Norwich bulletin., 1910-01-21
EARLY PROTECTORS OF THE STATE
Captain John Mason who Founded Norwich the Leader of the First Tranband in Connectcut-Th here were Troubles in those Lays.

The military unit in the Connecticut
 colony from 1888 until the beglnnIng of the Revolutionary war was the
 train band, performing the functions of the national guard company Of the
 present time. The first trainband in 1 the colony was commanded by Capt John Mason and comprised forty men enrolled from Hartford, Windsor and Wethersfield for the Pequot war. It was a sturdy war organization and rendered a great service in extirpating
 the Pequots. Captain Mason was the | prototype of Israel Putnam in courage, | energy and leadership, and was the founder of Norwich
 The ancient trainband was founded | for military service in most of the towns in the colony and was fostered | by the civil authorities Exemptions | from the service, including watchings, training and poll tax, were granted on | the certificates of medical practitlon- | CTS. Gershom Bulkeley, Daniel Hooker and Thomas Hooker, all medical prac- 1 titioners, gave a certificate of infirrni- 1 ty Ito John Howard of Wethersfield Sept. 21, I'll, and he was freed from watching, training and poll tax. The certificate was accepted by both houses of the general court and the exemption was authorized. The document, which is in the possession of the state libra ", is in the handwriting of Dr. Bulke- ley.
 Peter Pratt.
 ll- torney in Hartford, petitioned the gen. eral court May 27, 1723. for exemption from training, which came during the term Of the court, when he was at tending to ''the kings business" and was fined for not training. He had served as a clerk in the expedition with northern savages, contracting sickness, which lasted five years and cost him hundreds of pounds from his estate. He asked in his petition eff it was compatible with his office to 1ugg' about the streets on his left shoulder a musket of six or seven foot barrel for five days in year and knapsack of law books under his contrary arms ?' The general court took up the case with more or less sympathy and freed MT. Pratt from the burdensome Thomas Kimberly was clerk in the lower house and certified that the ex emption had been granted.
 Mixup at Saybrook.
 Samuel Jones and John Pratt of Saybrook memorialized Gov. John Winthrop and members of the general court Oct 10, 1898, stating that many of the Saybrook trainband had '1yst- ed'' under the command of Lieut.. John Clark as F'fort soldiers. (Tyhe spelling of "ffort'' is interesting. In many eases words beginning with had the double formation-) Difficulties beset the Clark transaction in enlisting the Saybrook trainband men. The record in the controversy was given to his majesty's honored and superior court of records in Hartford April 25, 1899. It appears that on April B. 1898, the trainband at Saybrook had elected Samuel Jones captain and John Clark lieutenant. This election occurred six months before the complaint was made concerning the enlistment of trainband men as Ffort soldiers.
 WaIingford Church Deacon
 At the May session, 1725, case came up, showing that a trainband of ficer could not serve at the same time that he was a church deacon. The general court was informed that Lieut.. Samuel Moss had been elected a dea- son in the church of WaIlingford and desired to be discharged from military service. Capt. Theopolus Yaiu of the West Wallingford trainband conducted the election, filling the vacancy caused by the withdrawal of Deacon Moss Thomas Mills was elected May 10, 1725. The selection was confirmed by both houses of the general court
 Men for Her Majesty's Service.
 In May, 1702, an act was passed for the more speedy raising of men out of the trainbands for her ma ajesty's ser to be drawn out of each band, making up the quota that was needed. On June 19. I'll, quota of 360 effective men was authorized by the general court. The trainbands in the Con- necticut colony furnished large num- bers of men for military duty during the French and Indian wars.
 Matthew GriswoId of Lyme.
 In 1878 election troubles were ex- per1enced by the trainband in Lyme Matthew Griswold was a member of