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

SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1SS6. 47
thiiike it meete by a generall consent & vote to ordaine till we receive further
direction from the Generall Court convening in the Massachuset Bay Mr. "William
Pynchon to execute the office of a magistrate in this our plantation of Agaam
viz: [etc.].
The usual magistrate's powers were given Mr. Pynchon, inchtding
autiiority to summon juries of six instead of twelve for small offences,
pending any action that might be made at Boston.
The boundary lines of the plantation had been verified meantime,
a committee having reported in January that the " bounds of y*^
Plantation up the river on y'' other side of y*^ river" were " at a
brooke above y" greate meddowe w'^'' is about a qrt of a mile above
y'^ mouth of Chiccapee river."
The first town meetings were probably held in the house of Mr.
Pynchon, as it was the largest. This body of local legislators is an
interesting study from almost any point of view. The original
^Massachusetts plantations were as near a democratic communism as
has ever been under extended trial in our history. The nature of
this common proprietorsliip in land and local political prerogative
will be apparent by glancing through the town acts. It was a
simon-pure democracy, not even a selectman standing between its
inhabitants and their desires. They met once a month at least, and
with the simple election of a moderator and clerlv the macliineiy of
government was complete.
In October, 1638, the town voted that " noe trees shall be cut
downe or taken away by any man in y^ compass of grownd from y'^
mill river upward to John Readers Lott, w'^'' parsell of ground is
appoynted for liowse Lotts." No inhabitant was permitted to sell
his canoe to outside parties. An infringement of this order on the
part of Henry Gregory, John Leonard, and Robert Ashley brought
down upon them a reprimand, but they were Hnalh' given five
mouths to " redeem and bringe y'" into the Plantation agayne."
A " foote path and stiles " were ordered to be built " at every