Connecticut western news., 1872-03-29
SALISBURY, CONN.
History of the TOWN OF NORFOLK.
Continued from last week.

The first burials were in Canaan, where the first settlers attended public worship on the Sabbath. The first person buried in this town was the wife of Jedediah Turner. The fear of invasion of foreign foe, and the still more dreaded assaults of the abor- igines of this country, whose aggressions and cruelty they had already experienced, induced them to learn the art of war. The first militia company convened in this town was commanded by Lieutenant Whitney, who was afterwards appointed captain when the company became full.
 Notwithstanding the eembarrassmentscom com mon to infant settlements, many indeed, aud peculiar ones fell to their lot; for in addition to the troubles attending the un- settled state of the colony, civil, political, and ecclesiastical. which they suffered in common with their brethren of this new country. they had also to encounter severe hardships in trying to subdue stubborn soil, aud erect hah'ations for their faml expensive materials obtainable from abroad, which, in their circumstances as early set tiers. must some of them be dispensed with :; yet having imbibed the spirit of the New England fathers, they determined, as soon ss practicable, to provide for the stated enjoyment of gospel ordinances. They therefore unanimously agreed to exert themselves for that purpose.
 December goth, 175s, an itinerant clergy man by the name of Treat was procured, and preached the first sermon ever deliv- cred in this town. They had occasional preaching until January Sth, l759; they then hired Mir. Peck to preach for con siderable time, and also agreed to commence building a westinghouse for the worship of God. These exertions they soon per ceived were likely SO to involve them, that in May following, they applied to the general assembly for the land-tax before mentioned. It is not stated whether they obtained this or not, but in October of the same year they again applied to the as sembly for land-tax of two pence on the acre. to continue four years; this, it ap. pears, they obtained. The inhabitants who were legal voters, assembled December the 18th, 175S, and organized their first town nPc'ing; it consisted of A members tt:ir names were the following; .. .
 George Palmer, Moderator. William Barber Jedediah Richards, John Turner Ebcnezer Knapp, Cornelius Brown, Aaron Aspenwall Samuel Gaylord, Ezra Knapp Isaac Pettibone, Edward Strickland, Sam uel Cowls, Ebenezer Burr, Elijah Barber EbeneZer Pardia, Cornelius Dowd Joseph Mills, Gideon Lawrence, Asahel Case, Jus tis Gaylord, Rufus Lawrence. Eli Pettibone Samuel Mills, Thomas Knapp, Ebenezel Knapp, Jr., James Hotchkiss, Samuel Ransom. Abraham Knapp, James Bene dict, Stephen Baker, Joshua Whitney. Jacob Spalding, Stephen Comstock, Jede diah Turner, Samuel Strickland, Jabez Rood, Samuel Monross, Luther Barber Timothy Gaylord. Elisha Richards, Giles Pettibone, Jonathan Strickland, Amariah Plumb, David Turner.
 For fifty-slx years, the civil and ecclesi astical concerns of the tewn were conduc ted by one corporate body. Imposing and collecting taxes, appropriating money and other property collected to meet the exi gencles of the day, and prudenlly parcell Ing it out-in small sums, of course-ir some measure to satisfy the pressing anG numerous claims then demanding their at tention. In June, 176l, the people invited Mr Pr,ho candidate for the ministry-son of the Rev Philemon Robbins, of Branford, in this State-''iO preach to us on probation. After taking suitable time to acquaint them selves with his qualifications, and to delib crate on the subject, they, on the 18th ot September, 176l, gave him unanimous call to take the charge of them as theil minister the committee informed him ot the result of their deliberations, and pro posed to him the following stipend ant terms: viz, to give him the lot reserved for the settled minister, and an annua salary of f62 los. for two years, and aftel that time agreed to give him stated salary of gro, payable annually, ,gand in produce at the market price, and fixed by a com mittee to be appointed annually for saie purpose; Qhis mode of payment was con tinued for 45 years, when contract wal made). After due consideration Mir. Rob bins accepted the terms proposed, ant waited their tune to receive him as thei minister
 Michael Humphrey, Esq, and Ezr, Knapp, were appointed 10 accompany MT Robbins to the association and attend hi examination. He was approved of by thu association. and the 2sLh of October, l76I fixed upon for his ordination, The tim' arrived, and preparations were made fo the occasion, At the age of 2l, MT. Rob bins presented himself before the ordain ing council, and submitted to their exami nation, which resulted in his ordination The council was composed of the follow ing clergymen, who performed the SGT vices assigned them in the solemn transac ton.
 Rev. Mir. Lee, of Salisbury, offered tn introductory prayer Rev. Mir. Robbins his father, preached the sermon, text 2d o Corinthians, 5th chapter, 2Oth verse. Rev Dr. Bellamy. of Bethlehem, offered tn consecrating prayer, and gave the charge Rev. Mir. Champion, of Litchield, gay the right hand of fellowship; Rev. Nil Robberts, of To-rington, offered the COT cluding prayer. The number of familie in town at this time was 60, and soon ir creased to 70. The church consisted c 3S members. In May 18th, 1762, Nil Robbins married Miss Elizabeth Le Baron daughter of Dr. Le Baron of Plymouth Mass, and removed her through the the rough and devious way to his Eew habitf