Yale University Library

39002002977560

A. HISTORY

TOWN OF MURRAYFIELD,

EARLIER KNOWN AS

TOWNSHIP NO. 9,

" AND COMPRISING THE PRESENT TOWNS OF CHESTER AND HUNTINGTON,
THE NORTHERN PART OF MONTGOMERY, AND THE
SOUTHEAST CORNER OF MIDDI.EFIELD.

1760  17S3.

By ALFRED M. COPELAND,
Of SPRINGFIELD, MASS.

SPRINGFIELD, MASS.:
CLARK TV. BRYAN & COMPANY, PRINTERS.
1892.

Copyright, 1892, by
ALFRED M. COPELAKD.

IT

PREFACE.

About ten years ago I began gathering facts touching the history of
the town of Murrayfield. I had had occasion frequently, during my
residence in the town of Huntington, to consult the book of records
of the original proprietors, and had traced a copy of the proprietors'
plan of the town for my own use, as occasion might require in my
professional work in the' neighborhood; but it had never occurred to
me to write a history of the town, nor to institute investigations in
that direction.
Some time after the organization of "The Connecticut Valley
Historical Society" I promised to write a sketch of the town of
Murrayfield, in a single paper, to be read before the society; but
several years transpired before I felt sure that I had found the start
ing point. The more I investigated, the richer the field proved.
From the proprietors' records, from the registry of deeds, from the
records of courts, from the records of the Colonial General Court,
from original documents" in the office of the Secretary of the Com
monwealth, from the records of the old town and of the old church,
and from inscriptions upon headstones in the old cemetery, I gathered
together a greater array of facts than had at first seemed possible.
From individuals living in Chester and in Huntington I could
obtain absolutely nothing touching the early history of Murrayfield.
The information obtained from the most intelligent of them related
to a later period.
It was often necessary to give some collateral history of the times
in order to make clear many facts which the records of the town fail
to explain. It seemed undesirable to attempt to present any facts
unverified by authentic records. The reader will judge whether I
have erred in this. At any rate, I feel sure that the sketch of Mur-

6 PREFACE.
rayfield which is here offered to the public is worthy of a careful
perusal, and that I have succeeded in snatching from oblivion many
valuable facts. I feel equally certain that the early history of other
towns in western Massachusetts offer a rich field to the historian.
The history of Murrayfield is very like that of other towns in this
part of the state that were settled too late to be involved in the
Indian wars.
This history of Murrayfield presents an object lesson as to the
birth and growth of inland towns in N"ew England, and so cannot
but be of general interest. ALFRED M. COPELAND.

A HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MURRAYFIELD.

CHAPTEE FIRST.

INGERSOLL GRANT IN THE OLD COUNTY OF HAMPSHIRE, MASSA
CHUSETTS.
On page 123 of book L in the Registry of Deeds, for the old county
of Hampshire, is the copy of a deed as follows:
" John Stoddard and Ebenezer Pomeroy of Northampton, and Thomas Inger
sole of Westfleld, all in the county of Hampshire in the Province of Massa
chusetts Bay in New EDgland, Esqrs., on March the 26th, 1736, were by the
Great and General Court of the said Province, specially authorized and ap
pointed among other things to purchase rights of land of the proprietors of
Upper Housatonick Township — so called — in the said county in order to the
accommodating and bringing forward a settlement of the Indians above the
Monument Mountain — so called — in said Housatonick Township,* and to give
equivalents therefore in some of the unappropriated lands of the said province
to the proprietors of whom we shall purchase the land as per the said order of
the said court or assembly reference to the same being had will appear. Now
we, the said John Stoddard, Ebenezer Pomeroy, & Thomas Ingersole, by
virtue of the said commission & authority vested in us, have purchased six
rights of land in Upper Housatonick above the Monument Mountain — so
called — each right containing four hundred acres, of David Ingersole of West-
field in the county & province aforesaid. Now we, the said John Stoddard,
Ebenezer Pomeroy, & Thomas Ingersole, as a committee 'aforesaid, have agreed
with the said David Ingersole to give him an equivalent from the government
for the aforesaid rights of land in the unappropriated land of the said Prov
ince, a certain tract or parcel of land of the quantity of four thousand &
eight hundred acres; beginning at the northeast corner of Southfleldt Equiva
lent land called Glasgow; north east corner & so running upon Glasgow line
West 20° North two hundred & twenty perch to a marked tree on the east bank
of the west branch of the Westfleld River; & thence North 15° East two hun
dred & eighty perch; thence East 40° North one hundred perch; thence North
15° East continuing that line until five hundred & sixteen perch be completed;
* For a more particular account of this the reader is referred to the history of Stockbridge
The sketch of Stockbridge in Dr. Holland's History of Wes ern Massachusetts gives some
account of it.
t Suffleld.

8 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
then beginning, viz: at Glasgow north-east corner, thence running south 39°
east* one thousand & fifteen perch to Moss Meadowf to a tree with stones about
it, which tree is Northampton south-west corner. This last mentioned line joins
upon Westfleld last grant; thence from said tree North 5° east, in or on North
ampton line until eleven hundred and ninety-five perch be completed; & from
thence in a straight line to the northernmost point of the line before mentioned
which was north 15° east, and five hundred and sixteen perch; excepting three
hundred acres heretofore laid out within the bounds aforesaid to Samuel Olapp
& Ebenezer Sheldin. Now, we, the said John Stoddard, Ebenezer Pomeroy,
& Thomas Ingersole, by virtue of the commission to us, we do hereby give,
grant, convey, & confirm unto the said David Ingersole, to him, his heirs, &
assigns for ever, all the aforesaid described land, saviDg the said three hun
dred acres.
To have and to hold, possess & enjoy, quietly & peaceably for ever more;
and further we, the said John Stoddard, Ebenezer Pomeroy, & Thomas Inger
sole, Esqrs., by virtue of said commission to us granted, and in the name, &
the behalf of the said government of the said Province, we hereby covenant,
promise & engage the before granted premises unto him, the said David Inger
sole, his heirs & assigns, forever to warrant, maintain, secure, and defend
against the lawful claims or charges of any person or persons whatsoever.
In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands & seals this first day of
June in the eleventh of the reign of George the Second, King, &c. Anno
Domini 1738.

T^,Si!?e'b, Se,alfi^ d6ll™red in presence of us by 1 J0HN STODDARD & Seal.
John Stoddard & Ebenezer Pomeroy, Oliver Partridge,
Jr., Witnesses. }¦ EBENEZER POMEROY & Seal.
" Witness to Thomas Ihgerso'e signed, &c, Benjamin | _ T „ „ , ,
Prescott, Wm. Pynchon. J THOMAS INGERSOLE & Seal. "

"Hampshire ss., June 1st, 1738, John Stoddard & Ebenezer Pomeroy, Esqrs.,
two of the subscribers to the above instrument appearing acknowledged the
same to be their act & deed. Coram, Job Williams, Just. Peace."
"Suffolk ss., Boston, June 20th, 1738, Thomas Ingersole, one of the sub
scribers to the above instrument personally appearing acknowledged the same
to be his act & deed. Coram, Joshua Winslow, Just. Peace."
The southeast corner of this tract was about a mile southeasterly
from the present town house in Montgomery. When the town of
Norwich was incorporated in 1773, Ingersoll Grant was wholly included
and formed the south end of that town. When the town of Mont
gomery was incorporated in 1780, a large part of this grant was in
cluded, and formed about one-third of the territory of that town. A
* This was an error. The course in fact was S. 49° E.
t This name should be Moose Meadow.

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 9
small mountain called " Rock House," near which was the northeast
corner of Glasgow, now called Blandf ord, was included by the bounds
of this grant. INGERSOLL'S DEED TO WEBB.
By a deed dated April 7th, 1738 — before receiving a deed from the
government — David Ingersoll conveyed to Thomas Webb of Boston, a
part of his grant, and described it as follows:
"Beginning 100 rods west 20° north from a certain tree which is Glasgow's
north east corner, then from said tree'South 39°* east 1015 perch upon West-
field line to Moss Meadow,! being the south west corner of Northampton;]:
then North 5° East 800 perch on Northampton line; then North 63° west 770
perch; then 600 perch to the place of beginning." It was called in the deed
3000 acres exclusive of the 300 acres owned by Shelden & Clapp. The quan
tity of land & the length of some of the lines were exaggerated.
INGERSOLL'S DEED TO JOHNSON.
By deed dated August 14th, 1738, Ingersoll sold the north end of
his grant to John Johnson of Boston, a marriner, and described it as
follows: " Beginning 800 rods from the southwest corner of Northampton on North
ampton west line; then North 44° West 750 perch; Then beginning at first
bound running North 5° East on Northampton line 335 perch; then North 63°
West 900 rods; then South 15° West 150 rods; then turning and running 250
rods to the westernmost end of the 750 perch line." The quantity of land was
estimated to be 1500 acres.
INGERSOLL'S DEED TO BREWER.
Ingersoll sold the remainder of his grant to John Brewer of " No.
1 on the road between Westfield and Sheffield," and described it as
consisting of 800 acres of land northeast of and adjoining Blandf ord.
It was north of the northeasterly part of Blandford. The deed was
dated July 8th, 1742, the year after the township called Glasgow was
incorporated under the name of Blandford. The tract was described
asfollows: "Beginning 100 rods West 20° North from a pine tree which is Blandf ord's
north east corner, then running west 20° North 127 rods to a marked tree
standing on the bank of the West Branch of Westfield River; then running
* This was in fact 49°.
t Moose Meadow.
t Northampton had not been divided at this time.

10 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
North 15° East 289 rods; then East 40° North 103 rods; then North 15° East
380 rods; then East 33° South 341 rods to stake & stones, being the northwest
bound of a tract of land sold by me to Thomas Webb of Boston; then run
ning to the first mentioned bound; & bounded south by Blandford; west by
the couatry land; North by land I sold to John Johnson of Boston, & east
by land I sold to said Webb." The consideration named in this deed was
eighty pounds.
BREWER'S DEED TO WELLER AND WELLER TO BIDWELL AND TO
MATTHEWS.
By deed dated August 28th, 1754, John Brewer sold this tract of
land to Nathaniel Weller of Westfield. By Weller it was parcelled
out to various purchasers. By deed dated April 14th, 1758 he con
veyed 50 acres of it to John Bid well of Hartford, Connecticut, and ,
it was described as follows:
" A certain tract of land of fifty acres out of the southwest part of a cer
tain farm I bought of John Brewer of 800 acres lying northward & adjoining
Blandford in said County of Hampshire; said fifty acres is bounded east on
the main river* called Westfleld River, & to extend west to the line of said
farm, & to bound southerly on said Blandford town line, only reserving there
out ten acrest on said Blandford line, and to extend as far north on said farm
as to make the said complement of fifty acres. "
The deed was acknowledged before David Moseley, Justice of the
Peace. By a deed dated May 26th, 1760, Weller sold to Benjamin Matthews
of Torrington, Connecticut, in consideration of 100 pounds, two tracts
of this land, one containing 107 acres and the other containing 68
acres. The description is as follows :
"Bounded at the south east corner by a hemlock tree near the river, from
thence running west 20° North 86 rods to stake & stones; thence North 15°
East 160 rods to a heap of stones; then East 142 rods; bounded at the river by
a hemlock tree with stones about it; from thence by the river southerly to the
first mentioned bound, & bounded south by John Bidwell's land.
The other parcel lying a little northerly from the above described land on
the second branch of the river, bounded at the north east corner on the river
bank by a tree with stones about it; so running west 30° North 6 rods; then
South 15° West 205 rods to a black birch tree with stones about it; then east
63 rods to a buttonwood three on the bank of the river; then running north
erly by the river to the first bound containing 68 acres."
* This was the east branch of Westfleld River, which was sometime called the main branch.
t Weller sold this ten acres to Samuel Root of Southampton, December, 2d, 1761, and described
it as bounded on West Branch and by Blandford line 75 rods, and up the East Branch 21J rods,
and bounded it northerly by John Bidwell's land 75 rods, and located it between Bidwell's land
and Blandford line.

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 11
WELLER'S DEED TO NATHAN LYMAN.
By a deed dated July 6th, 1760, Weller sold to Nathan Lyman of
Southampton, 90 acres of this land described as
" A tract of land lying between the Branches of Westfleld Great River above
Great Falls, bounded at the south east corner by the river bank by a hemlock
tree marked, which is Benjamin Matthews' north east corner; thence W 142
rods; thence N. 15° E. about 20 rods to a hemlock tree marked; thence E. 40°
N. 103 rods; thence N. 15° E. 50 rods to a birch tree which is said Matthew's
south west corner; thence 63 rods to a buttonwood staddle on the river bank;
so ruuning down the river to the first mentioned bound containing 90 acres."
WELLER'S DEED TO MIXER.
By deed dated April 28th, 1762, Weller conveyed to Isaac Mixer of
Suffield, Connecticut, 75 acres, located in the northerly part of his
tract on the east side of East Branch, and it was described as follows:
"Beginning at a maple tree, thence E. 25° S. 80 rods; thence N. 25° E.
141 J^ rods; thence W. 33° N. 100 rods to the river by the falls; thence down
the river which is the main branch to the first bound a little above where the
second branch enters* the main branch of said river on the West side.''
MIXER'S TAVERN.
Mixer built a house and kept a tavern before 1764. Although it is
not certain where this tavern was located, there is reason to believe
that it was south of the land above described upon land of Weller,
which Mixer afterward purchased. The records of the Court of Gen
eral Sessions in 1764 contain the following record: "Isaac Mixer of
a place called Westfield River Branches, or No. 9, is licensed to be an
innholder and common victualler." In 1765 Mixer made another pur
chase of Weller's land, containing 159 acres and described as follows:
"Beginning at stake & stones about 25 rods up the river above Mixer house
near the bank, then E. 25° S. 144 rods; thence S. 38° W. upon the line of
Samuel Webb's land 203 rods to stake and stones; thence W. 25° N. to a spruce
tree at the river; thence up the river to the first bound, lying on the east side
of the ' Great River' so called; thence bounded northerly upon said Weller's
land, and westerly upon the river; with the dwelling house & barn, and with
a saw-mill standing on the same."
MATTHEWS' DEEDS TO HIS SON AND TO HIS DAUGHTER.
On the 28th of July, 1760, Benjamin Matthews gave to his daughter
Eunice Rose, wife of Israel Rose of Granville, 30 acres from the south
'" This must have been further south than at the present time (1890).

12 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
end of his sixty-eight acre tract, and to his son Gideon of Torrington,.
Connecticut, 50 acres from the north end of his one hundred and
seven acre tract. His son and his daughter with her husband soon.
after located their homes in this vicinity, and he himself became a
resident of Westfield about the same time.
THE OLD ROAD 'UP THE EAST BRANCH OF WESTFIELD RIVER.
Remains of an old road between this locality and Westfield are still
in existence; it crossed Westfield river a few rods below.the junction
of the east and west branches by a ford way which is often used at the
present time. From this fordway the old road may be traced between
the river and the Boston and Albany railway which it crosses, and so
continues in a northerly direction near the east bank of the east branch.
This road passed Isaac Mixer's tavern, and probably continued up the
river into Chesterfield and connected with a highway which was laid
out from Hatfield, and passing through Chesterfield, extended to Pon-
tusic — now Pittsfiel^ — as early as 1760.
WEBB'S DEED TO ELDAD TAYLOR.
By deed dated April 30th, 1762, Thomas Webb and Samuel Webb,.
sons of the Thomas Webb to whom Ingersoll. conveyed, sold to Eldad
Taylor of Westfield, 300 acres of land described as follows:
' ' A tract of land in the county of Hampshire & lying northerly from West-
field & adjoining to' said Westfield, beginning at a tree which is now fallen
down with stones on it, which tree is the north west corner bound of West-
field & the north east corner bound of Blandford & from said bound to run
east 39° south* 240 rods by Westfield line, & from thence to run north 39° East
200 rods, thence West 39° North 240 rods, thence south 39° West 200 rods to
first bound containing 300 acres, and is bounded southerly by Westfield & the
other three sides on said Webb's land." The consideration was sixty pounds.
It does not appear that any other conveyances were made from the
Webbs to any one prior to June, 1762. They subsequently conveyed
parcels of land, lying east of the tract sold to Eldad Taylor, to David
Crow and to Thomas Crow. They also sold tracts of land to Ebenezer
King, to Benjamin Converse, to James Taggart, persons who became
residents of the town of Murrayfield.
JOHNSON'S LAND SOLD TO DR. SPRAGUE.
Of the tract sold by Ingersoll to John Johnson, a deed dated May
20th, 1756, was given by Johnson to Nicholas Tobb of Boston. On
* See the description in the deed to David Ingersoll as to this course.

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 13
the following day Tobb executed a deed of the same land to Priscilla
Johnson, the wife of John; and she by deed dated September 7th, 1756,
¦conveyed it to John Sprague, M- D., of Boston. The record does not
show any conveyance of this land by Sprague prior to June, 1762.
SHELDEN AND CLAPP GRANT.
The grant to Shelden and Clapp, mentioned and excepted from the
grant to David Ingersoll, was made in answer to " a petition of Eben
ezer Shelden for himself and for Samuel and Mary Clapp, showing
that the said Shelden and his sister Mary Clapp, in their long captivity
in Canada, contracted an acquaintance with the Cagnawaga Indians,
who now put them to an extraordinary charge to entertain them when
they came to Deerfield; and therefore praying for a grant of province
land from this court. In the House of Representatives read; and in
answer to this petition ordered that the petitioners have leave, by a
surveyor and chain-man on oath to survey and lay out three hun
dred acres of the unappropriated lands of this Province in the county
of Hampshire, and return a plat thereof to this court within twelve
months for confirmation, one-half thereof to the said Ebenezer Shel
den and the other half to the said Samuel and Mary Clapp, Wednes
day, January 12th, 1736."
This is all that appears of record. The plat, if in fact returned for
confirmation, does not appear of record, so that there is nothing to
show definitely its location. It was somewhere intermediate between
the northeast corner of Glasgow or Blandford and the west line of
Northampton as it was at that time. It was east of the 300 acre tract
sold by the Webbs to Eldad Taylor, at a distance probably of about
400 rods from Rock House corner.
SHELDEN'S DEED TO CALEB STRONG.
Ebenezer Shelden, describing himself as of Deerfield, by deed
dated October 29th, 1741, sold his half of this grant to Caleb Strong
of Northampton and described it as follows:
" A certain tract of land lying west of the township of Northampton & east
of Suffleld's Equivalent northeast corner now called Glasgow north east corner
containing one hundred & fifty acres being one half of a grant of three hun
dred acres made by the General Court or assembly of Massachusetts Bay to
me the said Ebenezer Shelden & my brother & sister Samuel & Mary Clapp
on January 12th, 1736. The whole tract is bounded & more particularly
described by a plat of the same dated June 14, 1737 & confirmed by the afore
said court in June A. D. 1738."

14 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
STRONG'S DEED TO THE CARTERS.
Caleb Strong sold this land to William and Asa Carter of Norwich
by deed dated January 7th, 1774, following substantially the descrip
tion in Shelden's deed to him.
CLAPP'S DEED TO WELLS.
By a deed dated May 9th, 1774, Ebenezer Clapp and others of
Northampton, and Elijah Clapp and others of Southampton, heirs of
Samuel and Mary Clapp, in consideration of seventy-five pounds, con
veyed to Joseph Wells of Groton, New London County, in the state
of Connecticut, " a certain tract of land lying in Norwich, being one-
half of a tract containing three hundred acres granted by the General
Court, January 12th, 1736, to Ebenezer Shelden and Samuel and Mary
Clapp," etc. This deed gave no description which could aid in locat
ing the grant. Subsequently Wells sold to Job Halliday of Mont
gomery; and estates belonging to Salmon Thomas, to Hiram Halliday,
and to Silas Hubbill were mentioned in the deed as abutting lands.
THE GREEN AND WALKER GRANT AND WILLIAMS GRANT.
GREEN AND WALKER GRANT.
Joseph Green and Isaac Walker, both of Boston, were copartners in
the mercantile business under the style of Green & Walker. They
were owners of extensive tracts of land in various parts of the Prov
ince of Massachusetts Bay. They held rights of land in Upper Housa-
tonnock — as it was then spelled — at the time the provincial govern
ment was arranging for a settlement of the Indians above Monument
Mountain. The settling committee, consisting of John Stoddard,
Ebenezer Pomeroy and Thomas Ingersoll, who had been appointed for
that purpose by the General Court, purchased these rights of Green
& Walker and gave them m exchange therefor other tracts of land
located in the county of Hampshire. One of the tracts given to make
up an equivalent for their rights in Upper Housatonnock was located
about 130 rods west of the west line of the town of Northampton,
and consisted of 2,000 acres of land. The southwest corner of this
grant, which was known as the Green & Walker Grant, touched the
north line of the Ingersoll Grant. The west line was near the east
branch of Westfield River, a part of which was included toward ihe
northwest part of the grant. The pond known as Norwich Pond was

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 15
for the most part within the grant, occupying the northeast corner;
the north line of the grant passed across the north end of the pond.
The laying out of this grant and its conveyance to Green & Walker
was reported to the General Court by Ebenezer Pomeroy and Thomas
Ingersoll, two of the settling committee, at the session held May 30th,
1739, but was not acted upon until the session which began by ad
journment, December 5th, 1739. A copy of the conveyance of this
tract to Green & Walker by the settling committee does not appear in
the Registry of Deeds for the old county of Hampshire; but the facts
are recited in a deed given by Isaac Walker to Joseph Green dated
October 24th, 1744. Mr. Green retained his interest in this grant
until his death, which took place some time between 1764 and 1769.
His widow, Anna Green, as executrix of his will, by deed dated Janu
ary 30th, 1769, conveyed to George Green of Boston, the interest
which her husband had in the Green & Walker grant at the time of
his death, for the price of 400 pounds.
In 1764 a. partition of this grant was made by Oliver Partridge,
Elijah Williams, and Moses Graves, commissioners appointed for that
purpose by court, who made and returned a report December 18th,
1764, and with it a plan upon which is the following minute: "A
plan of 2,000 acres of land lying in Murrayfield laid out to Messrs.
Joseph Green, Isaac Walker, Byfield Lyde, and John Green, surveyed
June, 1739, and surveyed and marked anew October, 1764, by Elisha
Hubbard, surveyor." GREEN'S DEED TO KIRTLAND.
George Green sold 163| acres of his part to John Kirtland of Mur
rayfield by deed dated July 4th, 1772.

ten %W.al Iter Gmnt
Williams Grant.

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 17
WILLIAMS GRANT.
The Williams grant contained 700 acres of land, and was granted
by the General Court of the Province to the heirs of the Rev. John
Williams, formerly of Deerfield, whose name is familiar to all who
hare read of the Indian wars in New England. The grant was made
in answer to the petition of the Rev. Stephen Williams of Spring
field, June 1st, 1737; it was laid out October '6th, 1737. The record
of the General Court shows the following:
" On petition of the Rev. Mr. Stephen Williams of Springfield, in the House
of Representative?, June 1st, 1737, read & in answer to the petition, ordered,
that the petitioner have It ave to survey & lay out by a surveyor & chainman
on oath 700 acres of unappropriated lands of the province, in lieu of 700
acres laid out & confirmed at the session of this court held the 24th of Novem
ber last which fall within a former grant & therefore is hereby vacated; &
return a plan thereof within twelve months for confirmation to satisfy the
grant within mentioned."
Sent up for confirmation, J. Quinct, Speaker.
In council June 2d, 1737. Read & ordered consented to.
The plan returned read as follows: "A tract of seven hundred
acres of land lying west of the township of Northampton, viz; the
southeast corner of said 700 acres being about half a mile westward of
the north end of a great hill known by the name of Break-neck Hill,.
and said corner is near the west bank of the west branch of Mahan
River, laid out to satisfy the grant of the General Court to the heirs
of the Rev. Mr. John Williams, late of Deerfield, deceased.
Proportioned to a scale of 100 perch in an inch.
Ebenezer Kingsley & Roger Miller, Chairmen.
Laid out October 6, 1737. Oliver Partridge, Surveyor."
Accompanying this was a plan of the grant.
williams' deed to john kirtland.
The deed of the Rev. Stephen Williams, then of Springfield, to
John Kirtland, yeoman, then of Norwich, New London County, Con
necticut, conveyed 400 acres for 180 pounds; and as it gives a descrip
tion of the whole tract I will copy the description part in full:
"A tract of laud in Murrayfield in said County of Hampshire, containing
400 acres, being 4-7 parts [the whole in seven equal parts to be divided] of

18 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
a tract of land in said Murrayfield containing 700 acres, which said tract of
700 acres was granted by the general court of the province aforesaid & laid
out to the heirs of the Rev. John Williams, late of Deerfield, deceased, & is
bounded as follows: The south east corner of said 700 acres is about half a
mile westward of the north end of Break Neck Hill, at a hemlock & beech
tree marked ' W ' ; from thence said land runs N. 5° E. 370 perch to a black
birch marked ' W ' with stones around it; from thence running W. 5° N. 302>£
perch to a maple marked ' W ' & stones; from thence S. 5° W. 370 perch to
a beach tree marked ' W '; from thence to the first mentioned bound."
Kirtland had previously purchased two undivided sevenths, one by
deed dated March 16th, 1768, from Samuel Woodward and his wife,
Abigail Woodward, of Weston, Mass., Jacob Cushing and his wife,
Anna Cushing, of Waltham, Mass., Joseph Parsons and his wife, Sarah
Parsons, of Brimfield, Mass.; and the other by deed dated April 25 th,
1768, from Nathan Williams, clerk, of Hartford, Conn. Each of
these deeds conveyed 100 acres, and the price named in each deed was
45 pounds. Thus John Kirtland became the owner of six-sevenths
of the Williams grant. KIRTLAND'S DEED TO CLARK.
By deed dated June 20th, 1768, John Kirtland sold to James Clark,
also of Norwich, Conn., a carpenter, 50 acres which he described as
"being a part of 700 acres of land granted by the General Court of
the Province of Massachusetts Bay, and laid out to the heirs of the
Rev. Mr. John Williams, late of Deerfield, deceased, beginning at the
southwest corner of said 700 acres at a beech tree marked 'W/
thence E. 5° S. 160'rods to a stake & heap of stones; thence N. 5° E.
50 rods to stake & stones; thence W. 5° N. 160 rods to stake & stones
in the west line of said grant; thence S. 5° W. 50 rods to first men
tioned bound." And by deed dated May 9th, 1769, John Kirtland
sold 115 acres of the 700 acre tract to Daniel Kirtland, Jr., also of
Norwich, Conn., and bounded it as follows:
" Beginning on the east line of a tract conveyed to me 62^ rods from the
southeast corner of said grant, then W. 5° N. 134 rods; thence N. 5° E. 137
rods; thence E. 5° S. 134 rods; thence S. 5° W. 137 rods to the first mentioned
bound." The two Kirtlands and James Clark took up their abode in Murray-
field shortly after the dates of these deeds.
These two grants, the Green & Walker and the Williams grants
together, formed a parallelogram, the Williams grant occupying the
southeast corner.

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 19
THE BOLTON GRANT.
Immediately west of Ingersoll grant and bounded south 208 rods
by Blandford and east 210 rods by Ingersoll grant was a tract of land
containing 250 acres and known as Bolton grant. Its south line was
south of the west branch of Westfield River. Huntington village, for
merly Chester village, and earlier known as Falley's X Roads, occupies
a large part of the land which was comprised within this grant. This
tract of land was occupied and claimed by John Bolton without legal
title. He was what in our time would be called a " squatter."
FOYE'S DEED TO BOLTON AND BOLTON'S TO BURT.
In the year 1737 John Bolton purchased of John Foye, one of the
original proprietors of Blandford, about 27 acres of land lying between
the east and west branches of Westfield River at their intersection, and
having as its northerly line the north line of Blandford. This piece
of land he sold to Noah Burt of Southampton, the description of
which will be of interest to persons who now own land within its
bounds. The deed was dated January 30th, 1761, and is recorded in
book 12 on page 208, now in the Hampden County Registry of Deeds.
The grantor is described as "John Bolton, living on Province land be
tween the branches of Westfield River between Blandford and South
ampton in the county of Hampshire." The description is as follows:
"Twenty-seven acres of land in the town of Blandford, in a 500 acre lot
number 38, which 27 acres I bought of John Foye. It is bounded as follows:
Beginning at the east branch of the river on the line of the town of Bland
ford, & measured W. 20° N. to the other branch 74 rods; thence S. 10° E. by
the river 40 rods; thence S. 20° E. 20 rods; thence southward by said branch
or southerly to where the branches meet 66 rods; thence N. 9° E. to the first
bound by the river." The price was fifty pounds.
The original proprietors of township No. 9 spoke of Bolton grant
as a tract of land in the possession of John Bolton, as though there
was some question in their minds as to whether Bolton was the right
ful owner of it.
BOLTON'S PETITION TO THE GENERAL COURT.
The following appears upon the records of the General Court early
in 1762: "A petition of John Bolton, living in the branches of
Westfield River, setting forth that in the year 1736 the Great & Gen
eral Court made a grant of 200 acres of land in the township of Me-
thuen to Capt. John Foot of Amsbury, who soon after sold the same;

20 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
that upon the line between this province & New Hampshire 127 acres
of said land, purchased by the petitioner fell within the bounds of
New Hampshire, and that in the year 1757 he petitioned the general
court for relief, & was then encouraged by a committee of the Court
to be relieved, but nothing was done; & praying that the case may be
now considered. In the House of Representatives Ordered. That
the Committee for the sale of Western Lands be directed to except the
250 acres of land (now in possession of John Bolton) in the sale; and
that the said 250 acres be. reserved to the further order of this Court.
In Council read & noncurred, & ordered that the petition be dismissed.
In the House read & concurred.
' In the House of Representatives Ordered. That the Committee for
the sale of lands at the westward be directed to except 250 acres of
land now in possession of John Bolton & adjoining his house, & that
the same be reserved for the further order of this court.
In Council read & concurred.
Consented to by the Governor."
BOLTON'S DEED TO ELDAD TAYLOR.
Bolton never was disturbed by any controversy about his title; and
in 1763, on the 21st of September, he sold to Eldad Taylor thirty
acres from the northeast corner of his grant, a description of which
may not be uninteresting:
" Beginning at the northeast corner by a beech staddle with stones about it,
thence W. 15° N. 40 rods; thence S. 15° W. 120 rods; thence E. 15° S.40 rods;
thence N. 15° E. to the first mentioned bound; containing 30 acres, & bounded
west & South by Bolton's land, north by land of John Murray, & east by lands
of John Moseley, Josiah Parks & John Bidwell."
BOLTON'S DEED TO BURT AND LYMAN.
By deed dated April 16th, 1764, describing himself of township No.
9, in consideration of £200, he sold to Samuel Burt and John Lyman,
both of Northampton, the larger part of the grant, and described it
as follows:
"Being part of a grant of land made by the General Court of said Province
to the said John Bolton, which part of said grant lieih on the southerly side
of said grant adjoining the town of Blandford; the length of .--aid giant being
208 rods. The part hereby conveyed is as follows: beginning at a bass staddle
with stones about it at the south east corner of land belonging to Eldad Tay
lor; thence running southerly 90 rods to Blandford line; thence W. 20° N.
208 rods to stake & stones standing on the bank of the west branch of West-

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 21
field River; thence running northerly on land of David Bolton 90 rods to stake
& stones; thence easterly to a hemlock tree which is the southwest corner
of said Taylor's land; thence easterly to the bass tree first mentioned."
THE SALE TO TEN TOWNSHIPS JUNE 2, 1762.
These five grants, Shelden and Clapp's, Ingersoll's, Williams', Green
and Walker's, and Bolton's, were all included within the bounds of
Township No. 9, which was sold by auction June 2d, 1762. Ten
townships were sold at the same time by auction at Boston. The
order under which these sales were made, and committee appointed to
make the sale, was passed by the General Court February 17th, 1762.
Concerning this sale Dr. Holland, in his "History of Western Mas
sachusetts," makes the following statement: "As the finances of the
Colony were embarrassed, and money became accumulated in individual
hands, private enterprise found more extended fields of operation, and
land speculations came to mingle in the schemes of those who had the
means to engage in them. The peace which followed the events of
1760 gave opportunity for these operations, and the General Court
ordered ten townships in the western part of the colony, on the 2d of
June, 1762, to be sold at Boston, by auction, to the highest bidder.
They were sold by their numbers, in order, as follows:
" No. 1. East Hoosac, now Adams, to Nathan Jones, for £3200.
No. 2. A tract embracing the present towns of Peru arid Hinsdale,
to Elisha Jones, for £1460.
No. 3. The present town of Worthington, to Aaron Willard, for
£1860. No. 4. The present town of Windsor, called Gageboro' at first, to
Noah Nash, for £1430.
No. 5. The present town of Cummington, to John Cummings,
for £1800.
No. 6. The present town of Savoy, to Abel Lawrence, for £1350.
No. 7. The present town of Hawley, to Moses Parsons, for £875.
No. 8. The present towns of Lenox and Richmond, to Josiah
Dean, for £2550.
ISIo. 9. The present town of Chester, at first called Murrayfield, to
William Williams, for £1500.
No. 10. The present town of Rowe, to Cornelius Jones, for £380."
THE EARLY CUSTOM OF CONVEYING TOWNSHIPS TO TENANTS IN
COMMON.
" When our ancestors first came to America, it was usual, in some
of the New England states, for the legislatures to grant township of

22 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
land to a certain number of proprietors, as grantee's in fee, to hold as
tenants in common; and a great portion of the lands of Massachusetts
and Plymouth colonies were originally granted in this way by the
colonial legislatures/' (See 2d Dana's Abridgement, p. 698 ; 4th Dana's
Abridgement, p. 70; Angle & Ames on Corporations, c. vi. §1 ; Sulli
van on Land Titles, pp. 39, 40, 44-48.)
This custom did not apply to private grants, such as have been re
ferred to and described. The plats of the Shelden & Clapp grant and
of the Bolton grant were lost. Many others have been lost wholly
or in part through inattention to the importance of their preservation.
Those that remain are now carefully cared for in the Secretary of
State's Department in the State House at Boston.

CHAPTER SECOND.
Township No. 9.
Township No. 9 was bounded north by Chesterfield, then called
New Hingham, and by Worthington, then called township No. 3, in
the same group with township No. 9; west by Becket, then culled
township No 4, but not of the same group of townships with No. 9; on
the south by Blandford and by Westfield New Addition; on the east by
Southampton and by Northampton. It was estimated as containing
32,200 acres of land, including the former grants. Out of township
No. 9 were carved the whole of the town of Chester and the whole of
the town of Norwich, including the Green & Walker, the Williams,
and the Ingersoll grants. When the town of Montgomery was incor
porated, about half the Ingersoll grant was included. In the year
1783 the northwest, corner of this township was severed from Chester
and became part of Middlefield.
The Original Proprietors oe No. 9.
This township, as we have seen, was sold by auction at Boston, June
2d, 1762, to William Williams of Hatfield, for £1,500. For some rea
son, which does not appear, Williams did not take it, and it passed at
once into the possession of John Chandler and Timothy Paine of
Worcester, John Murray of Rutland and Abijah Willard of Lancaster,
all in the County of Worcester, who took Williams' place in the trans
action and were recognized by the provincial government as the pur
chasers and original proprietors of township No. 9. They did not at
this time receive any instrument conveying to them an absolute title
in fee; but they took it subject to certain conditions which they were
to fulfill as conditions precedent, and which will fully appear further
on, called conditions of settlement. Their title was not confirmed to
them until the year M66.
Names oe Settlers beeore June 2, 1762.
Prior to the sale of this township, nineteen settlers, with their fami
lies, other than settlers within the grants mentioned in the preceding

24 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
chapter, had taken possession of tracts of land within the limits of
the proprietors' purchase and had settled upon them. These persons
were David Bolton, James Bolton, James Clark, Abraham Hemming,
Zebulon Fuller, David Gilmore, John Gilmore, Thomas Kennedy,
William Kennedy, Moses Hale, William Mann, Ebenezer Meacham,
William Miller, Moses Moss, Israel Rose, David Scott, Ebenezer Web
ber, John Webber and Jonathan Hart Webber. These persons had
settled near the west and the middle branches of Westfield river. The
settlers on Ingersoll grant were in the immediate vicinity of the east
branch.
Leasing the Lands by Provincial Government.
In 1760 the General Court of the province empowered 'Benjamin
Pratt, John Worthington and Joseph Hawley to look up cases of vio
lation of the laws against purchasing lands of the Indians; and they
were directed to " enter, in the name of the province, into any and
all unappropriated lands of the province west of the Connecticut river,
and to execute leases of any land or lands, as they might judge proper,
to any person or persons." It does not appear how many of these set
tlers upon the unappropriated land of No. 9 heldunder these leases,
or how many were there unlawfully.
Hampshire County.
Hampshire county at first comprised all the territory of the province
of Massachusetts bay lying west of Worcester county. Berkshire
county was established April 21st, 1761, at the same time the township
which had been known by the name of Pontoosic was incorporated and
named Pittsfield. Blandford, at first called Glasgow, was incorpo
rated in 1741, and New Hingham was incorporated and named
Chesterfield in 1762. Settlements and towns had sprung up all
around township No. 9 at the time of its sale, but it was still substan
tially a wilderness, and settlers were attracted because it promised
them homes at little cost aside from their own labor. Most of them
were in low circumstances and brought little with them except great
health and bodily endurance, willing hands and indomitable energy.
Let us consider for a moment to what they came and what they had to
contend with in this rough, wild and wonderfully picturesque region.
Topography of No. 9.
It is in the midst of the Green Mountain range. The formation is
mostly mica schist, the strata standing vertical and the strike so nearly

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 25
north and south as to serve some of the purposes of the compass.
The highlands range from 1,000 feet to 1,700 feet above sea level, and
present great diversity of surface, very little of it being level. This
diversity of surface is the result of erosion. The great number of
streams, mostly brooks, which find their way into the branches of
Westfield river, have furrowed out valleys wonderfully diversified in
depth and width. Up these valleys the settlers found it possible to
build roads of convenient grade. Here and there in these highlands
are hollows or basins, scooped out of the rocky foundations, perhaps
by glaciers in remote ages, which retain the waters that come from
melted snow, the rains, and often from springs, thus forming wet,
swampy places, and occasionally quite large ponds. From these small
brooks flow and make their way to larger streams, following the val
leys that they themselves have made. Some of the old swamps have
become so completely filled with the accumulations of vegetable
mould and the material washed from the surrounding surface of the
laud, that they offer to the farmer spots of rare fertility. The soil in
this region is for the most part composed of drift, with which at the
surface is mingled vegetable mould, and in it are myriads of bowlders
varying in size from large erratic blocks of granite to beds of fine
gravel. The settlers found this land, from the fertile lowlands to the
cliffs of naked rock, well wooded with a thick growth of trees consist
ing of pine, hemlock, birch, poplar, maple, beech, chestnut, butter
nut, walnut, basswood, buttonball, ash, wild cherry, oak, elm and
other New England forest trees; so that trees had to be felled and the
land cleared preparatory to tillage and building.
Westfield River and its Branches.
The three branches of Westfield river, called east, west and middle
branches, flow through the territory which was comprised within the
original bounds of the township No., 9. The east branch extends
through the entire width from north to south ; the middle branch
extends from a point about two miles east of the original northwest
corner, in a southeasterly direction, crossing the township diagonally
and empties into the east or main branch about two miles north of
the original Blandford line; the west branch extends from a point
about two miles south of the original northwest oorner and flows at
first in a southeasterly and then in an easterly course for eight or
nine miles to a point near the original east line of Blandford, where it

26 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
joins the east branch. From this point the main river is called
Westfield river until it reaches the meadow lands of West Springfield
and there it is called Agawam river. The writer of the* sketch of
Chester, in a book called the " History of the Connecticut Valley,"
persists in calling it "Agawam River" through its entire length, and
in a note he makes the following comment: "This stream and its.
branches are often called the Westfield river, but there would be the
same propriety in calling it Russell or Chester river, or in calling
the Connecticut Springfield river. It should ever retain its Indian
name." If "Agawam" were in fact its Indian name, there would be
some force and some justice in this criticism, but such is not the fact.
It is said by good authority that the word "Agawam" is an Indian
word meaning "lowland, marsh or meadow, also a place below or
down stream with reference to some place above or upstream." For
some distance, before this stream enters Connecticut river it flows
through low meadows and there it is called Agawam river. Perhaps
the Indians called it the agawam part of the river.
Westfield river and its branches are rapid streams, and during heavy
rains they often are so swollen as to inundate some of the meadows
through which they flow. Formerly when the soil of its watershed was
kept moist by the shade of the forests, the earth readily absorbed water
that came from melting snow and fulling rain and retained it to flow
off gradually by percolating through the soil, but now the water which
falls in sbowers'runs off rapidly from the dry, parched soil and naked
rocks, and soon is lost in the streams and flows off, giving but little
benefit to the soil except during long rains, after which the surface
becomes soon dried, as also the soil below the surface. That this has
an unfavorable effect upon the fertility and productiveness of this
region is obvious to every observing and thoughtful person.
For many years after the first settlement of the town, these streams
could be crossed at fordways only, and the fordways were impassable
during high water, to the serious inconvenience and often to the
detriment of the inhabitants.
Along the three branches of Westfield river are frequent level spots
of alluvial land called "interval lands," and many of them are in ter
races; sometimes there are terraces of a higher level composed of
gravel and sand which may have been made during the Champlain
period. These alluvial lands and terraces are much sought for by the
farmers, many preferring them to the highlands. When faithfully
cultivated they yield remunerative crops.

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 27
What the Early Settlers had to Contend with.
The early settlers were poor as to money and as to goods; but they
were rich in spirit and in fortitude. They were accustomed to hard
fare and to subsisting upon the bare necessities of life, and were not
afraid of the hardships of frontier life. They had no sawmills, no
gristmills, no roads. Their first necessity was to clear the land and to
build shelter for themselves and for their cattle. The log cabin, with
out glass windows and with the rudest of doors, was their shelter
and home. To provide for themselves while clearing and prepar-
. ing land enough to raise the necessary crops for the sustenance of
their cattle and of themselves, was a necessity not to be put aside.
The abundance of game in the forest, fish in the streams, of berries
and of nuts helped to make up their daily bill of fare. But they had
chosen this region for their abiding place and they had to make the best
of it, hoping to better their condition in a short time. If hardships
and the necessary privations incident to frontier life was their lot on
the one hand, it was not without compensation on the other. It was
a wjld and beautiful country and reasonably fertile. To persons who
had been accustomed from childhood, as many of them had, to the
highlands of Scotland, these wild hills and deep glens, with a dark
forest and ragged cliffs, were sufficiently delightful reminders of their
native land to give them a reasonable degree of contentment. That
Blandford was- settled by Scotch people is attested by the name they
gave it — New Glasgow — and by the Scotch names borne by so many of
the people. Several of the early settlers of township No. 9 came from
Blandford. General Condition of the Province in 1762.
About the close of the year 1762, the Province of Massachusetts
Bay was in a prosperous condition. Its population was 250,000 whites
and 5,000 blacks. There were, including the Province of Maine,
thirteen counties and about 240 towns. The commerce of the coun
try employed 600 vessels, owned chiefly in Boston and Salem, which
were engaged in commerce with all parts of the civilized world, and
many were engaged in the fisheries. There was an encouraging growth
of domestic manufactures. The spinning wheel and loom were
found in nearly every house; and fabrics, both woolen and linen,
woven by the wives and daughters of Massachusetts farmers, furnished
comfortable clothing independent of foreign supplies. Wealth was

28 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
rapidly increasing in the colony, education was advancing, publishing
houses were engaged in diffusing the productions of both native and
foreign authors, some newspapers were published, and the colonists
were a reading people. It is a noteworthy fact that many copies of
Blackstone's Commentaries were sold in the colony, and the work was
extensively read by persons outside of the legal profession. Speeches
of popular orators and addresses of the General Court were sent into
every town; and the writings of Chauncy, of Mayhew and of Edwards
were read in nearly every house. There were 530 churches in New
England and the worshippers were numerous. Matters of public con
cern were freely discussed from the pulpit, and there was a lively
interest among the people in all matters pertaining to the public weal.
One hundred and forty-two years had passed since the landing of the
Pilgrims. Springfield had been settled 126 years, and the^e had
grown up in the Conneticut valley many thrifty towns and settlements.
First Division of Lots Surveyed.
The propietors of township No. 9 employed Eldad Taylor and
Charles Baker, two surveyors residing in Westfield, to survey and lay
out the first division of lots in the township. They did this work in
October and November, 1762, and they surveyed and laid out about
120 lots, most of them containing 108 acres each, and furnished a plat
of the territory so surveyed to the proprietors. These lots were laid
out in tiers extending N. 10° W. froni Blandford line to the north
line of township No. 9. This division of lots comprised nearly all the
land lying between the west and middle branches of Westfield river.
In gathering historical facts few things are more satisfactory than
original documents and records made and kept at the time of the
events to which they relate. The records of the doings of the origi
nal proprietors, kept by their own clerk, begin with the following
statement: Beginning of the Proprietors' Records.
"No. 9. A township lying west of Southampton containing about 24,700
acres exclusive of grants, and of 250 acres now in possession of John Bolton,
and bounded north on New Hingham and to run from the southwest
corner of said New Hingham to the northeast corner of No. 4; then on the
east line of No. 4 to the southeast corner of said No. 4; and from thence the
same course to Blandford line; then to bound south on Blandford and West-
field; and eist on Southampton, to William Williams for 1,500 pounds, who

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 29
gave it up to John Chandler, John Murray, Abijah Willard, and Timothy
Paine from whom have received twenty pounds and their bond for 1480
pounds." " The above- written is extracted from a report of a committee of the General
Court, accepted by the same, and consented to by the governor.
Mr. Jno. Cotton, D. Secty.
Copy examined per Timo. Paine, Prop. Clerk."
Proprietors' First Meeting.
The first meeting of the original proprietors was held pursuant to a
warrant issued by Josiah D wight, a justice of the peace, in response
to the following request:
"To Josiah D wight, E&qr. one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the
county of Hampshire. The subscriber.-*, proprietors of a township of land sold
by the province to us in June last called No. 9, lying adjoining to Blandford,
Westfield, Southampton, etc., in the county of Hampshire, desire you would
issue your warrant for the calling a meeting of said proprietors to be held on
the 5th day of January next at 10 o"clock forenoon at the house of Mr. Wil
liam Lyman, Innholder, in Northampton in said county, to act on the
following articles, viz:
• 1. To choose a moderator, proprietors' clerk, & treasurer, & to raise money
for defraying the charges of lotting out said township & for the settlers
to draw their lots & agree upon the method for calling proprietors' meetings
for the future.
Worcester, November 18th, 1702. Abijah Willard, ) For themselves
_ _ >• and the
lIMO. PAINE, J other proprietors."
A warrant was issued as follows:
"Hampshire ss. To Timothy Paine, Esq., one of the above proprietors.
[l. s.] Agreebly to the. above request you are hereby r> quired to notify the
proprietors of the above-said township that they meet & assemble at the
time & place above mentioned to act on the foregoing articles. Notice of
which meeting is to be given by advertising the same in the several Boston
weekly newspapers forty days at least before said meeting agreeably to law.
Hereof fail not & make leturn of this warrant with your doings thereon to
said proprietors at said meeting. Given under my band & seal this 20th
day of November A. D. 1762, & third year of his majesty's reign.
Josiah Dwight, Just. Pacis."
The record of the meeting is as follows:
"At a meetiog of the proprietors of a township of land sold by the
Province in June last to John Chandler, John Murray, Abijah Willard, &
Timo. Paine, Esqrs. called No. 9., alias Murray Field lying adjoining to
Blandford, Westfield, Southampton, &c, by warraut from the worshipful

30

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.

Josiah D wight, Esq. at Northampton in the county of Hampshire at the
house of Capt. William Lyman on Wednesday the 5th day of January 1763,
after due warning.
Voted. That John Chandler be moderator.
Voted. That Timo. Paine be proprietors' clerk.
Voted. That John Murray be proprietors' treasurer.
Voted. That the settlers in said township be admitted upon the conditions
following, viz:
That each one within the space of three years commencing from the first of
June last build a dwelling house on their lot of the following dimensions,
viz: Twenty-four feet long, eighteen feet wide, & seven feet stud, & have
seven acres of land well cleared & fenced & brought to English grass or
plowed, & actually settle with family on the same & continue such
family thereon for the space of six years, & shall also within three years
from this time actually settle a Prostestant minister of the Gospel there &
pay one-sixth part of the charge thereof, & that each settler have 100 acres of
land as an incouragement, & that they give bond to the treasurer of said
proprietors in the sum of fifty pounds conditioned to perform said conditions,
& that upon their complying & performing said conditions the said lots be
confirmed to them, their heirs, & assigns forever.
Voted. That the following persons be admitted settlers upon the following
hundred acre lots & conditions aforesaid, viz. :

The Lots Drawn January 5, 1763.
Voted. That the following persons be admitted settlers upon the
following hundred acre lots & conditions aforesaid, viz:

David Bolton,
Asa Noble,
Thos. Noble, Jr.,
John Gilmore,
John Woods,
Alexander Gordon,
John Hammon,
John Lyman,
John Scott, Jr. ,
John Smith,
Benja. Matthews,
John Laccore,
John Mclntire,
David Scott,
Ebenezer Webber,
Elias Lyman,
Levi Woods,

No. 2 Thomas Kenned/,
4 Robert Blair,
6 James Clark,
8 Absalom Blair,
11 Israel Rose,
13 James Fairman,
15 Abner Smith,
17 David Gilmore,
19 William English,
21 Nathan Mann,
23 John Boyes,
25 Andrew English,
27 William Mann,
32 Jonathan Webber,
33 John Brown,
35 Thomas Morcton,
38 Samuel Elder,

No.

68 707172
758082
84 86 87
90929498
100102104

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 31

Gideon Mathews,

No.

41

William Campbell, Jr.,

No. 106

William. Kennedy,

u

45

William Moore,

" 108

Glass Cochran,

u

49

Thomas Mclntire,

" 110

John Crooks,

IC

51

Paul Kingston,

" 114

Abraham Flemming,

((.

53

John Wood of Lancaster,

" 43

James Fairman,

( .

54

Nathan Rose,

" 112

David Flemming,

It

56

Jesse Johnson,

" 116

John Webber,

((

64

James Black,

" 37'

John Crawford,

((

66

The remainder of the record of this meeting is unimportant for the
purposes of this history. Only thirteen of the nineteen settlers found
on this territory by the proprietors when they took possession, were
permitted to draw lots; of these only seven were permitted to hold one
hundred acres, where they had begun their improvements; six were
permitted only to draw lots with the other settlers, their wishes to
retain the lands where they had begun improvement being disregarded
by the proprietors; the remaining six of the nineteen settlers, James
Bolton, Zebulon Fuller, Moses Hale, Ebenezer Meacham, William
Miller, and Moses Moss were neither permitted to keep the lands
upon which they had settled nor to draw lots with the others.
Fuller, Meacham, and Miller remained and purchased farms ; the
other three went elsewhere.
The Policy of the Proprietors in scattering the Settlers
over different parts of the town.
It appears to have been the policy of the proprietors to so locate the
settlers as to secure the settlement and cultivation of lots in all parts
of the First Division. The wishes and convenience of the settlers were
not consulted. Settlements had been begun within the territory of
Ingersoll grant, which the proprietors thought a more desirable loca
tion than the territory sold to them. It was more accessible to West-
field, as well as to other more settled places in this part of the province.
Much of the land lay near the river, was comparatively level and easily
cultivated. Roads could more easily be built. The advantages of that
part of the township which lies along West Branch, in the vicinity of
what was afterwards known as Chester Factories, were offset by its
remoteness from such roads as had then been established leading to
the more settled towns. The proprietors owned but little available
lands in the vicinity of Ingersoll grant. To make a successful settle
ment of their lands they were obliged to seek that part of the
township which constituted the highlands, and which comprised

32 A, HISTOR Y OF M URRA YFIELD.
a strip of territory about three or four miles wide lying immediately
west of the Middle Branch and extending from the south- to the
north lines of the township. While this served the purposes of the
proprietors, it was in many ways unfortunate for the settlers. They
were obliged to go to and from their homes as best they could, the
'distance from one point of settlement to another being not only bur
densome but the way also difficult. The proprietors neither daid out
nor built any roads; they only made an allowance for roads by adding
two acres and eighty rods to their one hundred acre lots. When the
settlers came to the building of roads they found it impracticable to
locate them where there would be the least grade or the shortest dis
tance. Farm buildings had already been built and homes established
where the proprietors had dictated. The people were1 too poor to
abandon their homes and build anew, and so the roads must be laid
to accommodate the location of their houses. The maintenance of
tnese roads, as well as the original locations of them, has ever been a
burden upon the town, entailing the original disadvantages upon suc
ceeding generations; so that the citizens of what is known as Chester
Hill still find themselves at great disadvantage in this regard. Their
most pressing need is good roads of easy grade, and such roads are
possible even in this hilly town. It is noticeable that the farms earli
est abandoned are those most difficult of access. There are many
good farms within the limits of the First Division of lots in township
No. 9. Men have prospered and, despite many disadvantages, still do
prosper upon these farms. The land is as strong in fertility as any in
Massachusetts — stronger even than the alluvial lands bordering the
Connecticut river. Nearly all the valuable crops grown in Massachu
setts can be successfully cultivated here. All the ordinary fruits of
New England, even peaches and grapes, are grown abundantly wher- •
ever the attempt is skillfully made. The atmosphere upon the high
lands is as pure and healthful as man breathes in any part of the
world. Above the fogs, the dampness, the cutting frosts, and the
sweltering heat of the lowlands bordering the rivers, the summers
are delightful, and the winters, although possibly more subject to
strong winds than among the lowlands, are more even and are far less
unwholesome than in the valleys, exposed as they are to sharp frosts
and the chills attending the frequent thaws and the dampness, which
are inseparable from the lowlands. Why should not these highlands
be more populous? What explanation is more forcible than the
existence of so many breakneck roads, and the lack of roads of easy
grade — the building of which is, no doubt, practicable?

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 33
Where Some of the Settlers Came From.
It is difficult and perhaps practically impossible at this time to as
certain where all these settlers and purchasers of lots in township No.
9 came from. Most of them were adventurers seeking cheap lands,
and most of them were poor. The Boltons came to this township
from Blandford, and so did John Crooks, John Scott, Jr., and Glass
Cochran. Andrew and William English, and probably the Gilmores,
came from Pelham. Elias and John Lyman lived in Northampton
and never settled in township No. 9. Elias Lyman gave his lot to his
two sons, Stephen and Timothy, who, packing their worldly effects
into a chest and carrying it between them, one hand grasping a handle of
the chest and the other an axe, made their way on foot to the high
lands of No. 9. Here they made their homes and became useful and
honored citizens. The farms which their industry changed from a
forest to fertile fields are now owned by their descendents, whose lives
have reflected credit to the name they bear. Stephen Lyman took for
his wife Anna Blair of Weston. Were Absalom and Robert Blair her
relatives, and did they come from Weston? Timothy Lyman married
Dorothy Kinney. John Boyes, John Woods, and probably James.
Black and Levi Woods came from Rutland, the town in which John
Murray lived. John Wood came from Lancaster where Abijah Willard
lived. Jesse Johnson and John Hannum came from Southampton.
Abner and John Smith came from Northampton. Tradition says that
John was a man of extraordinary physical strength and endurance, and
that when he came tothe highlands of No. 9 he came all the way on foot,
carrying on his back a five-pail iron kettle. His first wife, Abigail,
died August 12th, 1767, and the headstone at her grave in the' ceme
tery on Chester Hill is the oldest in town. He married for his second
wife Abiline Cors, November 10th, 1767. Gideon Matthews was a
resident of Torringtou, Conn., and the son of Benjamin Matthews of
that place, who afterwards moved to Westfield, but never resided in
township No. 9, although he drew a lot in the first division; but
Gideon settled in No. 9.. Israel Rose came from Granville and settled
near the Middle Branch of Westfield river as early as 1760. His
wife was the daughter of Benjamin Matthews. It is probable that
Nathan Rose was his brother. The Nobles were Westfield men, but
never became residents of No. 9, nor did they fulfill the conditions
upon which they drew their lots. Ebenezer Meacham came from
Enfield, Conn. It does not appear where the Webbers came from.
Jonathan Hart Webber was a single man, and in 1771 he took for his*

34 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
wife Keziah Cooley of Springfield. Timothy Smith came from Wall-
ingford, Conn., and on the 5th of October, 1763, he received from the
proprietors a deed of 500 acres of land located between the East and
Middle Branches of Westfield river, abutting mostly upon the Middle
Branch and included the southerly part of Goss Hill. The price was
£!225, for which he gave his bond to the proprietors and secured it by
& mortgage upon his 500 acres.
William Miller, who was excluded by the proprietors at the drawing
of lots in January, 1763, purchased 100 acres of land toward the north
part of the township, at the confluence of the east branch and a brook
for many years called Miller's brook, but now called Little river.
The deed was dated November 3d, 1763. This land was interval land
lor the most part, is still owned by his descendents, and is considered
a, valuable farm at this time. The price was £35.
John Boyes, Levi Woods, John Woods of Rutland, John Wood of
Lancaster, John Crooks and Glass Cochran gave up or otherwise dis
posed of their lots. They did not become residents of the new town
ship. Malcom Henry came from Oakham early in 1763, and on the
25th of April, 1764, took from John Woods of Rutland a deed of his
lot No. 11, and settled upon it and built a house and set up the first
inn in that part of the township. It was located southeasterly from
the meeting-house, a short distance southerly from the road leading
to Littleville. The old cellar-place and the very deep well were filled
.up recently by the present owner of the land.
Settlers Upon Ingersoll Grant.
Samuel Webb, son of David Ingersoll, grantee, came to township
No. 9 and settled on land that he inherited from his father. Nath
aniel Weller and Ebenezer King, both Westfield men, came and settled
near East Branch. But these people had nothing to do with the
original proprietors in the matter of their holdings. February 2d,
¦1763, Benjamin Matthews, then of Westfield, sold to Amaziah
Dickinson of Amherst, the north end of the tracts which he bought
of Weller, and described it as located in a place called "Westfield River
Branches, otherwise called Murray Field, otherwise called number
Nine," but Dickinson did not become a resident of this township.
John Bolton resided just over the line in Blandford on the land
that was conveyed to him by John Foye, one of the original
proprietors of Blandford. The land which Benjamin Matthews
^conveyed to his son Gideon, having been re-conveyed- to him, he

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 35
sold to John Mosely of Westfield, for sixty pounds, by. deed dated
February 6th, 1764.'
A deed, remarkable for its indefiniteness, was given by Samuel
Webbs, then of Scituate, to Job Clapp of the same place, April 12,
1763, in consideration of twenty-one pounds. The description runs
as follows:
' ' Five hundred acres of land lying and being in the County of Hampshire,
part of a large tract of land which I own in partnership with my brother
Thomas Webbs as tenants in common & undivided, the said 500 acres to be
as good for quality as the whole tract is one acre with another. The whole
of said tract of land is particularly bounded & described in a deed of bargain
& sale which David Ingersoll gave to my father, Thomas Webb, bearing
date April 7th, 1738."
The first Houses Built by the Settlers.
None of the first houses built by the settlers now remain. There
were people living a few years since who saw some of these old houses
and remembered how they were constructed. Many of the old cellar-
places remain and mark the spot where the houses stood. The cellar
walls and the foundations of the houses were made of rough stones
and without mortar. Around many of the old cellar-places lilacs and
rosebushes now grow and blossom; these are fragrant and beautiful
mementos that were planted by female hands as expressions of their
love for the beautiful, and were emblematic of the refinement and
sweet influence of mothers and sisters whose loving and tender sym
pathy shed a holy fragrance in those old homes. These old houses
were rudely constructed. A huge stone chimney was built up through
the center of the house with a spacious fireplace in each of the prin
cipal rooms, and in cold weather they were liberally supplied with fuel,
which was cheap and close at hand; and even then often it was only with
the aid of screens and high-backed settles that the inmates of these
houses could keep themselves comfortable while hovering round the
blazing fire. Few of these houses could boast of glass windows. The
doors were large and heavy and fastened with great wooden latches,
which were lifted from the outside by pulling a string called the latch
string, passing through a small hole in the door just above the latch.
At night the door was made secure by drawing in the latchstring. To
say, "You will find the latchstring out," was an invitation to come
and an assurance of welcome.

36 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
Conditions of the Early Settlers as to Household
Conveniences.
In these days of gaslight and of electricity, tallow candles are re
garded with contempt, and one would commiserate the misfortune of
those who are compelled to use them; but in the days of these early
settlers they were a luxury, almost the acme of household convenience.
A lighted pine knot served them for a torch to go about at night.
But the bright fires in their ample fireplaces lighted up their apart
ments more cheerfully than are the rural homes of to-day. The pres
ervation of the household fire was a matter 'of great concern. To
lose it involved a journey to the nearest neighbor to borrow live
coals. The nearest neighbor was often at quite a distance — half a
mile or more. The tinder box -was not always available. It is said
of one of the early settlers that he brought the household fire with
him, when he came with his family, carefully and successfully pre
serving it during a journey occupying several days, and it was pre
served, without once going out, for many years. Yet these people
were neither fire worshipers nor ancestor worshipers.
Whatever furniture and other articles for domestic uses were at
their command, must have been rude enough. But few of these
articles, if any, have been preserved. Of clocks perhaps there were
none; at any rate, they were in but few houses. People unused to
timepieces learn to judge quite accurately of the hour of day by the
experience of long observation, although unable to clearly explain how
they do it. The noon hour was determined by a noon-mark cut upon
the doorsill or upon the window sill, -serving in fair weather like a
dial to inform the housewife when to sound the dinner signal. The
poverty of these people in 1763, in the matter of household conven
iences, may be estimated from their condition in this regard a quarter
of a century later. The late John J. Cook of Huntington, in relating
to me the experience of his father, Pearly Cook, who came to this
township about twenty-five years later than the time we are consider
ing, told me that his father came alone, a young, unmarried man,
and was obliged to build a rude house at first and live like any front
iersman. Neither pails nor pans were to be bad; and so he cut up-
the butt of a tree into short blocks which he converted into troughs,
of which one served for a milk pail and others for milk pans.
In the more thickly settled part at the east branch of AVestfield
river, two or three miles distant from his house, he succeeded in pro
curing a large iron spoon which served him for many purposes; with

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.

37

it he skimmed his "pans" of milk and stirred the cream and made it
into butter, the iron spoon serving for a churn dasher and for a pad
dle to work the butter with, and for many other uses. His other
appliances for housekeeping were equally rude. But he was as well
off as many of his neighbors.
Minister Lot and the first Meeting-house.
Of the lots which were laid out for the first division, No. 18, being
centrally located, of good elevation, and overlooking a good deal of
the surrounding country, and otherwise well adapted to the purpose,
was laid out as the " Minister Lot.*" It contained 100 arcres of land be
sides the usual allowance for roads, and a plat of "eight acres for a
meeting-house place, training field and burying place" was laid out on
the south side toward its westerly end.'

Within the limits of these eight acres is the present meeting-house,
schoolhouse, and the cemetery. The first meeting-house was erected,
but not completed, in the year 1767, and stood a few rods south of
the present one. The foundation, or underpinning, remained to mark
the spot and show its size upon the ground until a few years since,
when nearly all the underpinning was removed and the stones used
for other purposes, leaving merely a ditch to show where the founda
tion was upon which stood the first meeting-house in the town of
Murrayfield. It was forty-five feet long by forty wide and twenty-
foot posts. The frame was set up and boarded and shingled, the
lower floor laid and the doors made by the original proprietors, Chan
dler, Murray, and Paine being the proprietors' committee to attend to
this duty, which was one of the conditions of their purchase. The
house was placed north and south, the front door opening to the

38 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
north, and there were two smaller doors, one on the east and the other
on the west side. Each of the proprietors of the township reserved
a pew spo*t on the lower floor. John Murray's was seven feet long
by six feet wide and was located at the right of the front door. Tim
othy Paine's was of the same dimensions and was located at the left
of the front door. John Chandler's was eight feet long by six feet
wide and was located at the right of the east door. Abijah Willard's
was also eight feet long by six feet wide and was located at the left of
the west door. The pew spot of James Otis, who had been admitted one
of the proprietors of the township, was at the right of the west door
and was six feet square. Several years intervened before this meet
ing-house was completed. At first the town was not able to finish it,
so the work was done little at a time, and the windows were put in
one at a time as the town could afford; so several years passed before
they were all in. The windows were boarded up during the winter.
, In this building the town meetings were held. The records of
town meetings indicate that sometimes the meeting-house was not suf
ficiently comfortable for even a town meeting, for the meeting would
be opened and a moderator chosen; then immediately it adjourned to
a private house and there finished the business of the meeting. This
was entirely practicable, for the qualification for voting cut off all
whose valuation fell below £20. These adjournments never occurred
except in the winter. The religious meetings also were held sometimes
at private houses, for there were no means of heating the church.
Preaching on the Sabbath was also held at the public inn.
A new generation of men has grown up and passed middle life since
the time when all the enrolled militiamen were required to turn out
once or twice a year, with the arms and equipments required by law,
for drill and inspection. In recent times so many grew to regard this
as an unnecessary burden that the law was modified to accommodate
this aversion to a duty which our ancestors regarded as absolutely
necessary to safety and good government. The disposition to shirk
public duties which are attended with personal inconvenience is a sin
whose fruits will sooner or later be visited upon our children. At
one time two military companies were maintained contemporaneously
within the present limits of Chester. The regard for military honors
which prevailed in the olden time is well attested by the frequent elec
tion to offices of trust and honor, in both church and state, of men who
rejoiced in the right to prefix to their names the titles colonel, cap
tain, lieutenant, ensign, and sergeant. Training days were a break in
the monotony of rural life, such as cattle-show days are to the modern

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 39-
rural population. This little plat of eight acres was the scene of many
stirring events in the early history of the town. To this spot all the town
folks came to do and to receive those things which men do and seek
for the preservation of society, for the elevation and refinement of
social life, and for consolation in those afflictions which are common
to all. The church, the echoolhouse, the training field, the cemetery;.
what a wealth of memory centers here! Upon the headstones you
may read the names of men and women who were active in the events
which transpired within these eight acres in years long since passed,.
and who were loved and honored in their day and generation.
The Township named Murrayfield.
The proprietors named this township Murrayfield. They were
much disturbed and disappointed by reason of the former grants out
of this territory. Their discontent found expression in their memo
rial to the General Court of the province, in December, 1763, repre
senting the facts of their purchase for £1,500; that they had laid out-
part of the township into lots and expended large sums of money to-
bring forward the settlement. They set forth the fact of their dis
appointment at finding the township so uneven and mountainous, and
described it as "divided into three parts by three very rapid, rocky
rivers; the banks of which rivers are so steep and rocky that it is.
almost impossible to pass from one side of said rivers to the other."
Proprietors' Complaint to the General Court.
They complained that about 7,500 acres of the best land had been
taken up in former grants and by a pond covering about 500 acres;
also, that they found nineteen settlements begun upon the best of the
land, and that they had not the power to turn them off, and that if they
had the power it would be attended with great trouble and expense, and
so they were obliged to give them 100 acres of land each where they
had begun to settle; that the only place they could find to lay out the
town plat was upon a very high mountain, and that it would always
be extremely difficult to get to it, and that they must necessarily ex-'
pend great sums of money in making roads over mountains and in
building expensive bridges over the three rapid rivers. Wherefore they
prayed that a part of the sum paid by them for the township be re
funded, or else that they be recompensed by the grant of a piece of
province land near to or adjoining the township, either in Hampshire
or Berkshire counties, "to enable them to make roads and bridges in
said township."

40

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.

The Proprietors obtain an Additional Grant of Land.
On the 3d of February, 1764, the General Court "ordered that
1,200 acres of the unappropriated lands of the province be granted to
the petitioners, and that they present a plan thereof to this court
within twelve months from this time for their confirmation, which is
in full consideration for the complaint made in the petition." April
26th, 1764, the proprietors presented to the General Court the plan
of a tract of land containing 1,200 acres, located in Hampshire county.
It was bounded east by No. 4 of the Narragansett grants; north by
Huntstown, afterwards incorporated under the name of Ashfield; and
west and south by province land. This tract of 1,200 acres is within
the present bounds of Cummington. In the "History of the Connec
ticut Valley," published in 1879, it is erroneously stated that this tract
was west of Murrayfield, township No. 4, that was afterwards incor
porated under the name of Becket, being mistaken for No. 4 of the
Narragansett grants, which were made to the descendents of those who
were in the Narragansett fight with the Indians.
£  *n
~320 Rods

w

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 41
The original proprietors never built any public ways within the
limits of Murrayfield, nor any bridge over either of the " three very
rapid, rocky rivers" mentioned in their petition. Their conduct in
the matter of building roads and bridges can best be told in the lan
guage of a memorial to the General Court by the people of Murrayfield
and Norwich in January, 1779.
Conduct of the Proprietors in the Matter of Bridges.
After representing the absolute necessity for a bridge over East
Branch at the place where Norwich bridge was- afterwards built, the
memorial sets forth "That in the year 1764 there was granted by
the Honorable General Court of this state unto Timothy Paine, Esq.,
and others, the proprietors of Murrayfield, 1,200 acres of land adjoin
ing to No. 5, for the extraordinary cost they, the said proprietors of
Murrayfield, said they had been at in building bridges across said
river and its branches, and in making roads in Murrayfield, as was
represented by them in a petition to the General Court which is to be
seen on record in the Secretary's office, which cost they, the said pro
prietors, were never at, neither did they ever build a bridge, nor were
they at any cost in building one, or in making roads, either directly
or indirectly; as there were no bridges ever built across said river or
its branches in Norwich or Murrayfield, and as said petitioners did,
soon after they had got the town incorporated, raise the price of their
lands to such an extravagant price that it hindered people from buying
in said town, and as a number of the proprietors of said Murrayfield
have for a number of years past gone off to the enemy, so that people
who would have been glad to have purchased their farms in town
could not buy because said proprietors could not be found, which has
been a great hindrance to the town's settling; and the people that
came first into town were many of them low and poor in the world,
and always have had a great many roads and of great length to make
and maintain in a new and rough country, which in a great measure
was occasioned by the proprietors fixing their settling lots in every
part of the town, which necessarily made more- roads in the town to
be made and kept in repair, which has kept the people low and
behindhand. " Therefore we pray your Honors that some method may be devised
that a bridge may be built across said river and its branches either by
said grant of land which the proprietors got granted to them for
services they never did, or out of their estates, or any other way your
honors in your wisdom shall see most fit."

42 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
Notice of this petition was ordered to be given to Timothy Paine,
who appears to have remained loyal to his country. Chandler, Murray
and Willard left the country as tories, and were of those who were by
law forbidden to return.
In support of the statements made in their memorial, the petitioners
obtained and laid before the General Court the affidavits of Stephen
Lyman, Gideon Matthews, James Clark, John Smith and William
Miller, who were among the first settlers of Murrayfield, who in said
affidavit say "that in the year of our Lord 1762 the proprietors of No.
9, known by the name of Murrayfield, proposed to admit sixty settlers
to draw for lots in said township of one hundred acres each, including
those that had begun on said lands before the purchase. The number
of those on the land before the proprietors' purchase were nineteen
persons, viz.: Zebulon Fuller, James Clark, John Webber, Thomas
Kennedy, William Mann, David Bolton, John Gilmore, Israel Rose,
Moses Moss, Ebenezer Meacham, William Miller, David Scott, Ebe
nezer Webber, Jonathan Hart Webber, William Kennedy, Abraham
Flemming, Moses Hale, James Bolton, David Gilmore. Seven of the
above men were allowed to hold 100 acres where they had before begun
to labor, on the conditions of a bond as the other settlers were under.
Six of the nineteen were allowed only to draw lots with the other
settlers promiscuously. The other six were not allowed by said proprie
tors the privilege of drawing lots with the other settlers, nor of hold
ing their lands by their being on before their purchase." After recit
ing the conditions of the bond, the affidavit proceeds: "The settlers
were under no obligations to do anything toward making roads or
bridges, neither have said proprietors laid out any cost to make roads
or bridges in said town since the settlement of the town. Only
thirty-one of the sixty settlers have had lots given them by said pro
prietors. There is no pond in said township, excepting the pond that
is mostly in Green & Walker's grant. According to the best of our
judgment the former grants are no better lands than the township is
taken together."
Signed by
" Stephen Lyman,
Gideon Matthews,
James Clark,
John Smith,
William Miller.
Hampshire ss. Feby 10th, 1779.

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 43
Then the within named Stephen Lyman, Gideon Matthews, James
Clark, John Smith & William Miller, after being carefully examined
& cautioned to testify the truth, made oath that the within deposi
tion according to the best of their knowledge contains the truth and
nothing but the truth. Before me,
Abner Morgan, Justice of the Peace."
Timothy Paine appeared and made an able effort to defend the pro
prietors. He claimed that the proprietors had done their part in the
matter of making roads and bridges, inasmuch as they had given, at
the time they assigned lots to the settlers, the necessary lands for high
ways. He denied that the proprietors, in their petition to the Gen
eral Court in 1764, said that they had built a single bridge across said
river, or ever made any roads in said town. He then reiterated the
substance of their petition, and annexed a copy of it taken from the
proprietors' book; and he claimed the extraordinary prosperity of the
town was due to the proprietors, and denied the charge that they
raised the prices of their land to an extravagant price after the incor
poration of the town. He averred "that all the proprietors except one
carried on settlements, and some of them had the greatest improve
ments of any in the place. And their improvements were taxed with
other inhabitants in said town and did their part in making bridges
and roads."
He claimed that the scattering of the settlers, as the petitioners
stated, was for the best interest of the settlers themselves. He also
claimed "that the 1,200 acres of land granted the proprietors lay
without the lands of any town, and at the time the grant was made
was looked upon as of little value, and, according as lands were sold
at that time, not worth more than sufficient to recompense the pro
prietors for the other complaints mentioned in their petition on which
said grant was founded, exclusive of making roads and bridges."
He represented lastly: "That by the late law for taxing non-resident
proprietors' lands, the proprietors of Murrayfield have been taxed in
a greater proportion than any other new town in the neighborhood of
Murrayfield; and the inhabitants of said town have had the benefit
of said taxes, and they can afford to build bridges and make roads."
The General Court decided in favor of the petitioners by a vote of
31 for to 19 against them; and passed an act, June 17th, 1779, that
the bridge be built at the expense of the original proprietors. The
bridge was built, and several lots belonging to Timothy Paine were
sold to pay the expense.

44 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
James Otis Admitted to be a Proprietor.
In June, 1763, James Otis of Barnstable was admitted to a share in
township No. 9, as one of its proprietors, by a deed, of which the
following is a copy:
" Whereas John Chandler of Worcester, John Murray of Rutland, and
Timothy Paine of Worcester, Esqrs. all of the county of Worcester, are inter
ested in three fourths of a tract of land lying in the county of Hampshire, con
taining about 24,700 acres exclusive of grants & of 250 acres in the posses
sion of John Bolton, said tract being bounded north on New Hingham & to
run from the south west corner of New Hingham to the north east corner of
No. 4; thencs on the line of No. 4, & from thence in the same course to Bland
ford line; thence to bound south on Blandford & Westfield, & east on South
ampton; which tract of land lies in common & undivided, except such part
thereof as hath been given away to encourage the settlement of said town.
And whereas the tract of land was sold in June last by a committee of the
General Court of the Province of Massachusetts Bay to the said John Chand
ler, John Murray, Timothy Paine, & Abijah Willard of Lancaster, Esqrs.
upon conditions of their fulfilling certain conditions of settlement as may
appear by the vote of the General Court. Now be it known that the said
John Chandler, John Murray, & Timothy Paine in consideration of the sum of
£225 lawful money paid unto us by James Otis of Barnstable in the county of
Barnstable, Esqr. the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, do by these
presents so far as in us lies give, grant, demise, & quit unto him, the said
James Otis, his heirs & assigns, all our right in & unto one fifth of three
fourths of said tract of land as it lies in common & undivided, excepting
what hath been given away to encourage settlers as aforesaid, and the public
lands in said township reserved for schools, first settled minister, & min
istry. The said James Otis performing his proportional part of all duties &
obligations of settlement laid on said township with the other proprietors.
To have & to hold the hereby quitted & released premises to him, the said
James Otis, upon the c9nditions aforesaid to be by him, his heirs, & assigns
held in as full a manner as the said John Chandler, John Murray, & Timothy
Paine might have held the same by virtue of the original purchase, in June
last. " In witness whereof the said John Chandler, John Murray, & Timothy Paine
have hereunto set their hands & seals this tenth day of June A. D. seventeen
hundred & sixty-three. John Chandler, & seal.
John Murray, & seal.
Timo. Paine, & seal."

CHAPTER THIRD.
The Old Road from East Branch to the Meeting-house
or Center.
A few rods southerly from the point where the highway turns off
up the valley of the Middle Branch of Westfield river, a road branches
from the main highway and extends westerly to Moose mountain,
so-called, and on up the hillside in the valley of a brook to Chester
Center. For the distance of about a quarter of a mile from the foot
of Moose mountain the road is very steep and more dreaded by team
sters than any other road in the neighborhood for some miles around.
At the top of this steep pitch and on the north side of the road is an old
cellar-place by the side of which but a few years since stood a Lombardy
poplar, a prominent landmark. This tree now lies upon the ground
in a state of decay, having fallen several years since; but it is replaced
by a younger one which sprouted up from the old root and bids fair to
rival its parent if spared by the woodsman's axe. On this spot stood
the dwelling house of the David Scott who, January 5th, 1763, drew the
lot upon which this house stood. Here is a nearly level tract of fertile
land containing several acres, sheltered on the north by a mountain
called " Little Moose," and sloping gently toward the east and afford
ing a chaming view in the direction of East Branch and beyond down
the glen toward Russell, through which Westfield river flows. Near
this cellar-place the old road can be traced toward the east until it
becomes lost at the edge of the bank of the "dngway," under which
lies the present highway. In the other direction the road can be
traced winding off in a northwesterly course for half a mile or more
through a valley which cuts the ridge of Little Moose, and here is
another old cellar-place close by the old roadway. On this spot
probably stood the house of Absalom Blair. The only thing in favor
of it as a location for a home is that it is sheltered both from winds and
from observation, and there is a spring near by. Following this ancient
road further on we pass through this valley and come to the northerly
side of Little Moose, which descends to Middle Branch, but the road
without descending winds westerly on the north side of the ridge of the
mountain for the distance of about three-quarters of a mile and passes

46 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
a sppt where another ancient house stood by the roadside and known
as the Riley place. It may have been and probably was the old home
of James Clark. Passing on by this spot for a quarter of a mile
further we come to another cellar-place on a ridge where a good view
of the surrounding country challenges the traveler to pause. On the
other side of the old road opposite the cellar-place are three ancient
elms in a row. The cellar-place is considerably larger than the other
ones we passed, which suggests that the house was an inn. There
are also two old wells near by. It is altogether probable that
here stood the house of Thomas Kennedy, and that he kept an
inn. It would seem that this road had been in existence for some
time before the township was sold in June, 1762, for Thomas Ken
nedy was one of the nineteen settlers whom the proprietors found
there, and James Clark was another. Their houses had been built
before the time of the sale of the township, no one knows how long.
Kennedy's house stood upon lot No. 68 of the first division. It is
probable that he was permitted to keep the land upon which he had
settled. At this spot a charming view opens to the eye. We are standing
near the brow of the glen of Middle Branch upon the southwesterly
side and looking toward the east. The foreground is a pasture and we
are looking upon out-cropping ledges, bowlders, grass, weeds, brakes,
bushes, and scattered trees. No landscape gardener has been here
attempting to improve the grade. There is no gently graduated
slope; but where the pasture ends abruptly at the distance of a quar
ter of a mile or less, the surface is considerably lower than at the place
where we are standing. At the northwest the pasture is lost at the
edge of a forest, over the top of which blue hilltops are seen in the
distance. Before us the pasture ends in a sharp outline which sug
gests a gulf beyond, and the mind is filled with interrogation points.
This outline is clear and distinct against the somewhat dim, hazy, and
bluish tint of the north side of the glen which is the south slope of
Goss Hill. As our field-glass is directed to Goss Hill we almost expect
that it will disclose a Rip Van Winkle form slumbering under the
southerly face of some ledge. In the sweet and delicious atmos
phere at this place one could sleep and dream that sorrow is but a
false creation, proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain. Goss Hill
stretches toward the north from the confluence of Middle and East
Branches, and also forms the west side of the glen of East Branch,
which is concealed from our view by the trees along its bank, save a
rift where the eye catches the sparkle of water rushing over the stony

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 47
bed at the foot of Goss Hill; and at the right of this the land rises
toward the summit of Norwich Hill. Beyond all these, and dimly
outlined, are still higher lands, the whole presenting one grand pan
orama receding with deepening shades until lost in the distant hori
zon. If we turn our gaze toward the west we will observe that the
surface of the land gradually ascends in a broad plain for the distance
of seventy-five to one hundred rods and ends abruptly at the summit
of a quite regular ridge, with apparently a gulf beyond, relieved by a
strip of the summit of the southerly side of the glen of West Branch
and the heights of Blandford beyond that, bluer than the hills on the
opposite side and giving a prettier effect. The mental interrogation
points are kept in check only by the fact that their gratification is at
the price of a somewhat laborious climb to the summit of the ridge.
The valley immediately beyond this ridge contains a small brook, and
through this valley lies the present road leading to Chester Center.
Second Meeting of the Proprietors.
The proprietors held their second meeting at the house of Thomas
Kennedy, September 29th, 1763. It is probable that their journey to
this spot was on horseback. At that season of year when the gor
geously colored foliage is at its best, their journey must have been de
lightful beyond the power of language to describe. At this meeting
they agreed to draw the " blank lots already laid out, so that each pro
prietor may enjoy his rights therein in severalty." One article in their
warrant was : "To agree with some suitable person for building mills
in said town, and to see what encouragement shall be given the person
that shall undertake the building of said mills," but no formal action
was taken touching this subject. After choosing a moderator the
meeting adjourned to the 1st of October, at which time they pro
ceeded to divide among themselves the remaining lots of the first
divisions. Abijah Willard drew Nos. 3, 7, 10, 34, 16, 52, 42, 55, 61, 73, 78, 79,
91, 93 and 89. He then exchanged lot No. 89 with Abraham Flem
ming for lot No. 53, and lot No. 10 with David Gilmore for lot No.
84, and lot No. 73 with David Scott for lot No. 32.
John Murray drew Nos. 30, 44, 47, 81, 83, 88, 103, 105, 107, 109
and 113, and exchanged lot No.' 88 with Nathan Mann for lot No. 92.
James Otis drew Nos. 69, 36, 39, 46, 48, 50, 76, 96 and 115, and ex
changed lot No. 69 with Ebenezer Webber for lot No. 33.
Timothy Paine drew Nos. 12, 22, 26, 29, 31, 63, 67, 74, and the

48 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
"make up" to 77, 62, 99, 101. Lot 77 was in two parts, the " make
up" being on Middle Branch. Paine sold it to Abner Smith.
John Chandler drew Nos. 5, 9, 14, 20, 24, 28, 59, 65, 85, 95, 97 and
111, and exchanged lot No. 65 with Jonathan Hart Webber for lot
No. 98. This brought the Webbers all into the same neighborhood
on the westerly bank of Middle Branch. He exchanged lot No.
24 with John Crawford for lot No. 66.
The proprietors, at this meeting, appointed Thomas Kennedy, John
Crawford and Abraham Flemming a committee to lay out highways
and make a report to the proprietors for their confirmation. Whatever
action the committee took, if any, the proprietors did nothing further
touching the laying out of highways in the town.
At this meeting the question of building mills was discussed without
any definite result. But it appears that shortly afterwards John
Chandler built a sawmill at his own expense; for at a meeting of the
proprietors held December 12th, 1764, they voted that "Lot No. 13,
originally drawn by Alexander Gordon and granted back to the pro
prietors, be granted to John Chandler, Esq., his heirs and assigns, in
consideration of his having built a sawmill in said township." It was
upon the west end of this lot that the sawmill was built, nearly 300
rods southerly from the meeting-house. The west end of lot No. 13,
together with the sawmill, subsequently became the property of the
Searle family, and was owned by them many years. The mill was built
upon " Nooney Brook," which at a lower point is called " Cook Brook."
This lot was called Chandler's farm, and was occupied and carried on
for him by Robert Smith. Of the highways laid out by the town of
Murrayfield in 1769, one is described as laid " From the meeting-house
to Col. Chandler's farm where Robert Smith lives; from said Smith's
to the sawmill," etc. In 1776 two sawmills had been built, but
whether both were built by Chandler is doubtful. John Smith built
a sawmill very early, probably as early as 1766. In 1767 the proprie
tors gave Chandler lot No. 39 in the second division of lots "in con
sideration of his extraordinary expense in building a sawmill in said
town." This lot, No. 39, is within the present bounds of Middlefield.
Third Meeting of Proprietors.
On December 12th, 1764, the proprietors held their third meeting.
It was held at Lancaster in the county of Worcester. At this meeting
the second division of lots was made among the proprietors as follows:
Abijah Willard drew. Nos. 2, 8, 11, 13, 16, 19; John Chandler drew

'*£.",

"1 B»!r

*H

'Prop_£ietofS P(

» 4' M^iS/i^ "£

>V

A'

^

7^

*^

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 49
Nos. 1, 23, 24, 26, 27; John Murray drew Nos. 12, 14, 20, 21, 22;
Timothy Paine drew Nos. 3, 7, 10, 18, 25; James Otis drew Nos. 4,
9, 17. These were all 200-acre lots and were located between the
Middle Branch and the East Branch. The " Connecticut Valley His
tory," published in 1879, makes the inexcusable error of stating that
" The settlers upon the tract between the middle and east branches of
the Agawam river early in 1764 were, Abijah Willard, John Chandler,
John Murray, Timothy Paine and James Otis." None of these pro
prietors ever resided in the town of Murrayfield. Some of them owned
farms in the town, which were cultivated under their directions by
agents residing on the farms. They all, with the exception of James
Otis whose home was in Barnstable, were residents of Worcester
county, and men of prominence in the colony.
At this meeting they also included, in the second division of lots,
certain interval lots on the West Branch, in the vicinity of what was
for a long time known as Chester Factories. These lots were desig
nated by letters instead of numbers.
Willard drew letters K, L, M.
Chandler drew letters 0, P, Q.
Murray drew letters G, II, I.
Paine drew letters A, B, N.
Otis drew letters C, F. Otis attended none of these meetings in
person; but John Murray acted for him under a power of attorney.
The larger part of the village of Chester Factories is comprised
within lot P. The proprietors reserved a right to lay out a road
through these interval lots on the West Branch.
No further action touching the affairs of this township appears to
have been taken by the proprietors prior to the incorporation of the
town of Murrayfield, except as appears in the following from the
Council Records, Vol. XXV, p. 213: "June 2d, 1764, a petition of the
proprietors of Murrayfield, praying that the settlers admitted therein
may from time to time be impowered to call meetings to agree upon
some proper method to settle the Gospel Ministry among them and
to transact any other business that may be necessary.
" In council read and ordered that the petitioners have liberty to bring
in a bill for the purpose mentioned."
"In House of Representatives read and concurred."
It does not appear that any further action was taken until the follow
ing year, when the proprietors procured an act of incorporation of the
town of Murrayfield.

50 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
First Gristmill.
Either in the year 1764 or early in the year 1765, a gristmill was
built on the left bank of the Middle Branch, near the spot where the
tannery afterwards stood in Littleville. It was built under the
auspices of the original proprietors, and it was probably the first grist
mill built in the town. Jonathan Clapp of Northampton was the
man who erected it, and he received from the proprietors a deed of
the lot upon which it stood, together with the water privilege. It
appears that Clapp executed a bond to the proprietors, in which his
obligations touching the building of the mill were definitely stated.
Some difficulty arose between him and the proprietors touching the
conditons of his bond. This bond was executed by Clapp, September
' 8th, 1764. The penal sum was $500, and the conditions were as
follows: "The condition of the present obligation is such that if the above-named
Jonathan Clapp, his heirs, executors, & administrators shall on or before
the first day of July next erect a mill-dam on the falls on the Middle Branch
of the river called Westfield River, in the new town called Murrayfield in
said county of Hampshire, adjoining to the lot of Mr. John Webber, being lot
No. 64, & erect a corn-mill thereon & finish the same well & workman
like & keep the mill & dam to be so erected in good repair for the space of
seven years from the first day of May next, & find & provide a good miller to
attend to the same during the term aforesaid for the benefit of the inhabitants
of said Murrayfield aforesaid to grind their grain (extraordinary casualties
excepted), that then this present obligation will be void & of none effect; but
in default thereof to abide & remain in full force & virture.
Jonathan Clapp & seal."
The proprietors brought a suit against him for breach of the conditions
of this bond. The writ was dated April 10th, 1767 & returned to the court
of common pleas at the following May term. The suit was submirted to
referees, & at a meeting of the proprietors in the autumn of 1767 Abijah
Willard was appointed "to attend on behalf of the proprietors upon the refer
ence between the proprietors & Mr. Jonathan Clapp relating to the corn-mill
in Murrayfield."
The record of the January term of the court, 1768, says: "This
action being under reference and no report given in, ordered that the
same be continued to next term under the same rule." The case was
finished at the August term. The referees found against Clapp and
awarded five pounds and fifteen shillings "for damages for not build
ing and finishing the said mill and dam agreeably to the conditions of
said bond, and costs of court and reference, the cost of reference
being taxed at three pounds and sixteen shillings."

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 51
This mill was erected upon lot A of the the third division of lots
surveyed October, 1764, located on the left bank of Middle Branch,
contained 100 acres, and the proprietors called it the "Mill Lot." On
the 30th of October, 1765, Jonathan Clapp, describing himself as of
Northampton, gave a deed of this property to Jonathan Wait of
Murrayfield and described it as follows"!
" Bounded westerly on the Middle Branch of Westfield river, so-called, south
erly on Timothy Smith's land; easterly on land belonging to the original proprie
tors of said Murrayfield; northerly on the Minister Lot, or lands of the origi
nal proprietors, together with the grist-mill, dam, & other appurtenances to
said mill, standing on said Middle Branch contiguous, on, or adjoining the
said tract." This describes the whole of lot A and it was bounded by Timothy
Smith's five hundred acre farm on the south; on the east by lot B of the third
division, which was granted to Timothy Paine, & by him sold to Gershom
Rust. The highway, at first, was on that side of the river, being legally laid
out in 1769 & described as." beginning at Worthington line, then southerly by
Mr. Wait's mill east side of the Middle Branch, by Timothy Smith's," etc.
, Other mills were built shortly after these first ones on the East
Branch, both above and below the present location of Norwich bridge.
General Observations.
The settlers upon the proprietors' settling lots were to some degree
under their protection and under their supervision; but with the 'set
tlers upon Ingersoll grant and upon Bolton grant, and possibly with
those who purchased their lands of the proprietors for a money consid
eration, it was otherwise. All these settlers were without any organ
ized town government, and witho.ut any officers of the law to enforce
order, although they were undoubtedly amenable to the laws of the
province and were subject to the jurisdiction of the courts within the
county of Hampshire. But the remoteness of the officers of the law
would naturally lessen their fear of the judicial machinery as a restrain
ing influence upon their conduct, and yet, so far as we can learn, they
were an orderly and law-abiding community, as we should have a right
to expect from the fact that they were of puritan stock; they were
British subjects; they had been educated to respect law and order and
religion; wherever they went the common law went with them as their
guide and rule of conduct; and they respected whatever was right and
hated whatever was wrong. It was because of such people as these
that our ancestors were able to establish a republic. These people had
that sense of honor which insures respect for the rights of others, and
the requisite courage to assert and maintain their own rights.

CHAPTER FOURTH.
Incorporation of Murrayfield.
The incorporation of township No. 9 under the name of Murrayfield
took place October 31st, 1765. This is of sufficient importance to
justify a full copy of the act, which is as follows: "Whereas the pro
prietors of the plantation called and known by the name of Murray-
field, have represented to this court that the inhabitants of said plan
tation labor under many difficulties and inconveniences by reason of
their not being incorporated; for the removal thereof, Be it enacted
by the Governor, Council, and House of Representatives:
" Section 1. That said tract of land bounded and described as fol
lows, viz. : bounded northerly partly on Chesterfield and partly on a
new township known by the name of Number Three, and runs from
the southwest corner of said Chesterfield to the northeast corner of
Becket; thence, on the east line of Becket, to the southeast corner of
said Becket; and from thence, the same course, to Blandford line; thence
bou'nded south, partly on Baid Blandford and partly on Westfield; and
east, partly on Southampton and partly on Northampton, be, and
hereby is, erected into a town by the name of Murrayfield; and the in
habitants thereof shall have and enjoy all such privileges and immu
nities as other towns in this province have and do enjoy.
"And be it further enacted:
" Section 2. That Eldad Taylor, Esq., of Westfield, be, and hereby
is, empowered to issue his warrant to some principal inhabitant of said
town of Murrayfield, requiring him in his majesty's name, to warn
and notify the said inhabitants qualified to vote in town affairs, to
meet together at such time and place in said town, as shall be ap
pointed in said warrant, to choose such officers as the law directs to
be chosen annually, in the month of March, and may be necessary
to manage the affairs of said town; and the inhabitants, so met, shall
be and hereby are, empowered to choose officers accordingly. Oct.
31st, 1765."
There is no evidence in existence that any valuation list was taken
as a basis for determining the qualification of voters. Probably such
a list was taken, but it was not preserved.

• A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 53
July 11, 1761, an act was passed for the purpose of providing for
calling meetings of the inhabitants of unincorporated plantations for
the purposes of taxation by the province or by the county, and for
choosing assessors to assess such taxes. Section 2 of the act reads as
follows: "The assessors so chosen and sworn shall, thereupon take a
list of the rateable polls, and a valuation of the estates and faculties of
the inhabitants of such plantation for a rule by which to judge of the
qualification of voters in meetings of the said inhabitants thereafter
to be holden, until other valuation shall be made." Section 3 provided
" that in case the inhabitants of any such plantation shall neglect to
assemble, or being assembled shall neglect to choose all such officers as
herein before are required, it shall be in the power of the court of
general sessions of the peace in the county where such plantation is,
and the justices of such court are required to appoint some meet per
sons, inhabitants of such plantation, to be assessors and collectors of
such taxes as aforesaid, who shall be duly sworn to the faithful dis
charge of their respective trust, and shall conform to the directions
and proceed by the rules which assessors and collectors in towns cor
porate are obliged to observe."
First Town .Meeting.
The records of the town of Murrayfield begin with a copy of the act
of incorporation; and then immediately the record continues as follows:
"Pursuant to said act Eldad Taylor, Esq., issued this warrant under
his hand and seal in his majesty's name directed to John Smith of
Murrayfield, to notify the inhabitants of said Murrayfield to meet at
the house of Malcom Henry in said Murrayfield on Tuesday the
eleventh day of March, at ten of the clock in the forenoon, Anno
Domini 1766 for the choice of town officers." The record sets forth
no copy of the warrant. The inhabitants having met pursuant to the
warrant, Eldad Taylor was chosen moderator, and then the following
named town officers were chosen and sworn into office:
Town Clerk and Treasurer, Malcom Henry.
Selectmen and Assessors, Timothy Smith, John Smith and
MalcOm Henry.
Surveyors of Highways, Thomas Kennedy, Gideon Matthews,
Nathan Mann, William Miller and David Bolton.
Tithingmen, Samuel Elder and James Clark.
Wardens, Israel Rose and William Mann. (Probably Fire Wardens. )

54 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. "
Surveyors of Timber and Lumber, Abraham Flemming and
Isaac Mixer.
Fence Viewers, John Mclntyre, Ebenezer Meacham and Ebenezer
Webber. Sealer of Weights and Measures, Jonathan Wait.
Hog-Reeves, Ebenezer King and Stephen Lyman, whose duty it
was to see that the laws regulating the keeping of swine were observed,
and to prosecute all offenders.
Deer-Reeves, Alexander Gordon and Samuel Webb, whose duty
it was to enforce the laws which had been passed by the General Court
for the preservation of deer. The only vote passed at this meeting
other than the election of officers was the following: "Voted that
swine shall run at large from the middle of September to the middle
of May following." At this time the law required that all swine going
at large on the commons from the first of April to the fifteenth of
October should be sufficiently yoked or ringed in the nose. No yoke
was accounted sufficient which was not the full length of the swine's
neck, and half as much below the neck, and the sole or bottom of the
yoke three times as long as the breadth or thickness of the swine's
neck. If any swine were found unyoked or unringed, their owners
were liable to pay sixpence per head, and if also found damage feasant
to pay twelvepence per head, over and above double damage to the
party injured; and the haywards or field-drivers, or any other person,
were authorized to take and impound such swine. Towns, however,
were permitted to enlarge the time by so voting at a legal town meeting.
The record shows no action of the town at this time touching the
raising and appropriation of money. The reason why no measures
were taken at this meeting to raise money was, probably, that the in
habitants, relying upon the expectation that the proprietors were to
build the necessary roads and bridges — an expectation which the pro
prietors had encouraged by their promises — saw no immediate necessity
for taxation. They were not then in condition to establish public
schools, if, indeed, there was at that time a necessity for schools.
Their first necessity was. to build suitable houses for shelter, and to
clear enough land to provide for the sustenance of themselves&nd their
cattle. The inporporation of the town would have been deferred to a
later period had the settlers been left to their own choice. The pro
prietors urged the incorporation at this time for their own advantage,
and it is not improbable that one of their purposes was to escape the
burden of road and bridge building. There is reason to believe that
many people living within the limits of the township, particularly

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 55
those living within the Ingersoll grant, were opposed to the incorpo
ration of the town, and felt that it was a scheme to impose taxes upon
them for the benefit of the proprietor settlers. Discontent arose on
the part of the inhabitants of the east end' of the town, which ulti
mately led to a division of the township.
The First Town Controversy.
There was enough of the Gaelic and Celtic elements among the set
tlers of Murrayfield to keep the affairs of the town somewhat lively.
It is not at all strange that men of adventurous spirit, and who courted
difficulties which would have crushed an effeminate people, should
have been at times hot-headed. The spirit of contention appeared
early in the town of Murrayfield in an ugly form before the time for
holding its second annual town meeting was reached. It was excited
to activity in this way: In September, 1766, the selectmen notified the
inhabitants of the town to bring in the lists of their rateable estates on
or before October 20th of that year. Before that time had expired,
Timothy Smith and Malcom Henry, two of the selectmen and assessors,
closed and signed a list of valuation. But John'Smith, the other as
sessor, refused to sign it, claiming that they had no right to close the
list at that time, and that the list so closed was invalid. Timothy
Smith was persuaded to the same view. The two Smiths agreed to
give a new notice and re-take the valuation, but Henry refused, claim
ing that the valuation list just taken was to all intents and purposes
a legal list. The Smiths took a new list of valuation and assessed the
taxes by the new list. This new list was tendered to Malcom Henry,
as town clerk, in order to be lodged with him for the regulation of
votes at the March meeting in 1767, but Henry refused to take it.
When the inhabitants assembled at the March meeting they at once
got into a dispute as to whether the qualification of voters should be
determined by the first or by the second valuation list, and the voters
thereupon formed into two parties and separated, each party holding
a separate town meeting, and two sets of officers were chosen for the
town. This led to great confusion and to law suits. The lawyers who
were consulted were of opinion that neither set of officers was legally
chosen. This state of affairs gave the original proprietors great
anxiety; and at a meeting which they held November 4th, 1767, they
drafted and sent to the inhabitants of the town the following letter:
" We, the subscribers, the proprietors of Murrayfield, have this day had
a meeting; and it is with great concern that we find so many unhappy
divisions subsisting in said town to the destruction of the interests of

56 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
the settlers and proprietors. And after fully considering of your
affairs and all circumstances relating thereto do give you our advice in
your affairs, and desire your compliance as you value our future favors.
First that the lawsuit subsisting between Messrs. Smith and Taggart
be dropped, and that each party pay his own costs, and that at present
there be an end of lawsuits relating to town affairs. That the town join
and petition to the General Court at their next session, and therein set
forth the whole transaction of both parties at their last March meeting,
and the difficulties subsisting in said town in consequence thereof , and
pray for their aid and assistance that all matters may be set right for
the future."
An address setting forth the difficulties into which the town had
got and praying for relief was presented to the Governor and Council
and House of Representatives on behalf of the inhabitants of the town
by Timothy Paine and John Murray as their agents, with the follow
ing result: "In Council January 23d, 1768, read and ordered, that
Abijah Willard, Esq., Eldad Taylor and Capt. Charles Baker, or any
two of them, be empowered to take a list of valuation under oath of
all the rateable estates real and well and personal in said Murrayfield,
they first giving at least ten days notice to said inhabitants before they
proceed on said business by posting up a notification in said town, and
when they have completed said list make a return thereof to Timothy
Smith, John Smith and Malcom Henry, selectmen chosen in said town
for the year 1766; and upon receipt thereof the said selectmen be em
powered to make out their warrant to some principal inhabitant of
said town, requiring him to notify a meeting of said inhabitants quali
fied to vote in town affairs, to meet and assemble in said town for the
choice of town officers for the ensuing year, and that' the valuation so
taken be the rule for determining the qualification of voters at said
meeting, and that Simeon Strong, Esq., be appointed to moderate at
said meeting; and that if it should so happen that the said valuation
can not be taken in convenient time for holding said meeting in March
next, that said meeting be held as soon after as it conveniently may
be; and the transactions of said inhabitants at said meeting be valid
to all intents and purposes, as if said meeting had been held in the
month of March." This order was passed and became a law February
11th, 1768. Abijah Willard and Charles Baker, both non-residents,
took the valuation and returned the list to the selectmen named in
the order, April 19th, 1768. Unfortunately neither of the former val
uation lists were preserved. The list taken by Willard and Baker was
as follows:

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.

57

O

w 'A
O
h-i

B•A
O

o
O

Wwa

wV-o
*--
S.

teTotal as
Personal Estate.

W

hiO
£ B.

Absalom Blair.

1

2

2

13

3

0

12

30

42

Robert Blair, . .

0
2
2
0
»
0
7
9
16
David Blair, . .
0
0
0
0
1-
0
1-10
6
8
0
0
1
0
0
0
1-10
8
4-10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0- 0
3
3
David Bolton, . .
0
u
2
8
0
0
4- 4
15
19-4
James Clark, .
i
0
1
11
1
0
5
38
43
0
0
1
0
0
0
1-10
0
1-10
James Crow, . .
0
(1
0
0
0
0
0- 0
0
0
Thomas Crow,
0
(1
1
0
0
0
1-10
0
1-10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0- 0
0
0
Ebenezer l>owd, .
0
0
0
0
0
0
0- 0
0
0
0
{'
1
4
0
0
2- 2
3
5-2
0
0
1
0
0
0
1-10
24
25-10
Jebial Egglestoa, .
0
0
{1
0
0
II
0- 0
0
0
Samuel Elder 
1
0
2
3
0
0
• 5- 9
34
39- 9
Caleb Fobes. . .
1
2
3
0
1
0
10-18
49
59-18
W illiam Fobes, . .
1
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
2
Abraham Flemming, .
1
0
2
0
1
58
8-17
8(-
38-17
James Fairman, . .
2
4
0
(1
0
0
12
10
22
Samuel F*irman,
0
0
0
0
(1
0
0- 0
0
0-0
Zebulnn Fuller, .
0
0
1
0
2
0
2- 8
19
21- 8
0
0
3
0
0
0
4-10
14
18-10
Malcoi Hei ry, . . .
1
2
2
4
0
0
9-12
15
24-12
(1
2
1
0
0
0
5-10-
12
17-12
James Kilmnre, . .
1
0
1
.0
3
0
4-14
12
16-14
David Gilmore, .
0
2
0
0
0
0
4- 0
8
12- 0
John Gilmore. . . .
0
0
0
0
0
0
0- 0
0
0- 0
William Campbell,
0
0
1
0
0
0
1-10
5
6-10
Matthew CampbfU,
0
0
0
0.
0
0
0- 0
0
0- 0
Thomas Kennedy .
0
0
2
10
3
0
5-14
17
22-14
William Kennedy, .
0
0
0
0
0
0
0 0
0
0- 0
1
2
2
2
1
0
9-14
30
31-14
Lemuel Laceore,
0
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
0
- -
0
0
1
0
2
5
4-12
22
26-12
0
0
0
0
0
3
0-.3-7
22
22- 3-7
Ebenezer Meacham,
1
2
1
8
0
0
8-14
24
32-14
2
0
2
0
1
0
7- 8
52
59- 8
Isaac viixer Jr., . .
0
0
1
0
1
0
1-18
6
7-18
William Miller, . .
2
0
1
10
1
0
7- 8
28
35- 8
William Mann, . .
0
0
2
0
0
0
3-10
10
13-10
Ebenezer King, . .
1
2
2
0
0
0
Nathan Mann,
1
2
1
5
1
8
William Moore.
1
0
2
0
0
0
5
Daniel Meeker. . .
0
Q
0
0
0
0
0- 0
1
2
2
0
0
0
9- 0
0
2
1'
0
0
0
5-10
1
Gideon Matthews,
0
1
1
5
2
0
5- 1
1
Abner Pease, ....
0
0
2
0
0
0
3
3
6--
Robert Proctor, .
0
0
1
0
'2
0
2- 6
13
15- 6
Israel Rose, . .
0
2
1
6
0
0
6-8
16
22- 8
Nathan Rose, . .
0
0
1
6
0
0
2- 8
12
14- 8
0
0
0
3
0
0
0- 9
0
0- 9
1
1
2
12
2
0
9-12
26
35-12
Abner Smith, . .
2
2
1
0
2
0
10- 6
16
26- 6
1
1
2
0
4
0
8-12 ¦
20
28-12
1
2
3
5
0
0
11- 5
26
37- 5
1
1
1
0
0
0
5-10
16
21-10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0- 0
0
- -
James Taggart .
1
2
2
0
7
0
11-16
24
35-16
Daniel Twadwell,
0
0
0
3
0
0
0- 9
6
6- 9
Peter Williams, . .
2
4
3
0
0
0
16-10
12
28-10
Samuel Webb.
0
0
1
0
0
0
1-10
0
1-10
0
0
1
0
0
0
1-10
16
17-10
Jonathan Hart Webbe
r,
0
3
1
0
0
2
7-12
24
31-12-1
2
1
1
5
0
7
8-13-4
30
38-13-4
Reuben Woolworth,
1
2
2
0
0
0
9
1
16-
76
0
32
0
50
0
74
0
123
0
40
0
0- 0
0
-,
T
OT.
VL,
83
58 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. . ¦
The old record book in which the foregoing list is recorded has some
time been gnawed by mice, so that the record of this list is left
imperfect.
Warrant for the Third Town Meeting.
Upon receiving the valuation list the selectmen immediately issued
a warrant of which the following is a copy:
" Hampshire ss. To Mr. James Fairman, one of the principal inhabitants of
the town of Murrayfield. In his maje.^ty's name you are hereby required to
notify & warn all The inhabitants of the town of Murrayfield that are qualified ,
to vote in town affairs to meet at the New Public meeting house in said town on
Tuesday the fifth day of May next bv eleven of the clock in the forenoon then
-& there to proceed to choose town officers for the ensuing year, viz: town clerk,
selectmen, constables, assessors, town treasurer, tything-mfn, & all other ordi
nary town officers that are required by law to be chosen in the month of March;
& also to grant money to defray the necessary charges of said town. Fail not,
but make return hereof with your doings thereon to one of us before the
time of meeting. Given under our hands & seals at Murrayfield this nine
teenth day of April Anno Domini 1768, & in the 8 th year of his majesty's
reign. Timothy Smith } selectmen
John Smith \ for Anno
Malcom Henry ) 1766-"
The warrant was duly returned and the meeting held in pursuance
thereof. The following town officers were chosen:
For town clerk, John Smith; and he was chosen treasurer also.
For selectmen and assessors, Caleb Fobes, Timothy Smith, and
William Miller.
For constables, Stephen Lyman and Ebenezer Webber.
For tithingmen, Israel Rose and Gideon Matthews.
For surveyors of highways, Isaac Mixer, Peter Williams, William
Moore, James Fairman, James Clark, Jonathan Hart Webber, and
Samuel Ellis.
For fence viewers, Ebenezer Meacham and John Laccore.
For sealer of leather, Isaac Mixer.
For surveyor of timber and lumber, Bigott Eggleston.
For deer-reeves, Ebenezer King and Samuel Fairman.
For hog-reeves, Nathan Rose and Jonathan Hart Webber.
For wardens, John Smith and Reuben Woolworth.
No money appropriations were made at this meeting; but at a meet
ing held the 28th of June following, £20 were appropriated for

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 59
preaching, and £40 for ordinary town expenses. These sums were
voted in addition to £20 voted in 1766, making in all £80.
John Smith, who was elected town clerk, took his oath of office
before Joseph Hawley, a justice of the peace. The certificate of this
oath was made by the magistrate in the record book of the town as
follows: " Hampshire ss. May 7th, 1768, John Smith of Murrayfield in said county
of Hampshire, appearing to me by the usual written certificate to have been
regularly chosen by the inhabitants of said Murrayfield to the office of town
clerk for the said town at their meeting held on the fifth of May inst., the
said John Smith on the seventh day of May above, took his oath respecting
the bills of credit on the neighboring governments by law to be taken by town
officers, & also the oath of office in the form prescribed by the law of
this province to be taken by persons elected to the office of town clerk.
Before me Joseph Hawley, Justice of the Peace."

Oath Concerning Bills of Credit.
A law, passed by the general court of this province in December,
1748, required: "That from and after the last day of March, which
shall be in the year of our Lord 1750, until the last day of March
which shall be in the year 1754, every person who shall be chosen to
serve in any office of the towns of this province shall, before his
entrance upon said office, take the following oath, to be administered
by a justice of the peace, or where no justice of the peace shall be
present, by the town clerk, who is hereby impowered to administer
the same, viz.: 'You, A. B., do in the presence of God solemnly
declare that you have not, since the last day of March,- 1750, wittingly
¦or willingly, directly or indirectly, either by yourself or any one for
or under you, been concerned in receiving or paying within this
government any bill or bills of credit of either of the governments of
Connecticut, New Hampshire, or Rhode Island. So help me God.'"
By reenactment this law was in force as late as 1768.
Town Debts.
The action of the town about this time, touching the payment of
its debts, clearly indicates the straitened condition of the people as to
money. Towns, like individuals, when under pecuniary embarrass
ment, will do mean things which they would scorn when in easy cir-

60 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
cumstances. The treatment of claims presented against the town
during these years of its infancy, show either financial distress on the
part of the town, or unconscionable meanness on the part of men
whom the town continued to honor by reelecting them to responsible
positions. The town was poor.

March Meeting, 1769.
The town meeting in March, 1769, was held at the house of Jona
than Hart Webber. The December meeting in 1768 was called to be
held at the new house of Jonathan Hart Webber. As the public
meeting-house had been built and some meetings had been held there,
it must be presumed that the house was not a comfortable place to
hold town meetings in these cold months. But a meeting which was
called to be held in April, 1769, was held at the meeting-house.
At the April meeting a singular protest was presented to the town and
was placed upon the records. Timothy Smith had a son named
Thomas whose wife's name was Submit. - They had several children —
more, indeed, than they could comfortably provide for — in fact, chil
dren were the only things of which they had an abundance, and pov
erty was their lot. The wife and children became objects of public
charge. For some reason other than inability Timothy would not
help them. The town having been put to expense on their account
threatened action against Timothy, which called fdrth the following
protest: "We, the subscribers, do judge the proceedings of the town
to be illegal in voting to come into a method to recover the costs of
Timothy Smith that hath been made by Thomas Smith's wife and his
family, and we do hereby enter our protest against the whole proceed
ings in that case.
Murrayfield, April 13th, 1769. John Smith,
Ebenezer Webber,
Samuel Matthews,
Reuben Matthews,
William Miller,
Timothy Smith."
Notwithstanding the protest the town, at the same meeting, voted to
take action against Timothy Smith on account of his son's wife and
family.

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 61
Highways.
At the March meeting in 1769 several roads were accepted as laid
out by the selectmen, as follows: One " from Worthington down the
left bank of the Middle Branch by Wait's mill, Timothy Smith's and
Mr. Fobes' to Hampton line on Westfield Road, road so-called."
One "from Northampton west line at the road, then westerly by
John Kirtland's across the river at the ford-way by Mr. Fobes' and to
Blandford line east of the West Branch, called Hampton road to
Blandford east of Mr. Bolton's."
One beginning at the ford-way west of Timothy Smith's to the
meeting-house by Ebenezer Webber's, from the meeting-house west
ward to James Brown's by Mclntere's, Mann's, and Flemming's, and.
from James Black's to the road above named.
One from Mr. Gordon's by Mr. Laccore's to the meeting-house, from
David Blair's to the road above Mr. Hamilton's.
One from William Campbell's to the meeting-house by John and
Abner Smith's, from the Worthington road above Mr. Wait's mill
northerly to Abner Smith's.
One from Mr. Williams' by Mr. Meacham's by Nathan Rose's by
Clerk Heniy's to the meeting-house in Webber's road ninety rods.
One from the meeting-house to Col. Chandler's farm where Robert
Smith lives, from said Smith's to the sawmill, from said sawmill by
David Bolton's to Blandford line where three roads cross, and from
Bolton's westwardly east of* the West Branch by Proctor's through
Capt. Noble's farm, southeasterly from said farm to Blandford line,
east side of the branch, from thence to the road that goes from Hamp
ton to Blandford.
One "beginning at Chesterfield line where the road meets the town
line; thence southerly by Mr. Miller's to Worthington road east of Ebe
nezer Webber's." This is probably the road over Goss Hill.
One " from the ford-way at the Middle Branch against Israel Rose's
up to the gristmill on the south side of the branch. "
One " from Worthington road at the southeast side of Timothy
Smith's field across the ford-way a little east of Capt. Geer's." See
appendix for particulars of survey.
This same year £50 were raised for the repair of highways, and
three shillings per day were allowed for work on the roads.
In 1770 the town voted to lay out £7 in» repairing highways, and
that four days' work be required of each poll, the work to be done by
June 15th, and two shillings eightpence be allowed per day for work

62 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
for each poll, to be taken out of the £7. In March, 1772, the town
appropriated £20 for repairing highways. In July, the same year, it
was voted "to raise half a day's work for each man to work on the
county road by Deacon Miller's to Worthington," and that it should be
done by the 5th of September. In March, 1773, the town voted to re
quire four days' work on highways for each poll at three shillings per day..
At the town meeting held April 22, 1771, the town voted adversely
on propositions to build a bridge at'Mr. Wait's mill, at the ford-way
west of Timothy Smith's house, and at the ford- way north of Israel
Rose's dwelling, all on the Middle Branch. The town also voted
adversely to the proposition to " build a boat to carry men and horses
over the river near Landlord Mixer's." In January of the same year
the question of building a bridge over East Branch, where Norwich
bridge now" stands, was discussed in town meeting.
Schools.
The first action taken by the town in its corporate capacity touch
ing public schools was at a town meeting held April 13, 1769; it was
voted not to raise any money for schools that year. Another subject
included in the same vote is significant of the reason why they voted
no money for schools, to wit: "Nor to pay any of their debts with
specie." But the inhabitants were not indifferent to the importance
of public education; for at a meeting held the following May, the
town voted to raise four pounds for the support of schools that year,
and at a meeting held the following June, eight pounds more were
voted for support of schools.
In April, 1770, the town voted £12 for the support of schools that
year. At the March meeting in 1773, £12 were appropriated for the sup
port of schools, and James Hamilton, Jesse Johnson, David Scott,
William Carter, and Jonathan Wait, representing different sections of
the town, were chosen "a committee to examine and consider the cir
cumstances of the places where they shall think it most convenient for
schools to be kept in winter for reading and writing, and in summer
for women's schools and make report to the town at the next town
meeting, of their judgment."
Newcomers.
The valuation list taken in September, 1769, shows the following
new names: John Blair, James Clark, Jr., Timothy Culver, Benjamin.

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 68
Eggleston, Thomas Elder, Ebenezer Gordon, Ebenezer Geer, Elijah
Geer, Samuel Knight, John Kirtland, Jonathan Russell, Nathan Mann,
Reuben Matthews, Samuel Matthews, David Palmer, Davjd Palmer, Jr.,
Samuel Pomeroy, John Rude, Robert Smith, Daniel Williams, Jr.,. Isaac
Williams, Miles Washburn, Nathaniel Weller, Benjamin Whitney,
and John Whitney. The valuation list for 1770 shows the following
additional names: . George Armstrong, John Elder, Samuel Gordon,
John Gilmore, John Griswold, Mr. Hubbard, John Hark ell, Moses
Hale, Daniel Kirtland, James Mulhollan, David Shepard, M.D.,
Edward Wright, and Edward Wright, Jr. In the meantime the fol
lowing named persons appear to have left town: Absalom Blair,
Robert Blair, James Brown, Abner Pease, John Smith, Samuel Webb,
and Thomas Wright. Qualified Voters, 1770.
Of the persons whose names appear on the list for 1770, only the
following persons were by property qualification elegible to vote:
David Bolton, James Clark, Thomas Crow, Samuel Elder, Caleb
Fobes, William Fobes, Abraham Flemming, James Fairman, Zebulon
Fuller, Ebenezer Gordon, Capt. Ebenezer Geer, James Hamilton,
Malcom Henry, Jesse Johnson, John Mclntire, Thomas Kennedy,
James McKnight, John Kirtland, Ebenezer King, John Laccore,
Lemuel Laccore, Stephen Lyman, Timothy Lyman, William Mann,
Nathan Mann, Ebenezer Meacham, Isaac Mixer, Samuel Matthews,
Gideon Matthews, Jonathan Miller, William Miller, William Moore,
David Palmer, Samuel Pomeroy, Robert Proctor, Israel Rose, Nathan
Rose, John Rude, Robert Smith, Timothy Smith, David Scott, Abner
Smith, James Taggart, Ebenezer Webber, Jonathan Wait, Peter
Williams, Reuben Woolworth, Daniel Kirtland, and Edward Wright.
These persons were valued at £20 and more. Only eleven were rated
as high as £50. The highest was £94.
Dr. Shepard Chosen Town Clerk.
At the annual meeting in 1771, Dr. David Shepard was chosen
town clerk; and.he was continued in the office for many years. His
residence was in the vicinity of the meeting-house; and in extremely
cold weather the town meetings, after the choice of moderator, some
times adjourned to his house and there finished their business. He
was the first town clerk of Murrayfield, who was really competent to
fill the place.

64 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
At this same meeting the town voted to let swine run at large the
whole year without yokes or rings.
Between September, 1770, and September, 1771, the following,
named persons came and settled in the town: William Carter, Asa
Carter, William Bell, Samuel Belknap, Archelus Anderson, Solomon
Holyday, Solomon Holyday, Jr., Josiah Holyday, Gershom Rust, and
Jabez Torry.
The record of the annual meeting in 1771 shows that the selectmen
had become liable to suit for failure to make return of the valuation
of the town to the Assembly. The town voted "to defend the selects
men from all harm on that account, provided they make it out and
deliver the same to one of the proprietors to have them send it in."
It appears that Isaac Mixer, either as constable or tax collector, had
got into a suit with Ebenezer Meacham in consequence of having sold
Meacham's cart for taxes. From the fact 'that the town refused to
help Mixer, it may be inferred that he had exceeded his authority.
Valuation List, 1772.
The valuation which was taken in September, 1772, shows the fol
lowing new names: Capt. Zebulon Jones, Samuel Buck, John Tif
fany, a Mr. Taylor, and Samuel Wheat.
The total valuation of the town amounted to £2,991 and 4 shillings.
Abner Smith was rated at £111, Caleb Fobes at £115, and Isaac
Mixer at £91. They were the wealthiest men in town. Dr. David
Shepard appears to have prospered so well that from nothing in 1769
he was rated, in 1772, at £26 and 4 shillings.
At the annual meeting in March, 1773, the last board of selectmen
and assessors for the undivided original town of Murrayfield were
chosen. They were, Malcom Henry, John Kirtland, Dr. David
Shepard, David Scott, and Abner Smith.
Town Lines. •
In November, 1768, the line between Blandford and Murrayfield
was perambulated; the record of which is as follows: " Blandford,
Nov. 7th, A. D., 1768. John Noble and Isaac- Gibbs were appointed
by the selectmen of Blandford to perambulate between Blandford and
Murrayfield. Also Caleb Fobes, selectman of Murrayfield, and Ebe
nezer Meacham met us the 7th day, and David Bolton went with us two

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 65
hours the 7th day and all the 8th day. First, we set out at the north
east * corner at Rock House mountain at a yellow pine tree marked
with stones about it; from thence west 17° north seven miles to a
beech tree with stones about." This line, as run by Edward -Taylor
and Charles Baker, who surveyed for the original proprietors, was
put down as West 20° north. The line as subsequently established
by the General Court is given as beginning at a beech tree with stones
about it in the northwest corner of Blandford and thence east 17°
south to Rock House corner, but the act expressly states that the
purpose is not to change the line, but to establish it. The proprie
tors' surveyors no doubt made an erroneous record.
Action of the Town About Preaching.
The questions which engrossed the attention of the town more than
any other one matter of public concern were those pertaining to pro
viding for preaching, but especially as to the places of meeting for
religious worship. This subject was to some extent provided for, as
we have already seen, in the conditions of settlement, and, before that,
in the conditions of purchase imposed by the government upon the
proprietors themselves. No action appears to have been taken by the
town until the year 1768, after it was reorganized. At the first
meeting called by the newly elected board of selectmen to be holden
at the public meeting-house on the 28th day of June, the third
article was, "For the town to vote, if they think it proper, a suitable
sum of money for them to pay for preaching, and also to choose a
minister for supplying the pulpit." Another article was, "To see if
the town will vote a place or places for to meet at for public worship."
At this meeting the town voted to raise £20 for preaching that
year; and chose Isaac Mixer, Abner Smith and Stephen Lyman a
committee to "supply the town with preaching this present year."
A vote was taken " that the preaching this year should not be all at
the meeting-house," which vote was immediately reconsidered, and a
vote then taken " that the preaching this year shall be all at the pub
lic meeting-house," and then the town voted "that the committee for
preaching should apply themselves to the Revd. Mr. Tud, Mr.
Hooker at South and Northampton, and the Revd. Mr. Ballentine of
Westfield for advice."
. In a warrant for a meeting to be holden October 14, ] 768, there was
an article " to see if the town will vote to give Mr. Asahel Hart a call
* Northeast oorner of Blandford.

66 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
to settle in the gospel ministry in said town ; also to see if the town
will appoint a place or places to meet at for public worship." No
action appears to have been taken with reference to giving Mr. Hart a
call ; but the town voted " that the preaching for the winter shall be
one-half of the time at Mr. Reuben Wool worth's, or Jonathan Web
ber's ; " and " that the other half of the preaching for the winter
ensuing shall be at Mr. John Laccore's." Jonathan Hart Webber's
house was on Middle Branch.
Fixing upon Places Where Preaching Should be Held.
At a town meeting held. December 14th, 1768, " at the new house
of Jonathan Hart Webber," the town voted "that the vote passed
the fourteenth day of October last, to have preaching one-half of the
time at Mr. John Laccore's and the other half at Mr. Jonathan Hart
Webber's shall be revoked or disannulled." The town then voted
"that the first six Sabbaths of preaching in Murrayfield shall be at
the dwelling house of Israel Rose ; and that there shall be three Sab
baths of preaching at the dwelling house of Israel Rose out of seven
for and through the year ensuing."
£3 and 12 shillings were voted to be paid to Mr. Simeon Miller, it
being the sum due him for preaching.
At a town meeting held April 13th, 1769, £25 were appropriated
for preaching during the year, and James Hamilton, Jesse Johnson,
and Gideon Matthews were chosen "a committee to supply the town
with preaching according to the agreement drawn from Mr. Baldwin's
advice on the 6th of March, 1769."
At a meeting held in May it was voted ." that one-half of the preach
ing during the present year should be at Ebenezer Webber's barn, and
the other half at the meeting-house." Arbitration Agreed to.
At a town meeting held in June of the same year, which was called
to be held, and was held, at the house of Reuben Woolworth, " to see
if the town will vote to submit the difference subsisting between the
people at the river and the people on the hill, so-called, to the judg
ment of indifferent men of any other town or towns to judge and
determine how big a part of the preaching shall be at the meetings
house, and how big a part at some place to be by them appointed for
the benefit of the people at the river."

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 67
Another subject named in the warrant was stated in language
following : " To see if the town will discover how they approve of the
performances of Mr. Bascom while he has been in town." The
record states that the town "voted that they like the performances of
Mr. Bascom well." Report of the Arbitrators.
The town voted " To submit the difference about the place where
the preaching shall be held to indifferent men." The men selected
were, Capt. Nathan Leonard of Worthington, Lieut. Nathaniel
Kingsley of Becket, and Deacon Benjamin Tupper of Chesterfield.
And it was voted that preaching should be held at the places so-
designated by the arbitration, for the next three years. The report of
these referees was as follows :
" "We, the subscribers, being appointed a committee by the inhabitants of
MurrayfieMto settle the dispute subsisting among the inhabitants of said town
respecting the place or places for meeting for public worship for three years
next ensuing, & having viewed the different parts of said town, have agreed to
report as follows, viz.: Two-thirds of the time at the meeting-house in said
town, & one-third of the time at Mr. Isaac Mixer's in said town; that is to say,
two Sabbaths at the meeting-house & one Sabbath at said Mixer's successively
for three years next ensuing the date hereof. Dated at Murrayfield this 9th day
of July, 1769. Nathan Leonard.
Nathaniel Kingsley.
Benja. Tupper."
The Rev. Aaron Bascom Called.
This arrangement was carried out for the time agreed upon.
At a town meeting held July 17th, the town passed the following
vote : " Voted to give Mr. Aaron Bascom a call to settle amongst us
in the work of the ministry, and "according to the agreement drawn
by Mr. Baldwin on the 29th of April, 1768." The offer was " to give
Mr. Aaron Bascom for a settlement seventy pounds, one half to be
paid in money and the other half to be paid in work." To give him
"forty pounds salary for three years, and then raise five pounds per
year to sixty pounds ; and then sixty pounds per year whilst he is our
minister." Jesse Johnson, Stephen Lyman, and John Kirtland were chosen to
be a committee "to make report to Mr. Bascom what the town hath

68 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
done for his encouragement, and to make report of his answer to the
town at their next meeting." Apparently Mr. Bascom's answer was
not given until after he had carefully considered the offer and
negotiated somewhat with the "committee concerning his salary; and
that it resulted in calling a town meeting which was held at Mixer's
Inn, September 13th, 1769, when the town voted to give Mr. Bascom
his firewood during his ministry. At the same meeting James Hamil
ton and Jesse Johnson were chosen "a committee to send to the Pres
bytery to see if the Presbytery will grant that platform that was voted
by this town of Murrayfield the 17th of July, 1769, for church
discipline for Murrayfield." The town then voted to raise 10 pounds
for preaching.
On the 7th of October, 1769, Abner Smith and John Hamilton,
two of the selectmen, issued a warrant for a town meeting to be held
at the public meeting-house on the 12th, "to see if the town will
choose a committee to send for such ministers as Mr. Bascom and the
town shall agree upon in order to assist in embodying a church and
ordaining Mr. Bascom." It also proposed the 8th of November as the
time. The meeting was held ; but adjourned to November 2d ; at
which time it was voted not to act upon the foregoing article. On the
6th of November, another meeting was called to be held on the 14th,
at Mixer's Inn, and it was voted to reconsider the vote passed
July 17th, to settle Mr. Bascom according to the agreement drawn by
Mr. Baldwin. Another meeting was called November 9th, to be
holden November 25th, at the public meeting-house ; at which time
it was " voted to give Mr. Aaron Bascom a call to settle in the work
of ministry among 'us according to an agreement made and consented
to by the inhabitants of Murrayfield on the 14th inst." The town
also voted to give him " the same encouragement that we did before:
that is to say, to give him £70 for settlement, one half to be paid in
money and the other half in work; and to give him £40 salary for three
years ; and then raise £5 a year to £60, and then pay him £60 while
he shall remain, also his firewood." The ordination was fixed to
take place December 20th, and Jesse Johnson, John Kirtland, David
Palmer and Samuel Matthews were chosen a committee to arrange for
the ordination.
Mr. Bascom's acceptance of the call was worded as follows:
"To the inhabitants of the town of Murrayfield. "Whereas you have in
vited me to settle with you in the work of the Gospel Ministry, & voted to
give me seventy pounds as a settlement, and forty pounds for a salary per
year during three years, then raise five pounds per year till it comes to sixty

A HISTORY OF MURRA YFIELD. 69
pounds, then to continue at sixty pounds per year so long as I shall be your
minister, & also to provide me with firewood annually for the time above men
tioned, I, having fully considered the matter & taken advice of my friend8
& of my Rev. fathers in the ministry, am inclined to think it my duty &
hereby express my sincere willingness to settle with you in the work of the
Gospel. Aaron Bascom."

Towns Required to Support Preaching.
At this point it may be well to explain that it was a law of the
province "that the inhabitants of each town within this province shall
take due care, from time to time, to be constantly provided of an able,
learned, orthodox minister or ministers ot good conversation, to dis
pense the word of God to them, which minister or ministers shall be
suitably encouraged and sufficiently supported and maintained by the
inhabitants of such town." It was made the duty of the court of
quarter sessions to compel towns to comply with this law; and the
court was empowered to make such necessary orders as would insure
maintenance of the preaching of the Gospel in every town. Churches
were permitted to choose their own ministers, but were required to sub
mit their choice for the approval or disapproval of the inhabitants of the
town; and if the town, by a majority of its votes, denied its approba
tion, the church could call in the help of a council consisting of the
elders and messengers of three or five neighboring churches, which
council had power to hear, examine and consider the exceptions and
allegations made against the church's election; and if the council also
disapproved, then the church had to make a new election, but if the
council sustained the election of the church, their elected minister,
upon accepting and settling with them, should be the minister of the
town, and be supported and maintained the same as though he had
been chosen by the town.
Organization of the Church.
After the town of Murrayfield had elected to call Mr. Bascom
according to the agreement drawn by Mr. Ballentine, then came the
question of organizing the church. The Scotch element in town
was quite large, and they probably preferred the Presbyterian form of
church government; but the English element most likely preferred
the Congregational form. At any rate it is certain that there was
disagreement in the town upon this subject, which was compromised

70 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
by. an agreement entered into on the 14th of November, 1769, as
follows: "Articles of agreement made and concluded by the inhabitants of
Murrayfield. Whereas there is a difference of opinion among the inhabitants of
Murrayfield with respect to the mode of church discipline, which differ
ence seems to be an impediment to our settling a minister among us and
enjoying the ordinances of the Gospel: we, the subscribers, under a
solemn sense of the importance of peace and union among churches,
and with an earnest desire to remove every obstruction in the way of
our enjoying gospel ordinances, do agree and consent to the following
articles, viz.:
1. That there shall be a church incorporated in this place according to the
usual method in the neighboring churches, that is to say, by a church cove
nant & a confession of faith, which confession shall be agreeable to the West
minster confession, so-called.
2. That all persons who shall desire to join themselves to this church after
its incorporation shall be examined by its pastor & elders chosen to assist the
pastor (as hereinafter mentioned) & shall be propounded to the church that
any one may have opportunity to offer his objections against him if any there be,
& shall be admitted by the recommendation of the pastor & elders & the
vote of the brethren, & members of other churches who shall desire stated
communion with this church shall bring letters of recommendation from the
churches to which they stand related.
3. That there shall be a number of elders not exceeding seven chosen by
the brethren of the church to join with & assist the pastor in ruling & govern
ing the church according to the word of God, & particularly in such matters
as are hereinafter mentioned, & that any two of the elders with the pastor, in
case more shall see fit not to attend, shall be a session.
4. In all cases of offence where such private dealing as the gospel pre
scribes fails of bringing the matter to a peaceable issue the person or persons .
dissatisfied shall lodge with the pastor a written complaint, clearly & explicitly
setting forth the matter of the offence & naming the witnesses who are to be
cited in support of said complaint.
5. When any complaint as aforesaid is lodged with the pastor he shall notify
the party accused thereof & give him, if required, a copy of said complaint &
a list of the witnesses' names fourteen days before he is required to make his
deFeuce, & in case the complainant shall, after he has exhibited his complaint,
with a list 'of his witnesses to the pastor, give notice of other witnesses to be
cited, the party accused shall be allowed further time to prepare for his
defence if he shall desire it.
6. That the pastor with the ruling elders have full power to hear such
complaint & judge & pass sentence thereupon.
7. That if either party shall think himself aggrieved with the judgment of

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 71
the session, he shall have liberty of an appeal to the church who shall have
power to revise or confirm the judgment of the session as to them shall seem
right, & that the concurrence of the pastor with a major part of the brethren
present (they having been duly notified to attend) shall in all cases be deemed
a valid act of the church.
8. In case either party shall be aggrieved with the judgment of the church
there shall be liberty of an appeal to an evangelical council.
9. That whenever there shall be occasion for an evangelical council, it
shall be called by letters missive from the pastor in the name & by the vote of
the church; & said council shall if the church or any party concerned so
request, consist of an equal number of Congregational & Presbyterian churches;
provided, nevertheless, that in case any of the churches shall fail of attend
ing, so that there shall not be an equality of Presbyterian & Congregational
ehurches actually present, such inequality shall be no bar to said coup oil's
proceeding & judging in the case to be referred, whose judgment shall be
final & decisive.
10. That in case any special difficulty shall arise between the pastor & the
«hurch or any particular members of the church or other fixed inhabitants of
the town attending his ministry, which shall require the presence of a council,
in such case a council shall be called in manner & form as above mentioned,
to hear & judge the same, & their judgment shall be decisive.
11. That in case the pastor shall refuse to join the church in calling a coun
cil in any case in which he is especially concerned, then the ruling elders or a
majority of them, if they see fit, shall desire two or more neighboring churches
to come & look into the matter; & if these churches find occasion for a council,
they shall advise the pastor to join with the church in calling one — but in
•case he still obstinately refuses, then these churches so present shall have
power to call an ecclesiastical council of such churches as they judge proper,
after consulting the pastor & brethren thereupon; which council so called
shall have full power to act to all intents & purposes as if it had been
called by the pastor & brethren.
12. And when the council is to be called the parties concerned shall have
liberty to nominate the churches which are to form the council, & may pro
ceed in the nomination till they name such as shall be agreeable to the church.
13. That such persons as the pastor & elders shall approve, upon their con
senting to the confession of faith adopted by the church & to a covenant
drawn up for them, shall, according to the Presbyterian method, have right
to offer their children to baptism, though they do not see fit to join in
full communion; & that all such persons as well as those in full communion,
they being under no scandal, shall be allowed at all times to bring their chil
dren to baptism.
14. That previous to the communion of the Lord's table the pastor shall set
apart a suitable portion of time to prepare for that ordinance & that during the
administration thereof he shall discourse upon the nature of the ordinance, &
shall give suitable exhortation to the communicants as is practiced in Presby
terian churches.

72 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
15. That it will be agreeable to our minds that the pastor should visit his
flock & caution the members thereof as often as he judges convenient & the
duties of his office & other circumstances will allow."
Signed by " Aaron Bascom, David Palmer, Abner Smith,' Stephen Lyman,
Timothy Smith, Samuel Pomeroy, John Kirlland, Samuel Matthews, Jonathan
Hart Webber, Gideon Matthews, Timothy Lyman, William Miller, James Ham-
bleton, Samuel Elder, Malcom Henry, William Moore, Jesse Johnson, Daniel
Williams, Alexander Gordon, Ebenezer Webber, Jonathan Wait, James Clark."

The Confession of Faith.
The confession of faith was as follows:
"We believe that there is one & but one only living & true God who is infi
nite in his being & perfection, power, wisdom, justice, holiness, goodness &
truth, who is the creator, governor & disposer of all things, & we believe in the
unity of the godhead there are three persons of one substance, power &
eternity — Father, Son, & Holy Ghost, & we believed that God created man
male & female after bis own image in knowledge, righteousness & true holi
ness & entered into a covenant of life with him upon condition of perfect
obedience, forbidding him to eat of the tree of knowledge of good & evil upon
the pain of death, & that our first parents being left to themselves sinned by
eating the forbidden fruit & thereby brought themselves & their ordinary
posterity into a state of sin & misery ; & that God might have justly left them
in that sta*e; but in His infinite wisdom & goodness sent his son to take upon
him the human nature, who suffered & died & arose again the third day &
appeared & siiteth at the right hand of the father, continually making inter
cession for us, & will come to judge the world in righteousness at the last day,
& by his perfect obedience & sacrifice of himself hath fully satisfied divine
justice & the law that whomsoever believeth in him shall have everlasting
life; & we believe that God has elected a certain number to everlasting life,
whom he will effectually call, justify & sanctify in time & will secure against
apostasy; which is accomplished by the special influence of the blessed spirit,
& that not the works of men but the righteousness of Christ imputed to be
lievers is the sole ground of their justification before God, & that holiness of
heart & life flow from that faith that unites the soul to Christ, and we believe
that the scriptures of the O'd & New Testament are the word of God, & are
a perfect rule of faith & practice. We believe in the great doctrines of the
resurrection of the dead & future judgment & the eternal happiness of those
that believe & obey the gospel, & the eternal misery of the unbelievers & diso
bedient." The names signed, as subscribing to this confession of faith, as they
appear upon the church record such as was kept at different times,
are as follows:

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 78"
Aaron Bascom & wife, Stephen Lyman, Timothy Lyman, John Laccore &
wife, Timothy Smith & wife, Samuel Pomeroy & wife, Samuel Matthews &
wife, Jesse Johnson & wife, Jonathan Wait & wife, Gideon Matthews & wife,
David Palmer & wife, John Kirtland & wife, Abner Smith & wife, Wm. Mil
ler & wife, James Hamilton & wife, Edward Wright & wife, James Clark &
wife, Reuben Woolwonh & wife, Widow Webber, Samuel Wright & wife,
Gershom Rust & wife, Samuel Elder & wife.
The church was duly organized on the 20th of December, 1769.
Only three elders were chosen at that time, to wit: Samuel Matthews,
John Kirtland, William Miller.
Ordination of Mr. Bascom.
On the same day the ordination of Mr. Bascom took place. This
was a great event for Murrayfield, and great preparations were made
for the entertainment of the ministers and delegates from other
churches whose presence was required for the occasion. The com
mittee appointed by the town to take charge of the arrangements
were, Jesse Johnson, James Hamilton, John Kirtland, David Palmer,
and Samuel Matthews. Some of the items of expense look queer to
us, but they were in keeping with the views of people at that time,
and are a part of the history of the town. Some of the items, which
came before the town at the town meeting next following and were
voted to be paid, are as follows: Three pounds and two pence half
penny to Stephen Lyman for keeping the council and their horses
and for going after rum and wine. Eleven shillings and three pence
to Isaac Mixer for keeping the council. Five shillings and nine pence
to Caleb Fobes for keeping ministers, to wit: Mr. Judd, Mr.
Lathrop, and Mr. Ballentine. Eight shillings to James Hamilton for
going to Brookfield and to Weston after ministeis. Six shillings and
five pence to Malcom Henry for keeping the Rev. Mr. Judd and Rev.
Mr. Baldwin. One of the articles, inserted in the warrant for the
March meeting, 1770, was, "To see if the town will give Stephen
Lyman three shillings and two pence more for that wine that he
borrowed for the ordination." The town voted to give it.
Firewood for Mr. Bascom.
At the December town meetings the town always took action about
procuring Mr. Bascom's annual supply of firewood. The following
vote was passed at the December meeting, 1770: "Voted to give Mr.

74 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
John M.clntire two pounds and two shillings for to get the Rev. Mr.
Bascom's firewood for the year to come, that is to say, a year from
this date, and the wood to be cut eight feet long and piled up hand
somely at his door.*

Church Discipline.
There were frequent cases of church discipline, as appears by the
church record. A few specimens may not be uninteresting. June 21st,
1771, a meeting of pastor and elders was held to hear a complaint
made by Jonathan Wait, who was the miller, at what was afterwards
known as Littleville, against Reuben Woolworth and his wife. The
nature of the complaint does not appear by the record, which simply
shows that a hearing was had and resulted in a dismissal of the com
plaint with a statement that Woolworth was guilty of only a human
infirmity. But the Waits were not to be silenced in this way; and Mr.
Wait and his wife jointly preferred another complaint against Mr.
Woolworth and his wife which was heard July 17th, 1771, and it
appears to have been concerning a scandalous report that both Wait
and his wife had taken undue toll at their gristmill. It was ordered
that Mr. Woolworth make a private confession to Mrs. Wait and ask
her forgiveness. But Woolworth afterwards complained that Mrs. Wait
would not forgive him, and brought it again' before the pastor and
elders ; and upon a hearing Mrs. Wait was adjudged innocent, which
appears to have set the matter at rest so far as the church was con
cerned. In December, 1772, Abraham Flemming was summoned before
the pastor and elders on a complaint made against him for fighting.
He was found guilty; but he refused to admit his fault. Subsequently
the matter was taken up again and he confessed ; whereupon he was
restored to good and regular standing. January 26th, 1773, Abner
¦Smith preferred a complaint against his brother, Timothy Smith, for
profane swearing. Timothy was found guilty but refused to acknowl
edge his fault; and continuing obstinate and incorrigible he was excom
municated with solemn formality and declared to be as one of the
heathen. At some time in 1774, however, Timothy, finding the odium
of excommunication too much to bear, repented of his obstinacy and
confessed his fault ; whereupon he was taken back into good and reg
ular standing in the church. The records show that Abraham
Flemming was also dealt with for profane swearing ; as was also Mr.
Crawford and Caleb Bascom. Caleb was also dealt with for the exces
sive use of intoxicating liquors.

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 75

Action of the Town as to where Preaching shall be Done.
In July, 1772, the agreement fixed by the arbitration to have
preaching part of the time for three years from July, 1769, at Isaac
Mixer's Inn, had expired. The town then passed the following vote :
" That Mr. Bascom shall not preach any more at the River on the
Sabbath." Right here began a difficulty which resulted in a division
of the town. On the same day a protest was presented, which was
entered upon the records of the town of Murrayfield, as follows :
" Murrayfield, July 24th, 1772. A protest of a number of the inhabitants
of said town against a vote passed at a meeting of said town wherein it voted
that no part, of the preaching be at the River the present year. We, the sub
scribers, look upon it that we are unjustly injured by said vote, & shall declare
against paying any part of the salary to the minister the ensuing year. Ebe
nezer Geer, John Kirtland, David Scott, Miles Washburn, Peter Williams,
Elijah Geer, Isaac Mixer, Jr. , Isaac Mixer, Caleb Fobes, Thomas Crow, David
Palmer."

John Kirtland.
On the part of the people in the east end of the town, John Kirt
land — or more properly Kirkland — was the leading man. He came
from Norwich, Conn., and purchased a tract of land in the southwest
corner of the Williams grant. He took up his residence in Murray-
field sometime between September, 1769, and September, 1770. The
record shows that he conveyed about 50 acres of his land to James
Clark, June 20, 1768. This was not the James Clark who was among
the first settlers of the town, but was James Clark of Norwich, Conn.,
who came to reside in town at a date later than his purchase of Kirt
land. At a town meeting held Decern oer 14th, 1772, in view of the
fact that the people in the east part of the town felt aggrieved by the
action which had been taken touching the question of holding religious
meeting with preaching at the River, the town voted to- "consent
and agree that, Col. John Murray, Col. John Chandler, Timothy
Paine, Esq., and Col. Abijah Willard shall be a committee to view
and examine into the circumstances and situation of the town of
Murrayfield respecting the town's being divided, and if they judge it
best for the town to be divided, the town agrees to their fixing a line
and establishing it for the division line, the east end of the town pay
ing the cost of the committee."

76 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
The Question of Diyiding the Town Referred to the
Original Proprietors.
The proprietors took the subject into consideration and sent to the
town the following response:
" January 6th, 1773. To the inhabitants of Murrayfield, in the County of
Hampshire, whereas the said town at a meeting held on the 14th day of
December, 1772, among other things consented & agreed that we, the sub
scribers, be a committee to view and examine into the circumstances & situa
tion of said town respecting said town's being divided, & to agree, in case we
think best to have a division, to fix the limit of division. We this day met
upou the affair, & heard Deacon John Kirtland & Mr. Timothy Smith, a Com
mittee chosen by said town, & having maturely considered of the affair of
dividing said town and the circumstances of the Eastern and Western parts-
of said town, are very sensible that the situation of the town is such that a
division in some future time will be necessary; but as the town is now in its in
fancy & many of the inhabitants under low circumstances, not able at present to
support the changes & build up another parish, therefore advise that the town
continue together for the present, & look upon it reasonable that preaching be
divided as has been usual between the East & West parts of the town. But in
case a division is insisted upon by the inhabitants & peace cannot continue in
the town without, we advise to the following division line, viz : Beginning at
the southwest corner of the Ingersol grant & from thence extending on trie
west line of said grant till it comes to the second division lot No. 1. owned by
John Chandler, Esq., & from thence a straight line to the southeast corner of
lot No. 16 ; & from thence running on the east lines of lots Nos. 15, 28, & 29
to Chesterfield southwest corner. And as the proprietors have been to great
expense in settling said town, in case of division, the east part of said town
must not expect any assistance from the proprietors, as we look upon it that a
division at present will not serve the interest of said proprietors. Wishing
you prosperity in all your affairs we subscribe your humble servants.
John Chandler.
Timo. Paine.
Abijah Willard.
John Murray."

Memorial to the General Court.
At a town meeting held January 13th, 1773. it was voted that the
town be divided upon the line recommended by the proprietors.
The next measure taken in this business was the following memorial
to the General Court :

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 77
" Province of Massachusetts Bay.
To his Excellency Thomas Hutchinson, Esq., Captain General & Governor in
-Chief of the province aforesaid. The Honorable his Majesty's Council & Hon.
House of Representatives in General Court assembled at Boston, June, 1773.
The memorial of John Kirtland of Murrayfield, iu the county of Hampshire,
as agent for & in behalf of such of the iahabitants of said Murrayfield as live
in the easterly part thereof, humbly shows : That in the year 1762 this Great
¦& General Court sold at public vendue to the Hon. John Chandler, Esq., &
others all the lands of said Murrayfield (excepting what was before granted
out to particular persons) for a certain price & on certain conditions of settle
ment as by the records of this Honorable Court appears; that there was
then about 7500 acres, part of said town granted out to particular persons, all
lying eastward of a mountain, called Moose Hill, that runs north & south
through said township. That said Col. Chandler & oihers, the purchasers of
the unappropriated lands there, had on their said< lands (under contract of
performing settlement duties) about forty persons, all of which excepting one
were west of the line that said purchasers made the divisional line of said
town. That in the year 1765, on the application of said purchasers of said
unappropriated lands to this Honorable Court, & not by the inhabitants or
any of them, the said lands including said grants & the inhabitants thereon
were incorporated & erected into a town with the power and immunities of
other towns in the province. That in the year 1767 a house of public worship
was set up by said purchasers in said town on the west side of said Moose
Mountain merely to accommodate their settlers, the inhabitants of that part
of the town & where all the settlers under said purchasers, excepting one,
then dwelt.
That in the year 1765 eight or nine families were settled on the grants
aforesaid, & the number of them now settled on said grants is increased to
thirty-five. That since the year 1767, the said town has laid out considerable monies
toward furnishing the meeting house set up as" aforesaid; that in 1770 the said
town settled a minister & gave him seventy-five pounds for a settlement & en
gaged to give him sixty pounds per annum salary. That there are to this day
but six families in said town settled east of said divisional line, under the said
purchasers; all the rest being on the old grants aforesaid. That the building
of said meeting house & settling said minister answer for said purchasers
toward a fulfilment in part of the conditions of their grant from the province,
<fc to the settlers under them it answers for a performance in part of their
settliog contract with said original proprietors, but answers no purpose of
advantage whatever to any of the people settled on the east side of said moun
tain, as they cannot without insupportable expense & labor attend public
worship among them, they all of them living from five to eight miles dist ant
from said place of public worship beyond said mountain. That by the kind
application of the original purchasers (in favor of their tenants or under pur
chasers) to this Honorable Court & procuring the incorporation aforesaid they

78 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
have brought the settlers on the grants aforesaid (as they are the minor part
of said town) subject to a proportion of the expense of fulfilling their duty in
part to the province in regard to their lands in which these settlers have no-
interest & with whom most of them never consented to be any way concerned,
& in the year 1768 when the first tax of eighty pounds was made for town
charges, many of the settlers under the purchasers being turned off their lands,
two- fifths of the burden of said tax actually fell upon the settlers on the
grants. That these memorialists under the circumstances soliciting the town that as
they paid their proportion of these expenses of settling a minister, & pay their
proportion of his yearly salary, that they might have a proportionable part of
the preaching on their side of the mountain where they could enjoy it, which
the town granted them for the space of three years; but since July last have
wholly denied to do for the future. Your memorialists beg leave to observe to
your Excellency & Honors that as the tract of land sold to these gentlemen was
very large, much more than an ordinary township, they have been at a loss
for the reason that induced your Excellency & Honors to make those grants
(without the knowledge and consent of the proprietors and settlers) part of
the same town with the Western part of said purchase, though they were never
at a loss for the reason that induces said purchasers to apply for it.
That this act of incorporation so extended has not only thus unequally
burdened the present settlers of said grants in the respect before mentioned,
but also in this respect : that it is a great discouragement to the further sale
or settlement of such of said lands as yet remain unsold.
The said memorialists, the inhabitants on the east side of said mountain, in
said Murrayfield, under these difficulties are constrained humbly to implore
your Excellency & Honors that there may be a division of the said town of
Murrayfield by the following line, viz : Beginning at the southwest corner of
Ingersole grant, so called, thence extending on the west line of said grant till
it comes to the second division lot No. 1, owned by John Chandler, Esq. ;
from thence a straight line to the southeast corner of lot No. 16 ; and from
thence running on the east line of lots Nos. 15, 28, & 29 to Chesterfield south
west corner, & that the inhabitants & lands in said township east of said
line may be erected into a separate town or district with the powers & privi
leges that other towns in this province enjoy.
And as in duty bound shall ever pray, &c,
John Kirtland, Agent for the memorialists."

Norwich Incorporated.
This petition was presented to the General Court, June 12th, 1773,
and the petitioners were ordered to notify the proprietors of Murrayfield.
But no opposition appears to have been made. June 29, 1773, an
act was passed incorporating the territory lying east of the division

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 79-
line named in the memorial, as a separate district under the name of
Norwich — or rather, in the language of the act, it was " erected into a
separate district."
It was "invested with all the powers, privileges, and immunities
that towns in this province do, or by law ought to, enjoy; that of
sending a representative to the General Assembly only excepted, and
that the inhabitants of said district shall have full power, from time
to time, to join with said town of Murrayfield in the choice of repre
sentative or representatives, which representative or representatives
may be chosen indifferently either from said town or district, and
the selectmen of said town of Murrayfield, as often as they .shall
call a meeting for the purpose of making choice of a representa
tive or representatives, shall give seasonable notice to the clerk
of said district for the time being, of the time and place of said
meeting, to the end that the said district may join them therein;
and the clerk of said district shall set up in some convenient public
place in said district, a notification thereof accordingly, or shall notify
the district in such other way as said district may hereafter determine
upon, and the pay and allowance of said representative or representa
tives to be borne by said town and district to their respective propor
tion of the province tax." The district was to pay its proportion of
taxes; it was to enjoy its share of the ministerial lands; it was to have
its proportion of the public money; it was to contribute its share
towards the relief of the poor in Murrayfield, and to pay one-third
of the faxes until a new valuation: Joseph Hawley, Esq., was em
powered to' issue his warrant to call the first meeting. It is not at all
probable that this district of Norwich ever enjoyed representation
conjointly with Murrayfield in any other way than to submit to repre
sentation by a Murrayfield man.
The memorial of John Kirtland on behalf of the inhabitants of the
east part of Murrayfield, asking to be formed into a separate district,
could not have been written by him, for, although he was a leading
man, if not the leading man, among these people, subsequent records
of Norwich, made by him as town clerk, clearly show that he was not
equal to the framing of such a document.
The first valuation list of Norwich was taken September 1, 1773, by
John Kirtland, Caleb Fobes, and David Scott. The names contained
therein are important as showing who were the tax paying inhabitants
of the new town.

80 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
The Taxpayers in the New Town.
They were as follows:
Christian Angell, Solomon Blair, Thomas Crow, James Crow,
David Crow, John Crow, Wm. Carter, Asa Carter, Caleb Fobes, Wm.
Fobes, Elijah Fobes, Zebulon Fuller, James Fairman, Samuel Fair-
man, Wm. French, John Griswold, James Gilmore, David Halberd,
Jabez Homes, Nathaniel Bennett, John Barnard, Solomon Holaday,
Daniel Dana, John Crossett, Ebenezer Freeman, Solomon Holaday,
Patrick Crekle, John Kirtland, Ebenezer King, Samuel Knight,
Daniel Kirtland, Isaac Mixer, Isaac Mixer, Jr., Ebenezer Meacham,
Wm. Miller, David Palmer, John D. Palmer, David Palmer, Jr.,
Capt. E. B. Geer, Elijah Geer, Mace Cook, Zebulon Rose, John Rude,
David Scott, Joseph Stanton, John Fiffany, Miles Washburn, Peter
Williams, Daniel Williams, Charles Williams, Jabez Story, James
Clark, Jehial Eggleston, Jonathan Ware, and B. G. Peter Bunda.
The assessors of Murrayfield also took their valuation list in Sep
tember, 1773. The following is a full copy of the list and the
valuations:

The Taxpayers left in the Old Town.

Arohilus Anderson 
Geo. Armstrong 
John Bolton 
David Bolton 
David Blair 
James Black, Jr 
John Blair 
Wm. Bell 
James Black 
Caleb Bascom 
Geo. Black 
James Clark 
Wm. Campbell 
Saml. Elder 
Thos. Elder 
John Elder 
Saml. Kills 
Bigott Eggleston 
Benja. Egeleston 
Abraham Fleming 
James Gilmore 
John Gilmore 
Alexander Gordon 
Silby Geer 
James Geer  -.
James Hamilton 
Lieut MoHenry 
William Henry 
Andrew Henry 
Jesse Johuson 
Zebulon Jones 
John Laccore 
Lemuel Laecore 
John Laccore. Jr 
Stephen Lyman 
Timothy Lyman 
John Mclntire 
Daniel Meeker 
Samuel Matthews 
Gideon Matthews 
William .VI oore 
James Mulhallan 
Wid. Jane Mann 
William Mann 
Robert Proctor 
Gershom Rust 
Timothy Smith 
David Shepard 
Robert Smith 
Abner Smith 
David Scott 
Thos. Smith 
Abner Smith. Jr 
Joel Seward 
Ezekiel Snow 
John Thompson 
John Thompson, Jr 
John Taylor 
Edward Wright 
Edward Wright, Jr 
Nathan Wright 
Bazelial Wright 
Reuben Woolworth —
Jonathan Hart Webber
Jonathan Wait 
Isaac Williams 
Enoch Shepard 
TIih ddeus Newton 
Obidiah Newton 
Robert Field 
Daniel Twadwell 
George Napping 
John Wade 
Joseph Henry 

Real Estate

Personal

Total

£
s. d.
£
a. d.
£
s.
d.
05
08 —
02
16 —
08
04
Ot
10 —
01
18 —
,-.--:
08
—
07
10 —
—
— —
07
10
—
57
— —
13
04 —
70
04

33
— —
or,
14 —
39
14
—
S3
— —
05
08 —
2H
08
—
27
— —
09
16 —
36
16
—
39
— —
09
02 04
12 —
4802 04
12
—

 
17 —
17

01
16 —
02
03 —
03
19
—
00
— —
12
14 —
72
14
—
26
10 —
12
14 —
39
04
—
70
— —
13
07 —
83
07
—
10
— —
03
16 —
13
16
—
20
10 —
04
10 —
25


27
— —
01
— —
28
—
—
10
16 —
02
— —
12
16
—
58
06 —
03
08 —
61
14
—
06
 

_ _
06


49
_ —
12
14 —
61
14
—
30
12 —
00
14 —
40
06
—
27
— —
02
06 —
29
06
—
30
12 —
13
05 -
43
17
—
66
— —
15
09 —
81
09
—
24
— —
03
19 —
27
19
—
15
16 —
07
10 —
23
06

—
— —
01
10 —
01
lu
—
33
18 —
09
— —
42
18
—
21
12 —
03
13 —
25
05
—
64
 
09
09 —
73
09

50
— —
10
12 —
60
12
—
46
10 —
07
18 —
54
OS
—
19
10 —
01
18 —
21
08
—
15
12 —
05
09 —
21
01
—
31
10 —
08
17 —
40
07
—
40
04 —
08
15 —
48
19
—
25
— —
04
03 —
29
03
—
18
— —
01
18 —
19
18
—
0:1
— —
08
— —
Hi
—
—
24
— —
07
17 —
31
17
—
24
04 —
07
10 —
31
14
—
14
08 —
09
— —
23
08
—
21
12 —
19
— —
40
12
—
19
10 —
01
18 —
21
08
—
105
08 —
21
17 —
127
05
—
10
10 —
—
— —
10
10
—

 
01
10 —
01
10

63
— —
09
02 —
72
02
—
—
— —
0205
10 —
0205
10
—
—
— —
01
18 —
01
18
—
42
— —
06
15 —
48
15
—
13
10 —
01
10 —
15
—
—
40
— —
09
— —
49
—
—
40
 
05
 
45-


40
16 —
05
10 —
46
06
—
2
24
— —
07
04 —
31
04
—
2
35
16 —
06
11 —
42
07
—
0
30
— —
—
— —
30
—
—
75
12 —
15
15 —
01
07
—
05
— —
—
08 —
01
OS
—
-
- -
01
10 —
01
10
-
82 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
The total valuation in Murrayfield in 1773, after Norwich was set
off, amounted to 2,178 pounds and 19 shillings.
First Town Meeting after the Division.
On the 7th of August, 1773, the selectmen of Murrayfield
issued a warrant for a town meeting to be held the 16th. An exact
copy of the warrant and of the record of the meeting will convey
more information upon several points than any description, or state
ment of facts, that can be written within the same space, so I pro
pose to give them in full :
" Hampshire, ss. To Mr. "William Henry, Constable of Murrayfield, greet
ing : In his majesty's name, you are hereby required forthwith to warn & give
notice to all & every one of the freeholders & other inhabitants of the town
of Murrayfield that are qualified according to law to act in town affairs to
assemble & meet at the meeting house in said town on Monday the 16th day
of August, inst. , at one of the clock in the afternoon, then & there to act on
the articles as follows, namely :
1st To choose a moderator to preside in said meeting.
2d To choose town officers that are set off in Norwich District, to supply
their places.
3d To see if the town will choose a committee of correspond to consult
upon the letters that are sent from Boston concerning the Governor & to
write back an answer to the committee of correspond at Boston their result
of the same & for the town to give the committee their instructions what they
would have done.
4th To see if the town will choose a committee to reckon with the town
Treasurer that was in last year.
5th To see if the town will allow Isaac Mixer anything for the use of his
house the three years that one- third of the preaching was there.
6th To see if the town will do anything further in order to get the old
warrants sealed and made good.
7th To see if the town will do anything about seating the meeting house
this summer ; & if they should, to see what method the town will come into
respecting the same, & to pass such votes as they shall judge best & most
proper respecting the same.
8th To see if the town will choose a committee to join with a committee
from Norwich District in order to look into the town affairs that has been
transacted whilst we were all together, & likewise to look into the bill of incor
poration respecting the money that the town has to pay back to the district, &
to make report of their doings to the town the next town meeting.
9th To see if the town will choose a committee to settle with Abner Smith
& to look over his rate bills & see if there is not, a mistake made in the footing
or carrying out, & to make report of their doings to the town the next town
meeting.

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 83
10th To see if the town will alter the sum of the school money that was
voted last March meeting, & to pass such vote as the town shall judge best.
11th To see if the town will allow David Scott & Lieut. Clark particular
men's rates they cannot collect.
12th To see if the town will vote to have the assessors go round to every
man to take the valuation this year.
13th To see if the town will vote any more highway work to be done soon
on the county road that goes to Worthington & pass such votes as the town
thinks best respecting the same.
14th To see if the town will allow Samuel Elder six shillings that he paid
to the town when he was constable that he could not collect.
15th To hear the report of the committee that is appointed to settle the
places where men's and women's schools shall be kept, & to pass such vote as
the town shall judge best.
Hereof fail not & make return of this warrant with your doings thereon to
some one of the Selectmen before the meeting as you will answer the law in
that case made and provided. Given under our hands & seals this seventh
day of August & in the thirteenth year of his majesty's reign, Anno
Domini, 1773. David Shepard, ) Selectmen
Abner Smith, ^Murrayfield."
"Additional article.
16th To see if the town will do anything respecting the road that goes
through David Scott's land down Moose Hill."
"The foregoing is a true copy of the warrant, examined & recorded by
me David Shepard, town clerk."
"Hampshire, ss. By virtue of this warrant I have warned the inhabitants
of the town of Murrayfield to meet according to the time and place mentioned.
William Henrt, Constable of Murrayfield."
"Murrayfield, August 16th, 1773. At a legal meeting of the freeholders &
other inhabitants of the town of Murrayfield regularly assembled at the meet
ing house the following things was acted upon & voted, viz. :
1. Chose Mr. Timothy Smith moderator for said meeting.
2. Voted to choose town officers that are set off in Norwich. Chose
William Campbell Assessor and sworn. Chose Caleb Bascom Sealer of
Weights & Measures. Chose Bigott Eggleston Sealer of timber & lumber &
sworn. 3. Voted not to choose a committee of correspond.
4. Voted Timothy Smith, Jesse Johnson, & James Hamilton to settle with
Malcom Henry, town treasurer.
5. Voted not to allow Isaac Mixer anything for the use of his house.
6. Voted not to do anything respecting the getting the old warrants
sealed at present.
7. Voted to seat the meeting house floor.

84 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
8. Voted to have two fore-seats in the body; two on each side.
9. Voted that those that are highest in valuation shall have the highest
pews, and voted that Deae. Samuel Matthews, Lieut. Malcom Henry, & Ensign
Stephen Lyman be a committee to dignify the pew ground.
10. Voted that those that draw the pews shall build the fore-seats & their
pews by the first of July next or lose their right in the pews.
11. Voted that the committee lay out the pew ground by the 25th of this
month. 12. Voted that the same committee that is to reckon with the treasurer
shall be a committee to meet the Norwich committee & look over the town
affairs whilst together, & look up their bill of incorporation to see what
money we must pay back to them.
13. Voted Ensign Stephen Lyman, Doct. David Shepard, & James Hamilton
to be a committee to look over Abner Smith's rate bill & see if there is not a
mistake in footing as it now stands.
14. Voted to abate four pounds of the school money.
15. Voted to assist Mr. David Scott to get a committee from the court to
view the road down Moose Hill if they will come without our paying of them.
1'6. Voted to give Lieut. Clark Moses Haile's rate till he can get it, & Mr:
Scott Moses Haile's rate & Holyday's.
17. Voted that the assessors take the valuation without going round to
them. 18. Voted to cut out Worthington road so as the surveyors shall think it
will do, & they to have the same price they had before.
The foregoing are the votes passed in the meeting. Test per me Timothy
Smith. Moderator."
Seating the Meeting-House.
The next action of the town was to seat the meeting-house. A
town meeting for that purpose was held August 25th, 1773.
Samuel Matthews was chosen moderator, and the following votes
were then passed:
' ' Voted to reconsider those votes that was passed at the last meeting re
specting the seating of the meeting house."
" Voted to have two seats, one on each side of the Broad Alley."
" Voted that Jonathan Wait, Timothy Smith, Samuel Elder, John Laccore, &
Capt. Zebulon Jones shall have the fore-seat, on their building one of them,
during their life or residence in town."
" Voted that Abner Smith & wife shall have the privilege of sitting in the
fore-seat on his building one of them. "
"Voted that Abner Smith & David Shepard shall have the pew next to the
fore-seat on the right of the Broad Alley to them and their heirs so long as the
meeting house stands."

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 85
"Voted that Deae. Samuel Matthews, Deae. Jesse Johnson. & Deae. James
Hamilton & their wifes shall have the next pew to the pulpit as long as the
meeting house stands."
"Voted that Benj. Eggleston, John Laccore, Jr., John Elder, Thos. Smith,
Nathan Wright, Bazaliel Wright, George Black, Abner Smith, Jr., Andrew
Henry, & John Smith shall have the fore-seat in the front gallery upon their
raising the gallery stairs & building the seat."
"Voted that what the committee did with respect to seating the meeting
house & dignifying the pew ground shall stand."
" Voted that the persons that possess the pews shall have them to them &
their heirs so long as the meeting house stands."
"Voted that those persons that draw the pew ground shall have them
established to them on the consideration of their building the gallery stairs
& that those pews & stairs shall be built by the last of May next, & if any per
sons refuses to join with his partner in building said pew he shall forfeit his
title to said pew to his partner that builds it."
" Voted that the young men that are seated in the front gallery shall build
the seat through the front & make a division in the middle, one half for them
& the other half for the girls."
"Voted that the people that possess the pews shall pay the cost of the
building the gallery stairs equally on the poll."
" Voted that every man that is set down in the plan of the meeting house
shall possess the pews according to the number. "
"Voted that Gershom Rust & his wife shall sit with Mr. Jonathan Wait &
Edward Wright, Jr., upon their giving consent."
The town took some action touching Mr. Bascom's supply of fire
wood, from which it appears that wood was worth four shillings per
cord at that time in Murrayfield.

86

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.

Plan of the Lower Floor of the First Church in
Murrayfield, in 1773.

«J V

Du-s
Caleb Bascom
Sibel Qeer
Ebtn Snow

Tim'Paim

Pulpit

Five Seals.

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o
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'tssejohnson
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Joel Seward. &ml£ldtr.
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VWoolnarth
five Seats
Co S
r a
2>'f.%Mi.
."ri a ¦»-
23-2
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DH--1 Iffcir?
FrontDoor
Jos. Qier
Jos.Qilmore
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Mrilif>mbstil[
k
QQ
CHAPTER FIFTH.
Caring for the Meeting-house.
It is not my purpose to write anything of the history of the church
as an ecclesiastical entity. But this history would be incomplete and
unsatisfactory if the history of the meeting-house and the ministry, so
far as it touches the town in its corporate capacity, were left out; for
the care of the meeting-house and the maintenance of the gospel min
istry were matters of public concern, and were of the duties required of
towns by law. It is also interesting as an exhibition of how these
things were done in the good old days of our rigidly pious ancestors.
The care of the meeting-house, provided for by the town at its annual
town meeting as a part of the regular business of the town, is worthy
our attention. In March, 1774, the town voted to employ- John
Mclntire, who lived near by, to sweep the meeting-house and lock and
unlock the doors for one year; and his compensation was fixed at three
shillings for the year. This was not so small a sum for the service
when we take unto account that the making and care of fires was no
part of the duty, and that there was no church bell to ring. Then
again, Mclntire would attend church every Sunday any way, so that
the matter of unlocking the doors before service and of locking them
again after service imposed upon him no burden except a little earlier
and a little later attendance. The sweeping was not frequent. At
the March meeting in 1777, the town voted " to sweep the meeting
house twelve times a year ; " — so says the record. The sweeping was
done, of course, by proxy, and John Mclntire was the proxy. In
1779, Mclntire, who was in the militia, had been promoted — it was
a sergeant's warrant. At the March meeting the town voted " to pay
Sergeant John Mclntire eleven dollars to sweep the meeting-house for
the ensuing year." But in 1782, John Mclntire had been promoted
again — it was a lieutenant's commission this time. So far as the
records show he never again swept the meeting-house. Sergeants,
however, were still available, and the job of sweeping the meeting
house twelve times a year was given, by vote of the town, to Sergeant
Draper at a salary of five shillings for the year. In 1780, the town
voted " to give Deae. Matthews five shillings to sweep the meeting
house twelve times the ensuing year, at the rate of two shillings per
bushel for Indian corn."

88 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
The unfinished condition of the meeting-house is attested by the votes
passed in town meeting from time to time. At the March meeting,
1774, the town voted that "Mr. Aaron Bell and Mr. Matthew Camp
bell may build one pew on the south side of the west door, and sit
there during the town's pleasure, and if the town dispossess them, to
pay them their cost of building." The following article appeared in
the warrant for the December meeting, 1775: "To see if the town
will vote to board up the windows in the meeting house and pass such
vote as they think proper."
At a meeting held May 20, 1777, it was voted "that the town will
build all the pews on the lower floor at the cost of the town for the
use of those that are destitute of pews," and Lieut. William Moore,
Deacon Jesse Johnson, and Capt. Henry were chosen a committee to
attend to the building of them. The town also voted " that Lieut.
Williams and wife, John Abbott and wife, and Abiel Abbott should sit
in Ward and Willard's pew until pews are built." This pew was one
of those reserved by the proprietors when they gave the meeting
house to the town. Its owners were non-residents.
At the March meeting, 1782, the town voted "to put in studds and
raves for the present in the side of the gallery, and rough-board them,
and make a seat convenient for the people to sit in." This was estimated
to require five hundred feet of boards. Deacon Johnson, Gideon
Matthews, and David Shepard were chosen a committee to do the
work, and were required to have it done by the last of May. In
August, 1782, William Foot and William Stone were appointed a
committee "to board the meeting house windows up tight to keep out
the rain." It was also voted "that- Edward Wright, Jr., come and
view the glass windows of the meeting house and fix them up as well
as he can, and the town will pay him."
At the meeting in May it was voted that, pending the building of
the pews on the lower floor, " Ebenezer Dowd and wife, William
Mclntire, John Thompson and wife, and Samuel Gould and wife are
seated in Col. Willard's pew for the present ;" and it also recorded in
the town records of that meeting that "Lieut. William Moore and
Timothy Lyman give leave if the pew is full, they may sit in their
pew;" also that "Abner Smith, Jr., and wife sit in Deacon Matthews'
pew until the pews are built."
Manner of Seating Worshippers.
The matter of adjusting people with regard to their proper dignity
was by no means free from difficulty. It must have been as delicate a

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 89
piece of social engineering as seating the singers of a volunteer chorus
choir. As we have seen, this was arranged according to the rating
of individuals in the town valuation list. We arrange it on the same
principle now — the wealthiest hire the best pews, — but there was
somewhat more formality in the manner of arranging this question
by our ancestors. The pews were arranged with strict regard to the
dignity of location. It is not to be presumed that every one was satis
fied, although injured pride was not always spread upon the town
records. Indeed, few people care to expose to the public gaze, the
bandages with which they bind up their hurt feelings. But David
Bolton was not to be suppressed by any such delicacy. In 1774, he
complained to the town, and brought his complaint before the town
meeting, " that he did not have his right in the meeting house accord
ing to his valuation." But the town wisely refused to do anything
about it. Over sensitive people seldom receive any comfort at the
hands of public assemblies. In public assemblies there is usually a
disposition to be fair and just; and this was exhibited toward Tim
othy Smith, who, in 1778, represented to the town that as he lived in
the east part of the town he preferred to attend public worship with
the people of Norwich, and asked to be relieved from the minister
tax in Murrayfield. His request was granted.
The following queer vot'e was passed at a meeting in 1774 : " That
Robert Proctor and Jonas Henry shall have the pew spot between
Caleb Bascom's pew and the stairs as other people have theirs."
Mr. Bascom's Firewood.
There was always a town meeting held in November or in December,
at which it was one of the regular items of business to vote a supply
of firewood for the Rev. Mr. Bascom, in accordance with the terms of
his settlement. At first there was, probably, little or no difficulty in
obtaining a suitable supply ; but in December, 1775, the vote of the
town indicates that the duty had been thrown upon the individual
citizen to furnish each his share of this supply of wood for the par
sonage. The town voted that "Lieut. Enoch Shepard, Mr. Wm.
Moore, Mr. Reuben Woolworth, and Mr. John Mclntire be a commit
tee to desire the people in their quarter to get said wood on days they
shall appoint, and that if any person neglect his duty as to getting
wood, said committee make return of their names and neglect to be
read in open town meeting." It is to be presumed that this threat
had the desired effect ; for no names were reported. This was un-

SO A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
doubtedly a burdensome way of furnishing the wood, and very likely
it fell unequally upon the people in proportion to their distance from
the parsonage. The roads were- poor and difficult for traveling, and
often so drifted with snow as to be nearly or quite impassable for «
loaded teams. Perhaps this would explain the action of the town in
November, 1777, in choosing a committee consisting of Deacon James
Hamilton, Gideon Matthews, and Sergeant John Mclntire to wait
upon and " try to hire Rev. Aaron Bascom to get his firewood, and
report to the meeting in half an hour." The committee soon returned
and reported an arrangement with Mr. Bascom to the effect that he
would accept from the town the sum of thirty dollars and get his own
firewood." The town voted to accept the arrangement. This, of
¦course, meant a money tax upon each one ; and this, too, was burden
some. People living near, or who could easily reach the parsonage
with loaded teams, preferred to pay the tax in wood. So in Novem
ber, 1778, the town voted Mr. Bascom thirty dollars for his firewood,
but with the provision that "if any man gets his share of the fire
wood by the middle of December next, he shall have at the rate of ten
shillings per load 3 feet high, 4 feet wide, and 8 feet long." But at
the November meeting, 1779, with a list of about one hundred tax
payers, the town voted to pay John Mclntire seventy-five pounds to
get Mr. Bascom's firewood for the year ensuing, and that every man
who brings one-half cord by the 1st of January shall be allowed
fifteen shillings out of his town rate, and that the same shall be de
ducted from the seventy-five pounds." After this it does not appear
that there was any difficulty in getting the parson's firewood. At a
meeting held in October, 1780, the town voted "to pay John Hamil
ton four pounds and eight shillings in the old way to get Rev. Mr.
Bascom's firewood the year ensuing, he allowing each man to get his
proportion of wood by the 15th of December, next, and to be allowed
two shillings and six pence per cord the old way." In November,
1781, under an article in the warrant " To let out the getting wood
for our Rev. Pastor the year ensuing," it was by vote let out to Lieut,
John Mclntire for three pounds and eight shillings. In November,
1782, the town voted sixty pounds for Mr. Bascom's salary and three
pounds to get his firewood. Mr. Bascom's Salary.
As the currency depreciated during the War of the Revolution, Mr.
Bascom found his salary insufficient, and on Thanksgiving Day, 1778,
he laid the matter before the congregation in a letter read from the

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 91
pulpit, which led to the calling of a town meeting to be held Decem
ber 16th, " to give answer to Rev. Mr. Bascom's letter, which he read
last Thanksgiving Day, and to see if the town will vote to raise any
money or specie for the use of Rev. Mr. Bascom on account of the
¦deficiency of our paper currency." After the meeting was opened a re
quest was sent to Mr. Bascom to attend the meeting and have his
letter read. The result of this meeting was a vote "to pay Mr.
Bascom for his support for the year ensuing forty pounds in specie or
labor, as labor and specie went amongst us in the year 1774, or money
¦enough to buy so much specie at the year's end, or by 20th of next
December." Depreciated Currency.
In 1779, Congress issued $140,000,000 currency, worth in coin only
$7,000,000. It depreciated more rapidly than it was issued. In
March, 1780, Congress decided to resume in silver at the rate of one
¦dollar in silver to forty in paper. No wonder Mr. Bascom complained
when his salary was paid in the depreciated continental currency.
Cemetery.
The clearing of the land about the meeting house and in the ceme
tery was limited to what was absolutely necessary; and no wonder,
for these people had enough to do in clearing their own farms. At
the March meeting in 1774, the town voted " to clear the grave yard
-and around the meeting house." But time passed on and little or no
improvement was made, as would appear from the following article
-in the warrant for a town meeting to be held in April, 1776 : "To
see if the town will vote to do any work this summer on the burying
yard to make it decent." That its condition was bad and that some
of the people of the town were a good deal in earnest about it may
fairly be inferred from the following vote : " That all the polls in this
town shall work one day on the grave yard by the 20th of June next,
or pay four shillings, and that the selectmen shall notify the people
what work to do." At this time there were nearly one hundred polls
in the town ; which would indicate that a good deal of work was
needed to put the cemetery in decent condition.
In May, 1777, the town voted "to get a funeral cloth."
Schools.
The inhabitants of Murrayfield were never indifferent to the subject
of education, but poverty often prevented them from appropriating

92 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
money for schools. In the warrant for the December meeting, 1775,
there was an article " to see if the town will vote any school money and
how much, and when to pay it into the treasury." But the town
voted to raise no money. In March, 1777, the town voted "to raise
no money either for schools or highways this year." The vote in 1778
was to raise no money for schools. But at the March meeting, 1779,
the town voted "to raise some school money this present year, and to
have it divided according as the committee shall divide the districts."
Deacon James Hamilton, Doctor David Shepard, Samuel Jones,
Lieut. James Clark, and Samuel Ellis were chosen a committee to
divide the town into school districts; and it was "voted to raise one
penny half penny on the pound and as much on the poll in proportion
as other taxes are laid for the support of schools this year." In May
of the same year the town voted to do something with the school
lands ; and Lieut. Newton Parmenter, Capt. Smith, and Capt. Enoch
Shepard were chosen a committee to view the school lands, and make
report to the next town meeting.
In April, 1780, the question of building school houses was
brought before the town. The vote was that the town build none
this year, but that permission be given to each school district to build
one not exceeding the dimensions of twenty feet long, by eighteen
feet wide, and one story high; and also that the districts be permitted
to choose their own committees to build the houses. It was further
voted not to raise any more money for schools the present year. But
in June of the same year the town voted to raise four hundred pounds
for the support of schools. In May, 1781, the town voted to raise for
schools " thirty pounds in hard cash or paper currency equivalent,"
to be paid in by November 1st. In the warrant for the meeting in
November, 1781, was an article "to see if the town will choose com
mittees in their several districts to see that their school money is ex
pended according to law." The town voted such committees in the
several districts as follows : Ensign Stephen Lyman for the Middle
District, Deacon James Hamilton for the'North End District, Samuel
Jones for the Eggleston District, Aaron Bell for the Abbott District,
Gershom Rust for the East District, Jabez Tracy for the South
District, and Robert Proctor for the West Branch.
Leasing School Lands.
In February, 1783, the town passed the following vote: " That the
Selectmen' and their successors in said office be a committee to hunt

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 93
up the school lands lying in, and belonging to, the township of Mur
rayfield ; and they are hereby directed to appraise said school lands
for its real 'Value per acre cash in hand, and to lease out said lands
to any person or persons by the lot or part of a lot for any term of
time not exceeding nine hundred and ninety-nine years ; the person
or persons to pay the lawful interest annually on the sums which said
lands shall amount to; the lease to be so framed that in case the
interest shall not be paid annually, the selectmen are hereby em
powered to sue said lease or leases in such manner as the law directs ;
and said lands to return to the town again to dispose of."
A specimen copy of the leases drafted under this vote will not be
uninteresting. •
" This agreement made this twenty-seventh day of February in the year of
our Lord 1783 between William Campbell & John Blair selectmen of Murray-
field & Enoch Shepard of Murrayfield, all in the County of Hampshire,
gentlemen, witnesseth: that agreeably to a vote of the freeholders & other in
habitants of the town of Murrayfield, assembled in a legal town meeting on
the third day of February, inst., & passed a vote to lease out their school
lands, & that the selectmen and their successors in said office should be a com
mittee for said purpose; in conformity to said vote, we, by these presents,
have agreed to lease out one lot of said school land to said Enoch Shepard for
the term of nine hundred and ninety-nine years from the date above. Said
lot is called a fifty acre lot in the Third Division on the West Branch, be the
same more or less. Bounded as follows, viz., by letter P northeasterly, by
No. 7 southeasterly, by No. 5 southwesterly, by No. Nought northwesterly.
The above described lot is leased out to said Enoch Shepard, his heirs &
assigns for the above term of nine hundred & ninety-nine years'on the follow
ing terms: Said school lot as above described is valued by our appraisment
at twenty-five pounds lawful money. The interest of twenty-five pounds
lawful money at six per cent, is to be paid annually by Enoch Shepard his
heirs & assigns into the hands of the Selectmen of Murrayfield. And in case
the interest is not paid agreeably to the above terms the Selectmen of said
town of Murrayfield are to ask & demand of said Enoch Shepard his heirs &
assigns the interest as above; & if the interest is not paid within sixty days
after such demand is made, the Selectmen then in being are to inform said
Enoch Shepard, his heirs & assigns that this lease with all its privileges is for
feited & to be considered as nul & void & is to be at the disposal of the town
again unless in extraordinary case, viz: if said Enoch Shepard, his heirs or
assigns should be absent or should be delerious or in case of decease, in such
cases said Enoch Shepard, his heirs & assigns, are to make good all interest
that may be due with all reasonable damages for any neglect longer than the
term of eighteen months, when such extraordinaries may happen, & if such
neglect exceeds the term of eighteen months then the above demand of the
Selectmen to be in force. By virtue of the power & authority to us given by

94 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
said vote of the third day of February, inst., & by these presents, to have &
to hold the said premises together with all their appurtenances to him the
said Enoch Shepard, his heirs & assigns as an absolute estate of inheritance
for the term of time as above.
" And we, the said William Campbell & John Blair, do in our said capacity &
in the name & behalf of the town, covenant & engage that said demised prem
ises to him, the said Enoch Shepard, his heirs and assigns, against the lawful
claims & demands of all persons whatsoever hereafter for the term of time as
above to warrant, secure, & defend by these presents.
' ' In witness whereof we, the said William & John, in our said capacity & in
behalf of said town, have hereunto set our hands and seals this seventeenth
day of February, A. D. 1783.
Signed, sealed, & delivered ") Enoch Shepard & Seal. •
in presence of !
David Shepard, [ John Blair & Seal, ) Selectmen of
Lucinda Shepard. J William Campbell & Seal, j Murrayfield."
This lease was recorded in the record book of the town of
Murrayfield. Similar leases were given of other tracts of school land after the
name of the town was changed from Murrayfield to Chester.
Schoolhouses.
At a town meeting held April 7th, 1783, the town " voted that the
Middle School District have liberty to set a school house on the town's
land the west side of the highway west of the burying yard." This
was the west side of the road leading to the East Branch, and on the
spot where the present schoolhouse stands at Chester Center, and is
within the eight acres laid out for a meeting-house place, and burial
place, and a training field in 1763.
Town Pound.
At the annual town meeting, 1774, the town voted for the first time
to build a pound, and appropriated for this purpose the sum of twelve
pounds. This was equal to the sum which the undivided town
appropriated for schools the previous year.
In July, 1778, the town voted "that the rams must be shut up from
September 20th to November 20th on penalty of forfeiture of the ram
to the person finding it." In March, 1782, the town voted "that
hogs should not run at large during any part of the year."
The progress attained in cattle raising, as late as 1776, may be
judged by an article which was in a town meeting called in June, 1776:

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 95
"To see if the town will vote to hire a bull for the service of the
town." The town voted against the article.
Wolves.
At a meeting held as late as 1781, one item of business was, " To see
if the town will vote to give a bounty for wolves' heads," and the
town voted " to give twelve shillings for a wolf head if it is killed by
any of the inhabitants of this town in this or in the neighboring
towns." This was the first action taken by the town in any town
meeting upon this subject; and down to the spring of 1783 no action
appears to have been taken by the town touching wolves, other than
the vote above named.
First Justice of the Peace.
In the warrant calling the December town meeting in 1775, was the
following article : " To see if the town will vote to have a justice of
the peace in this town and also nominate one." The vote taken under
this article is recorded as follows : " Voted that it is the mind of the
town if there is established to confess judgment for debts it is best to
have a justice of the peace in town, also nominated Lieut. Enoch
Shepard."
Form of Caption of Town Warrants.
Prior to 1775 town meetings were called by warrants issued " in his
majesty's name; " but in this year the warrants were directed to the
constable, requiring him, "in the name and by the direction of the
Continental Provincial Congress," to warn, etc.
Town Poor.
The question of supporting the poor in the town came up in
town meeting for the first time in June, 1778, in the form of a propo
sition "to see if the town would choose a committee to take care of
the poor in town." The town refused to choose a committee. It
does no.t appear whether the town had in any way provided for the
poor; neither does it appear that there had been poor persons in the
town needing public charity, except as it may be inferred from the fact
of bringing the question before the town.
Small-pox and Inoculation.
The action of the town at a town meeting held in April, 1778, touch
ing inoculation as a protection against small-pox is interesting as giv-

96 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
ing some idea of how this was managed before the world was in posses
sion of Jenner's discovery, which was made about this time. At this
meeting the town voted that " Capt. Shepard may have his family
inoculated in his house if he will give good obligations for his good
behavior," and that he " may let others of this town as long as the
first day of May and no longer, if there is room for them." In May
following the town voted " that any person may have liberty to have
the small-pox by inoculation in the fall at proper places as the town
shall judge best." The process of inoculation was as follows: "If
the matter of a variolous (or small-pox) pustule, taken after the com
mencement of the eighth day, be inserted in or beneath the skin of a
person who has not previously suffered from small-pox, the following
phenomena are induced: 1. Local inflammation is set up; 2. At the
end of six days there is fever similar to that of small-pox; and 3. After
the lapse of three mof e days, there is a more or less abundant eruption
of pustules. This process is termed inoculation, and the disease thus
produced is denominated inoculated small-pox. The disease produced
in this artificial manner is much simpler and less dangerous than
ordinary small-pox; and as this was an almost certain means of pre
venting a subsequent attack of the ordinary disease, inoculation was
much practiced until the discovery (about 1796) of the anti-variolous
power of vaccination." See Chamber's Encyclopsedia.
In the spring of 1720 small-pox broke out again in Massachusetts
after an interval of about twenty years, and "out of five thousand
eight hundred and eighty-nine persons who were attacked in Boston,"
says Barry, " eight hundred and forty-four died." In view of this fact
it is strange that any intelligent person should question the import
ance of vaccination, or the wisdom of the law requiring it. Barry
adds: "The practice of inoculation had been recently introduced
into Europe, and Cotton Mather, one of the ministers of Boston, hav
ing read in the Transactions of the Royal Society of England, of which
he was a member, letters from Constantinople and Smyrna giving an
account of its practice and its success, interested himself to introduce
it into America; but his application to the physicians of the town was
at first unsuccessful." For a time it met with bitter opposition, based
upon all sorts of grounds, moral, religious and political; and violence
was indulged in, both by words and acts.
Highways.
As we have already seen, building and repairing of highways were
always important items of expense to the town. The roads over the

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 97
highlands were not only difficult to travel, but often difficult to make
and keep in repair in places where the grade is steep, rendering them
liable to be washed badly by heavy rains, and in the spring by the rapid
thawing of snow. But in places where the grade is light or the ground
level, the roads when once made need but little attention to keep them
in reasonably good condition. This would be the fact on all the roads
along the river banks, except in places — and they are numerous — where
the interval lands are but little elevated above the river in high water,
exposing them to the gradual encroachment of the river which tends
to crowd toward one side or the other of the valley, often washing
away several feet in times of great freshets, and often overflowing the
roadbed and washing out the material of which it is made, so that
between this kind of damage and the maintaining of bridges, the river
roads — so called — are far more expensive than those upon the higher
lands. In March, 1774, the town voted to raise eighty pounds for the
repair of highways, twelve shillings on the poll and the remainder on
the estates, and voted to allow three shillings per day for work on the
highway. At this meeting the town voted to build a " highway from
William Henry's down to the dugway at David Scott's land," and at
the same time it was voted not to discontinue the "old road from
Lieut. James Clark's house down Moose Hill to dugway in David
Scott's land." From a point near the old cellar-place which marks
the spot where Absolom Blair's house stood, is an old road leading off
from the older road in the direction of the house formerly known as
the "Raymond place," but better known to-day as the "Woodruff
place." This road would have let both Clark and Blair out into the
new road from "Henry's down to the dugway," but it would have
been less convenient for them. Many new roads were laid out from
time to time as necessity required, and their locations were fully de
scribed in the records of the town. In 1777 ninety pounds were raised
for repair of highways that year, and at the same meeting the town
voted that " the selectmen lay out a road, if they judge best, with the
consent of Deae. Johnson and the Wrights that own the land, across
from Deae. Johnson's, kitter-cornering across Wright's land into the
old road near the corner of said Wright's lot, or across the corner of
Major Taylor's." At the March meeting in 1778 the town appropri
ated one hundred pounds for the repair of highways, and voted to pay
nine shillings per day until the last of June for work on the highways."
There was pressing need for bridges. An article " To see if the town
will assist Norwich in building a bridge across the river near Mr.
Way's mill" — that is to say, near where Norwich bridge now stands —

98 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
was inserted in the warrant for the November meeting in 1778, but
the town voted no. But when the proposition took the form of ask
ing the General Court to require the original proprietors to build the
bridge, the town, at a meeting held February 8th, 1779, voted " to
bear its proportional cost with Norwich to procure the building of a
bridge near Way's mill." The joint action of the town of Norwich
and Murrayfield resulted, as has been related before, in the building
of the bridge at the expense of the proprietors, and in the sale of lands
belonging to Timothy Paine to pay. the expense.
In March, 1779, the town voted to lay a road "from Landlord-Tay
lor's for Partridgefield " — now Middlefield. Five dollars was allowed
this year per day for work on the highways, and the town voted "to
raise four hundred pounds for the repair of highways the present year."
It sometimes happens that heavy rains come in the latter part of
summer, causing freshets, which do great damage to the roads. That
this happened in 1779 would appear from the fact that a town meeting
was held August 18th, at which the town passed the following vote:
" If any man will do a good, faithful day's work on the highways this
summer or fall, it shall be allowed in the next year's highway rate."
In May, 1781, the town voted to raise sixty pounds in hard cash to re
pair highways, and that four shillings in hard cash should be paid for
a day's work. In 1780 it was voted" "to give twenty dollars per day
for highway work." In April, 1782, the town voted to raise sixty
pounds for the repair of highways, and to allow three shillings for a
day's work. And in March, 1783, eighty pounds were appropriated
to the repair of highways, and three shillings allowed for a day's work.
Representatives to the General Court.
When the east part of Murrayfield was setoff into a separate district,
it was invested with all the privileges of other towns, with the excep
tion that it was not permitted to choose a separate representative to
the General Court; but for that purpose it was still to act with Murray-
field. In July, 1775, Murrayfield "voted to send one representative
to the General Court." And it was also " voted that the representative
be paid in work or grain for his own time and horses." Lieut. Enoch
Shepard was the first representative chosen by the town of Murrayfield
to the General Court. The town also " chose for a committee to give
instructions to the representative, Deae. John Kirtland, Lieut. David
Scott, Ensign Stephen Lyman, Deae. Samuel Matthews, and Capt.
Abner Smith." One of the articles in the warrant for the December
meeting was " To see if the town will reconsider the vote respecting

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 99"
paying the representative, and pass such votes as the town shall judge
best respecting the same." The vote under this article, as recorded is:
" Voted to reconsider the vote respecting paying the representative."
It would seem that Shepard was continued in the office of representa
tive for several years; for in May, 1779, the town passed the following
vote: " Voted that the town will be obliged to pay Capt. Enoch Shep
ard his expenses for his travel and attendance on the General Court,
he giving his time and allowing the town his fees." In May, 1780,
Timothy Lyman was chosen representative to the General Court, and
Capt. John Kelso, Capt. Enoch Shepard, Deae. James Hamilton,
Alexander Gordon, and Timothy Smith were chosen a committee " to
instruct the representative and order him when to go to Boston."
In May, 1782, Deae. Johnson was chosen representative, and the town
passed the following vote: "Voted to choose a committee of five to
give Deae. Johnson instructions how to conduct at Boston with regard
to the business of the town and when to go, and not to tarry upon
other public business. Chose Dr. David Shepard, Capt. Enoch
Shepard, Deae Matthews, and Capt. Abner Smith committee."
Relations with Norwich.
At the March meeting in 1774, the claim of Norwich to its share of
the seals and measures came up for action; the justice of which was
conceded, and the constable instructed to procure such other meas
ures as should be necessary.
The following petition to the selectmen was duly brought before the
town at a meeting held July 5th, 1779:
" To the Honorable Selectmen of the town of Murrayfield, namely, Timothy
Lyman & John Blair: We, who are undernamed, do humbly desire you would
warn a town meeting in order to set us off from the town of Murrayfield to the
town of Norwich, that we may know the minds of the town & have their vote
for being set off. Our grievances are so heavy that we can not lie still under
them; which grievances we shall declare to the meeting when the meeting is,
we looking to ourselves to be the humble servants at so far a distance that we
. can not enjoy the privileges of the town which causes us to make this address
to select gentlemen of the town; & in hopes of your granting our weak
request we take the boldness, with love & pleasure to subscribe ourselves
your well-meaning, though aggrieved friends & very humble servants so long
as we are. Dated at Murrayfield, May 13tb, 1779. Abel Partridge,
Allyn Green,
Ebenezer Freeman,
Eunice Geer,
John Morse,
Emanuel Northrop,
Joseph Northrop,
David Twadwell."

100 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
The article in the warrant was as follows: " To see if the town will
vote off the east part of this town to Norwich about as far as the house
where Silsbury Geer formerly lived." But the town rejected the prop
osition. This, however, did not settle the question, as we see by the
action of the town in May, 1780, in choosing Dr. David Shepard, Mr.
Timothy Lyman and Mr. Timothy Smith, "a committee to meet the
court's committee appointed to straighten the line between Murray-
field and Norwich," and the committee was instructed to "object
against Norwich having a straight line." This subject came before
the town again at a meeting held December 25th, 1780. That the in
habitants of Murrayfield were a good deal excited about the question
may fairly be inferred from the following votes: "Voted to choose a
committee of five to wait on the court's committee appointed to view
the situation and circumstances of straightening the line between the
towns of Murrayfield and Norwich, and chose Dr. David Shepard, Mr.
Timothy Smith, Mr. Timothy Lyman, Capt. Abner Smith, Ensign
Stephen Lyman. Also voted that the committee use their utmost in
fluence to hinder the town of Norwich from obtaining one inch more
than the line already fixed." Also voted " that if the court's com
mittee should think best to straighten the line between Murrayfield
and Norwich that the town will petition the General Court to incor
porate both towns together."
At a town meeting held in January, 1781, the town voted "that
Timothy Lyman shall take a plan of the town and go to Major Tay
lor's on account of the land that Norwich has taken off of this town to
straighten the line."
On the 8th of May, 1781, the General Court passed the following:
" An act to set off a part of the town of Murrayfield & annex it to the town of
Norwich.
Whereas, It appears that Abel Partridge and others, living in the easterly
part of Murrayfield, would be greatly accommodated by being set off from
said town of Murrayfield & annexed to the town of Norwich.
§ 1. Be it, therefore, enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives"
in General Court assembled, & by the authority of the same, that all that
part of the town of Murrayfield that lies easterly of a direct line from the
south west corner of Ingersole Grant, so called, to the south west corner of
Chesterfield, with the inhabitants thereon, shall forever hereafter be consid
ered as belonging to the town of Norwich.
§ 2. Provided nevertheless, that the said inhabitants shall pay their propor
tionable part of all the taxes, & of men to be raised for the Continental army,
which are already ordered by the General Court on said town of Murrayfield,
anything in this act to the contrary notwithstanding.

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 101
§ 3. Provided also, & be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that
the amount of the estate contained on & in said tract of land, & the polls
thereon returned by the assessors of the town of Murrayfield, be deducted
from the return made by the assessors of the town of Norwich."
Middlefield.
The inhabitants of the northwest part of the town thought they
would be better off if annexed to the town of Middlefield, and signified
their wish by a petition as follows:
"Murrayfield, February 18th, 1779. Whereas we, the inhabitants of the
north west part of the town of Murrayfield being convened together with the
inhabitants of the north east part of Becket & south west part of Worthing
ton unanimously think it best to be set off as a town; wherefore we request
& desire to be set off from this town & adjoin those forementioned inhabitants;
our living so remote from the Middle of the town makes it very tedious attend
ing any town business, especially the preaching of the Gospel; therefore we,
whose names are underwritten, do humbly petition to this town to set us off
near as far as Thomas Elder's.
" To the select men of Murrayfield: The above writing to be put into the
warrant for the March meeting or immediately to call a meeting on the same
account. Samuel Jones,
John Taylor,
John Thompson,
John Jones,
Benjamin Eggleston,
Bigott Eggleston,
Lebanon Isham."
It was put into the warrant for the March meeting, but the town
refused to grant the request of the petitioners. But the petitioners
went to the General Court and obtained their desire.
Valuation Lists.
The aggregate valuation of the town in 1775 was sixteen hundred
and five pounds and six shillings.
In 1776, Capt. Abner Smith was rated at one hundred and nineteen
pounds and fifteen shillings; Joel Seward was rated at seventy-one
pounds and four shillings; Capt. Enoch Shepard was rated at sixty-
six pounds and four shillings; James Clark was rated at sixty-four
pounds; Thaddeus Newton was rated at sixty-three pounds and six
teen shillings, and Malcom Henry was rated at sixty-eight pounds and
fourteen shillings. Abner Smith was for several years the richestman
in town.

102 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
In 1777 the aggregate valuation of the town was thirty-eight thou
sand eight hundred and nineteen pounds and- sixteen shillings. The
same year Abner Smith was rated at twelve hundred and seventy-three
pounds. This same year the Rev. Mr. Bascom's name appeared for
the first time on the valuation list, and he was rated at one hundred
and ninety pounds; but no poll tax was assessed to him. The rating
of non-resident tax-payers in 1777 was as follows:

Abijah Willard, rated at £3000

John Murray,

' 4000

John Chandler,

5600

Timothy Paine,

4400

James Otis,

; 516

Col. James Otis,

400

Col. Samuel Ward,

1400

Brig. Joseph Otis,

487

Capt. Beaumont,

' 118

In May, 1780, the town's valuation had shrunk to four thousand
nine hundred and fifteen pounds, and Abner Smith's rating was one
hundred and thirty-nine pounds, he being the only resident tax-payer
who was rated as high as one hundred pounds. In October the aggre
gate valuation of the town was four thousand seven hundred and
thirty-eight pounds, and Abner Smith's rating was one hundred and
thirty-seven pounds.
In luly, 1781, the aggregate valuation of the town was four thou
sand nine hundred and twenty-four pounds; and in November it was
three thousand and six pounds; at which time Abner Smith, still the
richest man in town, was rated at only thirty-one pounds and six shil
lings. But this same year the valuation of Timothy Paine, non-resi
dent, was twelve hundred pounds. The valuation list showed that the
property of the other non-resident tax-payers did not shrink propor
tionately with that of resident tax-payers.
The last valuation list taken by the assessors of the town under the
name of Murrayfield, was dated November 15, 1782, a copy of which
is given :

Poll.

Real.

Personal.

Total.

£. s. d.

£. s. d.

£. s. d.

Joseph Abbott,'

1

0 4 9

0 13 8

0 18 5

Abial Abbott,

1

0 15 0

1 13 5

2 8 5

John Abbott,

1

2 5 0

2 13 11

4 18 11

Ebenezer Abbott,

1

0 11 0

0 7 0

0 18 0

David Allen,

0

0 6 0

0 0 0

0 6 0

William Bell,

2

2 18 0

2 7 5

5 5 5

Aaron Bell,

1

16 5

1 14 10

3 13

Samuel Bell,

1

18 7

1 10 5

2 19 0

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.

103

Poll

,

Real

.

Persoi

lal.

Total.

£. s.
d.
£. s.
d.
£
s. d.
John Bell,
1
2 6
5
1 19
5
4
5 10
Ebenezer Babcock,
2
1 13
2
1 13
3
3
6 5
Daniel Babcock,
0 4
0
0 3
7
0
7 7
Rodolphus Babcock,
0 0
0
0 0
0
0
0 0
- James Campbell,
1 4
11
1 4
5
2
9 4
Matthew Campbell,
0 12
11
1 7
1
2
0 0
Lieut. Wm. Campbell,
1 10
6
1 10
6
3
1 0
Robert Campbell,
0 0
0
0 8
0
0
8 0
William Crossman,
1 4
0
0 10
6
1
14 6
Samuel Kellogg,
0 12
0
0 0
0
0
12 0
Ebenezer Collins,
0 11
6
0 0
0
0
11 6
Edward Crafts,
2 8
0
0 0
0
2
8 0
Robert Crawford,
0 16
0
0 8
10
1
4 10
Ebenezer Dowd,
0 4
0
0 5
9
0
9 9
Joshua Draper,
0 14
3
0 9
4
1
3 7
Samuel Elder,
1 10
0
1 10
0
3
0 0
Thomas Elder,
1 1
9
1 5
8
2
7 5
John Elder,
1 10
2
1 6
9
2
16 11
William Elder,
1 10
0
1 16
1
3
6 1
Benjamin Eggleston,
1 11
1
1 14
6
3
5 7
Abraham Fleming,
3 5
11
2 15
0
6
0 11
William Foot,
1 12
4
1 9
0
3
1 4
Jacob Fowle,
0 17
1
0 9
0
1
6 1
Thomas Flint,
0 8
8
0 0
0
0
8 8
Alexander Gordon,
2 16
8
2 7
7
5
4 3
David Gleason,
3 2
11
1 13
2
4
16 1
Capt. Grout,
0 0
0
0 10
6
0
10 6
James Hamilton,
2 5
0
2 13
3
4
18 3
James Mulhollon,
2 11
2
1 13
0
4
4 2
Simeon E. Mulhollon,
0 0
0
0 13
2
0
19 2
William Hill,
0 9
5
0 2
5
0
11 10
Zebulon Isham,
0 12
6
0 14
1
1
6 7
Jesse Johnson,
1 2
2
2 4
9
3
6 11
Samuel Jones,
2 1
2
1 8
9
3
9 11
John Jones,
1 16
4
0 19
2
2
15 6
Stephen Lyman,
4 12
5
3 4
0
7
16 5
Timothy Lyman,
4 1
0
3 10
15
7
11 5
John Laccore,
0 4
9
0 2
5
0
7 2
John Laccore, Jr.,
0 12
2
0 15
11
1
8 1
Poll.
Real.
Personal.
Faculty.
Total.
£.
s. d.
£.
s.
d.
£.
s.
d.
£. s.
d.
William Moore,
1
2
18 7
2
6
8
0
0
0
5 5
3
John Moore,
0
1
7 1
1
1
0
0
0
0
2 8
1
James Moore,
1
1
1 3
0
18
7
0
0
0
1 19
10
Widow Jane Mann,
1
0
19 6
1
4
2
0
0
0
2 3
8
Samuel Matthews,
1
1
1 4
1
3
7
0
0
0
2 4
11
Gideon Matthews,
2
2
0 8
2
2
6
0
0
0
4 3
2
Ebenezer Prior,
0
1
0 0
0
7
2
0
0
0
1 7
2
William Prior,
1
0
0 0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0 0
0
David Mathar,
1
0
0 0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0 0
0
John Mclntire,
2
3
2 9
2
6
4
0
0
0
5 9
1
Amasa Pomeroy,
1
0
13 1
0
8
0
0
0
0
1 1
1
John N. Parmenter,
1
1
7 4
1
10
0
0
0
0
2 17
4
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COOQi-a

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.

105

Poll.

Real.

Persona]

Faculty.

rotal.

£
s. d.
£.
s. d.
£.
s.
d. £
. s.
d.
Andrew Henry,
0
16 0
1
12 0
0
0
0 2
8
0
Joseph Henry,
2
11 10
1
13 4
0
0
0 4
5
2
John Kelso,
4
14 0
3
6 0
0
3
0 8
3
0
Hugh Kelso,
0
0 0
0
0 0
0
0
0 0
0
0
Noah Kingsbury,
0
5 0
0
4 9
0
0
0 0
9
9
Robert Moore,
0
15 4
0
7 9
0
0
0 1
3
1
Samuel Moore,
3
18 0
3
9 5
0
0
0 7
7
5
Thaddeus Newton,
1
0 0
1
5 8
0
0
0 2
5
8
Joseph Northrop,
0
4 0
0
3 7
0
0
0 0
7
7
Ebenezer Freeman,
0
9 10
0
9 6
0
0
0 0
19
4
Gershom Rust,
1
6 8
0
16 0
0
0
0 2
2
4
Ebenezer Stowe,
2
14 0
1
19 5
0
0
0 4
13
5
John Smith,
1
0 0
0
14 6
0
0
0 1
14
6
William Smith,
0
0 0
0
8 9
0
0
0 0
8
9
David Scott,
0
0
19 2
0
0 0
0
0
0 0
19
2
I
'oil.
Eeal.
Personal.
Total.
£. s.
d.
£.
s.
d.
£. s.
d.
Joel Seward,
1
7 0
0
3
19
7
10 19
7
Daniel Twadwell,
0
0 13
0
0
0
0
0 13
0
Jabez Tracey,
1
4 8
0
2
2
0
6 10
0
John Smith, 2d,
1
0 0
0
• 0
0
0
0 0
0
Reuben Woolworth,
2
2 15
0
1
19
0
4 14
0
Eli Woolworth,
1
0 0
0
1
0
0
1 0
0
Jonathan Webber,
1
2 9
4
2
2
1
4 11
3
Jonathan Wait,
1
0 19
7
0
19
11
1 19
6
Joseph Stebbins,
0
1 0
0
0
0
0
1 0
0
Joseph Stebbins, Jr.,
0
0 16
0
0
0
0
0 16
0
Daniel Smith, Jr.,
1
2 5
9
1
12
9
3 18
6
Richard Falley,
0
0 0
0
0
0
0
0 0
0
Samuel French,
2
0 16
11
1
0
0
1 16
11
Gershom Flagg,
1
0 6
0
0
3
9
0 9
9
David Hedges,
0
0 10
0
0
0
0
0 10
0
Capt. Alexander,
1
0 6
0
1
12
0
1 18
0
Ebenezer Meacham,
0
0 6
0
0
0
0
0 6
0
Joseph Pomeroy,
(1
0 12
0
0
0
0
0 12
0
Robert Smith,
2
1 12
¦A
2
4
0
3 16
3
Oliver Hitchcock,
0
1 10
0
0
0
0
1 10
0
Robert Proctor,
2
1 14
0
1
0
9
2 14
9
John Bolton,
0
1 0
7
0
0
0
1 0
7
William Stone,
1
1 9
0
1
5
4
2 14
4
John Carlisle,
1
0 10
0
0
8
1
0 8
1
Solomon Cooley,
1
0 0
0
0
3
10
0 3
10
Job Clark,
0
1 0
0
0
0
0
1 0
0
Sylvester Sanderson,
0
0 10
0
0
0
0
0 10
0
William Hunt,
0
0 10
0
0
0
0
0 10
0
Zophar Searle,
0
2 0
0
0
0
0
2 0
0
John Griswold,
0
0 10
0
0
0
0
0 10
0
Timothy Culver,
0
1 13
0
0
0
0
1 13
0
Bildad Fowler,
0
1 0
0
0
0
0
1 0
0
Lieut. Simeon Fobes,
0
1 9
3
0
3
0
1 12
3
George Cooley,
0
0 10
0
0
0
0
0 10
0
Sylvester Judd,
0
1 0
0
0
0
0
1 0
0
106

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.

Poll.

Real

I.

Facultv.

Tota

1.

£. s.

d.

£. s. 'd.

£. s.

d.

Davenport Williams,

1

0 3

0

0 3 0

0 6

0

Ward & Willard, heirs,

0

8 6

5

0 0 0

8 6

5

Samuel Ward,

0

5 5

0

0 0 0

5 5

0

Joshua Brocket,

0

4 1

0

0 0 0

4 1

0

James Otis,

0

4 4

0

0 0 0

4 4

0

Samuel Chandler,

0

3 12

0

0 0 0
Personal.

3 12

0

William Sizer,

0

3 11

7

0 0 0

3 11

7

Elijah Blackman,

0

3 11

7

0 0 0

3 11

7

Abner Witt,

1

0 16

0

0 0 0

0 16

0

Ebenezer Stowe,

0

1 0

0

0 0 0

1 0

0

Capt. Black.undiv'd lands 0

0 10

2

0 0 0

0 10

2

Richard Falley & }
Wood & Company, (

o

4 10

0

0 0 0

4 10

0

Timothy Paine,' Esq.,
0
12 0
0
0 0 0
12 0
0
Accessions to the Valuation List.
The valuation list taken in September, 1774, showed the following
new names among the resident tax-payers: Aaron Bell, Russell Dewey,
Asa Gould, William Brown, John Jones, William Lunnon, Samuel
Moore, James Moore, Abel Partridge, Larkin Williams, George Will
iams, and Rodman Williams.' Between September, 1774, and Sep
tember, 1777, the following named persons became citizens of the
town of Murrayfield: Samuel Bell, Benjamin Babcock,, Daniel Stone,
John N. Parmenter, Calvin Torry, Joshua Draper, Nathan White,
William Foot, Samuel French, Allyn Geer, Samuel Gould, William
Mclntire, Ebenezer Stowe, John Morse, James Bentley, Samuel Con
verse, Matthew Campbell, and Moses Orcutt. The list of 1778 showed
the following new resident tax-payers: Aaron Crawford, Thomas
Judd, Jethro Kenney, Thomas Kenney, Silas Freeman, Noah Kings
bury, Manuel Northrop, Robert Campbell, Moses Hale, Zebulon Isham,
Joseph Wilter, Abraham Bell, and Elijah White.
The new resident tax-payers upon the list of 1779 were, Henry Lam-
berton, John Carlisle, and Jacob Fowle. The valuation list taken
November, 1781, shows new names of resident tax-payers, as follows:
Ebenezer Abbott, John Bell, Daniel Babcock, Job Belknap, Samuel
Baldwin, Job Clark, Calvin Dunham, Maj. Edward Crafts, Othiel
Pratt, Joab Smith, Simeon E. Mulhollon, Thomas Flint, Joseph
Pomeroy, Capt. Nathaniel Alexander, Eli Woolworth, John Smith,
3d, Jabez Tracy, and Gershom Flagg.
Difficulty op Collecting Taxes During the Revolutionary War.
At a town meeting called and held at six o'clock in the afternoon of
June 25, 1776, the town passed the following vote: "Voted that
A HISTOR Y OF MURR A YFIEL D. 107
those persons that do not pay their rates to Mr. Woolworth and Capt.
Smith by next Monday shall pay interest till they do pay them." And
the selectmen were appointed " a committee to take security of those
which do not pay their rates by the time appointed. Also voted that
those that will not comply with these votes shall be obliged to pay
their rates as soon as the constables can collect them in the usual
manner, unless the committees of the neighboring towns do advise
otherwise; that this committee shall examine the treasurer and con
stables and see if they have not got some money in their hands; and
if they have the town money, that they shall pay interest for it from
this time till paid. Also voted that the committee shall meet next
Monday to do this business, and those that do not come there, that
have not paid their rates shall be viewed as persons that don't intend
to comply with the votes of the town, unless they can give this com
mittee satisfaction for their not coming. Also voted that this commit
tee shall examine the list of those that have not paid their rates, and
if they find that there is any that in their judgment ought not to pay
their interest, to make report of that and all their other proceedings at
the next town meeting.-"
At the November meeting, 1778, the town voted " that the assessors,
in making the rates, where a man's rate in the pence column is above
six pence to set it down one shilling, and where it is under six pence
to set it down naught."
Town Fined for not Filling Its Quota of Men for the War.
At a meeting held in May, 1779, one article in the warrant was:
" To see what the town will do concerning the fine that is laid on
us for want of three continental men." The town voted " not to have
the assessors assess the fine at present," and also "voted to choose a
committee of three to get things ready to get the fine off." The com
mittee were Dr. David Shepard, Capt. Enoch Shepard, and Lieut.
John Newton Parmeuter. The town also voted "to give Mr. Stowe
(who was constable) his part of the fine if the town is obliged to assess
it." Touching this fine the town sent to the General Court a memorial
as follows:
" To the Honorable Council & House of Representatives of the State of
Massachusetts Bay, now sitting at Boston: We, your humble petitioners, beg
leave to represent to your Honors the true state of affairs relative to the town
of Murrayfield's raising their quota of men in the present war, & their will
ingness always to obey all orders & resolves of the General Court of this State

108 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
& the Honorable Continental Congress. Pursuant to which in the year 1777
the Honorable General Court of this State resolved that every town in this
State should raise for the Continental service every seventh man; which in
this town amounted to fourteen m3n. Accordingly the town by a large hire
immediately procured the meu; some for three years & some engaged during
the war; soon after which, upon the Continental Army's not being filled up,
there came a resolve from the Honorable Continental Congress that if any two
men would hire a man for the Continental service more than their propor
tional part of every seventh man they should be freed from further draughts.
Upon this encouragement from Congress that we should be favored in future
draughts, a number of the inhabitants of this town, though unable to spare the
money, joined together and hired five men more than our quota into the Conti
nental service, supposing they would answer for the town when called upon
afterwards. Accordingly in the year 1778 this town was called upon by the Hon
orable General Court of this State for two men to go for eight months & three
for nine months to join the Continental Army to have it completed. The
town being called together to get the men agreeably to orders from the Gen
eral Court, they judged it no more than reasonable that we should have some
allowance made us for those men that we had in the Continental service more
than our proportion, & had given them a larger hire; therefore, relying on the
justice of the cause of the town, thought it no more than honest & right not
to draught any men for the nine months' service to join the Continental Army,
but to make return of three of those men that we had already in the Conti
nental service more than our quota; not doubting but that the Honorable
General Court would, as soon as they saw the return, allow the men to stand
good & answer for the town; though to our disappointment we find the town
of Murrayfield fined three hundred pounds for the neglect of those three men
which we viewed were in actual service for the town, & for no other, & are
still in the service.- Therefore your humble petitioners pray that the Honor
able Council & House of Representatives would take into their wise consider
ation the poverty of the town, the services we have done in the war more than
our proportion, especially in the Continental service, as we have in a great
measure exhausted ourselves of money to hire so many men into the service.
Therefore we pray that your honors would take these things into your wise
consideration, & be pleased to take off our fine as your Honors in your wisdom
shall judge best, & as in duty bound your petitioners shall ever pray.
Signed, by order of the Selectmen, in behalf of the town.
David Shepard, Town Clerk of Murrayfield.
Murrayfield, April 13th, 1779."
At a meeting held in October, the town voted " to impower Capt.
Enoch Shepard to borrow three hundred pounds to pay the fine laid
on the town for want of three Continental soldiers." Also " that the
three hundred pound fine or any part of which must be paid shall be
assessed in the great State rate."

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 109
But when the facts were laid before the General Court and fully in
vestigated, justice was done to the town, as appears by the following
copy of the action of the General Court:
" State of Massachusetts Bay. In the House of Representatives, No
vember 25th, 1779. On the petition of the inhabitants of the town of Murray-
field praying for abatement of a fine laid on said town by the tax bill in
February last, in being deficient in raising two men for nine months and one
for eight months. And whereas it appears to this Court, that said town had
two men inlisted for three years more than their quota of the seventh part of
the inhabitants of said town,
"Resolved, that the fine of three hundred pounds laid on said town be
remitted. And that there be allowed & paid out of the treasury of this
State to the town of Murrayfield, the aforesaid sum of three hundred pounds
for the fines above mentioned. "
A meeting was called to be held October 1st, 1782, "To see what
measures the town will take with regard to the uneasiness of the non
resident proprietors about the taxes laid upon them last year."
The proprietors claimed that their lands were "taxed in a greater
proportion than any other new town in the neighborhood of Murray-
field." But the town was inexorable, and voted "to have the rates
that are set to the absentees settled as the selectmen and agents agreed,
and that the selectmen be a committee to see this done." The assess
ment to the non-residents stood as follows: £. s. d.
Bildad Fowler, 100 acres of laud; tax 2 10 0
Job Clark, 100 " " " 2 10 0
Silvanus Sanderson, 50 " " " 15 0
William Hunt, 50 " " " 15 0
Brigdr. Warham Parks, 777 " " " 17 10 0
Capt. Ward, 1230 " " " 27 10 0
Willard's Heirs, 680 " " " 15 10 0
Samuel Chandler, 600 " " " 13 10 0
Israel Bissel, 260 " " " 7 0 0
Luther Loomis, 260 " " " 7 0 0
Abel Baldwin, 100 " " " 2 10 0
Timothy Paine, Esq., 1200 " " " 25 0 0
Allen Otis, 400 " " " 10 o 0

CHAPTER SIXTH.
The Revolutionary War.
The General Court of the Province of Massachusetts Bay had for
some time been held at Cambridge. In 1772 by order of the governor
it was adjourned to meet at Boston. The House, learning that the
governor had accepted a salary from the King, voted 85 to 19 that
"the making provision for the support of the governor of the prov
ince, independent of the acts and grants of the General Assembly, is
an infraction upon the rights granted to the inhabitants by the royal
charter, and in derogation of the constitution." And the court refussd
to repair the Province House occupied by the governor as his residence.
In a letter to Hillsborough, the governor recommended that severe
measures be taken to put down "this new doctrine of independence."
It was soon after announced that the King, ' ' with the entire concurrence
of Lord North, had made provision for the support of his law servants
in the Massachusetts Bay." This excited the inhabitants of Boston to
call a town meeting. John Hancock was chosen moderator ; and an
address to the governor was prepared requesting information as to the
truth of the report that "stipends had been fixed to the offices of the
judges." The governor refused this request. A new petition was
immediately drafted and sent to hhn with a request that the subject
be referred to the General Court. This request he also refused, and.in
response said : " If, in compliance with your petition, I should alter
my determination, and meet the Assembly, contrary to my own judg
ment, at such time as you judge necessary, I should, in effect, yield
to you the exercise of that part of my prerogative, and should be unable
to justify my conduct to the King. There would, moreover, be danger
of encouraging the inhabitants of the other towns in the province to
assemble from time to time in order to consider the necessity or ex
pediency of a session of the General Assembly, or to debate and trans
act other matters which the law that authorizes towns to assemble does
not make the business of town meetings.".
"This reply," says Barry, "which invaded the rights of the little,
republics of New England, was communicated to the meeting, and
read several times ; after which it was unanimously voted that the

A HISTOR Y OF MURRA Y FIELD. 1 1 1
inhabitants of Boston ' have ever had, and ought to have, a right to
petition the King for the redress of such grievances as they feel, or
for the prevention of such as they have reason to apprehend, and to
communicate their sentiments to other towns.' Then followed the
step ' which included the whole revolution,' and Samuel Adams, the
master spirit of the times, who had matured his plans by consulting
the oldest men in the province, moved 'that a committee of corre
spondence be appointed, to consist of twenty-one persons, ,to state the
rights of the colonists, and of this province in particular, as men and
christians, and as subjects ; and to communicate and publish the same
to the several towns and to the world, as the sense of this towD, with
the infringements and violations thereof that have been or from time
to time may be made.' This motion was carried without a division,
the vote in favor being nearly unanimous." Otis was the chairman of
this committee. Its first meeting was held the following day in the
representatives' chamber, and William Cooper was elected its clerk.
The members of the committee pledged their honor "not to divulge
any part of the conversation at any of the meetings to any person
whatsoever, excepting what the committee itself should make known."
This pledge was faithfully kept.*
The General Court stood prorogued to the 12th of January, 1774,
when the governor again prorogued it to the 26th. In his opening
address he particularly alluded to " his majesty's disapprobation of the
appointment of committees of correspondence." The House replied
to this that " while the common rights of the American subjects con
tinued to be attacked at times when the general assemblies were not
sitting, it was highly necessary that they should correspond with each
other, in order to unite in the most effectual means for the obtaining
a redress of their grievances," and that "as it had been the practice
for years past for the governor and lieutenant governor of this prov
ince, and other officers of the crown, at all times, to correspond with
the ministers of state and persons of distinction and influence in the
nation, in order to concert and carry on such measures of the British
administration as have been deemed by the colonists to be grievous to
them, it cannot be thought unreasonable or improper for the colonists
to correspond with their agents, as well as with each other, to the end
that their grievances may be so explained to his majesty as that, in
his justice, he may afford them necessary relief."
While affairs were in this attitude in America there was hardly less
activity in England, and in Parliament the policy toward the colonists
* See Barry's Hist, of Mass., 2d period, pp. 445-449.

112 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
waB discussed with great spirit; but the councils of the wiser states
men were unheeded, and the colonists were threatened with coercion
and further oppression. The insolence of British troops stationed in
Boston, and the " Boston Massacre " maddened the colony still more;
and added to this was the landing of additional British troops in Boston.
In the meantime the colonists were not idle. Military discipline received
due attention and encouragement; old guns were repaired; soldiers'
accoutrements were anxiously provided for in anticipation of their
probable need ; and the towns began to provide themselves with am
munition. Such was the attitude affairs had reached in 1774. On the
25th of July in that year a town meeting was held in Murrayfield, the
objects of which were "to see if the town would take into their serious
consideration the covenant letters that the committee of correspond
ence have sent to us from Boston, and to sign the same, or pass any
vote respecting the same, as the town shall judge best," and " to see
what measures the town will come into with respect to getting or col
lecting the money that the General Assembly have desired us to collect
in order for the support of the General Congress, and to pass any vote
respecting the same, as the town shall think best." At this meeting
the town voted unanimously not to "purchase, buy, or consume any
goods or wares that shall- be imported from Great Britain after the last
of August next ensuing, until the meeting of the General Congress
at Philadelphia." Also that " we will comply with what measures the
General Congress shall agree upon at their meeting in Philadelphia
in September next." A vote was also passed "to choose a committee
of correspondence to transmit these votes to the committee of corre
spondence at Boston, and to correspond with said committee for this
year." And the town appropriated twelve shillings and fourpence
toward the support of the Congress.
The persons chosen to act on behalf of the town as a committee of
correspondence for the ensuing year were, Capt. David Shepard, Deae.
Jesse Johnson, Lieut. Malcom Henry, Deae. Samuel Matthews, and
Lieut. James Clark. These persons all lived at or near the center of
the town, excepting, perhaps, James Clark.
In the spring of 1774, Governor Hutchinson was superceded by
Thomas Gage, whose activity in setting on foot measures for bringing
the colonists to submission is a part of the history of Massachusetts.
" Writs were issued early in September convening the General Court
at Salem on the fifth of October ; but before that time arrived, a
proclamation from the governor dissolved the assembly. For this
step the patriots of the province were prepared ; and, pursuant to the

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 113
course which had been already agreed upon, after meeting on the ap
pointed day, they resolved themselves into a Provisional Congress.
The first session of this body, so memorable in our annals, was held
at Salem on Friday, the seventh of October; the meeting was tempo
rarily organized by choosing John Hancock chairman and Benjamin
Lincoln clerk, and was adjourned to the following Tuesday, then to
meet at the court house in. Concord. Finding the court house too small
for their purpose, however, the meeting-house was procured; the Con
gress was permanently organized by choosing John Hancock president
and Benjamin Lincoln clerk; and provisions were made for opening
the session each day with prayer. A committee on the state of the
province was next appointed; and an address to his excellency the
governor was reported, which was ordered to be printed' in the Boston
newspapers; the several constables and collectors throughout the prov
ince, having moneys in their hands payable to the order of Harrison
Gray, Esq., were advised to retain the same, subject to the advice of a
constitutional assembly; and the convention was adjourned to the
town of Cambridge." (See Barry's Hist, of Mass., Second Period, p.
495.) The business of the Congress was transacted for several days
with closed doors, and everything was done that could be to prepare
for the crisis that was approaching. The several towns and districts
in the province were advised to "see that each of the minute men not
already provided therewith should be immediately equipped with an
efficient fire arm, bayonet, pouch, knapsack, and thirty rounds of
cartridge and balls, and be disciplined three times a week and oftener
as opportunity may offer;" and that whenever there was any deficiency
in arms and accouterments, the selectmen supply the same " out of
the town stock; and in case of a deficiency there, to apply to such in
habitants as can best spare their arms and accouterments, and to bor
row or purchase the same for the use of the inhabitants so enlisting."
At a meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Murrayfield, held
December 26th, 1774, " To see if the town will take into their serious
consideration the resolves of the Continental and Provincial Congress
and come into some measures in the town to see that the same be put
in execution or kept, and pass such votes in the town respecting the
same as the town shall judge best." Also, " to see if the town will
adopt any measures in order that the town may be provided with a
stock of ammunition, and to pass such votes respecting the same as
the town shall think best and most prudent." The town voted that
" Capt. Abner Smith, Mr. Timothy Smith, Lieut. James Clark, Lieut.
Malcom Henry, Mr. Archelus Anderson, Ensign George Williams,

114 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
Ensign Stephen Lyman, Mr. James Black, and Capt. David Shepard
be a committee of inspection." And also voted that the town would
stand by this committee in the execution of their office.
It was the duty of constables, who were also collectors of taxes, to
collect the province tax upon the towns, and to pay it directly into the
provincial treasury. At this meeting the town passed the following
vote: " That the town will indemnify the c&nstables if they will pay
the province money they have in their hands into the town treasury
to procure ammunition for a stock; and that the selectmen lay out
said monies, when they get it, for a stock of ammunition." At its
March meeting, 1775, the town voted that eight pounds be paid out of
the treasury to provide a stock of powder and lead. Another meeting
was held 24th April, 1775, and Malcom Henry was chosen a delegate
to the Provincial Congress.
Although the town records do not show how many men were sent
to the army, it is certain that several men had been sent; for at a
meeting held May 4th, the town voted that the selectmen provide a
supply of blankets and clothing "for our men now at Cambridge."
The Provincial Congress had addressed letters to the towns, urging
the raising of troops and entreating them to " hasten and encourage
by all possible means the enlistment of men to form an army."
By a vote of the committee of safety the Provincial Congress reas
sembled, after they had adjourned to May, in the town of Concord,
and adjourned from that place to Watertown, and immediately, about
April 20th, entered upon measures " indispensable for the salvation of
the country."
The town of Murrayfield, at a meeting held June 19th, 1775, voted
" that the committee shall attend to the orders of Congress respecting
tory goods." Representatives to the General Court.
A meeting was held July 11th, 1775, " To see if the town will choose
one or more representatives to attend and represent the town of Mur
rayfield in a great and general court or assembly to be convened at the
meeting house in Watertown upon Wednesday the nineteenth day of
July inst." Ensign Stephen Lyman was moderator. Lieut. Enoch
Shepard was chosen representative; and the committee to instruct the
representative was composed of the following persons: John Kirtland,
David Scott, Stephen Lyman, Samuel Matthews, and Abner Smith.
The British troops evacuated Boston in March, 1776. In April the

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 115
General Court passed a resolve to alter the style of writs and other
legal processes, substituting " The People and Government of Massa
chusetts" for George III, and in dating them using only "in the
year of our Lord " instead of giving also the year of " his majesty's
reign." In May the General Court passed an order advising the people
in the several towns to instruct their representatives on the subject of
independence.
Vote in Favor of a Declaration of Independence.
The selectmen of Murrayfield called a meeting to be held June 17th,
1776, "To see if the inhabitants will sign an agreement or oath that
the General Court have sent out to see who are friends to liberty and
their country and who are not;" also "to see if the town as a body are
willing to have the thirteen united colonies declared an independent
State from Great Britain if the Continental and General Courts shall
judge best, and to pass any vote respecting the same as the town shall
judge best and most prudent." The following votes were passed:.
" Voted to sign an agreement or oath sent out from the General
Court;" also " voted that it is the mind of this town that the Conti
nental Congress declare independence from Great Britain, to a man,
in a full meeting."
Money for Soldiers.
September 19th, 1776, the town voted "to hire a sum of money for
the use of the soldiers in their march to Horse Neck;" also " to hire a
sum of money for the town to provide a drum and fife." A commit
tee of inspection was chosen consisting of the following persons:
" Deae. Jesse Johnson, Lieut. Samuel Matthews, Mr. Joel Seaward,
Lieut. James Clark, and Ensign Stephen Lyman." Another town
meeting was held October 17th, at which, under the article, " To see
if the town are willing that the present House of Representatives, to
gether with the Council of this State, should form a charter and make
laws for the present and future generations, and to pass such votes
respecting the same as the town shall judge best/' and also under the
article " To see whether the town choose that the laws that are made
by this House should be sent through the State to every town before
they are ratified, for the perusal of the people," the town voted "yes."
War Charges.
During the year 1777 the records of the town do not show much
activity on the part of the town touching the war; probably much was

116 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
done that does not appear. At the November meeting the town voted
" to do something toward bringing the charges of the war equally on
the town," and chose a committee to accomplish it. The town also
" voted that it will pay for all the Continental clothing that the town
is required to get or provide for the soldiers at the rates clothing goes
for now among us." It was also voted " to allow Sergeant John Mc
lntire the interest of the money that he shall borrow in order to pay
the province rates of those soldiers that are gone into the Continental
Army from the time that he borrows it till he gets it back of them or
somewhere else,." The stirring events and excitements of the war did
not come within the limits of Massachusetts in the form of battles,
after the British troops departed from Boston. But Massachusetts
men were no small factor of the Continental army. The State of
Massachusetts was represented at the posts of danger. She shirked
no duty — the cause was her cause — her weal or woe hung in the same
balance with the other States.
So far as towns like Murrayfield were concerned, their duty lay in
furnishing each its quota of men and supplies for the Continental
army; and they were faithful to the demands of the hour. At the
March meeting, 1778, Deae. Jesse Johnson, Lieut. James Clark, Lieut.
William Campbell, Lieut. Larkin Williams, and Gideon Matthews
were chosen as the committee of inspection and safety. The records
of subsequent town meetings held this year show the action of the
town touching the new constitution which the General Court, acting
as a convention by the consent of the towns in the state, framed . as a
form of government and sent to the several towns in the state for their
approval, February 28th, 1778. A copy of the Resolve which the Gen
eral Court sent out to each town, with a copy of the proposed constitu
tion, will enable the reader to better understand the votes passed by
the town of Murrayfield:
"A Constitution & Form of Government for the State of Massachusetts Bay,
agreed upon by the Convention of this State, February 28th, 1778 — to be
laid before the several towns and plantations in said State, for their
approbation or disapprobation. State of Massachusetts Bay,
In Convention, February 28, 1778.
Whereas, Upon the Declaration of Independence, made by the Representa
tives of the United States, in Congress assembled, by which all connections
between the said States & Great Britain were dissolved, the General Assembly
of this State thought it expedient, that a new Constitution of Government for
this State should be formed; &, apprehending that they were not invested

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 117
with sufficient authority to deliberate and determine upon so interesting a
subject, did, on the fifth day of May, 1777, for effecting this valuable purpose,
pass the following resolve:
' Resolved, That it be, & hereby is recommended to the several towns &
places in this State, empowered by the laws thereof to send members to the
General Assembly, that, at their next election of a member or members to rep
resent them, they make choice of men in whose integrity and ability they can
place the greatest confidence; &, in addition to the common & ordinary pow
ers of representation, instruct them with full powers, in one body with the
Council, to form such a Constitution of Government as they shall judge best
calculated to promote the happiness of this State; &, when completed, to cause
the same to be printed in all the Boston newspapers, and also in hand bills,
one of which to be transmitted to the Selectmen of each town, or the commit
tee of each plantation, to be by them laid before their respective towns or
plantations, at a regular meeting of the inhabitants thereof, to be called for
that purpose, in order to its being, by each town & plantation, duly consid
ered, & a return of their approbation or disapprobation to be made into the
Secretary's office of this State, at a reasonable time, to be fixed by the General
Court; specifying the numbers present at such meeting voting for, & those
voting against the same; &, if upon a fair examination of said returns by the
General Court, or such a committee as they shall appoint for the purpose, it
shall appear, that the said Form of Government is approved by at least two
thirds of those who are free, & twenty-one years of age, belonging to this State,
& present in the several meetings, then the General Court shall be empowered to
establish 'the same as the Constitution & Form of Government of the State of
Massachusetts Bay; according to which the inhabitants thereof shall be gov
erned in all succeeding generations, unless the same shall be altered by their
express direction, or at least of two-thirds of them. And it is further recom
mended to the Selectmen of the several towns, in the return of their precepts
for the choice of Representatives, to signify their having considered this
resolve, & their doings therein.'
And whereas the good people of this State in pursuance of said resolution,
& reposing special trust & confidence in the Council & in their Representatives,
have appointed, authorized and instructed their Representatives, in one body
with the Council, to form such a Constitution of Government as they shall
judge best calculated to promote the happiness of this State, & when completed,
to cause the same to be published for their inspection & consideration.
We, therefore, the Council & Representatives of the People of the State of
Massachusetts Bay, in convention assembled by virtue of the power delegated
to us, & acknowledging our dependence upon the all wise Governor of the Uni
verse for direction, do agree upon the following Form of a Constitution of
Government for this State, to be sent out to the People, that they may act
thereon, agreeably to the aforesaid resolves."
The Form of Constitution proposed and sent out with the aforesaid
resolve, for the people to act upon, was as follows:

118 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
I. — There shall be convened,, held & kept, a General Court, upon the last
Wednesday in the month of May of every year, <fc as many other times as the
said General Court shall order & appoint. Which General Court shall consist
of a Senate & House of Representatives, to be elected as this Constitution
hereafter directs.
II. — There shall be elected annually a Governor & Lieutenant Governor,
who shall each have, by virtue of such election, a seat & voice in the Senate; &
the style & title of the Governor shall be His Excellency; & the style & title of
the Lieutenant Governor shall be His Honor.
III. — No person shall be considered as qualified to serve as Governor,
Lieutenant Governor, Senator, or Representative, unless qualified respectively
at the time of their several elections, as follows, viz. : The Governor & Lieu
tenant Governor shall have been inhabitants of this State five years immedi
ately preceding the time of their respective election ; the Governor shall be
possessed, in his own right,of an estate of the value of one thousand pounds,
whereof five hundred pounds value, at the least, shall be in real estate within
this State; the Lieutenant Governor shall be possessed, in his own right, of an
estate of the value of five hundred pounds, two hundred and fifty pounds
thereof, at the least, to be in real estate, within this State; a Senator shall be
possessed, in his own right, of an estate to the value of four hundred pounds,
two hundred pounds thereof, at the least, to be in real estate, lying in the dis
trict for which he shall be elected. A Representative shall be possessed, in his
own right, of an estate of the value of two hundred pounds, one hundred
pounds thereof, at the least, to be in real estate lying in the town, for which he
shall be elected. Senators & Representatives shall have been inhabitants of
the districts & towns, for which they shall be respectively elected, one full year
immediately preceding such election; provided, that when two or more towns
join, in the choice of a Representative, they may choose an inhabitant of either
of said towns, being otherwise qualified as this article directs.
IV. — The Judges of the Superior Court, Secretary, Treasurer General, Com
missary General, & settled Ministers of the Gospel, while in office; also all
Military Officers, while in the pay of this or of the United States, shall be con
sidered as disqualified for holding a seat in the General Court; & the Judges
& Registers of Probate, for holding a seat in the Senate.
V. — Every male inhabitant of any town in this State, being free and twenty-
one years of age, excepting negroes, Indians & mulattoes, shall be entitled to
vote for a Representative or Representatives, as the case may be, in the town
where he is resident; provided he has paid taxes in said town (unless by law
excused from taxes) & been resident therein one full year, immediately pre
ceding such voting, or that such town has been his known & usual place of
abode for that time, or that he is considered as an inhabitant thereof; & every
such inhabirant qualified as above, & worth sixty pounds, clear of all charges
thereon, shall be entitled to put in his vote for Governor, Lieutenant Gov
ernor, & Senators; and all such voting for Governor, Lieutenant Governor,
Senators or Representatives, shall be by ballot, & not otherwise.

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 119
VI. — Every incorporated town within this State shall be entitled to send one
Representative to the General Court; any town having three hundred voters
may send two; having five hundred &; twenty voters may send three; having
seven hundred & sixty may send four; & so on, making the increasing num
ber necessary for another member, twenty more than the last immediately
preceding increasing number, till the whole number of voters in any town are
reckoned. And each town shall pay the expense of its own Representative or
Representatives; & the inhabitants of any two or more towns, who do not in
cline to send a Representative for each town, may join in the choice of one, if
they shall so agree.
VII. — The Selectmen of each town shall, some time in the month of April,
annually, issue their warrant or warrants, under their hands and seals, directed
to some constable or constables, within their towns respectively, requiring him
or them to notify the inhabitants qualified to vote for a Representative, to as-
semblo in some convenient place in such town, for the choice of some person or
persons, as the case may be, to represent them in the General Court the ensu
ing year; the time & place of meeting to be mentioned in the warrant or war
rants for calling such meeting. And the Selectmen of each town respectively,
or the major part of them, shall make return of the name or names of the
person or persons elected by the major part of the voters present, & voting in
such meeting to represent said town in the General Court the ensuing year,
into the Secretary's office, on or before the last Wednesday of May then next
ensuing; & when two or more towns shall agree to join for such choice, the
major part of the Selectmen of those towns shall, in the manner above directed,
warn a meeting to be held in either of the said towns, as they shall judge most
convenient for that purpose, & shall make return as aforesaid, of the person
chosen at such meeting.
VIII. — The number of Senators shall be twenty-eight; (Exclusive of the Gov
ernor & Lieutenant Governor) their election shall be annual, & from certain
districts, into which the State shall be divided as follows, viz. : The middle
district to contain the Counties of Suffolk, Essex, & Middlesex, within which
ten Senators shall be elected; the southern district to contain the Counties of
Plymouth, Barnstable, Bristol, Duke's County, & Nantucket, within which six
Senators shall be elected; the western district to contain the Counties of
Hampshire, Worcester, & Berkshire, within which eight Senators shall be
elected; the northern district to contain the Counties of York & Cumberland,
within which three shall be elected; the eastern district to contain the County
of Lincoln, w.ithin which one shall be elected. And as the number of inhab
itants in the several districts may vary, from time to time, the General Court
shall, in the way they shall judge best, some time in the year one thousand
seven hundred & ninety, & once in twenty years ever after, order the number
of the inhabitants of the several districts to be taken, that the Senators may
be apportioned anew to the several districts, according to the number of the
inhabitants therein. And the General Court may, at such new apportionment,
increase the number of Senators to be chosen as they may see fit ; provided

120 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
that the whole number shall never exceed thirty-six, exclusive of the Governor
& Lieutenant Governor.
IX. — The inhabitants of the several towns in this State, qualified as this
Constitution directs, shall, on the first Wednesday in the month of November,
annually, give in their votes in their respective towns, at a meeting, which the
Selectmen shall call for that purpose, for Senators for the year ensuing the
last Wednesday in May then next. The votes shall be given in for the mem
bers of each district separately, according to the foregoing apportionment,
or such as shall be hereafter ordered ; & the Selectmen & town Clerk of each
town shall sort & count the votes, &, by the third Wednesday in December
then next, transmit to the Secretary's office a list, certified by the town Clerk,
of all the persons, who had votes as Senators for each district at such meeting,
& the number each person had affixed to his name. The list, so sent in shall
be* examined by the General Court at their next sitting, & a list for each dis-'
trict of those voted for, to the amount of double the number assigned to such
district (if so many shall have votes) taking those who had the highest num
bers, shall be made out and sent by the first of March, then next after, to the
several towns of this State, as a nomination list, from which said towns shall,
at their meeting for the choice of Governor in the month of May, vote for the
Senators assigned the respective districts ; which votes shall be counted &
sorted & lists certified as before directed, made out & sent in to the Secretary's
office, by ten o'clock in the forenoon of the last Wednesday in said May, &
not afterwards ; which lists shall be examined by the House of Representatives
for the first time of the election of Senators, & ever afterwards by the Senate
& House of Representatives on said last Wednesday of May, or as soon after
as may be ; and those persons in each district, equal to the number assigned
such district, who have the greatest number of votes, shall be Senators for the
ensuing year, unless it shall appear to the Senate that any member or mem
bers thereof were unduly elected or not legally qualified ; of which the Senate
shall be the judges. And the Senate, when so constituted, shall continue in
being till another Senate is chosen, & the members thereof gone through all
the steps necessary to qualify them to enter on the business assigned them
by this Constitution.
X. — There shall forever hereafter, on the first Wednesday in the month of
May annually, be held, in each town in this State, a meeting of the inhabi
tants of such towns respectively, to give or put in their votes for Governor,
Lieutenant Governor, & Senators, which meeting the Selectmen shall cause to
be notified in the manner before directed for the meeting for the choice of
Representatives ; & the town Clerk shall return into the Secretary's office by
ten o'clock jn the morning of the last Wednesday of said May, & not after
wards, an attested copy of all the persons, who had votes for Governor &
Lieutenant Governor respectively, certifying the number of votes each person
so voted for had ; which list shall be, on said lust Wednesday of May, or as
soon after as may be, examined by the Senate & House of Representatives;
& the persons, who, on such examination, shall appear to have the greatest

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 121
number of votes for those offices respectively, provided it be a majority of the
whole number, shall be by the two Houses declared Governor & Lieutenant
Governor, & entitled to act as such the ensuing year ; & if no person shall
have such majority for Governor & for Lieutenant Governor, the Senate & House
of Representatives shall, as soon as may be, after examining said lists, pro
ceed by joint ballot to elect a Governor or Lieutenant Governor, or both, as the
case may require, confining themselves to one of those three, who had the
greatest number of votes collected in the several towns for the office to be filled.
XL — If any person chosen Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Senator, or Rep
resentative, whose qualification shall be questioned by any one member of the
Senate or House of Representatives, within twenty- four days after his appear
ing to enter upon the execution of his office, shall not make oath before a
Senator, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, or some Justice of the
Peace, that he is qualified as required by this constitution, and lodge a certifi
cate thereof in the Secretary's office, within ten days after notice given him of
such questioning by the Secretary, whose duty it shall be to give such notice,
his election shall be void; & any person claiming privilege of voting for Gov
ernor, Lieutenant Governor, Senators, or Representatives, & whose qualification
shall be questioned in town meeting, shall by the Selectmen be prevented from
voting, unless he shall make oath that he is qualified as this Constitution re
quires ; said oath to be administered by a Justice of the Peace, or the town
clerk, who is hereby empowered to administer the same, when no Justice
is present.
XII. — Whenever any person, who may be chosen a member of the Senate,
shall decline the office, to which he is elected, or shall resign his place, or die,
or remove out of the State, or be any way disqualified, the House of Repre
sentatives may, if they see fit, by ballot, fill up any vacancy occasioned thereby,
confining themselves in the choice to the nomination list for the district, to
which such member belongs, whose place is to be supplied, if a sufficient num
ber is thereon for the purpose ; otherwise the choice may be made at large in
said district.
XIII.— The General Court shall be the supreme legislative authority of this
State, and shall accordingly have full power & authority to erect & constitute
judicatories and courts of record, or other courts; and, from time to time, to
make and establish all manner of wholesome and reasonable orders, laws and
statutes; and also, for the necessary support and defence of this government,
they shall have full power and authority to levy proportionable and reasonable
assessments, rates and taxes; and to do all and every thing they shall judge to
be for the good and welfare of the state, and for the government and order
ing thereof; provided nevertheless, they shall not have any power to add to,
alter, abolish, or infringe any part of this constitution. And the enacting
style in making laws shall be by the Senate and House of Representatives in
General Court assembled and by the authority of the same.
XIV.— The Senate and House of Representatives shall be two separate and
distinct bodies, each to appoint its own officers, and settle its own rules of pro-

122 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
ceedings, and each shall have an equal right to originate or reject any bill,
resolve or order, or to propose amendments to the same, excepting bill and
resolves levying and granting money or other property of the State, which
shall originate in the House of Representatives only, and be concurred or
nonconcurred in whole by the Senate.
XV. — Not less than sixty members shall constitute or make a quorum of the
House of Representatives; and not less than nine shall make a quorum of the
Senate. XVI. — The Senate and House of Representatives shall have power to ad
journ themselves respectively; provided such adjournment shall not exceed
two days at any one time.
XVII. — The Governor shall be president of the Senate. He shall be Gen
eral and Commander in Chief of the Militia, and Admiral of the Navy of
this State; and empowered to embody the militia and cause them to be
marched to any part of the State for the public safety, when he shall think
necessary; and in the recess of the General Court, to march the militia, by
advice of the Senate, out of the State, for the defence of this or any other
of the United States; provided always, that the Governor shall exercise the
power given by this constitution, over the militia and navy of the State, ac
cording to the laws thereof, or the resolves of the General Court. He shall,
with the advice of the Senate, in the recess of the General Court, have power
to prorogue the same from time to time, not exceeding forty days in any one
recess of said Court; and, in the sitting of said Court, to adjourn or pro
rogue the said Court to any time they shall desire, or to dissolve the same at
their request, or to call said Court together sooner than the time to which it
may be adjourned or prorogued, if the welfare of the State should require the
same. He shall have power, at his discretion, to grant reprieves to condemned
criminals for a term or terms of time, not exceeding six months. It shall be
the duty of the Governor to inform the legislature, at every session of the
General Court, of the condition of the State; and, from time to time, to
recommend such matters to their consideration, as shall appear to him to con
cern its good government, welfare and prosperity.
XVIII. — Whenever the person, who may be chosen Governor, shall decline
the trust to which he is thereby elected, or shall resign or die, or remove out of
the State, or be otherwise disqualified, the Lieutenant Governor shall have the
like power during the vacancy in the office of Governor, as the Governor is by
this Constitution vested with; and, in case of a vacancy in the office of Gov
ernor and Lieutenant Governor, the major part of the Senate shall have
authority to exercise all the powers of a Governor during such vacancy ; and,
in case both the Governor and the Lieutenant Governor be absent from the
Senate, the senior or first Senator then present shall preside.
XIX. — All civil officers annually chosen, with salaries annually granted for
their services, shall be appointed by the General Court by ballot; each branch
to have a right to originate or negative the choice. All other civil officers,
and also all general, field and staff officers, both of the militia and of the

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 123
troops which may be raised by, and be in the pay of this State, shall be ap
pointed by the Governor and Senate; captains and subalterns of troops raised
by, and in the pay of the State, to be also appointed by the Governor and
Senate. XX. — The Governor and Senate shall be a Court for the trial of all im
peachments of any officers of this State, provided, that if any impeachment
shall be prosecuted against the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, or any one of
the Senate; in such case the person impeached shall not continue one of the
Court for that trial. Previous to the trial of any impeachment, the members
of the court shall be respectively sworn, truly and impartially to try and de
termine the charge in question, according to evidence; which oath shall be
administered to the members by the President, and to him by any one of the
Senate. And no judgment of said Court shall be valid, unless it be assented
to by two-third of the members of said Court present at such trial; nor shall
judgment extend further than to removal of the person tried from office, and
disqualification to hold or enjoy any place of honor, trust or profit under the
State: the party so convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to in
dictment, trial, judgment, and punishment, according to the laws of the State;
and the power of impeaching all officers of the State for mal- conduct in their
respective offices shall be vested in the House of Representatives.
XXI. — The Governor may with the advice of the Senate, in the recess of the
General Court, lay an Embargo, or prohibit the exportation of any commodity
for any term of time, not exceeding forty days in auy one recess of said Court.
XXII. — The Governor shall have no negative, as Governor, in any matter
pointed out by this Constitution to be done by the Governor and Senate, but
shall have an equal voice with any Senator on any question before them; pro
vided that the Governor, or, in his absence out of the State, the Lieutenant
Governor, shall be present in Senate to enable them to proceed on the business
assigned them by this constitution, as Governor and Senate.
XXIFI. — The power of granting pardons shall be vested in the Governor,
Lieutenant Governor, and S peaker of the House of Representatives, for the time
being, or in either two of them.
XXIV. — The Justices of the Superior Court, the Justices of the Inferior
Courts of Common Pleas, Judges of Probate of Wills, Judges of the Maritime
Courts, and Justices of the Peace, shall hold their respective places during
good behavior.
XXV. — The Secretary, Treasurer-General, Commissary- General, shall be
appointed annually.
XXVI. — The Attorney-General, Sheriffs, Registers of the Courts of Probate,
Coroners, Notaries Public, and Naval Officers, shall be appointed and hold
their offices during pleasure.
XXVII. — The Justices of the Superior Court, Justices of the Inferior Courts,
Courts of the General Sessions of the Peace, and Judges of the Maritime
Courts, shall appoint their respective clerks.
XXVIII.— The Delegates for this State to the Continental Congress shall be

124 A, HISTOR Y OF MURRA YFIELD.
chosen annually by joint ballot of the Senate and House of Representatives,
and may be superseded, in the mean time, in the same manner. If any person
holding the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Senator, Judge of the
Superior Court, Secretary, Attorney-General, Treasurer-General, or Com
missary-General, shall be chosen a member of Congress, and accept the trust,
the place, which he so held as aforesaid, shall be considered as vacated thereby,
and some other person chosen to succeed him therein. And if any person,
serving for this State at said Congress, shall be appointed to either of the
aforesaid offices, and accept thereof, he shall be considered as resigning his
seat in Congress, and some other person shall be chosen in his stead.
XXIX. — No persons unless of the Protestant Religion shall be Governor,
Lieutenant Governor, a member of the Senate, or of the House of Represen
tatives, or hold any judiciary employment within this State.
XXX. — All commissions shall run in the name of the State of Massachu
setts Bay, bear test and be signed by the Governor or Commander-in-Chief
of the State, for the time being, and have the seal of the state thereunto
affixed, and be attested by the Secretary or his Deputy.
XXXI. — All writs issuing out of the clerk's office of any of the courts of law
within this State shall be in the name of the State of Massachusetts Bay,
under the seal of the Court from which they issue,1 bear test of the Chief
Justice, or senior or first Justice of the Court, where such writ is returnable,
and be signed by the Clerk of such Court. Indictments shall conclude ' against
the peace and dignity of the State.'
XXXII. — All the statute laws of this State, the common law, and all such
parts of the English and British statute laws, as have been adopted and usually
practiced in the Courts of Law in this State, shall still remain and be in full
force until altered or repealed by a future law or laws of the legislature; and
shall be accordingly observed and obeyed by the people of this State; such
parts only excepted as are repugnant to the rights and privileges contained in
this Constitution; and all parts of such laws as refer to and mention the
council shall be construed to extend to the Senate. And the inestimable right
of trial by jury shall remain confirmed as part of this Constitution forever.
XXXIII. — All monies shall be issued out of the Treasury of this State, and
disposed of by warrants under the hand of the Governor for the time being,
with the advice and consent of the Senate, for the necessary defence and
support of the government, and the protection and preservation of the in
habitants thereof, agreeably to the acts and resolves of the General Court.
XXXIV. — The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and
worship shall forever be allowed to every denomination of Protestants within
this State.
XXXV. — The following oath shall be taken by every person appointed to
any office in this State, before his entering on the execution of his office; viz.
I, A. B., do swear (or affirm as the case may be) that I will bear faith and
true allegiance to the State of Massachusetts; and that I will faithfully exe
cute the business of the office of agreeably to the laws of this State,

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 125
according to my best skill and judgment, without fear, favor, affection, or
partiality. XXXVI. — And whereas it may not be practicable to conform to this Con
stitution in the election of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Senators, and
Representatives for the first year; therefore, The present Convention, if in
being, or the next General Assembly, which shall be chosen upon the pres
ent Constitution, shall determine the time and manner, in which the people
shall choose said officers for the first year, and upon said choice the General
Assembly then in being shall be dissolved and give place to the free execution
of this Constitution. By order of the Convention,
Jeremiah Powell, President.
Attest. Samuel Freeman, Clerk."
The foregoing draft of "Form of a Constitution of Government,"
was rejected by the people of the state. The town of Murrayfield
held its town meeting April 7, at which forty-four voted against and
ten for the proposed constitution.
Another meeting was held June 1st, 1778, at three o'clock in the
afternoon, "to elect some person or persons to serve & represent the
town in the Great & General Court of this state this present year;" also
"to see if the town will give their particular reasons they have
against the constitution sent to us from the Court;" and the town
passed the following vote : "Voted that something be done further
upon the article respecting the constitution." The meeting then ad
journed to June 8th, to further consider the matter; at which time
the town voted " not to do anything upon the article respecting the
constitution; also "that this article shall never in the world be brought
into question without special order from the General Court."
Clothing for Soldiers.
One article in the warrant for the April meeting was " To see what
method the town will come into to provide their quota of clothing for
the Continental Army, agreeable to a late handbill received from the
Court in pressing terms requiring us to complete our quota of cloth
ing." Under this article the town voted " to raise five shillings on the
poll & one farthing on the pound to pay for this clothing." Touching
this subject another town meeting was held July 21st, and it was
voted that the town give six dollars apiece for shirts, four dollars and
fifty cents a pair for stockings, and forty shillings a pair for shoes.
These were required to be provided by September 20th. At the same

126 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
meeting the town chose "Ensign Lyman, Sergeant John Mclntire, &
Edward Wright, Jr., a committee to take care of the soldiers' families."
At the November meeting the town voted to petition the General
Court " to have the tory lands in this town sold at private sale," and
David Shepard, Timothy Lyman, and John Blair were chosen to be
a committee to draft the petition. One hundred pounds was then
voted "for the support of soldiers' families till next March."
The General Court passed an act October 16th, 1778, forbidding the
return of certain persons who had gone over to the enemy; and among
the persons named in said act were three of the original proprietors
of Murrayfield: John Chandler, Abijah Willard, and John Murray.
The following act was passed by the General Court June 28th, 1781:
" Whereas, Thaddeus Newton of Murrayfield in the county of Hamp
shire, in the year 1773, was entitled to a good and lawful deed of one
hundred acres of land in said Murrayfield, from Col. John .Chandler
of Worcester, on certain conditions, which conditions said Newton has
fulfilled on his part, but said John Chandler hath taken refuge with
the enemies of these United States, & hath not complied with his said
agreement; by which means the said Newton will sustain great damage
unless he is relieved by this Commonwealth.
"Therefore, Be it enacted by the Senate & House of Representa
tives in General Court assembled, & by the authority of the same, that
lot No. 9, in the First Division in said Murrayfield, laid out to John
Chandler, Esq., an absentee, be, & hereby is, granted & confirmed to-
him the said Thaddeus Newton, his heirs and assigns as an absolute
estate of inheritance, in fee simple, forever."
State of Affairs 1779.
"At the opening of the new year" (1779) says Barry, "The situa
tion of affairs was discouraging and gloomy. The country was heavily
burdened with debt; soldiers and their families were subjected to in-
credible hardships and sufferings; with the depreciation in the cur
rency, the salaries of the clergy, which remained as before the war,
were reduced to a mere pittance, utterly inadequate to their comforta
ble support, and their parishioners were unable, & in some cases un
willing, to afford them relief; lukewarm patriots were murmuring &
complaining; symptoms of insubordination were manifested in various
quarters; & the utmost vigilance & prudence were required to steer the
ship of state successfully through the breakers which threatened its
destruction, & bring, it safe to the desired haven."

A HISTOR Y OF MURRA YF1EL D. 127
Depreciation of the Currency.
The depreciation of the continental- bills were such that they would
not pass for more than one-tenth or one-twentieth of their nominal
value; " and, as the state had promised the soldiers a bona fide compen
sation, their families were provided for by the selectmen of the towns,
& clothing was furnished the soldiers themselves." To remedy these
evils conventions were held at Concord in July and in October, 1779, at
which prices were fixed for all the products of the country, and measures
taken for the purpose and in the hope of preventing further deprecia
tion of the currency. A general convention was held in Hartford to
devise plans for checking extortions and speculations.
In these patriotic measures Murrayfield was true always to the
public cause. A meeting was called for July 5th, 1779, "To see
what method the town will take in order to procure clothing for the
army, agreeable to a late resolve of the General Court." Also "To
see if the town will send a man' to Concord for to meet with a con
vention of committees of this state in order to adopt some measure for
to prevent the further depreciation of our paper currency." It does
not appear that the town sent a " man to Concord; " but at a meeting
held August 18th, the town "voted unanimously to approve the do
ings of the Concord convention of July 14th, and that the town will
carry the resolves of the convention into execution to the utmost of
its power."
A committee, consisting of eleven: Samuel Matthews, William
Moore, David Shepard, Stephen Lyman, William Campbell, John
Blair, James Hamilton, Timothy Lyman, Jesse Johnson, Enoch
Shepard, and James Clark, was chosen to state the prices of things
in this town. It was also voted " that this committee make a return
of this vote to the committee at Boston, concerning the regulation of
prices;" and also, "that this committee take up & secure any person
that breaks over the resolves of the convention at Concord;" and
further "that this committee make a report to the town at some
future day of the prices they set to labor and other things in the town."
Facts Exhibited by the Valuation Lists.
The valuation lists of Murrayfield from the year 1773 to the year
1781, show facts not uninteresting to the political economist. Dur-
ino- this period there was no unusual growth in the number of tax
payers. The valuation taken in 1773, showed the aggregate taxable

128

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.

property in town to be twenty-one hundred and seventy-eight pounds
and nineteen shillings. Abner Smith, who was and had been for a
long time the wealthiest man in town, and continued such during the
period of time above named, was rated at one hundred and
twenty-seven pounds and five shillings. No other man in the town
was that year rated as high as one hundred pounds. By this state
ment, I refer only to resident tax-payers.

£
s.
The aggregate valuation in
1774
was
2504
3
u u u
t k
1775
i c
1605
6
a a a
(t
1776
u
1906
19
U U ((
t (
1777
c
38819
16
w a it
a.
1778
a
18841
16
(( a. t<
a
1779
((
19688
3
t< u a
a
1780
it
4915
u a a
a
1781
u
3006
3
The rating of Abner Smith,
in
1774
a
138
4
u ' a a c(
a
u
1775
a
83
9
a it n u
a
I f
1776
u
119
15
it, a a a
k
a
1777
((
1273
u a a a
it
1 1
1778
it
702
2
it a a a
((
a
1779
a
625
17
a a a a
(<
a
1780
ti
139
4
u a u a
u
a
1781
n
31
6
In 1781, he was by far the richest man in town.
Depreciated Paper Currency.
During the larger part of this period Murrayfield was suffering,
with the rest of the country, the evils of a depreciated and depreci
ating paper currency. To make this more clear, I take the liberty
of quoting from the eighteenth edition of Prof. Perry's " Political
Economy," page 382, the following: "In June, 1775, a week after
Bunker Hill, the Continental Congress began its fiscal career by
voting to emit $2,000,000 in new bills of credit issued on the faith
of the ' Continent,' but referred as to payment to the separate colonies
in the ratio of their supposed gross population. The best excuse for
this action is the one urged by the Congress itself to the French
minister: "America, never having been much taxed, nor for a continued length
of time, being, without fixed government & contending against what was
once the lawful authority, had no funds to support the war; and, the
A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 129
, contest being upon the very question of taxation, the levying of imposts,
unless from the last necessity, would have been madness. To borrow
from individuals without any visible means of repaying them, while
the loss was certain from ill success, was visionary. A measure, there
fore, tvhich had been early adopted, and thence becam.e familiar to the
people, was pursued. This ivas the issuing of paper notes representing
specie for the redemption of which the public faith was pledged.'
"One phrase only of this clear passage is cloudy — 'paper notes
representing specie.' John Law cast some haze over the Continental
Congress; the wording of the notes is curiously obscure: 'This bill
entitles the bearer to receive ten Spanish milled dollars;' the notes
in no sense represented specie; they virtually promised to pay
it to the bearer; unluckily, the party issuing the promise was not the
party bound to pay; the continent promised while the colonies were
expected to fulfill; unluckily, also, no good provision was made by
either party for the fulfillment of these promises; and consequently the
vice of the continental money was, that there was no economical
limitation of their supply. The notes were not amenable to the law
of supply and demand in the ordinary way, and hence they could not
long maintain a steady value. In a certain remote sense they were
indeed amenable to that law, which presided over the decline and
final extinction of their value. These issues, too, came into competi
tion with the revolutionary issues of eleven separate colonies, New
Hampshire and Georgia issuing none, the total of which in 1775-83
was $209,524,776. So that this further increase of supply depreciated
in comparison with silver both classes of notes. Eighteen months,
however, had passed, and $20,000,000 continental had been authorized,
besides large local issues, before a marked depreciation began.
"As the issues increased, as it became evident to all that no provision
was made to keep the promises, and as Burgoine was prosperously ad
vancing from Canada towards New York, the middle of 1777 saw a
general fall of the notes, not the same in all the States at the same
time, and not at all in strict ratio with the increase of the notes. At
the close of 1777, the average depreciation from silver was not far
from three to one; at the close of 1778, it was not far from six. to one;
at the end of 1779, it was about twenty-eight to one; the press then
rested, after Congress had put out nominally $200,000,000; but
actually about $40,000,000 more than that, though the ceasing of
issue did not arrest the cascade of discredit: Early in 1780, Congress
advised the States to repeal their laws making the bills a legal tender
for debts, and devise the scheme of ' new tenor,' by which the old

130 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
bills might be taken up in a new paper bearing interest at six per cent.
in a ratio of forty to one, to which the old bills had now sunk in com
parison with silver, and $88,000,000 of the old paper were thus re
deemed, New York and Massachusetts and Rhode Island taking up
their entire quota in this way; but the ' new tenor' money never came
into much circulation, and old and new alike dropped out altogether
in the spring of 1781, when the old notes, if passed at all, were pass
ing at about three hundred to one. The Continental army in camp at
Newburgh, combined to refuse to receive them on any terms; and
President Reed gives a pleasing picture of the way in which they
passed out in Pennsylvania:
" 'At once, as if by that force which in days of ignorance would be .
ascribed to enchantment, all dealings in paper ceased; necessity brought
out the gold and silver, a fortunate trade opened at the same time to
the Havana for flour, all restrictions were taken off, and the Mexican
dollars flowed in by thousands; this supported the sinking spirits of
those ivho would have been discontented and uneasy, and in a few days
.specie became the universal medium and so continues.'
"The country found no more lack of silver for money than Massa
chusetts had found in 1749. Assuming that only $200,000,000 Con
tinental had been issued, Jefferson estimated that the nation realized
from them $36,367,720 in specie value, or eighteen per cent, of the
nominal value. Ill effects of every kind came in the wake of this
poor money. Rising prices are ever the gauge of a falling money;
rising prices then as ever gave birth to rash speculations; committees
of safety undertook angrily to punish, under the names of 'forestal-
lers ' and ' engrossers ' the speculators who bought commodities for a
further rise; there was the confusion of contracts usual under varia
ble money, gains for the artful and unscrupulous, and envy and suffer
ings for the poor. Shays' Rebellion in Massachusetts, in 1786, was a
national outgrowth of this fearful injustice; debtors availed themselves
of the legal tender quality of the bills to pay only one-twentieth or
one-fortieth of what was due; the morals of all classes of the people
became corrupted through constantly calling things that were not as
though they were; peculations pervaded society; Congress itself used
wretched sophistries in resolving that the money ' ought to pass cur
rent in all payments, trade and dealings, and be deemed equal in value
to the same nominal sums in Spanish dollars,' and in lauding the
papers as the only kind of money ' which cannot take to itself wings ¦
and fly away ! It remains with us, it ivill not forsake us, it is always
ready at hand for the purposes 'of convenience, and every industrious

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 131
man can find it.' John Jay, and many others who knew better,
helped to make current such nonsense as this; and then, a little later,
swallowing all its brave words, Congress repudiated for its part, and
advised in effect the States to repudiate, all obligations to redeem these
bills. Their volume had been swelled both by native and by British
counterfeiters, and there was almost no crime to which their issue and
depreciation did not contribute. Noah Webster, a clear headed essay
ist of the time, said of this paper money: 'We have suffered more
from this cause than from every other cause or calamity. It has killed
more men, corrupted the choicest interests of our country more, and
done more injustice, than even the arms and artifices of our enemy.'
" Washington, himself as a creditor the victim of that form of social
robbery involved in a depreciated legal tender, unfortunately did not
understand the mysteries or rather the simplicities of paper money,
and thus vented his wrath towards the wrong objects: 'It gives me
sincere pleasure to find that the Assembly is so well disposed to second,
your endeavors to bring those murderers of our cause, the monopolizers,.
forestallers, and engrossers, to condign punishment. It is much to be
lamented that each State, long ere this, has not hunted them, down as-
pests to society, and the greatest enemies we have to the happiness of
America. I would to God that some one of the more atrocious in each
State was hung on gibbets upon a gallows five times as high as the one
prepared for Haman! No punishment, in my opinion, is too severe for
the man who can build his greatness upon his country's ruin!"
County Convention to Fix Prices for Necessaries of Life.
A county convention was held at Northampton in September, 1779,
for fixing the prices of the necessaries of life. The town sent Timothy
Lyman as a delegate to this convention, and at the town meeting held
October 18tn, voted to abide by the doings of the convention, and
chose Deacon Samuel Matthews, Lieutenant William Moore, and
Ensign Stephen Lyman a committee "to see that the doings of the
convention are not violated."
Controversy with Other Towns Concerning Quotas.
At the March meeting 1779, Deacon Samuel Matthews, Ensign
Stephen Lyman, and Lieutenant William Moore were chosen to be the
committee of safety. One article in the warrant was, " To see what
method the town will take in order to defend themselves against the
unreasonable claims of other towns respecting the Continental soldiers

132 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
which the town has hired into the service, and to pass such vote re
specting the article above mentioned as they shall judge best." What
these "unreasonable claims of other towns" were does not appear.
Perhaps Murrayfield had hired men who were residents of other
towns to help fill its own quota. This would naturally lead to con
troversy. Ensign Stephen Lyman was, chosen to go to Northampton
" to defend the town against the unjust claims of other towns con
cerning the Continental soldiers.-''
The nature of this controversy is made more clear from the follow
ing entry upon the record book of the town: "Murrayfield, April
13th, 1779. Then the town of Murrayfield met upon the desire of
the selectmen and consulted what method the town shall take in order
to make a new return of the Continental men. Voted there shall be
.a return made of all the men that have been enlisted from the town,
and likewise of all those that have been hired from other towns into
the continental service, and that all the light that can be given shall
be put in." In this connection the following from a muster roll of
this year will not be uninteresting. The roll contained the following
memoranda of men put in by Murrayfield:
"Francis Thompson, age 17, height, 5 feet 6 inches; complection brown.
Ebenezer Smith, age 18, height, 5 feet 7 inches; complection dark."
They were in Captain Black's company in the regiment of Colonel
Mosley. On the back of the muster roll was the following endorsement:
"Springfield, 31st July, 1779. Received of Justin Ely, Esq., commissioner
for the State of Massachusetts Bay, the men mentioned in the within list to
serve for nine months in the Continental Army agreeable to a resolution of
General Court of said State of June 8. Theophalus Clark."

Proposed New Constitution.
A town meeting was held May 17, at which the town was called
upon to consider " whether they choose at this time to have a new
Constitution or Form of Government made, and whether they will
give their Representatives power to do anything to make one;"
Thirty-four voted in favor and none against. This was in response to
the resolve passed by the General Assembly of the State, as follows:
"In the House of Representatives, Feb. 19, 1779.
Whereas, The Constitution or Form of Civil Government, which was pro
posed by the late Convention of this State to the People thereof, hath been
-disapproved by a majority of the inhabitants of said State. —

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 133
And Whereas, It is doubtful from the Representations made to this Court,
what are the sentiments of the major part of the good People of this State,
as to the expediency of now proceeding to form a new Constitution of Gov
ernment. —
Therefore Resolved, That the Selectmen of the several towns within this
State cause the Freeholders and other Inhabitants in Iheir respective towns,
duly qualified to vote for Representatives, to be lawfully warned to meet
together in some convenient place therein, on or before the last Wednesday of
May next, to consider of, and determine upon the following questions: —
First. — Whether they choose, at this time, to have a New Constitution or
Form of Government made.
Secondly. — Whether they will empower their Representatives for the next year
to vote for the calling a State Convention, for the sole purpose of forming a
New Constitution; provided it shall appear to them, on examina'tion, that a
major part of the People present and voting at the meetings, called in the
manner and for the purpose aforesaid, shall have answered the first question
in the affirmative.
And in order that the sense of the People may be known thereon. —
Be it further Resolved, That the Selectmen of each town be and hereby
are directed to return into the Secretary's Office, on or before the first Wednes
day of June next, the doings of their respective towns, on the first ques
tion above mentioned, certifying the numbers voting in the affirmative, and
the numbers voting in the negative, on said question."
A majority of the people in the state voted in favor of calling the
convention, and in accordance with the advice of the General Court,
precepts were issued for the choice of delegates to meet at Cambridge
in the month of September. The result of this convention was the
drafting of a constitution and a declaration of rights which the people,
by more than a two-thirds vote, approved. The town meeting held in
Murrayfield to act upon the constitution was , appointed to be held
May 2d, 1780. The first action taken by the town was choosing a
committee of three from each school district to consider the proposed
Constitution and declaration of rights and report at an adjourned
meeting. This committee consisted of the following persons: Samuel
Jones, John Jones,, Benjamin Eggleston, Deacon James Hamilton,
Lieutenant William Moore, Deacon Jesse Johnson, Doctor David
Shepard, Ensign Stephen Lyman, Deacon Samuel Matthews, William
Bell, Lieutenant John Newton Parmenter, Aaron Bell, Ebenezer
Stowe, Lieutenant James Clark, Captain James Black, Jonathan
Webber, Gershom Rust, Reuben Woolworth, Benjamin Converse,
Robert Proctor, and Daniel Twadwell. The meeting then adjourned
to May 16th, -at which eight voted for and the remainder against the
proposed constitution. But another meeting was called and held May

134 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
26th, to further consider and vote upon the proposed constitution,
with the following results:
" On the second article of the Constitution, Section one, Chapter two, page
17, objected against by fifteen." A proposed " alteration that the governor
instead of being of the Christian Religion it should be inserted that he shall
be of the Christian & Protestant Religion, voted by fifteen."
" Article ten, page 32 objected against as it stands now by twelve votes." '
The provision objected to. was as follows: "The Captains and subalterns of
the militia shall be elected by the written votes of the train-band & alarm
list of their respective companies, of twenty-one years of age & upwards;''
&c. The town "voted for the alteration following, viz.: 'That all persons
that are in the train-band & alarm list above the age of sixteen shall have
liberty to vote for their captains & subalters,' " by a vote of thirteen.
" Part second, Chapter one, Section one, Article four was voted for by ten,
objected against by two." The reason offered was " that those articles that
have duties & excises laid on them will come dearer to the purchaser." This
article defined the power and authority of the General Court. The part of it
particularly objected to reads as follows: " And also to impose, & levy
reasonable duties & excises, upon any produce, goods, wares, merchandize, &
commodities whatsoever, brought into, produced, manufactured, or being
within the same."
"Chapter six, voted for a revision of the Constitution in ten years if the
people have a mind for it."
" Voted that all the other articles in the Constitution shall stand as they be,
or that we are willing that they should stand without any alteration."
June 16th, 1780, the Constitutional Convention passed a resolve that
the first General Court under the new constitution should be holden
on the last Wednesday in October. "And in order thereto, there shall
be a meeting of the Inhabitants of each Town & Plantation in the
several Counties within this State, legally warned & held, on the first '
Monday of September next, for the purpose of electing a Governor,
Lieut. Governor, '& persons for Councillors & Senators." A meeting
was also required to be held in October following for the choice
of representatives to the General Court. In pursuance of this
resolve the Selectmen of Murrayfield called a meeting for September
4th. Twenty-seven votes were cast for John Hancock for Governor.
At the October meeting David Shepard was elected to represent the
town in the General Court.
A town meeting was held in Murrayfield, January 31st, 1780. John
Newton Parmenter was chosen moderator, and the meeting then ad-
-journed to Landlord White's and finished its business. This adjourn
ment was probably in consequence of the weather being too cold to

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 135
hold the meeting in the meeting-house. At this meeting the town
voted "to give those who furnished wool &c for soldiers' blankets
twenty-four fold from the year 1774 for what they furnished."
At the March meeting Ensign Stephen Lyman, Deacon Samuel
Matthews, and Ebenezer Stowe were chosen to be the committee of
safety. The election of committees of safety was now required by law.
The law also required towns to provide for the support of soldiers'
families, and the town, in 1780, raised six hundred pounds for that
purpose.Support of Soldiers' Families and Clothing for Soldiers.
Clothing the soldiers and furnishing them transportation was put
upon the towns. At the March meeting, 1781, the town voted "that
those persons that found the clothing for the soldiers the year past
shall have the money allowed for the same by the General Court."
Pay of Soldiers.
A committee was chosen "to procure money for the soldiers that
had, & were about to enlist; & that the committee borrow one hun
dred & fifty dollars silver & one half of it in paper according to the
exchange;" also "to raise twelve hundred silver dollars in order to
hire or pay the -men that have inlisted or may inlist into the Conti
nental Army for three years, & that the said sum of money be assessed
immediately & that the whole be paid into the town treasury by the
first of May next." But a part of this action was reconsidered at a
meeting held April 2d; and the town then voted "to raise six hun
dred hard dollars & six hundred hard dollars more or an equivolent in
paper money or specie according to the exchange." Also voted that
said sum "be paid into the treasury by the 7th of April inst."
Raising Additional Men for the Army.
At a meeting held July 25th, the town voted " to raise five men for
three months' service to go into the Continental Army;" and " to give
them fifty hard dollars each, and paying each man ten hard dollars
before he marched, & the town to draw their wages." Stephen
Lyman was chosen " a committee to buy & sell cattle enough to pur
chase the money to pay the soldiers their ten dollars a man."
In April, 1782, the town chose a committee to procure two more Con
tinental men recently called for; and in June the town voted "to raise
fifty pounds to pay for two Continental men, & to borrow the money

136 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
for a few days;" and Edward Wright, Jr., was appointed "a com
mittee " to try to borrow the money. At a meeting held February 3d,
1783, the town voted "that the selectmen provide two shirts for
Samuel Brewer now in the Continental Army."
Beef for the Army.
In 1780 a requisition was made by the General Court upon the town
of Murrayfield to furnish a certain quantity of beef for the army. At
a meeting held October 16th of that year the town voted "to purchase-
3,840 weight of beef, and to raise five thousand pounds for the above
use;" and Captain Joel Seaward, Timothy Lyman and Captain James
Black were chosen a committee to make the purchase. In December
the General Court called for more beef for the army; and a town
meeting was called and held January 9th, 1781, in the' meeting-house;
but it was so cold that as soon as a moderator was chosen the meeting
adjourned to the house of Doctor Shepard, and then voted "to raise
eight thousand pounds to purchase this town's proportion of beef;
and that the money should be paid in by the 20th of February next."
A committee of three was then chosen to purchase "the beef & grain
that is sent for by the General Court as reasonable as they can, &
deliver the same at the place appointed by the County's Committee, &
all their reasonable costs shall be allowed them." Later on other
requisitions for beef were made: July 10th, 1781, the town voted " to
raise a sum of money sufficient to purchase 3,044 pounds of beef, to
be assessed upon the inhabitants, non-residents, and absentees of Mur
rayfield at the current price that the superintendent shall say the
price is through the county, & that the assessors be directed to assess
the same as soon as they can or shall receive the amount from the
superintendent;" and on the 30th of July, " seventy pounds in silver
money," were raised to pay for the beef.
Poverty of the Town.
Finally, at a meeting held August 26th, 1782, more beef having been
called for, the town decided that it could not purchase "any beef for
Mr. Phelps or the Army." The town had become very poor; its
aggregate valuation was but three thousand and six pounds. It may
be an interesting fact to the reader, that at a town meeting held July
5th, 1781, the town instructed the constables — who were- also the tax
collectors at that time — "not to take any more paper money towards
what they were indebted to the town at present for taxes."

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 13T
Raising Men for the Army.
Inasmuch as many of the men who went into the army, either vol
unteered or were raised by the payment of bounty through the efforts
of private individuals actuated either by pure patriotism, or, which was
more frequently the case, by a desire to escape personal service in the
army, the records of the town give very little light as to who went, how
they were induced to serve, when they went, or where they served.
But toward the last of the war, as might be expected, the records of
the town show some action by the town in its corporate capacity. In
December, 1780, the General Court called upon Murrayfield to furnish
some more men for the Continental Army. At a meeting held January
30th, 1781, the town voted "to raise six men for the army for three
years or during the war;" and " Capt. Abner Smith, Lieut. William
Campbell, Ebenezer Stowe, Lieut. James Clark, Capt. John Kelso,
& Abner Smith, Jr., were chosen a committee to hire six men, & their
reasonable. charges shall be allowed."
Averaging and Equalizing the War Burden.
Some disagreements arose among the inhabitants of Murrayfield as
to the equal sharing of the burdens of the war. This was perfectly
natural in a struggle like our war for independence. It was not a war
carried on by an established government for its own aggrandizement,
but it was the struggle of a people to establish a government of their
own which it was fondly believed would shower equal blessings upon
all; and it was expected and justly demanded that each individual
should do his proportionate share of the common duties, and bear his
proportionate share of the common burdens, as he expected to enjoy
his share of the common blessings which would be the reward of
success. At a town meeting held July 5th, 1780, it was voted, "that the town
will come into an average of what they have done before with respect
to the service done in the war if the town will pass the following
vote, viz.:
"1st. That every month's service that a person has done in the present war
shall be estimated alike in every year. 2d. That those persons that are be
hind in the service, estimating it by polls & estates, shall be obliged to hire
or go into the service until they are on an equality with those that have done
the most according as they stand in the town valuation."
The town also passed the following votes:

138 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
" Voted to choose a committee to adjust the service of each man in the
present war.
"Voted to choose five to join with the officers. Chose Doct. David Shepard,
Mr. Ebenezer Stowe, Timothy Lyman, Lieut. Newton Parmenter & Samuel
Bell." When the committee came to the work of adjusting and equalizing
the service, they found difficulties growing out of the claims and demands
of individuals touching the services they claimed to have rendered.
So at a meeting held on the 4th of September, the town voted to sub
mit these differences to a committee of three persons not residents of
the town, and selected for this committee, Col. Timothy Roberts,
Maj. Warham Parks, and Capt. David Moselyof Westfield. Ebenezer
Stowe, Lieut. John Newton Parmenter, and Doct. Shepard were
chosen to represent the town before the committee. There were
several persons with whom these differences had arisen; but En
sign Stephen Lyman was one whose name appeared in the records
of the town.
At a meeting held April 2d, 1781, the town voted that "every
month's service should be estimated equally alike from the beginning of
the war until this day;" and also voted that Sergeant John Blair,
¦Sergeant John Mclntire, and Lieut. William Campbell be a committee
to make the average, and they were given a month's time to do it and
make their report to the town. But the differences were not settled
to the satisfaction of all concerned; and a meeting was called for Sep
tember 7th, " To hear the petition of Timothy Smith & others, respect
ing the average sum the court allowed them." Also, " To see if the
town will come into any method that there may be an average made
of past services in the war." But the town voted, "not to give those
persons that hired the six & three months' men the average sum ordered
by the General Court." The town then voted to choose a committee
¦consisting of five: Capt. James Black, Doct. David Shepard, Lieut.
William Campbell, Ensign Stephen Lyman, and Thomas Elder, "to
make an average of past services in the present war;" and also voted,
"that every month's service be estimated at forty shillings per month,
that has been done in the present war."
Another meeting was held September 17th, for the purpose of try
ing to adjust the differences between Timothy Smith and others on
the one hand and the town on the other, without going to court; and
it was voted that, "the town will come to an average of all past ser
vices as near as may be in the present war by the last of November
next upon the rules of justice and equity and leave it to a committee

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 139
of one man out of town for a chairman and two men that the town
shall pitch upon in the town; and said committee shall lay the same
before the town as soon as completed, & if the town agrees to the aver
age it shall be binding, saving that if any individual thinks himself
aggrieved he or they shall have liberty of an appeal to indifferent men
out of town, he or they paying the cost if they are not injured, and
if the committee out of town finds him or them injured by the first
average the town shall pay the cost. Chose Col. Timothy Robertson,
chairman of the committee, & Doct. David Shepard & Mr. Timothy
Lyman for the committee." This committee made a report to the
town at a meeting held June 10th, 1782; and the town voted, "to
accept the average that Capt. Shepard read." The town then chose
a committee consisting of Capt. Sloper of Blandford, Deae. Brewster
of Worthington, and Deae. Wares of Norwich, " to settle with the
aggrieved party." But what this settlement was, or whether it was to
the satisfaction of the aggrieved party, does not appear. It probably
ended the controversy; and this was of more consequence to all con
cerned than that it should be settled to the exact line of equity-
Deacon Jesse Johnson and others appear to have been another
grottp of aggrieved persons; but evidently they were less persistent
than Timothy Smith and his friends, for at a town meeting held July
10th, 1781, the town "voted not to allow to Deae. Johnson & others
what the average sum was that was allowed them by the General
Court for the six & three months' men;" and here this case apparently
ended. Stephen Lyman and Timothy Lyman appear to have made
some claim which the town disposed of by a vote passed December,
1780, " to allow the Lymans three-fourths of the service of those
three years' men." These were probably men sent by the Lymans as
substitutes. I will now give the names of those who served in the war for the
town of Murrayfield, as they appear upon the enrollment lists now in
the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth. The minute men
who marched to Cambridge in Col. Seth Pomeroy's regiment in April,
1775. were the following: David Shepard, James Clark, Gershom
Rust, John Mclntire, Russell Dewey, George Williams, Nathan
Wright, Benjamin Wright, John Blair, Asa Gould, Benjamin Eggles
ton, James Geer, Archelus Anderson.
Col. Seth Pomeroy was a Northampton man, a gunsmith by irade,
and served as. major in the French and Indian War, in 1745, and
was in the battle of Crown Point. He also served at the siege of
Lonisburg. At the time of the battle of Bunker Hill he had been

140 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
appointed a brigadier-general. Of his conduct at the battle of Bunker
Hill, Bancroft speaks as follows: " The veteran Seth Pomeroy, of
Northampton, an old man of seventy, once second in rank in the
Massachusetts army, but now postponed to younger men, heedless of
the slight, was roused by the continuance of the cannonade, and rode-
to Charlestown Neck; there, thoughtful for his horse, which was a
borrowed one, he shouldered his fowling-piece, marched over on foot,
and amidst loud cheers of welcome took a place at the rail-fence."
At the retreat he "walked backward facing the enemy & brandishing
his musket till it was struck & marked by a ball." He was elected a
brigadier general by Congress; but perceiving some distrust of his
capacity on account of his age, he retired from the camp before re
ceiving his commission. Well might our Murrayfield minute men
have felt proud to serve under such a man.
The following named Murrayfield men enlisted and went in Col.
David Brewster's regiment, 9th Continental, April 24th, 1775: Capt.
Malcom Henry, Sergeant William French, William Spencer Smith,
Joseph Henry, William Foot, John Elder, and Ezekiel Snow; and
they were discharged October 7th, 1775. The name of William
French does not appear among the discharged. *
John Laccore, David Blair, George Black, William Moore, Thomas
Elder, and Thomas Smith went into the army in 1775, for a short
service. Thomas Smith again enlisted in August, 1775. Aschel
Johnson enlisted in Capt. Hastings' Company, May 20tb, 1775, and
was discharged September 24th, 1775. George Black and Thomas
Smith were discharged at Roxbury, October 6th, 1775. They had
served in Col. Davidson's regiment and in Capt. Ferguson's company.
In 1776, David Bolton, William Smith, and Eli Woolworth went
into service under Capt. Reuben Munn in the regiment commanded
by Col, Nicholas Dike.
October 21, 1776, the men named below joined Col. John Mosley's
regiment and marched to Mount Independence under command of
Lieut. Col. Timothy Robertson: Capt. Enoch Shepard, Lieut. Wil
liam Campbell, Sergeant Gershom Rust, Sergeant John Mclntire, Ser
geant Nathan Wright, Corporal John Elder, Edward Wright, a fifer,
and the following privates : Alexander Partridge, James Bentley,
Ebenezer Freeman, Allen Geer, Thomas Elder, William Elder, Eben.
ezer Stowe, John Smith, Lemuel Laccore, Abner Smith, and Jonathan
Wait. Their term of service was twenty-eight days.
March 1st, 1777, Jehiel Eggleston and James Fobes enlisted for
three years or during the war. December 19th, 1778, Patrick King

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 141
•enlisted and went into the 9th regiment; and in July, 1780, Elijah
Brewer* enlisted and went into the 7th regiment. Joseph Winter,
age 17 years, Francis Thomas, f aged 17 years, described us five feet
. six inches in height, and of brown complexion, and Ebenezer Smith
age 18 years, described five feet seven inches in height and of brown
complexion, enlisted July 9th, 1779, for nine months.
John Thompson was drafted and. went into Col. John Mosley's
regiment. In 1780, the persons named below served in Capt. Black's company
and Col. Mosley's regiment for three and six months: John Carlile,
William Carlile, Alexander McCullen, William Harris, Timothy
Smith, Jesse Wright, Elijah Brewer, James Moore, Daniel Babcock,
Abraham Converse, Isaac Converse, Jude Jones, Samuel Woolworth,
Nathan Matthews, Nathaniel Babcock and Primus Hill.
The following names appear as of the new levies for six months from
Massachusetts, under date May 29th, 1780: Joseph Gilbert, Patrick
King, Leonard Pigne, Noah Wilson, Moses Barr, John Carlile, William
Carlile, Alexander McCullen, Joseph Winter, Timothy Smith, Jesse
Wright and William Harris.
The following named persons enlisted April 16th, 1781: Justin
Rust, Samuel Rust, Quartus Rust, Edward Taylor, Archelns Ander
son, and on June 5th, 1781, Elijah Stanton. At another time in the
same year Alexander Mecla, Timothy Smith, William Harris, John
Curtis, Elijah Brown, Jesse Wright and Joseph Witter went together.
Witter was 17 years of age, five feet eight inches in height and of dark
¦complexion. Timothy Smith, Jesse Wright, John Carlile, William Carlile, Win
ter, and Daniel Babcock appear on an enrollment list in 1780 as six
months men; also, on another enrollment list, Alexander McCullen
and William Harris.
I give the above lists as I find them on the several enrollment lists
on file in the office of the Secretary of State.
Excise Duties.
At a town meeting held in January, 1782, the town voted to instruct
its representative to "do his endeavor "to get the duties taken off
sundry articles. Spirituous liquors, rum, tea and indigo were specifi
cally named with an etc.
* It does not appear that Brewer was a, Murrayfield man. He is referred to in the town
reoords as " Samuel Brewer."
tin one enrollment list his name is Francis Thompson, which is probably correct

142 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
Action Touching the Northwest Corner of the Town.
A special town meeting was called to be held March 29th, 1779, and
one article in the warrant was: "To see if the town will consent to
have the northwest corner of this town set off to join with Worthing
ton and Becket corner in order to make a society or town." This was
in response to the following petition: "Murrayfield, February 18th, 1779.
Whereas we, the inhabitants of the north west parts of the town of Mur
rayfield being convened together with the inhabitants of the north east part of
Becket & south west part of Worthing! on, unanimously think it best to be set
off as a town: Wherefore we request & desire to be set off from this town
& adjoin those forementioned inhabitants; our liviDg so remote from the
middle of the town makes it very tedious attending any town business especially
the preaching of the Gospel. Therefore we whose names are underwritten
do humbly petition to this town to set us off near as far as Thomas Elders.
(Signed) Samuel Jones,
John Taylor,
John Thompson,
John Jones,
Benjamin Eggleston,
Bigott Eggleston,
Lebanon Isham."
The town voted not to grant the request. But sometime after the
name of the town was changed to " Chester," the legislature took such
action that the northwest corner of the town became part of the town
of Middlefield, by an act passed March 21st, '1783.

Change of Name.
As early as December, 1775, action was taken with a view to changing
the name of the town. There was a town in Hampshire county called
Myrifield, afterward incorporated under the name of Rowe. The simi
larity of the names caused great confusion in various ways; so the select
men of the town of Murrayfield inserted an article in the warrant "To
see if the town will vote to alter the name of the town, & if so, to vote
what name they would have it called." The town voted to have the
name changed to " Mount Asaph," and chose a committee, consisting of
Lieutenant Enoch Shepard, Deacons Jesse Johnson and James Hamil
ton, " to petition the General Court for the alteration." The reason
for this proposed change as given in the "History of the Connecticut

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 143
Valley" is not only misleading, but it is absurd. John Murray, to be
sure, became a tory and left the country; but not, probably, until after
the declaration of independence. At any rate, the act by which he and
others were forbidden to return was not passed until 1778. If the
reason for making the change was that John Murray had become odious
as a tory, there was no objection to the fact being named in their
petition. There is no evidence that a petition to change the name to
"Mount Asaph" was ever presented to the General Court pursuant to
the vote of the town. No further action was had upon this subject
until, at the November meeting 1782, the town voted " to petition the
General Court to have the name of this town altered, & to have it
called ' Mountfair,' or any other name the court shall see fit; " and
"that the town clerk be directed to send a petition to the General
Court with the spirit of the above vote included therein." A petition
was accordingly sent to the General Court for a change of name. But
a meeting was called for February 10th, 1783, for the purpose of re
considering the vote to call the town " Mountfair," and the vote was
reconsidered, and a vote passed that the town be called "Fairfield."
But for some reason the General Court would not grant this name, and
the name " Chester" was selected. The act changing the name reads
as follows:
" Whereas, from the great similarity between the names of said town called
Murrayfield & a plantation called Merryfield* in this commonwealth, many
difficulties & inconveniences have arisen, & the inhabitants of the former pray
that the name of the said town may be altered.
Therefore, Be it enacted by the Senate & House of Representatives, in Gen
eral Court assembled, & by the authority of the same, that the land lying in
the county of Hampshire, formerly incorporated into a town by the name of
Murrayfield, shall no longer bear that name; but henceforth shall be called &
known by the name of Chester, the aforesaid incorporating act notwithstand
ing. And all officers in the said town shall hold & exercise their offices re
spectively, in the same manner as they would have done had not the name of
said town been altered."
This act was passed February 21st, 1783, but as it did .not go into
effect immediately upon its passage, the March meeting was called
under the old name and also a meeting in April.
March Meeting, 1783.
The March meeting was held the 3d of the month. Stephen Lyman
was chosen moderator, and David Shepard was chosen town clerk.
* This name was sometimes spelled " Myrifield," and sometimes " Merryfield." It wa.«, a lew
years later, incorporated under the name of " Rowe."

144 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
But it was too cold to continue the meeting in the meeting-house, so
it was adjourned to meet " down to William Stowe's house." At this
meeting the last election was had of town officers for the town under
its old name. They were as follows:
Selectmen and Assessors. — John Blair, William Campbell and Tim
othy Lyman.
Treasurer. — Stephen Lyman.
Constables. — Benjamin Converse for the south end of the town and
Timothy Smith for the north end.
Tythingmen. — Gideon Matthews and Andrew Henry.
Wardens. — Reuben Woolworth, Samuel Moore, David Shepard,
Deacon James Hamilton.
Surveyors of Highways. — Joseph Abbott, Jr., Edward Wright, Jr.,
Thomas Smith, James Core, William Foot, Samuel Moore, Captain
Alexander, John Clark and Robert Smith.
Fence Viewers. — James Moore and Robert Smith.
Hog Reeves. — Jonathan Waite, Jr. K William Smith and Jonathan
Draper. Sealer of Weights and Measures. — William Stone.
Sealer of Lumber. — Deacon Matthews.
Pound Keeper. — William Foot.
Sealer of Leather. — Isaac Bissell.
The collection of taxes was put up to the lowest bidder, and it was
struck off to Timothy Smith at fourpence on the pound. Eighty
pounds were raised for repairs of highways, and three shillings was
fixed"as the price of a day's work.
At the April meeting some roads were accepted; and this was the
last town meeting held under the name of Murrayfield.

APPENDIX.

No records of births were kept by the town until Doctor David
Shepard was chosen clerk of the town of Murrayfield. To him we
are indebted for such records of births, deaths and marriages as appear
in the record book of the town prior to 1790. It appears that he took
pains to gather such facts as he could, and write them out in the last
part of the one book that was kept to record all the doings of the town
in. They are little more than memoranda jotted here and there with
out much regard to order or arrangement. Although extending later
than the time of the foregoing history, I have ventured to gather up
and arrange in this appendix all the facts for the convenince of the
reader and especially for the convenience and information of persons
who are interested in the families of the early settlers of Murrayfield.
Some of the births recorded took place in other towns, some before
the parents came here, and in some cases the mothers went to their
old homes and remained until confinement.
The births were as follows:
To Abiel and Sarah Abbott: Joseph, June 11, 1783; Nathan, November 1,
1784; Sally, April 4, 1787; Atcksa, July 28, 1789.
To Ebenezer and Anna Abbott: Rufus, January 31, 1784; Anna, December
4, 1786; Tryphena, May 24, 1789.
To John and Louis Abbott: Phebe, November 23, 1777; John, March 10,
1783; Dolly, March 17, 1785; Billa, February 10, 1788.
To Joseph J. and Hannah Abbott: James P., July 16, 1779; Hannah, July
19, 1781; Betsey, October 26, 1784.
To Nathaniel and Mary Adams: Eliphel, August 18, 1786.
To Nathaniel and Eunice Alexander: Eunice, August 28, 1782; Gaius, Octo
ber 14, 1784; Anna, October 14, 1786.
To Samuel and Rebecca Allis: Lemuel, July 9, 1784.
To Archelus and Sarah Anderson: Susannah, February 8, 1770; Sarah,
November 5, 1771; Lucre,tia, November 29, 1773; John, October 19, 1777.
To Daniel Barnard and wife: Samuel, February 3, 1786; Sophia, October
2, 1789.
To the.Rev. Aaron and Theodosia Bascom: James, April 16, 1773; Samuel
Ashley, February 10, 1780; Theodosia, September 11, 1781; Aaron, April 19,

146 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
1783; John, December 23, 1784; Fanny, November 8, 1786; Charlotte, March
18, 1789.
To Aaron and Mary Bell: Mary, February 27, 1774, born at Weston; Aaron,
December 29, 1775; John Cheney, January 2, 1777; James, June 17, 1780;
John Cheney, 2d, May 20, 1783.
To William and Margaret Bell: Mary, March 1, 1772; Justus, February 2,
1774; Simpson, March 19, 1779.
To John and Persa Bigelow: Polly, December 23, 1788.
To Elijah and Mary Blackman: William, February 4, 1787; John Hall,
March 22, 1784.
To John and Elizabeth Blair: Molly, June 7, 1771; Solomon, January 30,
1773; James, August 10, 1774; Amia, April 5, 1776; John, February 4, 1778;
Sally, October 15, 1779; Betsey, October 15, 1782; James, June 22, 1784.
To Matthew and Sarah Campbell: Mary Wallis, February 27, 1774, born at
East Windsor; Cephas, April 19, 1776; Ira, March 4, 1778; Ethan, April 26,
1780; Alvin, November 22, 1782; Sally, January 25, 1785; James Marr, April 13,
1788. To William and Marah Campbell: Polly and Stella, April 7, 1768; Jane,
June 24, 1770; Lucinda,  , 1772; Billy Young, November 1, 1775.
To John and Sarah Carlile: Sophia, March 10, 1781; Francis, March, 9, 1784.
To James and Dolla Carlile: Eben Smith, February 19, 1789.
To William and Levonia Carlile: Joel, March 31, 1790.
To Eliakim and Pamelia Olapp: Pamelia, April 11, 1787; Rachel, December
8, 1788; Eliakim, August 1, 1790.
To James and Sarah Clark: John Scott, April 1, 1762; Royal, November
21, 1763; Tilas, June 28, 1766; JameS.and David, April 25, 1768; Orin, March
24, 1773; Royal, December 17, 1782.
To James and Ruth Clark: Ruth, July 17, 1769.
To Timothy and^ Rebecca Cooley: Margaret, April 21, 1788; Chester, March
28, 1790.
To Robert and Mary Crawford: John, September 8, 1783; Russell, April 11,
1786; Polly, February 14, 1788.
To James and Phebe Crow: Isabel, June 6, 1779; Hulda, March 21, 1782.
To John and Anna Crow: Jean, February 23, 1767; John, 3d, July 13, 1769.
To Joshua and Molley Draper: Bethenel, August 27, 1774; Lucy, January
22, 1776; Hazar Enan, September 6, 1777; Rufus, January 22, 1779; Abijah,
September 3, 1781; Sylvester, May 14, 1783.
To Thomas and Margaret Elder: Thomas, June 12, 1774; Samuel, March
5, 1776; Kata, April 9, 1778; James, January 30, 1780; Charlotte, January 27,
1782; John, March 9, 1784; Artemas, October 14, 1785.
To Thomas and Nabby Elder: Laura, July 27, 1789.
To William and Sarah Elder: Samuel, March 9, 1785 ; Norrid, May 22, 1787;
William, May 5, 1789.
To Samuel and Stella Ellis: John, June 9, 1763; Samuel, February 11, 1765;
Margaret, January 4, 1767; Noah, June 14, 1769; Sally, April 26, 1771; Eben
ezer, November 23, 1773; Sally, April 5, 1777.

A HISTORY OF MURRA YFIELD. 147
To James and Thankful Fairman: Frederick, May 15, 1770; Amaza, Novem
ber 3, 1771.
To Thaddeus and Abigail Ferry: Abigail, July 30, 1788.
To Solomon and Rhoda Ferry: Orra, July 6, 1788.
To Gershom and Editba Flagg: Mary, February 4, 1783; Ebenezer, June
14, 1785; Edith, July 17, 1786.
To Thomas and Nancy Flint: Esquire, April 3, 1784; Lucy, December 18,
1785. To Nathan and Rebecca Fobes: Jabez, September 27, 1784; Sally, July 1,
1786; Justin, October 20, 1788.
To William and Ruth Foot: Eunice, November 8, 1778; Ruth, November
26, 1780; Asa W., August 4, 1786.
To Jacob and Elizabeth Fowle: Betsey, December 13, 1780; Nancy, Septem
ber 5, 1782; Polly, February 27, 1784.
To Silas and Mary Freeman: Brewster, March 27, 1765, born at Preston,
Conn.; Freeman, March 29, 1767, born at Preston, Conn.; Edmon, August 5,
1769, born at Preston, Conn.; Joseph, September 8, 1771, born at Preston,
Conn.; Benjamin White, March 1, 1773, born at Canterbury, Conn.; Charles,
December 10, 1775, born at Preston, Conn.; Nathaniel, May 25, 1778; Samuel
Dweller, February 12, 1780; Sylvanus, February 14, 1783.
To Samuel and Susannah French: Azael, May 12, 1778.
To Alexander and Martha Gordon: John, May 6, 1769.
To Samuel and Olive Gould: Patty, February 19, 1777; Molly, September
15,1779. To Lewis and Tersa Hancock: Polly, June 18, 1788.
To Malcom and Dolly Henry: Mary, July 5, 1763; Isabel, April 12, 1765;
Susanna, January 20, 1767; Andrew, March 16, 1769; Dolly, September 23,
1771. To Oliver and Elizabeth Hitchcock: Levi, October 9, 1786.
To Zadock and Christiana Ingall: James, June 26, 1783; Zadock, October
16, 1784.
To Jesse and Sarah Johnson: Eunice, January 23, 1769; Roxana, July 28,
1770; Isaac, March 10, 1772; Sybil, December 30, 1773; Mabel, November 3,
1775; Roxana, July 14, 1777; Daniel, March 22, 1779; Louis, October 30, 1780;
Lucy, May 18, 1785.
To John and Hannah Jones: Arba, April 24, 1775; Cynthia, April 3, 1778;
Hannah, February 10, 1781.
To John and Anna Kirtland: Mary, December 14, 1770.
To Samuel and Betty Knight: Samuel, February 11, 1771.
To John and Sarah Laccore: Sally, February 18, 1774; Cynthia, August 16,
1775; Roxana, September 15, 1777; Phebe, September 15, 1780; John, April 8,
1783; Anna, November 21, 1785; Ranseler, April 8, 1788.
To Lemuel and Edith Laccore: Edith, March 23, 1771; Lemuel, November
8, 1772; Margaret, August 31, 1775; John, October 9, 1777.
To Stephen and Anna Lyman: Crispus, March 27, 1773; Gaius, July 15,

148 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
1774; Clarissa, October 10, 1776; Noah, October 2, 1778; Burnham, April 22,
1780; Chester, March 22, 1782; Stephen, July 25, 1783.
To Timothy and Dorothy Lyman: Susanna, November 6, 1770; Achsa,
February 27, 1774; Theodosia, November 16, 1775;' Dorothy, April 24, 1780;
Timothy, August 30, 1782; Asael, April 3, 1785.
To Nathan and Jane Mann: Sarah, November 12, 1764; Nathan, October
19, 1766; Prudence, June 11, 1769.
To Gideon and Esther Matthews: Esther, October 5, 1763; Gideon, May
20, 1766; Lucy, September 14, 1768; Lucy, April 18, 1771; Benjamin, May 19,
.1776; Nathaniel Eggleston, October 10, 1780; Osee, March 14, 1784.
To Reuben and Adah Matthews: Hannah, October 19, 1769.
To John and Anna Mclntire: Oliver, March 3, 1763, born at Pelham;
Roxana, July 25, 1765; Deidamia, February 10, 1766; Salva, August 2, 1768;
John, August 16, 1770; Levi, June 2, 1773.
To Isaac, Jr., and Zerina Mixer: Elizabeth, April 6, 1768.
To Ebenezer and Rachel Meacham : Jeremiah, October 14, 1760, born at
Enfield, Ct.; Mary, May 28, 1764; Enoch, July 5, 1766; Stephen, November 20,
1767; Luther, May 7, 1770; Hannah, May 2, 1772.
To James and Molly Moore: Dolley, March H8, 1783; James, November 19,
1784; Polly, August 26, 1786; John, June 19, 1788.
, To John and Elizabeth Moore: Lucy, November 2, 1780; Levi, June 15,
1782; Elizabeth, September 1, 1786.
To John, Jr., and Elizabeth Moore: John, April 16, 1786.
To Samuel and Elizabeth Moore: John, January 17, 1780; Asa, Decem
ber 10, 1781; Theodosia, March 7, 1784; Betsey, March 21, 1786; Clara, Sep
tember 25, 1789.
To Robert and Dolly Moore: Artemus, March 13, 1786; Ezra, May 3, 1787;
Sarah, February 25, 1789.
To David and Eunice Palmer: Eunice, December 24, 1770.
To John David and Abigail Palmer: Ocren, November 18, 1770; David,
September 13, 1788.
To John Newton and Hannah Parmenter: Arthusa, February 18, 1778;
Melinda, August 23, 1779; John, March 18, 1781; Azel, November 15, 1784;
Jonas, July 29, 1787.
To Amasa and Martha Pomeroy: Roxa, June 11, 1780; Abigail, February
22, 1782; Martha, March 12, 1784; Nice, April 20, 1786; Asa, April 7, 1788.
To Luther and Rhoda Pomeroy: Nancy, September 8, 1786; Rhoda, Sep
tember 29, 1787, born at Northampton; Sally, November 10, 1788; Luther,
October 21, 1790.
To Robert and Ruth Proctor: Jonathan, October 1, 1765; Betsey, June 26,
1768; Robert, January 10, 1771; Elijah, August 29, 1773; Molly, September 16,
1775; Jeremiah, October 14, 1777; Ruth, March 6, 1780.
To William and Elizabeth Prior: Elizabeth, June 5, 1783; Daniel, February
15,1785; Ziphar, February 19, 1787.
To Israel and Eunice Rose: Joseph, June 1, 1760, born at Granville; Olive,

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 149
October 20, 1762; Israel, December 7, 1764; Eunice, May 8, 1767; Benjamin,
September 5, 1770.
To Nathan and Sarah Rose: Roxana, May 2, 1768; Nathaniel, April 6, 1770.
To Zebulon and Olive Rose: Sabay, August 10, 1769; Anna, October 10, 1770.
To Gershom and Mary Rust: Polly, September 9, 1772; Patty, March 13,
1776; Oooley, February 28, 1778; Joseph Ashley, April 27, 1779.
To Justin and Margaret Rust: Dolly, September 17, 1788.
To Sylvanus and Charlotte Sanderson: Calvin, February 23, 1787.
To David and Mary Scott: William, October 22, 1764; James, July 19, 1767;
Mary, May 6, 1770.
To Noadiah and Sarah Seaward: Jesse, April 26, 1784; Calvin, October 5,
1786; Cathrine, December 26, 1788.
To David and Lucinda Shepard: Martha, March 19, 1774; David, June 8,
1777; Lucinda, June 12, 1782; Harriet, May 17, 1785; Fanny, May 20, 1787;
Horace, February 5, 1789.
To Daniel and Kezia Smith: Anna, September 3, 1780; Phineas, February
10, 1782.
To John and Abigail Smith: Eunice, March 2, 1765 ; Abigail, August 6, 1767.
To John and Lydia Smith: Caleb, August 27, 1782; Patta, July 28, 1784;
Lydia, March 17, 1786; Russell, October 20, 1788.
To Daniel and Pruda Smith: Parmelia, August 8, 1787.
To Ebenezer and Nice Smith: Bernice, May 23, 1785.
To Joah and Elizabeth Smith: Ira, October 17, 1784.
To Thomas and Submit Smith: Timothy, May 25, 1762, born at Walling
ford, Ct. ; Eben Blakely, September 10, 1763, born at Wallingford, Ct. ; Dol-
lither, November 29, 1765; Esther, September 6, 1767.
To Ezekiel and Phebe Snow: Damaris, April 19, 1768; Oriandatus, July 26,
1770; Ezerias, April 13, 1772; Hezekiah, February 4, 1774.
ToDanieland Jane Stone: Mary, February 14, 1781; Susa, October 22, 1783;
Nathaniel, December 17, 1785.
To William and Hetty Stone: Harvey, March 13, 1783; Sally, November
29, 1786; Sophia, September 1, 1788.
To Ebenezer and Content Stowe: Ebenezer, September 6, 1777; Lydia, De
cember 17, 1778; Esther, June 19, 1780; Cephus, March 10, 1782.
To William and Lois Tanner: William, April 23, 1786.
To Jonathan and Margaret Wait: Samuel, March 26, 1779.
To Jonathan and Mary Wait: Lucy, May 5, 1781.
To James and Achsa Warner: James, September 19, 1787; Henry, May
10, 1789.
To Ebenezer and Keziah Webber: John, April 13, 1870.
To Ebenezer and Renia Webber: Liddah, April 23, 1768.
To Jonathan Hart and Keziah Webber: Pela Hart, January 15, 1773; Clarica,
April 24, 1775; Molly, August 30, 1777; Keziah, September 3, 1779.
To Peter and Sarah Williams: Eunice, February 3, 1768; Elisha, June
24, 1770.

150 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
To Phineas and Molly Wheeler: Betsey, April 11, 1784.
To Abner Witt and wife: Polly, February 10, 1788.
To William Witt and wife: William, October 9, 1783.
To Edward and Cloe Wright: Edward, June 8, 1775; Cloe, April, 1777;
John, April 5, 1779.
To Joshua and Triphena Wright: Joshua, October 15, 1771.
To Joseph and Elizabeth Wright: Joseph, January 16, 1787; Daniel, Feb
ruary 16, 1789.
To Nathan and Mary Wright: Polly, April 8, 1784; Nathan, August 26,
1786; Sibil, October 16, 1788.
To Henry and Sabbahis Vadekin: Henry, September 10, 1783; Philip, May
25, 1786. Marriages.
Very few entries of actual marriages appear upon the town records
of Murrayfield. They were kept no doubt by the clergymen who per
formed the service, and possibly many appear upon the church records.
The intentions of marriage were required to be published three times-
"at some public lecture or town meeting, in both the towns where the-
parties or either of them do ordinarily reside, or be set up in writing
upon some post of their meeting house door in public view, there to
stand so as it may easily be read, by the space of fourteen days." The
parties to the marriage were required to produce to the minister or
the magistrate performing the service, a " certificate of such publish
ment under the hand of the town clerk or constable of such towns
respectively." A record of intentions of marriage was required to
be kept by town clerks. The statute also required that "all mar
riages shall be registered by the town clerk of the same town where
they are consummated." The absence of records of marriage of Mur
rayfield men may be explained by the assumption that many of them
married women residing in adjoining or in distant towns, so that only
their intentions of marriage would appear.
Below is a list of intentions of marriage that appear in the first
record book of the town, arranged in alphabetical order, and with them
the marriages, so far as they appear of record, between the following
named persons:
January 13, 1783: Abiel Abbott and Sarah Mann. They were married Jan
uary 23.
March 19, 1781: Ebenezer Abbott and Anna Wright. Married December
31,1781. " '
May 18, 1784: Isaac Averet and Bethiah Fuller of Norwich.
January 8, 1771: Samuel Buck of Chesterfield and Susanna Palmer of Mur
rayfield.

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 151
January 8, 1772: John Barnard of Westfield and Deliverence Holaday of Mur
rayfield. They were married January 16.
June 15, 1780: Samuel Bell and Elizabeth Campbell,
October 13, 1780: Roswell Benjamin of Norwich and Thankful Cooley of
Murrayfield.
January 16, 1773: Patrick Bulkley and Anna Williams.
April 24, 1773: Samuel Boyes, Jr., of Blandford and Elizabeth Black of
Murrayfield.
April 29, 1774: George Black and Anna Boyes of Blandford.
December 25, 1790: Daniel Bigelow and Mercy Wood. They were married
January 27, 1791.
April 3, 1791: Elijah Bacon of Whitestown, N. Y., and Lucy Sizer of Chester.
September 30, 1787: John Bigelow and Persa Wright. They were married
November 29, 1787.
May 10, 1778: James Campbell and Lorena Smith.
January 27, 1783: James Campbell of Blandford and Isabel Elder of Mur
rayfield. Married December 18, 1783.
January 25, 1789: Matthew Campbell and Isabel Lindsey of Blandford.
January 9, 1790: Matthew Campbell and Sarah Bell of Oakham.
December, 1786: Joseph Campbell and Jemima Moore. They were married
November 6, 1787.
June 24, 1780: John Carlile and Sarah Smith.
July 13, 1788: James Carlile and Dorothy Smith.
May 7, 1789 : William Carlile and Lovina Cooley. They were married May 28
September 28, 1782: John Clark and Sela Anderson of Chesterfield.
April 19, 1789: Joseph Clapp of Easthampton and Susanna Lyman of Ches
ter. They were married May 28, 1789.
October 19, 1788: Daniel Collins and Anna Williams of Worthington.
July 29, 1787: Timothy Cooley and Rebecca Smith. They were married Sep
tember 12.
December 6, 1770: David Crow and Hulda Button.
March 4, 1771: Timothy Culver and Margaret Williams.
November 20, 1770: Ebenezer Dowd and Sarah Dunn.
October 20, 1781: Isaac Dowd and Elanor Osborn of Lower Salem.
October 28, 1787: Abraham Drake of Worthington and Susanna Hamilton of
Chester. Married December 24.
November 4, 1789: Vester Edwards of Northampton and widow Polly Smith
of Chester.
February 19, 1774: Samuel Eggleston and Mary Taylor.
October 9, 1774: Benjamin Eggleston and Mary Gordon.
November 16, 1772: Thomas Elder and Margaret Moore.
March 8, 1784: William Elder and Sarah Campbell.
March 2, 1788: Thomas Elder and Nabby Fellows. Married April 17.
September 26, 1778: John Elder and Sarah Moore of Rutland.
March 13, 1791 : Samuel Ellis and widow Dolly Tracy.

152 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
May 31, 1779: Deodatus Ensign of Westfield and Abigail Woolworth of Mur
rayfield. Married February 9, 1780.
November 25, 1773: Samuel Fairman of Norwich and Joanna Williams of
Murrayfield.
August 10, 1786: Ozias French and Elizabeth Dayton of Blandford. They
were married August 24.
January 17, 1790: Jabez French and Sarah Johnson: Married April 1, 1790.
September 29, 1771: Joseph Geer of Worthington and Lydia Bell of Chester.
July 13, 1777: Allyn Geer and Perimelia Daniels of WorthingtoD.
July 18, 1783: ¦ David Gleason and Sarah Gleason.
June 21, 1784: John Grims of Chatham and Esther Shepard.
August 28, 1790: Luther Granger and widow Ruth Goodwill.
September 18, 1790: Nathan Goodwill and Lucy Fairbanks of Mendham.
March 31, 1791: Nathaniel Goodwill and Molly Bell.
December 8, 1781: Aaron Hale and Martha Loomis.
February 10, 1788: Samuel Hamilton of Chesterfield and Susanna Hamilton
of Chester. Married March 6.
January 25, 1789: John Hamilton and Sarah Fleming of Palmer.
May 25, 1772: John Haskel and Debora Meacham.
January 8, 1771 : Jonas Henry of Murrayfield and Margaret Henry of Bland
ford.
October 6, 1780: Andrew Henry and Jael Elder.
March 3, 1783: Joseph Henry and Lydia Kelso. Married March 10.
April 9, 1781 : Solomon Hingham of Becket._and Molly Wright of Murrayfield.
January 23, 1791 : William Holland and Polly Moore.
October 12, 1780: Samuel Hulbert of Kent, Conn., and Lucy Smith of Mur
rayfield.
October 1, 1780: Zebulon Isham and Rose Ellis of Hebron, Conn.
August 7, 1790: Selathial Judd and Irena Day.
November 16, 1772: Daniel Kirtland and Theodosia Mixer.
May 3, 1779: Jethro Kenney and Ruth Jackson of Spencer.
March 22, 1784: Phineas King of Southampton and Lola Smith of Chester.
October 15, 1773: John Laccore and Sarah Smith.
August 9, 1778: Capt. Daniel Lamb of Springfield and widow Martha Jones
of Murrayfield.
^November 15, 1777: Noah Leonard of West Springfield and Lydia Taylor of
Murrayfield.
August 25, 1770: Stephen Lyman and Anna Blair of Weston.
July 3, 1786: Deae. Stephen Lyman and widow Hannah Clark of South
ampton.
April 4, 1790: Lucas Matthews and Polly Brooks.
December 14, 1786: Ebenezer Nathan Messenger of Becket and Sally Camp
bell of Chester. Married December 14.
July 25, 1778: William Mclntire and Roxana Campbell.
July 8, 1787: Oliver Millard and Zillar Lee.

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 158
January 80, 1791 : Oliver Miller and Cynthia Black.
August 20, 1773: Samuel Moore of Rutland and Elizabeth Elder.
July 25, 1781: James Moore and Mary Henry of Becket.
December 28, 1787: Robert Moore and Dorothy Abbott.
July 7, 1771: Moses Moss of Preston and Anna Mixer.
December 14,1786: Benjamin Mussey and Elizabeth Ingall. Married Janu
ary 4, 1787.
July 20, 1777: Reuben Parks of Westfield and Betty Clark.
March 7, 1790: Tabor Pelton of Middlefield and Anna Moore.
December 7, 1782: William Prior aud Elizabeth Ellis.
¦September 80, 1789 : Heman Prior and Mitte Sanderson. Married October 15.
March 15, 1789: Hugh Quigley and Molly Mulhollan. Married July 12, 1789.
November 24, 1781: William Russell and Penelope Northrop.
January 24, 1790: Gershom Rust and Sally Matthews. Married April 1, 1790.
April-22, 1787: Justin Rust and Margaret Shepard. Married August 31, 1787.
July 25, 1785: Tyrol Sanderson of West Springfield and Elizabeth Smith of
Chester.
October 7, 1787: William Scott of Norwich and Lovisa Miller.
July 1, 1787: Job Searle of Southampton and Esther Matthews. Married
July 2.
October 2, 1786: Noadiah Seward, Jr., and Diadema Mclntire. Married
October 2.
December 25, 1772: Dr. David Shepard and Lucinda Mather. Married
January 7, 1773.
March 13, 1791: Asa Slayton aud widow Sarah Anderson.
November 10, 1767: John Smith and Abilene Core were married.
August 13, 1775: Abner Smith, Jr., and Abigail Pomeroy of Southampton.
January 4, 1780: Daniel Smith and Keziah Pomeroy.
April 9, 1781: John Smith and Lydia Seward.
April 12, 1781 : William Smith and Lucy Converse.
April 3, 1784: Jacob Smith and Elizabeth Lunnon.
November 14, 1784: Ebenezer Smith and Nice Pomeroy. Married November 25.
April 1, 1787: Enos Smith and Lucy Bently. Married August 16.
April 1, 1787: Ebenezer Smith and Damoras Snow. Married April 19.
March 11, 1787: Daniel Smith, 3d, and Prudence Wood. Married April 12.
January 23, 1791: William Smith and Sally Anderson.
January 17, 1790: John Stevenson and Nella Walker.
November 2, 1788: Gershom Sylvester of Chesterfield and Polly Durger
French. Married November 18.
December 4, 1773: Ebenezer Tillotson of Farmington, Conn., and Roxana
Laccore.
November 9, 1788: Samuel Augustus Thorp and Polly Hamilton.
December 30, 1771 : Daniel Twadwell and Martha Crow. Married January 9,
1772.
January 26, 1784: Daniel Twadwell and Abigail Tracy.

154 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
May 3, 1778: Jonathan Wait, Jr., and Margaret Smith.
July 24, 1774: John Ward and Susanna Beard of Hartwood.
December 22, 1771 : Jonathan Hart Webber and Keziah Cooley of Springfield.
November 17, 1781 : Jude White and Roxa Loomis of Southampton.
May 29, 1784: John Williams and Relief Abbott.
April 26, 1784: Eli Woolworth and Sally Olds.
July 26, 1786: Samuel Woolworth and Bersheba Crossman.
May 25, 1772: Edward Wright, Jr., and Cloe Pomeroy.
July 14, 1776: Bezeliel Wright and Sarah Whitney of Waltham.
May 20, 1786: Joseph Wright and Elizabeth Parmenter.
Deaths.
I am certain that the records of the town of Murrayfield fail to show
all the births or all the marriages; and I feel certain that they do not
show all the deaths in the town during the period of time covered by
the records. It is probable that some deaths of inhabitants of the
town occurred outside of the town and were not for that reason
recorded. I give below a list of deaths so far as they appear in the.
records, and the date of their occurrence.
Joseph Abbott, January 30, 1770.
Phebe, daughter of John and Louise Abbott, June 22, 1779.
John Cheney Bell, son of Aaron and Mary, May 10, 1781.
James Blackman, October 31, 1787.
William Campbell, January 19, 1782.
Sarah Campbell, wife of Matthew, May 6, 1788.
Margaret Elder, wife of Thomas, October 20, 1785.
Ebenezer Flagg, son of Gershom and Edith, July 7, 1785.
Lucy French, April 29, 1781.
Eunice, daughter of Samuel and Susanna French, October 2, 1776.
Susa, daughter of Samuel and Susanna French, September 26, 1776.
Aaron, son of James and Mary Holland, age 7 years, November 16, 1777.
Roxana, daughter of Jesse and Sarah Johnson, September 27, 1776.
Mabel, daughter of Jesse and Sarah Johnson, October 1, 1776.
Nathan Mann, December 21, 1770.
John, son of Samuel and Elizabeth Moore, September 12, 1780.
 an adopted son of Samuel Matthews, March 29, 1777.
Nice Pomeroy, May 27, 1787.
Patty, daughter of Gershom and Mary Rust, December 29, 1789, age 14 years.
Russell, son of Gershom and Mary Rust, March 26, 1776.
Abigail, wife of John Smith, August 12, 1767, aged 37 years.
David Smith, aged 78 years, January 6, 1771.
Patty Smith, daughter of John and Lydia Smith, May, 1785.
Nice, wife of Ebenezer Smith, January 2, 1785.

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 155
Bernice, son of Ebenezer and Nice Smith, January 9, 1785.
Ezekiel Snow, January 28, 1776.
Triphena, daughter of Edward and Triphena Wright, October 8, 1775..
John, son of Edward and Triphena Wright, October 11, 1775.
Jonathan, son of Edward and Triphena Wright, September 17, 1776.
PelaHart, son of Jonathan Hart and Keziah Webber, November 8, 1775.
Olive Witt, wife of William Witt, January 3, 1789.
Highways.
The surveys of the highways approved at the March town meeting
in 1769, being of interest in several respects are given in full: " Worth
ington road through Murrayfield to Westfield, beginning at Worthing
ton south line at a hemlock tree marked on east side of the highway,.
S. 5 deg. E. 20 rods, S. 8 deg. E. 38 rods, S. 5 deg. E. 29 rods, S. 15 deg.
E. 53 rods, E. 22 deg. S. 90 rods, E. 41 deg: S. 20 rods, S. 15 deg. E. 90-
rods, S. 30 deg. E. 40 rods, S. 25 deg. E. 12 rods, S. 45 deg. E. 24 rods,.
S. 20 deg. E. 100 rods, S. 90 deg. E. 60 rods, S. 20 deg. E. 90 rods,-
E. 30 deg. S. 90 rods, S. 16 deg. E. 90 rods, two miles from Worthing
ton; S. 16 deg. E. 100 rods, S, 7 deg. W. 100^ rods, S. 11 deg. E.
180 rods, S. 4 deg. W. 20 rods, S. 28 deg. W. 60 rods, S. 20 deg. W.
100 rods, S. 15 deg. W. 9 rods, S. 5 deg. W. 36 rods, S. 31 deg. W. 90
rods, S. 31 deg. W. 60 rods to a small beech tree on a ridge marked 4
miles from Worthington; then same course 7 rods to a small beech tree
near the Middle Branch east side of the branch, then southeasterly by
the east bank by Mr. Wait's mill by said east bank to the road that crosses
the fordway westerly of Mr. Timothy Smith's one mile and 50 rods by
said branch, thenE. 10 deg. S. by Mr. Smith's house 30 rods, S. 31 deg.
E. 8 rods, S. 5 deg. E. 68 rods; thence southerly to a hemlock tree near
bank of said branch, thence by said branch to the fordway a little west of
Mr. Taggart's; thence S. 21 deg. E. by Mr. Rose's house, S. 38 deg. E. by
Mr. Scott's land on the ridge against Mr. Fobes', E. 29 deg. S. across the
river by Mr. Fobes'; thence east side of the river on the bank by Mr.
Mixer's 70 rods, S. 15 deg. E. 132 rods, S. 4 deg. E. 32 rods, E. 30 deg.
S. 26 rods, E. 35 deg. S. 20 rods, E. 30 deg. S. 6 rods, S. 19 deg. E.
39 rods, S. 36- deg. E. 90 rods, S. 25 deg. E. 98 rods, S. 45 deg. W.
32 rods, S. 18 deg. W. 16 rods, E. 27 deg. S. 99 rods, S. 14 deg. W.
19 rods, S. 20 deg. E. 26 rods, S. 25 deg. E. 36 rods, E. 40 deg. S. 46
rods, E. 45 deg. N. 20 rods, E. 22 deg. N. 42 rods, S. 25 deg. E. 8
rods, E. 34 deg. N. 46 rods by Mr. King's house, E. 10 deg. S. 58-
rods, E. 33 deg. S. 16 rods, S. 38 deg. E. 64 rods, S. 44 deg. E. 40 rods,
S. 33 deg. E. 120 rods, S. 45 deg. E. 100 rods, E. 45 deg. S. 30 rods,.

156 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
S. 5 deg. E. 50 rods, S. 5 deg. W. 40 rods, S. 20 deg. E. 28 rods, S.
37 deg. E. 32 rods, E. 12 deg. S. 26 rods, E. 45 deg. S. 54 rods, S. 17
deg. E. 40 rods, S. 30 deg. E. 40 rods, E. 21 deg. S. 30 rods, E. 30
deg. S. 18 rods to Hampton line on Westfield mountain from Worth
ington line through Murrayfield . eleven miles and one hundred and
seventy-six rods to trees marked on the east side of the highway." The
present highway from Norwich Bridge in Huntington to Westfield
through Montgomery past the meeting-house is a part of the same
highway. Another is as follows: " Road to the meeting house from the ford
way west of Mr. Timothy Smith's by Mr. Ebenezer Webber's thence
northerly as the river runs west side of the branch 110 rods, W. 16 deg.
N. 8 rods, N. 30 deg. W. 80 rods, N. 10 deg. W. 50 rods — 2 rods south
of Mr. Ebenezer Webber's house; thence W. 14 deg. N. 29 rods, W.
40 deg. N. 40 rods, W. 35 deg. N. 50 rods, W. 5 deg. N. 68 rods, W.
5 deg. S. 16 rods, N. 40 deg. W. 19 rods, W. 35 deg. S. 14 rods, W.
55 deg. S. 8 rods, N. 40 deg. W. 16 rods, W. 25 deg. N. 100 rods, N.
35 deg. W. 18 rods, W. 25 deg. N. 22 rods, W. 16 deg. S. 123 rods,
from Mr. Ebenezer Webber's to the meetinghouse 1 mile and 286 rods."
Another is as follows: "Beginning at a hemlook tree 8 rods north
from the meeting house, W. 5 deg. N. 20 rods, W. 31 deg. S. 198 rods,
S. 25 deg. W- 8 rods, W. 16 rods, W. 10 deg. S. 176 rods between
Lyman and Mclntire's; thence N. 30 deg. W. 90 rods, N. 15 deg. W.
6.6 rods, N. 31 deg. W. 119 rods, W. 38 deg. N. 39 rods, N. 20 deg.
W. 60 rods, W. 21 deg. N. 20 rods, W. 15 deg. N. 20 rods, W. 42 deg.
N. — rods, N. 41 deg. W. 26 rods, N. 10 deg. W. 64 rods, N. 25 deg.
W. 30 rods, W. 45 deg. N. 90 rods, N. 3 deg. W. 20 rods, N. 13 deg. E.
30 rods, N. 10 deg. W. 89 rods, to Mr. James Brown's from the meet
ing house 2 miles and 270 rods. Trees marked on the southwesterly
Bide of the road, laid four rods wide."
Also: "From Mr. James Black's to the above-laid road: Begin
ning at the west end of Mr. Black's house, N. 8 deg. E. 90 rods, N.
10 deg. E. 100 rods, N. 30 deg. E. 100 rods, N. 8 deg. E. 60 rods, N.
19 deg. E. 30 rods, N. 30 deg. E. 70 rods, N. 35 deg. W. 90 rods,
N. 45 deg. E. 40 rods, E. 19 deg. S. 20 rods, E. 23 deg. N. 19 rods,
E/18 deg. S. 26 rods to road north of Mann's."
Another: "From Mr. Gordon's by Mr. Laccore's to the meeting
house: Beginning a little east of Mr. Gordon's house, N. 22 deg. E.
20 rods, S. 45 deg. E. 156 rods, to the road from David Blair's; from
Blair's S. 5 deg. W. 32 rods, S. 23 deg. W. 28 rods, S. 10 deg. W. 520
rods, S. 35 deg. E. 40 rods, S. 30 deg. E. 100 rods, S. 40 deg. E. 8

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 157
rods, S. 10 deg. E. 20 rods; to the meeting house from Gordon's 3
miles and 16 rods."
Another: " From William Campbell's by Matthew and Abner
Smith's to the meeting house: Beginning east side of Mr. Campbell's
house, S. 5 deg.W. 20 rods, S. 10 deg. E. 40 rods, S. 20 deg. W. 20
rods, S. 3 deg. W. 20 rods, S. 21 deg. E. 40 rods, S. 20 deg. E. 160
rods, S. 19 deg. W. 76 rods, S. 15 deg. W. 60 rods, S. 5 deg. W. to
Laccore's road; to the meeting house 1 mile and 316 rods. Trees
marked on east side of road." *
Another: " From meeting house by Henry's to the fordway against
Fobes': Beginning on Webber's road from the meeting house 90 rods,
then S. 30 deg. E. 30 rods, S. 15 deg. E. 40 rods, S. 30 deg. E. 90
rods, S. 12 deg. E. 35 rods, S. 40 deg. E. 25 rods, E. 35 deg. S. 27
rods, S. 10 deg. E. 1 mile and 31 rods, E. 14 deg. S. 46 rods, E. 45
deg. N. 14 rods to a little hemlock tree, thence E. 36 deg. N. 4 rods,
S. 45 deg. E. 22 rods, E. 32 deg. S. 14 rods, S. 41 deg. E. 30 rods,
22 deg. S. 44 rods, S. 44 rods, S. 20 deg. E. 23 rods, S. 18 deg. E. 60
rods, E. 38 deg. S. 16 rods, S. 2 deg. W. 22 rods, S. 25 deg. E. 42
rods, E. 6 deg. S. 16 rods, E. 41 deg. S. 10 rods, S. 20 deg. E. 42 rods.
E. 35 deg. S. 14 rods, S. 16 deg. E. 10 rods, S. 34 deg. E. 22 rods, E,
5 deg. N. 24 rods, S. 13 deg. W. 30 rods, E. 14 rods, E. 2 deg. S. 40
rods, E. 140 rods, N. 23 deg. E. 14 rods, N. 21 deg. W. 26 rods,
thence northerly by Mr. Scott's to the road from Worthington against
Mr. Fobes' 4 miles and 288 rods. Trees marked on the east side
of road."
This is the road from Chester Center by the Brunley place to Nor
wich Bridge.
Another: " Beginning at Worthington road above Mr. Wait's mill
east side of the [middle] Branch, N. 30 deg. W. 50 rods, W. 40 deg.
N. 50 rods, N. 15 deg. W. 40 rods, then across the Branch W. 35 deg.
N. 4 rods, then north on the west bank of the Branch 160 rods, N. 19
deg. W. 20 rods, W. 30 deg. N. 25 rods, W. 5 deg. N. 35 rods, W. 27
deg. N. 23 rods, W. 25 deg. S. 40 rods, W. 20 deg. N. 20 rods, N. 14
deg. W. 30 rods, W. 30 deg. N. 160 rods, S. 30 deg. W. 20 rods, W.
10 deg. S. 40 rods, W. 20 deg. S. 70 rods to Abner Smith's house 2
miles and 130 rods from Worthington road. Trees marked on westerly
side of road."
Another: " Beginning at a chestnut stump a little east of Peter
Williams' house, S. 24 deg. W. 52 rods to the bank of the brook,
thence on said bank to the river;* on the bank of said river 140 rods,
* West Branch.

158 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
S. 43. deg. W. 60 rods, W. 15 deg. S. 28 rods, W. 8 deg. N. 4 rods, W.
38 deg. S. 38 rods to Blandford line to John Bolton's 323 rods; then
W. 30 deg. N. 70 rods, W. 13 deg. N. 36 rods to east bank of the
West Branch; on said Branch northerly 138 rods to Blandford line.
Beginning at Blandford line on said bank 132 rods, N. 11 deg. W. 40
rods, W. 13 deg. N. 34 rods, W. 30 deg. N. 30 rods, W. 45 deg. N. 180
rods, N. 40 deg. W. 20 rods to the bank of said Branch 60 rods to a
heech tree marked facing the river from Blandford line to the bank of
the Branch, N. 30 deg. E. 15 rods, W. 35 deg. N. to the fordway
above David Bolton's by said bank„ then down the east bank to Mr.
Bolton's 8 rods, N. 8 deg. W. 100 rods, N. 6 deg. W. 40 rods, N. 25
deg. E. 24 rods, N. 6 deg. W. 16 rods, N. 10 deg. W. 141 rods, N. 5
deg. W. 80 rods, N. 10 deg. W. 96 rods, W. 5 deg. N. 10 rods, N. 20
deg. W. 136 rods to Col. Chandler's saw mill to his house, N. 14 deg.
E. 32 rods, E. 45 deg. S. 14 rods, E. 23 deg. N. 14 rods, E. 31 deg. N.
20 rods to Smith's house from the meeting house S. 28 deg. E. 50 rods,
S. 35 deg. E. 20 rods, S. 10 deg. E. 20 rods, S. 22 deg. E. 40 rods, S.
10 deg. E. 50 rods, S. 20 deg. E. 8 rods, S. 15 deg. E. 6 rods, S. 10
deg. W. 20 rods, S. 10 deg. E. 40 rods, E. 42 deg. S. 20 rods to
Smith's house; then to the road from Henry's E. 40 deg. S. 20 rods,
S. 40 deg. E. 66 rods, E. 40. deg. S. 104 rods to the road from
Henry's." Another: "To Col. Chandler's saw mill from Mclntire's corner by
Lyman'e, S. 2 deg. W. 60 rods, S. 34 deg. E. 26 rods, S. 24 deg. E.
76 rods, E. 10 deg. S. 20 rods, E. 35 deg. S. 68 rods, E. 18 deg. S. 30
rods, S. 40 deg. E. 40 rods, S. 16 deg. E. 20 rods, S. 4 deg. E. 30 rods,
S. 45 deg. E. 10 rods, S. 15 de'g. E. 24 rods, E. 26 deg. S. 18 rods, S.
40 deg. E. 18 rods, S. 25 deg. E. 28 rods, E. 10 deg. S. 12 rods, N. 24
deg. E. 20 rods to the saw mill."
Also: " Beginning at Chesterfield line at the highway, then south
easterly and westerly to the mouth of the East Branch, S. 45 deg,. W.
across the river, thence southerly on the west bank of the river 206
rods, W. 24 deg. S. 20 rods, S. 15 deg. W. 42 rods, S. 2 deg. W. 20
rods, S. 33 deg. W. 12 rods, S. 35 deg. E. 16 rods to bank of the river,
on the bank 100 rods, S. 22 deg. W. 26 rods, S. 18 deg. E. 3.4 rods, S.
30 deg. E. 34 rods, S. 4 deg. E. 26 rods, S. 10 deg. E. 28 rods, S. 2 deg.
W. 52 rods, S. 26 deg. W. 12 rods, S. 20 deg. E. 8 rods to bank of the
river, 30 rods by said bank,'W. 16 deg. N. 40 rods, W. 15 deg. S. 40
rods, W. 43 deg. S. 20 rods to Mr. Miller's house, S. 31 deg. W. 12
rods, W. 19 deg. S. 14 rods across Miller Branch, S. 10 deg. W. 20
rods, S. 3 deg. E. 10 rods; then southerly on the bank of the river [East

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 159
Branch] 288 rods, W. 12 rods, W. 14 deg. S. 40 rods, W. 27 deg. S.
26 rods, S. 34 deg. W. 20 rods, S. 13 deg. W. 26 rods, S. 15 deg. W.
20 rods, S. 40 deg. W. 18 rods, W. 8 deg. N. 1 6 rods, W. 33 deg. S.
28 rods, S. 24 deg. W. 30 rods, S. 15 deg. W. 44 rods, W. 43 deg. S.
43 rods, W. 12 deg. S. 16 rods, W. 23 deg. S. 4 rods, S. 35 deg. W.
70 rods, S. 45 deg. W. 60 rods, W. 8 deg. S. 20 rods, W. 39 deg. N.
76 rods, W. 6 deg. S. 18 rods to the Middle Branch east of Mr. Eben-
.ezer Webber's 5 miles and 93 rods from Chesterfield to said Branch. "
These were the first highways laid out by the town, and it is prob
able that they were laid on the lines of paths already formed by travel.
It is altogether probable that these roads were rough and difficult to
travel, very unlike the roads of the present time. Teaming from one
part of the town to another was done mostly by ox teams, and traveling
was mostly on horse back.
John Smith's Account Book.
Uelow I give some specimen entries in the book of account kept by
John Smith, one of the early settlers, and who was a member of the
first board of selectmen chosen by the town of Murrayfield. It is in
teresting as a specimen of the method of keeping accounts that pre
vailed among these people, and as throwing light upon their ways of
doing business, and also as giving the prices of some of the ordinary
commodities and of labor.
The book from which I copy was bought by John Smith in October,
1775. One of the earliest entries is as follows: £ s. d.
"November ) then Mr. Moses Clark Dets to me John Smith
ye 30th: 1775 f for my oxen two Days, to sled boards and logs, 0 2 5
to: eating some meals of victuals, . . .009"

" October ) then Mr. Clark Credt by the hand of Mr. Peter
ye 28, 1779 ) Montague, 3 | 6 .
" November ) then Mr. Peter Montague Det.

I1
ye 3, 1778 J to: keeping your hors one week,
to: pastouring your hors six Days,
March ye ) to: my oxen one Day to git wood,
)1

16th: A. D. 1779 ) to: an ox yoke,
to: one pare of old shoes new mended up,
to: keeping your oxen five Days,
October ye 28th ) then Mr. peter montague Deter for Discharging

!

A. D: -1779 j Mr. Moses Clark's acoumpt on your Desire

0

1

6

0

1

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0

1

2

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2

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0

2

9

0

1

6

0

3

2

17 9

160

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.

May y« 2
A. D. 1780
Nov. ye 1:
ye 15.
January ye
22: 1781

to: keeping your oxen a spell, .
to: a bag of hay seed
to: keeping your calf sixteen Days,
to: my oxen half a Day, .
to: my oxen and sled two Days,

to: hay seed you had of John some years ago,

£

s.

d.

0

0

8

0

0

9

0

0

6

0

0

»

0

3

6

' ' February ye
22: A. D. 1781

1 3 6"
then reckoned with Mr. Peter Montague and
find there is Due to me to ballance acoumpts
by Book the old way as we say, . . . 0 7 11
Peter Montague,
John Smith."
Another one; the year not given.
"tuesday ye 5 of May Loren Weeb come at noon to board with me on Dr.
Harwood's acompt and stayed till Monday ye 18th which makes two weeks
wanting one Day, and throw out two Sabath days and there Remains one
week and four Days to be paid for which I think comes to a bought seven and
sixpence,  7-6."
"May y6 29, 1788, then Reckoned with Dr. Harwood on all Book acompts
and find Due to me to balance two pounds twelve shillings and eleven pence.
John Smith,
Francis Harwood."
Earlier transactions with Dr. Harwood were probably entered in
some earlier pages missing from the book.
Here is another:
"April ye 22, A.D. 1785. I carried three hides to Capt. Kirtland's, w4 47
pounds each: sd Kirtland is to tan and curry sd hides to the halves as we say,
and I am to have all the Leather by paying him for his half and if sd Leather
is not Done well: sd.: Kirtland is to Pay all Dammages to me for the same as.
we agreed to gether he should in his shop, John Smith."
One more will suffice:

' ' November ) then Mr. Samuel hulbed Dete to me for my horse
ye 15, 1773 ) to fetch you and your tools from Connecticut
one bushel and half } ]ast Spring. I called it sixty five miles,
of rye Mr. hulbud > , , . . , . ,
borrowed ) to: keeping your maire colt six weeks,
June: ye ") Mr. Samuel hulbet came to my house with his
16th: 1779 ) family and put his maire and cow into my Pas-
tour for me to keep.

£ s. d.

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.

161

August

September ye: 7:
October: 13

to: seven pounds and 3 ounces of mutton,
to: one bushell and an half of rye,
to: timber for a bedsted, .
to: half a Day moving,
to: four pounds and % of mutton,
to: moving part of a Day,
to: one bushel and an half more of rye,
to: half a bushel of wheat,
to: two peaces of mutton wayed: 10: pounds,
to: ten pounds and an half of mutton, .
) to: 28 Pounds of beef at 2: 2: y pound,
) to: ten pounds and a Quarter of mutton,
to: fifty pounds of beef, 
Mr. hulbed Dets to me for grass as it stood on
the ground to be three Day's work,
October: ye 25: to: fifteen pounds of Pork, ....
to- 23: pounds of choice beef ,
to: Pastouring your mare: 19: weeks,
to: Pastouring your cow 23: weeks,

to: two Days work with oxen and John three
Days work that I have not got Down and you
had got on your book in my favor before the
a Bove footing, 
) to: eight Pounds of choyse Pork,
\ to: finding your firewood four weeks,
to: Leather apron Part worn, .
to: one old Jackit A good part worn,
to: four: 10: ounces of choys good beef,
to: 77: feet of Cheary Bords, .
to: half abushel of wheet,

January ye 7:
A. D: 1780:

' • November
ye 15: 1778:

June:
A. D:
July

21
1779:

"December: ye
1: A. D: 1785:

&

s.

d.

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10

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. 0 10

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. 0 1

0

. 0 4

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. 0 2

0

Mr. Samuel hulbut Cridt
By Joyner work for me, .....
Mr. hulbut credt. By his mare to ride three
times to Chilsons called: 15: miles,
By his mare a Journey to mountearmes: 65:
milds at one p9nny half penny per mile,
Mr. Samuel Hulbud Dr
to: a blue brod cloth coat price forty shillings
and he gave me an order on Ruf us Lyman for
ten shillings and there is now Du to me to
wards: sd coat: thirty shillings,
to: a cheese Last summer: wt 16 pounds,

7 5 1

0 7

0 2 0

8 2 2'

10 5

0

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6

162 a HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. £ s. d.
to: my going with you to northamptin once, .030
to: my old mare for Mr. Higgins to ride to
Northampton for you after Jesse, . .014
¦July ye 19. )
A !)• 1786 f to: one cbeese: wt 6j£ pounds, . . .028
Nov. ye 22 to: part of a Day hooping old barrils,
February, 16 ) to: two live geeas: 3: each for keeping so Long,
A. D: 1787: [to: one gallon of Linced oile, .... 2 15 8"
"May: ye 12: 1789: then Reckoned with Mr. Samuel Hulbud and
find Due to me By book Nineteen shillings and
one penny,  . 0 19 1
"the above acompt with hulbud settled by Samuel Hulbud
giving a note to Levi Smith and I solde the John Smith. "
same to Mr: Ebenezer higgins."
One transaction stands on the book thus:
"Mr. Montague hath paid 29: squares of glass and two quarts of Rum
which we call five squares more the whole makes: 34: squares."
The price of half a bushel of salt was 12 shillings; the price of half
a bushel of buckwheat was one shilling and threepence; and of one and
a half bushel of oats two shillings and ninepence; the price of one
bushel and a peck of flax seed was seven shillings; the price of 24
pounds of butter was 12 shillings.
The following is a verbatim copy of the return on a warrant for a
town meeting, as it appears on the records of Murrayfield:
"Daited at murrayfield hampshire ss. June ye 25, 1768 the inhabitants of
murrayfield that are qualified according to law to vote in town affairs have
Been warned according to the Directions of this Warrant.
pr me Stephen Lyman, Constable.
The above is a true copy
test prme John Smith, town Clerk of murrayfield."
Meeting-House.
In 1785 the meeting-house was to some extent repaired and reseated.
The town records show the following report, which, although it comes
two years later than the limits of this history, yet, it can not but be of
such interest as to recommend its insertion here:

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 163
"Chester, December 19th, 1785. The Committee appointed to dignify and
seat the Meeting House report their doings as follows, viz: The two front
seats in square body and the pew at the west side of the pulpit be appropriated
for the use of the aged, viz: Samuel Elder, John Laccore, Timothy Smith,
John Moore, Alexander Gordon, Daniel Smith, Edward Wright, Joseph Abbott,
Stephen Tracy, Ebenezer Seaward, Jonathan Wait, Eliakim Cooley, Mr. Proc
tor, Capt. Abner Smith, James Quigley, Ebenezer Prior, William Lunnon, Noah
Kingsbury, James Carlile, Reuben Woolworth, and their wives, also the widow
Webber, and the widow Campbell, old Mr. Sanderson, widow Williams, and
widow Henry.
" The fore-seats ia the front gallery, the men's side, is seated with the fol
lowing persons: William Foote, Robert Crawford, Samuel Woolworth, Jesse
Wright, John Bigelow, John Hamilton, James Mulhollon, Jr., David Cross,
Enos Smith, Joseph Wright.
"The following persons are seated in the fore-seat in the east or side_gallery :
Rufus Smith, Joseph Campbell, William Carlile, Robert Campbell, Enoch Shep
ard, Jr., James Wood, Ozias French, Justin Rust, John Ellis, Elijah Bacon,
Thomas Hamilton, QuartusRust, Jabez French, William Mulhollon, Silas Clark,
James Bell, Noadiah Seaward, Jr., Gideon Matthews, Nathan Mann, Jesse
Johnson, Brewster Freeman, James Albertus Core, Daniel Smith, 2d, Lemuel
Hamilton. " West side of the gallery, or Woman's side, the following persons are seated
in the fore-seat in the front gallery: Dorothy Tracy, Pernal Smith, Marjory
Laccore, Mindwell Moore, Jinna Campbell, Nanna Mulhollon, Susannah Mul
hollon, Esther Matthews, Rebecca Smith, Polly Galloway, Persa Wright, Han
nah Owen. .
"The following persons are seated in the fore-seat on the west side gallery,
viz: Sarah Johnson, Susannah Campbell, Eunice Johnson, Christiana Oliver,
Lucy Sizer, Polly Blackman, Rosanna Mclntire, Diadema Mclntire, Lydia Car
lile, Polly Campbell, Sarah Campbell, Polly Mulhollon, Margaret Ellis, Olive
Lunnon, Margaret Shepard, Betsa Moore, Margaret Bell, Pruda Wood, Sarah
Mclntire, Elizabeth Ingall.
" May 16, 1788. The committee appointed to seat such as are not seated in
the meeting house have attended to that business, and have seated the persens
that are married and those that are most advanced in age below in the pews
and seats as they are, or added to the respective pews they were seated in; and
those that were not seated before in the gallery that are sixteen years old and
upwards and all others we seat as follows: Them that are twenty-one years
¦and upwards we seat in the fore-seats and those that are sixteen and upwards
in the second seats, and we recommend to the singers to set in the front seats
in the gallery and in the fore seats in the lower tier in the side gallery the
men's side, by order of the committee. Stephen Lyman, Chairman.
N. B. — Those persons that was seated by the last committee are added to
the pews and seats as they was seated. Test. David Shepard, Town Clerk."

164 A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
The persons assigned to the dignified part of the meeting-house,
being the pews on the lower floor, except as before stated, and their
estimated dignity as settled by the dignifying committee were as follows:-
In Dignity first, No. 1: Joel Seaward, Capt. Enoch Shepard,. Col.
Oliver, Capt. John Kelso, Doctor David Shepard, Timothy Lyman,
and their wives.
In Dignity first, No. 2: Capt. Nathan Wright, Isaac Bissell, Eben
ezer Stowe, Lieut. Abner Smith, Samuel Moore, and their wives, and
Lieut. Joel Webb.
In Dignity first, No. 3 : Lieut. James Clark, William Moore, Deacon
Jesse Johnson, James Mulhollon, William Bell, and their wives, Widow
Jane Mann and Ebenezer Wales, Esq.
In Dignity first, No. 4: Edward Wright, Jr., John Bell, Capt.
James Black, Samuel Bell, and their wives.
In Dignity first, No. 5: Lieut. James Mclntire, Capt. Elijah Black-
man, Capt. William Sizer, Jabez Tracy, and their wives.
In Dignity first, No. 6: Deacon Stephen Lyman, Jonathan Webber,
Deacon Samuel Matthews, Deacon James Hamilton, and their wives
and Capt. Toogood.
In Dignity second, No. 1: Gideon Matthews, Abiel Abbott, John
Elder, John Abbott, and their wives.
In Dignity second, No. 2: Nathan Wood, William Foote, Solomon
Root, Joseph Henry, and their wives.
In Dignity second, No. 3: Lieut. William Campbell, Thomas
Elder, Lieut. John N. Parmenter, Gershom Rust, Robert Proctor,
William Elder, and their wives, and Lieut. Ephraim Miller.
In Dignity second, No. 4: John Moore, Robert Smith, Thomas
Smith, Noadiah Seaward, Widow Patience Smith, Jonathan Miller,
James Core, and their wives.
In Dignity second, No. 5: Samuel Ellis, James Moore, Daniel
Smith, Elijah Fobes, William Tanner, and their wives.
In Dignity second, No. 6: Jonathan Waite, Capt. Alexander,
Lieut. Crossman, Samuel French, Amasa Pomeroy, and their wives,
and William Collins.
In Dignity second, No. 7: Andrew Henry, Zadock Ingall, James
Campbell, William Stone, and their wives.
In Dignity second, No. 8: Ebenezer Abbott, Jacob Fowle, Nathan
Fobes, James Geer, and their wives, and John Billings, Daniel Smith,
and John Gambol.'
In Dignity second, No. 9: Dea. John Blair, Abraham Fleming,

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD. 165
Silas Freeman, Capt. Reuben Stanton, and their wives, and Zenas
Searles. In Dignity second, No. 10: Simeon Mulhollon, Oliver Hitchcock,
Robert Moore, John Laccore, Jr., and their wives, Maj. Crafts, and
David Cross.
In Dignity third, No. 1: John S. Clark, John Carlile, Zebulon
Isham, Joab Smith, Daniel Twadwell, Abner Witt, Sylvanus Sander
son, and John Sanderson,
In Dignity third, No. 2: James McIIerrin, John Grimes, Gershom
Fltigg, William Hunt, James Melvin, John Smith, Abner Eggleston,
and their wives, also Widow Wheaton, John Bigelow, John Tony,
Daniel Barnard, and Ozias French.
In Dignity third, No. 3: Robert Crawford, Nehemiah Day, Eben
ezer Dowd, Lemuel Ellis, Thomas Flint, and their wives; also William
Quigley, William Lee, Nathan Tanner.
In Dignity third, No. 4: Eliakim Clapp, Luther Pomeroy, John
Quigley, Josiah Draper, and their wives; also Mr. Walker.
In Dignity third, No. 5: Aaron Bell, Matthew Campbell, Joseph
Abbott, Gideon Parsons, and their wives; also Sylvester Bemas, and
Nathaniel Adams.
In Dignity third, No. 6 : Henry Vaderkin, John Williams, Ebenezer
Stanton, and their wives; also Widow Sarah Anderson, Joseph Wright,
James Warner, Timothy Cooley.
In Dignity fourth, No. 1: Daniel Stone, Ebenezer Smith, Phineas
Wheeler, Robert Bartlett, Enos Smith, Samuel Woolworth, Solomon
Ferry, and Thaddeus Ferry.
In Dignity fourth, No. 2: Samuel Smith, Solomon Cooley, John
Smith, 2d, Widow Bently, Datis Ensign, Roswill Benjamin, and
• Joseph Mann.
In Dignity fourth, No. 3: William Smith, Benjamin Stewart, Oliver
Mclntire, James Quigley, Marshal Wheaton, Peter Whitney, Reuben
Warfield, Ephraim Wheaton.
In Dignity fourth, No. 4: Henry Brass, Timothy Bacon, Justin
Rust, John Hamilton, Jr., Elisha Stanton, Zebulon Tanner.
In Dignity fourth, No. 5: Samuel Lee, William Prior, Solomon
Noble, Tryal Sanderson, Samuel Perkins, Elizabeth Smith, Anna
Brown, Amanda Core, Samuel Gould, and Ebenezer Freeman.
The committee to " seat and dignify the meeting house " was chosen
.at a town meeting held in November, 1785, and the vote directed
that "in seating the committee shall have regard to age, estate and
usefulness."

166

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.

Plan of the Lower Floor, as Seated and Dignified by the-.
Committee in 1785.

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Front Door.

INDEX.

Abbott, Abiel, 88, 102.
" Ebenezer, 102, 106.
" John, 88, 102.
" Joseph, 102.
" Joseph, Jr., 144.
Account book of John Smith, 1.19.
Adams, Nathaniel, 145, 165.
Additional grant to the proprietors, 40.
Agawam River, 26, 41).
Alexander, Nathaniel, 106, 144.
Allen, David, 102.
Allis, Samuel, 145.
Anderson, Archelus, 64, 113.
Angell, Christian, 80.
Appropriations in 1768, 58.
Arbitration to fix places for preach
ing, 66.
Armes, Thomas, 104.
Armstrong, George, 63.
Army, beef for, 136.
Averet, Isaac, 150.
Babcock, Benjamin, 106.
Daniel, 103, 106.
" Ebenezer, 103.
" Rodolphus, 103.
Bacon, Elijah, 151.
" Timothy, 165.
Baker, Charles, 28, 56.
Baldwin, Abel, 109.
Abial, 104.
" Rev. Mr., 66, 73.
" Samuel, 106.
Ballentine, Rev. John, 65, 73.
Barnard, Daniel, 145, 165.
John, 80.
Bartlett, Robert, 165.
Bascom, Rev. Aaron, 67, 102.
" ordination of, 73.

Bascom, salary of, 90.
his firewood, 73, 89.
Caleb, 74, 81, 83.
Beaumont, Capt., 102.
Beef for the Army, 136.
Belknap, Job, 106.
" Samuel, 64.
Bell, Aaron, 88, 92, 106, 133.
" Abraham, 106.
" James, 163.
" John, 103, 106.
" Samuel, 102.
" William, 64, 133.
Bemas, Sylvester, 165.
Benjamin, Roswell, 151.
Bennett, Nathaniel, 80.
Bentley, James, 106.
Berkshire County, 24.
Bidwell, John, 10.
Bigelow, Daniel, 151.'
" John, 146, 151, 165.
Billings, John, 164.
Bills of Credit, oath concerning, 59.
Births, 145.
Bissell, Isaac, 104, 144.
" Israel, 109.
Black, George, 81.
" James, 31, 33, 114, 133, 136.
" James, Jr., 81.
Blackman, Elijah, 106.
Blackstone's Commentaries, 28.
Blair, Absolom, 30, 33, 45, 63.
" Anna, 33,
" David, 57.
" John, 62, 127, 138, 144.
" Robert, 30, 33, 57, 63.
" Solomon, 80.
Bolton, David, 24, 30, 42, 53, 64.
" James, 24, 31, 42.

168

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.

Bolton, John, 19, 34.
" John's pet. to the General
Court, 19.
Bolton grant, 19.
Boyes, John, 30, 33, 34.
" Samuel, Jr., 151.
Brass, Henry, 165.
Break-neck Hill, 17.
Brewer, John, 9.
Brewster, Deacon of Worthington,
139.
Bridge, Norwich, 43.
Bridges, 62. Conduct of the original
proprietors concerning, 41.
Brockett, Joshua, 106.
Brown, James, 57, 63.
" John, 30.
". William, 106.
Buck, Samuel, 64.
Bulkley, Patrick, 151.
Bunda, B. G. Peter, 80.
Burt, Noah, 19.
" Samuel, 20.
Campbell, James, 103, 151.
" James, of Blandford, 151.
" Joseph, 151.
" Matthew, 57, 103, 151.
" Robert, 103.
" William, 31, 83, 116, 127,
137, 138, 144.
Carlile, James, 146.
John, 105, 146.
" William, 146.
Carter, Asa, 14, 64, 80.
" William, 14, 64, 80.
Cemetery, 91.
Chandler, John, 23, 38, 48, 75, 102, 126.
" Samuel, 109.
Chester, 142.
" Center, 47.
" Factories, 31.
" Village, 19.
Church discipline, 74.
" organization of, 69.
Clapp, Ebenezer, 14.
" Elijah, 14.
" Eliakim, 146.
" Job, 35.

Clapp, Jonathan, 50.
" Joseph, 151.
" Samuel and Mary, 13.
Clark, James, 24, 30, 42, 46, 53, 58, 83,
92, 101, 112, 113, 115, 116, 127, 133, 137.
Clark, James, Jr., 62.
" James of Norwich, 18, 63, 75, 80.
" Job, 105, 109.
" John, 104, 144.
" John S., 165.
" Moses, 159.
" Silas, 163.'
Clothing for the Soldiers, 125.
Cochran, Glass, 31, 33, 34.
Collins, Daniel, 151.
" Ebenezer, 103.
" William, 164.
Committee of Correspondence, 112.
Confession of faith and names sub
scribed thereto, 72.
Constitution, form of, sent to the
towns for approval by the General
Court, in 1778, but rejected by the
?towns, 116, 118.
Constitution, A new draft of in 1779,
132. .
Conventions to fix prices of necessa
ries, 131.
Converse, Benjamin, 12, 133, 144.
" Samuel, 106.
Conveyances of real estate, the earliest,
to wit :
Bolton to Burt and Lyman, 20.
Bolton to Taylor, 20.
Brewer to Weller, 10.
Clapp to Wait, 51.
Clapp to Wells, 14.
Foye to Bolton, 19.
Green to Kirtland, 15.
Ingersoll to Brewer, 9.
Ingersoll to Webb, 9.
Johnson to Sprague, 13.
Johnson to Tobb, 12.
Kirtland to Clark, 18.
Matthews to Rose, 11.
Matthews to Matthews, 11.
Sheldon to Strong, 13.
Strong to Carter, 14.
Webb to Clapp, 35.

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.

169

Webb to Taylor, 12.
Weller to Bidwell, 10.
Weller to Lyman, 11.
Weller to Matthews, 10.
Weller to Mixer, 11.
Williams to Kirtland, 17.
-Cook, John, J., 36.
" Mace, 80.
" Pearley, 36.
Cooley, Eliakim, 104.
" George, 105.
" Keziah, 34.
" Solomon, 105.
Timothy, 146.
Core, Abeline, 33.
" James, 104, 144.
Crafts, Edward, 103.
Crawford, Aaron, 106.
" John, 31, 48.
" Robert, 103.
Crekle, Patrick, 80.
Crooks, John, 31, 33, 34.
Cross, David, 163.
Crossett, John, 80.
Crossman, William, 103.
Crow, David, 12, 80.
" James, SO.
" John, Jr., 57, 80.
" Thomas, 12, 63, 75, 80.
Culver, Timothy, 62.
Cummings, John, 21.
-Cushing, Anna, 18.
" Jacob, 18.
Dana, Daniel, 80.
Day, Nehemiah, 165.
Dean, Joshua, 21.
Deaths, 154.
Debts of the town in 1768, 59.
Declaration of Independence, vote in
favor of, 115.
Deer-Reves, 54:
Depreciated Currency, 91, 128.
Dewey, Russell, 106.
Dickinson, Amaziah. 34.
Difficulties that beset the early set
tlers, 27, 35.-
Distribution of the early settlers by
the proprietors, 31

Division of Murrayfield, 75, 76, 77.
Drake, Abraham, 151.
Draper, Jonathan, 144.
" Joshua, 87.
Dunham, Calvin, 106.
Dwight, Josiah, Esq., 29.
Early custom of granting townships
to tenants in common, 21.
Early settlers, their difficulties, 27, 35.
" " distribution of, 31.
" where tliey came from,
33.
Edwards, Vester, 151.
Eggleston, Abner, 165.
" Benjamin, 101, 133, 151.
Bigott, 57, 58, 83.
" Jebial, 57, 80.
Samuel, 151.
Elder, John, 63, 103.
" Samuel, 30, 53, 83.
" Thomas, 63, 138.
" William, 103.
Ellis, John, 163.
" Samuel, 57, 58, 92.
English, Andrew, 30, 33.
William, 30, 33.
Ensign, Deodatus, 152.
Excise duties, 141.
Fairman, James, 31, 58, SO.
" Samuel, 57, 58, 80.
Faith, confession of, agreed upon, 72.
Falley, Richard, 105.
Falley's x Roads, IS).
Farnsworth, Zadreus, 104.
Ferry-boat proposed, 62.
Ferry, Solomon, 147, 165.
" Thaddeus, 147, 165.
Field, Robert, 81.
Financial condition of the country in
1779, 126.
Firewood for Mr. Bascom, 73, 89.
First division of lots, 2S.
" gristmill, 50.
" Justice of the Peace, 95..
" meeting house, 53.
" meeting of the proprietors, 29.
" town controversy, 55.

170

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.

First town meeting, 53.
" town meeting after the division
of the town, 82.
First valuation list, 57.
Flagg, Gershom, 105.
Flemming, Abraham, 24, 42, 47, 48,
54, 74.
Flint, Thomas, 103.
Fobes, Caleb, 57, 58, 64, 73, 75, 79, 80.
"- Elijah, 80.
" Nathan, 147.
" Simeon, 105.
" William, 57, 80.
Foot, John, 19.
" William, 88, 144.
Fowle, Jacob, 103.
Fowler, Bildad, 105, 109.
Foye, John, 19, 34.
Freeman, Brewster, 163.
" Ebenezer, 80, 99.
" Silas, 104.
French, Jabez, 152.
" Ozias, 152.
" Samuel, 105, 147.
" William, 80.
Fuller, Zebulon, 24, 31, 42, 80.
Gambol, John, 164.
Geer, Ebenezer, 63, 75, SO.
" Elijah, 63, 75, 80.
" Eunice, 99.
" James, 81.
" Joseph, 152.
" Silby, 81.
Gibbs, Isaac, 64.
Gilmore, David, 24, 30, 42, 47.
" James, 57, 80.
John, 24, 30, 42, 63.
Glasgow, 24.
Gleason, David, 103.
Good well, Nathan, 152.
" Nathaniel, 152.
Gordon, Alexander, 30, 48, 54, 99.
" Ebenezer, 63.
" Samuel, 63.
Goss Hill, 34, 46.
Gould, Asa, 106.
" Samuel, 88.
Granger, Luther, 152.

Grants prior to sale of township,.
to wit:
Bolton grant, 19.
Green and Walker grant, 14.
Ingersoll grant, 7.
Sheldon and Clapp grant, 13..
Williams grant, 17.
Graves, Moses, 15.
Green, Allyn, 99.
" Anna, 15.
" George, 15.
" John, 15.
" Joseph, 14, 15.
Green mountain range, 24.
Grims, John, 152.
Griswold, John, 80.
Grout, Capt. 103.
Halberd, David, 80.
Hale, Aaron, 152.
" Moses, 24, 31, 42, 63.
Halliday, Hiram, 14.
Job, 14.
Hamilton, James, 57, 66, 73, 83, 92,
99, 127, 133, 142, 144.
Hamilton, John, 104.
" Thomas, 163.
" Samuel, 152.
Hampshire County, 24.
Hancock, Lewis, 147.
Hannum, John, 30, 33.
Harkell, John, 63.
Hart, Rev. Mr. Ashel, 65, 66.
Harwood, Dr., 160.
Haskell, John, 152.
Hawley, Joseph, 24, 59, 79.
Hedges, David, 105.
Henry, Andrew, 81, 144.
" Jonas, 152.
" Joseph, 81, 152.
" Malcom, 34, 53, 55, 101, 112r
113, 114.
Henry, William, 81, 82.
Higgins, Ebenezer, 162.
Highways laid out in 1769, 61, 155.
Highways, 96, 155.
Hill, William, 103.
Hingham, Solomon, 152.
Hitchcock, Oliver, 105.

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.

171

Holland, James, 154.
William, 152.
Holyday, Josiah, 64.
Solomon, 64, 80.
Solomon, Jr., 64, 80.
Homes, Jabez, 80.
Hooker, Mr. , 65.
Houses of the first settlers, 35.
Hubbard, Elisha, 15.
Hubbard, Mr., 63.
Hubbill, Silas, 14.
Hulbert, Samuel, 152, 160, 162.
Hunt, William, 105, 109.
Ingall, Zadock, 104.
Ingersoll grant, 7.
Ingersoll, David, 7, 9.
Thomas, 7, 14.
Interval lands, 26.
Isham, Lebanon, 101, 142.
" Zebulon, 103.
Johnson, Jesse, 31, 33, 66, 67, 68, 73,
83, 99, 112, 115, 116, 127, 133,139, 142.
Johnson, John, 9, 12.
Jones, Cornelius, 21.
" Elisha, 21. .
" John, 101, 133, 142.
" Nathan, 21.
Samuel, 92, 101, 103, 133, 142. '
Zebulon, 64.
Judd, Rev. Jonathan, 73.
" Selathial, 152.
" Sylvester, 105.
" Thomas, 106.
Justice of the Peace, first, 95.
Kellogg, Samuel, 103.
Kelso, Hugh, 105.
" John, 99, 137.
Kennedy, Thomas, 24, 30, 42, 46, 47,
48, 53.
Kennedy, William, 24, 31, 42.
Kenney, Jethro, 106.
" Thomas, 106.
King, Ebenezer, 12, 34, 54, 58, SO.
" Phineas, 152.
Kingsbury, Noah, 105.
Kingsley, Ebenezer, 17.

Kingsley, Nathaniel, 67.
Kingston, Paul, 31.
Kinney, Dorothy, 33.
Kirtland, John, 15, 18, 63, 64, 67, 68,
73, 75, 70, 79, 80, 98.
Kirtland, Daniel, 18, 63, 80.
Knight, Samuel, 63, 80.
Laccore, John, 30, 58, 66.
" John, Jr., 81.
" Lemuel, 57.
Lamb, David, 152.
Lamberton, Henry, 106.
Lathrop, Rev. Joseph, 73.
Lawrence, Abel, 21.
Law-suits, 56.
Lee, William, 165.
Leonard, Nathan, 67.
" Noah, 152.
Loomis, Luther, 109.
Lots, first drawing of, 30.
Lunnon, William, 106.
Lyde, Byfield, 15.
Lyman, Elias, 30, 33.
" John, 20, 30, 33.
Nathan, lL
" Stephen, 33, 42, 54, 58, 65, 67,.
73, 92, 98, 100, 114, 115, 127, 131, 132,
133, 135, 13S, 139, 143, 144.
Lyman, Timothy, 33, 73, .99, 100, 127,
136, 138, 139, 144,
Mahan River, 17.
Mann, Joseph, 165.
" Nathan, 30, 47, 53, 63.
" William, 24, 30, 42, 53.
March meeting, 1769, 60.
Marriages, 150.
Mathar, David, 103.
Matthew, Benjamin, 10, 30, 33, 34.
Gideon, 12, 31, 33, 42, 53,.
58, 66, 116, 144.
Matthew, Lucas, 152.
Reuben, 60, 63.
" Samuel, 60, 63, 68, 73, 98, 99,.
112, 114, 115, 127, 131, 133, 135, 144.
McHenry, Lieut., 81.
Mclntire, John, 30, 54, 74, 87, 89, 138..
Thomas, 31.

172

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.

Mclntire, William, 88.
McKnight, James, 57.
Meacham, Ebenezer, 24, 31, 33, 42, 54,
58, 64, 80.
Meeker, Daniel, 57.
Meeting-liouse, care of, 87.
" manner of seating, 88.
plan of, 86, 166.
" seating of in 1773, 84.
" seating of in 1785, 162.
Melvin, James, 165.
Memorial of John Kirtland to the
Court, 76.
Messenger, Ebenezer N., 152.
-Middlefield, southeast corner of, 101.
Millard, Oliver, 152.
Miller, Ephraim, 164.
" Jonathan, 104.
Oliver, 153.'
" Roger, 17.
" Rev. Simeon, 66.
William, 24, 31, 34, 42, 53, 58,
60, 73, 80.
Mill lot, 51.
Minister lot, 37.
Mixer, Isaac, 11, 54, 58, 64, 65, 73, 75,
80, 82.
Mixer, Isaac, Jr., 57. 75, 80.
Mixer's tavern, 11, 68, 75.
Montague, Peter, 159.
.Moore, James, 103.
John, 103.
" John, Jr., 148.
" Robert, 105.
" Samuel, 105, 144.
" William, 31, 58, 89, 127, 131,
133.
Moose Meadow, 8.
Morcton, Thomas, 30.
Morgan, Abner, 43.
Morse, John, 99, 106.
" Samuel, 104.
Moseley, David, 10, 138.
John, 35.
Moss, Moses, 24, 31, 42.
-Mulhollon, James, 63, 163.
" Simeou E., 103.
William, 163.
Murray, John, 23, 38, 47, 49, 56, 75,
102, 1-26.

Murrayfield, 39. Incorporation of, 52.
Mussey, Benjamin, 153.
Myrifield, 142.
Name of town changed, 142.
Napping, George, 81.
Nash, Noah, 21.
New Glasgow, 27. , >
New Hingham, 24.
New Settlers in 1769, 62; in 1770, 63.
Newton, Obediah, 81.
" Thaddeus, 81, 101, 126.
Noble, Asa, 30.
" John, 64.
" Solomon, 165.
" Thomas, 30.
Nooney Brook, 48.
Nooney, James, 104.
Northrop, Emanuel, 99, 106.
" Joseph, 99, 105.
Norwich Bridge, 43, 51.
Norwich Hill, 47.
Norwich incorporated, 78.
Norwich, names of taxpayers in 1773,
80.
Norwich Pond, 14.
Norwich, relations with Murrayfield,

Old account book of John Smith, 159.
Old road up East Branch, 12.
Old road up Moose mountain, 45.
Orcutt, Moses, 106.
Original proprietors of Township No.
9, 23.
Otis, Allen, 109.
'' Col. James, 102.
" James, 38, 44, 47, 49, 102.
" Joseph, 102.
Paine, Timothy. 23, 38, 47, 49, 56, 75,
102, 109.
Palmer, David, 63, 68, 73, 75, 80.
David, Jr., 63, 80.
" John D., 80.
Paper currency, depreciation of, 128.
Parks, Reuben, 153.
" Warham, 109, 138.
Parmenter, John N., 92, 103, 107, 133,
134, 138.

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.

173

Parsons, Joseph, 18.
" Moses, 21.
" Sarah, 18.
Partridge, Abel, 99, 106.
" Oliver, 15, 17.
Pease, Abner, 57, 63.
Pelton, Tabor, 153.
Perkins, Samuel, 165.
Pomeroy, Amasa, 103, 148.
" Ebenezer, 7, 14.
" Joseph, 106.
" Luther, 148.
" Samuel, 63.
Poor of the town, 95.
Pound, town, 94.
Pratt, Benjamin, 24.
Pratt, Othiel, 100.
Preaching, action touching, 65, 66, 67.
" controversy about, 75.
towns required to sup
port, 69.
Prices of necessaries, convention to
fix, 131.
Prior, Ebenezer, 103.
" Heman, 153.
•" William, 103.
Proctor, Robert, 57, 92, 133.
Proprietors' complaint to the Gen
eral Court, 39.
Proprietors' records, beginning of, 28.
Province, general condition of, in 1762,
27.
Province lands, leasing of, 24.
Quigley, Hugh, 153.
" James, 163.
" John, 165.
William, 165.
Quotas of men for the war, 107; con
troversy with other towns concern
ing, 131 ; additional called for, 135,
137.
Representatives to General Court, 98,
114.
Revolutionary war, 110.
Rhodes, Isaac, 104.
" William, 104.
Riley place, 46.

Roberts, Timothy, 138, 139.
Rock House Corner, 9, 65.
Root, Solomon, 104, 164.
Rose, Eunice, 11.
" Israel, II, 24, 30, 33, 42, 53, 58,.
66.
Rose, Nathan, 31, 33, 58.
" Zebulon, 57, 80.
Rude, John, 63, 80.
Russell, Jonathan, 63.
" William, 104.
Rust, Gershom, 64, 92, 133.
" Justin, 149.
" Quartus, 163.
Sale of township No. 9, 21.
Sanderson, John, 165.
Sylvester, 105, 109.
" Tyrol, 153, 165.
Schools, 62, 9i.
School lands, leasing of, 92.
School houses, 94.
Scotch settlers, 27.
Scott, David, 24. 30, 42, 45, 47, 64, 75,
79, 80, S3, 98, 114.
Scott, John, Jr., 30, 33.
" William, 153.
Searle, Job, 153.
" Zenas, 165.
" Zopher, 105.
Second meeting of the proprietors, 47.
Settlers before 1762, names of, 23.
" upon Ingersoll grant, 34.
Seward, Ebenezer, 163.
Joel, 81, 101, 115, 136.
" Noadiah, 104,
" Noadiah, Jr., 163.
Shelden, Ebenezer, 13.
" Ephraim, 104.
Shepard, Dr. David, 63, 64, 83, 92, 96,
99, 100, 107, 112, 114, 127, 133,134,
138, 139, 143, 144.
Shepherd, Enoch, 81, 89, 92, 93, 98, 99,
101, 107, 114, 127, 142.
Sizer, William, 106.
Slayton, Asa, 153.
Sloper, Capt. of Blandford, 139.
Small-pox and inoculation, 95.
Smith, Abner. 30, 33, 48, 64, 65, 74, 83,
92, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 113, 114, 137!

174

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.

Smith, Abner, Jr., 81, 137.
" Daniel, 104.
" Daniel, Jr., 105.
" Ebenezer, 104.
" Enos, 153.
" Jacob, 153.
" Joab, 106, 153.
" John, 30, 33, 42, 53, 55, 56, 58,
60, 63, 159.
Smith, John, 2d, 105.
" John, 3d, 106.
" Levi, 162.
" Thomas, 60, 144.
" Timothy, 34, 53, 55, 56, 58, 60,
74, 76, 83, 99, 100, 113, 138, 144.
Smith, Robert, 48, 63, 144.
" Rufus, 163.
" Samuel, 165.
" William, 105, 144.
Snow, Ezekiel, 57.
Soldiers, clothing for, 125.
" money for, 115.
" names of, 139.
" pay of, 135.
" support of families, 135.
Sprague, John, M. D., 13.
Stanton, Ebenezer, 165.
" Elijah, 104.
" Elisha, 165.
" Joseph, 80.
" Reuben, 165.
Stebbins, Joseph, 105.
Joseph J., 105.
Stevenson, John, 153.
Stewart, Benjamin, 165.
Stoddard, John, 7, 14.
Stone, Daniel, 104.
" William, 88, 144.
Story, Jabez, 80.
Stowe, Ebenezer, 105, 133, 135, 137, 138.
Strong, Caleb, 13, 14.
" Simeon, 56.
Sylvester, Gershom, 153.

Taxes, complaint of non-resident tax
payers, 109.
Taylor, Eldad, 12, 20, 28, 52, 53, 56.
John, 64,-81, 101, 142.
Third meeting of the proprietors, 48.
" town meeting, 58.
Thomas, Solomon, 14.
Thompson, John, 81, 101, 142.
" John, Jr., 81.
Tiffany, John, 64, 80. ,
Tillotson, Ebenezer, 104.
Tobb, Nicholas, 12.
Toogood, Capt., 164.
Torry, Calvin, 106.
" Jabez, 64.
" John, 165.
Town, change of name, 142.
" division of, 75, 76, 77.
" lines, 64.
" meeting in March, 1783, 143.
" northwest corner of, 142.
" poverty of in 1782, 136.
Township No. 9, 23.
" " original proprietors
of, 23.
Township No. 9, topography of, 24.
Tracy, Jabez, 92, 106.
" . Stephen, 163.
Tud, Rev. Mr., 65.
Tupper, Benjamin, 67.
Twadwell, Daniel, 57, 133.
" David, 99.
Vadekin, Henry, 150.
Valuation list in 1768, 57.
" 1772, 64.
" lists in 1775, 1776, 1777, 1780,
1781, 1782, 101.
Valuation list, controversy about, 55,
56.
Valuation, fluctuation of during the
war, 128.
Voters, list of qualified in 1770, 63.

Taggart, James, 12, 57.
Tanner, William, 149.
" Zebulon, 165.
Taxes, difficulty of collecting during
the War of the Revolution, 106.

Wade, John, 81,
Wait, Jonathan, 51, 54, 57, 74.
" Jonathan, Jr., 144.
Wales, Ebenezer, 164.
Walker, Isaac, 14, 15.

A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.

175

War charges, 115; Equalizing the
burdens of, 137.
Ward, John, 104.
" Samuel, 102, 109.
Ware, Jonathan, 80.
Wares, Deacon, of Norwich, 139.
Warfield, Reuben, 165.
Warner, James, 149.
'Warrants for town meeting, 95.
Washburn, Miles, 03, 75, SO.
Webb, Joel, 164.
" Thomas, 9.
" Samuel, 12, 34, 54, 63.
Weeb— or Webb— Loren, 160.
Webber, Ebenezer, 24, SO, 42, 47, 54,
58, 60, 66.
Webber, John, 24, 30, 42.
Jonathan Hart, 24, 30, 33, 42,
48, 58, 60, 66.
Webber, Jonathan, 30, 66, 133.
Weller, Nathaniel, 10, 34, 63.
Wells, Joseph, 14.
Westfield River Branches, 11, 25, 34.
Wheat, Samuel, 64.
Wheaton, Epliraim, 165.
" Marshall, 165.
Wheeler, Phineas, 150.
White, Elijah, 104, 106.
" Jude, 154.
Nathan, 106.
Whitney, Benjamin, 63.
" John, 63.
" Peter, 165.
Willard, Aaron, 21.
Abijah, 23, 38, 47, 48, 56, 75,
102, 126.
Willard's heirs, 109.
- Williams, Charles, 80.
" Daniel, 63, 80.

Williams, Davenport, 106.
" Elijah, 15.
George, 106, 113.
" Isaac, 63.
" Job, 8.
John, 104.
" Rov. John, 17.
" Larkin, 106, 116.
" Nathan, 18.
Peter, 57, 58, 75, 80.
" Rodman, 106.
' Rev. Stephen, 17.
William, 21, 23.
Wilter, Joseph, 106.
Winslow, Joshua, 8.
Witt, Abner, 106, 150.
" William, 150.
Wolves, 95.
Wood, James, 163.
" John, 31, 33, 34.
" Nathan, 104.
Woods, John, 30, 34.
" Levi, 30, 33, 34.
Woodworth, Abigail, IS.
" Samuel, 18.
Woolworth, Eli, 105.
'» Reuben, 57, 58, 66
133, 144.
Woolworth, Samuel, 154.
Worthington, John, 24.
Wright, Bazelial, 81.
" Edward, 63.
Edward, Jr., 6J
" Jesse, 104.
" Joseph, 150.
" Joshua, 150.
Jude, 104.
" Nathan, 81, 150
' " Thomas, 57, 63.

74, 89,

136, 144.

YALE UNIVERSITY

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