heartily wish and pray that the town and church of Northampton would seriously and carefully examine whether they have not abundant cause to judge that they are now lying under great guilt in the sight of God; and whether those of us who were concerned in that most awful contention with Mr. Edwards, can ever more reasonably expect God's favor and blessing, till our eyes are opened, and we become thoroughly convinced that we have greatly provoked the Most High, and have been injurious to one of the best of men; and until we shall be thoroughly convinced that we have dreadfully persecuted Christ, by persecuting and vexing that just man and servant of Christ; until we shall be humble as in the dust on account of it, and till we openly, in full terms, and without baulking the matter, confess the same before the world, and most humbly and earnestly seek forgiveness of God, and do what we can to honor the memory of Mr. Edwards, and clear it of all the aspersions which we unjustly cast upon him; since God has been pleased to put it beyond our power to ask his forgiveness.

"I conclude this long letter by heartily desiring your prayers, that my repentance of my sins above-mentioned may be unfeigned and genuine, and such as God in infinite mercy, for Christ's sake, will accept; and I beg leave to subscribe myself, Sir, your real, though very unworthy friend, and obed't. servant. JOSEPH HAWLEY.”

Such was Mr. Hawley's knowledge of political history, and of the principles of free government, that, during the disputes between Great Britain and the Colonies, he was regarded as standing among the foremost in ability and influence of the advocates of American liberty. In the House of Representatives his distinguished patriotism and bold and manly eloquence gave him a commanding position. It was his misfortune to be subject to fits of melancholy from which he with difficulty was aroused. On one occasion a friend found him greatly depressed over the prospect of British triumph, which would bring certain death upon the leaders of the American cause. "Well, never mind," said his friend, "they will not harm you, for you are not as prominent as some forty others." "Sir," replied Hawley, losing all his depression instantly, "I would have you know that I am among the first three."

During the first twenty-five years of his professional life he enjoyed a very extensive practice, and was justly eminent for fidelity and integrity. For over thirty years, with few inter

ruptions, he was a representative to the General Court. As such he was usually a member of all important committees, and was regarded as the pillar of the party of resistance to Great Britain for Western Massachusetts. Professor Dexter has recorded of him that, while in the Legislature, no vote on any public measure either was, or could have been carried without his consent. This almost unexampled influence was owing, not only to his great talents, but still more perhaps to his high-minded, unsullied, unimpeachable integrity. He was, along with Sedgwick, a very vigorous opponent of the Shay's insurrection, publishing for about a year a paper edited by himself for the suppression of that outbreak.

Timothy Dwight (Yale, 1744), was Register of Probate and Judge of the County Court of Common Pleas at Northampton. He was remarkable for his conscientiousness. As the Revolution approached, he was unwilling to transgress the oath of fealty to the crown which he had taken on assuming the office of judge. He undertook, therefore, to solve his political doubts, and at the same time to gratify his love of adventure, by investing largely in the enterprise of a colony on the Mississippi. In the spring of 1776 he set out for Natchez. After a very arduous journey and a wearing experience there, he died in the wilderness, near Natchez, aged only 51. He married Mary, third daughter of President Jonathan Edwards, a lady of great mental ability and force of character. Their eldest son, Timothy Dwight, became President of Yale College in 1795, and their grandson, Theodore Dwight Woolsey, became President in 1846; and it may be added, that, since the reading of this Article, their great-grandson, Timothy Dwight, has succeeded to that high office.

The law practice in the county before 1743 is said to have been incorrect, and imperfect knowledge of legal principles to have prevailed. The very great advance made about that time is attributed to three Yale graduates, who for many years were the leaders at the Hampshire bar: Phinehas Lyman of Suffield, John Worthington and Joseph Hawley. The two latter procured the adoption of a rule requiring three years' study before a recommendation for admission to the bar could be given. They each had many pupils who became distinguished.

Both were men in whose honesty and fairness those who knew them intimately would place unbounded confidence.

Other Yale graduates who followed those that have been mentioned, hardly less distinguished for their loyalty to the principles and training imparted at the college, offer tempting opportunities for prolonging this labor of love. But upon the evidences presented we may rest satisfied that the remarkable success of its early life as displayed by its graduates in Western Massachusetts fulfilled in some degree the purposes of its founders. Let us strive and pray that the purity and power of its training may increase with every succeeding generation.

BRANFORD ANNALS.

1700-1800.

BY REV. ELIJAH C. BALDWIN.

[Read April 7, 1886.]

BRANFORD, at the opening of the year 1700, began to show signs of rapid growth. Rev. Samuel Russell, the minister, was at the height of his influence. On May 13, 1697, he preached the Election sermon at Hartford. The spacious house in which he lived was built in 1690, and stood just south of the present Branford burying-ground, and remained till fifty years ago. He, and his wife Abigail, daughter of Rev. John Whiting, had nine children, seven sons and two daughters. Mr. Russell combined with his pastoral duties extensive farming operations. He was also connected with other citizens in building and running a saw mill. The town had given him 300 acres of land as a settlement, and in later years added gifts of several hundred acres more. He also had the use and improvement of the Society lands at Indian Neck and elsewhere. His name appears very often on the town records as purchasing, selling and exchanging property. He is also active in educational and ecclesiastical interests within and outside of Branford. His connection with the early years of Yale College history is now well understood.

He was one of the members of that Synod which agreed upon the Saybrook Platform, that ecclesiastical compact, or rule of procedure, destined to be the occasion of much discussion and trouble in the churches for many years. He and several in his church, as Edward Barker, Gov. Saltonstall, Madam Saltonstall and others, gave considerable sums of money to the College when it was removed to New Haven.

At the opening of this period Gov. Gurdon Saltonstall had become interested in Branford and began to reside there. Mr. William Rosewell had introduced the business of ship-building and trading with foreign countries, which continued and developed to respectable proportions during the whole century and beyond. The Iron Works at the outlet of Lake Saltonstall had led to business in the western border of the town of considerable importance.

Much good ship-timber was found on the hill-sides of Branford. "Pipe staves were cut and were in great demand for the foreign trade. The town had to regulate the cutting of these to save too wanton destruction of the forests.

Increasing population made new divisions of land necessary. The section now comprised in North Branford, including the society of Northford, was apportioned in the fourth division. The fifth division, embracing the present Stony Creek section, was soon after made. Larger and more substantial houses were erected by the new settlers, some of whom were possessed of considerable property. This was especially true of the Bartholomews, Maltbies, Johnsons, Wilfords, Guys, Stents, Goulds, Bakers, Barnses and Blackstones.

The new meeting-house built for Mr. Russell stood about in front of the present Town Hall, facing southwest. The main highway was south of the Green. The meeting-house being soon too full for all to find accommodation, three galleries were put in during the year 1706. Mr. Russell was, as yet, the honored minister of the entire population of the place.

The Green was then of irregular surface, having abrupt hills and hollows in various parts, with great rock boulders here and there. One such boulder, the size of an ordinary