ASHFIELD. This town, in the western part of Franklin county, was incorporated in 1764. It lies on the south side of the line of the county, on an elevated situation, between Westfield and Deerfield rivers, to each of which it sends a tributary stream. It is 15 miles N. W. of Northampton, and 105 W. of Boston. Population in 1837, 1,656. This town was settled about 1750, and then called Huntstown. A small garrison was maintained here in the war of that year. The town was abandoned in 1755, and not resettled till after the peace of 1763. The first preaching enjoyed by the colonists was from the Rev. Mr. Dickinson, a Congregational minister from Hadley; afterwards Rev. Mr. Streeter, of the same denomination, supplied them. These were employed only as occasional supplies. The church was formed Feb. 22, 1763, consisting of 15 members. Mr. Sherwin, after his dismission, continued to reside in the town, became justice of the peace and town clerk. He finally resumed the duties of the ministry, and removed to Shaftsbury, Vt., where he was installed, and where he probably died. The date of his death is not known.-Mr. Porter wanted one month of completing 100 years when he died. Mr. Porter was born March 20, 1720, and was the son of Nehemiah and Hannah Porter of Ipswich, (Hamlet.) He was ordained successor of Mr. Pickering, of the Chebacco parish, Ipswich, Jan. 3, 1750. For a considerable period he lived at peace with his people. At length, difficulties arising, several councils were held, which resulted in his dismission, June, 1766. He then preached to some emigrants at Cape Canso for two or three years. married Rebecca, daughter of Rev. John Chipman of Beverly. She died Oct. 28, 1763, aged 36. His second wife was Elizabeth Nowell of Boston, who survived him. One of his daughters was the first wife of the Rev. Rufus Wells of Whately. One of his grandsons, Charles S. Porter, is settled in the ministry in the city of New York. Some biographical account of Mr. Porter may be found in the Boston Recorder, Vol. V. No. 33.-Mr. Sanderson was dismissed on account of declining health. He gave several thousand dollars towards founding a school in Ashfield, afterwards incorporated as Sanderson academy. He was a son of Dea. Thomas Sanderson of Whately.-Mr. Shepard, subsequently to his dismission, was an agent of the American Bible Society. He is now settled in the ministry over a Congregational church in Bristol, R. I. He studied divinity at Andover.-Mr. Grosvenor is now settled at Sharon, Ct. He studied divinity at New Haven.-Mr. Baldwin had previously been settled in the ministry in Montrose, Pa., and in the north parish of New Hartford, Ct. He studied theology at Andover.

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BELCHERTOWN. This town has Granby and Amherst on the W., Pelham on the N., Enfield and Ware on the E., and Swift river, a considerable branch of the Chickopee, which separates it from Palmer and Ludlow, on the S. It is a pleasant town, with elevated hills, though easy of ascent. It is in Hampshire, 12 miles E. of Northampton, and 80 miles W. of Boston. It was incorporated June 30, 1761, and named in honor of governor Belcher. It was originally called Cold Spring, from a spring of water which is still shown in the town. Population, 2,598. Mr. Billing or Billings was subsequently settled in Greenfield, where he died. He took a very honorable part in favor of president Edwards, in the troubles of the latter at Northampton, and was a member of several councils which were convened there.-Mr. Forward was a useful and respected minister. -Mr. Porter, after his dismission, removed to Lebanon, N. H., where he died of a consumption. During his ministry in Belchertown, there was an extensive revival of religion. Mr. Coleman was a tutor in Yale College previously to his settlement in Belchertown. Rev. Dr. Hawes of Hartford preached his ordination sermon. During his connection with the church, 133 persons were added to it by profession, and 45 by recommendation. Mr. Coleman, on leaving Belchertown, became principal of Burr seminary, Manchester, Vt., where he remained till 1837, when he became principal of the Teachers seminary in Andover.-Mr. Reid studied theology at Andover, and was first settled over a church in Reading, south parish.

The Brainerd Church was organized Sept. 30, 1834. No over it. Rev. Samuel W. Whelpley has been stated supply. members of the First church, 292.

minister has been settled Number of members, 106;

BLANDFORD. This town is in Hampden, 116 miles S. W. of Boston, and 15 W. from Springfield. It was incorporated in 1741. It has Otis on the W., Chester on the N., Russell on the E., Granville and Tolland on the S. The N. E. corner of the town touches on Westfield river. The inhabitants are mostly descended from a company of emigrants, of the Presbyterian denomination, from the north of Ireland, by whom this town was originally settled. Population, 1,443. Mr. McClenathan, we suppose, was a native of Ireland, and educated there.—Mr. Badger was a soldier, for three years, in the revolutionary war. He studied theology with the Rev. Mr. Leavenworth of Waterbury, Ct. In 1800 he went as the first missionary to the Western Reserve, Ohio. He cut his own path from Buffalo, N. Y. to Erie, Pa. Since that time he has been a missionary in various places in the Reserve, and to the Wyandot Indians, a chaplain in the United States' army, and a settled minister in Gustavus, Ohio. Through the infirmities of age, he has not been able to preach much recently. He has been instrumental of great good to the inhabitants of the Reserve. See Am. Quart. Reg., viii. p. 318.-Mr. Keep studied theology with the Rev. Asahel Hooker of Goshen, Ct., who preached his ordination sermon. Since his dismission from Blandford he has been settled over a church in Homer, N. Y.; subsequently he acted as an agent of the American Education Society. He is now pastor of a Presbyterian church in Cleaveland, Ohio.-Mr. Clarke is now settled over the Fifth Congregational church in Springfield.-Mr. Hinsdale was previously settled in Meriden, Ct. He studied theology at Princeton. Number of members of the church, 154.

CHARLEMONT. This town is in the western part of Franklin, 25 miles W. of Greenfield. Deerfield river meanders delightfully through the whole length of the town. Taylor's, Rice's and Hawks's garrisons, part of a line of fortifications projected by Col. E. Williams in the year 1754, were in this town. Population in 1837, 994. A bill has just passed the Legislature to annex a part of an unincorporated tract called "Zoar" to Charlemont. This portion of the tract contains 2,667 acres of land and 12 families. Number of members of the Congregational church, 147. The church was organized June 6, 1788. Mr. Field is now a resident of the town.-Mr. Tileston, before he entered college, had studied medicine. He acquired his education at Williams College, though he received his first degree at Union College.

CHESTER. This town, in the western part of Hampden, was incorporated Oct. 31, 1765. The S. E. corner of the town touches on Westfield river, and two fine branches, one rising in Washington, and the other in Worthington, pass from N. W. to S. E. through this town. Population in 1837, 1,290. Mr. Bascom was a very useful and laborious minister. His name is cherished with great respect. He had two excellent sons who were in the ministry, Samuel and Raynolds, both of whom are now dead. The latter was a tutor in Williams College, and principal of Westfield academy.-Mr. Emerson, a son of the Rev. John Emerson, the first minister of Conway, is now settled in Manchester. Mr. Pomeroy studied theology with Dr. Packard of Shelburne. He was first settled in Salisbury, Vt. He then preached for some time in South Deerfield. After his dismission from Chester he was settled in Otis, but is now dismissed.-Mr. Clark is now settled in Egremont. Previously to his being installed in Chester, he was settled in East Haven, Ct. and Barkhamsted, Ct.

ENFIELD. This town is in Hampshire, 81 miles W. from Boston, incorporated Feb. 15, 1814. Bounded N. by Pelham and Prescott, E. by Greenwich and Ware, S. and W. by Belchertown. It was taken from Greenwich and Belchertown. Swift river, a main branch of the Chickopee, passes through the town, and adds much to its beauty and importance. On this stream there are two manufactories of considerable extent. Population, 1,058. Number of communicants, 256. Several extensive revivals of religion have been enjoyed in this place. Mr. Crosby was a chaplain in the revolutionary war.— Mr. Clapp studied divinity at Andover. He is now settled over the Congregational church at Cabotsville, Springfield.-Mr. Whiton was previously settled in Cambridge, N. Y.

ERVING. This plantation, which has been called Erving's Grant, contains about 8,300 acres, including 150 belonging to Northfield. It has Northfield on the N., Warwick and Orange on the E., Miller's river on the S., which separates it from New Salem, Wendell, and Montague, and Miller's river and Connecticut river on the W. It is situated seven or eight miles on Miller's river. There are 345 inhabitants in the place, 4 school districts, and 90 scholars. It has been lately incorporated into a town by the name of Erving. A Congregational church was organized five or six years since, but it has never had a settled minister. The only place of worship is an indifferent schoolhouse, and that is occupied a part of the time for Universalist preaching. The Massachusetts Missionary Society appropriated $50 to this church last year. Rev. G. Dorrance, missionary.

GILL. This town was named in honor of lieutenant-governor Moses Gill. It was incorporated Sept. 28, 1793. Population, 809. It was originally a part of Deerfield. It has Greenfield on the W., Bernardston and Northfield on the N., and the Connecticut on the E. and S.; that river, by making a large bend, washes half the circumference of the town, and spreads beauty and fertility along its banks. Miller's falls are in the Connecticut, adjoining this town. May 18, 1676, several hundred Indians had seated themselves around these falls for the convenience of fishing. They were attacked in the night by a party of Englishmen from Hadley and Deerfield, and 300 Indians and 39 Englishmen were slain. As the church records have been lost, the date of the organization of the church cannot be exactly ascertained. It is supposed to have been organized in 1793. A council of ministers, moderately Orthodox, drew up some articles of faith and formed a church. These articles were lost with the records. Mr. Jackson is represented as having been Arminian in his religious sentiments. He is not now in the ministry. He is living in Lower Canada.-Mr. Munsell was decidedly of the Orthodox faith, having studied divinity with Dr. Backus of Somers, Ct. He was called to meet with considerable opposition. He is now dead, though the time and place are not known. -Mr. Cannon (now Canning) was born Feb. 27, 1780. He studied divinity with the Rev. Asahel Hooker of Goshen, Ct. Previously to his ordination a new set of articles were drawn up and subscribed by the church, which were decidedly Evangelical. Mr. Canning met with much discouragement for many years, arising, in part, from the Religious Freedom Bill of 1811, and in part from the tide of emigration which was setting West. Though favored with three special seasons of revival, and a goodly increase of the church, he was finally dismissed at his own request. He then spent five years in instructing academies in Williamstown, Ms. and in Canajoharie, N. Y.-Rev. Francis Whiting was employed in supplying the pulpit at Gill nearly two years.-Mr. Sandford had been settled in the ministry in Jefferson Co., N. Y. He is now in Holland, Ms. By an arrangement made with the church and society, Mr. Canning returned with his family to Gill, and has supplied the pulpit since Jan. 1, 1832, being hired from year to year, but not installed. About 30 persons were added to the church as the fruits of a protracted meeting. Present number of members, 15 males and 49 females. That the number is so small, is accounted for mainly from the large emigrations from the town. But few places in New England have so often changed inhabitants. In 1817 a colony removed, embracing two deacons and about 40 members of the church. There is a Methodist church and society in Gill. An Unitarian society was formed some years since, and united with the Methodists in building a house of worship. It is now incorporated with the Orthodox Congregational society.

GREENWICH. This town was settled by a colony from the north of Ireland; and many of the descendants of the first settlers still remain. The town is pleasantly situated between the east and west branches of Swift river. It is in the eastern part of Hampshire, 75 W. of Boston, and 22 E. of Northampton. Population, 842. It cannot be ascertained when the church was organized. But little is known in regard to Mr. Webster.—Mr. Cutler was born April 25, 1718.-Mr. Blodgett was born May 10, 1751. He continued pastor 43 years.-Mr. Patrick was previously settled in Rhode Island. Present number of members of the church, 121; about two-thirds of whom are females.-During Mr.