\- ys^ <^*j

39002007944912

&IS#^

f -J

¦J^^El:

¦a»y -

*****

»' t^fcf

£«. ^ ^^ -*«<;***
ah .^N^-v-
jM^k-^-j
,Cki» 70s

***&&»&&*.,..
*%&* **&*

<£

This book was digitized by Microsoft Corporation in
cooperation with Yale University Library, 2008. You
may not reproduce this digitized copy ofthe book for
any purpose other than for scholarship, research,
educational, or, in limited quantity, personal use. You
may not distribute or provide access to this digitized copy
(or modified or partial versions of it) for commercial purposes.

ADDRESS

 A.

DELIVERED AT SOUTHAMPTON, MASS

CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

INCORPORATION OF THAT TOWN,

JULY 33, 1841.

BY B. B. EDWARDS,
PROFESSOR OF HEBREW IN THE THEOL. SEMINARY, ANDOVER.

ANDOVER:
PRINTED BY ALLEN, MORRILL AND WARDWELL,
(Successors to Gould & Newman. J
1841.

7.44
At n meeting of inhabitants ofthe town of Southampton, former resi
dents ofthe place, and others, July 23, 1841, —
Voted— That Rev. M. E. White, and Elisha Edwards, Asahel Birge,
Asahel Chapman and Stephen Strong, Esquires, be a committee to pro-
Bent the thanks of the meeting to the Rev. B. B. Edwards, for his appropri
ate and interesting discourse, delivered at the centennial celebration this
day, and to request a copy for publication.

For many of the facts communicated in the following Address, the au
thor is indebted to a MS. sermon ofthe late Rev. Vinson Gould of South
ampton, and to verbal and olher information from Sylvester Judd, Esq. of
Northampton. n. JL, v , s ^

c

CENTENNIAL ADDRESS.

Wk aro mot to celebrate the birth-day of this town. One
hundred years have gone, since it becanie a separate muni
cipal corporation. It is, indeed, but a little one among the
thousands of Judah. It may be thought by some of her elder
and fairer sisters in the Commonwealth, that our observance.
this day. was hardly called for; that we have nothing to
commemorate, except the lapse of years, and the short and
uninteresting annals of two or three generations of men whose
memories have now almost perished. Why not allow them
to remain in their oblivious slumbers ? Why distinguish, bv
eulogy and solemn festival, plain and honest men who never
sought distinction for themselves ;
To these charges Ave plead guilty in part. We have no
forefathers' rock. Peregrine White was not born here.
The graves of the Lady Arabella Johnson and of her hus
band, - the holy man and wise." are not with us. No Char
ter Oak here lifts its broad and time-worn arms to the skv.
We have no cellar which concealed the royal judges : nor
any door that was pierced by Indian bullets. The drums,
which awoke the sleepers at Lexington and Concord, were
not heard in this peaceful valley. We have no great event
to rehearse ; no stirring story to tell.
Vet, we are not without justification for our meeting to
day. The puritan blood flows in our veins. We claim a
common descent with the Winthrops, the Hookers and the
Stoddards of more favored towns. Our ancestors helped to
plant inestimable civil and religious institutions. Ought

their remembrance to cease? Theirs indeed are not the
names which are green on the page of history. But is the
subaltern to receive no credit ? Is the faithful common sol
dier utterly undeserving of mention ? It was by his means
that the stealthy Indian was discovered and repelled. Ben
nington and Saratoga obtained their renown by accident.
These deciding battles of the revolution happened to be
fought there. But it was the men from the little towns of
New Hampshire and Vermont that gathered around Stark and
Warner. The glory of General Gates was won for him by
soldiers from Connecticut river. One of the stoutest spirits
at Bunker Hill was a blacksmith from Northampton. It was
our ancestors and their neighbors who dared the horrors of
the wilderness and of a Canadian winter with Arnold. One
of these adventurous soldiers, through the goodness of Prov
idence, is permitted yet to live.*
We celebrate, therefore, scenes and events which should
not be forgotten. We call up the names of men which
should be evermore honored. They acted their part well in
times of sharp trial. Their trust was in the God of hosts
when all around was dark. They often gathered their har
vest in silence and in fear ; with the weapon of defence in
one hand ; or a detachment of their number guarding the
passes of danger ; or far off on some harassing expedition.
Thick woods and weary miles intervened between them and
the parent settlement ; while in one direction, they were on
a perilous frontier. On the North West, from this place to
Canada, not a single white settlement existed to ward off
danger, or to give tidings of its approach. The tragedy of
Deerfield might have been enacted here at any moment.
The picketed forts would have been no more defence than
the stakes and the sleepy sentinel were at Deerfield. Those
were hard times, not more from actual suffering than from
* Mr. Lemuel Bates of Southampton.

fear. To be constantly harassed with apprehensions was
worse, it may be, than any actual infliction could have been.
It were better to meet the enemy in battle, on one or two
occasions, and run the risk of his balls, than to lie down at
night, not knowing but that you might be awakened by the
bursting in of your door, or the piercing shriek of a toma
hawked wife or neighbor.
Such lacerating anxieties our fathers felt for many years,
while they were burning the forests by which they were sur
rounded, and supporting liberally, with their small means,
schools of elementary learning and the institutions of the
gospel. Obscure men, comparatively, they were ; but they
labored wisely and with true zeal. The town of which they
were the fathers, has been outstripped in population and re
sources by multitudes in the Commonwealth ; but in the In
dian and revolutionary wars, it supplied its full quota of men
and means for the common cause. For almost one hundred
years, no town was more united in religious opinion and be
nevolent labor. Its surplus productions have never been
abundant, for the soil is not rich ; but it has cultivated with
some assiduity the minds which have been found within its
borders ; and given them a direction which has been not alto
gether without its benefits to the world.
We, therefore, hallow the precious memories of our fa
thers. We would rcinshrine them in our affections. We
would gladly plant a greener turf on their perishing dust. It
is an office of filial and affectionate reverence, to retrace, im
perfectly though it may be, some of the prominent events in
their history.
Two hundred years ago, Connecticut river from its mouth
to Canada, was in possession of the Indians. From the fer
tility of the soil, the salubrity of the air and other causes,
their number appears to have been larger than in any other
part of New England. In the town of Windsor only, there

were ten distinct tribes or sovereignties. There were large
bodies of them at Springfield, Northampton, Deerfield and
Northfield. For obvious reasons, they selected as places for
their rude encampments the falls of a river, or where the
smaller streams discharge their waters into the Connecticut.
Consequently their wigwams would be found in the point
where Westfield river joins the Connecticut, at Nashawan-
nuck and Paskhomuck in Easthampton, and at the various
localities where the larger brooks empty into the Manhan.
The wigwams were commonly erected in groves, near some
rivulet or living spring. The whole country was then a\-
most one unbroken wilderness. There were no cultivated
fields, nor gardens, nor public roads. Except in places
where the timber had been destroyed, and its growth pre
vented by frequent fires, the woods were thick and lofty.
Where the lands were burned, for the sake of catching deer
and other wild game, or for the purpose of planting corn,
there grew bent grass, or thatch, as it, was called, sometimes
to the height of four feet. The Indians throughout New-
England spoke the same language radically. From the Pis-
cataqua to the Connecticut, it was so nearly the same, that
the different tribes could converse together.* All the In
dians on Connecticut river were tributaries, a part to the
Mohawks ; and the remainder, first to the Pequots, and then
to the Mohegans.
The still forest and tangled path of the red man was now
to be broken by the white settler. On the 20th of October,
1635,f about sixty men, women and children took their de
parture from Dorchester, Cambridge and Watertown, to en
counter the perils of a trackless wilderness. They were four
teen days on the road. They struck the Connecticut river
near the mouth of Scantic river in East Windsor. The

* See the communications of Mr. Pickering in Mass. Hist, Soe. Coll.
f Some preparation had been made the previous year.

Dorchester people began the settlement of the river on the
west side, called by the Indians Manteneaug. Some of them
were gentlemen of opulence and education. Among the
emigrants from Dorchester to Windsor, were Isaac Sheldon
and John Strong, the ancestors of those bearing these names
now residents in Southampton and the adjoining towns.
They appear to have belonged to a congregational church
which was gathered at Plymouth, England, in 1630.
The first town which was settled in the western part of
Massachusetts was Springfield. Some of the original plant
ers came from England in 1630, in Governor Winthrop's
company. William Pynchon, the father of the town, and
one of the eight original settlers, came from Roxbury. Ear
ly in 1635, Mr. Pynchon and the inhabitants of Roxbury
had liberty granted them by the General Court " to remove
to any place that they should think meet, not to the prejudice
of any other, plantation, provided they remained under the
government of Massachusetts." They accordingly came in
1635, and built a house on the west side of the Connecticut,
on the Agawam, or Westfield river, called from that fact
Housemeadow. A permanent settlement was made in the
spring of 1636. The name was changed from Agawam to
Springfield, by vote of the town, April 14, 1640. Among
the early inhabitants of Springfield who removed to North
ampton, and whose descendants now reside in Northampton
and the towns which were formed from it, were Samuel Burt,
Alexander Edwards and John Searl.
The lands bordering on Connecticut river, which are now
in the towns of Northampton, Hadley and Hatfield, were
first known by the Indian name Nonotuck. On the 6th of
May, 1653, a number of persons petitioned the General Court
of Massachusetts to grant them liberty to possess, plant and
inhabit the place on Conetiquot river, above Springfield, call
ed Nonotuck, as their own inheritance ; representing that the
same was a place suitable to erect a town for the further-

ance of the public weal and the propagation of the gospel.
At the same time, in aid of this petition, John Pynchon,
Elizur Holyoke and Samuel Chapin of Springfield, present
ed a request, stating that the place was very commodious,
containing large quantities of excellent land, and that at least
twenty-five families in the neighborhood " had manifested a
desire to remove thither, many of whom were of considerable
quality for estates, and fit matter for a church." In answer
to these petitions, the Court, in May, 1653, appointed a
committee to divide the lands petitioned for into two planta
tions. One of them was afterwards formed into Hadley.
The other plantation, Northampton, was to "extend from
the upper end of Little Meadow to the Great Falls towards
Springfield, and extend nine miles from the Connecticut."
There is a tradition, that an English family came to North
ampton in 1652. In 1653, a number of families settled in
the place. It was bought for 100 fathom of wampum and
ten coats, besides some smaller presents in hand, paid to the
sachems and owners, and also for ploughing up sixteen
acres of land on the east side of the river. A new deed was
subsequently executed, and a more satisfactory compensa
tion was given. In 1656, " townsmen," or selectmen, were
chosen. March 18, 1657, the people voted to employ an
agent " to obtain a minister, and to devise means to prevent
the excess of liquors and cider from coming to the town."
On the 7th of June, the town, by unanimous consent, desir
ed Mr. Eleazar Mather of Dorchester, " to be a minister to
them, in a way of trial in dispensing his gifts." In 1661,
the town voted to build a meeting-house forty-two feet
square. May 7, 1662, Hampshire County was formed of
the three towns of Springfield, Northampton and Hadley.
When the church was first gathered at Northampton, June
18, 1661, it consisted of eight members, Rev. Eleazar Math
er, Elder John Strong, William Clark, Thomas Root, Thorn-

9
as Hanchet, David Wilton, Henry Cunliffe and Henry Wood
ward. The first settlement south of the present limits of North
ampton, was commenced in Nashawannuck, (now in East
hampton,) in 1665, by John Webb. It was continued by
two of his sons, and by Robert Danks, who married his
widow. The second settlement was commenced in about
1686 or 1687, by Samuel Bartlett, or permanently, a little
later by his son Joseph, at a place which was called for a
long time, " Bartlett' s Mills," near the centre of Easthamp
ton. The third settlement was formed about the year 1700,
by five families, those of Samuel Janes, Benoni Jones, Moses
Hutchinson, John Searl and Benjamin Janes, at Paskhomuck,
at the western base of Mount Tom in Easthampton.*
The precise date when the first settlement was made, with
in the present limits of Southampton, cannot now be ascer
tained. Samuel and Eldad Pomeroy, who lived in what is
now called Pomeroy's Meadow, petitioned the General Court,
that met May, 1742, to have their families and farms remain
with the first precinct. It would appear, that they had pre
viously belonged to the old town, and not with those who
had removed further south ; they had helped build the meet
ing-house in the first precinct, and had not asked any thing
in return, like those who lived over the Manhan river. They
mention, that of late about thirty families had settled, and
were about to settle, at the south-west corner of the town
bounds ; are now about to settle a minister, have actually
begun their meeting-house, and have obtained a grant of the
General Court for a tax of six pence per acre on all land in
said precinct. The Pomeroys thought it hard, that they
should pay this tax and the various expenses of the new pre
cinct. They state that they had improved their lands
* See the Half Century Sermon of Rev. Payson Williston of East
hampton, 1839. 2

10
(meaning meadow lands) and paid taxes for them, forty or
fifty years. This would seem to show, that the land at
Pomeroy's Meadow was under cultivation as early as 1700.
It cannot be ascertained, so far as I know, when the first
building was erected, or in what year the Pomeroys made a
permanent settlement. The tradition is, that they built their
first houses in 1722, or 1724. After the meeting-house in
the south precinct was built, and a minister settled, they were
cordially received into the new society, agreeably to their
own request.
The proprietors of the second precinct were all, or nearly
all, inhabitants of the old settlement. As some of them had
a number of sons, their fathers offered them extensive farms
if they would effect a permanent settlement upon them. But
the hardships incident to such a removal were too great to be
easily surmounted. A number of persons who made the at
tempt soon relinquished it. The date of , the first meeting of
the proprietors on record is March 21, 1730. This was an
adjourned meeting from the 31st of January. At this meet
ing the question was put, " Whether the proprietors would
divide the land beginning up the hill over Manhan, upon the
west side of the country road, and to extend beyond White-
loofe brook, so far as our old bounds went, in such form and
manner as to be suitable (together with the additional grant
that now belongs to the town) to make a precinct or town ;
and the division to be made to and amongst the original or
ancient proprietors, their heirs or assigns, or any that hold
by purchase under the ancient or original proprietors, or their
heirs." The committee appointed to effect a division of the
land were Hon. John Stoddard, Ebenezer Pomeroy, Dea.
John Clark, Hon. Joseph Hawley and Ensign Ebenezer Par
sons. The lands were accordingly divided and assigned by
lot to thirty individuals, on condition that they should make
improvements and erect buildings upon them within a speci
fied time. The first notice of the second preeinct in the

11
Northampton town records is Dec. 22, 1732, When the town
chose Ensign John Baker and Moses Lyman a committee
" to lay out a highway over the branch of Manhan river at
or near Pomeroy's Meadow, or some other suitable and con
venient place, so as to accommodate the new settlement."
It does not appear that any family commenced a permanent
residence south of Pomeroy's Meadow, prior to 1732. It is
probable, that single individuals resided on their lands for
short intervals of time, for the purpose of preparing them to
be permanently occupied. In 1732, Judah Hutchinson and
Thomas Porter came to the precinct and erected houses. In
May, 1733, fourteen settlers joined them. These were Dea.
John Clark, Joseph Clark, Samuel Danks, Phineas King,
Ebenezer Kingsley, Nathan Lyman, Elias Root, Stephen
Root, Nathaniel Searl, Ezra Strong, Ichabod Strong, Dea.
Waitstill Strong, John Wait and Moses Wright. During
three or four of the succeeding years, fourteen additional
settlers united with the little plantation. Their names were
Jonathan Bascom, Samuel Burt, Roger Clap, Aaron Clark,
Elisha Clark, Jonathan Clark, Ebenezer French, Eleazar
Hannum, Elias Lyman, John Miller, Noah Pixley, Israel
Sheldon, Noah Sheldon and Stephen Sheldon.*
The second Precinct was first named as such, on the North
ampton Records, Sept. 14, 1739. There was a clause in the
warrant, " to see whether the town would consent to setting
off the new town, so called, by the bounds following, viz., be
ginning on the south side of Manhan river a little above
Bartlett's house [Clapp's Mill], and so bounded eastwardly
upon the country road, till it extends southwardly unto the
dividing line between Northampton and Westfield, and then
bounded southwardly upon the line between Northampton
and Westfield, and then bounded westwardly upon land be
longing to the province [Montgomery], and bounded north-
* See Appendix, Note A.

12
wardly upon the Long or West Division so called [West
hampton] ; all which land and the inhabitants thereon, as be
fore described, the town voted should be set off a distinct and
separate precinct, that so by consent of the General Court,
they might be under a capacity to carry on the worship of
God among themselves."
The new settlement was incorporated into the second
Precinct of Northampton, July 23, 1741. We here present
the petition of the proprietors, and the action of the General
Court thereon.
" To His Excellency, Jonathan Belcher, Esq., Capt. Gen.
and Commander in Chief of His Majesty's Province of the
Massachusetts Bay in New England, etc. The Honorable
His Majesty's Council and House of Representatives in Gen
eral Court assembled at Boston, July 8, 1741.
The Petition of us whose names are undersigned. That
your Petitioners dwell on a certain Tract or Parcel of land
in the Township of Northampton in the County of Hamp
shire, intended for a Precinct. The Centre of which is near
about eight miles from Northampton Meeting house ; and
your Excellency and Honours by observing the votes of the
Town and Proprietors herewith presented, [will perceive]
that the Town have given their consent, that we should
be a distinct Precinct ; and the Proprietors, [have con
sented] that a Tax of six pence per acre should be laid on
the whole of their Tract (being about fourteen thousand
acres) in the Propriety besides what belongs to the Town ; —
the whole, both Town and Propriety, bounded South by
Westfield bounds, East by the Country Road, — North by
Proprietors' lots in the long division, so called, — West by
Country land,— to enable us to defray some necessary pub
lic charges, that may arise among us, — and as we apprehend
nothing stands in our way, — We therefore most humbly
move that your Excellency and Honours would be pleased

13

to set us off to be a Precinct with usual privileges, and order
the aforesaid Tax to be raised, that we may be enabled to
build a meeting house, settle a minister and have the wor
ship of God among ourselves, and your petitioners, as in du
ty bound, shall ever pray, etc.
Samuel Danks
Roger Clap
Eben. Pomeroy
Stephen Sheldon
Samuel Burt

Joseph King
John Wait
Eben. Kingsley
Nath'l Searl
Ezra Strong
Waitstill Strong
Jona. Bascom
Judah Hutchinson
Stephen Root
Nathan Lyman
Moses Wright
Noah Pixley

Thomas Porter
Selah Clark
Aaron Root
Elias Lyman
Noah Sheldon
Ichabod Strong
Nath'l Searl, Jun.
Jona. Miller
John Miller
Charles Phelps -
Eben'r French
Jona. Clark
Elisha Clark
Phineas King
John Clark
Eleazar Hannum
Israel Sheldon
Aaron Clark.

In the House of Representatives July 17, 1741. Read
and in answer to this Petition, ordered, that the following
part of the said Town of Northampton be and hereby is set off
a separate and distinct Precinct by the bounds hereafter men
tioned, viz. Bounded on the South by Westfield bounds, —
East by the Country Road, — North by Proprietors' lots in the
long division, so called, — West by Country land, — together
with the inhabitants thereon, and are hereby vested with the
powers and privileges which other Precincts within this Prov
ince do, or by Law ought to enjoy. — Also voted, that there

14
be a Tax of three pence* per acre per annum, for the two
succeeding years, upon the land of the Proprietors (being
about fourteen thousand acres) to enable the said inhabitants
to build a meeting-house and settle a minister.
Sent up for concurrence, J. Hobson, Speaker.
In Council July 18, 1741 — Read and Concurred,
J. Willard, Sec'y.
July 23, Consented to,
J. Belcher."
The first meeting of the freeholders of the Precinct, after
its incorporation, was holden at the house of Phineas King,
September 21, 1741. The following officers were chosen.
Ebenezer Kingsley, moderator ; Phineas King, clerk ; Wait-
still Strong, Ebenezer French and Aaron Clark, assessors ;
Stephen Sheldon, collector. Samuel and Eldad Pomeroy
were included in the second precinct, as their buildings, and
most of their lands were south of the Long Division. Na
thaniel Searl, John Wait and Phineas King were appointed
a committee to set up meetings. John Clark, Ebenezer
Kingsley and Phineas King were chosen a committee " to
seek out some suitable person to preach the gospel to us."
In 1743, the number of rateable polls in the town was thir
ty-six, Nathaniel Searl, Ezra Strong and John Wait hav
ing two each ; all the others but one each. The valuation
of the whole settlement in that year was £750 7s., in the
currency of the time. The estate, which was rated highest,
was that of Nathaniel Searl. The next in value were those
of Ebenezer Corse, Ebenezer Kingsley, Ichabod Strong, Ezra
Strong, Moses Wright and Noah and Stephen Sheldon.
In 1750, eighteen years after the settlement of the town,
* Three pence per acre for two years makes the six pence request
ed in the petition.

15
the number of polls, including the inhabitants of Pomeroy's
Meadow, was sixty two ; and the valuation was stated at
£1205 2s. 9d.
The second vote on the Northampton records, relating to
Southampton, is the following, which was passed Dec. 25,
1733. " The town voted to repay £5 to those persons who
advanced the same in recompense for divers ministers who
preached at the new settlement over Manhan river." It thus
appears, that provision was made for the preaching of the
gospel in the very beginning of the settlement, before many of
the settlers were provided with houses, and when there was
hardly a bridge or road completed. Among the preachers
who supplied the inhabitants in 1737, and during one or two
of the following years, were Mr. David Parsons, afterwards
settled in Amherst, and Mr. John Woodbridge of Suffield,
who was ordained over the church in South Hadley in 1742.
Ministers were then paid at the rate of 40s. a Sabbath or
£ 104 a year. In 1737, Northampton voted, that a part of the
tax levied on the inhabitants of the new precinct, should be
applied towards the building of a meeting-house among them.
This house seems not to have been completed for a number
of years.* Tho town records contain many votes in relation
to it. It should seem that, a considerable part of the expense
was paid in labor by many of the inhabitants. In January,
1753, it was voted, at a meeting ofthe second precinct, that
" they would give Asahel Judd, seventy pounds old tenor, for
the work he has done towards the meeting-house, a finishing
of the pews and galleries." At the same meeting it was vo
ted that " Samuel Burt, Jonathan Clark and Stephen Shel
don should be a committee to dignify the seats and pews."
It seems that " dignity" was in the compound ratio of age
and property. Afterwards, one year in age was voted to be

* When the meetings were first held on the Sabbath, the people
sat on the sills of the house.

16
equal to £10 in estate. At a subsequent meeting, the seat-
ers were ordered " to put men and their wives together
throughout the whole of the pews ;" and " that the seaters
should have liberty to act discretionarily respecting the new
comers." On other occasions, the town gave more despotic
orders, and ordered that such and such persons should sit in
this or the other pew, probably according to their real or sup
posed dignity.
It has been the common report, that the Rev. Mr. Judd
first came to this town, in special answer to the prayer of the
people, who were assembled in order to observe a day of
solemn prayer and fasting for this object. From a brief
MS. Journal kept by Mr. Judd, we learn that there was noth
ing particularly remarkable in the circumstances attending
his arrival. On the 28th of February, 1743, he wrote as
follows : " Yesterday I preached my last sermon at Suffield
from 2 Cor. 5: 20, ' Now then we are ambassadors for
Christ,' etc. and to day set out for New Hampton, to preach
with them awhile. Got to Westfield, lodged at cousin Jo
seph Root's. On the next day, came with Mr. Edwards
[of Northampton] from Westfield to New Hampton. Came
to Searl's to dine ; a fast kept ; preached in the P. M., from
Mat. 9: 17. I am not very well. In the evening agreed
with the Committee to preach three months for £2 10s. a
Sabbath, my keeping and a horse. On the next day, not
very well, but some better. On the Sabbath, preached A.
M. and P. M. from Isa. 59: 2. Some in the assembly very
much affected. Phineas King and Eleazar Hannum came to
visit me in the evening."
After Mr. Judd had preached several Sabbaths, the church
gave him an unanimous call, with a single dissentient,* to
become their pastor. This call was accepted. The ordain
ing council met on the 8th day of June, 1743, at the house
* Understood to have been Ebenezer Corse, who afterwards be
came one of Mr, Judd's decided supporters.

17
of Nathaniel Searl. It consisted of Messrs. Edwards of
Northampton, Hopkins of West Springfield, Parsons of Am
herst, Woodbridge of South Hadley, and Ballentine of West-
field, with a messenger or delegate from each of the churches.
After a sermon preached by Mr. Edwards, a church was or
ganized, and a confession of faith and a covenant were adopt
ed. Of the thirty-two males, who were original members of
the church, twenty-eight were the first settlers of the town.
The other four were Mr. Judd, Nathaniel Searl, jr., John
Wait, jr., and Nathaniel Phelps. Soon after, thirty-one other
persons, mostly the wives of the original members, were
connected with the church ; so that the sixty-three members
comprised almost every adult in the town. The church hav
ing been organized, the council proceeded to ordain Mr.
Judd. Mr. Hopkins gave a solemn charge to the pastor elect.
For settlement, Mr. Judd had 200 acres of land, 100
pounds, old tenor, in money, and 125 pounds in work ; for
salary, 130 pounds in money, the first three years ; and then
an increase of five pounds a year, until the salary amounted
to 170 pounds per annum.
During the year, in which Mr. Judd was settled, the coun
try was involved in the horrors of an Indian war. A spe*
cies of fortification, or palisade of stakes, was built around
Mr. Judd's house ; also a Watch-tower or mount at the west
end of the house, communicating with it by a window. The
inhabitants removed thither, for a short time, in the height of
the alarm. Some of those who went into the fields, to per
form their agricultural labor, took their place as sentinels in
order to prevent surprise. When they walked in the roads
or woods, in search of cattle, or for any other purposes, every
man carried his weapons with him. The people of the
neighboring towns sometimes marched hither on an alarm,
and scoured the woods. The families gradually removed
from the fort [or forts, for Jonathan Bascom's house seems
also to have been fortified] to dwellings in the vicinity.
3

18
In the year 1745, Cape Breton was reduced by the New
England forces under Gen. Pepperell. Several men join
ed that expedition from Northampton. Among these was
Dea. Samuel Edwards senior, who had not then removed to
Southampton. Elias Lyman appears to have been the only
soldier who went from this place. No Indians were seen in
the town during that year.
Early in the spring of 1746, an expedition was proposed
against the French and Indians in Canada, and several of
the inhabitants of this town enlisted. The project was, how
ever, abandoned. On the 25th of August, 1746, the houses
of Aaron and Elisha Clark, which had been deserted by the
families, were plundered by the Indians ; beds were torn in
pieces ; clothing and provisions were seized, and other vio
lence was committed. The Indians, supposing themselves
discovered, fled to Pomeroy's Mountain, and on the west
side of it, killed six horned cattle and one horse, and wound
ed others.
About a fortnight afterwards, or near the 10th of Septem
ber, the Indians placed an ambush between the houses of
Ezra Strong and John Wait, near the bars leading to a field
where cows were pastured. The Indians drove the cows to
the back part of the pasture, in order that the individual,
who should be sent to drive them home, at night, might fall
into the ambush. But the cows, as is usual towards night,
gradually approached the bars. The Indians then sent one
of their number to drive them to a distant part of the enclo
sure, and keep them there. Samuel Danks, who went to
drive the cows home, providentially, did not pass through
the bars, as was expected, but took a nearer course. When
he came in sight of the cows, he perceived them to be very
restless. He then stopped a moment, and discovered the
Indian, trying to prevent them from going towards the bars.
Danks instantly ran and gave the alarm. The Indians fled,
and were seen no more, during the year.

19
The inhabitants of the town were now called to suffer
from another cause. The harvest of English grain was light.
There was, however, a strong expectation of a good crop of
corn. But this hope was extinguished ; for on the 12th of
August, a severe frost killed almost the entire crop in this
and other towns. Much suffering was consequently expe
rienced in the following winter.
On the 27th of August, 1747, about 5 o'clock, P. M.,
Elisha Clark was killed by the Indians, as he was threshing
grain in his barn. His body was pierced by seven bullets.
When found, it was covered with straw. Until this time,
the Indians had not been heard of in the vicinity during the
year. This sorrowful event surprised the inhabitants in all
directions. Soldiers from the adjoining towns , assembled
for the defence of the place, and for the pursuit of the In
dians. The foe had, however, fled, destroying, as they went,
several head of horned cattle. They encamped, on the
night after they killed Mr. Clark, near the spot where now
stands the house of the late Mr. Noah Strong of Westhamp
ton. Sixteen poles, which they set up there, were supposed
to indicate the number ofthe party.
On the 9th of May, 1748, about noon, Noah Pixley was
returning from a pasture whither he had driven his cows,
and had reached a spot a little south of the high-way, a short
distance beyond the house of Zophar Searl, when he was shot
by a party of Indians. First, one gun was heard by the
people in the centre of the town ; then three guns were dis
charged in the manner of an alarm ; which were followed
by three or four others in quick succession. Still, Pixley
was wounded only in the arm. He then ran five or six rods,
when the Indians overtook him, tomahawked and scalped
him. In their haste to flee, they cut off a part of his skull.
The inhabitants immediately rallied and pursued the In
dians, who fled up a path leading to Samuel Burt's resi-

20
dence. At his house, they stopped a short time ; but as the
family had left it, they did but trifling injury.
The people were now in the utmost consternation. Every
heart beat with terror. There was no safety by night or by
day, in the field, in the road or the house. They immediately
withdrew from their homes and forts, and left the settlement
desolate. Most of them retired to Northampton. Mr. Judd
and his family went to the relations of Mrs. Judd in Suf-
field. On the 19th of July following, seven families return
ed, and kept garrison the remainder of the summer. In the
autumn, most" of the inhabitants returned. Mr. Judd and
his family came back in the following winter.
The year 1748 was preeminently a year of affliction.
There has been no year since the town was settled, so mark
ed by Divine judgments. There were war, famine and pes
tilence. Ezra Strong, Noah Sheldon and Moses Wright,
original settlers, died. They seem to have been valuable
men, and their loss was deeply mourned. Much suffering
was occasioned by the failure of the crops. No one was
willing to labor on a farm, unless he was surrounded by
guards. On account of the absence of the husbandmen
from the 19th of May to the 19th of July, the winter grain
was mostly destroyed by the cattle which were left behind,
and by those which strayed from other towns. The Indian
corn was alike exposed to depredation, and was left without
culture until midsummer. Their fathers' God, however, did
not desert them. They made out to struggle through the
following winter, doubtless receiving aid from their friends
and brothers in the old settlement.* A simple fact shows,
impressively, the losses of this unhappy year. The valua
tion of the town in 1743, was 830 pounds ; and there were
forty-five rateable polls. Yet in 1748, five years later, the
* It is said, that bundles of hay were brought from Northampton
on the backs of horses.

21
valuation was but 421 pounds ; the number of polls was
thirty-four. The following year, 1749, was remarkable for
a drought, such as has been rarely experienced in New Eng
land. There was no rain, except one small shower, from
March until wheat-harvest. Aged men, eighty years of age,
who were living in 1820, well remembered that season: The
grass was burnt up with excessive heat, and for weeks, the
fields looked like the Arabian desert, where hardly a green
thing was to be seen. At the time of mowing, not a hand
ful of grass could be collected on the best lands. But after
the rains came, the grass sprung up thick and rank, and
grew most luxuriantly. It was cut in September in fine con
dition. An excellent crop of Indian corn was also gath
ered.* In 1749, a general peace took place between Franee and
England, which was followed by happy effects in these dis
tant settlements. The fears of the people were allayed, and
the Indians gave them no more trouble for four or five years.
They pursued their avocations without interruption. In an
important sense, they began the plantation anew. In some
instances, ten or twelve houses were built in a single year.
New families joined them. They had tasted of the bitter
ness of affliction together, and now they rejoiced in the com
mon prosperity.
Next to the regular preaching of the gospel, our fathers
were anxious to secure the blessings of the common school.
In 1748, we find the first notice relating to the subject in
the Northampton records, although a school had, doubtless,
been in existence, in some form, earlier. The town then
voted to have schools in "distant parts of the town, to in-
* The drought was attended in many places with devouring in
sects. Many brooks and springs were dried up. Some of the peo
ple of New England were obliged to send to Pennsylvania, others to
England, for hay. The drought of the present year, 1841, is accom
panied -with; swarms of insectsi

22
struct in reading and writing, viz. on the Plain, over Mill
River, Paskhomuck, Bartlett's Mills and New Precinct." In
1650, the selectmen were ordered to provide a schoolmaster
for the second precinct. In 1751, Eleazar Hannum, Wait-
still Strong, jr. and Stephen Sheldon were appointed a com
mittee to have the oversight of building a school-house in
the second precinct. Many votes, pertaining to this matter,
are found in the records, for several years.
In 1749, the limits ofthe settlement were much increased
by the division among the proprietors, (a part of whom were
resident here and a part in the old town), of what was call
ed the " Additional Grant." It consisted of about 3000
acres, and was bounded by Westfield on the south, Spring
field on the east, and the old bounds of Northampton on the
north ; on the west, it run to a point, or near a point. It
was divided as follows: Polls were estimated at £10, and
this sum was added to the valuation by which the tax was
made that year ; and this was the rule of determining each
man's proportion of land. Rev. Messrs. Edwards and Judd
were estimated at £100 each. There had been, previously,
sequestered for the use of the ministry in the new precinct,
500 acres of land on White Loaf hill, so called ; for which
all right to land, sequestered for the use of the ministry in
the first precinct, was relinquished.
On the 2nd of March 1752, the town of Northampton,
by vote, declared their willingness, that the second precinct
should be created into a district, if the General Court shall
see fit. The first legal meeting of the inhabitants of the
District was held on the 19th of March, 1753. The first
time that the name " Southampton" is found on the town
records is March 5, 1753.
In 1754, the Indians began again to show signs of hostili
ty in some places on Connecticut river above Northampton,
and in Pontoosuck, now Pittsfield. This news greatly alarm
ed the people of Southampton. They at once repaired the

23
fortification around Mr. Judd's house, rebuilt the mount,
and set up palisades. But no hostile Indians appeared dur
ing the year, or at any subsequent time ; though the inhabi
tants were not without apprehension for several years. The
last French war commenced in 1755. An army was raised
in New England in order to seize Crown Point. Ten men
marched from this town, two of whom, Eliakim Wright and
Ebenezer Kingsley, jr. were slain in battle. The eight sur
vivors returned at the close of the campaign. In 1756, a
number of soldiers were, a short time, in the service. Elisha
Bascom remained through the season.
In 1757, Fort William Henry was given up to the French
and Indians by capitulation. The garrison and soldiers, con
sisting of two or three thousand men, were promised security
in life and property, with permission to return to their homes,
on condition that they would not serve in the war during that
year. But in shameful violation of the treaty, they were aban
doned to the tender mercies of the Indians. Some were hurri
ed off into captivity ; others were butchered on the spot ; while
all greatly suffered. Two young men, natives of Southamp
ton, Nathaniel Loomis and Joel Clap, were stripped and plun
dered, and escaped only with life, after a hot pursuit, and
passing through the woods fourteen miles.
In 1758, the war, in which a number of soldiers from this
town were engaged, was carried on at Ticonderoga and its
vicinity. In 1759, to the unspeakable joy of the English
colonies, Quebec was taken by Wolfe, and Canada was con
quered. This laid the foundation for a general peace.*
These bright prospects, however, were soon to be interrup
ted. An enemy, other than the French and Indians, began to
assail the rights of her children in this western wilderness.
Those, by whose sides the men of Massachusetts Bay had
fought and bled at Louisburg and Crown Point as friends
* See Note B,

24
and fellow-soldiers, were now preparing to shed fraternal
blood. In resisting the encroachments of Great Britain, no
part of the land was more prompt than the county of Hamp
shire. It could not be well otherwise, when such spirits were
here as Seth Pomeroy, Joseph Hawley and Caleb Strong.
The people of this town were not at all behind their neigh
bors. They were ready to contribute and to suffer at any
moment. The young men marched to the scenes of conflict ;
while the elders, the anxious mothers and sisters were offering
intercession to Him, whose hand alone could turn aside the
unerring rifle ; or stay the pestilence that delighteth especially
to walk in the camp of the soldier. The old people have told
us, that, at some periods during the war, hardly a young man
was present in the religious assembly. The various burdens,
incident to these times, were shared by all with affecting una
nimity. Those who could not fight, could load a wagon
with provisions, or drive it to the encampment of their brothers
and fellow-townsmen. Such as were too infirm to bear a mus
ket themselves, gladly joined together, and gathered the harvest
of those who were hemming the British in at Boston, or who,
with Colonel Brooks, were storming the redoubt at Saratoga.
The first notice, in relation to the revolutionary times,
which we find on the town records, is in a communication to
the town, from Rev. Mr. Judd, in 1768, in which he says,
" that if such a day of distress and difficulty should come
[referring to the operation of the Stamp Act], I will join
with a committee of yours, and they and I will reduce the
salary as low as it can be reasonably thought proper." In
October, a meeting of the town was held, to see what meas
ures the inhabitants shall think proper to adopt in this critical
day. Samuel Burt and Aaron Clark were chosen delegates
to meet a convention which was held soon after at North
ampton. Dea. Elias Lyman was chosen a delegate to the
provincial congress, which met at Concord, on the 11th of
October. A committee of correspondence for the District of

25
Southampton was appointed, consisting of Jonathan Judd, jr.
Samuel Burt, Elias Lyman, Aaron Clark, Jonathan Clark,
Timothy Clark, Samuel Pomeroy, Samuel Clap and Israel
Sheldon. At another meeting, on the 12th of December,
a committee of nine were elected " to see what they can get
for the poor of Boston." It was also voted " to raise three
pounds, lawful money, for some person to instruct the minute-
men in learning the military art." In 1775, Elias Lyman
was again sent to the provincial Congress, which met at
Cambridge. It was resolved to give the minute-men nine
pence a time for six half days, in learning military exercises.
Stephen Sheldon, Timothy Clark and John Lyman were ap
pointed a committee "to inspect and see that there are no
goods brought into the town, since the first day of Decem
ber last, and sold contrary to the direction of the Conti
nental and Provincial Congresses ; and to see that no trader
takes any advantage in selling the goods contrary to the ad
vice of the Congresses." Nine days after the battle of Lex
ington, it was voted to do something to support our friends
and brethren that have gone into the army. " Voted to
pay for two thirds of the provision that is provided for Capt.
Lemuel Pomeroy's company." A committee of nine was
chosen to collect the provisions and to despatch it by a
team. The last warrant for a town meeting which was issu
ed in " his Majesty's name," was on the 24th of October,
1775. On the 10th of October, 1776, it was voted as the
sense of the town, that the House of Representatives, togeth
er with the Council should form a Constitution and make it
public agreeably to the resolves of the Court.
In 1777, the town voted to give to each soldier, that
should enlist into the continental service, for three years, or
during the war, such a sum as a committee should order.
A committee was also chosen, to make out an average of
what each man had done in the war ; the heirs of the men
that died in the service to have as much credit as those who
4

26

returned home ; and those who came home on account of
sickness, before the expiration of their time, to have an equal
sum with those who remained through the period of enlistment.
For several years subsequently, a large part of the business
transacted at the town meetings related to the great struggle
which was pending ;— such as raising bounties for enlistment
of men ; providing for soldiers' families during their absence ;
equalizing the burdens which pressed heavily on all ; and,
with a noble spirit of resolution and confidence, bearing up
under all discouragements. To add to their other embar
rassments, the currency was in a state of most lamentable
derangement. For example, in 1781, the town voted " to
raise £200 in silver or gold, and £4000 in continental
money towards raising our quota of soldiers."
On the first election of governor, after the adoption of the
State Constitution, this town gave forty-one votes for John
Hancock, and six for James Bowdoin.
Among the miscellaneous resolutions, which were adopted
by the town, in the first fifty years of its existence, three or
four may be worth quoting on this occasion, as showing the
usages of those days, and the change which time has effect
ed. In 1775, Capt. Judd, Ensign King and Elijah Clap
were appointed a committee " to treat with some likely man
to come and settle with us as a doctor, and to report to the
town at the fall meeting." In the following spring, the
same committee were directed to " inform Mr. Sylvester
Woodbridge of South Hadley, that the town of Southampton
would be glad, that he would come and settle with them as
doctor."* At an earlier period, the town were equally so
licitous to procure a blacksmith. A most respectable com
mittee were appointed to superintend the erection of a shop
" at the corner near Nathan Lyman's," and to effect terms
with the individual who was to occupy it.
In 1790, it was voted, that " liberty be given to people to

* See Note C.

go into the school-house Sabbath day noon, they providing
their own wood ; and that Moses Bartlett, Moses Searl, Selah
Clark, jr., Aaron Searl and Supply Clark be a committee to
see that good orders were kept at the school-house on the
Sabbath days."
The following vote will show that the day-star of tempe
rance had not dawned in 1789, when the selectmen were or
dered to " credit each man that enlisted last year to go to
Worcester, one quart of West India rum."
Towards the close of the century, Mr. Judd's age and in
firmities compelled him to withdraw, in a great measure,
from the active duties of his profession. He died on the
28th of July, 1803, after a ministry of sixty years, and in the
84th year of his age. He was a great great grandson of
Dea. Thomas Judd, who came from England in 1633.* He
was the son of William Judd, and was born at Waterbury, Ct.,
Oct. 4, 1719. He graduated at Yale College in 1741, in a
class highly distinguished, and among whose members were
Gov. William Livingston of New Jersey, Jabez Huntington,
Esq., and the Rev. Drs. Samuel Hopkins, Samuel Buel,
Richard Mansfield and Noah Welles. In November of the
same year in which he was ordained, he was married to
Miss Silence Sheldon, daughter of Capt. Thomas Sheldon of
Suffield, but previously of Northampton. They had seven
children, four sons and three daughters, all of whom have
deceased.! Mrs. Judd died Oct. 25, 1783. Mr. Judd was
again married, in 1790, to Mrs. Ruth Bidwell, widow of
Rev. Adonijah Bidwell of Tyringham. She died in Dec.
1815, in her 86th year. Both the wives of Mr. Judd are
spoken of as very estimable women.
Mr. Judd was regarded by his people, throughout his long
ministry, with the profoundest veneration. This was in
part owing, undoubtedly, to the general usages of society,
which demanded that the utmost respect should be paid to
* See Note D. f See Note E.

28
all clergymen. In his case, however, this reverence was fitly
rendered. His form was venerable, and his mode of dress
imposing. He preserved, especially in the pulpit and on
public occasions, the utmost propriety of manners, never
degrading his sacred profession by any thing unseemly. By
his appearance in the pulpit, it might have been inferred,
perhaps, that he was uncommonly precise and unyielding.
But he was less so than Mr. Edwards of Northampton, or
Dr. Hopkins of Hadley. In private intercourse, and as a
pastor, he was affable and communicative, sometimes indulg
ing in those innocent pleasantries, which were then so com
mon. He appears to have possessed those qualities of char
acter, which inspired strong affection towards himself. His
talents were not brilliant, but they were highly respectable.
I have seen three sermons from his pen. The one which
was preached in 1758, " to a number of soldiers on the eve
of marching against the enemy," and which was afterwards
published, is a very good sermon, both in style and senti
ment. It is not, however, I have been assured, superior to
many others which he delivered. Such a discourse would
have attentive hearers at any time. The course of thought
is natural ; and there is much plainness and point in the ap
plication. We may mention as peculiarities, not perhaps of
Mr. Judd altogether, but of the times, that, he generally clos
ed his sermons with the sentence, " This much may suffice."
His quotations from the Scriptures were not copied into his
sermons, but were found, and read in the pulpit, as occasion
demanded. Mr. Judd was a very wise counsellor in difficult
circumstances. In theology, he coincided with the New
England ministers, generally, of his day. On the points in
dispute between Mr. Edwards of Northampton and his oppo
nents, pertaining to the admission of members to the church,
or the Half-way Covenant, so called, Mr. Judd differed from
Mr. Edwards, and both believed and practised in accordance
with the views defended by Mr. Stoddard. He was a mem-

29
ber of the council that dismissed Mr. Edwards, and voted
with the majority. Still, he possessed, by no means, the spirit
of a partizan. He was uniformly mild and conciliating in
the statement of his opinions. It is said, that the father of
the late Mr. Daniel Kingsley, and one or two others, who
removed from Northampton, and who strongly sympathized
with President Edwards, were, notwithstanding, the attentive
hearers and cordial friends of Mr. Judd.
From the imperfect records, which we possess, of Mr.
Judd's labors, he appears to have been a successful minister.
The church increased in numbers from time to time, and it
was favored with the special influences of the Holy Spirit.
About the year 1761, or 1762, there was a happy revival of
religion. Between May and December, 1762, more than
thirty persons were added to the church. The same Divine
influence was experienced in 1766, and 1770. In the year
1785, an uncommon attention was given to religious subjects.
Twenty-four persons united with the church. In the year
1797, the grace of the Holy Spirit in the conversion of men
was once more witnessed, just before the time-worn and
venerable shepherd of the flock was called to his eternal
rest. During the year, twenty-two individuals became com
municants. The whole number that joined the church, during the ac
tive ministry of Mr. Judd, was 442. Some of them had
been previously members of other churches. Nearly all of
the sixty-three original members, were dismissed from the
church in Northampton. The number of baptisms during
Mr. Judd's ministry was 1034. The number of deaths, from
the settlement of the town to the close of Mr. Judd's ministry,
has been estimated at 440. The number of births, in the
same period, was about 1550. The first birth in the town
was a child of Joshua Clark. The first individual who died
was Simeon Wait, aged 19 years. This was in 1738. His
death was occasioned by drinking cold water. His remains

30
were the first which were interred in the present central
burying-ground. The Rev. Vinson Gould was settled as colleague pastor
with Mr. Judd, Aug. 26, 1801. During the brief remnant
of Mr. Judd's life, the aged veteran, and he, who was gird
ing on his armor, lived and labored on terms of the most
perfect esteem and cordiality.
Those events, which pertain to the civil history of the
town, and which occurred during Mr. Gould's connection
with the church, it is not necessary for me to detail. Such
of them, as might be important enough for rehearsal, are well
known to many who hear me. It may be said, in general,
that the proceedings of the town, were characterized by an
uncommon degree of harmony. This was especially the
case during the last war with Great Britain, and the stirring
events which preceded and followed it.*
The attention which was early given to the subject of
common schools has been before alluded to. , The same in
terest in this vitally important institution has been exhibited
in subsequent years. The happy influence which Mr. Gould
exerted in his visits to the schools, and the facility with
which he could adapt his remarks to the capacities of those
whom he addressed, has been acknowledged by every one
acquainted with the circumstances. The select, voluntary
schools, which were taught, almost from the commencement
of the present century to the establishment of the academy,
with some interruptions, have furnished opportunities for the
more complete education which was commenced in the pri
mary department. The erection of the Sheldon Academy,
mainly through the munificence of Mr. Silas Sheldon,f has
been productive of results, thus far sufficiently valuable, great
ly to outweigh the expenses incident to the undertaking.
Instead of being an hindrance to the common school, such
a seminary is in every way, an auxiliary and supporter.

* See Note F. \ See Note G.

31
In these schools, the individuals, now numbering almost
half a hundred, began the course which they prosecuted at
college, and finished with the professional teacher or institu
tion ; and most of whom are now alive, and actively enga
ged in the responsible duties of their different vocations.*
The county of Hampshire has furnished more students for
college, with possibly a single exception, than any other
county in the United States. The town of Southampton,
it may be said, without any undue exultation, is in this re
spect at the head of the county. In that which is paramount
to all things merely political or social, it is the banner town,
of the banner county, of the banner State. Of these forty-
six individuals, thirty-seven are now living. Thirty-two are,
or have been, ministers of the gospel. Those who are pas
tors, (I may say it without offence, not being one of them),
are laboring, or have labored, with distinguished zeal and
success, in the most honorable function committed to man.
This town, and this church of Christ, have thus been the means
of proclaiming the messages of life to thousands, and of
guiding multitudes to mansions of rest. This is an honor
which might well be coveted by any town or church in the
country, however flourishing in wealth or numbers.
It may, possibly, be objected by some persons, that there
has been an excess of a good thing. Too many have receiv
ed a public education. The learned professions are already
crowded. By withdrawing young men from agricultural and
other manual labor, they have been unfitted to resume it when
necessary ; or they have cherished prejudices against the
working classes in society. Even the aged parents, who have
toiled early and late, in order to support their son in college
have not received from him always that consideration to
which they were entitled.
But such incapacity, or waywardness, is not the effect of a
liberal education, but of the want of it. One, who has been
* See Note H.

32
properly taught, looks with contempt on no class of his fellow
creatures. True learning will make him considerate, fair-
minded and charitable. Airs of self-importance, the con
temptuous look, pride in any of its forms, are as abhorrent to
the genuine scholar, as they are detestable in their own na
ture. Knowledge does not alienate from hard manual toil.
It rather fits one for it, and predisposes to it. We wish every
farmer in the country could enjoy the benefits of a liberal
education. There is no necessary discrepancy between a
man who works with his head, and him who works with his
hands. It is for the general good, indeed, that the profes
sions should be kept distinct. A minister has his work, and
a mechanic has his. But there need be no hostility between
them. We know a body of most skilful mechanics, who are
accustomed to sharpen their minds by reasoning on theologi
cal doctrines. Every advance in knowledge, which the tiller
of the soil makes, adds happiness to himself and dignity to
his pursuit. It is time that .the wretched nonsense about
the hostility of different classes was done with. They are all
working classes — all producing classes.
Mr. Gould was dismissed from his pastoral relation with
this church, on the 5th of January, 1832, after a ministry of
thirty-one years. The present pastor, Rev. Morris E. White,
was ordained on the 20th of June, 1832. Mr. Gould was
born in Sharon, Connecticut, August 1st, 1774. He was
the eldest son of a numerous family. His parents were high
ly respected, and eminently pious. In June, 1795, he join
ed the Sophomore class in Williams College. During his
connection with that Seminary, the serious impressions, which
he had for some time cherished, ripened into personal piety.
He graduated in 1797. Among the members of his class,
which was the third which left that institution, was the Hon.
Elijah H. Mills, afterwards a senator in Congress. Having
superintended an academy in Sharon, thirteen months, he be
gan the study of divinity with the Rev. Dr. Backus of Som-

33
ers, Ct. He was licensed to preach in June, 1799. From
Oct. 1800 till June 1801, he acted as a Tutor in Williams
College. He then came to this town to preach as a candi
date for settlement. He was ordained on the 26th of Aug.
1801. The sermon on the occasion was preached by Dr.
Backus. In 1808, he was married to Miss Mindwell Wood-
bridge, only daughter of Dr. Sylvester Woodbridge of this
town. They had six children, one son and five daughters,
all of whom are living. Mrs. Gould died in Nov. 1837,
greatly and most deservedly lamented. She was a lady of
high excellence in moral and religious character, and of ex
traordinary powers of mind. For vigor of intellect no wo
man in this part of the country, within our knowledge, has
surpassed her. v
Mr. Gould, after his dismission from this church, taught a
school in South Hadley. He subsequently preached, for
some time, in Bernardston, and other places. He died at
his residence, in this town, on the 4th of April, 1841, in the
68th year of his age. His labors while pastor here were
abundant, and his success was corresponding. In the year
of his settlement, twenty-one persons were added to the
church. In 1805, there was an extraordinary revival of re
ligion. The power of the Holy Spirit, in the conversion of
men, was never, in this place, more signally manifested.
Eighty were added to the church. Many others were hope
fully converted. In 1812 and 1813, fifteen persons joined
the church as the fruits of a revival of religion. The same
Divine influence was enjoyed in 1815 and 1816, when the
church received an addition of fifty-six members. At seve
ral periods subsequently, the preaching of the gospel was fol
lowed by marked and auspicious results. In such seasons,
Mr. Gould's mode of dispensing the truth was singularly
plain and solemn, and, sometimes, very striking.
The most remarkable trait in Mr. Gould's intellectual
powers, was the rapidity of their movement. This was
5

34
manifest in his various performances, written and extempore,
and, perhaps, most of all, in his conversation. It seemed to
have been owing to several causes. His passions, which
are the great motive power of the intellect, were easily arous
ed, and were capable of great intensity. He had, also, un
common readiness of apprehension. When a subject came
before him, he seized instantly on its main features, and
while others were laboriously tracing its relations, he had
arrived at his results. The imperceptibly rapid glance of
his eye was an index of the swifter intellectual movement
within. He had, also, the ability to present an object vividly
before the mind. He seized the most striking incidents, and
pourtrayed them in such a manner, that they left a perma
nent impression. If he had been in circumstances, which
would have compelled him to cultivate and mature these
original tendencies, he would have, unquestionably, reached
a very high rank among those who move the minds of men.
A wider range of reading, and more exact habits of compo
sition would have made the original traits, of which we
speak, still more obvious.
Mr. Gould was a good classical scholar. He retained,
through life, a familiar acquaintance with the authors he had
studied in college ; adding, also, some to the list. In this
way, he made himself very useful to not a few, who com
menced with him their elementary studies in Latin and
Greek. As a teacher, he possessed kindness and prompti
tude ; ever ready to appreciate difficulties, while he had the
firmness to require that the pupil should be master of his
lessons. Mr. Gould was cordially attached to the evangelical sys
tem of religious truth. The great doctrines of the gospel
were the life of his preaching and the ljfe of his soul. He
would not allow them to be set aside or undervalued. He
was steadfastly opposed to tendencies which, as he thought,
went to undermine them. He had little patience with any

35
speculations, which threatened to obscure their brightness,
or abridge their saving efficacy. They lay at the foundation
of his own prospects for eternity, and they were the only
hope of a lost world.
But his faith wrought by works, and by works was made
perfect. His preaching was eminently practical. He spoke
to men, plainly, on themes which they are so apt to oppose
or neglect. In many revivals of religion, he toiled as one
who meant to work while it was the day of harvest, and to
stand at last with acceptance before his Judge. His preach
ing was not merely in the house of God. By the way-side,
in fields, on journeys, in public conveyances, he delivered,
habitually and conscientiously, his message. His faith, too,
sustained him amid the many trials of his eventful life. In
the agonies of a fierce and inexorable disease, with the cer
tain prospect of a speedy death, and while many things
made it pleasant for him to live, this faith bore him above
the pains of mortality. It, doubtless, cheered his soul, when
it became insensible to outward, scenes, and when it stood
before its Creator and Judge, naked and alone. Beyond a
doubt, he is now shining as the brightness of the firmament,
with the multitudes whom he turned to righteousness.
The number of births in the town, from its settlement to
the present time, cannot be ascertained with certainty. Some
estimates were made by the Rev. Mr. Gould, an abstract of
which, together with a few additions, is here subjoined.
From Mr. Judd's settlement to the year 1775, there were
not far from 640 births. It is known that from 1775 to 1793
inclusive, there were 608 births, or thirty-two, on an average,
annually. From 1793 to 1832, the close of Mr. Gould's
ministry, the number of births was about 1230. The num
ber of births from 1832 to the present time is estimated at
255. The total of births, therefore, since the settlement of
the town, is 2,733. In these statements no regard is had to

36
those parts of the town which have been set off to other
towns. In 1785, a number of families were connected with
Easthampton, when that place was erected into a District.
The north line of Southampton was, previously, a little north
of Easthampton meeting-house.
The number of deaths in the town, from its settlement to
1820, was about 813. During the following twelve years,
the whole number of deaths was about 234. Since Mr.
White's settlement, 188 persons have died; making the
whole number 1,235, a few more than the present population
of the town.'*
The whole number of members of the church, since its or
ganization to the present time, is 1,319. The number that
joined it, during Mr. Judd's active ministry, was 442 ; while
Mr. Gould was pastor, 715 ; since Mr. White was ordained,
162. The present number of members is 397.f
One of the most striking lessons which the observance of
this day teaches, is veneration for the character of our fathers.
We do not attribute perfection to them. They had, with
out doubt, their share of infirmities. There was in some of
them an incongruous union of qualities — a strange mingling
of the grave and the light — a disposition to indulge in witti
cism, or somewhat gross raillery, on the most solemn occa
sions. Some of their social customs, we should not wish to
revive. The multiplication of libraries, schools, lyceums, and
the like, have furnished our generation with better sources of
amusement, than were prevalent eighty or fifty years ago.
But after making every allowance which truth would de
mand, there remain sterling qualities, which we cannot but
admire. They were bound together by strong affection. For sixty
or seventy years, nothing occurred seriously to interrupt their
harmony. There were differences in theological opinion
* See Note L f See Note J.

37
among them ; but these never interfered with christian fel
lowship. In other places, there were ecclesiastical wars.
The old town, where their fathers lived, was the field of fierce
encounter ; but there was no commotion in the new precinct.
In many towns in Connecticut, the old and new lights fought
each other with desperate malignity ; but no party was form
ed here. Our fathers had one church, one faith, one baptism,
and but one.
We reverence them for the general soundness of their
faith.* The great truths of the gospel were embraced with
singular earnestness. Our fathers were rooted and ground
ed in them. We recollect some venerable men of the second
generation, who have but just descended to the grave, who
had the most intelligent conviction of the doctrines of the
Bible, and the warmest attachment to them. They used to
speak of the conversions, which occurred in their youthful
days, as the result, so far as human agency was concerned, of
long continued, personal, solitary application to the truth.
With them, feeling flowed from contemplation. Anxiety of
mind was caused by clear apprehension of their duties to
wards God. They had but few books, and the large quarto
Bible, with the family register in the middle, was the one
great and inestimable treasure in every house. Their books
were Boston's Fourfold State, the Berry Street Sermons,
FlavePs Touchstone, Stoddard's Safety of Appearing in the
Righteousness of Christ, Ruth's Resolutions, and the like.
These volumes were thoroughly read and digested. Every
leaf bore the marks, possibly caused by the tear of some ven
erable octogenarian, of the earnest perusal, perhaps of several
successive generations. Our fathers listened, not merely
without weariness, but with great delight, to the protracted
three hours' service of the sanctuary ; intending to carry
away, not a momentary impression, produced by an impassion-
* One or two of the following paragraphs have been inserted by the
author in a periodical publication.

38
ed hortatory appeal, but the substance of the long sermon,
with its scores of divisions and subdivisions.
The piety of the first settlers of this town was distinguished,
even in that period. All the heads of families, who came
from Northampton between the years 1733 and 1740, had
heard sermons, which, for a searching and experimental char
acter, have never been equalled in this country, before or
since. They went to the depths of the soul. The young
women, who kept lonely watch, many long days in their log-
house, with a single room, had learned their lessons of faith
and patience with the prince of New England preachers ; or
while listening to the burning strains of Whitefield. The
emigration to this town took place, when the parent settle
ment was pervaded, almost saturated by religious influence.
The church and the precinct were entirely coincident. The
civil and the religious community were one, almost to a man.
Prayer went up from the town-meeting and the church con
ference alike.
It is a common saying, that for the settlement of New
England, three kingdoms were sifted. On a smaller scale,
we may say, that for the settlement of this place, the mother
town was sifted. The choicest grains of wheat were trans
planted to the south side of Manhan river. In one respect
this was certainly true. As a matter of course, the young
men of most enterprise and character, would commence a
new plantation. Several inefficient individuals tried the ex
periment, but soon went back to the comfortable dwellings
and rich meadows at Northampton. It was really a removal
involving great hardship. It is exceedingly difficult for us
to realize the severity of the privations, which must have
been endured. In several respects a removal to Wiskonsan
now, would incur less self-denial. It would be somewhat like
a residence, at the present time, on the borders of Florida.
The burning of Deerfield, the butchery at Bloody Brook, the
rough scenes at Sudbury, Brookfield and other places, were

39
fresh in the recollection. The forest, for eight or ten miles,
was almost unbroken. The roads and bridges were few in
number, and poor in construction. Convenient modes of
conveyance were the invention of a much later period. The
country, too, was involved in almost constant war. There
were hardly ten years, of what might be termed peace, from
the time in which this town was settled, till 1782. The
French and Indian wars had not ceased, before the encroach
ments of Great Britain on her colonies had commenced.
With the return of peace, after the Revolution, prosperity did
not return. The distresses were greater than ever, until the
Federal Constitution was adopted. The first half century of
the existence of this town was, therefore, a period demanding
constant self-denial, and often large and heavy contributions.
Yet all these burdens were borne without a murmur. Taxes
were cheerfully submitted to, which would now require an
armed force to collect. Thirty families, — a population
smaller and poorer, than some ofthe present school-districts, —
cut down the forests, erected dwellings, built a house for the
service of God, gave a liberal salary to a minister, defended
themselves against the Indians, sent their minute-men to al
most every battle-field of three wars, from Louisburg to the
White Plains ; and when all were over, had nothing to con
sole themselves with but heavier taxes, and continental
money !
Surely such ancestors are entitled to our reverential regard.
Nobly they bore up, under their complicated difficulties.
We can do nothing less than record, in our poor manner,
their heroic deeds, and their calm and christian fortitude.
Heartfelt thankfulness is due, also, to the beneficent Pro
vidence that sustained them, and made them what they
were. We have entered into their labors. We are reaping
the fruits of that seed which they sowed in blood. Our in
heritance was hard-earned. It is the fruit of care-worn and
sleepless vigilance ; of toil and sacrifice of which we have

40
but feeble conception. We are stewards of God's mani
fold gifts. We are living on the character and prayers of
those who went before us. They supplied sterling capital
for their children, and their childrens' children.
Let us act, therefore, in no mercenary spirit ; rioting on
bounties which we had no agency in procuring ; enjoying
privileges, which come to us, like the light of Heaven, un
solicited. When we speak of what our fathers did — of the
civil and religious institutions which they contributed to plant,
we do not use idle words. They have a meaning which
our indolent minds and our insensible hearts are not apt to
comprehend nor feel. When the acknowledgement of the
independence of the United States was wrung from George
the Third, he said, that he hoped, that the experiment,
which we were going to try, would prove successful ; but he
did not believe that constitutional liberty could be enjoyed,
except in connection with a monarchical government. A
trial of sixty years has shown that George the Third was
mistaken. Our system of government has attained that per
fection, that we do not perceive its movement. We spend
months, it may be, hardly conscious that we live under any
legal restraint, — all things move on so noiselessly. Every
man, almost, is a law unto himself. It is only on rare occa
sions, that the slumbering statute shows itself. We are pro
tected by its invisible shield. We need to be transported, for
a few weeks, into Austria or Spain, in order to realize, in
any proper degree, the extent of our privileges. A short ex- '
perience in either of those countries would give some energy
to our gratitude, some sincerity to our thanksgiving. We are
-accustomed lazily to bless God, that we may meet together
^pn the Sabbath unmolested. Were we in Scotland, this mo
ment, perhaps the most favored country in Europe, we might
change our note of praise into earnest entreaty, that God
would not permit our dearest religious privileges to lie at the
mercy of some godless politician, or worldly-minded court.

41
Yes, a solemn trust is put into our keeping. We are
bound by every motive, which can touch the heart of man,
to be faithful to it, and transmit it untarnished, to those who
who shall come after us. If we could open the graves of a
hundred years, and interrogate the sleepers there, what voices
of encouragement, what notes of expostulation should we
hear ! all urging us to the performance of our duty, warning
us by their failures, animating us by their own noble deeds.
An assembly, greater than that which now hears me, would,
if the veil, which hides the invisible world, were, for a mo
ment, withdrawn, speak to us in tones such as only the dead
can use.
Say not that you are a. little community, but one out of
three hundred in a great Commonwealth ; that it matters
little what course you take. Your influence, as an organized
society, or, as individuals, can be but slight. Whatever be
your course, others will not be much affected by it.
Such was not the way in which our sainted progenitors
reasoned. The men, from whom we claim descent, talked
and acted in no such selfish style. They were filled with
concern for their distant posterity. They laid foundations,
which, if we are not wickedly degenerate, will last for ages.
Out of their deep poverty, the riches of their liberality
abounded towards us their children.
On you, indeed, rests a different responsibility. You can
not, however much you might long to do it, help them in
their wearisome labor, and in their wasting anxieties. There
is no call to send succor to the poor in Boston, straitly shut
up by a siege, nor to the soldiers in the camp at Cambridge.
You are not obliged to wade fifteen miles through a deep
snow, to hear tidings from a brother or husband in a'prf-*

at Quebec, or in an old hulk at New York. Other obfigl.2
tions press on you. Be not recreant to them. Your time is
brief. The years in which to act are fast rolling away. .. An
other century now begins. Long before it shall have finished
6

42
its round, you will have joined the silent congregation. So
live, that when the second solemn festival of this nature shall
return, your descendants shall look back to you with tearful
gratitude ; shall remember you with such affection as we bear
to our good old fathers ; shall gather around your wasting
dust, and bless God, that they were descended from men
who were not degenerate, who lived for their children and
their childrens' children.

APPENDIX.

NOTE A. p. 11.
We here subjoin a few notices, compiled from various sources, of
the thirty original settlers of Southampton.
Jonathan Bascom. Thomas Bascom came from the north of En
gland about the year 1650, and settled at Northampton. He married
Mary Baldwin, who died Feb. 3, 1676. He died Sept. 11, 1689. He
had two sons, Thomas and John. Thomas married Hannah Catlin,
who survived him many years, and died in 1747. He died Feb. 3,
1714. They had four sons and four daughters. One of the daughters,
Mary, married Noah Sheldon, who removed to Southampton. Jona
than, one of the sons, and the original settler of Southampton, married
Mindwell King. He died April 20, 1780, aged 74. His wife decea
sed April 4, 1789, aged 89. Their children were Jonathan, Elisha and
Rachel. Elisha married Lucy Sheldon, daughter of Israel Sheldon,
and sister of the late Silas Sheldon. He died in the service of his
country, at Ticonderoga, Sept. 18, 1776, aged 37. He was lieutenant
of a company of militia. He was a brave soldier, and a highly re
spected citizen. His widow died March 15, 1810, aged 67. Their
children were Irena, King, Elisha, Lucy, Asenath and Naomi. King
died Dec. 4, 1827, aged 63. Jonathan Bascom's house (the first set
tler) stood on the lot afterwards owned by Perez Clap, now by Mr.
Graves. Samuel Burt. Henry Burt removed from Roxbury to Springfield,
soon after the settlement of the latter. His son, David, was one of
the settlers of Northampton. He had a son Henry ; and Henry, a son-
David, who was the father of Samuel, who removed to Southampton.
His residence was in the place where his son, the late Dea. Samuel
Burt lived and died, and which is now owned by Stephen E. Searl.
Samuel senior was one of the leading men in the affairs of the town
for many years. In the revolutionary times, he was an ardent whig.
Dea. Samuel Burt was the father of the three ministers by the name
of Burt, mentioned in a subsequent note.
Roger Clap. The Memoirs of Capt. Roger Clap, one of the first
settlers of Dorchester, are well known. Among bis sons are the names
of Preserved, Hopestill and Desire. One of his daughters was named
Wait. He died Feb. 2, 1691, aged 81. Preserved was one of the
early settlers of Northampton, and died Sept. 20, 1720, aged about 77
years. His son, Roger, had a son ofthe same name, who was one of

44
the settlers of Southampton. He resided where Mrs. Arunah Searl
now lives. His son Joel, who is referred to on p. 23, lived to an old
age, and had treasured up, in a retentive memory, a multitude of local
facts. Aaron Clark. William Clark lived many years in Dorchester,
and thence removed to Northampton. His son John had six sons, viz.
John, Nathaniel, Ebenezer, Increase, Noah and Josiah. Three ofthe
Clarks, who emigrated to Southampton, Jonathan, Joseph and Selah,
were sons of Nathaniel ; Aaron, Elisha and Dea. John, were sons of
John. Timothy, who settled later in Southampton, and who was, for
some time, town clerk, was a son of Noah. John Clark, one of the
settlers of Springfield, was not related to William Clark of Northamp
ton. There were Clarks at Hartford, Windsor, Hadley, etc. contem-
pory with William, but it is not known that there was any relationship
between them.
Aaron Clark lived where the late Hiram Clark lived and died.
Elisha Clark built a house a few rods west of the house where
Oliver Clark now lives, on the opposite side of the road. The cir
cumstances of his death are mentioned p. 19.
Dea. John Clark resided on the place where the late Gaius Ly
man lived. He was much esteemed as a citizen, as well as an officer
in the church.
Jonathan Clark lived in a house opposite to that formerly owned
by Calvin Torrey.
Joseph Clark built a house a few rods east of the house where
Asa Searl lives. Soon after he came to this town, his wife died. This
affliction so discouraged him, that he removed to Northampton, and
never returned here. His place was taken by his brothej,
Selah Clark, who was numbered, instead of Joseph, as one ofthe
original thirty settlers. Selah and his wife died within fourteen days
of each other, in Nov. 1806, he being 90 years and eight months old,
and she 91 years and four months.
Samuel Danks was descended from the Robert Danks who was
one ofthe first settlers of Nasbawannuck, in Easthampton (p. 9.) He
lived in a house which stood a few rods east of the house of the late
Moses Danks, now occupied by Simeon Lyman and Schuyler Shel
don. The name is now very uncommon.
Ebenezer French was a son of Jonathan French of Northamp
ton, and a grandson of John French, who removed, as it is conjectured,
from Rehoboth, Ms. to Northampton. He was connected with the
Kingsleys. Ebenezer lived in a house which stood thirty or forty
rods north ofthe house ofthe widow of James Thorp.
Eleazar Hannum. William Hannum settled in Windsor, Ct., and
thence removed to Northampton. He had a son John, and a grand
son John, who was the father ofthe settler at Southampton. He lived
on the place where Gilbert Bascom now resides.
Judah Hutchinson was a son of Judah Hutchinson, and a grand
son of Ralph Hutchinson, who came to Northampton from Dorches-

45 -
ter. Judah Hutchinson was a tailor. He lived in a house, a few rods
east from that now owned by Ephraim Marsh. His dwelling and that
of Thomas Porter, were the first erected in the town.
Phineas King was a son of Joseph King, and a grandson of John
King, who came from Northampton in England to Northampton, Ms.,
and married a daughter of a Dea. HoltOn. Phineas King resided, as
did, also, Ms son Dea. Douglas King, in a house which stood between
the street, and the house built by Lemon Gridley, now owned by He-
man Searl. Joseph King, a brother of Phineas, was accidentally kil
led while hunting, by Samuel Bint
Ebenezer Kingsley. Enos Kingsley came from Dorchester to
Northampton. His father, John, seems to have lived, at a later period,
at Rehoboth. Enos had a son John, who was the father of Ebenezer.
The latter resided near the house, which was occupied, many years,
by the late Rev. Mr. Gould; now by widow Kingsley. His son, and
sergeant Eliakim Wright, whom Mr. Judd calls " two hopeful and
valuable young men," are referred to on p. 23. Ebenezer senior, was,
for many years, precinct clerk, and afterwards town clerk. He was,
also, a school teacher. He appears to have been among the most use
ful men in the town.
Elias Lyman. Richard, John and Robert Lyman were among the
first settlers of Northampton, where the name has continued, with re
putation, to the present time. " Their father might have been," says
Mr. Farmer, "Richard Lyman, who was admitted freeman in Massa
chusetts, in 1633." Elias Lyman was the son of Elias, the grandson
of Moses, the great grandson of Moses, and the great great grandson
of John, mentioned above. He lived where his grandsons Joel and
Isaac Lyman now reside. He was a very prominent actor in the af
fairs ofthe town and ofthe church.
Nathan Lyman was the son of John Lyman and the grandson of
Richard, alluded to in the first line of the last paragraph. He built
a house near where Samuel Lyman now resides. His nephew, the
late Dea. John Lyman, was born at Fort Dumrner, and removed from
Northfield to Southampton.
John Miller. After residing some years in Southampton, he re
turned to the old town. His house is supposed to have been near the
residence of Royal Burt. He was a descendant of William Miller,
one of the first settlers of Northampton, who removed, as Mr. Farmer
conjectures, from Ipswich to North Hampton.
Noah Pixley. William Pixley lived sometime at Northampton, but,
for the most part, at Westfield, where he died in 1689. He had a
son Thomas, who was the father of Noah. The latter resided where
Rainsford Root now does. The circumstances of his death are allu
ded to p. 19.
Thomas Porter was the son' of Robert Porter of Northampton.
He made preparations to build a house on two or three localities near
the house of Elisha Edwards. A part of the dwelling which he erect
ed is now the S. W. corner room, lower story, of the house of E. Ed-

46
wards. His house and farm were purchased by Dea. Samuel Ed
wards senior, who removed to Southampton in 1753. Mr. Porter
then retired to a place a little south of Gamaliel Pomeroy's house,
where he died. Jehiel Porter was his son.
Elias Root. Thomas Root, who settled in Northampton, came
from Hartford, where he lived many years. He may have been the
Thomas Root who lived in Salem in 1637. Elias Root built a house
nearly opposite that of Lysander B. Bates.
Stephen Root lived in the same house with his brother Elias. Af
ter some time, he removed to Northampton, where he remained.
Nathaniel Searl. John Searl, one of the settlers of Springfield,
died in that town, Jan. 1642. His widow, originally Mary Baldwin,
was married to Alexander Edwards, who removed from Springfield to
Northampton, and who was the ancestor of the various families of that
name in Northampton, Southampton and Westhampton. . John Searl
left one son, John, who came with his father-in-law,* Edwards, to
Northampton. John had a son Nathaniel, who was the father of Na
thaniel, the settler at Southampton. One ofthe brothers ofthe latter had
a son, John, who was a clergyman. Nathaniel Searl's house stood a num
ber of rods south of the house of Zophar Searl, on the same side of
the road. He had nine sons, and for that reason, perhaps, built a
house with two rooms, the only dwelling in the town that had more
than one room for ten or fifteen years. He furnished boarding for the
ministers who preached in the town prior to Mr. Judd's settlement,
and entertainment for the council that ordained Mr. Judd. His de
scendants are very numerous.
Israel Sheldon. The Sheldons, Israel, Noah and Stephen, were
sons of Ebenezer Sheldon, and grandsons of Isaac Sheldon of North
ampton. The family removed from Dorchester to Windsor, and a
branch of it thence to Northampton. Israel Sheldon lived where Ab-
ner Sheldon now does.
Noah Sheldon resided in a house thirty or forty rods north of that
ofthe late Ralph Edwards.
Stephen Sheldon lived where his grandson, Rodolphus Sheldon,
now does.
Ezra Strong. Elder John Strong came, in 1630, to this country
in company with Messrs. Warham, Maverick and others. From Dor
chester, he removed to Windsor, Ct. in 1635 or 1636, and thence to
Northampton in 1659, where he died in 1590, aged 94, sustaining a
high reputation for wisdom and piety. He married his second wife,
Abigail Ford, in Dorchester, in 1630. His father's name was Richard.
He had eighteen children. Five ofthe sons, viz. Jedidiah, Ebenezer,
Samuel, Josiah and Jerijah appear to have been residents of North
ampton. The late Gov. Strong was descended from Ebenezerj and
Judge Simeon Strong of Amherst from Samuel. It is not known
from which of these sons Ezra Strong descended. His house stood
near the one (now demolished) owned by the late Israel Sheldon, and
nearly opposite to the house of A Ivan Bates- He died in 1748, and

47
his father came from Northampton, and removed the widow and her
children to the old town.
Ichabod Strong was the son of Jonathan, whose father was Ebe
nezer, above mentioned. His house was a few rods south of the
house ofthe late Gaius Lyman.
Dea. Waitstill Strong was the son of Waitstill, whose father,
Thomas Strong, was one of Elder John Strong's children. His dwell
ing was a few rods east of the house of the late Jonathan Judd, Esq.
John Wait lived on what is now known by the name of the " Wait
Farm." He was the son of John Wait, whose father, William Wait,
came to Northampton in 1680, and married a Kingsley. His origin
is not known.
Moses Wright lived in a house a few rods south of that of Luther
Loomis. He was the son of Preserved Wright, the grandson of James
Wright and the great grandson of Samuel Wright. The last named
was one ofthe first settlers of Springfield, and, subsequently, of North
ampton. Moses Wright died, unmarried, in 1748.
NOTE B. p. 23.
On the 13th of May, 1704, O. S., the Indians attacked the village of
Paskhomuck, now in Easthampton, and killed nineteen persons, six
adults and thirteen children. About twenty years afterwards, Nathaniel
Edwards, jr. of Northampton, was killed by the Indians, as he was wa
tering his team, at the small stream of water, north of Lorenzo Clapp's
house in Easthampton. Another person was wounded. The houses
of Joseph Bartlett and Samuel Janes were fortified in the Indian wars,
and were used as watch-houses. NOTE C. p. 26.
Dr. Woodbridge did not abuse the trust which was reposed in him,
by the town, nor disappoint the expectations which were formed of
him. He was a skilful and conscientious physician, and enjoyed an
extensive practice for many years. He was a member ofthe Massa
chusetts Medical Society. He married Mindwell Strong of Northamp
ton. Their children were Mrs. Gould, John Woodbridge, D. D. of
New Hartford, Ct, and Rev. Sylvester Woodbridge.
NOTE D. p. 27.
From Dea. Thomas Judd, all of that name in New England have
descended. He probably came to this country in the company of
Rev. Thomas Hooker, He removed to Hartford, (it is supposed, with
Mr. Hooker and others), in 1636. He lived there a few years, and
then settled in Farmington. He was the first deputy from that town
to the General Court. After the death of his wife, he removed to
Northampton, and married the widow of Thomas Mason. He died

48
in Northampton, Nov. 12, 1686, being above eighty years of age. He
had nine children.
William Judd, the second son of the preceding, was born about
1635, or 1636. He married Mary Steel, March 30, 1658. He died in
1690 ; his widow in 1718. They had seven children.
Thomas Judd, oldest son of William, was born in 1663. He mar
ried Sarah Freeman, Feb. 9, 1688. He had eight children. He was
a captain in the militia, and deacon in the church, in Waterbury, Ct.
He died Jan. 4, 1747, aged eighty-three. His wife died Sept. 28, 1738.
William Judd, eldest son of Thomas, married Man- Root, Jan. 31,
1713. They had nine children. She died Dec. 10, 1751. He had a
second wife. He died Jan. 29, 1772, aged 82.
NOTE E. p. 27.
The children of Mr. Judd were,
Jonathan, born Oct 7, 1744, died Jan. 30, 1819.
Silence, " Dec. 16, 1750, " Sept 9, 1839.
Sylvester, " Dec. 1, 1752, " Sept 19, 1832.
Sarah, " July 12, 1755, " March 24, 1837.
Solomon, " Jan. 26, 1758, " Nov. 8, 1830.
Frederick, " Jan. 29, 1760, " May 23, 1840.
Clarissa " Oct 2, 1764, " Aug. 8, 1337.
Silence was the wife of Dea. Samuel Edwards of Westhampton ;
Sarah, of Mr. Timothy Clark of Southampton ; and Clarissa, of Mr.
Luther Edwards of Southampton. NOTE F. p. 30.
Among those who were engaged in the eight months service at
Cambridge in 1775, were Capt. Abner Pomeroy, Serj. Lemuel Rust,
Serj. Gershom Pomeroy, Corp. Stephen Clap, Corp. Samuel Edwards
and Corp. Ezekiel Wood, together with fourteen privates. Stephen
Clap, born 1749, (brother of Roger,) died of a fever near Boston, Aug.
1775. Ebenezer Gee, one ofthe privates, went on the Quebec expe
dition. Obadiah Frary of Southampton was killed and scalped by the In
dians, Aug. 1777, on a retreat to Stillwater from Moses' Creek, near
Fort Edward. Elisha Edwards was in his company. Stephen Shel
don, brother of Simeon, died in a wagon, in Gates's army. Dea. Ros-
well Strong was with him. Darius Searl, brother of David, died in
the service, probably on Long Island. Aaron Strong, (father of Aaron
Strong who died suddenly, July 1841,) was killed by a cannon ball, in
an intrenchment at Saratoga. Oliver Pomeroy, a son of Capt Abner
Pomeroy, died in the service near the close of the war. It is believed,
that a young man, by the name of Hall, a son of John Hall, also died
in the army. In June, 1779, the General Court ordered a reinforce
ment for the Continental army. The proportion of S. Hampton was

49

six soldiers. At another time, the following soldiers from Southamp
ton were engaged in the service, Serj. Jacob Pomeroy, Joseph Bart
lett, Elisha Bundy, Samuel Coleman, Silas Pomeroy, Gad Pomeroy,
Noble Squires and. Phineas Searl ; the last named was in Capt. John
Carpenter's company ; the others were in Capt. Ebenezer Pomeroy's
company. Gad Clark was attacked with sickness, while he was in the army,
and died soon after he reached home.
NOTE G. p. 30.
Mr. Silas Sheldon was one of the most liberal men, his means being
considered, whom we have ever known. He acquired his property by
hard personal labor on an uninviting farm. He gave in his life-time
$1000 to the Hampshire Education Society, $1000 to Amherst college,
and between $2000 and $3000 to form the academy which bears his
name, besides smaller donations to many other objects. To a num
ber of young men, preparing for the christian ministry, he loaned
money from time to time. He, also, educated several adopted chil
dren, having none of his own.

NOTE H. p. 31.
IAst of College.- Graduates, natives of Southampton.

Grad.

Name.

Coll.

Stud. Divinity.

Res. and Miscell.

1765

Jonathan Judd

Yale

Merch. S. Ham-

17S4

David Searl

Dart.

Dead.

1801

Rev. Ashbel Strong

Will.

In State of Del.

1«02

" Lyman Strong, M. D.

u

Rev. A. Hooker

Teacher, Col
chester, Ct.

1804

" Sylvester Burt

it

Dr. Lathrop

Gr. Barrington,
d, Jan. 20, 1836.

1804

" John Woodhridge,D.D.

a

Rev. A. Hooker

New Hartf. Ct.

1804

Martin L. Hurtburt

Harv.

Resides in Phil.
1805
Rev. Saul Clark
Will.
Dr. Lathrop
Bethany, Ct.
1808
Theodore Pomeroy, M. D.
Yale
Physician, Uti-
ca,N. Y.
1808
Rev. Samuel Ware
Will.
Rev. Mr. Gould
South Deerfield
1808
" Rufus Pomeroy
tt
Dr. Packard
Otis.
1810
" Thaddeus Pomeroy
il
Andover
Gorham,Me.
1811
" Isaac Parsons
Yale
a
E. Haddam, Ct.
1811
" WiUiam Slrong
Will.
Ohio.
1812
" Federal Burt
a
Dr. J. Lyman
Durham, Me. d.
Feb. 9, 1828.
1813
" Sylvester Woodbridge
a
Andover
1813
" Rufus Hurlburt
Harv.
Sudbury ,d.!840
1813
" Noble D. Strong
Mid.
Died 1833. [Vt.
1815
" Aretas Loomis
Will.
Rev. Mr. Gould
E. Bennington,
1816
Justin W. Clark
Harv.
Lawyer, North
ampton ,d. 1833.
1817
Rev. Medad Pomeroy
Will.
Auburn
Otisco, N. Y.
1818
" Chandler Bates
(C
Rev. J. Benedict
Parma, N.Y.
1818
" Lemuel P. Bates
te
Princeton
Flint, Mich.
1818
" Philetus Clark
Mid.
Rev. J. Benedict
Windsor.
50

Grad.

Namo.

Coll.

Stud. Divinity.

! Res. and Miscell.

1822

Rev. Eraslus Clapp

Union

Prof. R. Emerson
& Dr. Beecher

Northampton.

1824

" Jairus Burt

Amh.

Auburn

Canton, Ct.

1824

" Bela B. Edwards

a

Andover '

Prof. Andover
Theol. Sem.

1825

" Abner P. Clark

Yale

Auburn

d.Augusta,N.Y. Feb. 6, 1835.

1825

" Ralph Clapp

Amh.

Dr. J. Woodbridge

Parma, N. Y.

1829

Joseph B. Clapp

u

Stud lawBrook-
lyn, N. Y.

182!)

Rev. Jeremiah Pomeroy

a

Auburn

Troy, N. Y.

1830

Alvan W. Chapman, M. D.

a

Studied med. at
the South.

1830

Gideon Searl

Union

d. at Greenville
O.Aug.14,1837.

1831

Rev. Jesse L. Frary

Amh.

Princeton &Lane

Apple Cr'k,Mo.

1831

Edward R. Thorp

Hamil.

res.attheSouth.
1832
Israel W. Searl
Amh.
Agt. Liberia, d.
Oct. 1834.
1832
Mahlon P. Chapman
a
Andover
D. at Andover,
Sept 1,1834.
Utica, Mich.
1833
Rev. Philander Bates
it
a
1833
" Rufus C. Clapp
it
Andover & East
Windsor
Tinmouth, Vt.
1834
David Gould
n
Law.N.Y. City.
1835
Rev. Sereno D. Clark
it
Andover
Ashfield.
1835
" Justus L. Janes
a
E. Windsor and
Rev. M.E.White
Guilford, N. Y.
1835
" Lemuel Pomeroy
it
East Windsor
Smyrna, N. Y.
1835
Alexander H. Strong
Will.
D. Texas, Sept.
1840.
Goshen.
1837
Rev. Lewis F. Clark
Amh.
Andover
1837
" Wm. H. Sheldon
Yale
a
1839
Spencer S. Clark
Amh.
NOTE L p. 36.
The population of Southampton, in 1840, was 1158. The river
Manhan passes twice through the township. The Farmington canal,
connecting New Haven with Connecticut river at Northampton, pass
es near the centre of the place. The lead mine in the north part of
the town, is not now worked. The 'town is eight miles south of
Northampton, and about seven miles north of the western rail-road at
Westfield. NOTE J. p. 36.
The following persons have been deacons ofthe church.
1743 Waitstill Strong, jr.
1743 John Clark
1766 Elias Lyman
1766 Samuel Edwards
1780 Abner Pomeroy
1781 Douglas King
1786 John Lyman
The last two now officiate as deacons
1790 Elisha Edwards
1801 Samuel Burt
1801 Roswell Strong
1824 Ansel Clark
Theodore Strong
Walter Bates
Theodore Stearns.
51
Dea. Samuel Edwards senior kept a school in Northampton and
Southampton more than forty winters. He was, also, many years, town
treasurer, as was his son Dea. Elisha Edwards. Dea. John Lyman was
a man of great weight of character and exemplariness of life. He was
equally remarkable for his wit and his wisdom. He and his contem
poraries Capt. Lemuel Pomeroy and Jonathan Judd, Esq., were among
the ablest and most useful men, who have resided in the town. Capt
Pomeroy was, for a long series of years, representative to the General
Count We may mention in this connection, that Mr. Gould's salary was
$333 and 30 cords of wood. He had $1000 settlement. Mr. White
is a native of Ashfield, a graduate of Dartmouth College, and of An
dover Theol. Seminary. Rev. Mr. Shepard of Bristol, R. I. preached
his ordination sermon.

PROCEEDINGS AT THE CELEBRATION.
The people of Southampton, at a legal meeting holden April 5,
1841, voted to celebrate the centennial celebration of the settlement of
the town ; and to request the Rev. B. B. Edwards of Andover, a native
of the place, to deliver an address on the occasion. The following in
dividuals were chosen a committee of arrangements, viz. Rev. Morris
E. White, and Elisha Edwards, Asahel Birge, Asahel Chapman and
Stephen Strong, Esquires.
The celebration accordingly took place on Friday, July 23, 1841.
The public exercises commenced at 11 o'clock, A. M. in the village
meeting-house. The day was propitious, though the heat of the at
mosphere was intense, till it was somewhat mitigated by a slight
shower in the afternoon. The house was crowded, and some were
compelled to remain around the door. Many individuals from the
neighboring towns were present, and some strangers from a distance.
The exercises were as follows. Invocation and reading of the
Scriptures by the Rev. Morris E. White. The whole congregation
then arose and sung, in the tune of Mear, the following old version
of the 44th Psalm.
We with our ears have heard, O God,
Our fathers have us told
What works thou wroughtest in their days,
Ev'n in the times of old.
How thy hand drave the heathen out,
And planted them thou hast,
How thou the people didst afflict,
And out them thou didst cast

52
For by their sword they did not get
The land's possession ;
Nor was it their own arm that did
Work their salvation.
But thy right hand, thine arm also ;
Thy countenance's light ;
Because that of thine own good will,
Thou didst in them delight.
Prayer was then offered by Rev. Lyman Strong, of Colchester, Ct,
a native of the town. This was succeeded by the following Ode,
written for the occasion, by Mrs. L. H. Sigourney of Hartford, and
sung in the tune of St. Ann's.
One hundred years ! one hundred years !
Could they reverse their track,
And bear upon the wide-spread wing
Then- varied annals back, —
What buried forms, what altered scenes
Would in their record glow, —
The unshorn wood, the thicket rude,
The Indian hunter's bow —
The grey-hair'd fathers here would stand,
Whose trust in Heaven was strong,
When loud the savage war-cry peal'd
These verdant fields along : —
And ye who in their places rise,
With every blessing fraught,
Give praise for all the glorious change
One hundred years have brought.
An address was then pronounced by Rev. B. B. Edwards, which occu
pied about an hour and a half in the delivery. The exercises were con
cluded with prayer by the Rev. Aretas Loomis of East Bennington,
Vt, a native of the town ; music from the choir ; and a benediction
by Rev. Mr. Strong. The following Ode, written by Daniel W. Chap
man, Esq. of Rochester, N. Y., a native of Southampton, was, unfor
tunately, not received in season to be included in the performances.
It was read by Mr. Strong.
A hundred years have passed away,
Since here wide waving, old and gray,
The unshorn forest stood —
Since here the savage fierce and grim,
Ranged its wild haunts and shadows dim,
Dark dweller of the wood !

53
But they who first amidst the wild,
On high their Christian altar piled,
And, consecrate to God,
Cast their glad offering in its blaze
And sang aloud their hymn of praise,
Now rest beneath the sod !
And we have come from mountain side,
From field and valley spreading wide,
From many a fruitful plain,
Where homes of plenty smile and bless,
The men who from the wilderness
Redeemed its old domain ;
To banish from the darkening past
The shadows Time hath dimly cast
On our reverting view ; —
To commune with the loved and dead
And 'round their deeds and virtues shed
Our memory's light anew.
And may, (as we turn page by page
The records of a by-gone age,
Whose ' simple annals ' tell
Of noble men) — their virtues stern
Still o'er their graves hke incense burn,
And with the living dwell.
A hundred years ! — when Time's swift wing !
Another century's close shall bring,
And other men shall rise
And call their own each hill and stream,
Which round in light and beauty beam,
And these their native skies —
When they like us shall gather here
To read what each returnless year
Hath graven on the past,
Be ours the high and holy aim,
That deeds of good may round our name
A brightening halo cast !
After these exercises were closed, the whole audience repaired in
a procession, preceded by a band of music from AVilliarnsburg, to the
orchard in the rear of the house of the Rev. Mr. White, where tables
were spread for the accommodation of from 800 to 1000 persons.
For the tasteful arrangement, and ample supply of food, well prepared
and in great varieties, the ladies of the town merited and received
much credit All the accommodations were called into requisition ;

54
while the children were feasted in primitive simplicity, the ground
serving the purpose of seats and tables. Every article of food upon
the tables was the product of the town itself. A blessing was pro
nounced, and thanks were returned by the Rev. Joab Brace of New-
' ington ( Wethersfield), Ct Pertinent and stirring addresses were made
by the Rev. Messrs. John Todd of Philadelphia, A. W. McClure of
Maiden, L. Strong of Colchester, Ct. and J. Burt of Canton, Ct. The
hymn, beginning, " Blest be the tie," etc. was sung, and the benedic
tion was pronounced by Mr. White.
" Thus passed off," says the editor of the Hampshire Gazette, " one
ofthe most pleasant and agreeable celebrations it has ever been our
happiness to participate in. There was so much simplicity, cordiality,
and good feeling, that none whose heart was not poisoned by the cor
roding influences of corrupt fashion, could fail to be pleased. The
people of Southampton can look back upon the event with unmingled
pleasure."

It may be subjoined, that the " Southampton Association of Minis
ters," was formed in August, 1826. A large number of ministers, natives
ofthe place, were then present, and adopted measures for securing fu
ture meetings. These have been held triennially. The religious ex
ercises, on these occasions, have commonly extended through two or
three days, and have been attended with much interest The num
ber of ministers present has varied from thirteen to thirty. The next
meeting of the Association is to be held on the third Wednesday of
September, 1844.

Note. As the preceding Address and Notes have been prepared at a dis
tance from the scenes and objects to which they relate, errors in dates and
other matters may have escaped the author's notice. Rev. Mr. Gould, (p.
32) was born in 1773. P. 31, line 12, for forty-six, read fortyseven; line
13, for thirty-two, read thirty-three.

3 9002 00794 4912

K *v

,1" %

*** :' y *'¦ ^*'

¦S/dfs*

."N»V

V

*fe.

A . C**&fe

L*