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

SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1SS6. 63
This decree stood practically iiudisputed, but it left the question
of river commerce opeu as a fruitful source of further coutentiou.
During the two years subsequent to Springfield's declaration of in-
dependence from Connecticut, it had little connection with the Ba}^
Its position had been unique ; it was not included in any tax-rates
levied at Boston, and was not represented at the General Court hy
deputies or by the presence of a magistrate. Mr. Pynchon was not
elected an assistant until 1643, and there is no evidence that he at-
tended court even that 3'ear. Springfield did not figure in the official
list of towns included in the four shires of Massachusetts.
Mr. Pynchon continued to be annuall}' reelected an assistant from
1643 until the troublous times of 1650. INIr. Pynclion was also
regularly chosen magistrate, as appears by this vote, passed in
September, 1643: —
Conmiission was granted Mr. Willi: Pinclieon, gent., for this year ensuing, &
till y Co't take further order, that hearhy hee shall have full power to gov"ne,
according to former order in 1(341, onely to try causes by a jury of 6 men, if 12
cannot conveniently bee had.
Mr. Pynchon had not abandoned the beaver trade. He paid a
license to the General Court for special trading privileges. One
would say there had been some discussion about the amoimt of the
license from this order at the September session of 1643 at Boston :
^ Mr. Pinchen is ordered to pay for his beaver trade from the time
of the runing of the line." This evidently refers to the line betw^een
the two colonies, which was shortly after the order of 1641.
For some reason still unexplained, it was not until the latter part of
1647 that Springfield was included in any of the official lists of
Massachusetts towns, and this, curiously enough, was for brands on
horses for each town, "ordered to be set upon one of y*" nere
q'trs." There were five towns in the colony then beginning with
" S," and the Springfield brand was a monogram composed of a
small " s" and " p."