Genealogy in Franklin County, Massachusetts
Town of Whately

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Whately lies in the south-central part of Franklin County and is roughly bounded by Conway on the northwest, Deerfield on the north, Sunderland on the east, Hadley on the southeast, Hatfield on the south, and Williamsburg on the west (the latter three towns in Hampshire County). Whately was organized April 24, 1771 from part of Hatfield. On March 5, 1810, part of Deerfield was annexed to Whately. On June 21, 1811, the boundary between Whately and Conway was established. On February 2, 1849, the boundary between Whately and Williamsburg was established.

In 1874, Elias Nason described the town of Whately as follows:

Whately

is a pleasant farming-town of 1,062 inhabitants, lying on the right bank of the Connecticut River, in the southern section of Franklin County, about 116 miles west of Boston, and 10 south of Greenfield, with which it is in communication by the Connecticut-river Railroad. It has for its boundaries Conway and Deerfield on the north, Sunderland (from which it is separated by the Connecticut River) on the east, Hatfield on the south, and Williamsburg on the west. The base line of the State Trigonometrical Survey, about 7,388 miles long, runs from the south part of Deerfield, through the easterly part of this town, to near the centre of Hatfield, on the south. Lower sandstone and calciferous mica-schist constitute the geological basis. Veins of galena, or sulpheret of lead, have been found in the western part of the town; and a thin stratum of umber and sienna, a valuable pigment, was discovered here in 1864. Several chalybeate springs are found in the easterly part of the town, one of which flows into Hopewell Brook. The land is low and swampy on the river, but high and broken in the west. Mount Esther, in the north, has an elevation of 995 feet, and affords a splendid view of the Connecticut Valley and the surrounding mountains. Mill Brook (called by the Indians Capawong), West Brook, Popple Brook, and their tributaries, flow southerly through the town, affording motive-power for four saw and two grist mills, and adding beauty to the landscape.

The town contains 151 farms, 1,370 acres of woodland, and 681 acres of wet meadow, or swale, producing about as many tons of hay per annum. As many as 303 acres are devoted to the raising of tobacco, and 86 to wheat. The value of tobacco raised in a year has been $105,334.80; of wheat, $2,782.50; of butter sold, $4,406.50; of wool, $647. There is a post-office at Whately, and also at East Whately. The village of West Whately is pleasantly situated on the highlands at the west. This town has a hotel called "The Whately House," a town-hall and library, six school-districts, and two churches, one of which is Congregational, the Rev. John W. Lane, pastor, and the other Unitarian, the Rev. Leonard W. Brigham, pastor.

It sent 82 soldiers into the late war.

This place, originally a part of Hatfield, was settled about the year 1735 by Lieut. Ebenezer Bardwell, Benjamin Scott, David Graves, Sergeant John Wait, Joseph Belding, and others. The town was named in honor of Thomas Whately, a friend of Thomas Hutchinson, and incorporated April 24, 1771. The first church was organized Aug. 13 of the same year, and the Rev. Rufus Wells was the first minister. The Rev. Lemuel P. Bates, a native of Blandford, Scotland, was settled as a colleague with Mr. Wells in 1822, and resigned in 1832.

A History of this town, by the Rev. Josiah Temple, was published in 1872, pp. 332.

(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. 552-553)

Online Genealogical Resources

The following resources may provide information useful in researching Whately 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 Whately 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 History

• First Congregational Church celebrates its bicentennial. -- [Whately, Mass. : The Church, 1971]
  1 v. (unpaged)
  Cover title: First Congregational Church, 1771-1971, Whately, Mass.
  
  

  Holdings:



• Temple, J. H. (Josiah Howard), 1815-1893.
  Early ecclesiastical history of Whately : being the substance of a discourse delivered January 7, 1849 / by J. Howard Temple. -- Northampton [Mass.] : Printed by J. & L. Metcalf, 1849.
  40 p.
  "With an appendix containing family records."
  
  

  Holdings: LDS Family History Library (in paper and on microfilm, LDS FHL microfilm number (0982038 item 11)

Church Records

• Baptist Church (Whately, Mass.)
  Church records, 1789-1850. -- Salt Lake City : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1973.
  on 1 microfilm reel ; 35 mm.
  Microfilm of records in Whately, Massachusetts.
  Contains membership lists and records of meetings.
  
  

  Holdings: LDS Family History Library (LDS FHL microfilm number 0886750 item 1)



• Church of Christ in Whately (Whately, Mass.)
  Church records, 1771-1875. -- Salt Lake City : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1973.
  on 1 microfilm reel ; 35 mm.
  Microfilm of records in Whately, Massachusetts.
  The Church of Christ in Whately was also known as the Congregational Church of Christ in Whately and the First Congregational Church.
  Contains records of church and parish meetings, baptisms, marriages, deaths, and membership lists.
  
  

  Holdings: LDS Family History Library (LDS FHL microfilm number 0886750 item 2-4)



• Second Congregational Church in Whately (Whately, Mass.)
  Church records, 1842-1864. -- Salt Lake City : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1973.
  on 1 microfilm reel ; 35 mm.
  Microfilm of records in Whately, Massachusetts.
  Contains records of church meetings, lists of members, baptisms, deaths, dismissals.
  
  

  Holdings: LDS Family History Library (LDS FHL microfilm number 0886750 item 5)

History

• Bloom, Alan.
  The so-called Shays Rebellion : a neighborhood study of Whately, Massachusetts / by Alan Bloom. -- [Deerfield, Mass.] : Historic Deerfield Summer Fellowship Program, 1986.
  [26] p. : ill., maps.
  
  

  Holdings:



• Cane, Ena M., 1909-
  Whately, 1771-1971 : a New England portrait / by Ena M. Cane ; family records compiled by Paul F. Field ; introduction by Alice Scott Ross ; photographs by Gordon Daniels and Morris Dwight ; line drawings by Morris Dwight, Jr. -- Northampton, Mass. : Printed for the Town of Whately [by] Gazette Print. Co., 1972.
  xi, 356 p. : ill.
  Includes bibliographical references (p. 162-163).
  
  

  Holdings:



• Crafts, James M. (James Monroe), 1817-1903.
  History of the town of Whately, Mass. : including a narrative of leading events from the first planting of Hatfield, 1661-1899 : with family genealogies / as revised and enlarged by James M. Crafts. -- Orange, Mass. : Printed for the town by D.L. Crandall, 1899.
  638 p., [51] leaves of plates : ill.
  Spine title: Whately, Ma. history.
  Revised and enlarged from J.H. Temple's "History of of the town of Whately, Mass."
  Includes bibliographical references and indexes.
  
  

  Holdings: LDS Family History Library (on microfilm, LDS FHL microfilm number 1320505 item 25)

  
  Reprint. Boston, Mass. : New England Historic Genealogical Society, [1998]
  
  

  Holdings:

  
  Reprint. [Salem, Mass. : Higginson Book Co., 1987]
  
  

  Holdings:



• Temple, J. H. (Josiah Howard), 1815-1893.
  History of the town of Whately, Mass. : including a narrative of leading events from the first planting of Hatfield, 1660-1871 : with family genealogies / by J.H. Temple. -- Boston : Printed for the town by T.R. Marvin & Son, 1872.
  332 p., [4] leaves of plates : ill., facsims.
  Includes index.
  
  

  Holdings: LDS Family History Library (in paper and on microfilm, LDS FHL microfilm number 1425599 item 4)


Reprint. Salem, Mass. : Higginson Book Co., [1997?], c1872.



Holdings:



• Whately Bicentennial Publication Committee.
  The souvenir book of the bicentennial anniversary celebration of Whately, Massachusetts, 1771-1971 / photographed and written by the Whately Bicentennial Publication Committee. -- [Whately, Mass.] : Whately Bicentennial Publication Committee, 1971.
  82 p. : ill.
  Cover title: Our wonderful Whately, 1771-1971.
  
  

  Holdings:

Land Records

• Crofts, Chester G.
  Records of deeds and roads, 1717-ca. 1884 / copied by Chester G. Crofts. -- Salt Lake City : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1973.
  on 1 microfilm reel ; 35 mm.
  Microfilm of manuscript in Whately, Massachusetts.
  These records were copied and indexed by Chester G. Crofts and James M. Crofts from registeries of deeds, town records and other sources.
  Includes index.
  
  

  Holdings: LDS Family History Library (LDS FHL microfilm number 0886751 item 1)

Maps

• Whately. -- Scale ca. 1:39,600. -- [S.l. : s.n., 185-]
  1 map ; 36 x 28 cm.
  Relief shown by hachures.
  Shows residences and landowners.
  Includes inset of Whately Centre with Whately business directory.
  
  

  Holdings:

Town Records

• Whately (Mass.). Town Clerk.
  Proceedings of town meetings, 1848-1878. -- Salt Lake City : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1973.
  on 1 microfilm reel ; 35 mm.
  Microfilm of original records in Whately, Massachusetts.
  Includes also some records of those liable to be enrolled in the militia and miscellaneous records of the selectmen of the town.
  
  

  Holdings: LDS Family History Library (LDS FHL microfilm number 0886751 item 3)



• Whately (Mass.). Town Clerk.
  Town records, 1771-1850. -- Salt Lake City : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1972.
  1 microfilm reel ; 35 mm.
  Microfilm of original records in Whately, Massachusetts.
  Includes proceedings of town meetings, some records of births and marriages, earmarks, a few records of church membership, other miscellaneous civil and church records.
  
  

  Holdings: LDS Family History Library (LDS FHL microfilm number 0959001)



• Whately (Mass.). Town Treasurer.
  Records of expenditures, 1838-1867. -- Salt Lake City : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1973.
  on 1 microfilm reel ; 35 mm.
  Microfilm of original records in Whately, Massachusetts.
  
  

  Holdings: LDS Family History Library (LDS FHL microfilm number 0886751 item 2)

Vital Records

• Whately (Mass.). Town Clerk.
  Massachusetts vital records. Whately, 1771-1895. -- Oxford, Mass. : Holbrook Research Institute, 1987.
  37 microfiches.
  ISBN 0-8762-3045-1.
  
  

  Holdings:



• Whately (Mass.). Town Clerk.
  Vital records, 1857-1900. -- Salt Lake City : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1973, 1993.
  2 microfilm reels ; 35 mm.
  Microfilm of original records in Whately, Massachusetts.
  
  

  Part titles, etc.	Dates	LDS FHL microfilm numbers
  Births, marriages, and deaths	1749-1856	0770462
  Births, marriages, and deaths	1857-1900	1887662
  Birth certificates	1885-1900
  Marriage certificates	1883-1900
  Death certificates	1885-1900
  Death certificates	1900
  Marriage intentions	1850-1900

  
  

  Holdings: LDS Family History Library (for LDS FHL microfilm numbers, see the table above)

General Information

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

• Franklin County Chamber of Commerce - Town Profiles - Whately

  Includes current information on Whately as well as a brief history of the town.

Related Pages

• Genealogy in Franklin County, Massachusetts

• Genealogy in Franklin County, Massachusetts - Town of ...

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