CHAPTER XXXIV.
MISCELLANEOUS LAWS. LETTERS. CATHOLIC CHURCH. LAWYERS. MERIDEN GRAYS.
at a special town meeting holden at Wallingford Jan. 27, 1794, "Voted unanimously that this town do disapprove of the measures taken by the General Assembly in October last relative to the sale of the western territory belonging to this State, and the appropriation of the avails thereof; and that we deem it our duty to use every prudent method to prevent the aforesaid measures being carried into effect, and that the above Vote be inserted in the Connecticut Journal."
At the October session of the General Assembly, 1726, a grant of three hundred acres of land in the town of Goshen was made to John Hull of Wallingford, James Wadsworth of Durham and Hezekiah Brainerd of Had-dam (father of the missionary David Brainerd), for public services. It was called the Esquires' Farm, from its being given to these persons, each of whom had the title of Esquire.
[From the connecticut journal, April 29, 1768.]
As I have never burthened the public to read or you to publish any of my productions, I flatter myself the subsequent succint suggestions will be forgiven. As economy is the watchword of this reign, as candor was of the former, in the
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courtly and ministerial style, it has crossed the Atlantic, and is in high vogue in America as well as in Westminster the city of the great king. The story is this: A few days since a strolling man in soldier's regimental garb, calling himself James McCannon, with a blazing woman, came into my house in early morn, begged for cider, then three mugs deep, as I was informed; after some admonitions given him, my affairs pressing my immediate departure, I left him in the house, on which he soon became very boisterous, attempted to pilfer some things which my domestic discovered; finally carried off a brass save-all, of a stand of candleticks (then undiscovered), what else is at present unknown. This, though trifling in its value intrinsically, but as an ancient patrimonial legacy of high estimation, not only is a standing evidence of their prudent economy, but ex vi termini a memento of economy and save-all. And hereby I beg leave to give warning to all families to beware of such strolling pilferers, if they would save all. I beg leave also to ask the public, whether it would not be of public utility, to have task-masters in every town to compel them to labor, as they are passing every day in our streets, and will be probably more and more, or some other similar salutary measure. I ask pardon for one more hint which pops into my head, while my pen is moving, as a supplemental suggestion to economy and save-all. A respectable physician of the city of London, of high renown in the faculty, told the subscriber that he required his servants to save all the rags, not that it was of the least avail to him, but only a specimen of economy-save-all, and withal added, "The rags in this city are worth sixty thousand pounds sterling a year." I hope the paper-mill manufacturers will not esteem the foregoing hint burthensome, though the public may what precedes. Gentlemen, if it appear more eligible to save your pains and paper than print this, remember and save all.
I am your most humble servant,
E. HALL.
Wallingford, 5 o'clock, April 27th.
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[From the CONNECTICUT GAZETTE.]
At a meeting of the true sons of Liberty in Wallingford, in New Haven county, on the evening of the 13th day of January, 1766, after duly formed by choosing a moderator and a clerk, the following resolves were come into, viz.:
Resolved, 1 That the late act of Parliament, called the Stamp Act, is unconstitutional, and intended to enslave the true subjects of America.
Resolved, 2. That we will oppose the same to the last extremity, even to take the field.
Resolved, 3. That we will meet at the Court House in New Haven, on the third Tuesday of February next; and we desire all the sons of liberty in each town in the county would meet there by themselves or representatives; there to consult what is best to be done in order to defend our liberties and properties, and break up the stop to public affairs.
Resolved, 4. That this meeting be adjourned to the first Tuesday of February next, then to choose our representatives to attend the aforesaid meeting.
A true copy, examined.
P. P. clark.
CATHOLIC CHURCH.
The first Roman Catholic service in Meriden was held at a private residence in the north-east part of the town. The building now occupied as a residence near the corner of Liberty and Broad streets, and which then stood on the corner of Olive and South Broad streets, was soon after purchased and used by the Catholics for many years. Rev. Thomas Quinn was the first settled pastor, although Rev. Messrs. Stevens and Hugh Riley had previously had pastoral care of the society. During Rev. Mr. Quinn's pastorate, the present church of St. Rose of Lima was built at a cost of about $25,000. Soon after the completion of the Church, Father Quinn was removed to another field of labor, and was succeeded
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by Rev. Thomas Walsh, the present pastor. Rev. Mr. Sheridan was curate for a while under Father Walsh, and was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Plunkett, who in 1870 was removed. The church has recently been enlarged.
The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was offered up for the first time in Wallingford on the 22nd of December, 1847, by a missionary Priest, in a private house on Main street, occupied by James Hanlon. Fifteen persons composed the congregation. From 1847 to 1857 the Catholics of Wallingford had divine service in private houses and in the hall of the tavern when it could be obtained, and it was attended by the Priest from Meriden. On the 23d of November, 1857, the corner stone of the present Catholic church was laid by the Rev. Thomas Quinn, then pastor of the Meriden church. Wallingford has ceased to be an out-mission to Meriden since 1868; Rev. Hugh Mallon being then appointed pastor. The Catholic population of Wallingford is now about one thousand.
LUTHERAN CHURCH.
The corner-stone of the St. John's German Evangelical church was laid Friday, Oct. 19, 1866, Rev. Dr. Bohrman of Albany preaching the sermon. In the stone were deposited a Bible, Catechism, Records of the Church, a copy of the Recorder, and several evangelical newspapers. Rev. Gustavus A. Schmidt was the first pastor, and was succeeded by Rev. Charles Groeber.
lawyers.
Benajah Andrews was for many years the leading lawyer of Meriden. He was Judge of Probate in this district from 1844 to 1846, and from 1847 to 1850. Dexter R. Wright, a graduate of the Wesleyan Uni-
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versity, of the class of 1845,1 and Tilton E. Doolittle, a graduate of Yale College of the class of 1846, practised law in this town for many years. Orville H. Platt came here in 18512 and has held many important offices in the gift of the town. Savilian R. Hall practiced here for a short time, and removed to New Haven, as did Messrs. Wright and Doolittle. The lawyers at present in Meriden are as follows: George W, Smith, Cooke Lounsbury, George A. Fay, E. A. Merriman, Leverett L. Phelps and Ratcliffe Hicks.
MERIDEN GRAYS.
2d Brigade, Conn., State Militia. In 1830 the roll was as follows: Captain, Almeron Miles; Lieutenant, John S. Blake; Ensign, Osamas Crocker; Sergeants, Alfred P. Curtiss, Alanson Curtiss, Edmund Parker, Harrison W. Curtiss; Bugler, Elam L. Johnson; Fifer, Henry P. Judd; Drummer, John Miles Jr.; Bass Drummer, Loyal Smith; Almon Ives, Benj. H. Royce, Charles Parker, Charles Ranney, Daniel Hart, Edwin Birdsey, Ezra Rutty, Edward N. Hall, Geo. Thrall, Harrison Curtiss, Henry Penfield, Henry W. Saltonstall, Horace Redfield, Isaac W. Curtiss, James S. Lathrop, Lyman Ives, Norman W. Pomeroy, Nelson Payne, Sydney P. Hall, Wm. H. Yale, Wm. D. Cutler, Wm. Green, John Houseman, Alanson Carter, Wm. Seymour, Wm. White, Elias M. Barnes, Hiram H. Royce.
1 See Biographical notices.
2 See Biographical notices.