prospect of a corresponding advancement in size, population and business, with the other commercial towns in the State.

ting beyond the Mohawk flats, which then formed a barrier to the west ern settlements, located himself at Sedaghquate, now Whitesboro' village, which, till then, had been the gloomy abode of wild beasts and savage men. For the first

ment of this settlement, its progress was rather slow and discouraging; yet, in 1788, it contained nearly 200 inhabitants; and the same year, the town of German Flats, comprising this settlement, was divided, and a new town established, which, in honour of this enterprising man, was called "Whitestown." This township, with less than 200 inhabit

Middletown was settled in 1651, the first settlers being principally from Hartford and Wethersfield, and some from England. The set-four years after the commencetlement soon after received considerable accession from Rowley, Chelmsford, and Woburn, in Massachusetts. The place was called Mattabesick by the natives, and received the name of Middletown from the General Court, in November 1653; at which time it was probably admitted to town privileges. In 1673, twenty years after, there were but 52 families or householders; and the town-ants, comprised then almost all the ship was divided into an equal western section of that State, number of shares. In a few in-which, in 1810, contained 280,319 stances, formerly, the General As- inhabitants; being about 20,000 sembly have held their sessions in more than the whole population Middletown; but no particular of Connecticut; so that Judge events have occurred here worthy White, who survived this period of historic notice. two years, lived to see the dreary BIOGRAPHY. The Hon. Ti-||wilderness, into which he was the tus Hosmer, an eminent lawyer and statesman, was a native and resident of this town. He was one of the patriots of our glorious Revolution; having, at an early period, been a member of the Continental Congress. He died in

1781.

first man to penetrate, and which once bore his name, contain a greater population than his native State.

As was observed in his obituary notice, "Judge White may justly be considered as the Patriarch, who first led the children of NewHugh White Esq., the first set- England into the wilderness; and tler of Whitestown, in the State of it may be truly said, that he lived New-York, was a citizen of Middle-to see and enjoy the promised town. He removed from this place land." He died in 1812, aged with his familyin 1784,and,penetra- 80 years.

HADDAM.

HADDAM is a post township,||necticut river, & miles from Midsituated upon the west side of Con- dletown, and 23 from Hartford.

The tract of land between Mid- |sembly, ordering the division bedletown and Saybrook, embracing tween this town and Saybrook and this township, was originally called Lyme, of a tract of land embraced the lands at Thirty mile Island, within the original purchase, which from the Island in Connecticut riv-was considered as forming the er of that name, (now Lord's Isl-boundaries of Haddam, but which and,) north of the centre of the was also claimed by these two tract which was then thought to be towns. 30 miles from its mouth, or the bar. These lands were owned and in-length of this township is 7 miles, and its mean breadth more than 6 miles, comprising an area of 43 square miles.

At the present time, the mean

This township is the commencement of the granitic district, extending to the mouth of Connecticut river. It is considerably rough and broken, being hilly and stony. There is but little alluvial upon Connecticut river, but the lands upon its borders are more smooth and better adapted to cultivation. Upon the branches of the Higga

habited by the natives, of which there was a numerous, fierce and warlike tribe. In 1662, the Indian title to these lands was acquired by Matthew Allyn and Samuel Wyllys for thirty coats; not exceeding, probably, one hundred dollars in value. The same year, this purchase was disposed of to 28 persons, who immediately became actual settlers upon it. They were most, or all of them, from Hartford and its vicinity. The first settlement was made promiscuous-num, and upon Beaver brook, ly in the town meadow; some families, however, located themselves on the plain below Mill creek, and were called the lower plantation. In October, 1668, six years only from the first settlement, the town was incorporated by the name of Haddam. At this time, this town belonged to the county of Hartford, and so continued until the formation of Middlesex county, in May 1785; previously to which, the judicial and other business had been transacted at Hartford, the seat of justice for the county. On the organization of the county of Middlesex, this town, on account of The agricultural productions conits central situation, became the se- sist principally of butter, cheese, mi-scat of justice for the county, & beef and pork; some grain is raishath so remained ever since. Ined, and a supply of potatoes and 1669, the original limits of this other esculent roots, vegetables &c. township were somewhat circum- There are several quarries of scribed by a resolution of the As-stone in this town, which, consider

there are some small intervals, excepting which, the lands back from the river are generally rough, and cultivated only for grazing or timber. The prevailing soil is a gravelly loam, hard and dry. The forests are considerably extensive, and large quantities of wood are annually sent to market by the inhabitants, principally to NewYork. The timber consists of hickory, oak and other hard wood. In 1807, there were 2000 cords carried from Higganum landing, the principal wood market, to New-York.

ing their vicinity to a navigable in this town, although this was quite river, promise to be a source of an unfavourable season; and it is wealth, permanent and inexhausti- supposed, that about 200,000 are ble. annually taken. In 1802, there

The quarry below Haddam-were 2300 taken at a single draught, street was opened about the year of the seine used for the purpose. 1794. It is on a hill of considera- From the maritime advantages ble height, about 100 rods back of the town being situated upon a from the river. The stones are navigable river, it has from an earusually a little below the surface, ly period done something at naviand are exhibited in nearly per-gation and ship-building. For 60 pendicular strata. They are valua- or 70 years, a West India trade has ble for building, paving, &c. The been carried on, but upon a modebed is inexhaustible; and some rate scale. The coasting trade has years since, there were 80 or 90||been prosecuted more extensively. hands employed in this quarry, and one opposite, on the east side of the river. These stones have been carried to various places in this State and Rhode-Island, to Boston, New-York, Albany and Baltimore for a market. They are sold by the foot of 4 inches thickness, from 17 to 20 cents; and of 2 inches thickness, for pavements, from 10 to 14 cents.

In 1814, there were owned in this town 1 Ship, 3 Brigs, 3 Sloops and 5 Schooners; amounting, in all, to 1597 tons. Ship-building has been regularly carried on for a length of time. Higganum landing has been its principal seat, although something has been done at other places.

The manufacturing and mechanical establishments and interests consist of 2 Clothiers' works, one of which fulls and finishes 4,500 yards of woolen cloth annually, 3 Carding Machines, 5 Grain Mills, 9 Saw Mills, 7 Tanneries, 1 Gin Distillery, 2 Cider Distilleries, 1 Machine for welding gun barrels and 1 Brick-yard. This brick

Besides the Connecticut which washes the eastern border of the township, it is watered by several small streams; the Higganum and its branches, Beaver brook and Pine brook. These streams afford various sites for mills and other hydraulic works. There are several ferries across Connecticut riv-yard is half a mile from Higganum er in this town; Higganum ferry was granted to the town in 1763;|| and what are called Haddam ferry and Chapman's ferry are both private property. The shad fisheries in the Connecticut river in this town are very important, and a The amount of taxable propersource both of industry and wealth;||ty, including polls, in 1816, was there are 16 or 17 different fishe- $40,571. ries. In the season of 1814, it has been estimated that 130,000 shad were taken at the several fisheries || about 250 Electors, 4 Companies

landing; the clay is taken from the bank of the river, and the brick are burnt upon a wharf; so that boats, and even vessels can approach so near, as to load the brick directly from the kiln.

The population of the town, in 1810, was 2205; and there are

of Militia, and about 390 Dwelling houses.

There are 3 Churches; one for Congregationalists, one for BapThe town contains one located tists and one for Methodists; one ecclesiastical Society, a Society of Social Library, one Clergyman, Baptists, and a Society of Method- two Physicians and one Attorists; 13 School districts and pri-ney.

mary Schools.

CHATHAM.

CHATHAM is a flourishing post || mountain, called the Great Hill, town, pleasantly situated upon the about one mile from Middle Hadeast side of Connecticut river, op-||dam Landing. It has been found posite Middletown, and 17 miles in considerable quantities; and apfrom Hartford; bounded on the pearances authorize a belief of north by Glastenbury, on the east the mine's being extensive. The by Marlborough and Colchester, ore is found in a variety of forms on the south by East-Haddam and and situations; sometimes embedHaddam Neck, belonging to the ded in masses of mica, having the town of Haddam, and on the west figure of kidnies, sometimes surby Connecticut river. rounding garnets in clusters, sometimes it is discovered in hornblend, but most generally in micaceous veins, having a considerable dip. The ore of the different qualities that has been obtained, is general

The township has an average length of 9 miles, from north to south, and is more than 6 miles in breadth from east to west, comprising an area of about 56 square miles. The interior of the town-ly combined with arsenic; but in ship is rough and broken, consist- some instances with arsenic and ing of granitic hills, interspersed sulphur. This mineral is used exwith inconsiderable vales. Upon tensively, and is very valuable in Connecticut river, there is a con- various manufactures; those of porsiderable tract of alluvial, back of celain ware, linen, &c. The dewhich, for nearly a mile, is an un- mand for these manufactures, in dulating argillaceous district, hand- Great-Britain and Ireland, is supsome and fertile, and correspond- plied from Sweden and Germany. ing with the geological character An oxyd of cobalt, called azure, is of the country upon Connecticut used in the china-ware manufacriver. The termination of this tories in China, and is an importract forms the boundary between | tant article of exportation to that the argillaceous and granitic dis-country. They are at present supplied from Poland; but should this

tricts.

There are some valuable mine-mine prove extensive, they might rals in this town, the most impor-be supplied more directly, and uptant of which is cobalt ore. This on more reasonable terms, from valuable mineral has recently been this country. This article, in addiscovered in several places in a [dition to other important advanta

tages, would be, to a certain extent, a substitute for specie, in our trade with that country.

There is a very extensive and valuable quarry of freestone, situated upon the bank of Connecticut river, opposite Middletown, and below the bar in the river; so that vessels of 100 tons can load along side of the bank, near the quarry.

trict upon Connecticut river, the soil is an argillaceous loam, rich and fertile, and suitable for a grain culture. In the interior, the forests are extensive, and the timber is of an excellent quality. The agricultural productions consist of rye, Indian corn, oats, flax, grass, cheese, butter, &c.

The most considerable stream of water within the town is SalmThe strata of stone, forming the on river, which runs through its bed of this quarry, are a free sand-southeast section, and discharges stone, and can be worked and sha-itself into the Connecticut. Beped with great facility. Very sides these, there are numerous large quantities of stone are annu- small streams which water and ferally raised from this quarry, and tilize the different sections of the sent to most of the principal ci- town. ties in the Union for a market. For 14 years past, there have been employed in this quarry, yearly, from 40 to 60 labourers, and a number of teams. These quarries have been worked for about 150 years; but not extensively, until the last 30 years, since they have belonged to their present proprietors, Messrs. Shaler and||

Hall.

The Connecticut river, which washes the western border of the town, affords great advantages for commerce, fishing, &c. The principal harbour is at Middle-Ħaddam Landing, about 6 miles below Middletown. From this place, large quantities of timber, wood and lumber are shipped for NewYork and Long Island. At this, and some other places in the town, ship-building has frequently been carried on to a considerable extent.

Although these stones are conveyed to most of the considerable cities in the Union, yet they are The shad fisheries in Connectiprincipally marketed at New-cut river form an important busiYork, Boston and Savannah. ness, and are a source of consideThere are five different medi-rable wealth. There are 15 dif cinal springs in this township;||ferent fisheries.

but their waters have not been The navigation business is resubjected to chymical analysis, or spectable; there being 15 vessels their efficacy particularly ascer-owned in the town, employed printained. cipally in a trade to New-York and the southern States.

Although most of this township is rough and stony, yet its agricul- The town is accommodated tural interests are flourishing. The with several turnpike roads; one soil in the interior is in general a leading to Windham, one to Colprimitive gravelly loam, conside-chester, and one other. rably warm and fertile, and well

The manufactures and mecha

adapted to grazing. In the dis-nical employments consist of 1