History of Amesbury - Merrill.org

[72 HISTORY OF AMESBURY.
Ever since the settlement of Mr. Wells there had been more
or less trouble in regard to his salary. Hard and troublesome
times pinched the people so that they could barely live, and,
no doubt, failed to pay the minister. But they seldom refused
to grant him any favor which he asked of them, and were
really unwilling to part with him. In the early part of this
year the road near the new meeting house was enlarged and
bounded out to a knoll the south side of the swamp, near
Martin's bridge and a road leading to the river, which was laid
out in 1693. This confirms the location of the new meeting
house, as stated in previous pages of this work.
1718.
Capt. John Barnard died July 15th. He had held many offices
in town and was a man of sterling integrity and greatly respected.
He was one of the committee to locate the meeting house in
1 7 14 and on the committee to run the line next Haverhill in
1 7 14, and the town meeting adjourned to his house in 1709.
He was, probably, a son of Capt. John Barnard, who died in
1700, and grandson of "Robert Barnett."
1719.
Constables have been collectors from the first, and were on
that account considered important officers, and were not
taxed ; but this year they were taxed, and allowed six pence on
the pound for collecting.
Capt. John Foot, Orlando Bagley, sen., and Thomas Challis,
were chosen to return the bounds of land " into y e town book
and also to join with y e selectmen concerning y e setting and
and exchanging highways." Samuel Weed had served on this
committee since 1694, but was dismissed at this meeting, be-
cause, as they said, he was "ancient and decayed." So Samuel
Weed at 66 was really an old fogy—not up to the times. It
was a little rough to dismiss one who had faithfully served the
town for more than a quarter of a century in such an undigni-
fied manner.
Sergeant John Colby died this year. His homestead was
probably in the vicinity of Daniel F. Morrill's, who now owns a
portion of it.