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THE

R€T ©F SNSOHPOaJkTEON,

ABp THE

•©(©ir^^otTa^sr

CONNECTICUT HISTORICAL SOCIETY,

WITH AN

ADDRESS TO THE PUBLIC.

HARTFORD :
eHARLES BABCOCK, PRIHTER.

1825.

I 4/

ACT OF INCORPORATION.

At a General Assembly of the State of Connecticut, IiqK
den at Hartford, in said State, on the first Wednesday \
of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and twenty-five ;
Upon the petition of John Trumbull, and others,
shewing that in other States, Societies have been form
ed, for the purpose of collecting records and other doc-
uments, connected with the early settlement of our
country, and praying for an act of incorporation, for
the purpose of discovering, procuring and preserving
whatever may relate to the civil, ecclesiastical, and
natural history of the United States, and especially of
the State of Connecticut ;
Resolved by this Assembly, That John Trumbull,
Thomas C. Brownell, Timothy Pitkin, John S. Peters,
William W. Elbworth, Thomas Day, Thomas Robbins,
Daniel Burhans, Thomas Hubbard, Isaac Tousey,
Nathaniel S. Wheaton, George Sumner, Roger M.
Sherman, William T. Williams, Martin Welles, Jo
seph Batten, William Cooley, Thomas H. Gallaudett,
Thomas S. Williams, Eli Todd, Walter Mitchell,
George W. Doane, Samuel B. Woodward, Samuel H.
Huntington, Samuel W. Dana, James Gould, Samuel
A. Foot, Nathan Johnson, Hawley Olmstead, Benja
min Trumbull, and John Hall, and their associates and
successors, be, and hereby are, ordained, constituted and
declared to be forever hereafter a body corporate, by
the name of the Connecticut Historical Society^
and by that name they, and their associates and sue-.

4
cessors, shall and may have perpetual succession, shall
be capable of suing and being sued, pleading and being
impleaded, and also to purchase, receive, hold, and
convey any estate real or personal, to an amount not
exceeding thirty thousand dollars ; and may have a
common seal, and the same may alter at pleasure ;
may establish rules, relative to the admission of future
members ; may ordain, establish, and put in execu
tion such by-laws and regulations, not contrary to the
provisions of this Charter or the laws of this State, as
shall be deemed necessary for the government of said
corporation. And be it further Resolved, That the Governor of this
State, the Lieutenant Governor, and the Judges of the
Superior Court, shall be ex-ojficio members of the So
ciety. And be it further Resolved, That said corporation
shall meet once a year for the choice of a President,
Vice President, Corresponding Secretary, Recording
Secretary, Treasurer, and such other officers, as may
be designated from time to time, by the by-laws of the
Society. And be it further Resolved , That the first meeting of
the Society shall be holden at the State House in Hart
ford, at ?uch time, as shall be designated by the Hon
ourable John Trumbull, notice thereof being previ
ously given in one or more newspapers printed in Hart
ford. Provided nevertheless, That this act of incorporation
shall be subject to be revoked or altered at the pleasure
of the General Assembly.
A true copy of Record,
Examined and certified under the Seal of the State by
Thomas Day, Secretary.

CONSTITUTION
OF THE
COHNECTECUT HISTORICAL SOCIETY-
Article I.
It shall be the duty of every member of this Society,
to obtain and communicate information relative to the
civil, ecclesiastical, and natural history of this State,
and of the United States. Article II.
Every member, on his admission, shall pay to the
Treasurer the sum of three dollars, and two dollars per
annum so long as he shall continue a member of the
same, or until he shall have attained the age of sixty
years. The sum of twenty dollars, at any time paid
by a member, shall entitle him to an exemption from
all future annual payments. Article III.
This Society shall meet quarterly on the Thursday
immediately succeeding the first Wednesday in May,
August, November, and February ; and at the meet
ing in May, shall proceed to elect, by ballot, the fol^
lowing officers, viz :
President, Vice-President,
Corresponding Secretary,
Recording Secretary,
Treasurer, and
/Standing Committee, of six members.

Article IV.
Seven members shall constitute a quorum for trans
acting ordinary business ; but for the annual election
of officers, the admission of new members, and the al
teration of this Constitution, fifteen members shall be
necessary to constitute a quorum.
Article V.
The President shall preside at the meetings of the
Society, shall have a casting vote when the votes of
the members are equally divided, and may call special
meetings of the Society, by causing notice of the same
to be published in one or more of the newspapers prin
ted in Hartford, at least eight days previous to the time
of such meeting. In the absence of the President, his
duties shall be performed by the Vice President ; and
if both President and Vice President shall be absent,
by the Chairman of the Standing Committee.
Article VI.
The Corresponding Secretary shall have the custody
of all letters addressed to the Society, which he shall
read at the quarterly meetings, and afterwards deposit
in the Cabinet ; he shall prepare all letters written in
the name and on behalf of the Society, copies of which
he shall preserve ; he shall give notice to new mem
bers of their election ; and, in general, shall, at his own
option, or at the request of the Standing Committee, of
which he shall be, ex officio, a member, enter into cor
respondence with any individual or association, rela
tive to the objects of this Society ; copies of the same,
and their several replies, to be read at the quarterly
meetings, and preserved in the Cabinet.
Article VII.
The Recording Secretary shall have custody of the
records, papers, and seal of the Society ; shall furnish

certificates of membership to all new members ; shall,
when directed by an authorized officer of the Society,
call meetings of the same ; and shall keep an accurate
journal of the transactions of the Society.
Article VIII.
The Treasurer shall receive all monies due, and all
donations or bequests of money made to the Society.
He shall pay to the order of the Chairman of the Stand-*
ing Committee, such sums as may be required for the
ordinary expenses of the Society, and such as the So
ciety may otherwise direct to be paid. H e shall keep
a true and faithful account of all monies received and
paid by him, and of the property and debts of the Soci
ety ; and shall, at the annual meeting in May, render a
particular statement of the same, to be examined and
audited by a committee for that purpose, appointed by
the Society. Article IX.
It shall be the duty of the Standing Committee tflt
solicit and receive donations for the Society, and the
same have deposited in some convenient place, for the
benefit of its members ; to regulate and pay the ordina
ry expenses of the Society ; to provide a place for its
meetings ; and to recommend plans for the promotion
of its objects. They shall meet at least once in three
months, to prepare and digest business, and to execute
such other duties as may from time to time be commit
ted to them by the Society. The person first named
on the standing Committee, or in his absence, the per
son next named, shall be Chairman, and the person
last named shall be Secretary of the same.
Article X.
The names of all persons who shall make donations
of money, books, manuscripts, coins or other articles

8
for the benefit of this Society, or who shall make de
posits of books, manuscripts, coins, or other articles for
such benefit, shall be recorded in a book provided for
that purpose, under the direction of the Standing Com
mittee. Article XI.
The election of members shall be by ballot ; the
votes of two thirds of the members present being ne
cessary to a choice. No person shall be elected a
member of this Society who has not been proposed at
the quarterly meeting last preceding the time of such
election ; P rovided however, That this last named clause
shall not take effect until after the first quarterly meet
ing of the Society ; and that after that time no mem
ber shall, at the same meeting, propose more than one
person to be elected to the privileges of membership.
Article XII.
Honorary members, not at any time to exceed twen
ty four, may in like manner be chosen by this Society.
But these shall not be subject to the provisions of Arti
cle II. of this Constitution. Article XIII.
This Constitution may be amended at any annual
meeting ; but no amendment shall at any time be re
ceived unless notice thereof be given at the annual
meeting last preceding ; nor shall any amendment be
adopted, unless approved by three-fourths of the mem
bers present. Article XIV.
Every member of this Society, except honorary
members, shall subscribe this Constitution.

JN& WWM FOTBILI&

The Connecticut Historical Society was incor
porated at the last Session of the Legislature, for the
purpose of collecting and preserving whatever may
serve to illustrate the History, civil, ecclesiastical and
natural of this State, and of the United States ; and of
disseminating all useful information which may be ac
quired relative to the same.
In regard to their civil and ecclesiastical history, there
is a lamentable deficiency in the literature of the Uni
ted States. Of the period immediately succeeding
their first settlement almost nothing is known, and even
of the earlier portion of that most interesting half cen
tury which has just been completed, how few are the
authentic memorials ! In a little while the names and
deeds of those days of perilous enterprize, will be be
yond the reach of our research. When a few more
grey-headed men shall have passed away from among
us, we shall only have in addition to the meager rec
ords which we now possess, the uncertain echo of re
mote tradition. Is it asked, how shall this be avoided ?
We answer, by soliciting from those of the worthies of
old time who still remain, and from the descendants of
those who do not, whatever papers or information they
may possess, illustrative of our early history. The re
sult will be found not merely, in rescuing from speedy
destruction many valuable documents, but in admon
ishing the fathers of the land to recall and record for
2

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the benefit of their children, the scenes in which they
were engaged, the councils at which they assisted, and
the struggles in which they partook.
In these departments, the state in which the Society is
established, presents a most favorable field for interesting
and profitable research. The settlement of Connecticut
was commenced within a very few years after the landing
at Plymouth, by men, who, whether their rank in socie
ty, their talents? or their virtues be considered, fully war
rant the remark of the historian — ft this was an honour
able company." While the inhabitants were yet but
few, struggling against the thousand difficulties of their
situation, when provisions were scarce, when rrdmr tine
severity of the winters their working cattle Were most
ly lost, when the whole colony could not furnish as
many as ten ploughs, and men were obliged to' go arm
ed to their daily labours, and to the house of Gov?, the1
troubles with the Indians commenced. These we're1
not ended when the colonists of Connecticut were! Cal
led on to assist in repelling the inroads of thd FrericB;
And when the wounds incurred in that war were not
yet healed, and the experienee and feaflessriess of dad-4
ger which had then been put to the test were yet undi
minished, the difficulties which led to American inde
pendence commenced, and that battle Was fought
which so effectually dispelled the charm of British in*
vincibility, and in which the troops of the Connecticut
line bore a part so distinguished. Of all this eventful
period, and of the whole of that moihehtbiis struggle
which succeeded, and of that interval scarcely less mo
mentous which immediately preceded the adoption of
the federal Constitution, how deficient are we in those
details which render the narrative of the historian Sat
isfactory and lend to the page of poetry attd historic ro-

,11

nuance, that vividness which is its greatest charm.
And yet in,thesetW,o hundred years, yvhat patient suf
fering and hardy, qpurage must have been displayed,
-what, triumphs qf Christian. consolation and of Chris
tian charity must have been manifested,, /what
vicissitudes endured, what varieties of character
elicited, what j lessons of pure mqrals and sound/wisdom
embodied in that.best,of allpqssible forms, ,thetexam-
pleof.the living! Much of this .is now irretrievably
lost ; ,but if any pprtioncanyet be snatched from ob
livion, if any remains of antiquity cantbe raked from
the.ruins of the past, to illustrate our history ; if any
.names of ; ancient valour, or. of ancient piety, can be
gathered from among the graves of our fathers, fto ani-
rnatethe patriotism and' virtue ,pf their sons, we shall
not have laboured in, vain.
Forthe.promotiou .of this object it will be our .effort
to collect whatever, of printed or manuscript records
may tend to illustrate, our early history ; all books, and
pamphjets. published within the state or, in reference
to its concerns or those .of the United States ; all Amer
ican coins ; alLancient relics pf Indian or civilized
Jife; whatever,. in short, is in any .degree connected
.with American history and: antiquities in. general, ^and
more especially with those of the State of Connecti
cut. In pursuing theirvresearches in the, natural History
rof, the country, and. especially, of, their own State, rit
will be the ohject of, jthe . members, to collect , and pre
serve ispecimeais, in every .dep,art,rjient, of natural sci
ence : and from time to time to communicate such
useful information :as , may result. from. their own la-
s bosurs, or be imparted to them by others. An .accurate
survey, Geographical, Botanical, Mineralogipal,, and

12
Agricultural, as well as Historical and .Statistical, of the
State of Connecticut, would for its great utility be wor
thy of the Society ; and though a work of time and la
bour, would not, it is believed, be beyond the reach of
its efforts.
Th e agency of the Society in collecting and preserv
ing statistical information of every kind, must be re
garded as highly important. Whoever has made such
inquiries his business or amusement has felt the want
of similar repositories. For present satisfaction, and
for the information of future historians and statesmen,
they are invaluable. We should but impeifectly per
form our duty if, in the ardour of our devotion to the
past, these interests were forgotten or neglected.
In forming the Historical Library, and the Cabinet
as well of natural, as of civil and ecclesiastical history,
and antiquities, while our own exertions will not be wan
ting, we feel authorized by the conviction that the Socie
ty by assisting to develope the resources and illustrate
the ancient institutions and laws of the country, and in
general by informing the public mind,may promote the
common good, to call upon our fellow citizens for their
encouragement and assistance. Whatever advantages
may ensue, will, under suitable regulations, be open to
all. The following list enumerates the principal objects
which come within the view of the Society. Any of
the articles therein specified, will be gratefully received
and carefully preserved, subject, if required, to be with
drawn at any time from the Library or Cabinet by the
person depositing them.
Manuscripts, Records, Pamphlets, and Books, rela
tive to the History of this State, and of the United
States j

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Orations, Sermons, Essays, Discourses, Poems and
Tracts, written, or delivered, on any public occa
sion, or in reference to any remarkable character or
event ;
Laws, Journals, Copies of Records, and Proceedings
of Congresses, Legislatures, General Assemblies, Con
ventions, Committees of Safety, Secret Committes,
Treaties and Negotiations with Indian Tribes, or with
any State or Nation ;
Proceedings of Ecclesiastical Conventions or Coun
cils, of all denominations of Christians ;
Narratives of Missionaries, Proceedings of Missiona
ry or other Religious Societies ;
Accounts of Universities, Colleges, Academies, or
Public Schools, their origin, progress and present state ;
Catalogues of Libraries, Transactions of Societies for
Literary, Scientific, or Political purposes ;
Topographical descriptions of Cities, Towns, Coun
ties, &e. with maps ;
Tables of Diseases, Births, Deaths, and Population,
Accounts of Exports and Imports at various periods,
and of the progress of Commerce, Manufactures, and
Agriculture ;
Meteorological observations of every kind ;
Memoirs, Anecdotes and Epistolary Correspondence
ef eminent Americans, or of others connected with the
settlement and history of America ;
Magazines, Reviews, Pamphlets, Newspapers, &c.
especially those of an early date ;
All Books, Pamphlets, &c. published within the
State ;
Original Essays on the Civil, Ecclesiastical and Nat
ural History of any State, City, Town, &c.

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Specimens in every department .of Natural Science.
All communications for the Society, or donations to
its Library or -Cabinet, are to be transmitted ;to Hart
ford, addressed to Thomas Day, Esq. Recording Sec
retary ; or to the Rev. George W. Doane^Secretary of
the Standing Committee.

0¥¥ICETt\S 0¥ TEE ftOClWTC,
CHOSEN MA?, 1825.

»«•©•«

President,
Hon. JOHN TRUMBULL.
Vice-President,
Rt. Rev. THOMAS C. BROWNELL, D. D. ; LL. D.
Corresponding- Secretary,
REV. THOMAS ROBBINS.
Recording Secretary.
THOMAS DAY, Esq.
Standing Committee.
Hon. TIMOTHY PITKIN, Chairman.
Rt. Rev. T. C. BROWNELL, D. D. ; LL. D.
Rev. NATHANIEL S. WHEATON.
MARTIN WELLES, Esq.
WILLIAM W. ELLSWORTH, Esq.
Rev. THOMAS ROBBINS, (ex officio.)
Rev. GEORGE W. DOANE, Secretary.

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