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

268 SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1886.
period, that the " Outward Commons" were settled about 1731, and
were known also as '- Springfield Mountains," which, in 1741, became
the Fourth Parish, or precinct, and in June, 1763, joined the family of
Massachusetts towns, although, technically, it was simply a district
under Springfield's wing for some years. This was due, as we have
explained, to the royal jealousy at the multiplication of townshii)S.
In 17G7 Springfield and the district of Wilbraham met and chose
John Worthington as their common representative to the General
Court. In 1770 the Stony Hill people (Ludlow) applied for the
privilege of a district ; but Springfield, as usual, opposed this. A
more favorable answer was received in 1771, and in 1774 Ludlow was
duly incorporated by the Legislature, under circumstances soon to be
related.
Then there was Longmeadow, which wanted more than precinct
prerogatives, and on March 17, 1772, Springfield granted the request,
and undertook in vain to reconsider the vote. A subsequent town-
meeting reversed the action, and the date of its incorporation is 1 783.
West Springfield was the favorite child of Springfield, and, as usual
in such cases, the one that caused the most trouble in the family. It
is evident that, even at that early day, there was in the breasts of the
west-siders a feeling of paramount local importance, although they
had secured a separate minister, by expressly disavowing any ambi-
tion for township. Tliey gathered in town-meeting in 1770 in full
force, and came within a few votes of carrying a motion to hold half
of the town-ineetings on the west side (except the annual May meet-
ing), and the next year they tried to have the grammar school trans-
ferred there for one year. There was an untoward feeling afioat. The
Centre was resolved to hold to its possessions, especially as the '' great
and general field " was on the west side ; but the inhabitants of the
" Twenty-rod Road " Avere equally resolved upon ruling the town.
The inconvenience of crossing the great river for town-meetings,
grammar school, etc., was of course a great drawback to the west
side.