The proprietors of the Hop Ground appear to have made early provision for the erection and support of a church, for, on the 2 2d of March, 1680, the "proprietors agree that what the committee had done in laying out ye town plot and the house lots shall stand, and the place they reserved for the town common, and the town lot to be as they laid it out and the meeting-house sh-dl be set upon the common so laved out, namely, the rock called Bates his Hill."

a Bedford Town Rco, Book ii, p. 4.

b Address of Joseph Barrett, July 4, ISTfi.

c Hist, of Fresb. Ch. Bedford, by Kev. P. B. Heroy.

THE TOWN OF BEDFORD.

In i6Si, the General Court, held at Hartford, instructed the committee then residing in Stamford, who had been appointed to lay out a plantation at the hop ground, "to take care that there should be a suitable lot laid out for the first minister of the place, a lot for the minister forever."

The first minister of the Congregational society who preached in Bedford was the Rev. John Prudden who, in 1675, the General Courts of Connecticut ordered to resume his settlement in Rye. It would appear that he came from where he had formerly preached for some time. In the town we have this minute:

"Dec. 2d, 1681. They agree to give Mr. priddon, of Gemeco, (Jamaica,) a call to be a minister in this place. Joseph Theale the chief military officer of the train band of Bedford is chosen to goe to Mr. priddon to declare theire mind in order to his coming among them as above; and Abra. Ambler who was appointed by the Court at Hartford to grant warrants to officers e witnesses, and to join persons in marriage, is desired so write to Mr. priddon in theire name and behalf:" Mr.