pany, that they shortly after sold it to John Reed, Esq., of Boston, for two coppers per acre; yet it is now one of the most flourishing towns in this part of the state." The first church in this town was formed in 1757. Rev. Grindall Rawson, the first clergyman, was settled in 1751, and resigned in 1754; Rev. Ezra Thayer, his successor, was settled in 1759, and died in 1775. Rev. Benjamin. Judd, the next minister, was settled in 1785; he resigned in 1787, and was succeeded by Rev. Reuben Moss, who was settled in 1792, and died in 1809. Rev. Samuel Ware, the next minister, was settled in 1810; resigned in 1826, and was succeeded by Rev. Augustus B. Reed, the same year. The second or village church was organized in 1826. Rev. Parsons Cooke was settled in the same year. His successor, Rev. Cyrus Yale, was installed pastor in 1835, and resigned in 1837.

The above is a south-western view of Ware village, as seen from near the Northampton road. This village is situated in the eastern part of the town, on Ware river, a large and powerful stream, rising in the western part of Worcester county. A great change has taken place at the falls of the river in this town within a short period; a flourishing village has arisen, containing, it is supposed, at this time, upwards of 1,500 inhabitants, where a few years since was but a wilderness. The Ware Manufacturing Company was incorporated February, 1822, with a capital of $525,000. There is a bank in the village, the "Hampshire Manufacturers Bank," with a capital of $150,000. In 1837, there were 2 cotton mills, 6,544 spindles; cotton consumed, 516,000 lbs. ; cotton goods manufactured, 1,450,000 yards, valued at $160,000; males employed, 62; females, 200; capital invested, $200,000. There were 2 woollen mills, 11 sets of woollen machinery; 270,000 lbs. of wool were consumed; 230,000 yards of cloth were manufactured, valued at $280,000; males employed, 77; females, 80; capital invested, $200,000. There were manufactured 867 pairs of boots, and

61,623 pairs of shoes, valued at $53,164. Straw bonnets manufactured, 85,000, valued at $114,832; palm-leaf hats manufactured, 79,200, valued at $10,870; value of augers manufactured, $4,500. Population, 2,403. Distance, 25 miles from Northampton, 23 from Springfield, 27 to Worcester, 44 to Hartford, Con., and 67 to Boston.

WESTHAMPTON.

THIS town was incorporated in 1778. The first settlement of this town began about the year 1767. Lemuel Strong, the oldest son of Noah Strong, (in 1817 the oldest man in the town,) is supposed to have been the first child born in this town. In 1779 there were about sixty families and three hundred souls in the town. The first minister, Rev. Enoch Hale, was settled here in 1779; he died 1837, aged 83. Mr. Hale was the brother of Capt. Nathan Hale of Connecticut, the martyr to American liberty, who was executed as a spy in 1775, aged 22. The successor of Mr. Hale in the ministry was Rev. Horace B. Chapin, who settled here in 1829, and resigned in 1837; his successor was Rev. Amos Drury, who was installed pastor the same year.

This is principally an agricultural town. In 1837, there were 170 Saxony, 944 merino, and 1,404 other kinds of sheep; average weight of fleece, 2 lbs.; value of wool, $3,205; capital invested, $7,204. Population, 818. Distance, 8 miles from Northampton, 8 from Williamsburg, and 100 from Boston.

WILLIAMSBURG.

THIS town was incorporated in 1771. The first Congregational minister settled in this place was Rev. Amos Butler, a native of Hartford, Con.; this was in 1773; he died in 1777, at the age of twenty-nine years. Mr. Butler was succeeded by Rev. Joseph Strong, in 1781. Mr. Strong died Jan. 1st, 1803, and was succeeded by Rev. Henry Lord in 1804. His successor was Rev. William Lusk, who was installed here in 1836.

A considerable stream passes through this town, and unites with the Connecticut at Northampton, affording good water-power for manufacturing purposes. The following is a southern view of the central part of Williamsburg. The Methodist church recently erected is seen on the left; the Congregational church is seen on the right, southerly of which is the bridge over the mill stream passing through the village. In the central part of the engraving is seen in the extreme distance the spire of the old Congregational church, situated about half a mile northward from the central part of the village. This was built more than fifty years ago.

This village is 8 miles from Northampton, and 103 from Boston. Population, 1,345..

The Williamsburg woollen, linen and cotton manufactory was incorporated in 1825, with a capital of $250,000. In 1837, there were 3 woollen mills; 42,150 yards of cloth were manufactured, valued at $69,235; males employed, 26; females, 25; capital invested, $33,700; value of flexible and japan buttons manufactured, $102,500; hands employed, 13 males and 105 females; capital invested, $39,000; value of axes manufactured, $6,106; value of augers, bitts, and bitt-stocks manufactured, $2,310; value of gimblets, screw-drivers, and punches manufactured, $4,066.

WORTHINGTON.

THIS town was incorporated in 1768. The Rev. Jonathan Huntington appears to have been the first minister in the place. He died in 1780, aged 48; his successor in the ministry was Rev. Josiah Spaulding, who died in 1803; the next minister was Rev. Jonathan L. Pomeroy, who died in 1836, aged 67. The next minister was Rev. Henry Adams, who was settled in 1833.

This township occupies an elevated situation near the center of the Green mountain range, upon its eastern declivity. The waters in this township are discharged into the Connecticut by the Westfield river, the principal branch of which washes the south-west boundary of the town, and other branches pass through the middle and north-east parts. It is one of the best townships of land in this vicinity; the surface is handsome and pleasant, and much of the soil rich and productive, producing grain, fruits, &c. In 1837, there were in this town 9,050 merino sheep; wool produced, 27,000 lbs.; average weight of fleece, 3 lbs. ; value of wool, $16,875; capital invested, $25,000; value of curtains manufactured, $10,125;

value of leather tanned and curried, $32,000. Population, 1,142. Distance, 17 miles from Northampton, 55 from Albany, N. Y., and 110 from Boston.

MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

THIS County was incorporated in 1643. The surface is uneven, and the soil varied. The principal streams in the limits of the county are the Merrimac, Charles, Concord, and Nashua. There are no mountains in this county, but its surface is diversified by numerous small hills, which are generally less than one hundred feet in height. The land in the northern and southern parts is the most uneven. The soil is not generally so good as that in some other parts of the state, but it well rewards cultivation. The manufacturing interests of this county are very important, particularly in the manufacture of cotton goods. In 1837, there were 52,860,194 yards of cotton goods manufactured, the value of which was $5,971,172, being nearly three times the value manufactured in any other county in the state. The canal, and particularly the railroads recently constructed in the county, afford great facilities in the transportation of goods to and from Boston. Cambridge and Concord are the shire towns. The following is a list of the towns in this county, which are 46 in number.

THE town of Acton lies wholly within the ancient limits of Concord. Most of the lands comprised within its limits were granted to the town of Concord "for feeding;" they were, however, not very accurately defined, as when they were actually surveyed they were found to contain a greater number of acres than nominally specified in the grants. A settlement was commenced in

these grants as early as 1656, and perhaps a few years earlier. The Shepherd and Law families were among the first. Many of the meadows were open prairies, and afforded, with little or no labor, grass in abundance. Some of the uplands had been cleared by the Indians, and were favorite places for feeding.

"In 1668, the town leased to Capt. Thomas Wheeler, for 20 years, 200 acres of upland near Mr. Silas Holden's present residence, and 60 acres of meadow lying in several parcels on Nashobah brook, on condition that he should keep, 'except 12 Sabbath days yearly,' a herd of 50 cattle for 1s. per head for the inhabitants, to be paid 'one third part in wheat, one third part in rie or pease, and the other third part in Indian corn. They were to be constantly watched by a herdsman,' and kept in a yard at night to protect them from the wild beasts. Capt. Wheeler agreed to build a house 40 feet by 18, and 12 stud,' covered with shingles, and to have a 'pair of chimneys;' and a barn 40 by 24, and 12 high, to be left for the use of the town after the expiration of the lease."

The town was incorporated in 1735, one hundred years from the incorporation of Concord. The surface of the town is rough and uneven, though there are no considerable hills; and with some exceptions the soil is rocky and hard to cultivate. It contains, however, many good farms. The principal employment of the inhabitants is agriculture. There are, however, from 15,000 to 20,000 barrels annually manufactured here, and this business is a source of considerable income. There are two Congregational churches in this town, one for the Orthodox, the other for Unitarians. This place is 21 miles N. W. of Boston, and 5 N. Westerly from Concord. Population, 1,071. The first meeting-house (42 feet by 36, and 21 feet high) was built in 1736, and served as a place of worship till the present one was erected, in 1808. The Rev. John Swift was the first minister ordained in this town; this was on Nov. 8, 1738. During the prevalence of the small-pox in Acton, in 1775, he was severely attacked, and was never able to preach afterwards. He died the same year, in the 37th year of his ministry. The Rev. Moses Adams was next ordained here, June 25, 1778. He died in 1819, aged 70. The Rev. Marshall Shed in 1820 became their next pastor; he was dismissed at his own request, in May, 1831. The Orthodox society seceded from the town, and formed a separate parish during the latter part of Mr. Shed's ministry, and the Rev. James T. Woodbury was ordained over them, Aug. 29, 1832. The Universalist society in this town was organized in 1816, and incorporated in 1825.

ASHBY.

THIS town was incorporated in 1767. It is situated at the northwestern extremity of the county. This township is on elevated land, varied with hills and valleys, furnishing rich pastures and agreeable prospects. This is an agricultural town, and the farms are productive. The two churches in the central part of the town stand on high land, and may be seen from a great distance. Population, 1,201. Distance, 25 miles from Concord, and 42 from