Norwich bulletin., 1909-07-03

lying in the bend of the Yantic, be- longed to the parish of West Farms, and the bounds between the two so- cieties were "the river, the brook that runs out of 1t. the Cranberry pond, ,>.tho Cranberry pond brook the great swamp, the dark swamp and the iniry swamp" Since 1892 the village of Fitchville has grown up within it's linn it's. around the cotton mill erected by Asa Fitch, Esq, the village occupying the site of the old Huntington Iron works, established in 1750 by Nehemiah Huntington and Captain Joshua Abel.
 In 1723 the ecclesiastical society of Newent was organized with seven members. Up to this time the people had been accustomed to attend meet ing at the church in the town-plot. some of them joUrneying a distance of . eight miles. the older people on horse- back. and the younger people often go- ing and returning on foot. The first .reeting house was probably built soon aster the church was organized and was used until about 1T70. The sec ond church building stood for many years. it's interior giving an impression Of deep solemnity. Hanover, which was Included with Newent in the new town of Lisbon. had not been incor- porated as an ecclesiastical society un- til 1761. It included a-small part of ana WlnQudul.
 In 1854 a correspondent of the Springfield Republican says that "in Lisbon. Ct., there is an ancient edifice in which for the last hs' years Rev. Mir. Nelson has been the pastor It never has been repaired upon the in- side. nor have the pews ever been painted or remodeled. The pulpit is on the side of the house. instead of the end. and there is a sounding board over it. and the deacons seat is directly in front. The pews are the o,d-fashioned square kind. and the gallery is In the old style. with the tything -men's seats in conspicuous places. The audiences are descendants of the former wor- shippers there. and the house. the pas tor and the people present probably on sundays as good specimen Of the worship of the fathers as can be found extant in New England. Mir. Nelson breaches his half-century ser- mon on the 9th of December"
 Long Society comprised a long and comparatively narrow strip, lying east of the rivers Shetucket and Thames Well might it be called Long, for it originally extended over the whole eastern border of the nine miles square from Plainfield to Poquetanuck. and this line of the original purchase in its liberal measurement, was probably ten or twelve miles.
 Miss Caulkins says of it:
 "The farmers on this side of the rivers petit.oned the town as early as 1899 to be released from paying eccle- siastical rates in Norwich on account of the great inconvenience they round ir attending divine worship by reason of the ferry and their distance from the town-plot. After crossing Inc river at the old fording pla,e it was necessary to traverse a tedious wind ing path arouLd the Chelsea hills to get Into the town street and pass on to the meeting house. The desired permission was not then granted, but twenty years later thev wsie free ly allowed to become a distinct parish and sixty acres of land set apart sor their first minister.
 Tn 17S6 Long Society was annexed to Preston. and instead of the desizna- ton 5th of Norwich took that of 2d of Preston"