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Y. 


HISTORICAL  SKETCH 


OF    THE 


:  CONGEEGATIONAL  CHURCH 

IN  BELCHERTOWN,  MASS., 
FROM   ITS  ORGANIZATION,   114  YEARS. 

WITH  NOTICES   OF 

THE  PASTORS  AT^D  OFFICERS, 

^   ^  OP  COMMUNICANTS    CHRONOLOGICALLY   AEKANGBD, 


@ 


aBNBA^OGIBS,INTBBMA«UIAGESAKI,riM:iTKBLAX^ES. 
iMBEACINGKUMEKOUSriOTSANi-INOIBENISEELAIINa 

TO  THE  FIRST  SETTLERS  AND 


§.Y  HISTORY  OF  THE  PLACE. 
[fHONTMAiFpOOLITTLE. 

NORTHAMPTON,  MASS. 

PUBLISHED  BY  HOPKINS.  BKIDGMAN  &  CO. 

1852. 


Entered  according  to  an  Act   of   Congress,   in  tlie  year  1852, 

By  Hopkins,  Beidgm^  &  Co., 
In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  Distifect  Cociik  of  the  District  of  Mass. 


H.    8,    TAYLOR,    PEINTBR. 
BPEINGFIELD,   MASS. 


PEEFACE. 


In  giving  the  following  pages  to  the  pub- 
lic through  the  press,  a  few  introductory  re- 
marks seem  to  me  appropriate.  In  the  un- 
dertaking and  progress  of  collecting  materials 
comprised  in  this  little  volume,  the  thought 
of  giving  them  to  the  public  in  this  way  never 
entered  my  mind.  The  labor  was  begun,  in 
a  limited  way,  many  years  since,  and  attend- 
ed to  only  when  other  things  did  not  press, 
as  a  paramount  claim  upon  my  time,  and 
pursued  to  gratify  my  own  curiosity,  having  a 
desire  to  learn  who,  in  by-gone  days,  occu- 
pied the  places  we  now  occupy;  whence  they 
were,  and  what  they  were  in  condition,  char- 
acter and  pursuits,  in  life's  short  pilgrimaga 
The  more  I  gathered  relating  to  them  the 
greater  was  my  desire  to  gather  more,  and 
extend  it  to  their  whole  history,  political,  civil, 
religious,  and  social;  and  this,  from  all  the 
sources  within  my  reach,  records,  writings 
and  orally,  carefully  preserving  all  that  seem- 
ed to  aid  me  in  attaining  my  object.  Some 
six  years  since,   in  looking  over  my  loose 


IV  PREFACE. 


sheets,  I  found  them  more  voluminous  than 
I  had  supposed,  and  not  a  Uttle  chaotic.  I 
saw  that  if  they  were  ever  to  be  of  any  use  to 
anybody  they  must  be  arranged  in  a  more 
systematic  manner.  This  I  did,  by  giving 
them  the  form  of  connected  historical  narra- 
tive. Some  of  the  inhabitants  here,  knowing 
that  I  had  such  manuscripts,  desired  me  to 
give  them  in  the  form  of  Lectures,  to  the  peo- 
ple. This  I  did  during  the  winter  of  1846-7, 
taking  such  portions  of  them  as  were  suited 
to  such  a  course.  After  these  lectures  were 
closed,  desires  were  repeatedly  expressed  to 
me  to  let  them  go  to  the  public  through  the 
press,  or  particular  parts  of  them,  if  the  whole 
could  not  be  given.  Such  requests  were 
made  by  those  connected  with  some  of  the 
public  periodical  journals  of  the  day,  as  well 
as  by  others.  I  declined  giving  them,  imag- 
ining that  if  the  results  of  my  labors  would 
give  interest  or  edification  at  any  period  of 
time,  it  could  be  so  only  in  future  years,  to 
those  that  will  live  after  us ;  that  the  present 
generation  would  take  little  or  no  interest  in 
the  matter,  more  especially,  as  the  settlement 
in  this  place  was  some  seventy  years  later 
than  that  in  some  other  towns  in  the  County. 
Nothing  has  gone  out  from  them  through  the 


PREFACE. 


press,  except  a  short  extract  published  in  the 
''Historical  and  Genealogical  Register,"  the 
April  number,  1848,  and  that  was  furnished 
at  the  request  of  Rev.  Dr.  Coggswell,  editor 
of  that  journal.  A  few  months  since,  the 
Congregational  Church  in  this  place,  whose 
history  is  sketched  in  these  pages,  took  action 
on  the  subject,  which  appears  from  their  vote 
in  the  following  extract  from  the  church  rec- 
ords, which  has  been  communicated  to  me. 
"  It  being  known  that  the  Hon.  Mark  Doo- 
Httle  has  at  much  expense  of  time  and  labor 
been  gathering  facts  respecting  the  early  his- 
tory of  the  town,  with  notices  of  the  first  set- 
tlers, and  a  sketch  of  the  Congregational 
Church  from  its  organization  to  the  present 
time,  the  publication  of  which  might  be  de- 
sirable, the  church  appointed  a  committee  of 
seven,  including  the  pastor,  to  confer  with  Mr. 
Doolittle  on  this  subject  The  committee,  re- 
ported, that  conferring  with  Mr.  Doolittle  he 
expressed  a  readiness  to  make  any  disposal 
of  his  work  which  would  meet  the  wishes  of 
the  community,  and  freely  submitted  his  pa- 
pers to  their  inspection.  From  a  partial  ex- 
amination of  them,  they  were  satisfied  that  he 
had  prosecuted  his  researches  with  great  in- 
dustry and  fidelity,  and  had  prepared  a  work 
of  much  interest  and  value,  and  in  accord- 
ance with  their  recommendation,  the  church 
unanimously  voted  that  Mr.  Doolittle  be  re- 


▼1  PKEFACE. 


spectfully  requested  to  permit  the  results  of 
his  labors  to  be  given  to  the  public  through 
the  press ;  it  being  understood,  that  as  the 
author  of  the  work,  he  alone  is  responsible 
for   its   statements  and  contents. 

A  true  copy  of  the  records  of  the  church. 
Attest,  Sam'l  Wolcott." 

Belchertown,  Oct  4,  1851. 

This  request  of  the  Church,  "  unanimously" 
expressed,  I  cheerfully  comply  with.  That 
portion  of  my  collections  contained  in  this 
volume  relate,  to  a  considerable  extent,  to  the 
church,  and  the  early  religious  interests  of  the 
place,  though  not  exclusively  to  these.  There 
is  a  tribute  of  respect  due  to  the  memory  of 
those  who  established  and  sustained  the  or- 
dinances of  religion  here,  in  the  early  settle- 
ment of  the  place,  and  we  of  this  day  should 
acknowledge  it.  In  prosecuting  my  labors, 
I  have  found  records  and  writings  very  few 
and  scanty.  I  have  derived  assistance*  by 
communications  with  many  individuals,  both 
written  and  oral;  I  would  express  my  ac- 
knowledgments to  them  for  the  aid  received. 
To  none  am  I  under  greater  obligations  than 
to  Sylvester  Judd,  Esq.,  of  Northampton,  in 
permitting  me  access  to  his  very  extensive 
collection  of  antique  things.  In  the  course 
of  my  inquiry,  for  facts  relating  to  the  past,  I 


PEEFACE.  ra 

have  been  forcibly  reminded  of  the  truth  of 
the  common  remark^  that  ^^we  live  in  a 
day  of  progress.^^  Truly  it  is  so,  and  the  pro- 
gress is  so  rapid  that  it  gives  but  a  moment  to 
witness  passing  events,  and  no  time  to  turn  a 
thought  to  the  past.  A  considerate  mind 
would  seem  to  require  some  knowledge  of 
the  past,  that  it  may  the  better  direct  its  future 
movements ;  especially  so,  as  we  deriveall  the 
materials  we  can  use  as  directories  for  the 
future  from  the  store-house  of  the  past  It  is 
but  by  a  careful  survey  of  the  past  that  we  ob- 
tain a  knowledge  of  the  reality  of  things — 
things  as  they  have  existed — the  truth  of  his- 
tory. Truth  is  all  that  ever  has  or  ever  can 
benefit  men  in  their  existence,  or  their  acts  in 
any  thing.  There  is  the  same  connection  be- 
tween cause  and  effect  now  that  there  ever 
was.  The  laws  of  God's  Providence  govern- 
ing the  affairs  of  this  world  are  uniform  in 
their  operations,  equally  so  in  the  moral  as  in 
the  physical  world.  The  results  of  lii^moral 
influences  in  the  formation  of  mind  and  char- 
acter, are  as  uniform,  and  as  well  established, 
as  any  laws  governing  the  movements  of  the 
heavenly  bodies,  or  the  changing  seasons^ 
and  can  be  traced  in  their  effects  as  surely  as 
rain,  sunshine,  and  genial  summer  breezes 


nil  PEEFACE. 


can  be,  in  giving  life  and  verdure  to  the  veg- 
etable kingdom. 

A  view  of  the  past  is  both  instructing  and 
delightful.  Ancient  fashions,  customs,  usages 
of  any  sort,  are  not  only  objects  of  curiosity, 
but  furnish  substantial  assistance  to  the  mind 
in  reasoning  from  the  past  to  the  future.  He 
who  would  live  usefully  in  the  world,  to  any 
good  purpose,  must  deal  with  principles,  with 
facts  and  with  men.  There  has  been  no  pe- 
riod of  the  world's  history  more  richly  furnish- 
ed with  all  these,  and  suited  to  our  instruc- 
tion, than  that  of  the  New  England  Fathers. 
The  single,  stern,  unyielding  puritanic  trait 
that  shone  conspicuously  in  their  character, 
regarding  the  claims  of  private  judgment,  the 
dictates  of  conscience,  and  the  requirements  of 
God's  Laws,  in  defiance  of  all  arbitrary  des- 
potic power,  however  marshalled  and  impos- 
ing, is  to  be  the  touch-stone  for  testing  the 
moral  and  religious  character  of  men  in  all 
future^jjfie,  and  like  the  stone  cut  out  of  the 
mountain  without  hands,  destined  to  fill  the 
whole  earth,  to  achieve  the  final  triumphs  of 
the  millennial  year. 

Mark  Doolittle, 

Belchertown,  Nov.,  1851. 


INDEX 


Alphabetical  List  of  Communicants  in  the  Church,  and 

numbers  identifying   persons 237  to  249 

Belchertotn'n.    Topography 13 

Equivalent  land ;  Cold  Spring ;   First  settlers  ; 

when  and  whence 16 

First  Precinct  meeting  by  Legislative  authority 84 

Town  Lacorporation 43 

Billing,  Eev.  Edward.    First  settled  minister 18 

His  ministry,  marriage,  dismission,  sketch  of. .  .25 — 30 

Bbainebd  Church.     (See  Church). 

Catechumen   System 35 — 37 

Church.    First  Congregational  organized 19 

Vote  of 38 

Faith  of 38—54 

Brainerd  organized 68 

The  two  united 70 

Alphabetical  list  of  members 237 

Chronological  list  of,  with  notices 84 

Clancy,  Rev.  John.    His  call,  installation  and  dismission 74 

Cold  Spring.    Township  first  so  called 15 

Coleman,  Hey.  Lyman.  His  call,  ordination,  marriage,  minis- 
try, dismission,  foreign  travels,  publications,  &C...61-66 


X  INDEX. 

Communicants  in  tlie  Cliurcli.     (See  Cliurch). 

Clironological  list  of  members 84 

Covenant.    Half  way  system  noticed 30 — 37 

Controversy  relating  to  it 28 

CuERENCY.    Variation  of 25 — 26 

Deacons 80 

Enfield,  Church  in  organized.    (See  marginal  number  206). 

Explanations  of  marginal  numbers,  &c 81 

Family  Instruction,  Religious,  &c.,  its  effects 44 

Forward,  Rev.  Justus.  His  call,  settlement,  marriage, 
ministry,  death ;  sketch  of  Hfe,  character  and 
lineage 38,  54,  66 

Mrs.  Forward's  death  noticed 55 

Genealogies  of  Families,  Early  Settlers  and  others. 

The  John  Smith  family,  (See  Appendix  A.) 251 

«  Lyman  "  "  B 253 

"  Bridgman  "  "  C 255 

«  Stebbins  "  '*  D 256 

"  Towne  «  "  E 258 

'«  Dwight  "  "  F 260 

«  Phelps  "  "  G 263 

«  Warner  «  "  H 264 

"  Bard  well  "  "  1 266 

«<  Hannvim  "  "  K 267 

"   Graves  «  "  L 268 

««  Cowles  «  ♦•  M 270 

«  Henry  Smith,  Rev.  "  N 271 

(See  marginal  numbers  (554,)  {555),  and  (565). 


INDEX  .  Xl 


The  Doolittle  family,  (See  Appendix  P.) ^ 273 

"  Filer  "         (See  marginal  numbersj^^j^lft' 380 

"  Root  «  "  "     ,^j^....^..r.^.l05 

«  Walker       "  "  «'    ^ 'X ^^....^..99 

"Montague   "  «  «         ..f.  .'!^..|..^a:022 


Law,  the  higher,  regarded  as  obligatory . .. .- /.>». .  f. ...... 46 

Meeting  House,  the  first  built ."....  .c^9 — 27 

Second .'J^ 50 

The  Brainerd  meeting  house  built .%, 70 

Missionary  Spirit  manifested '. 46 

Mortality,  ratio  of 45 

Northampton,  First  Congregational  Church  in,  organized 

(See  marginal  number) 105 

OViatt,  Rev.   George  A.    His  call,   ordination   over  the 

Brainerd  Church  and  Society 68 

His  marriage,   ministry,     installation  over  the 

united  Church,  dismission 70 — 72 

Mrs.  Oviatt's  death  noticed 73 

Pastors  of  the  Church,  periods  of  their  official  tenures. . .  .78,  7^ 

Petitions  to  the  General  Court 17,  27, 46 

Porter,  Rev.  Experience.  His  call,  installation,  mar- 
riage, dismission,  death,  sketch  of  his  life  and 
character 56 — GO 

Mes.  Porter's  death  noticed 59 

Also  see  Appendix  N 271 

Peecinci  Meeting,  the  first  called  in  the  place  by  or- 
der from  General  Court,  See  marginal  figure 
(1),  John  Smith 84 


Xll  INDEX. 

Peoprietoes,  original,  of  the  township 15 

Religion  and  Religious  Institutions,   importance  of,    in 

the  estimation  of  the  early  settlers 20 

Their  vigilance  to  sustain  them 28 

Revivals  of  Religion. 47,  48,  57,  63,  75 

Reid,  Rev.     Jared.     His     caU,     installation,    ministry, 

dismission,  &c 66 

Me8.  Reid's  death  noticed 67 

Revivals  op  Religion.    (See  Religion  and  Religious  Institutions.) 

Revolution,  war  of, 45 

French  war,  (see  marginal  figures) 42,  87 

Also  Note  B,  at  the  end  of  the  volume,  refer- 
red to  from  page  29. 

Schools,  first  in  the  place 45 

Settlement,  the  first  in  the  place 16 

Smith,  Rev.  Ethan,  sketch  of 48 

Stipend  connected  with  ministerial  call  and  settlement 25 

Wolcott,  Rev.  Samuel.  His  ordination  as  foreign  mission- 
ary, marriage,  travel  in  foreign  lands,  death  of 
his  wife,  return,  second  marriage,  installation 
and    ministry    here 75 — 77 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES 


OF    THE 


Cnngrfgntinnal  C|jurrli  nt  38drljfrtninn. 


The  territory,  now  Belcliertown,  is  situated  in  the 
easterly  pirt  of  the  county  of  Hampshire,  Massachusetts, 
twelve  miles  easterly  of  Connecticut  river,  and  fifteen 
from  North'^.mpton,  and  was  never  included  in  any  grant 
made  to  proprietors  of  any  other  township.  It  was  early 
known  and  designated  as  a  part  of  the  "  equivalent 
lands,"  and  so  known  many  years  before  any  permanent 
settlements  were  made  within  its  limits.  This  appella- 
tion was  given  in  consequence  of  the  following  histori- 
cal incidents.  The  first  grant  made  of  lands  in  Con- 
necticut by  the  Plymouth  Council  to  the  Earl  of  War- 
wick in  1630,  and  which  the  Earl  soon  assigned  to  Lord 
Say  or  Seal,  Lord  Brook  and  others,  was  very  indefinite  ;  the 
territory  conveyed  was  very  imperfectly  known.  John 
Mason,  as  agent  for  the  Colony  of  Connecticut,  in  1661, 
bought  of  the  Indians  all  lands  which  had  not  been  be- 
fore purchased  by  particular  towns,  and  made  a  surrender 
of  them  to  the  Colony.  The  Colonists  then  petitioned 
the  crown  for  a  charter  confirming  their  rights  to  the 
2 


14  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES    OF    THE 

tand.     In   1662,  Charles  II.  issued  his  letters  patent  in 
compliance  with  their  request,  and  fixed  the  boundaries  as 
follows :   "  All  that  part  of  his  Majesty's    Dominions  in 
New  England,  in  America,  bounded  east  by  Narraganset 
river,  commonly  called  Narraganset  Bay,  where  the  river 
falleth  into   the  sea ;  and  on    the  north  by    the  line  of 
Massachusetts  plantation,  and  on  the  south  by  the   sea, 
and  in  longitude  as  the  line  of  the  Massachusetts  Colony, 
running  from  east  to  west,  that  is  to  say,  from  the  said 
Narraganset  Bay  on  the  east  to  the  south  sea  on  the  west 
part,  with  the  Islands  thereunto  belonging."     The  north 
line  of  this  grant,  (as  well  as  others)  was  still  undefined ; 
settlements  were  beginning  in  Enfield,   Somers,  Wood- 
stock and  Suffield,  on  the  line  between  the  two  govern- 
ments ;  these  towns  were  supposed  to  lie  within  the  limits 
of  Massachusetts  ;  the  government  of  Massachusetts  ex- 
tended its  jurisdiction  over  them,  and  protected  them  in  the 
Indian  Avars.     This  state  of  things  continued  for   years, 
till  Indian  hostilities  had  subsided,  English  settlements 
multiplied,  and  lands  attained  to  some  value,  when  it  be- 
came necessary  to  ascertain  the  true  line  between  the  two 
governments,  with  more  accuracy  than  it  had  been   done 
in  the   original  grants.     A  survey  was  had,  and  it  was 
found  that  the  true  line  between  the  two  governments  was 
north  of  these  towns  ;  they  were  within  the  Connecticut 
line.    In  1648,  Enfield  was  granted  by  the  General  Court 
of  Massachusetts  to   Springfield;  in  1670,  a   grant  was 
made  by  the  same  authority,  of  the  town  of  Suffield   to 
Maj.  John  Pyncheon.     Lines    corresponding   with  these 
grants  included  Somers  and  Woodstock  within  Massa- 
chusetts, and  Massachusetts  claimed  the  jurisdiction  over 
them;   Connecticut  consented  to  that  jurisdiction,  upon 
condition  that  Massachusetts  should  grant  a  jurisdiction 


CONGKEGATIONAL    CnUKCH    IN    BELCHERTOWN.      15 

within  its  limits  to  Connecticut,  of  equal  extent,  as  an 
equivalent  ;  such  a  treaty  between  the  two  governments 
was  carried  into  effect.  Ware,  Belchertown,  and  Pelham, 
comprised  the  equivalent  territory.  At  that  time  no 
grants  had  been  made  to  any  individuals  or  proprietary 
within  these  territories  ;  they  were  a  part  of  the  public 
domain.  Connecticut  continued  to  hold  such  jurisdiction 
within  the  Massachusetts  lines  till  1727,  when  they  sold 
their  right  to  the  territory  now  Belchertown,  to  seven  in- 
dividuals residing  in  and  near  Boston,  in  six  equal- 
divisions  ;  the  first  division  to  Paul  Dudley  two  thirds, 
and  Col.  John  Wainright  one  third;  second  division  one 
sixth  to  John  Caswell ;  third  division  one  sixth  to  CoL 
Thomas  Fitch ;  fourth  division  one  sixth  to  Adington 
Devenport ;  fifth  division  one  sixth  to  Jonathan  Belcher, 
Esq.  ;  sixth  division  one  sixth  to  William  Clark's  heirs. 
During  the  months  of  Octoher  and  Novemher  of  that 
year,  the  territory  was  surveyed,  delineated,  and  plotted 
on  a  chart  by  Col.  Timothy  Divight  of  Northampton, 
This  chart  is  now  in  my  possession.  It  is  evidently  drawn 
with  great  accuiacy  by  the  hand  ot  a  master.  Col.  D wight 
was  much  employed  in  his  day  in  surveying  and  plotting 
towns  in  this  section  of  the  country.  He  was  the  grand- 
father of  Rev.  Timothy  Dwight,  D.  D.,  late  President 
of  Yale  College.  Upon  the  sale  of  this  territory  to  these 
proprietors,  the  jurisdiction  was  transferred  to  Massachu- 
setts, and  the  aforesaid  towns  within  the  Connecticut  lines 
taken  under  the  Connecticut  jurisdiction.  The  territory 
now  called  Belchertown  was  called  Cold  Spring.  The 
lines  in  Col.  Dwight's  survey  to  the  above  mentioned 
purchases,  contain  27,390  acres.  At  the  time  the  town 
was  incorporated,  in  June  1761,  by  the  name  of  Belcher- 
town, it  included  an  additional  territory  on  the  nortn,  not 


16  HISTORICAL  SKETCHES  OF  THE 

embraced  in  Col.  D wight's  survey,  of  about  12,000  acres, 
a  part  since  incorporated  with  Enfield,  No  sooner  had 
these  purchasers  obtained  the  Connecticut  title  to  this 
territory,  than  an  attempt  was  made  to  bring  forward  a 
settlement ;  to  that  time  no  permanent  settlements  had 
been  made  within  its  limits.  The  earlier  settlers  in 
the  towns  on  Connecticut  river,  from  Northampton, 
Hadley  and  Hatfield,  had  ranged  over  these  hills  and 
through  these  valleys  for  gain  ;  it  was  a  fine  hunting 
ground — game  in  abundance  ;  cattle  were  driven  in  herds 
from  these  places,  during  the  summer  season,  to  browse 
through  these  forests ;  temporary  settlements  were  made  for 
the  purpose  of  boxing  the  pines,  and  gathering  the  turpen- 
tine, and  perhaps  for  securing  a  competent  supply  of  candle- 
wood.     An  order  had  passed  the  town  of  Northampton  in 

1699,  that  no  more  candle-wood  should  be  collected  for  use 
within  seven  miles  of  the  meeting-house,  on  forfeiture  of 
the  same  ;   and  another   order  by  the  same  authority  in 

1700,  saying,  pine  trees  were  not  to  be  boxed  for  turpentine 
within  three  miles  ;  these  sources  of  gain  must  be  sought 
beyond  these  limits,  if  sought  at  all.  As  a  means  for 
bringing  forward  a  settlement  here,  the  Proprietors  pro- 
posed to  make  gratuitous  grants  to  the  settlers  in  the  older 
towns  on  the  river,  of  lands,  upon  condition  of  re- 
moval, and  permanent  settlement  upon  them.  The  propo- 
sals were  acceded  to,  and  several  families  from  North- 
ampton, Hatfield  and  Hadley  removed  here  in  July  1731. 
The  first  pioneers  w^cre  Samuel  Bascom,  Benjamin 
Stebbins,  and  Aaron  Lyman,  from  Northampton,  and 
John  Bard  well  and  Jonathan  Graves,  of  Haljield.  We 
have  no  local  records  of  their  transactions  anterior  to 
1739.  From  a  Petition  on  the  files  of  the  General  Court, 
in  the  State  Archives,    dated   December  1737,  signed  by 


CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH  IN  BELCHERTOWN.       17 

the  settlers,  we  learn  that  settlers  were  here,  and 
something  as  to  their  numbers  and  names.  They  say, 
*'  they  had  twenty  families,  and  more  expected  soon." 
They  pray  the  General  Court  to  grant  them  a  land  tax  to 
aid  them,  "  for  they  are  about  settling  a  minister  and  build- 
ing a  meeting  house."  In  another  Petition  presented  to 
the  General  Court,  dated  November  1738,  the  petitioners 
QBay,  "  we  have  agreed  with  Mr.  Noah  Merrick  to  settle 
with  us  in  the  gospel  ministry,  and  pray  for  the  privileges 
of  a  township."  Mr.  Merrick  did  not  settle  here.  In 
January  1739,  another  petition  was  presented  to  the  Gen- 
eral Court,  praying  for  the  same  privileges.  In  another 
petition  to  the  General  Court,  dated  November  1740,  the 
petitioners  say,  they  "  arc  greatly  in  debt  for  building  a 
meeting  house,  outside  covered  and  glazed,  and  a  minister 
settled  ;  we  are  hut  tioenty  families,  and  owe  Judge  Dud- 
ley and  others  over  two  hundred  pounds  for  lands  for  our 
minister's  settlement,  and  to  our  minister  between  two  and 
three  hundred  pounds  for  salary  and  settlement.  We 
have  sustained  preaching ^ye  or  six  years,  and  have  ad- 
vanced the  estates  of  the  proprietors  more  than  our  own 
by  settling  Cold  Spring,"  and  pray  for  permission  to  tax 
non-resident  land  to  aid  them.  The  names  appended  to 
these  petitions  were  substantially  the  same  ;  in  addition 
to  the  pioneers  already  named,  they  were  John  Smith,  Eh- 
enezer  Bridgman,  Moses  Hannum,  Eliakim  Phelps,  Joseph 
Bar  dwell,  Nathaniel  D  wight,  Ahner  Smith,  Joseph  Bridg- 
tttan,  Benjamin  Billings,  Stepthen  Craiofoot,  Thomas 
Graves,  Joseph  King,  and  Robert  Brown.  From  the  Pe- 
titions above  referred  to,  and  from  others  presented  about 
the  same  period  from  the  same  source,  we  obtain  thesfe 
facts  :  that  these  settlers  began  to  bring  forward  a  per- 
manent settlement  here  in  July  1731  ;  that  between  that 
2* 


18  HISTOEICAL  SKETCHES  OF  THE 

period  and  1736,  inclusive,  they  had  increased  to  twenty 
families;  that  in  November  1740,  they  were  but  twenty 
families,  and  greatly  embarrassed  with  debt ;  that  they 
had  sustained  preaching  five  or  six  years  with  that  number 
and  under  very  severe  trials.  The  first  records  to  be 
found  remaining  of  the  doings  here  by  these  settlers,  are 
under  date  February  1739,  and  relate  to  the  settlement  of 
the  Rev.  Edward  Billing,  the  first  settled  minister  in  the 
place.  Time  or  accident  has  removed  a  part  of  the  record  ; 
what  remains  is  a  part  of  Mr.  Billing's  answer  to  the  call 
of  the  people  to  settle  with  them  in  the  gospel  ministry. 
He  says, 

*'  The    two   hundred    acres    of   land  which  cost   two 

hundred  and pounds,  and    one   hundred  and  sixty 

pounds  to  be  paid  in  work  towards  building,  at  present, 
and  forty  pounds  more  to  be  paid  in  eight  years,  viz.  five 
pounds  a  year,  all  which  is  reckoned  as  settlement.  Af- 
ter a  consideration  of  the  call  and  invitation  which  the 
people  of  Cold-spring  have  given  me  to  settle  in  the  min- 
istry among  them,  I  have,  I  hope,  determined  with  a 
sense  of  my  insufficiency  for  so  great  a  work  without  di- 
vine conduct  and  assistance,  and  with  a  dependence  upon 
the  Lord  Jesus  in  that  work  in  this  place,  and  do  declarg 
my  acceptance  of  your  call.  Edwaed  Billing. 

Cold  Spring,  February  22d,  1739. 

This  answer  was  made  to  a  precinct  meeting  held  the 
same  date ;  a  vote  followed  appointing  John  Smith,  Sa?nu- 
el  Bascom,  Stephen  Crawjoot,  Aaron  Lyman  and  Jonathan 
Graves,  a  committee  to  agree  with  Mr.  Billing  about  the 
time  of  ordination,  and  to  send  letters  to  the  several 
churches  to  require  their  assistance.  No  record  remains  of 
the  precise    time   of  Mr.  Billing's  ordination,   but  from 


CONGREGATIONAL  CHUKCH  IN  BELCHERTOWN.        19 

sundry  entries  on  the  precinct  records  relating  to  him,  it 
is  pretty  certain  that  he  was  ordained  in  April  17^9. 
A  church  had  been  organized  here  previously,  but  the  ex- 
actness of  that  date  no  record  tells  us  when.  From  sun- 
dry acts  in  their  precinct  meetings,  their  provisions  for  a 
place  of  public  worship,  the  necessity  they  felt  resting 
upon  them  to  sustain  the  ordinances  of  the  gospel,  which 
appears  fully  in  their  doings,  as  well  as  the  traditionary 
account  of  the  matter,  the  evidence  is  quite  satisfactory  to 
my  own  mind  that  the  church  was  organized  in  the  spring 
of  1737.  No  church  records  are  remaining  of  any  thing 
anterior  to  February  26th  1756  ;  what  we  have  relating  to 
the  church,  before  that  date  is  gathered  from  other  sources. 
Connected  with  the  establishment  of  the  church, 
early  in  the  year  of  1737,  was  brought  up  the  subject 
of  erecting  a  meeting  house  ;  preparations  were  made, 
in  1738  it  was  raised,  covered,  and  used  as  a  place 
of  worship,  though  not  finished  till  1 746,  and  then  done 
in  a  manner  suited  to  the  embarrassed  circumstances  of 
the  settlement.  A  prominent  principle  that  seemed  to 
govern  all  their  doings,  was  to  sustain  the  ordinances  of 
religion,  the  ministry,  and  the  stated  public  worship  of 
God.  To  sustain  these  institutions  was  not  a  question  of 
policy  or  expediency  to  be  settled  as  freak  or  fancy  might 
lead  the  way.  In  their  estimation,  they  constituted  the 
moral  aliment  of  their  lives,  and  were  indispensable  for 
their  prosperity  in  all  things  temporal  as  well  as  spiritual. 
By  examining  the  records  of  the  doings  of  the  inhabit- 
ants of  Cold  Spring  for  twenty  years,  in  the  precinct 
meetings,  next  following  1741,  it  will  be  found  they  had 
about  seventy  meetings,  under  warrants  containing  over 
seven  hundred  distinct  articles  to  be  acted  upon ;  more 
than  one  half,  exclusive  of  the  organizing  the  meetings, 


80  HISTORICAL  SKETCHES  OP  THE 

telated  to  their  ecclesiastical  concerns.  A  prompt,  per- 
severing and  ever  wakeful  vigilance  to  sustain  the  great 
truths  of  the  Bible,  in  doctrine  and  duty,  and  to  give 
them  efficiency  in  life,  was,  in  their  view,  the  only  con- 
dition on  which  blessings  could  be  expected.  This  was 
not  an  original  thought  with  them.  It  was  the  Puri- 
ian  doctrine,  derived  from  higher  than  even  Puritan 
authority.  It  was  taught  by  Patriarchs,  Prophets,  and 
Apostles,  and  holy  men  in  all  ages  of  the  world.  It  took 
deep  root  in  the  hearts  of  the  great  Heformers  in  the  14th, 
15th,  16th  and  17th  centuries.  It  was  the  spirit-moving 
power  which  brought  the  Fathers  of  New  England  here, 
and  sustained  them  here,  in  defiance  of  all  opposition. 
It  is  this  doctrine,  in  its  results,  that  has  given  prosperity 
and  success  to  the  land  beyond  a  parallel  in  the  history 
of  the  world.  I  am  not  aware  that  the  experiment  has 
ever  been  made  by  any  government  in  any  age  of  the 
world,  till  it  was  made  by  the  Fathers  of  New  England, 
to  require  its  subjects,  by  legal  enactments,  to  sustain  re- 
ligious institutions  and  the  public  worship  of  God,  and  at 
the  same  time  extend  equal  governmental  protection  and 
toleration  to  all  classes  and  religious  denominations.  In 
New  England  the  experiment  has  been  made,  and  has 
succeeded  to  a  charm.  The  necessity  of  supporting  the 
institutions  of  religion,  and  toleration  to  those  of  all  re- 
ligious sects  alike  by  government,  was  an  article  of  the 
faith  of  the  New  England  Fathers  and  of  the  Patriots 
of  the  Revolution.  The  people  of  this  state  in  the  very 
outset — in  the  compact  on  which  hang  our  civil  and  reli- 
gious privileges,  so  far  as  governmental  agency  is  concern- 
ed, recorded  this  article  of  their  Faith.  They  say,  "  As 
the  happiness  of  a  people  and  the  good  order  and  preser- 
vation 6i  civil  government,  essentially    depend  on  piety. 


CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH  IN  BELCHERTOWN.        21 

religion  and  moralit)^  and  as  these  cannot  be  generally 
diffused  through  community  but  by  the  institutions  of  the 
public  worship  of  God  and  public  instructions  in  piety, 
religion  and  morality,  therefore  to  promote  their  hap- 
piness, and  to  secure  the  good  order  and  preservation  of 
their  government,  the  people  of  this  Commonwealth  have 
a  right  to  invest  their  Legislature  with  power  to  authorize 
and  require  the  several  towns,  parishes,  precincts  and  other 
bodies  politic  or  religious  societies,  to  make  suitable  pro- 
vision at  their  own  expense  for  the  institution  of  the  pub- 
lic worship  of  God,  and  for  the  support  and  maintenance 
of  public,  protestant  teachers  of  piety,  religion  and  mo- 
rality in  all  cases  where  such  provision  shall  not  be  made 
voluntarily."  The  requirements  of  the  constitution  above 
are  that  the  towns  and  parishes  etc.,  s/mZZ make  provision, 
at  their  own  expense,  for  the  institution  of  the  public 
worship  of  G«d,  and  for  the  support  and  maintenance  of 
public  protestant  teachers  of  piety,  religion  and  morality. 
The  reason  for  the  requirement  is  that  the  happiness  of 
the  people  and  the  good  order  and  preservation  of  civil 
government  essentially  depend  upon  it.  The  truth  asserted 
as  the  reason  for  the  requirement  no  one  will  deny  ;  that 
being  so,  the  requirement  is  just  and  indispensable.  The 
interpolation  into  the  Constitution  of  the  Commonwealth 
of  a  later  date,  adds  a  new  article  not  found  in  the  faith 
of  those  who  originally  framed  it,  and  adopted  it.  The 
new  article  ratified  November  11th,  1833,  admits  the  fact 
that,  '"'piety,  religion  and  morality  promote  the  h^ipipinesa, 
and  prosperity  of  a  people  and  the  security  of  a  Republi- 
can Government,"  but  does  not  recognize  the  truth  that 
the  happiness  and  prosperity  of  the  people,  or  the  securi- 
ty of  the  government  essentially  depend  upon  them,  and 
therefore  they  do  not  require  their  support  by  the  people, 


22  HISTORICAL  SKETCHES  OF  THE 

Should  the  day  arrive  when  there  shall  not  b^  one  organi- 
zed Religious  Society  within  this  Commonwealth,  nor  a 
public  teacher  of  piety,  religion  and  morality  maintained 
or  supported  within  its  limits,  no  provision  of  the  Con- 
stitution would  be  violated,  or  in  the  least  degree  infring- 
ed upon  by  it.  He  Avho  stretches  his  faith  to  such  an  ex- 
tent as  to  believe  that  a  Republican  Government  can  be 
sustained,  or  the  prosperity  and  happiness  of  any  people 
secured  or  perpetuated  in  any  other  way,  than  by  a  general 
diffusion  of  religious  tiuih  and  mamtiximng  public  teahcers 
ofpieti/,  religion  and  mortally  in  the  community,  is  in 
great  danger  of  falling  into  the  same  condemnation  which 
Baileau  said  the  Jesuits  fell  into — "  that  in  proportion  as 
they  le7igthened  their  creeds  they  shortened  the  command- 
ments.'' 

Whatever  human  governments  may  ordain  on  this  sub- 
ject can  never  change  the  laws^of  God,  nor  relieve  man 
from  an  imperative  duty  to  obey  wTThe  great  truth  written 
in  the  frame-work  of  the  Constitution  by  those  who  orig- 
inally framed  it,  is  but  a  transcript  of  God's  requirements 
written  upon  the  records  of  all  His  providential  dealings 
with  men  ;  neither  time,  nor  circumstance,  nor  the  ingenui- 
ty of  man,  nor  the  constitutions  and  laws  of  aU  human 
governmsnts  combined,  can  ever  change  or  mitigate  their 
claims.  They  will  remain  in  all  their  stern  demands 
while  the  moral  government  of  God  is  exercised  over  the 
affairs  of  this  world. 

The  relaxation  in  the  requirements  of  government,  ab- 
solving men  from  the  duty  of  sustaining  the  institutions 
of  religion,  is  predicated  upon  false  premises  ;  either  that 
men  will  vo/untariJy  give  to  these  institutions  all  needful 
support,  or  that  they  are  not  essential  to  be  supported  as 
necessary  means  of  prosperity  and  happiness  to  a  people. 


CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCH    IN    BELCHERTOWN.       23 

It  is  an  attribute  of  governmental  power,  acknowledged  by 
all,  to  require  of  the  subject  his  aid  and  assistance  in 
doing  that  which  is  essential  to  the  mainlenance  of  the 
government.  It  is  upon  this  principle  that  governments 
levy  their  demands  upon  the  labors  and  the  property  of 
the  subject  for  the  support  of  other  institutions^  the  means 
of  education,  support  of  public  schools,  public  roads, 
and  even  the  public  guide  posts,  are  deemed  so  essential 
to  the  public  weal  that  each  individual  is  required  to  con- 
tribute his  share  for  their  support ;  men  are  as  ready  to 
support  these  voluntarily  as  they  are  religious  institutionSy 
which  are  as  essential  to  the  public  welfare,  as  any  other, 
to  say  the  least  of  them.  Without  legal  exactions  men 
will  not  sustain  these  institutions,  essential  for  the  pros- 
perity and  happiness  of  a  people,  as  they  ought  to  be  sus- 
tained :  merely  voluntary  support  to  any  of  them  would 
be  inadequate,  unequal,  and  bring  unjust  burdens  on  a 
portion  of  the  community,  and  can  never  be  safely  relied 
upon.  Another  argument  resorted  to  for  doing  away  all 
legal  requirements  upon  men  to  sustain  religious  itisti'u- 
tions  is,  that  by  such  requirements  men  cannot  be  made  to  he 
religious^  and  therefore  all  legal  requirements  on  men,  on 
this  point,  are  useless.  Here,  from  a  self-evident  truth, 
false  reasoning  and  erroneous  conclusions  are  drawn.  It 
does  not  follow  that  because  one  cannot  be  made  to  love 
religious  truth  by  legal  enactments,  th-it  such  legal  enact- 
ments as  require  men  to  act  in  conformity  to  the  principle 
of  truth  and  righteousness  are  useless.  If  men  were  not  re- 
quired by  law  to  sustain  any  institution,  or  to  aid  any  ob- 
ject, only  such  as  they  loved,  or  could  be  made  to  love, 
it  is  feared  that  the  messengers  of  mercy,  truth  and  right- 
eousness would  beg  in  vain  at  the  doois  of  multitudes  for 
aid  in  any  thing  good.     Men  cannot  be  made  by  law  to 


24  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES    OP    THE 

love  honest  dealing,  yet  men  are  required  by  law  to  deal 
honestly.  A  law  requiring  men  to  support  schools,  does 
not  necessarily  make  men  love  the  object  they  are  requir- 
ed by  law  to  support.  Men  may  be  required  by  law  to 
perform  duties,  both  to  themselves  and  others,  without 
loving  the  cUities  the  law  requires  of  them.  The  require- 
ment does  imply  or  expect  a  change  of  character  in  men 
as  the  result  of  the  enactment. 

The  prevalent  faith  of  the  New  England  Fathers  was, 
that  government  should  require  its  subjects  to  support 
the  institutions  of  Religion  and  the  stated  public  worship 
of  God,  and  at  the  same  time  each  and  all  left  to  the  free 
exercise  of  their  own  will  and  directions  of  conscience  in 
all  matters  of  faith  and  practice.  Whatever  we  know  of 
them,  deviating  from  this,  were  exceptions  to  the  general 
rule.  These  Fathers  had  witnessed  the  struggles  in  the 
old  world  to  cramp  and  subdue  the  faith  and  conscience  of 
men  by  the  iron  rule  of  despotic  power,  and  saw  that  it 
was  all  in  vain.  They  had  learned  the  extent  of  govern- 
mental power  in  this  matter,  as  seen  in  "  corporation  acts, 
acts  of  uniformity  and  conventicle  acts,''  in  cruel  per- 
secutions, in  tragedies  of  Bartholomew  days,  in  tortures 
of  the  rack,  the  wheel,  the  cross  upon  faith  unconqucredy 
till  a  world  has  wept,  the  sun  and  the  moon  darkened, 
and  the  stars  withdrew  their  shining,  without  advancing 
one  step  towards  accomplishing  the  fated  undertaking. 

Another  principle  in  the  faith  of  the  New  England 
Fathers  was,  that  the  rtlation  existing  between  minister 
and  people,  and  the  duties  resulting  from  that  relation, 
were  mutual  and  reciprocal ;  extending  to  all  and  to  he  re- 
ciprocated hy  all.  There  were  no  wild  fowls,  in  that 
day,  claiming  the  courtesies,  the  sympathies,  the  atten- 
tions, and  the  varied  labors  of  the  minister,  while   they 


CONGKEGATIONAL    CHURCH    IN    BELCHERTOWN.       25 

loathed  his  ministration,  to  such  an  extent  as  to  forbid 
their  aid  in  his  support  and  maintenance.  Such  a  class 
should  not  claim  legitimacy  from  Puritanic  lineage ;  they 
belong  to  a  different  origin.  A  care  and  concern  were 
manifested  by  all  for  each,  and  each  felt  bound  to  lend  his 
aid  for  good  to  the  whole. 

In  1 744,  at  a  precinct  meeting,  they  appointed  a  com- 
mittee to  settle  with   Mr.  Billing  concerning  the  4Us  for 

EACH  FAMILY  THAT  COMES  INTO  THE  PLACE,  there  be- 
ing some  difficulty  that  arose  by  reason  of  some  fami- 
lies going  out  of  the  place.  Mr.  Billing's  salary  was  one 
hundred  pounds  a  year  and  his  wood,  but  varied,  as  the 
value  of  money  varied.  In  1745  a  vote  passed  in  pre- 
cinct meeting,  that  Mr.  Billing's  salary  should  be  paid  as 
to  rising  and  falling  of  money  as  near  to  what  Hatfield 
and  Hadley  pay  to  their  minister  (as  may  be,)  Mr.  Bil- 
ling being  present  and  agreeing  to  the  same.  The  sala- 
ry also  varied  according  to  the  number  of  the  families  ; 
one  hundred  pounds  was  predicated  on  twenty  families  ; 
if  more  came  into  the  place,  an  addition  oi  forty  shillings 
was  made  to  the  salary  for  each  family.  This  was  upon  the 
principle  that  all  were  to  be  partakers  in  the  support,  as 
well  as  the  benefits  of  these  institutions — held  as  indispen- 
sable, not  to  a  part  only,  but  to  all — and  if  so,  the  infer- 
ence was  irresistible  that  all  should  bear  a  share  in  their 
support.  When  the  salary  had  risen  to  one  hundred  and 
sixty  pounds,  it  was  deemed  sufficient.  It  was  never  to 
extend  beyond  that  sum,  and  to  be  varied,  as  to  the  num- 
ber of  families,  only  when  that  number  should  be  between 
twenty  and  fifty.  It  was  a  general  practice  in  New  Eng- 
land, from  its  earliest  settlement  till  about  the  commence- 
ment of  the  present  century,  to  connect  with  the  call  of  a 
minister  a  stipend  called  a  settlement^  in  addition  to  his 
3 


26  HISTORICAL  SKETCHES  OF  THE 

annual  salary.  Siicli  a  stipend  was  deemed  needful  to 
enable  him  to  sustain  the  expenses  of  living  till  the  sala- 
ry became  due  at  the  end  of  the  year ;  this  settlement,  in 
amount,  was  ordinarily  about  the  same  as  one  year's  sala- 
ry. It  is  evident  that  the  settlement  connected  with  the 
call  to  Mr.  Billing,  was  estimated  at  a  much  greater 
amount.  As  the  lands  and  labor  in  building  a  house  were 
estimated,  they  were  about  400  pounds  ;  the  lands  were 
unproductive  and  nearly  useless.  At  the  close  of  the 
first  year  after  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Billing,  May  1st, 
1740,  a  vote  pissed,  "to  pay  up  Mr.  Billing's  salary  an- 
nually to  the  first  of  May,  and  it  is  to  be  remembered  that 
silver  goes  at  twenty -nine  shillings  per  ounce,  and  we  pro- 
pose to  pay  equal  to  that.''  This  was  called  oM  tenor.  In 
October,  1741,  at  a  precinct  meeting,  a  vote  passed  "that 
money  should  be  raised  in  the  next  rate  to  pay  the  cost  of 
Rev.  Mr.  Billing's  wedding.  At  another  meeting  held 
soon  after,  a  vote  passed  to  pay  Deacon  John  Smith  one 
pound  eleven  shillings  and  four  pence,  for  Veal  had  for 
Mr.  Billing  s  icedding.''  Better,  far  better  would  be  a 
dinner  of  herbs  on  such  an  occasion,  with  the  feelings  that 
prompted  these  acts  towards  their  minister,  than  a  stalled 
ox  and  contention  therewith.  Such  a  vote,  to  pay  for  a 
leg  of  veal,  for  such  an  occasion,  at  this  day,  might  lead 
some  '"'- to  sign  off,''  or  cast  a  grimace-look  at  goodness 
such  as  this  ;  for  modish  vice,  with  ease,  can  dart  a  sneer 
at  virtues  obsolete.  Another  vote  passed  at  the  same 
meeting,  to  pay  Thomas  Brown  thirteen  shillings  for  can- 
dle loood  got  for  Mr.  Billing.  These  acts,  though  tri- 
fling in  themselves,  spoke  a  language  full  of  import ;  the 
spirit  that  prompted  them,  gave  life  and  energy  and  mar- 
tyr zeal  and  faith  to  persevere  under  trials  most  severe 
and  discouraging.    While  voluntarily  assuming  on  them- 


CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH  IN  BELCHERTOWN.       27 

selves  these  expenses,  for  the  benefit  of  their  minister, 
even  to  minute  items,  they  had  but  scanty  means ;  they  were 
burdened  with  heavy  taxes,  and  compelled  to  make  great 
sacrifices  for  the  support  of  themselves  and  their  families. 
I  give  their  own  story  in  the  case.  In  a  petition  to  the 
General  Court,  they  say,  "  Three  quarters  of  the  township 
is  in  the  hands  of  five  or  six  or  a  few  more  proprietors, 
who  have  drawn  us  into  difficulties  ;  and  now  seem  to  cut 
us  off.  Some  of  us  who  own  150  acres  of  land  only,  have 
been  rated  in  a  single  rate  over  twenty  pounds.  Some 
proprietors  (non-resident)  own  thousands  of  acres  around 
us,  and  pay  not  a  penny."  They  pray  the  government  to 
allow  -  them  to  raise  a  tax  on  lands  of  non-resident  pro- 
prietors ;  this  petition  was  dated  1741,  drawn  by  Col. 
Timothy  Dwight,  of  Northampton,  who  was  the  first 
signer  ;  the  petition  was  not  at  that  time  granted,  but  they 
persevered  in  their  requests.  In  May,  1742,  they  petition 
again  to  the  General  Court  for  the  same  power,  to  tax 
non-resident  lands.  They  say,  "this  township  is  a  part 
of  the  equivalent  land,  so  called ;  the  whole  was  owned 
by  a  few  gentlemen  who  bought  it  of  Connecticut,  and 
four  fifths  of  it  or  more  is  now  in  the  hands  of  these  gen- 
tlemen, or  others  that  hold  under  them,  and  live  at  a  dis- 
tance. About  twenty  of  us  have  actually  removed  to  this 
place  with  our  families,  and  have  settled  a  minister,  raised, 
covered  and  glazed  a  meeting  house.  The  minister's 
settlement  is  but  half  accomplished,  nor  has  the  cost  of 
finishing  the  meeting  house  been  yet  expended  (paid). 
The  minister's  house  which  we  undertook,  is  neglected, 
and  may  rot  doAvn  half  finished  ;  this  is  all  discouraging." 
"  Our  minister  must  leave  us  if  we  cannot  have  aid.^^ 
This  petition  prevailed,  and  leave  was  given  to  tax  "  all 
lands  in  the   townshij),  one  penny  an  acre,  to  fulfil   the 


28  HISTOKICAL    SKETCHES    OF    THE 

contract  with  the  minister  and  finish  the  meeting  housed 
The  embarrassed  condition  of  the  settlers  referred  to  in 
these  petitions,  retarded  the  growth  of  the  settlement. 
There  was  very  little,  if  any,  increase  of  population,  from 
1736  to  1742.  After  the  power  was  granted  to  tax  the 
property  in  just  and  equal  proportions,  to  sustain  their 
Religious  institutions,  which  were  indispensable  to  their 
prosperity,  the  settlement  advanced,  and  success  attended 
them.  Some  of  the  means  which  they  took  to  secure  and 
perpetuate  success,  appear  in  their  votes.  One  was  an 
increase  of  the  minister's  salary,  that  his  labors  may  not 
be  lost.  Another  vote  was  taken  to  appoint  a  committee 
to  see  that  there  should  be  no  disorderly  conduct  upon 
the  Sabhath.  With  such  a  vigilance,  success  attended 
them.  The  population,  for  ten  years  next  following 
1742,  more  than  doubled.  At  Mr.  Billing's  dismission, 
April  1752,  there  were  50  families  oro^cr. 

The  causes  which  lead  to  the  dismission  of  Mr.  Billing 
arose  from  a  difference  between  him  and  the  church,  as 
to  the  qualifications  for  church  membership.  A  major- 
ity of  the  church  had  adopted  the  system  of  faith,  known 
at  the  day,  as  *'  the  half  tvay  covenant.''  More  than  forty 
years  previously,  a  controversy  had  arisen  on  this  subject 
between  Rev.  Increase  Mather,  of  Boston,  and  Rev. 
SoLOMOisr  Stoddard,  of  Northampton.  This  controver- 
sy had  been  carried  on  through  the  press  ;  many  of  the 
New  England  churches  were  divided  in  opinion  on  the 
subject,  Mr.  Stoddard  maintaining  the  "  half  way  cove- 
nant "  doctrine,  Mr.  Mather  rejecting  it.  The  occasion 
which  raised  the  difficulty  between  Mr.  Billing  and  the 
church  at  that  time  was  the  calling  the  council  at  North- 
ampton for  the  dismission  of  President  Edwards. 
That  council  convened,  by  letters  missive,  June  22d,  1750 ; 


CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH  IN  BELCHERTOWN.        29 

this  church  received  a  letter  requesting  their  attendance 
to  sit  in  council,  by  pastor  and  delegate.  A  majority  of 
the  church  refused  a  compliance,  alleging  as  a  reason, 
that  they  did  not  agree  with  Mr.  Edwards  on  this  point, 
(the  half  way  covenant),  and  voted  their  unwillingness 
that  Mr.  Billing  should  attend  the  council.  He  did  how- 
ever attend,  and  sat  in  that  council,  as  appears  by  their 
doings,  contained  in  the  life  of  President  Edwards.  In 
naming  the  members  of  that  ever-memorable  council,  it  is 
said,  "The  Rev.  Mr.  Billing,  from  Cold  Spring,  was 
present,  without  a  Delegate."  Mr.  Edwards  was  or- 
dained at  Northampton  as  colleague  pastor  with  Mr. 
Stoddard,  Feb.  15,  1727.  Soon  after  his  dismission,  dif- 
ficulties arose  here  between  Mr.  Billing  and  the  church. 
Several  councils  were  called.  This  appears  by  records, 
though  the  nature  of  the  difficulties  does  not  appear  by 
records  ;  yet  they  do  by  other  writings  still  remaining. 
These  councils  were  called  between  June  1750  and  April 
1752,  when  he  was  dismissed.  See  note  B.  at  end  of  the 
volume.  He  preached  here  a  few  Sabbaths  after  his  dis- 
mission the  same  year.  Afterwards,  28th  March,  1754, 
he  was  installed  as  the  first  Pastor  of  the  Church  in 
Greenfield,  where  he  died  soon  after.  He  was  a  native  of 
Sunderland.  At  the  time  of  his  birth,  Sunderland  was  a 
part  of  Hadley.  He  was  a  graduate  of  Harvard  College 
in  1731 — settled  here  in  1739 — married  Miss  Lucy  Par- 
sons of  Amherst,  a  sister  of  Rev.  David  Parsons,  the  first 
minister  of  Amherst,  in  1741.  Rev.  Mr.  Billing  died 
at  Greenfield,  about  1757  ;  no  record  can  be  found  of  the 
exact  time  of  his  death.  His  estate  was  settled  in  the 
Probate  Office,  in  this  County ;  closed  August  1 760, 
when  his  widow  Lucy  was  appointed  Guardian  to  four 
minor   sons,    Edward,   Ebenezer,   Jonathan   and  Ethan, 


30  HISTORICAL  SKETCHES  OF  THE 

all  under  fourteen  jears  of  age.  It  is  to  be  regretted 
that  so  little  can  be  found,  from  which  even  a  sketch  can 
be  drawn  of  his  life  and  character.  I  have  never  found 
a  person  that  knew  him,  and  have  sought  in  vain  the 
monument  to  tell  me  where  his  body  lies.  Traditionary 
history  imputes  to  him  unusual  energy  of  character,  ar- 
dent zeal  and  devotedness  to  the  work  in  which  he  was 
engaged.  As  this  church  once  embraced  the  doctrine  of 
the  "  halfway  covenant,'"  even  a  sketch,  historical,  of  the 
church  would  seem  to  require  a  passing  notice  of  that 
system  of  Faith  ;  especially  so,  as  various  and  erroneous 
imputations  have  been  made  upon  those  who  embraced 
it.  In  "  Fessenden's  Encyclopedia  of  Religious  Know- 
ledge,'' published  in  1838,  under  the  article  "Rev.  Solo- 
mon Stoddard,  minister  of  Northampton,"  I  find  the 
following.  "  Mr.  Stoddard  was  a  learned  man,  well 
versed  in  religious  controversies,  and  himself  an  acute 
disputant.  He  engaged  in  a  controversy  with  Increase 
Mather,  respecting  the  Lord's  Supper,  unfortunately 
maintaining  that  the  sacrament  was  a  convertirig  ordi- 
nance, and  that  all  baptized  persons  not  scandalous  in 
life,  may  lawfully  approach  the  table,  though  they 
know  themselves  to  be  unconverted  and  destitute  of 
true  religion."  In  Barber's  History  of  Massachusetts, 
published  in  1844,  in  a  sketch  of  Northampton,  a  similar 
statement  is  made  as  to  Mr.  Stoddard.  Other  writers 
have  imputed  to  him  and  the  divines  and  churches  of  his 
day,  embracing  his  faith,  the  same  doctrinal  belief. 

So  far  as  I  know,  it  is  the  prevalent  opinion  at  this  day 
that  the  great  errors  which  these  men  and  churches  em- 
braced and  taught,  were  that  the  sacrament  was  a  con- 
verting ordinance,  and  that  such  unregenerate  baptized 
persons  as  were  described  might  come  to  the  communion 


CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCH    IN    BELCHERTOWN.       31 

table.  The  "  half-way  covenant  "  system,  has  become  a 
part  of  New  England  church  history  ;  a  system  very  prev- 
alent in  the  churches,  at  the  beginning  of  the  last  cen- 
tury, and  should  be  rightly  understood.  In  the  exami- 
nations that  I  have  been  able  to  make,  I  can  find  no  evi- 
dence that  Mr.  Stoddard,  or  the  divines  and  churches 
that  embraced  his  faith,  held  either  of  the  doctrines  im- 
puted to  them.  I  have  searched  without  effect  to  find 
any  profession  of  faith  left  by  them  of  such  import,  and 
am  constrained  to  believe  it  exists  only  in  historical  error. 
I  find  summaries  of  their  faith,  penned  and  left  by  them- 
selves, and  at  different  times,  which  I  have  no  doubt 
comprises  the  compendium  of  their  faith,  as  to  the  ordi- 
nances of  the  church.  From  the  doings  of  those  promi- 
nent in  teaching  the  doctrine  of  the  "  half-way  covenant,'' 
under  date  1666,  I  find  the  following.  "  It  is  voted  and 
agreed  by  the  church,  that  such  among  us,  being  settled 
inhabitants,  that  give  no  ground  to  hope,  in  charity  there 
may  be  some  good  thing  in  them  towards  the  Lord  though 
but  in  the  lowest  degree,  and  sustaining  and  believing 
the  doctrines  of  faith,  publicly,  sincerely  and  freely  pro- 
fessing their  assent  thereunto,  not  scandalous  in  life,  sol- 
emnly taking  hold  of  the  covenant,  wherein  they  give  up 
themselves  and  their  children  to  the  Lord,  and  his  church, 
subjecting  themselves  with  fear  and  humbleness  of  mind 
to  the  government  of  Christ  therein,  sincerely  engaging 
to  rest  content  with  that  share  and  portion  of  privileges 
belonging  to  them  that  are  only  in  a  state  of  education, 
in  (Ihrist's  house,  during  the  time  of  their  continuance  in 
that  state,  and  not  essay  of  the  breaking  in  u^ion  the 
privilege  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  and  resting  until  they 
shall  be  adjudged  upon  due  examination,  to  hold  forth 
such  an  experimental  work  of  faith,  and  seriously  discov- 


32  HISTORICAL  SKETCHES  OF  THE 

ering  and  exercise  thereof  as  may  fit  them  for  the  enjoy- 
ment and  improvement  of  the  aforesaid  privileges  with 
comfort  to  themselves  and  others,  and  therefore  be  order- 
ly admitted  thereunto  by  those  of  the  church  to  whom 
that  power  is  given  by  Christ — such  persons  thus  qual- 
ified, upon  their  desire,  upon  due  order  observed,  may 
themselves  be  entertained  into  a  state  of  membership, 
and  have  their  children  baptized  and  admitted  to  com- 
munion in  the  church,  so  far  as  they  are  fit  for  the  same. 
Also  the  adult  children  hitherto  un-baptized,  of  consid- 
erate behavior,  without  selves  coming  up  to  the  afore- 
said qualifications,  may  be  accepted  members,  and  them- 
selves baptized — E.om.  ch.  14,  v.  1  ;  Matt.  ch.  16,  v.  16, 
18  ;  Acts  ch.  8,  v.  12,  and  ch.  18,  v.  8  ;  Deut.  ch.  26,  v. 
17,  18,  and  ch.  29,  v.  12,  13  ;  John  ch.  24,  v,  18  ;  2d 
Cor.  ch.  8,  V.  5  ;  John  ch.  9,  v.  21."  I  also  find  a  dec- 
laration of  the  faith  of  those  who  embraced  "  the  half-way 
covenant"  doctrine  drawn  by  themselves,  minister  and 
church,  and  adopted  under  date  of  Nov.  5,  1672,  as  fol- 
lows :  "  Voted  and  consented  to  by  the  Elders  and 
Brethren  of  the  Church,  that  from  year  to  year,  such  as 
grow  up  to  adult  age  in  the  cliurch,  shall  present  them- 
selves to  the  Elders,  and  if  they  be  found  to  understand 
and  assent  unto  the  doctrine  of  faith,  not  to  be  scanda- 
lous in  life,  and  willing  to  subject  themselves  to  the  gov- 
ernment of  Christ  in  this  church,  shall  publicly  own  the 
covenant,  be  acknowledged  members  of  this  church. 
Heb.  ch.  10,  v.  28,  29  ;  Isaiah  ch.  44,  v.  5.  A  form  of 
words  expressing  the  sum  of  the  covenant  to  be  used  in 
the  admission  of  members  into  a  state  oj  education  :  You 
do  here  publicly  take  hold  of  the  covenant  of  the  Lord 
as  a  grace-bestowing  covenant,  subjecting  yourself  to  the 
teachings  and  government  of  Jesus  Christ,  in  this  church, 


CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCH    IN    BELCHERTOWN.      33 

and  engage  according  to  your  place  and  power  to  promote 
the  welfare  of  it ;  and  we  do  here  publicly  acknowledge 
you  a  member  of  this  chuich  of  Christ  in  a  state  of  educa- 
tion, promising  to  watch  over  you  for  the  good  of  your 
soul,  and  take  care  of  your  instruction  and  government 
in  the  Lord,  and  to  make  you  partaker  of  such  privileges 
as  by  the  rules  of  Christ  belong  unto  you.  A  form  of 
words  to  be  used  in  the  admission  of  members  to  full 
communion  :  You  do  here  publicly  take  hold  of  the  cove- 
nant of  the  Lord,  giving  up  yourself  to  him  to  be  one  of 
His,  subjecting  yourself  to  the  teaching  and  government 
of  Jesus  Christ  in  this  church,  and  engage  according  to 
your  place  and  power  to  promote  the  welfare  thereof. 
And  we  do  here  publicly  acknowledge  you  a  member  of 
the  church  in  ftill  communion,  promising  to  walk  towards 
you  in  brotherly  love,  to  watch  over  you  for  the  good  of 
your  soul,  to  take  care  of  your  instruction  and  govern- 
ment in  the  Lord,  and  make  you  partaker  of  all  such 
privileges  as  by  the  rules  of  Christ  belong  to  you." 

The  compendium  of  faith  as  given  in  the  above  ex- 
tracts, from  the  writings  of  those  that  embraced  it,  is  the 
most  definite  and  full  of  any  thing  that  I  have  been  able 
to  find  on  this  subject.  From  these  it  is  most  manifest 
that  they  did  not  hold  the  sacrament,  one  or  more,  as  a 
converting  ordinance.  Baptism  was  administered  to  such 
as  did  not  profess  to  have  experienced  religion;  such 
were  considered  church  members,  as  under  the  watch  and 
care,  and  subject  to  the  discipline  of  the  church,  but  were 
in  "a  state  of  education,''  not  considered  by  themselves 
or  the  church  as  regenerated  persons.  Hence  baptism 
was  not  held  as  a  converting  ordinance  to  them.  They 
were  not  admitted  to  the  Lord's  table.  They  must  "  not 
essay  of  the  breaking  in  upon  the  privilege  of  the  Lord's 


34  HISTORICAL  SKETCHES  OF  THE 

Supper."  It  is  equally  clear  that  a  further  qualification 
of  christian  character  was  needful  before  they  could  be 
admitted  to  the  Lord's  table  "  to  full  communion,"  and 
that  character  must  be  judged  of  upon  due  examination, 
and  the  question  settled  upon  "  their  holding  forth  such 
an  experimental  work  of  faith  and  exercise  thereof  as 
would  fit  them  for  admission,"  and  this  work  of  faith 
wrought  in  them  before  coming  to  the  Table.  They  fur- 
thermore say  in  explicit  language,  "  the  Lord's  Supper, 
as  to  the  subjects  thereof,  is  not  of  equal  extent  with 
Baptism,  therefore  ought  not  to  be  administered  to  all 
the  members  of  the  church,  but  to  those  among  them  only 
as  are  endued  with  such  measure  of  divine  knowledge, 
spiritual  afi'ection,  and  lively  exercise  of  repentance,  faith, 
love,  and  new  obedience,  as  they  may  feed  on  Christ 
spiritually  in  the  eating  his  flesh,  and  drinking  his  blood 
for  their  spiritual  nourishment,  and  furtherance  of  com- 
fort and  growth  in  grace."  In  this  summary  it  is  most 
clearly  proved  that  they  did  not  hold  Baptism  or  the 
Lord's  Supper,  one  or  both,  as  converting  ordinances  ; 
neither  did  they  admit  persons  to  the  communion  table 
known  to  be  destitute  of  religion.  It  will  be  found  more- 
over, in  examining  the  controversy  between  Mr.  Stod- 
dard and  Mr.  Mather,  before  alluded  to,  that  Mr.  Stod- 
dard did  not  attempt  to  maintain  either  of  these  articles 
of  faith  as  they  are  imputed  to  him.  The  position  which 
he  assumed  for  claiming  jurisdiction  over  baptized  per- 
sons, bringing  them  under  the  watch,  care  and  discipline 
of  the  church,  placing  them  in  "a  state  of  education," 
and  admitting  them  as  members  of  the  church,  while  they 
were  unregenerate  and  destitute  of  religion,  was  upon  a 
supposed  strong  and  close  analogy  between  the  constitu- 
tion of  the  Jewish  and  Christian  Church.     The  masterly 


CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH  IN  BELCHERTO^YN.        35 

argument  of  President  Edwards,  in  his  review  of  Mr. 
Stoddard's  theory  on  the  subject,  was  mainly  directed  to 
obviate  arguments  drawn  from  that  source,  and  to  show 
that  (whatever  analogy  there  might  have  been  in  the 
constitution  of  the  church  under  the  former  and  latter 
dispensation)  none  were  admitted  as  members  of  the 
Christian  Church,  by  authority  of  Christ  or  his  Apostles, 
but  such  as  professed  their  faith  in  Christ. 

Those  who  held  the  doctrine  of  "  the  half-v/ay  cove- 
nant," claimed  the  right  to  exercise  jurisdiction  over  all 
baptized  persons  on  the  same  ground,  that  is,  church  gov- 
ernment under  the  Hebrew  Theocracy. 

I  find  under  date  August  1714,  at  a  meeting  of  an 
association  of  ministers  in  Hampshire  County,  who  had 
adopted  the  "half-way  covenant'*  system,  a  protestation 
of  their  faith  on  this  point  as  follows  : 

"  If  any  baptized  person  living  in  our  towns  shall  fall 
into  any  scandalous  transgression,  though  he  hath  not 
actually  owned  the  covenant,  we  will  proceed  with  such 
person  as  if  he  had  actually  owned  the  covenant," 
assigning  their  reasons  for  so  doing  and  predicating  their 
acts  upon  the  following  Bible  authorities,  Deut.  ch.  17, 
v.  2,  3;  2d  Chron.  ch.  19,  v.  10;  Exodus  ch.  24,  and 
Deut.  ch.  27. 

This  whole  system  of  doctrine  and  practice  denominated 
"the  half-way  covenant,"  very  much  resembled  the  an- 
cient "catechumen"  system  of  doctrine  and  practice 
introduced  into  the  christian  church  at  a  very  early  period 
of  its  history,  about  the  close  of  the  first,  and  beginning 
of  the  second  century.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Coleman,  in  his 
learned  treatise  "  Christian  Antiquities,"  says  Catechu- 
mens, in  the  ancient  church,  were  candidates  for  baptism, 
under  instruction  for  admission  into  the  christian  church. 


86  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES    OF    THE 

Those  who  were  entitled  to  partake  of  the  Lord's  Supper 
were  exclusively  denominated  the  faithful ;  they  occupied 
the  rank  of  approved  christians,  as  the  "  half-way  cove- 
nant" would  express  it  "in  full  communion."  There  were 
several  other  classes  of  persons,  who,  though  connected 
with  the  church,  and  forming  constituent  parts  of  it,  were 
separated  from,  and  inferior  to,  the  former,  being  in  vari- 
ous stages  of  advancement  toAvards  a  qualification  for  the 
holy  rights  of  the  gospel ;  these  were  called  cafechumens. 
The  "half  way-covenant"  would  consider  them  in  "a 
state  of  education,"  and  in  process  of  qualification  for 
"full  communion."  In  the  catechumen  system,  reading 
the  scriptures,  fasting,  prayer,  and  various  modes  of  cate- 
chetical and  doctrinal  instruction  were  resorted  to  as 
means  for  the  station  of  "  believers,"  or  "  approved  chris- 
tians." They  were  kept  in  this  state  of  pupilage  for 
different  periods  of  time.  Mr.  Coleman  says,  "  in  general 
it  lasted  two  or  three  years,  sometimes  much  longer." 
When  duly  prepared  by  this  instruction  they  were  admit- 
ted into  the  church,  as  the  catechumens  expressed  it,  as 
"believers,"  "enlightened,"  "initiated."  As  those  who 
belonged  to  the  half-way  covenant  express  it,  "  to  full 
communion."  We  learn  from  "  Christian  Antiquities," 
as  well  as  from  other  ecclesiastical  history,  that  the  Cate- 
chumens were  not  permitted  to  partake  of  the  Eucharist, 
though  they  were  members  of  the  church  ;  in  the  language 
-of  the  half-way  covenant  believers,  "  they  must  not 
essay  of  the  breaking  in  on  the  privilege  of  the  Lord's 
Table." 

The  instruction  given  to  the  Catechumens,  was  such  as 
Was  suited  to  their  age  and  capacity,  and  an  indispensa- 
ble preliminary  to  their  admission  into  the  church.  Cat- 
echumens were  divided  into  several  classes  ;  these  varied 


CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH  IN  BELCHERTOWN.       37 

in  different  churches.  The  object  of  all  the  churches  was 
to  prepare  the  candidate  for  admission  by  instructing  him 
in  the  doctrines  and  duties  of  religion,  and  was  deemed  a 
great  safe-guard  to  the  church  against  unworthy  mem- 
bers, by  hasty  admissions.  It  is  quite  manifest  that 
those  professing  the  half-way  covenant  system  re- 
quired more  knowledge  of  religious  truth  of  those  they 
admitted  to  a  state  of  education,  than  the  primitive 
church  required  of  the  Catechumen.  The  reason  for  ad- 
mitting these  classes  of  persons  members  of  the  church, 
was  because  without  such  admission  the  church  would  not 
have  that  jurisdiction  over  them  in  instruction  and  disci- 
pline which  was  supposed  to  be  essential  for  their  right 
training  to  become  members  of  the  church  in  full  com- 
munion. The  catechumen  system  was  not  introduced  till 
after  the  age  of  the  Apostles.  To  detail  more  fully  the 
two  systems  of  the  half-way  covenant  and  the  catechu- 
men, would  not  be  in  accordance  with  my  design  in  this 
sketch.  By  a  comparison  of  the  compendium  of  the  half- 
way covenant,  and  that  of  the  catechumen,  the  analogy 
between  them  will  appear  clear  and  conclusive.  I  cannot 
learn  that  any  written  summary  of  the  faith,  or  covenant, 
or  rules  of  action  of  this  church,  contained  the  half-way 
covenant  doctrine.  It  is  certain  that  none  since  1756, 
has  ever  embraced  any  such  compendium,  yet  there  is  no 
doubt  the  half-way  covenant  practice  prevailed  in  this 
church,  from  its  earliest  existence  till  after  Mr.  Forward!* 
settlement.  The  first  articles  of  faith  and  church  cove- 
nant adopted  by  this  church,  at  its  organization,  are  not 
in  existence.  Not  many  years  after  Mr.  Forward's  settle- 
ment here  I  find  a  vote  of  this  church  as  follows : 

*'  Voted,  that  we  will  not  admit  in  future  any  person 
into  the  church  as  a  member,  but  such  as  give  preponder- 
4 


38  HISTOKICAL    SKETCHES    OF    THE 

ating  evidence,  or  such  evidence  as  the  circumstances  of 
the  case  will  admit,  that  they  are  really  such  as  they 
profess  to  be  ;  that  is  christians,  and  by  christians  we 
mean  regenerated  persons." 

The  date  of  this  vote  is  a  little  uncertain,  probably  as 
late  or  later  than  1770  ;  but  the  practice  in  the  church  had 
prevailed,  as  expressed  in  the  vote,  before  the  vote  was 
taken.  The  church  articles  of  faith  since  1756,  have 
been  those  known  as  orthodox.  From  the  dismission  of 
Mr.  Billing,  the  people  remained  destitute  of  a  settled 
ministry  about  three  years  and  ten  months  ;  they,  how- 
ever, sustained  preaching  and  maintained  the  ordinances. 
Mr.  Dickinson,  Mr.  Pierce,  and  others,  ministered  to 
them.  Mr.  Forward  came  amo^g  them  for  a  supply,  by 
invitation,  in  the  fall  of  1755.  On  the  8th  of  December, 
at  a  precinct  meeting,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  see 
him  in  relation  to  the  continuing  his  labors  among  them. 
Mr.  Forward  had  been  engaged  to  sujiply  for  a  time,  and 
had  fulfilled  the  engagement.  The  committee  were  au- 
thorized to  call  a  meeting  to  consider  the  subject  of 
giving  him  a  call  to  settle  among  them.  A  meeting  was 
called  and  holden  on  the  ninth  day  of  January  1756; 
the  subject  considered  and  a  call  given  by  a  universal 
vote,  and  a  committee  chosen  to  treat  with  Mr.  Forward, 
on  the  subject  of  his  settlement.  Various  jn'oposals  were 
made  as  to  terms,  which  were  not  satisfactory  ;  the  diffi- 
culty attending  the  negotiation  seemed  to  arise  from  the 
fluctuation  of  the  currency,  or  how  to  estimate  the  real 
value  of  nominal  sums.  Nominal  sums  were  continually 
varying  as  to  their  intrinsic  worth.  It  was  finally  pro- 
posed to  offer  Mr.  Forward  one  hundred  acres  of  land, 
and  eighty  pounds  in  lawful  money,  to  be  paid  in  labor 
towards  building  Mr.    Forward  a  house,  for  settlement. 


CONGKEGATIONAL    CHUKCH    IN  BELCHERTOWN.       39 

And  for  salary,  to  give  him  forty-six  pounds  thirteen 
shillings  and  four  pence,  lawful  money  the  first  year,  and 
raise  one  pound  six  shillings  and  eight  pence  a  year,  for 
ten  years  to  come,  which  will  make  it  sixty  pounds,  and 
then  after  ten  years,  to  pay  him  sixty  pounds  lawful 
money  a  year,  so  long  as  he  continues  jDastor  of  this 
church,  and  cut  and  draw  his  fire-wood,  off  from  Mr. 
Forward's  own  land.  To  the  call  of  the  people  to  settle 
with  them  and  the  proposals  offered  him,  Mr.  Forward 
returned  the  following  answer. 

"  To  the  church  of  Christ,  in  the  township  of  Cold- 
Spring,  and  to  the  inhabitants  of  said  town,    greeting  : 

Beloved  and  Friends. — I  have  taken  into  consideration 
your  invitation  to  me,  to  settle  among  you,  in  the  work 
of  the  gospel  ministry,  as  manifested  to  me  by  your  com- 
mittee, on  the  evenings  succeeding  the  9th  and  the  19th 
of  January,  as  also  the  offers  of  the  town  to  induce  me  so 
to  do,  and  proposals  respecting  provision  for  my  mainten- 
ance, and  outward  support,  in  case  I  should  settle  in  that 
work  among  you  as  manifested  to  me  by  the  same  com- 
mittee, on  the  evening  last  mentioned,  and  for  your  good 
will  towards  me  hereby  manifested,  I  can  but  render  you 
my  grateful  acknowledgments.  I  have  taken  the  advice 
of  those  of  my  friends  whom  I  had  opportunity  to  consult 
respecting  this  affair,  and  I  hope  seriously  considered, 
and  diligently  weighed  and  pondered  the  case  before 
me,  in  all  the  apparent  circumstances  of  it,  and  begged 
direction  of  Almighty  God,  in  this  important  case,  con- 
cern and  affair,  both  for  myself,  and  for  you,  that  each 
might  be  taught  and  guided  in  the  way  of  our  duty,  and 
in  the  way  that  might  be  for  our  best  interests.  I  must 
confess  that  the  greatness  of  the  work  and  the  difficulties 


40  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES    OF    THE 

that  attend  it,  have  lain  with  no  small  weight  upon  my 
spirits,  and  at  times  been  matter  of  great  discouragement 
to  me,  concerning  undertaking  it  at  present,  especially- 
considering  my  youth  and  the  little  time  and  opportunity 
I  have  had  to  pursue  the  study  of  Divinity,  so  that  on 
that  account  I  should  not  have  chosen  to  have  engaged 
in  the  work  of  the  ministry  so  soon.  But  God,  who 
knows  what  is  best  and  fittest  for  us  infinitely  better  than 
we  do  what  is  so  for  our  ownselves,  has  in  the  way  of  his 
Providence  as  we  have  good  reason  to  think,  all  circum- 
stances duly  considered,  united  your  hearts  together  to 
make  choice  of  me  to  be  your  minister,  which  I  cannot 
but  look  upon  as  a  speaking  thing  in  Providence  ;  it  is 
what  has  greatly  engaged  my  afi'ections  towards  you,  and 
seemed  to  make  duty  plain  before  me,  and  also  to  lay 
open  a  glorious  and  lovely  prospect  of  my  usefulness 
among  you,  which  thing  I  hope  and  trust  are  with  me 
higher  and  more  weighty  and  powerful  motives  and 
inducements,  to  engage  me  to  settle  in  the  work  of  the 
ministry  among  you,  than  the  prospect  of  any  temporal 
reward  or  accommodations  whatever.  Not  that  I  would 
be  thought  to  speak  or  think  lightly,  or  diminutively  of 
the  proffered  proposal  you  have  made  me  respecting  my 
outward  accommodations  and  maintenance  among  you. 
Indeed  I  cannot  say  that  what  you  have  offered  me  will 
be  sufficient  for  my  comfortable  support  and  subsistence, 
nor  can  I  say  to  the  contrary,  because  I  know  not  the 
cost  of  building  or  maintaining  a  family,  nor  what  family 
I  shall  have  if  I  should  live,  nor  under  what  circumstan- 
ces they  or  I  may  be.  But  however,  I  take  it  that  the 
people  of  this  town,  have  all  along,  since  I  first  preached 
with  you,  shown  a  generous  and  good  disposition  towards 
me,  and  considering   the  fewness  of  their   numbers,  and 


CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCH    IN    BELCHERTOWN.       41 

the  circumstances  of  the  times,  made  me  an  offer  as  good 
perhaps  as  was  reasonable  to  expect,  and  as  I  desire  only 
a  comfortable  support  and  maintenance  from  you,  should 
I  settle  with  you,  so  I  doubt  not  should  my  necessities 
require  more,  and  your  circumstances  admit  of  giving  it, 
you  would  freely  give  it ;  a  sufficient  maintenance  being 
the  thing,  and  that  only  which  is  desired  or  proposed  by 
each  party,  I  must  therefore,  as  is  my  duty,  notwithstand- 
ing all  difficulties  and  discouragements  comply  with  and 
be  obedient  to,  what  appears  to  me  to  be  the  Heavenly 
call,  and  I  hope,  I  do  it  cheerfully  and  for  the  sake  of 
God,  and  the  interests  of  religion.  At  present  therefore 
I  know  of  nothing,  upon  supposition  that  the  neighboring 
ministers  advise  to  it,  may  hinder  my  settling  among  you 
and  think' to  accept  your  invitation  and  offers,  hoping 
that  we  may  be  blessings  to,  and  blessed  in  and  with 
each  other,  so  wishing  and  praying  that  grace,  mercy  and 
peace  may  be  multiplied  unto  you  abundantly, 
I  remain  your  assured  friend, 

Justus  Forward." 
Dated  at  my  Lodgings,  in  Cold- Springy  Jan.  29,  Anno  Do?7iini,  17o6. 

No  sooner  was  this  answer  given  than  measures  were 
taken  for  Mr.  Forward's  ordination,  which  took  place  on 
the  twenty-fifth  day  of  February,  1756.  He  was  then 
in  the  26th  year  of  his  age.  To  this  time  the  number 
of  inabitants  had  increased  to  sixty  families — three  hun- 
dred souls  ;  there  were  sixty-eight  communicants,  thirty- 
three  males  thirty-five  females.  These  were,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  a  very  few,  members  of  this  church  ;  some 
very  few,  who  had  came  into  the  place  while  the  people 
were  destitute  of  a  minister,  had  deferred  connecting 
themselves  with  this  church,  who  were  professors  of  re- 
ligion, but  did  not  transfer  their  church  relation  to  this 
4* 


42  HISTOBICAL    SKETCHES    OF    THE 

church  till  after  Mr.  Forward's  ordination ;  this  accounts 
for  the  fact  that  a  few  names  stand  as  members  of  the 
church,  on  the  church  records  at  the  time  of  his  ordina- 
tion, whose  names  are  found  as  uniting  with  this  church 
after  his  settlement. 

As  early  as  the  year  1757  measures  were  taken  to  obtain 
an  act  of  incorporation  with  town  privileges.  The  settlers 
had  no  power  to  tax  nonresident  lands  for  parochial  charges, 
to  pay  a  minister  or  build  a  meeting  house  ;  that  could 
be  done  only  by  special  authority  from  the  General  Court ; 
this  had  embarrassed  them  from  their  first  settlement. 
There  was  a  conflicting  interest  between  resident  and 
non-resident  proprietors  on  this  subject.  Resident  pro- 
prietors, in  a  petition  dated  December  1754,  to  the  Gene- 
ral Court,  say  they  are  destitute  of  a  minister  tind  unable 
to  go  through  with  the  expense  of  settling  one,  and  pray 
for  leave  to  assess  a  small  tax  on  all  lands.  This  was  op- 
posed by  non-resident  proprietors.  By  way  of  remonstrance 
February  26th  1755,  they  say,  "  this  tract  was  equivalent 
land  and  purchased  without  any  conditions  or  limitations. 
One  third  was  sold  to  persons  to  bring  forward  a  set- 
tlement, but  they  culled  out  the  best ;  their  one  third  is 
in  fact  equal  in  value  to  all  the  rest ;  yet  proprietors  (non- 
resident) agreed  to  be  taxed  for  meeting-house  and  min- 
ister. A  meeting-house  was  built,  and  Mr.  Billing  settled. 
After  a  long  controversy  and  debate  Mr.  Billing  was  dis- 
missed. And  now  the  inhabitants  petition  for  a  tax  to 
settle  another.  We  think  this  unreasonable,  as  we  were  not 
obliged  originally  to  pay  any  thing,  and  pray  that  no  pow- 
er be  given  to  raise  a  tax."  The  remonstrance  prevailed ; 
no  tax  was  then  granted.  In  1756  another  petition  of  simi- 
lar import  was  made  to  the  General  Court.  In  Jan.  1 757, 
the  power  was  given  by  the  Legislature,  and  a  tax  of  one 


CONGKEGATIONAL    CHURCH  IN    BELCHERTOWN.       43 

half  a  penny  an  acre  was  assessed  ;  this  greatly  relieved 
and  encouraged  the  people.  The  greatest  obstacle  in  the 
way  of  the  prosperity  of  the  place,  and  which  was  most 
embarrassing  to  the  settlers,  was  their  inability  to  tax  the 
property  here  for  the  support  of  their  religious  institutions, 
making  that  support  unequal  and  troublesome.  So  long 
as  that  inability  existed  they  were  not  successful ;  lands 
were  not  taken,  population  was  stationary  and  the  people 
were  discouraged  ;  when  the  difficulty  was  removed,  and 
power  given  for  a  general  tax,  the  people  prospered. 

At  a  precinct  meeting,  held  December  29th  1760,  a 
committee  was  appointed  to  present  a  j)etition  to  the  Gen- 
eral Coiu't  for  an  act  of  incorporation  as  a  town.  In 
March  1761,  it  was  presented,  and  on  the  23d  day  of  June 
1761,  an  act  passed  incorporating  the  town  by  the  name 
of  BeJcherstown,  in  honor  of  Jonathan  Belcher,  for- 
merly a  large  land  proprietor  here.  lie  was  Governor  of  the 
Province  of  Massachusetts,  from  1730  to  1740.  A  war- 
rant was  issued  by  the  General  Court  for  calling  the  first 
meeting,  directed  to  Eicazer  Porter,  Esq.  one  of  his  Maj- 
esty's Justices  for  the  County  of  Hampshire,  to  call  the 
inhabitants  together  to  organize  and  choose  town  officers, 
and  a  town  meeting  was  held  in  pursuance  of  it,  Sept. 
30th  1761.  I  have  not  been  able  to  find  any  data  from 
which  we  can  learn  the  population  of  the  town,  at  the 
time  of  its  incorporation.  From  the  ratio  of  increase  for 
several  years  before  and  several  years  after,  we  may  infer 
that  there  were  five  hundred  and  sixty,  or  about  that  num- 
ber. Soon  after  the  act  of  incorporation,  their  attention 
was  called  to  the  subject  of  public  schools.  Nothing 
thus  far  in  their  history  shows  that  any  thing  had  ever 
been  raised  by  tax  and  assessed  upon  the  inhabitants  for 
the  support   of  schools.     They  have,  however,   left   evi- 


44  HISTORICAL  SKETCHES    OP    THE 

dence,  from  their  acts  and  doings  and  records,  of  intelli- 
gence,  and  capacity  to  do  business,  and  that  correctly  and 
efficiently.  The  youth  were  instructed,  in  that  day,  so  as 
to  prepare  them  for  usefulness ;  they  were  taught  in  the 
family,  with  diligence  ;  parents  had  qualified  themselves 
to  instruct  their  children ;  they  were  taught  to  read  and 
write,  and  the  use  of  figures,  and  the  modes  of  doing 
business  ;  multitudes  who  never  attended  a  district  school 
a  day  in  their  life  gained  the  requisite  knowledge.  Chil- 
dren were,  under  parental  discipline,  required  to  improve 
their  time  usefully  ;  stated  periods  were  set  apart  to  in- 
struct the  children  of  the  family  by  the  parents,  and  they 
were  trained  to  regular,  sober  and  industrious  habits. 
There  was  a  moral  and  religious  training,  exceedingly  use- 
ful for  every  department  of  life  ;  children  were  restrained 
from  going  where  temptations  assail.  It  was  not  deemed 
evidence  of  high  promise  in  children  of  puritan  stock,  to 
disrespect  parental  authority,  or  for  the  young  to  assume 
ihe  airs  of  rudeness  and  insolence  to  age  and  superior 
"worth.  Children  and  youth,  in  those  days,  were  not  wiser 
than  their  fathers  while  they  were  yet  children  in  age  and 
knowledge,  and  before  they  had  learned  obedience  to 
parental  authority.  The  more  carefully  we  examine  the 
usages  of  that  day  in  family  discipline,  family  instruction, 
and  a  religious  influence  imparted  to  the  minds  of  chil- 
dren, in  forming  right  habits,  the  more  we  shall  find  to 
admire  and  to  reverence.  A  single  recorded  instance  in 
"this  matter  illustrates  a  general  practice,  among  religious 
families  to  a  greater  or  less  extent,  and  the  effects.  It  is 
'recorded,  that  "  Joshua  Dickinson  Forward,  only  son  of 
Rev.  Justus  Forward,  was  drowned  at  Hatfield,  June 
'i28th  1765,  aged  seven  years  and  seven  months.  lie  was 
"a  pious  child.     lie  had  read  his    Bible  through  twice   in 


CONGKEGATIONAL  CHURCH    IN    BELCHERTOWN.       45 

course."  It  is  doubtful  whether  this  child  had  ever  at- 
tended the  district  school  or  any  other,  out  of  the  family, 
a  day  in  his  life  ;  at  that  day  the  people  of  this  place,  pre- 
cinct and  town,  had  raised  by  a  tax  and  assessment 
for  public  schools  only  twenty-six  dollars  and  sixty-six 
cents.  A  common  prosperity  attended  the  people  ;  the  ratio 
of  increase  in  j)opulation  was  slow.  For  the  first  thirteen 
years  after  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Billing,  the  population 
doubled  ;  and  again  doubled  in  the  next  thirteen  years,  or 
nearly  that.  For  the  next  succeeding  seventy  years,  the 
population  doubled  once  in  about  twenty-seven  years.  The 
ratio  of  increase  was  larger  in  the  earlier  part  of  this 
period  than  in  the  latter  part  of  it.  The  average  number 
of  deaths  annually  for  fifty-six  years  next  following  1756, 
was  about  fifteen;  total  eight  hundred  and  forty -five.  Under 
one  year  of  age,  one  hundred  and  seventy-five ;  between 
one  and  ten  years,  two  hnndred  and  seven  ;  between  ten 
and  twenty,  seventy-nine  ;  between  twenty  and  thirty, 
seventy-seven  ;  between  thirty  and  forty,  sixty-four  ;  be- 
tween forty  and  fifty,  thirty ;  between  fifty  and  sixty, 
forty-seven  ;  between  sixty  and  seventy,  fifty-seven  ;  be- 
tween seventy  and  eighty,  fifty-five  ;  between  eighty  and 
ninety,  forty-three  ;  between  ninety  and  one  hundred, 
nine  ;  and  two  over  one  hundred  years.  During  the  same 
period  there  were  nine  hundred  sixty-nine  baptisms  and 
four  hundred  and  fifty  marriages. 

In  common  with  their  countrymen,  they  were  brought 
to  feel  the  embarrassments  and  the  deprivations  by  reason 
of  British  aggressions  as  early  as  1768.  Their  religion 
as  well  as  their  views  of  civil  liberty  and  individual  rights, 
forbade  their  acquiesence  under  them.  Through  the  whole 
period  of  the  revolutionary  struggle,  with  great  and  en- 
ire  unanimity,  they  maintained  the  cause  of  freed  romand 


-46  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES    OF    THE 

bore  their  share  of  the  burdens  with  heroic  fortitude  and 
christian  faithfulness.  They  held  it  a  christian  duty  to  op- 
pose oppression  in  all  its  approaches  ;  no  arbitrary  power 
trifling  with  human  rights,  however  attired  by  forms  of 
law,  could  gain  their  respect,  or  approval,  or  support  ; 
edicts  of  terror,  whether  fulminated  from  the  throne  or 
Vatican,  were  alike  disobeyed  and  disregarded.  They 
obeyed  a  higher  law  than  despots  ever  forged,  from  higher 
authority,  with  higher  motives,  and  to  execute  higher 
purposes.  On  a  day  that  tried  men's  souls  they  declared  it, 
under  date  September  1774,  when  the  regular  forms  of 
law  and  justice  were  suspended  and  the  evils  of  anarchy 
and  insubordination  sorely  felt  ;  in  public  meeting  as- 
sembled affixing  their  signatures  to  the  following  solemn 
compact  ;  "  We  declare  that  we  will  take  no  unreasona- 
ble liberties  or  advantage  from  the  suspension  of  the 
course  of  law,  but  we  engage  to  conduct  ourselves  agree- 
able to  the  Laws  of  God,  of  reason,  of  humanity,  and 
we  hereby  engage  to  use  all  prudent  and  justifiable  and 
necessary  measures  to  secure  and  defend  each  other's  per- 
sons and  families,  their  lives,  rights,  and  properties, 
against  all  who  shall  attempt  to  hurt,  injure  or  invade 
them,  and  to  secure  and  defend  to  ourselves  and  our  pos- 
terity our  just  and  constitutional  rights  and  privileges." 
Such  a  declaration  is  worthy  of  those  who  framed  it  ;  it 
bears  the  stamp  of  puritanic  faithfulness  and  decision  ;  it 
breathes  the  spirit  of  Moses,  of  Daniel,  of  Paul,  and  of 
the  faithful  in  all  ages. 

Our  fathers  did  not  forget  to  entertain  strangers  ;  they 
also  possessed  the  spirit  of  imparting  religious  instruc- 
tion to  the  poor  and  the  wanderer.  Under  date  of  Sep- 
tember 23d  1774,  at  a  town  meeting,  a  vote  passed,  "  to 
pay  Lieut.  Joseph  Smith  and  Lieut.  Joseph  Graves  twenty 


CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCH    IN    BELCHERTOWN.       47 

four  shillings  each  for  going  to  Brookfield  to  carry  the 
Missionary  Interpreter  and  six  Oneida  Indians."  Wheth- 
er a  vote  could  be  now  (1851)  carried  in  a  town  meeting 
in  Belchertown,  to  pay  twenty-four  shillings  for  the  ad- 
vancement of  any  missionary  enterprise,  demands  a  doubt. 
Amidst  all  their  trials  and  embarrassments,  the  war  of 
the  revolution  and  its  attendant  deprivations,  they  sus- 
tained their  religious  institutions  Avith  constancy  and 
promptitude.  They  were  not  forsaken  by  Him  "  that 
keepeth  covenant  and  mercy  with  them  that  love  Him  and 
keep  his  commandments  to  a  thousand  generations." 
Near  the  close  of  the  year  1784,  and  beginning  of  1785, 
the  people  were  favored  with  a  memorable  revival  of  re- 
ligion ;  the  most  signal,  by  far,  of  any  the  church  had 
experienced  during  the  first  seventy  years  of  its  existence. 
From  the  testimony  of  persons  then  there,  and  from  those 
who  were  subjects  of  the  work,  we  are  led  to  believe  it 
was  very  genuine  in  its  character,  and  attended  with  the 
gentle  and  powerful  influeJices  of  the  spirit,  without  spu- 
rious or  fanatical  movements.  It  has  uniformly  been 
so  represented.  It  continued  about  one  year  and  nine 
months,  during  which  time,  that  is,  between  February  2d, 
1785,  and  November  5th,  1786,  inclusive,  fifty-eight  per- 
sons united  with  the  church  by  profession  ;  about  as 
many  as  united  with  it  for  the  next  succeeding  nineteen 
years.  I  have  known  several  of  those  persons  who  were 
admitted  to  the  church  during  that  season.  They  view  the 
subject  in  the  same  light  ;  the  impression  given  to  their 
minds  and  hearts  by  it,  was  evidently  made  by  the  same 
impress,  and  was  indelible.  In  the  course  of  my  inquiry  for 
materials  for  this  narrative,  of  aged  ones  once  here,  and 
conversant  with  the  history  of  the  place  many  years  ago, 
I  had  an  interview  with  a  venerable  aged  man,  once  living 


48  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES    OF    THE 

here,  and  who  united  with  this  church  during  this  revival  in 
1785,  now  nearly  ninety  years  of  age,  and  residing  in  an- 
other place,  where  he  has  resided  more  than  sixty  years. 
During  the  conversation,  casting  his  thoughts  back  to  the 
days  of  other  years,  now  gone,  and  when  a  resident  here, 
he  adverted  to  this  revival  with  a  feeling  of  interest  and 
fervor  of  expression,  which  description  can  but  feebly  give. 
The  events  and  scenes  of  that  revival  seemed  to  awaken 
every  power  of  his  soul  ;  those  things,  said  he,  "  I  well 
remember;  during  that  year,  from  February  1785  to  Feb- 
ruary 1786,  forty-four  united  with  that  church.  There  I 
stood,  with  many  by  me,  in  solemn  assembly,  embracing 
my  covenant  vows.  Of  that  forty -four,  said  he,  two  be- 
came preachers  of  the  gospel,  and  six  became  deacons  of 
churches,  and  all  are  now  dead,  as  I  suppose,  but  three 
of  us."  The  interview  was  an  instructing  one.  There  was 
the  venerable  saint,  strengthened  and  animated  by  the  spirit 
that  breathed  upon  him  sixty-five  years  before,  now 
seeming  to  hover  over  him,  and  renew  the  promise,  "  he 
that  hath  begun  a  good  work  in  you,  will  perform  it  un- 
til the  day  of  Jesus  Christ."  The  Rev.  Amasa  Smith  and 
the  Rev.  John  Smith,  D.  D.,  were  the  two  then  uniting 
with  the  church,  that  became  ministers  of  the  gospel. 
These  men  will  be  noticed  in  the  chronological  columns, 
in  numbers,  representing  names,  (229)  and  (248).  Also, 
the  Rev.  Eli  Smith  experienced  religion  during  the  same 
period,  though  he  did  not  unite  with  the  church  till  1788. 
(No.  279).  These  three  ministers  were  brothers — sons  of 
deacon  Joseph  Smith  (No.  9).  Also,  the  Rev.  Ethan 
Smith,  son  of  Dea.  Elijah  Smith,  (No.  11),  was  I  suppose, 
among  the  number  that  experienced  religion  during  that 
revival  here,  though  he  did  not  unite  with  this  church, 
He  immediately  commenced   a  course  of  classical   study 


CONGHEGATIONAL    CHUKCH    IN    BELCHERTOWN.       49 

with  a  view  to  the  gospel  ministry,  entered  Dartmouth 
College,  and  graduated  in  1790  ;  studied  theology,  and 
was  first  settled  in  the  ministry  in  Haverhill,  New  Hamp- 
shire. He  was  there  ordained,  January  25th,  1792,  re- 
mained in  the  ministry  there  till  June  23d,  1799,  when  he 
was  dismissed,  and  received  a  call  from  the  church  and 
society  in  Hopkinton,  same  state,  to  settle  there,  and  was 
installed  in  that  place  March  12th,  1800  ;  remained  in 
the  ministry  there  till  December  16th,  1817,  when  he  was 
dismissed ;  was  again  installed  over  a  church  in  Hebron, 
state  of  New  York,  February  26th,  1818;  dismissed  Au- 
gust 29th,  1821  ;  again  installed  in  Poultney,  Vermont, 
November  21st,  1821;  and  dismissed  December  29th,l 826  ; 
again  installed  in  Hanover,  Massachusetts,  May  16th, 
1827  ;  dismissed  about  1832.  After  this  period  he  acted 
as  city  missionary  in  Boston,  and  as  an  agent  for  various 
Bible  societies,  continuing  his  active  labors  in  the  ministry 
till  his  death.  He  died  at  the  residence  of  his  son-in-law, 
Rev.  William  H.  Sanford,  of  Boylston,  Massachusetts, 
August  29th,  1849,  in  the  87th  year  of  his  age.  Mr. 
Smith  was  an  exceeding  active  and  laborious  minister,  al- 
ways striving  to  advance  the  spiritual  interests  of  his  fellow 
men.  Several  of  the  dismissions  that  occurred  in  his  min- 
istry, arose  solely  from  the  inability  of  his  people  to  give 
him  an  adequate  support. 

In  doctrine  and  in  life  he  was  a  genuine  representative 
of  the  puritanic  stock,  in  the  stern  and  reliable  elements 
of  his  character.  The  Bible  was  his  text  book.  He 
studied  it.  He  preached  it,  and  experienced  the  con- 
solations of  its  promises.  He  published  several  works. 
One  "  On  the  Prophecies,"  one  "  A  key  to  tha  Revela- 
tions." His  publications  show  diligent  investigation 
and   biblical   knowledge.     His   religious  affections  were 


60  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES    OF    THE 

ardent  and  constant,  his  hope    of  a  blessed  immortality 
firm  and  unshaken. 

The  house  occupied  now  as  a  place  of  public  worship 
was  erected  in  1789,  and  dedicated  to  the  solemn  worship 
of  God,  September  12th,  1792.  It  was  built  by  individual 
enterprise.  The  old  house  had  became  useless  ;  it  stood 
about  seventy-five  rods  south  of  the  present  house  ;  a  new 
one  was  needed.  The  question  of  location  arose  ;  some  per- 
sons in  the  extreme  parts  of  the  town,  proposed  a  division 
of  the  town  into  two,  north  and  south,  by  an  east  and  west 
line  through  what  is  now  the  center  ;  this  measure  had  its 
advocates.  The  necessity  of  a  place  for  public  worship,  and 
a  desire  to  reconcile  all  discordant  feelings  on  this  point, 
induced  sundry  of  the  inhabitants  to  make  personal  and 
pecuniary  sacrifices  to  accomplish  these  desired  ends. 
Col.  Elijah  D wight,  was  a  very  prominent  actor  in  erect- 
ing this  house.  He  was  a  deacon  in  the  church  ;  see  (215). 
He  made  a  liberal  donation  to  the  town,  and  sufi'ered  pe- 
cuniary losses  in  the  work.  He  was  a  benefactor  to  the 
town.  In  about  four  years  after  they  began  to  worship 
in  the  new  house,  the  subject  was  brought  before  the  peo- 
ple of  settling  a  colleague  with  Eev.  Mr.  Forward.  He 
had  then  been  the  settled  minister  here  about  40  years. 
I  should  infer  from  the  proceedings,  that  it  was  his  desire 
to  have  a  colleague.  At  a  church  meeting  held  for  the 
purpose  of  considering  this  subject,  September  29th,  1796, 
a  vote  was  taken  by  the  church,  "  that  it  is  expedient  to 
settle  a  colleague  with  Rev.  Mr.  Forward."  This  vote  was 
brought  before  the  society  ;  and  after  some  discussion  met 
with  an  indefinite  postponement ;  and  no  colleague  was 
settled  with  him  till  March,  1812,  about  two  years  before 
Mr.  Forward's  death.  He  continued  in  the  faithful  and 
prompt  discharge  of  the  duties   of  the  pastoral   ofiice  be- 


CONGREGATIOIN'AL  CHUKCH  IN  BELCHERTOWN.        51 

yond  the  age  of  four  score    years.     He  died    March  8th, 
1814,  in  the  59th  year  of  his  ministry,  and  in    the    84th 
year  of  his  age.     He  was    married    December  8th,  1756, 
to  Violet,  daughter  and  only  child  of  Mr.  Joshua  Dickin- 
son, of  Hatfield  ;  they  had  eleven  children.    Two  only  sur- 
vived him,  one  son  and  one  daughter.     He   lived    to  fol- 
low to  the  grave  more  than  nine    hundred  of  his    people, 
and  more  than  three  times  the  number  of  his  whole   con- 
gregation at  the    time  of  his  settlement.     It  Avould  seem 
but  a  tribute  justly  due  to  him,  who  was  the  adviser,  the 
spiritual  guide  and  teacher  of  this  church,  for  half  of  the 
one  hundred  and  fourteen  years  since    they   have   had    a 
church  existence,  to  turn  a  passing  thought  to  his  memo- 
ry and  his  character.     A  very  short  sketch  is  all  that  such 
a  summary  as  this  would  justify.     I  am  aware  of  the  dif- 
ficulty of  doing  this  as  it  should  be.     It  is  easy  to  give  a 
common-place  eulogy  to  a  character,  and  no  more  than  is 
justly  due,  and  yet  it  may  be  far  from  a  life-picture  of  the 
original.     Such  is  the  almost  infinite  variety  of  character 
— the  nice  and  subtle  shades  of  distinction  by  which  it  is 
marked,  that  to  give  it  the  stamp  of  truth,    requires    the 
touch  of  a  master's  hand.     All  men    have    something  in 
common,  yet  each  has  his  distinctive    identity,  that  must 
be  drawn  ;    for  that  alone  makes  the  difi'erence  between 
him  of  whom  it  is    predicable  and    every    other    person  ; 
this  is  as  true  in  the  personal,  intellectual  and  moral  traits 
forming  character,  as  it  is  in  features  and  in  countenance, 
by  which  men  are  distinguished.  Mr.  Forward's  character 
was  strongly  marked  by  the  stern,  faithful,    unassuming, 
considerate    traits,    showing  his   puritanic   lineage.     He 
was  born  in   Suffield,  Connecticut,  May  11th,  1730,   old 
style.     His  ancestors   were    from    Devonshire,    England. 
Samuel  Forward,  his  great  grandfather,  left  England  dur- 


52  HISTORICAL  SKETCHES  OF  THE 

ing  the  corrupt,  profligate  and  licentious  reign  of  Charles 
2d,  came  to  New  England  among  the  pilgrim  fathers, 
about  the  year  1666,  settled  at  Windsor,  Connecticut,  be- 
fore that  town  was  incorporated,  died  there  in  1684,  as 
appears  by  the  records  of  that  town  ;  (his  name  is  there 
written  Foward).  He  left  two  sons,  Samuel  and  Joseph. 
Samuel,  the  grandfather  of  Mr.  Forward,  was  born  in 
Windsor,  in  1671  ;  married  and  settled  in  Simsbury,  had 
four  sons  and  two  daughters.  Joseph,  the  father  of  Mr. 
Forward,  was  born  at  Simsbury,  November,  1707,  married 
Mary  Lawton,  of  Suffield,  and  removed  there  where  he  re- 
sided several  years,  and  removed  to  a  parish  in  Simsbury, 
(now  Granby,  Connecticut),  where  he  carried  on  his  busi- 
ness, a  tanner,  saddler,  and  a  large  farming  concern.  Jus- 
tus was  the  eldest  child  ;  under  the  faithful  and  pious 
training  of  his  parents,  he  hopefully  experienced  religion 
at  about  fourteen  years  of  age.  It  will  be  seen  by  a  com- 
parison of  dates,  that  Mr.  Forward  experienced  religion 
during  the  great  revival  in  New  England  in  the  days  of 
President  Edwards,  a  very  important  period  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  New  England  churches,  and  will  continue  to 
be  so  regarded  as  long  as  New  England  churches  exist. 
In  1740,  powerful  revivals  existed  in  one  hundred  and  fif- 
ty congregations  in  New  England.  In  1735,  there  were 
two  hundred  hopeful  converts  in  six  months  in  Northamp- 
ton, and  ten  of  them  about  ninety  years  of  age.  Soon 
after  Mr.  Forward  experienced  religion,  he  became  desir- 
ous of  entering  on  a  course  of  study,  preparatory  to  the 
gospel  ministry.  His  father's  consent  was  obtained, 
he  began  a  course  of  classical  study,  and  was  fitted 
to  enter  college  at  Commencement,  September,  1748. 
At  that  time  a  sore  sickness  visited  his  father's  family,  of 
which  four   out  of  seven  children  died,  in  the    course  of 


CONGREGATIOlSrAL  CHUUCH  IN  BELCHERTOWN.       53 

about  three  weeks.  This  deep  family  affliction,  seemed 
for  a  time  to  hedge  up  the  way  for  pursuing  his  studies* 
The  afflicted  parents  felt  that  Justus  must  not  leave  the 
paternal  roof,  even  for  the  high  and  laudable  purpose  of 
preparation  for  the  gospel  ministry.  Yielding  to  these 
wishes  of  his  parents,  he  suspended  his  studies  for  two 
years,  and  remained  at  home  in  the  active  duties  of  his 
father's  business.  Not  relinquishing  his  chosen  purpose, 
he  again  sought  and  obtained  his  father's  consent  to  the  re- 
newal of  his  studies,  and  entered  Yale  College  September 
1750,  and  passed  the  four  years  in  college  with  reputation 
to  himself  and  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  the  college 
faculty.  He  was  a  correct  classical  scholar,  and  so  dis- 
tinguished himself  in  the  languages,  that  at  the  close  of 
senior  year,  the  faculty  conferred  on  him  the  "  Dean's 
Bounty,"  (sometimes  called  the  Berklian  prize),  as  their 
testimony  of  his  scholarship.  He  did  not  remain  at  New 
Haven  after  his  graduation  to  receive  the  pecuniary  benefit 
which  the  prize  offered.  He  left  there,  went  to  Hatfield, 
and  engaged  in  teaching  a  school,  and  at  the  same  time 
pursued  a  course  of  theological  study  with  the  Rev. 
Timothy  Woodbridge,  then  the  minister  of  Hatfield.  He 
was  licensed  to  preach  in  the  fall  of  1755,  and  soon  after 
license,  by  invitation,  came  to  supply  the  people  here.  He 
never  preached  elsewhere  as  a  candidate  ;  his  whole  min- 
isterial life  was  here.  The  powers  and  the  faculties  of 
his  long  and  useful  life,  were  consecrated  to  the  best  good 
of  this  people,  and  he  was  diligent  in  well  doing.  He  pos- 
sessed a  well  balanced  mind  ;  if  it  did  not  take  so  wide  a- 
range,  or  so  high  a  flight  as  that  of  some  other  men,  it 
moved  in  sure,  safe  and  well  directed  courses.  He  pos- 
sessed much  of  what  is  sometimes  called  forecast  of 
thought  in  drawing  just  conclusions  from  a  given  course 
5* 


54  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES    OF    THE 

of  measures.  He  was  preeminently  a  matter-of-fact  man  ; 
no  one  could  hear  him  converse  but  must  feel  that  he  was 
instructed  by  his  conversation  ;  even  in  old  age,  he  possess- 
ed the  rare  faculty  of  interesting  the  young,  by  his  con- 
Tersation.  He  was  useful  to  his  people  in  many  ways. 
In  his  early  ministry,  the  people  few,  there  was  no  practis- 
ing physician  in  the  place  and  none  near  ;  he  became  very 
useful  to  his  people  in  sickness ;  by  reading  and  practising 
he  obtained  considerable  knowledge  of  medicine,  and  turn- 
ed his  knowledge  to  the  best  practical  account.  This  gave 
him  a  two -fold  advantage  for  doing  good  ;  while  adminis- 
tering to  their  physical  M'ants,  he  gained  a  knowledge  of 
their  spiritual  wants,  and  was  always  ready  to  meet  them. 
He  was  decided  in  his  views  of  duty  in  the  days  of  the 
Revolution.  He  was  opposed  to  British  aggressions  on 
American  rights.  He  wrote  for  the  periodical  press  in 
those  times  and  his  labors  were  well  received. 

As  a  sermonizer,  clearness,  simplicity,  and  solemnity 
characterized  his  performances  ;  no  attempts  at  display  or 
embellishment  ;  with  single-heartedness  convincing  all 
that  heard  him  that  he  was  "  honest  in  the  sacred  cause." 
He  studied  the  works  of  God,  and  read  useful  instruction 
from  the  passing  events  around  him.  If  he  was  not  so 
learned,  as  some  men  count  learning,  as  others  that 
might  be  found,  he  was  truly  a  wise  man.  In  his  theo- 
logy, he  was  strictly  evangelical.  I  use  this  term  as  it  is 
used  by  the  orthodox  in  New  England,  rather  than  as  it 
is  now  used  in  the  German  schools.  The  doctrines  of  the 
reformation  preached  by  Calvin,  John  Knox,  Owen,  John 
Howe,  and  Baxter,  and  transplanted  by  the  pilgrim  fathers 
to  New  England  and  here  taught  by  the  Mayhews,  the 
Mathers,  and  Edwards  of  New  England,  were  his  doc- 
trines and  the  doctrines  of  this  church,  ever  after  his  set- 


CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCH    IN    BELCHEKTOAVN.       55 

tlement.  In  his  public  discourses,  lie  dwelt  much  on  the 
practical  influences  of  these  doctrines  on  the  heart  and 
life.  He  did  not  fail  to  preach  the  doctrines,  but  did  not 
make  them  the  exclusive  theme  of  his  discourses  to  so 
great  an  extent  as  some  did. 

In  all  his  intercourse  with  his  people,  pastoral  visits, 
schools,  the  sick  room,  and  elsewhere,  he  was  kind, 
affectionate,  faithful,  striving  to  advance  the  highest 
interest  of  all.  Such  was  the  life  of  this  aged,  venerable 
servant  of  Christ ;  such  a  life  tends  to  a  peaceful  and  hap- 
py death  ;  such  was  his.  I  well  remember  a  short  inter- 
view I  had  with  him  a  day  or  two  before  his  death.  His 
last  sickness  was  short.  I  called  to  see  him  ;  he  was  sit- 
ting in  his  chair,  very  feeble,  but  could  converse,  and  did 
so  freely.  He  said  he  did  not  expect  to  live  but  a  very 
short  time.  Death  said  he,  is  very  near  ;  soon  I  must  stand 
before  God  in  judgment,  I  have  not  those  transporting 
views  that  some  express  in  the  near  prosj)ect  of  death, 
and  when  I  think  of  my  short-comings  in  what  God  has 
required  of  me,  it  seems  as  if  I  ought  not  to  hope  in  his 
mercy,  and  I  may  be  self-deceived  ;  but  Christ  is  my  hope, 
and  I  think  I  know  in  whom  I  have  trusted,  and  that  he 
will  keep  that  I  have  entrusted  to  him  to  the  day  of  my 
redemption.  He  died  as  he  lived,  humble,  patient,  sub- 
missive, relying  upon  the  promises,  and  resting  his  all 
upon  the  rock  of  ages.  The  memory  of  such  men  is 
peaceful  and  their  immortality  blessed.  Mrs.  Forward 
survived  her  husband  twenty  years  ;  she  died  March  27th, 
1834,  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-five  years  four  months 
and  twelve  days.  She  was  active  and  useful  in  the  sta- 
tions she  occupied,  cheerful,  with  a  great  flow  of  the 
kindest  feelings,  benevolent,  hospitable,  and  her  whole 
character  adorned  by  the  graces  of  the  spirit.  She  outlived 


56  HISTORICAL  SKETCHES  OF  THE 

her  faculties,  mental  and  physical.  Her  mind  became  so 
impaired  that  she  did  not  know  her  own  family,  for  some 
two  years  before  her  death. 

About  two  years  before  the  death  of  Mr.  Forward, 
the  Rev.  Experience  Porter  was  installed  as  colleague 
pastor  with  him.  He  was  installed  the  11th  of  March, 
1812.  Mr.  Porter  was  a  native  of  Lebanon,  New  Hamp- 
shire, son  of  deacon  Nathaniel  Porter,  of  that  place.  He 
graduated  at  Dartmouth  College  in  1803.  Upon  leav- 
ing college,  he  was  appointed  a  tutor  in  the  college  at 
Middlebury,  Vermont,  that  college  being  then  in  its  in- 
fancy. He  officiated  as  tutor  one  year,  during  which 
time  his  attention  was  given  to  theological  studies,  so  far 
as  was  consistent  with  his  college  duties.  At  the  close  of 
the  year,  he  entered  the  Divinity  school  of  the  Rev.  Asa- 
hel  Hooker,  in  Goshen,  Connecticut,  where  he  finished 
his  theological  course  and  was  licensed  to  preach.  While  a 
licentiate  he  supplied  in  various  places.  In  September 
1807,  he  received  a  call  to  settle  in  Winchester,  New 
Hampshire.  To  this  call  he  gave  a  favorable  answer,  and 
was  ordained  over  the  church  and  people  at  Winchester, 
November  12th,  1807.  He  remained  in  the  faithful  dis- 
charge of  his  pastoral  duties  at  Winchester,  until  the  20th 
of  February,  1810,  when  he  was  dismissed,  at  his  own  re- 
quest, by  a  mutual  council  convened  for  that  purpose. 
After  his  dismission  he  preached  in  various  places  till 
January,  1812,  when  by  invitation  he  came  for  a  supply 
to  this  place  ;  and  after  preaching  several  Sabbaths,  receiv- 
ed a  unanimous  call  from  the  church  and  society  to  settle 
with  them  in  the  gospel  ministry,  as  colleague  pastor,  with 
Rev.  Mr.  Forward.  During  Mr.  Porter's  connection  with 
this  people  there  were  two  revivals  of  religion.  The  first 
commenced  in  1812,  and  continued  about  one  year,  and 


CONGREGATIONAIi    CHURCH    IN    BELCHEETOWN.      57 

was  general  in  all  parts  of  the  town.  During  the  year  1813, 
there  were  one  hundred  and  seven  persons  united  with 
the  church  upon  a  public  profession  of  their  faith.  The 
next  commenced  in  the  fall  of  1818,  and  continued 
about  the  same  length  of  time.  Before  the  close  of  1819, 
there  were  two  hundred  and  eight  persons  added  to 
the  church  by  a  profession  of  religion,  as  the  fruit  of  this 
revival.  It  was  a  season  of  great  anxiety  and  most  intense 
feeling  upon  the  public  mind  ;  religious  meetings  were  very 
frequent,  and  attended  in  crowds  ;  the  labors  of  the  pas- 
tor, were  exceedingly  arduous ;  ministerial  assistance  was 
sought  from  abroad  ;  many  inquiring  the  way  to  Zion,  and 
her  gates  seemed  to  be  pressed  by  those  who  were  entering 
the  Kingdom  ;  many  will  doubtless  remember  those  days 
with  joy  so  long  as  memory  endures,  and  even  in  eternity 
will  look  back  to  th  at  season  as  the  day  of  their  espousal  to 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  The  church  was  greatly  increased, 
strengthened  and  refreshed  ;  the  friends  of  Zion  will  ever 
rejoice  in  the  blessed  fruits  of  that  religious  revival.  Mr. 
Porter,  in  his  farewell  sermon,  preached  March  6th,  1825, 
says,  "  among  the  hundreds  to  whom  I  have  opened  the 
door  of  this  church,  some  have  as  we  trust,  already  sat 
down  to  the  marriage  supper  of  the  Lamb,  and  very  many 
more  as  we  may  reasonably  hope  are  prepared  to  join  that 
blessed  society  ;  but  of  some  I  might  say  with  the  apostle, 
"  I  am  afraid  of  you  lest  I  have  bestowed  upon  you  labor 
in  vain."  Faithful  narrative  requires  me  to  say,  in  the 
subsequent  history  of  some,  lamentable  evidence  has  been 
given  of  great  delinquency  in  christian  character ;  some 
who  seemed  for  a  time  to  run  well  fell  away  ;  their  religion 
seemed  to  be,  "  as  the  morning  cloud  and  the  early  dew 
that  goeth  away."  There  is  great  reason  to  fear  that  the 
caution  and  circumspection  of  the  church  and  the  pastor 


58  HISTORICAL  SKETCHES  OF  THE 

did  not  furnish  sufficient  safe-guards  against  accessions  of 
some  unworthy  members  to  the  church.  It  is  hoped  that 
at  the  great  and  final  trial,  if  any  such  must  be  found,  the 
number  will  be  few ;  whatever  the  number  may  be,  the 
revelations  of  that  day  will  disclose.  Th^  pastoral  relation 
between  Mr.  Porter  and  this  people  continued  till  March 
9th,  1825,  when  he  was  dismissed  by  a  council  mutually 
chosen  by  him  and  his  people  for  the  purpose.  His  health 
had  become  impaired,  for  several  months  before  his  dis- 
mission, so  much  so  that  he  had  been  able  to  preach  only 
a  portion  of  the  time.  After  his  dismission  he  preached 
but  little ;  he  lingered  under  the  disease  which  gradually 
w^asted  his  strength,  and  which  proved  to  lie  beyond  the 
reach  of  all  means  resorted  to  for  arresting  its  progress, 
and  terminated  fatally.  He  died  at  Lebanon,  New  Hamp- 
shire, on  the  25th  day  of  August,  1828,  aged  forty-six. 
Mr.  Porter  possessed  strong  powers  of  mind,  and  was  gift- 
ed with  very  ready  faculties  ;  he  wrote  with  great  rapidi- 
ty ;  his  style  of  writing  was  more  characterized  by  bold- 
ness and  strength  than  by  a  highly  cultivated  taste,  or 
classical  accuracy.  He  spoke  with  ease  ;  in  his  presentation 
of  truth  to  his  congregation,  his  appeals  were  cogent  and 
effectual.  In  his  public  discourses,  the  general  features  of 
his  subject  were  apprehended  with  great  facility.  If  there 
was  any  failure  in  doing  ample  justice  to  it  in  the  discus- 
sion, it  arose  from  want  of  discrimination  in  the  analyzing 
and  presentation,  in  its  varried  parts  and  aspects.  His  the- 
ology was  strictly  Calvinistic,  and  in  his  pulpit  exercises, 
he  dwelt  much  on  the  leading  doctrines  ;  this  created,  to  a 
considerable  extent,  uniformity  in  his  discourses.  His 
voice  was  full  and  deep  toned,  his  manner  in  the  desk  self- 
possessed,  easy  and  deliberate,  making  a  deep  impression 
on  the  hearer.     The  church  was  greatly  increased  during 


CONGREGATIOI^AL  CHURCH  TN  BELCHERTOWJT  .        59 

his  ministry.     "  When  I  was  installed,"    says  Mr.  Porter 
in  his  sermon,  "  the  church  consisted  of  one  hundred  and 
ninety  members  ;  since  that  time  four  hundred  and  twenty 
five    have  been  received  ;   of    whom    three  hundred  and 
forty-five  were    received  by  profession,  and  eighty  by  let- 
ters from  other  churches."     It  may  be  added  that  during 
the  thirteen  years  of  his  ministry  here,  about  as  many  per- 
sons united  with  this  church  by  profession  as  had  united 
with  it  in  the  same  way  during  the  whole  eighty  years  of 
its  existence  previous  to   that  period.     He  labored  to  im- 
press upon  the  hearts  of  others    the   great  truths    of  the 
gospel,  which  his  own  heart  bore  witness  were  impressed 
upon  his.     During  the  long  and  wasting  disease  that  was 
preying  upon    him,  he  had  seasons  of  darkness  and  des- 
pondency ;  at  times  doubts  and  fears  assailed  him  ;  these 
were  but  temporary,  and  as  he  gradually  drew  near  the 
close  they  were  removed  ;  his  prospect  brightened  and  his 
hopes  were  steadfast.     He  died  in  faith,  sustained  in  an 
unshaken  trust  of  a  blessed  immortality.  In  October  1806, 
he  married  Miss  Sarah  Smith,  a  daughter  of  Dr.  Phineas 
Smith,  formerly  of  Sharon,   Connecticut.      Dr.  Smith  was 
a  near  relative  of  the  Hon.  John  Cotton  Smith,  for  several 
years  Governor  of  Connecticut.     At  about  sixteen    years 
of  age,  Mrs.  Porter  lost  her  parents  ;  from  that  period,  she 
resided  in    the  family  of  an  uncle,    her    father's  brother, 
Dan  Smith,  Esq.,  of  West  Haven,  Vermont,  for  about  six 
years  before  her  marriage,  in  the    reciprocal   interchanges 
of    those  acts  of  kindness  and   mutual  attachments  that 
belong  to  the  endearing  relation  of  parents    and    child. 
The  traits  of  her  character  were  such  as  secured  the  respect 
and  esteem  of   all   those   acquainted  with  her.     She  had 
a  mind  well  furnished  with  fruits  of  various  and  well  se- 
lected reading.     During  the  whole  period  of  Mr.  Porter's 


60  HiSTOBICAIi  SKETCHES  OF  THE 

ministry  here,  her  health  was  feeble ;  this  necessarily  for- 
bade, to  a  great  extent,  those  active  labors  and  exercises 
for  the  benefit  of  those  around  her,  which  were  the 
promptings  of  her  heart ;  what  health  and  strength  she 
had  were  consecrated  to  the  best  of  purposes.  In  the  ser- 
mon, at  her  funeral,  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Woodbridge,  he 
says,  "  in  her  intellectual  character  she  possessed  a  vigor 
and  a  decision  which  would  have  fitted  her  for  no  ordina-f 
ry  attainments  in  science ;  her  judgment  was  clear,  her 
reasoning  faculty  active  and  acute,  and  her  imagination 
tempered  and  subdued  by  sound  discretion.  Her  remarks 
on  every  subject,  of  which  she  professed  to  have  any 
knowledge,  indicated  the  habit  of  thought,  and  of  becom- 
ing independence  in  forming  her  opinions.  She  early 
made  a  public  profession  of  religion  ;  she  was  strict  and 
conscientious  in  the  duties  of  religion.  She  took  a  deep 
interest  in  the  prosperity  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom." 
The  christian  graces  were  seen  in  her  whole  character, 
and  in  constant  exercise  ;  they  sustained  her  in  the  last 
great  trying  conflict.  She  died  April  18th,  1825,  aged 
forty-four. 

In  the  spring  of  1818,  a  Sabbath  school  was  first 
introduced  as  a  Sabbath  exercise  in  this  church  and 
society,  and  has  been  continued  ever  since.  Those  who 
then  comprised  the  classes  were  children  and  youth.  The 
exercises,  the  committing  to  memory  texts  of  scripture, 
and  verses  from  the  hymn  books,  and  rehearsing  them. 
The  minister  appointed  the  superintendent  and  the  con- 
ductors of  the  school.  The  same  year  Sabbath  schools 
were  opened  in  many  of  the  churches  and  religious  socie- 
ties in  this  community,  for  the  first  time.  The  utility  of 
these  schools  has  been  fully  tested,  and  the  improvements 
by  experience  realized ;  in  no  one  thing  perhaps  more  than 


CONGREGATIONAL  CHXJIICH  IN  BELCHERTOWN.       61 

ill  bringing  those  of  all  ages    and  conditions  in  life,  into 
them  for  Bible  instruction. 

After  the  dismission  of  Rev,  Mr.  Porter,  the  people 
remained  without  a  settled  ministry  about  seven  months. 
The  Rev.  Lyman  Coleman  had  supplied  the  desk  several 
Sabbaths,  by  invitation,  during  the  year  1824,  while  ill 
health  suspended  the  labors  of  Mr.  Porter ;  soon  after 
Mr.  Porter's  dismission,  (May  following),  Mr.  Coleman 
was  again  invited  to  supply  the  desk.  He  preached  a 
succession  of  Sabbaths  and  remained  several  weeks  among 
us.  On  the  8th  of  August,  a  vote  passed  in  the  church 
expressing  a  desire  to  extend  a  call  to  him,  which  was 
responded  to  by  the  society,  and  a  unanimous  call  was 
given  him ;  in  due  time  he  signified  his  acceptence.  A 
Council  vv^as  called,  and  the  following  clergymen  partici- 
pated in  his  ordination  : 

Rev.  Artemas  Boies,  of  South  Hadley,  made  the  in- 
troductory prayer.  Rev.  Dr.  Joel-  Hawes,  of  Hartford, 
preached  the  sermon,  from  2d  Thess.  2,  8th  ;  Rev.  Nathan 
Perkins,  of  Amherst,  made  the  consecrating  prayer ;  Rev. 
Dr.  Ely,  of  Monson,  gave  the  charge  ;  and  Rev.  William 
C.  Fowler,  then  of  Greenfield,  and  since  a  Professor  in  the 
College  at  Middlebury  and  at  Amherst,  gave  the  right 
hand  of  fellowship ;  and  the  Rev.  Ebenezer  B.  Wright,  of 
Ludlow,  offered  the  concluding  prayer.  Mr.  Coleman 
remained  here  in  the  ministry  nearly  seven  years.  He 
was  settled  October  19th,  1825.  A  kind  providence  smiled 
on  his  labors  ;  the  society  increased  and  the  church  enlarg- 
ed ;  some  of  the  advances,  showing  a  prosperous  state  of 
things  among  us,  may  be  seen  by  a  few  extracts  from  Mr. 
Coleman's  farewell  sermon,  preached  on  the  9th  Septem- 
ber 1832,  the  Sabbath  next  after  his  dismission,  from  2d 
Cor.  13th  and  1 1th,  "  Finally  brethren,  farewell."  After  the 
6 


62  HISTOKICAL    SKETCHES    OF    THE 

introduction  in  this  discourse,  Mr.  Coleman  speaks  of  his 
own  discouragements,  and  says  "  God  grant  that  my  lack  of 
service  may  be  supplied  by  the  communications  of  his 
grace  to  you."  "  Some  portion  of  good,  I  must  believe,  has 
been  done,  and  in  this  I  rejoice,  and  will  rejoice  to  my  la- 
test breath."  In  the  progress  of  the  sermon,  he  recapitu- 
lates as  follows  :  "on  my  coming  among  you,  the  Sabbath 
school  was  composed  of  a  limited  number  of  children  and 
youth,  with  scarce  a  single  individual  of  adult  age.  The 
system  of  organization  has  since  been  entirely  changed. 
A  more  thorough  and  efficient  system  of  instruction  has 
been  introduced,  and  the  school  has  been  increased  by  a 
large  portion  of  the  congregation,  who  by  their  age  and 
influence  give  character  to  ths  institution."  "  Soon  after 
my  settlement,  a  Sabbath  school  library  was  commenced, 
which  now  contains  more  than  seven  hundred  bound 
volumes."  "  In  this  connection,  the  alteration  and  enlarge- 
ment of  this  house  of  public  worship  ought  to  be  mention- 
ed." The  alteration  and  enlargement  here  alluded  to  was 
made  in  1828  ;  the  house  was  enlarged  and  the  inside  en- 
tirely constructed  anew,  at  an  expense  of  over  thr-^e  thous- 
and dollars.  He  continues  and  says,  "  of  scarcely  le.^s  impor- 
tance was  the  fitting  up  of  a  neat  and  commodious  place 
for  social  worship."  In  1830,  this  place  (vestry)  was  pro- 
vided for  social  religious  meetings,  principally  by  individ- 
ual enterprise.  He  further  says,  "  a  spirit  of  christian 
benevolence  has  also  been  considerably  excited,  and  the 
public  charities  of  the  people  increased  since  the  commence- 
ment of  my  ministry."  He  then  refers  to  the  teinperance 
reformation;  the  first  efficient  efforts  on  this  subject 
here  were  in  1827.  He  says,  "  the  results  have  been  most 
important  to  the  interests  of  this  community  ;  our  numbers 
kave  gradually  increased  from  eleven  up  to  more  than  seven 


CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCH    IN    BELCHERTOWN.       63 

hundred,  comprising  a  large  portion  of  the  influence  and 
character  of  the  place."  "  At  the  lowest  calculation,  the 
temperance  reformation  must  be  an  annual  saving  to  the 
town  of  several  thousand  dollars,  and  yet  this  is  really  the 
least  of  all  considerations  connected  with  this  reformation  ; 
il  is  the  salvation  of  life,  of  happiness,  of  the  soul  itself." 
After  alluding  to  various  other  things  showing  similar  re- 
sults, he  says,  "  whilst  I  have  sustained  the  pastoral  office 
in  this  church,  one  hundred  seventy-eight  have  been  ad- 
ded to  its  body,  forty-five  by  recommendation  from  other 
churches,  and  one  hundred  thirty-three  by  a  public  profes- 
sion of  their  faith  in  Christ ;  the  church  at  the  time  of  my 
settlement,  consisted  of  three  hundred  sixty-four  members  ; 
it  now  consists  of  four  hundred  fifty-seven,  showing  an  in- 
crease of  almost  one  hundred."  There  was  an  unusual  re- 
ligious interest  among  this  people  in  1831.  It  is  not  the 
object  of  tin's  narrative  to  detail  the  causes  that  led  to  Mr. 
Coleman's  dismission ;  they  are  now  matters  of  history, 
and  will  be  recollected  by  many  still  among  us  ;  if  from 
them  are  drawn  useful  lessons  of  instruction  for  the  fu- 
ture, they  may  thus  far  be  beneficial.  In  alluding  to  them, 
in  drawing  his  discourse  to  a  close,  Mr.  Coleman  says, 
*'we  are  all  hastening  to  the  judgment  seat  of  Christ 
where  our  motives  will  be  fully  known,  and  where  these 
our  relations  will  be  severely  scrutinized.  That  meeting 
at  the  judgment  seat  of  Christ!  Oh!  it  is  enough  to  hush 
every  unhallowed  feeling  of  the  heart.  There  we  shall 
meet  no  more  to  judge  one  another,  but  to  be  judged  of  Him 
on  whose  dread  decision  our  character  and  our  destiny  de- 
pend. There  all  my  official  conduct  towards  you  will  be 
justly  estimated,  and  there  too  all  your  treatment  of  me, 
and  of  my  gospel  Avill  be  laid  open."  Mr.  Coleman  asked 
and  took  a  dismission  against  the  wishes  of  a  large  majori- 


64  HISTOKICAL    SKETCHES    OF    THE 

ty  of  the  people.  This  fact  was  fully  tested  by  votes  in 
parish  meeting  and  in  various  other  ways  ;  probably  three 
fourths  of  the  parish  were  desirous  that  he  should  not 
leave  them  ;  yet  a  minority,  and  that  not  numerous,  but 
active  and  unyielding,  sought  a  separation  ;  at  a  society 
meeting  held  SejDtember  4th,  1832,  for  the  purpose  of  con- 
sidering the  subject  of  Mr.  Coleman's  request  for  a  dis- 
mission, the  following  votes  passed  : 

Voted,  "That  this  society  accord  with  the  request 
made  by  Rev.  Lyman  Coleman,  that  the  pastoral  relation 
between  him  and  this  people  be  dissolved." 

Voted,  "  That  while  this  society  expresses  by  vote 
their  accordance  with  the  wishes  of  Mr.  Coleman,  ex- 
pressed in  his  request,  they  would  say  that  it  is  with  the 
deepest  feelings  of  regret  that  such  an  event  must  take 
place  ;  nearly  seven  years  has  elapsed  since  his  settle- 
ment here  as  the  minister  of  this  people.  The  ability, 
the  assiduity,  the  faithfulness,  and  untiring  devotion 
with  which  the  duties  of  the  sacred  office  have  been 
discharged  by  him  during  his  labors  among  us,  have 
associated  him  in  our  feelings  with  our  fairest  prospects 
and  brightest  hopes.  We  had  cherished  the  pleasing 
expectation  that  a  beneficent  Providence  would  continue 
him  as  the  minister  of  this  people  for  a  great  while  yet  to 
come  ;  though  we  are  cut  short  in  this,  we  would  express 
our  grateful  acknowledgment  to  the  great  Head  of  the 
church,  for  continuing  him  so  long  the  minister  of  this 
people."  The  church  passed  a  vote  expressive  of  the 
same  feelings  with  the  society.  There  was  no  opposition 
expressed  in  the  church  or  society  in  the  passing  of  these 
votes.  He  was  dismissed  on  the  4th  of  September,  1832. 
immediately  upon  his  dismission  he  received  an  invita- 
tion to  take  charge  as  Principal  of  the  "  Burr  Seminary," 


CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH    IN    BELCHERTOWN.       65 

a  literary  institution,  established  at  Manchester,  Vermont. 
He  remained  at  the  head  of  that  institution  till  1837, 
when  he  was  invited  to  take  charge  of  the  "  Teachers* 
Seminary,"  at  Andover,  Massachusetts  ;  he  entered  on 
the  duties  there,  and  remained  at  that  Seminary  till 
September,  1842.  Resigning  his  office  there,  he  made 
arrangements  for  a  voyage  to  Europe ;  sailed  from  New 
York,  November  29th,  same  year,  in  a  vessel  bound  to 
Hamburgh  ;  passed  the  winter  in  the  city  of  Berlin.  A 
leading  object  with  Mr.  Coleman,  in  visiting  Europe, 
was  to  obtain  materials  for  a  revised  edition  of  his  work, 
"  Christian  Antiquities,"  and  in  preparation  for  another 
v/ork,  "  The  Primitive  Church,"  or  "  Church  without  a 
Bishop."  At  Berlin,  he  had  great  facilities,  in  aiding 
him  in  the  object  of  his  inquiries.  He  was  in  habitual 
conference  with  Dr.  Neander,  the  great  historian ;  spent 
the  winter  and  spring,  in  close  application  at  Berlin,  in 
gathering  materials  to  perfect  his  object  in  his  contem- 
plated works  above  mentioned.  He  visited  various  parts 
of  Germany,  France,  Belgium,  England,  Scotland  and 
Wales.  On  his  return  home  the  next  year  he  was 
engaged  in  instruction  at  Amherst,  Massachusetts,  and 
at  Auburn,  New  York.  These  two  works  above  named, 
have  been  published,  and  very  favorably  received  by  the 
public,  as  valuable  standard  works.  They  have  recently 
been  reprinted  in  London.  He  has  published  another 
work  "  Historical  Geography  ;"  five  editions  of  this  work 
have  gone  from  the  press.  Mr.  Coleman  has  published 
some  other  works  of  a  more  limited  extent,  "  Historical 
Sketch,  and  the  Christian  Sabbath,"  and  others,  giving 
evidence  of  laborious  study  and  extensive  research.  Mr. 
Coleman  was  a  native  of  Middlefield,  Hampshire  County, 
Massachusetts,  born  June,  1796,  son  of  Dr.  William. 
6* 


66  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES    OF    THE 

Coleman,  then  a  practising  physician  of  that  place,  and 
now  residing  in  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts  ;  and  grand-son 
of  Dr.  Seth  Coleman,  formerly  of  Amherst,  Massachusetts, 
who  died  there,  September  9th,  1816,  aged  76, — a  man 
well  known  in  his  day  as  a  skilful  physician,  and  of  dis- 
tinguished piety.  Mr.  Coleman  was  a  graduate  of  Yale 
College  in  1817  ;  held  the  office  of  tutor  in  that  College 
five  years  ;  studied  theology  at  the  Divinity  School  at 
Yale;  settled  in  the  ministry  here,  October  19,  1825. 
In  September,  1826,  he  married  Miss  Maria  Flynt, 
daughter  of  Rufus  Flynt,  Esq.,  of  Monson,  Massachu- 
setts. He  received  the  Honorary  Degree  of  D.  D.,  from 
Nassau  Hall  College,  in  1848;  is  now  engaged  in  clas- 
sical instruction  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia. 

After  Mr.  Coleman's  dismission,  the  people  remained 
without  a  settled  minister,  about  one  year.  In  June, 
1833,  an  invitation  was  given  to  Rev.  Jared  Reid,  to 
supply  the  desk.  Mr.  Reid  had  been  settled  at  Reading, 
Massachusetts,  and  dismissed.  He  came  among  us  and 
supplied  the  desk  for  several  Sabbaths.  On  the  22d  of 
July,  at  a  meeting  of  the  church,  a  vote  was  taken  to  give 
him  a  call  to  settle,  if  the  society  acceded  to  the  vote. 
This  they  did,  and  a  unanimous  call  was  given  him  to 
settle  with  us  in  the  gospel  ministry.  In  due  time  he 
returned  an  affirmative  answer,  and  he  was  installed  to 
the  pastoral  office  September  4,  1833.  Mr.  Reid  is  son 
of  Mr.  Samuel  Reid,  a  native  of  Fall  River,  Massachu- 
setts. He  moved  to  Preston,  Connecticut,  where  Rev. 
Mr.  Reid  was  born,  February  1788  ;  graduated  at  Yale 
College  1817,  (a  class-mate  with  Rev.  Mr.  Coleman); 
studied  Theology  at  Andover;  was  licensed  to  preach 
April  1822  ;  settled  in  the  ministry  at  Reading,  Novem- 
ber 20,  1823;  dismissed  1833.     November  27,   1823,  he 


CONGREGATIONAL    CHtJECH    IN  BELCHERTOWN.       67 

married  Miss  Sarah  Bigelow,  from  Colchester,  Connect- 
icut. Mrs.  Reid  was  exceedingly  active  and  devoted  in 
her  labors  in  advancing  the  religious  interests  of  the  com- 
munity where  she  was.  She  was  sympathetic  in  affliction, 
faithful  in  her  admonitions  to  the  careless  and  indifferent, 
and  constant  in  her  appeals  to  all  to  attend  to  the  one 
thing  needful.  No  suitable  opportunity  was  left  unim- 
proved by  her,  of  communicating  spiritual  benefits  to 
those  within  the  reach  of  her  influence.  In  her  last  sick- 
ness, she  gave  abundant  evidence  that  her  hope  of  a 
blessed  immortality  was  as  an  anchor  to  her  soul,  sure 
and  steadfast.  She  died  at  Tiverton,  Rhode  Island, 
where  Mr.  Reid  was  stationed,  on  the  11th  of  February, 
1845,  aged  fifty-eight. 

During  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Reid  here  the  church  was 
divided,  another  church  oaganized,  and  a  society  formed 
in  connection  with  it,  known  as  the  Brainerd  Church 
and  Society.  The  causes  of  this  division  did  not  arise 
from  dissatisfaction  with  Mr.  Reid,  but  from  causes 
entirely  distinct  from  his  ministry.  It  is  no  part  of  the 
object  of  this  narrative  to  detail  them.  They  are  well 
known  to  many  now  in  this  community.  They  were  not 
occasioned  by  a  difference  in  faith,  or  doctrine.  The  two 
churches  were  in  christian  fellowship,  each  sustaining 
stated,  constant  worship.  Mr.  Reid  continued  his  labors 
in  the  first  church,  which  were  attended  with  prosperity 
to  the  church  and  people,  till  January,  1841,  when  he 
requested  a  dismission  from  his  church  and  people.  A 
mutual  council  was  called  for  the  purpose,  and  he  was 
dismissed  January  6,  1841. 

The  Brainerd  Church  was  organized  on  the  30th  Sep- 
tember, 1834.  Sixty-eight  members  of  the  first  church 
had  obtained  certificates  of  their  church  standing,  with  a 


68  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES    OF    THE 

view  of  calling  an  ecclesiastical  council,  to  consider  the 
subject  of  forming  another  church.  This  was  done  with 
the  consent  of  the  first  church.  The  council  convened  by 
letters  missive,  and  the  subject  was  presented.  The  fol- 
lowing Churches,  Pastors  and  Delegates,  composed  that 
Council.  From  the  first  church  in  Northampton,  Rev. 
Joseph  Penny,  D.  D.,  and  Br.  Asaliel  Lyman,  Delegate ; 
from  the  Edwards  Church,  Northampton,  Rev.  John  Todd, 
and  Br.  Thomas  Napier,  delegate  ;  from  the  first  church 
in  Hadley,  Rev.  John  Brown,  D.  D.,  Pastor,  and  Dea. 
Jacob  Smith,  delegate  ;  from  the  first  Church  in  South 
Hadley,  Rev.  Artemas  Boies,  pastor,  and  Rev.  B.  R. 
Woodbridge,  delegate  ;  from  the  East  Church  in  Amherst, 
Rev.  Nathan  Perkins,  pastor,  and  Gen.  Ebenezer  Mat- 
toon,  delegate  ;  from  the  church  in  Enfield,  Rev.  Joshua 
Crosby  and  Rev.  Sumner  G.  Clapp,  pastors,  and  Br. 
Eliphaz  Jones,  delegate ;  from  the  church  in  Monson, 
Rev.  Alfred  Ely,  D.  D.,  pastor,  and  Dea.  S.  Shaw,  dele- 
gate ;  from  the  church  in  Brimfield,  Rev.  Joseph  Vaill ; 
from  the  First  Church  in  Belchertown,  Rev.  Jared  Reid, 
pastor,  and  Dea.  Phelps,  delegate.  Upon  a  full  hearing 
of  the  subject,  the  council  came  to  a  unanimous  result  in 
favor  of  a  new  church  organization,  and  constituted  the 
certificated  members  into  a  church,  and  extended  to  it 
the  fellowship  of  the  churches,  under  the  name  of  the 
"  Brainerd  Church."  Between  twenty  and  thirty  more 
from  the  First  Church  united  with  it  within  a  few  weeks. 
The  ordinances  of  the  gospel  were  continually  sustained 
in  it  from  the  first,  though  there  was  no  settled  ministry 
till  1838.  In  June  of  that  year  an  invitation  was  given 
to  Rev.  George  A.  Oviatt  to  supply  the  desk.  He  came 
among  us  and  labored  a  few  weeks.  On  the  16th  of 
July,  1838,  the   church  records  show   the  following  acts 


CONGKEGATIONAL    CIIUKCH  IN    BELCHERTOWN.       69 

and  doings.  "  The  church  held  a  meeting,  duly  notified, 
on  the  subject  of  giving  a  call  to  the  Rev.  George  A. 
Oviatt  to  settle  with  us  in  the  gospel  ministry."  And 
the  records  also  say,  "  Whereas,  he  has  labored  among  us 
for  a  time,  to  our  acceptance  and  edification,  and  from  his 
known  character  and  standing  entitled  to  our  entire  con- 
fidence as  an  able  and  faithful  minister  of  the  gospel ;  if 
the  Brainerd  Society,  to  which  this  church  ap23er tains, 
think  proper  to  extend  to  him  an  invitation  to  settle  with 
us,  we  do  hereby  express  our  unanimous  and  cordial  con- 
currence in  such  invitation."  This  vote  was  communi- 
cated to  the  society,  and  they  voted  unanimously  to  give 
the  call,  which  was  communicated  to  Mr.  Oviatt.  He 
returned  in  due  time  an  affirmative  reply.  A  council  was 
invited  for  the  ordination,  and  convened  on  the  28th  of 
August,  1838.  The  council  was  composed  of  the  follow- 
ing pastors  and  delegates  from  the  churches.  Second 
Church  in  Amherst,  Rev.  Nathan  Perkins,  pastor  ;  First 
Church  in  Amherst,  Rev.  Josiah  Bent,  pastor,  and  Gen. 
David  Mack,  delegate ;  church  in  Enfield,  Rev.  John 
Whiton,  Pastor,  and  Br.  Tcrtius  "Walker,  delegate  ;  from 
the  church  in  South  Hadley,  Rev.  Joseph  D.  Condit, 
pastor,  and  Dca.  Moses  Montague,  delegate ;  from  the 
church  in  Granby,  Dea.  Asa  Pease,  delegate  ;  from  the 
church  in  Monson,  Dea.  A.  W.  Porter,  delegate ;  from 
the  church  in  Boylston,  Rev.  William  H.  Sanford, 
pastor,  and  Br.  Henry  H.  Brigham,  delegate  ;  from  Park 
Street  Church  in  Boston,  Rev.  Silas  Aikin,  pastor,  and 
Br.  William  T.  Eustis,  delegate  ;  from  the  church  in 
Belchertown,  Rev.  Jared  Reid,  pastor,  and  Dea.  Israel 
Towne,  delegate  ;  and  Rev.  Roswell  Hawkes,  without 
pastoral  charge.  The  council  organized  as  follows : 
Rev.    Nathan    Perkins,    moderator ;     Rev.    William    H. 


70  HISTOBICAL    SKETCHES    OF    THE 

Sanford,  scribe  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Whiton  made  the  introductory 
prayer  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Aikin  preached  the  sermon ;  Rev.  Mr. 
Raid  made  the  ordaining  prayer  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Perkins  gave 
the  charge  to  the  pastor ;  Rev.  Mr.  Condit  gave  the  right 
hand  of  fellowship  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Bent  gave  the  charge  to 
the  people,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Sanford  made  the  concluding 
prayer. 

Mr.  Oviatt  continued  his  labors  as  pastor  of  the  Brain- 
erd  Church  and  Society  till  the  churches  and  societies 
were  again  united,  1841.  His  labors  were  blessed,  and 
the  church  and  society  prosperous.  The  church  to  Jan- 
uary 1841,  had  increased  to  about  one  hundred  and 
eighty  members.  The  society  built  a  house  in  1836,  for 
their  accommodation  at  an  expense  of  five  thousand  dol- 
lars. After  the  dismission  of  Mr.  Reid,  January  6,  1841, 
(leaving  the  First  Church  destitute  of  a  pastor),  a  desire 
was  manifested  by  many  in  each  society  for  a  reunion  of 
the  churches  and  societies,  with  the  cherished  hope  that 
Mr.  Oviatt  might  become  the  pastor  of  the  united  church. 
In  public  worship  the  two  societies  united  immediately 
upon  Mr.  Reid's  leaving,  and  Mr.  Oviatt  discharged  the 
pastoral  duties  to  both.  Such  had  been  his  labors  and 
intercourse  among  the  people,  ever  since  his  ministerial 
labors  commenced  here,  that  all  feelings  seemed  to  con- 
centrate in  the  desire  of  efiecting  a  union,  and  of  extend- 
ing a  call  to  him  to  settle  over  the  united  church  and 
society.  Measures  were  taken  to  accomplish  that  object. 
Meetings  of  each  church  and  each  society  were  called, 
and  votes  passed  expressing  a  desire  of  reunion,  and  of 
extending  a  call  to  Mr.  Oviatt  to  take  the  pastoral  charge 
of  them.  The  causes  which  seven  years  before  had  led 
to  a  division  of  the  church,  seem  to  have  melted  away, 
and  a  state  of  united  feeling,  favorable  to  the  prosperity 


CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCH    IN    BELCHERTOWN.       71 

of  the   church  by  a  union  succeeded.     An  ecclesiastical 
council  was  invited,  to  consider  the  subject  of  a  union  of 
the  churches,  and  of  installing  Mr.  Oviatt  over  the  united 
church  and  society.     That  council  convened  August  31, 
1841.     From   Second   Church  in  Amherst,   Rev.   Nuthan 
Perkins,  and  Br.   Ithamer   Conkey,   delegate ;   church  in 
Enfield,  Rev.  John  Whiton,  and  Dea.  Alvan  Smith,  del- 
egate ;  church  in  Granby,   Rev.  James  Bates,  pastor,  and 
Rev,  Eli  Moody,  delegate  ;   church  in  South  Hadley,  Rev. 
Joseph  D.  Condit,  pastor,  and  Br.  Samuel  Judd,  delegate; 
First  Church   in  Amherst,  Rev.  John  Sanford,  delegate  ; 
from  South  Church  in  Amherst,  Rev.  Dana  Goodsell,  and 
Br.  Nathan  E.  Dickinson,  delegate ;  from  the   church  in 
Amherst  College,   Rev.   Professor    William    C.    Fowler. 
Votes  of  the  two   churches  were  laid   before  the  council, 
expressing  a  mutual  desire  of  reunion,  and  no  opposition 
appeared.       The    council   decided   that    a   union  formed 
by  two  churches,  by  the  unanimous  votes  of  both,  was  in 
accordance    with    ecclesiastical    usage ;     wherefore     the 
council    voted    "  that   in  view  of  all  the    circumstances 
before  them,  they  are  satisfied   with  these  proceedings, 
and  do  recognize   the  Brainerd    Church   and   the    First 
Church  in  Belchertown,  as  one  church  ;  and  to  carry   out 
the  object  of  all  the  parties  concerned,   that  the  relation 
of  Rev.  Mr.   Oviatt  as  pastor  of  the   Brainerd  Church  be 
dissolved."     And  on   due  proceedings  had,  the   council 
proceeded  to  install  Rev.  Mr.  Oviatt  pastor  of  the  united 
church  and  society,  in  pursuance  of  an  unanimous  call  by 
them  given  him   and  his   acceptance.     The  parts  in  the 
exercises  of  the  installation  were  as  follows  :    Rev.   Mr. 
Bates    made    the    introductory    prayer ;     Rev.    Professor 
Fowler  preached  the  sermon ;  Rev.  Mr.  Moody  made  the 
installing  prayer ;  Rev.  Mr.   Perkins  gave  the  charge  to 


72  HISTOEICAL  SKETCHES    ©F    THE 

the  pastor ;  Rev.  Mr.  Condit  gave  the  right  hand  of 
fellowship ;  Rev.  Mr.  Whiton  made  the  address  to  the 
people  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Goodsell  made  the  concluding  prayer- 
At  the  time  of  the  union  of  these  churches,  August  31, 
1841,  the  First  Church  included  probably  two  hundred 
and  fifty  members,  perhaps  three  hundred  including 
those  that  resided  elsewhere,  but  had  not  removed  their 
church  relation.  The  exact  number  is  not  known.  The 
Brainerd  Church  included  about  one  hundred  and  eighty 
members.  Most  of  these  were  from  the  First  Church. 
Mr.  Oviatt  remained  in  the  faithful  and  efficient  dis- 
charge of  his  ministerial  duties  till  July,  1845,  and  had 
the  satisfaction  of  seeing  the  union  of  the  churches  suc- 
cessful under  his  administration.  In  June,  1845,  he 
requested  a  dismission  from  the  church  and  society.  Mr. 
Oviatt's  health  was  not  firm,  and  the  duties  of  his  pastoral 
labors  were  arduous.  The  church  and  society  complied 
with  Mr.  Oviatt's  urgent  request,  in  inviting  a  council  to 
advise  in  the  matter.  It  was  called  and  the  subject  con- 
sidered. A  unanimous  desire  was  expressed  to  the  coun- 
cil that  the  pastoral  relation  between  Mr.  Oviatt  and 
them  might  not  be  dissolved.  In  view  of  the  whole 
matter,  knowing  the  state  of  Mr.  Oviatt's  health,  the 
extent  of  his  labors  here,  and  the  fact  that  a  new  field  of 
labor  opened  before  him  to  which  he  was  at  the  same 
time  invited,  of  taking  the  pastoral  charge  of  a  church 
and  society  about  forming  in  Boston,  (the  Suff'olk  street 
Church),  and  his  own  desire,  and  expressed  opinion  that 
his  health  was  not  adequate  to  the  labors  of  the  pastor 
here,  the  council  proceeded  to  dissolve  the  pastoral 
relation  between  him  and  this  people.  He  immediately 
proceeded  to  take  charge  of  the  newly  formed  society  in 
Boston,  and  was  soon  after  installed  as  the  pastor  of  that 


CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH  IN  BELCHERTOWN.       73 

church  and  people.  In  February,  1839,  Mr.  Oviatt  was 
married  to  Miss  Martha  Ann  Whittlesey,  of  New  Haven, 
Connecticut.  From  the  period  of  his  dismission  from 
this  place,  her  health  became  impaired.  She  went  to 
Boston,  but  disease  had  fastened  upon  her,  and  she 
lingered  under  its  fearful  progress,  at  the  hospitable 
residence  of  her  brother  in  law  and  sister,  Hon.  William 
T.  Eustis  and  lady,  till  its  final  termination.  She  died 
April  6,  1846,  in  the  full  and  cheering  hope  of  a  blessed 
immortality. 

Her  traits  of  character  were  most  estimable.  Educated 
for  usefulness,  a  mind  of  superior  order,  well  disciplined 
and  highly  cultivated,  with  a  discretion  and  judgment 
ever  faithful  and  safe,  sympathising  with  the  afflicted, 
active  in  works  of  beneficence  to  all  within  the  sphere  of 
her  action,  she  lived  the  religion  she  professed  ;  it  gave 
lustre  to  her  whole  character.  Those  who  best  knew  her 
covild  most  justly  appreciate  her  worth.  Mr.  Oviatt  is  a 
native  of  Bridgeport,  Connecticut,  son  of  Daniel  B. 
Oviatt  Esq.  ;  he  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1835,  and 
studied  theology  at  the  divinity  school  at  Yale  College. 
His  father  was  a  native  of  Milford,   Connecticut ;  son  of 

Oviatt.     Daniel  B.  Oviatt  married  Mary  Roberts, 

daughter  of  William  Roberts,  of  Bridgeport,  Connecticut, 
who  came  from  England  during  the  Revolutionary  war ; 
after  the  close  of  the  war  he  settled  and  spent  his  life  in 
Bridgeport.  Rev.  G.  A.  Oviatt  is  now  (1851)  settled  in 
the  ministry  in  Chicopee,  Hampden  County,  Massachu- 
setts. 

After  the  dismission  of  Mr.  Oviatt,  the  desk  was  con- 
stantly supplied,  without  a  settled  ministry  for  seven 
months.  In  January,  1846,  the  Rev.  John  Clancey,  hj 
invitation  came  among  us  for  a  supply ;  he  preached  four 


74  HISTOEICAL  SKETCHES  OP  TfiE 

Sabbaths.  An  invitation  was  extended  to  him  to  settle 
in  the  ministry,  which  was  accepted.  He  was  installed 
February  25,  1846,  by  a  council  convened  for  the  pur- 
pose. Mr.  Clancey,  is  a  graduate  of  Middlebury  College, 
of  the  class  of  1818,  studied  theology  at  Andover,  was 
settled  in  the  ministry  at  Charlton,  (N.  Y.)  where  he 
remained  about  twenty  years  in  the  ministry ;  had  been 
dismissed  from  his  pastoral  labors  with  that  people, 
before  he  came  to  this  place.  He  remained  here  as  the 
pastor  of  this  people  till  March  27th,  1849,  when  he  was 
dismissed  by  an  Ecclesiastical  council,  mutually  called  to 
take  into  consideration  "  the  difhculties  that  have  arisen 
in  respect  to  the  pastoral  relation  existing  between  Rev. 
John  Clancey  and  the  church  and  society  here,  and  to  give 
such  judgment  and  advice  in  regard  to  the  continuance 
or  dissolution  thereof  as  they  may  deem  proper,  and  to 
dissolve  the  said  relation,  if,  in  their  judgment  it  shall 
be  deemed  advisable."  In  pursuance  of  this  call,  a 
council  was  convened  and  the  subject  considered.  No 
difficulties  were  stated  to  exist  between  Mr.  Clancey  and 
the  people,  and  no  allegations  against  his  character  in 
any  respect.  Votes  of  the  society,  and  of  the  church,  had 
been  taken  at  meetings  of  these  bodies,  expressive  of  their 
views  as  to  the  expediency  of  a  continuance  of  Mr. 
Clancey's  labors  among  this  people  ;  their  doings  were  laid 
before  the  council,  and  their  judgment  was  unanimous  in 
favor  of  a  dissolution  of  the  pastoral  relation,  giving  him 
plenary  testimonials  that  he  sustained  a  fair  christian  and 
ministerial  character.  Mr.  Clancey  returned  to  Charlton ; 
is  still  laboring  in  the  ministry,  in  supplying  destitute 
churches. 

In  May,  1849,   Rev.    Samuel  Wolcott  was  invited  to 
supply  the  desk.    He  came  and  preached  the  first  Sabbath 


CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH  IN  BELCHERTOWN.        75 

in  June,  and  the  three  next  succeeding  Sabbaths.  Such 
was  the  impression  made  on  the  public  mind  by  the 
labors  of  Mr.  Wolcott,  that  a  meeting  of  the  church  and 
of  the  society,  Avas  duly  notified  and  held  on  the  9th  of 
July,  and  votes  passed  unanimously  in  each  of  these 
bodies,  extending  a  call  to  Mr.  Wolcott,  to  settle  with  us 
in  the  gospel  ministry,  and  immediately  communicated  to 
him.  He  returned  an  answer  under  date  of  July  26, 
accepting  the  invitation,  reserving  a  few  weeks  to  close 
some  engagements  then  occupying  his  attention.  In  due 
time  preparations  were  made  for  convening  a  council  for 
his  installation.  The  council  convened  on  the  second 
day  of  October.  The  gentlemen  of  the  council  officiating 
in  the  exercises  were,  reading  the  Scriptures  by  Rev.  Mr. 
Cross,  late  of  Palmer,  at  the  time  without  pastoral 
charge.  Introductory  prayer  by  Rev.  Mr.  Oviatt,  a  for- 
mer pastor  of  the  church.  Sermon  by  Rev.  Professor 
Smith,  of  Amherst  College.  Installing  prayer,  by  Rev. 
Mr.  Bates,  of  Granby.  Charge  to  the  pastor,  by  Rev. 
Dr.  Woodbridge,  of  Hadley.  Fellowship  of  the  churches, 
by  Rev.  Mr.  Laury,  of  South  Hadley.  Address  to  the 
people,  by  Rev.  Mr.  Colton  of  Amherst.  Concluding 
prayer,  by  Rev.  Mr.  McEwen,  of  Enfield.  Benediction 
by  the  pastor.  The  exercises  were  appropriate  and  well 
received  by  a  large  and  attentive  auditory.  Mr.  Wolcott 
immediately  entered  upon  the  duties  of  his  station, 
moving  his  family  here  a  few  days  previous  to  his  instal- 
lation. Some  of  the  results  of  his  labors  were  soon  seen 
in  an  increased  attention  to  religious  concerns.  It  be- 
came general  in  diff'erent  parts  of  the  town,  and  among 
all  ages,  continuing  for  several  months.  The  fruit  of  that 
revival,  has  been  eighty-seven  members  added  to  the 
church  by  profession,   since  Mr.   Wolcott's  installation, 


76  HISTOmCAL  SKETCHES  OF  THE 

and  sixteen  by  letter  from  other  chnrchcs.  The  congre* 
gation  has  increased,  and  blessings  multiplied  under  his 
ministrations. 

Mr.  Wolcott,  is  a  native  of  East  Windsor,  Ct.,  son  of 
Elihu  Wolcott,  Esq.,  now  residing  in  Jacksonville,  111., 
born  July,  1813.  His  mother,  a  daughter  of  Rev.  David 
McClure,  D.  D.,  of  East  Windsor.  He  is  a  lineal 
descendant  from  Henry  Wolcott,  born  in  Tolland,  Eng- 
land, and  removed  to  this  country  -with  his  wife  and  six 
children  in  1630;  they  belonged  to  the  company  of 
emigrants,  that  removed  from  Dorchester  to  Windsor,  in 
1635.  Their  descendants  were  numerous,  and  distin- 
guished as  prominent  in  the  ajffairs  of  church  and  state, 
from  the  earliest  history  of  Connecticut.  Rev.  Samuel 
Wolcott,  was  a  graduate  of  Yale  College,  in  1833  ;  he 
passed  the  first  year  after  his  graduation  at  Yale,  in  the- 
ological study.  In  1835,  he  entered  upon  a  course  of 
study  at  Andover,  completing  his  course  preparatory  to 
his  license  in  1837.  The  two  next  years  he  was  engaged 
in  assisting  the  Secretary  of  the  Board  of  Commissioners 
for  Foreign  Missions,  at  the  Mission  House  in  Boston. 
In  September  1839,  he  married  Miss  Catherine  E.  Wood, 
daughter  of  Ezra  Wood,  Esq.,  of  Westminster,  Massachu- 
setts. November  13,  he  was  ordained,  at  the  Bowdoin 
street  Church,  in  Boston,  as  a  foreign  missionary,  and 
embarked  for  Syria,  under  the  direction  of  the  Board  of 
Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions,  with  his  wife,  Janu- 
ary following,  and  arrived  at  Beyrout  the  next  April. 
Soon  removed  to  Areiyah,  a  village  in  Mount  Lebanon. 
The  rising  of  the  mountaineers  against  the  Pasha  of 
Egypt,  who  held  the  country,  compelled  him  to  return 
to  Beyrout,  with  loss  of  a  portion  of  his  eff'ects  ;  soon 
after  he  went   to    El  Abadiyeh,  another  village  of  Mount 


CO:^fGKEGATIONAL   CHUKCII   IN   belchehtown.      77 

Lebanon,  but  the  arrival  of  the  allied  English,  Austrian 
and  Turkish  fleets,  off  the  Coast,  in  August,  obliged  him 
to  return  to  Beyrout,  receiving  notice   from  the   British 
Admiral,   of  his   intention    to   bombard  the    town.      He 
removed  with  his   family,  to  the  Island  of  Cyprus,  for  a 
little  season,  returning  alone  to  the  place   from  which  he 
had  recently  been  driven  ;  he  arrived  on  the  morning  the 
town  capitulated,  and  was  able  to  preserve  the  missionary 
property.     In  the   spring  of  1841,  he  visited  Damascus, 
and  spent  the  summer  with  his  family,  at  Deir  El  Kamr, 
the  capital  town  of  Mount  Lebanon.     Here  he  opened  a 
school  for  the  sons  of  the  Druze   Sheiks.       His   labors, 
and  his  residence  in  the  mountains  were  suddenly  inter- 
rupted by   a  sanguinary  civil   war,  in   which  his  effects 
were  pillaged  by  the  ruthless  robbers,   and  he  compelled 
to  leave  the  place.     At  Beyrout,  on  the  26th  of  October, 
1841,    his    wife    died,  of   a    short    and    very    distressing 
illness.     He   passed  the  following  winter  in  Jerusalem, 
making  investigations,  visiting  various  parts  of  that  city 
of  renown,  and  places   contiguous,  rendered  sacred  by  a 
thousand  hallowed  associations.     In  the  spring  of  1842, 
he  returned  to  Beyrout,  spending  the  summer  at  Bham- 
down,  a  village  in  Mount  Lebanon,   remaining  there  till 
his  labors  were  again  interrupted  by  a  civil  war.     Amid 
the   most  severe   family    afflictions,    Mr.  Wolcott  expe- 
rienced peculiar  trials  in  his  missionary  labors,  by  reason 
of  the  unsettled  condition  of  the  affairs  of  governments, 
and  the  war-moving  elements  with  which  he  was  almost 
continually  surrounded,  breaking  in  upon  his  labors  and 
interrupting  his  plans  of  operation.     In  January,  1843, 
he  embarked  at  Beyrout    for  his   native   land,   returning 
by  way  of  England,  arrived  in  Boston,   April  21,    1843. 
Extended  accounts  have   been   given  of  Mr.   Wolcott's 


78  HISTORICAL  SKETCHES  OF  THil 

labors  and  travels,  during  his  residence  in  Syria  and 
Palestine,  and  at  the  East,  in  several  American  Journals. 
Some  of  them  may  be  found  in  the  Missionary  Herald, 
February  number,  1841,  and  the  March  number,  1842; 
and  in  the  first  number  of  "  Bibliotheca  Sacra,"  edited 
by  Professor  Robinson,  and  published  February,  1843. 
It  will  be  perceived,  says  Dr.  Robinson  in  his  "  Biblio- 
theca Sacra,"  that  most  of  the  communications  from  Pal- 
estine, are  from  Rev.  Mr.  Wolcott,  who  has  traversed 
the  country  and  explored  Jerusalem,  with  an  eye  of  a 
keen  and  intelligent  observer,  and  whose  remarks  have 
furnished  several  important  corrections  in  the  Biblical 
researches  in  that  country,  published  by  the  editor."  In 
August  1843,  Mr.  Wolcott  was  installed  as  pastor,  over 
the  Congregational  church  and  society,  in  Longmeadow. 
November  1st,  1843,  he  married  Miss.  Harriet  A.  Pope, 
daughter  of  Jonathan  A.  Pope,  Esq.,  of  Millbury,  Mas- 
sachusetts. He  was  dismissed  from  the  church  and  people 
of  Longmeadow,  December  27,  1847,  by  a  mutual  council 
called  for  the  purpose.  He  subsequently  spent  some  time 
in  preparing  a  geneological  history  of  the  Wolcott  family, 
which  is  yet  in  manuscript. 


CONGREGATIONAL    CHUECH    IN    BELCHERTOWN.      79 


PASTORS 

OF    THE    CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCH    IN    BELCHERTOWN, 
FROM  ITS  ORGANIZATION  FOR    ONE     HUND- 
RED AND  FOURTEEN    YEARS. 

Rev.  Edward  Billing,  settled  1739,  dismissed  1752,  died  about 
1757. 
«    Justus  Forward,  settled  1756,  died  1814,  aged  84. 
"   Experience  Porter,  installed  1812,  dismissed  1825,  died  1828, 

aged  46. 
"    Lyman  Coleman,  ordained  1825,  dismissed  1832. 
««    Jared  Reid,  installed  1833,  dismissed,  1841. 
"    George  A.  Oviatt,  1841,  dismissed  1845. 
"    John  Clancey,  installed  1846,  dismissed  1849. 
«    Samuel  Wolcott,  iliwiiii  n.1  1849. 


Interims  between  the   dismission  of   one   pastor 
and  the  settlement  of  his  successor. 

Between  Mr.  Billing  and  Mr.  Forward,  about   3  years  and  10  mo. 

Mr.  Porter  and  Mr.  Coleman,  about  7  months. 

Mr.  Coleman  and  Mr.  Reid,  about  1  year. 

Mr.  Reid  and  Oviatt,  about  8  months. 

Mr.  Oviatt  and  Mr.  Clancey,  about  8  months. 

Mr.  Clancey  and  Mr.  Wolcott,  about  7  months. 
Fractions  of  time  in  days  not  computed ;  making  an  aggregate  of 
eight  years   and   two   months  without  a   settled  ministry,  in   one 
hundred  and  fourteen  years.     The  desk  has  been  statedly  supplied 
when  there  has  been  no  settled  ministry. 


80  HISTOmCAL  SKETCHES  OF  THE 

The  following  list  comprises  the  names  of  those 

WHO  HAVE  sustained  THE  OFFICE  OF  DEACON  IN  THIS 
CHURCH. 

See  their  numbers  for  additional  notices  of  their  office. 


John    Smith, 

No.     1. 

Aaron  Lyman, 

"       3. 

Elijah  Smith, 

*'     11. 

Joseph  Smith, 

"     16. 

Edward  Smith, 

"  163. 

Elijah  D wight, 

"  215. 

Amasa  Smith, 

"  229. 

Eliakim  Phelps, 

"  222. 

James  Walker, 

"  256. 

Oliver  S.  Taylor, 

_    ."  584. 

Daniel  Phelps, 

"  462. 
•       •*''879. 

Anson  Moody, 

John  M.  Spooner, 

"  863. 

Henry  A.  Bridgman, 

"  460. 

Israel  Towne, 

"  878. 

William  Phelps, 

"  463. 

At  the  time  of  the  union  of  the  two  churches,  in  1841, 
Daniel  Phelps,  John  M.  Spooner,  Israel  Towne,  and  Will- 
iam Phelps,  were  the  officiating  deacons  in  the  first  church, 
and  Henry  A.  Bridgman,  (460)  Elijah  Amadon,  (1156)  and 
Elisha  Abbey,  (655)  were  the  officiating  deacons  in  the 
Brainerd  Church.  After  that  union  they  all  officiated  as 
deacons  in  the  united  church  till  1850,  when  they  all 
resigned  their  office.  The  church  then  chose  Daniel 
Phelps,  Israel  Towne,  Elisha  Abbey  and  Ephraim  Monta- 
gue for  deacons.  These  four  now  sustain  that  office  in 
the  church. 


CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH  IN  BELCHERTOWN.        81 


LIST  OF  COMMUNICANTS 

In    the    CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCH    IN    BELCHERTOWN, 
FROM  ITS  ORGANIZATION  IN  1837,  TO   1851. 


EXPLANATIONS. 

The  names  of  the  church  members  are  represented  by 
numbers  standing  in  columns  on  the  left  margin  of  the 
page,  against  the  name  represented.  When  these  num- 
bers are  used  elsewhere  in  these  pages,  corresponding 
with  the  column  numbers,  and  representing  names,  they 
are  inclosed  in  parenthesis.  Sometimes  I  trace  lineage 
by  numbers  ;  for  example  ;  take  No.  (958),  it  represents 
Phineas  C.  Walker,  son  of  (412);  turn  to  No.  (412); 
you  find  that  number  represents  Aaron  Walker,  son  of 
(243)  ;  turn  to  No.  (243),  you  find  that  number  represents 
Hezkiah  Walker,  son  of  (99)  ;  turn  to  No.  (99),  you  find 
that  number  represents  Capt.  James  Walker,  and  there 
find  his  birth  place,  parentage,  marriage,  when  he  came  to 
this  place,  and  from  whence,  time  of  his  death  and  age. 
Sometimes  the  name  is  used  with  the  number  representing 
it.  Numbers  are  never  used  representing  names  except 
when  representing  church  members.  The  family  names 
of    married   women  are   always  given   when  known,  and 


82  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES    OF    THE 

represented  as  follows:  in  No.  (131),  'Eunice  {Dwight) 
wife  of  Joseph  Graves  ;  her  family  name  before  marriage 
being  enclosed  in  parenthesis  and  printed  in  italics.  Frac- 
tions in  years,  or  in  age,  are  not  noticed.  Periods  of  death 
may  in  some  cases  be  inaccurately  stated.  When  I  could 
have  access  to  record-evidence,  I  have  in  all  cases  given 
it.  When  I  could  not,  I  have  taken  dates  of  deaths  and 
other  facts  from  the  memory  of  the  living  ;  when  this 
source'  of  information  has  seemed  to  be  in  a  good  degree 
accurate,  I  have  taken  it  as  giving  the  facts  sought.  I  am 
aware  that  memory  cannot  always  be  relied  on  for  accu- 
racy in  dates.  It  would  be  strange  if  errors  should  not  be 
found  in  these  as  well  as  other  things,  in  these  pages. 
Facts  resting  on  traditionary  history,  are  so  stated.  Facts 
stated  from  memory  have  been  obtained,  so  far  as  practi- 
cable, from  those  best  prepared  to  give  them  correctly. 

When  removals  of  church  members  to  other  churches 
have  taken  place,  and  knoimi,  the  facts  are  stated,  with  the 
time  of  removal  and  place  removed  to.  In  many  cases, 
where  members  of  the  church  are  gone  from  us,  no  trace 
of  record  or  any  other  evidence  can  be  found,  noticing  the 
removal.  All  that  is  known  of  them,  is  they  are  gone. 
In  some  cases  a  general  certificate  of  membership  has  been 
taken  by  persons  going  away,  and  whether  they  have 
united  with  any  other  church  is  not  known.  I  have  added 
against  the  names  of  several  individuals  the  word  "  i?e- 
moved,'^  showing  that  they  are  gone  from  us,  but  not 
known  where  or  whether  living.  Our  church  records  are 
very  imperfect,  short,  and  inaccurate.  Names  are  some- 
times represented  by  the  initials  only  ;  and  in  removals 
and  deaths,  and  in  other  events  relating  to  an  individual, 
the  record  is,  Mr.  A.  removed  or  died  &c.,  when  the  desig- 
nation would  apply  to  several  persons   with  equal  accura- 


CONGREGATIONAL    CHUECH    IN    BELCHERTOWN.       83 

cy.  I  have,  with  much  labor,  sought  facts  to  guide  me, 
and  from  all  means  within  my  reach,  and  from  the  most 
correct  sources.  No  record  of  a  death  can  be  found  on 
our  church  records  from  the  year  1833  to  1841.  Many 
omissions  of  other  things  and  at  other  periods  are  found 
in  church  records,  of  what  they  should  contain,  and  usu- 
ally do  contain. 

Names  of  some  who  have  been  communicants,  are  not 
to  be  found  on  the  church  records.  In  some  instances  the 
first  notice  of  their  names  in  church  documents,  is  when 
they  have  asked  a  letter  of  recommendation  from  the 
church.  When  by  any  satisfactory  evidence,  I  have  ascer- 
tained the  membership  of  individuals,  I  have  inserted 
their  names  as  communicants.  After  all,  probably  some 
may  find  their  names  omitted  on  both  chronological  and 
alphabetical  lists.  In  numbering  the  list  of  names  as  first 
drawn,  some  names  were  not  found  ;  they  either  Avere  not 
on  the  records,  or  overlooked.  In  designating  these  as 
taken  in  a  new  draft,  I  add  a  fraction  to  the  number. 
Take  number  (319),  "  Mary,  the  wife  of  Giles  Lyman." 
The  three  names  next  following  are  designated  (3 19 J) 
(319J)  and  (SIQJ).  The  arrangement  was  begun  by  num- 
bers indicating  persons,  and  I  have  found  it  difficult  to 
change  the  numbers  after  going  through  with  them,  with 
the  various  references  they  bear  in  designating  persons  ; 
therefore  I  used  fractions. 


84 


HISTORICAL    SKETCHES    OF    THE 


The  following  list  comprises  the  names,  with  their  num- 
bers, of  those  w^ho  have  been  communicants  in  the  con- 
gregational Church  in  Belchertown,  from  its  organization 
in  1737  to  1851.  There  are  no  church  records  remaining 
anterior  to  February  25th,  1756.  The  names  of  those  who 
were  communicants,  and  were  removed  from  the  church 
by  death,  or  otherwise,  before  that  time,  are  not  to  be 
found.  The  names  corresponding  with  the  first  68  num- 
bers, stand  on  the  church  records  as  communicants  at  that 
date,  being  the  date  of  Rev.  Mr.  Forward's  settlement, 
February  25th,  1756.  A  very  few  of  these  68  communi- 
cants did  not  unite  with  this  church  till  after  Mr.  For- 
ward's settlement,  though  they  were  communicants.  These 
few  names  are  found  among  the  68,  and  also  registered  as 
uniting  with  this  church  afterwards,  when  they  removed 
their  church  relations. 


Numbers. 
1. 


Names.  Deaths. 

John  Smith,  a  native  of  Hadley,  son 
of  Joseph  Smith,  born  1687,  married 
Elizabeth  Hovey,  of  Hadley,  in  1709, 
removed  to  Hatfield  1711  ;  was  chosen 
a  Deacon  of  the  church  in  Hatfield, 
remained  in  Hatfield  till  1736,  raised  a 
family  there  ;  came  to  Cold  Spring  in 
1736,  was  chosen  the  first  deacon  in 
this  church  at  its  organization  in  1737. 
A  prominent  actor  in  the  civil  and  re- 
ligious affairs  of  this  place.  He  w^as 
authorized  by  the  general  court,  to  call 
the  first  meeting  ever  called  by  Legis- 
lative authority,  of  the  settlers  in  Cold 
Spring  for  police  purposes,  for  choosing 
precinct  officers,  and  raising  money  to 
support  the  gospel,  and  for  other  pru- 
dential affairs.     It  was  held  April  28,  ^ 


Age. 


CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH    IN    BELCHERTOWN.       85 


Nambers.  NamcH.  Deaths.    Ago. 

1740.     The  church  records  say  of  him, 

"  A  valuable  man  in  his  day."  He  died  1777    91 


Elizabeth  (Hovey,)  wife  of  No.  1, 
she  died, 

See  Genealogy,  Appendix  A, 

Aaron  Lyman,  a  native  of  North- 
ampton, son  of  Benjamin  Lyman,  came 
to  Cold  Spring  in  1731  ;  married 
Eunice  Dwight,  was  chosen  deacon  in 
this  church  at  its  organization,  lived 
here  through  life,  raised  a  family  here. 
He  died, 

See  Ajjpendix  B. 


Eunice  (Dwight),  wife  of  (3). 
was  sister  to  (42)  ;  died, 


She 


Ahner  Smith,  son  of  (1),  born  in 
Hatfield,  1712  ;  came  to  Cold  Spring 
in  1733,  married  Polly  Lyman,,  daugh- 
ter of  (3),  removed  from  this  place  to 
Springfield,  where  he  kept  a  public 
house  and  the  county  jail  for  several 
years.  He  died  with  the  small  pox, 
about  the  year, 

Polly  {Lyman)  wife  of  (5). 

Daniel  Smith,  a  native  of  Hatfield, 
son  of  (1),  born  1716  ;  came  to  Cold 
Spring,  with  his  brother  (5),  married 
Abigail  Sacket,  of  Westfield.   He  died. 


Abigail  {Sacket)  wife  of  (7). 
died. 


She 


1758 


1780 


1760 


1777 


1800 


1797 


70 


75 


52 


65 


84 


75 


86 


HISTOmCAL    SKETCHES    OF    THE 


Nombera. 

9. 


10. 


11. 


12. 


Names. 

Joseph  Smith,  a  native  of  Hatfield, 
born  1720  ;  son  of  (1),  was  deacon  of 
this  church,  chosen  in  1770,  was 
father  of  Rev,  Amasa,  Eli,  and  John 
Smith;  see  (229),  (279),  and  (248); 
was  the  first  Representative  to  the 
General  Court,  under  the  present  State 
Constitution,  a  prominent  and  iiseful 
man  ;  he  married  Eunice  Bascom,  and 
died  at  the  residence  of  his  son  Solo- 
man  Smith,  in  Lyme,  N.  H. 

Eunice  [Bascom)  wife  of  (9). 

See  Appendix  A. 

Elijah  Smith,  a  native  of  Hatfield, 
son  of  (1),  born  1723  ;  came  to  Cold 
Spring  with  his  father  in  1736;  mar- 
ried Sybel  Worthington,  of  Colchester, 
Connecticut,  in  1751  ;  was  deacon  of 
this  church,  chosen  in  1761,  was  father 
of  Rev.  Ethan  Smith.  The  church 
records  say  of  him,  "  His  natural  parts 
were  very  great.  He  had  a  quick  turn 
of  thought,  depth  of  penetration,  a 
solid  reason  and  judgment,  a  tenacious 
memory,  a  handsome  utterance  and  an 
agreeable  deportment,  and  was  on 
good  ground,  esteemed  a  man  of  true 
piety,  and  universally  beloved  and 
greatly  lamented."     He  died, 

His  widow  died  in  Hadley,  May  26, 
1828,  aged  101  years. 

See  Appendix  A. 

Jonathan  Graves,  a  native  of  Hat- 
field, son   of  Jonathan    Graves,    born 


Deaths.    Age. 


1803 


1770 


83 


47 


CONGEEGATIONAL    CIIUKCH  IN  BELCHERTOWN. 


87 


!*^unibers.  Names.  Deaths.     Age. 

1701,  and  remained  here  during  life  ; 
he  died, 


13. 


14. 


15. 


16. 


17. 


18. 


19. 


Wife  of  (12);   born  1711  ;   died, 

See  Appendix  L. 

Ebenezer  Bridgman^  a  native  of 
Northampton,  son  of  John  Bridgman, 
born  1686,  married  Mary  Parsons, 
1710;  came  to  Cold  Spring  with  his 
family  about  1 732  ;  remained  here 
during  life.     He  died, 

Mary  {Parsons),  wife  of  (14),  born 
1680;  died, 

See  Appendix  C. 

Joseph  Bridgman,  son  of  (14),  born 
ill  Xorthampton,  1712  ;  was  deacon 
here,  chosen  1770.     He  died, 

Elizabeth,  wife  of  (16),  born  1706. 
She  died, 

See  Appendix  C. 

Benjamin  Stehhins,  a  native  of 
Northampton,  son  of  Samuel  Stebbins, 
born  1711  ;  came  to  Cold  Spring  in 
July,  1731  ;  one  of  the  first  families 
that  made  permanent  settlement  here  ; 
tradition  says,  the  first  family  ;  he 
remained  here  th  ough  life  ;  raised  a 
family,  several  families  of  his  descend 
ants  are  now  here.     He  died. 

Wife  of  (18),  born  1709.  She  died, 

See  Appendix  D. 


1787 
1769 


1760 
1770 

1773 
1789 


1789 
1769 


8« 


HISTOmCAL  SKETCHES    OF    THE 


JTurabers.  Names. 

21.  f  Walter  Fairfield,  a  native  of  Lex- 
ington or  Ipswich,  an  early  settler 
here,  and  from  Northampton,  but  not 
among  the  first.  He  came  here  about 
the  year  1742.     He  died, 

22.  Judith,  wife  and  widow  of  (21). 
She  died. 


23. 


24. 


26. 


27. 


28. 


29. 


Stephen  Fairfield,  son  of  (21),  born 
1711.     He  died, 


Abigail,  wife    of  (23), 
She  died, 


born    1708. 


Mary  (Hutchinson),  wife  of  William 
Hannum,  a  native  of  Northampton, 
born  1692.      She  died. 

Her  husband  born  1690,  and  died 
in  this  town  1756,  aged  66. 

William  Hannum,  came  to  this 
place  in  1732  ;  lived  here  till  his  death. 

Samuel  Hannum,  a  native  of  North- 
ampton, brother  of  William,  born 
1692  ;  they  came  to  this  place  togeth- 
er ;  he  married  Mercy  Hutchinson  sis- 
ter of  (26)  before  he  came  here  ;  came 
with  a  family.  He  had  two  sons,  Sam- 
uel and  Phineas.     He  died. 

His  wife  Mercy,  died  suddenly  Sept. 
28  th, 

Moses  Hannum,  a  native  of  North- 
ampton, son  of  William  Hannum,  born 
1718;  came  here  with  his  father  in 
1  732  ;  he  had  four  sons,  Moses,  Wil- 
liam, Joshua  and  David.     He  died. 


Deaths.     Age. 


1756 


1770 


1785 


1793 


1785 


1780 


1796 


1802 


CONGREGATIOiSrAL    CHURCH  IN    BELCHEKTOWN 
Pfutnl>ers. 


89 


Names. 

At  this  time,  1802,  there  were  but  five 
men  and  four  women  living  that  were 
householders  when  Mr.  Forward  was 
settled,  February,  1756. 

Lydia,  wife  of  (29),  born  1719.  She 
died, 

Aaron  Hannum,  a  native  of  North- 
ampton, born  1722;  son  of  William 
Hannum  and  Mary  (26),  brother  of 
(29)  ;  came  to  this  place  with  his  fath- 
er.    He  died, 

Rachel  {Smith),  wife  of  (31),  daugh- 
ter of  (1),  sister  of  (9).  She  died  in 
her  widowhood, 

Gideon  Hannum,  son  of  William  and 
brother  of  (29)  and  (31).  His  moth- 
er was  (26).     He  died. 

His  wife  and  widow,  Abia,  died  Feb- 
ruary, 1796. 

See  Apjiendix  K. 

Joseph  Phelps,  a  native  of  North- 
ampton, son  of  William  Phelps,  born 
1699.  He  was  uncle  to  (36)  ;  became 
here  in  1731  or  1732.      He  died, 

Hannah,  wife  of  (34.)     She  died, 

Eliakim  Phelps,  a  native  of  North- 
ampton, son  of  William  Phelps,  and 
grandson  of  William,  born  1709  ;  came 
here  very  early  in  the  settlement.  He 
died  here, 

*8 


Deaths.    Age. 


1796 


1776 


1811 


1786 


1782 


1779 


1777 


m 


HISTOmCAI,    SKETCHES    OF    THE 


NutnberB. 


37. 


38. 


39. 


40. 


41, 


42. 


Names.  Deaths.     Age 

Church  records  say  of  him,  "  he  was 
esteemed  a  pious  man." 


Elizahetli  {Rust),  wife  of  (36).  She 
died, 

See  Ai^jDendix  G. 

Nathan  Parsons,  came  to  this  place 
about  the  year  1746.  He  was  brother 
of  Rev.  David  Parsons,  the  first  min- 
ister settled  in  Amherst,  settled  there 
in  1739.  Nathan  was  father  of  Eldad 
Parsons,  Esq.,  (223)  and  (250) ;  he 
raised  a  family  here.     He  died, 

Moses  Warner,  a  native  of  Hatfield, 
son  of  Ebenezer  Warner,  born  1717; 
married  Sarah  Porter  in  1739;  came 
to  this   town    about    1747.     He  died, 

Sarah  {Porter),  wife  of  (39),  native 
of  Hadley.     She  died, 

Ebenezer  Warner,  a  native  of  Hat- 
field, son  of  Ebenezer,  brother  of  (39), 
born  1 729  ;  came  to  this  town  about 
1752;  married  Dinah  Phelps,  daugh- 
ter of  (34);  raised  a  family  here.  He 
died, 

See  Ajjpendix  H. 

Nathaniel  Dwight,  son  of  Nathaniel 
D wight  of  Northampton,  born  1712; 
came  here  among  the  first  settlers ; 
married  Hannah  Lyman,  sister  of  (3), 
was  a  prominent  man  here  in  all  civil 
and  religious  affairs  ;  went  into  the 
French  war  with  a  Caj^tain's  commis- 
sion, August  9th,  1757.  He  received  an 


1752 


1806 


1759 


1757 


1812 


40 


86 


42 


35 


83 


CONGKEGATIOISrAL    CHUECII    IN    BELCHEETOWN. 


N'umhera.  Names. 

order  from  Col.  Williams,  of  Hatfield, 
then  a  militia  Captain,  to  muster  and 
march  his  company,  without  delay, 
for  the  relief  of  Fort  William  Henry, 
near  Lake  George  ;  that  fort  was  at- 
tacked by  a  party  of  French  and  Indi- 
ans, of  11,000.  The  same  day  the 
company  was  under  marching  orders, 
met  the  Regiment  at  AYestfield,  pro- 
ceeded to  Kinderhook,  received  intelli- 
gence that  the  Fort  had  capitulated  ; 
they  were  discharged,  and  returned 
home.  Capt.  Dwiglit  was  active  and 
useful  in  the  struggle  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary war,  and  in  promoting  the  best 
interests  of  the  early  settlers  ;  and  did 
much  to  advance  the  settlement.  He 
spent  his  days  here  ;  raised  a  family. 
He  died, 

Hannah  {Lyman),  wife  of  (42),  sis- 
ter of  (3).      ISiiC  died, 

See  Ajjpendix  F. 

Hezekiah  Root,  a  native  of  North- 
ampton, son  of  Hezekiah  Root,  of  that 
place,  born  1714;  came  here  among 
the  early  settlers,  before  1736.  He 
was  brother  of  Orlando  (105).  He 
married  and  raised  a  family  here.  He 
died, 

Marij  wife  of  (44).     She  died. 
They    had  three    children,    Elisha, 

(124)     Hezekiah   and  Miriam    (108). 

See  Orlando  (105)  for  lineage. 

Thomas  Broion  ;    his   name  is  very 


1 

Deaths.     Age. 


1784 


1792 


1792 


1800 


72 


84 


78 


85 


92  HISTOEICAL    SKETCHES    OF    THE 

Numbers.  Names.  Deaths.    Age. 

early  here,  and  remained  here  through 
a  long  life  in  usefulness.     He  died, 


Mahitahcl,  wife  of  Thomas  Brown. 
She  died, 

Thomas  Chapin,  early  here,  though 
liis  name  is  not  among  the  first  settlers, 
came  here  about  1748.     He  died, 

Jerusha,  wife  of  (48);  she  was  from 
Sunderland.      She  died, 

Thankful  Chapin,  daughter  of  (48). 

Lyclia,  wife  of  Thomas  Chapin,  Jr. 
Thomas  Jr.  was  son  of  (48).  He  died, 
in  1758,  aged  26;  left  a  son  (244)  ; 
widow  Lydia  (51),  married  John  Ams- 
den,  of  Deerfield,  in  1760,  and  re- 
moved. 

Benjamin  Morgan  ;  he  came  here 
early  but  not  among  the  first,  probably 
in  1750  ;  spent  his  days  here  ;  he  had 
three  sons,  Benjamin,  Titus,  and  Gad, 
and  one  daughter,  Sarah.  She  mar- 
ried Benjamin  Billings.  See  (275). 
Benjamin  Morgan  was  the  last  survi- 
vor of  those  who  acted  here  in  1756, 
when  Mr.  Forward  was  settled.  He 
died  August  21st,  1812;  about  one 
and  a  half  years  before  Mr.  Forward, 
aged  93  years. 

Mary  Cowlcs,  widow  of  John  Cowlcs, 
of  Hatfield,  mother  of  (50)  and  (85). 
She  died, 


1796 
1811 

1781 
1773 


1812 


1795 


100 
76 

86 

77 


93 


89 


COXGKEGATIOls^AL    CHUECII    IN  BELCHERTOWN. 


Numbers. 

54. 


55. 


56. 


57. 


59. 


60. 


61. 
62. 
63. 


Names.  Deaths, 

Nathan  Coichs,  a  native  of  Hatfield, 
ho  was  the  brother  of  John,  who  was 
father  to  (56)  and  (85). 

Wife  of  Nathan  Cowles  ;  they  re- 
sided here  for  several  years  and  moved 
away. 


93 

Ag«  . 


Israel  Coivles,  a  native  of  Hatfield, 
son  of  Jolin  Cowles,  born  1727  ;  came 
here  in    the    early  settlement.     Died, 

Lydia  BardwcU,  wife  of  (5G),  daugh- 
ter of  (66),  sister  of  (86),  born  1735. 
She  died, 

See  Appendix  M. 

Ebenezer  Slear7is,      ) 
Mary,  wife  of  (58)    / 
Tliey  were  from  the  Church  in   Sut- 
ton ;  Rev.  Mr.  Hall  was  pastor.    Died, 

Tfiomas  Graves,  a  native  of  Hatfield. 
The  family  of  Graves  came  here  early, 
before  1735  ;  he  was  son  of  Samuel 
Graves,  who  was  father  of  John  Graves, 
(62)  and  uncle  to  Jonathan  (12);  he 
married  Lydia  Graves,  a  daughter  of 
Isaac,  a  cousin.     Died, 

Lydia  {Graves),  wife  of  (60).  Died, 

Jolm  Graves.     Died, 

Lydia  Graves,  daughter  of  (60). 
Died, 

See  Appendix  L. 

Bmjamin  Billings,  a  native  of  Hat- 


1797 


1802 


1759 


1757 


1784 

1777 
1798 

1779 


70 


67 


69 


60 


92 

85 
80 

53 


94 


HISTORICAL    SKETCHES    OF    THE 


Nuinbert. 


field, 


Names. 

born    1 704  ;   a   cousin   of 


Deatlig.     Agtt 


Rev 


Edward  Billing,  the  first  minister  set- 
tled here ;  Ids  name  is  uniformly 
written  without  the  5,  final,  but  is  the 
same  name  as  Billings.  Benjamin  was 
among  the  first  settlers  here  ;  he  mar- 
ried Mary  Hastings,  of  Hatfield,  a 
daughter  of  Joshua  Hastings,  lived 
here  through  life  and  raised  a  family. 
He  died,  . 


Mary  [Hastings),  wife  of  (64). 
died. 


She 


Joseph  BardweU,  a  native  of  Hat- 
field, son  of  John  Bardwell ;  came  here 
with  his  father  among  the  first  settlers. 
He  died, 

See  Appendix  I. 

Lydia,  wife  of  (66).     She  died, 

Violet  Bardwell,  wife  of  Capt.  Jona- 
than Bardwell ;  her  husband  was  the 
youngest  son  of  John  Bardwell,  born  in 
Hatfield,  brother  of  {QQ)  ;  he  died  here 
in  the  year  1781,  aged  57.  His  widoAV 
Violet  remained  here  through  life. 
She  died, 

See  Appendix  I. 


ADMITTED  17oG. 

Amy,   wife  of  (38).     She  died, 

Dinah  {Phelps),  wife  of  (41),  daugh- 
ter of  (34).      She  died, 


1788 


1791    78 


1800 


1790    64 


1798    96 


1812 


CONGEEGATIONAL  CHURCH  IN  BELCHErvTOWN.       95 


Namea. 

Stephen  Crowfoot,  son  of  Joseph 
Crawfoot,  of  Northampton,  who  died 
there  in  1726,  and  grandson  to  Joseph 
Crawfoot  who  died  in  Northampton  in 
1678.  Stephen  was  an  early  settler 
here,  before  1737.  He  was  a  soldier 
in  the  French  war  from  this  place. 
His  son  Elijah,  was  the  first  child 
baptized  by  Rev.  Mr.  Forward,  after 
his  settlement  here  ;  it  was  May  16th, 
1756;  Stephen  died  about, 

Martha,  wife  of  (71),  removed  from 
here. 

James  Toume,  died  at  Greenbush, 
New  York,  returning  from  service  in 
the  French  war,  upon  northern  fron- 
tiers, in  the  year. 


Deaths.     Age. 


Aline,  wife  of  (73), 
removed. 


after  his  death 


Syhel  {Worthington),  wife  of  (11), 
daughter  of  Daniel  Worthington  of 
Colchester,  Connecticut ;  born  April, 
1726,  married  1751  ;  was  mother  of 
Rev.  Ethan  Smith.  Sheied  in  Had- 
ley,  May, 

Received  from  other  Churches, 

Rehekah  Thopping,  from  the  church 
in  Beverly,  by  letter  from  Rev.  Mr. 
Champney,  pastor  ;  she  married  Oliver 
Newton,  in  1762.     She  died. 


1765 


175( 


1827 


1793 


55 


36 


101 


93 


96 

Numbers. 


79. 
80. 


81. 


HISTOmCAL    SKETCHES    OF    THE 
Names. 

1757. 


Deaths.     Age. 


Noah  Boivker, 

Wife  of  Noah  Bowker 


ver,  j   a 


Moved 
away. 


82. 


83. 
84. 


85. 


86. 


87. 


Judith,  wife  of  Martin  Domer ;  she 
was  left  a  widow,  and  married  Jede- 
diah  Ayres,  of  Ware,  in  1761,  and 
moved  to  that  place. 

Received  from  other  Churches. 

Wife  of  Thomas  Chapin,  Jr.,  from 
the  church  in  Sunderland,  Rev.  Joseph 
Ashley,  pastor.      She  died. 

Ehenezer  Stearns,  2d,    ) 

Jane,  wife  of  (83),         ) 

From  2d,  church  in  Sutton,  Rev. 
James  Willman,  pastor.  They  remov- 
ed from  here. 

1758. 

Capt.  John  Coiules,  a  native  of  Hat- 
field, son  of  John,  brother  of  (56), 
born  1731.     He  died, 

See  Appendix  M. 

Hannah  {Bar dwell),  wife  of  (85) 
daughter  of  (G6),  sister  of  (57).  She 
died, 

Daniel  Worthington,  a  native  of 
Colchester,  Connecticut,  son  of  Daniel 
Worthington,  born  August,  1732  ;  he 
was  brother  of  widow  Amy  Sexton, 
2d,  wife  of  (99).  See  (287J) ;  he  came 


1812 


93 


1811 


1813 


80 


76 


CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCH    IN    BELCHERTOWN.       97 


Natnea. 

to  this  place  in  1753  ;  was  a  soldier 
in  the  French  war,  went  out  in  Capt. 
Nathaniel  Dwight's  company,  for  the 
relief  of  Fort  William  Henry  in  1757, 
and  in  other  service.  He  died  in 
Woodstock,  Vermont,  in 

From  other  Churches. 

Wife  of  John  Lumbard,  from  the 
church  in    Brimfield.    She  died, 

John  Lumbard  and  wife  were  the 
parejits  of  John,  Mary  and  David. 

1759. 

Abigail  Phelps^  removed. 

From  other  Churches. 

Sarah  ( Worthington),  wife  of  Major 
Josiah  Lyman,  (221) ;  she  was  a  native 
of  Colchester,  Connecticut,  daughter 
of  Dauiel  Worthington  and  sister  of 
(87),  born  November,  1734.  She  died, 


Deaths.    Ag«. 


Samuel  Worthington,  a  native  of 
Colchester,  Connecticut,  son  of  Daniel 
Worthington,  and  brother  of  (87), 
born  February  1728.  He  died  in  Shel- 
burne,  in. 

From   the  church  in  Colchester. 

EUzaheth,  wife  of  (91),  from  the 
same.     See  (308)  and  (309). 

Joshua  Wilder,  from  the  church  in 
Lancaster,  and  removed  from  here. 
9 


1830 


1764 


1799 


1790 


98 


35 


65 


62 


98  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES    OF    THE 

Numbers.  Names.  Deaths.    Age. 


94. 


95. 


97. 


98. 


99. 


Names. 

1761. 


Samuel  Belknap,  was  a  soldier  in  the 
Revolutionary  war.  He  died  in  service 
at  Cambridge, 


Mary  his  wife, 
death. 


removed    after  his 


Francis  Newton,  removed. 

Wife  of  Francis  Newton  ;  she  was 
Elizabeth  Fairfield,   daughter  of  (23). 

Capt.  James  Walker,  a  native  of 
Weston,  born  November,  1732,  son 
of  Nathaniel  Walker.  He  early  moved 
to  Sturbridge  ;  there  he  married  Esther 
Shumway,  sister  of  (174)  in  1754. 
He  moved  to  this  place  in  1755.  His 
wife  Esther  died  in  1786,  aged  50. 
For  a  2d  wife,  he  married  (287^)  in 
1787.  He  was  father  of  Dea.  James 
Walker  (256),  Hezekiah  Walker  (243), 
Silas  Walker  (317),  Jason  Walker 
(427),  and  Nathaniel  Walker  (410). 
These  five  sons  of  his,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  Hezekiah  are  now  (June  1851) 
living  in  this  town.  The  united  ages 
of  these  four  brothers  now  living  here 
is  344  years.  Hezekiah  died  in  1845, 
aged  84.  James  Walker  had  three  oth- 
er sons  besides  the  above  five,  Elijah, 
David  and  Samuel ;  he  had  one  daugh- 
ter, Patty;  she  married  Timothy  Gold- 
smith, 1794.  James  Walker  served  as 
a  soldier  in  the  French  war,  in  1757  ; 
he  spent  his  days  here,  and  died  in 
1806,    aged    74.     Nathaniel   Walker, 


1775 


CONGREGATIOJSTAL  CHURCH  IN  BELCHERTOWN.        99 


Namei. 

the  father  of  James  Walker  (99),  mar- 
ried Submit  Brewer,  and  moved  from 
Weston  to  Sturbridge,  with  his  family 
in  1748.  This  Nathaniel  was  son  of 
John  Walker,  who  lived  and  died  in 
Weston.  John  Walker  was  son  of 
Samuel  Walker,  who  lived  at  Woburn, 
and  was  a  representative  to  the  gener- 
al court  from  that  town  in  1689.  Sam- 
uel was  son  of  Augustine  Walker, 
who  was  admitted  as  a  Freeman  in 
Charlestown,  in  1641.  He  was  from 
England,  and  was  the  ancestor  of  Rev. 
Timothy  Walker,  of  Concord,  New 
Hampshire.  Rev.  Timothy  was  father 
of  Hon.  Timothy  Walker  of  Concord, 
New  Hampshire.  The  Hon.  Amasa 
Walker,  of  North  Brookfield,  and  Sec- 
retary of  State  for  the  Commonwealth 
of  Massachusetts,  is  a  lineal  descendant, 
a  great  grandson,  of  John  Walker,  who 
lived  and  died  in  Weston. 

Esther  {Shwrnvay),  wife  of  (99),  sis- 
ter of  (174).     She  died, 

Mary  Fairjield,  daughter  of  (23), 
married  Samuel  Cook,  of  Hadley,  in 
1761,  and  removed  there. 

Joseph  Billings,  a  native  of  Hat- 
field, son  of  Benjamin  Billings  (64), 
he  died  1809,  aged  77.  He  was  fath- 
er or  Joseph  Billings,  who  died  in  this 
town  1828,  aged  66,  and  was  grand- 
father of  Joel  Billings,  who  died  in 
this  town,  April  1845,  aged  56 ;  Joel 
was  son  to  Joseph,  who  died  in    1828. 


Deaths.    Age. 


1786 


50 


100 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES  OF  THE 


104. 


Numbers.  Names. 

103.        Abigail    (Crawfoot),  his  wife  ;  she 
was  daughter  of  (71).      She  died, 

Joseph  Billings,  and  Abigail  Craw- 
foot were  married  November,  1756, 
the  first  marriage  attended  and  record- 
ed by  Rev.  Mr.  Forward  after  his  set- 
tlement here. 

Naomi  (Stehhins),  wife  of  Israel 
Towne,  daughter  of  (18),  sister  of 
(129).  Israel  Towne,  her  husband, 
was  the  son  of  Israel  Towne  of  Oxford, 
who  died  there  in  1771,  aged  87.  His 
Avidow  Susanna  died  at  her  son  Israel's 
house  in  this  place,  in  1787,  aged  97, 
of  whom  the  church  record  says,  "  she 
was  of  the  Haven  family,  a  woman  of 
great  knowledge  and  memory,  and 
hopefully  pious."  For  farther  parti- 
culars of  the  Towne  family.  See  Ap- 
pendix E.     Naomi  died  February  21, 

1762. 

Orlando  Root,  a  native  of  North- 
ampton, born  1733,  son  of  Hezekiah 
Root,  of  Northampton,  and  brother  of 
(44).  Hezekiah  of  Northampton,  was 
the  son  of  Thomas  Root  of  North- 
ampton, who  was  grandson  of  Thomas 
Root,  one  of  the  first  settlers  in  North- 
ampton, and  one  of  the  eight  compris- 
ing the  male  members  of  the  church, 
in  its  first  formation  in  Northampton, 
April  18,  1661.  Thomas  died  in 
Northampton  in  1694,  at  an  advanced 
age.  He  had  two  sons  (or  more)  John 
and  Joseph.     John  moved  to  Westfield 


DeatliB.     Age, 


105. 


1813 


1827 


80 


91 


CONGREGATIONAL  CHUECH  IN  BELCHEETOWN.       101 


Names. 

and  died  tliere  in  1687,  aged  44. 
Joseph,  son  of  Thomas,  had  a  son 
Thomas,  who  was  father  of  Hezekiah, 
and  grand-father  of  Hezekiah  (44),  and 
of  Orlando  (105).  Orlando  died  in 
this  town  1805,  aged  72  ;  leaving  two 
sons  Orlando  (438),  and  Elihu  (511). 
Orlando  (105),  had  several  daughters; 
Asenath  (252),  married  William 
Towne,  brother  of  (241),  in  1788,  and 
moved  to  Granville,  New  York.  Julia 
(293),  Molly  (276),  Hannah,  Dimmis, 
(295),  Rhoda  (320)  ;  Amanda  married 
Amos  Washburn,  of  Williamsburg,  in 
1800,  and  removed  to  that  place. 

1763. 

SaraJi,  wife  of  Joseph  Phelps,  Jr. 
her  husband  was  son  of  (34). 

1764. 

Mary,  wife  of  (105). 

Miriam  Root,  daughter  of  (44). 

Rehekah,  1st  wife  of  Oliver  Newton. 
She  died  January, 

In  May,  1771,  he  married  widow 
Elizabeth  Marsh. 

1765. 

Elizaheth  Crawfoot,  widow  of  Eben- 
ezer  Crawfoot ;  her  husband  was  son 
of  (71) ;  he  was  killed  by  the  falling 
of  a  barn  in  Pittsfield,  in    1764,  aged 


•^^9 


Deaths.    Age. 


1771 


35 


102 

Numbera. 
111. 

112. 
113. 


114. 

115. 
116. 
117. 

118. 

119. 
120. 


HISTOKICAL  SKETCHES  OF  THE 

Names. 

27.   She  was  Elizabeth  Billings,  daugh- 
ter of  (64).     She  died, 

JosiaJi  Carrier,  removed. 

Pliilip  Carrier,  removed. 

1766. 

Asa  Shumway,  born  1739.  He  died, 

He  was  father  of  Alfred   and    Abi- 

jah  Shumway,  who  recently  have  been 

or    are     residing  in    this    place,    and 

raised  families  here. 

Eunice  {Bar dwell),  wife  of  Asa 
Shumway,  daughter  of  (66),  sister  of 
(233).     She  died, 

Aaron  Phelps,  son  of  (34). 

Mary  {Amsden),  wife  of  (115). 

Joanna  Moody,  daughter  of  (120), 
married  David  Warriner,  Jr.,  of  Wil- 
braham,  in  1771,  and  removed. 

Jerusha  Moody,  daughter  of  (120), 
She  died. 

From  other  Churches, 

Elizaheth,  wife  of  Benjamin  Carrier 
from  the  church  in  Colchester,  Rev. 
Mr.  Robbins,  pastor.     She  died, 

Ehenezer  Moody,  from  the  church 


Deaths.    Ag*. 

1783    42 


1811 


72 


1831 


87 


1776 


22 


1774 


63 


CONGKEGATIOlSrAIi    CnUUCH    IN    EELCHERTOWN.     103 


Nombers.  Names.  Deaths.    Age 

in  Hadley,  Rev.  Mr.  Hopkins,  pastor. 
He  died. 


121. 


122. 


122J. 

122S. 
1225. 

123. 


124. 
125. 


JerusJia,  wife  of  (120),  from  the 
same  church.     She  died, 

Violet  {Dickinson),  wife  of  the  Rev. 
Justus  Forward,  daughter  of  Mr.  Josh- 
ua Dickinson,  of  Hatfield,  from  that 
church,  Rev.  Timothy  Woodbridge, 
pastor.  See  notice  of  her  in  histori- 
cal sketch,  page  55.      She  died, 

Mary,  wife  of  Abner  Sikes,  from  the 
church  in  Springfield,  Rev.  Mr.  Breck, 
pastor. 

Martha,  wife  of  Jonathan  Lumbard, 
from  the  same  church. 

Sarah,  Avife  of  Benjamin  Carrier, 
from  the  church  in  Middletown,  Rev. 
John  Newton,  pastor. 

Betliia  (Stearns),  wife  of  Salmon 
Kentfield,  daughter  of  (53),  born  1733. 
She  died, 

Salmon  Kentfield,  was  father  of  Eb- 
enezer,  Salmon,  Joel,  Erastus,  Josiah 
and  Shubcl  Kentfield.  Salmon  the 
father,  died  July, 

Elisha  Root,  son  of  (44).  He  died, 

Mary  (Cowles),  wife  of  (124),  sister 
of  (56)  and  of  (85). 


1789 


83 


1772  63 


1834 


1807 

1787 
1817 

1822 


95 


74 


82 
79 


104 

Numbers. 

126. 


127. 

128. 


129. 


130. 
131. 

132. 
133. 
134. 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES  OF  THE 

Names. 

From  other  Churches. 

Syhel(Sikes),v^^\ie  of  (41 8),  from  the 
4th  church  in  Springfield,  Rev.  Mr. 
McKinstry,  pastor.      She  died, 

Joseph  Sikes,  ) 

Eunice  {Smith),  ^vife  oi  (127),     ) 
Removed  from  us. 

1770. 

Gideon  Stehbins,  son  of  (18),  mar- 
ried Mary  Hinsdale,  of  Deerfield,  in 
1768  ;  they  had  four    sons.     He  died. 

See  Appendix  D. 

Mari/  (Hinsdale),  wife  of  (129). 
She  died, 

Eunice  (Dwight),  wife  of  Joseph 
Graves,  she  was  daughter  of  (42). 
She  died, 

Ahigail   ( Thopping),  wife  of  Moses 

Prentiss. 

From  other  Churches. 

Elijah  Parker,  on  a  certificate  with- 
out mentioning  the  place,  signed  by 
Mr.  Hinsdale,  pastor,  and  again  re- 
moved. 

Wife  of  Stephen  Newton,  from  the 
church  in  Ellington. 


Deaths.    Ago. 


1831 


1829 

1831 

1807 
1818 


1783 


87 


89 


85 


66 


70 


68 


COIS'GREGATIOXAL    CHURCH    IN    BELCHEETOWN.       105 
Numbers.  Names.  Deaths.     Aje 

1771. 


Elijah  Hoioe,  brother  of  Col.  Sam- 
uel Plowe,  and  uncle  to  Dr.  Estes 
Howe,  who  died  in  this  town,   March 

Elijah  married  for  his  first  wife, 
Philothela  "Warner,  sister  of  (41).  She 
died, 

He  again  married  Martha  Parker  in 
1773.     See  (170). 

Moses  Coicles,  son  of  John  Cowles, 
of  Hatfield,  brother  of  (56)  and  (85). 

Moses  married  Amy  Parsons,  in 
1770.  She  was  the  daughter  of  (38), 
and  his  wife  (69),  and  sister  of  (223). 
She  died, 

Moses  Cowles'  house  was  burned  in 
October,  1 776,  and  three  children  burn- 
ed to  death  in  it ;  the  eldest  5  years 
old.  The  father  was  abroad  in  the 
army,  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  The 
mother  was  never  well  after  this  sor- 
rowful event ;  she  lingered  till  Janua- 
ry 22d,  1777  and  died.  The  father 
moved  away. 

Joseph  Smith,  Jr.,  son  of  (9),  grand- 
son of  ( 1 ),  married  Mary  Clark,  daugh- 
ter of  (154)  in  1776.     He  died, 

William  Kent  field,  son  of  Ebenezer, 
who  died  in  the  army,  near  Lake 
George,  in  the  French  war  in  1756. 

Sarah,  wife  of  "William  Kentfield. 
William  and  Sarah  vv'ere  the  parents  of 


1826 


1771 


1777 


1786 


79 
28 


30 


37 


106 

Numbers. 


142. 

143. 
144. 

145. 


146. 
147. 
148. 

149. 
151. 


HISTORICAL    SKETCHES    OF    THE 

Names. 

Rufus,  Jonathan,  David,  Heman  and 
Asaph  Kentfield.    William,  the  father, 
died. 
His  wife,  Sarah,  died  1790,  aged  66. 

Asa  Newton,  son  of  Oliver  and  Re- 
bekah  Newton.     He  died, 

Sylel  {Witt),  his  wife. 

Elijah  Moody.     He  died. 
He  left  five  sons,  Elijah,  Hezekiah, 
Silas,  Ezra,  and  Benjamin. 

Sarah,  his  wife,  left  a  widow,  and 
again  married  in  1778,  to  Bildad 
Wright,  of  Northampton,  and  removed 
there. 

1772. 

David  Towne. 

Kersiah,  yNiie  of  (146).     She  died, 

Thaddeus  Fairfield,  son  of  Stephen 
Fairfield,  (23). 

Kersiah  (  Witt),  his  wife, 

1773. 

Martha  {Warner),  wife  of  Sylvanus 
Howe.  He  Avas  brother  of  Dr.  Estes 
Howe,  the  first  practising  physician  in 
this  place,  and  died  in  1826,  aged  79. 
Was  father  of  Judge  Samuel  Howe, 
and  of  William  and  Estes. 


Deaths.  Age. 

1791 

1783 
1773 
1773 


1790 

1833 
1813 


CONGKEGATIONAIi  CHUKCH    IN    BELCHERTOWN. 
Numbers.  Names.  Deaths. 

From  other  Churches. 


Jedediah  Ay  res,      ) 
Wife  of  J,  Ayres.    j 
They  were  from  the  church  in  Ware, 
residing  here  for  a  time  and  again  re- 
moved.    See  (81). 

Col.  Caleb  Clark ;  he  was  from 
Northampton.  He  was  the  father  of 
Samuel,  Phineas  B.,  Joshua  and  Caleb, 
(and  Eleazer  Clark,  Esq.,  who  died 
1808.)     The  father  died, 


107 

Age 


Hannah,  wife  of  (154). 

Ruth  ( Wright),  wife  of  Joseph 
Bridgman  (200).  She  was  from  North- 
ampton.    She  died, 

See  Appendix  C. 

Wife  of  Wareham  Warner,  from  the 
church  in  Northampton. 

Elizabeth  (Davis),  wife  of  Eliakim 
Phelps  (36),"  from  the  4th  church 
in  Springfield.  (She  was  a  2d  wife, 
see  (37).     She  died, 

1774. 

Jonathan  Warner,  son  of  Moses, 
(39),  and  brother  of  (180).     He  died, 

Wife  of  Jonathan  Warner,  Mary. 

Eleanor  (Chapin,)  wife  of  Benja- 
min Morgan. 


1792 
1811 

1823 


1778 


1782 


1791 


108 


HISTORICAL    SKETCHES    OF    THE 


Numbers. 

162. 


163. 


164. 


165. 


167. 


168. 


169. 


Names. 

Syh el  [Smith),  wife  of  Dea.  Joseph 
Bard  well,  (233),  daughter  of  Elijah 
Smith  (11).  She  died  in  South  Had- 
ley,  at  the  residence  of  her  son,  Dea. 
Alonzo  Bardwell, 

1775. 

Edward  Smith,  son  of  John  Smith, 
and  grandson  of  John,  (1).  John  the 
father  of  Edward,  was  the  eldest  son 
of  John,  No.  (1) ;  he  lived  here  sever- 
al years,  and  moved  away.  Edward 
was  born  here  in  1747;  was  chosen 
Dea.  in  1781,  moved  to  Shelburne 
with  his  family  about  the  year  1793. 

Bulah,  wife  of  Edward  Smith. 

Abigail  S?nith. 

William  Phelps,  son  of  (36),  eldest 
brother  of  Dea.  Eliakim  (222).  Will- 
iam died  in  Northampton  about, 


Deaths.     Age. 


1776. 


Abiah  Smith. 


Catherine,  wife  of  Reuben  Barton. 
Reuben  and  Catherine  Barton  were 
the  parents  of  William,  Sarah,  Josiah, 
Daniel,  Lucy  and  Reuben. 

Fro7n  other  churches. 

Anna,  2d  wife  of  Ebenezer  Moody. 
She  was  from  the  3d  church  in  Spring- 
field.    See  (121). 


1829 


1786 


75 


33 


CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH  IN  BELCHEKTOWN.       109 
Numbers.  Names.  Deaths.    Age. 

1777. 


170. 
171. 
172. 
173. 

174. 

175. 

176. 


177. 

178. 
179. 


Martha  {Parker),  2d  wife  of  Elijah 
Howe.     (See  135). 

Mary  (Clark),  wife  of  (139).  She 
was  the  daughter  of  (154).     She  died, 

Josiali  Warner,  son  of  (41).  He 
died, 

Eleanor  (Sikes),  wife  of  William 
Bliss,  married  February,  1775.  He 
died  1782,  aged  36.    She  died, 

David  Shumway,  (father  of  Eddy 
and  Zebina,)  married  Rhoda  Eddy,  in 
1770.     He  died, 

Rhoda  (Eddy),  wife  of  (174).  She 
died  many  years  ago. 

From  other  Churches. 

Elizabeth,  widow  of  Marson  Eaton, 
from  the  church  in  Killingly,  Connec- 
ticut, Rev.  Mr.  Russell,  pastor. 

1778. 

Prudence,  wife  of  Stephen  Darling, 
removed. 

Jacob  Willson, 

Amy,  wife  of  (178). 


11 


1842 

1782 

1814 
1818 


89 
28 

70 

75 


1793 


57 


1789 
1807 


68 
80 


110 

Numbers. 

180. 


181. 


182. 
183, 


HISTOKICAL    SKETCHES    OF    THE 

Names. 

1779. 

Seth  Warner i  son  of  (39),  father  of 
Titus  Warner,  who  died  in  Amherst, 
April  12th,  1818,  aged  50  ;  leaving 
four  sons,  Alonzo,  Park,  Seth  and 
George.     Seth  (180)  died. 


Deaths*    Age. 


Mary  (Clark),  wife  of  (180). 
was  from  Northampton, 


She 


Capt.  Elijah  Bar  dwell,  son  of  (66) ; 
he  married  in  1777,  Sarah  W.  Smith, 
daughter  of  (11). 

They  removed  from  here  to  Goshen, 
about  the  year  1800,  and  died  there. 

Rev.  Horatio  Bar  dwell,  is  a  son  of 
Elijah  and  Sarah  W. 

He  was  ordained  a  missionary  to 
the  heathen  in  India,  in  1815,  and 
that  year  sailed  in  company  with 
Messrs.  Richards,  Warren,  Meigs  and 
Poor,  imder  the  patronage  of  the 
American  Board  of  Commissioners 
for  Foreign  Missions,  for  the  Island 
of  Ceylon.  After  remaining  at  Cey- 
lon a  short  time,  by  direction  of  the 
Board,  he  joined  the  mission  at  Bom- 
bay, where  he  labored  as  a  missionary  of 
the  Board  till  1821,  when  by  repeat- 
ed attacks  of  disease,  from  a  climate 
uncongenial  to  his  constitution,  his 
health  was  so  impaired  as  made  it  ne 
cessary  for  him  to  resign  the  work,  and 
return  to  his  native  land.  In  1823, 
having  so  far  recovered  his  health,  as 
to  be  able  to  resume  his  ministerial  la- 
bors, he    received  a  call  to  settle   in 


1822 


1819 


83 


79 


CONGEEGATIONAL    CHURCH    IN    BELCHERTOWN 

Numbers. 


Ill 


Names.  Deaths.    Age 

Holden,  (Mass.) ;  where  he  was  install- 
ed in  the  work  of  the  gospel  ministry 
in  October  that  year.  In  1831,  he  re- 
ceived and  accepted  aji  appointment  of 
general  agent  of  the  same  Board.  In 
1836,  he  was  invited  to  settle  again  in 
the  ministry  in  Oxford,  Mass.,  where 
he  now  is  in  the  discharge  of  ministe- 
rial duties  to  that  people. 


Mary  (5eZ^?i«_p),  widow  Kentfield. 

Roxana  Parker. 

Temperance  Worthington.  She  mar- 
ried Adonijah  Atherton,  of  Shelburne, 
in  1798,  and  removed  to  that  place. 

Oliver  Bridgman,  son  of  (16.)  He 

di-a, 

Church  records  say  of  him  "a good 
man  and  respectable  citizen." 

Irene  Smith,  daughter  of  Dea.  Ed- 
ward Smith,  (163).  She  died  in  Chel- 
sey,  Vermont. 

1779. 

Eiyerience  Smith.  She  married  John 
Strong,  of  Westhampton,  in  1798,  and 
removed  there. 

Tahitha  Parker. 

John  Cowles,  Jr.,  son  of  (85). 

Elizabeth  {Smith),  wife  of  (191), 
daughter  of  (11).     She  died, 


1781 


1816 


1832 


1830 


1827 


88 


77 


73 


66 


112 


HISTOKICAIi  SKETCHES    OF    THE 


Numbers. 

193. 


194. 
195. 


196. 


197. 
198. 


Names. 

Margaret,  wife  of  Eliakim  Phelps 
(222).  She  was  from  Warren  ;  came 
here  from  that  church  by  letter.  She 
died, 

1780. 

David  Worthington,  son  of  (91),  ) 

Appliia  his  wife.  } 

Removed  to  Shelburne  about  1787, 
and  came  back  to  this  place  and  again 
united  with  this  church  in  1794,  and 
moved  again  to  Peru  and  died  there  in 
a  few  years. 

Martha  {Forward),  wife  of  Pliny 
Dwight ;  she  was  daughter  of  Rev.  Jus- 
tus Forward,  and  married  P.  Dwight, 
June,  1777.  He  was  son  to  (42).  He 
died  in  March, 

She  died,  (leaving  one  child,  a 
daughter).  That  daughter,  Nancy,  mar- 
ried Rev.  Asa  McFarland,  D.  D.,  of 
Concord,  New  Hampshire,  in  June, 
1801.  Dr.  McFarland  married  Claris- 
sa Dwight,  daughter  of  Justus  Dwight, 
who  was  son  of  (42),  in  January  1799. 
She  died  in  about  one  year  from  her 
marriage.     Nancy  was  his  2d  wife. 

Col.  Henry  Dwight,      ) 

Ruth  (Rich),  his  wife,  ) 
Were  from  Western,  (now  Warren). 
Came  here  about  1775.  They  had 
six  sons  and  two  daughters.  The 
sons  were  Henry,  Simeon,  Charles, 
Solomon,  Thomas  and  Peregrine.  Col. 
Dwight  died, 

His  wife  Ruth  died, 

See  Appendix  F. 


Deaths.    A?<^. 


1846 


94 


1783 
1782 


30 
23 


1819 
1837 


68 
81 


CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCH  IN    BELCHERTOWN.    113 
Numbers.  Names.  Deaths.    Age. 

1781. 


203. 

204: 


Susanna  (Dwight),  wife  of  Dr.  Estes 
Howe.  She  was  daughter  of  (42).  She 
died,  _       1785 

Dr.  Howe  was  the  first  practising 
physician  that  settled  in  the  place. 
He  remained  here  through  life,  died  in 
1825,  aged  79. 


Joseph  Bridgman,  son  of  (16),  mar- 
ried Ruth  Wright  of  Northampton, 
June,  1770.  They  had  four  sons  and 
two  daughters  ;  their  sons  were  Wright 
(302),  Joseph,  see  (440),  Theodore 
(550),  and  Jonathan  (411),  Mary  and 
Sarah.  Joseph,  (200),  Church  records 
say,  "  an  eminent  saint  who  has  long 
been  waiting  for  his  departure  ;  ear- 
nestly desiring  to  depart  and  be  with 
Christ."     He  died, 

See  Appendix  C. 

Hulda  Warner,  daughter  of  (41). 
She  married  Simeon  Bardwell,  son  of 
Capt.  Jonathan  Bardwell  and  Violet 
his  wife  (68)  in  1781.     She  died, 

Esther  Warner,  daughter  of  Ebene- 
zer  Warner.     She  died, 

Fro7n  other  Churches. 

David  Converse,  ) 

Wife  of  D.  Converse,  ( 
From  the  church  in  Stafford,   and  re- 
moved from  here. 
11* 


1826 


40 


80 


1782 


1784 


25 


28 


114  HISTOmCAIi    SKETCHES    OF    THE 

Numbers.  Names.  Deaths. 

1782. 

Submit  Warner,  daughter  of  Moses 
Warner ;  she  married  Samuel  Clark, 
son  of  (154),  in  1783.  Their  sons, 
Samuel  and  Caleb,  removed  to  Pelham. 

Barnabas  Fay.  He  married  Cloe 
Packard,  of  Pelham,  in  September, 
1783,  and  removed  to  Greenwich, 
South  Parish,  now  Enfield.  Their 
daughter  Rhoda  was  baptized  there  by 
Rev.  Mr.  Forward,  July,  13th,  1789, 
the  day  the  church  in  Enfield  was  or- 
ganized. 

Eunice  Hannum.  She  married 
Ephraim  Danks,  Jr.,  of  Northampton, 
in  1783,  and  removed  there. 

1783. 

Amasa  Clough. 

Thriphena  {Cowles),  wife  of  (208). 

Throop  Chapman.  Throop  Chapman 
and  wife  were  the  parents  of  Esther, 
Susanna,  Jonathan  W.,  Throop, 
Deborah,  Sybel,  and  Isaac  C. 

Deborah  ( Wilson),  wife  of  (210). 

Widow  of  Israel  Cowles,  Jr. 

Irene  (Dickinson),  wife  of  Joel 
Green  ;  she  was  from  Granby. 


Afe. 


CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCH    IN  BELCHERTOWN.    116 
Numben.  Names.  Deaths.    Age. 

From  other  Churches. 


Mercy,  wife  of  John  Thayer,  from  the 
church  in  Mendon.     She  died, 

Wife    of  Nathaniel    Goodale,    from 
the  church  in  Woodstock. 


1784. 

Col.  Elijah  Dwight,  son  of  (42). 
He  was  a  deacon  in  this  church,  chosen 
in  1793  ;  was  an  active  and  useful  man 
in  advancing  the  interests  of  the  town 
and  church,  and  a  benefactor  of  both. 
He  made  great  pecuniary  sacrifices 
in  the  erection  and  completing  the 
present  meeting  house,  in  1791.  He 
gave  by  deed,  dated  April  1st,  1791, 
three  acres  of  land,  comprising  the 
ground  on  which  the  house  stands,  and 
the  common  in  front  of  it,  to  the  in- 
habitants of  Belchertown,  including 
the  house,  as  a  place  of  public  wor- 
ship for  the  congregational  church  and 
society,  so  long  as  the  same  shall  be 
used  for  that  purpose,  reserving  the 
pews  in  said  house  that  had  been  sold 
to  individuals  and  the  singers-seats 
belong  to  pew  proprietors ;  the  seats 
7iot  sold  to  individual  proprietors, 
walls  of  the  house  and  pulpit,  belong 
to  the  society.  The  church  records 
say  of  him,  "  he  was  public  spirited 
and  a  benefactor  to  the  town."  He 
died,  September, 

Diana  (Hinsdale) ,  wife  of  Elijah 
Dwight;    after     the     death   of    Col. 


1783 


1811 


64 


1795 


47 


116 

Numbers. 

217. 
218. 

219. 


220. 


221  . 


222. 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES   OF  THE 

Names.  Deaths- 

D wight,  she  married  Dr.  Estes  Howe 
in  1797.     She  died  January, 


Solomon  Hannum,  son  of  (33),  broth- 
er of  (757). 

Jerusha  {Morgan),  \vife  of  Solomon 
Hannum. 

1785. 

Mary  Hannum.  She  married  Chester 
Bardwell,  of  Shelburne  in  1 789,  and  re- 
moved to  that  place. 

Reheckah  ( Whitney),  wife  of  Reu- 
ben Coates,  removed. 

Maj.  Josiali  Lyman,  son  of  (3). 
Tradition  says,  he  was  the  first  male 
child  born  in  this  place  that  lived  to 
adult  years  ;  he  Avas  baptized  at  North- 
ampton, March  24th,  1736,  by  Presi- 
dent Edwards.  He  lived  here  and 
raised  a  family ;  he  removed  to  Go- 
shen, this  county,  several  years  before 
his  death  ;  he  died  there,  at  a  very  ad- 
vanced age,  about, 

See  Appendix  B. 

1785. 

Eliakim  Phelps,  son  of  (36),  was 
deacon,  chosen  in  1803,  and  a  promi- 
nent man  in  the  place,  a  magistrate, 
and  many  years  a  representative  in  the 
general  court  from  this  town,  and  the 
church  records  say,  "  a  pillar  in  the 
church."     He  died, 


1833 
1810 


1824 


CONGREGATIONAL  CUUKCH  IN    BELCHERTOAVN.    117 


Names. 

Eldad  Parsons^  son  of  (38),  and 
(69),  a  magistrate,  an  active  man.  The 
church  records  say  of  him,  "  a  soldier 
of  the  llevoliition,  a  man  of  vigorous 
and  active  mind,  of  a  warm  tempera- 
ment, and  an  ardent  friend  of  the  gos- 
pel, and  kingdom  of  Christ."  He  died, 

Experience  {Bardicell),  wife  of  (223). 
She  was  daughter  of  Martin  Bardwell, 
and  sister  of  (418.)     She  died, 

3Iahel,  wife  of  H.  Bardwell. 

Samuel  Davis. 

Jonas  N.  Belknap,  son  of  (94). 

Esther  {Parker),  wife  of  (227). 

Amasa  Smith,  son  of  (9),  was  chosen 
deacon  in  this  church,  in  1795  ;  mar- 
ried Sophia  Lyman  (231)  in  1787; 
was  Major  in  the  militia,  carried  on  the 
business  of  farming  till  1802;  then 
left  town,  turned  his  attention  to 
study,  in  preparation  for  the  gospel  min- 
istry ;  he  was  licensed  to  preach  and 
settled  in  North  Yarmouth,  now  state 
of  Maine,  in  1804;  dismissed  from 
there,  and  afterwards  settled  in  Cum- 
berland, same  state,  where  he  spent  the 
remnant  of  his  days  in  usefulness, 
laboring  in  his  calling  for  the  good  of 
his  fellow  men ;  there  he  died,  at  an 
advanced  age,  in  the  year 

Aaron  Lyman,  son  of  (221),  deacon, 
married  Electa  Graves,  (243),  daugh- 
ter of  Joseph  Graves,  removed. 


Deaths.     Ag« 


1823 


1800 


1823    81 


68 


40 


1847 


91 


118 


HISTORICAL    SKETCHES    OF    THE 


Numbers. 

231. 


232. 


Names. 


Deaths.     Agp 


233. 


234. 
235. 

236. 
237. 


Sophia  Lyman,  daughtei'  of  (221), 
married  (229). 

Margaret  {Dwight),wiie  of  Thomas 
A.  Gates.  She  was  the  daughter  of 
Elihu  D  wight,  who  was  the  eldest  son 
of  (42).  Elihu  died  in  1760,  aged 
23.     Margaret  died, 

1785. 

Joseph  Bardwell,  Jr.,  son  of  (66), 
married  Sybil  Smith,  in  1774;  resided 
in  Belchertown,  till  1800;  moved  to 
Worthington,  where  he  resided  eight 
years,  and  then  moved  to  Goshen, 
where  he  resided  eight  years,  then  to 
South  Hadley,  to  reside  w^ith  his  sons, 
Josiah  Bardwell,  Esq.  and  Dea.  Alon- 
zo  Bardwell,  where  he  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  his  days.  He  held  the  office 
of  deacon  in  churches  with  vv^hich  he 
was  connected.  His  standard  of  re- 
ligious character  was  high  ;  his  love 
of  religious  truth,  and  its  fruits  Avere 
seen  most  conspicuously  in  his  life. 
He  died  at  his  son's,  Dea.  A.  Bardwell, 
of  South  Hadley, 

Joseph  Fisher, 

Phineas  Warner,  son  of  (41), 

See  Appendix  H. 

Siibmit  Lewis,  married  (234)  in  1785. 
She  was  a  second  wife,  and  died, 

Cloe  Shumioay,  daughter  of  Asa  and 


1841 


1838 
1829 
1849 


1829 


83 


88 
76 
86 


55 


CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH    IN    BELCHERTOWN. 

Numbers.  Names.  Deaths. 

Eunice  Shiimway.  She  married  Samuel 
Cowles  of  Hatfield,  in  1790  ;  removed 
to  Hatfield,  left  a  widow,  and  returned 
here  and  died, 


119 

Age 


238. 
239. 

240. 
241. 

242. 


243. 
244. 

245. 

246. 
247. 


Daniel  Smith,  Jr.,  son  of  (7), 

Katherine  (Bardicell),  wife  of  (238), 
daughter  of  Martin  Bardwell,  and  sis- 
ter of  (224)  ;  removed  after  the  death 
of  her  husband. 

Stephen  Warner,  son  of  (41), 

Amasa  Toivne,  son  of  Israel  and  Na- 
omi Towne,  (104).  See  that  No.  He 
died, 

See  Ajjpendix  E. 

Margaret  {Smith),  wife  of  (241), 
daughter  of  No.  (9),  and  sister  of  (229), 
(248),  and  (279).     She  died. 

See  Appendix  A.  and  E. 

Hezekiah  Walker,  son  of  (99), 

Thomas  Chapin,  grand-son  of  (48), 
son  of  Thomas  Chapin,  Jr. 

Pliny  Sikes,  son  of  Abner  Sikes, 
of  Ludlow,  removed  by  letter  to 
Westhampton,  where  he  lived  to  an  ad- 
vanced age. 

Noah  Sexton,  from  West  Spring- 
field, was  brother  of  (318). 

Jacob  Smith,  son  of  (11),  removed 


1826 
1817 


1798 


1820 


1821 


1845 


120 


HISTORICAL    SKETCHES    OE    THE 


Nambers. 


248. 


249. 


Names. 

to  Hadley,  in  1788,  where  lie  now 
lives  ;  has  sustained  the  office  of  deacon 
in  the  church  there  for  many  years  ; 
brother  to  the  Rev.  Ethan  Smith,  well 
known  as  the  writer  on  the  Prophecies 
and  on  the  Revelations. 

1785. 

John  Smith,  son  of  (9),  graduated 
at  Dartmouth  College,  in  1794,  stud- 
ied Theology,  and  was  settled  in  the 
ministry  in  Salem,  Ncav  Hampshire, 
January  4th,  1797,  continued  there  in 
the  ministry  till  November,  21st,  1816, 
when  he  was  dismissed  ;  he  was  again 
installed  in  the  ministry  in  Wenham, 
Massachusetts,  in  1817,  and  in  1819, 
he  received  the  appointment  of  Profes- 
sor of  Sacred  Literature  and  Theology 
in  the  Divinity  School  at  Bangor, 
Maine,  which  office  he  accepted,  and 
where  he  remained  in  the  faithful  dis- 
charge of  his  duties  till  his  death.  He 
possessed  good  powers  of  mind,  was 
dilligent  in  his  calling,  successful  in 
his  ministerial  labors.  His  Alma- 
Mater  conferred  on  him  the  degree  of 
D.  D.  several  years  before  his  death. 
He  attained  a  distinction  in  classical 
and  Theological  Science,  and  for  years 
held  a  prominent  standing  among  the 
Divines  of  New  England.  He  died 
April  14th, 

Giles  Lyman,  son  of  (221),  removed 
to  Goshen,  in  1803;  he  married  his 
wife  from  Middletown  ;  she  removed 
her  church  relation  here  in  1798,  and 


Deaths.    Age. 


1831 


cONQfiEGATIONAL  CHURCH  IN  iJEtCHlSETOWK.       l2t 


Nambers.  Names.  Doaths.    Age. 

removed  to  Goshen  in  1803,  with   his 
father  Josiah  Lyman. 


Oliver  Parsons,  son  of  (69),  broth- 
er of  (223),  removed  to  Granby,  and 
died  there,  (killed  by  blowing  rocks 
in  a  well),  about  the  year, 


Phebe  Smith,  daughter  of  (9),  mar- 
ried Israel  Russell,  of  Sunderland,  in 
1788,  and  removed  there. 

Asenath  Root,  daughter  of  (105), 
married  William  Towne,  in  1788,  and 
removed  to  Granville,  New  Nork. 

Electa  Graves,  daughter  of  Joseph 
and  Eunice  Graves,  married  (230),  in 
1788. 

Amy  Sexton,  daughter  of  Noah  Sex- 
ton, of  West  Springfield,  and  sister  of 
(318),  married  (260),  in  1787. 

1786. 

Rufus  Kentjield,  the  son  of  (140) 
and  (141),  married  Mary  Belknap, 
November,  1773.     He  died, 

James  Walker,  Jr.,  son  of  (99), 
was  chosen  deacon  1804. 

Deborah  (Sikes),  wife  of  James 
Walker,  Jr.,  (Deacon). 

Capt.  Jonathan  Towne,  son  of  Israel 
and  Naomi  Towne,  (104)  ;  he  married 
for  his  first  wife   Mary  Holbrook,  in 
12 


1804 


1787 


1839 


38 


37 


78 


122 


HISTORICAL    SKETCHES    OF    THE 


Nurabora.  Names,  Deaths.    Agi 

1795  ;  she  died  in  1796  ;  he  then  mar- 
ried in  1801,  Miriam  Warner,  daugh- 
ter of  (41).     He  died,  1824    66 


259. 


260. 


261. 


262. 
263. 

264. 
265. 

266. 

267. 


Perez  Graves,  son  of  Joseph  and 
Eunice  Graves,  (131),  and  brother  of 
(459),  removed  to  the  church  in  Orono, 
Maine,  in  1826. 

Enos  Smith,  son  of  (9),  born  1761, 
married  (264),  in  1787,  and  removed. 

Jonathan  Ly^nan,  son  of  (221),  born 
1767,  married  for  his  first  wife,  Electa 
Bard  well,  daughter  of  (223) ;  she  died 
in  Goshen,  where  he  resided,  March, 
1824,  aged  47.  He  then  married  Ly- 
dia  Towne,  daughter  of  (241).  He 
was  deacon  of  the  church  in  Goshen. 
He  removed  to  Granby,  where  he  died 
September,  27th,  1846. 

Benjamin  Stehhins,  2d,  removed. 

Sarah  (Scott),  wife  of  Capt.  Elisha 
Warner,  (722). 

Abel  Clough. 

Hannah  Melvin,  married  John  Al- 
len McElwain,  of  Palmer,  in  1793, 
and  removed  there. 

Lyclia  Sexton,  daughter  of  Noah 
Sexton  of  West  Springfield,  sister  of 
(318).     She  died, 

Susanna  Graves,  daughter  of  Joseph 
and  Eunice  Graves,  (131);  she  married 


1846 


1812 


1784 


79 


62 


19 


CONGEEGATIOXAL  CHUECH  IN  BELCHERTOWN.     123 


Numbers.  Names.  Deaths.    Age. 

Nathan  Parsons,  Jr.,  in  the  year  1787,  ■ 
and  removed  to  Bangor,  Maine.  Na-  j 
than,  Jr.,  was  son  of  (38).  i 

Cloe  Malmlan.  ' 


Tahitha  Sikes. 


Oliver  Wright.  He  married  for  his 
first  wife,  Lydia  Cowles,  daughter  of 
{5Q),  in  1779.  She  died  in  1790, 
aged  34.  He  then  married  Elizabeth 
Brown,  in  1792,  and  removed.  He 
was  uncle  to  Jonathan  Wright,  (his 
father's  brother),  No.  (446J). 

1786. 

Lydia  {Coioles),  wife  of  (270). 

Josiah  Cowles,  son  of  (56),  born 
1761.     He  died, 

Clarissa  D wight,  daughter  of  Jus- 
tus Dwight,  grand-daughter  of  (42). 
She  married  Rev.  Asa  McFarland,  D. 
D.,  of  Concord,  New  Hampshire,  in 
1799,  and  died. 

He  again  married  Nancy  Dwight,  a 
daughter  of  Pliny  Dwight,  and 
grand-daughter  of  (42).  See  (196), 
explanation. 

Joseph  Reed. 

Sarah  {Morgan),  wife  of  Benjamin 
Billings,  daughter  of  (52) ;  her  hus- 
band died  in  1826,  aged  85.    She  died 


1790 


1822 


1800 


1818 


1839 


34 


61 


30 


68 


88 


124 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES    OF  THE 


Nufflbere. 

^76. 


;277. 


278. 


^79. 


.280» 


2SL 


Names.  Deaths.    Age. 

Molly  Root,  daughter  of  (105)  ;  she 
married  (436),  in  1816,  2d  wife;  see 
(439).     She  died,  1835    69 

Phehe  (Baggs),  daughter  of  Noble 
Baggs;  she  married  (757),  in  1789. 

1787. 


First  wife  of  Joseph  Reed, 
1789> 

EU  Smith,  son  of  (9),  brother  of 
(229)  and  (248). 

He  pursued  a  course  of  classical 
study,  entered  Brown  University  in 
1788;  graduated  in  1792;  studied 
Theology  and  settled  in  the  ministry, 
in  Hollis,  New  Hampshire,  November 
27th,  1793,  continued  there  in  the  dil- 
ligent  and  useful  discharge  of  his  miU" 
isterial  duties,  till  June,  1830,  when 
he  was  dismissed.  He  remained  in 
that  place  till  his  death. 

Susa7ma,  wife  of  James  Smith,  and 
himself  a  communicant.  Church  re- 
cords say  of  him,  a  "  venerable  saint." 
He  died, 

From  other  Churches. 

Second  wife  of  Stephen  Newton, 
from  the  church  in  East  Bridgwater  ; 
she  was  widow  Lydia  Gary,  recommen- 
ded to  this  church  by  letter  from  Rev- 
erends John  and  Samuel  Angin,  dated 
1784»     These  were  colleague  pastors, 


1802 


1848 


1831 
1828 


46 


90 


64 

84 


CONGKEGATIONAL    CHUKCH    IN   BELCHERTOWK.    125 


Numbers.  Names.  Deaths.    Age. 

father  and   son.     Mr.   Newton's  first 
wife,  Mary,  died  in  1783,  aged  68. 

1789. 

From  other  Churches. 

Robert  Emmons,  from  the  church  in 
Amherst,  by  letter,  he  resided  in 
Granby  ;  came  to  this  town,  in  1784, 
and  here  remained  till  his  death,  left  1790  55 
one  son  Eli,  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth 
College,  in  1795,  physician,  (became 
deranged)  and  died  in  Amherst  about 
1828. 

Timothy  Rice,  father  of  Horatio 
Rice. 

Elizabeth  {Howe),  wife  of  (286). 

They  came  from  church  in  Western, 
(now  Warren),  by  letter.  (She  was 
sister  to  Dr.  Estes  Howe).     He  died,  1813    78 

Widow  Amy  Sexton,  from  the  church 
in  Springfield.  She  married  (99),  in 
1787  ;  her  letter  from  that  church  da- 
ted before  marriage,  not  presented  till 
after.  She  was  mother  to  (318).  She 
died  January  9th,  1835    94 

1790. 

Jonathan  Smith,  born  1742.  He 
died,  1824   82 

Phebe  (Squier),  wife  of  (288).  1797   25 


12* 


X2e 

Nnmbettt. 
290. 
20L 


292. 


^3. 


$94, 
295. 


HISTOBIQAi   SKETCHES   0?   TH$ 

Kames. 

1792. 

David  Kentfield,  son  of  William  and 
Sarah  Kentfield,  (141)  ^nd  (142). 

Mary  (Smith),  wife  of  (290),  daugh- 
ter of  (167).  The  children  of  David 
and  Mary,  were  Jonathan,  William, 
Rebekah,  Samuel,  Rhoda,  Rufus,  Tri- 
phenee,  Triphosa,  and  Smith.  She  died 

1793. 

Mark  Stacp^  son  of  Capt.  Isaac 
Stacy,  who  came  to  this  place,  from 
Sturbridge,  in  1773.  Mark  married 
Julia  Root,  daughter  of  (105),  in  1788. 

Julia  (Root),  wife  of  Mark  Stacy. 
They  had  three  sons,  Ira,  (475),  Arba, 
(530),  Alanson,  (909),  and  three 
daughters,  Hannah,  (541),  married 
(878),  Dimmis,  (629)  and  Julia  (630). 
Mrs.  Mark  Stacy  died, 

Ahner  Hunt. 

Dimmis  (Root),  his  wife,  daughter 
of  (105).  They  were  married  in  1797, 
their  sons  were  John,  and  William  W. 
(465) ;  the  latter  was  a  graduate  of 
Williams  College,  in  1820,  studied 
Theology  and  settled  in  the  ministry, 
in  North  Amherst,  in  1827  ;  continu- 
ing in  the  ministerial  office  there  till 
his  death. 

Abner  Hunt  and  wife  removed  their 
church  relation,  to  the  church  in  Wil- 
liamsburg, in  1833.     He  died, 


Deaths.    Ags. 


1802 


44 


1850 


86 


1837 


1847 


41 


79 


CONGKEGATIOKAL    caUECK    11^   BELCHEBTOWK. 


Numbers. 

296. 


297. 
298. 

299. 


800. 


301 


802. 


803. 


804. 


805. 


Names. 

Freeman  Burr. 

From  other  Churches. 

Joseph  Colelurn^         ) 
Elizabeth,  his  wife,     |    removed. 

William  Bickwall,  from  the  church 
in  Ashford,  Connecticut. 

Anna,  wife  of  (298),  from  the  same. 

They  were  recommended  by  this 
church  to  the  church  in  Westford, 
Massachusetts,  in  1808,  and  removed 
there. 

Hannah,  wife  of  Elihu  Sanford,  from 
the  church  in  Medway.     She  died, 

1794. 

Wright  Bridgman,  son  of  (200). 
He  died, 

Haddassah  Bardwell,  daughter  of 
(233) ;  she  married  Spencer  Clark, 
removed  to  Huntington,  Ohio,  and 
died  there,  February  19th,  1843,  aged 
69. 

Electa  Bardwell,  daughter  of  (233); 
she  married  Dea.  Jonathan  Lyman, 
(261)  which  see.     She  died, 

Susanna  {Willard),  wife  of  Jonas 
Holland,  from  the  church  in  Peters- 
ham. She  died  at  Amherst.  Her 
husband  had  been  a  prominent  man  in 


DeatbB. 


127 

Agn. 


1789 


1839 


1843 


1824 


31 


67 


6^ 


47 


128 

Numbers. 


308. 
309. 


810. 


311. 
312. 


813. 


814. 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES  OF  THE 

Names.  Deaths.    Age 

town  business  here  for  many  years. 
He  died  July,  1837 

1795. 

From  other  Churches, 

Samuel  Worthington,  ) 

Elizabeth^  his  wife,      ) 

From  the  church  in  Shelburne,  they 
were  formerly  here,  came  from  Colches- 
ter, see  (91)  and  (92),  removed  to  Shel- 
burne about  the  year  1787,  and  came 
back  in  1795.  Samuel  Worthington, 
was  brother  to  widow  Amy  Sexton, 
(287i). 

1796. 

Polly,  wife  of  Benjamin  Haynes. 

From  other  Churches, 

William  Worthington^  ) 

Wife  of  Wm.  Worthington,  ) 
From  the  church  in  Colchester,  to 

this  church,   and   recommended   from 

this  church  to  Bolton,  Connecticut. 

1796. 

From  other  Churches, 

Israel  Trask,  to  this  Church  from 
Brimfield,  and  then  from  this  church 
back  there. 

Capt,  Fhineas  Strongs  from  the 
Church,  in  Hebron,  Connecticut.  He 
died,  1827 


CONGREGATIONAL    CHUECH    IN    BELCHEETOW?r.       l29 


Numbers. 

315. 


Names.  DoaUi&.    Age. 

Anna  (Filer),  wife  of  (314).     She 
died,  1815    56 

1797. 


Bulah  Smith,  daughter  of  (163),  re- 
moved. 

1798. 

Silas  Walker,  son  of  (99),  married 
Dimmis  Sexton,  in  1792.  Their  chil- 
dren are  five  sons  and  four  daughters. 
Sons  Horace,  Tertius,  Samuel,  Charles, 
and  Lyman.  Charles  was  a  graduate 
of  Yale  College,  in  1823;  studied 
physic  and  settled  in  Northampton ; 
Horace  (474),  Tertius  (477),  Charles 
(624),  Lyman  (954).  They  had  four 
daughters,  Amy  (490),  married  John 
Marshall  (585),  Lucy  (639),  Almira 
(991),  married  Salem  Towne,  Philura 
C.  (1059),  married  (1034),  in  1840. 

Dimmis  (Sexton),  wife  of  Silas 
Walker,  daughter  of  Noah  Sexton,  of 
AYest  Springfield. 

Fro7n  other  Churches. 

Mary,  the  wife  of  Giles  Lyman, 
from  the  first  church  in  Middletown.  -" 


Maj.  John  Gilbert,  from  the  church 
in  Hebron,  Connecticut.  He  was  fa- 
ther of  (558).     He  died, 

Amelia,  his  wife,  received  January, 
7th,  1799.    She  died 


1817 


1825 


68 


74 


130 

Numbers. 

319J. 

320. 
321. 


322. 
323. 


324. 
325. 


326. 


327. 


HISTOKICAL    SKETCHES    OF    THE 

Names.  Deaths.     Aje 

Deborah,  wife  of  Samuel  Ingalls, 
from  the  church  in  Abbington. 

Abigail,  wife  of  Joseph  Tucker,  from 
Walpole ;  letter  by  Rev.  Mr.  Morey. 

1800. 

Rhoda  (Root),  wife  of  (635),  daugh- 
ter of  (105). 

Nancy  Dtvight,  daughter  of  Pliny 
Dwight  and  grand-daughter  of  (42), 
married  Dr.  McFarland,  of  Concord, 
in  1801,  and  removed.     See  (196). 

From  other  Churches. 

Daniel  Porter,   \    They  came   from 
Wife  of  (322),   ]  the  church  in  He- 
bron, Rev.  Mr.  Bassett. 

1801. 

Jemima,  wife  of  Oliver  Bridgman.     1825    70 

Lydia  {Merrick),  wife  of  (731),  she 
was  from  Wilbraham,  daughter  of 
Noah  Merrick,  and  grand-daughter  of 
Rev.  Noah  Merrick,  the  first  minister 
of  Wilbraham. 

Lucretia  {Warner),   wife  of  (550),  1814    40 
she   was    the    daughter    of   Jonathan 
Warner,  and   grand-daughter  of  (39). 
She  died, 

Celena  Worthington,  daughter  of 
William  Worthington. 


CONGKEGATIOXAL    CHURCH    IN  BELCHEKTOWN. 


Names.  Deaths, 

Temperance  Worthington,  daughter 
of  David  Worthington,  removed  to 
Norwich. 

Eli  Wood,  from  Ludlow,  married 
Hannah  Cowles,  daughter  of  (191). 


131 

Age. 


Hannah  {Cowles)  wife  of  (329). 
She  died, 

Thankful  (Morse),  wife  of  (410),  she 
was  daughter  of  Asa  Morse.  She 
died, 

Jemima,  wife  of  Abner  Cowles,  he 
was  brother  of  (191),  her  husband  died 
May,  1837,  aged  76.     She  died, 

EUzaheth  Morse,  daughter  of  Asa 
Morse,  and  sister  of  (33 1 ) ;  she  mar- 
ried Lemuel  Paine,  in  1806. 

From  other  Churches. 

William  Holland,  physician,  from 
the  church  in  Chester,  Rev.  Aaron 
Bascom,  pastor.     See  (442). 

Clarissa  (Moseley),  from  Westfield, 

(daughter  of  Col.  John  Moseley),  wife 

of  Dr.  William   Holland.     She    died, 

■  Col.  Moseley  died,    about  the   year 

1788,  at  Westfield. 

Susanna,  wife  of  Robert  Ames, 
from  the  church  in  Jaffery,  N.  H. 


1813 


846 


1821 


1808 


1809 


33 


69 


51 


37 


67 


Nnmberi. 

337. 


HISTORICAL  SltETCHES  OF  THE 

Names.  Deatba.    Age. 


33a. 


139. 


340. 


341. 


342. 


343. 


1802. 

Miriam  ( Warner) y  second  wife  of 
(258),  daughter  of  (41),  married  in 
1801,  left  a  widow  in  1824.  She  again 
married  in  1826  to  James  Whitcomb, 
of  Williamsburgh,  and  removed  there. 

Abigail  {Pomeroy)^  wife  of  (459), 
she  was  from  Granville  ;  she  with  her 
husband  removed  from  here  to  Man- 
chester, near  the  Falls  of 
New  York,  in  1828. 


1829 


Niagara, 


Sally  Bridgman,  daughter  of  (200). 

Ahner  Phelps^  son  of  (222).  He 
was  a  graduate  of  Williams  College, 
in  1806,  studied  theology — was  licen- 
sed to  preach  ;  then  turned  his  course 
of  study  to  medicine,  and  in  1815, 
commenced  the  practice  in  Boston, 
where  he  has  since  resided.  In  1814, 
he  received  the  degree  of  M.  D.,  from 
Brown  University,  and  from  Yale  Col- 
lege. 

Joshua  Cowlcs,  son  of  (86).  He 
died,  March, 

EUzaheth  {Rice),  wife  of  (341). 
She  was  daughter  of  (286).     She  died, 

Anna  Rice,  daughter  of  (286),  mar- 
ried Chester  Allen,  in  1805,  and  re- 
moved to  a  church  in  Springfield,  in 
1829. 


CONGEEGATIONAL    CHURCH  IN  EELCHEETOWN. 


Numbers. 

344. 


345. 


3ia. 

347. 

348. 
349. 
350. 

351. 

352. 
353. 


Names. 

Elijah  NicJiolSf  son  of  Mitchel 
Nichols,  and  Lydia  his  wife  of  Brook- 
field,  Lydia  died  in  this  town  in  1811, 
aged  75  ;  her  son  Elijah  died, 

Mary  Giddings,  wife  of  (344), 
daughter  of  James  Giddings  of  South 
Hadley ;  James  Giddings,  married 
Hannah  Fairfield,  daughter  of  (23), 
in  1766.     Mary  died, 

Zerviah  Rice,  daughter  of  (286). 
She  married  (384),  in  1803.  They 
removed  to  Chicopee,  in  1835.  She 
died  May, 

1802. 

Sarah  Worthington,  removed  to  a 
chui-ch  in  North  Bolton,  1803. 

Nathan  Barnahy,  removed  in  1834. 

Anna,  wife  of  (348).     She  died, 

Elizaheth,  second  wife  of  (288). 
See  289. 

1803. 

Remembrance  Root,  son  of  (124), 
married  Truelove  Fisher,  daughter  of 
(234).  He  died  while  on  a  journey  in 
Ohio,  June, 

Truelove  (Fisher),  wife  of  (351), 
daughter  of  (234). 

Ahner    Towne,  son   of    Israel   and 
Naomi   Towne,  No.     (104).     He  re- 
moved his  church  relation  to   Granby 
13 


Deaths. 


1848 


1846 


1845 


1829 


1836 


133 

Age. 
81 


77 


70 


63 


65 


134 


HISTOmCAL    SKETCHES    OF    THE 


Numbers.  Names.  Deaths. 

churcli,  in  1823,  continuing  his  resi- 
dence in  this  town  and  remained  so 
till  death. 


354. 


355. 


356. 


357. 


358. 


359. 


360. 


1828 


Kersiah  {Fairfield),  wife  of  (353), 
daughter  of  (148),  removed  her  church 
relation  to  Granby,  with  her  husband 
in  1823  ;  after  his  death,  she  removed 
her  church  relation  back  to  this  church 
in  1829. 

Wife  of  Benjamin  Morgan  ;  her  hus- 
band was  son  of  (52). 

Mary  ( Wilkinson),  wife  of  Aaron 
Rhoades  ;  she  was  a  native  of  Sharon, 
Massachusetts.  He  was  a  native  of 
Walpole,  Massachusetts ;  they  came 
to  this  town  in  1789.  He  died  in  1843, 
aged  79.  He  was  son  of  Stephen 
Rhoades,  formerly  of  Walpole. 

Elizabeth  {Fisher),  second  wife  of 
Elihu  Sanford,  daughter  of  (234),  re- 
moved to  a  church  in  Albany,  in  1827, 
and  changed  their  residence.  Her 
husband  died  in  1839,  aged  79. 

From  other  Churches. 

Solomon  Toivne,  from  the  church  in 
Greenwich,  Rev.  Joseph  Blodget,  pas- 
tor. 

1804. 

Joseph  Angier,  church  records  say, 
"  A  good  man." 

Fanny,  wife  of  (359),  removed. 


1849 


CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCH    IN    BELCHERTOWN.    135 


Numbers. 

361. 


362. 


Names. 


Deaths.    Ag« 


363. 


364. 


365. 
366. 


367. 


368. 
369. 
370. 

371. 


Darius  Root,  son  of  (124),  brother 
of  (351),  died  in  Ludlow. 

Dorcas  {Sikes),  wife  of  (361),  they 
removed  to   Ludlow. 

Deborah  Phelps ,  daughter  of  (34). 
She  died, 

Wife  of  Joseph  Reid,  2d  wife.    See 

(278). 

From  other  Churches. 

Samuel  Chapman,          )  From  the 

Wife  of  S.  Chapman.    }  church  in 

Bolton,  Rev.   E.  Kellogg,  pastor,  re- 
moved. 

Nancy,  second  wife  of  William 
Bickwell,  from  the  church  in  Ashford, 
to  this  church ;  and  again  recommend- 
ed by  this  church  to  that  in  Westford, 
in  1808,  and  removed. 

1805. 

Nahhy,  wife  of  Jedediah  Green. 

Jonathan  Randall. 

Rhoda  {Shumway),  wife  of  Jonathan 
Randall,  daughter  of  (174). 

Nancy  {Hoive),  wife  of  Ichabod 
Sanford,  she  was  daughter  of  Dr. 
Estes  Howe,  see  (199),  the  mother  of 
Rev.  William  H.  Sanford,  of  Boylston. 
She  died, 


1816 


1828 


73 


60 


1840    65 


136 

Numbers. 

372. 

373. 
374. 


375. 


376. 


377. 


378. 


HISTORICAL    SKETCHES    OF    THE 

Names. 

From  other  Churches. 

John  M.  Pearl,  from  the  cliurcli  in 
Bolton,  Connecticut,  Rev.  E.  Kellogg, 
pastor. 

Wife  of  (372),  from  Bolton, 

John  Marshall.  Cliurcli  records  say, 
"  A  man  of  much  good  sense  which 
was  rendered  exceedingly  valuable  to 
the  world,  and  consecrated  to  the  best 
use  by  faith,  hope,  and  prayer,  a  warm 
active  christian,  greatly  lamented.  He 
died, 

Betsey,  wife  of  (374).  Church  re- 
cords say,  "  She  was  distinguished  f[:)r 
good  sense,  kind,  affectionate,  amiable 
manners,  and  heavenly-mindedness. 
She  died  November, 

They  were  from  the  church  in  Bol- 
ton, Connecticut. 

Susan  Dwight,  daughter  of  Col. 
Elijah  Dwight  (215).  In  1812,  she 
married  Mason  Shaw,  Esq.  and  re- 
moved to  Castine,  Maine.  In  1821, 
they  removed  to  this  place. 

Cynthia,  wife  of  Dudley  Phelps,  he 
died  in  1820,  aged  48.  She  married 
(223),  in  1821,  her  second  husband 
died  in  1823,  and  she  removed  to 
Groton. 

Enos  Lincoln. 


Deaths.    Age. 


1815 


1816 


52 


51 


CONGREGATIOIS-AL  CHTJECH    IN    BELCHERTOWN.    137 


380. 


Names.  Deaths.    Age. 

Ruth   {Shumway),   wife     of    (378), 
daughter  of  (730).     She  died,  1851    77 


Hannah  {Barber),  wife  of  Gurdon 
Filer.     She  died, 

Her  husband  Gurdon  Filer,  died  in 
this  town  in  1840,  aged  79.  He  was 
son  of  Samuel  Filer,  who  died  in 
Granby,  in  1798,  aged  68;  his  wife 
and  widow  died  in  this  town  January, 
1827,  aged  89.  He  was  son  of  Sam- 
uel Filer,  who  was  born  in  Hebron, 
Connecticut,  in  the  year  1700.  This 
Samuel  born  in  1700,  was  son  of  Sam- 
uel Filer,  who  died  in  Windsor  in  1710, 
and  was  the  son  of  Zerubabell  Filer, 
who  was  born  in  Windsor  in  1644. 
He  was  son  of  Walter  Filer,  who  set- 
tled in  AVindsor  in  1636,  came  from 
Dorchester  England,  with  Rev.  Mr. 
Wareham  and  Henry  Wolcott ;  Walter 
was  a  Deputy  to  the  General  Court, 
in  1647;  he  died  in  Windsor,  in  1683. 
Samuel  Filer,  who  died  in  Granby,  in 
1799,  was  father  of  Gurdon  Filer,  and 
John  Filer,  and  a  daughter  Anna,  who 
married  (314),  which  see.  Gur- 
don Filer  was  father  of  George 
Filer,  now  a  merchant  in  this  place. 
John  his  brother  was  father  of  Hum- 
phrey T.  Filer,  now  extensively  enga- 
ged in  the  carriage  business  in  this 
place.  John  his  father  died  here  1850, 
aged  81  ;  leaving  two  sons,  Humphrey 
T.  and  Samuel. 

Gurdon  Filer  and   John  Filer  had  a 
brother  by  the  name   of  Samuel.     He 
died  in  the  Ilevolutionary  war  in  the 
year  1779,  aged  25. 
13-- 


1841 


74 


138  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES    OF    THE 

Numbers.  Names.  Deaths.    Age. 

1806. 


381. 
382. 


383. 


384. 


385. 


386. 
387. 


388. 


From  other  Churches. 

Harris  Hatch,  )  They  were  from 
Deborah,  his  wife.  }  the  church  in 
Pelham,  to  this  place,  Rev.  Mr.  Brain- 
ard,  pastor,  and  recommended  by  this 
church  to  that  in  Chesterfield,  in  1812, 
and  removed  there. 

Grace  ( Warriner),  first  wife  of  (724). 
From  the  north  church  in  Wilbraham, 
Rev.  E.  Witter,  pastor.  The  church 
records  say  of  her,  "  A  most  valuable 
woman."     She  died, 

Ahner  Blodget,  from  the  church  in 
Palmer,  Rev.  Mr.  Baldwin,  pastor,  re- 
moved.    See  (346). 

Sally,  wife  of  Samuel  Smith,  from 
the  church  in  south  parish,  Greenwich, 
(now  Enfield),  Rev.  Mr.  Crosby,  pas- 
tor. 

Leavett  Hewins,        )      From      the 
Wife  of  L.  Hewins.  )      church      in 
Sharon,  and  again  removed. 

1807. 

Betsey,  wife  of  Robert  Dunbar,  her 
husband  died  in  1807,  aged  62,  he  was 
the  father  of  (801).  In  1809,  she 
married  Rev.  John  Emerson,  of  Con- 
way and  removed  there. 


1821 


39 


CONGREGATrONAL    CIIUHCII  IN    UELCIIEKTOWX.    139 


Stimhem.  Namog.  Death*.    Age. 

[      Eunice   Forward,  daughter  of  Rev. 

389.  JuHtus    Forward;   nhe  married    TJHOj, 
in  1808  ;  she  was  the  fifth  daughter  of 
Rev.  Mr.  Forward,  that   died  of  con-  ; 
Humption.     Died  1809    29 

390.  Sarah,  wife  of  'J'imothy  Chase. 
From  other  Churches. 

391.  Ahifrail  ^Wi/.lardj,   wife  of  (408), 
from  the  church  in  Peterwham. 


}92.        Joshua  Clark,    son    of 


from 


the    church    in    Granby,    Rev.    Elijah 
Gridley,  pastor  ;  he  resided  in  Granby, 
and  again  became  connected  with  that 
i  church. 


/j3,  I  Olive,  wife  of  Reuben  Prentice, 
from  the  church  in  Somers,  Rev.  Wm. 
L.  Strong,  pastor,  and  returned  to  that 
church  by  certificate  in  1812. 

1808. 

394.  Susanna  Rice,  daugliter  of  C287), 
she  married  Edward  Frink,  of  Ashford, 
in  1813  and  removed.      She  died, 

395,  Luther  Holland,  he  died  in  the  State 
of  New  York. 

39G.        Charissa,  wife  of  (395).     She  died, 
He  again  married  (416j. 

397.  Amasa  Fairfield,  son  of  (148;. 

398.  '      Lydia,  f  Whitney),  wife  ^397). 


1822 

1851 
1817 


42 

74 


140 


HISTOHICAL  SKETCHES  OF  THE 


Numbers. 

399. 


400. 


401. 


402. 


403. 


404. 


405. 
406. 


407. 


Names. 

Samuel  Gilbert,  son  to  Maj.  John 
Gilbert,  removed  with  his  wife  (401), 
to  the  church  in  Medway,  in  1827. 

Lucretia  Toivne,  daughter  of  (241), 
she  married  John  Witt,  Jr.,  of  Gran- 
by,  in  1812,  removed  her  church  re- 
lation there  in  1826. 

Polly  Hatch,  daughter,  of  (381), 
married  (399),  in  1810),  and  removed 
with  her  husband  to  Medway. 

Elizaheth  {Pearl},  wife  of  Eli  Mil- 
lard, sister  of  (372).     She  died, 

From  oiher  Churches. 

Clarissa,  wife  of  Erasmus  Shum- 
way,  from  the  church  in  Greenwich, 
Rev.  Mr.  Blodget,  pastor,  and  again 
returned  there  with  her  husband.  He 
died  there.  Erasmus  was  son  of  (730). 


Deaths. 


Olive  Hyde,  widow  of  John  Hyde, 
from  the  church  in  Sturbridge.  Rev. 
Otis  Lane,  pastor.  Her  husband  died 
April  1808,  aged  58. 


the 


Benjamin  Kilbourn,  \       From 
Elizabeth,  his  wife,    i      church     in 

Bolton,    Rev.     E.     Kellogg,     pastor. 

Benjamin  died, 

Lucindia  {Fairfield),  wife  of  Pliny 
Witt.  She  was  from  the  church  in 
Plainficld,  Rev.  Mr.  Hallock,  pastor. 
Pliny  Witt,  Avas  son  of  (747). 


CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH  IN  BELCHEETOWN. 


141 


Numbers. 

408. 
409. 
410. 

411. 


412. 


413. 


414. 


415. 


416. 


417. 


Names. 

1809. 

Ehenezer  Bridgman,  son   of  (187). 

Elihu  Smead,  adopted  son  of  (238). 

Nathaniel  Walker,  son  of  (99), 
which  see. 

Jonathan  Bridgman,  son  of  (200), 
removed  by  letter  to  south  church  in 
Amherst,  at  its  formation  in  1824; 
letter  certifying  to  the  council  his 
standing  in  this  church,  had  resided  in 
the  south  part  of  Amherst  many  years. 

Aaron  Walker,  son  of  (243),  re- 
moved to  Ware. 

Esther  Clark,  daughter  of  (154), 
married  Isaiah  Wing,  of  Conway,  in 
1809,  and  removed  there. 

Jane  Clark,  daughter  of  Samuel 
Clark,  and  grand-daughter  of  (154)  ; 
she  married  Abijah  Harding,  in  1819, 
and  moved  to  Illinois. 

Suhmit  Clark,  daughter  of  Samuel 
Clark,  and  grand-daughter  of  (154), 
married  (412),  in  1812,  and  removed. 

3Iercy  Smith,  dsmghtei  of  (139), 
married  (395),  in  1818. 

Polly  [Steward),  wife  of  Martin 
Bardwell,  Jr.  He  was  son  to  Martin 
(418),  who  died  in  this  town,  in  1824, 
aged  84.     He  was  son  to  Martin,  who 


Deaths.    Age. 


1851 


70 


142 

Numbers. 


418. 
419. 

420. 

421. 

422. 

423. 

424. 
425. 

426. 
427. 


HISTOKICAL    SKETCHES    OF    THE 

Names. 

was  son  to  John  Bardwell.  See  Ap- 
pendix I.  Martin,  the  husband  of  Pol- 
ly (417),  died  in  1814,  aged  43..Polly 
was  daughter  of  Rev.  Antipas  Steward, 
who  was  the  first  congregational  min- 
ister settled  in  Ludlow,  settled  there 
in  1793,  dismissed  1803,  died  in  this 
town  January,  1814,  aged  81.  Polly 
was  admitted  to  the  church  June  11th, 
1809,  at  her  residence,  she  being  dan- 
gerously sick. 

Martin  Bardwell,  see  (417). 

Widow  Sarah  Graves,  widow  of 
John,  who  was  son  of  (62). 

Sally  {Rich),  wife  of  (235)  sister  of 
(198). 

Martha  {Rice),  ^Yife  oi  (636).  She 
was  from  Shrewsbury.     She  died, 

Judith  Hatch,  daughter  of  (381), 
married  (409),  in  1812,  and  removed. 

Elizabeth  (Steward),  wife  of  Alfred 
Shumway,  removed  to  the  church  in 
North  Adams,  in  1833. 

Eliza  Dodge. 

Samuel  Lemon,  son  of  James  Lemon 
of  Ware. 

Jane,  wife  of  (425). 

Jason  Walker,  son  of  (99).  He 
died  July  6th,  in  the  84th  year  of  his 
age. 


Deaths.    Age. 


1809 


1824 


1831 


1840 


1831 


1813 


1851 


CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH  IN    BELCHERTOWN. 


Numbers. 

428. 


429. 


430. 

431. 

432. 
433. 
434. 

435. 

436. 
437. 

438. 


Names. 

Elizabeth  (Mcintosh),  wife  (427). 
She  died, 

Elizabeth  Buxton,  married  (530),  in 
1811,  and  moved  with  her  husband  to 
the  church  in  Granby,  1832.  She  was 
the  daughter  of  William  Buxton  who 
came  to  this  town  from  Union,  Con- 
necticut, with  a  family  in  1794. 

1810. 

Samuel  Hinsdale  Stebbins,  son  of 
(129). 

Benjamin  Howe,  son  of  Benjamin 
Howe,  and  Margaret  his  wife. 

Enos  Chase. 

Samuel  Shumway,  son  of  (174). 

Capt.  James  Whitman,  son  of  John 
Whitman,  of  Bridgwater,  came  to  this 
town  in  1797,  from  Bridgwater. 

Kata  {Smith)y  his  wife,  she  was 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Susan  Smith 
(280).     She  died, 

Amasa  Cowles,  son  of  (56).  He 
died 

Lydia  {Mahurin),  his  mfe.  (the  1st 
wife).     See  (276).     She  died, 

Orlando  Root,  son  of  (105).  He 
died, 


Deaths. 


1849 


1844 


1845 


1842 


1813 


1823 


143 

Age. 

73 


50 


74 
73 
44 
46 


144 


HISTOKICAL  SKETCHES    OF    THE 


Numbers. 

439. 


440. 


441. 


442. 


443. 


444. 


Names. 

Elizabeth  {Ramsdell,)  wife  of  (438). 
She  was  the  daughter  of  Joseph  Rams- 
dell. 

Ruth  (Hawkes),  wife  of  Joseph  Bridg- 
man,  Esq.  She  was  from  Charlemont, 
sister  of  Rev.  Roswell  Hawkes,  who 
was  settled  minister  in  Cummington,  for 
several  years.  Her  husband,  Joseph 
was  son  of  (200),  he  died  in  1836, 
aged  63  ;  he  was  a  graduate  of  Dart- 
mouth College  1795,  was  a  prominent 
man  in  the  town,  a  magistrate,  lawyer 
by  profession,  representative  to  the 
general  court,  and  justly  possessed  the 
confidence  of  the  community.  She 
died, 

Polly  (Bardwell),  wife  of  (481). 
She  was  the  daughter  of  (418). 

Betlisina  (Foivler),  second  wife  of 
Wm.  Holland,  physician  (334).  She 
was  the  daughter  of  Medad  Fowler,  for- 
merly of  Westfield ;  she  came  to  this 
church  from  the  church  in  Blandford, 
Rev.  John  Keep,  pastor.  In  1813,  she 
with  her  husband  removed  to  Westfield, 
and  returned  to  this  church  and  place 
in  1819,  and  in  1832,  removed  to  Can- 
andagia,  New  York. 

1811. 


Deaths.   Age. 


Lydia  Dwight, 
uel  Dwight. 


the  daughter  of  Sam - 


Henrietta  Warner,  daughter  of  (235), 
married  (720),  in  1821,  second  wife. 
She  died, 


1850 


72 


1831 


38 


CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH  IN  BELCHERTOWN.       145 

Numbers.  Names.  Deaths.     Age. 

From  other  Churches. 


445. 
446. 

446.J. 


446|. 


447. 


448. 
449. 

450. 
451. 


Mary,  wife  of  William  Buxton, 
from  the  cliiircli  in  Sturbridge. 

Lucy,  wife  of  Asa  Woods,  from  the 
church  in  New-Braintrec,  Rev.  John 
Fisk,  pastor. 

1812. 

Hannah,  wife  of  Paul  Pettingill. 

Jonathan  Wright,  son  of  Cyprian 
Wright,  formerly  of  Ludlow  ;  who  mar- 
ried Lucy  Sikes  of  Ludlow,  in  October, 
1784. 

Sally  (D wight),  wife  of  Moses  Kil- 
bourn.  She  was  the  dauj^-hter  of  Sam'l 
D wight;  was  d. 'owned  in  Swift  River, 
the  horse  she  rode  with  took  fright  and 
ran  into  the  pond  at  Swift  river  mills. 

From  other  Churches. 

Azariah  Willis,  from  the  church  in 
Brookfiold. 

Malissant,  wife  of  (448),  from  the 
church  in  New-Braintree.  She  died 
about, 

Hannah,  first  wife  of  (720).  From 
the  church  in  Poultney,  Vermont. 
She  died, 

1813. 

Thomas  Brown. 
14 


1827 


1822 


1815 


1820 


1813 


146 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES  OF  THE 


Numbers. 

452. 
453. 

454. 

455. 

456. 


457. 


458. 


459. 


Names.  Deaths.    A5« 

Mary,  wife  of  (451). 

Herman  Hawes,  son  of  John  Hawes, 
and  brother  of  (4(38).     He    died, 

MaUtilel  {Feeso),  first  wife  of  (453 
She  was  the  daughter  of  John  Peeso. 

Jonathan  Divight,  son  of  Justus 
Dwight  and  grandson  of  (42).  He 
died  in  Amsterdam,  N.  Y. 

Ami/  (Parsons),  wdfe  of  Jonathan 
Dwight;  she  was  the  daughter  of 
(22 3^  After  the  death  of  her  hus- 
band she  removed  her  church  relation 
and  went  from  here. 

William  Bridgman,  Physician,  son 
of  (187).  He  removed  to  Spring- 
field in  1835. 


1841 
1835 

1834 


459J. 


460. 


Marilla  (Parsons), 
She  was  the  daughter 
died 


wife  of  (457). 
of  (223).     She 


58 
39 

64 


1850 


Josiah  Dwight  Graves,  son  of  Jo- 
seph and  Eunice  Graves,  (131)  ;  re- 
moved to  the  Church  at  Manchester, 
near  the  falls  of  Niagara,  State  of  New 
York,  in  1828. 

Joseph  Graves,  son  of  Joseph  and 
Eunice  (131)  and  brother  of  (459), 
and  removed  with  him. 

Henry  A.  Bi^idgman,  son  of  (550). 
Deacon;  chosen  1828. 


63 


CONGKEGATIOXAL    CIIUKCH    IN    BELCHERTOWN.    147 


Names. 

Elijah  Coleman  Bridgman,  son  of 
(550)  ;  a  graduate  of  Amherst  College 
in  1826,  Studied  Theology  ;  licensed 
to  preach  ;  became  a  Foreign  Mission- 
ary ;  was  ordained  in  this  town,  Octo- 
ber 6,  1829,  and  sent  out  under  the 
direction  of  the  Board  of  Commission- 
ers for  Foreign  Missions,  to  China, 
He  sailed  from  New  York  the  10th  of 
October,  and  arrived  in  Canton,  China, 
in  February  1830.  His  labors  have 
been  constant  and  successful.  By  per- 
severing industry  he  has  become  one 
of  the  best  scholars  in  the  Chinese  lan- 
guage, of  the  age.  The  honorary  de- 
gree of  D.  D.  has  been  conferred  on 
him  by  an  American  College.  Much 
of  his  labor  for  years  has  been  direct- 
ed to  the  translation  of  the  Bible  into 
the  Chinese  Language.  He  has  done 
much  in  giving  to  the  many  millions 
of  China,  the  sacred  volume  in  their 
own  tongue,  and  is  still  engaged,  un- 
remittingly, in  that  great  christian 
enterprise. 

Daniel  Phelps^  chosen  Deacon, 
1816;   son  of  (222). 

William  Phelps,  chosen  Deacon, 
1838;   son  of  (222). 

Samuel  Strong,  son  of  (314.) 


Deatlig.     Age. 


William  W.  Hunt,  son  of  (294)  and 
(295).  He  was  a  graduate  of  Wil- 
liams College  in  1820,  and  settled  in 
the  ministry  in  North  Amherst.  Re- 
moved his  church  relation  from  here  to 


148 

Numbera. 


466. 


467. 


468. 


469. 


470. 
471. 


472. 

473. 
474„ 
475. 


HISTORICAL    SKETCHES    OF    THE 

Names.  Deaths.     Agt 

the  Church  connected  with  the  Ando- 
ver  Seminary,  in  1823.  Was  the  first 
settl:;d  minister  in  North  Amherst. 


Ahia  Hannum,  daughter  of  Solomon 
and  Jerusha  Hannum,  born  1 786.   Died 

Learned  Scott. 

John  Halves,  son  of  John,  brother 
of  (453). 

Chester  Allen,  son  of  Edmund  Al- 
len, He  took  a  certificate  of  his  mem- 
bership, to  be  laid  before  a  Council 
convened  to  form  a  new  Church,  in  a 
factory  village  in  Springfield,  in  1829, 
and  removed  there  with  his  wife  (343). 

Dudley  Phelps,  from  Hebron,  Conn. 

Dudley  Phelps,  nephew  of  (470), 
graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1823, 
studied  Theology,  settled  in  the  min- 
istry in  Haverhill,  and  also  in  Groton, 
Mass.,  where  he  labored  faithfully  in 
the  ministerial  office  till  his  death. 

Rock  Parsons,  son  of  (223)  remov- 
ed to  the  state  of  Alabama  in  1820, 
and  died  there  soon  after. 

Hezekiah  Walker,  Jr.,  son  of  (243). 

Horace  Walker,  son  of  (317). 

Ira  Stacy,  son  of  (292),  removed 
from  this  church  by  letter  to  Ludlow 
in  1825.     Died  May 


1837 


182( 


41 
43 


1820 


1847 


1838 


48 


51 


49 


CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCH    IN  BELCHERTOAVN.    140 


Names.  Deaths, 

Roxana  (Glover),  wife  of  (475),  was 
from  Wilbraham  ;  removed  to  Lud- 
low w^ith  her  husband.  After  the 
death  of  her  husband  (475)  she  mar- 
ried Jason  Miller  of  Williamsburgh, 
and  removed  there  in  1843. 


Terlius  Walker,  son  of  (317),  re- 
moved his  church  relation  from  here 
to  Enfield  in  1824;  returned  to  this 
place  in  1842.     Died  December 


A,e. 


Daniel     Rider,     removed    to    the 
church  in  Holliston,  January,  1845. 

Harrison  Holland,  brother  of  (395) . 

Anna  Gilbert,  wife  of  (479),  the 
daughter  of  Maj.  John  Gilbert  (319^), 
sister  of  (558). 

Enos  Coicles,  son  of  (85),  removed 
to  South  Hadley. 

Nehemiah  Buglet. 

Remember  Joshua  Cowles,  son  of 
(191). 

John  Hunt,  Sd. 

John  Marshall,  Jr.,  son  of  (374), 
removed  to  the  state  of  New  York. 

Catherine  Bardwell,  daughter  of 
(418).  She  was  second  wife  of  (482). 
He  married  Hannah  Bardwell,  sister 
of  Catherine,  in  1801.  Hannah  died 
in  1812.  In  1813,  he  married  Cath- 
14* 


1846 


1848 


48 


70 


150 


HISTOmCAL    SKETCHES    OF    THE 


Nwnbcrs. 


487. 


488. 


489. 


490. 

491. 
492. 

493. 

494. 
495. 


Names. 

erine  ;  she  died  May,  1819.  In  1820, 
he  (Nehemiah  Bugbee),  married  widow 
Abigail  Thayer. 

Mary  Nichols,  daughter  of  (344). 
She  married  Clark  Stone  of  Enfield, 
and  removed  there. 

Polly  Rhoades,  daughter  of  Aaron 
Rhoades  and  Mary  his  wife  (356). 
She  married  (473),  November,  1815, 
and  died  January, 

Harriet  Howe,  daughter  of  Benja- 
min Howe.  (lie  married  Margaret 
Graves,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Eunice 
Graves,  in  1785.)  Harriet  married 
Joseph  W.  Edson,  of  New  Braintree, 
in  1819,  and  removed  there. 

Amy  Walker,  daughter  of  (317). 
She  married  (485),  son  of  (374),  in 
1817.     She  died  April  25, 

OsJiea  Walker,  son  of  (243).     Died 

EstJier  S.  Walker^  daughter  of 
(243). 

Lydia  Graves,  daughter  of  (459.) 
In  1822  she  married  Asahel  Clark  of 
Granby  and  removed  there. 

Mary  Bridgm an ,  daughter  of  ( 5 5 0 ) . 
In  1817  she  married  (431).      She  died 

T^'ipheiia  KentJiehL  daughter  of  Da- 
vid and  Mary  Kentfield. 


Deaths,     Ag» 


18161  20 


1838 
1817 


1829 


42 
28 


30 


CONGREGATIOXAL    CHURCH   IN  BELCHEHTOWX.     151 


Nimc3. 

Lois  Dimton,  daughter  of  (r582). 
In  1816  she  married  (727).     She  died 

Marilla  Du7iton,  daughter  of  (582). 
Removed  her  church  relation  in  1825 
to  the  church  at  Smyrna,  N.  Y. 

Diana  Phdps,  daughter  of  (222). 
She  married  Cornelius  Delano  of 
Northampton,  and  removed  there. 

ReJjccIcah  Hunt,  daughter  of  (294). 
In  1814  she  married  Jason  Miller  of 
Williamsburgh  and  removed  there. 
She  died  about  1841.  In  1843,  Jason 
iSIiller  married  (476),  widow  of  (475), 
and  removed. 

Francis  Willson,  son  of  John  Will- 
son,  who  died  in  this  town  in  1818, 
aged  67.  Francis  removed  to  En- 
field. 

Nancy  Bardwcll,  daughter  of  (753), 
and  grand-daughter  of  Capt.  Jonathan 
Bard  well,  and  Violet  his  wife  (68). 
In  1821  she  married  William  Cush- 
man.      She  died 

Nancy  (Strong),  wife  of  Charles 
D wight,  son  of  (197).  She  was  daugh- 
ter of  (314).  Charles  D wight  died 
1815,  aged  34.  In  1820  she  married 
(550),  a  third  wife.     She  died 

Melissa  Parsons,  daughter  of  (223). 
In  1821  she  married  Warren  Isham, 
then  of  Wilbraham.     In  1822  she  re- 


DeatliH.     Ag«» 

I 

1822!  27 

I 


1823 


1839 


27 


52 


505. 
506. 

507. 

508. 

509. 

510. 

511. 
512. 
513. 
514. 
515. 


152  HISTORICAL  SKETCHES  OF  THE 

Numbers.  Niimes, 

moved  her  church  relation  to  the  Free 
Coinmunion.  Church  in  Tennessee. 

504.  Ahigail  Strong,  daughter  of  (314). 
In  1815  she  married  (550),  a  second 
wife.     She  died 

PaUij  Walker,  daughter  of  (256), 
married  Mr.  Miller  of  Ludlow. 

Betsey  Marshall,  daughter  of  (374). 
Married  (464)  in  1815.  Died  the  same 
year.  The  Church  Records  say  of  her, 
"  a  woman  of  high  promise." 

Biana  Howard,  daughter  of  Silas 
Howard. 

Sally  Howard,  daughter  of  Silas 
Howard.    She  married  John  W.  Peeso. 

Samuel  Baugherty,  removed  to  Il- 
linois. 

Aiina  (Woods),  wife  of  (509), 
daughter  of  Jonathan  Woods. 

Elihii  Root,  son  of  (105). 

Levinah,  wife  of  (511). 

Samuel  Ingalls, 

Clarissa  Ingalls,  daughter  of  (513). 

Nathaniel  Dwiglit,  son  of  Justus 
D wight,  Esq.,  and  grand-son  of  (42). 


D.?atli.<i.     Afe. 


1820i  38 


1815    19 


1824 


38 


CONGREGATIONAL    CIIUKCH    IN  BELCHERTOWN.    IS-*? 


Numbers. 

516. 


517. 


518. 


519. 
520. 
521. 
522. 

S22J. 

523. 
524. 


Names.  Deaths.     Age 

Elizaheih  (Dimhar),  wife  of  (515), 
the  daughter  of  Robert  Dunbar  and 
Betsey  his  M^fe  (388),  which  sec. 


Justus  Dwight,  Jr.,  Esq.,  son  of 
Justus  Dwight,  Esq.,  and  grand-son 
of  (42).     He  died 

Sophia  {Dwight),  his  1st  wife;  she 
was  the  daughter  of  (197).     She  died 

In  1817,  Justus  Dwight,  Jr.  mar- 
ried Eliza  Marshall,  daughter  of  (374), 
a  second  wife;  see  (542). 

Olive  Washburn,  daughter  of  (790). 
She  married  (681),  in  1821. 

Oliver  Hannum,  son  of  Phineas 
Hannum. 

Gamaliel  Hannum,  son  of  Phineas, 
brother  of  (520). 

Mercy  M.  Hannum,  daughter  of 
Phineas  Hannum,  and  sister  of  (737), 
(520)  and  of  (521). 

Sally  Nichols,  daughter  of  (344). 
She  married  Alvin  Woods  of  Brook- 
field  in  1817,  and  removed. 

Drusilla  Rhoades,  sister  of  Thad- 
deus  Rhoades. 

Lucinda  Pheljis,  removed  by  letter 
of  recommendation  to  a  Council  call- 
ed to  form  a  Church  at  Lowell. 


1835 


1814 


54 


28 


154 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES    OF  THE 


Numbers. 

525. 


526. 
527. 

528. 

529. 

530. 

531. 
532. 


533. 


534. 


Names. 

Joel  Walker,  son  of  (256),  moved 
away. 

Dehor  ah  Walker,  daugliter  of  (243). 

Silence  Walker,  daugliter  of  (243). 
She  died 

Bar  a  Walker,  son  of  (243).  He 
died 

Henry  Alley,  son  of  Mason  Abbey. 
Drowned 

Arly  Stacy,  son  of  (292),  removed 
to  Church  in  Granby  in  1832,  with 
his  wife  (429). 

Joel  Randall,  son  of  (369),  died 

Alner  Towne  2d.,  son  of  (241.^  He 
studied  Theology,  was  licensed  to 
preach,  married  Eliza  Vinton,  daugh- 
ter of  Capt.  Abiather  Vinton  of  Am- 
herst, and  sister  of  the  Hon.  Samuel 
F.  Vinton,  a  leading  member  of  Con- 
gress from  Ohio.  llev.  Abncr  Towne 
early  in  his  ministry  moved  to  Ohio, 
and  died  young,  in  that  state. 

Asa  B.  Woods,  son  of  (585),  re- 
moved by  letter  to  Church  in  Hart- 
ford, Conn.,  in  1824. 

Joseph    Woods,    son    of    Jonathan 
Woods  (58j),  and  brother  of  (533). 


Djalha.     Ag«, 


1821 

1838 
1813 


1815 


23 


40 


21 


21 


COXGEEGATIONAL    CHUHCII    IN    BELCHERTOAV^N.       155 


Names.  Deaths.     Age. 

Lydia  Woods,  daughter  of  Jona- 
than \Vocds,  (585).  8hc  married 
Joseph  Henshaw. 


Susan  Woods,  daughter  of  Jona- 
than Woods  (585).  She  married  Geo. 
Viuing  of  Plainfield,  and  removed 
there. 

Apphia  (Preston),  wife  of  (4463), 
daughter  of  Jabez  Preston  of  Granby, 
deceased. 

Salem  Fisher,  son  of  (234). 

Aldana  Fisher,  daughter  of  (234). 
She  married  David  Liddle  and  remov- 
ed to  state  of  New  York. 

Thcodotia  Strong,  daughter  of  (314). 
She  married  Mr.  Stephen  Hill  of  Sliel- 
by,  Orleans  County,  New  York,  and 
removed  there. 

1813. 


541.  Hannah    Stacy,  daughter  of  (292) 
She  married   (878),   son  of  (241),    in 
October  1818. 

See  Apjmndix  E. 

542.  Eliza  Marshall,  daughter  of  (374), 
married  (517)  in  1818,  removed  to 
Church  in  South  Hadley  in  1838,  and 
removed  back  to  this  Church  in  1851. 

543.  Lucy  Hamillon,  married  (679),  son 
of  (197),  in  1820,  and  they    removed 


156 

Naniliers. 

544. 

545. 
546. 

547. 
548. 

549. 

549J. 
549|. 

550. 


551, 


HISTOKICAL    SKETCHES    OF    THE 

Names. 

in   1828    to    the    churcli   in   Niagara, 
New  York. 

Lucy,  wife  of  Ephraim  Converse, 
removed  her  church  relation  to  North- 
ampton in  1823. 

Anna  Angier,  daughter  of  (359), 
died 

Palty  Angier,  daughter  of  (359). 
She  married  Frederick  Griswold  of 
Longmeadow  in  1821  and  removed. 

Prudence  Marsh,  removed. 

Clarissa  Dwight,  daughter  of  (197), 
married  (1266)  m  1824. 

Mary  Br'.dgraan,  daughter  of  (302). 
She  married  Samuel  P.  Hopkins  in 
1819. 

Moses  Hanniwi,  son  of   (29).      He 

died  ahout 

Jeruslia  Ilanninn,  wife  of  (549}). 

From  other  Churches. 

Theodore  Bridgman,  son  of  (200). 
In  1800  he  joined  the  Church  in 
Greenwich  South  Parish,  (now  En- 
field) while  he  continued  his  residence 
here,  and  removed  his  church  relation 
here.     Died 

Vcster  Willson  from  church  in  Pel- 
ham. 


Deaths.    Age. 


1814 


1836 


22 


79 


1836 


61 


CONGREGATIOXAL    CnUKCII    IN"    BELCHERTOWN.      157 


Names.  Deaths.     Agtt. 

Widoio    Hannah     Cleveland,    from 
church  in  Windham. 

Varneij  Fellows,  from  church  in  Wil- 
lington,  Rev.  Hubbel  Loomis  pastor. 


Sarah  (Smith),  wife  of  Rev.  Expe- 
rience Porter,  (See  notice  of  her  in  the 
historical  sketch,  connected  with  that 
of  Mr.  Porter,)  from  the  church  in 
Fair  Haven,  Vt.     She  died  April  19, 


See  also  Appendix  N. 

Betsey  Matilda  {S?nith),  wife  of 
(647)  the  daughter  of  Dan  Smith  Esq., 
West  Haven,  Vt.,  from  church  in 
South  Hadley,  Rev.  Joel  Hayes,  pas- 
tor. The  church  records  say  of  her : 
"  A  lovely  woman,  the  delight  of  her 
numerous  friends  ;  a  friend  to  the  poor 
and  an  ornament  to  her  sex  ;  she  died 
as  she  had  for  ten  years  lived,  in  the 
exercise  of  the  liveliest  hope  of  the 
resurrection  of  the  just.  In  her  last 
sickness,  which  was  54  days,  and  fluc- 
tuating, she  tasted  an  earnest  of  the 
blessedness  of  those  that  die  in  the 
Lord.  She  will  for  a  long  time  be  re- 
membered as  a  distinguished  orna- 
ment of  this  Church  and  Society"  She 
died  Nov.  13. 

See  Appendix  N.  and  P. 

Josiah  Fox. 

Wife  of  (556). 

15 


1825 


1814 


44 


28 


158 

Nuinbors. 

558. 

559. 
560. 

561. 
562. 

563. 

564. 
565. 


HISTORICAL    SKETCHES    OF    THE 

Names. 

By  Profession, 

George  Gilbert,  son  of  Major 
John  Gilbert  (3 19 J)  formerly  from 
Hebron,  Conn. 


Deaths*    Age. 


Sylvia  [Colton),  bis  wife, 
from  Longmeadow. 


She  was 


566. 


Betsey  Pearl,  daughter  of  (372), 
married  Marcus  Wbitman,  son  of  (434), 
second  wife,  about  1822. 

Lydia  Lemon,  daughter  of  (425), 
married  (814). 

Lucy  Nichols,  daughter  of  (344), 
married  Levi  Brown  of  Norwich,  and 
removed  there  in  1822. 

Nancy  (Colton)  wife  of  (723),  sister 
of  (559).     She  died 

Eli  Strong. 

Betsey  Smith,  sister  of  Rev.  Mrs. 
Porter  (554).  She  married  (464)  in 
1816.  Daughter  of  Dr.  Phineas 
Smith,  formerly  of  Sharon,  Conn. 

See  Appendix  N. 

1814. 

Abigail  (Day),  wife  of  Henry  Mel- 
len.  Her  husband  died  1836.  She 
died,  November, 


1815 


1841 


30 


68 


CONGEEGATIONAIi    CHUKCH    IN    UELCHERTOWN.    159 


1847 


62 


Names.  Deaths.    Age 

Delphia  Washhiirn,  from  the  church 
in  Hard  wick,  Rev.  William  B.  Wes- 
son, Pastor.  She  married  (720),  Au- 
gust, 1831.  He  died  in  1834.  She 
again  married  Mr.  Allen,  of  Stur- 
bridge. 

1815. 

Susan  ( Gates),  wife  of  (801 ),  daugh- 
ter of  Thomas  A.  Gates  and  Margaret 
his  wife  (232).     She  died 


Willis  Ingalls. 

Horatio  Parsons,  son  of  (250), 
graduated  at  Williams  College  in  1820, 
studied  Theology,  and  was  settled  for 
a  time  in  the  ministry  at  Manchester, 
Vt.  ;  dismissed  and  stationed  again  in 
the  ministry  near  the  Falls  of  Niagara, 
New  York  ;  removed  his  relation  from 
this  church  years  ago. 

Eliakim  Phelps,  Jr.,  son  of  (222), 
graduate  of  Union  College  in  1814. 
Settled  in  the  ministry  in  West  Brook- 
field  in  1818  ;  dismissed  in  1824,  and 
afterwards  settled  at  Geneva,  New 
York,  and  dismissed  from  there  ;  re- 
ceived the  degree  of  D.  D. ;  is  now 
residing  in  Stratford,  Conn,  without 
ministerial  charge. 

Susan  (Moody),  wife  of  Enos  Chase, 
the  daughter  of  Joseph  Moody  of 
South  Hadley. 


Wife  of  (637). 


ICO 

Numbers. 

573. 


674. 
575. 

576. 

577. 
578. 


579. 

579J. 
580. 

581. 


HISTORICAL    SKETCHES    OF    THE 

Names.  Deaths.     Age. 

From  other  Churches. 


Enoch  Burnett,  from  the  churcli  in 
Granby,  Rev.  Mr.  Gridley,  Pastor.  He 
was  brother  of  Jonathan,  Stephen,  and 
Arza  Burnett.  Arza  was  father  of 
(1243).     Enoch  died 


Sophia  (Chajnn),  wife  of  (573). 

Sarah  (Hall),  wife  of  Elkanah  At- 
wood,  from  Sutton,  died 

Thomas  Sahln,  from  church  in 
North  Wilbraham,  died 

Ahigail,  wife  of  (576),  from  church 
in  North  Wilbraham,  died 

Sally,  first  wife  of  Alpheus  Winter, 
from  North  Wilbraham.  Church  re- 
cords say,  "  A  woman  of  superior 
worth,  a  most  animated,  exemplary 
believer,  full  of  the  spirit  of  Heaven." 
She  died 

Augustine  Payne,  physician,  from 
church  in  Granby,  Rev.  Mr.  Gridley, 
Pastor.     Dr.  Payne  died 

Abigail  {Mason),  wife  of  (579). 

Olive,  wife  of  Jonathan  S.  Tucker, 
from  the  church  in  Vernon,  Conn. 

Margaret  (Warrincr),  wife  of  Giles 
Smith,  from  church  in  North  Wilbra- 
ham,  Rev.  Mr.   Witter,  Pastor.     She 


1850 

1842 
1829 

1821 


1817 


1814 


CONGKEGATIONAL  CHUECH    IN    BELCHEETOWN.    161 


lumbers.  Names.  Deaths.    Age* 

is  the  sister    of   (383).     Giles    Smith 
died  in  Wilbraham. 


582.  Amasa  Dimton,  )  From  the  church  in 

583.  Wife  of  (582.)  ]  Cambridge,  N.  Y., 
and  removed  to  the  church  in  Smyrna, 
New  York,  1825. 

584.  Oliver  S.  Taylor,  physician,  from 
the  church  in  Dartmouth  College,  Rev. 
Roswell  Shurtleff,  Pastor.  Removed 
to  Old  South  Church,  Boston.  Dr. 
Taylor  was  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth 
College  in  1809;  studied  medicine, 
and  entered  upon  the  practice  in  this 
town  in  1814  ;  chosen  deacon  of  this 
church  in  1816;  left  here  in  1817,  and 
has  since  been  much  of  the  time  in 
business  of  Classical  instruction,  prin- 
cipally in  the  State  of  New  York. 

585.  Jonathan  Woods,  a  native  of  New 
Braintree,  son  of  Jonathan  Woods, 
formerly  of  that  place.  This  Jona- 
than was  brother  of  David  Woods,  the 
father  of  Asa,  who  was  father  of  Geo. 
B.  Woods.  The  family  were  from 
Marlboro',  and  moved  to  New  Brain- 
tree  early  in  the  settlement  of  that 
place.     He  died 


586.       Lydia,   wife    of   (585). 
August, 


She   died 


587. 


588. 


Sally     (Deering), 
She  died 


wife   of   (726). 


Lucinda  (  Whitney),  wife  of  Sylves- 
ter Willson. 
15*' 


1830 


1843 


1850 


68 


81 


68 


162 


HISTORICAL    SKETCHES    OF    THE 


Numbers. 

589. 


590. 


590J. 


591. 


592. 


593. 


S94. 


595. 


Names.  Deaths.    Age. 

Sally     (Fobes),     wife    of    Nathan 
Weeks. 

Thomas  Sahin,  Jr.,    son    of   (576), 
from  the  church  in  Wilbraham. 


A I  iga  i  I  ( Durfy ) , 
She  died 


first  wife  of  (590). 


Sophia  Holland,  daughter  of  Jonas 
liolhind  and  Susanna  his  wife  (305). 
She  married  Aaron  Arms,  Esq.,  of 
South  Decrfiekl  in  1821,  and  removed 
her  church  relation  there.  She  died 
about 

Maria  Holland,  sister  of  (591), 
daughter  of  Jonas  and  Susanna  (305j. 

From  other  Churches. 

Jemima  Preston,  from  the  church  in 
Ashford,  has  resided  here  twelve 
years  and  commuTied  with  this  church. 
She  brings  no  letter  from  that  church 
but  is  received  here  as  a  member,  upon 
a  former  profession  at  Ashford,  assent- 
ing to  the  Articles  of  this  church. 

Sahra  Willson,  wife  of  John  Will- 
son,  from  the  church  in  Ludlow. 

Nancy  {Flint),  wife  of  Philo  Par- 
sons, from  Monson.  They  removed 
from  here  to  Monson,  and  he  soon 
went  to  Alabama,  and  both  died  years 


CONGIIEGATIONAL    CllUlXCn  IN    BELCIIEIITOWN.    163 
Numbors.  Names.  Deaths.    Age. 

1816. 
Dm.  Jonathan  doughy  ) 

mycof(596).  i 

Tliey  were  from  the  cluircli  in  North 
Wilbraham,  and  removed  from  hero. 
Was  not  deacon  in  this  church. 

Stephen  Burnett,  brother  of  (-'jTo), 
from  tlic  churcli  in  South  liadley,  llcv. 
Joel  Hayes,  Pastor. 

Ahigiiil  {Witt,)  wife  of  Steplicn 
Ijiirnett.  She  is  the  dau;^-]iter  of  (747). 
Thoy  soon  removed  back  to  South  liad- 
ley. 

Electa  (DicJcinson),  second  wife  of 
Horace  Gates,  and  dairj;bter  of  Perez 
Dickinson,  formerly  of  Amherst.  Pe- 
rez was  brother  of  Hon.  Samuel  F. 
Dickinson,  formerly  of  Amlierst,  a 
graduate  of  Dartmouth  College  in 
1795. 

Mary,  wife  of  Col.  A.  Jones,  from 
the  church  in  Phillipston,  and  went  to 
the  church  in  Ware  Villa^rc  in  1827. 


Cyrus  Bartlctt, 
Stafford. 


from  the  church  in 


Aniia  Sahin,  wife  of  (601),  daugh- 
ter of  (576). 

Prudence  {Foote),  wife  of  Eneas 
Clark,  from  the  church  in  Wilbraham, 
daughter  of  Joseph  Foote,  formerly  of 


164 


HISTOEICAL  SKETCHES  OF  THE 


Numbers. 


604. 
605. 


606. 


607. 


608. 


609. 
610. 


Names. 

Colchester,  Conn.,  and  sister  of  Rev. 
Calvin  Foote,  a  graduate  of  Middle- 
bury  College  in  1814,  and  settled  in 
the  ministry  in  East  Longmeadow, 
and  in  Southwick,  and  in  Granville, 
Mass.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clark  removed 
from  this  place  to  Colchester,  Conn., 
in  1846.  He  died  there  in  March, 
1848,  aged  77. 

Sylvanus  Stehhins,  ) 

Wife  of  (604).         j 

They  were  from  the  church  in  Gran- 
by  to  this,  and  removed  from  here  by 
a  general  recommendation  of  their 
standing,  in  1823,  to  the  State  of  New 
York. 

1817. 

Amanda  Hunt,  daughter  of  (294). 
She  married  Francis  Willson,  son  of 
John  Willson,  in  1818. 

Darius  H.  Rice,  removed  to  Can- 
ada. 

Sally,  wife  of  Ethan  S.  Cowles,  re- 
moved by  letter  to  the  church  at  St. 
Charles,  Illinois,  in  1848,  with  her 
husband. 

From  other  Churches. 

Clarissa  Howard,  from  the  church 
in  Blandford,  Rev.  John  Keep,  Pastor. 

Cynthia,  wife  of  (976),  from  the 
church  in  Stafford,  Rev.  Jos.  Knight, 
pastor. 


Deaths.    Age. 


CONGEEGATIOXAL  CIIUHCII  IN  TJELCirEIlTOWX.        165 


Numbers.  Xumes  Deaths.     Age. 

611.        Mary   Colton,    from  the    chnrcK  in' 
Monson,  Ilev.  Alfred  ]^ly,  D.  D.,  pas-  | 
tor.  She  married  Mr.  Fellows,  teacher 
in  Mount  Pleasant  Seminary,  Amherst. 


612. 


613. 


61-1. 
615. 


616. 


Dnisilla  Day,  from  the  church  in 
West  Springfield,  Dv  Lathrop,  pastor. 

Second  Wife  of  Captain  Phineas 
Strong  (314),  widow  Barnard  from  | 
Xorthampton.  After  the  death  ofj 
Capt  Strong  (314),  she  married  Deac.  \ 
Isaac  Clark  of  Xorthampton,  in  182S,  | 
and  returned  there. 

1818. 

Jemima  Broicn. 

Sally  Phelps,  daughter  of  (726). 
She  married  Abner  Hill  of  Shutes- 
bury,  Sept.  29,  1825,  and  removed 
there. 

Rosina  Phelps,  daughter  of  (726)  ; 
married  Joel  Fairfield  in    1820;    re- 
commended to  a  Council  convened  to  | 
organize  a  Church  at  Factory  "Milage,  I 
Springfield,     in     1829,    and    remoA-ed  I 
there  and  to  that  church. 


617.        Cynthia  Phelps,  sister  of  (615)  and 
(616),  removed  to  Factory  Village,    in  ' 
Springfield,  in  1829. 


618. 


Mary   Abbey,    daughter  of  Mason 
Abbey,  married  (235)  in  1832. 


166 


HISTORICAT.    SKETCHES    OF    THE 


Numbers. 

620. 


621. 


622. 


623. 


624. 


625. 


626. 


Names. 

William  Holland,  son  of  Jonas  Hol- 
land and  Susanna  his  Avife  (305).  In 
the  year  1824  he  married  Electa  Hop- 
kins, and  both  went  as  teachers  under 
the  direction  of  the  American  Board  of 
Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions, 
to  Alabama,  and  then  to  Tennessee, 
where  they  labored  in  teaching  among 
the  natives  for  about  13  years,  and 
then  removed  to  Jacksonville,  Illinois, 
and  left  the  employment  of  the  Board. 

Cliauncy  Dimton,  son  of  (582),  re- 
moved to  the  church  at  Smyrna,  New 
York,  by  letter,  in  1826. 

Nathaniel  Freeman  Dunton,  son  of 
(582),  removed  to  Smyrna  with  his 
brother  (621),  in  1826,  with  his  wife 
(764.) 

Charles  Reed,  son  of  (274),  remov- 
ed to  the  church  in  Greenwich,  by  let- 
ter, in  1824. 

Charles  Walker,  physician,  son  of 
(317),  a  graduate  of  Yale  College  in 
1823;  studied  the  medical  jDrofession 
and  gettled  in  Northampton  in  medi- 
cal practice.     See  (317). 

Harry  Knapp,  removed  by  letter  to 
Park  Street  church  in  Boston,  in  1823. 

Emily  Walker,  daughter  of  (427), 
married  Alva  Sikes,  of  Ludlow,  in 
1819,  and  removed  there. 


Deaths.    Age. 


CONGREGATIONAL  CHTJIICH  IN    BELCHERTOWN.    167 


Numbers. 

627. 


628. 


629. 


630. 


631. 


632. 

633. 
634. 


Names.  Deaths.    Age 

Eliza  Walker,  daughter  of  (427), 
married  Obed  Newton  of  Hadley  in 
1822,  and  removed  there. 

Almira  Fisher,  daughter  of  (234), 
married  Leonard  Barrett,  Esq.,  in 
1826. 

Bimmis  Stacy,  daughter  of  (292), 
married  Mark  Hinckley. 

Julia  Stacy,  daughter  of  (292),  mar- 
ried Luther  Morse,  Jr.  of  Boston,  in 
1826,  and  removed  her  church  relation 
to  the  Old  South  Church  in  Boston  ; 
returned  to  reside  here  again  in  1829. 
Her  husband  died  in  1850. 


635. 


Clarissa  Howard,  daughter  of  An- 
drew Howard,  married  (969).  She 
died 

He  married  Irene  Howard,  her  sis- 
ter, and  she  died  March,  1841,  aged 
39. 

Polly  Walker,  daughter  of  (243). 
She  died 

Ahram  Allen,  son  of  Edmund  Allen. 

Heman  Moody,  son  of  Josiah  Moody 
formerly  of  South  Hadley.  For  a  few 
of  the  last  years  of  his  life  he  resided 
here  with  this  son.  See  (848).  He- 
man  died 

Josiah  Walker,  removed  to  Illinois 
and  died  there 


1838 


1838 


1826 


1847 


40 


36 


48 


76 


168 


niSTOrtlCAL  SKETCHES    OF    THE 


Numbers.  Names. 

636.  Simeon  Dioight,  son  of  (197). 

637.  David  Fairhanks, 

638.  Elizabeth  Sexton,  daughter  of  Noah 
Sexton,  formerly  of  West  Springfield. 
He  died  in  Virginia.  She  married 
(468)  in  1821. 

639.  Lucij  Walker,  daughter  of  (317). 

640.  Moses  Goodale. 

641.  Charlotte  Elixaheth  {Crittenden), 
wife  of  Elihu  Shiimway.  She  was  the 
daughter  of  Mr.  Samuel  Crittenden  of 
Conway, 

642.  Deborah  (Gleason),  second  wife  of 
(243).     She  died 

643.  Mary  ( Whitman,)  second  wife  of 
(473),  and  daughter  of  (434). 

644.  Reheckah  {Vining),  wife  of  (534), 
and  daughter  of  George  Vining,  for- 
merly of  Plainfield. 

645.  Nancij  {Reed),  wife  of  (430),  and 
daughter  of  (274). 

646.  Mehitahle  { Ward),  wife  of  (728). 

647.  Mark  DooUttle,  son  of  Titus  Doo- 
little,  Esq.,  formerly  of  llussell,  Hamp- 
den County,  Mass.,  a  graduate  of  Yale 
College  in  1804,  by  profession  a  law- 
yer. The  author  of  this  Historical 
Sketch. 


Deaths.    Ag«. 

1843    63 
1837    61 


1846 


88 


CONGEEGATIONAL    CHXJKCH  IN  BELCHERTOWN".    169 


[umbers. 

648. 


Names.  Deaths.    Age. 

Sarah  T.  R.  (Rahoteau,)  second 
wife  of  (647).  She  was  the  daughter 
of  Charles  C.  Raboteau,  Esq.,  former- 
ly of  Newburyport.  He  died  in  Phil- 
adelj^hia  in  1816. 


Timothy  Pearl,  brother  of  (372). 
He  died 

Sally  {Perry),  wife  of  (649).  She 
died 

This  family  was  from  Vernon,  Conn. 

Ralph  Owen,  son  of  Capt.  Eleazer 
Owen,  who  died  in  this  town  about 
1840. 

Fanny  {Bissell),  wife  of  (651). 

Sarah  {Smith),  wife  of  (718),  daugh- 
ter of  James  Smith  and  Susanna  his 
wife  (280). 

Roxana,  wife  of  John  Lemon,  re- 
moved to  the  church  in  Ludlow,  in 
1825. 

From  other  Churches. 

Eleazer  Pomeroy  and  his  wife,  from 
the  church  in  Granville,  Mass.,  Rev. 
Joel  Baker,  pastor.  Removed  from 
here  to  Enfield,  Mass.,  and  there  died 
near  each  other,  about  1833. 

Samuel  H.  Peckham,  from  the  church 
at  Northampton.    He  afterwards  stud- 
ied Theology  and  settled  in  the  min- 
istry in  Gray,  6  years,  and  in  Haverhill 
16 


1837 


1837 


62 


63 


170 

Numbers. 


654J. 
654|. 


654|. 


655. 

656. 
657. 

658. 
659. 
660, 
661 
662, 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES  OF  THE 

Names.  Deaths. 

8  years,  in  the  State  of  Maine,  He 
was  dismissed  and  now  resides  in  Lu- 
nenbiirgh,  Mass.  Took  a  dismission 
from  this  church  to  that  in  1 851 .  Is  now 
an  agent  for  the  American  Missionary 
Association. 

Mrs.  Sarah  Baker,  wife  of  Nathan- 
iel Baker,  from  the  church  in  Enfiekl, 
R,ev.  J.  Crosby,  pastor. 

Delpliia  Washhurn,  from  the  church 
in  Hard  wick,  Hev.  William  B.  Wes- 
son, pastor, 

Mrs.  Exjyerience  (Sikes),  second 
wife  of  Azariah  Willis,  from  the  church 
in  Ludlow. 

1819. 

Elisha  Ahhey,  deacon,  son  of  Ma- 
son Abbey. 

George  Ahheij,  son  of  Mason  Abbey. 

Tlieron    Warner,  physician,  son  of 

(235). 

Ebenezer  Warner,  son  of  (235). 

William  B.  Warner, 

George  Washhurn,  son  of  (790).         1850 

John  Whitman  2d,  brother  of  (434).  1822 

Fanney  {Ahhey),  Avife  of  Thomas 
Goodale,  daughter  of  Mason   Abbey, 


Age. 


CONGEEGATIOlSrAL    CHUKCH    IN"  BELCHERTOWN. 

Numbers.  Names,  Deaths 

and  sister  of  (656)  and  (657)  ;  moved 
to  Amherst. 


171 

Aje. 


663. 

664. 

665. 
666. 
667. 

668. 
669. 

671. 
672. 

672J. 

673. 

674. 
675. 


William  Alhro,  removed  to  a  cliurch 
in  Boston,  1824. 

Clark  Albro,  removed  to  a  cliurch 
in  Chicopee. 

Noah  Clark. 

AdoljjJius  Strong,  son  of  (314). 

Theodore  Bridgman,  Jr.,  son  of 
(550),  moved  to  Michigan. 

Lee  Sprague,  removed  to  the  church 
in  Ware,  in  1824  ;  from  there  remov- 
ed to  Worcester. 

Si/Ivester  Cook,  son  of  David  S. 
Cook,  studied  Theology,  was  licensed 
to  preach,  and  became  a  settled  minis- 
ter in  New  Jersey. 

Cyrus  Slehhins,  removed  to  Ware. 

Roderick  Sheiohrooks. 

Liter etia  Witt,  removed  to  the 
church  in  Granby,  in  1824. 

Samuel  Walker,  son  of  (317),  re- 
moved his  church  relation  to  a  church 
in  Springfield,  in  1824. 

Zephaniah  Wood. 

Silas  Farrinston. 


1849 


46 


172 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES    OF  THE 


Numbers. 

676. 


677. 


678. 


679. 


680. 


681. 
682. 
683. 

684. 

685. 


Names.  Deaths.    Age. 

Estes  Marsh,  son  of  Timothy  P. 
Marsh. 

Samuel  Broivn,  recommended  to  a 
Council  called  to  form  a  new  church 
at  Ware  Village,  in  1826.  He  be- 
came a  member  of  the  church  formed 
there,  and  removed  back  here  in  1828, 
and  removed  to  Illinois  in  1831. 

Oramel  Bardwell,  son  of  Martin 
Bardwell,  and  grand-son  of  (418). 


Peregrine  Dtvight,  son  of  (197),  re- 
moved from  this  church  in  1828,  with 
his  wife  (543),  to  the  church  at  Ni- 
agara, State  of  New  York,  where  he 
died 


Williams  H.  Whittemore,  adopted 
son  of  (649).  He  graduated  at  Yale 
College  in  1825;  studied  Theology, 
Avas  licensed  to  preach,  and  settled  in 
the  ministry  in  Charlton,  Mass.,  and 
in  Southbury,  Conn. 

Alvan  Morse,  son  of  Daniel  Morse. 

Lydia  NicJiols,  daughter  of  (344). 

Elizabeth  Whitman,  daughter  of 
(434),  married  William  Mason,  Jr.,  of 
Palmer,  in  1822,  and  removed. 

Catherine  Whitman,  daughter  of 
(434),  married  Earl  Sherman  of  Ware, 
in  1843,  and  removed.     Died 

Polly  WJiitman. 


1842 


48 


1845 


42 


CONGEEGATIONAL    CHITECH    IN    EELCHEHTOWN. 
ers.  Names.  Deaths. 

Ahhey  Whitman. 

Lydia  Towne,  daughter  of  (241), 
married  Deacon  Jonathan  Lyman 
(261);  a  second  wife.  Removed  to 
Goshen  in  1828,  then  removed  to 
Granby,  Avhere  he  died  in  1846. 

Esther  Shwmoay,  daughter  of  (730), 
married  Horace  Cook  of  Granby,  in 
1833. 

Sarah  Tainter,  removed. 

Electa  Walker. 

Mary  Ford,  removed  by  letter  to 
the  church  in  Monson,  in  1827. 

Andrew  Howard,  father  of  (870), 
and  moved  away  with  hini. 

Nancy  Dwight,  daughter  of  Samuel 
Dwight,  married  Mr.  Bullard  of  Oak- 
ham, in  1824. 

Amy  Willson,  married  Mr.  Hark- 
ness  of  Pelham,  and  removed. 

Olive  Willson, 

Mary  Ward. 

Clarinda  Bar  dwell,  daughter  of 
(753).     She  died  1826 

Mary  Bardwell,  daughter  of  Martin 
Bardwell,  who    died   in  this   town  in 
1814,  aged  43,  and  grand-daughter  of 
16^' 


173 


27 


174 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES  OF  THE 


Numbers 

697. 

698. 
699. 
700. 

701. 


702. 


703. 


704. 


705. 


Names.  Death?, 

(418).  She  manied  Fridas  Preston, 
of  Ashford,  Conn.,  in  1828,  and  re- 
moved. 

Laura  Toicne,  daughter  of  (353), 
married  (1054),  son  of  (369),  in  1822. 

Joanna  Kimhall. 

Susanna  Church. 

Eunice  Leach,  daughter  of  Peter 
Leach.  She  married  Melatiah  B. 
Hinckley  in  1830,  and  removed  to 
Vernon,  State  of  New  York.  She  died  1843 

Martha  D.  Rhoades,  daughter  of 
Aaron  Rhoades  and  Mary  his  wife 
(356).  She  married  Albert  Atwood, 
son  of  Elkanah  Atwood  and  Sarah  his 
wife  (575). 

Betsey  Atiuood,  daughter  of  Elka- 
nah Atwood. 

Zina  Stacy,  wife  of  Moses  Stacy. 
She  was  daughter  of  Martin  Bardwell. 

Exjjerience  Parsons,  daughter  of 
(233).  She  married  Mr.  Livingston 
of  Amsterdam,  State  of  New  York, 
and  removed  there  in  1825. 

Densy  Lincoln,  daughter  of  (378). 
She  married  Moses  Young  in  1819, 
and  removed  her  church  relation  to 
Athol,  in  1822. 


Age. 


42 


I 


CONGEEGATIONAL  CHUKCH  IN  BELCHEKTOWN.       175 


Numbers. 

706. 


707. 


708. 
709. 

710. 
710J. 
710J. 

711. 

712. 

713. 
714. 
715. 

716. 
717. 


Names.  Deaths.    Ago. 

Hannah  (Rice),  wife  of  John  At- 
wood,  and  daughter  of  (286). 

Betsey  ( Whitman),  wife  of  Hazo 
Parsons,  the  daughter  of  Rev.  Samuel 
Whitman,  the  first  settled  minister  in 
Goshen.  Huzo  was  son  of  (223).  He 
moved  to  the  South. 

Esther,  wife  of  John  Hunt. 

Phehe  (Smith),  wife  of  (633),  daugh- 
ter of  (288). 

Wife  of  John  Church. 

Y/ife  of  Elihu  Chapman  (Sylvia). 

Lydia  J.  Clark,  removed  to  the 
church  in  Granby,  in  1823. 

Wife  of  Eliab  Washburn.  1832    54 

Maria  (Foinvard),  wife  of  (463), 
daughter  of  Justus  Forward,  Esq. 
(731).     She  died  1840    40 

Wife  of  Timothy  Bliss,  removed. 

Ahigail,  wife  of  (607). 

Widoio  Betsey  Bardwell,  widow  of 
Martin  Bardwell.  Her  husband  died 
April  2,  1814,  aged  43. 

Widow  Mary  Hannum. 

Charity  Clark,  widow  of  Eleazer 
Clark,  Esq.     She   was  (Childs)     from 


176 

Numbers. 


718. 
719. 

720. 
722. 

723. 
724. 
725. 
726. 

727. 
728. 
729. 


HISTORICAL    SKETCHES    OF    THE 

Names. 

Woodstock,  Conn.  Her  husband  died 
1808;  a  prominent  man  in  town;  a 
magistrate,  representative,  and  in  oth- 
er offices.  Was  son  of  (154).  She 
died  in  May 

Ahel  Ames,  son  of  Robert  Ames  and 
Susanna  his  wife  (336). 

Gould  Parso7is,  son  of  (223),  re- 
moved his  church  relation  to  Troy, 
New  York,  in  1831. 

Joseph  Kenneday,  died 

Capt.  Elislia  Warner,  son  of  (41), 
and  brother  of  (235),  died 

Oliver  Bridgnian,  son  of  (187). 

Col.  Zerias  Stehhins,  son  of  (129). 

Lehheus  Cliapin.     He  died 

Noah  Phelps,  son  of  Simeon  Phelps, 
and  grand-son  of  (36).  Simeon  died 
at  Pittsfield  in  1776,  returning  from 
service  in  the  northern  army,  aged  34. 

Israel  Coioles,  son  of  (272),  and 
grand-son  of  (56). 

Gideon  Ames,  son  of  Robert  Ames, 
and  nephew  of  (718). 

Chauncey  Hotvard,  son  of  Joseph 
Howard. 


Deaths.    Age 


1832 


58 


1834 
1829 


54 


1820 


32 


CONGHEGATIONAL    CKUECII    IN    EELCHEUTOWN.       177 

Deaths.    Age. 

81 


Numbers. 

730. 


Names. 


731. 

732. 

733. 

734. 
734J. 


735. 
736. 

737. 


738. 
739. 
740. 


741. 
742. 


743. 


Solomon  Shumway,  brother  of  (174). 
He  died 


Justus  Foricard,  Esq.,  son  of  Rev. 
Justus  Forward. 

SaJly  Dorman,  daughter   of  Daniel 
Dorman,  deceased,  and  sister  of  (976). 

Polly   Farrington,   removed  to  the 
church  in  Monson,  by  letter,  in  1825. 

Wife  of  Nathan  Bascom. 

Delilah  C.  Ward,  removed    to    the 
church  in  Bolton,  in  1822. 

A?nos  Farrington,  \  Removed   from 


)  Rei 

j  thif 


Wife  of  (735).         |  this  place. 

Pliineas  Hanmim,  son  of  Phineas 
Hannum,  and  grand-son  of  Samuel 
Hannum,  one  of  the  early  settlers  here, 
who  died  in  1780,  aged  88.     See  (27). 

31ary  {Reckards),  wife  of  (737). 

Simeon  Pepper. 

(  Woods),  first  wife  of  (739). 

She  died. 

Jairus  Ahhot,    » 
Wife  of  (741).  ) 

Removed  their  church  relation  to 
Warren,  in  1822. 

Levi  Davis. 


1826 


1828 


1826 


41 


33 


178 


KISTOmCAL    SKETCHES    OP    THE 


Numbers. 

744. 

745. 

746. 

747. 

748. 

749. 
750. 


751. 


753. 


754. 
755. 
756. 

757. 

758. 


Names. 

(Jackson),  wife  of  (743). 


Dcnlhs.     Age 


Henry  Sl.ehdins,  son  of  (129). 
Anna  [Jones),  wife  of  (745). 
Ivory  Wilt. 
Wife  of  (747). 

Samuel  H.  Preston.  \ 

Wife  of  (749).  j 

Tliey  removed  llieir  cliurch  relation 
to  the  cliiircli  in  Otisco,  New  York,  in 
1824. 

Benjamin  PJieljJS,  son  of  Simeon 
Phelps,  and  grand-son  of  (36).  He 
died,  December 

Jonathan  Barclioell,  son  of  Capt. 
Jonathan  Bardwell  and  his  wife  Vio- 
let (68).     He  died 

His  first  wife  Anna,  died  1803, 
aged  41. 

Caleh  Clark,  son  of  (154).    He  died 

Ahel  Fuller.     He  died 

Samuel  Smith,  son  of  James  Smith 
and  Susanna  his  wife  (280). 

Daniel  Hannum,  son  of  (33).  He 
died 

Susanna  Blodget,  daughter  of  (384). 
She  married  Horace  Stacy  in  1824. 
She  died 


1820 


1842 

1828 

1820 
1846 


1842 


1841 


CONGEEGATIONA.L  CHUUCH  IX  BELCHEETOWN-. 


Numbers. 

759. 


760. 
761. 

762. 

763. 
764. 


765. 

766. 

767. 
768. 
769. 
770. 
771. 


Names.  Deatlis 

Harriet  Walker,  daughter  of  (427). 
She  married  (1116),  son  of  (635)  in 
1824.     She  died 


Diana  Biirge,  removed  to  a  church 
in  Hartford,  in  1824. 

Susan  Buxton,  dangliter  of  William 
Buxton,  married  Noble  B.  Hannum. 
She  was  sister  of  (429). 

Wealthy  Root,  dniighler  of  (351). 
She  married  Josiah  Witt,  son  of  (747), 
in  1819.     She  died 

Reheckah  P.  Taylor. 

Sophia  Smith,  daughter  of  (756). 
She  married  Nathaniel  F.  Dunton,  son 
of  (582),  in  1824,  and  removed  her 
church  relation,  with,  her  husband 
(622),  to  Smyrna,  Nov;  York. 

Eleanor  Billings,  daughter  of  Ben- 
jamin Billings  and  his  wife  Sarah 
(275). 

Joseph  H.  Dwight,  son  of  (636),  and 
grand-son  of  (197).     He  died 

James  Nichols,  son  of  (344). 

Horace  Barnahy,  son  of  (348). 

Solomon  Lincoln,  son  of  (378). 

Selden  Borden. 

Joel  Davis. 


1842 


1850 


1849 


179 

Ago. 

40 


51 


43 


180 


HISTOKICAL    SKETCHES    OF    THE 


Names. 

John  Hyde,  son  of  John  Hyde,  re- 
moved to  the  State  of  New  York  in 
1825.     He  died  about 

Lewis  Sahin,  son  of  (590),  a  grad- 
uate from  the  College  at  Amherst,  in 
1831.  He  studied  Theology,  and  is 
settled  in  the  ministry  in  Templeton, 
Worcester  County,  Mass. 

Eleazer  Oiuen,  Jr.,  son  of  Captain 
Eleazer  Owen,  and  brother  of  (651). 
He  removed  his  church  relation  to  the 
church  at  South  Hadley  Canal,  in 
1824,  and  died  in  Granby  a  few  years 
afterwards. 

Daniel  Marsh,  son  of  Timothy  P. 
Marsh.  Timothy  P.  Marsh  died  Oc- 
tober 1829,  aged  62. 

David  K.  Angier,  son  of  (359),  re- 
moved to  Amherst  in  1831,  and  died 
there  soon  after. 

Mahitihel  {Keith),  wife  of  Elisha 
Billings. 

Louisa,  wife  of  Vespatian  Randall, 
removed. 

Elizabeth  (Allen),  wife  of  Horatio 
Rice,  and  daughter  of  Edmund  Allen. 
She  died 

Mar  ilia  {Francis),  wife  of  James 
H.  Clapp,  and  daughter  of  Rev.  John 
Francis,  formerly  of  Pittsfield,  Mass. 


Deaths.    Age 


1830 


1823 


34 


33 


CONGKEGATIONAL    CHURCH    IN  BELCHEETOWN. 


Names.  Deaths 

Esther  {Bridgman),  wife  of  Park 
Holland,  and  daughter  of  (187).  Park, 
was  a  brother  of  (395).  He  died  June 
12,  1832,  aged  51. 

Oramel  Walker,  son  of  (410),  re- 
moved to  Enfield. 

Silas  W.  Hoioe. 

Charles  W.  Parker,  son  of  Thad- 
deus  Parker,  removed  to  the  South 
Church  in  Amherst,  in  1825. 

Joseph  Davenport,  )  -r,  , 

■\TT'/    er>^o^\  ?  Removed. 

Wife  of  (78o).         ) 

Sally  Ramsdell,  daughter  of  Joseph 
Ramsdell.  She  married  (790) ;  a 
second  wife. 

Wife  of  Reuben  Blackmer. 

Mary  A.  Thayer. 

Col.  Eliah  Washburn,  removed  his 
church  relation  to  the  chureh  in  Gran- 
by,  in  1823.     He  died,  April  1838 

Charles  Washburn,  son  of  (790). 
He  died  1825 

Diana  Morse,  wife  of  (791),  and 
daughter  of  Daniel  Morse. 

Benjamin  Billings,  Jr.,  son  of  Ben- 
jamin Billings  and  his  wife  Sarah 
(275). 


17 


181 


60 
30 


182 


HISTORICAL    SKETCHES    OE    THE 


Vambers.  Names. 

Fanny  Ramsdell^  wife  of  (793),  and 
daughter  of  Joseph  .Uamsdell ;  sister 
of  (787). 

Elijah  Hannum,  son  of  (33),  and 
brother  of  (757). 

Wife  of  (794). 

Hannah  {Gates),  wife  of  Dexter 
Mellen,  and  daughter  of  Thomas  A. 
Gates  and  Margaret  his  wife  (232). 

Ahnira  Toione,  daughter  of  (353). 
She  married  He  v.  Erastiis  Benton,  of 
Tolland,  (now  in  Norwich,  Conn.) 
in  1827.  In  1823  she  removed  her 
church  relation  from  this  church  to 
that  in    Granby. 

Hadassa  Howard,  daughter  of  Silns 
Howard.  She  morriecl  Nathaniel 
Hanks,  son  of  James  Hanks,  in  1819, 
and  removed  to  Enfield. 

George  B.  Woods,  a  native  of  Now 
Braintree,  son  of  Asa  Woods,  formerly 
of  that  place,  who  died  in  Brookfield  ; 
was  son  of  David  Woods,  formerly  of 
Marlboro'  ;  movod  to  New  Braintree 
early  in  life,  and  died  there. 


Asahel  Dwight. 


Charles  Dunhar,  son  of  Robert  Dun- 
bar and  Betsey  his  wife  (388).  He 
died 


Deaths.    Ago. 


1832 


73 


1842 


63 


CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCH    IN    BELCHEETOWN.    183 


Names. 


Deaths.    Ag« 


Delia  (Coicles),  wife  of  Ezra  "^S&wwi, 
and  daughter  of  (191).  Removed  by 
letter  to  the  church  in  Bolton,  Conn., 
in  1822. 

Timothy  Dimick. 

Edward  Morris,  brother  of  Hon. 
Oliver  B.  Morris,  of  Springfield.  He 
was  from  Wilbraham  to  this  place. 
Drowned 

Mercy  {Flint),  wife  of  (804),  and 
sister  of  the  late  Rufus  Flint,  Esq.,  of 
Monson.  After  the  death  of  her  hus- 
band in  1824,  she  returned  to  Monson, 
and  died  there  in  a  few  years. 

Chester  Gray,  removed  to  Hadley. 

Widow  of  Aaron  Davis. 

Samuel  Dunton,  son  of  (582),  re- 
moved to  the  church  in  Amherst  Col- 
lege, in  1825. 

Widow  EHzaheth  Willson, 

Wife  of  (751),  died 

Permelia  Cook. 

Laura  Chapin,    daughter  of  second 

wife  of  (223.)  She  was  Widow  Cha- 
pin when  she  married  (223).  Laura 
died     years  since. 


%-y 


1825 


1824 


Wo^ 


85 


40 


1846 


73 


184 


HISTORICAL    SKETCHES    OF    THE 


If  umbers. 


814. 
815. 

816. 


817. 

818. 
819. 
820. 
821. 

822. 
822J. 
823.' 
824. 
825. 

826. 


Names.  Deaths. 

Adelici  Stowington,  removed  her 
cliiircli  relation  to  a  church  in  Provi- 
idence,  E.  I.,  in  1832. 


Age. 


.  )  Brc 
.  }  mo 


Jacob  Willis.  }  moved. 

Sally  Warner^  daughter  of  (235). 
She  married  Lucius  F.  Newton,  of 
Monson,  in  1826,  and  removed.  She 
died 

Laura  Alley,  daughter  of  Mason 
Abbey,  married  Zenas  Warner,  of  Do- 
ver, Vt.,  in  1827,  and  removed. 

Hannah  Bakeman, 

Dorcas  Freeman. 

Jeremiah  Gray. 

(Peeso),    wife     of    Harvey 

Hawes,  and  daughter  of  John    Peeso, 
and  sister  of  (454). 

Wife  of  John  Freeman. 

A.  Whitman,  removed. 

Releckah,  wife  of  Aaron  Davis. 

Semantha  Coivles,  daughter  of  (191). 

Isaac  Pheljjs,  removed  his  church 
relation  to  New  York,  in  1823. 

Ransom  Howard,  son  of  Silas  How- 
ard. 


1828 


24 


CONGREGATIOlSrAL  CHTJECH    IN    BELCHEETOWlSr.    185 
Numbers.  Names.  Deaths.    Ago 

From  otJier  Churches. 

Electa  {Moody),  wife  of  (634),  and 
daughter  of  Ebenezer  Moody,  formerly 
of  South  Hadley  ;  from  the  church  at 
South  Hadley,  Rev.  Joel  Hayes, 
pastor. 


Martin  Woods,  son  of 


the  church  in  Whately, 
moved  there. 

Electa,  wife  of  (828). 


White,    wife     of 


(585),   from 
and  again  re- 


White,  and  daughter  of 

formerly   of   Hadley ;   sister 
White ;    from    the    church   in 
Hadley. 


Reuben 
-White, 
of  Jereb 
South 


Liicy  (Merrick),  wife  of  George  For- 
ward, and  daughter  of  Samuel  F.  Mer- 
rick, Esq.,  of  Wilbraham;  from  the 
church  in  Wilbraham  to  this ;  the 
grand-daughter  of  Rev.  Noah  Merrick, 
the  first  settled  minister  of  Wilbra- 
ham. 


Stephen  Chandler,  ) 

Lydia  his  wife.       / 

They  were  from  the  church  in  Troy, 
Rev.  Jonas  Coe,  pastor.  Removed  to 
a  church  in  Northampton,  in  1829. 

Sally  Nichols,  from  church  in  Troy. 


17« 


186 


HISTOmCAL    SKETCHES    OF    THE 


Nambers 
834. 
835. 


836. 


837. 
838. 


841. 


842. 


843. 


844. 


845. 


Names. 

Samuel  Knight,        > 
Mehitihel  his  wife.  } 
From  the  church  in  South  Hadley, 
Rev.  J.  Hayes,  pastor. 

Nancy  (Forbes),  wife  of  (462),  from 
the  first  church  in  Brookfield,  Rev. 
Eliakim  Phelps,  pastor.     She  died 

Amos  C.  Morse,  ) 

Wife  of  (837).     / 

From  the  church  in  Paxton  to  this 
church,  and  were  united  to  the  Colony 
church  formed  at  Northampton,  in 
1831,  and  removed  to  Illinois. 

Benjamin  E.  White,  from  the  church 
in  Chester  to  this  church,  and  remov- 
ed to  the  church  in  Granby,  in  1831. 

Margaret,  wife  of  Jeremiah  Gray, 
from  the  church  in  Greenwich,  again 
removed. 

Elizabeth  {Thompson),  wife  of  Sol- 
omon Shumway  (730),  from  the  church 
in  Brimfield. 

1820. 

From  other  Churches. 

Olive  Hyde,  wife  of  Clark  Albro,  from 
the  church  in  Monson,  Rev.  Alfred 
Ely,  D.  D.,  pastor. 

Betsey  (Cornwall),  second  wife  of 
(723),  from  the  church  in  Granville, 
Rev.  Joel  Baker,  pastor. 


Deaths.    Ag« 


1843 


CONGKEGATIONAL    CHURCH  IN    BELCHERTOWN. 

Numbers.  Names.  Deaths. 

1821. 


From  other  Churches. 

Samuel.  Clark,  son  of  Samuel  Clark, 
and  grand-son  of  (154),  from  the 
church  in  Pelham. 

Wife  of  (846),  from  the  church  in 
Pelham,  with  her  husband. 

Josiah  Moody,  father  of  (634),  from 
the  church  in  South  Hadley,  Rev.  Joel 
Hayes,  pastor.     He  died  1828 

Sarah  {Clark),  his  wife,  mother  of 
(634). 

Capt.  Ephraim  Scott,  from  the 
church  in  Ware.  1841 

Wife  of  (850),  died  soon  after  her 
husband. 

Harriet  Eveleth,  wife  of  Frederick 
Kilner,  from  the  church  in  Enfield, 
and  in  1830,  removed  with  her  hus- 
band (916),  to  the  church  in  Barre. 

Ann,  wife  of  Eliphas  Reed,  from  the 
Baptist  church  in  Leyden,  and  remov- 
ed to  the  church  in  Enfield  in  1824. 

1822. 

From  other  Churches. 

Stephen  Andrews,  from  the  church 
in  Pelham,  and  again  removed   from 


187 

Age. 


80 


83 


188 

Numbers. 

«56. 


857. 


858. 


859. 


860. 


861. 


862. 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES  OF  THE 

Names. 

this  place,  in  1827.     His  wife  Bridget 
died  here  in  1826,  aged  63.  ' 

Lydia,  {Ely),  second  wife  of  (724), 
from  the  church  in  Wilbraham,  Rev. 
Ebenezer  Brown,  pastor. 

1823. 

Sybil  {Billings),  wife  of  David 
Bartlett.    She  died 

Sophia  Briclgman,  daughter  of  (550), 
married  George  Filer,  son  of  Gurdon 
Filer  and  Hannah  his  wife  (380),  in 
1824  and  removed  to  Albany,  to  the 
first  Presbyterian  church ;  returned 
back  to  this  place  in  1832. 

From  other  Churches. 

Aurelia,  wife  of  (459J),  from  the 
church  in  Westhampton,  Kev.  Enoch 
Hale,  pastor. 

1824. 

Patty  {Hannum),  wife  of  Timothy 
Works,  and  daughter  of  (757). 

Sally  Ingalls. 

From  other  Churches. 

John  C.  Marsh,  from  the  church  in 
Montague,  Rev.  A.  Gates,  pastor  ;  re- 
moved to  the  church  in  Lcverett,  in 
1826,  from  this  church. 


Deaths.     Age. 


1843 


66 


COXGEEGATIOXAL  CHURCH  IN  BELCHERTOWN.       189 


Names.  Deaths.     Age. 

John  Spooner,  chosen  deacon  in 
1829  ;  from  the  church  in  Heath,  Rev. 
M.  Miller,  pastor,  and  removed  from 
this  to  the  church  m  Ludlow,  Factory 
Village,  in  1846. 

1825. 


From  other  Churches. 

Ehenezer  Barhour,  from  the  church 
in  Ludlow,  Rev.  p].  B.  Wright,  pastor. 


Thcoda,  wife  of  (864),  from  the 
same  church.      She  died  :1829 

After  the  death  of  his  wife,  he  re- 
moved back  to  Ludlow. 


Suhmit  ( Wldo2v  Rohinson),  second 
wife  of  Nathan  Shumway,  from  the 
church  in  AVilliamsburgh,  Rev.  H. 
Lord,  Pastor.  Her  husband,  Nathan 
Shumway,  was  suddenly  killed  by 
falling  on  a  mill  wheel  in  rapid  mo- 
tion, in  February,  1827,  aged  52. 
After  his  death  his  widow  removed  to 
Ware  Village  in  1836.  Nathan  Shum- 
way was  son  of  Nathan  Shumway, 
who  died  in  this  town,  December  30, 
1818,  aged  88. 

Sally  (Burden)^  widow  of  Josiah 
Kenthcld,  from  the  church  in  Enfield. 


Nancy  Forward,  daughter  of  Justus 
Forward,  Esq.  (731). 

Caroline  Forward,  daughter  of 
(731).  These  sisters  died  within  three 
days  of  each  other,  in  March,  1835. 


1835 


1835 


66 


32 


30 


190 

Numbers. 

870. 

871. 
872. 
873. 
874. 

875. 

876. 

877. 
878. 
879. 


HISTOGTC.VL    SKETCHES    OP    THE 


Names. 


Deaths.    Age*   ■■ 


1826. 

Solomon  B.  Hoivard,  son  of  (691  J), 
removed  to  Oakfield,  lliinois,  in  1848. 
His  wife  was  a  member  of  the  church, 
and  removed  with  him. 

Luther  Coivles. 

Dexter  Chase,  son  of  (432). 

Wife  of  James  Went  worth. 

Mary  (Strong),  wdfe  of  Henry  A. 
Bridgman  (460),  daughter  of  (314). 

Louisa  Kellogg,  died  in  South  Had- 
ley,  in 

Anna  Nichols,,  daughter  of  (344). 
She  married  Daniel  Giddings,  of  Nor- 
wich, in  1827,  and  removed  there. 

Patty  Phelps,  daughter  of  (726), 
married  Alfred  W.  Hill. 

Israel  Towne,  chosen  deacon  in 
1829,  son  of  (241).     See  Appendix  E. 

Anson  Moody,  deacon,  physician, 
son  of  Capt.  Daniel  Moody,  formerly 
of  South  Hadley  ;  a  graduate  of  Yale 
College  in  1814;  studied  medicine 
and  entered  upon  the  practice,  and 
had  a  successful  practice  in  this  town  ; 
removed  to  Ware  Village  in  1829; 
removed   from   there    to   Connecticut, 


1835 


CONGr.EGATIO>?-AL  CHURCH  IN    EELCHERTOWN.    191 


Names.  Deaths. 

and  is  now  in  practice  in  tlie  city  of 
New  Haven.  He  was  chosen  deacon 
of  this  church  in  1829. 

Clarissa  (Collins),  wife  of  (879), 
and  daughter  of  Ebenezer  Collins,  for- 
merly of  South  Hadlcy. 

Maria  {Filer)  Avife  of  (666),  avd 
daughter  of  Gurdon  Filer  and  Hannah 
his  wife  (380). 

Delia  (Kelly),  wife  of  (909). 

Mary  Ann  Graves,  daughter  of 
(459),  married  George  Holland,  son 
of  (395),  in  1828,  and  removed  to  Ni- 
agara, State  of  New  York. 

Penelope  D.  Graves,  daughter  of 
(459),  married  Ashley  Holland,  son  of 
(395),  and  removed  with  her  sister 
(883),  to  Niagara,  in  1828.  (See 
1 040) .  Moved  away,  and  moved  back, 
and  again  went  away. 

Esther  Bliss,  daughter  of  Timothy 
Bliss  and  wife  (713).  She  married 
Almond  Fisk,  and  removed  from  this 
place  to  Shutesbury,  in  1849. 

Harriet  Parker,  daughter  of  Thad- 
deus  Parker,  and  sister  of  (784).  She 
married  Mr.  Whiting  of  Plainfield, 
and  removed  there. 

Louisa  Dunhar,  daughter  of  Azel 
Dunbar,  and  grand-daughter  of  Rob- 
ert Dunbar  and  wife  (388).     She  died  1833 


Age 


192 


HISTOmCAL  SKETCHES    OF    THE 


Numbers. 

888. 


889. 


890. 


891. 


892. 


893. 


894. 


895. 


Names.  Deaths 

Lucretia  Abbey,  daughter  of  Mason 
Abbey.  She  married  Eli  Barrows  of 
Brimfield,  in  1833,  and  removed  there. 

Lucretia  Bridgman,  daughter  of 
(550).      She  died 

Julia  Ann  Stebbins,  daughter  of  (724). 
She  married  Rev.  David  Perry,  of  Hol- 
lis,  New  Hampshire,  in  1837,  and  re- 
moved her  church  relation  to  that 
church. 

Elizabeth  Millard,  daughter  of  Eli 
Millard  and  Elizabeth  hisNvife  (402). 
She  married  Ruel  Thompson,  of  Fair 
Haven,  Conn.,  in  1837,  and  removed 
there. 

From  other  Churches, 

Elisha  Woods,  from  the  church  in 
East  Hampton,  Rev.  Payson  Willis- 
ton,  pastor.  He  united  with  the 
church  formed  at  Northampton  in 
1831,  to  remove  as  a  colony  to  Illinois. 

Wife  of  (892),  from  the  church  in 
Easthampton,  removed  with  him. 

Wife  of  Cotton  Smith,  from  the  first 
church  in  Amherst,  the  daughter  of 
Samuel  Smith  of  Amherst.  She  soon 
returned  to  that  place. 

Widow  Ephraijii  Marsh,  from  the 
church  in  Montague,  and  removed  to 
the  first  church  in  Hadley,  by  letter, 
in  1827. 


Age. 


CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCH    IN    BELCHERTOWN.     193 
Numberi.  Names.  Deaths.    Aj«. 


896. 

897. 
898. 

899. 
900. 

901. 

902. 

903. 
904. 


905. 


1827. 

Stephen  Dunbar,  removed  to  the 
north  church  in  Amherst,  in  1831. 

James  Whitman,  Jr.,  son  of  (434). 

Polly  {Pearl),  wife  of  (727),  and 
sister  of  (649)  and  (372). 

Lucy,  wife  of  George  Nye. 

Emily  S.  Moore,  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam N.  Moore.  She  married  Joab 
N.   Squier,  in  1827. 

Dolly  IV.  Stthhins,  daughter  of 
(724),  married  Luther  Holland,  Jr., 
son  of  (395),  in  1835. 

Mary  Fairbanks,  daughter  of  (637), 
married  William  Reed,  son  of  (274), 
in  1828.     She  died 

He  married  again.     See  (932). 

Minerva  Randall,  daughter  of  (369). 

Caroline  Daugherty,  daughter  of 
of  (509).  She  married  Rev.  William 
M.  Richards,  settled  in  the  ministry 
for  a  few  years  at  Bloody  Brook, 
(Deerfield). 

Minerva  Cowles,  daughter  of  (272), 
married  Daniel  Marsh,  son  of  Timothy 
P.  Marsh,  in  1833. 


18 


1835 


27 


194 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES  OF  THE 


Numbers. 

906. 


907. 
908. 

909. 
910. 
911. 

912. 
914. 

915. 

916^ 
917. 


Names. 


Deaths.    Age- 


Laura  Sahin,  daughter  of  (590), 
married  (1022)  in  1829. 

Rhoda  Root,  daughter  of  (351). 
She  died 

Lydia  WJiitman,  daughter  of  (434), 
married  Amos  L.  Mason  of  Palmer,  in 
1837. 

Alanson  Stacy,  son  of  (292). 

Elijah  Broion,  removed. 

Elijah  Whitney,  removed  to  the 
Baptist  church  in  Belcher  town,  in 
1828. 

George  Holland,  son  of  (395). 

Emily  Dwight,  daughter  of  Samuel 
D wight,  married  Horatio  Brown  of 
Heath,  in  1837;  now  (1851)  resides 
in  Hatfield. 

Melintha  Leach,  daughter  of  Peter 
Leach,  She  married  Henry  Canter- 
bury, and  removed  to  Ware. 

Frederick  Kilner,  removed  in  1830 
to  the  church  in  Barre,  with  his  wife 
(852). 

Sophronia  Bardwell,  daughter  of 
Jonathan  Bardwell,  and  grand-daugh- 
ter of  Capt.  Jonathan  Bardwell  and 
Violet  his  wife,  removed. 


1845 


36 


CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCH    IN  BELCHEETOWN.    195 
Numbers.  Names.  Deaths.    Ago. 

From  Other  Churches. 


Phehe  (Chapin),  wife  of  (863),  from 
the  church  in  Heath,  and  removed 
with  her  husband  (863),  to  Ludlow 
Factory  Village,  in  1847. 

Maria  [Flint),  wife  of  Rev.  Lyman 
Coleman,  and  daughter  of  Rufus  Flint, 
Esq.,  of  Monson,  from  the  church  in 
Monson,  Rev.  Alfred  Ely,  D.  D., 
pastor. 


Salome  ( Thayer),  wife    of  Zebulon 
from  the  second  church  in  Am- 
herst,   Rev.  Nathan  Perkins,    pastor, 
removed  to  the  state  of  New  York. 


Dodge 


Mary  (Sikes),  Avife  of  (1284),  from 
the  church  in  Ludlow,  Rev.  E.  B. 
Wright,  pastor.     (1284),  son  of  (256). 

Wife  of  David  Ruggles,  from  the 
church  in  Enfield,  Rev.  Joshua  Crosby, 
pastor. 

Martha  Hamilton,  mother  of  (836), 
from  the  church  in  Brookfield,  Rev. 
Micah  Stone,  pastor.  She  is  the 
widow  of  Joseph  Hamilton,  formerly 
of  Brookfield. 

Mary  (SteUins),  wife  of  (1121J), 
from  the  church  in  Granby. 

George  Nye,  from  the  church  in 
Roxbury,  New  Hampshire. 


196 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES    OF  THE 


Numbers. 

926. 


927. 


929. 


930. 


931. 


932. 


933. 


934. 


Names. 

Abigail  (Phelps),  third  wife  of  Hor- 
ace Gates.  Mr.  Gates  died  in  1840. 
In  1847,  she  married  (590).  She  was 
from  the  church  in  Hebron,  Conn., 
Rev.  L.  Strong,  pastor. 

Mary  Ann  Bughee,  from  the  church 
in  Granby,  Rev.  C.  Chapin,  pastor. 

1828. 

Mary  (Kendall),  wife  of  Nehemiah 
Smith.  She  was  from  Ludlow,  and 
was  daughter  of  Ruel  Kendall,  deceas- 
ed, formerly  of  Ludlow. 

Angeline  (Dougherty),  wife  of  Sam- 
uel Brown,  and  daughter  of  (509). 
She  married  Samuel  Brown,  in  1826, 
and  removed  to  the  church  at  Ware 
Village. 


Deaths.     Age. 


Nelson  Holland,  son  of  (395). 
died 


He 


William  Reed,  son  of  (274),  (See 
1098),  second  wife.  They  removed  to 
Crystal  Lake,  Illinois,  in  1846. 

From  other  Churches. 

Ansel  Hotvard,  from  the  church  in 
Bridgwater,  Rev.  Mr.  Sanford,  pastor. 
He  removed  to  Perrington,  New  York, 
in  1839. 

Hulda  (Allen),  wife  of  (933).  She 
died  1832 


1829 


25 


45 


CONGREGATIONAL    CHUECH    IN    BELCHERTOWN.    197 


Nambera, 

935. 


936. 

937. 
938. 

939. 
940. 


941. 


942. 


943. 


Names. 

Ansel  A.  Howard,  son  of  (933),  re- 
moved with  his  father  to  Perrington, 
in  1839. 

Harriet  A.  Howard,  daughter  of 
(933),  married  Francis  Dunbar,  son  of 
(801),  and  removed  to  Perrington, 
New  York,  in  1837,  with  her  husband. 

Samuel  Brovm,  from  the  church  in 
Ware  Village,  Rev.  P.  Cook,  pastor. 

Calvin  A.  Warren,  from  the  church 
in  Hebron,  State  of  New  York>  a  prin- 
ter by  trade  ;  left  here  in  1829. 

Caleb  Walker,  from  the  church  in 
Westford,  Conn. 

Mariam  Foivers,  from  the  church 
in  Westboro',  Ilev.  Mr.  Rock  wood, 
pastor.     Removed  soon  from  here. 

1829. 

Lemira  Ann  Chapin,  sister  o{  (918), 
married  David  S.  Ames,  son  of  (718), 
in  1837. 

Almira  Ward,  daughter  of  Ezra 
Ward  and  Delia  his  wife  (802). 

Joseph  Powers,  removed  his  church 
relation  to  Enfield,  in  1831,  by  letter, 
and  his  wife  (945)  also,  and  removed 
their  residence  to  that  place. 


18* 


Deaths.    Age. 


945. 


946. 


947. 


948. 


949. 


1833 


198  HISTOmCAL  SKETCHES  OF  THE 

Numbers.  Names.  Deaths.     Ag«. 

From  other  Churches. 

944.  Sophronia  (Tarhel),  first  wife  of 
(655),  from  the  church  in  Brimfield. 
She  (lied. 

Nancij,  wife  of  (943),  from  the 
church  in  Sturbridge.  Removed  Avith 
her  husband  to  Enfield,  in  1831. 

Elijah  Chajyin,  from  the  church  in 
Granby,  Rev.  C.  Chapin,  pastor. 

Kersiah  Toivne.  See  (353)  and 
(354). 

Joseph  Tonme,  son  of  (353),  from 
the  church  in  Granby. 

Lucy,  second  wife  of  (530),  from 
the  church  in  Northampton,  Rev.  S. 
Williams,  pastor,  and  removed  with 
her  husband  to  Granby,  in  1832. 

1830. 

Sarah  Divight,  daughter  of  (455), 
married  Dr.  John  Taylor,  of  New  York, 
in  1831,  and  removed  there.  She  died 
within  a  few  years,  in  Michigan,  where 
she  and  her  husband  had  removed. 


950. 


951. 


Salome  T.  Dodge,  daughter  of  Zeb- 
ulon  Dodge  and  Salome  his  wife 
(920).  She  married  Elii^halet  Strong, 
of  Stafi"ord,  Conn.,  in  1830,  and  re- 
moved to  that  place. 


CONGREGATIONAL  CIIURCII  IN  BELCHERTOAYN 


Numbers. 

952. 


953. 

954. 
955. 

956. 
957. 

958. 

959. 
960. 
961. 

962. 
963. 
964. 


Names.  Deaths 

Daniel  B^^oicn,  removed  to  Illinois 
with  the  colony  church  formed  at 
Northampton  in  1831,  united  with 
that  church,  and  went  with  it. 

Alfred  R.  Winter ,  son  of  Alpheus 
Winter. 

Lyman  Walker^  son  of  (317). 

Newel  Upham^  son  of  Roger  F.  Up- 
ham. 

Jesse  Randall,  son  of  (369). 

Jotham  Randall,  Jr.,  son  of  (369), 
removed  by  letter  to  the  church  in 
Spencer,  in  1842. 

Phincas  C.  Walker,  son  of  (412). 
He  died.  1834 

Aaron  Walker^  Jr.,  son  of  (412). 

Atlierton  Ralph  Owen,  son  of  (651). 

Elvira  Owen,  daughter  of  (651). 
She  married  Henry  A.  Dwight,  son  of 
Charles  Dwight,  deceased,  and  grand- 
son of  (197),  in  1833. 

Frances  Owen,  daughter  of  (651). 
She  died  1833 

Electa  Winter,  daughter  of  Alpheus 
Winter,  died  1850 

Harriet  Millard,  daughter  of  Eli 
Millard. 


199 

Age. 


21 


17 


35 


200 


HISTOKICAIi    SKETCHES    OF    THE 


Names. 

Lyclia  M.  Keith,  daughter  of  Jona- 
than Keith.  She  married  Edwin  Ad- 
ams, of  Grass  Lake,  Michigan,  in  1839, 
and  removed  there. 

Ann  E.  Bartlett,  daughter  of  (601). 
She  died 

Louisa  Bartlett,  daughter  of  (601). 
She  married  Jonathan  W.  Beers  of 
Ware,  in  1839,  and  removed  there. 

Cyrus  S.  Bartlett,  son  of  (601). 

Jacob  Finley,  married  Clarissa  How- 
ard, daughter  of  (69U),  (See  631), 
first  wife  of  (969).  She  died  in  1838. 
He  again  married  her  sister  (1179); 
she  died  in  1841.  He  again  married 
(1149). 

Sherman  Sahin,  son  of  (590). 

Theodosia  Hoivard,  daughter  of  An- 
drew Howard.  She  married  Mr.  Bos- 
worth  of  Westfield,  about  1835,  and 
removed  there. 

From  other  Churches. 

Philetus  W.  Burnett,  son  of  (573), 
from  the  Green  Street  church,  Boston, 
Rev.  William  Jenks,  D.  D.,  pastor. 

Abigail  (Burr),  wife  of  (972),  and 
daughter  of  Ansel  Burr  of  Ludlow. 
They  were  dismissed  and  removed 
their  church  relation  to  the  church  in 
Palmer,  in  1841. 


Deaths.    Age. 


1833 


CONGKEGATIONAL    CHUKCH    IN    BELCHEHTOWN. 


Names.  Deaths 

Solomon  Marshy  from  the  church  in 
Montague,  and  removed  to  the  church 
in  Ludlow,  (Jenksville),  in  May,  1847. 

1831. 

Hervey  Hawes,  son  of  John  Hawes, 
and  brother  of  (453),  removed  with 
his  wife  (821),  to  the  church  in  En- 
field, in  1833. 

Roderick  Dorman,  son  of  Daniel 
Dorman. 

Orrich  Willis,  physician,  son  of 
844,  removed  to  Hardwick,  procured  a 
change  in  his  name  to  William  H.  Wil- 
lis ;  now  (1851)  a  practising  physician 
in  South  Reading. 

Anderson  Wris^Ju. 


201 

Age. 


Henry  Stehhins,  Jr.,  son  of  (745). 
He  died 

S.  Streeter. 

David  Rohhins. 

Lucy  M.  Doolittle,  daughter  of 
(647),  by  his  first  wife  {555).  She 
married  (992)  in  1834;  a  second  wife. 

Lucy  Stehhins,  daughter  of  (430), 
married  (1100),  son  of  (590),  in  1837. 

Caroline     Stehhins^     daughter     of 
(430). 


1837 


19 


202 


HISTOmCAL    SKETCHES    OF    THE 


Numbers. 

985. 


986. 


987. 


988. 


989. 
990. 


991. 


992. 


993. 


1840 


24 


Names.  Deaths,     Age. 

Emily  Stehhins,  daugliter  of  (430), 
married  (968),  son  of  (601). 

Lavinia  Stehhins,  daughter  of  (745), 
married  0.  M.  Kendall  of  Palmer,  in 
1849,  and  removed  there. 

Harriet  Stehhins,  daughter  of  (724). 
She  married  Rev.  Ervin  Carpenter,  of 
Littleton,  New  Hampshire,  in  1846, 
and  removed  her  church  relation  there. 

Ann  E.  Bridgman,  daughter  of 
(550),  married  John  S.  Gould,  of  Al- 
bany, in  1838,  and  removed  there. 
She  died 

Nancy  Briclgman,  daughter  of  (723). 

Eliza  Kenneday,  daughter  of  (720), 
removed  her  church  relation  to  Os- 
wego, Illinois,  in  1848. 

1831. 

Almira  Walker,  daughter  of  (317), 
married  Salem  Towne  of  Granville, 
New  York,  in  1845,  and  removed  her 
church  relation  there. 

Horatio  Thomson,  physician,  son  of 
Dr.  Gurdon  Thomson,  formerly  of 
Tolland,  Conn. 

Cordelia  (Chapman,)  first  wife  of 
(992),  and  daughter  of  Col.  Eliakim 
Chapman,  formerly  of  Tolland,  Conn. 
She  died 


1833 


29 


CONGREGATIONA.L  CHURCH  IN  BELCHERTOWN. 


Numbers. 

995. 

996. 
998. 

1000. 
1001. 

1002. 
1003. 


1004. 
1005. 

1006. 


Names. 

JosejyJi  Bridgman,  Jr.,  son  of  Jo- 
seph Bridgman,  Esq.,  and  grand-son 
of  (200),  removed  to  Iowa. 

George  Haives,  son  of  (453).  He 
died 

Susaii  (Holland),  wife  of  (799),  and 
daughter  of  Jonas  Holland  and  Susan 
his  Avife  (305). 

Nancy  Oiucn,  daughter  of  Capt. 
Eleazer  Owen. 

Mary  Bridgman,  daughter  of  (723), 
married  Samuel  Kingsley,  of  West- 
hampton,   in  1832,  and  removed  there. 

Caroline  Holland,  daughter  of  Park 
HoHand  and  Esther  his  wife  (781). 
She  married  (1030),  son  of  (511),  in 
1842. 

Mary  Holland,  daughter  of  Park 
Holland  and  Esther  his  wife  (781). 
She  married  Mr.  Fenn,  of  Lacon,  Illi- 
nois, in  1848,  and  removed  her  church 
relation  there. 

Nancy  Haices,  daughter  of  (453), 
married  Franklin  Dickinson,  in  1832. 

MaryM.  Gilhert,  daughter  of  (558), 
married  (954),  October  16,  1839.  She 
died  October  31, 

Horace  Stacy,  son  of  Moses  Stacy 
and  wife  (703). 


Deaths. 


203 

Age. 


1835 


1846 


21 


28 


204 


HISTORICAL    SKETCHES    OF    THE 


Numbers.  Names. 

1007.  Francis  Dunhar,  son  of  (801),  re- 
moved his  church  relation  to  P  erring - 
ton,  State  of  New  York,  in  1837. 

1008.  Philander  Marsh,  removed  to  Mon- 


1009.  Elijah  Pratt,  son  of  Capt.  David 
Pratt,  who  died  in  this  town  in  1806, 
aged  66. 

1010.  Eldad  Parsons  Dwight,  son  of 
(455),  removed  to  Mississippi. 

1011.  Widow  Esther  Marsh,  widow  of 
Timothy  P.  Marsh. 

1012.  An7i  Livermore. 

1013.  Catherine  Bughee,  daughter  of  (482), 
married  Obed  Newton,  of  Hadley,  in 
1836,  a  second  wife;  his  first  wife 
(627).     She  died  in  1835,  aged  34. 

1014.  EUzahcth  Root,  daughter  of  (351), 
married  James  M.  Alden  of  Green- 
wich, in  1834,  and  removed  there. 

1015.  Elizabeth  Strong,  daughter  of  (464), 
married  Henry  Shepherd  of  North- 
ampton, son  of  Thomas  Shepherd, 
Esq.,  and  removed  there.     She  died 

1016.  Harriet  Coioles,  daughter  of  (341). 

1017.  Eliza  Dwight,  daughter  of  (515), 
married  Elihu  Root,  Jr.  son  of  (511), 
in  1841.  Her  husband,  Elihu  Root, 
Jr.,  died  in  1844,  aged  34. 


Deaths.     Age 


1847 


30 


I 


CONGREGATIONAL    CHUECII  IN  BELCHERTOWN.    205 


Numbers. 

1018. 


1019. 


1020. 


1021. 


Names. 

Mary  Dwight,  daughter  of  (515), 
married  Henry  Mellen,  in  1837.  She 
died 

Mary  R.  Dioight,  daughter  of  (636), 
married  Edwin  P.  Tucker,  in  1835. 

From  other  Churches. 

Asenath  {Smith),  wife  of  David 
Lewis,  from  the  church  in  Palmer, 
Rev.  T,  H.  Ware,  pastor.  They  soon 
removed  to  the  State  of  Illinois. 


Deaths.    Age. 


Second  Wife    of  Ebenezer 
from  the  church  in  Monson. 


Barber. 


1023. 


1024. 


1022.        Ephraim  Montague,  fiom  the  church 

I  in  Hadley,  Rev.  John   Brown,   D.  D., 

I  pastor  ;  son    of  Jedediah    Montague, 

I  formerly   of  Hadley,   and    died    there 

:  August  19,  1824,  aged   58.     Jedediah 

Montague  was  a  lineal  descendant   of 

Richard    Montague,   who    came    from 

England  to  this  country  in  1640.    His 

son  John  had  a  son  John,  who   had  a 

son  by  the  same   name,  who  was  the 

father  of  Jedediah.     All  of  the  name 

of  Montague  in  New  England  are  sujd- 

posed  to  be  descendants  of  Richard  as 

their  common  ancestor.     This    family 

early   settled   in   Hadley,    and    were 

among  the  first  settlers  of  the  place. 


Laura  (Sabin),  wife  of  (1022), 
daughter  of  (590). 


and 


Louisa  (Towue),  wife  of  Humphrey 
T.  Filer,  and  daughter  of  (353). 
19 


1847 


32 


206 


HISTOmCAli    SKETCHES    OF    THE 


Numbers. 

1025. 


1026. 
1027. 


1027J. 


1028. 
1028J. 

1029. 

1030. 
1031. 

1032. 
1033. 


1845 


37 


Names.  Deaths.     Age. 

Joab  Bartlett,  from  the  cliiircli  in 
Enfield,  Rev.  S.  G.  Clapp,  pastor. 

Charlotte,  wife  of  (1025)  from  the 
church  in  Enfield. 

Warren  A.  Reed,  from  the  church 
in  Chester  ;  resided  here  till  1842; 
removed  his  church  relation  that  year, 
to  the  Edwards  church  in  Northamp- 
ton, and  resided  there  till  his  death, 
September, 

Louisa  {Lyman),  his  wife,  daughter 
of  Col.  Timothy  Lyman  of  Chester. 
She  removed  with  her  husband. 

1832. 

Eddy  Shumway,  son  of  (174).  He 
died 

Betsey  (Russell),  wife  of  (1028), 
and  daughter  of  Jonathan  Russell,  for- 
merly of  Enfield. 

Sylvia  Chapin,  sister  of  (918),  from 
Heath. 

Harrison  Root,  son  of  (511). 

Festus  Moody,  son  of  (634).  He 
died 

John  Davis. 

Eliza  Tucker,  daughter  of  Jonathan 
Tucker.  She  married  Ezra  Cary  of 
Enfield,  and  removed  there. 


1850 


1832 


65 


24 


CONGREGATIONAL    CHUECII    IN    BELCIIEETOWN.    207 


Numbers. 

1034. 


1035. 


1036. 


1037. 


1038. 


Ntimcs.  Deaths.     Age 

Ware  ham  C.  Gilbert,  son  of  (558). 

From  other  Churches. 

Ara  Wright,  from  the  church  in 
Ludlow,  Rev.  E.  B.  Wright,  pastor. 
Ara  was  brother  of  (446|),  and  son  of 
Cyprian  Wright,  formerly  of  Ludlow. 

Wife  of  (1035),  from  the  church  in 
Ludlow,  removed  with  her  husband  to 
Chicopee. 


1039. 


1040. 


1041, 


Hannah  (Gay),  first  wife  of  (656), 
from  the  church  in  Dedham,  Rev.  Dr. 
Burgess,  pastor.     She  died 

1833. 

Sarah  Bridgman,  daughter  of  Jo- 
seph Bridgman,  Esq.,  and  grand- 
daughter of  (200).  She  married  Mr. 
Dixon  of  Delaware,  and  removed  to 
that  State. 

From  other  Churches. 

Naomi  T.  ( Towne),  wife  of  Silas 
Howard,  and  daughter  of  (353),  from 
the  church  in  Granby. 

Penelope  D.  (Graves),  wife  of 
(884J),  and  daughter  of  (459),  from 
the  church  at  Niagara,  New  York ; 
they  removed  back  there  soon.  She 
died  there  about 

Louisa,  wife  of  William  Atwood, 
from  the  church  in  Palmer ;  remained 


1849 


1838 


42 


30 


208 

Numbers. 

1042. 
1043. 

1044. 


1045. 
1046. 
1047. 

1048. 

1049. 

1050. 
1051. 

1052. 


HISTOKICAL    SKETCHES    OE    THE 

Nmes. 

here  but  a  sliort    time  ;     moved   from 
here,  and  died  soon  after, 

Cynthia  Nichols,  wife  of  (767). 

Margaret  M.  Blodget,  daughter  of 
(384). 

Mary  Haniium,  daghter  of  (757), 
married  Ward  Woodbury,  in  1844  ;  a 
second  Avife.  He  married  Amanda 
Hannum,  daughter  of  (757),  for  his 
first  wife.     She  died  in  1843. 

Adaline  Hannum,  daughter  of  (757). 
She  died 


Deallis.    Ag« 


Polly,  wife  of  Theodore  Bridgman, 


Jr. 


Eliza  {Clark),  wife  of  Joseph  Kel- 
logg, and  daughter  of  Eleazer  Clark, 
Esq.,  who  died  in  this  town  in  1808, 
aged  45. 

Mary  C.  Root,  daughter  of  (351), 
married  Thomas  Marshall,  in  1845. 
She  died 

Oshea  Walker,  son  of  (412),  remov- 
ed to  the  church  in  Northampton,  in 
1842. 

Anna  Sahin. 

Betsey  ( Wright),  first  wife  of  Arte- 
mas  Owen.     She  died  in  February, 

Wilmoth  Phillips. 


1843 


1850 


1838 


33 


45 


32 


CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCH    IX  BELCHERTOWN. 


Numbers.  Names. 

1053.  Mary  Ann  (Kilner),  wife  of  (1052). 

1054.  Chester  Randall,  son  of  (369). 

1055.  Jefferson  Leach,soii  of  Peter  Leach, 
who  died  in  1851. 

1056.  Luther  Holland,  Jr.,  son  of  (395). 

1057.  Sarah  S.  Ames,  daughter  of  (718). 

1058.  Martha  Ann  Walker,  daughter  of 
(410).     She  died 

1059.  Philura  C.  Walker,  daughter  of 
(317),  married  (1034),  October,  1840. 

1834. 

1060.  Lydia  Gray,  daughter  of  Jeremiah 
Gray,  married  Jabez  Preston  of  Gran- 
by,  and  removed  there. 

1061.  Elizabeth  (Goodale),  wife  of  (521), 
and  daughter  of  Moses  Goodale. 

1062.  Betsey  Howe,  sister  of  (431),  re- 
moved. 

1063.  Emily  A.  Phelps,  daughter  of  (462), 
married  Cordial  Crane,  in  1842. 

1063  J.        Stiles  Hannum,  son  of  (549J). 

1063|.        Wife  of  Stiles  Hannum.     She  died 

1064.  Betsey   L.    Marshall,    daughter   of 

19* 


Deaths. 


209 

Age. 


1840 


1847 


21 


58 


210 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES    OP    THE 


Numbers.  Names.  Deaths.    Age. 

(485).     She  married  Albert  C.  Nasli, 
of  Canton. 


1065. 


1066. 


1066^. 


1067. 


1068, 


1069. 


1070. 


Julia  Lucretia  Toitme,  daughter  of 
(878),  married  (1091),  son  of  (727), 
in  1844. 

John  G.  Walker,  son  of  (412),  re- 
moved in  1843. 

Clarissa  Morse,  daughter  of  Daniel 
Morse. 


1835. 


of  Rev.   Ja- 
—  Bigelow, 
Conn.     She  died 


Sarah  (Bigeloiv),  wife 

red  Pteid,  daughter  of 

Esq.,  of  Colchester, 
at  Tiverton,  Rhode  Island,  where  she 
and  her  husband  were  residing,  on  the 
11th  of  February, 

She  came  recommended  to  this 
church  from  the  church  in  Reading, 
where  Mr.  Reid  had  been  settled  in 
the  ministry  before  he  came  to  this 
place.  (See  notice  of  her  historical 
sketch,  page  44). 

Maria  Gillett,  daughter  of  Harvey 
Gillett. 

Luke  Leach,  son  of  Peter  Leach.  He 
removed  from  here  to  Wendell,  and 
united  with  the  church  there, 

Mary  Walker,  daughter  of  (427), 
married  Stephen  J.  Miller  of  Ludlow, 
and  removed  there,  in  1844. 


1845 


57 


CONGKEGATIOXAL  CHUUCH  IN    BELCHERTOWN.    211 


Numbers.  Names. 

1071.  Esther  Marsh,  daughter  of  Timo- 
thy P.  Marsh,  married  Samuel  F. 
Ames,  son  of  (718),  in  1836. 

1 072.  Amanda  Hannum,  daughter  of  (757), 
first  wife  of  Ward  Woodbury  of  Am- 
herst; married  in  1840.     She  died 

(See  1044). 

10 72 J.  Mary  {Barroios),  second  wife  of 
Elisha  Abbey,  from  Brimfield. 

1073.  Henry  P.  Allen,  son  of  (633). 

1074.  Henri/  J^-  TF^^^'^^,  son  of  (474),  re- 
moved to  the  church  in  Ashfield,  in 
1848. 

1075.  Edward  Marshall,  son  of  (485). 

1076.  Elon  Walker,  son  of  (412). 

1077.  David  Lewis,  son  of  Jesse  Lewis  of 
Ware.  He  resided  here  several  years. 
Removed  to  Illinois  in  1837. 

1078.  Abigail  A.  Sahin,  daughter  of  (590), 
married  Dr.  Willis.     (See  977). 

1079.  Joan  M.  Allen,  daughter  of  (633), 
married  Festus  Currier,  and  removed. 

1080.  Cornelia  Dorman,  daughter  of 
(976). 

1080 J.  Betsey  M.  DooUttle,  daughter  of 
(647),  by  his  first  wife  {66^).  She 
married  John  Stacy,  in  1838,  a  gradu- 
ate of  Yale  College,  son  of  (475). 


Deaths.     Age 


1843 


36 


212 

Numbers. 

1081. 
1082. 

1083. 

1084. 
1085. 

1086. 


1087. 


1088. 


1089. 


HISTORICAL    SKETCHES    OF    THE 

Names.  Deaths.    Age. 

1835. 

Harriet  Gillett,  daughter  of  Harvey 
Gillett,  removed. 

Enieline  Walker,  daughter  of  (410), 
married  Theodore  Chapman,  of  Hano- 
ver, N.  H.,  in  1835,  and  removed 
there. 

Malissa  Toivne,  daughter  of  (353), 
married  Ransom  Howard,  son  of  Silas 
Howard. 

Armina  Cowles,  daughter  of  (436). 

Hiram  Gilhert,  from  the  church  in 
Ware,  and  soon  removed. 

Grace  Stehhins,  daughter  of  (745), 
married  Albert  Moody  of  Granby,  in 
1849.  Albert  is  son  of  Quartus 
Moody  and  wife  Mary  ;  she  was  the 
daughter  of  (241). 

Laura  B.  Stehbins,  daughter  of 
(745). 

Harriet  M.  Ames,  daughter  of  (718), 
married  Francis  Taylor  of  GranlDy,  in 
1843,  and  removed  to  the  church  in 
Springfield,  under  the  care  of  Rev. 
Mr.  Porter,  in  1843. 

George  W.  Gilbert,  son  of  (558), 
removed  to  the  church  at  Plymouth 
Hollow,  Conn. 


Numbers. 

1090. 

1091. 
1092. 
1093. 

1094. 


1095. 

1096. 
1097. 
1098. 


CONGKEGATIOXAL  CHUECH  IN  BELCHEKTOWN.       213 
Names.  Deaths.     Age. 


1099. 
1100. 
1101. 


Daniel  F.  Phelps,  son  of  (462),  has  i 
connected    himself    with    the    United 
States  Navy  ;  has  gone  from  us. 

Tertius  Cowles,  son  of  (727). 

John  R.  Shuimvay,  son  of  (1028). 

Emory  B.  Foster,  dismissed  and  re- 
moved. 

Mary  {Ames),  daughter  of  (718), 
married  Estes  Marsh,  son  of  Timothy 
P.  Marsh,  in  1832.  He  removed  to 
Tennessee. 

Susan  Ames,  daughter  of  ( 7 1 8 ) .  She 
married  Chas.  W.  Chapman,  Esq.,  of  N. 
York,  in  1838.  He  was  son  to  A.  Chap- 
man, Esq.,  formerly  of  Southampton. 

Benjamin  F.  Ames,  son  of  (718). 

Samuel  F.  Ames,  son  of  (718). 

Wife  of  William  Reed,  originally 
from  North  Brookiicld — from  Amherst 
here.  She  with  her  husband  (932), 
moved  to  Illinois,  in  1845.  William 
Reed's  first  wife,  Mary  F.,  died  Nov., 
1834,  aged  27  ;  his  second  wife,  Eme- 
line  F.,  died  April  1838,  aged  20. 

Sarah  E.  Walker,  daughter  of  (473). 

Lyman  Sahin,  son  of  (590). 

John  Bowdoin,  son  of  William  Bow- 
doin,  Esq.,  formerly  of  Ware. 


214 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES  OF  THE 


Numbers. 

1102. 


11 02  J. 


1103. 


1104. 


1105. 


1106. 


1108. 


1110. 


nil, 


1112, 


Names,  Deaths.     Age. 

Ruth    Warner,    widow    of   Alonzo 
Warner. 

Elizabeth,  wife  of  Elijah  Hannum. 
This  Elijah  Hannum  is  son  of  (794). 


1836. 


Sarah  Donnan,  daughter  of  (976). 
She  died 

1837. 

Fro7?i  other  Churches. 

Mrs.  Cowles,  from  the  church  in 
Granby. 

Catherine  (Smith),  wife  of  Thomas 
M.  Ferry,  from  the  church  in  Granby. 

Emily  Holland,  daughter  of  (395). 
She  married  George  Vining,  Jr.,  of 
Plainfield,  and  removed  to  New  Bed- 
ford, in  1845. 

Wife  of  Andrew  Howard,  removed 
to  Oakfield,  Illinois,  with  her  son 
(870). 

Mary  C.  Holland,  daughter  of  (395), 
married  (1092),  in  1840. 

Clarissa  StehMns,  daughter  of  (430), 
married  Henry  Mather  of  Suffield,  in 
1851,  and  removed. 

Mary  Howe,  daughter  of  (431),  mar- 


1837 


CONGREGATIOIS'AL    CHTJRCH  IX    BELCHEETOWX.    215 


Numbers.  Namos.  Deaths.     Age. 

ried  Mr.  Wells  of  Hartford,  in   1845, 
and  removed. 


1113. 

1114. 
1115. 

1116. 

1117. 

1118. 

1119. 
1120. 
1121. 

11214. 
1123. 
1124. 


Mary  Ann  Thayer,  daughter  of  Job 
Thayer,  married  Ambrose  Dorman,  son 
of (976). 

Eliza  Burnett,  daughter  of  (573). 

Almira  Randall,  daughter  of  (1054), 
married  Philetus  Kent. 

Seth  Walker,  son  of  (635),  removed 
to  Illinois  in   1845. 

Henry  Hoioe,  son  of  (431),  removed 
to  New  Haven,  Conn.,  in  1847. 

Charles  Holland,  son  of  Park  Hol- 
land and  Esther  his  wife  (781). 

Ahier  F.  Toivne,  son  of  (353). 

Solomon  H.  Linnell.     He  died 

Margaret  B.  Smith,  daughter  of 
Giles  Smith  and  Margaret  his  wife 
(581). 

Wright  Bridgman,  Jr.,  son  of 
(302). 

Divight  Bascom,  son  of  Nathan  Bas- 
com  and  his  wife  (734).     He  died 

Wife  of  George  W.  Kellogg.  He 
died  in  1847,  and  she  returned  to  Col- 
chester, Conn. 


1843 


38 


216 


HISTORICAL    SKETCHES    OP    THE 


NumWers  Names. 

1125.  James  S.  Ames,  son  of  (718). 

1126.  Malissa  {Woods),  wife  of  Moses 
Goodale,  daughter  of  Jonathan  Woods, 
and  sister  of  (533). 

1127.  Caroline  Kentjield,  widow  of  Joel 
Kentfield. 

1128.  Dianthy  Stehhins,  sister  of  (924), 
married  Mr.  Thatcher,  of  Lee,  in  1845, 
and  removed  there. 

1129.  Clarissa  Wasliburn,  wife  Henry 
Bridgman,  and  daughter  of  (790). 

11 29 J.        Rox anna  (Dunham),  second  wife  of 
(462).     Her  first  husband  was  (431). 

1839. 

1130.  Mary  G.  (Bliss),  second  wife  of 
Obed  Smith ;  her  family  name  was 
Gunn,  from  Montague. 

1131.  Mary  (Raynolds),  wife  of  Dara 
Walker,  from  Hadley. 

1132.  /.  Addison  Joy,  \ 

1133.  His  wife,  ] 
Came  here  by  letter  from  New  York 

City ;  soon  removed  to  Amherst,  and 
from  there  removed  back  to  New  York. 

1134.  Anna  Reid,  sister  of  Rev.  Jared 
Reid,  removed. 

1135.  Etizaheth,  wife  of  Josiah  W.  Priest, 
from  Erving.     She  died 


Deaths.    Age 


1847 


CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCH    IN    BELCHERTOWN.     217 

Deaths.     Ag«. 


Numbera. 

1136. 


1137. 

1138. 
1139. 
1140. 
1141. 
1142. 

1143. 

1144. 
1145. 


1146. 


Names. 

Dorcas  Montague,  widow  of  Jede- 
diah  Montague,  from  the  church  in 
Hadley.  Her  husband  died  in  Had- 
ley  in  1824.  She  is  the  mother  of 
Deacon  Ephraim  Montague  (1022). 

Nancy  (Bughee),  wife  of  Lyman 
Rice,  and  daughter  of  (482).  She 
died 

Louisa,  wife  of  Josiah  Walker,  Jr., 
from  the  church  in  Palmer. 

Aaron  Davis,  died  soon  after  unit- 
ing with  the  church. 

Clarissa,  widow  of  Whipple  Bishop, 
married  Austin  Billings. 

Sarah  Montague,  daughter  of  (1136), 
from  the  church  in  Hadley. 

Mary  {Hunt),  second  wife  of  (463), 
from  the  church  in  Bridgwater,  State 
of  New  York. 

Ruth  A.,  wife  of  Luther  Shaw,  from 
the  church  in  Palmer. 

Ebenezer  W.  Towne,  son  of  (258). 

Sophia  (Haivkes),  wife  of  (1144). 
They  were  from  the  church  in  Enfield 
to  this  church,  and  removed  in  1842, 
to  the  Presbyterian  church,  in  Batavia, 
Illinois. 

Cloe  {Hawkes),   mother    of   (1145), 
came  and  went  with  them. 
20 


1847 


33 


218 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES  OF  THE 


Numbers. 

1147. 


1148. 
1149. 

1150. 
1151. 
1152. 
1153. 


1154. 


1155. 


Names. 

Jesse  Williams,  from  the  church  in 
East  Douglass. 

Eunice,  wife  of  Jesse  Williams, 
from  the  same.     She  died 

Esther  Williams,  daughter  of 
(1147),  married  (969),  in  1843,  third 
wife,  see  (631). 

Sarah  D.  Nichols,  daughter  of  Ja- 
cob Nichols. 

Elizaleth  H.  (Reed),  second  wife  of 
(636). 

Arahella,  wife  of  Asher  Towne, 
and  daughter  of  William  N.  Moore. 

Emily  {White),  second  wife  of 
(739),  and  daughter  of  Reuben  White, 
married  Simeon  Pepper,  Nov.  9,  1826. 
Admitted  to  the  Brainerd  Church, 
October  4,  1838,  at  her  house,  being 
unable  to  go  abroad.  The  church 
voted  her  admission.  She  died  Jan- 
uary 6, 

Asahel  Blodget,  from  the  East 
church  in  Amherst  to  the  Brainerd 
church,  and  with  that  church  became 
a  member  of  the  united  church,  in 
1841.     He  died,  October, 

Wife  of  (1154),  came  with  her  hus- 
band.    Died 


Deaths.    Age 


1845 


1840 


1846 


1845 


49 


68 


CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH  IN  BELCHERTOAVN.  219 


Numbers. 

1156. 
1157. 


The  foUoiving  list  of  persons,  fr 0711  Numbers  1156  to 
1213  inclusive,  united  with  the  Brainerd  Church,  by 
profession  or  by  letter  from  other  Churches  than  the 
First  Church  in  Belchertoion,  luhile  the  Brainerd 
Church  had  a  separate  existence,  between  August, 
1834,  and  September  1841.  Most  of  the  members  of 
the  Brainerd  Church  were  from  the  First  Church ; 
their  names  are  on  that  list.  All  the  folloiving  list, 
living  among  us  at  the  time  of  the  union  of  the  two 
churches,  August  31,  1841,  became  members  of  the 
united  church. 

Names.  Deaths.    Age. 

Beacon  Elijah  Amidon,  > 
Wife  of  (1156).  ] 

Deacon  Amidon  came  from  Hard- 
wick  to  this  place,  in  1834.  He  was 
a  deacon  in  the  church  at  Hardwick, 
and  after  his  removal  here  was  chosen 
a  deacon  in  the  Brainerd  church,  and 
officiated  in  that  church  till  the  union 
of  the  two  churches,  in  1841,  and  then 
in  the  united  church  till  he  resigned 
his  office  in  1850. 

Mercy  Amidon,  daughter  of  (1156), 
married  Luther  W.  Burt,  of  Long- 
meadow,  November  10,  1842,  and 
moved  to  that  place  and  died  soon 
after. 

Martlia  Amidon,  daughter  of  (1156), 
died  in  this  town,  of  consumption,  Ju- 

John  A.  Amidon,  son  of  (1156) 
moved  to  Chicopee. 

Ann  Bridgman,  daughter  of  (550). 

Lemuel  G.  Bennett. 


1158. 


1159. 

1160. 

1161. 
1162. 


1851 


30 


220 


HISTOEICAL  SKETCHES    OF  THE 


Numbers. 

1163. 
1164. 
1165. 

1167. 

1168. 


1169. 


1170. 


1171 


1172. 


1173. 


1843 


23 


Names.  Deaths.    Age. 

First  wife  of  Levi  Burt,  died  1838 

Julia  A.  Bigelow. 

Wife  of  John  M.  Bartlett,  from  the 
churcli  in  Granby,  moved  away. 

Charles  W.  Carter,  son  of  Jacob 
Carter. 

Harriet  Neivell  Chamherlin,  daugh- 
ter of  William  Chamberlin,  died 
September  4, 

William  Chamberlin  was  son  of 
Walter  Chamberlin. 

Frances  Jane  Clark,  daughter  of 
Eneas  Clark  and  Prudence  his  wife 
(603).  Frances  Jane  married  Dwight 
Graves,  Esq.,  in  1837,  and  removed 
her  church  relation  to  Sunderland,  in 
1848. 

Betsey  B,  Dwight,  daughter  of 
(517)  by  his  second  wife  (542).  She 
married  Simeon  R.  Dwight,  son  of 
(636),  in  1840. 

Susan  Dwight,  daughter  of  (517). 
She  died  in  South  Hadley,  of  con- 
sumption, in 

Wife  of  Francis  Dunbar,  daughter 
of  (933),  moved  to  Perrington,  State 
of  New  York,  in  1839. 

Wife  of  Charles  Dunbar,  from  the 
church  in  Perrington. 


1844 


22 


CONGREGATIONAL    CHUECII    IN    BELCHEllTOWN. 

jers.  Names.  Deatha. 

Clara  Dwight,  daughter  of  (515). 


Delia  Dwight,  daughter  of  (515), 
married  Estes  Sanford,  son  of  Ichabod 
Sanford  and  wife  (371),  moved  to 
Worcester. 

Sarah  Lorane  Doolittle,  daughter 
of  (647)  and  wife  (648).  Sarah  Lo- 
rane died  of  consumption,  July  29, 


221 

Age. 


David  Fisk. 

Irene  {Howard,)  second  wife  of 
(969),  died 

She  was  daughter  of  Andrew  How- 
ard   and  wife,    and    sister    of  (631). 

Second  wife  of  John  Filer,  died  in 
April, 

Electa  D.  Gates,  daughter  of  Hor- 
ace Gates  by  his  second  wife  (599 J). 
Electa  D.,  married  Pliny  PI.  White, 
Esq.,  of  Wardsboro',  Vt.,  May  11, 
1847,  and  removed  there.  They  now 
(1851)  reside  in  Brattleboro',  Vt.  He 
is  in  the  practice  of  Law. 

Wife  of  Nath'l  D.  Goodale,  daugh- 
ter of  Asa  Pease  of  Granby,  and  sister 
of  Deacon  Asa  Pease  of  Granby. 

Charles  H.  Gilbert,  son  of  (558), 
removed  to  the  church  in  Plymouth 
Hollow,  Conn.,  in  April,  1843. 


20* 


1842 


1841 


1849 


39 


53 


222 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES  OF  THE 


Numbers. 

1184. 


1185. 

1188. 

1190. 

1191. 
1192. 

1193. 

1194. 
1196. 

1197. 


Names. 


Deaths.     Age. 


Lorenzo  T.  Hoivard,  son  of  (933),  j 
removed  to  Perrington,  State  of  New 
York. 

Sally  Kendall,  second  wife  of  (453), 
from  the  church  in  Enfield.  Her  hus- 
band (453)  died  in  1841.  She  re- 
moved to  Amherst  in  1848. 

Moseley  J.  Kendall,  son  of  Kuel 
Kendall,  formerly  of  Ludlow. 

Maria  Kendrick,  removed  to  the 
church  in  Enfield,  in  April,  1842. 

Heman  E.  Moody,  son  of  (634). 

Betsey  G.  Manly,  married  Mr. 
Bates  of  Southampton,  and  removed 
there  in  1846. 

Juliann  P.  Moore,  daughter  of  Wm. 
N.  and  Hannah  Moore.  Juliann  died 
September  12, 

Mary  Jane  Maloy,  died  in  August 

Reed  J.  Oiven,  son  of  Leonard  Owen, 
deceased,  and  grand-son  of  Capt.  Elea- 
zer  Owen. 

Martha  Ann  ( Whittlesey),  wife  of 
Rev.  George  A.  Oviatt.  She  was 
from  New  Haven,  Conn.  She  was  a 
lineal  descendant  of  Rev.  Chauncey 
Whittlesey,  formerly  of  New  Haven, 
a  graduate  of  Yale  College  in  1738. 
She  died  April  6, 

See  sketch  of  her,  page  50. 


1843 
1842 


1846 


26 


35 


CONGBEGATIONAL    CHURCH    IN    BELCHERTOWN. 


Numbers. 

1198. 


1199. 
1200. 

1201. 
1202. 

1203. 

1204. 
1205. 

1206. 


1207. 
1208. 


Names.  Deaths 

Second  wife  of  Artemas  Owen.  She 
was  Susan  Wright,  sister  of  (1051). 
She  was  widow  Scott  when  she  mar- 
ried A.  Owen. 

Almira  Pepper,  daughter  of  (739). 

Charlotte  Pepj^er,  daughter  of  (739). 
She  married  (1184),  and  removed  to 
Perrington,  State  of  New  York,  in 
1839. 

Sally  Preston. 

Sophia  Richardson,  wife  of  Nathan- 
iel Richardson,  moved  to  Windsor, 
Mass.,  in  May,  1847. 

Louisa  Richardson,  daughter  of 
Nathan  Richardson  and  wife  (1202), 
removed  with  her  parents. 

Warren  Reed,  from  the  church  in 
Chester,  died  1840 

Wife  of  (1204).  She  died  in  North- 
ampton in  1844.  (1204)  and  (1205) 
were  parents  of  (1027.) 

Lucretia  Shumway,  daughter  of 
Elihu  Shumway  and  wife  (041).  Lu- 
cretia married  Thomas  H.  Moody  and 
moved  to  Bernardston ;  they  now 
(1851)  reside  in  Granby. 

Lydia  Towne. 

Lucy  A.  Wright,  daughter  of 
(446|).        She     married     Randal    B. 


223 

Age. 


59 


224 

Numbers. 

1210. 
1211. 

1212. 
1212J. 

1213. 


HISTOmCAL    SKETCHES    OF    THE 

Names.  Deaths.     Age. 

Blazedell,  Nov.,  1841,  and  removed  to 
Newton,  Mass. 


1214. 

1215. 

1216. 

1217. 
1218. 
1219. 


Mary  Washburn,  daughter  of  (790), 
died  in  May, 

Martha  L.  Washburn,  daughter  of 
Charles  Washburn,  deceased.  Charles 
was  son  of  (790).  Martha  L.,  mar- 
ried (1221),  January  22,  1845. 

Henry  A,  Wright,  son  of  (446f ). 

Christiana  [Haives),  wife  of  (1212), 
daughter  of  (453),  and  wife  of  (454). 

Mrs,  James  Whitman,  Jr,,  wife  of 
(897). 


1842. 


George  T.  Goodale,  from  the  church 
in  Amherst. 

Lemuel  G.  Lloyd,  removed  to  the 
church  in  Pittsfield,  in  1851. 

Lydia  {Baggs),  wife  of  (1231),  and 
daughter  of  Henry  Baggs. 

William  G.  Ruggles. 

Alanson  D.  Pcj)per,  son  of  (739). 

Henry  St  arks. 


1835 


CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH  IN  BELCHERTOWN.       225 

ers.  Names.  Deaths.     Age. 

Charles  L.  Washhurn,  son  of  Chas. 
Washburn,  deceased,  and  grand-son  of 
(790). 

Jonathan  R.  Keith,  son  of  Jonathan 
Keith. 

James  S.  JVliitman,  son  of  Marcus 
Whitman,  and  grand-son  of  (434). 

Delia  {Chandler),  wife  of  Calvin 
Hitchcock,  and  daughter  of  Lemuel 
Chandler,  from  the  church  in  Brim- 
field. 

Eusehia  H.,  wife  of  Jonas  Melville, 
from  the  church  in  Chicopee. 

Susan  H.  {Barloiu),  Avife  of  G.  W. 
Aldrich,  and  daughter  of  Wyatt  Bar- 
low. 

1843. 

Clarissa  A.  {King),  wife  of  Solo- 
mon C.  Shumway,  and  daughter  of 
Dr.  Rufus  King,  late  of  Ware,  de- 
ceased. 

Pamelia  {King),  third  yvite  of  (739), 
and  sister  of  (1226). 

31ala  Coioles,  son  of  (272). 

Hannah  {Dorman),  wife  of  (1228), 
and  sister  of  (976). 

Elizabeth  Bardwell. 


226 


HISTORICAL    SKETCHES    OF    THE 


Numbers. 

1231. 
1232. 
1233. 
1234. 

1235. 
1236. 

1237. 

1238. 

1239. 

1240. 

1241. 
1242. 


Names.  Deaths.     Age. 

Rufus  S.  Lincoln,  son  of  (378). 

Amasa  Toivne,  son  of  (878). 

Christopher  C,  Simons. 

Amos  L.  Mason,  from  the  church  in 
Palmer. 

Asahel  H.  Dorman,  son  of  (976). 

Elizabeth    Montague,    daughter   of 
(1136). 


Sophia  {Burnett),  wife  of  George  C. 
Sanford,  and  daughter  of  (573). 

Bathsheha  {Sanford),  wife  of  (1243), 
and  daughter  of  Ichabod  Sanford  and 
wife  (371). 

Jane  A.  {Moody),  wife  of  Harvey- 
Montague. 

1844. 

Emily  D.  {Fuller),  wife  of  A.  L. 
Gates.  She  was  from  the  church  in 
Hebron,  Conn.  ;  daughter  of  Erastus 
Fuller.  Esq.,  of  Hebron. 

Mary,  wife  of  George  Chandler. 
She  was  from  the  church  in  Brimfield. 

Sarah  A.  (King),  second  wife  of 
(1191),  from  the  church  in  Suffield, 
Conn.  ;  daughter  of  Mr.  Seth  King,  of 
Suffield,  Conn. 


CONGREGATIONAL  CHTJECH  IN  BELCHERTOWN. 
Numbers.  Names.  Deaths 

1845. 

Addison  Burnett,  from  the  chiircli 
in  South  Hadley  ;  son  of  Arza  Bur- 
nett, of  South  Hadley ;  his  mother 
was  Polly  Moody,  daughter  of  Seth 
Moody,  formerly  of  South  Hadley. 

William  Freeman. 

Sophia  A.  (Cook),  wife  of  Harrison 
D.  Dwight.  She  was  from  Hadley; 
daughter  of  David  Cook. 

Moses  Ames,  son  of  (718). 

1846. 

Pamelia,  widow  of  Warren  Smith, 
from  the  church  in  Storrsville. 

Allen  M.  Mather,  from  the  church 
in  South  Deerfield. 

Alonzo  C.  Blodget,  from  the  church 
in  South  Hadley  ;  son  of  (11 54). 

Maria  {Smith),  wife  of  (1287),  and 
daughter  of  Sereno  Smith,  of  Hadley. 

Martha  A.  Clanci/,  wife  of  Rev. 
John  Clancy,  from  the  church  in 
Charlton,  N.  Y.,  and  removed  back 
there  in  1849. 

Clarissa  (Sikes),  wife  of  Arba 
Cleveland,  from  the  church  in  Chic- 
opee. 


227 


Asa. 


228 


HISTORICAL    SKETCHES    OF    THE 


Numbers. 

1252. 


1253. 


1254. 
1255. 


1256. 

1257. 
1258. 

1259. 

1260. 

1261. 
1262. 

1262J. 


Names. 

Achsali,  wife  of  (1285),  from  the 
church  in  Palmer. 

Bulah,  wife  of  (1283),  from  the 
church  in  Prescott. 

Lor  en  S.  Allen,  \ 

Sarah  [Mather),  his  wife,  } 
From  the  church  in  Whately. 

1849. 

Delia  [Dwight),  wife  of  Lyman  L. 
Smith.  She  was  the  daughter  of 
Henry  Dwight,  who  died  in  this  town 
in  1841  ;  he  was  son  to  197. 

William  L.  Montague,  son  of 
(1022). 

Mary  J.  Han7ium,  daughter  of 
(1063  J).  She  married  John  Reynolds, 
of  Hadley,  in  1851. 

Julia  A.  Randall,  daughter  of 
(1054). 

Rosetta,  wife  of  Caleb  Walker,  Jr., 
from  the  church  in  Stafford,  Conn. 

Jonathan  B.  Woods,  son  of  (534). 

Harriet  N.  {Robinson),  wife  of 
(1261).     She  was  from  Plainfield. 

Edwin  Co%des,  son  of  (1228),  re- 
moved to  Prescott,  in  1849. 


Deaths.    Age 


CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCH    IN    BELCHERTOWN.     229 
Hamberf.  Names.  Deatlis.    Ag». 

1849. 

Maria,  wife  of  Renselaer  W.  Walk- 
er, from  the  church  in  Northampton. 
He  is  son  of  (410). 

Dorothy  P.,  second  wife  of  (1147), 
from  the  church  in  Chicopee. 

Harriet  A.  (Pope),  wife  of  Rev. 
Samuel  Wolcott,  from  the  church  in 
Longmeadow  ;  daughter  of  Jonathan 
A.  Pope,  Esq.,  of  Norwich,  Conn. 

1850. 

Myron  Laivrence,  son  of  William 
Lawrence,  of  Middlebury,  Vt.,  and  a 
graduate  of  Middlebury  College  in 
1820  ;  a  lawyer  by  profession. 

Charles  L.  Warner^  son  of  Alonzo 
Warner,  deceased,  grand-son  of  Titus 
Warner,  and  great-grand-son,  of  (180), 
which  sec. 

Phila  A.,  wife  of  (1074).  He  is 
son  of  (474). 


tt,) 


Fanny  M.  Pratt, 
Caroline  Pratt, 
Mary  S.  Pratt, 
Daughters  of  Elihu  Pratt,  and  sis- 
ters of  (1276). 


Emily  S.  Towne,  daughter  of  (878). 
She  married  Samuel  D.   Cowlcs,    son 
(727),  Sept.  10,  1851. 
21 


230 


HISTOmCAL    SKETCHES    OF    THE 


Numbers. 

1273. 


1274. 
1275. 

1276. 

1277. 

1278. 
1279. 

1280. 

1281. 

1282. 

1283. 
1284. 
1285. 


Names.  Deaths.    Ag« 

Sarah  T.  B.  Lawrence,  daughter  of 
(1266). 

Sarah  Walker,  daughter  of  (474). 


Sophia  D.  Lawrence,  daughter  of 
(1266). 

James  H.  Pratt,  son  of  Elihu  Pratt. 
Elihu  is  the  son  of  Capt.  David  Pratt, 
who  died  in  this  town,  Sept.,  1806, 
aged  66. 

Edward  P.  Blodgett,  son  of  (1249). 

Mary  E.  Allen,  daughter  of  (633). 

Esther  H.  Allen,  second  wife  of 
(954),  from  the  church  in  Heath. 


Josiah  Cowles,  son  of  (272),  died 

See  Appendix  M, 

Betsey  Smith,  wife  of  (1280). 

Jerusha  (Bivight),  wife  of  Lemuel 
Randall.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Sam- 
uel D  wight,  who  was  brother  of  (197). 

Roswell  Allen. 

Orren  Walker,  son  of  (256). 

A7nos  Shaic,  son  of  Solomon  Shaw, 
formerly  of  Palmer. 


1851 


58 


CO:fTGIlEGATIONA.L  CHURCH  IN  BELCHEETOWN.     231 


1850 


M 


Numbers.  Names.  Deaths.     Ag: 

1286.  Mary  C.  {Stehbins),  wife  of  Jonas 
Holland,  and  daughter  of  (724). 
Jonas  Holland  is  son  of  Jonas  and  Su- 
sanna (305). 

1287.  Francis  Fonoard,  son  of  (731). 

1288.  Freeman  Alden,  son  of  Daniel  Al- 
den. 

1289.  Harriet  (Root),  wife  of  (1288), 
daughter  of  (511),  and  sister  of  (1030). 
She  died 

1290.  Marcia  {Jepson),  wife  of  (1055). 

1291-  Elhabeth,  widow  of  Asahel  Shum- 
way. 


1292.  Alfred  II.  Hill. 

1293.  Ely  W.  Stebbins,  son  of  (724)  and 
wife  ^856). 

1294.  Ardelia  {Cmvles),  wife  of  (1293), 
and  daughter  of  (1280). 

1295.  Sophronia  (Thomson)  wife  of  War- 
ner Pratt. 

1298.        £Zt2;a,  widow  of  James  Howe. 

1297.  Sarah  J  (Shumioay),  wife  of  Albert 
A.  Atsvood,  and  daughter  of  Solomon 
C.  Shumway. 

1298.  Thomas  Alden,  son  of  Daniel  Alden. 


232 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES  OF  THE 


Numbers. 

1299. 


1300. 

1301. 

1302. 
1303. 

1304. 

1305. 

1306. 

1307. 
1308. 

1309. 

1310. 
1311. 

1312. 


Namos.  Deaths.    As* 

Juliann  (Walker),  wife  of  (1298), 
and  daughter  of  (427). 

Caroline  (Alden),  daughter  of  Dan- 
iel Alden. 

Alonzo  D.  Randall,  son  of  Lemuel 
Randall. 

Sophia  Halves,  daughter  of  (468). 

Julia  A,  M.  Bartlett,  daughter   of 
(1025). 

Kate  E.  Kellogg,   dauojhter   of  Jo- 
seph Kellogg  and  wife  (1047). 


Mary  J.  Sliumioay,  daughter  o: 
(1028). 

David  B.  Dwiglit,  son  of  John 
D  wight. 

Piatt  T.  Slaughter, 

Charles  L.  Randall. 

Russell  S.  Underwood,  son  of  Rus- 
sell Underwood  and  wife,  Flavia  S., 
(1356). 

Juliett  Stehbins,  daughter  of  (745). 

Eliza  C.  King,  daughter  of  Rufus 
King. 

Cordelia  S.  Shumway,  daughter  of 
(1028). 


CONGREGATIONAL  CHUKCH  IN  BELCHERTOWN.       233 


Numbers. 

1313. 
1314. 
1315. 
1316. 


1317. 
1318. 

1319. 
1320. 
1321. 

1322. 
1323. 
1324. 
1325. 

1326. 
1327. 


Names.  Deaths.    Age, 

Williams  IV.  Cowles,  son  of  (727). 

Edward  F.  Towne,  son  of  (878). 

Edson  M.  Walker,  son  of  (1284). 

Solomon  Shumway^  son  of  Solomon 
C.  Shumway.  Solomon  C.  was  son  of 
Solomon  Shumway,  who  died  in  this 
town  in  April,  1819,  aged  39.  He 
was  son  of  (730). 

Gilbert  E.  Walker,  son  of  (1284). 

William  J.  Holland,  son  of  Jonas 
Holland  and  wife  (1286). 

Chester  Randall,  Jr.,  son  of  (1054). 

Emery  P.  Walker,  son  of  (474). 

Clara  A.  Dwiglit,  daughtsr  of  Hen- 
ry D  wight,  deceased,  and  grand- 
daughter of  ^197). 

Sarah  E.  Towne,  daughter  of  (878). 

George  M.  Abbey,  son  of  (656). 

Eliza  M.  Woods,  daughter  of  (534). 

Mary  J.  Lincoln,  daughter  of  Enos 
Lincoln,  Jr.,  and  grand-daughter  of 
(378). 

Mary  E.  Leach,  daughter  of  (1055). 

Juliette  E.  Walker,  daughter  of 
(1284). 

21* 


HH 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES    OE  THE 


Numbers. 

1328. 


1329. 

1330. 

1331. 
1332. 

1333. 

1334. 
1335. 

1336. 
1337. 
1338. 
1339. 
1340. 


Names.  Deaths 

Harriet     A.     Ahhey,    daughter   of 
(656). 

Emeline     Randall ,      daughter      of 
(1054). 


Af», 


Mary      R. 
(1284). 


Walker,    daughter   of 


Edwin  J.  Nichols,  son  of  (767). 

Dtcight  P.  Clapp,  son  of  James  H. 
Clapp,  and  his  wife  (780). 

Phebe  (Parsons),  second  wife  of 
(656).  She  was  from  Northampton  ; 
daughter  of  Elisha  Parsons,  deceased. 


Lncinda  M.,  w^ife    of  Rufas    King, 
from  the  church  in  Ware. 


Elisha  Pratt,  son  of  Capt.  David 
Pratt,  formerly  of  this  town.  He 
died  here  in  1806,  aged  66. 

Lyman  Rice,  son  of  Horatio  Rice, 
and  gand-son  of  (286). 

Sophronia  D.  Bartlett,  daughter  of 
(1025). 

Maria  Alden,  daughter  of  Daniel 
Alden. 

Fanny  E.  Randall,  daughter  of 
Lemuel  Randall. 

Pol.'y  R.  Walker,  daughter  of  (473), 


Numl)ors. 

1341. 
1342. 
1343. 

1344. 

1345. 

1346. 

1347. 

1348. 

1349. 
1350. 
1351. 


1352. 
1353. 


1354. 


CONGEEGATIONAL    CHURCH    IN    BELCHEKTOWN.    235 
Names.  Deaths.     Age. 


Elizaleth  Owen,  daughter  of  (651). 

Martha  A.  Shaw,  daughter  of  (1285). 

Mary  M.  Blodgett,  daughter  of 
(1249;. 

Martha  M.  Dickinson,  daughter  of 
Franklin  Dickinson. 

Horatio  Hol/anrf,  son  of  Jonas  Hol- 
land and  wife  (1286). 

Clarissa  F.  Woods,  daughter  of 
(534). 

Cynthia  C,  wife  of  Howard  Up- 
ham. 

Sophia  (Rice),  wife  (1336).  She 
was  from  Springfield,  daughter  of 
Rice. 


Sarah  A.,  wife  of  (1267). 

Ellen  M.  Marsh,  daughter  of  (775). 

Ecerett  W.  Walhr,  son  of  Samuel 
Walker  of  Springfield,  and  grand-son 
of  (317). 

Mary  Warner,  \ 

Ellen   Warner,  ) 

Daughters  of  Alonzo  Warner,  de- 
ceased, and  great-grand-daughters  of 
(180). 

Fanny  W,  {Pease),  wife  of  Asa  M. 


236  HISTORICAL  SKETCHES,  &C. 

Numbers.  Names. 

Walker,    daughter    of  Asa    Pease    of 
Granby,  and  sister  of  (1182). 


Doatbg.     Age. 


1355. 
1356. 

1357. 
1358. 

1359. 
1360. 
1361. 

1362. 

1363. 
1364. 

1365. 

1366. 
]367. 


Silence  S.  Walker,  daughter  of 
(473). 

Flavia  S.,  widow  of  Russell  Under- 
wood, late  of  Granby.  She  was 
daughter  of  Benjamin  Stebbins,  and 
grand- daughter  of  (129). 

Eiiza  M.  Willei/,  from  Granby. 

Ephraim  B.  Hitchcock,  from  Wil- 
braham. 

Jesse  31.  Williams,  son  of  (1147). 

Emily  J.,  wife  of  (1359). 

Rehecca  JV.,  widow  of  Solomon 
Shaw,  late  of  Palmer. 

Lucinda,  third  wife  of  Ashley  Hol- 
land, from  Whately. 

Eunice  Smith,  from  Uxbridge. 

Jason  S.  D wight,  from  So.  Had- 
ley,  son  of  John  D  wight. 

Margaret  0.,  wife  of  (1364). 

Susan  M.  Woods,  ) 
Lucy  C.  Woods,  f 
Daughters  of  (799)  and  wife  (998). 


ALPHABETICAL  LIST  OF  NAMES 


OF    THOSE    WHO    HAVE     BEEN      COMMUNICANTS     IN     THB 

CONGREGATIONxVL      CHURCH      IN       BELCHERTOWN, 

EKOM    1737  TO   1851,  WITH  THEIR  NUMBERS. 


Henry  Abbey,  529 

Mary"  Abbey,  618 

Elisha  Abbey  and  wife,  6  55  944 

1072^ 
George  Abbey  &  wives,  656  1037 

1333 
Laura  Abbey,  817 
Lucretia  Abbey,  888 
Jairus  Abbott  and  wife  741  742 
Chester  Allen  and  wiie,  469  343 
Abram  Allen  and  wife,   633  709 
Henry  P.  Allen,  1073 
Joan  M.  Allen,  1079 
Robert  Ames'  wiie,  333 
Gideon  Ames  and  wife,  728  646 
Abel  Ames  and  wife,  718  653 
Sarah  8.  Ames,  1057 
Harriet  M.  Ames,  1088 
Mary  Ames,  10!''4 
James  Ames,  1125 
Benjamin  F  Ames,  1096 
Samuel  F.  Ames,  1097 
Susan  Ames  1095 
Stephen  Andrews,  855 
Jos  ;ph   Angier  &,  wife,  359  360 
Anna  Angle.-,  545 
Patty  Angle  ,  543 
David  K.  Angier,  776 
John  Atwood's  wife,  706 
Ekanah  Atwood's  wife,  575 
Betsey  Atwood,  702 
William  Atwood's  wife,  1041 


Jedediah  Ayres  &  wife,  152  153 
George  M.  Abbev,  1323 
Harriet  A.  Abbev,  1328 
Maria  Alden,  1338 
Thomas  Alden  &  wife,  1298  1299 
Freeman  Alden  and   wife  1288 

1289 
Caroline  Alden,  1300 
Roswell  Allen,  1283 
William  Albro,  663 
Clark  Albro    and  wife,  664  844 
Loren  S.  Allen   and   wife,    1264 

1255 
Mary  E.  Allen,  1278 
Eofcher  11.  Allen,  1279 
Elijah  Amidon  &  wife,  1 156  1157 
Mercy  Amidon,  1158 
Martha  Amidon,   1 159 
John  A.  Amidon,  1160 
Moses  Ames,  1246 
G.  W.  Aldrich's  wife,  1225 
Albert  A.  Atwood's  wife,  1297 

Hannah  Bakeman,  818 

Phebe  Baggs,  277 

Sarah  Baker,  654^ 

Ebenezer  Barber  and  wives,  864 

865  10i!l 
Joseph  Bardwell,  and  wife,  66  67 
Violet  Bardwell,  widow,  68 
Martin  Bardwell  &  wife,  418  126 
J.  Bardwell,  Jr.,  &  wife  233   162 


238 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES  OF  THE 


Elijah  BardTvell  and  wife  182  183 
H.  Bardwell's  wife,  225 
Haddassa  Bardwell,  303 
Electa  Bardwell,  304 
Martin  Bardwell,  Jr.'s  wife,  417 
Catlierine  Bardwell,  486 
Nancy  Bardwell,  501 
Oromal  Bardwell,  678 
Clarinda  Bardwell,  6^5 
Mary  Bardwell,  696 
Betsey  Bardwell,  AvidoAV,  715 
Jonathan  Bardwell,  753 
Sophronia  Bardwell,  917 
Elizabeth   Bardwell,   1230 
Nathan  Barnaby   and   wife    348 

349 
Horace  Barnaby,  768 
Sophronia  D.  Bartlett,  1337 
Julia  A.  M.  Bartlett,  1303 
Cyrus  Bartlett  and  wife,  601  602 
David  Bartlett's  wife,  857 
Cyrus  S.  Bartlett,  968 
Joab  Bartlett  and  wife,  1025  1026 
Louisa  Bartlett,  967 
AnnE.  Bartlett,  966 
Nathan  Bascom's  wife,  734 
D wight  Bascom,  1123 
Reuben  Barton's  wife,  168 
Samuel  Belknap  and  wife,  94  95 
Jonas  N.  Belknap  &  wile  227  228 
Benjamin  Billings  &  wife,  64  65 
Joseph  Billings  &  wife,    102  103 
Benjamin  Billings'  wife,  275 
Elenear  killings,  765 
Elisha  Billings'  wife,  777 
Benj.  Billings  &  wife,  793   793^ 
VV.  Bicknell  &  wives  299  300  367 
Whipple  Bishop's  widow,    1140 
Reuben  Blackmer's  wile,  786 
William  Bliss'  wife,   173 
Esther  Bliss,  885 
Timothy  Bliss'  wife,  713 
Asahel  Blodget&  wife,  1154  1155 
Abner  Blodgct   &  wife,  384   346 
Mary  M.  Bloclget,  1343 
Susan  Blodget,  758 
Alonzo  C.  LJlodgct,  1249 
Margaret  M.  Blodget,  1013 
Edward  P.  Blodget,  1277 


Selden  Borden,  770 
JohnBowdoin,  1101 
Noah  Bowker  and  wife,  79  80 
EbenezerBridgman&  wife,  14  15 
Joseph  Bridgman  &  wife,  16   17 
Jos.  Bridgman  &    wife,   200    156 
Oliver  Bridgman  &  wife,  187  324 
O.  Bridgman  &  wives,723  563  845 
Jos.  Bridgman,    Jr.'s   wife,   440 
Wright  Bridgman,  302 
Theodore  Bridgman  &  wives,  550 

3'i6  504  502 
Sally  Bridgman,  339 
Ebenezer  Bridgman  &  wife,  408 

391 
Jonathan  Bridgman,  411 
Wm.  Bridgman  &  wif©,  457   458 
Henry  A.  Bridgman  ii  wile,  460 

874 
Elijah  C.  Bridgman,  461 
Mary  Bridgman,  494 
Sarah  Bridgman,  1038 
Lucretia  Bridgman,  889 
Theodore  Bridgman,  Jr.,  &  wife, 

667  1046 
Sophia  Bridgman,  858 
Mary  Bridgman,  549 
Wright  Bridgman,   Jr.,  &  wife, 

112U  024 
AnnE.  Bridgman,  988 
Nancy  Bridgman,  989 
Joseph  Bridgman,  Jr.,  995 
Mary  Bridgman,  1001 
Henry  Bridgman's  wife,  1129 
Thomas  Brown  and  wife,   46  47 
Jemima  Brown,  014 
Elijah  Brow^n,  9i0 
Thomas  Brown  and  wife,  451  452 
Samuel  Brown  and  wife,  937  930 
Daniel  Brown,  952 
Nancy  Bugbee,  1137 
Nehemiah  Bugbee,  482  wife  486 
Mary  Ann  Bugbee,  927 
Diana  Burge,  760 
Enoch  Burnett  and  wife,  573  574 
Stephen  Burnett  &  wife,  598  599 
Philetvis  VV.  Burnett    and  wife, 

972  973 
Eliza  Burnett,  1114 


CONGEEGATIONAL   CHURCH  IN  BELCHErvTOWN.       239 


Addison  Burnett  and  wife,  1243 

1238 
Freeman  Burr,  296 
Elizabeth  Buxton,  429 
Wm   Buxton's  wife,  445 
Susan  Buxton,  761 
Ann  Bridgman,  1161 
Lemuel  G.  Bennett,   1162 
Mrs.  Levi  Burt,  1163 
Julia  A.  Bigelow,  1164 
Mrs.  John  M.  Bartlett,  1165 
Catherine  Bugbee,  1013 

Josiah  Carrier,  111 

Philip  Carrier,  112 

Benj.  Carrier's  wife,  119 

Thomas  Chapin  and  wife,  48  49 

Thankful  Chapin,  50 

Lydia  Chapin,  51 

Thomas  Chapin,  Jr.'s  wife  82 

Thomas  Chapin,  244 

Lebbeus  Chapin,   7-5 

Laura  Chapin,  812 

Lemira  Ann  Chapin,  941 

Sylva  Chapin,  1029 

Elijah  Chapin,  946 

Stephen  Chandler  &  wife,S31  832 

Thi'oop  Chapman  &  wife  210  211 

Samuel  Chapman  6c  wiie,  365  366 

George  Chandler's  wife,   1241 

Elihu  Chapman's  wife,  TlOi^ 

Enos  Chase  and  wife,  432  571 

Timothy  Chase's  wife,  390 

Dexter  Chase,  872 

Susanna  Church,  699 

Martha  A.  Clanccy,  1250^ 

John  Church's  wife,  710 
I     James  H.  Clapp's  wife,  780 
[     Esther  Clark,  413 
I     Caleb  Clark  and  wife,  154  155 
I     Lydia  J.  Clark,  710| 
I     Joshua  Clark,  392 

Jane  Clark,  414 

Charity  Clark,  widow,  717 

Caleb  Clark,  754 

Samuel  Clark  and  wife,  846  847 

Submit  Clark,  415 

Enea?  Clark's  wife,  603 

Mala  Cowies  &  wife,  1228   1229 


Josiah  Cowies,  &  wife,  1280  1281 
Ardelia  Cowies,  1294 
Abel  Clough,  264 
Amasa  Clough  and  wife,  208  209 
Noah  Clark,  6G5 
Hannah  Cleveland,  widow,  552 
Joseph  Colburn  &  wife,  297   298 
John  Clough  &  wife,  596  597 
K,ev.  L.  Coleman's  wife,  919 
Mary  Colton,  611 
David  Converse  &  wife,  203  204 
Ephraim  Converse's  wife,  544 
Reuben  Coats'  wife,  220 
Sylvester  Cook,  669 
Permelia  Cook,  811 
Mary  Cowies  widow,  53 
Nathan  Cowies  and  wife,  54  55 
Israel  Cowies  and  wife,  56  57 
Moses  Cowies  and  wife,  137   138. 
John  Cowies  and  wife,  85  86 
Israel  Cowies,  Jr.'s  widow,  212 
John  Cowies,  Jr.,  &  wife,  191  192 
Josiah  Cowies,  272 
Abner  Cowies' wife,  332 
Joshua  Cowies  and  wife,  341  342 
Amasa  Cowies  and  wife,  436  437 
Enos  Cowies  and  wife,    481    441 
Kemember  J.  Cowies,  483 
Ethan  S.  Cowies'  wife,  608 
Israel  Cowies  and  wife,  727   898 
Semantha  Cowies,  824 
Lvither  Cowies,  871 
Minerva  Cowies,  y05 
Edwin  Cowies,    1262J^ 
Harriet  Cowies,   1016 
Arraina  Cowies,  1084 
Tertius  Cowies,  1091 
Williams  W.  Cowies,  1313 
Mrs.  Cowies,  1104 
Stephen  Crowfoot  &  wife,   71  72 
Ebenezer  Crowfoot's  widow,  110 
Cliarles  W.  Carter,  1167 
Harriet  N.  Chamberlin  1168 
Frances  J.  Clark,   1169 
Dwight  P.  Clapp,  1332 

Stephen  Darling's  wife,  177 

Samuel  Davis,  226 

Levi  David  and  wife,  743  744 


240 


HISTOKICAL    SKETCHES    OF    THE 


Joel  Davis,  771 

Aaron  Davis'    widow,  807 

Aaron  Davis'  wile,  823 

John  Divis,   1032 

Aaron  Davis,   1139 

Joseph  Davenport  and  wife,  785 

786 
Timothy  Dimmick,  803 
DrucUla  Day,  «U2 
Samuel    Daugherty    and    wife, 

509  510 
Caroline  Daugherty,  904 
Eliza  Dodge,  424 
Zebulon  Dodge's  wife,  920 
Salome  T.  Dodge,  951 
Mark  Doolittle   and  wives,   647 

555    648 
Lucv  M.  Doolittle,  982 
Betsey  M.  Doolittle,  1080^ 
Martin  Domer's  wiie,  81 
Roderick  Dorman  &  wife  976  610 
Sally  Dorman,  732 
Cornelia  Dorman,   108  0 
Sarah  Dorman,  1103 
Robert  Dunbar's  Avife,  388 
Charles  Dunbar  &  wife,   801  567 
AmasaDunton  and  wife,  582  583 
Lois  Dunton,  496 
Stephen  Dunbar,  896 
Francis  Dunbar,  1007 
Louisa  Dunbar,  887 
Roxana  Dunham  1129^ 
Marilla  Dunton,  497 
Chauncey  Dunton,  &21 
Nathaniel  F.  Dunton,   622 
Samuel  Dunton,  808 
Martha  M.  Dickinson  1344 
Sarah  Lorane  Doolittle,  1176 
As  ah  el  H.  Dorman,  1235 
Francis  Dunbar's  wife,  1172 
Charles  Dunbar's  wife,  1173 
Betsey  B.  D wight,  1170 
Susan  D wight,  1171 
Clara  D  wight,   1174 
Delia  Dwight,  1175 
Nathaniel  Dwight,  and  wife  42  43 
Pliny  Dwights  wife,  196  j 

Hcnrv  Dwight  and  wile,  197  198  : 
Elijah  Dwight  and  wife,  215  216  \ 


Clairssa  Dwight,  273 

Nancy  Dwight,  321 

Susan  Dwight,  376 

Simeon  Dwight  and  wives,   636 

421  1151 
Lydia  Dwight,  443 
Jonathan  Dwight  and  wife,  455 

456 
Nath'l  Dwight  &  wife,    515  516 
Justus  Dwight  Jr.  &  wives  517 

518  542 
Clarissa  Dwight,  548 
Peregrine  DAvight,  679 
Nancy  Dwight,  692 
Joseph  II.  U wight,  766 
Emily  Dwight,  914 
Asahel  Dwight,  800 
Harrison  D.  Dwight's  wife,  1245 
Sarah  Dwight,  950 
EldadP.  Dwight,  1010 
Eliza  DAvight,  1017 
Mary  Dwight,  1018 
Mary  Rice  DAvight,  1019 
Delia  DAvight  1256 
DaA'id  B.  DAvight,  1306 
Clara  A.  DAvight,  1321 
Jason   L.  Dwight,  &  wife    1364 

1235 

Mars  on  Eaton's  AA'idoAV,  176 
Robert  Emmons  285 

David  Fairbanks  &  wife,  637  572 

Mary  Fairbanks,  902 

Walter  Fairfield  and  wife,  21  22 

Stephen  Fairtield  and  Avife,  23  24 

Mary  FairHeld,  101 

Thaddeus  Fairfield  and  Avife,  148 

149 
Amasa  Fairfield,  &  wife,  397  398 
Silas  Farrington,  t)75 
Poliy  Farrington,  733 
Amos  Farrington  &  Avife,  735  736 
Varney  FelloAvs,  553 
Gurdon  File  's  AvLfe,  380 
John  Filer's  Avife  1180 
Humphrey  T.  Filer's  Avife,  1024 
Barnabas  Fay,  206 
Thomas  M.   Ferry's  wife,  1106 


CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCH    IN    BELCHERTOWN.       241 


Jacob   Finlev  and  wives,  969  631 

1149  1179 
Almira  Fisher,  628 
David  Fisk,  1178 
Joseph  Fisher,  234 
Salem  Fisher,  53S 
Aldana  Fisher,  539 
Rev.  Justus  Forward's  wife,  122 
Justus     Forward    Jr.    and  wile, 

731  325 
Eunice  Forward,  389 
George  Forward's  wife,  830 
Nancy  Forward,  867 
Caroline  Forward,  868 
Mary  Ford,  69 1 
Emery  B.  Foster,  1093 
Dorcas  Freeman,  819 
John  Freeman's  wife,  822 
Abel  Fuller,  755 
Josiah  Fox  and  wife,  556  557 
William  Freeman,   1244 
Francis    Forward  &  wife,    1287 

1250 

Emily  D.  Gates,  1240 
Electa  D.  Gates,  1181 
Nathaniel  D .  Goodale'  s  wife,  1182 
Thomas  A.  Gates'  wife,  232 
Horace  Gates'   wives,  5994    926 
John  Gilbert  and  wife,  319;^  319| 
Samuel  Gilbert  399 
George  Gilbert  &   wife,  558  559 
Mary  M.  Gilbert,  1005 
Wareham  C.  Gilbert,  1034 
Hiram  Gilbert,  1085 
George  W.  Gilbert,  1089 
Charles  H.  Gilbert,  1183 
Maria  Gillett,  lOOa 
Harriet  Gillett  1081 
Nathaniel    Goodell's   wife,    214 
Moses  Goodale  &  wife,  640  1126 
George  T.  Goodale  1214 
Thomas  Goodale's  wife,  602 
Elizabeth  Goodale,  1061 
Jonathan  Graves  and  wife,  12  13 
Thomas  Graves  &  wife,  60  61 
Jolm  Graves,  62 
Lydia  Graves  63  493 
Joseph  Graves'  wife,  131 

22 


Electa  Graves,  253 

Perez  Graves,  259 

Susanna  Graves,  267 

Josiah  D.  Graves  &  wife,  459  338 

Sarah  Graves,  widow,  419 

Joseph  Graves  &    wife,459i  859 

Mary  Ann  Graves,  883 

Penelope  Graves,  884 

Chester  Gray,  806 

Jeremiah  Gray  and  wife,  820  842 

Lydia  Gray,  I  060 

Joel  Green's  wife,  213 

Jedediah  Green's  wife,  368 

Lucy  Hamilton,  543 
Martha   Hamilton,    widow,  923 
Mary  Ilannum,  widow,  26 
Samuel  Hannum  and  wife,  27  28 
Moses  Ilannum  and  wife,  29    30 

and  5494  549:1 
Aaron  Hannum  and  wife,  31  32 
Gideon  Hannum,  33 
Eunice  Hannum,  207 
Solomon  Hannum  &  wife,217  218 
Mary  Hannum,   219 
Abia  Hannum,  466 
Oliver  Hannum,  520 
Gamaliel  Hannum,  521 
Mercy  M.   Hannum,  522 
Stiles  Hannum  and  wife,    1083^ 

1063^ 
Mary  Hannum,  widow,  716 
Phineas  Hannum  &  wife,  737  738 
Daiiie'  Hannum,  757 
Elijah   Hannum  and  wife,  794 

795,    1102.^    wife  of  Elijah 

Hannum,  2d. 
Mary  Hannum,  1044 
Adaline  Hannum  1045 
Mary  J.  Hannum,  1 258 
Amanda  Hannum,  1072 
Judith  Hatch,  422 
Harris  Hatch  and  wife,    381  382 
Polly  Hatch,  401 
Herman  llawes  &  wives,  453  454 

1185 
John  Hawes  and  wife,  468  638 
Harvey  Hawes  and  wile  975  821 
George  Hawes,  996 


242 


HISTORICAL    SKETCHES    OF    THE 


Sophia  Hawes,  1802  1 

Nancy  Hawes,  1604  I 

Leavett  Havens  &  wife,  386  3f  7 
Cloe  Hawkes,  1146 
Benjamin  Haynes'  wife,  310 
Luther  Holland  and  wives,    395 

396  416 
Alfred  H.  Hill,  1292 
Calvin  Hitchcock's  Avife,  1223 
Ephraim  Plitchcock,  1358 
HarrisonHolland  ^S:wi^e,  4T9  480 
Jonas  Holland's  wife,  305 
Jonas  Holland's  wife,   1286 
Dr   William  Holland  and  wives, 

334  335  442 
Nelson  Holland,9 31 
Sophia  Holland,  591 
Maria  Holland,  592 

William  Holland,  620 
Park  H'. Hand's  wife,  781 

Ge.rge  Holland,  912 

Caroline  Holland,  1002 

Mary  Holland,  1003 

Ashlev  Holland  and  wives,  884.^ 
1362  1040 

Luther  Holland,  Jr  ,  1056 

Emily  Holland,   IK '6 

Mary  C.  Holland,   1110 

William  J  Holland,  1318 

Charles  Holland  1118 

Horatio  Holland,  1345 

Diana  Howard,  507 

Sally  Howard,  508 

Clarissa  Howard  (609)  also  (631) 

And'w  Howard  &:  wife  69 1^  1108 

Chauncey  Howard,  729 

Haddassa  Howard,  798 

Lorenzo  T.  Howard,   1184 

Ransom  Howard  and   wife,    826 
1083 

Solomon  B.  Howard,  870  &  wife 

Ansel  Howard  &  wife  933  934 

Ansel  H.  Howard,  935 

Harriet  A.  Howard,  936 

Theodotia  HoAvard,  971 

Naomi  T.  H  ward,  1039 

Elijah  Howe  and  wives,  135  130 
170 

Mary  Howe,  1112, 


Henry  Howe,  1117 
Eliza^Howe  1296 
Sylvanus  Howe's  wife,  151 
Dr.  Estes  Howe's  wife,  199 
Benj.  Howe  and  Avife,   431    494 
Harriett  Howe,  489 
Silas  W.  Howe,  783 
Betsey  HoAve,  1062 
John  Hunt's  Avife,  708 
Amanda  Hunt,  606 
Abner  Hunt  and  Avifc,  294  295 
William  VV.  Hunt,  465 
John  Hunt  3d,  484 
Ilebeckah  Hunt,  499 
John  Hvdes  Avidow,  404 
John  Hyde,  772 

Samuel  Lagalls,  513 
Clarissa  Ingalls,  514 
Willis  Ingalls,  568 
Sally  Ingalls,  861 

Col.  Jones'  AAife,  600 

J.  Addison  Joy  and   wife,   1132 

1133 
Mercia  Jepson,  1^90 

Moseley  J.  Kendall,  1188 

Maria  Kendrick  1190 

Lydia  M.  Keith,  965 

Louisa  Kellogg,  875 

Eliza  Kellogg,  1047 

Joseph  Kenneday  and  Avi\'es,  720 

4o0  444 
Eliza  Kenneday,  990 
Salmon  Kenttield's  wife  123 
VVm.  Kenttield  and  Avife,  140  14 
Kufus  Kenttield,  255 
Widow  Mary  Kenttield,   184 
David  Kenttield   and  Avife,    29 

291 
Josiah  Kentfield's   AA^dow, 
Eliza  C.  King,   1311 
Jonathan  11.  Keith  and  Avife,  1221 

1211 
Triphena  Kentfield,  495 
Caroline  Kentfield,  1127 
Benj.  Kilbourn  &  Avife,    405  406 
Moses  KUbourn's  Avife,  447 


i 


CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCH    IN  BELCHERTOWN.    243 


Frederick  Kilner  &  wife  916  852 

Joanna  Kimball,  698 

Henry  K.  Knapp,  62o 

Samuel  Knight  &  wife,  834  835 

Kate  E.  Kellogg,  1304 

Rufus  King's  wife,    1334 

G.  W.  Kellogg's  wife,  1124 

Melintha  Leach,  915 

JeiFerson  Leach,  1055 

Luke  Leach,  1069 

Mary  E.  Leach,  1326 

Eunice  Leach,  700 

Submit  Lewis,  236 

DaAdd  Lewis  &  wife,  1077   1020 

Enos  Lincoln  and  wife,   378  379 

Densey  Lincoln,  705 

Solomon  Lincoln,  768i 

Solomon  H.  Linnell,  1120 

Lemviel  G  Lloyd,  1215 

Ann  Livermore,  1012 

Jonathan  Lumbard's   wife,  122^ 

John  Lombard's  wife,  8rt 

Aaron  Ln-'u.v;!  and  wife,  3  4 

Josiah  Lymi:i  and  wife,  12190 

Aaron  Lyman,  230 

Sophia  Lyman,  231 

Giles  Lyman  and  Avife  249  319 

Jonathan  Lyman,  261 

John  Lemon's  Avife,  654 

Samuel  Lemon  and  wife,  425  426 

Lydia  Lemon,  561 

llufus  S.  Lincoln  and  wife  1231 

1216 
Mary  J.  Lincoln,  1325 
Mvron  Lawrence,  1236  Avife  548 
Sarah  T   U.  Lawrence,   1273 
Sophia  D.  LaAvrence,  1275 

Allen  M.  Mather,  1248 

Chloe  .viahulan,  268 

Daniel  Marsh,  775 

Estes  Marsh,  676 

Prudence  Marsh,  547 

John  C.  Marsh,  862 

Solomon  Marsh,  074 

Esther  Marsh,  Avid.  1011  &  1071 

Ellen  M.  Marsh,  1350 

Philander  Marsh,  1008 

Esther  Marsh,  1071 


John  Marshall  and  Avife  374,  375 
Jno.  Marshall,  Jr.,  435,  wile,  490 
Betsey  Marshall,  506 
Eliza  Marshall,  542 
Betsey  L.  Marshall,  1064 
Edward  Marshall,   1075 
Henry  Mellen's  Avife,  566 
Dexter  Mellen's  wife,  796 
Hannah  Melvin,  265 
Eli  Millard's  wife,  402 
Elizabeth  Millard,  891 
Harriet  Millard,  964 
Ephraim    Montague    and   wife, 

1022,  1023 
Dorcas  Montague,  1136 
Sarah  Montague,  1141 
Elizabeth  Montague,  1236 
Joanna  Moody,  117 
Jerusha  Moody,  118 
Ebenezer  Moody  and  ATives,  120, 

121,  169 
Elijah  Moody  and  wife,  144,  145 
Heman  Moody  and  wife,  634,  827 
Festus  Moody,  1031 
Josiah  Moody  and  wife,  848,  849 
Anson  Moody  and  wife,  879,  880 
Emily  S.  Moore,  900 
Benjamin  Morgan,  52,  Avife,  161, 

son's  AA'ife,  355 
EdAvard  Morris  and  Avife,  804,  805 
Heman  E.  Moody  and  wile,  1191, 

2dAAd1e,1242 
Juliann  Moore,  1193 
Mary  Jane  Maloy,  1194 
Elizabeth  Morse,  333 
Alvan  Morse  and  Avife,  681,  519 
Amos  C.  Morse  and  wife,  837,  838 
Clarissa  Morse,  lOGb.^ 
Kphraim  Marssh's  AvidoA\',  895 
Jonas  Melvill's  AA'iJe,  1224 
Am.os  L.  Mason,  1234 
Harvey  Montague's  wife,  1239 
William  L.  Montague,  1257 
Betsey  G.  Manly,  1192 

Francis  NeAvton  and  wife,  97,  98 
Stephen  Newton's  wives,  134,281 
Asa  Newton  and  wife,  142,  143 
KUjah  Nichols  and  Aviie,  344,  345 
Mary  Nichols,  4«7 


244 


HISTORICAL    SKETCHES    OF    THE 


Sally  Nichols,  522^  and  also  833 
Lucy  Nichols,  562 
Lydia  Nichols,  682 
James  Nichols  and  wife,  767,1012 
Anna  Nichols,  876 
Sarah  D.  Nichols,  1150 
Edwin  J.  Nichols,  1331 
George  Nye  and  wife,  925,  899 

Elizabeth  Owen,  1341 

Ralph  Owen  and  wife,  651,  652 

Eleazer  Owen,  Jr.  774 

A.  Ralph  Owen,  980 

Elvira  Owen,  961 

Prances  Owen,  962 

Artemas  Owen's  wives,  1051,  2d 

wife  1198 
Nancy  Owen,  1000 
Reed  J.  Owen,  1196 
Mrs.  M.  A.  Onatt,  1197 


EHjah  Parker,  133 

Roxana  Parker,  185 

Tabitha  Parker,  190 

Charles  W.  Parker,  784 

Philo  Parsons'  wife,  595 

Nathan  Parsons  and  wife,  38,  69 

Eldad  Parsons  and  wife,  223,  224 

Oliver  Parsons,  250 

Rock  Parsons,  472 

Malissa  Parsons,  503 

Horatio  A.  Parsons,  569 

John  M.  Pearl  and  wife,  372,  373 

Betsey  Pearl,  560 

Augustine  Payne  and  wife,  579, 

579i 
Lemuel  Payne's  wife,  333 
Harriet  Parker,  886 
Experience  Parsons,  704 
Hazo  Parsons'  wife,  707 
Gould  Parsons,  719 
Timothy  Pearl  and  wife,  649,  650 
Samuel  H.  Peckham,  65  4  J 
Almira  Pepper,  1199 
Simeon  Pepper  &  wives,  739,  740, 

1153,  1227 
Charlotte  Pepper,  1200 
Paul  Pettingale's  wife,  446i 


Jemima  Preston,  593, 

Samuel  K.  Prebton  and  wife,  749 

750 
Sally  Preston,  1201 
Alanson  U    Pepper,  1218 
Josei)h  Phelps  and  wife,  34,  35 
EHakim  Phelps  and  wife,  36,  37 
Abigail  Phelps,  89 
Joseph  Phelps,  Jr.'s  wife,  106 
Aaron  Phelps  and  wile,  115,  116 
William  Phelps,  166 
Eliakim  Phelps  and  wife,  222,193 
Abner  Fhelps,  340 
Deborah  Phelps,  363 
Dudley  Phelps  and  wife,  470,  377 
Dudley  Phelps,  2d,  471 
Daniel  Phelps  and  wife,  462,  836 

2d  wife,  1129i 
William  Phelps  and  wife,   463, 

712,  2d  wife,  1142 
Diana  Phelps,  498 
Lucinda  Phelps,  524 
Eliakim  Phelps,  Jr.,  570 
Noah  Phelps  and  wife,  726,  587 
Sally  Phelps,  'U5 
Cynthia  Pheli.s,  617 
Rosina  Phelps,  616 
Benj.  Phelps  and  wife,  751,  810 
Isaac  Phelps,  825 
Patty  Phelps,  877 
Emily  A.  Phelps,  1063 
Daniel  P.  Phelps,  1090 
Wilmoth  PhilHps  and  wife,  1052, 

1053 
Rev.  Exp.  Porter's  wife,  554 
Daniel  Porter  and  wife,  322,  323 
Warner  Pratt's  wife,  1295 
Mariam  Powers,  940 
Joseph  Powers  and  wife,  943,945 
Elijah  Pratt,  1009 
James  H.  Pratt,  1276 
Eleazer  Pomeroy,  654j 
Elisha  Pratt,  1335 
Moses  Prentiss'  wife,  132 
Reuben  Prentiss'  wife,  393 
Josiah  W.  Priest's  wife,  1135 
Fanny  M.  Pratt,  1269 
Caroline  Pratt,  1270 
Mary  S.  Pratt,  1271 


CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCH    IN    BELCHERTOWN.    245 


Sallv  Ramsdell,  787 
Fanny  E.  Riindall,  1339 
Lemuel  Randall's  wife,  1282 
Julia  A.  Randall,  1259 
Jotham  Randall  and  wife,  369,370 
Joel  Randall,  531 
Emeline  Randall,  1329 
Vespatian  Randall's  wife,  778 
Jotham  Randall,  Jr.,  957 
Minerva  Randall,  903 
Alonzo  D.  Randall,  1301 
Jesse  Randall,  956 
Chester  Randall,  1054 
Charles  L   Randall,  1308 
Almira  Randall,  1115 
Chester  Randall,  Jr.,  1319 
Joseph  Reed  and  wives,  274,  278, 

364 
Charles  Reed,  623 
Eliphas  Reed's  wife,  854 
William  Reed  and  wife,  932,  2d 

wife,  1098 
Warren  A.  Reed  and  wife,  1027, 

10274 
Warren  Reed  and  wife,  1 204,1205 
Rev.  Jared  Reid's  wife,  1067 
Ann  Reid,  1134 
Aaron  Rhoads'  wife,  353 
Polly  Rhoads,  488 
Drusilla  Rhoads,  523 
Martha  D.  Rhoads,  701 
Timothy  Rice  and  wife,  286,  287 
Zerviah  Rice,  340 
Lyman  Rice,  1333,  and  wife,1348 
Susanna  Rice,  304 
Darius  H.  Rice  and  wife,  607,714 
Sophia  Richardson,  1202 
Horatio  Rice's  wite,  779 
Louisa  Richardson,  1203 
Daniel  Rider,  478 
Hezekiah  Root  and  wife,  44,  45 
Orlando  Root  and  wife,  105,  107 
Miriam  Root,  108 
Elisha  Root  and  wife,  124,  125 
Asenuth  Root,  252 
Molly  Root,  276 
Kemcmbrauce    Root    and  wife, 

351  352 
Darius  Root  and  wife,  301  362 

22^^ 


Elihu  Root  and  wife,  511  512 
Orlando  Root  and  wife,  438  439 
Wealthy  Root,  762 
Rhoda  Root,  907 
Elizabeth  Root,  1014 
Harrison  Root,  1030 
Mary  C.   Root,    1048 
David  Robbins,  981 
David  Ruggles'  wife,  922 
William  G.  Ruggles,  1217 

Thomas  Sabin  and  wife,  576   577 
Thomas  Sabin,  Jr.  and  wife,  590 

590^ 
Lewis  Sabin,  773 
Laura  Sabin,  906 
Sherman  Sabin  970 
Anna  Sabin,  1050 
Abigail  A.  Sabin,  1078 
Lyman  Sabin,  1100 
Eiihu  Sanford's  wives,    301    357 
Ichabod  Sanford's  wife,  371 
Learned  Scott,  467 
Ephraim  Scott  and  wife,  850  851 
Amy  Sexton,  widow,  287^ 
George  C.  Sanford's  wife,  1237 
Lydia  Sexton,  266 
Elizabeth  Sexton,  638 
Mason  Shaw's  wife,  376 
Luther  Shaw's  wife,  1143 
Noah  Sexton,  246 
Amy  Sexton,  254 
Christopher  Simons,   1233 
Martha  A   Shaw,  1342 
Asa  Shumway  and  wife,  113   114 
David  !"  hum  way  &  wife,  174    175 
CIoc  Shumway,  237 
Erasmus  Shumway's  wdfe,  403 
Alfred  Shumway's  wife,  423 
Samuel  Shumway,  433 
Elihu  Shumway's  wife,  641 
Esther  Shumway,  688 
Solomon  Shumway  and  wife,  720 

843 
Nathan  Shumway's  wife,  866 
Eddy  Shumway  and   wife,    1028 

1028.^ 
John  R.  Shumway,   1092 
Solomon  C.  Shumway's  wife,  1225 


246 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES    OF    THE 


Joseph  Sikes  and  wife  127  128 

Plinv  S.kes,  245 

Tabitha  JSikes,  230 

Roderick  Shew  brooks,  672 

Abner  Sikes'  wife,  122^ 

Elihu  Smead,  409. 

John  Smith,  and  wife,  1  2 

Abner  Smith  and  wife,  5  6 

Daniel  Smith  and  wife,  7  8 

Joseph  Smith  and  wife,  9  10 

Elijah  Smith  and  wife,  11  75 

Joseph  Smith,  Jr.  &wife  139  171 

Edward  Sm;th  and  wife,  163  164 

Abigail  Sm  th,  165 

Abia  Smith,   167 

Irene  Smith,   188 

Experience  Smith,  189 

Amasa  Smith,  229 

Daniel  Smith,  Jr.  &  wife,  238  239 

Jacob  Smith  247 

John  Smith,  248 

Phebe  Sm  th,  2ol 

Enos  Smith,  260 

Eli  Smith,  279 

Amos  Shaw  and  wife,  1285  1252 

Lncretia  Shumway,  1206 

Asahael  Shumwa^y's  wife,  1191 

Mary  J.  Shumway,   1305 

Clarissa  Sikes,  1_51 

Permelia  Smith,  1 247 

James  Smith's  wii'e,  280 

Jonathan  Sm:th   and  wives   288 

289  350 
Piatt  Slaughter,  1307 
Bui  ah  Smith  316 
Samuel  Smith's  Avife,  385 
Mercy  Smith,  41(i 
Betsey  Smith  5  35 
Margaret  13.  Smith,  1121 
Cotton  Smith's  wile,  894 
Sophia  Smith  764 
Giles  Smith's  wife  581 
Samuel  Suiith,  756 
Nehemiali  Smith's  wife,  929 
Eunice  Smith,  1363 
Obed  Smith's  wiie,  1130 
John  Spooncr  and  wile,   863   918 
Lee  Sprague,  668 
Ebenezer  Stearns  &  wife,  58  59 


Ebenezer  Stearns  2d  &  wife,  83  84 
Benj.  Stebbins  and  wife,  18  19 
Gideon  Stebbins  and  wife  129  130 
Benj.  Stebbins  2d,  262 
Zenas  Stebbins    and  wives,    724 

383  856 
Sam'l  II.  Stebbins  and  wife,  430 

645 
Sylvanus  Stebbins  and  wife,  604 

605 
Cyius  Stebbins,  671 
Henry  Stebbins  and  wife,  745  746 
Juliann  Stebbins,  890 
Dolly  Stebbins,  901 
Henry  Stebbins,  Jr.,  979 
Caroline  Stebbins,  984 
LucA  Stebbins,  983 
Emily  Stebbins,  985 
Lavmia  Stebbins,  988 
L  lura  B.  Stebbins,  1087 
Heury  Slarks,  1219 
Cordelia  S.  Shumway,   1312 
Grace  Stebbins,  1086 
Harriet  Stebbins,  967 
Clarissa  Stebbins,  1111 
Diantha  Stebbins,  1128 
Ely  W.  Stebbins  and  wife,    1293 

1294 
Juliett  Stebbins,  1310 
Mark  Siacy  and  wife,  292  293 
Ira  Stacy  and  wife,  475  476 
Arba  Stacy  and  wife,  530  949 
Hannah  Stacy,  541 
Dimmis  Stacy,  629 
Julia  Stacy,  630 
Zina  Stacy,  703 

Alansou  Siacy  and  wife,  909  882 
Horace  Stacy,   1006 
Phineas    Strong    and  wives,  314 

315  613 
Samuel  Strong  and  wives,  464 

506  565 
Abigail  Strong,  504 
Elizabe'ih  Strong,  1015 
N;  iicy  Strono-,  502 
Tlu-odotia  Strong,  540 
Eli  Strong,  564 
Adolphus  Strong  and  wife,    666 

881 


I 


CONGREGATIOXAL  CHURCH  IN    BELCHERTOWN.     247 


Adelia  Swinington,  813 
S.  Streeter,  980 
Solcinon  Shum^vav,  1316 
Rebekah  N.  Shaw^  1361 

Sarah  Tainter,  689 
Oliver  S.  Tavlor,  584 
Kebekah  P.  Taylor,  763 
John  Thayer's  wile,  213^ 
Mary  A.  Thayer,  789 
Mary  Ann  Thayer,  1113 
Horatio  Thomson  and  wives,  992 

993  982 
Rebekah  Thopping,  76 
James  Towne,  and  Avife,  73  74 
Israel  Towne' s   wife,   104 
David  Towne  and  wife,  146  147 
Amasa  Towne  and  wife,  241  242 
Jonathan  Towne  and  wife,   258 

337 
Abner  Towne  and  wife,  353    354 
Solomon  Towne,  358 
Lueretia  Towne,  400 
Emily  S.  Towne,  1272 
Lydia  Tow.ie,  687 
Lydia  Towne,  1207 
Laura  Towne,  697 
Edward  F.  ToAvne,  1314 
Almira  Towne,  797 
Israel  Towne,  878 
Abner  Towne,  2d,  532 
Joseph  Towne,  948 
Asher  Towne's  wife,  1152 
Amasa  Towne,   1232 
Julia  L.  Towne,   1065 
Sarah  E.  Towne,  1322 
Malissa  Tow^ne,  1083 
Abner  F.  Towne,  1119 
Ebenezi-r  VV.  Towne,    and  wife, 

1144   1145 
Israel  Trask,  313 
Joseph  Tu.-ker's  wife,  3 19  J 
Jonathan  S.  Tucker's  wile,  580 
Eliza  Tucker,  1033 

Newell  Upham,  955 
Howard  Upham's  wife,  1347 
Flavia  S   Underwood,  1356 
Russell  S.  Underwood,  1309 


James  Walker  and  wives,  99  100 

2S7.i 
James  Walker,  Jr.  &   wife,    256 

257 
Ilezekiah Walker  &  wife,  243  642 
Silas  Walker  and  wife,    317    318 
Josiah  Walker  and  wife,  635  320 
Nath'l  Walker  &  wife,  410  331 
Aaron  Walker,  412 
Jason  Walker  and  wife,  427  428 
Hezekiah  Walker,  Jr.  and  wives, 

473  488  643 
Horace  Walker,  474 
'J'ertius  Walker,  477 
Amy  Walker,  490 
Oshea  Walker,  491 
Mary  Walker,  1070 
Elmira  Walker,  991 
I  Esthers.  Walker,  492 
i  Polly  Walker,  505 
Joel' Walker,  525 
Deborah  Walker,  526 
Silence  W'alkcr,  527 
Sarah  Walker,  1274 
Dara  W^alker,  528 
Edson  M.  Walker,  1315 
Charles  Walker,  624 
(iilbert  E    Walker  1317 
Emily  Walker,  626 
Eliza  Walker,  627 
AsaM.  Walker's  wife,  1354 
Henry  J.  Walker  and  wife,  1074 

12:38 
Aaro',1  Walker,  Jr.,  959 
Emery  P.  Walker,  1320 
Polly  Walker,  632 
Everett  W.  Walker,   1351 
Lu  -y  Walker,  639 
JuliettE.  Walker,  1327 
Samuel  Walker,  lw3 
Mary  K.  Walker,  1330 
Electa  W^alker,  690 
Polly  K.  W^ilker,  1340 
Harriet  Walker,  759 
Silence  S   W^alker,  1355 
Oromal  Walker,  7&2 
John  (i.  W^ilker,  1036 
Phineas  C    Walke.-,  958 
Caleb  Walker,  939 


248 


HISTORICAL    SKETCHES    OF    THE 


Seth  Walker,  lUG 

Kenselaer  ^v  alker's  wife,  1263 

Orren  Walker  and  wife,  1281  921 

Caleb  Walker,  Jr.'s  wife,   1260 

Lyman  Walker  and  wife,954  1005 

Almira  Ward,  942 

Oshea  Walker,   1049 

Martha  Ann  Walker,  1058 

Philura  C  Walker,  1059 

Ezra  Ward's  wife,  802 

Mary  Ward,  694 

Sally  Warner,  816 

William  B.  Warner,  659 

Dara  Walker's  wife,  1131 

Josiah  Walker,  Jr  's  wife,  1138 

Sarah  E.  Walker,  1099 

Elon  Walker,  1076 

Emeline  Walker,  1082 

Calvin  A  Warren,  938 

Delilah  C.  Ward,  734^ 

Moses  Warner  and  wife,  39  40 

Ebcnczcr  Warner  and  wife,   41 

70 
Wareham  Warner's  wife,  157 
Jonathan  Warner  and   wife,  159 

160 
Josiah  Warner,  172 
Mary  Warner,  1352 
Seth  Warner  and  wife,  180  181 
Ellen  Warner,  1353 
Hulda  Warner,  201 
Esther  Warner,  202 
Submit  Warner,  205 
Phineas  Warner  and  wives,  235 

420  618 
Stephen  Warner,  240 
Elisha  Warner  and  wife,  722  263 
Henrietta  Warner,  444 
Charles  L.  Warner  and  wife,  1267 

1349 
Theron  Warner,  657 
Ebenezcr  Warner,  658 
Olive  Washburn,  519 
George  Washburn,   660 
Mary  Washburn,  1210 
Charles  L.  Washburn,  1220 
Charles  Washburn  and  wife,  791 

792 


Eliab  Washburn   and  wife,   790 

711 
Sophia  Washburn,  654^ 
Delphia  Washburn  566.^ 
Nathan  Weeks'  wife,  589 
James  Went  worth's  wife,  873 
Williams  II.  Whittemore,  680 
John  Whitman,  2d,  661 
Elizabeth  Whitman,  683 
Catherine  Whitman  684 
Polly  Whitman,  685 
Abby  Whitman,  686 
James  Whitman,    Jr.    and  wife, 

897  1213 
Lydia  Whitman,  908 
A.  Whitman,  822^ 
Reuben  White's  wife,  829 
B  enj amin  E    W  hite,  8 4 1 
Vester  Willson,  551 
Sylvester  Wilson's  wife,  588 
Amy  Willson,  693 
James    Whitman   and    wife  434 

435 
John  Willson' s  wife,  594 
Francis  Willson,  500 
lluth  Warner,  1102 
Pliny  Witt's  wife,  407 
Oliver  Willson,  693^ 
Elizabeth  Willson,  widow,  809 
Isaac  Willis,  814 
Jacob  Willis,  815 
Orric  Willis  977 
Elijah  Whitney,    911 
Jesse    Williams  and  wives,  1147 

1148  1264 
Esther  Williams,  1149 
Lucretia  Witt,  672^ 
James  S.  Whitman,  1222 
Jesse  M.  Williams  and  wife,  1359 

1360 
Eliza  M.  Willey,  1357 
Allred  11.  Winter,  953 
Electa  Winter,  963 
Timothy  Work's  wife,  860 
Rev.  S.  Woolcott's  Avife,  1265 
Ivory  Witt  and  wife,  747  748 
Alphcus  Winter's  wife,  578 
Joshua  Wilder,  93 


COXGttEOATrOXAL    CIIUKCII    IN  BELCHEETOWN.      249 


Jacob  Willson  and  wife,  178   179 
Azariali   Will  in  and    wiven,    448 

449  G54^ 
Jonathan    ii.    WooddJ   and   wife, 

1201  12'52 
Danif'l  VV()rthin^ton,87 
Samuel    Worthington   and  wife, 

91  92 
Temperance    Worthington,    18G 

also  328 
DavidWorthington&  wifel94  19/} 
Wm.  W(>rthingtou  and  wife,  311 

3 1 2 
Celina  W.,rthington,  327 
Sarah   Worthington,  347 
Eli  WoodH  and  wife,  329  330 
Eliza  M.  Woods,  1324 
Asa  JJ    Woods,  533 
Joseph  Woods  and  wife,  534  644 
L}'dia  Woods,  535 


Clarissa  F.  Woods,  1346 

Susan  Woods,  536 

Asa  Woods'  wife,  446 

Jonathan  Woods  &  wife,  685  686 

Zepheniah  Woods,  674 

(ieorge  B.  Woods  and  wife,    799 

998 
Martin  Woods  and  wife,  828  828i 
Eliwha  Woods  and  and  wife,  892 

893 
Oliver  Wright  and  wife,  270  271 
Jonathan  Wriglit  and  wife,  446| 

537 
Anderson  Wright,  978 
Ara  Wright  and  wife  1035  1036 
Lucy  Wright,   1209 
Henry  A.  Wright  and  wife,  1212 

1212^ 
Susan  M.  Woods,  1366 
Lucy  C.  Woods,  1367 


Those  who  were  removed  from  the  churh  by  death  or  otherwise, 
previous  to  February  25th,  1756,  are  not  found  in  the  foregoing 
list  ;  no  record  is  to  be  found  of  them.  Names  are  doubtless  omit- 
ted of  some  who  have  been  communicants,  and  members  of  the 
church  ;  since  that  time,our  records  are  defective.  Some  names  who 
were  known  to  be  communicants  are  not  on  the  church  records  ; 
when  known  their  names  were  inj<erted  in  this  list,  that  the  list 
may  be  as  accurate  and  full  aw  practicable,  yet  I  presume  in  some 
measure  deticient. 


GENEALOGIES 

OF    SOME    OF    THE    FIRST    FAMILIES     THAT     SETTLED     IN 
COLD    SPRING,    NOW    BELCHERTOWN,    HAMPSHIRE 

COUNTY,    3IA8SACKU3ETTTS. 


APPEXDIX  A. 


T  H  E      S  M  I  T  II      FAMILY. 

John  Smith,  (No.  1)  in  the  colinnn  of  fig-ures  repre- 
senting names,  was  the  son  of  Joseph  Smith,  who  was  son 
of  Joseph  Smith,  who  came  from  England  and  settled  at 
Hartford,  Conn.,  about  1651.  He  married  Lydia  Huit, 
or  Hewitt,  daughter  of  Rev.  Ephraim  Huit,  the  second 
minister  of  Windsor,  April,  1656.  They  had  fifteen 
children.  Their  eldest  son,  Joseph,  father  of  John  (No. 
1),  moved  to  Hadley  in  1679  ;  married  Rebecca  Dickin- 
son in  1680.  They  had  five  sons  and  three  daughters — 
Joseph,  born  1682  ;  John,  born  1634,  died  under  two 
years  of  age  ;  John,  born  1687  (No.  1);  Jonathan,  born 
1691,  and  Benjamin,  born  1696.  Three  daughters,  Re- 
becca, Lydia,  and  Elizabeth,  John,  the  third  son,  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Hovey,  of  Hadley,  in  1709.  He  moved  to 
Hatfield  in  1711,  and  was  chosen  a  deacon  in  the  church 
there.  He  moved  to  Cold  Spring  in  1736.  They 
had  six  sons  and  five  daughters.  Their  sons  were  John, 
born  in  Hadley  in  1710  ;  Abner  (No.  5),  born  in  Hat- 
field, in  1712  ;  Samuel  ;  Daniel  (No.  7j,  born  1716  ;  Jo- 
seph (No.  9),  born  1720  ;  Elijah  (No.  11),  born  1723. 
Their  daughters  were  Elizabeth,  married    Walter   Fair- 


252  APPENDIX. 

field,  son  of  (21)  ;  Mirriam,  married  Jesse  Warner  ;  Ra- 
chel, married  Aaron  Hannum  (No.  32)  ;  Sarah,  married 
Abner  Dickinson,  and  Rebekah,  married  Oliver  Graves. 
All  the  children,  except  John,  were  born  in  Hatfield. 
John,  the  eldest  son,  resided  some  years  with  his  family 
here,  and  removed.  His  son  Edward  was  born  here  and 
resided  here  for  years  ;  was  chosen  deacon  of  this  church 
(See  No.  163).  Abner  and  Daniel  came  here  in  1733. 
Elijah  (No.  11),  came  with  his  father  in  1736.  Daniel 
and  Elijah  spent  their  lives  here.  Abner  (5),  moved 
away.  Joseph  (9,  see  his  number),  married  Eunice  Bas- 
com ;  they  had  five  sons — Joseph  (139),  Amasa  (229), 
Eli,  (279),  John  (248)  and  Solomon.  (See  these  num- 
bers in  column  of  figures).  Margaret,  a  daughter  of  (9), 
married  (241.  Elijah  (11)  married  Sybil  Worthington, 
of  Colchester,  Conn,  in  1751  ;  they  had  six  sons  and 
three  daughters.  Elijah  served  as  a  Captain  in  the 
French  war,  in  1757  and  1758.  His  sons  were  Asa, 
born  in  1752,  died  at  Halifax,  Vermont,  in  1835.  He 
Was  father  of  Rev.  Theophilus  Smith,  now  the  settled 
minister  of  New  Canaan,  Conn.  Elijah,  born  1758,  lived 
in  Greenfield,  and  died  there  in  1843.  Rev.  Ethan 
Smith,  born  in  Belchertown,  December  19,  1762.  He 
married  Miss  Bathsheba  Sanford,  daughter  of  Rev.  David 
Sanford,  minister  of  Medway,  February  4,  1793.  (See  a 
notice  of  him  in  Historical  Sketch,  page  29).  They  had 
ten  children — Myron,  born  in  Haverhill,  1794,  died  in 
Hebron,  N.  Y.,  in  1818;  Lyndon  Arnold,  born  1795, 
graduated  at  Dartmouth  College  in  1817,  studied  the 
medical  profession,  married  Frances  L.,  daughter  of  Rev. 
Edward  D.  Griffin,  D.  D.,  President  of  Williams  College, 
in  1823,  and  is  now  a  practising  physician  in  Newark, 
New  Jersey.  Stephen  Sanford,  born  1797,  studied  The- 
ology, was  settled  in  the  ministry  in  Westminster,  Mass., 
now  without  pastoral  charge.  Carlos,  born  1799,  gradu- 
ated at  Union  College,  N.  Y.,  in  1822,  studied  Theology, 
is  now  located  in  the  ministry  in  Talmadge,  Ohio.  Grace 
Fletcher,  born  1803,  married  Rev.  Job  H.  Martin,  and 
died  in  1840.  Sarah  Towne,  born  in  1805,  married  Rev. 
Job  H.  Martin,  in  1841.     He  is  now  settled  in  the  min- 


APPENDIX.  25$ 

istry  in  Wisconsin.  Harriet,  born  1807,  married  Rev. 
William  H.  Sanford,  the  settled  minister  in  Boylston, 
Mass.  Ellen  Chase,  born  in  1812,  iriarried  Charles  B. 
Sedgwick,  Esq.,  of  Pompey  Hill,  N.  Y.,  in  1837,  and 
died  in  1846.     The  other  children  died  early  in  life. 

Jacob  Smith,  the  next  younger  brother  of  Rev.  Ethan, 
and  4th  son  of  Deacon  Elijah  Smith  (11),  was  born  in 
1764,  united  with  this  church  in  1785,  (See  247),  re- 
moved to  Hadley  in  1788,  has  been  a  deacon  in  that 
church  for  many  years,  and  is  now  living  in  the  enjoy- 
ment of  his  mental  and  moral  powers,  to  a  degree  un- 
usual for  one  of  his  years,  sustained  by  the  consolations 
of  that  religion,  which  has  been  his  support  and  his  so- 
lace for  almost  three  score  years  and  ten.  William,  the 
next  son  of  Deacon  Elijah  (11),  was  born  in  1766,  now 
lives  in  Scipio,  Seneca  County,  Ohio.  Josiah,  the  next 
son,  was  born  in  1768  ;  died  in  Scipio,  Ohio,  in  1828. 
Sibyl  (162),  daughter  of  Deacon  Elijah  Smith,  married 
Deacon  Joseph  Bardwell  (233),  in  January,  1774.  Sa- 
rah W.,  another  daughter,  married  Capt.  Elijah  Bard- 
well (182),  in  December,  1777.  Rev.  Horatio  Bardwell, 
missionary  to  India,  is  son  to  these  parents,  Elijah  and 
Sarah  W.  (See  their  numbers,  182  and  183).  Joseph 
and  Elijah  Bardwell  Avere  brothers.  Elizabeth,  another 
daughter  of  Deacon  Elijah  (11),  married  John  Cowles,  Jr. 
(191),  in  April,  1778. 


AF^PENDIX  B. 

THE      LYMAN      FA5IILT. 

In  the  earaest  records  that  I  have  found  containing  this 
family  name,  it  is  writen  Limon.  It  is  so  writen  gener- 
ally in  church  and  town  records  at  Northampton,  for 
fifty  or  more  years  from  the  first  settlement  in  that 
place.  Since  about  1720  it  has  generally  been  writen 
Lyman. 

23 


254  APPENDIX. 

Deacon  Aaron  Lyman  (No.  3),  in  the  column  of  figures 
representing  names,  was  a  grand-son  of  John  Lyman  of 
Northampton.  The  name  of  John  Limon  is  found  there 
at  the  organizing  of  the  church  in  1661,  or  about  that 
time,  as  a  prominant  actor  in  the  affairs  of  the  place.  He 
had  several  sons.  Benjamin,  his  son,  was  father  of 
Aaron  (3).  Caleb,  was  another  son  of  John.  Some  of 
that  branch  of  the  family  moved  to  Northfield.  Joseph 
was  another  son  of  John ;  he  died  in  Northampton,  Feb- 
ruary, 1691,  aged  21.  John,  the  father,  died  there  Au- 
gust 20,  1690,  aged  66.  Deacon  Aaron  Lyman  was  one 
of  the  first  settlers  in  Cold  Spring,  in  1731.  He  wa? 
born  in  Northampton,  1705;  married  Eunice  Dwight,  a 
sister  of  Capt.  Nathaniel  Dwight  (42),  about  1732.  Jo- 
eiah  Lyman  (221),  was  a  son  of  Aaron,  born  in  1736  ;  he 
married  Sarah  Worthington,  of  Colchester,  Conn.,  and 
raised  a  family  here.  Aaron  (230),  his  oldest  son,  resid- 
ed here  many  years  ;  married  Electa  Graves  ;  was  a  dea- 
con in  this  church.  Josiah,  moved  late  in  life,  to  Go- 
shen, in  this  County,  and  died  at  an  advanced  age.  Jo- 
siah had  other  sons — Giles  (249),  and  Jonathan  (261 ). 
(See  these  numbers  in  column  of  figures).  A  brother  of 
Aaron  (3),  moved  to  Southampton;  his  name  Avas  Ben- 
jamin ;  he  died  there  in  1762,  aged  60.  The  Lyman 
family  have  all  removed  from  this  place.  I  am  not  aware 
that  a  branch  of  it  remains  with  us.  They  were  highly 
respected  and  useful  in  their  day  here,  and  decided  pat- 
rons of  the  religious  interests  in  the  place.  It  is  suppos- 
ed that  John  Lyman  was  the  progenitor  of  all  by  the  nama 
of  Lyman,  in  this  part  of  the  country. 


APPENDIX.  255 

APPENDIX  C. 

THE     BKIDGMAN     FAMILY. 

Ehenezer  Bridgman  (No.  14)  in  column  of  figures  rep- 
resenting names,  was  a  native  of  Northampton,  and  came 
to  this  place  in  1732.  He  was  son  of  John  Bridgman, 
of  Northampton,  John  was  son  of  James  Bridgman,  one 
of  the  Pilgrim  Fathers  ;  he  came  from  England  and  set- 
tled in  Hartford  in  1640  ;  soon  after  moved  from  Hart- 
ford to  Springfield,  where  he  resided  a  few  years.  John, 
his  only  son,  was  born  in  Springfield,  July,  1645.  The 
same  year,  James,  the  father,  moved  to  Northampton 
with  his  family.  John  married  Mary  Shelden  of  North- 
ampton, December,  1670.  They  had  six  sons  and  seven 
daughters.  Their  sons  were  John,  born  1674;  James, 
born  1677;  Isaac,  born  1680;  Ehenezer,  born  1686; 
Thomas,  l>orn  1688,  and  Orlando,  born  1701.  The  namea 
of  the  dpui-liters  were  Mary,  Deliverance,  Sarah,  Ruth, 
Martha,  li.;ir:i.;h,  and  Dorothy.  Ehenezer,  the  fourth 
son  of  John,  niJirried  Mary  Parsons  of  Northampton, 
daughter  of  Capt.  John  Parsons.  They  had  one  son,  Jo- 
seph (16),  born  at  Northampton,  1712.  He  came  here 
with  his  father,  soon  after  married,  had  two  sons,  Oliver 
(187),  born  December  28,  1738;  Joseph  (200),  born 
June  4,  1745.  Joseph  married  Paith  Wright  of  North- 
ampton, June  21,  1770;  Oliver  married  and  had  three 
sons — Ehenezer,  (408),  Oliver  (723),  and  William  (457). 
Ehenezer  and  Oliver  are  farmers,  now  residing  in  this 
place.  William  is  a  physician,  residing  in  Springfield. 
Esther  (781),  a  daughter  of  Oliver  (187),  married  Park 
Holland;  he  died  June  19,  1832,  aged  51.  Joseph 
(200),  had  four  sons  and  two  daughters;  Wright  (302), 
was  a  merchant  in  this  town,  married  Irene  Smith  of 
Granby,  daughter  of  Phineas  Smith,  formerly  of  that 
town.  They  had  six  sons — Henry,  John  B.,  Wright, 
Porter,  Phineas  S.,  and  Calvin  ;  they  had  two  daugh- 
ters— Mary,  married  Samuel  P.  Hopkins,  Helen  died  un- 
married.    Joseph,  the  second  son  of  Joseph  (200),  was  a 


256  APPENDIX. 

graduate  of  Dartmouth  College,  in  1795;  studied  the 
legal  profession,  and  settled  in  this  town  ;  married  Ruth 
Hawkes  (440),  of  Charlemont;  they  had  four  sons  and 
three  daughters.  Their  sons  were  Frederick,  a  graduate 
of  Yale  College,  in  1826,  and  a  practising  physician  in 
Georgia,  Arthur,  Joseph,  and  Francis  ;  their  daughters 
were  Eliza,  Sarah,  and  Clara.  Joseph  Bridgman,  Esq. 
died  in  this  town,  December,  1836,  aged  63.  Theodore 
Bridgman  (550),  the  third  son  of  (200),  married  for  his 
first  wife  (326),  for  his  second  wife  (504),  for  his  third 
wife  (502),  (See  these  numbers) ;  by  his  first  wife  he  had 
three  sons — (^460),  (461),  (667),  and  three  daughters — 
1(494),  (858),  and  (889)  ;  by  his  second  wife  he  had 
(988),  and  by  his  third  wife,  Abigail  S.  (See  these  num- 
bers for  further  facts).  Theodore  died  in  December, 
1836,  aged  61.  Jonathan,  the  fourth  son  of  (200),  was 
born  in  1781,  and  now  resides  in  Amherst.  (See  411). 
He  had  two  daughters,  Sarah  (339),  and  Mary. 


I 


APPENDIX  D. 

THE      STEBBINS     FAJIILY. 

Benjamin  Stehhins  (No.  18),  in  the  column  of  figures 
representing  names,  was  a  native  of  Northampton.  He 
"was  born  1711,  and  was  son  of  Samuel  Stebbins,  born  at 
Northampton,  1658,  who  was  a  son  of  John  Stebbins. 
John  died  at  Northampton,  1678,  aged  60.  He  was  the 
son  of  Rowland  Stebbins.  In  the  geneological  memoir 
of  the  Stebbins  family,  by  Dr.  Daniel  Stebbins  of  North- 
ampton, published  in  the  fifth  volume  of  the  Historical 
and  Geneological  Register,  1851,  we  learn  that  Rowland 
Stebbins  arrived  in  America  in  1634,  with  his  family,  con- 
sisting of  his  wife  and  two  sons  and  two  daughters,  pas- 
sengers in  the  ship  Francis,  from  Ipswich,  County  of 
Suffolk,  England.     He  was  forty  years  old  at  his  arrival ; 


APPENDIX.  257 

his  wife  Sarah  forty-three  ;  his  son  Thomas,  14  years  of 
age  ;  his  daughter  Sarah,  1 1  years  of  age  ;  his  son  John, 
8  years  of  age ;  and  his  daughter  Elizabeth  six  years  of 
age.  They  settled  at  Springfield.  After  remaining  a 
time  at  Springfield,  Rowland  and  his  son  John  went  to 
Northampton  ;  John  remained  there  through  life.  Row- 
land returned  back  to  Springfield,  where  he  died,  Sep- 
tember, 1683.  John  married  Abigail  Bartlett;  they  had 
nine  children — Samuel,  Abigail,  Thomas,  Hannah,  Mary, 
Sarah,  Joseph,  Deborah,  and  Thankful.  Joseph  went  to 
Deerfield.  Samuel  was  father  of  Benjamin  (18),  who  is 
said  to  be  the  first  that  made  a  permanent  residence  in 
in  this  place.  He  remained  here  through  life,  raised  a 
family  here,  and  died  1789,  aged  78 ;  his  wife  died 
1769,  aged  60.  Captain  Gideon  Stebbins  (No.  129), 
was  son  of  Benjamin;  he  was  born  in  this  town  in 
1740.  In  November,  1768,  he  married  Mary  Hins- 
dale of  Deerfield.  They  had  four  sons  that  lived 
to  adult  age.  Benjamin,  the  eldest,  was  a  physician, 
went  to  the  South,  where  he  spent  most  of  his  life — 
he  died  many  years  since ;  Zenas  Stebbins  (724),  Sam- 
uel H.  Stebbins  (430),  and  Henry  Stebbins  (745),  are 
farmers,  all  now  residing  in  this  town.  (See  these  num- 
bers). Darius,  another  son  of  Gideon,  died  in  infancy. 
The  Stebbins  family  were  very  early  settlers  in  Western 
Massachusetts,  at  Springfield,  Northampton,  Deerfield, 
and  other  places.  The  given  names  of  Samuel,  Benja- 
min, and  Joseph,  were  common  names  in  several  branches 
of  the  family.  This  family  can  trace  their  lineage  to  a 
very  remote  antiquity  and  to  a  very  reputable  ancestry. 
A  compiler  of  the  genealogy  of  this  family  says,  "  A 
glance  at  the  names  of  the  principal  settlers  in  New  Eng- 
land, should  satisfy  the  most  prejudiced  Virginian,  that 
there  are  many  eastern  Families  that  have  as  good  a 
claim  to  '  gentle  blood'  as  any  boastful  Lee,  Randolph,  or 
Fairfax.  In  this  country,  none  can  boast  of  an  older  de- 
cent than  this  family,  if  we  except  a  few  settlers  in  JameS" 
town,  and  the  Pilgrims  of  the  Mayflower." 


23* 


258  APPENDIX. 

APPENDIX  E. 

THE      TOWNE      TAMILT. 

William  Towne,  Anglo-American,  born  about  the  year 
1 600 ;  came  to  this  country  and  settled  at  Salem,  about 
1640.  He  had  six  children — Edmund,  born  1629  ;  Ja- 
cob, born  1631;  Joseph,  born  1639;  three  daughters, 
Rebeckah,  Sarah,  and  Mary.  William  moved  to  Tops- 
field  in  1652,  and  remained  there  during  life.  He  died 
at  the  age  of  72.  Jacob  married  Catherine  Simons  ;  he 
died  in  1704,  aged  73.  He  had  six  children — John,  born 
1658;  Jacob,  born  1660;  Catherine,  born  1662;  Deliv- 
erance and  Ruth,  twins,  born  1664  ;  and  Edmund,  born 
1666.  John,  son  of  Jacob,  married  Mary  Smith,  settled 
in  Topsfield,  and  removed  from  there  to  Framingham  in 
1700,  and  from  there  to  Oxford  in  1712  ;  he  died  there 
in  1740,  aged  82.  They  had  ten  children — Mary,  born 
1681  ;  John,  died  in  childhood  ;  Israel,  born  1684  ;  Est- 
her, born  1686;  Ephraim,  born  1688;  Jonathan,  born 
1691;  David,  born  1693  ;  Samuel,  born  1695  ;  Edmund, 
born  1699;  and  John,  1702.  Israel,  son  of  John,  mar- 
ried Susanna  Haven,  and  removed  to  Oxford  in  1712; 
he  died  there  in  1771,  nearly  87  years  of  age.  His 
widow,  Susanna,  died  in  this  tovv^n,  at  her  son's  residence, 
in  1787,  aged  nearly  97.  (See  No.  104).  They  had  ten 
children — Mary,  born  1709;  Susanna,  born  1711,  and 
died  young  ;  Joseph,  died  in  his  minority  ;  Susanna,  born 
1717;  Elijah,  born  1719;  Moses,  born  1721;  Esther, 
born  1724;  Israel,  born  1727;  Lois,  born  1729;  Mahit- 
ibel,  born  1731.  Israel,  son  of  Israel,  purchased  a  farm 
in  Belchertown,  in  1749,  and  came  to  this  place,  then 
22  years  of  age  ;  married  Naomi  Stebbins,  daughter  of 
Benjamin  Stebbins  (18\  in  1754.  He  died  in  1805, 
aged  78.  His  wife,  Naomi  (104),  died  in  1827,  aged  92. 
They  had  10  children — Ama:ia,  born  1755;  Jonathan, 
born  1756;  "William,  born  1758;  Joseph,  born  1761; 
Benjamin,  born  1765  ;  Abner,  born  1767;  Naomi,  born 
1770;  Rachel,  born  1772;   Susanna,  born  1774;  Salem, 


APPENDIX.  269 

born  1779.  Amasa  (241),  died  in  Belchertown  in  1820, 
aged  65.  Jonathan  (258),  died  in  Belchertown  in  1824, 
aged  68.  William  died  in  Granville,  State  of  New  York, 
in  1842,  aged  84.  Joseph  died  in  Pennsylvania  in  1825, 
aged  64.  Abner  (353),  died  in  this  town  in  1828,  aged 
60.  Naomi  married  Nathaniel  Talmadge,  of  Ludlow, 
and  died  there  in  1835,  aged  66.  llebeckah  married 
Willson  White,  and  died  in  Granville,  State  of  New  York, 
in  1800,  aged  28.  Susanna  married  Job  Holbrook,  and 
lived  in  Moscow,  State  of  New  York.  Salem  was  a  grad- 
uate of  Middlebury  College,  Vermont,  in  1805  ;  has  been 
extensively  engaged  in  Classical  Instruction,  at  Granville 
and  Aurora,  State  of  New  York,  and  elsewhere.  He  has 
published  several  works  as  Text  Books  to  the  English 
language,  Avhich  had  an  extensive  circulation,  and  were 
well  approved  by  the  literary  public.  He  has  received 
the  honorary  degree  of  LL.  D.  Amasa  (241),  son  of  Is- 
rael, married  Margaret  Smith,  daughter  of  Deacon  Jo- 
seph Smith  (9)  ;  they  had  seven  children — Lucretia 
(400),  married  John  Witt ;  Josiah  was  a  graduate  of 
Middlebury  College,  in  1812,  studied  Theology,  was  li- 
censed to  preach,  and  settled  in  the  miiiibtry  in  Hanover, 
New  Hampshire,  married  Eunice  Penniield,  removed  to 
Ohio,  and  continues  his  ministerial  labors  in  that  State. 
Lydia  (687),  married  Deacon  Jonathan  Lyman  (201). 
Israel  (878),  married  Plannah  Stacy  (541).  Abner  mar- 
ried Eliza  Vinton,  daughter  of  Capt.  Abiathar  Vinton, 
formerly  of  South  Hadley,  and  during  a  few  of  the  last 
years  of  his  life,  of  Amherst.  She  is  sister  of  the  Hon. 
Samuel  Finley  Vinton,  a  leading  member  in  Conr.u'ess 
from  Ohio.  Mr.  Towne  studied  Theology,  was  licensed 
to  preach,  moved  to  Ohio,  and  died  early  in  life  in  that 
State.  Mary  married  Quartus  Moody  of  Granby,  and 
John  S.  married  Rachel  Warner.  Jonathan  (258),  son 
of  Israel,  married  for  his  first  wife,  Polly  Holbrook  ;  by 
her  he  had  one  son,  Jonathan,  who  married  Delia  Rurnrill. 
Jonathan  (258),  married  for  his  second  wife,  Miriam 
Warner,  daughter  of  Ebenezer  Warner  (41);  his  children 
by  his  second  wife  are  Ebenezer  W.,  Charles  E.,  (died), 
William  E.,  and  Mary  S.     Abner  Towne  (353),  married 


260  ^  APPENDIX. 

Kersiah  Fairfield,  daugliter  of  (148).  They  had  nine 
children — Laura,  married  Chester  Randall ;  Almira,  mar- 
ried Rev.  Erastus  Benton,  of  Providence,  R.  I. ;  Jose^Dh 
(948),  (which  see);  Naomi  S.  married  Silas  Howard; 
Louisa  married  H.  T.  Filer,  of  Belchertown ;  Josiah, 
deceased  ;  Elizabeth  R.  married  Nathan  Willson ;  Ma- 
lissa  married  Ransom  Howard. 


APPENDIX  F. 


THE     D WIGHT     FA MILT. 

Nathaniel  Dwight,  whose  name  is  represented  by 
(No.  42),  in  the  column  of  figures,  was  a  native  of  North- 
ampton, and  son  of  Nathaniel  Dwight,  who  early  located 
at  Northampton,  about  1689.  He  was  son  of  Timothy 
Dwight,  who  was  son  of  John  Dwight,  who  came  from 
England  and  settled  in  Dedham,  Mass.,  in  1636.  His 
name  is  found  of  that  date,  acting  as  a  freeman  in  that 
town.  The  name  is  writen  Dwite  at  first,  but  was  soon 
changed  in  the  orthography  and  writen  Divight.  John 
had  one  son,  Timothy,  v\diose  name  is  found  in  the  records 
of  Dedham,  as  an  acting  freeman,  as  early  as  1637.  Tim- 
othy, the  son  of  John,  had  three  sons — Henry,  Josiah, 
and  Nathaniel.  Nathaniel,  son  of  Nathaniel,  and  grand- 
son of  Timothy,  came  to  this  town  in  1732.  He  was 
brother  of  Timothy  Dwight,  Esq.,  of  Northampton,  who 
was  father  of  the  Hon.  Timothy  Dwight  of  Northampton, 
who  was  father  of  Rev.  Timothy  Dwight,  D.  D.,  Presi- 
dent of  Yale  College.  Nathaniel  (42),  the  brother  of 
Timothy,  Esq.,  married  Eunice  Lyman,  sister  of  Deacon 
Aaron  Lyman.  They  had  four  sons — Elihu,  Justus,  Eli- 
jah, and  Pliny.  The  eldest  son,  Elihu,  married  Pene- 
lope Graves  in  1757,  and  died  in  1760,  leaving  one  daugh- 
ter, Margaret.     She  married  Thomas  A.  Gates,  (See  232). 


APPENDIX.  261 

Justus  married  Sarah  Lamb  ;  he  died  in  July,  1824,  aged 
85.  He  had  six  sons — Elihu,  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth 
College  in  1790,  studied  the  medical  profession  and  set- 
tled in  South  Hadley ;  "William,  died  young ;  Jonathan, 
a  farmer  settled  m  Belchertown,  died  in  1834,  (See  455), 
aged  64 ;  Nathaniel,  a  farmer,  settled  in  Belchertown, 
(See  515);  Daniel,  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth  College  in 
1796,  studied  Law  and  settled  in  Westmoreland,  N.  H., 
and  is  now  at  the  South;  Justus  (517),  settled  in  this 
town,  a  farmer,  died  in  this  town  in  1835,  aged  54.  Jus- 
tus, senior,  had  one  daughter,  Clarissa,  (See  273). 

Col.  Elijah  Dwight  (215),  third  son  of  (42),  married 
Diana  Hinsdale  of  Deerfield,  (See  216).  They  had  seven 
sons — Josiah,  a  graduate  of  Yale  College  in  1794,  studied 
the  medical  profession,  and  settled  in  Portsmouth,  N.  H. ; 
Gamaliel,  a  merchant,  sometime  a  resident  in  Boston,  died 
many  years  since ;  Lyman  died  young  ;  Elijah,  a  mer- 
chant, settled  in  Amherst,  and  died  there  October,  1819, 
aged  40  ;  John,  Pliny,  and  Leonard.  He  had  two  daugh- 
ters— Martha,  married  Hezekiah  W^right  Strong,  a  law- 
yer, settled  in  Amherst;  Susanna  D.,  married  Mason 
Shaw,  Esq.,  a  lawyer,  formerly  of  Castine,  Maine,  now 
residing  in  this  town.  Pliny,  the  fourth  son  of  Nathan- 
iel (42),  had  one  child,  a  daughter,  Nancy,  (See  321). 
Col.  Elijah  Dwight  died  in  1795,  aged  47. 

Another  family  of  D wights,  a  different  branch,  came 
into  this  town  about  the  time  of  the  commencement  of  the 
Revolutionary  War,  from  Western,  (now  Warren).  Hen- 
ry Dwight,  (See  197).  He  was  son  of  Col.  Simeon 
Dwight ;  Col.  Simeon  was  son  of  Henry,  who  was  son 
of  Timothy,  who  was  son  of  John,  the  common  ancestor 
of  all  the  name  in  this  country.  Col.  Henry  Dwight  (197), 
had  six  sons — Henry,  a  farmer,  died  in  this  town  in 
1841,  aged  64  ;  Simeon,  (636),  a  mechanic,  died  in  this 
town  in  1842,  aged  63  ;  Charles,  a  farmer,  died  in  this 
town  in  1815,  aged  34;  Solomon  died  years  since  ;  Thom- 
as is  at  the  South,  if  living ;  Peregrine  died  in  the  State 
of  New  York  in  1842,  aged  48,  (See  679).  Henry 
Dwight  (197),  had  two  daughters — Sophia  (518),  the 
eldest,  married  Justus  Dwight,  Jr.   (517);    she  died   in 


262  APPENDIX. 

1814,  aged  28;  Clarissa,  the  youngest  daughter  (548), 
married  Myron  Lawrence,  Esq.,  and  resides  in  this  town. 
Col.  Henry  Dwight  (197)  had  another  son  not  named 
above,  Joseph  Hawley ;  he  died  in  the  army  in  1801,  at 
Niagara,  aged  26.  He  was  the  eldest  son  of  Col.  Dwight. 
Samuel  Dwight,  who  died  in  this  town,  April  10,  1817, 
aged  52,  was  brother  of  Col.  Henry  Dwight  (197).  Sam- 
uel left  two  sons,  John  and  Samuel.  John  died  in  1851, 
aged  56. 

LOCATION    AND    RESIDENCE    OF    SOME    OF    THE     DECEND- 
ENTS    OF    JOHN    DWIGHT,    THE    COMMON    ANCESTOR. 

John  Dwight  settled  at  Dedham,  1636. 

Second  Generation. 
One  son,  Timothy,  settled  at  Dedham. 

Third  Generation. — Sons  of  Timothy. 

Nathaniel,  settled  at  Northampton,  Mass. 

Josiah,  settled  at  Woodstock,  Conn. 

Henry,  settled  at  Hatfield,  Mass. ;  died  1732. 

Fourth  Generation. 

Samuel,  settled  at  Enfield,  Conn. 

Daniel,  settled  at  Charleston,  South  Carolina. 

Nathaniel,  settled  at  Belchertown,  Mass. 

John  and  Theodore,  settled  in  New  Haven,  Conn. 

Joseph,  settled  at  Great  Barrington,  Mass. 

Josiah,  settled  at  Springfield,  Mass.  ;   died  1768. 

Edmund,  settled  at  Halifax,  Nova  Scotia;  died  1755. 

William,  settled  in  Sturbridge,  Mass. 


Locations  of  some  of  the  5th  and  succeeding  Gcnerati 

Joseph,  settled  at  Cincinnatus,  New  York, 
Henry  W.,  settled  at  Stockbridge,  Mass. 
Jonathan,  settled  at  Springfield,  Mass. 
Henry,  settled  at  Belchertown,  Mass, 


ions. 


APPENDIX.  26t 

Rev.  Timothy,  D.  D.,  settled  at  New  Haven,  Conn. 

Jonathan  E.,  settled  at  Canajoharrie,  N.  Y. 

Daniel,  settled  at  Dudley,  Mass. 

Solomon,  settled  at  Hatwick,  N.  Y. 

Israel  R.     " 

Rev.  Lewis,  settled  at  Boston,  Mass. 

Rev.  Henry,  settled  at  Geneva,  N.  Y. 


APPENDIX  G. 

THE      r HELPS     FAMILY. 

Lineage  traced  from  Eliakim  Phelps  (36)  hoth  icays. 

FMakim  Phelvs  fNo.  36),  was  a  native  of  Northamp- 
ton, born  1709,  and  was  son  of  V/illi^.m  Pholps,  and 
jj^fand-son  of  William  Phelps,  William,  the  grandfather 
of  Eliakim,  was  son  of  Nath.;]\iol  Phelps  one  of  the  first 
settlers  in  Northampton.  Nathaniel,  was  son  of  William 
Phelps,  who  first  settled  in  Dorchester,  Mass.  ;  he  went 
Irom  there  to  Windsor,  Conn,  and  Wiis  many  years?  mag- 
istrate in  that  Colony  ;  his  name  is  found  among  the  first 
settlers  of  Windsor,  as  early  as  1040.  Eliakim  (36), 
came  to  this  place  in  1731  or  1732,  when  there  v/ere  but 
five  families  in  the  place.  He  married  for  his  first  wife^ 
Elizabeth  Rust  of  Northampton  ;  she  died  in  1752,  aged 
40  ;  by  her  he  had  six  children.  His  eldest  son,  Simeon, 
died  at  Pittsfield  in  1776,  returning  from  service  in  th& 
Northern  Army,  aged  34.  Simeon  was  father  of  Benja- 
min (751),  and  Noah  (726).  Eliakim,  for  his  second 
wife,  married  Elizabeth  Davis  from  Springfield  ;  she  died 
in  1778,  aged  64.  His  eldest  son  by  his  second  wife,  was 
William;  he  died  in  Northampton,  (See  166);  his  sec- 
ond son  by  his  second  wife  was  Eliakim,  (See  222).  This 
Eliakim  (222),  had  four  sons— Abner  (340),  Daniel  (462), 
William  (463),  and  Eliakim    (570).     (See    these  several 


264  APPENDIX. 

numbers).  Eliakim,  the  father  of  these  four  sons,  died 
in  this  town  in  1824,  aged  69.  He  had  two  daughters — 
the  eldest,  Asenath,  married  Thomas  Bliss  of  Brimfield, 
in  1813;  the  other  daughter,  Diana,  married  Cornelius 
Delano  of  Northampton. 

Joseph  Phelps  (No.  34),  was  a  native  of  Northampton, 
and  a  brother  of  William  the  father  of  Eliakim  (36),  son. 
to  William,  and  grand-son  to  Nathaniel.  He  came  here 
among  the  early  settlers,  and  before  the  year  1736,  prob- 
ably in  1732.  He  had  a  son  Joseph,  whose  wife,  Sarah, 
(106),  was  a  member  of  this  church.  He  had  two  daugh- 
ters— the  eldest  Dinah  (P/ie/^:>s)  '70),  married  Ebenezer 
Warner  (41).  She  was  the  mother  of  Capt.  Elisha  War- 
ner (722),  and  of  Phineas  Warner  (235).  She  died  in 
1812,  aged  80.  Her  husband,  Ebenezer  Warner,  died 
within  twenty-four  hours  of  the  same  time  ;  also  the 
same  day  died  the  wife  of  Elisha  Warner,  her  son,  with 
whom  these  parents  lived,  in  the  same  dwelling.  The 
other  daughter  of  Joseph  Phelps,  Deborah,  remained  un- 
married through  life.     She  died  in  1816,  aged  74. 


APPENDIX  H. 

THE     WARNER     FAMILY. 

Traced  from  Ebenezer  Warner  (41)  hoth  toays. 

Ebenezer  Warner  (No.  41),  a  native  Hatfield,  and 
son  of  Ebenezer  Warner  of  Hatfield,  was  born  1729. 
Ebenezer  Warner  of  Hatfield,  was  son  of  Daniel  Warner 
of  Hatfield,  born  1681.  Daniel  Warner  of  Hatfield,  was 
one  of  the  first  settlers  in  that  place,  in  1661  ;  died  there 
April  30,  1692.  He  was  son  of  Andrew  Warner,  who 
was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Hartford,  Conn.,  and  died 
there  December  18,  1684.  Ebenezer  Warner,  the  son  of 
Daniel,  and  grand-son  of  Andrew,  married  Ruth  Ely  in 


APPENDIX.  265 

1709.  They  had  several  children — Ruth,  born  1712 
died  1730;  Martha,  born  1715  ;  Moses  (39),  born  1717 
Lydia,  born  1719;  Eli,  born  1722;  John,  born  1727 
and  Ebenezer,  born  1729.  Moses  Warner  (39),  married 
Sarah  Porter  in  1739.  Their  children  were  Seth  (180), 
born  1740.  Seth  was  father  of  Titus  Warner  who  died 
in  Amherst,  April  12,  1818,  aged  50.  Titus  was  father 
of  the  late  Alonzo  Warner,  Park,  Seth  and  George.  Park 
resides  in  Granby  ;  Seth  and  George  have  moved  away. 
The  second  son  of  Moses  Warner,  and  brother  of  (180), 
was  Jonathan  Warner;  he  died  in  this  place  in  1782, 
aged  31.  He  was  father  of  the  first  wife  of  Theodore 
Bridgman,  (See  326).  The  other  sons  of  Moses  (39), 
were  Moses,  resided  in  Hatfield,  and  Eli,  who  went  to 
Granby.  Moses,  the  father,  died  in  this  town  in  1759, 
aged  42  ;  his  wife  died  here  in  1757,  aged  36.  Ebene- 
zer (41),  brother  of  Moses  (39),  married  Dinah  Phelps 
(70).  They  had  four  sons — Elisha,  (722)  ;  he  died  in 
this  town  in  1829,  aged  77;  Josiah,  who  died  in  1782, 
aged  28  ;  Elihu,  who  died  in  1798,  aged  40  ;  and  Phin- 
eas  Warner  (235),  who  died  in  1848,  aged  85.  The 
daughters  of  Ebenezer  (41),  and  Dinah  (70),  were  Philo- 
theta  (136)  :  she  married  Elijah  Howe  (135),  in  1770, 
and  died  in  1771,  aged  28  ;  Hulda  (201)  :  she  married 
Capt.  Simeon  Bardwell,  in  1781,  and  died  in  1782,  aged 
25  ;  Esther,  married  Artemas  Green  of  Granby,  in  1788  ; 
Molly,  or  Miriam:  she  married  for  her  first  husband 
Capt.  Jonathan  Towne  (258),  in  1801  :  he  died  in  1824  ; 
she  afterwards  married  James  Whitcomb  of  Williams- 
burgh,  in  1826.  Elisha  (722),  married  Sarah  Scott 
(263),  February,  1776,  for  his  his  first  wife  ;  she  died  in 
1812,  aged  62.  He  again  married,  but  left  no  children 
by  either  marriage.  Phineas  (235),  married  Sally  Rich: 
she  died  in  1831,  aged  62.  He  again  married  in  1832 
(618).  Their  sons  are  Theron,  Ebenezer,  and  Jairus; 
their  daughters — Henrietta  (444),  married  (720,  which 
see)  ;  Sally,  married  Lucius  F.  Newton  of  Monson  :  died 
in  1828,  aged  24.  These  sons  and  daughters  were  all 
children  of  the  first  marriage ;  Phineas  Warner  left  no 
children  by  the  second  marriage. 
24 


266  APPENDIX* 


APPENDIX  I. 


THE     BABDWELL     FAMILY. 

Joseph  Bardwell  (No.  66),  was  a  native  of  Hatfield, 
born  1713,  and  son  of  John  Bardwell.  John  was  son  of 
^'Rohert  Bardwell  who  came  from  London  to  Boston  about 
the  year  1670.  He  was  a  hatter  by  trade.  Between 
1670  and  1680  he  removed  to  Hatfield;  there  he  raised 
a  family.  His  son  John  was  an  early  settler  in  Cold 
Spring;  he  came  here  about  the  year  1732.  He  had 
three  sons — Martin,  Joseph  and  Jonathan.  Martin  was 
of  adult  age,  Joseph  about  19  years  old,  and  Jonathan 
about  8  years  old  when  the  father  came  to  this  place.  I 
can  find  no  record  from  Church  or  Precinct,  stating  the 
death  of  either  John  Bardwell  or  of  his  eldest  son,  Martin. 
We  have  no  Church  or  Parish  records  of  any  deaths  for 
twenty-five  years  from  the  first  settlement  of  the  place. 
Martin  married  and  had  a  family.  One  son,  Martin,  born 
1740,  died  in  1824  ;  a  daughter,  Experience,  married 
Eldad  Parsons  (223),  in  1780;  a  daughter,  Katherine, 
married  Daniel  Smith,  Jr.  (238),  in  1776.  Martin,  who 
died  in  1824,  aged  84,  had  a  son,  Martin,  who  died  in 
this  place  in  1814,  aged  43  ;  he  was  father  of  Oromal 
Bardwell  and  Antipas  S.  Bardwell,  now  residing  in  this 
place.  Joseph  (66),  the  second  son  of  John,  had  three 
sons — Joseph  (233),  born  1750;  Elijah  (182),  born 
1753  ;  Obadiah,  born  1757.  Joseph  (233),  married  Sybil 
Smith,  daughter  of  (11),  and  sister  of  Rev.  Ethan  Smith, 
in  1774  ;  they  had  eleven  children — Haddassa  (303), 
Electa  (304),  (See  these  numbers) ;  Theodotia,  married 
Ira  Parsons,  moved  to  Rutland,  Vt.,  and  died  there  July 
1842,  aged  51  ;  Josiah  Bardwell,  Esq.,  for  many  years  a 
merchant  and  prominent  man  in  South  Hadley :  he  died 
there  March  22,  1845,  aged  67 ;  two  of  the  children 
died  in  early  life  ;    Deacon  Alonzo   Bardwell,  of  South 

*  This  name  is  written  Robhert  in  the  ancient  recordg. 


APPENDIX.  267 

Hadley  ;  one  daughter  married  Col.  Timothy  Lyman, 
late  of  Chester,  deceased  ;  several  of  the  children  are  still 
living,  not  herein  named. 

Capt.  Elijah  Bardwell,  the  second  son  of  Joseph  (66), 
married  Sarah  W.  Smith,  daughter  of  (11),  and  sister  of 
his  brother  Joseph's  wife,  in  1777.  Rev.  Horatio  liard- 
well,  missionary  to  Syria  and  Palestine,  is  son  of  these 
parents.     (See  Nos.  182  and  183). 

Jonathan  Bardwell,  third  son  of  John,  had  two  sons — 
Simeon  and  Jonathan.  Simeon  married  Hulda  Warner, 
daughter  of  (41),  in  1781:  she  died  in  1782,  aged  25. 
Simeon  moved  from  this  place  to  the  South,  about  the 
year  1794.  His  brother  Jonathan  married  Anna  Eddy  in 
1781 ;  he  remained  here  through  life.  (See  his  number, 
753).  He  had  two  sons — Simeon  and  Jonathan.  Sim- 
eon died  in  Virginia  in  1835,  aged  50  ;  his  brother  Jona- 
than is  at  the  South,  if  living.  Their  father,  Jonathan 
(753),  died  in  this  town  in  1828,  aged  76. 

Obadiah  Bardwell,  third  son  of  Joseph  (66),  married 
Mahitibel  .Smith  in  1782.  Dr.  Chester  Bardwell,  now  a 
practising  phyoi  jian  in  Whately,  is  their  son. 


APPENDIX  K. 

THE      H  A  X  N  U  M     r  A  M  I  L  Y  . 

Samuel  Hannum  No.  (27),  was  a  native  of  Northamp- 
ton, born  in  the  year  1692,  and  was  son  of  John  Han- 
num. John  was  son  of  William  Hannum,  from  England, 
one  of  the  earliest  settlers  in  Northampton.  He  died  in 
1677.  His  will  was  proved  in  the  Probate  Court,  Au- 
gust 23d,  1677.  His  son  John  died  in  1710.  His  will 
was  proved  in  the  Probate  Court,  February,  1711.  John 
left  two  sons  that  came  to  Cold  Spring  with  families,  in 
1732.  William,  the  eldest,  born  in  1690,  and  died  in 
this  town  in  1756,  leaving  three  sons,  Moses,  the  eldest 
son  of  William,  born    1718,  died  1802.     (See  20).     He 


268  APPENDIX. 

left  four  sons — William,  who  moved  to  the  State  of  New 
York  ;  Moses  (549J)  ;  Joshua,  who  died  in  this  town  un- 
married, in  1824,  aged  65  ;  David,  born  1763,  and  mov- 
ed from  this  place  many  years  since.  Moses  (549^)  died 
in  1836,  aged  79,  leaving  two  sons — Pliny,  who  moved 
to  Pelham,  and  died  there  in  1845,  aged  63,  and  Stiles 
(1063 J),  now  residing  in  this  town.  Aaron,  the  second 
son  of  William,  and  brother  of  (29),  born  1722,  and  died 
in  this  town  in  1776 ;  he  left  one  son,  Caleb,  who  died 
in  Greenwich,  in  1833,  aged  83.  Josiah  Hannum,  a 
blacksmith  by  trade,  and  moved  from  this  place  years 
since,  was  a  son  of  Caleb.  Gideon  Hannum,  the  third 
son  of  William,  and  brother  of  (29)  and  (31),  born  1726, 
and  died  in  1786  ;  he  left  four  sons — Justus,  born  1756  ; 
Solomon  (217)  ;  Elijah  (794) ;  Daniel  (757),  (See  these 
numbers).  Descendants  of  Elijah  and  Daniel,  are  now  re- 
siding in  this  place.  Samuel  Hannum  (27),  the  younger 
brother  of  William,  came  with  him  to  Cold  Spring,  and 
died  in  1780,  aged  88,  leaving  two  sons — Samuel,  born 
1732,  and  died  in  1809,  unmarried;  PhJ'.K\iS,  second  son 
of  Samuel  27),  born  1743,  and  died  1809,  leaving  three 
sons — Phineas  (737),  Gamaliel  (521),  Oliver  (520),  and  a 
daughter  (522).     (See  these  numbers). 


APPENDIX  L. 

THE     GRATES     FAMILY. 

Jonathan  Graves  (No.  12),  was  a  native  of  Hatfield, 
born  1702,  son  of  Jonathan  Graves,  grandson  of  Isaac 
Graves,  and  great-grand-son  of  Thomas  Graves,  one  of 
the  first  settlers  in  Hatfield.  Thomas  had  two  sons,  John 
and  Isaac.  Thomas  settled  in  Hatfield,  before  Platfield  was 
incorporated  :  when  it  was  included  within  the  limits  of 
Hadley.  John  Graves  had  one  son,  Samuel,  born  in 
1657.    He  died  in  1694.     He  left  three  sons,  Jonathan, 


APPENDIX.  269 

Joiin,  and  Thomas.  In  1695,  John  was  appointed  guard- 
ian to  Nathan  Graves,  a  minor.  Thomas  Graves  (No.  60), 
son  of  Samuel,  married  Lydia  Graves,  a  daughter  of  Isaac 
Graves.  John  Graves  (62),  was  born  in  Hatfield,  in 
1719;  Jonathan  Graves  (12),  had  three  sons — Perez, 
Jonathan,  and  Joseph.  These  families  came  from  Hat- 
field to  this  place  very  early  in  the  settlement  here,  be- 
tween 1731  and  1735.  Perez,  the  eldest  son,  went  into 
the  French  War,  in  1758  ;  he  made  his  Will  in  May  that 
year,  went  immediately  into  the  service,  and  died  in  the 
army  in  September  or  October  the  same  fall.  His  Will 
was  proved  in  October  the  same  year,  by  which  he  gave 
to  his  brother  Joseph  his  Tan  Yard  and  some  other  prop- 
erty, to  his  brother  Jonathan  forty  shillings,  and  to  his  sis- 
ter, Penelope  Dwight,  65  acres  of  land.  This  sister  had 
married  Elihu  Dwight,  the  eldest  son  of  Capt.  Nathaniel 
Dwight,  in  1757  ;  he  also  gave  a  handsome  suit  of  clothes 
to  Miss  Susan7ia  Lyman,  (his  bethrothed  as  is  supposed). 
She  was  the  daughter  of  Deacon  Aaron  Lyman  (3).  She 
afterwards,  in  1763,  married  Capt.  Elihu  Kent,  of  SufHeld, 
Conn.  Joseph  Graves,  son  of  Jonathan,  died  in  this  town 
in  1796,  aged  62,  leaving  a  large  family — Perez,  born 
1762;  Josiah  D.  (459),  born  1772;  Jonathan,  born 
1774;  Elijah,  born  1776:  died  at  two  years  of  age; 
Elijah,  born  1779:  died  1790;  Joseph  (459.^),  born 
1783.  The  daughters  were  Margaret,  married  Benjamin 
Howe,  a  brother  of  Dr  Estes  Howe,  in  1785;  Susanna 
(207)  ;  Electa  (253),  married  Deacon  Aaron  Lyman 
(230),  son  of  (221),  and  grand-son  of  (3),  in  1788.  The 
(jraves  family  have  all  removed  from  this  place  ;  many  of 
them  were  communicants  in  this  church,  and  notices  of 
them  will  be  found  by  turning  to  their  respective  num- 
bers. 


24* 


270  APPENDIX. 

APPENDIX  M. 

THE     COWLES     FAMILY. 

Traced  from  Israel  Cowles  (56),  both  ways. 

Israel  Cowles  (56),  was  a  native  of  Hatfield,  son  of 
John  Cowles  of  Hatfield,  born  in  1726.  John  the  father 
moved  to  Amherst,  about  1729.  His  son  John  (85),  was 
born  at  Amherst  in  1731.  John,  the  father,  was  son  of 
Jonathan  Cowles  of  Hatfield ;  Jonathan  was  son  of  John 
Cowles  who  went  from  Hartford,  Conn,  to  Hatfield, 
among  the  first  settlers  of  that  place.  He  had  two  sons — 
Jonathan  and  Samuel ;  Samuel  had  two  sons — Samuel 
and  Ebenezer.  Samuel,  son  of  Samuel  and  brother  of 
Ebenezer,  early  went  to  Coventry,  Conn.  ;  his  father, 
Samuel,  died  at  Hatfield  in  1 744  ;  by  his  Will  he  gave  to 
his  son  Samuel,  living  in  Coventry,  his  lands  in  Coventry  ; 
to  his  son  Ebenezer,  his  debts  due  to  him  and  his  house- 
hold furniture.  Ebenezer  lived  in  Hatfield.  A  branch 
of  this  family  from  John,  the  common  ancester,  early 
went  to  Farmington,  Conn.  The  tvv^o  brothers,  Israel 
(56),  and  John  (85),  were  among  the  early  settlers  here, 
though  not  among  the  first ;  they  probably  came  here  in 
1752.  They  both  engaged  in  service  in  the  French  War, 
and  went  from  this  place  for  the  relief  of  Fort  William 
Henry,  in  1757.  Israel  died  in  this  town  in  1797,  aged 
nearly  71.  He  left  two  sons — Josiah  (272),  born  1760, 
and  Amasa  (436),  born  1768.  Josiah  died  in  1822,  leav- 
ing three  sons — Israel  (727),  Mala,  (1228),  and  Josiah 
(1280).  Josiah  died  in  1851,  aged  58.  Descendants 
from  these  branches  of  the  family  are  residing  among  us. 
Amasa  (436),  left  one  son,  Ariel,  and  a  daughter  (1084). 
John  Cowles  (85),  died  in  1811,  aged  80.  He  left  sons- 
John  (191),  born  1758  :  he  died  in  1830;  Abner,  born 
1761  :  he  died  in  May,  1837  ;  Joshua  (341),  born  1775  : 
died  in  1842;  Enos,  (481,)  born  1777;  Vester,  born 
1779.  Descendants  from  these  branches  of  the  family 
are  residing  here. 


APPENDIX.  271 

APPENDIX  N. 

THE    ANCESTRY    AND    LINEAGE    OF    MRS.   SARAH  PORTER, 
WIFE    OF    REV.    EXPERIENCE    PORTER. 

Mrs.  Porter  was  the  eldest  daughter  of  Dr.  Phineas 
^mith,  formerly  of  Sharon,  Conn.  Dr.  Smith  was  a  lin- 
eal descendant  of  from  Rev.  Henry  Smith,  the  first  set- 
tled minister  of  Weathersfield,  Conn.,  Avho  came  to  this 
country  from  England,  in  1630,  and  landed  at  Plymouth. 
He  had  been  ordained  a  protestant  minister  in  England. 
There  is  a  record  in  family  descendants,  stating  that  the 
Rev.  Henry  Smith  was  installed  in  the  ministry  in 
Weathersfield,  in  1637.     (See  Note  A). 

In  a  very  valuable  recent  publication  of  the  "  Foote 
Family,"  by  Nathaniel  Goodwin,  Esq.,  of  Hartford, 
there  is  the  following  notice  of  Rev.  Henry  Smith : 
"  The  first  notice  we  have  of  him,  is  on  the  records  of  the 
first  church  in  Charlestown,  Mass.,  where,  according  to 
an  entry  therein,  himself  and  Dorothy  his  wife,  were  ad» 
mitted  to  full  communion  of  the  church,  on  the  5th  of 
the  10th  month,  1637.  As  near  as  can  be  ascertained,  he 
was  installed  in  Weathersfield,  in  the  spring  of  IG-il,  at 
which  time  the  church  was  regularly  organized.  Mr. 
Smith  died  in  1648.  Eat  little  is  known  of  his  ministry, 
as  not  a  vestage  of  a  church  record  is  to  be  found  during 
his  life." 

He  left  a  widow,  who  married  John  Russell,  senior, 
the  father  of  Rev.  John  Russell,  who  was  his  immediate 
successor  in  the  ministry  at  Weathersfield,  and  who 
moved  from  there  with  a  majority  of  his  church,  to  Had- 
ley,  Mass.,  in  1659.  Mrs.  Smith  was  again  left  a  widow 
by  the  death  of  Mr.  Russell,  and  moved  to  Hadley  with 
Rev.  John  Russell,  in  1659.  Rev.  John  Russell  died  in 
Hadley,  December  10,  1692,  in  the  66th  year  of  his  age. 
Rev.  Henry  Smith  left  one  son,  Joseph  ;  he  married,  had 
a  family,  and  died  leaving  one  son,  Ichabod  ;  he  married, 
had  a  family,  and  died  leaving  four  sons — Samuel,  James, 
Ichabod,  and  Joseph.  These  four  brothers  were  farmers 
and  resided  in  Suffield,  Conn.    Samuel  was  born  in  1697. 


272  APPENDIX. 

At  23  years  of  age  lie  married  a  daughter  of  Rev.  Cot- 
ton Mather,  of  Boston.  Rev.  Cotton  Mather  was  son 
of  Rev.  Increase  Mather,  President  of  Harvard  Col- 
lege from  1685  to  1701.  He  was  son  to  Rev.  Rich- 
ard Mather,  who  was  chosen  teacher  in  the  first  church 
gathered  in  Dorchester,  Mass.,  in  1636.  Rev.  Richard 
Mather  was  father  of  Rev.  Eleazer  Mather,  the  first  min- 
ister of  Northampton,  ordained  there  in  1661. 

Samuel  Smith,  the  eldest  son  of  Ichabod,  (and  grand- 
son of  Rev.  Henry),  had  four  sons  and  one  daughter, 
Elizabeth  ;  she  married  Graves  Loomis,  of  Suffield,  Conn., 
and  had  a  large  family  of  children.  His  sons  were  Dan, 
Cotton  Mather,  Simeon,  and  Paul.  The  eldest  son,  Dan, 
was  born  in  Suffield  in  1731  ;  he  married  Kersiah  Devo- 
tion in  1752;  she  was  daughter  of  Rev,  Ebenezer  Devo- 
tion ;  they  had  one  daughter,  Lucy  ;  she  married  Wil- 
liam Goodrich,  of  Sharon,  Conn. 

The  eldest  son,  Dr.  Phineas  Smith,  was  born  in  Suf- 
field, Conn.,  January,  1755.  He  married  Abigail  Lay, 
of  Lyme  ;  they  had  five  sons  and  two  daughters.  Rich- 
ard, the  eldest  son,  born  1779,  was  a  graduate  of  Yale 
C^dloge  in  1797,  studied  the  profession  of  law,  settled  in 
practicG  in  Batiivia,  Nev/  York,  has  been  Surrogate  of  the 
County,  and  is  still  residing  in  f\  .:  place. 

Frederick,  the  second  son,  born  17c>2,  educated  a  mer- 
chant, died  unmarried,  at  Natchez,  Mississippi,  in  1817. 

Phineas,  the  third  son,  born  1 785,  educated  a  merchant  ; 
after  arriving  at  the  age  of  manhood  he  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  the  study  of  Theology,  was  licensed  to  preach, 
settled  in  the  ministry,  and  is  now  in  the  State  of  Michi- 
gan in  professional  labors.  He  married  Miss  Sophia 
Tryon,  daughter  of  Hon.  John  Tryon,  of  New  Lebanon. 

John  L.,  the  fourth  son,  born  1787,  resides  in  the  State 
of  New  York.  George,  the  youngest  son  of  Dr.  Phineas 
Smith,  born  1793,  was  a  graduate  of  Yale  College  in 
1812,  went  to  the  South,  and  died  early  in  life.  Sarah 
(55-1),  the  eldest  daughter,  married  Rev.  Experience  Por- 
ter, in  1806;  she  died  in  1825.  (See  Historical  Sketch 
of  her,  page  59).  Elizabeth,  the  youngest  daughter 
(565),  married  Samuel  Strong,  Esq.,  and  resides  in  this 


APPENDIX.  273 

place.  Dan  Smith,  Esq.,  the  youngest  brother  of  Dr. 
Phineas  Smith,  of  whom  mention  is  made  in  the  sketch  of 
Mrs.  Porter,  married  Betsey  Hunter  in  1780,  and  remov- 
ed from  Sharon,  Conn.,  to  West  Haven,  Vt.,  in  1788. 
They  had  two  sons  and  three  daughters.  Their  eldest 
son,  John  Devotion,  was  educated  a  merchant,  went  to 
the  South,  and  died  in  early  life ;  William  Hunter,  the 
youngest  son,  was  a  farmer,  resided  in  Vergennes,  Vt, 
married  Electa,  daughter  of  Hon.  Samuel  Strong,  of  Ver- 
gennes, and  died  in  1843,  aged  53  ;  Lucy  Maria,  their 
eldest  daughter,  married  Hon  Moses  Strong,  of  Rutland, 
V^t.,  a  lawyer  by  profession,  in  1801  :  she  died  there  in 
1823,  aged  40  ;  Betsey  Matilda,  the  second  daughter, 
married  Mark  Doolittle,  the  author  of  these  sketches,  in 
1807;  she  died  in  1814,  aged  28;  Lorane,  the  third 
daughter,  married  Rev.  Nathan  S.  S.  Beman,  D.  D.,  of 
Troy,  New  York,  in  1811,  his  first  wife ;  she  died  in  the 
State  of  Georgia  in  1818,  aged  30. 

Rev.  Cotton  Mather  Smith,  the  second  son  of  Samuel 
Smith,  and  uncle  of  Dr.  Phineas  Smith,  was  many  years 
a  settled  minister  in  Sharon,  Conn.  He  had  one  son, 
Hon.  John  Cotton  Smith,  Governor  of  Connecticut 
from  1813  to  1817.  He  was  also  a  member  of  Congress 
and  a  judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Conn. 


APPENDIX  P. 

the    doolittle    family. 

•  •     • 

Abraham  Doolittle,  supposed  to  be  the  progenitor  of 
all  by  the  name  of  Doolittle  in  this  country,  came  from 
England  and  settled  in  New  Haven,  Conn.,  about  the 
year  1640  or  1642.  In  1644  he  took  the  oath  of  fidelity 
in  the  Colony,  and  acted  as  Executive  County  Officer  in 
New  Haven.  He  was  one  of  the  three  appointed  by  the 
New  Haven  Committee,  to  superintend  the  affairs  of  the 


274  APPENDIX. 

New  Settlement.  This  "New  Settlement"  was  after- 
wards, in  1670,  incorporated  into  a  town  by  the  name  of 
Wallingford.  He  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  in  that 
town,  and  before  its  incorporation.  He  was  one  of  the 
village  Vigilence  Committee  in  the  time  of  King  Phillip's 
war ;  his  house  was  protected  by  a  picket  fort,  against 
an  attack  by  the  Indians.  He  married,  and  by  his  first 
wife  he  had  two  sons  and  two  daughters.  Abraham,  his 
eldest  son,  was  born  February  12,  1649  ;  John,  his  sec- 
ond son,  was  born  June  14,  1655;  Elizabeth  and  Mary 
were  the  names  of  his  daughters.  After  the  death  of  his 
first  wife,  he  married  Elizabeth  Mosse,  July  2,  1663.  By 
his  second  wife  he  h<ad  seven  children.  Samuel,  his  eld- 
est son  by  his  second  wife,  was  born  July  7,  1665  ;  the 
other  sons  by  the  second  marriage  were,  Joseph,  Ebene- 
zer,  Daniel,  and  Theophilus.  Abraham  Doolittle  died  in 
1690.  Joseph,  his  son,  married  Sarah  Brown,  daughter 
of  Samuel  Brown  ;  he  died  in  May  1733,  aged  66.  Eb- 
enezer  married  Sarah  Hall,  daughter  of  Samuel  Hail ; 
he  died  in  December,  1711,  aged  39.  Daniel  married 
Hannah  Cornwall ;  he  resided  in  Middletown.  Theoph- 
ilus married  Thankful  Hall,  daughter  of  David  Hall. 
John,  the  second  son  of  Abraham  by  his  first  wife,  mar- 
ried for  his  first  wife,  Mary  Peck,  February  13,  1682. 
His  second  wife  was  Grace  Blakesley.  Benjamin,  a  son 
of  John,  born  July  10,  1695,  was  a  graduate  of  Yale  Col- 
lege in  1716,  studied  Theology,  and  was  settled  in  the 
ministry  in  Northfield,  Mass.,  in  1718:  the  first  settled 
minister  in  that  place  ;  he  married  Lydia  Todd,  October 
14,  1717;  he  died  suddenly  in  Northfield,  January  9, 
1748.  Samuel,  a  brother  of  Rev.  Benjamin,  moved  from 
Wallingford  to  Northfield,  and  died  there  in  1736,  leav- 
ing two  sons,  Ephraiifl"  "and  Moses.  Daniel,  son  of  the 
first  Abraham,  died  in  Wallingford  in  1755,  aged  80: 
he  left  a  son  by  the  name  of  David.  An  only  daughter 
of  David,  Elizabeth,  married  David  Brooks,  a  graduate  of 
Yale  College  in  1768. 

Abraham  Doolittle,  2d,  married  for  his  first  v.ife, 
Mercy  Holt,  daug"jjter  of  William  Holt  of  New  Haven, 
Nov.  9,  1680;  by  her  ho  had  two  sons  and  two  daugh- 


"i;     -Se<v,  5</c^.  t3<^,  W^^T^. 


APPENDIX.  275 

ters.  John,  the  eldest  son,  born  August  13,  1681  ;  Abra- 
ham, born  March  27,  1684;  Sarah,  born  February,  1686, 
and  Susanna,  born  April  15,  1688.  His  second  wife  was 
Ruth  Lathrop,  from  New  London,  a  sister  of  John  and 
Joseph  Lathrop ;  she  died  leaving  no  children.  Abra- 
ham, 2d,  married  for  a  ^^cond  wife  Elizabeth  Thorp, 
daughter  of  Samuel  ThorplT^rier  he  had  three  sons — 
Samuel,  Joseph,  and  Thomas,  born  between  the  years 
1698  and  1705  inclusive.  John  Doolittle,  the  eldest  son 
of  Abraham,  2d,  married  for  his  first  wife,  Mary  Freder- 
ick, daughter  of  William  Frederick  of  New  Haven,  Feb- 
ruary 28,  1705  ;  after  her  death  he  married  Mary  Lewis. 
By  these  two  wives  he  had  ten  children :  four  sons 
and  six  daughters.  His  sons  were,  John,  Frederick, 
Obed,  and  Nathan ;  his  daughters,  Susanna,  Eunice, 
Phebe,  Mary,  Kersiah,  and  Patience.  These  children 
were  born  between  the  years  1707  and  1732  inclusive. 
He  died  at  Wallingford  in  in  1745. 

John,  the  eldest  son  of  John,  and  grand-son  of  Abra- 
ham, 2d,  born  February  6,  1712,  married  in  1734,  had 
two  sons  and  two  daughters  ;  his  sons  were  Philemon 
and  Titus ;  his  daughters,  Eunice  and  Hannah.  He 
died  at  Wallingford  in  1746.  Philemon,  his  eldest  son, 
married  Lydia  Hall,  January  5,  1757.  He  had  four  sons 
and  five  daughters.  His  sons  were  John  Frederick,  Rice, 
Jared,  and  Jesse ;  his  daughters,  Phebe,  Kersiah,  Lydia, 
Patience,  and  Hannah.  Philemon  moved  from  Walling- 
ford, Conn.,  to  Blandford,  Mass.,  in  1771,  and  again 
moved  to  Western  New  York  in  1795. 

Titus  Doolittle,  Esq.,  the  youngest  son  of  John,  and 
great-grand-son  of  Abraham,  2d,  was  born  at  Walling- 
ford, June  12,  1745;  married  Mary  Lewis,  daughter  of 
Dr.  Lewis  of  Wallingford.  IaviiMiBl#iioved  from  Wal- 
lingford to  Westfield,  Mass.,  with  a  young  family.  The 
part  of  "Westfield  where  he  settled  was  incorporated  into 
a  town  by  the  name  of  Russell,  in  1792.  He  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation.  He  had  five  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters. His  eldest  son,  John,  died  in  early  life,  unmarried ; 
his  second  son,  Titus,  a  farmer  by  occupation,  married 


276  APPENDIX. 

Mary  Tracy,  daughter  of  Rev.  Stephen  Tracy,  of  Norwich, 
Mass.,  in  1794 ;  she  died  in  1843.  He  is  living  in  Pains- 
ville,  Ohio.     He  has  had  a  family  of  ten  children,  most 
of  whom  have  died  ;  has  no  son  living.     Joel,    the    third 
son,  was  a  graduate  of  Yale  College  in  1799,  was  a  Tutor 
in  the  College  at  Middlebjy^jj^^t.,  studied  the  profession 
of  law,  settled  in  business  at  Middlebury  ;  married    Sa- 
rah P.  Fitch,  daughter  of  Ephraim  Fitch,  Esq.,  of  Paw- 
let,  Vt.     He  was  at  sundry  times  a  member  of  the  State 
Legislature,  of  the  Governor's  Council,  and  many  years  a 
Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State  of  Vermont.    He 
was  a  member  of  the  Corporation  of  Middlebury  College. 
The  last  State  office  that  he  held,  was  that  of  member  of  the 
Board  of  the  Council  of  State  Censors ;  he  was  chosen 
President  of  the  Board.     He  died  at  Middlebury,  March 
9,  1841,  aged  67.     lie  left  four  sons  and  two  daughters. 
His  sons  were,  John  Titus,  Charles  Hubbard,  Joel,  and 
Mark  Raboteau.     These  sons  are  in  Ohio  ;  three  of  them 
in  Painsville.     His  daughters  were,  Sarah  and  Elizabeth. 
The  fourth  son,  Amasa,  a  farmer  by   occupation,    resided 
in  Cheshire,  Conn.  ;  he  married  Mary  Hitchcock,  daugh- 
ter of  Amasa  Hitchcock,  of  Cheshire  ;    he   died  in   1825, 
aged  49,  leaving  one  son,  Amasa  Lewis,  now  residing  in 
Cheshire,  and  one  daughter,  Mary  ;  she  married  Reuben 
Palmer,  Esq.,  and  now  resides  in  West  Springfield,  Mass. 
Mark,  the  fifth  and  youngest  son,  was  a  graduate  of  Yale 
College  in  1804,  studied  the  legal  profession,   settled  in 
Belchertown,  and  is  the  author  of  these  Sketches.      For 
his  first  wife  he  married  Betsey  Matilda  Smith,  daughter 
of  Dan  Smith,  Esq.,  of  West  Haven,  Vt ;  she  died   Nov. 
13,  1814,  aged  28.     (See  Appendix  N,  page  271).     She 
left  two  daughters — Lucy  Maria,  born  August,  1809,  mar- 
ried Dr.  Horatio iPKMpiiipn.  of  Belchertown,   in   1834,  , 
and  now  resides  in  this  place  ;  Betsey  Matilda,  born  in 
May  1814,   married  John  Stacy,   a  graduate  in  1837  of 
Yale  College,   in  1838.     They  now  reside  in   Addison, 
State  of  New  York.     He  is  Principal  in  an  Institution 
for  Classical  Instruction.     August  10,  1817,  Mark  Doo- 
little  married  for  his   second  wife,   Sarah  T.  Raboteau, 
daughter  of   Charles    C.    Raboteau,   Esq.,    formerly   of 


y  A  ^M.  m^. 


APPENDIX.  277 

Newburyport.  By  this  marriage  lie  had  two  children: 
William  C,  who  died  in  early  childhood,  and  Sarah  Lo- 
rane,  who  died  July  29,  1842,  aged  18  years.  The 
daughters  of  Titus  Doolittle,  Esq.,  were,  Elizabeth, 
married  Abraham  Bradley  of  Bussell ;  she  died  April 
28,  1831,  aged  64,  leaving  sons  and  daughters.  Mary, 
married  Noble  Fowler  of  Southwick,  Mass. ;  she  died 
March  11,  1847,  aged  78,  leaving  four  sons.  Martha, 
married  Solomon  Gillett  of  Colchester,  Conn.,  and  now 
resides  in  that  place.  Titus  Doolittle,  Esq.,  died  Nov, 
23,  1818, 

1st  Generation,  Abraham  Doohttle,  died  Aug.  11,  1690,  aged  70. 
2d  **  Abraham  Doolittle,  2d,  died  Nov.  10, 1732,  aged  83. 

3d  «  John  Doolittle,  died  Nov.  1746,  aged  65. 

4th        "  John  Doolittle,  2d,  died  Nov.  1747,  aged  35. 

5th        «  Titus  Doolittle. 

6tli        "  Mark  Doolittle. 


25 


NOTES. 


NOTE  A. 

I  am  inclined  to  ttink  that  there  is  an  error  in  date  of 
the  record  stating  that  Rev.  Henry  Smith  was  installed 
at  Wethersfield,  in  1637.  It  was  probably  in  1641. 
It  is  stated  by  Mr.  Goodwin,  in  his  work  before  alluded 
to,  that  previous  to  the  installation  of  Rev.  Henry  Smith 
as  the  first  pastor  of  the  church  at  Wethersfield,  Rev. 
Richard  Denton  and  Rev.  Mr.  Pruden  labored  with  the 
people,  until  the  former  left  in  1641,  for  Rippowams,  and 
the  latter  joined  his  own  church  at  Milford.  Previous  to 
1641,  unhappy  di^-isions  arose  in  that  church;  the  con- 
tention was  carried  before  the  General  Court,  at  Hart- 
ford, in  1640.  In  these  contentions  several  names  are 
given,  of  those  prominent  in  that  controversy.  Mr. 
Smith's  name  is  not  used  or  adverted  to  in  these  conten- 
tions, till  1643,  when  he  became  the  object  of  censure 
and  severe  accusation.  These  charges  were  finally  brought 
before  the  Governor  and  Magistrates,  and  fully  heard, 
and  Mr.  Smith  cleared  from  all  imputation  of  blame  or 
wrong,  by  the  unanimous  decision  of  the  whole  Court, 
and  an  order  passed,  to  be  read  in  the  several  towns,  for 
clearing  Mr.  Smith  from  all  accusations  against  him; 
and  another  order  passed,  that  whosoever  should  be  con- 
victed, under  two  witnesses,  of  renewing  or  continuing 
the  former  complaints  against  him,  shall  forfeit  to  the 
County  ten  pounds.  In  1644  a  part  of  the  church  seced- 
ed and  made  a  settlement  in  Totocket,  (now  Branford), 
and  the  contentions  ceased. 


280  NOTES. 


NOTE  B.     {From  page  14). 

There  is  nothing  to  be  found  on  our  church  or  precinct 
records,  stating  the  nature  of  the  difficulties  that  existed 
between  Mr.  Billing  and  the  church,  which  lead  to  his 
dismission.  I  have  in  my  possession,  manuscripts  one 
hundred  years  old,  handed  down  from  father  to  son,  cast- 
ing some  light  on  this  subject.  A  presentation  of  it  is  in 
the  following  document,  under  date  of  1750 : 

"  In  as  much  as  many  are  endeavouring  to  destroy  y* 
Rev.  Mr.  Edward  Billing's  character,  and  prevent  his  be- 
ing useful  and  serviceable  to  y*  souls  of  our  fellow  men, 
we  think  ourselves  obliged  to  let  y®  world  know  y*  follow- 
ing things,  namely :  that  y*  rise  and  ground  of  y'  fierce 
contention  at  Cold  Spring  with  Mr.  Billing,  was  his  dif- 
fering sentiments  from  most  of  y^  church  with  respect  to 
y®  qualifications  for  y®  enjoyment  of  y°  two  sacraments, 
upon  y*  account  of  his  holding  that  none  but  visible 
christians  or  saints  were  to  be  admitted  to  y"  special  or- 
dinance. A  great  clamour  was  raised  in  this  part  of  the 
country,  and  church  meetings  were  frequently  called  to 
prepare  y®  way  for  Mr.  Billing's  dismission ;  and  at  last 
y°  church  and  pastor  agreed  in  passing  y®  following  vote  : 
*  The  pastor  and  church  at  Cold  Spring,  being  divided  in 
their  sentiments  with  regard  to  y^  qualifications  which 
give  a  right  to  ^full  communion'  in  y®  church,  when  con- 
vened at  y^  meeting  house,  y^  2d  Tuesday  of  September, 
1750j  voted  to  call  a  Council,  in  a  convenient  time,  to 
consider  and  give  advice  with  regard  to  their  difficult 
circumstances,  resulting  from  y®  above  mentioned  differ- 
ent sentiments.  Voted,  at  a  church  meeting,  9th  of  Oc- 
tober, 1750,  y'  y®  business  of  y*  Council,  whenever  called, 
shall  be  this,  viz  :  to  endeavour  to  accommodate  the  dif- 
ference between  pastor  and  church,  and  if  the  endeavours 
prove  ineffectual,  then  proceed  to  determine  whether  pas- 
tor and  church,  being  of  different  sentiments  as  above 
mentioned,  be  a  reasonable  ground  for  separating  them'." 

The  Council  convened,  but  I  can  find  no  result  speci- 
fied of  their  doings.     The   differences  of  opinion  as    to 


KOTES.  281 

qualifications  for  the  enjoyment  of  the  two  sacraments 
were  not  reconciled.  I  can  find  nowhere  the  point  of  dif- 
ference between  Mr.  Billing  and  a  majority  of  the  church 
specifically  stated,  or  the  thing  claimed  by  one  party,  and 
denied  by  the  other.  We  have  seen  (page  16  and  17), 
that  those  embracing  the  half-way  covenants,  admitted 
persons  to  baptism  and  to  the  church,  as  being  in  "  a 
state  of  education,"  and  upon  a  moral  sincerity;  yet  did 
not  admit  them  to  "/w//  communion'' — that  in  form  the 
church  had  distinct  covenants,  one  for  those  thus  admit- 
ted, and  one  for  such  as  were  admitted  to  full  commun- 
ion. From  all  the  sources  of  information  that  have  come 
within  my  reach,  I  infer  that  Mr.  Billing  did  not  fellow- 
ship this  practice,  or  believe  it  to  be  scriptural.  It  is 
clear  to  my  own  mind,  that  Mr.  Billing  maintained  that 
none  should  be  admitted  into  covenant  relation  to  the 
church,  or  entertained  as  members  in  any  sense,  but  such 
as  professed  experimental  religion.  Such  a  faith  as  the 
half-way  covenant  churches  required  of  those  that  were 
admitted  to  ^^full  communion'' — that  none  but  such  had 
any  right,  on  their  own  account,  to  participate  in  the  or- 
dinances of  the  church.  This  question  did  not  touch  the 
right  of  infant  baptism  upon  the  faith  of  parents,  but  ap- 
plied to  those  only  who  on  their  own  account  sought  the 
privileges  of  the  church,  without  any  profession  of  exper- 
imental religion. 

I  have  found  no  evidence  that  this  question  which  dis- 
turbed the  peace  of  the  church  in  Mr.  Billing's  day,  and 
caused  his  dismission,  was  ever  a  disturbing  subject  after 
the  settlement  of  Mr.  Forward.  The  Articles  of  Faith 
adopted  at  his  settlement,  were  those  of  the  Reformation, 
and  such  as  have  ever  been  held  by  the  church  since. 
Other  trials,  however,  were  visited  upon  the  settlers.  The 
war  between  England  and  France,  in  which  the  Colonies 
were  involved,  was  severe  in  demands  on  their  time,  ser- 
vice, and  means  of  living  ;  heavy  drafts  for  money  and 
men  were  made  repeatedly.  In  1757  a  draft  was  made 
for  forty  one  effective  militia  men  to  go  into  that  service 
as  soldiers.  The  order  was  complied  with.  It  embraced 
no  small  portion  of  the  heads  of  families  in   the   place. 


282 


NOTES. 


and  on  whom  their  prosperity  in  civil  and  religions  af- 
fairs depended.  Thirty- two  of  this  number  that  went 
out  were  church  members ;  they  were  out  different  lengths 
of  time ;  it  proved  a  sore  calamity  to  the  settlers,  and 
would  have  been  such  if  their  pay  had  been  more.  Their 
remuneration  was  very  small.  At  a  session  of  the  Gen- 
eral Court,  held  in  June,  1758,  an  order  passed  for  pay- 
ment of  those  of  the  militia  who  had  been  out  in  that 
campaign,  as  follows : 


For  each  Colonel,  10' 

"  Lt.  Colonel,  8' 

"  Major,  V 

"  Chaplain,  5" 

"  Captain,  5" 

"  Surgeon,  4* 

'*  Lieutenant,  3' 

"  Ensign,  3' 

"  Adjutant,  3" 

"  Serjeant,  2' 

"  Corporal,  2' 

"  Soldier,  2'  8" 


9^^ 


$1,67  per  day. 
1,33    " 
1,17   " 

83   « 

83    " 

75   " 

62  J" 

50    " 

50    " 

47   " 

46    " 

44    " 


ERRATA. 


Page. 
22 

79 

81 
103 

117 
122 
122 
127 
129 
135 
171 
174 
183 
184 
275 
276 


17th  line  from  top  read,  "  obey  them"  for  "obey 

it." 
14th  line  from  bottom,  read   "Rev.  Sam'l  Wol- 

00  tt  installed"  for  dismissed. 
3d    line  from  top,  read  "  1737"  for  "  1837." 
Against  marginal   No.  (123),  read  daughter  of 

(58)  for  (53). 
Against    marginal  No.     (230),  read   (253)   for 

(243.) 
Against    marginal    No.    (260),  read    (254)    for 

(264.) 
Against  marginal  No.  (261),  read  daughter  of 

(233)  for  (223.) 
Against   marginal  No  (300),  read  Anna  wife  of 

(299)  for  (298.) 
Against  marginal  No.  (316),  read  John  Marshall 

(485)  for  (585.) 
x\gainst  marginal  Nu.   (370),  read   Jot/iam  for 

Jonathan  Randall. 
Top  of  the  page,  read  sister  of  (655)  and  (656) 

for  (656)  and  (657) 
Against    marginal  No.  (704),  read   daughter  of 

(223)  for  (233.) 
Against  marginal  No.  (802),  read  ''  Ezra   Ward' 

for  "Ezra    Wood/' 
Against  marginal  No.  (813),  read  "  Swinington" 

for  "  Stowington." 
6th    line    from    top,  read    "  married  for  a   third 

wife,""  instead  of  *' 6-eco«{Z  wife." 
8th  line  from  bottom,  read  "Dr.  Horatio  Thom- 
son," for  "Dr.  Horatio  T.  Johnson." 


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