Back to previous section -- Forward to next section -- Return to Table of Contents

SCARCITY OF MONEY

By industry, frugality and economy, the people in general, it is believed, were enabled to live very comfortably; but when called upon to raise money for any purpose whatever, it was with great difficulty that they could meet the demand. In illustration, reference may be made to their course concerning a barrel of powder, procured by the town by order of the General Court. The town, at the time of receiving it, appears to have given security for payment, and some time afterward caused a rate to be made for the purpose of meeting this payment. Philemon Dalton the constable, and William Eastow were ordered to collect it forthwith, and in case of their neglect, they were to forfeit 10s. apiece. Abraham Perkins and Jeffrey Mingay were at the same time appointed to take their fines, if any should be incurred. This was on the second of September, 1650. About thirteen months afterward, the Surveyor General of Massachusetts arrested Roger Shaw, who was at that time the deputy to the General Court, for the sum of £8, which was due from the town to the public treasury, for this same barrel of powder; and the court gave the person arrested authority to make a levy on the inhabitants for reimbursements. The next winter, the town voted, that every person indebted for powder received from William Howard, should make immediate payment in such pay as should be acceptable to the country, that is, the government.

A petition, signed by Richard Swaine, William Swaine, and other inhabitants of Hampton, for relief on account of being unjustly molested by persons claiming to have power from Mr. Bachiler, having been presented to the General Court, in the autumn of 1651, the court ordered, that whatsoever goods or lands had been taken from any of the inhabitants of Hampton, by Edward Colcord or John Sanborn, upon pretence of being authorized by Mr. Bachiler, either with, or without execution, should be returned to them from whom they had been taken, and the execution called in, and no more granted, until there should be produced to the county court at Salisbury or Hampton, sufficient power from Mr. Bachiler to recover the same. This was after Mr.Bachiler had sued the town, to recover unpaid salary. (More in Chapter 19)

Back to previous section -- Forward to next section -- Return to Table of Contents