OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Springfield, Mass. 1876-1881. SPRINGFIELD, MASS. PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY, 1881. PREFATORY NOTE. THIS Volume contains an abstract of the proceedings of the Connecticut Valley Historical Society, beginning with its first meeting in April, 1876, and ending with its quarterly meeting in December, 1881. It also contains all the papers read at the meetings of the Society that have been furnished by their authors for publication. Other valuable papers have been read from time to time, as will be seen by reference to the proceedings, which have not come into the possession of the Society. The steel portrait of William Pynchon, the pioneer in the Massachusetts settlements of the Connecticut Valley, has been furnished by Dr. Joseph C. Pynchon of Springfield, one of his descendants. WILLIAM L. SMITH, WILLIAM S. SHURTLEFF, SPRINGFIELD, December 22, 1881. Committee of Publication. CONTENTS. List of the members of the Society in the order of their election, . 1,217 122 MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS. The Breck Controversy in the First Parish in Springfield, in 1735. By Salmon and Shad in the Connecticut River. By Alfred Booth, The Old Springfield Fire Departinent. By Joseph K. Newell, The Old Main Street Jail and House of Correction in Springfield. By Review of Peters's History of Connecticut. By Charles Hammond, Early Navigation of the Connecticut River. The First Steamboat. By The Old Pynchon Fort and its Builders. By Henry Morris, Count Rumford and his Early Life. By Everett A. Thompson, Dartmouth College and the State of New Connecticut, 1776-1782. By Slavery in the Connecticut Valley. By Henry Morris, Ryefield; or, a Town in the Connecticut Valley at the Commencement of the Nineteenth Century. By Mrs. William Rice, Letter of Rev. Stephen Williams, D. D., to his Children, OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY. 1881-2. President. HION. HENRY MORRIS, or Springfield. Vice-Presidents. HON. AUGUSTUS L. SOULE, OF BOSTON. SAMUEL O. LAMB, Esq., of GREENFIELD. REV. L. CLARK SEELYE, D. D., OF NORTHAMPTON. Clerk and Treasurer. REV. WILLIAM RICE, D. D., of Springfield. Executive Committee. REV. SAMUEL G. BUCKINGHAM, D. D., of Springfield. EPHRAIM W. BOND, Esq., oF SPRINGField. HON. WILLIAM L. SMITH, or Springfield. HON. WILLIAM S. SHURTLEFF, oF Springfield. REV. JOHN W. HARDING, OF LONGMEADOW. HENRY S. LEE, Esq., oF Springfield. |