Page:History of Barrington, Rhode Island (Bicknell).djvu/237

PETITION FOR A NEW TOWN. 187 the ratable inhabitants of every town should settle a minister in accord with the ruling faith, and it might, on the neglect of any town require a fine of forty shillings for the first of- fence, and four pounds for every subsequent conviction. The power was in its hands to overthrow the Baptist Church and the polity of the old town, but neither act was attempted, and the Baptists continued to hold Swansea as one of their strongholds. It will be seen that the essential difficulty between the two parties in the town grew out of fundamental principles of civil and religious government, which had been at issue in Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay Colonies, almost from their first planting. The doctrine was really that of per- sonal freedom in religious concerns, which Mr. Williams had the honor of first declaring on American soil, but which found ardent advocates and defenders in the Browns and Willetts of Plymouth and the Swansea foundation of 1667. One resort was open to the Congregational body of inhabi- tants and that was the division of the old town of Swansea and the formation of a Church " on the westward end of Swansea," where most of that sect resided. The dwellers on Phebe's Neck and New Meadow Neck who favored a new Church agitated the incorporation of a new town, which should support the ministry and church by the taxation of the ratable estates of the people. History is silent as to the various debates and movements which culminated in the following petition presented to the General Court of Massa- chusetts Bay, Province, in Boston, which met on the thirtieth day of May, 171 1 : A PETITION. " To His Excellency Joseph Dudley, Esq., Captain-General and Governor-in-chief in and over His Majesty s Province of the Massachusetts Bay in N. E., the Honorable Council and Representatives in General Court assembled at Boston this thirtieth day of May : " The petition of us the subscribers, inhabitants on the westward end of Swansea, most humbly sheweth, that