History of Amesbury - Merrill.org

1 68 HISTORY OF AMESBURY.
" At y e same meeting voted that y e town would in general
coust and charge to build a Meeting house at y e west part of
y e town called Jamaco that is to say not to build said house
within three years after y l
time fixed for y e finishing our Meeting
house which is already raised it is to be understood when
y e Major part of y e town y l lyeth west of Nickols' creek shall
see cause to build y e town to assist them as aforesaid."
It is probable that this vote settled all matters in dispute,
and the work went on with the house, which was "already
raised." It .is said to have been very heavily timbered and was,-
no doubt, a very substantial building, although perfectly plain,
without porch or spire. On this gently-sloping knoll it stood
for two generations or more. It would be an interesting sight
if we could be allowed a glimpse of that sedate assembly as
they wended their way from all sections of the town on each
returning Sabbath to this new but unadorned house of worship.
They came from the Ferry, the Powow river, the Lyon's Mouth,
the Pond, the Pond hills, the Bear hill, Jamaco, Nickols' creek,
the River and the many old roads and fields where they were then
located, some on foot, but mostly on horseback, two or three
to a horse. Clothed in home spun, the work of their own
hands, a few yards woven in a day, and colored and dressed in
their own fulling mill, neat and comfortable, they humbly gath-
ered to worship the God of the Pilgrims, who had so graciously
protected and blessed them in this wilderness. And
with each returning Sabbath the dignified and erect form of the
venerable minister was seen on his way to church, riding on his
"blackish mouse coulored horse."
1716.
Mr. Wells sent a communication to the annual meeting, desir-
ing a piece of land for his use, and Capt. John Barnard and
[onathan Blasdell were ordered to view the premises and report
at the next meeting. The matter was not fully settled at the
next meeting, but the selectmen were authorized to settle that
and some dispute about Mr. Wells' fire-wood.
In consequence of depredations by wolves, a bounty of 20 s.
was again offered for " every Woulf killed by any parson belong-
ing to said town."