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By Cliff McCarthy “We learn from Belchertown, that a respectable black man was killed by his son by a stab with a knife, on Monday evening last."[1] This brief item appeared in newspapers around the Commonwealth during the last days of December in 1814. Who was the nameless black man and what were the circumstances … Continue reading The Murder of Jonathan Jewett

by Zoë Cheek Alexander Hughes was born into slavery on a plantation outside of Richmond, Virginia on January 17th, 1857, to Cyrus Hughes and Sarah (Claxon) Hughes. He was four years old when the Civil War broke out but his family remained on the plantation for the entirety of the war. After the end of … Continue reading Alexander Hughes, of Springfield

By Kim Gerould The title of the only full-length biography of David Ruggles, written by Graham Russell Gao Hodges, sums up the essence of his relatively short life: “A Radical Black Abolitionist and the Underground Railroad in New York City.”[1]  Even when he joined the utopian Northampton Association of Education and Industry later in his … Continue reading David Ruggles

by Cliff McCarthy Rev. Justus Forward, Belchertown’s Congregational minister, recorded the following in his records on 8 May 1785: Eunice a Squaw, wife of Amos Hull a Negro man, died at Elisha Root’s house, of a Consumption Aged 36.[1] “Hull” is not a familiar name in Belchertown and this reference sparked some interest. No record … Continue reading Amos & Agrippa Hull

By David M. Powers, 16 April 2020 NEW FREEMEN SWORN IN Even though all adult males could legally vote after May 1647, but in local elections only, Springfield citizens had little say beyond their own town. Only seven of forty-three male residents of legal age were freemen and therefore eligible to act on colony-wide matters. … Continue reading VOTER SUPPRESSION IN 17TH CENTURY SPRINGFIELD?

The Pioneer Valley History Network (PVHN) is excited to announce its newest project, “Revolution Happened Here: Our Towns in the American Revolution.” Funded through a newly-awarded grant from Mass Humanities, the project will bring together a collaborative team of our region’s historical societies and museums to create an online exhibit and related programming that tells the … Continue reading Revolution Happened Here: Our Towns in the American Revolution

by David M. Powers The agreement which William Pynchon made with the Indians of “Agaam” (as it is spelled in the text) on this day, 15 July, 383 years ago – a Friday that year – was an extraordinary document for several reasons. 1. It named two women: Kewenusk and Niarum. Pynchon figured out the … Continue reading THE SPRINGFIELD INDIAN DEED

By David M. Powers The original pioneers in Springfield took a weekend in mid-May, 1636, to frame the shape of their settlement. In typical Puritan fashion they entered a covenant together, a written agreement to create a new community. Their basic constitution, composed on Saturday, May 14, listed thirteen “articles and orders.” The initial article … Continue reading THE BIRTH OF SPRINGFIELD — MAY 16, 1636

By Kathie Gow, Hatfield Historical Society Re-blogged from: http://hatfieldhistory.weebly.com/blog/so-where-are-the-fish Last Saturday I attended a behind-the-scenes tour of the American Antiquarian Society (AAS) in Worcester along with some of my Hatfield Historical Museum work associates. I’ve wanted to check the place out for years, so when I saw that History Camp was hosting this tour, I … Continue reading Early American Print at your Fingertips – and No Fish

Re-blogged from: http://31massinf.wordpress.com Fans of the 31st Massachusetts Infantry should definitely consider visiting the Conway Historical Society over the coming weeks.  Sixteen members of the regiment were connected to Conway and the museum is displaying many artifacts from the 31st, including the McClellan saddle, sword, canteen, and uniform items of Gordon H. Johnson of Company … Continue reading “Conway Goes to War”