xt737p8tf034 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt737p8tf034/data/mets.xml Historical Records Survey (Mass.) United States. Work Projects Administration. Division of Community Service Programs. Massachusetts Historical Records Survey (Mass.) United States. Work Projects Administration. Division of Community Service Programs. 1941 [iii], 93 p.: ill. 27 cm. UK holds archival copy for ASERL Collaborative Federal Depository Library Program libraries and the Federal Information Preservation Network. Call Number FW 4.14:M 382/3/no.6/v.2 books English Boston, Mass.: the Survey This digital resource may be freely searched and displayed in accordance with U. S. copyright laws. Massachusetts Works Progress Administration Publications Bernardston (Mass.)--Archival resources Public records--Massachusetts--Bernardston Bernardston (Mass.)--History--Sources Archival resources--Massachusetts--Bibliography Archives--Massachusetts--Bibliography Inventory of City and Town Archives of Massachusetts. No. 6, Franklin County, vol. II, Bernardston, 1940 text Inventory of City and Town Archives of Massachusetts. No. 6, Franklin County, vol. II, Bernardston, 1940 1941 1941 2020 true xt737p8tf034 section xt737p8tf034 IﬂV€ﬂ?G%%
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INVENTORY OF CITY AND TOWN ARCHIVES

OF MASSACHUSETTS

No. 6 Franklin County

Vol. 11 Bernardston

Prepared by
The Historical Records Survey
Division of Community Service Programs
Work Projects Administration

*****

The Historical Records Survey
Boston, Massachusetts
1941

a1 Records Surve"

“10.551111
Sar gent B. Child, Wauional DiLeCtor
Car 1. J. Wennerblad, State Supervise: of Research and
Record "mounts 111I‘Iassz101;uset'b<
nron S. Gilmart1v Sizte emperviror of the F‘1storical
Records Sur"oV 111 Massachuswb 10
31.13101: oi‘

u1193nce Kerr
Rob :11"

1‘51 ._ 1 130111711 38101181”
1. Phillino, Revj Ll Supin v1$C1
Laroli G. Dunn in1

ct 0 1’

ZS nDLIhlSTRhlIOD

1d 0. Hunter, AVUJng Commisojonc1
.chn J. thonough, Regionm}
Denis w. Delaney

Director
St to Ad11iniswrator

‘1‘ TH? E 'STOEZICI‘JJ 1111 W‘OPW‘

Mo oURVT‘Y BPOTELT IN HASSﬁCFUoL‘1S
Drederic W.

Cook,

ﬁe rotary of the Commonwealth

PREFAC h

Dy authority of arPresidential Letter, the Historical Records Survey
was established in January, 1936, under the national direction of Dr.
Luther U. Evans, as a federally sponsored project of the Work Projects
Administration. Since August 31, 1939, the sponsorship of the Massachusetts
unit of the survey has been undertaken by Frederic W. Cook, Secretary of
tie Commonwealth. Since March, 1940 the individual state projects of the
Historical Records Survey have been under the national direction of Sargent
B. Child, who, as field representative of Dr. Evans, had had technical
supervision of the work of the survey in New England from its inception.
The present writer has been in direct charge of the project in Massachusei'i
from August lOZG to September 1940 when he was succeeded by Aron S. Gilmartin.

The purpose of the project is to survey, preserve and render acces—
sible historical source materials of all kinds. Its work has fallen
naturally into the following main divisions: public records, private
manuscripts, church records, early American imprints, historical portraits
and newspapers. Practically all historical material falls under one or
another of these divisions. In bringing this material under control
certain techniques have been found practicable, depending on the nature
of the subject matter, and using variously the methods of the inventory,
the guide. the calendar, the check list or the index in the publication
of the result. For public records, church records and portraits, the
method of the inventory has worked best; for historical manuscripts, the
guide or, in rare cases where the material was of unusual importance,
the calendar; for imprints, the check list; for newspaper and court rec—
ords, the index; and so on.

The actual work of gathering information concerning historical ma—
terials at their place of storage or custody has in most cases been pre-
ceded by a most necessary and, for both the custodian and posterity, im—
portant task, that of putting records in order; of cleaning, dusting, re—
filing, and treating them; and, in short, doing everything possible to
ensure their preservation. This function of the project, often performed
by its workers under almost indescribable conditions of dust, filth,
dampness, poor ventilation, and even vermin may well be regarded by future
generations as a most important contribution of the survey.

Scarcely less important, however, are the editorial processes to
which all field information must be subjected before publication. Here
gaps and inadequacies are spotted, inconsistencies reconciled, and order
brought out of chaos. In the field of public records it has been found
necessary not only to sketch briefly the history of the county or town
and its government but also to preface the inventory of each subordinate
office or institution with an outline of its development, based upon its
own records or upon statutory or other sources. In the inventories of

PrefaCe

church records, similarly, the preparation of the history of each church
constitutes a task equally arduous with that of locating and listing its
records. In Massachusetts two broader works have also been undertaken.
The general historical background, statutory origin and functioning of
county, city, or town offices have been studied with a view to providing
satisfactory accounts of the development of county and municipal govern-
ment generally. These latter undertakings are now happily nearing com—
bletion.

The inventory of the town archives of Bernardston is the second in the
series of such inventories covering the towns of Franklin County. A full
list of publications of the survey to date appears after the index at the
end of this book.

The Survey is indebted to the town officials of Bernardston for their
cooperation and to the Secretary of the Commonwealth, Frederic W. Cook,
without whose sponsorship this project would not be possible.

Aron S. Gilmartin
State Supervisor of Historical
Records Survey

FOREWORD

The Inventory 9: the Town and City Archives 9: Massachusetts is one
of a number of bibliographies of historical materials prepared throughout
the United States by workers on the Historical Records Survey of the Work
Projects Administration. The publication herewith presented, an inventory
of the Archives of Bernardston in Franklin County, is volume II of number
6 of the Massachusetts series.

The Historical Records Survey was undertaken in the winter of 1935—36
for the purpose of providing useful employment to needy unemployed histo-
rians, lawyers, teachers, and research and clerical workers. In carrying
out this objective, the project was organized to compile inventories of
historical materials: particularly the unpublished government documents
and records which are basic in the administration of local government, and
which provide invaluable data for students of political, economic, and
social history. The archival guide herewith presented is intended to meet
the requirements of day—to—day administration by town officials, and also
the needs of lawyers, business men and other citizens who require facts
from the public records for the proper conduct of their affairs. The vol-
ume is so designed ChTT it can be used by the historian in his research
in unprinted sources in the same way he uses the library card catalogue
for printed sources.

The inventories produced by the Historical Records Survey attempt to
do more than give merely a list of records--they attempt further to sketch
in the historical background of the county or other unit of government, and
to describe precisely and in detail the organization and functions of the
government agencies whose records they list. The county. town, and city
inventories for the entire country will, when completed, constitute an en—
cyclopedia of local government as well as bibliography of local archives.

The successful conclusion of the work of the Historical Records Survey,
even in a single town, would not be possible without the support of public
officials, historical and legal specialists, and many other groups in the
community. Their cooperation is gratefully acknowledged.

The Survey directed by Luther H. Evans from its inception in January
1936 to March 1, 1940 when he was succeeded by Sargent B. Child formerly
National Field Supervisor. It operates as a nation—wide project in the
Division of Professional and Service Projects, of which Mrs. Florence
Kerr, Assistant Commissioner, is in charge.

Howard 0. Hunter
Acting Commissioner of Work
Projects Administration

I.
II

III.
IV.
V.
VI.

VII.
VIII.
IX.
X.
XI.
XII.
XIII.
XIV.
XV.

XVI.
XVII.
XVIII.
XIX.
Xx.
XXI.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface.. ...... . ........... . ........... ..........................i
Foreword................................J......................iii

Part Ag Bernaroston and its Records System

Mapccouuo-nhnun-Ioo ....... no ...... ..-.o¢o ..... nouns-o-uuouuc-o-ocu
Historical Sketch...... ttttt e-h ........ nacho-oncoo-I-oooocccuo0‘05

Chart of Town Government........................................24
GoVernmental Organization and Records System....................25

Housing, Care and Accessibility of the Reoords..................27~

Abbreviations. Symbols and Explanatory Notes....................30

Part B. Town Officers and Their Records-

Selectmen............................... ----- ou-ouo-aucooI-oooog33
Town Clerk......... ...... .. ..... ........ ........... .............36

Kinutes and Reports; Vital Statistics;
Nortgages; Dog Licenses; Military Records;
Mutual Society for Detecting Thieves
Registrars of Voters.......................; ................... .ul

Assessors.... ......... .................................. ..... ...ul
Tax Collector.............. .................................... .AB
Town Treasurer-... ....................... ...... ..... ............uu
Reports; Receipts and Disbursements; Notes and Loans
Auditors........... ....... ........................... ...... .....u6
School Uommittee........... ....... .......... ........... .........u7
Superintendent of Schools ............... . ............ ...........u9
School Physician..... ................... ...... .............. ....50
School Nurse........ .......... . ........... ......................5l
Attendance Officer.................. ...... .. ..... ...............51
Election Officer............ ............. .......................51

Trustees of PCWers Institute....................................52
Trustees of Cushman Library.....................................5u
Minutes and Reports; Financial Record;
Circulation and Accessions
BOard of Public Welfare.........................................56
Board of Health.................................................57
Burial Agent......................}.............................57
Inspector of Animals and Barns..................................58
Inspector of Slaughtering.......................................58
Superintendent of HighWays......................................58

XXII.
XXIII.
XXIV.
XXV.
XXVI.
XXVII.
XXVIII.
XXIX.

XXXI.

XXXII.
XXXIII.
XXXIV.

XXXVI.
XXXVII.
XXXVIII.
XXXIX.

mil.
XLII.
XLIII.

Table of Contents

Constables .................................. ..... ..........59
Fire Warden.......... ..... .... ....... .......................6O
Sealer of Weights and Measures..... :.. ............ .........60
Tree warden...... ..... ......................... ....... ......6O
Moth Superintendent......................... .............. ..61
Public weighers. ....... .. ................................. ..6l
Surveyors of Wood and Lumber.....;..... ....... . ............ .61
Cushman Hall Committee........ ......... . ........ . ...... .....62
Moderator ................ . ............................. .....63
Sexton............. ........ . ..... .............. ............ .63

Part C. Defunct Offices

Fence VieWers........... ..... ...... ........ .................63
Tithingmen................. ...... .. ....... ..................6u
Warden......................................................64
Hog Reeves..................................................65
Deer ReeVes....................... ............ ..............65
Surveyors of Shingles and Clapboards........................65
Surveyor of Wheat...........................................66
Sealer of Leather............... .............. ..............66
HeyWards....................................................66
Field DriVers.... ..... ................ ..... ........... ...... .66
Pound Keeper................................................67
Liquor Agent................................................67

Part D. Districts
Bernardston Fire and Water District..............o.......-..69

Appendix....................................................70
Bibliography......... ....... ................................77
Index................ ...... ...... ................. ..........79
Publications of the Historical Records

Survey in lassaohusetts...................................95

Map 03The
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BERNARDSTON AND ITS RECORDS SYSTEM

HISTORICAL SKETCH

Early in the year 1676. one Captain‘.'illiam Turner was commander
of a troop of frontiersmen engaged in constant struggles with the
Indians in the Deerfield valley. Born in England. he had been a
tailor in Boston and one of the leading figures in the Baptist
church. For his unconventional views concerning "imnersion." he had
been disenfranchised and imprisoned. and finally had been ordered to
leave Boston in 1668.1

The record of the General Court order issued on May 27, 1668.
banishing Turner and his associates provides an interesting page in
the history of the “Anabaptist" movement in Massachusetts. Thomas Gold.
William Turner. and John Farnham. Sr.. had been complained of and stood
"convicted in this court of setting up an unlawful assembly which they
call a church of Christ . . . whereof they have been admonished. warned
and required to desist from their offensive and presumptuous practice."
More. the court charged that 2 years before the men had been enjoined
by the court to cease holding their meetings or propagating their
beliefs; they had been “convented before several courts" and finally
had held. in March. a xneetinr; in Boston "with a great concourse of

people."

The court ruled. therefore. that "this court doe find it
necessary thcﬁ'they be removed to some other part of this country
or elsewhere." If found in the vicinity without the express
permission of the officials they Were to be jailed without bail.
and denied more than two visitorsiat any time. The sentence was
ordered carried out by July 20th.

More than 8 years later, on May 18. 1676. Captain Turner. at the
head of lhl men. surprised a group of several hundred Indians en-
oamped at a point where the Fall River empties into the Connecticut.
now known as Turners Falls. Three hundred Indians were killed in
the first surprise attack. but they rallied and forced the whites to
retreat with heavy losses, including that of the Captain himself.

1. Charles Henry Pope. The Pioneers of MassachuSetts. p. A65.

2. Records of the Governor and Company of the Massachusetts
Bay in New England. 1628—1686. Nathaniel B. Shurtleff. ed.. IV,
Part—5 c-o 1313-373. 9.3.329.

First Entry p. 311. Historical Sketch

. l
The skirmish became famous as the-“Falls Fight.“

Fifty-eight years later. in 173h. a petition was addressed to the
General Court by Samuel Hune and other surviving officers and soldiers
who had "belonged to the Company of Capt. Turner and the Representatives
of them that are dead . . . praying that this Court would gr(nt them a
tract of land above Deerfield. suitable to make a township."

On November 28. 173a. the General Court granted to the officers and
soldiers who had participated in the Falls Fight. and to their descend-
ants. a tract of unappropriated land 6 miles square. "to t.e northward
of the Town of Deerfield." but only upon condition that the grantees
settle 60 families Within the township in 4 years. each with a house
18 feet square "and four acres of land brought to English grass or
broken up by plowing. and also build a convenient meeting house and
settle a learned orthodox minister among them. . . ." A seventieth
part of the land was to be laid out for the minister. another seVentieth
for the ministry._and 100 acres of land was to be set aside for the
support of a school. In addition the General Court named a committee
to examine all claims lodged for grants. and to accept as grantees only
those who had pagticipated in theiight or one descendant. preferably
the oldest male. The report of this committee was submitted in June.
1735. and its list of those entitled to share in the township Was
accepted by the General Court on January 21. 1Z36. The date is commem-
orated on the seal of the town of Bernardston.

On December 24. 1735. Thomas wells. who had been the bearer of the
original petition to the General Court. was directed to notify the
grantees to appear in some town in the county of Hampshire in order to
choose a moderator and clerk. and to agree upon eff ctivo methods of
laying out and meeting the conditions of the grant.

At this meeting. held at Northampton on January 27, 1736. the
proprietors elected a moderator and a clerk. There Was also elected
a committee of three to decide where the town should lie. to haVe it
surVeyed by a surveyor and chain men. and to have a plat prepared.
which. upon being accepted by tge moderator. WBS‘tO be sent to the
General Court for confirmation.

l. J. G. Holland. History of Western hassachusetts. II. 317.

2. Acts and Resolves. Public and Private. gf the Ezgvinoe of
Massachusetts Bay. 1692—1780, XII. ch. 111, pp. 55-56, hereafter-cited
as Province Acts pg Province Resolves. Also quoted in PrOprietor's
Records. first vol.. 1735-1819. pp. 3a. 3b,. E22 entry 8.

3. Proprietor's Records, first vol.. l735~1819. pp. 3a. 3b.
§§2_entry 8.

4. Massachusetts Archives. CXIV. 605—608.

5. Ibid.. p. 197; Province Resolves. XII. oh. 167. p. 197.

6. Proprietor's Records. first vol.. 1735-1819. pp. 6. 7.
See entry 8.

Historical Sketch First Entry p. 34

On the first hednesday in May the proprietors again met at
Northampton and drew lots for thefirst division of the land.
by October 6.,1736. when the proprietors met again. the township had
been surveyed. and they were now in a position to vote that only a
part of the entire territory should be allotted to the grantees; that
each proprietor should have not less than 50 acres for a home lot;
and that intervals or meadow land should be additional and divided
later.

On March 30. 1737. the proprietors elected a treasurer as an
additional officer ano accepted the report of a subcommittee recom-
mending that the tract bo diviued into 100 lots. of which 3 had
already been "Pitched upon“ for the minister. the miniSTry. and the
school respectchly.J Proprietors who had not yet drawn their lots
were given an additional opportunity to do so. A few months later.
on May 4. tne progrietors elected a committee to discover "which of
ye Progrietors will be Settled, to ye number of Sixty.“ and voted
that these 60 settlers should furnish the treasurer with a bond of
100 pounds to insure their living up to the requirements of the General
Court. Each of the 37 proprietors who was not expected to settle
immediately was asse sed 18 pounds for building the meeting house and
settling a minister.§ In the s e year. 1737. the proprietors directed
that a saw mill should be built. It was completed by l7h0. for in
that year the proprietors were able to elect a committee of three to
build a bridge - the first in the plantation - "over Fall River from
ye Saw Mill."7

The proprietors. hOWever. had been over-sanguine. On February
1. 1738. it was reported that 60 settlers could not be found.
Consequently. the EL aSSessed upon the non-resident proprietors was
raised to 22 pounds.‘ On October 18. 1738. lots were drawn for the
meadow land.9 Fifty-fiVe persons were found finally who fromised to
settle in the township and who paid their bonds; the first four '
families. those of John Burk. Deacon Elisha Sheldon. Lieutenant
Ebenezer Sheldon. and Samuel Connable. Were settled in the fall of
1738. They built fortified homes 08 heivy logs called "Deacon
Sheldon's Fort." "Burk Fort." etc.1 On June 13. 1739, at a

1. Ibid... p. 13.
2. Ibii‘... p. 9.
3. Ibio... p. 16.
Li. IbiCl..
5- Ibiao' p. 20.

6o Ibiao, pp. 19’ 22.

70 Ibid... p. LL70

8. $13.31., p. 27.

9- Ibid.. p. 31]..

Lucy C. Kellogg. A hisjgry g: the Town 2:

ﬁernardston. p. 27.

First Entry p. 3b Historical Sketch

proprietors' meeting held in Deerfield, a committee was elected to
"Prepaire Materials and Necessaryes for the Building the Meetinghouse,“
which should be “50 feet in length and 40 feet in bredth. and 23 feet
betWeen Joynts.ll On October 17. l7h0, a committee was elected to
provide preaching,2 and on September 23. l7ul, the selection of Rev.
John Norton was approved. He was granted for his settlement the
minister's lots, the uSe of the ministry land, and 200 pounds, half in
cash and half in work or building materials. His salary for the first
5 years was to be 135 pounds a year. then to be increased 5 pounds each
year until it reached 170 pounds annually; "The Bills to be anuil to
Silver at twenty-nine Shillings per ounce . . . and his fire wood
brought to his dore.“u

In 1741 Thomas wells. agent for the proprietors, repreSentcd to
the General Court that. by a former grant. 500 acres of the best land
had been taken out, that the grant of 6 miles square was not as valuable
as other grants. that the number of grantees was more than expected,
and that a great part of the land was rough and barren. He therefore
petitioned the General Court for an additional grant of a gore of
adjacent land. On August 5. l7hl, the court necegted the plat of the 1736
grant, and gave to the descendants of two persons who had participated
in the Falls Fight, and who had as yet receiVed no allotment. 26h acres
of land in the gore mentioned in the petition. 1t preL3nted the rust of
the gore to the proprietors provided that it should not eXOeed h.h30
acres in area.5

Work on the meeting house was started immediately. and was Well-
nigh completed by June 1743. In the same Year a committee was elected
by the proprietors to audit the treasurer's accounts. and in the follow—
ing year. 1744. they elected fiVe surveyors of highways.7 On March 25.
1745. Mr. Norton was dismissed.8 But the 17 families Settled in "Fall
Town" by the close of 1743Q Jere now beset by a greater problem. namely.
the impending rupture betwaen Great brituin and France. In NOVember
l7h3 the General Co t granted the township 100 pounds to strengthen
its fortifications. The "forts" already in existence apparently 11
proved adequate, for no additional fortifications were constructed.
Nevertheless. during the course of King George's Jar (l7hh—17h8), all
but two families left the township.12 4

l. Proprietor's Records. first vol., 1735-1819. PP- A3. ht.
gee entry 8.

2. lhig.. p. A8.

3. Ibid., p. 52.

A. lbid.. p. 53. ,
5. Massachusetts Archives. CZIV, 59h-596. i
6. Proprietor's Records. first vol.. 1735—1819. p. 69, Eﬁﬁ entry 8. f
7. 3351., p. 73.
8. Ibldo’ p. 75.

9. Kellog. pp. 233.. p. 26.

IO. Province Resolves. XIII. ch. 18h. pp. 311. 312.

ll. Proprietor's Records, first vol.. 1735-1819. passim. §§§ entry 8.
Kellogg, 2p. cit.. p. 36.

Historical Sketch First Entry p. 3A

As a result. the township fell into grave difficulties. A .
proprietors' clerk Was elected who refused to serve; on January lh.
1752. the General Court. informed of the matter. empowered Ebenezer
Sheldon to call future meetings. and appointed a committee to dis-
cover Which f the proprietors had not fulfilled the conditions of
their grant. This committee visited the place. and. on May 8. 1752,
reported back to the General Court that many proprietors had abandoned
the township during the War. that some of the lands were grown over
with brush, that sons of the buildings had been burnt. and that even
those proprietors who carried out their tasks had not done so within
the allotted h years. They added that the minister had left during
the war. and that there were only 15 grantees who Were still residing
in the township.2

The following year some of the proprietors of Fall Town peti-
tioned the General Court that they be empOWered to collect the taXes
legied on each right. and any further taxes necessary to pay for
preaching and settling another minister; and that the court determine
Which of the holders of the 9? rights should be obliged to settle.
On December 31. 1753. the General Court responded by ordering all
concerned to show cause. if they had any. why the petition should not
be granted. and appointed a committee to decide What further steps
should be taken.3 This committee recommended. in turn, that another
committee be appointed to repair to the township at the proprietors'
expense and there to consider the seVeral matters contained in
previous petitions. The latter committee. appointed January 4. l75h.u
met with the proprietors on August 20. 17 h. Its report. accepted
by the General Court on November 6. l75h. recommended that a
treasurer be named and empowered to require all collectors forthwith
to account for and to pay the several assessments committed to them.
that the proprietors be empowered to levy taxes for preaching and to
summon a meeting for the purpose of selecting a minister. and that ‘
all taxes be on the basis of allotments laid out in the first grant.
The report listed the £8 lots where the conditions of settlement had
been met, and recommended that the proprietors of the remaining 32'
lots be enjo ned to settle immediately, at the risk of forfeiting
their right. Despite these difficulties there were. by 1760. 25
families in the township.7 and on March 5. 1761. the proprietors.
at a meeting held in “Falltown.” extended a call to Rev. Job Wright.

"-mw- .— ——

l. Province ggsolves. XIV. oh. 116. p. 585.

2. Massachusetts Archives. CXVI. l9Qvl92.

3. Ibid.. pp. u21. h22; Province Agt§.§gg gesolves. XV.
ch. 109. pm 50.

h. MaSSachusetts Archives. CXVI. 423.

5. Ibid.. CXVI. 42h-h25; Province Resolves. XV. ch. 10h. p. 208.

6. Massachusetts Archives. cm. 424. 425; Province Resolves.
XV. Oh. 1011.. p5 2080

7. Kellogg. pp, 323.. p. 37.

10
First Entry p. 3h Historical Sketch

Mr. Wright “ex0epted” the terms of settlement and salary. and was in—
ducted on July 1. 1761.1

On December 16. 1761. eight proprietors of Fall Town. including
John Burk and two members of the Sheldon family. petitioned GOVernor
Francis Bernard. His Majesty's Council. and the House of Representatives
that the place be incorporated into a town:

by the name of Barnard and be invested with all the [rivilegcs

of the rest of the Towns in this province. and be directed to

raise their taxes and defray their charges as the rest of the

towns do excepting a reasonable tax upon the unimprov~d lands for

the present. and considering the large number of proprietors in

said Township. their great expense in settling two ministers, and

a large tract of land falling into New Hampshire. your memorialists

humbly pray the proprietors of said Fall Tenn may have a tract of

land granted to them to make them equal With other grantees of the

government for service done. . . .L
A few months later. on March 3. 1762, the Governor concurring on

March 6. the General Court resPonded favorably:

the Plantation aforeSaid bounded as followeth (viz) north on
the Province line. South partly on Doerrield partly on Green—
field. East upon Northfield and West on Colrain be and hereby
is erected into a Town by the Name of Bernardstcn and that all
the Inhabitants thereof be and hereby are Invested with all
the Powars Priviledaes and Immunities which the Inhabitants

of the Towns within this Province do enjoy.

Elijah ”illiams was named to summon theiirsn town meeting to choose
"Such Officers as are or shall be required by law to manage thn Affairs

of Said Town."3

The town was named in honor of Governor Bernard. although the
petitioners for incorporation asked that the town he called "Barnard."u

The Warrant calling the first meeting rend:

l. Proprietor's Records. first vol.. 15532i6l§jwzzﬁl§§:_gvw—mwNH“
Egg entry 8.

2. Massachusetts Archives. UAVII, 760. Full text also in
Bernardston (Town) Records. second vol.. l786-l815. p. 1. see
entry 7. hereaftea cited as Town Records.

3. fzggigge Acts. IV. ch. 42. pp. 530. 5B1. Full text also in
Egan Records, first vol.. 1762-86. p. 1, 232 entry 7.

h. Kellogg. 92. git.. p. 38. The governor's lane was actually
pronounced as though spelled with an "a"; the petitioners were employing
a phonetic form of spelling. The name of the town is. however.

Ber‘ nards ton. '

r..._..l.

11
Historical Sketch First Entry p. 34

Jhereas the Subscribers haVe received a Harrant from Haj'r
Elijah williams of Deerfield {herein I am Required to Jarn
all the Inhabitants of this Town who are Qualified by law
to Vote in Town Affairs to meet at the Meeting House in this
van on the Eleventh day of May next at Nine of the Clock
in the forenoon to cnoose all Such Officers as are or shall
be by law Required to managn the iffairs of the Town These
are therefore to darn the above Mentioned Inhabitants to
meet at the tine and Place abOVe gentioned then and there
to act on the above mentioned Affairs.

' Ebef'r Shelden Jun'r
Dated in Bernardston April 26th 1762

Sum oned in this fashion, the voters held the first town meeting
and elected a moderator. town clerk. town treasurer. three combined
selectmcn and assessors. a constable. tithingman. two " ardens."
three surveyors of highWays. two deer reeves. three ogreaves. two
fence viewers. and a sealer of WeighTS and measures. At the second
annual me ting. held at the home of Remembrance Sheldon (or Sheldon)
on March 7. 1763. additional officers 0 lled surVQyors of wheat and
surveyors of shingles and clapboards were elected.3

By 1765 Bernardstcn had a gogulation of 230.“ They Were an
industrious and resourceful people. if only owing to the exigencies
of ore ting a civilization in the midst of wilderness., In 176A
they built two roads. one from “the Bridge by the Saw Hill to Lieut
Sheldens." the other from house lot number 16 to Moses Scott's house.
where the two roads met. In 1767 another road from the saw mill to
Joseph Slate‘s home and from there to Sergeant Allen‘s house as far
as the swamp was confirmed. In 176A also. it was voted to build a
pound 3h feet square.7 In 1767 a committee was elected "to clear up
one acre within the bounds of the burying place where the land has

1. Town Records. first vol.. 1762-86. p. 3. 322 entry 7.

2. Ibidcp pp. 3' 1+.

30 Ibido. p. 6.

4. Abstract of the Census 9; Massachusetts. 1860. From
§Q§_E}ghth_gL§J QEREEE' prepared under the direction of the
Secretary of the Commonwealth. p. 256. Hereinafter cited as
Abstract. lgég.

5. Proprietor's Records. first vol.. 1735-1819. p. 24.
Egg entry 8.

6- Town Records. first vol.. 1762—86. p. 19. £23 entry 7.

7. Ibid.. p. 8.

12
First Entry p. 3h Historical Sketch

been used for burying.“l This old burying ground. which was fenced in
1856. is still Bernardston's only