The Ancient Historical Records of Norwalk, Conn.

The Town most gladly receiving Mr. Buckingham's desire, do heartily fall in with his motion for an accom- modation of ye difficulties ; provided the Rev. Mr. Davenport, Mr. Cook, and Mr. Chapman, do propose any meathod for such an accommodation, which they do think to be equivalent to, or may answer, the advice of the late association at Norwalk. Read off to ye town and by a major vote past in ye affirmative. .1726.] TOWN RECORDS. 117 The Council for Adrice. , Marcli 30tli, 1726. TKe town mett, and by a major vote re(^uests the Reverend Mr. Sacket to joyne with ye Reverend Mr. Davenport, Mr. Cook, & Mr. Chapman, in that affair refer'd to them ye last meeting before ye adjournment. A Supply for the Pulpit. The town by a major vote grants to Mr. Thomas Fitch, jnr., Thirty shillings pr. day for two days and a half preaching with us in times past ; and also for what days he may be so improved by us for the future. The Council. March tlie 31st, 1726. The Town mett, and by a major vote made choice of Mr. James Brown to offer in ye town's behalf in ye present affair now before the Reverend Gentlemen, viz., ye Rev'd. Mr. Davenport, Mr. Cook, Mr. Chapman, and Mr. Sacket being pre- sent. The Town closes with the advice of Council. " At the same meeting, the town having had read off to them the advice of ye late association of ye ministers of ye County at Norwalk, for ye Calling of a council of the elders and also of the messengers of the churches in the County ; and also the further advice of ye above Reverend Gentlemen, to pursue s*^ advice, as most agreeable to rule and order, and most conducible to an orderly and decisive determination of our difficulties, the town closes with ye advice afores'^ & by a major vote determines that a council of ye elders, & also of the messengers of the Churches in this County shall be called. 6* 318 NORWALK. ' [172S. Calling the Consociation. The town by a major vote determined that a suitable person shall be sent to ye Rev'd Mr. Stodard of Wood- bury, Moderator of ye last council in this county, ta obtain lettei'S of notification to ye elders and messen- gers of the churches in this county, to convene at Norwalk on the first Monday evening in May next, according to ye advice and discretion of ye late asso- ciation at Norwalk ; and that due provision be made for the entertainment of ye said council when convened ; the whole charge to be defray'd by the town. The Committee to represent the Town before Consociationo April 27, Annoque Domini, 1726. (The town ap- pointed Mr. James Brown, Joseph Piatt, Esq., & John Copp, their committee to appear in behalf of the town before the Consociation, and to manage the whole affair relating to the difference between ye Rev. Mr. Buck- ingham & the town.) The Town dissatisfied with Mr. Buckingham's Conversation. • At a town meeting convened in Norwalk, August 12th, 1726, at ye same meeting, the town by a major vote do signifie their dissatisfaction with the former and latter conversation of the Reverend Mr. Stephen Buckingham, viz. : before and since ye determination of council ; as also with the determination of the council in that afi'air. At ye same meeting, the Reverend Mr. Buckingham appeared, and read off before ye town then convened the following proposals, and directed in manner fol- lowino; : ■1726.] TOWN RECORDS, 119 Mr. Buckingham's proposal. To y^ town of Norwalk^ with y" Church appertaining thereunto : Being apprehensive of disquietments among many respecting my continuance in y^ service and work of y^ ministry among you, these are to signifie to you, that if you are disposed, and do so agree to call a consocia- tion of y^ elders and messengers of y® churches of this county, whereby I might have a regular discharge from y^ work and service of the ministry, and y^ care of your souls ; as hy a like consociation I was regularly estab- lished in, and unto y^ same ; and that the said conso- ciation shall allso take cognizance of such publike scan- dalls that any of y'' members of this church may lye under, in breaches of severall commands of the morall law, and other Scripture rules ; that so, whatsoever of that nature may appear, may be orderly removed, and y chhs. peace established, — Under which surcomstau- ces once obtained, I shall freely lay down y^ work and service of ye ministry among you. August 12th, 1726. Stephen Buckingham, The proposal voted to be irregular. Sept. 14, 1726. The town according to adjourn- ment met, at which meeting it was proposed to the town, whether they would call a consociation according to foregoing proposall of the Rev. Mr. Buckingham, presented to y® town August 12th, 1726. By a major vote,y^ town determines the above s^ pro- posal to be irregular, and therefore, by a major vote, re- solves ye above question in the negative. ' A Committee to treat with Mr. Buckingham, about his salary, Dec. 1, 1726, The town determines to have a com- 130 NORWALK; [1727. mittee claosen to treat with the Reverend Mr. Bucking- ham, refering to his salary, and the act of the town ■upon the same, Feb. 18, 1725-6. Building a town liouse. [Note. After the town were shut out of the meeting house, they met, generally in ye '' North," or " Upper," School House.] Dec. 9th, 1726. The Town determines to have a house built upon such place as the town by major vote shall agree to determine, that may well entertain the town to meet in at their town meetings, and others as the town shall or may have occasion from time to time ; and also for the entertainment of a generall schoole. [At the same meeting it was put to vote whether they would build a town house " between the meeting house- and Mr. Street's, or whether they would ^' build an ad- dition to the upper school house j" upon which 18 voted for the former, and 33 for the latter.] Mr. Buckingham's " frequent visits at ye house of Mr. Lines." Jan. 25th, 1726 — 7. The town determines that some thing shall be done respecting ye yet remaining dif- ficulties about ye Reverend Mr. Stephen Bucking- ham, in order for the obtaining relief; and in con- sideration of ye difficult surcomstances of ye church and people of this town, by reason of the sd Gentle- man's frequent visit at ye house of Mr. Lines, with some other remarkable occurrances, the town have by major vote agreed that a council of elders and messen- gers of this county be called, in order to hear the grievances, and quiet the uneasiness of the Chh. and peeple herein. At ye same meeting, the town made choice of John 1728.] PROPRIETORS' RECORDS. 121 Copp, Mr. James Brown, and Mr. Saml. Betts, com- mittee to represent ye town before s*^ council when con- vened, and to manage the whole affair respecting y^ pre- mises aboves*^. [Soon after this date some drew off to the Church of England, and the First Congregational Society was organized under the style of " The Prime Ancient Society." The Town then ceased to manage the eccle- siastical affairs, and all proceedings relative to such mat- ters, connected with the Congregational Society, will be found under the head of Society Records.] Land to Wilton Parish. At a Proprietors meeting convened in Norwalk, Feb. 1, 1726-7, the proprietors by major vote grant to ye Parish of Wilton, Tenn Acres of land, to be layd out where ye proprietors alow land to be taken up, to be to ye use of ye Presbiterian or Congregational ministery among them forever. Parsonage. Feb. 12, 1728-29, The Proprietors grant Tenn Across of land to be layd out West of ye High way that leads up from Jsaaac Hayes's to Strawberry Hill, and North of the high way that lead up by Ebenezer Hyat's lott, towards the said Hayes's, where it can be most conveniently had, and that not prejudiciall to any High wayes ; which Tenn acres of land ye said proprietors grant for the use of a Dissenting Presbyterian or Con- gregational minister, that now is or shall be improved and ordained to that work in ye ancient and prime so- ciety in ye township of Norwalk from time to time. [At the same meeting the Proprietors granted to the Parish of Wilton, five additional acres: six acres 1S2 NORWALK. [1733. *' Westward of Canfield's Hill ;" six acres " about ye Wolf pits ; and six acres " Where it may be most con- venient about ye White Oak Shade, for ye use and Im- provement" *' of a Dissenting, Presbiterian or Congre- gational! minister thereabouts Improved and settled in that work, and so from time to time."] Grant to Canaan Parish. April 3, 1732. The Proprietors by major vote grant to the Inhabitants of Canaan Parish all ye common land where their meeting house standeth, and Thirty Rods from the meeting house, that is common and highway there, so long as they shall support a meeting house in said place. Grant to the Church of England Professors. Feb. 11, 1733-4. The Proprietors by major vote grant to such persons in the Town of Norwalk that are professors of the Church of England by law established, One Rood of land on such part of the plain before Lt. Lees, as the committee hereafter named and chosen by sd proprietors shall think most fitting, stake the same out, for them to build a Church upon, for ye worship of God in that way ; and for a burying yard ; to be for yt use forever ; Provided they build a Church on any part of it. [Oct. 5, 1750. Nehemiah Mead and Joseph Lock- wood, Jr., purchased of the Proprietors a small parcel of land " Near the Mill Brook, where their Tann fattsnow stand ;" and ''At the same meeting the Proprietors by major vote, grant to ye professors of the Church o^ England in Norwalk, seventy one Poles of land adjoin- ing to ye aforesaid land, as ye same is staked out by sd committee ; who are hereby ordered to execute a deed in proper form and manner for their holding the same." 1747.] TOWN RECORDS. 123 A deed of tlie same is on record in Book of Deeds from 1753 to 1762.]