EARLY 
 
 ECCLESIASTICAL 
 
 HISTORY OF WHATELY 
 
 BEING THE SUBSTANCE OP > ) 
 
 1 
 
 A DISCOURSE 
 
 DELIVERED JANUARY 7, 1849. 
 
 j 
 
 BY J. HOWARD TEMPLE, 
 
 PASTOR OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 WITH AN APPENDIX CONTAINING FAMILY RECORDS, 
 
 NORTHAMPTON \ 
 
 PRINTED BY J. & L. METCALK 
 
 1 S 4 9 . 
 
 ) 
 
 i 
 
 \ 
 
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS 
 AT AMHERST 
 
 UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 
 
 Special Collections & Rare Books 
 
EARLY 
 
 ECCLESIASTICAL 
 
 HISTORY OF WHATELY 
 
 BEING THE SUBSTANCE OF 
 
 A DISCOURSE 
 
 DELIVERED JANUARY 7, 1849. 
 
 BY J. HOWARD TEMPLE, 
 
 PASTOR OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 WITH AN APPENDIX CONTAINING FAMILY RECORDS. 
 
 NORTHAMPTON: 
 
 PRINTED BY J. & L. METCALE. 
 
 1849. 
 
HISTORICAL DISCOURSE. 
 
 "I will utter — sayings of old; which we have heard and known, and our 
 fathers have told us." — Psalm 78 : 2, 3. 
 
 A definite and full knowledge of men and generations of 
 men, such as is distinctive of themselves, quickly fades away. 
 They had a real importance in their day ; they were the matters 
 of fact, and their decisions and acts gave its character to the 
 society of their day ; but their day was brief, and after death, 
 " their remembrance perishes from the earth, and they have no 
 name in the streets." 
 
 This tendency to oblivion is common to traditional reports, 
 and in a measure to official Records. The former soon become 
 generalized, and confused ; and the latter get mutilated. And 
 as each is requisite to explain and illustrate the other, the true 
 characteristics of individual men and events thus become ob- 
 scured and lost. 
 
 This general remark applies to the men and events which 
 constituted the early History of this Town. The Records, such 
 as they are, of the civil and ecclesiastical matters of those times 
 are now in existence ; but being in single copies, they are liable 
 to be destroyed by age and accident. A small remnant of the 
 second generation of our ancestors is yet left, in whose memories 
 are stored many facts, nowhere recorded, yet necessary to eluci- 
 date the written memorials. A desire to multiply the written 
 accounts, and to save these traditions, as given by first mouth, 
 led to the preparation of this discourse. I have extracted at 
 large from the official Records, and gathered what was evidently 
 authentic, from the memories of the aged. The result — chiefly 
 relating to our Ecclesiastical History for the fifty years following 
 1770, is now sent forth, with the hope that I may be doing a 
 service to the younger part of the people of the town, and to 
 
those who may come after us. Possibly these pages may also 
 interest the older people, by reviving some of the associations of 
 their youth. And I am sure that all classes may derive moral 
 profit, from the contrasts to our own favored circumstances here 
 presented, and by tracing the hand of God in the works which 
 He did in our fathers' days, " in the times of old." 
 
 The northern part of Hatfield, extending five and a half miles 
 cast and west, and three miles* north and south, "was incorpo- 
 rated into a Town by the name of Whately, by the great and 
 general Court of this Province held at Cambridge, in the month 
 of April, 1771." 
 
 The major part of the first inhabitants were branches of Hat- 
 field families, who had taken lands within the limits of the new 
 Town. Probably settlements began to be made as early as 
 1750. About that date several houses were built in the 
 4i Straits," (so called ;') one by Joseph Belding, where Zebina 
 Bartlett now lives ; one by Sergeant John Wait, now owned by 
 John Wait, a grandson ; one by Elisha Smith, farther south, 
 (known as the " Gad Smith place ;") one by David Graves, 
 known as the " Stockbridge Tavern ;" and one by Joseph 
 Scott,f where Jabez Pease now lives. These were the first 
 dwelling houses erected in town. Oliver Graves, born in 1761, 
 (whose memory has supplied many facts recorded in these pa- 
 ges) remarks, " they began to look old when he was a boy." 
 
 Within a few years from the above date, Lieut. Ebenezer 
 Bardwell built a small house, where now is an orchard, south- 
 westerly from Randall Graves', (the house was afterwards owned 
 by David Scott ;) Thomas Crafts built where Dexter Crafts 
 now lives ; and Dea. Joel Dickinson near where Calvin Wells' 
 house now stands.^ These houses were located on the " Chest- 
 
 *In 1805 (?) a tract about half a mile wide, was annexed to the north side 
 from Deerfield, making the present width 3 1-2 miles. 
 
 t He first settled on the plain, farther south, on " Mother George," (so 
 called.) He was poor, and had a large family. One Sabbath morning, a 
 Deer was found in the barn-yard with his cattle. As they were out of pro- 
 visions, his wife urged him to make a virtue of necessity, and shoot the 
 Deer. But he refused, declaring that " if the Lord intended it for him, He 
 would send it some other day." A few days after, the Deer came again, 
 when he shot it. 
 
 J This house was " picketed" as a defence against the Indians, and was the 
 fort of these three families. Probably these houses were erected in 1752. 
 
nut plain street," (so called) and were the first buildings in the 
 central part of the town. In 1759, Daniel Morton built on the 
 place now owned by his son, Consider Morton ; (the original 
 house is still standing.) In 1761, Oliver Graves built where 
 Jerry Graves now lives ; and at near the same time houses were 
 built by Oliver Morton, (his house is still standing, and is occu- 
 pied by John Lyman Morton, his grandson :) by Salmon White, 
 on the place now owned by Luke B. White ; by Moses Dick- 
 inson, in the orchard west of Oliver Dickinson's ; and in the 
 westerly part of the town, by Nathan Graves, Peter Train, and 
 Edward Brown. 
 
 During these and the few following years, as the territory was 
 yet a part of Hatfield, the public history of these families prop- 
 erly belongs to that town. 
 
 The first meeting for the election of Town officers was held 
 at the house of Daniel Morton, Innholder, May 6, 1771. To 
 show what families had now a residence in town, and who were 
 regarded as the more prominent citizens, a list of the officers 
 then chosen is subjoined. 
 
 Salmon White, Town Cleric, and Town Treasurer; Joseph 
 Belding Jun. and Henry Stiles, Constables ; John Wait, Simeon 
 Wait, Edward Brown, Salmon White, arid Philip Smith, Select- 
 men ; Edward Brown, Philip Smith, and Salmon White, Asses- 
 sors ; Thomas Crafts, Sealer of Weights and Measures ; Thom- 
 as Sanderson, Sealer of Leather ; Peter Train, Oliver Graves, 
 and Benj. Smith, Surveyors of Highways ; Israel Graves, Noah 
 Bardwell, and John Wait, Jun., Fence Viewers ; Benj. Scott, 
 Jun., John Brown, and Joseph Crafts, Field Drivers ; Elisha 
 Belding and Noah Bardwell, Tything-men ; Benj. Smith, Perez 
 Bardwell, and Abraham Turner, Wardens ; John Crafts, Martin 
 Graves, and Elisha Frary, Deer Reeves ; Thomas Crafts, Sur- 
 veyor of Shingles ; Peter Train, Gad Smith, and Lemuel Wells, 
 Hog Reeves. 
 
 Thus much of general history seemed proper, as introductory 
 to the account of ecclesiastical affairs. 
 
 At a meeting held, probably by adjournment, May 9th, three 
 days after the formal organization of the town, it was voted. 
 
" To raise thirty pounds for preaching," — of such prime import- 
 ance were the institutions of Religion esteemed by our fathers. 
 June 4, 1771, the town voted, To hire Mr. Rufus Wells of 
 Deerfield, to preach six weeks upon probation. Simeon Wait, 
 John Wait, and Philip Smith were chosen a committee to engage 
 Mr. Wells. The same committee were instructed to provide a 
 place for Mr. Wells to board at ; who attended to the duty, and 
 engaged board at Daniel Morton's. Mr. Wells continued to 
 board here, and at Salmon White's, till his marriage in 1776. 
 
 At the expiration of the six weeks' probation, the town voted, 
 To give Mr. Rufus Wells a call to settle in the Gospel ministry 
 with us. The conditions offered were as follows : a " settle- 
 ment," as it was termed, of one hundred and thirty three pounds, 
 six shillings, and eight pence ; a salary of fifty five pounds for 
 the first year; and to rise forty shillings yearly till it amount to 
 seventy five pounds. It was also voted, That Mr. Wells be 
 allowed six pounds yearly for Wood, to take place at such time 
 as he sets up housekeeping. The committee to make these 
 proposals to Mr. Wells were Nathan Graves, Daniel Morton 
 and Salmon White. 
 
 A pound as then reckoned, was equal to three dollars, thirty 
 three and a third cents. Hence the settlement would amount to 
 450 dollars ; and the full salary, including the allowance for 
 wood, to 270 dollars per year. This sum sounds small, com- 
 pared with Ministers' salaries at the present day. But it is to 
 be considered that money is valuable according as it procures 
 the necessaries of life. Taking the price of wheat as a stand- 
 ard, 270 dollars then was equal to about 360 dollars now ; with 
 the wages of labor for a standard, which is probably more just, 
 the 270 dollars was equal to 550 dollars at the present time ; 
 taking the price of land as the standard, 270 dollars then was 
 equal to 2000 dollars now.* 
 
 The settlement was paid in land ; the town making over to 
 
 *Mr. Justin Morton, born 17G0, (to whom ] am indebted for many facts 
 herein stated) informs me that the ordinary price of Land at that time, was 
 20 shillings ($3,33 1-:?) per acre; Wheat, 4 shillings the bushel; Rye, 3 
 shillings ; Corn, 2 shillings ; Flax, 8 pence per lb. The wages of labor, for 
 an able bodied man, was ;{ shillings (50 cts.) a day in haying time, and 2 
 shillings for ordinary farm work. In 1797, laths were 4 dollars per M. 
 
Mr. Wells the lot lying east of the old Parsonage, extending 
 from land now owned by Calvin Wells on the north, to land of 
 J. P. Dickinson on the south, and containing near 60 acres. 
 
 After giving Mr. Wells a call, (as above) the town, it appears, 
 applied to some of the neighboring Ministers for advice in the 
 case, and received an answer as follows : " Whereas the inhab- 
 itants of Whately have applied to us for our advice respecting 
 the settlement of Mr. Rufus Wells in the work of the Ministry 
 among them ; we hereby signify that we well approve of their 
 choice of the said Mr. Rufus Wells, and do freely advise to his 
 settlement in the ministry in said Whately ; provided no suffi- 
 cient obstacle shall appear in the way of his settlement there. 
 Signed, Joseph Ashley. 
 
 Jonathan Ashley. 
 
 John Emerson." 
 August ye c Zd, 1771. 
 
 Up to this time, no Church had been organized in the limits 
 of the town ; the people going to Hatfield centre to attend pub- 
 lic worship, till the engagement of Mr. Wells. Such a step 
 now became obviously necessary. And we find at a Town 
 meeting held August 13, 1771, it was voted, That Wednesday 
 the 21st day of this August be kept as a day of Fasting and 
 Prayer by ye inhabitants of ye town of Whately. 
 
 Voted, That Messrs. David Parsons of Amherst, Joseph 
 Ashley of Sunderland, Jonathan Ashley of Deerfield, Samuel 
 Hopkins of Hadley, and John Emerson of Conway, V. D. M. 
 be the persons to perform the services of the day of Fasting. 
 
 August 21, 1771. On this day of Fasting and Prayer, 
 (writes Mr. Wells in his Church Records) there being present 
 on the occasion, Rev. Messrs. Parsons, Jona. Ashley, Hopkins, 
 and Emerson, after the public services of the day were finished, 
 the members in full communion in Whately were embodied into 
 a church, being recommended by the church of Christ in Hat- 
 field, to which church by far the greatest part that were embod- 
 ied did belong, and had communed there in all the ordinances 
 of the Gospel. 
 
 The Certificate of recommendation, above alluded to, was in 
 the following words : These may certify, that the within men- 
 
8 
 
 tioned persons are members of the church of Christ in Hatfield, 
 in regular standing ; and as such are recommended to be em- 
 bodied in a church state among themselves. 
 
 By vote of the Ch. Oba. Dickinson. 
 
 Hatfield, August 19, 1771. 
 
 The members embodied had the following Confession of 
 Faith, and Covenant, read to them, to which they consented 7 
 and which they subscribed. 
 
 We believe that God who is the Creator, Lord and Judge of 
 the world, hath discovered his' sovereignty over man, and show- 
 ed his mercy and goodness to him, in the clear and full Revela- 
 tion of his will in all things that concern man's duty to God, his 
 neighbor, and himself, and the way of his salvation and happi- 
 ness, in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament ; which 
 we acknowledge and believe to be a perfect Rule of our Faith 
 and practice, and that no new or further Revelation is to be 
 expected. 
 
 We believe concerning God, that he is the first, the greatest 
 and the best of Beings, in whom all perfection dwells, to whom 
 nothing can be added, and from whom nothing can be diminished. 
 
 We believe that God is one, and that in the unity of the 
 Godhead, there are that are called persons, three, the Father, 
 the Son, and the Holy Ghost ; and that these three are one in 
 essence, equal in power and glory. 
 
 We believe God to be the Creator, Governor, and Judge of 
 angels and of men, that notlrng escapes his knowledge, and that 
 he rules in the kingdom of Nature, Providence, and Grace ; 
 and according to the council of his own will doth all his pleas- 
 ure in them. 
 
 We believe that God made man male and female, with rea- 
 sonable and immortal souls, after his own image in moral recti- 
 tude, capable of knowing, serving and enjoying him, and yet 
 capable of falling ; that God made a Covenant with man, — on 
 condition of perfect obedience he was to continue in the favor 
 of God, — and on his failure or disobedience, annexed death, the 
 just wages of sin, as a penalty ; that in this Covenant our first 
 father stood and acted as the public head, representative of the 
 whole human species ; that he broke covenant with God by 
 
eating the forbidden fruit ; that he and we by him came under 
 the curse of God's righteous law, and forfeited the blessings of 
 the first Covenant. 
 
 We believe that God the Father so loved the world that he 
 gave his only begotten Son to be a Mediator between God and 
 man in this his lapsed state ; to be born of a woman, made un- 
 der the Law, to redeem man and his posterity from the curse of 
 the law, and to purchase eternal Blessedness for them ; who as 
 Mediator sustains the office of Prophet, Priest, and King, and 
 is made of God, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and re- 
 demption to all that receive and believe in him as offered in the 
 Gospel ; and that on such and only such he will confer ever- 
 lasting life and happiness, whom alone he hath predestinated to 
 eternal life and blessedness. 
 
 We believe the Immortality of the soul, and that there will be 
 a Resurrection of the body from the dead, and an equal distribu- 
 tion of rewards and punishments to every man according to his 
 deeds done in the body, by God, who without respect of per- 
 sons will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according 
 to his Gospel. 
 
 We believe that it is the duty of all men constantly to ob- 
 serve and faithfully to attend, secret, family and public worship, 
 and particularly the Ministry of the word, Prayer and Sacra- 
 ments of the New Testament, in and by which we believe that 
 the Holy Spirit works upon the souls of men, and makes them 
 effectual to their salvation, by the righteousness and complete 
 obedience of him who is the great Head of the Church. 
 
 Lastly, we believe that it is our duty as a society of Chris- 
 tians, to join together as a Church of Christ, to set up, attend 
 upon and support a faithful Ministry among us. 
 
 COVENANT. 
 
 We whose names are under written, being as we apprehend 
 called of God to enter into the Church state of the Gospel, for 
 the free and constant enjoyment of God's worship and ordinan- 
 ces, do in the first place acknowledge our unworthiness to be so 
 highly favored of the Lord, and at the same time admiring and 
 adoring the free grace of God which triumphs over so great un- 
 2 
 
10 
 
 worthiness, with humble dependence on his grace, would now 
 thankfully lay hold on his Covenant, and choose the things 
 which please him. 
 
 We declare our serious and cordial belief of the Christian 
 Religion as contained in the sacred scriptures, and as it is usu- 
 ally embraced by the faithful in the churches of New England 
 — which is summarily exhibited in our Confession of Faith, as 
 to the substance of it ; heartily resolving to conform ourselves 
 to the rules of Christ's holy religion as long as we live in the 
 world ; taking the word of God for our only guide in all matters 
 of Religion ; professing repentance for all our sins and miscar- 
 riages, we desire, 
 
 2. To give up ourselves to the Lord Jehovah, Father, Son and 
 Holy Ghost, and avouch him this day to be our God, our Saviour, 
 and our Sanctifier, and receive him as our Portion forever. 
 
 3. We do in particular give up ourselves to the blessed Jesus, 
 acknowledging his true Deity, and promise to adhere to him, as 
 the Head of his people in the Covenant of grace, and rely upon 
 him as our prophet, priest and king, to bring us to eternal Bless- 
 edness. 
 
 4. We acknowledge our everlasting and indispensable obliga- 
 tion to glorify God in all the duties of a sober, godly and reli- 
 gious life, — and very particularly in the duties of Church state, 
 and body of people associated, for an obedience to him in all 
 the ordinances of his Gospel ; and in this way we depend upon 
 his gracious assistance to enable us faithfully to discharge all 
 duties thus incumbent on us. 
 
 5. We do likewise promise and engage, with divine help, to 
 walk together as a Church of our Lord Jesus Christ, in the faith 
 and order of the Gospel, so far as we do know or shall have the 
 same made known to us ; and faithfully and constantly to attend 
 the public worship of God, and the sacraments of the New 
 Testament, and to keep family religion in our houses ; and that 
 we will carefully adhere to the laws of Christ's kingdom, with 
 regard to the Discipline of the Church, and obey him in the 
 Lord whom God shall give to rule over us, and set to watch for 
 our souls ; and to attend to all God's holy institutions in Com- 
 munion with one another, watching over one another for good, 
 
11 
 
 and that in the spirit of meekness, love and tenderness ; care- 
 fully avoiding all sinful stumbling blocks, strifes and contentions, 
 and that we will endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the 
 bond of peace. 
 
 Finally, we do also present our Offspring with ourselves unto 
 the Lord, resolving with divine help and assistance to endeavor 
 our part in the method of a good and religious education that 
 they may be the Lord's ; that we will endeavor to give them 
 seasonable and suitable instructions in the duties both of piety 
 and charity, and enforce the same by our own good example, 
 counsels, admonitions and suitable corrections ; — and all this we 
 endeavor to do, flying to the Blood of the everlasting Covenant 
 for the free pardon of all our sins, praying that the gracious 
 Head of the Church, who is the great Shepherd of the sheep, 
 would prepare us for, and strengthen us unto every good word 
 and work, working in us that which is well pleasing in his sight, 
 through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory, honor, and thanksgiv- 
 ing forever and ever. Amen. 
 
 Salmon White, Simeon Wait, John Wait, Richard Chauncey, 
 Nathan Graves, David Scott, Thomas Crafts, Daniel Morton, 
 Israel Graves, Benjamin Smith, Philip Smith, Elisha Frary, 
 Joshua Belding, John Wait, Jr., David Graves, Jr., Elisha Bel- 
 ding, Oliver Graves. 
 
 Besides the above who subscribed to the Covenant, the fol- 
 lowing persons consented to it at the same time, and were em- 
 bodied into a Church state with those who subscribed ; viz. 
 Elizabeth Bardwell, Elizabeth Belding, Submit Scott, Abagail 
 Smith, Martha Wait, Eunice Graves, Mary White, Ruth Bel- 
 ding, Mary Wait, Abagail Crafts, Lydia Stiles, Ruth Stiles, 
 George Prutt, Sarah Smith, Sarah Smith, Jun., Abagail Graves, 
 Jemima Scott, Abagail Scott, Anna Belding, Sarah Wells, Elea- 
 nor Morton, Miriam Frary, Elizabeth Chauncey, Abagail Smith. 
 
 Mr. Wells having given an answer accepting the call to settle 
 in the Ministry, the Town (no record is made of any Church 
 action in the case) proceeded to make the necessary preparation 
 for his ordination. The Churches invited to compose the Coun- 
 cil, and assist in the ordination were 13 in number, as follows: 
 Hatfield, Northampton, Hadley, Amherst, Sunderland, Monta- 
 
12 
 
 gue, Northfield, Bernardston, Greenfield, Deerfield, Conway, 
 Ashfield, and Charlemont. 
 
 Salmon White was agreed with, to provide for and entertain 
 the Council. 
 
 The Council met, and Mr. Wells was "set apart to the work 
 of the Ministry, being made an overseer of the Church or Flock 
 of Christ in Whately, by the laying on of the hands of the 
 Presbytery," Sept. 25, 1771. The services were held under 
 the shade of two large oaks, standing on the west side of the 
 highway, just south of the dwelling house of Dr. Myron Har- 
 wood. A stage was built for the Ministers, and the people 
 were gathered in front on temporary seats. The exercises were 
 performed by the following persons, in the following order ; 
 Rev. Judah Nash of Montague made the first prayer ; Rev. 
 Jona. Ashley of Deerfield preached the Sermon from 1 Tim. 
 4:6; Rev. Joseph Ashley of Sunderland made the ordaining 
 prayer ; Rev. David Parsons of Amherst gave the charge ; 
 Rev. Samuel Hopkins of Hadley gave the right hand of fellow- 
 ship ; and Rev. John Hubbard of Northfield made the conclud- 
 ing prayer. 
 
 Such minuteness of detail seems necessary, to furnish an in- 
 telligible and characteristic picture of those early times. These 
 acts, and votes, and method of procedure, and style of expres- 
 sion show us both the persons who acted, and their circumstan- 
 ces ; and while they indicate the individual habits and tastes 
 then common, of themselves they give a clear exposition of the 
 opinions then prevalent on Ecclesiastical matters, as well as the 
 doctrinal belief of the Church. 
 
 They show also the simplicity which characterized the organ- 
 ization of a church in those days. No precept was needed to 
 issue from any Hierarch ; but the people voluntarily assembled 
 in their associate capacity, and with the counsel and assistance 
 of neighboring Ministers, also acting voluntarily, make their 
 penitent confessions, declare publicly their belief in the leading 
 doctrines of the Gospel, and enter into Covenant for mutual 
 edification and discipline — " for the free and constant enjoyment 
 of God's worship and ordinances." Such was the Congrega- 
 tionalism of our fathers' time. 
 
13 
 
 The original number who subscribed and assented to the 
 Covenant of the Church was 41. The number of persons ad- 
 mitted to the Church during Rev. Rufus Wells' pastorate, that 
 is, up to 1822, was 374. — Within this period, (in 1788) a col- 
 ony comprising about 25 church members, withdrew from the 
 communion of this church, and professed Anti-pedobaptist sen- 
 timents. (Ch. Rec.) These 25, with about 40 others were 
 embodied in a church state by themselves ; which was the com- 
 mencement of the Baptist Church in the west part of the town.* 
 
 The number received to the Church from 1822 to 1845 in- 
 clusive, was 257. Within the last period, (in 1842-3) about 
 75 members withdrew from this Church, and were formed into 
 the Second Congregational Church.-f The total number of 
 members received to Church fellowship from 1771 to 1845, was 
 672. The number of members Jan. 1, 1845, was 136. 
 
 It is in place here to note the fact, that this Church since its 
 organization, has been blessed with five seasons of special reli- 
 gious revival ; in 1816, 1826, 1834, 1838, and 1842. Those 
 of 1816 and 1826 were the most extensive. The whole num- 
 ber received to the Church as the direct fruits of these five Re- 
 vivals was about 250. 
 
 These statistics include only such as were admitted to the 
 full communion of the Church. A custom prevailed for some 
 years in this church, as in other Congregational Churches of 
 New England at that period, of receiving persons of good ex- 
 ternal morality to " covenant privileges," as it was termed. In- 
 dividuals of ordinary standing in society, who would acknowl- 
 edge a belief in the doctrines of the Gospel as set forth in the 
 Confession of Faith, and would assent, in part, to the Covenant, 
 were received by vote as members, in a limited sense, of the 
 church. They were regarded as proper subjects of discipline, 
 and might bring complaints against members in full communion ; 
 
 *The Baptist Church was constituted May 5, 1789. The regularly ordain- 
 ed Pastors have been, Rev. Asa Todd of Westfield, Ordained Sept. 9, 1789 ; 
 Rev. Stephen Barker of Heath, Installed 1807 ; Rev. John R. Goodnough, Or- 
 dained Aug. 26, 1823 ; Rev. Lorenzo Rice, Ordained Feb 8, 1837. 
 
 \ Organized Nov. 10, 1842. Rev. Jonathan S. Judd of Westhampton, Pas- 
 tor ; Born Feb. 4, 1816; Grad. Williams College, 1839; Studied Divinity at 
 E. Windsor ; Ordained Oct. 12, 1843. Number of Members, Jan 1, 1848, 105. 
 
14 
 
 ihey had the privilege of Baptism for themselves and families ; 
 but were debarred from the communion of the Lord's Supper. 
 
 This was not in accordance with the original Church Plat- 
 form of New England. The first Puritans were stern opposers 
 of this practice as it had existed in the mother country. They 
 believed, that when a man is " born again," a change is wrought 
 in him, of which it is possible for him and others to find evi- 
 dence. They held that the regenerate differ from the unregen- 
 erate by the possession of some substantial good qualities, which 
 must show themselves in thought and action. With such views 
 of Christian character, and regarding as they did, the church as 
 Christ's flock — " a peculiar people," it was natural that they 
 should admit none to their Communion, except those who might, 
 " in charitable discretion," be considered regenerate persons. 
 
 But in time laxer notions began to prevail. Partly from the 
 practice of requiring church-membership as a qualification for 
 civil office ; and partly through the influence of emigrants be- 
 longing to the Established Church, the New England churches 
 gradually receded from their original standard. The Synod of 
 1662 decided, that persons baptized in infancy, "understanding 
 the doctrine of faith, and publicly professing their assent there- 
 unto ; not scandalous in life, and solemnly owning the covenant 
 before the church, wherein they give up themselves and their 
 children to the Lord, and subject themselves to the government 
 of Christ in the church — their children are to be baptized ;" 
 though the parent thus owning the covenant was avowedly yet 
 unregenerate, and as such was excluded from the Lord's Supper. 
 Taking advantage of the sanction of this Synod, the practice 
 was immediately adopted in many churches ; and after pro- 
 tracted and violent controversy, became general.* 
 
 This method of admission to " church privileges," sometimes 
 called the " half way covenant," appears to have obtained in 
 this church from its first organization ; though no formal expres- 
 sion of belief on the subject is recorded till 1778. The follow- 
 ing votes were evidently intended as a declaration of the senti- 
 ments of the church on this matter. 
 
 "Tracy's Great Awakening. 
 
15 
 
 At a meeting of the church of Christ in Whately, Jan'y ye 
 7, 177S, the meeting being opened with prayer, the church 
 passed the following votes. 
 
 1. Voted, That infants are introduced into covenant by 
 Baptism. 
 
 N. B. For the understanding the above vote, let it be ob- 
 served, that though infants of believing parents are born into 
 covenant, yet it is by baptism that they are declared to be within 
 the church, and entitled to the visible privileges of it. Persons 
 may be virtually in covenant by their own, or their parent's 
 faith ; but they are not visibly and professedly in covenant or 
 in the church, till they have passed under the appointed seal or 
 visible mark of discipleship, which under the second Dispensa- 
 tion is Baptism. 
 
 By Infants being introduced into covenant by Baptism, may 
 be understood, that they have the visible mark of Christ's family 
 upon them, and are visibly and professedly subjects of the 
 household of faith ; and are to be treated as members of Christ's 
 church, that are declared members, and have a right to the 
 visible privileges of it. 
 
 2. Voted, That all baptized persons at a suitable age are 
 proper subjects of church Discipline. 
 
 3. Voted, That such persons as come to full communion with 
 the church, shall be of competent knowledge, in the opinion of 
 the Pastor ; that they publicly profess their faith, and consent 
 to the church Covenant. 
 
 These votes (in spite of their verbal redundancy) appear to 
 contain what was considered a definition of the import of Bap- 
 tism ; and a statement of the distinction between those who 
 were entitled to " church privileges," and those who might 
 " come to full communion." Baptism was not regarded as a 
 converting ordinance, but as an important means of grace ; so 
 important that all should desire to avail themselves of its advan- 
 tages. In some sense, and by some virtue, it brought the sub- 
 ject " into covenant." Those baptized in infancy, it would 
 appear, were thus considered as introduced to the church, and 
 at a suitable age were to be " entitled to the visible privileges" 
 of it, and to become the subjects of church discipline, — though 
 
16 
 
 practically, a formal vote was taken on their admission, as in 
 the case of others. Only persons of competent knowledge, who 
 should make public profession of faith, and consent to the 
 church covenant, might be received to full communion. If the 
 word " knowledge" was used in its scriptural sense, (1 Tim. 
 2 : 4) the standard of admission to full membership was nomin- 
 ally in accordance with the faith of the Pilgrim fathers. But 
 probably it was given a much broader signification. 
 
 This practice of baptism under the half way covenant con- 
 tinued to prevail in this church for 45 years. As was natural, 
 most heads of families became connected with the church. The 
 circumstances of its abolition may be learned by the following 
 extract from the Church Records. At a meeting of the Cong. 
 Church of Christ in Whately, March 18, 1816, duly notified 
 and warned by the desire of Brother Joel Wait, the meeting 
 being opened with prayer by the moderator, Brother Joel Wait 
 stated that it was matter of grief and offence to him, that this 
 church admitted persons to the privilege of baptism for their 
 children upon professing their belief of the doctrines of the 
 Gospel, and consenting in part to the church covenant, and yet 
 neglected to attend upon the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper — 
 when he conceived that this practice was not countenanced by 
 the word of God. 
 
 The brethren having conversed upon the subject, the follow- 
 ing questions were put to the church, viz. 
 
 1. Is it scriptural to admit persons to the privilege of baptism 
 for their children, upon professing their belief of the doctrines 
 of the Gospel, and consenting to the church covenant in part, 
 and yet neglect to attend upon the Sacrament of the Lord's 
 Supper ? And it passed in the negative. 
 
 2. Shall the practice of so admitting persons to the privilege 
 of baptism for their children, be abolished and set aside in this 
 church ? And it passed unanimously in the affirmative. The 
 meeting was then closed with prayer by the Pastor, and dissolved. 
 
 Attest, Rufus Wells, Pastor. 
 
 Thus did the church voluntarily free herself from a custom of 
 dangerous tendency, and become in practice, what her Creed and 
 Covenant had always been in doctrine, a church of the Puritans. 
 
It is worthy of note, that the next entry on the church Rec- 
 ords, acknowledges " the grace of God in causing a stirring and 
 a shaking among the dry bones," which as we have seen, result- 
 ed in an extensive Revival, and the ingathering of about 70 to 
 the church. 
 
 Thus had passed 45 years of our church existence. It had 
 been a period, in the nation at large, of political Revolution ; of 
 difficulties, doubts and darkness, and some bright points. So- 
 ciety had been, once wholly, and a second time partially, bro- 
 ken up, and remodeled. One generation was passed away, and 
 another had come. The church necessarily felt the power of 
 many of these changes, and social re-formations. With us, the 
 children had taken the place of their fathers ; and the children's 
 children were crowding their way upon the stage. And though 
 in some parts of our State, religious opinions and doctrinal be- 
 lief had greatly changed, and evidently for the worse ; yet the 
 change in these respects among ourselves was a decided im- 
 provement. 
 
 The first pastor of the church, Rev. Rufus Wells,* still re- 
 mained at his post, though he had once been temporarily laid 
 •aside from active labor by sickness. He continued to discharge 
 in full the duties of Pastor till 1822, a period of 50 years, when 
 the infirmities of age, then apparently about to break down his 
 constitution, induced him and the people to seek a Colleague. 
 At the same time he consented to a reduction of 100 dollars 
 from his yearly salary. After this date, however, he recovered 
 in a measure his strength, and would occasionally exercise the 
 functions of his office, till near the time of his death. His last 
 (recorded) public act, was the marriage of his grand daughter 
 Miss Sarah Wells to Mr. Silas Rice, Nov. 8, 1831. The entry 
 of this in the Church Record in his own hand, now tremulous 
 and uncertain, forms a striking contrast to the plain, bold pen- 
 manship of his early prime. He died Nov. 8, 1834, in the 92d 
 year of his age. The Sermon at his funeral was preached by 
 
 ^Graduated at Harvard College, 1764. Licensed by Hamp. Association, 
 Nov. 1769. Married, 1st, Sarah Porter of Ashfield, Dec. 16, 1776 ; 2d, Mrs. 
 Temperance Shepherd, (Miss Gale) of Sharon, Ct. Jan. 14, 1802. 
 
 3 
 
18 
 
 Rev. Nathan Perkins of Amherst, who was then the oldest sur- 
 vivor of Mr. Wells' particular associates. 
 
 It would be foreign to my purpose to give an extended analy- 
 sis of the character of Rev. Mr. Wells. Let it suffice to say, 
 that as a preacher, he held a respectable rank among his co- 
 temporaries ; as a pastor, he was pre-eminently a peace-maker ; 
 as a man, he was very affable, and of good social qualities. He 
 made no enemies, and was kind and faithful to his friends. 
 
 In the course of his ministry, Mr. Wells married 305 couples ; 
 and administered baptism to 956 persons. He wrote about 3000 
 sermons ; a few of which were printed. His last sermon, writ- 
 ten probably with no idea that it would be the last, was on Heb. 
 4, 9 : " There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God." 
 
 But to return to the thread of our narrative. At a town 
 meeting held Dec. 21, 1821, Capt. Salmon Graves moderator, 
 it was voted, to give Mr. Lemuel P. Bates* (of Southampton) 
 a call to settle in the Gospel Ministry as colleague pastor with 
 the Rev. Rufus Wells. Voted, to give Mr. Bates 350 dollars 
 salary per year, during Rev. Mr. Wells' natural life ; and 450 
 dollars per year during his ministry with us after the decease of 
 Mr. Wells. 
 
 Voted, To give Mr. Bates 500 dollars Settlement, to be paid 
 in three annual installments ; and if he leave us before the three 
 years are expired, he draws only in proportion to the time he 
 preaches with us. 
 
 Voted, That Mr. Bates have the privilege of being dismissed, 
 by giving the Town one year's notice ; and the Town have the 
 privilege of dismissing Mr. Bates by giving him one year's no- 
 tice ; provided either party holds that mind during the year. 
 This last vote was the occasion of some distrust on the part of 
 the ordaining Council. Dr. Lyman of Hatfield warmly protest- 
 ed against the conditions therein implied ; and it was not till the 
 parties concerned declared it as their understanding, " that Mr. 
 Bates could not be dismissed without the advice of an Ecclesi- 
 astical Council," that the council consented to proceed to the 
 examination of the candidate. 
 
 "Graduated at Williams College, 1818 ; Studied Theology at Princeton 
 
19 
 
 Mr. Bates was ordained Feb. 13, 1822. The order of exer- 
 cises was as follows : Introductory prayer, by Rev. James Tay- 
 lor of Sunderland ; Sermon by Rev. Zephaniah Swift Moore, 
 D. D. President of Amherst College ; Consecrating prayer, by 
 Rev. Dr. Lyman of Hatfield ; Charge to the pastor by Rev. 
 John Emerson of Conway ; Right hand of fellowship by Rev. 
 Wm. B. Sprague of West Springfield ; Charge to the people by 
 Rev. Henry Lord of Williamsburg ; concluding prayer by Rev. 
 Vinson Gould of Southampton. 
 
 It is a facts omewhat remarkable, that one of the above Coun- 
 cil, Rev. John Emerson of Conway, was a member of the 
 Council which ordained Rev. Mr. Wells, the first pastor of the 
 church, 50 years before. 
 
 By the terms of his settlement, Mr. Bates could claim but 
 350 dollars annual salary ; the senior pastor still living. But 
 in 1828, '29, and '32, the Parish (which was organized sepa- 
 rate from the Town, April 30, 1828) granted him 100 dollars 
 additional. He held the office of pastor for the term of ten 
 years ; was dismissed Oct. 17, 1832. 
 
 After the dismission of Rev. L. P. Bates, the church remained 
 destitute of a pastor for four years ; though the pulpit was reg- 
 ularly supplied the while, by various ministers and candidates. 
 
 The third Pastor was Rev. John Ferguson, of Dunns, Scot- 
 land ; previously settled in Attleboro'. The terms of his settle- 
 ment were 500 dollars annual salary ; with the condition, " that 
 the existing connexion may be dissolved at the pleasure of eith- 
 er party, by an Ecclesiastical Council." He was installed March 
 16, 1836 ; was dismissed June 17, 1840. 
 
 The church now continued without a settled Ministry five 
 years. The fourth, and present pastor, Rev. J. Howard Tem- 
 ple, was ordained Sept. 30, 1845. 
 
 Deacons. The persons who have held the office of Deacon 
 in this church since its organization, are the following: Nathan 
 Graves, elected Oct. 16, 1771, (Oliver Graves was chosen at 
 the same time, but declined serving.) Salmon White, elected 
 April 16, 1773. Thomas Sanderson, elected June 14, 1786. 
 Levi Moreton, elected Dec. 17, 1800, John White and Elcazar 
 
20 
 
 Frary, elected March 22, 1810, (though there is no record of 
 Mr. Frary's acceptance.) James Smith and Justus White, 
 elected July 1, 1821. David Sanders, elected May 12, 1836. 
 Reuben H. Belden and Elial A. Dickinson, elected February 
 27, 1843. 
 
 The Meeting House. At the time of the organization of the 
 church, and settlement of Rev. Mr. Wells, no Meeting House 
 had been built. The people first met for religious worship in 
 the dwelling house of Oliver Morton. The meetings were held 
 here for perhaps two years. Dec. 2, 1771, the Town voted. 
 To allow Oliver Morton three pounds for his house to meet in for 
 the term of one year. March 6, 1774, voted To pay Mr. Mor- 
 ton one pound ten shillings for the use of his house six months. 
 Meetings for Public Worship were also held for a time, perhaps 
 a year, at the house of Rev. Mr. Wells ; the town, as compen- 
 sation, agreeing to assist him in finishing his house. 
 
 December 2, 1771, a vote was passed, To make provision for 
 a Meeting House. A committee, consisting of David Scott, 
 Thomas Crafts, Joseph Belding, Jr. Noah Rardwell, and David 
 Graves, Jr. was appointed at the same time, to carry out the 
 above vote. At a meeting a few weeks later, the town instruct- 
 ed the above committee to provide four thousand feet of pine 
 boards, clapboards, window frames and sash, and timber suf- 
 ficient for said meeting house. The timber was cut wherever it 
 could be easiest procured. The boards and joist were sawed at 
 the mill of Adonijah Taylor, where Silas Sanderson's mills are 
 now located.* 
 
 The next spring (March 30, 1772) the town voted, To pro- 
 vide shingles this present year for the meeting house. These 
 were purchased at about ten shillings per thousand. In the fall 
 of this year (Oct. 5, 1772) it was voted, That the meeting house 
 be set up next spring. It was also voted at the same time, That 
 the meeting house be placed in the " Chestnut plain street " (so 
 
 * A. T. built a. Grist and Saw Mill here, which were the first mills erected 
 in Whately. The Saw mill stood whore the present mills are ; the grist mill 
 was some distance below. Afterwards, a grist mill was built some distance 
 abovp the present saw mill. 
 
21 
 
 called,) at the most convenient place between the dwelling- 
 house of Oliver Morton, and that of Rufus Wells, V. D. M. in 
 Whately. Salmon White, Edward Brown, Oliver Graves, Joseph 
 Belding, Jr. and David Scott, were chosen Building Committee. 
 The spot they selected was where the present meeting house of 
 1st Parish stands. At the same meeting it was voted to raise 
 eighty pounds to build said meeting house, the money to be 
 levied by tax on the ratable polls and property of the inhabi- 
 tants. 
 
 At a town meeting held a few months later, it was voted, To 
 build one porch to the meeting house ; though the vote was- 
 never carried into effect. 
 
 During the winter of 1772-3, the timber and materials were 
 collected, and at a meeting held May 10, 1773, the town 
 granted additional money, and voted that David Scott be master- 
 workman to frame the house. The building was framed by what 
 was called the " try rule," or the rule of six, eight and ten ; i. e. 
 the sills, posts and beams were framed and tried, and the braces 
 were laid on to mark their bevels and length. (Master Scott's 
 prime precept was, " Make great mortises and little tenons, and 
 your work will go together charming easy /") In the course of 
 the two following months, the house was framed, raised, and 
 partially covered. At a town meeting held July 8, 1773, it 
 was voted, To raise forty pounds to go on and finish the meeting, 
 house. The " finish " then put on, however, was not of the 
 highest order, as will be seen in the particular description which 
 follows : — On the outside, the roof was well shingled, though 
 it had no steeple or tower ; the sides and ends were covered 
 with rough boards, chamfered together. The windows in the 
 lower story were pretty fully glazed ; those in the upper story 
 were boarded up. There were three doors to the house, one 
 each on the north, east, and south sides — that on the east side 
 being reckoned the front door. These were made of rough 
 boards, and not very tightly fitted. Thus uniform was the cov- 
 ering upon the outside. The inside had no " finish " at all, ex- 
 cept a ground floor. The sides were destitute of both plaster- 
 ing and laths, and the frame work of the galleries, the beams. 
 
22 
 
 girths and rafters were all naked. A rough board Pulpit, raised 
 a few feet, was placed in the centre of the west side. Directly 
 in front of the pulpit, a carpenter's work bench was left. The 
 seat which was placed before this bench was claimed by the old 
 ladies, that they might hear better, and have a support for the 
 back. The seats were nothing more than low slab forms ; these 
 were arranged without much regard to order, and were free to 
 all. After some years, Mr. Wells nailed up a couple of boards, 
 on the left of the pulpit, for the better accommodation of his 
 wife ; and a sort of pew, or bench with a back fixed to it, was 
 fitted up by a few of the young men, on the east side, near the 
 door, capable of seating 6 or 8 persons. 
 
 The house remained in this state, 24 or 25 years. During 
 this time, it was hardly more respectable in appearance or more 
 comfortable, than an ordinary single boarded barn. In winter, 
 drifting snows found easy entrance ; and in summer, the Swal- 
 lows, in great numbers, were accustomed to fly in, and build 
 their mud nests on the plates and rafters. On the Sabbath, 
 these social little intruders, twittering as merrily as ever, seemed 
 entirely regardless of the people below ; plainly having it for 
 their maxim, to mind their oivn business, however much the 
 minds and eyes of those below might be attracted to themselves. 
 It is said that during the few months of their annual stay, Mr. 
 Wells seldom or never exchanged with his brethren of other 
 towns — giving as a reason, that he feared the swallows, to which 
 habit had familiarized him, would be too great an annoyance to 
 strangers. He could say with the Psalmist, " The sparrow hath 
 found a house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may 
 Hay her young, even thine altars, O Lord of Hosts." 
 
 There were two reasons which prevented the further comple- 
 tion of the meeting house. The first was, the war of the Rev- 
 olution, which broke out soon after the town was incorporated. 
 This for some years absorbed the chief attention of the com- 
 munity, and the taxes levied to support it drained the people of 
 money. The other reason was, a division of sentiment about 
 the location of the house. A part demanded that it should be 
 moved half a mile to the south west, to a spot south of " Spruce 
 
23 
 
 Hill," (in the lot now owned by Rev. John Ferguson ;) and a 
 majority insisted that it should remain on the old spot. Many 
 votes were passed, and afterwards reconsidered. Many expedi- 
 ents were devised by both parties. Numerous committees, both 
 of the town's people, and of disinterested men from abroad, 
 were appointed on this question, with various results. At the 
 town meeting in March, 1788, a vote was passed, and insisted 
 on, To raise 70 pounds to repair the meeting house. This led 
 to the drawing up of the following " Protest," which was pre- 
 sented to the town at a meeting in April : — " We the subscrib- 
 ers, the people of the westerly part of the town of Whately, 
 whose names are under written, do enter a protest to this meet- 
 ing, April 10, 1788, against the proceedings of the other parts 
 of the town, that is, in finishing up the meeting house in the 
 place where it now stands. For we have been to the cost of 
 having a committee, to determine where the just spot for the 
 meeting house to stand is, who determined in the centre of the 
 town ; and there we are willing to finish it up, and no where 
 else." (Signed by 17 voters.) 
 
 This Protest not being heeded, the signers and others with- 
 drew, and formed a new Society. They afterwards erected a 
 meeting house, on the " Poplar Hill road," (so called.) This 
 as before stated, was the origin of the 1st Baptist Society of 
 Whately. 
 
 Although the town voted, at this date, to raise money to re- 
 pair the meeting house, it does not appear that any funds were 
 actually expended for this purpose till 1797. The 70 pounds 
 was paid to Mr. Wells for arrearages of his salary.* Various 
 monies were raised, in different years, for repairs ; and then oth- 
 erwise expended. 
 
 Dec. 5, 1796, the town voted, To raise 300 pounds for re- 
 pairing the meeting house, and appointed a committee to carry 
 out the vote. In January following, 20 pounds additional was 
 granted ; and in the spring the work was commenced. In the 
 
 * So scrupulous were the people of those days to pay their minister, that in 
 one year, the town voted to take the money which had been raised for School- 
 ing, and apply it to make up a deficiency in Mr. Wells' salary. 
 
24 
 
 course of the year, (1797,) the house was thoroughly repaired. 
 The outside was clapboarded, and painted ; the vacant windows 
 of the upper story, which had afforded access to the Swallows 
 for so many years, were glazed ; and paneled doors were put 
 in. The inside was also " finished ;" galleries were put up, and 
 pews built. The pews were square, enclosed with paneled 
 work, according to the fashion of the times. The Pulpit, situa- 
 ted as before, was a plain structure, very high, square corners, 
 and projecting centre, with a hexagonal sounding board suspen- 
 ded above. 
 
 No formal consecration of the house appears to have been 
 made, at its first opening in 1773. But now that it had been 
 made more seemly, a day was specially set apart, and it was 
 solemnly dedicated to God. 
 
 At the town meeting held Dec. 4, 1797, it was voted " not 
 to sell the pews ;" and instead, a committee of nine persons 
 was chosen, " to seat the meeting house," i. e. to assign to each 
 family the particular pew they were to occupy for a year, or 
 longer, as the case might be. The principle of " seating," at 
 first adopted, is not known. The practice prevailed in some 
 years, of seating by age, and sometimes by properly. At a town 
 meeting, held May 19, 1800, it was voted, " That in seating 
 people, one year in the age of a person, shall be reckoned equal 
 to one dollar on the list." This custom, which prevailed for up- 
 wards of 20 years, was the occasion of much strife, and many 
 lealousies and heartburnings. Individuals and families disliking 
 their seat-mates, would sometimes absent themselves entirely 
 from meeting ; and in one instance, an individual made an ap- 
 peal to the town at a regular meeting of the inhabitants ; and a 
 vote was passed, assigning him a given pew. The pews and in- 
 ternal fixtures erected at this time, remained in the same state 
 and fashion, till 1843. 
 
 In the spring of 1819, the town voted to sell the pews in the 
 meeting house ; and in this and the following years, a large num- 
 ber of them was sold. Of the avails of this sale of pews, a 
 steeple was built upon the south end of the house, and a bell 
 purchased. This was done in 1821-2. The people now for the 
 
25 
 
 first time, heard the sound of the " church going bell." In the 
 early days of the town, perhaps till 1798, it was customary to 
 call the people together on the Sabbath, by blowing a Conch.* 
 It was blown once, an hour before the time of service ; and 
 again as the minister was approaching the house. From 1798 
 to 1822, no public signal was given ; the people assembling at 
 their pleasure. 
 
 In 1843, the meeting house was entirely re-modeled — though 
 the original frame erected by Master Scott in 1773, being found 
 perfectly sound, was left unaltered. 
 
 Such is a brief history of our Church and House of worship. 
 On some points of interest, the information now to be obtained is 
 much too scanty ; what we know only excites the desire to find 
 out more. And in this narrative, many things known, have been 
 omitted from design, as being of too personal a character, or of 
 importance only in their day. Enough however has been recor- 
 ded, I think, to make us sensible, that, in contrast with the times 
 of our fathers, " the lines are fallen unto us in pleasant places ; 
 yea, we have a goodly heritage." We see much in their char- 
 acters and acts to admire, and some things to disapprove. But 
 if our fathers have erred, rather than to reproach them, let us 
 do better ourselves. And in view of past and present mercies, 
 let us " bless the Lord," and fully choose Him as " the portion 
 of our inheritance." 
 
 "The identical shell is now in possession of Calvin Wells. 
 
A P P E N « I X. 
 
 ORIGINAL SETTLERS OF WHATELY : 
 With brief Notices of their Family History. 
 
 Ebenezer Bardwell. In 1752 or 3, he built a house where is 
 now an orchard, southwest of Randall Graves' ; he sold out to 
 David Scott, and built the Gideon Dickinson house ; afterwards 
 
 lived on Staddle Hill. He m. Elizabeth ; had children, 
 
 Violet, b. Dec. 29, 1731 ; Ebenezer, b, June 24, 1733 ; Elizabeth, 
 b. Feb. 1734-5 ; Samuel ; Perez. He died Nov. J 4, 1789, aged 82. 
 
 Noah Bardwell, (son of Remembrance and Hannah,) b. April 
 20, 1748. He built at the corner of Roads west of S. W. School 
 house. He m. Lucy Wait, b. Nov. 12, 1749. Their children were, 
 Orange, b. Oct. 4, 1769; Alinda, b. March 11, 1771 ; Clarissa, b. 
 Jan. 26, 1773; Chester, b. Sept. 1, 1774; Charles, b. Sept. 27, 
 1776 ; Cotton, b Feb. 9, 1779 ; Noah, b. Feb. 4, 1781 ; Clarissa, 
 b. Dec. 23, 1782; Lucinda and Aminda, b. July 29, 17S4; Justin, 
 b. Nov. 2, 1786 ; Cotton, b. May 25, 1788 ; Justin, b. April 3, 
 1790 ; Spencer, b. Dec. 19, 1792 : Lucy, b. Jan. 30, 1795.. He d. 
 March 13, 1S28 ; his w. Lucy d. Sept. 11, 1S33. 
 
 Joseph Belding. He settled where Zebina Bartlett now lives. 
 
 His first wife was Esther ; their children were, Abagail, b. 
 
 Sept. 22, 1721 ; Sarah, b. Feb. 1, 1722-3; Paul, b. Nov. 17, 1724. 
 His second w. was Margaret Gillctt, (m. July 13, 1727:) their chil- 
 children were, Margaret, b. May 11, 1732; Abagail, b. Feb. 13, 
 1733-4; Joseph, b. Oct. 31, 1735; Paul, b. Dec". 13, 1737. He 
 d. Oct. 1778, aged 83. His w. Esther d. Nov. 17, 1724 ; his w. 
 Margaret d. March 1785, aged 88. (It is a current tradition, that 
 this and the other families that originally settled in the " Straits," 
 were forced to abandon their houses for a time, through fear of the 
 Indians. Possibly their first attempt was made as early as 1740. 
 Possibly they did not take up a permanent residence there till 1752 
 or 3 ; i. e. till settlements began to be made in the central part of 
 the town.) 
 
 Joshua Belding, b. Oct. 29, 1733. About 1765 he settled on 
 the old Reuben Belding place. He in. Anna Fitch: had children, 
 Stephen, b. April 19, 1758; Anna, b. Feb. 15, 1760: Anna, b. 
 July 22, 1761 ; Lucy, b. Feb. 17, 1763; Lena, b. Oct. 18, 1764 ; 
 Joshua, b. June 17, 1766; Lena, b. Aug. 5, 1769; Stephen, b. 
 March 6, 1771 ; Augustus, b. Feb. 2S, 1773; Francis, b. Sept. 15, 
 1775; Reuben, b. Jan. 3, 1778; Seth, b. Feb. 12, 1780; Aaron, 
 
27 
 
 b. Jan. 22, 1782. He d. Sept. 20, 1805; his w. Anna d. Nov. 2, 
 1819, aged 80. (The father of Joshua was Joshua, who m. Sarah 
 Field, i)ec. 1, 1725. Their children were, Stephen, b. Sept. 26, 
 1726; Lucy, b. March 7, 1728-9; Joshua; Elisha; Jabez, b. April 
 10, 1738.) The present generation spell the name Belden. 
 
 Elisha Belding, (brother of Joshua,) b. March 28, 1736. Pre- 
 vious to 1771, he built a house near where Jehu P. Dickinson now 
 lives. He m. Ruth Dickinson ; had children, Elisha, b. March 23, 
 1765 ; Mary, b. Nov. 8, 1766 ; David, b. May 2, 1769 ; Sarah, b. 
 April 15, 1772 ; Mercy, b. Dec. 15, 1774 ; Dickinson, b. Sept. 2, 
 1777 ; Dickinson, b. June 15, 1778. He d. Aug. 2, 1808 ; his w. 
 Ruth d. July 12, 1825, aged 84. 
 
 Edward Brown, was from Colchester, Ct. ; built a house north 
 of Dea. Daniel Brown's. He and his sons owned lands in the 
 westerly part of the town, extending one mileN. and S. Wife, Han- 
 nah -, children, William, b. 1742 ; Hannah, b. 1744 ; Josiah, b. 1745 ; 
 John, b. 1747 ; Mary, b. 174S ; Isaiah, b. 1750 ; Anne, b. 1751 ; 
 Abijah, b. 1753 ; Charity, b. 1754. He d. June 2, 1803, aged 87 ; 
 his w. Hannah d. Oct. 12, 1811, aged 89. 
 
 Richard Chauncey. Lived with Jonathan Smith. He d. Dec. 
 31, 1790, aged 82 ; his w. Elizabeth d. May 22, 1790, aged 82. 
 
 Nathaniel Coleman. He settled on the place now owned by 
 by Benj. Dane. He m. Anna, d. of Benoni Dickinson ; had child- 
 ren, Ruth ; Benoni Dickinson, b. Nov. 14, 1775 ; Ruth, b. Feb. 
 24, 1778 ; Mehitable, b. Nov. 14, 1780 ; Anna, b. May 12, 1783. 
 He d. Sept. 14, 1816, aged 73. 
 
 Thomas Crafts, (son of John and Martha Crafts.) In 1752 
 or 3, he built where Dexter Crafts now lives. He m. Sarah Graves ; 
 their children were, John, b. Jan. 7, 1743; Joseph, b. Nov. 4, 1745; 
 Martha, b. May 27, 1747 : Moses, b. May 7, 1749 ; Sarah, b. July 
 16, 1751 ; Miriam, b. Dec. 10, 1753 ; Rhoda, b. Feb. 14, 1756 ; 
 Graves, b. Oct. 26, 1759 ; Seth, b. Oct. 21, 1762. He d. Feb. 4, 
 1803, aged 85 ; his w. Sarah d. Jan. 18, 1803, aged 85. 
 
 Benoni Crafts, (br. of Thomas,) b. Nov. 17, 1725. He built 
 where Asa Crafts now lives. He m. t Abagail Graves; had children, 
 Reuben, b. March 25, 1759 ; Jerusha, b. March 16, 1762 ; Asa, b. 
 May 6, 1765 ; (still living, 1849,) Elizabeth ; Abagail. He d. April 
 24, 1812 ; his w. Abagail d. March 25, 1774, aged 42. 
 
 Gaius Crafts, (br. of above,) b. Dec. 22, 1727. He built a 
 house a little distance northwest from Benoni, which he sold to 
 Israel Graves. Unmarried. 
 
 Joel Dickinson. In 1752 he settled where Calvin Wells now 
 lives. His house was " picketed," and used as a jort for the three 
 families which settled that year in the central part of the town. 
 Probably the women and children of these families dwelt here for 
 the first year or two, and all lodged here at night. Probably all 
 
2b 
 
 their cattie were kept here ; and tradition says, that while the women 
 were out milking, night and morning, a man with a gun would stand 
 guard. The Hatfield people did not deem it safe for them to re- 
 main here during the first winter, and the Selectmen came out and 
 carried them back. They left their corn standing in the fields, and 
 during their absence the Bears destroyed much of it. 
 
 Had children, Elias ; Joel ; Nathaniel ; Reuben ; Mabel ; Ra- 
 chel ; Betsey. He with his family moved to Conway. 
 
 Moses Dickinson. He built a Dairy house in the orchard W. 
 of Oliver Dickinson's. Perhaps he died before the family was per- 
 manently located in the limits of Whately. Wife, Anna ; children, 
 Samuel, b. March 9, 1749; Rebekah ; Miriam; Irena ; Anna; 
 Martha. His w. Anna d. March 7, 1804, aged 92. (The father of 
 Moses was Samuel ; d. about 1738. Children, Benoni ; Moses ; 
 Anna ; Martha.) 
 
 Elisha Frary. In Jan. 1770, he built a house in an orchard 
 north of Wid. Betsey Smith's. He m. Miriam Warner ; they had 
 
 children, Elisha, b. Jan. 1762 ; Isaac, b. Aug. 22, 1763': , 
 
 died; Elihu, b. Jan. 7, 1766; Festus, b. Sept. 1767; Miriam, b. 
 March, 1770 ; Justus, b. Oct. 1771 ; Lydia, b. Sept. 1773 ; Philo- 
 thete, b. April, 1775; Dickinson, b. 1777; Jesse, b. Sept. 1780; 
 Hannah, b. 1782 ; Mary, b. 1784. In 1798, he moved to Sharon, 
 N. Y.; d. July 8, 1801. 
 
 Nathan Graves, (Deacon.) He settled on Chestnut mountain, 
 
 where Wid. Reuben Graves now lives. He m. Leonard ; 
 
 had children, Amasa, b. June 26, 1743 ; John, b. June 3, 1746 ; 
 Lydia, b. June 26, 1748; Elihu, b. May 16, 1750; Jemima, b. Feb. 
 19, 1752; Nathan, b. July 19, 1754; Asa, b. Sept. 22, 1758; 
 Reuben, b. March 16, 1760; Leonard, (daughter,) b. March 25, 
 1763; Daniel, b. Sept. 26, 1769. He d. April 2, 1786, aged 70. 
 His w. Leonard d. June 7, 1784, aged 58. 
 
 Oliver Graves. In 1761, he built a house where Jerry Graves 
 now lives. He m. Rebekah Smith; had children, Selah, b. May 
 24, 1755; Rebekah, b. Oct. 19, 1756; Ruth, b. Nov. 4, 175S: 
 Oliver, b. Feb. 9, 1761 : Martha, b. Jan. 19, 1763; Electa, b. Dec. 
 27, 1764; Salmon, b. March 24, 1767; Elijah, b. April 24, 1769; 
 Mercy, b. Aug. 27, 1771 ; Judith, b. Dec. 27, 1775. He d. Aug. 
 30, 1810, aged 84 ; his w. Rebekah d. Feb. 1826, aged 92. 
 
 Israel Graves, (br. of O.) He bought the house of Gaius 
 Crafts. He m. Eunice Wait ; had children, Mary, b. Avis.. 18, 1756 ; 
 Israel, b. Oct. 23, 1758 ; Joel, b. Aug. 16, 1760; Eunice. He d. 
 Sept. 8, 1773, aged 56 ; his w. Eunice d. Sept. 1, 1802, aged 82. 
 
 David Graves. He settled on what is known as the old " Stock- 
 bridge place." He in. Abagail Bardwell ; their children were, 
 Elijah, b. July 18, 1720; Simeon, b. April 18, 1722; Matthew; 
 Martin; Abagail; Martha, b. March 7, 1731; David, b. June 7, 
 1733; Esther; Anna; Hannah. He d. Aug. 25, 1781, aged 87; 
 his w. Abagail d. Oct. 31, 1786, aged b7. 
 
29 
 
 Daniel Morton, b. Dec. 23, 1720. In 1759, he built the house 
 now owned and occupied by his sou Consider. He kept tavern for 
 a number of years. His was the only public house in the region in 
 those days. People from the Cape and Vineyard, who were about 
 settling in Conway, made this their home. He m. first, Esther 
 
 , b. Dec. 16, 1723; their children were, Hannah, b. Sept. 7, 
 
 1744; Tabitha, b. July 1, 1746; Tabitha, b. Aug. 2, 1747; Sarah, 
 b. Dec. 14, 1749; Mercy, b. Nov. 2-5, 1751 ; Joel, b. Dec. 22, 1754 ; 
 Daniel, b. Feb. 12, 1756 ; Esther, b. Nov. 3, 1758; Justin, b. Sept. 
 25, 1760; Consider, b. Oct. 12, 1762. His w. Esther d. Oct. 27, 
 1762. He m. second, Eleanor Wait, Dec. 6, 1764; their children 
 were, Tirzah, b. Jan. 24, 1771 ; Roxa, b. July 26, 1774. He d. 
 June 20, 1786 ; his w. Eleanor d. April 1, 1816, aged 86. 
 
 Oliver Morton, b. in 1722. In 1761 or 62, he built the house 
 next south of the central burying ground. He m. first, Hannah 
 Gillett ; their children were, Samuel Gillet, b. Aug. 12, 1758; 
 Katharine, b. March 20, 1760 ; Hannah, b. March 12, 1762 ; Cla- 
 rissa, b. July 5, 1764; Lemuel, b. July 24, 1766; Sarah, b. Dec. 
 8, 1768. He m. second, Wid. Eleanor Pomeroy, (Lyman, b. Oct. 
 29, 1736;) their children were, Oliver, b. April 2, 1777; Stephen, 
 b.Feb.4, 1779. Hed. Sept. 16, 1789. His w. Eleanor d. Sept. 3, 1825. 
 
 Abraham Parker. He came from Groton ; settled in Canter- 
 bury, probably in 1749. He built a small log house, just N. of 
 where Capt. Asa Parker now lives. He was drowned in attempting 
 to cross the Connecticut River on the ice, March 12, 1757. He 
 m. Lois Blood (of Groton;) had children, Lois, b. July 8, 1750; 
 Abraham, b. May 31, 1752; Susanna, b. Feb. S, 1754 ; Eunice, b. 
 Jan. 22, 1756; Benjamin, b. Oct. 11, 1757. His w. Lois d. Sept. 
 27, 1814, aged 88. 
 
 Joseph Sanderson. He came from Groton ; settled in Canter- 
 bury, where Wid. Lucy Sanderson now lives, probably in 1752 or 3. 
 He m. Ruth Parker, (sister of Abraham;) their children were, 
 Ruth; Esther; (one of these m. a Dinsmore ; the other was unm.) 
 
 , who m. Jonathan SpafFord ; , who m. Harvey ; 
 
 Joseph; Thomas, b. March 16, 1746; Abraham, b. 1747; David ; (?) 
 James; John, b. March 11, 1754; Asa, b. April 11, 1756; Isaac, 
 b. Oct. 9, 1757, (the last three recorded in Hatfield.) He d. March 
 20, 1772, aged 58 ; his w. Ruth d. Dec. 8, 1780, aged 64. 
 
 David Scott, b. Aug. 17, 1717. In 1760, he bought the house 
 built by Lieut. Ebenezer Bardwell ; afterwards built where Randall 
 Graves now lives. He was the chief carpenter of his day, and uni- 
 formly went by the name of Master Scott. He was also a " mighty 
 hunter." And the abundance of Bears, Deer and Wolves, gave him 
 full scope to exercise his skill in this line. In his old age he was 
 extremely fond of relating his hunting exploits. 
 
 He m. first, Esther , b. Sept. 20, 1720; their children 
 
 were, Mercy, b. Oct. 25, 1741 ; Lydia, b. Jan. 16, 1743; Rhoda, 
 b. July 1, 1745; Lucy, b. May 5, 1746: David, b. Sept. 19, 1748: 
 
30 
 
 Abel, b. April 15, 1751 ; Selah, b. Nov. 19, 1753; Phineas, b. March 
 
 13, 1756; Lucy, b. July 14, 1758; Esther, b. July 20, 1761. His 
 w. Esther d. Sept. 20, 1761. He d. April 7, 1812. 
 
 Joseph Scott, (son of Joseph.) He first settled on the plain, 
 near the S. line of Whately, on " Mother George ;" afterwards in 
 the Straits. He m. Margaret Belding ; had children, Ebenezer, b. 
 April 22, 1750; Joel, b. Oct. 9, 1751 ; Peggy; Joseph; Gad; Lu- 
 cius; Abraham; Hepzibah; Isaac; Israel; Lydia Leonard ; Submit. 
 He d. June 4, 1776, aged 54. 
 
 Elisha Smith. He was one of the original settlers in the 
 Straits ; built where is the Gad Smith house. He m. Sarah Field ; 
 had children, Benjamin, b. Nov. 5, 1728; Philip, b. July 2, 17:50; 
 Abagail, b. July 2, 1732; Paul, b. June 21, 1734; Silas, b. Aug. 
 15, 1736; Sarah, b. Aug. 6, 1738; Elisha, b. Oct. 13, 1740; Jon- 
 athan, b. Aug. 18, 1742; Eleanor, b. Aug. 14, 1744; Mary, b. July 
 
 14, 1746; Gad, b. Jan. 23, 1749; Esther, b. Dec. 8, 1751. He d. 
 Nov. 17S4, aged 80; his w. Sarah d. Aug. 17, 1795, aged 8S. (He 
 and his wife were commonly known as " Goodman" and " Goody 
 Smith.") 
 
 Henry Stiles. He built a house southeast from Lyman Dick- 
 inson's, near where a walnut tree stands. He m. Ruth ; their 
 
 children were, Peggy ; Zilpah ; Lydia; Lewis; Esther. He d. April 
 20, 1810, aged 80 ; his w. Ruth d. July 5, 1812, aged 86. 
 
 Adonijah Taylor. He built a house and mills on the place 
 
 now owned by Silas Sanderson. He m. Rachel ; had 
 
 children, John ; Edmund; Solomon; Eliphalet ; Adonijah; Obed ; 
 Clement ; Theodore ; Mary ; Electa ; perhaps others. 
 
 Peter Train. In 1761, he built where Rufus Sanderson now 
 lives, (the original house was burnt.) He m. Sarah Cole; had 
 children, Oliver, b. Jan. 8, 1760; Judith, b. Nov. 20, 1761 ; Phebe, 
 b. Dec. 3, 1763; Lemuel; Selah, b. Dec. 29, 1766; Lois, b. Dec. 
 8, 1768; Sarah, b. Oct. 8, 1770; Lydia; Lydia; Content. He d. 
 Jan. 21, 1793, aged 68. 
 
 Abraham Turner. Lived near the Baptist Meeting House. 
 Wife, Thankful ; had children, Abraham ; Ezra ; and others. 
 
 Simeon Wait. He settled on what was then called " The 
 Island," where J. C. Loomis now lives. He owned 100 acres of 
 land, lying on both sides of the " Lane." He sold to Abiel Bragg, 
 
 and moved to the Straits. He m. Martha ; had children, 
 
 Martha, b. Oct. 5, 1744; Miriam, b. July 5, 1747; Gad, b. March 
 10, 1750-1. 
 
 John Wait, (son of John,) was one of the earliest settlers in the 
 Straits, on the place now owned by John Wait. He m. first, Sub- 
 mit ; their children were, Joel, b. March 13, 1726; Jerusha, 
 
 b. Jan. 24, 1727-8; Eleanor, b. April 4, 1730; Seth, b. Aug. 12, 
 1732; Lydia, b. Sept. 26, 1734; Katherine, b. Dec. 25, 1736; 
 Chloe, b. Feb. 23, 1738: Mary, b. April 18, 1741 ; John, b. Nov. 
 
3t 
 
 25, 1743; Submit; Joel, b. 1756, (the last by second wife.) He 
 (I. 1776, aged 72; his second w. Mary d. Dec. 23, 1807, aged 96. 
 
 Noah Wells. About the year 1758, he built a house west of 
 Wid. Abel Scott's. He m. Abagail Bardwell ; had children, Lem- 
 uel ; Elisha; Daniel; Abagail; Simeon; Perez, b. Nov. 30, 1757; 
 Violet ; John. He moved to Hawley, where he and his w. died. 
 
 Salmon White. He settled where Luke B. White now lives. 
 He in. Mary Wait; had children, Salmon, b. Sept. 22, 1760; John, 
 b. Jan. 9, 1762; Mary, b. Jan. 24, 1764; Elizabeth, b. Feb. 18, 
 1766 ; Mercy, b. March 3, 176S ; Judith, b. Dec. 29, 1 770 ; Thomas, 
 b. April 12, 1773; Electa, b. Sept. 22, 1775. He d. June 21, 1815, 
 aged 84 ; his w. Mary d. June 21, 1821, aged 91. 
 
 (Widow Mary Wait, mother of Mary, above, spent the latter part 
 of her life in the family of Dea. White. She died Aug. 18, 1791,. 
 aged 99 years and 9 months. In her extreme age her mental fac- 
 ulties almost entirely failed. For some years, her life was literally a 
 second childhood. She required to be fed, and would amuse herself 
 by dressing and fondling dolls, and other infantile sports. But 
 about a week before her death, her mind suddenly brightened up. 
 She spoke intelligently of the Rev. Mr. Williams of Hatfield, her 
 former Pastor ; and repeated the whole of the Assembly's Shorter 
 Catechism, questions, answers and proofs. She then gradually sunk 
 away, and died as the candle goes out in its socket.) 
 
 Names of other early Settlers. 
 
 [The figures indicate the date when their names are first found.] 
 
 Robert Abercrombie, 1779. Was one of " Burgoyne's men.' r 
 He m. Elizabeth Bragg ; built a house where Pliny Graves lives. 
 
 Solomon Adkins, 1787. From Middletown, Ct. ; lived first in 
 the Straits ; then where Stolham Allis now lives. Had children, 
 Solomon, b. May 4, 1762; Thankful ; Giles; Elijah. He d. Feb. 
 
 26, 1804, aged 83; his w. Thankful d. April 7, 1806, aged 79. 
 
 Joseph Alexander, 1797. He m. Hannah Wait; had, Luther, 
 b. April 8, 1799 ; perhaps others. 
 
 Thomas Allen. Lived in the " Straits," on the place afterwards 
 owned by Benj. Bacon. Was from Conn. Had children, Daniel ; 
 Lydia ; Philena ; Sobrina. 
 
 Josiah Allis, 1775, (son of Elisha.) He built a house N. of 
 Elliot C. Allis'. He m. Anna Hubbard ; had children, Elijah, b. 
 Oct. 21, 1775; Electa, b. Feb. 16, 1777; Josiah, b. Jan. 5, 1779,- 
 Anna, b. Dec. 3, 1780; Lucy, b. Dec. 7, 1782; Henry, b. July 29, 
 1784; Jerry, b. July 25, 1786; Sally, b. April 22, 1788; Almira, 
 b. Oct. 3, 1790; Stolham, b. May 1, 1792; Elisha, b. Jan. 4, 1794. 
 He d. April 17, 1794, aged 40; his w. Anna (m. second, Salmon 
 White,) d. June 21, 1839. 
 
 Russel Allis, 1777. He built where Samuel Doane lives. He 
 m. Sarah Edson ; their children were, Roxa, b. Feb. 24, 1776 ; 
 
32 
 
 Sarah, 1). April 19, 1778; Lura, b. Feb. 20, 1780; Demis, b. Dec, 
 31, 1782; Annis, b. Jan. IS, 1784; Polly. 
 
 Daniel Allis. He lived on the Henry Smith place. Wife, Lydia : 
 had children, Moses, b. Sept. 20, 1782; Daniel, b. Sept. 26, L784 : 
 Eleazer, 1).. July 17,1780; Harris, b. Feb. 13, 1788; Osee, b. June 26, 
 1790; Eurotus and Otus, b. May 27, 1798; Austin, b. July 12, 
 1794; Patty, b. Sept. 30, 1795; Lydia, b. Oct. 11, 1797; Sophia, 
 b. May 24, 1800; Eleazer, b. Sept. 23, 1803. 
 
 Benjamin Bacon, 1775. Was from Killingly, Ct. Lived in the 
 Straits, opposite the " Gilbert place." Had children, Abel ; Philo ; 
 Jonathan ; Benjamin ; Rufus. He d. Sept. 4, 1814, aged 87. 
 
 Joseph Barnard. He lived where the Wid. Ebenezer Barnard 
 now lives. Wife, Esther ; children, Ebenezer, b. Oct. 2, 1752; 
 Hannah, b. Dec. 15, 1754; Moses, b. Feb. 13, 1757; Joseph, 1). 
 Aug. 20, 1759. Was from Sunderland. 
 
 Samuel Bartlett, b. April 23, 1785; m. Sophia Smith, b. Oct. 
 30, 1790; children, Dwight Smith; Lewis; Samuel Dwight ; 
 George Smith ; Charles Dexter. 
 
 Zebina Bartlett, 1803, m. Demis Allis ; children, Alvan ; 
 Sarah; Tryphena; Maria; Lovisa Demis; Zebina W. ; Elizabeth. 
 
 James Bigelow. Lived on Poplar Hill. 
 
 Enoch Bird, 1795. Lived on Grass Hill ; w. Celena; children, 
 Lydia and Sarah, b. Feb. 20, 1782; Edmund, b. July 7, 1784; 
 Celena and Levina, b. June 7, 1780; Waitte, b. May 25, 1789; 
 Enoch, b. Oct. 3, 1791 ; Samuel, b. Sept. 23, 1793; Polly, b. Feb. 
 10, 1790 ; Roxa, b. May 8, 1799. 
 
 Abiel Bragg, 1770. Was from Petersham. Bought the farm 
 of Simeon Wait, now J. C Loomis'. 
 
 . Bridgman. Wife, Elizabeth. He d. May 7, 1S00, aged 
 
 70 ; his w. d. Jan. 10, 1812, aged 79. 
 
 John Brooks, 1770. Was from Glastenbury, Ct. ; w. Sarah. 
 
 Wait Broughton, 1771. Lived in the Straits; m. Submit Wait. 
 
 Stephen Burroughs, 1800. W. Amilla ; children, Amilla ; 
 Stephen ; Lyman. 
 
 Joseph Byrome, 1783. Was from Bridgewater ; w. Mary. 
 
 Samuel Carly, 1772. Wife, Submit ; children, John, b. Dec. 18, 
 1708; Dorothy; Submit, b. Aug. 17, 1773; Samuel, b. Nov. 15, 
 1775; Polly, b. April 20, 1778; Samuel, b. Aug. 4, 1781 : Abagail, 
 b. April 21, 1780. 
 
 Richard Carey, 1794. 
 
 Thomas Castle, or Castwell, 1779. Lived on Grass Hill ; m. 
 Miriam Smith; children, Miriam; Miriam: Paulina; Amilla: 
 Pamela ; Thomas ; Sophia ; Submit ; John. 
 
33 
 
 Perez Chapin, 1778. Lived where Calvin Wells now does; w. 
 Elizabeth ; children, Roxa ; Giles ; Perez ; Sophia ; Alpheus ; 
 perhaps others. 
 
 Peter Clark, 1808 ; m. Zilpah Stiles. 
 
 Justus Clark, 1793. A merchant. Had children, Theodore ; 
 Sylvester ; and others. 
 
 Niles Coleman, (br. of Nathaniel,) 1775. Was from Marlbor- 
 ough, Ct. Married first, Elizabeth ; second, Dolly Taylor. 
 
 Children, Eli ; Samuel ; Louden ; Polly ; Josiah. He d. Feb. 6, 
 1779, aged 71. 
 
 Noah Coleman, 17S9. Lived on the place now owned by J. B. 
 Morton. Wife, Lydia. He d. Dec. 15, 1794, aged 76. 
 
 William Cone, 1789. From Middletown, Ct. Lived in the 
 Lane. Wife, Abia ; children, Sally ; Etta ; Epa ; perhaps others. 
 
 David Cook, 1793. Wife, ; child, Horace. 
 
 James P. Cook. From Dedham ; m. Electa Graves. 
 
 Benjamin Cooley, 1800. Children, Frederick, b. Nov. 12, 1800 ; 
 Benjamin Lewis and Betsey Shattuck, b. Feb. 19, 1804; James, b. 
 Jan. 5, 1807; Frederick, b. April 13, 1808; M<3ses Hastings, b. 
 March 19, 1814; Eli Parker, b. July 31, 1815; Lucy, b. May 16, 
 1817 ; Fanny, b. Aug. 29, 1820. - 
 
 Hosea Curtis, 1774. Lived west of Poplar Hill. Wife, Susanna. 
 
 James Cutter. He in. Clark ; children, Thomas dark ; 
 
 Lorenzo ; Mary ; Angeline ; James Dexter. 
 
 Abner Dickinson, (son of Ebenezer and Hannah,) b. Jan. 6, 
 1723-4. About 17T3, he built a house S. of Lyman Dickinson's. 
 
 He m. Sarah ; had children, Ebenezer; Mary; Apphia; 
 
 Jehu, b. May 8, 1758; Betsey; Hannah; Abner, b. Sept. 8, 1766; 
 Alpheus; Content, b. May, 1773. He d. Sept. 28, 1799; his w. 
 Sarah d. May 27, 1813, aged S3. 
 
 Gideon Dickinson, (son of Gideon and Rebekah,) b. Dec. 
 29, 1744. As early as 1770 or 71, he bought the place where 
 Dexter Dickinson now lives. He m. Lydia Dickinson ; had child- 
 ren, Lydia; Asa; Daniel; Gideon; Ruth; Dexter; Giles; two or 
 three others who d. young. He d. Sept. 22, 1811 ; his w. Lydia d. 
 Aug. 8, 1812, aged 65. 
 
 Benjamin Dickinson, 1787. From Sunderland. Wife, Sarah. 
 Children, Charles, b. May 10, 1774; Justus, b. Jan. 8, 1780; Sarah, 
 b. Aug. 22, 1788 , Levinus, b. Sept. 10, 1792. 
 
 Samuel Daugherty, 1807. Children, Angelina; Alonzo; Car- 
 oline ; perhaps others. 
 
 Jonathan Edson, 1773. From Ashfield, (previously from Staf- 
 ford, Ct.) Built a house E. of the S. C. School house. 
 
 Thomas Faxon. Probably from Leicester. Lived on Staddle 
 
 Hill. Wife, ; children, Thomas ; Jacob Allen ; Reuben ; 
 
 Calvin ; Samuel ; Bathsheba ; Ruth. 
 5 
 
34 
 
 Noah Field, 1774. From Conway ; m. Mary Brown. He d\ 
 July 8, 1797, aged 46. 
 
 Zenas Field, (son of Eliakim and Esther,) b. Aug. 10, 1753. 
 He settled where John Field now lives. He m. Sarah Burroughs ; 
 had children, Lydia, b. Sept. 17, 1782; Orange, b. Dec. 2, J7S4 ; 
 John, b. Sept. 10, 178G; Lydia, b. June 8, 1788; Orange, b. Feb. 
 22, 1790; John, b. Oct. 10, 1792; Rhoda, b. Nov. 21, 1794; 
 Zenas, b. Sept. 22, 1796; Sarah, b. Nov. 11, 1798; Esther, b. Sept. 
 21, 1800; three stillborn, previous to 1782. He d. July 3, 1819; 
 his w. Sarah d. Sept. 10, 1810, aged 53. 
 
 Eleazar Frary, 1775. Born Jan. 2, 1752. His w. Miriam 
 was b. Dec. 22, 1751. Children, Miriam, b. Sept. 3, 1779; Debo- 
 rah, Dec. 4, 1784; Fanny, b. Jan. 22, 1787 : Hannah, b. Aug. 15, 
 1789 ; Otis, b. April 13, 1795. 
 
 Seth Frary, (br. of Eleazar,) 1779, b. Sept. 2, 1758. His w. 
 Esther was b. July 27, 1761. He bought the place of Noah Cole- 
 man. Children, Thomas, b. Feb. 12, 17S0 ; Seth, b. Oct. 27, 17S3; 
 Dexter, b. Aug. 10, 1786; Esther, b. July 6, 1789; Lydia, b. Nov. 
 7, 1792; Electa, b. Oct. 5, 1796; Eleazar, b. Feb. 3, 1799; Patty, 
 Dec. 12, 1801. 
 
 Phineas Frary, (son of Phineas and Mary,) 1775. He settled 
 where Lyman Graves now lives. Wife, Rhoda Morton ; children, 
 Silas, b. Aug. 23, 1777 ; Horace, b. Sept. 12, 1781 ; Phineas, b. 
 Sept. 8, 1783 ; Orange, b. April 8, 1785 ; Rhoda, b. Sept. 11, 1788. 
 He d. May 27, 1816, aged 61. 
 
 Paul Gibbs, 1805 ; m. Anna Coleman. Children, Elizabeth ; 
 Julia ; Dence ; Amasa ; Mehitable Coleman. 
 
 Oliver Gilbert. Lived in the Straits, S. of A. W. Nash's, 
 with his son Josiah. He d. Sept. 4, 1814, aged 91. 
 
 William Giles, 1783. 
 
 Nathaniel Gray. Children, Ebenezer Macomber, b. Oct. IS, 
 1806; Salome Wright, b. March 3, 1809; Harriet Newell, b. Nov. 
 20, 1815; Philena Macomber, b. Oct. 15, 1816. 
 
 Samuel Grimes. Married Hannah Field. He d. March 24, 
 1816, aged 45. 
 
 Samuel Harding, 1776. From Woodstock, Ct. Lived on the 
 place now owned by Lyman Harding. He m. first, Anna Fisher; 
 children, Timothy ; Stephen ; Abagail. He m. second, Dinah 
 Johnson; children, Abijah and Abiel ; Keziah ; Esther; (m. Justin 
 Morton.) 
 
 Francis IIarwood, M. D. 1795. From Uxbridge. Wife, Lu- 
 cinda ; children, Joshua Dickinson, b. Nov. 25, 1790; Roderick 
 Bannister, b. Jan. 29, 1795; Alonzo, b. April 1, 1797; Myron, b. 
 Aug. 16, 1799; Violet, b. Sept. 9, IS01 ; Justus Forward, b. Oct. 
 25, 1803 ; Francis, b. June 14, 1806 ; Eunice Phelps. 
 
 Isaac Hatch, 1795. Wife, Esther; children, Resina ; Isaac: 
 Esther ; Emily ; Chester. 
 
35 
 
 John Hawley, 1774 ; m. Hannah Scott. Children, Samuel .; 
 Charity ; Elizabeth ; Elizabeth ; perhaps others. 
 
 Robert Hazard, 1795; in. Susanna Jefferson. 
 
 John Hibbard, 1793 ; m. Irena Belding. 
 
 Joseph Hill, 1776. Lived where A. S. Stearns now does. 
 Children, Betsey, b. Feb. 6, 1778 ; Pamelia, b. March 4, 1779 ; 
 Alinda, b. June 26, 1780; Luke, b. March 13, 1782; Gideon, b. 
 Sept. 11, 1783; Moses, b. March 30, 17S5; Sally, b. Dec. 22, 1787; 
 Esther, b. Aug. 4, 1789 ; Rebekah, b. May 23, 1791 ; Ruggles, b. 
 Dec. 30, 1793. He d. Oct. 1796, aged 66. 
 
 David Ingraham, 1775. From East Hartford ; m. Jemima, d. 
 of Dea. Nathan Graves. 
 
 Amos Jefferson, 17S5. Lived N. of Zebina Bartlett's ; w. Sarah. 
 
 Joel Kellogg. Died Oct. 22, 1798, aged 74. 
 
 John Lamson, 1774. He was from Ct. Built the house which 
 recently stood N. of the Town Hall. He m. Mercy Morton ; child- 
 ren, Annis ; Annis ; Billy ; Judson ; Lucretia ; Sophia ; Horace ; 
 Tirzah. 
 
 John Locke, 1774. A marble worker ; w. Ruth Faxon ; child- 
 ren, John ; Henry ; Joanna ; Lucy ; perhaps others. 
 
 Abner Loomis. From Colchester Ct. Wife, Zilpah ; children, 
 Sally, b. Aug. 24, 1783; Jonathan C, b. Oct. 18, 1785; William, 
 b. Sept. 26, 1789 ; Leonard, b. July 30, 1797; Luther, b. Nov. 20, 
 1798. He d. April 2, 1812, aged 62. 
 
 Marsh, 1782. He built a log house where Elihu Wait 
 
 afterwards lived. 
 
 Amos Marsh, 1783. Lived N. of Zebina Bartlett's. Wife, 
 Elizabeth; children, Benjamin; Calvin; Thomas; Amos; Rufus; 
 Sophia ; Electa ; Sarah ; Asa ; Melliscent ; Emerson. 
 
 Asa Marsh, 1783. Lived on the place now owned by Levi 
 Morton. Wife, Sarah; children, Isaac, b. May 19, 1780; David, 
 b. Nov. 7, 1781 ; Olive, b. June 5, 1783; Asa, b. Sept. 29, 1786 ; 
 Amanda, b. July 14, 1791; Orange, b. May 31, 1793; Sally, b. 
 Nov. 16, 1796. (Was son of Asa, and br. of Amos.) 
 
 Benjamin Mather, b. Lyme, Ct., Sept. 19, 1731 ; w. Abagail, 
 b. Colchester, Ct., Feb. 23, 1741. Children, Betty Worthington, 
 b. Dec. 17, 1763; Nabby, b. April 16, 1765; William, b. Dec. 31, 
 1766 ; Rhoda, b. Jan. 1, 176S ; Elias, b. Oct. 25, 1769 ; Samuel, 
 b. March 19, 1773; Joseph and Benjamin, b. March 15, 1776; 
 Cotton, b. March 4, 1779; Marshrield P., b. Jan. 26, 1782. He d. 
 Dec. 1822. 
 
 Perez Merrick, 1794. 
 
 John Morey, 1778. He built a log house where Joseph Hill 
 afterwards lived. He m. Sarah Turner. Children, John; Erastus: 
 Sarah : perhaps others. 
 
36 
 
 Simeon Morton, 17S2. Lived where Daniel F. M. now lives. 
 Wife, Sibyl ; children, Dexter, b. Sept. 4, 1782 ; Bathsheba, b. 
 Sept. 22, 1784; Reuben, b. Aug. 31, 17SG ; Martha, b. Aug. 22, 
 L789; Submit, b. March 30, 1792; Electa, b. March 27, 1794. 
 His w. Sibyl d. Jan. 9, 1827. He d. April 23, 1816, aged 66. 
 
 Levi Moiiton, 17 S3. Lived on Spruce Hill. Wife, Sarah; 
 children, Sarah, b. March 30, 1778; Lucinda, b. Nov. 11, 1779; 
 Lucy, b. Dec. 2, 1781 ; Chester, b. Oct. 14, 1784 ; David, b. June 
 20, 178G ; Lucretia, b. March 13, 1788 ; Horace, b. June 20, 1790 ; 
 Justus, b. Oct. 17, 1792 ; Moses, b. Julv 23, 1794 ; Levi, b. Oct. 
 
 23, 1796; Lucy, b. Sept. 28, 1798. He d. April 25, 181G, aged 63. 
 
 Jacob Mosher. From Hollis, N. II.; m. Pierce; child- 
 ren, Jacob ; Mary ; Solomon ; Lucy ; Rufus ; Clarissa. 
 
 Moses Munson. From Farmington, Ct. Lived where James 
 Smith now lives. Children, Moses; Levina ; Abagail ; Anna; 
 Sarah ; Margary ; Joel. He d. July 13, 1817, aged 72. 
 
 Reuben Munson, 1784, (br. of Moses.) He first settled where 
 John Bement Wait now lives ; then on the place now owned by John 
 Munson. Was m. to Sibyl Smith, July 16, 1769. Children, Sal- 
 mon, b. Sept. 24, 1770; Lucv, b. June 3, 1772; Reuben, b. Feb. 
 
 24, 1774; Selah, b. June 28, 1776; Reuben, b. Feb. 19, 1778; 
 Joel, b. Feb. 28, 1780; Benjamin, b. March 22, 1782; Mary, b. 
 March 12, 1784; Sibyl, b. March 2, 1786; Sibyl, b. Feb. 29, 1788; 
 Diadema, b. Feb. 4, 1790 ; John, b. Jan. 3, 1 792 ; Osee, b. Oct. 3, 1793. 
 
 Joseph Nash, 1783. Was from Amherst; built the house S. of 
 Elijah Allis', now untenanted. Wife, Lucy; children, Mary, b. 
 Aug. 4, 1779; Alpheus, b. May 25, 1781; Joseph, b. March 6, 
 1783; Cotton, b. May 6, 1785; Chester, b. .May 10, 1787; Lucy, 
 b. April 2, 1789; Electa, b. April 11, 1791 ; David, b. Dec. 28, 
 1793. He d. May 15, 1804, aged 60. 
 
 Abner Nash, (br. of J.) 1787; m. Hannah Dickinson, Nov. 8, 
 1787; children, Roanna ; Content; Theodosia ; perhaps others. 
 
 Stephen Orcutt, 1777. He m. first, Theodora Scott; second, 
 Miriam Frary. Children, Eleazar ; Walter ; and others. 
 
 Solomon Pease. From Enfield, Ct. Built a small house in the 
 Straits where Stephen Clark now lives, which he sold to Solomon 
 Adkius ; w. Keziah Hall. 
 
 Jonathan Pierce, 1778. 
 
 Aaron Pratt, 1783. Bought the place of Joseph Belding ; m. 
 first, Rachel Smith ; second. Jerusha Brown. 
 
 Winslow Richardson, 1778. From Bridgewater ; w. Elizabeth. 
 
 George Rogers. Settled where his son Daniel now lives. 
 Children, George ; Daniel : Anna. He d. Oct. 1S23 ; his w. d. 
 Feb. 2, 1824. 
 
 Edward Ruddock, 1789: m. Martha Sanderson. 
 
Nathaniel Sartle or Sartwell, 1772 ; m. a d. of A don ij ah 
 Taylor. 
 
 Benjamin Scott. He settled very early in the Straits, on the 
 place now owned by Phineas Frary. He m. Jemima Tuttle ; had 
 children, Benjamin, whom. Abagail Belding; James; perhaps others. 
 He d. Aug. 1, 1792, aged 85; his w. Jemima d. April 13, 1802, aged 88. 
 
 Calvin Sexton. Children, Luther, b. Sept. 13, 1800; Mary, 
 b. June 19, 1802 ; perhaps others. 
 
 Oliver Shattuck, 1775. Lived on the Eben. Barnard place. 
 Wife, Lucy ; children, Emily ; Lucy ; Emily ; Polly ; Henry and 
 Harriet ; Electa. 
 
 John Smith. About 1776, he moved from Hatfield, and settled 
 where Hiram Smith now lives. He m. Lydia Frary, (sister of 
 Phineas;) children, Olive, (m. Abiel Harding;) Elijah, (killed by 
 a fall;) Electa; Martha; Mary; John, (d. young.) The family 
 moved to Sullivan, N. Y. 
 
 James Smith, 1795. From Springfield ; m. Bathsheba Morton, 
 Jan. 27, 1808. Children, Remembrance ; Sibyl ; James S. ; Sibyl ; 
 Laura Munson ; James ; Joseph A. ; Elizabeth Burt ; Charlotte. 
 
 Lemuel Snow, 1777. From Stafford, Ct. ; w. Margaret. He 
 d. Nov. 11, 1777, aged 48. 
 
 John Starks. Lived on the place now owned by Caleb Beals. 
 The ancestors of John came originally from Scotland. First settled 
 in Mansfield, Ct. ; went thence to Hanover, N. H., whence John 
 came to Whately. Children, John; Phebe; Israel; Prince William; 
 Tryphena; Justus; Mercy; Willard. He d. Dec. 1825, aged 70. 
 
 David Stockbridge. He settled in the Straits, on the David 
 Graves' place, where he kept tavern for many years ; moved from 
 there to Canterbury. He m. Sarah Allis ; children, Annis, b. Dec. 
 17, 1799; Chester, b. May 25, 1801 ; Emily, b. Jan. 10, 1803; 
 Hiram, b. Jan. 8, 1805; Julia Ann, b. Aug. 1, 1807; Charles David ; 
 b. Oct. 2, 1816; Amaret Sarah, b. Dec. 9, 1819. He m. second, 
 Lovisa Collins of Hartford, Ct. He d. Jan. 4, 1847, aged 70. 
 
 Heman Swift. Was from Barnard, Vt. ; w. Orpha Howard. 
 Children, Sylva; Fanny; Salome; Orpha; Betsey; Sabra; Heman; 
 Kingsley; Carlos. He d. June, 1834; his w. Orpha d. Jan. 27, 1847. 
 
 Thompson. Lived on Grass Hill. 
 
 Asa Todd, Rev. 1789. From Westfield. Lived W. of Poplar 
 Hill. Children, Lucretia, b. May 8, 1783 ; Justus, b. June 24, 1785 ; 
 David M., b. Aug. 28, 1787; Marah, b. Oct. 15, 1789; Lyman, b. 
 Oct. 30, 1791 ; Esther, b. April 30, 1794 ; Zobede, b. Sept. 26, 1796. 
 
 Nathan Wait, 1798. Lived with his son Jeremiah, where 
 
 J. B. Wait now lives. He m. Hannah ; had children, Mary, 
 
 b. June 5, 1740; Jeremiah, b. Dec. 16, 1742, (m. Rachel Bement;) 
 Elijah, b. Feb. 3, 1744 ; Asa, b. March 23, 1746-7. He d. Nov. 
 25, 1798, aged SO. 
 
38 
 
 Elihu Wait, (son of Elisha and Martha Wait,) b. Aug. 14, 1758. 
 He bought the place where Rufus AVait now lives. Wife, Rebekah ; 
 children, Lucretia, b. Nov. 5, 1779 ; Polly, b. April 5, 1784 ; Calvin, 
 b. May 22, 1 785 ; Demis, b. June 20, 1780 ; Sally, b. July 26, 1787 ; 
 Luther, b. Jan. 21, 1788; Roxa, b. April 1(5, 1789; Rufus, b. July 
 
 9, 1790; Chester, b. Dec. 24, ; Rebekah, b. Dec. 12, ; 
 
 Elihu, b. June 2, ; Sylvester, b. June 12,' -. 
 
 Consider Wait, (br. of Elihu,) b. March 25, 17G2. Lived on 
 Poplar Hill. Children, Nancy, b. Nov. 29, 178S; Cynthia, b. Jan. 
 20, 1790; James, b. March 18, 1791; Enos, b. April 1, 1792; 
 Henry, b. March 27, 1793; Sally, b. June 1C, 1790; William, b. 
 Nov. 11, 1797; John, b. May 26, 1799; Elizabeth, b. Jan. 16, 1801. 
 
 Jonathan Wait, (br. of above,) b. April 20, 1774 Settled on 
 Grass Hill. First w. Betsey, b. March 1, 1777; children, Eliza, 
 b. May 26, 1798; Amy, b. Aug. 11, 1800; Horace, b. 1802; 
 Martha, b. Dec. 2, 1803; Elsie, b. Jan. 14, 1806; Alpha, b. Dec. 
 16, 1807 ; Delight, b. Aprjl 20, 1810; Horace, b. Sept. 29, 1811 ; 
 Sophia, b. Sept. 10, 1813; Spencer, b. Oct. 5, 1814; daughter, b. 
 Jan. 23, 1817. His w. Betsey d. Jan. 23, 1817. Second w. Nancy 
 b. April 24, 1 784 ; children, Nancy, b. Oct. 6, 1820 ; Betsey, b. Sept. 
 22, 1822; Electa, b. Oct. 26, 1824; Chauncey, b. Dec. 5, 1828. 
 
 Jacob Walker. Lived on the place now owned by J. P. Dick- 
 inson. Was killed in attempting to arrest a " Shay's man.' 3 
 
 Jesse Warner. Lived on Poplar Hill. 
 
 Rufus Wells, Rev. 1771. Was from Deerfield. His children 
 were, Sarah, b. Oct. 6, 1777; Rebekah, b. Nov. 27, 1778; a son, 
 b. July 5, 1780; Thomas, b. Dec. 12, 1781 ; Luke, b. March 28, 
 1783; Luke, b. July 4, 1784; Elizabeth, b. March 25, 1780; 
 Sophia, b. Sept. 30, 17S7; a daughter, b. Nov. 26, 1789. His w. 
 Sarah d. April 27, 1796, aged 40. His second w. Temperance d. 
 Oct. 7, 1830, aged 74. He d. Nov. 8, 1834, aged 91. 
 
 Israel Wells. He m. Dolly, d. of Gad Smith ; children, 
 Sedgwick, b. Dec. 22, 1801 ; perhaps others. 
 
 Reuben Winchell. Wife, Chloe. He built the house now 
 owned by Eurotus Dickinson. 
 
 John Wood. Married Fanny Hibbard ; children, Eliphas H. ; 
 Maria ; Samuel ; Fanny ; Sarah ; George. 
 
 Martin Woods. Married Electa Bacon ; children, Lucinda ; 
 Lydia ; Hopkins ; Meliscent ; Electa. 
 
 Jonathan Woods. Married Aletha Gilbert. He d. May 10, 1821. 
 
 Seth Wright. Married Ruth Fuller. 
 
39 
 
 Children of the Church who have become Ministers of the Gospel. 
 
 Alvan Sanderson, born Dec. 13, 1780, son of Thomas and 
 Lucy Sanderson; Grad. Williams Coll. 1802; ordained at West- 
 hampton, Feb. 4, 1807; Installed Colleague Pastor with Rev. Ne- 
 hemiah Porter, Ashfield, June 1808; died June 22, 1817. 
 
 Pomeroy Belding, b. March 15, 1811, son of Aaron and Sarah 
 Belding ; Grad. Amherst Coll. 1833 ; Andover Theol. Sem. 1836 ; 
 ordained, Warwick, Aug. 8, 1837 ; installed, Amherst E. Parish, 
 Sept. 14, 1842; d. March 2, 1849. 
 
 Alonzo Sanderson, b. June 24, 1808, son of Joseph and Con- 
 tent Sanderson ; Grad. Amherst Coll. 1834 ; ordained, Ludlow, 
 Jan. 1839; installed, Tolland, July 12, 1843. 
 
 Rufus Porter Wells, b. Feb. 4, 1818; son of Thomas and 
 Mary Wells; Grad. Amherst Coll. 1842; ordained Jonesboro', E. 
 Tenn. by Presbytery, 1846. 
 
 William Bardwell, b. Oct. 13, 1813, son of Orange and Eu- 
 phame Bardwell ; studied at Wesleyan University, Middletown, Ct. 
 ordained by Methodist Conference, May, 1846. 
 
 Communion Furniture. — The two Flagons and the two Tank- 
 ards were purchased in 1797, from funds bequeathed to the church 
 by Deacon Obadiah Dickinson of Hatfield. The two silver Cups 
 and four Tumblers were presented to the church in 1822, by 
 Messrs. Francis Beldin<r, Reuben Belding, and Aaron Belding. 
 
 Choristers, " to set the Psalm in meeting," were chosen by the 
 Church till 1S21, when they were elected by the Choir. The per- 
 sons first chosen by the Church, Oct. 16, 1771, were John Wait, 
 Jr. John Graves, and Elihu Graves : those chosen by the Choir in 
 1821, were R. B. Harwood, and Warner. 
 
 Early local Names of Roads in Whately. 
 
 Canterbury road — retains the same name. 
 
 Straits road, " " " " 
 
 Christian lane, " " " ° 
 
 Chestnut plain road — N. and S. through central village. 
 
 Poplar Hill road — N. and S. by Bap. M. House. 
 
 Hog Mountain road — N. and S. by W. Burying ground. 
 
 Spruce Hill road — E. and W. from the Meeting house to " Est- 
 her :" a branch run S. by Justus Graves'. 
 
 Mount Esther road — E. and W. from Spruce Hill r. to Bap. M. 
 House. 
 
 Chestnut Mountain road — N. and S. by Wid. Reuben Graves'. 
 
 Dry Hill road — by South West School House. 
 
 Grass Hill road — W. from Osee Munson place. 
 
 The Straits road was probably the original path from Hatfield to 
 
 Deerfield ; very early a road was opened, branching west from this, 
 
40 
 
 running through " Egypt," and " Clavorack," crossing the hill 
 near Calvin Wells', thence northwesterly by John Lyman Morton's, 
 and west of Consider Morton's. 
 
 The people of Whately entered early, and heartily into the strug- 
 gle of the Colonies for Independence. A letter was sent to this, 
 as to other towns, in the spring of 1773, by the Committee of Cor- 
 respondence in Boston. A meeting was immediately called, and a 
 Committee of three, viz. — Edward Brown, Elisha Frary, and Jo- 
 seph Belding, Jr., was chosen, to answer the said letter. The 
 Committee drew up, and forwarded (by vote of the town) the fol- 
 lowing reply. 
 
 " Gentlemen : — The proceedings of the town of Boston under 
 the present exigencies, we esteem very laudable and worthy of a 
 metropolis. We concur in general with your sentiments in stating 
 the Rights of the Colonists and Province, and of the infringe- 
 ments of these Rights. We hold fast Loyalty to our Sovereign ; 
 yet we groan under our burden, but do not despair of redress. If 
 the importunity of a poor widow may move an unjust judge to 
 avenge her, how much more may we hope for redress by frequent 
 application to a gracious King. We shall at all times heartily join 
 with you, in all legal and constitutional measures for the keeping 
 of these inestimable privileges, wrested from us, and firmly to se- 
 cure those that remain. For we are sensible that should we re- 
 nounce our Liberty and privileges, we should renounce the rights 
 of man, the rights of humanity, and even our duty to God and 
 man. We have no doubts but that the Parliament of Great Brit- 
 ain will hereby understand that 'tis not the discontentedness of a 
 faction, but that the whole people are sensible of the burdens they 
 labor under." 
 
 The town sent Deputies to the several Provincial Congresses ; 
 Oliver Graves was sent to the first ; Elisha Frary to the second ; 
 Noah Wells and Salmon White to the third. 
 
 In Dec. 1774, the town Voted, " To provide 100 wt. of powder, 
 200 wt. of lead, and 200 flints for the use of the town." Early in 
 1775, minute men were enlisted, and officered ; and a Committee 
 of Correspondence appointed. 
 
 July 6, 1776, it was Voted, " That incase the Continental Con- 
 gress shall declare the Colonies to be in an independent state from 
 Great Britain, we will support the declaration with our lives and 
 fortunes."