of Baptists, all of which are ac- war, in 1755, he commanded a recommodated with houses for reli-giment, under Sir William Johngious worship.

In the first located Society there is an ancient and pleasant village. It has an interesting site, and is surrounded with a delightful rural scenery. It contains between 60|| and 70 Dwelling houses, the Court House and Gaol of the county, 1 Church, a Post office, several professional offices, 1 small Newspaper and Printing establishment, a number of Mercantile Stores, Mechanics' shops, &c. The mercantile business of the town is considerable, there being 15 Dry|| goods and Grocery Stores, 13 in the first Society and 2 in the Society of Scotland.

The town contains 16 School Districts and common Schools, which are maintained a suitable portion of the year. There are 8 practising Attornies, 3 Physicians and 2 Clergymen.

son. He belonged to the detachment commanded by Col. Williams, which was ordered out to meet Baron Dieskau; and being the second officer in rank, after the fall of Col. Williams, the com mand of the detachment devolved upon him; and he conducted its retreat with great judgment, skill and intrepidity, whereby he preserved his men, under circumstances of extreme peril. In this affair he acquired distinguished honour. Col. Whiting was regarded as a brave, skilful and good officer, not only by his own countrymen, but by the British, who, during the war, had an opportunity of witnessing his conduct.

Col. Eliphalet Byer, L. L. D. distinguished for his civil and military employments, was a native of this town. Col. Dyer was born 28th September, 1721, and was a descendant of Thomas Dyer, who emigrated from England. He was educated at Yale Col

The first settlement of this town was commenced about the year 1686. The Indian title to the tract of land comprising this town-lege, where he received his first ship was acquired by John Mason degree in 1740. Soon after this, and thirteen other persons, by de- he entered upon the study of law, vise from a Mohegan sachem, which he pursued as a profession. the son of Uncas. In 1676, it||In 1743, when he was but 22 years was surveyed and laid out in lots;|| of age, he was appointed a Justice but the settlement was not at- of the peace; and in 1745 he was tempted until about ten years af- chosen a representative of the town in the General Court, and continu

ter.

It was incorporated in May 1692, by the name of Wind-ed to be elected to this office, a ham.

few sessions excepted, until the BIOGRAPHY. Col. Nathan year 1762. At the commenceWhiting, distinguished for his mi- ment of the French war, in 1755, litary services during the French he was appointed to the command war, was a native of this town. of one of the regiments raised by He was educated at Yale College, the colony of Connecticut for that and took his first degree in 1743. service. He continued in the serAt an early period of the French|vice, having the command of a

regiment, during most of the war, gress, holden at Philadelphia, in and acquired considerable reputa- 1766. He was also appointed a tion as a faithful and brave officer. Delegate to the Congress of 1774, In 1762, he was elected a member which preceded the commenceof the Council, and continued in ment of the Revolutionary war; this situation for several years. In and during the interesting period 1763, he went to England, having of this momentous contest, he was, been constituted the Agent of the a considerable portion of the time, Susquehannah Company, to pro- a member of that dignified and secute their claims in Great-Bri-important body. He was appointtain. At this period a spirit of ed a Judge of the Superior Court jealousy and hostility to the rising of this State, and subsequently prosperity and the rights of the co- Chief Justice, which office he held lonies, began to disclose them-until the year 1793, which closed selves in the parent country; of a very protracted public life. He which, and of the ultimate policy died in 1807, aged 86 years, and designs of that country, Col.Dy- having lived during a very interer discovered clear indications, and esting period of our history, and communicated his views and ap- taken a part in many of the imprehensions on his return. He portant events by which it is characterized.

was appointed a Delegate from this State to the Continental Con

ASHFORD.

situated in the northern part of this
town, being about half in Ashford
and half in Pomfret;
it is one
mile in length, and half a mile in
breadth.

ASHFORD, a post town, is situ-ble are the Bigelow, Mount Hope ated 31 miles east from Hartford. and Still rivers. Crystal pond is It is bounded west on Willington, north on Union and Woodstock,|| east on Pomfret, and south on Hampton and Mansfield. The area of the town comprises about 59|| square miles, being about 9 miles in There are a number of roads length, & nearly 7 in breadth. The either passing through or centring surface of the land is hilly and stony, in this town; the middle turnpike the soil being hard and gravelly, yet from Hartford to Boston passes considerably fertile, and well through it; the Providence turnadapted to grazing. The dairypike leaves the Boston road one business and growing of cattle, mile east of the central meeting are the leading agricultural inter-house; the Tolland county turnests of the inhabitants, although pike intersects the Boston road rye, corn, oats, flax &c. are culti-two miles west of the aforesaid vated. meeting house; and there is a turnThe streams in Ashford, pike road that runs through the scarcely deserve the character north section of this town from of rivers, the most considera-Stafford to Woodstock.

of Baptists, all of which are accommodated with houses for reli-giment, under Sir William John

The first settlement of this town was commenced about the year 1686. The Indian title to the tract of land comprising this town-lege, where he received his first ship was acquired by John Mason and thirteen other persons, by devise from a Mohegan sachem, the son of Uncas. In 1676, it was surveyed and laid out in lots; but the settlement was not attempted until about ten years af

It was incorporated in May 1692, by the name of Wind-ed to be elected to this office, a ham.

few sessions excepted, until the BIOGRAPHY. Col. Nathan year 1762. At the commenceWhiting, distinguished for his mi- ment of the French war, in 1755, litary services during the French he was appointed to the command war, was a native of this town. of one of the regiments raised by He was educated at Yale College, || the colony of Connecticut for that and took his first degree in 1743. service. He continued in the serAt an carly period of the French|vice, having the command of a

gress, holden at Philadelphia, in 1766. He was also appointed a Delegate to the Congress of 1774, which preceded the commencement of the Revolutionary war; and during the interesting period of this momentous contest, he was, a considerable portion of the time, a member of that dignified and important body. He was appointed a Judge of the Superior Court of this State, and subsequently Chief Justice, which office he held

regiment, during most of the war, and acquired considerable reputation as a faithful and brave officer. In 1762, he was elected a member of the Council, and continued in this situation for several years. In 1763, he went to England, having been constituted the Agent of the Susquehannah Company, to prosecute their claims in Great-Britain. At this period a spirit of jealousy and hostility to the rising prosperity and the rights of the colonies, began to disclose them-until the year 1793, which closed selves in the parent country; of which, and of the ultimate policy and designs of that country,Col.Dyer discovered clear indications, and communicated his views and apprehensions on his return. He was appointed a Delegate from this State to the Continental Con

a very protracted public life. He died in 1807, aged 86 years, having lived during a very interesting period of our history, and taken a part in many of the important events by which it is characterized.

ASHFORD.

ASHFORD, a post town, is situ- ble are the Bigelow, Mount Hope ated 31 miles east from Hartford. and Still rivers. Crystal pond is It is bounded west on Willington, situated in the northern part of this north on Union and Woodstock,|| town, being about half in Ashford east on Pomfret, and south on and half in Pomfret; it is one Hampton and Mansfield. The area || mile in length, and half a mile in of the town comprises about 59|| breadth. square miles, being about 9 miles in There are a number of roads length, & nearly 7 in breadth. The either passing through or centring surface of the land is hilly and stony, in this town; the middle turnpike the soil being hard and gravelly, yet from Hartford to Boston passes considerably fertile, and well through it; the Providence turnadapted to grazing. The dairy pike leaves the Boston road one business and growing of cattle, mile east of the central meeting are the leading agricultural inter-house; the Tolland county turnests of the inhabitants, although pike intersects the Boston road rye, corn, oats, flax &c. are culti-two miles west of the aforesaid vated. meeting house; and there is a turnThe streams in Ashford, pike road that runs through the scarcely deserve the character north section of this town from of rivers, the most considera-Stafford to Woodstock.

There is a small but pleasant village in the centre of the town, and another in the east Society. The inhabitants, who, like those of the other towns in the county, are principally agriculturalists, are hardy, persevering, industrious and economical.

The list of polls and rateable estate of the town, in 1817, was $75000.

Ashford was first settled in 1700, and was incorporated in 1710.

BIOGRAPHY. The brave Col. Thomas Knowlton, who fell in the battle near Harlem heights, in September 1776, was a native of this town. He was an intrepid sol

The population of the town, in 1810, was 2538; there are, at this time, more than 400 Freemen or qualified Electors, about 420 Dwel-dier, an ardent whig, a true patriot ling houses, 7 Churches, 3 for Con- and a worthy citizen. He was gregationalists, 3 for Baptists and among the first who rallied round I for Methodists; 8 Mercantile the standard of Independence, givStores, 1 Cotton Factory, 1 Wool-ing the country that warlike attien Factory, 6 Grain Mills, 9 Saw tude, necessary to sustain it; and Mills, 4 Carding Machines and 5 at an early period, sacrificed his Tanneries. There are 3 local So-|| life for the cause of liberty and his cieties and 21 School districts in country, in which he had engaged Ashford, and 3 small Social Libra-with patriotic ardour and chivalries; 2 practising Attornies, 3 Phy-rous heroism. sicians and 4 Clergymen.

BROOKLYN.

BROOKLYN, a post town, is || and very extensively. "I can assituated 45 miles east from Hart- sert, with confidence," says our ford, 80 miles northeast from New-correspondent, "that there is no Haven, and 30 miles west from town in the State, of the same Providence. It is bounded south magnitude, which makes annually on Canterbury, west on Hampton, an equal quantity of cheese and north on Pomfret, and east on pork." A good dairy farm, proQuinibaug river, which divides it perly stocked and attended to, affrom Killingly and Plainfield. fords great profits, and possesses, in many respects, important advantages over a grain farm. The lands are less exposed to become exhausted, and to require to be restored by manures, or an ameliorating system of cultivation.

The area of the town is nearly 6 miles in length from north to south, and 5 in breadth from east to west, containing about 29 square miles. It is uneven, consisting of hill and dale, and somewhat stony; but is very fertile, and admirably adapted to grazing.

The dairy business, which is the leading agricultural interest, is carried on in a successful manner,

The streams in the town are inconsiderable; the largest is Blackwell's brook, so called, which is not than ten yards broad in common water.