William Pynchon (1590 - 1662) emigrated to the Massachusetts Bay colony in 1630, along with his son, John Pynchon. William was a merchant, fur trader, and founder of the colony of Springfield. In 1650, he published The Meritorious Price of our Redemption, which was deemed heretical and was burned in Massachusetts. In 1652, he returned to England, leaving his property to his son, John Pynchon (c.1626-1703).