New Britain herald., 1916-01-27


 prove that Their "chief end" was in- deed to "glorify God"-All honor to them for this fidelity to principal But-why is there always a but in the way of unqualified commenda- t1on. Did they not, perhapsn forget the second part of the injunction ito en- joy him forever?' Possibly we, in our day, by emphasis on enjoyment of all the Fathers blessings make up for their lack. However that may be- let us be thankful that with no less seriousness of purpose, but with far more cheer, comfort, and even merry comradship than was apparently known in Colonial days, as may build our little lives into the growing for tunes of the city,-once the parish of New Britain.
 New Britain in the Revolution.
 In what consists the right of a town to boast of Revolutionary his- tory? Is it in the possession of build lngs either whose walls some civil or military incident took place be- tween 1774-17S1? Was the town the scene of an incampment, or battle.
 New Britain has none of these. but If we regard men as greater than any thing accomplished, the spirit which prompts and actuates greater than the act itself, then may we affirm that New Britain is on the Revolutionary map; for large number of men ac- cording to Camps history from tho territory now included in New Brit ain joined the army of enthusiasts having neither money, nor munitions of war, and fortified only by the sense of justice and hatred of op- pressiOn.
 Being conscious then of New Brit aims strength in this matter of men, with the spirit of '76, we mind it not so much that Washington neither un- sheathed his sword now carried our might within our boarders.
 Before bringing these men before you, it is necessary to give them their proper environment. New Britain IS it was one hundred and fifty years ago. The territory now included in our city was divided into three scat tered groups of farms. Stanley Quar- ter, East street. and Hart Quarter. Each hamlet boasted a tavern and a blacksmith shop, two of these had mills, and one of these East street. store, where principal business was barter.
 Sol II dllti WHCoil, IS S duu Dd1SS OI flax, constituted the salary of the minister and the fees of the doctor, and a man intending to spend the night at a tavern would add an an- other bag of corn to that for his horses supper that he might pay for his own.
 The real center then was East street with a school, and the present center, I quote Professor Camp had only three four farms. "The surface of this part of the place was broken and very uneven" Ledges of trp rock and sWamps and forests covered a large portion of the territory, and it was evidently considered unattractive for residences or cultivation.
 It was four years after the close of the Revolutionary war, that New Britain as someone has said "di- vorced herself from Farmington and was espoused by Berlin" So any Revolutionary mention of Farming ton may include these parishes IL was to be expected that the earliest settlements would be made on naviea- ble waters, the great or Connecticut river or the sound. Pennington was the first exception, for in 164O five years after the first settlement had L, some spirits blazed their way throug1, the woods and over the mountains ten miles distant. The descendants of their pioneer group had left their mark on succeeding generations and now having survived the danger from savage Indians and wild beasts. hay- ing fought the Frenchmen and conquered the Spaniard they found themselves face to face with a greater foe, one that threatened their freedom, and they met him with the same 1,n- daunted courage.
 To be sure it was q military ara to quite again from Camps history During the latter part of the 17th century and the first half of the 18th the American colonis+c were frequently engaged in the wars between England and France. Loyal to the mother country as the strife. between these two great nations be- came transferred to America. the American colonists were actively en- ployed either in fighting in the F,ng- fish army with the regular troops. or in companies and bands of colonial enlisted for special service in particular campaigns
 Then follows a list of those who served in the French or Indian wars. Called of God and King George the III. and holding a captains commits sion was Major John Patterson who collected a company of soldiers chiefly from Pennington, New Britain and Wethersfield and with his faithful negro servant, London, fought French and Spaniards and was with the British forces in the taking of Havana in 1762"
 Nevertheless accustomed as they were to fight on the side of the British it took something besides courage to become active par in the war against the British and the native country. But it was a transfer of loyalty. And we max read much hetWnnn the lines