The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-12-03
UNION &c JOURNAL,

The old records Of the town Of Berwick aye
curious examples Of photography and quaint
phraseoloy. Previous to the town organization,
the records were kept as parish, and relate
largely to ecclesiastical matters. The following
arc specimens having reference To the settlement
Of the first two settled ministers In the town.
Nov. "a, 1703. Voted. Iehabod Plaisted.
ESQ, messenger 70 give minister sn Invita-
ton TO preach 70 the Inhabitants Of this place.
Said Plaisted declares his non acceptance, where
upon notice was given 10 the fnhabitants 70
meet the 9th Jan'ry following. to choose Some
other Person or Persons to manage In that sfair.
They accordingly met and
Voted, Mr.. Daniel Emery and Mr.. Nathan
Lord to give Mr.. Wise, now minister Of Saoo.
an Invitation to preach to this Parish.
Attest CnAKIxs Fnosr
JoItS HnL Seleetmen
JAMES WARREN -----s-...-
Att o lesgle Parish meeting held in Berwick
October We %, 1901. Voted Captn John Hill,
Moderator. .s..
Voted. That Mr.. Wade shall have his salary
aaording 10 his agreement with the Parish by
advanccucnts of estais Sd 1-2 upon the pound
yearly tellit dei amount to eighty pounds per
year & no longer.
March ye. u, 10 CT. Entered in Record
per Daniel Emery. Clerk.
Att a Legal Parish Meeting held in Berwick
September ye 23d 1905, lit being in order to
setel minister. Voted. Mr.. John Plaisted,
Moderator. Voted 2ndly Capt Ichabod Plsbt-
ed Capt. John Hill & Deacon Emery be the
Persons in the behalf Of the Parish 4 Church
10 give Mr.. Jeremiah Wise a call for q settle
ment in ye work Of the ministry amonghst W.
Bird that We Parish shall give eighty pounds
per year yearly in money for Mr. Wise maintain
anee during his abode with us in the work OF
the ministry.
Voted. Vt. Mr.. Wise shall have one hum
droj pounds given him by the Parish towards
his settlement with us paid intwo payments, the
one halfin ye year l7O7 & the other half in ye
year l7OS.
The aforementioned men being chosen & sent
Returns this answer to the Parish vt Wise &c
septs our Offers & dos Ingage to settle with US up
on these terms. 1900.
Comite Vt. Benony TIodslon, Ma
chosen. than Lord, Senr. and Humph-
rev Spencer shall be the men to heier gift q the
ministry land near the Meeting hous sofciently
& well fencsl in the month Of March mex.
Apcrll ye LIST 1907. Entered per me.
Daniel Emery. Cler.
At q legal Town Meeting held at berwick Mo-
yember I, TIA. Whereas the Reverb Jere-
miah Wise having exhibited declaration to this
meeting setting the hardness OF the Times, and
the dearnes Of provision, Clothing s. 50 forth
that he cannot live upon the eighty pounds per
amen without Interfering or infringing upon
his own estate and will hurt his family for the
future, and therefore expects vt yc Town add
ten pounds per year to his slllery or find him
his wood and let him have the strangers contri-
button.
II being Considered that this being aslender
meeting and the matter offer being Of icai Re-
fered TO further Consideration where there
shall be full meeting.
Entered by Humphrey Chadbourne, Town
Clerk.
II would appear from the above extracts, that
clergyman were not oyerpaid, in those early
days and that their Pensioners were not In .
hurry TO raise their salaries but when We con-
slider the poverty Of the country, the smallness
Of the population, and the greater value OF mon
ey rs compared with the present time the self de-
NAL and pious spirit eyinced by our foIefathersn
setting apart even such portion OF their scanty
SUBSTANCE for the support Of the Gospel Is worthy
of all praise. Both Rev. John Wade and Rev.
jeremiah Wise alluded TO were graduates OF
Harvard College, and Mr.. Wade was mentioned
by Cotton Mather, as a young man Of more
than ordinary abilities. Mr. Wade died young
after having been settled little more than u
year. Mr.. Wise lived to grow old and left nu-
merous descendants.