Almost every civil war, rebellion, insurrection, and outbreak in
Ireland, from the time of the Tudors downwards, arose more or less
directly from questions connected with the possession of lands. It was
the land question which helped to drive the Presbyterian Irish out, to
become pioneer Irish settlers in America. Whole villages of Irish people
were depopulated.
These clearances gave vast numbers of Irish settlers to America before
the Revolutionary War, and supplied the American army with a body of
brave, determined men. Massachusetts received a very large proportion of
the Irish in the eighteenth century, and being far the most important of
the old colonies, the history of its early settlement is, consequently,
interesting.
One of the most interesting inland settlements in the state of
Massachusetts is the town of Pelham, situated in the northwestern part
of Hampshire county, settled by Irish immigrants in 1738‒9. An
historical spot, as it was the dwelling place of that patriotic soldier,
Daniel Shea, who, after the Revolution, was one of the leaders in
“Shays’ Rebellion.”
In 1738 Robert Peibles, blacksmith, and James Thornton, yeoman, two
Irish immigrants, made a contract with Col. John Stoddard of
Northampton, Mass., for the purchase of his section of “Equivalent
Lands,” with the purpose of establishing thereon a colony of settlers
“who shall be such as were inhabitants of the Kingdom of Ireland or
their descendants.”
This contract having been carried into effect, Colonel Stoddard sold the
land to Robert Peibles, Patrick Peibles, James Thornton, Andrew
McFarland and others named in the deed. These with their families became
the first settlers of Pelham. Among the early settlers are the familiar
Celtic names, McCullough, McCullom, McConkey, Dick, Taylor, Gray,
McClain, Breckenridge, Gilmore, Macklan, McLachay, McNutt, McConnell,
Cochran, Savage, Hamilton, McMullen, McCartney, Joyce, Rankin, White,
McFall, Butler, Felton, Hoar, Griffin, Kelley, McNiell, McLallen,
McClintock.
The new settlement was called New Lisburn, after the town of Lisburn in
the southern part of County Antrim, on the banks of the Lagan, in
Ireland. Some of the settlers coming from Lisburn wished to call their
new home after the mother town, and until 1743 the settlement was called
New Lisburn, when it was changed to Pelham.
At the time of the purchase the condition of the soil was more fertile
than at present. Rye, oats, corn, and barley were raised in abundance,
as well as flax. The hills furnished excellent pasturage for cattle and
horses. The settlers were a quiet, honest, Godfearing people. The town
grew very slowly. In 1776 the population was 729. In 1800, 1,144. Since
the latter date it has decreased in population.
When the trouble arose between England and the colonies, the town of
Pelham was one of the first to answer a communication from the Committee
of Correspondence in Boston. A few literal extracts are interesting:
“To the Committee of Correspondence, Gentlemen: We have considered your
Circular letters and are not a little shoked at the attempts upon the
liberties of America ... we replied back also upon the unhappy Reign of
the Stuart family & bloody Struggles to subdue a free people to
Non-resistance and Passive obedience. We have still a more sense of the
worth of our Liberties by the total loss of them in the conquered
Kingdom of Ireland when altho made of the same one Blood they have a
yoke of Iron put upon their Necks and they must serve their conquerors
with as much of their money and blood as they are pleased to demand and
sustain more intolerable oppressions from these Legislative Masters and
unfeeling Landlords than some of the Barbarious Nations compared by the
Ancient Romans before the wars of their Empire.
“This so grievous a yoke upon the Western Isle which neither they nor
their fathers were able to bear has driven them by hundreds and by
thousands to bide a final adue to their otherwise Dear Native Land and
seek a peaceful Retreat from the bane of Oppressions in this American
Wilderness. Depending upon the faith of the Nation for all the
privileges chartered to American Colonies, we cannot therefore but be
greatly alarmed at the news of the Incroachments upon the Natural and
Chartered Rights of this Province where we have our abode.”
The military history of the town is an honorable one. In the War of the
Revolution a large number of the male residents took part. At the close
of the Revolution the town came into prominence on account of the part
many of its citizens took in “Shays’ Rebellion.” This rebellion was not
prompted by any spirit of disloyalty, nor was it designed or plotted to
overturn the government. It was the wild and lawless expression of
discontent with harsh circumstances, the natural outbreak of those who
were suffering and oppressed.
Daniel Shea, one of the leaders in this rebellion, was a remarkable man.
Very little is known about his early life. His birthplace has been
assigned to Hopkinton, Mass., but this has been disputed. There is a
tradition that his parents and young Shea came from County Cork,
Ireland, and that they lived for some time on the eastern border of
Pelham. He spells his name both “Shea” and “Shays.”
Wherever his birthplace was, one thing is certain concerning him, he
hated England and all things English. Little is known concerning his
life in Pelham previous to the Revolution except what is traditionary.
After the battle of Lexington he was among the first to join a company
of minute men. He was promoted for bravery at the battle of Bunker Hill,
and shared in the campaign resulting in Burgoyne’s surrender. Nothing
shows more clearly the loyal spirit of Daniel Shea than his conduct
during the Revolution. He took a deep interest in a cause which involved
the dearest interests of his country.
Shea returned to Pelham at the close of the war, and in 1781 was chosen
by the town as a member of the Committee of Safety. He was prominent in
other town offices up to the time of the insurrection, and was a
respected citizen. The insurrection is a matter of history and need not
be dwelt on here. Out of the one hundred and fifty men who were
captured, fourteen were tried and sentenced to death, but were
afterwards pardoned. After remaining in hiding for some time, Shea was
pardoned. Having received his pardon, he went to New York state, where
all trace of him is lost.
That Pelham was a distinctively Irish settlement is clearly shown on the
occasion of the settling of the first pastor, Rev. Robert Abercrombie, a
Scotchman. Rev. Mr. Abercrombie was educated at Edinburgh University and
came to this country in 1740 as a licensed preacher. He came to Pelham
in 1742. There arose a division at once in the church. One of the
reasons for the division was the fact of his being a Scotchman and of
his demanding rigid adherence to the doctrines and requirements of the
Church of Scotland.
The majority of the members of the Presbyterian church of Pelham wanted
an Irish Presbyterian clergyman. After a great deal of controversy Mr.
Abercrombie was settled as a pastor. He was unfortunate in having a
strong element of opposition to contend against from his first
connection with the people of Pelham, as shown by the strong protest
against his settlement. After preaching a few years he was compelled to
resign his pastorate.
While the Irish Presbyterians predominated, there were some who were
members of the Church of England and some Roman Catholics. A spirit of
harmony always existed in this community. The people were peaceable,
respecting the rights of others and demanding the same respect in
return.
These early settlers brought with them many of the customs and
traditions of the Emerald Isle, and until after the Revolution they
spoke with a rich Irish brogue. In 1765 many of the settlers, who had
become dissatisfied with the soil and other existing conditions, moved
westward, and joining a colony of settlers from Ballibay, Ireland,
helped to found the town of Salem, N. Y.
Among the descendants of the early settlers who became noted were: Ira
P. Rankin, collector of the port of San Francisco, appointed by
President Lincoln.
Adam Johnson, one of the benefactors of Amherst College, and for whom
the “Johnson Chapel” is named.
Dr. Israel Taylor, a leading physician in Amherst, Mass., until his
death in 1890.
Ithamar Conkey, for a number of years town clerk of Pelham, and in 1830
appointed judge of probate. His son, Ithamar F. Conkey, one of the
leading lawyers of the Massachusetts bar, was a resident of Amherst,
Mass., until his death.
There are very few of the descendants of the original settlers living in
the town of Pelham to-day.