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