USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Newington > Early annals of Newington : comprising the first records of the Newington Ecclesiastical Society, and of the Congregational Church connected therewith : with documents and papers relating to the early history of the parish > Part 2
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(The names in italics stricken out.)
But there was a large and very respectable number of per- sons in Wethersfield who did not approve of the policy pro- posed. A remonstrance headed by Rev. Stephen Mix and Rev. Elisha Williams, the latter the first minister of the parish some years later, was numerously signed, as follows :
Remonstrance.
We, the subscribers, proprietors, or intrusted with the rights of minors in the western tract of Weathersfield, al- lowed for a distinct parish or Ecclesiastical Society, expres- sive of our dissent from the project of uniting of a part of said tract to Farmington South Society, and of Farmington to the northward part of our Society, as subversive to the said Society, have hereto subjoined our names. Stephen Micks, Elisha Williams, James Treat, Thomas Wells, Joshua Robins, Joshua Robbins, 2d, Josiah Deming, Ebenezer Dick- inson, Jonathan Belding, Daniel Warner, Joseph Hurlbutt, Michaell Griswould, David Wright, Samuel Wright, Jona- than Goodrich, Jacob Griswold, Joseph Killburn, John Rose,
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Robert Wells, Ebenezer Deming, Gideon Wells, Benjamin Belding, Thomas Wright, Elizabeth Curtis, wid., Samuel Benton, Nathaniel Nott, Daniel Bordman, Richard Robbins, Hannah Chester, Mary Chester, Ephraim Goodrich, Sarah Kilborn, Sarah Chester, Mercy Chester, William Warner, Elizabeth Warner, wid., Joseph Wells, Josiah Bellding, Sam- uel Dix, Samuel Bird, Jun., Abigail Lattimore, Thomas Stand- dish, John Deming, John Deming, Stephen Lusk, John Gris- wold, Abraham Woren, Ephraim Deming, Ezekel Crab (?) (an inhabitant not proprietor), Richard Boardman, Jona- than Buck, Jabez Whittelsey, Eliphelet Whittelsey, Jonathan Wright.
But the Beckleys and those interested with them in secur- ing their annexation to the Great Swamp Society, for the encouragement of their project executed a bond, for the pay- ment of fifty pounds to the West Society in case the an- nexation should be granted by the Colonial Legislature. This bond was presented to the Assembly and lodged on file in the office of the Secretary of the Colony at Hartford. It is as follows :
Bond Lodged in the Secretary's Office.
Whereas, sometime in April last, at a meeting of the inhabitants of the Western Society in the Township of Weathersfield, in the County of Hartford, and Colony of Connecticut, in New England, a committee were appointed by said Society to endeavor an exchange of some part of the bounds of said Society; for the encouragement of said ex - change, and upon condition that all the lands in said West- ward Society in Weathersfield southward of the home lots of Stephen Kelsey and Jonathan Hurlbut inclusively (compre- hending said home lots and Beckley's farm), and all the per- sons and estate either now or hereafter belonging to the southward part of said Society within the limits above men- tioned, may be wholly released from ministerial charge in their own Township, and annexed to the Southeastern Soci- ety in the Township of Farmington, in the County aforesaid, by order of the General Assembly of this Colony ; we, the subscribers, inhabitants of the said Township of Weathers- field, do hereby covenant and promise to and with our neigh- bors in said Western Society in the Township of Weathers- field, in manner following: That is to say, that we will do our proportion with our neighbors there of building the first
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meeting-house among them, except what is already done to said meeting-house, and also pay to the said Western Society, or to any that shall legally represent them, upon demand thereof, the full sum of fifty pounds in current money of New England, or bills of credit, or that which is equivalent thereto, in manner following: That is to say, twelve pounds and ten shillings within one year after the date of these pres- ents, also twelve pounds and ten shillings more within two years, and twelve pounds and ten shillings more within three years, and twelve pounds and ten shillings more within four years after the date of these presents, which above said fifty pounds is to be borne by us, the subscribers, according to the lists of our estates ; and to the faithful performance of the above written agreement we, the subscribers, do hereby bind ourselves, our heirs, executors and administrators firmly by these presents, both jointly and severally.
In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and scals, this thirteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifteen.
BENJAMIN BECKLEY. [L. S. ]
DANIEL ANDRUS. [L. S.]
STEPHEN KELSY. [L. S. JONATHAN HURLBUT. [L. S. ]
RICHARD BECKLEY. [L. S.]
JOHN KELLSY. L. S.]
JOHN ANDRUS.
L. S.]
DANIEL BECKLEY. [L. S.]
Upon the presentation of these papers to the General Assembly they took no further action than to appoint Joseph Talcot, Esq., Col. William Whiting, and Capt. Aaron Cooke a committee to "go upon the place" to effect a settlement if possible between the parties ; if this were impossible, to fix upon a site for the meeting-house, consider the subject of the exchange, and report at the next October session of the Assembly (Conn. Col. Rec. 1706-1716, p. 499).
Two of the Committee performed the duty assigned to them, and made the following report at the October session of the Assembly, 1715, held at New Haven.
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Report of the Committee of the Assembly.
We, the subscribers hereunto, being appointed by the Gen- eral Assembly, holden at Hartford, May 13, 1715, to go to the West Farms in Weathersfield, to endeavor to bring the people there to an agreement and accommodation between the peti- tioners and other the inhabitants of the said West Society in Weathersfield, in respect to an exchange of the south part or southwest corner of Weathersfield West Society to the Great Swamp Society in Farmington, and for an addition of a part of Farmington Old Society to the foresaid West Society in Weathersfield, and any other thing that the situation of the lands and convenience or inconvenience of the exchange aforesaid, and place of setting the meeting-house, and any other things that may conduce to the peace and good settle- ment of said society, and make report to this Assembly in October next.
We have accordingly been upon the spot and called together before us said inhabitants, and have endeavored an agreement between them, which proved ineffectual, have also had a map of said lands laid before us, and upon the whole of our inquiry do conclude and report to this Assembly that we judge the best regulation of that affair, and that which will conduce most to the weal and convenience of said people that do or may inhabit there, that the exchange of land between Weath- ersfield West Society and Farmington, laid before the Assem- bly in May last, be confirmed, and that the meeting-house place for the West Society in Weathersfield be on the Com- mons or common land near Dea. Joseph Andros's house, within about twenty or thirty rods of said house, and that the southwest corner of Weathersfield help build the meeting- house at the said West Farms, and pay 50 pounds to the peo- ple of the West Society in Weathersfield, according to their agreement upon file in the Secretary's office, and that the lands, stocks and heads belonging to that part of Farmington now added to Weathersfield West Society shall be annexed to them, said Weathersfield West Farms, and be obliged to pay to the support of all ministerial charges there in equal pro- portion with the rest of the said West Society.
JOSEPH TALLCOTT. AARON COOKE.
The General Assembly accepted the report, and passed an act to carry it into effect, annexing to the Great Swamp Soci- ety that part of the West Society "From the north side of
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Hurlbut's lot and the north side of Stephen and John Kel- sey's lands to Middletown bounds, including the Beckley's land." And requiring them to pay the fifty pounds bond and help finish the meeting-house in the West Society. Also annexing to the West Society " All the land in the several lots in Farmington bounds from the south side of John Nor- ton's lot on Wolf Plain to the north side of the bounds of the Great Swamp." (Conn. Col. Rec. 1706-1716, p. 532. )
The Great Swamp Society was in 1722 named Kensington. (Conn. Col. Rec. 1717-1725, p. 316.) And the territory taken from the West Society of Wethersfield in the manner detailed was wholly lost to Wethersfield, and now forms a part of the town of Berlin, which was incorporated May, 1785.
The West Society of Wethersfield was now established in more compact form, so far as its geographical limits were concerned, than when it was first chartered. Those of its former inhabitants who had formed an element of discord had departed in peace. It was now ready to build a meeting- house preparatory to settle a minister, and to enter upon a career more favorable to its harmony and prosperity. The So- ciety became better organized. The next year, 1716, it began to keep a record of its Society meetings. The next ten years witnessed the building of the meeting-house, the formation of a church, the settlement of the first minister, Rev. Elisha Wil- liams, the naming of the parish Newington, and the close of Mr. Williams' ministry, in 1726, by reason of his being chosen Rector of Yale College. This record still exists, but in a state of decay ; it is worth preservation. It tells the story of the life of the parish during these years more truly than a brief condensation could do.
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THE FIRST
BOOK OF RECORDS
FOR
NEWINGTON PARISH, OF WETHERSFIELD.
April 5, 1716.
At a Society meeting lawfully assembled and held at the dwelling house of James Francis, in the westwardmost society in Wethersfield, upon the 5th day of April in the year 1716, it was voted and acted as followeth : We then chose Josiah Willard, clerk of the West Society. It was voted to raise our meeting house in this instant month April, and also that the said meeting house should be raised within a few rods of the place where the timber now lies. John Stodderd, Saml. Hunn, Stephen Buck were chosen a committee to take care to raise, (and) provide for the raising of, the said meeting house : to act according to the best of their discretion for the public interest.
May 5, 1716.
At a Society meeting lawfully assembled and held upon May the 5th, 1716, at the dwelling house of James Francis in the westwardmost society of Weathersfield, it was voted and acted as followeth, viz. to say, John Stodderd and Samuel Hunn, Stephen Buck, chosen a committee to take care to cover the meeting house that was of late raised in the westward- most society in Wethersfield, to take care to provide all things necessary for said work that belongs to that meeting house, to act according to the best of their discretion for the public interest. It was voted that the same committee should underpin the said house.
At the same meeting Josiah Willard was chosen and empowered to demand and receive the money that is due from our neighbors by the bond lodged in the Secretary's Office ;* from the persons concerned or so bound
* That Mr. Willard entered upon the discharge of this duty appears from the following receipt given by him-" Whereas I, Josiah Willard, at a Society meet- ing lawfully assembled and held upon the 15th (5th ?) day of May, 1716, at the dwelling house of James Francis, in the Westwardmost Society of Wethersfield, was chosen and empowered to receive the money due from several of our neigh- bors upon the account of the bond that is lodged in the Secretary's office. Received this 20 day of March, 1717, of Mr. Daniel Beckley, the just sum of twelve shillings due upon the account of the fifty pound bond lodged in the Secretary's Office, I say received by me
JOSIAH WILLARD.
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to the Society, the above said Josiah Willard is to demand, receive and keep and deliver to the society the said money at their demand.
Dec. 2, 1717.
At a meeting of the west society of Wethersfield December the 2nd day 1717, being lawfully warned : at this meeting it was voted and agreed, that there should be a rate raised on all our polls and ratable estate to raise money to defray the charge of the General (2) Court to the obtain- ing our first grant for a society, and also to defray all the charge already laid out about our meeting house ; always provided and to be understood, that all those that have done more work than their neighbors about the meeting house, shall stay for their pay for the space of one year, to or till others of their neighbors have come even with them in their labor, accord- ing as others that have already wrought at the meeting house, as to the price of their labor by the day or otherwise.
At the same meeting it was also voted, that all men that labored at the meeting house shall have three shillings per day, from the first day of March till the first day of September for the time past, and so annually for the time to come, and from the 1st day of September till the 1st day of Mareh, they shall have two shillings per day, and also a man and team that is good and well fitted shall have six shillings per day, from the first day of March till the first day of September, and from the 1st day of Sep- tember till the 1st day of Mareh a man and team shall have four shillings per day.
At the same (meeting) it was voted that Abraham Woring,* James Franeis and Josiah Willard, or any two of them, shall be a committee to adjust and aeeount with those that have laid out money or done any labor about our meeting house, or about the eoneerns of our society, and also to get a true list of our effeets, and make a rate to defray the eharge as above said : this is to be done upon the present list.
At the same meeting Caleb Androus was chosen collector to gather the rates when made as above said.
At the same meeting Jabezeth Whittelsey, Joseph Androus and John Deming were chosen a committee to manage the prudentials of our Society about our meeting house or other things needful for the year ensuing, with as full power as the selectmen in the town.
At the same meeting Josiah Willard was chosen clerk and sworn.
Dec. 15, 1718.
At a society meeting of the inhabitants of Newingtont parish lawfully assembled and held upon the 15th day of December 1718 (3) voted and agreed, Josiah Willard ehosen clerk and sworn.
Also voted, Jabezeth Whittelsey, Mr. James Patterson, James Francis a committee to order the prudentials of our Society about our meeting house or other things needful for the year ensuing, with as full power as seleetmen 'of a town.
Also voted that our committee for the year ensuing are impowered to receive and allow any further amounts that are just, and shall add them to the Society debts already brought in.
Also voted, granted a rate on polls and all ratable estate in this Society
* Woren was the way he spelled his name himself, now written Warren. The spelling of the original records as to names has been retained in all cases.
f This is the first mention of the word Newington in any records. It is said to have been so called " out of regard to the place of Dr. Watts's residence neir London." (Sec Dr. Brace's Dis., 65. )
·
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for the payment of all debts allowed by our committee, it is to be under- stood only the charges already passed.
Also voted, Samuel Hunn collector to gather our society rates when made as above directed.
January 15, 1719.
At a Society meeting of the inhabitants of Newington parish, lawfully assembled and held upon 15th of January, 1719-20, it was voted and agreed as followeth :
Voted, Jabezeth Whittlesey, John Deming, Samuel Hunn a committee to order the prudentials of our Society for the year ensuing.
Also voted, to call a minister to preach with us until the last of March next ensuing.
Also voted, John Stoddard, Abraham Woring a committee to treat with Mr. Nathanel Burnham to come and preach with us.
May 6, 1719.
At a Society meeting of the inhabitants of Newington parish, lawfully assembled and held upon sixth day of May, 1719, voted and agreed to petition to the General Assembly for a repeal of that act concerning an exchange between some part of the bounds of Farmington and Wethers- field.
Also voted, Jabezeth Whittelsey, agent to go with a petition to the General Assembly .*
April 6, 1720.
At a Society meeting of the inhabitants of Newington parish, lawfully assembled and held upon the 6th day of April, 1720, it was voted as fol- loweth: Jabezeth Whittelsey, Abraham Woring, a committee to treat with Mr. Elisha Williams to come and be our minister in Newington.
April 21, 1720.
(4) At a Society meeting of the inhabitants of Newington parish' lawfully assembled and held upon the 21st day of April, 1720, voted and agreed : To get hewed plank and lay a floor in our meeting-house, and to get window-frames and glass for the lower tier of windows, and also to make doors for our meeting-house.
Also, Richard Borman, Isaac Buck, Abraham Woring, a committee to lay a floor in our meeting-house, and to make doors. Also voted, Jabez- eth Whittelsey, Samuel Hunn, a committee to get window-frames, glass, hooks, and hinges for our meeting-house doors.
May 3, 1720.
At a Society meeting of the inhabitants of Newington parish, upon the 3d day of May, 1720, voted and agreed as followeth : Whereas, through defect of warning, our votes on the 21st day of April last are of no effect, now voted, that all of the votes passed by us on the 21st day of April last be good and valuable respecting our meeting-house, except that of getting hewed planks to lay a floor; also voted to get two summers ; and joists, and to buy one thousand and half of pine boards for the floor of our meet-
* This petition was not granted. (6 Conn. Col. Rec., 116.)
t The summer is the technical name of the large central beam that supports the joists, seen in old buildings.
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ing house. Also voted, Dea. Joseph Androns and James Francis a com- mittee to buy boards.
August 5, 1720.
At a Society meeting of the inhabitants of Newington parish, upon the 5th day of August, 1720, voted and agreed as followeth: We did make choice of the Rev. Mr. Elisha Williams (to) be our minister.
Also voted and empowered Jabezeth Whittelsey and Abraham Woring our committee to go and treat with the Rev. Mr. Elisha Williams to be our minister, and agree with him as to a settlement and maintenance ac- cording to the best of their discretion, and make return to this society.
September 15, 1720.
At a Society meeting of the inhabitants of Newington parish, upon 15th day of September, 1720, voted and agreed as followeth : To make hollow walls to our meeting-house. Samuel Hunn, John Stoddard, and Isaac Buek a committee to lath and plaster said walls.
Also voted, Dea. Joseph Androus, James Francis a committee to'lay a floor in our meeting-house.
December 6, 1720.
At a Society meeting of the inhabitants of Newington parish, upon the sixth day of December, 1720, voted and agreed as followeth: Samuel Hunn, Abraham Woring, and John Deming, a committee to order the pru- dentials of our society for the year ensuing.
Also voted, Samuel Hunn, John Camp, a committee to treat (5) with the Rev. Mr. Elisha Williams, in order to a settlement, and make return to this Society; and endeavor with the town to get a piece of land for our minister, by gift, or by exchange, or by purchase, according as they shall be most likely to obtain it, to act according to the best of their diseretion.
December 21, 1720.
At a Society meeting of the inhabitants of Newington parish, lawfully assembled and held upon the 21st day of December, 1720, it was voted and agreed to give the Rev. Mr. Elisha Williams one hundred and seventy pounds for a settlement, for and in consideration that he will be our minis- ter, which is to be paid in money or labor done to building him a house, to be paid in two years after this present date, and he shall also have that money that is subseribed or shall be subscribed in the time .*
Also voted, to give to him two days' work in a year of every man that is or shall be in this Society, from sixteen years old and upwards, capable of labor, for the space of five years ensuing this date, which labor is to be done half in the summer and half in the winter, yearly.
Also voted, to give Mr. Williams, for his salary fifty pounds the two first years, and so to rise two pounds a year until we come to seventy pounds per year, and so to continue so long as he continues in the work of the ministry with us. Also voted, to raise a rate on polls and all ratable estate to pay Mr. Williams from the time of his first coming unto the last
*This house was not the property of the Society, but belonged to Mr. Williams. It afterwards came into the possession of the Kellogg family, and so continued till it was destroyed by fire, in 1872.
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of March, in proportion to a rate of fifty pounds a year, and then to begin the year with Mr. Williams .*
Also voted, that a Society rate granted the 15th of December, 1718, shall stand in force and be collected.
Also voted, to raise a rate on polls and all ratable estate to defray all the charge or debts raised in our society since.
Also voted, that Samuel Hunn, John Deming, Abraham Woring to re- ceive, accept any just accounts that are behind and not yet brought in, and to make a rate to defray them.
Also voted, Richard Borman and Abraham Woring collectors to gather our minister and society rates.
January 4, 1721.
At a Society meeting of the inhabitants of Newington parish, lawfully assembled and held by an adjournment from the 21st of December, 1720, to the 4th day of January, 1720-21.
Voted and agreed as followeth : For a man to have 2s. 6d. per day from this time to the 1st of March, and for a man and team to have five shillings per day to work at Mr. Williams' house.
. Also voted, Isaac Buck, Hezekiah Deming and Abraham Woring a committee to take care of the building of Mr. Williams's house (6) to see who labors and who does not, and keep an account.
Also voted, Samuel Hunn, John Camp a committee in behalf of the Society, to make demand of the fifty pounds due by bond from those persons included (in) the bond and annexed to Farmington : that is to say, Benjamin Beckley, Daniel Androus, Stephen Kellsey, Richard Beck- ley, John Androus, John Kellsey, Jonathan Hurlburt, Daniel Beckley ; this committee is also empowered upon neglect or refusal to sue for the money due by the above said bond from those persons that are bound, viz. Benjamin Beckley, &c.
February 16, 1721.
At a Society meeting (of) the inhabitants of Newington parish, upon 16th of February, 1720-21, it was voted and agreed as followeth : granted to Mr. Elisha Williams liberty to make a seat or pew for his family in our meeting house.
Also voted, to pay Mr. Williams' rate in grain at the price as followeth, viz : Wheat at five shillings per bushel, rye at three shillings and four pence per bushel, indian corn at two shillings four pence per bushel.
Also voted, for the payment of the fifty pound bond due from Benjamin Beckley, Daniel Androus, Stephen Kellsey, Richard Beckley, John An- drous, John Kellsey, Jonathan Hurlburt, Daniel Beckley, that wheat should be five shillings per bushel, rye at 3s. 6d. per bushel, indian corn at 2s. 6d. per bushel.
· May 10, 1721.
At a Society meeting (of) the inhabitants of Newington parish, lawfully assembled and held upon the 10th day of May, 1721, it was voted and agreed as followeth, to petition to the General Assembly for some relief, that they would grant to us our country rate or grant a tax on all land un- improved, belonging to proprietors ; and that the Court would grant that
* It would seem from this vote that Mr. Williams had preached for some time before this. (See the votes passed January 15, 1719, April 6, 1720, and August 5, 1720.) Mr. Nathaniel Burnham had certainly preached before this time. (See Dr. Brace's Half Century Discourse, pp. 10, 11.)
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our four public training days for some time might be improved in the public service of our society.
Also voted, Jabezeth Whittelsey agent to go to the General Court with the above vote and manage it aceording to the best of his diseretion .*
June 26, 1721.
At a Society meeting. of the inhabitants of Newington parish lawfully assembled and held, upon the 26th of June 1721, voted and agreed as followeth :
Samuel Hunn, Jabezeth Whittelsey, Richard Borman, Samuel Churchel should undertake to make twenty thousand bricks for Mr. Elisha Wil- liams, to take the care, and provide hands and all things for said work.
December 13, 1721.
(7) At a Society meeting of the inhabitants of Newington parish, law- fully assembled and held upon the 13th day of December, 1721, it was voted and agreed as followeth :
Mr. James Patterson, Ephraim Deming, Richard Borman, a committee to order the prudentials of our Society for the year ensuing.
Also voted Jebezeth Whittelsey, Caleb Androus collectors for the year ensuing.
Also voted, for a man to have three shillings per day from the first of March to the first of September, and from the first of September to the first of March two shillings and six pence per day, and for man and team shall have six shillings from the first of Mareh to the first of September, and from the first of September to the first of March five shillings per day, for labor already done to Mr. Williams' house or yet to be done.
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