4th. To comprehend all west of Scantic River, and south of the meeting-house, a mile and a half from the Great River."

Those who understand the bounds of the parish, will be able to estimate, from these data, the distances which their ancestors, when children, had to travel through storms and cold to the places where the rudiments of education must be obtained; to some of them, at least, it was a practical illustration of "knowledge being obtained under difficulties."

The teachers must also have their share of patience and industry, and been willing to do much for small pay for at this period, thirty pounds was all the money raised for the support of schools, and that was paid in grain wheat 4s, rye 3s, and Indian corn 2s per bushel.

In December, 1771, a new district was set off east of Scantic, viz.:

"Voted, To make a district of schooling of the south-east corner of the society, extending north of Ketch Brook, to include Simeon Barber and Roger Loomis, and extending west to the east end of the three mile lots, including Jerijah Bissell who lives on the east end of said lots, and to extend east and south to the bounds of the society."

Thus matters remained until 1781 when a committee was appointed to rearrange all the districts as they thought best and report to the society. On the 31st December, 1781, the committee made report.

After dividing the parish into six districts

three on the east of Scantic and three on the west and running the several

boundaries, they close as follows:

The above report was accepted with the following alterations, viz.:

"That Samuel Bartlett be set and belong to the school district north of the highway between Israel Stiles and said Bartlettand that John Bartlett be set and belong to the south district of schools west of Scantic River in the woods — and that William Bartlett, now living at Scantic Mills, belong to the school district east of Scantic River, as reported."

At a meeting of the North Society, held in December, 1789, a petition was presented from the inhabitants of Warehouse Point to be set off as a distinct school district. The petition was granted and the bounds defined as follows:

Beginning at the north-west corner bounds of East Windsor, when running South along the line of Connecticut River to the south side of a lot of land lately owned by Timothy Thrall, then east by the south line of said land within forty rods of the Coventry road, then north the same distance from said road to Enfield line, then west to the first-mentioned bounds."

In December, 1793, at a meeting of the society, it was "Voted, That the south-east district of schooling commonly called Ketch-Mill district be divided, and the Ketch-Brook as it runs through said district be a dividing line of said district."

The last act which appears upon record of this ecclesiastical society in reference to common schools, is dated 9th day of November, 1795. The usual two pence on the pound was voted for the use of schooling for the coming year, and the usual committee of 12 persons chosen to collect the money and superintend the schools. After this, school matters disappear from the records of the ecclesiastical parish.

CHAPTER XXIV.

FERRIES, INNS, STORES, HOUSES, SLAVES, ETC.

Bissell's Ferry.

The subject of a regular ferry across the Connecticut, at Windsor, seems to have been first agitated about January, 1641-2, at which time the court decreed that if the town of Windsor provide a ferry boat to attend the river, they are to be allowed 3 pence for a single passenger, and 2 pence a person when they carry more than one at a freight, and 12 pence for a horse. 1

No definite action, however, was taken in the matter until January, 1648-9, when the court concluded the following contract: 2

John Bissell undertakes to keep and carefully to attend the Ferry over the Great River at Windsor, for the full term of seven years from this day, and that he will provide a sufficient Boat for the carrying over of horse and foot upon all occasions: And that if his own occasions should necessitate him at any time to go out of call from his house or Ferry, that then he will provide some able man in his room to attend that service; for which the said John Bissell is to have of those that he ferries over, eight pence for every horse or mare, and two pence for every person that goes over therewith, or that hath another passenger to go over the said Ferry at the same time; and three pence for every person that goes over the said Ferry alone, single, or without any more than himself at the same time.

1 Col. Rec., 1, 71.

2 Col. Rec., 1, 174.

And the court prohibits all other persons (except the inhabitants of Windsor, who have liberty to carry over themselves or neighbors in their own canoes or boats), from carrying over the said Ferry any passenger or passengers, when the said John Bisseli or his assignee is present, or within call of his house or Ferry as aforesaid, to attend that service. And if any person or persons as aforesaid shall at any time during the aforesaid term, go over by Indians or English that have not boats or canoes of their own, that they pass over the said Ferry in, they shall as truly pay 8d for every horse or mare, and 2d for every person, as if they went over with him. And the court also gives the said John Bissell liberty to relieve (i. e.-entertain) such strangers and passengers as can not go the ordinary, and take of them couvenient and reasonable recompense for the same. This was consented to by John Bissell in Court. 1

The road from the Street to the original Bissell's Ferry lay along the south side of the present home lot of the heirs of Hezekiah Hills to the top of the Meadow Hill, where it bore to the right upon the land now owned by Leavitt Ellsworth, to the river. The landing place on the east side of the Connecticut River was probably from twenty to thirty rods below the present wharf used by the Quarry Company. The road leading from it turned north to the present road, thence east following the present road to a point of the Meadow Hill, at a considerable distance from the Street, where it ascended the hill bearing away to the north-east.

The lease having expired, was again renewed May 15th, 1656, for one year, on the same terms as before, with this

1 There is a tradition in the BISSELL family, that in 1636-7 this John Bissell was sent by the colony to England, to procure a new supply of cattle to replenish the heavy losses which they had suffered from the exceeding severity of the preceding winter,-that he returned with "17 cows and a bull”—and as a reward for his services, received the monopoly of this ferry, from the court. The tradition is strongly marked, both by its prevalence and its uniformity of detail, among all the different branches of this large and widely extended family. Yet we are disinclined to believe it; 1st, because in the official colonial records, there is not the slightest allusion to any such circumstance; 2dly, because we have very serious doubts whether John Bissell was here in Windsor, at so early a date. It is possible that he may have come here about 1639 or 40, and may have brought some cattle with him, but we have been as yet unable to connect them with the ferry.

addition, that troops shall have free passage for man and horse, "so often as the said troopers shall with their listed horseş travel with them to Springfield town or beyond."1

Again:

May, 1657. John Bissell's lease of the country ferry was renewed for one year "at his old house.""

March 11, 1657. John Bissell, Jr., having managed the country ferry at Windsor, to entire satisfaction, received from the court a renewal thereof for ten years, viz:

"This court doth grant to and agree with John Bissell, Jr, of Windsor, that the ferry there, over the Great River, shall be and belong to him for the space of 10 years next ensuing, upon the limitation and terms hereafter expressed, to which he doth in court agree and engage to attend:

1. That there shall be always maintained in readiness upon all occasions, an able and sufficient boat and man for the safe passage of horse and man.

2. The said John Bissell shall have 8d a head for any beast, and 2d a head for any person that cometh with them, and 3d for any single person.

3. That each Trooper listed and allowed in the Court, and the horse he rides, is only freed from the ferriage going to Springfield Town, or as far as Springfield Town, or further.

4. That no person of Windsor shall have liberty for to help over any person or beast of any other town, but they shall then pay the ferryman as much as if they were carried over by him. 5. Upon consideration with the inhabitants of Windsor, they are to go over the ferry at half the forementioned price, only that single persons shall pay 3d per head for their passage, as before. 3

In March, 1663-4, John Bissell, Jr, applied to the court for a release from his contract. It was granted, "if the Assistants" at Windsor should provide "a sufficient man" in his place.*

In May, 1668, "The court leaves it to the deputies and townsmen of Windsor to agree and settle a Ferryman there to keep. the ferry over the Great River for 7 years, provided there be no charge come thereby to the county."5