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

1773] POLITICAL MATTERS— CENSUS—JAIL—NEW TOWNS. 335
towards building a meeting-house and settling a minister.
The boundary lines of the proposed new district, which
also included Bartlett\s Mills, were designated by the committee
and accepted by the town. Tliis line as reported
extended on the south to Connecticut River, and included
Mt. Tom and the land east of it to the river. The town,
however, voted that the settlers living on that tract, might
remain in Northampton " if they continued desirous of it."
They did continue desirous of it, and the easterly boundary
of the new town was run west of the mountain, and that
is the reason why the villages of Smiths Ferry and Mt. Tom
still remain a part of this town. In June the petitioners
again came before the town asking for a larger appropriation
and increase of territory. The request for more
money was negatived, but the northern boundary was
changed so as to include much more land. In December,
the representative in the General Court was instructed to
" use his best endeavor" to procure the incorporation of
the new town. In January of the following year, about a
dozen of the inhabitants in the northeasterly part of Southampton,
petitioned the Legislature to be set off with the
Pascommuck settlers. They argued that they lived at a
great distance from the meeting-house in Southampton,
and that they were very "near these brethren" who de-
sired to be incorporated into a new town. They disclaimed
any dislike to their minister or any disagreement with the
other inhabitants of the district. Southampton, very nat-
urally, resisted this projected dismemberment, and a remonstrance
to the above petition was forwarded to the Leg-
islature. In this document it was conteiided
"that the westerly part of Southampton is mountainance and bar-
ren, that most of the lands in the town are poor, and in their natural
state generally sold at 4s. an acre. The inhabitants were much kept
back bj' the last two wars, and the town was but just able to pay public
charges. Some who dwelt at the south west part will probably soon be
joined to Norwich or Westfield. and have already concerted measures for
that purpose. The meeting house is old. and a new one must be built.
If the petitioners are set off, there will be great difficulty about a spot for
a new one. The petitioners do not any of them live over four miles
from the meeting house, and the roads are good, and they have some of
the best land in the district. They also intend to draw away others
from said distric^t, who will be nearer to their proposed new meeting
house."