Litchfield enquirer., 1868-02-20
Notes from Washington. Church Rec.
 ords, No. g.

ords. No. 3. The next book of records is by Rev. Eb- enezer Porter. This is the dedication: quote from these records verbatiua et Htera- tim:
 To my successors in the special charge or this Church. there records, revised and transcribed with considerable labor, are dedicated. That this Church may ever consist oS pious, 0yayerful. acatcAtul, shiainq .Christians, and that this dear flock may ever be blessed with succession of able, erora- getical, faiA.fM ministers, is the devout prayer of your predecesso: and brother in the holy ministry. (Signed)
 EBEN'R PORTER
 Washington, Nov. 1806." ....---......
 He has this record of history:
 "The following general facts respecting the settlement and history of this Society have been collected with some pains from the most antient inhabitants. The first settlement was made by Joseph Hurlburt, a little east of where Samuel Frisbie now lives. Now widow Russell Frisbie's Esq Mosaly lived near John Smiths present house; Nathaniel Durkee near Samuel Clarks; John Baker, near Benj, Hines new house; Capt, Weeks near Capt. ~ VoSOpAA 0llloGG near sherman brlnsmade's. Samuel Pitcher lived above half mile south from Judge Brinsmade's These settlements must have begun not far from the year 1734. The first house was built ln l736. It is probable NIr. s. means the first framed house. A MT. Baldwin, from Litchfeld, afterward Clerk oi the County Court, preached the first tlme 1t is said, in this Society, in bed room of Joseph Hurlburt's, which accom- mooated the people, though none staid at hoae who were able to attend. The next preacher was Mr. Coles, from Farming ton. The next, Mr. Eben'r Mills from Wethersfeld. The next MT. Mede from Horse-Neck. The next MT. Case from Newtown. Then Mir. Reuben Judd, who was ordained just south of S. Pitchers in the woods. A little north of where Wm. Oden now llyes.-l The records kept by hlm have providentially come into my hands since this sketch was begun. The Soclety was incorporated with Society priv lleges Tn TAI, it having been before inclu- ded m that Of Woodbury. The Church was formed Sept. lst, 1742-consisting of 10 maIes-Dea. Increase Mosely, Dea. Jo- seph Hurd, John Baker, Joseph Gillett. Allen Curtiss, Joseph Chittenden, Elijah Hurd, Benj. Hurd, Timothy Hurd, John Ryce, Samuel Broughton, Samuel Bell. In November of the same year, the follow ing females were admitted: Deborah Mose ly. Ann Hurd. Rachel Weeks, Jerusha Ba- ker, Abigail Hurd, Mary Hurl, Tabitha Hurd, Dora Hurd, Mary Durkse, Esther Durkee. From that time to May, 174G. there were AZ members added, making 70 Ill the whole, in less than four years. 3
 Military titles seem to have been very attractive to our fathers, and deemed wor- thy of insertion in the records of the Church militant:
 "Increase Mosely, afterwards Judge in Rutland County, Vt, where he died, was the first who held the offices of Deacon, Constable, Capt. of Militia and Justice of the Pence ill this Society The whole num- Der of Deacons up to 1906, has been eight. Militia Captains, seventeen, and seven oth- CT Captains, and five Justices.
 "ln l7o3, putrid fever prevailed of which 20 or 30 died in about months In I776, the dysentery proved mortal to 30 or more. During the year before, there Wa not one death in the Society The average of deaths for 20 years past has been about ten annually, or nearly one out of 100 per- sons. The first Society meeting in this l place was holden at the house of Mir. John l Baker. near where Mr. Benjamin Hines ] new house stands. Friend Weeks was cho- sen Moderator, Increase Mosely, Clerk, John Baker, Robert and Nathaniel Durkee, Society's Committee. The first settlers used to meet for public worship in barn. The first meeting house was built by eight 1 proprietors. in 1742. The second house of worship was raised 9 years after the first, ] and from the time the building was under koIy IoPo = inclosed as to be met in. Eight years af- l to the galleries. About the year 17S6, a | steeple was added and bell procured In 1900, this house was set on fire by David Titus, an insane man. Through the sea- sonable discovery of the fire, < x * the flames were extinguished in about an hour though the damage was about $2O0 On the night of the 30th of April, 1901, the same house was set on fire by the same person, 1t having been unknown till then that he did the damage before. The fire was put in the steeple and had made such progress that no exertions were made to save it."
 We have been often told how Mir. T. 1 came home and. went stealthily to his chamber, and in short time aroused the whole family by shouting, "Hot, 5oysl Hor, BoYs!!" and when the people saw the the house now occupied by l O C1rtiss Titus, he avowed the deed with in- ! sane delight. After this, he was chained 1 at night. His insanity was caused by go- ing into the water when in hot blood. His against the church was caused by some otficious tax-collector, who sold 8 l calf at the sign-post which belonged to him or his friends, to, pay the minister's rates s' of those days.
 The church edi6ce now standing in the centre of the Green, was erected in 1901, land in six months from the first stroke" Mr. P. preached Thanksgiving discourse n it. 'In IS months and one week it was Finished at an expense of six thousand dollars, without :'distraint oe!a,o on an in. 1ividual to furnish his proportion l
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 TIE SHEFFIELD R4nRoAD.-Ve hear # kokr &lo&& &I,a heAg g~1l