Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2022 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Inscriptions on the Grave Stones in the Grave Yards of Northampton and of Other Towns In The Valley Of The Connecticut, As Springfield, Amherst, Hadley, Hatfield, Deerfied, &c. Transcribed by Thomas Bridgman pub. Hopkins, Bridgman & Co., Northampton, Mass - 1850 Source: Library of Congress p.v BRIEF ANNALS OF NORTHAMPTON NORTHAMPTON, at the foot of Mount Holyoke, is generally regarded as the most beautiful village in the valley of the Connecticut, perhaps in New England. 1653. Certain Inhabitants of Springfield, 24 in number, petitioned the General Court for liberty to make a settlement at Nonatuck, about 15 miles up the river, representing that the place was suitable to erect a town for the furtherance of the public weal and propagation of the Gospel, and ob- tained permission. In the records of the company the name is written variously, Nonatuck, Nalwottage, and Norwottuck. The accent being on the last syllable, the words, in the indistinct ennunciation of the Indians, will appear to be the same. Thus on the records, Pewongenug is also writ- ten Pewongenuck. REV. JOHN ELIOT uses the 'Indian word Noautuck, as mean- ing, in the midst of the River.' By its windings the meadows of Northamp- ton, Hadley, and Hatfield are in the midst of the River. 1653, Sep. 24. JOHN PYNCHON bought Nonatuck of the Indians; a large tract on the west side of the Connecticut River, including Northampton and other towns. The Sachems, or Chiefs, who signed the deed, were CHICKWALLOPP, or WAWHILLOWA, NENESSEHALANT, NASSICOHEE, and PAQUAHALANT. The witnesses were ELIZUR HOLYOKE, HENRY BURT, THOMAS COOPER and THOMAS STEBBINS. The payment was 100 fathom of wampum, 10 coats, the plowing of 16 acres, and a few small presents. As he made the purchase in behalf of the petitioners, he assigned the land to them in 1662. In November certain regulations were made concerning those, who should go up in the next spring to settle at 'Nallwottoge.' ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- p.vi BRIEF ANNALS OF NORTHAMPTON 1654, May 9. Two settlements being proposed, PYNCHON, HOLYOKE, and SAMUEL CHAPIN, by appointment of the General Court, laid out the bounds of the first settlement at Nonatuck, extending from the little meadow (Hatfield) to the Great Falls, and 9 miles back, and west from the river. Mount Holy- oke is probably named after MR. ELIZUR HOLYOKE. The town is now commenced and this may be regarded as the date of the first settlement. Of the 24 peitioners, only 7 were among the settlers, - namely, ROBERT BARTLETT, WILLIAM CLARK, EDWARD ELMER, JOHN GILBERT, WILLIAM JANES, WILLIAM MILLER, and THOMAS ROOT. Others came from Windsor, Hartford, and Dorches- ter. The name of Northampton was adopted. Nov. 18. The first marriage, DAVID BURT and MARY HOLTON. 1655. May, 2. The first birth; EBENEZER, son of JOSEPH and MARY PARSONS. May 30, JAMES BRIDGMAN born. 1656, Jan. 14. The first death, JAMES, son of JAMES and SARAH BRIDGMAN. In this year there were 9 births. Among the settlers were JOSEPH PARSONS, ISAAC SHELDON, and SAMUEL ALLEN. 1657, June 25. A town meeting was held, a grant of land was made to JOSEPH PARSONS, and SAMUEL ALLEN. It was agreed to procure a minister. Measures taken to protect the Indians from the evils of intoxicating drinks. July 30. LAMPANCHO, sachem, sold to the town Pewongenug for 30 shillings; this was included in the former purchase. 1658. The first meeting to raise money to defray town expenses, amounting to 130 dollars, 110 of which were for ministerial services. It was agreed to allow REV. MR. MATHER, as a salary, about 350 dollars a year. He began to preach here in July. Oct. 17. The tital to Capawonk, the little meadow in Hatfield, relin- quished on condition of a settlement by the next May on both sides of the river, - in Hatfield and Hadley. 1661, June 18. The church was gathered; and the first minister, ELEAZER MATHER, son of REV. RICHARD MATHER of Dorchester, was ordained. The seven 'pillars' of the church, the seven men first organized as a church, - were DAVID WILTON, WILLIAM CLARK, JOHN STRONG, HENRY CUNLIFFE, HENRY WOODWARD, THOMAS ROOT, and THOMAS HANCHET; JOHN STRONG, was the ancestor of the late GOVERNOR STRONG; HENRY WOODWARD was the ancestor of the late DR. SAMUEL B. WOODWARD. JOHN STEBBINS and others appointed to build a meeting house, 42 feet square, at an expense not exceeding 150 pounds. The first militia company was organized. The burials, after October, no longer on meeting house hill, but in the present cemetery. Woratuck, or Hadley, was settled, long called New Town. The word may be the same as Norwattuck. 1662. The following are the names of the inhabitants, eight years after the settlement: - GEO. ALEXANDER, SAMUEL ALLEN, ALEX. ALVORD, EDWARD BAKER, ROBERT BARTLETT, THOMAS BASCOM, JAMES BRIDGMAN, JOHN BROUGHTON, DAVID BURT, ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- p.vi BRIEF ANNALS OF NORTHAMPTON JOSHUA CARTER, WILLIAM and NATHANIEL CLARK, AARON COOK, HENRY CUNLIFF, widow CURTISS, NATHANIEL DICKINSON, ALEX. EDWARDS, ZACHERY FIELD, THOMAS FORD, RICH. GOODMAN, DAVID and THOMAS HANCHET, WILLIAM and JOHN HANNUM, ROBERT HAYWARD, WILLIAM HOLTON, WILLIAM and JOHN HULBERT, JONA. HUNT, RALPH HUTCHINSON, JOHN INGERSOLL, WILLIAM JANES, JOHN KING, GEO. LANGTON, WALTER LEE, WILLIAM and THOMAS LEWIS, RICH. JOHN, and ROBERT LYMAN, THOMAS MASON, ELEAZER MATHER, JOHN MILLER, JOSEPH PARSONS, NATHANIEL PHELPS, MEDAD POMEROY, THOMAS and JOHN ROOT, THOMAS SALMON, ISAAC SHELDON, WILLIAM SMEAD, CHRISTOPHER SMITH, JOHN STEBBINS, JOHN and THOMAS STRONG, and J. STRONG, JUN., GEO. SUMNER, MRS. WILIAMS, ENSIGN WILTON, THOMAS WOODFORD, SAMUEL WRIGHT, and S. W. JUN., and HENRY WOODWARD. Such is the connexion of families, that REV. W. ALLEN of N. is a descendant not only of SAMUEL ALLEN; but, also by his father, of THOMAS FORD, JOHN STRONG, ISAAC SHELDON, JOSEPH PARSONS, and THOMAS WOODFORD; and, by his mother, of JOHN STRONG, and HENRY WOODWARD. May 7. This town, Springfield, and Hadley constituted the county of Hampshire. 1663. The first school was organized. 1664. Measures to restrain the youth from disorderly behanvior on the Sabbath. 1665. DEACON SAMUEL WRIGHT died, from whom descended the late GOVERNOR SILAS WRIGHT of New York. 1667. A court House erected. 1669, July 24. REV. E. MATHER died; during his ministry there were 71 church members. Measures to prevent the Indians from doing damage on the Sabbath, and to counteract the evil example of their drinking and pro- fanity. 1672, Sept. 11. REV. SOLOMON STODDARD was ordained. He was minister 56 years. His descendants remain in N. 1675. KING PHILIP'S war began. ROBERT BARTLETT, THOMAS HOLTON, MARY EARLE, SAMUEL MASON, PRAISERVER TURNER, and 9 others were killed by the Indians. Hadley was attacked, but the people under GEN. GOFFE repulsed the enemy. 1676, May 19. In the 'Fall fight,' so called, near Deerfield, of the 38, who were killed, were CAPT. WM. TURNER, and 14 others from Northampton; among whom were JOHN MILLER, THOMAS ROBERTS, JOSEPH FOWLER, WILLIAM HOWARD, and JOHN FOSTER. Perhaps some were soldiers, not settlers. In a few days afterwards, Hatfield was attacked and 12 houses and barns burnt; but 25 bold young men from Hadley charged the large body of the enemy and put them to flight. It was voted to accept a garrison of 50 men. The meeting house and several houses were palisaded. JOSEPH HAWLEY invited to teach a school. 1677. The number of church members was 76. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- p.viii BRIEF ANNALS OF NORTHAMPTON 1679. Up to this year more than 500 church members had been admitted. 1683. A great revival of religion; also in 1690, and 1712. 1684. Died NEHEMIAH ALLEN, the ancestor of GEN. ETHAN ALLEN 1689. The town palisaded from half a mile to a mile square. 1692. A fine of 12 pence imposed for every non-attendance upon a town meeting. 1694. A salary of £10 to the schoolmaster for the next twenty years. 1695. MR. STODDARD relinquished all debt of the town to him. 1697. An order for a foot bridge over Mill River to South-st. 1699. The town ordered, that no more candle wood should be collected for use within 7 miles of the Meeting House, on forfeiture of the same. ELDER JOHN STRONG died, aged 92; his descendants numerous. 1700. Pine trees not to be boxed for turpentine within 3 miles. 1703, Jan. 17. COL. JOHN PYNCHON died. A sermon by MR. STODDARD on his death was published. 1704. CAPT. JOHN TAYLOR, and 10 of the name of JANES, and 10 others killed by the Indians at Paskhommuck, at the foot of Mount Tom. Killed at Deerfield, MRS. WILLIAMS, daughter of the REV. E. MATHER. 1706. The number of church members was 96. 1708. JOSEPH and SAMUEL PARSONS killed by the Indians. 1711. SAMUEL STRONG, JR. also killed by them. 1712. A Grammer school ordered to be supported for 20 years; it has never been discontinued. To this time there was only a bridle path to 'the Bay,' or to Boston. 1713. A water privilege at the foot of Mt. Tom to BENJ. STEBBINS, on condition that for 4 years he will sell boards at 20 shillings a thousand feet. 1715. An alms house erected on meeting house hill. 1720. ELDER PRESERVED CLAP died. 1724. NATHANIEL EDWARDS, 2d., was killed by the Indians at the corn mill. 1726. The town granted Round Hill to COL. J. STODDARD for 40 pounds. 1727, Feb. 15., REV. JONATHAN EDWARDS, was ordained as colleague in the ministry with his grandfather, MR. STODDARD. 1729, Feb. 16. REV. MR. STODDARD died; during his ministry, the admis- sions to the church 630. Of the sermons of REV. MR. WILLIAMS of Hatfield, and of MR. EDWARDS on his death the town requested copies for the press. 1735. A revival of religion; 200 converts in 6 months, 10 of them about 90 years of age. 1736. The number of church members was 620 1737. The new meeting house, 70 by 46 feet, built on meeting house hill, ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- p.ix BRIEF ANNALS OF NORTHAMPTON near the old one, with a steeple; it lasted till 1812. The men were seated at the south end, the women on the north side, the young men alone in the gallery, the children in front of the pews. 1740. MR. WHITEFIELD preached at Northampton; great attention to reli- gion; revivals in 150 congregations. 1746. From 1729 to this year, MR. EDWARDS being the minister, the admis- sions into the church were 495. 1747, Oct. 9. REV. DAVID BRAINERD, missionary, died at the house of MR. EDWARDS, aged 29. JERUSHA EDWARDS, betrothed to him, died a few months afterwards, aged 17, and was buried at his side. August, ELISHA CLARK killed by the Indians. He was the last of between 50 and 60 deaths by Indians, as states on the records of the town. 1748. COL. JOHN STODDARD, a man of great influence in public affairs, died in Boston. The number of polls, and estates about 350. 1750, June 22. MR. EDWARDS was dismissed; in August he removed his family to Stockbridge. He died at Princeton, March 22, 1758, aged 55. For more than 23 years was he in the ministry in Northampton. The cause of his re- moval was his maintenance of the principle, that the Lord's supper is de- signed for those, who in the judgment of charity are true christians; in opposition to MR. STODDARD'S views, who regarded it as a converting ordi- nance. The church now adopts the principle, for which they rejected him. 1753, Dec. 5. REV. JOHN HOOKER was ordained; he died of the small pox Feb. 6, 1777. Southampton was incorporated as a separate district; REV. JONATHAN JUDD, had been the minister of this 2d precinct since 1743; he died 1803. 1755, August 17. CAPT. HAWLEY, LT. POMEROY and THOMAS WAIT killed at Lake George. 1756, August 26. Died ABIGAIL ALVORD, aged 102; her name before marriage was PHELPS. 1760. A letter of JOSEPH HAWLEY was published, in which he humbly ack- nowledged his sin in the efforts, which he made for the removal of MR. EDWARDS; and he also expressed his belief, that 'the town and church' were lying under 'great guilt in the sight of God,' for which they should pray for forgiveness, and their repentance for which, now that MR. EDWARDS was dead, should be manifested by their vindicating his character and honor- ing his memory. 1767, Oct. 6. ELISHA ALVORD gave a deed of a lot in the center of North- ampton, 'To the Inhabitants of the County of Hampshire,' in consideration of 130 pounds paid by EBENEZER HUNT, TIMOTHY DWIGHT, JR., SETH POMEROY, CALEB STRONG, SOLOMON STODDARD, SAMUEL CLARK, EPHRAIM WRIGHT, WILLIAM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- p.x BRIEF ANNALS OF NORTHAMPTON LYMAN, SETH LYMAN, JOHN KING, SAMUEL PARSONS, JONATHAN ALLEN, SELAH WRIGHT, JOSEPH ALLEN, JOSEPH COOK, JOSEPH LYMAN, BENJ. SHELDON, JR., QUARTUS POME- ROY, ELISHA LYMAN, GIDEON CLARK, JOHN HODGE, HEZEKIAH RUSSELL, THOMAS BRIDGMAN, ELIJAH SOUTHWELL, ASAHEL CLAPP, ABNER BARNARD, DANIEL HITCHCOCK, WM. MATHER, LEVI SHEPHERD, ELIPHAZ STRONG, SETH CLAPP, ELNATHAN WRIGHT, JOSEPH PARSONS, HAINES KINGSLEY, TIMOTHY PARSONS, ANSON and ENOS KINGSLEY, ASA WRIGHT, JOSIAH PARSONS, JR., TITUS KING, OLIVER LYMAN, ELIHU LYMAN, ELKANAH BURT, EBENEZER CLAPP, ELIHU CLARK, PLINY POMEROY, ABIJAH WAIT, JOHN PARSONS, JR., SIMEON and JOS. CLAPP, JOSEPH HUTCHINS, LEMUEL LYMAN, DAVID LYMAN, ELIAS LYMAN, JR., and ASAHEL DANKS of Northampton, and SAM'L FAIR- FIELD of Hatfield. The land, thus purchased by the principal inhabitants of Northampton, was by them given to the County, expressly for but two objects, 'for the pur- pose of a Green, or Common, and for erecting a Court House, or Court Houses thereon.' Very improperly, by some mistake, the County Court was induced to license in 1816 the Selectmen to erect a Town Hall on this Lot, close to the Court House, to the great injury of the beauty of its situation, - to the incon- venience of the inhabitants of the County, who frequent the Courts, and to the destruction in part of the Small Public Green in the very center of the Town. It is understood, that the County Commissioners have full power to revoke the License, which was given in disregard of the provisions of the ALVORD Deed, and to order the removal of the old Town Building from the County Lot, and to restore the site of it to the use of the County as 'a green or common.' Respectable memorialists of various Towns in the County have al- ready presented the subject to their consideration. We may expect, that as intelligent and worthy men, the express guardians of the rights of the County, they will do their duty. - In the mean while, the Town has an op- portunity voluntarily to pursue the path of justice and honor, and to re- store the land to the sole uses, for which the former Fathers of the Town, the ancestors of most of the present inhabitants, purchased it and gave it 'to the inhabitants of the County.' The Town having erected a new and elegant Town Hall on a different lot, has no longer an occasion for the old building, as a Town Hall, and can use it only to rent or to save a little expense; and if, by possibility, they could now legally hold it, yet they could not in justice to the County and with a sentiment of honor to the memory of their Fathers. - As we have to do at present with the grave yard, we will say, it would be strange, if any worthy man in Northampton, out of economy, should rob the grave yard of his Father's Monument to make it a stepping stone to the door of his house. 1771, April 30. Died. COL. TIM. DWIGHT, grandfather of President DWIGHT. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- p.xi BRIEF ANNALS OF NORTHAMPTON 1775. DR. WM. MATHER, and REV. J. HUNT of Boston died. 1778, June 6. REV. SOLOMAN WILLIAMS was ordained; he was in the ministry 56 years. Westhampton was incorporated as a town, including a tract 4 miles wide from the west part of Northampton; REV. ENOCH HALE, was ordained the minister next year. 1785. Easthampton was incorporated as a district; and as a town in 1809. REV. PAYSON WILLISTON, yet living, was ordained in July, 1787. 1788, March 10. JOSEPH HAWLEY, ESQ. died, a grandson of REV. MR. STODDARD He was a distinguished lawyer, and statesman. 1790. The population was 1628; in 1800, it was 2100; in 1810, it was 2631; in 1850, it was 5369. 1801. March, a great flood. 1805, Jan. 5. PHEBE, wife of NOAH PARSONS, died; she was the daughter of WM. BARTLETT, and at the age of four or five years was a convert, as was stated by MR. EDWARDS in one of his books. 1806. SARAH, relict of S. BAKER, died, aged ninety-eight. 1809. WIDOW MARGARET RUST, died, aged ninety-five. 1812, Oct. 28. New Meeting House dedicated; the old house stood a few feet south-easterly. WIDOW HANNAH WRIGHT died, aged 98. 1819, Nov. 7. CALEB STRONG died, aged 74. He was Governor from 1800 to 1807, and from 1812 to 1815. His ancestors were ELDER JOHN, EBENEZER, JONATHAN and CALEB. 1820. DR. EBENEZER HUNT died. 1822. The Court House burnt. It was built in 1813. 1823. Present Court House built 1825. The Unitarian church formed. The pastors have been REV. EDWARD B. HALL, ordained Aug. 16, 1826, till Dec. 6, 1829; REV. OLIVER STEARNS, Nov. 9, 1831 to March 31, 1839; REV. JOHN S. DWIGHT, May 20, 1840 to 1841; and REV. RUFUS ELLIS, the present minister, June 5, 1843. 1826. The admission into the Church, 117. Episcopal Church organized. The ministers have been REV. G. GRISWOLD, 1826, REV. JOS. MUENSCHER, 1828 to 1831, REV. W. CHADERTON, 1835, REV. D. DEVENS, 1838, REV. ORANGE CLARK, D.D., 1841, REV. HENRY BURROUGHS, 1843 to the present time. 1829. SOLOMON STODDARD died, aged 94; High Sheriff before the revolution. 1831. The admission into the Church, 164. 1832. The number of Church members was 728. The "Edwards Church," so called, being a Colony from the Old Church, was formed; the Ministers of which have been REV. DR. JOHN TODD, now of Pittsfield, and REV. JOHN MITCHELL. REV. GEO. E. DAY, the present Minister, ordained Jan. 12, 1848. 1834. REV. SOLOMON WILLIAMS died, aged 82. His Colleagues, who are now ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- p.xii BRIEF ANNALS OF NORTHAMPTON living, though not in Northampton, were REV. DR. MARK TUCKER, from March 10, 1824, to Aug. 16, 1827; REV. DR. I. S. SPENCER, from Sept. 11, 1828, to March 12, 1832; and REV. DR. JOSEPH PENNEY, from June 5, 1833, to Nov. 23, 1835. 1837, Nov. 7. REV. CHARLES WILEY was ordained, and dismissed Feb. 26, 1845. DR. W. is now one of the Ministers of Utica. 1843, April 15-18. A great flood of the Connecticut. The number of mem- bers in the first church was 515. 1845. Connecticut River Rail Road from Springfield to Northampton was opened. Nov. 19. REV. E. Y. SWIFT ordained over the first church. 1846, Nov. 24. Rail Road to Greenfield opened. REV. D. M. CRANE took the charge of the Baptist Church. 1847. Round Hill Water Cure opened by DR. DENNISTON; now under DR. HALL. REV. DR. C. J. TENNEY, formerly Minister of Newport, and of Wethersfield, died, aged 67. JOSEPH LYMAN, formerly High Sheriff, died, aged 80. He gave the town the lot for the Boy's High School. DR. CHARLES L. SEGUR died, aged 85. 1848. Dr. DENNISTON'S new Water Cure Establishment opened. June. Nine children of BENJAMIN TAPPAN, who died in 1831, aged 83, met from different States at Northampton - BENJAMIN, JOHN, ARTHUR, CHARLES, LEWIS, &c., at the average age of 68 years; all living in 1850, at the average of more than 70 - an unequalled family longevity. JOHN TAPPAN gave his father's estate for a female school. 1849. DR. MUNDE'S Water Cure. New Town Hall erected. 1850. DR. SAMUEL B. WOODWARD died. June 22, a cenotaph erected by DR. DANIEL STEBBINS to JONATHAN EDWARDS, 100 years after his dismission. Methodist Meeting House built. REV. THO. MARCY pastor. Nov. 20. PHILIP PRINCELEY, and Irishman, 104 years old, retaining his sight, and hearing, and mental powers, and able to do a little work in spinning. 1850. From 1654 to 1850, the whole number of Births, 3911; Marriages, 1538; Deaths; 4830. The record is imperfect. ================================================================================