Northfield's early days were marked by nearly 90 years of harrassment
and danger from the French and Indian Wars. The settlement was established
three times, abandoned and destroyed twice. Originally, Northfield was
called Squakheag, which was allegedly derived from the Indian term that
meant "a spearing place for salmon". In 1671, a tract of 10,560 acres
was purchased from them by men from Northampton for what was termed a "valuable
consideration". In 1673, an additional 3,000 acres was purchased for
200 fathoms of wampum.
From 1673, when the settlers built small thatched roofed huts within a
stockade and fort, until 1675, when King Philip's war began, life was
peaceful. But after an Indian attack on Sept. 2, 1675, settlers abandoned the
area, retiring to Hadley.
Squakheag was resettled in 1683. Five years later, it was again
attacked by Indians. In 1690, because of increasing danger, the General Court
ordered the place be abandoned. In 1704, the remains of the town were
destroyed by French and Indians.
Finally, in 1713, some of the surviving proprietors of Squakheag
petitioned the Court for a revival of the original grant of 1672.This time the
town became permanently established and on June 15, 1723, Northfield was
incorporated as a town. The first town meeting and election of officers
was held on July 22.
Incorporation did not bring peace, however. In 1745, the fort in Great
Meadow was attacked by about 80 French and Indians. Further incidents
occurred in 1747, 1748 and 1756. It wasn't until the fall of Quebec in 1759 and
the subsequent signing of the Peace of Paris in 1763 that ended the French
and Indian Wars that peace finally came to Northfield.
The town is noted as the birthplace of Dwight Lyman Moody, the famous
evangelist who founded Northfield Young Ladies' Seminary in 1879 and Mount
Hermon Boy's school more than 20 years ago, with campuses in Northfield
and Gill. |
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