The Ancient Historical Records of Norwalk, Conn.

At the same meeting, the town (granted to Samuell Keeler, jr., twenty acres of land in one place, and twen- ty-six acres of land more, to ^' take up in ye woods") — upon condition that he the said Keeler do erect a Belfree upon ye top of OTir 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 finished ; 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 cart 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 fraim in ye top of ye turret a good sufficient cedar stump to fix a weathercock on, if ye town see cause ; or a pinnicle. Gregory's Point. Dec. 29, 1710. (The town granted some land to 1713. J TOWN RECORDS. 105 John Benedict) " wliicli grant is by way of exoliangs 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 pas- sage is limited to ye way that is and hath been improv- ed, along through ye said Bcnnedick's land unto y'^ said point, which privilege is to remain to the tov/n forever ; which point is known as commonlj'' called Gregory's Point." Seating several persons in the Meeting House. Dec. 29, 1710. The towne grants liberty to William Stitdsvant, Jonathan Wood, Richard Cosier, 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 oppo- site seat, joyning to y"" North West corner of y*^ meet- ing house. Allso —to Samll Carter to sitt in y^ seat be- fore y"" hinde pillar, with John Marvin, &c., and to James Hayes to sit in y'' seat where Lt. William Lees formerly satt. The Bell rang at nine o'clock at night. Dec. 11, 1713. The town grants to Zerubbabell Hoyt twenty-six shillings in pay, or two thirds money, for his ringing y'' bell at nine a clock at night, for y^ year ensuing ; and the said Hoyt ingagcs to performe tha same. A Highway to Riclgelield, Dec, 16, 1713. The town by major vote made choice of Capt. Joseph Piatt, Capt. John Raymond, and En- signe James Stewart, for their committee to make a set- tlement of a highway or road to Ridgefield, if they and 106 NORWALK. [1717. the committee of Ridgefield can agree ; and doth fully impower said committee to make restitution to such persons that s^ highway may take land from within the limits of Norwalk township. Attending Meeting in Ridgefield. March 1, 1713-14. The town "by a major vote frees Jonathan Wood, senr., from paying any rate to y^ min- istry in Norwalk, for y"" future after this year's rate is paid, provided y*= said Wood attends y^ meeting in Ridgefield on y^ 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 conveniency on y- Sabbath, on such part, of y^ town's land near y® meeting house, as y* select men i 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 dimensions as shall hereafter be concluded upon ; to be erected on , y^ north end of Ensign James Stewart's Home lot. At y^ 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 collected this j year, and put into y'^ hands of ye town treasurer, to be improved by the committee that shall be chosen and ap- pointed for managing ye business of ye new meeting | house. At the same meeting ye town by a major vote deter- • mined that what money is granted by the town, viz. j (ye penny on ye pound) to be colected this year, shall i ni8.] TOWN RECORDS. 107 be layed out in buying nailes and other necessaries for tbe new meeting house. At the same meeting the town by a major vote de- termines that the accomplishment of ye work of s*^ meet- ing 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 reparing the old meeting house to make it comfortable for the time being until the said meeting house be built, be out of hand done. Whether to repair the old Meeting House. 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 numbered ; and that those who ware for erecting 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 cut, and Capt. Piatt and myselfe declared to be of ye same mind with them, tho not passing out. This meeting is adjourned to ye next Monday morn- ing come sevennight at Eight of ye clock in ye morn- ing. 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, 108 NORWALK. [1718. The Town by major vote determines to leave the whole affaire of ye present differance in the town res- pecting the Rep?tiring 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 judicious committee of three persons hereafter nominated and chosen *, all which charge of the s"^ committee to be de- frayed by ye town. Upon Tryall of ye minds of ye town upon the above vote, it was proposed that those y* were of the mind to pass s*^ vote into their act, should move out of ye house. Upon tryall of whiche, Forty one persons went out of ye house, and eight persons y^ were not in ye house when ye proposals were made, came to me and declared them- selves 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 y* remained in the house, as near as I could come at, were in number Tv/enty six. At ye sam.e meeting, the town by a major vote, made choise of Major Peter Burr, Major Samuel Eals, and Mr. Jonathan Law, Esq., for their committe, with whom they would leave the whole aifair of their differ- ence above expressed, and to make a decision thereof. At the same meeting the town by Major vote Deter- mines that any two of the abovesaid committee agree- ing, their determinations shall be as binding to the town to fulfil, as if they all three concurred and signed their result At y® same meeting y'' town by a niajor vote have chosen Capt. John Raymond, Capt. Joseph Piatt, Lt. Matthew vSeamer, Ensigue Saml. Comstock, Mr. Samll. 1720.] TOWN RECORDS. 109 Betts, and Mr. John Marven, a committee to represent y- town in laying before s^ committee the surcomstances of y*" town in their present diiferences. At the same meeting y" town by major vote makes choise of Mr. Copp to entertain the Get"men Commit- tee afore chosen, when come to town. At the same meeting the town by a major vote makes choise of John Copp to go forth with y*" gentlemen y^ said committee in order to obtain their coming over with as much expedition as may be. At the same meeting, the town by a major vote im- powers the town's committee afore chosen to render and pay to y"" Gentlemen committee, honorable reward for their service (in these affairs) for the town ; for which the town treasury shall reburst y* s^ charges. Beginning the new Meeting House. "" At a town meeting convened in Norwalk August 17th, 1720, The town by a major vote resolves and concludes that men shall be hired to raise the meeting house, such men and so many as Mr. vSamll. Grummon, carpenter, shall think needfull ; in y^ town, and by y^ advice of the Committee. The town, by a major vote, resolves and oblidges themselves seasonably to grant such leavies by way of rate, on y*" inhabitants of y^ town, as shall be sufficient to discharge all such necessary charges, as the commit- tee appointed to manage that affair of the new meeting house, as already have or shall find needful, to contract for the accomplishment of y^ underpining, raiseing, covering, and encloseing s^ house, at or before the first day of March next ensueing the date hereof. The Town, at y* same meeting, by a major vote, 6 110 NORWALK. [I72t determines that the new meeting house shall "be raised fronting East, and to y^ street. The second School District. {Note. On the 4th of January, 1719-20— the 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.) January 30, 1720 — 21. The town hy a major vote determines to have two schools attended and kept for the year ensuing, one at y^ south end of y^ town, and the other at y^ north end ; at y^ two respective school houses now in heing, in y® winter time ; and y^ summer schoole at y^ south end, and at y^ school house on y" west side of y^ river. And y^ country money shall be divided according to lyst by y^ military lyne. Gathering Oysters.