The Puritan ministers in New England in the eighteenth century were all
good Whigs; they hated the English kings, fully believing that those stupid
rulers, who really cared little for the Church of England, were burning
with pious zeal to make Episcopacy the established church of the colonies,
and knowing that were that deed accomplished they themselves would probably
lose their homes and means of livelihood. They were the most eager of
Republicans and patriots, and many of them were good and brave soldiers in
the Revolution.
When the minister acquired the independence he so longed and fought for,
it was not all his fancy painted it. He found himself poor
indeed,--practically penniless. He complained sadly that he was paid his
salary in the worthless continental paper money, and he refused to take it.
Often he cannily took merchandise of all kinds instead of the low-valued
paper money, and he became a good and sharp trader, exchanging his various
goods for whatever he needed--and could get. Merchandise was, indeed, far
preferable to money. The petition of Rev. Mr. Barnes to his Willsborough
people has been preserved, and he thus speaks of his salary: "In 1775 the
war comenced & Paper money was emitted which soon began to depreciate and
the depreciation was so rappid that in may 1777 your Pastor gave the whole
of his years Salary for one sucking Calf, the next year he gave the whole
for a small store pig.
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