[83] “There fell out (1642) a very sad accident at Weymouth. One Richard Sylvester, having three small children, he and his wife going to the assembly, upon the Lord’s day, left their children at home. The eldest was without doors looking to some cattle; the middle-most, being a son about five years old, seeing his father’s fowling piece, (being a very great one), stand in the chimney, took it and laid it upon a stool, as he had seen his father do, and pulled up the cock, (the spring being weak), and put down the hammer, then went to the other end and blowed in the mouth of the piece, as he had seen his father also do, and with that stirring the piece, being charged, it went off, and shot the child into its mouth and through his head. When the father came home he found his child lie dead, and could not have imagined how he should have been so killed, but the youngest child, (being but three years old, and could scarce speak), showed him the whole manner of it.” _Savage’s Winthrop_, (v. 2, p. 77). Weymouth, June 1, 1775. “Voted that the Soldiers from the age of Sixteen to Sixty appear with their arms upon Lords Days on penalty of forfeiting a Dollar each Lords Day for their neglect. That those Soldiers who tarry at home upon the Lords day, Except they can make a Reasonable Excuse therefor Shall forfeit two Dollars.” _Records._ [84] Savage’s Winthrop, v. 1, p. 94, n. See Johnson’s Wonder Working Providence, chap. 10. [85] Savage’s Winthrop, v. 1, p. 287. [86] The best account of Mr. Newman and his Concordance is found in _Bliss’ History of Rehoboth_. It is a singular fact that William Blackstone should have gone from Boston to Rehoboth, and been followed there by an emigration from Wessagusset, which place he had probably abandoned when he went to Boston. [87] II. Mass. Hist. Soc. Coll., v. 7, p. 11. [88] Eliot’s Biographical Dictionary. [89] It can be found in the preface (pp. xxviii, xxix), of the letters of Mrs. Adams (ed. 1848). [90] Letters of Mrs. Adams (ed. 1848), p. 374. [91] That part of the town records which relates to the revolutionary period will probably be printed in full in the History of Weymouth, now in course of preparation. [92] Hutchinson, v. 3, p. 432. [93] Letters of Mrs. Adams, pp. 26, 33. [94] The history of this loan is curious and suggestive. It may be traced through the following entries in the town records. July 22, 1776. “Voted that the Town Treasurer Borrow the afforesaid sum of £234 & give the Towns security with Interest for the Same.” “July 23d 1776 the Town Treasurer Borrowed of Capt James White £130 and gave the Towns Security to pay the same in twelve months with interest.” April 7, 1783. “Voted to allow unto Captain James White the Depreation on some money that he lent to the Town.