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 3
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Also voted, Granted a rate to be raised on polls and all ratable estate, of the present list of our Society, to pay the one hundred and seventy pounds granted to Mr. Elisha Williams for a settlement December 21, 1720.
* Mr. Whittelsey immediately attended to this duty, as appears by the fol- lowing petition :
" To the Honorable, the present General Assembly at Hartford, May, A. D. 1721.
The prayer of the inhabitants of the West Society in Weathersfield implores the indulgence of the Court, that the said Society may be exempted from Country Rates by the space of four years as other new poor places have been. That a reasonable tax for a reasonable time may be laid on their unimproved lands. That their training days may be turned into days of public service of the Society, at the discretion of such officers as the Society shall from year to year for that end appoint ; and all training soldiers and officers obliged to attend the same under suitable penalties by the space of the above said four years. And finally that the said society may be named and called Newington.
And your poor petitioners, as in duty bound, shall ever pray.
JABEZ WHITTELSEY,
For the Society.
The Assembly granted " That the said Society raise a tax annually on all the land in the said parish or society that by law is not ratable, of ten shillings per the hundred acres, and pro rata for greater or lesser parcels, for the term of four years next coming ; and that the said society or parish be ealled Newington." (6 Conn. Col. Rec., p. 246.)
This was passed May 25, 1721. One hundred and fifty years afterwards (July 10, 1871) Newington was incorporated a town.
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Also voted, Granted fifty pounds, to be raised on polls and all ratable estate in our Society, for Mr. Elishia Williams' salary, to be paid in money or grain, as followeth, viz. wheat at 5s. 4d. per bushel, and rye at 3s. 6d. per bushel, and indian corn 2s. 10d. per bushel.
Also voted, to build a pulpit in our meeting house, as soon as we can in the spring.
Also voted, twenty pounds money to defray the charge of a pulpit.
Also voted, Stephen Buck, Tho. Frances, Sam'l Churchel, Jonathan Stodderd, Joseph Benton should undertake to build a barn for Mr. Elisha Williams,* and to employ those men that are behind in their rate of 170 pounds above mentioned as him or them and they can agree, viz, Stephen Buck, Thos. Frances, &c.
February 8, 1722.
At a Society meeting of the inhabitants of Newington parish lawfully assembled and held on the 8th day of February, 1721-22, voted and agreed that Leonard Dix shall have two pounds out of the treasury or (the) fifty pounds due from the Beckleys.
Also voted, that the remainder of the fifty pounds and the tax laid on the proprietors's unimproved land, to be laid out in our meeting house, to build a pulpit and deacon seat, and to prepare timber and nails for the finishing the lower part of our meeting house, and to proceed as far as we can with the money granted.
Voted, Jabezeth Whittelsey, Samuel Hunn and Samuel Churchel a committee to take care and proceed to do the work above mentioned in our meeting house, to proceed as fast as they can with prudence, also voted, the tax put into our minister's rate should be laid out and improved as above, and the rate made on ratable estate.
December 20, 1722.
(8) December 20 Day, 1722.
That the Society grant the money of the tax granted by the General Assembly on the unimproved land to the committee for the finishing the meeting house for the charge that is past, that is, so much of it as to answer the same, that is the proprietors' and not the inhabitants' land, the galleries is exempted, the charge of them for this year. It was voted this 20th day of December 1722.t
September 5, 1722.
At a Society of Newington inhabitants lawfully assembled and held upon the fifth day of September, 1722, it was voted and agreed ;
That Mr. Elisha Williams shall have sixty pounds money for his salary this year and next year, and next year he shall have sixty-two pounds, and so to raise two pounds a year for the space of ten years, which will make eighty pounds, and so to continue eighty pounds per year so long as he continues in the work of the ministry with us.
Also voted, that Mr. Williams' rate should (be) paid by the last of March annually, so long as he continues to be our minister. (See page the 5th.)
* Stephen Kellsy was paid for eight days work " framing Mr. Williams' barn."
¡ Another record of the same meeting follows in its order. This seems to be inserted out of its chronological order.
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Also voted, to find Mr. Williams his wood annually, so long as he con- tinues in the work of (the) ministry with us.
Also voted, that a former vote bcaring date the December 21, 1720, to give Mr. Williams two days works in a year of every male from sixteen to sixty years of age, shall be in full force and virtue, and if any man in our Society shall refuse or neglect to do the two days labor in the vote above mentioned (he) shall pay three shillings for the summer's day and two shillings six pence for a winter's day, and (it) shall be gathered by the collectors annually.
Also voted Jabesh Whittelscy moderator for this meeting, and if any man shall presume to speak without liberty (he) shall forfeit the sum of one shilling.
Also it was voted that if Mr. May* would make window frames for the lower part of our meeting house, and Mr. Kelloug make the glass (?) for wood, then to take the windows that (are) now below and put them up in the upper part of our meeting house.
Also voted, Richard Borman, Ebenezer Kilburn, James Francis, Isaac Buck, should keep a public house of entertainment on the day of the ordination of the Rev. Mr. Elisha Williams.
September 12, 1722.
(9.) At a Society meeting of the inhabitants of Newington parish lawfully assembled and held upon 12th day of September, 1722, voted, and agreed as followeth :
It was voted, having had some considerable experience of his life &c., we do make choice by a full vote of the Rev. Mr. Elisha Williams to be our minister and pastor.
Also voted, to keep Wednesday the 3rd day of October next ensu- ing as a fast, to implore divine assistance of God in gathering a church of Christ here, and in the ordination of the Rev. Mr. Elisha Williams.
Also voted and made choice of the Rev. Mr. Stephen Mix, of Wethersfield, and Mr. Samuel Whitman, of Farmington, to assist on the day of fasting as above mentioned, Mr. James Patterson and John Deming to go to the ministers above said and to intreat them to come and help us.t
Also voted, that the third Wednesday the 17th day of October next ensuing to be the day of the ordination of the Rev. Mr. Elisha Wil- liams.
Also voted, Dea. Joseph Androus, Jabezeth Wittelsey, Joseph Hurlbut, David Curtis and Samuel Churchel to take care and provide for the ministers and messengers on the day of the ordination.
December 20, 1722.
At a Society meeting of the inhabitants of Newington Parish, upon the 20th day of December, 1722, it was voted and agreed :
John Camp, Hezekiah Deming and Samuel Churchel a committee to order the prudentials of our society for the year ensuing.
Also voted, Joseph Hurlbut and Ebenezer Kilburn collectors for the year ensuing.
* Mr. Hezekiah May, of Wethersfield, did " joining work " on the meeting house to the amount of fifty-five pounds, for which Jabez Whittelsey, Samuel Hun and Samuel Churchell gave their personal bond, dated Sept. 25, 1722, pay- able 12£. on or before the first day of October next, 31£. on or before the 15th of March next, and 12£. on or before the last day of May next thereafter. The office of committee was no sinecure in those days.
t The church was then first organized. (See Dr. Brace's Discourse, p. 11.)
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Also voted, Mr. James Patterson, Deacon John Deming, and Josiah Willard, a committee to seat our meeting-house.
Also voted, granted a rate to be raised on polls and all ratable estate to pay Mr. Williams' salary, according to our agreement.
Also voted, Mr. Elisha Williams should have the parsonage at his dis- posal as long as he continues in the work of the ministry with us .*
Also voted, £1 12s. to the widow Elizabeth Androus, for sweeping our meeting-house.
Also voted, that the present committee should inspect the old rates, and all that can't be had or got by law, and to deduct it and add it to our min- ister's rate. (See page 12.)
March 1, 1723.
(10.) At a Society meeting of the inhabitants of Newington parish, lawfully assembled and held upon the 1st day of March, 1722-3, it was voted and agreed as followeth, viz .: Concerning our parsonage, lying so that there is a great inconveniency in the highway, we do consent and desire to remove it to a more convenient place, provided it be no damage to our Society, town, or to Mr. Williams, and that the land may be as good. We do appoint Mr. James Patterson, David Curtis, and William Smith, to use the circumstances thereof, and to discourse Mr. Williams, and to have his consent, and make report at the town meeting.
Also voted, to fill the walls, and lath and plaster the lower part of our meeting-house. .
Also voted, that Joseph Hurlbut and Tho. Francis, a committe to see said work done.
December 31, 1723.
At a Society meeting of the inhabitants of Newington parish, lawfully assembled and held upon the 31st day of December, 1723, it was voted and agreed as followeth: Hez. Deming, Eliphalet Whittelsey, and Josiah Willard, a committee to order the prudentials of our Society for the year ensuing.
Also voted, Ebenezer Kilburn and Hezekiah Griswould, collectors to gather our minister and Society rates, and tax money granted by the Gen- eral Court.
Also voted, that all former committees shall make up their accounts with the collectors chosen when they were, and to bring the arrearages to the present committee, and to be added to the present Society charge.
Also voted, for the payment of our minister rate that wheat should be at 5s. 6d. per bushel, rye at 3s. 9d. per bushel, and Indian corn at 2s. 8d. per bushel.
Also voted, that the present committee to adjust all accounts in our Society about our meeting-house, from the laying of the floor and filling of the walls to this day; all such accounts to be examined by the committee, and to allow or disallow as they find them to be just or unjust.
Also voted, granted a rate to be raised on polls and all ratable estate to defray the necessary charge of our Society.
Also voted, that our committee should purchase a drum, and add it to our present Society charge.
Also voted, Jebezeth Whittelsey, Isaac Buck, a school committee, and the country money to them to defray part of the charge of a school.t
* The parsonage was opposite the present residence of Martin Robbins, Esq. Mr. Williams lived in his own house. (Dr. Brace's Dis., 66.)
t The first mention of the subject of schools.
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February 8, 1725.
At a Society meeting of the inhabitants of Newington parish, lawfully assembled and held upon the 8th day of February, 1724-5, (11) it was voted and agreed as followeth : Mr. Josiah Deming, John Camp, and Josiah Willard, a committee for this year to order the prudentials of our Society according to the best of their discretion.
Also voted, Nathaniel Stodderd and Jonathan Griswould, collectors for this year.
Also voted, for the payment of our minister's rate, wheat should be at 6s. per bushel, rye at 4s. 6d. per bushel, Indian corn at 4s. per bushel.
Also voted, one pound ten shillings to be added to our minister's ratc.
Also voted, to carry Mr. Williams wood as heretofore we have done, and to cart it on the first Thursday of March.
January 6, 1726.
At a Society mecting of the inhabitants of Newington parish, lawfully assembled and held upon the sixth day of January, 1725-6, voted and agreed : Deacon John Deming, Joseph Hurlbut, and Isaac Buck, com- mittee for the year ensuing to order the prudentials of our Society.
Also voted, David Griswould, and Nathaniel Churchel, collectors to gather our minister and Society ratcs.
Also voted, that the necessary charge of our Society for this year should be added to our minister's rate.
Also voted, that grain for the payment of Mr. Williams' rate should be as followeth :- wheat at 6s. 6d. per bushel, rye at 4s. 6d. per bushel, and Indian corn at 3s. 6d. per bushel.
Also voted and agreed, that our annual meeting for the choosing of Society officers in this Society for the future shall be on the third Monday of December, beginning at twelve of the clock of the day.
Also voted, whereas this society are obliged by covenant to provide Mr. Williams his firewood so long as he continues in the work of the ministry among us, and the method heretofore practiced of warning all or most of the society in. a day been found by experience to be troublesome, uncer- tain, and unequal, for remedy hereof it is now voted and agreed to grant a rate of twelve pounds to be raised on polls and all ratable estate apper- taining to all persons inhabiting within this Society, for providing Mr. Williams' wood; and every person hath liberty to pay his proportion of the said 12 pounds in wood, provided he doth it in season ; but if any per- son refuses or neglects to pay his proportion seasonably in wood, they shall pay it in money, or that which is equivalent, to the committee for the Society for the time being, to be by them improved for the providing of said wood; and further, the committee for the Society for the time being (12) for the time shall order every person as to the time of his car- rying Mr. Williams his proportion of wood, and those that attend not this order as to time shall be deemed unseasonbly, always provided no person be hindered from carrying their proportion sooner than the committee orders ; and every load is to be reckoned at the price of three shillings.
Also voted, to provide all joists and boards for the galleries' floor of our meeting-house, and to lath and plaster the walls of our meeting-house up to the plate, and the new windows to be put up below, and the present windows of our meeting-house to be put up above.
Also voted, to have a school in our Society, and what the country moncy don't pay is to be raised on polls of the children that go to school, to defray the charge of the school.
,
.
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Also voted, Dea. Joseph Androus and James Francis, a committee for the school.
Also voted, that for the payment of our minister rate grain should be as followeth, viz :- Wheat at six shillings per bushel, rye at four shillings per bushel, and Indian corn at two shillings eight pence per bushel.
Also voted, to have a school six months in this Society for the instruc- tion of children, and all the charge more than is allowed by the country to be raised on the polls of those children whom their parents send to school.
Also voted, Jabezeth Whittelsey and Richard Borman a school com- mittee.
To the Honorable Governor and Council:
We, the inhabitants of Newington, having considered the weighty affair of the removal of our Rev. pastor from us to Yale College -*
April 15, 1726.
At a Society meeting of the inhabitants of Newington parish, lawfully assembled and held upon the 15th day of April, 1726, voted and agreed as followeth : That we desire to be heard as to the removal of our Rev. pastor to Yale College by the honored Governor and Council.
Also voted, Deacon Jabezeth Whittelsey, John Camp, and Joseph Hurl- but, a committee to represent our Society, if by any means our minis- ter may stay with us; and if not, act according to the best of their discre- tion that we may have the charge returned that we have been at in set- tling our minister.
May 25, 1726.
At a Society meeting of the inhabitants of Newington parish, lawfully assembled and held upon the 25th day of May, 1726, it was voted and agreed to call the Rev. Mr. Simon Backus upon probation for our minister. Also voted, Jabezeth Whittelsey, to call Mr. Backus upon probation.
Yale College had for some years been without a rector. The General Court had appointed a Committee to inquire into the reasons for the long delay in filling the vacant chair of president of that " school." At last the trustees of the Col- lege met at Hartford, May 22, 1724, and there presented a memorial to the General Assembly then in session at Hartford, stating among other things their action in attempting to fill the vacant rectorship as follows: "We have unanimously chosen the Rev. Mr. Wigglesworth, Professor of Divinity at Cambridge, to be the Rector of Yale College. And in case of a disappointment of our hope of obtaining him, we have chosen the Rev. Mr. William Russell, of Middletown, to that office. And in case our expectations should there fail us also,
* This is the beginning of a petition to the Governor and Council, inserted here perhaps by mistake. I do not find any such petition .- [R. W.]
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in a farther attempt, the Rev. Mr. Elisha Williams, of New- ington, hath had the voice of the major part of the trustees here present." The memorial was signed by T. Woodbridge, as moderator, and Eliphalet Adams, as scribe.
This memorial contains the following endorsement, " Upon consideration of the above address of the trustees of Yale Col- lege, and the extraordinary charge they will be at in settling a rector there, it is granted that the impost of rum for the present year be allowed and paid to them to enable them therein."
During the following year the trustees of the College made unanimous choice of Mr. Williams as rector. Only two or three years before, he had been settled as pastor for life over the parish of Newington. A considerable sum of money had been paid to him and expended for him for his settlement. It was in part consideration of his entering into a life-long con- tract to labor with them and cultivate this long destitute por- tion of the Lord's vineyard. He was their first pastor, and had but just begun his appointed work with them; had scarcely got his settlement money in his pocket. He could not now break this binding contract. He could not abandon it with- out the consent of the other party to it. This fact was recog- nized by all. Negotiations therefore were commenced between the trustees of the College, Mr. Williams, and the people, to effect an amicable arrangement for his release and removal. The people were unwilling to part with him. They asked to be paid their disbursements if he went away from them. This was certainly reasonable, for they were poor; so was the Col- lege. Recourse for help was had to the General Court.
In October, 1725, the trustees of the College presented the following memorial to the General Assembly.
" To the Honorable the Governor, Council and Representa- tives, in General Court assembled, at New Haven, October 14, 1725.
The memorial of the trustees of Yale College humbly shew- eth, that the said trustees after many endeavors for the gain- ing a rector for Yale College, have at our late meeting in New Haven unanimously chosen the Rev. Mr. Elisha Williams, minister of Newington, a parish belonging to Wethersfield,
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unto that service, and judge him a person well qualified for the work we have called him to, and in him have a fair prospect that he will be a repairer of the breach that has been made in that society ; and as that school has had its being from this Honorable Assembly, and testimonies of their good will in supporting it hitherto, so we count it our duty not only to in- form this Honorable Assembly of the measures we have taken for the promoting the good thereof, but now pray that by your act you will give your public approbation of our choice, which we shall take as a favor. We (as appointed by the trustees) have made application, both to the Rev. Mr. Williams, and to the people of the parish, with him, and have a likely prospect of obtaining him, both from him and them; but the parish being small, and generally new beginners, it will necessarily bring a considerable charge upon them in settling of another minister. The College, out of their small stock cannot fully answer the charge we shall put them to; we therefore humbly pray this Honorable Assembly that as they have often done to divers places in this Government, that upon Mr. Williams' removal to the College, so you will please to allow them their country rates (which are but little,) for the space of four or five years, and by your act state it to be applied to the settling the next succeeding minister in their parish ; and we shall accept it as a token of the favor this Honorable Assembly bears to the College, and a manifestation of their delighting in its prosperity. And your memorialists shall ever pray, &c.
TIMOTHY WOODBRIDGE,
THOMAS BUCKINGHAM, SAMUEL .WHITMAN.
Upon the reception of this memorial the Assembly congrat- ulated the College, saying,
" This Assembly rejoice in the good providence that con- ducted the Reverend Trustees to fill up the vacancy of a rector in said College with a gentleman so agreeable to the country, and so very acceptable to the Assembly ; and do enact that when the said Mr. Elisha Williams shall remove to New Haven into the service of rector in Yale College, according to appointment of the said reverend trustees, that Newington, or the inhabitants of said parish, shall be freed from paying their country tax for the space of four years next coming, on con- dition that the money be improved towards settling another minister in said parish." 6 Conn. Col. Rec., 569.
After this aid was extended to Newington by the General Court, negotiations were again renewed. The College, acting through its trustees, and the parish, acting through its com-
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mittee, at last agreed that the terms of adjustment between the College and society should be settled by a committee. The College selected Mr. Nathaniel Stanley and Capt. Ozias Pitkin ; the society Mr. Nathaniel Burnham and Mr. Martin Kellogg, as a committee of arbitration, to adjust the accounts presented by Newington, for expenses incurred in settling Mr. Williams.
The parish presented the following bill of particulars :
" A true account of the settling of Mr. Williams, at New- ington.
1. Particular. The committee treating with Mr. Williams before his first coming out to Newington to undertake the work of the ministry with us, £1 4s. 0d.
2. The charge of the several meetings about settling him, 0 00 0
3. Charge arising in bringing out his family, goods, and creatures, at his first coming out, and providing a supper, 2 13 0
4. Charges at his ordination, 38 15 5
5. Charges at the raising of Mr. Williams' house, 3 4 0
To eight acres of land,
80 0 0
To 170 pounds towards the building of Mr. Williams' house, 170 0 0
More to days' works, that amount to 65 6 3
These items amount to ££362 6s. 8d. The committee how- ever did not allow the whole of the bill. They rejected all but the sum of £200 16s. which they awarded should be paid by the College. A memorandum of the adjustment, which still exists, shows its terms in full.
" A. D. 1726, May the 4th. It was concluded by Mr. Na- thaniel Stanley and Capt. Ozias Pitkin, chosen by the Rev. Trustees of Yale College, (Mr. Timothy Woodbridge, and Mr. Thomas Buckingham, and Mr. Samuel Whitman,) and also Mr. Nathaniel Burnham, and Mr. Martin Kellogg, chosen also by the committee of Newington, (Dea. Jabez Whittelsey, John Camp, and Joseph Hurlbut,) to adjust the accounts that the people of Newington were at in settling of the Reverend Mr. Elisha Williams amongst them as their pastor. It was con- cluded that there should be delivered to the committee the sum of two hundred pounds, sixteen shillings, in bills of credit, by the last day of October next ensuing the date of these pres- ents, and also to pay to them what the General Assembly
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granted to them, also the releasing of their country rates for the term of four years."
On the same day the committee drew up their report to the General Assembly in which they announced the conclusion to which they had arrived. This sum was higher than the Col- lege felt able to pay. Again recourse was had to the General Court. It would seem that even now the question of Mr. Williams leaving for the new field of labor at New Haven, depended upon the action of the General Court in affording their aid. The College was felt to be in danger of sinking unless the enterprise could be carried through. The following carefully drawn memorial for help gives a vivid picture of the situation.
" To the Honble Governor, Council and Representatives in General Court assembled, in Hartford, May 12, 1726. The memorial of us the subscribers, in behalf of Yale College, humbly offered.
Whereas for public benefit the said College hath been erected, and hitherto supported in great measure, by the favor and beneficence of the Honorable Assembly of this Colony, so as our necessities have required, upon application to them by the trustees of said College, it has from time to time been sup- plied, wherefore make bold to inform this Honorable Assem- bly that it stands in great necessity of relief. It is well known that the sufferings of the College through the defection of the rector have been long and great, and will increase till there be a rector settled in it. Through the good hand of God's provi- dence the trustees have been directed to make choice of the Rev. Mr. Elisha Williams, of Newington Parish, in Wethers- field, to supply that place, which this Honorable Assembly has well approved, and given a good token of their approba- tion. We, according to the instructions given us by the trus- tees, have applied to the said Mr. Williams, and to the people of his parish, and have, though not without difficulty, obtained the consent of Mr. Williams and his people, that he shall remove to New Haven, and as it appears both just and reason- able, that the people should be made good in their temporal interests. We have agreed with their committee to take the judgment of prudent and indifferent persons in stating their accounts, who have given their judgment in the case, and have determined what they judge to be just and reasonable for the people to receive, to make up what they have expended in set- tling Mr. Williams amongst them, which sum ariseth higher
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