Hartford – Connecticut Genealogy

Early Doctors In Middlesex County

1859 Map of Middlesex County Connecitcut - small

The Middlesex County Medical Society was established in 1792, reflecting the evolving medical landscape of the area. Pioneering figures like Dr. Jared Eliot and Dr. Benjamin Gale laid crucial foundations for medical education and practice. As private teaching replaced formal education, physicians adapted to rising healthcare demands, notably through practices like inoculation. The region’s early physicians, primarily self-taught, played a vital role in establishing standards and progression in medicine during an era with minimal institutional support. This article provides brief biographical sketches of many of the pioneering doctors of Middlesex County.

Dr. George O. Jarvis of Portland

Dr. George O. Jarvis, born in 1795 in Connecticut, studied medicine under Dr. Truman S. Whitmore and gained his medical license in 1817. He practiced in Torrington and Colebrook before settling in Portland. Renowned for inventing “Jarvis’s Adjuster” for fracture treatment, he gained acclaim in Europe, receiving a gold medal from the Society for Promotion of Arts and Commerce, awarded by Prince Albert. Dr. Jarvis served in the medical field for 58 years and passed away in 1875. He was the father of Dr. George C. Jarvis of Hartford.

Progress of the Colony

In 1698, Connecticut’s General Assembly established a two-house Legislature, requiring concurrence for law enactment. The colony faced military expenses due to the war with France, issuing paper money for a Canadian expedition. By 1713, Connecticut had 17,000 residents, 38 towns, and a growing economy based on trade with New York, Boston, and the West Indies. The colony actively participated in the French and Indian Wars, significantly contributing to military efforts. Post-war, Connecticut saw rapid growth and eventually ceded lands to the U.S. while retaining some for local indemnity and education funds, laying the groundwork for future prosperity.

Connecticut’s Fight Against Tyranny

After Charles II’s death in 1685, James II intensified the oppressive governance of the American colonies. He issued writs to revoke colonial charters, culminating in Sir Edmund Andross’s appointment as governor-general, which led to tyrannical rule in Connecticut. However, after James II fled in 1688, Connecticut’s original government was reinstated. Tensions continued with Governor Fletcher of New York in 1692, who demanded control over Connecticut’s militia. The Assembly firmly rejected his demands, asserting their rights. Legal opinions later favored Connecticut, affirming the colony’s governance and preserving its rights against external authority.

Colonial Governments of Connecticut

The pursuit of the Pequot tribe by early colonists led to the establishment of New Haven in 1638, by leaders like Mr. Eaton and Mr. Davenport. In 1639, free planters in Hartford adopted the first constitution in the New World, emphasizing civil and religious governance. This decade saw various other towns founded, and Connecticut’s government evolved, including the adoption of “blue laws” prescribing severe punishments for certain offenses. The colonies eventually formed the “United Colonies of New England” for mutual defense, as tensions with the Dutch in New Netherland grew.

Hartford Connecticut Suburban Directory 1966

This is the 1966 directory by The Price & Lee Company of New Haven CT. It contains an alphabetical directory of business concerns and private citizens; complete street and avenue guide, including householders, and occupants of office buildings and other business places, with telephone numbers; telephone numerical directory, plus, useful and interesting information about the city of Hartford. Contains directories for the city of Hartford and the following towns: East Hartford, West Hartford, Wethersfield, Windsor, Bloomfield, Newington, Farmington, Glastonbury, and Rocky Hill. Free to search, read, and/or download.