USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Springfield > The first century of the history of Springfield; the official records from 1636 to 1736, with an historical review and biographical mention of the founders, Volume II > Part 15
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· For the Encouragmt of Sundry Persons to destroy Beares wych are so prjudicial to cattle especially Swine, It was voted & ordered, that if any person (who doth pay Scot & Lot to al publice Town charges here) shal at any tyme this next yeere from the middle of April to the middle of August kil any Beare wthin the Bounds of this Town, such Persons upon due proofe thereof to the satisfaction of the Select men shal be al- lowed & paid four shillings for every grown beare, & for every young Beare or Cub halfe so much, out of the Town Rates the next winter, and the order made the last yeare about Beares is hereby repealed :
It was voted & ordered that the Select men do yeerly agree with some meet Person to doe the Sextions worke, & also that the Select men doe agree with yre same person, or any other meet Person to ring the Bel at nine of the Clocke at nights, that they thus agree at as good termes for the Town as they can.
It was also voted that the Deacons doe any thing that is meet, that the ministers Cushion may be made fit for the use it doth serve unto.
It was further voted that the Select men do receive the Re-
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THE FIRST CENTURY OF SPRINGFIELD.
mainder of the forty pound rate that was raised for the finish- ing of the Meeting house, & that they take care that the sd worke be done as speedily as may be, & the comittee for the meeting house upon the delivery up of their accounts are dis- charged of that trust. [III-138.]
Thomas Mirricke Sent motioning it to the Town to settle the high way over the middle Causey The Town did now or- der that the Select men veiw the place, & that they se to it that the highway there have its due breadth, & that they con- sider who hath encroached upon the high way there, viz: whether said Thomas Mirricke or Thomas Day on the other side, & that they determine & settle the whole matter about sd high way.
And whereas there is about seven shillings due Samuel Terrey upon ye account of his keeping Jnº Matthews his child. It was voted that the Select men pay him seven shil- lings out of the Townes Stocke.
At this Meeting John Clemens was voted an Inhabitant in this Towne.
Voted further That henceforth the Town Rates shalbe raised according to ye publicke Act of the Governor & Coun- cil. & by the List for the Countrey Rate onely the Select men shal have Liberty to abate upon that value of the Poles & to consider to raise something upon the unimproved Lands, as the Select men shal from time to time se meet to value.
It being also propounded to do somewhat to have school- ing goe forward or to get a Schoolmaster, It was agreed & ordered that the Select men doe take care to promote that af- fair to the best advantage for the Town, agreing wth a School- master at the best termes they can.
Upon the motion of o' Neighbors of Westfeild signifying their want of such certaine knowledge of the extent of their bounds betwixt themselves & the Town of Suffield, as to sat- isfy their Neighbors of Suffeild whereby some occasion of dif- ferences hath been between those two Townes, wch they hope may be Composed by some from this Town of Springfeild, who first Layd out & setled the bounds of Westfeild and may
.
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THE TOWN RECORDS.
by help of those persons now againe agree & settle the same. wherefore It was agreed that the said Persons, to wit Quar- term' Colton Samll Marshfeild & Rolland Thomas or any two of them to be assisting to o' Neighbor Towns concerning the Same in what they know, for the obtaining a Loving agre- ment & quick settling the Bounds between said Towns: so that Westfeild Town who moved us herein doe satisfy those o' Neighbors for their attendance on said worke: And when they are doeing this, we also desire that soe far as it falls in their way, that the line between us & said Two Towns may be observed & the markes renewed.
There being some difference between Nath Pritchard & John Harmon concerning their interests in their medows upon Pacowseeke Brooke. & Nath Pritchard Petitioning the Town to doe something to compose y' difference, It was voted that Rolland Thomas John Bliss & Thomas Stebbins be a Comittee to veiw the Lands in Controversy between ym, & to measure the Lands & to divide them their portion, according to the Intents of the Towns grants to ym. & that they make report of their acts hereing to ye Town.
Henry Rogers did motion to the Town to have satisfaction for the Two Rods of the high way, that was taken out of his father Excels Homelot, to enlarge sd high way, Another was made by some that the Town had an high way originally laid out for the Town of Two Rods breadth, or so much re- served for them thorow these lots, wch was counted sufficient for a Country Rhode, & that when this high way was laid out by the Comittee appointed by the County Corte in Hamp- shire, The Neighbo's that live by said high way did desire the sd Comittee to lay their way four Rods wide for their con- veniency, & accordingly sd Comittee did Laid out four Rods wide. & p'sented yr act to the County Corte in Hampshire, who appointed them to receive satisfaction for their Land so Laid out to the Reserved high way, as they desired satisfac- tion for the same. in such Lands as the Towne had power to dispose of.
Att this Meeting the Towne did make choice of Rolland
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THE FIRST CENTURY OF SPRINGFIELD.
Thomas to se to the upper Causey, & that he call the Neigh- bors in the Town that principally Improved said way, & Skip- muck Neighbors to the attendance of said worke:
[ITI-139.]
At a Town meeting May 21, 1688, being the third Munday of said month according to the Act of the Governor & Coun- cil for the Regulating the choice of Select men constables & other officers in the Respective Towns wthin this Dominion.
Impr: It was voted & concluded to have Six Select men Townesmen or Overseers.
It was further voted to chuse the halfe of the aforesd Num- ber of Select men out of the company of the Select men that were chosen Select men at the Genll Town Meeting, the feb- ruary foregoing: viz: febr: 7th: 1687.
Japhet Chapin John Hitchcocke Samll Ball & Leiut Tho: Colton James Warriner & Thomas Stebbins were chosen Se- lectmen, to order & manage the Prudential affaires of the Town according to the aforesd Act of the Governor & Coun- cil, & according to the Instructions in the 5th page of this booke; & for al other affaires of the yeer they have the care thereof Left to them by the Towne, & what Rates they wish upon the Inhabitants for any thing not mentioned in the Act, & they have it allowed by the Justices, they shal give a Just & faire account thereof yeerly at the Town meeting in May, & they are in al they doe attend what is or shalbe in the publike Acts of this Dominion, & It is further voted & ordred that al after Select men from yeer to yeer have the same charge & care attended & pformed by them :
Deacon Jonathan Burt was chosen Comission' to joyne with the Select Men in taking a list of the Town Estate for the making the Country Rate.
Thomas Miller was chosen Constable Instead of Edward Stebbins & John Burt was also chosen Constable; who are according to the Act of the Governor & Council to attend at the Sessions to take their oath for the discharge of yt office:
It was further voted that al other officers chosen by the Towne the Last february, attend the dutyes & Charge belong- ing to them til the May ensuing.
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THE TOWN RECORDS.
Samuel ffrost was by the vote of the Towne accepted & ad- mitted as an Inhabitant of this Towne.
Skipmuck Inhabitants being p'sented to the Town, as be- ing behind hand Nine Days worke at the high Wayes to the Country, & they alledging that they were not warned to at- tend that worke by the Surveio's of the high wayes & so that it wil be greatly burdensome to ym to be now called to serve al those dayes & desiring the Town to consider them & ease them: the Town did consider them, & Provided they attend duely three dayes at the high wayes belonging to the Town Platt when they shalbe called thereunto, the Town is then willing that they worke the other days at the high wayes be- longing to or most made use of by the said Inhabitants of Skipmuck.
also the Inhabitants of the Long medow being complained of as behind in ye amendments of high wayes, some more dayes & some fewer dayes, & the pleading they were not warned to attend, the Town declared & voted themselves to forgive them halfe of the tyme yt they should have attended at the high wayes, provided they do faithfully fulfil the other halfe when called thereto by the surveio's.
[III-140.]
At the Genll Town Meeting, May 21 : 1689.
The Worshipll John Pynchon Esq was chosen Moderator for the meeting & al the Towne Meetings of this yeer.
John Hitchcocke & Jonathan Burt Sent were chosen the Comittee to Examine the Accounts of the Select men of the Last yeer:
It was voted at this meeting for the tyme to come there shalbe but five Select men.
It was also voted that henceforth the first munday in May shalbe the day for the Genll Town Meeting for making of Town Officers & to be attended without any further warning.
John Dumbleton Deacon Burt & Deacon Parsons Henry Chapin & Abel Wright were chosen Select men to act in Town affaires according to Instructions in page 5th of this booke for this yeer: & as formerly they were wont to act for the Town in al Townes busines:
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THE FIRST CENTURY OF SPRINGFIELD.
John Holyoke is chosen clerk for the Town for this yeer: Rolland Thomas is chosen Sealer for weights & measurers. Thomas Stebbins is chosen measurer for Lands.
Obadiah Cooley & Joseph Stebbins are chosen surveio's for the Country high wayes on the East side of the River. & Jonathan Bal for the Country high wayes on the West side the River. who are to se to it to Rectify al Incroachments upon the high wayes. & the Town doth comitt the Rectify- ing of ye high wayes Eaten away by the great River to the Se- lect men to gather wth the surveio's.
Joseph Bedortha chosen to succeed as constable in Tho: Miller his roome
John Burt to continue Constable til August or another be chosen in his Roome.
Haywards were chosen viz: Samll Bliss 3d for the home- lots Richd Waite for the Plaine feild. Henry Rogers for the feild over the River on the North side of Agawam. & Symon Gowin for the South side the Agawam. & James Barker for Chickuppi feild on the West side the River.
Rolland Thomas & Abel Wright were chosen to be a Com- ittee to veiw & Lay out the high wayes at Skipmuck, so as may be most Convenient for buildings there.
It was voted to allow of al officers chosen by the Last Se- lect men for the p'sent yeer & What further was acted by ym for the Towne: Also it was voted & agreed to establish al former orders passed & entered in the booke, altering noth- ing unles what is done at this meeting, respecting the day of the General Town Meeting as above is mentioned :
August 21: 1689.
Thomas Stebbins was chosen Comissioner to Joine with the Selectmen in taking the List of the Rates & Estates of the Town for the Country Rate, & to comunicate the same wth the Rest of ye Comissione's of Hampshire.
Samll Blisse the 3d was chosen Constable for the veer en- suing. [1II-141.]
At a Town Meeting January 12: 1689:
At this Meeting the Towne did vote & conclude that the
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THE TOWN RECORDS.
Towne Rates should not be raised by the Towns List for the Country Rate, but that we apply our selves to the first Cus- tome of the Town for the making the said Towns Rates.
Whereas the Town borrowed eighteen shillings in Cash of divers Persons in the Town to enable Henry Chapin their Deputy at the publick assembly at Boston to beare his charg- es there, & ye said deputy desireing that the said Eighteen shillings should be accounted to him no more then Eighteen shillings of the four pounds the Town have always allowed their Deputies or Representatives at said Publick Assemblys, The Town did now Vote to grant their said deputy or Rep- resentative his desire.
At a Genll Town Meeting May 5th 1690.
The Worshipll John Pynchon Esq was Chosen Moderator for this meeting, & al the Town Meetings of this yeer.
It was voted & Concluded that the Second Munday in May be the day for the Genll Town Meeting, for the choice of Town Officers, & that It be attended wthout any further warn- ing.
Pelat: Glover Junr & Samll Marshfeild were chosen a Comittee for examination of the Accounts of the Select Men of the Last yeer:
Japhet Chapin Jolin Hitchcocke James Warriner Thomas Stebbins & John Holyoke are chosen Select men, to act in Town affaires according to Instructions, p. 5th of this booke for the yeer.
John Holyoke is Chosen Clerke for the Town for the yeer. Jonathan Ball is chosen Constable for the yeer.
Thomas Stebbins is chosen measurer for Lands.
Edward Foster Samuel Parsons & Thomas Lamb are chosen surveiors for the Country high wayes, & to see that they rectify al the encroachmts upon the high wayes.
Haywards were chosen also for the several feilds: viz: for the homelots Thomas Blisse: for the Plaine feild Tho: Day Junior: for the General feild over the River Nathn1 Dumble- ton & James Stevenson; for Chickuppi feild Sam1 Bedortha; for the Long medow Sam1 Bliss Junt.
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THE FIRST CENTURY OF SPRINGFIELD.
Further, It was voted & agreed that the Select men doe Use their diligent care to provide a Schoolmaster to teach the youth & children to read & write, & that they shall have ful power to Agree with any meet Person for that worke, & to In- dent with him though they give or engage more then Twenty poundes, or the Sum with the Town hath sometimes stinted the Select men for their makeing of any Bargaines with out consulting the Towne:
At a Town meeting, May 26: 1690.
Whereas this Town have paid to the Constables their mon- ey Rate in Corne at the Countrys money price, & have also made an Addition to enable the Constables to pay the freight of the Corne from this Town to Boston, at this meeting it was voted [III-142.] & concluded that the sd Constables should reserve in their hands the said Addition for freight wch they have received, the Town now engaging to save them harmles from any Warrant from the Country Treasurer re- specting the said Rate & their not paying for the Transport- ing thereof to Boston: & further that Samll Marshfeild with the Select men lay our Case with due & meet argumts before the Court at Boston by Impowering some meet Person for that End: And further that or Inability for paymt of ye Ten Rates be rep'sented to the Court, & that of want of Corn to live on be urged for some abatemt and that what we must pay may be accepted in cattle, or may be forborne til we are able.
Jonathan Bal did desire that the Town would discharge him of his office of Constable. This was not accepted herein : But said Jonathan Bal bringing in Josias Marshfeild as will- ing to take that Trust in his stead he haveing Agreed wth sd Jo: Marshfeild to doe soe, the Town did yeild to him therein.
Thomas Dyet was voted an Inhabitant of this Towne.
Aug: 20: 1690. At a Town Meeting:
Capt Thomas Colton was chosen Comissioner to join wth the Select men to take the List of the Ratable Estate of the Town for the Country Rates, & to Comunicate the same wth the Rest of Hampshire Comissione's, as the Law Directs.
David Morgan was chosen Constable for the yeer ensuing. Sept: 12: 1690: At a Town Meeting:
20I
THE TOWN RECORDS.
Capt Colton being visited by the hand of God, in the death of his wife, the Town thought meet to dismiss him of his serving as a Comissioner, in joining wth the Select men in taking the list for the Country Rate, & chose Samll Marsh- feild to the Service.
Also It was voted & agreed that Samll Marshfeild do join u-th ye rest of the Comisioners of the County on the 17th Day of this Instant at N Hampton, to choose from among ym at Least Two of them to go to the Bay, to lay before the Corte or Council of Inability to pay any money Rates & to obtain for this County to pay or money Rates in some other Specie, also that the Town wil wth other Towns of this County bear yr part of the charges to satisfy such comissioners as shal go to the Bay to manage this affair aforesd.
It was also voted & agreed to save the Constables harm- less, from the Treasurer, for their delaying to Colect the Rates yet unpaid til the Comisioners Return from the Corte, or Council in the Bay.
At a Town meeting ffebr. 23: 1690.
At this Meeting The Town did vote they would pay their money Rate In adding a third more than the Country price is, viz: for 28 paying 38 & they do Engage to save the Con- stables Samuel Blisse one third harmles fro any Warrant fro the Treasurer, for liis thus Taking Corne instead of money, yt is those persons that dont pay money thus engage, Such as pay money being cleare fro this engagent.
Also it was voted & agreed that the order to allow for the killing of Beares be repealed, vide Meeting Feb. 1, 1686.
[III-143.]
At a Genll Town Meeting May II: 1691 for the Election of Town officers for the yeer ensuing.
The Worshipful major John Pynchon was chosen Mod- erator for this Meeting & for al the Meetings of the ensuing Yeer.
mr Pelatiah Glover Jun' & Samll Marshfeild were chosen the Comittee to examine the Accounts of the Select men that go out at this Meeting.
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THE FIRST CENTURY OF SPRINGFIELD.
Deacon Jonathan Burt Henry Chapin John Dumbleton Isaac Colton and John Holyoke were chosen Select men for the ycer ensuing, who are to Act according to Instructions In the fifth page of this booke.
John Holyoke was chosen Clerke for the Town for the yeer ensuing.
Samuel Marshfeild & Thomas Stebbins were chosen Meas- urers for the Lands for the yeer ensuing.
Benjamin Stebbins was chosen constable for the Town for this yeer.
Samll Blisse Sen" Edward Stebbins & James Barker were chosen Surveyors for the Country high wayes, who are also to see that they rectify al encroachments upon the sd wayes.
Haywards to the Genll feilds were chosen viz: Thomas mirricke for the homelots, Joseph Stebbins Sent for the plain, & Henry Roberts for ye part of the feild on the west side of Agawam & Samll Cooper for ye part of the feild on the South side of Agawam &, Samll Miller for Chickuppi feild, & Jos- eph Cooley, & the yards of Said Haywards are allowed of to be pounds in their p'cincts excepting, that of Henry Rogers. who hath a Town pound convenient for his impounding, & the sd Haywards especially are to give spedie notice to the owners of the cattle they shall impound in yr yards.
It was voted & agreed that the Select men be fully impow- ered to indent with any meet person to keep the dry & young cattle out the walke of the Cowes towards or beyond Ma- chonis Mountaines, to wit, to agree any such Person what Each Owner of such cattle shal pay P head of sd cattle.
It was further voted & concluded that the Town Measurer do joyne wth Leiut. Wright to Lay out Skipmuck highwayes.
At a Town Meeting Aug: 12: 1691.
The Worshipll Colnll Jnº Pynchon Esq was chosen Comis- sioner to join with the Select men to make the List of the Rat- able Estate of ye Town for ye Country rate; & to communicate the same to the rest of Hampshire Comissioners as ye Law di- rects.
John Dorchester was chosen for ye yeer & sworne.
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THE TOWN RECORDS.
The Court order & ye Treasurer warrant being publikely read at the Meeting & discoursed upon, viz: the warrant for the Raising the Townes proportion to the money Rate: The Town did declare it, yt they did understand that the Select men should Assese the Rateable Inhabitants their proportions to the £24,000 upon the Estates & Persons by the valuation taken the Last yeer & they concluded the Select men should so assesse their Inhabitants.
It was granted to Samll Bliss Sent to have Liberty to set up a Mault house upon or joining to the brooke by ye Street, provided it be the Towns to give, & Infring not the high way, & this to be as any Three of ye Select men determine.
It was further voted to Leave it wth the Select men to take any good opportunity to procure a good Smith for the Towne.
:III-144.]
At a Town Meeting Sept : 21 : 1691.
Whereas the Indian Corne doth not Ripen this yeer as formerly, It was therefore voted that for the p'sent yeer the General feilds fences of the Town should be kept up intire for the keeping of the said feilds til the Tenth Day of October Next, & that No Person have any Liberty to put in any Cat- tle but according to former Town orders.
Ebenezer Nutting is admitted to be an Inhabitant in the Town: And whereas he desires the Town would accommo- date him with some Land to build on & for a smal Pasture; & what Land that Nathanll Sikes once bargained for wth Colonl Pynchon being mentioned by some as that might be had for his purpose, if it could be purchased & The Colonll Pynchon himself saying that he abate 20$ of the price to sd Nath: Sikes, & diverse p'sons expressing ymselves to allow some thing to ye purchasing some Land; The whole matter was by the Town Left wth John Dorchester to effect the procuring of that Land or any other Land for sd Ebenezer Nuttings Set- tlement yet so as that sd Eben: Nutting continue five yeers in the Town before he have Legal power & Right to sell sd Land.
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THE FIRST CENTURY OF SPRINGFIELD.
My 3: 1692: At a Town Meeting:
Whereas there was a vote that the Select men should make the Rate containing the Townes proportion of the Twenty four thousand pounds in money pay, according to the List taken in August 1690: The Town do now vote that they shal goe according to the directions & order of the County Court: March: 1691
May 9th: 1692. At a General Town Meeting.
The Worshipful Major John Pynchon Esq was chosen Moderator for this meeting & al other Meetings of this yeer.
Voted That the former Select men finish the List as was concluded the Last Town Meeting, & deliver it to the Con- stable to gather according to the Assessments thereby set, & this to be in Leiu of that formerly delivered to the Constable.
Luke Hitchcocke & Tho Stebbins were chosen the Comit- tee to examine the p'sent Select mens accounts.
Japhet Chapin Capt. Tho: Colton Samll Bliss Sen' Tho: Stebbins & John Barber were chosen Select men for the Yeer ensuing.
John Holyoke was chosen Town Clerke for this yeer.
Danll Cooley was chosen Constable & Sworn.
Tho: Stebbins was chosen Measurer for the Town Lands.
James Warriner Sen' & John Burt & Joseph Leonard were chosen Surveio's for the Country high wayes.
It was voted that the Select men now chosen wth the Dea- con speedily take care for Seating of persons in the meeting house: & for the p'sent at their desire Major Pynchon & Quartrm' Colton are to advise ym & Assist ym yrin. [III-145.]
It was further voted that Major John Pynchon Esq & Deacon Burt with those Two Select men now chosen, wch Live in the Town Plat & any other of the Select men that can be liad doe, as occasion may be, agree wth in' Haines, or any other minister, for a Supply for carrying on the Sabbath a while; halfe a yeer, or a quarter of a yeer; or til we can have advice fro the Elders In the Bay, & to follow or attend such advice according as they Judge best for the Town, or acquaint the Select men to cal a Town meeting as they se cause.
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THE TOWN RECORDS.
It was further voted & agreed that al Children fro five yeers old to Ten yeeres old Compleate shal be by their Par- ents Sent to Schoole, & if not their Parents shal Pay or be Rated for al such Children to the Schoolmaster, as if such children were Sent by yr Parents or masters .- This to be un- derstood of such as Live in the Town Plat fro the Mill on the South, Up to Nathaneel Muns house, or thereabouts.
At A Towne Meeting: July 18: 1692:
The Towne or ffreeholders made choice of the Worshipll John Pynchon Esq to be commissioner to joine wth ye Select men in makeing a List for the Province Rate, & to comuni- cate the same according to act &c.
in' Pelatiah Glover was chosen Constable for this veer.
At a Town Meeting Aug: II: 1692.
Jnº Warner was chosen Constable for the yeer ensuing, Instead of mr Pel: Glover:
At this meeting the Towne being assembled by warning of the Select men in order to the discoursing & agreeing wth in' Glover about that house & Land wch ye Town granted his father, wch belongs to the ministry, That m' Glover might have satisfaction for the same, & the sd housing & Land re- turn to the Towne for the ministry, wch meeting was general- ly attended by the Inhabitants; where the Select men gave accot that mr Glovers answer to them (upon yr treating wth him) was, that he expected the ful value of al in money, if the Town would have the houseing & Land againe; upon which m' Glover being called, & told that he mentioned no sum, we had bid him an hundred pounds, but he had askt no sum, we desired therefore, that he would propose a sum. & make his demands how much would satisfy him in Pay as the Town raised, & Could make, He wthdrawing after some time came againe. & mentioned seven hundred & forty pound in Pay, wch being far beyond what we thought he intended: It was Judged meet that Two or Three men should be ap- pointed to discourse with him, wch he also desired, that he might rather discourse wth three men, yn wth the whole as- sembly together, accordingly Deacon Burt Charles Ferry
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