16 CENTENNIAL HISTORY remembered that this subscription was only a part of the cost of the meeting house, the balance of the $5,000 being raised by tax. The land upon which the church stands was given by Samuel Treat, although no deed was ever recorded. The Society voted to accept Mr. Treat's offer of land for the meeting house Dec. 18, 1809. At the same meeting it was also voted "that the surplus money in the treasury, which arose from the tax on the property of 1808 be paid over to Mr. Samuel Treat, for land that is leveled for a Green," which would seem to settle the question of the ownership of the Green. Although Mr. Scranton is farthest away from us, his personality stands out more clearly than that of any of the ministers who followed one another in somewhat rapid succession during the first half century of the church's life. He is a native of Madison and is described "as a strong, tall farmer looking man. " But he must have been something of a scholar having received the degree of M. A. from Yale. He wrote a history of Milford which contains many interesting facts and some things that are decidedly amusing. Among the latter is a dissertation on the clam, describing its habitat, character and usefulness, also how to get it and the best way to eat it. The single copy of the book is the property of Milford, and by the will of the author is preserved in the archive of the town. Mr. Scranton was withal a man of good sense and simple tastes, fond of the woods and fields, a good preacher and faithful pastor, loving his people and greatly respected and beloved by them. The latter days of his ministry were clouded however. Misunderstandings arose and although an investigation committee of the society reported that this minister had been "cruelly and unreasonably slandered," the ultimate result was a dissolution of the pastoral relation Jan. 3, 1827; 181 members were added to the church during the twenty-two years of his ministry. After an interim of nearly three years Rev. Horatio A. Parsons was settled. He was dismissed April 24, 1832.