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The "Old Parsonage" of To-day

January 19,1767, it was voted "to Rebuild the Parsonage House," -- "that said House shall be done chiefly by Labour," "to choose a committee to Draw a plan" and to determine how to proceed "to equalize each man's proportion of labor." A committee of nine was chosen. February 3, same year, voted, "to Build the parsonage House 40 feet long 32 feet wide and 17 feet Posts ;" -- "the common Labourers shall have 45 shillings old tenor & a gll. of Rum per Day ;" "to allow for oxen a yoke 40 shillings Pr Day ;" -- to choose a committee in charge of the work ; -- "voted, Thomas Nudd, Anthony Emery, Esq^rs, John Lamprey, Jere: Towle, Cap^t Jere: Marston, Samuel Drake, William Lane, James Johnson, Morris Hobbs, Josiah Dearborn & John Taylor Jun^r are impowered & chosen for the aforesaid committee & that they shall have the same wages of common Labourers pr Day."

The original contract between this committee and the builders may still be seen among the papers of a descendant of Thomas Nudd. It is a lengthy document, abounding in capitals and ingenious spelling, and without punctuation. The contract and the above votes serve to quicken the imagination as we see the efforts of the people to find for their new pastor, Rev. Mr. Thayer, "a convenient house," according to their agreement; and to picture him, with his wife and baby, domiciled in their fine abode, with its mouldings, architraves and cornices, its great fireplaces and shining dressers. Let it add to our the same heavy oak frame, apparently good for another hundred years.

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