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

[' which
', practice
, admission
206 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [17'49.
he has pretended to maintain in his late book, against his own
and Mr. Stoddard's practice and principles, with respect to the
of church members."
\ If lie refused, and the precinct declined ''to come into
liis notions or principles," then the alternative of a separa-
tion was to be considered. Here was a threat that if the
pastor did not back down he must be dismissed. The fol-
lowing names were signed to this petition :
—
John Hunt, Gad Lyman, Ephraim Wright. Josiah Pomeroj', Jonathan
Strong Jr., John Lyman, James Lyman, Jonathan Hunt, Joseph
Wright, Gideon Lyman, Seth Pomeroy.
A Family Party. \Here was quite a family party ; nine of the
eleven signers were related by birth or mari'riage.
John, Gideon and Gad Lyman were brothers ; Gad
Lyman married the sister of Josiah and Seth Pomeroy.
The latter were brothers ; and Seth Pomeroy married the
sister of John and Jonathan Hunt, who were also brothers.
Jonathan Strong Jr. , and the wife of Jonathan Hunt were
cousins, and James Lyman was an uncle of John, Gad and
Gideon Lyman. These men were all strong opponents of
Mr. Edwards. Ephraim Wright acknowledged that he
was among those accused of reading immoral literature.
The wife of Zadoc, son of Jolm Lyman and nephew to Gideon
and Gad Lyman, was among the number cited before
the committee by Mr. Edwards. These facts indicate that
much of the bitterness of feeling engendered by the unfortunate
affair of five years before still lingered and was
coming to the surface. Only four of the above eleven
names can be found upon the church records at that time.
Continuous Precinct Three days after, the precinct meeting
Meeting. couveued, but it was not deemed advisa-
ble to act upon the suggestions of the petitioners
till after the fast. The only question decided was
that the parish did not desire Mr. Edwards to preach upon
the question at issue. The meeting was adjourned for two
weeks. Though the petitioners had not gained their object,
they had accomplished an important purpose. In thus
placing the matter before the precinct, the way was opened
for that series of meetings by means of which affairs were
managed by the opponents of Mr. Edwards throughout