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

280 HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
There were three fasts and two thanksgivings
this year. There was great commiseration felt in
the town for Rev. John Williams and his fellow-captives from Deerfield, and a suitable notice of this
affair appears upon the Church Records. Mr. Williams was well acquainted in this town, being born
in Roxbury, near by; he also kept the school in
Dorchester, in 1684.
1704. The practice of a free contribution to pay
the salary of the minister, Rev. Mr. Danforth, which
had been followed for several years, appears to have
failed of answering that end, and this year it was
voted to have a tax for the purpose, but at the same
time to have the contribution continued, and every
man to put his money in a paper with his name
thereon. This plan was afterwards changed, according to circumstances.
March 13th, it was voted, on petition from the
gunners of the town, "d that the wild fowl from the
south-east of Neck unto Thompson's Island (the
northeasterly part thereof), should not be disturbed
in their feed, from half ebb, unto half flood, by trimming or sailing upon them, under penalty of twenty
shillings, one half thereof unto the informer, and the
other half unto the poor of the town."
"July 18th, 1704. Our lecture was turned into
a day of humiliation and prayer, to ask converting
grace, and ask rain in time of drought, and other
mercies. The Pastor being sick, Mr. Thacher and
Mr. Walter preached and. prayed, and Mr. Cotton
Mather helped in prayer. Merciful showers followed,
and in divers Churches hereabouts, and in Connecti