HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON:
ITS SETTLEMENT AND GROWTH;
ITS MATERIAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND RELIGIOUS INTERESTS,
TOGETHER WITH A
6Tnoealogiral g rbt0X -of Its @rigindal famiiksi.
By PAYSOla  W. LYMAN.
N O RT HAMPTON:
TRUMBULL  &  G E RE.
1866.




Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1866, by
PAYSON W. LYMAN,
in the Clerk's office, of the District Court of the District of
Massachusetts.




PREFATORY NOTE.
To write the history of one's native town would be a work -of
peculiar interest to any loyal son. And yet it is a work requiring
more. research than the limited field would lead one at first thought
to suppose. The examination of early town records and manuscripts,
and the collection of material which has never been written or
recorded, upon various subjects, and from more various sources, has
been attended with no little difficulty.
It was to our advantage to have entered, in some degree, into the
labors of earlier historians; but their work, though ably performed,
did not cover a field so comprehensive as our own. In regard to the
settlement and early history of Town and Church, we are glad to
acknowledge our large indebtedness to the Semi-Centennial Sermon
of Rey. Payson Williston, and to the Historical Sketch of the town,
prepared by Rev. Luther Wright, as well as to the researches of the
late Sylvester Judd, Esq. The papers of the late Ezekiel White, to
which the author was kindly allowed access, were of essential service
to him in the preparation of the Genealogical Register, while, concerning dates and events which have occurred during the last half
century, no source of information has been so prolific as the memory
of his father, Daniel F. Lyman.
While we thus acknowledge our indebtedness to these, we desire
to tender our sincerest thanks to the many others, who, in one way or
another, have rendered us aid.
Where our plan has led us to speak of individuals, particularly in
the Genealogical Register, our estimate of character, in cases of men
to whom  our memory does not extend, has been based upon t;~xjudgment of others. Because we have in some instances spoken in
commendatory terms of certain persons, it should not therefore be inferred that they were the only good and worthy men, or indeed perhaps,




1.                         >}t~PREF ATORY NOTE.
~'he'DsAec,   WWe  ntil.v  jbudged it advisable, even  at the  risk  of some
chiargei   oi' uu-eta'iror,I,     to relieve the tedium  of a bare recital of the
tacets ordiinf ri'ily nact:iled int a genealogical record, by the narration of
incideits,  bi',; t  ]' peysonal history, and  the  occasional mention  of
profiYLriat ehaii: ia eities,
er dei'. oto Wit)'s:lotic ftr this sketch, freedom  from  harsh criticism
anid ]caiuie y,)',a,:.- ~'Pt;'  do not claim  for it infallibility, but entertan tloe th   5 ~i. -:?'- -t: wLill hIo found essentially correct.?!r,::.th?s ~, z',:   r ind it forth in the hope that it may  contribute
its ~hei'  t;r>o'o-, m;k'i;erancc of a firm  attachment to the institutions
o 01r e fai:rii}Ife: i-,! i- itauh  appreciation of their worth, and to the perpci-a;rotinon  o:': i;te     aers of those who founded  and  those who have
tlhus: Cr'um.it no,) Trse roan, as well as of those who have upheld its
i.c,1r;  aimndbi thal O'r r;te natrion, on the varied, fields of conflict and toil
r. which the provide(ncwe of' God has called them.
P. W. L.
s gAirSIh )- er.. nire 1a  i, ftc robet A 1 Rd,




CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.                                PAGE.
Introduction.-Settlement.-Indian  Difficulties.-Incorporation.   5
CHAPTER II.
Churches.-Organization of First Church.-Its Pastors.-Payson
Church.-Methodist Church..................................    25
CHAPTER III.
Public Schools.-Williston Seminary...........................  41
CHAPTER IV.
Early  Civil and Military  History.-Shay's Rebellion.-War of
1812.........................................................  49
CHAPTER V.
Manufactures..................................................   54
CHAPTER VI.
Agriculture.-Mercantile Interest.-Mills.-Trades............  66
CHAPTER VII.
Physicians.-Casualties.-Cemeteries............................  76




iv.                        CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VIII.
Library Associations. —Public Houses. —Post Office. —Population.
Internal Revenue.-Town  Officers.-Representatives.-Justices. —Quarter  Century  Retrospect.-Miscellanies.-Deed  of
School Meadow.............................................. 89
CHAPTER IX.
The Civil War.-Service of Our Soldiers.-Record of Our Dead. 109
CHAPTER X.
Genealogical Register of the Families of Clark, Clapp, Lyman,
Wright, Janes, Williston, Knight, Parsons, Ferry, White,
Chapman,  Pomeroy,  Hannum,  Phelps,  Ludden,  Wood,
Hendrick.......................................... 141




HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
CHAPTER I.
SETTLEMENT.-EARLY HISTORY.
THIS thriving town is beautifully situated. It is such
a spot as a lover of nature might select for a residence.
Its streams, flowing down from  the mountains which
encircle it, bearing fertility on their bosoms, the mountains
themselves standing like watch-towers guarding it, its
variation of hill and dale and plain, its beautiful trees
and streets, all combinie;to-render it a delightful- retreat
from the cares and' turminoils of city life. -Ats steeples,
educational institutionis, factories, and well-cultivated farms,
tell that it' is' inhabited by an intelligent, enterprising, and'indttstrious people, and that here education and religion
h.ave not been forgotten.
The town was settled by a race of sober, industrious
men,'\who instilled into the minds of their children the
great truths of the Bible, who frowned upon vice wherever
seen, who sought not' popularity and ease, who endeavored
to walk in the pith of dty,. and as a'consequence, vice
and crime have never flourished within its limits. The
sterner virtues here found a strong foothold. Cradled in
the lap of agriculture, inured to toil, privation and danger,
they and their children grew up a hardy, healthy people.




HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
That they loved the Bible and sanctuary, and that they
reverenced the Sabbath, is seen in the sacrifices they
willingly made to attend the stated preaching of the Word.
Before any  church  was built here,  they  went to
Northampton or Southampton every Sabbath, unless
something extraordinary prevented. They did not, as is
becoming somewhat fashionable, go to meeting in the
forenoon and stay at home in the afternoon. Neither were
they wearied with a sermon of an hour's length. That
they did not consult ease, we may conclude from the fact
that all, old and young, male and female, could rise and
stand while God's blessing was being invoked. If any
one sat during the prayer, it was justly concluded that
they were sick or infirm. If, on a particular Sabbath, any
one was noticed to sit, it was not strange if the person
were the subject of anxious solicitude during the week.
A law once existed subjecting persons to a fine for absenting themselves from public worship for three months.
In one or two instances in town, this law was enforced.
Their Sabbath commenced at sunset, or dusk, Saturday
night. Before this, in many instances, the father had
finished his work and shaved himself, the mother had
prepared the food for the next day as far as possible, all
work had ceased, and, to quote the -language of another,
" Both parents, with their children, and the book of God
open before them, were often waiting ere the setting of
the sun to cross together the sacred threshold of the
Sabbath."  Would that their children of the present day
had more regard for the sacred day. They were patriotic
also. In no town were the inhabitants more universally
lyal. Venerable men! It was yours to lay the foundations of society broad and deep, to stamp upon it a
respect and love for the institutions of religion, to plant
high its standard of morals; and nobly have you fulfilled




EARLY HISTORY.                   7
your mission. Your record is on high; and not only there,
but it is seen in the character and reputation your children
have held. The influence which you have exerted and do
exert through your sons, who are scattered all the way
from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from the great lakes to
the Gulf of Mexico, will forever endure. It is deathless
as the sun; aye, when that luminary himself has faded, it
will live on and on.
SETTLEMENT.
Easthampton was originally a part of a tract of land
called Nonotuck, signifying " in the midst of the river,"
embracing the four Hamptons and a part of Montgomery
and Hatfield. It was purchased of the Indians in 1653,
for one hundred fathoms of wampum, ten coats, plowing
sixteen acres of land in Hadleigh, and some small gifts.
It was a sum small in itself and intrinsically of no great
value, but, as they reserved the right of hunting and
fishing on them, and as the articles were of great
exchangeable value among the Indians, they received
ample remuneration for the land. It was conveyed to the
settlers by a deed of Chickwallop and six others. It
appears that after the purchase, Sachem Umpanchela
complained that he had not received, his portion of the
purchase price. The planters immediately satisfied him.
They represented in their petition to the General Court for
liberty to settle here, that it was a place suitable to erect a
town for the public weal and for the propagation of the
Gospel.
Without doubt, John Webb was the first inhabitant of
Easthampton. The time and place of his settlement is
not quite certain. Previous histories concur in giving him
a residence in Nashawannuck, with no definite date. In
the town records of Northampton, under date of Dec. 13,




8             HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
1664, we find that the town granted John Webb a piece of
land at Pascommuck, to build a house upon. In February
of the same year we find the following:-." I, John Webb,
Sen., of Pascommuck, doe engage, &c." He was a citizen
of Northampton as early as 1657, for in July of that year
we find a deed of land sold to Northampton by Sachem
Umpanchela and Lampanoho. They received the pay of
" John Webb of Northampton."  Whether or not he then
resided within the present limits of Easthampton is
uncertain.  In 1663 or'4 it was recorded by the town
clerk that John Webb brought several wolves' heads,
probably to receive the bounty offered by the town or
colony. He died in 1670.  Families by the name of
W~ebb continued to reside in Nashawannuck for more
than 75 years. After the death of Mr. Webb, Robert
Danks married his widow, and families of this name
resided here until after 1760.
The next portion of what is now, Easthampton which
was settled, was on the north side of the Manhan river,
near the present center of the town. Probably the' first
building erected there was a saw mill, situated near the
house of Joel Bassett, on Sawmill Brook.  In 1674, the
town gave "David Wilton, Medad Pumry and Joseph
Taylor liberty to erect a saw-mill on the brook, on the
right hand of the cartway going over Manhan river." In
1686-7, Northampton gave Samuel Bartlett liberty to set
up a corn-mill "on the falls below the cartway on the
river." The mill was doubtless built soon after, but how
soon a house was erected and a settlement made is not
certainly.known, probably not, however, till some years
after 1705, owing to the French and Indian war. But this
much is certain, that Joseph Bartlett, son of Samuel, made
the first permanent settlement here. The mill and land
about it was given him by his father in 1705. He kept




EARLY HISTORY.
the first public house in town and had charge of it for
more than twenty years.
He died in 1755, leaving most of his property to his
relatives, the Clapps, one of whom, Jonathan, afterwards
Major, who will be spoken of in the history of the Clapp
family, resided with him for some years. He gave some
land, however, to three of his brothers, on condition that
they should give ~100 old tenor, equal in value to ~13
6s. 8d. lawful money, to the first church of Christ that
should be erected and celebrate divine ordinances within
half a mile of his house. This payment was afterwards
made with the proceeds of land disposed of at Pogue's
Hole. This bequest shows the interest he felt in the
institutions of the Gospel, and the hope, very likely the
expectation, he cherished, that at some -time a church
would be organized here.
About the year 1726 or 8, four brothers by the nanme of
Wait, planted themselves near the residence of John Scott.
One of them died_ in 1732, another in 1745, and the other
two, after many:years, Amoved away.
David Bartlett, brother of Landlord Joseph, built a
a house about forty rods west of where J-iliuds Pomeroy
now resides, not far from 1725.  He. lived and died on the
place.and left it to his son David, who also:occupied it till
his deatlh, which  occurred just- before the  American
Revolution commenced. To this ho-use, during the war,
persons afflicted with that terrible disease, the small pox,
(rendered:doubly terrible from the fact that nothing had
then been discovered to deprive the disease of its virulence,)
were taken.  Among the number of its inmates was Col.
Hosford, who was brought from  Northampton.  He died
here and was buried in a field a little way from the house.
Rev. John Hooker, the successor of Rev. Jonathan
Edwards, D. D., in the ministry at Northampton, also died
1 MS,




10            HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
at this place. He took the disease by simply passing the
house in which Col. Hosford was confined before being
removed.  His remains were carried by night around
through the meadows to the cemetery at Northampton,
and there interred. This house was standing till within
a few years.
Northampton originally appropriated the meadows,
supposed to contain one hundred acres, more or less,
eighty acres above and twenty below the grist mill, for
the use of schools. For many years they leased it to
different individuals, but in 1745 they sold all the upper
meadow to Dea. Stephen Wright and Benjamin Lyman.
Shortly after they removed here, Benjamin Lyman settled
where the house of Joel Bassett stands, and Dea. Wright
where Samuel Hurlburt resides.
In 1755, an expedition was planned against Crown
Point, and the command entrusted to Sir WVm. Johnson.
His army arrived at the south end of Lake George before
transporation had been provided.  While waiting for
batteaux to convey him  to Crown Point, he received
intelligence that a detachment of French Regulars,
Canadians, and Indians, under command of Baron Dieskau,
was approaching Fort Edward for the purpose of destroying
some provision and military stores. Johnson  at once
called a council of war, at which it was determined to
dispatch Col. E. Williams to intercept the French on
their return from the fort. Diskeau, however, changed
his course, with the intention of attacking Johnson's camp.
Col. Williams was not aware of the change, and he
marched on to his doom, apprehensive of no danger. The
enemy had been apprised of his approach and lay in
ambush for him. The firing commenced prematurely, but
was very destructive. The surprise was complete. The
brave commander, in endeavoring to conduct his troops to




EARLY HISTORY.                 11
a more advantageous position, received a ball in his head,
which instantly killed him. The firing continued with
unabated fury, and they were obliged to retreat to the
camp, whither they were closely followed by the enemy,
who were received by Johnson with a murderous discharge
of cannon and musketry, which did so much execution
among them that they retired in great disorder, leaving on
the field Baron Dieskau, who had received a mortal wound
in his thigh.  He fell into the hands of the Americans,
and said, before his death, that, in all his military life,
nothing had ever sent death into his army like the
prolonged cheers which the Americans gave at their
approach. Each of these neighbors, last referred to, had
a son in this battle, which took place Sept. 8, 1775, and in
which Col. Ephraim  Williams, the generous founder of
Williams College, and more than  two hundred others
were slain, among whom was Sergeant Eliakim Wright,
son of Stephen, aged 28.  Lemuel Lyman, son of
Benjamin, then twenty years of age, was in company with
Sergeant Wright, one of the scouting party who was sent
out to reconnoitre. They met the enemy advancing in the
form of a crescent, but did not discover them until they
were partially inclosed, whereupon a warm fire opened.
MIr. Lyman was in the act of firing at an Indian, when a
ball struck him. It passed across three of his fingers and
struck his breast, passing through a leather vest, three
thicknesses of his shirt, and his bullet pouch, which was
providentially in that place, and half buried itself in his
body. The pouch is still preserved in one of the numerous
families of his descendants. There were four other
soldiers standing near him, three of whom were killed
there, and the other one after he reached the camp.
Shortly after he obtained a furlough and returned home,
laden with news both joyful and sad. The French had




12            HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
been successfully resisted, and repulsed with great loss,
but'our own army had not escaped unhurt; about forty-six
persons belonging to the Hampshire regiment had fallen; a
neighbor and friend had been stricken down, and it was
his task to break the sad intelligence to the bereaved
family.  The  sorrow was  mitigated by the pleasing
consciousness that he was prepared to obey the summons,
yet it was a severe blow, and one which fell where least
expected. From  the families of those neighbors, the
oldest and most experienced was taken,' the youngest
spared. When the two were about to depart, Mr. Lyman
said to Mr. Wright, "If my son was only as old as yours,
I should not feel so much anxiety."  After the battle, Mr.
Wright reminded him of the conversation, and said, "Now
my son is killed, while yours is only wounded."
Soon after, he with several others, collected a small
drove of cattle.and. started with them  for the northern
army. Being insufficiently supplied with provisions, they
suffered exceedingly from hunger on their journey.  On
one occasion they obtained aud cooked a small quantity of
meat which was somewhat tainted, but it was their
mutual testimony that they never tasted that which was
sweeter.
Benjamin Lyman, above mentioned, was the ancestor of
all the persons of that name residing in the town. He
had four sons and three daughters. Dea. Stephen Wright
was the ancestor of all the families in town of that name.
He had four sons. The descendants of these two families,
many of whom still reside in Easthampton, are widely
scattered. Probably they can be found in more than half
of the states and territories in the Union. At least
nineteen of them have been college graduates.
Not far from the close of the Revolutionary War,
Joseph and Titus Wright moved to the south of Rocky




EARLY HISTORY.                  13
Hill and lived many years near the house now owned and
occupied by Dwight Lyman, but they finally left town.
The third settlement in town was commenced in the
year 1700, at Pascommuck, by five families, on land now
owned by L. W. Parsons, Joseph Parsons, and Gilbert A.
Clark.  Their names were Moses Hutchinson, who settled
farthest west, John Searl, Benoni Jones, Samuel Janes,
and Benjamin Janes.  In 1704, this village was destroyed
by the Indians under circumstances of the most shocking
barbarity. A more full account of this massacre -will be
given in another place. It was not re-settled until about
1715. The  new  settlers of  Pascommuck, after the
slaughter, were Nathaniel Alexander, who married the
widow of John Searl, (he having been slain by the Indians,)
and lived several years on -his farm.  Samuel Janes, Jr.,
took the place of his father.  In 1720, John Lankton
purchased the lot originally owned by Benoni Jones. He
lived however, only nine years to enjoy it.  His widow
married a man by the name of Wharton, but for some
cause he soon left her and she was for many years known
as Widow Wharton. Her son, John Lankton, afterwards
removed to West Springfield.  His father owned a slave
while he lived in Pascommuck, which was valued at ~60
in his inventory.  It appears that Joseph Bartlett was also
a slaveholder, from the fact that he set two slaves free by
his will.  There is also a slave mentioned in the list of
Mfajor Clapp's estate, but whether it was one that he
purchased, or one of those set free by his Uncle Bartlett,
(which is not an unlikely supposition,) is not certain.
These were doubtless the only cases of slave ownership in
town. The place of John Searl was occupied by his son
Elisha, after his return from Canada, whither he had been
carried by the Indians at the sacking of the village in
1702. Ebenezer Ferry, from Springfield, at a later period,




14            HIISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
purchased the Hutchinson place and lived on it twenty-five
years or more. He died in 1752.
The first settlers in that part of Easthampton which
was then Southampton, with the exception of Dea.
Stephen Wright, were Samuel and Eldad Pomeroy and
their sons, who established themselves near where Dea. E.
W. Hannum now resides, it is presumed about 1732. Caleb
Pomeroy, son of Samuel, soon after built a house near
where A. L. Strong now lives. He died in 1812, leaving
two sons, Enos and Solomon. Probably about 1760,
John and Eleazar Hannum located themselves on the
places which their descendants now occupy. Joel Hannum,
a brother of John and Eleazer, lived in Nashawannuck.
He had one son, Paul, who lived for a while on the old
place.  He afterwards removed to Bainbridge, Ohio,
where he lived many years. He died Dec. 28, 1861,
aged 76.
The first settler on the plain was Sergeant Ebenezer
Corse. It is not certain at what time he came there,
probably about 1732.. He built the house where Spencer
Clapp formerly lived, now owned by James Nichols. It
is to him that the town is indebted for one of its handsomest
streets, (Main Street,) running from the center of the
town straight to his house, a distance of more than a mile,
he having cleared away the woods for a road. He was a
bold, fearless man. It is said of him that he refused to
remove to the fort, where the other settlers fled on account
of the Indians. But he finally found traces of an ambush
which had been laid for him, which convinced him  that
discretion was the better part of valor, and he accordingly
repaired thither for the time being. He died May 4, 1776,
two months before the Declaration of Independence, in
the 85th year of his age. His wife died eight years before
him, in her 73d year. Both were buried in the old
cemetery,




EARLY HISTORY.                 15
HIe was followed soon after by other settlers, one of
whom was Stephen Wright, son of Dea. Stephen, one of
the purchasers of School Meadow. He built the house
until recently occupied by his grandson, John Wright.
Other settlers in this neighborhood were Aaron Clapp,
Benjamin Clapp, and Benjamin Lyman, a son of the other
purchaser of the meadow.
That part of the west district known as, Park Hill,
derives its name, it is said, from an inclosure that was
built upon it for the purpose of aiding in the capture of
deer. As early as 1750, Mr. Josiah Phelps built a house on
the site of the recent residence of J. RI. Wright.  He had
no children, and at his death it passed into the hands of
Jonathan Bartlett, a son-in-law of his wife. Mr. Phelps
was a very good and pious, though somewhat eccentric
mall. It is said that on one occasion, in speaking of a
piece of new land which he had broken up, he said that
while he was doing it, his mind was so absorbed with
thoughts of himself, his relations to God, and his hopes of
Heaven, that he paid no attention to his team.
The first settlement in the south-east part of the town
was  made by Israel Hendrick, who removed from
Connecticut about the year 1774, and built a log house on
the east side of Broad Brook, about opposite from where
Pearson  Hendrick now  lives. A  few years after' he
removed a little farther up the brook and built a small
framed house. The other early settlers of this district
were Joel Robbins, Benjamin Stephens, and Benjamin
Strong, who was in the sixth generation from Richard
Strong of Taunton, Somersetshire, England. His son,
Elder John Strong, came from England to Dorchester in
the same company with Capt. Roger Clapp, from whence
he removed to Windsor, Ct., in 1635, and from there to
Northampton in 1659, where he died April, 1699, aged 94.




1i6          HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
INDIAN TROIUBLES.
On the 24th of May, 1704, the village of Pascommuck
was destroyed by the Indians. It had then been settled
only four or five years. A party of Indians, it seems, had
been  to  Merrimac river, for some reason, but not
accomplishing their purpose, they directed their course
towards Westfield. Westfield river was however so much
swollen by the rains, that they could not pass it.  Some of
this party knew the situation of Pascommuck, and as they
had been unable for some time to obtain food, they
determined as a last resort, as they afterwards declared, to
make a descent upon the village to satisfy their hunger,
and as we are compelled to believe by their conduct, to
satisfy also their natural ferocity. Abcordingly on the
evening previous to the attack, they came along on the
mountain, in order to examine its situation and fix a plan
of attack. It was for them a favorable circumstance that
the meadows intervening between the fated settlement and
Northampton were overflowed, and all direct land communication with it cut off.  On the morning of May
24th, just before daybreak, they descended and commenced
an attack, as unexpected on the part of the inhabitants as
it was furious and terrible on theirs.
It appears that a defense was attempted at the house of
Benoni Jones, which was encompassed with pickets, but
the surprise was so complete that the savages, aided by
fire, were soon enabled to overpower and destroy, or
capture nearly all of them. Nineteen or twenty were
slain. Nine persons by the name of Janes were killed:Samuel, his wife and three children, and four children of
Benjamin Janes. The wife of the latter was taken by the
savages to the top of Pomeroy mountain, and there
knocked on the head and scalped, and probably left for dead.
By a good Providence she was not killed, but was found in




EARLY HISTORY.                 17
this situation, and carried on a litter to Northampton.
Her husband, after the capture, had fallen a little in rear
of the party, and while they were passing a little ravine,
surrounded by bushes and leading to the water, near the
present residence of Bryant Pendleton, he succeeded in
eluding the vigilance of his savage captors. Running
through this he reached the water, and springing into a
skiff, which he probably knew to be fastened there, he
made his escape to Northampton, where he was the first to
announce the mournful tidings.
A troop of cavalry, headed by Capt. John Taylor,
immediately started to intercept, if possible, the relentless
savages. He came through Pomeroy's meadow, near the
present road leading from East to Westhampton, and
passed on south to the so-called Westfield road, and
between this and Mt. Tom, on land now owned by Chester
and the heirs of C. Edson WTait, he encountered the
Indians. They having by some means obtained knowledge
of his approach, destroyed the lives of all the boys whomn
they had captured, except Elisha, son of John Searl. He,
seeing the work of destruction going on, caught a pack
and ran on, thereby showing that if they would spare him
he would be no hindrance but rather a help to them.
Capt. Taylor, being considerably in advance of his troops,
was exposed to the first fire of the enemy, who were
probably concealed, and fell. It is not known whether
any others were killed, but it is certain that the Indians
escaped.
Benjamin Janes removed to Coventry, Ct., where he was
made deacon of the church. The wife of John Searl
survived a severe blow on the head from a tomahawk.
One of her descendants has in her possession a silver hair
pin worn on the head of Mfrs. Searl at the time the blow
was inflicted. HIer son Elisha, who was not murdered,
2




18            HISTORY OF EASTHAMFPTON.
was taken to Canada, where he was brought up in the
Catholic faith, and his mind became thoroughly imbued
with its superstitions.  On one occasion, with a party of
Indians, he made arrangements to enter on a hunting and
trapping expedition along the great western lakes, for the
purpose of obtaining fur. As no priest was to accompany
them, he went to one and inquired, with evident concern,
what he should do, since there was no priest to whom he
could confess, and he might die on his journey. The priest
told him it would be just as well to confess to a tree, and
then sent him away. This declaration struck him very
forcibly. He revolved the idea in his mind, and the result
was that he become convinced that the whole system of
Romanism was one of deception, and on his return he
refused to confess his sins to a priest. After many years
he visited his native place, but so accustomed had he
become to Canadian, or Indian life, that it was with the
greatest difficulty that his friends prevailed on him to stay.
It is said that during his long absence he had so far
forgotten the English language, that he was unable to
make himself known to his friends, and that he succeeded
in doing so only when he had found in the house and
walked upon a pair of stilts which he had used when a
boy. Here he married, reared up a family, was a worthy
citizen, and held a respectable standing in the church.
As an instance of the power of early associations upon the
mind, it may be mentioned that on one occasion, as he
was by the bedside of a dying woman, under the influence,
for the moment, of his early delusion, he requested her to
rememberhim in her prayers in Heaven, but instantly
recollecting himself, he expressed sorrow that he should
ever have made such a request.
No other lives were known to have been taken by the
Indians, till 1724, when Nathaniel Edwards, 2d, was shot




EARLY HISTORY.                  19
at the brook a few rods south of the residence of Samuel
Phelps. It was supposed that he, in company with other
men from  Northampton, had come out to gather their
crops from the Manhan meadows, which were leased for a
long time previous to their purchase. Several of them
came out together for the sake of mutual protection, but
he, it is said, was detained at the cartway or fording place
on-the river, in consequence of which he fell behind the
others, was waylaid at the above mentioned place, and was
shot and scalped, by a body of Indians. The tradition is
that there was a negro on the load at the time. His
attention being attracted by the firing and shouting, he
raised his head. and looked cautiously over, when, to his
horror and dismay, he beheld the swarthy savages scalping
his master. He however remained quiet till the team had
reached the top of the hill, when he slipped from the load,
removed one horse from the team, mounted, and made off
with  all possible speed  towards Northampton.  Before
reaching it, he overtook the other teamsters, and informed
them of his master's fate. It is not known whether the
murderers were pursued, but it is certain that they escaped
unpunished.
It is probable that these were the only persons killed by
the Indians within what now constitutes Easthampton, but
for more than twenty years from this time,-particularly,
however, in 1745, 6 and 7, —a general fear of the tenants
of the forest pervaded the community; so much so, that
about 1745 several houses were fortified, as places of
refuge in case of an attack, and mounts were erected as
watch-houses.  The houses of Joseph Bartlett at the
Mills, Samuel Janes at Pascommuck, and Major Clapp
near where Ansel Bartlett now resides, were thus guarded.
Those were times of peculiar danger, and it is well that
we, their children, should remember at what price of blood,




20             HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
treasure, and comfort, our homes and our liberties, both
civil and religious, were obtained, in order that we may
the more sacredly guard them; that we may be the more
anxious to transmit them, unimpaired, to those that shall
come after us.
As we have seen, these grounds which we now call our
own, were once the home of the red man. Here they
roamed in savage freedom, built their wigwams, sang their
war songs, and celebrated the exploits of their sires.
They enjoyed peculiar facilities for fishing, for the falls on
Manhan river, by- the grist-mill, afforded facilities which
all did: not enjoy. There is abundant testimony that shad
and salmon in Iarge quantities were taken there.  These
plains were the resort of large numbers of deer, which
afforded them means of subsistence, as well as suited their
natural tastes and desires.  The last place in town which
they occupied, was in the limits of Pascommuck, where
they had a village and a fort, probably on -what is now
known as Fort Plain, in the rear of the East District
school-house.
In  1664, a number of them petitioned the town of
Northampton for liberty to erect a fort. The town granted
the petition on seven conditions, the first being that they
should not violate the Sabbath, by carrying burdens, or in
any other manner. The other restrictions were concerning
harboring other Indians, &c. Their motives were probably good in desiring the place. They had no evil designs
against the dominant race. They continued to reside
here, till the opening of King Phillip's war, in 1675, when
they joined the hostile forces, and quitted forever the
land of their nativity-the home of their fathers.
Perhaps we can imagine, better than describe, their
feelings, when they surveyed, for the last time, the hills,
valleys and rivers,-the theaters of their brave exploits,
immortalized in song,




EARLY HISTORY.                  21
There is much to admire, as well as much to deprecate,
in their character. That they had vices none can question.
That they had virtues, is equally true. But they are gone;
not an individual left. The race which once roamed these
hillsides, hunted deer in these grand old forests, and fished
in these streams, are remembered only in history. They
passed away, so far as we know, unblessed by the gospel,
which alone maketh wise unto salvation.
There is not now much to remind us of that once
interesting though fearful people; but what there is should
be preserved and perpetuated.
Two portions of the town still retain the old Indian
names to some extent. I refer to Pascommuck and
Nashawannuck.  Surely these are names of which no son
or daughter of these places, or of Easthampton, need be
ashamed. The latter of these names, it hardly need be
said, has been adopted by one manufacturing company in
town. It is well. Let these names forever remain, sad
mementoes of the departed, almost forgotten, race. Let
them descend to the latest generation.
We have now reviewed, somewhat at length, the settlement of the different portions of the town.  WVe have
seen that some of the settlers had to encounter perils from
the wild, merciless savage, whom they had reason to fear
by day and night; or, if the red man did not disturb their
homes, there were forests to be felled before farming lands
could be obtained, houses to  be constructed, roads to be
built, and all this with, utensils which appear rude indeed
when compared with those of modern times. But all
these hardships were, no doubt, intended by an All-wise
Providence for the development of that sterling type of
character, which has so long been; the glory and boast of
our loved New England.
2%fE




22            HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
INCORPORATION.
The first attempt, on the part of the inhabitants of
Easthampton, to become a town or district, was in March,
1773. At that time, what is now Easthampton, belonged
to Northampton and Southampton. It was divided as
follows:-" All east of a line beginning near the bridge
over the Manhan river, and running southwardly on the
Alrestfield road, so-called, to land owned by the late
Gamaliel Pomeroy, in Southampton; and all northwardly
of a line commencing near the mouth of Sawmill Brook,
and extending westwardly in the rear of the houses now
owned by Samuel Hurlburt and Samuel Wright, to the
road just beyond S. Wright's house, along said road
westwardly through the house now owned by Dea. E. W.
Hannum, towards Pomeroy mountain. All east and north
of these lines belonged to Northampton; the rest of course
to Southampton."'  The motives which  actuated our
fathers in pressing a separation, were that they might be
in such circumstances, that, with little difficulty, they
could meet and transact business among themselves; but
more especially, that, with greater convenience, and hopefully with greater profit to themselves and their families,
they might attend on public worship and ordinances of
God's sanctuary. Laudable and praiseworthy motives,
truly! In accordance with these views, in 1773 they
requested the inhabitants of Northampton and Southampton
to consider the subject and report.
The former chose a committee, who reported in favor of
the petition, and proposed the lines for the new town, and
advocated the raising of ~300, to aid them in erecting a
meeting house and settling a minister. The town accepted
the report of the committee, and subsequently directed
their representative to use his influence in the General




EARLY HISTORY.                  23
Court in favor of the petition; but the project met with
strong opposition from Southampton, and the revolutionary
war came on, so that it was delayed for some years. In
1781-2 the subject was again agitated. Northampton
again voted to set off the new town. Estimating those who
would be set off, at one-eighth of the inhabitants of the
town, they proposed to give them one-eighth of all the
public property of the town, and something more; but
the district was not incorporated, owing, it is presumed, to
the opposition of Southampton, till 1785.
In the summer of that year, the act incorporating
Easthampton  as a  district, passed  the  legislature,
and Robert Breck, Esq., was empowered to issue his
warrant, directed to one of the principal inhabitants,
directing him to warn the citizens to assemble for the
choice of officers. His warrant was directed to Benjamin
Lyman. The first district meeting was held at the house
of Capt. Joseph Clapp.
The question may arise in some minds, " Why was it
not incorporated as a town?" In answer to this, Dr.
Holland says:-" Before 1753, the governor of Massachusetts received instructions from the home government,
which, in a strong light, exhibited the growing jealousy of
the crown, of the popular element in the government of
the colony. The increase in the number of towns in the
colony, increasing in the same ratio the representation in
the legislature, was seen to present formidable encroachments upon the authority of the parent power.  To put a
stop to this, the governor was instructed to consent to no
act for establishing a new town, with the right of representation, for many years; as a substitute, districts were
incorporated, with the full privileges of towns, except
representation."
This, of course, was previous to the revolutionary war,




24           )HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
but after the nation had become independent, it seems
that the practice was continued for a limited time.
The number of families set off from Northampton, was
probably less than 60, and the number of persons not far
from 300. These, with those set off from Southampton,
made the population of the district a few more than 400
souls.
The lines of separation between this and the other
towns, was somewhat irregular. It was to some extent a
matter of choice with many of the borderers, whether they
would belong to Easthampton, or not. Several families,
who ought to have belonged, and who, otherwise, would
have belonged to Easthampton, were, by order of the
legislature, allowed to remain citizens of North or Southampton. This gave rise to great irregularity in the town
lines, which may be seen at a glance on any county map.




CHAPTER  It.
CHURCHES.
In 1781-2, so strong was belief of the people that they
should soon become a district and corporate society, that
theymade preparations to erect a suitable place of public
worship. At length, in the spring of 1785, a frame, " of
suitable size, and good materials," was erected, on the
responsibility, as it appears, of individuals.  On the 13th
of July, at the first business meeting of the district, they
voted to provide a place for public worship, and also to
make use of the frame already erected, which stood on
the land now enclosed for a park, near the present location
of the First Church. They also voted to remunerate those
who had erected the frame, in the summer of that same
year.  It was clap-boarded, shingled, and the lower floor
laid, but was not entirely finished till 1792. The building was 53 feet long, and 42 feet wide, with neither bell
nor steeple, but was a well finished house.  Of this
building, Rev. Mr. Williston, in a semi-centennial sermon,
preached August 18, 1839, from 2 Peter, 1, 12: says:-'c For a little more than fifty years was this house the place
of our holy solemnities. Thither were the fathers and
mothers in our Israel, till successively removed by death,
seen to be resorting almost as constantly as the Sabbath
returned.  And there, with many sustaining the relations




26           HIISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
of children and grand-children to them, and I may add,
with others also, it was their delight to meet, and together
to pray and praise, and to think and talk of heaven."
The first church was organized/Nov. 17, 1785, at the
house of Capt. Joseph Clapp. It consisted of seventy-two
members, forty-six of whom had been dismissed from the
church in Northampton, twenty-six from the church in
Southampton. They made choice of Mr. Stephen Wright
for Moderator, and Philip Clark for Clerk. In 1786,
Benjamin Lyman, Stephen Wright and Philip Clark,
were appointed to collect the donation of Joseph Bartlett,
to the first church of Christ which should be organized
and celebrate divine ordinances within half a mile of his
house. It, together with the interest accruing thereon,
amounted to ~14 Is 3d, and was expended in the purchase
of a communion service. In the same year, the district
hired Rev. Aaron Walworth to preach. They afterward
gave a call to him to setttle with them as their pastor, but
he saw fit to decline the invitation.
On the 6th of April, 1789, they gave Rev. Payson
Williston a call to settle in the gospel ministry, and agreed
to give him a settlement fund of ~180, and a salary of
~65 the first year, to be increased twenty shillings a year,
until it amounted to ~70, besides thirty-five cords of wood
per year, " if he shall need so much for his own consumption."
Mr. Williston accepted the call, and was ordained Aug.
13, 1789. The services were conducted as follows:Introductory prayer by Rev. Enoch Hale of Westhampton;
Sermon by Rev. Noah Williston; Consecrating Prayer by
Rev. Richard S. Storrs; Concluding Prayer by Rev. Seth
Payson, Previous to his ordination, the church observed
a day of fasting and prayer, in accordance with a fitting
custom of those days.




-CRIuznEs.                   27
The first deacons of the church were Stephen Wrright
and Benjamin Lyman, chosen in 1786.
At the commencement of his ministry in Easthampton,
Mr. Williston was twenty-six years of age. About the
time of his settlement, on one occasion, when the militia
company, including all who were sixteen years of age, were
assembled for exercise, it was proposed that they should
signify whether the candidate was one of their choice.
The result was entire unanimity in his favor.
In the past history of Easthampton, no man has occupied
a position so prominent and influential, for so long a time,
as the first pastor of the church, and this fact may justify
a notice of him somewhat more extended than would otherwise be given. Many of the facts and statements are
derived from the sermon preached at his funeral by Rev.
John Woodbridge, D. D., then pastor in Hadley.
Rev. Payson Williston was born in West Haven, Ct.,
in 1763, and was the son of the Rev. Noah Williston of
that place. His mother was of the family of Payson, who
were connected with the well-known ministers of that
name. His religious training was blessed by his early
conversion.  He decided to enter the ministry, and studied
under the instruction of the excellent Dr. Trumbull of
North Haven, Conn. He entered Yale College in 1778 or
1779, and graduated in 1783.  " He numbered among his
classmates men distinguished in professional and literary
life, among whom were the Rev. Dr. Morse, the geographer, Rev. Dr. Holmes, Hon. J. C. Smith, since governor
of Conn., and the Hon. David Daggett, well known for his
legal attainments, and as an able jurist."  Before entering
college he was engaged for several months in the service
of his country, in the war of the Revolution, and knew
by experience  the dangers and difficulties which our
fathers encountered, in the struggle for freedom  and




28             HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
independence; and for several years before his death, he
received a pension for the service performed in that
struggle. He was licensed to preach at twenty-one, but
did not choose to settle till he had gained some experience
in the ministerial life. After preaching for several years
in vacant parishes, he accepted the call of the church in this
place, and became its first pastor.  In 1790 he married
Miss Sarah Birdseye, daughter of Rev. Nathan Birdseye,
of Stratford, Ct.  " With this amiable wife of his youth,
whose sound sense, industry, and prudence rendered her a
great blessing to her family, he lived happily for nearly
fifty-five years. She passed away in the year 1845, at the
age of 82."
In 1805, Mr. Williston., without being dismissed from
his charge, was employed as a missionary, in the frontier
and sparsely populated settlements in Western New York,
where is now -the very center of abundance, agricultural
cultivation, and advancement in the necessary and elegant
arts of life. For forty-four years he faithfully and cheerfully performed the duties incumbent upon him, as an
embassador of the Cross, and for more than sixty years,
he was, as pastor, adviser, and neighbor, instrumental of
great good to his people. His doctrinal views were much
like those of our Puritan Fathers.  He preached with
plainness, but with variety, and fu:ll-ness of illustration,
and not unfrequently with much emotion. His example
afforded the most beautiful enforcement and exemplification
of his doctrine. His life was a preaching life, till it
terminated in the silence of death. Modesty was one of
his most prominent characteristics. He was never obtrusive; and as for boasting, one who knew him well said:
" we should almost as soon have expected to see a violation
of the laws of nature, as to hear a word of this kind from
the lips of Mr. Williston."  But having arrived at the




CHURCHES.                         29
age of seventy, though still in the enjoyment of the fullest
confidence and esteem of his people, he judged it expedient to withdraw from the active duties of the ministry.
Accordingly, at a meeting of the town, March 11, 1833,
in their corporate capacity, including the brethren of the
church, he presented the following communication:
"Men and Brethren:-It has been my purpose for yyears, should I
attain to the period of life I have, and at the same time be sustaining
the relation of pastor to you, to manifest a willingness to have'a colleague settled with inme-or, should you deem it preferable, to relinquish
my ministry among you, when you shall have become united in some
one to be my successor, and he shall be placed over you in the Lordor indeed earlier, if it should appear generally best that -I should.
Sooner much than I anticipated, have I entered upon my seventieth
year; and though, at present, I am  freer from bodilypains and
infirmities, than is ordinarily the case with persons of my standing,
my age teacheth me that my working titne must ere long be
over, and that, while it continues, -I may be losing my ability for
performing the service you need —or, to be sure; all, you may think,or, in fact may be desirable. I should exceedingly regret being in
the way of any one, upon whose ministrations you can hope to
attend, with the -rational prospect of greater advantage to your souls,
than can be looked for, by a-r much longer attendance on mine. Your
interests, especially your immortal, I trust, I have never regarded with
indifference, or ever shall; and though in my ministry, I see I have
not had all that concern on my mind for your temporal and spiritual
advantage and welfare, which has been my duty, and have not, as an
humble instrument in the hands of the Lord, been active and engaged
for the promotion of the one and the other, to the extent your circumstances required, yet I do hope, that I have not altogether labored in
vain, and that the results'have been happy to no inconsiderable
numbers, and will appear so in eternity. For the many years I have
been attempting to instiuct, and in this'place, guide souls to heaven,
my ministry has been attended'with less to'perpIex, and more to
tranquilize the mind, thdn usually has falleli to thle lbt of ray'fellow
laborers. And here I a'in constrained to say, (and I do -it with pleaqure,) that, under God, I consider this is very much owing to the
respect shown by those active in my settlement,-mostly now in their
3




30               HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
graves, —and generally by their children, to the Sabbath and the
institutions of religion, and, with reference to my usefulness and
comfort, their frequently and promptly making me some consideration,
when the support they had voted me was found to be inadequate. The
support, however, I have received, has never been such as to render
desirable anything farther being done. My means for living are
probably considerably less than numbers of you are apprehensive;
and should my pastoral relation to you soon be dissolved, in any other
way than by death, you will see, that at least, some consideration may
be needful for me the little time that may still be allotted me to live;
and as I was settled for life, I have a pleasing confidence that it will
be granted. How much, or how little, I do not take upon myself to
say. The subject is a delicate one, and I am willing to leave it to
your love of justice and generosity to determine. I feel grateful to
you, my friends, under Providence, that my youth, the meridian of
my life, and my advanced years, have been made comfortable as they
have, that our connection, on the whole, has been a happy one. Loth
should I be, and greatly distressed indeed, should anything take
place to render it otherwise with us. I sincerely hope such will not
be the effect of this communication, or of any measures to which it
may naturally give rise. Unless I am  greatly deceived, it is my
earnest wish and prayer, that, as from the beginning the great Head
of, the Church has exercised over you a kind and unremitting care, so
He may continue to, and that in the choice of one to serve Him in
the gospel, it may'be your happiness to have His discretion and influence to act judiciously, and in a manner, that shall promote your own,
and the good of your children, and your children's children, and that
of multitudes of others, till He shall come in power and great glory
to judge the quick and the dead. All of which is respectfully
submitted by your unworthy but affectionate pastor,
PAYSON WILLISTON."
This request Bwas granted, and he was reluctantly dismissed from the active duties of the pastorate. During
his ministry, he had met with a very encouraging degree
of success in his'nOble work, and many souls had been
given as seals of his ministry..  But, though he no longer
sustained the relation of pastor to his people, he was not
idleo   He loved them to the last, and was ever desirous of




CHURCHES.                    31
promoting their welfare, and many remember with pleasure
the visits and kind and fatherly counsel of their aged pastor, who still loved to share with them their joys and
sorrows.  "His closet, the sanctuary, the meeting for
social prayer, were his loved retreats, and next to these
the house of his friends."  For several years he was the
last survivor of his class, and for some time he was the
oldest graduate of Yale College. But at last his mission
on earth was ended, and on the 30th of January, 1856, he
was called by the Great Head of the Church to come up
higher. Though spared to the age of ninety-two years
and seven months, yet he, too, must die, and " as a shock
of corn fully ripe " he was gathered to his rest, while many
friends missed him, and greatly lamented his loss.
His funeral sermon was preached by Rev. John Woodbridge, D. D., from Prov. 13, 22: " A good man leaveth
an inheritance to his children's children."  He has passed
away, but " he being dead yet speaketh," and the influence
of his life and teachings will remain yet many years, and
future generations shall hear, and honor, the name of Rev.
PAYSON WILLISTON.
The next pastor of the church was Rev. Wm. Bement,
a native of Ashfield, and a graduate of Dartmouth College.
He was ordained on the 16th of October, 1833, by the
same council that dismissed Mr. Williston.  This ordination was one of the last examples of an ordination conducted after the manner of the fathers. The council
assembled on the previous day, and held a prolonged
public examination of the candidate, connecting devotional
exercises therewith.  A music teacher was on hand to
prepare the choir for a great occasion. An hour before the
ordination services, strings of carriages might be seen
coming in from neighboring towns. The council, having
assembled at an appointed place, marched in solemn pro



32           IHISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
cession to the meeting-house, where the waiting crowd,
extending quite a distance from the front door, parted to
the right and left and stood with uncovered heads until
the reverend procession had passed through the broad
aisle. After the conclusion of the public services, the
council-lreturned in like manner, to partake together of the
dinner provided for them, and the houses of the whole
parish were open for the entertainment of strangers.
On this occasion, the sermon was preached by Rev.
Samuel Osgood, D. D.; the Charge to the Pastor was
given by Rev. Payson Williston, D. D.; the Right Hand
of Fellowship by Rev. Sumner G. Clapp; the Address to
the People by Rev. Joseph Penny; and the Closing Prayer
by Rev. -H. P.- Chapin.
The pastorate of Mr. Bement extended over a period of
nearly seventeen years, and was productive of great good
to the church and people. He was a faithful pastor and
preacher, never shunning to declare unto his flock the
whole counsel of God. The fruits of his labors still remain.
He was strongly attached to his people, a public parting
from whom he could not endure. He therefore wrote a
most affectionate farewell address, which was read from the
pulpit, about a month after his dismissal.  Many will remember the occasion, and the deep and tender solicitude for
them, which breathed from every sentence of the address.
He left the people with the unanimous assurance, on their
part, 6' that -his departure was neither anticipated or desired
by them, that they esteem him highly in love, hold his
services in most grateful remembrance, and cordially approve of the views which he entertained of the Christian
ministry, and of the efforts which he has made to extend
the kingdom of the Redeemer."
During his ministry,.an organization was formed, which
took the name of the Young Men's Home Missionary




CHURCHES.                   33
Society, which pledged itself to the support of Rev. Melzar
Montague, a native of Westhampton, as a missionary in
Wisconsin. Mr. Montague was ordained here, October
29, 1844, on which occasion a sermon was preached by
Rev. Edward W. Hooker, D. D.
The third pastor in succession was Rev. Rollin S. Stone,
a graduate of Yale College. He was installed as pastor of
the church, Oct. 8, 1850, and dismissed at his own request,
July 26, 1852. The sermon at his installation was preached
by Rev. E. Y. Swift, now settled in Williamsburg. After
his dismission, a call was extended'to Rev. A. M. Colton
to become pastor of the church, which he accepted, and
was installed March 2, 1853, Rev. John Woodbridge,
D. D., delivering a discourse from I Cor. 1, 23-4. Mr.
Colton is a native of Georgia, Vt., a graduate of Yale
College, and was formerly pastor of the Congregational
Church in Amherst. He still labors with the people, by
whom he is greatly respected and beloved. Two or three
seasons of unusual religious interest, have blessed the
church during his pastorate, and many have been added to
its numbers,
The following list shows the persons who have been
deacons of the church since its organization, together with
the time of their appointment, and the length of time which
they held the office: -
Stephen Wright,          chosen 1786, served 21 years.
Benjamin Lyman,            66", 1786,  "   12  "
Obadiah Janes,             4-' 1788,  "   19   6
Joel Parsons,              "   1798,  "   15'"
Solomon Lyman,,             "   1807,'    18  "
Thaddeus Clapp,             "   1808,  "   33  "
Sylvester Lyman,.'  1813, 9'  20
Julius Hannum,              "   1825,  "    7  "
Ithamar Clark.,.,           "   1832,  "  25  "
3*




34            HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
1Eleazer W. Hannum,      chosen 1833,
Samuel Williston,          "   1841, served 11 years.
Luther Wright,              "   1857,
E. Alonzo Clark,           "   1857.
The present church edifice was built in 1836 and'7.
from a plan drawn by William F. Pratt of Northampton.
Mr. Pratt and Jason Clark were the contractors. The
corner stone was laid June 9, 1836. The house was dedicated March 16, 1837, on which occasion a sermon was
preached from Acts 8, 49, by the pastor, Rev. Mr. Bement,
Its dimensions are 80 by 50 feet, and it originally cost less
than $6,000. In the autumn of 1844, owing partially to
the increase of numbers, consequent upon the establishment
of Williston Seminary, the church edifice was enlarged by
the substitution of more capacious galleries. The building
was also set back fifty feet, and at Mr. Williston's expense
the spire remodeled, and built seventeen feet higher, and
%ai organ and clock introduced. In 1865, it was removed
from its original site to a location near by, and which, in
some respects, was more desirable. At that time the whole
interior was remodeled, the galleries lowered, the pews rebuilt, the walls neatly frescoed, a modern style of pulpit and
furniture introduced, and an addition made in the rear
of the house for the accommodation of the organ and
choir. The repairs were. made at a cost of more than
$5,000.
The present number.,of church members is 253. The
number in. 1833, at the..settlement of Mr. Bement, was
222.
In the year 1818, efforts were first made to establish a
Sabbath School here. The project was opposed by some,
on the ground that the children, if left to themselves, as
they necessarily would be after the dismission of the school,
would not conduct in a manner becoming the sanctity of




CHURCHES.                     35
the day; and it also was thought to be an innovation to
have a school on the Sabbath; but so earnest were the
friends of the enterprise that opposition finally ceased, and
a school organized in the district school house that stood
at the junction of Park and Main streets.
Hon. Samuel Williston and Rev. Solomon Lyman, then
in early life, were largely instrumental in its establishment
here, and neither they nor any others who have bestowed
their efforts in the behalf of this work have seen any reason
to regret the exertions which they have made. The enterprise gained in favor with the people, and has ever since
been sustained. It has met with an encouraging degree
of success during the thirty-eight years of its existence.
A hearty co-operation on the part of the parents, not only
by their sympathy, but by their presence, has been long
felt by those engaged in the school to be an essential requisite to the fullest degree of success.
The communion service which is in use by the church
was the gift of Mrs. Tirzah, widow of Luther Clapp.  She
died August 13, 1811. In her will she bequeathed $300
to the church and town, $35 of which, according to her
direction, was expended in the purchase of a pall cloth,
and the balance fell to the church.  In 1 846, a commodious
brick parsonage was erected on one of the pleasantest sites
in the town at an expense of $3,000, the greater portion
of which was built by Mlr. Williston, though the society
relinquished to him the old parsonage.
The church has been blessed with many revival seasons when the renewing and sanctifying influence of
the Holy Spirit have descended abundantly, bringing
blessings unspeakably great and precious to the church.
Particularly worthy of note are those which occurred in
the years 1789, 1806,'16,'23,'28,'31,'54,'58.




36             HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
THE PAYSON CHURCH AND SOCIETY.
The large increase of the population of the town, consequent upon the establishment of Williston Seminary, and
the removal of the button works from Haydenville to Easthampton, was though&to render it necessary that another
house of worship should be erected. The first meeting
for the organization of a second church was held July 8,
1852. It was voted that the church should bear the name
of the Payson Church. July 12, 1852, an invitation was
extended to Rev. R. S. Stone to become the pastor of the
new church and society, which was accepted. The church,
consisting originally of 100 members, was organized Dec.
28th of the same year, and the church edifice dedicated in
the evening of the same day. The dedication sermon was
delivered by Dr. N. Adams of Boston. The services of
installation were conducted as follows: —Sermon by Rev.
Dr. Hitchcock of Amherst College, from Romans 9, 1 —13.
Charge to the pastor by Rev. Mr. Root of Williamsburg,
Right Hand of Fellowship by Rev. Dr. Hall of Northampton, Installing Prayer by Rev. Mr, Judd of Whately.
Address to the people by Rev. Mr. Clapp of Brattleboro,
Hon. Samuel Williston and Dr. Atherton Clark weife
chosen deacons. E. A. Hubbard served as church clerk
until 1855, when C. B. Johnson, Esq., was chosen, and
he has since held that office. Sath Warner was the first
treasurer of the society, and has been. the treasurer
of the church from its formation.  Lucius Preston has
for a number of years filled. the office of treasurer of the
society.
The church at;its commencement was very unfortunate
in their house of worship. Three houses have been erected,
of which two were destroyed hy: flre, and the third partially
destroyed by the falling of the steeple. The first house,




CHURCHES.                     37
which was erected in 1852, was burned on Sabbath
morning, January 29, 1854, the fire having caught from
the furnace.  There was nb insurance.  The erection
of the second building was commenced early the following spring, and September 1, 1854, when more than
half finished, was again destroyed by fire. The walls and
foundation were partially saved, but there was no insurance, and the loss was almost wholly borne by Mr. Williston. Instead of being disheartened by these losses, the
society, with an energy worthy of much praise, immediately
commenced the erection of a third building, which was
completed in 1855, and dedicated September 6th, of that
year, on which occasion a sermon was preached by Rev.
Mr. Stone, from Psalms 132, 8. The cost of this house,
exclusive of bell, &c., was about $14,000, which was borne
by Mr. Williston. In this, as in the first case, the bell,
$560, was given by Mr. Seth Warner, the organ,;2,500,
by Hon. H. G. Knight, and the furniture by the society.
The house was of brick, 87 by 50 feet, with a tower projection of 15 feet, and a pulpit recess of 9 feet.  The spire
was 163 feet in height, and of beautiful proportions,
While its work of rebuilding was in progress the society
held its meetings at the Town Hall.'"The First church
and society kindly invited their sister society to meet with
them, but preferring to keep their pastor employed and
their organization in good condition, and for the further
reason that the house with both societies would be too
crowded, the invitation was, with many thanks, declined."
When the second house was destroyed, the parsonage near
by was also burned.  The pastor also sustained considerable loss by the destruction and damage to furniture, &c.
While the third church edifice was being built, the society
erected another parsonage of brick. It cost, besides the
land and foundation, about $4,000. Mr. Williston and
Mr. Knight each contributed $1,400 for this object.




38            HISTORY OF EASTHIAMPTON.
Early in the morning of January 2, 1862, the tall spire of
the church was blown down by a high wind. It fell upon
the roof of the building, entirely demolishing it, and laying
the interior in ruins. The organ and desk, however,
escaped injury. The vestry remained unharmed, and in
this room the congregation held their public services while
the upper part was being rebuilt. At this time an addition
was made to the building in the rear, to furnish a recess
for the organ and choir behind the pulpit.  "The dimensions of the present church edifice are as follows:-External
length of the main body, 89 feet by 50 in width; height
of spire, 163 feet; organ recess, 27 by 19 feet. The audience room is 75 by 48, below, and in the gallery 87 by
48, adding the space above the porch. The total expense
of building and rebuilding the church thus far cannot fall
below $50,000. By far the larger part of this has been
the immediate gift of one man, the son of a poor minister,
the first pastor of the First church in this place."'
Rev. Mr. Stone retained his connection as pastor of the
church until January 21, 1863. During his ministry over
the church, extending through a period of a little more
than ten years, Mr. Stone labored with zeal and fidelity
for their upbuilding.  He was with them during all their
reverses and discouragements, and shared these in sympathy with his people. His ministry was blessed in the
hopeful conversion of many. The addition of converts
averaged about one a month during this time, though at a
little more than half the communion seasons there were
no additions.
In the fall of the same year, the church and society extended an invitation to Rev. S. T. Seelye, D. D., of
Albany, to become their pastor. He accepted the invitation, and was installed October 14, 1863. Since that
time he has continued to labor among the people, by whom




CHURCHES.                   39
he is held in high esteem. His labors have been blessed
with much success, and many have been added tc the
church. Its present number of members is 345, of whom
113 are males, and 232 females. The additions during
1865 were 33 on profession and 10 by letter. The number dismissed was 20, died 7, making a net gain of 16
during the year.
The following persons have been chosen to fill the office
of deacon since the organization of the church:-Dr. Atherton Clark, Nov. 14, 1852; Samuel WTilliston, Nov. 14,
1852; Charles B. Johnson, Aug. 29, 1861; Ansel B.
Lyman, Aug. 29, 1861; Seth Warner, June 2, 1864; E.
A. Hubbard, June 2, 1864; E. H. Sawyer, March 1, 1866.
THE METHODIST CHURCH AND SOCIETY.
The establishment of the manufacturing business here
brought into the town a number of persons connected with
the Methodist denomination. The growth of the town, it
was thought, would soon necessitate the erection of another
house of worship. Rev. Mr. Potter, a preacher connected
with the Methodist Conference, was engaged, and meetings
were held on the Sabbath in the Town Hall. This was
in the year 1850 or'51. The enterprise, however, did
not meet with sufficient success to warrant the formation
of a society, and after a time it was abandoned. Many of
its friends became connected with the Payson church on
its organization soon after. For ten years nothing more
was done by this denomination. During the fall and
winter of 1862, prayer meetings were established in private
houses by a few individuals, which awakened considerable
religious interest. This interest extended, and meetings
were held in a hall provided for that purpose. During
the progress of this work of grace, large numbers were
awakened, and very many professed an interest in Christ.




40             HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
The preliminary steps in the formation of a society were
taken in the last of'62. Its organization was fully effected
in April, 1863, when Rev. S. Jackson was, appointed its
first pastor. This new movement soon commended itself
to public confidence, by the good it was accomplishing,
particularly among those not hitherto reached by the other
societies.
At a town meeting held in the fall of 1864, the town,
witb great liberality, donated to the society a piece of land
in the center of the village, on which to erect a house of
worship.
Late in the summer of 1865 they broke ground for the
erection of a church, 50 by 80 feet, and the work of building has been pushed forward with commendable rapidity,
till the exterior is at present nearly completed. The style
is somewhat unique in this section of the state, being the
"pure early English Gothic," the style immediately following the "Norman Gothic," and preceding the " decorated English Gothic," and " a favorite on account of its
purity and simplicity."  The estirrratid cost is $13,000.
It is expected to be completed early in: the ensuing fall.
The society numbers about 350. The church membership
is nearly 150.
In the spring of 1866, Rev. Mr. Jackson was called
to labor elsewhere, and the church is now under the pastoral care of Rev. Franklin Furber. Mr. Jackson was
highly esteemed during his stay -here, not only among his
own people, but throughout the community.




CHAPTER  III 
EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS.
rUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The first school which was taught in town, of which we
have any reliable record, was at Pascorftmuck, in the year
i739. At that time, Northampton appropriated a sum of
money for a school there. There is no account of any
further appropriation until 1748. In this year, and in
nearly every subsequent year, they gave money for-schooling
at Bartlett's Mill, and at Pascommuck. The wages of
teachers in those times appear small in comparison with
what teachers now receive.  Six shillings a week were paid
to Obadiah Janes, Philip Clark, Joel Parsons and others
for keeping school in their own districts, when they boarded
themselves.  If the teacher lived out of the district more
was sometimes paid. Then only the rudiments of educat
tion, as they are now considered, were taught. Perhaps,
however, their education was as sufficient for the wants of
those times as is ours for the wants of the present day.
Science and literary culture were comparatively little advanced, while popular education was, as it were, still in its
infancy. At all events, this training prepared them to
perform well their part in cherishing the liberties which the
Pilgrim Fathers sought in coming to these shores.
At, meeting of the freeholders of Easthampton soon
4




42            HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
after its incorporation, ~15.were raised for the use of
schools, of which, at this time, there were probably but
three. The same sum was annually appropriated until
1793, when it was increased to ~20. Since that time the
pecuniary provision for schools has more than kept pace
with the increasing number of children.
In 1807   $200 were raised for the use of schools.
" 1820    220       "         "    "
" 1830    300       "        "   "
" 1840'   360       c " 
1" 1850    600       6'    h "
" 1860   1200       "       C'6' 1865   2200               cc 
" 1866   35'00  "' 
Besides the sum raised in 1866 for the:-sapport of
schools, the sum of $3800 was appropriated for building
new school houses.
In 1797 the town was first divided into school districts,
of which there were four. Nashawannuck comprised that
section of the town bounded on the south by Manhan xriiver,
and west by Saw-mill brook. The ~West district was
bounded on the south by Manhan river, and east by Sawmill brook. Pascommuck was bounded on the north by
Manhan river, and.an.the -west by Broad brook. The
Center district, comprised nearly, all the remaining portion,
though a few,families in the extreme southeastern part
were included in, no district. At a later period the town
was divided into six districts.
At first the management of the school was left entirely
in the hands of the district, the money raised by the town
being equitably apportioned to the- several districts, and
by them spent according to their discretion. Later, however, a general committee was appointed, whose duty it
was to examine teachers, and -visit the schools to inquire




EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS.             43
into their progress, The hiring of teachers, the disbursement of the money, and the ownership of the school houses
were still in the hands of the district. In 1864, by vote
of the town, the districts were abolished, and the whole
control of the schools passed into the hands of the general
committee, the town purchasing the school houses of the
several districts. To this measure there was considerable
opposition, and time will be required to show whether or
not it was a wise course.
In the spring of 1864, it was voted to establish a high
school, and a sum of money appropriated to purchase a
site, and provide materials for the erection of a suitable
building for this purpose.  The building was completed
in the-summer of 1865, at a total cost of $15,000. It was
dedicated August 29, 1865. The building is a very fine
one, and an ornament to the place. It is capable of
accommodating 212 scholars.
The rapid increase in the population of the town has
called for the erection of several new school houses.
During the past year, there were 12 schools held, with an
aggregate attendance during the summer and fall terms
of. 518.
WILLISTON SEMINARY.
Any notice of the leading features in the history of
Easthampton would-not be complete without mention of
the Seminary established there by the extraordinary munif.
icence of the Hon. Samuel Williston.
"This Institution," says Mr. Luther Wright, in his
Historical Sketch of Easthampton, "originated in a desire
to extend the advantages of a thorough training in the
elements of an English and classical education. The idea
of such a school was suggested sometime before the close
of 1840; but it was not fully and finally decided to found




94            IHISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
and locate it here till December of that year, or in January,
1841. In February following, it was incorporated with
ihe power to hold $50,0-00 for educational purposes.  It
was opened for the admission of students Dec. 2, 1841.
"The founder of this Seminary and its early friends,
hoped that the existence of such a school, of the high order
they contemplated, would greatly promote the interests of
Academical education in Western Massachusetts.  It was
not their aim merely to multiply Academies. These, such
as they were, were already quite numerous, enough in this
region.  But they had either a very small endowment, or
none at all; and were generally farmed or let out to teachers, who kept up schools, in the best way they could,
through the year, or a part of it. There could seldom be
any division of labor in,-teaching, for want of funds to procure a suitable number of competent teachers. The minds
of the teachers were often distracted by the many recitations they were obliged to hear, in a manner as unsatisfactory to themselves as to their pupils. And then, again,
there was a lack of discipline in these Academies generally,
so essential to the existence of a good school. It was not
strange that the motive to have as large a number as possible connected with the Academy —because the more
students the more salary-should often have had too strong
an influence in retaining scholars. And as no school can
be distinguished for thoroughness of instruction unless
equally marked in its character for strictness of discipline,
it was deemed an object of great moment to the interests
0f~ education in this region that an academical institution
should be established, with a sufficient endowment, on the
one hand, to allow the employment of an adequate number
of competent teachers, with the necessary divison of labor
in teaching; and on the other hand, that these teachers
should be independents in the. control and. government of




EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS.,              45
their pupils. Strictness in discipline, and thoroughness in
instruction, with the word of God, were to constitute the
true basis of the new institution.  Its crowning excellence
was to consist of a faithful application, on the part of the
teachers, of the great principles of the Bible to the consciences, intellects and hearts'of their pupils.  Unless the
above named objects were kept steadily in view by the
teachers, and as steadily pursued, the existence of the
Seminary was not demanded.  With these sure elements
of prosperity, and amply endowed, as itmay be, to enable
the teachers to accomplish the designs in view, its estabIishment was regarded, at the time it was founded, as an
object of the highest importance. The fact, that, within a
few years after it went into operation, thousands of our
youth had availed themselves of its advantages, is evidence
of the. high estimation in which it was held by the public,
and also of the wisdom of its establishment. Of these thou~
sands, many have completed their collegiate course, many.ethers are now  in college, while- several hundred more,
having been greatly aided here in qualifying themselves as
teachers in our common schools, have been and still are
engaged in that important sphere of duty.  One great
object in view in the establishment of the Seminary, was
to raise up and qualify common school teachers for their
employment."
In the Constitution of -the Seminary, Mr. Williston, in
the exercise of a just regard for the moral as well as the
intellectual welfare of the members of the school, throws
about them these wholesome restrictions: —
" And in particular, no student shall board in any profane or otherwise vicious family, or where intoxicating
drinks are sold or used as a beverage, or where-the influence of the family is, in any way, prejudicial to the morals
of youth, or hostile to the great interests of the Seminary.
4



46             HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
"To preclude all misunderstanding of the design of
Williston Seminary, I declare again in conclusion, that the
primary and principal object of the Institution is the glory
of. God in the extension of the Christian Religion, and in
the promotion of true piety among men; that the discipline of the mind in all its, noble faculties is, and should
be deemed, next in importance; and.that in subservience
to these paramount ends, the several branches of useful
knowledge, above mentioned, should be assiduously cultivated. Accordingly, I hereby ordain and require that the
school exercises. of. each day shall be opened and closed,i4th. the' reading,:of the.:Scriptutres, and prayer; that at
some convenient and suitable hour of. each. week an exercise
in the Bible, either a lecture. or.. recitation, as may be
thought best, shall be held for the ben-fit of the whole
school,; that, by precept and example, the teachers shall
encourage the pupils in holding occasional meetings for
social religious worship.; and at other times and in other
ways they shall take frequent opportunities to impart moral
and religious instruction to the members of the Seminary.
And that all these efforts may not be thwarted by the
influence cf bald nmembers, it is proper and indispensable
thajt great pains be taken, both by trustees and teachers,
for the prompt removal, by private dismission or public
expulsion, as the case may require, of any incorrigibly
indolent, disorderly, profane, or otherwise vicious youth
from all connection with the Seminary."
The first Principal of the Institution was Rev. Luther
Wright, a native of, the, town, and one who sympathized
fully with the founder. in the object aimed at in the establishment ofthe school, and,in the method by which that
end;was to be attained. Indeed, it may be said that to
himiinno small degree.is the town and the community indebted for its, establishment here, and for its success. The




EDUCA.TIONAL INTERESTS.               47
original building, which was of wood, was burned March
4, 1857. Its place was supplied with a large brick building, completed near the close of the same year, at a cost of
about $20,000.
Before this time, however, a second building, constructed
of brick, had been erected, in which the chemical and
philosophical department found accommodation.  In it
there was also a large school-room, and a recitation room
adjoining, while the upper story and wing were occupied
for student's rooms.
In. the fall of 1863, the foundation for a gymnasium was
laid. Owing partly to a scarcity of building materials, it
was not completed and ready for occupancy until the summner term of 1865. It may safely be said to be one of the
finest gymnasiums in the country, and the excellent opportunity it affords to.students for regular systematic exercise,
cannot fail to be beneficial, and it certainly adds another
attraction to the many which the institution already possessed. It has on the lower floor four bowling alleys,
besides adjoining rooms for recitation, for washing, and for
dressing. In the upper part is a capacious gallery for spectators, besides. the.;floor -for exercise.  The structure is
80x50 feet, with a tower 102 feet in height, and cost,
together with the land, over $20,000.
Last year the chemical laboratory was entirely remodeled, and new apparatus purchased, for which $2,500 was
expended.  In the philosophical department, also, new
apparatus was obtained, to the amount of $3,000.  A
new dormitory, which is to be of brick, and four stories
in height, is in process of erection.  It stands near
where the First Congregational church stood, and is to be
erected at an estimated cost of $50,000. With the exception of one school-room, it is to be occupied with sleeping
paartments. The buildings, grounds, apparatus, fixtures,




48             HISTORY OF EASTHAMaPTON.
furniture and working capital of the institution, will amount
to not less than $225,000.
In 1863, Rev. Josiah Clark, who was the second Principal of the Seminary, which place he had held during a
period of fourteen years, resigned his position, much to
the regret of the members of the Seminary, and others.
He was succeeded by Rev. Marshall Henshaw, who had
been Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy in
Rutgers College. He still occupies the post, and since his
appointment has discharged its duties with fidelity.
During the twenty-five years of the existence of the Institution, a large number of students have here laid the
foundation for a classical education, many of whom are
now engaged as ministers of the gospel at home or abroad,
and a still larger number, probably, have here studied the
advanced branches of an English course. The Seminary
has many times, especially during its early history, been
blessed with the gracious outpourings of God's spirit, when
many have been led to the Saviour.
Its influence, through those who have gone forth from
it, has been very wide spread, and, from its large endowment, we can feel assured that this influence will bo
permanent,




CH]APTER  IVy.
EARLY CIVIL AND MILITARY HISTORY.
We have now- considered the early history- of the town,
the hardships which. our fathers endured, and the perils
which they encountered from  the hostile Indians.  We
have seen their incotporation as a district, differing only
from, a town in that they were denied the right of representation.  We have followed out the history of the
oricinal church, and, of those since, founded.  What re.
mains to be said of its subsequent history will perhaps be
more conveniently given under different heads, which will
be successively presented.
A remarkable unanimity of sentiment has always prevailed. amopng its inhabitants, on political subjects.  In
the time of Jefferson, and before, the town was strongly
federal. Not more than six or eight votes were cast for the
candidates for the Democratic party. After the Federalist
party became extinct in name, the WVhigs, who held, in the
main, their principles, were greatly in the ascendant; and,
since the organization of the Republican party, it has
polled about nine-tenths of the vote of the town.
While, however, the people have been as enthusiastic in
their political associations and preferences as those of any
other section, these have not exercised a controlling inPfluence in. the choice of town officers.  Here, merint and




50             HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
fitness for office, rather than party feeling, have directed in
the selection.
In the early Indian and the Revolutionary wars, the
history of this town is identified with that of Northampton. The citizens of this section, however, contributed
their full proportion of men and means.
Rev. Luther Wright, in his historical sketch of Easthampton, from which, by the way, together with the half
century sermon of Rev. Mr. Williston, we have derived
much assistance, says:-" It is not known exactly how
many, from what is now Easthampton, were engaged in the
war of the Revolution.  It is certain that among those engaged more or less in the service of their country, were
Capt. Joseph Clapp and Quartermaster Benjamin Clapp,
Dr. Stephen Wood and his sons, Daniel and David; the
father died in the service at West Point; John Clapp, who
was in the army four years, Benjamin Lyman, Jr., Stephen
Wright, Jr., David Clapp, who never returned, Levi Clapp,
Eliakim Clark, afterwards Captain, Moses Gouch, Barzillai
Brewer, and Wille, Chapman.. The last two died in the
army."
S-HAY S. REBELLION.
The first event which necessitated the callinig forth of
troops, after the Revolutionary war, was Shay's rebellion.
The expenses which had been incurred in carrying on the
war, the depreciation in value of paper currency, the heavy
taxation, and the extent of public and private indebtedness,
all contributed to bring about a state of popular discontent.
The amount of individual liabilities, and the consequent
legal action on the part of creditors to recover their dues,
had caused the people to grow restive under their burdens.
As is usual in such times, the government was held responsible for the distress. There were also certain demagogues, who were ready to embrace any opportunity to




EARLY CIVIL AND MILITARY HISTORY.      51
advance their own interests, by whatever means. Prominent among these was Daniel Shay. These added fuel to
the flame. Criminal courts were broken up at various
places, by lawless mobs. Conventions of the people were
held, to consider the grievances. Although these, at first,
disclaimed all connection with these riotous proceedings,
they only fanned the flame of discontent. Not content
with breaking up the inferior courts, they attempted to
break up the Supreme Judicial Court at Springfield; but
their designs were anticipated, and soldiers provided for
the emergency. Among th-ese was'a company of about
twenty, commanded by Capt. David Lyman and Lieut.
Noah Janes. We have been unable to find a record of-the
names of the members of this company, but it is believed
that the following list comprises nearly all: —Lemuel Lyman, Elijah Wright, Gideon Wright, Stephen Wright,
Levi Clapp, Thaddeus Clapp, Eleazar Hannum, Justice
Lymanj Eliakim Clark, Eleazar Clark, Enos Janes, Silas
Brown, Arad Brown, Job Strong, Israel Phelps, Zadok
Danks.
The rebellion culminated in an attempt to capture the
arsenal on Springfield hill. It was on the 25th of January, 1787.  The post was commanded by Gen. Shepard,
with 800 government troops. He warned the insurgents,
as they were advancing, to desist, but they gave no heed.
He then ordered his artillery to be fired, first at their right,
then at their left, and then over their heads, all of which
was done without effect. A volley was then fired among
them, when they dispersed. When it was known that this
attack was meditated, a small company of men, raised in
Southampton and Easthampton, started to reinforce the
government troops, but they were captured by a detachment of the insurrectionists. They were, however, only
held in custody two or three days, in consequence of the




52            HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTO'
defeat at Springfield, There was buit a single person in
Easthampton who was active in the rebellion, and but few
who sympathized with it, and these were the old tories of
the Revolution.
The people felt that their liberties had been gained at
too dear a price of blood and treasure, for them to surrender them  into the hands of a few demagogues, or to lift
their hands against the state, even though there were -some
causes of dissatisfaction.
THIE- WAR of 1812.
When the second war with England arose, the citizens of
this town, in common* ith other parts of New England, opposedit. They regarded the mother country as "sstZruggling
against a monster of'political iniquity, whose success they
regarded as the greatest of all political evils." That there
were grievance's, they did not doubt. But they believed that
England never would have resorted to the impressment of
seamen, except to save herself from the grasp of France.
They considered an appeal to arms as the last resort of an
aggrieved party. -At a mee'ting of the'town, July 6, 1812,
it was voted to oppose a war with England. Voted, also,.
that the selectmen be a committee to send a'memorial toCongress, and also "' a committee of safety,' to receive information for public safety, upondn public affairs." Thaddeus
Clapp was appointed a delegate to the'c0ounty convention,
held at Northampton, for the purpose of " considering the
duty of government upon the War question."' Their opposition to the war was only in prirnciple, and did not lead
them  to any acts of open'resistance. A company was
called for from Southampton and Easthampton, to go to
Boston and defend it against an anticipated attack from
the British. The following persons were drafted: —John
Alpress, Elisha Alvord, Worcester Avery, Levi Brown,




EARLY CIVIL AND MILITARY HISTORY.       53
George Clapp, James Clapp, Philip Clark, Gershon Danks,
Stephen Hendrick, Moses Gouch, Luther Pomeroy, Spencer Pomeroy, Jesse Ring, Harris Wight, Collins Wood,
Ebenezer Wood. Thaddeus Parsons was Lieutenant of
the Company.
Jesse Coats of this town, was at the samte t'ime'a memo
ber of the Northampton Artillery Company, which did
service at the same time.




CHAPTER  V.
MANUFACTURES.
Agriculture being the principal employment of the
people, manufactures received but little attention until
the year 1847, when Mr. Williston  commenced his
operations at Broad Brook. There is however, one branch
of that department of industry which, although less
important and now out of date, deserves a passing notice.
Probably about the year 1780, Jonathan Clapp commenced the business of fulling cloth. He occupied a
portion of the grist-mill, where for a number of years he
carried on the business, receiving the cloth which had been
woven in the various families of the surrounding towns,
and "fulling-" it, as it was termed, an operation by
which it was thickened and rendered firmer. The customary charge for fulling was three cents a yard. After
undergoing this operation, it needed to be f' dressed" to
render it fit for clothing.
Soon after, Capt. Joseph Clapp built a fulling mill on
Broad Brook, a short distance below the button and suspender factories, where he not only fulled cloth, but colored and dressed it, for which he charged twenty-five cents
per yard. There were but few mills of this description
in this region, and hence he carried on quite a flourishing
business.




MANUFACTURES.                  55
In the year 1792, or 1793, Thaddeus Clapp, son of
Joseph, went to Worthington, and engaged in this business, but in consequence of a failure of his supply of water,
he soon returned and entered into copartnership with his
father. This relation existed until the death of the latter
in 1797, when the works were removed to Manhan river
near the grist-mill. After the business was given up by
Mr. Clapp it was conducted  successively.by Roswell
Knight, by Lowell E. and Jason Janes, then by Janes &
Alvord, and lastly by Janes & Ferry.  In 1835, by the
last named persons the old shop was torn down, and the
building, now occupied by H. B. Shoals, as a tannery, was
erected for the manufacture of satinet.  It was filled with
machinery and run until 1837, when cloths were sold for
less than the first cost of the wool. The works were consequently suspended. The first power loom ever run in
this town was started in that mill. When hand looms
were superseded by water power looms, the necessity for
mills of this description ceased to exist. They had performed their part in the progress of manufactures, and
must give way before its further advance. Its priority of
date, and not its extent, entitles this branch to the first
mention, for when it is compared with the extensive manufacturing interests of the town at present, it seems,small
indeed.
The real history of this branch of industry in this town,
may be said to have commenced with Hon. Samuel Williston, who is known abroad, not so much as a man of
business and wealth, as he is as a munificent patron of education.  ~Williston Seminary, which he founded, and which
ranks second to none in the land as a preparatory school,
-Amherst College, which holds no unenviable position
among the first class colleges in the country, A position
which it owes in no small degree to his beaefactions, —Mt.




56            HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
Holyoke Seminary, pioneer and princess among institutions for the advanced education of young women,-these
have given him his reputation, and tell the story better
than words of ours can do, But the ability to do all
this. he owes, under God, to his great success as a manufacturer.
He commenced the sewed button business here, as early
as 1827, and continued it for quite a number of years.
WTith good management it constantly increased. At one
time he gave employment to as many as a thousand families, who resided in towns as far north as Hatfield, east to
Oranby,, south to West Springfield, and west to Peru., He
also engaged somewhat largely in the manufacture of silk
twist buttons. They were made by winding twist upon
wooden molds of different shapes and sizes. They were
used upon expensive garments, and hence did not take the
place of sewed buttons. In 1836, while in New York
making sales, he came across some buttons imported from
England, called the " Florentine flexible shank button."
The thought suggested itself to his mind, that they might
as well be made here as in England,, and, with this idea,
he purchased a quantity of them, brought them home, and
carried. them to Messrs. J.oel and Josiah Hayden of Wilt.
liamsburg, who had made a.large quantity of button molds
for him. An engagement was entered into, according to
which they were to invent the machinery, and manufacture the buttons, while he was to furnish the money and
make the sales; they were to undertake the mechanical,.
and he the commercial part, and the profits were to be
shared.
This business was comparatively new iA this country.
Several attempts had been made. to, manufacture, buttons.
covered by machinery, but the degree of success which.td rewarded these endeavors was not such as to encour,




MANUFACTURES.                    57
age the further continuance of the enterprise, which required the most complicated machinery and the most
skillful management. The work was however undertaken,
and the winter of 1833-4 was spent in efforts to invent
and construct the proper machinery.
In the early part of 1834, Mr. Williston met, in New
York, Francis Sidney, a Creole, who had been employed
in one of the large button manufacturing establishments
in England, and understood the making of buttons. He
was engaged to come to Haydenville and assist in constructing the machinery, in which work he rendered essential aid. He introduced a radical change in the character
of the button machinery, as it had been before employed
and attempted, and was the author of some of the distinctive features of the business as since carried on, though
no process of his introduction is now in use.
By the 4th of July one covering, machine was in readi.
ness, and on that day the first buttons were covered by
Miss Elvira Clappof Southampton.  This was the beginning of the button) business- as it now exists here.  It
speaks highly for the mechanical skill and ingenuity of the
Messrs. Hayden, and of those machinists whom.they employed, thattheyi were ab'le-to ensure success: to an enterprise so fraught with difficulty, as the invention and con,
struction of machinery for making buttons.
In a few years, Josiah Hayden sold out his ihterest
in the concern to his brother, and in 484,7 Mr. Williston
bought the interest.:.of Joel Hayden, and in the following year transferred-:the works to Easthampton, where he
erected a building 97 by.. 45 feet, three stories high, besides an attic.  About this time he took in Horatio G.
Knight and afterwards Seth Warner as partners.  Since
that time, the business has been carried on by. the firm of
Williston, Knight & Co., until: Dec;. 1, 186.5,-.when the
5!k.




HISTORY, OF EASRtHAMPTO@N
partnership expired, andi a stock company, called the
"National Button Company," was formed, with a capital
of $150,000.  Of this company Mr. Williston is President,
and its Treasurer is Mr. Knight, who for a number of years
has been the active manager of the business.
The manufacture of sewed buttons did not entirely
cease with the introduction of the " flexible shank button,'but they were gradually superseded by them, so that the
former are now entirely out of date.
This company gives employment to 125 hands,, and
turns out 1200 gross of buttons daily, of over 300 kinds,
including shape, size, quality, color and material. They
expect soon to be able to produce 1500 gross daily. A
great deal of silk and brocade fabric is used,. which
renders the material quite costly.  The value of stock,
annually consumed is $60,000, and that of the manufactured products $1 60,000.  The building at present:
occupied is 106 by 30 feet, with a wing 40 by 20. It was
built in 1861; At that time the one at first erected was.
leased to.the Goodyear Elastic Fabric Co..The button business requires, close calculation, and rig,
id economy in its management.  There has been from th-efirst great competition, both in the sewed and manufactured button.  It is a fact worthy of note, that almost all
who have embarked in the enterprise have failed.
In 1848 and 9, Mr. Williston erected a brick building
by the side of the button factory, to be occupied in. the
manufacture of suspender webbing, which business he continued in his own name until 1852, when he sold out to a
joint stock company, which had obtained,. a charter fromn
the Legislaturr.
It' assumed the name of the Nashawannuck Manufacturing Co. Mr. Williston has been President, and E. H.
~awyer, Treasurer and Agent, since its first organ



MANUFACTURES,                    59
ization.  These gentlemen, together with H. G.. Knight,
are the principal stockholders who reside in Easthampton,
while there are'large owners of stock in New York,
Boston, and other places.
The capital of the company was originally $100,000,
was afterwards'at different periods increased to $125,000,
$140,000, and $200,000, and is now $300,000 while they
have been empowered by the Legislature to increase the
capital to $500,000.
At the time of their organization the company purchas-:d the right to use Chas. Goodyear's vulcanized rubber in
all kinds of woven goods. This purchase almost gave
them the monopoly of this branch of business, and has
contributed largely to their success. They afterward disposed of this right to the Goodyear Elastic Fabric Co.,
and the Glendale Vulcanized Rubber Co., reserving to
themselves only the right to use it in suspenders and
frills..
The business flourished in their hands to  such  an
extent, that in 1855 it became necessary to erect another.
building to supply their increasing trade.. In 1856 they
purchased of Atwater & Bristol their suspender works in
New Haven, and for four years manufactured goods in
that place. In 1860 that property was destroyed by fire,,
at considerable loss.  Instead of rebuilding there, they put'
up.ia factory here, filling the space between the two others:
occupied'by them.  thus making one continuous structure
315 feet in length, and about 40 in breadth, to which is
now added a wing extending back. In, addition to this,.
they occupy a large three story building as; an office, fin —
ishing and store room, togetheriwith several smaller buildihgs inh the rear of the main factory.  Until 1860 they
used the lower floor of Williston, Knight, & Co.'s button
factory, in the manufacture of cotton yarn fort their own,




60            HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
use. Such was their increase of business, however, that
they were obliged to purchase monthly several thousand
dollars worth of cotton yarn, and it was therefore thought
best to abandon the making of yarn altogether. Accordingly they disposed of their cotton spinning machinery to Mr. Williston, who was then contemplating the
establishment of this branch of business here.
A little later they organized a new company for the
manufacture of rubber thread, to which they sold their
rubber machinery, and entirely relinquished this department of their manufactures, thus confining themselves
more closely to their own proper work, the weaving of
suspenders and other webbing.
This company whose beginnings were small, has prospered exceedingly. Its stock has been very valuable and
its dividendslarge. In- the aggregate they have turned
out an immense amount of goods of the best quality.
The increase of business may be seen in the fact, that, in
1852, they manufactured and sold goods to the amount of
only $100,000, while in 1865 the value of manufactured
products was about $1,200,000, which, even considering
the enhanced prices of these times, is a large increase.
They are now owners of all the real estate which they
occupy, having recently bought of Mr. Williston that portion of it which they previously rented;. and, they now own
about half the water power at -the. upper! mills, which is
sufficient for all their purposes. The present capacity of
their works is 4000 dozen pair of suspenders per week,
and, in' addition —to'this, about 50,000,yards of frills and
other narrow -webbing.
They own thirty-two tenements and four:boarding houses,
run about' 150'looms, and, during the year 1865, paid for
yarn, $238,000; for buckles, $35,000; about $15,000 for
dye-stuffs; and $72,000 for rubber thread, while for labor,




MIANUFACTURES.                 61
their expenditure amounted to $83,000 together with
nearly $40,000 paid by the finishing department for the
making up of suspenders from the webbing. Their revenue
tax during the same year was $42,209. The number of
hands to whom regular employment is given is 300
in:addition to which about one thousand families are
engaged, more or less in stitching suspenders.
In the spring of 1859, Mr. Williston commenced the
erection of a building for the manufacture of cotton yarn,
partly for the supply of the Nashawannuck Co.  The
location was about three fourths of a mile from the other
factories in a northerly direction, on the same stream,
where for many years a saw mill had stood.
The ground was very rough and uneven, and a largq
-amount of grading was required -to be done before the
foundation could be laid. When this had been partially
done, and work upon the foundation was progressing, an
unexpected obstacle presented itself in the shape of a boiling spring. This threw out large quantities of water, and
for a time seemed to defy all efforts to lay a solid foundation, and, to build a dam. At last this difficulty seemed to
have been overcome, and work on the building went forward. In about a year from its beginning it was finished,
and work commenced.
But this spring, and the surrounding bed of quicksand,
were destined to give still further trouble. In consequence.of these, the'water in the pond undermined the dam, and
carried it off, together with a part of the factory. This
took place shortly after its completion.  Thus, not only
was a heavy loss incurred, but work in the mill was delayed
several months. Mr. Williston, however, set resolutely
about repairing the breach, which he completed by winter.
This time, no attempt was made to build a dam in the old
place, but it was constructed a short distance further up




62            HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
the stream, and the water brought to the mill in a canal.
It seemed now that this arrangement might be permanent;
but here again they were doomed to disappointment. In
March, 1863, the water burst through the bank of the
canal, near the trunk which conveyed the water to the
water wheel. It tore away the road, and did considerable
damage. One engine was: already in the mill, and another
was immediately obtained, so that operations in the mill
were only suspended for a few days. Repairs on the dam,
which was at this time rebuilt in its original place, occupied
four or five months.
Before this event, the cost of the establishment, including
tenements, water privileges, &c., was upwards of $100,000.
Since that time, the capacity of the mill has been more
than doubled by large additions, It has eleven thousand
spindles, and gives employment to more than 175
hands. The quantity of cotton consumed annually is
about 550,000 pounds, and the capital invested, $250,000.
The yarn spun is of the finest quality, equal to the
best English.  It is twisted under water.  The mill,
taken as a whole, is one of the best of its kind in America,
probably the only one in the state. The machinery is of
the most approved patents. Quite a village has sprung
up about the mill, where, a few years ago, were no houses.
About fifty tenements are owned by the company, which
consists of S. Williston, J. Sutherland, and M. H. Leonard.
Their increasing business demanded the erection of a
new factory, preparations for which were begun in the
summer of 1865. On the 15th of August, the first stone
of the foundation was laid, and in four months the walls
were up, and the building covered. It is 200 by 68 feet,
and is four stories high, besides an attic. It is the largest
building in town, and its capacity is 18,000 spindles,
and will give employment to about 200 hands. The




MANUFACTURES.                  63
estimated production of the new mill, when in full operation,
is about the same in quantity as in the other, though the
yarn and thread made is to be finer than in that. The
working capital of the company, including the factories,
tenements, machinery, land, &c., when the whole establishment is complete, will be between $700,000 and
and $800,000.
In 1861, the Goodyear Elastic Fabric Co. was formed,
whose principal business was the manufacture of elastic
cloth, to be used in shoes. They leased the mill, originally
occupied by Williston, Knight & Co., and carried on their
operations there until recently, when they sold out to the
Glendale Manufacturing Company.
In 1862, a company, consisting of H. G. Knight and
E. H. Sawyer, of Easthampton, and Wm. and C. G. Judson,
of New York, was organized under the title of the Glendale
Vulcanized Rubber Co., with a capital of $50,000. Their
business was the manufacture of elastic cord, frills, &c.,
which they commenced at Glendale, on the Manhan river,
in the western portion of the town. They enlarged and
occupied a building which had been erected by Gregory
& Wells, for the manufacture of twine and batting.
In 1864, a large brick factory was erected near the railroad depot in Easthampton, by the Rubber Thread Co.,
the two upper stories of which the Glendale Co. rented,
and now occupy. In April, 1865, the capital of this company was increased to $100,000, and in June of the same
year, to $250,000, at which time they bought out the
Goodyear Elastic Fabric Co.  They now employ about
350 hands, and consume stock at the rate of about
$250,000 per annum.  They manufacture elastic cloth
for shoes, all kinds of elastic cord, frills, &c. They
now occupy four mills with the exception of the lower
story of one of them.  Their business is rapidly in



64            HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
creasing, and quite likely will soon call for a further increase of capital. The President of this company is C. G.
Judson, of New York, and its Treasurer, J. S. Lovering,
of Boston. Both the Glendale and the Nashawannuck
companies now obtain their rubber from the Easthampton
Rubber-Thread Co., which was formed in the fall of 1863,
with H. G. Knight as its President, and Seth Warner
Treaeurer and general Agent. Its capital is $100,000.
They carry on work in the lower story of the factory
erected by them, employ about twenty hands, and supply
nearly all the manufacturers in the country, who employ
rubber thread in their business, The amount of rubber
consumed during the last six months has been about
100,000 pounds.
Mention should be made of the Gas Co., which was
organized September 7, 1864, with a capital of $20,000On the 23d of April, 1866, it was increased to $30,0000.
E. Ferry is President of the company, and Iorace L.
Clark, Treasurer.
Thus, in less than twenty years from the erection of the
first factory by Mr. Williston, a manufacturing interest has
grown up here, which employs, or will probably soon
employ, $1,600,000 capital, and which paid during the
year 1865, not less than $100,000 revenue tax. By the
census of May, 1865, it appears that the manufacturing
concerns in the town, employed $850,000 capital, cons
sumed stock annually to the value of $1,247,000,.and produced goods to the value of $1,675,000. The increase of
capital since that time, will be attended by an increase of
consumption and production, though, perhaps, not in a
full ratio of that increase. These amounts appear somewhat larger than they otherwise would, from the fact that
a portion of what is given as manufactured product by two
of the companies, appears as stock consumed by two others.




MANUFACTURES.                    65
The figures are, of course, further enhanced by the present
high prices; but the quantity of stock consumed, and of
goods produced, will, no doubt, go on increasing with the
material growth of our country,
As intimately connected with the manufacturing interest
we may with propriety notice here the First National Bank
of Easthampton, which was organized April 29, 1864, with
a capital of $150,000.  Mr. Williston has held the office
of President, and Mr. Knight that of Vice President since
its organization. E. A. Hubbard was the first Cashier, a
position which he resigned on his appointment as superintendent of the public schools in Springfield.  Chas. E.
Williams is at present its Cashier.
There is another enterprise, which, though not strictly
connected with manufactures, may yet be mentioned here
as properly as anywhere.
Upon the south end of Molut Tom'there are trwo
springs, which discharge dai-ly between six and ten thousand gallons of exceeingliy pure-coldwater.  It is proposed
to bring this water into the village, both for the use of
families and travellers, and to furnish protection against
fires. The springs have been purchased, and preliminary
surveys have been made'by which it has been found that
they are at an _eleva'tion of about seventy feet above'the
plain on which the churches and other public buildings
stand. This elevation would carry the water about to the
height of the face of the clock on the Payson Church, and
furnish abundant head for the distribution of the water all
over the village to any required height.  The matter is in
the hands of energetic men, and this desirable work will no
doubt be soon accomplished.
6




CHAPTER  VI.
OTHER INDUSTRIAL INTERESTS.
AGRICULTURE.
Agriculture has, until recently, been the employment of
a large majority of the inhabitants of the town, and an
occupation so conducive to health and morality has not
been without its good effect on the character of the people.
Nature, has not perhaps favored us more highly than other
portions of our own New England; her gifts have not
fallen here in greater profusion than in some other parts of
our state; our soil has none of the bountiful fertility of
the western prairies, or the sunny south; but the native
energy of the New England character, combined with imn
proved' methods of culture, have in some measure compensated for this deficiency. Though the farming population
here, as elsewhere, cannot boast of such rapid accumulation
of wealth, as many engaged in other occupations, yet,
when once acquired, it is not so uncertatnu as theirs, nor so
much affected by those changes in government and trade,
which occasion fluctuations in the mercantile and commercial world. The improvement in farming implements has
been steady and constant. Where in. the days of our early fathers, we saw the huge,. unwieldy, inefficient wooden
plough, requiring an expenditure of considerable force to
draw it, when not impeded by the soil, now we see the




OTHER INDUSTRIAL INTERESTS.          67
most improved patterns of light, easy draught, and skillfully adapted for lightening the soil. Mowing machines
are coming almost universally into use. The sickle has
long ago been superseded by the cradle, and that in turn
may give place to the reaper.  Through the agency of
machines, horse-power is being substituted for that of the
hand. The old wasting systems of culture are giving way
to more economical ones, and products which were once
considered useless, are now turned to valuable account.
While our fathers appear thus at a disadvantage by comparison, we must bear in mind, that in the main, it was their
misfortune and not their fault. Manufactures had scarcely
sprung into existence, and necessity compelled them sometimes to provide implements for themselves as best they
could. They did not at first fully realize the importance
of enriching the soil; their principal care had been to
clear up lands and prepare them for tillage. Gradually,
however, they began to see that those elements must be
returned to the soil which the plants abstracted from it.
Soils which had hitherto produced good crops of wheat,
were now found to be capable of yielding only rye, and
lands on which the grass had grown spontaneously, became
less productive, and needed re-seeding. Two products,
wheat and flax, which have been cultivated quite extensively, have almost ceased to be raised. The lands seem
better suited for other grains than for wheat, while the
cultivation of flax has gone entirely into disuse. With
the former cheap prices of cotton, and the immense facilities for the manufacture of cloth, flax, and the hand-looms
of fifty years ago, were ruled out of existence.
Potatoes were not formerly cultivated to any extent. In
1744, Benjamin Lyman raised six bushels of potatoes, and
it was a topic of remark all over Northampton. People
wondered what he could do with so many potatoes.




68             HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
Fruit has not received that attention which its importance demands, yet we are happy to record the fact, that
lately there has been an improvement in this respect.
Within a few years a large number of apple-trees have
been planted, while the pear and the grape are receiving
more attention.
In February, 1858, the Easthampton Farmers' Club was
organized to promote the interests of the farming community, by the holding of meetings, and interchange of views
and experiences.  The.meetings of the society have since
been attended by many, with much interest and profit.
Several exhibitions of fruit, vegetables, and stock have
been held, which were very successful, and reflected great
credit upon the members. We hope that in the future,
as in the past, the association may be the means of stimulating its members to carry the department of agriculture
to a still higher degree of perfection.
IRev. Luther Wright, C. B. Johnson, Esq., Ahira Lyman,
and, Quartus P. Lyman, have successively held the office
of President of the Club, andeAnsel R3. Lyman, Henry Lyman, Daniel W. Lyman, and James H. Lyman,. that of
Secretary.
The following statistics, taken from the census of 18659
will be interesting:The number of farms of five acres; andc upwards is 135,
containing 5,828 acres, of which 3,524 are improved. The
total value of the farms, including buildings, is $385,550.
The total value of the agricultural products, is $123,000.
The number of persons, employed inl farming, 177. The
principal farm products are corn, of which there were
Traised 7,447 bushels; rye, 3,255; oats, 2,217; potatoes,.9,889; tobacco, 136,946 pounds; hay, 1,162 tons. Val-ue of horses, $25,899; cattle, $8,080; cows, $13,060.
MButter and milk, $5,608.  Pounds of dressed meat, 149,



OTHER INDUSTRIAL INTERESTS.            69
028. The value of the tobacco crop, we are sorry to say,
exceeds that of any other. We sincerely hope the day
may not be distant when our most fertile lands may be
devoted to the production of some crop useful rather than
deleterious to man.
THE MERCANTILE INTEREST.
One of the first, if not the first store in town, was kept
by Joseph Clapp, Jr.  He commenced trading in 1792, in
hishouse, nearly opposite the store of A. J. Lyman, on
Main street.  He was a brother of Dea. Thaddeus, son of
Capt. Joseph, and grandson of Maj. Jonathan Clapp. He
married Susannah, daughter of Timothy Lyman, of Chester. On the day of his marriage, Mr. Lyman said to him,.
"You are now going to trading; the maxim of the world
seems to be, trade so that you can live by it; my advice is,
trade so that you can die by it."  If this. advice were fol-i
lowed by all, whether engaged in: mercantile or other employments, there would be much less reason for distrust in
business circles, and greater stability in financial affairs.
In a few years Mr. Clapp, erected a building for his actaommodation, on the top of "meeting-house hill,.' wherethe hotel now stands, He was for a time one of the most
influential men in to:wn; an&dfilled the office of town clerk.,longer than any other man, with one exception.
After his retirement, Bohan Clark kept. a store in the
same building.  He was-, an enterpris-ing man, and. accu?
mulated considerable property.  For a dime he owned and
carried on the grist-mill, and also a-share in the saw-mill4
lately owned.by: Edwin S. Janes, which was-torn down to.,
give place to the cotton mill of S. Williston &  Co. He;
finally went to Northampton and engaged:inm business..
He was succeeded in business by Eldad Smith,., a young:
man of good. moraleand; religious pprinciples.. He was one



70             HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
of those who were engaged in the establishment of the
Sabbath school here. About 1821 he sold out and removed to Granby. After this the business was carried on
successively by Baxter Burnell and William R. Gillett.
In 1841 the building was sold out and removed to Union
street, where it was remodeled and enlarged, and since
that time it has been used as the seminary boarding house.
In the early part of the present century, Asahel Janes,
and after him Obadiah Janes, kept store in the house for.
merly occupied by Capt. Ferry, near the hotel.  He, in
common with his cotemporaries, kept and sold ardent
Spirits. This traffic was not considered disreputable in
those days. It was countenanced by men of the highest
standing in society. Public opinion had not been aroused
to a sense of the baleful effects of spirituous liquors
upon -the whole man, physical, intellectual, and moral.
The universality of the use of these liquors in those
days astonishes us.  Although the people of this town
were not uncommonly addicted to their use, yet, then, if a
person went to a raising, a husking, or an apple paring; if
he chanced to step into a neighbor's as a hog was being
weighed, or anything unusual being done>; at every quilting party, wedding, or even funeral; in short, everywhere
that neighbors or friends met together, they were treated
with spirits in some of its various forms. We have reliable authority for saying that at that time not less than
twenty-five hogsheads of spirituous liquors were retailed
annually in the town. In one year there was manufactured
more than a hundred barrels of cider brandy.  There were
four distilleries here and as many as six cider mills.  Surely no one familiar with these facts, can say with sincerity,
that there is as much liquor drank now as then though
not so openly.
We rejioice to: see that a deeper interest is at present




OTHER INDUSTRIAL INTERESTS.           71
manifested in this important subject, and that more earnest
efforts are being put forth by the friends of temperance,
to stem the increasing tide which has threatened, or we
may say, even now does threaten to engulf us in its desolating waves. In order that these efforts may have their fullest degree of efficiency they must be as persistent and unremitted as this depraved appetite of man is constant.
We shall have great hope of the glorious temperance cause
when every little child is taught to avoid the evil, to pass
by it, to turn from it and pass away; when they are led to
the altar, like the Carthagenian. Hannibal, and made to
swear eternal enmity to King Alcohol; when they are
taught by precept and example at every step of their progress from infancy to manbood, to shun it entirely, in all its
forms,.as they would the venomous cobra or the deadly
upas tree. Till then we almost despair of any radical and
lasting reform.
The building in which a store was kept by Obadiah
Janes, was afterwards occupied by Ebenezer Ferry, who
commenced store-keeping in 1843, at which time he
received the appointment-of postmaster. In 1850 his increasing business demanded more ample accommodations,
and he accordingly hired a room in Knight's block, which
had just been erected. He has occupied this place until
his recent retirement, when he was succeeded by F. H.
Putnam. Capt. Ferry is a native of the town, and has
been in public business: considerable; was town clerk.for
twenty-one years, and has been justice of the peace for a
long time.
In 1835, Mr. Williston opened a store near his residence,
more particularly for the purpose of paying his employees, although he sold goods to other people. For several
years H. G. Knight was employed by Mr. Williston as a
clerk. In this capacity he so won the esteem and confi



72            HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
dence of his employer, that, at the age of eighteen, and
after, he was entrusted with the purchase of goods, and
soon came to manage nearly all the affairs of the firm,
whose sales were considerable, in some years amounting
to $40,000. In 1842 or'3, Mr. Williston sold out to Mr.
Knight and E. L. Snow, who carried on the business two
years, when the copartnership was dissolved and the business closed, and the building used several years as a warehouse; but on the transfer of the button works in 1848,.
it was moved to a location near the factory.
At this time, the firm of John H. Wells &  Co. was
formed. With Mr.. Wells were connected, as special
partners, Mr. Williston and Mr. Knight. Mr. Williston
retained an interest in the concern till 1858, when he sold
out and Odel Gregory became a partner, and the business
was conducted by the firm of Gregory & Wells, until the
death of Mr. Gregory, since which time it has been carried
on under the old name of John H. Wells & Co.
In 1830, Luther Clapp erected ai building just north of
Manhan river, on the banks of the old Farmington canal'.
This he used for a store ten years, when. he sold out to
Harris Bartholomew, who retained the place till 1850,
when he removed to Northampton.
In May, 1855, John Mayher opened a tin shop in the
place. That business had beenr started: here by Miletus
Parsons, but he diedi shortly after, and was succeeded by
S. W. Lee, Jr., who however continued, here only one
year. Since Mr. Mayher. came here his business has steadily increased, so that it is now perhaps larger than that of
any other similar establishment in the county, if we
except the trade in stoves. He is now engaged. in the
manufacture of an improved oil can, patented by himself,
and which has given good satisfaction wherever used. He
gives constant employment to nine hands, and does quite a
large business in the course of a year.




OTHER INDUSTRIAL INTERESTS.           73
The mercantile business of the town is now done by R.
M. & J. E. Lambie, dry goods; Winslow & Ward, drug
store; John H. Wells & Co., and A. J. Lyman, dealers in
dry goods, groceries; hardware, crockery, etc.; F. H.
Putnam, dealer in groceries, medicines, books, stationery,
etc.; John Mayher, plumber and stove dealer; L. Preston,
D. Machol, and J. E. Miller, merchant tailors; Rust &
Marsh, dry goods, ready made clothing, groceries, crockery,
etc.; C. W. JIangdon, Arlow Hannum & Son, and Stratton
& Parsons, groceries and provisions; C. H. Chapman,
watchmaker and dealer in jewelry; B. W. Hutchinson,
boots and shoes; Hawkins & Kent, millinery and dress
goods; Misses Thrall, millinery; D. S. Jepson, flour, meal,
and feed; R. E. Strong, toys, confectionery, etc.
MILLS, TRADES, &C.
First and foremost among these is the saw and planing
mill, until recently owned and carried on by the late L. P.
Lyman. His business in lumber has been probably quite
as extensive as that of any other man in the county. His
lumber has, most of it, been used in the town, yet such
has been the demand for building materials within the last
few years, that large quantities, both of lumber and brick,
have been brought from other places. His mill stands on
the Manhan, near the center of the town. Upon the opposite side of the river, and drawing their supply of water
from the same pond, stands a tannery belonging to Horatio Shoals, and a flouring mill owned by Edward Clapp
and the heirs of L. P. Lyman, where a good business is
carried on,
With this mill is connected quite a history.
"' In 1676-7, Northampton gave Samuel Bartlett liberty to set up a corn mill upon Manhan river, below the cartway, on the falls of the river,"  He probably soon after




74            HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
built it. In 1705, he gave it to his son, Joseph Bartlett,
who took charge of it till his death, which occurred in
1755.' He, having no children, gave it to his nephew,
Jonathan Clapp, who lived with him. He also carried it
on till his death, when it fell into the hands of two of his
three sons, Jonathan and Joseph. About 1810, the former sold out his interest in the concern to Joseph Clapp,
Jr., the store-keeper. The latter gave his interest to his
sons. On the failure of Joseph Clapp, Jr., Bohan Clark
came into possession of his share, and carried it on in crompany with the other partners, until about the year 1815,
when Ahira Iyman purchased his interest. It was owned
by Messrs. Clapp and Lyman, till their death, when it fell
into the hands of their sons, who have since owned it. It
has been rebuilt twice since its erection by Samuel Bartlett. It will be noticed as somewhat remarkable, that for
more than one hundred and seventy-five years the ownership of the mill has continued in the same family. In the
aggregate, an immense amount of grain has there been
ground.
In 1803, a company consisting of Jonathan Strong and
brother, Jonathan Bartlett, John Phelps, and Simeon
Clark, built a saw-mill on Saw-mill brook, about a mile
above its junction with the Manhan. For fifty years,
without much interruption, it was worked, but in the spring
of 1854, during the time of the famous " Nebraska Deluge," the dam was carried off, and has never been rebuilt.
The saw-mill standing where the cotton mill of S. Willis.
ton & Co. now stands, built in 1797 by Bohan Clark, has
before been alluded to. There have been two saw-mills
on Broad brook, in the south-east part of the town, one of
which still stands, owned by Benjamin Strong. The other
was owned by Stephen Hendrick.
Caleb Loud of Loudville, owns a saw-mill in the north



OTHER INDUSTRIAL INTERESTS.          75
west part of the town, and near it is situated the gristmill of Franklin Strong, at which a good flouring business is done. Another saw-mill in the south part of the
town is owned by Alva Coleman.
There are three meat markets in town as present,
owned by W. H. Avery, E. H. Ludden and A. S. Ludden.
The following facts appear from the census of 1865. The
number of pounds of dressed beef, 102,251. The number of feet of lumber prepared for market is 915,000. The
two flouring mills report the number of bushels of grain
ground during the year at 25,000. There are two master
builders in this place, E. R. Bosworth and T. J. Pomeroy,
who employ 39 hands. The number of buildings erected
in the year previous to the taking of the census was
twenty, whose value was $107,000t. This, however, does
not include all the buildings put up in the place during the
year, nor nearly all the men thus employed.
The business of steam and gas fitting is carried on by
Geo. L. Manchester, dealer in steam, gas and water pipe,
and fittings of all descriptions.. Mr. Manchester settled
here about three years; since, and: the large amount of
building which has been; done has given him a good
business.
Oliver N. Clark and Ralph Smith are established here
as carriage makers; Erwin Robinson, and L. O. Toogood,
as painters and glaziers; Edward R. Smith as a photographic artist; George P. Shoals and Wmin. E. Topliff as
masons; J. E. Janes, as market gardener; R. Goldenblum, Dennis Lyman, T. Colgan, and G. Friday, as shoemakers; and James; Connell, Edward Reed, and Win.
Parlow as blacksmiths. Wmin. R. Searle has recently opened coffin warerooms, and is prepared to furnish anything
which is needed from an undertaker.
There are three livery stables in town, kept by D. S.
Jepson, Hiram Knapp, and Edwin E. Janes.




CHAPTER  VII.
PHYSICIANS, CASUALTIES, CEMETERIES.
PHYSICIAN S.
The number of physicians who have practised in Easthampton, is not large. Rarely, if ever, until within a few
years, has there been more than one at a time. The population was small, and general health has prevailed.
Dr. David Phelps commenced the practice of medicine
here about 1780, and remained six or eight years.
Dr. Hophni Clapp, a native of Southampton, studied
medicine with Dr. Woodbridge of that town, and came
here about 1790. His medical reputation was good. He
interested himself considerably in town affairs, and was
honored with several offices of trust. His life was spent
in Easthampton.
Doctors Hall, Munson, and Edson, were here for a short
time.
Dr. Zalmon Mallowy, a native of Montgomery, settled
here not far from 1815. He acquired an extensive practice, and, during his- stay in the town which lasted twenty
years, he endeared himself to the people, by his sympathy
and considerate attention. In his feelings, he was uncommonly ardent, but they seldom led him to the performance
of injudicious acts. He took a warm interest in the- com



PHYSICIANS, CASUALTIES, CEMETERIES.       77
mon schools, and was for some years a member of the
general committee.  He was always very upright, and
cherished a high regard for the institutions of religion,
so much so that, unless circumstances absolutely demanded
it, he would not call upon patients during the services of
the Sabbath. But it was not until 1831 that he professed
an interest in Christ. From that time he was a very
active and exemplary member of the church. In 1835 he
removed to Michigan, where he died&.
In the same year, Dr. Atherton Clark commenced the
practice of medicine here.  For many years he was.the
only physician in the place, and wvonthe esteem and confidence of the community.  He was considered a very successful practitioner, and enjoyed a high reputation among
the members of the medical fraternity, for a thorough
knowledge of the science.
Dr. Solomon Chapman, Dr. Addison S. Peck, Dr. Thomas Henderson, and Dr. Barker, each practiced medicine
here for some time.  Dr. -Chapman died here, and the
others removed from the place.
The physicians at present residing here are Dr. F. C.
Greene, and Drs. Winslow & Ward.
Dr. Greene has enjoyed considerable opportunity for the
practice of surgery, as well as medicine, having been connected, for a short time, with our army in'the Mexican
war, and more recently as army surgeon, he served:in
Virginia and Louisiana, during a period of two years.
Dr. Winslow, who has for several years enjoyed a wide
practice in our community, has recently united with himself Dr. Ward, who was for a time employed in the army
as surgeon of the 38th Mass. Reg. He was afterwards
appointed to the position of Medical Inspector, on -the
staff of Gen. Sheridan, in which capacity he served during
the Shenandoah and closing Virginia campaigns.
7




78            HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
Dr. WVinslow was formerly engaged in practice in Enfield, where he was succeeded by Dr. Ward.
R. D. Brown, Thomas Bolton, A. E. Strong,,R. E.
Strong, and H. S. Bascom, have practised dentistry here,
of whom the last two now reside, in the place.
CASUALTIES.
One morning in January, 1780, Samuel Coleman and
Ezekiel Wood went out hunting deer. By some means,
they became separated, and, as it was a foggy day, objects
could not be distinctly seen at a great distance. Presently, Mr. Coleman noticed a rustling in the bushes not
far from him, and supposing it to have been made by a
deer, he fired at once. His feelings, when he discovered
that his shot had taken deadly effect in the body of his
friend, can better be imagined than described. - This event
filled with mourning the heart of his young wife, thus
suddenly bereft of her husband, and of an aged widowed
mother, and sent a thrill of sorrow through the hearts of
a sympathizing community.
About the year 1790, Lucas, a little son of Lt. Asahel
Clark was drowned, near where the cotton mill of Williston & Co. now stands.
In April, 1798, Bohan Clark undertook to transport a
lot of timber, from this place to South Hadley canal, on
the river, for the frame of a store which he was about to
erect. The water in the Connecticut was high, and he
determined to avail himself of the opportunity thus presented. The timber was lying at his saw-mill near
where the cotton mill of S. Williston & Co. now stands.
The water of the Connecticut backed up to his mill, and
on this he rafted his timber, and set out with his brothers
Eleazer and Asahel, together with two others, intending
to guide the raft into the canal at the falls. But some



PHYSICIANS, CASUALTIES, CEMETE RIES.      79
how, as they approached the canal, an unexpected current
seized it, and hurried it forward to the dam, which had
been thrown across the river to turn the -water into the
canal. The raft was carried over the dam uninjured, save
by the detachment of a small portion, on which Mr. Bohan Clark was standing. That remained upon the dam,
and he instantly seized a spike pole, and held by main
strength against the force of the current. The other persons escaped the first fall unharmed, but below a fearful
fate awaited them, unless they could get to the shore A
large natural fall lay about two miles below, near where
the dam now stands. Mr. Eleazer Clark was one of those
cool, self-possessed persons, whom no danger can deprive
of judgment, who always distinguish themselves in great
emergencies. To get the raft to land seemed to him simply impossible. He therefore determined to construct hastily a smaller raft, on which they might reach the shore.
This being accomplished, three of them stepped on it, and
then the fourth, Mr. Asahel Clark. His weight caused
the' raft to sink about eighteen inches. Almost in despair
he stepped back, and commenced the construction of a
small raft for himself. When it was finished, he stepped
upon it; but he had approached so near the fall, that all
his efforts were of no avail, and he was carried over the
fall. For some time he survived the shock, but before
any boat could come to his assistance, he became exhausted and sank. The other three, by great exertion succeeded in reaching the shore in safety.- Mr. Eleazer Clark,
after seeing that efforts to save his brother Asahel were
useless, turned his attention to the rescue of his brother
Bohan, who was upon the dam, and for two terrible hours
had maintained his position against the current, while no
one came to his aid. By the well-directed efforts of his
brother and others, he was removed from his perilous po



80            HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
sition, and brought to shore. The very instant he left the
detached portion of the raft, it was carried over the dam.
The body of Mr. Asahel Clark, was not recovered for some
time. He was 31 years old at the time of his death, and
left a wife and two small children.
In January, 1797, Moses Gouch and Joseph Davis were
felling trees in a lot of woodland, on Manhan river, back
of the house formerly owned by Solomon Ferry. WVhile
thus engaged, Mr. Gouch was struck by a limb of a falling
tree, and -instantly killed.
In January, 1817, while Eleazer Ring was superintending the moving of a building, he received injuries which
resulted in his death. The floor of the house had been
taken up, and while in the building, he missed his foothold and fell, and before the team could be stopped it had
passed over his body. He survived but a few hours.
In the year 1819, the owner of a piece of woodland, on
the west side of Mt. Tom, not far from  its southern extremity, had.ut, sixty cords of wood or more, and had
piled it! up compactly, intending to slide it down the
mountain, in a road which he had prepared for the purpose. Ofecourse an event of this kind, not being of common occurrence, called together quite a company, especially of boys, who after the wood had been slid down,
went up to the top of the mountain, and commenced
rolling down stones, before all had reached the summit.
Cecil Brown, a boy of fourteen years of age, was the last
to come up. One of his companions, who was a little in
advance of him, called out to them  to desist, saying
thoughtlessly, " you have killed Cecil."  In a short time
they returned, and found him lying down, and apparently
dead, he having received a blow from a stone which fractured his skull. He however, revived, was trepanned, and
lived many years; but so severe was the shock that his




PHYSICIANS, CASUALTIES, CEMETERIES.      81
mental powers were very much impaired, and his intellectA
permanently enfeebled.
About the year 1826, Elijah Alvord, who lived in the
east part of the town, started from home to walk to
Northampton, on the Connecticut river, which was then
frozen over. As he did not return at the time expected
by his friends, search was instituted and it was found that
he had broken through the ice and was drowned.
In 1831, Samuel Knowlton, who lived in the east part
of the town, was kicked by a horse which was feeding in
the street, and received injuries in consequence of which
he died.
On the night of Dec. 15, 1835, an event occurred which
filled the community with sadness. It was the death of
Ocran Clapp, who perished in the snow. He had attended
a public meeting that evening in the town hall, which
stood near the recent site of the First Church. During
the evening a snow storm of unusual violence had sprung
up, attended with a severe and increasing degree of cold-,
Helived on the Northampton road where Ansel Bstlett
now does, and, on leaving the hall,. instead. of taking the
road home, by mistake he took the one leading east towards Pascommuck. He passed on until he arrived near
where the cotton mill of. S. Williston & Co. now stands,
when probably having-discovered his mistake, he turned
about. When he had gone back some distance, he turned
off into the lot,, probably intending to cross to his residence, which would save considerable. Instead, however,
of turning. towards. home,. he turned, directly opposite,
passed on Broad brook, where it appeared, he had& broken
through the ice,. andrpassed on the plain beyond.. His age,
sxty-five years, his bewilderment, and the wetting which
he received at. the brook, together rendered him unable, to
endure the starm and intense cold of the night. He wa%




82            HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
found dead the next morning, at no great distance from the
brook. The light which he carried was observed by several, but no one thought strange of it, since people were
then returning from the meeting. Some effort was made
to find him  on the evening before, but it was finally
thought that he might have gone into some house, and
search was given up.
On the 11th of Oct. 1835, Ahira Lyman met with an
accident which occasioned his death. He lived in the
wVest part of the town, where Elijah Lyman now resides.
lie was chopping wood in a ravine, at some distance from
hishouse, and while thus engaged, accidentally struck the
tbp of his foot with the axe, which passed through the
foot, and the sole of the shoe, and struck the log.  iHe
alled for help but no one heard his cries, and he was com-ielled to crawl on his hands and knees nearly home. The
great loss of blood weakened him very much, but the
wound was skillfully dressed, and for a number of days
-there seemed to be a reasonable prospect of his recovery.
The case however at length seemed to take an unfavorab]e tourn'.'He sank very rapidly, and died on the 1st of
Nov. 1835:
In 1836, Charles Brown, adopted son of Obadiah Clark,
was run over by a cart and killed.
In November of the same year, Bela Hannrum was found
dead in the Manhan meadow, somewhere between the residence of Edwin Hannum- and that of John Bosworth of
Southampton.
In May, 1842, a little child of Augustus Clapp was
drowned in Manhan river, whil'e returning from  school,
Saving accidentally fallen from the'bridge which he was
crossing.
On the 1st of August, 1844, Ichabod Wright, wvho resided on Park Hill; was f6und dead-iinhis field, lying be



PHYSICIANS, CASUALTIES, CEMETERIES.        83
side a small brook, with his face in the water.  There were
no means by which the singular circumstances of his death
could be satisfactorily accounted for. This event was
deeply felt by all, since he was highly esteemed as a
Christian man.
In the summer of 1845, Stephen Wood, Jr. was killed
by falling from a load of hay upon a pitchfork.
In May, 1848, the wife of Justus Lyman died in consequence of injuries received from a fall.
In April, 1857, the community experienced a severe
loss in the death of Dea. Ithamar Clark.  While attempting to remove a heavy rock from its bed, a chain broke,
and the rock, falling back; struck a lever, throwing it violently against his head. His injuries Were so great, that
he.survived only three days. At the time of his death,
he was one of the deacons of the church, in which capacity he had acted for 24 years.  He was a person of
uncommonly sound judgment, unflinching integrity, and
very conscientious. He early espoused the cause of temperance, and was always one of its firmest supporters.
His attainments in piety were rare.  He had drank deeply
of the cup of affliction, and was ever ready, with a warm
and generous sympathy, to comfort those who were called
to mourning. A blow so unexpected filled the hearts of
his family and fiiends with sadness, and left a void in the
church which was deeply felt.
August 15, 1857, as Eli Taylor, a boy about fourteen
years of age, was returning from his work, he was obliged
to cross the railroad track, and in his haste or forgetfulness,
attempted to cross while the cars were approaching with
unusual speed. Just as he was in the act of jumping from
the track, as it appeared, he was struck by the engine, and
instantly killed.
In December, 1858, Alvan Upson, a boy employed in




84             HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
the button factory of Williston, Knight & Co., met with
a severe, and as it proved, a fatal accident. While in the
wheel-room,his foot accidentally slipped and became entangled in the gearing connected with the water wheel, and
was torn or crushed entirely off. The leg was amputated
twice before the arteries could be taken up, but it was
skillfully dressed, and the hope was entertained that he
would recover with only the loss of a limb. On the second or third day, however, it commenced to bleed, and
no surgical skill could save him.
On the 6th of June, 1859, a little daughter of Lewis S.
Clark was so severely burned, in consequence of the
taking fire of her clothes, that she died.
In the month of October, 1859, while the cotton mill of
S. Williston was in process of erection, Issachar Ford, a
carpenter employed upon the mill, received a fatal injury
by the accidental falling of a stick of timber. He survived only eleven hours.  He had but recently removed to
the place. The blow fell suddenly and heavily upon his
family, who were thus deprived of husband and father,
and awakened sorrow throughout the community.
In September, 1864, H. Bodisco Chapman, whose home
was here, was killed on the New Haven and Northampton
railroad, in the town of Southwick.  He was baggage
master, but was at that time acting conductor of an excur.
sion train. Having occasion to pass-over the top of a car,
while doing so., he was struck. by, a bridge which they
were passing.-and, as is supposed; instantly killed.
The recent death of Edward. I. Allen, a student of Williston Seminary,' by drowning4-is. too.fresh in the minds
of all, to need rehearsal.. The sad event occurred while
he was bathing, unaccompanied; by any one.. It occasioned a feeling of deep sadness in the Institution with which
he was connected,.and left his class to mourn the loss of
one of their most promising -members.




PHYSICIANS, CASUALTIES, CEMETERIES.       85
L. P. Lyman, who died Aug. 7, 1865, received an injury on his head, by the falling of a stick of timber at the
raising of a house, which hastened, if it did not wholly
cause his death.
Jan. 27, 1865, the death of a little child of Rev. Mr.
Jackson was caused by tipping a cup of scalding water
into its bosom.
On the 21st of April, 1866, William Whiting, a colored
man, was struck by lightning, while on his way home from
his place of labor. He was passing a large maple tree at
the instant of the discharge, and a portion of the charge
left the tree and entered his body, to all appearance killing him instantly.  He left a wife to mourn his loss. He
had been in the place but a short time, having come from
Washington about a month before his death.
The town has not been wholly, though to a great degree, exempt from scenes of murderous violence.
In 1780, Elisha Brown was killed by a person named
Norton, in a fit of ungoverned passion, near the present
location of the factories. A few years later, an Indian
woman was killed just below  the grist-mill, as it was
supposed by her husband:
These are believed to have been the only events of the
kind, until 1865, when Jacob Kretz, a saloon keeper, received wounds resulting in his death, from a party of
drunken persons, who forced an entrance into his house
in the night, for the purpose of procuring liquor.
When this chapter of casualties was commenced, we
were not aware that there were so many instances of this
kind; but one after another has come to our knowledge,
and perhaps even now the list is not complete. It is instructive, as teaching us the dangers to which we are
exposed, and the great uncertainty of life.  Surely death
has all ways, as well as  all seasons, for his own.




86            HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
"Verily' his time there's none can tell,' nor yet his manner. He wearies out one with old age, and drags down
another by disease. He surprises one in the labors of the
field, and bewilders another in the highway he has oftenest frequented, and lures him to the dreary waste to sink
unattended and alone."
This record extends over a period of eighty-six years.
How many of those who now inhabit this town, who walk
its streets, carry on its business, and cultivate its fields,
whose faces are seen and whose voices are heard in our
public places, or how many of those who will come after
us, will, within a similar period, be called away by a sudden and violent death, is to us all unknown. Equally uncertain is it, to whom the dread messenger will come.
"' Let our souls be shielded in the faith of Christ, and our
hopes folded around the throne of eternal mercy. Then
will we grapple with death, and though we fall, we shall
conquer the conqueror, and then lay off our armor, and
rest forever in the bosom of our God and our Father."
CEMETERIES.
The first burial place in Easthampton, was in Nashawannuck, and many of the early settlers in that part of
the town were buried there; but many years have passed
since then, and they are nearly forgotten; now but few
can point to the place where they lie. It has been supposed that the place could not be identified; but there are a
few who still remember the graves of their ancestors. The
burial place is on an elevation, in a field belonging to
Augustus Clapp, and about fifteen rods south-west from
his house.
Would it not be well for those of the present day, to
rescue these ancient cemeteries from oblivion, and by enclosing them, and erecting a plain and simple, but suitable




PHYSICIANS, CASUALTIES, CEMETERIES.     87
monument, to show to posterity the last resting place of
those daring, hardy ones, who braved the toils and dangers
attendant upon the early settlement of our country?
Since that time, there have been three burial places occupied. The one first used in the center of the town, was
opposite the place where Williston Seminary now stands.
The land was originally owned by Benjamiin Lyman, son
of one of the purchasers of School meadow, and was probably given by him to the town for a burying ground.
One of his children was the first person deposited there.
It is more than a hundred years since then, and, as the
fathers and mothers of the town passed away one by one,
here was their dust committed to earth, to rest until the
resurrection morn. But the march of improvement disposed the present generation to devote it to other purposes.
Hence, in the summer of 1865, the remains were removed to the grave-yard at present in use.
Another burial ground is in Pascommuck. It was given
by Eliakim Clark, and the first one buried there was a
child of Jonathan Janes, in the year 1775.
The other cemetery, situated about half a mile south of
the churches, on the east side of Main street, was located
in 1846. Mrs. Eunice S. Lyman, wife of Daniel F. Lyman, was the first person buried there. The lot originally
contained four and one-half acres. Since then it has
been enlarged once, and it is proposed to enlarge it still
further. Since it was first occupied, many have been laid
to rest within its limits.
Within these silent cities of the dead, are a multitude
of all ages, of every condition in life, from the aged man
of hoary hairs, to the infant of a few days; the bride just
entering upon her new duties, with fondest hopes and anticipations; the strong man of business, cut down in the
midst of life and health; those who have lingered long on




88            HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
the verge of the grave; merry laughing childhood, and
youth, buoyant with life and happiness; all have been
summoned by the messenger of death, and consigned to
these silent tombs, there to await the sound of the archangel's trumpet, at the dawn of the eternal morning.
And, as we gaze on the spot where they rest from their
labors, may we learn the impressive lesson, that since
death comes alike to all without distinction of age, rank,
or condition, we ought to live in a state of constant
preparation to obey its summons,




CH APTER  VIII.
MISCELLANIES.
THE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.
The earliest records of this society have not been preserved. Hence we have no means of determining the precise date of its formation. It is presumed to have been as
early as the year 1792. About thirty persons became
stockholders by the payment of two dollars. Their meetings for the transaction of business, and the exchange of
books, were held at the house of some'member. Rev.
Payson Williston, was, for thirty-five years, its efficient
librarian. He performed in the aggregate a large amount
of. labor for the society, whose prosperity he regarded as
of great importance. This association continued as a
separate organization,. through a period of fifty years, at
the end of which time, it was united with the Youth's
Library Association, a society which was formed in 1828.
The object of this society, as stated in its constitution,
was to excite in the minds of the youth a thirst for
knowledge, to exalt and refine their intellectual and moral
characters, by giving them access to such books as are of
a moral tendency. Its members paid a fee of one dollar
for membership, and an annual tax of twenty-five cents.
Jan. 10, 1840, by a concurrent vote of the two societies,
they were united under the name of the Easthampton
Social Library Association.
8




90            HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
In 1844, the library was moved to the town hall, where
the members met quarterly for business and the drawing
of books. In 1865, the constitution was revised, and it
was provided that any person, not a stockholder, by the
payment of fifty cents annually, could be allowed to take
out books.. The library was then removed to the store of
L. Preston, who for several years took charge of it. We
are sorry to say that very little interest is now felt in it.
Should the town establish a public library, as is contemplated, this of course would supersede the necessity for
the continuation of the Library Association.
A choice collection of standard literature ought to be
within reach of the people of the town. A library of reliable, substantial works, liberally sustained, and thoroughly read, would be of incalculable benefit, in correcting
and cultivating the taste, and in improving the morals of
the young. The books should of course be wisely selected, and every effort made to induce young men to
devote their leisure time to reading, rather than to spend
it in places of public resort, which are the schools of a
type of morality, at least questionable.
rUBLIC HOUSES.
The first public house within the limits of Easthampton, was kept by Joseph Bartlett. It- stood where stands
the house formerly occupied by Dea. Thaddeus Clapp, a
few rods north of Manhan river. Mr. Bartlett was licensed in 1727, and for nearly twenty years he kept an
open house for the public. It was quite a noted place in
those days, and one of much resort. When there was
preaching in the neighborhood, as there often was, it was
at his house. Undoubtedly, many times, that eminent
man of God, Rev. Jonathan Edwards, D. D., proclaimed
there those truths and those doctrines for which he was




MISCELLANIES.                 91
distinguished, and which were so wonderfully blessed in
the conversion of thousands.'  A large part of the town
belonged to his parish, and it is a fact not generally known
that that great revival in 1734 commenced in Pascommuck-a revival which, in its progress and development,
became the wonder of many in this country and in Great
Britain.
Probably about 1750, Major Jonathan Clapp, a nephew
of landlord Bartlett, commenced to keep tavern where
Ansel Bartlett now resides, The soldiers from Southampton met here as they were about to start for Bunker
Hill, in the days of the Revolution. Travelers passing
between Connecticut and Vermont usually passed through
this town, and quite frequently spent the night with
Major Clapp. He continued in his business till his death,
which occurred in 1782. He was a man of influence in
the community, and many present residents of the town
trace their genealogy back to him.  He was a very
shrewd business manager, and knew how to turn everything
to good account. A story is told of'him which illustrates
this trait of character.
Probably about the year 1.760, what was long known
as "The Great Crust," took place. A body of snow,
some four feet in depth, fell, and immediately on its sur.
face eight inches of hail, and then a slight rain, which
froze and formed a solid crust. The fences, as if by
magic, had disappeared. The roads were all blocked up
so that there was no communication with market. On
the morning after the crust was formed, he took out his
horse upon it, and saw that it bore him up. In a very
short time he was mounted and on his way to Hatfield,
where he purchased a drove of cattle, and on the next morning he was on his way to Boston, where he arrived in safety,
the crust having borne him all the way. His drove was




92             HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
the first to enter the city after the fall of snow, and consequently he received a high price for his beef. The trip
occupied a little more than a week, and he cleared ~100
or $333.
After his death, his son Jonathan opened a tavern, in a
house which he built, across the road from his father's old
stand.
In 1793, Capt. Joseph, another son of Major Clapp,
opened his house for the accommodation of good travelers,
at the old stand of landlord Bartlett, where he continued
to cater to the public until his death in 1797. He was
succeeded by his son Luther, who for a period of fourteen
years entertained the traveling public. Most of the travel
from Hartford and New Haven to the north would pass
through the town, and consequently he received a liberal
patronage.
After~ him, his place was satisfactorily filled by his
brother, iDea., Thaddeus.  Persons whose business required them to pass this way, often became so much
attached.to him, on account of his affability and the good
fare which his table afforded, that after his sign was
taken down, and his house closed, whenever they had
occasion to remain here, they insisted on stopping with
him. Thus for a period of nearly or quite a hundred
years, the only public house in town was kept by members of the same family, in succeeding generations.
A&fter they had left it, for some time the town was
without any hotel.. The establishment of Williston
Seminary here, in 1841, seemed to call for some place
where strangers might be accommodated. Mr. Williston,
therefore, erected the building at present in use for that
purpose. Mr. Luther Clapp was the first landlord. Since
he left it there have been frequent changes, no less than
seven men having filled the place. It is now owned by the




MISCELLANIES.                 93
Nashawannuck Manufacturing Co.  A  large  addition,
three stories in height, has recently been erected, and
other improvements in the house and grounds have been
made. It was closed for a time during these changes, but
not long since it was re-opened to the public, and is now
styled the Union House, of which George M. Fillibrowne
is at present the landlord.
POST OFFICE.
Since the establishment of a post office in town in
1821, there have been seven post-masters. The following
are their names, and the year of their appointment:Baxter Burnell,                   1821.
Winm. R. Gillett,                 1823.
Thaddeus Clapp,                   1828.
J. Emerson Lyman,                 1840.
Thaddeus Clapp,                   1841.
Luther Clapp,                    1843.
Ebenezer Ferry,                   1843.
J. H. Bardwell,                   1861.
The first two post-masters kept the office in a store
which stood where the hotel now, does. Dea. Thaddeus
Clapp kept it in his tavern. Capt. Ferry kept it for the
first few years in his store, in the house formerly occupied
by him, but for the last fifteen years or more, it has been
in Knight's block. When Dea. Clapp had the care of the
office, its yearly avails were about $75.00. In 1860
they were about $650.00. Now, on the old plan of paying a commission to postmasters instead of a salary, the
avails of the post office would be $1,500 or more. The
number of litters- maifed during the year 1860 was
32,133. The present rate is over 100,000 yearly,
together with a corresponding amount of printed matter.
8*




94             HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
POPULATION.
When the district was incorporated, its population was
small, being then only about 400. Since that time there
has been an almost constant, though until recently not
rapid, increase. Only once was there a diminution in
the number of inhabitants, from the taking of one census
to that of another.  Between 1830 and 1840 there was a
decrease of 28. The table shows the population at each
census.
1790, 457;;1800, 586; 1810, 660; 1820, 712; 1830,
745; 1840, 717;  1850, 1,348; 1860, 1,928; 1865,
2;869. The present number of inhabitants is one more
than four times the number twenty-five years since. The
gpin in that time has been 2,152. It was during the
interval between 1840 and'50, that the manufacturing
interest of the place took its rise. Since that time, the
material growth of the town has been very rapid. Indeed, we think it doubtful whether any other town in the
country can exhibit a similar increase in any period of its
history.
INTERNAL REVENUE.
The law enacted by Congress to provide internal revenue to meet the demands of the government, took effect
Sept. 1, 1862,firom which date the first tax was assessed,
though at that time there was no Income Tax. This
contained the names of, 32 persons and firms  from
Easthampton.
There were 23 Licenses-issued at; that time.
There were 8 Retail Dealers' Licenses.
There were 4 Manufaoturers' Licenses.
First Income Tax, May 1, 1863.
84 names of persons and firms. from Easthampton.
32,iUenses were issued-.




MISCELLANIES.                 95
9 Retail Dealers.
8 Manufacturers.
29 Incomes assessed, amounting to 1 88,410.
24 Carriages and Wagons, valued at $75 and upwards.
Second Income Tax, May 1, 1864.
68 names of persons and firms from Easthampton.
41 Licenses.
12 Retail Dealers.
9 Manufacturers.
28 Incomes, amounting to $255,129.
26 Carriages and Wagons, valued at $75 and upwards.
Third Income Tax, May 1, 1865.
127 names of individuals and firms from Easthampton.
89 Licenses.
20 Retail Dealers.
14 Manufacturers.
79 Incomes, amounting to $419,607.
63 Carriages and Wagons, valued at $50 and upwards.
53 Gold WVatches taxed.
Fourth Income Tax, May 1, 1866.
169 names of individuals and firms from Easthampton.
75 Licenses.
66 Carriages and Wagons, valued at $50 and upwards.
67 Gold Watches.
93 Incomes, amounting to $340,539.
13 Manufacturers.
18 Retail Dealers.
The returns since May 1 of the current year, are incom-'
plete. The number of licenses to retail dealers, manufac.
turers, and others; is not all in yet.
Total Manufacturer's Tax, for the year ending April
30, 1866, $100,919 32.




96            HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
These figures, kindly furnished us by the Assistant
Assessor, indicate very clearly the increase of business
in the town during the period which they cover, the
numbers, in some cases, having more than trebled.
The first Assistant Assessor was Levi Parsons, the
exact date of whose appointment we have been unable to
find. A re-appointment of his bears date Sept. 30, 1863.
Failing- health forbade him longer to continue in the
office, and LaFayette Clapp was appointed in his place,
by President Johnson, June 6, 1865. He has continued
in the office to the present time, having been re-appointed
by the Secretary of the Treasury, June 14, 1866, On the
14th of June, 1865, Mr. Clapp was appointed Inspector
of Distilled Spirits, and on the 4th of October, 1865,
Inspector of Tobacco, Snuff, and Cigars.  Both these
gentlemen have discharged the duties of their office with
fidelity and acceptance.
TOWN OFFICERS.
Selectmen.
1785 — Stephen Wright, Capt. P. Clark, Eleazer Hannum.
1786-Stephen Wright, Capt. P. Clark, Eleazer Hannum.
1787-Benj amin Lyman, Elijah Wright, Eleazer Hannum.
1788-=-Philip Clark, Elijah Wright, Eleazer Hannum.
1789-Philip Clark, Elijah Wright, Eleazer Hannum.
1790-Lemuel Lyman, Joel Parsons, Noah Janes.
1791 —Lemuel Lyman, Joel Parsons, Noah Janes.
1792 —,emuel Lyman, Joel Parsons, Aaron Clapp, jr.
1793-Lemuel Lyman, Joel Parsons, Oliver Clark.
1794 —Eleazer Hannum, Noah Janes, Oliver Clark.
1795-Elijah Wright, Lemuel Lyman, Joel Parsons.
1796-Eleazer WVright, Noah Janes, Oliver Clark.
1797-Elijah Wright, Lemuel Lyman, Joseph Clapp, jr.




MISCELLANIES.                97
1798-Noah Janes, Lemuel Lyman, Joel Parsons.
1799-David Lyman, Levi Clapp, Joel Parsons.
1800-Oliver Clark, Levi Clapp, Solomon Lyman.
1801-Oliver Clark, Joel Parsons, Solomon Lyman.
1802-Oliver Clark, Uriel Clark, Levi Clapp.
1803-Oliver Clark, Uriel Clark, Levi Clapp.
1804-Oliver Clark, Solomon Lyman, Justus Lyman.
1805 —Oliver Clark, Solomon Lyman, Jonathan Janes, jr.
1806-Thaddeus Clapp, Sol. Lyman, Jonathan Janes, jr.
1807-Thaddeus Clapp, Oliver Clark, Justus Lyman.
1808-Jonathan Janes, jr., Oliver Clark, Justus Lyman.
1809 —John Hannum, Thaddeus Parsons, Justus Lyman.
1810-John Hannum, Jonathan Janes, jr., Justus Lyman.
1811 —John Hannum, Thaddeus Parsons, Justus Lyman.
1812-John Hannum, Thaddeus Clapp, Justus Lyman.
1813-Solomon Lyman, Thad. Parsons, Justus Lyman.
1814-John Hannum, Solomon Ferry, Justus Lyman.
1815-John Hannum, Solmon Ferry, Justus Lyman.
1816 —John Hannum, Solomon Ferry, Justus Lyman.
1817 —John Hannum, John Ludden, Seth Janes.
1818-John Hannum, John Ludden, Jonathan Janes.
1819-John Hannum, John Ludden, Jonathan Janes.
1820-John Hannum, John Ludden, Jonathan Janes.
1821 —John Hannum, John Ludden, Jonathan Janes.
1822-John Ludden, Ocran Clapp, Julius Clark.
1823-John Ludden, Ocran Clapp, Julius Clark.
1824-John Ludden, John Hannum, Luther Clark.
1825-John Ludden, John Hannum, Luther Clark.
1826-John Ludden, John Hannum, Luther Clark.
1827-Levi Clapp, John Hannum, Luther Clark.
1828-Levi Clapp, John Hannum, Luther Clark.
1829-Levi Clapp, John Hannum, Luther Clark.
1830 —John Ludden, John Hannum, Luke Janes.
1831-John Ludden, Daniel Lyman, Luke Janes.




98            HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
1832-John Ludden, Daniel Lyman, Luke Janes.
1833-John Hannum, Levi Clapp, Luke Janes.
1834-Luther Clark, Levi Clapp, John Ludden.
1835-Luther Clark, Jason Janes, John Ludden.
1836-Luther Clark, Jason Janes, John Ludden.
1837-Luther Clark, Jason Janes, John Ludden.
1838-Luke Janes, E. W. Hannum, John Luddein.
1839-L. P. Lyman, E. W. Hannum, Luther Clark.
1840-L. P. Lyman, E. W. Hannum, Luther Clark.
1841-E. W. Hannum, Augustus Clapp, Lorenzo Clapp.
1842-E. W. iHannum, Zenas Clark, Solomon Alvord.
1843 —E. WV. Hannum, Zenas Clark, Solomon Alvord.
1844-Theodore Clapp, Zenas Clark, Solomon Alvord.
1845-E. W. Hannum, Luther Clark, Theodore Clapp.
1846-E. WV. Hannum, Luther Clark, Solomon Alvord.
1847-E. iV. Hannum, Luther Clark, Solomon Alvord.
1848-Lemuel P. Lyman, Luther Clark, Solomon Alvord.
1849-Lemuel P. Lyman, Luther Clark, Solomon Alvord.
1850-E. Ferry, Luke Janes, Solomon Alvord.
1851 —E. Ferry, Luke Janes, H. G. Knight.
1852-E. W. Hannum, Luke Janes, H. G. Knight.
1853-E. W. Hannum, E. Ferry, Luther Clark.
1854-J. H. Lyman, E. Ferry, Luke Janes.
1855-L. F. Clapp, Q. P. Lyman, Ransloe Daniels.
1856-L. F. Clapp, Joseph Parsons, Solomon Alvord.
1857-E. WV. Hannum, Joseph Parsons, L. P. Lyman.
1858-Alanson Clark, L. F. Clapp, E. H. Sawyer.
1859-Alanson Clark, L. F. Clapp, Levi Parsons.
1860-Alanson Clark, L. F. Clapp, Levi Parsons.
1861-Alanson Clark, Lewis S. Clark, Levi Parsons.
1862-Lewis S. Clark, Alanson Clark, Seth Warner,
Lauren D. Lyman, Lewis Clapp.
1863-Lauren D. Lyman, Seth Warner, E. S. Janes.
1864-Lauren D. Lyman, E. S. Janes, E. A. Hubbard.




MISCELLANIES.                 99
1865-Edwin S. Janes, Lewis S. Clark, Joel Bassett.
1866-Joel L. Bassett, Ansel B. Lyman, Lewis S. Clark.
Town Clerks.
1785-David Lyman,                            3 years.
1188-Jonathan Clapp,                         2 years.
1790-Joseph Clapp, jr.
1797 —Hophni Clapp,                          6 years.
1803-Obadiah Janes, 2d.
1804-Joseph Clapp, jr.,                     11 years.
1808-Obadiah Janes, 2d,                      9 years.
1816-Isaac Clapp.
1817-Zalmon Mallory.
1821-Isaac Clapp,                            2 years.
1822-Zalmon Mallory,                        I 1 years.
1829-Samuel Wright,                         5 years,
1834-Ebenezer Ferry.
1841-Edwin Hannum,                           1 year.
1842-Ebenezer Ferry,                       20 years.
1855-Lucius Preston,                         9 years.
1864-George S. Clark,                        1 year.
1865-Charles B. Johnson.
School Committees.
1826-Samuel  Williston, Zalmon  Mallory, Samuel
Wright, Solomon Clapp, Luther Clark, jr.
1827-Rev. P. Williston, Zalmon Mallory, Zenas Clark.
1828-Rev. P. Williston, Theo. Wright, Ezekiel White.
1829-Rev. P. Williston, Ezekiel White, Luther Clark, jr.
1830-Rev. P. Williston, Zenas Clark, Chandler Ludden.
1831 —Samuel Wright, Luther Clapp, Sidney Ferry.
1832-Sidney Ferry, Emelius Clapp, Gideon Matthews.
1833 —Sam'l Williston, Wm. Hannum, Gideon Matthews.
1834-Rev. P. Williston, Rev. Wm. Bement, Sidney Ferry.




100           HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
1835-Sam'l Williston, Sidney Ferry, Samuel Wright.
1836-Sam'l Williston, Sam'l Wright, Rev. Wm. Bement.
1837-Rev. Wm. Bement, Sam'l Williston, Sidney Ferry.
1838 —Rev. Wmin. Bement, Edwin Hannum, Ather'n Clark.
1839-Rev. Win. Bement, Ather'n Clark, Edwin Hannumn.
1840-Edwin Hannum, Rev. Luther Wright, Luther
Clark, jr.
1841-Rev. Winm. Bement, Rev. Luther Wright, Edwin
Hannum.
1842- Edwin Hannum, Rev. Wmin. Bement, E. Monroe
Wright.
1843 —Rev. Winm. Bement, Edwin Hannum, E. Monroe
Wright.
1844-Eleazer Coleman, Rev. Solomon Lyman, Edwin
Hannum.
1845-Edwin Hannum, Rev. Solomon Lyman, Eleazer
Coleman.
1846-David N. Smith, C. Mattoon Alvord, Edwin
Hannum.
1847 —Edwin Hannum, Rev. Wm. Bement, C, Mattoon
Alvord.
1848-Rev. Wm. Bement, D. M. Kimball, Edwin Hannum.
1849-LaFayette Clapp, Jas. H. Lyman, Edwin Hannum.
1850 —L. F. Clapp, Jas. H. Lyman, Rev. Luther Wright.
1851-Rev. R. S. Stone, L. F. Clapp, Rev. Luther Wright.
1852-Rev. R. S. Stone, Rev. Luther Wright, James H.
Lyman.
1853-E. A. Hubbard, Rev. A. M. Colton, Rev. Hervey
Smith.
1854-Rev. A. M. Colton, E. A. Hubbard, Rev. Hervey
Smith.
1855-Rev. Hervey Smith, Edward Hitchcock,jr., L. F.
Clapp.
1856-Lewis S. Clark, Lauren D. Lyman, Rev. Luther
Wright.




MISCELLANIES.                101
1857-Rev. Luther Wright, Lewis S. Clark, Lauren D.
Lyman.
1858-E. A. Hubbard, Rev. A. M. Colton, Rev. Luther
Wright.
1859 —E. A. Hubbard, Rev. A. M. Colton, Rev. Luther
Wright.
1860-E. A. Hubbard, Rev. Luther Wright, H. G. Knight.
1861-Rev. Luther Wright, H. G. Knight, E. A. Hubbard.
1862-H. G. Knight, E. A. Hubbard, Rev. Luther Wright.
1 863 — E. A. Hubbard, Rev. Luther Wright, H. G. Knight.
1864-Rev. Luther Wright, H. G. Knight, E. A. Hubbard.
1865-H. G. Knight, Russell M. Wright, Rev. Samuel
Jackson.
1866-Russell M. Wright, H. G. Knight, Seth Warner.
REPRESENTATIVES IN GENERAL COURT.
1810-Dea. T. Clapp.      1828 —John Ludden.
1811 —Dea. T. Clapp.     1829-John Ludden.
1812 —Dea. T. Clapp.;1830-Ocran Clapp.
1 813 —P. Nichols,       1831-Luther Clark.
1814-P. Nichols.         1832 —John Ludden.
181 5-Capt. L. Lytan.    1833-Jason Janes.
1816 —Capt. L. Lyman.   1834 —Jason Janes.
1817 —John Hannum.       1835-Luther Clark, jr.
1818 —John Hannum.       1836-Luther Clark, jr,
1819-Ahira Lymarn.       t83.7 —Luther Clark, jr,
1820-Dea,. T. Clapp.     1839-John Ludden.
1821 —Dea. T. Clapp.     1840 —Samuel Williston.
1822-Dea. T. Clapp.      184;3-E. W. Hannum.
1823 —Dea. T: Clapp,     1844-E. M. Wright.
1824-Dea. T. Clapp.      1,84,5 —Zenas Clark.
1825-Ahira Lyman.        1848-H. Bartholomew.
1826 —John Ludden.       1849-J. Wright, 2d.
1827 —John Ludden.       1850-John Wright.
9




102           HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
1851-H. G. Knight.       1859-LaFayette Clapp.
1852 —H. G. Knight.      1862 —Eli A. Hubbard.
1853 —Lemuel P. Lyman.  1865-E. H. Sawyer.
1854-Seth WVarner.
The following persons have served as Justices of the
Peace, the first of whom was commissioned in 1810
Thaddeus Clapp.          Lemuel P. Lymano
John Ludden.             Luther Wright, jr.
Luther Clark, jr.        E. Waldo Lymano
Samuel Williston.        Addison S. Peck.
Ebenezer Ferry.          Horatio G. Knight.
William N. Clapp.        Levi Parsons.
Charles B. Johnson.      George S. Clark.
QUARTER CENTURY RETROSPECT.
It will be interesting, at this time, to review the progress of the town during the last quarter of a century.
Letmus glance back to the year 1840, and imagine ourselves
passing through its streets, of which there were, then laid
out, only those now known as Bridge, Main, Park, Union,
and Pleasant Streets. Entering the town from the north,
after we had crossed the bridge over Manhan river, we
should come first to the house then occupied by L. P.
Lyman, and the saw-mill opposite. Where now stands
the hotel, would have been seen the.building, since remodeled, and used, at present, as the Seminary Boarding
House. On the left stood the house now owned by E.
R. Bosworth, then occupied by Rev. Winm. Bement, pastor
of the church, and also, a little farther on, the house formerly occupied by Rev. Luther Wright, but recently removed to give place to the First Church. On our right,
we should pass the houses now owned by Capt. Miller and
Dr. J. W. Winslow, in the latter of which lived Dr.




MISCELLANIES.                -103
Atherton Clark. A little farther on, we should see, on
our left, the First Church edifice, then newly erected, and,
on our right, the old Town Hall, now used as a dwelling
house by Edmund W. Clark. Passing the burying ground
then in use, we should come to the blacksmith shop of
Almon Chapman, standing where Knight's block now
does, while directly opposite, on the present grounds belonging to Williston Seminary, was his residence. A
little farther on was the house of Elihu Lyman, where F.
H. Pomeroy now lives, and, nearly opposite, the dwelling
of Isaac Clapp. The next house which we should pass
would be that of Dea. Solomon Lyman, and still further
south that of Jeremiah Lyman, where his son Ansel B.
now lives. Beyond this there were none, until we reach
that now occupied by Mrs. Janes. If, instead of Main,
we had taken Park street, the only residence would have
been that of Mr. WTilliston, on the site of his present one,
while across the way stood his store. If, instead of this,
we had taken Union street, though it could hardly have
been called a street, we should have found only one house,
until we reached the Pascomrmuck road running along the
base of Mt. Tom. This stood at a little distance across
the brook, where is now the Factory village. Soon after
this the Seminary Boarding House and that of Almon
Chapman were moved to their present location, and, for
several years, these three were the only houses in that
part of the town.
Now, retracing our steps, let us pass the church, and
take the road leading to Pascommuck, now called Pleasant street. On the corner, was the house now owned by
Horace Matthews, and the one next to it was then occupied
by Joel Parsons, Senior, since, however, owned by Lewis
Ferry. Opposite to this stood that now owned by Lowell
E. Janes. A little farther on we should reach the dwel



104           HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
lings of Joel Parsons, Jr., and of Spencer Janes, where
now E. S. Janes resides. Four other houses, those of
Solomon Ferry, Theodore Lyman, and one a little to the
west of his, together with one standing not far from where
Arlow Hannum now lives, would bring us to the saw-mill
of Spencer Janes, where now the cotton mill of S. Williston & Co. stands.
Now let any one, bearing these statements in mind,
pass, either in reality or imagination, along these streets
and others since laid out, and observe the changes which
a quarter century has witnessed, and he would be strikingly impressed with the progress of the town during that
period.
Then the only church in the place stood where it has
since, until its recent removal. Luther Clapp kept store,
between the river and canal, where L. F. Clapp now lives,
and Mr. Williston had a store across the road from his
residence. Almon, Chapman carried on the blacksmith's
business, as we have said, where Knight's block now
stands, and Samruel; right supplied customers with fresh
meat. The lumberz and flouring business was in much
the same hands as now, though in extent it has increased
greatly.
Since then, the Hotel, Parsonage adjoining, High
School, Town Hall, and Knight's block of stores, and
others in the place, have been put up. Williston Seminary has been established, and, with all its buildings, stands
an ornament to the place. Two new churches have been
organized, and: church edifices erected.  The extensive
manufacturing interest, with its mills and villages, has all
sprung up, and a portion of the town where was then but
one house has, become its most populous part. Many fine
private residences have been erected, and everywhere we
m-eet with marked evidences of growth. The railroad and




MISCELLANIES.                105
telegraph lines, and the lighting of the village with gas,
are other great improvements.
Then the population was 717. In May last it was
2,869. With this advance in business and population,
has come a still greater advance in the valuation of property in the center.
In 1848, H. G. Knight purchased a lot of land lying on
Union street, and embracing that now occupied by the Payson Church, and the residences of H. J. Bly, D. S. Jepson, John Mayher, and Mrs. Miletus Parsons, two acres
in all, paying therefor $200 per acre. In 1865 a quarter
acre lot adjoining this was sold for little more than $1000,
or more than twenty times as much as was paid for the
same amount eighteen years ago by Mr. Knight.
Another, and a sad evidence of the growth of the town,
is to be seen in its cemetery. Laid out in 1846, the surface of the original portion is already dotted all over with
marble slabs, which mark the last resting place of some
loved one; while one addition and another have been
called for, as new families have removed hither.  One by
one they have been brought to tenant this city of the
dead. One by one shall we who remain pass away, and
our bodies be committed to earth. The time of our departure we know  not, for "of the day and the hour
knoweth no man." But, sooner or later, to each one it
will come, and happy will it be for us if we be found in
readiness, and watching for the summons.
MISCELLANIES.
Among the records of the old militia company of this
town, under date of October 2d, 1827, after the usual
record of the doings of the company, we find the following entry, which is very suggestive and interesting: " At
the above training, the company voted unanimously that
9*




106            HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
the officers should, on all occasions, abolish -the practice of
treating with ardent spirits. A noble resolution-let it be
kept sacred." This may be considered to mark an era in
the history of temperance reform. Hitherto, custom had
required that the officers, at their election, and on other
occasions, should treat the men under their command. It
was a practice entirely pernicious in its workings, and
without any natural foundation, though, in those times
and before, it was carried into almost every department of
life. Men at length. began to awaken to a consideration
of the wide spread evils of such a course, and hence arose
the temperance reformation, a work most beneficent in its
results and calculated to secure to society incalculable
blessings, if wisely persisted in. Of late years, however,
an apathy on the subject seems to have taken possession
of the minds of the friends of this reform, while its enenmies are ever on the alert.  Many professedly temperance
men have fallen into the old habit of using and treating
with the lighter liquors, as cider and domestic wines, and,
as it seems to us, from precisely this source, has originated
something of the alarming increase of intemperance in our
communities. If we would withstand successfully this
vice, whose desolatingeffects are but too plainly visible
all around us, we must come up to the high ground of the
old temperance reform, and persistently maintain its principle of total abstinence from everything that can intoxicate.
An incident of interest, which has come to our notice,
though known perhaps to some, is deserving of mention
here.  Rev. Luther  Wright, on the day on which he
reached the grand climacteric of life, (his sixty-third
birth-day,) ate his thanksgiving dinner in the room in
which he was born, with his father and mother beside
him. A case of this kind, where so many circumstances




MISCELLANIES.                   o 0 7
of interest cluster around a single event, rarely happens in
any community.
It is a fact, perhaps not generally known, that the elm
which stands in the center of the park, where the original
church edifice stood, is planted directlyr: beneath the place
occupied by the old pulpit. It was set out by Luther
Wright, father of the one previouslyp mentioned, not long,
after the building was taken down.
The elm which stands.nearly in front of the recent site
of the First Church, was set out when quite small, by,
Zadok Danks, then nearly. ninety years of age, who obtained it somewhere in the Manhan meadows.  This is an
interesting circumstance, and it, would not be inappropriate
if the name of this public benefactor-should be borne up
in the tree which he planted.
On the 14th of January, 1856, Luther Wright and wife
celebrated the sixtieth- anniversary of their marriage.  It
was an occasion of unusual interest, and- such an one as
rarely occurs. Rev. Payson Williston,who married them,
and who survived the celebration only about two weeks,
was present, as were also four others,,who- attended the
marriage sixty years before..
DEED OF SCHOOL: MEADOW.'
It may be interesting to many to'know that'the deed of
School Meadow, which the town of Northampton gave to
Stephen Wright and Benjamin Lyman, is still in existence. Such is its connection with the early settlement of
the town, as to justify the insertion of some portion of it
here, particularly that part relating to the boundaries of
the tract. It reads as follows:"To all persons to whom these presents shall come, Greeting:Know ye that we, John Stoddard, Ebenezer Pomroy, and TimothyDwight, all of Northampton, in the County of Hampshire, in His




108              HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
Majesty's province of Massachusetts Bay, in New England, a committee
appointed by the town of Northampton to make sale of the sequestered land that lies on both sides of the Manhand river, between the
county road across said river, above Bartlett's mills, and the Pomroy
-land, for and in consideration of the sum of sixteen hundred and
twenty-five pounds, in bills of Public Credit, Old Tenor, secured to
the town of Northampton by Dea. Stephen Wright and Benjamin
Lyman, both of Northampton, aforesaid, the receipt of which is
hereby acknowledged, and in said capacity we, the said Stoddard,
Pomroy, and'Dwight, are fully contented and satisfied, do therefore
acquit said Stephen Wright and Benjamin Lyman, of all dues and
demands whatsoever, on account of said land excepting Public Security, have, in,the capacity aforesaid, given, granted, bargained, and
sold, and by these presents do freely, fully, and absolutely give, grant,
bargain, sell, convey, and confirm to them, the said Stephen Wright
and Benjamin Lyman, and to their heirs and assigns forever, (viz.),
one half to be his, the said Stephen Wright, to his heirs and assigns
forever, and the other half to the said Benjamin Lymnan, his heirs
and assigns forever, the whole of the above mentioned tract or parcel:of sequestered land which is more particularly bounded as follows,
(viz..) — It:tisland that was formerly sequestered by the town for the
school, bounded eastwardly:by the place where Filer's Brook formerly emptied itself into Manhand river, and, from thence it extends up
XIanhand river onboth-sides, as far westwardly as to land laid out to
Thomas Dewey,. on the north side of the river, now belonging to
Eldad Pomroy.. The.-uplan dioni the north. side of the meadow is to
extend westwardly as'fAr as to the home lot of Caleb Pomroy, de-,ceased, bounded southerly by the brow. of the hill on the south side of;School Meadow,.and.northerly by the highway running west on the
south side of the:-Long:Divi-sibnj extending westerly to Pomroy's land,
which highway:-isto remarnf fiom. Filer's Brook, aforesaid, which, (or
Saw-mill brook as it is sometimes called)>as it now runs to the top
of the hill!on. the'level:land- or plain, and then to turn, northerly to
the highway on —the soutlrside of "the Long'Division."
T:,heremaaiiiihg portion~lis very.similar-to what may be
found in-any deed at the present day, and contains no
points of special iiterest;
This instrument waas executed on the 28th of May,
1745, in- the presence of Preserved  Clapp, Nathaniel
Dwight, ands Timothy Dwight, Xr.




CHAPTER IX.
THE CIVIL WAR.
To write the history of the town, as it relates to the
civil war so recently closed, is a duty both joyous and sad.
We rejoice to speak of the patriotism  of our citizens, of
the heroic achievements and self sacrificing spirit of those
who participated in it, and of the part, which we as a
community, had in defending the institutions transmitted
to us by our fathers; but we are saddened,'as we record
the names and deeds and deaths of some of our noblest
young men, who were possessed of sterling character,
patriotic devotion, high and consistent regard for truth
and right, and steadfast purpose to serve their day and
generation wherever Providence might call them. Doubt.
less He, who directs the affairs of men to the accomplishment of His own grand designs, knew how they could
best subserve the object of their existence; but as we
recall their many virtues, and the promise of usefulness
they gave, we cannot but mourn their early death. It is,
moreover, a difficult task to weigh out equal justice to
every one. Our desire is to deal fairly by all, and to
speak of the service performed by each in different fields,
without instituting any invidious comparison as to the
relative value or merit of those services.
In the time of the Revolutionary War, of Shay's rebel



110           HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
lion, and of the war of 1812, our population was not numerous, and, though our part was faithfully performed, the
number of men called for was by no means large, while, in
the Revolutionary war only, was much real military service performed. Only a few can now remember the drafts
then made upon us. None of our inhabitants engaged
in the Mexican war, a war which was the result of a measure obnoxious to the greater part of the people. Fifty
years of undisturbed peace had rendered us unfamiliar
with the arts and paraphernalia of war. In the earlier
portion of this period, there were, it is true, military companies and parade days; but these had entirely ceased,
and few of those *in early life had ever seen a militia
soldier.  Wte thought that our nation  stood  strong.
Though other nations might be rent by civil commotions
or foreign war, we hoped that we might be exempt. But
the time was approaching when war, in its numberless
forms of horror, was to beccme to us an actual reality.
It would be needless to detail the events preceding and
attendant upon the election of President Lincoln in the
autumn of 1860, the secret plots of traitors, and the temporizing of President Buchanan during the remainder of
his administration, the attempts upon the life of the
President-elect, his inauguration, and the vigorous though
conciliatory policy which he adopted, the development of
secret treachery into open revolt in the attack upon Fort
Sumter, and the subsequent grand uprising of the people. All these events are still fresh in our memories, and
will there remain fixed.  We remember well the days of
eager expectancy and intense excitement which succeeded
the issue of the call for 75,000 volunteers, when the
nation's capital seemed to be surrounded by its enemies,
and all open communication with it suspended.
We did not then think that we were entering upon a




THE CIVIL WAR.                111
protracted struggle of four long, terrible years. We did
not think that the call for men was to be so oft repeated.
We did not know that the remorseless hand of war was to
enter, almost every home, and that from many of these
homes some loved one was to fall a sacrifice. In wisdom
the future was hidden from our sight. A short time
passed, and it became apparent that 75,000 men, in three
months, could not quell a rebellion, which was from day to
day assuming more gigantic proportions. Accordingly, a
call was issued by the President for the enlistment of men
for a three years' term.
The first to respond to this call were James HI. Clark,
who joined the second Mass. regiment, commanded by
Col. Gordon, Roland Williston, who had but recently
come into the place, and perhaps was not credited to the
town, and who also joined the second Mass. regiment,
Gustavus W. Peabody, Edward Graves, and Henry L.
Ferry, who enlisted in the 10th regiment at the time of
its formation. Henry L. Ferry was a member of the regiment about eighteen months, taking part in McClellan's
peninsular campaign. He was at last discharged on account of poor health. At a subsequent period however,
he joined the.31st Mass.,regiment, and remained with
them until they were mustered out. -Gustavus W. Peabody retained his connection with the regiment so long as
it continued in the service, and was with it in most of its
battles, though absent a short time in consequence of a
wound in the arm received at the battle of Salem Heights.
Albert S. Gove, Salmon H. Lyman, and Richard Goodsell, went to New York, and enlisted in a regiment known
as the Anderson Zouaves. Of these three, the first mentioned went through the whole three years of his enlistment without a wound, although he was in many, if not
all of the battles in\,which the army of the Potomac were




112           HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
engaged, up to the time of his discharge. For a portion
of the time, he was engaged in detached service at the
headquarters of Gen. Wheaton. Salmon H. Lyman, after
serving about one year, was taken sick and died. Before
his sickness he was with McClellan, on the Peninsula, and
fought at the battle of Williamsburg.
These, hitherto named, enlisted in the early part of the
year. The summer wore away, and the call came for more
men. The 27th regiment was mustering at Springfield.
Its ranks must be filled, and we must come forward to aid.
Efforts were made to procure enlistments, and the following men from this town enrolled their names:-Thomas
Bolton, Lafayette Clapp, Alvin W. Clark, George P.
Clark, William P. Derby, Charles D. Fish, Sylvester S.
Hooper, John H. Judd, Frederick P. Stone, Justus Lyman,
Thaddeus Lyman. The last mentioned of these did not,
however, long remain in the regiment, owing to a severe
sickness which attacked him soon after going into camp.
These men joined Co. A, and were mustered into the
service Sept. 20, 1861. They left Camp Reed, Nov. 2d,
and went to Annapolis, Md,, where they joined the forces
gathering under Gen. Burnside. With his expedition
they sailed, and assisted in the capture of Roanoke Island,
Feb. 8, 1862, and afterwards in the battle and capture of
Newbern. Of these just mentioned, William  P. Derby
was appointed to a position in the post office, which he
retained during his period of enlistment. Lafayette Clapp
was detailed for hospital service, and remained at Newbern,
part of the time only with the regiment, until near the close
of the war. The latter part of the time he was employed
in connection with the Sanitary Commission and White
Refugee Department. The others followed the fortunes
of the regiment. For a long time they were required to
do garrison and provost duty in and about Newbern,




THE CIVIL WAR.                113
though on one occasion they engaged in an expedition to
Goldsboro, and also at other times on difficult marches.
They also shared in the defense of Little Washington,
during a protracted siege of seventeen days, —a siege most
gallantly and successfully sustained. In the summer of
1862 they received a considerable accession to their number,
from those who volunteered, in response to a call of the
President for 300,000 men.
Those who went from this place were William Bly,
Henry Braman, Oliver A. Clark, George A. Hill, Lyman
A. Howard, Elisha C. Lyman, Patrick Murphy, Ezra 0.
Spooner, Spencer C. Wood. To these may be added
Henry Lyman, who although he was not counted on our
quota, was a native of this town, and held the same place
in the regard of the community which the others did. For
about a year he performed faithfully the duties of a Christian soldier. In the summer of'63, he sickened and
died at Newbern. Elisha C. Lyman, another of this
number, joined Co. A, in which he already had a brother;
but his' military career, though heartily entered upon,
was to be- short,  He died at Newbern, Dec. 26, 1862.
Spencer C. Wood remained in the army but a short
time, in consequence of sickness, which led him to obtain
a discharge.
In the winter of 1863-'4, the regiment was transferred to the department of Gen. Butler in Eastern Virginia, and spent the winter at Norfolk and Portsmouth.
In the spring, our men took part in the advance of Butler
up the James. For several days they were engaged in
fighting along the railroad between Richmond and Petersburg. On the 16th of May, while fighting at Drury's
Bluff, many of the regiment, including the greater part
of Co. A, were taken prisoners, having.been surrounded
by — the enemy, whose movements were concealed by a
10




114           HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
dense fog. The following soldiers from this town were
captured: —Thomas Bolton, Henry Braman, Alvan W.
Clark, Oliver A. Clark, Sylvester S. Hooper, Lyman A.
Howard, John H. Judd, Justus Lyman, Patrick Murphy,
Edward Merrigan, Ezra 0. Spooner, Frederick P. Stone.
To this list of captured may be added the name of Rufus
Robinson, who although at the time of his enlistment he
was living in Southampton, and counted on their quota,
yet had for a number of years previously resided in this
town. He had joined the regiment only a short time
before the advance up the Peninsula.
J. H. Judd, who had been promoted from sergeant to
first lieutenant, was at the time in command of Co. A,
and Justus Lyman, who had received a similar promotion
and had been assigned to another company, were confined
two weeks in Libby Prison, and then sent successively to
Macon, S. C., Charleston, and Columbia, S. C., and Charlotte, N. C. On the 16th of February, 1865, after having
been confined nine months, Lieut. Judd, in company with
a few others, made his escape, and, after meeting with
various adventures, reached a place of safety with a
Union man, until the' advance of Sherman about that
time, brought relief. Lieut. Lyman was exchanged about
the time of Lieut. Judd's escape. He retained his connection with the army until the close of the war, before
which time he received a captain's commission.
The other prisoners were taken to Andersonville, which
place they reached May 30. In this den of horrors they
were confined, and endured, as long as life lasted, those
sufferings and tortures which have stamped with infamy
the rebel cause, and which for magnitude and enormity,
stand almost unrivalled in the record of human atrocities.
Of the number sent here, five died. Their names were as
follows: Oliver A. Clark, Alvin W. Clark, Ezra 0.




THE CIVIL WAR.                115
Spooner, Frederick P. Stone, Rufus Robinson. The
others were released at last, and permitted to return
home.
In the fall of 1861, after the men who had joined the
27th regiment had gone, enlistment rolls were opened to
obtain men for Gen. Butler, who was then raising a regiment in the western part of the state. The following men
enrolled their names, and went into camp at Pittsfield:
Theodore E. Bartlett, Amasa Braman, Joseph U. Braman,
Leonard Braman, William Bryant, Egbert I. Clapp, Martin S. Dodge, Albert H. Ford, Samuel D. Gould, Chauncey A. Hendrick, William Hickey, John Leavitt, Almon
S. Ludden, James F. Mahar, William Newton, Wilbur H.
Purdy, Henry V. Rich, Fordyce A. Rust, Charles S.
Rust, Richard Wright.
Of these, A. S. Ludden, being unable to leave the state
in consequence of sickness, was discharged. Theodore E.
Bartlett and William H. Purdy were with the regiment
only during the early part of its career. Richard Wright
was discharged. Chauncey A. Hendrick was taken sick,
and returned home, where he died shortly after his arrival.
William  Hickey was killed in battle at Camp Bisland.
The others served out all, or nearly all, the three years.
F. A. Rust went as 1st Sergeant of Co. B, but was
promoted to 1st Lieutenant, and transferred.  Charles
S. Rust went out as Sergt., was detailed as Quartermaster Sergt., and finally was appointed Quartermaster,
with the rank of 1st Lieut. On the promotion of Lieut.
Rust, Egbert I. Clapp was appointed Quartermaster Sergt.,
and before the expiration of his term of service received
the commission of 2nd Lieut. M. S. Dodge, Orderly
Sergt., was on detached service a part of the time at
Gallop's Island.
The military history of the regiment may be said to be




116           HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
that of the others. They went out with Gen. Butler, and
were the first Union soldiers to enter New Orleans. For
a time they were employed in garrisoning Fort Jackson.
They were in the battle of Camp Bisland, took part in the
march through the Teche country, and were engaged at
Port Hudson during all the siege of that stronghold.
After this they participated in the Red River campaign of
Gen. Banks, during which they were engaged in the battles of Cane River, Pleasant Hill, Pine Bluff, Sabine Cross
Roads, Bynam's Mills, Gov. Moore's Plantation, and Yellow Bayou.
This season their term of service expired, and of them
the following re-enlisted and were allowed a furlough
home: —Williamn  Bryant, Egbert I. Clapp, Martin SO
Dodge, Albert H. Ford, John Leavitt, James F. Mahar,
William Newton, Charles S. Rust, Samuel IDo, Gould, the
last of whom was wounded at the battle of Pleasant HillIn the fall of 1864, those who did not re-enlist came
home, while those who did re-enlist remained till the close
of the war,  In the early part of 1865, they were ordered
to Florida, and afterwards to Mobile, where they, were.
stationed as provost guard until the regiment returned.
The summer of 1862 came, and with it a call for
300,000 more. The question of duty to country was coming more and more closely home to every man. A new
regiment, the 37th, was being raised in this section, and
a number entered it,, though the men who volunteered at
this time had the privilege of being assigned to any other,
regiment which they should elect. It was at this time
that the men before mentioned as recruits for the 27th,,
enlisted.  The others who volunteered were William,
Bartlett, Marshal Blythe, H1. Bodisco Chapman, Charles.
H. Clark, David Fahey, Andrew J. Ferrell, Andrew J.
Hill,. Daniel Kane, Alpheus W, Parsons.  Qf this numb.




THIE CIVIL WAR.                117
ber, the last named was taken sick not long after entering
the service, and was discharged. H. B. Chapman remained for a longer period, but was finally discharged. Chias.
H. Clark was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps,
where he served till the close of the war. Daniel Kane
died the first winter out, while in camp at Falmouth.
Only four, A. J. Ferrell, A. J. Hill, David Fahey, and
Marshal Blythe, remained with the regiment till it was
mustered out. The honorable course and hard service of
the 37th are well known.  They were with the Army of
the Potomac most of the time, when not in the Shenandoah valley with Gen. Sheridan. The four named were in
nearly, or quite, all the following battles, while some of
the others were in the earlier ones:Fredericksburg, Salem Heights, Mary's Hill, Gettysburg, Mine Run, Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Coal Harbor,
Petersburg, Fort Stevens, Charlestown, Opequan, Hatcher's Run, Fort Fisher, Petersburg, Saylor's Creek. The
last two of these engagements were those fought in the
final contest with the forces of Gen. Lee.
Scarcely had the call for three years' men been met,
when a draft for 300,000 nine months' men was ordered.
The quotas of the different towns in the state were made
out, that of this town being about forty. The number
was nearly twice as great as had gone on any previous
occasion, and many who had heretofore shrank from the
sacrifice, and hoped that the great conflict might pass
without demanding their aid, now felt that the call of
duty came to them. Efforts were made to procure enlistments so as to avoid the necessity of a draft. Public
meetings were held for several successive evenings, until,
at last, the requisite number had enrolled themselves.
This was about September 1. They remained at their
homes however, until the 1st of October, on which day
10*




118           HISTORY OP EASTHAMIPTON,
they assembled at-the depot,. and took their departure for
Camp Miller, Greenfield. Our men, together with those
from Hatfield, Southampton,. and Westhampton, constituted Company K, which was assigned to the left of the
regiment.
The names of those from Easthampton, were as follows:
1st Lieut. Lewis Clapp, Commissary. Lewis S. Clark,Whitney F. Alvord, Lyman H. Bartlett,~ Clinton Bates, Frank
L. Boebm, Charles L. Boehm George M. Clapp, William
E. Clapp, Edmund W. Clark, Frederick C. Colton, Charles
WV. Dawes, Edward.M. Ferry, S. Williston Graves, James T.
Graves, Henry F. Gridley, Joseph K. Hull, Edwin E.
Janes, Charles W. Johnson, John G. Keppel, Albert A.
Lyman, Charles H. Lyman, Daniel W. Lyman, John W.
Lyman, Samuel K. Matthews, Lucius E. Parsons, Herbert
W. Pomeroy, William W. Poole, Stephen W. Pierce,
Alfred S. Shaw, George WV. Shaw, B. Milton Smith,
William G. Taylor, Lorenzo D. Trask, Lewis P. Wait,
Charles L. Webster, Enoch E. Wood, Newton Wood,
Luther L. Wright,
The first member of the company, and indeed of the
regiment, who died, was Lewis P. Wait,v who was in camp
but about two weeks, and died one month from his first
day in camp. The attendance of the company at his funeral was an. occasion of melancholy interest, and will not
soon be forgotten. Another occasion of deep interest was
that of the presentation, in behalf of the Sabbath Schools,
of a pocket edition of the Testament and Psalms, to every
man. On the 20th of November,- they broke camp at
Greenfield, and. started for New York. Many of their
friends met them. at Northampton, where they stopped a
few moments, and bade them. a tearful, to some, a last
farewell. They were a noble body of men, and left a void
in our community more felt, because larger, than any




THE CIVIL WAR.                 119
which had been left before. Yet, men as noble, patriotic,
and true, had gone before, and had been missed in our
community —men whose' sacrifice and risk were greaterl,
from the longer term off service upon which they entered.
Arriving at New York, they soon joined the forces of
Gen. Banks, encamped on Long: Island,. On the 2d of
December, they set sail for. Ship Island. arriving:there the
13th, sailed up the Mississippi, anddanded at: Batonu Rouge
the 18th, where they spent nearly three  months.  Most
of them participated in the first march to Port Hudson.
On the 27th of March, they left Port Hudson for Brashear
City, took part in the marm  of Gen. Banks through the
Teche country, and were left at-Barln' I anding' to guard
the post, while the main army went. on to Alexandria.
On its investment of Port Hudson  they were ordered to
join the besieging forces,. and marched to Berwick Bay,- a
distance of one hundred and twenty-six miles, in five days
and two hours, and the last fifty-three miles in twentyeight consecutive hours.  Notlong: after they had rejoined
the army they took part in the unsuccessful Sabbath
assault on the enemy's works, June 14th.  On this day,
one of them, Daniel W. Lyman, lost his life by a ball from
a rebel sharpshooter. They remained until the surrender
of the place, July 8th, soon after which they started up
-the Mississippi on their return home, being the first
regiment to sail up that river after its opening. They
arrived at home on the 3d of August, and were mustered
out the 14th.  This'notice of'the doings of Co. K, is
substantially the history of our thirty-eight men, and is
given in this way to avoid repetition, though some, from
sickness, did not participate in the active service of the
campaign. Alfred S. Shaw was taken sick and did not
go out with the regiment.
In the autumn of 1862, about the time of the enlist



120           HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
ment of the 52d regiment, Alonzo S. King enlisted in the
navy, and was assigned to the Henry Hudson, which was
stationed off the coast of Florida. He remained a year,
during which time he performed faithful service.
The following persons were members of the 1st Mass.
cavalry:-Asa S. Strong, Frank Hoyt, John Kinloch,
Edwin Fahey, William Dehill, James Newton, the latter
of whom remained in the service only about two years.
John Kinloch was taken prisoner twice, and the last time
was confined at Salisbury for six months. Thomas
O'Donnell enlisted in the winter of 1863-4, and joined
this regiment and from this time was with the regiment in
every battle which it fought till the war was over. Edwin Fahey was taken prisoner during the operations of
the cavalry on the Weldon Railroad, and was sent to
Andersonville, where he remained nine months.
Hugo Oberempt joined the 5th Connecticut regiment,
June 5, 1861, was with Gen, Banks in the Shenandoah
campaign, at both battles of Winchester, and Cedar
Mountain, where he was taken prisoner and confined one
month on Belle Isle. He was exchanged, and fought at
Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. He was in the corps of
General Hooker, which joined General Sherman, participating in the campaign from Chattanooga to Atlanta, at
the battles of Resacca, Cassville, Lost Mountain, Kenesaw, Culp's Farm, and Peach Tree Creek, at which place
he was wounded'. He was then transferred to the corps
of Topographical, Engineers, in which capacity he accompanied Sherman in his grand march to Savannah, and
afterwards in the campaign through the Carolinas, at thebattles of Chesterfield, Averysboro, and Bentonsville.
From Raleigh he marched to Washington, where he was
in the grand review of Sherman's army.
Charles Braman was a member of the 34th Massachu



THE CIVIL WAR.                121
setts regiment, which regiment performed. good service in
the campaigns in Virginia. He was with the regiment for
two years.
Michael Fitzgerald joined the 82d New York regiment
in the spring of 1864, and fought in the battles of the
Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Coal Harbor, Deep Bottom,
and White House Landing. He was wounded at the battle of Deep Bottom, August 14, 1864, and was discharged
June 15, 1865.
Thomas- Connolly enlisted in the navy August 27, 1862,
and was assigned to the Monongahela, of Admiral Farragut's squadron, with which he was connected during the
siege of Port Hudson. He was in the service two and
one-:half years.
At the same time with him John Quinn and John Donovan enlisted in the navy, the former being assigned to the
Tennessee, and the latter to the Patapsco. They however
remained only a year.
Justin W. Chapin was a member of a New York regi{
ment. He was taken prisoner and confined in Andersonville seven months, but was, finally released and returned
home.
John G. Hennessey enlisted as a recruit in the 5th New
Hampshire regiment, and served during the last year of
the war in the "Army of the Potomac."
Charles Rensalear enlisted in the 54th Mass. regiment.
In one battle he was wounded and taken prisoner, and
nothing more was. known of him till he was. recognized by
one of our citizens who was a fellow prisoner at Andersonville. He was then suffering from a wound in the
breast, and died the next day after he was found out.
There are other men and probably more than have been
called to our notice, who while they did not enlist from
this place, and therefoxe did not count on. our quota, are




122            HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
yet in some way connected with us, and whom  we may
claim as Easthampton soldiers.
Among these the name of Dr. F. C. Greene may, with
propriety, find place, for, although he did not go directly
from this place, he had lived here before and does now.
He was with McClellan in the Peninsula campaign, and
very nearly lost his life in the Chickahominy swamps.
He was afterwards in Louisiana, with Gen. Banks, where
he performed excellent service both in the hospital and on
the field.
Augustus Clapp, son of Luther Clapp, was first a member of an Ohio three months' regiment, which was engaged in fighting guerrillas, and in guarding prisoners.  He
enlisted again as a member of the 3d regiment Ohio cavalry, in the autumn of 1862. In the early part of 1863,
he was seized with the typhoid fever, and died in hospital at Nashville.
John Reagan enlisted Aug. 30, 1861, at Washington,
D. C., in Co. B, 3d New York Cavalry,, as farrier. He
was discharged at Newbern, N. C., Sept. 30, 1862, from
disability, brought on by exposure to dampness and cold
at Poolesville, Md.  He was in the Ball's Bluff fight, and
his regiment were engaged in Western Virginia, in the
early part of'their service, whence they were sent to
Newbern, N. C. Gen, Burnside had so high an appreciation of his services as farrier, that he wrote him a lettelr
personally, urging him to come on again and take care of
his horses.
Thomas Barbour enlisted December 22, 1863, and joined
Co. B, 27th regiment. He served until June 26, 1865,
and was in the following battles: Port Walthal Junction,
Arrowfield Church, Before Petersburg, Petersburg Mine,
Southwest Creek, He was captured in this last engage.
ment, and paroled in Richmond, Va., May 26, 1865.




THE CIVIL WAR.               123
Charles and James S. Tencellent enlisted in the 10th
Connecticut regiment. The latter served for a period of
three years and was spared to return home, but the former
lost his life in the battle of Olustee in Florida.
There were other soldiers whose names we have learned
and give below, but respecting whom we have been able
to collect very little information. Most of them were not
natives or residents of the town, and were not known by
individuals here. They performed no doubt excellent service and probably some of them lost their lives in the
different battles in -which they were engaged. Patrick McNamee, Michael Hafey, John Tencellent, Frank Thornton,
Charles B. Hendrick, Joseph LaBiestens, John Howard,
William Maffit, Dennis V. Champlin, 55th Mass. regiment;
Martin Butler, Hugh Furfey, 6th Battery; Dexter Edwards,
H. C. Hoffman, Louis Klein, 4th Mass. regiment; Henry
Bedell, 4th Mass.; John Gerry, William Thomas, Pat. Walsh,
Robert Fale, 15th Battery; James Nelson, 15th Battery;
William Fogg, William B. Cloutman, Veteran Reserve
Corps; Thomas Connor, 24th regiment; Richard Dane,
James E. Sweatland, Henry Galloway, Louis J. Evans,
Samuel Beattie, Edward  Hogan,  James Boardman,
Navy; John Fluhine, 2d  Heavy Artillery; Thomas
J. Fisher, Joshua L. French, Daniel Ferguson, 10th
Heavy Artillery; William G. Gage, 2d Mass.Cavalry;
John  Casey, Richard  Davis, 2d  Heavy Artillery;
John Carson, 16th Unattached Artillery; James W. Crocker, 11th Infantry; Moses Graff, Edward Burns, 6th
Battery; Pat. Welsh, Andrew Miller, John White, 2d
Heavy Artillery;. Morey, William H. Turner, Daniel Crowin, Ralph Burnett, William Kyle.
Gilbert Sandy enlisted January 26, 1864, was taken
prisoner and confined in Andersonville nine or ten months,
and shared with other prisoners, and perhaps with some




124           HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
of those whose names are mentioned above, the horrors of
that prison pen. Charles Morganweck was in the 27th
Massachusetts regiment for a time.
The preceding record is supposed to contain the names
of nearly all the soldiers furnished by the town. It contains all the names which have been placed upon the
Rebellion Record, which include all the citizens of the
place who served in the army. Our list also comprises
many others whose names we have obtained from various
sources.
About twenty-five of our citizens were represented in the
army by substitutes. The names of nearly all of these,
and perhaps of a few others, we have been unable to
obtain.
It has been our purpose to make this record as complete
and accurate as possible, though it has been a work of
extreme difficulty. The whole number of men furnished
or paid for by the town, is about 200, while the sum
expended for bounties is $40,000.
The following brief notice of three sons of Joseph
Alvord, now of Bement, Ill, but a native of Easthampton,
and for many years a resident of it, will not be deemed
out of place.
Lieut. Joseph C. Alvord, of Co. A, 21st Illinois regiment, enlisted at the beginning of the war, was in seven
battles, and fell at the battle of Murfreesboro, Tennessee,
December 30, 1862, while endeavoring to rally his men.
One of his comrades in speaking of him, said: "he was
an efficient officer, a noble man, and a gentleman in every
sense of the word."
Oscar L. Alvord, enlisted in the 54th Illinois regiment,
but not long after was taken sick in camp with the typhoid fever. He was taken home, but died a few days
after reaching it.




THE CIVIL WAR.                 125
Harrison M. Alvord, was a member of the 73d Illinois
regiment, in which he served through the war, in the
campaigns under Sherman. He passed through all his
battles without a wound, though meeting with many
narrow escapes.
Henry H. Smith, son of Rev. Hervey Smith of this
town, was in Georgia, engaged in a printing office at the
time of the secession of that State, soon after which he
was ordered to leave the state or to join the rebel army.
He immediately went to North Carolina, where he remained until Jefferson Davis ordered all aliens to leave the
confederate states or to take the oath of allegiance.  He
at once made preparations to come north and succeeded
in reaching Richmond, having eluded the watchfulness of
vigilance committees of towns through which he passed.
At Richmond he was on the point of taking the cars for
the north, when he was arrested, taken before Gov. Letcher and others, examined, judged to be an enemy to the
South, and thrown into prison. Here he was robbed of
all his money, of his effects of every, kind, and of all his
clothing, save only a thin summer suit which he wore.
To tell what he suffered there from hunger, and the cold
of the following winter, as well as from the abuse of the
prison officers, would be to rehearse the story of thousands
who like him fell into their hands.  While there he was
repeatedly promised by a high official a release, and comn
mission in the army, if he would swear to support the
rebel government, but to all such propositions his reply
was, no, never, never. From Richmond he was taken to
Salisbury, N. C., and while there he was exchanged, after
having been imprisoned twenty months.  Immediately
after his exchange he came home, and after some months
of rest he obtained a situation in the Provost Marshal's
office in New York. Here he remained for g time, but
11




126            HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
feeling a desire to do more for his country than he could
there do, he enlisted in a company of light artillery which
was formed in Jersey City. He went into camp in Washington, where after about five months drill he received a
serious injury by the falling of his horse.  The injury
proving to be such as would incapacitate him for service
in the army, after months of confinement and suffering,
by the advice of his surgeon he sought and received an
honorable discharge. His imprisonment and consequent
sufferings were perhaps as much for his country as if he
had been a soldier who had fallen into their hands, and he
certainly is worthy of mention here in this connection.
It is fitting that we should here speak of the services of
another of our country's defenders, to whom no community can lay claim with better right than this. We refer to
Gen. George C. Strong.  Born in Stockbridge, Vt., at an
early age he was taken by his father to Chicago, and
afterwards to Joliet, Ill., and by him on his death bed consigned to the care of A. L. Strong, of this town, who was
his uncle. He received his academical education at Williston Seminary, and during this time displayed a remarkable predilection for a military career. In 1853, after indefatigable and for a long time almost fruitless exertions
on the part of Mr. Strong, he was appointed to West
Point.  He graduated in 1857, standing third in his class,
specially excelling all his classmates in the military exercises of the campus, and took the rank of commander of the
battalion of cadets.
Lieut. Strong received his brevet in the Ordnance Department, and was for a while stationed at Selma, Ala.,
and afterwards at the Watervliet Arsenal in Troy, the
command of which he received after Major Mordecai had
proved untrue to his country. From thence he was called
to the position of Chief of Ordnance to Gen. McDowell,




THE CIVIL WAR.                 127
and distinguished himself in the battle of Bull Run, by
his cool courage and daring. Afterward he was attached
to the staff of Gen. McClellan, with whom  he remained
until September, 1861, when upon application of Gen.
Butler, he received the appointment of Assistant Adjutant
General, with the rank of Major, and was transferred as
Chief of Staff to Gen. Butler, and acting Chief of Ordnance. Major Strong's services were most valuable, and
his labors incessant, in organizing the expedition to New
Orleans, to the success of which he contributed not a little. Here his duties were so arduous, that his health
gave way, and early in June, being seized with a fever of
that country, he was obliged to come home to recruit. By
September he had so far recovered his health as to be able
to return to his duties. His activity of intellect could not
be satisfied with the routine of office, and he obtained permission from Gen. Butler to head an expedition against a
force of the enemy, under Gen. Jeff. Thompson, who were
stationed at the village of Pontellatoula. After a closely
contested action against a superior force, he succeeded in
capturing the place, with a large amount of commissary
stores which he burned, together with the railroad
cars and public buildings.  He brought off with him
the spurs and sword of Gen. Thompson, which bore
the inscription, "' From the patriots of Memphis." When
Gen. Butler was relieved from the command of the Department of the Gulf, Major Strong returned with him,
and on his recommendation was promoted to Brigadier
General of Volunteers, for his gallantry, courage, and
efficiency.  He remained attached to Gen. Butler's staff
for a time, but at length finding that there was no prospect that he would be ordered into immediate service, although in a state of health which to many a man would
have been suggestive only of a physican and a sick bed, he




128            HITSTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
volunteered to go with Gen. Gillmore, to participate in
the attack upon Charleston. To his brigade was assigned
the post of honor in the attack on the batteries of Morris
Island, upon which he was the first to land. His boots
having become filled with water, he pulled them off and led
the charge with only his stockings on. The batteries were
gallantly carried, and the brigade afterwards received the
congratulation of Gen. Gillmore, who said that it was the
first instance during the war in which powerful batteries had
been successfully assaulted by a column disembarked under
a heavy artillery fire.  He was placed in command of the
troops on Morris Island, and given charge of the column
which was to assault Fort Wagner.  In this attack he received his death wound, while leading and inspiriting his
men, who almost worshipped him for his daring, his kindness of heart, and his strict though impartial discipline.
His injury produced lock-jaw from which he died on the
morning of July 30th, 1863.
Some one has paid him the following noble tribute:
"Possessed of every endowment of head and heart, thoroughly trained by an education which had left both head
and heart untrammelled to their noblest impulses, a loving
husband, a doting father, the most genial of companions,
the truest of friends, the bravest of soldiers, the accomplished officer, the daring leader, and withal a devout
Christian, no more precious sacrifice has been laid on the
altar of his country than George Crockett Strong."
If any apology is needed for giving this prominence to
Gen. Strong, it is to be found in the fact that while he did
not go from this place to the war, he is yet in some respect
a son of Easthampton, and deserves mention among her
sons.  His military career being somewhat extended,
could not well be sketched more briefly than it has been.
While, as a military man, from his education, his genius,




THE CIVIL WAR.                129
and his opportunities, his name may be said to stand at
the head of those whom we claim as ours, there are others
whose names are here recorded, who may justly be ranked
as his peers in respect of patriotism, self-sacrificing devotion to the welfare of country, unswerving devotion to
principle, and high moral worth.
To all who have enlisted from our midst, whether their
names be found here or not, we owe, and desire to tender,
our warmest gratitude. The separation from home and
friends, the privations of the camp, the rigors of winter,
and the feverish heat of a Southern summer, the weariness of the march by day and of picket by night, the dangers of the battle field, and the horrors of rebel dungeons,
they have bravely borne. In the Shenandoah valley, they
met the rebel ranks bent on invasion. With Burnside at
Newbern, they conquered the foe, and set up the banner,
which was there to float till the whole South was redeemed. Again, with Burnside at Fredericksburg, and with
Hooker at Chancellorsville, they vainly strove to force
the rebels from their position, and open the way to their
capital. With McClellan at Antietam, and with Meade
at Gettysburg, they met and rolled back the tide of invasion which was threatening to engulf us in its waves.
WVith Butler, they redeemed the Crescent City, and vindicated the dishonored flag. With Banks at Port Hudson,
they gloriously consummated the long struggle which unlocked the Father of Waters.  With Strong at Wagner,
they stormed the defences of that early citadel of rebellion. With Sherman from Chattanooga to Atlanta, from
Atlanta to Savannah, from Savannah to Raleigh, they. bore
the flag in battle and in storm. With Butler along the
James, and with Sheridan along the Shenandoah, they
fought bravely and well.  With Grant, they rallied and
struggled through those long and bloody days in the
1ls




130           HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
Wilderness.  Step by step they drove back the rebel
legions to their capital. There they planted themselves,
and prepared for the final conflict. Weeks and months
passed, the snows of winter fell and melted away. The
final conflict, bloody and terrible, came at last, and
victory was ours. Then, from Raleigh and Richmond
they bore the triumphant banners, stained indeed with
blood, and blackened with the smoke of the conflict,
but all radiant with a new life. After four long years of
waiting, of suffering and sacrifice, they brought the banners to Washington, that they, and their defenders, might
receive the plaudits of a nation rescued from the assaults
of treason, and consecrated anew  to the principles of
freedom and self-government.
At last they have returned home, have greeted once more
the old familiar sights and faces, and have entered upon
other employments than those of war. They have returned home, but, alas! not all. As they trod once more our
streets, or gathered once more in our places of assembly,
there were those who looked with tear-dimmed eyes on
the war-worn group, for they missed the fotrm of some
loved one there, and they knew that beneath the cold clods
of the earth, that form was lying. To some of them,
indeed, the remains of those they loved were brought, and
now repose among kindred and friends in the burial place
of their native village. Others have found their last resting place along the banks of the Mississippi, or on the
blood-stained fields of Virginia, while others still met
death in Southern prisons, and now fill nameless graves.
To one, death came almost before he had entered upon
the active duties of a soldier's life. Some were permitted
to enter upon their wpork, but were called away before it
seemed half done; while others were spared almost to
the completion of their term of service. The battle-field,




THE CIVIL WAR.                131
the hospital, the Southern prison, each had its victims.
They went forth full of life and hope, only to find death,
-death without knowing'that the sacrifice would avail,
-death without witnessing the final success of the cause,
-death " without the shout of victory, without the pride
and glory of a return to receive the wreath and triumph of
the conqueror."
The record of our dead in this war is a noble one and
should be sacredly cherished as long as patriotism is honered or self-sacrifice calls forth our admiration and
gratitude.
Salmon H. Lyman, son of Dennis Lyman, one of the
first to volunteer, was the first to fall. In the first summer of the war, when the soldiers were, rallying to the
standard, he went to New York, joined the regiment
known as the Anderson Zouaves, was home once on a
furlough, spent one winter in camp, started out with Mc
Clellan on his Peninsular campaign, and fought at the
battle of Williamsburg, soon after which he was taken
sick, and removed to New York, where he died. His
remains were brought to his home, where they were
buried with military honors, on the 18th of September,
1862.
Chauncey A. Hendrick was a member of Co. B., 31st
Massachusetts regiment. He was with them for a time,
but, after a period of sickness, it was thought best that
he should return. With great difficulty, he was able to
reach home, but survived only a few days.
Lewis P. Wait, son of Chester Wait, joined Co. K,
52d Massachusetts regiment, taking his life in his hand,
as did the others, that he might serve his country. Little
did he know, when he enlisted, how short his term of ser



132           HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
vice would be. Fifteen days only, was he in camp.
While at home on a furlough he was taken sick, and died
after a sickness of some two weeks. His funeral, which
was attended by his comrades, was an occasion of deep
interest and solemnity, and will not soon be forgotten. In
his death the company lost one who would have been
faithful to his duties, whether those of camp and field,
or the Christian duties of a soldier to those about him.
Daniel Kane, who had lived several years in Easthamp.
ton, though not a native of it, enlisted in the 37th regiment, in the summer of 1862. During the ensuing winter, while the army of the Potomac was encamped at Falmouth, he was seized with the typhoid fever, and no effort
which was put forth could save him. He died, and was
buried there.
Elisha C. Lyman, son of E. Waldo Lyman, was a member of Co. A, 27th regiment.  He with other recruits,
joined the regiment, of which his brother was already a
member, in the summer of 1862. Not a long time was
he spared to serve his country; for, upon him, as upon
so many others, the hand of disease was laid, and consumed away his life, before he had performed much of
that service for which he had volunteered.  But the patriotic devotion was the same, and the sacrifice as costly,
as if he had been spared to meet the enemy many times
on the field of battle. His body was brought to the home
from which he had so recently gone forth full of life and
hope, and, amid sorrowing friends, it was committed to
the earth.
Winm. Hickey, who had resided here but a short time,
enlisted in Co. B, 31st Massachusetts regiment. He was
a good soldier and a man of great bravery and endurance.
At the battle of Camp Bisland, one of the first battles in
which he was engaged, he was killed by a rebel bullet.




THE CIVIL WAR.                 133
James H. Clark enlisted in the 2d Massachusetts regiment in the spring of 1861, soon after the breaking out of
the war. He was with his brave regiment in nearly all
their battles till his death. He was with Gen. Banks in
his Shenandoah campaign, with McClellan at Antietam,
and subsequently at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and
Gettysburg, not to speak of minor engagements. Through
all these he passed unscathed. He had nearly completed
the first half of his last year, and we hoped that as he had
been spared so long, he might be permitted to return in
safety. But this hope was not to be realized. The burning hand of fever was laid upon him, and he, who had
faced death on so many fields, must, at last, bow before
the touch of disease. His remains were brought to his
home, and now repose among those of kindred and
friends.
Roland Williston, who had been here but a short time
when the war broke out, enlisted in the same regiment.
He died from the effects of a wound received, if we mistake not, at Cedar Mountain.
Charles Tencellent, who was a member of the 7th Connecticut regiment, and who had resided here before the
war, was in the disastrous battle at Olustee, Florida, and
received wounds in consequence of which he died.
Henry Lyman, oldest son of Ahira Lyman, enlisted in
the summer of 1862, and with others joined the 27th
regiment, which was then in the field. For a little more
than one year, he was spared to serve his country, and
then he was called up higher. To his fidelity as a soldier
and a Christian, his comrades could testify. Chaplain
Woodworth  said  that he was one of those,  upon
whom he most relied for assistance in promoting the
spiritual welfare of the soldiers. From the prayer meeting he was seldom absent, and there his voice was often




134           HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
heard in prayer and exhortation. Calmly and peacefully
as the setting of the summer's sun he died,-died as only
the Christian can die. Would that all the thousands
whose death this war had caused, could have been sustained by a like precious faith.
Of the Easthampton soldiers who have died away from
home, he was the fourth and last whose remains were
brought home for interment. These all rest in honored
graves in our cemetery, while of the others, many fill unknown graves, by the banks of the Mississippi, or in that
thickly populated city of the dead at Andersonville.
But to the ears of them all alike shall come that final
trumpet, which shall summon forth the dead from their
graves. Though we may not mark, and water with our
tears, the sacred spot of their final repose, yet the recollection of them all shall be fragrant in our memories,
and, to the last of life, we will not cease to honor their
names.
Herbert W. Pomeroy, son of Julius Pomeroy, was a
member of Co. K., 52d regiment. Like several previously mentioned, he was spared to complete only a small
portion of his term of service. His disease was typhoid
fever, the same which carried off so many of his regiment
during the winter of 1862-3. He died at Plaquemine,
while his company were *stationed there.  Of him the
correspondent of the Gazette, from that regiment, said:''While on board the Illinois, he felt deeply the need of
a Saviour, and we have reason to believe that he not only
felt his need, but sought Christ and found him precious.
The Sabbath before his death, he felt that he could not
live, and expressed the hope that he was a Christian, and
sent word home that he died trusting in Christ."
Daniel W. Lyman, son of Daniel F. Lyman, was a
member of Co. K, 52d regiment, in which lhe was one of




THE CIVIL WAR.                 135
the first to enlist.  Not from any fondness for the adventures and perils of war, nor from any momentary impulse,
but from a deliberate conviction that to him the voice of
country was the voice of God, was he led to offer himself,
a sacrifice if need be, for his country's salvation. Upon
a Christian young man not absolutely forbidden by
some higher call of duty, he felt that the claims of country
then were paramount. Influenced by such considerations,
it is not too much to say, that, in the darkest hour, his
purpose never wavered, nor did a regret for his course
find place in his heart.  To his faithful performance of the
duties of a Christian soldier, many have borne ample
testimony. His cordial, unwavering trust in God, in times
of darkness and danger, though probably doubted by
none, is best known to those who knew him intimately.
To many whom he never saw, he was known by his letters
from the regiment, which were published in the
Hampshire Gazette.   Most of the time during eight
of the nine months for which he enlisted, he was permitted
to share with his company their hardships and perils. But
the New England home, to which he looked forward with
longing, he was no more to behold. Sabbath morning,
June 14, 1863, an attack on Port Hudson was ordered,
and, though deprecating the selection of that day for the
assault, he went forward without faltering. His regiment
being engaged as skirmishers, he, with a few of his comrades, gained a position in a ravine somewhat in advance
of the main line, and while here, very early in the engagement, a ball from a rebel sharpshooter struck him in his
head, killing him instantly.  It was his first and last battle.
His was a sudden transition from the conflicts of earth, as
we believe, to the peace of heaven. Capt. Bissell wrote
thus in relation to him:-:" Gentle hands placed him in
his grave, and covered the earth over him near the spot




136            HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
where he fell, although obliged to wait till after dark,
and to be exposed to a storm of rebel bullets. This tender
tribute of affection is his monument, and, although his
dust may not make the violets of his native hills, it will
not be amiss, on the morning of the resurrection, that his
body should arise from the spot, where the latest duties of
his life were so faithfully concluded."
Were this the place for fraternal affection to give itself
full expression, we might say more of his patriotism, of
his fidelity to principle, of the promise of future usefulness which he gave, and of the sorrow which his early
death occasioned.  In a kindred sorrow, however, thousands of homes in our country, and many in our midst,
have shared; and it is a sorrow better known by those
who have been called to it, than expressed by any words
of ours.
Charles L. Webster, and Clinton Bates, the latter a
native of Chesterfield, were also members of Co. K, 52d
regiment. They had not long resided in Easthampton,
and of them we cannot speak particularly from personal
acquaintance. They were, however, we think, held to be
faithful and true to the service in which they had enlisted.
Their lives were spared until the work of their regiment
was nearly done, and they had looked forward to a reunion with their friends at home, in a short time.  But God,
who seeth not as man seeth, had another purpose, and they
too were called away, and their bodies laid to rest beside
the river which they had assisted to rescue from the hands
of traitors.
The others, whose sacrifice and death remains to be
chronicled, met their fate under circumstances more aggravating than did any of those before mentioned.  We
refer, of course, to those of our soldiers, who died in
prison at Andersonville. Their names were, Alvin W.




THE CIVIL WAR.                 137
Clark, Frederick P. Stone, Oliver A. Clark, Ezra O.
Spooner, Rufus Robinson. All were members of Co. A,
27th regiment.  The first two were original members of
the company, and had been with it during most or all of
its service. The next two went out as recruits in the summer of 1862, while the last entered upon the service in
the early part of 1864.  To all these, our deepest gratitude is due, not only for the service they performed,
but for the extreme suffering they endured. For long,
weary weeks or months, hungry and almost shelterless, in
loneliness and sickness, with no tidings from  home to
cheer them up, no messages of love to light up the gloom.
One after another, either from sickness without care, or
from unsatisfied hunger, they passed away.  They died
with no kindly ministration, save the sympathy which
their fellow prisoners could afford; died with no hand of
mother or sister to alleviate their pain, or to wipe the
death damp from their brow; died, perhaps, with no one
near to whom they could tell their last messages of love
and affection.  Thus they died, and ever, among the
greatest sacrifices for country, will be recorded that of
those who perished at Andersonville.
Without any disparagement to' the others, with whom
we were less acquainted, we would say a word respecting
Oliver A. Clark.
In early youth he was led to embrace the offers of salvation, became, connected with the church, and always
maintained a consistent Christian walk and conversation.
But those whose privilege it has been to read his letters,
and, especially since his death, to peruse his diary, cannot
fail to have seen that the influence of his army life was to
develop a deeper Christian experience and a firmer trust in
God.  While at home he was much engaged in the Sabbath school, of which at the time of his enlistment he was
12




138            HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
a director.  During the winter of 1863-64, while stationed
at Norfolk, he was employed as teacher or superintendent
of a colored Sabbath school in that place, in which he took
great interest.  His friends at home were dear to him, but
he felt that without a country to protect these, they
could not be enjoyed, and he was willing to do what
he could to defend that country whose interests he held so
dear. In about three weeks after his arrival at the prison
he was taken sick, and on the 27th of June he was removed from the stockade to the hospital.  No one who knew
him saw him after this. One of his companions, who attended upon him while he remained in the stockade, wrote
in his diary, which' has since been received by his friends,
as follows: 6" He was perfectly resigned to whatever God's
will might be, and such patience and faith did he exhibit,
that we cannot but be sure that his was the peace which
passeth understanding."
Charles Rensselear, a member of the 54th Mass. regiment, and a native of this town, was wounded in some
battle, fell into the hands of the enemy, and was taken to
Andersonville, where he died.
It has been said that the graves of her heroes are a nation's shrines, and as we have gathered, as it were, around
the graves of, these oui' heroes, surely it behooves us to
tread lightly, for the place is sacred ground.  Their forms
we cannot see, for beneath the soil on which we stand
they are mouldering to decay; but the spirit which actuated them still lives, and the principles for whose maintenance they died, though, indeed, triumphant to-day, will
yet call for a vigorous defence. Here, while contemplating
their character and death, surrounded as it were by their
graves, may we be baptized anew by their spirit, and rededicate ourselves to the great cause to which they gave
themselves.




THE CIVIL WAR.                139
The experiences of these four years of war, to those who
remained at home, were wholly new and untried. They
were such, moreover, as it is our sincere hope may never
need to be repeated. Partings of friends we had seen before, but such partings as were in store for us, we knew
not until war broke upon us. To look upon the manly
form of one we loved, and to think that perhaps-ah! how
the terrible possibilities come crowding in upon us-that,
perhaps, he who was soon to go forth would never return;
that, languishing in some hospital, or lying wounded and
bleeding upon some field of carnage, death might come to
him, this added to the separation a pang which words cannot tell. And when, amid gathering tears, the last words
were said, and they gone from our homes, how we strained
our eyes to catch a last glimpse of the loved ones. Eagerly
we watched every mail that might bring to us letters from
our soldiers in the field, and if a battle had occurred in
which their regiment was likely to be engaged, how
anxiously we looked over the published list of killed. No
one can tell, unless he has experienced it, the sudden,
crushing weight of sorrow, which falls on their hearts,
who read there the name of the one dearest to them all.
And then the anxiety for one who is in the hospital,
wasting away with disease, the unrelieved anxiety which
oppresses the hearts of those whose friends have been
taken prisoners, and they can neither alleyiate their cruel
sufferings nor hear of their fate, the eagerness with which
the last weeks and days of their term of service are
counted, and the anguish of those who look in vain,
among the returning veterans, for the soldier who went
forth from their homes, each of these feelings has been
experienced by some in our midst; and, though the events
are now passed, memory often renews them, and to the
close of life, it will never cease to revert to those days of
anxiety and sorrow.




140            HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
Through the good Providence of God, a large proportion of those who enlisted have been spared to return
home, and to enjoy the fruits of their hard earned
victories.
In those homes where the vacant chair has not been,
nor will be filled, we pray God to bestow his consolation,
which may be more to them  than the greatest earthly
blessing.
To all who have manfully striven to uphold the government, our heartfelt gratitude is due, while those who
return not, yet speak to us, bidding us take their places
in the great struggle against wrong, and calling us to be
true to ourselves, our country, and our God.
To God, the Almighty Disposer of Events, above all,
should we render the highest tribute of gratitude and
thanksgiving, for that he has upheld and defended us as a
nation, and, at last, has brought about a return of peace.
Finally, by all which he has thus far done for us, and
enabled us to do, in defending the constitution, and maintaining the principles of civil equality and religious freedom, let us entreat him to grant wisdom to those entrusted
with the solution of the great problem of reconstruction,
so that none of the fruits of victory, so dearly bought, may
be lost, but that the grand work, so auspiciously begun
by our valiant armies may be carried forward to a glorious
consummation.




CHAPTER X.
GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.
GENEALOGY OF THE CLAPP FAMILY.
Capt. Roger Clapp was born in Salcom, Devonshire,
England, the 6th day of April, 1609, of pious and creditable parents. His religious education was accompanied
with the early strivings of the Holy Spirit, that ended in
his conversion. In his younger years, he obtained leave
of his father to live in the city of Exon, under the ministry of Rev. John Warham, to whom he was very much
attached. In 1624, when Mr. Wrarham and Mr. Maverick
(who were afterwards colleague pastors in-Dorchester,)
were preparing, with a considerable number of persons, to
move to this country, Mr. Clapp found in himself a strong
inclination to accompany them, and after having, with
some difficulty, obtained leave of his father, he set himself
to work, to assist in the great work which the people of
God had then in hand. He left, as a legacy to his children, some account of God's remarkable Providences to
him in bringing him to this land, and placing him here
among his dear servants. The following is the account
which he gives of his removal to this country, in his own
words: " I gave you a hint towards the beginning that I
came out of Plymouth, in Devon, the 20th of March,
1630; at Nantasket, (now Hull,) the 30th day of May,
1 0,




142           HISTORY OF EASTHIAMPTON.
1630. Now this is further to inform you that there came
many goodly families in that ship. We were, of passengers, many in number, (besides seamen,) of good rank.
Two of our magistrates came with us, viz., Mr. IRossiter
and Mr. Ludlow. These godly people resolved to live
together; and therefore, as they had made choice of those
two Reverend servants of God, Mr. John Warham  and
Mr. John Maverick to be their ministers, so they kept a
solemn day of fasting, in the new hospital in Plymouth,
in England, spending it in preaching and praying; where
that worthy man of God, Mr. John White of Dorchester,
in Dorset, was present, and preached unto us the word of
God, in the fore part of the day; and in the -after part of
the day, as the people did solemnly make choice of, and
call those two godly ministers to be their officers, so also
the Rev. Mr. Warham  and Mr. Maverick, did accept
thereof, and expressed the same. So we came, by the
good hand of the Lord, through the deeps comfortably;
having preaching or expounding of the word of God
every day for ten weeks together, by our ministers.  When
we came to Nantasket, Capt. Squeb, who was captain of
that great ship of four hundred tons, would not bring us
into Charles river, as he was bound to do; but put us
ashore, and our goods at Nantasket Point, and left us to
shift for ourselves in a forlorn place in the wilderness.
But as it pleased God, we got a boat of some old planters,
and laded her with goods; and some able men, well
armed, went in her unto Charlestown, where we found
some wigwams and one house, and in that house there
was a man, which had a boiled bass, but no bread that we
saw, but we did eat of his bass, and then went up Charles
river, until the river grew narrow and shallow, and there
we landed our goods with much labor and toil, the bank
being steep. And, night coming on, we were informed




GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.            143
that there were, hard by us, three hundred Indians. One
Englishman, that could speak the English language, an
old planter, went to them and advised them not to come
near us in the night; and they harkened to his counsel.
I myself was one of the sentinels that night. Our captain
was a low-country soldier, one Mr. Southcot, a brave soldier. In the morning some of the Indians came and stood
at a distance off, looking at us, but came not near us; but
when they had been awhile in view, some of them came
and held out a great bass towards us; so we sent a man
with a biscuit and changed the cake for the bass. Afterwards they supplied us with bass, exchanging a bass for
a biscuit cake, and were very friendly unto us. Oh! Dear
children! Forget not what care God had over his dear'
servants, to watch over us, and protect us in our weak
beginnings.   Capt. Squeb turned ashore us and our
goods, like a merciless man, but God, even our merciful
God, took pity on us, so that we were supplied, first with
a boat, and then caused many Indians, (some hundreds,)
to be runled by the advice of one man not to come near us.
Alas! had they come upon us, how soon might they have
destroyed us! I think we were not above ten in number.
But God caused the Indians to help us with fish at very
cheap rates. We had not been there many days, (although
by our diligence we had got up a kind of shelter, to save
our goods in,) but we had orders to come away from that
place, (which was about Watertown,) unto a place called
Mattapan, now Dorchester, because there was a neck of
land fit to keep our cattle on. So we removed and came
to Mattapan. The Indians there, also, were kind unto
us."
This was the first company that settled this side of Salem, and they met with many trials and difficulties, but
Mr. Clapp was not at all disheartened, for his heart was




144            HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
taken off from temporal things, and seeing here such advantages for serving and glorifying God, he was led to
exclaim, "Blessed be God that brought me here."  In
the same year that he came over here, he joined himself
a member of the church in Dorchester, where he lived,
and continued a member of this church for sixty years.
In 1633, in the twenty-fifth year of his age, he married
Miss Joanna Ford, daughter of Mr. Thomas Ford, of Dorchester, in England, when she was but in the seventeenth
year of her age. She, with her parents, came over in the
same ship with himself, and settled also here in Dorchester. They lived together fifty-seven years. She was a
godly and exemplary woman given to hospitality; she
abounded in works of charity, so that, when proper objects of pity and charity came to her knowledge, she never failed to relieve them herself, or procure them relief
from others.  Thus the blessings of those that were ready
to perish came upon her.
Mr. Clapp sustained both civil and military offices in
the town, being captain of the militia, representative for
the town, and authorized to join persons in marriage. On
the 10th of August, 1665, the General Court appointed
him captain of the Castle, (the principal fortress in the
province,) which trust he discharged with great fidelity,
and was therein serviceable to the whole province, and universally respected and honored. He continued in that
place for twenty-one years, when he voluntarily resigned
his command. An instance showing what an interest
Capt. Clapp had in the hearts of God's people, and what
an extensive blessing they accounted him is this: —
In the year 1672, he being the captain of the Castle, it
pleased God to visit him with a fit of sickness; and the
good people of Dorchester, unto which church he belonged,
kept a day of fasting and prayer, to beg his life of God.




GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.            145
And God was pleased to hear and answer their prayers;
and when he was restored to health, they kept a day of
thanksgiving. When he left the Castle, in 1786, he removed to the south end of Boston, where he lived four
years, and' died February 2, 1791, in the eighty-second
year of his age. His wife, who was born June 8, 1617,
lived his. widow between four and five years, and died at
Boston, in June, 1695.
They had fourteen children, five of whom died in infancy, and three others, Thomas, who died at the age of
fifteen years, Unite, at the age of seven, Supply, who was
killed by the accidental firing of a gun in the Castle, at
the age of twenty-three, were never married. The remaining six, four sons and two daughters, all had families.
They were as follows: —Samuel, Elizabeth, Preserved,
Hopestill, Wait, Desire. The daughters, Elizabeth and
Wait, both lived in Boston.
Preserved, born Nov. 23, 1643, married Sarah Newberry of Windsor, and settled in Northampton.  He was a
useful citizen, and a great blessing to the town. He was
a captain of the town, and their representative in the General Court, and ruling elder in the church. For a long
time an Indian resided in his family, but he at length became unsteady, and wanted to get his gun, in which,
however, he did not succeed. He finally left, and was
gone for several years, when one day, as Mr. Clapp was
riding home from his work, an Indian stepped out from
behind a tree, and pointing his gun at him, said, " Now,'Served, me have your gun," and instantly fired. The ball
just grazed his nose. The Indian then stepped back again,
but hisleg was not concealed, so that the ballwhich was
returned wounded him. Mr. Clapp then drove on as fast
as possible, and eluded his pursuers, a company of Indians
who had come from Canada with this one. The wound




146           HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
was so severe that it resulted in his death, and the party
left forparts unknown.
Preserved Clapp had seven children who arrived at
years of maturity, one of whom, Roger, was the father of
Major Jonathan, one of the first settlers of Easthampton;
of Aaron, who also settled in Easthampton; and of Roger,
who lived in Southampton.
Major Jonathan Clapp came to Easthampton not far
from 1730, and settled where Ansel Bartlett now resides.
He was a man of keen foresight and great energy, and was
very prominent in the early history of the town. He was
the ancestor of nearly all the families in town who bear
the name of Clapp. He had three sons and eight daughters, all of whom married, and lived to be over sixty years
of age. They were Submit, who married Asahel Clark;
Hannah, married Elias Lyman, who kept tavern in South
Farms, Northampton, in the "' old long house," which was
recently torn down; Lois, married Jonathan Lyman;
Beulah, married Rev. Solomon Allen, the first minister of
Brighton, near Rochester, N. Y., from whom was descended Phineas Allen, late of Pittsfield, who for nearly sixty
years was editor of the Pittsfield Sun; Rhoda married
Col. Daniel Whittemore of Sunderland; Merab married
Elisha Allen of Pittsfield; Lucy married Samuel Kellogg
of Williamstown; Phebe married Joseph White of
Springfield.
Jonathan Clapp, son of Major Jonathan, settled on the
opposite side of the road, near his father, in the north part
of the town.  He was one of those mentioned in the notice of public houses. His children were five in number:
Jonathan, Daniel, Medad, Mary, who married Ichabod
Wright, and Margaret, who married Roswell Knight and
afterwards John Ludden. Medad married Betsey Stebbins,
and lived upon his father's place. He had two children,




GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.            147
Jonathan, who died young, and Lafayette, who is engaged
in business in Easthampton.
Capt. Joseph Clapp, son of Maj. Jonathan, was a prominent citizen of the town. It was at his house that the
church was organized, and in which, also, was held the
meeting for the choice of officers, consequent upon the
incorporation of the town of Easthampton. This house
still stands, is now owned by Lucas W. Hannum, and
formerly owned and occupied by Dea. Thaddeus Clapp.
The sons of Capt. Joseph were Joseph, Thaddeus, Rufus,
Isaac and Luther. He had,. besides, two daughters, one of
whom died in early life, and the other, Elizabeth, married
Eliakim Phelps of Chesterfield, who afterwards settled in
Northampton. She lived to be over eighty years of age.
Joseph was a merchant for a number of years. He was
for a time one of the most influential men in the place.
He filled the office of town clerk for a longer period than any
other man, with one exception. In 1810 he retired from
mercantile life, but remained here until 1830, when he removed to Homer, N. Y., with his son Joseph. He had ten
children, of whom two, Sumner G. and Aleander, were
graduates of Yale College.  The former was ordained
and settled in the gospel ministry at Enfield, afterwards
at Cabotville, St. Johnsbury, Vt., and Sturbridge. The
latter studied theology at Andover, and was licensed
to preach. He taught school in one of the Southern
States, and afterwards at Worthington and Pittsfield.
Alonzo, another son, engaged in mercantile pursuits in
Illinois.
Dea. Thaddeus was born March 31, 1.770. He kept
tavern for many years, and also, in connection with his
father, owned and worked a fulling mill. In 1808 he was
chosen deacon of the church, which office he held for
thirty-three years, and during this time, as well as after his




148            HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
resignation of the office, until his death, was a faithful
supporter of the institutions of religion. In civil affairs he
was no less prominent.  He was the first justice of the
peace appointed in the town, and was its treasurer for
twenty years.  While Easthampton was a district, it was
only represented in the General Court, by the privilege of
voting in connection with Northampton.  The united
population of the two places were entitled to three representatives.  On one occasion, when considerable interest
was felt in the election, and perhaps some doubt as to the
result, the Federalists of Northampton sent out word that
if Easthampton would unite upon a man, they would support him. Dea. Clapp was the man selected as candidate.
He was elected, and represented the town in the General
Court for twelve years, before the close of which time the
district had been incorporated as a town.  He was del.
egate to the convention held in Northampton in 1812, to
consider the duty of government on the war question, and
also delegate to the constitutional convention of the State.
He had seven children who arrived at years of maturity.
Mary married Justus Merrill of Pittsfield, where s4e now
resides; Elvira married Ansel Bartlett; Philena married
Spencer Clark; Thaddeus moved to Pittsfield, where he
engaged in manufacturing. Theodore graduated at Yale
college in 1814, studied theology, was ordained and settled
as pastor of the First Congregational church in New Orleans.  Thornton W. graduated at Williams College in
1830, was professor of mathematics in Washington college,
Miss., studied theology, and was licensed to preach the
gospel in the Episcopal church, and preached some years.
Luther has been employed in business in his native place,
where he now resides.
Isaac, brother of Dea. Thaddeus, settled in the center of
the town, a few rods south of where the Payson church




11-N~ALOMWCAL REGIST-ERB.               1 49
-s.w stands.  For mrIany years he was joint partner of the
louring rnill in the place, in addition to which he carried
-on a farin.  He had five children — Iarilla, who married
Edwin Kingsley of Southampton; Judith, who married'Theodore Lyman ~ Isaac K., who married Alice, daughter
<of Sylyester Knight, and  now resides in Easthampton;
Maria  Ana  and Edward, wlho also live il their natire
town.
Luther, the youngest son of Capt. Joseph, married Tirzah, daughter of Dea.. Enoch White of South Hadley.  He
kept tavern quite a number of years previous to his deaths
which occurred in 181i.  His wife, who died about the
same time  wvas buried in the same grae, and a monum ent
erected over it whi-ch bears the following inscription' —
"In memory of Capt. Luther Clapp, who died Aug. 17,
aged 39 years, and his wife, Mrs. Tirzah Clapp, who died
the 31st, same month, A. D. 1811, aged 38 years.  Both
fell victims to the typhoid fever.  They were active, pleas-'ng1, benevolent, devout.
For us no longer mourn,
Your souls demand your care,
Soon you'll be hither borne,
For death, 0 friends, prepare,
Insatiate archer! could not one suffice?  Thy shaft flew
twice, and  twice  it smnote  full sore.  Scarce did  the
widowed mourner froiom the cold grave of a loved partner
trace her backward steps, than death his awful mandate
sent to call her home.  Two weeks she struggled with
disease, when death released her from her sufferings here,
to soar on angel wings to realrms of bliss.  This once happy pair, who here repose, no children left their early exit
to lament, but many friends who their sad fate will long
bemoan.  Rich in the comforts of domestic bliss, blest
13.




150           IISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
with the ample gifts of fortune, and more blessed with
ample hearts, disposed to sweetest acts of charity."
Quartermaster Benjamin Clapp, youngest son of Major
Jonathan, was born in 1728, married Phebe Boynton from
Coventry, Ct., and settled on the plain south of the center
of the town. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war
for some time, but was obliged to leave the army to take
charge of his father, who was taken sick in the army just
before the battle of Bennington, and at the time of the
action was in Pittsfield, and could hear distinctly the cannon roar, which so fired his youthful patriotism that he
longed to participate in the engagement, and expressed
this desire to his father, who replied, "No, my son, you
must stay and take care of me."  He died in 1815, at the
age of seventy-seven. At the time of his death his mental faculties were very much impaired, and had been for
some years.  On the subject of religion, however, his
mind continued bright till the last. Prayer and communion with his Saviour were his delightful employments.
His wife survived him thirty-two years, and died in December, 1847, at the advanced age of ninety-seven years.
She had a. very genial disposition, and retained her activity, both of body and mind, till the last year of her life.
They had five sons and eight daughters, who arrived at
years of maturity. Two children died in infancy. Rachel,
born February 28, 1768, married Nathaniel Edwards of
Northampton, where she still resides, at the advanced age
of ninety-eight.  Sophia married Rev. Gad Newell of Nelson, N. H., whose daughter is the wife of Rev. John S.
Emerson, missionary to the Sandwich Islands. Anna
married Medad Lyman of Northampton, who afterwards
moved to Charlotte, Vt.; Clarissa married Jonathan Lyman; Sally married Daniel Lyman; Phebe married Levi
Clapp; Fanny married Jared Clark; Caroline married
TMilton Knight, who lives now in Westhampton.




GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.             1 51
The sons were Ocran, Solomon, Spencer, Benjamin and
George. The first three settled in Easthampton.  Ocran
married Mrs. Sarah Brown, daughter of Captain David
Lyman. His sons, Lorenzo and Algernon, moved to the
West. His daughters were Florilla, Climena and Lucy,
the last of whom  married Milton Lloyd of Blandford,
whose son, I. Homer, is now a resident of this place.
Solomon lived on the place occupied by his father.  He
married Paulina Avery. Their children were ten in number. William N. residesin Easthampton; Emelus, Benjamin, Solomon and Theodore removed to Ohio; George is
a farmer in Minnesota; Mariette is the wife of Joseph F.
Alvord; Sophia married Lavater Lewis of Westfield;
Jane E., wife of Z. A. Thayer; Amelia, wife of Winm. Hart
of Lebanon, Qhio. Spencer, son of Benjamin, Sen., born
1784, lived in the house built by Sergeant Corse, who first
cleared the road leading from his house north to the center of the town, a distance of more than a mile in a direct
line. The children of Spencer are, Alfred, who lives in
Huntington; Nelson, who lives in Plainfield; Spencer,
with whom his father now lives, in Winsted, Ct.; Eliza,
who died in early life; Caroline, wife of Jared Smith of
Granby; and Lewis, who resides in Easthampton.
Aaron Clapp, brother of Major Jonathan, was among
the first settlers on the plain.  His wife was Jemima
Bartlett. Their children were Ensign, Aaron, who
removed to western New York in 1808; David, who was
a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and never returned;
Jemima; Achsah; Eli, who removed to Southampton; Levi,
who was a Revolutionary soldier, and afterwards settled
in Easthampton.  He had only two children who lived
to mature years: Levi, who inherited his estate, and Jerusha, who married William  Perkins of Southampton.
Levi -marriied Phebe Clapp. Their children were: Austin,




.52            ISTORY OF EAST-HAMPTON.,who died young; Lucius, who lived with his father; a;nd
Achsah,  wife of James H. Lyman.
John Clapp, a, nephew of Major Jonathar  and Aaron,
was also a soldier of the Revolutiono  He settled in the
west part of the town, where his son John afterwards lived.
The child ren of John Jr. are- Sophia, wife of Sylvester
Cooper M  aurice, John M., Amos B., all of whom live inl
their native town; 2Asa D. and Elialim., who have moved
away.
Another son of Johnl Clapp, Senm, was James, who lived
in the center of the town.  His children were Adaline,
Helen and James, the former o<f rhom is the wife' of Robert Dewar.  James resides in Worcester.
GENTiEAaLOGY O  TE C'LEGLAR  FAMILY.
"The name Clark was derived from  the name of an
office, and signified clerk, or learned man,  This title, in
process of time, became the surname of the person who
held the office, and 6 Clericus,' afterwardas Clark, became
the cognomen or surname by which all his descendants
were distinguished. The word 6 clerk' was also abundantly employed in the north of England, to express lawyer as.
well as priest, and this accounts for the extreme frequency
of the name."  In an ancient record of Surrey, in the
county of Durham, England, among many others, we find
the following entry:'"Gulielmus Clercus tenet triginta
acras et reddit unam  marcam." -" William  Clark holds
30 acres, for which he pays one mark."  A mark was 13s.
4d.
The first person of this name, who came to this country, was Lieut. William Clark, who was born in England,
probably in Plymouth, in Devorshire, in 1609.  Ile was
in Dorchester as early as 1638.  From  there he came to
Northampton, probably in 1659. He was chosen one of




GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.            153
the town's-men or select-men, in March, 1660, and representative to the "Great and General Court" in 1663,
He was one of the eight members of the church in Northampton at its organization, June 18, 1661. He died
July 12, 1690, aged 81. His wife Sarah, died Sept. 6,
1675. He was selectman nineteen years, and bore the
title of'6 the Most Worshipful William  Clark."  For a
long time he was one of the commissioners, or judges, of
the county courts.
He had nine children, one of whom, Samuel by name,
had a son Samuel, whose son, Benjamin, was the father
of Phineas Clark, who settled in the east part of the town,
on a farm now owned by Bryant Pendleton. Several of
his brothers and sisters were among the early inhabitants
of Westhampton, one of whom, Elizabeth, was the mother of Rev. Justin Edwards, D. D., the well known divine,
at one time President of Andover Theological Seminary.
D uring the Revolutionary War, Mr. Clark served three years
in the army. An incident is told of him which is interestsing. On one occasion, while on guard, he discovered a
man in the garb of an officer, approaching him.  He
hailed him  with the customary, "6 Who's there."  "A
friend,"' was the reply."  "Give the countersign," said
he. "I can't do it, but nly business is very urgent, I
must pass."  "Not without the countersign."  "I am
entrusted with business of great importance." The officer
had by this time advanced almost within reach of his bayonet. "Advance another step," said the guard, " and
I'll run you through with my bayonet."  The whole tone
and manner of the officer changed. " I guess you are a
good soldier. I can trust you."  It was General Washingtcn.
Again, after a tiresome march, he was placed on guard,
and being young and in poor health, he'fell asleep. In
13"'




I 54           HISTORY O  EASTRAMPT0OW.
this condition he was found by a soldier, and reported to
the commanding officer.  Ile was tried, and sentenced to
one day's imprisonment in the guard-house. His punishment would have been death, had it not been for the voluntary and earnest efforts of his comrades from  Northampton, who plead that his state of health was such that
he ought to have been, and had before been, excused fron
guard duty.  The event proved to him  a great blessing.
The next day was exceedingly hot, and some of his comrades died from the exertions which they were compelled,
to make. Such would probably have been his fate, but
for the confinement.
In 1787, he was taken prisoner by the Shay's insurrectionists, in consequence of the loyalty of his senti~
ments, though from his state of health he had had no part
in the endeavors to suppress rebellion.  He was released,
however, on the third day, much to the relief of his famin
ily, who knew not what had befallen him, since he was
taken while absent from home. His wife was Elizabeth
White of Hadley, who outlived him  thirty-eight years,
and died in 1847, after bein.g permitted to see more than
seventy of their descendants. Th eir children were as follows:
-Submit, who was the wife of Jonathan Parsons of South
Farms, Northampton; Elihu, who now resides in Granville;
Sylvester, who settled in the practice of medicine in
Boston, Erie county, N. Y.; Salome, wife of Rufus Smith,
formerly of South Hadley and WVorthington, but now of
Huntington; Lucinda, who was the wife of Justin Cook
of Northampton; Silence, wife of Asa Marble of Worthington; Elizabeth, wife of Elisha King of Westhampton;
Erastus, settled in West Farms, Northampton; Paulina
lives in Westhampton; Lydia, wife of Medad King of
Westhampton; Amandla, wife of AMaurice Parsons, of
Worthington; Persis died in childhood.




GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.             155
Dea. John Clark, son of William  Clark of Northampton, had twelve children. It is of him that the late President Dwight, in his " Travels in New England and New
York," says: "One specimen of longevity and multiplication, in a single family, deserves to be recorded. Dea.
John Clark, son of William Clark, Esq., had twelve children. One died in infancy. Six sons and five daughters
had families. Ebenezer, the third son, died February 27,
1781, aged 98' years. Josiah, the youngest son, died
April 7, 1789, aged 81. From the six sons, were descended 1158 children, grand-children, and great-grandchildren, 928 of whom were living at the time of Josiah's
death."
The oldest of these sons, Dea. John Clark, Jr., was born
Dec. 28, 1679, and married Elizabeth Cook of Hartford,
great-grand-daughter of Major Aaron Cook. He had
eleven children, from two of whom, Eliakinm and Ithamar,
have descended a large majority of the persons in town,
who bear this name. A daughter, Catharine, married Dea.
Samuel Edwards of Southampton, who was the grandfather of 1Rev. Bela B. Edwards.
Eliakim removed to Easthampton, and settled in Pascommuck. It was he who gave the land for the burialplace now used in that part of the town. He had three
sons and eight daughters. All the sons, Obadiah, Asahel,
and Job, settled near their father.
Three of the daughters married  in  Easthampton.
Esther married Jonathan Janes, Lydia married Lemuel
Lyman, Huldah married Nathaniel White.
Of the sons before mentioned, Lieut. Asahel was born
Feb. 17, 1737, and married Submit Clapp. He was in
the battle of Lake George, Sept. 8, 1755.  He did not
belong to the scouting party commanded by Col. Williams,
but with others was left in defence of the fort from which




156            HISTORY OF  EASTHAMPTON.
this party set out. He bravely aided in the repulse of
the enemy under Baron Dieskeau, as they rushed on,
greatly elated with their success in the defeat of the scout.
ing party. Lieut. Clark was also at Ticonderoga, three
years after, when the British were defeated, with great
carnage, in their attempt to take the fortress.  British
pride, on that occasion, saved the colonial troops from
slaughter, since they were not allowed to participate in
the assault. In 1788, a call was issued, for volunteers to
defend the arsenal at Springfield, against the attack of the
Shay's party. The people of the town had responded to
the call; a company under the command of Capt. David
Lyman, were already at Springfield.  News however came
that more men were wanted, and another company was
formed, consisting of about forty men fromi South and
Easthampton, most of them either older, or younger than
the members of the first. They had marched as far as the
house of Elias Lyman, in the south part of Northampton,
when, to their surprise, they discovered a party of 400
men, whom they knew by the badge which they wore
-a sprig of evergreen in their hats-to be Shay's men.
There was not the slightest hope of successful resistance
against such overwhelming odds, and they were taken
prisoners. Lieut. Clark, then fifty years of age, was a
member of this company.  He was a man of high spirit,
and could not well brook the thought of falling into the
hands of a set of men, whom he despised from his inmost soul. Hoping to escape observation, he stepped
into the house of Mr. Lyman near by, neglecting, however, to remove the slip of white paper which the loyalists wore in their hats as a badge. The troops passed on,
but, unfortunately, for him, one of the insurgents came in,
and, seeing by the badge that he was a loyalist, seized
him and drove him along with his gun. Before they had




GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.            157
proceeded very far, Mr. Clark who had no gun, watching
his opportunity, sprang upon his captor and attempted to
disarm him, in which attempt however, he was unsuccessful. His resistance so  exasperated the ruffian, that,
despite his age, he dealt him a heavy blow upon his head,
wounding him severely. This band of insurgents, which
was from Berkshire County, marched to Pelham, where
they retained their prisoners for about one week, when
they were permitted to return. Lieut. Clark afterwards
recovered damage from the person who took him prisoner.
Ile died Feb. 17, 1822, on his 85th birthday. He had
twelve children. His sons, Eliakim, Eleazer, Asahel, and
Bohan, settled in Easthampton, and reared up families.
Eliakim, however, afterwards removed to Otisco, N. Y.,
where he died.
Horace L., son of Anson Clark, of West Springfield,
and grandson of Eliakim, with the exception of a son of
Asahel, who bears up his name, is the only descendant of
this branch of the family who lives in the place.
Jared, another son of Lieut. Asahel, married Fanny
Clapp and removed to Brecksville, Ohio. Charles removed to Otisco, N. Y., where he still resides. Two sons died
in early life. Submit, the oldest daughter, married Ebenezer Janes, Electa was the wife of Elam Rumrill, Jerusha
wife of Caleb Loud of Loudville, Achsah wife of Daniel
Wright, formerly of Easthampton, but afterwards of Huntsburg, Ohio.
Obadiah Clark, son of Eliakim, Sen., settled where
his grandson Zenas now resides. He was a man of unusual attainments in piety and spirituality.
His family consisted of six children, Zenas and Gaius
who died young; Esther, who died at the age of thirty-one;
Jemima, who married Stephen Wood, Clarrissa, who married Andrew  Howard of West Springfield; Thaddeus,




158           HISTORY OF EAST-IAMPTON.
who married Tamasind, daughter of Ezekiel Wood, and
settled in his native place. He was an earnest Christian
and a pillar in the church to which he belonged. He had
six children, of whom one died in infancy and two
others, Thaddeus and Philena, died unmarried, though
they lived to mature years. The other three, Obadiah,
Zenas, and Deacon E. Alonzo, are now residents of the
town.
Job Clark, son of Eliakim, Sen., and brother of Lieut
Asahel, was born Sept. 10, 1733, and married Eunice
Strong. He built the house where his grandson, Henry
Clark now resides. He had six children. Sereno and
Ruth died in early life; Eunice married Asa Ferry;
Luther moved to Skaneateles, N. Y., but afterwards returned; Spencer settled in Easthampton; Job, who graduated at Williams College, studied medicine, and practised
many years in Westfield.  He now resides in Massilon,
Ohio.
Luther married Deborah Robinson, and lived on his
father's place. He had five sons, all of whom settled in
Easthampton, viz.: Luther, Alanson, Jason, Horace, Henry.
The four last named are at present resident in town. The
oldest, Capt. Luther Clark, died in 1865. He had been
a man of considerable influence in town, had several times
represented it in the Legislature, and had, during a period
of eighteen years, served on the board of selectmen.  In
this family there was also five daughters, Emeline, wife of
Ozro C. Wright of Northampton, Maria, wife of Luther
M. Fairfield of Holyoke, Harriet, who died in early life,
Elvira, Cordelia, wife of Theodore Clark.
Ithamar Clark, son of Dea. John, Jr., and brother of
Eliakim, Sen., was a resident of Northampton. His family
consisted of nine sons and one daughter.  One of the sons,
Oliver, born Jan. 13, 1756, moved to Easthampton, and




GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.              159
built a house in the west part of the town, where the widow of Dea. Ithamar Clark until recently, resided. He
was married twice, and was the father of nineteen children.  Of these, Azariah, born Sept. 17, 1778, graduated
at Williams College in 1805, being the first inhabitant of
Easthampton who received a collegiate education. He
studied theology; was settled in Canaan, N. Y.; afterwards removed to Colebrook, Ct., where he died in 1832.
Julius, born Dec. 17, 1779, had a family ofseven children,
lived in Northampton, on the place now occupied by Abner
TWade. Simeon,the oldest son, was born Feb. 10, 1777, and
spent'the greater part of his life in Easthampton. He
was a carpenter by trade, and was often entrusted with
the care of difficult pieces of work. Among other things,
he built a bridge across Mill river in Northampton, about
the year 1820. He finally went to Huntsburg, Ohio,
where he died. His children were eight in number, viz:
Simeon Parsons, Coleman, MVIercy, Tertius, Esther, Lewis,
Diana, Abner Laurens.  The oldest, Simeon Parsons,
lived in his native town, and followed the occupation of
his father. Hle was the father of Edmund W. and George
P. Clark, the former of whom now resides here.  Coleman
and Lewis now live in Ohio; Mercy married Abner
Wade; Tertius, recently deceased, occupied the old place;
Laurens is at present an inhabitant of the town, though he
has most of the time lived elsewhere.
Another son of Oliver Clark, Sen., was Oliver, who
was born August 17, 1785.  He settled on a part of the
old homestead of his father.  He was a very active, energetic man. In 1820 he was chosen Captain of the Militia
Company and was engaged to some extent in public business.  He died at the early age of thirty-seven, leaving
six sons, viz: Rufus, Josephus, Lysander, Nelson, Frederick, and John Milton, the last of whom owns and carries on




160            HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
the farm  of his father.  Lysander resides in Clyde, NI.
Y., Nelson in Easthampton, and Frederick in Springfield.
Rufus moved to Hartford, Ct., and Josephus to Aurora,
Ind., where they died.
Dea. Ithamar, the youngest son of Oliver Clark, Sen.,
was born October 27, 1802. He was killed April 3d, 1857,
while engaged in drawing stone.  He was the father of
Rev. Edson L. Clark, who graduated at Yale College,
studied theology at Union Theological Seminary, and is
now pastor of the Congregational church in Dalton.
Capt. Philip Clark, a second cousin of Lieut. Asahel and
of Oliver, was in the fourth generation from Lieut. William, who first came from England. He lived in Pascommuck, was one of the first school-teachers in the town,
was also one of the forty-six original members of the church,
and its first clerk.  Although politically opposed to a ma.
jority of the voters, he was as prominent in town affairs
as any one. He was quite frequently chosen to preside
over the deliberations of the town, and for a number of
years filled the position of selectman with credit.  He has
quite a numerous posterity.
Elam  Clark, his son, married. Dorcas Brown, and
settled in Pascommuck. He had six daughters, four of
whom married in Easthampton. Dorcas, wife of Parsons
Janes; Rachel, wife of Lyman Avery; Triphenia, wife
of John Wright; and Dorothy, wife of Solomon Ferry.
The oldest son, Elam C. Clark, graduated in Williams College in 1812, studied theology, and was ordained pastor
of a church in Providence, R. I.  He died in Suffield, Ct.
Julius lived on the old homestead, where two of his sons,
Julius F., and Austin P., now reside.  His oldest son,
Sheldon, also lives in the town.  His daughter Celia married Joseph Parsons, Bela lived where his son, Theodore,
now does. He had a family of five sons, viz: Theodore,
William, Edward, Alfred, Charles.




GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.             161
Uriel Clark, another son of Capt. Philip, married Hannah Janes, Dec. 30, 1782, and settled on the old homestead. He had two daughters, one of whom, Susannah,
married Manly Street, and the other, Anna, married Chauncey Parsons. He had also three sons, Uriel, Saul, and
Philip. Philip inherited his father's estate. He had five
children, Lawrence, Uriel, Gilbert A., Melancey, Martha,
of whom the last mentioned was the first wife of J. Emerson Lyman. The sons Uriel and Gilbert A., now reside on
their father's place, which, it will be seen, has descended,
through successive generations, to its present owners.
GENEALOGY OF THE LYMAN FAMILY.
The coat of arms of the Lyman family may be thus described. Arms-azure, on which appear 3 dolphins, natant.  Crest-a sword  unsheathed.  Underneath the
shield, on a band, is inscribed the motto, " Factis non
Verbis,"-m" By deeds not words." In regard to the dolphin as an armorial bearing Sloane's Evan's British Heraldry says:-" Th6 dolphin which is a much esteemed and
ancient bearing has been said to be the hieroglyphic of
Charity, Parental Affection and Society, there being no
other fish which loves the society of men." The unsheathed sword would seem to refer to some military achievement of the ancestors, or perhaps to the readiness of the
family to meet the calls of patriotism.  The above described coat of arms is found in one branch of the Lyman
family; but it would seem not to be universally accepted
as the coat of arms of the family, since there is, in another
branch, one differing somewhat from this, though having
points of resemblance.
Richard Lyman came from England in 1631, in the
time of King Charles I, and settled in Roxbury, where he
lived in some state, having two servants. He was a mem14




162            HISTORY OF EASTIIAMPTOW.
her of the church of Rev. John Elliot.  He brought with
him his wife Sarah, and five children, Phillis, Richard, Sarah, John and Robert. Late in the year 1635, he removed through the woods with others to Hartford.  On his
way thither, he lost some of his cattle, and suffered much
the ensuing winter at Hartford, in consequence of which
he became melancholy, though he afterwards recovered
from this state of mind.  " He was an ancient Christian,
but weak, yet, after some years of trial and quickening, he
joined the church." His name, with ninety-nine others,
first settlers of Hartford, is inscribed on a monument in
an ancient cemetery in that place. He died in the year
1640.
His three sons, Richard, John and Robert, were among
the first settlers in Northampton in 1655, and all died
there, leaving families, though Robert had no male issue.
He was a hunter and trapper, and is said to have perished
on Roberts' Hill. He discovered the lead mines in the
south-west part of Northampton, which are noticed in the
ancient records of that town. Richard had a numerous
posterity, some of whom settled in Lebanon, Ct. Another
branch went to Durham, Ct., while another remained at
Northampton.
Lieut. John Lyman, son of Richard, was born in England, in September, 1623, and died August 20, 1690. lie
was in command of the Northampton soldiers, in the famous Falls fight above Deerfield, May 18, 1676. Hisl
wife was Dorcas Plum of Branford, Ct. The American
House, which was burnt a few years since in Northampton,
stood in front of his house lot. His children were, Elizabeth, Sarah, John, Moses, Dorothy, Mary, Experience,
Joseph, Benjamin, and Caleb. The oldest son, John, was
born in 1661, married Mindwell Sheldon in 1687, and died
November 8, 1740.  In the latter part of his life, he lived




GENEALOGICAL REGISTER~           163
east of Mt. Tom, and kept a public house, where his
son Elias, afterwards kept tavern, near Smith's Ferry.
Benjamin, another of the sons, was born in 1674. He
married Thankful, a grand-daughter of Eltweed Pomeroy,
who came from England. Their family consisted of nine
sons and three daughters, viz: Joseph, Benjamin, Benjamin, Aaron, Caleb, William, Daniel, Elihu, M-edad,
Eunice, Hannah, and Susannah. Joseph settled in North
ampton, and was the father of Joseph and Elisha, the former of whom was the father of Judge Joseph Lyman, who
graduated at Yale College in 1783, and grandfather of
SamuelF. Lyman, Esq., now Judge of Probate and Insolvency. William was the father of Gen. William Lyman, who was at one time consul at London. Daniel
removed to New Haven, and engaged in mercantile pursuits.
Benjamin was born in 1703, and married Mary Mosely
of Glastenbury, Ct. Hle, together with Stephen Wright,
purchased "School Meadow," and afterwards moved to
Easthampton, and built a house where Joel Bassett now
resides. He was one of the early and constant supporters of Rev. Jonathan Edwards. He was one of the
nineteen who voted to retain him as pastor of the church
in Northampton, at the time of the opposition to him.
He died in 1762, aged 59. His children were Benjamin,
born in 1727; Lemuel, born in 1735; David, born in 1737;
and four daughters, Molly, Thankful, Esther and Patty
Capt. David lived where S. M. Lyman now does. He has
no descendants of the Lyman name.  He had four
daughters who married and lived in this town. They
were as follows: Sarah, who first married Eli Brown and
afterwards Ocran Clapp; Eunice married Job Strong, the
father of A. L. Strong; Rachel married Sylvester Knight,
who was the father of Hon. H. G. Knight; Fidelia was
the wife of Solomon Pomeroy.




164            HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
Benjamin built a house on the plain, where his grandson, Rev. Solomon Lyman, now lives.  He  was very
active and influential in the formation of the church and
district.  To him was directed the warrant, to call together the citizens to the first meeting of the district after its
organization. Robert Breck, Esq., who was empowered
by act of General Court to issue his warrant to some prominent citizen, was chosen Moderator of the first meeting.
Mr. Lyman was chosen Moderator of the second meeting,
and he occupied that position many times thereafter. In
church matters, he was also a leader. Before the settlement of a pastor, it was needful that there be a moderator, who could legally call meetings of the church,
an office to which he was appointed. At one of the
earliest business meetings of the church, he was
chosen  Deacon, which  office he accepted, and  performed its duties till his death in June, 1798. He was a
man of ardent piety, a faithful servant of Christ, and
when he laid his armor down, we doubt not, he entered
upon his reward.
His children were Benjamin, Solomon, Hannah, Polly,
Ruth, Dorotha, and Mercy. The daughtcrs all married,
removed from town, and all lived past middle life. Of the
sons, the first mentioned built a house, where his grandson, Ansel B., now lives. Solomon remained on his father's place.  He married  Lois, daughter of Jonathan
Janes, Sen. In 1807, he was chosen deacon, in which
capacity he served eighteen years. His family consisted
of four daughters and one son. The daughters were,
Theodosia, Lois, Susan, and Mercy. His son Solomon
graduated at Yale College in 1822, studied theology, was
ordained a minister of the gospel, settled in Keesville,
N. Y., afterwards at Poultney, Vt. He now resides in
his native town.




GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.             165
The family of Benjamin were Jeremiah, Theodorus,
who lives in Ohio, Polly, Eunice, Clarissa, Ansel, and
Louisa, the last two of whom died in youth. The oldest
occupied his father's place, and spent his life there. His
family consisted of the following children, viz:-Theresa,
who married Rev. Addison Lyman, and died in Geneseo,
Ill.; Louisa, who married James 0. Waite of Hatfield;
Ansel B., who is a resident of this town; Adelle S., and
HIenry Martyn, who until recently has resided in Minnesota.
Lemuel Lyman, born August 28, 1735, married Lydia,
daughter of Eliakim Clark, and lived on his father's
place. He was in the memorable battle of Lake George,
September8, 1775. Soon after this, he, with others, was
sent with a drove of cattle for the northern army. It was
supposed, that, in this expedition, by the privations and
exposures which he endured, he laid the foundation for
the rheumatism, a disease, which in later years, rendered
him to some extent, unable to perform manual labor. He
was a member of the board of selectmen for seven years,
and one of the leaders in the establishment of a church,
and the erection of a house of worship. He was a man
of great physical strength, and was quick to perceive the
best method of action in a moment of danger. He had a
very retentive memory, great presence of mind, and native
energy of character. He died July 16, 1810, aged 74.
His children were Lydia, who married Ebenezer K. Rust
of Southampton, Lemuel, Justus, Ahira, Sylvester, DIaniel, Esther, who married Obadiah Janes, and Elihu. All
the sons settled in Easthampton, and were men of considerable influence in the town, and all have posterity residing here at the present day.
Capt. Lemuel, married Olive Lyman of Norwich. His
trade was that of carpenter and joiner, although he owned
and lived on a farm. About the year 1800, he superin14*




166           HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
tended the removal of a dam across the Connecticut
river at South Hadley Canal, which stood about two miles
above the present dam, and set the water back into
the meadows, occasioning much sickness.  In answer
to a petition on the subject the legislature ordered
its removal. His children were Dwight, Theodore, Dennis, and Theodosia, all of whom lived in their native town.
Theodosia married Augustus Clapp.
Justus owned and occupied a farmadjoining that of his
brother. He was a man of influence in the affairs of the
town, which he served in the capacity of selectman,
eleven years. He had three children, George, Charles,
and E. Waldo, the latter of whom settled on his father's
place.
Ahira located himself on the plain, west of the center,
building for himself the house now occupied by Elijah A.
Lyman. He was a very active and prosperous business
man, both as a farmer and mechanic. His death occurred
November 1, 1836, in consequence of a severe wound in
his foot, made by an axe. His children were, Roland, who
removed to Lowell, where he now resides, Lemuel P.,
Ahira, Quartus P., William, and Jabez B., the latter of
whom graduated at Amherst College in 1841, resided in
Germany some years, where he was a student in one of
the Universities. He was afterwards principal of a Female
Seminary in Abbeville, S. C. He was for a time established as an oculist in Chicago, but for several years has
been engaged in the practice of surgery in Rockford, Ill.
The others mentioned remained in their native place,
except Ahira, who lived on Park Hill, just within the limits of Northampton. He, however, now resides in Easthampton.
Sylvester lived on the place first purchased by Benjamin
Lyman, on his removal from Northampton, owning and




GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.            167
working the farm. He was chosen deacon in 1813, and
continued in the office twenty years. His children were,
S. Mosely, who lives in his native place, Ursula, who was
the first wife of Dea. Ithamar Clark, Naomi, who married
Warren, Montague of Sunderland, Sylvester, who resides
in Hartford, J. Emerson, who died a few years since in his
native place, Elizabeth, wife of E. L. Snow, Tirzah, wife
of E. S. Hoadley, and Edwin who lives in Bridgeport, Ct.
Daniel married Sally, daughter of Benjamin Clapp, and
lived on Park Hill, where his son, Lauren D., now lives.
He was a man of more than ordinary religious feeling, a
devoted friend and warm supporter of the institutions of
religion, and a pillar in the prayer-meetings of the church
and neighborhood. He died September 23, 1853. His
children were Daniel F., Josiah, Addison, Horace, Sarah
B., Lauren D., and James H. Josiah graduated at Williams College in 1836, studied Theology, was licensed to
preach, afterwards principal of an academy in Williston,
Vt., and then of the academy in Lenox, where he still
lives. Addison graduated at Williams College in 1839,
studied Theology, entered the service of the Home Missionary Society, and is now a preacher in Sheffield, Ill.
He was for a time principal of an academy in Geneseo, Ill.
Horace graduated at Williams College in 1842, ordained
an evangelist, and was employed as a Home Missionary at
Portland, and Dallas, Oregon. He is now Professor of
Mathematics, in Pacific University, at Forest Grove in
that state. He went to Oregon about the time of the
California gold excitement, and was largely instrumental
in the gathering of two churches at the places mentioned.
The primary object of the institution in which he is now
engaged is to raise up men to supply the need of ministerial labor there. The other sons, Daniel F., Lauren D.,
and James H., are citizens of their native town.




168          HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
Elihu, the youngest and only surviving son, lives at
present with his son William J. in this town. In early
life he intended to get an education, and for this purpose
entered Williams College, of which he was a member until the Junior year, when he was compelled to leave in
consequence of weakness of eyes. He has lived since in
New Lebanon, N. Y., and in Williamsburg, but spent the
greater portion of the active period of life in his native
town. His children were Alfred E., who settled in Williamsburg, but now resides in Brooklyn; Eliza, who married
John G. Mallory; William J.; Mary Ann, who married
William Leonard; Cornelia, who married Elisha H. Rice;
Nancy, who was the wife of Thaddeus K. Wright of Westhampton. Three children, Martha, AnnjJane, and Curtis,
died unmarried. William J. is the only one of these children
who now reside in their native place. For many years he
carried on the business of wagon making in this town,
but for some years past has been employed as a patent right
dealer, and also as a patentee.
GENEALOGY OF THE WRIGHT FAMILY.
Dea. Stephen Wright, one of the purchasers of School
Meadow, was a great-grandson of Dea. Samuel Wright,
one of the first settlers of Springfield. He was a resident
of that town as early as 1641. After Rev. Mr. Moxon,
first minister of Springfield, returned to England, Dea.
Wright " was employed to dispense the word of God in
this place," and was allowed fifty shillings a month for his
services. Other laymen were also employed in the same
way. Dea. Wright was also one of the first settlers of
Northampton, whither he removed in 1656 or 7, and
where he died in 1665. His brother, Nathaniel, was a
merchant in London, and was interested in the Winthrop
Colony in 1630.  Their father, it is said, was John




GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.            169
Wright, of Kelvedon, and their grandfather, John Wright,
of Wrightsbridge, in Essex, about forty miles east of
London.
Samuel Wright, oldest son of Dea. Samuel, lived in
Northampton. One of his sons, Capt. Benjamin, was a
noted Indian fighter, and was finally slain by them at
Northfield. Another son, Samuel, had eight children,
one of whom, Stephen, was chosen~ deacon of the church
in Northampton, in 1739, but removed to Easthampton,
probably about 1744. His house, which stood where
Samuel Hurlburt now lives, on the hill just west of Sawmill brook, then stood within the limits of Southampton.
Sergeant Eliakim Wright, his son, was killed in the battle
of Lake George. Job, another son, graduated at Yale
College in 1757, and was settled in the ministry at
Bernardston, where he died. In this connection it may
not be uninteresting to remark, that when he graduated,
and for several years thereafter, the names of the graduates were not arranged alphabetically, but according to the
standing of the family to which they belonged.
Stephen, another of the sons, married Catherine Sheldon, daughter of Noah Sheldon, of Southampton. He
settled on the plain south of the meeting house, and built
the house until recently occupied by his grandson, John
Wright. In 1786 he was chosen deacon of the church, in
which capacity he served twenty-one years.
His children were Catherine, who died in childhood,
Eliakim, Stephen, Catherine, who married Justin Clark
of -Southampton, Gideon, Noah, Hezekiah, Luther. Eliakim, born in 1757, married Mrs. Martha Matthews, widow
of Dea. Gideon Matthews of Chester. He lived a little
way north of his father's residence. He was a man of
more than ordinary ability, and possessed of good judgment, though somewhat eccentric. In early life he enter



170            HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
tained the idea of preparing for the ministry, but he finally
abandoned it.  His piety was- of a deep and earnest type,
and exercised a controlling influence over his life.
Stephen, born in 1758, married Sarah Lyman, daughter
of Dea. John Lyman of Southampton, and settled in the
south part of the town.  His daughter, Sarah, married
Zenas Clark, and Lucy married John Wright.  His oldest
son, John, succeeded to his estate. He was an energetic
and prosperous farmer, and acquired considerable property.
He died in December, 1857.
Hezekiah lived on the old homestead, where his son,
John Wright, now lives.  His daughter, Dorotha, married
Luke Janes, Abigail married Sidney Ferry, Harriet married  John  Y. Smith, a resident of Madison, Wis.
Besides these, there were three children, John the oldest, who died in infancy, Hezekiah, who died at the age
of twenty-six, and Emily, who died in early life.
Luther married Sarah Lyman, daughter of Jonathan Lyman of Northampton, and settled near his father, about a
mile south of the meeting house. He carried on the tailor's trade many years. He died Jan. 1, 1860, aged 85.
Mrs. Wright is still alive. This couple sustained the
marriage relation for sixty-four years. Their children
were six in number:-Luther, Roxanna, who married Joseph Marsh of Hadley, Sally, Theodore, Julia, who married Sidney S. Avery, Clarrissa, who married Rev. Charles
Lord.
Luther graduated at Yale College in 1822, was for several years tutor in that college; then licensed to preach the
gospel; was afterwards employed Associate Principal of a
school in Ellington, Ct., and as Principal of Leicester
Academy. In 1841, on the opening of Williston Seminary for the admission of students, he was called to the
position of Principal, which he accepted. After his resig



GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.              17.
nation of that position in 1849, he taught a private Classical School for several years. He still resides in this
place. Great credit is due to him for his labors as Principal of Williston Seminary.  By the thoroughness of his
instruction and discipline, the school acquired under him
a character which, in connection with its munificent endowment, speedily gave it a place among the first academical institutions of our country. Since his retirement
from that position, he has been prominent among those
whose efforts have been put forth in the interests of education in his native town.
In this connection it may not be out of place, without
injustice to others, to mention E. A. Hubbard, for many
years instructor in the mathematical and philosophical department of Williston Seminary, as another who has taken
great interest in the cause of education, in our community,
as well as elsewhere.
Some years since Mr. Wright delivered a very able address before the Young Men's Association of Easthampton,
in regard to the early history of the town. This Historical Sketch was published, and from it, as well as from the
semi-centennial sermon of Rev. Mr. Williston, we have
derived essential aid.
Theodore L. entered Yale College, in 1825, but owing
ill health, he remained not quite two years. In 1833 he
received the honorary degree of A. M. from that college.
For a time he was employed as Principal of the Hartford
City Grammar School, but is now engaged in business in
Wisconsin.
Elijah Wright, brother of Dea. Stephen, and son of him
who first settled in the town, was born August 22, 1733,
married Mary Strong, daughter of Ichabod Strong  of
Southampton, and lived on the farm  which his father
bought when he first moved his residence from  North



172 tHISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
ampton. His family consisted of five daughters and four
sons. His oldest daughter, Mary, married Benjamin Ly.
man; Hannah married Enos Janes; Esther married —
Russell of Warwich; Eunice married Benoni Clark of
Westhampton; Asenath married Jonathan Connable of Bernards ton. His four sons, Elijah, Daniel, Medad, and Ichabod, lived in their native town. Daniel married and
lived on his father's place. Elijah,the oldest son, born
August 30,. 1765, built a house on the same farm, the
one now owned by his son Samuel. His employment
was that of a tanner and shoemaker. His death occurred
January 8, 1814. His wife was Naomi Kingsley, a native of Westhampton. She survived her husband fortythree years. Their children were two, Naomi, who married Col. Thomas Pomeroy of Northampton, and Samuel,
who still resides on his father's place. In early life he
taught considerable in Common Schools, and in later years
was often a member of the General School Committeeo
Elijah H., his son, graduated at Amherst College in 1842,
and studied medicine in Hanover, N. H., and at Charleston, S. C. He then settled in Marietta, Ga., where he acquired quite an extensive medical practice.
Ichabod, youngest son of Elijah, Sen., born August 24,
1776, removed to Park Hill, and occupied the house built
by Josiah Phelps. He married Mary Clapp, daughter of
Jonathan Clapp. He was a prominent member of the
church, an active, working Christian, ever ready to stand
in his lot and bear his part in the work of the church.
Often the weekly neighborhood prayer meeting was held
at his house, and when it was at the school-house, or elsewhere, he was almost always present, ready, by prayer and
exhortation, to contribute to the interest and profit of the
occasion. These neighborhood gatherings for social prayer and conference, were a source of great spiritual profit




GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.             173
to those who attended them, and through them to the
whole district, as well as to the church. His death occurred
in 1844. His children were Horace, Ichabod Strong,
Edmund, J. Rockwell, and Russell M. Horace owned
and worked a tannery for a number of years, at Roberts
Meadow, in Northampton; afterwards removed to Syracuse, N. Y., and now resides in St. Louis, Mo. I. Strong
resides in Brooklyn. Edmund graduated at Williams
College in 1836; studied theology at East Windsor, Ct.;
was ordained minister of the gospel; labored as a home
missionary for many years in Weston, Mo.; afterwards was
pastor of a church in St. Louis, Mo., and has been Secretary of the Home Missionary Society in that State.  He
is a faithful laborer, and has been the means of great good
to those for whom he has labored.  5. Rockwell lived on
the old homestead for many years, but finally sold it, and
removed to South Hadley, where he now resides. Russell
M. graduated at WVilliams College in 1841, and was one
of the early and efficient teachers of Williston Seminary.
IHe afterwards removed to Georgia, where he was employed
as Principal of a female educational institution, located at
Athens. On the breaking out of the war, he returned to
his native place, and is now Instructor in Natural Sciences
in Williston Seminary.
GENEALOGY OF THE JANES FAMILY.
This family originally came from Kirtling) in the county
of Cambridge, England, where it had been seated in 1235,
when William de Janes, in fulfillment of a vow, made a
pilgrimage to the tomb of our Saviour at Jerusalem.
The coat of arms of the family is thus described:Arms-Argent-a lion rampant-azure-between three
escallop shells-gules-Crest —Out of a ducal coronet, gold,
15




174           HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
a demi-lion, rampant-azure-holding between the paws
an escallop shell-gules.
The lion rampant in the arms, shows that the ancestor
had won a battle, while in command of the forces engaged.
The escallop shells show that he had made a pilgrimage
to the Holy Land. The ducal coronet was given to those
who held command in the armies of the sovereign duke'
of the French Confederation.
William Janes, a native of Cambridge, England, came
to this country from Essex, and first established himself
in New Haven, Conn., probably as early as 1638. In
1654 or 5, he came to Northampton, and in 1657 was
chosen Recorder of Laws, which office he retained for
twenty years. He also conducted religious services on the
Sabbath. Two of his children, Ebenezer and Jonathan,
were slain at Northfield, Sept. 2, 16&75, when that town
was attacked by the Indians.  His daughter Ruth married
the first John Searl of Northampton, whose son John, together with three children, were killed by the Indians at
Pascommuck, at the time of the massacre there. Benjamin Janes, son of William, removed to Easthampton about
the year 1700.  His was one of the first five families who
dwelt in Pascommuck. At the time of the massacre there,
two of his children were put to death, and his wife was
taken to the top of Pomeroy's mountain, scalped, and left
for dead. She however, was found, and taken to Northampton, where she recovered. She lived afterwards until
she was more than eighty years old. Mr. Janes subsequently went to Coventry, Conn., probably in company
with " a number of respectable persons from Northampton," who went about that time.
Samuel Janes, another son of William, married Sarah
Hinsdale of Deerfield, daughter of Samuel Hinsdale, who
was slain at Bloody Brook, in 1675. He also moved to




GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.            175
Easthampton, about 1700, and was oneof the first five
settlers ini Pascommuck.  In 1701, he, with his wife and
three children, Obadiah, Ebenezer, and Sarah, were slain
by the Indians. Samuel, his oldest son, then about eleven
years of age, was taken prisoner. Just before the savages
encountered Capt. John Taylor's troop of cavalry, they
knocked him in the head and left him, doubtless supposing
they had killed him. He however recovered from the effects of the blow, was one of those who re-settled his
native village, and was the ancestor of all the persons
bearing the name of Janes in this town, besides a numerous posterity in other parts of the country. His daughter
Rachel married Capt. Philio Clark.  He had four sons,
all of whom settled in Easthampton. Their names were
Samuel, Jonathan, Obadiah, Elisha.
In early life, Obadiah Janes was a teacher of common
schools. In 1788 he was chosen deacon of the church,
which office he held nineteen years. His wife was Beulah
Lyman, daughter of Abner Lyman of Northampton, to
whom he was much attached.  She was a woman of strong
mind and ardent piety. This couple sustained the marriage
relation during the long period of fifty-seven years. Of
them it might be said " they were lovely and pleasant in
their lives and in death they were not divided"  Both
died in 1817, in the eighty-eighth year of their life. His
death occurred first, but his wife survived only about two
weeks. He lived on the place now occupied by Elisha
Parsons, almost within a stone's throw ot Connecticut
river, yet it is said that he never crossed it. They were
not blessed with children, but were blessed with large
hearts, and consequently became " Uncle and Aunt" to
no small portion of the community. Many persons now
living, no doubt recall with pleasure, the hours spent in
their younger days, beneath the hospitable roof of " Uncle
Diah and Aunt Beulah."




176           HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
In the same house with him, lived his brother Elisha.
He had three daughters: Sarah, who married Asahel Parsons; Rachel, who married Joel Parsons; Mercy, who married Capt. Thaddeus Parsons.
Jonathan Janes, son of Samuel, settled where Waldo
Prouty now resides. He was present at the surrender of
Louisburg to the British and American forces, July 26,
1758. He died in 1825, being the oldest person who ever
lived in this town. His age was ninety-nine years. I-e
had a great propensity for story telling, and- was, withal,
quite witty. The following, related of him, will serve as
an illustration. On one occasion, a wild steer belonging
to him, escaped from his enclosure, and, upon search being
made, was found upon the summit of Mt. Tom. Those
who were in search of him, attempted to drive him, but
the animal, actuated by fear, probably, leaped from a ledge,
and was killed. Mr. Janes, afterwards, in relating the
circumstance to some one, concluded by saying, " It most
ruined his hide." He had three daughters: Esther; Lois,
who married Dea. Solomon Lyman; and Rebekah, who
married Daniel Wright. Of his four sons, Ebenezer, Jonathan, Parsons, Obadiah, the oldest moved to Napoli, N.
Y., while the other three lived in Easthampton.
Jonathan, born Jan. 1, 1771, married Rachel, daughter
of Capt. Philip Clark, and moved to the center of the
town, where he built the house in which his grandson,
Edwin S. Janes, now lives. His children were Lowsell E.,
who resides in Easthampton; Rachel married Ezekiel
White;. Jonathan, who died in early life; Jason, whose
home is in Brecksville, Ohio; two daughters, who died
young; Spencer, who lived on his father's farm. He died
in September, 1854, and his place is now occupied by his
son, Edwin S. Janes.
Obadiah Janes married Esther, daughter of Lemuel Ly



GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.             177
man, and afterwards Mary Chapman, daughter of David
Chapman. He kept store near the hotel, where Ebenezer
Ferry formerly lived, and where he for a time kept store.
He had eleven children, none of whom settled in East.
hampton.  Of these, Esther, married Coleman Clark.
Theodore learned the trade of book-binding and settled
in Boston. Hamilton and Ellsworth now reside in Princeton, Ill., the former a farmer, and the latter a photographer. Lyman lived in Hadley. Francis and Justus entered
the ministry.
Francis graduated at Williams, in 1830; studied
theology at Auburn, N. Y., and labored in several different
places in Central New York. He was last at Colchester,
where he died Jan. 20, 1855.
In speaking of him the Independent said: " In every
church where he has labored, God has blessed his instrumentality with precious revivals, and as the fruits of these
revivals, about 300 have been gathered into the churches
under his care. He was noted for his ardent piety, implicit faith, and a heart full of Christian sympathy and knowledge. He was a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit.
During his whole ministry he lost not a Sabbath or a day
from sickness."
To this very faithful notice of him, it may be added, that
his early advantages for gaining knowledge were limited,
and, moreover, he was naturally rather slow in its acquirement. He was dependent upon his own exertions for
funds to support him in his collegiate course, and had it
not been for his indomitable energy, and untiring perseverance, strengthened by a warm-hearted Christian zeal,
he would have yielded to the seemingly insurmountable
obstacles thatopposed him, and relinquished the idea of
acquiring an education. Had he done so, the ministry
would have been deprived of one of its brightest ornaments.
15*




178           HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
Justus Janes, brother of Francis, graduated at Amherst
College; studied theology, and labored. many years in
various places in. New York. Ie is now pastor of the
Presbyterian Church in Chester, Ohio. He has been a man
of extensive usefulness, beloved'by all who have known
him.
Parsons Janes, another of the four brothers last referred
to, married Dorcas, daughter of Elam Clark, and settled
on his father's farm. His family consisted of eight daughters and one son, all of whom married, and lived in Easthampton. Edwvin, the- son, married Catherine Wright;
Dorcas was the wife of Joel Parsons; Triphenia, wife of
Wm. N. Clapp; Julia, wife of' C. Edson Wait; Lois, wife
of Horace Clark; Martha, wife of Chester Wait; Harriet, wife of C. Edson Wait;. Emily, wife of William  N.
Clapp; Elvira, wife of Waldo: Prouty.
Samuel Janes, the other son of Samuel, married Hannah Brown, and settled on the place now occupied by
Alanson Clark.  His family consisted of five sons and two
daughters, viz: Noah, Samuel, Enos, Asahel, Seth, Hannah, Sarah.
Seth lived for many years on the old, place, with whom
his brother Asahel remained, but in the latter part of his
life, he moved to the center of the towns to, the place now
owned by HKorace. Ilatthews..
Enos settled.on:the farm, where his. son. Luke now re —
sides.  His children were-NMancy., who married, and rernoved. to the wnest;. Lovisa, wife of David MXontague of Westhampton; Helena, wife of Dwight Lyman; Luke;! Samuel,
who lives in WVesthampton.
Capt. Noah Janes lived, onm the place afterwards owned
by Asa Ferry.. He took great interest in the affairs of
the town, in which he was often engaged. After his family were grown up, he removed to Vermont.  His children




GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.              179
were Noah, Chester, Sylvanus, Lucas, Julius, Lewis, Patty,
Electa, Naomi.  The only descendants of this family who
at present reside in town are those of the last named
daughter, who married Sylvester Lyman..
WILLISTON.
Rev. Payson Williston was in the fourth generation
from Joseph Williston,. who lived in Westfield in 1691.
He'traded some with the Indians, and, as this trade was
forbidden to all who were not licensed, his skins and furs
were seized by Porter Tilton of Hadley, one of the magistrates.  The case was carried to the county court. Ile
pleaded ignorance of the law, and the court ordered the
property to be restoi'ed tot him.  A few years after this he
lived at Springfield, where he married Mrs. Mary Ashley,
who was a daugh;ter of' Joseph Parsons, one of the first
settlers of Northampton.
The children of Rev. Payson Williston, were -Nathan
Birdseye, who died- at the age of four years; Maria, who
married Theodore Brackett; Samuel; Nathan Birdseve,
who is engaged in the mercantile business In Brattleboro;
Sally, who married JGsiah D. Whitney of Northampton.
John Payson married Clarrissa, daughter of Asahel Lyman, resides in Northampton, and has been distinguished
as an ardent friend and supporter of the temperance and
anti-slavery causes.
The oldest son, Samuel, was born before the place was
incorporated as a town, and has always resided here. In
early life he' entered upon a course of study preparatory
for college, at Philips Academy, in Andover, the hope of
his father being that he might be led to dedicate himself
to God, antd that then he might devote himself to the work
of the ministry.  He was finally compelled by weakness
of eyes to relinquish his plans of study, and the trial thus




180            IISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
sent upon him God was pleased to use as an instrument in
bringing him to surrender himself into His hands. Then
it was his great desire to prepare for the work of the ministry if it should be God's will.  It was His design, however, that he should serve the cause of Christ in another
field of labor. There were institutions of learning to be
established and sustained, from which were to go forth
many faithful ministers of the Cross, and some one must
be raised up with the heart and the means for this- work.
Time has revealed that Mr. Williston was an instrument
chosen of God for this purpose; and therefore he has labored more effectively than if he had been suffered to
pursue his original intention.
By the firugality and industry which must be exercised
in a country parsonage, he acquired those habits of life
which admirably fitted him, under God, to achieve succss
in the business in which he engaged. It is needless, in
this connection, to add to what we have already said of his
remarkable success, especially in manufacturing. It is to
the business which he has inaugurated and largely conducted, that the town owes its present position, as one of
the largest towns in the county and the most rapidly growing.  Many other men in various callings, it is true, have
contributed to this growth and prosperity, but he must be
recognized as the leading agent in it. The property which
God has thus given him he has liberally bestowed in behalf of the cause of education.
It was at the darkest hour of the history of Amherst
college, when the debt was rapidly increasing and there
were no funds to procure such improvements as a growing
institution required for its success, that Mr. Williston
came to its aid. He endowed two professorships and the
half of another, thus' making a donation of $50,000.
This relieved the college from its embarrassment, and gave




GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.            181
it an increased power in the community. After the burning of North college, he erected on its site the building
which bears his name, and which contains the chemical
laboratory, together with the alumni and society halls.
But his largest benefactions have been to Williston Seminary, on which he has expended, or will soon have done
so, the sum of $225,000, besides in the aggregate a large
amount of time and labor.
In 1840 he served as a Representative, and in the two
following years as a Senator in the state legislature.
The Payson church, twice re-built after being twice destroyed by fire, together with the rebuilding of the adjoining parsonage, after the second fire, has cost him the sum
of $43,000, not including the sum expended in repairing
the damage done by the blowing over of the steeple.
-" About the year 1854, he engaged in the almost hopeless enterprise of building the Hampshire and Hamrpden
railroad, thus extending the Canal railroad, and connecting
Northampton withNew Haven, through his own town.
This he finally succeeded in accomplishing, after many delays and amid ceaseless opposition in the Legislature from
the friends of other roads, having been elected president,
and having sunk $35,000 for the public good." For a
number of years he was president of the Holyoke Bank,
and he has held that position in the First National Bank
of Easthampton ever since its establishment.
Undoubtedly these facts are known to many of those
who will read this sketch, yet it is but fitting that they
should find a place in the history of the town to whose
progress he has so largely contributed.
IKNIGHT.
Roswell and Sylvester Knight, who were the first persons of that name residing here, removed from Hunting



182           HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
ton, in the early part of the present century. The former
was a clothier by trade. He married Margaret, daughter
of Jonathan Clapp. Their children were, Albert, Franklin, Artemas, Daniel, Henry, Margaret and Mary, none of
whom now reside here.
Sylvester married Rachel, daughter of Capt. David Lyman, for his second wife, and lived where S. M. Lyman
now does.  The children of the second marriage were
Rachel; Alice, wife of Isaac K. Clapp; Lothrop; IIoratio
G.; Sarah.
Sylvester, an older son, resides in Southampton.
Horatio G. began his career as a manufacturer about the
time of the transferance of the button works from Haydenville, in 1847. He had before been connected with the
business of Mr. Williston, as clerk and salesman; but
about this time he became a partner in the concern. Since
then, the button works have been carried on, as has elsewhere been said, by the firm of Williston, Knight & Co.,
until the recent organization of the National Button Co.,
in which the same persons are stockholders. Mr. Knight
is also largely interested in the Nashawannuck and Glendale
Companies, and next to Mr. Williston has been most prominent in the manufacturing operations of the place.
He has also been very prominent in the public affairs of
the town, which he has twice represented in the Lower
House of the Legislature. He also occupied a seat in the
Senate during two sessions, and was a member of the Republican National Convention at Chicago, by which Abraham Lincoln was first placed before the people as a candidate for the Presidency.
In the early part of the war Mr. Knight was very active,
procuring volunteers, paying bounties to Easthampton men
who enlisted in the 27th regiment, and subsequently to
those who enlisted in the 31st regiment, amounting in the
aggregate to several thousand dollars.




GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.            183
In addition to the two already spoken of, and who are
natives of the town, Seth Warner and Edmund H. Sawyer may be mentioned as identified with the manufacturing
interests of the place. Mr.' Warner has been a partner in
the firm of Williston, Knight & Co., since its organization, and is now connected with the Rubber Thread Co.,
as its agent. The principal interest of Mr. Sawyer has
been with the Nashawannuck Co., to whose efficient labors
no small share of its success is due.  He is now largely interested in the Glendale Co. Both these gentlemen have
contributed much to the prosperity of the place since their
removal hither.
PARSONS.
As it respects the origin of this name, some have supposed
that it was derived from the word " parson," a clerical title given, from the fact that a clergyman is the principal
person in a church. Hence in law he is termed eccle.,iwt
personae, and has full possession of all the rights of a parrochial church. The s is added for the sake of euphony,
or from the fact that the person to whom it was applied
was the parson's son. Others have derived it from the
word " parish," meaning son of the parish, or one supported by the parish.  Still others have supposed that the
name is the same with Peerson, Pierson and Pearson, modified in the spelling. These last are derived, according to
Camden, from " son of Peter" or " Peterson."  The family of Parsons was an ancient one in England. Sir Thomas Parsons of Milton Royal in England, about the year
1634, received the honor of knighthood from King Charles
I. Cornet Joseph Parsons, who came from England, was
one of the first settlers of Northampton, and owned a
large tract of land in Pascommuck.  His fourth son, Ebenezer, who was killed by the Indians at Northfield, was
the first white child born in Northampton.




184           HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
In the fifth generation from Cornet Joseph, was Dea.
Joel Parsons, who removed to Easthampton. He was
often employed when a young man, as teacher of the early
district schools of the town. He was chosen deacon of
the church in 1-798, to fill the vacancy caused by the death
of Benjamin Lyman.
He had five sons, all of whom lived in Easthampton.
Aaron lived in his father's place, where his son Joseph now
lives. Ebenezer Ferry lived where the house of E. R.
Bosworth now stands. His trade was that of a blacksmith. Senaah married Lois, daughter of Solomon Lyman,
and lived on the same place with his brother Aaron. He
had but one child, L. Watson, who lives, on a place adjoining that': of his father.  Joel was a joiner by trade,
built and lived in the house owned by the late
Lewis Ferry. He is said to have made the first sleigh
which was driven in Easthampton. His wife was Rachel
Janes. Their children were, Dixelana, married Bela Clark;
Rachel married James Phelps; Climena married Winm. Gillett, and after his death became the second wife of Bela
Clark; Angeline married Rev. Norris Day; Ann Frances
married Lysander White, and afterwards Edson White;
Ralph, Joel, Elisha, Luman, Frederick, Henry, George.
Of the sons only one, Joel, remained in his native town.
Ralph lives in Holyoke, and the four last named engaged
in business elsewhere.
Thaddeus, son of Dea. Joel, lived in Pascommuck. He
was for a long time connected with the military company
of the town, and was for a number of years its captain.
He was lieutenant of the company sent fiom South and
Easthampton, to the defence of Boston, in the year 1812.
His children were Mercy, who died in youth; Thaddeus
K.; and Elisha, who now lives where his fat'her did.
Edmund Parsons, who is an inhabitant of the east part




GENIEALOGICAL REGISTER.          185
of the town, is a great-grandson of John Parsons, who
lived in Northampton, and was in the fourth generation
from Cornet Joseph. John was uncle to Dea. Joel, who
has been mentioned.
Levi Parsons, a native of Goshen, removed to Easthampton soon after the establishment of the button works
of Williston, Knight & Co., and was employed as their
superintendent. Since that time he has been very intimately connected with the business and public interests of
the town, and has been very highly esteemed as a citizen.
His recent death, which occurred while on a visit to the
South on account of his health, occasioned a great loss both
to the community and to the church.
FERRY.
Ebenezer Ferry, a grandson of Charles Ferry of Springfield, settled in Pascommuck probably about the year
1730, on the farm of Moses Hutchinson, who with one
child, was -slain by the Indians in 1704. His son, Lieut.
Solomon, succeeded him, and died here in the year 1810,
aged 66. The name of his wife was Hannah French. To
them were born the following children: —Polly, who married Sefth Janes; Solomon; Asa; Ebenezer, who died at the,age of twenty-five-; Lovisa and Hannah, who died in
childhood; Hannah, who married John Alpress.
Asa married Eunice Clark, and settled in the western portion o&f Pascommuck. Thei-r children were Ju.liana, who
married Luther -Clark; Sidney, who lived on his father's
farm; Lovisa married Ithamar Clark; Robert and Asa died in
infancy; Eunice S. married Daniel F. Lyman; Ruth C. married Josiah Gaylord of South Hadley; Robert S. resides in
Springfield; Adaline married E. Hazen of Springfield.
Solomon lived for many years on his father's farm, which
was that now owned by Dea. E. Alonzo Clark. His first
16




1:8 6         HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
wife was Parnel Chapin, of West Springfield. They had
five children. Hiram was-a printer by trade, and published
the "Oracle," and afterwards the " Democrat," at Northampton, where he died in 1860. He was for a number of
years connected with the Boston Custom House. Nelson
removed'to Corunna, Mich., where he died in 1846.
Ebenezer remained in his'native place, was for many years
postmaster and storekeeper, and has served the town with:fidelity in many offices. S. Chapin resides in Chester, O.
Lewis published papers in Ohio, and also in Northampton;,but spent the later portion of his life in his native town,
where he died in 1865. Two children were born to Solomon
by a second wife, Sophia L. Hastings. They were P.
Sophia, who married William Strong of Northampton;
and Julia Ann, who married Fred A. Spencer of Westfield.
WHITE.
Nathaniel White, who resided in the south part of this
town was in the sixth generation from Elder John White,
who came from England, probably from Chelmsford, in
1632, and settled in Cambridge, where he was a member
of the first board of selectmen. About 1636, he went to.Hartford, from which place, in 1659, he removed to Hiadley,
where he was one of the committee to lay out the town,
and one of those appointed to manage the affairs of the
plantation. In 1672, he returned to Hartford, where he
died in the winter of 1683-4. Nathaniel, before mentioned, was born in South Hadley, Nov. 28, 1749, removed
to Easthampton, and married Huldah, daughter of Eliakim
Clark. Their children were Levi, Huldah, Clark, Jemima,
Nathaniel, Theodosia, wife  of John  Hannum, and
Ezekiel. The oldest, Levi, married Miriam Alvord, of
South Hadley, and settled in Etasthampton on his father's
place. Of their children, Julius moved to Southampton;




GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.            187
Edson and Lysander settled in their native town; Lucena,
married Julius Pomeroy;  Amanda married Augustine
Munson.
Ezekiel, son of Nathaniel, lived on the farm, now occupied by Daniel Rust 2d. Hie was a painter by trade; but
spent a large amount of time in: antiquarian researches.
These he carried, probably, to a greater extent than any
other man in this section, excepting Sylvester Judd of
Northampton. In regard: to this subject, they both felt,
what has been expressed by another, that " It is an act
of duty, and a just tribute of affection to the memory of
our ancestors, to rescue, if possible, their names from the
perishing records of time, and not only to incorporate them
with the annals of the present, but, as objects of affectionate remembrance, inscribe them in our family memorials."
It is fitting that the author of these sketches should here
acknowledge the aid which he has received. in. collecting
many of the facts given in the genealogical reccrd, from the
papers of Mr. White, to which he had access.
CHAP'MAN.
Daivid Chapman, Sen., was born in the city of Norwich
Conn., removed to this place in 1772, where he remained
during the revolutionary war, after which he lived in
South and Westhampton. He died in 1814.
In the year 1774, he bought of the town of Northampton, " a piece of common land, the estate of the inhabitants
of said town, and which was formerly part of the county
road leading from Northampton to Westfield."  From the
description in the deed of the land purchased, it appears
that it was that on which the High School building, and
the First Congregational Church and its parsonage now
stand.  The purchase price was $1.91 an acre, a price




1&8           HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
which seems small indeed when compared with its present
value. He erected a dwelling where E. R. Bosworth now
lives. Mr. Chapman himself, four of his sons, and at least
seven of his grandsons, were blacksmiths. So entirely did
this seem to be a family occupation, that many persons in
childhood regarded the. name of Chapman and blacksmith
as synonymous. Two. only of the sons, Moses and David,
settled in Easthampton. One, Willet, was a soldier, and
died at West Point, in the eighteenth year of his age.
David Chapman, Jr., born March 23, 1:761, married
Mary, daughter of Dea. Benjamin Lyman.  He built a
house where the parsonage now stands. He afterwards
removed to the north side of the Manhan River, near
Dennis Lyman's present residence, and carried on the
blacksmith business in a shop which stood on the bank of
the river. He had seven children: Mary, second wife of
Obadiah Janes; Sophia, wife of John Clapp; Martha,
David, Charles, George, Moses, who all followed the
occupation of their father, though Moses alone remained
in town. He lived where Dr. Winslow now does.  His
shop stood near the present location of the Town Hall.
His sons, Moses and John went West. Another son,
Almon, for many years followed the ancestral employment,
who,. on his retirement, was in turn succeeded by his son,
Almon S. Thus it will be seen that, as one family of
Clapps were, through successive generations, the tavern
keepers and millers of the, town, so. the Chapman. family
may be said to have been, the blacksmiths.
POMEROY.
Eltweed Pomeroy, who came from Devonshire, England,
to this country in 1630, lived at Dorchester and Windsor,
and died in Northampton in 1673, and was the progenitor
of a large portion if not of all who bear that name in the




GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.             189
United States. He is represented to have been a man of
good family, tracing his pedigree back to Sir Ralph de
Fomeroy, a favorite knight of William the Conqueror,
whom he accompanied into England, acting a conspicuous
part in the battle of Hastings, fought Oct. 14, 1066, and
afterwards building a castle, called Berry Pomeroy, still
in preservation on the grant which he received from the
crown.
In the third generation from Eltweed were Samuel and
Eldad Pomeroy, who settled in Easthampton about 1732,
the latter near where John M. Clapp lives, and the former
opposite, on land owned by Dea. E.. W. Hannum.  Soon
after, Caleb, a sons of Samuel, built. a house on the hill
west of his father's house, near the present residence of A.
L. Strong. O-f his children, Enos lived on, his father's
place, and Solomon where Eldad first established himself.
Warham, son of Enos, succeeded his father, and had a
large family of children,, only one of whom, Hiram, is at
present resident in town.
Of the children of Solomonr, only one, who bore his
father's name, remained in the town. He had but one
child, Emeline, who married A. L. Strong..
Dea. JustusPomeroy, who belonged to another branch
of the family, was born in 1767, and settled in the western part of Easthampton near what was. formerly known
as "Pogue's Hole."  By a recent change of town lines,
the farm which he owned is.~no.,v-included within the limits
of Southampton.  He hadfive children: Spencer, who was
mentioned as having performed service in the war of 1812;
Jerusha, who married; Joseph Haskins of Northampton;
Triphenia, Julius,. and Thomas Jefferson.  The last three of
these now reside: in Easthampton.
Luther Pomero!y, who belonged to still another branch
of the family, carne to this town from Southampton and
16 




190            HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
settled in the west part of the town, where his son Luther
now lives. He also was mentioned as one of those who
performed service in the war of 1812.
HANNUM.
William Hannum  was one of the first proprietors of
Northampton in 1653, and died there in 1677. In the
fifth generation from him, were three brothers, early inhabitants of the town.
Sergt. Eleazer and John settled in the town, as early
as 1760. Each of them had a son bearing their names,
who succeeded to their property, and who were the fathers
of the present owners of the estates. Eleazer W., who was
chosen deacon of the church in 1833, and still holds the
office, is the grandson of the former and owns his place; and
John M. and Edwin are grandsons of the latter, and own
his place. The second John Hannum bore the office of
selectman for twenty years, a longer period than it has
been held by any other man.
Joel, another of the brothers mentioned, settled in
Nashawannuck.  His sons, Paul and Julius, shared the
Qwnership of his. farm after his death, and each had large
families. They,, however,, removed to the west many
years since,, and the only members of these families, at
present residing here. are Arlow and Lucas W., sons of the
former. Esther,. daughter of Joel, married Simeon Clark;:
Phebe, married Oliver Clark; Jerusha, married Elijah
Gloyd; Diana, married and now lives in Washingtonm
]PRHELFPS.
" Ould Mr. Winm. Phelps, Esq. came from England: to.
this country in 1630; was representative from Dorchester
to the first court in 1634;. removed to Windsor, Ct. in
1635; and was a member of the first court in that colo,




GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.             191
ny in 1636. He was a member of the General Court
twelve sessions; and one of the most efficient and valuable officers in the colony."  In the sixth generation from
him, was William Phelps, who lived in the north part of
this town, in a house which stood a short distance west
of the road leading to Northampton. His son, Elijah,
succeeded him, of whose children only Samuel remains
here. Capt. John Phelps, father of James and Frederick,
who live in the same district, removed thither from
Northampton.
LUDDEN.
Lieut. Ezra Ludden removed from  Braintree to Williamsburg in 1773, and thence to this place in 1779. He
was a great reader, and took a great interest in the Library association, of which lie was an active member. He
died here in November, 1833, aged 86.
Of his sons, only one, John, remained in town. He
was very prominent in public~ affairs.; was the- second person appointed Justice of the Peace;- was selectman during
a period of 18 years; and several times represented the
town in the Legislature.
Ezekiel Wood was the first person bearing. the name
of Wood who lived in Easthampton.  He was connected
with the army in the war of the. Reavolution as Surgeon,
and died at W~est Point while in the service.  He had
seven children, viz.: Daniel, David, Seth, Ezekiel, Stephen, Polly, Tamasind.
DIaniel and David were also soldiers in the Revolutionary war.  David afterwards settled  in Southampton.
Daniel moved to Palmyra, N. Y., where. he died in the
98th year of his age. The following notice of him  was
published at the time of his death: —" He entered the




192           HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
service in early life, and was one of those hardy veterans
who penetrated the wilderness to Quebec with Col. Arnold
in April, 1775. He remained before Quebec through the
following winter. He was also one of the soldiers at
Saratoga, and served through the war."
Tamasind was the wife of Thaddeus Clark. Ezekiel
was shot accidentally by one of his neighbors while they
were hunting deer. Seth lived for a time in Easthampton,
and was the father of E. T. Wood, who now resides in
Northampton. Stephen married Jemima, daughter of
Obadiah Clark, by whom he had four children, Gaius,
Stephen, Jemima, and Mary.  He afterwards married
Sally Braman. Their children were Ezekiel, Enoch E.,
Newton, S. Chapin, and Sarah. These last mentioned all
live in this town, excepting Ezekiel, who died here recently.
HENDRICK.
Israel Hendrick was the first settler in. the south-east
part of the town, whither he removed about the year
1774, and built a log house on the east side of Broad
Brook. He had three sons, viz.: Reuben, who removed
to Conway, had several children, and died about the year
1800), at the age of 55 years. Moses, who settled in
Hoosiclk, N. Y., acquired'considerable property and died
in 1845,, at the advanced age of 1,00 years. James, the
youngest son, removed to the opposite side of the brook
from where his father lived, and built the house now occupied by Pearson Hendrick.  He had eleven children, eight
sons and three daughters. - Jesse, the oldest, died at the
age of twenty-four;. Pearson died in early childhood;
Huldah, James, Lovy, Reuben, Joseph, Stephen, Pearson,
Jabez., and Rachel. Five of the above brothers settled
in this. neighborhood, and four of them are still alive and
reside within half a mile of each; other. The youngest
son, Jabez settled elsewhere.




APPENDIX.
A few typographical errors and omissions escaped notice in the
correction of the proof, which should be inserted here. If others
still exist, we crave the reader's indulgence.
On page 9 instead of John Scott read George Frary.
On page 147 read Alender instead of Aleander.
On page 148 instead of 1830 read 1835.
In our notice of the Internal Revenue, we should have mentioned
the fact that George S. Clark was the immediate successor of Levi
Parsons as Assistant Assessor, which office he held a few months when
he was succeeded by Lafayette Clapp.
COLLEGE GRADUATES.
The following list of the natives of the town who have received
college honors, will be interesting as a matter of reference:Azariah Clark,       Class of 1805,       Williams College.
Job Clark,                    1811,           "       "
Elam C. Clark,          "  " 1812,  
Theodore Clapp,         "  " 1814,          Yale      "
Solomon Lyman,          "'" 1.822,          "       "
Sumner G. Clapp,        "  " 1822,           4"'
Luther Wright,          "  " 1822,           c" 
Sylvester Clapp,        "  " 1823,          Union'
Silas C. Brown,         "  " 1828,            4       "
Theodore L. Wtight,     "  " 1829,          Yale      "
Samuel Matthews,        "  " 1.829,       Amherst   "
Francis Janes,          "  " 1830,        Williams   "
Thornton W. Clapp,      "  " 1835,            "       "
Edmund Wright,,            " 1836,'t       "
Josiah Lyman,           "  " 1836,            "      "
Alender 0. Clapp,       "  " 1837,        Amherst   "




2                         APPENDIX.
Addison Lyman,       Class of 1839,      Williams College
Jabez B. Lyman,        "  cc 1841,       Amherst
Russell M. Wright,'4  1841,        Williams
Horace Lyman,          "  " 1842,            "       "
Elijah H. Wright,       4 C6" 1842r      Amherst
William S. Clark,      "  " 184!8;           " A'
Lyman R. Williston,    "' 1850,            "       SC
Edson L. Clark,        "' 1853,          Yale      "
Francis H. Hannum,     "  " 1865,        Amherst   "
James T. Graves,       "  " 1866,          Yale      "
Payson W. Lyman,       "  " 1867,        Amherst'C
Nearly all of these have been noticed particularly in the Genealogical Record. Of those not thus alluded to, Sylvester Clapp studied
Theology and was ordained and settled in Maine.
Silas C. Brown studied Theology, and was ordained and settled in
the ministry in the state of New York.
Samuel Matthews became President of Hampden Sidney College.
He died in 1853, at the age of 51.
William S. Clark, after his graduation at Amherst, was employed
as teacher in Williston Seminary, then studied in a German University, and has since held the Professorship of Chemistry in Amherst
College.
Lyman R. Williston taught in Williston Seminary for a time after
his graduation, then studied theology in Andover, after which he went
to Germany, and studied in Berlin. On his return he was employed
as Principal of the Cambridge High School. He is now teaching a
private school in Cambridge.
It will be seen by reference to this list that the number of men
from the town obtaining a collegiate education has decreased within
the last twenty years, about as fast as the town has increased in
population, a fact which it would seem ought not so to be.