ny, in 1718.

The purchase was 1772, a period of 21 years, when divided into 60 shares, denomina- he was elected a member of the ted Proprietor's rights, each of Council. The same year he was which was estimated at £5. The appointed Judge of the Court of original purchasers and the first Probate for the District of Litchsettlers were from the towns of field; and in 1774, Judge of the Hartford, Windsor and Lebanon. Court of Common Pleas for this The settlement commenced soon County. In 1775, he was chosen after the purchase; and in 1720 a member of the Continental Conand 1721, there were several fa-gress; and was continued in this milies upon the tract; and after situation, being a member of the this the settlement progressed ra- immortal Congress of '76, which pidly. From the elevated situa-proclaimed the solemn declaration, tion of the lands in this tract, they that these colonies were, and of afforded excellent hunting grounds; right ought to be, free, sovereign and many of the hills had been and independent. burned by the Indians for this purGov. Wolcott was one of those pose, and the forests entirely de- venerated patriots who signed that stroyed, which facilitated the im- declaration, which is the charter provements. There were, how- of our national existence. He ever, sufficient forests left for the continued a member of the Counpurposes of the settlers. cil, with the exception of the peBIOGRAPHY. The Hon. Oli-riod that he was a Delegate in ver Wolcott, distinguished for his many public employments, was for many years a resident of this town. He was born in Windsor, Dec. 1726; and was the son of the Hon. Roger Wolcott, who was afterwards Governor of the colony of Connecticut. He was educated at Yale College, where he graduated in 1747. He was engaged in the expedition against Canada, in 1743, having the command of a company. He continued in the||tegrity and firmness. army during one campaign only; soon after which, he entered upon the study of physic, and having become qualified for practice, he es-tion, and a strong and efficient taltablished himself at Goshen. But ent for investigation; forming no he did not continue long in the opinions but what resulted from practice of this profession; for, in satisfactory proof. From a con1751, he was appointed sheriff of sciousness of his own integrity, he the county of Litchfield, whereup- never hesitated to disclose the reon he removed to this town Heal motives which governed his continued in this situation until conduct. He had no intentions

Congress, until 1786, when he was chosen Lieut. Governor of this State. He was annually elected to this office, until the year 1796, a period of ten years, when he was chosen Governor; an office. which he did not long enjoy, as he died 12th Dec. 1797. The duties of these numerous and important offices, which occupied the greater portion of his active life, he discharged with great in

Gov. Wolcott possessed, in an eminent degree, a sound and vigorous mind, remarkable penetra

he was chosen a member of the Council. About the same period, he was elected a Representative in the Congress of the United States. In May, 1793, the General Assembly appointed him Chief Judge of the Superior Court; and he held this important office, until his death, Nov. 26th, 1799. As a

but what were avowed; no objects but what were apparent. No man ever had less indirection in his conduct. He was constitutionally an honest man; and being also remarkable for the firmness of his character, he never swerved from the most inflexible principles of rectitude and integrity, either from weakness, or sinister intention. ItHe was 62 years of age. has frequently been observed, that men of the most eminent talents and virtues are often the most diffident; and the truth of this was strikingly exemplified in Gov. Wolcott. Both in public concerns, and in his private intercourse, he Ephraim Kirby Esq., distinwas singularly modest, and even guished as a lawyer and statesdiffident. He lived in an impor-man, and for his services during tant period in our history, took the revolutionary war, was for maa distinguished part in many great ny years a resident in this town. national events, and his name is. associated, and will be transmitted to posterity, with those of the other patriots of our glorious Revolution.

lawyer and advocate, he was eminently distinguished, and was very successful in his practice; and as a Judge, he was very able and correct, having a sound and discriminating mind.

Col. Kirby was in the service of his country during the revolutionary war, and was distinguished for his fidelity, bravery, enterprise and activity. Few officers, it is The Hon. Andrew Adams, for believed, of his rank, rendered many years a resident of this more important services, or actown, was born in Stratford, inquired a more distinguished repu1736. He received his education tation. The severe wounds which at Yale College, where he gradua- he received were the honourable ted in 1769. Having completed testimonials of his bravery and his classical education, he com- services. After the close of the menced the study of law, and was war, he engaged in the practice admitted to the bar in the county of law in this town, and became of Fairfield. He commenced prac-distinguished in his profession, both tice in his profession in Stamford, as a lawyer and advocate. Havbut continued there but a shorting a respectable knowledge of letime, having removed to this town in 1774. Here he entered upon the practice of law with success, and was soon appointed a Justice of the Peace. In 1776, he was chosen a Representative of the town in the Legislature of the State; and continued to be elected to this office until 1781, when

11

gal science, his views and opinions upon that subject were solid and correct; and he possessed a mind remarkably clear, comprehensive and discriminating. Whilst in the practice of law, in the year 1789, he published a volume of Reports, of the decisions of the Superior Court and Supreme Court of Er

rors in this State. This was a no- As a lawyer, a man of learnvel undertaking; being the first ing and talents, Col. Kirby stood volume of Reports ever publish- deservedly high; as a patriot, and ed in Connecticut; it was exe- friend of civil liberty, he was cuted with faithfulness, judgment, ardent, almost to enthusiasm ; as accuracy and ability; and his Re-a politician and statesman, his ports are now regarded as authori-views were liberal, just and comty by the Courts of this State.

Col. Kirby was appointed to various offices in the militia of this State, and attained to the rank of Colonel. For a number of years, he was elected by the freemen of this town, as their representative || in the popular branch of the Legislature of Connecticut. In this situation, he was always distinguished for the dignity of his deportment, for his comprehensive and enlightened views as a statesman, for the liberality of his principles, and for the ability, firmness and decision of his conduct.

prehensive, founded upon an accurate and extensive knowledge of the human character, and its susceptibility of improvement; and, as a citizen, few have had more social and private virtues. His memory will long be cherished by the citizens of his native State.

The Hon. Uriah Tracy was for many years a resident of this town. He was born in Norwich, in 1754. He was educated at Yale College, and was a member of the distinguished class, which graduated in 1778. Soon after he left College, he came to this town, and comOn the elevation of Mr. Jeffer-menced the study of law with son to the presidency, in 1801, Judge Reeve, and was admitted Col. Kirby was appointed Super- to the bar in 1781. He soon bevisor of the Revenue of the Uni-came distinguished, as a lawyer ted States, for the State of Connecticut. About this period, he was for several years a candidate for the office of Governor of this State. After the acquisition of Louisiana, Col. Kirby was appointed by the President a Judge in the then recently organized territory of Orleans. Having accepted of this appointment, he set out for New-Orleans; but he was not destined to reach that place, or enter upon the duties of his recent appointment. He proceeded as far as Fort Stoddard, in the Mississippi territory, where he was As a lawyer, Mr. Tracy was taken sick, and died 2nd October very respectable; and, as a poli1804. His remains were interred tician, eminently distinguished. with the honours of war, and oth-He was among the first of the parer demonstrations of respect. ty with which he acted, and was

and an advocate. He passed thro' various military offices, rising to the rank of a Major-General. In 1788, he was elected a Representative of the town in the General Assembly,and was successively reelected, until the year 1793, when he was chosen a Representative of this State in the Congress of the United States. He continued in this office until the year 1800, when he was appointed a Senator, which office he held at the time of his death, July 1807. He died at the seat of Government.

He had also a great share of

respected for his talents and his ||ter. intelligence by his political oppo-wit and humour, and knew its pronents. He possessed a compre-per use ;-to please, without wounhensive mind, respectable scienti-ding the feelings even of the most fic acquirements, and an extensive humble individual. knowledge of the human charac

BARKHAMSTED.

BARKHAMSTED is a post are some strata of limestone; and township, situated 23 miles north-what is commonly called cottonwest from Hartford; bounded on the north by Hartland and Colebrook, on the east by Canton and

stone is found in abundance; and also freestone, which is valuable only for local uses. The soil, corres

Granby, on the south by New-ponding with the prevailing geoloHartford, and on the west by Winchester. It comprises about 32 square miles, or 20,580 acres; being about 6 and a half miles in length from east to west, and about 5 miles in breadth from north to south.

gical features, is generally a coarse gravelly loam, hard and dry; and with the exception of some intervals upon the streams, is rough and stony, and in general inadmissible for tillage. It affords tolerable grazing, the interests of which constiThe township is rough, stony tute the staple agricultural proand mountainous; being intersect-ducts of the town. The dairy busied by two elevated granitic ridges, ness receives general attention, which run through it in a norther-and large quantities of cheese and ly and southerly direction, extend-butter are made annually; a coning to the north far into the interi-siderable proportion of which is or of New-England. Upon the de- sent abroad for a market. clivities of these ridges, and upon The raising of neat cattle and their summits, there is much bro- sheep is attended to, and considerken land, some which is inac-able beef is marketed. The intercessible. Their geological charac-vals bordering upon the streams ter is primitive, the prevailing are generally rich and feasible, strata of rock consisting of granite. and afford tillage and mowing. In some places within this town, The natural growth of wood and these ridges exhibit very lofty and timber, which was once very heavy sublime features. Their declivities and abundant, has been greatly afford considerable wood and tim-devastated. The mountains and ber, and when cleared, tolerable || hills were formerly covered with grazing. excellent timber, consisting of oak, Iron ore has been discovered in chesnut, sugar maple, beach, pine these granitic strata, in different and hemlock; a considerable proparts of the town in small quanti-portion of which has been destroyties, but of a rich and good quality.ed by the elements, wind and fire, In some sections of the town there and by the axe, under a system of

improvidence, at a time when tim-the western section of this town, ber was considered of no value. crossing the Farmington river turnThe waters of the town are pike, and running directly by the abundant, and of an excellent quali-meeting house. It has not yet been ty; the two principal branches of opened.

the Tunxis, or Farmington river, Of the mechanical and manurun through it, and form a uniofacturing establishments of the in the north part of New-Hartford. || town, there are 3 Grain Mills, 12 The Still river runs northerly thro' Saw Mills, 1 Fulling Mill and cloth Torrington and Winchester into dressing establishment, 1 Furnace Colebrook, whence it takes a south-for casting cart and waggon boxes, erly course and unites with the clock bells and some other small west branch of the Farmington articles, and 2 Tanneries. river in this town, forming what is The population of the town, in called the forks of the river. Be- 1810, was 1506; and there are sides these, there are numerous about 260 Electors or Freemen, small streams which are tributary || 2 companies of Militia, and about to them, that water the various 230 Dwelling houses. The aggresections of the town. Upon these gate list of the town, in 1816, was streams, there are various sites and|| $26,978. privileges for mills and other water The town contains 2 located works, and five considerable bridg-Congregational Societies, 1 Society of Episcopalians and one of

es.

The facilities of communica-Methodists; besides which, there tion are greatly increased, consid-are some Baptists. There are 2 ering the roughness of the country, houses for public worship, 1 for by the number of turnpike roads Congregationalists and 1 for Episwith which the town is accommo-copalians. It contains also, 11 dated. The Greenwoods turnpike || School districts. There are 3 Merleading to Albany passes through cantile Stores, 4 Public Houses or its southwest section; the Farming-Inns, 3 Social Libraries and 1 Phyton river turnpike, which communi- sician. cates with the former and leads to The first settler in Barkhamsted Albany, runs through its western was Pelatiah Allyn from Windsor, section in a northerly and souther-who removed there about the year ly direction, following the course 1744, and remained the only inof the west branch of the Farming-habitant of the town for 10 or 12 ton river; the Hartland turnpike years. In the summer he employleading westwardly, and which ed his time in clearing and culti communicates with the Green-vating his lands, and in the winter woods turnpike in Norfolk, passes in hunting. His privations, sufferthrough the northwest corner of ings, dangers and hardships, could the town. In May, 1818, a turn-only have been equalled by his pike road was authorized, and has perseverance. To have been for since been surveyed, leading from the long period of 10 or 12 years the Greenwoods turnpike to New-a solitary inhabitant of a dreary gate prison, which passes through || wilderness, rendered more hideous