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

38 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1729-1733.
First Settlement in TliG ppopliecy^ of Mr. Stocldard, made at
soutiiampton. ^\jq opening of the century, that "many
young men would plant themselves" on
the strip of land between Northampton and Westfield. and
that vicinity, " and so make a village in time," showed the
first sign of fulfillment about the time of his death. Set-
tlers began to turn their attention in that direction in 1729,^
though definite action was not taken till the following year.
Measures were then adopted which resulted in the settlement
of the town of Southampton. A division of the land
in that section was made by the proprietors of Northampton,
in 1730, and the first settlers planted themselves there
permanently during that and the succeeding year. This
division was made "amongst the original or ancient proprietors,
their heirs or assigns or to any that hold by pur-
chase under the ancient or original proprietors." The de-
sign seems to have been to grant the land only to actual
settlers, the conditions being that they should occupy their
home lots within two years. Some to whom grants were
made, declined to remove, and others were substituted.
The first mention of the new plantation upon the Northampton
records was made December 11, 1732, when an
order was passed to " Lay out a Highway over the Branch
of Munhan River, at or Near Pumroy's Meadow, or Some
other Sutable and Convenient Place, so as to Accommodate
the New Settlements." Preaching was provided the next
year, and Rev. Joseph Ashley^ was the first minister named
as having been employed there. In December of that year,
Northampton voted to pay £o to those persons who had
advanced that sum "for Divers Ministers who preached at
the New Settlement Over Munhan River." From that time
onward, appropriations were annually made to sustain
preaching at "Newtown," till it was incorporated as a Pre-
cinct eight years afterwards. Mr. Ashley received fi'om
Northampton, £4:4, in 1734, for preaching and board, at the
" new phice over Munhan," and £50 in 1735. Two years
afterwards, Mr. Noah Merrick is named as the New Town
1 See letter to Gov. Stoughton, vol. 1, p. 4(i5.
2 There is a tradition that the first houses were bailt in Southampton in 1722 or
1724.
3 Rev. Joseph Ashley was the son of Samuel Ashley of Westfleid, and was graduated
from Harvard (?) in 1730. He was settled as pastor at Winchester, N. H., in 1736.