Benjamin Cutter, William R. Cutter, History of the town of Arlington, Massachusetts, ormerly the second precinct in Cambridge, or District of Menotomy, afterward the town of West Cambridge. 1635-1879 with a genealogical register of the inhabitants of the precinct.

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‘ [24] 1734-5,’ we may presume he presided over the exercises at the dedication of the first meeting-house of his former parishioners in this Precinct. Wednesday, Oct. 8, 1735, was set apart ‘as a day of fasting and prayer to seek the Divine assistance and direction in the important affair of settling an orthodox minister of the gospel in this Precinct,’ and the Rev. Mr. Hancock, Mr. Appleton, Mr. Storer and Mr. Turell, the neighboring ministers,¹ were desired to assist in carrying on the public exercises of the day.

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1736

Aug. 3, 1736, Mr. Thomas Skinner was chosen minister and provision made for his settlement for life. But some dissent to the choice arising, and his answer containing several articles which were passed in the negative, the matter went no further. Thomas Skinner, H. U. 1732, was afterward minister at Colchester, Conn. His father rented the Ten Hills Farm, now in Somerville, about 1737. See Wyman's Charlestown, 869.

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The members for Menotomy of a particular and peculiar committee of Dr. Appleton's church, in 1736, were John Cutter and Ephraim Frost. See Paige, 297, &c.

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1737

On Jan. 2, 1736-7, the Rev. John Hancock baptized at 'Notomy, Amos Winship and Hannah Robbins.

May 16, 1737, the town granted £ 12 for the support of winter schools in this Precinct.—Paige.

On Mar. 25, 1737, a meeting was adjourned from the schoolhouse to the meeting-house to hear advice of neighboring ministers with respect to settling a minister here. As the result of this advice Mr. Joseph Gardner was chosen minister on May 27, 1737, but after some extended negotiations which came to nothing, he sent a final and negative answer. Joseph Gardner, H. U. 1732, was afterward settled in the ministry at Newport.²

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