The meeting house may perhaps seem a strange place for the keeping of military stores, but it was a very general custom at that day, as being a central and well protected depot for such purpose. And it must be remembered, also, that our ancestors did not view the meeting house as a consecrated place. They used it for all public purposes, without any compunctions of conscience, for what some might deem sacrilege.

1696-7. "At a town meeting, January 19, it was voted that whosoever shall at any town meeting speak without leave from the Moderator of the meeting, he shall forfeit one shilling and it [is] to be restrained by the constable for the use of the town."

This would indicate a growing boldness of manners and selfsufficiency, quite in contrast with the decorous propriety of the first generation.

Also at the same meeting "it was voted to forbid all persons to make turpentine or rosin within the town bounds."

Gov. Roger Wolcott mentions in his Journal that "the year 1697 was a year of great scarcity and mortality. The summer was cool and cloudy, not a month without a frost in it; the winter was very long and severe. In February and March the snow was very high and hard. bread; the cattle perishing in the was very distressing and mortal. get fuel, tend the sick and bury the dead. Many suffered for want of fire-wood and tendance."

There was a great cry for yards for want; the sickness Those in health could hardly

1697-8, January 17. "Voted that all the male inhabitants of the town from sixteen years of age and upwards shall kill one dozen of black birds, or give one shilling to the town treasury. And whosoever shall kill above his dozen shall have one shilling paid out of the town rate, and whosoever shall kill six blackbirds in March or April it shall be accounted as if he had killed a dozen." (Bk. 11, 72.)

1698, April 2. The townsmen thought meet to send Josiah Bartlett to Hadley, to the wife of Caleb Smith, in order to the procuring a cure of his lameness, and we do desire Serg't Porter to take care to send him thither, and to do what is needful in that matter." On the 5th of April following the "Townsmen met, and whereas Josiah Bartlett above mentioned is now at Hadley, we do further empower Serg't Porter in the name of the town, to put him an apprentice to a suitable place, for time as his discretion shall guide." (Bk. 11, 73.)

December 27. "The town voted a desire that the Court would grant liberty to Alexander Allyn to sell wine and other strong drinks, provided he do not allow any to drink it in his house, and that he sell cheaper than others that have license. (Bk. 11, 70.)

1698-9, January 31. "The town chose Lft. Hayden and Ensign Joseph Griswold to take care to prevent the carrying away of the iron ore at the marsh called Tilton's Marsh."

1699, March 14. The town voted to expend £100 pounds in cleaning sheep commons, each man to work out his part.

Also 4d per head for killing crows, and the same price as before for blackbirds, and no person hereafter to be fined for not killing them. (Bk. 11, 79.)

Also liberty was granted to any person to work iron ore [probably at Tilton's Marsh], provided they should sell "1000 lb. weight to the people of the town, one fourth part cheaper than the market price." (Bk. 11, 80.)

This offer was accepted by Mr. John Elliott.

1700, December 26. "Voted by the town to allow Mr. Samuel Mather for his salary for preaching the Word, for the present year, one hundred and ten pounds."

1701, February 11. Town meeting voted that as there was no stream sufficient for carrying on the iron works, nearer than Stony-brook (in the present town of Suffield), that the ore found on the commons might be carried there; "and that the inhabitants of Windsor or Suffield may be indifferently employed to carry the said ore, provided the inhabitants of Windsor may be employed as well as the inhabitants of Suffield to cut wood in Suffield common, and make and cart coal for the use of the said works."

December 29. "Voted to erect a pew between the pulpit and the Great Pew which is on the women's side [of the meetinghouse], for the use of Mr. Mather's family during his life or abode in the town."

1702, June 5. Liberty was granted to certain men, to get turpentine out of the trees already boxed on the east side of the (Connecticut) River, on the condition that they should deliver one fourth part of it, "barrels and all to the townsmen for the town's use."

1703, April 27. £20 was granted by the town, with which to procure "assistance in the ministry" for one quarter. The committee were directed to make application to a certain Mr.

Reade, and if he could not accept, to Mr. Samuel Mather, the son of their pastor.

Mr. Mather was not a minister, but he was an educated man, had graduated, from Cambridge, two years before, and probably possessed all the requisite gifts of mind and character for "a supply."

In 1703, the term Society is first used on the town records of Windsor.

1707, December 19, the society voted to give Mr. Mather £110 as usual, for the salary for the current year ending in April, "but in case a help be provided, that so much be abated as his office is." It was also agreed "to make application to Mr. Jonathan Marsh, of Hadley, to be helpful in the ministry for half a year.”

December 30. The society appointed a committee, who should have power to call meetings, order about repairing . meeting house, and any other business needful for the society. 1708, March 30. The society voted "to make application to Rev. Jonathan Marsh to desire his continuance with us in the work of the ministry in order to a settlement." This was unanimously voted, except one. His salary was to be £80 if he performed the whole or the greater part of the labor; but if Mr. Mather was able to undertake one half of it, then Mr. Marsh was to receive £70 in current country pay, or two-thirds in current silver money. "And for his further encouragement, voted to give him £100 per year while he continues in the work after the decease of Mr. Mather, besides what shall be done towards his honorable settlement."

In January, 1709, they offered Mr. Marsh £100 in "current country pay," in case of his settlement among them; which terms were accepted, and he was ordained colleague pastor with Mr. Mather, some time in 1709 or 1710.1 This mark of respectful consideration for the infirmities of their venerable pastor, is further enhanced by their voting him, in December of the same year, £60 "for his honorable maintenance."

1710, December 4. The town voted to give the Rev. Mr. Marsh the improvement of the town orchard, bounded north on

1 Timothy Loomis's memoranda records under date of " August 29th, 1710, Mr. Marsh's first Lecture."

the highway, and south by John Grant's heirs, so long as he shall continue in the ministry.

1716-17, March 18. "Voted to divide the Law Books belonging to the town, according to the list of 1716," the selectmen to divide them into three parts according to the lists belonging to each side of the river. "After the books are divided by the Selectmen as above, that Thomas Moore distribute according to said list on the south side of the rivulet, Israel Stoughton on the north, and Deacon Samuel Rockwell on east side Great River."

1724, September 24. "Voted and desired that the Reverend Ministers of this town recommend the sore and difficult circumstances of our good friend Nathaniel Cook, to their respective congregations, to consider his case by way of brief as soon as may be."

1725, May 11. "Voted to sell the town guns at vendue, at the sign post at the beat of the drum."

1725-6, February 24. "Voted that persons from other towns who take any wood from the town commons should pay 20s a load."

1728-9, February 3. "Voted that if any person at this meeting or any town meeting to be holden hereafter by the inhabitants of this town, shall presume to speak in town-meeting without liberty of the Moderator, he shall pay a fine of 20s to the town treasurer."

Judging from the increased fine, the manners of the people had grown much worse, since the similar vote in 1696-7.

CHAPTER XII.

QUEEN ANNE'S WAR, 1702-1713, AND INDIAN WAR OF 1722-24.

"BUT NOW A STERNER DARKNESS SETTLES DOWN,

FIERCE BATTLE bends his FROWN."

In May, 1702, Queen Anne of England, the Emperor of Germany, and the States General, united in a declaration of war against France and Spain. This, of course, involved the American colonies in a French and Indian War. Instantly they were encircled by a terrible, but unseen, cordon of wily and ferocious enemies. Death hovered on the frontier. "In the following years the Indians stealthily approached towns in the heart of Massachusetts, as well as along the coast, and on the southern and western frontiers. Children, as they gamboled on the beach; reapers, as they gathered the harvest; mowers, as they rested from using the scythe; mothers, as they busied themselves about the household were victims to an enemy who disappeared the moment a blow was struck, and who was ever present where a garrison or a family ceased its vigilance. If armed men, rousing for the attack, penetrated to the fastnesses of their roving enemy, they found nothing but solitudes." Each night was full of horrors, to which day scarce gave relief. Summer's foliage concealed the lurking foe, and his steps fell lightly amid the rustling leaves of autumn. Even winter's icy barriers and drifts of snow were defied by his bloodthirstiness and the snow-shoes which he wore. Deerfield, Hatfield and other towns were attacked, and their flames lighted the path