Charlemont, Massachusetts, USA (Zoar)
1848 - Charlemont

This town was incorporated in 1765. During the French and Indian wars, this being one of the frontier towns, it was open to their ravages, in the limits of this town were three garrisons, Taylor's, Rice's, and Hawk's. These were of a cordon of fortifications projected by Col. Williams in the year 1754. These works were either mounts, a diminutive kind of block-house, or stockaded dwelling-houses, bearing the names of the resident families, defensible only against musketry. In June, 1755, as a party of people were at work in a meadow in the upper part of Charlemont, near Rice's fort, they were attacked by a party of Indians; Captain Rice and Phineas Rice were killed, and Titus King, and Asa Rice, a lad, were captured, conveyed to Crown Point, and from thence to Canada. King was some time afterward carried to France, then to England, and from thence he returned to Northampton, his native place. The Congregational church in this town was organized in Jutie, 1788; the Rev. Isaac Babbit, the first Congregational minister, was settled here in 1796; he resigned in 1798. He was succeeded by Rev. Joseph Field, who resigned in 1823. The next minister, Rev. Wales Tileston, was settled in 1825; he resigned in 1837.

The above is an eastern view in the central part of Charlemont, showing the Baptist and Methodist churches; 17 miles from Greenfield, 16 from Adams, 55 from Troy, N. Y., and about 104 from Boston. The Baptist church is the nearest building in the view, having six windows on the southern side; the Methodist church, a small building. is seen farther northward; it has a tower, and stands on an elevation of ground. There is a little village northward of these churches, which is but partially seen in the engraving. The highest mountainous elevation, seen in the distance, is called Mount Peak, and is upwards of 1000 feet in height. Deerfield river, which flows at the foot of this elevation, winds through the whole length of the town. High hills and mountainous elevations in many places rise immediately from its banks, affording many views of picturesque and delightful scenery. Agriculture is the principal business of the inhabitants. In 1837, there were 3,355 merino sheep, and 1,398 of other kinds; the value of wool produced, $7,460. Population of the town, 994. In 1838, a large proportion of an unincorporated tract of mountainous and broken Land, called Zoar, with few inhabitants, on the western border of the town, was, by an act of the legislature, added to this town.

Historical Collections Relating to the History... John Warner Barber, Worcester, Warren Lazell, 1848

Visit Charlemont, Massachusetts, USA (Zoar)
Discover the people who lived there, the places they visited and the stories they shared.