Morning journal and courier., 1889-01-22
EARLH DAYs OF OUR COLONY.

tween she TWO TOWAB EAGe0 W1th the Revolution
 One of the most interesting papers read before the Historical society this season was that by Rev. D. William Ravens of Meriden last evening upon "The Relations of the Vil- lage of East Haven to the Town of New Ha- ven" Dr. Ravens is fine old gentleman with portly presence, long white hair and flowing white beard. His paper and conver- sation afterwards was highly entertaining and full of knowledge of the affairs of New Ha- ven and East Haven in the early days of their existence. Dr. Ravens was for twenty five years pastor of the Congregational church in East Haven and was 6 resident of Kansas for ten years before his return recently to this State.
 In beginning Dr. Ravens stated that the paper which he would read was composed of extracts from history of East Haveu which he had written some time ago. His remarks in brief may be here perused. 'After the organization of 8 church, he continued, ''the political constitution was the most important thing before the community. The constitu- tuition of the New Haven colony was formed on 8 different ground than the Saybrook, Hartford and Massachusetts colonies. They recognized no authority that did not origi- nate in themselves. They were, according to their own view, what philosophers would call State nation. Not foot of land occupied by the New Haven colony was gained by fraud. There is no evidence that any abo- riginal tribe was permanently settled in this vicinity. The purchase was not completed till autumn of 1888, and included all the plain lying west of the Quinnipisc river. The Indians received in payment articles of clothing and other utensils which were daaraad anikahIo and fofr Tharo nnvu- ever, certain conditions connected with the exchange that were of great advantage to the Indians. A tract of land east of the Quinni- piac river, in the town of East Haven, was set apart to them for planting ground. It was long known as the Indians field. This was the first mention of East Haven that oc- CUTS in the records of the colony of New Ha- ven. Previous to 1644 no actual land was acquired by the colonists for agricultural purposes. In this year Thomas Gregson pe- titioned that his allotment might be made at Solitary Cove. To him belongs the distinc- tion of being the first white man that settled in the town of East Haven. Shortly after ward he was appointed agent of New Haven colony to London, but perished in the pas sage, his ship being wrecked.
 In 164b it was ordered by the town that Rev. MT. Davenport, pastor of the church, should have his choice of 8 tract of land on the east side of East river. It was not till
 
 descendants took up their residence upon it. It is still known as the Davenport farm.
 It was not till 1880 that East Haven can be considered to have been permanently settled. About 1878 occurred an event of great inter. est to the town of East Haven. It was the organization of separate of worship. It was due to the great distance and difficulty of communication from New Haven. They petitioned the town for exemption from pub. lie worship and freedom from the church tax. The town people readily agreed, but stipulated certain conditions. The East Ha- ven people were aroused, organized parish and established their own system of worship. In 1880 the people of East Haven were per mitted by the proper authority to conduct their ow affairs. They had no idea. however, of stopping at that point but wanted to be free from New Haven and exist, in fact, as a separate town. The first intimation that New Haven had of this aim was the election by East Haven of whole list of town officers, taking possession of the common lands, and other acts. In 17S5 East Haven was incorporated as @ separate town, and the strife between the two had hardly ceased then. It must, however, be admitted that the right was with New Ha. ven. The common, undivided lands were unquestionably the property of the whole could not possess any of this common prop erty. Yet the people of East Haven gained, and the people of New Haven acceeded, the common land.
 It was not till a church was organized. Oct. S,1711, that the religious and secular inter- ests of East Haven became identified. The people were really till that time members of the New Haven church and were forced to recognize it in the principal religious rites and services.
 The most noteworthy and surprising thing in connection with these early affairs yae that the population if East Haven numbered only 127 persons. It was evident that these sturdy yeomen had higher religious princi- pie than those of the present day.
 The ecclesiastical controversy being settled by the establishment of separate church the political progress must be noticed. At will lage held March g, 1884, the question of sur- rendering the village charter and joining with New Haven again was brought forward and voted down. In the failure of their attempt at self-government there was shown a stag. nation in the affairs of the village.
 In 1706 New Haven, ignoring the village organization, assessed the old taxes on every resident. This of course was resisted. Suits of law were brought and property attached but the spirit of the men of East Haven arose with the difficulty. Six hundred acres of land were set aside to carry on the conflict. The village offered to support it's own poor if the common lands were exempted from the unjust tax. This was rejected and the peo- pie of East Haven then took the bull by the horns and boldly petitloned the general council at Hartford that they might be in corporated into a town distinct from New Haven and having the liberties granted to any town whatever. They were to be fully free from paying any taxes to the town of New Haven. One right was not mentioned, that of sending representative to the gen. eral legislature. The people at once proceeded to the election of their town officers to l-R R,- A1,osw 1kh f,.la pendent actions. It appears from the rec ords that the town of New Haven took seri, ous exception to these measures.
 Shortly after Governor Saltonstsll was elected. to the gubernatorial chair he took up his residence In East Haven, and from that time the misfortunes of the village were greatly increased. His relations with his neighbors were such that upon his renomins- ton in 1708 he did not receive 8 single vote in the village. Shortly afterwards the legislature passed an act which practical ly made the charter of East Haven as valueless as the blank paper upon which it was written. At every annual meeting after that 8 committee was present from East Haven to ask that their old village grant of 1707 should be restored. New Haven, how. ever, continued it's emnity. and against her many enemies East Haven was powerlees to gain her rights. She was placed completely in the power of the town of New Haven in matters or CaXaLlOn ana OtnerWlee. 4eb tne people of East Haven took the decree of the legislature with equanimity and continued their efforts.
 In 1716 committee was again appointed to present the petition of the village for @ town charter. It was again refused, but im- mediately after this New Haven was sudden- ly taken with benevolent turn and de- clared at town meeting in December that East Haven should be exempted from all taxes upon school and ministerial mat ters Soon after this Governor Saltonstall was retired from office by death. He was a marked figure in affairs of that time and New Haven should especially revere his memory, for it was principally through his efforts that Yale college was removed from Saybrook to this city in 1716. Still the pre- ponderating influence of New Haven in the general council precluded all hope of East Haven to have 8 town government of it's own They were refused in 1753 as usual, and it was not until the iron tyranny of Great Britain began to weigh heavily upon the country and the first blast of hostilities had sounded that East Haven finally received 8 separate charter. At the close of the war in 17S5 she received one of the most lu uminous charters that she could desire, and at the same time New Haven was raised to the dig- niGy of city.
 At the ending of Dr. Havens' paper a vote