towns of Sunderland, Montague, and the tract called Erving's Grant, then a continued forest, through which was an imperfect road, the distance of nearly thirty miles; and though continually exposed to attacks, he passed several difficult places, and among others Miller's river, without seeing an Indian. Dismounting and leaving the horses, the march was continued on foot, and was necessarily retarded by an accompanying baggage. At the distance of about two miles from the garrison at Northfield, the route lay over a deep swampy ravine, through which ran a considerable brook, emptying into Connecticut river. Discovering Beers' approach, a large body of Indians formed an ambuscade at this place, and lay ready to attack his front and right. Without discovering the snare, Beers arrived at the point, and received the fire of the Indians from the margin of the ravine on his right. A considerable proportion of the party fell on the spot; the remainder instantly broke, and, in scattered order, retreated over a piece of level ground, closely followed by the Indians. Beers, with a few of his men, gained an abrupt hill, about three fourths of a mile in his rear, where they bravely maintained their ground some time against an overwhelming force; but at length he received a fatal shot, and the survivors were compelled to retire from the ground. Out of the thirty-six, only sixteen escaped back to Hadley, leaving the baggage and wounded in the hands of the enemy. Two days after this fatal disaster, Major Treat, with one hundred men, arrived on the ground where Beers was defeated, and witnessed the horrid barbarity of the savages. Several of the slain were beheaded, and their heads were elevated on poles near the road; one man was suspended to the limb of a tree, by a chain hooked to his under jaw, probably when alive, and the whole scene was appalling. Pursuing his march to the town, the major found the garrison safe, and brought them off with the inhabitants. The Indians soon after destroyed the fort, houses, and every thing valuable in the

town.

During the first part of "King William's war," which commenced in 1690, Northfield was again occupied by a few settlers, protected by small works, and a few troops, furnished by government; but the people were at length compelled to abandon it, on which the Indians the second time destroyed the place. Immediately after the peace of 1713, the settlers of Northfield returned to their plantations, rebuilt their houses, and one for public worship; and in 1718, they settled Mr. Benjamin Doolittle, from Wallingford, Con., as minister of the place, which then consisted of about thirty families. The following is the date of the settlement of the clergymen succeeding Mr. Doolittle: John Hubbard in 1750; Samuel

Hoyt's Indian Wars. The ground where this disaster took place is still called Beers' plain, and the hill where the captain fell, Beers' mountain. At a sandy knoll on the west side of the road, near the place where the attack commenced, the bones of the slain were a few years since to be found bleaching in the sun. The mail route from Montague to Northfield formerly passed over the ground; it now runs a little to the west. Janes' mill is situated a small distance north of the place of attack.

C. Allen in 1795; Thomas Mason in 1799; George W. Hosmer in 1830; Oliver C. Everett in 1837. The Trinitarian church was formed in 1825. Eli Moody and Bancroft Fowler have been ministers of this church. The Methodist church stands in the southern part of the town.

[From the Boston Post Boy, May 12, 1746.]

"By an express from the westward, we are informed, that the Indians kill'd a man who was going from Lunenburg to Northfield, about a fortnight ago, but was not found until last Monday. He had been to Boston, and was on his return home, with about four or five hundred pounds with him in paper bills, which he was carrying up to Northfield to pay the billeting of soldiers.-And that at No. 4, another man was killed last Friday sev'night, the circumstances of which are pretty remarkable. Maj. Willard with several soldiers went as a guard to some women, not far from the fort, who went out to milk their cows. Two of the party having separated to go to the barn, one of them seeing a door of the stable open, ran before to shut it, fearing the cattle might have got in there; and just as he had got to the door, he saw 7 or 8 of them in the stable; upon which he cried out, the stable is full of Indians! They not minding it, the Indians rushed out and fired upon them, and shot this man. The major and guard hearing the guns, called the men to arms, and advanced in haste toward the enemy; but before they got nigh enough, they saw one of the Indians, a very stout fellow, run up to the man they had shot and strike him on the head, which entirely dispatched him; but the major getting good aim, fired, and supposes to have struck him, as they were scouring off, this fellow being seen from the fort to drop at some distance, but was carried off by the others; also much blood was seen at the place, and his blankets, very bloody, were found."

The following inscriptions were copied from monuments in the burial-ground in this place:

Rev. John Hubbard, A. M., second minister of this town, died Nov. 28, 1794, in the 69th year of his age, and 45th of his ministry.

A man he was to all his people dear

And passing rich with eighty pounds a year;
Remote from towns, he held his godly race,
Nor ever changed, nor wish'd to change his place.
In duty, faithful, prompt at every call,

He watch'd, and wept, and pray'd for all;
He try'd each art, reproved each dull delay,
Allur'd to brighter worlds, and led the way.

In memory of the Rev. Mr. Benjamin Doolittle, first pastor of the church in Northfield, who died Jans. ye 9th, 1748, in the 54th year of his age & 30th year of his ministry.

Bless'd with good intelectual parts,
Well skilled in two important arts,
Nobly he filled the double station
Both of a preacher and physician.
To cure men's sicknesses and sins,
He took unwearied care and pains;
And strove to make his patient whole
Throughout, in body and in soul.

He lov'd his God, lov'd to do good,
To all his friends vast kindness show'd;
Nor could his enemies exclaim,
And say he was not kind to them.
His labors met a sudden close,
Now he enjoys a sweet repose;
And when the just to life shall rise,
Among the first, he'll mount the skies.

ORANGE.

THIS town was incorporated in 1783. The face of the township is generally rough and uneven. Miller's river, which now passes through the central part of the town, affords valuable water privileges. Mr. Emerson Foster and Mr. Chandler are the only minis

E

ters who have been settled over the old church in Orange, now in the northern section of the town. Mr. Foster was minister here about 1798. Mr. Chandler was in the place but a short time. In 1837 an ecclesiastical council convened and organized a church, called the "Evangelical Church of Orange."

The above is a southern view of the flourishing little village of Orange, now in the central part of the town. Miller's river, which passes through the place, was formerly the southern boundary of Orange. The northern part of New Salem has been quite recently annexed to this town, so that this village is now in the central part. The forests have been recently cleared away in the immediate vicinity, and the place presents the appearance of a new settlement springing up in the wilderness. Population of the town in April, 1837, was 1,543. Distance, 75 miles from Boston. In 1837, there. were manufactured in this town 72,300 palm-leaf hats, the value of which was $12,050.

ROWE.

THIS town was incorporated in 1785. It has an elevated situation, and was originally purchased by a Mr. Jones. In 1838, the legislature annexed a part of an unincorporated tract, called Zoar, to this town. This tract comprised 1,875 acres of land, adjoining the south part of the town, on which were six families. One of the cordon of forts erected about 1744 for a defence against the French and Indians was situated in this town. The ruins of this fortification, called Fort Pelham, are situated south-east of the Congregational church in the center of the town, on Pelham brook, a small stream, being the only one passing through the town. Rev. Preserved Smith, the first minister, was settled here in 1787; his successor was Rev. Jonathan Keith, was settled in 1808, and was

succeeded by Mr. Smith, who again settled in 1812. His successor was Rev. William D. Stearns, was settled in 1835. Rev. John C. Thompson was settled over the Trinitarian church in 1835. There are four religious societies and four meeting-houses in this town. Population, 688. Distance, 22 miles from Greenfield and 130 from Boston. There is a woollen mill in this town. In 1837 there were 302 Saxony, 1,630 merino, and 364 of other kinds of sheep, producing wool to the value of $4,249 80.

SHELBURNE.

THIS town was originally a part of Deerfield, called Deerfield North-West. It received its present name from Lord Shelburne, of England. It was incorporated a distinct town in 1768. The first settlement was made in the eastern part of the town; the first meeting-house, which was built of logs and plastered, stood about half a mile north of the present Congregational church in the center of the town. The first Congregational minister was Rev. Robert Hubbard, who was settled in 1773; he died in Middletown, Ct. in 1788, aged 45. His successor was Rev. Jesse Townsend, who was settled in 1792, and resigned in 1797; the next pastor was Rev. Theophilus Packard, D. D., who was settled in 1799; he was succeeded by his son of the same name in 1828. The Shakers came into this town in 1782; they continued here about three years, when they removed to New Lebanon: a Mr. Wood was their elder or leader. The oldest house now standing in Shelburne Falls village was built by these people. The first Baptist church in this town was formed in 1788, and their first minister was a Mr. Green; in 1792 Rev. David Long became its pastor, and continued his labors nearly forty years. The Unitarian society was formed in 1828. The Rev. Pliny Fiske, a missionary to Palestine, who died at Beyroot, in Syria, in 1825, was a native of this town. The following is a S. Eastern view of Shelburne Falls village, on Deerfield river, on the western boundary of the town. It consists of about thirty dwelling-houses, a church, an academy, and other buildings. The descent of the river at this place is forty-seven feet in the distance of forty rods, which affords abundant water power for several mills for different purposes. This village is uncommonly neat and beautiful in its general appearance. The engraving shows the northern part. Deerfield river runs a few rods westward of the houses represented; it bends round to the eastward, passing over a rocky bed, falling in some places perpendicularly, foaming and roaring. This, with the elevated banks on each side, covered with forest trees, presents a wild and picturesque scene.

The church seen in the engraving in the distance is the Baptist church, erected in 1836. The second Baptist church was formed in 1833, and the Rev. John Alden, Jr., was constituted pastor.

South-eastern view of Shelburne Falls Village.

The Franklin Academy, located in this village, was incorporated in 1823. Two buildings are connected with the institution: one, (the academy) is a brick edifice, 52 feet by 38, and three stories in height. It is seen in the engraving in the distance, with a small tower or steeple on the roof. The other is the house occupied by the principal, and others connected with the academy. It is 80 feet by 30, and stands about 60 rods east of the brick building. The average number of scholars for the last five years has been about 90 each term. Ever since its formation it has been under the charge of Mr. Alden, the Baptist clergyman mentioned above. This place is 4 miles from the center of the town, 9 from Greenfield, 25 from Northampton, and 100 from Boston. Population, 1,018. In 1837 there was one woollen mill; 1 scythe manufactory, which manufactured 7,200 scythes, the value of which was $9,400. Fifteen hands were employed in the manufacture of scythe snaiths; capital invested in this manufacture was $10,000. There were 6,000 palm-leaf hats manufactured, valued at $1,000. The value of wool produced in the town was $4,500; boots and shoes, $4,000.

SHUTESBURY.

THIS town was incorporated in 1761. The town was first settled mostly by people from Sudbury, in 1754, and was at that period called Road Town. The land is uneven, encumbered with stones, and the soil is generally of an inferior quality. The Rev. Abraham Hill, the first Congregational minister, was settled here in 1742. Imbibing political sentiments hostile to the American cause, Mr. Hill was alienated from his people, and was regularly dismissed, in 1778; the church was reduced to one member. It