History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

1725] LEGISLATIVE CONTEST—SOUTHAMPTON SETTLED. 35
Mill River. That undertaking and its successful issue have
already been detailed. ' The controversy reached its height
after the work had been accomplished, apparently center-
ing upon the matter of assessments. Public opinion dif-
fered in regard to this question, and it entered largely into
the representative election.
And upon it Turns For ten ycars, from 1716 to 1725, legislative
the Legislative houors Were divided between Joseph Parsons
Esq., and Col. John Stoddard. Pre-
vious to this date, five times in succession, from 1711 to
1715, Mr. Parsons had been elected. Col. Stoddard, then a
young man, but of approved courage and ability, was first
chosen in 1716. The year following Mr. Parsons was
elected, and during the next three years Col. Stoddard bore
the honors. In 1721, Col. Stoddard was defeated by Mr.
Parsons, but was again successful in 1722 and 1723. Mr.
Parsons came to the front again the next year, and. from a
sentence or two in the correspondence of Col. Stoddard, the
inference may be drawn that the sewer quarrel was the
main cause of his success, though dissatisfaction with the
establishment of the blockhouse— Fort Dummer — may
have aided in bringing about that result. Gov. Dummer
in a letter to Col. Stoddard, written in May,
says — : "I observe the choice your town has made.
1724,
I am
sorry for this ignorance and ingratitude." Col. Stoddard
replies, May 22^* : — "I hear that Mr. Parsons has promised
to some whom it suits, two things, both unreasonable I
think, 1^* That the Block House shall be demolished or at
least slighted ;
2*^ to obtain the dismission of the commission
of the Sewers." The following year, however, Mr.
Stoddard was again chosen.
Characters of the Mr. Parsons, SOU of Comet Joseph Parsons,
Candidates.
-^^s an old man, then in his 77'" year. He
was a wealthy landowner, and to him w^as
accorded that title, so common in the rural districts of
England, where each little community had its village
squire. One of the few among the early settlers, to whom
was given this significant appellation, he was one of the
1 See vol. 1, pp. 518-524.