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

2(^i] • SPRINGFIELD,
16S6~1SS6.
suffered death for the killhig of Earl, a fellow-prisoner. People came
from all parts of the county, and, before his taking oft". Rev. Mr.
Baldwin, of Palmer, preached a sermon, and Rev. Robert Breck of-
fered a prayer.
The Wait monument, on Armory hill, one of Springfield's cherished
landmarks, belongs to this early period. It now stands some tAventy
feet east of its original site, and was erected in 1763, b}^ Joseph Wait,
of Brookfield, to mark the road to Boston, he presumably having lost
his way. Tradition says that he nearly lost his life in a snow-storm,
having by mistake taken the Skipmuck road. Joseijh Wait, it may
be added, was a descendant of Richard Wayte, of Watertown, who
was the ancestor of the late Chief Justice Waite of the United States
Supreme Court.
The incorporation of the common lauds was causing some trouble.
In 1772 the outer commons committee reported in reference to the
"• several pretended Grants & Divisions " of land made since 1713 by
those calling themselves proprietors, that they were " arbitrary, un-
legal & unjust & in Regard to their power of Disposing of e'm was
altogether illegal." The town, however, in order to save trouble,
confirmed all these grants except where roads were required, as well
as stone quarries and river-banks containing stone. The same 3'ear
John Worthington headed a committee to consider the " doings & pro-
ceedings of the ])roprietors of the Inward Commons." The same
meeting refused to surrender to the proprie'tors the right to cut timber
in the outward commons of Springfield and Wilbraham. The town
aimually appointed a special committee to protect the town's interests
in the connnon lands.
In 1771 Thomas Stebbins headed a committee to build a new brick
school-house in the first parish; cost, £117. That year, also, the
selectmen, consisting of Col. John AVorthington, Kdward Pynchon,
Maj. Benjamin Day, Nathaniel Ely, Jr., John Leonard, Moses Bliss,
and Daniel Harris, stood up and "took the oath Respicting Bills of
the neighbouring Governments."