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 8
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And Whereas the Honno'd Gen'll Corte in October last uppon a petition presented to ym from ye People dwelling at Woronoco, for inlargit of their accommodations of land, &c Did make an addition of land to them to ye Content of Six mile square, & left it to this Town of Springfeild or whom we should appoynt for ye managmt of ye matter: This Towne doth now therefore Order & appoynt m' James Cornish John Roote Thomas Dewey & John Sackett or any three of them to lay out the aforesaid grannt of land adjoyning to what is already allowed them from this Towne, or as shalbe most to ye advantage of ye Inhabitants of Worronoco: only they are not to intrench uppon ye bounds fixt & Sett, or to be Sett as aforesaid between them & Vs.
IOI
THE TOWN RECORDS.
The brand mark for this Towne appoynted by the Gen'll Corte being after the forme Sett in ye Margent being an S & P conjoyned :
The Towne did at this Gene'll Meeting appoynt Samuell Marshfeild to keepe ye Said brand mark & to brand therewith ye horses belonging to this Plantation: for his labor wherein because there are many horses to be branded, he is to have for ye p'sent but two pence p horse for those yt he shall brand, but hereafter he is to have Three pence p horse for all that he shall brand: [III-65.]
June 18th 1669. A Towne Meeting being called in respect of Our Revrdnd Teacher m' Glover, lately declaring himself as purposed to leave his work & Station as to this place, chief- ly for that he app'hends that Wee are not able comfortably to maynteyne him: The Towne haveing discussed the thing. & examined their owne abilities, did by Vote conclude to stand their apprehensions to Our Revind Teacher in' Glover in writing wch was p'sently done accordingly: A Coppy where- of here followes:
Sr. Wee are very much affected with this Sad providence by this Motion of yo's for leaving us, & the rather beinge soe sensible of Our generall inability to increase your Stipend at prsent, by reason of Gods hand upon us by the flood & blast, & that at such a tyme as we have taken in hand the building of a house for you wch through the help of God, we shall goe on wth, the cost whereof wilbe neere One Hundred pounds to 11s, besides the So£ of yo" Stipend wch by the Lords assistance we shall endeavour punctually to pforme, & make good in ye best manner we can, notwithstanding all the difficulties of the yeere wch doe retard our doing further or more at prsent : but yet if the Lord enable nis we shall for future according as yor needs call for it enlarge, & doe to our utmost ability & that according as God shall bless us; that soe you may live honnor- ably & wthout distraction in your employmt: And we intreat yor acceptance of these our syncere intentions, & the manifes- tations of yo' love & affections to us, by yor cheerfull going
I02
THE FIRST CENTURY OF SPRINGFIELD.
on in yor Ministeriall work (in this place) wch wee take soe much contention & cannot neyther dare quitt our interest in, but must according to God hold it fast to our utmost all words of parting being like darts forbid the thoughts of Change.
Elizur Holyoke Recordr in the Name & by ye appoyntmt of the Towne.
Springfeild Mons: 4: 18th 1669.
These for the Reverend m' Pelatiah Glover, Minister of the Word in Springfeild:
The Originall hereof was sent to m' Glover (by Capt Pyn- chon & others) from the Town meeting, who p'used it, but then Hee much insisted on his desire for a release from us; for he Said he knew we were not able to adde to what we doe, tych he said would not mainteyne Him but urging for his lib- erty he said his mind was gone. Which returne of His was p'sented to the Towne at ye same Meeting. [I]]-66.]
febr 12th 1669. Att a meeting of ye Select Men: Where- as there is a high way above yee Comon fence on ye West side of ye great River laid Twenty rod wide by ye comon fence to- wards Agawam River & ordered it to be continued Soe wide till it came over the wett meddow or further, It was Ordered yt the sd high way shall be continued Twenty rod wide all along by ye Said fence to Agawam River. This ptly for high way sake & ptly for comonage for Cattle: 20 rod wide is to be alwayes continued comon from ye great River to Agawam River:
Aprill 7th 1669. At a meeting of ye Select Men Eliakim Hitchcock of New haven desiring to be admitted into this Township to dwell hath liberty soe to doe provided he bring certificate from New haven yt he is an Orderly liver: & that his father there desire it & assist him in his remoove & yt he pcure 2 sufficient men of this Town to enter into 30£ bond to secure the Town from any charge that may any way arise to this Township by yt said Hitchcock or any of his family.
103
THE TOWN RECORDS.
Aprill: 23: 69: Att a Meeting of ye Select Men:
Among other things they made this Order followinge. Where as Severall p'sons complayn yt they cannot gett their neighbors where their fences is in p'ticular to make up their fence sufficient, & all because the veiwers are not requireable to veiw p'ticular & Partionall fences: And Whereas the Town Ord' sayth yt p'ticular fence betwixt lott & lott shalbe ordered by ye Select Men: The Select Men doe now there- fore Order yt where there are complaynts agt neighbors in yt · kind in such case when eyther neighbors desires it; the Veiw- ers yeerely appoynted shall veiw such ptitional fences from tyme to tyme and shall have power to allow or disallowe of them according as they doe or may the gen'll & comon fences of Corn ffeilds: wch fence disallowed or declared defective by any veiwers shall forthwith by the Proprietor or owner of it amended & made sufficient to the secure his neighbour from damage according to the judgmt of je veiwers. [III-67.]
October ye 5th 1669. This Town at ye Gen'll Town Meet- ing on ye 2d day of ffebr last, upon ye desire of ye Inhabitants of Westfeild propounded to this Plantation at ye said meeting vizt yt this Town would Order & settle the bounds in the lands betwixt this Town & them. Did appoynt a Comittee viz Quarterm' Colton Nathaneel Ely & Rowland Thomas for yt work as in ve Ordr of ffebr 2ª 68 more at large appear- eth: And the said Comittee Did on this 5th day of October 1669 repaire to ye lands about Pancatuck, & haveing taken good survey of the lands thereabout, Did come to a resolution what shalbe accounted the bounds betwixt this Town of Springfeild & ye Town of Westfeild in respect of ye lands, on ye North side of Woronok River: And therefore in Order to fixing the bounds betwixt Vs & Them in that quarter. the said Comittee concluded & determined yt a du North lyne from a white Oak tree neere the Said River, wch ye said Com- ittee marked, shall be & be acounted the bounds betweene Our Town of Springfeild & the Towne of Westfeild: The said white Oak Soe markt is between ye two first dingles be-
IO.1
THE FIRST CENTURY OF SPRINGFIELD.
yond je low lands at Paucatuck & neere the furthest of ye two dingles: And because from ve said marked tree right cross the River & thence Southerly a direct South lyne will not take in ye Mountayne for ye Town of Westfeild therefore the Mountayne is to be the bounds betwixt Our Town & West- feild according as Our Townes said act of february last doth determine: And herein the Said Comittee fully aggreeing have hereunto sett their hands:
Jan: 3, 1669: At a meeting of ye Select Men: Amongst other their acts. A motion being made in writing by Joseph Parsons of Northampton for liberty to purchase a pcell of land (belonging to this Township) of Thomas Copley, weh land lyes at ye foot of ye higher falls in ye great River his de- sire therein is granted as also liberty for him to build on ye said land is granted him according to his desire:
[III-68.]
Att ye Gen'll Towne Meetinge on the ist Tuesday in ffebr: being ye ist day of ye Month Anno Dm 1669.
Capt Pynchon is chosen Moderator for this Towne Meet- inge:
Leiut Cooper & Deacon Chapin are chosen a Comittee to examine the accounts given in by the Select Men now going off: And ye sd Committee attended ye work:
Capt Holyoke Leiut Cooper Ens: Cooley Benjamin Par- sons & Henry Chapin are chosen Select Men for the yeere ensueing who are to order the Prudentiall affaires of the Town as ye Law directs & as is declared in page 5th of this booke:
Also Capt Holyoke is chosen Record' to this Town for ye yeere ensueinge.
Samuell Terry is chosen Constable for ye yeere ensueing who had ye Oath respecting yt Office administered to him by ye Worppll Capt Pynchon.
Nathaneell Ely & Samuell Marshfeild are chosen Land Measurers for ye yeere ensueinge:
John Clark & John Bliss are chosen Surveyo's for ve Coun- trey high wayes for ye yeere ensueinge.
The Select Men above mentioned as chosen, are for ye
IO5
THE TOWN RECORDS.
veere ensueing impowered to grannt lands yt lye in comon ac- cording as they shall app'hend reasonable & necessary:
The Haywards for ye Severall comon feilds chosen for ye veere ensuing are Thomas Miller for ye ffeild over ye River: opposite ye Town. Rice Bedortha for Chickuppe ffeild. John Clarke for ye Home Lotts: John Keepe for ye Long Meddow.
It is aggreed & determined yt for want of a pound at Chick- uppe a good yard shall be allowed & accounted to pass for a pound :
It is ordered that the Select Men Henceforward from tyme, when they shall have occasion to meete a day to order ye Town affaires, their necessary expences for yr dinners shalbe allowed & paid by the Towne.
[III-69.]
ffurthemore the Town calling over former accts & fynding due to ye Towne
£
S
By ye Select mens accots in Anno 1667 2 IO 7
And by ye Select Mens accots Anno 1668 2 03 O
4 13 7
The Town voted that the p'sons wch were Select men in those yeeres cleare the accots & pay in those Summes making 4£ 135 7d to the Committee for m' Glovers house, & doe here- by impower the sd Comittee vizt Capt Pynchon George Col- ton Leiut Cooper & Nathaneell Ely or any 3 of them to re- cover the Same:
The Inhabitants over the River are freed from ye Countrey high wayes this next yeere upon condition they finish the high way begun over the West Meddow neere Samuell Marsh- feilds And in case they neglect to make yt way a sufficient high way this next summer; for yt neglect they shall next yeere allow to the Country high way over & above their then proportion Soe much more as they are this yeere freed from it.
106
THE FIRST CENTURY OF SPRINGFIELD.
The Towne taking notice of much charge about high wayes; & p'ticularly about the Long Meddow bridge uch is observed to be more used by Hadley then by this Towne: And remembring yt in ye settlemt of ye charge about bridges in the County roade wayes It was aggreed yt Hadley should allow towards ye charge of that bridge in case it appeared their use should be considerable: It is therefore ordered that ye Select Men take care thereof & write to Hadley that their joyning & carrying on what is needfull & reasonable therein be by them attended: that this Town haveing done much to yt bridge they may doe what is remayning to be done about it.
fforasmuch as there hath been hitherto some neglect in pviding for ye deputy wch this Towne sends yeerly to ye Gen'll Corte, pay not [III-70.] being Seasonably had in for him by meanes whereof many tymes his diet at Boston is too long unsatisfyed for, besides other discouragm's for want of wherewth to defray his necessary expences, All wch to prvent for future: It is Ordered yt henceforth there shalbe a sett allowance to ye Deputy wch this Towne shall send to ye Gen'll Corte: Vizt ffoure pounds for his tyme horse & all his ex- pences at One Session of the Co'te or by reason of his attend- ance thereatt wch ffoure pound shall always be paid to ve deputy before hand & that in good pay at least three pounds of it in wheat: but in case ye yeeres proove any thing toller- able for wheat the whole pay to be in yt grayne unless any can pay him in money, yet however at any tyme he is not to have above 20$ in Indian corn or other grayn besides wheate un- less he desire it: And for ye yeere now next coming by rea- son of the Townes want of pay in hand: Capt Pynchon pffers to give 205 towards it, & the Town orders yt ye other three pound shalbe raysed on the Inhabitants forthwth & all to be speedily gathered in & delivered to him that shalbe chosen Deputy for the first Session of the next Gen'll Corte that Soe he may have it to turne into money for his best advantage: And for future ye Select Men from tyme to tyme are yearly before their going out of their places to adde into other Town
107
THE TOWN RECORDS.
charges this foure pounds every yeare to be raysed on the In- habitants of this Towne for their Deputy: And out of what the Select Men have & are hereby inabled to have in hand of the Townes, they are hereby injoyned alwayes in ye first place to pvide & take care that the Deputy to serve may have the summe aforesaid delivered unto him at least three pound of it in wheate as aforesaid or in pay equivalent to wheat or money that soe all just discouragints on our Deputyes may henceforth be avoyded by such seasonable allowance to him for his tyme & expenses:
[III-71.]
Att a Town Meeting March 23d 1669-70 This Towne have- ing formerly appoynted m' James Cornish John Roote John Sackutt & Thomas Dewey or any three of them to lay out the quantity of Six mile Square grannted to Westfeild by the Hono'd Gen'll Corte, And finding that ye aformentioned p'sons have hitherto soe neglected the said work that unless some speedy course be taken or others appoynted thereunto that shall more readily attend it, Wee shalbe altogether un- able to render an account to je next Gen'll Corte Therefore considering the act of the Gene'll Corte leaving yt worke to our Town & that there may be noe further needless neglect on our pat: This Town doth now order & appoynt Capt Holyoke Quart'm' Colton Rowland Thomas & Samuell Marshfeild to ye said work hereby calling in & making voyd the power we conferred upon m' Cornish & the rest above said forasmuch as they have not done their work in their yeere: And the Said Capt Holyoke Quart'm' Colton Samll Marshfeild & Rowland Thomas or any three of them are hereby appoynted a Comittee whom this Towne doth now or- der & impower to lay out the content of Six Mile Square grannted to Westfeild & Ordered by the Gen'll Corte to be laid out by some that Springfeild should appoynt thereunto: All wch worke is to be done by the Said Capt Holyoke Quart'in' Colton Samuel! Marshfeild & Rowland Thomas or any three of them are hereby appoynted a Comittee whom this Towne doth now order & impower to lay out the content
108
THE FIRST CENTURY OF SPRINGFIELD.
of Six Mile Square grannted to Westfeild & Ordered by the Gen'll Corte to be laid out by Some that Springfeild should appoynt thereunto: All wch work is to be done by the Said Capt Holyoke Quarterm' Colton Samuell Marshfeild & Row- land Thomas or any three of them before the 15th day of Aprill next: wherefore they are forthwth to acquaynt the In- habitants of Westfeild herewth & inform them of & appoynt the tyme when they shall attend ye work, that Soe Westfeild may have opportunity to depute & Send Some p'sons to goe along with them to consider & advise about the convenient laying out of the aforesaid tract of land & to observe & take notice where their bounds shalbe laid: And all being done & effected by our now impowered comittee they are to give an account thereof to this Towne that returne thereof may be made to the Honno'd Gen'll Corte.
[III-72.]
Here followeth ye Returne of the Comittee (mentioned in ye foregoing page) appoynted by this Towne to lay out the Six mile Square grannted to Westfeild (for their Township) by ye Gen'll Corte Which Returne was prsented to this Towne and a coppy thereof sent to the Generall Corte.
Springfeild Aprill ye 14th 1670.
We whose Names are here subscribed being a Comittee ap- poynted by the Town of Springfeild for ye Laying out the quantity of Six mile Square granted to Westfeild by the Honno'd Gen'll Corte have attended the said Work: And therefore doe hereby declare how their Said quantity of land shall lye, that is to Say, The Said quantity of land is laid out to them five Mile broad at ve Northerly end thereof, extend- ing from a Pine tree marked at the East Mountayne to a White Oak marked at the West Mountayne, and it runneth Southerly Nine Mile that is to say from the Said Pine tree, holding the course of the South South West poynt upon the Meridian compass. AAnd at the Southerly end of their Nine Mile their limits are ffoure mile broad Westward: And the ledge of Mountaynes is to be the bounds between Springfeild & Westfeild: 'Within this tract of land there is conteyned the
109
THE TOWN RECORDS.
quantity of about three Square Miles grannted before by Springfeild to Westfeild and about the quantity of two square miles in reference to the farmes of the Worthy Major Ather- ton & Capt. Clapp.
At a Town Meeting Aprill ye 17th 1670 .. The Inhabitants of Westfeild intreating for Some more accommodations of land towards Springfeild then was formerly grannted them by Springfeild, that is to say Some inlargemt on this Side of the Mountayne uch is on ye South Side of their River: This Town doth grannt unto them All the land between yt bridge called Logg bridge & the Mountayne that is to Say all ye land that lyeth between the mountayne & a direct lyne drawn from the Said bridge to a white Oake marked about 30 rod from ve North'ly end of the pond that lyes by se East Side of ve Mountayne & wch is about a mile from ye Said bridge: And from the Said marked tree the dividing lyne is drawn to Je Mountayne: And then they are to keepe to ye Mountayne as the bounds between them & us, And from the Said bridge down to Woronoke River that little brook or gutter is to be the bounds between Vs & them.
[III-73.]
October ye 12th 1670. Att a meeting of the Select Men they being all prsent.
It is ordered that there shalbe a high way of 5 or 6 rod broad from ye way that leades to ye Mill up to ye cart bridge that is over the Mill River & Soe from that bridge up into the Pyne playne on ye South side of ye Mill River, to be laid in place most convenient by Benjamin Parsons Jonathan Burt & Nathaneel Pritchard.
It is Ordered that there shalbe a high way by the fence on the back side of the Long Meddow, (vizt within the fence) two rod broad from Nathaneell Burts upper lott down to Je bridge (over Long Meddow brook) in ye way by the River along thorow Nathaneel Burts upper lott, to the backer fence by the pond: This being for passage into ye Woods yt way: This Highway Capt Pynchon pesteth agt: vizt that by his mill mentioned above: Feby 7 70.
IIO
THE FIRST CENTURY OF SPRINGFIELD.
Att ye Gen'll Town Meeting ffebr. 7, 1670. The Worppll Capt Pynchon is chosen Moderator for this Town Meeting.
Samuell Marshfeild & George Colton are chosen a Comit- tee to examine ye accots of ye Select Men yt are now going off.
Capt Pynchon George Colton Samuell Marshfeild Row- land Thomas & John Dumbleton are chosen for Select men for ye yeere ensueing, to order ye Prudentiall affaires of this Towne: Who also have power to grannt lands yt lye in Comon & undisposed of in this Township as they See neces- sary & convenient.
Capt Holyoke chosen Recorder to ye Town for ye yeere who is to have 20$ allowed him for his work this yeere in keep- ing ye Town Records & entering such things as concerned the Town in gen'll:
[III-74.]
Jonathan Ashley constable for ye yeere ensueing had his Oath administered by ye Worth Capt Pynchon.
Samuell Marshfeild & Nathaneell Ely chosen Measurers of lands, for ye yeere ensueinge.
Anthony Dorchester & Timothy Cooper are chosen Sur- veyo's of ye County wayes for ye yeere ensueinge.
Nathaneel Burt is freed of work to ye County high wayes this yeere in regard of charges of wayes for his own use wch others also have benefitt.
Capt Pynchon Elizur Holyoke George Colton Samuell Marshfeild Nath: Ely & Serj: Stebbin are chosen a Comittee to consider of high wayes and to determine both where they shall lye & who shalbe called to make & maynteyne ye same:
Haywards chosen for ye gen'll or comon feilds are John Clarke for ye home lotts. Edward ffoster for ye ffeilds on ye West side of ye great River opposite to ye Towne: John Bagg for ye ffeild called Chickuppe Isaack Colton for ye Long Meddow:
ffurthermore at this Towne Meeting it is ordered that if any lands be granted hereafter to any person the wood & tymber upon such lands shall be free for any p'sons to take as they shall need till such lands shall be fenced:
III
THE TOWN RECORDS.
Also it is ordered that the little swamp conteyning about five acres lying on ye left hand of ye way down to Symon Be- mons under ye hill shall lye common ppetually & shall not be disposed of to any p'ticular p'sons:
ffeb 13, 1670. Liberty is granted to John Bliss to build on his land in the Long Meddow at the end of his lott next ye pond & the land there at the end of his lott to the pond side is now granted unto him, if it were not his by former grant.
Samuell Barber of Windsor is admitted an Inhabitant & his brother John Barber byndeth himself in the sum of Twen- ty pounds to the Select Men of this Town from tyme to tyme to save the Town from any charge yt may arise to the Towne by the sd Samuell Barber or any of his: Witness his hand: Jan. 1. 1671. John Barber.
[III-75.]
Att ye Gen'll Town Meeting febr 6 71. Major Pynchon is chosen Moderator for this Town Meetinge.
Deacon Chapin & Eli: Holyoke Sent chosen for a Comit- tee to examine the accots of the Select mnen yt are now go- ing of:
Nathaneel Ely Ens Cooley Benjamin Parsons Anthony Dorchester & Elizur Holyoke Sent are chosen Select Men to order ye prudentiall affaires of the Town for ye veere ensue- ing who also have power to grannt lands as they see cause & to act in other things comon to ye Select men:
Elizur Holyoke Sent is chosen Towne Clarke for ye yeere ensuinge:
Samuell Marshfeild is chosen Measurer of lands for this yeere ensueinge:
Charles fferry chosen Constable & Sworne:
Jonathan Burt & Wm Warrent are chosen Surveyo's for ye County high wayes for this yeere ensueing:
Haywards for ye Comon feilds for this yeere there are chos- en : ffor ye ffeild right over ye River agt ye Towne, John Barber. Edmund Prinridayes for ye feild called Chickuppe whose yard shalbe accounted a pound for yt feild: ffor Long Meddow John Keepe whose yard also is allowed of for a pound :
1
I12
THE FIRST CENTURY OF SPRINGFIELD.
At the Gen'll Town Meeting this following Order was made & concluded upon: Whereas it is found by experience that the Causey over agt Thomas Dayes is much annoyed by waters that come from the Springs in the hills over the med- dow & by land floods wch annoyance is occasioned ptly by the want of a passage downward for those waters by reason of interruption from ye Proprietors of the Meddows by ditches or banks or other meanes wch stop those waters: It is here- by Ordered that all such annoyances by ditches banks or any other Stops of the water made or occasioned by the proprie- to's of those meddowes shalbe remooved & the water allowed free passage wthout interruption upon penalty of Twenty shil- lings to be forfeited & paid to ye Town by such proprietors as shall occasion the stopping or damming up of the water to the [III-76.] anoyance of the said Causey or ye Neighbors meddowes it being expected & intended that cach proprietor allow a passage by a gutter made cross each mans meddow sufficient to carry all the water in Soe low or soe farre downward as till it may be brought convenently into the brooke before the Street. And the Surveyo's of the high wayes are from tyme to tyme to give notice to the Select men of any Such annoyance that shalbe in their judgmt continued that soe the penalty may be levyed for ye Towne upon such p'sons as are culpable by this order:
At this Gen'll Town meeting also ye Town did Sett order & appoynt these prizes hereafter mentioned to be ye currant prizes for corne vizt wheat at 38 6ª p bush, pease at 35, Rye at 35 barley 48 Indian corn at 2s 6ª p bu :
At a Town Meeting August 16th 1672. Leiut Cooper is chosen Comission' to joyne wth ye Select Men for making ye Countrey Rate for this veere.
John Hitchcock is chosen Constable:
Anthony Dorchester & Miles Morgan are chosen a Comit- tee to take care & Order for fynishing m' Glovers house: vizt for ye doing what the Town is to doe: These 2 men are to reparre to ye Select Men who are to levy a rate on ye estate of the Plantation for enabling them to ye worke.
1
II3
THE TOWN RECORDS.
Theres grannted that John Gilbert shall have 2 bush of In- dian corne allowed him over & above what he had for ye glass for mr Glovers house. he complayning of ye meanness of his pay: Goodm: Dorchester pd this 2 bush Indian corne for tych he is paid in 2 barrells yt came wth lyme this Order by ye Select men Jan 2, 1672:
[III-77.]
Att ye Gen'll Towne Meetinge ffebr: ye 4th 1672:
The Worppll Major Pynchon is chosen Moderator for this Town Meeting:
Quarterm' Colton & Samuell Marshfeild are chosen a Com- ittee to examine ye accountes of the Select Men who now goe off :
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