xt7k9882nv31 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7k9882nv31/data/mets.xml Historical Records Survey (Mass.) United States. Work Projects Administration. Division of Professional and Service Projects. Massachusetts Historical Records Survey (Mass.) United States. Work Projects Administration. Division of Professional and Service Projects. 1940 iii, 78 p.: ill. 28 cm. UK holds archival copy for ASERL Collaborative Federal Depository Library Program libraries and the Federal Information Preservation Network. Call Number FW 4.14:M 382/3/no.6/v.3 books English Boston, Mass. : Historical Records Survey This digital resource may be freely searched and displayed in accordance with U. S. copyright laws. Massachusetts Works Progress Administration Publications Public records--Massachusetts--Buckland Archival resources--Massachusetts--Bibliography Archives--Massachusetts--Bibliography Inventory of City and Town Archives of Massachusetts. No. 6, Franklin County, vol. III. Buckland, 1940 text Inventory of City and Town Archives of Massachusetts. No. 6, Franklin County, vol. III. Buckland, 1940 1940 1940 2020 true xt7k9882nv31 section xt7k9882nv31 Mb? &35A

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UBRARiES

No.6, Franklin County
VOLJII. BUCKLAND

.31;

INVENTORY OF CITY AID TOWN ARCHIVES

CFIJSSAGIEETTS

Prepared by
The Historical Records Survey

on of Professional and Service Projects

Divisi
Work Projects Administration

No. 6 Franklin County

Vol. III. BUCKLAKD

*****

The Historical Records Survey
Boston, Kassachusetts
1940

The Historical Records Survey Program

Sargent B. Child,
Carl J. Wennerblad,

Florence Kerr,

Robert Y.
Harold G.

WORK PROJECTS ADMINISTR

Phillips,
Dunney,

TION

F.C. Harrington,

John I. McDonough,

Denis I.

Delaney,

National Director
State Supervisor

Division of Professional and Service Projects

Assistant Commissioner
Regional Supervisor
State Director

Commissioner
Regional Director
State Administrator

PREFACE

By authority of a Presidential Letter, the Historical Records Survey
was established in January, 1936, under the national direction of Dr.
Luther H, Evans, as a federallv sponsored project of the Works Progress
Administration (now the Work Projects Administration). Since federal
sponsorship ceased on August 31, 1939, the sponsorship of the Massa—
chusetts unit of the survev has been undertaken by Frederic W. Cook,
Secretary of the Commonwealth.

The purpose of the project is to survey, preserve and render acces—
sible historical source materials of all kinds. Its work has fallen
naturally into the following main divisions: public records, private
manuscripts. church records, early American imprints, historical portraits
and newspapers. Practically all historical material falls under one or
another of these divisions. In bringing this material under control
certain techniques have been found practicable, depending on the nature
of the subject matter, and using variously the methods of the inventory,
the guide, the calendar, the check list or the index in the publication
of the result. For public records, church records and portraits, the
method 0; the inventory has worked best; for historical manuscripts, the
guide or, in rare cases where the material was of unusual importance,
the calendar; for imprints, the check list; for newspaper and courtt
records, the index; and so on.

The actual work of gathering information concerning historical ma—
terials at their place of storage or custody has in most cases been pre—
ceded by a most necessary and, for both the custodian and posterity, im~
portant task, that of putting records in order; of cleaning, dusting, re—
filing, and treating them; and, in short, doing everything possible to
ensure their preservation. This function of the project, often performed
by its workers under almost indescribable conditions of dust, filth,
dampness, poor ventilation, and even vermin may well be regarded by future
generations as a most important contribution of the survey.

Scarcely less important, however, are the editorial processes to
which all field information must be subjected before publication. Here
gaps and inadequacies are spotted, inconsistencies reconciled, and order
brought out of chaos. In the field of public records it has been found
necessary not only to sketch briefly the history of the county or town
and its government but also to preface the inventory of each subordinate
office or institution with an outline of its development, based upon its
own records or upon statutory or other sources. In the inventories of
church records, similarly, the preparation of the history of each church
constitutes a task equally arduous with that of locating and listing its
records. In Massachusetts two broader works have also been undertaken.
The general historical background, statutory origin and functioning of
county, city, or town offices have been studied with a view to providing
satisfactory accounts of the development of county and municipal govern—
ment generally. These latter undertakings are now happily nearing com—
pletion.

In the field of county records the surveys of eight of the fourteen

counties of Massachusetts are nearing completion. In that of municipal
records, approximately sixty of 350 cities and towns have been covered

Preface

to date including several of the more populous. Editorial work is now
also proceeding on six of an estimated ten volumes of the inventory of
the records of the city of Boston. Some 200 manuscripts depesitories,
large and small, have been surveyed and a preliminary guide to them
published. An inventory of the records of Universalist churches in
Massachusetts will soon be published, and field work is being carried

on in other denominations, particularly in the Unitarian, Congregational,
Baptist and Jewish bodies. A catalogue of portraits painted before

1825 in Massachusetts has been published and editorial work is proceeding
on similar listings for the other New England states and New York State.
A listing of the publications of the Massachusetts unit of the survey
follows at the end of this volume.

This inventory of the town archives of Buckland is the third in the
alphabetical series covering the towns of Franklin County. The field
work and historical research were done in the first instance by Frank Lane
and Ethel Cheves of the survey staff. The historiCal and office sketches
were originally prepared by Samuel Levenson of the Worcester office of the
survey. Both these branches of work were under the direction of Lincoln
E. Ross, supervisor in Worcester and Franklin Counties. The inventory of
records was edited in the Boston office by George F. Terran under the super-
vision of Morris I. Wartow; the historical,governmcntal and office sketches
by the writer. Final approval was given the volume by Sargent B. Child,
field supervisor representing the Washington office. The index was pre—
pared by Charles N. Haskell; the maps, charts and cove's by William Rabin—
owitz, and the technical work of publication was under the dircction of
Ralph Kahn.

The Historical Records Survey is happy to acknowledge the helpfulness
of the officials of the Town of Buckland, the very substantial aid rendered
by lbs. Fannie Shaw Kendrick‘s History of Buckland, 1779-1935, and also the
sponsorship of Secretary of the Commonwealth, Frederic V. Cook, without
which this volume would not have been possible.

Carl J. Wennerblad
State Supervisor
Historical Records Survey

memv—erwﬁ... .. _

FOREWORD

The Inventory of the Town and City Archives of Massachusetts is one of
a number of bibliographies of historical materials prepared throughout the
United States by workers on the Historical Records Survey of the Work Proj-
ects Adninistration. The publication herewith presented, an inventory of
the Archives of Buckland in Franklin County, is volume III of number 6 of
the Massachusetts series.

The Tistorical Records Survey was undertaken in the winter of 1955-53
for thr purpose or providing useful employment to needy unennloyed historians
lawyers, teachers, and research and clerical workers. In carrying out this
objectivc, the project was organized to compile inventories of historical
materials, particularly the unpublished gever mcnt documents and records
which are basic in the administration of local government, and vhich provide
invaluable data for students of political, economic, and social history.

The orclival guide herewith presented is intended to meet the requirements
of day-to—dav administration by town officials, and also the needs of
lawyers, business men and other citi7ens who require facts from.the public
records for the proper conduct of their affairs. mhe volume is so designed
that it can be used by the historian in his research in unprinted sources in
the same way he uses the library card catalogue for printed sources.

The inventories pro uced by the Historical Records Survey attempt to do
more than give merely a list of records--tbey attempt further to sketch in
the historical bac“5round of the county or other unit of government, and to
describe precisely and in detail the organization and functions of the
government agencies whose records they list. The county, town, and city
inventories for the entire country will, when completed, constitute an en—
cyclopedia of local government as well as bibliography of local archives.

The successful conclusion of the work of the Historical Records Survey,
even in a single town, would not be possible without th support of public
officials, historical and legal specialists, and many other groups in the
community. Their cooperation is gratefully acknowledged.

The Survey was organired and has been directed by luther K. Evans, and
operates as a nation-wide project in the Division of Professional and Service
Projects, of which Mrs. Florence Kerr, Assistant Commissioner, is in charge.

F. C. Harrington

Commissioner of Nor? Projects

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XXXVI,
XXXVII.
XXXVIII.
XXXIV.
XL.

Table of Contents

acovouoouo-uonoooon56

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Leasurer of Need and Bark..................... . ....... ........57
Public Weighers.......... ....... .. ....... ..,................5..57
Yodarator.............°..u...n..... ....... .... ......... ........58
Fence Viewers.......,......,........... ..........a............58

Field DriverS........... .. ......... ....59
Ihssachusetts State Archives Pertaining to Buckland......,.....59

Part C. Defunct Offices

Tithingmen.....c.-a.c.o...-.....c..-...........................61

Sealer of Leather......... . ...... .. ...... ..61

Hogreeves...........,....,....~...,... ............ .. .,........61
Poundkeoper........ ....... ....a......n.........................61

Auctioneer.....................................,...............62
Sinking Fund Commissioner.......°...u.c........§... ...62
Town Attorneys.................................... ...62
Ice Dealers............................ ..............62
Inspector of Slaughtering............. ....62

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Part D, Districts

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Publications of the Historical Records Survey

in Hassachusetts.................

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Index3.....................................................

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FRANKLIN
COUNTY

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SUCKLAND AND ITS RECORDS SYSTEM

I. AISTORICAL SKETCH

Buckland is a town of about fifteen hundred people in the northWest part
of Massachusetts. It is separated from Shelburne only by the Deerfield RiVer;
the industrial, political and shopping center of both Shelburne and Buck-
land is on the river at Shelburne FallSo On the Buckland side of the falls
are two great powar plants and the Lamson and Goodnow Manufacturing Company.
These. and its distinction as the birthplace of Mary Lyon; founder of Mount
Holyoke College. chiefly render Buckland notable among the towns in the re-
gicn.

The town was formerly part of Charlemont. Ashfield and a section called
"No-Townu"l Ho-Town deriVed its name. it is believed. from the fact that
the grantees in this section had no established or known residence.2 The
grants in No-Town were given mainly to persons whose holdings in other parts
had been annulled owing to errors concerning property lines, particularly
persons who had unintentionally been given land in New Hampshire. or land be-
longing to others.3

The circumstances of the first settlement are known. In l7h2. one
0thniel Taylor bought a large tract of land in Charlemont and settled upon
it. In 1769 he built a saw mill upon one section of it - a Section which
later became part of Buckland. His oldest son, Samuel. being about to marry.
Othniel Taylor gave him a farm near the saw will. Upon this farm Samuel
Taylor. about 1770. built a home. The houSe, the oldest in town, still
stands at Buckland Center. It is the second house beyond the old cemetery.
on the road leading west from the center.4

Settlement thereafter proceeded at such fast tempo that. only eight
years later, on December 11. 1778. the inhabitants requested incorporation as
a town. The document read as follows:

1. Fannie Shaw Kendrick. The History of Buckland 1779-1335, Buckland,
1937. p. 1. It is interesting to note that this was not the only section
of the state which bore such a name. On April 4. lO. and 13. 1838. parts
of a section similarly called were annexed to the towns of Princeton, West-
minister and Leominister. respectively. Laws} 1838. chS. 67. 97. 106; pp.

352-351“ 380-381. 397-398. Hereafter the laws will be cited as follOWs:
The session laws of 1780-1838 as Laws; of 1839-1914. as Acts; of 1915-1919:
as General Acts, or Special Acts; of 1919 to date as Acts. Re301Ves will be
cited as ResolVes. or Special Re501Ves. For the full references to these
laws See List of Sources at end of volume.

2. pom” p. 2

3. Ibid.. pp. 2-3

u. Kendrick. o . cit.. p. 28

(First entry on p. 313 Historical Sketch

The Petition of a Number of Inhabitants settled on a Num-
ber of Grants called No—Town Adjoinine Ashfield on the South,
Shelburne on the East, Charlemont on the North, on the West
Partly by Charlemont and Partly by Number Sovon as will.Appear
on the Plan, Delivered herewith Together with a Number of In-
habitants on the south side of'Charlemont Above Named in the
County of Hampshire Humbly Sheweth.

That the Inhabitants of No-Town being a Non incorpor-
ate State are in Consequence thereof Destitute of Gospel
Ministry and Schooling and the means of providing and making
Roads and all Other Town Privileges and Labour under the In-
convenance of being Taxed to Sundry Towns, and those of sd
Charlemont being at the Extreme part of the Town some of
which are about Six miles from sd Charlemont Meeting House,
and all sepcrated from the main body by Deerfield River which
is very Difficult to pass the greater part of the year and
are therefore Destitute of Preaching and Schooling and other
Town Advantages and being Desirous of enjoying the whole which
Cant be unless are incorporated'into a Town, do,.,Petition...
that said Honorable Court would,,.lncorporate(d) the Lands as
Delineated in the Plan into a Township, so that we may Enjoy
Privileges in Commbn with our fellow Creatures which will
greatly facilitate,.,settling the Non-Resident lands...l

In other words, the distance from the Charlemont meeting house, separa—
ted as it was by the Deerfield River, the desire for better roads, a more
accessible school and church, and the hope that those advantages would at—
tract further settlement, were the principal grounds advanced by the inhab-
itants for incorporation. The committee of the inhabitants consisting of
Jesse Edson, Philip Kathewson, Samuel Taylor and Elias Carter chose Colonel
Jonathan Ward to prefer their petition.

In response to this plea of the inhabitants of No-Town "and that part
of Charlemont on the South Side of Deerfield River and east of Number Sev—
en,” the general court, on January 30, 1779, ordered the petitioners to
notify the town of Charlemont, incorporated four years earlier, to show
cause, if it had any, why the petitinn should not be granted and also to
notify all the non-resident proprietors of the proceedings.5 A certificate
to the effect that this had been done was filed by Colonel ward under date
of March 9th,4

l. (PETITION FOR INCORPORATION) in folder marked “Acts of 1778, chap-
ter 40" in massachusetts Archives, Rm. 458, State House, Boston. See entry 74

2, (CERTIFICATION OF AGENT) in Massachusetts Archives, 100, cit, See
entry 75

5, (CYDER OF GENERAL COURT ON PETITIO? FOR INCORPORATION) in Massachu-
setts Archives, 100. cit. See entry 75. Also Massachusetts General Court,
Acts and Resolves,Public and Private of the Province of Massachusetts Bay,
1692-1780, 21 vols., Boston, 1853-1922, XX, ch. 427, p. 580, Hereafter
cited as Province Acts and Resolves

4. 'Cc‘ﬂTIFICATIav BY JONATHAN WARD) in Massachusetts Archives, 100,
c_i_t. See entry 76 ‘—

r
l
E
\

Historical Sketch (First entry on p. 31)

The non—resident proprietors also urged the granting of a charter,1
the committee of both houses reported favorably? and on April 14, 1779, the
region was incorporated "into a town by the name of Buckland . . . invested
with all the powers, privi1e(d);es and immunities which the inhabitants of
towns within this state do or may by law enjoy."3 Section one of the act
of incorporation defined the boundaries; section two ordered the inhabitants
and prOprietors of the new town to pay taxes already levied; in section three
David Field, Esquire, was instructed to issue a warrant to some principal
inhabitant of Buckland requiring him to summon a town meeting to chOOse
town officers; and the final section ordered the town clerks of those towns
where the inhabitants formerly had residence to give to the new town a COpV
of the last valuation list of such residents in order that the qualifica—
tions of voters in the new town might be validly determined.

At its‘formation, the new town comprised about Sixteen thousand acres,
or about eighteen square miles.4 Its area now is 19,9'square miles owing
to the annexation of a small section of Conway in 1838.5 A prior boundary
revision, ordered February 16, 1795, did not materially alter the area.6

Buckland was named after Lord Buckland of England7 although there is
a legend in existence that the town derived its name from the fact that an
early resident, Samuel Taylor, shot five bucks in his deer trap on the Deer—
field River one morning.8

The records of the general Court indicate several minor repercussions
of the incorporation of Buckland. Less than a week after the act was passed,
in response to the petition of Asaph White, agent of the town of Charlemont,
that the act might be repealed or altered, the court on April 20th ordered
the petitioner to notify Buckland to show cause why the prayer should not be
granted,9 but the records fail to give the grounds for the prayer or to indi-
cate any further action that was taken. 3erhaps, however, it concerned
Buckland's share of taxes and the fine laid upon Charlemont for failing to
procure a man to serve in the Continental Army, for on November 16, 1780
the general court passed a resolve ordering Buckland to show cause why one-
fourth of the taxes laid on Charlemont should not be abated and assessed
on Buckland since Charlcmont claimed the Buckland had not been called upon
for any taxes. The court, however, abated the fine of 600 pounds since

1. (REQUEST OF NCNRESIDENT PROPRIETOR§7~in Kassachusetts Archives,
10c. cit, Sec entry 77

2, (REIORT OF COl'Il’ITTEE OF GEJERAL COURT (N PETITIQI FOR EJCORPORA-
TION) in hassachusetts Archives, 100. cit. See entry 78 ‘ ‘

3, (ACT OF INCORPORATION) in Hassachusetts Archives, 100. cit,' See
entry 79. Also Province Acts and Resolves, V, (1769-80), ch. 40, pp, 957-
958 ' ‘ '

. Kendrick, op. Cit., p. 16

Laws, lass’,‘ ch’. 120

Laws, 1795, ch. 65

Greenfield Recorder, August 8, 1929

Kendrick, oﬁ?”6it., p, 9

Province Acts and Resolves, XX, Acts of 1779, ch, 675, p, 680

{DCUﬂC‘DUIFP‘
I

Historical Sketch (First entry of p. 31)

Buckland had sent a man for the required nine months‘ service in the Contin—
ental Army.1 On January 25, 1781 the proportion of the Charlemont tax that
had to be paid by the new town was fixed, and deducted from the Charlemont
assessment.2 Among other charges that were deducted from the Charlemont
tax and added to the Buckland levy was an item of 688 pounds of beef for
the use of the Continental Army,3

The organization of a church body and the erection of a church building
was delayed in Buckland for many years after its incorporation as a town,
owing to the troubled conditions of the war and postdwar periods. In Octo-
ber 1785 a Coz‘irregational society was formally Organized, and the first
moderator and clerk were elected in .lugust 1786.4 Euildirg 1.ns begun in
1795, but was not completed until 1800, 5 It was a simple wooden structure,
square'in shape, and devb‘d of steeple. Keanwhile, meetings were held in
a barn. The church thrived thereafter, and in 1846 the church was remodeled
and raised to make room for a vestry underneath. In this vestry room, town
meetings were conducted for almost thirty yzars thereafter. A belfry and
bell were added at this time.6 Although some 7emoers do pertcd in 1850 to
join in forming the Nethodist Episcopal Church at Shel‘urie Falls, the Con-
gregational Church soon recovered from their loss.7 It was incorporated on
January 27, 1888, and in 1908, the church building was redecorated and re-
dedicated.8 As the first church in Buckland, and founder of a library which
has become the town library, it has played a major role in the development
of the town.9 Although actual disestablishment occurred in 1853 with the
passage of the eleventh amendment to the state constitution, 10 all town claims
on the vestri of the church building at Buckland Center were not relinquished
until 1905.

In 1775 there was founded in Ashfield, at Baptist Corner so-called, a
Baptist Church.12 In 1785 dissension arose within the church on the ques-
tion as to whether the minister should receive a fixed salary for his ser—
vices, or whether he should rely on the voluntary but irregular generosity'
of the congregation. The two factions were headed by Elder Ebenezer Smith,
and his father, Chileab Smith.15 On July 29,1789 Chileab Smith and a
group of dissenters, mostly from Buckland, formed a new Baptist church and

1, Province Acts and Resolves, (1780-1781), ch. 55, p. 160. This
fine was in the depreciated Continental currency
Laws, 1781, ch. 31, 52
Idem
Kendrick, op. cit,, pp. 112, 120
lbid., p. 112
Kendrick, op. cit., p. 114
Ibid;, p; 124
Ibid}, p, 115
Ibid., p. 127
lConstitution or Form of Government for the Commonwealth of Mas'~
achu_s etts”, Amendments, Article X1 in General Laws, Tercentenary Edition,
Boston, published by the Commonwealth, 1952, p. 50

11 TOVN RT“ ‘CORDS, 1876-1940, 4 vols,, mss., 1899-1913, p. 160, See
entry 10 ‘

12, Kendrick, o . cit., p. 128
15. Ibid., p. 159

N
. .

t -

is.“

OLOQQOBUID-FOJ
‘

l—‘

Historical Sketch First entry on Po 51)

proceeded to erect a one-story structure a few rods north of the Ashfield
line, in Buckland.l In 1796 the two groups were reconciled and the dis—
senters returned, having had their own church for a period of only sev—
en vears. The church was then incorporated, on February 26, 1800, under
the title of "The United Baptist Church and Society in Ashfield and Buck—
land.”2 The act enabled ”any person in the said Towns of Ashfield and
Buckland” to be considered a member of this society provided that he deli-
vored a certificate to that effect fourteen days previous to the town or
parish meeting to the town clerk.3 In practice, therefore, Buckland Bap-
tists worshipped again at Baptist Corner in Ashfield until 1828. It is
interesting, to note that lary Lyon's family, on both sides, were members
of this congregation.4

On August 2 , 1828, the Baptists residing in Buckland formed a new
church and adopted a constitution. On November 1, 1850,“they;Yoted to
build a meetinghouse for this Second Baptist Church.5 The house was
completed on January 16, 1852, at the cost of a little more than six—
teen hundred dollars. It was located just west of Yrs. Samuel Taylor‘s
residence, and was the first church in town to possess a belfry and bell.
It existed for thirty-nine years, and was represented in the Baptist
Association until September 1859. In 1868 the property was given to the
Baptist Society in Lshfield. The church was dismantled and removed to
Ashfield Plain, where it is still used as a place of worship.

From 1820 on, grove meetings were held by the Lethodists at the base
of Hog Iountain; occasionally, meetings were held at the east school-
house, also.8 On April 3, 1828, the congregation voted to build, and a
church was erected on what is now the site of the house of Dean Fairbanks.9
It was dismantled in 1849 and in the following year a new church building
was erected. The Lethedist Episcopal Church flourished for about twenty
years thereafter. After 1875, however, there was no settled preacher
attached to this church; a minister came for part of every Sabbath from
the Nethodist Episcopal Church at Shelburne Falls. Preaching was entirely
discontinued in 1887, and the property reverted to the lessor.10 The
building was finally removed to the rear of the Congregational Church and
is new the Grange Hall.ll

l. Kendrick, op. cit., p. 129
2. Laws, 1800, ch. 62

3. Ibid., sec. 2

4. Kendrick, op. cit., p. 150
5. Ibid., p. 151

6. Ibid., p. 132

7. Idem

8. Idem

9. Tbid., p. 155
10. Idem

11. Ibid., p. 545

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10
(First entrv on p. 31) Historical Sketch

Meanwhile, there had been formed another Methodist Episcopal Church,
located on the Buckland side of Shelburne Falls. It originated in 1842,
and thereafter the congregation met at various houses and in barns.l In
April 1851, it secured its first resident minister, and on January 1, 1852, E
its first church was dedicated. It was on the'site of the present Buck- l
land town hall, and'seated four hundred'people, The building was burned =
in the fire of 1876, but a new building, dedicated in January 1877, was i
constructed on the same site. It was used'until October 1906, when it was i
sold to the town as a town hall.2 In 1905, the Woodward House was purchased
for a parsonage and dedicated. On October 18, 1906, the present building of
the Hethodist'Episcopal Church, at the corner of Ashfield and Clemons Streets,
was dedicated. Its membership is approximately one hundred and fifty.5

Attracted by the building of the Troy and Greenfield Railroad and the
expansion of what is now the Lamson and Goednow cutlery works, the first
Irish immigrants settled in Shelburne Falls during the middle of the past
century. For some years, serviCes were held at private homes, with priests
from Holyoke, later Northampton, and later still, from Greenfield officiating.
In 1884, the Greenfield parish was'divided, and St. Joseph's set up as a
distinct parish in Shelburne Falls.‘ N ss was celebrated regularly at Odd
Fellow's Hall at Buckland. In 1888, the present St. Joseph's Church, lo-
cated on the Buckland side of Shelburnc Falls, was erected,5 The priest and
curate attached to this church minister to the spiritual needs of Catholiés
not only of Shelburne Falls and Buckland, but also of Colrain, Charlemont,
Hawley, Heath, Rowe and Zoar.6

Owing to the generally unsettled conditions of the times, Buchland had
great difficulty in setting up its school system after its incorporation,
Even the moderate sums deemed sufficient in those times for educational
facilities were difficult to raise. In 1770 Charlemont appropriated nine
pounds for its three school districts - the lower district later became
Buckland - but this money had been long oxhausted.7 On several occasions
from 1785 through 1791, the townspeople presented petitions to the general
court asking for its assistance in maintaining, not Only a minister, but
also a schoolmaster.8 Finally, on February 21, 1792, the general court
granted the "petition of Samuel Taylor in behalf of the town of Buckland
praying that a certain strip of unappropriated land lying within the in-
corporating line of said Town may be granted them for the use of Public
Schools within sd. Town."9

Kendrick, op; cit}, p; 143

Kendrick, op. cit., p. 155