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HISTORICAL SKETCH

OF THE

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

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

WITH NOTICES OF

THE PASTORS AND OFFICERS,

AND LIST OF COMMUNICANTS CHRONOLOGICALLY ARRANGED,

TRACING GENEALOGIES, INTERMARRIAGES AND FAMILY RELATIVES.

ALSO, EMBRACING NUMEROUS FACTS AND INCIDENTS RELATING

TO THE FIRST SETTLERS AND

EARLY HISTORY OF THE PLACE. By HON. MARK DOOLITTLE.

"I will remember the work of the Lord: Surely I will remember thy wonders of old. I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings." "Thy way O God, is in the Sanctuary: Who is so great a God as our God."

NORTHAMPTON, MASS. PUBLISHED BY HOPKINS, BRIDGMAN & CO.

1852. /T^oTl u/777

I !

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

By Hopkins, Bmdgman & Co., In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Mass.

H. 8. TAYLOR, PEINTEE. SPRINGFIELD, MASS.

PREFACE.

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; ivhence they were, and ivhat they were in condition, char- acter and pursuits, in life's short pilgrimage. 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 little 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 Boo- little 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-

VI

PREFACE.

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

PREFACE. Vii

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 derive all 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 tilings — 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 Frovidence 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 the 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

Vlll PREFACE.

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 ail future time, 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

Belchertown. Topography 13

Equivalent land ; Cold Spring ; First settlers ;

when and -whence 16

Eirst Precinct meeting by Legislative authority 84

Town Incorporation 43

Billing, Rev. Edward. Eirst settled minister 18

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

Brainerd Church. (See Church).

Catechumen System 35 — 37

Church. Eirst 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, Bey. John. His call, installation and dismission 74

Cold Spring. Township first so called 15

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

X INDEX.

Communicants in the Church.. (See Church).

Chronological list of members 84

Covenant. Half -way system noticed 30 — 37

Controversy relating to it 28

Currency. Variation of 25 — 26

Deacons 80

Enfield, Church in organized. (See marginal number 20G).

Explanations of marginal numbers, &c 81

Family Instruction, Religious, &c, its effects 44

Forward, Rev. Justus. His call, settlement, marriage, ministry, death ; sketch of life, character and lineage 38, 54, 56

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

" D wight " » F 260

" Phelps « " G 263

" Warner «« " H 264

" Bar dwell " " 1 266

" Hannum " «< K 267

« Graves " « L 268

" Cowles « «* M 270

" Henry Smith, Rev. " N 271

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

INDEX . XI

The Doolittle family, (See Appendix F.) 273

11 Filer " (See marginal numbers) 380

" Root " « " 105

"Walker " " " 99

"Montague " " " 1022

Law, the higher, regarded as obligatory 46

Meeting House, the first built 19 — 27

Second 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

Oyiatt, 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, 79

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 — 60

Mrs. Porter's death noticed 59

Also see Appendix N 271

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

Xll INDEX.

Proprietors, 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 call, installation, ministry,

dismission, &c 66

Mrs. Reid's death noticed 67

Revivals of 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

Cuttgrtgntiflttnl Cjjurrjj at Sdrljrrfatun,

The territory, now Belchcrtown, is situated in the easterly part of the county of Hampshire, Massachusetts, twelve miles easterly of Connecticut river, and fifteen from Northampton, 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

land. 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 wars. 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

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH 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, Belchertoum, 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 thi;d; 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 October and November of that year, the territory was surveyed, delineated, and plotted on a chfirt by Col. Timothy Dwight of Northampton. This chart is now in my possession. It is evidently drawn with great accuiacy by the hand of a master. Col. Dwight 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 line§ taken under the Connecticut jurisdiction. The territory now called Belcher town was called Cold Spring. The lines in Col. D wight's survey to the above mentioned purchases, contain 27,390 acres. At the time the town was incorporated, in June 1701, by the name of Belcher- toion, it included an additional territory on the north, 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 o'f 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 were Samuel Bascom, Benjamin Stebbins, and Aaron Lyman, from Northampton, and John Bardwell and Jonathan Graves, of Halfield. 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 IK BEICHEETOWN. 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 say, " 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, elated November 1740, the petitioners say, they " are greatly in debt for building a meeting house, outside covered and glazed, and a minister settled ; we are but twenty 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 Jive 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, Eb- enezer Bridgman, Moses Hannum, Eliakim Phelps, Joseph Bar dwell, Nathaniel D wight, Abner Smith, Joseph Bridg- man, Benjamin Billings, Stephen Crawfoot, 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 these facts : that these settlers began to bring forward a per- manent settlement here in July 1731 ; that between that 2*

18 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF THE

period and 1736, inclusive, they had increased to twenty families; that in November 1740, they were but twenty familics, 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 year's, 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 declare my acceptance of your call. Edwaed Billing.

Cold Spring, February 22d, 1739.

This answer was made to a precinct meeting held th« same date ; a vote followed appointing John Smith, Samu- el Bascom, Stephen Crawjoot, Aaron Lyman and Jonathasri 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 CHURCH 1ST BELCHEETOWN. 19

•sundry entries on the precinct records relating to him, it is pretty certain that he was ordained in April 1739. 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, nearly 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,

20 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF THE

related 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- tan 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 Reformers in the 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th centuries. It Avas 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 of civil government, essentially depend on piety,

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN BELCHERTOWN. 21

religion and morality, 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 Goo, and for the support and maintenance of public, protcstant 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., shall make provision, at their own expense, for the institution of the public worship of God, and for the support and maintenance of public protcstant 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 happiness 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 bo 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 who 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 truth and maintaining public tcahcers of piety, religion and morali'y 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 lengthened 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 it. The 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 all human governments 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 voluntarily 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 BELCHEETOWN. 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 maintenance 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 institutions, which are as essential to the public welfare, as any other, to soy 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 instil u- tions is, that by such requirements men cannot be made to be 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, that 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 8KETCHES OF 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 duties 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 unconquered, 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 relation existing between minister and people, and the duties resulting from that relation, were mutual and reciprocal ; extending to all and to be re- ciprocated by 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

CONGREGATIONAL 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 40s 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 of 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. Such 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 topay equal to that." This was called old 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 wedding.'''' 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 of" 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 wood 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 BELCHEKTOWX. 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 sa}~, "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 down half finished ; this is all discouraging." " Our minister must leave us if ive cannot have aid." This petition prevailed, and leave was given to tax " all lands in the township, one penny an acre, to fulfil the

28 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF THE

contract with the minister and finish the meeting house." 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 Sabbath. 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 or over.

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 way covenant.'' More than forty years previously, a controversy had arisen on this subject between Rev. Increase Mather, of Boston, and Rev. Solomon 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 1711. 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 17G0, when his widow Lucy was appointed Guardian to four minor sons, Edward, Ebenezer, Jonathan and Ethan, 3*

30 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF THE

all under fourteen years 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 " half way 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 Religions 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 converting 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 BELCHERTOAVN. 31

tabic. The " half-way covenant " system, lias 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 elate 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 Christ's house, during the time of their continuance in that state, and not essay of the breaking in upon 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 — Rom. 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. 21, 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 church, 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 of 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 BELCHEItTOWN. 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 chinch of Christ in a stale 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 full 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 "« 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 OE 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 clue 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 affection, and lively exorcise 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 BEECHERTOWN. 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 'w the half-way cove- nant,"' claimed the right to exercise jurisdiction over all baptized persons on the same ground, that is, church gov- eminent 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, Ave 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 towards a qualification for the holy rights of the gospel ; these Merc called catechumens. 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." \Ve 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's 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 prepondcr-

38 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF THE

ating evidence, or such evidence as the circumstances of the c tse will admit, that they are really such as they profess to he ; 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 ; hut the practice in the church had prevailed, as expressed in the vote, before the vote was taken. The church articles of faith since 17-56, 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 m i the ordinances. Mr. Dickinson, Mr. Pierce, and others, ministered to them. Mr. Forward came among them for a supply, by invitation, in the fall of 17o>5. On the 8th of December, at a precinct meeti committee was appointed to see him in relation to the continuing his labors among them. Mr. Forward had been engaged to supply 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 175G; the subject considered and a cell given by a universal vote, and a committee chosen to treat with Mr. Forward, on the subject of his settlement. Various proposals were made as to terms, which were not satisfactory ; the diffi- culty atteneling 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.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IX BELCHEETOWN. 39

And for salary, to give him forty-six pounds thirteen shillin I lawful money the first year, and

y ' 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 pastor 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 ar v. v.

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

Beloved and Friends. — 1 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, out] Lg the 9 th and the 19 th of Jan i the i • of the town to induce me so to do, and pro. pecting provision for my mainten- ance, and outward support, in case I should settle in that work among you as manifested to mo by the same com- mittee, on the ever;' ioned, 1 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 I and pon Le] 1 he case before me, in all the apparent circumstances of it, and b 1 di ion of Almighty God, in this important case, con- cern and affair, both for myself, and for you, that each I L 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 OE 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 affections 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 re 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 BELCIIERTOWN. 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, 1 remain your assured friend,

Justus Forward. " Baled at my Lodgings, in Cold- Spring t Jan. 29, Anno Domini, 1756.

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 2Gth 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 HISTOEICAE 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 i hargesj 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 subjei . Ldent pro-

prietors, in a petition dated December 1754, to the Gene- ral Court, say they are destitute of a minister and unable to go through with the expense of settling one, and pray for leave to assess a small tax on . This was op-

posed by non-resident proprietors. By way of remonstrance February 2Gth 1755, they say, "this tract was equivalent land and purchased without any conditions or limitations. One third was sold to persons to bri: 1 a set-

tlement, but they culled out the best ; their one third is in fact equal in value to all the rest ; yet proprietor.-; non- resident) agreed to be taxed for meeting-house and min- ister. A meeting-house was built, and Mr. Billing s 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 175 G 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

CONGREGATIONAL CIIUHCII IN BELCHERTOWN. 43

half a penny an a< re 1 ; this greatly relieved

and encouraged the people. The greatest obstacle in Ihe way of the prosperity of the . md which was most

embarrassing to the son] ■-■.. their inability to tax the

property hero for * t of their religious institutions,

making tint support urj ' I troublesome. So long

as that inability exi I re not successful;

were not taken, populations I ; nary and the people were disco ■ L; i the difficulty was removed, and

power given for 1 tax, the people prospered.

At a p] held December 29th 1760, a

committee was appointed to present a petition to the Gen- eral Court for an act of incorporation as a town. In March 1761, it d, and on tl ! lay of June

17G1, an act passed incorporating the town by the name of Belcher stown, in honor of Jonathan r, for-

merly a large land proprietor here. He was Governor of the Province of Ma bts, from 1730 to 1710. A war-

rant was issued by the General Court for calling the first meeting, directed to Eleazer Porter, Esq. one of his Maj- esty's Justices for the County of Hampshire, to :all the inhabitants together to organize and choose town officers, and a town meeting was held in pursuance of it, Sept. 30th 1761. 1 have not been able to find i from

which wo can learn the population of the town, at the time of its incorporation. From the ratio of increase for I its 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 cvi-

44 HISTORICAL SKETCHES ©F 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 the 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 28th 1765, aged seven years and seven months. He was a pious child. He had read his Bible through twice in

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN BEECHERTOWN. 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 population 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 hundred 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 acquicscnce 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 fulminal the throne or

Vatican, were alike disobeyed and- disregarded. They obeyed a higher law than despots ever forged, from 1 ' authority, with higher motrs . to e: te hi c

purposes. On a day that tried men's souls they declared it, under date September 1774, ay lieu 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 followi, i compact ; " We declare that we will take no unreasona- ble liberties or advantage from the . ' m of the course of law, but we engage to conduct ourselves i able to the Laws of God, of reason, of humanity, and we hereby engage to use all prudent and : I i and necessary measures to secure and d 1 ach other' per- sons and families, their ]i. . . tnd prop against all who shall attempt to hurt, injure or invade them, and to secure and defend to ourselves and our pos- tciity our just and constitutional lights and piivil 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 a

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 1771, at a town . a vote passed, "to pay Lieut. Joseph Smith and Lieut. Joseph Graves twenty

VGB.EGATI0XAL CIIUKCII IX EELCHE.IiTOWX. 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 deprivati tained their religious institutions with const.,...- and promptitude. They were not forsaken by Him " keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keep his commandments to a thou u rations."

Near the close of the year 1784, and I ; of 1785,

the people were favored with a memorable revival of re- ligion : the most sign:!, by far, of any the church had experienced during tl eventyye existence.

From the testimony of persons then there, and from those who were subjects of the work, we arc led to beli was very genuine in its char ax I attended with the

gentle and powerful influences 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 hack 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, Avith 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 deaccn 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

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH 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, 1826 ; 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 the Revela- tions." His publications show diligent investigation and biblical knowledge. His religious affections were 5

50 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 suffered 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 Rev. 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 office be-

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH 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 would 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 difference 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 SufBeld, 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

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN EELCHEHTOWN. 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- versation. 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 wants, 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 BEICHEKTOWN. 55

tlement. In his public discourses, he 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 prospect 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

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN BELCHERTOWN. 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 that 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. The 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. Hishealth 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 wasted 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

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN BELCHERTOWN . o9

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 HISTORICAL 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- 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 CHUKCH IN BELCHERTOWN. 61

in 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 was 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. Ebenezcr 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 11th, " Finally brethren, farewell." After the 6

62 HISTORICAL 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 the 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 three thous- and dollars. He continues and says, " of scarcely less 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 temperance 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 have 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 this 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 arc 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 will be laid open." Mr. Coleman asked and took a dismission against the wishes of a large majori-

64 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OE 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 September 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 BELCHEETOWN. 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 work, " 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 CHURCH 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 Er. Asahel Lyman, Delegate; from the Edwards Church, Northampton, Rev. John Todd, and Br. Thomas Napier, delegate ; from the first church in Hadlcy, 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. Jarcd 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

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN BELCHERTOAVN. 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 appertains, 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. Tertius Walker, delegate ; from the church in South Hadley, Rev. Joseph D. Condit, pastor, and Dea. 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. Jarcd 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.

?0 HlSTOBICAt, SKETCHES OF THE

Sanford, scribe ; Rev. Mr. "Whiton made the introductory prayer ; Rev. Mr. Aikin preached the sermon ; Rev. Mr. Reid 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 effecting 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 BELCIIEKTOWX. 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. Nbthan 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. Conditj pastor, and Br. Samuel Judd, deleg ite ; 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 thorn, 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 HISTORICAL 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 Suffolk street Church), and his own desire, and expressed opinion that his health was not adequate to the labors of the pastor liere, 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 could 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 'he 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, by invitation came among us for a supply ; he preached four 7

74 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF THE

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 difficulties 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, was 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 different 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,

/6 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF THE

and sixteen by letter from other churches. 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 affairs 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 al in the-

ological study. In 1835, he entered upon a course of study at Andovcr, 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 effects ; soon after he went to El Abadiyeh, another village of Mount

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN BELCHERTOWN. 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 trTe 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 *7

78 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF THE

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 Longmcadow. 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 Longmcadow, 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 CHURCH IN BELCHERTOWN. 79

PASTORS

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

Rev. Edward Billing, settled 1739, dismissed 17.52, 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. " " i in 1 "r 1 ii ii^m r 1 i"P

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 ttIBTOEIOi,I. SKETCHES OF THE

THE following list COMPRISES THE NAMES OF TIIOSF, W1I<> HAY I. SUSTAINED THE OFFICE OF DFACON IN THIS CHURCH. Sec 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 Dwight,	" 215.
Amasa Smith,	" 229.
Eliakim Phelps,	" 222.
James Walker,	" 256.
Oliver S. Taylor, ^	M 584.
Daniel Phelps, Anson Moody,	"** " 462. " 879.
John M. Spooner,	M 863.
Henry A. Bridgman,	lt 460.
Israel Tow 116,	" 878.
William l'helps,	" 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 Amadou, (1156) and Elisha Abbey, (655) were the officiating deacons in the Brain erd 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 Kphraim Monta- gue for deacons. These four now sustain that office in the church.

K)1*GREGATI0NAE CHURCH IN EELCHEXITOWN.

81

LIST OF COMMUNICANTS

In the congregational church in belchertown, from its organization fN 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 parent]- esis. 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 TIozl iah 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 mcnibers. The family names of married women are always given when known, and

82 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OE THE — ~

represented as follows: in No. (131), Eunice (Divight) 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 he 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 knoicn, 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 " Re- moved" shoAving 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 CHURCH 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 were 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 (319^) (319f ) and (319J-). 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 who have been communicants in the con- gregational Church in Belchcrtown, from its organization in 1737 to 1851. There are no church records remaining anterior to February 25th, 175G. The names of those who were communicants, and were removed from the church bv death, or otherwise, before that time, are not to be found. The names corresponding with the first 08 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. Names.

1. 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 1787. A prominent actor in the civil and re- ligious affairs of this place. He was 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,

Deaths, Age.

CONGREGATIONAL CHUECH IN BEICHEETOWN.

85

Numbers. Names. Deaths. Age

1740. The church records say of him, " A valuable man in his day." He died 1

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 Appendix B.

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

Abner 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). She died.

8

1777 1758

1780

1760

1777

1800

1797

70

75

52

65

84

75

86

HISTOKICAL SKETCHES OF THE

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 useful 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 Sybcl Worthington, of Colchester, Connecticut, in 1751 ; was deacon of this chinch, 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

COXGREGATIOXAL CHURCH IN EELCHERTO WX

87

Numbers. Names. Deaths. Ago.

1701, and remained here during life

1787

13.

14.

15.

16

17.

19.

he died,

Wife of (12); born 1711 : died,

See Appendix L.

Ebenezer Bridgman, a native of Xorthampton, son of John Bridgman, born 1686, married Mary Parsons, 1710: came to Cold Spring with his family about 1732; remained here during life. He died,

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

See Appendix C.

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

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

See Appendix C.

Benjamin Stebbins, a native of Xorthampton, 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.

1769

1760 1770

1773 1789

86 58

1789 1769

74 90

61 83

78 60

88

HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF THE

Kumbera.

21.

22.

23.

24.

26.

27.

28.

29.

Names.

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,

Judith, wife She died,

and widow of (21).

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

Abigail, wife of (23), born 1708. She died,

Mary (Hut chinson), 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 1 692 ; 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. 28th,

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

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN BELCHERTOWN. 89

Jfumbers. Names. Deaths. Age.

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 (S?uith), 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 Appendix K.

Joseph Phelps, a native of North- ampton, son of William Phelps, born 1699. He was uncle to (36) ; he came 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

1796

1776

1811

1786

1782 1779

1777

90

HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF THE

Numbers. Names. Deaths. A|a

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

Elizabeth (Rust), wife of (36). She died,

See Appendix 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 1729; came to this town about 1752; married Dinah Phelps, daugh- ter of (34) ; raised a family here. He died,

See Appendix H.

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

1752

1806

1759

1757

1812

40

86

42

35

83

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN BELCHERTOWX.

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 Westfield, pro- ceeded to Kinderhook, received intelli- gence that the Fort had capitulated ; they were discharged, and returned home. Capt. D wight 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). She died,

See Appendix 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,

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

(124) Hezekiah and Miriam (108).

See Orlando (105) for lineage.

Thomas Brown ; his name is very

Deaths.

9

1

Age.

1784

1792

1792

1800

72

84

78

85

92 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF THE

Numbers. Names. Deaths. Age

early here, and remained here through

a long life in usefulness. He died, 179G

Mahitabel, wife of Thomas Brown. She died,

Thomas Chapin, early here, though his 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).

Lydia, 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 Coicles, widow of John Cowles, of Hatfield, mother of (56) and (85). She died,

1811

1781

1773

1812

1795

100

76

86

77

93

89

CONGREGATIONAL CIIUItCK IN EELCIIEETOWN.

Numbers. Names. Deaths. Age

54. Nathan Cowles, a native of Hatfield, he was the brother of John, who was father to (56) and (85).

55.

56.

57.

58 59

60.

61. 62. 63.

64.

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

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

Lydia Bar dwell, wife of (56), daugh- ter of (66), sister of (86), born 1735. She died,

See Appendix M.

Ehenezer Stearns, ) Mary, wife of (58) ) They were from the Church in Sut- ton ; Rev. Mr. Hall was pastor. Died,

Thomas 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,

John Graves. Died,

Lydia Graves, daughter of (60). Died,

Sec Appendix L.

Benjamin 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

Numbers. Names.

field, born 1704; a cousin of Rev. Edward Billing, the first minister set- tled here ; his name is uniformly written without the s, 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,

Deatl,

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

She

Joseph Bardwell, 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 (66) ; he died here in the year 1781, aged 57. His widow Violet remained here through life. She died,

See Appendix I.

ADMITTED 1756.

Amy, wife of (38). She died,

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

1782

1788

84

1791 78

1800 86

1790 64

1798 96 1812 80

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN BELCHEKTOWN

95

a Names Deaths. Age.

Stephen Crawfoot, son of Joscpli 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, 1765 /

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

James Towne, died at Greenbush, New York, returning from service in the French war, upon northern fron- tiers, in the year, 1758 36

Anne, wife of (73), after his death removed.

Sybel (Worthingtori), 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.

Rebekah Thopping, from the church in Beverly, by letter from Rev. Mr. Champney, pastor ; she married Oliver Newton, in 1762. She died, 1793 93

96

Numbers.

79. 80.

81,

82.

83. 84.

85.

86.

87.

HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF THE Names.

1757.

Deaths. Age.

Noah Boioker,

Wife of Noah Bowker,

) Move / away.

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.

Ebenezer Stearns, 2d, )

Jane, wife of (83), )

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

1758.

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

See Appendix M.

Hannah (Bardioell), wife of (85) daughter of (66), 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 (287£) ; he came

1812

1811

1813

93

80

76

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN BELCHERTOWN. 97

Names.

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 parents 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 Daniel Worthington and sister of (87), born November, 1734. She died,

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.

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

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

Deaths. Age.

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, removed after his death.

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,

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN BELCHERTOWN. 99

Numbers.

100.

101.

102.

Nainei.

the father of James Walker (99), mar- ried Submit Brewer, and moved from Weston to Sturbridge, with his family in 1743. 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 (Shumwatj), wife of (99), sis- ter of (174). She died,

Mary Fairfield, 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

1813

80

Numbers. Names. Death* Age.

103. Abigail (Cra&foot), 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 (Stebbins), 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 widow 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

105.

1827

91

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN BEICHERTOAVK. 101

Numbers. Names.

and died there 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.

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

1764.

Mary, wife of (105).

Miriam Root, daughter of (44).

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

In May, 1771, he married widow Elizabeth Marsh.

1765.

Elizabeth Crowfoot, 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

Number*. 111.

112. 113.

114.

115. 116. 117.

118.

119. 120.

HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF THE

Names.

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

Josiali Carrier, removed.

Philip 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 (Bardicell), 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.

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

Ebenezer Moody, from the church

Deaths. A<f«.

1783

1811

1831

1776

1774

42

72

87

22

63

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN BELCHEKTOWN.

Numbers. Names. Deaths

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

Jerusha, 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, wife of Benjamin Carrier, from the church in Middletown, Rev. John Newton, pastor.

Bethia (Stearns), Avife of Salmon Kentfield, daughter of (53), born 1733. She died,

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

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

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

1789 1772

1834

1807

1787 1817

1822

104

Numbers.

126.

127.

128.

129.

130.

131.

132.

133.

134.

HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF THE Name3.

From other Churches.

Sybel (Sikes), wife of (418), from the 4th church in Springfield, Rev. Mr. McKinstry, pastor. She died,

Joseph Sikes,

Eunice (Smith), wife of (127), Removed from us.

1770.

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

See Appendix D.

Mary (Hinsdale), wife of (129). She died,

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

Abigail (Thojjping), wife of Moses Prentiss.

From other Churches.

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

Wife of Stephen Newton, from the church in Ellington.

Deaths. Ag».

1831

1829

1831

1807

1818

1783

CONGREGATIONAL CHUUCH IIS" EEICHEETOWN. 105 Numbers. Names. Deaths. Age

1771.

Elijah Hoioe, brother of Col. Sam- uel Howe, 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 Cowles, 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, 1776, 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 were 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,

Sijlel ( 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, wife of (146). She died,

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

Kersiah ( Witt), his wife,

1773.

Martha ( Warner), wife of Sylvanus Howe. He was 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

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN BELCHERTOWN. 107

Numbers. Names. Deaths. Age

From other Churches.

Jedediah Ayres, ) 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,

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

Names.

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

1775.

Deaths. Age.

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 Smith.

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

1776.

Abiah Smith.

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

From 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 BELCIIEKTOWN. 109 Uftbera. Names. Doatha. Ag».

170. 171. 172. 178.

174.

175.

176.

Names.

1777.

177.

178. 179.

Martha (Parker),2& wife of Elijah Howe. (Sec 135).

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

Josiah 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 llhoda 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,

Ally, wife of (178).

11

1842

1782

1814

1818

1793

1789 1807

89 28

70

75

57

68 80

110

Numbers.

180.

181.

182. 183.

HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF THE

Names.

1779.

Seth Warner, 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* Ago

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

She

Capt. Elijah Bar dwell, son of (G6) ; 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, under 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

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN BELCHERTOWN. Ill

Names. Deaths. Ag»

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 an 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 (Belknap), 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

<r. ,i,

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.

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

Tabitha Parker.

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

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

1781

1816

1832

1830

88

77

73

1827| 66

112

HISTOEICAL SKETCHES OF THE

Numbers.

193.

194. 195.

196.

197. 198.

Names.

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

1780.

David Worthing ton, son of (91), )

Apphia his wife. f

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 D wight ; she was daughter of Pe v. Jus- tus Forward, and married J'. Dwight, June, 1777. lie was son to (42). He- died in March,

She died, (leaving one child, a daughter). That daughter, Nancy, mar- ried Rev. Asa McFarland, D. I)., of* Concord, Now Hampshire, in June, 1801. Dr. McFarland married Clarifl- 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. Age-

1840

94

1783 1782

30 23

1819 1837

08 81

COXGREGATIOXAL CHXTBCH IK BKLCHBBTOWK. 113 Numbers, IfMnor fhntfcl Age.

1781.

199. Susanna (Duright), wife of Dr. Estea Howe. She was daughter of (42). She died, 17851 40

Br. Howe was the first practising

physician that settled in the place. He remained here through life, died in L825, seed 70.

(00. Joseph Brtdgnum, son of (16), mar- ried Ruth Wright of Northampton,

June. 1770. They had four sons and two daughters ; their sons were Wright (o0-2). Joseph, see (HO), 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.

201.

See Appendix C.

L826

Hulda Warner, daughter o( (41).

She married Simeon Bardwell, son ot Capt. Jonathan Bardwell and Violet his wife (68) in 1781. She died, 1782 26

80

202.1 Esther Warner, daughter ofEbcne-

zer Warner. She died, 17St

From other Churches.

203. 204.

23

David Converse', 1

Wife of D. Converse, ♦

From the church in Stafford, and re- moved from here. 11*

114 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF THE

Numbers. Names. Deaths. Age.

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.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN BELCHERTOWN. 115 Numbers. 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 Divight, 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 not 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

1795

64

47

116 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF THE

Numbers. Names. Deaths. Ag«

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

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

Jerusha {Morgan), wife of Solomon Hannum.

1785.

Mary Hannum. She married Chester Bardwell, of Shclbume in 1789, and re- moved to that place.

Rebeckah ( Whitney), wife of Reu- ben Coatee, removed.

Ma}. Josiah Lyman, son of (3). Tradition says, be was the first male child born in this place that lived to adult years ; he was 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 69

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN BELCHERTOWN. 117

Numbers. Names.

El dad Parsons, son of (38), and (69), a magistrate, an active man. The church records say of him, " a soldier of the Revolution, 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 {Bar dwell), wife of (223). She was daughter of Martin Bardwell, and sister of (418.) She died,

Mabel, wife of II. 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. Age

1823

1800

1823

1847

68

40

81

91

118

HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF THE

Numbers.

231.

232.

233.

234. 235.

236. 237.

Names. Deaths

Sophia Lyman, daughter of (221), married (229).

Margaret (Dwight),vrife 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 Bar dwell, Jr., son of (66), married Sybil Smith, in 1774; resided in Belchcrtown, 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 with his sons, Josiah Bardwell, Esq. and Dca. Alon- zo Bardwell, where he spent the re- mainder of his days. He held the office of deacon in churches with which he was connected. His standard of re- ligious character was high ; his love of religious truth, and its fruits were 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.

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

Cloe Shumway, daughter of Asa and

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN BEICHEETOWN. 119 Numbers. Names. Deaths. Age

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

238. 239.

240. 241.

242.

243. 244.

245.

246. 247.

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

Katherine (Bar dwell), 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 Towne, son of Israel and Na- omi Towne, (104). See that No. He died,

See Appendix 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 OF THE

Numbers. Name*.

'to Hadley, in 1788, where lie now lives : has sustained the office of deacon in the church there for many \ brother to the Rev. Ethan Smith, well

known as the writer on the Prophecies

and on the Revelations.

17s.-,.

John Smith, son of (*.)), graduated at Dartmouth College, in 1794, stud- li d lii' ologj . and n is settled in the ministry in Salem, New Hampshire,

January 1th, l 7'.»7. continued there in th mini-try till November, 21st, 1 B16, \\ hen In' was dismissed : be ^

installed iu the mini-try in WYnham. M . in 1^17. and in 1 819,

1 the appointment box of Sacred Lit. rature and Th<

in the Divinity School at Bangor,

Maine, which office he acr< pted, and while he remained in tlie faithful dis- charge of his duties till his death. He

i of mind, was

dilligenf in his calling, BUCCessful in

his ministerial labors. Hit Aima- l on him the degree of

D. D. several years before hi- death.

He attained a distinction in clai and Theolo_ric;il Science, and for years held a prominent standing among the Divines of New England. He died April 14th,

Giles Ly))ian,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

oUNGKEGATION-AL CIIUBCH IN BELCHERlOWN. 121

Numbers. Names. Deaths. Age.

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

250.

251.

252.

253.

254.

255.

256.

257.

258.

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.

Rufu.s Kent field, 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

Numbers. Names.

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

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 Lyman, 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 Stebbins, 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.

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

Susa?ma Graves, daughter of Joseph and Eunice Graves, (131); she married

Deaths.

CONGREGATIONAL CHUECH IN BELCHERTOWN. 123

Numbers. Names. Deaths. Age.

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

268.

269.

270.

271. 272.

273.

274.

275.

Cloe Mahulan.

Tahitha Sikes.

Oliver Wright. He married for his first wife, Lydia Cowles, daughter of (56), 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 (Cowles), wife of (270).

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

Clarissa Dwight, 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 OP THE

Numbers. Names. Deaths'. A^e.

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

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

1787. First wife of Joseph Keed. 1789.

Eli 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 min- isterial duties, till June, 1830, when he was dismissed. He remained in that place till his death.

Susamia, 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 Cary, recommen- ded to this church by letter from Rev- erends John and Samuel Angin, dated 1784. These were colleague pastors,

1835

1802

1848

1831 1828

69

46

90

64

84

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN EELCHERTOWN. 125

Numbers. Names. Deaths. Age.

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

1789.

From other Chunhes.

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,

Phebe (Squier), wife of (288).

12*

126 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF THE

BfombefSi Names.

1792.

David Kent field, son of William and Sarah Kentfield, (141) and (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 Stacy, 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,

Abner 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,

Death9. Age.

1802

1850

1837 1847

44

86

41 79

CONGREGATIONAL CHUECH IN BELCHERTOWN.

Names.

Freeman Burr.

From other Churches.

Joseph Coleburn, ) 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 Bardioell, 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

Deaths.

127 Age.

1789

1839

1843

1824

31

67

6r9

47

128 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF THE

Numbers. Names. Deaths. Age

town business here for many years. He died July,

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, (287£).

1796.

Polly, wife of Benjamin Haynes.

From other Churches.

William Worthington, )

Wife of Wm. Worthington, f 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. Phineas Strong, from the Church in Hebron, Connecticut. He died,

1827

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN BELCHERTOWN. 129

1815

56

Numbers. Names. Deatha. Age.

Anna {Filer), wife of (314). She died,

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 West Springfield.

From other Churches.

Mary, the wife of Giles Lyman, from the first church in Middletown.f;

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 1825

68

74

130 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF THE

Numbers. Names.

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 D wight, daughter of Pliny D wight and grand-daughter of (42), married Dr. McFarland, of Concord. in 1801, and removed. Sec (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.

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

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

Celena Worthington, daughter of William Worthington.

Deaths. Age

1825

1814

40

CONGREGATIONAL CHTJRCH IN BEICHERTOWX. 131

Numbers.

328.

329.

330.

331.

332.

333.

334.

335.

336.

Names.

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

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

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,

Elizabeth Morse, daughter of Asa Morse, and sister of (331) ; 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.

Deaths. Age.

1813

33

1846 69

1821

51

1808

1809

37

67

132 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF THE

Numbers. Names. Deaths. Age.

1802.

Miriam ( Warner), 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.

Niagara,

Sally Bridgman, daughter of (200).

Abner 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 Cowles, son of (86). He died, March,

Elizabeth {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.

1829

1842

1844

75

66

66

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN EELCHERTOWN. 133

Numbers.

344.

345.

346.

347.

348. 349. 350.

351.

352. 353.

Names. Deaths. Age.

Elijah Nichols, 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, ' 1846 77

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 church in North Bolton, 1803.

Nathan Barnaby, removed in 1834.

Anna, wife of (348). She died, 1829 <

Elizabeth, 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).

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

134

HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF THE

Numbers. Names. Deaths. Age.

church, in 1823, continuing his resi- dence in this town and remained so till death. 1828 60

354.

355.

356.

357.

358.

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

1804.

1849

359. Joseph Angler, church records say. " A good man."

360. Fanny, wife of (359), removed.

68

1816

48

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN BELCHEETOWN. 135

Numbers.

361.

362.

Names.

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, R,ev. 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.

Nabby, wife of Jedediah Green.

Jonathan Randall.

Rhoda (Shujmvay), wife of Jonathan Randall, daughter of (174).

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

Deaths. Age

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 church in Bolton, Connecticut, Rev. E. Kellogg, pastor.

Wife of (372), from Bolton,

John Marshall. Church 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 for 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

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN BELCHERTOWN. 137

Names.

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

Deaths. Age.

Hannah {Barter), 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 1