History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

1700.] MODERATOR—MILL RIVER—ORDINARIES—JAIL. 463
few years they adopted the heroic method of turning the
channel of the river, through the great swamp, directly
into Connecticut River.
A Bridge built at A bridge was ordered to be built across Mill
Enos Kingsiey's River, in 1700, below Enos Kingsley's gate.
Its location was probably under "Fort
Hill," as the river then ran in its old channel. "Capt.
Clap and Benjamin hastins" were chosen a committee to do
the work. It was "to be carried on By such persons as
have Land in that end of the meadow w^*" this highway
leads too," and was to "be set off in their due in other
highway work."
Tar and Turpen- Gathering turpeutiue from pine trees seems
*i°^- to have been a profitable business, but was
not generally followed till a few years previous
to the opening of the eighteenth century. Tar was
produced in considerable quantities before this date, but
there is no record concerning the time when the j^ractice
commenced in this section. From time to time restrictions
were placed upon the "burning of candle wood to make
tar," in nearly all the towns. ^ Turpentine was obtained
from living pine trees. The town controled the trees on
the common land, first to preserve the timber, and afterwards
for purposes of revenue. In order to obtain turpentine,
the trees were boxed. A hollow place was cut in the
tree near the ground, and portions of the bark stripped off.
Into this excavation or box the turpentine slowly flowed,
and from it was dipped into barrels. Many barrels of it
were gathered in Hamj)shire County,^ and sent to Hart-
1 Gov. Winthrop describes the method of making tar in 1663. He states that "the
most tar is made about Connecticut, about 50 miles up the river, where there be
great plains of these pines on both sides of the river. Some has been made in Massachusetts
and New Plymouth." The pine knots remaining from decayed trees were
'• gathered into heaps upon a hearth made of clay and stone, so high that the tar may
run out into a vessel. The tar runs into the center of the bed or hearth and thence
runs out one side in a gutter. The knots are piled up and covered with clay or
loam, like a coal pit. The wood is fired and the tar runs out into a barrel or other
vessel. After the tar has run out, the rest is excellent charcoal."
2 Joseph Parsons of Northampton sent down from Hampshire above five hundred
barrels of turpentine from 1696 to 1700, and much was sent from Hadley by Samuel
Porter and others. Many of the turpentine barrels contained about three hundred
pounds. The price here for a few years after 1708, was 5s. 6d. to 6s. per one hundred
twelve pounds, and in Boston about 2s. more. One hundred twelve pounds of turpentine
yielded about three gallons of spirits of turpentine. It was distilled in Boston.—History
of Hadley, pp. 301, 302.