The First Minutes

27 February 1701

Present \Lord B[isho]p of Bangor/ the L[or]d Guilford, the L Dr Butler, Dr Bray, Mr Torriano, Mr Nelson, Dr Harvey, Mr Melmouth, Mr Brewster, Mr Hodges, the L[or]d B[isho]p of Hereford, Dr Lynford, the Archdeacon of London, A[rch]D[eacon] of Colchester, L[or]d B[isho]p of Worcester, Mr Lloyd, Dr Mapletolt, Dr Woodward, Mr Nevill, the L[or]d B[isho]p of Chester.

The Lord B[isho]p of Hereford, the Archdeacon of London & Mr Melmouth were sworn into their respective offices.

An Extract of several Letters from Boston, Road Island & New York relating to the sending a Missionary into the Naragansets Country was read

An Extract of a Letter from Mr Vesy the Minister at N. York ab[ou]t the Church Affairs of that Country was read.

An Extract of Letter from Pensylvania &c relating to the Establishment of the Church in those parts was read.

An Extract of Letters from Roonook on North Carolina relating to the sending more Missionaries into those parts was read.

An Extract of a Letter from Mr Jackson Minister of St Johns
The Lord B[isho]p of Worcester moved that Mr Keith may be call’d in; and he was call’d in accordingly

Then the first Extract was read over again

Order’d that a large Map of the Plantations be brought hither at the next meeting

Resolved that this Society will send a Missionary

Order’d that the A[rch]D[eacon] of London & Dr Bray do wait on the L[or]d Bisho]p of London and do acquaint him that this Society desires his L[ordshi]p to recom[m]end a Missionary to be sent to the Naragansets Colony at the expence of the Society who will make up the Deficiency and that this Society will allow

The Second Extract was again read

Order’d that Mr Lloyd & Mr Nevil do enquire at the Jewell office & Wardrobe ab[ou]t the Com[m]union Plate &c of N. York.

The third Extract was again read

The L[or]d B[isho]p of Hereford reported that he had sent a great Welch Bible & Com[m]on prayer Book to the Welch Congregation in Pennsylvania

Order’d that Application be made to the Governor or Governnors that shall be appointed by his Ma[jes]ty over the Jerseys in the name of the Corporation that he will take care to divide his Governments into Parishes &c.

Resolved that a \the/ sum not exceeding \of/ 200£ be allowed \yearly by this Corporation/ to Mr George Keith for his Travelling Charges during his Mission be allowed him \in Forreign Parts/ & that in Case he dies in his \s[ai]d/ Mission \the sum \of/ not exceeding/ 200£ shall be given to his Wife & Children

Resolved that the sum of Fifty Pounds be im[m]ediatly advanced to Mr George Keith.

The fourth Extract was again read.

Order’d that both the Subscription Roles be tender’d to all the Members of this Society that have not already made any Subscriptions.

Order’d that the Secretary \Members that/ do write to

Dr Bray moved that a Com[m]ittee \may/ be appointed to Audit his Acc[oun]ts relating to the Charges of the Charter \Missions/ into the Plantations and to take on

Order’d that that Com[m]ittee be the L[or]d Guilford, Mr Nelson, the B[isho]p of Chichester, Sr W[illia]m Huston, Dr Haley, Dr Beveridge, Dr Stanley, \Mr Hodges/, or any three of them be the s[ai]d Com[m]ittee.

Order’d that Dr Beveridge, Dr Butler, Dr Gee \all the Members of this Society that are Ministers \or Inhabitants/ of the City of London/ do \be desired to/ apply to the Eminent Merchants of the \said/ City of London for \especially such of them as do trade into the Plantations for/ their Benefactions towards the promoting the Designs of this Society in the Plantations, & that they do present them with Copies of the Charter of this Society & Dr Willis’s sermons lately preacht at the Anniversary meeting at Bow.

Order’d that the summe of fifty pounds p[er] annum be xx xxxxxx allow’d to Mr Chamberlain the secretary of this Corporation to enable him to more effectually to carry on the business of this Corporation & to support the Charges that will necessarily fall upon one that serve’s the Soci Corporation in that Capacity

Resolved that the summe of fifty pounds p[er] ann[um] be allow’d to be disposd of by the Secr[etary] for the time being to such person or persons as he shall employ in solliciting or writing under him for the service of this Corpora[tion], & that the said allowance do Commence from the 20th day of Febr. last past this instant Febr[uary] being the Generall Court day, & that he have the thanks of the Corporat[ion] for the xx services he hath already done the Corporat[ion] with Orderd that the s[ai]d Com[m]ittee do meet on Monday \Tuesday/ next at 3 \10/ in the Afternoon \Morning exactly/ at Mr Brewsters chambers

Order’d that it be refer’d to the Com[m]ittee \the sum of 7-8-6 be over & above the 25£ allow’d &c.&/

Order’d that it be refer’d to the s[ai]d Com[m]ittee to allow what more they judge necessary on the same Acc[oun]t & the Treasurers are hereby directed to pay the same

	£ -	s -	d
Dr Butler	3 -	0 -	0
Mr Trym[m]er	5 -	0 -	0
Archdeacon Trimnell	4 -	0 -	0
Dr Stanhope	7 -	0 -	0
Dr Blackall	3 -	0 -	0
Dr Woodward	3 -	0 -	0
Mr Reynolds	3 -	0 -	0
Dr Mapletoft	5 -	0 -	0