William Pynchon (October 11, 1590 – October 29, 1662) was a Colonial Assistant, Treasurer, and original Patentee of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He led the 1635 settlement of Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts, which was named after his home town in England. He is also the ancestor of author Thomas Pynchon (1937–present).

Pynchon was a theologian; he expressed his views in The Meritorious Price of Our Redemption (1650). Officials of the colony ordered this book burned and demanded that he retract its argument, which was contrary to the colony’s official Calvinism. Instead of retracting, he returned to England in 1652 where remained for the rest of his life.

1590 births | 1662 deaths | Springfield, Massachusetts

William Pynchon

Sources

• Chr.G.F. de Jong, “Christ’s descent” in Massachusetts. The doctrine of justification according to William Pynchon (1590-1662), in: Gericht Verleden. Kerkhistorische opstellen aangeboden aan prof. dr. W. Nijenhuis ter gelegenheid van zijn vijfenzeventigste verjaardag; ed. by dr. Chr.G.F. de Jong & dr J. van Sluis (1991) 129–158 Leiden, J.J. Groen & Son
• See also: http://members.home.nl/cgf.de.jong/