History of Amesbury - Merrill.org

HISTORY OF AMESBURY. 317
best, ever relying on the judgment of the committee, therefore
we submit the whole affair to them wishing them to proceed
and finish the meeting house as soon as it can conveniently be
done."
Eli Gale, Joseph Bartlett and Joseph Morse were the com-
mittee, and they took the liberty to build a spire or " cubaloe"
without special instructions on that point. The puritanical
spirit of the times was opposed to all ornamental work, and
hence the opposition in this matter. But the committee were
fully sustained, and their work approved by the meeting, which
having passed a vote of confidence, bade them go on as fast as
possible. When built at the parsonage in 1 7 15
it was a plain
building without porch or spire, the western porch being added
when rebuilt in 1761. The repairs were not carried forward
very rapidly and this year saw but a small part of the work
done.
At the Mills a district tax was assessed to raise $249.52 to
pay for a school-house. The whole number of persons taxed
was sixty-two and the heaviest tax payer was Capt. John Barn-
ard. This was probably the old brick school-house on Friend
street, which is still standing near its first location, and occupied
as a dwelling house.
Capt. John Sawyer of the West parish died July 7th. He
was a prominent man, having served as selectman several years
and in various other offices.
The male teachers this year were Moses Atwood at the Ferry,
Moses Sawyer at the River. Josiah Palmer at the Mills, and
Benjamin Guile at Pleasant Vallev.
1802.
The selectmen were ordered to " inquire upon what condition
the highway by Davis' mill can be exchanged and make
report next meeting." This mill, standing very near the site of
the present hat factory, was, probably, in grinding order at this
time. The writer can remember it standing in a shattered con-
dition some fifty-five years ago.
Feb. 2 2d. Snow and hail began to fall and lasted a week,
making the crust so hard that teams could pass over the fences
anywhere. This was one of the winters which old people fifty