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

: field
SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1886. 173
was elected to fill his place. The brave Samuel Holyoke was
,niade " Clarke of y'' writts."
The Longmeadow settlers were uot able to visit the village on Sun-
day to attend service. In March a party attended by a guard ven-
tured to make the journey. They were attacked by eight Indians,
iand Selectman Keep, his wife and child, killed, and several wounded.
I
' quot
There was a story told at Boston at the time that the guard took to
their heels the moment the Indians fired. Major Pynchon pursued
the savages with a company of horse, but to no purpose. Anthony
Dorchester was chosen as Keep's successor.
The snow suddenly disappeared in the latter part of January, and
a kind Providence gave the planters a mild winter and early spring.
The discovery of the treacliery of the Narragansetts and the destruc-
tion of their fort, with slaughter far more dreadful than that of the Pe-
fort, sent hundreds of savages again into the Connecticut valley,
who met the desperate King Philip. In the latter part of March Canonchet,
together with Saucumachu, a Nonotuck sachem, to whom
the Agawams had acknowledged sovereignty, were with Philip a few
miles above Northfield. Canonchet lost his head while attempting to
bring seed-corn from the Narragausett country ; but the maid of
Quinnapin, who undertook the errand, was more successful, bringing
away a peck and a half of seed. They then scattered into planting
and fishing parties to provide against famine. Hatfield, Northamp-
ton, and Hadley were garrisoned. An Indian attack on Northampton
in the middle of March was successfully resisted. The Massachusetts
council renewed its advice about the concentration of forces, sug-
gested Springfield as the best place to fortify, and directed the aban-
donment of Westfield. Protests were sent to Boston from the various
towns ; Westfield in town-meeting voted that the inhabitants Avere
ready to go dowu the river if properly protected by soldiers, but re-
fused to remove to Springfield, although they would like to do it for
the "worshipful Major Pynchon's sake." The assertion of some
writers, that Westfield did not want to go to Connecticut, but