In 1797 the Sears Homestead was build by Jonathan Sears on 170 acres after purchasing the land from Joshua Taylor. Jonathan followed his relatives who had settled in town in 1774 after receiving grants of land as payment for participation in what is now known as the French and Indian Wars.The new settlers of the town came from Harwich and Yarmouth, thus the origination of the name Cape Street.The homestead stayed in the Sears family until the 1950's and is one of the town's original homes still remaining.

Originally a sheep farm, the home was an industrious enterprise selling wool, hay and pigs for subsistence. Life was solitary, harsh and unforgiving yet many determined descendents hung tenaciously to the original land grant.

The town of Ashfield survived Indian raids, harsh winters, flooding and the continual onslaught of progress.The first settlers of the town arrived in 1745 and for the next 20 years survived in a state of "constant agitation and alarm". Indian raids were a constant threat and a fort was built on the site of the Sears Homestead in the 1750's in order to protect the citizens. Armed forces were sent from the fort to protect settlers when farming during the day.Many a family endured early life on this frontier  with a determined will and humor. It may have been difficult living by modern standards but many  records display  the dedication, humor and independence of these early settlers.

Ashfield Anecdote

Mark Twain was once booked to give a lecture in Ashfield. He wrote to his friend William Dean Howells to ask what type of folk he would be addressing. He replied:

"Your audience will be the farmer-folks of the region, quiet and dull on top but full of grit and fun; they are fond of speaking, and rather cultivated, but not spoiled. They know you like a book, and you can trust all your points to them. Their life is one of deadly solitude and suffocating frugality, but they are smart. They will stand lots of human nature from you."

Come visit the Pioneer Valley.  It is full of early American History