Putnam patriot., 1914-11-06

county court for a committee to alllX spot for the meeting house to stand on. The present site was selected which was central for the parish, and on the Windham road, whieh'later be- came Il notable highway. Twenty pounds old tenor were paid Hebhariah Goodell "for half an acre of land to build a meeting house on" and which was built in l751.. A body of seats sut1iced for two years, but pulpit costing one hundred dollars given by Abiel Lyon was quilt in lI52. High feneed-in peWs were built, the man paying the highest tax having the first choice for pew spot, and pew was not to be sold without the farm by which he held it. As the pulpit repre- sented the gospel so the whipping post at the door stood for the law. Church organization was effected January 3l :, l753, and Rev. David Ripley was or dained Feb. 2l, l753.
 The Society duly organized, a minis  ter settled, a meeting house built, the parish had certain self consciousness and reasonably expected growth and improvement, but in t755 the French and Indian war broke oEt and called for service on the frontier. Historians state that probably every man eligible for military duty served for Fl time in the long struggle. The meagre records of the war afford only few names, but Lieut.. EbeneZer Holbrook and oth- CTS were in Capt. John Groseenot's company. A pamphlet printed about ls50 reads, "Many followed the fate of Gen. Putnam in the French war, and in the war Of Great Britain with Spain in l162 company under that brave officer went with him to Havana, most of whom died from the effects of the climate" and Abingdon was represent ed in this company. For years prior to the Revolution 1t is evident the community shared in the general dis satisfaction of relations with the moth- CT country. There were few newspa- pers, no post office club Of local politi- clans, but taxation, restriction of trade and production, were every day topics of conversation at grist mill and black smith shop and specially over mug of flip or toddy in the ample kitchen of Ephraim Ingalls, inn on the Wind ham road and Caleb Gros Venor's tav- ern on the Ashford road. " l774 Sam uel Crett was chosen one Of the town committee of spondence. The same year the people contributed to the flock of l05 sheep sent from Pom- fret to Boston in time of the blockade. They certainly knew how matters stood in Boston and awaited events with in. tensity of interest, Wednesday, April fa, I575, is memorable for the attack at Lexington. Capt lebadiah Ingalls received his copy of the Call from Wa. tertown the following day and imme- diately sent out summons to his com pany
 There was an unusual sight on the Windhsm road the following Satur- day. Companies from .Windham and Hampton, all excited and determined. Sunday morning found thousand men in Pomftet street ready to march to Boston. .The officers held n council and decided to send one-fifth of the companies. To the lasting credit of Pomfret, Capt. Ingalls, entire com pany was taken, doubtless for eNeel- lence in drill and equipment.
 The stir and hustle on the Windham road is indicated by petition of Abel Clarke and others that on account of the marching of troops and increase of travel Ephraim Ingalls tavern cannot provide for the great numbers passing and repassiag and ask that Abel