The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-07-29

be, are not most commodious for them"
The town meeting was held on the EST
day of Jul y, at which Gov Talcott was pres
ent and used his great influence to effect
reconciliation between the contcnding parties
and apparently with success, for the town vo
ted to remain one society, and to build tn
meeting house at Bissel's landing place Up
on the report Of the committee, embracing
this result the Assembly approved thereof
and ordered the town to proceed to builC
accordingly"
But, at a succeeding town meeting, hello
but few months afterwards, to wit, January
1, 1881, it was voted by a great majority, tha
the town would not edo anything about build
in a meeting house at Bissell's landing place.
And, at the same meeting, a large committee
was appointed, from the different sections Of
the town, to enquire and report at a future
meeting, what measures could be adopted to
bring the controversy to a general and pcac-
able accommodation" The committee, by a
large majority, reported, among other things
that the west side of the river from Farming
ton bounds, to extend north SO as to include
the IIiglcy settlement, should be the first So
ciety, and the portion of the town eastcrly OF
the river, should be the second society. This
report was accepted by /" a very full vote y
and the newly designated first society attempt
ed an organization, by electing its commit
tee, and voting to raise the annual salary of
the clergyman. But their application to the
legislature for confirmation Of these pro-
cecdings was rejected.
At this period, there had been so many
contradictory decisions relating to this sub
.ect that great uncertainty prevailed in re
Il ,F L1,o
1t is doubtful whether any legal society ex-
listed at this time. The Rev Mr.. Wood
bridge continued to o0iciate in the ministry,
to such as chose to hear him, but no taxes
were imposed to pay his salary; and it was
strongly doubted, by many persons, whether
he was legally settled pastor. Notwithstand.
ing all these contentious, into some Of which
he was reluctantly drawn,-for it was we'll
known that he was in favor of the location
Of the meeting house, at Hop meadow, where
he dwelt,-yet he was very generally es-
tcemod, and possessed, to a large extent, the
confidence and affection of his people,
The Assembly, at the next two sessions, in
May and October, 1881, was again impor-
tuned, by sundry memorials from the people
Of Simsbury, to do something to relieve the
distracted condition, both Of the church and
town" Among these was one from Mr.
Woodbridge, complaining that his salary had
remained unpaid for a period Of one year
and seven months, and asking for some pro-
cess to enforce its collection. None Of these
petitions were granted. But at the May SEES
sion, 1882, the Assembly appointed another
committee to visit Simsbury, and see what
could be done to "promotc the peace and
reconciliation Of the people and upon
their report, which was made during the same
session, a resolution was passed, directing
that public worship should he held in the old
meeting house f6r the terB1 Of three gears there
after that the inhabitants of Turkey hills
be allowed the privilege Of maintaining pub
lie worship,in their village, during six months
in each year; that the inhabitants living on
the east side Of the river have the same priv
ilcgc during four months that the old meet
ing house might be repaired by voluntary
subscriptions, and contributions and that,
if the town should not, within twenty days af-
ter the rising Of the Assembly, lay tax, suf-
fcient to pay the salary due to Mr.. Wood
bridge, or should neglect to collect and pay
it in full by the first day of the ensuing De-
tober, the Secretary of the colony was di-
rectcd 10 issue an execution Ncretor, to be lev
led upon the estates Of any of the inhabi-
tants of the town, and collect it, "by distress
and sale of their goods"
The town having voted, March 20, 1873,
that Turkey hills, and Salmon brook, might
each be set off into Il separate society, the in
hnbitants of those places respectively, memo
rallied the General Assembly, held in May, (
1888, for parish privileges; but their appi- /
cations were both rejected This town meet /.
OIL thn
Of deciding the question, whether the inhab- !
itants would agree to form themselves into .
one, two, or more, ministerial societies The ,
result was, the formation of three societies,
and the line which was agreed upon, run
ming between the south and Salmon brook |
societies, was the same or nearly the same, as
that which at the present time divides Sims.
bury and CRANKY. At this time there were
IN Turkey hills forty-six families, including
i've who lived few rods easterly Of the town
inc, within the bounds of Windsor; Shd in
Salmon brook, including the Falls and Zig
ey's settlement, forty eight families
At the May session, 1874, tn inhabitants
If Salmon brook again petitloned for parish
powers and privileges; the society to en-
,race the same territorial limits, as was eX-
pressed in their former petition, Among the
caS0nS stated Tor TINS request Is INC loIlOW-
NO: Seventhly, the great hopes we have
# obtaining young candidate for the minis
ry to be our minister, whom we have hired
or the last fifteen months upon our own
barge, being obliged, all the while, to pay
Ut proportionabIe part to our minister at +;
own" This petition was also negatived, Z,
robaby for the reason that the three years,
efore spoken of, had not yet expired. -.
In May, 1875, upon several memorials !
'om different parts of the town, praying that
might be divided into several Ecclesiasti- !;
al societies, the General Assembly passed a |,
asoution, in which it is stated that consid- }
ring the divided state of Smsbury, and how Il
ften the inhabitants Of that place, have, in !,
leir town meetings, altered and changed !,
lcir votes, the Assembly do not think itprop-
r to confirm the lines, prayed for, in order to r
wide the town into separate societies, with q