Connecticut western news., 1907-10-10
OLD RECORDS
Referring to South Canaan Church and
 Town-Date Back to TAO.

Town-Date Back to TAO.
 From an extract from the old records of the town of Canaan we reproduce the following, referring to the town and to the Congregational church of South Ca naan, particularly the latter:
 The first town meeting of which a record was made was one held under the presidency of Josiah Walker on April 29, 1740. It was voted that & meeting house be erected, 40 X S5 feet in size, at Eye east end of ye first min- istry lot by ye six-rod highway that goeth through ye town" A building committee was appointed to build and furnish the church. It consisted of Samuel Prindle, Daniel Lawrence, James Beebe, Peter Hogeboom and Silas Beld- ing. E as.
 At special town meeting May 9, TAO. Josiah Walker was chosen agent for the town of Canaan to attend the General Assembly at Hartford and it was voted that he ask the Assembly to take means to prevent unwholesome inhabitants be- Ing sent into the town as agents, and "graut us considerable quantity of 'Firelocks' which are at New London" :" On July 9, 1740 it was voted to call MT. Webster to the pastorate of the church at 150 pounds salary If he would agree, the town would also pay him l3O pounds per year for three years, pound to be 21 shillings to the once, after three years the salary to be raised 10 pounds per year until it reached l50 pounds which should be the limit.
 On July 23, TAO it was voted that Mr. Webster should be ordained the first Wednesday in October TAO.
 On March IS, TAI it was voted to re- affirm the action taken April 29, l740 and that the meeting house be built but the dimensions be changed to 35x30 feet A committee was appointed to see that the church be built and equipped at the cost of the town. David Whitney was appointed agent to represent the town in the General Assembly and he was in- structed to ask that body to lay some penalty on nonresident proprietors of the town "in order that they may be compelled to bear their just burden of taxation" He was also empowered to ask for the formation of new county.
 At meeting October 5, TAI Andrew Stevens was elected town clerk. He was also town school master. John Currier, Andrew Stevens, William Eel lows and James Cole were admitted In- habitants of the town, David Whitney was again appointed town agent.
 On January 2, 1844 1t was votedNthat the rates be made sufficient to raise the sum of l50 pounds also that the town should furnish the meeting house so far as to build pulpit, finish the body of the seats and ito leave space for pews to be built when ye town sees fit,"
 On May 22, 1744 it was voted to lease out the parsonage right of land 999 years at public vendue to the highest bidder, the money to be received to be used for the maintenance of the gospel ministry.
 1744-At town meeting held in De- cember reward of 12 pence was voted for the tail of each rattlesnake killed during March, April and May. A com- mittee was chosen to confer with John Hart relative to fitting his house to meet in on the Lords Day. At an adjourned meeting it was voted that services should be held alternately on the Lords day at the houses of Isaac Lawrence and Abraham Hallenbeck.
 1 On December 27, 1744 it was voted that 30 pounds in addition to the 150 pounds already granted, be raised for Rev. Mir. Webster.
 On January, 2l, 1745 Andrew Stevens received 37 pounds for teaching the town school for one year.
 In April 1745 some of the people were dissatisfied with Rev. MT. Webster and town council was appointed ito sit and hear thereof" {" John and James Beebe constituted the committee to rep. resent the difficulty before the council.
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