About Hatfield

1658

Original land purchased

1660

First house erected in Hatfield (Capawonk) then a part of Hadley, by Richard Fellows where the house of Frank Szawlowski now stands on Valley Street.

1661

Thomas Meekins opened grist mill on Mill River

1663

First settlers baby born in Hatfield

1668

First meetinghouse built

1669

Thomas Meekins built the first sawmill on the spot where the Shattuck Gun Shop now stands. (Mill River)

1670

On May 31, Hatfield incorporated. Named after Hatfield, Hertsfordshire, England

1670

On Aug. 8, First town meeting

1672

Oct. - Purchase of land from Indians now North Hatfield & Whately

1677

Sep. 17 - Town attacked by Indians Many houses burned, several people killed, and 17 women & children taken captive to Canada

1678

May - Captives redeemed and returned to Hatfield by Benjamin Waite and Stephen Jennings

1679

First school established

1693

Town expanded by securing land now known as Williamsburg

1700

Purchase of Governor Bradstreet's farm, now the Bradstreet section of town.

1737

First linseed oil mill built in Massachusetts on Running Gutter Brook about 1/2 mile above Strong's sawmill site on Linseed Rd., West Hatfield

1755

On Sep. 8, Col. Ephraim Williams of Hatfield, founder of Williams College, killed at the battle of Lake George in French & Indian War.

1771

Williamsburg and Whately set off from Hatfield

1776

125 Hatfield men engaged in Revolutionary War

1796

"Dame" School opened

1806

Bridge across the Connecticut River opened, supported by lottery and tolls

1816

First broom corn raised in Hatfield; 1000 acres raised later