The Newtown bee., 1899-03-03

This portion of the town of Stratford
began to be settled BY farmers about
1920; so that by 1900 there was quite q
| colony living in this vicinity. A few
years later a petition was made to the
General Assembly, asking to be coneti-
tuted into distinct parish, for the pu-.
pose of maintaining the public worship
If God among themselves; which petit
lion was granted by the Assembly, May
8, 1717.
find record reading thus, at meet
Ing of the General Assembly held in New
haven, October 10, 17l7. "This Assem-
bly, In May last, having granted to the
farmers inha biting the northern part of
the town Of Stratford. the liberty and
privilege OF parish and society by, and
II Themselves, for setting up, maintain.
ing and holding the public worship of
God among them; with all the liberties.
powers and privileges, as other sccieties
and congregations in this colony general
ly have, and ebioy by law.
Upon consideration of the petition Of
said farmers now presented; praying
that they may be enabled, by allowir e
them their county rates for four years
TO pay parish charges. This Assembly
grants them release from paying county
rAtes, during the term of four years next
provided they pay the like sum as their
county rates amount to, unto Benjamin
CurtIss and Daniel Shelton of Stratford
90 be disposed of for the promoting and
setting mp of public worship within ca d
parieh and that the parish be called
and known by the name of Repton." q
find 1t spelled Repton till about ITO
when 1t was spelled Ripton.)
Thus Ii win be seen that new parish
was stsrted here under the fostering care
nt the state, and the financial direction
qs two brethren Of the parent society for
the term of four years.
The first business transactet by the
society Of Repton, as fiud it, was 1t a
lawfully warped meeting, December 10,
l7a2, when Joseph Blackjack was
CHOSEN clerk for the ensuing year. 1t
was also voted that Robert Wheeler,
Zschariah Besrdslee, Sylvester Perry,
samuel Hawley and Nathan Bennett
should be committee for the parish of
Repton for the year ensuing.
At q lawfully called meeting in the
parish February Is, 1923, it was voted,
that in case there shall be 10 pounds
more bid towards building meeting
house; to have 1t set at the upper end
Iof Ocingquage plain; than shall be bid to
have it built at the place before appoint
ed then 1t shall be built on the aforesaid
plain; and the above bids must be depos
tied by the 12ah of March next. Z4cha-
riah Beardslee, Sylvester Perry and Jo-
Rseph Blackjack were appointed q CON-
mittee to open and compare the bids.
| On the 12sh of March they found that
there were 81 pounds bid towards put
| ting the meeting house on the upper end
Of O cinQquage plain; and not penny
gbid to have IL built at the place formerly
appointed. Therefore it was decided
that the frat meeting house in the parish
should be builded at the upper end OF
sAid plain: which was somewhere neal
where the old road strikes Of to the
right from the present road; that is, this
aide and In front OF the house now occu
pied by Samuel Il. Buckingham. / should
suppose near the upper end of the ole
graveyard plot; though some have tolC
me that they thought.it was on the righ
OF the old road, In Mr. Bronson's pastur.
lot.
| Again &C lawfully called society
meeting held In the parish Of ReptoD
december 10, 1913. it Is recorded, th,
meating was opened with prayer by Jed
4 idsah Mills. Robert Wheeler was chosen
lmeassategI Jessph Blackleach -