86 Votes Regarding the President’s Salary

    [1681–1700]

    At a General Court held at Boston 12th of October 1681 per adjournment.

    This Court being informed That the Corporation and overseers of the Colledge have proceeded to the choice and approbation of the Reverend Mr. Increase Mather for President of Said Society, and have appointed some Gentlemen to treat with the Church over whom said Mr. Mather is Teacher, for their consent in the matter, In order where to it is propounded that this Court would please to declare their Settlement of the maintainance to be allowed the President for the future.

    It is hereby ordered That on the considerations proposed in the Grant made to the former President of one hundred pounds money per annum and Fifty pounds Country pay, the like allowance shall be continued for the future—Provided that the Reverend Mr. Increase Mather be the man and this to be continued so long as he shall supply the place of President of said Colledge and to be in full of his salary from the Country refering to that Imployment.

    A true coppy as appears in the Records of the General Court. Examined per Isa. Addington Secretary.

    At a third Sessions of the General Court, held at Boston 15th February 1681.

    Mr. Samuel Torrey1 being chosen President of the Colledge by the Corporation, and approved of by the overseers; For his Encouragment to accept of that Service, It is ordered that the same allowance be settled on him which the former President had, and that was lately past by this Court for Mr. Mathers Encouragment when he was chosen to that Imployment.

    A true Coppy as appears in the records of the General Court. Examined per Isa. Addington Secretary.

    At a General Court for Elections held at Boston 24th of May 1682.

    The Reverend Mr. John Rogers being now chosen President at the Colledge at Cambridge by the Corporation and that choice approved on by the overseers of the Colledge It is Ordered that his yearly allowance be one hundred pounds in money and fifty pounds in other pay, during his continuance in that place and Imploy.

    A true Coppy as appears in the records of the Generall Court. Examined per Isa. Addington Secretary.

    By the Governour and Company of the Massachusetts Bay in New England.

    At a General Court for Elections held at Boston 27th May 1685.

    In answer to a motion made by the Overseers of the Colledge, This Court doth order that the hundred pounds part of the annual Sallary due to the President be paid to the Corporation for the encouragment of Such as have done the Work that appertaines to the President, and discharge of some other Accompts that have been made for the Colledge benefit.

    A True Coppy as appears in the Records of the General Court. Examined per Isa. Addington Secretary.

    Note that Mr. Increase Mather went to live at Cambridge as a resident President upon the 19th July 1700, and returned to Boston October 20th following. That he preached while he was at Cambridge but eight times in the Meeting house, and once in the Colledge Hall.

    [Endorsed:] Copy of Records of the General Court in 1681 2 & 5 relating to the Salary of the President of the Colledge.

    College Papers, i. 23 (No. 57). Although these votes have been printed in the Records of Massachusetts Bay (v. 324, 345, 352, 479), they are reprinted here because of the anonymous postscript concerning Mather’s residence at Cambridge during the summer of 1700. Quincy says that Mather returned to Boston on October 17; History, i. 111.