Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Hampshire County

Easthampton, Mass, by L. S. Smith—Adapted from a 1904 article originally published in New England Magazine, this article describes the founding and development of the town, located in Hampshire County. Profile of leading citizens, including the Willistons and Williston Academy; early slaughter and kidnapping of settlers by non-local Native American tribe, churches, schools, businesses and more.

History And Antiquities of Every Town In Massachusetts by John Warner Barber was published in 1848. This is an edited version of the Hampshire County portion of the book. Interesting and brief profiles. In many cases the author has included some tombstone transcriptions and other historic description relevant to the town. Direct links to the Hampshire County towns in this book:—

Amherst — Belchertown — Chesterfield — Cummington — Easthampton — Enfield — Granby — Goshen — Greenwich — Hadley — Hatfield — Middlefield — Northampton — Norwich — Pelham — Plainfield — Prescott — South Hadley — Southampton — Ware — Westhampton — Williamsburg — Worthington

Tombstone Inventory, Precious Blood Cemetery, South Hadley, MA. A complete index to tombstones (including photographs) located in Precious Blood Cemetery, founded in 1873. This cemetery was under the auspices of the former Precious Blood Church of Holyoke, MA and has close connections to that city (located in nearby Hampden County). No longer in existence today, Precious Blood was a Roman Catholic French church and served an early congregration that was comprised mostly of Canadian immigrants. Over 2000 burials recorded from existing tombstones.

Tombstone Inventory, Hockanum Cemetery—established in 1767, this cemetery is located on Route 47 in Hadley, close to the South Hadley line. Images and memorial transcriptions recorded from all currently existing tombstones.

An Agricultural Experiment Station by A. B. Ward. Originally published in 1893, this article provides some background regarding the establishment of the Agricultural Experiment Station on what is now the UMass, Amherst campus. Profiles some of the activities, experiments, buildings, equipment and early staff involved in the work at the Station.

Molly Webster, a poem by Julia Bayne Taft. Molly Webster is a poem about Mary (Molly) Webster, the Hadley witch. Mary was tried and acquitted in Boston for witchcraft, predating the Salem witchcraft trials.

An Unpublished Legend of the Regicides, By Helen Evertson Smith. This is from a 1904 article on the New England regicides, the mystery as seen by the eyes of (then child) Rev. Samuel Russell of Hadley, MA.

The Regicides in New England, By Frederick Hull Cogswell —1893 article on the New England regicides — Edward Whalley and William Goffe — who had served as judges at the impeachment trial of Charles I in England. When Charles II was restored to the throne, Whalley and Goffe were summoned before Parliament, and fearing for their lives, fled England arriving in Boston 1660 as fugitives.

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