At a Meeting of the Trustees of the Greene Foundation for the Support of an assistant Minister at Trinity Church in the Vestry room September 15 1776.

Present The Minister both Wardens & five Vestrymen viz. Mr. Rufus Greene Mr. Cutler Mr. Davis Mr. Benja. Greene & Mr. Joseph Greene.

Whereas the Treasurer of the Greene Foundation for the Support of an assistant Minister of this Church is now absent from this Country by means whereof there is no Person authorized to demand or receive any Money due to said Foundation or to give Receipts therefor, & it is absolutely necessary for the Benefit of said Foundation that another be chosen. Therefore

Voted unanimously That Mr. Benjamin Greene be Treasurer to the Trustees of the Greene Foundation.

Voted That the Treasurer now chosen be desired to wait on those Gentlemen who are indebted to this Foundation & request of them the Payment of the Interest which they know or suppose to be now due on their several Bonds or Obligations. And whereas most or all of the Bonds & obligations for money due to said Foundation are in the Hands of the late Treasurer & cannot now be obtained Therefore Voted That the Trustees will indemnify every Person who will pay either the Principal or Interest of Money due from them to said Foundation, into the hands of the present Treasurer, from any Demand being hereafter made upon them for such Sum or Sums as they shall respectively pay to the Treasurer, & that the Treasurer be authorized & empowered to give receipts therefor, which shall be equally binding as if the same were endorsed on the original Obligation.

A true Record from the original Vote.

Attest Samuel Parker Minister

At a Meeting of the Trustees of the Greene Foundation for the Support of an assistant Minister at Trinity Church in the Vestry Room June 29 1783.

Whereas the Bonds & Obligations belonging to this Fund are now in the hands of John Erving Esq. the late Treasurer & it is necessary that the same be put into the hands of the present Treasurer in order to collect the Interest due thereon. And as it is necessary that some Person be empowered to give the late Treasurer a Discharge for whatever Papers or Money shall be received from him Therefore

Voted That Mr. Benjamin Greene the present Treasurer be authorized to empower some Person who is going from hence to England to desire Mr. Erving to send said Notes & Obligations & to give an authentic Discharge & Indemnification therefor & also to desire Mr. Erving to send his Account properly stated that the Trust may know how the Account stands & what the late Treasurer is indebted thereto.

Voted That the Person empowered to receive said Obligations be desired to have the same recorded in some Notary Publics office in London in order to secure them from the Danger of being lost in coming from thence.

A true Entry.

Attest   Samuel Parker Minister

Know all Men by these Presents that I Benjamin Greene of Boston in the County of Suffolk in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Mercht. Treasurer of the Trustees of the Greene Foundation for the Support of an Assistant Minister at Trinity Church in said Boston & by Virtue of a Vote of said Trustees Do hereby nominate constitute & appoint John Callahan of said Boston Mariner to be my Attorney in said capacity of Treasurer aforesaid for this special purpose & intent namely to ask & receive of the Honble. John Erving Esq. now resident at Haverford West in the Dominion of Wales or any other Place in the Kingdom of Great Britain late Treasurer of the Trustees aforesaid his Executors or Administrators certain Bonds & Securities for Money due to said Foundation from sundry Persons & to sign in my Name & stead authentic Receipts & Discharges to the said John Erving Esq. his Executors or Administrators for all & every original Paper or Papers belonging to said Trustees given to the said John Erving Esq. in his late Capacity as Treasurer aforesaid & also for any Sum or Sums of Money due to said Trustees & fully & absolutely discharge exonerate & indemnify the said John Erving Esq. from all future Demands on Account thereof. And I do hereby in my said Capacity give my said Attorney full Power of Substitution.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seal this fifth Day of July 1783

Benja. Greene   (seal)

London August [no date given] 1783

Sir—

I have the honour to inclose you some Votes of the Trustees of the Greene Foundation for the Support of an Assistant Minister at Trinity Church Boston, & also to inform you that I am amply empowered by my Brother in Law Mr. Benja. Greene the present Treasurer of said Trustees to give you a legal & authentic Discharge for whatever Papers or Money you shall see fit to deliver into my hands. I am also desired to inform you that it is necessary for the Preservation of the Fund belonging to said Trustees & the Collection of the Interest now due which has laid too long already, that the original Securities should be transmitted to Boston & as they can be of no Advantage to you the Gentlemen of said Trust doubt not of your Readiness to deliver the same to the present Treasurer & also to transmit them the Acco’t current that they may know what the Fund amounts to.

I shall tarry in London about [no number given] Weeks & will at any time attend your Order respecting this Affair & execute any Receipt or Discharge for whatever you shall deliver into my hands. I hope as the Gentlemen of said Trust expressed a great Desire to have this matter transacted thro me that it will suit your Convenience to accomplish their Wishes.

I enclose you also a Copy of the Power of Attorney enabling me to indemnify you & shall be glad to hear from you upon this Subject as soon as convenient. Please to direct to me at Messrs. Lane Son & Frasier’s.

I am Sir your most obedt. humble Servt.

John Callahan

The Honble. John Erving Esq.

Barnstaple Devon: August 25 1783

Sir

It was not till yesterday that your Letter of the [no date given] Inst. got to my Hands being missent thro’ Wales.

I expect a call up to town before you go away & hope I shall not be disappointed as I am quite as desirous of delivering up every Paper belonging to Trinity Church as the Gentlemen of the Vestry can be to receive them & when you & they consider of how little use or benefit the withholding these Documents can be to me I think you must not doubt of my wishes to comply with a Request so reasonable. I do assure you if my Finances would admit of it, I would set off for London immediately upon this Business, but this you could not expect nor desire, did you know the true State of them at present.

It cannot however be long before my Appearance will become necessary, but should I not be so fortunate as to meet you, could you not make over your Power to our Friends Messrs. Lane Son & Frasier. I can & will deliver them every thing in my possession belonging to the Church with Pleasure & as soon as possible. Opportunities are now frequent & they would not be long after you. I am happy to find a Renewal of Correspondence between this & our Country. I dare say it must be a means of restoring a perfect harmony in time & I hope you & I may live to forget many disagreeables we have both of us felt in the Course of the last seven years.

I am with Respect Sir your most humble. Servt.

John Erving

Capt. Callahan

At a Meeting of the Trustees of the Greene Foundation for the Support of an Assistant Minister at Trinity Church May 2d. 1784. Present the Minister Wardens & all the Vestry except Mr. Rowe Mr. Amory & Mr. H. Greene.

Whereas at Easter 1776 the Revd. Mr. Parker then assistant Minister of Trinity Church charged the said Church £164.6.11 ½ being one year & 44 Days Salary due to him from said Foundation, which Sum (excepting £70.6 collected by the present Treasurer from the Debtors to said Foundation in consequence of a Vote of said Trustees passed at a Meeting held Sept. 15 1776) has been advanced by this Church for said Fund & many of the Bonds & Notes being now in the hands of the Treasurer Therefore Voted That the Sum of £94.0.11 ¼ being the Balance of the Sum advanced by the Church for said Foundation be transferred from the Greene Foundation to the Credit of the Church & that the Wardens charge themselves therewith.

Voted That all the Obligations or Notes given to the former Treasurer for the use of the Greene Foundation be called in as soon as may be & renewed in the Name of the present Treasurer.

At a Meeting of the Trustees of the Greene Foundation for the Support of an assistant Minister at Trinity Church held at Mr. Parkers December 19 1785.

Voted That the Treasurer be requested to state a just & true account according to the Documents in his hands against the late Treasurer & that said Account be transmitted to him forthwith & a Demand made for a Settlement thereof.

At a meeting of the Trustees of the Greene Foundation for the Support of an Assistant Ministerat at Trinity Church held July 27 1786.

Present The Minister, both Wardens, Messrs. Greenleaf Cutler Richd. Green Jos. Greene, Perkins, Lusk, Hatch, Smith Jenkins & Tudor.

Whereas the Interest of the Fund belonging to this Trust has not for several years past been appropriated to the use intended by the Donors, & a Motion has been made by the Revd. Mr. Parker that inasmuch as Christs Church in this town is destitute of a Minister & not able of themselves to give a decent Support to a regular Clergyman, in Case the Trustees will agree to appropriate the Interest of that part of said fund which is in the hands of the Treasurer towards the Support of an Assistant Minister to this Church & the Proprietors of Christs Church will grant as much more annually as will make up a decent Support for said Assistant, He with said Assistant when approved of will supply both Churches. Voted that said Motion is agreeable to the Trustees & in case the Proprietors of Christs Church approve thereof & comply with their part, that Mr. Parker be requested to look out for a suitable person for the place of Assistant Minister upon the Greene Foundation who upon his proving acceptable to both Congregations shall be entitled to the Interest of the Greene foundation in addition to what shall be granted by the Proprietors of Christs Church, to be subject to the same rules & regulations that the former Assistant Ministers of the Church have been subject to & that the Incumbent of this Church & said assistant when procured, alternately supply both Churches.

On a Motion of Mr. Benja. Greene Treasurer of this Foundation to resign that office & to assign a time for the Choice of a Treasurer in his stead

Voted That this Day four Weeks be assigned for that Purpose.

Voted that this Meeting be adjourned to Thursday August 24 next at 5 o’clock P.M.

At a Meeting of the Trustees of the Greene Foundation for the Support of an Assistant Minister at Trinity Church held August 24 1786 by Adjournment from July 27 preceeding.

On Motion Voted That the Treasurer be empowered to deliver up to the Heirs of the late Joseph Dowse Esq. his Note of hand to the late Treasurer Erving for £15 Sterling upon the Payment of the principal thereof to the Treasurer.

Voted to proceed to the choice of a Treasurer to this Trust in the room of Mr. B. Greene who desires to resign said Office.

The Votes being taken Mr. Oliver Smith was unanimously chosen Treasurer to the Trustees of the Greene foundation.

Voted That the Treasurer be requested to settle up the Interest upon all the Notes & Obligations that shall be delivered to him belonging to this Fund & to have said Notes & Obligations renewed in his Name with good Security, & that he use his utmost Endeavours to obtain a speedy Settlement of the Account of the late Treasurer Erving.

To the Wardens of Trinity Church

Gentlemen

Whereas the Stock belonging to the Greene Foundation for an assistant Minister at Trinity Church has not been managed with that Prudence or Advantage it might have been, but continues in the same loose unfunded State which has occasioned so much loss during the last twelve years: And whereas the former Treasurer now in England has never rendered any Account to the Trustees from his first Appointment, & there remains in his hands a very considerable Sum belonging to said Foundation & a just & full Settlement of his Accounts from various Circumstances will be attended with some difficulty & if farther delayed may occasion still farther loss, if not much hazard from the great distance of the Accountant.

We the Subscribers belonging to the Vestry of said Church from the duty we owe to the Trust confided in us, & from a Conviction that this business has been too long neglected & that the utmost Endeavours ought to be immediately exerted in the management & application of the said Fund to effect the pious designs & uses to which the same was appropriated by the generous Donors, Do request you to call a Meeting of all the Trustees as soon as may be at the Vestry Room of Trinity Church for the following Purposes.

First To see if the Trustees will choose a Committee to join with the present Treasurer of said Fund in liquidating & adjusting the Accounts of the late Treasurer Erving & to adopt proper Measures for an immediate Settlement & Payment of the Balance due thereon, & to take care that the same be placed at Interest on sufficient real Security.

Secondly To know if the Trustees will establish such general Principles & Rules for the Direction of the Treasurer as may be necessary in securing & properly managing said Fund so as to make the same most productive & beneficial.

Thirdly To see if the Trustees will agree that the Interest of the whole Stock for which the Treasurer has now Securities, be forthwith applied to the Support of an assistant Minister at Trinity Church, as soon as a Gentleman in Orders who shall be agreeable to the Trustees & the Heirs of the late Thomas Greene Esq. can be procured. And generally to transact all such other Matters as may in any way relate to the Security & Advancement of the said Fund & the benefit of the Church to whose Use it is given.

At a Meeting of the Trustees of the Greene Foundation for the Support of an Assistant Minister at Trinity Church at the Vestry Room December 4 1786 called in Consequence of the foregoing Petition.

The foregoing Petition being read & the Subject matter thereof taken into Consideration, the Question was put whether the Trustees would choose a Committee to join the Treasurer in liquidating & adjusting the Account of the late Treasurer Erving & to adopt proper measures for an immediate Settlement & payment of the balance due thereon & that the same be placed on Interest with sufficient real Security.

Voted unanimously in the Affirmative.

Voted Mr. Benjamin Greene Mr. Hubbard & Mr. Jenkins be a Committee for that purpose.

Voted That a Committee be chosen to frame such general Rules for the Direction of the Treasurer in securing & properly managing this Fund, so as to make the same most productive & beneficial, & to make report at the Adjournment of this Meeting.

Voted Mr. Tudor Col. Hatch & Mr. David Greene be said Committee.

Voted That the Interest of the whole Stock for which the Treasurer has now Securities be forthwith applied to the Support of an Assistant Minister as soon as a Gentleman in Orders who shall be agreeable to the Trustees & the Heirs of the late Thorns. Greene Esq. can be procured.

Voted That an Invitation be given to the Revd. Abraham Lynsen Clark to assist the Revd. Mr. Parker in officiating at this Church for the term of Six Months from this time (being the Season of the Year in which the duty is most laborious) & that for his Services herein he be paid from the Interest of the Stock belonging to said fund by the Treasurer the Sum of Forty Shillings Lawful Money per Week he agreeing to & Subscribing the Rules which the Assistant Ministers have usually subscribed.

Voted that this Meeting be adjourned to Monday the 11th Instant at 4 oclock P.M. at this Place.

A true Record from the Minutes.

Attest Samuel Parker Minister

At a Meeting of the Trustees of the Greene Foundation for the Support of an Assistant Minister at Trinity Church held at the Vestry Room December 20 1786.

The Committee appointed at a Meeting of the Minister Wardens & Vestry of Trinity Church December 4 1786 to consider & submit proper regulations for the guidance of the Treasurer of the Greene Foundation have attended that Business & Report

Whereas from the long neglect of settling the Accounts with the late Treasurer & the different Subscribers to this Fund much less Benefit hath accrued to the Establishment than the liberal Donors intended & had a right to expect, Therefore to prevent farther Loss & more effectually to enable the Trustees to answer the purposes of the Founders

Resolved That the following rules be adopted & that the present Treasurer take care that the same so far as they respect his office, be carried into immediate effect.

First That the Principal & Interest of all Sums now due be consolidated, & that new Obligations for the same be taken in the Name of the Minister Wardens & Vestry of Trinity Church as Trustees of the Donation.

Secondly That a Mortgage of real Estate be given as Security for the Payment of all Sums amounting to One hundred Pounds & upwards.

Thirdly That all Monies less than One hundred Pounds be called in or collateral personal or real Security be taken for their Discharge.

Fourthly That the new Obligations be made payable every Six Months, in order that the Interest may be more beneficially appropriated both as to the Assistant & the Institution.

Fifthly That a Standing Committee be annually elected to assist the Treasurer in Loaning the Stock who in this instance is not to act without their advice & consent.

Sixthly That the Treasurer settle his Account with the Trustees annually & never permit the Interest to run more than thirty Days after the time set for Payment.

Seventhly That the Mortgages be confined to Estates lying in the Town of Boston & that the Land exclusive of all Buildings thereon be equal in Value to the Sum loaned except, in cases where the Land may not be of such equal value, that then a Bondsman be required in addition to the Mortgage.

All which is submitted by

The foregoing Report having been read & each Article considered separately & distinctly it was unanimously

Voted That the same be accepted & established as the Rules & Regulations for managing said Fund & that the Treasurer govern himself accordingly.

Voted That there be held an annual Meeting of the Trustees of this Fund on Wednesday in Easter Week, at which meeting a standing Committee of the Trustees for assisting & advising the Treasurer be elected.

Voted That in the mean time Mr. Tudor, Col. Hatch & Mr. David Greene be a Committee for that Purpose.

Voted that this Meeting be adjourned to this Day four Weeks.

A true Record from the Minutes

Attest   Samuel Parker Minister

At a meeting of the Trustees of the Greene Foundation for the Support of an Assistant Minister at Trinity Church held at the Vestry Room February 19 1787

Voted That the Treasurer be requested to take advice of Counsel learned in the Law, respecting proper measures to be adopted for securing the Debt due from John Erving Esq. to this Foundation & to pursue such measures as he shall be advised to by said Counsel.

The Treasurer at this Meeting reported how far he had proceeded in regulating the Fund according to the rules adopted & established at the Meeting of the Trustees held December 20 1786.

At a Meeting of the Trustees of the Greene Foundation for the Support of an assistant Minister at Trinity Church held April 11 1787 being Wednesday in Easter Week.

Voted that Mr. Tudor Col. Hatch & Mr. Richard Green be a Committee for the ensuing year to advise & assist the Treasurer in securing & loaning the Stock belonging to this Fund.

At a Meeting of the Trustees of the Greene Foundation for the Support of an assistant Minister at Trinity Church held at the Vestry room May 18 1787.

Revd. Mr. Parker communicated a Letter from the Revd. A. L. Clarke in the following words.

Boston May 18 1787

Gentlemen

The term of my Invitation to assist the Revd. Mr. Parker being nearly expired I take this Method of laying before you the Necessity I am under of leaving this town next week. The Connecticutt Convocation being the last of this month & having other Business that demands my attention, I cannot but flatter myself that you will concur with my designs & in thus doing you oblige your most obedient humble Servt.

A. Lynsen Clarke

Voted That whereas the funds appropriated for the Support of an assistant Minister at Trinity Church have during the late war been much deranged & are not yet reduced to such a settled State as to afford a competent regular & constant for any Gentleman to accept said place, the Trustees regret that it is not in their power to offer Mr. Clarke a Sum worthy of his Acceptance to induce him to tarry any longer in said Capacity, & he having expressed his Intention to return to Connecticutt next week, The Trustees return their thanks to Revd. Mr. Clarke for the very acceptable Services performed by him since he has officiated at this Church, & are happy in having this Opportunity of testifying their approbation of his ministerial Abilities & unexceptionable moral Character during his residence in Boston & of recommending him to any vacant Church to which he may be invited.

Voted That the Treasurer of this fund be directed to pay to Mr. Clarke forty Shillings per Week for the whole time for which he had engaged.

At a Meeting of the Trustees of the Greene Foundation for the Support of an Assistant Minister at Trinity Church held at the Vestry Room June 13 1788.

Voted That Mr. Tudor Col. Hatch & Mr. Richd. Greene be a Committee for the ensuing year to advise & assist the Treasurer in securing & loaning the Stock belonging to this Fund.

Whereas the Treasurer to this Foundation has loaned Money on Interest taking Mortgages of real Estates as collateral Security & it may often happen that upon receiving payment therefor & upon changing said Securities, such Mortgages should be discharged in the Registers Office.

Voted That William Tudor Esq. be & is hereby empowered upon Application made to him by the Treasurer of said Foundation for that purpose to discharge any Mortgages for which said Treasurer may have received Satisfaction in as full & ample a manner as if each Individual of said Trustees had severally signed his name to such discharge.

At a Meeting of the Trustees of the Greene Foundation for the support of an Assistant Minister at Trinity Church held at the Vestry Room May 17 1789.

Voted That Mr. Tudor Col. Hatch & Mr. Richard Green be a Committee for the ensuing year to advise & assist the Treasurer in securing & loaning the Stock belonging to this Fund.

At a Meeting of the Trustees of the Greene Foundation holden at the Vestry July 18 Room July 18 1789.

Whereas by a Vote of the Vestry of this Church held October 26 1769 Mr. Wm. Coffin & John Rowe the then Wardens of this Church were directed to pay to Jonathan Simpson Esq. the Sum of £26.13.4 being a Balance due to said Simpson for Money by him advanced to defray the Expence of Revd. Mr. Walters Voyage to England, for which Sum the said then Wardens gave their Note of hand to said Simpson, which Note being yet unpaid is now demanded of this Church by Mr. Jonth. Simpson Jr. as attorney to said Jona. Simpson Esq. And Whereas it appears by the Records of the Trustees of this Foundation that at a Meeting held October 30 1763 it was agreed that £40 Sterling should be raised out of the growing Interest of the Fund, that said Simpson advanced that Sum, & that the aforesaid Note was given for part thereof & is a Debt due from said Fund & not from the Church. Therefore

Voted That the Treasurer of this Fund be authorized & directed to pay to Mr. Jonathan Simpson the Amount of said Note & Interest due thereon out of the Interest arising from the Fund for the Support of an Assistant Minister at Trinity Church & take up said Note.

And Whereas this Church stands indebted in a considerable Sum to the Boston Episcopal Charitable Society, part of which Debt arose from Money borrowed of said Society to defray the Expences of the Reverend Mr. Parkers Voyage to England to obtain Ordination as an assistant Minister upon the Greene Foundation which money is also in Equity and Justice due from said Fund & not from the Church. Therefore

Voted That the Treasurer of the Greene Foundation be authorized & directed to pay to the Treasurer of the Boston Episcopal Charitable Society the Sum of £106.13.4 being the Sum borrowed for the use aforesaid with the Interest of the same from the 4th Day of April 1774 to the present time, & that this Church be discharged from so much of said Debt by said Society; & that the Interest that has already been paid on said Sum by the Wardens be refunded to the Church.

At a Meeting of the Trustees of the Greene Foundation held at the Vestry Room August August 22 1790

A proposal from John Erving Esq. late Treasurer of said foundation by Martin Brimmer Esq. his Attorney respecting the Settlement of said Ervings Accounts & praying that the Interest on the Balance during the War might be remitted was read & considered. On Motion

Voted That Mr. Tudor Mr. Hubbard & Col. Hatch be a Committee to join the Treasurer in settling & adjusting said Ervings Accounts with the Greene Foundation & that they be authorized to adjust the same in the best manner they are able & upon receiving such Security as they shall deem sufficient to discharge said Erving from any further Demands.

At a Meeting of the Trustees of the Greene Foundation held September 19 1790.

The Committee appointed to adjust & settle the Accounts of the late Treasurer Erving with Mr. Brimmer his Attorney reported That they had held a conference with Mr. Brimmer on the Subject & that the terms said Brimmer offered were such as they could not advise the Trustees to accept of. Wherefore Voted That Mr. Tudor be requested to attach the property of said Erving in the hands of Mr. Brimmer by serving him with a Writ on the absconding act returnable to the Court of common please to be held in October next.

At a Meeting of the Trustees of the Greene Foundation held December 5 1790

Voted That the Treasurer be authorized to settle the late Treasurer Ervings Accounts according to the Proposals made by his Attorney Mr. Brimmer, & upon his certifying Mr. Tudor that he has obtained Security for the Balance, Mr. Tudor be requested to discontinue the Action now pending against said Brimmer as Trustee to the late Treasurer Erving, the Vote of the Trustees of September 19 notwithstanding.

At a Meeting of the Trustees of the Greene Foundation for the Support of an Assistant Minister at Trinity Church held at Mr. John Cutlers September 28 1791.

Voted That an Invitation be given to the Revd. John Sylvester John Gardner to officiate in the capacity of an Assistant Minister at Trinity Church until Wednesday in Easter Week 1792. And in Case of his Acceptance of said Invitation & signing the rules of duty to be observed by the Assistant Minister of said Church, the Treasurer be authorized to pay to said Gardner the Sum of Eight Dollars pr. Week from the Interest arising from said Fund, his pay to commence from the 18th Day of this Instant September.

Voted That Mr. Tudor, Col. Hatch & Mr. Richd. Greene be a Committee to advise & assist the Treasurer in securing & loaning the Money belonging to said Fund until the next Meeting of the Trustees after Easter 1792.

Voted That the same Committee with the Treasurer be requested to obtain Possession of the house at the North part of the Town lately occupied by Mrs. Mary Coulter belonging to said Fund, & provided it will be more for the Advantage of said Fund to make sale of the same that they be authorized to sell the same for the most it will bring, & the nett proceeds be carried to the principal of said Fund.

Voted That this Meeting be adjourned till Sunday next after Evening Service then to meet at the Vestry Room in Trinity Church.

To the Trustees of the Greene Foundation for the Support of an Assistant Minister at Trinity Church.

Mr. Gardner returns his acknowledgments to the Minister Wardens & Vestry of Trinity Church as Trustees of the Greene Foundation &c. for the Invitation he has received, & is sorry that prior Engagements oblige him to accept it but conditionally. As the Situation of his Affairs in Carolina requires his presence, & his Parishioners there have no Idea of his leaving them, he conceives himself under Obligations to return thither to make them acquainted with his Intentions & to procure a final Settlement with them.

An Absence of three Months, he imagines is essentially necessary for this purpose. Should the Trustees think proper to indulge him this Absence, he will with pleasure accept their Invitation & return to Boston at the Expiration of that Period.

J. S. J. Gardner

September 29 1792

At a Meeting of the Trustees of the Greene Foundation &c. held at the Vestry October Room in Trinity Church by Adjournment October 2 1791.

The foregoing Answer to the Invitation given to Revd. J. S. J. Gardner was read, & the Question put whether said answer was satisfactory & the Trustees continue said Invitation indulging Mr. Gardner with three Months absence to settle his Affairs in Carolina, his pay to continue from September 18 till his departure & to commence from the time of his Arrival here & to continue till the Expiration of said Period.

Voted unanimously in the affirmative.

At a Meeting of the Minister Wardens & Vestry of Trinity Church as Trustees of the Greene Foundation for the support of an Assistant Minister at said Church held at the Vestry Room April 12 1792.

Whereas the Choice of an assistant Minister upon the Greene Foundation is by the Instrument of Donation, & by a Vote of the Proprietors of Trinity Church passed October 26 1763 vested solely in the Minister Wardens & Vestry of said Church together with such of the Heirs of the late Thorns. Greene Esq. as shall then be living & belong to said Church 5 But inasmuch as the said Trustees are unwilling to elect an Assistant who is not approved of by the Proprietors, in order therefore to take the Sense of the Proprietors of said Church

Voted That we proceed to the Choice of an Assistant Minister upon the following condition, viz.

That his Salary shall be One hundred & Fifty Pounds Lawful Money pr. Ann: One Hundred & Forty four Pounds of which Sum shall for the present Year be paid out of the Interest arising from said Fund; and in case the said Proprietors will grant the Person so elected the Residue of said Sum for one Year, the said Sum of One hundred & Fifty Pounds after the first Year to be paid out of the Interest of said Fund, & the Conditions in the Instrument of Donation are complied with, the Choice shall be valid, otherwise to be of no Effect.

The Votes for an Assistant Minister being taken the Revd. John Sylvester John Gardner was unanimously chosen.

Voted That the Wardens be requested to issue a written Notification to each Proprietor of Pews in Trinity Church to meet at said Church on Sunday next after Evening Service to see if they will grant the Revd. Mr. Gardner the Sum of Six Pounds L. Money for the Year ensuing.

The same Committee to advise the Treasurer continued this Year.

At a Meeting of the Proprietors of Pews in Trinity Church duly warned held on Sunday April 15 1792.

The Votes of the Trustees of the Greene Foundation passed April 12 1792 were read & also the Instrument of Donation from the Heirs of the late Thorns. Greene Esq. & the Question was put whether the Proprietors so approve of the Choice of the Revd. Mr. Gardner as Assistant Minister of this Church as that they will grant him the Sum of Six Pounds for the Year ensuing. The Yeas & Nays being taken it passed in the Affirmative. Forty two years, Ten Nays.

To the Trustees of the Greene Foundation for the Support of an Assistant Minister at Trinity Church & the other Proprietors of said Church. Gentlemen

Suffer me to return you my sincere acknowledgments for your Choice of me as the Assistant Minister of your Church. I accept the Office with pleasure & hope my future Conduct will give you no reason to repent of your present Approbation.

I remain Gent: with every Sentiment of respect & Esteem towards yourselves & the worthy Gentleman your Rector (whose disinterested kindness I take this Opportunity to acknowledge) your obedient

humble Servant

P.S. A Journey to the Eastward & an indispensible continuance there prevented my accepting the Invitation contained in the Votes of the Church. Had I continued in Boston my Answer would not have been so long delayed.   J. G.

The following are Votes of the Trustees of the Greene Foundation passed October 30 1763 & contain Rules for the Observation of the Assistant Minister.

Voted That the Duty of the Assistant shall be to read Prayers & preach once every Sunday—Morning or Evening as shall be most convenient for the Stated Minister, to read Prayers alternately on the Holy days, To perform the whole parochial Service when the Minister shall be sick or otherways necessarily absent.

Voted That if at any time a difference of opinion shall happen between the Minister & the Assistant as to any part of Duty the former may require of the latter, the same shall be referred to & determined by the Wardens & Vestry.

Voted That the Assistant shall not perform any part of Duty that is attended with a perquisite without the Consent of the Incumbent or stated Minister.

The foregoing Rules relating to the Duty of & Expectation from the Assistant Minister of Trinity Church are such as I am fully contented with as a rule for my Conduct.

John Silvester J. Gardiner

At a Meeting of the Trustees of the Greene Foundation held April 7 1793.

Voted That Mr. Richard Green Mr. Tudor & Col. Hatch be a Committee to advise & assist the Treasurer in securing & loaning the Money belonging to said Fund until the next Meeting of the Trustees after Easter next.

Voted That said Committee with the Treasurer be requested to dispose of the house & land recovered by the Trustees against Mary Coulter for £172.13.4. on Mortgage to John Erving Esq. That said Committee dispose of the same as soon as may be either at private Sale or public Auction as they shall judge most convenient & that they be empowered to execute a sufficient Deed thereof to the Purchaser.

That he has paid Revd. Mr. Gardner £95 for his last years Salary & that he has in his hands a Balance of Interest amounting to £49.0.7.

Voted That the Treasurer pay to Revd. Mr. Gardner the Balance of Interest in his hands making his Salary of £144 for the year past.

At a Meeting of the Minister Wardens & Vestry of Trinity Church as Trustees of the Greene Foundation &c. duly warned to choose a Treasurer in the room of Mr. Oliver Smith deceased, held at the Vestry room February 20 1797.

Voted to proceed to the choice of a Treasurer to said Trust in the room of Mr. Oliver Smith deceased & that the same be by ballot.

The Votes being taken Mr. John Amory Jr. was unanimously elected. Mr. Amory being sent for & informed of said choice declined accepting said office.

The Votes being again taken Mr. Joseph Head had the Majority & was chosen.

Voted that Mr. Joseph Greene Mr. Richard Green be a Committee to receive from the Administrators of the late Treasurer the Securities books Papers Cash &c. belonging to said Fund & to give a Receipt therefor & to deliver them to Joseph Head the present Treasurer & take his Receipt for the same.

Voted That the whole Income of the Fund be annually paid to the Assistant Minister.

Voted That Mr. Jenkins & Mr. Richard Green be a Committee to advise & assist the Treasurer in securing & loaning said Fund till the next Meeting of the Trustees.

Voted That the Vote passed December 20 1786 providing that a Meeting of the Trustees shall be held on Wednesday in Easter Week annually for the choice of a Committee to advise the Treasurer &c. be rescinded & that said Meeting be held on Easter Monday immediately after the Proprietors Meeting is dissolved or adjourned.

Voted That all the Monies belonging to the Principal Stock received by the Treasurer be vested in such of the public Stocks or Bank Shares as the Treasurer & said Committee shall judge best & that the Treasurer call in all Monies now loaned upon Mortgage or personal Security for this purpose except from such Persons as were original Donors.

The Committee appointed to transfer the Property belonging to said Fund have made the following Report.

Pursuant to a Vote of the Minister Wardens & Vestry of Trinity Church as Trustees of the Greene Foundation for the support of an Assistant Minister passed February 20 1797 appointing Mr. Joseph Greene & Mr. Richard Green a Committee to receive from the Administrators of the Estate of Mr. Oliver Smith late Treasurer of said Fund the Securities Books Papers Cash &c. belonging to said Fund & to transfer the same to the present Treasurer. I hereby acknowledge to have received from said Committee the following Securities Papers & Books belonging to said Fund & discharge the said Committee from the same:

One Waste & one Ledger Book containing the Accounts of said fund. N.B. The Administrators to have the Liberty to inspect said Books when they shall think it necessary.

Also one Bundle of Accounts Receipts & other loose Papers respecting said Fund.

Joseph Head Treasurer to the Greene Foundation

Boston 21 February 1797

Boston April 23 1797 Received of the Committee appointed to transfer the fund from the Administrators of the Estate of Oliver Smith late Treasurer of the Greene Foundation One Hundred Dollars being the Interest on Edwd. Sohier’s Bond received by said late Treasurer & not included in the foregoing. Also One Hundred Seventy one Dollars Seventy five cents being one years Interest on £858.14 the principal Sum due from the Estate of said Smith to said Fund.

Joseph Head Treasurer to the Greene Foundation

At a Meeting of the Trustees of the Greene Foundation for the support of an Assistant Minister at Trinity Church held at the Vestry Room September 2 1797.

A Letter from the Revd. Mr. Gardiner Assistant Minister of this Church to the Trustees enclosing an address to the Proprietors of said Church was read. Whereupon

Voted That Revd. Mr. Gardners Letter to the Proprietors be laid before them at a Meeting to be notified on the morrow by the clerks giving notice thereof at the Morning Service & also after Sermon at the Evening Service, that the Proprietors be requested then to meet to take Mr. Gardners Letter into consideration & act thereon.

At a Meeting of the Minister Wardens & Vestry of Trinity Church as Trustees Foundation held at the Vestry Room December 21 1800.

Dr. Parker informed the Trustees that an Application had been made by the Wardens of Christs Church now vacant by the Death of the Revd. Dr. Walter that the assistant Minister of this Church would officiate at said Church until Easter next & that the Revd. Mr. Gardner had expressed a Willingness to comply with said Request if his Absence from this Church might be dispensed with. Whereupon

Voted That the Revd. Mr. Gardner be permitted to officiate at Christs Church untill Easter next & his Salary as Assistant Minister of this Church be continued as usual till that time. Provided that in case the Revd. Dr. Parker should during any part of said time be unable from Sickness or otherwise to perform the Duty of Trinity Church, it is expected that the Revd. Mr. Gardner supply his Place, the above Permission notwithstanding & that this Church suffer no Inconvenience thereby.

A true Record from the Minutes.

At a Meeting of the Minister Wardens & Vestry of Trinity Church as Trustees of the Greene Foundation for the Support of an Assistant Minister at said Church November 4 1802.

Voted that Mr. Joseph Head Treasurer of said Fund be authorised in behalf of this Trust to assign & transfer all the right Title & Interest of said Trustees in & to certain Land & Buildings mortgaged by John Graham & others. And that the said Joseph Head is accordingly hereby authorised to make seal & execute & acknowledge at the proper act of said Trustees any Deed or Deeds which may be necessary for the purposes aforesaid & which thus executed shall be deemed good & valid against all claims of said Trustees & generally to do any other legal act respecting said Premises.

At a Meeting of the Minister Wardens & Vestry of Trinity Church as Trustees of the Greene Foundation held November 14 1802.

The above Vote of November 4 having been passed at a Meeting of the Trustees not legally warned & not a sufficient Number of the Vestry to form a Quorum, was taken under Consideration & it was Voted That the same be ratified & confirmed & considered as legal as tho the same had been passed at a Meeting legally warned & a full Quorum.

On Motion of the Treasurer Voted that a Committee be appointed to examine the Treasurers Accounts to Easter last, & to ascertain what has been the average annual Production of the Fund & what Deficiency has been paid by the Church to Revd. Mr. Gardner & to authorize the Treasurer in Case the Church has paid more of Mr. Gardners Salary than the average Product of the Fund required to pay the same over to the Wardens.

Voted That the Revd. Dr. Parker & Mr. Benja. Greene be said Committee. Voted that the came Committee assist the Treasurer in loaning the Stock till Easter next.

At a Meeting of the Minister Wardens & Vestry of Trinity Church held December 12 1802.

1802

The Committee appointed by the Trustees of the Greene Foundation at their Meeting held November 14 1802 to examine the Accounts of the Treasurer of said Fund to Easter 1802 made the following Report.

That they find said Treasurers Accounts regularly stated, that due Credit is given for the Interest arising from the principal Stock & proper Vouchers exhibited for all the Expenditures.

That since Easter 1797 $122 being of the Interest of said Fund had been vested in the Principal Stock arising from the want of small Sums to make a round Sum of Principal purchased.

That from the irregular Payment of the Interest the nett Amount has not always been collected & consequently the Difference between the Interest of the Fund & the Salary of the Assistant has differed in different years.

Your Committee find that the Proceeds of the Fund for the year ending

The Treasurer having received the present year Payment of John Grahams Bond, the principal & Interest of which is $666. your Committee having been appointed for that purpose also have advised him to vest the same in $400 Union Bank Stock which he has accordingly done & has given for the same $606 & has paid to the Wardens the remaining $60 to be paid to the Assistant in part of the Sum due from the Church to Easter 1802. The Wardens have therefore paid to the assistant from

Your Committee beg leave further to report that as great Inconveniences have arisen from the irregular Payment of the Interest of the Bonds payable to the Fund they recommend to the Trustees to pass a Vote to request the Treasurer that he put in Execution the Sixth Article of the Rules for Regulating said Fund viz. Not to permit the Interest of any Bond to run more than thirty Days after the same becomes due, & to this end that he be desired to notify the Debtors to the fund when their Interest becomes due & to inform them that it is the positive Orders of the Trustees that unless the Interest is paid within Thirty Days after the same becomes due, their Bonds must without Exception be put in suit. All which is Submitted

S. Parker

B. Greene   Committee

The foregoing Report having been rec’d & considered

Voted unanimously that the same be accepted.

Voted That the Treasurer notify the Debtors when their Interest becomes due & to inform them that it is the positive Orders of the Trustees, that unless the Interest of their respective Obligations is paid within thirty Days after the same becomes due, their Bonds must without Exception be put in Suit.

At a meeting of the Minister Wardens & Vestry of Trinity Church as Trustees of the Greene Foundation for the support of an Assistant Minister at said Church July 21st 1805.

Voted That Mr. Joseph Head the Treasurer of this Fund be Authorized to discharge the Mortgage given by Edward Sohier on the House & Land at the corner of School Street on the payment of the bond & interest for which it was mortgaged.

Voted That Mr. Benja. Greene be a committee to advise with the Treasurer respecting the best mode of investing & improving the funds of this Institution untill an Assistant Minister shall be appointed.

Voted That Mr. Benja. Greene & Mr. Geo. Higginson be a Committee to examine the Treasurer’s Accounts & report the State of the same.

At a meeting of the Minister, Wardens & Vestry of Trinity Church Trustees of the Greene Foundation at the Vestry Room of said Church December 20th 1807 (Sunday) Mr. George Higginson reported that he had examined the Accounts of the Treasurer from Easter 1802 to Easter 1805 when Mr. Gardiner was chosen Rector & found the same correct. Voted that the Report be accepted.

The Treasurer laid before the Trustees a State of the Fund as it stood in October last at which time it produced an annual interest of Seven Hundred & Thirty Seven Dollars forty cents ($737.40).

At a Meeting of the Minister Wardens & Vestry of Trinity Church Trustees of the Greene Foundation held at the Vestry Room in said Church on Sunday May 29th 1808.

The Executors of the Estate of the late William Frobisher deceas’d applied for leave to sell a small piece of Land mortgaged to secure the bonds of sd. Frobisher to this Fund—which Land bounded as follows thirty six feet north on Land of Green Dragon Tavern—twenty feet west on ditto—forty four feet south on Land of Hicks & thirteen ahalf feet east on land of ditto.

Voted That the Treasurer be authorized to give a quit claim of the above in behalf of the Trustees.

At a Meeting of the Minister, Wardens, & Vestry of Trinity Church Trustees of the Greene Foundation held at the Vestry Room of s’d. Church on Sunday January 1st 1809.

Voted That the Treasurer be & is hereby authorized to sell, assign, & convey all the eight per ct. stock of the United States standing in the name of the Trustees of said Fund.

At a meeting of the Minister, Wardens, & Vestry of Trinity Church Trustees of the Greene Foundation held at the Vestry Room of sd. Church on Sunday October 18. 1811. Gardiner Greene Esq., in behalf of himself & others, who had purchased a part of the estate of the late Jabez Hatch Esq. requested that the Trustees would relinquish the Mortgage they hold on that part of the Estate purchased by James Lloyd Esq. & others of the Heirs of the late Jabez Hatch, or would take measures to recover the money for the same, whereupon,

Voted That the Treasurer be directed to apply for this payment of the money due from the Estate of the late Jabez Hatch Esq. & if the same is not paid to sue the mortgage.

At a meeting of the Minister, Wardens & Vestry of Trinity Church Trustees of the Greene Foundation for the support of an Assistant Minister held at the Vestry Room of said Church on the 13th December 1812.

Voted That Joseph Head the Treasurer of this Trust be hereby authorized to subscribe & exchange the Six pr. ct. Stock standing in the books of the Loan Office of this State in the name of the aforesaid Trustees, agreeable to the Act of Congress of the 6th of July, 1812.

At a meeting of the Trustees of the Greene Foundation held on Thursday May 6th 1813.

Voted that Joseph Head the Treasurer of this Fund be authorized & requested & he is hereby authorized & requested to exchange the Stock he subscribed in December last called Exchange Stock of the United States for old Six pr. cent Stock or Deferred Stock as he may find the same most convenient.

At a meeting of the Minister Wardens & Vestry of Trinity Church Trustees of the Greene Foundation held at the Vestry Room of said Church on Sunday August 7th 1814 at 9 o’clock A.M. & Present the Revd. Dr. Gardiner, Joseph Foster Esq. & William Tudor Richard Green Samuel Smith & James Lloyd Esqs.

The meeting being called at the request of the Revd. Dr. Gardiner who proposed that Mr. Carlisle be paid for his services as assistant during his absence at Philadelphia (as Clerical delegate in General Convention held there) from the income of the Greene Foundation & the propriety of compensating him in that manner being doubted, the Proposition was debated upon for some time after which it was Voted “That Mr. Carlisle for his services at Trinity Church during six weeks absence of the Revd. Dr. Gardiner be paid from the Income of the Greene Foundation the sum of Twenty Dollars pr. week & that the Treasurer be requested to pay the same.” Four voting in favour of the motion viz. Revd. Dr. Gardiner, Messrs. Richard Greene, William Tudor & Saml. Smith.

Whereupon the following Protest was entered by the Trustees Dissenting.

“Whereas a meeting of the Rector, Wardens & Vestry of Trinity Church, constituting the Trustees of the Greene fund, having been called at the request of the Revd. Dr. Gardiner, who proposed that from the income of said fund, the sum of One hundred & twenty dollars should be allowed to Mr. Carlisle for his services for six weeks, during the absence of the Rector in attending a Convention of the Episcopal Churches recently held in the city of Philadelphia, & the said proposition on motion of William Tudor Esq. having been this day agreed to, at a meeting composed of the Revd. Dr. Gardiner, Rector, Joseph Foster Esq. Warden, and Richard Green, Sam. Smith, William Tudor & James Lloyd Esqs. members of the Vestry of said Church & a vote having also passed directing the Treasurer of the Greene fund to pay the said sum. The subscribers dissenting from the said votes, protest against the same, for the reasons following—To wit—

1st Because in their opinion, no species of trust can be more sacred than that arising from the endowments of deceased persons for beneficent & religious purposes.

2ndly Because they consider it as the duty of Trustees in all such cases, where the purposes of the trust are intelligibly & perspicuously expressed, minutely to conform to them.

And the fund aforesaid having arisen from a donation of the heirs of the late Thomas Greene Esq. of Boston in compliance with a design formed by him before his death, and in honor of his memory on the express condition, that the donation should be applied to the Following use, and to no other, viz. as a perpetual fund for supporting a Clergyman of the Church of England, who is to be employed as a constant Assistant to the Incumbent, or stated minister of said Church, except when the said Minister, Wardens & Vestry for the time being shall think it proper, that he should be employed in supplying any of the other Episcopal Churches, in or about Boston, when they may be vacant by the death, sickness, or otherwise necessary absence of their stated Minister, the whole direction of which to be always vested in the said Trustees.”* The subscribers having reference to the prescribed objects of the donation, cannot but consider the present appropriation from the Greene fund, as in opposition to, and a perversion of its purposes and as wholly unwarranted by the terms thereof—inasmuch as no latitude of construction is left to the Trustees in the disposition of the fund,—a positive application of it not only having been directed, but a prohibition having also been given against its being otherwise applied. The object and direction of the fund is simply for supporting a Clergyman of the Church of England as a constant assistant to the Incumbent of Trinity Church, or for supplying other vacant Churches should the Trustees so direct. Now as Mr. Carlisle is not a constant assistant to the Rector of Trinity Church—as he has never even been proposed for that office to the only body who could elect him, and as it was understood at the time he officiated at Trinity Church he was under a temporary engagement to another Church, where is now officiating independently of, & wholly unconnected with the Trustees of the Green fund, the subscribers are of opinion that he cannot be remunerated for his services from that fund & in consequence of a sense of their duty as Trustees thereof, they enter their objections and protest against the appropriation & votes aforesaid.

In stating the foregoing objections the Protesters mean not to be understood as exercising an opinion that Mr. Carlisle ought not to be paid for his services, but on the contrary they consider him entitled to a liberal compensation and are ready to contribute to its payment.

Signed

Joseph Foster

James Lloyd

Sunday August 7th 1814

At a meeting of the Minister Wardens & Vestry of Trinity Church as Trustees of the Greene Foundation at said Church on the 12 December 1814. The Treasurer of the Fund represented to the Trustees that he could receive the quarter’s Interest due the 1st October last only in Treasury notes, the State Bank where the Interest is paid refusing to pay every sum of One Hundred Dollars & upwards fo[?] Interest in Specie. That he had delayed receiving this to the present time in expectation the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States would order Justice to be done to the public creditors, but in this he was disappointed & requested the orders of the Trustees what to do in the premises, whereupon

Voted The Treasurer be authorized to receive the quarter’s Interest on the U.S. Stock belonging to this fund due in October last in Treasury notes as offered by the State Bank.

Voted That Thomas Perkins Esq. be a Committee with whom the Treasurer is to advise respecting the Sale of the Treasury Notes & the Investment of the proceeds, as well as all future Investments of the funds of this Foundation.

Voted The Treasurer with the advice of Thorns. Perkins Esq. be authorized to receive or refuse such payment of the quarter’s Interest due next January on the Stock of the U.S. belonging to this Foundation if offered in any species of paper other than specie.

Present at the meeting above Revd. Dr. Gardiner Rector Joseph Head & Joseph Foster Wardens Gardr. Greene John Amory Geo. Deblois & Stephen Codman.