EXHIBIT 10.1

                          NEW ENGLAND BANCSHARES, INC.
                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
                                    (MESSIER)

     THIS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is hereby entered into as of November 21,
2006 by and between NEW ENGLAND BANCSHARES, INC., a Maryland corporation (the
"Company") with its principal place of business at 855 Enfield Street, Enfield,
Connecticut 06082, and ROBERT L. MESSIER, JR. ("Executive"). This Agreement will
be effective as of the consummation of the transaction contemplated in the
Agreement and Plan of Merger by and between New England Bancshares, Inc., New
England Bancshares Acquisition, Inc. and First Valley Bancorp, Inc. dated
November 21, 2006 (the "Merger"). References to the "Bank" herein shall mean
VALLEY BANK.

                               W I T N E S S E T H

     WHEREAS, Executive serves in a position of substantial responsibility;

     WHEREAS, the Company wishes to assure the services of Executive for the
period provided in this Agreement; and

     WHEREAS, Executive is willing to serve in the employ of the Company on a
full-time basis for said period.

     WHEREAS, Executive acknowledges upon execution of this Agreement and
consummation of the Merger, he will not be entitled to any benefits provided for
under the Change in Control Agreement by and between Valley Bank and Executive
dated October 1, 2004 and the Employment Agreement by and between Valley Bank
and Executive dated July 1, 2004 and subsequently amended on November 1, 2004.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained,
and upon the other terms and conditions hereinafter provided, the parties hereby
agree as follows:

     1. Employment. Executive is employed as the President of the Company.
Executive shall perform all duties and shall have all powers which are commonly
incident to the office of the President of the Company or which, consistent with
the office, are delegated to him by the Board of Directors of the Company (the
"Board") or the Chief Executive Officer of the Company. During the term of this
Agreement, Executive also agrees to serve as Chief Executive Officer of the Bank
and carry out such duties and responsibilities reasonably appropriate to that
office.

     2. Location and Facilities. The Executive will be furnished with the
working facilities and staff customary for executive officers with the title and
duties set forth in Section 1 and as are necessary for him to perform his
duties. The location of such facilities and staff shall be at the executive
offices of Valley Bank, or at such other site or sites customary for such
offices.


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     3. Term. This Agreement shall terminate on October 1, 2008, unless
terminated sooner under Section 12 of this Agreement.

     4. Base Compensation.

     a.   The Company agrees to pay the Executive during the term of this
          Agreement a base salary at the rate of $180,000 per year, payable in
          accordance with customary payroll practices.

     b.   The Board shall review annually the rate of the Executive's base
          salary based upon factors they deem relevant, and may maintain or
          increase his salary, provided that no such action shall reduce the
          rate of salary below the rate in effect on the Effective Date.

     c.   In the absence of action by the Board, the Executive shall continue to
          receive salary at the annual rate specified on the Effective Date or,
          if another rate has been established under the provisions of this
          Section 4, the rate last properly established by action of the Board
          under the provisions of this Section 4.

     5. Bonuses. The Executive shall be entitled to participate in discretionary
bonuses or other incentive compensation programs that the Company may award from
time to time to senior management employees pursuant to bonus plans of the
Company and its subsidiaries or otherwise.

     6. Benefit Plans. The Executive shall be entitled to participate in such
life insurance, medical, dental, pension, profit sharing, retirement and
stock-based compensation plans and other programs and arrangements as may be
approved from time to time by the Company and the Bank for the benefit of their
employees.

     7. Vacation and Leave.

     a.   The Executive shall be entitled to five (5) weeks vacation and other
          leave in accordance with the Bank policy for senior executives, or
          otherwise as approved by the Board of Directors of the Company.

     b.   In addition to paid vacation and other leave, the Executive shall be
          entitled, without loss of pay, to absent himself voluntarily from the
          performance of his employment for such additional periods of time and
          for such valid and legitimate reasons as the Board of Directors of the
          Company may in its discretion determine. Further, the Board or the
          Board of Directors of the Company may grant to the Executive a leave
          or leaves of absence, with or without pay, at such time or times and
          upon such terms and conditions as the boards in their discretion may
          determine.


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     8. Expense Payments and Reimbursements. The Executive shall be reimbursed
for all reasonable out-of-pocket business expenses that he shall incur in
connection with his services under this Agreement upon substantiation of such
expenses in accordance with applicable policies of the Company or the Bank (as
applicable).

     9. Automobile. During the term of this Agreement, the Executive shall be
entitled to use of a Bank-owned automobile. Executive shall comply with
reasonable reporting and expense limitations on the use of such automobile as
may be established by the Company or the Bank from time to time, and the Company
or the Bank shall annually include on Executive's Form W-2 any amount of income
attributable to Executive's personal use of such automobile.

     10. Other Fringe Benefits.

     a.   The Bank shall provide Executive with a supplemental executive
          retirement agreement which will provide the Executive, or in the event
          of his death, Executive's spouse, an annual retirement benefit. The
          terms and conditions of Executive's supplemental retirement benefit
          are set forth in a separate agreement approved by the Board of
          Directors on October 23, 2006.

     b.   The Bank shall pay Executive's annual dues for Chippanee Golf Club.

     c.   The Bank shall continue to maintain key man life insurance coverage of
          $400,000 on Executive.

     11. Loyalty and Confidentiality.

     a.   During the term of this Agreement, Executive shall: (i) devote all his
          time, attention, skill, and efforts to the faithful performance of his
          duties hereunder; provided, however, that from time to time, Executive
          may serve on the boards of directors of, and hold any other offices or
          positions in, companies or organizations which will not present any
          conflict of interest with the Company or any of its subsidiaries or
          affiliates, unfavorably affect the performance of Executive's duties
          pursuant to this Agreement, or violate any applicable statute or
          regulation and (ii) not engage in any business or activity contrary to
          the business affairs or interests of the Company, the Bank or Enfield
          Federal Savings and Loan Association.

     b.   Nothing contained in this Agreement shall prevent or limit Executive's
          right to invest in the capital stock or other securities of any
          business dissimilar from that of the Company, or, solely as a passive,
          minority investor, in any business.


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     c.   Executive agrees to maintain the confidentiality of any and all
          information concerning the operation or financial status of the
          Company and its subsidiaries, the names or addresses of any of its
          borrowers, depositors and other customers; any information concerning
          or obtained from such customers; and any other information concerning
          the Company and its subsidiaries to which he may be exposed during the
          course of his employment with the Company and the Bank. The Executive
          further agrees that, unless required by law or specifically permitted
          by the Board in writing, he will not disclose to any person or entity,
          either during or subsequent to his employment, any of the
          above-mentioned information which is not generally known to the
          public, nor shall he employ such information in any way other than for
          the benefit of the Company and its subsidiaries.

     12. Termination and Termination Pay. Executive's employment under this
Agreement may be terminated in the following circumstances:

     a.   Death or Disability. Executive's employment under this Agreement shall
          terminate upon his death or termination of employment due to
          Disability during the term of this Agreement. Upon Executive's death,
          his estate shall be entitled to receive the compensation due to the
          Executive through the last day of the calendar month in which his
          death occurred plus, the supplemental retirement benefit provided
          under Section 10(a) of this Agreement. Executive's employment under
          this Agreement shall also terminate if the Board determines Executive
          has a Disability as (defined herein). Upon termination of his
          employment due to Disability, Executive will be entitled to receive
          his base salary and benefits provided for in Section 6 of this
          Agreement through the end of the month in which his employment was
          terminated, plus the supplemental retirement benefit set forth in
          Section 10 of this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement,
          "Disability" means a physical or mental infirmity that impairs
          Executive's ability to substantially perform his duties under this
          Agreement and that results in Executive becoming eligible for
          long-term disability benefits under any long-term disability plans of
          the Bank (or, if there are no such plans in effect, that impairs
          Executive's ability to substantially perform his duties under this
          Agreement for a period of one hundred eighty (180) consecutive days).
          The Board shall determine whether or not Executive is and continues to
          be permanently disabled for purposes of this Agreement in good faith,
          based upon competent medical advice and other factors that they
          reasonably believe to be relevant. As a condition to any benefits, the
          Board may require Executive to submit to such physical or mental
          evaluations and tests as it deems reasonably appropriate.

     b.   Retirement. This Agreement shall be terminated upon Executive's
          retirement under the retirement benefit plan or plans in which he
          participates pursuant to Section 6 of this Agreement or otherwise.
          Upon his retirement, he shall be entitled to the retirement benefit
          set forth in Section 10(a) of this Agreement.


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     c.   Termination for Cause.

          i.   The Board may, by written notice to the Executive in the form and
               manner specified in this paragraph, immediately terminate his
               employment at any time, for "Cause". The Executive shall have no
               right to receive compensation or other benefits for any period
               after termination for Cause. Termination for "Cause" shall mean
               termination because of, in the good faith determination of the
               Board, Executive's:

               (1)  Personal dishonesty;

               (2)  Incompetence;

               (3)  Willful misconduct;

               (4)  Breach of fiduciary duty involving personal profit;

               (5)  Intentional failure to perform stated duties under this
                    Agreement;

               (6)  Willful violation of any law, rule or regulation (other than
                    traffic violations or similar offenses) that reflects
                    adversely on the reputation of the Company and its
                    subsidiaries any felony conviction, any violation of law
                    involving moral turpitude or any violation of a final
                    cease-and-desist order; or

               (7)  Material breach by Executive of any provision of this
                    Agreement.

          ii.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive shall not be deemed to
               have been terminated for Cause by the Company unless there shall
               have been delivered to Executive a copy of a resolution duly
               adopted at a meeting of such board where in the good faith
               opinion of the Board, Executive was guilty of the conduct
               described above and specifying the particulars thereof.

     d.   Voluntary Termination by Executive. In addition to his other rights to
          terminate under this Agreement, Executive may voluntarily terminate
          employment during the term of this Agreement upon at least sixty (60)
          days prior written notice to the Boards, in which case Executive shall
          receive only his compensation, vested rights and employee benefits up
          to the date of his termination.


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     e.   Without Cause.

          i.   In addition to termination pursuant to Sections 12(a) through
               12(d) the Board, may, by written notice to Executive, immediately
               terminate his employment at any time for a reason other than
               Cause (a termination "Without Cause").

          ii.  In the event of termination under this Section 12(e), Executive
               shall be entitled to receive his base salary for the remaining
               term of the Agreement paid in one lump sum within ten (10)
               calendar days of such termination. In addition, Executive shall
               be entitled to receive health insurance coverage similar to the
               health insurance coverage he received prior to his termination
               date for a period equal to the earlier of: his death or the
               remaining term of the Agreement. To the extent the Company cannot
               provide Executive with health insurance coverage under its health
               insurance plan or a plan of its subsidiaries, the Company will
               enter into an alternative arrangement to provide the Executive
               with comparable health care coverage.

     f.   Continuing Covenant Not to Compete or Interfere with Relationships.
          Regardless of anything herein to the contrary, following a termination
          by the Company, the Bank or Executive pursuant to Sections 12(d) or
          (e):

          i.   Executive's obligations under Section 11(c) of this Agreement
               will continue in effect; and

          ii.  During the period ending on the first anniversary of such
               termination, the Executive shall not serve as an officer,
               director or employee of any bank holding company, bank, savings
               bank, commercial bank, savings and loan holding company, or
               mortgage company (any of which, a "Financial Institution") which
               Financial Institution offers products or services competing with
               those offered by the Bank or Enfield Federal Savings and Loan
               Association from any office within twenty (20) miles from the
               main office or any branch of the Bank and shall not interfere
               with the relationship of the Company, Enfield Federal Savings and
               Loan Association and the Bank and any of its employees, agents,
               or representatives.

     13. Effective Time Payment/Representation.

     a.   As of the effective time of the Merger ("Effective Time"), subject to
          paragraph (b) of this Section 13, the Company shall pay Executive (or
          direct the Bank to pay the Executive) a lump sum payment in cash in
          the amount set forth on Exhibit A (the "Effective Time Payment"). Said
          amount shall be in consideration for the termination of Executive's
          Employment Agreement with the Bank dated July 1, 2004 and subsequently
          amended on November 1, 2004 and for the termination of Executive's
          Change in Control Agreement with the Bank dated October 1, 2004. For
          the avoidance of doubt, and notwithstanding anything herein to the
          contrary, the Effective Time Payment shall not be taken into account
          in computing any benefits under any plan, program or arrangement of
          the Company or any of its affiliates or subsidiaries.


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     b.   The Company and/or the Bank will withhold and deposit all federal,
          state and local income and employment taxes that are owed with respect
          to all amounts paid or benefits provided to or for Executive by the
          Company, the Bank or any affiliate pursuant to this Agreement.
          Executive, the Company and the Bank agree that none of the payments
          and benefits payable or provided to Executive or for Executive's
          benefit in connection with the Merger, or otherwise, will constitute
          "excess parachute payment" within the meaning of Section 280G of the
          Code. In the event that any amounts payable or benefits provided
          hereunder become subject to the excise tax under Section 4999 of the
          Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, such amounts and benefits
          shall be treated in the manner set forth under Section 16 of this
          Agreement. Executive hereby agrees to report any amounts paid or
          benefits provided under this Agreement for purposes of Federal, state
          and local income, employment and excise taxes and that Executive shall
          cooperate with the Bank and the Company in good faith in connection
          with any valuation of the restrictions and obligations under this
          Agreement.

     14. Indemnification and Liability Insurance. Subject to, and limited by
Section 27 of this Agreement, the Company shall provide the following:

     a.   Indemnification. The Company agrees to indemnify the Executive (and
          his heirs, executors, and administrators), and to advance expenses
          related thereto, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law
          and regulations against any and all expenses and liabilities
          reasonably incurred by him in connection with or arising out of any
          action, suit, or proceeding in which he may be involved by reason of
          his having been a director or Executive of the Company, the Bank or
          any of their subsidiaries (whether or not he continues to be a
          director or Executive at the time of incurring any such expenses or
          liabilities) such expenses and liabilities to include, but not be
          limited to, judgments, court costs, and attorney's fees and the cost
          of reasonable settlements, such settlements to be approved by the
          Board, if such action is brought against the Executive in his capacity
          as an Executive or director of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
          Indemnification for expense shall not extend to matters for which the
          Executive has been terminated for Cause. Nothing contained herein
          shall be deemed to provide indemnification prohibited by applicable
          law or regulation. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary,
          the obligations of this Section 14 shall survive the term of this
          Agreement by a period of six (6) years.


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         b.       Insurance. During the period in which indemnification of the
                  Executive is required under this Section, the Company shall
                  provide the Executive (and his heirs, executors, and
                  administrators) with coverage under a directors' and
                  Executives' liability policy at the expense of the Company, at
                  least equivalent to such coverage provided to directors and
                  senior Executives of the Company.

     15. Reimbursement of Executive's Expenses to Enforce this Agreement. The
Company shall reimburse the Executive for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses,
including, without limitation, reasonable attorney's fees, incurred by the
Executive in connection with successful enforcement by the Executive of the
obligations of the Company to the Executive under this Agreement. Successful
enforcement shall mean the grant of an award of money or the requirement that
the Company take some action specified by this Agreement: (i) as a result of
court order; or (ii) otherwise by the Company following an initial failure of
the Company to pay such money or take such action promptly after written demand
therefor from the Executive stating the reason that such money or action was due
under this Agreement at or prior to the time of such demand.

     16. Limitation of Benefits under Certain Circumstances. If the payments and
benefits pursuant to Section 13 of this Agreement, either alone or together with
other payments and benefits which the Executive has the right to receive from
the Company, would constitute a "parachute payment" under Section 280G of the
Code, the payments and benefits pursuant to Section 13 shall be reduced or
revised, in the manner determined by the Executive, by the amount, if any, which
is the minimum necessary to result in no portion of the payments and benefits
under Section 13 being non-deductible to the Company pursuant to Section 280G of
the Code and subject to the excise tax imposed under Section 4999 of the Code.
The determination of any reduction in the payments and benefits to be made
pursuant to Section 13 shall be based upon the opinion of the Company's
independent public accountants and paid for by the Company. In the event that
the Company and/or the Executive do not agree with the opinion of such counsel,
(i) the Company shall pay to the Executive the maximum amount of payments and
benefits pursuant to Section 13, as selected by the Executive, which such
opinion indicates there is a high probability of such payments and benefits
being deductible to the Company and not subject to the imposition of the excise
tax imposed under Section 4999 of the Code and (ii) the Company may request, and
the Executive shall have the right to demand that they request, a ruling from
the IRS as to whether the disputed payments and benefits pursuant to Section 13
have such consequences. Any such request for a ruling from the IRS shall be
promptly prepared and filed by the Company, but in no event later than thirty
(30) days from the date of the opinion of counsel referred to above, and shall
be subject to the Executive's approval prior to filing, which shall not be
unreasonably withheld. The Company and the Executive agree to be bound by any
ruling received from the IRS and to make appropriate payments to each other to
reflect any such rulings, together with interest at the applicable federal rate
provided for in Section 7872(f)(2) of the Code.


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     17. Injunctive Relief. If there is a breach or threatened breach of Section
12(f) of this Agreement or the prohibitions upon disclosure contained in Section
11(c) of this Agreement, the parties agree that there is no adequate remedy at
law for such breach, and that the Company shall be entitled to injunctive relief
restraining the Executive from such breach or threatened breach, but such relief
shall not be the exclusive remedy hereunder for such breach. The parties hereto
likewise agree that the Executive, without limitation, shall be entitled to
injunctive relief to enforce the obligations of the Company under this
Agreement.

     18. Successors and Assigns.

     a.   This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon any
          corporate or other successor of the Company which shall acquire,
          directly or indirectly, by merger, consolidation, purchase or
          otherwise, all or substantially all of the assets or stock of the
          Company.

     b.   Since the Company is contracting for the unique and personal skills of
          Executive, Executive shall be precluded from assigning or delegating
          his rights or duties hereunder without first obtaining the written
          consent of the Company.

     19. No Mitigation. Executive shall not be required to mitigate the amount
of any payment provided for in this Agreement by seeking other employment or
otherwise and no such payment shall be offset or reduced by the amount of any
compensation or benefits provided to Executive in any subsequent employment.

     20. Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications in
connection with this Agreement shall be made in writing and shall be deemed to
have been given when delivered by hand or 48 hours after mailing at any general
or branch United States Post Office, by registered or certified mail, postage
prepaid, addressed to the Association at their principal business offices and to
Executive at his home address as maintained in the records of the Company.

     21. No Plan Created by this Agreement. Executive and the Company expressly
declare and agree that this Agreement was negotiated among them and that no
provision or provisions of this Agreement are intended to, or shall be deemed
to, create any plan for purposes of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act
or any other law or regulation, and each party expressly waives any right to
assert the contrary. Any assertion in any judicial or administrative filing,
hearing, or process that such a plan was so created by this Agreement shall be
deemed a material breach of this Agreement by the party making such an
assertion.

     22. Amendments. No amendments or additions to this Agreement shall be
binding unless made in writing and signed by all of the parties, except as
herein otherwise specifically provided.


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     23. Applicable Law. Except to the extent preempted by Federal law, the laws
of the State of Maryland shall govern this Agreement in all respects, whether as
to its validity, construction, capacity, performance or otherwise.

     24. Severability. The provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed
severable and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision shall not
affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions hereof.

     25. Headings. Headings contained herein are for convenience of reference
only.

     26. Termination of Prior Agreements; Agreement to Remain Employed Through
Effective Time. This Agreement, together with any understanding or modifications
thereof as agreed to in writing by the parties, shall constitute the entire
agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof,
other than written agreements with respect to specific plans, programs or
arrangements described in Sections 5, 6 and 7 and supersedes and replaces in its
entirety the change in control agreement entered into between the Bank and
Executive on October 1, 2004 and the employment agreement entered into between
the Bank and Executive dated July 1, 2004 and subsequently amended on November
1, 2004. Further, in consideration of the benefits conferred upon Executive
pursuant to this Agreement, Executive hereby agrees not to terminate his
employment with Valley Bank or any of its affiliates prior to the Effective
Time.

     27. Required Provisions. In the event any of the foregoing provisions of
this Section 27 are in conflict with the terms of this Agreement, this Section
27 shall prevail.

     a.   If the Bank is in default as defined in Section 3(x)(1) of the Federal
          Deposit Insurance Act, 12 U.S.C. ss.1813(x)(1) all obligations of the
          Bank under this contract shall terminate as of the date of default,
          but this paragraph shall not affect any vested rights of the
          contracting parties.

     b.   Any payments made to Executive pursuant to this Agreement, or
          otherwise, are subject to and conditioned upon their compliance with
          12 U.S.C. ss.1828(k) and FDIC regulation 12 C.F.R. Part 359, Golden
          Parachute and Indemnification Payments.

     c.   Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if the
          Company or the Bank in good faith determines that amounts that, as of
          the effective date of the Executive's termination of employment are or
          may become payable to the Executive upon termination of his employment
          hereunder are required to be suspended or delayed for six (6) months
          in order to satisfy the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal
          Revenue Code, then the Company or the Bank will so advise the
          Executive, and any such payments shall be suspended and accrued for
          six months, whereupon they shall be paid to the Executive in a lump
          sum (together with interest thereon at the then-prevailing prime
          rate).


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     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the
date first set forth above.

Attest:                                 NEW ENGLAND BANCSHARES, INC.

 /s/ Nancy L. Grady                     By: /s/ David J. O'Connor
-----------------------------------     -----------------------------------
                                        On behalf of the Board of Directors

Witness:                                EXECUTIVE

/s/ Sarah M. Lombard                    /s/ Robert L. Messier, Jr.
-----------------------------------     -----------------------------------
Sarah M. Lombard                        Robert L. Messier, Jr.


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                                                                       Exhibit A

Executive shall be entitled to cash payment equal to the lesser of: (i) three
(3) times the Executive's "base amount" as defined under Section 280G (b)(3) of
the Internal Revenue Code, less one (1) dollar, or (ii) $440,000. Seven calendar
days prior to the Effective Time of the Merger, the Bank shall provide the
Company with all necessary documentation to determine the exact payment amount
for purposes of this Exhibit A.