A "black dog" was a "dog dollar."
Often a settlement or a sum of money was given outright to the clergyman
when he was first ordained or settled in the parish. At a town meeting in
Sharon, January 8, 1755, which was held with regard to procuring a new
minister, it was voted "that a committe confer with Mr. Smith, and know
which will be more acceptable to him, to have a larger settlement and a
smaller salary, or a larger salary and a smaller settlement, and make
report to this meeting." On Jan. 15th it was voted "that we give to said
Mr. Smith 420 ounces of silver or equivalent in old Tenor bills, for a
settlement, to be paid in three years after settlement. That we give to
said Mr. Smith 220 Spanish dollars or an equivalent in old Tenor bills for
his yearly salary." Mr. Smith was very generous to his new parish, for his
acceptance of its call contains this clause: "As it will come heavy upon
some perhaps to pay salary and settlement together I have thought of
releasing part of the payment of the salary for a time to be paid to me
again. The first year I shall allow you out of the salary you have voted me
40 dollars, the 2nd 30 dollars, the 3rd 15, the 4th year 20 to be repaid
to me again, the 5th year 20 more, the 6th year 20 more and the 25 dollars
that remain, I am willing that the town should keep 'em for its own use."
He was apparently "willing to live very low," as Parson Eliot humbly and
pathetically wrote in a petition to his church.
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