By B. B. Edwards.

EXPLANATION.-The following mark † signifies installed, and settled as colleague. Those with this mark

were not graduated at college. A number of towns, which, in alphabetical order, would come regularly into the present article, will be included in the second part, to be published in May next.

Joseph Fullert

Notes,

ACCOMPANYING THE PRECEDING STATISTICS.

[We have been employed, at various times, for several years, in collecting the facts embodied in the preceding table, and in the succeeding notes. In addition to the advantages derived from a long residence in the old county of Hampshire, and a personal acquaintance with most of the living ministers, we have at various times visited a large number of towns, and examined the church and town records, the tombstones of deceased ministers, etc.; we have also carried on an extensive correspondence, and have searched all the accessible papers and books relating to the subject. We have, however, failed to obtain information in regard to some points, and we have fallen, doubtless, into errors in other points. In reference to any errors which may be discovered, however minute, we shall be glad to receive corrections, so that they may be noticed in our next number. Any further information in regard to the towns and churches not included in the present number, will be most thankfully received. The numerous individuals who have kindly aided our inquiries, will please accept our acknowledgments.]

OLD HAMPSHIRE COUNTY. From the first records of this county, it appears that the first court was held at Springfield, March 27, O. S. 1660; the second at Springfield, Sept. 25, 1660; the third at Northampton, March 26, 1661. March 31, 1663, the court then sitting at Northampton is first styled the county court. April 26, 1663, at a meeting of Capt John Pynchon, Henry C. Clark, Capt. Aaron Cook, Lieut. David Wilton, and Elizur Holyoke, all chosen by these several towns, viz. Springfield, Northampton, and Hadley, to order and settle the affairs of the county; they agreed and determined at the beginning of the year that the shire meetings of this county should be held yearly on the first of March annually, alternately at Springfield and Northampton. The county of Hampshire, before its division, was the largest in Massachusetts; it contained nearly 2,000 square miles, extending 50 miles in length from N. to S., and nearly 40 in breadth from E. to W. The valley of the Connecticut is about one-third of the whole breadth. There are four considerable rivers which unite with the Connecticut, Miller's river and Chickopee on the east; Deerfield and Westfield on the west. Brimfield, the oldest settlement on the hills, was incorporated in 1731, 96 years after Springfield, the oldest settlement in the valley. Emigrants from the north of Ireland planted themselves at various times in Palmer, Greenwich, Pelham, Blandford and Colerain. The settlers of the remaining towns were nearly all of English descent. No county in the State has uniformly exhibited a more firm adherence to order and good government; or a higher respect for learning and religion. In 1790, the whole number of houses in the county was 9,181; of families, 9,617; of souls, 59,681. "This noble county," we use the language of President Dwight," after having existed as a fine Doric column of industry, good order, morals, learning and religion, in Massachusetts for more than a century, was by an unwise legislature broken into three parts. Of its ruins were formed Franklin on the north, Hampshire in the middle, and Hampden on the south; each of them extending through the original breadth of the county of Hampshire." We believe it has ever been a matter of regret among a large part of the people in the three counties, that the division took place. The population of the three counties, at four different periods, was as follows:

The census of 1837 does not include paupers, nor foreigners not naturalized. According to the State valuation of 1830, the property in Hampshire was estimated at $5,603,255 87; in Franklin, at $5,452,300 00; in Hampden, at $6,548,342 20; in all, $17,604,197 07.