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

SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1886. 181
another valuable lot of property to a new minister. AVhat was
wanted was a permanent ministry lot, and a powerful faction was
determined to have one, even if it increased the financial burdens of
the struggling plantation.
George Colton (August, 1676) headed the committee charged with
the rebuilding of Mr. Glover's house. Mr. Glover was displeased to
hear that the new house was for his use only, and the dispute was re-
ferred to the selectmen and building committee. Therefore, in order
to secure the minister's " contentful continuing with us," it was di-
rected (June, 1677) that Mr. Glover should own absolutely the new
house ; but the motion was opposed by Samuel Marshfield, Henry
Chapin, Luke Hitchcock, George Colton, and many others. Before
the work on the house was completed it was found that the vote was
illegal ; the dissidents subsequently carried the day, and secured the
control of the ministry lot, attenuating to placate Mr. Glover by vot-
ini>; him £100 in lieu thereof. This was not so blinding an offer as
might at first appear, seeing that the inhabitants were far in arrears
to Mr. Glover on his regular £80 stipend. But the town-meeting ac-
companied the appropriation with a direction to the deacons to col-
lect the ministry rates and deliver them to Mr. Glover personally.
Peace was not purchased even at that price ; they were subsequently
(February, 1679) burdening themselves with material for fortifying
Mr. Glover's house against the Indians. Mr. Glover proposed an
appeal to the General Court to determine the title to the ministry
house and lot, which was agreed to ; the General Court (October,
1681) decided that the property belonged to Mr. Glover, and that
the latter should be paid its full value ; the town offered (March,
1682) to give Mr. Glover satisfaction in land elsewhere ; but this not
being to Mr. Glover's liking, other land was eventually set apart for
the ministry (1683) by the dubious vote of 27 to 23 ; and thus mat-
ters stood at Mr. Glover's death in 1692, which was a signal for an-
other attack upon the Glover property. Mr. Glover's son stood out
as best he could, but finally gave way. He offered to sell for £700 ;