Page:History of Barrington, Rhode Island (Bicknell).djvu/311

 TOWN DOINGS. 247 impound hogs running at large, and to execute ordinances as to swine. The town also elected representatives, or depu- ties, to the General Court. The following summary gives a good illustration of the legislation of a Massachusetts town, more than a century and a half ago. 1718. The record of the town officers chosen at the first election in 171 7 is lost. The first record appears under date of April 7, 1 71 8, Timothy Wadsworth, moderator. The town chose Timothy Wadsworth to serve on the grand jury and Edward Luther on the jury of trials; April 21, the town then and there "chose the Reverend Mr, Samuel Torrey to be the minister for the said town." "For the labor voted to give ;^ioo, as a settlement to the Reverend Mr. Samuel Torrey," "and this ;«^ioo to be his property if he continues our minister for ten years, otherwise to be re- turned to the town again, and it is further voted that if it should please God to take him away by death before the said term of ten years is out that his heirs shall have out of said sum the ration of ^{^lo a year so long as he shall labor our minister." Voted, "That the Rev. Mr. Samuel Torrey have ;^70 as a salary for the labor, so long as he continues our minister," to be collected by the constable, paid in to the town clerk and by him paid to the minister. Voted, "That Messrs. Zachariah Bicknell, James Adams and Sergeant Peck "be a comity to treat with the Rev- erend Mr. Samuel Torrey about what the town has voted " and to " report at this meeting's adjournment, this day fortnight, at five of the clock in the afternoon at the house of Zachariah Bicknell." Twenty-one inhabitants of the town entered their protest against being made respon- sible for the support of the ministry. These persons were Anabaptists and those in sympathy with them. August 4, " Reverend Samuel Torrey appeared at the town meeting and signified to the town that he accepted the call the town