The Hayes Family

Hector Hayes arrived on October 12, 1836, as one of the first two Euro-American settlers in North Plains Township. His journey from New York was arduous — cattle weakened in the heat, snow blocked the path, and the family capsized their canoe crossing the Maple River. Hayes purchased 280 acres on Sections 31-32 and a sugar-bush on Section 22, and was among the first to plant orchards in spring 1838. While Hector Hayes came from New York rather than Ireland, the Hayes surname (O hAodha) is one of the most common Irish surnames, and the coincidence adds a layer of interest to the family's role in Hubbardston's pre-Irish settlement.