Connecticut Historical Collections

Washington, - 1,G2L Cole brook - - 1,332 Plymouth, 2,0G1 Watertown, - 1,500 Cornwall, - - 1,714 Roxbury, 1,122 Winchester - 1,7GG Coslien, - 1,734 Salisbury, 2,580 Woodbury, - 2,045 Harwinlon, - 1,51() Population of the county in 1820, 41,2G7; in 1830, 42,855. LITCHFIELD. The tract of land now comprised in the township of Litchfield, was called by the native Imlrdns Jumtam. In 1718, it was purchased of the colony of Connecticut by a company, who divided their purchase, (which was intended to cover ten miles square,) into sixty shares, under the name of " proprietors' rights," which w^'re valued at X5 per right. The proprietors who made the purchase and first settlement, were jirin- cipally horn Hartford, Windsor and Lebanon. In 1720 and 1721, sev- eral families began to settle on the tract. " Nothing appears on record to show that the proprietors purchased any of the lands in this town of the Indians : the title having been previously extinguished by the colo- ny. The lands in this town allbrded better hunting ground for the In- dians, than extensive intervals. ^lany of the hills were nearly cleared LITCHFIELD. 453 of trees by fires, kindled for the purpose of hunting. To this remark, however, many valuable tracts, containing excellent pine and other forest trees, were an imjjortant exception." In 172 1, Bantam was incorporated as a town by the name of Litch- field. " By the act of incorporation, the grant was made to John Marsh of Hartford, to John Bnel of Lebanon, and their associates; amounting to fifty seven. The first founders built log houses. The settlement proceeded as fist as could be reasonably expected, considering the cir- cumstances of the times. During the wars between England and France, the Canadians and Indians ofien harassed our borders ; and Litchfield, being a frontier town, was exposed to their ravages. Between the year 1720 and 1730, five houses were snrroundeil with palisadoes. One of these stood on the ground near the present court house ; ano- ther about half a mile south ; one east, and one west of the center ; and one in South Farms. SoUIiers were then stationed here to guard the inhabitants, both while they were at work in the field, and while they were attending public worship on the Sabbath. " In JMay, 1722, Capt. Jacob Grisvvould, being at work alone in the field, about one mile west of the present court house, two Indians sud- denly rushed upon him from the woods, look liim and pinioned his arms, and carried him ofi'. Tlioy traveled in a northerly direction, and the same day arrived in some part of the townsliip called Canaan, then a wilderness. Thcj Indians kindled a fire, and afier binding their prisoner hand and foot, lay down to sleep. Griswould fortunately disengaging his hands and feet, \vhile his arms were yet pinioned, seized their guns, and made his escape into the woods. After traveling a small distance, he sat down and waited till the dawn of day ; and, although his arms were still pinionefl, he carried both the guns. The savages awoke in the morning, and finding their prisoner gone, they immediately pursued him ; they soon overtook him, and kept in sight of him the greater part of the day, while he was nuiking his way homeward. AVlien tiiey came near, he turned and pointed one of his pieces at them ; they then iv.W back. In this manner he traveled till near sunset, when he reached an eminence in an open field, about one mile northwest of the present court house, lie then discharged one of his guns, which immediately summoned the people to his assistance. The Indians fied, and Gris- would safely returned to his family." " The capture of Griswould made the inhabitants more cautious for a while, but tlieir fears soon subsided. In the month of August fol- lowing, j\Ir. Joseph Harris, a respectable inhabitant, was at work in the woods alone, not Air from the pla^e were Griswould was taken ; and being attacked by a party of Indians, attempted to make his escape. The Indians pursued him, and finding they could not overtake him, they shot him dead and scalped him. As Harris did not return, the inhabitants were alarmed, and some search was made for him ; but the darkness of the night checked their exertions. The next morning they found his body, and gave it a decent burial. Harris was killed near the north end of the plain, where the road turns towards Milton, a lit- 454 1. 1 T c II K I E L n . lie east of the school house now standing ; and for a long time aftci", tills plain was called Harris' plain."* The first white male person born in this town, was Gershoni Gibbs, in the month of July, 1721. The first minister in the j)lace was the Re#. Timothy Collins, a native of Guilford, who graduated at Yale College in 1718. INIr. Collins accej)ted the call of the inhabitants to be their minister, in December, 17i2l, and was ordained in June, 1723 ; the following salary was voted, viz. £57 for the first four years ; for the fifth year £60 ; for the next year, £70 ; and for the seventh year, and so long as he should continue with them in the work of the minis- try, £80. I:[is fire wood was voted him in addition to his salary. Mr. Collins continued in the ministry till 1752, when he was dismissed at liis own request. In the following year lie was appointed a justice of the peace. He also practiced y)liysic. He died in Ijitchfield, in 1776. In April, 1723, the inhabitants voted to build their first church, which was finished within three years. Its dimensions were 45 feet in length, and 35 in breadth ; it was built in a plain manner, without a steeple. Jt stood within a few feet of the j)resent Congregational churcli. At the raising of this building all the adult males in the town were ])resent, and sat on the sills at once. The second house of worslii[) was finished in 1762 ; this also has been taken down, and a new building has been recently erected. The first Episcopal society was formed in this town about the year 1746, but they had only occasional preaching till the year 1754. At this time Mr. Solomon Palmer, who had just been dis- missed from the church in Cornwall, took the charge of the Episcopal congregation in this town, and that of New Milford at tlie same time, and preached to them alternately. Mr. Palmer continued here until 1763, when he removed to the Episcopal congregation in New Haven. In 1766, he resumed his charge in Litchfield, and continued it till his death, in 1770. f LitchneKI, the scat of justice for the county, is situated in north lati- tude 1 P' 50', being 30 milos west from Hartford, 36 northwest from New Haven, and 100 Irom New York ; houndi.'d ncn'th by Goslien and Torrington, west by Washington and Warren, east by Nauga- tuc river, separating it from Harwinton, and south by Watertown, Bethlem and Plymouth. It is about 9 miles in length from east to west, and its breadth is nearly 8 miles. It is an elevated township, and its surface presents a diversity of hills and valleys. The hills are gen- erally of considerable elevation, and their prevailing course is from north to south. In the western part of the town there are some moun- tainous tracts, which comprise several considerable eminences, of which Mount Tom is the most elevated. Great Pond, situated to the soulli- f Tlie following inscription is on liis monument in tlic west btiryinjj ground. — "In memnrvot'Joseph ILirris, who was murdered by the Indians in ilu; year 17'21. Wliilti ploMji-hing ill his field, aiiout three fourihs of a mile iiorlhwesi of tiie grave yard, lie w'as bliot by ihe Indians concealed m ainbiiNli. lie was found dead, silting on the groimd, Ins iicad and body reehning agamsi the trunk ol a tree. To record the lirsi death among the original settlers, and to per|ietiiale the memory of a worthy but un- fortunate citizen, this uaoniimeni is erected, 1830, by the voUmlary benefaction of in- dividual subscriber^." t Morris' Statistical Account of Litchfield. LITCHFIELD. '155 west of Litchfield village, is a beautifiil sheet of vvatci', comprising an area of about 900 acres, and is the largest pond or lake in the state. Ijitchfield abounds in good springs of water, and from its elevated situ- ation, the air is generally pure and salubrious, and the town has the reputation of being remarkably healtliy. The soil is generally strong and fertile, and, for an elevated tract, is warm and favorable for vegeta- tion.* Litchfield is divided into four societies, Litchfield proper. South Farms, Northficld, and Milton. Litchfield village was incorporated in 1818. It is delightfidly situated, upon an elevated plain in tlie cen- ter of the first society, affurding the most extensive prospects, surround- ed by interesting scenery, and from its situation enjoying a salubrious atmo3j)here. The corporate limits of the village are about one mile and a half in length, and about one mile in breadth. The principal street, running from n. w. to s. E. is well built, comprising numerous handsome dwelling houses, some of which are elegant edifices. This street is intersected by another, forming a pleasant square in the center. There are in the village upwards of 80 dwelling houses, 2 printing offices, a bank, being a branch of the Phamix Bank, Hartford ; court house, jail, jjrofessional ofiices, mercantile and mechanic shops. In 17S'1, a law school was established liere by the Hon. Tapping Reeve. In 1798, the Hon. James (Jould was associated as a joint instructor w'itli Judge Reeve. This school was considered as the most respecta- ble and systematic law school in the United Slates.. It was discontin- ued a few years since. Tlnn-o is a high school for young ladies, which is of considerable celebrity. There is an infirmary in this town, under the diieclion of Dr. Ahmson Abbe, established for the purpose of curing and relieving diseases of the spine.