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.

AMHERST. Amherst was originally a precinct of Hadley, called "Hadley East or Third Precinct." The town was incorporated in 1759. Population in 1837, 2,602. The first church was organized Nov. 7, 1739. Mr. Parsons was born March 21, 1712. He is spoken of with much respect by those who remember him.-His son, Dr. Parsons, who succeeded him, was an excellent sermonizer, and possessed uncommon pulpit talents. He died suddenly at Wethersfield, Ct., where his remains were interred. He received the degree of D. D. from Brown university, in 1800. The ministers who belonged to the council which ordained Dr. Parsons, were the Rev. Messrs. Robert Breck of Springfield, Joseph Ashley of Sunderland, John Hubbard of Northfield, Samuel Hopkins, D. Ď. of Hadley, Roger Newton, D. D. of Greenfield, Simon Backus of Granby, and Josiah Dana of Barre.-Mr. Clark was previously settled in the ministry at Weymouth, Ms. and at Southbury, Ct. After his dismission from Amherst, he was settled at Bennington, Vt., and Adams, N. Y. He now resides without pastoral charge in New York city. He has published several occasional single sermons, one volume of sermons, octavo, and recently three volumes of sermons, duodecimo, the latter including the sermons in the octavo volume.Mr. Washburn's father was the Rev. Azel Washburn, of Royalton, Vt. He was the fourth son of ten children. He joined the church when about 13 years of age, while his native town was blessed with a special revival of religion. In early life, he labored on a farm; and afterwards, in consequence of an accident, which occasioned a slight lameness through life, he pursued a mechanical trade. He fitted for college at the academies in Royalton and Randolph. In 1817, he entered the sophomore class in the university of Vermont. The year following his graduation, he spent as a tutor in the college. He then pursued a full course of study at the theological seminary at Andover. The winter of 1824-5 he passed in missionary labors in New Orleans. After his return, before his settlement in Amherst, he preached at Salem and Cohasset, Ms. The church at Amherst enjoyed his labors for five years and a half. His death was occasioned by a lingering consumption. His character was one of uncommon excellence. The prominent traits were unaffected simplicity, forgetfulness of self, cautious and sound judgment, affability and cheerfulness, warm and generous benevolence, and especially harmony and consistency of character. As a preacher he was simple, plain, sincere, affectionate and discriminating. He had a meek and gentle spirit, and his labors as a pastor were much blessed.-Mr. Adam is a native of England, and passed a number of years as a missionary of the London Missionary Society, at Benares, in Hindoostan. Two volumes, and seven tracts from his pen, are in the Andover library, among which are a Hindee grammar and dictionary. He is now laboring in the State of New York.-Mr. Bent was settled in the first church in Weymouth, Oct. 13, 1824; dismissed at his own request in 1833; installed in Falmouth, Feb. 5, 1834.

The second parish in Amherst was incorporated in 1783. The church was organized Oct. 28, 1782. Mr. Draper resided, we believe, in Amherst, after his dismission, till his death. Mr. Perkins is a son of the venerable Nathan Perkins, D. D., of the west parish of Hartford, Ct.

The south parish was incorporated in 1824. The church was organized Oct. 14, 1824. Mr. Chapin studied theology at the Bangor theological seminary. He was re-settled in the ministry in Westhampton, July 15, 1829, dismissed in the spring of 1837, for the purpose of laboring as a missionary in Lower Canada.-Mr. Gates was previously settled in Montague.

The north parish was incorporated in 1826. The church was formed Nov. 15, 1826. Mr. Hunt was born at Belchertown, September 17, 1796. At the age of sixteen, he made a public profession of religion, and united with the church in Belchertown, then under the care of the Rev. Experience Porter. At the age of nineteen, he commenced his preparatory studies for college. He was assisted in his course by the American Education Society. In 1821 he became connected with the theological institution at Andover. He left the seminary in the spring of 1824 on account of ill health. In the fall of the same year, he was licensed to preach by the Hampshire Central Association. He then preached as a stated supply a little more than a year in the south parish in Woodstock, Ct. After his settlement in Amherst, he labored greatly to the profit and edification of his people till the day of his death. Valuable additions were made to his church from year to year, and he was permitted to see two extensive revivals of religion. Mr. Hunt was an invalid during most of his life. An alarming attack of hemorrhage while he was at Andover gave a shock to his constitution from which he never recovered. During the last three or four years of his life, his lungs were badly diseased. But wasted as he was, to a mere skeleton, he continued to perform his duties till the last day of his life. To those acquainted with his infirmities, it was constantly a matter of surprise, that he could accomplish a fourth part of what he did accomplish. He had long learned to view his departure as near, and he was not surprised when the summons came. He was a man who will be long remembered for his sterling qualities. Retiring in his disposition, and perfectly unassuming in his manners, he was peculiarly fitted to be a private friend and a social companion. As a Christian, he was humble, intelligent and active. No grace appeared brighter than humility. In his preparations for the pulpit, he was 34

VOL. X.