Incorporation of West Hartford Parish

The incorporation of West Hartford parish occurred on May 10, 1711 by the Act of the General Assembly of Connecticut incorporating the West Division Parish. After an increase in the population, the people of western Hartford desired a community organization of their own, and especially local gospel privileges. After sending a petition to the General Assembly on October 12, 1710, then in session in New Haven, it was referred to a committee for investigation by Colonel Matthew Allyn and John Moore. In November 1710, they visited the West Division and reported favorably to the session, declaring that the divided lots could contain 90 families, enough to support a local church.

The creation of West Hartford as a parish of Hartford set the boundaries as Bloomfield to the north, Farmington to the west, Newington to the south, and Hartford to the east. The West Division thus had a political identity, with power to hold parish meetings, call a minister, and collect a tax to pay him, build a meeting house, and manage other affairs. It was the Fourth Society in Hartford and its church was the Fourth Church.