The Ancient Historical Records of Norwalk, Conn.

Feb. 21, 1692. Thomas Hanford, junior, was chosen to the work and implojment of a schoolemaster, for to learn childeren for to reade and write, and to begin pre- sent on that work, and to continue on sayd work one moneth ; and then at the beginning of next somer, to enter the sayed work againe, and in case hee and the towne can agree, for five months more. And he to be allowed and payd one pound, ten shillings for each moneth that he shall attend to the sayd work and ini- ployment. Killing Wolves. June 7, 1693. Agreed and voted that there shall be allowed and payd unto any person who shall kill any wolfe or wolves v^ithin the bounds of the towne, the sum of 123. more than is allowed to be payed by the towne. This order to stand in full force a twelvemonth. Death of Mr. Hanford. At a towne meeting, Dec. 26, 1693, voted and agreed for to allow unto Mrs. Hanford, widow of Mr. Thomas Hanford, deceased, for his labor and work in the min- istry the sum of sixty pounds the yeere expireing the first of March next. Distributing Mr. Hanford's Estate. Distributed to Elnathan Hanford for his part and portion out of his father's estate, viz., ye Reverend Mr. Thomas Hanford, late of Norwalk, deceased, viz. : To one eighth part of the Home lott or Homestead, _ . _ 13/, I5s.0d. To pasture lott, - - - - 18/. 00 00 5 86 NORWALK. [1694, To half ye Indian Brook land, - 9/. 00 00 To half the Stonny Hill lott, ye east end of it, - - - 10/. 00 00 To thirty acres and half at White Oak Shade, - - - - 7/. 13s. 00 List of Voters at Town Meetings/ On the 4th of December, 1694, an order was taken *^ that all persons who are members of town meet- ings, who have a vote and suffrage in towne af- faires"— who should not attend town meetings when legally warned, and within one hour after the time, should pay a fine of two shillings. [The following is the roll, with the names checked ac- cording as they were present or absent at some subse- quent meeting.] John Gregory, jun. Nathll. Hayes, James Hayes, Richd. Holmes, John Ruscoo, Thos. Ruscoe, Eliezer Hanford, JohnBenidick, jr., John Bouton, James Browne, Thomas Betts, Daniel Kellogg, Matthew Marvin, Mr. William Haynes, Jonathan Abbitt, Samuel Smith, Samuel Kellogg, Mr, Thomas Fitch, Ebenezer Wel>, Thomas Hanford, Daniell Betts^ Ralph Keeler, James Betts, i Samuel Betts, Daniel Lockwood, Matthias Sension, jr. John Piatt, senr., John Piatt, junr., Ebenezer Sension^ James Jupp, John Crampton, Thomas Hyatt, John Stewart, Andrew Messenger, Thomas Benidick, Thomas Fitch, 1694.] TOWN RECORDS. 87 Jolin Fitch, senr. 'Joseph Ketchum, Joseph Sension, John Abbitt, George Abbitt, Zeriibbabell Hoyt, -^ Walter Hoyt, _-...- Matthias Sension, senr., Samuel! Keeler, John Raymond, jr., John Beldin, James Stewart, Steven Beck with, Joseph Rockwell, John Whitney, William Stm-divant, Andrew Lyon, James Sension, Jonathan Rockwell, — William Lees, John Betts, Jachin Gregory, John Keeler, Thomas Rockwell, John Olmstead, James Olmstead, Christopher Comstock, Samuell Beldin, Samuell Hayes, Matth'w Seamer, Benjamin Scrivener, David Monroe, Richard Cosiar, Thomas Seamer, Joseph Gregory, John Raymond, senr., Samuell Raymond, Edward Nash, John Nash, Isaac Sherwood, John Reed, senr., John Reed, junr., John Butler, Ebenezer Camfield, Richard Wood, Peter Clappum, Joseph Goldsmith. Procuring a Minister. At a towne meeting held in Norwalk, January the 16th, 1694; at sayed meeting, the towne made choyse of ten of their inhabitants as the Towne committee, viz., Serj'nt John Piatt, Matthew Marvin, Serj'nt Christo- pher Comstock, Serj'nt John Bouton, Samuel Hayes, John Benidick, James Olmsted, Ensign John Beldin, Ralph Keeler, Samuel Smith ; and comissioned they their said committee, in the behalfe of the towne (viz.) NORWALK. [1604; as followetli ; they are to exercise their best prudence for to look out foij and endeavor what in them Ijeth, in the use of all lawful! nieanes, for to obtaine a faithfull Minister and Dispenser of the word of the Gospell to us in this place ; and in order thereunto, they are to send forth their requests or invitations according to their "best prudence and judgment to that end, either by writing or by messenger, or both, as the major part of the committee shall agree ; and they their sayd commit- tee are to order and take care for his entertainment when obtained ; while the Towne doth hereby engage for to discharge and pay all necessary charges arising therefrom. Repairing the Bridge. Feb. 20, 1694 — 5. The towne made choyse of Mat- thew Marvin, John Whitney, and Thomas Betts, for to take exact view of the Bridge over Norwalk River, and to repaire the same, eyther by erecting a new bridge or by repaireing the old, according to their best judgment and prudence in that matter ; desiring them to be as speedy on the sayd work as may be, and as the season will permitt ; and they the above named persons are and have hereby granted them full power for to warn forth and to call to the carrying on the said work, either handes or teames, or both, as occasion shall require, and as they shall see meet for the carrying on and effect- ing sayed work, for the compleat repayering the sayd bridge.* Mr. Stone employed as preacher. At a town meeting held December the 5th, 1694, it was voted and agreed by the towne, Andrew Messen- ger was chosen collector for to give notice to the inha- 1695,] TOWN RECORDS. 89 Ibitants for tlie bringing in their proportions when the rate shall he made by the townsmen, and to see that the whole of the thirty pounds due to Mr. Stone for his half yeere's preaching the word, he duly and truly payed according to the towne's engagement with the sayed Mr. Stone ; and the sayed Andrew for to act according to the law directing in such cases. Obtaining a Minister. At a Towne meeting held in Norwalk, 2d of Aprill, 1695 ; at sayed meeting it was voted and agreed, and hy the towne declared as their mind, that the com- mittee formerly chosen for to act for the towne for the obtaining a minister, have hereby full and free liber- ty from the towne for to move to whom or whear they shall see cause, for the obtaining of the end pre- mised ; without any restraint or limitation to any per- son or persons ; this to stand full and good, notwith- standing any former act of the towne contrary to this present order, vote, and declaration of the mind of the town. Purchasing a Minister's lot. May 23, 1695, voted and agreed by the towne, that that lott obtained of Joseph Gregory, shall be for the accommidating of a Gospell minister for the towne ; and that it is allso agreed by the towne, that at such time as God shall please to bring in u.nto us such a minister, then and at that day that he shall be called to office and ordayned pastor of the church in Norwalk, then the aforesayed lott shall be and remaine to him, his heires for ever.* * This was the lot between Capt. Daniel Hanford's and the resi- dence of the late Hanford Fitch. It was occupied by Rev, Stephen Backingham. The railroad now crosses it. 90 NORWALK. [1695. At a towne meeting, held July the 2d, 1695, atsayed meeting it was voted and agreed upon by the towne, that that land, pasture, and swamp lying in the generall fiield, granted to the ministery, shall he cleared and fenced, and made for improvement for pasture and meadow. Also at the same meeting it was voted and allso granted by the town unto the minister, to him and his heirs, a parcell of salt marsh meadow lying in the bounds of Nor- walk, and that over the river on the west side of the towne, &c. — the sayed parcell of meadow the towne en gages for to fence and make capable of improve- ment, &c. Also, at the same meeting, the towne by vote hath given and granted to the minister ten acres of land for plowing, and that in the township of Norwalk on the east side of the brook called the north brook, and on the North East part of Mathew Marvin's Boggy Meadow, to be to him and to his heires for ever. The Minister's Firewood. At a towne meeting, July 17, 1695, it was voted and agreed by the towne for to allow and freely give Mr. Buckingham his firewood annually, and at all times, soe long as he shall continue to carry on the work of the ministry in Norwalk. Minister's Salary. Also at the above meeting (July 17, 1695), it was voted and agreed by the towne, for to allow and pay 80/. per yeer, after the two first yeeres abiding with us, unto Mr. Steven Buckingham, respecting his carrying on the work of the ministry. The said 80/. to be annu- ally payed by the town by way of proportion ; extraor- dinary cases only excepted. iG9X] TOWN RECORDS. _9l The Ministers House, December 18, 1695. At the sayd meeting the Towne did manifest and by vote did agree, that they would build a house for the minister, with as much speed as might be with conveniency ; and the dimen- sions of the sayd house are as followeth : two and fourty foot in length, and two and twenty foot in breadth, and two story high, or two lofts, and double chimneys ; and a comely porch to syd house ; and a seller under one end of the syd house ; and stone the syd seller ; the sayed house is allso to have a comly gett at each end of the same ; and all to be decently finished upon the towne's cost. The Minister's Salary.* At a towne meeting held in Norwalk October the 8th, 1697. At sayd meeting it was voted and agreed by the towne that the eighty pounds sallary granted to Mr. ' * The Deed of the Lands granted to Mr. Buckingham as his Set' tlement, bears date April 7, 1699. 1. One homelot, 4 acres, bound E. by the land of Thos. Betts & the common fence partly, W. The towns highway. N. The homelot of Thos. Seamer. S. land Sc homelot of heirs of John Raymond, senr., Deed. — with the house which is now built. 3. Land in the field; swamp & upland 16 acres; one half to him and his heirs forever ; the other half after his decease, to return to the town. 3. Ten acres of upland lying in the woods ; lying near the Towne over the North Brook so called.