The history of the town of Dorchester, Massachusetts, By a committee of the Dorchester antiquarian and historical society ...

238 HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
but the time and season of cold would not permit."
These persons assembled at one o'clock on the 22nd
of January, in a cold meeting-house, to settle these
weighty matters; and it is not strange that "the
season of cold" put a stop to further proceedings
than those already mentioned. The next month,
Robert Spur, sen'r, was admonished; and Nath'l
Wyat, John Spur, Daniel Ellen and Joshua George,
for neglecting and refusing to give an account of
their knowledge to the Elders and the Church, were
excommunicated.
Mr. Thacher preached for Mr. Flint one month of
this year, and Mr. Flint desired that the Church
would look out for some one to take his place in
case aly of his family should have the small-pox;
also that they might think of another teaching officer to help him. The Church seemed to think that
they could not afford to pay two ministers; and
therefore Mr. Flint's salary was augmented, and they
thought that Mr. James Minot might be obtained to
assist him once in a fortnight. Thus in the fear of
wars and rumors of wars, the dread of the Indians
and of the small-pox, and a great variety of other
troubles, was the truth of Cotton Mather's saying
verified, that "great numbers merely took New
England on their way to heaven."
1680. Selectmen-John Capen, James Blake,
Wm. Sumner, Richard Hall and Samuel Clap.
Nathan Bradley was sexton for the town. He
was to s"ring the bell, cleanse the meeting-house,
and to carry water for baptism." Thus were his
duties well defined; the taking charge of the boys