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An awful account from Ipswich being rumor’d ab^t concerning o^r broth^er

Samuel Ayres his being accused by a Negro wench belonging to Major

Wainwright in y^e time of her travail & sinc, with utmost Earnestness con

tinuing in y^e same charge, y^t he y^e s^d Sam^ll had had to do with her

in way of uncleaness ~ February 11 ~ 1704/5 before Sacram^t. y^e matter

was proposed to y^e chh and was then voted, That o^r s^d brother

          be desired to

Sam^ll Ayres should abstaine from comunion with y^e chh in y^e holy

                ^

ordinance of y^e L^ds Supper until this matter can be furder looked into

and he not being then present, y^e Chh desired two brethren viz^t

Serg^t. Joseph Jewett & brother Ezek^ll. Sawer, to Informe him of this

vote of y^e chh.

March 6 1705} Sam^ll Ayers came to me of his own accord, and

      acknowledged the substance of what y^e above S^d Negro

    charges him with, viz^t. carnal copulation with her.

A church meeting was appointed to be on June 26. 1705

To Examine y^e case of Samll Ayres ab^t y^e above s^d charge

accordingly y^e chh came together at y^e time appointed.

When after seeking to y^e L^d for his presence & help, Brother Ayres

was called & appeared before y^e chh.   When this charge was

laid before him, viz^t. You are charged, by Majo^r fra[n]cis

Wainwright his Negro Woman serv^t. That you did some

time y^e Last year, come one night to her Bed, Naked

sanz yo^r shirt, and came into Bed to her and lay

with her in way of carnal copulation, besides

filthy familiarity and dalliances at other times &c.

     B^r Ayres being put upon making some reply; The

Substance of what he said was taken from his mouth in

writing; and was as follows   vizt.   As to y^e charg

and comon fame of Being y^e father of such a child,

I allways denyed it, and do still; I know y^e contrary, &

should sin in owning such a thing: But as to y^e other

charge, I must own it, and take shame to mys. thô I

cannot own it to y^e full Extent y^rof: it hath bin a

grat trouble of soul, and a wounding to my soul, many a

time, y^t I should be left to comit such a sin; & I begged

of God in secret Every day, y^t if it might be y^e holy will

of God, it might be concealed; but I also begged y^t God

would prepare me for his holy will, and y^t if it should

come to light to y^e world, God would prepare me for his

holy will therein; and that whatever way it should

please y^e Lord to Dispence, I might have a true sight of my

                                                     sin