Page:History of Barrington, Rhode Island (Bicknell).djvu/171

 ME. MYLES'S PASTORATE. 129 sciences, and so also the inhabitants to take their liberty to bring their children to baptize or forbear." True to his new convictions and desirous of uniting the elements around him in a harmonious and flourishing civil as well as religious community, he made his church the abode of all who sought a pure worship, untrammeled by sectarian tenets. On such a basis ]Ir. John Brown and Capt. Thomas Willett could build a hearty fellowship, and engage with earnest zeal with Messrs. Butterworth, Tanner, Alby, and Kingsley in the work of settlement of this church and civil plantation. -Mr. Myles's first residence in Swansea was near Barneys- ville. The bridge across the Sowams, or Palmer's River, was called Myles's Bridge. Myles Garrison, used for defence in Philip's War, was in the same neighborhood. In those early days of Massachusetts's history, even to times within an hundred years, the selection of the minister, the payment of his salary, and the question of his removal, were a part of the business of the towns at their annual meetings. While the larger number of the first families of Swansea were Bap- tists, several, as we have noted, were of the Congregational order. All, however, united most harmoniously in the elec- tion of Mr. Myles as their pastor for several years. His sal- ary was small, and, like Goldsmith's minister, he " Was passing rich with forty pounds a vear.'' His compensation was increased by the use of certain lands, denominated " pastors and teachers lots," set apart in the first division of the town for the support and benefit of the ministry. His congregation was scattered over a wide extent of territory, and although the majority of settlers had established themselves on New Meadow Neck, in the vicin- ity of the meeting-house and their pastor's residence, we find Mr. Willett's and Mr. Brown's families traveling from Wan- namoisett, a distance of five or six miles, and Hugh Cole and his neighbors from Kickemuit, a distance of three miles, and other families still, a distance of four or five miles from 9