The Ancient Historical Records of Norwalk, Conn.

borm mado to this meeting, that there ar^; rjin/)b^;rr-: of the inhahitants of this town, living at Poplar Plain and parts adjacent, have united with num?jers of the inhahit- antB of Fairfield, living in Norfield Parish and the Wes- tern part of the town of Fairfield adjoining to tliis town, and have unwarrantably formed thernsolveH into a bod}', arid call themselves a committee, and baring so formed, have resolved and determined that every person that is in debt shall not be liable to be sued for the same, nor be liable to pay any interest on obligations, but be discharged therefrom ; and that justices of the peace shall not sign any writ, or grant any executions, and the officers shall not serve either writs or executions ; and have also, in case any creditor shall attempt to sue for his debt or rer[uire interest on obligations, or a justice sign a writ, or any officer serve the same, they will unitedly prevent and oppose with all the force and strength they can procure the same. — This meeting, taking into con- sideration the aforesaid matters of information, and the aforesaid illegal resolves and determinations, are of opi- nion that the same have a direct tendency to get aside all law, and leave us in the hands of a merciless set of men, and to throw us into confusion and distraction, and to deprive us of all our valuable and constitutional rights. We therefore do hereby vote and agree to use our utmost influence, power, and strength, to disapprove and to dis- countenance every such illegal measure ; and do every- thing in our power, unitedly, to aid and assist the au- thority in suppressing the same in every proper and legal way. Salt Petre Works. At the same meeting, the select m':n. are (VirctcM^ to erect Salt Petre works, and carry on the making of Salt 130 NORWALK. [1776. Petre at the expense of the town, agreeable to the law of this colony ; unless some particular person or persons shall appear to do the same. Magazine. At the same meeting, the select men are directed to erect a magazine to keep the warlike stores belonging to the town, ^' and that on the hill between Mr. Leaming's house and Ebenezer Lockwood's." Committee of Inspection. May 20, 1776. Whereas, complaint is made to this meeting by the committee of inspection in this town, that some inconveniency has arisen on account of the difficulty of having the major part of said committee collected on sudden and special occasions, voted, that any seven of s"^ committee shall have power to act in said capadty on any sudden and special occasion. Donald McAuley's Salt. Oct. 14, 1776, Whereas there has been great unea- siness among the inhabitants, with respect to the great rise of salt ; and there being a large quantity in the possession of Donald McAuley of this place, which the inhabitants of this town are necessitated to have for their use at some price ; — the said Donald McAuley there- fore came into this meeting, and agreed with the inhabitants, that "he would not ask them more than twelve shillings, lawful money, per bushel, out of the said quantity, for their own consumption ; and if the market price shall be less, any time hereafter, he will accept of the same. Upon which the inhabitants con- sent that any one person may purchase salt of him ac- cordingly. 177T] TOWN RECORDS. 131 The Watch. Oct. 14, 1776. Voted, that tlie select men give a proper reward, to the persons appointed and ordered by the authority to set the watches, for their service ; and draw an order on the town treasurer for the payment thereof. Allso voted, that the select men make such provision for the watches as they shall think proper in regard to housing. Cannon and Cannon Ball. Dec. 2, 1776. The select men are directed to trans- port six cannon, such as they shall judge hest for the defence of this town, from Salisbury ; and provide car- riages for the same ; and also a sufficient quantity of ball for the security of the town. Monopolies and Oppressions, March 12, 1777. The inhabitants by vote agree that they will assist the officers of this town in carrying into execution one certain law of this state, entitled an act to prevent monopolies and oppressions, by excessive and unreasonable prices for many of ye necessaries and con- veniences of life. The Guard. March 12, 1777. The inhabitants by major vote approve of what the authority and select men have done, in regard to hiring 75 men as a watch or guard to this town. Filling the Continental Battalions. Whereas, the slow progress made in filling up the continental Battallions to be raised by this state, and the vast importance of their being immediately com- 133 NORWALK. [1777. pleted, &c., was on the IStli day of March, 1777, taken into consideration by his Honor the Governor and the Council of safety ; and thereon voted and resolved Iby said board, to ascertain the quota or proportion of each town to complete s*^ battallions and to promote and encourage such enlistment. Lest any should be embarrassed by a prospect of leaving their families, without a security of their being properly provided for ; it is by said board earnestly recommended to the seve- ral towns in this state to engage and promise such sol- diers as shall undertake in sd service, and have not time and opportunity to lay out their money, and make provision for their families (such as have any), that their said families, on their reasonable request, shall be supplied in their absence with necessaries at the prices stated by law ; and that each town severally appoint a committee for that purpose, to see them provided for and supplied accordingly, on such soldiers lodging, or from time to time remitting money to said committee for that purpose ; and without any additional expense ; and the necessary expense attending the same, to be borne by the town respectively, &c ; — It is therefore recom- mended by this meeting, that all the inhabitants, of every rank and condition, vigorously exert themselves in encouraging, promoting, and forwarding the filling up the quota or proportion ascertained by said board for this town, in order to complete said Dattallions ; and also voted, that Messrs. Stephen St. John 2d, Thomas Benedict, Phinehas Hanford, Jesse Raymond, Thadds. Hubbell, Oliver Whitlock, James Richards, and Nehe- miah Benedict, be a committee for the purposes con- tained in said resolves, with full power and authority to engage and promise to such soldier as .shall inlist in s'^ 177T3 TOAVN RECORDS. 133 service, that all matters and things contained in sd resolve respecting them, shall be punctually performed agreeable thereto, a^^.d it is recommended by this meet- ing, that the virtuous sons of liberty cheerfully and readily engage in sd service at this critical time ; so that peace and rest may once more be restored to the United States of America ; by means whereof this meet- ing have reason, by the blessing of God^ to expect the same may be effected. Messrs Eli Reed, Asa Hoyt, John Gregory, jr., Levi Taylor, Nathan Hubbell, and Moses Comstock, were appointed a Committee to endeavour to find the number of soldiers enlisted in the continental army, in this town, and report to this meeting. This meeting is adjourned to meet Tuesday, at 2 o'clock. Met according to the foregoing adjournment. Doct. Thadds. Betts, Moderator, present. Voted, that it is the desire of this meeting, that the recruiting officers in the Continental service request the several Captains of the military companies, in this place, to warn their respective companies and House- holders to muster as soon as may be, to bea.t up for vol- unteers ; and the inhabitants are desired to incourage the enlistment by their liberality. The companies and inhabitants of the first society are desired to muster to- gether on the parade of the first company. Salt brought from Boston. September 25, 1777. Nehemiah Benedict, Natha- niel Benedict, and David Comstock, were appointed a committee to get what salt there is in the town of Bos- ton^ belonging to the inhabitants of this town, from 7 134 ' NORWALK. [1777. thence, in tlie best manner they can, at the expense of the town. Clothing for the Soldiers. At the same meeting Hezekiah Hanford, John Lock- wood, Jr., Hooker St. John, Levi Taylor, Thadds. Huhbell, Ahijah Betts, James Olmsted, Samnel Gates, Abijah Comstock, Timothy Reed, Levi Hanford, James Lockwood, and Gershom Richards, were appointed a committee to procure and collect snch articles of cloth- ing as is requested by a resolve of the Governor and Council of Safety, for the use of the soldiers in the Con- tinental army, and deliver the same to the select men in order that the same may be forwarded according to said resolve. Supplying the families of soldiers. '' At the same meeting, voted that the Committee for- merly appointed to procure provisions for the families of those soldiers which are gone into the army, from this town, go on and procure the same for such families, at the rate set by law ; and in case they are obliged to give more, the select men to order the treasurer to pay the overplus. Dec. 1, 1777. Matthew Marvine added to the Com- mittee for providing for the families of those that are in the army. Considering the Articles of Confederation At the same meeting, voted Messrs. Thomas Fitch, Thaddeus Betts, Stephen St. John, David Comstock, Joseph Chapman, Nehemiah Mead, and Samuel Gru- man, were appointed a committee to revise the articles of Confederation published by Congress, and make report to this meeting which is to be adjourned. 1778.] TOWN RECORDS. 135 Jau. 13, 1778, at one of the clock, Met according to tlie foregoing adjournment. Blackleacli Jesup was chosen to supply the families of ye soldiers of the Continental army, in addition to the former committee. Whereas his Excellency the Governor, on receipt of the articles of the confederation published by Congress, for the approbation of the several assemblies of the United States, sent a copy of the same to this town, in order for the town to show their sense relative thereto.