USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Middlefield > History of the town of Murrayfield : earlier known as Township No. 9, and comprising the present towns of Chester and Huntington, the northern part of Montgomery, and the southeast corner of Middlefield : 1760-1763 > Part 8
USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Huntington > History of the town of Murrayfield : earlier known as Township No. 9, and comprising the present towns of Chester and Huntington, the northern part of Montgomery, and the southeast corner of Middlefield : 1760-1763 > Part 8
USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Chester > History of the town of Murrayfield : earlier known as Township No. 9, and comprising the present towns of Chester and Huntington, the northern part of Montgomery, and the southeast corner of Middlefield : 1760-1763 > Part 8
USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Montgomery > History of the town of Murrayfield : earlier known as Township No. 9, and comprising the present towns of Chester and Huntington, the northern part of Montgomery, and the southeast corner of Middlefield : 1760-1763 > Part 8
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And as in duty bound shall ever pray, &c,
JOHN KIRTLAND, Agent for the memorialists."
NORWICH INCORPORATED.
This petition was presented to the General Court, June 12th, 1773, and the petitioners were ordered to notify the proprietors of Murrayfield. But no opposition appears to have been made. June 29, 1773, an act was passed incorporating the territory lying east of the division
79
A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
line' named in the memorial, as a separate district under the name of Norwich-or rather, in the language of the act, it was "erected into a separate district."
It was "invested with all the powers, privileges, and immunities that towns in this province do, or by law ought to, enjoy; that of sending a representative to the General Assembly only excepted, and that the inhabitants of said district shall have full power, from time to time, to join with said town of Murrayfield in the choice of repre- sentative or representatives, which representative or representatives may be chosen indifferently either from said town or district, and the selectmen of said town of Murrayfield, as often as they shall call a meeting for the purpose of making choice of a representa- tive or representatives, shall give seasonable notice to the clerk of said district for the time being, of the time and place of said meeting, to the end that the said district may join them therein; and the clerk of said district shall set up in some convenient public place in said district, a notification thereof accordingly, or shall notify the district in such other way as said district may hereafter determine upon, and the pay and allowance of said representative or representa- tives to be borne by said town and district to their respective propor- tion of the province tax." The district was to pay its proportion of taxes; it was to enjoy its share of the ministerial lands; it was to have its proportion of the public money; it was to contribute its share towards the relief of the poor in Murrayfield, and to pay one-third of the taxes until a new valuation. Joseph Hawley, Esq., was em- powered to issue his warrant to call the first meeting. It is not at all probable that this district of Norwich ever enjoyed representation conjointly with Murrayfield in any other way than to submit to repre- sentation by a Murrayfield man.
The memorial of John Kirtland on behalf of the inhabitants of the east part of Murrayfield, asking to be formed into a separate district, could not have been written by him, for, although he was a leading man, if not the leading man, among these people, subsequent records of Norwich, made by him as town clerk, clearly show that he was not equal to the framing of such a document.
The first valuation list of Norwich was taken September 1, 1773, by John Kirtland, Caleb Fobes, and David Scott. The names contained therein are important as showing who were the tax paying inhabitants of the new town.
80
A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
THE TAXPAYERS IN THE NEW TOWN.
They were as follows:
Christian Angell, Solomon Blair, Thomas Crow, James Crow, David Crow, John Crow, Wm. Carter, Asa Carter, Caleb Fobes, Wm. Fobes, Elijah Fobes, Zebulon Fuller, James Fairman, Samuel Fair- man, Wm. French, John Griswold, James Gilmore, David Halberd, Jabez Homes, Nathaniel Bennett, John Barnard, Solomon Holaday, Daniel Dana, John Crossett, Ebenezer Freeman, Solomon Holaday, Patrick Crekle, John Kirtland, Ebenezer King, Samuel Knight, Daniel Kirtland, Isaac Mixer, Isaac Mixer, Jr., Ebenezer Meacham, Wm. Miller, David Palmer, John D. Palmer, David Palmer, Jr., Capt. E. B. Geer, Elijah Geer, Mace Cook, Zebulon Rose, John Rude, David Scott, Joseph Stanton, John Fiffany, Miles Washburn, Peter Williams, Daniel Williams, Charles Williams, Jabez Story, James Clark, Jehial Eggleston, Jonathan Ware, and B. G. Peter Bunda.
The assessors of Murrayfield also took their valuation list in Sep- tember, 1773. The following is a full copy of the list and the valuations:
THE TAXPAYERS LEFT IN THE OLD TOWN.
REAL ESTATE
PERSONAL
POLLS
S.
d.
€
S.
d.
€
TOTAL S.
d.
Archilus Anderson.
1
05
08
02
16
Geo. Armstrong.
1
01
10
01
18
03
08
John Bolton .
0
07
10
David Bolton.
3
57
13
01
70
David Blair.
1
33
06
1-
39
14
James Black, Jr
1
23
05
09
16
36
16
Wm. Bell.
1
39
09
12
48
13
James Black
1
-
1
1
01
16
02
03
03
19
W'm. Campbell.
1
20
10
19
14
39
04
Saml. Elder
1
70
13
07
83
16
John Elder
1
-
-
-
1
20
10
04
10
25
Bigott Eggleston
Benja. Eggleston.
1
10
16
03
-
12
16
Abraham Fleming
1
58
06
03
08
61
14
James Gilmore
0
25
John Gilmore.
1
49
12
14
61
14
Silby Geer
1
30
12
09
14
40
06
James Geer
1
27
02
06
29
06
James Hamilton
1
30
12
13
05
43
17
Lieut MeHenry.
1
66
15
09
81
09
Andrew Henry
1
Jesse Johnson
1
15
16
10
23
06
Lemuel Laccore.
1
21
12
03
13
25
05
Stephen Lyman.
1
64
09
09
73
09
1
50
10
12
60
1:
1
46
10
07
18
54
21
08
Samuel Matthews
15
12
05
09
21
01
Gideon Matthews.
1
31
10
08
17
40
07
William Woore
1
40
01
08
15
48
19
James Mulhallan
1
25
044
03
29
03
Wid. Jane Mann.
0
18
01
18
19
18
William Mann
0
05
08
16
1
24
07
17
1
24
07
10
31
14
Timothy Smith.
1
14
12
19
40
12
Robert Smith.
19
10
01
18
21
08
Abner Smith David Scott.
10
10
10
10
Thos. Smith.
1
-
-
1
01
10
01
10
Joel Seward .
1
63
09
02
Ezekiel Snow
1
1
1
05
10
05
10
Edward Wright.
3
42
06
15
48
15
Edward Wright, Jr.
1
13
10
01
10
15
Nathan Wright. ..
1
40
09
49
Bazelial Wright ..
1
1
40
05
45
Jonathan Hart Webber
40
16
05
10
46
06
Jonathan Wait. .
24
07
31
04
Isaac Williams.
35
10
06
11
30
Thaddens Newton
1
75
12
15
15
91
Obidiah Newton.
1
-
1
1
05
05
George Napping.
1
John Wade ..
1
01
1812
01
Joseph llenry.
1
1
16191
1 .
60
12
14
Thos. Elder.
1
10
03
16
13
08
John Blair
1
Caleb Bascom
04
17
17
Geo. Black .
James Clark
.
-
-
-
2
01
18
01
18
William Henry.
1
24
03
19
Zebulon Jones
22
John Laccore.
1
33
18
09
10
01
10
John Laccore. Jr.
1
Timothy Lyman.
Daniel Merker.
1
19
10
01
18
23
David Shepard
1 1910 1 0
105
21
17
127
05
Abner Smith, Jr
02
John Thompson.
02
02
John Thompson, Jr
John Taylor
Reuben Woolworth.
122
Enoch Shepard.
0
30
-
Robert Field ..
Daniel Twadwell ..
1
06
06
Alexander Gordon
02
02
Saml. Ellis
01
28
25
19
18
John McIntire.
Robert Proctor.
17
Gershom Rust ...
09
01
42
10
0
0-4
07
82
A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
The total valuation in. Murrayfield in 1773, after Norwich was set off, amounted to 2,178 pounds and 19 shillings.
FIRST TOWN MEETING AFTER THE DIVISION.
On the 7th of August, 1773, the selectmen of Murrayfield issued a warrant for a town meeting to be held the 16th. An exact copy of the warrant and of the record of the meeting will convey more information upon several points than any description, or state- ment of facts, that can be written within the same space, so I pro- pose to give them in full :
" HAMPSHIRE, SS. To Mr. William Henry, Constable of Murrayfield, greet- ing : In his majesty's name, you are hereby required forthwith to warn & give notice to all & every one of the freeholders & other inhabitants of the town of Murrayfield that are qualified according to law to act in town affairs to assemble & meet at the meeting house in said town on Monday the 16th day of August, inst., at one of the clock in the afternoon, then & there to act on the articles as follows, namely :
1st To choose a moderator to preside in said meeting.
2d To choose town officers that are set off in Norwich District, to supply their places.
3d To see if the town will choose a committee of correspond to consult upon the letters that are sent from Boston concerning the Governor & to write back an answer to the committee of correspond at Boston their result of the same & for the town to give the committee their instructions what they would have done.
4th To see if the town will choose a committee to reckon with the town Treasurer that was in last year.
5th To see if the town will allow Isaac Mixer anything for the use of bis house the three years that one-third of the preaching was there.
6th To see if the town will do anything further in order to get the old warrants sealed and made good.
7th To see if the town will do anything about seating the meeting house this summer ; & if they should, to see what method the town will come into respecting the same, & to pass such votes as they shall judge best & most proper respecting the same.
8th To see if the town will choose a committee to join with a committee from Norwich District in order to look into the town affairs that has been transacted whilst we were all together, & likewise to look into the bill of incor- poration respecting the money that the town has to pay back to the district, & to make report of their doings to the town the next town meeting.
9th To see if the town will choose a committee to settle with Abner Smith & to look over his rate bills & see if there is not a mistake made in the footing or carrying out, & to make report of their doings to the town the next town meeting.
83
A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
10th To see if the town will alter the sum of the school money that was voted last March meeting, & to pass such vote as the town shall judge best.
11th To see if the town will allow David Scott & Lieut. Clark particular men's rates they cannot collect.
12th To see if the town will vote to have the assessors go round to every man to take the valuation this year.
13th To see if the town will vote any more highway work to be done soon on the county road that goes to Worthington & pass such votes as the town thinks best respecting the same.
14th To see if the town will allow Samuel Elder six shillings that he paid to the town when he was constable that he could not collect.
15th To hear the report of the committee that is appointed to settle the places where men's and women's schools shall be kept, & to pass such vote as the town shall judge best.
Hereof fail not & make return of this warrant with your doings thereon to some one of the Selectmen before the meeting as you will answer the law in that case made and provided. Given under our hands & seals this seventh day of August & in the thirteenth year of his majesty's reign, Anno Domini, 1773.
DAVID SHEPARD, Selectmen of
ABNER SMITH, Murrayfield."
"Additional article.
16th To see if the town will do anything respecting the road that goes through David Scott's land down Moose Hill."
"The foregoing is a true copy of the warrant, examined & recorded by me David Shepard, town clerk."
" HAMPSHIRE, Ss. By virtue of this warrant I have warned the inhabitants of the town of Murrayfield to meet according to the time and place mentioned.
WILLIAM HENRY, Constable of Murrayfield."
" Murrayfield, August 16th, 1773. At a legal meeting of the freeholders & other inhabitants of the town of Murrayfield regularly assembled at the meet- ing house the following things was acted upon & voted, viz. :
1. Chose Mr. Timothy Smith moderator for said meeting.
2. Voted to choose town officers that are set off in Norwich. Chose William Campbell Assessor and sworn. Chose Caleb Bascom Sealer of Weights & Measures. Chose Bigott Eggleston Sealer of timber & lumber & sworn.
3. Voted not to choose a committee of correspond.
4. Voted Timothy Smith, Jesse Johnson, & James Hamilton to settle with Malcom Henry, town treasurer.
5. Voted not to allow Isaac Mixer anything for the use of his house.
6. Voted not to do anything respecting the getting the old warrants sealed at present.
7. Voted to seat the meeting house floor.
84
A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
8. Voted to have two fore-seats in the body, two on each side.
9. Voted that those that are highest in valuation shall have the highest pews, and voted that Deac. Samuel Matthews, Lieut. Malcom Henry, & Ensign Stephen Lyman be a committee to dignify the pew ground.
10. Voted that those that draw the pews shall build the fore-seats & their pews by the first of July next or lose their right in the pews.
11. Voted that the committee lay out the pew ground by the 25th of this month.
12. Voted that the same committee that is to reckon with the treasurer shall be a committee to meet the Norwich committee & look over the town affairs whilst together, & look up their bill of incorporation to see what money we must pay .back to them.
13. Voted Ensign Stephen Lyman, Doct. David Shepard, & James Hamilton to be a committee to look over Abner Smith's rate bill & see if there is not a mistake in footing as it now stands.
14. Voted to abate four pounds of the school money.
15. Voted to assist Mr. David Scott to get a committee from the court to view the road down Moose Hill if they will come without our paying of them.
16. Voted to give Lieut. Clark Moses Haile's rate till he can get it, & Mr. Scott Moses Haile's rate & Holyday's.
17. Voted that the assessors take the valnation without going round to them.
18. Voted to cut out Worthington road so as the surveyors shall think it will do, & they to have the same price they had before.
The foregoing are the votes passed in the meeting. Test per me Timothy Smith.
MODERATOR."
SEATING THE MEETING-HOUSE.
The next action of the town was to seat the meeting-house. A town meeting for that purpose was held August 25th, 1773.
Samuel Matthews was chosen moderator, and the following votes were then passed:
"Voted to reconsider those votes that was passed at the last meeting re- specting the seating of the meeting house."
" Voted to have two seats, one on each side of the Broad Alley."
" Voted that Jonathan Wait, Timothy Smith, Samuel Elder, John Laccore, & Capt. Zebulon Jones shall have the fore-seat, on their building one of them, during their life or residence in town."
" Voted that Abner Smith & wife shall have the privilege of sitting in the fore-seat on his building one of them."
"Voted that Abner Smith & David Shepard shall have the pew next to the fore-seat on the right of the Broad Alley to them and their heirs so long as the meeting house stands."
85
A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
" Voted that Deac. Samuel Matthews, Deac. Jesse Johnson. & Deac. James Hamilton & their wifes shall have the next pew to the pulpit as long as the meeting house stands."
" Voted that Benj. Eggleston, John Laccore, Jr., John Elder, Thos. Smith, Nathan Wright, Bazaliel Wright, George Black, Abner Smith, Jr., Andrew Henry, & John Smith shall have the fore-seat in the front gallery upon their raising the gallery stairs & building the seat."
"Voted that what the committee did with respect to seating the meeting house & dignifying the pew ground shall stand."
" Voted that the persons that possess the pews shall have them to them & their heirs so long as the meeting house stands."
" Voted that those persons that draw the pew ground shall have them established to them on the consideration of their building the gallery stairs & that those pews & stairs shall be built by the last of May next, & if any per- sons refuses to join with his partner in building said pew he shall forfeit his title to said pew to his partner that builds it."
"Voted that the young men that are seated in the front gallery shall build the seat through the front & make a division in the middle, one half for them & the other half for the girls."
" Voted that the people that possess the pews shall pay the cost of the building the gallery stairs equally on the poll."
" Voted that every man that is set down in the plan of the meeting house shall possess the pews according to the number."
" Voted that Gershom Rust & his wife shall sit with Mr. Jonathan Wait & Edward Wright, Jr., upon their giving consent."
The town took some action touching Mr. Bascom's supply of fire- wood, from which it appears that wood was worth four shillings per cord at that time in Murrayfield.
86
A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
PLAN OF THE LOWER FLOOR OF THE FIRST CHURCH IN MURRAYFIELD, IN 1773.
Dig 2 Nº 4
Wd Jane Mann
Robl. Smith Daud. Blair
Dig.I. No.1
Rev. Mr. Bascom.
Pulpit Stairs.
Pulpit.
Jos Hamilton S. Matthews Jesse Johnson
Dig. I Nº. 2. Jas Clark Dav. Bolton Joel Seward
D.2 -3 E.Wright R Woolworth Sam1.Elder.
Willard Ward
Five Seats.
Five Seats
D.2. NOI Dig.1 Nº3
Dig. 1 Nº 4 Dig.2. No2.
Wm Bell
Alex. Gordon
during widowhood
Mrs Webber
J. H. Webber &
? Steph" Lyman
Dr. Shepard Abner Smith
Timo. Lyman
Wm. Moore
Dig. 4 - 4. John Taylor John Thompson
.
W. Door
John Chandler
D4 - 1 D3- 5
D3-6. 1
Wm. Henry.
Samt. Ellis
with their wives.
+ Gershom Rust
Ed Wright Jr.
& Jon. Waite
Stairs Gallery
D4 -5 Caleb Bascom Sibel Geer Eben Snow
Timº Parne
John Murray
D4.6 Jos. Geer Jos. Gilmore
Stairs
Gallery
Front Door
Col. Willard
A.Anderson
~ Time Smith
D3 - 3
D3-1
D3-2
D3-4
E. Door
Thos Elder
Enoch Shepard
Jan" Elder
G Matthews
n Samt Laccore GY Ab.Fleming
John M'Intire
+ John Blair
John Laccore
~ B.Eggleston
Jos. Black
's Win Campbell
Broad Alley
Col. Otis.
CHAPTER FIFTHI.
CARING FOR THE MEETING-HOUSE.
It is not my purpose to write anything of the history of the church as an ecclesiastical entity. But this history would be incomplete and unsatisfactory if the history of the meeting-house and the ministry, so far as it tonches the town in its corporate capacity, were left out; for the care of the meeting-house and the maintenance of the gospel min- istry were matters of public concern, and were of the duties required of towns by law. It is also interesting as an exhibition of how these things were done in the good old days of our rigidly pious ancestors. The care of the meeting-house, provided for by the town at its annual town meeting as a part of the regular business of the town, is worthy our attention. In March, 1774, the town voted to employ John MeIntire, who lived near by, to sweep the meeting-house and lock and unlock the doors for one year; and his compensation was fixed at three shillings for the year. This was not so small a sum for the service when we take unto account that the making and care of fires was no part of the duty, and that there was no church bell to ring. Then again, MeIntire would attend church every Sunday any way, so that the matter of unlocking the doors before service and of locking them again after service imposed upon him no burden except a little earlier and a little later attendance. The sweeping was not frequent. At the March meeting in 1727, the town voted "to sweep the meeting- house twelve times a year ; "-so says the record. The sweeping was done, of course, by proxy, and John McIntire was the proxy. In 1779, MeIntire, who was in the militia, had been promoted-it was a sergeant's warrant. At the March meeting the town voted "to pay Sergeant John McIntire eleven dollars to sweep the meeting-house for the ensuing year." But in 1782, John McIntire had been promoted again-it was a lieutenant's commission this time. So far as the records show he never again swept the meeting-house. Sergeants, however, were still available, and the job of sweeping the meeting- house twelve times a year was given, by vote of the town, to Sergeant Draper at a salary of five shillings for the year. In 1780, the town voted " to give Deac. Matthews five shillings to sweep the meeting- house twelve times the ensuing year, at the rate of two shillings per bushel for Indian corn."
88
A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
The unfinished condition of the meeting-house is attested by the votes passed in town meeting from time to time. At the March meeting, 1774, the town voted that " Mr. Aaron Bell and Mr. Matthew Camp- bell may build one pew on the south side of the west door, and sit there during the town's pleasure, and if the town dispossess them, to pay them their cost of building." The following article appeared in the warrant for the December meeting, 1775: "To see if the town will vote to board up the windows in the meeting house and pass such vote as they think proper."
At a meeting held May 20, 1777, it was voted " that the town will build all the pews on the lower floor at the cost of the town for the use of those that are destitute of pews," and Lieut. William Moore, Deacon Jesse Johnson, and Capt. Henry were chosen a committee to attend to the building of them. The town also voted " that Lieut. Williams and wife, John Abbott and wife, and Abiel Abbott should sit in Ward and Willard's pew until pews are built." This pew was one of those reserved by the proprietors when they gave the meeting- house to the town. Its owners were non-residents.
At the March meeting, 1782, the town voted " to put in studds and raves for the present in the side of the gallery, and rough-board them, and make a seat convenient for the people to sit in." This was estimated to require five hundred feet of boards. Deacon Johnson, Gideon Matthews, and David Shepard were chosen a committee to do the work, and were required to have it done by the last of May. In August, 1782, William Foot and William Stone were appointed a committee "to board the meeting house windows up tight to keep out the rain." It was also voted "that Edward Wright, Jr., come and view the glass windows of the meeting house and fix them up as well as he can, and the town will pay him."
At the meeting in May it was voted that, pending the building of the pews on the lower floor, " Ebenezer Dowd and wife, William McIntire, John Thompson and wife, and Samuel Gould and wife are seated in Col. Willard's pew for the present ; " and it also recorded in the town records of that meeting that " Lient. William Moore and Timothy Lyman give leave if the pew is full, they may sit in their pew; " also that "Abner Smith, Jr., and wife sit in Deacon Matthews' pew until the pews are built."
MANNER OF SEATING WORSHIPPERS.
The matter of adjusting people with regard to their proper dignity was by no means free from difficulty. It must have been as delicate a
89
A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
piece of social engineering as seating the singers of a volunteer chorus choir. As we have seen, this was arranged according to the rating of individuals in the town valuation list. We arrange it on the same principle now-the wealthiest hire the best pews,-but there was somewhat more formality in the manner of arranging this question by our ancestors. The pews were arranged with strict regard to the dignity of location. It is not to be presumed that every one was satis- fied, although injured pride was not always spread upon the town records. Indeed, few people care to expose to the public gaze. the bandages with which they bind up their hurt feelings. But David Bolton was not to be suppressed by any such delicacy. In 1774, he complained to the town, and brought his complaint before the town meeting. " that he did not have his right in the meeting house accord- ing to his valuation." But the town wisely refused to do anything about it. Over sensitive people seldom receive any comfort at the hands of public assemblies. In public assemblies there is usually a disposition to be fair and just; and this was exhibited toward Tim- othy Smith, who, in 1778, represented to the town that as he lived in the east part of the town he preferred to attend publie worship with the people of Norwich, and asked to be relieved from the minister tax in Murrayfield. His request was granted.
The following queer vote was passed at a meeting in 1774 : "That Robert Proctor and Jonas Henry shall have the pew spot between Caleb Bascom's pew and the stairs as other people have theirs."
MR. BASCOM'S FIREWOOD.
There was always a town meeting held in November or in December, at which it was one of the regular items of business to vote a supply of firewood for the Rev. Mr. Bascom, in accordance with the terms of his settlement. At first there was, probably, little or no difficulty in obtaining a suitable supply ; but in December, 1775, the vote of the town indicates that the duty had been thrown upon the individual citizen to furnish each his share of this supply of wood for the par- sonage. The town voted that " Lieut. Enoch Shepard, Mr. Wm. Moore, Mr. Reuben Woolworth, and Mr. John McIntire be a commit- tee to desire the people in their quarter to get said wood on days they shall appoint, and that if any person neglect his duty as to getting wood, said committee make return of their names and neglect to be read in open town meeting." It is to be presumed that this threat had the desired effect ; for no names were reported. This was un-
90
A HISTORY OF MURRAYFIELD.
doubtedly a burdensome way of furnishing the wood, and very likely it fell unequally upon the people in proportion to their distance from the parsonage. The roads were poor and difficult for traveling, and often so drifted with snow as to be nearly or quite impassable for loaded teams. Perhaps this would explain the action of the town in November, 1777, in choosing a committee consisting of Deacon James Hamilton, Gideon Matthews, and Sergeant John McIntire to wait upon and " try to hire Rev. Aaron Bascom to get his firewood, and report to the meeting in half an hour." The committee soon returned and reported an arrangement with Mr. Bascom to the effect that he would accept from the town the sum of thirty dollars and get his own firewood." The town voted to accept the arrangement. This, of course, meant a money tax upon each one ; and this, too, was burden- some. People living near, or who could easily reach the parsonage with loaded teams, preferred to pay the tax in wood. So in Novem- ber, 1778, the town voted Mr. Bascom thirty dollars for his firewood, but with the provision that " if any man gets his share of the fire- wood by the middle of December next, he shall have at the rate of ten shillings per load 3 feet high, 4 feet wide, and 8 feet long." But at the November meeting, 1779, with a list of about one hundred tax payers, the town voted to pay John McIntire seventy-five pounds to get Mr. Bascom's firewood for the year ensuing, and that every man who brings one-half cord by the 1st of January shall be allowed fifteen shillings out of his town rate, and that the same shall be de- ducted from the seventy-five pounds." After this it does not appear that there was any difficulty in getting the parson's firewood. At a meeting held in October, 1780. the town voted "to pay John Hamil- ton four pounds and eight shillings in the old way to get Rev. Mr. Bascom's firewood the year ensning, he allowing each man to get his proportion of wood by the 15th of December, next, and to be allowed two shillings and six pence per cord the old way." In November, 1781, under an article in the warrant "To let out the getting wood for our Rev. Pastor the year ensuing," it was by vote let out to Lieut. John McIntire for three pounds and eight shillings. In November, . 1782, the town voted sixty pounds for Mr. Bascom's salary and three pounds to get his firewood.
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