History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

72 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1737.
flanked by a narrow passageway, then another tier of pews
with a narrow alley, then a row of benches or " seats," then
the "broad aisle." In 1766, four "hind seats," two on
each side of the broad aisle, were taken ont and the
" gronnd made into pews." Twenty years elapsed before
the benches were all discarded, and the entire floor occupied
with pews. 1 The vote ordering this change was made
in 1785.
Money Borrowed When the vote about scats was adox^ted, an
to Pay Current appropriation of £300 was made for the
Ungluant^ Vote" purpose of finishing the edifice. While the
of
work was in progress, £60 were borrowed
three individuals—£20 from each—to pay current expenses.
In 1738, an order was made to place benches "before
the deacons seat, before the fore seats, and before the pews
against the inner corner pews " for the children. At the
same time Samuel Phelps and others asked " Liberty to
make a pew for their daughters in the new meeting house
on the back side of the north gallery and it passed in the
negative." An exclusive ownership of sittings was not
sufficiently democratic for the times, and the people protested
against it, even to the verge of being deemed un-
gallant. No definite sum is named as the cost of this
building, but the treasurer's accounts show an expenditure
of more than £3000, for which taxes were laid.
The Interior of this
Acccss to the liouse was obtained through
E