Genealogy in Franklin County, Massachusetts - Town of Erving

Genealogy in Franklin County, Massachusetts
Town of Erving


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Information

Erving lies in the eastern part of Franklin County and is roughly bounded by Gill on the northwest, Northfield on the north, Warwick and Orange on the east, Wendell on the south, and Montague on the south and west. Erving was organized April 17, 1838 from common lands called Erving's Grant. On Feburary 27, 1841, the boundary between Orange and Erving was established. On February 10, 1860, a part of Northfield called Hack's Grant, entirely detached from Northfield and surrounded by Erving on all sides, was annexed to Erving.

In 1874, Elias Nason described the town of Erving as follows:
Erving
is a farming-town, of a long and irregular shape, lying at the confluence of Miller's and Connecticut Rivers, in the easterly part of Franklin County, 92 miles north-west of Boston; and bounded on the north by Northfield, east by Warwick and Orange, south by Wendell and Montague (from which it is separated by Miller's River), and west by the last-named town and Gill. It was formerly called "Erving's Grant," and was incorporated as a town April 17, 1838. A part of Northfield, known as "Hack's Grant," was annexed to it Feb. 10, 1860. The number of inhabitants is 579; of dwelling-houses, 145; of farms, 42; and of acres in woodland, 2,983. The valuation of the town is $300,420; the rate of taxation, $1.93 per $100. It is finely watered by the beautiful river named above, together with Keyup Brook, a mill-stream which flows from a pond of 16 acres on the Northfield line, through fertile valleys, southerly into Miller's River; and Scott's Brook, an affluent of the same river, in the westerly part of the town. Miller's River is here a rapid stream, running circuitously through a narrow valley, flanked by rocky and wooded eminences on either side. Much of its motive-power is wasted. The otter still frequents its waters; and, in the wild eminences above, the wild-cat and the porcupine are still found. In a secluded ledge which rises almost perpendicularly, far up on the right bank of the river, there now lives a hermit, bearing the name of "John Smith," who calls his rocky habitation "The Erving Castle." He is a man of some intelligence, wears a long beard and Scotch cap, and receives his visitors with a kindly spirit. He spends his time in knitting stockings, picking berries, cutting wood, reading and writing and entertaining company. His age may be fifty years, three of which he has spent in "Erving Castle."

The land is excellent for the growth of timber and for grazing. Large numbers of railroad-ties and telegraph-poles are cut here, 1,495,000 having in one year been prepared for market. The town has seven saw-mills, two chair manufactories, one pail, one children's carriage, and one bit-brace manufactory. It has one post-office, a hotel called "The Erving House," a town-hall, a Post of the G. A. R., four school-districts, and one Congregational church, organized Sept. 19, 1832, of which the Rev. A. Stowell is pastor. Erving sent 58 soldiers to the late war, of whom 30 were lost. This town is reached by the Vermont and Massachusetts and the Vermont Central Railroads; and with its water-power, productive soil, beautiful scenery, healthful climate, and railroad facilities, seems well situated for future increase and prosperity.
(Source: Nason, Elias, 1811-1887. A gazetteer of the state of Massachusetts : with numerous illustrations on wood and steel / by Elias Nason. -- Boston : B.B. Russell, 1874. -- p. 198-199)

Online Genealogical Resources

The following resources may provide information useful in researching Erving families.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION


Bibliography

The following bibliography lists sources that may be useful in researching the genealogy and history of families that have lived in the Erving area. The bibliography is arranged by subject category and alphabetically by author and title within each category. Information on library holdings is recorded in the box following each citation. For published items, only holdings of libraries profiled on the Archives and Libraries page are given when known. For unpublished and other rare sources, any library known to hold the item is listed. Many of the items listed here are also available at other libraries and research centers in New England, New York, and elsewhere.

Original records and other items microfilmed by the LDS Family History Library (also known as the Genealogical Society of Utah) are also listed below. These microfiches and microfilms are available via interlibrary loan through the LDS family history centers. Make a note of the microfiche or microfilm reel number(s) needed in order to place a request at one of the LDS family history centers.

Church Records

History

Maps

Vital Records


General Information

The following resources may provide useful information on the Erving town area.


Related Pages


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