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

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SPRINOFIELD, 1636-1886. 97
of Springfeild and ffrancis Ball for a shopp for a Smith w'^'' is to be 1
foote wide, 16 foote in length, five foote studd betwixt Joyuts, a chim-
ney for the forge rungd, to be boarded both roof and sides, to make
a doore and windows in the end w"* a beam in y'' middst." It is
difficult to tell just when Miles Morgan came to Springfield, but he
had probabh" been a resident several years before the date of the
above order. Comparatively little is known of Miles Morgan's early
life. He was born in England, lived for a while at Bristol, and in 1636
came to this country when a young man, being accompanied by two
brothers. The story that Miles Morgan accompanied the Roxbury
pioneers to Springfield is utterly untrue. His house-lot was on the
south side of Ferry lane (Cypress street) , the site of Dr. Chauncey
Brewer's residence. During the voyage to America young Morgan
made the acquaintance, and, we may infer, won the heart, of a Miss
Gilbert, who upon landing settled with her family at Beverly. After
Morgan had built him a house in Springfield he pressed his suit with
the Beverly maid, — not by letter, as is stated, for the simple reason
that Miles could not write. The negotiations were evidently carried
on by mutual friends, and Morgan, after his offer was accepted, made
the journey to the east in about 1643, taking with him two neighbors
and an Indian, duly armed. We are told that Miles and his three
attendants walked back all the way from Beverly, while the bride and
"some household stuff" were carried by the only horse at the dis-
posal of this unique bridal party. Morgan was a butcher for many
years, when his farming operations permitted.
The selectmen chosen in the autumn of 1645 were Lieutenant Smith,
Richard Sikes, Samuel Chapin, Thomas Cooper, and Henry Burt.
The selectmen for 1646 were Henry Smith, Elizur Holyoke, Samuel
Chapin, Henry Burt, and Benjamin Cooley. That year Robert Ash-
ley was licensed to keep the ordinar3^ Henry Burt's house was on
south Main street, near Broad. He was a very active man, and one
of his sons became the Deacon Burt of the First church, who was
so much honored in later years.
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