Page:History of Barrington, Rhode Island (Bicknell).djvu/136

100 church. Under the government and protection of Plymouth Colony as they were, these people must bear their share of the burdens of the colony and the omnipresent tax assessor and collector visit the new proprietary of Sowams and levy and collect taxes from the permanent settlers in Sowams, on New Meadow and Peebee's Necks and at Wannamoisett.

As the tax book of Plymouth Colony was an unerring guide as to the presence of wealth and population, we find Sowams entered as a taxable community in 1652, the Indian contingent excepted. The following records relative to taxation of the people dwelling at Sowams and the rates of several towns, showing the comparative size of the neighborhoods, are of convincing importance:

Oct. 2, 1660. "Captn. Willett is to bee sent unto to put those that have lands att Sowamsett into some way for the leviing and paying of theire rates." 1661, June loth. "The naighborhood of Sowamsett is ordered to pay a rate of fifty shillings for the public charges of the countrey."

"It is ordered by the Court that the ward of Rehoboth shall extend into Sowamsett and unto all the naighbors there inhabiting."