History of Amesbury - Merrill.org

HISTORY OF AMESBURY. 85
Feb. 19th. A general meeting was held and the following
vote passed :
—
"At the same metten it was voted by the mager parte of
the metten to pay unto the man that is helpfull to us in the
work of the ministry forty pound a year so long as hee do
continuee in the work of the ministery among us."
This was a very important move and calculated to insure
success. At least it was an important item to go before the
General Court in connection with their petition.
On the 14th of May a meeting was held and the following-
vote passed :
" At the same meetten it was agreed to send to the General
Court for the obtayning of Mr. Bengemen Woodbriedg to be
helpfull to us in the work of the ministery and also to see if
wee can obtain to be a township of ourselves."
This was a very judicious course, for, having fixed the salary,
they very humbly asked the General Court to assist them in get-
ting a minister and to allow them a township. All this was in
perfect accord with the agreement made with the old town
twelve years before.
" At the same metten Richard Currier was chosen to go to
the General Court to maneg the bisnes conserning the petission
the new town sends to the Generall Court."
"Lieut. Challes" was chosen to give the old town notice of
the petition sent to the General Court.
The first session commenced May 23d. The petition was
duly presented by Mr. Currier and the grant made early in the
session, as follows :
—
"In answer to the peticon of the inhabitants of New Salis-
bury, this Court doeth grant them the liberty of a touneship,
according to the agreement with the ould toune & that upon
their providing a minister approved off according as the law
provides, they then to be taken of from contributing to the
minister of y e old toune."
The effort of the new town people was crowned with perfect
success. They obtained their "township" and their minister,
and henceforth will take rank religiously and politically among
the townes of Massachusetts Bay.