USA > Connecticut > A history of Connecticut > Part 25
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The area of the State is 4,750 square miles. The surface is broken and diversified by the ranges of hills that cross it from north to south. The soil of the well-watered intervales that lie between these hills is rich and productive. The upper valley of the Connecticut is especially fertile, and adapted to agriculture. In the hilly regions, the soil is broken by rocks, and filled with stones, that make it difficult to cultivate ; but it is frequently the case, as in the north- western part of the State, that the best dairy-farms are on the elevated plateaus. It is in this section that the highest land is found, several points having an altitude of more than two thousand feet.
The most westerly range of hills, extending along the Housatonic River, is a continuation of the Green Mountains.
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HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
Geologically, the rocks in Connecticut, outside of the sand- stone basin,1 are metamorphic, and generally highly crys- talline. Some of them are probably Archæan, but to what extent no one knows. Much of the western part of the State, Dana has shown to be Lower Silurian. Ridges of trap are numerous through the centre of the State. As a rule, these trap ridges have a steep western face, and a gentle eastern slope. This is due to the trap being generally not in dikes, but in sheets intercalated between the strata of the eastwardly dipping sandstones.
Granite of superior quality is quarried in Windham, New Haven, New London, and Litchfield Counties ; and the brown sandstone from the famous Portland quarries is shipped in large quantities to every part of the country. The mica schist slabs, taken from the quarries at Haddam and Bolton, are in demand for curb-stones and other purposes ; and there are valuable quarries of marble in Litchfield County.
In early colonial times, there is evidence that many of the settlers hoped to discover rich mineral deposits. The public records for the year 1651 preserve a letter from John Win- throp, that was presented to the Court, and met with so favorable a reception, that it was ordered that if he should discover " any mines of lead, copper, tin, or other minerals," he should "forever enjoy the said mines, with the lands, wood, timber, and waters within two or three miles of the said mine," provided that it was not within the bounds of a town already set off, or where the Court might judge it best " to make a plantation."
Iron-works were started near New Haven as early as 1665. Winthrop was interested in the setting up of the bloomary and forge at the outlet of Saltonstall Lake. The ore was brought from North Haven ; and the owners were given the privilege of cutting, on the common land,2 all the wood they needed for making charcoal. They were further encouraged by the Court held in Hartford, May 13, 1669, which ex-
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PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF CONNECTICUT.
empted them from " paying country rates for seven years next ensuing." Even this aid did not save the enterprise from failure. We find nothing further about iron in the records until May, 1722, when the Court encouraged Eben- ezer Fitch and others to erect a mill not far from Hartford, to slit and draw out iron rods for nails and other purposes. They enacted that any other parties who might attempt to set up a rival mill within a period of fifteen years, would be liable to pay a penalty of ten pounds per month to Mr. Fitch and his company. About 1731 attention was called to the value of the iron ore to be found in the north-western part of the colony. The first forge was erected by Thomas Lamb, at what is now known as Lime Rock, as early as 1734. This was the beginning of the mining of the famous Salisbury iron .* The furnaces here and elsewhere furnished the material for a household industry that occupied the spare hours of the farmers and their sons in making light articles for domestic use, and nails which were manufactured in quantities sufficient to be exported.
About 1705 copper was discovered in Simsbury, and not long after in Wallingford. The mines opened at Simsbury (now in East Granby) were worked by different proprietors with little success.3 In 1760 an English company was formed, that undertook to mine the ore, and send it to England. The two vessels that they first loaded with ore were both lost: this and other disasters discouraged the company, and they abandoned the undertaking.4 In more recent years, a copper-mine in Bristol was worked at a large expenditure of capital ; but, like the other ventures, it proved unprofitable.5
Agriculture has taken out of the soil of Connecticut the best returns in wealth. For over one hundred and fifty years, from the settlement of the State, nearly every one was engaged in farming. The lack of coin as a medium of
* See page 294.
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HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
exchange, made it necessary to pay in kind ; and this custom gave a peculiar and tangible value to every product of the soil. The land-holding farmers, whose homes clustered in the village-streets, represented, as a body, the strongest and most influential class of citizens. The development of indus- trial pursuits has wrought great changes, but agriculture still holds a strong position. Not far from 45,000 persons occupy and till over 30,000 farms, that represent an investment of about $125,000,000. There is reason for congratulation, that there never has been a time when the interests of agriculture in Connecticut were receiving more intelligent direction than at the present.
1 THE SANDSTONE basin extends along the Connecticut River as far north as Middletown, and thence south-west- ward to New Haven.
2 THE lands belonging to the towns were usually distributed among the first settlers by mutual agreement or by lot. Home-lots in the village, and outlying plots of arable and meadow lands, were proportioned in size to the amount con- tributed by the " planters " to the com- mon stock. No sales could be made to outside parties without the consent of the General Court, and the land that was not taken up by individual proprietors belonged to the town. The privilege of using these " common lands " for pastur- ing, or other purposes, was decided for a time by the town-meetings. As they became more valuable, the descendants of the original proprietors laid claim to their management. Out of this asser- tion of rights, there arose very bitter dis- putes and law-suits, that created political differences that aroused great party- feeling.
3 THE so-called " Granby coppers " were coined in 1737-38, from metal taken
from this mine. The copper was so pure that these coins were sought after to make jewellers' alloy, and for this reason they are very scarce. The Simsbury mine furnished material for the first United-States coinage.
4 AFTER the mining ceased, in 1773, the colony used the buildings at the mouth of the mine, and some of the excavations beneath, for a State prison. The cells were in the galleries not over sixty feet beneath the surface. . Notwith- standing the horrible description given by Peters, it is asserted, on good author- ity, that the health of the prisoners was not seriously injured by sleeping in these underground chambers. Quite a number of Tory offenders were incarcerated here in Revolutionary times, and did not find it a delightful place of residence. New- gate prison was established as a perma- nent State prison in 1790, and was used for this purpose until 1827.
5 LIMESTONE, lead, silver, barytes, hydraulic lime, feldspar, and other min- erals, are found in different parts of the State.
APPENDIX.
THE FIRST CONSTITUTION OF CONNECTICUT. 1639.
E ORASMUCH as it hath pleased the Allmighty God by the wise disposition of his diuyne providence so to Order and dispose of things that we the Inhabitants and Residents of Windsor, Harteford and Wethersfield are now cohabiting and dwelling in and vppon the River of Conectecotte and the Lands thereunto adioyneing; And well knowing where a people are gathered togather the word of God re- quires that to mayntayne the peace and vnion of such a people there should be an orderly and decent Gouerment established according to God, to order and dispose of the affayres of the people at all seasons as occation shall require; doe therefore assotiate and conioyne our selues to be as one Publike State or Commonwelth; and doe, for our selues and our Successors and such as shall be adioyned to vs att any tyme hereafter, enter into Combination and Confederation togather, to mayntayne and presearue the liberty and purity of the gospell of our Lord Jesus which we now professe, as also the disciplyne of the Churches, which according to the truth of the said gospell is now practised amongst vs; As also in our Ciuell Affaires to be guided and gouerned according to such Lawes, Rules, Orders and decrees as shall be made, ordered & decreed, as followeth: -
1. It is Ordered, sentenced and decreed, that there shall be yerely two generall Assemblies or Courts, the first on the second thursday in Aprill, the other the second thursday in September, following; the first shall be called the Courte of Election, wherein shall be yerely Chosen from tyme to tyme soe many Magestrats and other publike Officers as shall be found requisitte; Whereof one to be chosen Gouern- our for the yeare ensueing and vntill another be chosen, and noe other Magestrate to be chosen for more than one yeare; provided alwayes there be sixe chosen besids the Gouernour; which being chosen and sworn according to an Oath recorded for that purpose shall haue
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APPENDIX.
power to administer justice according to the Lawes here established, and for want thereof according to the rule of the word of God; which choise shall be made by all that are admitted freemen and haue taken the Oath of Fidellity, and doe cohabitte within this Jurisdiction, (hauing beene admitted Inhabitants by the major part of the Towne wherein they liue) 1 or the mayor parte of such as shall be then present.
2. It is Ordered, sentensed and decreed, that the Election of the aforesaid Magestrats shall be on this manner: euery person present and quallified for choyse shall bring in (to the persons deputed to receaue them) one single paper with the name of him written in yt whom he desires to haue Gouernour, and he that hath the greatest number of papers shall be Gouernour for that yeare. And the rest of the Magestrats or publike Officers to be chosen in this manner: The Secretary for the tyme being shall first read the names of all that are to be put to choise and then shall seuerally nominate them distinctly, and euery one that would haue the person nominated to be chosen shall bring in one single paper written vppon, and he that would not haue him chosen shall bring in a blanke; and euery one that hatlı more written papers than blanks shall be a Magestrat for that yeare; which papers shall be receaued and told by one or more that shall be then chosen by the court and sworne to be faythfull therein; but in case there should not be sixe chosen as aforesaid, besids the Gouernor, out of those which are nominated, then he or they which haue the most written papers shall be a Magestrate or Magestrats for the ensueing yeare, to make vp the foresaid number.
3. It is Ordered, sentenced and decreed, that the Secretary shall not nominate any person, nor shall any person be chosen newly into the Magestracy which was not propownded in some Generall Courte be- fore, to be nominated the next Election; and to that end yt shall be lawfull for ech of the Townes aforesaid by their deputyes to nominate any two whom they conceaue fitte to be putte to Election; and the Courte may ad so many more as they iudge requisitt.
4. It is Ordered, sentenced and decreed that noe person be chosen Gouernor aboue once in two yeares, and that the Gouernor be alwayes a member of some approved congregation, and formerly of the Mages- tracy within this Jurisdiction; and all the Magestrats Freemen of this Commonwelth: and that no Magestrate or other publike officer shall execute any parte of his or their Office before they are seuerally sworne, which shall be done in the face of the Courte if they be present, and in case of absence by some deputed for that purpose.
1 Inserted at a later period.
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THE FIRST CONSTITUTION OF CONNECTICUT.
5. It is Ordered, sentenced and decreed, that to the aforesaid Courte of Election the seuerall Townes shall send their deputyes, and when the Elections are ended they may proceed in any publike searuice as at other Courts. Also the other Generall Courte in September shall be for makeing of lawes, and any other publike occation which con- serns the good of the Commonwelth.
6. It is Ordered, sentenced and decreed, that the Gouernor shall, either by himselfe or by the secretary, send out summons to the Con- stables of euery Towne for the cauleing of these two standing Courts, one month at lest before their seuerall tymes: And also if the Gou- ernor and the gretest parte of the Magestrats see cause vppon any spetiall occation to call a generall Courte, they may giue order to the secretary soe to doe within fowerteene dayes warneing: and if vrgent necessity so require, vppon a shorter notice, giueing sufficient grownds for yt to the deputyes when they meete, or els be questioned for the same; And if the Gouernor and Mayor parte of Magestrats shall ether neglect or refuse to call the two Generall standing Courts or ether of them, as also at other tymes when the occations of the Commonwelth require, the Freemen thereof, or the Mayor parte of them, shall petition to them soe to doe: if then yt be ether denyed or neglected the said Freemen or the Mayor parte of them shall haue power to giue order to the Constables of the seuerall Townes to doe the same, and so may meete togather, and chuse to themselues a Mod- erator, and may proceed to do any Acte of power, which any other Generall Courte may.
7. It is Ordered, sentenced and decreed that after there are warrants giuen out for any of the said Generall Courts, the Constable or Con- stables of ech Towne shall forthwith give notice distinctly to the inhab- itants of the same, in some Publike Assembly or by goeing or sending from howse to howse, that at a place and tyme by him or them lymited and sett, they meet and assemble themselues togather to elect and chuse certen deputyes to be att the Generall Courte then following to agitate the afayres of the commonwelth; which said Deputyes shall be chosen by all that are admitted Inhabitants in the seuerall Townes and haue taken the oath of fidellity; prouided that non be chosen a Deputy for any Generall Courte which is not a Freeman of this Com- monwelth.
The foresaid deputyes shall be chosen in manner following : euery person that is present and quallified as before expressed, shall bring the names of such, written in seuerall papers, as they desire to haue chosen for that Imployment, and these 3 or 4, more or lesse, being the number agreed on to be chosen for that tyme, that haue great-
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APPENDIX.
est number of papers written for them shall be deputyes for that Courte; whose names shall be endorsed on the backe side of the war- rant and returned into the Courte, with the Constable or Constables hand vnto the same.
8. It is Ordered, sentenced and decreed, that Wyndsor, Hartford and Wethersfield shall haue power, ech Towne, to send fower of their free- men as their deputyes to euery Generall Courte; and whatsoeuer other Townes shall be hereafter added to this Jurisdiction, they shall send so many deputyes as the Courte shall judge meete, a resonable proportion to the number of freemen that are in the said Townes being to be attended therein; which deputyes shall haue the power of the whole Towne to giue their voats and alowance to all such lawes and orders as may be for the publike good, and unto which the said Townes are to be bownd.
9. It is Ordered and decreed, that the deputyes thus chosen shall haue power and liberty to appoynt a tyme and a place of meeting togather before any Generall Courte to aduise and consult of all such things as may concerne the good of the publike, as also to examine their owne Elections, whether according to the order, and if they or the gretest parte of them find any such election to be illegall they may seclud such for present from their meeting, and returne the same and their resons to the Courte; and if yt proue true, the Courte may fyne the party or partyes so intruding and the Towne, if they see cause, and giue out a warrant to goe to a newe election in a legall way, ether in parte or in whole. Also the said deputyes shall haue power to fyne any that shall be disorderly at their meetings, or for not com- ming in due tyme or place according to appoyntment; and they may returne the said fynes into the Courte if yt be refused to be paid, and the Tresurer to take notice of yt, and to estreete or levy the same as he does other fynes.
10. It is Ordered, sentenced and decreed, that euery Generall Courte, except such as through neglect of the Gouernor and the great- est parte of Magestrats the Freemen themselves doe call, shall consist of the Gouernor, or some one chosen to moderate the Court, and 4 other Magestrats at lest, with the mayor parte of the deputyes of the seuerall Townes legally chosen; and in case the Freemen or mayor parte of them, through neglect or refusall of the Gouernor and mayor parte of the magestrats, shall call a Courte, yt shall consist of the mayor parte of Freemen that are present or their deputyes, with a Moderator chosen by them: In which said Generall Courts shall con- sist the supreme power of the Commonwelth, and they only shall haue power to make lawes or repeale them, to graunt leuyes, to admitt of
THE FIRST CONSTITUTION OF CONNECTICUT. 339
Freemen, dispose of lands vndisposed of, to seuerall Townes or per- sons, and also shall haue power to call ether Courte or Magestrate or any other person whatsoeuer into question for any misdemeanour, and may for just causes displace or deale otherwise according to the nature of the offence; and also may deale in any other matter that concerns the good of this commonwelth, excepte election of Magestrats, which shall be done by the whole boddy of Freemen.
In which Courte the Gouernour or Moderator shall haue power to order the Courte to giue liberty of spech, and silence vnceasonable and disorderly speakeings, to put all things to voate, and in case the voate be equall to haue the casting voice. But non of these Courts shall be adiorned or dissolued without the consent of the maior parte of the Court.
11. It is ordered, sentenced and decreed, that when any Generall Courte vppon the occations of the Commonwelth haue agreed vppon any summe or summes of mony to be leuyed vppon the seuerall Townes within this Jurisdiction, that a Committee be chosen to sett out and appoynt what shall be the proportion of euery Towne to pay of the said leuy, provided the Committees be made vp of an equall number out of each Towne.
14th January, 1638, the 11 Orders abouesaid are voted.
[The entire document, with facsimile of the signers' names, is to be found in the "Colonial Records of Connecticut," vol. i. 20-26.]
THE TOWNS, CITIES, AND BOROUGHS OF CONNECTICUT.
DATE OF INCORPORATION, POPULATION, AND INDUSTRIES.1
Andover, Tolland County. - Incorporated, May, 1848; taken from Hebron and Coventry. Population, 428. Grand list, $211,629. Prin- cipal industry, agriculture.
Ashford, Windham County. - Named, October, 1710. Population, 1,041. Grand list, $289,759. Principal industry, agriculture.
Avon, Hartford County. - Incorporated, May, 1830 ; taken from Farmington. Population, 1,057. Grand list, $465,445. Principal in- dustry, agriculture.
Barkhamstead, Litchfield County. - Incorporated, October, 1779. Population, 1,297. Grand list, $416,393. Principal industries, agri- culture, and the manufacture of scythes, rules, etc.
· Beacon Falls, New-Haven County. - Incorporated, May, 1871; taken from Bethany, Oxford, Seymour, and Naugatuck. Population, 379. Grand list, $272,357. Principal industries, agriculture, and man- ufacture of fine woollen goods and small hardware.
Berlin, Hartford County. - Incorporated, May, 1785; taken from Farmington, Wethersfield, and Middletown. Population, 2,385. Grand list, $1,104,209. Principal industries, agriculture, and the manufacture of iron bridges, etc., at East Berlin, and the manufac- ture of tools, machinery, and general hardware at Kensington.
Bethany, Fairfield County. - Incorporated, May, 1832; taken from Woodbridge. Population, 637. Grand list, $287,586. Principal in- dustry, agriculture.
Bethel, Fairfield County. - Incorporated, May, 1855; taken from Danbury. Population of the town, 2,727; of the borough (incorpo- rated 1847), 1,767. Grand list, $977,535. Principal industries, agri- culture, and the manufacture of hats.
1 'These statistics are taken from the Connecticut State Register and Manual for 1887.
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TOWNS, CITIES, AND BOROUGHS OF CONNECTICUT. 341
Bethlehem, Litchfield County. - Incorporated, May, 1787. Popu- lation, 655. Grand list, $441,148. Principal industry, agriculture.
Bloomfield, Hartford County. - Incorporated, May, 1835; taken from Windsor. Population, 1,346. Grand list, $762,566. Principal industry, agriculture.
Bolton, Tolland. County. - Incorporated, October, 1720. Popula- tion, 512. Grand list, $179,064. Principal industry, agriculture.
Bozrah, New-London County. - Incorporated, May, 1786; taken from Norwich. Population, 1,150. Grand list, $397,699. Principal industries, agriculture, and the manufacture of cotton goods and bed- quilts.
Branford, New-Haven County. - Settled in 1644 under New- Haven jurisdiction. Population, 3,047. Grand list, $1,550,705. Prin- cipal industries, agriculture, and manufacture of locks and malleable iron goods.
Bridgeport, Fairfield County. - Incorporated, May, 1821; taken from Stratford. Population of town, 29,148; city, incorporated 1836, population, 27,643. Grand list, $15,731,834. Principal industries, the manufacture of sewing-machines, metallic cartridges, brass goods, heavy forging, malleable iron, steel, and general hardware, monu- mental bronze goods, etc.
Bridgewater, Litchfield County. - Incorporated, May, 1856; taken . from New Milford. Population, 708. Grand list, $403,060. Principal industry, agriculture.
Bristol, Hartford County. - Incorporated, May, 1785; taken from Farmington. Population, 5,347. Grand list, $2,317,774. Principal industries, agriculture, and the manufacture of clocks, brass goods, table-ware, tools, etc.
Brookfield, Fairfield County. - Incorporated, May, 1788; taken from Danbury, New Milford, and Newtown. Population, 1,152. Grand list, $585,478. Principal industries, agriculture and lime- burning.
Brooklyn, Windham County. - Incorporated, May, 1786; taken from Pomfret and Canterbury. Population, 2,308. Grand list, $1,- 480,814. Principal industries, agriculture, and the manufacture of cotton goods.
Burlington. Hartford County. - Incorporated, May, 1806; taken from Bristol. Population, 1,224. Grand list, $370,919. Principal industry, agriculture.
Canaan, Litchfield County. - Incorporated, October, 1739. Pop- ulation, 1,157. Grand list, $479,669. Principal industries, agricul- ture and iron-works.
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APPENDIX.
Canterbury, Windham County. - Incorporated, October, 1703; taken from Plainfield. Population, 1,272. Grand list, $488,290. Principal industry, agriculture.
Canton, Hartford County. - Incorporated, May, 1806; taken from Simsbury. Population, 2,301. Grand list, $1,159,084. Principal in- dustries, agriculture and manufacture of tools, etc.
Chaplin, Windham County. - Incorporated, May, 1822; taken from Mansfield. Population, 627. Grand list, $212,800. Principal indus- tries, agriculture and paper-making.
Chatham, Middlesex County. - Incorporated, October, 1767; taken from Middletown. Population, 1,967. Grand list, $610,341. Principal industries, agriculture, and the manufacture of bells, silks, and toys.
Cheshire, New-Haven County. - Incorporated, May, 1780; taken from Wallingford. Population, 2,284. Grand list, $1,227,685. Prin- cipal industries, agriculture, and manufacture of buttons, watches, etc.
Chester, Middlesex County. - Incorporated, May, 1836; taken from Saybrook. Population, 1,177. Grand list, $476,420. Principal in- dustries, agriculture, and the manufacture of auger-bits, ivory and bone goods, etc.
Clinton, Middlesex County. - Incorporated, May, 1838; taken from Killingworth. Population, 1,402. Grand list, $654,740. Principal industries, agriculture and fishing.
Colchester, New-London County. Named, October, 1699. Bor- ough incorporated, 1846. Population, 2,974. Grand list, $1,257,511. Principal industries, agriculture, and the manufacture of rubber goods and paper.
Colebrook, Litchfield County. - Incorporated, October, 1779. Pop- ulation, 1,148. Grand list, $400,164. Principal industry, agriculture.
Columbia, Tolland County. - Incorporated, May, 1804; taken from Lebanon. Population, 757. Grand list, $273,437. Principal indus- tries, agriculture, and one cotton-mill at Hop River.
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