USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Our county and its people : A history of Hampden County, Massachusetts. Volume 2 > Part 2
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The most prominent arrival in the town in 1642 was that of the family of Deacon Samuel Chapin, among whom were his sons Henry, Josias, David and Japhet. Deacon Chapin himself filled an important place in the early history of the town, and next to Mr. Pynchon was one of the most highly esteemed men in the community, his works and influence always being for good. He was one of the first selectmen and served in that capacity until 1652, when he was made "commissioner" with John Pynchon. In later years he again was chosen selectman, and in many other ways he contributed to the growth and prosperity of the place, in its public, social and religious history. His descendants have
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The Deacon Samuel Chapin Statue
Deacon Chapin, who frequently is mentioned as "the Puritan," was a man of upright character in all the walks of life. His truly christian example in a large measure molded the char- acter of those about him and left its impress upon succeeding generations
THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD
been numerous and include many of the foremost men of the city and county, some of whom have attained a high standing in busi- ness and public life. The splendid statue which adorns the open space adjoining the city library on State street was erected in memory of Deacon Chapin and is a worthy tribute of love and esteem. The "Puritan"-by this name he is frequently re- called-died in Springfield in 1675. Richard Sikes, who also in later years was a conspicuous figure in local history, came to the town in 1642.
The records for the year 1643 make mention of the names of Alexander Edwards, who afterward settled in Northampton, and died in 1690; John Dover; Morgan Jones, who died the same year ; Francis Ball, who was drowned in 1648; Thomas Cooper, who was killed by the Indians at the time of the attack on Springfield in 1675; James Bridgman, who died in Northampton in 1676; Roger Pritchard, who soon removed to New Haven; Judah Gregory, who also settled in Connecticut; William Branch, who died here in 1683; John Matthews, who died in 1684; John Harmon, who died in 1661; and Benjamin Cooley, who died in 1684.
Among the settlers who are to be credited for the year 1644, the records disclose the names of Miles Morgan, who lived in the town until his death in 1699, and whose monument in Court square suggests the spirit of the times in which he was a con- spicuous figure in local history. In the same connection men- tion is made of Abraham Munden, who was drowned at Enfield Falls in 1645. For the year 1645 we have the names of William Vaughn; William Jess, who was drowned at Enfield Falls in 1645 ; Francis Pepper, who died here in 1685; John Burrhall ; Griffith Jones, who died in 1676; and James Osborn, who died in Hartford in 1676. In 1646 there were George Colton, whose family name for more than two centuries has been prominently mentioned in Longmeadow history and who died in 1699; John Clark, who died here in 1684; Thomas Reeve, who died in 1650; Richard Exell, who died in 1714; Margaret Bliss, widow of Thomas Bliss of Hartford, who came to the town with a large family of children and in consideration of her numerous progney
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
was granted additional lots (a portion of which lands are still owned by her descendants) ; Lawrence, Samuel and John Bliss, sons of Margaret, all of whom died in the town; Thomas Thom- son, who soon removed elsewhere; Reice Bedortha, who was drowned in 1683; Hugh Parsons, who was charged with the sin of witchcraft, was tried in Boston and acquitted, and afterward settled in Watertown; John Lombard, who died here in 1672, and whose descendants were among Springfield's prominent men in later years; George Lancton, who removed to Northampton and died there in 1676.
The name of a single settler is credited to the year 1647, that of Rowland Thomas, who died here in 1698. In 1648 there were added the names of Thomas Sewell, who took the "oath of fidel- ity" Feb. 6, 1649, and Samuel Marshfield, who died in the town in 1692.
In 1649 several new names were added to the list of towns- men, among them being that of Anthony Dorchester, who died in 1683; Henry Walkley, who removed to Connecticut; Nathaniel Brown, who afterward settled in Middletown; Benjamin Munn, who died in 1675; Thomas Miller, who was killed by the Indians in 1675; and Jonathan Taylor, who died in Suffield in 1683. William Brooks, who settled in Deerfield and died in 1688, was the only person mentioned as having come to the town in 1649.
The names entered on the lists in 1650 were John Dumble- ton, who died in 1702; John Stewart, who died in 1690; Edward Foster, who died at a ripe old age in 1720; Samuel Terry, who died in Enfield in 1731; Hugh Dudley and Richard Maund. Those credited to the year 1651 were Benjamin Parsons who died in 1689; Nathaniel Pritchard, who lived in the town until after 1691; and John Lamb, who died here in 1690. In 1653 Mr. Hosford, whose given name is not mentioned, and Thomas Ban- croft, who died as early as 1684, are first noted on the books. In 1654 there are mentioned George Alexander; Simon Beaman, who died here in 1676; Obadiah Miller and Abel Wright, the lat- ter of whom died in 1724. Simon Sackett and Thomas Gilbert came in 1655, the former dying in the town in 1659 and the lat- ter in 1662.
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THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD
Continuing still further the same line of narration, the rec- ords show that the settlers who came to the town in 1656 were John Gilbert, who petitioned for an allotment of land in Woro- noco, but who did not settle there; Jonathan Gilbert, who at first sought to settle at Wethersfield but did not in fact; Thomas Noble, who acquired lands in Westfield, where he died in 1704, and from whom has descended some of the best men of that town; William Morgan, who was drowned in 1663; and John Riley, who died here in 1684. John Bagg is first mentioned in 1657, and his surname has been represented in all succeeding generations to the present time by men of worth and prominence in the civil and political history of the county. In 1658 we find the names of John Wood, who left in 1660; John Stiles, who was drowned at Windsor in 1683; Joseph Crowfoot, who removed to Northampton ; Thomas Day, who died here in 1711; and Richard Fellows, who died at Hartford in 1663.
For the year 1659 mention is made of Pelatiah Glover, the settled minister of the church in Springfield from 1660 to 1692, when he died; John Scott, who died in Suffield in 1690; Tahan Grant; Nathaniel Ely, whose descendants have been numerous and prominent in the history of Springfield, Longmeadow and other towns of the county for many years; Samuel Ely, son of Nathaniel, and who died in 1690; Peter Swinck, supposed to have been the first negro settler in Springfield and who died in 1699. In the records for 1660 there are found the names of John Keep, who, with others, was killed by the Indians in 1676 while on the way from the settlement at Longmeadow to Springfield to attend religious worship ; Quince Smith, who was received into the set- tlement on probation for two months and then was "dis- allowed" and warned to depart; Rev. Mr. Hooker, who minis- tered to the people of the parish for a few months.
In 1661 there appear the names of Charles Ferry, who died in the town in 1669; Elizabeth Hitchcock, widow of Luke Hitch- cock, who with her two sons John and Luke afterward lived and died in the town and from whom have descended some of the best men of the county; Jeremy Horton who died here in 1682 and whose descendants have been prominent in succeeding genera-
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MILES-MORGAN AN EARLY SETTLER-OF SPRINGFIELD HER
Miles Morgan Statue, Court Square, Springfield
THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD
tions ; John Horton; John and Samuel Harmon and John and James Dorchester, both of whom died here. In 1662 the new comers were John Petty, who died here in 1680; John Henryson, who removed to Connecticut and died there; William Hunter, who was killed by King Philip's warriors in 1676 ; James Taylor, who died here in 1720; Thomas Mascall, who was admitted as a settler from Windsor. Hugh Mackey and Thomas Thomson, a boy, are mentioned as having a seat in the meeting house in 1663, and John Barber, who died in 1712, is first referred to in the same year.
Among the various old records and documents of a historic character in the custody of the city clerk of Springfield is a paper in the handwriting of that worthy settler, Elizur Holyoke, which contains a list of names of the allowed freemen of the town, nearly all of them heads of families, in the year 1664. The paper reads as follows :
"February 1664."
"Here follows a Record or List of ye Names of the Townes- men, or men of this Towne of Springfield that is to say of the allowed & admitted Inhabitants, who they are this present Febr : 1664."
Rowland Thomas Serj. Miles Morgan
John Clarke Rowland Stebbin
Henry Chapin
William Branch
William Brooks
Capt. John Pynchon
Lawrence Bliss
John Bagg
Lieut Elizur Holyoke
James Osborne John Harman Nath. Pritchard
Peter Swinck
Timothy Cooper
Griffith Jones
Mr. Pelatiah Glover
Benjamin Parsons
Obadiah Miller
Deacon Sam'l Chapin
Widdow M. Bliss Sam'l Bliss
John Matthews.
Anth. Dorchester
Rich. Sikes
Jonathan Burt
John Lumbard
David Ashley
Thomas Bancroft
Abell Wright
Benjamin Cooley
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John Henrison Richard Exell John Dumbleton Jonathan Taylor Hugh Dudley John Baker John Scott John Riley
Japhet Chapin
John Stewart Thomas Noble
William Warriner Serj. Tho. Stebbins Benjamin Mun
William Hunter
Francis Pepper
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
Joseph Crowfoote
James Warriner John Bliss
Edward Ffoster
Jeremy Horton John Keepe
Thomas Miller
Symon Bemon Nathaneel Burt
John Leonard Thomas Day
Widdow Burt
Ens. Tho. Cooper Charles Fferry
George Colton
Rice Bedortha
Thomas Mirick
Samuel Ely
Samuell Terry
Sam'll Marshfield
James Taylor
John Lamb
Nathaneel Ely
Jonathan Ball John Horton
Robert Ashley
From what is stated in preceding paragraphs it may be seen that notwithstanding the generous provision made for the benefit of all worthy persons who chose to make their abode in the town, settlement in Springfield during the early years of its history was somewhat slow. In the time of the elder Pynchon it was the purpose of the founders to limit the plantation to forty fam- ilies, which fact, with the investiture of the land proprietary in the town, had the effect to retard the growth of the locality. A glance at the list of settlers above furnished will show that almost a majority of those who came during the first few years of the town's history soon departed and established themselves in other places, many of them in Northampton and others in the colonies down the valley. These frequent removals leads to the conclu- sion that there was something in the order of things under the original founders that was distasteful to many of the first set- tlers, or that the Pynchon proprietary clung to the determination to limit the extent of the plantation ; but there is no proof that such conditions prevailed, and it may be that the temporary set- tlement here was for the purpose of selecting the most desirable location on the part of the settlers.
The list of "allowed and admitted inhabitants" prepared by Elizur Holyoke in 1664 shows the names of seventy-four "towns- men" in Springfield at that time. Each of those mentioned pre- sumably was the head of a family, and the number of actual in- habitants then in the town must have been more than three hun- dred. However, in that year Springfield was a jurisdiction of considerable size, amounting almost to a principality in area, and included portions of towns now within the state of Connecticut.
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THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD
The proceeding of the general court in 1641, recognizing Spring- field as a town, gave it no bounds, and even the act creating Hampshire county in 1662 furnished no more than indefinite boundaries for the greater jurisdiction.
When originally set off in 1636 Springfield was common land called Agawam, and Mr. Pynchon evidently had authority to acquire title to such portions of the entire region as he felt disposed to purchase from the Indians. More than that, when other lands were acquired by other proprietors, and were settled, but without sufficient population to warrant separate town or- ganization, such localities were annexed to the mother town for purposes of local government. In the year following the first settlement at Agawam, owing perhaps to some slight differences among the inhabitants of the Massachusetts and Connecticut col- onies, the boundary line between them was established, and a con- siderable area which formerly had been within the general Aga- wam plantation was separated from it, although the inhabitants there continued for some time under its general authority. In fact a part of the territory of what now is Connecticut originally was within the Agawam jurisdiction.
Of the several towns comprising Hampden county Spring- field contributed of its territory to the formation, in whole or in part, of no less than thirteen of them.1 First, in 1669, Woronoco was set off and called Westfield, and included all the town now so called together with Southwick and parts of Montgomery and Russell. Second, in 1763 the territory of original Wilbraham was set off and comprised, substantially, all the present town of that name and also what is now Hampden. Third, in 1774 the remaining portion of Springfield west of the Connecticut was set off to form West Springfield, and included all that is now Hol- yoke and Agawam.
The third subdivision of Springfield's territory was made in the latter part of February, 1774, when Ludlow was set off as a district. In the next year it was organized as a town. This
1In 1664 the town of Springfield fixed the bounds of Enfield and ordered that it be "accounted a part of Springfield" until the general court ordered other- wise.
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
town alone of all the old component parts of Springfield has not been called on to surrender its territory to later formations. The fifth subdivision was made in 1783 when Longmeadow was cre- ated, including nearly all of the present town so called, together with the comparatively new jurisdiction called East Longmea- dow. The sixth and last reduction in area of the mother town was made in 1848, when Chicopee was set off. In 1890 a part of Longmeadow was annexed to Springfield and was brought within the jurisdiction of its city government.
During the first few years of its history it was a question whether the colonization scheme undertaken by Mr. Pynchon and his associates would be a permanent success, and some writers have inclined to the position that there was a time when the planters would have abandoned the settlement and returned to the eastern colonies. Such a feeling may have arisen when the Connecticut colonies began their work of persecution and ar- raigned Mr. Pynchon before the court at Hartford on the flimsy charge of speculation, resulting in a division and the separation of Agawam from its sister plantations in the valley. But this seeming hardship proved a blessing in fact and the little unpro- tected, struggling colony of planters gradually grew in strength and increased their lands. The goodly accession to the number of settlers during the years 1640-43 determined the permanency of the settlement, and from that time the increase was constant and healthful.
In 1642 a second allotment of lands was made and in 1645 a third division became necessary. In the latter year the Connecti- cut towns sought to impose a tariff on Springfield imports and exports shipped by way of the river. This attempt was resisted, and the feeling created by the events of the period threatened the peace of all the New England colonies. In 16461 the first annual town meeting was held (previous to this time the meetings had been held monthly) and in 1647 the proceedings were first regu- larly recorded.
1In this year George Colton and Miles Morgan were appointed to "do their best to get a smith (blacksmith) for the town," and later on the town bargained with Francis Ball for a shop for the smith, the building to be 12x16 feet and "six feet stud between joints."-Town records.
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THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD
In 1648 the community was first plagued with the imaginary sin of witchcraft, growing out of a misunderstanding between settlers Parsons and Bedortha and the physical condition of the wife of the latter which now would be regarded as hysteria. But the infection at once caught in the plantation and even the good minister Moxon's family did not escape its ravages. The aid of the law and the general court was invoked during this period of disturbance, alleged witches were apprehended and brought to trial, but the most serious result was in the temporary disquiet in the plantation. Viewing such events in the enlightened age of the twentieth century we can only express surprise that our staid old forefathers could have been even temporarily misled by such vagaries of imagination, yet they did exist and an occasion is not wanting in which the punishment of death was visited on an unfortunate offender charged and convicted of witchery. Salem was a hotbed of witchcraft during the period in which that evil was honestly supposed to exist.
In 1650 Mr. Pynchon, who had been chiefly instrumental in founding and maintaining the colony at Agawam and who had been the guiding spirit in all the affairs of the plantation as well as being one of the magistrates of the court, published his famous book, "The Meritorious Price of Man's Redemption," which is referred to on an earlier page. While the results of this work, which has been called "the pioneer of religious thought and free- dom," in no wise reflected on his character or his standing in the town, he nevertheless was much affected by the "burning" of his book; and after he had been deprived of his magisterial office he began preparations for departure. In 1652, having disposed of most of his property and other interests in the locality he, with his son-in-law, Henry Smith, returned to England. Mr. Moxon left during the same year, and thus Springfield lost three of its most upright pioneers.
On the departure of the elder Pynchon his son John suc- ceeded to the vacant place in the town, and he is believed to have continued the business of trading, milling and selling merchan- dise. When the "head" of the church had departed the younger Pynchon ministered to the people by reading to them and occa-
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
sionally by addressing them from his "owne meditations." In addition to his services in this work, the town, in 1656, employed Deacon Wright, Deacon Chapin, Mr. Holyoke and Henry Burt to labor in the "Lord's work on the Sabbath" until a settled min- ister should be engaged. This laudable work was performed by these worthy pioneers until 1661, when Rev. Pelatiah Glover was settled as minister over the old First parish. The first meeting house was built in 1645 by Thomas Cooper, and was the first church edifice in the state west of Boston. Its size was 28x40 feet, and nine feet "between joints."
In 1662 the three Connecticut river towns of Massachusetts were incorporated as a county by the name of Hampshire, and Springfield was designated as the "shire town," as may be seen by reference to the creating act in another chapter of this work. If previously there had been any question regarding the perma- nency of the town all doubt was dispelled by this action. The three towns were Springfield, Northampton and Hadley, all flourishing settlements, that first mentioned being of the most importance. Northampton was not made a half-shire town but it was ordered that the courts should be held alternately at that place and Springfield.
The designation of Springfield as the seat of justice of a new county was the most important event in the early history of the town, and at once gave it a special prominence among the munici- palities of the state, although many years passed before a court house was in fact erected. In 1659 Captain John Pynchon had built a large brick mansion house which served the double pur- pose of a residence and defensive fortress to be used in case of an attack from the Indians; and there is reason to believe that the hospitable owner frequently furnished entertainment to the stranger within his gates.
During the early years of the county's history, the Pynchon fort, as it is best recalled, was the place in which courts were held and so far as common belief tends to establish the fact, they con- tinued to be held there until after the dawning of the eighteenth century. Some authorities are inclined to the belief that courts were frequently held in the old Ely "ordinary," or tavern, for
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SPRINGFIELDLAUNDRY
LAUNDRY OFFICE
The old Ely "Ordinary," Springfield
The old Ely "Ordinary" in Springfield; licensed by the court in 1665 as a "house for common entertaynment, also for selling wines and strong liquors for the year ensuing, provided he (Nathaniel Ely) keeps good rule and order in his house." Landlord Ely was released from "trayning in ye town soe long as he continued to keep ye ordinary." The old ordinary was a famous hostelry in its day, and eventually was removed from it its original site to the corner of of Dwight and Sanford streets where o it was hit but to the hace uso indicatod
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
which in 1665 Nathaniel Ely was licensed to furnish entertain- ment, refreshment and good cheer to villagers and travellers ; and in consideration of the great good expected of him the worthy host was released from "trayning in ye towne soe long as he con- tinues to keepe ye ordinary."
The Pynchon fort, or residence, stood near the corner of what now is Main and Fort streets, on ground occupied by the Fort block. It was in existence until 1831 and for more than a century was one of the most pretentious structures in the town.
In 1662, after Springfield had been designated as the shire town, the selectmen caused a house of correction to be built. It was located on the "road on the brow of the hill," or what now is Maple street. Captain Pynchon and Nathaniel Ely were ap- pointed to lay out the road leading to the prison. Previous to this time the settlers had little need of a place of confinement, and while the construction of a house of correction was first men- tioned in 1661, it was not until after the creation of the county that it was built. The worthy pioneers would not belittle the dignity and character of their place of abode by designating the house of correction as a "common gaol," and the structure was not built as a place in which offenders were to be punished, but rather where the evil course of the wrong-doer was to be correct- ed. In later years the name "jail" came into use in describing the county prison, but the general designation of house of correc- tion is still preserved.
After the organization of the county and the settlement of the affairs of the town in connection with the new order of things, the people entered upon an era of progress and prosperity. From that time until the outbreak of King Philip's war there was nothing to disturb the peace of the community, but when the Connecticut river Indians began to show signs of discontent the inhabitants naturally were alarmed and took measures for the common defense. Of all the plantations that invariably had treated the Indians with generosity, Springfield undoubtedly stood at the head, but the prospect of conquering the whites was too much for the savage nature to resist, and it readily yielded to Philip's entreaties and without provocation the natives turned
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THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD
against the people who had befriended and maintained them for years.
King Philip's war, the story of which is told in detail in an earlier chapter of this work, began in the spring of 1675, but the disaffection among the river tribes did not show itself until the latter part of the summer, when the scene of events was trans- ferred from the eastern part of the colony to the Connecticut valley. The war was the most disastrous event in the early his- tory of Springfield and nearly resulted in the abandonment of the settlement by its white population.
On October 5, 1675, Springfield was attacked and burned by the Indians, and Lieut. Cooper, Thomas Miller, Pentacost Mat- thews (wife of John Matthews) were killed. Four other persons were wounded, and one of them, Edmund Pringrydays, died a few days later. In all fifty-two buildings, including the house of corecction and Capt. Pynchon's corn and saw mill, were burned. Of the total number of buildings destroyed thirty-two were houses and twenty-five were barns with all their contents- the recently garnered products of the season.
On the day of the attack the town was practically defenseless except for the protection afforded by the fortified houses. The militia were away in the defense of Hadley, and upon their re- turn the savages fled to the forests. Throughout the remainder of that year, and the next, the town was frequently visited by marauding bands of Indians, but beyond an occasional sneaking assault on some unguarded settler and the burning of a few houses and barns no serious loss was suffered.
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