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From WM. B. TOWNE, Milfurd, N. II. 
 
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Bern Oct 12'>:b10^ 
 
HISTORICAL ADDRESS, 
 
 DELIVERED IN THE TOWN HALL, 
 
 AT AMHERST, JANUARY 19, 1874, 
 
 ON THE OCCASION OF THE 
 
 HUNDEEDTH ANNIVERSARY 
 
 Being an historical sketch of the territory embraced in the first parish in 
 
 Milford, an account of the origin of the parish, then a part 
 
 of Amherst, the organization of the church, 
 
 and the services of its ministers. 
 
 BY WILLIAM B. TOWNE, A. M., 
 
 Member of the New England Historic, Genealogical Society, corresponding 
 member of the New York Historical Society, the Penn- 
 sylvania Historical Society, and the state 
 Historical Society of Wisconsin. 
 
 CONCORD, N. H.: 
 
 PRINTED BY THE REPUBLICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION. 
 
 1874. 
 
a little later, an enactment " to the end that learning may not 
 be buried in the graves of our forefathers, every township, after 
 the Lord hath increased them to the number of fifty house- 
 holders, shall appoint one to teach all cliildren to write and 
 read ; and where any town shall increase to the number of one 
 hundred families, they shall set up a Grammer school, — the 
 masters thereof being able to instruct youth, so far as they may 
 be fitted for the University."* Here we have a distinct recog- 
 nition of the idea of education for tlie whole people. In these 
 measures, says the historian,! "especially in the laAvs establish- 
 ing common schools, lies the secret of the success and character 
 of New England. Every child, as it was born into the world, 
 was lifted from the earth by the genius of the country, and in 
 the statutes of the land received, as its birthright, a pledge of 
 the public care of its morals and its mind." 
 
 Within thirty years of their settlement we find this people 
 surveying land, and laying out farms in the valley of the Souhe- 
 gan, regarding it as within their province. And such a conclusion 
 was not strange. Gosnold, Pring, Waymouth,^ and Smith, || 
 of Virginia fame, — an escaped Turkish slave, whose life seems 
 to have belonged more to a mythical age than to that century, — 
 with others of less celebrity in the mother country, had explored 
 the coast, its bays and its rivers ; but of the interior but little 
 
 * Colonial Laws 74, 186. 
 
 t Bancroft's History of the United States, vol. 1, p. 459. 
 
 I Waymouth entered the Penobscot or Kennebec river, and in a shallop, brought in 
 pieces out of England, ascended not much less than three score miles, and kidnapped 
 and carried away five of tlie natives. " One, standing before, carried our bo.x of mer- 
 chandise, as we were wont when I went to traffic with them, and a platter of pease, 
 which meat they loved; but before we were landed, one of them, being so suspiciously 
 fearful of his own good, withdrew himself into the wood. The other two met us on 
 the shore side to receive the pease, with whom we went up the cliff to their tire, and 
 sat down with them; and while we were discussing how to catch the third man that 
 was gone, 1 opened the bo.\ and shew them trifles to exchange, thinking thereby to 
 have banished fear from the otlier, and draw him to return. I?ut when we could not 
 we used little delay, but suddenly laid h^nds upon them, and it was as much as five or 
 six of us could do to get them into the light horseman (boat); for they were strong, and 
 so naked as our best hold was by their long hair on their heads." — Mass. Hist. Coll., 
 vol. 28, p. 144-5. 
 
 II Smith made a rude map of the coast, superior, perhaps, to any that had preceded it, 
 and was the first to give the country the name of New England. He declared that 
 " truth was more than wealth, and industrious subjects more available to a king than 
 gold." 
 
was known, Tlie marvellous accounts of the explorers, and the 
 religious condition of the country favored colonization ; and be- 
 tween 1621 and 1G31, including both years, there were not less 
 than twenty charters granted for the purpose of settlement or 
 commerce on tlie coast of New England.* The grant of Capt. 
 John Mason, in 1622, extended on the coast from where the wa- 
 ters of the Naurakeag discharge themselves into the ocean to 
 the river Merrimack, extending inland to the sources of these 
 streams. The same year Mason and Sir Ferdinando Gorges 
 obtained a grant from the Merrimack to the Kennebec river, 
 bounded by the ocean, and extending back to the great river of 
 Canada. In 1G28 Sir Henry Roswell and others received a grant, 
 in width from three miles north of the Men-imack river to 
 three miles south of the Charles, bounded on the Atlantic, and 
 extending back to the western ocean ; and it was under this 
 grant that the Massachusetts settlers held their possessions. 
 
 The next year, 1629, John Mason received a grant extending 
 " from the middle of Piscataqua river and up the same to the 
 farthest head thereof, and from thence north-westward, until six- 
 ty miles from the mouth of the harbor were finished; also 
 through Merrimack river to the farthest head thereof, and so 
 forward up into the land westward until sixty miles were fin- 
 ished ; and from thence to cross overland to the end of the sixty 
 miles accounted from the Piscataqua river; together with all 
 islands within five leagues of the coast." f Now it is obvious 
 that grants so profuse and inconsistent could not all stand, and 
 out of the two last mentioned grew the controversy between 
 New Hampshire and Massachusetts, which lasted nearly a cen- 
 tury, and Avas renowned for its acrimony and bitterness. A 
 generation passed away, a new generation took it up, and thus 
 it was carried along till terminated by royal authority. I have 
 already stated that within thirty years of their arrival the in- 
 habitants of the Massachusetts colony were surveying land and 
 laying out farms in the valley o£ the Souhegan. Witliin the 
 period mentioned, settlements had extended up to Groton and 
 Chelmsford. From 1655 to 1665 the country was at peace with 
 
 *Palfrey's History of New England, vol. 1, pp. 397-8. 
 t Farmer's edition of Belknap, p. 8. 
 
6 
 
 the aborigines, and the tide of population rolled onward rapidly. 
 In addition to those on the Souhegan, grants were made on both 
 sides of" the Merrimack river, on the Nashua rivei', on Salmon 
 brook, on Penichuck pond, on Penichuck brook, and in other 
 localities, and, with their continuance, the grantees, and those 
 who desired to settle on the farms granted, felt the need of the 
 privileges and immunities of an incorporated township. In ac- 
 cordance therewith, in 1673, they petitioned the General Court 
 and Avere incorporated, the township being named Dunstable,* 
 and deriving its name from Dunstable in England, some of the 
 proprietors being from that place. It must have been some- 
 thing like fifteen miles from its eastern to its western boundary, 
 and more than twelve miles from its northern to its southern, as 
 it embraced the city of Nashua, the towns of Hudson, Hollis, 
 Tj'ngsborough, all of Amherst that lies south of the Souhegan, 
 all of Milford on the same side of that river, except a strip a 
 mile in width on the west side of the town, contiguous to the 
 towns of Wilton and Mason, all of Merrimack on the same side 
 of the same river, most of the town of Litchfield, and portions 
 of the towns of Londonderry, Pelham, Brookline, Pepperell, 
 and Townsend. At this time the north-western corner of the 
 county of Middlesex, Massachusetts, was on the south bank of 
 the Souhegan river, a few rods below the bridge recently erected 
 east of the Pine Valley Corporation, and the county maintained 
 its jurisdiction till 1741, when the boundary line between 
 Massachusetts and New Hampshire was determined, severing 
 Dunstable, and bringing about two thirds of the township 
 
 *The following; year the plantation was surveyed and its boundaries were as follows: 
 " It lietli upon both sides Merrimack river on the Nashua river. It is bounded on the 
 south by Chelmsl'ord, by Grotonline, and partly by country land. The westerly line runs 
 due uorth until you come to Souhegan river, to a hill called Dram-cup hill, to a great 
 plue near to the said river at the north-west corner of Charlestown school farm, bound- 
 ed by Souhegan river on the north; and on the east side of the Merrimack it begins at 
 a great stone which was supposed to be near the north-east corner of Mr. Breuton's 
 farm, and from thence it runs south-south-east six miles to a pine tree marked F, stand- 
 ing within sight of Beaver brook; then(;e it runs two degrees west of south four miles 
 and a quarter, which reached to the south side of Henry Kimball's farm at Jeremie's 
 hill; thence from the south-east angle of said farm it runs two degrees and a quarter 
 westward of the south near to the head of the long pond which lieth at the head of 
 Edward Colburn's farm. And thus it is bounded by the said pond and tlie head of said 
 Colburn's farm, taking in Captain Scarlett's farm so as to close again; all of which is 
 sufficiently bounded and described, — Proprietor's Records, 
 
within the jurisdiction of New Hampshire. This was very dis- 
 tasteful to many; nevertlieless, with the settlement of the prov- 
 ince line there was an improved condition of things. 
 
 Confidence was strengthened, the tide of settlers moved on- 
 ward, real property was in demand, and with the increase of 
 population petitions were numerous for a division of the New 
 Hampshire part of old Dunstable. Accordingly, in Ajjril, 1746, 
 the legislature of New Hampshire divided it, incorporating the 
 new town of Dunstable,* also Hollis, Merrimack, and 
 
 MONSON. 
 
 This last named town embraced within its limits most of the 
 present populous part of Milford on the south side of the Souhe- 
 gan river, all of Amherst on the same side of that river, and a por- 
 tion of the north-west part of Hollis. Col. Joseph Blanchardf 
 was authorized to call the first meeting of the inhabitants, Avhich 
 was held May 1, only thirty days after the date of the act of in- 
 corporation. At a subsequent meeting, held on the 27th of the 
 same month, Col. Joseph Blanchard, James Wheeler, and Rob- 
 ert Colburn were chosen a committee " to make the bound be- 
 tween the town of Hollis and the town of Monson." At the 
 same meeting it was also voted "that there be a pound created 
 and built near to the house of William Nevins upon the most 
 convenient piece of ground." The following petition from the 
 inhabitants was presented to the general assembly of New 
 Hampshire, under date of May 13, 1747. "The petition of the 
 inhabitants of the town of Monson, hereto subscribers, humbly 
 
 *In 1837 thfi name was changed to Nashua. In 1842 the town was divided, and the 
 north portion incorporated by the name of Nashville. In 1853 Nashville and Nashua 
 were consolidated and chartered as the city of Nashua. 
 
 t Col. Joseph Blanchard was son of Capt. Joseph and Abiah (Hassell) Blanchard ; was 
 born at Dunstable Feb. 11, 1704; married llebecca Hubbard; was an accomplished land 
 surveyor, and for several years was agent of the Masonian proprietors; was in 1740, by 
 mandamus, appointed one of the councillors of New HampsTiire, which position he sus- 
 tained till his death; commanded a regiment in the French war, and was in 1755 sta- 
 tioned at Fort Edward, Washington county, New Vork, one company of his command 
 being the famous Kogers rangers ; was also judge of the superior court from 1749 to 1758. 
 He died April 7, 1758, and his widow April 17, 1774. They had thirteen children, among 
 whom was Augustus Blanchard, Esq., who died in 31ilford in 1809, having been clerk of 
 the south-west parish ten years, town clerk for the tirst ten years alter the town was in- 
 corporated, and a representative of the town to the general court. 
 
8 
 
 slieweth, that the said town is lately begun to settle, and but 
 about fifteen families tliere ; that they are one of the frontier 
 towns west of iMerriniack river, and the most northerly one al- 
 ready incorporated lying between Ilollis and the new plantation 
 called Souhegan West; that could we be assisted by soldiers, 
 such competent number as might enable us to defend ourselves, 
 shall cheerfully endeavor to stay there, by which we shall serve 
 as a barrier in part to HoUis, Merrimack, and Dunstable ; that 
 the last year we were favored by soldiers from Massachusetts* 
 that prevented or drawing off; that should the war be j^ur- 
 sued by the enemy as vigorously as -last year (unless we are 
 favored by some assistance from the government), we humbly 
 apprehend it would be too great presumption to venture our- 
 selves and families there ; that it will be very ruinous to your 
 petitioners to leave their settlements and tlie frontier widened, 
 and for a necessary defence will require a greater number of 
 soldiers than to assist us there. Wherefore your petitioners 
 pray that a guard for two garrisons and a small scout on our 
 front may be granted to us. James Wheeler, William Nevens, 
 William Colburn, Robert Colburn, Jonathan Taylor, Samuel Le- 
 man, Samuel Leman, jr., Abraham Leman, Thomas Nevens, 
 Benjamin Hopkins, Isaac Farwell, Stephen Haselton, John 
 Burns, Thomas Murdow." 
 
 Upon the foregoing petition, and a similar one from Souhegan 
 West, the assembly gave orders for enlisting or impressing fif- 
 teen good effective men, under proper officers, to scout and 
 guard Souhegan West and Monson till the twenty-third day of 
 October next if need be, and that said men be shifted once a 
 month. 
 
 In 1748, Dunstable, Merrimack, Hollis, Nottingham, and Mon- 
 son united in the choice of a representative to the general as- 
 sembly, the session to be holden at Portsmouth on the third day 
 of the next January. The town this year voted to raise £60 
 old tenor for the use of highways, "one half to be done in June, 
 at twenty shillings per day for a man and eight shillings per day 
 
 *It seems from the tenor of this petition tliat Massacliusetts granted military aid to 
 this infant settlement five years after it had been adjudged within the jurisdiction of 
 New Hampshire. 
 
for a pair of oxen ; the otlicr lialf to be done in September, at 
 fifteen sliillings per day for a man, and the same price as in June 
 for a pair of oxen." 
 
 In 1749 the annual meeting was at the house of Mr. Tliomas 
 Nevins. Tlie fifth article in the warrant was "to see if the town 
 will agree to tax the lands within the whole township for the 
 use of preaching." At the meeting the town voted to dismiss 
 this article. At the same meeting a road two rods wide 
 was laid out from opposite Souhegan bridge, commonly called 
 Lyon's bridge,* up the river through the farms of Madam Tall- 
 er, Col. Joseph Blanchard, Benjamin Hopkins, and others. f 
 
 1750. At the annual meeting this year, Benjamin Hopkins, 
 Robert Colburn, and Nathan Hutchinson were chosen a com- 
 mittee to adjust the boundary line between Monson and HoUis, 
 and the town again declined to tax the lands within the whole 
 township for the support of preaching. 
 
 1751. " Voted that the road from Nathan Hutchinson's land 
 to Mr. Ho] (kins' house be discontinued, or shut np for a time, 
 without the inhabitants please to put np good gates or good 
 bandy bars." 
 
 1753. At the annual meeting this year the second article in 
 the warrant was "to see if the town would raise a sum of money 
 for a school ; the third, to see if it would tax the lands for build- 
 ing a meeting-house; and the fourth, to raise money for the sup- 
 port of highways," — all of which articles were decided in the 
 negative. The boundary line between the town and Hollis 
 seems not to have been settled, as at this meeting the matter 
 was referred to the selectmen. 
 
 The following petition, in substance, was presented to the 
 general assembly of New Hampshire by the selectmen : — 
 "Whereas, the inhabitants of Monson have received a late 
 order to render into tlie oftice of the secretary of state an 
 invoice of their polls and estates in order for apportioning the 
 
 *In the early settlement of the country the bridge over the river near the Amherst 
 railroad station was called Lyon's bridge, and derived its name from Ebenezer Lyon, 
 who lived near it as early as 1748, and who died in 1798, aged 88 years. 
 
 t Widow Abagail Tailer, of Boston, at this time owned a farm of 300 acres in the 
 neighborhood of the East Milford railroad flag station, Col. Joseph Blanchard another 
 between that and where the present village in Itlili'ord is now located, and Benjamiu 
 Hopkins owned the Charlestown school farm. 
 
10 
 
 taxes, Avliich we liave done, and would further beg leave to re- 
 monstrate our infancy and inability to bear any part of the pub- 
 lic burden at present ; that there is but thirty-six polls in the 
 whole, several of them being transiently hired to labor for a 
 short space of time ; that there are but twenty-one houses, chief- 
 ly small cottages, only for a present shelter, the charge of build- 
 ing yet to come ; that the householders are all plain men, 
 dwelling in tents, husbanding their employments, their im- 
 provements very small, their lands unsubdued, their progress 
 much retarded by their necessity to Avork out of town during 
 tlie prime of the year, or at other business to procure provisions, 
 and, though the town is a part of old Dunstable, it has till now 
 been a portion and remained a total wilderness; that till within 
 a few years the owners were under no obligation to settle the 
 lands that were very recently granted to gentlemen in farms, 
 by which means the few settlers are scattered all about the 
 town, and that much labor has and must be spent in opening 
 and making roads, bridges, &c., that are of present necessity a 
 burden too lieavy for the small, weak number that is there; that 
 in the late war they were at the expense of garrisoning, scouting, 
 and defending themselves, besides many other charges they 
 must have and must go through ; so therefore apprehend them- 
 selves utterly unable to bear any part of the public taxes as yet; 
 but hope their small beginning in time may become useful, if 
 they may be nursed and favored now in their infancy. Where- 
 fore your petitioners pray that they may be considered in their 
 infant and chargeable state, and that they may not be taxed till 
 they are of ability to go througli their own necessary charge, 
 and when that shall be, they will cheerfully contribute accord- 
 ing to their power." 
 
 1754. This year John Shepard,* William Peabody, Andrew 
 Bradford, Israel Towne, Archelaus Williams, Richard Gould, 
 Thomas Williams, John Hutchinson, John Edmonds, and others, 
 
 ♦John Shepard then resided within the present limits of the village in Milford,onthe 
 north side of Souhegan river, wliere Mr. John Marvell now lives; William Peabody on 
 the old Peabody farm, farther up the river on tlie same side, late the property of the 
 late T T. Farnsworth and Israel Towne, within tlie present limits of Amherst, on the 
 farm owned by Abel and Frank W. Chase. The iirayer of the petitioners would have 
 annexed to Monson a strip of territory about seven miles in length by two in width, 
 and would have included nearly the whole of Amherst plain. 
 
11 
 
 petitioned the governor and council to be annexed to Monson. 
 They represented themselves substantially as inhabitants of a 
 tract of land north of and adjoining Monson, lying within no in- 
 corporation, town, or district; that the town of Monson is situ- 
 ated in length, east and west, near eight miles, in breadth but 
 about four miles, and is bounded on the northerly side by Sou- 
 hegan river, both sides of which river are generally fruitful and 
 profitable land for corn and grass ; that if the town of Monson 
 were enlarged on the north so as to add and include the follow- 
 ing tract of land — beginning at the north-east corner of Monson, 
 on Souhegan river, and running north by the line of Merrimack 
 two miles, then begin the west station at the north-west corner 
 of Monson and run thence north two miles, then in a straight 
 line to the end of the two miles first mentioned — which would 
 be an addition of about seven thousand acres, and would make 
 the town about five and one half miles in width generally ; that 
 the said river is small ; that many bridges are now and must 
 continue to be kept in repair, so that the river is no incon- 
 venience to this union ; that it will be for the accommodation of 
 Monson, and that several of the petitioners have for many 
 years been settled here, and have made their improvements at 
 heavy expense ; that they have not had the benefit of any in- 
 corporation in any town, nor do they see any present prospect 
 of incorpoi'ation unless they are annexed to Monson. 
 
 1755. At the annual meeting this year the question of taxing 
 the land for building a meeting-house was again agitated, and 
 again decided iit the negative. 
 
 1756. At this annual meeting the question was again raised, 
 and again decided in the negative, and an effort to raise a sum 
 of money for a school part of the year was also decided in the 
 negative. Before the close of the year, however, a special meet- 
 ing was called to fix upon a place for locating the meeting-house, 
 and it was decided to set it in the most convenient place, near 
 the centre of the town.* 
 
 1758. The annual meeting this year was held at the house of 
 Archelaus Towne, innholder. The third article in the warrant 
 
 ♦Tradition points to a locality on the northerly slope of Duncklee hill as the place 
 fixed upon, and it still retains the name of " the meeting-house lot." 
 
12 
 
 was " to see if the town will vote to tax the lands of residents 
 and non-residents for building a meeting-house," which question 
 at the meeting was decided in the negative. The fifth article 
 in said warrant was "to see if the town will come into any 
 agreement with Capt. Shepard concerning the one half of his 
 bridge, or allow him some satisfaction for the same." On this 
 article it was voted to allow Capt. Shepard some satisfaction for 
 one half of his bridge, and James Wheeler, Benjamin Ilerrick, 
 and Nathan Hutchinson were chosen a committee to adjust 
 the matter. At a subsequent meeting this year it was voted to 
 raise £250 old tenor for the use of highways, £70 to pay Capt. 
 Shepard for one half of his bridge over the river at his mill, and 
 £1G to William Jones for plank put on said bridge. The £250 
 for highways was never raised, the inhabitants at a later meet- 
 ing reconsidering the vote. 
 
 1759. Tlie town again voted not to tax the lands for building 
 a meeting-house. Chose William Jones and Josiah Crosby to 
 inspect the deer. 
 
 1760. Voted to petition the governor and council of the 
 province to set off or annex the land on the south side of Mon- 
 son to Hollis, and to annex such part of Souhegan West to the 
 remainder of Monson as will be sufficient to maintain the gos- 
 pel, and other charges incident to towns. 
 
 1761. Voted to raise £100 old tenor to defray town charges ; 
 declined to tax the lands for building a meeting-house; voted to 
 grant the petition of Hollis that a mile and one half, or there- 
 abouts, be set off agreeable to the petition of said Hollis; and 
 dismissed the article relative to fixing a place to locate the 
 meeting-house. 
 
 176o. Benjamin Hopkins, John Burns, Joseph Gould, John 
 Burns, jr., Thomas Burns, and George Burns, at the annual 
 meeting, protested against a division of the town. The voters, 
 however, sustained their former position ; also, voted to raise 
 £300 old tenor for the support of preaching; each person to pay 
 their money where they hear. 
 
 1764. Voted to sink the £300 old tenor raised last March for 
 the support of preaching. The fourth article in the warrant 
 this year was "to see if the town would agree to build a meet- 
 
13 
 
 ing-hoase, and fix upon a place to set it," which artyjle was de- 
 cided in the negative. The fifth was "to see if the town would 
 raise a sum of money to hire preaching," which was also decided 
 in the negative. The sixth was "to see if the town would raise 
 a sum of money in order to make satisfaction to the towns of 
 Hollis and Amherst for the privilege of worshipping with them." 
 For this purpose it was voted to raise £400 old tenor. The 
 seventh article was "to see if the town would provide one or 
 more burial-places in the town," which article was dismissed* 
 The tenth article was "to see if the town would be at the charge 
 of making another road where Mr. Benjamin Hopkins has flowed 
 the town road, or take a course of law with him for damages." 
 Upon this article the town voted to take a course of law, and 
 appointed the selectmen to prosecute the suit. On the 12th of 
 September this year another town meeting was held, at which 
 it was voted to build a meeting-house, to petition the general 
 court for a tax upon the lands of residents and non-residents for 
 building the same, and Benjamin Hopkins, Nathan Hntchinson, 
 and Josiah Crosby were chosen a committee to carry the matter 
 to the general court. 
 
 17G5. At the annual meeting this j'^ear the fourth article in 
 the M'arrant was " to see if the town will vote to tax the lands of 
 residents and non-residents to build a meeting-house and settle a 
 minister, and if not, to nullify and make void the former vote for 
 that purpose." The proposition to erect a meeting-house and 
 settle a minister was not sustained. The town this year voted 
 to raise £250 old tenor to defray town charges. 
 
 1767. The town voted this year that the money raised in the 
 year 1764, and assessed for the towns of Hollis and Amherst, 
 should not be collected. 
 
 1769. The town declined to raise money for the support of 
 highways. 
 
 1770. On the ninth day of April a special meeting was called, 
 when it was voted that the town be divided between Hollis and 
 Amherst, both of these towns having assented to the arrange- 
 ment. The division was as follows, viz. : Beginning at the 
 north-east corner of Monson, and running south by the line of 
 Merrimack two miles, then due west to the west line of Monson, 
 
14 
 
 then nortlt to Souhegan river, then down said river to the 
 bound first mentioned to be annexed to Amherst, the remainder 
 to Ilollis. By this arrangement Amherst acquired its first ter- 
 ritory on the south side of tlie Souhegan river. Tlie reason 
 assigned fi^r a division in the petition of Monson* to the govern- 
 or and council was, " that the hind in and about the centre of 
 said Monson is so A-ery poor, barren, broken, and uneven, as can- 
 not admit of many settlers, so that those families that are in 
 town are almost all planted in the extreme parts of it. We 
 therefore conceive that if a division were made, as above men- 
 tioned, the interest and good of the people in it would be much 
 promoted thereby, especially as we have no prospect of ever 
 building a meeting-house, in the centre or elsewhere, any way, 
 to accommodate us, by which difiiculty we think the gosi)el will 
 not be settled amongst us while in the present situation." Thus 
 was Monson blotted out, after an existence of twenty-four years. 
 For the last tw^elve years of her continuance, her annual 
 
 -TOWN CLERKS AND SELECTMEN OF THE TOWN OF MONSON. 
 
 1746. 
 1747. 
 1748. 
 1749. 
 1750. 
 1751. 
 1752. 
 17.53. 
 1754. 
 1755. 
 1756. 
 1757. 
 1758. 
 1759. 
 1760. 
 1761. 
 1762. 
 1763. 
 1764. 
 1765. 
 1766. 
 1767. 
 1768. 
 1769. 
 1770. 
 
 Town Clerk. 
 Robert Colburn, 
 Robert Colburn, 
 Robert Colburn, 
 Robert Colburn, 
 Robert Colburn, 
 Robert Colburn, 
 Robert Colburn, 
 Robert Colburn, 
 Robert Colburn, 
 Robert Colburn, 
 Benjamin Kenrick. 
 Robert Colburn, 
 Robert Colburn, 
 Benjamin Kenrick, 
 Benjamin Kenrick, 
 Benjamin Kenrick, 
 Benjamin Kenrick, 
 Benjamin Kenrick, 
 Robert Colburn, 
 Benjamin Kenrick, 
 Benjamin Kenrick, 
 ArclielausTovvne, 
 Archelaus I'owne, 
 Archelaus Towne, 
 Benjamin Kenrick, 
 
 First Selectman. 
 Benjamin Hopkins, 
 Benjamin Hopkins, 
 Robert Colburn, 
 Benjamin Hopkins, 
 Benjamin Hopkins, 
 Robert Colburn, 
 Benjamin Hopkins, 
 Benjamin Hopkins, 
 Benjamin Hopkins, 
 Benjamin Kenrick, 
 Benjamin Kenrick, 
 Robert Colburn, 
 Robert Colburn, 
 Benjamin Keniick, 
 Robert Colburn, 
 Benjamin Kenrici:, 
 Nathan Hutchinson 
 Benjamin Kenrick, 
 Robert Colburn, 
 Benjamin Hopkins, 
 Benjamin Kenrick, 
 Archelaus Towne, 
 Archelaus Towne, 
 Arclielaus Towne, 
 Benjamin Kenrick, 
 
 Second Selectman. 
 Robert Colburn, 
 Robert Colburn, 
 Benj. Hopkins, 
 Robert Colburn, 
 Robert Colburn, 
 William Nevins, 
 Robert Colburn, 
 IJobert Colburn, 
 Robert Nevins, 
 Robert Colburn, 
 John Brown, 
 Benjamin Kenrick 
 Jolin Blown, 
 Jonathan Taylor, 
 Benj. Hopkins, 
 William Nevins, 
 , William Nevins, 
 Daniel Kenrick, 
 Nat'n Hutchinson, 
 William Nevins, 
 William Nevins, 
 Robert Colburn, 
 Josiah Crosby, 
 Joseph Gould, 
 William Nevins, 
 
 Tliird Selectman. 
 William Nevins. 
 William Nevins. 
 Samuel Leman. 
 Samuel Leman. 
 Nathan Huichinson. 
 Nathan Hutchinson. 
 William Nevins. 
 Benjamin Farley. 
 "William Nevins. 
 William Nevins. 
 William Jones. 
 , John Brown. 
 William Nevins. 
 Thomas Nevins. 
 Benjiimin Kenrick. 
 Natlian Hutcliinson. 
 Robert Colburn. 
 Josiah Crosby. 
 William Nevins. 
 Benjamin Kenrick. 
 Natlian Hutchinson. 
 Josiah Crosby. 
 Daniel Kenrick. 
 Thomas Burns. 
 Josiah Crosby. 
 
15 
 
 meetings were held at the house of Archelaus Towne * inn- 
 holder. 
 
 She had no public structure except a pound. She resolutely 
 refused to raise money for the support of schools, and while she 
 occasionally, at a special meeting, voted in favor of the first 
 steps towards public religious instruction, at her annual meet- 
 ings she invariably negatived such vote. A century has passed 
 since her demise, and but for the recent findingf of a portion of 
 her records, but few j^ersons of to-day would know that she ever 
 existed. 
 
 1771. Tlie harmony that prevailed last year, when annexation 
 was so popular, was not of long continuance, for in January of 
 this year about thirty of the most prominent of those tlint were 
 last year annexed petitioned the governor and council for a 
 division of Amherst. They recite in their petition, — "Tliat the 
 town of Amherst is about nine miles in length, by reason that 
 about half the town of Monson was of late annexed to it, and 
 is capable of being divided into two towns or parishes without 
 prejudice to or spoiling the same; that many of us live in that 
 part of Amherst which was lately Monson, and our being an- 
 nexed to said Amherst was contrary to our desire and interest ; 
 that we are so remote from the centre of Amherst that it is, 
 and ever will be, with great expense, inconvenience, and diffi- 
 culty to us and our families to attend public worship, by reason 
 of the distance ; that many of our estates are not so valuable 
 by reason of our being annexed to Amherst, for before that our 
 
 ♦Archelaus Towne, son of Israel and Grace (Gardner) Towne, was born at Topsfield, 
 Mass., in 17.34; came to Souhegau West with his father at the a{;e of about six jears; 
 married Martha, born July 24, 1737, daughter of Ephraim Abbott. They resided in 
 Monson, at what is now known as Dauforth's Corner, in Amheist, where he kept a tav- 
 ern for several years. They had seven children. His wife died in 1773, after which he 
 raised a company, took command of it, joined tlie continental army, and died at Fish- 
 kill, N. y., in November, 1779. He was a man large of stature, of great physical 
 strength and power ot endurance, fond of the hardship and excitement of frontier life, 
 a natural leader, and one that commanded the confidence of his associates. — Narrative 
 of Jonathan Towne, wh» died at Milford Dec. 31, 1842, in the 89th year of his age. 
 
 tThe Hon. Samuel T. Worcester, of Nashua, being engaged in the preparation of an. 
 article upon the early history of Hollis, was informed by his brother, tlie Hon. John N. 
 Worcester, of Hollis, that there formerly existed, in the town clerk's office of that 
 town, records relating to Monson. This led the former to procure the nearly worn out 
 volume, have what remained of it bound, and put in condition to prevent further im- 
 mediate waste. 
 
16 
 
 situation was nigh the centre of Monson, and on that account 
 purcliased our binds at a dear rate, and Monson being annihi- 
 lated, our situation is more inconvenient than before." 
 
 Amherst folloAved with a counter petition, in wliicli it was 
 stated, — " Tliat for more than twenty years bast past a number 
 of persons living on those lands lately known l)y the name of 
 Monson, but more lately joined to Amherst, not having a min- 
 ister settled among them nor accommodation sufficient for that 
 purpose, as they said, very constantly attended the worship of 
 God with us in said Amherst, not doing anything with us 
 towards our meeting-house, nor towards the support of our 
 minister, except some small private donations made to our 
 minister. However, they repeatedly requested our town to 
 consent to receive them, promising to meet at any place that 
 the major part of the people should fix to build a house on, 
 whereupon our town, after repeated solicitations to receive 
 them, gave their consent. And your excellency and honors, 
 some time in July last, saw fit to aggregate about one half of 
 said Monson to said Amherst. Soon after, our town saw it nec- 
 essary to build a meeting-house, and voted to do it, our present 
 meeting-house being small and insufficient for the old town and 
 said new addition. The most of the people of the new addition 
 were present, and some voted in the affirmative, some in the 
 negative ; but they began to think that the charter subjected 
 them to the same duties with us of the old town, tliat they 
 must defray some part of the charges of building and so forth, 
 and not only so, but must do sometliing towaixls supporting 
 our minister. These reflections aiFected some of them very 
 sensibly. They had not been acquainted with anything of the 
 kind. They were ready to construe it as a degree of persecu- 
 tion and the like. And to remedy this evil they are about peti- 
 tioning to have our town, as it now lies, divided into two 
 l^arishes, which we think can not be done without a manifest 
 injury to more than three quarters of the town. A very consid- 
 erable quantity of land in our town is barren ^nd poor, and will 
 not admit of two parishes ; besides, it lies in such a situation by 
 I'eason of a river and hills, that the whole of tlie people may 
 more conveniently meet at one jilace, the place pitched upon, 
 than at any two places in the town." 
 
17 
 
 No action was taken by the state authorities upon cither of 
 these petitions, and quiet seems to liave been restored. The 
 new meeting-house was built and dedicated, tlie Avorshi})pers 
 gathered in this new sanctuary froni all parts of the town, and 
 the continuous exercises of yesterday and to-day, after the lapse 
 of a century, are a fitting recognition of that event. 
 
 THE SOUTH-WEST PARISH. 
 
 In the year 1782 forty-seven persons, as follows, viz.. 
 
 Nathan Hutchinson, 
 Andrew Bradford, 
 Josiah Crosby, 
 Sampson Crosby, 
 James Gilman, 
 Thomas Burns, 
 Isaac Abbott, 
 Elisha Hutchinson, 
 Benjamin Hutchinson, 
 Josiah Crosby, Jr., 
 John Wallace, 
 Stephen Crosby, 
 Augustus Blanchard, 
 John Burns, 
 William Crosby, 
 Joiin Bradford, 
 Thaddeus Grimes, 
 Israel Burnham, 
 John Grimes, 
 Nathan Hutchinson, Jr., 
 Bartholomew Hutchinson, 
 David Burnham, 
 Arthur Graham, 
 
 William Wallace, 
 Ebenezer Averill, 
 Moses Averill, 
 Joshua Burnham, 
 Stephen Burnham, 
 Jonathan Hutchinson, 
 Abner Hutchinson, 
 William Peabody, 
 Elijah Averill, 
 Ebenezer Hopkins, 
 Jonathan Grimes, 
 George Burns, 
 William Grimes, 
 Darius Abbott, 
 Samuel How, 
 Jonathan Towne, 
 Plenry Codman, 
 William Melendy, 
 Samuel Dodge, 
 Bartholomew Towne, 
 Benjamin Hopkins, Jr., 
 Benjamin Conant, 
 Benjamin Hopkins, 3d, 
 
 Samuel Graham, 
 were constituted the third or south-west parish in Amherst, 
 " for transacting ministerial affairs only." The reason assigned 
 by the incorporators for the formation of this parish was, that 
 their local situation rendered it impracticable for some of them 
 and many of their children to give a general attendance at the 
 • 2 
 
18 
 
 etated place of public worship, and, furtlier, that they conceived 
 they could well be spared, there being about three hundred 
 ratable polls taxed to the first parish. There was no boundary 
 to the new parish, neither were the members exempt from 
 former obligations, one condition being, that nothing in its or- 
 ganization should be construed to exempt any of said ])arish- 
 ioners, their polls or estates, from paying their just proportion of 
 all ministerial charges already arisen in said town of Amherst, 
 nor from the future support, according to contract, of the Rev. 
 Daniel Wilkins, the late minister of said town then living.* 
 The date of incorporation was November 23, and the first meet- 
 ing was held at the house of Thaddeus Grimes, on the four- 
 teenth day of the next January. At this meeting Capt. Nathan 
 Hutchinsonf was chosen moderator; Augustus Blanchard, cl«rk 
 and treasurer ; Augustus Blanchard, Lieut. Thomas Burns, and 
 Capt. John Bradford, assessors; and Benjamin Hutchinson, col- 
 lector; — and it was " voted to build a meeting-house of the same 
 size and bigness the nortli-west parish hath built, except the 
 porches," and that Lieut. Darius Abbott, Capt. Josiah Crosby, 
 and Capt. Andrew Bradford be a committee to provide timber, 
 boards, and shingles, and let the same out at public vendue to 
 the lowest bidder." At the first annual meeting of the parish, 
 liolden at the house of Thaddeus Grimes, iunholder, on the 
 fourth day of March, 1783, it was voted to raise £32 4s. to dis- 
 charge the expense of the parish being set off, £95 to be laid 
 out in purchasing timber, boards, shingles, and other materials 
 for building the meeting-house, £15 to pay for preaching the 
 current year, and that Capt Nathan Hutchinson, Lieut. Thomas 
 Burns, and Capt. John Bradford be a committee to hire preach- 
 ing. Later in the same year another meeting was called to 
 
 *The Rev. Daniel Wilkins at this time was aged and infirm, had been settled up- 
 wards of forty years, and lived only three months after the formation of this parish, 
 dying February 11, 1783, in the seventy-third year of his age. 
 
 t Capt. Nathan Hutchinson, a very active and etiicient man in town and pari.sh 
 affairs, was son of Benjamin and Sarah (TarboU) Hutchinson, of Bedford, Middlesex 
 county, Mass., and married Rachel Stearns. In 1744 he purcliased of Benjamin Hop- 
 kins one hundred acres of land, near the centre of the Charlestown school farm, — 
 bounded north by the river, south by the south line of said farm, of equal width at 
 each end, also bounded by a black oak on Saddle hill. He came here from Billerica 
 in June, 1748, located on Elm street, where B. D. Searles now resides, and died June 12, 
 1795, aged 78 years. His widow died on the 25th of July, in the same year, aged 
 76 years. , 
 
19 
 
 make choice of a place Avhere the meeting-house should be 
 erected, and make provision for clearing the same. After ad- 
 journing from the house of Mr. Grimes to the place regarded as 
 the most desirable location, it was voted that the house should 
 stand about twenty rods south of Shepard's bridge, on a rise of 
 ground. This vote would have located the meeting-house on 
 what are now the premises of Doctor S. S. Stickney. At a meet- 
 ing held still later this year, Capt. Nathan Hutchinson, John 
 Wallace, and John Burns were chosen a committee to ])rocure 
 stone for underpinning the meeting-house, and Joshua Burnham 
 was authorized to purchase a "parish book." 
 
 At the annual meeting, holden March 2, 1784, it was voted to 
 proceed with the meeting-house, and to begin to frame it the 
 first Monday in June, and raise it as soon as possible. Cnpt. 
 Nathan Hutchinson, Capt. Josiah Crosby, and Capt. Andrew 
 Bradford were chosen a committee to see that the meeting-house 
 is framed, underpinned, and raised. It was also voted to raise 
 £30 towards the expense of the meeting-house — £20 to pay for 
 preaching; that three shillings per day be allowed each man for 
 work on the meeting-house, — the laborer to board himself; and 
 that any person who shall hei-eafter join the parish, shall be 
 exempt from any tax raised, to raise, board, and shingle the 
 meeting-house. For some reason, not discernible at this time, 
 the location that had been fixed upon did not prove satisflictory, 
 for, at a special meeting held on tiie 15th day of June, it was 
 decided that it should be located about ten rods north-west from 
 the former place, between two pitch pine stumps; that Augustus 
 Blanchard, Lieut. Thomas Burns, Joshua Burnham, Capt. John 
 Bradford, and Lieut. Benjamin Hutchinson, be a committee to 
 carry on the work, and that said committee provide one barrel of 
 rum, two barrels of cider, and one quarter of sugar for the rais- 
 ing. Thus, it would seem that the meeting-house was raised in 
 the summer of 1784, for, on the second day of September of this 
 year, a special meeting was called, and the second article in the 
 warrant was to see if the parishioners would board, shingle, or 
 finish any part of the meeting-house frame, — when it was A'Oted 
 to board and shingle it; that it be boarded with square edged 
 boards, and that the boarding and shingling be let to the lowest 
 bidder at vendue. At the same meeting, it was voted to raise 
 
20 
 
 £40 to defray the expense of furthur finishing the meeting-house ; 
 and Lieut. Thomas Burns and Lieut. Darius Abbott were chosen 
 a committee to wait upon Governor Hopkins, and get the dona- 
 tion he hath offered to procure the nails. It was common among 
 our ancestors in Enghxnd, and continues to the present time, of 
 denominating the chief man, or the man at the head of promi- 
 nent movements or estabhsliments, as the governor;* and the 
 title, in this case, must liave been derived in this way. In 
 1659, the general court of Massachusetts granted to tlie town 
 of Charlestown 1,000 acres of land, from the unappropriated 
 lands of the province, for the support of a school. The next 
 year it was surveyed by that celebrated land surveyor, Jonathan 
 Danforth, of Billerica, and described thus: — "Laid out, for the 
 use of the school of Charlestown, one thousand acres of land, 
 more or less in the wilderness, on the western side of Merrimack 
 river, at a place commonly called by the Indians, Sowheaganucke, 
 beginning at the foot of a great hill, and so extending eastward 
 about two miles down said rivei', and bounded by the river on 
 the north, and by land laid out for Mrs. Anna Cole on the east, 
 the wilderness elsewhere surrounding according to marked 
 trees, all of wliich are sufficiently bounded with C, and is more 
 fully demonstrated by a platt taken of the same.'' f The title of 
 Indians was extinguished by deed, dated July 14, 1671.$ The 
 north-west corner of this tract of land was on the south bank of 
 the river, a few rods below the new bridge at Jones's crossing, 
 and was identical with the north-west corner of Old Dunstable, 
 the north-west corner of Middlesex county, Massachusetts, for 
 more than sixty years, and the north-west corner of the late 
 town of Monson. This tract extended down the river to the 
 present east line of the farm of William Ramsdell, and no more 
 attractive piece of land of the same magnitude exists in this 
 region. The town of Charlestown continued to own it till 
 May, 1743, when it was purchased by Benjamin Hopkins, of 
 Billerica, for £375, and as early as 1745 he resided on it. A 
 saw-mill is a necessity in a new settlement, and he early built 
 
 * Tilt' translators of the Bible observed it, in James 3:4. 
 
 t Mass. General Court Records. 
 
 X Middlesex County Registry of Deeds. 
 
21 
 
 one upon Whitehall brook, a little west of where the house of 
 Moses Proctor now stands ; and, if any one will proceed into 
 the field, about fifty rods northerly of the house of Luke Smith, 
 to a little point of land on the border of the brook, overlooking 
 the river and the intervale, and remove the turf, he will occa- 
 sionally find in the soil a small piece of brick or stone that has 
 once been in a chimney, a wall, or a fire-place, indicating that a 
 dwelling once stood there. It was on this spot in the wilder- 
 ness, with nothing to guide him but marked trees, that Mr. 
 Hopkins erected his bullet-proof dwelling — a kind of fort, built 
 of timber, to protect himself and family from the fierce beasts of 
 the forest, and fiercer men. On the north side of the river lived 
 William Peabody, John Shepard, and Israel Towne; on the 
 south side his nearest neighbor was in the west parish of Dun- 
 stable, now Hollis; and his oldest son married Anna Powers, 
 the first white child born in that town* Such is a brief out- 
 line of one who had, by universal consent, acquired the title of 
 Governor,! and who, after a residence of upwards of forty years in 
 the neighborhood, was making a donation to purchase the nails 
 for the new meeting-house. At a subsequent meeting, in No- 
 vember, it was voted to provide clapboards, door-steps, boards 
 for the lower floor, sashes, suitable stuff for window-frames, 
 and glass, and that Capt. Nathan Hutchinson, Capt. William 
 Peabody, and Capt. Josiah Crosby be a committee to provide 
 the materials voted, and see that they are delivered at the meet- 
 ing-house. 
 
 At the annual meeting holden on the 1st day of March, 1785, 
 it was voted to raise £50 to be laid out on the meeting-house, 
 and to raise £30 to hire preaching and defray parish charges. 
 On the 7th day of the same month there was a special 
 meeting called, and the second article in the warrant was to see 
 if the parishioners will build porches to the meeting-house, or 
 let any person or persons build the same for the ground the 
 same may save in the house. At this meeting it Avas voted to 
 build porches, and a committee was chosen for that purpose, 
 
 * Narrative of the venerable John Hopkins in 1840. 
 
 t He died June 11, 1787, aged 85 years; and his widow died July 30, 1792, aged 93 
 years. 
 
22 
 
 and instructed to have the work done as soon as tlie other out- 
 side work on the house was completed. At tlie same meeting 
 William Peabody, Benjamin Hopkins, and Joshua Burnhani 
 Avere chosen a committee to hire preaching the current year. 
 At another special meeting, held on the 25th of* April, Nathan 
 Hutchinson, Augustus Blanchard, and Thomas Burns were 
 chosen a committee to sell the pew-ground in the meeting- 
 house, at public vendue, to the highest bidder, and give proper 
 conveyances to the purchasers, and that the money arising from 
 the sale be laid out in further finisliing the meeting-house. It 
 was also voted to put in all the joist and braces in the meet- 
 ing-house not already in, and that John Burns be allowed 23 
 shillings lawful money for doing the same. 
 
 A still further special meeting was held on the 5th of Septem- 
 ber, when it was voted to lay the lower floor, and to let the 
 same out at vendue to the lowest bidder, and it was struck off 
 to Thomas Boynton at thirty-nine shillings. Thomas Burns, 
 Nathan Hutchinson, and John Wallace were chosen a commit- 
 tee to procure projier floor nails, see that the sills were properly 
 underpinned, and the floors laid in a good workmanlike man- 
 ner. On the 25th day of December, another special meeting 
 was held, when it was decided to have the sashes, window- 
 frames, doors, body seats, and stuff for the body seats, put up at 
 vendue, to be bid off by the lowest bidder. Nathan Hutchinson, 
 Caleb Jones, and Josiah Crosby Avere chosen a committee to 
 vendue the work off, to procure at the expense of the parish all 
 the necessary materials for doing the work, and to see that it 
 was done in a good workmanlike manner, — the work to be com- 
 pleted by the first day of next June. The sashes were bid ofl" 
 by Thomas Boynton, at 15s. 2d. old tenor; the window frames, by 
 David Chandler at 8s. lid.; front door, by Benjamin Conant at 
 20s.; the body seats and stufl' for the same, by Nathan Hutch- 
 inson. 
 
 A warrant was issued for an annual meeting to be held on the 
 7th day of March, 1786; the fourth article therein being to see 
 if the parishioners would finish the outside of the meeting-house 
 or any part thereof; and the fifth was to see if they would have 
 the £40, voted at the last annual meeting to be laid out on the 
 
23 
 
 meeting-liouse, assessed and collected ; but the records contain 
 no reference to this meeting. There was, however, a special 
 meeting held on the fourth of September in this year, when it 
 Avas voted to acce|)t the plan of Tem])le meeting-liouse porches 
 and build in the same form, and also voted to procure glass and 
 glazing materials for the meeting-house. At the annual meeting 
 in Miirch, 1787, there was no allusion to the meeting-house, but 
 £30 was voted for the su])port of preaching. At a meeting in 
 September of this year, a committee was chosen to get the glass 
 set, and the sashes put in the window-frames, and £10 was voted 
 to set the front-door steps, clear round the meeting-house, and 
 level the ground before said house. 
 
 The year 1788 was an eventful one in parish affairs. William 
 Crosby gave the parish the following described pieces of land, 
 viz. : " Beginning at the south-west corner of Shepard's bridge, 
 thence running southerly on the west side of the road leading 
 from said bridge to my house,* until it comes to the main road 
 that leads from my house to Wilton, to a stake and stones ; 
 from thence westerly on' the north side of said road about eight 
 rods to a white oak stump ; thence northerly to a black oak 
 tree marked, standing on the bank of Souhegan river; from 
 thence by said river to the place of beginning, being the land 
 the meeting-house stands on. Also, one other piece, to be ap- 
 propriated for a burying-ground, on the west part of my farm, 
 bounded as follows, viz. : Beginning at a large white pine tree 
 standing on the bank of the river a few rods north of the ditch 
 bridge (so called) ; from thence east thirteen rods to a stake 
 and stones ; from thence south twelve rods to a stake and 
 stones ; from thence west until it comes to the river ; and from 
 thence by the river to the bound first mentioned, containing 
 about one acre." These were parts of a tract of land of 500 
 acres granted in October, 1659, by the General Court of Massa- 
 chusetts to Mrs. Anna Cole. The record reads thus: "In 
 consideration of the liberal tjifts to the country in the will of 
 
 *The first house erected on Union square— was raised in 1783, was occupied early in 
 the present century by Dr. Robert Fuller, was known for many years as the old Fuller 
 house, stood where the town hall now stands, and was removed to make room for that 
 structure. 
 
24 
 
 Capt. Robert Keayne,* the whole court met together and voted," 
 &c. At the date of the grant she was the widow of Capt. 
 Keayne, but the next year became the wife of Samuel Cole. 
 This tract was bounded on the north by the river 350 rods, and 
 extended from the west line of the present farm of Matthias F. 
 Crosby on Elm street down the river, near to the steam-mill of 
 David Heald. In 1780, Josiah Crosby, in consideration of three 
 hundred bushels of grain, two thirds Indian corn and one third 
 rye, purchased 113 acres in the north-east corner of this tract, 
 extending on the river from near the steam-mill, before men- 
 tioned, up a little above the west corner of the old cemetery. 
 In 1782 he sold the same to his son William, and in the first of 
 these conveyances it is referred to as part of the tract belonging 
 to Mather Byles.f 
 
 * Robert Keayne, merchant of London, came over in the ship Defence in 1635, aged 
 40 years, with his wife Ann, aged 33 years, and son Benjamin, aged 16 years. He is 
 characterized by Winthrop as " a man of eminent parts, an ancient professor of the 
 gospel, coming over for its advancement and for conscience' salve, as wealthy, given to 
 hospitality, very useful to the country, and a large cofitributor to its free schools." He 
 was one of the founders and the first captain of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery 
 Company, was four times a representative of the town of Boston, and once speaker of 
 the House of Deputies. Notwitlistanding his virtues and usefulness, he became obnox- 
 ious on account of selling dearer than the law allowed, for which offence, after solemn 
 trial, he was convicted and fined .£250. His will occupies 148 folio pages of the probate 
 records of Suffolk county, Massachusetts, in which he vindicates his character with a 
 pathos indicative of a keen sense of the injustice to which he had been subjected, 
 adding "that though he had suflered enough from the public to tie up both his hands, 
 yet being desirous to requite evil with good, and though lie cannot forget, being willing 
 to forgive, and deeming it a want of gratitude to God for prosperous men to leave all 
 to wife, children, or relatives, and nothing to the public or to charity," he proceeds to 
 give il20) to objects of public use or private charity, included in which were i;250 to 
 Harvard college. 
 
 t Mather Byles was born in Boston, March 26, 1706, and on his mother's side was 
 descended from Richard Mather and John Cotton ; was graduated at Harvard Univer- 
 sity, in 1725, and ordained the first pastor of Hollis Street church in 1733. His first 
 wife was a niece of Governor Belcher, the second a daughter of Lieutenant-Governor 
 Tailer, and it is probable this land came to him by inheritance. He continued his pas- 
 torate till 1776, when, on account of disloyalty, the connection was dissolved and never 
 renewed. The next year he was denounced in town meeting, subsequently tried, 
 found guilty of attachment to the royal cause, sentenced to confinement, and with his 
 family to be sent to England. This sentence was never enforced, and he died in Bos- 
 ton, July 5, 1788, having received the degree of D. D. from Aberdeen University in 
 1765. 
 
 He was distinguished among his contemporaries for his wit, his solid learning, and 
 his excellent literary taste. Pope, Lansdowne, and Watts were his correspondents, and 
 many of his witticisms have come down to us. On one occasion, when required to 
 remain in his house under guard, he persuaded the sentinel to go on an errand for 
 
25 
 
 The month following the gift of tlie land, the parisli voted 
 "to ceil round the meeting-house as high as the windows; to 
 case, make, and hang the end-doors, lay the platforms for the 
 pews on the lower floor, and case tlie lower windows;" and the 
 south-west corner, from the front to the west door, including the 
 west door, ceiling, casing, and laying the platforms, was let to 
 Joshua Burnham for 39s. ; the south-east corner, from the front 
 door to the east door, including the east door, the ceiling, cas- 
 ing, and laying the platforms, was let, to Josiah Crosby for 41s.; 
 from the east door to the west door round the north side, the 
 ceiling, casing, and laying the platforms was let to John Wal- 
 lace for 51s.; the platforms for the pews in the inside square was 
 let to Jotham Shepard for 19s., the work being let by vendue to 
 the lowest bidder, the boards and nails for all the work and the 
 hinges for the doors to be found by the parish. At a special 
 meeting called in September, the parish further voted to finish 
 the whole meeting-house ; and Augustus Blanchard, Thomas 
 Burns, and Josiah Crosby were chosen a committee of tlie pew- 
 ground in the galleries, and lay the same before the parisli on the 
 29th inst., to which time the meeting was adjourned. At the ad- 
 journed meeting, the plan of the committee was accepted, and 
 they were authorized to sell the pews at public vendue to the 
 highest bidder, and apply the proceeds to the further finishing of 
 the house; and as it might be necessary to give the committee fur- 
 ther instructions, the meeting adjourned to the 13th of October. 
 At this meeting the pews were sold, and the stuif and material 
 for finishing the house " vendued" to the following persons, they 
 being the lowest bidders, namely, — to Josiah Crosby, jr., 2 M 
 laths at 7s. each, and 1 M feet merchantable boards at 18s.; 
 Augustus Blanchard, 2 hhds. lime at 24s. 6d. each ; Joseph Wal- 
 lace, 2 M laths at 7s. each ; Stephen Crosby, 3 M laths at 7s., 
 
 him, promising to perform sentinel's duty in his absence. To the great amusement of 
 his neiglibors he gravely marched before his own door with musket on his shoulder 
 till his keeper returned, and when inquired of in relation to his occupation, said he 
 was guarding Mather Byles. After his trial, in alluding to the fact that he liad been 
 put under guard, the guard removed, and then again replaced, he observed tliat he had 
 been guarded, re-guarded and disregarded. In 1780, on the celebrated dark day, a 
 lady who resided near the doctor sent her young son to him to know if he could 
 account for the uncommon appearance. His reply was, " Give my compliments to 
 your mamma, and fell her I am as much in the dark as she is." 
 
26 
 
 1 M feet boards at 18s., and 2 hhds. lime at 24s. each ; Isaac 
 Abbott, 2 M latlis at 7s. each, 3 hhds. lime at 24s.; Andrew 
 Bradford, jr., 1 M laths, 7s.; Caleb Jones, 1 M feet 1^ in. white 
 pine boards, 1 M feet incli do. — do. clear stuff for .the work in- 
 tended; Daniel Johnson, 1 M feet merchantable boards, 18s.; 
 Josiah Osgood, 1 M do., 18s., 2 corner girths, 12 by 14 inches; 
 Joshua Crosby, one half M white pine boards for ceiling, 9s. ; 
 Jacob Hale, .500 feet pine plank 2 in. thick 14 in. wide, IGs. ; 100 
 feet pine plank, 3 in. thick, 14 in. wide, at 4s. ; 400 slitwork, 3 by 
 4 in., at 8s., and hhd. lime, 25s.; hewed white pine timber, 6 by 
 7 in., suitable length for the gallery breast- work, sills for the 
 seats and studs at 8s. 6d. ; Thomas Burns, 2 hhds. lime, 25s. each. 
 
 In December the parish voted to agree with Mr. Thurston or 
 some other minister to preacli six months during the year next 
 ensuing. 
 
 At the annual meeting, in 1789, it was voted to raise £36 to 
 pay for jn-eaching and defray parish expenses; that twelve feet 
 in the front of the gallery be appropriated for a pew for the 
 singers ; that ten pounds be laid out in work round the meeting- 
 house, '• and that John Burns, Caleb Jones, and Benjamin 
 Conant be a committee to see the work done. In October it 
 was voted to enlarge the singers' pew, and that it be seventeen 
 feet, and no longer." At the annual meeting, the next year, it 
 was voted to build and sell two pews of six feet front each, at 
 each end of the singers' pew in the gallery, and that the pews 
 be built at the ex]iense of the parish. 
 
 In January, 1791, at a special meeting, the question of having 
 the parish set off by lines was agitated, and a committee was 
 appointed to treat with the first parish for the following lines, 
 viz., — " Begin at the north-east corner of Ebenezer Averill's 
 land, and running southerly, including Andrew and John Brad- 
 ford's intact, William Peabody's, the widow Shepard, Jotham 
 and Daniel Shepard and John Shepard, Esq., until it comes to 
 Souhegan river, then down said river to Merrimack west line, 
 including all belonging to Amherst, on the south side of said 
 river." At the annual meeting this year, it was voted to raise 
 £40 to pay for preaching, and to defray parish expenses ; but 
 there was nothing in the warrant relative to the parish being 
 
27 
 
 " set off by lines." In June, however, a special meeting was 
 calleil, when not only the question of the parish being set off by 
 lines was agitated, but the question of being set oif as 
 a separate town was considered, and it was voted to petition 
 the General Court, as soon as may be, to be set oft' by lines or a 
 separate town ; and a committee, consisting of Joshua Burnham, 
 Josiah Crosby, Augustus Blanchard, Thomas Burns, and Porter 
 Luramus, were appointed for that purpose, and £12 appropriat- 
 ed to pay their expenses.* 
 
 At the annual meeting, in 1792, it was voted to raise £60 to 
 pay for preaching, and defray parish expenses, and in June, of 
 this year, the parish was incorporated, by the name of .the south- 
 west parish, in Amherst, and boundaries fixed thereto. In 
 October, it was voted to sell the remaining pews at public ven- 
 due, apply the money arising from such sale to the i)ainting 
 and further finishing the meeting-house, and a committee was 
 appointed to give a title to the pews sold. At the annual meet- 
 ing, the next year, the parish voted to raise £55 to pay for 
 preaching, and to defray parish expenses, and that the funds 
 of former collectors be applied "to the further finishing and 
 painting the meeting-house," 
 
 Thus we see that it took upwards of ten years of continuous 
 struggle for the parishioners to complete their house of worship, 
 — a struggle that we of to-day can scarcely comprehend. Nearly 
 forty years since, a venerable man then living, one of the found- 
 ers of the church and an active worker in this enterprise, was 
 asked by the speaker what year the meeting-house was com- 
 pleted, to which he replied, " We scarcely knew when it was 
 completed ourselves, for at no time during the work did we have 
 any clear conception of what would constitute a finished house. 
 We worshipped in Col. Shepard's barn,t and when the meeting- 
 
 *The parish not only took this step to be set olT, but in October, 1793, voted to peti- 
 tion the General Court in connection with the mile slip, Duxbury school larm, and a 
 part of Uollis, to be set otT as a separate town, and in Jan., 1794, these several parcels 
 of territory were made a separate town, and incoiporated by tlie name of Milibrd. 
 
 t To us, worshipping in the comfortable if not luxurious houses of to-day, holding a 
 meeting in a barn seems an absurdity, — yet an inquiry into the practices of the early 
 settlers shows that this was no uncommon thing; and a sermon preached in the barn of 
 Major Cole, of Mont Veruou, by Kev. Mr. Coggin, of Clielmsford, Mass., upon the 
 importance of building a meeting-house iu that parish, was an effective instrumentality 
 in accomplishing that work. 
 
28 
 
 house was so far finished that we could hold meetings in it, we 
 thought we had accomplislied a great work. We were poor, our 
 means necessarily limited, frequently divided in council, and 
 nothing but the privilege, for ourselves and our children, of wor- 
 shipping God in his sanctuary could have held us together and 
 induced us to complete the work." Truly was it said yesterday, 
 in the excellent historical discourse to which most of us listened, 
 "people do not move into the forests, clear for themselves home- 
 steads in the solitudes of the wilderness, and take on themselves 
 the burden of building meeting-houses and sustaining ministers, 
 without deep convictions of the value of the gospel." 
 
 CHURCH ORGANIZED, 
 
 The church in this parish, denominated the third church in 
 Amherst, was organized by an ecclesiastical council, Nov. 19, 
 1788.* The council consisted of Jonathan Livermore,t Abiel 
 Fiske,t John Bruce,|| Moses Putnam, Ebenezer Rockwood, Rich- 
 ard Ward, Daniel Mansfield, and William Bradford. 
 
 In the proceedings of the council twelve persons are named 
 as constituting the church, viz. : 
 
 Organized. 
 
 Organized, 
 
 1763 
 
 Hancock, 
 
 17S8 
 
 1769 
 
 Wilfoid, 
 
 1788 
 
 1771 
 
 Weare, 
 
 1789 
 
 1771 
 
 Dee ring, 
 
 1789 
 
 1772 
 
 Greenfield, 
 
 1791 
 
 1772 
 
 Brookline, 
 
 1796 
 
 1773 
 
 Peterborough, 
 
 1799 
 
 1780 
 
 
 
 *Tlie clmrclies organized in Hillsborough county, previous to the commencement of 
 the present century, are as follows:— 
 Organized. 
 
 Nashua, 1685 Wilton, 
 
 Hudson, 1737 Hillsborough, 
 
 Amherst, 1741 Goffstown, 
 
 Litchfield, 1741 Temple, 
 
 Hollis, 1743 Merrimack, 
 
 Pelliam, 1751 Mason, 
 
 Lyndeborough, 1757 Francestown, 
 
 New Ipswich, 1761 Mont Vernon, 
 
 fRev. Jonathan Livermore, a native of Northborough, Worcester county, Mass., 
 born in 1739, was graduated at Harvard college in 1700; was the first minister of 
 Wilton, being ordained there in 1703. He sustained tlie pastoral relation in that place 
 about fifteen years, when he was dismis.sed, but did not leave town, remaining till his 
 death, which occurred July 20, 1809, aged 79 years. 
 
 tRev. Abel Fiske was born at Pepperell, Mass., May 28, 1752; was graduated at 
 Harvard college in 1774; taught the Grammar school, and studied divinity at Concord, 
 Mass.; was ordained at Wilton in November, 1778, and was pastor of the church till his 
 death, which took place April 21, 1802, at the age of 50 years. 
 
 llRev. John Bruce, the first minister in Mont VernoUj was born at Marlborough, 
 Mass., in 1757; entered Dartmouth college at the age of about twenty years; was gradu- 
 ated in 1781; was settled in 1785, and continued his pastorate till his death, which 
 occurred March 12, 1809. 
 
29 
 
 Steplien Buniiiam, Thomas Burns, 
 
 Caleb Jones, Jonatlian Townc, 
 
 Elisha Hutcliinson, Benjamin Conant, 
 
 John Wallace, Benjamin Hutchinson, 
 
 Joseph Wallace, William Melcndy, 
 
 Nathan Hutchinson, Jonathan Jones. 
 
 Attached to the covenant are seven additional names, viz.: 
 
 James Wallace, Letitia Wallace, 
 
 Hannah Bradford, Mary Wallace, 
 
 Mary Burnham, Betsy Wallace. 
 Sarah Hutchinson, 
 
 The first meeting was held at the house of William Crosby * 
 soon after the organization, when Elisha Hutchinson was chosen 
 Clerk, which office he held till his death. f At this meeting an 
 examining committee was chosen, and it was decided that 
 applicants for admission might relate their religious experience 
 verbally or in writing, and that no persons should be admitted 
 who would not come up to the standard of full communion. 
 The next year several meetings were held, but they related 
 solely to the discipline of a member. Then follows a period of 
 nearly six years in which no meeting seems to have been held, 
 at the expiration of which time the church and town concurred 
 in giving "Mr. Kiah Bailey" a call, the vote in the joint body 
 being forty-nine for, and thirty against. Subsequently, the 
 
 * William Crosby, the benefactor of the parish, — whose house seems to have been open 
 tor parish, church, and other meetings, whenever business vital to the welfare of the 
 body politic was to be considered, — was a descendant of Simon Crosby, aged 26 years, 
 who, with his wife Ann, aged 25 years, and tlieir sou Thomas, aged 8 weeks, and came to 
 this country in the ship Susan and Ellen in 1635 {" Founders of New England," page 22), 
 settled in Cambridge, near where Harvard college is now located, and was the son of 
 Josiah and Sarah (Fitch) Crosby, who came here from Billerica in 1753, and located on 
 the opposite side of the road near wliere the late Frederic Crosby lived. He was born 
 Jan. 29, 1758; married Sarah, daughter of John Shepard; and died esteemed and 
 respected, May 12, 1831, aged 73 years. His younger brother Asa, who was born July 15, 
 1765, and who died at Hanover, April 12, 1836, was the father of Hon. Nathan Crosby 
 of Lowell, Dr. Josiah Crosby of Manchester, the late Dr. Dixi ('rosby of Hanover, 
 Prof. Alpheus Crosby of Salem, and the late Trof. Thomas Russell Crosby of Hanover. 
 
 t Elisha Hutchinson, grandfather of the famous "Hutchinson family" of vocalists, 
 was the son of Joseph and Hannah (Richardson) Hutchinson ; was born at Middleton, 
 Essex county, Mass., Dec. 6, 1751; married Sarah, daughter of Amos and Mary Buxton 
 of Danvers; settled here, in 1779, on the farm, in the north part of the town, now in 
 possession of Dodge G. Hartshorn, and died Oct. 12, 1800, aged 49 years. 
 
30 
 
 town rion-concuned in the movement. The next year, 1796, 
 tlie cliurcli and the town concurred in giving Mr. Phincas Ran- 
 dall a call to settle with them in the work of the ministry, but 
 Mr. Randall did not accept. Then follows a period of nearly 
 two years, when no meeting was held, after which Rev. Abel 
 Fiske, of Wilton, Avas elected Standing Moderator, and a com- 
 mittee chosen to give information to the members whenever a 
 church meeting should be appointed by the moderator. About 
 this time the town voted, seventy-six to thirty-one, to give Mr. 
 Nath'l II. Fletcher* a call, but the church did not concur. At this 
 time the church had been organized nearly ten years, but 
 its existence must have been merely nominal. It could only 
 have lived in name, as no deacons had been chosen, nor mem- 
 bers admitted either by letter or by the profession of their 
 foith, and there is no record indicating that a communion season 
 had been observed. In March, 1798, the question of receiving 
 members by letters from other churches was considered, and in 
 April it was decided in the affirmative, and nineteen members 
 were thus received, five being from the church in Amherst, two 
 from the second church in Amherst, six from the church in 
 Wilton, three from the church in Billerica, two from the church 
 in Dracut, and one from the church in Durham. It was also 
 voted at the same meeting to have the sacrament of the Lord's 
 Supper administered twice during the coming season, and two 
 persons were appointed to wait on the table. Two additional 
 persons were also chosen for the purpose of conversing with 
 those who should apply for admission, and the moderator was in- 
 structed to call a meeting at any time, at the request of 
 any seven members. In August, 1799, a meeting was held to 
 consider the question of giving Mr. Micah Stone a call, but it 
 
 * Nathaniel Hill Fletcher, son of Deacon Abel and Abigail (Hildreth) Fletcher, was 
 born at Boxborough, Middlesex county, Mass., April 16, 1769; was graduated at Har- 
 vard University in 1793; received the honorary degree of A.M. at Brown University 
 in 1799; was settled at Wells, Me., in ISOO; was married February 8, 1801, to Sarah, 
 daughter of John Storer, of the same place; and, after a ministry of 27 years, resigned 
 his pastorate and returned to Boxborough, where he died Sept. 4, 1834. Several of 
 his sermons were publislied, among whicli was one delivered at Deerfleld, in this state, 
 in 1812, at the ordination of Kev. Nathaniel Wells; a Thanksgiving sermon, delivered in 
 Massachu.setts, in November of the same year; one delivered at the funeral of Rev. 
 Paul Cofliu, D. D., of Buxton, Me., June 8, 1821; and one on Christian communion, 
 ia 1827. 
 
31 
 
 was regarded as inexpedient. In the year 1800 ^ho clnirch, 
 fifteen of the nineteen members present, voted to invite Mr. 
 Thomas Beede to become their pastor, and the town concurred, 
 proposing $566 as a settlement to be paid within one year after 
 the ordination, an annual salary of $383 while he supplied the 
 desk, and |110 annually during his residence in town, after he 
 should be unable to supply the desk ; and the next year a 
 unanimous call of the church was extended to Mr. Joshua Lane. 
 It would be interesting at the present time to know what were 
 the hindrances to the settlement of the various candiilates, and 
 how the matter in each case was treated by the parties in in- 
 terest ; but the I'ecords are silent on the subject. 
 
 In March, 1802, the church, nineteen members being present, 
 invited Kev. Humphrey Moore to settle with them in the gospel 
 ministry. The town concurred, in April, and chose a commit- 
 tee of fifteen to determine what settlement and salary was 
 proper to offer Mr. Moore for his services in the ministry. This 
 committee, after the consideration of the matter for one hour, 
 reported $600 as a settlement to be paid, or to become due in 
 one year after the ordination, $400 as an annual salary, and a 
 gratuity of ^100 jier annum while he should remain their minister, 
 and be unable, through infirmity or old age, to sup])ly the desk. 
 In August, Mr. Moore gave an answer in the afiirmative, and 
 on the 13th day of the following October he was ordained, the 
 exercises on the occasion being, — 
 
 1. Anthem. 
 
 2. Introductory Prayer, by Rev. Ebenezer Hill, of Mason. 
 
 3. Sermon, Luke ix, 60, by Rev. Elijah Dunbar, of Peterboro'. 
 
 4. Ordaining ]-*rayer, by Rev. Jacob Burnap, of Merrimack. 
 
 5. Charge, by Rev. Jeremiah Barnard, of Amherst. 
 
 6. Concluding Prayer, by Rev. Lemuel Wadsworth, of Brook- 
 line. 
 
 7. Benediction by the pastor. 
 
 With the settlement of the new pastor, a brighter day dawn- 
 ed upon the church. The month following, a confession of faith 
 was adopted, deacons chosen,* and stated communion seasons 
 
 *. Moses Tovvne and Benjamin French were chosen, neither of whom accepted, and at 
 the next meeting, holden in May, 1803, John Wallace and William Lovejoy were chosen, 
 and entered upon their duties. 
 
SQ 
 
 agreed upou ; steps indicating faithful, earnest work. At the 
 time of the ordination, the church had been in existence about 
 fourteen years, but liad had no additions except on one occasion, 
 and then by letter. The subsequent year witnessed the mem- 
 bership doubled, thirty-two being added on profession of their 
 faith, and seven by letters from other cliurches. 
 
 Of the pastorate of Mr. Moore, extending over a third part 
 of a century, I need not speak.* It is in part if not in whole 
 within tlie memory of many present. The 335 additions to the 
 church during his ministry testify to the diligence and faithful- 
 ness of his labors, and are evidence of consecration to his chosen 
 work. And in conclusion, let me add tliat, in what I have said 
 to-day, I have endeavored to let the fathers speak in their own 
 language, revealing their characters in their own words, supply- 
 ing no motives, and purposely abstaining from comments, that 
 we might, unprejudiced, commend what was commendable and 
 noble in their lives ; and if, amid their trials, their sufferings, and 
 sacrifices, we discovered mistakes in method, what was little in 
 character, or want of devout affection for one another, it might 
 be earnestly deplored, and avoided in our own experience. 
 
 *Eev. Humphrey Moore was dismissed March 9,1836; remained in the parish, and 
 died Apiil 8, 1871, in the 93d year of his age. The following named pastors have suc- 
 ceeded him : — 
 
 Rev. J. W. Salter was installed April 27, 1836; dismissed Oct. 24, 1838. 
 
 Kev. Abnbk B. Warner was ordained Feb. 6, 1839; dismissed Oct. 27, 1846. 
 
 Kev. Ltcurgus p. Kimball was installed May 19, 1847; dismissed Aug. 7, 1849. 
 
 Kev. E. N. Hidden was installed Nov. 21, 1849; dismissed April 7, 1858. 
 
 Rev. S. C. Kendall was installed April 7, 1858; dismissed Oct. 15, 1860. 
 
 Rev. F. D. Ayer was ordained May 1, 1861 ; dismissed Sept. 8, 1867. 
 
 Rev. Geo. E. Freeman was installed Dec. 23, 1868; dismissed Dec. 14, 1871. 
 
 Rev. George Fierce, Jr., was installed Oct. 29, 1872. 
 

 
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