History of Amesbury - Merrill.org

HISTORY OF AMESBURY. 1 49
being made that the Court had declared their minde therein,
on which he replied that such persons as did ast in making
that law did breake theire oath to the country, or acted con-
trary expressing the ffreemans oath : for, said he, it is against
the libertie of the countrey, both ecleasiasticall and civill, and
that he stood there ready to make it good ; and farther said
divers or severall churches had called theire members to accompt
which did act in that lawe making, and that some places were
about to show theire minds to the Generall Court about it."
For these heretical views and slanders of the General Court,
he was arrested, tried and sentenced to be disfranchised and
made incapable of holding any "public office in toune or com-
monwealth, and from pleading any case except his oune in any
Court; and further, that he be bound to the good behaviour
during the Courts pleasure, and be fined the some of twenty
marks to the country." His stand for freedom of religious
opinions was sustained by numerous freemen in the neighboring
towns and his sentence was strongly condemned.
A" petition was circulated in Salisbury, Newbury, Haverhill,
Andover and Hampton, and numerously signed for " revoaking
his sentence" and presented, which so exasperated the General
Court that a commission was appointed with power to call the
petitioners together and demand their reasons "for their unjust
request" and report to the next General Court. The commit-
tee reported and sixteen of the principal petitioners were bound
over for trial, viz. : eight from Newbury, six from Salisbury and
two from Hampton. Among those from Salisbury were George
Martin and Philip Challis.
In 1657 Major Pike, by the intercession of Rev. Mr. Wor-
cester and his own humble petition, was released from all but
the fine, which he said he had paid^ and thus ended and
failed the bold stand he had taken.
1701.
Sarah, wife of Orlando Bagley, sen., died this year, and hers
is the only death recorded.
The earliest record of the Society of Friends commences this
year although there was a small number in town from a very