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It was on this street and at the home of Col. Elisha Porter, the site of the present residence of Samuel D. Smith, that Burgoyne left his tent and sword as a token of regard, being escorted to Boston, through this town, as a prisoner of war, with one half his army, by Colonel Porter.
Those who view for the first time the copper weather-cock at the top of the spire on the church in Middle street will be interested to know that this unique weather-vane has breasted every wind that has blown for nearly a hundred and fifty years. This antiquity, too, originally stood on the church in West street, and was the nucleus of several reckless feats of the young people of the town. Once two young men climbed to it by night and removed it, as a feat of pure mischief and in earlier years it is said that Christopher Smith, a home-coming sailor boy, climbed to the weather-cock and sat astride it, to the great admiration of those who "dared" him. The youngest lad who attempted the feat successfully was probably Nathan Seymour, eleven years old, and he was an uncle of Gen. Joseph Hooker.
The Indian name of Hadley was "Norwottuck," or "the town in the midst of the river," a title-feature which will be easily
