The Ancient Historical Records of Norwalk, Conn.

Sept. 25, 1760. A Deed from the Committee of the proprietors, to the Chh. Wardens of St. Paul's Church, and the rest of the professors of the Chh. aforesaid, '' for the use and benefit of a burying yardj a small piece of common undivided land in sd Norwalk, situate and adjoining Northerly and Westerly of the land formerly granted by sd proprietors unto sd profess- ors on which sd Chh. is built, in quantity fifty eight poles of land:" "bounded Easterly by highway and land belonging to sd professors. Southerly by sd land of sd professors, and partly by glebe land and common land. Westerly by sd glebe land, and Northerly by com- mon land or highway." Deed from the founders of St, Paul's Parish. (Book of Records from 1740 to 1747.) * * * Sundry persons, all Professors of ye Chh. of England, * * intending the same * * for ye first Glebe lands to endow sd Certain Parrish Chh. called St. Pauls, in the township of Norwalk * * * * Know ye that the sd Saml. Cluckston & Ralph Isaacs, John Bel- den, Jonathan Camp, ***** jn great reverence and regard to the Chh. of England as established by law, and her excellent Doctrine, service, unity and order, prefer- able to any other upon earth ***** have founded the Parish Chh. aforesaid * * * * and for the endowment thereof, do by these presents, truly give, grant * * * * * to ye Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts, a house and tract of land lying within ye bounds of Norwalk, in ye main street, sd land contains by es- timation about one acre, be ye same more or less ; and is bounded as followeth, vizt, South and East by high- 134 NORWALK. [1747. way, North & west by common land ***=***** ***** in trust * * * to say, as soon as there shall be a rector according to the order of the Chh. of Eng- land * * * ye premises shall be and inure to ye use of such Rector incumbent and his successors as ye glebe land of sd Chh. in fee simple forever * * * &c. 25 March, A. Dom. 1747. Grants to the Professors of the Church of England of land upon Strawberry Hill. At a proprietors' meeting, April 6, 1747, Ralph Isaacs & Saml. Cluckston, who are Church Wardens & have represented to this meeting that those of the Proprietors of the Church of England request that the Proprietors at this meeting would grant to ye s*^ Professors of the Chh. of England, Five Acres of land * * at a place called Strawberry hill ; and this meeting having taken s*^ request into consideration ; being minded to oblige s*^ Professors, Do hereby grant to s*^ Church Wardens and the rest of s*^ Professors said Five Acres, to be laid out by a committee appointed for that purpose, for the sup- port of a missionary settled according to y^ canons of y^ Church of England, from time to time forever. [June 14, 174S. The Proprietors granted to the same Two acres and a half, adjoining the above for the same uses.] Middlesex. April 6, 1747. Whereas the Proprietors of Norwalk, did by their vote ye 12 Feb. 1728-9, vote and grant six acres of land South East from the land that was called Woods-land land, Westward of Canfield's hill, for ye use & improvement of a dissenting Presbyterian or Con- gregational minister thereabouts improved & settled in i 1759.] TOWN RECORDS. 125 the work & so from time to time 5 and there being now a minister settled by some of the people of Norwalk & Stamford and the people of Five mile river that have united with ye people of Stamford, supposing that s*^ land belongs to them for ye support of s** minister, and thereupon a question being put to this meeting, whether s*^ land ought to be improved by those of ye s*^ society that lives in ye bounds of Norwalk for ye use afores'', passed in the affirmative by a Major vote. Town House, Dec. 8, 1746. The town agreed and voted to erect a town house on ye southerly side of the road near where the old town house stood (34 feet long, 24 feet wide). Soldiers in the French War. At a meeting of the Inhabitants of the town of Nor- walk, Nov. 2, 1757. Capt. Thomas Benedict is chosen Moderator of s^ meeting. At ye same meeting, upon information of 350 Regu- lars to be posted in this town for Winter quarters, to- wards defraying the charges of the same the Town by vote grant a Rate of one penny upon pound of all the rateable estate. * * * The Select men * * * are by vote appointed to take care of the aforesayd Regu- lars. Guard House and Hospital. Feb. 20, 1759. Voted that the Town shall provide fire wood, &c., for the Guard House and Hospital ; and the select men for the time being are appointed to take care of the same, so far as it relates to the town. Say brook Platform. [One Saybrook Platform given gratis to each minister 126 NORWALK. [1767. in this town ; tlie select men divide the remaining par* according to list.] Against Riotous Proceedings. Nov. 12, 1765. Whereas there have been diverse routs and tumultuous and riotous assemblies of disor- derly people in the land, and some in this colony ; and there are diverse reports of many threatenings of such further tumults and riotous assemblies, to the intent of doing mischief to the persons and properties of diverse people, and especially against some in the principall places of rule and government ; all of which are contra- ry to the peace, and to subvert all order and govern- ment ; and v^hereas the inhabitants of the town of Nor- walk, in general town meeting assembled, taking these matters into serious consideration, think it their indis- pensable duty to bear proper and publick testimony against such unlawfull proseedings ; and accordingly do declare their utter abhorrence and detestation of all such routs, tumults, and riotous- assemblies, and such alarming threatenings of mischiefs ; and as they think themselves bound in loyalty to the King, and for the security of the privileges of the colony, and of the lives and properties of ye subjects, do hereby further declare, they will use their utmost endeavor, in all proper and legal ways, to prevent and suppress all such disorders, so far as appertains to them to be aiding and assisting therein. Burying Ground on Mill Hill. C (Last Monday of Dec. 1767.) " At the same meet- ing the Inhabitants by major vote give and grant all their right and title to the burying place on Whitney's hill, so called, to ye inhabitants of the First Society."^ 1774.] ■ TOWN RECORDS. 127 Noil Importation. Aug. 20, 1770. Col. Thomas Fitch chosen modera- tor of the meeting. Voted that they will send a com- mittee to N. Haven to attend the general meeting which is proposed the next day after commencement, to con- sult affairs relative to importing goods, &c. (Capt. John Cannon, Col. Thos. Fitch, and Capt. Benjamin Isaacs were chosen delegates of this town to attend the general meeting afores'^.) Dr. Thadds. Betts, Mr. Thos. Belden, Capt. Ste- phen St. John, and Samuel Gruman were chosen and appointed to draw such instructions as they shall think proper for the aforesd delegates, and lay the same be- fore this meeting, which is to he adjourned. The Continental Congress. Dec. 5, 1774. Whereas, this meeting have taken into consideration the matters contained in the association come into "by the Continental Congress held at Phila- delphia the 5th day of September, 1774, and approved of by the lower house of assembly, and recommended by them to the several towns in this colony, to appoint committees for the purposes in the eleventh article in sd association contained — Do approve of the same, and in pursuance thereof do appoint Eliakim Raymond, John Cannon, Thadds. Betts, Stephen St. John 2d, Lemuel Brooks, Eliphalet Lockwood, Nathl. Benedict, Samuel Gruman, Goold Hoyt, Thos. Betts, Ozias Mer- wine, Phinehas Hanford, Daniel Betts> jr., Blackleach Jesup, Ezra Gregory, John Carter, Jkmes Richards, Samuel Richards, Gershom Raymond, Asa Ployt, a committee for the purpose in s*^ Eleventh^Article con- tained, during the pleasure of the town. 128 ' NORWALK. [1770. County Congress. I'^ah. 0, 1775. iJoct. 'I'hu/hh. iiotts, Capt. Stephen St. .ioha, Gernhom Raymond, and Samuel Gruman, were chosen a committee to represent this town in County Congress. Donations for the Poor inhaWtants of Boston. At the same meeting, Messrs. Thomas Benedict, Eli- phahjt Loelcwood, and .John Cannon, were appointed to receive any donations that may be brought in for the relief of the poor inhabitants of the town of Uoston. 'i'h'i Corarnittee of Inspectioru Feb, 0, 1775. Voted that those persons which Lave been warned by the oommittee of inspection, to bring in their arms, shall not vote in choosing a committee of inspection at this meeting. At the same meeting were chosen Messrs. Phinehas Hanford, Stephen St. .John 2d, Thadds. IJetts, Natlil. Benedict, Osias Merwine, Lemuel Brooks, Thos. Fitch, Uriah Rogers, .Jabez Gregory, Seth Seymore, Timothy Fitch, Danl. St. .John, iilackleach .Jcsup, Danl. iietts, jr.. Clap Raymond, Ezra Gregory, .James Richards Moses Comstock, Samuel Cook Silliman, Samuel Rich- ards, and Jesse Raymond, a committee of Inspection during the pleasure of tlie town. Jje Hhvhig of Gun-powder. At the same meeting, voted, that they disapprove of ye unnecessary use of Gun-powder, and recommend it to the committee of inspection to take care of the mat- ter. The NulJificrs of Poplar Plain and Nor/ield. Jan. 8, 1770. Whereas, information hath this day 1770.] TOWN RECORDS. 129