John Pynchon
(1626-1703)

John Pynchon was born in Springfield, Essex County, England, and came to New England with his father, William, in 1630. His family settled in Roxbury and relocated when his father founded the town of Springfield in 1636. The village was the northernmost trading post of the Connecticut Colony, seated on major trading routes including the Connecticut River. In 1652, William Pynchon returned to England, leaving the management of Springfield and of the family business to John, then only twenty-six. John expanded his father's holdings, establishing trading posts to the west (Westfield) and northward (Northampton, Hadley). John expanded his business interests to include Boston and Barbados, and directly shipped Connecticut Valley furs to England on the company's own ships. He ran the town of Springfield and represented it in Boston. He was captain of the Springfield militia and fought in King Philips' War (1675-76). By the time of his death, he was the wealthiest and most powerful landowner in Massachusetts.