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the town or by residing four years continuously in the town without themselves or their family becoming chargeable to the town during that time.*

The action of Connecticut towns in regard to receiving or warning out new-comers is illustrated by the following instances:

In the town of Hartford, on the 1st of January, 1638, it was agreed that the selectmen should have power to "order the Comon occations of the Towne," except in certain matters, one of which was that "they receaue noe new Inhabetant into the Towne wthout Aprobacon of the body."†

At a town meeting on February 14, 1659, it was provided that

For the p'uenting of future euills and inconueniances that many Times are Redy to break in upon us by many P'sons vsshering in themselues among us who are strangers to us, through whose pouerty euill maners or opions the towne is subject to be much p'iudisshed and indamiadged.

It is therefore ordered at the same towne metting that noe p'son or p'sons In Hartford shall giue entertainement or Receiue any fammily p'son or p'sons that is not an Inhabitant soe as to Rent any part of his or thair house to him or them wherby he or thaye becom an inmate, without it bee first Concented to by the orderly uoat of the Inhabitanc at some towne metting vnder the forfiture of fiue pounds for euery month to bee Recouered by the townsmen in being by a cours of law if other means will not p'uaile and this for the use of the towne: & allso all such p'sons as break this order shall be liabl to be called to an acount by the towne and beare all Just damiadges that shall accru to ye towne therby.‡

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August 20, 1660, the town of Hartford by their vote 'gaue Jarrad Spencer liberty to dwell amongst us as an

* General Statutes of Connecticut, Sects. 2466, 2469.

Hartford Town Votes, Vol. I, 1635-1716, p. 2, in Connecticut Historical Society Collection, Vol. VI.

Ibid., p. 128, in Connecticut Historical Society Collection, Vol. VI.

inhabitant wth us at Hartford." And at a town meeting held on November 20, 1660,

Ye Towne by their vote voted that Jeams Blore should not continue with us as an Inhabitant:

but upon John Stedmans request they granted him liberty to continnue In Hartford till springe he ye sd John Stedman engageing to secure ye Town from all damage thereby:

at ye same Town meeting y Town by there vote did refuse to graunt Thomas marten liberty to be an Inhabitant in Hartford.*

In Guilford the first settlers had a rule that no man should sell or purchase land in the town without leave of the town.†

In Haddam in 1673

It was agreed by voate that John Sled and his wief should not be entertained in the towne as inhabitants or resedence, and also Goodman Corbee was forewarned not to reseave him into his hows becose they weare not persones qualified according to Law.‡

In Enfield in 1683 the first settlers ordered that the inhabitants admitted should continue to live in the town for seven years before "they shall have wright to sell or any ways pass away any of their alotments to any person whatsoever. "§

In Wallingford applications for permission to live in the town were presented in town meeting and referred to a committee, which examined the testimonials presented by the applicant as to his character. These testimonials required proof of the good conversation of the persons in the places where they formerly lived, and in 1671 it was ordered that no one should come to dwell as planters in the town * Hartford Town Votes, Vol. 1, p. 132, in Connecticut Historical Society Collection, Vol. VI.

† Smith, History of Guilford, p. 54.

The Two Hundredth Anniversary of the First Congregational Church of Haddam, Connecticut, October 14 and 17, 1900, p. 35.

§ Allen, History of Enfield, p. 62.

without consent and allowance of the committee of the town "whether they come in by purchase or otherwise."

No sale could be made of any land to a stranger by an inhabitant of the town until the character of the proposed purchaser had been examined and approved, and leave granted by express vote of the town. There are many entries upon the town records like these:

12th Feb. 1671. Agreed by ye Comitee for ye Towne of Wallingford that Isack Rise, and Nehimia Rise, shall have lotts granted ym provided they procure suficient testamoney of theyr good conversation in the place whear they formerly lived.

20th Oct. 1674 voted that Good" Foote shall have liberty to buy the lott, yt is Joseph Eives provided he procure sufficient teastimony of his good conversation in ye plase wheare he now pretendeth to remove.

Next January, we find "the teastimony for Goo" foote being sevesente and axepted, he was admited a planter upon the lot that was Joseph eives." 23rd February 1677. The towne gave liberty to Nath'l Hickock to sell his accommodation to any such men as ye towne shall approve of.

December 20, 1679, The towne received Joe Brooks a planter of ye loer Ranks provided he bring sufficient testimony of his good conversation in ye place wheare he formerly lived.

The town also required that persons coming into town temporarily must obtain permission. There are many records of this kind:

Sep. 1678. The towne gave liberty to Isack Curtice to abide in the town as a sojourner.

Curtice lived in Hartford, and desired to visit his son in Wallingford, who was one of the first citizens of the town.*

In Windsor a similar practice prevailed. The records show that December 1, 1651, "John Moses had

*Davis, History of Wallingford, pp. 82, 83, 84, et seq.

allowance to sojourn with Simon Miller in his house.” Also that "John Bennett should be entertained by William Hayden in his family."

December 10, 1659, the townsmen approved of that Thomas Gunn should entertain as a tabler Capt. Thomas in his family for this winter.

June 27, 1659, it was ordered that

No person or persons whatsoever shall be admitted inhabitant in this town of Windsor without the approbation of the town or townsmen that are or shall be from year to year in being. Nor shall any man sett or sell any house or land so as to bring in any to be inhabitant into the town without the approbation of the townsmen or giving any such security as may be accepted to save the town from damage.

In April, 1699, a widow by the name of Rix made application for liberty to remain in town. The request was not granted, and the record shows that

the townsmen do not see reason to grant her request, but have now warned her to remove out of this town to the town from whence she came or to some other place that she may prevent the townsmen proceeding against her according to law.*

In Woodbury the fundamental articles of agreement signed by the first settlers provided that none of them should sell or let any of their lands or houses to any person but such as the town should approve of, the town promising either to purchase of the persons removing and desiring to sell, or to approve "of such blameless man in his conversation with certificates according to law that shall be presented to buy ye same."†

In New Haven no one was admitted to be a planter or an inhabitant without the consent of the town.

*Stiles, History of Ancient Windsor, pp. 81, 82.

† Cothren, History of Ancient Woodbury, Vol. I, p. 40.

May, 1650, a law was passed forbidding the "disposal of any house, house-lott, land, or any part or parcel of the same, to Strangers," and no one was permitted to entertain a stranger longer than three weeks without permission from the authorities.

In 1655, however, by what was known as "Eaton's Code," it was provided that residence within a plantation for a year even without a license was sufficient to cause a stranger to become an inhabitant.

The same custom of admitting inhabitants upon surety to save the town from liability prevailed in Connecticut as in Massachusetts. In 1656 Mrs. Finch, of West Chester, came to New Haven and rented a house, in order that her lame child might be treated by John Winthrop, who was skilled as a surgeon. The town, however, voted not to let her stay unless some approved person offered himself as her security, which being done by two persons, she was permitted to remain.

And when in 1659 John Winthrop, who was then governor of the colony, wished to let his house and lot in New Haven, the town refused to allow it, and forced him to sell it to the town.*

* Livermore, The Republic of New Haven, pp. 103, 104, 106.

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