Connecticut Historical Collections: Containing a General Collection of Interesting Facts, Traditions, Biographical Sketches, Anecdotes, &c., Relating to the History and Antiquities of Every Town in Connecticut, with Geographical Descriptions [2 ed.]

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CONNECTICUT

HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS, CONTAINING A

GENERAL COLLECTION OF INTERESTING FACTS, TRADITIONS,

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, ANECDOTES,

&c.

RELATING TO THE

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF

EVERY TOWN

CONNECTICUT,

IN WITH

GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTIONS. ILLUSTRATED BY

190

ENGRAVINGS.

BY JOHN WARNER BARBER. SECOND EDITION, [The Seal of the State of Connecticut.]

NEW

II

A VE

N

PUBLISHED BY

DURRIE & PECK

and

Price— Three PRINTED BY

11.

J.

W. BARBER,

dollars. L.

IIAMLEN.

in ,„e

CtalA

office, of

the

DislriclCo™ o.Connecuc,,.

PREFACE.

The power by which we

recall past scenes, the rapidity with

in review before us, the faculty by

which we can

which they are brought

"

range o'er creation," and dwell was indeed formed in the image of

upon the past and future, demonstrates that man and destined for immortality. By the contemplation of the past, we feel our span of existence extended we enter into the thoughts, hopes, and aspirations of generations before us, and in such moments hold communion with the departed spirits his Creator,

:

of antiquity. to the history of the " Pilgrim Fathers," is worthy of preserPuritans," says a writer in no wise partial to them, " were the most

Every thing relating vation.

"

The

They remarkable body of men, perhaps, which the world has ever produced were men whose minds had derived a peculiar character from the daily contemplation of superior beings and eternal interests. Not content with acknowledging in general terms an over ruling providence, they habitually ascribed every event to the will of the Great Being, for whose power nothing was too vast, for whose inspection nothing was too minute. To know him, to serve him, to enjoy him, was with them the great end of existence. They rejected with contempt, the ceremonious homage which On the rich and the eloquent, other sects substituted for the homage of the soul on nobles and priests, they looked down with contempt for they esteemed themselves rich in a more precious treasure, and eloquent in a more sublime language nobles by the right of an earlier creation, and priests by the imposition of a mightier hand !" These were the men to whom the world owes the preservation of civil and religious liberty, their enemies being judges; and it was men of this stamp that were the fa:

;

thers of Connecticut.

Though

small in territorial extent and population, Connecticut

is

her sister states in the virtue, genius and enterprise of her sons.

second to none of Considering the

amount of her population, she has furnished a large proportion of distinguished men every department of life, and some of the most powerful states in this Union

in almost

are largely indebted to her for the elements of their greatness and prosperity.

The early history of Connecticut, in its various parts, has been ably written by Dr. Trumbull, the venerable historian of his native state. To this work the author is deeply indebted, as he is also to the "Gazetteer of Connecticut and Rhode Island," by John C. Pease and John M. Niles, Esqs., a work of much labor and merit. For the account of the towns in Middlesex County, " Field's Statistical Account" has furnished much valuable information. The extracts from the most ancient newspapers were taken from files of the New Haven journals, the earliest and only copies, it is believed, that are

now

in existence.

These journals are

in the valuable library left

by the late Col. William Lyon, a distinguished antiquarian, and are now in possession of his son, William Lyon, Esq. a gentleman to whom the compiler feels himself under lasting obligations. To the various gentlemen in different parts of his native state,

who have ful

furnished information for this work, the author would here return his grate-

acknowledgments.

It may be thought, perhaps, by some, that an apology ought to be made for inserting many things contained in this book: somethings may be thought too trivial, others too marvelous, to be recorded. With regard to the first, it ought to be borne in mind, that many things which at the first sight may appear to us to be of little moment, may hereafter be deemed of much importance. With regard to the latter objection, it may

IV

PKEFACE.

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