Case ID: root_1/html/0330-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Lord v. Marvin et al., Society’s Committee of the North Society in Lyme.
    Conscientious dissenters, liable to be taxed, for debts incurred! before they dissented.
    ERROR to reverse a judgment of tbe County Court in an action brought, by said Lord v. said Marvin, etc.; declaring, that for eight years last passed he belonged -to a church and! society of Congregatio'nalists: That on the 14th of April, A. D. 1788, he obtained from said church a certificate, that he belonged to their church, attended and contributed his proportion for its support, and lodged said certificate with the clerk of said north society; that said north society at their legal meeting holden on the 14th of'September A. D. 1789, voted a tax of six pence on the pound upon the list of A. D. 1788, which was appropriated to ministerial purposes; that the defendants being a committee of said society, made up¡ a rater bill, and therein included the plaintiff’s name with forty-eight shillings annexed as his proportion to pay; and for payment of which they caused a certain cow worth £7 to be levied upon, taken and sold. Damage £30. Writ dated 24th January A.D. 1791.
    Defendants plead in bar — That said tax was laid to pay the arrears of salary due to Mr. Beckwith their former minister, who was dismissed from them in December A. D. 1785, at which time and for* many years before the plaintiff was an inhabitant and belonged to said society.
    Plaintiff replied — That the sum agreed to be paid to Mr. Beckwith, was by voluntary composition; that the tax laid would raise a much greater sum. Demurrer h> the reply.
    Judgment — That the reply is insufficient.
   Error assigned — That it ought to have been adjudged sufficient; and now the judgment of the County Court is' affirmed. It appears by the pleadings, that the tax was laid to pay a debt incurred while the plaintiff belonged to said society.