LEBANON, a post town, is situa- substantial and convenient Dwellted 30 miles southeast from Hart-ing houses. ford. It is bounded north on Co- The population of the town, in lumbia, east on Windham and 1810, was 2580; there are now Franklin, south on Franklin, Boz- about 400 Freemen, 2 companies rah and a part of Colchester, west of Infantry, a part of a company on Colchester and Hebron. The of Cavalry, and a part of a company township is of an average length of of Artillery, and 370 Dwelling more than 7 miles from northeast houses. There are 1 Woolen Facto southwest, and nearly 7 miles tory, 4 Grain Mills, 4 Distilleries, in breadth, from northwest to 3 Tanneries, 2 Carding Machines, southeast, containing nearly 49 7 Mercantile Stores and 6 Taverns square miles. The surface is une- in the town. There are 3 Churchven, being moderately hilly. The||es for Congregationalists and 1 for soil is generally a rich, deep, unc-Baptists, 17 School districts, 4 Clertuous mould, nearly of a chocolate gymen, 4 Physicians and 2 Attorcolour; it is very fertile, and pe-nies. culiarly adapted to grass. Rye and other grains are cultivated; but the dairy business, and the growing of neat cattle are the most important agricultural interests. Like other towns in the county, the lands are parcelled out into farms, of from 50 to 200 acres, and some few of a larger size. The lands, being fertile and productive, are valued very high for an interior town, selling frequently at about $50 per acre by the farm. The timber is principally chesnut, wal-ing, in the chief executive magisnut and oak.

The general list of taxable polls and estate, in 1817, was $67,949. Lebanon was incorporated as a town in 1697.

BIOGRAPHY. The Hon. Jonathan Trumbull, distinguished for his many public employments, was a native and resident of this town. He was Governor of the State for fifteen years in succession, including the period of the revolutionary war, with all its political animosities, requir

trate, great prudence, firmness and ability. The re-election of Gov. Trumbull for such a length of time, and a period too of such peculiar difficulties and embar

There are no streams in the town deserving the character of rivers, but it is well watered by brooks and rivulets, some of which afford sites for mills and other hy-rassments, is the best evidence of draulic works. the estimation in which he was

He

The civil divisions of the town held by his fellow-citizens. are 3 located Ecclesiastical Socie- was a whig and a patriot in the ties, and 17 School districts. Main-" times that tried men's souls." street, in the first Society, is spa- The Hon. Jonathan Trumbull, cious and pleasant, being for near-late Governor of the State, was ly two miles in length about 30 the son of the above noticed Jorods broad; it contains two Church-nathan Trumbull, and was born es, an Academy, a Post-office, and resided in this town.

several Stores and a number of educated at Harvard College,

where he graduated, having gone || the native Indian youth. About through with the usual course of the year 1770, he removed from collegiate studies with unusual re- this town to Hanover in Newputation. In 1775, at the com- Hampshire, and the seminary was mencement of the revolutionary transferred to that place, and bewar, he was appointed by Con-came the foundation of Dartmouth gress pay-master in the northern College, of which the Rev. Mr. department, and soon after secre- Wheelock was appointed the first tary and aid to General Washing-President, and may be considered ton. He was for several years a as the founder of the Institution. member of the State legislature, || At this period, the country about and Speaker of the House. In Hanover was mostly a wilderness. 1790, he was chosen a represen- The object of the primitive semitative in Congress from this State;||nary was still in a measure retainand in 1791 he was appointed Spea- ed; and Dartmouth College was ker of the House of Representa-originally designed principally for tives, in which situation he con- the education of Indian youth. tinued until 1794, when he was President Wheelock presided over elected a Senator in the Senate this Institution until his death, in of the United States. In 1796, 1779, aged 69 years. The Instihe was chosen by the freemen tution, from this small beginning, Lieut. Governor of the State, and continued to flourish under his in 1798 Governor. He was annu- presidency, and attained to the ally re-elected to this office for character of a respectable Coleleven years in succession, and lege. On the death of President until his death, in 1809. He was Wheelock, he was succeeded by 69 years of age. Governor Trum- his son, John Wheelock. bull was a man of handsome tal- The Hon. John Wheelock, L. L. ents, of very respectable acquire- || D. was born in this town. He sucments, of amiable manners, and ceeded to the presidency of Dartwas distinguished for his social vir-mouth College, on the death of tues. The confidence of his fel- his father, in 1779, and continued low-citizens, which he so long en- to preside over the Institution, joyed in a very eminent degree, with the exception of a short interaffords the most satisfactory evi-val, until his death, in 1817. He dence of his talents and virtues.

was a man of erudition, and equalThe Rev. Eleazer Wheelock, D. ly respected for his talents and D. was a resident clergyman in learning, and beloved for his virthe north Society in this town, tues. He presided over the Inwhich has since been incorpora- stitution with great ability and sucted into the town of Columbia.cess, and gave it a very respectaHe was educated at Yale Col-ble reputation. Some years since, lege, where he graduated in 1733. this Institution was re-organized, He became the Principal of a semi-having received a new charter, nary which had been established wherein its name was changed to in this town for the education of that of Dartmouth University.

MANSFIELD, a considerable and flourishing post township, is situated upon the western border of the county, 28 miles east from Hartford; bounded on the north by Willington and Ashford, on the east by Hampton and Windham, on the south by Windham, and on the west by the Willimantic river, which separates its from Coven-Society, try.

Besides the Willimantic, which washes the western border of the town, it is watered by Nachaug river and its tributary streams, the Mount Hope and Fenton, which unite their waters near the south part of the town. These streams afford various sites for mills and other water works. In the first there is a small pond, called Fish pond, comprising an area of about 30 acres.

The middle turnpike road from

Its average length from east to west is 8 miles, and its average breadth nearly 6 miles, compris-Hartford to Boston leads through ing an area of about 46 square this town, and also a turnpike from Norwich to Stafford, and ano

miles.

The face of the country is un-ther from Windham to Hartford. even, being diversified with hills The manufactures of the town and dales, the eminences in gene-consist of screw-augers, steelral having considerable elevation. yards, horn combs the manufacUpon the streams of water there ture of which is carried on to conare some small intervals. The siderable extent, sewing silk, cotgeological character of the town-ton, of which there are two estabship is of a primitive formation, the rocks and stones consisting of granite, gneiss, and micaceous schistus; and the soil is a hard, dry gravelly loam. Some mine-neries, and 7 MercantileStores. rals have been discovered, mica, The population of the town, in felspar and quartz. 1810, was 2570; and there are 500 Electors, 172 Militia, and 360 Dwelling houses.

The natural growth of timber is oak, walnut, chesnut elm, ash, maple, &c.

lishments, and woolen, of which there are 2 Factories. There are also 7 Grain Mills, 10 Saw Mills, 5 Carding Machines, 1 Oil Mill,3Tan

The amount of taxable property, including polls, is $62,750.

The agricultural productions are grass, rye, oats, Indian corn, The civil divisions of the town butter, cheese, pork and beef. are 3 located Ecclesiastical SocieThe white mulberry tree is culti-ties or Parishes and 19 School vated in this town, for the making Districts. There is also 1 Society of silk; and it is estimated, that of Baptists and 1 of Methodists; 2500lbs. of raw silk are annually each of these Societies is accommanufactured. The silk manufac-modated with a house for public ture is a branch of industry un-worship; and in each of the School known in most of our towns, and Districts there is a primary or is confided principally to females, common School maintained. who are the guardians and attendants of the silk-worm, the most curious and useful of insects.

There are 3 Social Libraries, 4 Physicians and 2 Clergymen, 1 Congregationalist and 1 Baptist.

Mansfield was comprised within of Hartford, and was first settled the original limits of the county in 1703.

PLAINFIELD.

PLAINFIELD, a post township, is situated in the southeastern section of the county, 41 miles east from Hartford, and 30 west from Providence; bounded on the north by Killingly, on the east by Sterling, on the south by Voluntown and Griswold, and on the west by Canterbury and Brook-mon to this region. lyn. The township comprises an area of about 40 square miles; having a mean length from north to south of about 8 miles, and a mean breadth of about 5 miles.

clover and other cultivated grasses, have maintained the land in a rich and fertile state.

The soil in the eastern section of the township is of a gravelly character, and affords good grazing. Its natural growth of timber comprises the various trees com

The Quinibaug river washes the western border of the town, and forms a considerable part of its western boundary, separating it from Brooklyn and Canterbury. From the surface, soil and geo- Upon this river there are two logical features, the township is bridges, one connecting this town divided into two sections. The with Brooklyn, and the other with eastern section is rough and brok-Canterbury. The Moosup river en, being hilly and stony. The runs through the eastern section hills are considerably elevated and of the town, and discharges its continuous, forming ridges, exten-waters into the Quinibaug, affordding in a northerly and southerly ing in its course an unequalled direction. The western section number of excellent sites for hyis an extensive plain, the surface draulic works. being level, and the soil a light, sandy loam, which is cultivated with facility, and is fertile and productive. These plains are well adapted to a grain culture, affording excellent corn, oats, rye, &c.

When this town was first settled by the English, these plains were free from timber, admitted of immediate cultivation, and, from the great quantities of corn raised here, they were called the Egypt of the surrounding settlements. Plaster is found to be a valuable manure upon this soil; the use of which, and a proper regard to the amelioration of the soil by

The town is accommodated with the Connecticut and Rhode-Island turnpike, which passes through it; and by the Windham county turnpike, which terminates at the point of intersection with the former.

Of the manufactures of the town, those of cotton are the most important, there being 4 Cotton Factories, one of which is called the Union Factory; one the Moosup Factory, which has been burnt down, and is not yet rebuilt; the Central Factory; and one other. There are also 2 Woolen Factories. In addition to these, there are 4 Carding Machines and

2 Clothiers' works for customers, || Chelmsford and 6 Grain Mills.

The population of Plainfield, in 1810, was 1738; and there are now about 230 Electors, one company of Infantry, one Rifle company, and a part of a company of Cavalry, of militia, and about 300 Dwelling houses.

There are in this town 2 Religious Societies, one located Congregational and one Baptist; 12 School Districts and primary Schools; and an Academy, called Plainfield Academy, incorporated in 1783, and which is now a very flourishing institution. There are also 2 Social Libraries,one containing 200 volumes of well selected books, and the other recently established, and confided to the care of the settled Clergyman.

The first settlers found the land in a great measure fit for cultivation, there being much less forest land then than what there is at this time. The Indians were very numerous in this neighbourhood, and continued for many years with the English, living in the most friendly manner.

BIOGRAPHY. The Rev. Joel Benedict, D. D. was for 32 years settled in the ministry in this town. He was ordained in 1782, and continued until his death in 1815. He was distinguished as a scholar and man of science, not only in his profession, but in mathematics and the learned languages. He had applied himself with great diligence and success to the study of the Hebrew language, and became an excellent Hebrew scho

There are 7 Mercantile Stores, 4 practising Physicians, and 2 At-lar, there being few men superitornies.

The aggregate list of the town, in 1817, was $38,253.

This town was settled in 1689, principally by emigrants from

or to him in biblical criticism. But he was not more remarkable for the extent of his learning than for the mildness of his manners and the placidity of his temper.

POMFRET.

POMFRET, a post township,| is situated in the central section of the county, 40 miles northeast from Hartford, and 30 east from Providence; bounded on the north by Woodstock and Thompson, on the east by the Quinibaug river, which separates it from Killingly, south by Brooklyn and Hampton, and west by Ashford. Its mean length from east to west is about 7 miles, and its mean breadth nearly 6 miles, comprising about 42 square miles.

The surface is uneven and diversified, consisting of hills and dales; and the geological character of the township is granitic, the soil being a gravelly loam, and the rocks consist of granite, gneiss, micaceous schistus and other original formations. There are several quarries of free stone, valuable for building and other uses.

Although the lands in this town are hilly, and somewhat stony and rough, it is a rich and productive agricultural township. The soil