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 2
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The land grants from 1664, up to the close of his life as seen in the official records, were entered on pages in the manu- script volume that are not in the order given to the transac- tions of the annual town meetings, blank leaves having been reserved for that purpose. This may explain what might appear on examination to be a lack of an orderly arrange- ment in the records.
The SseEffet Maio Pynchon is cholEn ModErate for this Ver Q for all other Town MEETings in this Town this years - Jonathan Burt & Sary Bancroft are chefer a committee to com). the accounts of the Select man of the year now past.
F Enligne (colsy: Jonathan Burt: John League John Hitchcock & Caf Élisme Holyoke, are chofen select men for ordering all i Prudential affairs of i Jonone for of years enqueing To act accordingto Instructions &directions for ' scheit men as m pa's of this Booke
Samt Marchfeito & Seja Stabbings are chopen Me. Surer's for (and: Ins to be land out of thealuno)
Aanhet Chagoin is chofan Comptable of Springfeil for the years infueing:
[The Handwriting of Elizur Holyoke and John Pynchon.]
ALA Jonone Meeting febr. 23. 1675.0 This checking being Called to make Supply - lect than & auf io of one to inter the is having taken away (a to Holyoke:) Sams charchfaits vous by a cheave vote choja a select man, to make it i Number for the years infueing:
Jonath. But is chefen Jorone Clarke C to contex all noritings, & take care for of Recording Josone affection & keeping i Records ata Forone.
Samt Holyoke is mine choice of for Clarche ff be excuses et & County Court for confirmation mi for Nice:/
[The Handwriting of John Pynchon.]
22
THE FIRST CENTURY OF SPRINGFIELD.
THE HANDWRITING OF DEACON SAMUEL CHAPIN.
The following reproductions of the handwriting of Deacon Samuel Chapin will convey to his many descendants a clearer impression of his attainments than any description hitherto given in print. The first is an agreement between John Pynchon and his brother-in-law, Elizur Holyoke, concern- ing the transfer of the latter's interest in the mill and lands connected therewith to satisfy a debt to Pynchon. The sec- ond paper is a deed conveying lands in Springfield to his son, Japhet. That these may be the more easily read the following text is printed in full as written, beginning with the agreement. The words in this, "the other side," refers to the entry showing the indebtedness which was entered on the opposite page from the agreement :-
"In consideration of the dept of An hundred & twenty one pounds eighteen shillings eight pence on the other side Captain Pynchon when hee went for Ingland did Agree with his brother Holioke to take the mill & Mstr Holiokes share of the Land belonging thereunto & the said Mstr Holiokes share of pay due from Jeremiah Horton & James Warriner for full payment of the said dept on the other side & upon deliverie of A deed of sale for the Mill & the Land to his wife Mstr Pynchon hee did give order his said wife should Can- cel that dept of £121 18s &d on the other side, Now this first of March 63-64. the said Mstr Holioke did deliver to Mstres Pynchon A deed of sale of the said Mill & Land, Whereupon the said Mstrs Pynchon Cancelled the said dept.
"Witnes Samuel Chapin."
The deed of lands, copied from the original, is as follows :-
"These P'sents testifie that Samuell Chapin of Springfield for & in Consideration of the fatherly Love & Care which I have & doe beare unto my sonne Japhet Chapin have given & granted & by these P'sents doe give grant & Confirme un- to my said sonne Japheth Chapin & to his heares & assignes for ever all my howsing & lands in & about the towne of Springfield even All that became myne eyter by purchase or by dividents or gift from the towne: To have & to hold the
outs fortifi
Samuel pas
in for I'm on Duration of ..
factyouty Sous
grov you grant & Vongions bits mil awd
SyLand
about fre forsitio of
Documents
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7
hatte forval.
I Samuele Varm as um
or from sofat/orawas fort nul ou on my name of min
no formato
my Sims
valo + 16:21
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55 Volucional Detplants of
Toke firtsforf
[The Handwriting of Deacon Samuel Chapin. ]
A DEED OF LANDS FROM DEACON SAMUEL CHAPIN TO HIS SON, JAPHET, MAY 21, 1667.
23
HISTORICAL REVIEW.
ation of
omron invention
Billingc sigchy
intion vajon
for
yWho from
mont
fo bes works
T
mal Gout
1.
Hoss
mit
Land Filsupon A
Harbios
[The Handwriting of Deacon Samuel Chapin. ]
Novemb 16th 1663 .
Aco & kelly due to mee from my Brand Holyoke the sum of one hunder Twend ty one Round Eighteene Willing ENght gence o no venlys his hand. Elizur Holyoke
LIRE 18: 08
22
24
THE FIRST CENTURY OF SPRINGFIELD.
Aforesaid howsing & Lands with all the Apurtenances there- of, to him his heares & asignes forever: excepting the one halfe thereof of all those howsings & Lands for the terme of myne & my wifes life: Unto my said sonne & to his heires & Asignes forever, freely & quietly without any manner of Challenge Claime or demand made or to bee made by mee the said Samuell Chapin or Any other P'son or P'sons what- soever for me or in my name or in my right or by my meanes or P'curement : In witness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand & seale this 21 of May, 1667.
"SAMUEL CHAPIN. [Seale. ]
"Sealed & delivered in the presence of "John hictchock "hannah hictchock."
COMMEMORATING IMMIGRANT ANCESTORS.
Two statues, memorials to early settlers, erected in Spring- field, have attracted considerable attention, and as they relate to the beginning of the settlement it is fitting that they should be included in this volume. The first one erected has been a conspicuous object of interest on Court Square, a memorial to Miles Morgan, the progenitor of a long line of successful business men who have been honored in stations of useful- ness and trust. It is the work of a New York artist, Mr. J. S. Hartley, who has fully represented the spirit of the times in which Miles Morgan had an active part. It was presented to Springfield by the late Henry T. Morgan of New York, then a well-known banker and business man.
The second is to Deacon Samuel Chapin, entitled, "The Puritan," by that eminent artist, Mr. Augustus St. Gaudens. It is a remarkable work of art, embodying the aggressive force of the people who settled New England, and some of the characteristics of our early days, and incidents in the his- tory of Deacon Chapin. With the Bible in hand it is easy to conceive that he is on the way to the meeting-house, to lead in the religious services to which he was assigned a part on
NOI SAANEL CH FIN
--
1
THE PURITAN.
By Augustus St. Gaudens. A MEMORIAL TO DEACON SAMUEL CHAPIN .- GIFT OF HON. CHESTER W. CHAPIN.
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THE FIRST CENTURY OF SPRINGFIELD.
certain occasions. This statue has attracted wide attention of both artists and the lovers of art. A copy has been placed in the Art Museum at Boston, another has gone to the great Dresden Gallery, and a third is to be placed in the Louvre at Paris. It is the gift to Springfield of the late Hon. Chester W. Chapin, who two years before his death gave the commis- sion to St. Gaudens to create this fitting memorial to an an- cestor who had a prominent part in the beginnings of Spring- field. It was unveiled on Thanksgiving day, November 24, 1887, by two grand-children of the donor, and presented to the city in a speech by his son, Mr. Chester W. Chapin. Judge E. B. Maynard, then Mayor of Springfield, received it in behalf of the city in an appropriate and most fitting speech.
AUTOGRAPHS OF THE FIRST SETTLERS.
Upon the following pages are given reproductions of the signatures of many of the original settlers of Springfield, to- gether with a few from Northampton and other neighboring towns. The ability to write was so limited at that period that not a few men of high standing in the community, in- cluding at least five who served many years as Selectmen, were unable to sign their names. It is probable that the sig- natures herewith presented embrace a majority of those among the earliest inhabitants of Springfield who were able to write.
The signature of the Rev. Mr. Moxon is copied from the "Massachusetts Collections," published by the Massachusetts Historical Society; all others were reproduced from original papers, and, with two or three exceptions, expressly for this work. The signatures of William Pynchon, Henry Smith, Cornet Joseph Parsons, John Cable, and Daniel Denton are taken from the Town Records; those of Elizur Holyoke, John Holyoke, John Pynchon and Amy Pynchon, from a deed of land in Springfield, executed by John and Amy Pyn- chon, now in the Springfield City Library; those of Japhet Chapin, Jonathan Burt, Deacon Benjamin Parsons, and John Pease, Senior, from a petition to the General Court asking
MILES.MORGAN AN EARLY SETTLER.OF SPRINGFIELD,PA ERECTED-N-ESI-BY-CKE CF.LIS.DESCENDANTS-CF
MILES MORGAN, THE ANCESTOR .- GIFT OF HENRY T. MORGAN.
28
THE FIRST CENTURY OF SPRINGFIELD.
leave to establish a settlement at Fresh Water brook (now Enfield, Connecticut); those of David Burt, Deacon Samuel Wright, Senior, John Ingersoll, Lieutenant William Clarke, Jonathan Hunt, John King, John Marsh, and Aaron Cook, from a petition drawn by James Cornish, Clerk of the Courts under Governor Andros, and sent from Northampton to the General Court. All the others are from the account books of John Pynchon (now in the Springfield City Library), be- ing appended to acknowledgments of indebtedness to Pyn- chon, at whose store all of the men whose signatures appear, with one or two possible exceptions, had running accounts.
The only woman's signature in the collection is that of Amy, wife of John Pynchon and daughter of George Willys of Hartford. It possesses peculiar interest, not only as being that of the wife of the most prominent man of that day in Western Massachusetts, but also as the best specimen of woman's handwriting which the writer has found among the papers of the time which these records cover. Probably not half a dozen women in Springfield, in the early years of the town's history, could write their names, and those who at- tempted to do so were usually inferior to their brothers and husbands in the use of the quill.
As to the standard of penmanship of the period under consideration, the men among the early settlers who had been educated in England usually wrote an excellent hand, and in some instances their sons displayed a similar ability. But from that time down, for several generations, there was a retrograde movement in handwriting, as there seems to have been in scholarship. The hardships of pioneer life left little chance for intellectual improvement. With the beginning of the eighteenth century came an elevation of the standard of the common schools, and a corresponding improvement in penmanship. In the records of the latter period many of the peculiar abbreviations which were common in the writ- ings of the seventeenth century were dropped, as well as the archaic forms of letters employed by the earlier penmen, and the handwriting reflects the influence of better education and the greater impulse of business.
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HISTORICAL REVIEW.
William Pynchon
The Founder.
Henry Smith
Son-in-law of William Pynchon.
Elizu Holyoke
Son-in-law of William Pynchon.
John Holyoke Son of Elizur Holyoke.
John Lynchon
Son of William Pynchon.
Amy pynchon
Wife of John Pynchon.
Flesh pynchon Son of John Pynchon.
Henry: Burk: Clerk of the Writs.
Jonathan Burt
Son of Henry Burt.
Damwill Daspm
Deacon Samuel Chapin.
Henry Chayin Son of Deacon Samuel Chapin.
David Chapin
Son of Deacon Samuel Chapin.
Josiah chapin
Son of Deacon Samuel Chapin.
Japhat Chapin Son of Deacon Samuel Chapin.
David Charin
Son of Japhet Chapin.
GiMoxon
First Minister of Springfield.
Daniel Bust .
Son of Henry Burt.
Samuel wright Sont Deacon Samuel Wright.
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THE FIRST CENTURY OF SPRINGFIELD.
Jogope parsont Cornet Joseph Parsons.
william waren William Warriner.
Quartermaster George Colton.
Thomas, son of Rowland Stebbins.
Thomas Stuffing Son of Thomas Stebbins.
Samuell marghfeild
Samuel Marshfield.
Simon Demoni
Banja partono
Deacon Benjamin Parsons.
Solju Cebil John Cable.
John, son of Rowland Stebbins.
John, son of John Searle.
nathanel fikes Son of Richard Sikes.
Increase Sikes
Son of Richard Sikes.
Samuell ferry
William Brooke
John Lamb
William Brooks.
Thomas Cooper
Lieut. Thomas Cooper.
Luke hitchcock
Son of Luke of New Haven.
Samuel ESf
Son of Nathaniel Ely.
John Rifthrock
Son of Luke of New Haven.
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HISTORICAL REVIEW.
John Ingenfall
John Ingersoll.
John Dumbleton.
Thomas Bancroft
Thomas Bancroft.
Chamas day
Thomas, son of Robert of Hartford.
Samuel Day
Samuel, son of Thomas Day.
Jain Day John, son of Thomas Day.
Pourmich Bouton Jeremiah, son of Thomas Horton.
sword &offer Edward Foster. Joseph Whiting
Son-in-law of John Pynchon.
George Alexander.
Jagaghharmon Joseph, son of John Harmon.
Joseph Panaro
Joseph. son of John Leonard.
Dault Denton
Daniel Denton the Schoolmaster. 1
Isaac frost
Isaac Frost.
T James Osborn.
Joseph Alloy
Joseph, son of Robert Ashley.
Symon Sakauk
Symon Sacket.
John Bliss
Son of Widow Margaret.
Aboli wright
32
THE FIRST CENTURY OF SPRINGFIELD.
John Barbon Jonathan Stunt Of Northampton.
Eleazar Mather
First Minister of Northampton. Son of Rev. Richard of Dorchester.
Willums hapton
Deacon William Holton of North- ampton.
John Altyn
Of Hartford. Nephew of John Pynchon.
Samt willys
Of Hartford. Brother-in-law of John Pynchon.
Henry Stiles of Windsor.
Lieut. William of Northampton.
John fing
Of Northampton.
George Langton Of Northampton.
Elro: Elmon
Of Northampton.
John margh
Of Northampton.
Of Hadley.
John Peaje Son
John Parle
John Earle.
Of Enfield.
Aaron : Cooks
Of Northampton. ..
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HISTORICAL REVIEW.
THE EARLY BUILDINGS IN SPRINGFIELD.
Little is known of the pre- vailing style of architecture in Springfield during the first hundred years. It is prob- able that many of the first houses had thatched roofs. There was a town order which prohibited the carry- ing of fire in the street, and every householder was re- quired to keep a ladder,- John Pynchon's House. evident precautions against possible fires. John Pynchon in his account books gave various individuals credits for labor in getting thatch. Whatever material entered into the construction of the dwell- ings there must have been plain simplicity in style and details. The only buildings erected in the first century, of which there exist pictures, were John Pynchon's house, which stood where the Fire and Marine Insurance Company's building, known as Fort Block. now stands, and the first Court House, which was built in or not far from 1723. Green's history of Springfield states that the Pynchon house was built in 1661 and the Court House in 1721. The date given of the latter is not correct, and that of the former is in doubt. The date of building the Pynchon house was probably taken from a bargain that Pynchon made with Francis Hacklington of Northampton for 50,000 bricks. There are certainly some reasons for believing that this house was not built until a much later date. There was no reason why that or any oth- er house should be fortified until there was anticipated dan- ger from the Indians, and there had been none until the town was burned on October 5, 1675. At a meeting of the Se- lectmen. June 3, 1678, little more than two years after the town was burned, John Pynchon desired leave "to set up a flanker in the street at the east end of his new house now
34
THE FIRST CENTURY OF SPRINGFIELD.
building on the north side of his homelot, the flanker which he desires he may have liberty to set it into the street five feet and ten feet in length." His desires were "granted unto him so long as there may be need of a flanker." The "flanker" was undoubtedly for the purpose of protecting the house from anticipated attacks by the Indians. Pynchon bought and sold bricks for "pavements,"-that is, for the bottoms of brick ovens, and he supplied many with them. Possibly this fact might have had some relation to the bargain with Hack- lington for bricks. The record is in the handwriting of Pyn- chon's nephew, John Holyoke. It is not known that Pyn- chon built any other house, and the location described by John Holyoke corresponds with that of the ancient mansion, which was demolished in 1831, 68 years ago. An amateur "artist" saved its outlines, which have formed the prominent feature of the city seal.
The first mention of building a Court House is found in the Town Records, when on November 29, 1721, at a town meeting it was voted to build a Court House, provided "our neighboring towns, viz: Westfield, Suffield, Enfield, and Brookfield be Assisting us. In doing of it it is now voted that the said Court House shall be forty feet long and thirty feet wide, and seventeen feet stud. It was also voted that Joseph Williston, John Worthington, and Luke Hitchcock, Senior, be a committee to make provision for and effect the building and finishing the said Court House, and that they have full power to conclude upon and determine the place where the said Court House shall stand."
The next record concerning it is under date of February 9, 1722, when it was "Voted that there be money drawn out of the Town Treasury to be improved toward building the Court House. Voted that there be twenty pounds drawn out of the Town Treasury, if it be there to be had, and that it be delivered to the Committee that were chosen to effect the building our said Court House."
The next movement was at a town meeting held Septem- ber 10, 1722, when "a Committee was chosen to consider and
35
HISTORICAL REVIEW.
propose some method or way to compose the differences that have, or may arise, about the Court House, and to make report to the town." The committee chosen consisted of Lieut. Ephraim Colton, Pelatiah Bliss, Increase Sikes, Capt. John Merrick, Lieut. Joseph Cooley, Samuel Day, Deacon Joseph Ely, Ensign John Miller, Ensign James Merrick, and Jonathan Worthington. The meeting then adjourned to October 8, when "the inhabitants assembled together and the Committee did present their proposals, which followeth: 'That some part of the Inward Commons be put under Good Regulation & be Exposed to sale towards the defreighing the Charge of Building said Court House: viz: that so mitch be sold on the West side of the Great River as to advance the sum of Thirty Pounds and so much be sold on the East side of the Great River as to advance the sum of sixty Pounds, and that a Committee be chosen to regulate and manage said matter to as Little Damage as may be to the Inhabitants, & if said sums of Thirty Pounds & Sixty Pounds be more than will be Needful to finish & Compleat said House, with what is already given and granted towards said House, that the overplush be paid into the Town Treasury to complete and finish said House, and that a meet Person be chosen on the West side of the Great River to Joyne with the Committee for Building and finishing said Court House:' the Inhabitants aforesaid taking the said proposals into consideration it was voted that the said proposals of the said Committee be ac- cepted by the Town, and it was voted that Deacon Ebenezer Parsons be one of the Committee for Building and finishing said Court House."
The next recorded movement was the appointment of a "committee, at a Town meeting held December 12, 1723, consisting of Samuel Day, Lieut. Ephraim Colton, and Thomas Horton, to examine the accounts of the Committee for building the Court House," and on January 6, 1724, this committee was voted five shillings each for making an ex- amination of the Treasurer's account and the accounts of the committee for building the Court House, and it was voted
36
THE FIRST CENTURY OF SPRINGFIELD.
"that the Selectmen do from time to time agree with some person to sweep & keep clean the Court House." This would seem to establish the fact that the building was com- pleted in 1723. It was located on what subsequently became Market Street, and after undergoing one or more removals, finally stood on the south side of Sanford Street and on what was Berlin Street, east of W. S. Collins's livery stable. It was occupied for meetings of the First Parish Society, and by the town as a place for holding town meetings; and later be- came a wagon and blacksmith shop, and was occupied as such when the photograph which is reproduced in connection with this recapitulation of its history was taken. It disappeared only a few years ago, in the march of improvements in the lo- cality where it last stood.
THE FRENCHMAN WHO BEQUEATHED MONEY TO THE POOR OF SPRINGFIELD.
Along the Pine Street side of the Springfield Cemetery. among the long line of monuments that were moved many years since from the first cemetery, west of Court Square, is a monumental table resting on stone pillars, which was erected over 170 years ago, 17 years after the death of the benefactor whose name it perpetuates, and who died November 26, 1711. This monument was erected by the town in 1729 as a public recognition of gratitude to a stranger who left a considerable amount of money and property to the town for its poor. At a town meeting held March 12, 1728, is this record: "To consider whether the Town will buy a Tomb Stone for the Frenchinan, deceased, who bestowed the money on the poor of the Town and act as they shall think meet on the 7th day of May, 1728." At the subsequent meeting it was "Voted that the Selectmen Gett a Handsome Tomb Stone, or Grave Stone, and Sett up at the Grave of John Malliford, deceased, being the man that gave money to the Poor of the Town." Upon the monument the name of John Mallefuild appears, but the different Town Clerks wrote it "Mallefield," "Masse-
37
HISTORICAL REVIEW.
feild," "Malleford," and "Mashfeld," according to their own understanding.
Below is the inscription :--
HERE LIES THE BODY OF
Mr. JOHN MALLEFUILD.
A FRENCH GENTLEMAN
WHO PASSING THROUGH THIS TOWN OF SPRINGFIELD SICK AND DYING BEQUEATHED ALL HIS ESTATE TO THE POOR OF THE TOWN.
HE DIED NOV. 26, 17II.
PSALM 41. BLESSED IS HE WHO CONSIDERETH THE POOR.
Not much is known of his history beyond the brief refer- ence to him in the Town Records. It appears, however, from the records of the Probate Court at Northampton, that he was a trader who came here from Boston with his goods, and that he died at the house of Eliakim Cooley, after a sick- ness of ten days. The monument was brought from Middle- town, Conn. At a town meeting held March 10, 1730, it was
·
38
THE FIRST CENTURY OF SPRINGFIELD.
"Voted that there be paid out of the Town Treasury to Hen- ry Rogers and Francis Ball the sum of twenty-five shillings for their service in bringing a Tomb Stone to be set up at Mr. Mallifords grave from Middle Town."
The amount of money, goods and personal effects left to the town was £229 12s 7d. The debt to Major Wallie of Bos- ton was £30 IS 4d, and the Frenchman's expenses here, and charges of administration were £33 IIS IOd, leaving the town £165 198 5d, or a little more than $803.
Mallefuild, or Malleford, whatever was his name, made a statement as to his desire concerning the disposition of his property. John Sherman, the schoolmaster, testified: "Be- ing at the house of Eliakim Cooley, Senr., tending of John Mallefueld, Frenchman, who being sick on his death bed, he being in his right mind, that his will & desire was that all his tenders and those that looked after him should be well satis- fied & all charges & debts paid & the remainder he willed to the poor. He died November 26, 1711."
Benjamin Cooley, Jr., testifield: "Being with the man above written heard him say that he hoped what estate he had would make satisfaction to those who tended him for he thought they were the nearest unto him."
Daniel Cooley testified to the above writing, he then being present.
At the Probate Court, January 1, 1712, "The above named John Sherman, Daniel Cooley and Benjamin Cooley all ap- peared and made oath to their respective evidences above written, and do add that the deceased had been a resident in the house above said for the space of ten days before making said will, and that it was in the time of said deceased's last sickness, and that their testimonies were committed to writ- ing within the space of six days after the making of the said will, which is allowed of by the said Court."
The Judge of Probate, Samuel Partridge, appointed John Holyoke, John Miller, Tilly Mirick, Thomas Horton, and John Sherman administrators. When the inventory was re- turned to the Court the Judge ordered the administrators to
39
HISTORICAL REVIEW.
pay over the net proceeds of the estate to the town of Spring- field, and that the town should give a bond to the administra- tors to refund to them the amount received in case any kin- dred, heirs to the deceased, should appear and make claim to the estate, which order the town complied with.
The inventory which is appended, although of great length, gives an inside view of the nature of the goods used in differ- ent households. In it is an early mention of forks. Even in John Pynchon's account books none appear as early as this. Knives, but not forks, were used generally until many years after the New England settlements were begun. As a horse, saddle and pillion appear in the inventory it is evi- dent that the deceased was a travelling merchant or trader, and that he was in the habit of going to the different settle- ments to dispose of his goods. His collection of books, es- pecially "Sighs from Hell," indicate the theological opinions of that period. Capt. John Pynchon, son of Major John, made the copy of the inventory, which is still on file at North- ampton, and for which the town of Springfield paid him five shillings. He was an excellent penman and his orthography is fairly correct, but his "Jeuice Harp," has a flavor of some of the early habits in committing words to writing. The in- ventory and expense of administration are as follows :-
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