The Ancient Historical Records of Norwalk, Conn.

At the aforesayd meeting, the town did Declare and manifest they would stand by the act of the select men in the act of selling the stray horses for the use and ben* nefitt of the Tovf ne. At the aforesayd Meeting it was agreed and voted, that the Money for the stray horses souled, shall be improved for to Defray Townes Charges ; and the overplus to remaine in the Treasurer's hand for the use of the Towne. Warning to Town Meetings, At the aforesayd meeting, it was voted and agreed that if the select men shall be necessitated to send to Peter Clapum to warne him to meetings, those that are sent shall be allowed one shilling for every warning. At the aforesayd meeting it was voted and agreed that the Towne would stand by Samuell Smith Towne Trea« surer, in case of need, to straine any that either neglect or refuse to pay. The Watch. At the sayd meeting (Feb. 20, 1679) the Towne en- gageth to bare the Constable harmless from any damage NORWALK. [1679. in forbareing tlie watch until such time as ye constable with je select men shall see cause for to sett u|) a watch. Pounds. At the sayd meeting it was voted that those pounds as are now erected within the Bounds of Norwalk, shall returne to the towne. At the aforesayd meeting it was voted and agreed that there shall be noe pound or pounds either begun or perfected for that end, for to catch horses, within the bounds of Norwalk, on the pennalty of 20s a weeke, soe long as they are soe improved, without the approbation of the towne. Marking Colts, At the aforesayd meeting it was voted and agreed that Jachin Gregory, John Hayt, John Keeler, and Joseph Gregory shall be the masters or overseers of those pounds lieing by five mile river side, who are to be sworne to a faithfull performance of the trust committed to them ; who are to mark all colts and yeerlings as they apprehend belong to the owners of such mares as shall be brought in, with their owners markes, and also they are to bring in all such strays, or unmarked horses, as they shall take in those pounds, unto the towne. Unmarked Horses. At the afforesayd meeting it was voted and agreed that all unmarked horses, as either have been sould or shall be for the future sould, the one half of the prices for which they are sould for, shall be to those by whom they are taken; the other half of the price to the use and benefitt of the towne ; and none of those horses that are taken, are to be any way marked or disposed of out of the pound without the approbation of the Master or masters of the pound, on the pennalty of the forfeiture of twenty shillings. 1680.] TOWN RECORDS. 75 Determining the place for the New Meeting House At a towne meeting held the 3d of May, 1679, there was a writing Presented by Mr. Thomas Fitch, senr,, and Thomas Fitch, Junr, unto the towne to be read ; and was read ; which they did say and affirm was the award and determination of the Gentlemen, namely, Major Treat and Major Gold, Respecting the place for the setting tip of the new meeting house. At a towne meeting held at Norwalke June the 2d, 1680, voted and agreed by the towne that they doe close in with, and accept of, the act of the Generall Court in refference to a lott for the settlement of the place of the new meeting house. At the afforesayd Meeting, agreed and voted that the towne will choose some honest. Judicious, Indifferant men, for to see this act of the Generall Court, in reffcr- ance to a lott for the settlement of the place of the meet- ing house put into execution ; and it is also left to the select men to procure those men ; and the time when the matter shall be put in execution in case of need. Bridge. At the afforesayd meeting (December the 28th, 1680), John Whittney, James Pickett, Thomas Bennidick, Ju- nior, were chosen a committee to determin the place of erecting a Bridge over Norwalk River ; they or any two of them concurring as to the place, whither at the great rock below the lower cart path ; or Below the falls ; and the abovesayed committee have power to call forth and improve hands and teames for the carrying on and finish- ing the sayed Bridge : viz, a sufficient horse bridge ; and that with as much expedition as may be convenient. % NORWALK. [1681. Beating the Drum, Zerulbbabell Haite hath undertaken to beate the drumne for puhlick meetings, and also for such stray horses as are brought in to he sould, for which he is to have fourteen shillings ; and ten pence a time that stray horses are^^brought in to be sould. Town Drum [1681.] At the aforesayed meetinge, the towne by voate or- dereth the select men to purchas of Francis Bushnell a drum for the towne's use ; and also the Traine band to have the use of the same a convenient time, untill the said companie shall procuer one ; and provided the sayd drum can be procured upon Reasonable Tearmes. Removing the Desk and Seats of the old Meeting House to the new one. — Beginning to meet in the new Meeting House. At a Towne meeting in Norwalk, held the Sth of November, 1681, the Towne agreed and voted with a unanimous consent, that with all convenient speede, the committee for the new meeting house have power to, and are desired and ordered, with the help of such inhabitants as at the present meeting engaged one day's worke upon — to remove the deske, and seates, and plankes of the ould meeting house to the new meeting house, and theeir to fix them as well as the same will accomodate the sayd new meeting house ; and the Towne for the future to meet in the sayd new meeting house, to weight upon the Lord in his divine publique worshippe as opportunitie presents. Keeping Order in Meeting in the year 1681. Thomas Barnum was chosen and appoynted, for to oversee and to keep good Decorum amongst the youth 1G81.] TOWN RECORDS. 77 in times of exercise on tlie Sablbatb. and other Publiqne meetings ; and tlie Towne doe impower him if he see any disorderly, for to keep a small stick to correct such with ; oneley he is Desired to doe it with clemency ; and if any are incoridgahle in such disorder, he is to present thorn either to their parents or masters ; and if they do not reclaime them, then to present such to authority. Attending Town Meetings. At the same meeting it was voted and agreed by the towne, that all persons that are members of Towne Meetings, that shall neglect to attend meetings when they are legally warned, within one houre after the time prefixed by those that warne them, they shall pay one shilling as a fyne, &c. Fining the Majority for unlawful acts. At the same meeting it was voted by the towne that all that land yett lying in Common ; namely a full mile out round from the corner of Richard Olmsted's common fence and a mile out round from the house of William Lees, the sayd land to lyfor ever in Common; and if the Major part of the towne shall give, grant, or sell any land now soe lying in common within the sayd limits, they shall pay five shillings a rod, for every rod so given or sould, and so proportionably, for any other quantitie, they shall pay it to the Minor part of the towne. At the same meeting it was voted and agreed by the Towne, that there shall be a division of six acres to the hundred granted to all the inhabitants, without the limits of the mile excepted in the former order ; to take it up where they can find it ; provided they are not to 78 NORWALK. [1684. prejudice any highway into the woods or to men's peculiar proprieties already taken up ; only those as have a former grant of land and have not yett taken it up, they have a month's time to pitch where they can find it, beyond the limitts before expressed; viz. a mile, and then this order to take place. Selling the Old Meeting House. Feb. 19, 1683. The Towne voted to make sale of the old Meeting House ; and forthwith at the sayd meeting the Towne sould the sayd house unto Josiah Gregorie for the some of fowre pounds, to be payd to them in one yeere, in currant marchantable pay, for the use of the towne. New Seats in the New Meeting House, At the aforesaid meeting, the towne voated to have the meeting house seated more comfortable seates, according to the forme the seats are at the present ; much as to the same manner, both for order and forme. At the aforesaid meeting, the town voated the for- mer committee that were improved to finish the meeting house, as now to goe on to new seating the sayd house compleatly and sufficiently, according to their discre- tion ; the forme of the same above sayed being described ; giving and granting unto the sayd committe full power to improve the inhabitants, their persons, and Teemes to carry on the worke, and to procuer materialls where it may best be had ; and to make rates for the defraying the charge. Sending a man to Hartford. Desember the 16th, 1684. The Towne voted and agreed to improve Samuel Hayes with as much conve- nient speed as may be to travell up to Hartford 1686.] TOWN RECORDS. 79 what light and guidance may be had counsell about lands that is in controversy between the Towne and Fairfield, &c. A Cattelog of a dimsion of land agreed to he layd out at three acors to the hundred; with the severall lotts as they were drawn by the inhabitants. Imprimis : Mark Sension, 21 Robbart Steward, 1 Samuel Hayes, 22 Ralph Keiler, 2 Thomas Seamer, 23 John Keiler, 3 James Sension, 24 John Gregory, senr., 4 Nathaniel Richards, 25 Christopr Comstock, 5 Tho. Betts, 26 John Piatt, 6 John Bennydick, 27 Samuel Camfield, 7 Lieutenant Olmsted, 28 Ephraim Lokwood, 8 Edward Nash, 29 John Gregory, junr. 9 Daniel Kellog, 30 Tho. Bennydick, junr. 10 Matthu Marvin, sen., 31 Richard Holms, 12 Matthu Marvin, jun., 32 Samuell Bennydick, 13 John Ruscoe, 33 Thomas Lupton, 15 George Abbet, 34 John Bouton, 16 Mr. Hanford, 35 John Hayt, 17 Matthias Sension, 36 Mr. Tho. Fitch, 18 Thomas Fitch, 37 Samuel Sension, 19 Nathaniel Hayes, 38 John Raymond, 20. A Cattelog of the [Home lots agreed on to be layd out upon Drye Hill, Rayle Hill and Strabery Hill, with the order as they were drawn by those as are to