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 19
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The population of the town, in 1810, was 960; and there are 150 Dwelling houses, 100 Freemen or qualified Electors, and 1 company of militia.
There are in this town, 1 Cotton Factory, 1 Forge, 3 Grain Mills, 2 Fulling Mills & Clothiers' works, 2 Carding Machines, 1 Tannery, 2 Mercantile Stores, and 3 public Inns.
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151
COLCHESTER.
'The amount of taxable property, including polls, is $24,647.
The town comprises one located Congregational Society & church, and one church and Society of Bap- tists ; three School districts and
Schools, and one small Social Li- brary. The professional men are two Clergymen, & one Physician.
Bozrah was incorporated as a town, in 1786, previously to which it belonged to Norwich.
COLCHESTER.
COLCHESTERisa post town- ship, situated in the northwestern extremity of the county, 23 miles from Hartford, and 40 from New- Haven ; bounded on the north by Marlborough and Hebron, the for- mer in Hartford, and the latter in Tolland county, on the east by Lebanon and Bozrah, the former in Windham county, on the south by Montville and Lyme, and on the west by East-Haddam and Chatham, in Middlesex county ; so that the township borders upon four different counties, and eight different towns. Its average length is about 9 miles, and its average breadth nearly 6 miles, compri- sing an area of about 50 square miles. The face of the country is uneven, being considerably hilly, and is somewhat rough and stony ; the prevailing soil is a gravelly loam, and generally hard and coarse, but tolerably strong and fertile. The geological character of the township is primitive, and its internal structure consists of granite, micaceous schistus, and other rocks of an original forma- tion. We have ascertained nothing as to its mineralogy. Its natural growth is deciduous. The soil is best adapted to grazing ; and but- ter, cheese, beef and cattle consti- tute the most important agricultu- ral interests. Some grains arc cul-
tivated ; oats, corn and rye are the principal.
The town is watered by Salmon river, and several small streams. In addition to the public or county roads, the town is accommodated with several turnpikes; New-Lon- don and Hartford turnpike, Nor- wich. turnpike, and East-Haddam and Middletown turnpike, all lead into the centre of the town, where they intersect each other.
The only considerable manufac- turing establishments are one Woolen Factory, and one Iron Works establishment, or forge. Besides these, there are three Tanneries, eight Grain Mills and eight Saw Mills. There are seven Mercantile Stores.
The population of the town, in 1810, was 2697; and there are about 350 Freemen or Electors, 2 entire companies, and a part of another company of militia, and about 450 Dwelling houses. The amount of taxable property, inclu- ding polls, is $70,887.
The civil divisions of the town are 3 located Ecclesiastical Socie- ties or parishes, and 16 School dis- tricts. Besides the located, there is a Society of Baptists, and one also of Methodists. The Method- ist, Baptist and located Societies are all accommodated with houses for public worship ; and one of the
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FRANKLIN.
latter, West-Chester Society, is possessed of a fund, sufficient for the support of the ministry, and also, a free grammar School, for two thirds of the year. The seve- ral School districts are provided with School houses, and maintain primary Schools for several months in the year.
In the first located Society, there is a small, but pleasant village, hav- ing an elevated and healthful situ- ation ; it contains about 40 Dwel- ling houses, and a Congregational church, and an academy of consi- derable celebrity, called Bacon Academy, from Mr. Pierpont Ba- con, its benefactor and founder. It was established in 1800, and pos- sesses $35,000 in funds ; has a'
large brick building, 75 feet by 34, and three stories high, which is spacious and commodious, uniting all the advantages and convenien- ces, required by the number of scholars that usually attend the in- stitution, and the different branch- es of learning which are taught. It is a free School for the inhabi- tants of the Society, and is open for scholars from abroad, upon ve- ry accommodating and moderate terms. This institution is consider- ed as one of the most flourishing academies in the State.
There are in the town, 3 Clergy- men, 2 Attornies, and 5 Physicians. Colchester was settled in 1699, being within the original limits of the county of Hartford.
FRANKLIN.
FRANKLIN is a post township, situated on the northern border of the county, 34 miles from Hart- ford ; bounded on the northeast by Windham, and the Shetucket river, which separates it from Lis- bon, on the southeast by Norwich, on the southwest by Bozrah, and on the northwest by Lebanon, in Windham county. Its average length from northeast to southwest is 5 miles, and its average breadth 4 miles, comprising about 20 square miles.
The township is diversified with hills and dales, and the geologi- cal structure and soil are of a gra- nitic character, the latter being generally a gravelly loam ; but in some small sections it is a rich, deep, chocolate coloured loam. The lands are best adapted to grazing, and the making of butter
and cheese, and beef and pork, are leading agricultural interests.
The Shetucket washes the north- castern border of the town, and it is intersected by a branch of the Yantic river, an inconsiderable stream. There are several fishe- ries on the Shetucket.
The Hartford and Norwich turn- pike passes through this town, and also one leading from Norwich to Windham.
The population of the town, in 1810, was 1161 ; and there are 150 Freemen or Electors, 1 Company of Militia, and a part of 2 oth- ers, and 170 Dwelling houses. There are 1 Woolen Factory, 3 Grain Mills, 1 Fulling Mill and Clothier's works, 1 Tannery, 4 Mercantile Stores, and 4 Public Inns.
The town contains 1 located
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153
GRISWOLD.
Congregational Society & Church, 1 Society of Baptists and 1 of Me- thodists. It has 9 School Districts and Schools, 1 Social Library, 4 Physicians and 2 Clergymen.
The amount of taxable proper- ty, including polls, is $30,287.
Franklin belonged originally to Norwich, and was incorporated in May 1786.
GRISWOLD.
GRISWOLD is a post town, situated upon the east side of the Quinibaug river, 48 miles east from Hartford; bounded south on Preston and North-Stonington, east on Voluntown, north on Plain- field and Canterbury, and west on the Quinibaug river, which sepa- rates it from Lisbon. Its average length is 8 miles, and its average breadth 4 miles, comprising about 32 square miles.
The surface is uneven, being di- versified with hill and dale. The geological character of the town is granitic. There are, however, some rocks of micaceous schistus. The prevailing soil is a gravelly loam, interspersed with some sec- tions of sandy loam ; it is consid- erably fertile and productive. There are some low marsh lands upon the Pochaug river. The na- tural growth consists of chesnut, oak, walnut, maple, &c. and the agricultural productions are grass, Indian corn, some rye and oats, butter, cheese, beef and pork.
The western border of the town is washed by the Quinibaug ; and the Pochaug, a sluggish stream, runs through it. There are seve- ral fisheries for shad and salmon upon the former of these streams.
The Norwich and Providence turnpike road leads through this tówn.
Although agriculture is the prin- cipal pursuit of the inhabitants, yet manufactures have received considerable attention. There are 3.Cotton Factories, 1 Woolen Fac- tory, 6 Grain Mills, 2 Fulling Mills and Clothiers' works, 1 Carding Machine and 1 Tannery. There are 6 Mercantile Stores and 2 Public Inns.
The population of the town is 1520 ; and there are 230 Dwelling houses, 200 Freemen or Electors, and 3 Companies of Militia.
The civil divisions are 1 located Congregational Society and 12 School Districts ; there is also 1 Society of Baptists ; the Congre- gational Society is provided with a Church ; and there is a School house, and a primary or common School maintained in each of the School Districts.
Jewett's City is a pleasant and flourishing village, situated upon the Quinibaug, containing about 30 Dwelling houses and a Post office. There are 2 Physicians, 1 Attorney, 1 Clergyman, and 1 Social Library in the town.
The amount of taxable proper- ty, as estimated in making up lists, including polls, is $41,909.
Griswold was originally a part of Preston, and was incorporated as a town in 1815.
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GROTON.
GROTON, a large post town, is situated on the east side of the Thames, being 43 miles southeast from Hartford, and 54 miles east from New-Haven. It is bounded north by Preston, east by North- Stonington, and the Mystic, which separates it from Stonington, west by the Thames, which divides it from New-London, Waterford and Montville, and south by Fisher's Island sound.
The township has an average length of 12 miles, and an ave- rage breadth of 6 miles ; and con- tains about 72 square miles, or 46,000 acres.
The town is watered, exclusive of the Thames, which washes its western borders, by the Mystic, the Poquonock and the Poquato- nuck. The Mystic is navigable for sloops to Mystic village. The Poquonock runs through the cen- tre of the town, and discharges its waters into Fisher's Island sound. The Poquatonock waters the north section of the town, and unites with the Thames.
The township is uneven, being hilly and stony. The soil is a rich gravelly loam, better adapted to grazing than to grain. Indian corn, however, is cultivated extensively, and with abundant success. The geological structure of the town consists of granite and other pri- mitive formations.
The civil divisions of the town are two located Societies and 25 School Districts. There are sev- eral small villages, Groton Bank, Gales' Ferry, Mystic and Poquo- nock.
If any discriminations are to be made in this respect, the inhabit- ants of Groton, for industry and
enterprise, are not surpassed by those of any other town in the State.
In addition to the pursuits of agriculture, the fishing business is carried on to a considerable extent, and domestic manufactures receive great attention.
The smack fishery is engaged in by the inhabitants, and pursued to advantage, and considerably exten- sively. The smacks find a market tor live fish at New-York, Charles- ton and Savannah, as well as at the different markets in this State. The cod and smack fisheries afford employment to a portion of the in- habitants, and are sources of con- siderable wealth.
Whilst the men are employed in the business of fishing, the women are engaged at the loom, and oth- er branches of domestic manufac- tures. It has been estimated, says our correspondent, that for seven years past, there have been, on an average, 500,000 yards of cotton cloth wove annually in Groton by private families, for manufacturing establishments in the neighbour- hood and elsewhere. The ave- rage price of weaving may be con- sidered about 8 cents per yard, and at this price, 500,000 yds. amount to the surprising sum of $40,000, as the annual product of one de- partment of female industry ; ma- king, for the 7 years, $280,000, which is more than the value of the whole real estate of some of our towns. Domestic industry is almost necessarily accompanied with economy, simplicity, and plainness of life and manners ; and it is to be hoped that these car- dinal, social and domestic virtucs will long withstand the delcterious
155
BIOGRAPHY.
and illusory ideas of " fashionable life," which are becoming diffused throughout our country far and wide.
In addition to domestic manu- factures, there is 1 Woolen and 1 Cotton Manufacturing establish- ment in the town. There are 11 Grain Mills, 11 Saw Mills, 2 Ful- ling Mills, 5 Tanneries, 2 Carding Machines, 19 Dry Goods and Gro- cery Stores, 118 Mechanics' Shops, and 215 Corn Houses.
The population of the town, in 1810, was 4451 ; and there are at this time 483 qualified Electors, 268 Militia, and 529 Dwelling hou- ses.
The amount of the taxable polls and estate of the town is $71,586.
There are 2 Congregational Churches, 2 Baptist Societies and Churches, 1 also for Methodists, 1 for Episcopalians, and 1 for Ro- gerene Quakers. There are 6 Clergymen, 3 Physicians, 25 Com- mon Schools and 1 Social Libra- ry.
Groton was incorporated in 1705, having, until that period, belonged to the town of New-Lon- don. The town is conspicuous, for some events of the revolution- ary war, and for the severity of its sufferings. On the 6th of Sep- tember, 1781, Fort Griswold, situ- ated on a height, on the bank of the Thames, opposite New-Lon- don city, was assaulted by the Bri- tish, under the immediate com- mand of Major Beckworth ; Ar- nold, who directed the enterprise, being at New-London. The gar- rison, which consisted of 150 men, almost all of whom were inhabit- ants of Groton, being either mili-
tia or volunteers, under the com- mand of the brave Col. Ledyard, made a spirited and gallant de- fence ; the enemy being twice re- pulsed, and with a severe loss. On the third assault, the fort was carried ; and the infamous Beck- worth ordered the garrison put to the sword, after they had surren- dered themselves prisoners of war. Thus 70 men, the flower of the town, were sacrificed to the vengeance of the enemy. The compact part of the town was burned at the same time, occa- sioning a loss to the inhabitants of $77,390.
BIOGRAPHY. John Ledyard, the distinguished American trav- eller, was a native of this town. The enterprising and adventurous spirit, by which Ledyard was cha- racterized, disclosed itself at an early period. Before he had scarcely " ripened into perfect manhood," he was led, by his ad- venturous and enterprising pro- pensities, to spend several years among the native Indians. He was one of Capt. Cook's men, and sailed round the world with that bold and adventurous navigator, and was with him at the time he was killed at the Sandwich Islands. After his return to America, he published an account of this voy- age. After this, he contemplated to engage in a trading adventure to Nootka sound ; and from thence, to traverse the continent of Ame- rica, from the Pacific to the Atlan- tic, but he was disappointed in this object. But neither disappoint- ments nor difficulties could depress his adventurous spirit, or discou- rage him in his favourite objects ; and, accordingly, he determined
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BIOGRAPHY.
to visit Europe, with a view to tra- verse the interior of the eastern continent, as far as Kamschat- ka. With this view, he cross- ed from England to Ostend, and proceeded from thence by Denmark to Stockholm ; and from this place he walked round the head of the Gulf of Bothnia to Petersburgh. When he arrived here, his situation was peculiarly distressing ; he was without shoes or stockings, and what is still worse, having no money, not even suffi- cient to supply these indispensa- ble articles, and in a foreign land, and among entire strangers. From this distressing situation he was re- lieved by the kindness of the Por- tuguese ambassador, and the libe- rality of Sir Joseph Banks, a dis- tinguished member of the African Association in England ; the for- mer procuring for him 20 guineas, on the credit of the latter. The Portuguese ambassador also ob- tained for him the privilege of ac- companying a detachment that was to proceed with stores to Yakutz, in Siberia, six thousand miles to the eastward. Having penetra- ted this immense distance into the interior of Asia, he travel- led from thence to the shore of the Kamschatkan sea, which he intend- ed to cross, but was prevented by the ice, and was obliged to return to Yakutz. Here he experien- ced the mortification and personal violence of being forcibly seized by some Russian soldiers, in the name of the Empress, and convey- cd upon a sledge to the frontiers of Poland, where he was turned adrift ; being informed, as a con- solation to his wounded feelings, that if he was found again in the
Russian dominions, he would be hanged. He travelled to Konings- berg, in the most destitute and for- lon condition ; from whence, ha- ving again obtained pecuniary aid, upon the credit of Sir Joseph Banks, he returned to England. Here, having visited his benefac- tor, he was soon engaged in the service of the African Association, and had the honour of being the first person employed by them, to explore the interior of the African continent. On being asked by a member of the Association, when he would set out on his perilous geographical mission ? " To-mor-, row morning," he replied, without the least hesitation. The Associ- ation were much pleased with the manliness of his person, his deter- mined resolution, his inquisitive and adventurous spirit, his indefa- tigable perseverance, his unequal- led fortitude in enduring hardships, and his sagacity and intelligence. Having set out upon this arduous and dangerous enterprise, he arri- ved at Cairo in Egypt in August, 1788. Whilst here, he constantly visited the slave markets, to obtain information, upon the various sub- jects connected with his mission, and the views of the Association, of the travelling merchants of the caravans. His ideas and observa- tions upon the Egyptians were published after his death, in the Reports of the Association, and are remarkable for their originali- ty, and evince a very acute dis- cernment, a just and critical ob- servation, and a sound and discri- minating mind, improved by cx- tensive experience, and free from local prejudices. The sufferings of Ledyard were great, beyond
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BIOGRAPHY.
conception. On speaking upon this subject, previously to his set- ting out upon his African mission, he says, " I am accustomed to hard- ships ; I have known both hunger and nakedness, to the utmost ex- tremity of human suffering ; I have known what it is to have food giv- en to me as charity to a madman ; and I have, at times, been obliged to shelter myself under the mise- ries of that character, to avoid a heavier calamity. My distresses have been greater than I have ever owned, or ever will own, to any man. Such evils are terrible to bear, but they never yethad power to deter me from my purpose. If I live, I will faithfully perform, in its utmost extent, my engagements to the Society ; and if I perish in the attempt, my honour will still be safe, for death cancels all bonds." And it was decreed that the latter should be his destiny. Whilst here, he experienced repeated vexations from the disappointments and de- lays, as to the departure of the ca- ravan for Sennar, that he was to accompany, which, it is thought, contributed to throw him into a vi- olent bilious fever, with which he was seized ; and to relieve himself, he most unadvisedly took a large dose of vitriolic acid, and to re- move the pain which this occasion- ed, a powerful emetic. These vi- olent medicines were too much for the firmest constitution, and the hardy traveller fell a victim to them. Thus died John Ledyard, one of the most distinguished tra- vellers of the age, and a very ex- traordinary man. When we con- sider the extent of his travels, and the circumstances attending them ; that most of them were underta-
ken under appearances peculiar- ly discouraging ; without the assis- tance or patronage of the wealthy and the great; and without any adequate pecuniary means to sus- tain them ; when we consider the unparalleled hardships which he endured, the difficulties which he encountered, and the continual pe- rils " by land, by sea, and from false brethren," to which he was exposed ; what an astonishing con- ception does it give us of his un- bounded curiosity, of his bold and adventurous spirit, of his enlarged and comprehensive views, and his determined resolution and unyield- ing perseverance, which no obsta- cles could discourage, and no dif- ficulties impair ? He ranks first among American travellers ; and the name of Ledyard will go down to posterity, with those of Park, Lucas, Houghton, and other adven- turers, who have found a grave in attempting to explore the interior secrets of the African continent, that degraded part of the globe. Such was John Ledyard, an Amer- ican, and a native of this State ; yet so entirely has he been neg- lected by his country, that he is almost unknown, and no account of his life and travels has yet ap- peared in his native land, although the character, travels and life of Ledyard could not fail of doing honour to his country. For this short and imperfect account, we are indebted principally to the Quarterly Review.
Nathan Daboll late of this town, was a very distinguished mathematician. He was the au- thor of a very valuable system of Arithmetic, designed for common schools, which has been very ex-
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LISBON.
tensively used, and generally ap- proved of, as a simplified and impro- ved treatise, facilitating the learn- ing of the rudiments of this im-
portant science. From his math- ematical acquirements and exer- tions, he was eminently a useful citizen.
LISBON.
LISBON is a small irregular township, situated upon the north- ern border of the county ; at the point of land, or fork of the Quini- baug and Shetucket rivers, 7 miles from Norwich, and 45 from Hart- ford; bounded on the north by Windham and Canterbury, in Windham county, on the east by Griswold, on the south by Preston, and on the west by Norwich and Franklin. The form of the town- ship is irregular, and its dimensions cannot be ascertained with accu- racy ; but it comprises an area of about 17 square miles. It is une- ven, and considerably hilly ; upon the borders of the rivers, there are small intervals, or tracts of allu- vial.
The town is well watered by the Quinibaug and Shetucket riv- ers, which circumscribe it upon all sides, except its northern bounda- ry. There are sevearl considera- ble bridges across these rivers, and several fisheries of shad and salmon.
The natural growth of timber consists of oak, walnut, chesnut, and other trees common to this region. The agricultural produc- tions are Indian corn, some rye, butter and cheese, &c. The pre- vailing character of the soil is a gravelly loam, occasionally inter-
spersed with a sandy loam, especi- ally in the vallies, and it is conside- rably fertile and productive.
There are two turnpike roads that pass through the town ; one lead- ing from Norwich to Providence, in Rhode Island, and the other from the former place, to Woodstock &c.
The more considerable manu- facturing and mechanical employ- ments, aside from those of a domes- tic character, consist of 1 Cotton Factory, 1 Woolen Factory, 1 Bel- lows Manufactory, 4 Grain Mills, 2 Fulling Mills, and 1 Carding Ma- chine. There are 2 Mercantile Stores and 3 Taverns.
The population of the town, in 1810, was 1123 ; and there are 170 Dwelling houses, 150 Freemen or Electors, and 1 company of militia.
The civil divisions of the town are two located Congregational Societies, and eight School dis- tricts ; there is also a Society of Baptists, two houses for public worship, & eight common Schools. There are two Physicians and two Clergymen, one Baptist, and one Congregational.
The amount of taxable proper- ty, including polls, is $29,932.
Lisbon belonged, previously to its incorporation as a town in 1786, to Norwich.
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LYME.
LYME, an extensive maritime post township, is situated at the mouth of Connecticut river, on the east side ; 40 miles southeast from Hartford, and about the same dist- ance east from New-Haven ; bound- ed north on East-Haddam and Col- chester, east on Montville and Wa- terford, south on Long Island sound, and west on Connecticut river.
The following lines and courses, circumscribe and define the limits and extent of the township : from the end of black point to Water- ford corner, in a N N E course by Niantic bay, is 2 and a half miles ; thence north upon Waterford line, 6 miles ; thence N N W upon the line of Montville, about 4 miles ; thence nearly north, upon the same line or boundary, about 2 miles ; thence west upon the line of Col- chester, nearly 3 miles ; thence south upon the line of East-Had- dam, 3 miles ; thence west upon the line of East-Haddam, nearly 7 miles ; the line or boundary upon Connecticut river, is about 10 miles ; and that upon the sound, is about 8 miles ; comprising an area of about 100 square miles, be- ing the largest township in the State. Its surface is strikingly di- versified. About one half of the township is level, or moderately hilly, comprising the borders of the sound ; its hays and inlets ; the large tracts of marine alluvial, or salt marsh ; the numerous and ex- tensive intervals upon the rivers, and other sections. The other di- vision of the township is rough ; being hilly or mountainous, and stony. Of the mountainous fea- tures of the town, there are nume- rous granitic ledges. Near the
mouth of Four Mile river, several distinct ridges commence, consist- ing of a succession of hills, whichy range northwardly, and become more elevated, as they extend in- to the interior. Within the town- ship, near the Connecticut, north of Eight Mile river, commences one of the branches of the granitic mountain, which extends north- wardly through the State into Mas- sachusetts, and constitutes the height of land which divides the waters, that run westwardly into the Connecticut, from those which run eastwardly into the Thames and other streams. This mountain- ous ridge, also, becomes more ele- vated, and presents more promi- nent features, as it extends into the interior. The geological char- acter of the township being gran- itic, the prevailing soil is a gravel- ly loam, but varies in different sec- tions. The bodies of salt marsh and meadows upon the rivers, are extensive and productive ; the for- mer affording large quantities of salt hay, and the latter producing fresh hay, grain &c. The hilly and mountainous parts of the town do not admit of a general cultivation of grain, but afford good grazing ; and the making of butter and cheese, are considerable agricultu- ral interests. Of the grains cultiva- ted, Indian corn receives the most attention. The forests comprise the deciduous trees common to this region ; and among the vege- table productions there are some valuable medicinal plants, of which ginseng and Virginia snake root are most deserving of notice. , The waters of the township are very abundant. Besides the Con- necticut. which washes the west-
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