247  Transactions about M^r Rogers’s Donation.[20]

____________________________________________________________

 About two years after M^r Phillips’s decease; The Town had

two Meetings to try y^e Towns mind ab^t holding M^r Rogers’s Donation

upon y^e Tearmes Expressed in his Will: at neither of which a Vote in

the affirmative could be attained. at Their last meeting, y^e Town choose

a Committee to send to me to know what Sallery I would be willing to

take up with, both while alone, & also in case another Minister should be

called. by which Comittee (viz.^t Deacon Jewett, Cap^t Weicom ~~

Cap^t. Boynton, Lieu^t Dresser. Covn^t Peirson) I returned propositions

to y^e Town on both Articles aboves^d. But nothing was acted upon

them, & so y^e matter lay silent, ‘till y^e last Winter in y^e year 1699

sometime in Octob^r 1699 I fell ill, my ails continuing, and.

seeming to be of a threatning nature; [----------------------]

[------------------------------------------][21] The Town, sometime

in Novemb^r or Decemb^r, had a meeting, & obtained a vote for

                                                           upon

holding y^e aboves^d Donation upon y^e condition that it was given &

                            convend                         ^

presently upon which, y^e church to consid^er w^t Minister to invite

                              ^

and did pitch upon M^r Richard Brown of Nubury. at w^ch time

two Brethren viz^t Cap^t Bointon & Lieu.^t Desser were chosen

                                                        Act

as Messengers to send to M^r Brown to signifie y^e Churches mind in

calling him to y^e work of y^e Ministry amongst us. about y^e latter

End of Decemb^r y^e Lord was pleased to give me liberty to come

amongst my people agen, & to Exercise y^e whole Sabbath, & so

continued to do. [-----------------------------------------][22]

After some time, some of o^r Brethren signifyed to me their

desire y^t something further might be some as to calling M^r

Brown amongst us. I told them y^e Chh had proceeded as farr

in y^e matter as was convenient, not having as yet acquainted

y^e Town with w^t had bin done, nor obtained their concurrence w^th

y^e churches choice; therefore I thought y^e next step must be to

consult y^e Town in y^e matter, upon which a Town-meeting was

quickly warned. after y^e warning w^roff, & before y^e time appointed

           came

for s^d meeting I received a letter from M^r Brown, in which he

             ^

writes as followeth ~ viz^t be please s^r to understand; y^t to come

at present I canot; and to tarry longer, as yo^r case is circumstance

=ed, would be p^rhaps greatly to y^or detriment & bec I would not

to yo^r dammage deceive you, pray S^r be pleas^d to take it in good

part, if I hereby Intreat you not Expect my coming at all.

This letter I totally concealed from all p^rsons living, ‘till after

y^e above meeting was past, that none might any way be

Influenced thereby. att this meeting nothing could be done, in

y^e matter. The Lord having bin pleased to restore my health