This region remained uninhabited, however, for many years later than would ordinarily have been the case; not so much from fear of hardships or Indian troubles as on account of the uncertainty of the land tenures which could be acquired.  Massachusetts, by reason of the Royal Charter of 1691, claimed to the west as far as the Province of Connecticut extended.  New York, on the other hand, maintained that the eastern boundary of Connecticut was meant:  moreover, that the western boundary had been agreed upon for special reasons; furthermore, that her own territory, as successor to the rights granted the Duke of York in 1674, reached from the Connecticut River to Delaware Bay.  Thereupon Massachusetts referred to the old Charter in force in 1674, which made the Atlantic and Pacific her eastern and western limits.  In return, attention was called to the clause in that Charter, excepting lands in the possession of any other Christian State.  Now, in consequence of the discovery of the Hudson in 1608, the Dutch had occupied the country as far east as the Connecticut, and to their title New York succeeded.  Massachusetts then denied the fact of settlement.  Thus the controversy was prolonged until, in 1773, a line to be run parallel with the Hudson, at a distance of twenty miles, was agreed upon.  But about the year 1720 it became evident that the western boundary of Connecticut would be established in favor of that province.  This arrangement, as the New York representatives stated, was a result of the boldness of settlers in pushing westward and occupying the district in dispute.  Accordingly, Massachusetts was encouraged to pursue a similar course, and the first settlement on the Housatonic was made at Sheffield in 1725.  The occasion of the next advance appears to have arisen from the attention paid to free education in Boston.  That town, in 1735, because of its large expenditures for public schools, support of poor, and contribution to the State treasury, petitioned the General Court for a grant of three or four townships within the “Hampshire wild lands.”  Three lots, each six miles square, were given, subject to certain conditions.  Within five years, sixty Massachusetts families must be settled, each possessing a house (at least eighteen feet square and seven stud), with five acres of improved land.  A house for public worship must be erected, and a learned Orthodox minister be honorably supported; lastly, a school must be maintained.

[Illustration:  The park in 1807.]

[Illustration:  The old parsonage.]

One of these townships, Poontoosuck, an Indian word, meaning “winter deer,” was bought at public auction for L1,320, by Colonel Jacob Wendell, whose descendents have earned lasting honor for the family name.  Philip Livingston, of Albany, and John Stoddard, through older claims, became associated with him as joint proprietors.  The terms of the grant were not strictly complied with, and, after an unsuccessful attempt to bring in Dutchmen, a company of forty settlers from Westfield purchased and took possession of the greater part of the township.  Difficulties with the Indians soon drove them back.  The first permanent settlement was made in 1749, and three years later occurred the birthday of the town.