Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1751. 529

or Sex which long Experience hath Manifested, Tends very
much to the Disturbance, not only of the Minister, but of those
who would devoutly and Reverendly perform their Devotions.
For the Prevention of which for the future, upon the late
Addition being compleated, and on the Seventh day of Sep-
tember 1751 we the Subscribers, who have for many years
contributed very Considerably to'rds the said Parish Church,
and the af^d Expences, and Some of us by far the Most in the
Parish, as the number of Taxables to Our names Severally
annexed will make fully to Appear, conceiving Ourselves both
ill treated and Injured by the Low Class of the Parishioners
and others who assume to themselves (if but one Tax only)
an equal Right with those, who Contribute the most, Per-
sonally applyed to the Vestry of the said Parish Viz. The
Reverend M^r Samuel Clegat the Honourable Richard Lee
Esq^r M^r Charles Yates Captain Arthur Lee M^r Richard Smith
M^r Nathan Harris & M^r Thomas Courell Vestrymen, Robert
Yates & Edward Ford Church wardens at the usual Place
Convened, and of them Severally Demanded Our Right Viz.
that proper Pews might be Assigned us, wherein we might
Exercise our devotions with Ease and know where to Resort
with our Familys without Interruption, always having a Special
Regard to the quantity of Pews and Numbers of Familys in
the Parish, as well as the Number of Taxables We Severally
Pay for the Numbers our Several familys Consist of, and the
Characters we Severally bear not desiring anyone to be
Excluded or debarred from the Church being very well Assured
of Room Sufficient but only for Decency and Order sake ;
upon which Demand the Vestry Answered Viz. For granting
it, The Rev^d Mr Clegat the Honble Rich^d Lee Esq^r M^r Nathan
Harris and M^r Robert Yates; For not Granting it M^r Charles
Yates Cap^t Arthur Lee M^r Richard Smith M^r Thomas Cot-
trell and M^r Edward Ford, who further Answered that We
should not have any other Right than in Common with the
other Parishioners, neither had we any Right to make any
such demand neither would they Admit this our Demand to
be Entered in the Parish Register nor any Proceedings thereon
to Appear
Now May it please your Excellency & Honours We your
Petitioners conceiving Ourselves to be very much Grieved

Lib. C. B.

p. 465

and Injured by this Proceeding of the Vestry af^d Humbly
Apply to you for Redress in the Premises; The Principal
Objections our opposers make use of, that We have heard are,
That the Church was Originally built by Subscription, that all
Persons there are upon a Level, Distinctions there ought not
to be made nor any Authority Exercised; This is a Doctrine
we apprehend so Strongly Strikes at all manner of Govern-

P. 466