The Ancient Historical Records of Norwalk, Conn.

4. Three score acres of land in the woods — bounded by marked trees, adjoining part of the land of Saml. Hayes, and Ensign John Beldin, above Ghesnut Hill. 5. Salt marsh meadow, 2 Acres, bounded E. by the cove, & N, & N,W. by the bank of upland. S. by a fence and a small creek near John Bouton's meadow. 5. Three Hundred pounds right in commonage. 92 NORWALK. [1G9I Buckingham, the towne doth agree to pay it as follow- eth, both for specie and price, yizt. ; winterwheat, at five shillings per hiishell, Indian corn at two shillings and six pence per bushell, Rye at fonre shillings per hushell, porke at three pence farthing per pound ; biefe at two pence per pound ; all good and merchantable, and none of the inhabitants to pay above one third part of their rate or proportion in Rye. Allso at the same meeting the towne by their vote did manifest their desire that the Reverend Mr. Steven Buckingham should be ordayned pastor of the church in Norwalk before v/inter ; in case the sayd Mr. Bucking- ham will please to give the towne a dispensation soe long as till the last day of May next insueing for the compleating and finishing the house, and allso till the next Michaelmast for the fencing and cleareing of the land engaged by the towne to be fenced and cleared for improvement. Concurrence of the Tov/n with the Church in settling the Minister. Allso at the same meeting the towne made choyse of Matthew Marvin and James Olmstead for to signifie unto the Reverend Elders at the time of ordination, the desire and r^ood ao;reement of the towne with the church in the ordayning of the Rev. Mr. Steven Buckingham.. A Gallery in the Meeting House. Oct. 25, 1697. Voted and agreed to erect the foun- dation of a gallery in the meeting house, over the fourth part of sayd house ; speedily, before the ordination if it can be accomplished. And have made choyse of Ralph Keeler, and Samuell Keeler, and John Whitney to doe the work, and to doe it soe as in their best judg^ ment, best for the strength and conveniency of the gal- lery, &c. 1697] TOWN RECORDS. 93 Entertaining the Elders and Messengers at the Ordination. Allso (Oct. 25, 1697). The towne made choyse of Matthew Marvin, Serjnt. John Piatt, and Samuell Hayes, and John Bennidick and Thomas Betts, who are by the towne desired to take care for the providing of a comfortable entertaynment for the Reverend Elders and Messengers when heare at the time of ordination ; the charge of their entertaynment to be payd by the inhabitants of the towne. Flax for the Drum-cord. Allso voted and agreed for to allow to John Crampton for the yeere insueing, for beating the Drum on all publiqne occasions, and allso to sweep the meeting house, and to keepe the hous« cleane and decent ; and the towne engages for to allow and to pay unto sayd Crampton two pounds ten shillings for his labour ; and the towne allow the townsmen for to furnish the sayd Crampton with soe much flax as may make necessary cords for the towne's Drum ; to procure the flax where they can, and the towne to pay the cost of the flax. Indian Deed to Mr. Hanford, Know all men by these presents, that I Winnipaiik, Indian Sagamour of Norwalk, do freely Give to my beloved friend Thomas Hanford, senior, Minister of Norwalk in y"" County of Fairfield, in y^ Colony of Connecticut, my Island of Land Lying against R.ower- ton, containing Twenty acres more or less, with all y'^ trees, Herbage, and other Appurtenances thereof ; which s*^ Island is bounded on y® East with y'' Island called Mamachimins, and Chachanenas, and on y^ V/est with the point of Rowerton ; I the said Winnipank Do 5* 94 NORWALK. [1699. 1by this my act and Deed, Alienate the s^ Island from all claims of English or Indians, and as being my pecu- liar propriety, never by deed of gift, or sale made over to any, but now by this my deed I do give it freely to my beloved friend Thomas Hanford, senr., to possess, improve, to him and his heirs forever. In confirmation of this my act or deed, I have set to my hand & seal this second day of December Anno Domini One thousand six Hundred and Ninety. The mark of J Winnipank. Signed, sealed, and deliver- Winnipank Indian, y"' ed in the presence of subscriber, acknowledged John Greggory, y^ above Instrument to be Samuel Hanford. his free act and deed, before me in Norwalk. Dec. 28th, 1698, Nathan Gold, Assist. Hungry Spring, Feb. 23, 1699. Voted and agreed that Thomas Seamer shall be warned for to lay open to the use of the towne the Spring called Hungry Spring ; for free passing of man and beasts to the sayd spring ; he to remove any fence or incumbrance in the way to sayd spring, that is or was by him sett up or erected. The price of fire wood. Feb. 23, 1699. It was voted and agreed that all persons as carry fire wood to Mr. Buckingham, shall be allowed for each load of wallnut wood three shillings and six pence, and for each load of oake wood is al- lowed two shillings and six pence. 1700.] TOWN RECORDS/ 95 Building a school house. November 27, 1699. Agreed that the towne would build a sclioole house as soon as may be with convenien- cy ; and the dimensions of sayd house is agreed to be as followeth : the length 20 foote ; the breadth thereof eighteene foot ; and at least six foot betweene joynts &C. &C. Q Certain Town Charges in 1699.* Burning the woods, Serjt. John Piatt one day, 2 6 Saml. Belden one day burning woods — one day 2 6 (and so of seven others in succession.) Samuell Smith for towne barres . . .26 John Piatt for a pound of butter . . 0 9 The widow Hyett a 3d part of a wolfe . .34 Allowed to James Hayes for flax 2 pounds for the > ^ ^ Towne's Drum delivered to John Crampton, I Samuel Keeler for mending the towne barres 1 6 Charges for wolves. £ s. d. Ensigne Belden, five wolves * . . 2 10 0 Samll. Beldin, one wolf . . . .10 0 Saml. Hayes, one wolf . . , , 10 0 Josh. Rockwell, one 3d of a wolfe . . 3 4 Tho. Gregory, one wolfe = , . 10 0 Saml. Smith, one wolfe , . . ,10 0 Elizar Hanford, one wolfe . . . 10 0 Ebenezer Sension, a 3d of one wolfe . . 3 4 Powder and Lead, April 10, 1700. It was voted and agreed by the inhabitants and hearby declared as the towne's act, that there shall be a rate made and levyed forthwith, for the * The town clerk had turned over several leaves, and made this record out of its order. 96 NORWALK. [ITOi. procuering of powder and lead for the towne store or magazine ; to be levyd in money, a halfpenny on the pound. Certain Town Accounts. Dec. 30, 170L Joseph Ketchum, for running the lyne he- twean Stamford and our towne, Itm. One day burning woods, Allso half one side of the pound: allso some rayles carrying to the towne Barres, — all Allso, a pint of rum, Samuell Keeler, one day burning woods. His horse to the Court at New Haven, Allso one day renewing the bounds of the purchase ; him and his horse, Allso a pint of rum, Samuell Hayes, his horse to Hartford, One third of a wolfe, Samuel Beldin, two-thirds of a wolf, Serj't. John Raymond, one-sixt part of a wolf, 0 Zerubabell Hoyt, half one wolf, - ' Allso burning the Islands, Matthias Sen3ion,for beating the drum, Allso a drum- cord, John Copp, Schoolmaster. Dec. 30, 1701. Voted and agreed by the towne that they would have a schoolemaster for the next yeere in- sueing in case he can be obtained. A.llso voted and agreed that Mr. John Copp shall be the person for that work in case he can be obtained on reasonable termes. Allso voted and agreed, that for the paying of the charge of a schoolemaster shall be as followeth: that all children from the age of five yeeres old to the age of £ s. d. 0 3 6 0 2 6 0 9 0 0 1 0 0 2 6 0 7 0 0 4 0 0 1 0 0 10 0 0 3 4 0 6 8 0 1 8 0 5 0 0 0 18 1 2 6 0 3 0 1701.] TOWN RECORDS. 97 twelve yeeres, shall all pay an eqnall proportion ; ex- cepting the feamale ; ail that doe not goe to schoole, and all youths above the age of twelve years as goe ia the day, shall pay equally with the others above sayed; and all night schoollars shall pay a third part soe much as the day schoolers; and the schoolers to pay fifteene pounds ; and the reraaynder of the charge of schoole master's sallary shall be payd by the towne according to their list of estate in the publique list of the Col- lonie. Payment of the Town rate in 1701. Voted and agreed, that the town rate shall be payd in maner as followeth, vizt, in wheat at 5s. per bushl, Indian corne at 3s. per bushell, flax at 9d per pound, oats at Is 8d, rye at 3s. 6d, Barley at Ss. per bushell, and not to pay to any, above a third part of their debt in flax, oats. Barley, but 2 thirds of all be in wdieat or Indian corne. The Lslands. Whereas the inhabitants of the towne of Norwalk, have had possession of severall Islands lying adjacent to their township, and allso improvement of them forty yeares, and longer, without being interrupted by any persons laying claime and prosecuting their claime in due forme of law, the sayd towne having had quiett possession long before the sayd law of possession was enacted, and ever since ; the select men and justice doe in the name of sayd towne and for their behoofe, enter and record unto the sayd towne, them, their heires and assignes for ever ; namely Cockenoes Island known hy sayd name, and Mamachimons Island, and the Long Island, and Camfield's Island, known by sayd names, and all other Islands lying in or adjacent unto the towneshipp of Norwalk ; to the legallity of this record 98 NORWALK. [1703. we whose names are hereunto sett and subscribed, our names and hands. James Olmstead, Justice and Recorder. Samuel Smith, "] Thomas Betts, | Samuell Belden, 5> Townsmen. Samuell Betts, | Samuell Marven. J Recorded this 4th day of January 1702 — 3. (From Book 2 & 3.)