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

CONTENTS. Xm
Church Accepts the "Half-way Covenant," 313—Admissions to the
Chnrch, 214—Controversy over the Establishment of the " Old South
Church," Boston—A Memorial from two Hampshire Towns, 215—The
Legislature takes Action upon the Address, 216—Vote of the Northampton
Depiities—Fine for not closing Meadow Gates—Tax Commissioner
Appointed, 217—Land set apart for Schools—Location and Rent
of the Land, 218—Poll Tax to pay the Minister—Penalty for False Returns—Land
Grants to be Acted on at two Meetings—Town Business
to be Recorded with greater care—Commissioners to end Small Causes
no longer Elected, 219—Precautions against Harboring Strangers—Rotation
in Office, 220—Grants of Saw Mill Privileges, 221—Joseph Hawley,
School-master, 1674-1682, 222—Subscriptions and Rates for Rebuilding
the "Castle"—Settlement of Northfield, 223—Contributions
for Harvard College—Northampton on the Black List, 224.
CHAPTER XVIII.
WITCHCRAFT—TRIAL OF MARY PARSONS.
Prevalence of Superstition, 226—Witchcraft Excitements in Massachu-
setts, 227—Witchcraft Trials in Hampshire County, 1651-52—The First
Case in Northampton—Mary Parsons charged with Witchcraft, 228
Mary Bartlett's sudden Death suggests Witchcraft — The Rumor
Spreads through the Town—The Preliminary Trial, 229—Proceedings
before the Court of Assistants, 232—Mrs. Parsons Speaks for herself,
233—Another Member of the Parsons Family Arraigned for Witchcraft—Joseph
Parsons Disgiasted goes back to Springfield—Witchcraft
" Vehemently Suspected," 234—The Case of Mary Webster, 235—Mary
Randall Arraigned—A Characteristic Tradition, 236—Northampton
soil bad for Witches, 237.
CHAPTER XIX.
KING Philip's war—opening events.
Northampton at Peace with the Indians during its Minority, 238
Constant Friction between the Races— " King Philip's War"—Probable
Origin of the name of King, 239—Philip Estimated by his Contemporaries,
240—Philip viewed in the first half of the present Century—
more modern Estimate, 241—The Truth lies between these Judgments
—Philip Insincere and constantly Plotting, may have Organized the
Outbreak, 242—Without Support he must have been Annihilated, 243—
Sausamon Denormces Philip—Is Murdered, and his Murderers Executed—Philip
not ready when the War commenced, 244—The War
opened by an Attack on Swansea, 245—Philip driven from Mt. Hope
and Pocasset Neck—A Treaty with the Narragan setts, 246—An Attempt
to Treat with the Nipmucks—The Ambush and Attack on Brook-
field, 247—Philip not in this Fight, 248.
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