History of Ashfield, Massachusetts, USA

Ashfield, Massachusetts
Franklin county. This town was first settled in 1754, and, until its incorporation in 1764, it was called Huntstown. Population, 1837,—1,656. This town is on elevated land between Deerfield and Westfield rivers, to each of which it sends a small tributary. It has small manufactures of leather, scythe snaiths, spirits and essences, and about 8000 sheep. It is 105 miles W. from Boston, 12 S.W. from Greenfield, and 15 N.W. from Northampton.

Ashfield was granted to Captain Ephraim Hunt, of Weymouth, for military services in the expedition against Canada, in 1690, and it was called Huntstown before its incorporation.

The surface is hilly, and the inhabitants are chiefly farmers.

Distance from Greenfield, 18 miles; from Boston, 105.

The territory comprising this town was granted to Capt. Ephraim Hunt, of Weymouth, as a compensation for services rendered in the Canada expedition of 1690. It was actually conveyed to his heirs forty-six years afterwards, and was settled by a few families in 1742. It was incorporated as a town in 1764; previous to that time it went by the name of Huntstown, from the name of its original proprietor. Richard Ellis, a native of Ireland, was the first permanent settler; Thomas Phillips, with his family, from Easton, was the next; Chileab Smith, from South Hadley, was the third settler. These persons all settled in the north-eastern part of the town. Mr. Chileab Smith settled on the farm now owned and occupied by his son Chaleab, who is 96 years of age, and in good health at this time, (1837.)

The first regular church formed in this town was of the Baptist denomination. It was constituted in July, 1761, and consisted of nine members. In the following August the Rev. Ebenezer Smith, the ...

Ashfield, a post-township of Franklin county, Massachusetts, about 105 miles W. by N. of Boston, between the Westfield and Deerfield rivers. Population, 1394.

Before the commencement of the suit the lady offered to settle for $1,000; but the Selectmen of the town were obstinate and preferred the suit.

Ashfield is an uneven and hilly grazing town in the southwestern part of Franklin County, having Hawley and Buckland on the north, Conway on the east, Goshen on the south, and Plainfield and Hawley on the west. It lies at an elevation of about 1,200 feet, on the highlands midway between Deerfield and Westfield rivers, sending to the former, as tributaries, Clesson's Brook, Bear and South rivers; and to the latter, Stone's Brook and Swift River. Peter's Hill, Ridge Hill, Mill Hill, and Mount Owen are prominent elevations. Great Pond, near the centre of the town, covering sixty acres, is enclosed as a beautiful gem between them. From it runs romantic South River, flowing through the central village on the plain, then winding southward about the base of the hills, to South Village on the eastern side of the town; whence it turns northward again to meet Deerfield River. Ground laurel and bay are common here. Calcareous mica-schist forms the geological structure.

The town has 24,097...