Connecticut Historical Collections

Hartland is an elevated township, 22 miles from Hartford, bounded N. by the Massachusetts line, e. by Granby, \v. by Colebrook and s. by Barkhamsted, and is about 7 miles in lent^th and 5 in breadth. This town is hilly and mountainous, being embraced within the extensive range of granite in this part of the State. From its elevated situation it is cold and frosty, and the soil rather sterile, producing but little grain ; it however affords tolerable grazing. The making of butter and cheese, beef and pork, and pasturing of cattle are the principal kinds of business done in the town. The farmers in the east of this to Connec- ticut river, have been in the practice of sending their growing or young cuttle and sheep into this and other grazing towns, to be kept during several months in the spring and summer. The town is divided into two parts, one called East, the other West Hartland, in each of which is a Congregational church ; there is also a INIethodist church in the limits of the town. The town is centrally divided by the east branch of the Farmington river, ou which are sev- eral small tiacts of alluvial, and excellent mill seats. The deep ravine or valley through which this streatn passes is called Ilarlland hollow, and is cliaracterized by bold, rough, and picturesque scenery. Hartland is one of the towns sold by the State to the inhabitants of Hartford and Windsor. The first proprietors' meeting was holden in Hartford in M'-VS. I'he first person who lived in the town was John Kendall, wlio being in debt,.ne(i fiom Granby, and to get out of the way of his creditors, located himself in Hartland Hollow, on the west bank of the branch of the Farmington river ; here he made himself a hut with slabs which floated down the stream from Granville, INIass. — this was in 1753. While hero Kendall's wile bore a pair of twin daughters, the first white children born in the town. Kenclall stayed in the town about one year. In 1733, Simon Baxter came into this town. He was con- sidered a person of susjiicious character. In the Revolution he joined the anny of Burgoyne, and finally died at Halifax. Hartland was incor[)orated as a town in 1761, at which time it belong- ed to Litchfield County. In 1768, the Rev. Sterling Graves was or- dained, being the first minister in the town. He was ordained in the open air, on a knoll about a mile south of the present Congregational church in East Hartland. The first meeting house was erected in 1770. In West Hartland, the first minister was the Rev. Nathaniel Gaylord, who settled there about 1782. IMr. Gaylord is still living, and preaches occasionally. Ilartlaml, Litchfield Counly,Jan. 19, 1796. There is now living; in ihis town, one Mr. Jonas Wilder, in the 97lh year of his a,e:e, and is a steady-, industrious man, seldom losing one day in a month by reason of infir- mity and old ajj;e ; he was one of the first settleis in said town, and has in this town lived near 3G years; he was then the oldest person that ever lived in said town and ever since has been, and still remains, the oldest person by several years. He has had two wives and both of one name, both clirislian and maiden, tlie last of which he hatli lived with about (35 years ; he lias had 12 children and never lost one ; his eldest ^hild is now in the7;5d year of his age, the youngest in his 'nth. His sons, though but seven in number, have sustained the following honorable oflices, beside town and society 13 98 M A N C II E S T E K . offices, viz. one Colonel, one Major, one Captain, two Lieutenants, lliree Justioca of the Peace, itiree Representatives, and three Deacons. His posterity was ninnbcred in 1773, and found to be 23:^, of which he had lust only 16, and how many hath increased ^ince then is unknown, as iwo lived near Boston, two at Upper Coos, and three at Genesee. — Conn. Courant. The following inscriptions are copied from monuments in the burying ground by the side of the Congregational church in East Hartland. In memory of Deacon Thomas Giddin^s, the lirst residing inhabitant in Hartland, he came into town June l'2th, 1751. Died May '21ih, Aged 07 years. " We are Strangers and Pilgrims on the Earth as were all our Fathers." In memory of the Rev. Aaron Church, who died A\n'\\ 19th, 1823, in the 78 year of his age, and 50th of his ministry. With Abraham's joy. Thy call I follow to the land unknown : .. 1 . I trtisl in thee, and know in whom I li ust. MANCHESTER. Manchester was incor])oratc(l as a township in 18-23. It was for- merly called Orford, the East piirish in East Hartford. It is nearly six miles in length, and about the same in breadth, bounded n, by East Windsor ancJ Vernon, e. by Bolton and Vernon, w. by East Hartford, and s. by Glastenbury. The surface of the town is soinewhat broken and hilly ; it has a mixed soil of sand, loam and gravel, and is generally fertile. In the western part of it, there is a i-ange of red sandstone, ex- tending through the town ; this stone generally lies under the surface, and being of a soft texture is easily worked, and is valuable for under- pinning, hearth and step stones. The township is watered by the Hock- anum and its branches, upon which are situated numerous mills and manufactories, among which are six or seven paper mills, one woolen and one satinet factory, and two powder mills. The cut on the next page is an ea-^ti'iii wr.w t)f the churches in Man- chester. They staiul on a light sand)' plain, ahoni 8 miles from Hartford. The Methodist chmx-.h is the first btiildiii>; seen on the right, the one beyond is the Congregational clun-ch. There are three principal set- tlements in the town, in each of which is a post office: AVoodbridge's, near the centre, Buckland's corner, and a collection of houses in the northeast part of the town, in the vicinity of the Union Factory. ** The first cotton mill that was successfully put in operation in Con- necticut, was erected within the present limits of this town in 1794, and owned by Messrs. Samuel Pitkin fc Co. Velvets, corduroys, fus- tians, were manufactured at this establishment in considerable quanti- ties, at that early pmiod. Tlie machinery was made by a native of England, and upon the principles introduced by Arkwright. Efforts all of the same nature had been before attempted in the State, but were unsuccessful. The business was regarded as a mystery, difficult of ac- quisition, and as an experiment hazardous to the undertakers. But one cotton mill was in opciation in the country at this time, and that at Providence, and owned by Messrs. Ailing U Brown and Samuel M A n L H O R 0 U G H 99 Mtithodist and Congregational Churches, Manchtsler. Slater. A mill was soon afteiwards erected at Patterson, N. J. Com- paratively litile progress was made in extending the cotton manufacture until about 1804, since which it has experienced many vicissitudes, and had to encounter great dillicultics. Tlie business was flourishing dur- ing the war, but Irom the vast and alarming influx of goods after the peace, became greatly depressed. J\e\v companies, however, were formed upon the passage of the tarifl' of 1816, and additional capital in- vested in the business, and the mills, which had discontinued their ope- rations and were sufibred to decay, were repaired ami put in 0[)eration, many of them having been transfericd to other hands." In thu viciiiiiy of ll Iwo cluircliu.s, (seen and a young njaii wcil' luiiii'il ulive liy ilie ( Koniieilv, v\'lii) ilcsoeiuli'd Irmu iiiulivcs til' c Imn. 1 Liviii:,' cilli'd I'oi hcln, ii rope atuic ilni'clcd to lie 11 aiiiiMul liis body nn love.) in ITf)!, Mr. Tliomas Kennedy 'in^ in uf a widl aLi lei'i in df|)(li. Mr, lo.Miy, lunnd ilic caiili caving in about htfd U) a windlass was let down, and lie was his anus. Tins UKiliud ot uxi g liim iuIlhI ibe well wa.s lound incllcitual. In llie huny ol'tlio luouient, ii ytnin^' man dv.^n.i..n-.i ini. y»lh in order tu cut iliti rope. A lari,'e slone now caved in, followed by a mass of sand, wliieh covered bolli, and they were inslanlly sntlbeatcd. An order was obtained from Gov. Law, who i esided at Millord, to laise assi-^tance to disinter the bodies. Ten days had elapsed before they were dug out. MARLBOROUGH This town is situated in the southeastern extremity of Hartford County. It was incorporated in 1803, being formed from Colchester, Glastenbury and Hebron, three towns which belonged to three difTer- e%i counties. TQjie township is irregular in its form, having an average length of five and a half miles, and an average breadth of four miles, bounded n. by Glastenbury, e. by Hebron, s. by Colchester, and w. by Chatham. The surflice of the town is hilly and stony, and the lands best adapted for grazing. Marlborough pond, in this town, is a con- 100 siMSRunv. siderable body of water, being one mile in length and half a mile in breadth. Black lead has been found in this town. There is one house of worship in the town, which is of the Congregational order. The most compact settlement in the town is around the Union Cot- ton Factory, which is 14 miles from Hartford and one mile northerly Jb from the Congregational church. The nimd)er of inhabitants in 1810 'k was 720; in 1830 the population was 704. ' i