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

SPRINGFIELD, 2636-1886. 201
justly proud. Let us go outside of our calendar for a uioment in or-
der to pick the thread of business running through John Pynchon's
hand for half a century. Pynchon had a warehouse in this town as
early as 1G60, where liis goods were delivered on arrival from Hart-
ford. We believe that this trading-house was near Mill river, upon
the banks of the Connecticut. He had also a regular country store here.
Almost every person, f I'om minister to the hii'ed hands, kept running ac-
counts at the Pynchon store, and farmers and merchants from North-
ampton to New Haven were in the liabit of pajnng off men by drawing
orders upon Pynchon for merchandise. The phraseology of these
oj'ders was by no means monotonous. Sometimes it was, " I desire
you to help y*^ bearer to provisions ;
" or, " This is to order you to pay
to ; " or, " Be pleased to pay unto my debtor," and so on.
Brother Glover opened an account at the Pynchon store, and not
only traded out Mr. Pynchon's ministry rates, but anticipated the
money due from others by the congregation, which, it is sad to re-
late, were often allowed to go unpaid until the town stepped in and
made the minister good. Mr. Glover buys at one time ten bushels
of " barley uiault " for £2 5.5., at another 9i 3'ards of lace at 7s., a
lirkin of soap, some ''• manchester be3's," ''• dinity," " locrane," and
so on. Deacon Chapin's taste went to red shag cloth. Kersey cotton,
and calico, and he paid for his merchandise in ox-hides, meal, corn,
hay, caudles, peas, carting stoues, etc. llice Bedortha buys among
other things an Indian coat, a sickle, some cards, and so on, for
which he ''daubed" Mr. P^'Uclion's chimney, and performed other
jobs. Thomas Cooper's bill ran up at one time to £681 Gs. 6d. In
1659 Mr. Cooper received at Mr. Pynchon's hands a bale of goods
directly from P^ngland, for which he agreed to pay £17. He failed
to meet the bill, and it seems some misunderstanding had arisen.
Deacon Chapin and Mr. Holyoke arbitrated the matter, and the bill,
somewhat reduced, Avas paid in 1661. Cooper was continually de-
livering to Pynchon beaver, moose, and deer skins. He also aided in
the handling of these skins, did some miscellaneous carpentering.