"Inscriptions on the Gravestones in the Graveyards of Northampton and of other Towns in the Valley of the Connecticut, as Springfield, Amherst, Hadley, Hatfield,Deerfield, etc......" by Thomas Bridgman,' Hopkins & Bridgman,1850. -------------- anything like: FYI or (__) are my notes -- BRIEF ANNALS OF NORTHAMPTON: (FYI: "the river" is the Connecticut River) 1653: certain inhabitants of Springfield,24 in number, petitioned the General Court for liberty to make a settlment at Nonatuck about 15 miles up the river. 1653,Sept.24: John Pynchon bought a large tract on the west side of the Connecticut River from the Indians. the witnesses were: Elizur Holyoke,Henry Burt,Thomas Cooper,and Thomas Stebbins. payment was 100 fathom of wampum, 10 coats, plowing of 16 acres, and small presents. 1654:May 9: two settlements proposed, Northampton and Hatfield. the petitioners were: Robert Bartlett, William Clark, Edward Elmer, John Gilbert, William Janes, William Miller, and Thomas Root, from Windsor, Hartford, and Dorchester. 1654,May 9: first marriage recorded: David Burt and Mary Holton 1655,May 2: first birth: Ebenezer, son of Joseph and Mary Parsons. May 30: James Bridgman born. 1656,Jan 14: first death: James, son of James and Sarah Bridgman. *births that year among the settlers: Joseph Parson,Isaac Sheldon and Samuel Allen 1658:July Rev. Mather,started to preach, for 350 (author said $ but should be £ ) 1661:June the church was gathered; first minister Eleazer Mather,son of Rev.Richard of Dorchester., was ordained. The 7 pillars of the church: David Wilton, William Clark, Thomas Hanchet, John Strong, Henry Cunliffe, Henry Woodward, Thomas Root. * first militia organized * burials that winter no longer on Meeting House Hill but in present cemetery. 1662: names of the inhabitants, 8 years after settlement: Geo.Alexander, Samuel Allen, Alex Alvord, Edward Baker, Robert Bartlett, Thomas Bascom, James Bridgman, John Broughton, David Burt, Joshua Carter, William Clark, Nathaniel Clark, Aaron Cook, Henry Cunliff, widow Curtis, Nathaniel Dickinson, Alex.Field, Edward Field, Zachary Field, Thomas Ford, Richard Goodman, David Hanchett, Thomas Hanchett, William Hannum, John Hannum, Robert Wayward, William Holton, William Hulburt,John Hulburt, Jona.Hunt, Ralph Hutchinson, John Ingersoll, William Janes, John King, Geo.Langton, Walter Lee, William Lewis, Thomas Lewis, Richard John, Robert Lyman, Thomas Mason, Eleazer Mather, John Miller, Joseph Parsons, Nathaniel Phelps, Medad Pomeroy, Thomas Root, John Root, Thomas Salmon, Isaac Sheldon, William Smead, Christopher Smith, John Stebbins, John and Thomas Strong, J.Strong,jr., Geo.Sumner, Mrs.Williams, Ensign Wilton, Thomas Woodford, Samuel Wright, and S.W.,jr., and Henry Woodward. (FYI: many of the families intermarried) 1662,May 7: The towns of Springfield and Hadley consitituted the county of Hampshire. 1663: First school organized 1665: Deacon Samuel Wright died 1667: court house built 1669,July 24: Rev.E.Mather died 1672,Sept. Rev. Solomon Stoddard ordained, minister for 56 years. 1675: King Philip's War, Robert Bartlett, Thomas Holton,Mary Earle, Samuel Mason, Praisever Turner, and 9 others killed. 1676,May: "Falls Fight" so called, near Deerfield, of the 38 killed: Capt.Wm Turner, and 14 others from Northampton; among them were: John Miller, Thomas Roberts, Joseph Fowler, William Howard, John Foster. 1676,May: Few days later, Hatfield was attacked and 12 houses/barns burnt; -It was voted to accept a garrison of 50 men. the meeting house and several houses were palisaded. - Joseph Hawley invited to teach school 1679: up to this year, more than 500 church members admitted 1683: great revival of religion; also in 1690 and 1712 1684: died, Nehemiah Allen, ancestor of Gen.Ethan Allen (of Vermont) 1689: the town palisaded itself from 1/2 mile square to 1 mile square 1699: Elder John Strong, died, aged 92, numerous descendants 1703: Col. John Pynchon died, Jan.17.. 1704: Capt.John Taylor and 10 of the names of Janes, and 10 others killed by the Indians at Paskhommuck, at the foot of Mt.Tom ( Sunderland?? South Deerfield??) - Killed at Deerfield, Mrs. Williams, dau of Rev.E.Mather. 1708: Joseph and Samuel Parsons killed by Indians 1711: Samuel Strong,jr also killed by Indians 1713: water priviledge at the foot of Mt. Tom to Benjamin Stebbins,on condition that for 4 years he sell boards at 20 shillings a thousand feet. 1715: Alms house erected on Meeting House Hill 1720: Elder Preserved Clap died 1724: Nathaniel Edwards (2d), killed by Indians at the corn mill 1726: town granted Round Hill to Col.J.Stoddard for £40 1727,Feb: Rev.John Edwards, ordained as a colleague in the ministry with his grandfather, Mr.Stoddard 1729,Feb. Rev. Stoddard died; during his ministry, the admissions to the church was 630. 1735: A revival of religion, 200 converts in 6 months, 10 of them about 90 years of age. ============================= Cynthia List Adm.for : Ma-Bay-Colony@rootsweb.com http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/MA-BAY-COLONY/