THE TOWN OF BEDFORD. 39 



this period the Hop ground formed a part of Stamford township within 

 Fairfield county, and was therefore under the jurisdiction of Connecti- 

 cut. In 1 68 1 the general court of that colony ordered the laying out 

 of a plantation at the Hop ground. 



On the nth of October, 1681, the proprietors of the Hop ground 

 appointed a committee to lay out and divide the residue of the land at 

 the Hop ground. It was also agreed to receive eleven inhabitants in 

 order to form a town, and a committee appointed to go and view 

 the land for the purpose of laying out a cart way to the Hop 

 ground. 



"Upon the nth of May, 1682, the general court ordered that the 

 name of the town be henceforth called Bedford?' 



Bedford has for a long period been celebrated for its schools. "The 

 Bedford academy was one of the first Institutions chartered by the Re- 

 gents of the University after their incorporation in 1784, but is not now 

 subject to their supervision."* 



The Bedford Female Institute, which is situated on a beautiful hill, 

 (formerly known as part of the "East Field") surrounded by a grove of 

 forest trees, is an incorporated institution and under the control of a 

 board of trustees, subject to the Regents of the University. "In 1813 

 the town voted to comply with the State act providing for common 

 schools and elected the requisite board of Commissioners and Inspectors. 

 Since that time the town has maintained (besides the Academies and 

 Seminaries already alluded to) fifteen public schools and has been fully 

 up to the average rural towns in matters of education." 6 



"Bedford yields nothing that is interesting in a business point of view; 

 Before the construction of the Harlem Rail Road there was quite a 

 lively traffic carried on by means of stages along the Boston post road 

 which passes through the villages between New York and Danbury." 



Accommodations for travellers have always been had from a very 

 early period — "as early as 1698 a hotel became a necessity; and Corne- 

 lius Seely, sen, was chosen as keeper of the "Ordinary" "to give enter- 

 tainment according to law." c 



The next mention of taverns is nearly a hundred years later when 

 six "Inns" were alluded to for which the license fees were 2 pounds and 

 10 shillings each." 1 * 



A large hotel still occupies the site of Seely's tavern in the village, 

 (kept by Robert J. Jimmerson) which affords excellent accommodations 



a Address of Joseph Barrett. 



b Address of Joseph Barrett, July 4, 1S76. 



e Ditto Bedford, M.S.S. p. 32. 



d Address of Joseph Barrett, July 4, 1876. 



