These Glebe lands are claimed to be what is still denominated, " The Lower Parsonage Lands" lying between the two roads, one leading from Ridgefield to Bedford, the other from Ridgefield to South Salem ; which lands," as we have already seen, were surreptitiously conveyed by the so-called proprietors of the " Lower released ten miles of the Oblong or Equivalent lands, yet undivided " (on the 23d of December, 1751,) "for the use and improvement of the first Presbyterian or Independent minister that should be settled and ordained in the town of Salem." Now the truth is that James Brown

a By some it is said thai .Tamos Brown pave the property as Glebe Lands to endow the first

church edifice that should be erected and consecrated (or dedicated as the Presbyterians, Independents and Romanists term it,) in Salem ; and that as the Episcopal church (which was the first edifice ever erected for religious worship in Lower Salem,) had never been consecrated, it had lapsed to the Presbyterians. This, however, is a very improbable story ; as no Episcopal church could then be consecrated for want of a Hishop, and consequently no Churchman would be likely to put such a restriction on a deed of gift. It Is very remarkable that this story is attributed to Timothy Keeler, one of the signers of the surreptitious deed in 1751. Oue thing is certain, that while the first church was building in 1770-1771, the Rev. Solomon Mead, the first Presbyterian minister of Lower Salem, who was then in the habit of coming from Norwalk on horseback to perform services, threatened the builders and endeavored to stop them in their work. A portion of these Glebe Lands, as we shall have occasion to show presently, were sold by the Presbyterian Society under an act of Assembly in isoo, " for the purpose of procuring other lands on which a parsonage house might be more conveniently erected and for erecting the same ; '' but we believe no warranty deeds have ever been given in any case of sale; but simply quit claim deeds, all of which is something unusual.