Glastenbury for two hundred years: a centennial discourse, May 18th 1853, Part 6

Author: Chapin, A. B. (Alonzo Bowen), 1808-1858
Publication date: 1853
Publisher: Hartford, Press of Case, Tiffany and company
Number of Pages: 270


USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Glastonbury > Glastenbury for two hundred years: a centennial discourse, May 18th 1853 > Part 6


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).


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61


the Meeting House, (in which the said inhabitants of the said town, for pub- lic worship of GOD, do meet) was erected and built; [1693,] that is to say, to each of the said inhabitants, house-holders (or their heirs) the full quantity of one hundred acres of the said common undivided land, to be holden to them and to their heirs and assigns forever, (excepting only such of the inhab- itants, householders, who have heretofore had their respective grants of land from this Town, which said inhabitants, householders (excepted) are exclu- ded from any benefit of this above grant now made.


" Mr. Benjamin Talcott, and Mr. Nathaniel Talcott, are to be deemed one of sd householders and accordingly to have in the same tenure one hundred acres of land as abovesaid. And it is also further voted, that the heirs of Mr. John Hollister, dec'd,-the heirs of Lt. Samuel Hale, dec'd,-Mr. Samuel Smith, Capt. Samuel Welles, Mr. John Hubbard and the heirs of Mr. Elea- zer Kimberly, Esqr., dec'd, shall have more than the rest of the said inhabitants, householders, the quantity of sixty acres of the said land, in the tenure above said, the same sixty acres being in consideration of their extraordinary charges and good service; which inhabitants, householders who have benefit by this grant are as follows, viz.


[List of persons receiving sixty additional acres.]


Mr. John Hollister, dec'd, 60 Joseph Hill, dec'd, 60


Eleazer Kimberly, dec'd, 60


Mr. Ephraim Goodrich, 60


Lt. Samuel Hale, dec'd, 60


Thomas Hale, Sen'r, 60


Mr. Samuel Smith, 60


Deac. Jonathan Smith, 60


Capt. Samuel Welles, 60


Thomas Loveland, 60


Mr. Thos. Treat, dec'd,


60


The two Mr. Talcotts, 60


Mr. John Hubbard,


60 Joseph Smith, Sen'r, 60


William Wickham, 60 Joseph Bidwell, dec'd, 60


William House, dec'd,


60 , John Strickland, 60


" And the Town at the same meeting by their unanimous vote, granted that Six Thousand acres more of the said common or undivided land shall be divided, granted, and given unto the present inhabitants of this Town, and to be divided and laid out to them respectively, in proportion according to their several lists of estate for the year 1713 ; To have and to hold the same, to them and to their heirs and assigns forever, in the proportion abovemention- ed. And the Town do also grant to Rev. Mr. Timothy Stevens, One Hun- dred acres more of the said common or undivided land, to be to him and to his heirs and assigns forever."


62


" The names of persons or present inhabitants to whom the above six thousand acres of land is granted, is as follows." [To which are added a few names omitted in the list, and the amount of each person's List in the Grand Levy of the Town, 1713.]


NAMES. 8. A. R. 150


REMARKS.


Y. B.


P.


[Rev. T. Stevens,


66


100


" Mid. bounds," 1718 III 40 " S. E. Diamond Pond," 1719 III 40


Mr. Samuel Smith, 135 5 452


1727 IV 140


Wid. Dorothy Treat, 127


[Cha's & Isaac Treat, 66


139


"W. Tarr-kills," 1723 III 51


1723 III


67


Richard Goodrich, 55 98


John Hollister,


103 10 307


" SEECHENAYAUG,"


1723 III 54


Capt. Samuel Welles,


190 1 456


" Congscutt," etc. 1725 III 95


Thomas Hollister,


81 15 413


"150 a. of Willards," 1720 III 44


Joseph Hollister, 99 100


198


" Near Congscutt,"


1720 III


46


David Hollister,


49


120


" SEECHANAYAUG,"


1723 III 55


1723 IV 89


Ephraim Hollister, 42 15 108


1719 II


45


Thomas Bevin, 18


1716 III


38


Samuel Brooks, 18


86


" near Assawassuc,"


1719 III 43


Samuel Hodge, 18 36


1730 IV 29


Thomas Loveland, 18 100


" side of a grindle," 1714 III


29


Samuel Loveland,


29


59


Tho. Dickinson,


113 10 226


Samuel Hale,


104 10 160


" E. Diamond P." 1715 III 32


"S. E. course tree," 1715 III 33


" S. bounds, G." 1716 III 62


" E. Diamond P." 1717 III 38


1744 IV 416


Jonathan Webster,


35


70


" N. of the Saw Mill,"


1716 III 37


" E. Minnoochaug," 1728 III 61


" N. Congscutt, 1723 III 52


1723 III 53


Nathaniel Talcott,


62


174


" On Hartford line,"


1714 III 28


[Tho. Hale's sons,


209


1724 III 59


Thomas Hale, 3d,


48


25


1739 IV 331


50


64


1739 IV 332


Thomas Hale, 2d, 66


51 10


97


" On Hartford line,"


1715 III 31


[Jonathan Smith,


100


" On Hartford line,"


1714 III 29


Joseph Smith, Jr.,


42 12


85


" On Hartford line,"


1723 III 59


Gershom Smith,


47 2


95


1734 IV 77


James Welden, 66


22 15 60


1715 III 34


36


" S. of the Saw Mill,"


1716 III 38


36


[Thomas Loveland, Jr.,


36


" N. Sadler's Ordinary," 1716 III 1729 IV 14


"N. Sadler's Ordinary," 1716 III


36


50


259


Thomas Kimberly,


64


160


66


12S


70


Benj'n Talcott,


86 10 173


96


" E. Diamond P."


1723 IV 20


Thomas Halc, Sen'r,


100


109


"N. Congscutt," 1720 III


47


276


1719 III 43


1719 III


42


122


Sold J. Welden,


63


NAMES.


£. s. A. R.


REMARKS.


Y.


B.


P.


John Strickland, 18 100


" At Lubberland," 1714 III 30


[Joseph Strickland, 30


. " near Nipsic hills,"


1718 III 49


Wid. E. Honse (Keeney,) 6


12


[Heirs of Wm. House,


100


1721 III 47


Benjamin Strickland, 31


40


" as householder," " At Lubberland,"


1720 III 51 1723 III 56


Joseph House,


30


60


" W. Minnoochaug," "Great Swamp," " On Hebron line,"


1723 III


55


Ebenezer Kilborn,


40 10


SI


1720 III


46


Simeon Couch, 34


69


Henry Gosley,


27 10


55


" At Lubberland,"


1719 III


41


" S. E. Diamond P."


1715 11I 31


John Kilborn,


64


128


Wid. M. Hale, [sons,]


116


230


" E. Minnoochaug,"


1714 III


56


" On Hebron line,"


1723 III


56


Jolın Hubbard, Jr.,


49 10


99


1721 III


30


Robert Loveland, 66


18


- 22


" E. of Snake house,"


1719 III 41


14


John Loveland,


35


William Wickham,


121 10 100


73


54


1730 IV 34


Thomas Morley,


44 88


Wid. Mary Benton,


25 5 50


1717 III 39


Daniel Wright, 47


50


" On Blackleach's R.," 1716 III 32


1717 III


39


Eben'r [and Jos. ] Fox,


58 10


70


Joseph Fox,


52


John Fox,


24


3 120 in part,


1736 IV 261


Richard Fox,


25


50


1723 III


58


Abraham Fox, 21


42


" S. W. of saw mill,"


1719 III 42 - IV 234


Joseplı Smith, Sen'r,


75


5 150


Benjamin Smith, 84 10 169


1725 III 100


Samuel Gains, 66


44


88


1715 III 34


1739 IV 331


John Biglow,


27 5 54


80 Sold to Rich. Fox,


1729 IV 18


William House,


33 12 67


1715 III 34


Thomas Brewer, Sen'r, 59 10 66


50


1714 III 29


other land,


1723 III 61


Thomas Brewer, Jr., 18


[Benjamin Brewer,


36


" W. Minnoochaug,"


1718 III 40


Hezekiah Brewer, 22


44


1719 III 45


Samuel Strickland, 18 72


Jonathan Judd,


26


52


Richard Smith, 21


42


Abraham Kilborn,


47 . 6 100


" E. Diamond P."


1717 III 39


1


117


" N. E. corner of Town," 1720 III 42


" N. of saw mill," 1716 III 37


1723 III 52


John Hubbard, 66


44


40


1714 III 35


Ephraim Bidwell, 66


188


1722 III


50


Joseph Hill, 66


58 15 100


102 10 160


205


1723 III


56


"W. Ash swamp," 1719 III 28


"W. Minnoochaug," 1716 III 36


124


" N. E. Diamond P." "W. Minnoochaug,"


1723 III 57


1720 III 48


88


" At Minnoochaug," 1720 III 48 sold D. Wright, 1719 III 40 sold G. Smith, 1734 IV 104


1725 III 101


22


1720 III 46


64


NAMES.


s. A. R. REMARKS.


Y. B. P.


Abraham Colt, 49


98


1723 III 57


Stephen Andrews,


27 10 55


1716 III 34


55


1736 IV 259


Elizabeth Kimberly, 7


Joseph Tryon,


18


36 Sold to Ganett,


1720 III 47


£8,688.18


1714, Mar. 26, Thomas Hollister, and " Common land sufficient, with what


66 Joseph Hollister, they had received to make 100 acres."


66 Samuel Hale, 50 acres, " Common land."


66 66 Samuel Brooks, 50 acres,


66


66 Daniel Wright, 50 aeres,


66


66 66 Treat, Heirs Tho's, 60 acres, " in addition to last grant."


John Hollister, " common land south of Roar-


66


66


Thomas Kimberly, )


Thomas Hollister, 200 acres. ing Brook west side of Bare Hill or Pauhegansuck."


1715, Feb. 17, Joseph Strickland, 30 acres, "at Nipsie, N. W. Wickhams." 1720, Dec. 22, Thomas Hollister, " All the land lying N. of 4 score aere John Hollister, lots, below Nayaug, up to the land 66 Joseph Hollister, lately belonging to Mr. John Hollis- 66 David Hollister, ter dec'd." This land had been Ephraim Hollister, 7 formerly granted by Wethersfield to Mr. Treat, but being unimproved, the Town of Glasten- bury granted it to the Messrs. Hollisters. For this, the heirs of Mr. Treat sued Glastenbury, but the suit was as- sumed and defended by the Messrs. Hollisters.


1723, Dec. 19, Abraham Colt, 6 acres, " undivided land, near N. E. corner of his farm."


Thomas Kimberly. " All E. of his farm at Diamond Pond to Ilebron."


Dec. 23, Heirs Wm. Miller, 100 acres.


Abner Maudsley, and " share of 6000 aeres, proportionable


66 Isaac Maudsley, " to the list of Mr. Alvord 1714."


66 66 Daniel Wright. "3 r. wide S. length of his farm."


66


66 Joseph Tryon, 50 acres, " E. of the mile common."


66


66 Use of the Ministry, 200 acres, " S. Nipsic Pond."


(3) Glastenbury, in second purchase, 6000 acres.


1723, Dec. 23. " At a town meeting held this day,-There being in the four eastermost miles of land in the Town of Glastenbury, more than Six thousand acres not yet granted nor laid out; Therefore, this Town do, by their vote, give and grant six thousand acres of said lands, not yet laid out, unto the inhabitants of said Glastenbury who are hereunto named, to them, their heirs and assigns forever, to be divided to them respectively according · to their Lists this present year, Anno Domini, 1723." viz.


65


NAMES. £. s. A. R.


Mr. Samuel Smith, 127 9 153


REMARKS.


Y. B. P.


fell to E. Lyman and wife,


IV 250


Capt. S. Welles, [sons,] 144 18 173 141 " near Cunseutt," IV 240


Mr. John Hubbard, 48 18 58 112 1725 III 92


Lt. Joseph Smith, 48 15 50 in part to son Manoah, IV 129


Mr. Thomas Hale, 79 94 12S


1725 III 102


Lt. Benj. Taleott, 127 16 153


" N. of the pine nursery," 1737 IV 257 in part'44 IV 416 ; '47 V 518;'54 VI 14 in part, 1739 IV 331


Mr. Nathaniel Talcott, 92 4 110 123 "at S. bounds, G." 1729 IV 20


John Hollister,


118 5 141 131 " on the S. bounds," 1729 IV 323


Thomas Hollister,


103 5 1734 IV 159 231; 46 a. 1737 IV 256


Joseph Hollister, 131 5 157


SO sold, to Tho. Welles,


1735 IV 238


Joseph Strickland,


34 10 41


81 sold, to Tho. Welles,


1736 IV 237 sold, to W. Wiekham, Jr., 1730 IV 22


1736 IV 260


Joseplı House, 56 16


68


34 " N. side Conkscott,"


172S IV 139


John Strickland, 18


21


32 sold, to Tho. Welles, in part,


1737 IV 255


Josiah Hollister,


49 1 59


sold, to Tho. Welles,


1734 IV 239 IV 243


Charles Treat,


13 12 16 56


1724 III 90


Tho's Loveland, Sen'r,


24 25 129


1729 IV 32


Joseplı Fox,


30 15 37


" on Minochauge,"


1729 IV 39


William Miller,


55 4 66 35


1725 III


99


John Hubbard, Jr.,


63 10 76 32


1725 III 99


Mr. David Hubbard,


23


27


96


1736 IV 259


Mr. Steph. J. Chester,


15


sold, Wm. Welles,


1760 VI 132 1736 IV 264


Isaac Hubbard,


44 5 53


16


Ephraim Hubbard,


54 64 120 " S. W. Diamond Pond," 1734 IV 116


Dorothy Treat,


59 15 72 " N. W. nursery of pines,"1731 IV 35


Isaac Treat,


12


14 64


1736 IV 258


Benony Hale,


30 10


37


sold, to Tho. Welles,


1730 IV 9


Samuel Loveland,


59


77 12S


1729 IV 12


Arthur Bevin,


42


50


sold, Abig. Lattimer,


III 125


Nathaniel Bidwell,


30 5 36 sold, to Rob. Powel,


1726 III 121


Ephraim Goodrich,


49 10


S6 132 sold, Tho. Welles,


1730 IV 8,241


Richard Goodrich, 5 10 6 96


1725 III 138


Benjamin Abbey,


27


32


64 " at Diamond Pond,"


1734 IV 146


Timothy Brooks,


21


125


32 sold, Abm. Kilborn,


1727 III 129


Samuel Brooks, Sen'r,


22


26


33 sold, Rob. Powell,


1726 III 122


Samuel Brooks, Jr., 21


25 sold, Abig. Latt'r,


1726 III 122


[Rev.] Mr. Rieh. Treat, 5 10


sold, John Neville, sold, Jolın Neville,


1730 IV 33


Abraham Kilborn, 69 19


79 120


1729 IV 28


Thomas Buck, 1S


96


1729 III 189


Tho's Loveland, Sen'r, 24


28 128 " next Hebron bounds," 1736 IV 258


Thomas Scott,


23 27 96 sold Benj. Hale,


III 131


William Wiekham,


40 6 50


Jonathan Wickham, 30 2 36


19 "joins Hebron,"


1736 IV 11


Samuel Strickland,


23 10


23


Josephı Hollister, Jr.,


34


38 126 sold, to Tho. Welles,


1730 IV 33


[Wm. Wickham, Jr.,]


5


Mr. Thomas Kimberly, 81 15


Benjamin Smith, 70 5


66


NAMES.


£. s. A. R.


REMARKS.


Y. B. P.


Samuel Price,


27 82 64 sold, Jona. Hale,


1733 IV


92


Thomas Treat,


46 10


55 128


1729 III 199


Thomas Brewer, Sen'r, 42 10


50 sold, Jona. Hale,


1724 III 79


Joseph Brewer, 28 33 96 " at Constseott,"


1729 IV 445


Joseph Dickinson,


35 1 42 9


1725 III 94


Gideon Hollister,


21


25 22


1725 IV 81


Elizabeth Hill, 84


100 128


1728 III 170


Benj. Hollister, 52


Thomas Brewer, Jr.,


18


20 sold, Jona Hale,


1724 III 73


Ebenezer Goodale,


24


29 sold, Jona. Hale,


1724 III 75


Ephraim Hollister,


55 15


66 sold, Tho. Welles,


1724 III 85


Dr. Joseph Tryon,


19


23 128 sold, Jona. Hale,


1730 IV 28


David Hollister,


62 10


74 144


1730 IV


Mary Benton,


56


5S


1728 IV 254; 1751 V 549


Samuel Gains,


92


110


" next Bolton," IV 196


Richard Fox,


62


6 75


8 " E. of Minochauge,"


1729 IV 26


Thaddeus Welles,


44 10


86


1737 IV 257


Gershom Smith,


54 12


65 80


1734 IV 166


Joseph Smith, 2d,


89


7 106


80 sold, Jona. Hale,


1731 IV 70


Abner Maudsley,


93


4 112


1725 IV 19


Thomas Morley,


45


54


sold, John Waddams,


1731 IV 165


Henry Goslee,


42


50


64


1725 III 102


John Fox,


31


44


1725 III 95


Robert Loveland,


73 10


88


"N. E. Stone house,"


1725 III' 93


Jonathan Webster,


75 8


90 80


1736 IV 203


Benjamin Strickland,


33 10


40 30


III 103


Richard Keenny,


45


sold, Jona. Hale,


1726 II1 155


Jolın Loveland,


44 8 53


4S


1736 IV 260


Ephraim Bidwell,


60


72


" at Great Hill,"


1732 IV 82


Daniel Brewer,


21


25


32 sold, Tho. Welles,


1729 IV 9


Abraham Fox,


4.7 56


1736 IV 258


Abell Morley,


40


48


sold, Mary Benton, sold, Abrm. Kilborn,


1724 III IV 97


William House,


46 16


56


32


1731 IV 72


Joseph Hill,


24


28 128


1725 III 97


Abraham Colt,


29


34 128


1725 III 101


Ebnezer Morley,


36


44


sold, Sam. Hale, Jr.,


1724 III


65


Ebenezer Streen,


25


29


sold, Benj. Hale,


1724 III 74


Timothy Hale,


44


40


1725 III


98


Samuel Hale, Jr.,


21


25


32 " N. of Conkscott,"


1728 IV 85


Daniel Wright,


144


N 137


sold, Noah Phelps,


1732 IV 80


Joseph Tryon, Jr.,


18


21


96 sold, Benj. Fox,


1729 IV 16


Stephen Andrus,


39


46 128 " next to Hebron,"


1736 IV 260


Benj. Hale,


36 16


44


1725 III


94


72


Sam. Hale's share,


IV 83


Jonathan Hale,


122 7 146 120


1729 IV 17


Thomas Hale, Jr.,


52 10


55


"near Diamond Pond,"


1734 IV 194


63


Simon Coueh,


37 10


45


12 128 " at the Great Swamp," 1735 IV 261


67


NAMES. £. s. A. R.


REMARKS. Y. B. P.


Thomas Welles,


103 10


Charles Hollister,


21 25 32


1729 IV 31


Joseph Andrus,


18


21


32 sold, Tho. Welles,


1730 IV 10


John Neville,


26 31 32


III 100


Samuel Gains, Jr.,


29 24 128 sold, John Neville,


III 60


Ebenezer Fox,


47 15


50


1734 IV 150


Hezekialı Brewer,


19


Jeremy Hollister,


18


21 96


1725 III 96


Samuel Hale,


61


Daniel Wright, Jr.,


25


30


" Little Nipsic plain,"


1731 IV 38


Samuel Hodge,


26


33


96


1736 IV 259


Richard Smith,


21


25


32


1725 III 97


David Dickinson,


18


21


96 sold, Abr'm Skinner,


1734 IV 3


Benony Fox,


20


24


1725 III 96


Mr. John Chester,


7 40


1725 III 93


" Voted : that none of the within mentioned grants be laid out, till the first day of March next, that so, such as have heretofore had their grants of land, may have opportunity to lay out their land according to their grants ; that is to say, Mr. Samuel Smith, Joseph Smith, Sen'r, Thomas Hale, William Wickham, Capt. Ephraim Goodrich, Thomas Brewer, or any others that have not laid out."


1725, Dec. 13, Elizabeth Kimberly, 14 acres, “ undivided land in East- bury," laid out 1729, V. 36.


1726, Dec. 19, Benjamin Smith, 100 acres, " which he should have had in 1713," laid out to his son Manoah S. 1734, IV. 129. 44 Wm. Wickham, Jr., " omitted in the roll of 1724, to have his share."


Lands subsequently set out to persons not mentioned in the preceding lits.


NAMES.


A 40


R. REMARKS.


Y. B. P.


Patrick Streen,


1723 III 64


Epli'm Goodrich,


72 16 of Wethersfield, 1729 IV 3


Wm. Wickham, 160


1719 III 200


Rev. A. Woodbridge,


100


13


Parsonage,


200


Robert Powell,


26


Rev. Timothy Stevens,


50


1 st ordained M. Eastb.


100


" N. E. corner Nipsic," 1732 IV 176


Ministry,


Daniel Whitmore, 50


Wm. Goodrich,


20


Rev. N. Brainard, 50


Ebenezer Fox, 100


Benj. Wright,


100


" S. 4 score acre lots near 1732 IV 93 the nursery," 1741 IV 337 " S. side Nipsic Pond," 1733 IV 117 33 of Wethers'd, sold,Z.Fox, 1733 IV 123 " at Diamond Pond," 1734 IV 147


10 138 to correct a mistake, 1735 IV 264 1740 IV 344 " On top of Minochauge,"1743 IV 408 1740 IV 430 given to S. Boardman W. 1741 V 24 given to S. Boardman W. 1741 V 28


68


REV. ASHBEL WOODBRIDGE, 1728-1758.


After the death of Mr. Stevens, the committee of the socie- ty hired Mr. Israel Chauncey to preach a quarter of a year, for which he was to have " £15 and needful subsistence for himself and horse." At the end of the three months, 9th of March, 1727, he was called to settle, with a salary of £100 and a settlement of £200. This offer was not accepted, and on the 25th of April a vote was taken to call a minister, when Mr. John Curtice had thirty-one votes, Mr. Israel Chaun- cey five, and Mr. Charles Treat one ; and Mr. Curtice was called with the same salary and settlement as had been offer- ed to Mr. Chauncey. This vote in regard to Mr. Curtice having been taken without consulting " the Elders" or neigh- boring ministers, gave rise to considerable difficulty, where- upon it was unanimously agreed to consult them. In pur- suance of their advice, the people met on the 19th of July and ballotted for a minister, when Mr. C. had fifty-two votes, and there were forty-eight blanks. Under these circumstances the Elders advised doing nothing further in the case of Mr. Cur- tice, and recommended them to try Mr. Ashbel Woodbridge or Mr. John Bulkley, Jr. Mr. Woodbridge was ealled on the same terms offered Mr. Chauncey, and having accepted the same, he was ordained October 4th, 1728, the expense being borne by the town.


Of the men called previous to Mr. Woodbridge, Mr. Chaun- cey was probably the same that graduated at Harvard in 1624 and died in 1736, without having been a settled pastor. Mr. Curtice may be the one who graduated at Yale, 1719, and after preaching a while as a candidate, relinquished the ministry and died in 1774. Mr. Charles Treat was a native of Glastenbury, son of Thomas Treat, and grand-son of Ger- shom Bulkley, born 1696, graduated at Yale, 1722, married Sarah, daughter of John Gardiner of the Isle of Wight, in the county of Suffolk, N. Y., in 1727. He relinquished the min- istry, and gave himself to agricultural pursuits on the large estates of his wife. He died in 1742.


There being no public land suitable or convenient for build-


69


ing a house for Mr. W., several gentlemen subscribed money to assist him in buying a lot as follows: Thomas Wells, £7 10s. ; Richard Smith, £2; Abraham Kilborn, £4; Jonathan Hale, £7 10s .; N. Talcott, £1; Thaddeus Welles, £2 10s .; Abram Moseley, £3; S. Smith, Jr., £5; Silas Welles, £2 10s .; total, £32.


Rev. ASHBEL WOODBRIDGE, son of Rev. Timothy Wood- bridge of Hartford, born 1704, graduated at Yale, 1724, or- dained at Glastenbury, October, 1728, died of dysentery, August 6th, 1758, in the fifty-fifth year of his age, and the thirtieth of his ministry. He married widow Jerusha Ed- wards of Hartford, daughter of William Pitkin of East Hartford, November 17th, 1737, and had,-


Ashbel, b. Oct. 1738. Samuel, b. Jan. 22, 1740.


Elizabeth, b. Oct. 1, 1741, d.


Timothy, b. March 15, 1744.


Hoel, b. March 17, 1746.


Theodore, b. Jan. 10, 1748.


William, b. Feb. 2, 1750, d. March 2, 1750.


Elizabeth, b. Aug. 17, 1751.


William, b. Sept. 14, 1755.


Mr. W. was a man of eminent piety and distinguished worth; whose reputation was that of a ripe scholar, sound divine and successful peace-maker. He was often deputed by the authorities to assist in composing difficulties in socie- ties and churches, when peace had been disturbed. We find him in a council at Hebron, 1731; Goshen, 1747; Branford, 1748; and Franklin, 1748. He also preached the election sermon before the General Assembly in 1752, from Psalm 78: 72; was a member of the Corporation of Yale College.


Of Mr. Woodbridge's family, Ashbel died nine days after his father, being then a member of Yale College. Samuel, we shall have occasion to speak of as a minister of Eastbury. Timothy, graduated at Yale, 1765, was settled at Whitestown, N. Y., where he remained until his death. He left one son who died young. Hoel, or Howel, married Mary, daughter of Ebenezer Plummer, Esq., November 26th, 1778, and had


70


three children, Joseph, b. March 27th, 1780; Mary, b. August 20th, 1782, and Sarah, b. September 3d, 1784. Howel was an active and influential citizen, and a colonel in the Revo- lution. He died June 13th, 1796, in the fifty-first year of his age. Theodore married Esther, daughter of Ebenezer Plum- mer, Esq., November 13th, 1783. He removed to Pennsyl- vania, where his descendants are now supposed to reside. William graduated at Yale, 1765, studied divinity but was never settled, spending his days in teaching. He died at Franklin, Conn., March 27th, 1836, aged eighty-two. Wil- liam Channing Woodbridge, the geographer, who died in Boston, 1845, was the only son of William. Twenty-five years of indefatigable labor and research, one-half of which was spent in travel at home and abroad, enabled Mr. W. to amass an amount of geographical matter, which has enabled others to amass fortunes .*


INCORPORATION OF EASTBURY, ETC.


During the ministry of Mr. Woodbridge, the town contin- ued in peace and harmony. The population in the eastern part increased so rapidly, and the difficulties of attending public worship with the people on the river, were so great, being separated from them by the whole length of the three mile lots, and the one mile in width of the Public Common, that a petition was brought to the General Court in 1730, for the incorporation of a new Ecclesiastical Society within the limits of Glastenbury. This petition was granted in May, 1731, and the new society called Eastbury, and measures were immediately taken to erect a Meeting House, which was located near a great rock on the west side of the society, near the spot where the old burying-ground is situated, and was to " be forty fect in length and thirty-five feet in width."


On the 29th of June of the same year, (1731,) Rev. EBEN- EZER WRIGHT was called as pastor of the new society, with


* Gen. Reg. January, 1853. Lee's Election Sermon, 1815, App. p. 55. Noti- ees of the History of the First Congregational Church in Glastenbury, p. 13, and Monuments in the Grave Yards and MSS. Memo.


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£60 salary and an annual increase of £5 until it amounted to £100, and also £100 settlement. Mr. Wright was prob- ably a native of Glastenbury or Wethersfield, graduated at Yale, 1724, settled at Stamford, 1732, and died 1746 .*


Mr. Wright having declined the invitation, the Rev. JONA- THAN HUBBARD was called to the same office on the 21st of September of the same year, with the salary offered Mr. W., a settlement of £150, an hundred acres of land and his fire- wood annually. Mr. Hubbard seems to have accepted the call, and to have preached when an opportunity offered, be- fore the Meeting House was built. In 1731, he received £15, in 1732, £60. In 1733, the day of his ordination was set, and the persons to be an ordaining council selected. Some unknown cause, however, broke off the connection at this point, and the society paying him £50, looked elsewhere for preaching. Mr. Hubbard was born, as would seem, at Glas- tenbury, graduated at Yale, 1724, afterward settled, but at what place or places is unknown ; died, 1765. a. S -


The Rev. JOHN WILLIAMS was next procured to preach, which he did for a few months, and on the first of April, 1734, he was called to settle among the people of Eastbury on terms similar to those which had been offered to the others. The call, however, was declined. Mr. Williams is supposed to be the John Williams who was graduated at Harvard, 1725, took his Master's degree in 1729, and whose subse- quent history and death are unknown.


The Rev. DANIEL BLISS was next called to the place, on similar terms, but declined. He was born at Springfield, 1715, graduated at Yale, 1732, and settled at Concord, Mass. He died, 1764.


The Rev. WILLIAM GAGER, was first employed to preach by the day, until the decision of Mr. Bliss should be known. He continued to preach until March, 1735, when a vote was taken calling him to settle. The votes being fourteen for, and twelve against, it was thought advisable to consult the ministers of the Association of Lebanon, where Mr. Gager


· Am. Q. R. IV. 316.


at Sais der / Ap i . 18


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had been, and take their advice in the matter. The result was that on the 3d of November, 1735, a call was given to Rev. Chiliab Brainard, who accepted the same. Mr. Gager was graduated at Yale, 1721, settled at Lebanon, 1725, dis- missed, 1734. He died in 1737 .*


Rev. CHILIAB BRAINARD, first ordained minister of East- bury, son of William B. of Haddam Neck, and grand-son of Deacon Daniel B., born at Haddam, was graduated at Yale, 1731, settled at Eastbury, January, 1736. In the fall of 1738, he resigned his pastoral office in an informal way, and the socie- ty directed the committee to hire Mr. Richard Treat to preach until the next annual meeting. Mr. B. died the first of Janu- ary following, (1739,) in the thirty-first year of his age and the third of his ministry. He married Abigail, daughter of Rev. Phineas Fiske, of Haddam. After the death of Mr. B. she married Rev. Noah Merrick of Wilbraham, Mass., of whom Judge George Merrick of Glastenbury, is a descendant .; He was born at Wilbraham, February 1st, 1793, read law with Judge Gilbert of Hebron, and Hon. Hunt Mills of Northamp- ton, was admitted to the bar, 1815, and immediately com- menced practice in this town.




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