CONGREGATIONAL MINISTERS. 205 and town began. At a town meeting held November i6, 1726, " It was voted that thetown see cause to hear another minister after Mr. Whitmarsh's time is out that is agreed for." The town then raised forty pounds to be placed in the deacon's hands for defraying the necessary charges of paying a minister or ministers which may be employed by the town to preach the Gospel, and John Torrey and Josiah Humphrey were chosen a Committee " to procure a minister from time to time as need shall require." A month later the acts of this town meeting relative to a minister were declared void, and " it was voted that the town raise forty or rather fifty pounds for the support of the minister and that James Adams, Benjamin Viall and Zachariah Bicknell be a Committee to supply the pulpit from time to time with a minister." In March, 1727, a call was given Rev. Moses Hale to be the minister of the Church and town at a yearly salary of
- !£'iooand a settlement of ;^ioo, and Messrs. Timothy Wads-
worth, Deacon Humphrey, Lieut. Adams, Samuel Allen and Nathaniel Peck were chosen a Committee to make report to Mr. Hale. The records are silent as to the reply, but Mr. Hale did not become their minister. He receipted for ;£^i for supplying the pulpit in the town of Barrington. August 3d, Lieut. James Adams, Zachariah Bicknell and Samuel Allen were chosen a Committee "to provide the town with a minister till next March meeting." The town also voted to concur with the Church in choosing Mr. John Wadsworth to be their minister at an annual salary of ^^^loo, and a settlement of ;^200 to be paid in two years. Mr. Wadsworth declined the call. Mr. John Sumner was the next candidate for the ministerial office, and the town offered him an annual salary of ^100, and a settlement of £200, to be paid in two years. The Committee consisting of Lieut. Peck, John Chaffee, and Joseph Allen reported to Mr. Sumner the town's proposals, and received a negative answer to their invitation. Neither the Church nor the town was discouraged but continued their efforts with un-
