The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-10-19

Not qI1ite in the same age group as the Litchfield probate court, which observed its 20Oth anniver- sary last week, is the Waterbury probate court, but its records do date back to 1779 when the Con- necticut General Assembly at its May session set this probate dis trict apart from that of Woodbury
 As American courts go 163 years covers a lot of history, for in 1779 we were still fighting the war of revolution; we had a colonial form of government; the Declaration of Independence was still very fresh in peoples minds.
 The limits of the Waterbury pro- bate court in 1779 were greater than they are today, when they simply comprise the towns of Waterbury, Wolcott, and Middlebury. In 1779 they included Waterbury, Nauga- trek, Watertown, Plymouth, and Thomaston. Plymouth was the first to zreak away, 1883; then followed Watertown in 1884; Naugatuck in 1863; and lastly, Thomaston in 1862.
 Records of the court during its early years were made by Jesse Hopkins, clerk, whose handwriting, still very legible in the court rec ords kept in Judge Patrick Healey's court vault, was typical of the flow ing script of that day and age. MT. Hopkins was still writing in neat style when the 18th century merged into the 18th and a new volume of records was required.
 Pounds, ShilIings
 It is interesting to note that those early records in the late 18th cen tury and well into the 18th showed all computation of estates in terms of pounds, shillings, and pence with the most painstaking care denoted on the part of appraisers to com pile 8 fl1ll and complete list of the deceased's assets, even down to the last beehive or fat steers with white face.
 The first estate brought into pro- bate in Waterbury was that of one Reuben Matthews early in l779. Jo- seph Hopkins was judge of the court. MT. Hopkins was a leading citizen of the town serving in many public capacities and later holding in addition to his probate judge ship an assistant judgeShip in the district court at New Haven, where he died during progress of a legal hearing. Of passing note is the fact that Judge Hopkins was elected to the Legislature in 1764 and re- elected forty four times. terms evil dently not lasting full year.
 His death in 1901 settled the j11dgeship upon John Kingsbury, who was a lawyer. Judge Hopkins was not of the legal profession, their number being extremely few in Wa terbury in those days and for some time to come.
 Of Jesse Hopkins, the original clerk of the court, it might be said that he was Judge Hopkins son and somewhat of a poet and writer, his works being fairly popular in those days, which may explain his posi- tion of recording the transactions of the court and his good "hand". Jesse Hopkins was probably sue ceeded as court clerk in 1900 or 1901, records not being too clear on the transition in office.
 When Judge Kingsbury retired because of his age in 1882 he was succeeded by Joe Hinman, who later became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. His tenure of of flee was from 1880 to 1840, his suc- cessor being Norton J. Buel, who practiced in Naugatuck and Water jylry, before going to New Haven where he died. Even Dr. AnderSon's s History of Waterbury is vague on how long Judge Buel held the pro- bate judgeship, but it is safe to as s,,me he did so until 1854 when it was filled by s. W. Kellogg and the office became an elective one, Wa terbury having been incorporated as city the preceding year.
 Judge Kellogg
 Judge Kellogg held office for three terms (they were one year them. He then alternated with several others for number of