University of Virginia Library

November ye 13th.

The Quaker maid, Margaret Brewster, came this
Morning inquiring for the Doctor, and desiring him to
visit a sick man at her Father's house, a little way up
the River; whereupon, he took his Staff, and went
with her. On his coming back, he said he must doe
the Quakers the justice to say, that, with all their
Heresies, and pestilent errors of Doctrine, they were a
kind People; for here was Goodman Brewster, whose
small Estate had been well nigh taken from him in
fines, and whose Wife was a weak, ailing Woman, who
was at this time kindlie lodging and nursing a poor,
broken-down Soldier, by no means likely to repay him,
in any sort. As for the sick Man, he had been hardlie
treated in the matter of his Wages, while in the Warre,
and fined, moreover, on the Ground that he did profane
the Holy Sabbath; and though he had sent a
Petition to the Honorable Governor and Council, for
the remission of the same, it had been to no purpose.
Mr. Russ said he had taken a copie of this Petition,

with the Answer thereto, intending to make another
Application himself to the Authorities; for although
the Petitioner might have been blameable, yet his
Necessitie did goe far to excuse it. He gave me the
Papers to copy, which are as followeth:

“To the Hon. the Governor and Council, now sitting in
Boston, July 30, 1676. The Petition of Jonathan Atherton
humbly showeth:

“That your Petitioner, being a soldier under Capt. Henchman,
during their aboad at Concord, Capt. H., under pretence
of your Petitioner's profanation of the Sabbath, had sentenced
your Petitioner to lose a fortnight's Pay. Now, the thing that
was alledged against your Petitioner was, that he cutt a piece
of an old Hatt to put in his Shooes, and emptied three or
four Cartridges. Now, there was great occasion and necessity
for his soe doing, for his Shooes were grown soe bigg, by
walking and riding in the wet and dew, that they galled his
Feet soe that he was not able to goe without paine; and his
Cartridges, being in a Bagg, were worne with continual
travell, soe that they lost the Powder out, so that it was dangerous
to carry them; besides, he did not know how soon he
should be forced to make use of them, therefore he did account
it lawful to doe the same; yet, if it be deemed a Breach
of the Sabbath, he desires to be humbled before the Lord, and
beggs the pardon of his People for any offence done to them
thereby. And doth humbly request the favor of your honors
to consider the premises, and to remit the fine imposed upon
him, and to give order to the Committee for the Warr for the
payment of his Wages. So shall he forever pray.”

“Aug. 1676. — The Council sees no cause to grant the Petitioner
any reliefe.”