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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1832 Ministerial Funds ReportREPORT OF A COMMITTEE APPOINTED BY A VOTE OF THE TOWN TO INVESTIGATE THE MINISTERIAL FUND OF LEXINGTON. CONCORD: PUBLISHED BY HERMAN ATWILL. 1832. REPORT OF A COMMITTEE APPOINTEE) BY A VOTE OF THE TOWN TO INVESTIGATE THE MINISTERIAL FUND OF LEXINGTON. CONCORD: PUBLISHED BY HERMAN ATWILL.. 1832. tS REPORT. GENTLEMEN, Your Committee have thought they would best discharge the duty entrusted to them by presenting you with all the facts which seemed pertinent to this inquiry in the language of the Records of this Town, and they have therefore embodied in the following extracts what matter those records furnish as to the " origin, accumulation, expenditure, and present situation of the Ministerial Fund," and shall accornpany the matter thus digested with such remarks as occur to them, to answer the avowed wishes of the friends of this investigation, and trust it will not be without its benefit to all the inhabitants of this town. The Commission to your Committee directs them to search the records of the town, and also the records of the ' Trustees of the Ministerial Fund,' so called, for the purpose of ascertaining in what manner said Fund originated, how it has accumulated and been expended from year to year, and whether any losses have been incurred, and if so, by whom, and to what amount ; and that said Committee go into a minute investigation, so as to give a full and fair explanation of the manner in which the said fund has been managed heretofore, and to give a full and fair exposition of the present state of the fund, as is required of the Trustees of said fund, by their act of incorporation." With these directions before them your Committee begin with giving you the first record of the precinct of " Cambridge Farms," now Lexington, which is in the follow- ing words : " 1692. .1pril 22d. 3d. It was voted, that Mr. Benjamin Easterbrooks shall be the man that shall be invited to preach 1 v 4 5 to them by a clear voat , and that he shall be spoken to, to preach to us a year from the first of May, 1692, and that Samuel Stone, Sen. and David Fiske, Sen. should speak to him to come and preach to us as above said." " 4th. It was voted we will give hire 40 pounds for a year, half in money (viz.) 20 pounds, and 20 pounds in other pay at money prices, and that it should be for his salary and to satisfy for his entertainment." " March 1st, 1693. It was voted, that a piece of land shall be bought for the ministry and payed for by the inhabitants by a rate. David Fiske, Sen., Sam. Stone, Sen., Ephriam Winship, Benjamin Muzzi, William Roe, and John Tidd shall treat with the Town of Cambridge to buy or obtain a piece of land for our ministry." March 24th, 1693. It was also voted, that we will empower men chosen to treat with the Selectmen of Cambridge and their Committee about the purchaseing the land about the cossy, and to make a full agreement with them either to buy the whole of said land or part of it (which they see fit) for our ministry ; and we engage to stand to what these men shall agree unto, and that we will bear, every one their proportion of money for the purchaseing said land. The men chosen as aforesaid were David Fiske, Sen., Samuel Stone, Sen., John Tidd, Ephraim Winship, Benjamin Muzzi, William Roe, Sen., William Read, Francis Bowman. These men met with the Selectmen of Cambridge, and bought all the common land aforenamed, name- ly, that on the east side of the cossy by measure for 10 shil- lings per acre, 12 acres, 6 pounds, and the rest of the common land on the other side and on the south side of Vine Brook Meadow for 12 pounds, all in money. This was done April 28th, 1693, as appears under the land of the Town Clerk (of Cambridge), Jonathan Remington. A rate was made for the payment of this money upon all the inhabitants." L " The rate made for the payment of the land bought of the town for the accommodating our ministry. • Mathew Bridge, Sen., William Roe, Sen., John Pourter, Samuel Winship, Thomas Smith, Ephriam Winship, John Smith, John Hinds, George Adams Jr., David Fiske, Sen., David Fiske, Jr., William Johson, William Cauley, John Johnson, Thomas Pauls, John Tidd, Joseph Tiid, Samuel Tiid, Daniel Tiid, Joseph Symons, Samuel Stone, Sen., John Stone, east, John Stone, west, Joseph Stone, Widow Merriam, X. s. 0 11 0 15 O 5 O 9 0 7 O 10 O 5 0 6 0 7 O 14 0 9 O 5 0 8 O 5 0 4 0 10 0 7 O 5 O 5 O 10 O 15 0 9 0 9 O 8 O 19 d. 8 0 0 3 0 6 9 0 5 10 3 8 0 9 5 0 0 00 5 0 19 18 10 Joseph Merriam, John Merriam, Samuel Stone, west, Samuel Stone, east, Isack Stearns, John Winter, Thomas Cutler John Cutler, Mathew Bridge Jr. Isiah Mead, Thomas Mead, Joseph Lock, Phillip Russell, Willam Reed, Samuel Whitmore, Benjamin Muzzi, John Russel, Widow Bowman, John Stearns, Francis Bowman, David Stone, Daniel Stone, Widow Knight, James Wilson X. s. d. 0 7 5 0 7 11 0 3 9 0 7 7 O 7 7 O 7 6 0 9 2 O 5 3 O 7 8 0 10 0 O 3 7 0 7 4 O 9 3 O 9 5 O 8 6 O 11 5 0 11 0 O 7 10 0 7 5 0 10 1 0 3 0 O 2 6 O 2 6 0 3 0 SAMUEL STONE, JOHN IIID, Assessors." DAVID FISKE, " .March 4, 1695. It was also voted, that Mr. Benjamin Easterbrooks shall have liberty to take three hundred of rails of the land bought of the town of Cambridge and three score and ten posts." July 26, 1695. Att a meeting of the inhabitants legally warned and a full meeting, it was voted, that we shall gather a church and ordain Mr. Benjamin Easterbrook. 2d. It was voted, that the meetinghouse should first be repaired, and that the body of seats shall be driven back, and that there shall be a table set up before the body of seats the whole length of the body of seats, and that the meetinghouse shall be sealed with pine bords, and l►andsome seats for women made on each side of the meetinghouse, raised to a convenient height, of which 6 that on the east side next the door shall be for Mrs. Easter - brook." " March 6, 1704. At a public meeting of the inhAitants of Cambridge Farms legally warned and orderly assembled, the proprietors of the ministerial land did also think it conven- ient to- renew and settle the bounds of said land, and to that purpose did give order to Captain William Read, Mr. Francis Bowman, and Phillip Russell, as a committee to renew and settle the bounds of said land and to inspect it till further orders." " Att a meeting occasionally called in this precinct 20th of this instant, June, 1705, upon a motion made from the Town Clerk of Cambridge for the remainder of money due for the land purchased for the ministry, it is unanimously agreed, that an assessment be made upon the inhabitants of said precinct in general, that the whole precinct may be engaged in the purchase and so in the proprietary of said land, or else that a piece of said land be disposed of for the disbursement and satisfaction of the debt, and in pursuance thereof the Assessors now in being are desired to take care to warn a general meet- ing of all inhabitants belonging to the precinct for the effecting hereof as soon as may be." " Att a public meeting of the inhabitants of this precinct, July the 13th, 1705, these votes were passed : 1st. Whereas a parcel of land was purchased of the town for the ministry for 18 pounds, of which there yet remains a part due ; whether the whole precinct shall forthwith be assessed in general and. the whole 18 pounds be justly proportioned in a tax upon them for the payment of it — Voted in the affirmative. 2d. That the Assessors now in being shall proportion said assessment upon the freeholds and freeholders within said precinct, and take the minister's rate for their rate in so doing, and commit a list to the Collector, together with a warrant for the gathering of the same ; and to pay it into the Assessors by the 24th of December, 1705. Voted in the affirmative." Your Committee think the inquiry as to the " origin " and the object of the present fund is fully answered in the preceding extracts. 7 Att a public meeting of the inhabitants of Cambridge Farms, March 4, 170-, it was also agreed and voted, that the Assessors of this precinct shall give an account of the bigness of all assessments that came into their hands, and how they were expended, at their next meeting, annually ; it was also agreed and voted, that the town be requested to allow six pounds out of the town rates for the incouragement of a school in the precinct, and also that the Great and General Court be petitioned that we may have a record and register in the pre- cinct. Captain WILLIAM REED, Mr. JOSEPH EASTERBROOKS, Mr. FRANCIS BOWMAN, Mr. THOMAS BLOGGIT, was chosen to prosecute these things. Also agreed that the precinct should reimburse those gentlemen for what money they spent upon that occasion, and also that they should have 20s. that was in the hands of the Assessors for the last year." " March 1, 1703. Voted, that the Rev. Mr. Hancock have tirnber of the parish land to repair his buildings and fences and for fire wood." It does not appear by the Records that any income whatever was derived from the ministerial land for 17 years after the purchase of the same ; and that no wood or timber was taken therefrom for any purpose, except in the two instances for their ministers, Messrs. Easterbrooks and Hancock, is also manifest from the Records. " March 5, 17017. Received in money of Capt. Easter - brook for timber sold of the ministerial land, by a committee ordered to do it, £7. 3s. 6d. and that said money is left in the hands of Mr. Samuel Stone." " February 23, 170,'-3. 2d. 'Voted, that they will let the un- dertakers have £7. 3s. 6d. in money that is now in the hands of Mr. Samuel Stone belonging to the precinct onward to pay for the meetinghouse. 6th. They have also granted liberty to sell more timber for the frame of the meetinghouse. 7th. That the committee have liberty to sell the boat crooks for a public advantage." 8 9 .flugust 30, 1714. Att a meeting of the Selectmen it was agreed that Deacon John Merriam, Sergent John Munro, and Mathew Bridge be a committee to renew or settle the line between the Rev. Mr. Jno. Hancock's meadow and the minis- terial land." " .May 31, 1717. 3d. Voted, that the committee for the ministerial land should have their instructions as follows, viz. 1st. To keep up the bounds. 2d. To make money of any de- caying timber if they see cause. 3d. To take care if none tres- pass by takeing off any thing therefrom." "May 14, 1724. 6th. Voted Mr. Thomas Cutler, Mr. Sam- uel Winship, and Mr. John Stone, Jr., be a committee to inspect the ministerial land in said town, and not to cut nor sell no wood nor timber of said land, said comrnittee having nothing to do with the trees that were cut down before they were chosen that would make ship timber, Daniel Munro having liberty to git out said trees and cary off the shiptimber of said land, he paying into the town treasury so much per tree as he had agreed for." Att a meeting of the Selectmen of Lexington, January 25, 1725, Deacon Stone brought a receipt of £4. 7s. 2d. that he had paid at Cambridge for Hannah Bailey's board, and one shilling and sixpence he had paid to Paul, which made it £4. 8s. 8d. and he had received 3 pounds of Lieut. Munro, which money Lieut. Munro received of Daniel Munro in part for shiptimber of the ministerial land." " .March 1, 1725. Then received of Lieut. Munro thir- teen shillings in full for shiptimber that was cut upon the min- isterial land, which 13 shillings was delivered to Deacon Stone to pay in part for Hannah Bailey's nursing." " March 13, 1728. Voted to leave it to the Selectmen to give the committee of the ministerial land their instructions." " Att a meeting of the Selectmen, May 15, 1728. Then or- dered the Clerk to inform the committee of the ministerial land that they desired them forthwith to see what decaying timber that there was on the ministerial land that would do to peal for bark, and cause them to be pealed, and to attend at another meeting of the Selectmen to receive further instruc- tions, as was voted by the town. Said committee is also desired to deliver to the Town Treasurer the money you have in your hands that you received for timber of the ministerial land, for it is very much wanted to provide for the poor." By the preceding record for a few years it appears, that the small income from the ministerial land was not merged in the general expenses of the town, and by being used for the sup- port of the poor it was undoubtedly considered at that time as not being misdirected from its legitimate object. The support of the parish poor and that of the minister were then synony- mous terms. " May 16, 1728. Then received of Mr. Thomas Cutler, one of the committee of the ministerial land, 40s. which he had received for timber of the ministerial land, by me, Benjamin Wellington, Town Treasurer." " Att a meeting of the Selectmen of Lexington, September 30, 1728. Then according to the vote of the town at last May meeting, they gave the instructions to the committee of the ministerial land as followeth, viz. That the committee shall have full power to sell and dispose of all the wood or timber that is now cut down or fell on said land, except what Mr. Hancock has fell for his own use, and also to sell and dispose of such trees as are decaying, and to give account of what money they have received or are to receive to the Select- men on the last Monday of April next, and pay the same into the town treasury." Again the parish income is called upon to contribute to an object intimately connected with parish objects, as will be per- ceived by the following settlement. " A.tt a meeting of the Selectmen of Lexington, October 2, 1729, then received the account of the charges paid by Mr. Thomas Cutler for the burial cloath, viz. 2 10 3 yards of broadcloth at 3£. 11s. Od. per yard £ 10. 13s. Od. Lineing and Furbalow . . . . . 2 9 3 Binding 3s. expence 4s. 10d. a bag to put it in 7s. 1 0 10 making 6s. £14 3 1 And allowed Mr. Cutler 8s. for a lock for the school -house. Then the Town Treasurer received 3 pounds money of said Cutler, in all received of Mr. Thomas Cutler at that time was £17. lls. Old. in part of what he had received for timber, wood, bark, &c., offthe ministerial land, as the town's committee in behalf of the town." " Dec. 29, 1729. Voted to instruct the committee of the ministerial land to take so much timber from the ministerial land as would be necessary to build galleries in the meeting- house." " Att a rneeting of the Selectmen of Lexington, March 2, 17. Then allowed Mr. John Muzzey £4 for ringing the bell and sweeping the meetinghouse the year past, ending March 1, 17V,-. Then Mr. Muzzey said that he had received as much old wood of the ministerial land as satisfied him in full for the said four pounds." " Att a Selectmen's meeting, February 26, 1731, reckoned with Thomas Cutler, Samuel Winship, and John Stone, Jr., the committee of the ministerial land, and found £12. 15s. 11d. due to the town ; allowed said committee £6. Os. Od. for their services in that affair out of said sum. Remains in John Muzzy's hands £4. Paid out of it 4s. to Mr. Munro Smith for work done for the town. Received of said committee £2. 11s. 11d. all which sums make £12. 15s. 11d. ; ordered the Clerk to pay £2. 11 s. 11d. into the treasury." Here, it will be perceived, is the accumulation of £7. 11s. 11d. viz. £2. Os. Od. in 1728, £3. Os. Od. in settlement 1729, and £2. lls. lld. in 1732, which appears to have been all the net income, or rather all the unexpended income from the minis- terial land for eight years to 1732, the tiwe which the above named committee served in the office of guardians of this land. 11 " Att a meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants of the town of Lexington, May 21, 1733: Voted to choose a com- mittee to inspect the rninisterial ]and. Voted 1st. Mr. Richard Orms, 2d. Mr. Daniel Munro, 3d. Mr. Joseph Merriam. Voted, that the Selectmen shall give said committee their instructions." Att a meeting of the Selectmen of Lexington, May 28, 1733. Gave instructions to the committee of the ministerial land, which are as followeth : That the said committee shall have full power to sell and dispose of all the wood or timber that 's now down or fell on said land, except what Mr. Han- cock has cut or ordered to be cut for his own use, and to sell or dispose of the trees as are decaying, and to give account of what ►coney they have received or to receive for said wood or timber to the Selectmen by the last Monday of April, 1734." Att a meeting of the Selectmen of Lexington, February 24, 1735. Allowed John Orms and Mr. Joseph Merriam five shillings each and five shillings in their hands for Daniel Mun- ro's widow, he being one of the committee with them of the ministerial land, and received five shillings, being in full, as they say, of all the money they had received for wood, timber, bark, &c. of the ministerial land while they were a committee." " Att a meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants of Lexington, May 27, 1734: Voted to chose a committee to in- spect the ministerial land ; 1st. Lieut. John Munro, 2d. Benja- min Smith, 3d. John Bridge. Voted that no person of the town shall have liberty to git any wood for the schools &c. off the rninisterial land." " Att a meeting of the Selectmen of Lexington, February 10, 1735. Benjamin Smith, one of the committee of the min- isterial land, came and informed the Selectmen that they had sold as much wood to Mr. John Muzzy of said land as he is to pay into the town treasury fifty shillings. Then received of Mr. Phillip Russell twenty-eight shillings, being due to the town for bark of the rninisterial land ; which was delivered to Ben- jamin Wellington." 12 ".March 3, 1735. This order was passed to the Town Treas- urer : — to Mr. John Muzzy eight pounds three shillings and eight pence for sweeping the meetinghouse, ringing the bell, entertaining the Selectmen, drink at Chamberlain's funeral, with a order to the Treasurer to receive fifty shillings of said Muzzy for wood he had of the ministerial land." ".May 5, 1735. Att a meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants of Lexington : Voted, that no wood nor timber be fell on the ministerial land until next March meeting, except what Mr. Hancock has occasion for for fire -wood and fences." " Att a meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants of the town of Lexington, March 1, 1736. Then received the report of the committee, namely, Mr. Joseph Fasset, Mr. Isaac Bowman, and Mr. Daniel Simonds, who were appointed by the town to consider and give their thoughts whether it was proper for the town to dispose of a piece of the ministerial land petitioned for by Mr. John Bridge, whose report was, that they thought it not proper for the town to part with it. Voted to see if the town would continue the former or last instructions to the coalmitte of the ministerial land until May meeting next. It passed in the affirmative." " Att a meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants of the town of Lexington, May 20, 1737. (10th.) Voted that the cornmittee for the ministerial land sell nothing off said land till further orders." "May 21, 1739. (6th.) Voted, that the former committee have power to dispose of the old wood that is down in the ministerial land, and that which is dead." This committee paid into the treasury frorn the year 1733 to 1741, £4. 3s. Od. making the fund now £11. 14s. ild. " Att a meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants of the town of Lexington, May 15, 1741. (6th.) Voted to choose a committee to take care of the ministerial land ; 1st. Daniel Tidd, 2d. Joseph Bridge, 3d. Nathan Merriam ; also voted, that the committee should not either cut or sell any wood from off the said land. Voted the said committee should prosecute any person that should trespass on said ministerial land." t 13 It does not appear on the Records that any money was re- ceived by sale of wood or timber from off the ministerial land from 1741 to 1752. Applications were twice made in the warrants for town meeting for a supply of wood sufficient for the schools ; but at neither time was the application sustained. " Att a meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants of the town of Lexington, May 18, 1752; also voted to take the old wood that is dead on the ministerial land for said school by the order of a committee, viz. Mr. John Bridge, Mr. Jonas Roe, Mr. Joseph Loring. Voted that those that live within two miles shall for every child bring two feet of wood from said land to the school -house." " Att a meeting of freeholders and other inhabitants of the town of Lexington duly assembled in town meeting, December 5, 1753. (4th.) Voted the school to be supplied with old wood off the ministerial land, and the former committee that had the ordering said wood last year to continue in the same trust this year." " Att a meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants of the town of Lexington, 10th day of June, 1754. (4th.) Voted the said Mr. Putnam shall have 25 cords of firewood yearly to be delivered at his place of abode in said town. (5th.) Voted the said Mr. Putnam in case he takes up and is set- tled in the ministry among us shall for ever as minister quit all manner of claim, title, or interest in or unto any part of the ministerial land in this town." " Att a meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants of the town of Lexington, lst day of August, 1755 : Also voted, to give Mr. Jonas Clarke 20 cords of wood at the place of his abode in this town, annually, for his fuel, to begin 3 years after his ordination in this town." A number of grants were made this year by the Selectmen for fencing the ministerial land by order of the town, some of which was done in labor by those who hired some patches of land which had been cleared, and your Committee are of opinion that the payment for the residue of the labor for this 14 purpose, and payment for superintending the land, might absorb the small income from the ministerial land up to this date. An important item to consume the receipts from this time until the year 1770 will be found in the expense of cutting and carting twenty cords of wood yearly to the Rev. Mr. Clarke, and for clearing up the swamp where the wood had been cut. " Att a meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants of the town of Lexington, 17th of May, 1756. (12th.) Voted to sell the wood standing on ten acres of the ministerial land. Also voted to choose a committee of three men for said affair, viz. lst. Deacon John Stone, 2d. William Read Esq., 3d. Mr. Joseph Bridge. Also voted the wood shall be disposed of within three years as the committee shall think proper." Att a meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants of Lexington, 10th of January, 1757. (6th.) Accepted the report of the committee that was chose to sell the wood that was upon ten acres of the ministerial land, and ordered the said report to be put upon the town hooks, and is as follows, viz. Lexington, January 8, 1757. The report of the committee chose by the town of Lexington, May the 17th 1756, to sell the wood upon ten acres of the ministerial land, have met and laid out about ten acres in the ministerial swamp joining to Marret Munroe's, and have laid it into lots and numbered them, and sold the wood to the persons hereafter mentioned, (excepting the pines that are marked,) amounting in all to £22. Os. Od." " 13th of February, 1758. Warrant for town meeting March 6th. Article 6th. To see if the town will upon the re- quest of a number of inhabitants of this town sell the whole or any part of the ministerial land in this town for the benefit of said town, as they shall think proper." This article was continued along by adjournment from one meeting to another for nearly a year, and finally disappeared without being acted upon. " Meeting March 6, 1758. Also voted to allow the com- mittee that sold the wood off of the ministerial land £2. 10s. Od. and Mr. Joseph Bridge personally appeared and entered his 4 15 dissent against said vote. Voted to continue the article about seling the ministerial land till May meeting." " Att a meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants of the town of Lexington, 1 lth of .May, 1758 : Voted, that the school shall be supplied with wood from off of the ministerial land, if the quarters of the town `see fit under the restrictions of a committee." Lexington, .May 9, 1758. Then reckoned with Mr. Jonas Stone, Town Treasurer, for the whole of the money that he has received in and paid out for the town, except the bonds and notes that was given for the wood and timber that was sold off of ten acres of swamp in the ministerial land. BENJAMIN SMITH, THADDEUS BOWMAN, SAMUEL BRIDGE,Selectmen." JONAS MUNRO, JOSEPH LORING, } By this settlement your Committee are further sustained in the opinion before expressed, that what money was received for wood, timber, &c. sold from the ministerial land, was kept entirely separate and distinct from the current expenses of the town. " Att a meeting of the Selectmen, 29th of January, 1759, in the warrant for a town meeting 5th day of March next. Article 4th. To see if the town will sell to Mr. Marret Munro two acres of the ministerial land lying upon the south side of the county road in this town." No record is to be found showing in what manner this arti- cle was disposed of. " Att a meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants of the town of Lexington, 21st of May, 1759 : Voted to accept the report of the committee which was chosen to view the ministerial swamp, which report was as follows ; that they thought it proper to fence it. Voted to chose a committee. Also voted the said committee is empowered to see that said land is subdued and fenced and sowed with foul meadow grass, 16 and let it out for a number of years. Also voted, that the committee should serve without pay. Then proceeded to the choice of the committee, which were as follows, viz. 1st Mr. Joseph Bridge, 2d. Isaac Bowman, Esq. 3d. Mr. John Muzzy, 4th. Mr. Thomas Fessenden, 5th. i%Ir. Henry Harrington. Also voted to leave it to the Selectmen to give said committee pro- per instructions." " Lexington, .March 3d, 1760. Samuel Bridge paid the Town Treasurer LO. 12s. Od. for a tree said Bridge bought off of the ministerial land." " Att a meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants of Lexington, 12th of May, 1760 : Voted, not to take the wood off the town's land for the schools : also voted not to act any- thing on the sixth article in the warrant, which was to see if the town would build a house on the ministerial land for the town's use." " Att a meeting of the freeholders and others of the town of Lexington, 22d day of May, voted that the committee shall take the wood off of the ministerial land for the school where it will do least damage." " Att a meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants of the town of Lexington, 15th day of June, 1761 : Then voted to hang the Bell upon the top of the hill upon the north side of Lieut. Jonas Munroe's house. Voted, that Lieut. Ebenezer Fiske, Major Reed, Isaac Bowman, Esq. Benjamin Smith, and Ensign Daniel Tidd be a cotntnittee to erect a conven- ient building on the aforesaid hill to hang the Bell on. Voted to take the timber off of the ministerial land for said building. Voted, that the committee take timber off of the ministerial land for the school -house. Voted, that the skirts have liberty to take wood off of the ministerial land for writeing or women's school." " Att a meeting of the Selectmen of Lexington, 31st day of July, 1763: Then granted an order to pay the Rev. Mr. Clark £2. 13s. 4d. it being for his excepting his twenty cords of wood." 17 " Att a meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants of the town of Lexington, 4th day of March, 1765: Voted to clear the Ministerial Swamp, as mentioned in the 5th article in the warrant. Voted to leave the care of getting said Swamp cleared as aforesaid to the Selectmen." " Att a meeting of the Selectmen on the 28th day of Au- gust, 1765: Made an agreement with Mr. William Munro, Mr. Jonas Munro, Mr. Marrit Munro, and each of them, to clear the brush and to cut up all the bogs and hossacks upon the northerly side of the brook in the Ministerial Swamp, which lately had the wood cleared off, excepting such as have stumps in them. The land to be made smooth and fit for mowing. The brush and hossacks to be consumed by fire or carried away. The work to be done by the first of March next; and the above gen- tlemen having performed said work to agreement, to the ac- ceptance of the Selectmen by the time perfixed, they are to receive £49. 10s. Od. old tenor, which the Selectmen in behalf of the town promise to pay." " Att a meeting of the Selectmen, 13th day of March, 1766, also rented out the Ministerial Pasture lying upon the westerly side of the Stones road, to Messrs. William Munro, Daniel Harrington, and Joseph Lock, Jr. for the term of one year, for two pounds six shillings, for which sum they gave the Treasurer a note, and they are to cut the brush in one of the three summer months. Also, rented out the town's meadow upon the northerly side of Concord road to Mr. William Muzzey, for one year, for ten shillings and eight pence, for which sum he gave the Treasurer a note. Also, rented out the town's pasture lying upon the easterly side of the Stones road, to Mr. Sam- uel Stone Jr., for one year, for two pounds, for which sum he gave the Treasurer a note. All the above persons agreed to cut the brush in one of the three summer months." " Att a meeting of the Selectmen on the 30th day of March, 1767 : Then rented out the improvements on the Ministerial Land under the town's care. The best pasture to Mr. Wil- liam Munro Jr., Mr. Joseph Lock, Mr. Daniel Harrington, 3 for one year, for £2. 8s. 8d. Rented out the best meadow to Mr. Nathaniel Mulliken, for £2. 6s. Od. Then rented out the other pasture and small piece of meadow to Mr. William Muzzey, for £2. 13s. 4d. for which sums they gave the Treas- urer a note." Att a meeting of the Selectmen, 29th of January, 1770: Granted an order to pay Ebenezer Munro £3. 5s. 4d. in full for cutting and carting the Rev. Mr. Clark's wood, as by agreement with the committee." Grants of this nature were annually made, and it is only in- troduced now to show a probable charge upon the small in- come of rents for the improved land. " Att a meeting of the Selectmen, 30th of April, 1770 : Granted an order to pay Bowman Brown £4. 7s. 5d. 2q. for his building twenty-six rods of wall on the town's land." " Att a meeting of freeholders and other inhabitants of Lexington, May 21, 1770: Voted, that the money for which the town's land sold for, to Mr. Robert More, should be put into the hands of the committee chosen to let out the Bridge Farm money, and they are to let it out in the same manner for the use of the town." Your committee have in vain searched the record to ascertain the amount which the land was sold for, to Mr. More. They find only that it was sold by order of the town on the 26th day of March, 1770, at public vendue, and that " 6s. was allowed Mr. Bowman for venduing." " Att a meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants of Lexington, 4th day of March, 1771 : Voted to take the old wood that is dead and decaying on the town's land for the use of the poor in this town, when the town is obliged to find them in wood." " Att a meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants of Lexington, May 20, 1771 : Voted to sell the wood off of four acres of the swamp land on the south side of the brook belonging to the town. Chose to oversee, Mr. Samuel Bridge, Deacon Brown, Joseph Simonds. Voted said committee shall sell said wood in quarter acre lots at public vendue." 19 " Att a meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants of the town of Lexington, 2d of March, 1772: Voted, that the money for which -the wood on the town's .land was sold for in December, 1771, should be put into the hands of the Bridge Farm committee to be put to interest for the town's use during the town's pleasure. Voted, that the said money be collected into large sums, viz. £100 or thereabouts." " Att a meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants of Lexington, the 6th day of November, 1775 : Then upon the moderator's being acquainted that a committee from the Gen- eral Court had signified to the Selectmen and Committee of Correspondence of this town, that there was great want of wood in the army, and desired that this town would afford what help they could : the same being laid before the town, Voted, that 50 cords of wood, at 6s. 8d. per cord standing, be forthwith sold off the town's land for the use of the army, and after that quantity 50 cords more if necessary. Voted, that Mr. John Bridge Jr., Mr. John Chandler, Mr. Mathew Mead, be a committee to appoint where said wood shall be cut, and to collect the money for the same." " Att a meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants of the town of Lexington, January 1st, 1776 : Voted to cut 100 cords of wood off the town's Swamp Land. Voted to allow those who shall transport said wood, to the Camp at Prospect Hill, 16s. per cord for the same. Voted, that those who transport said wood shall deliver their receipts for the same to the Wood Committee, who are to draw the money, and pay the carters. Voted to allow those who cut the wood which they cart, 1 s. 4d. per cord." " Att a meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants of Lexington, January 15, 1776 : Voted to cut so much more wood off the town's swamp as will, with the 100 cords voted last meeting, make 300 cords. Voted to cut the wood standing on the road on Fisk's hill, so called, for the use of the army, and to be included in the said 300 cords." " Monday, March the 18th 1776. The town met according to adjournment. Voted to fence the town's land on the south 20 side of the road, leading to Deacon Stone's. Voted, that it be fenced with a good and sufficient stone wall. Vot- ed, that Messrs. John Chandler, Thomas Parker, and Capt. John Bridge be a committee to get the land fenced as soon as possible, to secure the snowing land from being fed this spring. Voted, that £ 100. Os. Od. of the money, for which the wood was sold off the town's land, for the use of the army, now in the hands of the committee chosen for that purpose, be put into the hands of the committee of the town's loan money, to be put to use. Voted, that the committee for wood keep the remain- der of the money now in their hands, to pay for the fencing of the town's land, voted to be fenced as aforesaid, and that they return an account of the overplus, if any, to the town, as soon as said land is fenced. Voted, that the money for which the town's wood has been sold, now in the hands of the Select- men, be delivered to the committee of the town's loan money, to be put out to interest as aforesaid." We infer from the last clause in this vote, that the monies received for wood, timber, rents, &c. (previous to that for wood sold the army,) from the Ministerial Land, was so kept, as to be distinctly accounted for by the Selectmen, or Treasurer. What amount was at this period in the hands of the Selectmen does not appear from the records. It probably was but small, as the money for the four hundred cords of wood, furnished the army, did not pass into their hands, but was retained by the committee appointed to manage that grant, until they were di- rected by a vote of the town to place the balance, which might remain in their hands after answering the bills for fencing the town's land, in the hands of the committee of the town's loan money. " Att a meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants of the town of Lexington, May 20, 1776 : Granted Capt. John Bridge L1. 3s. 10d. in full for his time and expenses as one of the committee for time wood supplied the continental army. Allowed Mr. John Chandler £2. lls. 1Od. 2q. for the like service ; also allowed Mr. Mathew Mead the surn of £2. l ls. 1Od. 2q. for the like service." 4 21 " Att a meeting of the Selectmen, March 24, 1777 : Rented the improvements on the town's land to the following persons, viz. - the best pasture to Mr. Phineas Smith, at £3. 14s. 8d. East Pasture to Mr. Solomon Pierce, at £2. 10s. 8d. South Meadow to Benjamin Danforth at £5. l s. 4d. North Meadow, South Division, to Thomas Fox, at £1. 5s. 4d. North Meadow, North Divisor, to Mr. Phineas Smith, for £2. Os. Od. ; and all the above persons gave their notes to the Treasurer for their respective sums, except Mr. Phineas Smith, and all agreed to cut the brush as usual." " Att a meeting of the Selectmen, November 17, 1777. Arti- cle 5th. To see if the town will take all the money, or part for which the wood was sold for, to supply the army, to help pay the town charges." Att a meeting of the freeholders, and other inhabitants, of the town of Lexington, November 24, 1777: Voted to act nothing on the 5th Article in the warrant." As early as 1777 it will be perceived, the subject was agitat- ed of diverting the income of the Ministerial Land from the purpose, which was wisely intended in the purchase of the land, to pay the town charges ; and it would seem that if at any time such a purpose could be sustainer) by a vote of the town, it might well have been at that period, when the demands for prosecuting the war, and a depreciating currency imposed upon our yeomanry a denial of ahnost the necessaries of life, in order to meet the constant requisitions of the taxgatherers. The pecuniary burthens of those days may be gathered from the fact, that this small town was assessed in the sum of £2001. 14s. Od. for the year 1778 ; of its value, however, some idea may be formed, from a " grant of the Selectmen, February 3d 1778, to pay Mr. Jonathan Harrington, £1. 15s. Od. for 2 bushel of salt, and Li. 4s. 9d. for 32 pecks of Indian meal. February 6, 1780, granted an order to pay Capt. Brown £9. Os. Od. for cutting and carting a load of wood, from the town's land to Amos Russell's wife ; also an order to pay Lieut. Mun- ro £13. 4s. Od. for 7 pounds of salt pork, at Ll. 10s. Od. per pound, and for sledding wood to Amos Russell's." 22 " Att a meeting of the Selectmen, February 1, 1778. Article 2d. To see if the town will sell the broken wood on the town's land, and the pine wood standing near the Stones road, on said land, and appropriate the money said wood shall sell for towards making up the deficiencies in the town's first grant for the arrearages in the Rev. Mr. Clark's salary." " Att a meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants of the town of Lexington, February 6, 1 781 : Voted to sell the broken wood, and the pine wood, on the town's land, as set forth in the warrant for this meeting. Also voted, that the money, which said wood shall be sold for, shall be appropriat- ed towards making up the deficiencies in the town's first grant for the arrearages in the Rev. Mr. Clark's salary. Also voted the sum of £2394. Os. Od. to purchase the remainder of the corn due to the Rev. Mr. Clark, for the arrearages in his salary. Voted, a committee of twelve be chosen to pur- chase said corn." " Att a meeting of the Selectmen, January 11, 1781, Deacon Stone, Deacon Joseph Loring, and Deacon B. Brown, committee of the town's loan money, brought receipts to the Selectmen, that shewed that they had paid the interest of the town's money delivered to their care in full to the year 1777, and part of the year 1778, excepting the interest of a sum of money in the town's hands ; also excepting four small notes, for lots of wood in the swamp, sold by order of the town. Said notes given by William Munro, Eben. Smith, and Samuel Fessen- den. The whole of which notes is £6. 3s. 8d. JOSHUA REED, WILLIAM REED, Selectmen." AMOS MARRIT, "Att the above meeting notes of the following description were prepared by the above said committee, to be delivered to Messrs. John Chandler, Joseph Simonds, and Thomas Fessen- den, committee for the town's loan money ; viz. two continental receipts, one dated 15th of April, 1779, the other dated 23d of 23 April, 1779, no interest paid on said receipts, £120. Os. Od. One Treasurer's note, dated`December 1, 1777, 78 9 0 with one year's interest paid on the same, One do. dated Dec. 6, 1777 one year's int. paid 86 10 0 4, CC" June, 26, 1778 " " " " 77 13 0 cc cc" Feb. 20, 25, 1778 " CC cc63 0 0 CC cc " Dec. 1, 1777 " cc cc 21 0 0 CC CC" Mar. 24, 1778 " cc cc LC20 0 0 " Jan. 13, 1778 " " " 10 0 0 A bond of Josiah Smith, dated January 13, 1767, twelve year's interest paid, 13 6 8 The above said wood notes, interest paid on one, 6 3 8 Total Principal £496 4 4 Except " the sum of money in the town's hands," the atnount of which your committee were unable to ascertain, it is believed the above sum of £496. 4s. 4d. was all the net ac- cumulation from the ministerial or town's land, up to this date, and of its value, then, some conjecture may be formed from the " order of the Selectmen February 20th, 1781, to pay Joel Viles £15. Os. Od. in full for mending Jane Coffin's shoes, and a pair of shoes for Mary Pike, said Pike's shoes being £30. Os. Od. ;" and the Assessor's list to the constables, to collect as the tax for this town for this year, was £72993. 12s. 8d. 2q. and the Assessor's crave the following allowance, viz. To John Chandler 23 days, at £9 per day, 207 0 0 To Ditto, for 20 sheets paper, at 12s. per sheet, 12 0 0 To Josiah Smith, 8 days, at £9 per day, 72 0 0 To Joseph Mason, 194: " " 9 " " 175 10 0 '' £466 10 0 " Att a meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants of the town of Lexington, March 6, 1781 : Voted, that the in- terest of the money for which part of the Ministerial Land was sold for, and the interest of money for which wood has been sold for, not appropriated otherwise ; also the annual rent of said land shall be appropriated for the use of, and towards paying the Rev. Mr. Clark's salary. " From this time forward, the interest of the money received heretofore, unappropriated, and hereafter for wood, timber, or rents, of the Ministerial Land, excepting such as might be L I j a 1 24 deemed necessary outlays in a prudent protection of the land, were applied to that object which was subsequently confirmed by the act of incorporation. " Meeting of the Selectmen, April 22d, 1782. Neat pro- ceeds of the wood sold off the town's land, and rent of the Im- provements on the same, £20. 11s. 10d." " Att a meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants of Lexington, September 22d, 1783 : Voted, that the timber for building said house for the poor be taken from the town's land. Voted to take wood off the town's land to purchase bricks for the house, providing for the poor of said town." " Meeting of the Selectmen, April 26, 1784. Article 6th. To see if the town will sell a quantity of wood from the ministerial land, and appropriate the proceeds of the same towards the support of their minister, in such way and manner as shall be most to the advantage of the town." " Att a meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants of the town of Lexington, October 18, 1784 : Voted, that the wood standing on 4 acres of the ministerial land, adjoining the land of Mr. Marritt Munro, be sold off in such way and man- ner as shall be most to the advantage of the town. Voted, that Mr. Chandler, Major Bridge, and Lieut. Fessenden be a corn- mittee to sell said wood. Voted, that Mr. Isaac Hastings and Col. Munro be added to said committee. Voted, that said committee suffer none of the Wood they may sell from said land, to be carried off the ground until the money is paid. Voted, that said committee sell said wood for the securities of this commonwealth, also purchase said securities with the mon- ey they shall take for said wood." " Att a meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants of Lexington, January 23d, 1786 : Voted, that the committee appointed in the year 1784, to sell wood off the ministerial land, shall purchase no more state notes with the money which they, or any of them, now have, or may have in their hands for wood and timber sold offthe ministerial land. Voted, that said committee pay into the Town Treasurer forthwith all the money which they now have, or may have in their r 25 hands for wood and timber sold off said ministerial land. Voted, that if any of said committee; that are indebted to the town for wood or timber, sold off the ministerial land, shall neglect or refuse to pay the money for the same, or refuse to give their notes of hand for the sum or sums, which they are indebted bearing date the 23d day of January, 1786, upon demand with interest, until paid, with good and sufficient securities to the town, then, and in that case, the Town Treasurer is to put their accounts in suit." At a meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants of Lexington, April 3, 1786 = Voted, that the money for which the wood and timber sold off the ministerial land, be forthwith put to use upon good securities given for the same. Voted, that the money that now is, or may be in the hands of the Town Treasurer, for wood sold off the ministerial land, be put into the hands of the committee of the town's loan money, to be put to interest. " Meeting of the Selectmen, March 15, 1790. Let the improvements on the ministerial land, viz. the great pasture to Mr. William Abbot, for £1. 16s. Od. ; the meadow on the south side of the brook, for £1. 18s. Od. to Col. Munro." " At a meeting of the Selectmen, April 23, 1792. Article 11th. On request of a number of inhabitants, to see if the town will call in a sufficient sum of the parish money, and settle with the Rev. l\Ir. Clark to the present time." " Meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants of Lex- ington, May 7, 1792: Voted not to act any thing on the 11th article in the warrant." " Meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants of Lex- ington, October 7, 1793: Voted to sell timber off the town's land to the undertakers of the New Meetinghouse. Chose a committee for the above purpose, — Major John Bridge, Amos 1VIarritt, and Mr. John Chandler." " Meeting of the Selectmen, January 23, 1795. Article 1st. To see what use the town will put their money to, which is the overplus of the pews." 4 26 " At a meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants of Lexington, February 2, 1795: Voted to add two more to the committee that has the care of the town's money. Then chose Dr. Joseph Fiske Jr. and Lieut. Isaac Hastings on said comrnittee. Voted, that the said committee take care of the money which is left of the pews. Voted, that the said corn- mittee take such security as they shall think proper. Voted, that the interest of this money be put to the use of the Con- gregational ministry of this parish. Voted, that if the interest of said money be not paid in at the day it is due, their bonds to be put in suit." What sum was here added to the town's loan money, or fund, your Committee are not furnished by the Records with the means of ascertaining. The whole amount for which the pews, in the body of the meetinghouse, from Nos. 1 to 54 in- clusive, were sold was $ 6071,97, and the gallery pews, from Nos. 1 to 24 inclusive, brought e S56,50. Total amount $6928,47. And it may not be out of place here to mention, that the fund received an indirect accumulation from the gift of the Rev. Mr. Clark, of £6. 13s. 4d. towards building a new meetinghouse : And his Excellency John Hancock mentioned to the Rev. Mr. Clark, that the inhabitants of Lexington might draw on him for 100 dollars, as soon as they put axe to timber, to build a new meetinghouse ; for which " generous gift," the town voted His Excellency " the most sincere thanks of said inhabitants, for this fresh instance of his friendship and affection to the town, in which the memory of his pious ancestors is still held in veneration, and the name of Hancock, will ever be precious." And your Committee will fur- ther remark, that by a clause in the vote of the town last sub- mitted to you, it will be perceived, that if it had been at this time in contemplation to secure this fund most unequivocally to the support of " the Congregational ministry of this parish," by an act of incorporation, no vote could have been more ef- fectually framed to justify, at any future period, the inhabitants in asking, and the legislature in granting the act. s 27 " At a meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Lexington, March 23, 1795: Then Benjamin Brown, Esq. made the following report, viz. There was a committee chosen in the year 1784, to sell off part of the wood of the town's land. In March, 1793, there was a comrnittee appointed to reckon with the aforesaid committee, and with the parish comrnittee. They have attended that service, and ask leave to make the follow- ing Report That it appears from a fair statement, that the sum the wood committee has paid in is £318. 15s. 11d. Received for the wood sold - - - 316 16 0 The balance between the two accounts - 1 19 11 Due to the committee still outstanding - 2 18 10 As to any proper statement with the Parish Committee it ap- pears impracticable. BENJAMIN BROWN, per order." Lexington, February 14, 1794. If it was " impracticable " in those days to furnish to the tow n" any proper statement " as regards the " accumulation, expenditure, and losses " of this fund by those who grew up with it and to whom the records would appear more familiar and explanatory than they possibly can be made to be at the present day ; it is now respectfully asked for your Committee that they may not be charged with a want of industry and a faithful discharge of their duty, if they shall fail to furnish you with a full explanation of the manner in which said fund has been managed heretofore." At a meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants, November 23, 1795. Voted to sell all the swamp wood, excepting the pines at the southwest part of the swamp, and one acre of oak wood adjoining the swamp next to Dea- con Bridge's pasture. Voted, that the swamp wood be lotted out and sold at vendue, and the money be put into the hands of the committee of the town's loan money, as fast as the wood is sold, and the interest applied in the same way that the interest of the other loan money is, and if there be a surplus after paying the Rev. Mr. Clark his salary, the remainder to be let out at interest to increase the fund ; —the oak wood to be cut and corded and not carried off till the money is paid and applied as above." 28 " At a meeting of the Selectmen of Lexington, February 15, 1796. Article 11th. To see if the town will order the committee of the town's loan money to pay the interest of said money to the Rev. Mr, Clark and settle with the Select- men once a year." " At a meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants of Lexington, March 7, 1796 : Voted, that the committee of the town's loan money pay the interest of said money to the Rev. Mr. Clark to the amount of his salary, and settle with the Selectmen once a year." " Meeting of the Selectmen, April 4, 1796 : Then let the improvements of the town's land with the buildings for one year to Benjamin Merriam for 60 dollars." " Agreeable to a vote of the town passed March 7, 1796, directing the Selectmen to settle with the committee that has the care of the town's loan money once a year ; we accor- dingly, on the 6th day of February, 1797, did make the following settlement with said committee for all the money they have received in as interest and rent of the town's land since the first day of January, 1796, to the above date, which is as fol- lows, viz. Received iri $349 71cts. 8m. Paid out 319 47 3 JOHN CHANDLER, by order of the Committee. JONAS BRIDGE, JOHN MULLIKEN, (` Selectmen." NATHAN CHANDLER, These annual settlements are henceforward recorded to the present time, and your Committee deem it unimportant to swell their report with details of the same. " At a meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants of Lexington, November 11, 1799 : Voted, that the committee that has the care of the town's land, cut and cord 50 cords of wood and sell the same off the town's land at the south side of the swamp, and if they think it will be for the advantage of the town, to sell fifty cords more. Voted, that the committee, when they receive the money for said wood, pay the same to the committee that has the care of the town's loan money, that they may let out the same." 1 $ • 29 " Meeting of the Selectmen, September 20, 1804: Arti- cle 1st. To see if the town will sell off some of their wood, in order to increase their fund." " Meeting of freeholders and other inhabitants of Lexington, November 5, 1804: Voted to submit the selling wood off the town's land to the committee who has the care of said land. They are not to exceed the sale of one hundred cords." " At a meeting of the inhabitants of Lexington, September 2, 1805 : Voted, that the committee that has the care of the town's land sell off wood off said land to pay those persons who have supplied the pulpit and those who may supply it during Mr. Clark's indisposition. Voted, that the Treasurer borrow the money, if necessary, until said committee shall sell off wood and refund the money back to the Treasurer." " Town meeting, December 16, 1805 : Voted, that the committee who has the care of the town's loan money pay the expense of supplying the pulpit in future." " At a meeting of freeholders and other inhabitants of Lex- ington, October 12, 1807 : Voted unanimously to concur with the church to give Mr. Avery Williams $600 for his an- nual salary, together with 15 cords of wood delivered to his house. Voted $700 for his salary aforesaid and no wood. Voted Mr. Avery Williams $ 1000 settlement. Voted, that if Mr. Williams accept of this invitation, that he quit all right and title of the town's land." " Lexington, April 13, 1812 : Then the Selectmen reck- oned and settled with the committee that has the care of the town's loan money for all the monies they have received in and paid out since April 15, 1811, to the above Recevied in Paid out date. 922,70 725,05 On hand - - - $ 197,65 JOSEPH SIMONDS, JOSEPH FISKE, Committee." ISAAC HASTINGS, " At a meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants, August 2, 1813: Voted, that the town supply the pulpit du- 30 ring Rev. Mr. Williams's indisposition. Voted, that the com- mittee of loans pay those persons that may supply the pulpit by said committee's orders." " At a meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants of Lexington, September 6, 1815: Voted, that the commit- tee of loans pay the five hundred and fifteen dollars, being the amount voted the Rev. Mr. Williams, he dissolving his min- isterial relations with them." " At a meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants of Lexington, May 6, ] 816 : Voted to sell the six new pews when built in the meetinghouse at vendue ; said pews are to be set up at $ 150 each. Voted, that the money that the pews shall sell for, excepting the expense of building, be put into the hands of the town's committee of loans." Five of the above pews were sold at vendue 30th of May, 1816, and brought $10 t 6. The sixth, No. 57, does not appear to have been Hien sold. It may have been conveyed to the builders by contract. Meeting of the Selectmen, April 16, 1817. Article 11th. To see if the town will direct Joseph Fiske, Isaac Hastings, Jonas Bridge, James Brown, and Abijah Harrington, Esq. to petition the Legislature at their next session for them to be in- corporated and their successors as a body politic, Ly the name of ' The Trustees of the Ministerial Fund of the Town of Lexington ;' and to have the care of all the unimproved min- isterial land belonging to said town, and whenever the interest of said fund shall be more than sufficient to pay the said Con- gregational minister in said town his voted salary, the surplus shall be put out at interest, and whenever the surplus shall amount to four hundred dollars more than is sufficient to pay the said Congregational minister his voted salary, then the same shall be paid over to the Town Treasurer for the purpose of schooling the children in said town." " At a meeting of' the freeholders and other inhabitants of the town of Lexington, May 5, 1817. Article 11th. Voted Joseph Fiske, Isaac Hastings, Jonas Bridge, James Brown, and Abijah Harrington, Esq. who constitute the committee who have the care of the town's loan money, and also their 31 successors in office, petition to be incorporated by our State Legislature to manage the same in future." Your Committee find that the receipts from the 17th of April, 1798, to the 6th of October, 1817, were as follows : For wood sold - - - - The income by interest on private notes, public securities, - - - - The income from rents of land, Received from sale of 5 pews, - Received for a pew let one year, - $6940,95 and - 9323,82 - 835,04 550,00 - - 4,00 Total amount received $17653,81 And during the same period of time there was paid, For Preaching, - - - - - 9269,84 Expenses of the town's loan committee, 110,03 Funeral expenses of Rev. Mr. Clark, 100,00 Direct tax, - - - - 18,04 Loss, - - 5,00 Loss by counterfeit bill, - - - 5,00 Making and repairing fences, - 86,44 Collecting the money the wood sold for, 49,72 Compensation charged by the loan committee for obtaining the act of incorporation, 20,00 Total, $ 9664,07 making an accumulation to the Ministerial Fund of $7989,74 in 191 years. Your Committee have taken the dates above stated from necessity, not having been able to procure the evi- dence of previous accumulation, expenditure, and losses, in detail. And itis a source of regret to your Committee that the book of the committee of the town's loan money from the year 1778 to 1796 should not have been within their reach, by which they might have examined the details of ac- cumulation, expenditure, and losses, for an earlier period. Neither the present Trustees nor their predecessors, the com- mittee of Loans, are able to give us any account by which we can find the missing book. We are assured by the present Trus- tees that it never carne into their hands. " Lexington, October 6, 181 7. Then the Selectmen reckoned and settled with the town of Lexington's committee who have the care of the town's loan money, for all the monies 32 33 which they have received in and paid out since the 28th of April, 1817, to the above date. Received in 583,42 Paid out 270,23 Now remaining in the hands of the committee 313,19." " At a meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants of the town of Lexington, March 23, 1818. Article 4th. Voted, that the board of Overseers of the Poor be authorized to hire the town's improved land for the term of one or more years of the Trustees of the Ministerial Fund." " At a meeting of the Selectmen, February 14, 1820. Article 11th. By request of i%lajor Benjamin O. Wellington, to see if the town will petition the legislature to alter the min- isterial fund incorporating act, so as to place the real estate, or any part thereof, under the direction of the town, for the pur- pose of employing and maintaining the poor thereon, or to act otherwise on said subject, as the town may think proper." " At a meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants of Lexington, March 6, 1820: Voted not to act on the 11th Article." " Then the Overseers of the Poor hired the improved land of the Trustees of the ministerial fund for $55 per ann." Your Committee find by the Treasurer's books, that the in- come to the ministerial fund from the 6th day of October, 1817, to the 22d day of March, 1822, was as follows, viz. From interest on notes and public securities - $3731,85 From the sale of wood - - - 2316,95 Fromthe rent of land - - - 236,50 $6285,30 And for the same period of time the expenditures charged to the fund were as follows. Paid for preaching $3535,33 Expenses of the Trustees - 113,99 Paid for record books - - 7,25 Ditto for repairing fences - - 9,65 Exchange of uncurrent money - 6,25 Total amount $3672,47 Showing an accumulation in four years and a half to the ministerial fund of - - - $2612,83 } Every auditing of the committees with the committee of the town's loan money, and the Trustees of the ministerial fund from 1796 to 1831, have been examined by your Committee, and are found to be correctly footed, and. no errors in the set- tlement were discovered by them, excepting those about to be mentioned. Your Committee, upon the principles of previous settlements, are unable to justify the approbation of the com- mittees appointed to audit the Trustees' accounts for the years 1817 and 1823. In reference to the former period, involving an error of $93,03, your Committee, as such, feel no authority to differ from tht3 town, the error having been passed upon by them. And as to the one of 1823, showing an error of $24,65 in favor of the fund, your Committee are promised by the present Treasurer an adjustment with his predeces- sor, by which the fund will sustain no loss. Frorn the 22d of March, 1822, to the 27th of April, 1825, we find by the Treasurer's books, that the amount received for interest of the ministerial fund was $2636,89 The amount added to said fund by the sale of 2 1607,20 wood was Ditto by the rent of land 155,00 Ditto by premium on money 1,00 Total $4400,09 And the said fund is charged for the same period of time with the following items, viz. Paid for preaching - - - - $2475,00 Expenses of the Trustees - - 74,01 Exchange of money, - 3,36 Making and repairing fences - - 14,37 Interest discounted for prompt payment of notes for wood, - - - - - - - 5,97 Allowed the present Treasurer and his predeces- sor for their services, - - - - - 61,00 Allowed the Clerk as compensation for his ser- vices, - - - - - - - 17,00 Trustees charge for their guardianship, - - 23,00 Total $2673,71 Making an accumulation in three years of $1726,38 5 34 From April 27, 1825, to May 3, 1831, your Committee find by the Treasurer's book the receipts to be as follows : For interest on notes, securities, and stock $ 5752,07 From sale of wood Sale of hoop -poles Total Paid in the same period of time for preaching Treasurer for his services Clerk for his services Expenses of the Trustees Repairing fences - Loss on exchange of money 748,25 - 101,46 6601,78 6125,00 - 72,00 12,00 - 41,54 2,25 - 1,41 Expense of obtaining possession of the Tidd land, for 17' 74 the payment of which said land is held chargeable, Discount for prompt pay 06 Total $6272,00 Making an accession to the fund for 6 years of but $329,78, which is readily accounted for by the fact that but a small amount has been received from the sale of wood, that efficient nurse to the fund now, as well as parent of it originally, and nothing from rent of land which was leased by the Trustees on the 30th of January,1826, to the town. From the lease, we present you with the views of the Trustees, and conditions of the lease. " In the opinion of said Trustees, it has become neces- saryto expend a considerable sum of money for the erection of a new barn, and to make other improvements on said estate, the expense of which said Trustees are unwilling to incur, And whereas the income annually arising from said fund, ex- clusive of the rents and profits arising from the premises, is at present sufficient to meet the payment of the minister's salary, and all expenses incurred for the support of the Gospel Ministry in said town : Now, therefore, be it known, that said Trustees do by these presents lease, demise, and let to said town of Lex- ington, the following described premises, containing about sev- enty acres, bounded as follows, &c. with all the privileges 35 and appurtenances thereto belonging, for, and during the term of fifty years, from and after the date of this indenture. And the said inhabitants of said Lexington hereby covenant and agree to pay -to said Trustees, and to their successors in office, the annual rent of fifty cents, and to build a new barn, forty feet by thirty eight, and of customary height on the premises, within one year, and to find all the materials, and complete the same at their own expense, and to make all the necessary repairs on the buildings and fences during said term, free from charge to said Trustees or their successors." And the wood being young, a better interest is arising from the growth of the same than could be realized as income from the money it might sell for. We come now to the last subject of inquiry —" The present state of the Fund ; " to give a full and fair exposition of which we understand nothing beyond the duty annually of a commit- tee of the town, as is required by the act of incorporation ; and to the report of May 9, 1831, we refer with our confirmation of its accuracy. " The committee appointed by the town of Lexington, to audit the accounts of the Trustees of the ministerial fund in said town, report : Amount received in by the Treasurer from April 30, 1830, to May 9, 1831, including money $1891,95 in his hands at settlement in 183Q, Amount paid is - - - 1425,68 Balance in the Treasury Amount of notes - Bank stock - Possession of mortgaged real estate to secure - 466,27 15553,17 300,00 - 300,00 Total amount $16619,44 An array of the individual debtors to this fund, your Com- mittee believe was not contemplated by the town, and would certainly be of doubtful policy. It is deemed sufficient to say, that the notes, securities, and stock certificates of the fund were exhibited to your Committee, and of their value the wis- 36 dom of the present Trustees, who unhesitatingly pronounced them good, (many of which your Committee were enabled, from personal knowledge, to respond to,) is thought to be sufficient guarantee that they are so. Still your Committee recommend that it would be prudent in the Trustees to require an ex- change of some securities for living responsibilities. And now in taking leave of this subject, your Committee would remark, that throughout the tedious research they have been subjected to, in examining the Town Records for up- wards of one hundred years, and the somewhat arduous task of properly arranging the accounts of the town's committee of loans for between twenty and thirty years, in order to a right understanding of them, together with an examination of the records of the Trustees, (for they have consulted no individual opinion, but confined themselves exclusively to the records,) in all this they do say, that they have proceeded unbiased and with a single eye to the truth in the case ; and if they shall not have afforded you the desired information, they shall have failed in their expectations, and shall have been disappointed in their hopes. Respectfully submitted, NATHANIEL MULLIKEN, JOHN MUZZEY, Committee. BENJAMIN MUZZEY, Lexington, November, 1831.