History of Amesbury - Merrill.org

HISTORY OF AMESBURY. 141
house," and, at the brow of the hill, next the river, it was to
be forty rods broad. There was a small brook running into the
river in the middle of this road and landing. The exact ter-
mination is not known, as it was never worked or fenced, in
all probability.
1697.
The little church built some thirty-two years ago was now
hardly large enough to accommodate all with convenient seats,
and Mr. Wells, (whose family should have been well provided
for, as a matter of courtesy) sent a petition to the town meet-
ing for liberty to build a pew on the outside of the house,
opening into the congregation. Such an addition might be con-
venient, but could not improve the looks of the meeting-house
much.
•'To y e Inhabitants of y e town of Amisbury assembled this
eighth day of March An Dom 1697.
These request you to grant mee y e
liberty to build a place
fer y e use of my family on y e outside of y e meeting house
betwixt y e south doore & south wast corner thereof & to make
a convenient opening to y e congregation not damnifying y e meet-
ing house nor any room or seat or place therein upon the forfeit-
ure of treble damages & in so granting my request I relinquish all
my interest that I have in an old grant of liberty to take in
half of that seat w ch my wife now sits in for that end I remain
your servant T/iomas Wells"
It is now more than thirty years since the meeting house was
built—small at first—and the increase of population, though not
rapid, must have been enough to more than fill it, provided all
attended regularly. His petition was granted on his own con-
ditions.
"Foot's Garison" is mentioned in the record of this year, and
was at Jamaco, no doubt, on the plain.
1698.
William Barnes died March 14th, and was, no doubt, the last
of the first eighteen who organized the town in 1655. He was
one of the most prominent of the number, holding the office
of selectman twelve years, was moderator at sixteen meetings,