Windham County

Keeping roads and bridges in order was one of the burdens of this town in the early years of its settlement. As early as April 24th, 1716, the town voted “That a highway be laid out, from the country road that leads to Norwich to the country road that leads to Windham.” In 1719 a committee was appointed ” to view the country road from Norwich line to ye upper end of this town, and to renew the bounds and monymets of said roade and to make their return to said town by the first of April next, with ye … Read more

Having viewed the circumstances under which the settlement was begun and carried forward from a civil point of view, let us now look at the progress of the ecclesiastical history of the early town, which is so intimately associated with the other side of its life as to be inseparable from,, it. We have already noticed the organization of the church and the installation of the first pastor, Mr. Samuel Estabrook, at the same time, June 13th, 1711. Under the influence of a religious revival in 1721 the membership of the church was doubled within a few years. Mr. Estabrook … Read more

The town of Canterbury occupies the middle of the southern tier of towns in Windham county. It joins New London county. Adjoining towns are Brooklyn on the north, Plainfield on the east, Lisbon on the south, and Scotland and Hampton on the west. Its territory is about eight miles from north to south, and an average of five miles from east to west, thus comprising about . forty square miles. The northern part is hilly and exceedingly picturesque, but the southern part contains a great deal of low and swampy land. Much good farming land is found in the town, … Read more

Dwight Barstow was born in Canterbury Plains, August 8th, 1820. He is a son of Hezekiah and Rebecca (Gager) Barstow, and grandson of Hezekiah and Olive (Bradford) Barstow. He was educated in Canterbury, and is about the only living person that attended Prudence Crandall’s school at the time she dismissed her white scholars and filled up her school with colored. He held the office of highway surveyor for thirty years. He was married to Amelia Lyon, September 18th, 1854, and their children are: Charles, George and Frank. Mr. Barstow is a member of the Congregational church. The family have occupied … Read more

The First church of Brooklyn had its beginnings among the people while as yet there was no organization either of society or town. The people inhabiting south of Mortlake and north of Canterbury were within the proper jurisdiction of the town of Pomfret, but remote some seven or eight miles from the meeting house at the center of the town. Some residents in the northern part of Canterbury were also remote from the meeting house of that town. With remarkable generosity the town of Pomfret consented to allow the people of this part of their jurisdiction to be clear of … Read more

After the death of Samuel Morris, the valuable farm upon the Quinebaug was sold by his son. to Benjamin Wilkinson, of Rhode Island, a man of great energy, but of restless and roving spirit. The capacious ” Morris– House ” was now opened as a tavern. A shabby old traveler passing the night there, asked Mr. Wilkinson casually what he would take for the whole establishment. He named a large sum and thought no more of it till within a few weeks the old man appeared with a bag full of gold and silver, ready to close the bargain and … Read more

The first effort of which we can learn in behalf of the schools of this locality was made in 1722. The people here then petitioned the town of Pomfret to which they then belonged that they might be exempt from taxes for building a school house in the center of that town, and also that they might have part of the money that was appropriated from the treasury of the colony to help them to keep a free school in their section. The request was granted by the town, and a school was then established here. For many years after … Read more

The township of Brooklyn received a charter from the assembly in May, 1786, to organize as a town. The first town meeting was held in its much esteemed meeting house, June 26th, 1786. Colonel Israel Putnam was called to the chair. Seth Paine was chosen town clerk, treasurer and first selectman; Andrew Murdock, Asa Pike, Daniel Tyler, Jr., and Joseph Scarborough, selectmen; Peter Pike, constable; Ebenezer Scarborough, Abner Adams, Joshua Miles, Jedidiah Ashcraft, Jr., Salter Searls, Nathan Witter, Joseph Davison, Samuel Williams, Stephen Frost. James Dorrance, Elisha Brown, Reuben Harris, surveyors; John Jefferds, Ebenezer Gilbert, fence viewers; Abijah Goodell, Isaac … Read more

Lorin S. Atwood, born in Mansfield July 23d, 1812, is one of twelve children of Elisha and Anna (Hartshorn) Atwood. From about 1850 to 1860 he was engaged in the hotel business in Hampton. He then removed to Brooklyn and was a merchant there till his death in 1888. He married, first, a Miss Cooley, by whom he had three children: Juliette, Arvila and Herman. His second wife was Margaret Bradbent, who had one son- Oscar F. John M. Baker, son of Almon and Hannah (Tucker) Baker and grandson of John Baker, was born in Brooklyn in 1814, and has … Read more

John Baker came from Dudley, Mass., to Ashford about 18.25. He bad four children, one of whom, Enoch, married Mary Webster, and had seven children, six of whom are now living. Davis A., the second son, born in Ashford in 1835, was educated at the schools of his native town and the state Normal school. He taught school in early life, but for the last ten years has been engaged in mercantile business. He represented Ashford in the legislature in 1867, 1877, and 1887, has been town clerk and judge of probate several years. He married Eliza Walbridge, and has … Read more