TEMPLATE

1635-It is ordered that there shall be a guard of men to attend with their arms fixed, and two shot of powder and shot, at least every public meeting for religious use, with two sergeants to oversee the same, and to keep out one of them sentinel and the said guard to be freed from warding, and to have seats provided near the meeting house door, and the sergeants to repair to the magistrates for a warrant for the due execution thereof.

It is ordered, that every inhabitant which hath not freedom from the whole to be absent, shall make his personal appearance at every general meeting of the whole town, having sufficient warning; and whosoever fails to appear at the time and place appointed, shall pay six pence for every such default; but is he shall have a lawful excuse, it shall be repaid him again; or whosoever departs away from the meeting before it be ended, without liberty from the whole, shall pay the likewise.

It is ordered, that whosoever borrows the town chain, shall pay two pence a day for every day they keep the same, and pay for mending it if it be broken in their use.

It is ordered, that there shall be a set meeting of all the townsmen together the first Thursday in every month, by nine of the clock in the forenoon, that so if any inhabitant have any business with them, he may repair unto them; and whosoever of them do not meet at the place and time set, to forfeit two shillings and six pence for every default.

At a general Town Meeting in April, 1643- It was ordered, that Mr. Andrews should teach the children in the school one year next ensuing, from the 25^th of March, 1643, and that he shall have for his pains; and therefore the townsmen shall go and inquire who will engage themselves to send their children; and all that do so, shall pay for one quarter at the least, and for more it they do send them, after the proportion of twenty shillings the year; and if they go any weeks more than an even quarter, they shall pay six pence a week: and if any would send their children, and are not able to pay for their teaching, they shall give notice of it to the townsmen, and they shall pay it at the town's charge; and Mr. Andrews shall keep the account between the children's schooling and himself, and send notice of the times of payment and demand it; and if his wages doth not so come in, then the townsmen must collect and pay it; or if the engagements come not to sixteen pounds, then they shall pay what is wanting, at the town's charges.

At a general Town Meeting, October 30^th, 1643- It was ordered, that if any boy shall be taken playing or misbehaving himself, in the time of public services, whether in the meeting house or about the walls by two witnesses, for the first time, shall be examined and punished at the present, publicly, before the assembly depart: and if any shall be the second time taken faulty, on witness, shall be accounted. Further, it is ordered, if the parents or master shall desire to correct his boy, he shall have liberty, the first time, to do the same.

It was further ordered, in the same general meeting, that there should be a bell rung by the watch every morning an hour before day break, and that they that are appointed by the constables for that purpose, shall begin at the bridge, and so ring the bell all the way forth and back from Master Moody hill) to John Pratt and that they shall be in every house, one up, and some lights within one quarter of an hour after the end of the bell ringing if they can the bell is rung before the time appointed, then to be up with lights as before mentioned, half an hour before day break, and for default herein is to forfeit one shilling and six pence, to be to him that finds him faulty, and six pence to the town.

1650-It is further ordered, that there shall be a porch built at the meeting house, with stairs through the chamber, to be ordered by Mr. Goodwin and the townsmen; and the Governor, Mr. Wells, Mr. Webster, John Taylor and John Steele, to make a rate for the same, or any other town business, as they shall see meet and: It is ordered, that the old meeting house shall be given to Mr. (or Mrs.?) Hooker.

The 17^th September, 1640-It is ordered, that Woodward shall spend his time about killing of wolves, and for his encouragement he shall have four shillings and six pence a week for his board, in case he kill not a wolf or a deer in the week; but if he kill a wolf or a deer, he is to pay for his board himself; and if he kill to have it for two pence a pound. This order is made for a month before he begins.

It is further ordered, that if any person hath lost any thing that he desireth should be cried in a publick meeting, he shall pay for crying of it two pence to Thomas Woodford, to be paid before it be cried; and the crier shall have a book of the things that he crieth.

1650-At the same meeting of the town there is a rate granted to the townsmen for forty pounds, whereof twenty pounds is to be lent to Jeremy Adams for one year, to be repaid back again, in wampum.

1653-There was a grant to Jonathan Gilbert, that he should set up a warehouse at the common landing place in the little meadow, and upon that land without Mrs. Hooker's lot, which she doth challenge to be her land; provided, the said Jonathan do it by the consent of Mrs. Hooker.

1654-It was granted by the vote of the town, that old Goodwife Watts shall have that land that formerly she had of the town, which was the Indians, for this year, as she had it before, upon the same terms.

1659-For the preventing future evils and inconveniences that many times are ready to break in upon us, by many persons ushering in themselves among us, who are strangers to us, through whose poverty, evil manners or opinions, the town is subject to be much prejudiced and endangered: It is therefore ordered, at the same town meeting, that no person or persons in Hartford, shall give entertainment, or receive any family, person or persons that is not an inhabitant, so as to rent any part of his or their house to him or them, whereby he or they become an inmate, without it be first consented to by the orderly vote of the inhabitants, at some town meeting, under the forfeiture of five pounds for every month, to be recovered by the townsmen in being, by a course of law, if other means will not prevail, and this for the use of the town; and also, all such persons as break this order, shall be liable to be called to an account by the town, and bear all just damages that shall accrue to the ---- thereby.

1660-At the same town meeting, the town by their vote ordered, that whosoever for the future shall dig or carry away earth from the sentinel hill, shall forfeit two shillings a load, and so for every proportion, without they have the consent of ensign Talcott and John Allyn.

1661-The same day, the Jews, which at present live in John Marsh his house, have liberty to sojourn in the town seven months.

1683-The town by their vote appointed to present townsmen to provide suitable supplies of wood and provisions, for Goodman Randall and his wife, who are at present lame and ill, and not able to provide for their necessity; and also to get a chirurgeon to cure and dress him; and they are to employ the forfeitures due from those that have refused to serve as constables this year in the service; and the rest that is necessary the town must supply.

1686-The town by their vote made choice of Major Talcott, ensign Nathaniel Stanley, Mr. Cyprian Nichols and John Bidwell, to consider the best way to make a channel in the river between this town and Wethersfield; and to order the effecting thereof, in the best way and manner they can, that may be as little prejudice as may be, without charge to the town.

1687-The townsmen of that year, gave an account to the town, of two pounds two shillings and eleven pence, they had received of the selectmen in 1686, expended on the poor.

At a Town Meeting, February 28th, 1689-The town of Hartford voted, that Mr. Samuel Wyllys' house should be fortified on the south side of the river; and also Mr. James Steele's house for the defense of the town.

The town also voted, that Mr. John Olcott's house should be fortified for the north side of the river; and also Mr. Bartholomew Barnard's house for the said use.

1694-In compliance with the recommendation of the General Court, May last, sundry of both societies being met together, and the rest being warned to meet, we have considered the motion of our neighbors of the east side, and that in reference to their desire of settling of a minister on the east side of the river, we do declare we prize their good company, and cannot, without their help, well and comfortably carry on or maintain the ministry in the two societies here; yet, upon the earnestness of our neighbors to be distinct, because of the trouble and danger they complain they are exposed to, by coming over to the publick worship here; which difficulty they should not but foresee before they settled where they are, and therefore is of less weight to us; and upon these considerations we cannot be free to part with good neighbors; yet, if the General Court see cause, we must submit. But we desire, if so it must be, that then, those of the good people of the east side, that desire to continue with us of the west side, should so do; that all the land on the east side, that belongs to any of the people on the west side shall pay to the ministry of the west side; and that all the land on the west side shall pay to the minister of the west side, though it belongs to the people of the east side.

Mrs. Wilson is allowed by the town to retail drink to those that have occasion this time twelve months, she attending the law therein.

1697-Likewise the town have granted to Mr. John Olcott, for the standing of a cider house already erected near his dwelling house, for such time as he shall continue the same for that use, not to alter the property of the land, but the right thereof to belong to the town.

1704-At the same meeting the town voted, that there shall be four houses fortified on the east side of the great river, at their cost and charge.

At the same meeting, the town made choice of Mr. William Pitkin, Lieutenant Jonathan Hills, Deacon Joseph Olmsted, Daniel Bidwell, Sergeant William Williams, to be a committee to appoint those houses which shall be fortified, and also to proportion each man's share that he is to do of said fortification.

1709-Voted, that if any person or persons shall box any pine trees within the bounds of the town of Hartford, either on the commons or undivided land, or shall draw any turpentine out of any pine trees that are already boxed within the aforesaid bounds, shall forfeit to the town's use the sum of five shillings for every tree so improved, contrary to this act, excepting only what turpentine may be drawn out of the pine trees that are already boxed for the town's use.

1711-At the same meeting it was voted, that every rateable person in this town shall be obliged in the months of March, April, May and June, to kill one dozen of blackbirds, or else pay one shilling for the town's use; and any person that shall kill more than their dozen in the said time, shall be allowed one penny per head for as many as they shall kill; and that the selectmen take care that this vote be performed; and this order to remain and be of full force and virtue, until the town shall see cause to alter it.