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| TOWN ACTS. Town Clerk-Anthony Austin.Measurer of Land-Thomas Stevens. Sealer of Leather-Samuel Lane. Highway Surveyors-Quinton Stockwell, Nathaniel Harmon, Timothy Eastman, Samuel Kent, Jnr. *Tything Men-Corpl Spencer, Jno Hanchett, Tho, Copley, James King, Timothy Eastman, Edmond Marshall. Sizer, & Sealer for Weights & Measures-Victory Sikes. ¥ The Towne not being able to pay their money rate, did jointly agree, and by a clear vote engaged themselves to David Winchell, Constable, for his lenity stand, & fall with him, & bear ye damage yt shall accrue to him there by. It was agreed, & voted to give to Richard Woollworth about a quarter of an acre of land for his convenience of building; in ye place where his house now stands. Granted to David Froo, by a full & clear vote, seven rod wide out of that Higheway which was left between James Taylor, and him: On that side next to his owne land, and to be accounted as a part of his forty acre allotment. It was agreed, & voted that all Lands Granted to persons in this plantation shall be Recorded, and enrolled to them, and their heirs forever: yt is to say; such Lands as are yet to Record, & enroll, & for such as are already enrolled. The Towne doth hereby declare, that they are soe granted, & doe by this act ratifie, and confirme it to ym & their heirs forever. It was agreed, & voted: That if any able man, or men doe appear to erect, and set up a saw-mill, and grist-mill, upon Stony river, for sawing, & grinding, and to grind corn for the sixteenth part; & sell the Towne for their use, boards both pine, and oak at 3s. 6d per hundred; they soe doing; yn the Towne doth Grant to him, or the mall their right in the streames of Stony Brook, and Muddy Brook, for yt use; and allso the liberty of ye, commons for cutting of Loggs, but not at all to Damnifie ye ¥¥ Major; provided: be come up to the same tearms. __________ *Tything Men were first chosen in Suffield in 1684. Their duties were various, and it was deemed a very important and responsible office. They were to " inspect all licensed houses of entertainment and to inform of all disorders, or misdemeanors committed in them, to present, and inform of all idle, & disorderly persons, prophane swearers, or cursers: sabbath breakers, and the like offenders." They were called informers; and were much reverenced by the law abiding, and much feared by the transgressor. Their insignia of office was "a black staff two feet long, tip't at one and, with brass about three inches; as a badge of their office, to be provided by the selectmen at the charge of the Town. " ¥ The inhabitants petitioned the General Court for relief; being poor and importunate received the following answer: In ansr, to the petitions of Springfield & Suffield, being much of one tennor, the Court having read & considered the contents thereof doe judge that sundry expressions therein doe deserve sharp reproofe: neverthelesse; considering the difficulty of procuring money in those places, doe order that the inhabitants of the said townes of Springfield & Suffield, shall not be compelled to pay money, provided that, in liew of their proportions to money rates, they doe pay their rates in good merchantable corne, at one third part lesse price than is set in the country rate, and deliver the same to the Treasurer, at Boston at their owne charge; casualties of the seas excepted; and this order to contineu untill the General Courte take further order herein. Mass. Col. Rec., vol. 5, p. 483. ¥¥ Major Pynchon, see page 62. This page update Wednesday, September 19, 2001
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