Connecticut Historical Collections

The above is believed to be a correct representation of the first bouse ever erected in Connecticut for Christian woisbij). Tlie drawing was obtained from a gentleman now deceased, who devoted considerable time and attention to antiquarian researches in Hartford : the drawing of JMr. Hooker's house was obtained from the same individual. In Dr. Strong's consecration sermon, in 1807, it is stated that the first bouse for public worship was built in 16;38, stood ninety nine years, and was then taken down. There must have been some mistake about this, as it appears by a reference to the early records of the town, that there was a meeting bouse in \i^^■^7^, and in I (!.')(), -^ it was ordered that the oJd meeting house sh;dl he given (o Mr. (or Mrs. ?) Hooker. _ Some of the timber of the first house is still in existence, a portion of it being used in the construction of the Center Congregational Church, * Gov. Bradrord of Plymouth gives lli,Mullo\viii£; nccuunt : "The Dutch, with whom we hud formerly converse :iiid rauiiliarily, seeiiij.' us stated in a barren qutirter, told us of a river called by them Frus-h Rucr, wlifh they olien commended to us for a fine place, both for plantation and trade, and wished us to make use of it; but our hands being full otherui.se, we let it pass. But afterwards there coming- a company of In- dians into these parts, who were driven iheiice by ihu PeqU(mls,(l'equots,) wJio usurped upon them, they often solicited us to go thither, and we should have much trade, espe- cially if we would keep a house there .... we began to send that way and trade with the natives. ]Jut the Dutch begin now to repent ; and hearing of our purpose and preparation, endeavor to prevent us, get in a little before us, make a slight fort, and plant two pieces, threatening to stop our pn.ssage. But wc having a great new bark, and a frame of a house, lS^c reaily, that we may have a defense against the Indians, who a)'e much oflended thai w c bi ini; home and restore the right sachems of the place callea Salau-atinuL .... though cliall(n'_;ed by the Dutch, who stood by their ordnance, ready hlted, ^c. .... pass along, and the Dutch threaten us hard, yet they shoot not. And this was our first entrance iljLie: we did the Dutch no wrong: for ■we took not a foot of any land they bought; but went above them, and bought that tract of land which belonged to the Indians we carried with ns, and our friends, with whom the.Dutch had nothing to do."— //('Zwti' Annals, Vol. I. 11 A n T r o u D , 43 llcv. Thomas Hooker's House. The above is a front view of (lie house of the Rev. Tliomas Hooker, (the first minister in Connecticut.) 'l"hc projection in front (A) was called the |)orch, and was used as his stLidy. Tliis building stood in School street, on the north side of the high and romantic banks of Mill river. The drawing was taken immediately before it was taken down. Charier Oak, {March, 1836.) The above is a western view of the Charter Oak, and shows the ap- pearance of the tree, as it is seen from near ^lain street. It stands on the beautiful elevation which rises ahove the south meadovys, a \'q\\' rods north of the ancient seat of the VVyllys family. The tree is still in a vigorous state, and may (lourish for anotlier century. The engraving inserted above, was executed liorn a drawing taken in March, 1836, and of course is seen without foliage. In reply to an inquiry respecting tins 44 II A R T F 0 U I) . tree, (says Dr. Holmes,*) a daugliter of the present secretary Wyllys, of Connecticut, wrote tome from Hartford : "That venerable tree, which concealed the charter of our rights, stands at the foot of Wyllys hill. The first inhabitant of that name found it standing in the height of its glory. Age seems to have curtailed its branches, yet it is not exceeded in the height of its coloring, or richness of its foliage. The trunk measures twenty one feet in circumference, and near seven in diameter. The cavity, which was the asylum of our charter, was near the roots, and large enough to admit a child. \Viihin the space of eight years, that cavity has closed, as if it had fulfilled the divine purpose for which it had been reared." Sir Edmund Andross being appointed the first governor general over New England; arrived in ]joston, in December. IGSG. Erom this place he wrote to the colony of Connecticut to resign their charter, but with- out success. " Tlie Assend)ly met as usual, in October, and tlie govern- ment continued according to charter, until the last of the month. About this time. Sir Edmund, with his suite and more than sixty regular troops, came to Hartford when the Assembly wuie sitling, and demanded the charter, and declared the government umler it to be dissoUcd. The Assembly were extremely reluctant and slow with lespeci to any resolve to surrender the charter, or with respect to any moiiuu to bring it forth. The tradition is, that Governor Treat strongly represented the great expense and hardships of the colonists in planting the country ; the blood and treasure which they had expended in defending it, both against the savages and foreigners; to what hardships he himself had been exposed for that purpose ; and that it was like giving up his life, now to surrender the patent and piivilcges so deaily bought and so long enjoyed. The im|)ortant atlair was debated and kept in suspense until the evening, when the charter was brought and laid upon the table where the Assembly were sitting. By this time gieat nmiiljcr.s of peo- ple were assembleil, and men siiUlcienlly hold to enterprise whatever might he necessary ov exiiL'dient. The hL:hts were instanth- extin- guished, and one Captain Wadsworth, of llarll'ord, in the most silent and secret manner, carried oft" the charier, f anil secreted it in a large hollow tree, fronting the house of Hon. Samuel Wyllys, then one of the magistrates of the colony. The people all a])]K'ared peaceable and orderly. The candles were officiously reliiihted, but the patent was gone, and no discovery could be n:iade of it, or the )ierson who carried it away. Sir Ednmnd assumed the government, and the records of the colony were closed in the following words: "At a General Court at Hartford, Oct. 31, 1G87, his excellency Sir Edmund Andross, knight, and captain general and governor of his ma- jesty's territories and dominions in New England, by order of his majesty James U. king of England, Scotland. France, and Ireland, the 31st of October, 1687, look into his hands the government of the colony of Connecticut, it being by his majesty annexed to Massachusetts and other colonies under his excellency's government. Fjnis."J ♦ Holmes' American Annals, published in ISOf). t This charter is still in good preservation in the Secretary of Stale's oJlice, Hartford, t Trumbiill's Hist, of Conn. HARTFORD. 45 EXTRACTS FROM THE EARLY RECGRDS OF THE TOWN OF HARTFORD. 1G35.— Itjs ordered that tlieresliall he a pfuaiil of . . . iricu to attend with their arms fixed, and two siioi of powder and shot, at least .... every jtublic meeting for reli- gious use, with two ser^'eants to oveisee tlie same, and to keep out one of tliem senti- nel and the .said guard to be Ireed lioin waidinj,', and to have scats provided near the meeting house door, and the seiyeanls to repair to the inagiilrates lor a war- rant for the due execution thereof. It is ordered, that every inhabitant wliieh liath not freedom from the whole to be absent, shall make his personal appearance at every general meeting of the whole town, having suliicient warning ; and whosoever fails to appear at the time and place appointed, shall pay six pence for every such default; but if he shall have a lawful ex- cuse, it shall be repaid him again; oi- whosoever de|-.ails awav liom ihe meeting be- fore it be ended, without libeiiy Irom the whole, .^hall pav the likewise. It is ordered, that wliosoever borrows ihe lou n chain, shall pav two pence a day for everyday they keep the .same, and pa}- fur mending it if it be hrtiken in their use. It is ordered, that there shall be a set meeliii:; oi all the townsmen tugelher the first Thursday in every month, by nine of the clock in the lorenoon, that so il anv inhab- itant have any business with them, he may repair unlo ihem ; and whosoever'nf them do not meet at the place anil time set, to forleit two shillings and six pence lor every default. At a general Town IMeeting in April, IGl.'; — It was oidcred, that IMr. Andrews Bliould teach the children m the school one vear next ensuing, liom the •2ljlh of March, lGi:i, and that he shall have loi hi, pains Clti; and ilierefoie the townsmen shall go and nKjuire who will engage thcmsclvLS i(, suul their children ; and all that ilo so, shall pay for one quaiter at the least, and Un- moie if they do send them, after the pro- portion of twenty shillings the yeai ; and if they go any weeks more than an even quarter, they shall pay six pence a week": and if any would send their children, and are not able to pay for their teaching, lln^y shall give notice of it to the townsmen, and they shall pay it at the town's chaige; and Mr. Andrews shall kee]) the account between the children's schooling and himstdf, and send notice of the times of payment and demand it; and if his wages doth nol soci)mein, then the townsmen must collect and pay it; or if the engagements come nol to sixteen jiounds, then they shall pay what is wanting, at the town's charges. At a general Town Meeting, Octobei 30th, 1GJ3.— It was ordered, that if any boy shall be taken playing or misbehaving hiui-ell', m the time of piddic services, wJielher in the meeting house or about the walls hv iwo witnesses, foi- ihe fii'st lime, shall be examined and punished at the prcsinl, pnl.lnlv, before the assembly depart ; and if any shall be the second time taken fanliy, on wn'ness, shall be accounted Fur- ther, It is ordered, if the parents or masicr shall desire lo correct his boy, he shall have libert}', the lust lime, to tlo ihe same.