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 7
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By this act Newington was circumscribed within her original limits, as first chartered, on all sides except the south, and there she was permanently curtailed of the Beck- leys. She was left with less territory than ever before in her history, and thus remained till she was incorporated a town in 1871, when she gained some addition to her limits on the east.
This particular territory of the Beckleys was incorporated as a school district in October, 1757. In October, 1772, the parish of Kensington was divided into two societies, an east and west society, the west society retaining the name of Kensington, and the east being called Worthington. This territory was included in Worthington. In May, 1785, the town of Berlin was incorporated, including the society of
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Worthington, and of course this territory, where it has since remained.
During the long pastorate of Mr. Belden great changes took place, not only in the parish but in the colony. A few of these may be here mentioned. In the parish a new meet- ing-house was built in 1797, after a long controversy. The society was divided into three school districts in 1783, and new school houses were built. In May, 1795, the General Assembly passed an act appropriating the money arising from the sale of the western lands, amounting to $1,200,000, by which act a distinct capacity was recognized in ecclesiastical societies as relative to the objects of schooling, and for the purpose of receiving and applying the avails of the school fund derived from the source above mentioned. And the ecclesiastical societies were denominated school societies, so far forth as schools were concerned. (Rev. Stat. of 1808, pp. 43-44.) So that school societies were, so to speak, carved out of ecclesiastical societies. This explains the reason why the subject of schools is not mentioned in our ecclesiastical society records after 1796. The Newington School Society probably was then organized, and went into operation.
In May, 1794, Enock Kelsey and others petitioned the General Assembly to annex to the society of Worthington a certain portion of the adjacent territory of Newington. That body granted the petition, and provided that this territory should be annexed to Worthington " for parochial purpose merely, and shall hereafter be holden and considered as part and parcel of said parish of Worthington." (1 Pri. Laws of Conn., 561.) By reason of this annexation this territory became, by force of laws afterwards passed, a portion of the Worthington School society. And as school societies were authorized by law to divide their territory into school dis- tricts, the school society of Worthington apportioned this territory into the northeast school district of that society, now the sixth and seventh school districts of Berlin.
This was the second time the parish of Newington parted with a slice of her territory for the benefit of her southern neighbors. For this second dismemberment Newington
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received no compensation. Her resources had been seriously diminished in 1754; now they were still further crippled by the strong arm of the supreme power of the state.
There were during this period great national changes, which may be briefly mentioned.
The " French and Indian War" extended from 1754 to 1763, called in Europe the " seven years war." Although hostilities began in America in 1754, war was not declared between England and France till 1756. It was a struggle for dominion in this country. It resulted in the conquest of Canada by England. By the Treaty of Paris, February 10, 1763, France surrendered to Great Britain all her possessions in America east of the Mississippi river. Spain also ceded her possessions in Florida. The colonies freely responded to the call of the mother country in this as in all former wars. sacrificing men and means in battle and campaign, till the contest was brought to a successful close. The war of the Revolution followed, in which the colonies for the first time turned their arms against the oppression of England, and achieved their independence. Connecticut furnished more than her full share of blood and treasure in these wars. Every town did its part in the common cause ; every parish suffered, Newington sent officers as well as privates into the battalions of the commonwealth. Some of her sons never came back to tell the story of their deeds, but " died in the public service." Their names may not be emblazoned upon the historic page, but they are enshrined in the memories of their grateful descendants. Extracts from the records of the society during these years will give, in an official and reliable form, a picture of its history.
EXTRACTS FROM SOCIETY RECORDS .- 1747-1805.
At a meeting of the Society held June 15, 1747, it was voted-" To give Mr. Joshua Belding a call to be our minister," and to give him " Nine hundred pounds for a settlement to be paid in, three years," and " Two hundred pounds, old tenor, money for his salary the three years whilst we are paying his settlement." " That Dea. John Deming, Capt. Josiah Wil- lard, Peletiah Buck, be a Committee to treat with Mr. Joshua Belding about his salary and settlement."
At a meeting held July 6, 1747, it was voted-" To give Mr. Joshua Belding the use of the parsonage so long as he is our minister, and
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preaches the Calvinistical Doctrine, as is generally, at this day, preached among the dissenters." Also-" To give Mr. Belding 8 cords of wood yearly whilst he is a single person . . . . and sixteen cord of wood yearly after marriage," and " Two hundred and fifty pounds, old tenor, money, and the parsonage, for his salary after the settlement is paid."
At a meeting held August 10, 1747, it was voted-" That Mr. Joshua Belding, for his more convenient settling in the work of the ministry in said place, have 100 pounds more given him, in addition to the 900 pounds heretofore granted to said Belding as a settlement, all which being 1000 pounds to be paid within the term of three years from the time of said Beldings' ordination, viz : three hundred thirty-tliree pounds six shillings and 8 pence per annum till the whole be paid and that the value of the money be made good, equal to what that same is now in the present com- mon currency." "That the parsonage, the use of which was heretofore granted to said Belding so long as he shall continue in the ministry in said place, be delivered unto him with the fence rectified for one crop. Also that the 200 pounds, before granted as a salary to be annually paid the first three years after said Beldings' ordination, be kept in its present value." " That after the expiration of the term of three years, in which the settle- ment aforesaid is to be paid, said Belding have given him the sum of fifty- seven pounds, to be paid in grain at the following rate, viz : Wheat at four shillings, Rye at two shillings and 8 pence, Indian Corn at two shillings, oats at one shilling and four pence the bushel, and in the following proportion, viz : a hundred bushels of wheat, a hundred and fifty of rye, a hundred and fifty of indian corn, and thirty of oats, or in the lieu of said quantities of each sort of grain above specified, that he have given him the equivalent therewith in bills of public credit, or in the general cur- reney or medium of trade, that shall from time to time be used or improved as or in the lieu of money in the Colony of Connecticut : which equiva- lent shall be annually judged of or estimated according to the general rate or market price of said kinds of grain in the month of August next preceding, and thus, including the 250 pounds before granted or the stated salary now resolved to be the stated salary, annually to be paid so long as he the said Belding shall continue in the ministry in said place."
At a meeting held September 7, 1747, it was voted, That Capt. Josiah Willard, Capt. Martin Kellogg and Dea. John Deming, be a " Committee to appoint a time with Mr. Belding for the examination and ordination of Mr. Belding, and likewise to appoint the fast and tavern keepers." " Voted that Mr. Josiah Deming be our agent, to represent this society at New Haven before the General Assembly to be held in October the 8th, 1747, to hinder those of Farmington annexed to us, going from us, &e." " Voted, That Mr. Josiah Deming represent this society by a memorial exhibited to the General Assembly abovesaid, to request some considera- tion for the loss of our minister, who died in their service at Cape Breton, some time past."
" Inasmuch as the society of Newington in our last meeting voted the month of August yearly to be the standard, that is to say, the market price of wheat, rye and indian corn and oats payable to Mr. Joshua Beld- ing in our minister rate, in case of want of specie, &c., we, being now allowed by Mr. Belding herefor, we now say, that the month of June shall be the standard yearly for us to know how much we must pay to Mr. Belding per bushel for each kind of grain in our rates."
MR. JOSHUA BELDINGS' ANSWER TO THIS SOCIETY.
" To the Society of Newington in Weathersfield :
" Forasmuch as the infinitely wise God has been pleased to commit the invaluable treasure of preaching the Gospel to earthen vessels, (which is
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a work worthy heavenly messengers,) that the excellency of the power might appear to be of God and not of man, and to promise his presence and assistance to his regular and faithful ministers, and has also ordained that they which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel, and foras- much as you have given me an invitation to engage in this important and difficult work of the gospel ministry among you, and for my encourage- ment and support therein have made offers to me of a settlement and salary. I have taken the matter into serious consideration, and, (hoping for the divine aid and blessing, and your prayers and united good will in the arduous work,) do now signify my ready acceptance of your invitation and offers, and also I would signify that whereas the month fixed upon in your vote as a standard by which to judge of an equivalent to the grain proposed, appears upon consideration to be a time when grain generally bears the highest price, and may therefore be a ground of uneasiness to some. I am willing to recede from that, and pitch upon the month of June in lieu thereof, as a medium betwixt the extremes. I do hereby further signify that as it would have been more agreeable to me to have omitted making any explicit covenant of this nature, and to have rested with only the common obligation arising from the gospel, were it not for the common practice in these churches. So I would do nothing now that should render the gospel burdensome, and therefore, since a 1000£ may seem much to be offered as a settlement by such a society to some that are not so well acquainted with the inconstancy of our current medium, and so may occa- sion some dissatisfaction, although I make no doubt it would not, were the matter duly understood and weighed, yet, trusting to your good affection and generosity, that you will not hereafter see me want what may be suffi- cient to render my life comfortable to me and serviceable to you. I am willing to forego the 100£ last added, and leave it with you to act your pleasure about it, now desiring nothing may be done but with a ready mind, hoping for the blessing of God upon you and me in all our ways, and that we may be built up in peace and love through faith unto salvation.
" JOSHUA BELDING."
An account of the society's debts, December, 1747, which is recorded in detail, contains this item : 'Due to Mr. Joshua Belding, for preaching with us from the tenthi day of May last until the 7th day of instant Dec., 1747, as our minister, £158 1s. 8d. This includes the wood and parsonage part which was voted, and also his board or billeting."
The following agreement also appears on record : " Whereas the society of Newington have granted the sum of £1,000 to be given to me, the subscriber, as a settlement, in order for my more convenient settling among them in the work of the gospel ministry, I do hereby promise and engage, that if, by embracing or maintaining any erroneous or corrupt doctrines or tenets, or by changing my persuasion in matters of church order from what it appears to be at present, or by any unlawful practice, I shall at any time render myself, in the judgment of the Association to which I shall belong, unfit for to continue in the work of the ministry, then to return back to said society such a part of whatever sum or sums of said settle- ment I shall have received as shall be deemed by indifferent judges a proportional for that part of the time then to come, compared with the whole time from my ordination, I might be supposed to have served in the work of the ministry according to the ordinary course of life.
JOSHUA BELDING."
At a society meeting, held December 5th, 1748, it was voted, "That the one hundred and fifty (pounds) money granted by the General Assem- bly to this society, which money is now in the hands of Mr. Josiah Deming, agent, shall be put into the society treasury, and the said money
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shall be to pay part of the £333 6s. 8d. which is to be paid to the Rev. Mr. Joshua Belding."
" Voted, that Thomas Robbins procure a lock for the school house door, and be paid for it out of the society treasury :" "That the school be divided, to be kept three months, in the middle of the society, six weeks at the west side, and six weeks at the north end."
At a meeting held December 19th, 1748, " Voted, That whereas the town of Wethersfield have heretofore granted to us a parsonage of fifty acres of land for our use, etc., and other lands, on this consideration, we remise, release, and forever quit-claim to the first society in Wethersfield all our right and title we have, or ever had, in or to the parsonage in the above-said society, to their own use, benefit, and behoof, without any molestation from us or any under us, always provided, they will be so good to the society of Newington as to give them a piece of land to help them in settling of their minister."
At a meeting held April 3d, 1749, it was voted, " That Joshua Andruse and Eliphelet Whittlesey, Jun., be a committee to succeed Capt. Martin Kellogg and Dea. John Deming, in letting out and taking care of the society school money granted by the Assembly."
At a meeting held December 4th, 1749, it was voted, " That the school be kept part of the time near Serg't Thomas Francis, and part of the time near Mrs. Backus."
At a meeting held December 2d, 1751, it was " Voted, That the school shall be kept in this society six months the year ensuing, the school to be kept four months and a half in the school house and six weeks of the time in some place at the west side of the society." "Voted, Thirteen pounds ten shillings money for building and finishing a pound for the use of the society. That the pound shall be erected upon the north side of Lient. Kilborn's shop, partly upon the commons and partly upon his own land. And likewise it was voted, that Lieut. Kilborn shall be a pound-keeper as long as he shall pay twenty shillings per year into the society treasury ; and likewise takes but six pence per head for his fees of this society ; and likewise takes but one penny per head for a sheep."
At a meeting held February 18th, 1754, " Voted and agreed, To send a committee to Kensington to answer the citation sent by the Assembly's committee respecting the taking from us our western neighbors. That Peletiah Buck, Josiah Kilborn, and Robert Welles be a committee to repre- sent the matter before the Assembly's committee at Kensington. Voted, that we are very loth to have our neighbors in Farmington separated from us by reason of the smallness of the parish. But if it will be any ease for Kensington to have a few more added, we do agree rather to have that, provided our meeting house comes no further west than the front of the lots called the fifty acres lots, and that Messrs. Peletiah Buck, Josiah Kilborn, and Robert Welles represent this matter before the honorable court's committee on the third Tuesday of April next."
At a meeting held May 3d, 1754, " Voted, that we will appoint a con- mittee to appear before the General Assembly at Hartford, in behalf of the society."
" Voted, That Messrs. Ebenezer Kilborn and Bavil Seymour be a com- mittee to appear before the honorable Assembly at Hartford to remonstrate against the report of the Assembly's committee respecting the taking away the inhabitants in Farmington that were annexed to the society of New- ington; and for reasons which may be given, we shall look upon it a hardship if they be taken away from us, but nevertheless, if they must be taken from us, we beg the favor of the honorable Assembly that we may have an equivalency made us."
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At a meeting held December 18th, 1754, " Voted, to appoint a commit- tee to go to the General Assembly in the society's behalf. Dea. Josiah Willard and Lieut. Ebenezer Kilborn were appointed a committee or agents in behalf of the society, to go to the General Assembly next May to lay before the said honorable Assembly the case and circumstances of the society by reason of a great part of the inhabitants being set off from them by the Assembly last May, and there to endeavor, by petition or by a memorial, to have an addition to the society eastward, and to endeavor to have a just and reasonable equivalency for said inhabitants taken from us."
At a meeting held June 2d, 1755, "Dea. Josiah Willard and Lieut. Ebenezer Kilborn were appointed a committee in behalf of the society to apply themselves to the first society in Wethersfield, and there to endeavor to have an addition eastward to this society, and likewise the said commit- tee are appointed to apply themselves to the General Assembly next May, if need be, to prosecute the same design."
At a meeting held July 7th, 1755, " Voted to let out the money upon interest that the General Assembly ordered the society of Kensington to pay to this society. Dea. Josiah Willard, Lieut. Ebenezer Kilborn, and Robert Welles were appointed a committee to let out the money till the first of June next.
At a meeting held August 17th, 1756, " Voted, that the money received and paid by the society of Kensington, June, 1756, be put in the society's treasury to defray the charge of the meeting house, the (amount) of the money received, £23 10s. 3d.
" Voted, That after the present year, the school in this society shall be kept in two parts, and the one part to be kept yearly as near the dwelling house of Daniel Willard southwardly as may be, the other near the dwell- ing house of the heirs of the Rev. Mr. Simon Backus, and that each of said schools shall be kept not less than three months annually by a school- master, and also that each of said schools shall have their equal part of the country money and loan money for that purpose, and that if any school house be built at said places, it shall be at the charge of particular persons and not at the charge of this society."
At a meeting held December 21st, 1756, " Voted to build two pews each side the broad alley in the meeting house." "Lieut. Ebenezer Kilborn and Martin Kellogg were appointed a committee to apply themselves in behalf of the society to the General Assembly in May next, and there to move to the said Assembly, by a memorial, for an addition to (of ?) the lands adjoining eastward to said society."
At a meeting held December 1st, 1757, " Voted, That the school for the year ensuing be kept in two parts, and that the charge of said school be paid; to be kept and (at?) the north end at the new school house, near Sergt. Daniel Willard's, and the other near about Nathaniel Kirkum's."
At a meeting held December 4th, 1758, "Voted, That the burying place be fenced in (at) the society's charge." "That the school be kept at the north end of the society at the school house, and at the south end near about Nathaniel Kirkum's."
At a meeting held December 1st, 1760, " Voted, That the school be kept the year ensuing three months in the winter season, in two places, one at the school house near Daniel Willard's, and at the south end near the widow Robbins. And that the school be kept three months in the summer at three places, one at each end, and in near the middle of the society, by a school dame."
" Voted, That Mr. David Webster and Martin Kellogg be a committee in behalf of this society, in a matter of controversy between the society and Mr. David Smith of Hadley, relating to a legacy of eighty pounds by the last will and testament of Mrs. Mary Willard, deceased, bequeathed
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to this society for encouraging of schooling or support of the poor in the same, and the said controversy to refer to arbitration with Mr. Smith according to their best judgment and discretion."*
At a meeting held February 15th, 1764, " Voted, That David Woolcott, Martin Kellogg, and Charles Churchel be a committee to seat the meeting house. That the committee in seating the meeting house, seat it by list, age, parentage, and usefulness."
" Voted, to Charles Hurlbut and Jonathan Blin, for a house to keep the school in, 10s."
At a meeting held December 2d, 1765, " Voted, That the seats be taken up in the meeting house, and pews be made in the body of the meeting house." "That Lieut. Martin Kellogg be a committeeman to take the care of making the pews."
At a meeting held on the last Monday in April, 1766, " Voted, That whatsoever part of Mr. Belding's salary is not paid annually by the first of June, shall draw five per cent. interest from that time until paid."
At a meeting held December 12th, 1770, " Voted, That Sergt. Daniel Willard, Dea. John Camp, and Sergt. Janna Deming be a committee to seat the meeting house. That men and their wives be seated together."
" Voted, That the society move to the General Assembly, in order to obtain the legacy given to the society by Mary Willard, deceased, in her last will. That Captain Charles Churchel be appointed to assist in that affair." " That the society be at the cost if it cannot be paid out of the estate."
At a meeting held January 14th, 1771, " Voted, That two more school houses be built in this society, one near the south-west corner of Lient. Martin Kellogg's home lot, and the other near Francis Deming's home lot, the school houses be built by subscription."
At a meeting held April 6th, 1773, " Whereas this society covenanted with Mr. Joshua Belding, previous to his settlement in the ministry in this place, to give him, besides the use of the parsonage and sixteen cords of wood, fifty-seven pounds, to be paid in certain quantities of grain, as specified in said covenant on record, or the equivalence to said quantities of grain in money, according to the market price of grain in June, as his stated salary, annually to be paid him during his continuance in the ministry here; and whereas said covenant is so expressed as to admit of various constructions, and by experience the grain is found not to be an equal standard, which has occasioned frequent uneasiness and disquietude, to the disturbance of the peace and harmony in the society, and of wrongs being done : therefore, to remedy the same and prevent the like difficulty for the time to come, it is now agreed and voted, with the consent of Mr. Joshua Belding, that the following alteration be made in said covenant, viz. : that Mr. Belding have paid him annually for the future, during his continuance in the ministry with us, instead of grain or equivalence thereto, the sum of seventy pounds lawful money, for his yearly salary, together with the use of the parsonage and wood as before."
" Voted, That Joseph Androus, Martin Kellogg, and Charles Churchel be a committee to consult in the affairs of the parsonage."
[Extract from the will of Mary Willard.]
*"Item. I bequeath eighty pounds lawful money, or value thereof, to be improved forever, that is, the yearly income of the same, for the encouragement of schooling in the society of Newington, or benefit of the poor, at the discretion of the Rev. Joshua Belding, Capt. Robert Wells, Deacon Joshna Andruss, and their successors, as a committee for said purpose, to be chosen or appointed by the surviving two when one of them shall be removed by death, and so said com- mittec to be continued."
Executed May 17th, 1759.
Her estate inventoried, Aug. 26th, 1759, £429 7s. 13d.
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At a meeting held May 24th, 1773, " Voted, Capt. Martin Kellogg (and) John Lusk be a committee in the affair of Worthington memorial."
At a meeting held on the first Monday of December, 1773, " Voted, To Josiah Willard, two pounds six shillings and six pence for a funeral cloth."
At a meeting held December 23d, 1773, " Voted, Twenty-two pounds nine shillings and two pence to defray the costs of obtaining the legacy that Mary Willard gave to the society.'
" Voted, That two school houses be built in this society by the society's cost. That a committee be appointed to affix the places for the school houses. (That) William Welles, of Glassenbury, Capt. John Warner, of Stepney, and Selah Hart, of Kensington, be a committee to view the society and affix the places for the school houses. That Dea. John Camp, Capt. Martin Kellogg, and Capt. Charles Churchel be appointed to wait upon the said committee to show them the situation of the society. Capt. Martin Kellogg, John Lusk, and Capt. Charles Churchel were appointed a committee to go to the old society of Wethersfield, to ask to have the mountain tier of lots to be annexed to this society."
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