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

188 SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1886.
of Springfield to each & every singular Person in this Town have
been, were & are to thein & their heirs for ever." This was passed
in order to put the town grants upon the same legal basis as a deed.
This was a death-blow to the system of land communism.
After many disagreements, Springfield and Northampton, in April,
1685, settled upon a pine-tree south of Stony Brook near the " upper
greate Falls " about forty rods from the river to mark the east and
west line between the towns. The tree was inscribed with an " SP,"
" Nt," and an "A," and was long known as the "Accord Tree."
By the colony records we learn that the line, by agreement, ran to the
" great barr of the ffalls, — that is, about the first great barr, — next
to Northampton." From here the line ran west two and a half miles,
south half a mile, thence west to a point nine miles from the river.
Northampton was given liberty to fish at the " lower great fall, in the
Springfield bounds, Avithout any molestation from Spriugfeild men,"
as well as use of the highway to the boating-place below the falls.
In February, 1685, there was a general apportionment of lands on
account of an extra land-grant by the General Court. Liberal
amounts were first reserved for the ministry and the schools. Mr.
Glover was remembered in the list of apportionments. The land was
made up in divisions, and it was ordered that it " shal be by Casting
of Lots." The land divisions were by estates and polls, which were
" esteemed In the Rate at twelve pounds p Pole & that al Male chil-
dren under age be valued as Ratable Poles : viz : 12£ p Pole." The
list of lots, including the portions for the ministry and the school,
comprised 125 names. Tliis is known to the surveyors as the " Out-
ward commons."
The license for the
'
' fishing Places on Agawam River & Chi-
kuppi River" were given in 1685 to Deacon Burt, Miles Morgan,
Thomas INIirrick, and several others. In 1687 Henry Chapin headed
the list of those specially pri^^leged to fish in Chicopee river so far as
" Schonungonuck fal or Bar." They could make also " Wards for
catching of Fish." Henry Chapin's brother Japhet was interested