Page:History of Barrington, Rhode Island (Bicknell).djvu/537

 THE UNITED CONGREGATIONAL SOCIETY. 433 Humphrey, Samuel Allen, Samuel Allen, Physician, William Brown, Consider Tripp, Solomon Townsend, Joshua Bick- nell, Solomon Townsend, Jun., Nathaniel Smith, Samuel Bosworth, Ebenezer Tiffany, Joseph Bicknell, Kent Brown, Samuel Allen, Jun., Sylvester Viall, Thomas Allen, Benjamin Martin, Samuel Barnes, Asa Bicknell, Ebenezer Peck, Mat- thew Watson, Matthew Watson, Jun., John Barnes, Josiah Kinnicutt, and John Harding, being the aforesaid Peti- tioners, together with such other as they shall from time to time elect, shall forever hereafter be a Body politick and Cor- porate, by the name of The United Congregational Society in the Town of Barrington, for the purpose of raising a Fund, by free and voluntary subscriptions and otherwise for the support of public worship in the said Society." The Society was granted the right to receive, hold, and use subscriptions, contributions, donations, and legacies, lands, tenements, etc., for the use and benefit of the Congre- gational Church, the annual meetings to be held in May and quarterly meetings August, November, and February ; the ofificers to be a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer, with such others as the Society may choose. Nathaniel Smith was the first President, Asa Bicknell was the first Vice President, Joshua Bicknell, the first Treasurer, and Solomon Townsend the first Secretary. Seven mem- bers constituted a quorum. In the event that there are less than seven members, the books, and property of the Society shall be vested in the Congregational Society, (Church) late under the pastoral care of the said Mr. Town- send. After the grant of the charter and the formation of the Society, it assumed the ownership of the property and the management of the business affairs of the church. A fund was raised by the contribution of various benevolent indi- viduals, the proceeds of which were to be used for the sup- port of the ministry. This fund amounted to about $5,000, secured by gifts and legacies. The original contributors appear as follows : 28