• First name has also been recorded as “Eliezur” and for some records as “Alezur“

• Some records indicate his birth year as “1617.” however that was the year he was baptized

• At about age 4 moved to Tanworth-in-Arden, England from London.

• At about age 20 emigrated with family to Lynn, Massachusetts, although some records state Chelsea, MA, which back then was called Rumney Marsh.

• In 1640 he joined the settlement at Springfield, Hampden, MA. "Married the Boss’s Daughter," Mary PYNCHON, daughter of William PYNCHON, founder of Springfield, Hampden, MA.

•The HOLYOKE and PYNCHON family appeared to have been close friends, dating back to the family’s days in England, possibly 2 or 3 generations.

• Baptized May 4, 1617, London parish of St. Lawrence Jewry 39

• In 1640, Elizur and Mary PYNCHON married, the first marriage in the small community.

• In 1642, a second division of planting ground was decreed. Single persons were to have 8 rods (English measurement of 16.5 linear feet per rod; a square plot of land) in breadth, married persons 10 rods in breadth and larger families to have 12 rods. Elizur received 10 rods just off Chestnut Street.

• In 1643, HOLYOKE acquired the John BURR and John CABLE land or lot. Both BURR & CABLE became discouraged with the Springfield settlement and moved to Fairfield. Other desirable lots were given to HOLYOKE by his father-in-law, one being between what is now Worthington and Bridge Streets.

• In 1646, Elizur was one of the Selectmen (town officer) for Springfield, Hampden, MA. He served for one year.

• In 1647, Elizur was the second largest land owner in Springfield, at 125 acres. William PYNCHON had 237 acres.

• After William PYNCHON's problems with the General Court of Boston - accused of heresy for a religious book he wrote - William retreated to England. William appoints son-in-law Henry Smith as his successor, but Henry chose to follow William back to England. So, that resulted in William’s son John PYNCHON and Elizur HOLYOKE taking control of Springfield, and in 1652/53 Elizur was appointed commissioner to govern the town of Springfield ... or as other records say , Elizur Holyoke, John Pynchon (his brother-in-law), and Samuel Chapin were appointed magistrates to govern civil and criminal trails.

• In 1660, after the founding of Hadley and Northampton, a question arose regarding the exact boarders of Springfield, Massachusetts. The general court of Springfield, MA sent out Elizur HOLYOKE and Rowland THOMAS , to survey lands north of Springfield. It is rumors that HOLYOKE and THOMAS came across and “christened” two mountains (hills really) near Hockanum, Massachusetts. Mount HOLYOKE, a hill north of Springfield and across the river and east of Mount Thomas (currently called Mount Tom) was name after Elizur HOLYOKE. When Captains Rowland Thomas and Elizur Holyoke were exploring the territory, various tribes of American Indians still came to the Great Falls in search of shad to smoke for winter use and clay for the replenishment of pottery.

• In 1661, HOLYOKE was chosen as Springfield's deputy to the General Court.

• In 1662, he was appointed associate county judge - recorder of all courts.

• In 1663, made the rank of Captain, and was a selectman and deputy to the general court.

• In 1675, the HOLYOKE house was destroyed during a raid by Indians lead by Wequogan.

• During the King Philip War, Capt. Elizur HOLYOKE was in command of the successful defense of Springfield, until his death in 1676, by one account “… not due directly to any injury. “ However, there are other accounts that say he was killed by the Wampanoags Indians on 5 Feb 1676.

• Elizur and Mary’s graves were originally located in Springfield’s old burying grounds, but were later removed by Dr. J. C. Pynchon. The remains were then re-interred in the Pynchon family lot in a new Springfield Cemetery in 1849.

Some facts …

• Elizur is the uncle of Thomas Putnam and the great uncle of Ann Putnam of the Salem witch trials

• Mt. HOLYOKE Women’s College in South Hadley, was actually named after the nearby Mount HOLYOKE and not directly after Elizur HOLYOKE who named the mountain.

• The town of HOLYOKE, on the other hand, has various stories as to how it got its name:

1. It was named after Elizur HOLYOKE … Henry Morris, the president of the Connecticut Valley Historical Society stated at the 1877 Annual Meeting that “No monument has ever been erected in any cemetery or burial ground of this city to commemorate the services or tho the death of Elizur Holyoke, ... But the noble mountain that marks our northern horizon bears his honored name, and with the flourishing city that has sprung up of late years near its base, ought ever to keep alive in the memories of our people the fact that such a man once lived here ...”

2. Or, the city was simply named after the mountain.

3. Or, there are some sources that state Holyoke’s city founders were seeking a “respectable name” for their new town and Mt. Holyoke (sounded religious) fit their requirements.

I tend to lean to the #1) Henry Morris reference because it was recorded at about the time the City of Holyoke was incorporated.



[S:9], [S:32], [S:90],[S:192]

The Mountain Christening
by Josiah Gilbert Holland

Twas a beautiful moring in June, I think:
(All the good legends begin in that way,)
Where ten men stood on the river's brink,
Armed and equipped for a holiday.

Five were on this side and five on that -
Agawam's bravest and hardiest men -
Hailing each other with lusty cant
That the tall woods caught and tossed over again.

HOLYOKE, the gentle and daring, stood
On the eastern bank with his trusty four,
And Rowland Thomas, the gallant and good
Headed the band on the other shore.

"Due North!" called out HOLYOKE and his men.
"Due North!" answered they on the opposite beach;
Then northward they started, the gallant ten,
With a haversack filled and a musket each.

The women ran panting to bid them goodbye,
And sweet Mary Pynchon was ther (I guess)
With a laugh in her throat that sank into a sigh
As HOLYOKE marched into the wilderness.

And the boys were all wondering where they would go,
And what they would meet in the dangerous way;
And the good wives were gossiping to and fro,
And prating and shaking their heads all day.

Up the bright river the moved abreast,
Calling each other from bank to bank,
'Till the hot sun slowly rolled into the west,
Then down through the trees in glory snak.

They builded their camp fires and ate their fare,
And drank of the water that ran at their feet,
Then wrapped in the balm of the morning light
They lay down to sleep that was dreamless and sweet.

Brief was the toilet and short the grace,
And strong were the viands that broke their fast;
Then onward they pressed, till they reached the place
Where the river between two mountains passed.

Thje Great Falls roared in their ears all night,
And the sturgeon splashed and the wildcat screamed,
But they wakened not till the morning light,
Under their startled eyelids gleamed.

Up the rough boulders they clambered amain,
HOLYOKE and Thomas on either hand,
Till high in midpassage they paused, and then
They tearfully gazed on the charmed land.

Down by the Ox Bow's southerly shore,
Licking alone, bowed a beautiful buck;
And northward, a couple leagues or more,
Stretched the broad meadows of Nonatuck.

Rude little patches of greening maize
Dappled the landscape far and wide,
And away in the north, the sunset's blaze,
Sugarloaf stood and was glorified.

Held by the vision they stayed til the sun
Settled behind the western steep,
The dropped to the valley, one by one,
For their evening meal and a night of sleep.

The morning dawned on the double group,
Facing each other on opposite shores,
Where ages ago with a mighty swoop
The water parted the mountain doors.

"Let us christen the mountains," said HOLYOKE with glee;
"Let us christen the mountains," said Thomas again;
"That on for you and this one for me,"
And their trusty fellows responded, "Amen!"

The sun shone full on the Western night,
When Thomas came up from the crystal tide;
"I name theee Thomas, by Christian rite."
"Thou art Mount Thomas," they all replied.

They passed but a moment, when, rounding a bluff,
Shot an Indian's boat with its stealthy oar,
And strings of wampum and gaudy stuff
Beckoned it on to the western shore.

Gracious and brief was the bargain made
By the white man's potent pantomine,
And the delicate boat with its dainty balde,
Ferried them over, one at a time.

There were greetings and jests in every mouth,
And warm farewells to HOLYOKE and Tom,
The the gleeful men turned their faces south
And took a bee-line for Agawam.

• The writer took some poetic license to craft this poem. First, Mary Pynchon (HOLYOKE's first wife) was dead at the time this "adventure" was made. Second, Agawam was then called Springfield, which was already a thriving town.[S:32]

• Some records lists her birth year as “1623”

• Daughter of William Pychon, one of the founders of Springfield, Hampden, MA.

• Mary’s tombstone is one of the oldest monument in the Springfield cemetery (used to be known as Martha’s Dingle); located at 171 Maple St, Springfield, MA 01105. Originally, her grave was in the old church yard, but was moved in about 1841 because of the railroad.

• Mary’s early childhood was spent in England and that the Pynchon household enjoyed the comforts of the wealthier classes. Her educated father owned large tracts of land, several houses, and knew a number of titled people. Her privileged early life must have contrasted sharply with the harsh new existence awaiting her in Massachusetts.

• Her father became part of the Massachusetts Bay Company, a group of entrepreneurs interested in America for economic reasons.

• Family lifestyle was dramatically altered when the family sailed for Massachusetts in 1630. After anchoring, the Pynchons lived briefly in Salem and then moved to Roxbury. Conditions were difficult, and to make matters worse, Anna Pynchon, Mary’s mother, died just as the family arrived in Roxbury.

• In 1636 William Pynchon again moved his family, with a small group of settlers, to the Connecticut Valley, where they established Springfield. Life in this remote wilderness settlement was full of hardship. In the first years after arrival there were harsh winters and food shortages. The isolation of Springfield must have been hard on young Mary Pynchon, but her outlook surely brightened considerably when Elizur Holyoke arrived in 1637 or 1 638.

• They married built their home next to that of William Pynchon, between what is now Bridge and Worthington Street.

• Elizur grew close to his powerful father-in-law and was assigned many responsibilities.

• Mary gave birth to two daughters and four sons.

• In 1651 William left Springfield and returned to England after his book, The Meritorious Price of Our Redemp­tion, was banned by Boston authorities. After his departure Elizur became a Magistrate.


[S:150]

• Birthdate may actually be her baptismal date and not her birthdate.

• First name has also been recorded as “Eliza” and "Edith."

• Some records list her place of birth as “Woodham, Essex, England” or even “Harwich, Tendring District, Essex, England”

• Some records her marriage date to Robert DAY as “abt 1637 or as late as 1648” and her marriage place as in Harford, Hartford, CT.

• Her date of death has also been recorded as “14 Oct 1688”