January
Salem village this: 14th of Genewary: 1686/7
Thee Inhabitants of this place are Desiered to take notis that wee are Informed that Joseph
Hutchinson Job Swinaton Joseph Porter and Daniell Andrew: Doe Desier that fouer Men may bee Chosen
for to transact with them about there agrievances Relatting to the publique affairs of this place:
and If they can [36] cannot agree among themselves that then they will Refer there Differrance To
Thee Honored Major Gidney and John Hathorn Esqr and to Thee Reverend Elders of thee church of Salem
therefore Thee Inhabitants of this place are Hearby Desiered to Meet togather at there ordinary
place of Meeting on the seventeenth Day of this Instant Month att one of the clock in the affter
noon for to Chouse fouer Men for the ends above exprest
By ordor of Thee Committee
Tho: putnam cler
Thee: 17th Day of Genewary: 1686/7
Att a publique Meeting of thee Inhabitants of Salem village it was agreed and voated by a
Generall concurrance that wee Make Choice of Capt: Jno: putnam Lt: Jonathan walcott Ensign Thomas
Flint and Corporall Joseph Herrick: for to transact with Joseph Hutchinson Job Swinaton Joseph
porter and Daniell Andrew about their agrievances Relatting to the publique affairs of this place
and If they cannot agree among themselves that then they shall Refer there Differance: too thee
Honod: Major Gidney and John Hathorn Esqr and too thee Reverend Elders of salem Church for a Full
Determination of those Differrances--
February
Salem village this: 16th: of Feberary 1686/7
Thee Inhabitants of this village are Hereby Requiered In His Majesties Name: to meet to gether
att there ordinary place of Meeting on the eighteenth Day of this Instant month att nine a clock In
the Morning to Hear and to Consider of to Receive and Imbrace: or to Refuse: thee Advice of thee
Honored Major Gidney and John Hathorn and William Brown Esqrs and thee Reverend Elders of Salem
Church: also to view what is all Redy transcribed of our Village Book of Records and to give sum
Direction to Thee Committee and Lt Nathaniell putnam about the transcribing of the Rest: also to
Consider of and Make void sume voats that have past amongst us: that have ben grevious to us for
time past or that May be unprofitable to us for time to come: all our Inhabitants are Desiered to
come to this Meeting for It is Mater of grate Consarnment to us all: By ordor of Thee
Committe
Thomas putnam cler-
[37] Thee eighteenth: Day of Feberary: 1686/7
Att a Generall Meeting of Thee Inhabitants of Salem village: It was first voated: that Capt Jno
putnam Is chosen Modarator for this Meeting
2ly It was agreed and voated by a Generall Concurance that this Meeting is ajoyrned for one hour
and a half and Removeed to sarjant Nathaniell Ingersolls House
3ly It was agreed and voated that wee Make choice of: Mr. Joseph Hutchinson: Mr Joseph porter Mr:
Daniell Andrew: Capt: Jno: putnam Lt Jonathan walcott and Thomas putnam: for to view our Books of
Records and to coppie out any enteries that are therein which they conceive have ben greevious to
any of us in time past or that May be unprofitable to us for time to come and to bring such enteris
as they coppie out to thee Inhabitants to the ajornment of this meeting to see which of them they
will Disanull and Make void in our Book of Records-
4ly It was agreed and voated By a generall Concurance that this Meeting Is ajorned to the: twenty
eight or last Day of this Instant Month feberary to tenn a clock in thee Morning
Att an ajornment of Thee Meeting of the Inhabitants of salem village from the eightenth Day
of february 1686/7: to the twenty eight or last Day of the same Month:
It was first voated that the acceptance of the advice of thee Honored and Reverent Gentellmen of
salem should be voated In Generall and not in parts
2ly It was agreed and voated By a Generall Concurance that wee Doe accept of: and Imbrace the
advice of the Honored and Reverend Gentellmen of salem sent to us under there Hands bareing Date:
ye: 14th of feberary: 1686/7 and ordor that it shal be entered In our Book of Records
3ly It was agreed and voated by a Generall concurance that all voats that past amongst us In thee
time that Mr. Bayley was amongst us Consarning the Building of a ministry House are: hereby made
void and of none efect-
4ly It was agreed and voated by a Generall Concurance: that all voats that have past amongst us
about building a Kitchin or leanto too our Ministry House: are heareby mad void and of non efect
fiftly
[38]
fiftly It was agreed and voated by a Generall Concurance that all the voats
that past amongst us on the fift Day of June 1683 that are entered In our Book of Records are Hearby
made void and of non efect : except it be that voat about warning A publique Meeting-
6ly It was voated that Mr: Lawsons salary is Regulatted as Followeth and this to Continew so long
as he continews in the work of thee Ministry amongst us as now he Doth
7ly It was agreed and voated by a Generall Concurance that wee Haveing viewed our new Book of
Records wee Doe find It allredy transcrit: so fare as it is to the Full satisfaction of the wholl
Inhabitants: and Mr Joseph Hutchinson Mr Joseph porter and Mr Daniell Andrew: and Capt Jno: putnam
Lt Jonathan walcott and Thomas putnam haveing Had the prusall of it they approve of all that is
transcribed: except one voat: which voat the people see noe caus to Disannll: and they approve also
of the leaveing out of all that is left out that is not transcribed: and wee finding our Book of
Records alredy transcrib: from the Begining of it to the 24th Day of May: 1683: tho there are summe
voats left out out that past In Mr Bayley's Days and summe voats left out that past in Mr Burroughs
Days that are not transcribed: which we conceive will be of noe grat use to us for the time to come
which we leave to ly in ye old Book of Records as they are and ordor that all other voats that have
past amongst us from thee 24th Day of May 1683: shall be fairly and fully transcribed according to
the Advice of thee Honored and Reverent Gentellmen of salem: except such voats as are or shall be
made void and of non efect-
To Capt John putnam: Mr Joseph Hutchinson &ct
To be comunicated to the Rest of the Inhabitants of Salem village Loveing Bretheren friends and
Neighbors: upon serious consideration of: and Mature Deliberation upon what hath ben offered to us
About your calling and transacting In ordor to the settleing and ordaining The Revernd Mr: Deodate
Lawson: and the grievances offred by some to obstruct and Impede that proceeding: our sense of the
Matter is first
[39] 1. That the affair of calling and transacting in ordor to thee setling and ordaining the
Reverend Mr Lawson hath not ben so Inoffensively Managed as might have ben: at least not in all the
parts and passages of it: 2: that the grievances offered by some amongst you are not in themselves
of sufficient weight to obstruct so grate a work and that they have not been Improved so peaceably
and ordorly as christian prudence and self Denial doth Direct
3 to our grief we Obsarve such uncharitable expressions and uncomly Reflections lost to and fro:
as Look Like the effects of setled prejudice and Resolved animosity though we are much rather
willing to account them the product of weaknes then wilfullness however we Must needs say that come
whence they will they have a tendency to make such a gap as we fear: If not timely prevented will
Lett out peace and ordor: and let In confusion and every evell work: 4: as things drew to a
conclusion when you mett with us: you did seem on both parts to be under a conviction of the
nesiescity of peace: and there was some promising appearance of mutuall condescension and that for
the future you would on all hands study to be quiett: and to that end you Desiered us: to give you
such advice as we judged would conduce to the promotion of righteousnes peace and ordor among you:
thus you have our sence of the matter as to what is past and present: and att your Request wee shall
give you what is with us to Direct by way of advice to prevent contention and troble for the future:
that it may not Devour for ever and that if the Lord please you may be happier henceforth then to
Make one another Miserable and not make your place uncomfortable to your present: and undesirable to
any other Minister: and the Ministry it self in agrate measure unprofitable: and that you may not
bring Impositions on yourselves by convincing all about you that you cannot or will not use your
Liberty as becomes the ghospill: as also in testimony of the care we Have of you and our unfeigned
Desier and endeavour of your peace and welfare-
For these ends we advise you
1. that you Desist at present from urging the ordination of Thee Reverend Mr: Lawson till your
spirits are better quieted and composed-
2. that you encourage Him in his Ministerial work from time to time by an honest fulfilling of
your Last Agreement with Him till [40] Till such time as He is ordained amongst you unless any
juster cause shall appear to the contrary then any yet hath Done-
3. That the last Agreement about His Maintenance be not held binding after the time of His
ordination unless that act be again confirmed by Full and free consent of the major part of the
Householders Lawfully called to gether upon sufficient notice of time place and end of the meeting:
yea if more then A meer Major part should not consent to it: we should be loth To Advise our
Bretheren to proceed but Rather advise upon that condition that some other way may be propounded as
may be acceptable to Mr. Lawson and may be more pleasing to the people: as part mony and part as
mony or part money and part In pay at common price so as Mr: Lawson be not endammaged and the people
better pleased: we confiding in Mr: Lawsons readiness to comply with any proposition that will suite
with the condition of His family-
4. we advise all possible care be taken for the future to prevent the grievanc objected about the
choise of thee committee though we cannot totally comply with that proposition which pretends a
court ordor for choising a committee with out your own Limits seing we find no such ordor but a
committee nominated and appointed by thee court in case of Disagreemeet Among your selves: two of
which three are dead we advise therefore that whilest this contention lasts one at Least of the Town
of Salem out of your Limits be fairly Chosen as one of your Committee and that the Householders Have
Liberty to chuse the Rest of themselves or other wise as they please
5. We advise the old Book of Records be kept in Being and that such votes in it as are offensive
to any come to a further consideration in some lawful meeting appointed to that end: that all
inconvenient votes may be Repealed or Regulated to satisfaction and such Repeals and Regulations be
Inserted in the new Book of Records and all [41] other votes fairly fully and Impartially
transcribed and for the future that no votes be Recorded But in thee presence of thee assembly that
votes them: or at least at the next Lawfull Meeting being again publickly Read which If it be done
and the vote read publickly after it is Recorded will undoubetdly prevent any Reflection for the
future upon the Book or Book Keeper Finally we think peace cheap if it may be procured by complying
with the aforementioned particulars which are few: fair: and easy: and that they will hardly pass
for Lovers of peace: truth and Ministry and ordor in the Day of the Lord that shal so lean to their
own understanding and will: that they shall reffuse such easy methods for the obtaining of them: and
if peace and Agreement amongst you be once comfortably obtained we advise you with all convenient
speed to go on with your Intended ordination and so we shall follow our advise with our prayers: But
if our advise be Rejected we wish you better and harts to follow it : and onely add if you will
unreasonably trouble your selves We pray you not any further to trouble us: we Leave all to the
Blessing of God thee wonderfull Counsellour and your own serious consideration praying you to Read
and consider the whole and then act as God shall Direct you Farewell-
Bartholomue Gidney
John Hathorne
William Brown junr
John Higginson
Nickolas Noyes
Salem February:14th 1686 7
March
[42] Salem village this: 11th of March 1686/7
Thee Inhabitants of this village are Hearby Requiered in His Majesties Name to Meet together att
there ordinary place of Meeting on the sixtenth Day of this Instant March In the afternoon as soon
as Lecter is Don to chouse and Impower men to joyn with the Gentellmen of salem to run and settle
the west Linne between the Town of salem and this village: also to Consider of and Make void some
votes that have past amongst us that are offensive to some-By order of thee Committee
Tho: putnam cler
The: 16th Day of March: 1686/7
Att A Generall Meeting of thee Inhabitants of Salem village their was chosen and Impowered for a
Committee to transact with the select Gentell men of salem Town about the Runing and settleing the
west Linne between thee Town of salem and this village: viz: Lt Nathaniell putnam Mr. Daniell Andrew
ensigne Thomas Flint corporall Henry Keny and Corporall John Buxton these or the Major part of these
men shall have full power to transact about and to doe the work above said the best way they may or
can: and if they see cause to Hier an artise and thee Inhabitants to Bare ther charge
2ly It was agreed and voted By a Generall concurrance that whereas on the:: 9th: Day of April
1686 we past a vote to bargin wt Joseph Hutchinson for the Land the Meeting house stands on and
chose men for that end. we Doe now hereby Declare that: that vote is hereby made void: and the power
given to Daniell Andrew Jona walcott and Daniell Rea on yt: acct of non efect
3ly It was agreed and voted By a generall concurrance that whereas there was a vote past amongst
us: on the third Day of Septemd 1686 that ye Return of the committee we: ware chosen to bargin with
Joseph Hutchinson should be entered in the Book we doe Hereby Declare that that vote is hereby made
void: and the Return of Jonathan walcott Daniell Andrew and Daniell Rea: on yt acct of non efect
April
[43] The Bill of assistments which was Made In Salem village for to pay Mr: Lawsons salary In the
year: 1686: the whol Bill was sixty two pounds tenn shillings and nine pence besides Topsfield and
Beverly men: and the Remainder of the summe above said which was not paid the 20th of Geneneary
1686/7: being the summe of seventeen pounds seven shillings and eight pence: was committed to
constable Henry Kenney with a warrant under Major Gedneys Hand and seal bareing Date the tenth of
February 1686/7 with ordor to pay it according to the Direction of Thee Committee: paid out of the
summe above said To Major Gidney for signing the Remainder of this Bill of assistments: two
shilllings: paid to James Hadlack junr out of the summ above said for sweeping the Meeting House the
Last quarter of the year that Mr; Burroughs was Hear: 1s: 6d: paid and ordered to be paid to John
Sheepard out of the summ above said for sweeping the Meeting House 1p: 1s: 6d: abatted out of the
summ above said to Jacob Fuller: 2s: to Samuell Fuller: 2s: to John wilknes: ls: Dated this: 7th: of
April 1687: By ordor of Thee Committee
Tho putnam cler
