07/21/2026
We are working on a new copy of a very important map. Henry P. Billings, Register of Deeds, made a map of colonial Hatfield based on his access to land deeds, and in 1905 Miss Jennie D. Smith of Northampton backed the fragile map and traced over his line-work. Hatfield historian Daniel White Wells presented the map to the Hatfield historical society as it existed in 1905, long before the modern 501(c) 3 organized!
Mr. Billings, a veteran of the Civil War, was Register of Deeds for Hampshire County for 21 years. He was only 55 when he died at his father's home in Hatfield in 1891. We are very grateful for his curiosity about Hatfield history, and to Miss Smith for her careful and faithful work.
The new copy, made by Collections Assistant Annika Sturmer, will be available digitally on our website when it is complete. We are puzzling out the old names from the worn paper, which is especially challenging in the torn places, and want to be as thorough as possible! Thanks to the Hatfield Historical Society membership and Board for making all this work possible!
ETA: thanks also to intrepid researcher extraordinaire Sue Maciorowski for finding details on the correct Henry P. Billings!
Here's Miss Smith's 1905 conservation work, now in our collection, along with a google map image of roughly the same area today, although some roads have changed:
