Library Collections: Document: Full Text

Account of advances made by the scholars in the Asylum up to June 1st, 1817.

An Act to incorporate the Connecticut Asylum, for the education and instruction of Deaf and Dumb persons.

1. BE it enacted by the Governour and Council and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, That John Caldwell, Nathaniel Terry, Daniel Wadsworth, Mehitable Wadsworth, Susan Tracy, Ward Woodbridge, Henry Hudson, Daniel Buck, Mason F. Cogswell, Joseph Battell, William H. Imlay, Charles Sigourney, David Porter, David McKinney, Isaac Bull, Thomas S. Williams, John Morgan, Samuel Tudor, Jr. John Butler, George Goodwin, John Beach, James Ward, Roswell Bartholomew, George Smith, Joseph Rogers, Moses Tryon, Jr. Nathan Strong, Jr. Charles Seymour, James H. Wells, Jonathan W. Edwards, William W. Ellsworth, William Watson, Russel Bunce, Eliphalet Terry, Seth Terry, Lynds Olmsted, Thomas Lloyd, James B. Hosmer, Joseph Trumbull, Samuel Tinker, Horace Burr, Russel Talcott, Christopher Colt, Eliphalet Averill, Nathaniel Patten, Joseph Wells, William Ely, Spencer Whiting, Barzillai Hudson, Jr. Jonathan Law, George Goodwin, Jr. Daniel Crowell, Charles Goodwill, Michael Shepherd, Caleb Goodwin, Dudley Buck, Aaron Chapin, Jared Scarborough, Barzillai Hudson, Jacob Sargeant, Peter Thatcher, Talcott Wolcott, Nathaniel Spencer, and their associates be, and they hereby are formed into, constituted and made, a body politic and corporate, by the name of "The Connecticut Asylum for the education and instruction of Deaf and Dumb persons," and by that name they and their successors shall, and may have perpetual succession: shall be capable of suing, and being sued, pleading, and being impleaded in all suits of what nature soever, may have a common seal, and may alter the same at pleasure, and may also purchase, receive, hold and convey, any estate real or personal, the annual income of which shall not exceed five thousand dollars.

2. And be it further enacted, That the said Asylum may from time to time, elect a President, and such other officers as they may find necessary or convenient, may elect additional members, and the said Asylum may make bylaws, respecting the number, qualifications, and duties, of their officers; the mode of election and admission of members, the time, place, and manner of holding their meetings, and the number necessary to make a quorum, and all other by-laws which they may deem necessary for the due regulation of said Asylum, not repugnant to the laws of this State or of the United States.

3. And be it further enacted, That the first meeting of said Asylum be held at the State-House in Hartford, on the second Monday of June next.

4. And be it further enacted, That this act or any part thereof, if found inadequate, or inconvenient, may be altered, amended, or repealed.

General Assembly, May Session, 1816.
CHARLES DENISON, Speaker
of the House of Representatives. JOHN COTTON SMITH, Governour.
Attest. THOMAS DAY, Secretary.
BY-LAWS OF THE CONNECTICUT ASYLUM.

At a Meeting of the Connecticut Asylum for the education and instruction of Deaf and Dumb persons, held at the State House in Hartford, 24th June 1816.

JOHN CALDWELL, Esq. Chairman. HENRY HUDSON was chosen Secretary pro. tem.

The following articles were adopted as by-laws for the government of the Society.

Art. 1. The Connecticut Asylum for the education and instruction of Deaf and Dumb persons, shall be established in the town of Hartford.

Art. 2. The annual payments of five dollars shall constitute the person who has paid since the act of incorporation, or shall hereafter pay that sum, a member of the Society, for the year commencing at the annual meeting next subsequent to such payment: and the payment of fifty dollars, a member for life. The payment of one hundred dollars, shall constitute the person who has, or shall hereafter pay that sum, a Director for life, and the payment of two hundred dollars, a Vice-President for life.

Art. 3. The Society shall annually choose ten Directors, who together with the Directors for life, shall manage the concerns of the Society. They shall choose a Clerk for the year. The Clerk shall record the doings of the board, and lay them before the Society at their annual meeting.