"Lands not exceeding £2 per acre and so to descend downwards, descending or proportion to ye rate having respect to distance of Lands from home and as for goodness what it is naturally and not by industry. Stock, an ox at £6, Cow £2, Horse £3, the first and so to descend downwards according to age and goodness. Rateable swine not fatning, 10s first, and descend as aforesaid; rateable sheep at 5s the first and so on &c.

In 1699, thirty acres of land each, were granted to Samuel Root and Joseph Petty on Green River. To Michael Mitchell 30 acres and a homelot of 4.

Jonathan Wells and others were chosen a committee to view all Grants upon Green River, and to " condemn such Grants as are in their own nature condemnable."

BIRD LAW. Every householder shall kill 12 blackbirds apiece this summer or else what they shall want of such number, shali pay pence apiece in ye town rate and what they shall kill above said number shall receive of the Town pence apiece until last of May, after, till middle Sept., one half pence; crows 4d.

MILL. Joseph Parsons of Northampton had obligated himself to set up a corn mill, where there was a saw mill, fit to grind before the last of May 1693. - Toll allowed him, one 12th of all grain except wheat, and barley malt; one 14th part of provender, one 18th part of barley malt. At a meeting held Aug. 1699, he requested liberty to set up a corn mill on Green River, which was granted for one year. At a subsequent meeting, a Committee was chosen to confer with Mr. P. concerning a corn mill built by him in D. whether he will adhere to the bargain and keep his mill in good repair or give it up into the hands of the town.

Dec. 4. A committee was chosen, Lt. Hoit, Lt. John Sheldon, Thomas French, whose work was to state the bounds of Green River Town Plot.

The prices of Grain befween man and man were stated-Summer wheat 4s, Rye 3s, and Corn 2s.

Grants of Land of 30 acres each, on Green River, to Martin Kellogg, Zeb. Williams, John Severance.

SEATING THE Meeting HouSE.—In 1701, a vote is found upon record for the honored and aristocratic ceremony of seating the meeting house. "The fore-seat in the front Gallery be equal in dignity with 2d seat in the body of the meeting house. Foreseats in side Gallery equal in dignity to 4th seat in the body. Second seat in front Gallery and hinder seat in same to 5th in the body," and all this in a small meeting house, which most likely was made of Logs.

They opened their common fields about the 1st October, near a month earlier than is done at this day.— Town charges paid in produce. Rye 3s. Barley 3s. Oats 1s.

March, 1700.-The following is found on the same records:"Notwithstanding persons have taken up several home lots upon Green River, under the sum of 8 acres apiece, yet, now the town hath hereby granted that all persons that have taken up lands, shall have 8 acres apiece in their home lots."

It was about these days that the people voted that every swine of 14 in. hie, found on the common fields, (after they were opened) should be liable to be impounded and the owners fined six pence per head, and to pay their school master $25 a year in grain.

In 1703, the town of Deerfield was destroyed by the French and Indians, under De Rouville. Great numbers were killed or carried away captive, among whom we find the names of Hinsdel, Hastings, Nims, Smead, Brooks, Corse, Denio, Wells.

This was in the reign of Anne, Queen of England, with whom the French were at war, and the French settlers in Canada, took the liberty of instigating the Indians to join them, and bring trouble upon these border settlers, who had never troubled them. The Indians - would have never thought of stirring in this matter, but,

for these Frenchmen. The total population of the state was then estimated at 70,000, and that of Connecticut at 30,000, and the French population of Canada. proper at only about 8500-Militia 1000.

A detailed and interesting account of the destruction of Deerfield at this period, may be found in Hoyt's Antiq. Researches, Chapt, xI. The force consisted of 200 French and 140 Indians. As at, probably, a later period, several forts were maintained in this villagethe following description from that work may not be unacceptable to some readers who do not possess it :

"The mode of fortifying in the frontier towns at this time was rude and imperfect, calculated merely for defence against slight attacks. In many cases single houses were surrounded with palisades of cleft or hewn timber planted perpendicular in the ground without ditches, and the larger works enclosing villages, were much of the same nature. In some cases single houses were constructed of square timber laid horizontally, and locked at the angles, and loop holes were pierced on every side for fireing upon an enemy. The walls of framed houses were commonly lined with brick, the upper story projected, and loop holes prepared to fire down upon the enemy in case of a close approach, &c. A work called a mount, was often erected at exposed points.These were a kind of elevated block house affording a view of the neighboring country, and where they were wanting, sentry boxes were generally placed on the roofs of houses."

For a succession of years the records of the country and the records of tradition furnish little or nothing coming within our province. The number of inhabitants in this section of the country was then comparatively very small, and occupied, as they must have been, in the clearing of lands and making preparations for future comfort; harrassed by calls for military service, and the occasional incursions of Indians, little chance was af

1

forded for the acquisition of property by the cultivation of the land, or in any other way. All their energies must have been, of necessity, constantly exerted for support and defence. Many of the young men were cut off by the wars and by diseases, and any other than a hardy and persevering race of men, fearless and determined, would have abandoned the contest with so much of privation and insecurity.

Rye had been for some time cultivated. In 1633, the first specimen of it was brought to the Court of Massachusetts as the first fruits of English grain. This "poor people," says Johnson, an early writer, "greatly rejoiced to see the land would bear it."

NOTE.-1704. The Boston News Letter, the first newspaper published in America, was issued this year. In 1685, in the reign of James the 2d. the first Postmaster of New England, Mr. Randolph, was appointed by the Lord Treasurer Rochester. The first Post Office was established in 1710. In 1717, the trade of this state employed 3493 sailors-492 ships, making 25,406 tons.Duty on English goods, one per cent.

CHAPTER II.

PRIOR TO INCORPORATION.

Green River stream granted-Titles to land how obtained-Indians-Green River people's petition to be set off-Granted-Boundaries-Indian warfare-FortsPetition renewed, granted, bounds stated-Committees report on south line, and locating Meeting House.

1713-14.-In January a grant was made by the proprietors to Capt. Wells, of the Green River Stream, to

set up a mill on the following conditions:-" The said Wells shall take for his toll the 14th part of Rye, the 16th part of wheat, the 12th part of corn, and other grain not specified; and by Michaelmas day they are to give said Wells fifty pounds more of money." The town reserved the privilege of setting a saw mill upon the same stream, "provided workmen of that occupation judge that a saw mill may be built there without damage to the corn mill; said Wells having the first offer of a place for a saw mill, and he restore the town his liberty to grant it to other men, they agreeing with said Capt. Wells upon such terms as indifferent men shall judge proper."

MILL."The town of Greenfield doe hereby grant unto sd Jona. Wells and to his heirs ye stream aforesaid so long as they shall maintain a corn mill upon it to dce ye towns work, notwithstanding ye town doth reserve to themselves a liberty to set a saw mill upon ye same stream provided workmen of ye occupation together wt a committee chosen by the town for ye purpose doe judge yt a saw mill may bee built there without any considerable damage to ye corn mill; he ye said Wells having the first offer of ye place for saw mill, &c. (not to be rated for said mill for town charges.")

"Articles of agreement made and concluded between Capt. Jona. Wells of D. Co. of H. in her majesties province of Ms. bay in New England on 1 part and the T of Deerfield.

Witnesses,

ABL. BARNARD,

MERCY CHILDS.

TH. FFRENCH, Signd. ELIEZERr hawks, THOS. WELLS,

1715. They voted to build a dam for Capt. J. Wells. The presumption is that a dam had been carried away by this mad stream, subject to sudden rise and irritation from small cause; it often has such freaks now.

1718. Green River grants. At a town Meeting in March, the proprietors appointed a committee to make