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 8
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 (link on the Part 1 page).
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
At a meeting held February 7th, 1774, " Voted, That a committee be appointed to build the school houses at the places where the committee affix them."
At a meeting held March 23d, 1774, "The question was put whether the parsonage lot of land belonging to said society be leased for the space of nine hundred and ninety-nine years, in such manner and on such terms and conditions as this society shall agree on. Capt. Martin Kellogg, Capt. Charles Churchel and Mr. John Lusk were appointed a committee to lease said parsonage lot of land for the said term of nine hundred and ninety- nine years, to such person or persons as shall appear to take the same and give such security for the sum or sums it shall be leased for, with the interest arising thereon, as said committee shall agree; which security shall be either a bond with sureties to the acceptance of said committee, or a mortgage deed of lands of double the value of the sums to be secured, well executed and recorded, and free of all incumbrances whatsoever. That the said lands should be leased in several parcels or allotments, as said committee shall judge best for the benefit of said society. That the money for which the parsonage lot is or shall be leased, shall, by a com- mittee by this society appointed, be let on interest to such persons as shall from time to time appear to take the same, and give security, according to the votes of said society, to the acceptance of said committee, for payment of the principal sums borrowed when required, and for the payment of the interest thereof annually : and that the whole of the interest, arising on the several respective sums so loaned or let on interest, shall be improved an- nually for and towards the payment of the salary of the minister of this soci- ety in Newington, and in case of any vacancy by death or otherwise, towards the payment of such as shall be called to preach on probation or otherwise, and to or for no other use or purpose whatsoever; and that the principal sum or sums aforesaid shall be and remain in the disposal of said society, to be improved as aforesaid forever, without diminution or decrease on any account whatsoever."
"Newington, April the 6th, 1774.
" These presents witness that I, Joshua Belding, for the consideration of seventeen pounds lawful money, to be annually: well, and truly paid to me by the society of Newington, by the first day of May in each succeeding year during the term of my continuing in the ministry in this place, have released and quitted, and do by these presents actually and fully release and quit to said society forever all my right, title or claim to the use and improvement of the parsonage land lying in this parish to their proper
69
use, improvement, and disposal, without hindrance or molestation from me or any by or under me, as witness my hand."
At a meeting held April 6th, 1774, " Voted, That in consideration of a release and quit-claim, given to this society by Mr. Joshua Belding, of the use and improvement of the parsonage land lying in this parish, which was granted to him, the said Mr. Joshua Belding, by this society at his first settling here, to hold during his continuance in the ministry in this place, that Mr. Joshua Belding have, in lien of said parsonage, for the future, annually paid to him the sum of seventeen pounds lawful money, to be paid duly by the first day of May in each succeeding year, that is, the first payment to be made the first of May, 1775, and so on yearly so long as Mr. Joshua Belding shall continue in the ministry with us."
At a meeting held the fifth day of December, 1774, " Voted, Lemuel Whittlesey, Robert Wells, jr., and Unni Robbins, and Martin Kellogg, jr., to build the school houses at the places where the committee set the stakes."
At a meeting held December 8th, 1774, " Voted, That the north end of the society, down as far as the north side of Deacon Joshua Andrus' common lot, to be a school district."
" Voted, to build a school house, upon the society's cost, at the south- west corner of Mr. John Lusk's lot, near to Capt. Martin Kellogg's house."
" Voted, That what was voted in the last meeting respecting the build- ing the school houses, be revoked and null."
" Voted, That the school (be kept) twelve months in this society, three months in the winter, in three places at the same time, at the north school house, and at the south school house, and in the middle of the society, and one month in each of said places in the fall of the year."
At a meeting held February 27th, 1775, " Voted, Capt. Martin Kellogg and Capt. Charles Churchel be a committee to examine and to take advice in the affair between Worthington and this society."
At a meeting held December 6th, 1779, "Josiah Willard chosen clerk of said society." *
" Voted, To the Rev. Mr. Joshua Belden the sum of thirteen hundred pounds as his salary for his service the year past."
" Voted, The sum of two hundred forty-nine pounds four shillings and five pence for maintenance of the schools."
" Voted, To Mr. Abel Andrus the sum of thirty pounds for sweeping the meeting house."+
At a meeting held December 14th, 1779, "Voted, That the society committee shall warn a society meeting to consider about building a new meeting house or repairing the old one."±
At a meeting held November 23d, 1780, " Voted, To give Mr. Belden the sum of fifty-four pounds ten shillings lawful money, or old Continental money, at the rate of forty for one, in addition to the thirteen hundred heretofore voted to him by this society for his salary for the service of the year 1779."
* Robert Welles was chosen clerk Dec. 3d, 1744, and the records are in his handwriting from that time to the record of this meeting, 39 years. The first clerk of the society, Josiah Willard, acted from 1716 to 1744, 28 years. The clerk chosen at this meeting is the third clerk of the society, and probably the son of the first, of the same name.
t These votes show the great depreciation of the currency at this time.
# The question of building a meeting house, and especially where it should be located, agitated the society for many years. It was not settled till May 22d, 1797, when it was located where it still stands. The votes in relation to the matter are so numerous that they must be omitted, except those which finally settled the question.
70
At a meeting held December 4th, 1780, " Voted, To give Mr. Belden, our minister, the sum of eighty-seven pounds lawful money for his salary for his service of the year past, to be paid in silver, or an equivalent in States' money or Continental currency or in produce."
At a meeting held March 5th, 1782, " Voted, That Capt. Churchill, Capt. Kellogg, Unni Robbins, James Blin, and Josiah Willard should be a com- mittee to go and treat with Mr. Belden in respect of his salaries for the years 1777, 1778, 1779, and to make proposals to him according to the best of their discretion, and try to come to an agreement with him to pay him the interest of the parsonage money towards his salaries for said years or otherwise, as said committee shall think fit, and said committee shall transact the said affair with Mr. Belden as though it was their own case (excepting that they refer it to the society for ratification), and they are to make their report to the next adjourned meeting."*
"Newington, April the 2d, 1782.
" A committee being appointed by this society, at a meeting lately held in this place, to treat with me, the subscriber, and make proposals in order for a settlement of the deficiencies occasioned by the depreciation of Con- tinental money, in the payment of my salary for the years 1777, 1778, and 1779, said committee after deliberately looking into the matter, computing what the society were in arrears, and attending to the peculiar, intricate, and perplexed circumstances of the affairs, proposed to give me £100 in addition to all I had received for said three years, which, having taken into consideration, although I look upon it far short of what is my due, and laying upon me (under my circumstances) more than my proportion of the extraordinary burdens of the times, yet, feeling tenderly affected towards the parish, and considering the heavy taxes occasioned by the war, the great difficulty many find to pay them, and with a view and desire to restore, if possible, and promote peace and harmony in the society, I have agreed, in compliance with the said proposal, to accept of a £100 lawful money, with the lawful interest from this day till paid, in lieu of all arrear- ages due for said three years, and accordingly do hereby, for myself and my heirs, etc., promise and engage, upon condition the society readily con- sent to and confirmn said proposal and agreement, and also shall satisfy unto individuals who have paid their rates in full in all or either of said three years, then to relinquish all further demands for the service of said years, and also, upon my receiving said money agreed upon, do promise to give discharges in full to the society for those three years. As witness my hand, JOSHUA BELDEN."
At a meeting held February 11th, 1783, " Voted, That they would build two school houses upon the society's cost."
" Voted, That the place for the North school house shall be near the north-west corner of the lot formerly owned by Eli Stoddard, and between the houses of William Andrus and Guinea, as shall appear by the commit- tee most convenient, and the place for the South school house at the stake set by a former committee.'
" Voted, That Elijah Welles, Jonathan Stoddard, John Graham, Unni Robbins, Levi Lusk, and Levi Churchill shall be a committee to build the said school houses."
" Voted, To raise four pence on the pound to defray the cost of building said school houses."
At a meeting held March 10th, 1783, "Voted, That the society should
* The committee came to an agreement with Mr. Belden, which they reported to the next adjourned meeting held April 2d, 1782, and which is substantially set forth in Mr. Belden's agreement which follows, and was satisfactory to the society and ratified.
71
be divided into three school districts by a committee now to be appointed for that purpose."
" Voted, That Col. Gad Stanley, Gen. Selah Hart, and John Robbins, Esq", should be thiis committee." *
" Voted, That the said committee should divide the seriety equally, taking the list, conveniency of travel, and all other matters into consid- eration."
" Voted, Capt. Kellogg, Capt. Mitchell, and Josiah Willard should be a committee to wait upon the aforesaid gentlemen."
At a meeting held April 14th, 1783, " Voted, To Capt. Kellogg and Capt. Mitchell three pounds one shilling and nine pence for defraying the cost and expenses of the school district committee."
" Voted, That we approve of the report and doings of the committee appointed to divide the society into three school districts." t
At a meeting held April 29th, 1783, " Voted, To build two school houses upon the society's cost, the North one in the most convenient place at or near the mouth of Guinea's lane, and the other in the most convenient place against a little piece of land granted by the town to Billy Blin."
" Voted, To build the school houses twenty-five feet long and twenty feet broad."
" Voted, To raise a rate of three pence upon the pound to defray the cost of building the aforesaid school houses."
" Voted, That the inhabitants may have liberty (if to the acceptance of the committee) to pay their respective rates in labor, timber, and materials for building said houses."
" Voted, That Capt. Jonathan Stoddard, Ebenezer Dickinson, and James Welles shall be a committee to build the North school house."
" Voted, That Capt. Mitchell, Francis Deming, and Unni Robbins shall be a committee to build the South school house."
At a meeting held May 3d, 1784, " Voted, To appropriate four pounds of the loan money, or other monies that may be had out of the society treasury, towards hiring a teacher to instruct the people in this parish in the art of singing."
At a meeting held December 6th, 1784, " Voted, To petition the town to purchase a piece of land belonging to Capt. Martin Kellogg, near the burying yard in this place, that the said land may be open for a green or highway, and that the society clerk and society committee be directed to prepare a petition or memorial in behalf of the society, and lay it before the next or some future town meeting." ¿
* Non-residents.
t As early as in October, 1766, the General Assembly passed an act relating to schools, appropriating 20s. to every £1,000 of the list of the several towns and societies for the benefit of schools, in which it was provided, " That each town and society shall have full power and authority to divide themselves into proper and necessary districts for keeping their schools, and to alter and regulate the same from time to time as they shall have occasion : which districts so made shall draw their equal proportion of said monies, as well as all other public monies, for the support of schools belonging to such respective towns or societies, accord- ing to the list of each respective district therein."
Stat. of 1769, p. 330.
# The committee presented the following petition :
" To the inhabitants of the Town of Weathersfield, legally assemble l by adjournment on Monday, the 3d day of January, 1785 :
"The petition of the inhabitants of the Society of Newington, within said Town, humbly sheweth : That there is a certain piece of land containing about an acre, owned by Capt. Martin Kellogg, and lying in said society a few rods North of the meeting house, running out into the highway the whole length of
72
At a meeting held February 14th, 1785, "Voted, To apply to the town for the mountain tier to be annexed to this society, and to make applica- tion to the Assembly to have the same annexed to it. *
" Voted, That Charles Churchill, Esq., and Capt. Martin Kellogg should be a committee to make the above said application."
At a meeting held March 20th, 1789, "Messrs. David Lowrey and Lemuel Whittlesey were appointed to take care of the excise money."
" Voted, That the interest arising upon, and is now due upon, the hard money part of the soldiers' notes, belonging to the excise money, be added to the principal."
At a meeting held June 1st, 1789, " Voted, That the committee who have the care of the indents for interest now belonging to this society, be directed to use their best discretion in regard to the disposing of said indents, as they shall judge shall be most for the advantage of said society."
" Whereas there was a legacy left by Mr. Jedediah Deming, in his last will, to the society of Newington for the purpose of procuring a library for public use in said society, and as the said society have never received any benefit therefrom, therefore voted, That Messrs. David Lowrey and Simon Welles be a committee to inquire into the same, and to take the most prudent and effectual measures to recover the benefits of said legacy for the use and improvement of said society, as soon as may be and as far as is agreeable to said will."t
said piece : and that when said piece is inclosed it greatly injures a beautiful and commodious green, and is a great inconvenience to said society, and an obstruction to the travel of the inhabitants of said society, and of strangers, who cannot pass that way without loss of travel, especially as it naturally leads them into a corner from whence they cannot pass without returning back or breaking through an inclosure set apart and improved for a piece of burying ground : by which the inhabitants of said society and the public must suffer. Your petitioners therefore pray that the said piece of land may be purchased of the said Capt. Kellogg with the money raised by the sale of land out of the highways in said town, and the said picce of land thrown out to the highway for the benefit of the public. That the matter of their petition may be attended to with candour and a view to the public good, so that relief may be granted.
" And your petitioners, as in duty bound, shall ever pray, etc.
By order of said Society, JOSIAH WILLARD, Society Clerk. David Lowry, James Welles, Committee. Daniel Willard, jr.,
" Dated at Newington, this 31st day of December, 1784."
It does not appear that the town granted the prayer of the petition, but the land was " thrown out to the highway " about 1806 by its owners, and now prob- ably belongs to the town.
* Josiah Willard resigned his position as clerk of the society at a meeting held Dec. 19th, 1786, and Daniel Willard, jr., was appointed in his place.
t Extract from the will of Jedediah Deming, executed April 14th, 1787. His estate was inventoried May 22d, 1787.
"Item. I give and bequeath unto the society of Newington a legacy of the sum of sixty pounds, lawful silver money, accounting Spanish milled dollars at six shillings each, to be raised and paid out of my personal or movable estate, for the purpose of procuring only a sufficient quantity of good orthodox books of divinity, at the care and direction of the two standing officiating deacons for the time being in said society, and from time to time by them and their successors in said office, to be improved as opportunity and occasion may require for procuring a suitable quantity of books of the aforesaid description, of Calvinistical princi- ples, for furnishing a suitable library for public use in said society, as far as the same may necessarily extend, forever : which legacy shall be paid by my executors
73
At a meeting held September 21st, 1789, " Upon a motion of Deacon Stoddard to resign the trust reposed in him by Mr. Jedediah Deming, late of Wethersfield, deceased, in his last will and testament, for applying a legaey given by said Deming to the society of Newington for procuring a public library for said society : Voted, That Messrs. David Lowrey, Roger Welles, John Goodrich, Simon Welles, and Daniel Willard, Jun., be appointed to assist the deacons in the discharge of the trust reposed in them by said will, in applying said legacy, proeuring books, and forming a constitution for said library, and to assist them in any other matters that shall be thought necessary respeeting said legacy, agreeable to said will, aceording to their best judgment and discretion, and to report from time to time, when ealled, their proceedings in the business aforesaid." *
At a meeting held December 7th, 1789, " Messrs. Unni Robbins, Elizur Andrus, and Daniel Willard, Jun., were appointed to consider the petition of the south end of the society respecting a school district, and to report to the society."
At a meeting held December 22d, 1789, " Voted, That the sum of one hundred and eighty pounds be raised on the list of this society for defray- ing the cost of the school houses already built in this society and for building a school house at the southern part of the society, the said sum to be equally divided to said houses, and that the south end, extending to one third part of the list of 1788 as near as may be, be impowered to call a meeting and transaet any matters respecting the building said house, and that the proprietors of the other houses be empowered to meet and make an average of the sums so voted to each house. (Carried, nineteen against twelve.) "
At a meeting held March 2d, 1790, " Voted, To empower the committee who have the care of the public monies belonging to this society in the loan office, both interest and principal, to dispose of the same according to their best diseretion for the benefit of said society."
At a meeting held July 7th, 1791, "There was then laid before the meeting a written obligation, signed by Capt. Martin Kellogg, promising to give to the society ninety pounds in money to be laid out towards a frame for a meeting house in consideration that the society agree to erect and build said house on the west side of the old green and about five rods southward of the south-east corner of the burying yard, so as to enclose a stake set there by him."
" There was also an obligation in writing, signed by Lt. Lemuel Whit- tlesey, laid before said meeting, promising to give one hundred pounds towards building a meeting house for said society, provided said society shall proceed to build said house near where the first committee set a stake therefor." t
" A division was then ealled for, and there were for accepting Capt. Kellogg's proposal, 24, for Lt. Whittlesey's proposal, 14, majority of 10 for Capt. Kellogg's proposal."
" Messrs. David Lowrey and James Welles were then appointed to receive the said donation of Capt. Kellogg. Messrs. Roger Welles and
within one year after my decease, and provided the said sum of sixty pounds shall be more than sufficient for the purpose aforesaid, my will is that the sur- plusage shall be loaned and the annual interest applied and improved for the support of the school in the south district in said society of Newington, their heirs and successors forever."
* This committee reported, September 14th, 1790, a constitution and regnla- tions for a library, called " Charity Library."
t This was near the dwelling house of Luther Latimer.
10
74
Jonathan Stoddard were then appointed to apply to the court to establish the above vote for the acceptance of Capt. Kellogg's proposal." *
At a meeting held March 13th, 1792, "Voted and agreed, That this society will apply to the honorable General Assembly in May next, to obtain, if may be, the place already agreed upon by this society at their meeting in July last, to be affixed and established for the purpose of building a new meeting house upon. 20 for the vote, 14 against it."
" Voted, That Messrs. David Lowrey and Roger Welles be and they are hereby appointed agents in behalf of this society to apply to the honorable General Assembly in May for the purpose expressed in the above vote. (19 for the vote, 14 against it.) "
At a meeting held October 8th 1792, " Voted, That this society will confine their petition, now pending in the honorable General Assembly, respecting a meeting house, to a committee to view the society, hear all parties, and determine where a meeting house shall be erected in said society."
At a meeting held October 23d, 1792, " Voted, That Col. Roger Welles be appointed to make provision for the committee from the Assembly. Charles Churchill, Esq., Col. Roger Welles, Martin Kellogg, and Capt. Robert Welles were appointed to wait on said committee expected from the Assembly, and show them the society. Daniel Willard, Jun., and David Lowrey were appointed by said meeting to make a statement to said committee."
At a meeting held December 31st, 1792, " Voted, That a committee be appointed to look into the state of the public law books and Kirby's re- ports belonging to this society, and report to the next meeting. Also, that Messrs. James Welles and David Lowrey be appointed for said pur- pose."
" Voted, That this meeting approve of the following report and resolve of the honorable General Assembly, laid before the meeting. And the numbers taken were 39 against 3.
At a General Assembly of the State of Connecticut, holden at New Haven on the second Thursday of October, Anno Dom., 1792.
Upon the memorial of the inhabitants of the society of Newington, in the town of Wethersfield, and county of Hartford, by their agents, David Lowrey and Roger Welles, of said society, shewing to this Assembly that their old meeting house in said society is much decayed and unfit to repair, and that the attempts to erect a new one have hitherto proved ineffectual : praying for the appointment of a committee to view the vari- ous places in said society mentioned for the building a meeting house, and report what place is most convenient, as per petition on file. And this petition came to the General Assembly of this state, holden at Hartford in May last, and by continuance to this Assembly; when this Assembly appointed a committee to examine into the facts stated in said petition, which committee having viewed the various places mentioned as suitable to erect a meeting house, at this Assembly have reported that at a stake by the said committee set, about six rods south east from the public burying ground in said society, is the most proper place whereon to erect a meeting house in said society, which report hath been accepted by this Assembly, all which appears on file.
Resolved by this Assembly, That a meeting house may be erected at the said place reported by said committee, viz. : at a stake set about six rods south-east from the public burying ground in said society; and said society
* The county court, in January, 1792, decided in favor of the site near Luther Latimer's house. The society, at a meeting held Feb. 6th, 1792, disapproved of this judgment of the county court by a vote of 49 to 20.
75
are hereby authorized to erect a meeting house in said society at said place.
A true copy of record. Examined by George Wyllys, Secretary."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.