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 16
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SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1886.
made the threat in order to secure aid from Boston, is now discred- ited.
On May 18, Captain Turner, of Boston, attacked the Indians while yet asleep at what is now called Turner's Falls, killing over three hundred. Another party of Indians hastened to the rescue and forced the whites to retire down the river, our Captain Samuel Holyoke pro- tecting the rear. Samuel had seen a little fighting, and was gaining a name for Indian warfare. Upon the retreat Holyoke was brought into hand-to-hand contests with the savages, five of whom he ran through and killed with his sword in the morning fight. Holyoke's horse was shot from under him, and, as he fell, numbers of Indians closed upon him. The first was killed by Holyoke's pistol, and the captain's men saved him from death ; he was but twenty-eight years old. Turner had been shot in Greenfield meadow, and young Hol- yoke, assuming command, succceded so well in checking what was al- most a panic, that he arrived at Hatfield with one hundred and forty men. He had taken charge of a ront, and converted it into a mili- tary retreat. But it cost him his life. He never recovered from the exhaustion of those two days, and in October he sank into his grave, and was buried beside his father, Elizur Holyoke.
Philip made a desperate effort on the 30th of May to overpower Hatfield, but he was repulsed with considerable loss. He was equally unsuccessful June 12, when he attacked Hadley. His army was now forced to scatter. A party passing Westfield towards the Hudson were pursued, and lost sixty in killed and wounded. Philip was sur- rounded Angust 12 in a swamp near Mount Hope. An Englishman aimed at Philip and missed, when a friendly Indian shot him, and he fell upon his face in the mud and water with his gun under him. His hands were exhibited at Boston, his head at Plymouth, and the beasts of the forest fed upon his mangled trunk. The famous Indian was dead, the Connecticut valley was at peace, and Springfield was in ashes.
-
CHAPTER X.
1677-1703.
Waste Places rebuilt. - Deacon Chapin. - Chicopee. - Fishing Privileges. - The Second Meeting-House. - Trouble about Mr. Glover's House and Lot. - Schools. - Taxes. - Law Breakers. - The Freemen of 1678. - The " Accord Tree."-King William's War. - Pynchon's Attempts to protect the Towns .- Sir Edmund Andros in Springfield. - Massacre at Brookfield .- Captain Colton's Heroism .- Pynchon's Letter to Stoughton. - Death of Mr. Glover. - Suffield. - Enfield. - The Boundary Ques- tion. - Brimfield. - West Springfield. - Its Struggle for a Separate Minister. - Pyn- chon's Place in the Commonwealth. - His Business Connections .- Beaver Trade with England. - Pynchon's Death.
THE first thought of Springfield was safety, and the second the restoration of the street to its former condition. The men upon whom the first steps of the burden of the rebuilding rested were Selectmen George Colton, John Dumbleton, Benjamin Parsons, John Dorchester, and Henry Chapin.
The venerable Deacon Chapin had sunk into his grave amid the desperate confusion of war. It would have indeed required that faith which removes mountains to have died in a serene hope for the future of Springfield. The larger faith in the gospel and the Christian commonwealth we know he did have.
Samuel Chapin is supposed to have been a Huguenot, possibly one of about 150 families that reached these shores shortly after the Massachusetts Bay settlement. The Chapin name had an honorable place in France so far back as the tenth century, when a Frenchman won a coat of arms and the sobriquet "Capinatus," from a cut in his head received during a fight. The cap with a cut in it and sword lying across it became the coat-of-arms of the family, and this
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SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1886.
heraldie device has come down in the American branch. It is supposed that Samuel Chapin's father fled first to Holland. After marrying Cicely, a French maiden, Samuel went to Dartmouth, England, and migrated with several children to New England, settled first at Rox- bury about 1635, and finally, 1642, or a year or two later, arrived at Springfield. As a deacon in the ancient Springfield church he will always stand in solemn relief in this community ; as the progenitor of a large and important family his name is perpetuated in many cities and towns. The selectman Henry Chapin of 1677 was the deacon's son. Henry and his brother Japhet had become interested in the Chicopee part of the town. Henry about this time built a house in what is now the lower end of Chicopee street, and Japhet at the upper end. They became veritable patriarchs. Henry begat five children ; Japhet begat ten children. Of these, eight were boys ; and these eight boys begat eighty-seven children.
George Colton, who stands at the head of the list of selectmen, was the well-known Quartermaster Colton, father of Longmeadow, as some have called him, and the head of the numerous family of Col- tons in this country. Benjamin Parsons was the Deacon Parsons of Mr. Glover's ministry, who also became somewhat of a patriarch.
Other officers chosen in the winter of 1677 will excite more than an idle interest. John Pynchon was moderator of the town-meeting, as usual. The officers elected in addition to the selectmen were : -
Clerk, John Holyoke; measurer for land apportioned, Samuel Marshfield ; constable, Rice Bedortha ; surveyors of highways on the east side of the river, Nathaniel Prichard and Joseph Ashley, west side, Jolm Petty; haywards for the common fields, - for house-lots on east side of the river, Goodman Clark; for Longmeadow, Ephraim Colton; for west side, Henry Rogers; Agawam mead- ows, James Stevenson; Chicopee plain, Samuel Bedortha.
The street must have presented a dismal appearance at this time, with its extemporized shelters, roofed cellars, fortified door-ways, and even barricades extending into the street. It was proposed at first
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SPRINGFIELD. 1636-1886.
to run a street parallel to the main street through the house-lots (Water street) in order to bring the planters together; but the scheme was abandoned. Garrison soldiers were quartered in the town at times for some years, and the skulking Indians in the forests made every journey out to the commons for wood or over the river or to the land above the Three-Corner brook, a little military campaign. Disorderly appearance of the main street may be inferred from this order of the selectmen as late as the winter of 1679 : - 1
That no persons henceforth without liberty fro ye Towne doe dig or cumber ye highway or streete fro ye upper wharfe to ye bridge of Obadiah Cooleys wth firewood, clay, timber onto it before his building or fencing and that such as have filled the streete or Lanes wth clay, wood, Timber & remove not the same by the middle of June next shall be Lyable to forfeit the same, as also that no Persons dig holes or pits in the streets without leave upon the penalty of 5s.
About a dozen men received allotments of land in 1677, and in a short time, it will be here remarked, the custom of taking money for these apportionments sprang up.
The house of correction and jail, to supply the place of the one burned in 1675, was located on Main street (corner of Bliss), and was built under the direction of Major Pynchon.
The town voted in 1677 that " Goodm: Lamb, Sergeant Morgan, Joseph Crowfoot, John Clarke senior, Charles Ferry with such others as they shall take in with them " be given a license to fish "from ye falls in Chicuppi River where the wadeing place is, down to ye mouth of that River, provided they enter not upon any man's Lands or proprietyes." The scale of prices fixed for them was as follows : Fresh salmon at the river, 6d., in village, 8d. ; fresh shad, half penny at river, 1d. in village ; salt fish, "to the Town twelve pence pr Barrel for al that shal be transported."
The year 1677 did not pass without an attempt to come to an understanding with the Indians, but after some negotiations at North- ampton the hope of cordial relations was abandoned.
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SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1886.
The meeting-house was old and small, - not equal to the demands of the congregation, even with benches in the aisles. Before the Indian troubles the contracted quarters occasioned much inconven- ience. The selectmen in 1674 had proposed additions to the house ; but the town wanted a new building. Finally various motions for a new house, including that for a building committee, headed by John Pynchon, were passed ' wth alacrity wthont contention." The site at first selected was Sergeant Stebbins's lot " on the hill," he to have in exchange four acres north of Round Hill. A tax was not levied until the winter of 1675, but the division of opinion about location delayed the work until King Philip's war. Even in August, 1676, the people, overwhelmed with loss of property and men, were bold enough to vote with a faith that commands our admiration : -
Ordered That Ensigne Cooly & Sam Marshfeild be added to ye committee for ye meeting house affaire ; some of ym being Dead : These are a supply & wth ye rest remaining, to act as formerly. The sd comittee or any 3 of ym to treate wth John Allyns And (in regard to ye Towne's Poverty by reson of ye warr) If he will stay for his pay Then to get him to Raise ye Meeting house as soone as may be.
During the following summer the second church edifice of Spring- field was put up. The old building was evidently not removed until the new one, situated just west of it, was consecrated ; and then it was disposed of for £5. The meeting-house yard was enclosed by a five-rail fence, except in the rear, where a hedge was built. The total cost of the building itself, so far as can be figured out from the records, was £400, which was not all paid until 1688. It had a turret, but a bell was not put in for nearly ten years. The deacons had a seat by themselves, and there are references to the great pillars, banisters, posts, friezes, " benches in the alleys, rods &c for the canope," and so on. They kept the children away from the windows this time, but some dogs managed to break 3s. worth of glass. Here are some items in the accounts of the building committee : -
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SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1886.
Raising the pulpit floor frame
15s.
Two quarts of drinke for Jno Gilbert when he made ye glass 4s,
Hands to raise the Ladder, 1 qut of Rum 2s.
Slitworke used abont the pulpit 10s 9d
The meeting-house was fortified against Indians, the paling or stockade being made of foot-logs ten and a half feet long. The same fortification was put up about Mr. Glover's house. The town's accounts for 1679 included the following items : -
The Towne is debtor
To the ministry or minister.
£80
00 00
To the Comittee for ye new meeting house,
50
00
00
To the comittee for Mr. Glovers house,
06
00 00
To the Schoolmtr, 6₺ for ye Towne; and 6£ 10s for Chieupi,
12
10 00
To ye sweep of the meeting
02 10
00
To Sam: Ely for expences at his house & 1 qu: rum for Per- ambulators,
1 13
06
To G. Parsons for his team for ye Flanker,
0 05
00
To making ye votes,
20
To Jon: Sikes for a flanker,
1 00
06
To Sam: Marshfield, for making ye lockes,
0
05
00
The Towne is creditor
by a vote made for Mr Glover
80
00
00
Ct by a vote made for ye new meeting house
50
00
00
To a Towne rate
20
00
00
Ct by ye sale of the old meeting house
5 00
00
Ct by ye boards of ye same house
1 00
00
Ct by ye Town Land at Chickuppi : 6, 10s
06
10
00
The perambulators were men who were appointed to make the rounds of the town limits and see that the surveyors' marks remained intact. We have no local traditions like those in England about whipping boys at these corners in order to aid their memories for the benefit of future generations ; but the ceremony was not without its
180
SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1886.
attraction, especially to young men who joined the excursion and repaired with the officials to the tavern for the comforts of the inner man. In 1678 Rowland Thomas, Joseph Bedortha, and John Dor- chester were the perambulators on the Suffield and Westfield sides of the town, and it is said that they performed their duties " with divers men of both those Townes." The " flanker" was a fortification that prevented side attacks. They may have flanked the main entrance . of the church. The town gave (1678) Major Pynchon a special per- mit to " set up a flanker in the street at the east end of his new house yt is now building on the north side of his own house-lot the which flanker he desires he may have liberty to set into ye streete five foot broad ten foot in length."
The item about Mr. Glover's house calls up another interesting subject. Mr. Glover was a man of great tenacity of purpose, and was as quick to defend his personal rights as his religious tenets. In June, 1669, Mr. Glover had produced the deepest consternation by the announcement that he had about concluded to leave Springfield on account of the smallness of his stipend. A town-meeting was called, and a committee, headed by Major Pynchon, was sent over to the minister's house, while all the inhabitants waited in painful sus- pense. The most Mr. Glover would say was that he would not decide definitely what to do. The trouble blew over for a time, but broke out again after the burning of his house by the Indians. The meeting that voted to go ahead with a new meeting-house (January, 1677) decided to continue the building of the new residence of Mr. Glover with the understanding that the town, and not the minister, should own and hold the property. The lot, it will be remembered, had been deeded absolutely to Mr. Glover at his settlement, in spite of the fact that, at Mr. Moxon's departure, it had been voted not to part with the ministry lot. Here arose a serious dispute, which carried a trail of disquietude for at least twenty years. The planta- tion regretted having given Mr. Glover a deed in fee-simple, since his desire to leave threatened them with the burden of voting away
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SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1886.
another valuable lot of property to a new minister. What was wanted was a permanent ministry lot, and a powerful faction was determined to have one, even if it increased the financial burdens of the struggling plantation.
George Colton (August, 1676) headed the committee charged with the rebuilding of Mr. Glover's house. Mr. Glover was displeased to hear that the new house was for his use only, and the dispute was re- ferred to the selectmen and building committee. Therefore, in order to secure the minister's " contentful continuing with us," it was di- rected (June, 1677) that Mr. Glover should own absolutely the new house ; but the motion was opposed by Samuel Marshfield, Henry Chapin, Luke Hitchcock, George Colton, and many others. Before the work on the house was completed it was found that the vote was illegal ; the dissidents subsequently carried the day, and secured the control of the ministry lot, attempting to placate Mr. Glover by vot- ing him £100 in lieu thereof. This was not so blinding an offer as might at first appear, seeing that the inhabitants were far in arrears to Mr. Glover on his regular £80 stipend. But the town-meeting ac- companied the appropriation with a direction to the deacons to col- lect the ministry rates and deliver them to Mr. Glover personally. Peace was not purchased even at that price ; they were subsequently (February, 1679) burdening themselves with material for fortifying Mr. Glover's house against the Indians. Mr. Glover proposed an appeal to the General Court to determine the title to the ministry house and lot, which was agreed to; the General Court (October, 1681) decided that the property belonged to Mr. Glover, and that the latter should be paid its full value ; the town offered (March, 1682) to give Mr. Glover satisfaction in land elsewhere ; but this not being to Mr. Glover's liking, other land was eventually set apart for the ministry (1683) by the dubious vote of 27 to 23 ; and thus mat- ters stood at Mr. Glover's death in 1692, which was a signal for an- other attack upon the Glover property. Mr. Glover's son stood out as best he could, but finally gave way. He offered to sell for £700;
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SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1886.
this proposition was deelined, and the matter was given out to arbi- tration, when the purchase price was fixed at £350. The payment of this sum, mainly in land, was another source of trouble ; but that does not concern us. The town had attained their end, and estab- lished a permanent residence for the minister, whoever he might be ; but, frankly, the means employed to recover the house of Mr. Glover was no credit to the community. Victory Sikes was the contractor of the house, and the cost was about £100.
One would fancy that the burdens of rebuilding the town would have crowded the matter of education to the background. It cer- tainly did not crush it out. In 1677, " admittance & entertainment" was granted to William Madison, schoolmaster, "he taking three pence of those p weeke whom he teaches to read English, & four pence p weeke of those he teaches both to read & write, also four pence of those whom he teaches writing wholly : the Parents or Per- sons being to allow not more : But the Town for this year as an en- couragment to Him in the work doe agree to allow him ye Rent of ye Town land In Chickupy." Daniel Benton began his teaching here the year following, his stipend being £20. They temporarily set apart the " watch house to ye New meeting house " for his school-room. Mr. Benton taught domesties as well as children at this time. In June, 1679, Thomas Stebbins, Jr., contracted to furnish timber for a school-house, 22 × 17 feet, framed, clapboarded, shingled, and fur- nished with a " mantle-tree " and a " rung chimney." A court-house was built later. That was the order, - first the meeting-house, then the school-house, and finally the court-house. It had been voted in May of 1679 that " there should be an house erected for that noble designe & use of Learning the youth in those so necessary pieces or parts of Learning : Videl : reading & writing." The site of the school-house was subsequently ordered to be " somewhere in the lane going to the upper wharfe " (Cypress street). The watch-house seemed to dis- appoint expectation, and the schoolmaster gathered his flock of chil- dren and servants in Goodman Mirrick's house. Goodwife Mirriek
183
SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1886.
was somewhat of a teacher herself. When the frame for the school- house was being put up, all the young men to be found assisted at the work, after which they repaired to Ely's tavern. The town footed the bill. John Richards was schoolmaster here in 1683, and two years later the town bought the house built by Edward Stebbins, and sold to Samuel Ball for a school-house. Fines were imposed for neglect to send children to school, and all were enjoined to send both children and servants. The County Court in session at Springfield in September, 1690, entered the following : -
The selectmen of the town of Springfeild being presented to ye Last court at Northampton for ye want of a School to teach children in their town & on ap- pearing in Court & informing that since they have gott an able schoolmaster & that ve affairs goe on to advantage soe they were discharged.
In January, 1694, the town empowered the selectmen to hire the schoolmaster, a circumstance worthy of note, as it was no unusual thing to elevate to the position of selectmen men who could not write. Miles Morgan was an example. His " mark " was a rudely drawn anchor.
Were we making a special study of taxation and the adjustment of public burdens, much interesting matter would be found at this period. The town's " country " tax was often paid in corn, it being forwarded in 1680 by water at a cost of about £3. It seems that five years later money was insisted upon at the Bay ; but Springfield and Suffield secured a special permit to continue to pay in corn at a re- duction of one-third of its market value. But the court, in granting this concession, took occasion to rebuke both towns for " sundry expressions " in their petition which " doe deserve sharpe reproafe." Springfield was an applicant again in 1684 for a corn-paid tax, and the following year the town voted : -
Whereas the Town did pass a Vote to pay Sam" Blisse Jun', Constable the Country money Rate in Corne at Country price, wth an addition of halfe so
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SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1886.
much more. & accordingly did pay the money Rate to sd Constable. that is the Major Part of the Town did so pay, & principally in Indian, weh at prsent is extreame Low at the Market : It is voted & concluded that Each man do again receive his Corne paid upon sd Account, & that the Town will save harmless said Constable from the Country treasurer by reason of any Warrant fro him, & the Constable to appoint to redeliver the Corne pd as aforesd.
The county continued to have trouble in adjusting its tax rates. The tax-assessors at one time allowed the tax to dwindle down by abusing their prerogatives in striking from the lists men in ill-health or extreme poverty. The court was, in consequence, forced to order (1691) that " all ye rateable heads in this County by ye Selectmen & Constable in ye severall towns bee layed upon as others except such as are verry poor & impotent that be at the selectmens judgment for the discharging of the sum or sums of money or other pay," etc.
The smaller towns were frequently in distress abont the way the taxes were imposed. Westfield protested (1692) against its public burdens, but the County Court turned a deaf ear. Suffield was un- easy under a land tax (1691), and the court included cattle and per- sonal property ; Suffield was still unhappy, and wanted a repeal of the order (1692), but the judges would not yield. The court at this time was perplexed about a highway through the western meadow across Agawam river to Suffield, and after appointing a committee (1691) from the various towns to lay out the road expressed a hope that this would be the last heard of the dispute. At this session also a ferry was established over the Connecticut, "against ye house of Jno Alline of Suffield," the latter to be ferryman, and to charge 4d. per horse and 2d. per man as toll. The County Court by this time had become the dispenser of liquor licenses, the licenses being granted upon recommendation of the selectmen of the various towns. The court kept a sharp eye upon these taverns, and it is sad to relate that Nathaniel Ely was a sufferer thereby. Having been convicted of selling cider to the Indians, it was recorded (1681) : "The Courte taking notice of his Ingenuity in Confessing his fault & being de-
185
SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1886.
sirous to encourige others to such ingennity doe not fine him ; " but they admonished him to do better. Ten years later Springfield desired another retailer of strong drink, and Luke Hitchcock secured the privilege, on condition that he refrain from selling to " children, servants & extravagant Persons, & expecting & requiring that he take effectnal care that no customer do git tippling in his house & be circumspect to prevent al abuses of the creature." Samuel Bliss was also in court for selling without a license. Speaking of drunkenness at this time, the judges remarked, " weh sin abounds." John Dor- chester offered, in 1684, to act as ferryman upon condition that he be allowed to sell strong drink and be freed from military training. This was not granted him. The ferry was opposite his own lot.
Cases of Sabbath-breaking continued to appear. One offender was discovered emerging from the woods with a deer on his horse one Sabbath afternoon, and he answered for the offence before the solemn justices. Another man was presented at the court " for Neglecting ye Publique Worship of God & hee Petitioning this court pleading his sickness Weakness and want of Cloaths this Cold Winter this court ordered yt the worshipful Coll Pynchon to send for him before him & admonish him," etc.
Here are added two extracts from the county records of special cases. The first is dated September, 1685 : --
Mark Gregory, one of ye Robbers that were soe troublesome & injurious to this Countie last summer appeareing in this Courte & it being evident that diverse charges are to be satisfyed for by sd Gregory viz 30s to Mr. Pelatia Glover Jur for the eureing of his wounded heade & 2€ 12s to Fearenot King for sundry things stolen out of his house & to diverse other persons thier charges, this Courte being desirous to use all encourageing Clemency to sd Gregory have adjudged sayd Robber Mark Gregory to be sold for 12€ to defray such charges or damages as he hath occasioned. etc.
The second extraet is from the record of the County Court held at Springfield in September, 1691 : -
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SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1886.
In Sept Court 1691 at Springfield Michal Towsley & Mary his Wife & their daughter Mary being all presented to this Courte for diverse missdemeanors & all appearing and each of them haveing beene examined before the Worship !! Coll" Pynchon & the diverss examinations, witnessess & testimonys being read in Courte, the Conrte doe judge them all to be guiltie accordding to ye Respective testimonys of the crimes witnessed against them viz of lying of stealing & of killing creatures or some creatures of some Neighbors & of threatening some of their neighbors or expressing such things as that their Neighbors are afraide of grievions Mischiefs to be done to ym by ye sd presented partys. This Courte there fore to Beare due Witness against such Spiteful], dangerous & to be ab- horred practices due ajudge as ffolloweth, & first since they finde yt ye Daughter named Mary is guiltie of lying especially in that she charged her father before anthoritie as killing & stealing & teaching her to steale & againe denying her confession before this Courte. the Courte do adjudge her to be well whipt on ye Naked Body with eight lashes well laid on & otherwise the Courte doe order yt the Selectmen of Suffield doe take effectaal care to have sd Mary put out to some meete person to service with whome she may be well educated the child herself saying that she eant doe better or reform while she continnes with her parents or father ; & as to ye Woeman wife of sd Townsley the Courte doe finde her Gniltie of desperate speaches & threatening burning to her Neighbors to the great disquietnde of ym & doe ajudge her to be well whipt on ye Naked Back with ten lashes. And to Michael Townsley this Courte finds him Guiltie of felo- mions practices taking away his neighbors goods and in particular killing some swine or one swine at Least this Courte doe adjudge him to be well whipt on ye naked Body with 15 lashes & that he .pay all charges respecting ve prosecuting him for his heyneous erimes & particularly yt he pay James King 20s & Edward Burlinson 20s & ye Courte further ajudge the sd Michael Townsley & Mary his wife to be bound in ye sum of ten pounds apiece for their good behavior during the pleasure of the Courte.
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