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

184 SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1886.
much more, & accordingly did pay the money Rate to s'' Constable, that is the
Major Part of the Town did so pay, & principally in Indian, w'^'i at prsent is
extreame Low at the Market : It is voted & concluded tliat Each man do again
receive his Corne paid upon s'' Account, & that the Town will save harmless said
Constable from the Country treasurer by reason of any Warrant fro him, & the
Constable to appoint to redeliver the Corne p'* as aforesd.
The couuty oontiuned to have trouble in adjusting its tax rates. The
tax-assessors at one time allowed the tax to dwindle down by abusing
their prerogatives in striking from the lists men in ill-health or
extreme poverty. The court was, in consequence, forced to order
(1691) that " all y*" rateable heads in this County by y*^ Selectmen &
Constable in y*^ severall towns bee layed upon as others except such
as are verry poor & impotent that be at the selectmens judgment for
the discharging of the sum or sums of money or other pay," etc.
The smaller towns were frequently in distress about the way the
taxes were imposed. Westfield protested (1692) against its public
burdens, but the County Court turned a deaf ear. Suffield was un-
easy under a land tax (1691), and the court included cattle and per-
sonal property ; Suffield was still unhappy, and wanted a repeal of
the order (1692), but the judges would not yield. The court at this
time was perplexed about a highway through the western meadow
across Agawam river to Suffield, and after appointing a committee
(1691) from the various towns to lay out the road expressed a hope
that this would be the last heard of the dispute. At this session also
a ferry was established over the Connecticut, " against y^ house
of Jno Alline of Suffield," the latter to be ferryman, and to charge
4d. per horse and 2d. per man as toll. The County Court by this time
had become the dispenser of liquor licenses, the licenses being granted
upon recommendation of the selectmen of the various towns. The
court kept a sharp eye upon these taverns, and it is sad to relate that
Nathaniel P^ly was a sufferer thereby. Having been convicted of
selling cider to the Indians, it was recorded (1681) : "The Courte
taking notice of his Ingenuity in Confessing his fault &, being de-