop- 
 kins tannery. This 07ie was the smithery of Abram 
 Deming, which stood where the smith's shop of Michael 
 Kelley now does. And on the west side of the street 
 
404 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 there were but three dwellings between the brick store 
 — by the bridge — and the dwelling of the late Gideon 
 M. Whiting. The street was then ojDen to the river, 
 and though rough and unimproved was very attractive ; 
 but the manufacturing industry in that quarter has 
 since lined the river bank with store houses, shops, and 
 tenements, and the dwellings of operatives have spread 
 over a large area to the north and east of the bridge. 
 
 Lower down the stream, the original mill privilege 
 of Israel Dewey, abandoned b}' Ingersoll & Hopkins in 
 1791, remained unoccupied until 1847. In that year 
 Horace H. Day — a native of the town, whose name had 
 been long associated with the India-rubber manufac- 
 ture of the country — erected the dam at that point, 
 and the buildings still standing on the east side of the 
 stream, and began the manufacture of India-rubber 
 fabrics. This business, which promised to be an im- 
 portant industiw to the town, after four or five years' 
 continuance was abandoned for want of sufficient water 
 power for its successful prosecution. 
 
 Soon after its erection, it was claimed by the Berk- 
 shire Woolen Company that IVli'. Day's dam caused 
 back water upon their wheels. After some controversy 
 between the parties, the Woolen Company forcibly 
 removed a portion of ^Ii\ Day's dam. The damage 
 was promptly repaired by ]Mi\ Day. But a long, ex- 
 pensive, and severely contested litigation ensued. In 
 a final hearing of the case before the United States 
 Court at Boston, in 1849, the decision was adverse to 
 Mr. Day, and he was eventually obliged — in 1852 — to 
 cut down eleven inches in the height of his dam. The 
 consequent reduction of water power destroyed the 
 value of the privilege for his manufacturing purposes, 
 and ^Ii'. Day afterwards removed his machinery. The 
 buildings, since unoccupied, are now falling to decay. 
 
 Still further down the river, and nearly in rear of 
 the Congregational chm'ch, John C. "V^Tiiting, about 
 1826 or 28 — we have not the date — damed the stream 
 and built a saw-mill. Mr. "Whiting's enterprise was 
 not a success for the reason that his works were set so 
 low down on the meadow that he failed to obtain the 
 full fall of water which the stream, a little higher up, 
 
THE KELLOGG MILL. 405 
 
 afforded, while at the same tnne the lower part of his 
 mill was exposed to inundation in times of high water. 
 This mill, never capable of doing effective work, and 
 but little used, stood many years unoccupied, and then, 
 after short service as a carpenter's shop, was converted 
 into a tenement. The dam long since succumbed to 
 the force of the freshets and disappeared. 
 
 The Kellogg Mill. 
 
 We have made allusion to the cloth dressing works 
 of Daniel Eathbun, established at the Kellogg Mill on 
 the Green Kiver, about 1760. Stephen King, then 
 living on the Alanson Church place, owned the land on 
 both sides of Green River at this point, and it is not 
 improbable that he succeeded Mr. Eathbun in the 
 cloth dressing business. The works, though still owned 
 by Mr. King, were conducted by Major John Kellogg, 
 apparently as early as 1776. Stephen King conveyed 
 to Major Kellogg — November 4, 1779 — for the consid- 
 eration of £4, 10s., one-half acre of land on the west 
 side of the stream, with the fulling mill and building, 
 and the privilege of " turning and fixing water for said 
 mill." Major Kellogg carried on the business of cloth 
 dressing during his life time, and it was continued by 
 his son, the late John Kellogg, and other members of 
 his family, down to about 1835, when an upper story 
 was added to the mill, woolen machinery was intro- 
 duced, and the Green Eiver Manufacturing Company 
 instituted the manufacture of satinets, which they, 
 and after them Charles T. Kellogg, continued for sev- 
 eral years. This manufacture was finally suspended 
 and the machinery removed. Charles T. Kellogg then 
 converted the building into a grist-mill, for which pur- 
 pose it is still used. 
 
 The Leavenworth Marble Works. 
 
 Three-fourths of a mile above the Kellogg mill, on 
 the Green Eiver, is a quiet, secluded nook, on land 
 now of J. M. Mackie, remote from the highway and 
 formerly covered with a fine grove of sycamores — a 
 favorite resort of the poet Bryant during his residence 
 here. Here William Leavenworth — son of Doctor 
 
406 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 David Leavenworth — conceiving the idea of utilizing 
 the marble which crops out near the river, purchased 
 land in 1828, and soon after erected a dam, and a mill 
 for sawing and polishing marble. He also built, near 
 by, two dwellings for the accommodation of his work- 
 men, and a store house for the product of his mill. 
 Ml'. Leavenworth succeeded in obtaining some marble 
 of good quality and finely variegated, which he pre- 
 pared for market. But the product seems not to have 
 compensated for the outlay. Mr. Leavenworth con- 
 tinued the business for a few years and was succeeded 
 by John Dixon, from Albany, about 1833-4, who oper- 
 ated the works for a time, sending his product to New 
 York, Albany and other places. It is said that the 
 floor of the hall of the Revere House in Boston is from 
 the marble of this quarry, furnished by Mr. Dixon. 
 
 This business, never very remunerative, was con- 
 tinued as late as 1843, by Philip Barnes ; but the 
 works were soon after abandoned. The mills went to 
 decay, one of the dwellings was burned, and the other, 
 later, taken down ; and now little remams to indicate 
 the site of the works, except the bolt holes in the 
 rocks, where the dam and foundations of the mill 
 were secured. 
 
 The Seekonk Distillery. 
 
 AVe have already chronicled the improvements of 
 water power and the erection of mills at Seekonk. In 
 
 1838, Alexander W. and Henry Sawjer from Cornwall, 
 Conn., built a large addition to the grist-mill, and in 
 
 1839, began the erection of a distillery for the manu- 
 facture of gin and whiskey. They also, the next year, 
 built a store and put in a stock of goods. The distil- 
 lery went into operation in 1840. The Messrs. Saw- 
 yer were, about that time, joined by Charles Sawyer, 
 and the business of distilling, milling, and merchan- 
 dising was carried on under the firm of C. & A. W. 
 Sawyer & Co. But by the death of A. W. Sawyer — 
 in the spring of 1841 — the failure of the firm, which 
 soon followed, was precipitated. The projDertj^ not 
 long after, went into the possession of Orren Curtis 
 by whom — and later by his sons — the business of dis 
 
THE SEEKONK DISTILLERY. 407 
 
 tilling was long continued. This distillery, though 
 furnishing a convenient market for the grain of the 
 farmer, for years cursed an otherwise attractive neigh- 
 borhood with its effluvia and influences. The proper- 
 ty again changed hands ; and though for fifteen years 
 occasionally used for the manufacture of cider brandy, 
 the distillery fell to decay and was taken down in 1881. 
 Of the participants at the raising of the building Dan- 
 iel Warner, an old- time resident of Seekonk, was the 
 only representative at its demolition. 
 
CHAPTER XXIX. 
 IMPROVEMENTS AT VAN DEUSENVILLE. 
 
 John Williams, a somewhat conspicuous character 
 amongst the esirlj settlers of the tipper Township, 
 may be considered the pioneer in the improvements 
 made at Van Deusenville. The proprietors of the 
 township — December 19th, 1749 — granted to Mr. Wil- 
 liams "the stream, commonly called the Old Saw-Mill 
 Brook, and land sufficient for an accommodation of 
 setting a saw-mill and giist-mill on said stream, in case 
 the said WiUiams erect and perfect said mills within 
 the space of one yeai' after the passing of this vote ; 
 the same to remain and to be continued to the said 
 Williams so long as he shall keep said mills in good 
 repak and order." 
 
 The expression, "commonly called the Old Saw- 
 Mill Brook," as applied to the stream — now the Wil- 
 hams River — suggests an earlier occupancy for the 
 purposes of a saw-mill ; but we have failed to find any 
 record of improvements prior to those made by jVIi*. 
 Williams, nor is any tradition of such improvements 
 preserved. It is, however, well known that Peter 
 Burghardt and others had a saw-mill on the stream, 
 about two miles north of Van Deusenville, at an early 
 date — the same afterwards owned by Dimon Bradley 
 and his sons. The first mention we find of this stream 
 is seven years previous to the grant to Mi*. Williams, 
 when it is called "Mill Brook" in the records, a name 
 which it retained for many years, and until supplanted 
 by its present title of Williams River. This name may 
 be supposed to be derived from its occupancy both by 
 
VAN DEUSENVILLE. 409 
 
 ^ John Williams at Van Deusenville, and by Colonel Eli- 
 jah Williams, who erected iron works upon it at West 
 -Stockbridge — then called Queensborough — in 1767. 
 JBut the present name was not in use until after the 
 --erection of the iron works. 
 
 As we have elsewhere written, the Settling Commit- 
 tee, in the original division of the township, did not 
 lay out any land north of the AVilliams River at Van 
 I)eusenville, with the exception of one lot of twenty 
 acres laid to David Ingersoll. This lot bounded south 
 on the river, and included that part of the village lying 
 east of the bridge. It was afterwards owned by Bill 
 Williams, a son of John Williams, as was also another 
 lot of twenty acres lying directly opposite, on the 
 south side of the stream. 
 
 John Williams is supposed to have built his mills 
 in 1750, within the time limited by the terms of the 
 grant. His works consisted of a saw-mill and grist- 
 mill, both of which stood on the north side of the 
 stream a few rods west of the bridge, and near the 
 present furnace dam. The saw-mill was west of the 
 grist-mill, and the dam was a short distance above 
 the present one. Mr. Williams had also a blacksmith's 
 shop in that vicinity. His residence was three fourths 
 of a mile south, at the late Mark Hollenbeck place. 
 The locality was designated as "Williams Mills," later 
 — sometimes — as "AVilliams Upper Mills," in contra- 
 distinction from the works near the Great Bridge, to 
 which, about 1760, Mr. Williams claimed a title. 
 
 The county road from Great Barrington, through 
 Yan Deusenville, to Richmond, was established in 
 1770-1, and was, in part, re-located in 1784. But it 
 appears, from the town records, that a bridge — then 
 ^n old one — was in existence near "John Williams' 
 Upper Mills" in 1766, and this the town voted the next 
 yeai' to rebuild, and appropriated £10, 10. for the pur- 
 pose. In 1778, August 31, the town voted "to build 
 ■a bridge over the Williams Mill JRiver, at the place 
 where the Selectmen shall lay a road." This indicates 
 some change in the location of the bridge. The bridge 
 was rebuilt in that year, at a cost of $306.67, in depre- 
 ciated Continental currency. Thirty-two of the inhab- 
 
410 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 itants were engaged in the work, each receiving $3 
 per day for his labor. The road running east and 
 west through Van Deusenville — the Great Barrington 
 and Alford turnpike — was not built until 1812 or 1813. 
 
 Mr. Williams maintained his mills during his life- 
 time — he died about 1776 — and we find them men- 
 tioned in the survey of the road of 1784, as ''Williams' 
 Old Mills." Mr. Williams is also supposed to have '■ 
 built — perhaps for one of his sons — the house, now 
 the north part of the old tavern, which is reputed to 
 have been erected in 1759. Aside from the mills, 
 smith's shop, and house above mentioned, we have no 
 evidence of other buildings having been put up in the 
 immediate vicinity of Van Deusenville during the oc- 
 cupancy of Mr. Williams, though it is probable that - 
 one or two dwellings then stood a short distance south 
 of the bridge. It is also j^robable that Bill Williams, 
 whose death occurred at nearly the same time with- 
 that of his father, dwelt near by. 
 
 The grant of land for the accommodation of the- 
 mills, expanded into a lot of seventeen acres, which in 
 the appraisal of the estate of John Williams, made" 
 April 25, 1781, is entered as "the mill lot, 17 acres 
 at 30s. — £25, 10s.'' This lot lymg on the north side of 
 the stream, and west of the count}- road, included the 
 mill site and the homestead of Enos Ford — the old 
 tavern stand. After the decease of Mr. Williams, and 
 probably as late as 1781, this property, the mills and 
 mill lot, came into the possession of the original Isaac 
 Van Deusen, and was by him conveyed, December 5, 
 1787, to his son, Jacob Van Deusen, "together with 
 the dwelling house, corn-mill, saw-mill, and other build.- 
 mgs thereon standing." 
 
 Jacob Van Deusen, then forty-six years old and but", 
 recently married, entered into occujDancy of the premises . 
 and continued the mills to his decease in 1812. His 
 dw^elling house — the same conveyed to him by his; 
 father, is the present north or old part of the Enos 
 Ford tavern. It is remembered as having been seventy 
 years ago, an old red house, with a broad stoop across 
 its south end and a wide porch, with seats, about its 
 east entrance door. The south or new part. oi. the 
 
WORKS OF ISAAC L. VAN DEUSEN. 411 
 
 house was added by Isaac L. Van Deusen, about 1826. 
 when it w as made into a tavern ; first kept by George 
 Chase, and later by Phineas Chapin, Henry C. Jewell, 
 and Horace Ticknor. Isaac L. Van Deusen, son of 
 Jacob Van Deusen, succeeded his father in the owner- 
 ship of the Wilhams mills, the homestead and a large 
 surrounding real estate. During his occupancy, the 
 grist-mill was burned, in December, 1829 ; the saw-mill 
 had been previously taken down. 
 
 More than sixty years ago there was a dam on the 
 Williams Eiver, a little east of the present rail-road 
 bridge, from which water was taken in a race-way to 
 run a wool carding and cloth dressing mill w^hich stood 
 some distance below^ on the right hand, or w est side of 
 the stream. These works, apparently erected as early 
 as 1816, were then operated by Amos Church, and- 
 later by Orange H. Arnold and by Martin Pratt. A 
 lane led from where the office of the Iron Company 
 now is — near the bridge — to these w^orks. On the 
 north side of this lane, a little west of the rail-road, , 
 a dwelling house is remembered to have stood, and 
 another house w^as also standing on the site of the one 
 next south of the office. These were then antiquated 
 structures and are supposed to have been connected 
 with the occupanc}^ of the mills by John Williams. 
 
 Down to about 1820, the mills and dwellings we- 
 have mentioned, wdth a saw-mill on the south side of 
 the stream, comprised the principal improvements at 
 Van Deusenville. The Eev. Sylvester Burt, in the- 
 History of Berkshire, 1829, says of Van Deusenville : 
 " On Williams Kiver, half a mile from its entrance into- 
 the Housatonic, where in 1822 there were only one or 
 two dwelling houses, a saw-mill and a grist-mill, there 
 is now a thriving village called Van Deusenville. Here 
 are now eighteen dwelling houses, a post office and 
 tavern, two stores and two factories, one of cotton and 
 the other of woolen. Here also a chaj)el is now build- 
 ing for the worship of God." 
 
 Captain Isaac L. Van Deusen, from whom the village 
 derives its name, was the first to institute the modern 
 improvements at that place. His first important enter- 
 prise was the erection of a woolen factory ; this was-. 
 
412 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 built in 1822-3, on the north side of the stream, west 
 of the bridge and between the old grist-mill and the 
 bridge. This factory, a wood structure painted red, 
 was first operated by Isaac L. Van Deusen and Sidney 
 N. Norton, afterwards by Washington Adams & Co. 
 The goods then, and for several years made, were sati- 
 nets. Mr. Adams, later — about 1837 — substituted 
 cotton machinery for woolen, and from that time 
 manufactured cotton sheetings down to 1847, when he 
 removed to South Adams. The factory remaiaed for a 
 few years unoccupied, and was taken down by the 
 Eichmond Iron Works. Mr. Adams, also, later than 
 1829, built a small brick store near the site of the old 
 Williams grist-mill, then recently burned. 
 
 In 1828, Isaac L. Yan Deusen buUt another fac- 
 tory, lower down and on the east side of the stream, 
 for the manufacture of cotton goods. This was car- 
 ried on for a time by the Berkshire Cotton Company — 
 in which Isaac L. Van Deusen, Wilbur Curtis of Egre- 
 mont, Edward F. Ensign of Sheffield, Major Samuel 
 Rosseter, and others were interested. These works 
 were then, for a long time, conducted under the man- 
 agement of Captain Benjamin Peabodyin the different 
 firms of Peabody, Eldiidge & Coats, Peabody & Coats 
 and Munson & Peabody. Still later, Olney Goffe ran 
 this factory, and during his occupancy — September 
 4, 1861 — it was destroyed by fire. 
 
 Near the site of the clothier's works, which have 
 been mentioned, Washington Adams, about 1837, erect- 
 ed a building for a cotton mill, introduced machinery 
 and operated it for a time. This building afterwards 
 became a chair manufactory, and the business was car- 
 ried on by Captain Benjamin Peabody and Frederick 
 Chapin in 1839, and later by I. D. W. and Orrin Bald- 
 win, who were burned out May 6, 1842. 
 
 In addition to the works we have described, was a 
 saw-mill owned sixty years ago by Deacon Isaac, John 
 C, Jacob H., and Isaac L. Van Deusen. This stood 
 on the south side of the stream, west of the bridge. 
 It was removed by the Richmond Iron Works some 
 years since, to make room for the blowing works con- 
 nected with the blast furnace. 
 
IKON WORKS. 413 
 
 In 1833-4, John C. Coffing and Timothy Chitten- 
 den of Salisbury, Conn., put up a blast furnace for the 
 manufacture of pig-iron, on the south side of the stream 
 at Van Deusenville. The furnace was soon put in 
 operation and was managed by Phineas Cliapin & Co., 
 the firm then including Messrs. Coffing & Chittenden 
 and John R. Montgomery. It was later operated by 
 John C. Coffing, Timothy Chittenden, John H. Coffing 
 and Gilbert Munson, under the firm of Coffing, Mun- 
 son & Co., down to 1844, when it was purchased by 
 the Richmond Ii*on Works. Under the ownership of 
 this company, the furnace was remodeled and improved 
 in 1856-7, and has become one of the most important 
 industries of the town ; in fact the only one, of the 
 several we have mentioned at Van Deusenville, which 
 has survived the changes of time and circumstances. 
 
 In the earlier years of its business, this furnace was 
 in part supplied with ore from the, so-called, Dewey 
 ore-bed, east of Lebbeus M. Pixley's — the same from 
 which David IngersoU obtained ore for his forge, near- 
 ly one hundred years before. The ore for this furnace 
 is now di'awn entirely from West Stockbridge and 
 Richmond. 
 
 The business of rope making, on a moderate scale, 
 was estabhshed at Van Deusenville by Phineas Chapin 
 about 1837, and was continued by himself, and by John 
 M. Fryer until within a few years past. The rope 
 walk, which stood on the meadow in rear of the dwel- 
 ling of Mr. Chapin — now of James Holmes — has since 
 disappeared. 
 
 In addition to the improvements made by Isaac L. 
 Van Deusen, which have been mentioned — he erected 
 about 1825, his dwelling house — now the residence of 
 John H. Coffing — and between 1822 and 1825, a store 
 — a few years since removed — which for a time he oc- 
 cupied in partnership with George Pynchon and Pren- 
 tice Comstock. This store stood on the north bank 
 of the stream directly east of the bridge. 
 
 The enterprises of Mr. Van Deusen and others, 
 with the opening of the road to Stockbridge, by way 
 of Glendale, in 1828, the erection of the Episcopal 
 chapel in 1829, and the establishment there of a post 
 
414 HISTORY OF GREAT HARRINGTON. 
 
 office the same year, gave to Van Deusenville a very 
 considerable business importance. In 1837, the pro- 
 ject of organizing a bank in this town was under agi- 
 tation, and a sharp rivahy existed between the main 
 village and Van Deusenville for its location. In this, 
 Van Deusenville so far prevailed, that a committee of 
 the legislature, deciding in favor of that place, report- 
 ed a bill for the establishment of a bank — "The Wil- 
 liams Kiver Bank " — to be — at Van Deusenville. But 
 the charter was not granted. In 1844-5, after the 
 burning of the town house, while the j^roject of build- 
 ing a new one was under consideration, the inhabitants 
 of Van Deusenville and of the north part of the town 
 were so strenuously in favor of its location at that 
 place, that the town was unable to agree upon it, and 
 finally settled the matter by leasing a hall and aban- 
 doning the project of building. In the days of its 
 greatest prosperity, Van Deusenville had three stores, 
 a tavern, an Episcoj^al chapel, two factories, a chaii' 
 shop, a rope walk, a wagon maker's shop, and a blast 
 furnace. But as we have intimated, with the excep- 
 tion of the furnace, all its manufactuiing industries 
 have passed down the stream of time. 
 
 Isaac L. Van Deusen, to whose energy and enter- 
 prise the village was so largely indebted, and whose 
 resources were impau-ed in building it up, removed in 
 1834, to Grafton, Ohio, and died there. He was high- 
 ly esteemed, represented this town four years in the 
 General Court, 1820-21 and 1827-28, and was also for 
 several vears town treasurer. 
 
rCHAPTEB XXX. 
 
 HOUSATONIC AND ITS INDUSTKIES. 
 
 At the village of Housatonic bordering on Stock- 
 abridge and West Stockbridge, in the extreme north 
 part of the town, no settlements were made earlier 
 than 1809, nor had much been done at that time, 
 towards clearing off the forest which spread over that 
 section. At this place the Housatonic River flowing 
 r.along the western base of Monument Mountain, fur- 
 nishes an abundant w^ater j^ower, and three-fourths of 
 a mile below, where the mountain recedes from the 
 river, other valuable mill sites are obtained. Until 
 within a few years past this, then small, village was 
 limited entirely to the western side of the river, but it 
 has latterly crossed the stream and now spreads over 
 \iSL large area. 
 
 The village is not ancient, for it has grown up en- 
 
 , tirely T\ithin the memory of persons still living, and its 
 
 ^ early history is confined to that part which lies west of 
 
 the river. The lands on both sides of the river at 
 
 Housatonic, are a part of the so called, Equalizing land, 
 
 which the proprietors of the township decreed, in 1749, 
 
 ^ .should be laid out in such a manner as to equalize the 
 
 home lots originally set out to the several settlers. But 
 
 : these lands were not divided until 1770. In making 
 
 .the division there was allotted to the original right of 
 
 .John Burghardt, alias De Bruer, a tract of twenty- three 
 
 Hand one-half acres bounding east, forty-two rods on the 
 
 > river, and extending west on the town line one hundred 
 
 .tand two rods. This tract includes the north-easterly 
 
 . section of the village, .and th^ upiJer water privilege. 
 
416 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 This land as early as 1794, was in possession of 
 Andi"ew Burghardt, who in that year conveyed it to 
 Captain Ezekiel Stone, who then lived about three- 
 foui'ths of a mile north of the town line, in the town of 
 AYest Stockbridge. It was upon this tract that the 
 first improvements made at Housatonic, fifteen years 
 later, were undertaken. Aside from the immediate- 
 farm imjDrovements of the dwellers along the North 
 Plain, the lands between it and the Housatonic river 
 had not to much extent been innovated upon previous: 
 to 1809, and although we have a tradition of a cart, 
 path 23enetrating that section, no public road had as 
 yet been opened through it. It is related that about 
 1807, a daughter of William Turner — then seven or 
 eight years old — wandered from her home, on the late 
 Zalmon T. Bradley place, into the woods, and was lost- 
 Search was made for her during the day and the suc- 
 ceeding night, and she was found the next morning re- 
 clining against a tree near the river bank, a short dis- 
 tance above the "• Dry Bridge," near the present \illage 
 of Housatonic. 
 
 In 1808, Captain Stone was the owner not only of 
 the Burghardt lot but apparently of other land adjoin- 
 ing it on the south. The first step taken towards a 
 settlement at Housatonic was in a purchase made 
 December 8, 1808, of Captain Stone, by Stephen Sib- 
 ley, the clock-maker, and Abel Sherman from Rhode 
 Island, who had resided a short time in this town, and 
 who was an uncle of our late townsman of the same 
 name. Captain Stone owned the land in Stockbridge,. 
 immediately north of the town line, and the j^urchase 
 made by Sibley & Sherman, eleven rods in width at its 
 north end, extended seven rods and nine links nortk 
 into Stockbridge, bounded east on the river, and its. 
 west line ran southerly thirty-five rods and fifteen Imks 
 to a white oak tree on the edge of the river. This tract^, 
 between two and three acres, included "the mill seat 
 adjoining," and was known as the "Mill Yard." It 
 embraced the upper water privilege of the Monument. 
 jVIilis and the ground on which their upper mills stand- 
 Mr. Sibley at the same time bought of Captain 
 Stone two other pieces, of three and one half and six 
 
SIBLEY & SHERMAN. 417 
 
 acres each, lying west and south of the Mill Yard, with 
 a three rod strip between them, "which is contemplated 
 for a public road." This strip is that part of the Main 
 street of the village, which lies between the office of the 
 Monument Mills and the dwelling of Harvey H. B, 
 Turner. Mr. Sherman at the same time purchased 
 eleven acres lying south of the tracts bought by Mr. 
 Sibley. These several purchases included a large part 
 of the village as it was a few years ago, and all the 
 water power on the west side of the river. 
 
 Sibley & Sherman erected a dam, where the upper 
 dam of the Monument Mills now stands, and a saw- 
 mill a little distance below it. The dam and mill are 
 supposed to have been built in 1809. They were 
 standing in May, 1811. Captain Jabez Turner is re- 
 puted to have built the dam, and Elnathan J. Barnes 
 and the late Abel Sherman worked upon it. 
 
 At about the same time with the building of these 
 works, Mr. Sherman erected the first dwelling house 
 in the village. This house is still standing, next west 
 of the Congregational church. The works we have 
 mentioned, together with " a shop " standing in 1813, 
 constituted all the improvements made by Sibley 
 & Sherman. 
 
 In the spring of 1810, the first roads in Housatonic 
 were laid out by the town. These were in part re- 
 located the next year. The road, as a whole, ran from 
 the saw-mill westerly through the present Main street 
 and over the hill to the North Plain. From this road, 
 by the residence of H. H. B. Turner, a branch ran 
 northerly to the town line, where it joined a road pre- 
 viously established by the town of West Stockbridge. 
 
 In 1 813, the late Eber Stone — son of Captain Eze- 
 kiel Stone — built the second dwelling house in the 
 place ; the same in which H. H. B. Turner now resides. 
 Eber Stone was a maker of spinning wheels. These 
 for a time he made by hand in a shop near his house. 
 The fourth house — erected about 1827 — was built by 
 James C. Hyde, upon the site of the new dwelling of 
 Cyrus E. Crane. At the raising of this house the 
 place received the first of the three distinctive names 
 by which it has since been known. When the raising 
 
418 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 was completed, Peter French mounted the frame, and 
 from a lofty perch, threw the customary bottle of rum, 
 at the same time proclaiming "I name this place 
 Babylon ;" and Babylon it was called for the space 
 of ten years. 
 
 In 1814, Ml'. Sherman sold his interest in the lands 
 and improvements at Housatonic to Ezekiel and Eber 
 Stone, and two j^ears later Mr. Sibley conveyed his to 
 the State of Connecticut, presumably exchanging it for 
 lands in Ohio, whither he soon after removed. Even- 
 tually the property owned by Sibley & Sherman came 
 into the possession of the legal representatives of 
 Captain Stone. 
 
 Previous to this, in 1811, Captain Stone purchased 
 of Mr. Sibley, a small piece of ground, eighteen by 
 thirt}^ feet, between the saw-mill and dam, with certain 
 rights to water. But we have no evidence that he 
 utilized this purchase. This he conveyed, in 1818, to 
 Eber Stone and JMilton Ball, who built upon it a shop 
 for the manufacture of spinning wheels, which they 
 together or separately carried on for several years. 
 The saw-mill and wheel shop constituted all the im- 
 provements of the water power made previous to 1825, 
 and there aj^pear to have been but two dwellings in 
 the callage at that time. 
 
 In 1824, October 26, Eber Stone, John Crissey, 
 and James C. Hyde, sold to Ransom "Whitmore — a ma- 
 chinist from East Haddam, Conn. — three acres of land, 
 including the saw-mill, dam, and water power. ]\Ii'. 
 Whitmore, with the intention of engaging in the man- 
 ufacture of cotton goods, erected a building for that 
 purpose — probabty in 1825-6, but put in no machinery. 
 Not succeeding so well as he had anticipated. Ransom 
 Whitmore abandoned his project, and in April, 1827, 
 sold his property, including a dwelling house which 
 he had built, to his brother, Perley D. Whitmore — a 
 machinist — and Sprowell Dean, a manufacturer from 
 Springfield. These gentlemen, wdth the aid of ma- 
 chinists tools, which they introduced, soon fitted the 
 l)uilding with machinery, and began the manufacture 
 of cotton goods. Dean & Whitmore built a row of 
 tenements along the west side of the street by the 
 
HOUSATONIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY. 419 
 
 river, a store which stood opposite their factory, and 
 gathered about them a small population of operatives. 
 Simultaneously with these improvements, the village 
 assumed the name of Deansville, and the road along 
 the river, leading from Van Deusenville to Glendale, 
 was opened. 
 
 Dean & Whitmore continued the business until 
 1835, when the Housatonic Manufacturing Company 
 was organized, and purchased the property. Mr. Dean 
 disposing of his interest in the business removed from 
 town in 1836. P. D. Whitmore and Wells Laflin be- 
 came the business managers of the corporation, and 
 ultimately the owners of nearly all of its capital stock. 
 This company engaged in the manufacture of printing- 
 cloths which it continued to the autumn of 1848, when 
 it made a disastrous failure. With the advent of the 
 Housatonic Manufacturing Company, the village re- 
 ceived the name of Housatonicville, later abbreviated 
 to Housatonic. 
 
 During the thirteen years of its existence, the Hou- 
 satonic Manufacturing Company made material addi- 
 tions to its works, real estate and dwellings. In time, 
 under the auspices of this corporation, and with the aid 
 of new enterprises, introduced by others, Housatonic 
 became a thriving village, notable for the morality, 
 sobriety, and industry of its inhabitants. A Congre- 
 gational society was formed, and a church erected in 
 1842, and a minister, at the same time, was settled. 
 
 The wheel shop of Eber Stone and Milton Ball, 
 which has been mentioned, was purchased in the spring 
 of 1830, by Edward and William Selkirk, brothers, 
 from Haddam, Conn., who introduced the manufacture 
 of shoe lasts, which became an important industry in 
 the village. This shop was removed in 1836, and a 
 brick building erected upon its site, in which William 
 Selkirk for many years carried on last making. This 
 also w^as eventually taken down by Mr. Selkirk, and he 
 put up in its place another building, which having done 
 a few years' service as a grist mill, passed into the pos- 
 session of the Monument Mills and now forms a part 
 of their works. 
 
 Until 1829 the lower water privilege remained un- 
 
420 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 occupied. In or about that year Eber Stone and Mor- 
 ris M. Brainard built a dam and put up a building, in 
 which they manufactured planes and other carpenters 
 tools until 1837. The tool shop was, about this time, 
 converted into a chair manufactory by Eber Stone and 
 Jason C. Keach, who were succeeded in the business, 
 about 1842, by George Maxfield, who erected an addi- 
 tional building to the north of the tool shop, in which 
 he made chaii's until 1848. 
 
 In 1842, Albert D. ^Miitmore began the business 
 of last making, and P. D. 'WTiitmore introduced the 
 manufactui-e of cotton twine and carpet yarn in 1844. 
 These enterprises were carried on in the old tool and chair 
 shop buildings. The twine manufacture went down with 
 the failure of the Housatonic Manufacturing Company 
 in 1848, and the buildings were burned in July, 1850. 
 
 Albert D. Whitmore soon after rebuilt, a few feet 
 north of the old works, and resumed the making of lasts, 
 but was agam burned out in 1856 or 1857. He again re- 
 built, and for a time carried on the manufacture of fold- 
 ing chairs, wagon wheels, etc. The building, last erect- 
 ed by ]VIi\ WTiitmore, now forms pai't of the lower works 
 — "the Little Wawbeek" — of the Monument Mills. 
 
 The store we have mentioned, built by Dean & 
 WTiitmore — since removed and made into a dwelling — 
 was occupied by them until 1835, and later, successive- 
 ly, by the Housatonic Manufacturing Company, Heman 
 Laflin, and AMiitmore & Taylor until 1846. From 
 January 1846 to the fall of 1848 Charles Taylor and 
 Charles J. Taylor, under the firm of C. & C. J. Taylor, 
 were its occupants. This, until 1845, was the only 
 store in the village. In its upper story was a small 
 hall, which, until the chui'ch was erected, was used for 
 religious meetings, and was later the lodge room of 
 the Sons of Temperance. 
 
 The two or three years immediately following the 
 failure of the Housatonic Manufactui'ing Company were 
 a period of gloom with the village. The cotton mills 
 were idle, the tenements were vacated, and many of 
 the inhabitants moved away. Last making was the 
 only industry maintained. During this period the 
 Stockbridge and Pittsfield raikoad was built, running 
 
MONUMENT MILLS. 421 
 
 parallel with the river and immediately within the 
 street, to the permanent injury of the village. None 
 felt sufficient interest in the place to oppose its location. 
 
 But brighter days were in store for Housatonic. 
 In 1850, Messrs. J. C. & A. C. Russell, John H. Coffing 
 and others united in purchasing the property previous- 
 ly owned by the Housatonic Manufacturing Company, 
 and were, the next year, incorporated as the Monument 
 Mills. This corporation then instituted the manufac- 
 ture of cotton warps. John M. Seeley became the 
 agent of this corporation in 1854, and has continued 
 in that capacity to the present time The Monument 
 Mills has gradually extended its buildings and manu- 
 facturing facihties, and its works now constitute the 
 largest and most important business industry of the 
 town. About 1864, John M. Seeley, Henry Adams, 
 and Joseph G. Fuller built a small mill at the lower 
 privilege, on the site of the former chair shop and twine 
 mill, and began the manufacture of cotton warps. 
 
 Until 1858, the river at Housatonic was not bridged. 
 In that year the road leading from the foot of Monu- 
 ment Mountain to the village was opened and the 
 bridge built, and later, a saw-mill was erected on the 
 east side of the river, just above the bridge. This was 
 the first improvement made, in the immediate vicinity 
 of the village, on the east side. 
 
 In 1866, George Coffing, George Church, John M. 
 Seeley and others organized a corporation — The Waw- 
 beek Mills — and purchased the whole of the lower 
 privilege, including the warp mill on the west and the 
 saw-mill on the east side of the river. This company 
 erected in 1866, the brick factory at the east end of the 
 bridge, which, in connection with the mill on the east 
 side, has since been run on cotton warj^s. In 1870, 
 the Wawbeek Mills introduced the manufacture of 
 Marseilles counterpanes, putting up, for the time, Jac- 
 quard looms, in the small mill. But this business 
 grew to such importance, that it was removed to the 
 east side, where additional w^orks were erected for its 
 accommodation, which are now conducted by Cyrus E. 
 Crane. In January, 1871, the Wawbeek Mills con- 
 veyed all of its mills and improvements to the Monu- 
 
422 HISTORY OF GREAT HARRINGTON. 
 
 ment jVIills, and this company now own all the works 
 on both sides of the river. 
 
 The saw-mill of Sibley & Sherman was probably- 
 taken down, at the time of the building of the first 
 factory by Ransom AYhitmore, and his factory building 
 still exists in the central part of the large upper wood 
 mill of the Monument Mills. 
 
 But little more than thirty years ago, the land on 
 the east side of the river, extending southerly from the 
 bridge at Housatonic and eastward to the foot of the 
 mountain, was covered with timber, much of its first 
 growth white pine. This by the descendants of the 
 early Van Deusens, who owned the territory, with that 
 hereditary pride of ancestral domain which character- 
 ized the Dutch settlers, had long been preserved from 
 the inroads of the ax. This tract, then known as 
 '' Timbershin,"* now covered with the imj^rovements of 
 the Owen Paper Company, was only penetrated by the 
 farm road of Coonrod Van Deusen and his son — the 
 late Jacob H. Van Deusen, Esq., — which led from their 
 residence, the old stone house of 1771, northward, 
 near the route of the present highway. Not far from 
 this road were two small shanties, the habitations of 
 some of the Van Deusen farm laborers, which had fallen 
 to decay earlier than 1845. One of the tenants, as we re- 
 member, was Ross Austin, then a widower, who, forty 
 years ago, obtained notoriety by swapping his eighteen 
 year old daughter for the wife of another man and re- 
 ceiving five dollars, for difference of value in exchange. 
 
 With the intent of utilizing his pine timber, Jacob 
 H. Van Deusen, who then occupied the stone house, 
 about 1836-7, built a dam south of the present one of 
 the Owen Paper Company, and below it erected a saw- 
 mill. Mr. Van Devisen met with some reverses, by the 
 washing away of a part of his dam, but nevertheless 
 kept his mill standing and running intermittently, with 
 long periods of rest. In his slow way of procedure, 
 he made but little havoc with the timber. About 1849, 
 Zadoc Rewey purchased the Van Deusen farm, drove 
 the saw-mill to its utmost capacity, cleared up the land, 
 and did an extensive business in lumber and timber. 
 
 The first energetic effort towards the improvement 
 
OWEN PAPER COMPANY. 423 
 
 of this water power for manufacturing purposes was 
 made by Henry L. Potter, who, having purchased some 
 adjoining land, erected the dam, still in use, in 1852, 
 and constructed the canal for conducting water to the 
 mill site below. Mr. Potter, also, the same year, put 
 up a building for a j^aper mill — on the site of the pres- 
 ent one — to which he brought soft water, for his man- 
 ufacturing purposes, from a fine spring on the moun- 
 tain. His enterprise was continued through the years 
 1853 and 1854. Water wheels, as well as the founda- 
 tions for heavy working machinery were put in ; but, 
 although the works were well advanced towards com- 
 pletion, delay was caused by the non-fulfillment of the 
 contract for furnishing machinery, and pending this 
 delay, the building was destroyed by fire in March, 1855. 
 
 In 1856, Messrs. Owen & Hurlbut purchased the 
 Henry L. Potter property, and erected a paper mill 
 which they operated until 1862, when the Owen Paper 
 Company was organized. This company, under the 
 business management of Henry D. Cone, has since 
 carried on the works, manufacturing fine writing pa- 
 pers, has added largely to its mills and real estate and 
 built up a tidy village of its own — a valuable adjunct 
 to Housatonic. A commendable feature in connection 
 with the works of this company is the Cone Library 
 and Eeading Koom, maintained and constantly sup- 
 plied with new books by Mr. and Mrs. Cone. This Li- 
 brary is the largest in town, and is by the liberality of 
 its owners made free to all who wish to use the books. 
 
 Half a mile down the stream — below the works of 
 the Owen Paper Company — Henry D. Cone has erected 
 very large and exceedingly substantial buildings, of 
 brick, intended for the manufacture of paper. These, 
 when completed, will form one of the finest manufac- 
 turing establishments in the state. 
 
 In addition to the Congregational church we have 
 mentioned, Housatonic has also a Methodist church 
 erected in 1871, and a Koman Catholic church built in 
 1877. The last twenty years has been a season of 
 great prosperity with Housatonic, and in that time it 
 has grown from a small hamlet to a village of very re- 
 spectable proportions. 
 
CHAPTER XXXI. 
 
 TOWN AND VILLAGE IMPROVEMENTS AND 
 INSTITUTIONS. 
 
 In 1812, material changes were made in the county 
 road leading from the Great Bridge to Stockbridge. 
 As we have before stated, this road after crossing the 
 bridge ran southerly to the south side of the old meet- 
 ing house, and thence easterly across the burial ground 
 to the point of the mountain. One of the changes of 
 1812, was to lay this road, as it now is, in a direct line 
 from the bridge eastward. Farther north, near the 
 dwelling of Warren Crissey, the road originally, and 
 until 1812, turned nearly at a light angle to the east, 
 ran out to the old Levi Hyde place — then Thomas 
 Baker's tavern — and thence northerly along the hill to 
 the house of Deacon Daniel W. Beckwith ; thus avoid- 
 ing the low ground between Mr. Crissey's and Deacon 
 Beckwith's. This was then changed and the road laid 
 in a straight line. Other alterations were at the same 
 time, made above the Monument Mountain. The road 
 over the mountain was formerly on the north side of the 
 ravine, where its track is still visible. This was changed 
 to the south side of the ravine, and the road very much 
 improved, about 1834. The road over the Three Mile 
 Hill was widened and greatly improved in 1845. 
 
 To facilitate transportation between Stockbridge, 
 Lee, and other northern towns and the Hudson riv- 
 er, the Great Barrington and Alford turnpike, fi'om 
 the foot of Monument Mountain by way of Van Deusen- 
 ville and North Egremont to the New York state line, 
 was incorporated in 1811, and was built within the 
 next two years. But the opening of railroad communi- 
 cation with New York and with the Hudson River, 
 
HIGHWAY CHANGES. 425 
 
 ^destroyed the value of this turnpike and it has since 
 ^become a town road. 
 
 The road leading to Sheffield, on the east side of 
 'the river, had been established by the Court of Sessions 
 as early as 1785, but not opened. This was discon- 
 tinued in 1798, the petition there-for stating that it had 
 been laid out more than ten years and not worked. 
 This road was finally established by the county in 1815, 
 and was in part re-located in 1820. In 1828, the county 
 road from Van Deusenville, along the river, through 
 Housatonic, to Glendale, w as built ; and in 1858, the 
 road from the foot of Monument Mountain, on the east 
 side of the river, to Housatonic was constructed. 
 
 In 1827, the road leading from the former residence 
 of Sylvester Hulbert, across the Green River to the 
 West Plain, was laid out ; and in 1833, that leading 
 from the West Plain School-house to the Cheese Fac- 
 tory was established by the County Commissioners. 
 About 1836, the cross road from the Doctor C. T. Collins 
 house towards Green River, was built. Until that 
 time the travel tow^ards Egremont had been by way of 
 the corner at the south burial ground. The road from 
 the village to Seekonk was, in large part, relaid in 1873 
 making travel in that du-ection much easier than it 
 formerly was. 
 
 In 1868, the Iron Bridge — the Great Bridge — over 
 the Housatonic — was built at a cost, including masonry, 
 of $10,286. This was the first iron bridge put up in 
 this part of the county. The bridgeway was then raised 
 three feet above its former level, the old center pier 
 was removed, and very substantial abutments and wing 
 walls were constructed. 
 
 The town has annually, for the past ten years, made 
 appropriations, varjdng from $3,500 to $6,000 — gener- 
 ally, of late, $4,000 — for the maintenance of highways ; 
 and, although the money is not always judiciously ex- 
 pended, these appropriations have produced a very 
 marked improvement in the condition of the roads. 
 But few towns in the state have so good roads as are 
 found in Great Barrington and Stockbridge. 
 
 The village has been of slow growth, and the 
 "changes by which it has attained its present form have 
 
426 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 extended over a long series of years. As late as 1810, . 
 the whole number of buildings between the south bur- 
 ial ground and the Great Bridge, including dwellings, 
 stores, and school-houses, barely exceeded forty, nor 
 was the number verj materially increased in the next 
 ten years. With the exception of Castle Street, with, 
 its two or three houses, no side streets diverged from 
 the Main street within the distance indicated. 
 
 Earher than 18 1 0, but little had been done tow^ards 
 improving or making attractive the village street. We 
 have information of a row^ of elm trees jDlanted as early 
 as 1770, and of a few others before 1800. Those in 
 front of the Episcopal church and parsonage were set- 
 out by Ezra Kellogg a.nd Samuel Riley about 75 years 
 since ; and it is related that the eccentric Daniel Wi]- 
 lard came with cart and oxen from Long Pond and 
 drove over them, considering it an iiuiovation to plant 
 trees in the highwa}^ Even at that time some antip- 
 athy, in the outskirts, w^as felt towards "Strut Street," 
 as the village was derisively termed. A very large part 
 of the buildings in the village have been erected since 
 1820, and much the larger proportion of them wdthin 
 the past forty years. In that time many of the old 
 landmarks have disappeared, and in grading the ground, 
 reducing the hills and filling the hollows, a great 
 change in village topography has been effected. 
 
 The first recorded public effort in this dnection was 
 made in 1815, when George H. Ives widened the trav- 
 eled way through the hollow in the south part of the 
 village, built a side wall, and raised the road bed six 
 feet. In consideration of this the town voted to abate 
 the highway taxes on the estate of General Ives — then 
 deceased — for three years. George H. Ives also in 
 1815, built the house now Rali3h Talyor's at the same 
 time removing the old dwellmg of the Gunn and Hop- 
 kins families w4iich stood upon that spot. A part of 
 the old house was moved south of Mount Peter and 
 became the residence of James Russ — the old-time, 
 bell ringer of the Episcopal church — who wdth his. 
 notable wife Zilpah were long its occupants. This- 
 house, in changed formed, still exists in one of the tene- 
 ments which belonged to the late Washington Mellen-. 
 
THE BLUE LIMESTONE. 427 
 
 In the early part of the century a dwelling, the 
 home of one of the members of the Jones family, stood 
 where the house of Justin Dewey now does ; but this 
 soon disappeared, and for many years no buildings 
 stood on the east side of the street between the post- 
 office and the house of Kobert Girling — the old Caleb 
 Stanley residence. The first, and for a long time the 
 only improvement in that vicinit}^ was the erection of 
 the Congregational Church in 1813, on the site of the 
 present one. The old meeting-house east of the bridge 
 — aside from the inconvenience of its location, in the 
 changed status of population — had then become so 
 dilapidated as to be scarcely tenantable, and the build- 
 ing of a new one was a matter of necessity. This was 
 erected by individuals connected with the Congrega- 
 tional society, and was first opened for public worship 
 December 30th, 1813. It became the propert}^ of the 
 Society in 1838, and was soon after improved by the 
 removal of the high, old-fashioned pulpit and square 
 pews, and the substitution of others of more modern 
 style. This church was removed to Bridge Street in 
 1859, where it still stands divested of its steeple, and 
 has until recently served as a town hall. 
 
 We have mentioned the ledges of blue lime stone, 
 in the south part of the village, which obstructed the 
 highway, covered the ground where the Doctor C. T. 
 Collins house stands, and of which Mount Peter is en- 
 tirely composed. Earlier than 1830, this stone had 
 not been considered suitable for building purpos- 
 es ; and for cellars and foundations it had long been 
 customary to cart stone to the village from west of 
 Green Eiver. A large quantity of the blue stone 
 which had been blasted from the traveled way lay scat- 
 tered along the roadside. The first experiment in 
 utilizing this was made by Elijali Foster — then living 
 on the Misses Kellogg place — about 1830. Mr. Foster 
 having occasion to build a cistern took the stone from 
 the roadside. These were found to break exceeding- 
 ly wxll, and the experiment proved so successful as to 
 attract the attention of others. From that time, this 
 stone, which has since added so much to the attrac- 
 tions of the village, came gradually into favor. 
 
428 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 The first building erected from the blue stone was 
 the second church edifice of the Episcopal Society, 
 now called the "Church Block," at the comer of Main 
 and Kailroad Streets, built in 1833. Messrs. J. C. & 
 A. C. Kussell built, the next year, the store, now 
 George W. Mellen's, from the same stone. The stone 
 for the church, and a large pai't of those used by the 
 Messrs. Russell were taken from the highway, and are 
 of a coarser and tougher texture than most which 
 have since been quamed. 
 
 About the time of the erection of the stone store, 
 John C. Briggs, who resided upon the Doctor Collins 
 place, opened a quarry near his dwelling, and soon 
 after built, from the stone there obtained, the house 
 of Joseph Gibson — now F. T. AMiiting's — and from 
 that spot the stone for the Berkshire House were taken 
 in 1839. Since that time this stone has been exten- 
 sively used for the foundations of houses ; the churches 
 have been built from it and considerable quantities 
 have been transported to distant places. 
 
 In 1834-5, Joseph Gibson erected the first buildings 
 in the hollow, where the dwellings of Frederick Law- 
 rence and the late Mrs. B. F. Durant now stand. These 
 <ionsisted of a wagon shop and a smith's shop, and were 
 occupied by Ephraim Fosket — wagon maker — Comfort 
 Eoberts— painter— and Winthi'op Bobbins—blacksmith. 
 These unsightly shops gave place to the present dwel- 
 lings erected by John R. Chatfield, more than thirty 
 years ago. About 1829-30 Alvenus Cone built the 
 building, now the front part of Egbert HoUister's 
 store, intending it for a dwelling-house and store, 
 which piu'pose it served for several years, but was later 
 used as a tavern. 
 
 The improvements made by George R. Ives — 1838 
 —40, were however the beginning of the most noticeable 
 changes which have taken place in the central part of 
 the village. Mr. Ives removed the old tavern, and 
 erected the Berkshire House in 1839, wliich was opened 
 as a hotel the next year. He demolished the large 
 body of barns and outbuildings connected with the 
 tavern, and laid out Bridge street, River street, and 
 Ghurch street, dividing the lands into building lots. 
 
OPENING OF RAILROAD. 429 
 
 These, with the exception of Castle street, were the 
 first side streets opened in the village. Mr. Ives also 
 removed the old Doctor Whiting house from its posi- 
 tion, where the Sumner building stands, to its present 
 location on Bridge street, and expended a large sum in 
 various general improvements. 
 
 The building and opening of the Housatonic Railroad 
 — or rather of the Berkshire Railroad, from the Con- 
 necticut line to West Stockbridge — has effected a great 
 change in the business and appearance of the village^ 
 has added much to its growth and prosperity, and 
 marks the beginning of the progressive era in the 
 history of the town. The railroad track was completed 
 to this place late in September 1842, and the first train 
 of passenger cars ran up to this station on the morning 
 of the 28th of that month, bringing a few passengers 
 from Canaan and Sheffield to attend ihe^first exhibition 
 of the Housatonic Agricultural Society, held Septem- 
 ber 28th, and 29th. The arrival of that first train is an 
 event to be remembered ; it had been expected in the 
 afternoon of the preceding day, and hundreds of people 
 had gathered in the street to witness it, but were dis- 
 appointed. Many of these, late in the day, were sent 
 flying up Castle street by the shrill whistle of a mis- 
 chievous boy, blown on his fingers. But the train came 
 — as we have said — the next morning when the villagers 
 were at breakfast, and many ran to the Castle street 
 crossing to see the sight. Amongst these was Major 
 Samuel Rosseter, who, as the engine slowly approached 
 the crossing, proposed three cheers of welcome, and 
 essaying to take his hat from his head, found himself 
 hatless ; in the excitement of the moment, the hat had 
 been left at home, but the cheers, nevertheless, were 
 forthcoming. 
 
 From that time a regular passenger train was run 
 between this place and Bridgeport. The first ship- 
 ment of freight from the Great Barrington station, was 
 made September 30th 1842, and consisted of two cases 
 of satinets, consigned by the Berkshire Woolen Com- 
 pany, " by first sloop" from Bridgeport to New York — 
 weight eight hundred pounds — -freight to Bridgeport 
 $1. The road was completed to West Stockbridge the 
 
430 HISTORY OF GREAT HARRINGTON. 
 
 next year, and the first shipment of freight in that 
 direction, was made July 19th 1843. 
 
 With the completion of the railroad, new buildings 
 were erected and new business enterpnses sprang up, 
 giving to the village more of notoriety and importance 
 than it had previously possessed. The route to New 
 York, until this time b}^ way of Hudson and the river, 
 was materially shortened, and Great Barrington be- 
 came the outlet of produce, from a large section, which 
 had previously gone to Hudson, while the freight for 
 eastern towns naturally centered here. By reason of 
 this, the village soon became the center of trade from 
 many neighboring towns. The narrow thoroughfare 
 which we call Kailroad street — formerly a wet meadow 
 — was laid out by Silas Sprague in 1842, and a few build- 
 ings were soon erected there. The principal of these 
 was the store of Granger & Hyde — later Granger & 
 Hill — which stood at the west end of the street — built 
 in the spring of 1843, to which extensive additions 
 were afterwards made. David Hudson, in 1844, built 
 a store where the brick building of J. F. & F. T. San- 
 ford now stands ; and Silas Sprague put up a few small 
 buildings on Railroad street, a building for a store 
 where the City Store stands, the "Mechanics Hall" 
 where the Sumner building stands, and later, the "Ma- 
 haiwe House" at the corner of Castle street. These 
 were for the most part cheap structures, and, with the 
 exception of the last named, have disappeared or been 
 removed. 
 
 In the autumn of 1854, October 7th, a fire broke 
 out in the very large pile of wood which the railroad 
 company then had on the west side of theii' track, oppo- 
 site the depot. This fire destroyed several hundred 
 cords of wood and the sheds of the railroad company, 
 the store of Granger, Hill & Company, and of J. F. & F. 
 T. Sanford, and several other small buildings on Rail- 
 road street. This was the most severe fire which the 
 village has yet experienced. By an earlier fire — in 
 1850 — the large Berkshire House barn, which stood 
 east of Hollister's store, was destroyed, as well as the 
 wood extensions of the stone store, and the Pynchon — 
 McLean store. Sparks from this fire ignited the roof 
 
NEW STREETS. 431 
 
 of the old Center school-house — of 1794 — which was 
 burned to the ground. 
 
 In 1847, Major Samuel Kosseter opened the street 
 which bears his name, Rosseter street, and in 1854, 
 Charles W. Hopkins, Esq., laid out Hopkins street. 
 South street was established in 1854, by George G. 
 I*ierce, over the north end of Ralph Taylor's door yard 
 to the farm land formerly Joseph Gibson's, and in that 
 year the first dwelling was erected on that street. Elm 
 street. Dresser street, and the side streets in the south 
 part of the village are of more recent origin, as also are 
 the improvements made on the east side of the river 
 by Mark Humphrey. 
 
 In the spring of 1854 Doctor C. T. Collins opened 
 the Collins House — then just completed — as a hotel 
 and summer resort ; and in the same year the old 
 Registry Office — now the Post Office — was erected. A 
 spirit of improvement is manifest in the dwellings, both 
 in the village and suburbs, erected withm the past 
 thirty years. In that period too, in the central part of 
 the village, the Episcopal and Congregational Churches, 
 The Courier building, the Miller House, the City Store, 
 the F. T. Whiting store, the store of J, A. Brew^er, the 
 Sumner building, the Savings Bank building, the Town 
 Hall, and the High School building, all substantial 
 structures, have been erected. 
 
 The Magnetic Telegraph. 
 
 The first telegraph line, having a station in Great 
 Harrington, was constructed in 1848, by Ezra Cornell, 
 the founder of the Cornell University, a contractor 
 under Francis O. J. Smith of Portland, Maine, who 
 controlled the Morse patent for New England. This 
 line — a single ware — extended from Bridgeport, Conn., 
 to Bennington, Vermont, forming part of the route 
 between New York and Montreal. The next station 
 south of this village was at Salisbury, Conn., from 
 whence the line came by way of South Egremont, and 
 the next station north was at Lee, to which place it 
 went by way of Van Deusenville, Monument Mountain 
 and Stockbridge. The station in this village was in 
 the north room of the Mahaiwe Building ; and Theodore 
 
432 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 Dewey, who then had a book store there, was the^ 
 operator. This was in the infancy of telegi'aphy, and 
 only four years had elapsed since the completion of the 
 first successful line — that between Baltimore and Wash- 
 ington. But the people, unaccustomed to this mode of 
 communication, did not, to much extent, patronize it. 
 The result was a loss to such of the villagers as had 
 invested money in the enterprise ; and in the course of 
 a year or so the wire was taken down. Soon after this, 
 however, the abandoned line of poles — between Great 
 Barrington and North Adams — came into possession of ', 
 a company owning a line from Boston to Troy, who re- 
 placed the wii-e on this part of the route, and re- 
 estabhshed the station here, of which Mr. Dew^ey had '. 
 charge as before. But this enterprise soon failed, as the -. 
 other had done, for want of support, and for about seven 
 years no further attempts at telegraphy were made. 
 
 In the autumn of 1857, the American Telegraph 
 Company, owning a line from Boston to Albany, built 
 a branch line, over the Housatonic Railroad, from Pitts- - 
 field to Great Barrington, and opened an office at the 
 depot in this village, under the charge of Frank L. 
 Pope, then a lad of seventeen years. This Company 
 used the Hughes letter printing instrument. In 1862. 
 this line was extended along the railway to Bridge- 
 port, Mr. F. L. Pope — who had then become Assist- 
 tant Engineer of the American Company in New York 
 — having charge of the work. At about the same time, , 
 Morse's instrument was substituted for Hughes', for • 
 working the line. This hne still continues in operar- 
 tion, having been purchased by the Western Union 
 Telegraph Comj)any in 1866. 
 
 It was in the office in this village that the three 
 brothers, Frank L. Pope, Ralph W. Pope, and Henry 
 W. Pope acquired the rudiments of telegraphic science 
 in which each has since become expert and distin- 
 guished. The American Rapid Telegraph Company has 
 recently built its line through the village and estab- 
 lished a station here. 
 
 Newspapers — The Berkshire Courier. 
 This journal was founded by the late John D. Gush- 
 ing — then from Lenox — who issued the first number..- 
 
NEWSPAPERS. 43? 
 
 on the 16th of October, 1834, from an old building 
 which stood, blocked up on timbers, in the rear of the 
 Stone Store of J. C. & A. C. Kussell, then in process 
 of erection. The printing office of Mr. Gushing was 
 afterwards removed to an upper room in the rear of the 
 old Leavenworth store, on the Castle street corner,, 
 where The Courier was printed until April 10, 1839, 
 when the building was burned down, and the publica- 
 tion of the paper was consequently, for a few weeks,, 
 interrupted. Mr. Cushing, having repaired the dam- 
 age to press and types, renewed the issue of his paper 
 on the 19th of May, and continued it without inter- 
 mission to the autumn of 1854, when the office — at 
 that time on Railroad street — was destroyed in the 
 conflagration of that locality. By this disaster the 
 publication of the paper was for only one week sus- 
 pended. The office was re-opened in the Mechanics" 
 Hall, on the site of the Sumner Building, where The; 
 Courier was for several years afterwards published. 
 
 In the spring of 1846, the title of the paper was' 
 changed to "The Berkshire Coimer and Great Bar- 
 rington Gazette," and Clark W. Bryan of Hudson, N. 
 Y., became associated with Mr. Cushing in its publi- 
 cation under the firm of Cushing & Bryan ; but Mr. 
 Bryan's connection with the paper — at that time — was- 
 only for the space of six months. 
 
 Another paper had previously — in 1845 — been es- 
 tablished here ; The Independent Press, published by 
 Kipp & Murray ; and a third. The Housatonic MuTor, 
 was instituted by Theodore Dewey the next year. The- 
 Courier and The IVIirror were Whig papers, and The= 
 Press Democratic in politics. A semi-partnership ex- 
 isted between The Press and The Mirror, and the^ 
 curious anomaly was presented of a Whig and a Dem. 
 ocratic sheet printed on the same press, with the same 
 type, and, aside from the political editorials, contain- 
 ing the same matter ; for such was the case with these 
 papers. But these new enterprises were not of long 
 duration. When Mr. Bryan left The Courier, Theo- 
 dore Dewey joined Mi*. Cushing in its publication, and 
 the paper, for the time, assumed the name of The 
 Berkshire Courier and The Housatonic Mirror. The; 
 
 28 
 
434 msTOKY OF great barrington. 
 
 publication of The Independent Press was suspended 
 in the summer of 1847, and The Courier has, from 
 that time, been the only paper printed here. 
 
 In November, 1848, Clark W. Bryan resumed his 
 connection with Mr. Cushing, and assumed the busi- 
 ness management of The Berkshire Courier. The co- 
 partnership then formed continued just four years, 
 when Mr. Bryan withdrew, and connected himself with 
 The Springfield Rej^ublican. ^Ii-. Cushing then for 
 nearly ten years conducted The Courier alone ; and in 
 January, 1862, was joined by Marcus H. Rogers, w^ho 
 assumed the management of the paper under the firm 
 of Cushing & Rogers. 
 
 In the spring of 1865, Mr. Rogers pui'chased ]Mi\ 
 Cushing's interest in the business, removed the office 
 to the second floor of the building next south of the 
 post-office, and a httle later substituted a steam press 
 in place of the old hand press. ]Mi\ Rogers erected 
 the substantial Courier Building in 1870, to which he 
 transferred his business in January, 1871, and contin- 
 ued the publication of the paper to January 1, 1879, 
 when he sold The Courier and the building to Clark 
 W. Bryan, who with his son, James A. Bryan, has 
 published The Courier to the present time. 
 
 The Housatonic Agricultural Society. 
 
 This Society had its origin in a gathering of a few 
 gentlemen at the Berkshire House, October 30th, 1841, 
 "to consider the proj^riety of forming an Agricultural 
 Society in the southern part of Berkshire County." 
 Major Samuel Rosseter presided at this meeting, and 
 committees were apj^ointed from each of the eleven 
 southern towns of the county to confer with the peo- 
 ple and ascertain their views upon the subject. This 
 movement resulted in the organization of the Society 
 before the end of the year, though it was not incoi'po- 
 rated until 1848. At its formation — in 1841 — Major 
 Samuel Rpsseter was chosen President ; Increase Sum- 
 ner, Secretary ; Philip Barnes, Treasurer. 
 
 The first exhibition of the Society was held on the 
 28th and 29th days of September, 1842 ; and, as we 
 have elsewhere remarked, i\ie first passenger train, on 
 
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 435 
 
 this section of the Housatonic Eaih-oad, brought peo- 
 ple to attend this exhibition. The cattle were gath- 
 ered on the, then vacant, lot next south of the Congre- 
 gational Church, and the Academy Hall was the recep- 
 tacle of household manufactures. The peoj^le of the 
 surrounding towns flocked to the "Cattle Show" in 
 great numbers, and in the success of this experimental 
 exhibition the hopes of its originators were more than 
 realized. For several years the cattle were exhibited 
 on what is now Eosseter street, and in the Bobbins' 
 Grove, and household articles in the Academy Hall 
 until 1845, when these were transferred to the Town 
 Hall over Egbert Hollister's store. In these years, 
 and later, the Plowing Match was one of the main 
 features of the show, and Main street was devoted to 
 the exhibition of horses. The annual addresses were 
 made at the Congregational Meeting-House. 
 
 The Society organized under its Act of Incorpora- 
 tion, April 11, 1848, and the following officers were 
 then chosen : Seth Norton, President ; William Dewey, 
 Gilbert Munson, Vice-Presidents; Charles N. Emer- 
 son, Secretary ; Edward P. Woodworth, Treasurer. 
 In 1849, the Society having offered a j^remium of $10 
 to the town making the best exhibit of twenty yoke of 
 oxen, "Major Rosseter walked proud behind the plow, 
 while before at least a hundred stalwart oxen were 
 aligned, while his Excellency, Governor Briggs, and 
 magnates marched behind." 
 
 In 1854, the Society i)urcliased land south of the 
 village, and the next year erected buildings, and laid 
 out the track for the showing of horses. From a small 
 beginning the Society has increased its membership to 
 more than 1,600, and its annual premiums to $3,000. 
 Its list of officers contains the names of many of the 
 most prominent agriculturists of the south part of the 
 county ; and its beneficent effects upon the agricultural 
 interests of this section are fully attested by the 
 improved condition of farms and farm buildings, the 
 introduction of better implements of husbandry, and an 
 increased attention to the breeding of cattle and horses. 
 The Cinci7i7iatus Lodge of Free and AccejAed Mason.s. 
 
 The charter of this Lodge — which bears amongst 
 
436 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 others the signature of Paul Revere, then Grand Mas- 
 ter — was granted by the Grand Lodge of Massachu- 
 setts, December 9, 1795, the Lodge to be held in New 
 Marlboro ; and the persons named in the charter were 
 principally of that town and Tyringham, though a few 
 were residents of Great Barrington. Amongst these 
 were Dan Chappell, Moses Hopkins, and John Nash. 
 The first meeting of the Lodge was at the house of 
 Joel Brigham in New Marlboro, January 1, 1796 ; and 
 meetings were held in that town until October 1797. 
 From that date Great Barrington was for six months 
 the place of meeting, and, after that, the assemblages 
 for each consecutive six months were at New Marlboro 
 and Great Barrington. 
 
 The lodge was permanently transferred to this 
 town February 12, 1800. The time of holding meet- 
 ings, originally the first Wednesday of each month, 
 was changed in November 1799, to the Wednesday on 
 or before the full moon. The first place of meeting in 
 Great Barrington — 1798 — was the brick house now of 
 Moses C. Bun-, north of the Bung Hill corner ; from 
 1800 to 1806 at the house of John Farnum — now Jere- 
 miah Atwood's ; in 1806 and for several years at the 
 Leavenworth Hall, and later at the tavern of Timothy 
 Griswold. In October, 1824, a hall over the store of 
 Isaac L. Van Deusen and George Pynchon, at Van 
 Deusenville, became the Lodge room ; but after 1828, 
 no meetings were held for many years. 
 
 The Lodge was reorganized May 31, 1852, in this 
 town, but was removed to Sheffield early in 1853, 
 where it remained until October 1857, w^hen it was re- 
 turned to Great Barrington. The following named 
 residents of Great Barrington were masters of the 
 Lodge earlier than 1828 : John WTiiting, Samuel Ros- 
 seter, William AAliiting, Hezekiah Lathrop, Washington 
 Adams, and Constant Southworth. 
 
 The Monument Chapter of Eoyal Arch Masons 
 was established here under a charter granted Oc- 
 tober 12, 1875. 
 
 The Fire District. 
 
 The Great Barrington Fire District was organized 
 August 12, 1854, embracing the village and sufficient 
 
THE FIRE DISTRICT. 437 
 
 outside territory to include 1,500 inhabitants. At a 
 little earlier date — February 21, 1854 — nineteen men 
 in uniform, escorted by the Falls Village Brass Band, 
 paraded the streets drawing a small Garden Engine. 
 To that date the village never had either a fire engine 
 or fire company, and this band of young men formed 
 the nucleus of the Hope Fire Company, organized at 
 about that time. The demonstration then made re- 
 sulted in the purchase of a Fire Engine by subscrip- 
 tion, towards which the sum of $1,600 was raised 
 within a week. The Engine, a fine Button machine, 
 was received by the Fire Company — then numbering 
 eighty men, in uniform — on the 13th of June, 1854. 
 The Engine House — since removed to Bridge street — 
 was erected by the Fire District, on Castle street, in 
 the fall and winter of 1854, the town contributing $500 
 towards the building. Reservoirs were built b}^ the 
 District, in various parts of the village, the supply of 
 water, to a considerable extent, being furnished by the 
 roofs of adjoining buildings. 
 
 For many years — 1850-65 — the subject of suj^ply- 
 ing the village with water for domestic uses, as well as 
 for the extinguishment of fires, was discussed ; but no 
 decisive steps were taken until 1865, when the Legis- 
 latui'e passed an Act for supplying the town of Great 
 Barrington with pure water. This act authorized the 
 Fire District to conduct the water of East Mountain 
 Brook to the village, and also gave authority to the 
 town to issue Water Scrip, bearing interest and pay- 
 able within thirty years, for the expense of the pro- 
 posed outlay. Under the Act, the town had authority 
 to assess and collect taxes upon the polls and estates 
 of the Fire District, for the payment of the scrip and 
 interest, though it was expected that the revenue to be 
 derived from the water works, when completed, would 
 render such taxes unnecessary. 
 
 The town, on its part, at first accepted, but after- 
 wards rejected the provisions of this act. In 1866, in 
 a veiy diy season — August to October — measurements 
 of the water in the brook were made by a committee 
 of the Fire District, and the result of nine measure- 
 ments, on as many different days, showed the minimum 
 
438 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRIXGTON. 
 
 capacity of the brook to be but two barrels per minute. 
 Many were of the opinion that this brook could not 
 furnish an adequate supply of ^Yater for the village ; 
 but others were more sanguine. The agitation of the 
 water question, with the refusal of the town to co- 
 operate in the matter, resulted in the formation of 
 
 The Qreat Barrington Water Company, 
 
 organized in August, 1868, with a capital of $20,000 in 
 shares of $100 each. This company, in the fall of 
 1868, built the reservoir, and brought the water of 
 East Mountain Brook to the village. Hydrants, for 
 use in case of fires, were also pat in ; and the supply 
 of water, from that time, has proved abundant, with 
 ihe exception that, in very diy seasons, it has been ne- 
 cessary to enforce economy in its use. 
 
 The Great Barrington Gas Company. 
 
 In 1854, the Berkshire "Woolen Company put up 
 works for the manufacture of gas, for their own pur- 
 poses. This was first used for lighting theii- woolen 
 factory, October 30, 1854. From these works sprang 
 the Great Barrington Gas Company — organized in 1855 
 — which laid pipes through the Main street and intro- 
 duced into the village the gas made b}^ the Berkshu'e 
 Woolen Company. The gas was first used for lighting 
 places of business in October, 1855, and has since come 
 into quite general use. In 1871, the erection of lamp 
 posts in the village was begun by the Fire District ; 
 and the streets were for several j-ears lighted by gas, 
 for which kerosene has latterly been substituted. 
 
 27ie National Mahaiwe Bank. 
 
 This bank, incorporated as the Mahaiwe Bank, with 
 a capital of $100,000— since increased to $200,000— 
 was organized May 24, 1847, and went into operation 
 in the following autumn. Its first place of business — 
 for a few months — was in the old office of Eegistry of 
 Deeds, but was removed to a south room in the Berk- 
 shire House, where it remained until the completion of 
 its present Banking House, built in 1847. Its first 
 board of Dii-ectors, consisted of Wilbur Cui'tis of Eg- 
 remont, Edward F. Ensign of Sheffield, Noah Gibson 
 
BANKS COURT HALLS. 439 
 
 of New Marlboro, George W. Sterling, Asa C. Kussell, 
 John Lewis, and Ralph Taylor, all of Great Barring- 
 ton. Wilbur Curtis was the first President, and served 
 until his resignation in April, 1855 ; John L. Dodge 
 was then chosen President, and has continued in that 
 office to the present time. The Cashiers of this bank 
 have been Heniy Hooker, John T. Banker, William 
 Bostwick, Isaac B. Prindle, and Frederick N. Deland. 
 This became a National bank in 1865. 
 
 The Great Barrington Savings Bank, 
 
 was incorporated February 23, 1869, and began busi- 
 ness on the 1st of June in that year. Its first officers 
 — chosen May 8, 1869 — were Egbert Hollister Presi- 
 dent, David S. Draper and R. N. Couch Vice-Presi- 
 dents, M. Ludlow Wliitlock, Clerk. Doctor William 
 H. Parks was the first Treasurer, and continued in 
 office until May 7, 1879, when Charles J. Taylor, the 
 present Treasurer, was chosen. The deposits in this 
 bank — at one time exceeding $530,000 — were, on the 
 1st of January, 1882, $210,428. 
 
 The District Court. 
 
 The District Court of Southern Berkshire was es- 
 tablished in 1870, with one j^residing judge and two 
 associate justices. Of this court the Hon. Increase 
 Sumner was the first judge, holding his office to the 
 time of his decease in 1871, and was succeeded by the 
 Hon. James Bradford, the present incumbent. 
 
 2'own Halls. 
 
 The old meeting-house east of the Great Bridge 
 served the purposes of a town house, until 1837, and 
 was last used for a town-meeting on the 31st of May 
 of that year. It was soon after taken down, and in 
 the following summer the town built upon its site a 
 new town-house, which was completed, and first occu- 
 pied by the town November 13, 1837. This house, a 
 modest appearing, high, one- story building, painted 
 white, with green blinds, was about forty by sixty feet 
 in size, stood fronting west on the Common, and was 
 erected at a cost of $1,800. This had been in use only 
 seven years, when on a Saturday night — November 9, 
 
440 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 1844 — a political caucus was held in it, at which the 
 chairman of the meeting carelessly emptied the wick 
 of an expiring candle into a wood spittoon, filled with 
 saw-dust, and at an early hour the next morning the 
 building was in ashes. The meeting for the annual 
 election — November 11, 1844 — called to be held at the 
 town-house, assembled upon its ruins, and adjoiu^ned 
 to the Congi'egational meeting-house, where it was held 
 in the porch of that building. 
 
 The question of building a new town house was 
 then agitated. The inhabitants of Yan Deusenville 
 were clamorous for its erection in that village, raised 
 money by subscription for the purpose, and were aided 
 in their demands b}^ residents of the north and east 
 parts of the town. So great a diversity of opinion as 
 to location existed, that it was found difficult to agree 
 upon a site. In this dilemma — in 1845 — the town 
 leased of Messrs. J. C. & A. C. Kussell, a hall in the 
 building now Egbert Hollister's store, which was used 
 as a town hall for fifteen years, when the lease was 
 transferred to the old Congregational church, which 
 had then been removed to Bridge street. In this 
 building the town meetings were held until 1876, when 
 the present new Town Hall was ready for occupancy. 
 
 The New Town Hall. 
 
 The erection of this fine, brick structure, standmg 
 upon a lot of somewhat more than one and one-half 
 acres, in the central jDart of the village, has supplied the 
 want of a commodious place of assemblage for public 
 purposes, long felt by the citizens of the town. This 
 was built in 1875, was first opened to the public Janua- 
 ry 1, 1876, and occupied by the town for the spring 
 meeting of that year. In addition to the public hall, 
 the building contains rooms for the accommodation of 
 the Kegistry of Deeds, the District and Probate Courts, 
 the Public Library, and the Town officers. The cost 
 of the building (including the land) was $50,763. The 
 cost of the land, with old buildings then standing, 
 was $12,115.50, of which $2,000 was paid by subscrip- 
 tion. Towai'ds the erection of the building, the county 
 — in consideration of rooms for the Courts and Registry 
 
MONUMENT LIBRARIES. 441 
 
 — of which it has a permanent lease — contributed the 
 old Kegistry building (afterwards sold by the town for 
 $4,700) and in cash $6,500. The net cost to the town 
 — deducting buildings sold and the amount contributed 
 Ibj the county and by individuals — is a little in ex- 
 cess of $35,500. 
 
 The Soldiers' Monument. 
 
 For several years following the War of the Eebellion 
 the question of erecting a Memorial Hall or a Monu- 
 ment commemorative of the lives and services of the 
 soldiers of the town in the war, was a theme of discus- 
 sion in the town meetings. The agitation of this 
 question resulted not only in the erection of the Monu- 
 ment, but, incidentally, in the building of the Town Hall. 
 The Monument was set up in 1876, after the completion 
 of the Town Hall, and occupies a conspicuous position 
 in front of that building. Toward the erection of the 
 Monument, an appropriation of $5,000, w^as made by 
 the town in 1872 ; but the expense attending consider- 
 .ably exceeded that sum, and the balance was contrib- 
 uted by a public spirited citizen — Mr. John H. Cofiing. 
 
 Lihraries. 
 About the year 1800 — perhaps a little earlier — a 
 library, owned by proprietors and called The Union 
 Library, w^as formed here, and was kept at the store of 
 Samuel Whiting, Esq., on the Castle street corner, Mr. 
 Whiting officiating as librarian. This collection of 
 books, never very large, embraced a useful and standard 
 •class of works, and was in existence until January 
 1823, when the books were disposed of at public sale. 
 'The next effort towards a public library was in 1861 
 when the Great Barrington Library Association, was 
 iormed, its capital consisting in sixty-five shares of ten 
 dollars each. This association gathered a very respect- 
 able collection of books, w^hich w^ere productive of 
 much good. This library continued until April 1881, 
 when its books were transferred to the Great Barrington 
 Free Library, then recently incorporated. As its 
 means have permitted, this Corporation has made ex- 
 tensive additions to the old collection, and with its books, 
 Jree to all, commends itself to the consideration and 
 
442 HISTORY OF GREAT BAERINGTON. 
 
 liberality of the inhabitants, upon which it must de- 
 pend for its future success. That the Free Library- 
 may be sustained by the good sense and generosity of 
 our citizens is earnestly to be hoped. We have else- 
 where mentioned the extensive collection of books — the 
 Cone Library — at Housatonic, sustained, and made 
 open to all who wish to use from its stores, by the- 
 liberality of Mr. Henry D. Cone. 
 
 3Ia nufa ctures. 
 The Manufactures of the town consist chiefly of the- 
 Cotton warps and Marseilles quilts from the five large- 
 mills of the Monument Mills at Housatonic; of the fine 
 ^yriting papers of the Owen Paper Company, also at 
 Housatonic; of the Pig-iron of the Eichmond Iron 
 Works at Van Deusenville ; and of the woolen goods of 
 the Berkshire Woolen Company in the main village. 
 Population and Valuation. 
 The population of the town at different periods ia 
 as follows: 
 
 177(3, by Colonial Census, 9G1 
 
 1790, by United States Census, 1,373 
 
 1800. by United States Census, 1,7.^4 (1> 
 
 1810, by United States Census, 1,784 
 
 1820, by United States Census, 1,908 
 
 1830, by United States Census, 2,264 
 
 1840, by United States Census, 2,704 
 
 18.50, by United States Census, 3,264 
 
 18.55, by State Census, 3,44» 
 
 1860, by United States Census, 3,871 
 
 186.5, by State Census, 3,920 
 
 1870, by United States Census, 4.320 
 
 1875, by State Census, 4,38o 
 
 1880, by United State Census, 4,658 
 
 (1) And 264 dwellings. 
 
 Bv the Census of 1875 the town had 
 1,132 Eatable Polls, 141 Farms, 680 Horses, 
 
 798 Native Voters, 955 Families, 1,138 Cows,. 
 
 146 Naturalized Voters, 839 Dwellings, 585 Sheep. 
 
 Value of Farm Products for the year ending May, 1«75, $188,124 
 Value of Manufactures — for same time, 1,032,03^ 
 
 The Valuation of 1875 Personal Property, $1,190,222 
 
 Real Estate 1,974,576 
 
 Total, $3,164,79& 
 
CHAPTEE XXXII. 
 
 GREAT BARRINGTON IN THE WAR OF THE 
 REBELLION. 
 
 1861—65. 
 
 The course pursued by the town in the war for ther 
 preservation of the Union, the spirit which animated_ 
 its citizens, and the services rendered by its soldiers 
 reflect no discredit upon its former history. 
 
 By the census of 1860, the inhabitants of Great 
 Barrington numbered 3,871 ; and though divided upon 
 poHtical questions and the issues involved in the war, 
 they were none the less zealous or patriotic than 
 then' Kevolutionary predecessors had been, and en- 
 tered with great unanimity upon the struggle for the 
 .maintenance of the constitution and government which 
 their fathers had fought to establish. The position of 
 political parties is shown by the vote at the Presiden- 
 tial election — November, 1860 — when there were cast 
 for the Lincoln electoral ticket, 379 votes ; for the 
 Douglas electoral ticket, 160 votes ; for the Bell-Ever- 
 ett electoral ticket, 35 votes ; for the Breckenridge 
 electoral ticket, 14 votes ; total, 588. On the ballot 
 for member of Congress, the Douglas, Bell-Everett, 
 and Breckenridge parties united and gave for Norman 
 T. Leonard, the Fusion candidate, 208 votes, against 
 379, for Henry L. Dawes. At the election of 1864, 
 when 640 votes were cast, the Lincoln electoral ticket 
 received 429 votes ; the McClellan electoral ticket 
 received 211 votes. And in 1868 from a total of 686 
 votes, there were cast for General Grant 452, and for 
 Horatio Seymour 234 ; the majority for General Grant, . 
 
444 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 .218, being precisely the same as that for Lincoln four 
 years before. 
 
 The Selectmen of the town in this period were : in the 
 first year of the war, 1861-62, Walter W. Hollen- 
 beck, John Burget, Henry Foote ; in the second year, 
 1862-63, John M. Seeley, George Church, Benjamin 
 r. Gilmore; in the third and fourth years, 1863-64 
 :and 1864-65, John M. Seeley, George Church, Charles 
 J. Taylor. Isaac Seeley was Town Clerk, and Egbert 
 Hollister Town Treasurer thi'oughout the war. 
 
 The bombardment and surrender of Fort Sumter, 
 followed by the massacre of Massachusetts soldiers at 
 Baltimore — April 19th, 1861 — then hurrying forward 
 :to the seat of government — brought home to the minds 
 of the people the reality that war had actually begun. 
 
 As the citizens gathered for worship at the village 
 churches on Sabbath morning, April 21, the news of 
 the attack upon Massachusetts soldiers by the mob at 
 Baltimore was speedily disseminated, causing an in- 
 tense excitement, depicted upon every countenance. 
 At the Congregational Church the Rev. Horace Wins- 
 low opened the services with a fervent prayer for the 
 welfare of the country ; and in the afternoon was so 
 overcome as to stop in the middle of his discourse, de- 
 claring that his mind was not upon his subject, that 
 he could not finish his sermon, and concluded with a 
 most eloquent appeal to his hearers upon the crisis, 
 and the issues of the hour. On Monday evening at an 
 impromptu gathering of the people, in front of the 
 Berkshire House, a few brief addi'esses were made, and 
 the situation and measures to be adopted were dis- 
 cussed. The next morning — Tuesday, April 22d — 
 hand-bills containing the following call, signed by 
 sixty-five citizens, w^ere posted upon the trees of the 
 village and scattered throughout the town : 
 PATRIOTS, ATTENTION ! 
 "The inhabitants of Great Barriugton and adjoining towns 
 •are invited to attend a public meeting at the Town Hall on 
 Wednesday, the 24th instant, at three o'clock, p. m., for the 
 purpose of adopting prorapt measures to aid the Government of 
 the United States in sustaining the Constitution, executing the 
 laws, and suppressing the traitorous Rebellion now existing in 
 4;he Southern States, April 22, 1861." 
 
FIRST WAR MEETING. 445^ 
 
 To this call, the people, for the time laying aside 
 differences of political opinion, responded almost spon- 
 taneously. The meeting, or "Convention" as it was 
 termed, was largely attended b}^ citizens of the town,, 
 both gentlemen and ladies, with a liberal representation 
 from other towns, and a band of music from South. 
 Egremont ; all of which filled the old hall on Bridge- 
 street to overflowing. Joseph Tucker was chosen 
 temporary chairman, and prayer was offered by the; 
 Rev. Horace Winslow. The permanent organization 
 of the meeting was then effected by the appointment 
 of David Leavitt, President ; John H. Coffing, RalpL- 
 Taylor, Asa C. Russell, Walter W. Mclntyre, Vice 
 Presidents; Joseph Tucker, Walter W. Hollenbeck,^ 
 William Whitlock, Secretaries. 
 
 The President upon taking the chair proffered 
 some well timed remarks, declaring his devotion to- 
 order, liberty, the constitution, and his willingness to- 
 contribute both in means and services to sustain them. 
 The Honorable Increase Sumner, Egbert Hollister,. 
 James Sedge wick, Harvey Holmes, and Justin Dewey,. 
 Jr., were chosen a Committee to di'aft and present reso- 
 lutions. Mr. Sumner, from the above Committee, re- 
 ported the following: 
 
 PEEAMBLE AND RESOLUTIONS. 
 
 ' ' Whereas, several of the Southern States of this Republic, . 
 in violation of the Federal Constitution, have attempted to 
 secede from the Union, and are now in open rebellion against . 
 the National Government, have violently seized the public 
 property, have wantonly assailed the troops and taken forts be- 
 longing to the Union, and are, by the use of all means in their 
 power, waging treasonable and rebellious warfare, one of the 
 results of which has been the shedding of Massachusetts blood, . 
 consecrating the 19th of April, 1861, with the immortal memories 
 of April 19th 1775 ; 
 
 " Therefore the citizens of several towns in Southern Berk-. 
 shire in Convention assembled, irrespective of previous party 
 preferences, actuated by sentiments of loyalty to the Union, and 
 especially desirous of participating in the noble and patriotic 
 action which distinguished every section of our glorious Com- 
 monwealth and all classes of its citizens, do resolve as follows : 
 ^^ 1st, Resolved. — That the crisis demands the exertion of 
 every American patriot to arrest the progress of treason and re- 
 bellion, now so flagraatly aggressive,, and to reduce to order and 
 
446 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 obedience all who have risen in hostility against our Union, its 
 Constitution and Government. 
 
 "^(f Resolved. — That in the true spirit of loyalty, we stand 
 pledged with our lives, fortunes, and sacred honor, to aid in 
 maintaining the authority of the National government over all 
 the States and Territories ; over every inch of our republic, we 
 go for upholding and triumphantly sustaining ' the flag of our 
 Union forever,' and protecting it against insults and indignities 
 from foes without and traitors within. 
 
 ^'3d, ResoUed. — That we urge the adoption of measures for 
 speedily raising in this and the adjacent towns, one or more mil- 
 itary companies, and that measures, by this Convention, be also 
 taken for raising funds for the above object, and towards sup- 
 porting the families of those who enlist and go forth to the bat- 
 tles of our country. 
 
 '•4th, Resolved. — That as citizens of this great American 
 Confederacy, participating in the common history and glory of 
 the American Revolution, our chief desire is peace, the general 
 'welfare and the blessings of liberty in all the States and amongst 
 all the kindred and races within that Confederacy, and that har- 
 mony and good fellowship, without more bloodshed, may be 
 speedily restored ; but, if it be otherwise ordered, and traitors 
 and rebels persist in their deeds of treason and rebellion, then, 
 trusting in the favor and strength of Almighty God, who sus- 
 tained our fathers in their sufferings and battles for freedom, we 
 will contribute all our might to conquer and punish the offenders. 
 ' ' Resolved, That to carry out the purposes of the 3d resolution, 
 a committee of thirteen be appointed with instructions promptly 
 and energetically to address themselves to the discharge of their 
 duties." 
 
 These resolutions — expressing, as they did, the 
 sentiments of a very large majority of the people — 
 supported by an eloquent and forcible speech from 
 Mr. Sumner, ^vere unanimously adopted. Charles N. 
 Emerson, Esq. — a former resident of the town — then 
 addressed the meeting, and was followed by brief 
 speeches from Rey. Horace Winslow, E-ey. C. A. L. 
 Richards, George R. lyes, John H. Coffing and James 
 Sedgwick. The resolutions and speeches, interspersed 
 •with music by the band, and the singing of the Star 
 Si^angled Banner, were greeted w ith immense ajDplause 
 and manifestations of great enthusiasm. 
 
 A Committee of thirteen was appointed to carry out 
 the intent of the third resolution — the raising and 
 equipping a Volunteer Military Company, soliciting 
 funds for the purpose and for aiding the families of 
 
FIRST VOLUNTEERS. 447 
 
 ^uch as might enlist in the service. An enlistment roll, 
 hastily prepared by this committee was promptly signed 
 by Ealph O. Ives, and several other young men, amid 
 the continuous cheers of the assemblage. 
 
 For raising funds to meet the contemplated expen- 
 ditures, a subscription paj^er was immediately presented 
 and subscribed to a large amount, the president head- 
 ing the list with the sum of $1,000. 
 
 The convention then adjourned for one week — to 
 the first of May — at which time nearly fifty men had 
 volunteered, most of whom were encamped on the Fair 
 Ground, having their quarters in the Agricultural 
 building, and the sum of $4,614, had been subscribed, 
 all — with the exception of $30 — by citizens of Great 
 Barrington. At the same time a beautiful flag-pole, 
 one hundred and fifteen feet in length, was in prepara- 
 tion for erection in the Main street, south of the 
 Berkshire House. 
 
 At this adjourned meeting, a resolution was adopt- 
 ed, inviting the ladies to co-operate in the work and to 
 meet and organize for that purpose, the next day ; and 
 iis the work of the Convention was being well forwarded 
 by the committee having it in charge, no further meet- 
 ing was held. 
 
 This Convention, though in its call embracing ad- 
 joining towns, was in fact a Great Barrington institu- 
 tion, originated and conducted entirely by the inhabi- 
 tants of this town. Its effect — as was intended — was 
 to unite and harmonize the people in the work of the 
 war, to give expression and direction to their wishes 
 and efficiency to their action, and, as its results proved, 
 the intent was fully accomplished. It was a step in 
 the right direction and at the right time. The record 
 of the proceedings of the Convention, as well as the 
 subscriptions and expenditures of funds, written by 
 Charles J. Taylor, who at the adjourned meeting, was 
 appointed permanent secretary, are preserved in the 
 office of the Town Clerk. 
 
 The ladies — not less patriotic than the men — in ac- 
 cordance with the request of the Convention, met on 
 the 2d of May, organized a Soldiers' Aid Society, and 
 were soon busily engaged in preparmg clothing and 
 
448 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 other articles for the soldiers. The officers of this^ 
 Society were : Mrs. Clara A. W. Sumner, President r 
 Mrs. Delia Hulbert, Vice-President ; Miss Nancy Kel- 
 logg, Secretary. This Society, within three weeks' 
 time, provided by manufacture and purchase, 300 shunts 
 and undershirts and a great variety of other necessa- 
 ries for the volunteer company then forming. 
 
 Of the amount subscribed, fifty per cent, only was 
 called for, and there was collected and paid into the 
 treasury 
 
 The sum of $2,210.60 
 
 To this the town of Sheffield added — for its own men, 137. 97" 
 The town of Egremont added for its own men, 65.00 
 
 And David Dalzell, of Egremont, 10.00 
 
 $2,423.57^ 
 
 This sum was placed in charge of a committee, ap- 
 pointed by the Convention, and was expended in or- 
 ganizing, clothing, and subsisting the company of sol- 
 diers then gathering, and in aiding the families of those 
 who went into the service. 
 
 Volunteering progressed rapidly ; by the middle of 
 May sixty men had enlisted, and the ranks of the com- 
 pany — afterwards Company A. of the Tenth Massachu- 
 setts Regiment — were soon swelled to the full number 
 of seventy-nine. The men had their quarters in the' 
 Agricultural building, using the gallery for a dormitory 
 and the main floor for drilling. Here they were di'illed 
 and disciplined by Ralph O. Ives — who became their 
 captain — and by Sergeant Daniel J. Bishop, who had 
 served in the Mexican war, and who was very efficient. 
 Allen S. Mansir — then of Monterey — officiated as stew-^ 
 ard for the company. A cannon was transported to 
 the gi'ound, and salutes were regularly fired at morn- 
 ing and night, at the raising and loweiing of the flag. 
 The men were subjected to a surgical examination by 
 Doctor Samuel Camp, and pronounced fit for military 
 service. This company consisted largely of men from 
 this and adjacent towns, with a few from other places; 
 and twenty-four served on the quota of this town. 
 
 Tuesday, the 28th of May, was a gala-day both with, 
 the citizens and soldiers. On that day the company,. 
 
COMPANY A. ORGANIZED. 449 
 
 then fully uniformed, held its election for officers at 
 the town-hall ; a previous but invalid election had been 
 held on the 16th. Ralph O. Ives was unanimously 
 chosen Captain, and James L. Bacon and Henry L. 
 Wilcox were respectively elected Fii'st and Second Lieu- 
 tenants. The election was followed by a presentation 
 of Bibles and Testaments — from the Bible Society — 
 by Rev. C. A. L. Richards, and gifts in cash were made 
 to many of the soldiers by individuals from their re- 
 spective towns. The company then marched to the 
 residence of Mrs. Judith Bigelow, escorted by twenty- 
 four citizens on horseback led by David Leavitt, and 
 attended by a large concourse of people. Mrs. Bige 
 low presented the company with an elegant banner, 
 Samuel B. Sumner, Esq., making the presentation 
 speech, to which Captain Ives properly responded. 
 From Mrs. Bigelow's the procession moved to Mount 
 Peter — a spot made memorable by the liberty pole of 
 1775 — where each of the soldiers, kneeling and kissing 
 the flag, made solemn oath to defend it under all cir- 
 cumstances. A characteristic speech from Sergeant 
 Daniel J. Bishop followed, which was loudly applauded. 
 This ceremony being completed, the soldiers and many 
 citizens repaired to the Collins House, where a supper 
 furnished by Doctor C. T. Collins, was in waiting, and 
 the evening was spent in speech-making and mirth- 
 fulness. 
 
 The morning of Wednesday, May 29th — the day^ 
 appomted for the company to leave for the rendezvous 
 at Springfield — opened with unpropitious showers ; 
 nevertheless the men started upon their march in ex- 
 cellent spmts, stopping over night at Otis, and reach- 
 ing Springfield on the 31st, where they encamped on 
 Hampden Park. These men were mustered into the 
 service on the 21st of June, 1861, and formed a large part 
 of Company A. of the Tenth Massachusetts Regiment. 
 
 From the funds raised by subscription, the men 
 were uniformed, and in part, subsisted to the time of 
 their muster, and the families of the soldiers of this 
 town were assisted until the 8th of June, when the 
 town assumed this responsibility, and at a special town- 
 meeting held that day, voted "to assume and provide 
 
450 mSTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 for the support of the families of the soldiers who 
 have enlisted or who shall hereafter enlist into the ser- 
 vice of the United States, so long as they shall remain 
 in such service." At the same time a committee was 
 appointed to consider all applications for support, with 
 power to di'aw funds from the treasury for that pur- 
 pose; and the Treasurer was authorized to borrow 
 money to the extent of $2,000 to meet the demands. 
 
 The officers of this company — Company A. of the 
 Tenth Massachusetts — were : Captain, Ealph O. Ives, 
 of Great Barrington ; Fu'st Lieutenant, James L. 
 Bacon, of Great Barrington : Second Lieutenant, Hen- 
 ry L. Wilcox, of Great Barrington. Lieutenant Wil- 
 cox resigned October 7, 1861, and Sergeant Allen S. 
 Mansii' was appointed in his stead : and after the dis- 
 charge of Lieutenant Bacon for disability, December 
 4, 1 861, Lieutenant Mansii' was again promoted, to the 
 office of First Lieutenant — June 21, 1862. Sergeants : 
 — Allen S. Mansii', of Monterey : Daniel J. Bishop, of 
 Great Barrington ; Melancthon B. Beach, of Great 
 Barrington ; Varnum Bazil, of Lee ; AYilliam M. Stan- 
 nard, of New Marlboro ; Alvin Turner, of Falls Village, 
 Ct., who is reported to have deserted July 23, 1861 ; 
 John W. Nye, of Lee, (who succeeded Sergeant Man- 
 su'); Hubei-t L. Barber, of New Marlboro. Corporals : — 
 Orville E. Cutting, of Lee ; Charles P. French, of West 
 Stockbridge, who died of wounds received May 6, 1864, 
 in battle of the Wilderness ; Marshall A. Hines, of Lee ; 
 John McElroy, of Falls Village, Ct., who is reported to 
 have deserted July 23, 1861 ; Patrick O'Brien, of 
 Spiingfield; Kenan Rj-an, of Lee. Charles A. Gil- 
 more, of Great BaiTington, was principal musician on 
 non-commissioned staff. 
 
 Captain Ralph O. Ives, in pursuit of provisions, 
 entered a house outside of the lines, September 3, 1863, 
 and was captured by guerrillas. He was taken to Rich- 
 mond, and later to Salisbuiy, N. C, and as a retalia^ 
 tory measui'e, doomed to hard labor with ball and 
 chain, but was eventually returned to Richmond and 
 exchanged. Two other Great Barrington men joined 
 the Tenth regiment, early in 1862, making the number 
 seiwing on the quota of the town twenty-six. 
 
TENTH KEGIMENT. 451 
 
 The Tenth Kegiment — composed principally of men 
 from the five western counties — went into camp at 
 Spiingfield, May 31, 1861 ; was mustered into the ser- 
 vice, and its officers commissioned June 21st. Henry 
 S. Briggs, of Pittsfield, its Colonel, had long been con- 
 nected with the volunteer militia of the state, and, 
 when the war broke out, was in command of the Pitts- 
 field company — the Allen Guards — and was amongst 
 the first to offer the services of himself and company, 
 under the first call of the President — April 16 — for 
 three months' men. Before the expiration of that ser- 
 vice. Colonel Briggs was appointed to command the 
 Tenth regiment. The regiment remained in Spring- 
 field to the 17th of July, Avhen it removed to Medford, 
 where it was encamped a few days, and sailed for 
 Washington July 25th. It formed part of the army of 
 the Potomac, was engaged in the battles before Eich- 
 mond and at Fredericksburg in 1862, and at Chan- 
 cellorsville, Gettysburg and Rappahannock Station in 
 1863. In May, 1864, it took part in the battles of the 
 Wilderness, Spottslyvania, and Cold Harbor — losing 
 heavily in these actions — and in the battle of Peters- 
 burg in June. 
 
 Its term of service expiring, the regiment returned 
 home, arriving at Springfield June 25, 1864, where it 
 met with an enthusiastic reception, and was mustered 
 out on the 1st of July. Of the twenty six men who 
 served for Great Barrington, in this regiment, ten were 
 discharged for disability before termination of enlist- 
 ment ; one. Lieutenant Henry L. Wilcox, resigned ; 
 one, Francis M. Ives, was promoted ; three, Lafayette 
 Markham, Benjamin F. Remington, George Warnei', 
 re-enlisted ; two were transferred to other service ; 
 nine were mustered out at expiration of service. 
 
 While the first military company was organizing, 
 in May, 1861, a company of Home Guards was formed, 
 and for a time subjected to daily drill ; and a little 
 later Richard J. Bush gathered a small company — the 
 "Brownell Zouaves," of which he was the Captain, and 
 which he disciplined to a tolerable degree of efficiency. 
 These organizations, though of little importance, tend- 
 ed to encourage a martial spmt among the young men. 
 
452 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 and the Zouave company was productive of positive good, 
 as Captain Bush, with several of his comrades, soon after 
 enlisted for three years in the Twentv-Seventh Kegiment. 
 
 On the 20th of August, 1861,' Hemy W. Wright, 
 Edward L. Kellogg, Stillman P. Pattison, George G. 
 Ray, Gilbert Oakley, and James Douglas, all of Great 
 Barrington, and AVilliam H. Shears of Sheffield, left 
 town to join the Second New York Cavalry — Harris' 
 Light Cavaky — Kilpatrick's regiment. These men 
 usualty rode together on the right of the line and were 
 known in the regiment as the Great Barrington dele- 
 gation. Following the fortunes of that noted regi- 
 ment, they were engaged in numerous battles, raids 
 and sku'mishes, and experienced as severe service as 
 fell to the lot of any of our soldiers. 
 
 Pattison died in the hospital at Georgetown, D. C, 
 December 25, 1861 ; this was, perhaps, the first death 
 of any Great Barrington man in the army. Oakley 
 was killed by the accidental discharge of his carbine 
 in his own hands, September, 1862. Douglas, disabled 
 by the kick of a horse, was discharged. Wright was 
 taken prisoner at the battle of Buckland's Mills, Va., 
 October 19, 1863, and confined at Belle Island, where, 
 suffering the privations and hardships common to 
 prisoners of war, he experienced the further affliction of 
 the small pox. He was eventually released on parole 
 May 8, 1864. Shears was captured at Brandy Station, 
 Va., September 11, 1863, confined at Belle Island, and 
 paroled in March, 1864. Kellogg fell into the hands 
 of the rebels September 22, 1863, and Ray in June, 
 1864 ; both remained prisoners to the close of the war. 
 
 Great Barrington responded promptly to the first 
 calls of the President — May and June, 1861 — for three 
 years volunteers, and continued the work of recruiting 
 through the following autumn. About the middle of 
 September, Dr. Samuel Camp, having authority for enlist- 
 ing, opened a recruiting office in the village and obtained 
 a large number of volunteers, many of whom entered the 
 27th, and 31st regiments. Richard J. Bush was also 
 active in obtaining recruits for the 27th regiment, and by 
 the middle of October the town had sixteen men in its 
 ranks, which number was' soon increased to thirty. 
 
TWENTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT. 453 
 
 The Twenty-Seventh Kegiment, organized at Spring- 
 field in the autumn of 1861, left the state Novem- 
 ber 2d, and encamped at Annapolis, Md., until 
 the 6th of January, 1862, when it sailed for North 
 Carolina as part of the Burnside expedition. Into 
 this regiment thirty men of Great Barrington were 
 mustered in September and October, 1861, and, wdth 
 the exception of three, w^ere all in company E. A few 
 others from this town also joined the regiment at a 
 later date. This regiment was engaged in the battles 
 at Roanoke Island, Newbern, Washington, and Gum 
 Swamp in the spring of 1863, and through the follow^- 
 ing summer was in service at and about New^bern. In 
 October it was transferred to Virginia, and in the spring 
 and summer of 1864, participated in the active opera- 
 tions in that quarter. This regiment w^as in the bat- 
 tles at Arrowfield Church — May 9th — and Drury's 
 Bluff and vicinity May 14-16, where, after hard fight- 
 ing and severe casualties nine of its officers and 
 two hundi'ed and forty-three men were made prisoners. 
 It was afterwards engaged in the battles at Cold Har- 
 bor and Petersburg — ^June, 1864 — and remained in 
 the trenches before Petersburg, until the 24th of 
 August. In September, a considerable portion of the 
 regiment — 179 men — wdiose term of service was about 
 expiring, returned to Massachusetts, and was mustered 
 out at Springfield, September 27th. The balance of 
 the regiment was transj^orted to North Carolina and 
 continued in active service to June 26, 1865, w^hen it 
 was mustered out. Returning to Massachusetts, the 
 regiment, numbering seven commissioned officers and 
 one hundred and thirty- two men, arrived at Readville 
 July 7th, where the men w^ere paid off and disbanded. 
 Amongst the officers of the Tw^enty-seventh regi- 
 ment were the following from Great Barrington ; Doc- 
 tor Samuel Camp, Assistant Surgeon ; Richard J. Bush, 
 at first a Sergeant, became Second Lieutenant ; Otto 
 L. Stamm, also Corporal and Sergeant, became Second 
 Lieutenant ; George W. Brewer, a Sergeant, killed at 
 Petersburg, June 18, 1864 ; Washington I. Burghardt, 
 and Frederick A. Bobbins were Corporals. 
 
 Of the thirty-three representatives of the town in 
 
454 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 this regiment, six were discharged for disability before 
 termination of enlistment ; two resigned, Doctor Sam- 
 uel Camp and Lieutenant R. J. Bush ; two died in the 
 service, James M. Hamlin and Gilbert C. Comstock ; 
 five were discharged at termination of enlistment ; six- 
 teen re-enlisted, one of whom. Sergeant Brewer, was 
 afterwards killed as mentioned above, and another, 
 Jonas Scott, died of wounds June 7, 1864, at Rich- 
 mond. Va. ; one, Anthony Wackel, was killed at New- 
 bern, March 14, 1862 ; one, Charles Masten, was re- 
 ported as deserted October 27, 1861. One of the ear- 
 liest sad casualties of the war, affecting Great Barring- 
 ton families, was the death of James M. Hamlin, a 
 young man of this village, highly esteemed, who was 
 drowned at the embarkation of the regiment at An- 
 napolis, January 7, 1862. 
 
 Immediately following tlie enlistments in the Twen- 
 ty-seventh, twenty-two Great Barrington men volun- 
 teered in the Thirty-first regiment, most of whom were 
 mustered in November and December, 1861. At a 
 later date two others joined this regiment on the quota 
 of the town. The Thii'ty-Fu-st Regiment sailed from 
 Boston February 21, 1862, arriving at Ship Island, 
 March 20th, and was engaged in the battles of the De- 
 partment of the Gulf in 1862-63. It was in the expe- 
 dition against New Orleans — April, 1862 — and to- 
 gether with the Fourth Wisconsin regiment, was the 
 first Union regiment to land and take possession of 
 the city on the 1st of May. In the spring of 1863, a 
 part of the regiment was in the advance against Port 
 Hudson, and was prominently engaged in the battles 
 of May 25th, 27th and 29th,'^and of June 14th. In 
 1864, this regiment took part in the battle at Sabine 
 Cross Roads and other actions in Louisiana. In the 
 battle at Sabine Cross Roads, April 8, 1864, Henry 
 Sherry was wounded, and Jeremiah Thomas was taken 
 prisoner — both of this town. 
 
 William H. Pelton, who was First Sergeant of com- 
 pany H, became Second Lieutenant January 1, 1863, 
 and was, later, promoted to Fii'st Lieutenant. Charles 
 T. Phillips was Sergeant, and George Howes Corporal 
 in the same company. Nine of the Great Barrington 
 
BOUNTIES TO VOLUNTEERS. 455 
 
 men were discharged for disability ; three at the expi- 
 ration of their term of enhstment ; seven re-enhsted ; 
 two died in the service, viz., Frank Seeley, July 29, 
 1862, at Kenner, La., and Corporal George Howes, 
 May 23, 1864, at Yellow Bayou, La. ; one, John Dolan, 
 is unaccounted for ; two are reported as "deserted." 
 
 The Kev. Horace Winslow went early in 1862, as 
 Chaplain of the Fifth Connecticut regiment ; and Doc- 
 tor Jonathan Cass entered the service September 2, 
 1862, as Assistant Surgeon in the Fortieth Massachu- 
 setts regiment. 
 
 To the volunteers of 1861 and the early part of 
 1862, no bounties were paid ; but with the increased 
 demand for men, it became difficult to obtain volun- 
 teers in sufficient numbers, and resort was had to the 
 payment of bounties. Under the call of the President 
 —of July 4, 1862— for 300,000 three years volunteers 
 the quota of the town was estabhshed at forty-eight. 
 To meet this demand a special town-meeting was held 
 on the 19th of July, at which the following resolutions, 
 presented by the Hon. Increase Sumner, were unani- 
 mously adopted. 
 
 ''Resolved, That to the call of our Union for aid to crush the 
 existing wicked rebellion, it is our bounden duty, now, hence- 
 forth, and forever, to give our obedient, ready, and earnest re- 
 sponse ; and we respond accordingly ; 
 
 "That in order to raise our quota of men for the service — 
 forty-eight in number— the treasurer of the town is hereby au- 
 thorized and directed to borrow, upon the credit of the town, 
 forty-eight hundred dollars, payable in five years from July 1, 
 1862, with annual interest ; from which a bounty of $100 shall 
 be paid, upon the order of the selectmen, to each man who shall 
 enhst and be accepted into the service of the Union, payable 
 when the party entitled thereto, shall be duly mustered into 
 said service. 
 
 '' Remhed, That David Leavitt, Edwin Hurlburt, and Mark 
 Humphrey be a committee to aid the selectmen in procuring en- 
 listments pursuant to the above resolve. 
 
 ''Resolved, That each citizen of the town hereby pledges 
 to the selectmen and committee, to give them all possible aid in 
 the performance of their duties." 
 
 A subscription paper was presented to the meet- 
 ing, and individuals present contributed money, as- 
 suring each volunteer a further bounty of $25. An 
 enlistment roll was produced, and James Sedgwick 
 
456 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 took from his pocket a gold watch and offered it for 
 the first four who should enlist ; Richard E. Morgan 
 promptly stepped forward and subscribed the roll, and 
 was forthwith followed by seven other young men. 
 Riley Crippen offered a silver watch for the next volun- 
 teer ; this was quickly responded to b}^ Frank S. Tur- 
 ner. Mark Humphrey offered a new milch cow to any 
 man having a family, who would next enhst ; this was 
 accepted by Egbert Pixley. This town-meeting was 
 followed by a war meeting of citizens, at the town hall 
 on the 24th of July, at which patriotic resolutions pre- 
 sented by Samuel B. Sumner, Esq., were adopted and 
 addresses were made by Hon. Henry L. Dawes and 
 Increase Sumner. 
 
 Volunteering had progressed rapidly, and at the 
 time of this meeting about forty men had been en- 
 rolled. The quota was speedily filled. Forty of the 
 men on this quota went into the Thii'ty-seventh regi- 
 ment then gathering at Pittsfield, in which Edwin 
 Hurlbui't went as Caiotain ; four joined the Thu'ty- 
 foui'th regiment, and one the Twenty- seventh. 
 
 The Thirty-Seventh Regiment saw hard service and 
 severe fighting. This regiment left the State Septem- 
 ber 7, 1862, for the Ai'my of the Potomac, reaching 
 its destination in time to participate in the battle of 
 Fredericksburg in December. In 1863 it was engaged 
 in the battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. 
 Early in August, 1863, the regiment was transferred 
 to New York City, where it remained, doing guard and 
 provost duty connected with the draft, until the mid- 
 dle of October, when it returned to Virginia. The 
 Thii'ty-Seventh was prominently engaged, in 1864, in 
 the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania Court 
 House and Cold Harbor, as well as in the actions be- 
 fore Petersburg and at Winchester. In 1865 this 
 regiment was conspicuous in the assault on Peters- 
 burg, and in the fight at Saylor's Creek of April 6 ; 
 and from this point followed the track of Lee's army 
 to its surrender, near Appomattox Court House, April 
 9, 1865. The regiment left Washington for Massachu- 
 setts, July 22, 1865, and was discharged at Readville, 
 on the 1st of Jnlj. 
 
THIRTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT. 457 
 
 The larger part of the Great Barrington men con- 
 nected with the Thh'th-Seventh regiment were mem- 
 bers of Company C, of which Edwin Hurlburt was the 
 Captain. Captain Hurlburt resigned October 14, 1862. 
 The other Great Barrington officers — all of Company 
 C. — were : Richard H. Taylor, 1st Sergeant, who be- 
 came 2d Lieutenant and was promoted to 1st Lieuten- 
 .ant October 13, 1864 ; William H. Dunning, Sergeant, 
 who is reported as deserted October 2, 1862 ; Martin 
 , Schemerhorn, Sergeant, killed in battle ; George A. 
 Seeley, Sergeant ; George J. Pinneo, Erastus Strick- 
 land, Corporals. Four of the Great Barrington men 
 were killed in battle, viz. : Egbert Pixley, at the Wil- 
 derness, Va., May 6, 1864 ; John Wolcott, at the same 
 place and time ; Colonel D. Halsey, at Spottsylvania, 
 Va., May 12, 1864 ; Sergeant Mai'tin Schemerhorn, at 
 Opeyan Creek, Va., September 19, 1864. Two died of 
 wounds received in battle, viz. : James Casey, at Al- 
 exandi'ia, Va., July 5, 1864 ; Buel Gleason, at Freder- 
 icksburg, Va., May 17, 1864. Three others died in 
 the service, viz. : Elijah P. Hatch, at New York, Oc- 
 tober 18, 1863 ; John Smith, at Regimental Hospital, 
 April 12, 1863; Jacob Van Bramer, at Falmouth, Va., 
 February 18, 1863. Six were transferred to the Veteran 
 Heserve Corps ; seven were discharged for disability 
 •or other cause ; fourteen were discharged at expiration 
 of service ; one resigned ; three deserted ; two are not 
 .accounted for. 
 
 Two Great Barrington men in the Thirty-Fourth 
 Hegiment died in the service, to wit : William Dennis, 
 .at Fort Lyon, Va., November 22, 1862 ; Miles Law- 
 rence, at Florence, S. C, October 5, 1863. 
 
 Scarcely had this last quota of three years' men 
 been filled, when the call of the President — of August 
 2, 1862 — for 300,000 men for nine months was pro- 
 mulgated. A draft was anticipated, and the towil 
 assessors prepared an enrollment of the inhabitants 
 liable to military service. This enrollment — imperfect 
 for the reason that many ahens were included — con- 
 ;tained the names of 533 white, and 19 colored citi- 
 „zens — total, 552. The quota of the town, at first 
 ^stated as 74, was later changed to 81, and after that 
 
458 HISTOEY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 number of volunteers had been obtained, was again in- 
 creased to 89. 
 
 To encourage volunteering and fill this quota a war 
 meeting was held on the ninteenth of August, in the 
 open air in Main Street, a platform for the speakers 
 having been erected just north of the Berkshire House. 
 Places of business were closed, and the people devoted 
 the day to the purpose. David Leavitt presided, and 
 the meeting was opened with prayer. Patriotic ad- 
 dresses were made by Hon. S. W. Bowerman of Pitts- 
 field, and by Colonel Henry S. Briggs of the Tenth 
 Massachusetts Regiment, who was then recovering 
 from wounds received at the battle of Fair Oaks. 
 These were followed by an eloquent appeal by Hon. 
 Jonathan E. Field of Stockbridge, eulogizing the pat- 
 riotism of the town in the Revolution, and the march 
 of its minute men to Cambridge at the first outbreak 
 of hostihties. 
 
 AMiile these proceedings were in progress, Joseph 
 Tucker appeared on the ground with an enlistment 
 roll in his pocket, to which he had already affixed his 
 signature, and after a brief conference with Thomas 
 Siggins, both ascended to the platform, and Mr. Sig- 
 gins there subscribed the roll. These were the first 
 men to enhst. Further addresses were made by the 
 Rev. F. S. Barnum and Joseph Tucker, and several 
 additional names were obtained. 
 
 The meeting adjourned to the 2 2d, at the Town 
 Hall, and was supplemented by a series of meetings 
 held nearly every evening for a week. A town meet- 
 ing was also held August 28, at which a bounty of 
 $100 was voted for each volunteer, and the treasurer 
 was authorized to boi'row money for its payment. Vol- 
 unteering continued until the roll contained ninety-five 
 names ; but all did not enter the service. On Mon- 
 day^ September 15, the men, eighty-one in number — 
 the full quota as was then supposed — went into camp 
 at Pittsfield, and were mustered into the Forty-Ninth 
 Regiment on the nineteenth ; the larger part — seventy- 
 two — joining Company D. 
 
 Before leaving for Pittsfield, the Company held its 
 election of officers, September 13, at the Town Hall ;: 
 
FORTY-NINTH REGIMENT. 459' 
 
 Joseph Tucker magnanimously waived his generally 
 conceded claims to the Captaincy. The officers chosen 
 were : Captain, Samuel B. Sumner ; First Lieutenant,. 
 Joseph Tucker ; Second Lieutenant, Samuel J. Chaffee. 
 
 The town's quota of nine months' men was soon 
 increased to eighty-nine, and the deficiency of seven 
 was made up by the enlistment of three more in the 
 Forty-Ninth regiment, one in the Forty Sixth, and 
 four in the Twenty Eighth Connecticut ; though the 
 last, it now apjDears, did not apply on the quota. 
 
 On the twenty-eighth of October, Company D. came 
 down from Pittsfield and partook of a dinner prepared 
 by the ladies, in the basement of the Congregational 
 Church, and was afterwards paraded in the church- 
 yard, where — through the Rev. Horace Winslow — a 
 presentation of swords, belts and sashes was made to 
 the officers ; and John H. Coffing, by letter, presented 
 the Company with {§100 for sanitary purposes. 
 
 The Forty -Ninth Regiment, principally recruited at 
 Pittsfield in September and October, 1862, removed to 
 Worcester early in November, and there completed its 
 regimental organization by the election of William F. 
 Bartlett of Boston, Colonel ; Samuel B. Sumner of 
 Great Barrington, Lieutenant-Colonel ; Charles F- 
 Plunkett of Pittsfield, Major. The promotion of Cap- 
 tain Sumner necessitated changes in the officers of 
 Company D. Samuel J. Chaffee became the Captain ;; 
 Joseph Tucker, Fu"st Lieutenant ; Heni*y G. Moree, 
 Second Lieutenant. Lieutenant Moree resigned April 
 7, 1863, and Thomas Siggins was chosen Second Lieu- 
 tenant in his stead. These were all Great Barrington 
 men. Others of this town holding offices in Company 
 D. were: Sergeants, — William S. Gilbert, James K. 
 Parker, Henry W. Mansir, Guy C. Ray, Henry G. 
 Moree (promoted) ; Corporals, — Edward Tobey, Heniy 
 A. Bristol, John W. Evans, John A. Dresser, Thomas 
 H. Hughes, Ward Lewis. James Van Deusen was 
 drummer. George Reed, First Sergeant of Company^ 
 A. became Second Lieutenant of that Company. 
 
 Late in November the regiment was sent to New 
 York, and quartered on Long Island, doing provost 
 guard duty, until the last of January, 1863, when it 
 
460 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 sailed for New Orleans, joined the Bank's Expedition, 
 and was attached to the Fii'st Brigade (Colonel Cha- 
 pin's) in General Augur's Division. On the fourteenth 
 of March the regiment participated in the feigned ad- 
 vance of Bank's forces on Port Hudson, and returned 
 to Baton Rouge, where it had previously been quar- 
 tered. About the middle of May the regiment ad- 
 vanced, with Augur's Division, towards Port Hudson, 
 and was engaged — May 21 — in the battle at Plain's 
 Store. In this action five of this regiment were w^ound- 
 ed, including Lieutenant Joseph Tucker — acting Aid 
 de Camp on Colonel Chapin's staff — who was struck 
 on the knee by a shell, necessitating the amputation of 
 his leg. May 27, in the first assault on Port Hudson, 
 the casualties of this regiment were seventy-six killed 
 and wounded, or one-third part of the men engaged — 
 ■*' three companies having been in special service." In 
 a feigned assault on Port Hudson — June 14 — the losses 
 of the regiment in killed and wounded were eighteen. 
 Duiing the entire investment of that place, to the time 
 of its surrender — July 9 — the regiment was in the 
 iront engaged in the duties of the siege. 
 
 At the assault of May 27, Lieutenant Thomas Sig 
 ^ns, who with some two hundi'ed others, volunteered 
 in the forlorn hope for storming the rebel works, was 
 assigned to the command of a detachment bearing fas- 
 cines, while the storming party was led by Lieutenant- 
 Colonel O'Brien, of the Forty-Eighth Massachusetts 
 regiment. As the forlorn hope, crossing a tract of 
 woodland covered with felled trees and other obstruc- 
 tions, emerged upon an open field, they were met by a 
 terrific fire from the rebel earth-works. Colonel 
 O'Brien fell* dead, and the command devolved upon 
 Lieutenant Siggins, who, rushing forward and cheer- 
 ing on his men, was struck by a ball in the shoulder, 
 and soon after received a terrible wound in the mouth 
 and neck. From the effect of these wounds Lieuten- 
 ant Siggins never recovered, and though he lived many 
 years, they were, ultimately, the cause of his death — 
 October 7, 1880. In this engagement Thomas Hen- 
 nessy and IVIills S. Beynolds of this town and Mark 
 Bracken of Alford were killed, and Lieutenant-Colonel 
 
FORTY-NINTH REGIMENT. 461 
 
 Sumner, Henry A. Bristol, Benjamin Shelly, David 
 Hecox and John W. Evans, all of Great Barrington, 
 were wounded — the latter very severely. Eleven out 
 of eighteen officers of the Forty-Ninth were struck by 
 rebel bullets. 
 
 Immediately after the surrender of Port Hudson,, 
 the regiment was sent to Donaldsonville, and with the 
 exception of a short engagement near Bayou La Fourche,. 
 on the 13th of July, in which it was nearly surrounded 
 and lost twenty. two men in killed, wounded and miss- 
 ing, it was in no further very severe service. 
 
 The term of enlistments having expii-ed, the regi- 
 ment returned home by way of the Mississippi Biver^ 
 reaching Pittsfield August 21, where it met with an 
 enthusiastic popular reception, and was mustered out 
 September 1. 
 
 On the retui-n of the Great Barrington men a sup- 
 per was given them at the Berkshire House, with a 
 cordial welcome from the citizens ; and a few days 
 later, at a public meeting at the Town Hall, Lieutenant 
 Tucker was presented with a service of silver, while 
 Lieutenant Siggins at about the same time, was the 
 recipient of a gift in cash ; sHght testimonials of the 
 appreciation of their services and misfortunes, on the 
 part of the people. 
 
 Of the 84 men who went out from Great Barring- 
 ton in the Forty-Ninth, sixty-five were discharged at 
 expiratio^i of service ; four were discharged for disa- 
 bility ; one. Lieutenant H. G. Moree, resigned ; four 
 are reported as deserted ; two, Thomas Hennessy and 
 Mills S. Keynolds, were killed in battle at Port Hud- 
 son, May 27, 1863 ; eight died in the service, viz. : 
 George Kolby, April 18, 1863 ; Isaac V. Wilcox, April 
 21, 1863 ; Francis Joray, May 15, 1863 ; Samuel C. 
 Bills, May 18, 1863 ; John W. Fitzgerald, June 30, 
 1863; Artemas K. Comstock, July 18, 1863; all at 
 Baton Rouge, La. John W. Burghardt, August 27, 
 1863, and Franklin W. Harmon, August 27, 1863, both 
 at Pittsfield. Several deaths occurred amongst the 
 returned men soon after they were mustered out, all 
 from disease incurred in the service. Of these. Lieut- 
 enant George Eeed died September 8, 1863, at Cleve- 
 
462 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 land, Ohio ; Charles W. French died September 22, 
 1863, at Great Barrington ; Guy C. Rav died Novem- 
 ber 11, 1863, at Great Barrington ; Bradford B. Wil- 
 cox died January 29, 1864, at Great Barrington. 
 
 Down to the first of February, 1863, the town had 
 been called upon for 155 men for three years service, 
 and for 89 men for nine months : sworn retiu'ns then 
 made by the selectmen shovr that 157 tlu-ee years and 
 87 nine months men had been furnished. On a further 
 call for three years men — July 1, 1863 — the number re- 
 quired of this town was 48. In anticipation of a draft, 
 Clark A. Wilcox, who had been previously appointed 
 eni'oUing officer, made an enrollment of citizens liable 
 to military service. The eni'ollment was in two classes ; 
 the second class consisting of married men between 
 thu'ty-five and forty-five years of age ; the first class 
 including all others between the ages of twenty and 
 twenty-five years. In the first class 240 white and 15 
 colored men were enrolled ; and in the second class 
 165 white and 4 colored men — total, 424. To fill the 
 quota of forty-eight, resort was had to the di*aft, which 
 took place at Springfield about the thii*teenth of 
 August. Seventy-six names were drawn, or about fifty 
 per cent more than the number required, and of those 
 drafted more than forty were rejected at a subsequent 
 examination. By reason of rejection, and other causes, 
 the product of the draft was only twenty-nine men, and 
 twenty or more of these paid the commutation of $300 
 demanded by the government for providing substitutes. 
 We have the names of seven drafted men who went into 
 the service, -^dz : Edward Adams, Abram Ferguson, 
 Abram Jackson, Jr., William A. Leonard, George Phil- 
 lips, Pratt V. Strong, Edward A. Strong. 
 
 Another call for 300,000 men for three years, was 
 made October 17, 1863, of which Great Barrington was 
 required to furnish thirty-eight. Enlistments for this 
 quota were begun ; and on the eighth of December, at 
 a special town meeting, Doctor Samuel Camp was ap- 
 pointed to enlist men, and was tendered a complimenta- 
 ry and well deserved vote of thanks "for the fidelity 
 and patriotism he has exhibited, ever since the com- 
 mencement of the wai', in procui'ing volunteers and for 
 
FILLING OF QUOTAS. 463 
 
 -the skill and success manifested in and attending his 
 -efforts in the cause." Further volunteers were readily 
 obtained, which with re-enlistments of men of this town, 
 from the Tenth, Twenty-Seventh and Thu'ty-First Reg- 
 iments, whose term of service was expiring, more than 
 filled this and the preceding quota. 
 
 Other calls for men followed — February 1, and 
 March 15, 1864, under which (including the calls of 
 Juty and October 1863) 102 men were required of this 
 town. This quota (or combination of quotas) according 
 to the selectmens' memorandums, was filled as follows : 
 By reinlistments from the Tenth, Twenty- Seventh and 
 Thu-ty-First Regiments, 23 ; by the draft of August, 
 1863, 29 ; by new enlistments, 43 ; by a further draft 
 —May, 1864—7 ; m all 102. 
 
 These quotas, on the fourth of May, 1864, had not 
 been entirely filled, and Adjutant General Schouler 
 then stated to the selectmen the credits to the town, 
 showing a deficiency of seven men. This deficiency 
 was supplied by the draft held at Springfield on and 
 after the eleventh of May. At the first draft seven 
 men were drawn ; but one of these was already in the 
 service and another had removed from town, and it was 
 not until five consecutive drafts had been made that 
 the requisite number was obtained. 
 
 In filling these quotas twelve men enlisted in the 
 Fifty-Fourth regiment — colored — in 1863 ; sixteen 
 men enlisted in the First regiment of cavalry, mostly 
 in December 1863 ; (but four of these never joined the 
 service) fifteen men enlisted in the Fifty-Seventh regi- 
 ment, in the winter and spring of 1864 ; one man, Curtis 
 Deland, went in the Twenty-Eighth regiment in July 
 1863, and died at Annapolis, Md., April 13, 1864 ; one 
 man, William F. Renifi", joined the Thu'ty-Sixth regi- 
 ment, November 27, 1863 ; one man, Alonzo F. Briggs, 
 went in the Fourteenth Battery, February 27, 1864 ; 
 three men entered the Fifth Cavalry — colored — in 
 March, 1864. 
 
 The Fifty-Fourth Massachusetts was the first regi- 
 ment of colored men organized for the war, in the Free 
 States. It was in the front line at the terrible and dis- 
 .astrous assault on Fort Wagner — July 18, 1863 — and 
 
464 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 lost heavily in that action. Of the twelve men of Great 
 Barrington in this regiment one, Levi H. Jackson, died 
 of wounds at Charleston, S. C, May 12, 1865. Francis 
 J. Jackson died here. May 10, 1864, of disease con- 
 tracted in the service ; James H. Jackson was reported 
 missing in the action at Fort Wagner — July 18, 1863, 
 but afterwards returned home. Nine were discharged at 
 expiration of ser\ice, August 20, 1865. Ralph B. Gard- 
 ner, a Corporal in Company A, of the Fifty-Fourth, was 
 for a time a prisoner in the hands of the Rebels, but 
 returned home during the war. He afterwards en- 
 listed in the United States Army and died in the service. 
 
 In the First Regiment of Cavalry, Timothy Pelton, , 
 of this town, was Corporal of Company I, and after- 
 wai'ds Second Lieutenant in the Fifth Cavalry. Leon 
 Dushelm of the First Cavalry, died in the Rebel 
 prison at Andersonville, Ga., July 1, 1864. Two 
 ai'e reported as ha\dng deserted — January, 1865. Wil- 
 liam Ford was reported missing. May 11, 1864. The 
 remaining nine Great Barrington men in this regiment 
 appear to have finished their term of service, though 
 two of these, Wesley Ford and William Hasson, are un- 
 accounted for on the rolls of the Adjutant General. 
 
 Few regiments in which Great Barrington was ■ 
 represented, underw^ent more severe service, in a short 
 period, or experienced greater losses than the Fifty- 
 Seventh. This regiment left the State April 18, 1864, 
 and arrived in Virginia in time to participate in the 
 memorable battles of the next month. At the battle 
 of the Wilderness — May 6 — it entered the action with 
 twenty-four officers and five hundi'ed and twentj^-one 
 men (one company — Company H — being on detached 
 service) and lost by casualties tw^o hundred and fifty- 
 one men and officers. On the twelfth of May it was 
 engaged in the battle of Spottsylvania Court House, 
 sustaining a loss of seventy-two. On the eighteenth of 
 May in a brief action it left fifty-seven men on the field. 
 On the twenty-fourth of May, at North Anna River^ its 
 Lieutenant Colonel and thirty-six men were taken, 
 prisoners; and a little later it was engaged at Cold 
 Harbor. June 17th, the Ninth Corps, of w^hich the 
 Fifty-Seventh formed part, stormed and carried a line of 
 
FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT. 465 
 
 intrenchments before Petersburg, the regiment losing 
 41 men and Captain J. M. Tucker, then its commander. 
 
 This regiment remained in the trenches before 
 Petersburg to the thirtieth of July, when, in the ill- 
 conducted action of the Crater, of its eifective force of 
 seven officers and ninety-one men more than half were 
 numbered amongst the killed, wounded, and missing. 
 In August, the regiment took part in the operations 
 against the Weldon Railroad, and in an action of one 
 hour, August 19, lost fifteen out of forty-five men, 
 September 30, in the battle of Poplar Grove Church, 
 its losses were eight out of sixty men, and in a skirmish, 
 October 8th, it sustained a further loss of fourteen 
 men. The fragment of the regiment continued before 
 Petersburg to the twenty-fifth of March, 1865, and 
 entered that place on the third of April. The men 
 were afterwards for a time on special duty in Washing- 
 ton, returned to Massachusetts, and were discharged 
 at Eeadviile, August 9, 1865. 
 
 Four of the fifteen Great Barrington men in the 
 Fifty-Seventh regiment were killed in battle, viz., 
 Michael Shelly, at the Wilderness, May 6, 1864 ; Henry 
 Bills and Lester W. Rawson, at Petersburg, June 17, 
 1864; George W. Shaw, at Petersburg, October 8, 
 1864. Two died in the service, viz : George W. Wilcox, at 
 Washington, June 11, 1864, of wounds received at the 
 Wilderness; William Maloney, September 8th, 1864. 
 Two were discharged for disability, and seven served 
 to the close of the war. 
 
 While the draft, before mentioned, was pending, 
 and in anticipation of further calls for men, a special 
 town meeting was held, June 18, 1864, at which it was 
 voted to raise money sufficient to pay a bounty of $125 
 to each voianteer who should, there-after, be mustered 
 into the service on the quota of the town, under any 
 call of the President issued between the first of October 
 1863, and the first of March 1865. 
 
 A month later, came the call of July 19, 1864, for 
 500,000 men for one, two, and three years, and fifty 
 days were allowed for volunteering before the draft 
 should be resorted to. A new em-ollment had been 
 prepared early in June, and the selectmen had been 
 
 30 
 
466 HISTORY or great barrington. 
 
 three days in session examining eni'olled men and hear- 
 ing causes for exemption. The roll, pui-ged of aliens 
 and other exempts, contained the names of 261 men. 
 The quota of the town imder this call was fifty or 
 neaiiy in the proportion of one to every five of the men 
 enrolled. As the town had already exerted itself to its 
 utmost in the filling of previous quotas, the prospect 
 of obtaining the requisite number by enlistments from 
 its inhabitants w^as hopeless. 
 
 The town authonties, however, applied themselves 
 earnestly to the work of filling the quota \\-ithout re- 
 sort to the di'af t ; and theii' efforts were nobly seconded 
 by the citizens who raised, by subscription, the sum of 
 $5,395, for the pui-pose of obtaining volunteers. The 
 tow^n had already authorized a bounty of $125 to each 
 volunteer upon its quota, and from the citizens fund a 
 further bountj^ of $125 w^as offered for each volunteer 
 for thi^ee years. The Selectmen succeeded in obtaining, 
 at home, nineteen new enlistments — fifteen for one 
 year, thi-ee for three years, and one for foui' years ; the 
 latter a substitute furnished by Isaac B. Prindle — then 
 Cashier of the Mahaiwe Bank — the only substitute, as 
 we believe — provided by any citizen of the town during 
 the war. Doctor Samuel Camp was sent to Yii'ginia, 
 and there secured thii'teen negroes — who enlisted for 
 three years — each recei\T.ng both the town and citizens 
 bounty, $250. Also, through the efforts of Doctor 
 Camp, eleven erdistments for one year and two for 
 three years were made to oui' quota in Boston. 
 
 By a distribution of " Naval Credits" five men were 
 furnished by the State ; and the State also furnished 
 one man, from enhstments made in Rebel States — at a 
 cost of $100 to the town. The fifteen men euhsted for 
 one year entered the Second Regiment of Heavy Ai'til- 
 lery. One of them, Morris W. Bennett, died in the 
 ser^dce at Newbem, N. C, October 19, 1864 ; the re- 
 mainder were discharged at the expii'ation of theu' term 
 of service. All demands upon the town for men, were 
 now filled, and more than filled ; and official returns — to 
 October 1, 1864 — at the office of the Provost Marshal, 
 showed a surplus of six over all the quotas of the town. 
 
 But apprehensions of a further call existed, and the 
 
LAST CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS. 
 
 467 
 
 Provost Marshal advised the selectmen to put more 
 men into the service. This call came in December, 
 "300,000 more" — and without waiting for the quota to 
 be ascertained, the selectmen called a special town 
 meeting, held December 19, 1864, and adjourned to the 
 twenty-fourth, at which the selectmen were instructed 
 to obtain and put into the service such number of re- 
 cruits as they might think necessary to fill the quota 
 of the town ; and the Treasui-er was also authorized to 
 borrow money for the purpose. Following the in- 
 structions, the selectmen, through the agency of Doctor 
 Samuel Camp, enlisted thirty men in Boston in January, 
 1865, at a cost, for bounties and assistance in enhsting 
 of $7,025. This number was deemed sufficient to fill 
 the quota — which it did — and as appears by the report 
 of Adjutant General Schouler — of January 1, 1866 — 
 left a surplus of twenty men to the credit of the town, 
 over and above all requisitions made upon it. 
 
 Throughout the war the town officers were put to 
 great inconvenience from being unable to obtain defin- 
 ite information of the niunber of men required to fill 
 each particular quota ; and when the quotas had been 
 officially ascertained, they were in several instances 
 afterwards changed and increased. 
 
 We are unable to determine with exactness the num- 
 ber of men furnished by the town for the war ; but the 
 following statement made by the Selectmen — Messrs. 
 Seeley, Church and Taylor — answering the inquiries of a 
 Legislative Committee, in March, 1865, though not ab- 
 solutely accurate, we believe to be very nearly correct : 
 
 Date of Call. 
 
 Nv 
 
 itnbcr of Men. 
 
 Term of Service 
 
 May 3, 1861. ) 
 
 
 
 
 June 17, 1861. [ 
 
 
 110. 
 
 Three years. 
 
 May 28, 1862. ) 
 
 
 
 
 July 4, 1862. 
 
 
 48 
 
 Three years. 
 
 August 4, 1862. 
 
 
 89. 
 
 Nine months. 
 
 July 1, 1863. ^ 
 
 
 
 
 October 17, 1863. 1 
 February 1, 1864. f 
 March 15, 1864. J 
 
 
 102 
 
 Three years. 
 
 
 
 
 July 19, 1864. 
 
 
 .51 
 
 
 December, 1864. 
 
 Total, 
 
 30 
 
 
 
 430 Men. 
 
 
468 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINQTON. 
 
 On this point Adjutant General Schouler, in his His- 
 tory of Massachusetts in the RebelHon, says : " Great 
 Barrington was reported by the selectmen, in 1866, as 
 having furnished four hundred and thirty men for the 
 war, which is about the number the town furnished, 
 and which was a surplus of eight over and above all 
 demands made upon it during the war. * * * gev- 
 enteen were commissioned officers." 
 
 Following the terrible battles in Virginia — of May, 
 1864 — when the hospitals were filled with wounded 
 and dying soldiers, an appeal for succor spread through 
 the North. At a public meeting held at the Town 
 Hall — May 14 — John H. Coffing presiding — measures 
 were adopted for employing and forwarding nurses 
 and furnishing supphes for the suffering. The sum of 
 $2,282.13 was raised by subscription; from which 
 $1200 was contributed to the United States Sanitary 
 Commission in New York ; and the Ladies' Aid Socie- 
 ty was furnished Vvith funds for its purposes. The 
 remainder was expended in furnishing nurses, and, 
 later, in assisting the families of oiu' soldiers disabled 
 in the service. Clark A. Wilcox, Hiram McNeil and 
 Richard E. Morgan were sent to Virginia as nurses, 
 and remained so long as their services were needed. 
 The Ladies' Aid Society, at this juncture, redoubled 
 its efforts, which had been continuous from the be- 
 ginning of the war, and rendered very important as- 
 sistance in furnishing and forwarding large quantities 
 of clothing, necessaries and delicacies for use in the 
 hospitals. 
 
 No lady — indeed no citizen — of Great Barrington 
 is entitled to higher commendation for self sacrificing 
 devotion to the Union cause than Miss Caroline A. 
 Burghardt, who early in the war, aided by the recom- 
 mendations of William Cullen Bryant and the Rev. 
 Doctor Tyng, sought and obtained a position as nurse 
 in the Columbia Hospital at Washington. Miss Bur- 
 ghardt continued throughout the war both in the reg- 
 ular and field hospitals — sometimes following the for- 
 tunes of the army on the field of battle, as at Antietam 
 and Gettysburg — ministering to the wants of the sick, 
 the wounded and the dying. After the war she was 
 
WAR EXPENSES. 469 
 
 appointed to a position of responsibility in the Treas- 
 ury Department, where she still remains. 
 
 Expenditures by the Town on Account of the War. 
 
 1862, August. Bounties to 47 men for three years, $4,700 00 
 Sept. -Nov. Bounties to 81 men for nine months, 8,100 00 
 
 1864. August. Bounties to 15 men for one year, 1,875 00 
 August. Bounties to 4 men for three years, 500*00 
 August. Bounties to 13 men enlisted in Virginia, 1,625 00 
 Sept. Bounties to 13 men enHsted in Boston, 1,625 00 
 Sept. Bounties to 1 man State enhstment, 100 00 
 
 1865. January. Bounties to 30 men enlisted in Boston, 6,725 00 
 1864. State assessment on account of bounties, 7,418 45 
 
 $32,668 45 
 Less — Reimbursement — by the State, in 1864, 12,800 00 
 
 Total expense for bounties, $19,868 45 
 
 Expenses incurred in recruiting, trans- 
 porting and putting men into the 
 service, $2,048 33 
 
 Less amount reimbursed by the State, 347 87 — $1,700 46 
 
 Total expenditures by the town, $21,568 91 
 
 But this does not include a large amount lost, by 
 over payments of State Aid to families of volunteers 
 during the war. 
 
 In addition to the bounties paid by the town, the 
 following were paid from funds subscribed by its citizens: 
 
 1862. August. To 48 men for three years, $1,200 00 
 
 1864. August. To 3 men for three years, 375 00 
 
 August. To 13 men enlisted in Virginia, 1,625 00 
 
 September. To 13 men enlisted in Boston, 2,894 00 
 
 Total of citizens' bounties, $6,094 00 
 
 And the bounties paid by both the town and citizens 
 amount to $31,344. 
 
 The sums subscribed and paid by the citizens, for 
 war purposes, so far as the record is preserved, are as 
 follows : 
 
 1861. April. For organizing Co. A. of 10th regiment, $2,200 00 
 
 1862. August. For bounties, &c., for quota of 48 men, 1,315 25 
 1864, May. Sanitary purposes and for wounded soldiers, 2,282 13 
 1864, July. Bounties, for filling quota, "Draft Fund," 5,388 80 
 Several minor subscriptions for the Ladies' Aid Society, 213 50 
 
 $11,399 68 
 
470 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 In March, 1865, the town sustained an indebted- 
 ness of $25,691, arising, mostly, from its expenditures 
 in the war. This debt was entirely discharged within 
 the next tw^o years, and in March, 1867, the town was 
 fi'ee from all liabilities, and had a small surplus in its 
 treasury. 
 
 The following list of soldiers, who served upon the 
 quota of this toum, is compiled from the pubhshed 
 rolls of Massachusetts Volunteers prepared by the 
 Adjutant General. 
 
 The list is intended to contain the names of all the 
 men of Great Barrington who served upon its quota. 
 The names of a large number enlisted in Boston and 
 in Virginia, as well as of those furnished by the State 
 are omitted. If errors in name or in cause of termi- 
 nation of service appear, such errors are attributable 
 to the printed rolls, which we have followed ; though 
 we have in some instances made correction of known 
 inaccuracies. 
 
A ROLL OF SOLDIERS 
 
 OF GREAT BAEEINGTON, 
 Who served upon the Quota of the Town in the War of the 
 Rebellion, with age, date of muster, date and 
 cause of termination of service. 
 
 Tenth Regiment — Infantry^ Three Years. 
 COMPAJSTY A. 
 All mustered June 31, 1861. 
 Ralph O. Ives, Captain; 22; Sept. 19, 1864; expiration. 
 James L. Bacon, 1st Lieutenant ; 33 ; Dec. 4, 1861 ; disability. 
 Henry L. Wilcox, 2d Lieutenant ; 39 ; Oct. 7, 1861 ; resigned. 
 Melancthon B. Beach, Sergeant ; 28 ; July 1, 1864 ; expiration. 
 Daniel J. Bishop, Sergeant; 34; July 1, 1864; expiration. 
 Alfred F. Couch ; 20 ; transferred Feb. 2, 1864, to V. R. C. 
 Owen Crummy ; 34 ; July 1, 1864; expiration. 
 Edward Dennis ; 21 ; Nov. 26, 1862 ; disabihty. 
 Luman Dennis ; 19 ; July 1, 1864 ; expiration. 
 Charles Fughery ; 21; March 12, 1863; disability. 
 Charles A. Gilmore ; 21 ; July 1, 1864 ; expiration. 
 Daniel Haggerty ; 23 ; May 2, 1863 : disability. 
 George H. Holmes; 24; Jan. 14, 1863; disability. 
 Francis M. Ives; 18; Jan. 13, 1863; promotion. 
 Lawrence J. Killelea; 22; July 1, 1864; expiration. 
 WilHam Levy ; 20 ; transferred Feb. 16, 1862, to gun boat serv, 
 Edward J. Mallory ; 25 ; Nov. 21, 1862 ; disability. 
 Lafayette Markham ; 21 ; March 24, 1864 ; to re-enhst. 
 
472 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 Lafayette Markham : 23 : March 2r;. 1864 : transferred June 20, 
 
 1864, to 37th Infantry. 
 James K. Olds ; 43 ; Feb. 13, 1863 ; disability. 
 Calvin H. Peaseley ; 86; Dec, 17, 1861 ; disability. 
 Thomas Pugh ; 32 ; July 1, 1864 ; expiration. 
 Alonzo Suriner ; 19 ; Jan. 18, 1863 : disability. 
 George Warner ; 32 ; Jan. 20, 1864 ; to re-enlist. 
 Thomas Welch; 19; July 1, 1864; expiration. 
 
 COMPANY F. 
 
 Benjamin F. Kemington ; 22; Jan. 31, 1862; Dec. 21, 1863; to 
 re-enlist. 
 
 COMPANY I. 
 William E. Bradley ; 18 ; Feb. 12, 1862 ; Jan. 3, 1863 ; disability. 
 
 Twelfth Regiment — Infantry^ Three Years. 
 
 COMPANY G. 
 
 Edward A. Strong: 31: July 15, 1863; transferred June 25, 
 
 1864, to 39th Infantry ; expiration June 29, 1865. 
 Pratt V. Strong; 24; July 15, 1863; killed May 5, 1864, WU- 
 derness, Va. 
 
 Sixteeyith Regiment — Infantry^ 2'hree Years. 
 COMPANY F. 
 All mustered July 15, 1863. 
 Edward Adams : 28 ; transferred July 11, 1864, to 11th Infant- 
 ry ; expiration July 14, 1865. 
 Abram Ferguson; 25 ; transferred July 11, 1864, to 11th Infant- 
 ry ; expiration July 14, 1865. 
 Wilham A. Leonard ; 20 ; transferred July 11, 1864, to 11th In- 
 fantry ; expiration July 14, 1865. 
 George W'. PhiUips ; 20 ; transferred July 11, 1864, to 11th In- 
 fantry ; expiration June 6, 1865. 
 
 Twenty -JPourth Regiment — Infantry^ Three Years. 
 
 COMPANY C. 
 Wilbur H. Bills; 22; Sept. 10, 1861; May 2, 1863; disability. 
 Ebenezer F. Thayer ; 29 ; Oct. 21, 1861 ; Dec. 9, 1861 ; disabiUty. 
 
 COMPANY G. 
 Stephen Johns ; 26 ; Nov. 8, 1861 ; deserted June 20, 1862. 
 
TWENTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT. 473 
 
 ' Twenty- Seve7ith Regiment — Infantry^ Three Years. 
 
 Samuel Camp, Assistant Surgeon ; 33 ; Sept, 21, 1861 ; May 27, 
 1862 ; resigned. 
 
 COMPANY E. 
 
 Kichard J. Bush, Sergeant ; 18 ; Sept. 20, 1861 ; promoted. 
 Kichard J. Bush, 2d Lieutenant ; 20 ; July 23, 1862 ; Oct. 28, 
 
 1863 ; resigned. 
 Otto L. Stamm, Corporal; 23; Sept. 21, 1861; Dec. 23, 1863; 
 
 to re-enlist. 
 Otto L. Stamm, 2d Lieutenant; 27; May 15, 1865; June 26, 
 
 1865, expiration. 
 George W. Brewer, Sergeant; 18; Sept. 23, 1861; Dec. 23, 
 
 1863; to re-enlist. 
 George W. Brewer, Sergeant ; 20 ; Dec. 24, 1863 ; killed June 
 
 18, 1864, Petersburg, Va. 
 Washington I. Burghardt, Corporal ; 20 ; Sept. 27, 1861 ; Feb. 
 
 18, 1864 ; to re-enlist. 
 Washington I. Burghardt, Corporal: 22; Feb. 19, 1864; July 
 
 10, 1865 ; order of War Department. 
 :'Frederick A. Bobbins; 30; Sept. 20, 1861; Dec. 23, 1863; to 
 
 re-enlist. 
 Frederick A. Bobbins, Corporal ; 32 ; Dec. 24, 1863 ; June 14, 
 
 1865 ; order of War Department. 
 Nelson Adams ; 18 ; Oct. 18, 1861 ; Dec. 23, 1863 ; to re-enhst. 
 Elijah Andrews; 44; Oct. 18, 1861; Aug, 5, 1862; disability. 
 Daniel F. Andrews; 20; July 21, '62; Jan. 1, '64; to re-enlist. 
 Daniel F. Andrews; 22 , Jan. 2, 1864 ; transferred to V. B. C. 
 Henry L. Barnum ; 28 ; Sept. 20, '61 ; Sept. 27, 64 ; expiration, 
 Henry C. Bacon ; 36 ; Feb. 27, '64 ; June 26, '65 ; expiration. 
 -Gilbert C. Comstock ; 31 ; Sept. 23, 1861 ; died Nov. 18, 1862, 
 
 Newbein, N. C. 
 John W, Gilmer; 21 ; Oct, 11, 1861 ; Dec. 23, '63 ; to re-enlist. 
 John W, Gilmer; 23; Dec. 24, 1863; June 26, '65; expiration. 
 John Griffin ; 44 ; Oct. 25, 1861 ; May 14, 1862 ; disabihty, 
 James M, Hamlin ; 18 ; Sept. 27, 1861 ; drowned Jan. 7, 1862, 
 
 Annapolis, Md. 
 William Hecox ; 18 ; Sept. 25, 1861 ; Dec. 23, '63 ; to re-enlist. 
 Joseph W. Huntley ; 22 ; Oct. 11, '61 ; Dec. 23, '63 ; to re-enlist. 
 Joseph W. Huntley ; 24 ; Dec. 24, '63 ; June 26, '65 ; expiration. 
 Thomas Jones ; 22 ; Dec. 24, 1863 ; June 1, 1865 ; disabihty. 
 
474 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 Nelson E. Knapp ; 21 ; Oct. 11, 1861 ; Aug. 11, '62 ; disability. 
 Dennis McDonough ; 20 ; Oct. 30, '61 ; Dec. 23, '63 ; to re-enlist. 
 Peter H. Pixley ; 20 ; Sept. 20, 1861 : March 3, '63 : disability. 
 Edward R. Pynchon ; 30 ; Oct. 1, '61 ; March 31, '63; disability. 
 George H. Rosseter; 28 ; Oct. 10, '61 ; Oct. 10, '64; expiration.. 
 Peter Royal ; 21 ; Oct. 1, 1861 ; Dec. 3, 1863 ; to re-enlist. 
 Peter Royal ; 23 ; Dec. 24, 1863 ; July 22, 1865 ; expiration. 
 John R. Ryan ; 21 ; Oct. 28, 1861 ; Dec. 23, 1863 ; to re-enlist. 
 Jonas Scott ; 20 ; Oct. 15, 1861 ; Dec. 23, 1863 ; to re-enlist. 
 Jonas Scott ; 22 ; Dec. 24, 1863 ; died of wounds, June 7, 1864, . 
 
 Richmond, Va. 
 Benjamin W. F. Smith ; 23 ; Sept. 20, 1861 ; Dec. 23, 1863 ; to • 
 
 re- enlist. 
 Benjamin W. F. Smith; 25; Dec. 24, 1863; July 7, 1865;. 
 
 order of War Department. 
 William Smith ; 19 ; Oct. 7, 1861 ; Dec. 23, 1863 ; to re-enHst. 
 William Smith ; 21; Dec. 24, 1863; Aug. 3, 1865; disability. 
 Reuben J. Strong ; 25 ; Oct, 5, 1861 ; Oct. 6, 1864 ; expiration. 
 Alfred C. Turner ; 18 ; Sept. 20. '61 ; June 26, '65 ; expiration. . 
 
 COMPANY K. 
 Charles W. Cogswell: 19; Sept. 20, 1861; Dec. 23, 1863; to • 
 
 re-enUst. 
 G harles W. Cogswell ; 21 ; Dec. 24, '63 : June 26, '65 ; expiration. 
 
 harles Mastem ; 18; Sept. 21, 1861; deserted Oct. 27, 1861. 
 Anthony Wackel ; 30; Sept. 21, 1861; killed March 14, 1862:, 
 
 Newbem, N. C. 
 
 Twenty-Eighth Regiment — Infantry^ Three Years. 
 
 COMPANY C. 
 Curtis Deland; 21; July 15, 1863; died April 13, 1864, Ab- 
 napoUs, Md. 
 
 Thirty-First Regiment — Infantry^ Three Years. 
 
 COMPANY A. 
 William H. Woodin; 39 ; Nov. 20, '61 : June 17, '62 ; disability.. 
 
 COMPANY B. 
 John Woolfinger; 44; November 3, '61; Oct. 27, '62; disability. 
 
 COMPANY C. 
 Jeremiah Thomas ; 19 ; Nov. 20, '61 ; Feb. 10, '64 ; to re-enlist.. 
 Jeremiah Thomas ; Feb. 11, 1864 ; August 14, 1865. 
 
THIRTY-FIRST REGIMENT. 475 
 
 COMPANY F. 
 
 William Schutt ; 18; Aug. 25, 1864; Sept. 9, 1865; expiration. 
 
 COMPANY G. 
 John Buckley ; 25 ; Nov. 1, 1861 ; Jan, 8, 1865 ; expiration. 
 Loekwood Carey; 44; Nov. 30, '61; July 17, 1862; disability. 
 John E. Moore; 35; Dec. 7, 1861; April 18, 1864; disability, 
 Ansyl Kay ; 44 ; Nov. 12, 1861 ; July 17, 1862 ; disability. 
 
 COMPANY H. 
 William H. Peltou, Sergeant ; 24 ; Dec. 7, 1861 ; 2d Lieutenant ; 
 
 Jan. 1, 1863, 
 William H. Pelton, 2d Lieutenant; Jan. 1, 1863 ; 1st Lieutenant ; 
 
 April 15, 1864. 
 William H. Pelton, 1st Lieutenant ; March 20, 1864 ; Dec. 15,. 
 
 1864 ; expiration. 
 Charles T, PhiUips ; 18 ; Dec. 7, '61 ; Feb, 11, '64 ; to re-enligt. 
 Charles T. Phillips, Sergeant ; 20 ; Feb. 12, 1864 ; Sept. 9, 1865 ; 
 
 expiration. 
 George Howes, Corporal ; 37 ; Nov. 27, 1861 ; died May 23^ 
 
 1864, Yellow Bayou, La, 
 Dwight Collins ; 19 ; Jan. 14, 1862 ; Feb. 10, 1864 ; to re-enlist. 
 Dwight CoUins ; 21 ; Feb. 11, 1864 ; Aug. 14, 1865 ; order of 
 
 War Department. 
 John Doland ; 24 ; Dec. 21, 1861. 
 
 John Drew ; 27 ; Dec. 20, 1861 ; deserted Feb. 8, 1862. 
 John L. Hall ; 31 ; Dec. 28, 1861 ; Feb. 16, 1864 ; to re-enlist. 
 John L. Hall ; 33 ; Feb. 17, 1864 ; Aug. 25, 1865. 
 Frank Miller ; 18 ; Dec. 14, 1861 ; Nov. 23, 1862 ; to enlist in 
 
 United States Army. 
 Frank Seeley ; 18 ; Jan. 28, 1862 ; died July 26, '62, Kenner, La. 
 Henry Sherry ; 26 ; Nov. 27, 1861 ; Feb. 14, 1864 ; to re-enlist, 
 Henry Sherry ; 28 ; Feb, 15, '64 ; deserted Sept. 6, 1864. 
 Ebenezer F, Thayer ; 30 ; Jan, 3, '62 ; Nov. 13, '63 ; disability, 
 Eobert Van Deusen ; 44 ; Dec. 31, 1861 ; deserted Feb. 20, 1862. 
 George Wagner ; 24 ; Dec, 31, 1861 ; April 9, 1862 ; disability, 
 Gilbert P, Warfield ; 18 ; Feb, 6, 1862 ; Dec. 26, '62 ; disabihty. 
 Warren D. Wheeler ; 28 ; Dec. 28, '61 ; June 18, '62 ; disability, 
 
 COMPANY I. 
 
 Charles E. Bradbrim ; 19 ; Feb. 15, 1864 ; to re-enlist, 
 
 Charles E. Bradbrim ; 21 ; Feb. 16, '64 -, Sept. 9, '65 ; expiration. 
 
476 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINQTON. 
 
 Thirty- Fourth Regiment — Infantry^ Three Years. 
 COMPANY B. 
 
 Eugene Kewey, Corporal; 18; Aug. 1, 1862; April 15, 1865. 
 Charles F. Parsons ; 21; June 22, '62; June 16, '65; expiration. 
 
 COMPANY K. 
 
 WilUam Dennis; 31; July 31, 1862; Died Nov. 22, 1862, Fort 
 
 Lyon, Va. 
 George W. Hickox ; 26; July 31, '62; June 19, '65; expiration. 
 Miles Lawrence : 18; Oct. 5, '63; Died July —'64, Florence, S. C. 
 
 Thirty-Sixth Meginient — Infantry, Three Years. 
 
 COMPANY D. 
 
 William F. Renif; 25; Nov. 27, 1863; July 12, 1865; expiration. 
 
 Thirty- Seventh Regiment — Infantry, Three Years. 
 co:mpany a. 
 
 Charles P. Burghardt; 42; Sept. 2, 1862. 
 
 "William H. Morrison ; 37 ; Sept. 2 ; 1862 ; Transferred April 17, 
 
 1864 to V. R. C. 
 
 COMPANY B. 
 
 Timothy Pelton, Musician ; 18; August 30, 1862 ; April 2, 1863, 
 disabiUty. 
 
 COMPANY C. 
 
 Edwin Hurlburt. Capt. ; 44 ; Aug. 11 '62 , Resigned, Oct. 14 '62. 
 
 Richard H. Taylor, 1st Sergeant. ; 28 ; Aug. 30, 1862 : 2d Lieu- 
 tenant, Nov. 18, 1863. 
 
 Richard H. Taylor, 2d Lieutenant; 29; Nov. 18, 1863; 1st 
 Lieutenant ; Oct. 13, 1864. 
 
 Richard H. Taylor, 1st Lieutenant ; 29 ; Oct. 13, '64 ; June 21, 
 
 1865 ; expiration. 
 
 William H. Dunning, Sergeant ; 26 ; Aug. 30, 1862 ; Deserted, 
 
 Oct. 2, 1862. 
 Martin Schermerhom, Sergeant; 21; Aug. 30, 1862; Killed 
 
 Sept. 19, 1864 ; Opeyan Creek, Va. 
 George A. Seeley, Sergeant; 18; August 30, 1862; June 21, 
 
 1865 ; expiration. 
 George J. Pinneo, Corporal ; 28 ; Aug. 30, 1862 ; June 21, 1865; 
 
 expiration. 
 Erastus Strickland, Corporal; 23; Aug, 30, 1862; May 3d, 1865; 
 
 disability. 
 
THIRTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT. 477 
 
 Henry Brewer; 22; Aug. 30, 1862. 
 
 Thomas Burns ; 18 ; Aug. 30, 1862 ; June 21, 1865 ; expiration. 
 
 Buel Gleason; 20; Aug. 30, 1862; Died of wounds. May 17, 
 1864 ; Frederickburg, Va. 
 
 Edwin P. Gleason : 22 ; Aug. 30, 1862 ; Transferred April 26, 
 1865, to V. R. C. 
 
 MiloP. Gleason; 18; Aug. 30, 1862; June 21, 1865; expiration. 
 
 Nathan W. Halsey : 22 ; Aug. 30, 1862 ; transferred to V. R. C. 
 
 Ehjah P. Hatch : 50; Aug. 30, '62 ; Died Oct. 18, '63 ; New York. 
 
 William H. L'Hommedieu ; 20: Aug. 30, 1862 ; June 17, 1865. 
 
 Charles C. Martin; 19 ; Aug. 30, '62 ; June 21, '65 : expiration. 
 
 Lafayette Markham ; March 24, 1864 ; Transferred June 21, 1865, 
 to 20th, Infantry. 
 
 Arthur McCounel ; 35 ; Aug. 30, 1802 ; April 23, 1863. 
 
 Christopher Miller ; 18 ; Aug. 30, '62; June 21, 1865 ; expiration. 
 
 John Moore ; 38 ; Aug. 30, '62 ; June 13, '65 ; Order War Dept. 
 
 George W. Orcutt ; 28 ; Aug. 30, '62 ; April 15, '63 ; disability. 
 
 Egbert Pixley ; 36; Aug. 30, 1862; killed May 6, 1864; Wilder- 
 ness, Va. 
 
 JohnH. Prime; 22; Aug. 30, 1862; March 19, 1863 ; disability. 
 
 George W. Sherman ; 43 ; Aug. 30, 1862 ; deserted Oct. 4, 1863. 
 
 John Shelly ; 19 ; Aug. 30, 1862 ; June 21, 1865 ; expiration. 
 
 Richard Shea ; 39 ; Aug. 30, 1862 : Jan. 25, 1865. 
 
 John Smith ; 27 ; Aug. 30, 1862 ; Died April 12, 1863 Regiment 
 Hospital. 
 
 Egbert Turner ; 22; Aug. 30, 1862; June 21, 1865; expiration. 
 
 John Wolcott ; 18 ; Aug. 30, 1862 ; kiUedMay 6, 1864 ; Wilder- 
 ness, Va. 
 
 COMPANY E. 
 
 Stephen H. Billiiigs ; 31; Sept. 2, 1862 ; transferred June 21, 
 
 1865, to 20th infantry. 
 Patrick Cleary ; 34 ; Sept. 2, 1862 ; June 21, 1865 ; expiration. 
 Colonel D. Halsey ; 18 ; Sept. 2, 1862 ; killed May 12th, 1864 
 
 Spotts} Ivania, Va. 
 Charles H. Loomis ; 35 ; Sept. 2d, '62 ; June 21, '65 ; expiration 
 Richard E. Morgan ; 22; Sept. 2d, '62; Nov. 13, '63; disability 
 James H. Olds; 18; Sept. 2, 1862; transferred Oct. 17, 1864 
 
 to V. R. C. 
 Jacob Van Bramer; 28; Sept. 2, 1862; died Feb. 18, 1863 
 
 Falmouth, Va. 
 
478 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 COMPANY K. 
 
 James Casey ; 18 ; Sept. 2, 1862 ; died of wouuds, July 5, 1864, 
 
 Alexandria, Va. 
 John W. Graham; 24; Sept. 2, 1862; deserted Sept. 3, 1862. 
 
 Fortieth Regiment — Infantry Three Years. 
 
 Jonathan Cass, Assistant Surgeon ; 37 ; Sept. 2, 1862 ; July 27, 
 1863 ; resigned. 
 
 Fifty Fourth EegH—Inft, {Colored) Three Years. 
 
 COMPANY A. 
 Kalph B. Gardner, Corporal; 23; March 30, 1863; July 27, 
 
 1865 ; expiration. 
 Franklin, Gover ; 19 ; March 30, '63 ; Aug. 20 '65 ; expiration. 
 Abram A. Jackson; 24 ; July 15, '63; Aug. 20, ''Qiy; expiration. 
 James H. Jackson ; 18 ; March 30, 1863 ; missing in action, 
 
 July 18, 1863. 
 William A. Stephens; 19; March 30, 1863; Aug. 20, 1865; 
 
 expiration. 
 Jacob H. Thomas ; 26 ; March 30, '63 ; Aug. 20, '65 ; expiration. 
 Charles P. Thompson; 21; March 30, 1863; Aug. 20, 1865; 
 
 expiration. 
 
 COMPANY B. 
 John E. FeiTis ; 27 ; Nov. 28, 1863 ; Aug. 20, 1865 ; expiration. 
 
 COMPANY C. 
 Francis J. Jackson ; 18 ; March 30, 1863 : died May 10, 1864 ; 
 
 Great Barrington. 
 Levi H. Jackson ; 20 ; March 30, 1863 ; died of wounds. May 
 12,' 1865 ; Charleston, S. C. 
 
 COMPANY G. 
 David H. Van Allen, Corporal ; 33 : Dec. 18, 1863 ; Aug. 20, 
 1865 ; expiration. 
 
 COMPANY I. 
 Edward H. Williams ; 34 ; Nov. 30, '63 ; Aug. 20, '65 ; expiration. 
 
 Fifty- Seve7ith Begime7it — Infantry, Three Years. 
 
 COMPANY C. 
 
 John Hughes ; 42 ; Feb. 18, 1864 ; July 30, 1865 ; expiration. 
 
FIFTY-SEVENTH KEGIMENT. 479 
 
 COMPANY D. 
 
 Charles W. Bills; 18 ; Jan. 25, 64 ; July 30, 1865 ; expiration. 
 
 Henry Bills ; 30 ; Jan.25, '6-t ; killed June 17,'64 ; Petersburg, Va. 
 
 Wilbur H. Bills ; 23 ; Feb. 18, 1864 ; July 30, 1865 ; expiration. 
 
 Lockwood Carey ; 45 ; Jan. 25, 1864 ; April, 1864. 
 
 Jacob Kirby ; 42; Jan. 25, 1864; March, 1865; disability. 
 
 William Maloney ; 28 ; Jan. 25, 1864 ; died Sept. 18, 1864. 
 
 Henry G. Prout; hospital steward ; 18 ; Jan. 25, 1864 ; July 30, 
 1 865 ; expiration. 
 
 Joseph H. Soudant ; 18 ; Feb. 18, '64 ; July 30, '65; expiration. 
 
 Silas C. Swift; 24; Jan. 25, 1864; July 30, 1865; expiration. 
 
 Almon 0. Townsend ; 19 ; Jan. 25, 1864 ; transferred July 15, 
 1865, to V. K. C. 
 
 COMPANY I. 
 
 George W. Shaw; 44; April 6, 1864; kiUed Oct. 8, 1864; Pe- 
 tersburg, Va. 
 
 Michael SheUy ; 18 ; March 10, 1864 ; kiUed May 6, 1864 ; Wil- 
 derness, Va. 
 
 George W. Wilcox ; 24 ; March 10, 1864 : died of wounds June 
 11, 1864 ; Washington, D. C. 
 
 COMPANY K. 
 
 Lester W. Rawson ; 28 ; April 6, 1864 ; killed June 17, 1864 ; 
 Petersburg, Va. 
 
 First Regiment — Cavalry^ Three Years. 
 
 COMPANY D. 
 
 Charles McCarty ; 19; August 2, '64 ; June 29, '65 ; expiration. 
 
 COMPANY I. 
 
 Timothy Pelton, Corporal ; 19 ; Dec. 5, 1863 ; June 18, 1865 ; 
 
 2d Lieutenant 6th Cavalry. 
 Wesley Ford ; 18 ; Dec. 5, 1863. 
 Wiaiam Hasson ; 20 ; Dec. 5, 1863. 
 Edward J. Mallory ; 35 ; Dec. 5, 1863. 
 George Mallory ; 18 ; Dec. 5, 1863. 
 
 Dwight B. Seeger; 18; Dec. 5, 1863; never joined for service. 
 WiUiam Steele ; 24 ; Dec. 5, 1863 ; deserted Feb. 18, 1864. 
 
 COMPANY K. 
 Donald Broderick ; 27; Dec. 29, 1863. 
 
480 HISTORY OF GREAT HARRINGTON. 
 
 Leon Dushelm ; 22 ; Dec. 29, 1863 ; died July 1, 1864 ; Ander- 
 sonville, Ga. 
 
 Frank Luchsinger ; 21 ; Dec. 29, 1863 ; June 26, 1865 ; expi- 
 ration. 
 
 John McDonough ; 33 ; Dec. 29, 1863 ; June 26, 1865 ; expi- 
 ration. 
 
 John F. Supena ; 18 ; Dec. 29, 1863 ; June 26, 1865 ; expiration. 
 
 Fifth Regiment — Cavalry^ {Colored), Three Years. 
 
 Timothy Pelton ; 2d Lieutenant ; 21 ; May 26, 1865 ; Oct. 31, 
 1865 ; expiration. 
 
 COMPANY G. 
 OtheUo Jackson; 21; March 4, 1864; October 31, 1865; ex- 
 piration. 
 George W. Suma ; farrier; 26; March 4, 1864 ; Oct. 31, 1865; 
 expiration. 
 
 COMPANY H. 
 John McArthur ; 22 ; March 12, 1864 ; June 5, 1865 ; expiration. 
 
 Fourteenth Battery Light Artillery, Three Years. 
 Alonzo F. Briggs ; 37 ; Feb. 27, '64 ; June 15, '65 ; expiration. 
 
 Second Regiment — Heavy Artillery, Three Years. 
 
 COMPANY C. 
 Mon-is W. Bennett ; 21 ; Sept. 2, 1864 ; died Oct. 19, 1864 ; 
 
 Newbern, N. C. 
 Lewis Buckley ; 21 : Sept. 2, 1864 ; June 5, 1865 ; expiration. 
 
 COMPANY E. 
 Edwin C. Hurlburt ; Corporal : 19 ; August 24, 1864 ; June 26, 
 
 1865 ; expiration. 
 Thomas Farrell ; 42 ; Sept. 7, 1864 ; transfen-ed Dec. 16, 1864, 
 
 to 17th Infantry. 
 Joseph J. Noxon ; 21 ; August 24, '64 ; June 26, '65 ; expiration, 
 
 COMPANY F. 
 Michael McGowan ; 18 ; Aug. 26, '64 ; June 26, '65 ; expiration. 
 
 COMPANY G. 
 Charles A. Corey ; 21 ; August 19, 1864 ; transferred Jan. 17, 
 
 1865, to 17th Infantry. 
 Frankhn L. Griffin ; 18 ; Aug. 19, '64 ; June 26, '65 ; expiration. 
 
SECOND ARTILLERY FORTY-NINTH REGIMENT. 481 
 
 Samuel E, Griffin ; 22 ; Aug. 2.5, '64 ; June 26, '65 ; expiration. 
 John Kelly ; 18 ; Aug. 19, 1864 ; transferred Jan. 17, 1865, tO' 
 
 ITth Infantry. 
 James H. Rogers ; 18 ; Aug. 24, '64 ; June 26, '65 ; expiration^ 
 Edward Smith ; 18; Aug. 19, 1864; transferred Jan. 17, 1865,. 
 
 to 17th Infantry. 
 
 COMPANY H. 
 
 Henry Abbott, Jr. ; 22 ; August 25, 1864 ; transferred Jan. 17,. 
 
 1865, to 17th Infantry. 
 Orange Damon ; 34 ; Sept. 7, 1864 ; June 26, 1865 ; expiration,. 
 
 COMPANY I, 
 James W. Bany ; 44 ; Sept. 7, 1864 ; transferred Jan. 17, 1865,, 
 
 to 17th Infantry. 
 WiUiam Broderick ; 18 ; Sept. 7, 1864 ; transferred Jan. 17,. 
 
 1865, to 17th, Infantry. 
 
 Those "transferred" were discharged at expiration of service 
 June 30, 1865. 
 
 Forty-Sixth Regiment — Infantry, Nine Months:. 
 COMPANY F. 
 George A. Weeks ; Corporal ; 28 ; Oct. 22, 1862 ; July 29, '68 - 
 expiration. 
 
 Forty-Ninth Regiment — Infantry, Nine Months. 
 
 Samuel B. Sumner ; Lieutenant Colonel ; 32 ; Nov. 19, 1862 ; 
 Sept. 1, 1863 ; expiration. 
 
 COMPANY A. 
 George Reed ; Ist Sergeant ; 23 ; Sept. 18, 1862 ; Second Lieut- 
 enant ; May 23, 1863. 
 George Reed, 2d Lieutenant ; 23 ; May 23, 1863 ; Sept. 1, 1863;: 
 
 expiration. 
 William H. Bayne ; 20 ; Sept. 18, 1862 ; Sept. 1, '63 ; expiration. 
 
 COMPANY B. 
 
 Charles B. Beckwith ; 19 ; Sept. 19, '62 ; Sept. 1, '63 ; expiration. 
 
 COMPANY D. 
 
 All mustered in— with two exceptions— Sept. 19, 1863. 
 
 Samuel B. Sumner ; Captain ; 32 ; Lieutenant-Colonel ; Nov.. 
 
 19, 1862. 
 Samuel J. Chaffee ; Captain ; 29 ; Sept. 1, 1863 ; expiration. 
 
 Joseph Tucker ; 1st Lieutenant ; 29 ; Sept. 1, 1863 ; expiration^ 
 31 
 
482 HISTOKY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 Samuel J. Chaffee ; 2d Lieutenant ; 29 ; Captain ; Nov. 17, '62. 
 Henry G. Moree ; 2d Lieutenant ; 24 ; Nov. 24, 1862 ; April 7, 
 
 1863 ; resigned. 
 Thomas Siggins ; 2d Lieutenant ; 34 ; April 15, 1863 ; Sept 1, 
 
 1863 ; expiration. 
 William S. Gilbert ; 1st Sergeant ; 21 ; Sept. 1, '63 ; expiration. 
 James K. Parker ; Sergeant ; 19 ; Sept. 1, 1863 ; expiration, 
 Henry W. Mansu' ; Sergeant ; 23 ; Sept. 1, 1863 ; expiration. 
 Henry G. Moree ; Sergeant ; 24 ; 2d Lieutenant ; Nov. 24, '62. 
 Guy C. Kay ; Sergeant ; 41 ; Sept. 1, 1863 ; expiration. 
 Edward Tobey ; Corporal ; 28 ; Sept. 1, 1863 ; expiration. 
 Henry A. Bristol : Corporal ; 22 ; Sept. 1, 1863 ; expiration. 
 John W. Evans ; Corporal ; 25 ; Sept. 1, 1863 ; expiration. 
 John A. Dresser ; Corporal ; 26 ; Sept. 1, 1863 ; expiration, 
 Thomas H. Hughes ; Corporal ; 19 ; Sept. 1, 1863 ; expiration. 
 Ward Lewis ; Corporal ; 26 ; Jan. 24, 1863 ; disabihty. 
 James Van Deusen ; Musician ; 19 ; Sept. 1, 1863 ; expiration. 
 James H. Adams ; 42 ; Sept. 1, 1863 ; expiration. 
 George A. Andrews ; 25 ; Sept. 1, 1863 ; expiration. 
 Alpheus H. Bailey ; 38 ; Sept. 1, 1863 ; expiration. 
 George Bills ; 18 ; Sept. 1, 1863 ; expiration. 
 Samuel C. BiUs •, 20 ; died May 18, 1863 ; Baton Kouge, La. 
 Adelbert M. Braiuard ; 24 ; Sept. 1, 1863 ; expiration. 
 William E. Bump ; 29 ; Sept. 1, 1863 ; expiration. 
 John W. Burghart ; 22 ; died Aug. 27, 1863 ; Pittsfield, Mass. 
 John Campion ; 18 ; Sept. 1, 1863 ; expiration. 
 Clarence C. Chapin ; 20 ; Sept. 1, 1863 ; expiration. 
 Charles G. Church ; 26 ; Sept. 1, 1863 ; expiration. 
 Charles F. Coffing, Jr. ; 21 ; Sept. 1, 1863 ; expiration. 
 Artemas K. Comstock ; 18 ; died Julj- 18, '63 ; Baton Kouge, La. 
 Marcus A. Bearing ; 22 ; Sept. 1, 1863 ; expiration, 
 Milo Decker ; 31; Sept, 1, 1863 ; expiration. 
 Frederick N. Deland ; 18 ; Sept. 1, 1863 ; expiration. 
 Patrick Devanney ; 34 ; Sept. 1, 1863 ; expiration. 
 John Donahue ; 37 ; Sept. 1, 1863 ; expiration. 
 John W. Fitzgerald ; 21 ; died June 30, 1863 ; Baton Kouge, La. 
 Charles H. French ; 19 ; Sept. 1, 1863 ; expiration. 
 Franklin W. Harmon ; 21 ; died Aug. 27, 18()3 ; Pittsfield, Mass. 
 David Hecox ; 20 ; Sept. 1, 1803, expiration. 
 Thomas Hennessy ; 22 ; killed May 27, 1863 ; Port Hudson, La. 
 Edwin N. Hubbard ; 22 ; Sept. 1, 1863 ; expiration. 
 
FORTY-NINTH REGIMENT. 483 
 
 George Kolbe ; 27 ; died April 18, 1863 ; Baton Rouge, La. 
 
 Almerin S. Latham ; 27 ; Sept. 1, 1863 ; expiration. 
 
 Sidney H. Latham ; 24 ; Sept. 1, 1863 ; expiration. 
 
 Horace H. Lewis ; 38 ; Sept. 1, 1863 ; expiration. 
 
 Arthur A. Loop ; 19 ; Sept. 1, 1863 ; expiration. 
 
 Lyman A. Loring ; 35 ; Sept. 1, 1863 ; expiration. 
 
 Charles B. Luddington ; 24 ; Sept. 1, 1863 ; expiration. 
 
 Edwin C. Luddington ; 27 ; Sept. 1, 1863 ; expiration. 
 
 Henry W. Luddington ; 19 ; Sept. 1, 1863 ; expiration. 
 
 James H. Luddington ; 34 ; deserted Dee. 29, 1862 ; New York. 
 
 Henry Luka ; 43 ; Sept. 1, 1863 ; expiration. 
 
 James McGrath ; 35; Oct. 21, 1862; deserted Oct. 28, 1862, 
 Pittsfield, Mass. 
 
 James McGowan ; 18; Sept. 19, '62; Sept. 1, '63; expiration. 
 
 Richard H. Moore ; 29 ; Sept. 19, '62 ; Sept. 1, '63 ; expiration. 
 
 James Mullany ; 25 ; Sept. 19, '62 ; Sept. 1, '63 ; expiration. 
 
 Dwight S. Nettleton, 20 ; Sept. 19, '62 ; Sept. 1, '63 ; expiration. 
 
 Henry i^ewmaster; 29; Sept. 19, '62; May 22, '63; disabihty. 
 
 James P. Phillips ; 31 ; Sept. 19, '62 ; Sept. 1, '63 ; expiration. 
 
 Legrand Ramsey; 18; Sept. 19, '62; Sept. 1, '63; expiration. 
 
 Mills S. Reynolds ; 18 ; Sept. 19, '62 ; kiUed May 27, 1863, Port 
 Hudson, La. 
 
 John Ryan ; 22 ; Oct. 21, '62 ; deserted Oct. 28, 1862, Pitts- 
 field, Mass. 
 
 Enos Seymour ; 44 ; Sept. 19, '62 ; Sept. 1, '63 ; expiration. 
 
 James A. Seymour; 20; Sept. 19, '62; Sept. 1, '63; expiration. 
 
 Benjamin Shelly; 30; Sept. 19, '62; Sept. 1, '63; expiration. 
 
 Clarence W. Shults ; 20 ; Sept. 19, '62 ; Sept. 1, '63 ; expiration. 
 
 Thomas Siggins ; 34 ; Sept. 19, '62 ; 2d Lieutenant ; April 15, '63. 
 
 John Thomas ; 24 ; Sept. 19, '62 ; Sept. 1, '63 ; expiration. 
 
 Albert S. Warner ; 20 ; Sept. 19, '62 ; Sept. 1, '63 ; expiration. 
 
 Charles Weyants ; 29 ; Sept. 19, 1862 ; deserted Dec. 8, 1862, 
 Long Island, N. Y. 
 
 Bradford B. Wilcox ; 30 ; Sept. 19, '62 ; Sept. 1, '63 ; expiration. 
 
 Henry F. Wilcox; 29; Sept. 19, '62; Sept. 1, '63; expiration. 
 
 Isaac V. Wilcox; 20; Sept. 19, '62; died April 21, '63, Baton 
 Rouge, La. 
 
 John Winchell ; 32 ; Sept. 19, '62 ; Sept. 1, '63 ; expiration. 
 
 COMPANY E. 
 Herbert C. Joyner; 25; Sept. 19, '62; Sept. 1, '63; expiration. 
 
484 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 COMPANY H. 
 Frederick Earles ; 25 ; Oct. 28, '62 ; Sept. 1, '63 ; expiration. 
 James Mullally ; 18 ; Oct. 28, 1862 ; transferred to Company C, 
 
 Dec. 31, 1862. 
 
 COMPANY I. 
 Edmund Deland ; 42 ; Oct. 28, '62 ; Sept. 1, '63 ; expiration. 
 Francis Joray ; 38 ; Oct. 28, 1862 ; died May 15, 1863, Baton 
 
 Eouge, La. 
 James B. Kogers ; 31 ; Oct. 28, '62 ; Sept. 1, '63 : expiration. 
 Edward H. WUcox ; 18 ; Oct. 28, '62 ; Jan. 4, 63 ; disability. 
 George W. Wilcox ; 22 ; Oct. 28, '62 ; Sept. 1, '63 ; expiration. 
 
 COMPANY K. 
 
 Lorenzo D. Taft ; 30 ; Oct. 28, '62 ; May 26, '63 ; disability. 
 
 At the risk of injustice by omission, we present the 
 following list of Great BaiTington men who served iq 
 organizations, for the most part out of the State, and 
 not upon the quota of this town. The Hst, with some 
 additions and alterations, is taken fi'om "the Roll of 
 Honor " published in The Berkshii'e Coui'ier in 
 March, 1863. 
 
 Rufus P. Pattison, Major ; in an Illinois regiment. 
 
 William Henry Van Deusen , 1st New York Light Cavalry. 
 
 Henry W. Wright ; 2d New York Light Cavahy. 
 
 Edward L. Kellogg ; 2d New York Light Cavalry. 
 
 Stillman P. Pattison ; 2d New Y'"ork Light Cavalry, 
 
 George G. Ray ; 2d New York Light Cavalry. 
 
 James Douglas ; 2d New Y'^ork Light Cavalry, 
 
 Gilbert Oakley ; 2d New York Light Cavalry. 
 
 Albert T. Bobbins ; 3d New Y^ork Cavah-y. 
 
 Joseph Church ; New York Cavalry. 
 
 Edmund Peet ; New York Cavalry. 
 
 George Oakley ; New York Cavahy. 
 
 Levi Olds ; New York Cavalry — Col. Ring's. 
 
 James Oaks ; New York Cavaky — Col. Ring's. 
 
 George Oaks ; New York Cavalry— Col. Ring's. 
 
 Norman Oaks ; New York Cavalry — Col. Ring's. 
 
 Henrj^ Root ; New York Cavalry — Col. Ring's. 
 
 Charles B. Pattison ; 4th New York Infantry. 
 
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. 485 
 
 Howell Pixley, Hospital Steward ; Uth New York Infantry. 
 Oliver W. Harmon ; TiOth New York Infantry. 
 Fred. Burford ; 55tb New York Infantry. 
 Mark Luchsinger ; 9 1st New York Infantry. 
 Richard A. Birge ;__ 121st New York Infantry ; wounded at Wil- 
 derness, May 6, 1864 ; died in rebel hospital, Gordonsville, 
 
 Va., July 11, 1864. 
 Samuel N. Comstock ; 128th New York Infantry. 
 Charles H. Seeley ; 128th New York Infantry. 
 Eev. Jesse A. Penniman, Chaplain ; Long Island regiment. 
 Rev. Horace Winslow, Chaplain ; nth Connecticut Infantry. 
 Edward Pelton ; 8th Connecticut Infantry. 
 John C. Coffiug, 1st Lieutenant; 10th Connecticut Infantry; 
 
 died Dec. 26, 1862, of wounds received Dec. 14th, at battle 
 
 of Kinston Bridge, N. C. 
 Samuel C. Griffin ; 28th Connecticut Infantry — 9 months. 
 Charles Maddra ; 28th Connecticut Infantry. 
 Frank S. Turner ; 28th Connecticut Infantry. 
 Edward B. Kinney ; 28th Connecticut Infantry ; Kinney died on 
 
 his return at Mound City, 111. 
 Thomas H. Birge ; 2d Connecticut Heavy Artillery. 
 Charles A. HoUister ; 11th United States Infantry. 
 Caleb B. Culver, Assistant Pay Master ; United States Navy. 
 Samuel Taylor, Assistant Surgeon ; Chestnut Hill Hospital, 
 
 Philadelphia, Pa. 
 Sheldon Leavitt, Jr. ; a staff officer. 
 Charles E. Brace ; 2d Mass. Infantry, for Stockbridge. 
 Oliver C. Burr ; 46th Mass. Infantry, for Plainfield. 
 Charles H. Moulton ; 34th Mass. Infantry, for Pittsfield ; died 
 
 at Great Barrington, Nov. 8, 1866, of disease contracted in 
 
 the service. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 INDIAN DEED OF LAND INCLUDING THE UPPER 
 
 AND LOWER HOUSATONIC TOWNSHIPS, 
 
 1724. 
 
 ACT OF INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF GREAT 
 BARRINGTON, 1761. 
 
 HOUSATONIC —ITS DERIVATION AND INTERPRE- 
 TATION. 
 
 CONFLAGRATION OF THE CONGREGATIONAL 
 CHURCH. 
 
APPENDIX, 
 
 DEED FROM THE HOUSATONIC INDIANS 
 
 TO THE SETTLING COMMITTEE. 
 
 This copy is as accurately made, from the ancient 
 record book of the Upper Housatonic Propriety, as the 
 antiquated chii'ograj)hy and worn condition of the 
 record will permit. The orthography of the Indian 
 names varies somewhat in the record itself ; and the 
 deed has twenty-one signers, whereas twenty, only, are 
 named in the body of the instrument and in its ac- 
 knowledgment. 
 
 Know All 3Ien hy These Presents : That wee 
 Con-ke-pot, Po-ne-yote, Pa-ta-wake, Nau-nau-quin, Wa- 
 ne-no-cow, Nau-nau squan, Can-co-naugh-peet, No-nam- 
 cau-net, Naun-ha-miss, Sunk-hunk, Po pa-qua, Taunk- 
 honk-pus, Ta^ta-kem, Saun-so-ke-he, Can-can-wap, Sun- 
 ke-wee-nau-heag, Mau-che-wau-feet, John Vangilder, 
 Pe-na-ske-net, all of Housatonack, allias Westonook In 
 New England In ye Province of the Massetchu setts 
 bay, for and in considaration of a yaluable sum weell 
 : secured by bond : yiz. Four Hundi^ed and Sixty Poiuids, 
 ; Thi-ee barrels of Sider, & Thiiiy Quarts of Eum, bar- 
 j ring date with These Presents, under ye hand & seal 
 of Caj)t. John Ashley of Westfield, in ye County of 
 HamiDshire ; wee have Given, Granted, Bargained, 
 Sold, Alliened, Conveyed, & Confirmed, and doe by 
 these Presents fully. Freely, Clearly and absolutly 
 Give, Grant, Bargain, Seell, allinat, Convey and Con- 
 
INDIAN DEED. 489 
 
 iirme, unto Co'll. John Stoddard, Capt. John Ashly, 
 Capt. Henry D wight, & Capt. Luke Hitchcock, Esqrs., 
 all In ye County of Hampshu-e Cominitte, appointed 
 by ye Genural Court to Purchas a certain Tract of 
 Land Lying upon Housatonack River, allias Westa- 
 nook, In order for ye setteling Two Townes there, and 
 unto such as ye Committe have or shall admitt In or- 
 der for ye setteling of sd Townes to them Their heires 
 & assignes a certain Tract or Parcell of Land medow 
 swamp and upland L^dng on ye River aforesaid, butted 
 & Bounded as Follow^eth viz : Southardly upon ye 
 Divisinall Line betwene the Province of the Maset- 
 chusetts Bay, and the Collony of Connecticott, In New 
 England, Westardly on ye Patten, or Collony of New- 
 York, Northardly upon ye Great Mountam know^n by 
 ye name of Mau-sku-fee-haunk and Bastardly To Run 
 Four miles from ye aforesaid River, and In a genural 
 way so to extend. 
 
 Further more itt Is to be understood that ye above 
 said Indians Resarve to themselfs within ye aforesaid 
 Tract of Land discribed By bounds & butments, Sout- j 
 ai'dly on a Brook on ye west side Housatonack River, • 
 knowai by je name of Mau-nau-pen-fe-con, and North- 
 ardly to a small Brook, Lying between ye aforsaid 
 Brook and 3'e River called Wam-pa-nik- see-poot allias 
 White River : viz. all ye Land between ye aforesaid 
 Brooks from said AVestanock River, extending unto ye 
 Patten of ye Collony of New- York, Together with a 
 clear meadow, between the aforesaid Smal Brook ex- 
 tending northardly unto ye aforesaid White River : viz. 
 the aforesaid Indians Resarve Too themselfs all ye 
 Land betw^een sd Brooks, Running due west Line from 
 ye mouths of sd Brooks unto ye Patten of ye Colleny 
 of New-York aforesaid. And wee ye aforesaid Indians, 
 doe for our selfs our heii's, executors and adminis- 
 trators, Covenant Promis & Grant, to and with The 
 aforesaid Committee and such as they have or shall 
 admit of for Planters of sd Townshipps, That before 
 the ensealing hereof, we ye sd Indians are ye True 
 Sole & Lawfull owners of ye above granted premises, 
 and are Law^fuUy Seized & Possessed of ye same In 
 our own Proper Right as a Good Perfect & absolute 
 
490 HISTORY OF GREAT HARRINGTON. 
 
 Estate of Inhiretance In Fee Simple and Have In our- 
 selfs Good Right full Power & Lawfull authority to 
 Grant Bargain Sell Convey & Confirme sd Bargained 
 Premises In manner as aforesaid and yt the sd Com- 
 mittee and such as they shall or may admit for Inhab- 
 itents of sd Townshipps to them their heires and as- 
 signes shall and may from time to time and att all 
 times hearafter by virtue of these Presents Lawfully & ■ 
 Peacably occupie Possess & Enjoy the said Bargained 
 Premises with all ye appurtenences free and Clear &■ 
 Clearly and Freely acquited & discharged of from all 
 and all manner of former and other Gifts, Grants, Bar- 
 gains, Sales, Joyntures, Mortgages, Wills, dowers and. 
 Incumberence Whatsoever. 
 
 And fui'ther more wee the sd Indians for our selfs- 
 and for o'r heires executors and administrators, do»^ 
 covenant & engage to secure & defend ye sd Bargained 
 Premises unto Them the aforesaid Committee, and to 
 such Persons as the sd Committee Have or shall ad- 
 mitt In order to ye Setteling s'd Towns to them Their 
 heirs and assignes forever against ye Lawfull Claims 
 and Demands of any Person, or Persons whatsoever. 
 In witnis whereof wee the above said Indians have- 
 hereunto sett our hands & seals. This Twenty fifth day^ 
 of Apriel, in ye Tenth year of his Majistys Reigne, and 
 
 in ye year of o'r One Thousand Seven Hundred 
 
 and Twenty four. 
 
 CON-KE-POTT, SuNK-HONK, 
 
 Po-NE-YOTE, Po-PA-QUA, 
 
 Po-TA-WAKE-OUT, TaUN-HONK-PUS- 
 
 Nau-nau-squan, Ta-ta-kem, 
 
 Wa-nee NO-CON, Saun-co-ke-he, 
 
 Nau-nau-quin, Can-can-wap, 
 
 CoN-CO-NAUGH-PEET, SAUN-KE-WE-NAU-HEAGy, 
 
 No-nau-cun-neet, Mau-che-wau-feet, 
 
 Pau-nops-cen-not, John Vangilder, 
 
 Coo-ko-no-feet, Pe-na-ske-net. 
 
 Naun-ha-miss, 
 
 To the names of each signer his mark and seal was attached. 
 
 Signed Sealed & deHvered In the Presence of us : 
 Conraet Borghghart, Benjamin Smith, John Gun Jun'r.^ 
 Samuel Bartlett. 
 
INDIAN DEEDS. 491 
 
 The aforesaid Is a Coppy of ye Deed Given by th& 
 Indians for ye Housatonack Land examined pr mee 
 Ebenez'r Pumroy — by order. 
 
 Hampshire, Westfield Apriel the 25th 1724, and In 
 the Tenth year of his Majtis Reigne, Then Con-ke- 
 pott : Po-ne-yote : Pe-ta-wake-out : Nau-nau-squan r 
 Wa-ne-no-cow : Nau-nau-quin : Con-co-naugh-peet : 
 No-nau-can-neet : Pau-nops-ce-not : Coo-ko-no-feet r 
 Naun-ha-miss : Sunk-hunk : Taunk-hank-puss : Ta-ta- 
 kim : Saun-co-kee-he : Cau-cau-wap : Saun-ke-wee-nau- 
 heag : Mau-che-wau-fut : and John Vangilder all Per- 
 sonally appeared before me the subscriber one of his 
 Majtis Justice of ye Peace & accnowlidged The with- 
 in written Instrument to be their act & deed. Freely 
 and Voluntary : Who did Personally sign & seal ye^ 
 within Instrument. 
 
 Before me, JOHN ASHLY, J. P. 
 A coppy examined pr mee 
 
 EBENEZ'R PUMROY. 
 
 ACT OF INCORPORATION OF THE TOAVN 
 OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 [SEAL.] 
 
 A71710 Regni Regis Georgii Tertii Frimo. 
 
 An Act for erectiug the North Parish or Precinct in the Town of 
 Sheffield into a seperate Town by the name of Great 
 Barrington. 
 
 Be it Enacted by the Governor Council and House- 
 of Representatives : That the said North Parish or 
 Precinct be and hereby is Erected into a seperate- 
 and Distinct Town by the same Limits and Boundaries 
 which are now the Boundaries of the said Parish, by 
 the name of Great Barrington and that the said Town be 
 invested with all the Powers, Priveledges and immuni-^ 
 ties ; that Towns in this Province do or may by Law 
 enjoy, that of sending a Representative to the General 
 
492 
 
 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 Assembly only excepted : and that the said Town shall 
 have full liberty and right, from time to time, to join 
 with the Town of Sheffield in choosing a Represen- 
 tative to represent them at the General Assembly, who 
 may be chosen indifferently, out of either of the said 
 Towns, and that the said Town of Great Barrington 
 shall from time to time be at their proportionable part 
 of the Expence of such Representative, and the Free- 
 holders and other Inhabitants of Great Barrington shall 
 be notified of the time and place of Election with the 
 Inhabitants of the Town of Sheffield, by a Warrant 
 from the Selectmen of Sheffield, directed to the Con- 
 stable of Great Barrington, requiring him to warn 
 them for that pui-joose at the time and place by them as- 
 signed ; which warrant shall be duly served, and season- 
 ably returned by said Constable of Great Barrington. 
 
 Provided nevertheless, and Be it further Enacted 
 That the sd Town of Great Barrington shall pay theii" 
 proportion of all Town County and Province Taxes 
 akeady sett on or granted to be raised b}" said Town 
 of Sheffield, as if this act had not been made. 
 
 And be it further Enacted That Joseph Dwight 
 Esquire be and hereby is Impowered to Issue his 
 Warrant directed to some princij^al Inhabitant in said 
 Town of Great BaiTingion requiring him to Notify and 
 warn the Inhabitants of the same town, qualified by 
 Law to Vote in Town meetings to meet at such time and 
 place as shall be therein sett forth to choose all Town Of- 
 ficers, which b}' Law Towns in this Province are Im- 
 powered or enjoyned to choose. And AMieras in and by 
 an Act made and passed in the first year of his present 
 Majesty's Reign, erecting and Establishing a new Coun- 
 ty in the Westerly part of the County of Hampshire by 
 the name of Berkshire, it is amongst other things Enact- 
 ed, That Sheffield for the present, be the Shire Town 
 of Said County of Berkshire and that the Office of 
 Register of Deeds be kept in the North Parish in said 
 Sheffield, and also that yearly and in every year there 
 shall be held and kejot a Court of General Sessions of 
 the Peace, and an Inferior Coiu't of Common Pleas, at 
 the North Parish in Sheffield, on the last Tuesday of 
 April and first Tuesday of September, now to prevent 
 
ACT OF INCORPORATION. 493 
 
 any difficulties that may arise.* Be it enacted That the 
 Town of Great Barrington for the present shall be the 
 Shire Town of said County of Berkshii'e, and the Reg- 
 isters Office be there kept and that the Courts of Gen- 
 eral Sessions of the Peace and Inferior Court of Com- 
 mon Pleas appointed to be held and kept at the North 
 Parish in Sheffield aforesaid, be held and kept in the 
 Town of Great Barrington on the last Tuesday of April 
 and first Tuesday of September annually, anything in 
 the before recited, and mentioned Act to the contrary 
 notwithstanding. 
 
 June 13 : 1761. This Bill having been read three several times in 
 the House of Representatives, Passed to be Enacted. 
 
 JAMES OTIS, Speaker. 
 
 June 13 : 1761. This Bill having been read three several times in 
 Council. Passed to be Enacted. 
 
 A. OLIVER, Sec. 
 June 30: 1761. 
 
 By the Governor, 
 
 I consent to the Enacting this Bill, 
 
 ERA: BERNARD, 
 Copy Examined pr Jno. Cotton Dep. Sec'ry. 
 
 The above is from the original Copy used by Gen- 
 eral Dwight at the first town meeting of the inhabitants 
 July 22, 1761. The petition on which the act is based 
 will be found on page 164 of this book. 
 
 HOUSATONIC— ITS DEKIYATIGN AND INTER- 
 PRETATION. 
 
 After what we have written upon the derivation of 
 Housatonic (ante pages 11, 12,) was in print, our at- 
 tention was called to what is said upon the subject by J. 
 Hammond Trumbull in his recently published "Indian 
 Names in Connecticut." Mi\ Trumbull writes as 
 follows : 
 
 '''• Housaton^ uc mod. Housatonic river. 
 The termination of this name shows that, originally, 
 it did not belong to the river ^ but was transferred from 
 
494 HISTORY OF GREAT HARRINGTON. 
 
 & particular locality or tract of land. Eunice Maliwee (or 
 Mauwehu) the last full- blood sui'vivor of the Scaticook 
 band, in 1859, pronounced the name ^^Hous'atenuc,'^ and 
 interpreted it, "over the mountain." See Memorial of 
 Moravian Missions in New York and Connecticut, page 
 75. This agrees with the interpretation that was given 
 to President Dwight: "The river beyond the mount- 
 ain;" and is sustained by analysis; imissi (Delaware 
 avnissi ; Chip, tcassa, icaus'suh; Abanaki aicas, or 
 oose) meaning 'beyond,' 'on the other side of;' adene 
 'mountam;' and wl 'i^lace,' 'land.' * * * * The 
 tradition received by the Scaticook Indians, of the dis- 
 covery of the river and valley by those who came "over 
 the uiountain" from the west, estabhshes this inter- 
 pretation, beyond reasonable doubt." 
 
 CONFLAGKATION OF THE CONGKEGATIONAL 
 CHUECH. 
 
 On the evening of Saturday, Maixh 4, 1882, after 
 the principal part of this volume was in print, the 
 Congregational Church and Chapel (the erection of 
 which is chi-onicled on pages 389-90) were destroyed 
 by fire, the bare walls, alone, remaining in position. 
 
 The interior of the church had been recently reno- 
 vated, painted and frescoed at a very considerable 
 expense. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 A. 
 
 * PAGE . 
 
 -Alarms, Indian ........ 135 
 
 Academy, the ......... 355 
 
 Adams, Washington 379-412 
 
 Anderson, Eev. Donald G 391 
 
 Ashley, Captain John 14-17-21-22 
 
 Daniel 21 
 
 Aaron 21 
 
 Ezekiel 21 
 
 John Esq. — vote respecting — 227 
 
 Colonel John 247-310 
 
 .Allen, Hon. Charles, Keport on Indian claims, . . Q6 
 
 Daniel, location and family, 160 
 
 Mrs. Martha W 354 
 
 Avery, Miles 261 
 
 Alexander, Kev. Mr 323 
 
 Andrews, Elisha 339 
 
 Rev. Ebenezer B 392 
 
 >Amherst, Gen. encampment of 141 
 
 Agricultural Society, ....... 434 
 
 Arnold, Jacob 336 
 
 Timothy 336 
 
 John 336 
 
 Elisha, Fenner, and Timothy 359 
 
 Fenner 261 
 
 ^twood, Hezekiah 220 
 
 Alford Incorporated, 222 
 
 Aboriginal Inhabitants, 50 
 
496 
 
 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 Austin, Anthony 
 
 
 . 
 
 . 
 
 2Y 
 
 Nathaniel 21: 
 
 B. 
 
 Bank, National Mahaiwe 438 ' 
 
 Bank, Great Barrington Savings 
 
 . 
 
 . 
 
 . 438 
 
 Baptist Society, 
 
 
 . 
 
 . 393^ 
 
 Ballentine, Rev. John .... 
 
 
 
 94 
 
 Bradford, Rev. James, quotation from . 
 
 
 
 . 102 
 
 Barrington, Lord 
 
 
 
 . 166 
 
 Bradley, Dimon 
 
 
 
 261-334 
 
 Bacon, Reuben 
 
 
 
 361-365 ■ 
 
 Bacon, James L 
 
 
 
 . 361 
 
 Baldwin, Doctor Isaac 
 
 
 
 . 365 
 
 Barstow, Doctor Samuel .... 
 
 
 
 365-378 
 
 Gamaliel H 
 
 
 
 365-378 
 
 Barnes, Philip 
 
 
 
 . 379 
 
 Battell, William M 
 
 
 
 . 379 
 
 Bennington Alarm, 
 
 
 
 . 248 
 
 Beckwith, George .... 
 
 
 
 373-378 
 
 Breck, Doctor Samuel 
 
 
 
 142-159-212 
 
 Bement, William .... 
 
 
 
 211-235 
 
 Bement, Ebenezer 
 
 
 
 . 235 
 
 Mrs. , anecdote of ... . 
 
 
 
 
 314 
 
 Beebe, Asahel 
 
 
 
 
 365 
 
 Belcher, Gill 
 
 
 
 
 219' 
 
 Belcher's Cave, .... 
 
 
 
 
 218 
 
 Berkshire Iron Company, 
 
 
 
 
 402 
 
 Berkshire Woolen Company, . 
 
 
 
 
 403 
 
 Berkshire Cotton Company, 
 
 
 
 
 412 
 
 Berkshire House, .... 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 165-428 
 
 Berkshire Courier 
 
 
 
 
 432 
 
 Brewer, Rev. Josiah 
 
 
 
 
 392 
 
 Bigelow, Mrs. Judith, presents banner, 
 
 
 
 
 449 
 
 British prisoners, march of 
 
 
 
 
 . 250 
 
 Brigade Review, .... 
 
 
 
 
 . 377 
 
 Brick kiln, the first .... 
 
 
 
 
 . 145 
 
 Blinn. Elisha 
 
 
 
 
 . 330 
 
 Bolton, Doctor Thomas . 
 
 
 
 
 . 36& 
 
 Boardman, Joshua .... 
 
 
 
 
 21 
 
 Bowdoin, James .... 
 
 
 
 
 31 
 
INDEX. 497' 
 
 Bostwick, Eev. Gideon 201 
 
 notice of, 205 ; family of, 207-390. 
 
 Betsey M 353- 
 
 BoUes, Hezekiab 339- 
 
 Brown, Asa, renounces toryism 242 
 
 Boynton, Rev. Charles B 392 
 
 Bounties to volunteers, .... 455-458-1:06-469 
 
 Bounties to Revolutionary soldiers, . . 255-256-259-264 
 
 Block House, 140 
 
 used as a jail, 280. 
 
 Burghardt, Coonrod 22-25-31-103: 
 
 notice of , 107; location and family, 108-110. 
 John (ahas De Bruer) . . . 28-30-31-65-103" 
 
 location, 130. 
 
 Garrett, annexed to Sheffield, 38 
 
 Hendrick 103-131 
 
 "Corner" John 109 
 
 Ensign John ........ 130" 
 
 Doctor Hugo 312 
 
 Peter 344 
 
 Lambert ......... 345 
 
 John 345 
 
 Adolphus, killed at Plattsburg, .... 378 
 
 Miss Carohne A. ...... . 468 
 
 Burpee, Rev. Archibald 392' 
 
 Burgoyne, General John, a prisoner here, . . . 250 
 
 Burt, Rev. Sylvester 388 
 
 quotations from, 51-53. 
 
 Bush, Japhet 21 
 
 Bull. Rev, Nehemiah, visits the Indians, ... 56- 
 
 Buttolph, Roger 221-336 
 
 Budd, Doctor John 328 
 
 Buel, John 364 
 
 Buel, Samuel C, presentation of medal, . . . 380 
 
 Burial Grounds, 394 
 
 Blue Limestone utilized, 427 
 
 Bryant, William CuUen 371 
 
 quotation from, 377-378. 
 
 c. 
 
 Clark, David .21 
 
 William 31 
 
 32 
 
498 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 CaUender, Philip 21 
 
 Grain, WiUiam 334 
 
 Chapman, Barnabas ....... 220 
 
 Daniel 339 
 
 Chatfield, Major John 378 
 
 Chander, William, his plan of Lower Township, . . 22 
 
 Chapin, Oliver, dies here, ...... 141 
 
 Chapiu, Phineas 379-413 
 
 Carding Machine, the first, 357 
 
 Chamberlain & Alden, make nails, ..... 360 
 
 Cahfornia exodus, , 378 
 
 Clew, Francis 29 
 
 Clergymen, 385-393 
 
 Cemeteries, ......... 894 
 
 Child, Caleb 390 
 
 Crittenton, >_ ^^^. ^ . ^ ^ 248-250 
 
 Crittenden, ) 
 
 Citizens, prominent, 1810-1850, 379 
 
 Corbin, Joseph .,,..... 21 
 
 Cooper, Simeon 338-3fi4 
 
 Coy, Ede 359 
 
 Cone, Alvenus 361-378 
 
 Henry D. 323 
 
 JohnC 379 
 
 Comstock, Perigrine 339 
 
 Ebenezer 339 
 
 Lancaster ........ 339 
 
 Couch, Doctor John W 366-379 
 
 Coffing, John C, and others build Iron furnace, , . 413 
 
 John H 379 
 
 Collins House, built, 431 
 
 Courts, first session of, ...... . 280 
 
 suppressed by the people, 231 ; obstructed by mob, 
 305 ; reorganized. 291 ; removal of, 292. 
 
 Court House built, 287 
 
 removed, 293. 
 
 Court, the District. 439 
 
 Commissary stores, ...... 262-263 
 
 Committee of Safety, 240 
 
 County Convention of 1774, 229 
 
 of 1779, 301. 
 
INDEX. 499 
 
 Constitution, votes upon it, ..... . 300 
 
 accepted, 303. 
 
 Church, Hon. Samuel, quotation from, .... .52 
 
 David Ill 
 
 builds house, 213. 
 
 Moses 344 
 
 Gushing, John D 379 
 
 founds The Berkshire Courier, 432. 
 
 Church, Congregational, organized, .... 94 
 
 history of, 384 ; also Chapter IX and XV. 
 
 Church, Episcopal, organized, 197 
 
 history of, 390 ; also Chapter XVI. 
 
 Church, Episcopal, Van Deusenville, .... 391 
 
 Church, Congregational, Housatonic, .... 392 
 
 Churches. Methodist 392 
 
 Churches, Eoman Catholic 393 
 
 Church discipline, .194 
 
 Church, Congregational, conflagration of . . . 494 
 
 D. 
 
 Day, Captain John 21 
 
 Horace H. , builds rubber works, .... 404 
 
 Daviee, Rev. Thomas 197 
 
 notice of, 200 ; letters quoted, 198-199-200. 
 
 Draft of Soldiers, 462-463 
 
 Dewey, Thomas 22-103 
 
 location, 113. 
 
 Samuel 22-103 
 
 location. 111. 
 
 Samuel, Jr 22-103 
 
 family, 112. 
 
 Asahel 103 
 
 location. 111. 
 Israel ......... 125 
 
 location and family, 160-161 ; builds mills, 181 ; 
 disciplined, 194. 
 
 Hugo 161-346 
 
 Justin 161-346 
 
 Josiah, letter of, 236 
 
 Deming, Elizur • 220 
 
500 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 Dennison, Kev. S. D 390 
 
 Dresser, David 339 
 
 Dean, Sprowell . . . . . . . ,418 
 
 Deed of Township from Indians, 15 
 
 copy of 488. 
 Dwelling places, ancient, ..... 340-343 
 
 Dwight, Captain Heury . . . . . . . 14 
 
 Timothy 22 
 
 surveys township, 30. 
 
 General Joseph 96-142-154 
 
 location, 161-167 : notice of, 175. 
 
 Colonel Elijah 142-280 
 
 notice of, 297-360. 
 
 President, visits the town, 325 
 
 his impressions quoted, 326. 
 
 Dimmock, makes first cut nails, .... 359 
 
 Distillery, Seekonk, , . 406 
 
 Divisions of Lower Township, . . . , . 18 
 
 Dorman, Gershom ........ 261 
 
 Done, Prince ......... 339 
 
 Dodge, Moses and Enfus ...... 359 
 
 Dutchmen confined in stocks, ..... 186 
 
 E. 
 
 Elevations, 
 
 
 
 
 49 
 
 East Mountain, height of 
 
 
 
 
 49 
 
 Everett Mount, height of 
 
 
 
 
 49 
 
 Election, curious proceedings, 
 
 
 
 
 . 317 
 
 Egremont incorporated. 
 
 
 
 
 . 163 
 
 Eccleston, Kev. John C. 
 
 
 
 
 391 
 
 Emerson, Charles N. 
 
 
 
 
 372-446 
 
 Enrollment, military 
 
 
 
 
 462-466 
 
 Episcopal Church organized. 
 
 
 
 
 196 
 
 Episcopal Church erected. 
 
 
 
 
 , 203 
 
 Episcopalians, hst of in 1775, 
 
 
 
 
 . 202 
 
 Eddy, Asa .... 
 
 
 
 
 . 221 
 
 Brian .... 
 
 
 
 
 . 221 
 
 F. 
 
 Famum, John .339 
 
 Ferry, Samuel 22 
 
 Fellows, Col. John . 
 
 . 
 
 . 
 
 
 232 
 
INDEX. 501 
 
 Freeman, Caesar 338 
 
 Fiske, Rev.F. A 391 
 
 Fire District, 436 
 
 Fire Company, ........ 437 
 
 Fire of 1854, 430 
 
 Ford, Jonathan . , . . . . . 261-334 
 
 Captain John, location and family, .... 334 
 
 Foote, Charles 378 
 
 Enos 379 
 
 Foster, Elijah 379 
 
 Rev. Isaac, 320 
 
 called, 323 ; notice of, 387. 
 
 Forts, Elisha Noble's, .... . . 137 
 
 Coonrod Burghardt's, 137 ; Block House, 140. 
 
 Fort Edward Alarm, 248 
 
 Fulling Mill, the first 357 
 
 G. 
 
 Gardiner, Arent 28-30 
 
 Granger, John 103 
 
 location, 118. 
 Gragg, John — buys Indian rights to land, ... 75 
 Gas Company, ........ 438 
 
 Green, Rev, Lewis 391 
 
 Great Wigwam, 17-53 
 
 Great Road from Boston to Albany, . . . 136-144 
 
 Great Bridge, 152 
 
 Great Barrington incorporated, ..... 165 
 derivation of name, 166 ; the shire town, 279. 
 
 Act of Incorporation, ...... 
 
 Geographical description, 37 
 
 Geographical positions, ....... 49 
 
 Greeley, Rev. S. S. N 389 
 
 Glezen, Solomon killed in Shay's fight, . . . .311 
 Gilbert, Joseph . . . . . 211-218-290-359 
 
 Elias 211-359 
 
 Rev. Sturges, . . , . . . 354-390-391 
 
 Griswold, Rev. Samuel . . . . . . .390 
 
 Timothy .... .... 365 
 
 Gibson, Joseph makes improvements, .... 428 
 
 Giddings, Augustine 379 
 
502 
 
 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 Giddings, Daniel E. 
 
 
 
 
 
 . 379 
 
 Rev. E. J. 
 
 
 
 
 
 . 392 
 
 Goodrich, Samuel . 
 
 
 
 
 
 21 
 
 William . 
 
 
 
 
 
 22 
 
 Captain Silas 
 
 
 
 
 
 211-247-249 
 
 Goose, Matthew 
 
 
 
 
 
 . 131 
 
 Grosvenor, Rev. Daniel 
 
 
 
 
 
 . 322 
 
 Gorham, Lewis L. . 
 
 
 
 
 
 364-400 
 
 Gunn, Captain Stephen 
 
 
 
 
 
 106 
 
 location, 159-163. 
 
 H. 
 
 Harmon, Samuel 22-103 
 
 location, 114. 
 
 HaU, Rice 220 
 
 Hart, Martin 261-336 
 
 Hambly, William 338 
 
 Harris, Elijah 339 
 
 Hassard, Rev. Samuel ....... 390 
 
 Hazen, Rev. T. A . .392 
 
 Hatters, 358 
 
 Hawley, Rev. Gideon — quotation from .... 46 
 
 Henderson, Allen 358-378 
 
 Hitchcock, Captain Luke 14 
 
 Hickox. John 221-346 
 
 Highways, 104-149-424 
 
 Horton, Thomas 103 
 
 location, 132. 
 Hogaboom, Derrick ...... 31-103 
 
 location, 125. 
 Hopkins, Rev. Samuel, of West Springfield, . . . 55-94 
 
 Timothy, location and family, 159 
 
 Colonel Mark 210-233-247 
 
 notice of, 294. 
 
 Ichabod 219 
 
 Moses 2«2 
 
 notice of, 367. 
 
 Charles W^ . . 358 
 
 Rev. Samuel 89-106 
 
 Comes to Housetunnuck, 90 ; called to settle, 92 ; 
 Salarj^ of, 97-189 : builds house, 157 ; dismissed, 
 193 ; revisits the town, 325 ; notice of, 385 ; let- 
 ters quoted, 139-158-188-191-192 ; diary of, 89. 
 
INDEX. 503 
 
 Hodget, Emanuel 251-399 
 
 Hollenbeck, Caspar 358 
 
 Doctor Elias R. 366 
 
 Howk, John and Martin ....... 339 
 
 Holidays, 375 
 
 Housatonic — derivation of name, .... 10-12-493 
 
 Housatonic River, . . . . . . . . 10-12 
 
 Housatonic Townships, ....... 14-24 
 
 deed of 488 
 Housatonic, Upper Township, propriety organized, . 33 
 
 names of proprietors, 31 ; division of lands, 34. 
 Housatonic, Lower Township, proceedings of Settling 
 
 Committee, ......... 16 
 
 division of land, 18 ; names of proprietors, 21 ; 
 propriety organized, 22 ; incorporated as Shef- 
 field, 22 
 
 Housatonic, village of ...... . 415 
 
 Housatonic Manufacturing Company, .... 419 
 
 Hoplands. 30 
 
 set to Lee, 223. 
 
 Huggins, John 21-289 
 
 Hubbard, Rev. Jonathan 78-93 
 
 Mr. John — preaches here, ..... 322 
 
 Hubbard's narrative quoted, ...... 9 
 
 Humphrey, David 220 
 
 Humphrey, Hugh 220 
 
 Rev. R. G 392 
 
 Hulbert, Sylvester 379 
 
 Huntting, Isaac — definitions of Hooestennuc, ... 12 
 Scaghticoke, 55. 
 
 Huntington, Rev. John T 391 
 
 Hyde, James A 371-378 
 
 I. 
 
 Inhabitants, aboriginal ....... 51 
 
 1726 to 1743, . . . . . . . .101 
 
 1743 to 1761, 157 
 
 1761 to 1776, 208 
 
 1780 to 1800, 328 
 
 1800 to 1840, 378 
 
 Prominent 379 
 
 Condition of 1794-1798, 326 
 
 Ingersoll, Thomas 21-27-63 
 
504 HISTOBY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 IngersoU, Moses 22-103 
 
 location and family, 105. 
 
 David 31-33-103 
 
 notice of and family, 122-124. 
 
 €aptain Peter 105-214-235-247 
 
 WiUiam 106 
 
 David Jun'r., Esq., . , 241 
 
 notice of, 296. 
 
 Major Thomas 247 
 
 notice of, 275-359. 
 
 Ingersoll's Works, . 155-179 
 
 IngersoU & Hopkins, build mills, .... 179-398 
 
 Ives, General Thomas 290-331-315 
 
 notice of, 369. 
 
 Samuel 333 
 
 David 362-376 
 
 George H. 371 
 
 improvements of, 426. 
 George R., improvements of . . . . 365-428 
 Ives & Woodworth, ....... 400 
 
 Ice Gulf, 4H 
 
 Indians, the Housatonic ....... 50 
 
 Remains of ........ 51 
 
 Mission to ........ 55 
 
 Relinquish rights to land, 74 
 
 In the Revolution, ....... 67 
 
 Indian Reservation and Claims, 69 
 
 Indian Town — granted, . . . . . . . 27 
 
 laid out, 65. 
 
 Indian Pass, . . . ' 53 
 
 Inn Keepers, early . . . . . . . .153 
 
 Iron Ore, 44 
 
 Iron "Works, Ingersoll's, ....... 156 
 
 IncorjDoration of Town — Act for . . . . .165 
 
 act for '491. 
 
 J. 
 
 Jail, the first 280 
 
 the second, 281. 
 
 Built, 283 
 
 taken down, 286. 
 
 Prisoners' escape from 285 
 
 Jail Ground Limits, 284-290 
 
 Jacklyn, James ........ 338 
 
 Jones, William 214 
 
INDEX. 505 
 
 -Jones, Doctor Anson . . . , . . .215 
 
 - Jnne, Benjamin 40-330 
 
 ■ June, Mountain 40 
 
 Jurors, list of 1761, 168 
 
 'Justice, administration of 154 
 
 Justices, 288-366 
 
 • Judges of the Court, 280-288 
 
 coerced by mob, ....... 306 
 
 K. 
 
 "Karner. Andrew 71 ' 
 
 "Knapp, Francis 365 
 
 ^Kellogg, Daniel 22 
 
 Ezekiel 219 
 
 Ezra, 220 
 
 search for by mob, 308 ; notice of, 373. 
 
 Major John 221-405 
 
 Misses 354 
 
 Kellogg Mill 405 
 
 sKing, David 21-103-115 
 
 location, 117. 
 
 Moses, 22-103 
 
 location of, 118. 
 
 Stephen 22-103 
 
 location, 117. 
 
 William 108 
 
 location and family, 119. 
 
 'Gideon 117 
 
 Asahel, location and family. .... 119-120 
 
 Captain George 120-218 
 
 Keuben 121 
 
 Major William 122-232-290 
 
 notice of, 268 ; anecdotes of, 319 ; letters quoted, 
 237 ; reasons for not choosing town officers, 302. 
 
 Lucius 372 
 
 ^ilborn, Kobert 339-358 
 
 Knox, General Henry transports cannon from Ticonderoga, 238 
 Konkapot, Captain John 15-56-64 
 
 L. 
 
 ILawton, Israel 22-103 
 
 location and family, 106. 
 Joshua E. 379 
 
506 
 
 HISTOEY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 Lawrence, Rev. Amos G. 
 
 Lawyers, 
 
 Ladies' Soldiers' Aid Society, . 
 
 Lee, Thomas .... 
 
 Warham, .... 
 
 Samuel — location and family, 
 
 Doctor Samuel . 
 
 Doctor Joseph . 
 
 Nathaniel .... 
 
 EUslia .... 
 Lee incorporated, . 
 Lester, Silas .... 
 Leonard, Nathaniel . 
 Leavenworth, Doctor David 
 
 notice of, 367 
 
 Isaac 
 
 Hon. Elias W. . 
 Leavenworth's Hall, 
 
 Marble Works, . 
 Linsted, Robert 
 Lime Kiln, the first . 
 Libraries, .... 
 
 Loop, Henry .... 
 Louisburgh Expedition, news of 
 Lyon, Eli .... 
 
 Lynson, David B. . 
 
 -378 
 
 289- 
 447- 
 
 113 
 
 158 
 
 360- 
 
 221-339 
 
 392' 
 -368- 
 -468 
 21 
 -247 
 -281 
 211 
 212- 
 214 
 290 
 223 
 339 
 21 
 360 
 
 3 78 
 368- 
 361 
 405 
 364 
 145 
 441 
 379' 
 136 
 -345 
 390' 
 
 M. 
 
 Mansfield, Josiah 
 
 Manville, Linus ...... 
 
 Mallory, Rev. Charles W. .... 
 
 Martin, Jesse 
 
 Mansir, Aaron ...... 
 
 McLean, John ...... 
 
 McGonegal, Henry ..... 
 
 Magistrates, 366 
 
 Manufactures, 442 
 
 See Chapters XXVIII, XXIX, XXX. 
 
 Mas-wa-se-hi .44-62 
 
 Mahaiwe — See Neh-hai-we ...... 60 
 
 Marble Works, 40.'> 
 
 Masonic Institution, 435- 
 
 215-260- 
 . 379 
 392 
 . 339- 
 360 
 162 
 220 
 
INDEX. 507 
 
 Merritt, Rev. D. N 39^ 
 
 Merchants, 360 
 
 Meeting House, vote to build, 80 
 
 site of 81 ; sale of pews in, 83 ; seating of, 97-171. 
 
 Miller, Rev. Jacob G 392 
 
 Mission to Indians, 55 
 
 Mission House, erection and site of, .... 59 
 
 Ministers, 385 to 393 
 
 Minute Men, march of, . . . . . . . 333 
 
 Militia, . ' 247-375-377 
 
 Moore, Richard 28-65 
 
 Noadiah, 218 
 
 Mountains, 39 
 
 Monument Mountain, its name and tradition, ... 44 
 
 Monument Mills, 421 
 
 Monument — the Soldiers, ...... 441 
 
 Murray, Con 345 
 
 Munson, GHbert 379-413 
 
 Muddy Brook— settlers in, 220-339^ 
 
 roads, 340. 
 
 N. 
 
 Nash, Daniel 103: 
 
 location, 131. 
 
 Jonathan 103-131-218^ 
 
 Deacon Daniel . . . . . . .218- 
 
 notice of, 272. 
 
 Nail Making, 359-401 
 
 Neh-hai-we — definition, ....... 60* 
 
 Ninham — Indian, ........ 345 
 
 Noble, Mathew 19-21-102 
 
 Obadiah 21-102" 
 
 Solomon, 21 
 
 Joseph, . . . . . . . . 22-103^ 
 
 location and family, 112. 
 
 Preserved, 221 
 
 Notewire, Yarre 251 
 
 North Parish, 77-144 
 
 incorporated, 85-87; organized, 88. 
 
 o. 
 
 Olds, Amos 35J^ 
 
 Old and New Tenor, 99- 
 
508 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 Owen & Hurlbut build paper mill, 423 
 
 Owen Paper Company, 423 
 
 Olmsted, Nehemiah ....... 339 
 
 Kev. Henry 391 
 
 O'Brien, John ........ 343 
 
 Osborne, Joseph B. 338 
 
 Orcut, Peter 339-344 
 
 Moses anecdote of 316 
 
 P. 
 
 Palmer, Kev. Solomon 196-201 
 
 Parker, Kev. S. P. 391 
 
 Parsons, Lieutenant Charles 221-247 
 
 Patterson, John 220 
 
 Colonel John 232 
 
 Patten, Kev. Doctor quoted ...... 325 
 
 Piatt, Rev. G. Lewis 391 
 
 Parish privileges, granted, ...... 79 
 
 PeU, John 21-27 
 
 Pelton, Joseph K 47 
 
 Timothy 378 
 
 Penniman, Kev. Jesse A. ..... 391-485 
 
 Perry, Hendrick 221 
 
 Peabody, Benjamin 379-412 
 
 Phelps, Noah, 21 
 
 John 22-103 
 
 location, 113. 
 
 William 22 
 
 location, 116. 
 
 Hezekiah 31-32-103 
 
 location, 124. 
 
 Josiah . . 31-32-103 
 
 location and family, 126. 
 Preaching, support of ...... . 320 
 
 Pier, Thomas 22-103 
 
 location and family, 116. 
 
 Pickett, Doctor Noble B 379 
 
 Pixley, Joseph 31-103 
 
 location and family, 126. 
 
 Jonah 31-103-127 
 
 Joseph Jr 103 
 
 Moses 103-127 
 
 John 103-127 
 
INDEX. 
 
 509 
 
 Pixley, Jonathan 103-127 
 
 Isaac — burning of tavern, 127 
 
 Lieiitenant William 247 
 
 Erastus 127-290-370 
 
 Phillips, Seth and Samuel . . . . . .340 
 
 William killed in Kansas, 382" 
 
 Jared 383 
 
 Price, John 372 
 
 Prisoners, British encamped here, ..... 250 
 Pope, Captain Ebenezer ....... 378 
 
 Porter, Samuel 14-17-21 
 
 Ephraim killed in Shays' fight, . . . .312 
 
 Pomroy, Ebenezer 17-21-27-63 
 
 Potter, Job 337 
 
 Heman B. 337 
 
 Robert L 337-370 
 
 Henry L. builds paper mill, 423 
 
 Powell, Lieutenant John ....... 247 
 
 Poopoonuck, Ebenezer baptized 57 
 
 Proprietors of Lower Township — names of . . . 21 
 Upper Township — names of ..... 31 
 
 Ponds, 43 
 
 Pontics— 1774 to 1780 299 
 
 Potasheries, ......... 357 
 
 Pottery— Whiting's 357 
 
 Post Office, 362 
 
 Post Masters, 363 
 
 Population, 223-442 
 
 Purdy, Nathan 220-242 
 
 Pynchon, Captain Walter .... 263-360-365 
 
 Theophilus 359- 
 
 George 361 
 
 Physicians, 328-329-365 
 
 R. 
 
 Ray, James 220 
 
 William 220- 
 
 Ransom, Elias 219 
 
 Rathbun, Daniel . . . . . . . 211-358- 
 
 Railroad — opening of ...... . 429" 
 
 Rew, Ehatha 346' 
 
510 
 
 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 Kemele, Martin 
 
 Hepresentatives, the first 
 
 . 220 
 
 . 174 
 
 Heligious Dissensions, 
 
 HebeUion, the War of the 
 
 . 185 
 . 443 
 
 Hevolutionar}'^ History, 
 
 Hesolutions— "War 
 
 . 225 
 444-455 
 
 Hegiment, 10th Infantry, summary of service. 
 Soldiers in, 471. 
 
 . 451 
 
 12th Infantry, Soldiers in . . . 
 16th Infantry, Soldiers in . . . 
 24th Infantry, Soldiers in . . . 
 27th Infantry, summary of service. 
 Soldiers in, 473. 
 
 . 472 
 . 472 
 . 472 
 . 453 
 
 28th Infantry, Soldiers in . . . 
 31st Infantry, summary of service, 
 Soldiers in, 474. 
 
 . 474 
 . 454 
 
 34th Infantry, Soldiers in . . . 
 37th Infantry, summary of service. 
 Soldiers in, 476. 
 
 . 476 
 . 456 
 
 46th Infantry, Soldiers in 481. 
 49th Infantry, summary of service. 
 Soldiers in, 481. 
 
 . 459 
 
 54th Infantry, summary of service. 
 Soldiers in, 478. 
 
 . 463 
 
 57th Infantry, summary of service. 
 Soldiers in, 478. 
 
 . 464 
 
 1st Cavalry, 
 
 Soldiers in, 479. 
 
 . 464 
 
 5th Cavalry, Soldiers in ... 
 
 2d Artillery, Soldiers in . 
 
 14th Battery, Soldiers in . . . 
 
 Hiley, Samuel 
 
 Eichards, Kev. C. A. L. 
 
 . 479 
 480 
 480 
 
 378-338 
 391 
 
 Kichmond Iron Works, 
 
 Hoot, Joshua 2 
 
 location and family, 114-115. 
 Jonathan 
 
 413 
 1-22-103 
 
 22 
 
 Deacon Israel 
 
 his wolf trap, 116-221. 
 James 
 
 . 113 
 132-162 
 
 Captain Hewit, . . . . . 132-162 
 
 -247-364 
 
 his tavern, 133-217 
 
INDEX. 
 
 511 
 
 Kowley, Daniel 
 
 Erastus 
 Robb, William 
 Rogers, Doctor Benjamin 
 Rogers, Rev. John H. 
 Rosseter, Major Samuel 
 Roads established, 
 
 old, 
 
 341 
 
 211 
 
 354 
 . 339 
 339-366 
 
 391 
 339-358 
 
 209 
 
 136-144 
 361-378 
 361-378 
 . 403 
 
 from Westfield, 
 Russell, John C. 
 Asa C. 
 J. C. & A. C. build woolen mill, 
 
 s. 
 
 Sacket, Benjamin 21 
 
 Daniel 31-125 
 
 Sanford, Rev. David 106-214 
 
 [Sprague, Captain Silas 220 
 
 Barnabas. . . . . , . . .220 
 
 'Sharp, Peter 344 
 
 Stratton, Rev. R. B 389 
 
 Starkey, Rev. O. F 391 
 
 Sawyer, C. & A. W 406 
 
 Shays, Daniel 304 
 
 Shays Rabellion, 304 
 
 Small Pox — deaths of soldiers by, . . . . . 141 
 inoceulation for, 264. 
 
 ^Slaves, 155 
 
 stages, 363 
 
 -Skatekook, or Schaghticoke — derivation ... 55 
 
 locaHty of, 70. 
 
 Saw Mills in 1818, 356 
 
 Saratoga, Militia at 249 
 
 ■Stanley, WiUiam 379 
 
 George 379 
 
 Seger, Joseph ......... 21 
 
 .Sheldon, Joseph 22-31-108 
 
 location, 105. 
 
 Aaron 157-211 
 
 Sergeant, Rev. John . . . . . . 55-56-93 
 
 iSeeley, John 332 
 
 anecdote of 383, location, 343. 
 
512 HISTOKY OF GKEAT BAERINGTON. 
 
 Seeley, Abraham 336" 
 
 Isaac 336' 
 
 John 2d, 36L 
 
 Sherlock, Thomas 40-2211 
 
 Sherlock Mountain 40^ 
 
 Sexton, Jamos ........ 114' 
 
 Sedgwick, Theodore 210-289' 
 
 James ......... 3/>5 
 
 Institute, ......... 355"' 
 
 Seymour, Rev. W. Wood 391i 
 
 Spencer, EHphalet 337 
 
 his sons, 388. 
 Sperry, Cory don S. ....... 354 
 
 Sherwood, William ........ 353" 
 
 Selkirk, Edward & William, 419^ 
 
 Seekonk, definition of . . . . , . . 43 • 
 
 early settlers, 322-344 ; water power improved, 344. 
 
 Settlers, the first 101 
 
 molested by the Dutch, 19-24-25. 
 
 SettHng Committee, 14-21-26 
 
 Sterling, George W 379- 
 
 Stevens, WilUam S. 379- 
 
 Sheffield incorporated, 22 
 
 area of extended, 87 ; church organized, 78. 
 Streams. ......... 40 
 
 Streets, new, opened, 428-430-431 
 
 Smith, ChHeab 21 
 
 Lieutenant James . . . . . . . 21 
 
 James Jr. ........ 21 
 
 John 21 
 
 Eev. George Mure 7 
 
 Josiah, builds tavern, 212-365 
 
 Sibley, Doctor John 329^ 
 
 Stephen . ........ 329 
 
 Sibley & Sherman, make settlement at Housatonic, . 416 
 
 Simmons, E. W 354 
 
 Slingerland. Rev. Jeremiah, on Indian names, 12-44-45-55-60 
 Stimpson, Anthony ....... 339 
 
 Silver Hollow, 291 
 
 Stoddard, Colonel John . . . . 14-17-27-56-63 
 
 StockweU, Eleazur 21 
 
 Strong, Rev. Thomas 84-88-^ 
 
Hli^TORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 513 
 
 Stowe, David 
 
 
 
 
 . 214 
 
 Stone, Eber, builds at Housatonic, 
 
 . 417 
 
 Spoor, Captain John 
 
 . 80-134 
 
 Stockbridge incorporated, 
 
 65 
 
 Indian alarms at, 137-138 ; plundered by Shay's men, 309. 
 
 Soldiers in French war, 
 
 . 142 
 
 of the Revolution, . . . 234-.5- 
 
 6-257 to 260 
 
 in war of the Rebellion, (see Regiment) 
 
 471 to 485 
 
 number furnished, .... 
 
 . 467 
 
 Soldiers' Monument, 
 
 441 
 
 Schools, 
 
 146-347 
 
 town fined for not keeping, 341). 
 
 
 Select 
 
 . 353 
 
 High, 
 
 355 
 
 School House — first built by Parish, 
 
 . 148 
 
 first by town, 169. 
 
 
 built by individuals, .... 
 
 348-350 
 
 Center, 
 
 . 351 
 
 built by districts, 
 
 . 353 
 
 School Districts established, . , . . 
 
 . 353 
 
 Suydam, Lawrence 
 
 21-22-103 
 
 location. 111. 
 
 
 Samuel 
 
 22-103 
 
 Sumner, Increase 372- 
 
 378-445-455 
 
 Scudder, Rev, Evarts , 
 
 , 389 
 
 T. 
 
 
 Taylor, Joseph 
 
 21 
 
 Charles 
 
 
 
 
 361-2-378 
 
 Ralph 
 
 
 
 
 361-378 
 
 George 
 
 
 
 
 . 379 
 
 Taylor & Ives, industries of 
 
 
 
 
 402 
 
 Talcot's fight, 
 
 
 
 
 8 
 
 Tanners, 
 
 
 
 
 358-401 
 
 Taverns, 
 
 
 
 
 . 364 
 
 Trees set out 1770, 
 
 
 
 
 . 290 
 
 Telegraph, Magnetic 
 
 
 
 
 . 431 
 
 Twining, Thomas, 
 
 
 
 . 
 
 . 372 
 
 Town, south hne of 
 
 
 
 
 38 
 
 description of, 37 ; area reduced, 221 ; reclaims water power, 178 
 
 Town meeting, the first 167 
 
 33 places of holding, 174. 
 
5U 
 
 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 Town Halls, ....... 
 
 Town Pound, the first ..... 
 
 Town Officers, of the war. .... 
 
 Tories, 
 
 disarmed, 248 : rebiiked by the town, 24-t ; take 
 
 giance, 24o ; imprisoned, 245. 
 Turner. Captain Jabez ..... 
 location and family, 385. 
 
 Elijah 
 
 William, . . 
 Jabez, at battle of Fort Erie, 
 
 Rev. Josiah W, 
 
 Tucker, John . . . . 
 
 Tiiimbull, J. Hammond, derivation of Honsatonio, 
 
 V. 
 
 ITmpachene. Lieut. ..... 
 
 baptized, (51 -70: his wigwam, 57. 
 
 . 43;> 
 
 171 
 . 444 
 
 240 
 
 oath of alle- 
 
 2(51 
 
 335 
 335 
 378 
 388 
 338 
 4t)3 
 
 Vanhall, Stephen (or Van Allen) 
 
 22-29-31-125 
 
 Van Dyck, Aaron 
 
 29-31-125 
 
 Van Deusen, Isaac 
 
 31-103 
 
 location and family, 128. 
 
 
 "Wise" Isaac 
 
 187-35.S 
 
 Jacob 
 
 410 
 
 Isaac L. 
 
 111-414 
 
 builds factories, 412. 
 
 
 Jacob H. 
 
 422 
 
 Van Deusenville, improvements at 
 
 408 
 
 Van Guilder, John 
 
 ^3-71 
 
 Van Lennep. E. J. 
 
 . 355 
 
 Van Eensselaer, Mr., anecdote of 
 
 . 217 
 
 Van Scoick, Elias ..... 
 
 . 28-30-65 
 
 Van Valkenburgh, Jehoiakim 
 
 28-30-56-103 
 
 location. 130. 
 
 
 Valuation of town, .... 
 
 224t442 
 
 Vietz, Rev. Roger 
 
 200 
 
 Village, in 17<31, 
 
 208 
 
 topography of, 215 : improvements, 21 
 
 1-217-424. 
 
 Vosburgh, Isaac 
 
 28-30 
 
 Votes, Revolutionary . . . 22t> 
 
 -227-244-252-256 
 
HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 515 
 
 Voters of 1818, 
 Volunteers, (see regiment) 
 
 w. 
 
 Walker, Zachariali .... 
 
 Watson, Oliver 
 
 Robert 
 
 War meeting, 1775, .... 
 
 of the Rebellion, 444-456-iri8 
 War of the Rebellion, .... 
 War expenditures, .... 
 
 Water power, improvements of 
 
 grant of to Israel Dewey, 181 
 Water Company, ..... 
 Wadsworth, Rev. Benjamin, journal quoted, 
 Wainwright, David .... 
 
 notice of, 878, 
 Lieutenant George, .... 
 notice of, 381. 
 
 Washington Benevolent Society, 
 
 Wawbeek Mills, 
 
 Wnahtnkook, or Wnokh-tuq-kook, detinition. 
 Weeks, Rev. Robert .... 
 
 Westover, Jonathan .... 
 
 John ...... 
 
 Westenhook, Patent of . 
 Wheeler, Captain Truman 
 
 notice of, 2()7. 
 Wheeler, Rev. Elijah .... 
 
 notice of, 887. 
 Wheeler, Doctor Alvan .... 
 
 Wheeler, Henry ..... 
 
 Winchell, David ..... 
 
 Williams. John ..... 
 
 location, 12.5-409. 
 
 Bill 
 
 Warham ...... 
 
 Solomon ..... 
 
 Ephraim ...... 
 
 Rev. Stephen ..... 
 
 Lt. Davenport, dies here, 
 
 Thomas . . . , . . 
 Williams River, name, .... 
 
 871) 
 
 447-8-t) 
 
 21 
 
 221-344 
 
 . 345 
 
 239 
 
 . 448 
 469 
 
 398 
 
 . 438 
 
 11 
 
 221 
 
 381 
 
 379 
 
 421 
 
 55 
 
 891 
 
 21 
 
 21 
 
 1 
 
 213-264 
 
 . 320 
 
 . 36() 
 
 . 372 
 
 81-131 
 
 81-82-108 
 
 125-221 
 
 125-221 
 
 . 125 
 
 24-80 
 
 56 
 
 . 141 
 
 289 
 
 . 408 
 
516 
 
 HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON. 
 
 -13^ 
 
 Williams' Mills, 
 Willard, Jonathan . 
 
 location and family, 132 
 
 David 
 
 Daniel ..... 
 WiUcocks, Nathan .... 
 
 Thomas 
 
 Wilcox, Captain Sylvanus 
 
 Daniel , . , . . 
 Winslow, Rev. Horace 
 White, Joshua .... 
 
 location, 110. 
 Whiting, Doctor William 
 
 notice of, 273-306 
 Lieutenant Gamaliel 
 
 Weather books quoted, 219-236-28 
 Samuel .... 
 Doctor Abram K. 
 General John 
 
 John C 
 
 builds saw mill. 404 
 
 Whitty, John 
 
 Whitbeck, Thomas L. . . . 
 Whitefield, Bev. George, preaches here, 
 Whitmore, Ransom, builds factory, 
 
 Perley D. ... 
 
 Albert D. ... 
 
 Whig Convention, of 1840, 
 Woart, Rev. John . 
 Woodbridge, Timothy 
 
 Doctor Deodat 
 Woodworth, Major Dudley 
 Wool Carding, the first 
 
 409 
 95-103 
 
 -322. 
 
 221 
 221 
 221 
 221 
 250 
 379 
 389-455 
 18-22-103 
 
 212-239 
 213 
 
 360 
 
 360-366 
 
 370 
 
 372 
 
 251 
 262 
 322 
 418 
 418 
 420 
 380 
 391 
 
 33-58 
 132 
 
 57-400 
 400 
 
 Younglove, Samuel 
 Samuel Jr., 
 
 Timothy 
 Jonathan 
 
 Y. 
 
 location, 110. 
 family, 110, 
 
 22-103 
 103 
 
 221-247 
 221