History of Amesbury - Merrill.org

HISTORY OF AMESBURY. 1 99
Henry Flood was very poor and had a son who was a crip-
ple and unable to work, and to prevent his ever being a pau-
per he presented the following petition to the annual meeting
:—
"To y e moderator of y e present meeting, to communicate to
y e town of Almsbury now assembled this ioth day of March,
1734: 5-
A petition of Henry Flood of Almsbury aforesaid, showing
that y e providence of God he hath a son that is a creppel and
is not likely ever for to get a living in y e world without a tay-
lers trade y e w ch y e
s d Henry Flood cannot procure without
money, y e w ch he is not able to do by reason of his poverty
therefore he humbly prayeth that y e town would be pleased at
this meeting to pass a vote to give y e man that shall take him
(this lame lad) and learn him to be a workman at y e taylers
trade, y e sum of five pounds, and you will oblige your peti-
tioner.
Dat. March y e ioth day, 1734: 5.
Voted and past on y e affermitive on condicion y e
employed for y e use and end above mentioned.
his
Henry X Flood,
mark.
s d money is
T/ios. Stevens, Moderator.
The father and town acted wisely : the one to provide for
the future welfare of his son, the other to prevent his becom-
ing chargeable to the town for a long series of years, as would
most certainly have been the case.
Ichabod Colby was now inn-holder at Bartlett's corner, and
the meeting of October 13th adjourned to his house. He was
the husband of the famous Esther Colby, who continued the
tavern for many years.
June 3d. Jacob Merrill died. Tradition says that he was
accidentally shot, although the record does not mention the
fact. About 1722 Abraham Merrill, then in Newbury, opposite
Pleasant valley, and his three sons, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,
and two daughters, sold his farm and came across the river to
;