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

1744] SCHOOL LANDS—SCHOOLS—MILL CONTROVERSY. 99
Infringements upon Notwithstanding the efforts to prevent
the HiRhways again them, encroaclinients upon the liighways
coukl not be entirely prevented, and in 1744
another attempt was made to bring them to an end. The
roads were reported to be in many places narrow and encumbered
with buildings and fences. In several instances
the town had granted abuttors certain rights in the highways.
Encouraged apparently by this liberality, others
seem to have appropriated without authority similar priv-
ileges. An order was adopted to search out and report all
such offenders, but the result was not made known.
An Unfriendly Vote. Tlic uufortunate coutrovei'sy with Rev.
Mr. Edwards, which resulted in his dis-
missal, originated in events which occurred during this
year, and the following vote, of slight importance in itself,
seems to indicate that an unfriendliness towards him prevailed
to some extent early in 1744. At a town-meeting
held on the o*^*" of March, " The question was put whether
the Town will pay the Charge of bringing Mr. Edwards,
his daughter from Brookfield, & it passed in the nega-
tive." This is all that is known concerning this vote ; there
is no explanation of it either upon the records or in contemporaneous
documents. Why the town should have
been requested to pay this expense, or why there should
have been any occasion for it, is nowhere shown. There
may of course, have been reasons for such a decision other
than dissatisfaction with the pastor, and it is hardly conceivable
that so much feeling should have been manifested
at this early stage of the affair. But in view of the fact
that considerable money had been paid in former years to
persons for "waiting on Mr. Edwards" when he traveled,
it seems somewhat inconsistent, to say the least, that this
slight demand should have been denied. ^
1 In May, 1743, Mr. Edwards went to Boston, to attend a convention of the clergy.
He went on horseback, and his eldest daughter, Sarah, on a pillion behind him.
Whether through illness, or some other mishap, she was left behind at Brookfield, on
their return, so that extra transportation was required, has not been ascertained,
but it may be surmised that something of the kind occurred, which gave rise to this
appeal.