History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

190 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1666.
"Whereas tlie treasurer hath not as yet giuen a discharge to Thomas
Mason, Constable for the Country rate in the year 1666, it was agreed
on by the Sellect men to record the amount that was deliuered to the
tresurer by William Clark because there was no obiction against it
but only for the caring of the wheat from Windsor to Hartford which
he refused to pay for all though he had sayd that if the aboue sayd
Clark hauing again spoke with the constable and foimd it honest he
would accept but afterwards forgott as he sayd that he had sayd so. the
acount is as followeth.
The constable is debpter as apears by warrant
Conf Credif
To 18 troopers .... 04.10.0
To Capt. Coke for killing 8 wolues . . 04.00.0
To Comellius Merye for killing a wolf . 00. 10.0
To Jo Web to wohies .... 01.00.0
£40.15.10
To nayls & work to make a bin . . 00.10.0
To Carting 101 bus. Wheat . . . 05.01.0
To 101 bu. of wheat shipt . . 25.. 5.0— 40.16.00"
The payment of the country rate in wheat must have been
cumbersome and expensive. It was first carted to Windsor,
thence to Hartford, where it was shipped to Charlestown.
Appended to the above account is the certificate of the
ship-master : —
"June the 6, 1668. Receiued aboard the bark Speedwell from
Thomas Mason, Constable of Northampton, to say one hundered and
on bushill of wheat wherof S** & half a peck was taken out to pay the
boats hier. Receued by me to be delliuered to M'' Richard Russell of
Charlstown, the danger of the seas excepted.
William Janson."
Delinquent Con- Somc of the coustables secm to have been
stables called to delinquent about collecting the rates, and
Order.
it was found necessary to call them to an
account, accordingly the townsmen ordered
"that Robert Bartlett and John Liman shall gather and pay all that
is behind of all the rates that were comited to them to gather and pay
in according as they had order before the tenth of aprill next insuing
and if either of them do faile they shall forfitt to the towne twenty
shillings for each of them beside all the damage."
Second School Jamcs Comish servcd as school-master at
Teacher Em- most but three years. After his engage-
ment in 1664, there is no further allusion to
schools upon the records till the "7*'' of January, 1666,"
(1667). He either received his subsequent appointment