COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
In the House of Representatives, March 17th, 1788.
"Whereas John Murray, and others, have represented to this court, that the said Murray, esteeming himself legally qualified, had solemnized certain marriages, and that, by a decision had in the Superior Judicial Court, it was determined that the said Murray had no such authority, praying that he may be indemnified. Resolved, that the said John Murray, be, and he hereby is, indemnified from all the pains, and penalties, which he may have incurred on account of having solemnized any marriages, as aforesaid, for which there has not been any prosecution commenced, or had; and the said Murray may, upon trial for any of the offences aforesaid, give this resolution in evidence, upon the general issue, which shall have the same operation, as if specially pleaded.
Sent up for concurrence.James Warren, Speaker.
In Senate, March 27th, 1788.
Read and concurred.Samuel Adams, President.
| Approved, | JOHN HANCOCK. |
True copy; attest,
John Avery, jun. Secretary.
Meantime, the persecuted, and now nobly redressed promulgator, was speeding across the great waters. His passage over the Atlantic was uncommonly boisterous; the European winter of this year was very severe. More navigation, and lives, were lost, in the January and February of 1788, upon the tremendous coast of Cornwall, than had ever before been known, in any one season. At length, however, the Chalky Cliffs of his native shore met his gladdened view, and the heaven-protected vessel cast anchor in the commodious harbour of Falmouth. Mr. Murray was an entire stranger to this part of England; but, by the Bostonians and Gloucesterians, he had been furnished with recommendatory letters, thus worded—
"We, the Subscribers, members of the Christian Independent Church in Boston, do, on behalf of ourselves and our brethren, by these presents, certify to all whom it may concern, that the bearer, Mr. John Murray, (settled Minister of the Independent Church in Gloucester) for more than fourteen years past, hath occasionally laboured among us, in this place, much to the edification, and consolation of God's people; and we bless God, therefore, and most sincerely pray, that the good will of Him who dwelt in the Bush may accompany him on his way, and
