History of Amesbury - Merrill.org

HISTORY OF AMESBURY. 167
tion do see cause to have but one at present and to build it
at y e parcel of land called y 2 parsonage, neare Edward Hunt's."
He lived on the corner where Geo. W. Bartlett now lives. The
late Joseph Merrill, who hauled the present house from the
pond, placed it over the old Hunt cellar.
The meeting-house was built on the opposite corner of the Mar-
tin road on a little knoll, a beautiful location. The old house
was altogether too small to hold the present population, being
only 25 by 30 feet. The vote to build two houses of worship
would have been carried out, undoubtedly, had the town been
able to do so. The people had increased at the west end, al-
though no village had yet commenced. In 1726, which is but
eleven years later, we find the names of 123 men taxed in the
West parish for the support of preaching, and this would war-
rant the conclusion that there were not less than four hundred
inhabitants at that time. There were not quite so many in
1 715, probably, yet there were more than were willing to travel
the long distance to the little church at the burying ground.
The most prominent men' at Jamaco were opposed to the re-
peal of the vote ordering two houses, and Left. John Foot.
Sergeant Joseph Davis and Thomas Fowler entered their "con-
tra dicent " against it. The present location—one mile nearer
the centre of the town—was designed to give better accommo-
dations to the west end people and obviate the necessity of
two houses. Nor was this location a very lonesome one, for
within the range of a half mile there were more than half a
score of houses.
Dea. Joseph Brown, Thomas Hoyt and Thomas Sargent were
chosen a committee to "carry on s d work of building said house
at y e towns cost, and are to have said house finished at or on
y e first of November in y e yeare 1716." Its dimensions were
"forty-five fot in length and thirty-five fot in wedth and twenty
fot stud."
"Mr. Skipper Lunt" was the master builder.
A meeting was held July 13th and ^150 raised to "carry
on y e work of finishing our Meeting house and likewise to
expend y e charge that we have already been out in building."
So the work was begun at this date.