Norwich bulletin., 1911-12-07
TOWN MEETINGS IN
 COLONIAL TIMES
(continusd from Page Eisht.) ?

make it substantial and suffi.ient to
 be paid two shillings per day. Six ethers were to rate the town to defray he charge. Further, it agreed that no person or persons shall set up any other mill to grind corn for the town of Pequot within the limits of the town either for the present or the future so long as Mir. John Winthrop or his heirs do uphold mill to grind corn. The picturesque old mill still grinds corn.
 A ferry across Pequot or Thames
 river was very necessary and at q town meeting, 1854, 1t was left to MT. Winthrop and the townsmen. who en- listed into articles of agreement with
 Cary Latham, granting him lease and
 monopoly of the ferry over Pequot river at the town of Pequot for 50 ears from the 18th of March, 1855.
 It was agreed "the said Cary to take three shillings of every passenger for his fare, six shillings for every horse CT great beast and three pence for calf or swine, and to have liberty to keep some provisions and some strong liquors wine for the refreshment Of passengers. Mir. Latham on his part
 bound himself to attend the service within a years time a boat sufficient to carry man or beast. wonder what they would think if they could see the automobiles carriages and people that are ferried over the river now in the large ferryboats.
 Whipping Post and PilIory. The whipping post and rillory were usually near tEe meeting house. In 4 rril. 1863, tie town If Windsor agreed with Robert Bartlett for the making of a pair of stocks with nine holes fitted to put on the irons for 13s. 4d. At New Haven. Robert Duhurst and James Stewart are enjoined to make double restitution to John Cockrell for
 6 , and 17s. which they stole out of his chist on the Lords day in the meet ing time, and they, being servants to said Cockreh. were also whipped" Canvas and Cotton Wool.
 It was enacted that when canvas and cotton woole may be conveniently had, due notice and warning shall be given, and then every family within the planation shall accordingly pro- " ide and after continue. furnished with a coat well made. and so quilted with cotton wooIe as may be fit for service
 and a. comfortable defence against In dian arrows, and the taylors about the towne shall consider and advise how to make them that they be done with put unnecessary delay.
 Innkeepers and Boatbuii6ers.
 Innkeepers were considered town of |ficers and to keep a house of enter tainment: one must be man of good character and have confortable es- tate. December II, 1879. in Norwich, fit was agreed and voted by ye town that Sargent Thomas Watcdman be desired to keep ye ordinari" October, 1894, Mir. Mallet, French gentleman, desiring liberty of the town that he where upon our river, the town grants the said MT. Mallet the liberty to build, and also grant him the liberty of the common on tEe east side of the Show tucket river to cut timber for build jng.'' This was the beginning of ship building here. which for time was ficurishing industry.
 Race Feeling.
 The race feeling seems to have been very strong in New London, for April -5, 1727, it was voted this town do utterly oppose and protest againlt Robert Jeckiin. negro man, buying any land in this town or being an in- habitant within said town and do fur tier desire the said deputies that shall attend the court in May next that they represent the same to the general as- sembly, tnat they should take some prudent care that no person of that CT freehold estate within this govern ment."
 Revolutionary Times.
 Tie people Of Windsor, Hartford and New Haven did their share in pro viding for the continental army, both in food and clothing. but the town meeting records confine themselves chiefly to bountfes to soldiers and ways and means of securing money for the towns expenses during the rev. clu tionary war In New London the town records were full of interest dur ing the war. A town meeting was held in Groton on the goth of June, 1774, and at New London the 2.th Of June. when committees of correspon- oence wera appointed, snd resolutions Iassed expressive of indignation, re- ton when the edict of parliament shut ting up the DOT, there took effect. March 31. TIT, at a town meeting the town clerk was directed to remove the
 
 p-ace of safety. only reserving in his own custody those required for i'm mediate use. They were removed to the western part of the township, where they were kept until the termi- nation of the war. By this wise pre- caution they escaped the destruction of most of the other records. September 6, 17s1.
 Disused British Goods.
 In Norwich early in December, 1767, the town received the famous Boston circular recommer1in dlsuse of cer- tain articles of British production. A town meeting was immediately con- yened and committee appointed to report at the next meeting. This com | mittee's report consisted chiefly of an agreement not to use certain articles nsanufactured out of North America, | su T as tea, wines, spirituous liquors l etc, of foreign manufacture, except | lirens and broadcloth of a very low | pi ice and felt hats. They recommend | ed The establishment of domestic man. ufacIures. It was also strongly recom- | 10 ended to the ladies of the town that | they omit tea drinking in the after l noon, and to the commissioned officers | to be moderate and frugal in their ac- 1 knowledgment to their companies for | choice of them as their officers | which at this distressing time will be | more honorable than the usual lavish | and extravagant entertainments hith- | erto given. On Oct. 4, 17ss, a town | was held to consider the criti- | cal and alarming con1uncture of affairs | and they passed vote of cordial ap- probation of the measures adopted by | the Bostonians on the 18th of Septem- | Der. On the margin of tha town books | is inscribed Liberty Ltbertyi Lfbertyl | Many full town meetings were held and | adopted. On June 6, 1774 ! q town meeting was held in the court | house but was obliged to adjourn to | the meeting house, the concourse was | SC large, when they voted to resist the | oppressive laws of the mother country |
 Articles of Confederation.
 The articles of confederation agreed |