Brookfield Town (part 7 of 18)

Gen. Dwight's letter had some result. Orders were issued July 18, to raise a strong and sufficient guard out of the militia for the succor of the exposed garrisons. Dwight himself raised 100 men, and was out from Aug. II, to Aug. 22. Capt. Thomas Buckminster, with 48 Brookfield men went up to Fort Dummer, and staid from Aug. 6 till Aug. 20. The Roll is as follows : Capt. T. B., Lt. Joseph Allen, Ens. Noah Ashley, Sergts Benj. Ruggles, Eph"^ Hayward, clerk Gershom Makepeace, Corp^. Edw. Walker, Simeon Dwight, John Wait, centinels, Jesse Converse, Andrew Cowee, Obadiah Cooley, John Bell, Joseph Banister, Uriah Bush, John Blair, Thomas Banister, Peter Blackmar, Samuel Bascom, Elijah Bartlett, Jude Converse, Gideon Cooley, Thomas Gilbert, William Dady, Samuel Hinckley, John Hamilton, Moses Hascall, Hopestill Hinds, Nehemiah Hinds, Jacob Hinds, Samuel Galloon, Dudley Jordan, Solomon Keyes, Jr., Richard Marks, Silas Newton, Phinehas Powers, Thomas Rich, Solomon Rich, Nathan Smith, Wm Shepherd, John Steward, Simeon Wright, Phinehas Warner, Henry White, Isaac White, Joseph Warner, James Patterson. "

The Last French and Indian War, i 754-1 763. - The treaty of Aix la Chapelle proved to be little more than a truce. The Indians continued their depredations till June, 1749, and re-commenced hostilities in May, 1754. Assured that there could be no permanent peace to her American colonies so long as the French power was dominant on the northern frontiers, Great Britain determined to effect the conquest of Canada.

The gates to the French possessions on the St. Lawrence, were, first, by way of the River St. Lawrence ; second, by way of Crown Point and Lake Champlain ; third, by way of Lake Ontario. The reduction of Canada then involved the taking of Louisbourg, which was restored to France by the late treaty ; the capture of Crown Point, and the capture of Fort Niagara and its outpost, Fort Du Quesne.

The English government called on the Provinces to furnish their full quotas of men to these great expeditions, which were placed under command of British officers ; and the intermediate frontiers were left in the main to look out for themselves. The earlier disasters of this war were largely due to the incompetence and arrogance of these British commanders.

This general statement seems necessary in order to explain the different and widely-scattered expeditions in which our militia were called upon to take part.

1754, June 21. Gov. Shirley issued orders to the commanders of regiments, to make a thorough inspection of the state of the militia and report to head-quarters. The several towns were also required to supply themselves with the full stock of ammunition required by law.

Martin How and Arthur Tucker of Brookfield enlisted June 26, and Levi Hamilton, Nov. 9, in Capt. John Wright's Co., expedition to the Eastern Frontiers. In the same expedition, in Capt. Jos. Wilson's Co., Apr. to Nov., were John Tute and Wm Hair of B. In the same expedition, in Capt. Eleazar Melvin's Concord Co., were Rich. Burk (then of Ware River), Wm Brabrook, Caleb Dodge, Ephraim Hayward, Levi and Seth Hamilton, Joseph and Thomas Waite and Corp. Nathaniel Woolcott, out from May to Nov. David Hinckley, John Tute, and Jona. Waite were at Coleraine, Aug. '54 to Mar. '55.

1755. Four military expeditions were planned in the spring of this year : one against the French in Nova Scotia ; a second against Fort Du Quesne ; a third against Crown Point ; and a fourth against Niagara.

Brookfield furnished her full quota for the Crown Point expedition. Capt. Jeduihan Baldwin was in command of a company ; Wm Dorothy was out. Mar. 2 7 to Sept. 8 ; Corp. Jos. Waite, Wm Brabrook and John Tute were in Capt. Is. Williams' Co. ; Comfort Barns was in Capt. Luke Hitchcock's Springfield Co., Apr. 1 1 to Oct. i ; Corp. Thomas Barns, Jos. Gilbert, John Green, Thomas Stevens, and Eleazar Warner enlisted in Capt. Sam. Robinson's Hardwick Co. ; Sergt. Jos. Hamilton, Abraham Adams, Nathan Hamilton, John McClure, Phinehas Slayton, Solomon Rood, and Jacob Wood were in Capt. Andrew Dalrymple's Petersham Co., Aug, 9 to Dec. 2 7 ; Peter Harwood was ensign in Capt. Ephm Doolittle's Co., Aug. to Dec; Wm Blackmor was in Capt. Benj. Johnson's Woburn Co., Sept. 8 to Jan. 3, '56. The following men enlisted in Sept., under Col. John Murray : Jona. Abbott, Obed Abbott (of Bedford), Daniel Ainsworth, Joseph Barr, Adoniram Bartlett, Daniel Bemon, Samuel Bliss, Thomas Cheney, Henry Chadwick, James Clark, Robert Clark, Josiah Cutler, Robert Cutler, Samuel Dorothy, Josiah Farrell, Ebenr Foster, Jr., Wm Galloway, David Getchell, Nathan Gould, Jason Hinds, Ephm Hayward, Abraham How, Jr., Amos Marsh, Joshua Morris, Joseph Old, Wm Ranger, Isaac Rice, John Rice, Daniel Walker. Dr. Benj. Gott was surgeon's mate on the staff of Col. Josiah Brown, Sept. 9 to Dec. 15, and remained at Fort William Henry with Col. Bagley till Mar. 31, '56. In a petition. Dr. Gott says : " I was at Fort William Henry last winter and know that Capt. Jeduthan Baldwin dealt out from his private stores, Rum, brandy, sugar, coffee, tea, wine, etc., to the sick in the Hospital, the Com- missary being destitute : After the army was disbanded in Nov., your petitioner volunteered to stay and garrison the fort, and did so under Col. Glazier after Col. Kingsbury left in Jan., and staid till May." Comfort Brabrook enlisted in Capt. Whitcomb's Co., and died at Sheffield on his return. Nathan Thompson was in Col. Titcomb's regiment ; was sent out in the detachment under Col. Ephraim Williams to intercept the French under Dieskau, Sept. 8 ; was wounded by 3 shots, two of which broke his left arm in two places, the third went through his lungs, by which he was rendered helpless ; granted a pension of ;^4, for 3 years. Samuel Barns, Uriah Gilbert and Joseph Walker enlisted in Capt. Daniel Brewer's Co. ; were all sick ; Gilbert died.

1756. The plan of the campaign this year embraced the reduction of the forts at Crown Point, and Niagara. Massachusetts raised an army of near 7,000 men ; but through the incapacity of Gen. Abercrombie, the British commander, " the summer passed in fruitless labor."

Capt. Jabez Upham, by direction of the town, bought in Boston 200 wt. of Powder, to recruit the town stock, at the cost of ;^i7. 13. 4 lawful money. The whole stock was 300 lbs. Powder, 600 lbs. lead bullets, 900 flints.

Brookfield sent into the service this year : Ens. Joseph Waite, Sergt. Thomas Riggs, Breed Batcheller, Jedediah Deland, Jona. Dodge, Walter Dorothy, John Goldsbury, Abraham Hair, Wm Ranger, John Tute and John Woolcott, in Capt. John Burk's Falltown Co., Feb. 18 to Dec. 17 ; Gideon Abbott, in Capt. James Reed's Co., Feb. to Dec. ; Lieut. Eph. Hayward, Ens. Joseph Hamilton, drummer Tho. Weeks, Wm Ayres, Jr., Edward Ayres, Eliphalet Hamilton, Abraham and John Adams, Ebenr Davis, Jona. Dodge, Solo. Flagg, Nathan Hamilton, Abner Old, Jos. Rutland, Daniel Walker, Benj., Jacob and Joseph Wood, in Capt. Edmund Bemis' Spencer Co., Feb. to Dec. ; Corlis Hinds, Jedediah How, Arthur Tucker, Simeon, Levi and Sylvanus Walker, Joseph Witt and Josiah Wood in Capt. Solo. Keyes' Co., Mar. to Dec. ; Sergt. Jona, Gilbert (died Dec. 9), Corp. Oliver Woolcott, Corp. Silas Walker, Joel Abbott, Onesiphorus Ayres, Samuel Barns, Stephen Blackmor, Simeon Brooks, John Davis, Oliver Evens, David Gilbert, Joseph Gilbert, Ebenezer Hayward, Caleb How, Joseph Hatfield, Philip Reed, Henry White, John Williams, Ezekiel Woodbury, Obadiah Wright, in Capt. Daniel Brewer's Concord Co., July 10 to Dec. 31 ; Daniel Gilbert, Philip Goss, John Green, and Samuel Hair enlisted in Col. Thatcher's regiment in July ; Corp. Ephm Brown, aged 21, enlisted at Deerfield in Capt. Colton's Co. July 26. Col. Joseph Dwight's regiment took part in the Crown Point expedition. Capt. Bemis' and Capt. Burk's companies, (above named) were under his command. The following Descriptive Roll has value :

Brookfield Records, 1718-17S6 Last French And Indian War

1 75 7. This was a year of disasters to the English and American forces, and was remembered and spoken of by our fathers for three generations, as the year of " The Great Alarm about the taking of Fort William Henry."

The expedition planned against Crown Point and Ticonderoga was popular ; many of the last year's men re-enlisted, and new men were readily secured. But by order of Lord Loudon, then commanding in the Provinces, the bulk of the army was drawn off in an expedition against Louisbourg, which proved a failure. Only about 7,000 men - 4,000 under Gen. Webb at Fort Edward, 3,000 under Col. Munroe at Fort William Henry - were left for the defence of the north-western frontiers.

Gen. Montcalm, with an army of 11,000 French and Lidians concentrated at Ticonderoga, and Aug. 3, invested Fort William Henry. Col. Munroe had an effective force of only 2,372 men; but gallantly held the great army at bay for six days, and surrendered Aug. 9. By the terms of capitulation. Col. M. and his troops were allowed to march out with the honors of war, retaining their arms and baggage. But the Indians attached to Montcalm's army, without hindrance from the French officers, plundered the most valuable stores, and murdered in cold blood about 300 officers and men.

The alarm of the peril of our troops reached this town before the surrender ; and our companies began the march for relief, Aug. 9. Finding themselves too late, our men returned in a short time.

The Brookfield soldiers in service this year were : Peter Harwood, Joseph Perry and Amos Tute, under Maj. Is. Williams, Jan. to Nov.; John Gilson, under Lieut. Joseph Blake ; Jabez Ayres, Samuel Barns, John Goss, Eliphalet Hamilton, Caleb How, Asa Lamson, and Wm Virgin aged 60, (then of Chelmsford) ; Breed Batcheller, Josiah Ban- ister, Jedediah Deland, Samuel Gould, Reuben Hamilton, and David Palmer ; Christopher Banister, in Capt. Learned's Co. ; and those that turned out on the " Alarm " were : Jonathan Pellet, then of Sheffield ; Joseph Barns, David, Jr., Jedediah and Solomon Gilbert, Eliakim Spooner and James Thompson, in Capt. Eleazar Warner's New Braintree Co.

Last French And Indian War

1758. The plan for the campaign this year included the investment of Louisbourg, and expeditions against Ticonderoga and Fort Du Quesne. The first and last were successful ; that against Ticonderoga was a disastrous failure.

In the House of Representatives, Apr. 28, 1758, " Ordered, that the selectmen of Leicester be allowed to remove from said town to the town of Brookfield, Jaques Morris, with eleven of his family, being French Neutrals (so called) placed in L. in 1756, by order of the General Court ; and the selectmen of Brookfield are hereby required to provide for said French people."

1759. The taking of Louisbourg, in July of last year, gave the English control of the eastern gate to Canada. The only strongholds held by the French outside of Montreal and Quebec, were Niagara, Ticonderoga and Crown Point. Niagara was taken July 24, Ticonderoga was invested July 22, and after a siege taken; when Crown Point was abandoned by the French commander.

In the mean time, Gen. Wolfe was prosecuting a most important enterprise, viz. the reduction of Canada. Sept. 13, he achieved his memorable victory on the heights of Abraham, which insured the fall of Quebec.

Rev. Eli Forbes served as chaplain to the First Battalion, Gen. T. Ruggles' regiment. Crown Point expedition. Mar. to Dec. In a petition he says : " In 1759, I was chaplain in the army, and undertook to perform duty to two of Gen. Ruggles' battalions : soon after I joined the army at Fort Edward, the battalions were separated to a distance of several miles, but I faithfully administered to both : they united at Lake George, and then were regularly observed morning and evening prayers, attendance on the sick and criminals, and preaching on the Sabbath. After the army passed the Lake, the battalions were often stationed 3, 10, 15 miles apart, yet I never failed of praying and preaching with each, visited the sick in the hospitals and the criminals at the Provost guards; I sometimes travelled on foot 15 miles to reach all the hospitals. Towards the close of the campaign. Rev. John Brainard and myself had 400 invalids committed to our charge, and were ordered to march with them to Albany ; and humanity obliged us to advance our own money, and perform all kind offices for the relief of these poor distressed men, who otherwise must have suffered greatly, there being no suitable hospital stores available."

1 760. Gen. Amherst concentrated the army in three divisions before Montreal, Sept. 6, and on the 8th, the Province of Canada and its dependencies were surrendered to the British crown.

the following Brookfield names : Sergt. Jona. Dodge, Corp. Eben"" Hayward, Charles Dorothy, Abraham Gilbert, Nathan Hamilton, Cornelius Hinds, Steph. Jennings, Abner Old, Samuel Robinson, Daniel Rolfe, Jona. Streeter. Samuel Streeter, Josiah White, Jacob Wood. The company was out Feb. to Dec.

In the Muster Noll of Capt. William Paige of Hardwick, Mar. to Dec, Brookfield is credited with Lt. Daniel Walker, Sergts. Zeph. Batcheller, Obadiah Wright, and Eben"^ Davis, and privates Nathan Abbott, Jona. Barns, Nathan Barns, Wm Batcheller, Comfort Gilbert, Ezekiel Gilbert, John Goodale, Nathan Goodale, Solo. Goodale, Caleb Green, Elijah How, John McFarland, Asa Partridge, Asahel Rogers, Ezra Rood, Gad Smith, Aaron Tute, Nathan Tyler, Zebulon Walker, Tho. Weeks, John Woolcott.

June 6, 1760. The French people, late inhabitants of Nova Scotia, were divided to the several towns for support. To Brookfield, Stanislaus Guirdo, and Mary his wife, and his daughter and an infant, Maudlin Gadrich, Isaac Guirdo - 6 in all.

Our men, out in '61, were: Daniel Barns, William Batcheller, Jona. Dodge, John Everden (apprentice to John Chadwick), Reuben Gilbert, Joseph Hatfield, Samuel Marsh (apprentice to Aaron Bartlett), Timothy Tyler.

Secoxd Meetixg-House

For the sake of clearness, it seemed best to give a full account of the struggle for supremacy in New England between France and England, in a single section, though this method has in a measure broken the thread of our narrative. The question of supremacy was settled in England's favor, by the treaty of Paris. We now return to matters of direct domestic concern.

Second Meeting-house. - The question of building a new meetinghouse began to be agitated in 1 746. The setting off of the southwest corner of the town to Western, had left the remaining portion in a very irregular shape, and carried the geographical centre to Slate hill plain. This point however was not the centre of population ; was an inconvenient place to be reached from the south, and would add a mile's travel to the families living in the extreme northwest district. The real gain in distance of travel and advantage of location would accrue to the northeasterly inhabitants. These northeasters were united in the plan ; the southern and western men were united in opposing it, but were divided in opinion as to the proper location of a meeting-house.

Rev. Mr. Cheney. At this juncture, the Rev. Mr. Cheney, pastor of the Church, was disabled by sickness, and died Dec. 11, 1747. Thomas Cheney, son of William and Rebecca (Newell) Cheney, was born in Roxbury Jan. 29, 168S-9 ; graduated at Harvard University 1711 ; married (i) Dorothy Hawley, daughter of Hon. Joseph of Northampton; (2) May 22, 1746, Mary Cotton, daughter of Rev. John. He was ordained Oct. 16, 1 71 7, and consequently was pastor thirty years. "He is described as an acceptable preacher, and as sustaining the character of a good man, and faithful pastor."

The death of Mr. Cheney loosened some ties which had bound the people to the old Centre, and its surroundings, and gave the opportunity for the northeastern inhabitants to renew their efforts for a new location of the meeting-house.

" To hear and act upon a Petition of a number of y^ Inhabitants of s'^ Town living in the Northeasterly part of s<^ Town requesting that the town find a Centre as the Town now lies, and build a meeting-house there, or as near as the ground will admit, otherwise to set them off as a distinct Precinct agreeable to their Petition -

"At a Town meeting March 14, the Question was put, if the Town will build a Meeting-house in the Centre of the town as it now lies : passed in the Negative : If the Town would set off the petitioners with a quarter part of the Township as it lay before Western was set off, or a third part as it now lies : and it passed in the Negatived

This refusal of the town, led to the sending of a Petition to the General Court, asking for the incorporation of a new Precinct in the Northeasterly quarter ; and to the erection of the frame of a new meeting-house there. And after a series of moves and counter-moves, the new or Second Precinct was incorporated Mar. 29, 1750. [The history of this Precinct belongs to the next Chapter.]

In the mean time, and before the formation of the Second Precinct, steps had been taken to settle a new minister. Oct. 17, 174S, "The town voted, that Thursday come forteen night be set apart for fasting and prayer to God for his direction with respect to settling a Gospel minister amongst us in this place."

In Town meeting Nov. 28, 1748, ^^ Voted, To concur with the church in their choice of Mr. Elisha Harding to be their Minister. At an adjournment, Dec. 22, Voted to give Mr. Harding for his encouragement to settle in the Gospel Ministry in s'^ Town the sum of one thousand pounds old tenor eiirrency : 2d, To give the s*^ Mr. Harding for his yearly salary and support during the time of his continuance in the Ministry afores'^ the sum of five hundred pounds old tenor, accounting the same as tho' it be paid in Indian Corn at 20s. pr. bush.. Rye at 30s. per bush.. Wheat at 40s. pr. bush., and said 500 pounds to be diminished or increased yearly in proportion to the prices of these commodities as they shall yearly rise or fall, and be bought or sold in s'^ Town - Provided he release to the Town all right to the Ministry Lands : or in case he inclines to have the improvement thereof, he have the liberty thereof, allowing and paying as much as any other person would give therefor. Voted, Joseph Dwight, Esq., Left. Elisha Rice, Dea. John Gilbert, Amos Rice and Capt. Thomas Buckminster a committee to acquaint Mr. Harding of the vote aforesaid. At an adjournment, voted to Mr. Harding free liberty to cut and get his wood on the Common Land of said Town known by the name of The Rocks, s^ Mr. Harding not to make waste of s<^ wood, especially of the young wood. Voted, That Mr. Harding have the use and improvement of the 20 acres of Ministry Land between Capt. Buckminster's and Mr. Simeon Dwight's free from rent for two years, and then he is to allow the Town 20 pounds old tenor yearly for the same."

Mr. Harding was ordained Sept. 13, 1749. The sermon, entitled "A Monitor for Gospel Ministers," was preached by Rev. Nathan Bucknam of Medway, from Col. iv. 1 7, and was published.

Petition For Division Of Parish

in the old Parish the question of a new meeting-house ; and to test the relative strength of the southern and western sections of the Township.

"At a meeting of the First Parish in Brookfield Nov. 20, 1753, a petition of Obadiah Wright and others was read, praying that a Meetinghouse may be built on the hight of land near Seth Banister's house, on the south side of the Country road, near to Ebenezer Hayward's land, and after debate the Parish voted to build a meeting-house on said spot."

"At a meeting of the First Parish in Brookfield, Jan. 31, 1754, Voted, Dr. Jabez Upham, Capt. Thomas Buckminster, Elisha Rice, Nathan Hamilton and Jacob Abbott a committee to agree with Seth Banister about the land to set a meeting-house on, where the Parish voted to build one.

Voted, that the 100 pounds be taxed in the next assessment, and that the said house be framed and raised as soon as the season will permit."

Before the last-named meeting was held, i.e. on Dec. 4, 1753, Jedediah Foster, the Gilberts, Abner Brown, John Goss, and others living in the west part, in all 43 voters, had presented a petition asking that the First Parish be equally divided so, as to form two Parishes, equal as to quantity and quality of lands and number of inhabitants. The petitioners allege, " that the distance from the northwest corner to the southeast corner of the Parish is 13 miles; that both extremes are under actual improvement by permanent settlers ; that there is a sufficiency of land and inhabitants for two Parishes ; and that said petitioners, living in the westerly part of the town are greatly aggrieved by the vote of the Parish, passed by a small majority, to build a new house about two miles from the present one, in a southeasterly direction, which will add so much to our disadvantages of attending public worship."

To this Petition, the ruling majority made answer : " As to the southeasterly part of the Parish, it is well settled with men that pay a considerable tax, and are like to pay a larger : as for the northwest part, there is but six families in the three miles between Western and Brookfield north line, and all of them are at the very west end of the town, and all of them are set off to Ware River parish - the remainder of the three miles is land so broken that there never can be many settlers, and these few will be better accommodated other ways than they can be in Brookfield : when the line is established between the First and Second (North) Parishes, we shall be but about 115 families, and about 20 of them not able to pay any considerable tax : . . . We are exceedingly bro- ken with water : the First Parish is cut apart with Quaboge River, about 7 or 8 miles, and the south and east inhabitants divided by large Ponds, that they cannot get together any where so convenient as the place where we have agreed to build a House ; the south people are obliged to pass over Quaboge River west of a large Pond by a bridge and Causie about four score rod long to get to the meeting-house spot where we have agreed to build, and the east part cross Quaboge River at the north end of the above said Pond to get to meeting with the travel of about 7 and a half miles to the old meeting and 5 and a half to the new meetinghouse ; and considering the difficulty of getting together, the smallness of our inhabitants, the extraordinary charge of building and maintaining bridges, we cannot divide, and shall think ourselves greatly injured and wronged if the prayer of those people should be granted. They are but 41, and one of them, viz. Joshua Dodge, belongs to the Second Parish; one more, viz. Job Lane, has sold his inheritance, and the purchaser saith he shall look upon his farm ;^20o less valuable if the Parish is divided. ... If the Petitioners will leave their names with the Town Clerk, in order to make a Parish, we are willing they should be set into a Distinct Parish. But otherwise we think their petition unreasonable. We pay our minister annually ^66. 13. 4, of which sum they pay ;^i5. 10. 9. "

To fix the matter beyond recall, the majority through their committee, proceeded to set up the frame of the new meeting-house on Seth Banister's hill, in the present South Villaga. The house was raised April 15th and 1 6th 1754.

Mr. Foster, the Gilberts and others, appealed to the General Court, which ordered a stay of proceedings, and sent out a committee to view the place and circumstances, and report facts and recommendations.

A paper, handed to said Committee, reads as follows : " When you have taken an impartial view of our situation, and inability to maintain two ministers, we make nO doubt but you will return tp the General Court that it is best for us to be but one Parish : But however, if otherwise, we cannot but think that you will return the names of the Petitioners only for a Parish, and exempt us whose names are hereunder written which live at the west end of said Parish, for we will Not joyn with them if by any means we can avoid it, for we are utterly against a division : . . . If we are drove to joyn them, it will be the greatest oppression we think, that any in New England ever suffered of that nature : Signed, Joshua Nichols, Jolin Graton, John Hill, Peter Hill, Isaac Kindrick, Jeremiah Woodbury, John Hill, Jr., Jona. Abbott, Elijah Bardett, Ebenezer BarUett, Jacob Abbott, Thomas Rich, Joshua Dodge, Caleb Dodge."

"At a legal meeting of the First Parish, Wednesday July to, 1754, Voted, after a long debate, to proceed and enclose and finish the new meeting-house set up near Seth Banister's." At an adjournment in Sept.,

Division Of First Parish

^^ voted, to continue preaching in the old meeting-house, one Sabbath and no longer. Voted, to pull down the old meeting-house to help cover and finish the ne^A' one. looted, that the committee for building shall have the ordering of pulling down the old house, and apply it to the finishing the new. Voted, that all persons that have pews of their own in the old meeting-house shall have liberty to take care of their pews any time within 8 days* from this day. Voted, that the new meeting-house shall be the place of publick worship. Voted, that Rev. Elisha Harding shall carry on Preaching in the new meeting-house on the 15 th day of this instant September, being Sabbath Day, and so on from Sabbath to Sabbath."

Oct. 16, 1754. At a legal meeting, the First Parish voted., "to levy the sum of ^64 upon the polls and estates of the inhabitants of said Parish, to pay Rev. Mr. Harding his salary this present year."

The next day, viz. Oct. 1 7, Jedediah Foster, the Gilberts and others, prepared a remonstrance, and petition to the General Court, against the action of the Parish, asking exemption from taxation to pay for the new meeting-house, and allowance of their proportion or interest in the old house, and for the incorporation of a new Parish. Exemption from taxation to meet existing grants was not allowed ; but Nov. 8, 1754, the Parish was divided, and the Third or South Parish incorporated, leaving the West part to retain the name and powers of the First Parish.

This brought up the question, of which Parish was Rev. Mr. Harding the minister? The General Court decided that the estates of the old First Parish were holden for the payment of his salary and all charges up to the date of division, but did not determine his pastoral status. " In consequence of the commotion and troubles incident to this division of the Parish, Mr. Harding, at his own request, was dismissed May 8, 1755, having sustained the pastoral office not quite six years. He was a graduate of Harvard in 1745 . He is described as a gentleman of great benevolence ; a man of singular probity and solid learning ; one who from a child had known the Holy Scriptures, and made them much the matter of his study. His public ministrations were serious and adapted to edify and benefit his hearers."

Brookfield was now divided into three distinct Parishes. In the Second or North Parish, a meeting-house was raised in 1749, but not immediately finished. In the Third or South Parish, the meeting-house was raised in Apr. 1754, and finished with materials taken from the old house on Foster's hill. It stood on the Common, east of the Unitarian Church. In the First or West Parish, a meeting-house was built in 1755. It was placed "at the turning of the country road near the northeast corner of a plow-field belonging to John Barns, being on the Plain in said First Precinct," and near the site of the present First Parish meeting-house.

Ministry Land. In addition to special (and liberal) grants made to the early ministers, which they held in fee, the town sequestered certain lands, the improvement or income of which was to accrue to the ministerial support in perpetuum.

How these lands were managed will appear from the following records : "Nov. 14, 1730, Voted, Mr. Joseph Dwight, Elisha Rice and Left. Thomas Gilbert be a committee, to let out for the term of i^ years, upon such terms as they can agree with any good man, obliging him to manure and cultivate so much thereof as they shall think beneficial, the Ministry Lot between Capt. Thomas Baker and Mr. Joseph Dwight s their Home- Lots."

The division of the town into distinct parishes necessarily involved the division of the sequestered lands. These lands, as surveyed by Wm Chandler, [see Plans, entered in the old Town Book] comprised a lot in the form of a parallelogram, lying south of the river near Richard Vorce's, containing 164 acres; the "ministry meadow," containing 4 acres 66 rods, lying on the westerly side of Coy's brook, adjoining Col. Dwight's land ; the " ministry lot " of 125 acres which included the South Burying Ground, bounded on the northerly side by the old country road, and south by Quabaug river; and the "ministry home-lot" on Foster's hill.

A committee was appointed by the town, consisting of Jedediah Foster and Thomas Gilbert of the First Precinct, Obadiah Rice and Nathaniel Woolcott of the Second Precinct, Jabez Upham, Cyprian Rice and John Rich of the Third Precinct, with full powers, to make an equitable division of the sequestered lands.

The above named committee agreed Oct. 13, 175S, that "the First Precinct should have the eastwardly half of the Ministry Lot adjoining the Burying Place (excluding the said Burying Place), and 124 acres in the Lot on the south side of the River, to begin upon the southwardly end of said Lott running through the same in the width and extending southwardly the width of said Lot until it makes the said 1 24 acres :

"The Second Precinct shall have the 22 acre Lot adjoining to Capt. Thomas Buckminster's land, and the Ministry Meadow on Coy's brook adjoining Capt. Dwight's farm, and 20 acres of the aforesaid Lot on the South side of the River at the northwardly end the width of said Lott :

" The Third Precinct shall have the vvestwardly half of the Lott adjoining the Burying Place, and 20 acres in the Lot on the South side of the River adjoining southwardly on the Second Precinct's Twenty acres."

These lands were eventually sold by the several parishes, and the money invested as a Fund, the interest of which went towards the support of the minister.

The Revolution

The Revolution. - In the struggle that resulted in the separation of the American Colonies from the mother countr}', the record of Brookfield is an honorable one.

At a town meeting held May 17, 1773, a committee was appointed, consisting of Joseph Gilbert, Benjamin Adams, Benjamin Babbet, Samuel Hinckley and Joshua Dodge, which reported as follows :

" To the Committee of Correspondence for the Town of Boston - Gentlemen : The town of Brookfield having taken the letter of the Town of Boston of Nov. 20, 1772, into consideration, together with the state of the infringements and violations of the rights of the people of America and of this Province in particular, which have from time to time been made by the Court and Parliament of Great Britain - We fully agree with you in sentiment relating to them, and that it is the indispensible duty of every lover of his country and the happy constitution which was once the Glory of this Country, to exert himself in every loyal and constitutional way to ward off the impending evil.

" This town will be ever ready to assist, and in every legal and proper way maintain those rights and liberties for our children, which with so much labor, blood and treasure were purchased by our ancestors, whose memory is and ought to be esteemed by us ; and we hope, notwithstanding the attempts of the enemies of our constitution to deprive us of those rights, yet by a steady, firm and constant exertion we shall not finally be deprived of them.

"This town will not fail of joining with other towns in this Province in every constitutional way to obtain redress, and as the Province is hitherto favored with a General Assembly, we trust that they under God may be led to such measures as may procure us relief.

" We take this opportunity to thank the Town of Boston for their Great Care and Vigilance in the common cause, and look upon ourselves embarked in the same bottom, mutually interested in the same event. Let us look to God for his Blessing and Protection, and "stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free."

The Tax on Tea. A committee, viz. Jedediah Foster, Jeduthan Baldwin, Joseph Gilbert, Benjamin Rice and Phinehas Upham, report, Dec. 7, 1773 : "We think it our indispensable duty, in the most public manner to let the world know our utter abhorrence of the last and most detestable scheme, in the introduction of Tea from Great Britain, to be peddled out amongst us, by which means we were to be made to swallow a poison more fatal in its effects to the national and political Rights and Privileges of the People of this country, than ratsbane would be to the natural body - encourage or promote the sale or consumption of any Tea whatever, subject to a duty payable in America, but all persons whoever they may be, who shall be concerned in a transaction so dangerous, shall be held by us in the utmost contempt, and be deemed enemies to the well being of this country."

Allowed Jedediah Foster ;,^i 6. 18. i for services as representative at Boston and Salem, and attending the Prov. Cong, at Concord and Cambridge, to Dec. 13, 69 days.

Allowed to Jeduthan Baldwin £^c). 14 for services as delegate to the Prov. Cong, at Concord & Cambridge, 45 days. Allowed to Phinehas Upham ^4. 17 for do. do. iS days.

Mitnite Men. We the subscribers Inlisted agreeable to the vote of the Provincial Congress as Minute or Picquit men in the Town of Brookfield, for the term of six months after the date, &c, under the command of Joseph Gilbert, Captain, William Ayres, ist Left, Peter Harwood, 2d Left, and Abner How, Ensign, do hereby solemnly covenant and agree that we will muster, exercise and do our utmost to obtain the art military, and subject ourselves to the command of our said captain and the subalterns of his company by us chosen and appointed ; and if any dispute shall arise, or if any of us shall not give such obedience to his or their order as he or they shall think Reasonable and Just, the same shall be Determined by the Major part of the Company ; and we severally agree that we will at all times submit to such order, discipline and censure as shall be so determined. Witness our hands this fourteenth day of November, 1774.

1775. - Jan. 9. The town provided for another company of Minute Men, who subscribed the following covenant : " We the subscribers, soldiers inlisted from the several Militia companies within this town, and organized into a company called the Minute Company, do solemnly covenant that we will as soon as possible be provided and equipt with an effective fire-arm, cartouch box (or bullet pouch), 30 rounds of powder and bullets, and knapsack : That we will exert our best abilities to acquire the art military : That we will yield a ready obedience to the commands of our officers, and hold ourselves in readiness to march upon the earliest notice from our Commanding officers, and hazard our lives in resisting any armed force that shall attempt by force to put in execution the late revenue Acts - should any attempt be made between this time and the first of July next.

Brookfield Records, 171S-J7S6

" Voted, that the ministers be desired to notify contributions for the Boston sufferers, and David Hitchcock for First Precinct, Jeduthan Baldwin for Second Precinct and Seth Banister, Jr. for 3d Precinct were chosen to receive the same and transport them to Boston."

Lexington Alarm. - The news of the British advance on Lexington and Concord, appears to have reached Brookfield on the afternoon of April 19 ; and the three companies of Minute Men started immediately for the scene of conflict. The Muster Rolls are given entire.

A Roll o{ Minute Men in Col. Jona. Warner's Regiment, commanded by Capt. Jona. Barns, that marched from Brookfield on the 19th of April 1775.

A true roll of the Minute Company and others from Brookfield who marched under my command on the nineteenth of April last (1775) upon the alarm on that day (of hostilities being commenced by the King's troops in the morning of said day) .

A Roll of the men called Rangers that marched from Brookfield and Spencer under the command of John Woolcott as their Captain on the 19"^ day April last (1775) i'^ consequence of an alarm on said day.

At the earnest solicitation of the Committee of Safety, a large number of the Minute ^Slen consented to remain in Service till new and more permanent companies could be organized. The Provincial Congress met April 22, and on the 23d. it was resolved to call on Massachusetts to furnish 13,500 men for Eight Months service.

Apr. 24, the Committee of Safety tendered a commission as colonel to David Brewer of Palmer,' and ordered that nine sets of "beating papers" be given him, to be distributed to trusty officers each of whom was expected to enlist a company of 56 able-bodied men. One set was handed to Lieut. John Packard of Brookfield, who proceeded to enlist soldiers from the Minute Companies then on the ground. Beating papers, with the tender of a colonelcy were given to Ebenezer Learned of Oxford, who handed one set to Lieut. Peter Harwood of this town.

The Revolution. 23 1

This regiment - Col. Ebenezer Learned, Lt. Col. Danforth Keye?, Adgt. Seih Banister - went into camp at Roxbury May 19, and commissions were issued to the Field and Company ofificers, May 23. Capt. Harwood's Co. mustered 71 men.

The Committee of Safety reported June 15, that "Col. David Brewer had raised nine companies, amounting, including officers to 465 men, who are now posted at Rcjxbury, Dorchester and Watertown." This regiment was commissioned Ju«e 17. "Field and Staff officers in the Ninth Continental Regiment : David Brewer, Palmer, Colonel ; Rufus Putman, Brookfield, Lt. Col. ; Nathaniel Danielson, Brimfield, Major ; Amos Adams, Roxbury, Chaplain (died Oct. 4), Thomas Weeks, Greenwich, Adjutant; Ebenezer Washburn, Hardwick, Qr. Master; Estes How, Belchertown, Surgeon; James Bradish, No. 5, Assis't. Surgeon; John Trotter, clerk."

The following List of Brookfield men, in the Eight Months Service, is gathered from the Rolls in the State Archives. /// Col. Leanietfs Regime 11 f :

The battle of Bunker Hill, June 17, was foughit by these Eight Months men. But no returns have been found, to indicate the names of the Brookfield soldiers who took part in that action.

The town Committee of Inspection were : Col. Jedediah Foster, David Hitchcock, John Phipps, for First Precinct ; Daniel Gilbert, Thomas Moore, John Lyscom, for Second Precinct; Josiah Hobbs, Ephraim Walker, Ithamar Wright, 3d Precinct.

Dec. I, 1775. 5,000 men of the Militia were ordered out, to defend the fortifications at Cambridge and Roxbury. The quota of Brookfield was 45. The Roll has not been found.

1776. - Brookfield men in Capt. Wm Todd's Co., Col. Crafts' Regt. of Artillery, Feb. i, to May 8, 1776 : Sergts. David Watson and Charles Bruce, Corp. Wm Smith, Joshua Barns, Barnabas Brigham, Antipas Bruce, Hosea Edson, Eben'' Field, John Hersey, Daniel Matthews, Abel Johnson, David Leland, Jonathan Sever, Abner White.

ceased; and Apr. 10, James Converse was chosen Colonel in place of Col. Gilbert. Jona. King was commissioned captain of the First Co. in said Reg'., Nathan Hamilton ist Lieut., Daniel Pollard 2d Lieut. May 31 ; Joseph Cutler, captain and Isaac Wood ist Lieut, of the Third Co. ; Tilly Rice, captain, Joseph Pickard ist Lieut, and Abijah Cutler 2d Lieut, of the Fourth Co. ; John Lyscom, captain, William Ayres ist Lieut, and John Ranger 2d Lieut, of the Ninth Co. ; Cyrus Rich, captain, Isaac Gleason ist Lieut, and Abner Tyler 2d Lieut, of the Eleventh Co. ; Francis Stone, captain, Samuel Warner ist Lieut, and Josiah Willard 2d Lieut of the Twelfth Co. Most of these were Brookfield men.

Capt. Jeduthan Baldwin assisted in planning the defensive works around Boston the last year; and Mar. 16, this year, was commissioned Assist. Engineer, with rank of Capt., and ordered to N.Y. ; was placed in the Continental army, with rank of Lieut. -Col., Apr. 26. ; and in the fall was made Engineer, with the rank of colonel, and served at Ticonderoga.

Lt. Col. Rufus Putnam had been employed as engineer in constructing the defences in Roxbury, and secured the approbation of Washington, who recommended him to the Congress as more competent than any of the French gentlemen, to whom appointments had been given. He was appointed chief engineer, and in the spring superintended all the defences of New York, and in August was raised to the rank of colonel.

At a town meeting held in Brookfield, May 22, 1776, The question was put, in the words of a Resolve of the General Court, " Whether this Town would support the Honorable Congress in the measure, if they for our liberty should see fit to declare the colonies Independent of Great Britain?" - And it passed in the Affirmative, almost unanimously. Thus, our Declaration of Independence anticipated the national Declaration, by more than a month !

Committee of Correspondence, Inspection and Safety : Tho. Moore, Ens. John Wait, Lt. Tilly Rice, Lt. David Hitchcock, Jabez Crosby, Ithamar Wright, John Hamilton.

June 24, 1776, an order was issued from head-quarters, establishing a company of Matrosses in the Town of Brookfield, in Col. James Converse's Regiment. The officers were as follows : John Banister, captain, James Hathaway, first lieut., Gideon Walker, second lieut.

Nov. 14, 1776. The town vofed to grant the sum of ^60, to be levied upon the Inhabitants, for a bounty upon 100 fire-arms with bayonet affixed, provided they are wholly manufactured in this town within one year, and sold to the Inhabitants of this town, and in such case the selectmen are to draw an order upon the town treasurer. The bounty was not claimed, and Oct. 6, '77, the above named ;^6o was ordered "to be applied to pay town debts."

In the autumn of this year Washington's army, then on the North River, came near being broken up by expiration of the short-term enlistments. And at his earnest solicitation, the Continental Congress provided for the formation of a regular army by the enlistment of men to serve during the war. A bounty of ^20 was to be paid at the time of muster ; and quotas of public land were promised, as follows : To a colonel, 500 acres ; to a major, 400 acres ; to a captain, 300 acres ; to a lieutenant, 200 acres; to an ensign, 150 acres; and 100 acres to noncommissioned officers and privates. Subsequently these terms were modified so as to admit of enlistments for three years, or during the war ; but the three years men were not entitled to any grant of land.

List of Brookfield men that enlisted in 1777, For the War ; Thomas Briggs, Abner Cutler, Cornelius Gilbert, Robert Hall, Reuben Hamilton, Barzillai Hayward, Daniel Keyes, Jona. Lampson, John Lydlea, Alexander Oliver, Elijah Pollock, Jeduthan Wait, William Wait, Nehemiah Ward, Joshua Winter.

A considerable number of these men were from other towns, and were hired by our citizens. They were sent to the front and distributed to different regiments and brigades, mostly on the North River.

This year is memorable for The Bennington Alarm, following the surrender of Ticonderoga to Gen. Burgoyne, July 5 ; and for the battles of Stillwater, and Saratoga, and the surrender of Burgoyne, Oct. 17.

Capt. Daniel Gilbert commanded a Co. from Brookfield and Western, in service at Bennington and Half Moon, July 13, to Sept. 2. Brookfield men : Serg'.^ Wm Hincher, Nich. McClure, John Gilbert ; privates, Philip Allen, John Ayres, Joshua Barns, Wm Barns, Benj. Batcheller, Josiah Blanchard, David Clark, Reuben Dodge, Jude Foster, Zadock Gilbert, Peter Hill, Silas How, Asa Humphrey, Daniel Newell, Comfort Old, Abner Perry, Amos Rice, Elisha Rice, Jason Rice, Joseph Richardson, James Ross, Phinehas Stevens, Wm Stone, Joshua Tyler, John Waite, Thomas Wedge, James Wood, John Wright.

Col. Rufus Putnam was in command of the 5th Mass. Regiment, and took an important part in the campaign this year. He was with Gen. Gates, and distinguished himself at the battle of Stillwater, and the series of movements which followed.

A Pay Abstract of a Company of Volunteers under the command of Capt. Asa Danforth who marched from Brookfield Sept 23, 1777, - to join the army under the command of Genl Gates, and took part in the Battle of Saratoga, Oct. 7.

Friday, Oct. 31. One division of Burgoyne's surrendered army, under escort of Gen. James Brickett, on the march to Cambridge, halted for the night in Brookfield.

Nov. The town appointed a Committee of nine, with instructions " to provide for the families of the non-commissioned officers and soldiers that are now in the Continental Army." A similar vote was passed in 1778, and 1779.

i^yg. - This year, Col. Rufus Putnam superintended the construction of the fortifications at West Point. After the surprise at Stony Point, he was appointed to the command of a regiment in Wayne's brigade, and served to the end of the campaign.

Capt. Peter Harwood, who had followed the fortunes of the war thus far, was promoted to the rank of major in the Continental army, in Col. Thomas Nixon's regiment, Sept. 29.

Capt. Daniel Gilbert, Capt. Ebenczer Newell, and Capt. Asa Danforth, with their companies continued in the service ; but their pay-rolls have not been found.

Feb. 3, an Order was passed by the General Court, requiring each town to return a List of the male inhabitants from 16 years old and upwards, liable to do military duty ; and also a list of the men then engaged in the Continental Service. The return from Brookfield was : No. of male inhabitants liable to do military duty, 656 whites, and 9 negro slaves; one-seventh part of which is 95 : No. of men in the service, 95 ; No. wanting to fill our quota, o.

Each of the three Precincts in Brookfield appears to have assumed the labor and expense of furnishing its proper quota of soldiers, in answer to the calls this year.

Apr. 20. The General Court ordered levies of 1,300 men to fortify North River ; 200 men for Rhode Island ; and 2,000 men for 9 months service in the army, to rendezvous at Fishkill. The Second Precinct voted to raise the men called for ; and paid bounties as follows : For Capt. Daniel Gilbert's Co., now in the field, 3 Continental soldiers viz. Barnabas Potter, Wm Barns, Nathan Barns, to whom we gave ^100 per man, and the use of a blanket. To the Militia men, viz. Thomas Bacon and Jona. Wyman, ^70 each, and a blanket, and to be exempt from the Rate for paying the same. For Capt. Ebenr Newell's Co. now in the field, 4 men, viz. Wm Gill, John Gill, David Chamberlain and Jude Stevens, Continentals, ^100 each, and a blanket. To the Militia men, viz. Robert Graham and John Sabins, £,10 each, and a blanket, and exemption from this Rate.

At the same time the West Parish raised for Capt. Asa Danforth's Co., 9 mos. service at Fishkill, Wm Beals, Wm Clapp, Joshua Dodge, Jr., Samuel Gilbert and James Ross.

In June, committees were raised in the several Precincts "To adjust the Average of service done in the War to date, and the charges that have arisen since the 15 battahons were raised."

No Report is preserved in the State Archives, of the results of this inquiry and adjustment, except in the case of the Third Precinct, where Jona. King, chairman, reported June 30 : " We find that the whole service is equal to 5^ months to each single poll in said Precinct. We reckon 3 months service at Roxbury and R.I. only equal to 2 months at the Northward and Westward ; and also in the Guards in said town only equal to one-third at the Northward, Westward and Southward, We also allow ;^io paid at the time of raising the Continental men to be equal to one year's service." In the total of 193 men in this Precinct, liable to do military duty, only 26 have no credit for service or money. Among the larger credits are the following : Abram Adams, Jr. I if mos., Amos Adams, r6 mos., Jesse Adams, 17! mos., Tilly Brigham, i3i mos., Elisha Brigham, 12^ mos., Solo. Banister, 9! mos., Beth Banister, 19 mos., Obad. Cooley, ii|- mos., Ephm Cooley, 14^ mos., Francis Foxcroft, 9 mos., Amos Hamilton, i6\ mos., Nathan Hamilton, Jr. 10^ mos., Josiah Hobbs, 1 1 mos., Ephm Harrington, 9 mos., Jabez Crosby, 13I- mos., Wm Old, 9 mos., Benj. Jennings, Jr. i6|- mos., Jona. King, 15 mos., Jonas Newton, 17 mos., Daniel Newell, 13 mos., John Old, 14 mos., Wm Old, Jr. 11^ mos., Joseph Olmstead, i6f mos., Asahel Peters, Elnathan Rice, 9^ mos.. Solo. Rice, io|- mos., Phinehas Slayton, iif mos., Phinehas Upham, 15 mos., Benj. Walker, 14^ mos., Abram Walker, I if mos., Nathan Whiting, Jr. 17 mos.. Solo. Walker, 17 mos., Jason Walker, 13^ mos.. Gad Williston, 9 J mos.. Solo. Woolcott, 16 mos.

The Spooner Murder. - The dark episode of the year in Brookfield, was this unnatural murder, which startled the whole community, and became noted in the criminal annals of the state.

The Spooner house stood on the north side of the old stage road, a half-mile east of Brookfield meeting-house, near where the road to North Brookfield centre strikes off".

The family of Joshua Spooner consisted of himself, his wife Bathsheba [Ruggles, dau. of Gen. Timothy, of Hard wick] aged 32, three children, one son and two daughters, one male and two female servants. There had also been for some time, three men, either transient or constant inmates of the house, viz. Ezra Ross, a youth of 18, an ex- soldier in the American army, from Ipswich, and James Buchanan and WiUiam Brooks, formerly British soldiers of Burgoyne's army.

The Spooner Murder

On the evening of March i, 1778, Mr. S., returning from Cooley's tavern, not far distant, about 9 o'clock, when near his own door, was struck down by Brooks, Buchanan and Ross being present, and his body taken up by the three and thrown into the well. After the deed was done, the three men went into the house, where Mrs. S. distributed among them her husband's clothing and a considerable sum of money, as the reward of their work.

The case was tried at the April term of the court in Worcester. The judges were, C. J. William Gushing, Jedediah Foster, Nath^ P. Sargent, David Sewall and James Sullivan, associate justices. Rob'. T. Paine was state's attorney ; Levi Lincoln was assigned as counsel for the prisoners. The fact of killing was admitted ; and the effort of defendants' counsel was to bring out the degree of responsibility of the parties accused. Li regard to Mrs. Spooner, Mr. Lincoln's main point was, that she was a person of unsound, ox distracted mind - as proved by the history of the case itself, which he rehearsed in detail. The jury returned a verdict of guilty as to each of the prisoners ; and they were sentenced to be executed on Thursday, June 4, By the efforts of Rev. Thaddeus Maccarty of Worcester, the Council granted a respite of one month, largely on the ground that " the unhappy woman declares she is several months advanced in her pregnancy." A jury, consisting of two men midwives and 12 matrons was summoned, who after examination, reported that "the prisoner was not quick with child " (tho' it was proved after death, that her statement was true). The execution took place at Worcester, July 2. "Just before they reached the gallows, one of the most terrific thunderstorms that had occurred within the memory of any one living, came up, and darkened the heavens, and all together conspired to produce a scene of most dreadful horror in the minds of the throng of 5,000 people assembled to witness the spectacle."

Pay Roll of a squad of Volunteers enlisted from Capt. Nathan Hamilton's Co. in Third Precinct of Brookfield, to guard Magazine stores at B. in charge of Samuel Webb, and conduct them to Providence - Jan. I, to Feb. 12 : Lieut. Joseph Olmstead, Serg^ Jesse Abbott, Corp^. Solo. Banister, Jonas Newton, Josiah Hamilton, Privates, Nahum Davis, Simeon Wright, Wm Old, Daniel Upham, Silas Bridges, Benj. Forbush, Oliver Walker, Nathan Rice, Joel Jennings, Gershom Jennings, Erastus Hamilton, Joseph Hamilton, Nathaniel Hamilton, Thomas Hincher, Simon Rice. The selectmen were allowed 48 pounds for the mileage of the above men, 96 miles at 6d. per mile.

Aug. 12. Under the requisition for teams to transport stores, John Wait is credited with 125 pounds, 4 shill. for 85 miles ; Rufus Hamilton, ;^i42. 18. 6, for 97 miles; Adoniram Walker, ;^i22. 5, for 85 miles; Asa Gilbert, ;^i24. 10. for ^t, miles.

A petition of Maj. Peter Harwood, dated Boston, Aug. 10, 1779, states : " I have served as an officer in the army ever since the war began ; the two first years was a captain ; Jan. 10, 1777, was appointed major in General J. Nixon's brigade ; when the Hon'^' Congress resolved that the staff of the army should be of the Line, I was recommended by Maj. Gen. Lincoln, Brig. Generals Nixon and Patterson to the Committee of Congress which sett last August at White Plains for the purpose of settling rank in the army, that I might have my rank in the Line ; and I was accordingly commissioned Sept. 29, 177S, and assigned the place of loth Major in the Mass. Line, Light Infantry, Gen. Nixon's brigade ; " and asks for pay and allowance. ^300 was granted him. He continued in service till Oct. 16, 1680, when he resigned, and received an honorable discharge.

In obedience to the Great and General Court's orders of October 9, 1779, we have paid out of the Town Treasury the sum of seven hundred and eighty pounds as a State bounty to 26 men who belonged to Brookfield, inlisted and marched for Clavarack for 3 months, i.e. thirty pounds each.

' The late Isaac Ranger said: " The Powder House or Arsenal stood where Alvin Howe's house now is. Alter the Revolution the powder was divided among the three parishes, and stored in the meeting-houses under the pulpits. North Brookfield's share remained under their pulpit till 1815, when one Sunday afternoon, a terrific thunder shower came up, and a heavy bolt struck a rock just back of the house, and parted, one streak running under the Church. The people took the hint, and removed the powder to a less public place."

The Revolution. 24 1

These men were attached to Capt. Joseph Richardson's Co. in Col. Samuel Denny's Reg., Mass. Bay Militia, in the U. S. Service. Capt. J. R. was of Brookfield, as were also Lieut. Joseph Thurston, Israel Aiken, Isaac Abbott, Oliver Gilbert, Noah Hatch, Thomas Lampson, Asa Partridge, already in the field.

In Dec, the following Brookfield men were in Capt. Thomas Fish's Co., R.I. Service at Tiverton : Sergt. Ephraim Cutter, Benj. Bragg, Anthony Cutter, Abner Rice, Isaac Sever, Obadiah Wait, Eben"^ Witt.

Dec. 21. The selectmen are allowed transportation for the above named companies, and also for 31 men to Boston, and 9 men to Dorchester. And same date, on a requisition for clothing, Brookfield is credited with 12 blankets, 95 shirts, 96 prs. shoes, 94 prs. stockings. [Worcester received credit for only 62 shirts, etc.]

[Robert Young, a laborer, resident in Brookfield, was convicted by the Superior Court of Worcester county, at the October term, of the crime of Felony and Rape, committed in B., and was executed at Worcester Nov. II, 1779.]

1780. - June 12. An order was issued for raising men for six months service in the Continental army. And at a meeting of the Second Precinct, June 20, ^"^ Voted, the sum of ^^25 2 be assessed on the polls and estates of this Precinct, for the purpose of hiring 15 soldiers into the Continental Service for six months - the aforesaid sum to be paid in Beef at 24 shill. per cwt. - Rye at 4 shill. per bush. - Indian Corn at 2 shill. 8 pence per bush., or in paper currency equivalent thereto.

Voted, to authorize the Precinct Treasurer to give security for such sums as shall remain due to the soldiers aforesaid ; and that Lt. Thomas Hale, Lt. Joseph Bush, Benj. Adams, Jr. and Lt. Wm Ayres be a committee to assist the treasurer in giving security as aforesaid."

The other Precincts passed similar votes ; and the following men were enlisted and sent to the North River, out from June 30, to Jan. i, '81 ; Jona. Willis, Abner Witt, Wm Kimball, Joseph Ranger, Asa Gilbert, Josiah Cutler, Wm Peso, John Pollard, Thomas Dodge, Jr., Caleb Willis, Bueanos Ayres, Solo. Livermore, Thomas Lampson, Isaac Wetherbee, Ichabod Stockwell, Aaron Forbes, Ezekiel Hardy, Silas Barns, Lewis Witt, Nathan Moore, Shadrack Wetherbee, Thomas Hathaway, Jr., Nathaniel Sabin, Jacob Hatfield Deland, Thomas Wedge, Jr., John Bowen, Levi

Brookfield Records, 1718-1786

On the call issued June 22, 1780, for 4,726 men - New Levies - to re-enforce the Continental army in R.I. for 3 months - the Second Precinct by a committee, agreed with Joseph Kimball, Jason Ayres, Jedediah Deland, Jesse Ayres, John Cox, Job Hinckley, Benjamin Dane, David Chamberlain, Jude Stevens, William Forbes, Eli Watson, Jeremiah Dewing, Levi Kendall, and Martin Bridges, 14 in number, for the term of service aforesaid, at the rate of three pounds each per month - this sum to be paid in Beef at 24 shill. per hund.. Rye at 4 shill. per bush., Corn at 2s. 8d., or in paper currency equivalent thereto, viz. at the rate of 90 for I.

Of the New Levies, for six months Service, that marched from Brookfield for Clavarack Aug. 30, were : Moses Dorr, John Brown, Wm Posy, Scipio Witt, John Pollard, Moses Walker, Amos Wheeler, Elisha Whitmore, Peter Barton, Silas Morse, Timothy Armstrong, Samuel Lewis, Levi Stockwell, Wm Richardson.

At a town meeting in May, Brookfield voted 143 in favor of the new Constitution, and 1 1 against it. And at the election Sept. 4, the vote stood

November. In a requisition for Beef for the army, Brookfield furnished 52 head; and for clothing, 33 blankets, 67 shirts, 67 prs. shoes, 67 prs. Hose.

Dec. 2. A resolve was passed calling on the towns to furnish their several quotas of men for the army, to be enlisted for three years. Brookfield's quota was 2,Z i No. furnished, 33.

"At a meeting Jan 17, 1781, the Second Precinct appointed a committee, viz. Capt. John Lyscom, Capt. Eben"". Newell, Capt. Daniel Gilbert, Major Peter Harwood, and Samuel Haskell, with full powers to agree with the men on the best terms they can, and that the Precinct will support them in their trust.

Last Three Years Men

" Voted, That the soldiers who may engage in the 3 Years Service shall have liberty to take their security of individuals whom they shall choose, and that the Precinct will indemnify such persons in giving their securities in behalf of the Precinct.

" Voted, the sum of ^loSo in hard money, to be assessed upon the polls and estates within said Precinct, for the purpose of hiring 12 soldiers into the 3 Years Service, at the rate of ^90 to each.

" Voted, I. to give said men the said sum of ^90 each in hard money, or 20 young cattle, three years old, middhng for bigness, to be deUvered May I, 1784.

2. Mutually agreed, if the war be at an end, the soldier draws only his proportion of the ;!^90, according to his time of service. If he deserts the army, he forfeits the whole.

Jan. 8. On requisition, the selectmen procured for the use of the army, 12 horses, and were allowed ^11824. 18 old currency, equal to ;^295. 12. 5 new currency.

Col. Rufus Putnam was in command of the 5th Mass. Regt., Jona. Stone, pay-master. Officers of the 3d company : Capt. Nathan Goodale, Lieut. Zibeon Hooker, Ens. Benj. Gilbert.

At a meeting of the Second Precinct July 19, "a bounty of ;Q() was offered to each man that shall engage to serve in R.L for 5 mos., and ;^3 per mo. to those who shall serve at the Westward for 3 mos. ; and ;^90 hard money was granted, to be assessed upon the polls and estates within this Precinct, for the purpose of hiring the soldiers now to be procured."

Mar. 6. The Second Precinct voted, " That the Militia ofificers, and the committee be authorized to raise sokliers for the service, when called for by authority, and the Precinct will support said committee in their trust."

17S4. - The first celebration of Independence in Brookfield was held July 4, 1784. The following account of the affair was given by EbenT F. Newell, then 9 years old, who was present : "The celebration was held on West Brookfield plain. An Ox, neatly dressed, and perfectly roasted, with hoofs and horns on, was sliced, and the pieces laid on tables, with piles of bread, and plenty of rum and water. The people passed in order between the tables, each taking bread and beef in their hands, and helping themselves to the rum and water. Scipio Witt, a colored man, who had served in the army, bored holes in 13 large chestnut logs, loaded and primed them, and so fixed the slow matches that a regular salute of 13 reports was heard by the people on the plain, who were taken completely by surprise. We children were greatly pleased to hear the noise, and see the fragments of broken logs fly up in wild confusion."

Shays' Rebellion. - This outbreak of popular feeling, which grew out of the oppressive taxes, the heavy individual and town debts, and other burdens and enactments incident to the War, has a peculiar interest to Brookfield, because Daniel Shays, who played an important part in it, was for a time a resident, and in 1772 married Abigail Gilbert of B. Our records furnish little information of value. It is known that the cause had many sympathizers and some active supporters in the town. It is well understood that Capt. Francis Stone really furnished //le brains of the movement ; and however sharply he was condemned by the patriots of his day, the cooler judgment of the next generation seems to have given him credit for acting conscientiously. It is certain that he never repented his course. His brother Jonathan was active in putting down the insurrection.

At a town meeting in Brookfield Dec. 26, 17S6, a Report was adopted and forwarded to the governor, praying for an Act of Indemnity in favor of the Insurgents. Jan. 20, '87, a Protest, signed by 96 of the inhabitants, was sent to the State House.

A Co. of Infantry from the South Parish was called for, and attached to Col. Crafts' Reg^ of Cavalry ; and a large Co. of Volunteers, from the town at large, under the command of Col. Jeduthan Baldwin, as captain. Col. Seth Banister and Maj. Nathan Goodale, as lieutenants, was with Gen. Lincoln's force, Jan. and Feb. 1787.

Movement for a New Precinct. - Names of Movers. - Act of Incorporation. - Meeting-houses. - Ministers. - Schools. - The Town Incorporated. - Ecclesiastical Affairs. - Education. - Industries. - Professional INIen. - War of the Rebellion. - Savings Bank. - Railroad. - Statistics. - Memorials OF Rev. Dr. Snell, Hon. Charles Adams, Jr., Hon. Freeman Walker,

A S Stated in the preceding chapter, the first movement for the for- - \ niation of a Second Precinct in Brookfield was made in the spring of 1 74S. It was originally an alternative proposition, either that the town should build a new meeting-house in the territorial centre, or that the northeasterly inhabitants should be set off into a separate parish. Both propositions were negatived at a town meeting, Mar. 14, 1748.

Oct. 17,1 748. A petition, signed by John Watson, Wm Ayres, Josiah Converse, Ebenr Witt, John Woolcott, Paul Deland, Noah Barns, Benj. Adams, Joseph Stone and others, in all 66 tax payers, was presented to the town, asking that a new meeting-house may be built " in the most convenient place on or near the road between Mr. John Green's and the bridge at the west end of Slate hill plain, or on the highland near the road nearly opposite to where the new road and Slate hill part." At a meeting held Oct. 24, " the Question being put, whether the town would build a meeting-house anywhere on Green's Plain (so called), or on the high land between the pole bridge and Coy's brook - And it passed in the Negative."

Nov. 8, 1 748. A petition signed by Ebenr Witt and 34 of the former petitioners, asking that " the North East section, comprising one-third of the township, might be erected into a separate Precinct," was presented to the town. And at a meeting held Nov. 28, the town vo/ed, " That the petitioners and such others of the Inhabitants of the Northeasterly Part of the Town who shall signify their Desire under their hands to the clerk of said Town therefor, within three months from this day, provided their possessions do not exceed a Third Part of the said Town for quality & quantity of land, be set off a distinct & separate Parish." Immediately, 29 other tax payers handed in their names to the town clerk, making 63 in all.

Dec. 5, 1748, this paper was handed to Thomas Gilbert, Esq. Town Clerk of Brookfield : " These are to inform you, that we the subscribers within mentioned, have agreed to go off as a distinct Precinct, and have agreed to build a Meeting- House upon the road Northeast from Mr. Jabez Ayres', between the brook and Mr. Daniel Potter's, and we desire you to enter our names upon the Town Book, according to the vote of the Town :

Petition For Distinct Precinct

During the winter, timber was collected and prepared for a meetinghouse frame ; and in April a petition was sent to the General Court, reciting the facts above stated, and asking for an act of Incorporation as a distinct Precinct with Parish privileges. Apr. 18, 1749, the Legislature ordered the petitioners to serve the usual order of notice upon the town ; and May 17, the town appointed Josiah Converse, Esq., Joseph Dvvight, Esq., Capt. Thomas Buckminster, Capt. Wm Old and Thomas Gilbert, Esq. a committee "to make answer in behalf of the town." This committee opposed the project, and it was defeated.

That your Petitioners under our unhappy and remote situation from the place of Publick Worship in said town. Having often petitioned the town for relief, either by building a Meeting-house at or near the Centre of tiie town as it now lies, or to set us off as a Distinct Parish, as per our former Petitions may appear: but being often denyed our request, which we tho't most reasonable: The Town at last made a grant to the Inhabitants of the said part of the town, that they with such as would joyn with them - they entering their names or sending them to the Town Clerk in writing within the space of three months from the date of the grant, should be set off as a Distinct Parish - Provided they and their possessions did not exceed one-third part of said town for quantity and quality, as per the vote or grant of the town may appear: Upon which vote or grant, we agreed to build a handsome frame for the Publick Worship of God ; and in April last we preferred a Petition to this Hond Court, so agreeable (as we tho't) to the Town's vote that none would oppose it ; But to our surprise we found such opposition from the Town and some of our Petitioners as caused us to desist the Proceeding : And being willing to do any thing reasonable to satisfie our disafented brethren, we covenanted and agreed for their satisfaction to be at the cost of a Committee of uninterested worthy Gentlemen,' mutually chosen, who have been upon the spot and heard the pleas, and viewed the proposed Parish, and have returned their judgment that the house stands just and reasonable to accommodate them as well as ourselves, as per their return and the covenants we entered into may appear -

Therefore your Petitioners pray that this Hond Court will incorporate us who have returned our names to the Town Clerk, agreeable to the vote of the Town, into a Distinct Parish, and invest us with Parish privileges : Granting also a liberty of others joyning with us (not to exceed one-third part of the Town as above said) for the space of two years or eighteen months, or as this Hond Court shall think meet : And your Petitioners further pray that one-third part of the Lands in said Town Sequestered to Ministry & Schools use, or the Incomes thereof may be set over and secured to us : And also that the Town of Brookfield abate or reimburse to your petitioners and such as joyn with them their proportion of a tax lately assessed on our polls and estates for the settlement and ordination charges of the Rev. Mr. Elisha Harding, and the repairs of the old Meeting-house, amounting in the whole to about twelve hundred pounds old tenor currency more or less - And yf Petifs as in duty bound shall ever pray. Signed by Thomas Hale, William Ayres, Ebenezer Witt, and 54 of the former petitioners.

Read, and Ordered, that the prayer of the Petition be so far granted, as that the Petitioners with their families and estates, together with such persons and their estates who shall within three months from this time signifie that desire therefor under their hands to the Clerk of the Town of Brookfield, be and they hereby are set off a Distinct Parish, and are endowed with all the Privileges, and subjected to all the Duties which the other Inhabitants of Parishes are by the Laws of this Province endowed with or subjected to - Provided their possessions do not exceed one-third part of the said Town of Brookfield for quantity and quality.

These signifie our Desire to enter our Interest of Lands in the Northeasterly quarter of the original Township of Brookfield as belonging to the Second Parish in s*^ town, agreeable to the order of the General Court -

These are to Desire you to enter the Lands that were my father Benjamin Woods dec*? lying in the Northeasterly part of Brookfield as belonging to the Second Parish in s*^ town agreeable to the order of the General Court.

By a subsequent Act, passed Nov. 8, 1754, the bounds of the Second Precinct were established as follows : " All the lands in s'^ town lying northward of a line beginning at the northeast corner of George Harrington's land upon Spencer line, and running westward by the said George's lands to Five-Mile river bridge at the Country road ; from thence westerly on the most southwardly parts or lines of the lands of Thomas Slayton, Capt. Nathaniel Woolcott, Thomas Moore, Eben"" Jennings, Obadiah Rice, Wm Parks, Josiah Converse, Francis Dodge,

Second Parish Organized. 25 I.

Paul Deland, the heirs of John Green deC^, Stephen Green and Joseph Ranger; and from said Ranger's southwest corner to the southwest corner of Wilham Ayres' meadow on Coy's brook (so called) near the place where the old School House stood ; and from there northward on the most eastward parts or lines of the lands of John Tuff and Josiah Gilbert, and on the most westward parts or lines of the land of Jeremiah Woodbury and John Hill to Abner Tyler's land ; and from thence on the most eastward parts or lines of the lands of Jacob Abbott and Joshua Dodge and Joshua Dodge, Jr. to the centre line of said town ; and from thence all the lands eastward of that part of said centre line which is northward of the place where the above described line meets with the said centre line to New Braintree District.

Second Parish Organized. In accordance with a warrant issued by John Chandler, Jr., Esq., " At a meeting held at the house of Mr. Jabez Ayres, Monday, May 21, 1750, Chose Capt. Wm Ayres, moderator; Capt. Wm Ayres, Precinct clerk ; Capt. Wm Ayres, Capt. Eben"" Witt, Samuel Gould, Noah Barns and Benj. Adams, Precinct committee, to order the prudential affairs thereof, warn meetings, etc. ; Thomas Bartlett, Precinct treasurer ; Joseph Stone, collector ; Wm Ayres, Samuel Gould, Wm Witt, Jason Bigelow and Moses Ayres, assessors. At a meeting held Sept. 21, 1750, it was voted, That Capt. Wm Ayres represent the Precinct upon any exigencies whatever, either seen or unseen. "

Afeeting-House. As before stated, a frame of a meeting-house was raised April 5, 1749. At a parish meeting Sept. 21, 1750, Capt. Eben'' Witt, Samuel Gould and Benj. Gilbert were appointed a committee "to secure a title of Capt. Wm Ayres of the land whereon the meeting-house stands, with conveniency about the same, in the name and for the use of the Precinct." It was found that in all, the sum of ^60. 12. 10 had been expended for " services done towards the meeting-house frame and other charges," which was allowed and paid.

The process of "finishing the meeting-house," was a slow one. In addition to 40 pounds granted at the first parish meeting, 53 pounds 6 shill. 8 d. was granted in 1751 ; in 1754, a committee was ordered "to procure materials for clapboarding the backside of the house, laying the gallery floors, building the gallery stairs and the front seats around the galleries - and render an account; " in 1756, 30 pounds was raised for finishing the meeting-house, and the committee was directed " to color the clapboards of the same, and procure boards, lath, lime, slit work and all materials for finishing the same, except the seats in the gallery." In 1757? 25 pounds more was raised; and in 1764, the parish iwted, "to take the shingles off the roof of the meeting-house, and to repair the same."

for, steps were taken to secure a minister. At the second precinct meeting, held Sept. 21, 1750, it was voted, "That the sum of ;Q\2)- ^- ^- ^^ raised and assessed upon the polls and estates of the Precinct, to supply the Precinct with preaching, so far as it will go : and that Capt. Eben"" Witt, Samuel Gould and Lieut. Benj. Gilbert supply the Precinct with preaching." Mar. 4, 1751, ^^40 was raised, and Capt. Wm Ayres, Thomas Hale, Benj. Adams, Samuel Gould and Benj. Gilbert were appointed a committee to procure preaching the year ensuing." Sept. 23, the committee was instructed to hire Mr. Darby, Mr. Taft, Mr. Welch and Mr. Forbush, to preach four Sabbaths each, on probation.

Jan. 14, 1752, the precinct voted to apply to three neighboring ministers for their advice in giving a call to Mr. Eli Forbush to settle with them in the work of the Gospel Ministry. The advice was as follows : " These therefore may certify, that Mr. Eli Forbush (who has for some time been preaching with them), so far as our acquaintance has been with him, together with his general good character, and his approbation by an Association of worthy ministers : We cannot but esteem of him as a gentleman well qualified for the work of the Gospel Ministry ; and apprehend the people of this Parish to be in the way of their duty to proceed in giving him an Invitation to settle with them in the work of the Ministry

Mr. Forbush received a unanimous call to settle in the precinct ; with the offer of ^S3- 6- 8 lawful money, as a yearly salary ; and the sum of ;j^i20 lawful money, as a settlement - to be paid, one-half within one year, and the other half within two years of his acceptance. It was also voted to give him ^4 additional, to supply him with wood ; and a further addition to his salary of ^^. 6.8, to commence in 1757, and a further sum of ;^^. 6. 8, to be added in '58, so that from and after 1758 his yearly salary shall be ^64. At Mr. F.'s desire, the terms were altered, so that the Parish should deliver to him yearly 30 cords of wood, and that from and after 1767, his salary should be ;^66. 13. 4 per annum.

The call was accepted ; and the Parish (no church having been organized) sent Letters Missive to the Churches invited to compose the ordaining council ; and Mr, Forbush was ordained June 3, 1752.

Organization of the CJuirch. After the arrangements for the settlement of a pastor had been made, but before the ordination, viz. May 28, 1752, a church was organized, under the title of The Second Church of Christ in Brookfield. Forty-eight persons, 26 males and 22 females, signed the

Organization Of The Church

The following extract from the Church Records, shows that this church, from the first, claimed the right of the laity to vote on all questions pertaining to its own polity and work. The practice had obtained in many of the Congregational churches of Massachusetts, to determine all matters by "silentius vote"; i.e., no question could be brought before the church without the pastor's consent ; and he, as moderator, put the motion in a form which required only a silent assent - no one contradicting, because no show of hands was called for either for or against.

Jan. 30, 1753. At a meeting of the Second Church in Brookfield, I. the Question being asked whether any thing short of a hand vote should be looked upon as valid in said church - it passed in the negative.

2. It being asked what method should be agreed upon for admitting members into full communion, the following was consented to and voted unanimously - That the candidate for admission should apply himself to the Pastor and communicate his desire, upon which the said Pastor is to examine into his knowledge of God ; and the Christian religion ; his present acquaintance with it ; the Nature and Design of the Gospel Ordinances. And upon the Pastor's receiving satisfactory answers to any Question that may be asked under these heads above mentioned, he shall propound the desires of the said candidate to the church publickly : - On the third Sabbath, the said Pastor, upon receiving no objections to the contrary, shall recommend the person propounded to the charity of the church ; and for their further satisfaction, the said Pastor shall read to the church a Relation containing some general articles of Faith, and his experimental acquaintance with Religion, drawn up by the Candidate's own hand, or by the Pastor at his desire and consent, and agreeable to what he past when under examination ; and that no person according to our present apprehension, should be admitted to what is called full membership without such Relation.

ing the time that the church should be without Deacons, 'twas voted that brother Noah Barns and Benj. Adams, be the persons - who also consented to said vote.

Building Peivs, and Seating the Meeting-Jwiise. After the meetinghouse had been covered in and a floor laid, a committee, viz. Ebenr Witt, Dea. Jason Biglow, Thomas Hale, Dea. Samuel Gould and Nathaniel Woolcott, was appointed, to mark out and value the pew spots, and notify the tax payers, who, from their age and amount of taxable estate were entitled to the privilege, to make choice of their several pew spots, and give security for building their respective pews. The valuation of pew spots varied from ^5, to ^\. 6. 8, according to location. And it was voted that the several persons who accept said pews, shall build the same at their own cost, and ceil the side of the house against the same up to the foot of the windows, and case the windows against their respective pews, and give security to the Treasurer for the sums they are set at, within ten days, as aforesaid, payable within twelve months from this day. Twenty-two pews were laid out, around the walls of the house. The ISIinister's pew was on the right of the pulpit. The others were taken, in the order of their value, beginning with the highest, by Ebenr Witt, Josiah Converse, Esq., Obadiah Rice, Nathl Woolcott, Wm Ayres, Esq., Noah Barns, John Watson, John Hinds, Benj. Adams, Moses Ayres, wid. Sarah Lane, Samuel Gould, Abraham How, Jason Biglow, Abner Tyler, Corlis Hinds, John Witt, Thomas Bartlett, Jabez Ayres, Ammiel Weeks, Benj. Gilbert.

The floor of the house inside the pews, was laid out into twelve seats, six on each side of the broad aisle, the left hand row for women and the right hand for men, each seat to hold seven persons. These were plain benches with backs. The deacon's seat was directly in front of the pulpit. The pew owners occupied each his own pew : all others were assigned their respective places by a committee. The first "seating the meeting-house" took place in 1757; and the committee was instructed to assign each one his place, according to age, station in life, and what he paid for real and personal estate on the last two years tax lists. Voted, that the seating continue but three years.

Ministerial Fund. In 1 761, a committee was appointed, to sell the Ministry Lands belonging to the Second Precinct, and invest the proceeds, upon interest for the Precinct's use, benefit and behoof. The

Schools In Second Precinct

Schools. - In 1756, the town voted that the proportion of School money raised in each of the three Precincts should be expended within said Precinct, according to its pleasure.

Under this vote, the Second Precinct assumed the right to levy a tax on its own inhabitants for the support of its own schools. Nov. 18, 1757, Voted, that a committee be chosen to provide a place to keep the school at next winter in said Precinct. Mar. 8, 1759, Voted, that the Precinct will build and finish a School House, about 25 rods from the meetinghouse, on the east side of the country road and northerly of the road to Daniel Potter's, where said roads part, and complete the same by the last of October next - said house to be 25 ft. long, 20 ft. wide, and 7 ft. stud ; and that Joseph Stone, Thomas Ball and Samuel Hinckley be a committee to complete the same, with brick for the chimney, at the Precinct's cost.

Voted, that there be granted to be raised and assessed on the polls and estates in said Precinct the sum of ;^25 to defray the charge and cost of building the school house.

What happened in consequence of this last vote, is told in the following Petition to the General Court, dated April 1760: "This Petition Shews - That the town of Brookfield never did nor could agree to build any one or more school house or houses in said Town,^ by which the good laws for schooling have been too much evaded, and the people too much deprived of their natural privileges : But at a meeting of the inhabitants in Oct. 1756, they voted that each Precinct should have the town schools kept in their respective Precincts their equal proportion, and the places to be stated by the inhabitants of each of these respective Precincts -

The inhabitants of the Second Precinct, encouraged by said vote, in March 1759, unanimously agreed to a place near their meeting-house and to build a school house, which was finished, and a school has been and is now kept in said house to the great satisfaction and advantage of the Precinct, who in Nov. last granted a sum of ;;^25, to be assessed on their polls and estates, which was done, and committed to Wm Ayres, 2d., constable, to collect, to defray the cost of the house, &c. But pains have been taken to prevent the collection of the said tax, as not being in the power of a Precinct to grant money for any use but to build meeting-houses and support ministers -

I A school house was built, about 1735, near the territorial centre of the town; but it may have been done by individual enterprise, and not with the town's money.

grant and collect such sums of money for the future, to be applied to the schooling of their children in the remoter parts of said Precinct, as said Precinct shall agree to."

Apr. 22. On this petition the General Court ordered, "that the constable to whom the above named assessment was committed be and hereby is fully authorized and impowered to collect the tax mentioned."

School Districts. In 1765, the people living in the outskirts were formed into societies or districts, as they severally could agree, each to have the benefit of its respective part of the school money ; but " any such remote tax-payer whose son inclines to learn the Tongues other than the English, may have liberty at the Middle school, they having a Grammar School Master" [This is the earliest mention of a Grammar School. It is again referred to in 1798, and also in 1809, and appears to have been maintained constantly, except during some years of the Revolution.] As early as 1770, school houses began to be built in the out districts. In 1771, the Precinct raised its school money by taxation of its own people, the amount this year being 24 pounds. In 1781, the school money granted was 24 pounds hard money; in 1791, 35 pounds; in 1792, 45 pounds; in T798, 50 pounds; in 18 10, ^400, (the two last named amounts appear to have been town grants).

In 1 791, the Precinct was divided into seven School Districts. The several school houses were then located as follows : the Centre, near the meeting-house ; the North West, by Samuel Cheever's ; the North, by Theophilus Potter's ; the North East, by Nathan Moore's ; the East, by Daniel Forbes' ; the South East, at the corner near Thomas Hathaway's ; the South West, near Wm Ayres, 2d.

School Committee. In 1792, the Precinct chose a committee of seven, "to provide and take care of the several Schools in the Precinct," viz. Benj. Adams, Isaac Church, Nathan Bartlett, Abijah Cutler, Jesse Cutter, Samuel Cheever, and Rufus Hamilton. In 1795, the school committee were : Dea. Benj. Adams, Roger Bruce, John Edmands, Josiah Witt, Thomas Kendrick, Nathaniel Dodge, Jr., Silas Stevens and Isaac Moore. This practice continued till 1805, when the Precinct voted, " To relinquish the right of choosing School Committee men, and leave it to each district to appoint its own." But in 1809, the practice was resumed, and Thompson Rawson, Humphrey Gilbert, Paul Haskell, Luke Potter, Josiah Bush, Kerley Howe and Silas Haskell were chosen school committee, " to furnish the schools in the several districts in said Precinct with teachers, and apply for the money."

Lottery Speculation. - At a Precinct meeting Mar. 7, 1791,11 was voted, " That the treasurer be directed to sell the Old Continental Money now in his hands, amounting to 2,148 dollars, for specie, and that Lt.

Wm Ayres and Capt. John Waite assist him in the disposal thereof; and they are directed to lay out the proceeds of the same in tickets in the Mass. monthly State Lottery, for the benefit of the Precinct." The Committee was further instructed, " to continue in the Lottery the number of tickets that the said Old Money shall purchase, provided the first drawing shall produce to the Precinct a sum sufficient for the purpose ; and the overplus, if any, shall from time to time, be deposited in the Precinct treasury."

He entered Harvard University in 1744,31 the age of 18. At the end of his first year he left college, and enlisted in the Provincial army, in the then opening French and Lidian war. Through the influence of friends, he received a discharge, returned to Cambridge, and graduated, 1751 ; and was settled in North Brookfield the next year. His taste for military life induced him to go as chaplain in the Army, in which rank he served from Mar. 31, to Nov. 15, 1759. [See afite, p. 217.] After his return from this campaign, he uniformly wrote his name Forbes. In 1762, he was requested by the Commissioners in Boston to undertake a mission to the Oneida Indians ; and though his people were averse, he left home the first of June, with Asaph Rice, (afterwards minister in Westminster), and Elisha Gunn of Montague, as interpreter. He reached Onoquagie, on the Susquehanna river June 21, where was an Indian settlement of 300 people. His labors were successful, and he gathered a church, and started a school for children, and another for adults. He left the work in the care of Mr. Rice, and returned in September, bringing with him four Indian children, whom he educated, and sent back to their tribe.

The notices in the Precinct records lead to the belief that his pastorate was a successful one. There was some dissatisfaction growing out of his absences as chaplain, and missionary; but nothing occurred to threaten a rupture of the pastoral relation, or to alienate his people, till the opening of the Revolution. Mr. Forbes was naturally conservative, and did not enter into this struggle with the fiery zeal of the more ardent patriots ; and some of his hearers went so far as to call him a Tory - then a term of great reproach, and on one occasion to offer him a personal indignity, i.e. to throw stones at his " chair " as he was riding in the highway. He at once asked for a dismission ; and, against the express wishes of his church, insisted on it. The case was refeiTcd to a mutual council ; and after two days deliberation, and without stating " any grounds of the pastor's uneasiness,'' the Council advised a dissolution of the pastoral relation, and he was dismissed Mar. i, 1775. That the accusation of toryism was groundless, is evident from his im-

Dr. Snell, in his Historical Discourse, says : " Dr. Forbes was a popular preacher, apt, and sometimes striking in his remarks, rather than clear in his perceptions, forcible and convincing in his reasonings. His Sermons appeared better from the desk, than from the press, which is evidence that he more excelled as a pleasant speaker, than as a profound Divine and able reasoner. He held a very respectable rank among the clergymen of this vicinity. He possessed the talent of readily giving good and familiar instruction to children, and winning the affections of most people."

Mr. Forbes was installed over the First Church in Gloucester, June 5, 1776; and died in the pastorate there Dec. 15, 1S04. He received the degree of S.T.D. from his alma mater the year of his death.

Rev. Joseph Appleton. - After the dismission of Mr. Forbes, Rev. Mr. Fisher was employed as a candidate for a few months; and Mr. Laban Wheaton for a few weeks. Mr. Joseph Appleton of Ipswich preached as candidate 5 months. And at a Precinct meeting May 23, 1776, a call was given him to settle in the ministry ; with the offer of ^133. 16. 8 as a " settlement " ; and an annual salary of ;^7o for the first two years, and ^80 per annum thereafter. The Church chose a council, and appointed the time for the ordination, in which the Precinct concurred, and Mr. A. was ordained Oct. 3, 1776. The council was entertained at the home of Mrs. Hannah Gilbert, at the cost of p^io. 12. 10, and the same was assessed upon the polls and estates of the Precinct.

So great was the depreciation of Province bills, that in Oct. 1779, the Precinct granted " for our pastor's support until Oct. 1 780, in addition to his stated salary the sum of two thousand four hundred and twenty pounds, as the currency now is."

Oct. 1 781. The Precinct " voted, that the time of Intermission on the Sabbath, from the ist of Dec. to the ist of May, be one hour, and the rest of the year i^ hours ; and that the moderator wait on the Rev, Pastor, and inform him of the foregoing vote."

Mr. Appleton graduated at Brown University in 1772, and died in the pastorate, after a short sickness, July 25, 1795, ^b^^ 44- ^''- "Sfi^^^, in his Historical Discourse, says : "Mr. A. is represented to have been a very different man and preacher from Dr. Forbes. To most he was less acceptable as a preacher, and still more quiet, meek and unaspiring in spirit, and more steadfast in the doctrines of grace, which he constantly set forth with plainness. He is said to have been ardent in spirit, and animated in delivery. He loved his Saviour and his people, and preached the one to save the other. Pacific in spirit, and lowly in mind, he desired and strove for peace ; and would make great sacrifices, rather than contend. Though less distinguished as a student and a speaker, yet I am persuaded that he ought to be held in higher estimation as a man of God, than many who have been more celebrated as pulpit orators."