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

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SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1886. 213
tained iu the setting up of the West Springfield parish. The following
letter, still preserved, probably refers to this claim : —
To the people of our precinct
:
LovEiNo Friends : This may signifye to you that (understandmg it to be y
desire it sliould be so) I am very free (notw^^standing y' vote otherwise) that you
I
sliould raise but Fifty pounds for me this year. Fifty the next, and so Fifty more
the year after. And would have you witliall send me y mind wiiich way of Im-
j)roovement of it would be most easy to you.
Tliis is all at present
Springfeilu, April 10, 1721.
From yrs, Daniell Brewer.
Mr. Brewer was a kindly man, and beloved of his people ;
but this
did not prevent the parish from driving close bargains. A year or
more before the above letter, the matter of repairs on Mr. Brewer's
house came up again. This, and other things of interest, are referred
to in the subjoined extract taken from the parish records :
At a meeting of the Inhabitants of the most elderly precinct for the ministry of
,the Town of Springfield at the meeting house in s'l precinct on munday the Twenty
Sixth Day of January Anno Domi 17itl at one of the clock in the Afternoon to con-
sider & determine what Specie to Raise y^ Reverend M'' Bre^vers rate in and other
contingent charges of y