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

582 SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1886.
three o'clock in the afternoon, when Major Pynchon with his force of two hun-
dred sohliers, after an exhausting march from Hadley, arrived, onl}' in time to
see the ruin which the savages had wrought to the homes and property of the
inhabitants.
Besides Cooper and Miller, one woman, Pentecost Matthews, wife of John
Matthews, was killed. Edmund Pringridays was severely wounded, and died a
few days afterward. About forty families lost all their means of subsistence.
Of the fearful incidents of that disastrous day I have spoken on another
occasion, and need not dwell further upon them now. It was a time of great dis-
tress, and came near to making an end of this town.
But a brighter day dawned. Major Pynchon gave up the idea, which he at
first entertained, of abandoning this frontier town for a safer home in the eastern
part of the State. He inspired his fellow townsmen with new courage, and trust
in the protecting care of Heaven, and through all the remainder of his long life
continued to devote his time and talents to advancing the prosperity of Spring-
field. He died .January 17, 1703, universally lamented.
The estimation in which he was held by those who knew him is well expressed
in a discourse delivered at his funeral by Rev. Solomon Stoddard, pastor of the
church of Northampton, an eminent clergyman of that time. Taking for Ms
text the first, second, and third verses of the third chapter of Isaiah, he said
"A great man is fallen this day in our Israel, and it becomes us to mourn and
lament under this dispensation. God has removed one that has been a long while
serviceable, that has been employed upon public service for above fifty years.
He has been serviceable unto the country in general, and in special among our-
selves. He hath had the principal management of our military affairs and our
civil affairs, and labored mucli in the settling of most of our plantations ; lias
managed things with industry, prudence, and moderation. He has been careful
in time of war, and, as there has been occasion, he has been a peacemaker
among us and helpful in composing of differences ; he has discountenanced rude
and vicious persons, liearing his testimony against them. It is to be feared that
we shall feel the sorrowful effects of his removal a long while. Sometimes where
parents die, children do not at present so miicli feel the want of them as they do
afterward. We m&y have occasion afterward to remember with sorrow that we
had such an one among us. Though we have other useful men, yet there may
arise such cases wherein there may be great need of his conduct and help. He
was honorable, and had great influence upon men of authority abroad and upon
the people at home, and had more experience by far than any other among us."
To this justly deserved eulogium, uttered by one of his contemporaries
who knew him well, I desire to add only a word. Siiringfield owes John
: