ous law of God and example of his people recorded
in y'e holy Scriptures of truth in that case, and by enquiry they
appeared clear of all others relating to marriage and having consent
of parties and relations concerned were approved by said meeting.

Now these certify whom it may concern y't for y'e full accomplishment
of their intention, this twenty-second day of September being y'e year
according to our account 1727, then they the s'd Thom's Challis and
Sarah Weed appeared in a public assembly of y'e afores'd people and
others met together for that purpose at their public meeting-house
in Amesbury afores'd and then and there he y'e s'd Thom's Challis
standing up in y'e s'd assembly taking y'e s'd Sarah Weed by y'e hand
did solemnly declare as followeth:

Friends in y'e fear of God and in y'e presence of this assembly whom I
declare to bear witness, that I take this my Friend Sarah Weed to be my
wife promising by y'e Lord's assistance to be unto her a kind and loving
husband till death, or to this effect; and then and there in y'e s'd
assembly she y'e said Sarah Weed did in like manner declare as follweth:
Friends in y'e fear of God and presence of this assembly whom I declare
to bear witness that I take this my Friend Thom's Challis to be my
husband promising to be unto him a faithful and loving wife till death
separate us, or words of y'e same effect. And y'e s'd Thom's Challis
and Sarah Weed, as a further confirmation thereof did then and there to
these presents set their hands, she assuming y'e name of her husband. And
we whose names are hereto subscribed being present amongst others at
their solemnizing Subscription in manner afores'd have hereto set our
names as witness."

Then follow the names of groom and bride, relatives on either side, and
then the names of members in the assembly, first the "menfolks," then
the "womenfolks." The names all told are forty-one. Among them is that
of Joseph Whittier, which name with those of Challis and Weed have long
been honored names in Amesbury.

The marriage gift to the husband on the part of his parents was usually
a farm, a part of the homestead; the dowry to the young bride from her
parents was a cow, a year's supply of wool, or something needful in
setting up house-keeping. If the homestead farm was not large the young
couple were brave enough to encounter the labors and toils of frontier
life, and begin for themse