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

212 SPRTNGFIELD, 1636-18S6.
Williams two silver spoons, with the dates of his captivity and mar-
riage engraved thereon. On the Lord's day he attends church with
the associate judges, Colonel Pynchon, and the attorneys of the town,
and Mr. Brewer preaches " very well and audihly " from the text,
" Salute one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute
j'ou." The judge leaves Springfield after giving Mr. Brewer twenty
shillings for his prayers during the court session, is accompanied east
five miles by the sheriff and troopers, dines in the pine woods, and
then presses on toward Brookfield.
The town acts are unimportant during this period. In May, 1719,
Joseph Stebbins was chosen moderator, — a notable break in this re-
gard, a Pynchon having performed that office from the foundation of
the town. Joseph Stelibins was quite prominent in local affairs ; he
was sent as delegate to the General Court, and seems to have been
much trusted. John Worthington, Luke Hitchcock, and William
Pynchon were also chosen moderators during this period. This
William Pynchon was the great-great-grandson of the founder of the
town.
In 1715 £30 of repairs were voted on the ministry house, and a
committee was also appointed to confer with Mr. Brewer, who was
•' uneasy respecting his i]ot having equil proportion of grain." Mr.
Brewer, like other ministers of his day, suffered financially from
fluctuations in the value of the pay he received from his congregation.
We have seen that Mr. Glover instituted a reform by inducing the
town to place the collection of the minister's rates into the hands of
the deacon. Mr. Brewer found that a man who was ill-disposed
toward him would not give good measure of grain, and the same
was true with the firewood that was sometimes contributed in the
autumn. The upshot was that the town offered (1 71G) to pay Mr.
Brewer in money. Mr. Brewer suggested £90 as the amount he would
accept. The town declined, and £8.5 was subsequently agreed upon ;
this was afterwards raised to £100.
There was still unpaid a certain sum to Mr. Brewer for losses sus-