History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

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1658.] PERFECTING THE ORGANIZATION. 63
First Court ever By virtuG of tliG abovG cominissioii, ap-
Convened in pointed ill aiiswer to the petition fOr "help
Northampton. . ,. • •
c t j_ ?? i p n
111 matters or judicature, and toliowmg
out the suggestion of the petition in April, 1656, the first
court ever held in Northampton, convened Sept. 28, 1658.
It was composed of John Pynchon and Elizur Holyoke of
Springfield, and two or more of the Northampton Commis-
sioners, whose names are not given. In February, 165^-,
Holton, Bascom and Elmore' were chosen by the town, and
two or more of them must have been present. Elmore,
however, could not have served, as he brought an action
before the court. The cases recorded were few in number,
and of little consequence. They were but the ordinary
quarrels and contentions that naturally arise in such communities
; yet they show the spirit of the times and the
jealousy with which religious observances were guarded.
The following is a literal transcript of the court records as
made by Mr. Pynchon :—
" Att a Court holden at Northampton Sept : 28 58 By order of the GeneraU
Corte appoynting the Comissioners of Springfield to joyne w"' the
Comission's of Northampton for the issiiing of aU CiviU Actions not
exceeding Twenty poimds & as in y said Comission hereiinder wi-itten
more at large—appeareth upi)on w'^ day abovesaid M"^ John Pynchon
& Eliztu' Holyoke of Springfield Attended for that service according to
y" comission following
[For this commission and order of the com't see page 62.]
Upon w^'' 28"' Day of September Thomas Roote Complayned of Robert
Bartlett in an action of the Case for striMnge his the said Thomas
his wife w"' a long stick to p''judice.
Robert Bartlett acknowledginge his offence in the Com't Both Plantiffe
& Defendt agreed about the matter between themselves
Joseph Parsons Complaynes agt John Webb for not delivering a Cow
& Calf accordinge to bargajaie, and thereupon Joseph demand 4£ of
the said John W'' the said John Owed him ;
Upon hearinge of the busjaiess Joseph Parsons was content to ac-
cept of the Cow though the Calf were lost, the said John allowing the
said Joseph 5s. w'' he promised to allow & pay to the said Joseph.
Edward Elmer ComplajTies agt William Holton & Robert Bartlett in
an action of defamation in two particulars : 1. for afl&rming that the
said Edward Elmer went do-^Ti in a disorderly way to take his oath
And 2'> for charginge him the said Edward to be one that made a
breach or rent in the Town Concerning the Lords dayes Meetings.
1 This name is spelled in two different ways : Elmore and Elmer. In the record of
his appointment as recorder, made evidently by his own hand, it is written Elmore,
and this form is occasionally used elsewhere, but ordinarily it is shortened upon the
records, as in speech, to Elmer.
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