Town Acts "Documentary History of Suffield, by Sheldon, 1879"

OF SUFFIELD.

3dly. It was by a clear, and unanimous vote, Determined to imploy Jonath: Winchill Senr, and Corporall Adams, as their Agents, or Attourneys; to implead our Westfield Neighbors at said Court; to beholden ye last Tuseday of November next ensuing.

*A VOTE FOR YE GETTING MR. RUGGLES HIS WOOD.

At a Leagall Towne meeting November y, 29th, 1697: It was agreed, and voted: that every man from sixteen years old, and above, doe spend one day for the getting Mr. Ruggles his wood, and every man to come according to his capacity: that is to say: every man that bath a team, to come with his teame; and they that have noe team, to come with their axes, and to attend the warnin1g of the men chosen to oversee the worke; which are, Serj. Harmon, Serj. Winchill, Jonathan Taylor, John Remmington, and Jno Mighel Junr; who are chosen to oversee the worke, and to return to the ¥Townsemen, who are Delinquent; and the Townsemen are to put the men that don't work their day, their proportion, into the towne rate.
2dly. It was agreed, and voted: to pay those men yt have wrought about clearing ye Minister's medow, or swamp for medow; (before any act was past by the towne in wt way to do it) in equall proportion; according to wt they have done. It was allsoe left with ye townsmen; to determine ye wages of every man yt hath wrought at this worke; whether his time were spent in travell, or labour; that soe there may be noe wrong to any man, or just ground of cavill.
3dly. Agreed, and voted: to clear five acres for the minister in that swamp where they have begun; soe as it may be mowable, or capable of mowing; but it is not hereby to be understood, or to be expected yt we doe engage to take up every stump, or clear of every old tree; but the bulk, or body of ym; soe yt a sithe may comfortably pass; under the hand of a carefull workman.
4thly. It was agreed, and voted: to clear this meddow for the minister by daies work; and to allow men two shillings six pence per day; and that all things may be done orderly, and to the satisfaction of all; there is a Committee of foul men chosen, to take the oversight of said work; yt every one goe their proportion of daies, and yt they goe seasonably to said work when warned thereto; and to give into the townsmen all such as are delinquent, either in unseasonable attendance, or not coming at all to it; that they may put their deffects into the Towne rate, for to help bear publique charges. The men chosen for this Committee, and have accepted therof, are Jacob Adams, Sergt Winchill, Sergt Huxley, Jno Mighel senr.
5thly. At this meeting Goodm ¥¥ Hamlin proposed to the towne for a grant of some land, what quantity the towne will be pleased to bestow on him.
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* It was a common practice throughout New England, to appoint a day to get the year's supply of wood for the Minister.
" Judd " says the minister furnished the flip, and other drink, but not the food. These were jovial occasions for men, young and old, here and in other Towns. Amherst, Northampton, and Wethersfield gave their ministers 80 loads of wood yearly. Suffield probably gave as much at this period, as it was cut in the common.
¥ Select Men.
¥¥ He lived here as, early as 1700. Had seven children, three sons and four daughters. His wife Mary died Sept. 18, 1738. He died 1760, and the surname disappears from our record.

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