Deerfield — Men Of Note Born In Deerfield
Extracted from "History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, Volume II," by Louis H. Everts, 1879.
Maj. Salah Barnard, son of Ebenezer, was born in 1725, and was a soldier, merchant, tavern-keeper, and farmer. He married, in 1765, Elizabeth, daughter of Jeremiah Nims. He was in the old French war, and served under Capts. Thomas Stevens, John Hawks, and other partisan officers. He was in the Canada expeditions in the last French war, in 1757, as lieu-tenant in Capt. Burk's Rangers; in 1758, as lieutenant under Capt. John Catlin, and on the death of the latter he was made captain. With this company he served in Col. Ruggles' regiment, and was with the army of conquest in Canada with the commission of a major. At the fall of Fort William Henry he narrowly escaped the perfidious butchery that followed the surrender. He lived on the old Frary lot, and about a century ago he enlarged his house to its present dimensions and set up tavern- and store-keeping. He died in 1795.
Maj. Seth Catlin, son of Capt. John Catlin, was born in 1743. He married, July 1, 1762, Abigail Denio. In the last French war he was a drummer in his father's company,—in 1757-58. On the death of the latter he was appointed second lieutenant, and served under Amherst in the campaign of 1759. He was a lieutenant in the army of conquest, and came home with the title of quartermaster in Col. Ruggles' regiment. Maj. Catlin was a notable man in many respects. A contemporary says of him, "He was a man of strict integrity, of very strong feelings,—could never pass a scene of distress on the other side." These traits are proved by many anecdotes. Another wrote, "From sincere and honest motives he was opposed to the war of the Revolution, but he often refused important offices in that war from the British government, as also from his own country." He was a gentleman from intuition, and his society was sought by men of all stations. He was selectman nine years, and a representative in 1793. He was a lover of fine horses. In 1798 he was crushed in a stall by a high-spirited barb, of which injury he soon died.
Capt. Timothy Childs was born in 1686, and married, in 1719, Hannah (Chapin), widow of John Sheldon. He was an active scout in Queen Anne's war, serving under the noted Capt. Benjamin Wright. He was fired upon and slightly wounded, July 10, 1724, while in the meadow at work, near Pine Hill. September, 1724, he was a lieutenant under Capt. Kellogg, in command of the forces at Deerfield and Sunderland. He died in 1766. His son Timothy settled in Gill, was a captain in the Revolutionary war, and died Dec. 12, 1781, leaving a son, Timothy, who was a celebrated doctor in Pittsfield.
Rev. Rodolphus Dickinson, son of Thomas W., was born in 1786, graduated from Yale College in 1805, studied law, was admitted to the Bar of old Hampshire County in 1808, and married, Nov. 9, 1809, Nancy, daughter of David Hoyt. He was the first clerk of the courts in Franklin County, 1811-19. He was ordained an Episcopal minister about this time, settled in Pendleton, S. C., about 1822, and supplied the Episcopal Society in Montague several years after his return from the South. In 1813 he established a printing-office in Green-field, which he removed to this town in 1816. In this office many of his own works were printed. He was the author of a "Digest of the Powers and Duties of Sheriffs, Coroners, and Constables," 1810, 8vo; "Elements of Geography," 8vo, pp. 360, 1813; "Compendium of the Bible," 1814, 18mo, pp. 250, which reached, in 1817, six enlarged editions; a "Digest of Common Law," etc.; the "Power and Duties of Justices of the Peace," 8vo, pp. 521; "Deerfield,—John Wilson," 1818; "The Columbian Reader," 1818; "The Christian and Miscellaneous Portfolio," 1823; "A New and Corrected Version of the New Testament," 8vo, pp. 500, Boston, 1831, with a portrait of the author, and a list of subscribers headed by John C. Calhoun. Among his smaller works are "Law Tracts," 1812; "View of Massachusetts Proper," 1813; "Description of Deerfield," 1818. He died in 1863.
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