Lanesborough Town (part 3 of 3)

Your' petitioners further represent that heretofore they have gone to other towns to attend public worship under the preachliiig of some one of their own denomination, and have hired froiTL time to time preache-s to come into said town and preach to them, until the year A. D. 1821 when they settled Mr. Augiistus Beach to preach to them one-half of the time, which he continued to do lor six } ears - holding their meetings in the ToM'n House by consent of the town until February A. D. 1828, when the house was destroyed by fire, and then, ha\ing no convenient place to hold meetings of the Society, resolved to build a meeting-hoiuse, which was accordingly done the same year by erecting a good and convenient brick building which was completed and dedicated to the worship of God within one year thereafter, and has been supplied ^^dth preaching the major part of the time since, having .had the labors of Mr. Wakeman G. Jolmsom one-half of the time for three years previous to the year A. D. 1834; since then he has continued to preach to them the whole time. The said Beach and Johnson being regulai'ly ordained Baptist elders or ministers; that they have formed themselves (many years ago) into a religious Baptist Scciety and formed a Constitution for the due regulation of their Society with a clerk and committee wdio execute all the duties of such officers. Said Society constitute more than one-third part of the inhabitants of said town (and the major part of them permanent settlers) and consequently pay moire than onethird part of all the taxes assessed in said town. Your petitioners further represent that on the 8th of March, A. D., 1814, on the petition of Daniel Collins and others the General Court of this Commonwealth did order that the proviso in the siud ordeif of 1797 aforementioned, which reserved the power of making a new appropriation of the income of said fund, should Ije repealed, thereby establishing by said last order the income of said fund in the Congregational Society and the said Episcopal

Society in said town forever. And your petitioners aver tliat no notice was ever served upon, nor did it ever come to tlicir kiiowiodiio that any snch petition Avas presented or any order made tlieroon nntil loiDg after such order hist mentioned had passed your lion. Body, and therefore no opportunity was given us of remoaistrating against the passing of the same, which want of notice wc humbly conceive to he contrary to the wellknown and established usages and proceedings of yofur Hon. Body. Wlu'rcfore your ])etitioners pray that their constitutional may ho preserved to them as provided in the third article of the ( onstitution of this Commoaiwealth and that they, as one denomination of christians, shall be equa,lly under the i)rotection of law and not in s.ubordinatioin to any other sect or denomination - praying that the said last order may be repealed and that tliey may have granted to them their just and equal apjiropriation of the incojne of the fund aforesaid according to their taxable estates in said town, to be ascertained by the assessors thereof - or the one-half of the two-thirds which is no^v' holden Ijy the Congregational Society, which would, as we most sincerely believe, be complying with the true meaning and intent of the oiriginal chartaicter and such was the opinion of the Legislature at the time when they reserved the right to make a new appropriation of said income. And as in duty bound will ever pray.

On tlie ])etition aforesaid ordered that the petitioners cause a e.'ipy of their jjctit.ion with this order thereon to be published in the Pittsfiekl Sun, a newspaper published in Pittsfield in the County of Berkshire, three weeks successively, the last publication to be thirty days at least before the second Wednesday of the Jicxt General Court; and that they also cause an attested copy thereof to be served on the Town Clerk of said Lanesboro and on the Clerk of the First Parish and on the Clerk of the

Protestant Episcopal Church in said Laneshoro, thirty days at least hefoi'e the seeond Wednesday of the next General Court that all persons interested may then appear and show cause (if any they have) why the prayer of said petition should not be granted.

Would inform the public that he keeps his office in one of the apartments of the dwellin';X-house of his father, at which place he solicits those toi call who are desirous to patronize him in the concerns of his profession. Lanesboro, Jan. 17, 1815.

Situated fifteen rods cast of the south Meeting-house in Lanesboro former!}' occupied by William Warner, consisting of about one acre of land, a dwelling-house, a hatter's shop, and a good well. The stand is offered for sale on very reasonable terms. If not disposed of soon will be rented. For particulars inquire of the subscriber living on the premises. Lanesboro, April 17, 1815. Joel Phelps.

Johxson Hubbell

"Fama super aethera notus." Informs the public that he has again replenished his Old Castle with an extensive and supurb assortment of fresh imported Dry Goods and Groceries and now offers for sale on terms highly conducive to the interest of those who may purchase and from a consideration of the variety, beauty, quality and prices of his goods he oiiers them in great confidence of procuring a liberal patronage from his friends and the public in general. Never-

Among which are the following, viz: Calicoes, Cambricks, Lenoes, plain and figured Dimity, Cambrick do., Muslins, white and black, Elegant Cotton Shawls, Nankins, Bombazettes, plain and figured. Parasols, Umbrellas, Factory Ginghams and Shirting, Crockery and Hardware, Broad Cloths, Paper Hangings, etc., etc. \Y. I. Rum, Gin, Cider Brandy, Wine, Lump Brown Sugar, Box Eaisins, Fresh Tobacco, Spanish Segars, Macaboy and Scotch Snuff, Window Glass, 6x8, 7x9 - Hyson Skin tea first quality Coffee, Pepper and Spice, Cloves, Cinnamon, etc., etc.

The above articles he wishes to sell for ready pay if possible. Nevertheless he will credit those who possess substantial means of payment until October. Payment in full will be expected about that time. He returns his thanks to his customers for past favors and begs a continuance of the same. Lanesboro, June 20, 1815.

Williamstown Marble Factory

The subscriber would inform the public that he has commenced the Stone-Cutting Business in Williamstown, east of the College and near the Factory, where can be had all kinds of work in his line on short notice and as cheap as can be had at any shop in the County. He likewise keeps a general assortment of Grave Stones on hand and those that are wanting will please call and look for themselves.

He also has the right of vending the much approved Patent Stoves in nine towns in the north part of this County, which are recommended to the public for their great utility in saving fuel as a complete remedy for smoky chimnies.

Extracts Feom Town Eecoeds

Copy of the answer made by Mr. Dan'l Collins to the proprietors of >:ew Framingham Avith regard to settling with them in the work oi the miEistry. March the 12th, A. D., 176-i. To the proprietors of the township of New Framingham: - Gentlemen in consequence of the call which you have given me to settle A\-ith 31011 in the important work of the gospel niinistr}-, I have taken into serious consideration, viewing of it as the most important of ail transactions and accordingly have applied for advice of the ministers of this county as also others of my acquaintance elsewhere. Their advice to me has been that I shotild accept of your call. Therefore in compliance with your invitation and their ad\ace, after seeking for direction to the wise Disposer of all events, I have concluded to accept your call and settle with you in the -nork of the gospel ministr}-, and as to proprietors' proposals made to me for encouragement to settle - am satisfied - therewith. But for the satisfaction of the people in the town I am willing in two ai'ticles to admit of some alteration. The salary I am willing to accept one-half in good merchantable provisions - ^ani further willing the salary should rise but three pounds a year from sixty till it arrives to eighty

Toted to accept of the proposal made by those of the profession of the Church of England which is as follows - namely: - Whereas the proprietors of the Town of Lanesboro have voted to erect a meeting house fifty-eight feet long, forty feet wide and twenty-five feet high for the worship of God. We, the subscribers, being professors of the Church of England do heartily consent and agree to be taxed as proprietors until the sum of three hundred pounds be expended towards building and finishing said meeting-house provided upon the paying said sum, we said Churchmen and our families may be excused from paying any more taxes for the building and finishing said house and we be taxed as the rest of the proprietors are from time \o time until said sum is jjaid, and also vo said subscribers do promise that we will not act as proprietors relative to the place where the meeting house shall stand. Lanesboro', Dec. 8th, 1768.

There is a dispute concerning Seth Warrin and Noah Murry as to their being churchmen. If they will not make full profession thereof in some public meeting, their entering their names in the list is to be null and void.

The last clause in the 2nd article noit act«d upon. Thirdly voted that the Committee be allowed to erect the meeting-house on Mr. Collins' lot on the east side of the way - ^tlie most convenient place near the southwest cofrner, upon consideration the town will grant to Mr. Collins the land that has been laid out as Common for the use of the town being part of the overplus of iSTa eight in the first division.

Appendix Xi Lanesboro In The War Of The Rebelion

At the town meeting held for the consideration of war matters, held Dec. 10, 1861, the selectmen of Lanesboro were authorized to expend money at their discretion for the relief of soldiers' families. In August of the next year the town authorized a bounty of one hundred dollars to each volunteer for three years, or nine months.

In April, 1864, the town voted to pay a bounty of one hundred and twenty-five dollars to each volunteer for three years, and this arrangement was continued until the close of the war.

The expenditures in Lanesboro on the war account amounted to $12,947.91. In addition to this a considerable amount was raised by private means. The total amount of $3,856.45 was expended for aid to volunteers' families, and afterward repaid by the state.

Ixsckiptioxs In Lower Cemetery

Eliza Antoinette Peabody, daughter of Calvin Huhbell, Jr., and wife of Uov. Charles Peabody, born in Lanesboro Dec. 31, 1822, died in Xew York May 28, 1851.

Leah, wife of Douglas S. Powell, died June 29, 1855, age 23. William B., son of Miles and Clarissa Powell, died at Manalopan, N. J., June 18, 1865, age 49 years, 4 months, 5 days.

Leonaray Smith, died Oct. 27, 1820, age 20, and Otto W. Smith, died May 9, 182G in his ISth year, children of Capt. Asahel and Eoxanny Smith; also Betty,, daughter of same died June 24, 1803 in her 5th year

Martha Brattle Williams, his wife, died Dec. 8, 1831, age 78. ]\Iartha, daughter of Lieut. Stoddard Williams, died Sept. 11, 1799 in her 15th year. Anna, another daughter, died Aug. 6, 1804, in her 17tli year. Edith, another daughter, died Aug. 29, 1827, age 31.