Springfield 1636-1886, History of Town and City, by Mason A. Green ...

84 SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1S86.
Hartford, luid Wetlierstiekl, to give clearance papers to masters of
out-going vessels, and these papers were presented to Feuwick's agent
at Sa37brook. Connecticut at once concluded to bring Springfield,
which was doing a good business with Boston, under the tariff. But
the Hartford government had not secured the jurisdiction of the
mouth of the river with the prospective ownership of the fort. The
dut}^ upon exports was the purchase-money for the fort. Springfield
was thus being asked to aid in this payment ; if she had yielded, and
paid the dut}' , she would have had no proprietary interest in the fort
itself. In fact, Springfield was being forced to help secure for Connecticut
a title to the very fort that might prove a menace to its own
commerce.
The Massachusetts General Court, when informed of the Connecti-
cut tariff, voted that "none of ours" shall pa}- the tribute. Mr.
Pynchon was threatened with utter ruin in a business way, and he at
once gave direction to his sailors to pay no attention to the order, and
to refuse to file invoices, or to ask for clearance papers. His order
was disobeyed for some unknown reason, and one cargo of corn was
entered under the tariff provision. ]Mr. Pynchon appears to have
been very much annoyed at this, and he said at once : " If they would
arest our goods, I had rather they should doe it now than another
tyme." His next ship passed the Saybrook fort in defiance of the
Connecticut otlicer ; but the little cannon which constructively swept
the river did not open fire. Pynchon wrote to (iovernoi' Winthrop at
Boston in July, 164(5 : "
But if we should be forced to such a thinge
[payment of duty] this plantation will be deserted. I think no man
will dwell here to l)e brought under such payments. I desyre your
advise, whether we were best to enter our goods or no. My owne
apprehensions are that we ought not to doe it, &. so Jehovah cause
His face to shine uppon you ever."
The commissioners of the United Colonies, which had now been in
existence for three years as a sort of itinerary Congress, met at
Hartford two months later to adjust this matter. Thev heard many