The History of Salem, Massachusetts (1926)

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The church was very willing to help the needy, and a contribution for the benefit of the poor was regularly taken. Nov. 9, 1677, the town voted that "there shall be a constant contribution for the poor every Lord's day, which shall be committed into the hands of the deacons, and by them delivered to the selectmen, or their order for the relief of the poor." The records of the selectmen show a list of widows, which seemed to increase in numbers, few dying. In 1678 and 1679, there were helped certain widows by the names of Collins, Smith, Craniver, Starr, Rich, Harney, Hun, Richards, Pickworth, Harvey, Pickman, Oliver, Moses, Pethrick, Estick, Sibly, Bethiah Allen and Elizabeth Sheldon. The last named had a child. She was said to be "Baxter's daughter" The mother and child had been cared for by Goody Ture and Richard Ives' wife. In his will, in 1684, Francis Skerry gave ten pounds to the poor of Salem, to be distributed by his widow.