Hatfield Town (part 3 of 16)

Before Hadley was begun, the Northampton people had a way to Windsor and Hartford through Waranoke, (afterwards Westfield;) and they also had a way to Springfield on the east side. Mount Tom was an obstruction on the west side. They crossed the river to Hockanum meadow, and perhaps higher also. The people of Hadley made use of both of these roads; and they continued the Springfield road up to their plantation. They selected a route along the side of Mount Holyoke, below the steep part of the acclivity, some distance above the present road, and this was traveled more than 80 years. Some of the ground at the foot of the mountain was considered too wet and queachy for a highway. There were complaints of bad and dangerous places in the highways, and the County Court appointed a committee, in March 1664, to lay out highways on both sides of the river between Hadley and Windsor, and to determine by whom they should be repaired. The men were George Colton and Benjamin Cooley of Springfield, Henry Woodward and Capt. Aaron Cooke of Northampton, and Andrew Warner and William Allis of Hadley. Five made their return, a copy of which follows, from the records of the county court : -

Northampton, May ye 21st 1664. Wee doe agree and determine that ye highway from Hadley towne's end, on ye east side of ye great river, to ye Fort meddow gate, running as it now lyes, bee in breadth six rodds, and from thence to ye lower end of ye sd meddow in breadth two rods, and from thence (ye way lying still as it doth,) to ye end of Mount Holyoke* in breadth ten rodds, and from thence to Scanunganunk as ye cartway now runs in breadth twenty rodds, and from thence to Springfeild to the upper end of the causey going down into ye towne, six rodds, and from ye lower end of Springfeild to Longmeddow gate, running where it now doth, in breadth foure rods, and from ye Longmeddow gate to the bridge at ye lower end by the river's bank shall be in breadth two rods, and from ye lower end of the said meddow unto Freshwater river soe called, as the way now runs foure rodds, and from thence to Namerick where John Bissell had a barne standinge, as now the way runs, twenty rods, and from thence to Namerick brook where will best suite for a bridge, two rods, and from thence to the dividing lyne betweene the CoUonyes, where ye horseway now lyes two rods. And from the said dividing lyne on the west side of ye river towards Waranoak, in the way that is now improved, comonly called ye new way, that is to say, to two miles brooke fourty rods, and from thence to Waranoak hill where the trading house stood, twenty rods, and from thence to ye passage of ye river where ye way now lies six rods, and from thence through ye other meddow to ye great hill as the way now lyes six rodds, and from thence to Munhan river forty rods, and from Munhan river to ye lotts now laid out neere ye Mill river fourty rods, and from thence to the town of Northampton fToure rods, and from Northampton along by the comon fence side unto ye great river six rods in breadth, & from ye river side just opposite on ye east side, to run cross to the middle way that leades to ye centre of Hadley towne two rods, and soe to Hadley towne two rodds, allowing for the conveniency of landing places, an acre of land on each side of the river, to be in length twenty rods and in breadth eight rods, viz on Northampton side upp ye river from ye fence and on ye other side up & down the river, each towne to make its own landing place. The fferry to be appoynted by the next county Courte, and in ye meanetyme yt the way through Northampton may be improved as formerly. And further we judge and determine that the towne of Hadley shall make and maintayne all ye highwayes and bridges from their towne to Scanunganunk, and Springfeild shall make & maintayne ye bridges & wayes from Scanunganunk to the foote of the [falls,] and in case it appeares to be our collonyes right, over Namerick brooke, that the way be made and mayntayned by this county. And the wayes and bridges from the landing place at the great river [in Northampton] unto the top of Waranoak hill to be made and mayntayned by North Hampton, and from thence unto Windsor to be made and mayntayned by Hadley & Northampton mutually. And further wee determine yt if Hadley & Northampton eyther or both of them shall at any tyme hereafter see cause to desert the highway they now use and shall make the way through Springfield their comon roade to Windsor for carting, then eyther or both shall contribute to ye mending the bridge at Long meddow. And for these several wayes & bridges to be made and repaired sufficient for travell with carts, wee determine that they be done by the severall townes respectively at or before ye sixth day of June next, as also yt such stones as are moveable in Scanunganunk river be turned aside out of the cartway and ye charge thereof to be paid by the County Treasurer.

These were the first county roads in Hampshire. They followed the ways previously used by the early settlers. These three towns maintained for some years two roads near 40 miles each, from Hadley and Northampton to Connecticut line, which was then supposed to be south of the present north line of Windsor. Northampton and Hadley sent men and perhaps teams, to repair roads where Suffield now is. They were complained of in September, 1668, for defective way between Waranoke and Windsor. They amended the defects, and were discharged in March, i66g, on paying the recorder's fees. The large streams, Chickopee, Manhan, Waranoke and others had no bridges. It was hard carting on such roads.*

Scanunganunk, where the road crossed the Chickopee, was not far from the present Chickopee Factories. Hadley made some efforts in 1665 and after, for a road near the Connecticut, through the low land. Such a road was laid in 1673, crossing Chickopee river at the Islands near Japhet Chapin's. Hadley thus gained access to the Connecticut near the head of boat navigation, below the Willimanset Rapids, and carted produce down to the boats.

The passing between Hadley and Northampton was by the ferry at the lower end of Hadley street, and Northampton meadow. The road across Hadley meadow, proposed by the committee of 1664, was opposed by the town, and never made. The two towns agreed in 1665, to have the road continue in Northampton meadow. - The travel between Springfield and Northampton, for a number of years, was chiefly through Hadley village.

The Bay Road, or road towards Boston, has been in different places in Hadley. In early days, there was a "Nashaway Path" north of Fort River, which still bears the old name. In 1674 and many years after, the Bay Road crossed Fort River, near the south end of Spruce Hill. The road was laid out where it now is after 1688, but no record of the change is found.

The Bay Road, which was used by Hadley and Northampton, met the Springfield Bay Road at Quabaug (Brookfield,) where a few English families settled about 1664, and where travelers often lodged. The Hadley road at a later period, and probably in early days, crossed Ware River and Coy's Hill north of the present Ware Village. East of Quabaug, there were ?t least three ways leading from the Bay towards the Connecticut - through Nashua (Lancaster,) Quinsigamond (Worcester,) and Hassanamesit (Grafton.)

In December, 1661, Hadley voted 45 shillings, "towards laying out a commodious way to the Bay by Nashaway." In September, 1 68 1, some men came from Lancaster to Hadley, to treat about laying out a way "from thence hither." A committee was chosen to confer with them, and with the committees of Northampton and Hatfield.

The fires of the Indians had destroyed most of the underbrush, the woods were open, and forests were crossed without much difficulty. Streams, hills and swamps impeded the traveler. The Indians had paths between their villages and tribes, which were sometimes followed by the English. They were only a foot wide, according to Johnson, and "seldom broader than a cart's rut," according to Wood, referring to the beaten path made by their feet. They traveled in "Indian file."

The old ways to Quabaug and Nashua were only paths for men and horses. In 1692, Hatfield chose a man to join with som.e of Northampton and Hadley, "to lay out a way to the Bay for horses and carts, if feasible." It was not feasible, and wheels and runners did not pass from Hadley to Boston for many years after 1692.

The first bridge built in Hadley for horses, oxen and carts, was over Fort River, on the Springfield road. A committee was chosen to build it, Sept. 4, 1661. The second bridge over this stream, on the road to Hockanum meadow as well as to Springfield, was ordered Aug. 28, 1667, and was to be lower down than the old one. The third bridge over the same stream, on the same road, was voted Sept. 16, 1681, and was to be below the old one, "in the highest and most advantageous place." It cost ;^44. 15.3.

The County Court in March, 1674, blamed Hadley for not joining Northampton in laying out a way to Quabaug, and required Hadley to build "at least a foot bridge," over Fort River, on the way to Qiiabaug. On the 12th of February, 1675, the town voted to build a cart-bridge, and this was the first bridge on the Bay road. It was near the south end of Spruce Hill, and was much used by the troops in Philip's war. In January, 1688, a committee was chosen to consider whether it was best to build a new bridge or repair the old one. Between 1688 and 1699, a new

Bay road was laid, where it has since remained, and a new bridge was built near where the bridge and Smith's mills now are, about half a mile below Spruce Hill. There is no record of the laying out of this road, nor of the building of the bridge. Most of the records are missing from April lo, 1688 to January, 1690. This bridge was called Lawrence's bridge.

On the 14th of January, 1684, the town voted to build a bridge over Mill River at the mill, "by tressels or otherwise as the selectmen and Samuel Porter, senior, shall judge best." It cost only £ii.i'j.().

These bridges were built by calling out the people to labor, every man according to his estate. Other public works were done in the same manner. The price of labor was from 2s. to 2s^ 6d. per day. Those who did not labor, paid in grain, &c.

In 1672, John Smith of Hadley, was directed by the Court, "to fell a tree across Swift River, for a foot bridge, if any such be near at hand." Such foot bridges were not uncommon.

In October, 1686, one of the Fort River bridges was partly burnt in a time of drouth, apparently by fire from the woods. The Selectmen prohibited the firing of woods and fields.

A small homelot in Hadley, below the south highway into the meadow, was reserved as a ferry lot, and in 1661, the town made an agreement with Joseph Kellogg to keep the ferry between Hadley and Northampton, and he built on the ferry lot. The attempt in 1664 to have a ferry on the Northampton side, in connection with a road in Hadley meadow, did not succeed.

In January, 1675, a committee appointed by the Court made an agreement with Joseph Kellogg. He was to have a boat for horses and a canoe for persons, and to receive for man and horse, 8 pence in wheat or other pay, or 6 pence in money; for single persons, 3 pence, and when more than one, two pence each. On Lecture* days, people passing to and from Lecture were to pay only one penny each, if 6 or more went over together. Troopers passing to and from trooping exercises, were to pay only 3 pence for man and horse. Kellogg might entertain travelers.

In 1687, another agreement was made with Joseph Kellogg. The fare for horses, men and troops was the same as in 1675. Lectures not mentioned. After day-light till 9 o'clock, he might take double price. At later hours, and in storms and floods, those who would cross, must agree with the ferryman. Kellogg was still allowed to entertain strangers. Others might not carry over persons within 50 rods of the ferry place, except men to their day-labor. - Joseph Kellogg, and his son John Kellogg, and his grandson James Kellogg kept this ferry until 1758, almost a century; and Stephen Goodman, who married a daughter of James Kellogg, kept it still later, and from him it received its last name, "Goodman's Ferry."

The river was formerly near the lower end of the street, and the landing was not far from Kellogg's house. Aquavitae meadow has received a great addition from Northampton meadow, and the enlargement continues against and below the end of the street, and the river is now 45 or 50 rods south of the old landing place.

There is no record of a regular ferry at the north end of the street, between Hadley and Hatfield, until 1692. Many on the east side owned and cultivated land on the west side, and canoes and boats were frequently passing. There were more lively scenes on the Connecticut in those days than now. John Ingram appears as ferryman at the north end in 1692, and the ferriage in 1696 was 4 pence for a man and horse, 3 pence for a horse or horned beast, and one penny for a man, if paid down in money. If not so paid, Ingram might demand double, or do as they could agree. John Preston succeeded Ingram.

A Grist-mill, (more often called by the English and our fathers, a Corn-mill,) was built in Hadley, in 1661, west of the Connecticut, upon Mill River. The stream in Hatfield, Hadley and many other towns, upon which the first mill was built, was named Mill River or Mill Brook. Hadley chose a committee to treat with Goodman Meekins about building a mill, on the first of April, 1661, and in December, the town voted that they would have all their grain ground at his mill, "provided he make good meal," and they gave him 20 acres of land near the mill for building it. Thomas Meekins was a mill-wright and assisted to build mills in other towns. - On the 8th of November, 1662, the east side inhabitants agreed with Thomas Wells and John Hubbard to carry their grain over the river to the mill, on certain days of the week, and bring back the meal, at three pence per bushel, to be paid in wheat at 3s. 6d., and Indian corn at 2s. 3d. per bushel.

In 1665 and 1667, the people of Hadley, on the east side, thought of building a corn-mill upon their own Mill River, about three miles north of the village. About 1670, William Goodwin, one of the trustees of the Hopkins donation, conceiving that a corn-mill would yield a good income to the Hadley Grammar School, invested a portion of the donation in building a mill at

Mill River. In October, 1671, the town gave a piece of land near the mill as a houselot for the miller. In Philip's war, the mill was garrisoned at times, and was preserved until September, 1677, when it was burnt by the Indians, who had made an attack upon Hatfield. The people of Hadley again resorted to Hatfield mill.

The committee or trustees of the Grammar School, declining to rebuild the mill, it was rebuilt by Robert Boltwood, encouraged by the town, about 1678 or 1679. The committee of the Grammar School obtained it in 1683; Samuel Boltwood had it in 1685; and it was again delivered up to the trustees of the Hopkins School in 1687, in whose possession it remained.

The mill and dam were rebuilt in 1692, after the great February flood of that year; a new mill became necessary in 1706, and another in 1721.

Some of the mill-stones used in this valley in early days were of the red sandstone, called pudding stone, judging from fragments that remain. Other kinds of stone may have been used. When the School Mill was rebuilt in 1692, several days were spent in "looking for mill-stones," and one stone was purchased of John Webb of Northampton, for 8 pounds. It was probably sandstone from Mount Tom. In 1666, John Pynchon gave John Webb of Northampton, 20 pounds for a pair of mill-stones delivered at Springfield.

The School trustees employed John Clary as miller in 1683. In November, 1687, Joseph Smith, the cooper, began to attend the mill, and had the care of it until old age, alone or with his sons. He had one-half the toll, and the use of a house and some land, and pay for his labor on the mill, excepting small repairs. The whole toll for 6 or 7 years, averaged only 26 pounds a year, chiefly wheat and Indian corn. Joseph Smith was the first permanent resident at Mill River.

'Bolting-mills moved by water were hardly known in England, when our fathers emigrated about 1630. They were moved by hand. Families sifted or bolted their own meal, or used it unbolted. In New England, for 100 years after 1630, there were no bolters carried by water. The separation of bran from flour was the work of the family, and of the baker, and of those who sent flour to market. In Hadley, much flour was packed in barrels and sent down the river, and the meal was all brought from the mill to the village and bolted. Several persons had what was called a bolting-mill, as John Smith, William Partrigg, Philip Smith, Richard Montague, Mr. John Russell, Jr. and

History Of Hadley 41

Timothy Nash. It required a frame and lo or 12 yards of narrow bolting cloth for one of these domestic bolting-mills. Richard Montague is said to have been a baker, and his bolting-mill was valued at 60 shillings in 1680. His widow sometimes bolted flour for others, by the barrel. Most housewives were satisfied with hair sieves; some had bolting-cloth sieves. Lawn sieves are mentioned after 1700. - ^Flour was sold in large barrels by the 112 lbs.

Boards had always been sawed by hand in England and not by saw-mills. There was no saw-mill in Virginia, when that colony had been settled 40 years. There were no saw-mills in the old towns in the colonies of Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Haven, for some years after their settlement. Boards, plank and slit-work were sawed by hand. The wages of sawyers were regulated by the colonies, for a few years, and also by Hartford, Springfield and other towns. In New Haven, the "top-man" who was on the top of the log and guided the work, had a little higher wages than the "pit-man" who was in the saw-pit below. Two men were expected to saw about 100 feet of boards in a day, when the logs were squared and brought to the pit. The first saw-mill in Springfield was built by John Pynchon, in 1667, after the town had been settled 31 years. He had previously paid to hand-sawyers two shillings per day for sawing many thousands of boards.

The early settlers of Hadley built houses and some commodious ones before they had the aid of any saw-mill. As Northampton had sawyers and saw-pits, it may be concluded that Hadley had them also, though they are not noticed in the records. The clapboards of those days, which were split out like staves, helped to supply the deficiency of sawn boards.

Hadley gave to Thomas Meekins and Robert Boltwood, liberty to set a saw-mill on Mill River, on the east side, Jan. 27, 1662, and they might fall pine and oak timber, except rift timber, in the Great Swamp beyond this river, and within 80 rods of the mill, on this side. The mill seems to have been built about 1664 or 1665, and the town probably had to depend on pit-saws only 5 or 6 years. Thomas Meekins had a saw-mill on the west side, about 1669.

Boltwood's saw-mill did not continue many years, and he sold his right to the place to three men in 1674. If they built a mill, it did not long remain. On the 12th of February, 1684, when they were destitute of a saw-mill, the town granted liberty for

A house where the people might meet for public worship and religious instruction, was an early object of attention in Hadley, as in most other places in New England. On the 12th of December, 1 66 1, the town ordered as follows: -

"The town have ordered that they will build and erect a meeting-house, to be a place of public worship, whose figure is, (in length and breadth,) 45 feet in length and 24 feet in breadth, with Leantors [Leantos] on both sides, which shall enlarge the whole to 36 in breadth.

The town have ordered that the meeting-house abovesaid, when prepared, shall be situated and set up in the common street, betwixt Mr. Terry's house and Richard Montague's, in the most convenient place, as the committee chosen by the town shall determine.

The town have ordered Mr. Russell, Mr. Goodwin, Goodman Lewis, Goodman Warner, Goodman Dickinson, Goodman Meekins and Goodman Allis, a committee for the aforesaid occasions."

Leanto is a significant English word, indicating a part of a building that seems to lean to, or upon a higher part. It was often used in reference to private buildings. - The house was to be erected in the northern part of the street, to accommodate the west side inhabitants. It was not built for several years. The work may have been delayed by the diflSculties with Mr. Bradstreet and the payment of 200 pounds to him. On the 27th of August, 1663, the town voted to set about building the meetinghouse, and chose a new committee, viz., Mr. Clarke, Lieut. Smith, Mr. Westwood, John Barnard, Nathaniel Dickinson, Thomas Meekins and Isaac Graves. They were to manage the work, order the form, call out men, and set the wages of men and teams. Meanwhile, the people did not neglect to meet on the first day of the week. A house was hired, and Dec. 10, 1663, Mr. Goodwin and John Barnard were chosen to seat persons in it "in a more comely order," and it was voted to hire the house another year. About two years later, Nov. 7, 1665, the meeting- house was said to be framed, but not raised. After it was raised and covered, the inside work was delayed, probably in consequence of the west side inhabitants desiring to be a separate parish, and seats were not voted till Feb. 21, 1668. The building seems not to have been completed till Jan. 12, 1670, when the town chose the two deacons, the two elders and Mr. Henry Clarke, to order the seating of persons in the meeting-house. Every person seated was to pay a part of the expense for making his seat. 128 seats for 128 persons, male and female, were paid for, at 3s. 3d. each. These 128 persons were heads of families or at least adults.

The form and dimensions of this house cannot be known from records nor tradition. The second committee had power to model it as they pleased, and they deviated considerably from the vote of Dec. 12, 1661. They appear to have rejected the leantos and to have made the upper part as wide as the lower. There was doubtless a turret, or place for a bell, rising from the center of the roof, as in most early New England meeting-houses. Galleries on the north and south sides of the house were voted Jan. 9, 1699, and a gallery, which must have been on one end, is referred to as partly built. This vote shows that the ends of the house were east and west and that the pulpit was at one end, apparently at the west end. There is no reason to suppose that the length of the house much exceeded the breadth. Some seats had to be altered, to make "a more commodious passage up into the galleries." The seats were probably long seats, like others of that age, holding 5 or 6 persons each. They were to be built "with boards and rails." In those days a few pews, square or oblong, were built against the walls of some meeting-houses, but pews in general were of later introduction. For a long tune, men and women occupied different seats* in Hadley, as elsewhere in New England. In nearly all meeting-houses, when the minister faced the congregation, the males were on his right, and the females on his left, on the lower floor, and in the galleries. The singers were mingled with the others, and all singing was congregational.

The town voted, Jan. 11, 1672, "that there shall be some sticks set up in the meeting-house in several places, with some fit persons placed by them, and to use them as occasion shall require, to keep the youth from disorder." The youth were often troublesome in the old meeting-houses.

A few months after the meeting-house was finished, Sept. 3, 1670, the town voted to buy the bell brought up by Lieut. Smith and others, and to pay for it by a rate, in winter wheat, at 3 shillings per bushel. "If Lieut. Smith gets 4s. 3d. for the wheat in Boston, he is paid; if less, the town is to make it up; if more, he is to repay." The freight of wheat to Boston was estimated at IS. 3d. per bushel. The debt for the bell was £j.io, or about 25 dollars, indicating that the bell was small. Henry Clarke, who died in 1675, gave by his will "40 shillings besides 40 shillings formerly given, for a bigger bell that may be heard generally by the inhabitants." If a new bell was obtained, it was paid for by individuals and not by the town. The town voted, Dec. 21, 1676, "that the bell in the m.eeting-house shall be rung at 9 o'clock at night, throughout the year, winter and summer." Jan. 13, 1690, Mr. Partrigg was chosen to secure such a bell as is at Northan)pton; the selectmen to make the best they can of the old one.

Hartford began to ring the bell at 9 o'clock, in 1665, "to prevent disorderly meetings," &c. This is the first notice of a nine o'clock bell upon the Connecticut River. - In Springfield, in 1653, Richard Sikes was to have one shilling for ringing the bell for marriages and funerals. The records of the other old towns upon the river, do not notice the ringing of a bell at marriages or funerals.

In the old towns in Hampshire county and elsewhere, the turret for the bell was in the center of the four sided roof, and the bell rope hung down in the broad isle, where the ringer stood. It must have been so at Hadley. The minister always had the bell rope before him.*

Mr. John Russell, Jr., the first minister of Hadley, was born in England. He graduated at Harvard College in 1645. There had been only thirteen graduates, previous to his class. He began to preach at Wethersfield, about 1649, and removed to Hadley in 1659 or 1660, where he died Dec. 10, 1692, in his 66th year.

The engagers at first, and the people of Hadley afterwards, paid Mr. Russell 80 pounds per annum, but the records of Wethersfield and Hadley contain no agreement with him in regard to his salary. It was apparently 80 pounds, and he received allotments of land in Hadley, according to a 150;^ estate, or a homelot of 8 acres, and about 38 acres of interval land. After some

*Rev. Jonathan Edwards of Northampton, is said to have used few gestures in the pulpit, and to have looked much before him. After the rope was broken in the old meeting-house, one of his people observed, "Mr. Edwards has looked oj the bell rope." A bell rope formerly came down in an aisle of some country churches in England.

History Of Hadley 45

years, the town gave him, in addition, the use of the town allotment, so called, which was estimated at lo pounds, and he thus received annually 90 pounds. He and the people lived in peace and harmony, with mutual kindness and confidence until the latter part of his life, when a difference between him and a majority of the town, in regard to the Hopkins School, produced unpleasant feelings, and alienated some of his friends. After the final decision against the town, and in favor of the school trustees, in 1687, the town voted only 70 pounds per annum during the rest of his life, but he may have retained the use of the town's land and if so, he received annually 80 pounds. After the reduction, no complaint from Mr. Russell, and no bickerings and contentions between him and the town, appear in the records. After his decease, his widow and sons claimed 40 pounds "for what was abated in the rate bills, several years, without Mr. Russell's consent," and the town voted 35 pounds, and the matter was adjusted to the satisfaction of both parties.

There is no intimation in the records, that the town aided Mr. Russell in building his dwelling-house; nor does it appear that the people ever furnished him with fire-wood. The town assisted him to build an addition to his house in 1662.

Mr. Russell at Wethersfield was ardent and resolute, and sometimes indiscreet, and he had warm friends and powerful opposers. At Hadley, he appears to have been an active and faithful pastor. As a preacher, there is little known respecting him. He preached the Election Sermon at Boston, in May, 1665, from Psalms cxxii: 6. Most of his letters in this History were written in the time of the Indian war, and some in great haste. His firmness and decision of character are seen in his persevering efforts in favor of the Hopkins School. His fearlessness and constancy were manifested in his protection and concealment for many years, of two of the judges of King Charles I., Whalley and Goffe, whom he truly viewed as sufferers in the cause of civil liberty. New England people generally were friendly to the judges, and believed that Charles I. was justly sentenced to death, but not many would have been willing to hazard life and property by placing themselves in the dangerous situation of Mr. Russell.

An inventory of the estate of Rev. John Russell was taken at Hadley, Jan. 10, 1693. His son. Rev. Jonathan Russell, of Barnstable, was admitted as administrator, in Suffolk county, Jan. 17, and a summary of the inventory, and a settlement of the estate, were recorded in the Boston Probate Office. After paying the debts, funeral charges, expense of tomb-stones for Mr. Russell and a former wife, and delivering to his widow, Phebe Russell, 106;^, most of which she brought with her, there remained for the two sons, Jonathan and Samuel, .^830, of which, 305;^ in real estate was subject to the widow's dower. The appraisement was considerably above money prices. Mr. Russell's kindness to the judges did not diminish his estate. In the inventory, are three negroes, - a man, woman and child, valued at 6o;{^.*

Salary of Mr. Russell and others. - The salary of Mr. Russell was paid in winter wheat at 3s. 3d., peas at 2s. 6d., Indian corn at 2s., and other things proportionally. The cash price of wheat did not exceed 2s. 6d., peas 2s., and corn is. 6d. per bushel at Hadley. Yet the sum of 90;^, or even 8o;^, as Mr. Russell received it, was an adequate and honorable salary, and so esteemed. He educated two sons and left a good estate.

The salaries of ministers in the agricultural towns of New England, in the 17th century, were paid in produce, or "provision pay," at prices much above money prices, and nearly all debts were paid in the same manner. Gold and silver were uncommon in country towns, money contracts were seldom made, and cash prices were not often mentioned. The salaries of ministers did not average 60 pounds or 200 dollars, if estimated in money at 6 shillings to a dollar; and in small towns, they did not exceed 150 dollars. But ministers commonly had from their people a farm or other lands, a house and fire-wood, and with the frugal, economical habits of those days, they had usually a good support. Mr. Chauncey, the successor of Mr. Russell, had a salary of 8o;^ in "provision pay," which he exchanged in 17 13 for bo£, or 200 dollars in money, and the money was province bills. The salary of the first two ministers of Hatfield was (io£ in produce, equal to about 150 dollars in money. f

Several of the early churches of New England had two ministers, one ordained as pastor, and the other as teacher. Northampton procured Mr. Joseph Eliot as teacher, but the people soon grew weary of the expense of supporting two ministers, and he removed to Guilford. The first settlers of Hadley intended to have as a second minister, Mr. Samuel Hooker, and he signed

*Mr. Russell and some other good men were interested in the detestable system of slavery, in an age when its injustice and wickedness had not been properly considered.

gave to Rev. Eleazar Mather a salary of 8o£ in 1658, and Pres. Dwight, who had not examined the old currency of New England, represents this as 80 pounds sterling. (Travels in N. E., Vol. I., p. 344.) This is a mistake. It was paid ingrain and the value was not more than 60;^ in Massachusetts pine tree money. There never was a sterling currency in these towns.

History Of Hadley 47

the engagement to remove. He changed his mind, and was ordained at Farmington, Nov. 6, 1661. He acted wisely for himself and for the people of Hadley. On the 26th of April, 1662, Hadley voted to give a teaching elder 80 pounds a year. This is the last notice about a second minister.

The church of Hadley is the oldest in the old county of Hampshire, except that of Springfield. It is not known when the church of Hadley began, but it is a year or more older than that of Northampton. The church of Northampton was formed and Mr. Mather ordained, June 4, 1661; and there were present, as messengers from the church of "Hadleigh," Mr. John Russell, the pastor, Mr. Goodwin and Goodman White.

Those who had withdrawn from the Hartford church, could not orderly unite with the Wethersfield members, till some time after the council in Boston in October, 1659. Perhaps there was no regular church at Hadley till 1660. The Hartford members were the most numerous.

The first Ruling Elder of the church of Hadley was William Goodwin, who had previously held the same office at Hartford. He was an able and efficient man. He died at Farmington, March 11, 1673. No successor is noticed in the Hadley records. Nathaniel Dickinson and Peter Tilton were the first deacons of Hadley church. They were intelligent and influential men. A large portion of the heads of families on the east side of the river were members of the church, and there is reason to believe that they were generally pious and excellent men and women. Many of the men were qualified for public business.

The recorders of Hadley and of some other towns were sparing of religious titles in the 17th century. Mr. Russell has not the title of Rev. during his life in the Hadley records. Mr. always precedes his name. The elders and deacons are seldom distinguished as such. When a man had a military and religious title, the former was commonly used.

The dwelling-house of the Rev. Samuel Hopkins, the fourth minister of Hadley, was burnt in the night of March 20-21, 1766, and all the church records were destroyed. They must have contained a great deal of information in regard to ecclesiastical aff'airs.

Chapter Vi

The Grammar School or Hopkins School* - Schools of New England - Grammar Schools - Free Schools - Instruction of Females - Schools and Scholars in Hadley - School Houses - School-masters - School Books.

Edward Hopkins, Esq., after residing some years at Hartford, returned to England, and died in March, 1657. By his will, made March 17th, he gave a portion of his estate in New England to Theophilus Eaton, Esq., and Mr. John Davenport of New Haven, and Mr. John Cullick and Mr. William Goodwin of Hartford, to be disposed of by them "to give some encouragement in those foreign plantations for the breeding up of hopeful youths, in a way of learning, both at the Grammar School and College, for the public service of the country in future times." He also ordered that 500;^ more should be made over into the hands of the trustees, in six months after the death of his wife.

Rev. John Davenport of New Haven and Mr. William Goodwin of Hadley, the only surviving trustees, made a distribution of Mr. Hopkins's donation in April, 1664. They gave 400 pounds to the town of Hartford, for a Grammar School; and all the rest was to be equally divided between the towns of New Haven and Hadley, to be improved in maintaining a Grammar School in each, but they provided that 100 pounds of that half which Hadley had, should be given to Harvard College. When the money was received, New Haven had 412, Hartford, 400, Hadley, 308, and Harvard College, 100 pounds - in all, 1220 pounds. Mrs. Hopkins lived until 1699, and the gift of 500 pounds was obtained, not by the schools of New Haven and Hadley, to which it belonged, but by Harvard College and Cambridge Grammar School, in 1710.

"The town have granted to and for the use of a Grammar School in this town of Hadley and to be and remain perpetually to and for the use of the said school, the two little meadows, next beyond the brook commonly called the Mill brook, and as much upland to be laid to the same as the committee chosen by the town, shall in their discretion see meet and needful; provided withal, that it be left to the judgment of said committee, that so much of the second meadow shall be excepted from the said grant, as that there may be a feasible and convenient passage for cattle to their feed." Committee chosen: Mr. Clarke, Lt. Smith,

History of the Hadley Grammar School was written in 1847, but is now, 1857, reduced more than half. I found many of the original papers of the school in a lawyer's office in Northampton.

History Of Hadley 49

Wm. Allis, Nathaniel Dickinson, sr. and Andrew Warner. - -Note on the margin by Peter Tilton: - "These two meadows, are one the round neck of land; and [the other] the little long meadow that was reserved by the Indians in the first sale and afterwards purchased by itself."

These two School Meadows adjoin the Connecticut and are separated by high upland which becomes narrow in the northern part. On this elevated ridge, the Indians had a fort and buryingplace. One meadow is east of the ridge; the other is west of it in a bend of the river, and is greatly enlarged by the encroachment of the river upon Hatfield. Both were estimated at 60 acres in 1682. They now (1847) contain with the upland, more than 140 acres.

On the 20th of March, 1669, Mr. Goodwin proposed to the town, that he would choose three persons, and the town should choose "two more able and pious men;" and that these five with himself as long as he lived, should have the full dispose and management of the estate given by the trustees of Mr. Hopkins, and of all other estate given by any donor, or that may be given, to the town of Hadley for the promotion of literature and learning; the five persons to remain in the work till death or the Providence of God remove any of them, and then the survivors shall choose others in their place. Mr. Goodwin desired that the school might be called Hopkins School. On the 26th of March, he informed the town that he had chosen Mr. John Russell, Jr., Lieut. Samuel Smith and Aaron Cooke; and the town voted as follows: -

The Town voted their approbation of Mr. Goodwin's choice. The town also voted Nathaniel Dickinson, sr. & Peter Tilton to join with the three persons beforementioned, as a joint Committee who together with Mr. Goodwin while he lives, and after his death, shall jointly & together have the ordering & full dispose of the estate or estates given by Mr. Davenport and Mr. Goodwin, (as trustees as aforesaid to Mr. Edward Hopkins) to this town of Hadley, or any other estate or estates that are or may be given either by the town itself or any other donor or donors, for the use, benefit, maintenance & promoting of a Grammar School to & for the use & in this town of Hadley; as also jointly & together to act, do, conclude, execute & finish any thing respecting the premises faithfully & according to their best discretion.

Voted also by the town that as to the five persons before expressed, if any decease or be otherwise disabled through the Providence of God, the rest surviving shall have the sole choice of any other in the room and place of those surceasing, to the full number of five persons, provided they be known, discreet, pious, faithful persons.

Mr. Goodwin, with the consent of the other trustees, built from the Hopkins donation, a grist-mill upon Mill River, a little south of the school lands. No record is found of the year in which the mill is built, nor of any grant by the town of the use of the stream. A houselot for the miller was granted Oct. 16, 1671. Perhaps the mill was built that year. It was burnt by the Indians in September, 1677, with the miller's house, the farm barn, fences and other property. The trustees of the school declined to rebuild, not having sufficient means, and apprehending danger from the Indians. The town needed a mill, and as Robert Boltwood was not afraid of Indians, a majority of the trustees were induced to dispose of the right belonging to the school, to the town for 10 pounds; and the town, to encourage Boltwood to build a mill, granted to him the mill-place and the remains of the dam, Nov. 6, 1677, and they granted four acres as a houselot for the miller, June 3, 1678. The mill was rebuilt by Boltwood, in 1678 or 1679.

Mr. Russell, always solicitous for the prosperity of the Grammar School, did not consent to the sale of the mill-place and dam; and on the 30th of March, 1680, he presented to the County Court at Northampton, the state of the school, and what had been done by the other trustees, the town and Boltwood. The Court decided that the sale by the trustees was illegal. "We may not allow so great a wrong." They judged that Goodman Boltwood should be repaid what he had expended, and that the mill should belong to the school.

At the September Court, 1682, the committee of the Hopkins School rendered an account of the school estate. Mr. Goodwin, before his death, received from the Hopkins donation 308;^, from Thomas Coleman 5;^, Mr. Westwood 13;^ and Widow Barnard i£, making 328;^^. He and others expended £\']7..\\.if, for a house for the miller, a barn for the farm, fencing the farm or meadows before and after the war, loss on a house bought by Mr. G., paying a debt of Mr. Hopkins, &c., and the remainder of the 328;^ was expended in building the mill and dam, repairing, maintaining the school-master, &c.

The school estate that remained, consisted of the school meadows, given by the town, estimated at 60 acres; 12 or 14 acres of meadow, (5 acres of it in Northampton meadow,) and his dwelling-house and one acre and a half from his homelot, given by Nathaniel Ward; 12 acres of meadow given by John Barnard; and 11^ acres of meadow given by Henry Clarke.

The Boltwoods, father and son, were resolute men and tenacious of their rights, but they did not like contention, and on the 8th of August, 1683, Robert Boltwood agreed to surrender the mill and appurtenances to the school committee, and they were to pay him 138 pounds in grain and pork. They took possession about Nov. I, 1683. In the year 1684, they found that the town challenged some right to the stream and land, and there were

History Of Hadley 51

Other difficulties, and they refused to consummate the bargain. The committee and Samuel Boltwood (his father Robert died in April, 1684,) referred the matter to John Pynchon and John Allis, and in consequence of their decision, March 30, 1685, the mill was delivered up to Samuel Boltwood, about May i, 1685.

Serious troubles to Mr. Russell and the promoters of the Grammar School next arose from another quarter. As the donation of Mr. Hopkins was almost all dissipated, and the mill was in the hands of Boltwood, and the estate that remained was nearly all given by Hadley and by individuals of that town, the people concluded that the estate might as well be managed by the town for the use of an English School. Some of the most influential men were in favor of this course, especially Peter Tilton, who had resigned his office as trustee, and Samuel Partrigg, who still remained a trustee, and on the 23d of August, 1686, the following votes were adopted by the town: -

"Voted by the town that all that estate of houses & lands bequeathed & given by any donor or donors in their last wills and testaments to this town of Hadley, or to a school in said town or to the promoting and furtherance of learning in said town, as the legacy of Nathaniel Ward, John Barnard, Henry Clark, gent, they look on said estate and donations to belong nextly to the town to be improved according tothe willof the testators; and therefore take it into their hands to manage, order & dispose tothe use of a school in this town of Hadley. - They had a full vote in the affirmative.

"Voted by the town that Ens. Nash, Francis Barnard, Neh. Dickinson, Thos. Hovey & Samuel Barnard are a committee from the town to make demand of the school committee of all the produce, increase & rents of lands & estates abovesaid, and accruing thereto, which are at present in their hands undisposed."

After these votes of the town, four of the school committee, viz., Mr. John Russell, Aaron Cooke, Joseph Kellogg and Samuel Porter, presented to the County Court at Springfield, Sept. 28, 1686, the declining state of the Grammar School, and complained of some persons in Hadley who obstructed the management of the school. The Court ordered that the lands given by Hadley, and the donations of Hopkins, Ward, Barnard and Clarke, should be improved for the Grammar School, and not for an English School separate from the Grammar School. Mr. Pynchon sent a copy of the order to Mr. Russell, and wrote to him a letter, dated Oct. 2, 1686, in which he mentioned the difficulties he had to encounter in getting the order passed. The Court was composed of himself, William Clark of Northampton, and Peter Tilton. Mr. Partrigg was present and spoke in favor of Hadley.

"I am heartily sorry, says Mr. Pynchon, that Mr. Partrigg is so cross in the business of the school: nothing will be done as it ought to be till he be removed, which I suppose the President and Council may do. It is too hard for the County Court to do anything. Mr. Tilton, fully falling in with him, is as full and strong in all his notions as Mr. Partrigg himself, and it is wonderful that any thing passed. Mr. Clark, though a friend in the business yet wanted courage.* Mr. Tilton said it would kindle such a flame as would not be quenched. But if to do right, & secure the public welfare, kindle a flame, the will of the Lord be done.-|' To get the order passed, I was forced to declare that if Mr. Clark did not assent, I would [give leave to record it myself, j] But he concurred, the order being a little mollified. If Mr. Partrigg will obstruct, it is necessary that he be removed by the President and Council, who must do this business; we are too weak in the county court. I am full for it to leave all with the President, § and glad it is like to be in the hands of them who will powerfully order. I pray God the school may stand upon its right basis, and all may run in the old channel."

After the decision of the Court, Sept. 28, 1686, a paper was signed by those in Hadley who adhered to Mr. Russell and the Grammar School, and accepted the order of the Court. The signers were Samuel Gardner, John Ingram, Chileab Smith, John

Aaron Cooke, William Marcum, Hezekiah Porter and widow Mary Goodman. These with Mr. Russell, made 12 persons in the minority. All the rest seem to have gone for the English School.

Mr. Russell wrote to President Dudley, and he gave his opinion decidedly in favor of the Grammar School. Mr. Pynchon received an order from the President and Council, dated Oct. 21, 1686, requiring him to examine the school affairs at Hadley and report. Mr. Pynchon came to Hadley, Nov. 18, and sent to Northampton for Capt. Aaron Cooke and Mr. Joseph Hawley. He desired a town meeting the next morning, that the town might depute some persons to give an account of the school affairs. A town meeting was ordered at sun a quarter of an hour high the next morning. II Capt. Cooke and Mr. Hawley came over. Mr. Tilton, Mr. Partrigg and others came as a committee from the town meeting, and were willing to discourse as friends, but not in obedience to the Council's order. The school committee were present and gave their reasons,** and the town's committeeff

§The despotic government of President Dudley, (soon followed by that of Andros,) was detested by most people in this part of the colony, yet some were willing to make use of it, to accomplish what they considered to be a good object. Doubtless the decision of the old Court of Assistants would have been similar to that of the President and Council.

**The reasons why this estate should remain to support the Grammar School, are preserved. They were drawn up by Mr. Russell, with many scripture references and quotations.

History Of Hadley 53

read two or three long papers in reply. These things and many more are stated in a letter to the President and Council, dated at Hadley, Nov. 20, 1686, and signed by Pynchon, Cooke and Hawley. They request that some speedy course may be taken by the Council, "for quieting the hot and raised spirit of the people of Hadley."

Upon perusal of the return made by Major Pynchon & the committee for the affair of the Hadley school. The President & Council do order that the committee for Hopkins School be and remain the feofees of the Grammar School in the said town, and that Mr. Partrigg be, and is hereby dismissed from any further service in that matter. And that the said committee make report of the present estate of said Mr. Hopkins and other donations to the school (which having been orderly annexed to the Grammar School, are hereby continued to that service,) unto the next county court of Hampshire, who are hereby empowered to supply the place of Mr. Partrigg with some other meet person in Hadley, And that the said court do find out and order some method for the payment of Boltwood's expenses upon the mUl, that the mill, farm and other lands given to the School may return to that public use. The President and Council hereby declaring it to be beyond the power of the town of Hadley or any other whatsoever to divert any of the lands or estate or the said mill stream, & the privileges thereof (which are legally determined to the said Grammar School,) to any other use whatsover. The President and Council judging the particular gifts in the town a good foundation for a Grammar School both for themselves and the whole country, and that the Grammar School can be no otherwise interrupted, but to be a school holden by a master capable to instruct children & fit them for the university -

At a new County Court, appointed by Andros, and held at Northampton, June 7, 1687, the order of the President and Council was read, and a petition and statement from the trustees of the school. Samuel Boltwood was summoned to appear and show cause why he detained the mill. He presented a paper giving a regular account of his father's building and selling the mill and of the award of Pynchon and AUis, which put the mill into his (Samuel Boltwood's) hands. Referring to the award, he says, "it seems rational, especially by those who profess religion, to stand by what was done" or make good their bond. "What is my just right I plead for, and no other."

The next day, June 8, the Court, after referring to the order of the President and Council, - Ordered those persons in Hadley who had taken the school estate into their hands for an English School, to return it speedily to the former committee, the feofees of the Grammar School, viz. Mr. John Russell, Aaron Cook, Joseph Kellogg, and Samuel Porter, to whom they added Chileab Smith, in the room of Samuel Partrigg, removed. They also ordered that Samuel Boltwood should deliver up the school mill and appurtenances to the same feofees, for the maintenance of the school. If the feofees and Boltwood could not agree as to what had been expended on the mill, by him and his father, the toll being considered, then Mr. John Allis and a man chosen by the feofees and another chosen by Boltwood were to give in their award & determine what Boltwood should have for the mill.

"Voted by the town that the lands seized and taken into their own hands with reference to an English School by their vote Aug. 23, 1686, wanting that formality in the seizure as might have been - the town do now let fall the said seizure, leaving said lands in the hands of the Committee called the School Committee as formerly, withall reserving a liberty to themselves and successors to make claim & plea according to law at any time for the future, for what may appear to be their right in the premises."

The Court of Sessions sent the following letter to the Selectmen of Hadley, March 7, 1688, to be communicated to the town. The members of the court were John Pynchon, John Holyoke, Joseph Hawley, Capt. Aaron Cooke of Hadley, Lieut. John Allis.

Having had a sight of the vote of the town of Hadley of August 29, 1687, in way of compliance (as we suppose) with the advice of the Court of Sessions, held at Northampton, June 7, 1687, we judge meet to let you understand our sense of it, that it is far short of what we expected and advised to, being at best lean in itself, if not a justifying of yourselves in your former precipitant, illegal entering upon the school estate, rather than a delivering it up to the committee as you were directed actually to do, and forthwith to declare it under the hands of those that had acted in entering thereon; and presuming upon your readiness so to do it, we proposed it to the committee or feofees, if they saw cause to allow one half of the i6£ that was engaged toward a school master. But what you have done being so short of that directed to, & so worded as speaks your unsubjection to authority, especially in conjunction with your other actings, we must declare it no ways convenient the committee should allow any part of the said i6£ & that you are accountable for your perverseness towards the school affairs, & for your slighting of such who have more regard to your own good & interest than yourselves. Such a spirit we see breathing forth from you as will necessarily call for some further animadverting thereon, if you do not retract some of your actings which we earnestly desire you to overlook and rectify. We would not particularize, and yet in way of caution to amendment, might mention your unkindness and crossness in not granting the use of a house that stands empty and your illegal rating of the school estate, contrary to the declared direction in all our books, of colleges, schools, hospitals, &c. are not to be taxed, which we do particularly insist on, for your speedy rectification of what you have disorderly done (that we may not have occasion to lay it before his excellency.) Several other things are before our consideration, which we do not mention, hoping and expecting you will revise your own actings & amend, which is the [scope] of these lines to prevent any thing that may prove uncomfortable to yourselves, being assured that a sense of your own crossness, perverseness, unsubjection to order, & repentance for what is done amiss, will but become yourselves, and is the plainest path to your own comfort, which we pray God to direct you in, and are

We let you know & hereby declare that we forbid the constables and all officers from levying or collecting any particular tax toward any town affair, upon the school estate. Springfield March 7, 1687-8.

James Cornish History Of Hadley 55

The selectmen of Hadley replied to this letter, and in June, 1688 the Court sent another to Hadley, "enjoining them to seek their own peace."

Samuel Boltwood gave up the mill to the trustees of the school in 1687, and arbitrators decided April 26, 1688, that he should be allowed 71;^ los. for what his father and he had expended about the mill, of which sum he had received all but nine pounds.

The bitter controversy was now at an end, and in a few years, a good degree of harmony prevailed in the town. Peter Tilton and Samuel Partrigg were restored to public favor as soon as the arbitrary government of President Andros and Council at Boston was overthrown. Sam.uel Partrigg removed to Hatfield in 1687. He had been conspicuous in the English School party, and his conduct had been very offensive to Mr. Pynchon, and to Mr. Russell and those who acted with him. He was a powerful man, and his sway in the county of Hampshire, after Mr. Pynchon's death, was greater than that of any other man, for many years.

There is no reason to condemn the motives of those concerned in these unpleasant contentions. The Grammar School was a favorite object with Mr. Russell, and he probably looked forward to a more elevated literary institution. His efforts for the school were constant and untiring. The people of Hadley are not censurable, because they judged it inexpedient to sustain a Grammar School after the Hopkins donation was almost all consumed or scattered. They had not families enough to require such a school under the law.

When the people of the town accepted the propositions of Mr. Goodwin, March 26, 1669, and used the expression, "a grammar school to and for the use and in this town of Hadley," they seem not to have intended to give up their land to support a school for other towns.

Schools of New England. - By a law of Massachusetts, passed in November, 1647, it was ordered that every town with fifty families should provide a school where children might be taught to read and write; and that every town with a hundred families or householders, should provide a grammar school, the master thereof being able to instruct so far as to fit young men for college. Connecticut adopted this school law in nearly the same words. There were previously many schools in these colonies, but this was the first law requiring them. By a law of 1642, selectmen were to look after the children of parents and masters who neglected to train them up "in learning and labor." The

Grammar Schools. - In England, the distinct object of a grammar school was instruction in Greek and Latin, especially in Latin. All the scholars were expected to learn Lily's Latin Grammar. The custom of forcing all to learn the rudiments of Latin, was strongly opposed by John Locke.

New England grammar schools, with few exceptions, were Latin and English schools united. Some scholars were fitted for college, but perhaps nine-tenths were confined to English studies. Children were generally taught to read, at least in the primer, before they were sent to these schools. English Grammar was not taught in the grammar schools of Old or New England.

Free Schools. - The law of 1647 ^'^ "^^ direct that schools should be free. In the towns upon Connecticut River and elsewhere, schools were commonly supported partly by the parents of the scholars and partly by the town. Schools were not maintained wholly by towns, till after much discussion and agitation. Those in moderate circumstances, with large families, desired free schools. Some of the wealthy and of those with no children to send, were opposed to them. Few towns were willing to vote for schools entirely free to the scholars, till after 1700, and it was many years after 1700, before free schools became general in Massachusetts.

Instruction of females. - The laws of the colony, and the votes of towns, relating to schools, used the word "children," and did not exclude females, yet it is abundantly evident that girls did not ordinarily continue to attend the town schools, many years, in the old towns. There was no controversy on the subject; it seems to have been considered unnecessary that girls should be instructed in public schools; and it may have been deemed improper for boys and girls to attend the same school, as it still is in England, except among the poor.

There were many cheap, private schools in Massachusetts and Connecticut, in the 17th and i8th centuries, kept by "dames" in their own rooms where girls were instructed to read and sew, and in some, small boys were taught to read. Children who did not attend school, were taught to read at home, and nearly all could read, females as well as males. Writing was considered much less important, and it was not judged necessary that females in common life should learn to write; and indeed the ability to write, would have been of little use to them, in former days.

History Of Hadley 57

Probably not one woman in a dozen could write her name, 150 years ago; and much later, at the time of the revolution, very many of those wives and mothers whose patriotism is so justly praised, could not write, but they could read. Some men of several generations made their mark.

A few girls were sent to the public schools in Northampton and Hatfield before 1680, and undoubtedly in most other towns. Records do not show why or when they ceased to attend. Perhaps they did not cease in all places. Some of the newer towns, settled in the last century, were more liberal in schooling the girls than the old ones. School dames were sometimes paid by the town. Many of the old towns were long remiss. Boston did not permit females to attend the public schools till 1790, and Northampton did not admit them into the town schools till 1802! It was an unheard of thing for girls to be instructed by a master, in Ipswich, till about 1769. They learned to read and sew of school dames.

Schools and Scholars in Hadley. - The first recorded vote of Hadley respecting a school, was April 25, 1665, when the town voted "to give 20 pounds per annum for three years, towards the maintenance of a school-master, to teach the children, and to be as a help to Mr. Russell, as occasion may require." Caleb Watson seems to have been the first school-master. He was here in January, 1667, and probably came in 1666.

On the 2 1 St of December, 1676, the town voted to give the school-master 30 pounds per annum, a part from the school estate, and the rest from the scholars and town. There being great failure in sending children to school, the selectmen were ordered to take a list of all children from 6 to 12 years old; all of these were to attend the school, and if any did not go, they were to pay the same as those that went, except some poor men's children. Jan. 10, 1678, they voted to give Mr. Younglove 30 pounds for another year, to be paid by the school estate, scholars and town ; and he was to have the use of the house and homestead belonging to the school, and of twelve acres of land. Male children from 6 to 12 were to pay 10 shillings a year if they went, and five shillings if they did not go. Feb. 7, 1681, a committee was appointed to get a schoolmaster to teach Latin and English; to give him 30 pounds a year. Latin scholars to pay 20 shillings a year, and English scholars 16 shillings. Those from 6 to 12 that did not go, were to pay 8 shillings a year.

the first of March, 1697, "the town voted that there should be a constant school in Hadley; the teacher to be paid wholly by the school committee and the town rate." This was a free school, but it did not continue. Men who had no children to send, were dissatisfied, and the town voted, March 30, 1699, that one-half of what the school estate did not pay, should be paid by scholars. This was to stand 20 years.

The Hopkins School was apparently the only public school in the old parish of Hadley, for more than a century, except a school for boys and girls voted in 1760 for that year. It was the common town school. The master, with rare exceptions, was a man of collegiate education, and he instructed some in Greek and Latin, but most only in reading, writing and arithmetic. When Hadley had 99 families, in 1765, there was but one town school. The number of children taught by school dames is not known.

School Houses. - Nathaniel Ward, who died in 1664, gave a piece of his homelot on the street, with his house, for the use of the school. A part of this building was used for a school-house many years. After 1688, a room was hired for the school. In 1710, the Ward house was said to be "ready to fall down," and in 1 712, the school committee, having obtained leave from the Court, leased the school homelot of one acre and a half, with the buildings, to Doct. John Barnard, for 97 years, at 18 shillings a year.

The town voted, July 13, 1696, to build a school-house, 25 by 18 feet and 7 feet between joints, to be set in the "middle of the town." This was the first school-house built in Hadley. It stood in the broad street.

Teachers Of Hadley Grammar School

About 1666 to 1673. Caleb Watson, a graduate of Harvard College in 1661. A native of Roxbury. [He removed from Hadley to Hartford, where he was many years a distinguished teacher. Salary not known.

About 1674 to 1 680. John Younglove, from Ipswich; was a preacher first at Quabaug, and after he left Hadley, at SufEeld. Salary, 2o£ and use of house and land.

History Of Hadley 59

1709-10. Daniel Boardman, Y. C. 1709. Son of Daniel Boreman of Wethersfield. Was minister at New Milford, Conn. Kept 8 months, at the rate of 26j;£ as money.

1710-11. John James. A native of England. Honorary degree at H. C. 1710. He had previously been minister at Derby, Conn. 6 months, at the rate of 26|£ as money.

17H-12. Elisha Williams, H. C. 171 1. Son of Rev. Wm. W. of Hatfield. Was President of Yale College. 1 1 months, at the rate of 2,()^£ as money.

1721 to 1723. Daniel Dwight, Y. C. 1721. Son of Nathaniel D. of Northampton. Episcopal minister at Charleston, S. C. i\ year, at 40^ a year.

1724-25. Israel Chauncey, H. C. 1724. Son of Rev. Isaac C. of Hadley. He was an able preacher, but became deranged, and was burnt to death in a small building, near his father's, Nov. 1736. Kept f of a year, at the rate of 40^.

In March, 1743, Josiah Pierce, H. C. 1735, a native of Woburn, began to keep the Grammar School. He was to instruct in reading, writing, arithmetic, Latin and Greek. He kept 12 years to 1755, and again 6 years from 1760 to 1766. His pay was 27^^ in N. E. currency, or 91 dollars, and he had the use of 25 acres of meadow land.

These teachers were almost all educated at college, and they generally began to teach soon after they graduated. Their year or less time in the school, commonly .ncluded a part of two years.

Their yearly salary to 1709 was from 38 to 40 pounds payable in produce at the usual prices, or T,o£ at money prices. After 1709, their wages were paid in province bills, commencing with 26§ pounds per annum, and increasing to 40 pounds, after the bills depreciated. Out of this salary or wages, they paid for their board, which was 4s. 8d. to 5s. per week when the salary was about 40;^, and 3s. 6d. to 3s. 9d. when the salary was 30;^ or less. After deducting the board, these young men received only 18 to 21 pounds or 60 to 70 dollars, per annum, in any thing equivalent to dollars at six shillings. Northampton gave to her Grammar School masters, who were all educated men, only 80 dollars a year and board, down to the Revolution. Almost all were single men in both towns. Mr. Pierce's compensation was greater.

If half the accounts of tyranny and cruelty of English schoolmasters, given by English writers, are to be believed, they were an entirely different class of men from the school-masters of New England. Records and traditions furnish no evidence of the cruelty or profligacy of any of the old school-masters on Connecticut River. Where can more worthy men be found than those composing the list of Hadley school-masters .?

In 1682, Mr. Samuel Russell taught the school six months for 15;^. About 50 scholars attended and paid 4 shillings each, except a few that paid 6 shillings. He received from the scholars ;^io, 14s. and from the school committee, £^, 6s.

1 68 1. The rent from 1684 to 1700 was generally from 6 to 8;^, when paid in produce at money prices. From 1704 to 1706, it was ;^8, I2s. as money. In 1720, the number of acres was said to be 80. The school land in other meadows, about 36 acres, was leased at 4, 5 or 6 shillings per acre, according to quality, when paid in produce at the usual prices; or from one-quarter to one-third less, if paid in any thing equivalent to money.

Hadley School Committee for 50 years. - In 1669, the first five were Mr. John Russell, Jr., Lieut. Samuel Smith, Aaron Cooke, Jr., Nathaniel Dickinson, Peter Tilton. As vacancies occurred, others were chosen, viz., Philip Smith, 1680, Samuel Partrigg,

1682, Samuel Porter, 1685, Joseph Kellogg, 1686, Chileab Smith, 1687, Thomas Hovey, Samuel Porter, Esq., Sergt. Joseph Smith, Deac. John Smith. The last five were the committee in 1720.

In new towns, where they had few families and no school, it was considered the duty of parents to teach their children to read. In September, 1677, Goodman Lancelot Granger of Suffield, was presented to the Hampshire Court for the neglect of learning his children to read. He appeared at March Court, 1678, and declared he was using the means to learn them to read, and promised to do his best, and he was discharged. When a Hampshire town was without a school a number of months, it was presented to the Court, and two or three towns in the southern part of the county were fined for their neglect.

It was ordered by a law of 1642,* that the selectmen of every town, should see that none of their brethren and neighbors should "suffer so much barbarism, in any of their families as not to endeavor to teach by themselves or others, their children and apprentices perfectly to read the English tongue," and to have knowledge of the capital laws, upon penalty of 20 shillings. This law was ordered to be enforced in 1668.

At New Haven, in 1684, the Grammar School was to be kept 9 hours in a day in summer, (less in winter,) and 6 days in a week. Two hours in the afternoon of Saturday were to be employed in catechising the scholars, - a practice in New England schools, that came down to the present century, in the forenoon of Saturday.

School Books. - The early school books of New England were the same with those of Old England. John Locke, in his "Thoughts concerning Education," 1690, says the method of schools in England, in teaching children to read, has been to adhere to "the ordinary road of the Hornbook, Primer,t Psalter, Testament and Bible." These, he says, are the only books used "to engage the liking of children and tempt them to read." The "ordinary road" was the same in New England, and the same books were used in Hadley and other towns. Such books were sold to the people by John Pynchon of Springfield, from 1656 to 1672 and after, and by Joseph Hawley of Northampton, to his scholars, except Hornbooks, from 1674 to 1680, and both sold many Catechisms, and paper and paper books for writers. Neither sold Spelling-books, nor does John Locke refer to a Spelling-book in his treatise. They were but little used in the 17th century. Samuel Porter, of Hadley, who died in 1722, sold Primers, Psalters, Testaments and Bibles; also Catechisms, Psalm Books, &c. Spelling-books, chiefly Dilworth's, were gradually introduced; were not common on Connecticut River till after 1750. Arithmetic was taught, but the books were rare. Traders sold the Latin Accidence or Grammar. - Hornbooks do not appear in

Hampshire after 1700. They contained the alphabet, with a few rudiments, on one page, covered, as Cowper says,- with "thin translucent horn," to keep them from being soiled.

A book called a Primer has been used by children in schools for centuries. Our early Primers were imported from England, in 1644, 1655, &c. and were probably Puritan Primers. The New England Primer seems to have been published after the Restoration in 1660, and to have been fitted for a child's schoolbook. It has undergone many changes. The Catechism was formerly published by itself.

Chapter Vii

Ordinary-keepers or Inn-keepers - Retailers of wine and liquors - Selling liquors to Indians - Trial of Dr. Westcarr - Drinks in the 17th century - Distilling - Aquavitae - Intemperance in New England.

When our fathers came from England, the people were addicted to malt liquors, the country was full of licensed ale-houses, and an alewife was a woman, and not a fish. Inns, taverns and ordinaries were plenty. Distilled spirits were used, but wine and ale were the principal intoxicating beverages. The English were excessive drinkers, or as Shakespeare says, "most potent in potting." "Drinking is the plague of our English gentry," says Peacham in 1622. "Drunkenness hath diffused itself over the nation," says Camden in 1617.

The first planters of New England were some of the best portion of this wine-bibbing, ale-guzzling nation. They abhorred drunkenness, and intended to be temperate drinkers, and they followed the English practice in licensing men to sell intoxicating drinks. As ale-houses were in bad repute in England, they avoided the appellation, and used the word ordinary, which in England signified an eating-house. Our early inns in Hampshire were all denominated ordinaries. Inns were called ordinaries in Virginia.

The people of Hadley, conscious of the evil effects of liquor houses, were in no haste to have an ordinary, and when the subject was agitated in January, 1663, they proceeded with great caution, choosing one committee of ten to consider the matter, and to report to another of seven, and the latter were to report to the town, who were to choose the most fit man to keep an ordinary. The town did not select a man, and the county book does not record the license of any one, until March, 1668, when Richard Goodman had his license "continued," showing that he was licensed in 1667.* After 1668, there is no notice of an inn or ordinary in Hadley or Hatfield for 24 years, but in Hadley, Joseph Kellogg, the ferry-man, had liberty to entertain travelers. Springfield and Northampton had houses of entertainment, for the courts were held in those towns, and the court-rooms were always in the ordinaries or inns. In March, 1666, Samuel Porter and William Lewis of Hadley, were both presented for selling strong liquors without license, and fined. It appeared that they were induced to do this, because no one in Hadley had liberty to sell liquors.

In 1667 and 1668, Richard Goodman was licensed to sell wine and strong liquors; in 1671, Lieut. Samuel Smith was the next retailer in Hadley. In September, 1684, Deac. Philip Smith was licensed to sell wine to persons "in real need," meaning the sick. In March, 1678, Samuel Partrigg had liberty to sell liquors "to the neighbors," and in 1681, "for the helpfulnessf of neighbors." In 1685, he had liberty to retail wine, and he was afterwards a retailer of strong drink in Hatfield. The ordinary keepers and retailers, in those days, were very respectable men. Selectmen would not approve, nor the Court license, any other. John Pynchon was licensed to sell wine and strong liquors in 1671 ; the Court seem to have expected that he would reduc ethe price!

In September, 1674, the Court that was sitting in the house of Nathaniel Ely, ordinary-keeper in Springfield, fined him 40 shillings, for not keeping beer that was according to law, viz., made with four bushels of barley malt to the hogshead, (63 gallons.) This beer which ordinaries were required to keep, was not so strong as much of the beer used in England.

The first inn-keeper in Hadley after 1668, in the county records, was Hezekiah Dickinson in 1692 and 1693. Joseph Smith, cooper, was an inn-keeper in 1696. Luke Smith was a retailer in 1700 and an inn-keeper in 1701. Westwood Cooke was an inn-keeper from 1704 to 1707. Luke Smith was an inn-keeper most or all of the time from 171 1 to 1731, inclusive. No other inn-keeper or retailer in Hadley, is recorded in the county books that remain, during those 21 years.

*In 1667, John Pynchon credited to Richard Goodman, for his "account of expenses at the General Training" and for other things, £8.2.0. There was a General Training in Hadley in 1667, and the officers were entertained by Goodman.

and other outrages," the General Court, in May, 1657, forbid all persons to sell or give to any Indian, rum, strong water, wine, strong beer, brandy, cider, perry, or any other strong liquors, under the penalty of 40 shillings for every pint so sold or given. The Courts in Hampshire county were prompt to punish infractions of this law, and were sustained by almost all the people. There were a few persons who could not resist the temptation of exchanging spirits for wampum and beaver skins; and sometimes a farmer or his wife thought there was no great harm in selling to the Indians, a few quarts of poor cider. The Indians were sure to be drunk whenever they could get liquor enough for that purpose. The following trial of Dr. Westcarr, and some other notices, are abridged from the county records: -

In July, 1670, Doct. John Westcarr, of Hadley, was complained of by the Indians, for selling liquor to them. Capt. John Pynchon examined him and heard the witnesses. Westcarr confessed that he had two barrels of liquor in the spring, and being asked what he did with it, said he used it for his own occasions and for neighbors who desired him to procure it. He refused to tell to whom he had sold any, yet it was all gone but half a cask. He said he used four or five gallons at a time in preparing medicines.

Wequanunco testified that John Westcarr sold him two quarts of liquor in the spring when corn was so high (which, by his sign, was 2 or 3 inches.) Benjamin Wait* standing by, said in a deriding manner, may be it was 2 or 3 years ago. The Indian replied, "no, it was this spring; what I say is true; Homs (that is, an old man) will not lie. I paid for it in wampum after two fadom a quart; I paid in black wampum." The same Indian's wife testified that she saw Westcarr sell her husband two quarts of liquor.

Tackquellawant testified that John Westcarr sells liquors to the Indians; "and about a month ago, I had four quarts of him and paid him a beaver skin. This is truth, and Chabattan and Wottellosin know it, and saw it."

Chabattan appeared and said Tackquellawant had four quarts as he testified, of J. W. "I was with him and saw it, and saw him pay a beaver skin for it."

Nuxco testified: - "I fetched liquors from John Westcarr when the Indians were drunken, and my wigwam was broken and spoiled by the drunken Indians this summer. I was before the Northampton Commissioners about it. I had sis and a half quarts of liquor of J. W. and paid him a great beaver skin of my wife's. I also fetched three quarts more, and paid him six fadom of wampum." Nuxco says it is a known trade among the Indians, that it's two fadom of wampum for a quart.

Mr. Pynchon bound over Doct. Westcarr to the Sept. Court at Springfield, 1670. The preceding testimonies were read. Dr. Westcarr owned that the Indians so accused him. The Indians affirmed that Westcarr threatened to lay them in irons, if they told of him. He denied, but the Indians told him to his face that it was true and that they were afraid to speak all. Nuxco and Tackquellawant said he had feared [frightened] them so that they might not speak. Wamequam said Westcarr did so speak. Squiskhegan said Westcarr was angry with Mattawan, his son. Mattawan said J. W. told him the Indians were naughty for telling the Northampton Commissioners of his selling liquors, and J. W. took away his gun because of it. Doct. Westcarr here said he took the gun for debt. Mattawan said he owed him not a penny. Mattawan and Squiskhegan said J. W. lied, and that he took away the gun because Mattawan informed against him and he was angry.

John Westcarr tendered to take his oath for his purgation, but the Court refused, and gave their reasons. The Court adjudged him guilty of selling at least 10 quarts, and fined him 4o£. He appealed to the Court of Assistants at Boston, and was bound in So£, and Francis Barnard and John Coleman in 40;^ each, as sureties.

History Of Hadley 65

In September, 167 1, it appeared that there had been no issue of the case at Boston, the bench and jury not agreeing. The County Court, as he had been at considerable expense and trouble, accepted his offer of five pounds, and the matter was settled. He had been fined 30;^ in 1667, for selling 15 pints of strong liquor to the Indians. In 1674, ^^^ Indians again accused him, and he was bound over by the Hadley Commissioners. At March Court, 1675, '^^ wished to be tried by the jury, except Lt. Smith and P. Tilton who had bound him over. He was tried by the other ten. The Indians did not appear. He put in his defence in writing, and John Smith of Hadley replied to it. The jury decided that he was "not legally guilty."

In 1667, a man in Springfield was fined ;£i6 for selling four quarts of cider to the Indians. In 1672, another Springfield man was complained of for selling cider to the Indians. He said it was water-cider. As it was such that an Indian was probably made drunk by it, and did mischief, the Court fined him 40 shillings. In 1673, ^ Northampton woman was presented for selling cider to the Indians. She appeared and acknowledged that she sold some sour cider mixed with beer. The Court fined her 45 shillings.

In Sept. r670, the Court say: - "the woful drunkenness of the Indians cries aloud to use the utmost laudable means to prevent what may be of that sin among them." In Sept. 1673, they say: - "the Indians are very often found drunk, and cross to all good order and laws."

The Indians in this valley were miserable, degraded beings, when these towns were settled, and it is evident that they did not become any better. The Connecticut Indians were similar. According to the General Court of that colony in Oct. 1654, "the great and crying sin of drunkenness reigns amongst them." The Court attributed this to the sale of cider and strong beer to them, which had not been forbidden, and these were now prohibited as well as wine and spirits. Penalty, 5 pounds for every pint sold to an Indian.

In Daniel Gookin's History of the Christian Indians, in 1677, he remarked - "A very little strong drink will intoxicate their brains; for being used to drink water, they cannot bear a fourth part of what an Englishman will bear."

Drinks in the 17th century. - The early drinks in New England were wine of several sorts, comprising that called sack, beer, including ale, and strong water or aquavitae, which was of two kinds, viz., brandy distilled from wine, and a liquor made from malt or grain, and named usquebaugh. Wine and beer were the principal drinks, until rum was brought from the West Indies. Rum was called "kill-devil" by Josselyn, and the General Court of Connecticut, in 1654, termed it "Barbadoes liquor commonly called rum-kill-devil."* It was much cheaper than aquavitae from Europe, and its use became much more common. Strong beer was first made of imported malt, and in a few years, of malt from grain raised here. Much ordinary household beer was

*This liquor was strangely misnamed. Instead of killing the devil, it has greatly extended and strengthened his kingdom. Josselyn called it a "cursed liquor." Aquavitae, which signifies, water of life, had also a very wrong name.

made. Hops grew wild in the intervals of the Connecticut. After some years, cider was added to the beverages. The second Henry Wolcott, of Windsor, had an extensive nursery and orchard, and he began to sell cider in 1648, at 2s. 8d. per gallon; in 1650, the price was is. 8d. and in 1653, is. 4d. and 30 shillings a barrel. He also sold boiled cider. In 1678, cider in Northampton was ID shillings a barrel, and before 1700, 6 or 7 shillings. It was not very abundant, and beer was a more common drink than cider in the Hampshire towns until after 1700. New England rum, distilled from molasses, was added to the list of intoxicating drinks, about 1700.

Other liquors, as mum, perry and metheglin, are noticed in New England in the 17th century. There were various preparations of wines and spirits, as mulled wine, or wine burnt or stewed, and sweetened and spiced; and cherry rum or brandy, called cherry-bounce. Flip made of beer, sugar and spirits, appears near the close of the century, and punch not long after.

Malt-houses were early established, and they continued in some of the villages on Connecticut River more than a century. John Barnard, who died in Hadley in 1664, had a malt-house in Hadley, and another in Wethersfield, and was called "maltster." Andrew Warner hired his malt-house in Hadley, and it was burnt in 1665. He then built malt-works for himself, and was the maltster of Hadley-, and his son Jacob seems to have succeeded him. Francis Barnard had a malt-house.

Distilling. - Small stills, often called limbecs, were common in England more than 230 years ago, and housewives distilled cordials, sweet waters and medicinal waters, from herbs, flowers, spices, &c. The early settlers of Massachusetts, in Boston and vicinity, had many of these small stills in their houses, which appear in their inventories, valued at from 15 to 45 shillings each. There were some at Hartford and Windsor. Several ministers had one of these little stills. Andrew Warner of Hadley, had a small still valued at 10 shillings, and Doct. Hastings of Hatfield, had one valued at 40 shillings.

There were larger stills, and spirits were distilled in Massachusetts, Plymouth and Connecticut, from grain apparently, before 1662. This kind of distillation could not have been extensive, nor of long continuance. Henry Wolcott distilled something called brandy before 1680, perhaps from cider, but not much cider-brandy was made in New England till after 1750. Samuel Porter of Hadley, had a still and worm, in 1722, valued at 9 pounds. What was distilled in it, is unknown.

History Of Hadley 67

Aquavitae was imported into New England in small casks, and in bottles packed in cases, perhaps like the gin-cases of later days. Such cases were brought to Hadley, and these bottles, probably from their shape, gave a permanent name to Aquavitae Meadow. John Barnard, in his will, in 1664, gave to a kinsman "my piece of land that lieth in the Nook, or Aquavita Bottle." The last word was not retained. The contents of these bottles were esteemed very precious, and Mary Barnard, widow of John, in her will, in 1665, gave to four friends "one glass of strong water" each, that is, one bottle of brandy each, and reserved other glasses for the use of sick and weak persons. - "Aquavitae" and "aquavitae bottle" are found in Shakespeare.

Lechford, who wrote in 1642, says drunkenness was then rare in Massachusetts. Intemperance increased after the means of intoxication were more easily procured. There were many complaints in the 17th century, that some men spent their estates and impoverished their families, by excessive drinking. In Samuel Clough's New England Almanack for 1702, are the following lines, which doubtless give a correct description of a Boston barroom, and of some in the country, 156 years ago: -

Under December. "The days are short, the weather's cold, By tavern fires, tales are told, Some ask for dram when first come in, Others with flip or bounce begin."

Under January. "Ill husbands now in taverns sit, And spend more money than they get, Calling for drink and drinking greedy, The' many of them poor and needy."

Intemperance was more common in Boston and on the seaboard than in the agricultural towns, but Hampshire was not entirely free from intemperate drinking and its evil consequences. The County Court, in March, 1675, remark - "it is found by experience that there is too much idle expense of precious time and estate, in drinking strong liquors, by many of our youth and others in our towns." The Court ordered that retailers should sell only to governors of fam.ilies of sober carriage, "the intent being that such persons as have liberty to sell, should use their best to prevent a trade of drinking and drunkenness." - John Pynchon retailed brandy at the rate of 12 shillings per gallon in 1653, and rum at 6s. to 6s. 8d. in 1673. He did not commonly retail wine and spirits, but when he had rum for sale, there was no lack of purchasers. Rev. Pelatiah Glover, the m.inister of Spring- field, bought of him about two gallons of rum, and six quarts of wine, in a year, from 1672 to 1675. Mr, Pynchon, at the raising of his mill-dam, in 1654, furnished wine and cakes to the amount of 13s. 6d. In Hadley, in 1665, the wine and cake at the funeral of John Barnard's widow, cost 40 shillings - a bad practice derived from England. When the Hadley School mill was raised in 1706, II quarts of rum at 4 shillings per gallon were used. As intoxicating liquors became more plenty, their use and pernicious effects became more common.

Chapter Viii

Town Meetings - Townsmen's Accounts - Freemen - Town OfBcers - Pound - Town Bylaws - Occupations of the people - Petitions of Hadley, in 1665, 1669 and 1670.

The fathers of Hadley intended to have all business done in an orderly, methodical manner. In December, 1660, they voted that a moderator should be chosen at every town meeting, and when they chose Nathaniel Dickinson, to transcribe all town orders, they directed that the orders made by the town, should be read openly in the presence of the meeting, before it broke up. When Peter Tilton was chosen to record town orders, Sept. 1661, he was to receive two pence for each order, and he was to forfeit four pence for every order not recorded before the next meeting. Mr. Tilton was a systematic, well educated man.