Jirah L. Backus was born in Chaplin in 1828. He was educated at Chaplin, represented the town of Chaplin in the legislature in 1872, and has held various town offices. He was married in 1852 to Susan Dodge of Eastford. Their children are: Clinton, born in 1853, graduated at Amherst College in 1883, married Carrie Haskin, and is a teacher at St. Paul; Charles, born in 1856, graduated at Eastman’s Business College, is a banker at Hampshire, Ill., married in 1884 Emma L. Sisley; Annie, born in 1858, married Robert AV. Stephenson of Hampshire, Ill.; Nellie, born in 1870. Merrick … Read more

Chaplin, one of the smallest towns of Windham county, lies in the southwestern part, on the western border and next north of the town of Windham. It is bounded on the north by Ashford and Eastford, on the east by Hampton, on the south by Scotland (for a short distance) and Windham, and on the west by Mansfield, in Tolland county. The surface is considerably hilly, and much of it is covered with forest growth which affords timber for building and other purposes. Much of the soil, however, is good, and agriculture may be successfully carried on. The New York … Read more

After town organization, the lack of a suitable burial place was painfully apparent. Having in his possession near his residence a tract of land (a part of the old “Mighill Farm,” Killingly) which he deemed especially suitable for this purpose, Chandler Spalding offered it to the town for a public burying ground. The town instructed its selectmen to purchase the ground, but its many urgent burdens and expenses compelled delay and reconsideration, during which interval Mr. Spalding proceeded to lay out the land and prepare a cemetery. July 4th, 1856, the first interment was made. Many persons secured lots, and … Read more

Reviewing the progress of the town after the revolutionary period we find Doctor Jabez Fitch prominent, occupying for many years the offices of justice of the peace, judge of probate and colonel of the Eleventh Regiment. He died in 1784. Colonel Aron Cleveland, so prominent in public affairs during the revolution, was struck with palsy while in the prime of life, and after a long and distressing sickness died in 1785. Deacon Asa Witter died suddenly in 1792. Captain Ephraim Lyon, Nathan Waldo, Eliashib Adams, Jabez Ensworth, David Baldwin, Benjamin and Asa Bacon, Captain John Adams, Daniel Frost, Captain Stephen … Read more

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

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 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