Tarbell, came to Mr. Parris, from the meeting house, "where 

 there had been a general meeting of the inhabitants, and said, 

 "being the aged men had had the matter of Mr. Parris's set- 

 tlement so long in hand, and effected nothing, they were desir- 

 ous to try what the younger could do. Upon Mr. l^arris's ask- 

 ing them wliat their Avill was, they answered " they were sent, 

 by ye people to desire him to take office, and had concluded to 

 offer him sixty pounds for his salary." Twenty pounds of 

 Avhich, was to be in money, and the remainder as follows : 

 AVheat at 4 shillings per bushel, Indian Corn at 2 shillings per 

 bushel, Barley, Rye and Malt at 3 shillings per bushel. Pork 

 at 2 pence per. pound. Beef at 14 pence per. pound. 



The committee being desirous of a speedy answer, Mr. Parris 

 informed them, that he would accept of their proposals, provid- 

 ed they would comply with the following provisions for his 

 maintenance: 1st, "When money shall be more plenteous, 

 the money part to be paid me, shall accordingly be increased. 

 2d, Tho' Corn or like provisions should arise to a higher price 

 than you have set, yet for my own family use, I shall have what 

 is needful, at ye price now stated; and so if it fall lower. 

 3d, The whole sixty pounds to be only from our inhabitants, 

 that are dwelling in our bounds, or proportionable to what lands 

 they have, within ye same. 4th, No provision to be brought 

 in, without just asking whether needed, and myself to make 

 choice of what, unless ye person is unable to pay in any sort 

 but one. 5th, Fire wood to be given in yearly freely. 6th, 

 Two men to be chosen yearly to see that due payments be made. 

 7th, Contributions each sabbath in papers, and only such as are 

 in papers, and dwelling within in our bounds, to be accounted 

 as part of the sixty pounds. 8th, As God shall please to bless 

 ye place, so as to be able to rise higher, than ye said sixty 

 pounds, that then a proportionable increase be made. If God 

 shall please for our sins to diminish the substance of said place, 

 I will endeavour accordingly to bear such losses, by proportion- 

 able abatements of such as shall reasonably desire it." 



These proposals of Mr. Parris to the committee were read to 

 them and accepted, and they expressed their belief, that the in- 

 habitants would approve of them. But it would seem that at 

 a meeting of the people of the village, May 17th, 1689, Mr. Par- 

 ris was sent for, when objections were made against the 5th and 

 7th provisions of his settlement. " Touching the 5tb it was 

 objected, they had no commons, and therefore could not conven- 

 iently give in fire wood, because some must bring in ^ cord, 

 others more, others less, &c. Therefore they would allow six 

 pounds per annum, one third money, which would buy 30 cords, 



