The proprietors of the Hop ground appear to have made early provision for the erection and support of a church, for, in 1680j " it was agreed that a meeting house should be erected on the com^ mens." In 1681, the general court instructed the committee who were to la^^ out a plantation at the hop ground, " to take care that there should be a suitable lot laid out for the first minister of the place, and a lot for the minister forever." December 8th, 1681, the proprietors agreed to give Mr. Prudden a call to be their minister. In 16S8 the Rev. Thomas Denliam must have been settled here, for on the 2Sih of January, (nf that year.) the town ordered £20 to be raised and collected for Mr. Denham's salary. September 23, 1689. The town b}^ vote agreed that in " case Mr. Abraham Ambler, sen., will come up and live at Bedford and carry on tlie Sabbath as God shall enable him, we will give unto him the sum of £20 a year, so long as he shall perform the work among us." The following month (October 15) it was agreed to build Mr. Abraham Ambler a frame house fortyfeet by twenty- two.

*' 16th of December, 1692, David Mead was chosen by the town to k'eep the town druu), 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 :