USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 131
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ALLOWANCE TO MR. BUCKINGHAM INSTEAD OF HIS YEARLY FIREWOOD.
" Feb. 28, 1706-7. Voted and agreed by the towne, to allow Mr. Stephen Buckingham twenty pounds pr. year, to be paid in specie as his rate is to be payd in, he freeing the towne from the obligation they are under, in finding or providing his firewood."
MR. BUCKINGHAM'S AGREEMENT THERETO.
"The town of Norwalk, performing their above mentioned engagement, as to summ and price, are now freed from the obligation concerning fire wood to mne.
"S. BUCKINGHAM."
CUTTING SEDGE.
" Dec. 18, 1707. The Towne by their present act, do prohibit any person or persons cutting any sedge or Crick-thatch, on any of the towne's right, before ye first day of September, annually ; and if any per- son shall presume to act contrary to this act, he or they shall, after the first half load, forfitt twenty shillings for every half load; to be paid by the per- son or persons delinquent, half to ye use of ye town, the other half of said twenty shillings to the com- plainer who shall prosecute the same to effect."
SCHOOL-KEEPING IN 1707-8.
" Feb. 10th, 1707-8. Voted and agreed, that there shall be a schoolmaster hyred according to law.
" Also, voted and agreed, that ye school master Hired shall attend and keep ye schoole two months on this side of the river, and one month on ye other side.
" Also granted liberty to those our inhabitants over the river, to erect a schoole house in a convenient place, not prejudissing the highway."
THE TOWN KEEPING GOOD HOURS.
" Also voted (1707-8), and agreed, that there shall be no votes passed nor any grants made by the towne, nor any record made of any votes, after nine of the clock at night."*
* " In 1708, John Belden, Samuel Keeler, Matthew Seymour, Matthias St. John, and other inhabitants of Norwalk, to the number of twenty- five, purchased a large tract between that town and Danbury. The pur-
533
NORWALK.
KEEPING ORDER IN TOWN-MEETING.
"Dec. 16th, 1708. Voted and agreed that there shall be a moderator chosen, who shall have power to put to vote all matters or affaires that are then in ad- jitation, and also to endeavour to keep good order and deeorum in speaking; and all who are disorderly in speaking, to be by words corrected by the moderator; and also that if any person shall, notwithstanding, be so bold as to proceed in disorderly speaking, when corrected by the moderator, he shall suffer by fyne, imposed on ye delinquent by ye moderator and the majority of the townsmen, to the sum of five shil- lings, to be levied by distress on the estate of the delinquent."
OVER RIVER BURYING-GROUND.
" Dec. 16, 1708. The town grants to ye inhabitants on the west side of Norwalk River, a piece of ground for a burying place, on any convenient piece of land in commons; and John Benediek, senr., Zerubabell Hoyt, and Thomas Betts, senr., are appointed a com- mittee to appoint the place."
SITTING IN THE GREAT PEW.
" Feb. 10, 1708-9. The town votes Mr. Samuell Hayes into ye great puc, to sitt in upon publique days, &c."
STRAY JADES.
" March 4, 1708-9. The town makes choyse of John Steward to claim and sell all stray jades for the town (when no better elaim appears), that shall be brought out of ye woods to ye town by the Horse Hunters, and that the horse hunters shall have half of what ye horses shall fetch, when they are sold."*
THE TIDE-MILL.
" Dec. 15, 1709. The town grants by a major vote, to Joseph Birehard, Thomas Betts, John Betts, and John Gregory, jr., the liberty to Damm up ye eriek lying before ye sd Gregory's, with also the privilege of the stream that runs into ye said criek and through the said damm : provided that they the said Joseph, &c., ... do sett upon the said work in order to the ereeting a grist-mill upon the damm that they shall so erect, within one year from this date; and do ac- complish the work of the said mill within the term' of three years from the day of these presents; and so long as the said undertakers do maintaine a good suf- fieient grist-inill, the said stream shall remain to them and to their successors that shall so maintaine ye
same: they to grind all grain into good and sufficient mneal for the town, for the toal stated in ye law; and not to grind for any strainger coming with his grain to said mill, so long as any of ye inhabitants of this Towne's grain is lying in said mill unground; except- ing any of said inhabitants shall allow any strainger their turn."
A PLATFORM TO THE GALLERY.
"Dee. 15, 1709. The town by major vote grants to John Bartlet, James Lockwood, and Samuell Keeler, jr., a liberty to erect and build on ye west side of the meeting-house, a platform from ye gallery unto the north window upon the cross plates; and with others that shall present, for a sufficiency to erect upon the same four pues, which shall remain and continue for their use, to seat themselves in ye time of publique service : and that during the fall term of ye town's pleasure; so that whenever they shall see cause to make any alteration of that matter so as to deprive them of their seats, the town engages to allow such charge, that the said buildings shall be advantageous to ye town, as by indifferent persons may be adjudged ; they relinquishing all other seats in the meeting-house, during ye time of their sitting."
THIE MEETING-IIOUSE BELFRY.
" At the same meeting, the town granted to Samuell Keeler, jr., twenty acres of land in one place, and twenty-six acres of land more, to take up in ye woods, -upon condition that he the said Keeler do ereet a Belfree upon ye top of our meeting-house, and com- pleatly finish the same; and hang the bell that is now hung upon ye meeting-house, or any other that may be obtained seasonably before ye said belfree is fin- ished; and to cloase ye sides of the upright where now ye bell hangs; all to be compleated by the last of June next insuing; the town to provide stuff for ye closing ye upright, and to eart the same, with the timber that shall by the said Keeler be prepared for ye belfree, to ye meeting-house ; and also find ye nails that will be wanted for ye whole work; also the sayd Keeler to fraime in ye top of ye turret a good suffi- cient eedar stump to fix a weathercock on, if ye town see cause ; or a pinnacle."
GREGORY'S POINT.
" Dec. 29, 1710, the town granted some land to John Benediet, ' which grant is by way of exchange with the said John Benedict for a free passage for carts, horses and men, as they may have occasion, unto ye point of land extending itself into ye harbor, which passage is limited to ye way that is and hath been improved, along through ye said Bennedick's land unto ye said point, which privilege is to remain to the town forever; which point is known as commonly called GREGORY'S POINT.'"
SEATING SEVERAL PERSONS IN THE MEETING-HOUSE.
" Dec. 29, 1710. The towne grants liberty to Wil- liam Sturtevant, Jonathan Wood, Richard Cosier,
chase was made of Catoonalı, the chief sachem, and othor Indians, who were the proprietors of that part of the country. Tho deed bears date Sept. 30, 1708. At this session [1709] it was ordained that it should be a distinet township by tho name of Ridgefield."-TRUMBULL, p. 460.
* In Hinman's catalogue of names of Puritan settlors, under Matthew Griswold, is notieed " a severe lawsuit between said Griswold and Reinold Marvin." " The arbitrators awarded that ono-half the horses should bo equally divided between them, and that the other half should go to the colony, and Marvin should look them up, and appointod a committeo to sell the horses and execute the award." Upon this Mr. Ilinman remarks : " The arbitrators must at least have resided at Dutch Point, if they were not Duteh justices." This record may explain the matter without tho necessity of so uncharitable a supposition.
534
HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.
Andrew Lyon, John Fillio, Thomas Austin, to sitt upon ye seat joining to the Little pue, in ye North East corner of the meeting House, and their wives to sit on the opposite seat, joyning to ye North West corner of ye meeting house.
" Allso-to Samll Carter to sitt in ye seat be- fore ye hinde pillar, with John Marvin, &c., and to James Hayes to sit in ye seat where Lt. William Lees formerly satt."
THE BELL RUNG AT NINE O'CLOCK AT NIGIIT.
"Dee. 11, 1713. The town grants to Zerubbabell Hoyt twenty-six shillings in pay, or two-thirds money, for his ringing ye bell at nine a eloek at night, for ye year ensuing ; and the said Hoyt ingages to performe the same."
A HIGHWAY TO RIDGEFIELD.
"Dec. 16, 1713. The town by majority vote made choice of Capt. Joseph Platt, Capt. John Raymond, and Ensigne James Stewart, for their committee to make a settlement of a highway or road to Ridge- field, if they and the committee of Ridgefield can agree; and dotlı fully impower said committee to make restitution to sueli persons that sª highway may take land from within the limits of Norwalk town- ship."
ATTENDING MEETING IN RIDGEFIELD.
"Mareh 1, 1713-14. The town by a major vote frees Jonathan Wood, senr., from paying any rate to ye ministry in Norwalk, for ye future after this year's rate is paid, provided ye said Wood attends ye meet- ing in Ridgefield on ye Sabbath and so long as he continues so to do."
A SABBATH-DAY HOUSE FOR JOHN TAYLOR.
"March 1, 1713-14. The town by a major vote grants liberty to John Taylor to erect a small house for his family's eonvenieney on ye Sabbath, on sueh part, of ye town's land ncar ye meeting house, as ye select men shall allow or find convenient."
A NEW MEETING-HOUSE.
"Dec. 11, 1717. The town by a major vote deter- mines to build a new meeting house, of such dimen- sions as shall hereafter be coneluded upon; to be erected on ye north end of Ensign James Stewart's Home lot.
" At ye same meeting the town by a major vote grants a rate of one penny in a pound in money to be leavied upon the inhabitants of the town, to be eol- lected this year, and put into ye hands of ye town treasurer, to be improved by the committee that shall be chosen and appointed for managing ye business of ye new meeting house.
'" At the same meeting ye town by a major vote de- termined that what money is granted by the town, viz. (ye penny on ye pound) to be colected this year, shall be layed out in buying nails and other neces- saries for the new meeting house.
" At the same meeting the town by a major vote de-
termines that the accomplishment of ye work of sª meeting house shall be indeavored for within the term of four years.
" At the same meeting the town by a major vote de- termines that what is found necessary to be done in repairing the old meeting house to make it comfort- able for the time being until the said meeting house be built, be out of hand done."
WHETHER TO REPAIR THE OLD MEETING-IIOUSE.
"Jan. 9, 1718-19. It was proposed by way of vote, that those that were for repairing, and for making an addition to the old meeting house, should signifie their minds by passing out of ye house first, and be num- bered; and that those who ware for ereeting a new meeting house, on the place where John Keeler's barn stands, should pass out of the house afterwards & be numbered. Upon tryall of which, those that were for repairing and adding to the old house were in number twenty six that passed out, and Lt. Taylor declared himself to be of that mind though he passed not out. And those that were for the meeting house to be erected as aforesaid, were in number thirty that passed out, and Capt. Platt and myselfe declared to be of ye same mind with them, tho not passing out.
" This mecting is adjourned to ye next Monday morning come sevennight at Eight of ye elock in ye morning.
"Test, JOHN COPP, " Town Clerk."
HOW TO SETTLE THE DIFFERENCE ABOUT THE OLD HOUSE OR A NEW ONE.
" At a town meeting convened by adjournment on the 19th day of January, 1718-19, in Norwalk, in the old school House,
" The Town by major vote determines to leave the whole affaire of ye present differance in the town re- specting the Repairing the old meeting house and en- larging ye same by addition ; or the building a new meeting house, and determining the place where the new house shall be erected, unto a wise and judieious committee of three persons hereafter nominated and ehosen; all which charge of the sª committee to be defrayed by ye town.
"Upon Tryall of ye minds of ye town upon the above vote, it was proposed that those yt were of the mind to pass sª vote into their act, should move out of ye house. Upon tryall of whiche, Forty one per- sons went out of ye house, and eight persons yt were not in ye house when ye proposals were made, came to me and declared themselves for ye said act. The negative vote was proposed in ye same manner, and no person or persons appeared to move out; the number of ye persons yt remained in the house, as near as I could eome at, were in number Twenty six.
" At ye same meeting, the town by a major vote, made choise of Major Peter Burr, Major Samuel Eals, and Mr. Jonathan Law, Esq., for their committee, with whom they would leave the whole affair of their
535
NORWALK.
difference above expressed, and to make a dceision thereof.
" At the same meeting the town by Major vote De- termines that any two of the abovesaid committee agreeing, their determinations shall be as binding to the town to fulfil, as if they all three concurred and signed their result.
" At ye same meeting ye town by a major vote have chosen Capt. John Raymond, Capt. Joseph Platt, Lt. Matthew Seamer, Ensigne Saml. Comstock, Mr. Samll. Betts, and Mr. John Marven, a committee to represent ye town in laying before sª committee the sureomstanees of ye town in their present differences.
" At the same meeting ye town by major vote makes choise of Mr. Copp to entertain the Get"men Com- mittee afore chosen, wlien come to town.
" At the same meeting the town by a major vote makes choise of John Copp to go forth with ye gen- tlemen ye said committee in order to obtain their eoming over with as much expedition as may be.
" At the same meeting the town by a major vote impowers the town's committee afore chosen to render and pay to ye Gentlemen committee, honorable re- ward for their service (in these affairs) for the town ; for which the town treasury shall reburst ye sd charges."
BEGINNING THE NEW MEETING-HOUSE.
" At a town meeting convened in Norwalk August 17th, 1720, The town by a major vote resolves and eoneludes that men shall be hired to raise the meet- ing house, such men and so many as Mr. Samll. Grummon, earpenter, shall think needful ; in ye town, and by ye advice of the Committee.
"The town, by a major vote, resolves and oblidges themselves seasonably to grant such leavies by way of rate, on ye inhabitants of ye town, as shall be suffi- eient to discharge all such necessary charges, as the committee appointed to manage that affair of the new meeting house, as already have or shall find needful, to contract for the accomplishment of ye underpining, raiseing, eovering, and eneloseing sª house, at or before the first day of March next ensueing the date hereof.
" The Town, at ye same meeting, by a major vote, determines that the new meeting house shall be raised fronting East, and to ye street."
THE SECOND SCHOOL DISTRICT .*
" January 30, 1720-21. The town by a major vote determines to have two sehools attended and kept for the year ensuing, one at ye south end of ye town, and the other at ye north end, at ye two respective sehool houses now in being, in ye winter tinie ; and ye sum- mer schoole at ye south end, and at ye seliool house on ye west side of ye river. And ye country money shall be divided according to lyst by ye military lyne."
GATHERING OYSTERS.
" Dec. 4, 1721. The town by major vote prohibits all persons whatsoever excepting the proper inhab- itants of ye town, rakeing and gathering of Oysters within ye harbours, coves, or any other place, apper- taining and being within the limits of our township. And any such person or persons as shall be found rakeing or gathering oysters within ye aforesayd limits, shall suffer the penaltie of three shillings per bushell."
RIGHT OF COMMONAGE TO YOUNG MEN OF TWENTY-ONE.
" Dee. 4, 1721. The town by a major vote resolves and determines that a copy of a certain vote passed at a town meeting convened in Norwalk Dee. 15, 1698, in the words following,-to wit : 'Also granted that all the town born children, shall, as they attain ye age of Twenty one years, all of them have a fifty pound right of commonage in the town, and also as are twenty one years of age to liave it in this last division granted.' -A true copy of ye town act lost,
"'Test, JAMES OLMSTEAD, " 'Town Clerk,'
-shall be put on record, and be of as good force and efficacy as the original was before it was lost ; and that no female shall have benefit by this aet, by their being born in ye town."
SELLING OYSTERS TO OYSTER-VESSELS.
" April 16, 1722. The Town Resolved, that whoso- ever of ye inhabitants of the town shall directly or indircetly sell any oysters, or give leave to any vessel, men, or any other person or persons to gett oysters within ye town bounds, or shall carry and put on board any oysters, shall ineurr a penalty of five shil- lings pr. hundred, and so in proportion for greater or less quantities."
SEATS TAKEN FROM THE OLD MEETING-HOUSE FOR THE NEW.
"March 11, 1722-23. The town gives liberty to ye committee for the new meeting house, to take from ye old meeting house such seats and boards, plank, and other things, that may be needful to use in the new meeting house."
THE TOWN MAGAZINE.
" At the same meeting, the town by a major vote determines that a suitable place shall be made in the new inceting house to put ye towns magazine in, and remove the same as soon as may be."
SEATING THE NEW MEETING-HOUSE.
"June 3, 1723. The town left the business of seat- ing the new meeting house to a committee of seven ; viz. Capt. Joseph Platt, Lieutenant Samuel Marvin, Serjent John Bennedict, Samuel Kellogg, Lieutenant Matthew Seymor, Captain Samuel Hanford, Mr. John Betts, Sen."
MRS. HANFORD STILL ALIVE.+
" At ye same meeting, the town voted Mrs. Hanford into ye pue with Mrs. Buckingham.
* On the 4th of January, 1719-20, tho town voted that the winter school should be kept half of the time at the old school-house, and the other half the time at the new school-house at the north end of the town.
t "From the first settlement of the town to 1732, a term of more than eighty years, there was no general sickness in the town. From 1715 to
536
HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.
"December 11, 1723. The town voted Capt. Sam- uel Hanford to sit in ye pue with Captain Olmsted and Captain Platt."
NO TOWN-MEETING TO BE HOLDEN IN THE NEW MEETING- HOUSE.
" At the same meeting (Dec. 11, 1723), the town by a major vote resolves, that no town meetings shall be warned to convene at the new meeting house, nor at- tended and held within sd house ; nor that any act or acts of the town shall ever be accounted of any value that shall be passed within the walls thercof. Also determines that no other improvement shall be made there, but what is consistent with, and agreeable to the most pure and special service of God, for which end it was built and now devoted."
SELLING THE OLD MEETING-HOUSE.
" At the same meeting, the town by a major vote determines to make sale of the old meeting house. Mr. John Bartlett, Ensign Samuel Comstock, and Mr. James Lockwood a committee to sell and dispose of the same."
A SCHOOL-DAME AT SAUGATUCK.
" At the same meeting, the town grants liberty to Drye Brook and Sawkatuck inhabitants to improve a School Dame among themselves to schoole their chil- dren in ye summer season, and also grant to them their proportion of ye country's money.
"At ye same meeting ye town grants that the refuse boards left at ye new meeting-house, be used about ye school-house neerr ye Mill plain."
THE OLD BELL HUNG UPON THE NEW MEETING-HOUSE.
" At the same mecting the town by major vote de- termines to hang ye bell on ye new meeting house, and there to be rung upon necessary occasions until there appear a suitable opportunity to sell the samc."
MR. JOHN COPP IN THE SECOND PEW FROM THE PULPIT.
" At the same meeting, the town by a major vote grants ye seating of John Copp in ye second puc from ye pulpitt ; and his wife in ye third pue on ye woman's side."
MR. THOMAS FITCH IN THE PEW WITH THE JUSTICES.
"Mr. Thomas Fitch, Jr., is by major vote of ye town seated in ye puc with the Justices, and the town desires that he would read ye psalme, and set ye tune in ye time of publique service."
MR. THOMAS BENEDICT TO SET THE PSALM TUNES.
" December 2, 1724. The town by major vote de- sires Ensigne Thomas Bennedick, Jr., to sctt ye tune to ye Psalme, at such times as that part of service is to be performed in ye publik worship of God; and to read ye Psalms needed, ye town also seats ye said
Bennedick in ye 3d long seat at ye end of ye middle alley.
"The town votes Mr. Benjamin Lynes into ye pue at ye S. W. corner."
THE PARISH OF WILTON BEGUN.
"December 7, 1725. The town by a major vote sig- nifies their willingness that the inhabitants of Kent, Belden's Hill, and Chestnutt Hill, and so upwards, become a Parish or village by themselves; if the Generall Court (npon their application) shall see meet so to establish them; and in order for ye settling ye bounds of said village, a committee from each party shall take a view and present to the town where they think the bounds should be stated; that the town may consider upon it, and, upon their liking, establish the same.
"At the same meeting, ye town by a major vote made choisc of ye Worshipfull Joseph Platt, Esq., Captain Raymond, and Lieutenant Seymor committee for to joyne with a committee from ye said inhabi- tants, in viewing where ye bounds may be best fixt for said upper village, and make a report to ye town of their opinion therein."
STONE STEPS FOR THE MEETING-HOUSE.
"February 18th, 1725-6. The town by a major vote determines that they will have stones obtained for ye making of steps at each of ye doars of ye meeting-house. Joseph Platt, Esq., Mr. John Bart- lett, and Ensigne Thomas Bennedick, Jr., to see to ye obtaining of sd stones, and get ye steps made, &c., at the town's cost."
DIFFICULTY WITH THE REV. MR. BUCKINGHAM.
" At the same meeting (Feb. 18, 1725-6), the town by a major vote determines that something shall be done in order to regulate ye difficulties ariseing in the town about ye Reverend Mr. Buckingham.
"The town by a major vote made choice of Joseph Platt, Esq., Mr. James Brown, Lieutenant Comstock, John Copp, Deacon John Benedick, Jr., Mr. John Betts, Sen., and John Betts, carpenter, Committee to present the grievances of the town to the ministers of the county."
MR. BUCKINGHAM'S SALARY STOPPED.
" A bill was brought into ye meeting of ye follow- ing tenure,-viz. :
" Att a town meeting regularly warned by the select men of ye town of Norwalk and convened at the new school-house at the north end of said town, Feb. 18, 1725-26, the town by their major vote agrees and re- solves, that for the future no colector in the town of Norwalk shall be obliged to colect Mr. Buckingham's rate in the specie as has been usual; and that the in- habitants of the town shall not be under any obliga- tion, by force of any vote, to pay any provision for the answering of their severall proportions of sª Mr. Bucking's sallary ; and do hereby determine and fully agree, that all votes and grants of that kind shall be wholly null and void.
1719, there died in this large town twelve persons only. Out of the train- band, consisting of one hundred men, there died not one person from 1716 to 1730, during the term of fourteen years.
"Mrs. Hanford, relict of the first minister of the town, died Sept. 12, 1730, aged one hundred years."-Manuscripts of Rev. Moses Dickinson, in Trumbull's History.
537
NORWALK.
"Read off to ye town, put to vote, and passed in the affirmative."
THE ASSOCIATION OF MINISTERS CALLED.
"Feb. 28, 1725-26. The town accepts what Mr. Copp & Mr. James Brown (with concurrence of ye rest of ye committee) have done, in obtaining from ye Reverend Mr. Davenport, Moderator of ye Associ- ation (ye Reverend Mr. Webb and Mr. Clrapman adviseing and consenting therewith), letters of notifi- cation to ye ministers of ye county, for an Association of sª ministers at Norwalk, on ye eighth day of March next; and resolves to have ye said letters of notifica- tion sent to the Reverend persons to whom they are directed ; and make provision for ye entertainment of sd ministers when they come, which charge shall be defrayed by the town."
THIE OLD PULPIT.
" At ye same meeting, the town by a major vote, grants to the inhabitants of ye upper society the old pulpit upon free gift."
A MINISTER ALLOWED TO SAUGATUCK.
" At the same mecting, the town by a major vote grants to ye inhabitants about Sawkatuck, liberty to improve some meet person or minister of ye gospel to preach among them, &c., they paying their full dnes to ye support of ye ministers of ye town."
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