LOOKING BACKWARD
before them, while their household and farming utensils, and the materials for the common house, were taken round by water. Serg. Thomas Tibbals piloted the company through the woods to the place, he having been there a number of times before.'' The route followed is supposed to have crossed the West River up near Westville, followed through what is now Forest Road to Allingtown, thence down through Campbell Avenue to Main Street, West Haven; then west over Bonny Hill and Prindle Hill, to Marsh Hill and on to Milford.
All safely arrived, the planters erected their common house at the head of the harbor, on the west side, and a few rude huts, for temporary residence.
From the early records we quote the following: ''The first general court (or town meeting) of the planters was held on the 20th of November, 1639. It was then agreed and determined that the power of electing officers and persons to divide the land and manage the interests of the plantation should be in the church, only. It was also agreed and determined that all the business of the plantation in their meetings and by their magistrates and officers should be done according to the written word of God, as each one should have light and knowledge therein." Thus was the Bible made their code of laws for the present. The persons chosen at this east meeting for ''Judges in all civil affairs and to try all causes between man and man, to punish offences and sin against the Commandments were, William Fowler, Esq., Edmund Tapp, Esq., Deacon Zachariah Whitman, Captain John Atwood, and Richard Miles."
They were ordered to ''hold a court once in every six weeks, and invested with discretionary power to call a general meeting and to promote the general good."
At this first town meeting there was much discussion as to whether or not voting and office-holding should be confined to church members. This was finally passed in the affirmative, and the right of franchise as ''free planters'' was accordingly granted to forty-four church members. Following is the list taken from the town records.
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