Morning journal and courier., 1886-01-02
OLD SOUTH FARMS.

An Interesting Historical Sketch Of
 One of Connectfcut's old Towns
 Rum, Grindstones and Rope 10
 Frame a Meeting House.
 In the historical rooms at the State House is history of the town of South Farms, Litchfeld count (now Morris,) published in 1S44, from which the following interesting facts regarding this now fourishing town are taken:
 In May, 1740, the inhabitants of South Farms petitioned the legislature to be an nexed to the North society of WoodDury (now Bethlehem). A committee of the town appointed to oppose it and the apploa- tion unsuccessful. Several attempts were made to procure their incorporation as an ecclesiastical society, which did not sue ceed till 1767, when an act of the legislature for that purpose was passed. In 1753 there were but thirty families in the parish; when it was incorporated it contained seventy. But the legislature long before that time granted the inhabitants power to m aintain the pub lie worship of God among them for three months during the winter and this right was called the 'winter privilege"
 They thereupon exercised the ordinary powers of an ecclesiastical society. Their first meeting for such purpose was holden on the 23d of November, 174S, at the home of Captain Thomas Harrison. Josiah Strong was chosen moderator and Jacob Woodruff clerk. Their meetings were warned by post ing notices on trees in different parts of the society.
 The first school house was voted to be built in 1747. Twenty pounds was given from the town treasury for that purpose. In 1747 liberty was granted by the town to the inhabitants ot South Farms to have one fourth of an acre of ground laid out by the Selectmen for burial ground The first person buried in South Farms was inferred in the month of March, 1749, viz: MT. James Stoddard; be was killed at the raising of dwelling house.
 The orthography of those days was some what peculiar On the 4th of March, 1759, the society "voted to pay Charles Woodruff six shillngs for ye bears to carry ye dead"
 In 1776 the town employed the Selectmen to buy of Mir. Thomas Waugh half acre about twenty rods south of Joseph Waugh's dwelling house for public burying place, and in case said Thomas gave deed the town voted that 'tsaid Thomas Waugh, his hei;s and assigns shall have good right forever to enclose said burying yard and use it for pasturing, provided he or they shall keep up and maintain convenient bars for the people to pass and repass for the purpose of burylng their dead.
 In 1761 the General Assembly resolved that the inhabitants of South Farms 'be allowed to have the gospel preached among them for four months in the winter season and shall have liberty to build meeting house." The house was soon after erected and is still in existence QS45) and is ocou- pied as a dwelling house. By a resolve of the General Assembly the First society was required to repay the South Farms society what they had paid towards the new meet ing house in Litchfeld The South Farms society demanded of the First society share of the parsonage money.
 In 1769 it was voted, ''That We think the sealing ordinances are equally sacred. and any person that is qualified for one is quail fled for both" And in TITO it voted, "'That we approve of the church vote, viz: That conversion should not be a term of ad- mission for church communion. In 11S5 the socie y built new church of liberal dimensions. In April of that year the so- ciety voted, ''That the meeting house com mittee shall have good right to furnish rum, grindstones and ropes sufficient for framing the meeting house according to their best discretion" And in June of the same year the society appointed an overseer to direct the issue of liquor at the raising and voted, ''That the overseer shall give two drams per day to the spectators, one a little before noon. the other little before night J Tine house was finished in twenty weeks after they be gan the frame. A steeple was soon after added and bell procured. This church was occupied till the year 1S4f. when 1t was taken down and new one was erected.
 Morris academy, once celebrated, was es abolished in South Farms by James Morris, Esq.,. in 1790.