Petition to incorporate the First Congregational Society of the town of Troy

No 2

Petition of the first Congregational Society in the town of Troy in the County of Walworth to be incorporated.

Presented by Mr. Graves Jan 12th

refd to com on corporations Jany 12

To the honorable the Legislature of the territory of Wisconsin This Petition Sheweth.

That at the annual meeting of the First Congregational Society of the town of Troy, Walworth County Wisconsin Territory held on 8th day of April 1845 it was voted That this society will apply to the Legislature of this territory at its next session for an act of incorporation; & the clerk of said society be instructed to carry this vote into effect.

Wherefore, the subscriber, clerk of said society, in behalf of said society, requests your honorable body to incorporate said society upon the basis of the following constitution, which was adopted & signed by said society on the 27th day of January A.D. 1845 viz:

Art. 1st. This society shall be called the First Congregational Society of the town of Troy & its object shall be to cooperate with the First Congregational Church in said Troy in the support of the gospel & the maintenance of the ordinances of religion.

Art. 2d The officers of this society shall consist of a moderator, clerk, collector & Treasurer, to be chosen annually & a Board of three Trustees who shall continue in office until others are elected & a majority of the Trustees shall be members of the Congregational Church with which this society is connected (as this article constitutes the basis of this organization it shall never be altered except by the consent of all the voters in this society.)

Art. 3d The trustees shall be elected in the following manner viz: at the first election the one first chosen shall hold his office three years; the second two years; & the third one year, after the first annual Election one trusted shall be chosen annually & hold his office three years, or until others are chosen, all officers shall be chosen by ballot.

Act 4th: The trustees shall manage the financial affairs of the Society according to its direction, & shall have the charge & control of the meeting house, together with all other property which may belong to said society.

Art. 5th The trustees shall call special meetings of the society whenever they deem it proper or at the request of any six members of the society; due notice of which must be publicly given, & the object thereof specified.

Art. 6th The trustees & treasurer shall report the doings & condition of the society at each annual meeting.

Art. 7th Any person may become a member of this Society by signing this Constitution & Contributing to its support & a major vote of the members present at any regular meetings.

Art. 8th All calls for settling a pastor shall first be proposed by the church, after which the trustees shall notify a meeting of the society, which shall take action thereon.

Art. 9th The annual meeting of the society shall be held on the second Tuesday in April at which time all the officers of the society shall be chosen. Public notice of said meeting shall be given on the two preceding Sabbaths from the pulpit & by posting a notice in a conspicuous place upon the house of worship.

Art. 10th This Constitution may be altered or amended at any regular meeting of the society - with the exception of the second article. Provided that such alteration

or amendment be proposed at a meeting previous to the one at which it is adopted: & shall require the concurrence of two thirds of the members of the society present.

Names of members signing the above constitution: Augustus Smith, George Hibbard, Truman Hibbard, Elias Hibbard, Albert Giles, Samuel B. Cox, Philo Clash, Chapman Crafts, Isaiah W. Hibbard, Roswell R. Snow, Julius H. Mason, Richard M. Hibbard, Thomas Pollock, William M. Whitney, Marcus Montague, Charles Heath, Malachi Brindle, Alonzo Dougherty, Albert Hibbard, Hiram W. Rice.

I certify the above Constitution & vote to be a true copy from the records of the above named society.

Albert Giles, Clerk.

Your Petitioner would also request your honorable body to grant him power to call the first meeting of the society under the act of incorporation, at the time prescribed in the above consitution for the annual meeting viz: on the second Tuesday in April next.

And as in duty bound will ever pray.

Albert Giles

In behalf of the First Congregational Society in Troy, Wisconsin Dated Jan. 1st 1846