Morning journal and courier., 1889-08-09
NORTH HAVEN ANNALS.

NORTH HAVEN ANNALS.
The Fame and High standing of the |
Local Church In 17S7-East Haven
ers Knock for Admission-A Bone OF
Contention-BranfO ExorDitans
Clalm-The ssHalf MiIe,'-Thc Memo
riaIists.
About twenty years after the formation OF
the parish, or in 1887, the church here had
attained such standing under Mr.. Stiles as to
attract the attention of the settlers within
large circle. The bounds Of the society were
wide then, but distance from its focal point
the meeting house, did not count for as much
at that time as observation shows II does
now. Then men sought the gospel: now
they wait for the gospel to seek them.
THE HALF NILE.
The first party, in view of what has just
been said, to knock at our gate for admis-
sion, came from East Haven in the ABOVE
mentioned year. They memorislized the
General Assembly az follows:
"On the memorial of Samuel Jacobs, Dan
lei Finch, Benjamin Barns, Isaac Blakely, Ma
thanisl Hitchcock, William Rogers, Abel
Smith, Joseph Molthrop, and Caleb Hitch
cock, inhabitants In New Haven: showing
the bounds Of the parish of East Haven on
certain tract of land called the Half Mile in
the northeast corner of said society and res
mote from the publick worship of God in
said parish: praying this Assembly to dis
charge them from the said East Society and
annex them unto the said North Society in
said town, so as to include the said memoir
ialists and no other inhabitants, bounding SO
far south as to include Benjamin Barns
farm, and so eastward to the east
part of said Half Mile, between Mr..
Mathers and Abraham Hemingways land
and so north to Wallingford town line be-
tween Branford and said Half Mile, Include
| ing all the lands east of said North Society
within said bounds: Resolved by this AS
sembly that the said memorialists be dis
charged from said East Society and annexed
| to the North Society in said New Haven
and that the bounds above mentioned includ-
ing the said memorialists be the bounds be-
tween the said East and North parishes above
said"
The territory thus acquired is to certain
extent historic in that it was long bone of
contention. In 1913 the general court at
New Haven, sold to one swain and others of
WethersfIed, large tract of land on it's
western border called Tetokett, and later
Branford, for about IA &. Certain stipula-
lions not pertinent here accompanied the
| sale. The boundary lines were so indefinite
| that some six years later disagr cement arose
between New Haven and Bradford concern
| ing the extent Of the latter's purchase. This
matter was submitted to arbitration, but
/ without satisfactory results.
/ Not to enter into an exhaustive account of
the quarrel. it is sufficient to say that it was
found at length that Branford claimed more
acres than had been included and paid for
In the original purchase in 1914. The set-
tiers of East Haven were struggling ct this
time for recognition as village, and were
alternately being ground between the mill.
stones of Bradford and New Haven, but
keeping up good heart and making bold
| showing both to New Haven (Which seemed
the chief nggressor) and the General Assem-
bly,, they 80 far succeeded at length as to
force the settlement of the boundary lines to
| an issue, and Branford surrendered to East
Haven in 1882 a strip of land on her west
border half mile wide from the
head of Furnace pond to the Wal
lingford line, matter Of ten miles
more or less. New Haven demurred consid-
erably at this transaction, causing East Ha-
| ven great deal of expense, SO much so that
| in 1907 the latter village sold six hundred
| acres of the lower portion of the "half mile
to raise funds to defend the suits her enemy
| New Haven was vexing her with. Again in
| 170S being badly In debt to the minister
and Meeting house" (see Dodd) the village
voted to sell the remainder of the half mile
tract. 1t was bought by individuals for one
| shilling and eight pence per acre, and from
the records it would seem as If the "draw-
ing' customary in the apportionment of
"Division lands" was resortsd to in this case
to determine each applicants section.
1t is not improbable but that some of the
memorialists, perhaps all, mentioned in the
beginning of this article, were among the
original purchasers of this tract.
To make the topography of this much dis
puted territory clear as possible at this day,
let 1t be remembered that when North Haven
was made parish in 1915 the north end of
our eastern line began near the present resi-
dence of Franklin Allen and continued al
| most on the magnetic meridian a little over
| William Jacobs below the Bethuel Brocxett
place. This line followed the highway past
| the Clinton family's numerous residence and
| coming out by the new Clintonville chapel
Thence south a little west of the old turn
pike toll gate at John Todd's. passing near
Merwin 4. Palmer's house and continuing on
east of Bethuel Broekett's until the Jacobs
place as before stated was reached. (See
county survey of 1867
Such was tine original eastern boundary.
Now for the "Half Mile" Retrace your steps
going up the highway from the Clintonville
chapel to the residence of Mr.. Charles Smith.
Here the line now makes an abrupt turn to
the east to a point on the top of "Smith
rock" and thence across the river and
meadows, ruling between the houses once
owned by Deacon Thomas and Ebenezer
Smith. This line Is exactly one half mile in
length. Formerly it passed directly through
Mr.. Charles Smiths house, but some twenty
l or more years ago this gentleman in order tc
be definitely located, had it changed to
few feet north of his dwelling.
At its eastern terminus turning south
HI y 4
| about two miles, running east of Selectmar
f. G. Warmers residence until 1t comes tc
nearly Charles Palmer where it turns direct
ly west one-half mile till it reaches again thu
| original north and south line.
For all that this much-contesed tract was
annexed to the parish of North Haven. it,
I inhabitants still belonged to the town of East
Haven and voted and paid all taxes there OK.
| cept the minister's and the school rates until
the incorporation of the town in 1886, wher
the parish lines became the town boundaries
thus completely bringing the memorialists
| within our borders.
/ OF these memorialists, some were 80 worthy
AZ to deserve more than passing mention
Beginning then at the north end of the hall
i mile was Abel Smith, the grandson of Thomas
Smith, who according to tradition came tc
this country at four years of age in 1885 with
Rev. Mr.. Davenport and others in the shiI
Hector. Abel built on the site now occupied
| by Luoius Smith. He had among other chill
dren Jude, who had Lyman, father of Lucius
just mentioned, and others.
| [#No discrimination of names must be
charged the writer. Only those are men
| toned afording the clearest steps in genoa
| logical deecents.
In 1856 Mr.. Abel Smith was made collec-
tor of the Rev. Mr.. Stiles salary.
Next In order came Isaac Blskeslee, great
grandfather Of Col. Henry NJ. Blakeslee OF
this village. This gentleman lived on the
Evelyn Blakeslee place. He was man Of
influence and held many responsible posi-
tions. His name appears on the early church
catalogue. In 1850 he was on the society
committee. In 1855 was made q committee
ito discourse with Rev. sir. Stiles concern
ing his rate" In 1868 was on "Ssatinp
committee" of the church. In 1860 was
again appointed TO wait on the arbitrator
concerning Rev. Mr.. Stiles back salary.
In 1868 was on COMMITTEE to lay plan fol-
school affairs" Also in matters pertaining
to the secular interests of the parish he was
equally prominent.
Samuel Jacobs lived near Merwin E
| Palmer's house. he was the father OF Eze
kiel Jacobs who built the tall steeple of the
old Congregational church.
/ Daniel Finch lived below the present resi-
dence of E. G. Warner and gave the loca
name of "Finchs hill" to slight eminsnos
In that section.
Benjamin Barnes lived on the site now
occupied by E. O. Warner. But little IA
known of him at this writing except that the
name of himself and wife appears on the
early church catalogue.