Windham County

1. Thomas and Joseph Bacon, thirty acres.2. James Corbin, twenty acres.3. Minister’s lot, twenty acres.4. Benjamin Sabin, twenty acres.5. Henry Bowen, fifteen acres.6. Thomas Lyon, sixteen acres.7. Ebenezer Morris, eighteen acres.8. Matthew Davis, sixteen acres.9. William Lyon, Sr., and Ebenezer Cass. These lots were all laid out on Plaine hill. It had been previously voted ” by the company of Go-ers,” that whosoever took up their land upon the Plaine, on the northward side of Millbrook, should have one-third part of land added to their home lots, viz., three acres for two on account of the inferior quality of the … Read more

Ansel Arnold, youngest son of Samuel and Amity (Pomeroy) Arnold, was born in Somers, Conn., August 8th, 1815. At the age of 21 he commenced the manufacture of shaker hoods at Mansfield Centre, which he continued till 1841, when he removed to Somerville, and was engaged in that enterprise in connection with keeping a general store till 1851. He then disposed of his manufactory, and continued to run the store till 1870, when he came to Willimantic and engaged in the flour and feed business, under the firm name of A. Arnold & Co. He is president of the W. … Read more

   Ebenezer Bishop  Abel Child  Ezra Dean  Marquis Green  William Lyon, 4th  John McClellan  Charles Harris May  Joseph M. Morse  Nathan E. Morse  Oliver H. Perry

The northwest corner of Windham county is occupied by the ample territory of Woodstock, eight miles by seven and a half in extent, comprising an area of nearly sixty square miles. It is the largest town in the county and retains, with least change, its- original limits, its only loss occurring from a slight removal of its northern boundary. Woodstock ranks high among the farming towns of the state. Its soil is excellent, and the dearth of manufacturing privileges has helped to develop agricultural interests. A micaceous formation (gneiss), extending from Pomfret to its junction with a western branch of … Read more

Samuel Adams was born in 1832, in Dudley, Mass., and is a son of Oliver Adams. He came to Wilsonville in 1857 and bought the mercantile business of D. A. Upham, and has continued the same since that time. In 1888 he enlarged the store, and increased the business. He has been postmaster since June, 1881. He was married in August. 1853, to Almira F. Darby. They have three children: Irene, Irving, and Carrie. He is a republican. Thomas J. Aldrich was born in 1829, in Rhode Island, and came from Rhode Island to Grosvenor Dale in 1873, where he … Read more

The town of Windham, one of the smallest in geographical size, but the largest in population, wealth and business importance, occupies the extreme southwest corner of Windham county. Its area is about two and three-fourths square miles. The beautiful valley of the Willimantic river extends along the southern part, entering at the extreme western point and leaving at the southeastern corner. This river affords abundant water power for many factories, and to this circumstance is due the building up and prosperity of the town. The Natchaug, a considerable stream, joins it a short distance east of the borough limits of … Read more

  Offsite Biographies  L. E. Baldwin  J. Dwight Chaffee  William C. Jillson  William Clitus Witter

Willimantic, a beautiful village of about ten thousand inhabitants, lies in the southwest corner of the town of Windham, and consequently in the southwest corner of the county. The Willimantic, a vigorous stream, as powerful and as graceful as its name is beautiful, winds along the valley through the center of the borough to which it has given name. On the slope of the left bank lies the principal part of the village, and nearly all of the business concerns. Great power is furnished for the driving of machinery by the falls in the river, and this circumstance gave rise … Read more

John Bitgood came to Voluntown from Warwick, R. I., about 1800, and lived on the place now occupied by William Bitgood. His son Elisha, born 1801, married Betsey Church, and had ten children, of whom Joel K. enlisted in the 12th Connecticut volunteers, and served three years in the rebellion. He was wounded at Port Hudson. He is one of the selectmen of Voluntown. He married Maggie Tabor, and their children are: Nellie, Gracie, Roscoe and Joseph E. Moses Fish came from Groton to Voluntown as early as 1745. He married Elizabeth Morgan, and had two sons, Moses and Daniel. … Read more

As soon as possible after the restoration of peace, Massachusetts arranged to take possession of the conquered territory. William Stoughton and Joseph Dudley were commissioned by the general court to treat with the Indian claimants and agree with them upon the easiest terms attainable. February 10th, 1682, negotiations were completed by which the whole Nipmuck country, from the northern part of Massachusetts to a point called Nash-a-way, at the junction of the Quinebaug and French rivers, Connecticut-a tract fifty by forty miles in extent was made over to the government of the Bay colony, for the sum of fifty pounds, … Read more