The history and genealogies of ancient Windsor, Connecticut : including East Windsor, South Windsor, Bloomfield, Windsor Locks, and Ellington, 1635-1891, Part 1

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Hartford, Conn. : Case, Lockwood & Brainard Co.
Number of Pages: 967


USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Windsor > The history and genealogies of ancient Windsor, Connecticut : including East Windsor, South Windsor, Bloomfield, Windsor Locks, and Ellington, 1635-1891 > Part 1
USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > East Windsor > The history and genealogies of ancient Windsor, Connecticut : including East Windsor, South Windsor, Bloomfield, Windsor Locks, and Ellington, 1635-1891 > Part 1
USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > South Windsor > The history and genealogies of ancient Windsor, Connecticut : including East Windsor, South Windsor, Bloomfield, Windsor Locks, and Ellington, 1635-1891 > Part 1
USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Bloomfield > The history and genealogies of ancient Windsor, Connecticut : including East Windsor, South Windsor, Bloomfield, Windsor Locks, and Ellington, 1635-1891 > Part 1
USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Windsor Locks > The history and genealogies of ancient Windsor, Connecticut : including East Windsor, South Windsor, Bloomfield, Windsor Locks, and Ellington, 1635-1891 > Part 1
USA > Connecticut > Tolland County > Ellington > The history and genealogies of ancient Windsor, Connecticut : including East Windsor, South Windsor, Bloomfield, Windsor Locks, and Ellington, 1635-1891 > Part 1


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53



Go 974.602 W725st v.1,pt.1 1634076


REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION


GC


ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01105 6048


2.0


OLIVER . LCOTT


BCRN IN WINDEDR, CONN, CO NOVEMEER, 1726 LIEUTENANO-GOVERNOR OF CONNECTICUT 1763-1758 GOVERNOR, 1786 UNTIL HIS DEATH, IN 1757


2%


محمد الصمحافظ


my R files . A.M . M .


TO MY WIFE


SARAH (WOODWARD) STILES


1 Dedicate these Velumes


.IN GRATEFUL RECOGNITION OF THE


LOVING AND UNWEARIED DEVOTION


TO MY INTERESTS, WHICH HAS MADE MY LIFE A HAPPY ONE, AND RENDERED IT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO ACCOMPLISH WHATEVER OF VALUE I MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED, WITHIN THE LAST THIRTY YEARS, TO THE ELUCIDATION OF AMERICAN LOCAL HISTORY AND GENEALOGY.


THE


HISTORY AND GENEALOGIES


OF


ANCIENT WINDSOR,


CONNECTICUT;


INCLUDING


EAST WINDSOR, SOUTH WINDSOR. BLOOMFIELD, WINDSOR LOCKS, AND ELLINGTON.


1635-1891.


BY HENRY R. STILES, A.M., M.D.


"I wish (this task] hal fallen into -oins better hauts, that might have performed it to the life. I shall only draw the curtain & open mov little casement, that so others of larger hearts & abilitaw. may It in a bigger light : that so at least some small shimmering may be left to posterity what dith- culties & obstructicus their intefathers not with in first settling these desert parts of America." - Copier John Maxim. (of Mindset (h) in the Introduction to his Hitlery of the Prywat, Wher.


Vol. J. HUSTORY. V :


HARTFORD, CONN .: PRESS OF THE CASE, LOCK WOOD & BRAINARD COMPANY. 1891.


F 84694 . 8


1634076


F 8769408


52014


Copyright, 189-3, By HENRY R. STILES.


.


CONTENTS OF VOLUME I.


WINDSOR.


CHAPTER I. PAGE. OF WINDSOR, 1614-1635, 17-63


CHAPTER II.


1636-1650. . 6-1-80


CHAPTER III.


THE CIVIL ORGANIZATION OF WINDSOR, ILLUSTRATED FROM THE TOWN RECORDS, 81-97


CHAPTER IV.


THE RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION OF WINDSOR, . 98-102


CHAPTER V.


INDIAN HISTORY. . 103-121


CHAPTER VI.


NOTES ON THE PERCHASES OF WINDSOR'S LANDS FROM THE INDIANS, 122-132


CHAPTER VII.


DISTRIBUTION AND PLAN OF ANCHANT WINDSOR, 133-1:1


CHAPTER VIII.


HISTORY. 1650-1,75 --- EXTRACTS FROM TOWN ACTS. . 172-189


CHAPTER IX.


AN EPISODE OF ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 1662-1384, 190-219


CHAPTER X.


KING PHILIP'S WAR, 1675-6. 220-230


CHAPTER XI.


ECCLESIASTICAL AND CIVIL HISTORY - EXTRACTS FROM TOWN ACTS,


1685-1729, 231-236 .


CHAPTER XII. QUEEN ANNE'S WAR, 1.02-1713, AND INDIAN WAR OF 1723-24, 237-242


FROM THE DISCOVERY OF THE CONNECTICUT RIVER TO THE SETTLEMENT


3.


CONTENTS.


CHAPTER AIM. PAGE.


WINDSOR'S SHARE IN THE OLD FRENCH WAR, 1739-1762, 242-219


CHAPTER XIV.


ECCLESIASTICAL - HISTORY OF FIRST OR OLD SOCIETY OF WINDSOR, 1711-1776, 270-280


CHAPTER XV.


ECCLESIASTICAL - HISTORY OF WINDSOR THIRD (OR POQCONNOC) SOCIETY,


1724-1841, 281-201


CHAPTER XVI.


ECCLESIASTICAL - WINTONBURG PARISH, OR FILTH SOCIETY OF WINDSOR.


(NOW BLOOMFIELD), 1734-1991.


992-907


CHAPTER XVII.


WINDSOR'S SHARE IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, 1775-1743, 308-375


CHAPTER XVIII


ECCLESIASTICAL - FIRST SOCIETY OF WINDSOR, 1:76-1890. . 376-335


CHAPTER XIX THE SCHOOLS OF WINDSOR, 1036-170. 396-408


CHAPTER XX.


FERRIES, INNS STORES. TRADE AND COMMERCE, HOUSES, CLAVES. MAN- NERS AND CONVENIENCES, WITCHIS, PHYSICIANS, LAWYERS, ETC . 097-60F


CHAPTER XXI.


WINDSOR, 1800-1591 - WINDSOR & COLONIES, . 461-445


CHAPTER XXII.


BLOOMFIELD, 1:35-1891, . ES9- 491


CHAPTER XXIII


HISTORY OF PINE MEADOW, NOW WINDSOR LOCKS, 1676-1590, 492-532


WINDSOR, EAST OF THE GREAT RIVER.


CHAPTER I.


SETTLEMENT OF WINDSOR FARMS AND HISTORY OF THE SECOND CHER. H AND SOCIETY OF WINDSOR, 1662-1768, 595-589 -


CHAPTER II.


THE NORTH OR SCANTIC PARISH (NOW THE FIRST SOCIETY IN TOWN OF EAST WINDSOR), 1754-1599, 590-613


CONTENTS, vi


CHAPTER IL.


THE DIVISION OF ANCIENT WINDSOR AND INCORPORATION OF EAST TAGE


WINDSOR. 176%, 6:1-617


CHAPTER IV.


WAPPING PARISH (THIRD CHURCH OF EAST WINDSOR), 1717-1890, 618-626


CHAPTER V.


EAST WINDSOR'S SHARE IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, 627-721


(By Both T. Searge Les Was / H.)


CHAPTER VI.


HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH OF EAST WINDSOR. 1782-1945; AND OF THE FIRST CHURCH OF SOUTH WINDSOR. FROM 1845 TO THE PRESENT TIME, :29-784


CHAPTER VIL.


EAST WINDSOR. 1790-1500.


CHAPTER VILL


SOUTH WINDSOR. .


CHAPTER IX.


ELLINGTON PARISH AND TOWN-FORMERLY A PART OF EAST WINDHO. NOW BELONGING TO TOLLAND COUNTY, 13, Per Jele. G. P.in . Bigum. Com


807-890


APPENDICES.


A .- MATTHEW GRANT'S OLD CHURCH RECORD.


B - THE FIRST MEETING-HOUSE OF WINDSOR- By Dea. J. H. HigIn. .


C .- THE OLDEST VATEOLON COMMEG ATIONAL CHURCH -- By D.v. J. H. Hayden. 895 D .-- THE PRESBYTERIANISM OF THIS EARLIER CHERCHES OF NEW ENGLAND. 001 E .- RECORDS OF THE "WIE " OR "4TH." OR NORTH SOCIETY OF WINDSOR, 003


F .- NATIVES OR RESIDENTS OF WINDSOR, EASY AND SOUTH WINDSOR, WINDSOR LOCKS, AND BLOOMFIELD, WHO HAVE REPRESENTED CON- NECTICUT IN THE UNITED STATES OR IN IFL STATE GOVERNMENT, 904


913


G .- EARLY RECORDS OF THE EAST WINDSOR CHURCH, . . PETITION OF INHABITANTS ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE GREAT RIVER., 1680, 916


.


ILLUSTRATIONS-VOL. I.


PAGE


1. PORTRAIT OF (THE FIRST GOVERNOR) OLIVER WOLCOTT. Frontispiece. 2. Portrait of the Author. Facing Dedicati a Pag ... 3. Portrait of the Delicatee. Dedication Page. 24


. 4. Portrait of Jabez II. Hayden,


5. Map of Indian Purchases.


1:3


6. Fresimile of Autographs of some of Ancient Windsor's Early Settlers, 133


132


9. View of the Old Stone Fort. i


1-41


10. Map ot " Hayden's " -- with Explanation,


145


-11. Map of Windsor Settlers, 1633-1650.


149


13. Portrait of Rev David S. Island .


377


: 14.


Facsimile Autographs of Windsor Pastors, for 200 Years, . First Congre rational Church of Windsor,


125


-17. The Old Moore ard APen Houses, Windsor.


431


15. View of Breed Street Garen, Windsor, 1-91.


1×1


19. -20.


The Chief Justar Ell- worth Mansion. Windsor, :


433


23. Portia. { Gon Willom S. Pierson,


471


21. Map of Fire Merlin new Windsor Local, 1978


512


: 25. Partant of Chance II Dexter, The Herlelash Haskell Hoase, Windso: Locks.


511 521


Memai dal. Winder L (K).


580


29. The Willi . . Hayilen Memore! Stone.


30. For windex of Autographs of Stare of East Winday's Early Settlers,


556


333. Forsin te of Season of Res. Timoles Edward -. 1895,


581


- 35. Furesindex of Early East Windsor Pastore,


591


:86. Portrait of Res Thomas Robbins, D.D.,


: 37. View of the oft South Windsor Meeting-house, 1781-1845.


729


- 38. The Phelps Monuments in the Ofi Burying-Ground of East Windsor Hill,


784


- 39. The Grant Mansion South Windsor


40. The Old Governor Roger Wolcott Hon.c. South Windsor.


41. The Ol Weleott Homestead. South Windsor,


42. Portrait of William Word, M. D., Last Windsor Hu !.


792


FACSIMILE AUTOGRAPUS.


PAGE


PA.E


1. Matthew Grant.


13. Elinkim Gaylord, 500


Jabez H. Hayden,


1+1 14. Ezekiel Thrall, 500


3. Entry in Church Record by Rev. Mr. Mather, 1088, 219


15. Peletiab Birge,


501


4. Rev. Samuel Tudor.


17. Seth Dexter.


509


5. Elder Ashbel Gillet,


301 18. Harris Ha-kell. 529


6. Thomas Havden. 311


611


20. Ebenezer Grant. 650


8. Jabez Ia-kell.


321


21.


Benmi Olcott, 651


9. Hezekiah Hayden.


392


Brig. Gen. Eristus Wolcott, 655


10. Samuel Wing,


32%


23. Capt. Hezekiah Bissell,


11. Samuel Dension,


495


24. Auron Bissell, Town Clerk.


12. Abraham Dibble,


496


25. Frederic Ellsworth. Town Clerk, 756


200


-15.


·16. Portrait of capt Jatues Hooker.


Portrait of Hou. II. Sanay Havdeti,


482


- 21. Titrait of the thief Justice and Wire.


Besinde of Autographs of Some of Windsor's " Valiant Men of War,"


400)


Portrait of Chroles E. Chadre.


31. Portrait of Rev. Jonathan Edwards and View of his Birthplace. East Facsimile of a Page of Res. Timo Edward's Rate Book, East Windsor, 1:26.


579


- 34. Map of North Button Society, as set of from East Windsor, 1760.


15. Jacob Russell 50;


7. Nathaniel Havden.


19. Herlehigh Haskell. 520


i


G. IT.W of A45 1 D.L. Molit Windsor. 1654, Lastgrund Plan of Pensando. 1


12 Fuesimies of Pages of a Sermon by Rev. John Warham, 1662,


.


(PORTION OF) PREFACE TO FIRST EDITION, 1850.


Y HILE engaged, some years siner, in tracing the genealogy of my family, I became deeply interested in the history of the ancient town where they first settled. This interest gradually deepened into a conviction that its history ought to be written ere it was too late. There were other heads and hands, as I thought, better fitted than mine to undertake this labor; but, failing to enlist their services, I reluctantly undertook it myself. I was, at that the, in very poor health, and suf- fering from a serious affection of the eyes, which totally incapacitated mne from any continnous effort ut reading or writing. Thus prevented from the pursuit of my profession, I felt the necessity of something, which, by occupying my mind, should relieve me from the constant con- templation of my physjest suffering's, as well from the still greater dis- comfort of idleness Seeking the country for its genial influences upon my weakened frame, I spent my time among the pleasant scenery of Ancient Windsor, visiting among friends and relatives. and drinking in, from aged lips, rich stores of historie lore. Meanwhile, taking ad- vantage of an occasional "favorable spell" of eyesight, I cantiously used it, in examining the old written records, and in merking such portions as were necessary to be transcribed. These were afterwards copied for me by my brother, WILLIAM L. STILES (how deceased), and the large stores of material thus gained were collated and read to me; and thus, gradually, reading when I could. thinking when I could not read, and trusting my thoughts to the ready pen of an amanuensis, the skeleton of the history was constructed. From time to time, as my eye- sight improved, I visited the old records, each time bringing away with the new material. M.my timos my health and eyesight failed me, but, visiting Windsor for the benefits of its air and sanshine, I never gave ap the purpose of writing its history if my life should be spared. Gradu- ally, and to an extent which. if I had imagined before I undertook it, would probably have deterred me from the labor, the work grew on my hands; but to the Great Physician I humbly record my gratitude, that with the increased burden has also come an increase of strength, and that to-day I enjoy a degree of health which I once scarcely dared to hope for.


6


(PORTION OF) PREFACE TO FIRST EDITION.


These circumstances. however. I would not mention here, except for the hope that they may explain and exeuse, what perhaps might seem to others inexcusable, faults of omission and commission.


I have endeavored to make this history a treasury of all that was valuable and interesting to Ancient Windsor, and to impress npon it the broad seal of undoubted authenticity. I have preferred to imitate the pious zeal of Old Mortality, who wandered through " boumnie Scotland," not rising new monuments, but carefully somoving from decaying tomb- stones the thick moss, and reverently chiseling deeper the almost effaced inscriptions which preserved the blessed memories of the " covenanting for fathers." Such, I conceive to be the work of the true historian; and whenever I have found material garnered by other hands, I have availed myself of their labors, with the same freedom which I would myself allow in like circumstances and with full acknowl- edyment therefor.


IIENRY R. STILES, M.D.


BROOKLYN, N. Y., Sept. 1859.


Acknowledgements for valuable assistance rendered, are due to Miss Lucretia and Mary Stiles (now deceased ). of Windsor, Conn. Hon. H. S. Hayden. of Windsor, Conn ..


Jabez H. Hayden, of Windsor Loeks, Conn.


Fred. B. Perkins ( then Librarian of Cont. Ilist. Soc.), of Hartford, Conn.


Chas. J. Hoadly, LL D., State Librarian, Hon. J. Hammond Temabull. of Hartford, Conn.


Hon. Gideon Welles,


John W. Barber. New Haven, Conn.


Edward Hall.


Ilon. Benjarain Pinney, of Ellington. Sidney Stanley,


Dr. Askbel Woodward, of Franklin, Conn.


Rev. Ed vard C. Marshall, Fof New York City. Horace Dresser,


Samuel H. Parsons, Esq- & Middletown, Coun.


Edwin Stearns,


And to the TOWN CLERKS of all the towns formerly comprised within Ancient Windsor.


PREFATORY NOTES TO SUPPLEMENT. 1863.


T THREE years ago, when I published the History and Genealogies of Andit Willsay, Camp. I was induced, if not compelled, by a mperabundance of material, to give my subscribers, without additional charge, over 300 pages more than was promised them - an act of gener- osity which, as it is easy to sec, was much more advantageous to them than to me. And when, at last, relieved from the burdens of authorship and financial cares. I felt that I certainly had fully paid (both principal and interest) my share of the debt of love which I owed to the old town of Windsor; and little dreamed that I should ever again put myself in harness for her historical benefit. Bat, unfortunately for my "sweet dream of peace," I found myself inwrought into old Windsor's history and interests. I could not henceforth be an uninterested looker-on; I found myself still tracing out the lines of her ancient families, and that -shall I confess it ?- there was an indefinable charm for me in all that pertained to Windsor history. Many errors I detected in the printed volume -some of clerical, some of typographical origin -- some evident lachs of commission, an! and infrequently a fault of omission. These were to have been expected : the utmost circumspection could not have guarded entirely against them, in a work of such multiplieity of names. dates, etc. Correspondents, also, constantly furnished now suggestions, ingenious elucidations. " missing links," and " unknown quantities," which threw new light and value upon my printed page. New sources of authority also came to light, by the discovery of ancient records in m- thought-of hiding-places. What wonder is it, then, that the notes which gradually enriched the margins of my library copy of the Windsor His- tory, soon grew so voluminous as to suggest the idea of a supplement ? For what genealogist or historian who, when he has found a new fact, or a "nugget," is not willing, like the woman in the parable, to call his friends and co-laborers together, saying. " Rejoice with me, for I have found the picee which I had lost " ? Therefore, I have compiled this Supplement ; if it convicts me of shortcomings in my former work, it will, at least, assure my friends of my desire to make good any deficien- eies, and to add to their pleasure and profit. And now, as I lay down my pen from correcting the last proof of this Supplement. I feel that my " labor of love" for Ancient Windsor is finished. If the citizens of that venerable town have need, in the future, of the services of a historian, they need not apply to their true friend,


HENRY R. STILES, M.D.


WOODBRIDGE, N. J., Nov., 1862.


Acknowledgments for help rendered (additional to those named in former preface) are due to Mr. D. WILLIAMS PATTERSON of Newark Val- ley, N. Y. ; Mr. HIRAM B. CASE and Rev. GEO. B. NEWCOMB of Bloom- field, Conn., and Mrs. ELIZA MILLS RUNDALL of Seneca Falls, N. Y.


PREFACE TO THE PRESENT (REVISED) EDITION, 1891.


H OW grim Fate must laugh at the puny resolves of men! Despite my firmu resolve, as expressed in the last sentence of the Prefa- tory Note to the Supplement of 1863 ; despite the weaning influences of over twenty years of engrossing and more personally important profes- sional duties, I found myself, in 1885, shortly after my return from a prolonged residence in Scotland, again fingering the (to me sweet, but nevertheless unprofitable) husks of Windsor History. Finding that some grains of value yet remained to be shaken out of them, I weakly yielded to their fascination ; and here I am again, posing as " the Wind- sor historian," in what may (in view of my years, etc. ) presumably be considered as " positively my last appearance."


The circumstances under which this history was originally under- taken are sufficiently detailed in the Preface to the first edition (1859). That edition, consisting of 700 copies, was published at a loss, as was also the Supplement, of which only 150 copies were printed, in 1863. Is- sued at a time when such works were far less common than they now are, its object and value were not then appreciated, as they sinee have been, by many of those who should have been interested therein. But, within the thirty years which have now elapsed since its appearance, American History and Genealogy have assumed a new interest in the public mind ; new fields in Windsor history have been explored by other sons of Windsor, and for the past fifteen years I have been in constant receipt of inquiries from antiquaries and others interested in tracing their family records, seeking to obtain copies of the work, urging me to issue a new edition, and offering for my use much new matter, valued corrections, etc., etc., and I have finally yielded to the desire so widely and sincerely expressed.


Fortunately, several of those who assisted me in my earlier work are still alive ; new and willing hands from a younger generation are ex- tended to help; much new material has been collected in special fields of research, and far better work has been accomplished, I trust, than would have been possible thirty years ago.


I esteem it a most fortunate circumstance that the same kindly


9


PREFACE TO THE PRESENT ( REVISED ) EDITION.


Providence which has spired my life and health so that I might, at this time, revise and perfect the work of my youthful years, has also spared that of my venerable and beloved friend, Mr. JABEZ H. HAYDEN of Wind- sor Locks, Conn., to whom was due so much of the value of the first edi- tion. Nature certainly designed him as the historian of his native town, but the multiplicity of his business cares, conjoined with his modesty, has prevented him from forestalling me, as by right he should have lone in this historical work. I have only to thank him for the help which he has rendered, as earnestly and freely, to this revision, as he did to the original work.


While the whole work (genealogies included) has been so thor- oughly revised and rewritten as to be. virtually, a new work ; yet that portion which relates to the east-side towns ( East and South Windsor, and Ellington) is peculiarly so. When writing my original history, I found that Dr. HORACE C. GILLETTE of South Windsor, since deceased, had in preparation a work which covered these towns subsequent to the Revolutionary period; and 1 therefore relinquished that portion of my intended labor, and contented myself with giving their history down to 1768, at which time their territory ceased to be a part of Windsor. Dr. Gillette, however, never carried out his purpose, and this has imposed upon me the labor of preparing, in fadl, the history of the three towns east of the Connecticut river. Here, also, Providence has supplied ine with a most efficient helper, in Miss RUTH T. SPERRY of East Windsor Hill, to whose unwearied enthusiasm and tact in the collection of mate- rial, both historical and genealogical. the good people of East and South Windsor will owe far more than they can ever repay. The Rev. JOHN G. BAIRD of Ellington has also contributed a new and most excellent chapter on the history of that town.


Acknowledgments are also specially due, from Miss Sperry and my- self. to Judge H. B. FREEMAN, the obliging custodian of the Hartford County Probate Records, and to the Town Clerks of all the towns to which we have occasion to apply ; especially to M .. SAMUEL H. PHELPS of Windsor, and Judge MAHLON II. BANCROFT of East Windsor. To Mr. ELIZUR COOK, final proof-reader in the establishment of The Case, Lockwood & Brainard Co .. printers of this work, we are indebted for valuable additions and corrections to our Lists of Soldiers in the War of the Civil Rebellion.


For most of the autograph-facsimiles used in this work, we acknowl-


* All that he practically accomplished was the publication of certain "Letters " on the History of South Windsor, in the Hurtr',rd Times of the following dates :


1857: March 18, 23; April 6, 16; May 1, 20; June 19; August 5, 26, 27; Oct. 27; Nov. 4. 24: Dec. 15.


1858: Jan. 5, 19; Feb. 2; March 3; May 1,


VOL. I .- 2


10


PREFACE TO THE PRESENT (REVISED) EDITION.


edge the courtesy of the publishers of the Memorial History of Hartford County.


THE PRINCIPAL MANUSCRIPT AUTHORITIES CONSULTED.


Among the principal original authorities consulted, are:


1. Records of Town Aets, (town clerk's office, Windsor. ) in + vol- umes, of which the first (size, 9 by 74 inches, parchment covered, 50 double pages) contains the records from 6 May. 1650, to 31 Pec., 1661. Several of the fist pages of this volitnie have chuabled away by age.


Vol. II., similar in size and covering to the above, 81 (double ) pages, contains records from Feb. 6, 1666, to 26 Oct., 1700. Ten pages of this volume are devoted to lists of town rates, and pages 51, 52 to a record of town ways.


A volume of 52 (double) pages, without cover, and altogether in a very dilapidated condition, contains records from Dec., 1700, to Dec. 7, 1714; aud probably belongs to preceding volume.


Vol. III., of larger folio size, leather binding, 147 (double) pages, con- tains records from Dec .. 1768, to Dee., 1830.


2. A Record of Acts of Proprietors of Common and Undivided Lands in Windsor, totio, parchment covered - very dry reading.


3. A little volume of same size as the earlier volumes of Town Acts, in parchment binding, entitled " A Book of Town Wayer." -and as such often referred to in our chapter on Plan and Distribution of Ancient Windsor. It is transcribed by TIMOTHY LOOMIs, third town clerk, from the original, by his predecessor. invaluable Matthew Grant.


4. A volume similar in size to the above, in parchment cover, filled mostly with ancient Town Rotes, Lists, etc., about 1672-1676.


5. Land Records, 1640 to the present day. The original first vol- ume is still in caistence. The copy, now in use in the clerk's office, was copied by Timothy Loomis, in 1723, as we learn from the following town vote: April 8, 1723, " Voted to pay Timothy Loomis £20, 128., to be paid out of the town rate for his transcribing the first book of town rec- ords of lands." Also, the volume of Lund Records in Secretary of State's office, Hartford, referred to in note to p. 544.


6. Matthew Grant's Old Church Record, the original of which is in the custody of the Connecticut Historical Society, our copy (APPEN- DIX A.) being from an accurate transcript by JABEZ H. HAYDEN, Esq., carefully compared with the original, for this Revised Edition.


11


PREFACE TO THE PRESENT ( REVISED ) EDITION.


7. Henry Walcott, Jr's Shorthand MS. Volume, thus described : " Among the papers deposited in the library of the Conn. Ilist. Society, some years since, was a stout little vellum-covered volume, of nearly 400 pages, clearly written in a puzzling shorthand, with no clue to the subject. or the writer's name. It finally attracted the attention of Hon. J. Ham- mond Trumbull, who is as ingenious in such matters as he is persever- ing in his researches: he succeeded in deciphering it, and found it to consist of how's of serments and lectures, delivered in Windsor and Hart- ford, between April, 1688, and May, 1641, in regular conrse. The writ- er's name is not given, but his birthday 's noted on the first leaf of the volume, and this and other farts identify him as Henry Wolcott, Jr., and it is a curious fact that the only record of his birth is found among these hieroglyphics, and the date has been hitherto unknown. These notes give the dates. texts, and general outlines of the discourses of the Rev. Messrs. Warham and Hnit, in Windsor, and of the Rev. Messrs. Hooker and Stone, at Hartford, during the sessions of the General and Particular Courts. Among the former is one delivered by Mr. Ware- ham, Nov. 17, 1640, ' at the betrothing of Benediet Alvord and Abraham Randall,' from the text, Eph. vi. 2. ' Pat on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.' The preacher 'improved ' the theme . for teaching the betrothed lovers that marriage is a warfaring condition,' and . for reproof to those who think nothing is needed for marriage but the consent of the parents.' In the face of these solemn admonitions, it appears from the Windsor records that both were duly married before the expiration of the year-the happy Benedict to Joan Newton and Abraham to Mary Ware. ' Among the latter discourses are Mr. Hooker's two Election Sermons, of May 31, 1638, and April 11, 1639. Of the first, from the text. Deut. i. 13, Mr. Trumbull gives an ab- stract of deep interest, as showing the . polities' which were preached by the ablest andl best of the Puritan Fathers."


We may further note that of 75 of the Rev. Mr. Warham's ser- mons and lectures preached in the year from April, 1639, to April, 1640, twenty-four were from Psalms xeii. 5, 6, 7; nineteen from I Corinthians, vi. 11; fourteen from Matthew xxii. 37. 38, and four from the 6th, 7th, and Sth verses of the same chapter, together with fire occasional sermons from other texts. Of 40 sermons and lectures preached by Rev. Mr. Hnit from 18 Aug., 1638, to 14 Ap'1, 1640, twenty-one were from Timothy ii. 19, 21; fire from Jeremiah viii. 4; five from James ii. 14; four from I Corinthians x. 12.




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