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

100 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1T45.
Fortj years before this date an Almstiouse
A Workhouse in
Agitation. i^ad been provided, but for many years it
had ceased to exist. Paupers were cared
for in the families of their relatives, or others, who were
paid for the service. In 1745, a movement was made to determine
the expediency of '
' building a proper and Convenient
Work House, to Set Idle and poor people to Work."
John Stoddard, Ebenezer Pomeroy, and Timothy Dwight
were appointed to consider the matter and report. Probably
the people were not quite ready for such an experiment.
The committee made no report that is now extant,
and the subject was not again brought before the town.
Unruly Youth to Great anuoyauce was experienced by the
be Inspected. good people of Northampton on account of
the unruly and unlawful proceedings of the
youth of the town. Damage was constantly perpetrated
upon the school buildings and the meeting-house ; the
school wood was burned at unseemly hours, and misdemeanors
seemed to multiply. Undoubtedly the young men
would gather at the school-house evenings to cultivate
sociability at the expense of the town woodpile. Disorder
in the meeting-house, on Sunday, seemed impossible of pre-
vention, and it became so troublesome in 1745, as to call
forth the following vote —
:
"The Town being Sensible of the Irreverent and Disorderly behaviour
of many of the yonng people and Children In the House of God
in the time of publick Worship, and at the Same meeting made Choice
of Ens. John Clapp, Gideon Henderson, Caleb Strong, and Elisha
Pomeroy. to Inspect the behaviour of the young people and Children
In time of publick Worship and to prosecute them for their Irreverent
and disorderly behaviour, and voted at the Same time the Inspectors
have power to order such disorderly persons to Sit in Such places in
the meeting House in the time of publick Worship as they Shall think
proper."
Tithing-men apparently had little authority over the
naughty boys and girls in the congregation. This vote
seems to have inaugurated a new class of Sunday officers,
which in a few years became dignified by the name of
"Sabbath Wardens," and who were provided with a badge
of office similar to that carried by tithing-men.
Certain pews in the gallery were set apart for the youth.