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 25
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Gideon Burt, Ist Lient., Walter Pynchon, 2d Lieut., Aaron Steel, ser- geant, William White, sergeant, Ambrose Collins, corporal, Luther Hitchcock, corporal, William Colton, 3d, fifer, David Justus Chapin, fifer, Lewis Chapin, Drummer, Jeduthan Sanderson, " centinel," Israel Chapin, Samuel Gridley, Alexander Bliss, Aaron Parsons, Jr., Aaron Ferry, Gad Horton, Samuel Bliss, James Nash, Abel Hancock, Geo. Wright, Jr., Matthew Lancton, Peter Colton, Jno. Stedman, Abner Russell, Asahel Cooley, Jno. Warner, Jr., Justin Smith, Samuel Edson, Patrick Nugent, Benjamin Parsons, Jonathan Ingersoll, Calvin Bliss, Henry Stiles, Luther Colton, Abner Cooley, Lemuel Parsons, Noah Bliss, Joseph King, Caleb Cooley, Zadock Bliss, Ebenezer Romerill, James Taylor, Spencer Merrick, Sylvanus Hale, Moses Bliss, and Joseph Parsons.
Here is the muster-roll of the minute-men under Lieut. David Burt, of Longmeadow, and Lieut. Jonathan Hale, who " marched in order to assist our Brethren at Lexington : " -
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SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1886.
Ebenezer Colton, Samuel Keep, Nathaniel Ely, Josiah Cooley, Abner Colton, John Colton, Ebenezer Bliss, Jr., Aaron Bliss, Samuel Smith, David White, John Ashley, Elijah Burt, Richard Woolworth, Oliver King, Nehemiah Rumrill, Thomas Stebbins, Samuel Morgan, James Parker, Gad Lamb, Ebenezer Steb- bins, and Samuel Burt.
Other men from this region who marched east on April 20 were Solomon Brewer, Jonathan Colton, Thomas Bates, Matthew Keep, Benjamin Colton, Jr., Abijah Edson, Jno. Burt, Jr., Jacob Kellogg, Moses Harris, Josh. Kellogg, Jr., Oliver Burt, Robert Stevens, Jacob Chapin, Oliver Field, Eleazer Chapin, Jr., Medad Stebbins, Jonah Cooley, Simon Moore, Thos. Hale, Jr., Seth Storer Coburn.
Jeduthan Sanderson, father of the venerable Harvey Sanderson, still living, wrote his father, Medad Sanderson, the following letter, which is now in the possession of Maj. C. P. Nichols of this eity : -
ROXBURY, June 29th, 1775
HONORID FATHER ater my regards to you i take this opertunity to let you no that i am Well as i hope that these lines will find you and all my Brothers and Sisters i have Some news to rite in the fust place their was a [word omitted] between Charlstown and Cambridg and the Kings troops drove our men out of their intrenehment Becaus they had no powder and they have burnt Charlstown and have intrenehed on Buneors hill and our men Have intreneht on winter hill wheir the regulers retreeted to when the fust battle Was at Coneort which was June 16th they fired the same day att roxbury and threw Bums And Carkeses in order to Set the street on fire but by the goodness of god they did not for Our men as Soon as they had Set it a fire would go and put it out and they fired No more untill last Saterday then thay fired again and tried to Set it on fire But they would go and put it out one of our men tuk one of the Carkises and Brot it up to the general before it went out and they set 2 or 3 houses afire But they ware as Ferce as a bludhown to put them out then the Rodeilanders went down on the neek with 2 or 3 feild peses and fired att them and made their Sentrys run to the brestwork and then they fired upon our Sentry and kiled two of them We are Building a fort in Roxbury and diging a trench a Crost the neck No more att present So i remane your obdiant son
JEDUTHAN SANDERSON.
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SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1886.
In June, 1775, Dr. Benjamin Church, Jr., of Boston, and Moses Gill, of Princeton, met Washington and Lee in this town, at the old tavern on Ehn street, in their progress to Boston, where the father of his country was to take command. A company of horse accompanied the party to Brookfield, where local soldiery did escort duty to Worcester.
Later in the year 1775 many enlistments of Springfield men are recorded. They scattered about in various regiments. In October Capt. Isaac Colton was encamped at Roxbury (Col. David Brewer's regiment) with the following : Lieut. Nathaniel Alexander, Corporal David Murphey, Corporal Mose Wait, Drummer Benjamin Colton, Ely Barrister, Stephen Hunt, James Ives, William Hancock, Abel Hancock, Thomas Ferre, Elijah Hancock, Joseph Parsons, James Parker, Ebenezer Eddy, and Moses Wait. David Lancton had be- come a drummer in the 8th Massachusetts, and with Captain Longley (Colonel Whitcomb) were David Powers, Solon Stephens, Asahel Stebbins, and Samuel Remington.
In Capt. Gideon Burt's company (Col. Timothy Danielson's regi- ment) were the following Springfield men, who enlisted April 24, 1775, for three and a half months : -
Gideon Burt, captain ; Walter Pynchon, first lieutenant ; Aaron Steel, second lieutenant ; William White, Samnel Gridley, Ambros Collins, and Aaron Parsons, sergeants ; Luther Hitchcock, corporal; Simon Moore, Samnel Bliss, Samuel Edson, Luis Chapin, William Colton, Spencer Mirick, Nathan Bliss, Caleb Cooley, Lemuel Parsons, Justin Smith, Aaron Ferry, Beriah Jennings, Benjamin Parsons, Jeduthan Sanderson, Matthias Lankton, Noah Bliss, Able Hancock, James Taylor, Jabez Cooley, Stephen Russell, Theodore Smith, Frederick Col- ton, Ebenezer Rumrill, Abner Cooley, Justis Moore. Abner Russell, Benjamin Howard, Elihu Colton, Jacob Ward, Henry Stiles, Silvanus Hale, Moses Bedeu- nah, Luther Colton, Joseph King, Calvin Bliss, Benoni Banister, Joseph Chapin, Jolm Hendrick, Robert Stephens. David Chapin, Zadoch Bliss, Patrick Nugent, George Wright, James Nash. Arthur Hitchcock, Jonas Christian, Luther Colton, Moses Bliss, Jonathan Ingersoll. Joli Stedman, Peter Coutson, and Ebenezer Martin.
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SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1886.
Many of these men were fitted out by well-to-do citizens, such as Abner Cooley, Ebenezer Colton, Israel Chapin, John Worthington, Richard Woolworth, Aaron Colton, Josiah Chapin, Charles Pynchon, James Sikes, Daniel Chandler, David Burt, Stephen Colton, Phineas
PARSONS TAVERN, 1776.
Stedman, Jedediah Bliss, George Colton, George Chapin, Zachariah Hale, Samuel Bliss, Aaron Warriner, Joseph Stebbins, Justice Steel, and Luke Bliss.
John Hale and William Pynchon, Jr., were chosen representatives to the General Court in July, and in November Thomas Stebbins, Jonathan Hale, Jr., Reuben Bliss, William Pynchon, Jr., and Dea. Edward Chapin were chosen to " take into Consideration the charge of Providing for the Souldiers and the pay of the minitmen." A com-
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SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1886.
pany of Highlanders was billeted in Springfield from June, 1776, to the March following, and in July, 1777, Colonel Cheever had charge of the transfer of army supplies to Springfield, where it had been de- eided to establish an arsenal and supply depot. From the town ac- counts it appears that he made large use of the local horses and wagons in this business.
We have the voice of tradition that the news of the Declaration of Independence set the village aglow with enthusiasm. Moses Bliss, it is related, was coming from West Springfield with a load of hay when the good tidings met him, and he at once touched a light to the hay as the most ready way of expressing his delight. It is a thankless task to combat a pleasing tradition, and it would, indeed, be a misfortune to unnecessarily put out this little torch of patriotism that has so long flickered before our local firesides. There are doubts, however. Moses Bliss was not a man to be driving a team with a load of hay, in the first place ; and a very fair chain of circumstantial evidence could be constructed to nail such a denial to the wall. John Worthington's toryism is beyond dispute ; up to the Revolution both he and Moses Bliss were active in town, and even state, affairs ; but when Worthington's disapproval of a revolt from the authority of King George found expression in a retirement to private life, Moses Bliss followed his example, and aside from furnishing an occasional vehicle or blanket or brass kettle for the soldiers, his war energies slept profoundly. His name almost disappears from the town-meet- ing records, and when it does rise to the surface it is but a reminder of a very noteworthy silence. In other words, if Moses Bliss had been a tory, he would have acted precisely as he did.
At the annual March election of 1776 Edward Pynchon declined reelection as town clerk, a position he had held for so many years, and this office was passed down to William Pynchon, Jr. The town did a very unusual thing in spreading upon the records a vote of thanks to Edward Pynchon for his services as town clerk. The selectmen in this eventful year were: Dea. Aaron Colton, James
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SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1886.
Sikes, Dr. Edward Chapin, Daniel Harris, and William Pynchon, Jr. The committee of safety consisted of Ephraim Chapin, Ensign Phineas Chapin, Moses Field, Daniel Burt, 3d, Moses Church, Capt. Thomas Stebbins, Joseph Stebbins, Thomas Stebbins, Jr., John Pynchon, and Joseph Ferre.
The town-meetings in those trying days were held in the court- house. The names prominent in the doings at that time were not the best-known Springfield names, unless we except the Pynchons. This latter name came well to the front in the hour of peril. Take the year 1777. We find Edward Pynchon moderator ; Maj. William Pynchon was chosen representative that year ; William Pynchon, Jr., was town clerk ; Edward Pynchon was treasurer ; William Pynchon, Jr., was on the select board ; William Pynchon, Jr., was an assessor ; and John Pynchon a constable, as well as a member of the committee of safety. Here are seven prominent positions held by four Pynchons.
In February, 1777, town committees of safety met at Northamp- ton, Robert Breck, clerk. Arrangements were made for sending supplies to the army. The convention (Northampton, 1777) called attention to the "conduct of inimicable persons" of the county who were " daily increasing," and declaring that the selectmen of the various towns " dare as well be damned as to draught them for the army, and that if they were draughted, they would rather fight against our own men than against our enemies."
The town had also not forgotten the general concerns of the coun- try, and at the close of the year 1777 Dea. Nathaniel Brewer headed the committee on the proposed articles of confederation among the States. A committee dealing with such a weighty matter of states- manship, headed by a deacon, with a captain and a physician, making a quorum, felt a becoming embarrassment as long as two of the best lawyers of the State were in Springfield. It is, therefore, not sur- prising that they were applicants for some legal assistance. The town added the names of Worthington and Bliss to the committee, but both immediately declined to serve, and so another deacon was
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SPRINGFIELD. 1636-1886.
selected. We cannot see why this does not throw a cloud over the politics of Moses Bliss, at least at this early day.
But want of a professionally legal hand to indict the document did not stay the arm of the town. That layman's committee had the spirit that broke through the embarrassments of a leaderless com- munity and led it to spread its judgment and devotion before the world. It was in February, 1778, when the town representatives received their instructions.
They were told that the subject was the " most interesting matter that was ever, or perhaps ever will be referred to your Deliberation," - the proposed " perpetual union of the thirteen United States of America." They were reminded that " the plan of Union laid before you is not to be Temporary but perpetual, and is so framed that being once satisfied it is no more to be altered without universal Con- sent." "An inquiry," continues this remarkable report, "by what unhappy defeet or error in the Inherent Constitution of most of the nations of Europe (not excepting those who have Bled for the defense of Liberty) are now fallen under so Despotie and Arbitrary gov- ernment, might aid you in forming a Judgment of the Good or Ill tendeney of the proposed Confederation. It cannot be ex- pected that we the Inhabitants of this Town, many of whom have little leisure for Politicall speculation should be so capable of Judgeing in a matter of this intricate nature as you are whom we have chosen to represent us. We must confide much in you and your associates The representation in Congress appears to us too unequal. Why may it not be proportioned to the taxation? To the unequal representation in parliament have been imputed more of our late oppressions. A Constitution Gentlemen should be formed upon a supposition that it may in some future period be admin- istered by Designing men. What has happened in Europe may happen in America. How easy it is for those who have the forces and money of the people in their own hands to Subvert a Constitu- tion and establish themselves in Power. We rather choose that the
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SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1886.
Congress should only ascertain and proportion the sums necessary for the Publick service & Lay the estimate before the several Legis- latures & that the Legislatures make grants for the supply of the Continental Treasury."
In April, 1777, two battalions from Hampshire county were ordered to Ticonderoga. Soldiers were forwarded from Springfield in short order, their families being placed under the special care of the town. Capt. Gideon Burt with Lieut. Ebenezer Colton (Col. David Seward's regiment) made the forced march from Springfield to Ticonderoga. The Springfield men accompanying them were Samuel Gridley, Jona- than Burt, Ambrose Collins, Ebenezer Morgan, Ephraim Brown, Thomas Colton, Ebenezer Rumrill, George Cooley, Festus Colton, Simeon Colton, Samuel Keep, Henry Colton, Ezra Stebbins, Will- iam Hunt, O. Hitchcock, Jeduthan Sanderson, Daniel Bliss, Luther Vanhorn, Ephraim Chapin, and Japhet Chapin.
The nine-months' men drafted and sent from Springfield to Fishkill in 1778 were : -
William Hitchcock, Justin Smith, Austin Brooks, David Bonner, James Mills, Israel Bond, Martin Smith, Ezekiel Chapin, Leba Bel- man, Abel Coburn, Jabez Crosby, Abner Russell, and Daniel Hancock. In Captain Rowle's company (Col. John Jacob's regiment) were the following Springfield men in 1778 : Capt. Nathan Rowle, Lieut. Enoch Leonard, Ebenezer Bliss, Ebenezer Pumery, Simeon Colton, Oliver Hitchcock, A. Stephenson, Jonathan Stephenson, William Pepper, Gad Warriner, Timothy Hopkins, George Blake, Russel Allin, and James Howard. In 1778, in Capt. Phineas Stebbins's company (Col. N. Sparhawk's regiment) were these Springfield men: Na- than Chapin, sergeant ; Rubin Ferre, John Ferre, William White, Moses Barber, and Moses Stebbins.
During the summer and autumn of 1780 there were gathered at Springfield forty-three divisions of six-months' men, who marched from here as fast as they were ready for service. This was in accord- ance with a resolution of the General Court passed in June. In the
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SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1886.
list was Capt. Daniel Shays, who commanded the tenth division. General Grover was the officer in command.
Ilere are Springfield's six-months' men who joined the army in 1780 : -
William Hitchcock, Elias Hitchcock, Amaziah Sanderson, Noah Frost, Aaron Parsons, Alexander Ely, Gad Bliss, Moses Bliss, Jr., David Bannon, John Morgan, Thaddeus Ferre, George Smith, Oliver Field, Zachariah Hancock, Oliver Hancock, Jonathan Stephenson, Solomon Loomis, Gideon Cooley, Joshua Brooks, I. Chandler, William Hancock, David Hubbard, Joseph McGreney.
Springfield had, in 1780, three-months' men in Capt. Joseph Brown- ing's company (Colonel Murry's regiment), as follows : Isaac Steb- bins, Lieut. John Colton, A. Brooks, Corp. Nenoni Chapin, Marsh Bissell, Consider Bement, Luther Smith, Moses Parsons, Jonathan Felt, Moses Hancock, Beriah Howard, Justin Bliss, Zenas Bliss, Samuel Sikes, Isaac Bliss.
We find that there were, in June, 1781, seventeen Springfield men in the Continental army who had enlisted for three years, or during the war, as follows : -
When Enlisted.
Regiment. 3d Mass.
David Day,
Jan .. 80.
John Stevenson,
April, '79,
John Pease,
April, '79,
Samuel Edson,
Dec., '76,
66
Joseph Chapin,
Nov. '76,
James Warner,
April, '79,
Zachariah Warner,
March, '79,
6.
Corporal Gideon Jones,
Nov., '79,
4th Mass.
Simon Johnson,
Dec., '76. '77
Daniel Stephenson, James Mills,
June, '78,
5th Mass.
Joseph Maxfield,
Jan., '79, 6th Mass.
Loyal Sanderson,
Nov., '79,
Asabel Mighel,
March, '77,
7th Mass.
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SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1886.
When Enlisted.
Regiment.
Theodore Smith,
May, '79,
7th Mass.
Samuel Stebbins,
Dec., '76,
Henry Stiles,
April, '79,
Other three-years' soldiers during 1781 appear upon the records, as follows : - Wait, farmer ; Sutton, weaver ; Pooly, farmer ; Alpheus Hancock, farmer ; Jonathan Cooley, farmer ; Caleb Williston, farmer ; Hanon Colton, farmer ; Alphens Colton, farmer ; Jacob Hills, wheelwright ; Joshua Brooks, farmer ; James Reed, farmer ; Joseph Dunham, farmer ; Titus Welch, farmer ; Dan- iel Murphy, blacksmith : James Eaton, blacksmith ; John Fox, far- mer ; George Smith, shoemaker ; Micah Grant, farmer.
It cost the town £750, in 1778, to raise and forward thirteen men to the seat of war ; but somehow the persons intrusted with the care of soldiers' families failed to do their duty, and the selectmen were given charge of this matter. This board consisted of William Pynchon, Jr., Dr. Edward Chapin, Capt. David Burt, Capt. Thomas Stebbins, Ensign Phineas Chapin. It took £21,600 of depreciated paper money to fill the town's quota of men in 1780. In March of that year Capt. James Sikes headed a committee to inquire into the state of the town's militia, and to inquire " how and by what means the sd Town have incurred the fine set upon them in the last Tax Acts and also to Inquire whether the money received by the Militia officers in Consequence of Drafts or by Subscriptions has been appropriated for the purposes for which designed." There are stray reports in the old packages of documents preserved which seem to be the outcome of this resolution. Thus we have payments to soldiers dated three months later, as follows : -
To David Bonner, $660; Wm. Hitchcock, $200; Alexander Ely, $100; Jona- than Stevenson, $60; Z. Hancock, $60; Aaron Parsons, 3d, $1,000; Moses Bliss, Jr., $1,000; Amaziah Sanderson, $850; Aaron Parsons, 3d, $200; Z. Hancock, $358; Thaddeus Ferre, $100; Noah Frost, $120; George Smith, $100; G. Bliss, $536; Noah Frost, $100; Oliver Field, $2; Moses Bliss, $120; Oliver Hancock,
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SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1886.
$1,400; J. Stephenson, $62; Noah Frost, $590; Samnel Sikes, $80; Moses Par- sons, $150; Marsh Bissel, $1,280; Consider Bement, $1,280 ; Benoni Chapin, Jr., $1,280; Luther Smith, $1,280; Moses Hancock, $1,280; John Baxter, $200; Beriah Howard, $370; Jonathan Felt, $350; H. Brooks, $360; Noah Warner, $1,280; Zenas Bliss, $1,280; Justin Bliss, $1,280.
Here is a short list, endorsed : " Return of the Mens Names & the Sums of hire Each Man has Received in the Continental Service in the fourth Company of foot in Springfield Comd by Capt Ephram Chapin : - John Frink, £6 ; Thomas Frink, £12 ; George Chapin, £6 ; Joseph Chapin, £3; Paul Chapin, £3; Justus Moore, £12; Simon Moore, £12." In 1781 there seems to have been some contention about the beef quota, and after several adjournments it was agreed (February 5) that the appropriation be raised. A month later the poll-tax of those in the army was remitted.
In May, 1777, the General Court recommended the towns to authorize the next Legislature to frame a constitution for popular adoption. The towns agreed. Accordingly, in February, 1778, the General Court, sitting as such a convention, drew up a constitution ; but it was rejected by a large majority, both on account of the in- strument itself and the body framing it, -assuming, as it did, both legislative and constitutional functions. After due formalities the Legislature provided (June, 1779) for the assembling of another con- vention which latter adopted both a constitution and a bill of rights in March, 1780, and this was ratified by the people. This constitu- tion was declared the fundamental law in June 16, 1780.
The representatives of 1776 were Dea. Edward Chapin, Moses Field, and Maj. William Pynchon, Jr., as we have seen. The fol- lowing year Maj. William Pynchon, Mr. Hale, and Dea. Edward Chapin went down to the Bay. Luke Bliss and William Pynchon, Jr., were there in 1778, and Col. Jonathan Hale, Jr., was substituted for Bliss in 1779. There was trouble the next year, probably on account of differences of opinion as to the State constitution. Pynchon
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SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1886.
and Hale had been reelected : Pynchon declined ; Luke Bliss was then chosen, but declined, and finally Thomas Williston was pitched upon, and stood, though not until he too had tried to avoid the service. In the autumn Dr. Chauncey Brewer was chosen representative, and after he had declined, the town in November refused to fill his place. The year 1781 found Williston and Gideon Burt in the General Court. By this time was observable a distinct reaction, as ancient Springfield seemed almost bent upon a reminiscence, by calling once more upon John Worthington to go down to Boston. He refused to obey the summons ; so did Dr. Chauncey Brewer ; and Col. Gideon Burt and Moses Church were chosen by a vote of 128 to 2. William Pynchon was chosen to carry the objections to the Bay.
But it was too late. The convention had been adopted, and the election, under the new constitution, resulted in Springfield as fol- lows : " The votes for a Governor were brought in at s'd meeting & it appeared that the Honble John Hancock Esq' had 102 out of 113 Votes : The Honble James Bodoin Esq" 10 out of 113; Mr. Reuben Bliss one out of the same number."
We cannot but think that Mr. Worthington at this time was gain- ing a new hold upon his fellow-townsmen. The return to a law-re- speeting or even a law-constructing spirit would commend itself to his legal judgment. He acted as moderator of the town-meeting in March, 1782 ; both he and Moses Bliss received stray votes for State senator ; and in 1783 Springfield's vote for Governor stood: John Hancock, 50 ; John Worthington, 32 ; James Bowdoin, 7.
But, before detailing the outcome of the financial distress and the political uncertainty that attended this period, let us add a word about purely local matters. In 1777 an alarming spread of small-pox led to measures to build a " Cleansing House " near the pest-house, and for the complete isolation of these buildings. There is evidence of a cantious but wholesome sober second thought in the provision that the " Physicians of the Town be Desired not to innoculate any persons for the Small-Pox or give them any preparatory medicine therefor
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SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1886.
without the Allowance of the major Part of the Select men." But the inoculation party again captured the town, and that remedy was recommended. The First Parish was the greatest sufferer, but the proposition to set apart several houses for inoculation was not agreed to. However, during the following year the sentiment had gradually changed, and we find the town appointing a committee to draw up regulations for inoculation. This committee, which included Jona- than Dwight and Colonel Worthington, recommended that inoculation committees be chosen from each parish, which should have power to license doctors, establish hospitals, etc. Jonathan Dwight headed a board to see these regulations duly executed. Several deaths from inoculation among soldiers had increased the popular distrust of that remedy. At the close of the year 1777 Edward Pynchon died at the age of sixty-five, and Jedediah Bliss at the age of sixty-nine.
It is well to note that as early as 1778 John Worthington again consented to act as moderator of the annual town-meeting in the spring, and to continue in this service through the war. He also did not refuse to perform strictly local services. He examined the records of the "outward commons " to settle disputes raised by the settling up of affairs with Wilbraham ; he made the " proper propor- tion of the stocks" between West Springfield and Ludlow and the parent town ; and he was active in the business complications attend- ing the building of a bridge over the Chicopee river. This bridge, by the way, was in part the product of a lottery. Three men of means - Worthington, Moses Bliss, and Jonathan Dwight - secured leave to run a lottery for this purpose in about 1782, and the town ordered the bridge built at once. The building committee was headed by Lieut. Josiah Hitchcock, and the financial committee were Jolin Wor- thington, Moses Bliss, and Jonathan Dwight. The town appropria- tion was £200. This was in addition to the proceeds from the lottery, the limit of which was £500. The tickets did not sell rapidly, and the town agreed to take all unsold tickets and to be responsible for the payment of all prizes. In March, 1783, when the Chicopee bridge
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SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1886.
was nearly completed, the building committee complained that while they had anticipated the earnings of the lottery, most of the tickets were unsold, and the town reaffirmed its agreement to take the unsold tickets. Meantime the selectmen were authorized to sell the bar in the Chicopee river.
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