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

I
SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1886. 187
Nathaniel Burt, of the board of selectmen of 1(578, resigned in July
because he was not a freeman, and his brother, Jonathan Burt, was
chosen in his place. The record as to this matter begins : "It was
pprounded y"" being some scruple made concerning the Selectmen's
Acts, liecause the Major part of y"' are not freemen according to
order, whether y'' Towu would not rectify y^ same."
The General Court, in obedience to the royal proclamation of
April 27, 1(578, ordering all subjects to take the oath of allegiance,
directed the various magistrates to administer it forthwith ; accord-
ingly John Pynchon performed that duty to the following inhabitants
of Springfield on December 3, 1(578, and January 1, 1(579 : —
Pelatiah Glover,
Robert Ashley,
Samuel Marshfielrt,
Benjamin Parsons, Jr.,
Lieut. Thomas Stebbins,
John Lamb,
Japhet Chapin,
Thomas Day,
John Stewart,
Samuel Bliss,
John Scott,
Jonathan Ashley,
James Dorchester,
Joseph Leman,
Thomas Colton,
Nathaniel Sikes,
John Bagg,
John Barber, Jr..
William Brook,
Samuel Bliss,
Edward Stebbins,
John Holyoke,
George Colton,
Thomas Mirrick,
Jonathan Burt,
Miles Morgan,
William Branch,
Nathaniel Burt,
Samuel Ely,
James Warriner,
Jonathan Taylor,
John Harraan,
Joseph Ashley.
Thomas Cooper,
Isaac Colton,
Increase Sikes,
James Sikes,
Obadiah Miller,
Charles Ferry,
John Matthews,
Thomas Stebbins,
Benjamin Stebbins,
Daniel Denton,
Anthony Dorchester,
John Dumbleton,
Rowland Thomas,
Henry Chapin,
John Clark,
Rice Bedortha,
Natlianiel Pritchard,
John Hitchcock,
Jolin Bliss,
John Petty,
John Dorchester,
Edward Foster,
Ephraim Colton,
Victory Sikes,
John Riley,
Jolin Barber,
Samuel Ferry,
Abel Wright,
Joseph Stebbins.
In order to avoid disputes about land titles a vote was passed in
January, 1685, that " al former grants of Laud w"'in this Township