THE MATTHEW GRANT RECORD
Usually called the Old Church Record 
1639-1681
With additions
1685-1696
1717-1740

The Matthew Grant "Old Church Record" of Windsor, so called, now in possession of the Connecticut 
Historical Society, remains in the paste board box in which it has been kept since its receipt by the Society 
in 1853.  The box, no somewhat delapidated, measures 7 x 9 1/2 x 2 3/4 inches, is covered with light blue 
paper, and on its cover is written the following probably in the hand of Dr. Sill:
	"An Ancient Manuscript relating to the early Settlement of Windsor Conn Containing Births 
Deaths Marriages &c &c &c Deposited by Theodore Sill M. D. of Windsor Ct. Jany 1853 & subject to his 
order  Found among the Papers of the late Revrd Henry A. Rowland for 40 years Pastor of the 
Congregational Church in Windsor.
	"A Copy of this Manuscript is deposited in the Town Clerks Office at Windsor Conn"
	On a corner of the cover Rev. Thomas Robbins, the librarian of the Society for many years, has 
written, "From Dr. Theodore Sill, Windsor."
	A copy made my Colonel James Loomis of Windsor as early as 1850 contains the following 
history of the manuscript, written by Deacon Jabez Haskell Hayden, Windsor's able historian.
	"It doubtless remained his private property and in his family.  There appears no evidence that it 
was ever passed over to the town authorities, or ever became a part of the church records.  Samuel Grant, 
eldest son of Matthew, was among the early settlers on the east side of the river, and his descendants 
continued to go east as far as Ellington, and it is strong presumptive proof that this record was held in 
Ellington as late as 1740 when this list of deaths from 1717 to 1740 was entered, more than half a century 
after the death of Matthew Grant.  In 1767 (?) Peletiah Birge of Windsor married Mary Grant of Ellington, 
and brought his bride to the Birge Homestead, (then standing on the site of the late Roswell Miller House).  
After remaining there a short time they removed to Windsor Locks.  About the year 1800 the Birge 
Homestead, then known as the Molly Birge House, was pulled down, and Oliver Ellsworth Jr. in searching 
among the ruins discovered the manuscript book.  How came it in the Birge family?  Presumably Peletiah's 
bride Mary Grant of Ellington brought it to Windsor, and left it at the Birge homestead, when she went to 
live at Pinemeadow, Windsor Locks.  Fortunately the young man who found it was able to appreciate its 
value, and carried it to his father Chief Justice Ellsworth, who gave it to Pastor Rowland.  At his death 
(1835) it passed into the hands of his son in law Theodore Sill, then to Col Loomis about 1840, where I 
found it and held it long enough to make a copy for myself, and this copy was made from mine.  There is 
also an earlier copy made by one of the Rev. Mr. Rowlands sons, which has since come to light, and is now 
in the Town Clerks office in Windsor."
	The manuscript itself now consists of 48 leaves measuring about 6 x 7 3/4 inches.  With the 
exception of two leaves of records now loose from the others, and some occasional scribbling by later 
hands it is almost entirely in the handwriting of Matthew Grant.  It seems to be made up of two parts or 
signatures.  The first part comprising 14 leaves, seven on each side of the fold.  The first six are now 
represented only by fragmentary stubs, some of them about one and one half inches in length, which bear 
no trace of writing.  The seventh is fragmentary and is torn from the book, and the records upon it are in a 
black ink such as was used by Grant in writing the later portions of the record.  The records proper seem to 
begin on the eighth leaf, and it is possible that the previous leaves were originally folded back so as to form 
the end of the manuscript; the absence of a cover making this possible.  The reverse of the fourteenth leaf is 
only partly filled with records.
	The second part consists of 38 leaves, 19 on each side of the fold.  The first leaf, except for 
scribbling upon it, is blank.  The record begins on the obverse of the second leaf.  Two loose leaves contain 
entries in a different hand and of a later date.  The water stains on these two leaves are identical with those 
on  the last leaf of this second part, apparently showing that they originally belonged at this end.  
	  It is possible that the two parts were originally two distinct and separate records, and were sewed 
together to form on volume by Grant himself during the years when he was making out this copy.  For it 
must be remembered that this record is only a copy begun by Grant in 1674 from an old book then full.
	The paper forming the volume is very brown and is now exceedingly brittle.  Many of the edges 
have become broken off or have worn away.  The ink in some places is very faint and almost the color of 
the paper.  The writing is old fashioned and often difficult to read.
	Missing portions of the record are indicated by the insertion of brackets.  Words or letters which 
appear in copes made more than seventy-five years ago; but which are now missing, due to the crumbling 
of the paper, are inserted within the brackets.  Other words or letters which are not found in the early copes; 
but have been supplied from the general context, are further enclosed by parentheses within the brackets.  
The pagination has been added in brackets.