Returning back through Main street, they stole a horse and wagon from the stable of Hon. N. B. Smith, broke into Michael F. Skelly's blacksmith shop, and stole some tools, additional to those which they brought with them. They then proceeded to the

store of Frederick A. Walker & Co., opposite of the Episcopal Church, which was not protected by any one staying in it during the night. They found an entrance to the store, blew open the safe, and rifled it of its contents. The Company had a large amount of money and government bonds belonging to themselves, to the town (Mr. Walker being Town Treasurer), and to the neighbors, who placed their valuables there for safe keeping. From the two safes the robbers took away some $40,000, in money and bonds, beside a multitude of papers, valuable to the owners, but of no use to the robbers. Having accomplished these feats, they departed for Waterbury, sorting their papers on the way, and leaving in the bottom of the wagon all that were not available to them. Having reached Waterbury meadows, they turned the horse loose, and evidently took the Railroad track to the Depot, and the early train to New York, probably arriving at, and getting off at Harlem Bridge, before the telegraph was in working order. Large rewards have been offered, and vigilant efforts made to trace the offenders, but as yet without the slightest success. Justice seems to have been baffled, and the promise of punishment, proved a "flaunting lie.”

Thus have we plodded our laborious way through all the historical incidents of our ancient town, and put them on record, for the benefit of those that shall come after us. If the reading shall give the same pleasure to the reader that the recording of them has to the writer, he will not be without his reward.

CHAPTER X.

HISTORY OF THE SOCIETIES AND TOWNS SET OFF FROM ANCIENT WOODBURY-CONTINUED FROM PAGE 218.

SOUTHBURY; SOUTH BRITAIN; SOUTHBURY VOLUNTEERS; BETHLEHEM; BETHLEHEM VOLUNTEERS; WASHINGTON; WASHINGTON VOLUNTEERS; FREDERICK W. Gunn's ACADEMY; ROXBURY; ROXBURY VOLUNTEERS; METHODIST CHURCH; ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH; ST. PAUL'S CHURCH; ITS Centennial.

EVER forgetting the children of our youth, and of our riper years, we take up again the history of the communities that have separated themselves from us, and "set up for themselves." The account will not be long, for two reasons. The general history of the times in which they as well as we bore a conspicuous part, have been recounted with great minuteness in these pages. And, so far as the ecclesiastical history in concerned, it has been substantially recorded in the history of the proceedings of the Bi-Centennial celebration of the First Congregational Church, in May, 1870.

SOUTHBURY.

At the date of the former edition, Rev. George P. Prudden was officiating as "stated supply," at Southbury. On account of confirmed ill-health, which entirely unfitted him for his work, he closed his labors in April, 1856. In May, 1856, Rev. Jason Atwater was engaged as "stated supply," and remained till Oct., 1858, when he removed to West Haven, but continued to supply the pulpit till the following July. He died at West Haven in the spring of 1860. For the next six months, the church had only occasional supplies. January 15th, 1860, Rev. A. B. Smith com

menced his labors as "stated supply," and continued them till a recent date.

The admissions to the church during Mr. Atwater's ministry were 15; baptisms, 15. Admissions during Mr. Smith's ministry 59; baptisms 38. Present number of members 86.

The list of deacons, with date of election, from the organization of the church, is as follows:-Benjamin Hicox, 1372; Noah Hinman, 1732; Benjamin Hicox, Jr., Daniel Curtiss, Timothy Osborn, 1775; Samuel Strong, Jonathan Mitchell, 1783; Adin Wheeler, 1813; Marcus D. Mallory, 1818; Noah Kelsey, 1823; Nathan Mitchell, 1830; Frederick Perry, 1833; Jason Curtiss, 1834; Ira Strong, 1847; Cyrus G. Bostwick, January 11, 1861; Sherman Tuttle, January 11, 1861; David M. Wheeler, January 24, 1868.

SOUTH BRITAIN SOCIETY.

At the date of the former edition, Rev. Amos E. Lawrence was the settled pastor over this parish. On the 31st of July, 1860, his connection with the church was dissolved. On the 27th of Aug., 1860, Rev. John M. Wolcott was hired to preach for a year. He was formally settled over the church, Feb. 20, 1861, and dismissed July 1, 1865. Rev. Homer S. Newcomb has acceptably filled the pulpit since the latter date.

Sixty persons were received members during Rev. Mr. Lawrence's ministry, and 32 baptized; 37 under Rev. Mr. Wolcott, and 31 baptized; and 19 under Rev. Mr. Newcomb, and 15 baptized. The present number of church members is about 130. Simeon Platt was elected deacon Dec. 27, 1827, Anson Bradley and Elliot Beardsley, June 21, 1855; Nelson W. Mitchell, May 4, 1860; and George A. Hoyt, April 30, 1864.

The first church in South Britain was located just in font of the present church, and its foundations were buried when the present beautiful church was built. This people, secluded among the hills, having what is always proper, a respectful appreciation of themselves, have nourished their vine of the Lord's planting in their own way, well knowing that no "outside persons" so well know their own wants as themselves, and have, so far as the writer knows, received a friendly greeting from all the "outside world." During the Great Rebellion, Southbury, like the parent town, did its full duty, after the magnitude of the contest became appaAug. 9, 1862, Aaron H. Shelton, Almon B. Downs, Geo. S.

rent.

Bostwick, Charles Whitlock and Geo. A Hoyt, were appointed a Committee by the town to solicit funds for a bounty to be paid to volunteers. On the 14th of the same month, a bounty of $250 was voted to each volunteer. A committee was appointed at the same meeting, consisting of the above named gentlemen, "to inquire after and keep intelligence of the location of all soldiers that have gone, or should go from this town, in all the Connecticut regiments, learn their wants, and solicit such aid for them, from time to time, of our citizens, as shall be necessary." On the 26th of August, the same year, the town voted to pay the nine months men a bounty of $125. On Sept. 2d, the town voted to add $75 to this bounty. On the 10th Sept. it was voted to pay $200 to such men as should be drafted.

On the 1st of August, 1863, a town meeting was held, and a bounty of $300 was voted to all persons, not exceeding fifty, "who will volunteer to defend this State, in case of invasion, or a war within the States, and will hold themselves in readiness at all times to enlist and serve as such volunteers, whenever their services may be required to repel invasion, or sustain the laws of this State." No such "Home Guards" were ever required, and no money under this vote was ever expended. At the same meeting it was voted to pay a bounty of $300 to each man who should be drafted into the service of the United States-and also to bire substitutes at the same price for those who should be drafted, and did not wish to go to the war, or for whom it was not convenient to go. On the 15th of August, 1864, the town voted to pay volunteers $300, and to drafted men, or men who furnished substitutes, $400. On the 15th of Sept., 1864, Elisha Wheeler, Esq., was appointed a committee to fill the town's quota under the call for 500,000 men, and was authorized to give drafted men a bounty of $500. On the 8th of December, 1864, the town voted to pay a bounty of $300 to any man who should procure a substitute. This was the last vote touching the war.

By returns made to the Secretary of State, it appears that Southbury paid, during the war, for volunteers and substitutes, $8,050, and all other war expenses were $12,000.-Some $1,150 was paid as commutation money by individuals.

The following is a list of the men the town furnished during the war, viz: