The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-03-25
From the Litchfeld Enquirer.
Gleanings from the Harwinton
Town Records,


Mr. KILBoURNE Having read with in
tercst the C. Historical Glcanngs" from til,
Litchfeld Town Records, the following eX
tracts from the Projectors records and th'
first town book Of records ofthe town Of IIar
winton, you may publish in the Enquirer i
you think they will be interesting to your read
ers.
The first settlers of this town were from
Hartford and Windsor principally a few are
believed to have been from Pennington, and
tradition says for this reason the town was ma
med Har-win-ton
The Hartford proprietors settled the east
part of the town, the Windsor proprietors the
! west.
The following iscopied principally from the
East Harwinton" proprietors' records.
The first inhabitant Of the town was Daniel
Messenger from Hartford.
| The records show that &" East Harwinton'
was estimated to contain eight thousand five
hundred and ninety acres, and the proprietors
paid for the same &2G12 los and the propri-
etors of "NVest Harwinton" paid G2602 1Ss Cd
making in the whole &5215 IS 3D.
The Deed " of certain large tract of land
lying in his Majestys English Colony of Con-
necticut in New England Called Harwinton'O
was dated May 22nd, 1929.
Jan. 9th, 1928. "Voted that the COM
mittee that shall be appointed, sc. shall sur
vey and lay out the quantity of fifty acres Of
Land &c for Home lot, for the first Minis
ter of the Gospel, that the proprietors atore'
said shall call, and settle in that work amongst
them"
The first proprietors' meeting held in this
town on the east part is dated September 21st
1877.
At this meeting it was Voted to give the
first minister one hundred acres of Land, &C.
provided he shall continue in the work of the
ministry, and in principals to which he is Or
dained"
March 22nd, 1888. The committee to lay
out the meeneSterS lot were Daniel Messenger,
Cyprain Webster, Jonathan Horskins, Sam
uel Messenger, and Jacob Benton. At the |
same meeting, Voted that the commeete a.
foresaid shall be cmp0ured to make a reeSona-
bel a!orence for the Roof,ess of the land"
May 9TH, 1899. Voted rat or tax of |
peny half pcny on the pound be LeOeyed on
the proprictors, &c.
March I'd, 174O. Voted that Mr. Daniel
Messenger has three pounds granted him, that
was paid to LaaUyearS.
Feb 22d, 17412. A committee of five in
lividuals were allowed seven shilings apiece
. for PriamJaating with Fa1mintOn on the lin
between u.s."
The proprietors' meetings were commonly
leld by adjournment. In 1869 both of the
oroprietorS books end by Voting that the
highways in this town shall be Deemed town
highways, and voting to adjourn to the 1st
Monday of March 1870 at the house of Abb
ah Catlin Esq. at o'clock in the afternoon"
The following is copied from the first book
IF the town records of this town.
The first town meeting for the choice of
own officers on the records was held Deem
)sr goth. 1897.
Among other officers "a brander of horses
md horse kind" isrecorded. Also " Voted to
DIN with Litchfeld to build bridge over
river, also fixing upon place for
pound, and sign post. Also voted that if
Ir Joseph Laurence live among US, and works
t the Smiths trade, he shall be freed from
laying of all town and ministers rates, and
working att Highway for the space OF five
ears next ensuing"
At this meeting " Voted very unanimously ]
greed to build u meeting house for Divine
7orship." :
April 9th, 1888 A committee Of seven I
ersons were appointed to treet with Mr. An !
rev Bartholomew, in order to a settlement
the work of the meneSterYN"