Springfield, 1636-1886 : history of town and city, including an account of the quarter-millennial celebration at Springfield, Mass., May 25 and 26, 1886, Part 12

Author: Green, Mason Arnold; Springfield (Mass.)
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: [Springfield, Mass.] : C.A. Nichols & Co.
Number of Pages: 740


USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Springfield > Springfield, 1636-1886 : history of town and city, including an account of the quarter-millennial celebration at Springfield, Mass., May 25 and 26, 1886 > Part 12


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Mr. Pynchon secured from the General Court in 1652 the loan of a "great gun" for the protection of the town. It was ordered from Boston that " Samuel Chapin be joyned with Mr. Pinchon & Mr. Holy- oke for the dividinge of the townes." The division referred to was at " Noatucke " or Northampton ; the commission was duly performed, and approved by the Bay authorities in 1654, and the year following the Northampton commissioners were ordered to take the oath before the Springfield commissioners. The latter court was also sometimes specially called upon to try cases in the infant plantation, as appears from the vote passed in May, 1656, that John Pynchon and Elizur Holyoke shall try Robert Bartlett, charged with committing " a great misdemeanor in attemptinge to force the sd Smith's wife."


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SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1886.


In 1653 the town appropriated a tract of land on Chicopee plain to support a schoolmaster. The custom of subsidizing the innkeeper has already been spoken of. This was a custom brought from Eng- land. At a later date Samuel Ely was released from duty on train- ing days if he would agree to keep an ordinary.


The young blood upon the judge's bench began to produce results. Daniel, a Scotch servant, gets twenty lashes for profaning the Sab- bath ; Joane Miller is summoned to answer the charge of calling her husband a " foole, toad, vermine, and threateninge him ; " Samuel Ely is fined for selling cider to the Indians ; Aquossowump, an Indian, is flogged for theft ; and Goodwife Hunter is gagged and made to stand half an hour in the stocks for sundry " exorbitancys of ye toung."


The town-meeting showed a like infusion of new life. Its reduced numbers were not followed by reduced financial burdens in town expenses. Money for Moxon's real estate was provided for, which ran the tax-rate to £107 128. 6d. in 1653. They paid that year £35 on the Moxon purchase, £50 for Rev. Mr. Horsford, with the hope that he would remain with them, and 1s. 3d. for an hour-glass, which latter ensured them full measure of preaching on the Sabbath.


In 1653 John Pynchon was dropped from the board of townsmen, probably because he was a magistrate and recorder of deeds. The new board of selectmen were George Colton. Robert Ashley, Thomas Cooper, Benjamin Cooley, and Thomas Stebbins. This was quite a change, and a change, too, in the direction of the small landholders. The importance of the selectmen was lessened by the vote of October, 1664. In defining the powers of the new board it is expressly said that " giving out of ye land belongs to ye towne." On the previous May John Pynchon's lot on Long Hill had been increased by the town, upon the condition that he would buy a flock of forty sheep, and sell them as he might to the inhabitants. In 1666 Mr. Pynchon proposed to spend £200 in building a new mill, and a stormy town- meeting took place on account of a proposition to refund this money. The proposition was voted down. A private subscription was then


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taken up, and Mr. Pynchon concluded to go ahead. Subsequently the town voted Pynchon one-twelfth part of a bushel for all the grain ground in the new mill. A few days later he was voted some land, if he would also build a saw-mill. Pynchon's slaves, "Harry " and " Roco," worked on the first mill put up at Suffield in 1672.


From the mass of orders in town-meetings, as to smail matters, the following is selected as a sample : -


Ordered that the ye gate at the higher wharfe shall be set in repaire agt ye spring of ye yeare & yt ye sd gate shall be kept in repaire and well hung fro yeare to yeare & after fenees be made up in ye spring yearely the sd gate shall be always kept shut till all ye fields about it be broken up. And if any person shall throw open or leave open the s' gate fro the tyme of making up fences in ye spring till liberty of laying ye fields commons he shall forfeit a fine of 5s.


About 1662 the old road along the brow of the hill (Maple street), through the pines to the dingle, was laid out, and on it the house of correction was built. It was found convenient, also, to build a pound on the west side, at the " hay place," which was probably not far from the old upper ferry, opposite Cypress street.


The board of townsmen of 1654 consisted of Thomas Cooper, George Colton, Robert Ashley, Henry Burt, and Benjamin Cooley. The following year, Cooper, Ashley, and Cooley were reelected, and Miles Morgan and John Dumbleton chosen in the place of Colton and Burt. The three members reelected refused to serve, and they were fined 20s. apiece, while George Colton and Thomas and John Steb- bins were chosen to fill their places. Lieutenant Cooper was evidently a brisk, outspoken man, which sometimes made it difficult to get on with him. Some years later he was appointed by the County Court to aid in laying out a highway, but the judges finally substituted another man on account of his refusal to serve


The new board of townsmen, with John Pynchon and Samuel Chapin, were constituted a commission to allot the common lands. The new plan was followed for several years, but we find that in 1663


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the power to grant allotments of land was again taken from the select- men and given to Captain Pynchon, Ensign Cooper, Benjamin Cooley, George Colton, Rowland Thomas, Miles Morgan, and Elizur Holyoke, " for the present." A brisk apportionment of lands followed.


We cannot but think that behind these short orders, changing the privilege of dividing and assigning lands from the town-meeting to the selectinen, then back to the town-meeting, then to the selectmen aided by a committee, and finally to a special land board, is an inter- esting chapter of our annals that is lost beyond all hope of recovery. Certain it is that, for some reason, a rebellious spirit rested upon the local waters. Men sometimes absented themselves wilfully from the town-meeting. In April, 1665, the following persons were fined for this offence : Henry Chapin, Griffith Jones, Edward Foster, William Branch, Deacon Chapin, Robert Ashley, Thomas Mirriek, Anthony Dorchester, Jonathan Burt, William Brookes, Joseph Crowfoote, John Leonard, Ensign Cooper, Benjamin Mun, John Clarke, and Nathaniel Burt.


It was in 1655 that the base of assessment of taxes was changed from the number of acres to the value of the lands. Stock was, as before, included in the ratable property. Men without any property were taxed 58. per anm for the support of the ministry.


The town-organizing genius of Jolm Pynchon showed itself in January, 1656, when he and others received power to assign lands at Woronoco (Westfield) to settlers. The final apportionment was not made, however, until 1664. Pynchon was authorized, with others, to apportion land at Squakheag ( Northfield) for a plantation, in 1672.


The struggling community at Quabang had all along been under the fostering care of Springfield. As early as 1655 Elizur Holyoke had been a member of a legislative committee to lay out four thous- and acres for some Indians near Quabaug ; and, ten years later, the plantation applied to Springfield to secure for them the Indian title to the lands they occupied. Lieut. Thomas Cooper performed that service, Elizur Holyoke and Samuel and Japhet Chapin witnessing the deed.


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SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1886.


In 1667 John Pynchon headed a provisional committee, appointed at the Bay, to lay out lands, admit inhabitants, and complete the town organization at Quabang. Thus it happens that the first records of Brookfield are in Major Pynchon's handwriting. In 1673 Pynchon refused absolutely to serve on the provisional committee, and Qua- bang was at once incorporated as a town, under the name of Brook- field.


John Pynchon was on the commission appointed in 1664 to receive the surrender of New Amsterdam (New York) from the Dutch. It is believed, however, that he only went part way upon his journey when news reached him that the surrender had been made. Pynchon's church, judicial, military, and political duties pressed heavily upon him, but his business-like habits enabled him to carry a load which might have overcome a stronger man.


Rev. Mr. Horsford was a disappointment, and when Rev. Mr. Thomson came to Springfield to preach as a candidate, he was given (November, 1655) the " towne house " or parsonage, situated between the lot of Thomas Cooper and Deacon Chapin, Thomson to keep the house in repair. For some reason the new minister did not occupy it, and the town had to undertake repairs at its own expense.


In March, 1656, Mr. Thomson had " deserted this Plantation," and Deacon Wright was chosen to supply the pulpit. In February follow- ing Mr. Holyoke and Henry Burt were called upon to carry on the public services, Deacon Chapin being substitute. In 1657 services were conducted by Pynchon, Holyoke, Chapin, and Burt, and Mr. Pynchon was even authorized to read his "owne meditations." Wealth did much for John Pynchon, to be sure ; it may have put him on the board of selectmen, or secured his election as an associate in the Great and General Court ; nay, it may have contributed toward placing him upon the bench ; nothing, however, but his gifts of mind and heart could have induced the Springfield town-meeting to open the pulpit to his " owne meditations," with Deacons Chapin, Burt, and Wright sitting in the pews.


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SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1886.


It was not until February, 1659, that the struggling inhabitants renewed the hope of settling a minister ; but he, Mr. Hooker, son of the famous Thomas Hooker, of Connecticut, who had been drawn into the controversy with William Pynchon, remained a few months only. There seemed to be some fatality about seeuring a minister ; but after a vacancy of over nine years, the right man appeared. Nearly two years after Mr. Hooker's candidacy, a young minister named Pelatiah Grover preached here, and in September of the year follow- ing, 1661, he was settled over the Springfield church. He was some- what of a student, and was well calculated to take up the line of theology abroad in the valley. He was a worthy instrument in the hand of Providence for the advancement of the community. The dark interim had closed, and the people must have felt the old con- fidence return with the renewal of the stated means of grace. They were not able to give Mr. Glover a liberal support in money, but they made free to supply him with valuable landed property. Here is the list of lots made over to him, and it is incidentally interesting as in- dicating the various sections subject to allotments. The town com- mittee having the matter in charge did not record their deeds until the spring of 1665, for the following parcels of land : -


(1.) House-lot, 7 acres from Main street to river, 14 rods wide.


(2.) Wet meadow, 4 acres, corresponding to house lot on East side of Main Street.


(3.) Wood-lot, 7 acres, abutting the Wet meadow to the East.


(4.) Meadow, 7 acres, West side of Connecticut river opposite home lot.


(5.) Meadow, 5 acres, second division, 80 rods West of river.


(6. ) Lot in 3d division, West of river, 16 acres.


(7.) Lot on the plaine above the End brook, 16 acres.


(8.) Meadow, in the " house meadow," 9 acres.


(9.) Meadow in Indian fields on Agawam river, 4 acres.


(10.) Lot on East Branch of Mill river, 2 acres.


Year after year the seleetmen and deacons, or some committee chosen in town-meeting, assigned the pews or " dignified " the


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meeting-house, and their arbitrary duties often caused heart-burnings quite as intense as those resulting from assignments of land, since the rule followed was worldly condition and social importance. In the winter of 1663 Deacon Chapin and the selectmen, consisting of Thomas Cooper, Robert Ashley, John Pynchon, Benjamin Cooley, and Samuel Marshfield, distributed the seats as follows, no mention being made of Mr. Pynchon, as he probably owned a seat : -


Goodwife Chapin is to sitt in the seate alonge with Mrs. Glover and Mrs. IIollyocke.


In ye first seate Robert Ashly : Benja. Cooly: Tho: Cooper; George Colton, & Rowld Stebbens :


In ye 2d seate Nathanell Ely ; Rich Sikes, Tho Miriek, & Willm Warriner :


In ye 3d seate 1 Serja Stebbins ; Serja ; Morgan ; Benj Munn : John Leonord ; Anth. Dorchester ; Saml Marshfeild :


In ye 4th seate Benja Parsons : Jonath Burt; Wmn Branch: Reice Bedotha ; Jo Dumbleton ; Rowld Thomas :


John Matthews; Jo Clarke; John Lamb: Lawr Bliss; Tho Miller ; Tho Day :


In ye 5th seate


John Lombard ; Griffith Joanes; N. Pritchard: Rich Exsell ; The Noble; Saml Ely :


In ye 6th seate


Jonath Taylor ; Tho: Bancroft ; John Scot: Nath Burt; John Stewart; Wm Brooks :


In ye 7th seate


Jer Horton ; Jo Bag: Jo Riley; Lyman Beamon ; Abell Wright :


In ye 8th seate


In ye 9th seate {


Joh Henryson ; Saml Terry ; Obadi Miller ; Hugh Dudley :


In ye 10th seate


Jo Crowfoote; Edwr ffoster; Charls ffery ; James Osborne ; WVm Hunter ; Peter Swinck :


In ye forseate of ye gallery :


In ye upper part above ye Pillars on ye North side - Henry Chapin ; John Bliss ; Jo Keefe :


In ye upp pt above ye Pillars on ye South side - ffrannces Pepper ; James Warrinar; Samł Bliss :


Below y" Pillars on ye North side - Saml Holyoke; David Ashly; Jonath Ashly ; Japth Chapin ; Tim: Cooper ; Isack Colton ; Obadi Cooly :


On ye South side below ye Pillars -Tho Cooper Jun; Jos Warrinar; John Leonord ; John Harmon ; Saml Harmon ; Increase Sikes ; John Dorchester :


In ye seate in ye Gallery wth faces agt ye minister, - Ephraim Colton ; Eliakim Cooly ; Jonath Morgan ; Saml Stebbins ; James Dorchester :


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In ye Backer seate of ye Gallery on ye North side at ye upp end of it -James Taylor ; John Horton ; Hugh Mackey ; Wm Morgan :


In ye South side at ve upp end of ye Backer seate-Jonath Ball ; Saml Ball ; Jos. Harmon ; Nathanell Sikes; Tho: Thomson :


In ye Backer Seate (a break) the Pillars on the North side -John Hitchcock ; Jo Clarke ; Jon Lombard ; Sam Bliss :


On the South - Jos Thomas ; Tho Stebbins ; Jos Bedortha.


Those of the present generation having ancestors in this congrega- tion, and being curious to learn their social importance, can entertain themselves by studying the above list; and, if the family vanity is not flattered by ancestral assignments to " ye Backer seate," let it be remembered that the good people of that day were themselves often quite as much disturbed at the way they were ranked. This trouble became so serious in 1666 that the selectmen were compelled to inter- fere ; many having refused to sit where they were assigned, and hav- ing acted " with a high hand," it was ordered : -


Whosoever of this towneship shall not fro tyme to tyme in respect of their sitting in ye meeting house submit y"selves to the ordering of ye Select men & Deacons or such as are impowered to seate & order psons in ye meeting house : All such Persons as shall refuse or neglect to attend unto order as aforsd shall forfeite as is hereafter expressed viz : Hee or She that shall not take his or her seate ordered ym from Tyme to tyme But shall on ye days or Tymes of Gods Publika worship Goe into & abide in any other seate appointed for some other ; Such disorderly pson or psons for ye first offence shall forfeit Three shillings foure pence to ye Towne Treasury, wch shall be exacted by warrant fro ye Select- men directed to ye Constable to Levy ye same, And if afterward Hee or Shee shall still psist in such disorder, they shall pay sixe shillings eight pence as a fine to ye Towne to be exacted as aforesd ; & if a 3d tyme they shall still psist in such obstinacy, snch pson to pay Ten shillings to ye Towne ; to be exacted as aforesd ; And if afterwards they shall still psist in such obstinacy, ye selectmen are hereby ordered to complaine of such pson to ye magistrate or county courte to deale with them as they shall Judge meete :


And whereas the Seate wch was made by ye Towne at a common Town charge (formerly called the Guard seate) is now appointed by the seleetmen (who only have ye disposing of that Seate) for Boys to sit in; & ye Selectmen having de-


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clared that the smaler Boys should sit there, that they may be more in sight of ye congregation & having warned all men out ye said seate, both maryed & other growne psons, some whereoff doe still continue to sit there, & seem as if they did it wth a high hand; It is therefore hereby ordered that noe Persons of this Towneship above ye age of 15 or 16 yeares shall sit in ye seate aforesd formerly called ye Guard Seate, unless he be ordered to sit there to looke to ye Boys, etc.


The selectmen promulgating this order were John Pynchon, George Colton, Benjamin Cooley, Samuel Marshfield, and Lawrence Bliss. This vigorous action seemed to have a sobering effect ; but it did not pave the way for a permanent peace among the young people in the gallery. Some years later (1669) Miles Morgan and Jonathan Burt were stationed " up in ye gallery to give a check to disorders in youth & young men In tyme of God's worship. 4 Anthony Dorchester


to sit in ye guard seate for ye like end."


The time had come for some more definite arrangement on the Connecticut than petty justices at the infant towns of Northampton and Hadley, and recourse to the Springfield judicial commissioners, by special orders of the General Court : "It is ordered by this Court & anthority thereof," so runs the ancient record, "that henceforth Springfield, Northampton, and Hadley shall be & hereby are consti- tuted as a county." The county ran from the Connecticut line to indefinite points, not more than thirty miles from any of the towns. This would bring the county into what is now Vermont and New Hampshire. Springfield was made the shire town, the court sitting alternately at Springfield and Northampton. The colony tax was to be paid in cattle or corn. A county government, however, had been practically in operation for two years. At the May term of the General Court, 1659, the inhabitants of Springfield had presented a petition for some form of shire government, and " Capt. John Pinchon, Left: Elitzur Holiocke, and Mr. Samuel Chapin " were chosen for one year to hold court, " Northampton to be referred to Springfeild in reference to County Courts." These courts, it was deereed, " shall in all respects have the power and priviledges of any County Courte


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till this Court shall see cause otherwise to determine." Thus, during the years 1660 and 1661 we had a provisional county court. Mr. Pynchon took the oath in open court at Boston, and subsequently administered it to Mr. Holyoke and Mr. Chapin.


After the formation of Hampshire county, in 1662, the county taxes collected by the constables were ordered to be delivered to the county treasurer at Springfield or at Windsor, each town to pay for trans- portation. In 1664 the commissioner and selectmen of all the towns were summoned before the County Court for not making out the tax assessment on time. Ensign Cooper, tax commissioner, who was specially summoned to appear, was fined 6s. 8d. for not responding. For several years the judges seemed to have the greatest difficulty in making the town and county officers do their duty. The court being somewhat of a legislative body, as we will see, found the burdens of administration of justice very severe. A Hadley man who was chosen to carry the votes for magistrate to Boston, neglected to do it, and was fined. Anthony Dorchester, of Springfield, constable, failed to make returns of warrants for jurymen in 1666, and was fined. Springfield had been previously fined 5s. for having a defec- tive pound, and was subsequently before the court for not choosing a " gager for cask."


It will be remembered that Springfield was freed from paying a portion of the colony taxes when William Pynchon was magistrate. On account of special hardships at the time of the formation of the county, another attempt in that direction was made, and with what success this vote of Aug. 14, 1662, at Boston shows : -


In refference to ye order of ye Gen' Cort last May that ye Inhabitants of these Townes on Qoonectticot should pay there corne to ye countey Rates not as ye court sets ye price yearly but at such price as it passes among themselves : The Towne concieving it more hard for us than for other Townes in ye Collony and not to be according to law, voted to send a Petition to ye next Gen' Court for easing ye Paymt & that it may be accordinge to Law. And M. Holyyke is appointed to draw it np.


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SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1886.


The fence question, which, from the first settlement in this valley, was a constant source of trouble, came under the eye of the County Court, and it is interesting to note how the judges handled a matter that was the despair of local legislators. We quote from the records of the Hampshire County Court, held at Springfield, in September, 1664. It is to be remembered that Pynchon was a member of the court, and upon the jury-list were Robert Ashley, John Dumbleton (who had been a servant of a Mr. Whiting, at Hartford, and had lived awhile at Windsor before coming to Springfield), and Rice Bodortha : -


John Dumbleton & Thomas Miller of Springfield were presented by the Jury to this Courte for ye breach of a law of this Jurisdiction for not attending their office for viewing the fences on the West side of the River at Springfeild :


This Courte Freeth John Dumbleton for that he pleadeth yt he would have attended it but could not gett his partner to joyne wth him in ye service but Thomas Miller was fyned in ye summe of 2s to ye use of ye County.


Robert Ashley & Jonathan Burt were presented for the like offense in not viewing the fenses on ye East side of ye River (at Springfeild) being chosen for ye work : But Robert Ashley pleaded yt he had not warning yt he was soe chosen & it beinge not proved yt he had warninge; The Select men are fyned 20s. a peese for the use of the Towne according to ye law except they can cleare ymselves that they did give warning to ye viewers, wch Capt. Pynchon is ordered to examine & determine. vizt whether he had Legall warning, and if he fynd Robert Ashley had Legall warning yrof then the Select mens fynes are to be remitted & he is to pay as a fyne 20s. for the use of the County.


Anthony Dorchester & Rice Bedortha surveyors of ye high waves for Spring- field were presented to this Conrte for neglecting their work in the Season allotted by their Town Order whereby the ways were very bad & dangerous; therefore they are by this Courte fined 5s. peese.


The jury also presented Capt. Pynchon & Jno. Scott for not maynteyning their fenses on the West side of ve River A breach of the Law of this Jurisdic- tion :


The Courte uppon hearing the cause and perusinge ye aggreemts between Capt. Pynchon & Jno. Scott did judge yt ve blame of not repayring the fenses lyes uppon Scott because though Capt. Pynchon were to allow for making the



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fenses yet Jno. Scott who improoved the land was to repaire them & therefore doe judge yt Jno Scott shall pay his fyne to the towne awardinge to ye Town Orders in Springfield according to Law.


The County Court had likewise jurisdiction of the common lands, and many cases are reported for damages to crops by cattle. These disputes, in the earlier years of the plantation, were brought up in town-meeting, and often put out to "two indifferent men." In 1664 John Leonard, of Springfield, was fined five bushels of Indian corn, to be paid to Thomas Mirrick, for letting his cattle loose in the common corn-field.


There was, of course, much regular county business, as we under- stand it to-day. In March, 1674, our old friend, Anthony Dor- chester, was authorized to keep a ferry on the Connecticut, below the Agawam river, and to make these charges : "Horse and man, 8d. ; foot passengers, 2d. ; troopers of training days, 3d."


Mr. Pynchon himself, as well as Mr. Holyoke and George Colton, were presented by the jury for selling unwashed wool, contrary to law, but they were not fined, as the wool was not in bales, and the prices were reduced on account of its condition. The minister, Mr. Glover, was in court in September, 1672, as thus appears : -


Mr. Glover complaynes agt Robin the Indian for stealing 3 or 4 gold rings & 2 half half crownes English money knives and a search being made the rings were found in his wigwam the money he had sold to Goodm Ely, all are restored to Mr. Glover, And the Indian being apprehended & put in prison he made escape from ye Gaylor before other punishment could be inflicted on him.


The court as well as the town authorities kept a sharp hold upon church members in matters of discipline. In 1665 the County Court had Walter Lee before it for threshing corn on the Sabbath at Wo- ronoco. We learn by the record that Lee was a hard case. It runs : --


Walter Lee being presented & complayned of to this Courte for his passing the Lords day at Worronoco this Last Winter in that he threshed corne on the




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