Mar. 24th. "There were three men chosen to take view of the Town, according to the order of Court for that purpose. HENRY WOLCOTT, Commissioner. MATHEW GRANT." 1652, March 29th. 'Accounts made with William Buell for work done on meeting house. The Elders' Pew, Deacons' Pew, Magistrates' Pew, and their Wives' Pew, formerly paid; and for the four rows of seats in the house, when the doors are up, we find that his work comes to And for the new work about altering the magistrates' wives' Pew, and others in that range, come to...... The whole sum is..... (Bk. 1, 8.) £28 19s Od. 4 3 8 £33 02 08. Of which he is paid £27:5:2. 1652, September 13th. "It is assented that John Hillier shall have for the digging of all graves, one with another, Is 6d per grave, and is to attend it on all occasions." (Bk. 1, 11.) Sept. 29th. An agreement was made between the Townsmen and Gregory Gibbs, who took the Rivulet ferry on nearly the same terms as Parsons had done the year previous. Dec. 13. "It is ordered that swine shall not run at large on penalty of 6d and their damage paid." (Bk. 1, 13.) 1653. During the previous year hostilities had been commenced between the Dutch and English, and the well known conduct of the former gave rise to much apprehension that the Indians would be instigated to a general revolt. This of course spread a general alarm throughout New England, and the Commissioners of the United Colonies, in session at Boston, in May, having "considered what number of soldiers might be necessary, if God called the Colonies to war with the Dutch;" ordered that 500 men should be raised out of the four colonies; of which Connecticut was to furnish 66. Of these, 12 were from Windsor. A Committee was appointed, consisting of Mr. Wolcott, Mr. Chester, Mr. Clark, Mr. Phelps and David Wilton, with whom the constable was to advise in regard to pressing the men. Sept. 8th. "The Court doth grant the soldiers of these four towns on the River [Hartford, Windsor, Wethersfield and Middletown and Farmington], one day for a General Training together and they have liberty to send to Captain Mason to desire his presence, and to give him a call to command in chief, and to appoint the day; provided that each town shall have power to reserve a guard at home for the safety of the towns, as occasion shall serve." (Col. Rec.) This order was undoubtedly the origin of that famous Connecticut institution, General Training Day. November 8th. "William Gaylord, the Elder, and John Strong, are to appoint what calves shall be reared for bulls, on this side of the River, likewise for the other side." (Bk. 1, 15.) 1653-4, February 6th. "A meeting of the townsmen, there was a case presented by John Moore in behalf of others of his neighbors, with himself, against John Bissell, concerning herding of cattle. And whereas it has been proved that John Bissell hath had several of his young cattle kept among their cattle by their herdsman, it is judged to be equity for John Bissell to pay a suitable proportion with them, according to his cattle, which is evidenced to be thirteen young beeves and two the price of a cow, according to hire rates, 3s, 2d, 3 farthings, which amounts to £1, 1s." (Bk. 1, 18.) 1654, October. Windsor contributed 8 soldiers to the Narragansett expedition against Ninigret, ordered by the Commissioners of the United Colonies; also " a sergeant, two barrels of meat, one barrel of peas, and a boat. 1654-5, Feby. 5th. An agreement made with John Bartlett to keep the Rivulet Ferry on same terms as Gregory Gibbs had before kept it. He is to have "£18 in wheat, pease and Indian corn, in equal proportions, according to the ordinary price." (Bk. 1, 22.) 1655, May 28th. "Being the Day appointed for training, in the afternoon, and a pretty full meeting, and also most of the ancient men, there was a vote put for the choice of a Captain, and it was assented to that there should be a captain chosen, but with this proviso, that whosoever it fell to, he should perform the service of the place, without expecting any wages or maintainance from the town. In proposing about the choice, it fell to be Captain upon Lieutenant Cook, for he had 87 papers; and for all that were brought into nomination besides, were but 19 papers. In the choice of a Lieutenant, Mr. Newbury had 80 papers, and all the rest were but 13. In the choice of an Ensign, David Wilton had the choice, by 6 papers more than Daniel Clark." (Bk 1, 24.) Sept. 15th. "Also appointed to have the great meadow cleared of Indian corn by the 26th of this month. And the east of the great river to be cleared by the 3d day of Oct. following." November 26th. "The Townsmen met and appointed somewhere to set in the meeting-house." 1655-6, February 4th. "At a meeting of the Townsmen, it was taken into consideration, that which was referred to them by the vote of the town, to give such encouragement to the man that was propounded for a currier, as has manifested inclinations to come to us, so that the town would procure him the house of Henry Curtis, with the lot. They do now agree that David Wilton shall send a letter with the first opportunity in the spring. And to encourage him, the town shall provide him a house convenient at the present [time], and procure him the house and lot of Henry Curtis, if it be to be sold. And to add something for a shop; or if that be not to be procured, they will bestow as much as it is worth, in a convenient place, and if he lives and dies with us, and affords us the use of his trade, he shall have it to him and his heirs; else to leave it to the Town." (Bk. 1, 27.) "Also that Richard Oldage and Samuel Marshall shall be propounded to the General court to be appointed sealers of leather." (Bk. 1, 27.) "Also an agreement made with William Edwards, Cooper, of Hartford. He is to take Simon Hillier, son of John Hillier, deceased, and keep him until he is 21 yrs. of age, which will be completed and ended on the 25th day of Dec., 1669; he is to learn him to write and read English, and cast accounts, and be at the cost, and use his best endeavors, to get his scurf head cured. Also to learn him the trade of a cooper, and at the end of his time to let him go free, and give him double apparel, a musket, sword and bandoliers, and 20s; and Mr. Wolcott and David Wilton are to sign indentures betwixt them at the time of the General Court at Hartford on March, next ensuing." (Bk. I, 27.) March 3. "It was a day of training, and it being propounded to the Company there assembled what they would give Mr. Warham for this year, that is, from September to September, next ensuing, it was jointly voted that they would give him fourscore and ten pounds." (Bk. 1, 28.) March 10. "The Townsmen met, and it was judged by them that Mr. Phelps should keep James Hillier one twelvemonth after the end of next May ensuing, and then to let him go from him with a double apparel, yet with this casion [proviso]; If the Townsmen see any man willing and fit to take him to bring him to a trade, Mr. Phelps is to let him go at any time after next May; also Mr. Phelps saith he will not be bound to keep him if the disease of the thistles should break out again." August 18th. "The major part of the townsmen met and according to the ordering of the [court], that the townsmen of Windsor from year to year, do take care for the preserving of the estate of John Hillier, deceased, for the benefit of his children, do now for the present agree that because the widow of the said John Hillier is towards joining herself in a second marriage that she shall not have power to dispose of any part for her own, until the court make a distribution." (Bk. 1, 31.) September 1st. "Training day; the Townsmen appointed the 25th of this month to open the meadow." "Also voted, by the company, that the guard that carried arms to meeting, should have pound of powder for the two years now past, and so likewise those now presently appointed for the year to come, and so afterwards." (Bk. 1, 31.) "Also assented to, by divers persous present, and appointed that at the next opportunity to be propounded to the rest of the Townsmen, that Capt. Cook shall cause that seasonable warning shall be given to come to meeting on the Lord's days and lecture days, by Drum or trumpet, on the top of the meeting house, and should have 20s for the year ensuing." "Sept. 6th. It was confirmed." (Bk. 1, 31.) 1656-7, Feb. 10. "It was voted to allow Mrs. Huit [an annuity] as formerly, only Nicholas Palmer, John Griswold, Jacob Gibbs, Anthony Hoskins, John Denslow, Jos. Hosford opposed it." (Bk. 1, 32.) October 26. "The Town met and agreed to have the burying place made commodious. David Wilton doth hereby engage himself and his [successors] forever to maintain whatsoever fence belongs to the burying place of Windsor, now joining to his land, and also to make and maintain a commodious gate for passage to it. Also, to clear it of all stubbs and boughs that grows upon it, between this and next Spring, and to sow it with English grass that it may be decent and comely, and he, and his heirs, is to have the benefit of the pasture forever." (Bk. 1, 34.) November 26. "At a town meeting warned, Mr. Warham's rate, Mr. Huit's and John Bartlett's [rate] for the ferry were published. Also a general vote passed for the entertainment of a new smith, and to give him £10 and lend him £20, to pay it again in work." 1657-8, March 11. A troop of thirty horse, the first in the colony, was organized by the General Court, and placed under the command of Capt. John Mason. On the list of troopers "presented and allowed" by the court, we find the following Windsor names: Mr. Daniel Clark, John Williams, ' 1658. "The Townsmen being met on Monday the 13th September, Lieut. Newberry is desired to get such sills for the meeting house as are wanting, and to bring them to the water side." (Bk. 1, 36.) 1 The rivulet bank. This year was one of great sickness and mortality in Connecticut, as well as in New England generally. Religious controversy, and the implacable animosity of the Indians, gave constant alarm to both rulers and people. The crops also were unusually light, and "it was a year of fear, perplexity and sorrow." December 13. 1 "At a meeting of the five men, it was determined that provision should be made upon the top of the meeting house, from the Lanthorn to the ridge of the house, to walk conveniently, to sound a trumpet or drum to give warning to meetings." (Bk. 1, 37.) 1658-9, January 8. "At a town meeting, was voted that Samuel Grant should try and seal measures for the town." "Also, that Peter Brown that keeps the mill should take but single toll, or the sixteenth part of all grain for his grinding; only of Indian corn it was voted by the Major part that he should take toll and half, from this time until the 25th of March next ensuing, but no longer." Also, that John Bartlett is to continue the keeping of the ferry, and is not to put in any man without the Townsmen's approbation, and the Townsmen are to see to the providing of some stones and timber to build him a cellar at the ferry house; and he is to pay the cost of it out of this ferry rate, and when he leaves the keeping of the ferry, or does not give honest content in the place, but the Townsmen must seek another, then he is to leave the cellar, and the town must give him for it as it is worth." (Bk. 1, 37.) 1659, March 27. "The trumpet was sounded again to give warning to meeting." (Bk. 1, 38.) June 1. "Also this day, terms agreed upon about the tolls at the mill; Mr. Warham is to have the sixteenth part, or two quarts upon a bushel, of all English and malt grinding, and for Indian corn a twelfth part, or three quarts upon a bushel grinding." (Bk. 1, 39.) Dec. 10. "Also, it is granted by the town that Capt. Cooke shall have half the ordinary pay, in the next town rate, for seven young wolves taken out of an old one."2 (Bk. 1, 40.) 1 The Townsmen previously appointed. 2 Feb'y 16, 1659-60. Capt. Cook was again paid for "4 wolves." Judging from the frequency of similar items on the town records, the Captain, and his townsman Daniel Hayden, were the Nimrods of Windsor. They certainly made great havoc among the wolves of that neighborhood. Many years after the settlement of the country, these animals were very numerous and committed frequent depredations. As early as 1647, the General Court offered a bounty of 10s. for every wolf "killed within 10 miles of any planta |