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

44 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1736.
Mr. Edwards Com- Ml". Edwai'ds preacliecl here about a month
mences Preaching Ijefove ail iiivitatioii was extended to him
iu Northamptou. ,
,
, ,
. , i j •
j_
to settle. A longer probation was not
needed. He was by no means a stranger to this community,
and the proposition to become colleague pastor with
his grandfather, was quite satisfactory to himself and his
friends. . Previous to his appointment as tutor, he had been
selected to preach to a small Presbyterian church in New
York City, and had occupied the pulpit there for nearly
nine months. Proposals had subsequently been made to
him from other congregations, all of which he declined. ^
Propositious for the Foi'iiial actioii was first taken and an iiivisettiement
of Mr. tatiou extended to Mr. Edwards during the
last days of the month of August, but
there is no record of any town meeting at which any such
vote was passed. A favorable response was received, and
before November the way was paved for the ensuing action
on the part of the town :
—
" At a Legall Town Meetting In Northampton. November : 21'*' : 1726
The town taking Into Consideration : a vote Passed by the town Ag'*' —
:
29"" Last past For the Invitation of the Reverend M' Jonathan Edwards
to assist our Reverend Pastor : M"^ Stoddard In the work of the Ministry.
In order to a Settlement : and from what Experience we Haue Had
of Him by His preaching And conversation as also from His character
from other Places.
" The QiTestion was put ; whether it Was the Mind of the Town that
the Committee Should Invite the ReV'' M"' Jonathan Edwards to Settle
amongst Them In the work of the Ministry And In Convenient time to
it Passed In the affirmative by a very-
take office Amongst them : And
Great Majority.
"Attest Ebenezer Pnmroy Moderator.
"Then the Matter Being Considered that a Sutable Settlement and
Support Should be offered to M'' Edwards for his Encouragement totake
s'* office and Triast upon Him :
the following votes :
Then the Town Proceeded to Make
"Viz. 1'^: The town voted to Giue to M' Edwards (Provoided He
take office among vs) ten Acres of Land Against Slow Bridge Next by
John Alexanders Land : to be Laid out by the Direction of the Committee
as shall best Sute And A Comodate Him for a Pasture.
1 In 172.3, Mr. Edwards received an invitation from the ch\irch iu Bolton, Ct. The
terras and conditions on which the settlement was arranged were definitely fixed,
and in November of that year he signified his acceptance of them over his own signature.
Just at this time he was elected Tutor in Yale College, which he accepted,
and the church in Bolton waited in vain two years for him and then settled some one
else.—New Englander, vol. 43, p. 620 (Sept. 1884).