The town by a maigor vote doth agree to improve the town loot this year in the town way towards the maintainance of a ministar e to mack theyer fence, now belonging unto ye house loot e euery inhabitant to mack theyer equall sharis up with good sofisiant fine raill fence as it shall be laved out by ye towns men e it is to pass the vewars; -- e the town dos agree to plow, plant e tend the loot in a way of a town rate, e if any refuse or nedgleckt to dew theyr shair of fence up by the fifteenth of march next to come shall pay four shillings a rood to the town men as they may have it dun up as above said.

" 16th of December, 1692, David Mead was chosen by the town to keep the town drum, to keep it in repair and to beat it when necessary, and to be allowed 10 shillings yearly."

Prior to the use of bells in New England, the meetings were summoned by beat of drum, or the blowing of the conch shell: to this practice the poet alludes:

"New England's Sabbath day," Is heaven-like, still and pure. Then Israel walks the way Up to the temple's door :

The time we tell,

When there to come,

By beat of dcum,

Or sounding shell.

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.

In 1699 the town votes to exchange with Stewhen Clason 4 acres of swamp and give him 4 acres of upland if he will "beat the Drum until this day twelve month," the town to keep the drum in repair.