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 15
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The township is moderately un- even ; being pleasantly diversified with hill and dale, except its wes- tern section, which is hilly and mountainous, embracing the West rock range of mountain. The prevailing soil is a gravelly loam, and is generally rich and fertile, affording grass, rye, oats, Indian corn and other productions com- mon to this district. Of the na- tural growth of timber, chesnut, oak of the various kinds, and wal- nut, are the most prevalent. The geological structure of the town- ship consists of argillaceous schis- tus and greenstone ; and there are appearances of several minerals :
galena, or lead orc, and copper ore have been discovered ; but its mineralogy has received but little attention.
The Farmington and New-Ha- ven turnpike passes through the centre of the town ; and a turn- pike which is contemplated to be laid out, to be called the Wolcott turnpike, will also pass through it.
The town contains two located Ecclesiastical Societies, and one Society of Episcopalians ; each of which is accommodated with a house for public worship. It con- tains 12 School districts and com- mon Schools, and an incorporated Academy.
The Episcopal Academy in this town is a very respectable institu- tion. It was incorporated in 1801, being styled the Episcopal Acade- my of Connecticut. It has a fund of about $25,000, and a library, containing about 200 volumes. The institution is under the direc- tion of a Principal and a Profes- sor of languages. It has also a Treasurer and Secretary. The stated anniversary is the first Wed- nesday of October ; and the ave- rage number of scholars is about 70. The academical building con- sists of a substantial brick edifice, 54 feet by 34. It was erected by the town, in 1796, and has a plea- sant and interesting site, and is sur- rounded by a spacious court-yard.
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DERBY.
The population of Cheshire, in 1810, was 2288; and there are about 350 Dwelling houses, 350 Freemen or Electors, 3 compa- nies of Infantry, and a part of a company of Cavalry, of militia. The amount of taxable property, including polls, is $53,514. In the centre of the town there is a considerable village, having a pleasant and prospective situa- tion. It contains forty or fifty dwelling houses, two Churches, the academical building, a Post-of- fice, and several Mercantile Stores.
There are in the town, 4 Grain Mills, 2 Fulling Mills and Cloth- iers' Works, 2 Carding Machines, 1 Tinware Factory, 5 T'anneries, 5 Mercantile Stores, and 5 Tav- erns. There is also 1 Social Library, besides the one belong- ing to the Academy ; an Engrav- ing and Copper-plate Printing es- tablishment, 4 Physicians, 2 Cler- gymen, 1 Episcopalian and 1 Congregationalist ; and 1 Attor- ney. This town, originally be- longing to the town of Wallingford, was incorporated in May, 1780.
DERBY.
DERBY, an ancient commer- cial post town, is situated upon the eastern side of the Ousatonick riv- er, 12 miles from its mouth, at the head of navigation ; 9 miles north- west from New-Haven, and 38 southwest from Hartford ; bound- ed on the north by Oxford, on the east by Woodbridge, on the south by Milford, on the southwest by the Ousatonick river, which separates it from Huntington, in Fairfield county, and on the west by a part of Oxford. Its mean length is about 5 & a half miles, and its mean breadth 4 and a half, comprising an area of about 25 square miles. The sur- face is undulating, being pleasantly diversified with hills and dales. Upon the borders of the Ousatonick & Naugatuck, there are some fine tracts of alluvial. The prevailing soil is a gravelly loam ; some san- dy loam, and some small sections of calcareous loam. There are con- siderable forest lands in the town- ship, and quantities of wood and
timber are exported to the city of New-York.
The town is well watered; its southern border being washed by the Ousatonick, and the Naugatuck runs through it from north to south, and unites with the former within the town, at what is called the landing or harbour.
The Naugatuck contains some excellent privileges for mills and manufacturing establishments, which have been duly appreciated ; and upon the Ousatonick, there are several shad fisheries.
There are several turnpike roads that lead through the town; the Rimmon falls turnpike, and the Ousatonick and Derby turnpikes.
The interests of the town en- brace those of agriculture, manu- factures and commerce. The agri- cultural productions consist of wheat, rye, corn, oats, grass, but- ter, cheese, beef, flax, flax seed, wool and some others. This was formerly a place of considerable
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commercial importance ; the West India trade having once been flour- ishing, and carried on to conside- rable extent ; but for some years past, the commerce of the town has much declined. The mari- time business is done at the land- ing, where there is a small village, situated at the confluence of the Naugatuck with the Ousatonick. The harbour is good, and the navi- gation to the mouth of the river into Long Island sound, for vessels of about 80 tons ; there being about 10 feet of water. The place possesses some local advantages for trade, being at the head of navi- gation ; and the natural depot, for the surplus produce of a back - country of considerable extent, up- on the borders of the Ousatonick. These local advantages formerly gave the place considerable com- mercial consequence; but its vi- cinity to New-Haven is probably a circumstance that has counter- acted their operation, and occa- sioned a decline of its trade and commercial interests. Some at- tempts have recently been made, to revive its commerce and busi- ness ; a bank has been established, & a fishing company incorporated ; but the exertions which have been made, have been attended with little or no success. The bank has now closed its operations, . the business of the place being un- able to sustain it; yet, notwith- standing these facts, and the inau- spiciousness of present appearan- ces, it is not improbable, that at some future period, the local ad- vantages of the place will over- come the causes, whatever they may be, which have restricted and depressed its commercial interests,
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and give it that character and im- portance, which circumstances at an early period seemed to forebode. At the present time, the whole shipping of the place consists of four coasters, which are employed principally in a trade with the city of New-York.
Of the manufactures of this town, the large Woolen Factory, erected by the late Gen. David Humphrey, is the most important. This was one of the first establishments in the United States, and is situated upon the Naugatuck river, several miles back from the Ousatonick. The buildings connected with this establishment, and the Cotton Fac- tory belonging to the same compa- ny, and other buildings which have been erected for the residence of the workmen, boarding houses, &c. have formed considerable of a vil- lage, which, in honour of its foun- der, is called Humphreysville. This establishment is upon an ex- tensive scale; the proprietors of which, consisting of David Hum- phrey and his associates, were incorporated in May, 1810, by the name of "The Humphreysville Manufacturing company," with a capital of $500,000. The woolen manufactures of Humphreysville are known throughout the United States, and have acquired a repu- tation, at least equal to that of any other in this country. There is also a Cotton Factory at this vil- lage, belonging to this incorpora- ted munufacturing company ; a Paper Mill, and a Grain Mill. At some periods, the company have had in their employ, at the Wool- en, Cotton, and other manufactu- ring interests at this village, nearly 1200 workmen. There are three
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BIOGRAPHY.
mercantile stores and a post-office ! at the village.
In addition to the manufactures at the village of Humphreysville, there is one Brass Foundery, two Oil Mills, six Limekilns, four Grain Mills, one of which is a Flouring Mill, one Fulling Mill and Clo- thiers' Works, one Carding Ma- chine and seven Tanneries.
The population of this town, in 1810, was 2051; and there are 300 Dwelling Houses, 200 Free- men or Electors, and 3 companies of militia.
The amount of taxable proper- ty, as rated in making up lists, is $31,307.
The civil divisions of the town are two located Societies or par- ishes, and eight or nine School Districts. There are five religious Societies and Churches, two of Congregationalists, two of Episco- palians, and one of Methodists. In cach of the School Districts, there is a School House, and a primary or common school main- tained a suitable portion of the year. There are in the town, two small villages, of 30 or 40 houses each, in additon to the manufacturing village of Humph- rcysville.
There are 7 mercantile Stores, 9 Social Libraries, 3 Clergymen, 2 Physicians and 2 Attornies.
This place was originally called Paugassett, and belonged to the town of Milford. Some settlements were attempted in 1764, but were not permanent. In 1657-59, the lands were purchased of the na- tives ; soon after which, the set- tlement made considerable pro- gress. In 1671, the inhabitants presented a petition to the General
Court, to be incorporated as a town, and renewed their applica- tion. In 1675, when at the Octo- ber session, the town was incorpo- rated by the name of Derby, at which time there were but twelve families.
BIOGRAPHY. Gen. David Humphrey, was a native of this town. He was a son of the Rev. Danicl Humphrey, and was born in July 1752. In 1767, he enter- ed Yale College, and received his first degree in 1771. Whilst in college, he cultivated an attach- ment to the muses, and disclosed early evidences of poetical talent. During the revolutionary war, he entered the army as a captain ; but at what time we are not informed.
In 1778, however, he was aid to Gen. Putnam, with the rank of major. Two years after this, he was appointed aid to the Com- mander in chicf ; having been the successful candidate of four who solicited the office. His competitors were Col. Talmadge, Gen. William Hull, and Roger Alden. He continued in this si- tuation during the war, having the rank of a colonel, and was par- ticularly distinguished at the me- morable sicge of York ; and Con- gress, as a respectful testimony of their high estimation of his valour, fidelity, and signal services on this occasion, voted him an elegant sword. At the close of the war, he accompanied Gen. Washington to Virginia. In 1784, he embark- ed for France, in company with the brave but unfortunate Kosci- usko ; having, on the appointment of -Mr. Jefferson as ambassador to France, been nominated as his se- cretary. In 1786, he returned to
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EAST-HAVEN.
America, and revisited the scenes of his youth in his native town. Soon after his return, he was elected by his fellow citizens to be their representative in the le- gislature of the State, and con- tinued to be elected for two years , when he was appointed to the command of a regiment raised for the western service. During the period that he held this office, he remained most of the time in Hart- ford ; and, with Hopkins, Barlow and Trumbull, assisted in the pub- lication of the Anarchiad. On the reduction of his regiment, he repaired to Mount Vernon, and continued with Gen. Washington until 1790, when he received an appointment to the court of Por- tugal. In 1794, he visited Amer- ica, but soon returned to Lisbon. Soon after this, he received an ap- pointment to the court of Spain, where he continued until 1802, when he again returned to his native country. This was the end of his public life. After his return to America, he was, until his death, extensively engaged in various ob- jects of public utility, particularly manufactures and agriculture. He is well known to have been one
of the first who introduced meri- no sheep into this country, which has greatly improved the quality of wool, and given a strong im- petus to domestic manufactures. The extensive woolen and cotton factory, which he established in this town, has already been noticed. He also did much for the promo- tion of agriculture ; and just pre- previously to his death was making exertions to form a society, for the purpose of procuring a farm for agricultural experiments.
Gen. Humphrey possessed con- siderable literary acquirements, although he published no work of magnitude ; his writings consist. principally of various poetical pro- ductions. Of these, the most im- portant are an address to the ar- mies of the United States ; a po- em on the happiness of America ; a poem on the future glory of the United States ; a poem on the in- dustry of the United States ; a po- em on the love of country ; and a poem on the death of General Washington. He wrote also & memoir of Gen. Putnam, various political tracts, &c. He died in New-Haven, 21st Feb. 1818, aged 66 years.
EAST-HAVEN.
EAST-HAVEN isa small town- ship situated upon Long Island sound and New-Haven bay, four miles from the city of New-Ha- ven, and 40 from Hartford ; boun- ded on the north by North-Haven, on the east by Branford, on the south by Long Island sound, and on the west by New-Haven bay and the Quinipiack river. Its av-
erage length is 6 miles, and its average breadth nearly 3 miles ; comprising about 17 square miles.
Upon the Quinipiack the land is level, and the soil is light and sandy. For a considerable dis- tance into the interior, it conti- nues level, and the soil is a sandy iloam ; but the eastern border is
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GUILFORD.
hilly and stony, and the soil a gra- velly loam. The agricultural pro- ductions consist of Indian corn, some rye, barley, grass, salt hay ; there being about 400 acres of salt marsh or meadow in the town.
The Quinipiack river washes the western border of the town ; besides which, it is watered by several small streams. Salton- stall Pond or Lake, a small body of water, is situated partly in this town and partly in Branford.
There are three considerable bridges in the town ; the Dragon bridge, the Tomlinson bridge, and the Turnpike bridge. Shell fish are taken plentifully at Dragon ; and there are several other small fisheries. Oysters and clams are the most important of the shell fish ; and the black fish, of the " finny tribe." Large quantities of the white fish are taken for ma- nure, for which purpose they are found to be very valuable.
The Middletown and Durham
turnpike road leads through this town.
Agriculture and fishing are the principal occupations of the inha- bitants ; and manufactures or me- chanical employments have recei- ved but little attention. There is 1 Grain Mill, 1 Fulling Mill and Clothiers' works, 1 Carding Ma- chine, 2 Mercantile Stores, and 3 Public Inns. The population of the town, in 1810, was 1209; and there are 130 qualified Elec- tors, one company of militia, and about 200 dwelling houses.
The town contains one located Congregational Society & Church, one Society of Episcopalians, 5 School Districts and Schools, and one small Social Library. The professional men are two Clergy- men and one Physician.
The amount of taxable proper- ty, including polls, is $22,694.
East-Haven was taken from New-Haven, and incorporated in May, 1785.
GUILFORD.
GUILFORD, an ancient and populous maritime post township, is situated upon Long Island sound, 15 miles east of New-Haven, and 36 south from Hartford ; bounded on the north by Durham, on the east by Hammonassett river, which separates it from Killingworth, on the south by Long Island sound, and on the west by Branford. Its mcan length from north to south is about eleven miles, and its mean breadth nearly seven ; comprising about 72 square miles. The sur- face and face of the country are various ; on the border of the nut and other species of hard
sound, are some tracts of alluvial ; the interior is broken and rough, being rocky and hilly ; and in some sections mountainous. The rocks are primitive, consisting of gra- nite, and other original form- ations. The prevailing soil is a gravelly loam, interspersed with some sections of sandy loam. It is considerably strong and fer- tile. In the interior of the town- ship, and in its northern section, there are extensive tracts of fo- rests and timber lands, consisting principally of oak, walnut, ches-
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GUILFORD.
wood. These lands are too rough and stony for cultivation, and have therefore been suffered to remain to forests. The wood is sound and hard, and of an excellent quality, both for timber and fuel, and is now becoming valuable ; being situated within a tolerably convenient distance of navigable waters. Large quantities of wood and timber are annually got to market, principally to the city of New-York. The improved lands in the town produce rye and corn ; besides which, butter, cheese and cattle receive some attention. Of the hay produced, a conside- rable proportion is from the tracts of salt marsh, which are somewhat extensive. The farming interests of the town are not very flourish- ing ; and there is an apparent general want of agricultural im- provements and enterprise. The township is well watered ; its sou- thern border being washed by Long Island sound, and its east- ern by the Hammonassett river, and the Menunkatuck, which rises in Quinapaug pond in the north part of the township, runs through it, and discharges itself into the harbour. East river, and several other small streams, accommodate different sections of the town. Some shad are taken in these rivers, and shell fish and white fish in the sound. The latter are valued only for manure, for which purpose large quantities of them are taken. They afford a rich and valuable manure, particularly for arable lands. Of shell-fish, oysters are most important ; of which large quantities are annu- ally taken, there being often from twenty to thirty oyster boats em-
ployed in the business. There are two harbours in the town, one called the town harbour, the other sachem's head harbour ; the latter of which is esteemed a very safe and convenient one. The ' shipping of the town consists of three vessels engaged in the coast- ing trade, and five regular pack-" ets, which ply between this place and New-York. There is a turn- pike road leading from the society of East-Guilford in this town to Durham, and thence to Hartford.
The civil divisions of the town consist of 4 located Ecclesiasti- cal Societies, 19 School Districts, and an incorporated borough. The borough of Guilford, which was incorporated in 1815, is hand- somely situated upon a tract of alluvial or maritime plain, about two miles back from the harbour, and near the Menunkatuck river. Its limits embrace the ancient town plot, which is handsomely laid out, having considerable regulari- ty. In the centre, there is a pub- lic square, at which five consider- able streets are concentrated. The several streets surrounding the square are well built, compris- ing many neat and handsome dwelling houses. There are, with- in the limits of the borough, 150 Dwelling houses, 2 Churches and a Town house situated upon the square, 5 Schools, 16 Mercantile Stores, a Post-office, several pri- vate offices, and a number of Me- chanics' shops. The most consi- derable and important manufactu- ring or mechanical business in the town, is that of making shoes. There are 11 shops engaged in this business in the borough, some of which pursue it upon an exten-
16
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GUILFORD.
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sive scale. This manufacture is carried on to a greater extent here, than in any other town in the State; and the products of the business form an important article of ex- portation, being principally sent to the southern states for a mar- ket. Except the shoemaking bu- siness, the manufactures of the town are inconsiderable ; the grea- ter portion of the industry of the place being engaged in the pur- suits of agriculture, or the fishing and scafaring business. There are 1 Forge, 5 Grain Mills, 3 Cloth dressing establishments, 3 Carding Machines, and 4 Tanneries.
The population of the town, in 1810, was 3845 ; and there are about 500 Freemen or Electors, 4 Companies of Militia, and about 550 Dwelling houses. The ag- gregate list of the town, in 1816, was $84,945. Besides the 4 lo- cated Societies, which are Congre- gational, there is 1 Episcopal So- ciety, 1 of Baptists, and 1 of Methodists ; all of which are ac- commodated with houses for pub- lic worship. There are in the town 19 primary or common Schools, one in each district, 4 So- cial Libraries, 20 Mercantile Stores, 5 Clergymen, 6 Physi- cians, and 1 Attorney.
This town, being pleasantly si- tuated upon the seaboard ; afford- ing in the summer months a cool and salubrious atmosphere ; hav- ing an abundant supply of shell and other salt-water fish ; and pos- sessing various facilities for enjoy- ing the air, healthfulness and plea- santness of the salt water; is, in the warm season, a place of much resort, both for health and plea- sure ; there being few if any towns
upon the sea-coast, uniting so ma- ny agreeable and interesting ob- jects.
Guilford was settled at an early period ; the settlement having commenced in 1639, the year af- ter that in New-Haven. The first settlers were Mr. Henry White- field, and several members of his church and congregation in Eng- land, to the number of about forty persons. It is represented that they selected this location, from the circumstance of the near re- semblance it bore to the place from whence they had emigrated. They purchased the lands of the natives, stipulating that they should immediately abandon them. But notwithstanding this amicable ar- rangement with the aboriginal in- habitants, it was thought prudent, as a measure of precaution, to build one house, which should be so constructed, that, in case of necessity, it might serve as a for- tress, for security & defence. This house, which was built of stone, is still standing, having been re- cently repaired. It is situated at the head of the great plain, upon a small eminence, and is two sto- ries high. It is frequently visited by strangers, as an object of curi- osity, and as a monument of the first settlement of the town, and of " times that are past."
BIOGRAPHY. The IIon. Abra- ham Baldwin, was a native of this town. His talents, his virtues, his patriotism, and his distinguished public services, were an honour to his native State. He graduated at Yale College, in 1772, imme- diately after which he was appoint- ed a tutor at the same seminary, in which situation he continued
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BIOGRAPHY.
for five years. In the year 1777, he entered the continental army, in the capacity of a chaplain, and continued therein until the close of the war. Not long after this period, he removed, at the request of Gen. Greene, to the State of Georgia. On his arrival and set- tlement here, he abandoned the clerical profession for that of the law. His talents and patriotism were too conspicuous to remain unnoticed even among strangers ; he was soon elected a member of the legislature of that State, and in 1784, a member of the old Con- gress, and continued in that situa- tion until the National Constitu- tion superseded the system of go- vernment, (if it deserved to be called a system,) then in existence. He was also a member, and a dis- tinguished one, of the Convention which formed the present Consti- tution of the United States ; and upon the organization of the go- vernment, was chosen a member of Congress under the same, and so continued without interruption un- til he was removed therefrom for a more, exalted station, being ap- pointed a member of the Senate, in which office he continued until his death, March 4th, 1807. He died at the city of Washington, during the session of Congress, aged 53, in the midst of his use- fulness, and surrounded with ho- nours.
It is a remarkable circumstance, and an instance of assiduity and attention to public duties which scarcely have a parallel, that during his long parliamentary life, he was never known to be absent a single
hour during the session of Con- gress, until the week preceding his death, from indisposition.
He was the founder of a college at Athens in Georgia, of which he was President for several years. He was a man of great talents, ar- dent patriotism, and extensive be- nevolence ; lived in an eventful andimportant period of our history, and acted a responsible and impor- tant part in the establishment of our present system of government, which will go down to the latest posterity, and with it the names of its illustrious founders. Few have acted in a more extended sphere of usefulness, or filled more space in the public eye.
The Hon. Thomas Chittenden, for many years governor of the State of Vermont, was a native of this town. He was born 6th Jan. 1730; and at the age of twenty- one years, in 1751, he removed to Salisbury in this State, where he continued until 1773, when he, the second time, encountered the pri- vations and hardships of a new country, by emigrating into the State of Vermont. But he was amply rewarded for his enter- prise ; having made a valuable lo- cation of land upon the beauti- ful alluvial of the Onion river, which soon became valuable, and enabled him to leave a large es- tate to his posterity. He was al- so honoured with the confidence of the public, and attained to dis- tinguished public employments ; having been elected the first go- vernor of that State, in March, 1778. He died August 25th, 1797.
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