a chapter, nor expound on any part of the Scripture, which was a great grief to me.”  On the other hand, three men and one woman depose thus:  “Having, for a year, some more, some less, since Mr. Bayley’s coming to Salem Farms, lived at his house, we testify to our knowledge, that he hath continually performed family duties, morning and evening, unless sickness or some other unavoidable providence hath prevented.”  Two of the above witnesses depose more specifically as follows:  “We testify,—­one of us being a boarder at Mr. Bayley’s house, at times, for two or three years, and the other having lived there about a year and a quarter,—­that Mr. Bayley did not only constantly perform family prayers twice a day, except some unusual providence at any time prevented, but also did sometimes read the Scriptures and other profitable books, and also repeat his own sermons in his family that he preached upon the Lord’s Days; always endeavoring to keep good order in his family, carrying himself exemplarily therein.”  The evidence against Bayley was afterwards found to be unworthy of credit, and was wholly overborne at the time by unimpeachable testimony in his favor.  The conclusion seems to be safe, from all the papers and proceedings, that Mr. Bayley was, as the General Court had pronounced him, “of a blameless conversation.”  A letter from him to his people, relating to the disaffection of some, and expressing a willingness to relinquish his position, if the interests of the society would thereby be promoted, is among the papers.  It is creditable to his understanding, temper, and character.

The opposition to Mr. Bayley laid the train for all the disastrous and terrible scenes that followed.  His wife was Mary Carr, of Salisbury.  Her family, besides land in that town, owned the large island in the Merrimack, just above Newburyport, called still by their name, and occupied by their descendants to this day.  Mrs. Bayley brought with her to the village a younger sister, Ann, who, when scarcely sixteen years of age,—­on the 25th of November, 1678,—­married Sergeant Thomas Putnam.  The Carrs were evidently well-educated young women; and there is every indication that Ann was possessed of qualities which gave her much influence in private circles.  Her husband was the eldest son of the richest man in the village, had the most powerful and extensive connections, was a member of the company of troopers, had been in the Narragansett fight, and, as his records show, was a well-educated person.  Marriage with him brought his wife into the centre of the great Putnam family; and, her sister Bayley being the wife of the minister, a powerful combination was secured to his support.  The opposition so obstinately made to his settlement, appearing to his friends, as it does to us, so unreasonable, if not perverse, engendered a very bitter resentment, which spread from house to house.  Every thing served to aggravate it.  The disregard, by the opposition, of the advice of the old church to agree