of Stamford granted to twenty-two Stamford men1 the lands known the north end of Stamford bounds.'' as the " Hop Grounds " lying " at es, on the 23d of December, 1680, Under this grant the beneficiari bought from Katonah, Rockaway, and several other Indians, the territory in question, 7,(573 acres, for the value of £16 16s. 6d. The Three Miles Square." purchase thus made became known as " Bedford The whole of the southeastern portion of the present townshipsomething more than one-third of the whole township in area-- was included in it. Subsequent purchases were added at various times, 1722, for a considerathe last being effected on the 23d of January, the natives during the tion of £20. The various deeds of sale from by thirtyaltogether, signed, eighty-two Indians.years from 1610 to 1722 were five

According to Dr. Baird in his " History of the Bedford Church," the original settlers were nearly all the sons of English Puritans, founders of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, and there is no authority for the statement that they came from Bedfordshire, England, The name and from that circumstance gave the town its name. general the by bestowed probably was Baird, Bedford, says Dr. court of Connecticut, in accordance with the principle adopted many years before, intending, as they quaintly expressed it, "thereby to keep and leave to posterity the memorial of several places of note In March, 1681, house-lots in our dear native country of England." were laid out, under a rule providing thai each man's lot be " proThe other lands portionable inquantity to what it lacks in quality." The house-lots adjoined one were divided on the same principle. setanother on the village street, it being deemed advisable for the attack. Indian of case in n precautio a as together close live to tlers the setMay 12 the general court at Hartford officially recognized laid out tlement, and recommended that "there be a suitable loot for ye first minister of ye place, and a loot for ye ministry to be and This pious injunction was promptly belong to ye ministry forever." 1681, the town took steps to pro, December as early obeyed, and as 16, 1682, issued an The general court, on May cure a'minister. order to the effect that " Upon the petition of the people of the Hop Ground, this court doth grant them the priviledge of a plantation, and doe order that the name of the towne shall henceforth be called Joseph Theale was appointed as the " chiefe military Bedford." officer for the training band," and Abram Ambler as magistrate.