Warwick, Massachusetts

History

 * Town initially layed out in the 1730s; property was to compensate descendants of those who died in 1699 march against Canada under Gardner.
 * Really started getting settled in 1760 at which time the town hired a preacher, Reverend Lemuel Hedge.
 * Officially incorporated in 1763.
 * As town was entering into the Revolution, religious controversy broke out. Caleb Rich was preaching what became Universalism. The town also had many Baptists. And the Congregational (Puritan) preacher questioned the war. In the midst of this one "Elder Hix" (probably Moses Hicks) began preaching that men and women had spiritual as well as temporal spouses, and "when so moved to love one another, there was no criminality in the connection" -- i.e., it was okay to have multiple partners. See below for link to draft story about this part of Warwick's history.

Name variations

 * Gardner's Canada

Notable inhabitants

 * Amzi Doolittle (1737-1830)
 * Amos Marsh (1733-c 1820)

Historic sites & museums

 * Warwick Genealogical Society
 * Warwick Public Library

Related entries

 * The town of Warwick, Franklin County, Massachusetts, genealogical records 1739-1900, births, marriages, deaths : of the inhabitants that lived in Warwick, MA. Taken from the handwritten chronological records and cemetary [sic] records of the town of Warwick, MA, by Marilyn Allred. LDS Book 974.422/W1 V2a.
 * Vital Records of Warwick, MA.  Births, marriages, deaths (v. 1) 1739-1812 Births, deaths (v. 2) 1805 Births, marriages, deaths (v. 3) 1844-1860 Births, marriages, deaths (v. 4) 1860-1900. FHL US/CAN Film #1888692
 * The records of a young schoolteacher, by Elvira B. Goodell. Microfilm of typescript. Gives a record kept by Elvira B. Goodell of her students, 1850-1852, at Orange, Massachusetts; 1852-1853 at Wardsboro, Vermont; and 1853-1854 at Warwick, Massachusetts. Includes one page at end of notebook, in shaky handwriting, with marriages, 1858-1867, giving names of brides and grooms and dates of marriages, but no locality names. Perhaps at Warwick, Massachusetts, the place Elviria B. Goodell taught in 1853. FHL US/CAN Film #185430 Item 59.

Contributors
Jillaine