from the native ruggedness of its was very slow and discouraging. features, having no traces of civili-||In 1771, about 27 years from the zation but what his own hands had commencement of the settlement produced, and exposed to the most by Mr. Allyn, there were but 20 imminent perils from its native families within the limits of the inhabitants, wild beasts which town. Israel Jones from Enfield, claimed to be "lords of the soil," William Austin, Jonathan King and maintained an indisputable and a Mr. Norton from Suffield, dominion over it, is a situation Amos Case from Simsbury, John which it is difficult to conceive, Ives from Hamden, Joseph Shepand impossible to describe. Mr. ard from Hartford and Joseph Allyn justly deserves to be regard-Wilder from East-Haddam, were ed as the patriarch of the town. among the first and principal setFrom his industry and perseve-tlers. rance during this long period of The town was incorporated in voluntary exile, he had made such||1779. Joseph Wilder was the first improvements, and placed himself magistrate, and for several years in such a situation as to enable the only one in the town. him to be eminently useful to Rev. Ozias Ells, who was ordainother settlers; but, notwithstand-ed in 1787, was the first minister. ing, the progress of the settlement He died in 1813. BETHLEM. The BETHLEM is a small elevated The township is watered by seinterior post township, 38 miles veral branches of Pomperaug rivfrom Hartford, and 33 from New-er, which afford some good sites Haven; bounded on the north by for mills, some of which are ocLitchfield, on the east by Water-cupied. town, on the south by Woodbury, The population of the town, in and on the west by Washington. 1810, was 1118; and there are Its average length from east to 150 qualified Electors, 1 Compawest is 4 and a half miles, and its ny of Militia, and 170 Dwelling average breadth 4 miles, contain-houses. ing an area of about 18 square miles. The township is considerably hilly; its surface being diversified with granitic eminences and vallies. The soil is generally a gravelly loam, and is best adapted to grazing. It however produces tolerable crops of grain. The natural growth consists of oak, maple, chesnut, walnut, &c. There are 3 small Distilleries, 1 Grain Mill, 1 Fulling Mill and Clothier's works, 1 Carding Machine, 1 Tannery, 4 Saw Mills, and 1 Mercantile Store. The amount of taxable proper||ty, including polls, is $27,000; and the assessment of the lands and buildings of the town, in 1816, which included 11,161 acres, amounted to $308,555; being an average valuc of $27,43 per acre. 100 The town contains 1 located || servedly celebrated, and was atCongregational Society & Church, tended by students from different 1 Society of Episcopalians and 1 parts of the Union. of Baptists. The distinguished reputation It is divided into 9 School Dis-which he had acquired, as a ditricts, each of which is provided vine, a man of science, and an inwith a School house, and main-structor of youth, procured for tains a School for several months him the appointment to the presidency of Hamilton College. He in the year. a The professional men are 1 Phy-received the appointment about sician, 1 Clergyman and 1 Attor-the year 1812, and continued in ney; there is 1 small Social Li- this situation until his death, Debrary. cember 26th, 1816. He was the Bethlem was taken from Wood-first President of this College, and bury, and incorporated in 1787. taking the charge of the InstituBIOGRAPHY. The Rev. Azel tion at its commencement, he had, Backus, D. D. was for many years during the short period that he resident clergyman in this presided over it, very arduous and town. Dr. Backus was educated at complicated duties to perform. Yale College, where he graduated But his learning, judgment and in 1787. Having qualified him- faithfulness rendered him admiraself for the ministry, at an early ||bly qualified for his situation; and, period, he was ordained as the under his guidance and direction, successor of Dr. Bellamy, in this this infant seminary was rapidly town, and continued in this situa- rising into notice, and afforded a tion until the establishment of Ha- most flattering promise of future milton College, in the county of usefulness and reputation. Oneida, in the State of New-York, Dr. Backus was distinguished when he was appointed to preside for remarkable vigour and aptiover that Institution. Whilst in tude of mind. He was an able this town, he instituted a school, divine, a good scholar, and a juand took upon himself the charge dicious and successful instructor. and instruction of his pupils, whom He was also eminent for his social he took into his own family, there- || virtues, the mildness of his dispoby adding parental care and soli- ||sition, and the complacency of his citude to the advantages of lite-temper. He was both respected rary and moral instruction. This and beloved by his pupils. school became very highly and de CANAAN. CANAAN, a considerable post||chusetts line, on the east by Nortownship, is situated in the north-folk, on the south by Cornwall, western section of the county, 41 and on the west by the Ousatonick miles northwest from Hartford ;||river, which divides it from Salisbounded on the north by Massa-bury. The township comprises an area|| of about 50 square miles; having an average length from north to south of about 9 miles, and a mean breadth of nearly 6 miles. considered as a good and flourishing agricultural town. The forests comprise various species of trees, principally deciduous; oak, chesnut, walnut, butternut, beach, sugar maple, soft maple, birch, hemlock, white and yellow pine, white and red cedar, spruce, red, white and black ash, elm, bass, boxwood, whitewood, peperidge, mountain ash, sassafras, alder, &c. The agricultural productions are rye, Indian corn, oats, wheat, buck wheat, peas, beans, barley, cheese, butter, beef, pork, flax, flax-seed, &c. The staples are rye and corn, of which there are annually considerable quantities raised that are sent abroad for a market. The face of the country is broken and mountainous, several considerable ranges, some of which are elevated, extending through the town in a northeasterly and southwesterly direction. These ranges are of a primitive granitic character. Between the mountains and hills there are extensive calcareous vales. These vales have internal strata of limestone; numerous quarries of which, in these calcareous strata, have been opened for the making of lime. The best limestone is usually found on the northern declivities of small eminences. In the northeasterly section of the township, iron ore has been discovered near the surface. A mine has been opened, and quantities of the ore raised and worked. The ore was found to be rich, as to the quantity of iron which it contained; but it is of an inferior quality. The soil is various, being of a different quality in different sections, according to their geological character. Upon the mountains, hills and their declivities, it is generally a primitive gravelly loam; and in most of the vallies it is a calcareous loam. The former are principally reserved for forests, or improved by grazing; and the lat-leading to Litchfield; and the Cater are admirably adapted to a grain culture, affording excellent crops of wheat, rye, corn and oats. There is considerable bro-|| ken and waste land in the township, but many sections that are rich and fertile; so that it may be The western border of the township is washed by the Ousatonick river; and the interioris watered by numerous small streams, of which Blackberry river, that rises in Norfolk, and runs through the town, and Hollenbach, having its source within the town, and both of which discharge their waters into the Ousatonick, are the principal. Upon these and other smaller streams there are numerous sites for hydraulic works. This town is accommodated with several turnpike roads; the Greenwoods Greenwoods turnpike, leading from New-Hartford, northwesterly, passes through this town; the Litchfield and Canaan turnpike, naan and Salisbury turnpike, which unites with the last mentioned, near the old furnace in Salisbury. The manufactures of the town are principally of iron, which constitute an important, and in gene ral a profitable business. There The civil or corporate divisions are 2 located Congregational Societies and 12 School Districts. Besides the located, there are 2 other religious Societies; one of Methodists and one of Friends, or Quakers. There are 12 primary Schools, one in each District; 3 Social Libraries, 3 Attornies, 2 Clergymen, and 2 practising Physicians. This township was sold at NewLondon, at auction, in 1738; and the settlement commenced in June the same year. The first settlers were Daniel and Isaac Lawrence, and John Franklin ; but they were In 1810, there were 2183 inhabitants in this town; and there are now about 300 Electors, 200 Mi-soon joined by various others. litia, and 276 Dwelling houses. The mercantile business is respectable, there being 9 Dry Goods and Grocery Stores in the town. The town was incorporated in 1739; and the first clergyman, the Rev. Elisha Webster, was settled in Oct. 1740. COLEBROOK. COLEBROOK, an elevated are some intervals which are well post township, is situated 31 miles adapted to grass or mowing. northwest from Hartford, on the The dairy business is the prinnorthern border of the county;cipal agricultural interest of the bounded on the north by Massa- town; and considerable quantichusetts line, on the east by Hart-ties of butter and cheese are land, in Hartford county, on the made annually by the inhabitants. south by Winchester, and on the The natural growth of timber west by Norfolk. Its average consists of oak, maple, beech, length from east to west is 6 miles, hemlock and other perennial trees; and its average breadth 5 miles, but the latter comprise a considecontaining about 30 square miles.rable proportion of the forests in This township is embraced with- this town. in the granitic district, which constitutes the height of land in the western part of the State. It is hilly and mountainous; and the soil is a hard, gravelly loam, and generally stony. It is in general rather cold and wet, but affords tolerable good grazing. The main branch of the Tunxis or Farmington river intersects the eastern section of the town, and affords most excellent mill seats and privileges for water works. Still river, a considerable branch of the Tunxis, washes its There||southeastern border; and another branch, called the Sandy river, to $270,102, being an average of runs through its interior. These of $15 per acre. two streams afford also numerous The most considerable manu sites for mills and other hydraulic || facturing and mechanical employ works. The town is well accommodated with turnpike roads; the Albany turnpike leads through its eastern section; the Hudson turnpike thro' its southwestern; and the Hartland turnpike leads through the centre of the town from east to west; and the New-Haven turnpike from north to south; there is also the Still river turnpike. The population of the town, in 1810, was 1243; and there are about 200 Dwelling houses, 200 Freemen or Electors, and 2 companies of militia. ments are 1 establishment for the manufacture of Steel, 2 Scythe Factories, at which sleigh shoes and several other articles are manufactured, 1 Woolen Factory, 3 Tanneries, 1 Grain Mill, 1 Fulling Mill and Clothier's works, 1 Carding Machine, and 3 Manufactories of Wooden Ware, or Turning establishments. There are 4 Mercantile Stores. The town contains 1 located Congregational Society & Church, and 1 Society of Baptists, 1 Social Library, and 8 School Districts and Schools. The professional men are 2 Physicians, 2 Clergymen and 1 Att'y. The amount of taxable property, including polls, is $26,447; and the valuation or assessment of lands and buildings in 1815, which included 17,555 acres, amounted || 1779. Colebrook was first settled in 1765, and was incorporated in CORNWALL. CORNWALL, a post township, || consisting of granite, micaceous is situated 38 miles west from Hart- schistus, and some limestone in ford, and 48 northwest from New-the vales. Several minerals have Haven; bounded on the north by been discovered; in the west secCanaan, on the east by Goshen, tion of the town, there is a mounon the south by Warren and Kent,||tain, in which, at various places, and on the west by the Ousatonick there are veins of black lead ore. river, separating it from Sharon. It has been used for marking, and some other purposes; but has not received that attention which is necessary to develope its quantity, richness or value. About two miles south of the principal settlement in the town, there is a bed of porcelain clay, of 5 or 6 feet in depth, 7 or 8 in width, and of several rods in extent. It is thought that the quality of the clay is as good as Its average length from north to south is more than 9 miles, and its average breadth about 5 miles, comprising an area of about 46 square miles. The township is hilly and mountainous; containing many elevated and continuous hills, and deep and extensive vales. Its geological character is primitive; the rocks |