History of Amesbury - Merrill.org

64 HISTORY OF AMESBURY.
There seemed to be a settled determination on the part of
the new town not to cross the Powow to attend meeting, and
finally an arrangement was made for Mr. Worcester to preach
every fourth "Lord's day" in the new town. The people here
were to make due provision for his accommodation. This plan
was laid before the General Court in May and was approved.
One-half of the fines was respited until the next General Court.
The old town had very nearly driven off these western pioneers,
and obliged them to settle in the wilderness, a long way from
church, and still required them to help support the minister.
Numbering less than a hundred freemen in both towns, eighty
pounds was quite enough for all to pay.
The new town people understood that the order for removal
meant a separate township and they were impatient for its accom-
plishment.
The compromise here, however, did not insure peace, for no
sooner was this settled than the old town was embroiled in a
local quarrel far more bitter than the last. The majority took
occasion to reduce the salary of Mr. Worcester by voting him
thirty pounds instead of forty for his six month's salary. The
minority were greatly incensed at this, as they deemed it an
unjust measure, and appealed to the General Court, complaining
that they had been wronged, that legal notice of the meeting
had not been given, &c. There was strong opposition to oblig-
ing Mr. Worcester to go to the new town to preach, and deter-
mined opposition on the part of the new town to attending
church at Salisbury. But the General Court finally ordered all
to attend at Mr. Worcester's meeting till they obtained " an able
minister " in the new town.
At the October term of the General Court Joseph Peasley
was again forbidden to preach, and some little dissatisfaction
expressed at the fine imposed by the Salisbury court.
"The Court, having considered of & given ans 1' to the peti-
tion of the inhabitants of Salisbury, calling to minde the affront
that Joseph Peasley put on this Corts judgement & order in
the yeare fifty eight, by not only continewing his preaching
amongst the inhabitants of the new toune of Salisbury, not w th