John Pynchon was colonial industrialist and public servant. He established trading posts in Westfield, Northampton, Hadley, Hatfield, and Deerfield.
Background
John was born probably in 1626 at Springfield, a parish of Chelmsford, Essex, England, United Kingdom. He was the son of William and Anna (Andrew) Pynchon.
He came to New England with his father on the Arbella, of Governor Winthrop's fleet. The family settled first at Dorchester, but shortly removed to Roxbury. In 1636, William Pynchon founded Springfield, Massachussets, the most northerly of the four Connecticut River towns settled at that time as a part of the plan to oust the Dutch from the territory east of the Hudson River. Here the boy grew up under the tutelage of his father.
Education
There is evidence that John Pynchon acquired more than a common-school education, together with an unusual knowledge of business and finance, under his father.
Career
In 1652 the elder Pynchon permanently retired to England, leaving John with a profitable colonial business which provided for the parent a life of leisure in England and gave to the son a controlling interest in the community. Thus at twenty-six years of age he was a leader in financial life. As a merchant, his activities extended not only over western and southern New England, but to Boston. He had extensive interests in Barbados, all of these enterprises being served by his own ships, in which he also sent his furs direct to England.
He was selectman in 1650, town clerk in 1652, magistrate to try small causes in 1653, deputy to the General Court in 1662, and soon afterward assistant in the Council, or upper house, which position he held until 1701, almost to the close of his life. He was confirmed by the General Court in 1653 as lieutenant of the Train Band; became captain of the company in 1657, and later was made major of the Troop, with command of the military forces of the region.
In 1662 he built the first brick house in the valley (later known as the Old Fort) which became the refuge of the town's people when the settlement was practically destroyed by the Indians in King Philip's War. On October 5, 1675, the day of the assault on the town, Pynchon was in command of the troops at Hadley, some twenty miles away. Being hastily summoned, he made a forced night march which enabled him to relieve the inhabitants with the loss of but three men and one woman.
He was sent to Albany to confer with Sir Edmund Andros concerning the depredations of the Mohawks, and succeeded in establishing friendly relations with the natives, for which service the General Court awarded him £12. The same year he was appointed with Joseph Dudley to establish the boundary line between Massachusetts and Connecticut.
He died in Massachusetts, United States.
Achievements
John Pynchon became one of the wealthiest and most influential men in New England. He continued and extended the family fur monopoly, establishing his business at Westfield, Northampton, Hadley, and in the Housatonic Valley. He sucessfully led negotiations between colonists and Indians, established the boundary line between Massachusetts and Connecticut.
Personality
Pynchon was able and astute, honest and just in his dealings, his life largely controlled by his deep religious convictions. His knowledge of the language and characteristics of the Indians enabled him to build up a successful business with them. Peculiarly fitted by training and mentality, he was eminently successful.
Connections
On October 20, 1645, Pynchon married Amy, daughter of George Willys of Hartford. She died January 9, 1699, aged seventy-four. Their children were: Joseph (1646 - 1682), unmarried; John (1647 - 1721), who married Margaret, daughter of Reverend William Hubbard of Ipswich; Mary (birth, 1650), who married Joseph Whiting of Hartford; William and Mehitable, who died in infancy.
