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

CHAPTER II.
1638-1639. :
William Pynclion and the Indian. — Captain Mason, of Connecticut. — Pynchon and
Mason contrasted —Origin of the Charges against !Mr. Pynchon. — Corn Contracts
with the Indians and the Connecticut. — Captain JNlason visits Agawam (Springfield).
— Heated Dispute hetween Mason and Pynchon. — ^Mason's Hasty Eeturn to Con-
necticut. — ]Mr. Pynchon summoned to Hartford, and charged with speculating in
Corn. — His Trial and Conviction. — Starving Condition of the Agawam Inhab-
itants. —^
Captain
]SIasou authorized to trade with the Massachusetts Indians. —•
William Pynchon's " Apology."
^Nlr-
During the first three years of the Agawam's i)lautatiou exist-
ence William Pynehou was a great tra\eller, both in this valley and
the Bay conntry, and his impressive fignre and strange garb became
a familiar sight to the Indians. This stern horseman riding down a
forest bridle-path, attended by a mounted servant, became to the
Indians the impersonation of justice.
There was another horseman in this valle}" farther down the river,
whose faith in the Indian was rooted to his sword-hilt. Him the
Indians feared. The reverence of one and the fear of the other in
the savage mind deepened as time wore on. We have nothing to do
with the Captain John Mason and the William Pynchon conception
of the Indian character, except so far as it aids us in gaining the
secret of the Pynchon hold upon the natives, — a hold that outlived
that age, and forms an important part of the primitive history of the
Commonwealth. The Pynchon and the Mason policy toward the
Indian conflicted at all points. While neither had a high opinion
of the Indian, the founder of Springfield persisted in taking hold
of those ethical elements that are implanted in human nature even in
tlie rough ; but the Connecticut man was continually crushing through