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

SPBINGFIELD, 1636-18S6. 575
liis enemies, he wrote and published a reply to Mr. Norton's book, in which
he controverted Norton's arguments, and reaffirmed his own views.
From the nature of the public duties devolved upon him by the General
Court, it is apparent that Pynchon was regarded as an astute man of affairs,
capable of conducting any kind of business. He could make a contract with
the Indians for a large tract of territory. He could manage successfully the
financial concerns of the colony, and so was made its treasurer. He could dis-
cuss and elucidate to the satisfaction of a man as captious Gov. Thomas Dudlev,
a question of policy in the treatment of the Indian, so as to avoid difficult and
dangerous complications. All this Mr. Pynchon did. He could and did admin-
ister wisely the judicial duties that were devolved upon him as the only magis-
trate in western Massaclmsetts. He was a man of great enterprise, and devoted
his energies to building up this town which he had founded. He intended that
it should become a commercial centre in this valley, from which should radiate
an influence for the prosperity of all this region. To this end he gathered about
him here men of various trades and occupations, with skill and resolution
adapted to give success to the town. He established a trade here in furs and
farm products that reached not only to the towns below on the river, but to
Boston and the settlements on the bay. Mr. Pynchon never returned to America,
but died at Wraisbury, in England, on the 29th of October, 16G2, at the age of
seventy-two.
With Pynchon went his son-in-law, Henry Smith, who had been appointed by
the General Court as his successor in office. He was a man of capacity, and
well qualified to fill the place vacated b}' Pynchon. But he preferred following
the fortunes of his father Pynchon to remaining here.
With Mr. Pynchon also went another early settler. Rev. George Moxon, who
had come to Springfield in 1637, as its first minister. He brought with him a
wife and several children, and had some children born here. He was educated
in England, and received ordination to the ministry there. So that, upon his
arrival in New England, in 1637, he was ready to fulfil the purpose of the first
settlers as the godly and faithful minister, with whom they desired to join in
cnurch covenant. Mr. Moxon continued the minister of the town, and was
useful in his vocation until 1651. About that time suspicions of witchcraft
began to be entertained here. A nervous and probably insane woman by the
name of Mary Parsons, wife of Hugh Parsons, was accused by ]\Iartha and
Rebecca Moxon, the daughters of the minister, of practising the arts of
witchcraft. To her agency were ascribed some distempers from which tliey
suffered. She had killed her own child, and so was arrested and taken to
Boston, and tried there both for murder and witchcraft. Both of these oflfences