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

SPRINGFIELD, 1G36-1SS6. 111.
Tho Cooper 19 1
Jonath Taylor 20 1
Sam Chapen 21 1
Robert Ashley's section ivas given on condition that he keep an
ordinary, but it was to be surrendered in case he failed in tliis
respect.
The fact that John Pynchon was becoming an extensive trader and
business man was probably due to the encouragement of his father,
who felt that he himself was not destined to spend his closing days in
Springfield. The son was pushed forward in both public and private
affairs, and soon gained the confidence of the community. In the
winter of 1650 we find that, "It is agreed by the Towne that if
M''. John Pynchon will make a chamber over the meeting-house and
board it : he shall have the use of it entirely to himself for Ten years,"
when the town could secure it by paying the expense of building it.
A year later a dispute arose between John Pynchon and the town
over this chamber. The young man used the chamber for storing
corn ; many feared that the grain would come down upon their heads,
and he was limited to 400 bushels at one time, unless he " underprop
y'' floor." The town finally bought the chamber outright.
There is not a line of manuscript of this period extant that can
be pointed to as evidence that the course of Mr. Moxon's teachings
was not m full accord with the orthodox views of the times, and yet it
is more than probable that he differed with the great divines down at
the Bay. One wonders what was the occasion of this action, taken
Dec. 27, 1G49 : "It is alsoe ordered y' y'' select Townsmen w"'
y'' Deacons shall in y*^ belialfe of the Towne draw up & send down
to y'' elders a letter desiring y'" to explaine y" cleere meaninge of
y" voates concerninge M'. Moxon's maintenance."
In 1G52 John Pynchon headed a committee to bargain with Mr.
Moxon for all of his Springfield real estate, which, after due delibera-
tion and several meetings, was brought about, the agreement being that