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

CHAPTER IV.
1640-1643.
Eevival of the Charg-es against William P^-nchon. — His Trial befoi-e the Windsor
Chiircli. — Connecticut claims Woronoco (Westfield). — Massachusetts protests. —
The Arrival of Elizur Ilolyoke, Samuel Chapin, and others. — Goody Gregory
fined for Profanity. — Fire Ladders. — Woodcock vs. Gregorj'. — Price of Labor.
— Second Division of Planting-Grounds. — Marriage of Mary Pynchon.
Imperfect records prevent the rehearsal in detail of the second
trial of "William Pynchon upon the old charge of speculation in trade
to the detriment of the public. The charge was brought by certain
members of the church at Windsor, Conn., the object being to withdraw
from him the right hand of Christian fellowship. The date of the
appearance of Mr. Pynchon at "Windsor has not yet been discovered.
Indeed, none of the historians speak of this trial at all, even the
"Windsor church records making no mention of it. It is only through
a correspondence that followed Pyuchon's second trial that we can
get any idea of the proceedings. One wonders what jurisdiction the
Windsor church had over Mr. Pynchon that warranted a summons
to appear there. The natural conjecture is, that the friends of Cap-
tain Mason — who, by the way, was a member of the Windsor
church — had attempted to make a demonstration against the
Agawam magistrate, for its moral effect. There was a close con-
nection between Agawam and AVindsor during the first few years,
and it is known that Mr. Pynchon took a letter from the Roxbury
church to the Windsor church. We propose to give in full the ver-
dict of the Windsor church. It reached Agawam Sept. 21, 1640,
and has never before appeared in print. Any one is at liberty to
draw conclusions ; the account of the first Pynchon trial already
given will make further explanations unnecessary.