Historical Collections, by John Warner Barber

234

BERNARDSTON.

win ordained its pastor the same year. Rev. Nehemiah Porter succeeded him in 1774, and died Feb. 29^th, 1820, aged 99 years and 11 months. Rev. Alvan Sanderson was ordained colleague pastor in 1808. Rev. Thomas Shepherd succeeded Mr. Sanderson in 1819. Rev. Mason Grosvenor, the next pastor, was installed 1833; he was succeeded by Rev. Burr Baldwin, in 1836. In 1820 an Episcopal society was formed in this town, and they have a handsome church in the center of the place. There is also a small society of Methodists.

Ashfield is a little over six miles square. The face of the township is uneven and hilly, better adapted for grazing than tillage. There is, however, much good tillage land interspersed among the hills. The principal productions are corn, potatoes, oats, and of late wheat. Some of the farmers have large dairies. In 1837, there were in this town 8,021 merino sheep, which produced 24,063 lbs. of wool. There are four churches, 2 for Baptists, 1 Congregational, and 1 Episcopal. The central village consists of about twenty dwelling-houses, an Episcopal church, an academy, and a number of mercantile stores. Distance, 18 miles from Greenfield, 18 from Northampton, and 105 to Boston. Population of the town, 1,656.

BERNARDSTON.

IN 1735, the general assembly of the province of Massachusetts Bay granted a tract of land six miles square, north of Greenfield, including the present towns of Bernardston and Leyden, and a part of Coleraine, to the officers and soldiers who were in the Fall Fight, an account of which may be found under the head of Gill. In consideration of the services and sufferings of these men, the tract above mentioned was granted to them or their descendants 59 years after the battle. From the fact that this battle took place at the Falls, the town took the name of Fall Town, which it was called for nearly 20 years. The first meeting of the owners of this tract of country was held at Northampton, in January, 1736, the next month after it was granted by the legislature. The proprietors were 97; among the names of these were the following: Atherton, Field, Hitchcock, Cook, Chamberlain, Alexander, Chapin, Connable, Dickinson, Edwards, Hoit, Lyman, Munn, Hunt, Smith, Wright, Pomeroy, Pratt, Rogers, Sikes, Smead, Scott, Wells. The town was first settled in 1738. The four first houses that were built in town were Major Burk's, Mr. Samuel Connable's, Lieut. Ebenezer Sheldon's, and Dea. Sheldon's. Major Burk's house was situated a little north of the present bark-house; Mr. S. Connable's stood near the house now occupied by Mr. Joseph Conanable; Lieut. E. Sheldon's house was situated a little west of Mr. Hatsell Purple's late residence; and Dea. Sheldon's stood near Mr. Seorin Slate's, on Huckle Hill.