USA > Connecticut > A gazetteer of the states of Connecticut and Rhode-Island : written with care and impartiality, from original and authentic materials : consisting of two parts : with an accurate and improved map of each state > Part 11
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The town is watered by the east branch of the Farmington river, which passes through it, and affords some small tracts of alluvial, and many excellent mill seats. The main branch of this river passes through the southwestern section of the town. The turnpike road leading from Connecticut river to Norfolk, where it unites with the Greenwood's turnpike thatextends to Albany, passes through this town.
The population of the town, in 1810, was 1284, and there are a- bout 200 dwelling houses, 2 com- panies of militia, and about 150 Electors.
There are six cider Distilleries, two Grain Mills, two Fulling Mills and Clothier's Works, one Carding
Machine, three Mercantile Stores, two Tanneries and four Taverns.
The town contains two Congre- gational Societies and Churches, and one Society of Methodists ; nine School Districts and Schools, one Social Library, two Clergy- men, and two Physicians.
The amount of taxable proper- ty, including polls, is $27,052.
Hartland was incorporated as a town, in 1761, at which time it be- longed to Litchfield county ; but some years since it was annexed to the county of Hartford.
Hartland is one of the towns which were sold by the State, to the inhabitants of Hartford and Wind- sor. The first proprietors" meeting was holden at Hartford, July 10th, 1733. John Kendall, who removed from Lancaster in Mas- sachusetts, in the spring of 1753, was the first settler. He located a tract of land in the great valley, on the west side of Farmington river. The followingyear, Thomas Giddings removed with his family from Lyme.
In 1755, Simon Baxter came into the town, and the year after, Joshua Giddings. Four additional families settled in the townin 1757. After this period, emigrants were received in considerable numbers for several years.
In 1.761, the town was incorpo- rated, and the first town-meeting was holden in July of that year. In June 1768, the Rev. Sterling Graves was ordained, being the first minister settled in the town. In 1770, Nehemiah Andrews was appointed the first Justice of the Peace; and in June the same year, the first meeting-house was erect- cd.
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MARLBOROUGH.
SIMSBURY
MARLBOROUGH is a small post town, situated in the south- eastern extremity of the county, fifteen miles from Hartford ; boun- ded north by Glastonbury, east by Hebron in Tolland county, south by Colchester in New-London county, and west by Chatham, in Middlesex county. 'The area of the town comprises about twenty-two square miles, having an average length of five and a half miles, and an average breadth of four miles.
Its surface is hilly and stony ; and the soil a gravelly loam, being part of the granitic section in the eastern part of the State. Small quantities of plumbago, or black lead, have been discovered. The lands are best adapted to grazing ; & the making of butter and cheese, and beef and pork, are the leading agricultural interests.
There are within the town no rivers, butitis watered by a number of small streams, some of which afford very advantageous sites for mills, and other water works. Marlborough pond, in this town, is a considerable body of water ; be- ing one mile in length, and half a mile in breadth.
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The Hartford and New-London turnpike road leads through the
town; also, a turnpike from Mid- dletown to Windham.
The population of the town, in 1810, was 720 ; and there are now one company of Infantry, and à part of a company of Riflemen ofini- litia ; 100 Electors, and 110 dwel- ling houses.
Manufactures have received some attention ; there are one Cot- ton Factory and one Woolen Fac- tory; one Carding Machine, two Fulling Mills and Clothier's Works, three Grain Mills, & one Tannery.
The town contains one located Congregational Society & Church, an Episcopal Society, and a So- ciety of Methodists. It contains six School districts and Schools, one of which, called the central district, has been endowed with a fund of 2 or $3,000, to constitute it a grammar School.
The amount of taxable proper- ty, including polls, is $19,952.
The town contains one small So- cial Library, one Physician, and one Clergyman.
Marlborough was formed from Colchester, Glastenbury and Heb- ron, three towns belonging to three different counties ; and it was incorporated in 1803.
SIMSBURY.
SIMSBURY a post town, is situated twelve miles northwest from Hartford. Simsbury was set- tled in 1670; the first settlers be- ing from Windsor, of which it then formed a part. About six years af- ter the settlement, the inhabitants, consisting of about forty families, were so alarmed at the hostility of
the Indians, that they buried their effects, and returned to Windsor. The settlement being abandoned, the Indians burned the houses which had been erected, and des- troyed almost every vestige of im- provement, which distinguished the infant settlement from the wil- derness which surrounded it; so
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SIMSBURY.
that, when the settlers returned, they could not find the spot where they deposited their goods. This was in the spring of 1676, at which time Simsbury was a frontier set- tlement, although but about ten miles from Connecticut river. It was incorporated as a town at an early period, and has since been divided twice, by theincorporation of the towns of Granby and Canton ; both of which belonged principal- ly to the original town of Simsbury.
This township, at present, has an area of about 37 square miles, being seven miles in length, and about five and a half miles in breadth upon an average estima- tion; and is bounded north on Granby, east on Windsor, south on Farmington, and west on Canton. It is strikingly diversified, being intersected by the Farmington or Tunxis river, and embracing the range of the greenstone mountain, which here is elevated and lofty. This mountain generally has a gradual declivity upon the east, whence it is usually covered with timber. Upon its eastern side, you discover clay slate, but it is gene- rally covered with trap or green- stone. Upon the west, it presents a bold and elevated mural precipice, wholly covered with greenstone. The rock is exhibited in broken & disordered fragments, and towards the summit is entirely naked ; hav- ing no covering of earth, and not sus- taining the growth of the smallest shrubs."
The Tunxis river, on approach- ing this mountain, ranges along up- on the west of it, until it finds a chasm where it forces its passage through, forming the boundary be- tween this town and Granby ; but
the mountain does not subside, but immediately rises in Granby, and soon attains its usual elevation, and presents its usual features.
Upon the Tunxis river within this town, there are tracts of mea- dow, or alluvial, of considerable extent, and very fertile. West from the river, the elevated lands are a light sandy plain, but consi- derably well adapted to the cul- ture of rye.
East of the declivity of the mountain, the soil is generally a gravelly loam, but there are some sections of argillaceous loam ; and although hilly, and somewhat sto- ny, it is fertile, and very favourable for orcharding. This section of the town is perhaps best adapted to grass ; it affords also good crops of Indian corn, and the declivities of the mountain good pasturage.
Formerly salmon and shad were taken plentifully in the Tunxis riv- er; but for some years past, the former have disappeared altogeth- er, and the latter are taken only in small quantities, which renders the business of fishing no object to the inhabitants.
The manufactures of the town are principally domestic, which receive great attention ; the in- habitants being industrious and economical. In addition to which, there are one small Cotton Factory, three Tin ware Factories, three Wire Factories, two Grain Distil- leries, three Gristmills, four Saw Mills, two Carding Machines, and two Tanneries. There are also four Mercantile Stores.
The town contains one located Congregational Society, and an Episcopal Society, each of which is accommodated with a house for
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SOUTHINGTON. 1
public worship. It also contains 10 School districts, in each of which a school is maintained for the greater part of the year.
In 1810, the population of the town amounted to 1966; and there are now 250 Electors, two Com- panies of militia, and 290 dwelling houses. The taxable property, in- cluding polls, amounts to $34,009.
There are in Simsbury 1 Phy- sician, 1 Clergyman, & 1 Lawyer. BIOGRAPHY. Major Gen. Noah Phelps, a native inhabi- tant of this town, was born in 1740. He served under Gen. Amherst in the French war, and took an early and active part on the side of his country, in the war of the revolu-
tion. Early in the spring of 1775, he, with Col. Halsey, and another gentleman whose name is not recol- lected, proposed the capture of Ticonderoga, which they effected with a small band of volunteers raised and paid by themselves, and on their own responsibility, inde- pendence then not being declared. Having demolished the fort, they marched with their prisoners, a- bout 100 in number, for Hartford, where they arrived during the ses- sion of the General Assembly in May. Gen. Phelps afterwards ser- ved as a captain in this war, and after the peace, held for many years the office of judge of Pro- bate &c. He died March 4th, 1809.
SOUTHINGTON.
SOUTHINGTON is a post town, situated in the southwestern corner of the county, 18 miles from Hartford, and 21 from New-Haven; bounded on the north by Farming- ton and Bristol, on the west by Wolcott, on the south by Cheshire
from east to west, and about the . same from north to south, contain- ing about 35 square miles. The surface is uneven ; the greenstone range of mountain extends along upon the east side of the town. The western section is also hilly, or mountainous, but the greater proportion of the town is but mod- erately hilly. The soil is various, according to the local situation of the lands, but is generally good, & welladapted to the culture of rye & Indian corn, which attain here the
highest perfection ; and of which there is raised annually a consi- derable surplus, that is manufactu- red into flour and corn meal, and transported to New-Haven and Middletown for a market.
There are no considerable riv- and Meriden, and on the east by ers in the town, but several small Meriden and Berlin. The area of streams. A branch of the Quini- the township is nearly six miles : piack has its source in a pond at the
northwest corner of the town, and ¡runs through it in a southeasterly direction, affording several excel- lent mill seats. About two miles from the centre of the town, in a . southwesterly direction, it forms a junction with another branch of the Quinipiack, which has its source in Farmington, and runs in
a southeasterly direction; just below this junction, there is a large flour mill and oil mill erected up- on this stream.
The western turnpike road, lead-
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SUFFIELD.
ing from Hartford to new-Haven, passes through the centre of this town; thence through Cheshire and Hamden. The Southington and Waterbury turnpike, leads from Waterbury in New-Haven county, in an eastern direction through the south part of the town to Meriden, thence to Middle- town.
The inhabitants of this town are industrious and enterprising ; al- though the greater part are enga- ged in agriculture, yet several kinds of manufactures and me- chanical employments have receiv- ed considerable attention, and been 'prosecuted with ardour and success. Among these, the manu- factures of tin ware and buttons are the most important. The tin ware business, having been first estab- lished at Berlin, was, after the lapse of some years, transplanted to this town. There are now, three Tin Ware Factories, several Button Factories, one Woolen Factory,one Pocket-book Factory, four Flour)
Mills, two Oil Mills, one Fulling Mill and Clothier's Works, two Carding Machines, two considera- ble Tanneries, and ten Distilleries, principally of cider spirits. There are five Mercantile Stores.
The town contains one located Congregational Society & Church, one Society of Episcopalians, and onc also of Baptists, all'of which are accommodated with houses for public worship. It contains nine School districts and common Schools, and one Academy, not endowed, one small Social Libra- ry, two settled Clergymen, four Physicians, and two Lawyers.
The population of the town, in 1810, was 1807; and there are now 300 dwelling houses, and a- bout 300 Freemen or qualified Electors ; and two companies of Infantry, and part of a company of cavalry.
The amount of taxable proper- ty, including polls, is $43,300.
Southington originally belonged to Farmington, was incor. in 1779.
SUFFIELD.
SUFFIELD is a post town, de- lightfully situated upon the west side of Connecticut river, 17 miles north from Hartford, and 10 south from Springfield ; bounded on the north hy Massachusetts, on the east by Connecticut river, which sepa- rates it from Enfield, on the south by Windsor and Granby, and on the west by Granby and Southwick in Massachusetts. The average length of the township, from east to west, is about eight miles, and it is five in breadth, comprising about forty square miles.
The surface and soil of this town afford considerable diversity of character; its eastern section bordering upon Connecticut river, has a gradual rise for about two miles to the public road, which runs nearly in a parallel direction with the river. This is a good ag- ricultural district, the soil being a strong, decp, argillaceous loam. There is no alluvial upon the bor- der of the river, and the bank is generally elevated and bold, con- sisting of solid argillaceous schistus, for clay slate rock. From the pub-
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SUFFIELD.
lic road westerly, the surface is generally of an undulating charac- ter, but some sections are nearly level. This district extends upon the south line of the town, to its western boundary ; but upon its north section, there is a projection which extends farther west. The soil of this tract is also an argilla- ceous loam, and in some places it is low and frequently wet and cold, and the clay stiff and hard ; when dry, it is best adapted to grass and grazing, and is well calculated for manures. That section of the township upon its northern border which extends farther west, lying north of Granby, embraces the greenstone range of mountain, which is here characterised by its usual features. The declivities of this mountain afford good grazing and orcharding, and some tracts are well adapted to grain.
The natural growth consists of oak, maple, walnut, chesnut, but- ternut, elm, birch &c.
Besides the Connecticut, which washes the eastern border of the town, it is intersected by Stony river, a considerable mill stream, upon which there are numerous sites for hydraulic works, many of which are advantageously occu- pied.
In the 'northwestern section of the town, there are two considera- ble ponds called Southwick ponds, being partly in this town and partly in Southwick in Massachusetts. These are very pleasant and beau- tiful bodies of water, and are well stored with fish, particularly perch and pickerel ; the latter of which are taken plentifully, and with great facility in the winter season, by making holes through the ice.
Near the southern border of the township is a mineral spring, the waters of which have a strong sul- phurous impregnation. It has ac- quired considerable celebrity in cases of of calculous and cutane- ous diseases. Very ample and con- venient accommodations have been provided ; a large three story building, with numerous and spa- cious apartments, having been erected.
These waters, although undoubt- edly possessed of valuable medici- nal qualities, pleasantly situated, and provided with respectable ac- commodations, have not been a place of extensive resort; & itis be- lieved that, for one or two seasons past, they have received less at- tention than at other periods, and that their celebrity is upon the de- cline ; although circumstances might occur that would give them a reputation, which they have not yet acquired, and of which there is no apparent prospect.
Suffield comprises two located Congregational Societies, or Par- ishes, and two large Societies of Baptists. These several Societics are respectively provided with houses for public worship.
The principal street, in the first Society, is the great river road ; it has an elevated and delightful site, and is called High-street. For one . mile or more it is well settled, and contains many handsome dwelling houses, and some that are large and elegant ; all of which unite the advantages of a pleasant and pros- pective situation. Upon thisstreet, thereare a Post-office, one Congre- gational and one Baptist church, and several Mercantile Stores. The west Society comprises a
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SUFFIELD.
number of streets, which are set- tled principally by independent and thrifty farmers. Here also are two Churches, one for Baptists, & one for Congregationalists.
The inhabitants of the town have been characterized by an enter- prising and adventurous spirit. Various species of traffic, both at home and abroad, have been car- ried on. From the extent and mul- tiplicy of these concerns, and more generally the irresponsible charac- ter of the persons engaged in them, itis not a matter of surprise, that in- stances of conduct should have oc- curred, discreditable to the authors thereof; and which, by a natural but unwarrantable association, should have had the effect of casting a shade upon the character of the community, to which such persons belonged. Yet any opinions affect- ing the character of the inhabitants of this town, which may have ari- sen from causes like these, are wholly unsupported, and illiberal in the extreme. The enterprise of a community is certainly very much to their credit, although it can scarcely be denied, that if this spirit discloses itself through such à channel as that of traffic, it is cal- culated to elicit dispositions and habits less consistent with the strict principles of moral integrity, than those which generally characterise labouring or earning communities.
But the enterprise of the inhabi- tants of this town, has not been confined to trade; it has disclosed itself in other channels, and has in no small degree promoted the in- terests of manufactures, particular- ly those of cotton. There are now four Cotton Factories in the town, some of which are upon a considc-
rably extensive scale. There are also one Paper Mill, one Oil Mill; three Fulling mills and Clothier's Works, two Carding Machines, three Grain Mills, three Tanneries, four Mercantile Stores, and five Taverns.
The population of the town, in 1810, was 2630 ; and there are 360 dwelling houses, 400 Freemen or Electors, and three companies of militia.
The amount of taxable proper- ty, (estimated according to the laws regulating the making up of lists,) including polls, is $52,821 ; and the valuation, or assessment of lands and buildings of the town, in 1816, was $976,629.
There are in the town eleven School districts & primary Schools, and usually one Grammar School, three Social Libraries, three Phy- sicians, four Clergymen, and two Attornies.
Suffield originally belonged to the colony of Massachusetts, and was purchased of two Sachems, at $100.
In 1660, it was granted by the General Assembly of Massachu- setts to major John Pyncheon. It continued a part of the territory of that colony, and subject to its jurisdiction until 1752, being then annexed to Connecticut.
BIOGRAPHY. Gen. Phineas Lyman, distinguished for bis ser- vices during the French war, and for many public employments, was for several years a resident in this town. General Lyman was one a- mong the many, who have risen to distinction from the force of native talents, and surmounting all the obstacles arising from the want of education. He was bred a weaver,
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BIOGRAPHY.
but soon raised himself above this situation, and engaged in mercan- tile pursuits. He took a distin- guished part in the dispute between this State and Massachusetts, rela- tive to the right of jurisdiction over the town of Suffield, and the other towns upon that boundary, settled by Massachusetts. He afterwards became a councillor, then called a magistrate, which office he held for a number of years. During the French war, he had a distinguished command in the northern army for several years. In the campaign of 1755, he served as a major gen. in the provincial troops. At or soon after the close of the war, he went to England to support a claim of the officers of the provincial troops, having been authorised to act as general agent. After experi- encing great difficulties and delay, (having returned once for an ex- tension of his powers,) he succeed- ed in obtaining a grant of an ex- tensive tract of land upon the Mis- sissippi, in the vicinity of Natchez. He accordingly embarked, and sailed directly for the Mississippi, where he arrived about the year 1774. He dispatched one of his sons for his family, which during this period had remained inSuffield; but just before their arrival, the same year, Gen. Lyman died up- on the tract of land of which he obtained a grant. His wife died during the passage, and his family left there soon after, on the coun- try being reclaimed by the Spani- ards.
Oliver Phelps, Esq. a man of extraordinary enterprise and ex- tensive business, was for many years a resident of this town. Hc
also was the "maker of his own fortunes." He was a native of Windsor, but was bred in this town, and received a mercantile educa- tion. He engaged in business in Granville, Massachusetts, and soon became a very enterprising, saga- cious and successful trader. Du- ring the revolutionary war, he was employed by the State of Massa- chusetts in the commissary depart- ment. Whilst in this situation, his transactions were of a most exten- sive and responsible nature, and his own paper formed a kind of circulating medium. Afterwards he purchased a large estate, and re- turned to this town. In 1789 he, in connection with the Hon. Mr. Gorham, purchased of the common- wealth of Massachusetts, a tract of land in the western part of the State of New-York, at what is commonly called the Genesee country, com- prising 2,200,000 acrcs. This is probably the greatest land pur- chase, or speculation, ever made by two individuals in the United States. This is a very excellent tract of land, having a mild climate, a fertile soil, and an abundance of waters, andis now comprised in the extensive counties of Ontario and Steuben. In 1795, Oliver Phelps, together with William Hart and their associates, purchased of this State the tract of land in the State of Ohio, called the western reserve, comprising 3.300,000 acres. Some years after this, he removed to Canandaigua, situated within bis Genesee purchase. In 1802, he was elected a member of Congress from the western district of that State.
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WETHERSFIELD.
WETHERSFIELD, an ancient and populous town, is situated on the west side of Connecticut riv- er, four miles south of Hartford, and 34 north of New-Haven. It is bounded north by Hartford, south by Middletown and Berlin, west by Farmington and Berlin, and east by Connecticut river, which separates it from Glastenbury.
The area of the town is about six miles square, containing 23,000 acres. This is an excellent town- ship of land, having an undulating surface, and exhibiting a beautiful diversity of hill and dale. The soil is generally a rich gravelly and san- dy loam, but in the western part of the town, argillaceous loam pre- vails ; and some small sections in the centre, may be considered as a garden mould. It is well adapted to grass and grain, & particularly to esculent roots. The tractofalluvial upon Connecticut river is exten- sive and beautiful, and very pro- ductive. The clay of Hartford does not extend to Wethersfield, but on the contrary, there are some small sections of silicious sand.
Among other agricultural inter- ests in this town, the cultivation of onions has long held a conspi- cuous rank. This is an important agricultural pursuit, although it oc- cupies but a small portion of land, and the service is principally per- formed by females. Wethersfield onions have long been justly cele- brated, & are exported to the south- ern states and the West Indies for a market. The onions, when prepa- red for market, are sorted and arranged into Ropes or Bunches, consisting of a number strung to- gether, of which it has been esti- mated, that there are from a million
to a million and a half raised an- nually, and sent abroad.
This is the only town in the State which makes a business of the cultivation of this excellent root. It is peculiarly novel and in- teresting, on passing through the town in the month of June, to be- hold in every direction the exten- sive fields of onions. Whilst in a luxuriant state of vegetation, the growing vegetable exhales its strong savour. The atmosphere becomes impregnated, and the lus- cious qualities of the onion are. wafted far and wide, upon every passing breeze.
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