phial, which had contained it, lying by his side, told the sad story. He sought employment in various ways, and, failing in all, resolved to try the "unexplored country."

While these pages are going through the press (Dec. 28, 1871), Columbus W. Randall, a bachelor, living in an old house by himself, has committed suicide by cutting his throat from ear to ear, with a razor. He seemed to have planned the deed very deliberately. He sent word to a neighbor, that he would be glad to have him bring him up a pail of cider, when he came to fodder his cattle in the evening. The request was complied with, and on entering his house, he found him weltering in his blood. He evidently had a superstitious dread of lying alone, perhaps for many days, dead in the house, and framed this excuse to be found soon after he had committed the act. He was not quite dead when found, and it is believed that he did not commit the deed till he saw his neighbor approaching, as he could not survive so frightful a wound for many minutes.

Years ago there was a band of thieves in town, who acted in concert with the great organized thieves' band, that extended their operations in concert, from Maine to the "Far West." A few well directed prosecutions, a quarter of century ago, broke up the "Depot" in this place.

Occasionally there have been burglaries here, with meager results. But some two months ago, a series of burglaries occurred, that startled the community, and bred a strong sense of insecurity. One night, while Mr. Daniel Curtiss was quietly sleeping in his bed, some person or persons entered his house through a rear window, and after traversing several rooms, entered his bedroom, took away his vest and two pairs of pants, and departed without awakening him, or his wife, or any one else in the house. Passing to the rear of the house, they rifled the pockets of what money they contained, and the key to his safe, which was in his office at his factory, a mile away. They unlocked the office, and the safe, possessed themselves of its contents, locked safe and door again, and went on their way.

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 the neighbors, who placed their From the two safes the robbers

being Town Treasurer), and to valuables there for safe keeping. 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 occasion 1 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 front 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 apparent. Aug. 9, 1862, Aaron H. Shelton, Almon B. Downs, Geo. S.