horseback, following a bridle-path, guided by "blazed" trees. Trees were "blazed" by scorching their bark with torches, at convenient distances, and these constituted very good guideboards. But committees were appointed as early as 1675, to lay out a road from Woodbury to Derby, and from Derby to Stratford, and provision was also made for a ferry. The committee, however, did not report till 1677, and the road was probably not built till several years later. Meanwhile, the people must have mill privileges. They accordingly procured a set of stones, and transported them on horseback, or, rather, slung them between two horses, and took the weary way of their bridle-path to Woodbury. They set up their mill-shed on a little brook a short distance east of Deacon Eli Summers' house; in Middle Quarter, and though but about a bushel of grain per day could be ground at this mill, yet it was all the accommodation of the kind that the inhabitants had, till 1681. These mill-stones were of small dimen

[First Mill-stones.]

sions, being not more than thirty inches in diameter. One of these is still preserved, and has been attached to the base stone of the "Fathers' Monument" in the south, or ancient burial ground, for preservation, after having done service for more than a hundred years as a door-stone to the house in Middle Quarter lately occupied by Miss Lucy Sherman. Traces of the first mill-dam still exist. The second mill was built in 1681, near the Pomperaug river, about fifty rods westerly from the dwelling-house of Hon. N. B. Smith, immediately under the hill, the water with which to run it being brought from the river, about one hundred rods distant. Faint traces of the old dam still remain. Some of the timbers of this second mill-dam still remain imbedded in the river, in a state of perfect preservation. It was much troubled by the freshets, had to be frequently repaired, or replaced, and the town was obliged to make other arrangements for a stable mill. In 1691, Mr. Samuel Stiles was appointed town miller; mill accommodations were granted for its "encouragement," and the mill located near where the mill of D. Curtiss & Sons now stands, where it has ever since been maintained.

As soon as the pioneers had fairly settled themselves in their new homes, they took measures to build a meeting-house for the worship of God, and a school-hodse, that "learning might not be neglected to children," As we have seen, they had their grant of

the township of Woodbury in 1672, made a small crop the same year, lost it by wild beasts the following winter, and removed their families here in the spring of 1673. In two years they were driven back to Stratford by King Philip's war, and began to return again in 1676, not fully regaining their foothold till the next

year.

Previously and subsequently to Philip's war, our fathers worshipped, in summer, at Bethel Rock, which has been so often alluded to in these pages, and in winter they gathered in their own rude houses. But the question may be asked, why did the people at any time of the year leave their homes, and retire from the village, (for it was almost as much of a village in the early years as now, the houses being built near each other for protection) to the rock for their devotions? The answer is obvious. Their numbers were, from the beginning, considerable. They came with about twenty families, and their numbers increased rapidly for a new plantation. In contrast with the present generation, they had large families in those days, obeying the divine commandment, and every household constituted quite a little colony in itself. It was with them a law of conscience, as well as of the colony, that all should attend divine service, and there was no one of their log huts that could contain a tythe of the inhabitants for the purpose of worship. They had no meeting-house. They were never for a moment free from the danger of the incursions of the hostile Mohawks. It was the object of their coming into the wilderness, that they should not "forget the assembling of themselves together" to worship the Great Creator. What should they do? A beautiful dell, secure from hostile attacks and the buffet of storms, in the bosom of the cliffs, of the mountains, furnished with sufficient audience room, and a rude stone pulpit, was at hand. It was nature's church, built and fashioned by the Holy One of Israel, as though a miracle had been performed for the benefit of this band of Christians. It was conveniently near, and "guarding rocks," to be picketed by the men of the match, or flint lock, lined the way. Three minutes walk from the house of their pastor, where Levi S. Douglass now lives, by the south cliff, or five minutes walk from Judson Lane, by the north cliff, brought them to this place of prayer, and of "hopeful security." What more appropriate or pleasing, than to resort to the beautiful fastnesses of nature, in the holy stillness of the Sabbath morn, to join in adorations of the Giver of all good?

That they did meet there for this purpose, in the feeble state of their new colony, is proved by the universal voice of the most reliable tradition from the early fathers, and by much circumstantial evidence. It is a fact to be doubted by none. The sons of the pioneer, Capt. John Minor, who died Sept. 17, 1719, had their home lots on the hill where the family of the late Erastus Minor resides. Capt. Matthew Minor succeeded to the homested of his father, Ephraim, which was identical with that of Capt. John, and lived in a house under the hill south of Erastus Minor's present dwelling house. This was the pallasaded house of which we have spoken. This son, Ephraim, was born in Stratford, Oct. 24, 1675, after the return from Woodbury to Stratford, at the commencement of King Philip's war. He returned to Woodbury with his father, a child of two years, after the war, and of course, as he grew up, knew the history from the beginning. He died Sept. 16, 1762. His son, Capt. Matthew, was born Sept. 2, 1708, and died Nov. 21, 1778. His son, Dea. Matthew, was born Feb. 11, 1753, and died in 1835. His son, Erastus, was born March 27, 1796, died in 1870. Capt. Matthew Minor was, therefore, eleven years old when his grand-father, Capt. John Minor, died, and fiftysix years old when his father, Ephraim, died. Dea. Matthew Minor, son of Capt. Matthew, was twenty-five years old when his father, died, and the late Erastus Minor was thirtynine years old when his father, Deacon Matthew, died. This brings us to the present day, and the tradition that Erastus Minor gives us, brings us to the very days of the services at Bethel Rock. There can be no question of a tradition that can trace itself, by sure steps, to its truthful origin. The tradition handed down through this family, as well as others, is very simple and direct. It is that the fathers worshipped at Bethel Rock till the building of the first Church. The Orenaug cliff, near Bethel Rock, is owned by this family, to this day, having descended from father

six years. After the second church was finished, in 1747, it was used as a "Town-House," for the transaction of public business. In 1754, the town voted to build a new town house where the old church stood, but contented itself with repairing the old church. It was used thus a good many years, (p. 156). After the Episcopalians began to get a foothold in the town, they used it for a church. Finally, it was moved, by Mr. Tallman, a little way, and used for a butcher's shop and barn, during some years. It was afterwards used for a barn by Judge N. Smith, and later still, by his son, N. B. Smith, till about ten years ago, when it was pulled down, and passed into the oblivion of past things, that have outlived the day of their usefulness. Perhaps no other building has had a longer career of usefulness, since the founding of the

town.

This meeting-house was located on the site now occupied by N. B. Smith's carriage-house, some six rods from Pomperaug's grave, and.twenty from Rev. Mr. Walker's house. A road run by it to the intervale, a short distance below where the second corn-mill was located. The site of the first school-house was immediately opposite the meeting-house, where Mr. George Hitchcock's shop now stands. The meeting-house, the school-house, the minister's house, and the corn-mill-all necessaries of prime importance to a new Settlement-were thus grouped together.

In process of time, a new church edifice became necessary, and, on the usual application to the General Assembly, in May, 1744, a committee was appointed to determine the location, and, on the 26th of September, 1744, the house was located on the site now occupied by the Soldiers' Monument. The location was approved, work upon the building was at once commenced, and pushed as fast as the means of the people would permit. It was completed and dedicated in 1747. This house was a large one for those days, and its " Bigness, Strength and Architecture," (page 139,) was much admired by our fathers, and a number of societies took it for a model in building meeting-houses in their several localities. It had doors for entrance on the west, south and east sides. The pulpit was on the north side, with a deacon's seat beneath it, in the fashion of those days. It continued to be used as the place of public worship till the dedication of the present church, January 13, 1819, a period of seventy-two years. It was then sold at auction in sections. The house now occupied by Ralph N. Betts,

dentist, was constructed out of the materials of one of the galle

ries. Thus passed away the last "house of the soundingboards" in this society.

Near the meeting-house, about where the mile-stone now stands, was a long, low Sabbath-day-House, a place in which to take refreshments between the two church services, and for social and religious worship, as the occupants might be inclined. It was built in two divisions, one for males and the other for females. A man made it his dwelling, and had it rent free, in consideration of having it well warmed for the use of the owners during the cold weather. One or two individuals had smaller houses of their own, for private use, on the east side of the way, running by the church. It will be remembered that these houses were necessary, because the church was not warmed.

[Second Meeting-House.]

It was a custom of the early days, when the pastor entered the meeting-house to conduct divine service, for the people on the lower floor, to rise and remain standing till he had ascended the pulpit, where he made a bow, and the people in the galleries rose, and remained standing till he sat down, when the audience did likewise. Similar respect was shown him, on meeting him in the street or elsewhere. He was always invited to open with prayer all the business and freemen's meetings of the town. These were generally held in the church, and were fully attended. It was, emphatically, the age of respect for seniors and superiors. A tythe of such customs would not hurt us of the present age.

It may surprise us, at the present day, to learn that nearly the whole of Bear Hill and Ragland was laid out by the town, more than a hundred and sixty years ago, as a sheep-pasture, and made