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

ITTS.] REVOLUTION-—REV, SOLOMON WILLIAMS. 4:19
minister, Mr. Williams was the son of Rev, Eliphalet
Williams of East Hartford, and was at this time but
twenty-six years of age. He was graduated at Yale College
in 1770, and had been during the five preceding years
a tntor in that institution.
Terma of Settlement The question ot a Settlement ana saiary for
and Salary. ^he new minister was referred to a com-
mittee consisting of Ephraim Wright, Elijah
Hunt, Dr, Ebenezer Hunt, Mr, Elias Lyman, Dr, Jonathan
Hunt, Abner Barnard, Ezra Clark, Jacob Parsons,
and Dea, Aaron Cook. After conference with Mr, Williams
they reported an agreement with him by which he
was to receive £300 for a settlement, payable, one third
when he should be ordained, and the remainder within, the
two succeeding years. His salary was to be £100 the first
year with a yearly increase of £5 till it reached the sum of
£120, which was to be the permanent limit. On. account
of the fluctuations in the paper currency, the standard
value of the salary was based, as in the case of Rev. Jonathan
Edwards, upon the price of the staple products of the
land, "Wheat, Rie and Indian Com." The price of wheat
was to be 43., rie 3s., and Indian com 2s., per busheL
It was also provided that these prices should bear the same
proportion to those fixed upon by the committee, whatever
might be their variations. For instance, when wheat was
worth 12s., rie 9s., and Indian com 6s. per bushel, then
the "' sum paid Mr. Williams should be three times as great
as the sum fixed upon in the above vote.'' Xothing in
these votes was to prevent the salary from being paid in
gold or silver, A sufficient amount of fire-wood was also
to be provided.
Ordination Serricea.
To this propositiou Mr. Williams gave his
written approval, signed upon the records.
The ordination took place on the 4:'- of June. The council
was composed of Rev. Eliphalet Williams of Hartford,
father of the candidate. Rev. Richard Salter of Murrayfield,
Rev. Timothy Kine of Goshen, Rev. Jonathan Judd
of Southampton, Rev. Sjolomon Hopkins of Hadley, and
Rev. Joseph Lyman of Hatfield. It passed oQ with the