L. S.

District of Connecticut, ss.

BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the twelfth day of June, in the forty-third year of the Independence of the United States of America, WILLIAM S. MARSH, of the said district, hath deposited in this office the title of a book, the right whercof he claims as proprietor, in the words following, to wit: "A Gazetteer of the States of Connecticut and Rhode-Island; writ"ten with care and impartiality, from original and authentic materi"als. Consisting of two parts; I. A geographical and statistical des"cription of each state; exhibiting a general view of their more pro"minent features, both natural and artificial. II. A general geogra"phical view of each county, and a minute and ample topographical description and statistical view of each town, with their civil divisions, societies, cities boroughs and villages, alphabetically arranged "in their respective counties; together with succinct biographical "notices of eminent deceased men with an accurate and improved 66 map of each State. By John C. Pease and John M. Niles."

66

In conformity to the act of the Congress of the United States, entitled "An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the co"pies of maps, charts and books to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned."

CHAS. A. INGERSOLL, Clerk of the district of Connecticut. A true copy of record, examined and sealed by me,

CHAS. A. INGERSOLL,

Clerk of the district of Connecticut.

PREFACE.

IN offering the following volume to the public, we have no apology to make; and little to observe, either as to our own objects or the work itself. There are, perhaps, few departments of science of more general utility, than those of geography and statistics; especially in this country, which possesses an immense territory, embracing different climates; a variety of soil, affording different productions; and where one united people, having, for the purposes of defence, foreign relations, commerce, and other national objects; a common government, are divided into distinct and separate communities; which, as it respects the common objects of legislation and the various concerns of society, are subject to local, distinct and independent authorities; which, from the influence of positive institutions, must have a tendency, not only to maintain different characteristics, habits and manners in these distinct communities, but in some measure to obstruct the dissemination of local intelligence. It is evident, that the people of the several States cannot be too intimately acquainted with each other; their local resources and advantages; the most important interests, whether of agriculture, manufactures or commerce; the most conspicuous departments of industry, and the prevailing local characteristics. A general diffusion of information upon these subjects will not only tend to unite us more effectually as one people, but may contribute to the general improvement. Several valuable works of this description have already been published in the United States; and it is gratifying to observe, that others are contemplated, and that the subject of the topography of our country is every where receiving conspicuous attention. With respect to this volume, we can only say, that it is the product of much industry; and that it embodies a vast collection of facts, will not, we think, be denied. Perhaps there has been no work of the kind undertaken upon the same principles, nor could these principles have been acted upon with success, except in a work confined to a small territory. It was our design to obtain authentic and correct topographical, and the entire statistical information from every town. This, as will be perceived, has given the work great uniformity; which, by depriving it of variety, may have rendered it less interesting, but we think not less useful; as that kind of information, which comes within the views of this work, can be found in the description of every town.

With the exception of the aid we have received (which we here would acknowledge,) from a statistical and topographical view of New-Haven, by the late PRESIDENT Dwight, published in 1811; from a view upon a similar play, of the towns of Litchfield, Norfolk and Washington, in Litchfield county, by

JAMES MORRIS Esq.; and à historical and topographical view of the towns of Haddam and East Haddam, by the Rev. DAVID D. FIELD, published in 1814; the work has been wholly compiled from original materials. The facts have been collected either directly by ourselves, or through the aid of correspondents. Every county, and almost every important town in each State, has been visited; and a circular letter, specifying the several subjects upon which information was requested, has been addressed to one or more of the most intelligent inhabitants in every other town. The great number of gentlemen who, in this way, have furnished information for the work, are entitled to our warmest acknowledgments. We are sensible, that information obtained in *this mode may, in some instances, have been erroneous; but considering the respectable sources from whence it has been derived, we have no doubt, but that in general it will be found correct. In noticing the sources of our information, we should do injustice, were we to omit to state, that for the facts relative to the first settlements of towns and much other historical information, we are extensively indebted to "Trumbull's history of Connecticut;" a work disclosing more research, and more indefatigable industry, than almost any other which has appeared in this State.

In the arrangement or plan of the work, our object has been to render it as systematic and connected as possible; the usual order of the counties and towns having been preserved.

With respect to biographical notices, as our limits did not admit of an insertion of all that might be deserving of preservation, we have selected such as we deemed most distinguished, and that could be obtained with the greatest facility; having some regard to diversity of characters, with a view to give this part of the work as much variety and interest as practicable. It will not, therefore, be understood, that all those individuals who have been noticed were deemed more distinguished, or a sketch of their lives more worthy of preservation, than many others, who have been omited. Should a second edition of the work be demanded, it might, in this as well as in other respects, receive considerable additions and improvements.

It is generally considered, that works of this description cannot be very permanent, as most of the subjects of which they treat are constantly changing. But from the condition of the improvements of almost every description in these two States, and the permanent and settled character of society, it is believed, that with the exception of some manufacturing interests, both the topographical descriptions and the statistical details will remain essentially correct for a length of time. It is from this consideration, that we have observed a minuteness and uniformity of description, which is not usual in publications of this character. Being confined to giving an account of "things as they are," we have aimed at no embelishments of style, elegance of diction or richness and brilliancy of descriptions. That a work containing such a vast collection of facts should be free from errors, will not be expected; and we trust that the intelligent and the liberal, being sensible of the difficulties attending the undertaking, will view its defects with proper indulgence. After having devoted nearly one entire year to this work, and extended it near 100 pages beyond the proposed size, it is offered to the public with the hope, that it will not be considered as altogether unworthy of the respectable patronage which it has received in almost every town in the two States. THE AUTHORS.

JAMES MORRIS Esq.; aud à historical and topographical view of the towns of Haddam and East-Haddam, by the Rev. DAVID D. FIELD, published in 1814; the work has been wholly compiled from original materials. The facts have been collected either directly by ourselves, or through the aid of correspondents. Every county, and almost every important town in each State, has been visited; and a circular letter, specifying the several subjects upon which information was requested, has been addressed to one or more of the most intelligent inhabitants in every other town. The great number of gentlemen who, in this way, have furnished information for the work, are entitled to our warmest acknowledgments. We are sensible, that information obtained in *this mode may, in some instances, have been erroneous; but considering the respectable sources from whence it has been derived, we have no doubt, but that in general it will be found correct. In noticing the sources of our information, we should do injustice, were we to omit to state, that for the facts relative to the first settlements of towns and much other historical information, we are extensively indebted to "Trumbull's history of Connecticut;" a work disclosing more research, and more indefatigable industry, than almost any other which has appeared in this State.

In the arrangement or plan of the work, our object has been to render it as systematic and connected as possible; the usual order of the counties and towns having been preserved.

With respect to biographical notices, as our limits did not admit of an insertion of all that might be deserving of preservation, we have selected such as we deemed most distinguished, and that could be obtained with the greatest facility; having some regard to diversity of characters, with a view to give this part of the work as much variety and interest as practicable. It will not, therefore, be understood, that all those individuals who have been noticed were deemed more distinguished, or a sketch of their lives more worthy of preservation, than many others, who have been omited. Should a second edition of the work be demanded, it might, in this as well as in other respects, receive considerable additions and improvements.

It is generally considered, that works of this description cannot be very permanent, as most of the subjects of which they treat are constantly changing. But from the condition of the improvements of almost every description in these two States, and the permanent and settled character of society, it is believed, that with the exception of some manufacturing interests, both the topographical descriptions and the statistical details will remain essentially correct for a length of time. It is from this consideration, that we have observed a minuteness and uniformity of description, which is not usual in publications of this character. Being confined to giving an account of "things as they are," we have aimed at no embelishments of style, elegance of diction or richness and brilliancy of descriptions. That a work containing such a vast collection of facts should be free from errors, will not be expected; and we trust that the intelligent and the liberal, being sensible of the difficulties attending the undertaking, will view its defects with proper indulgence. After having devoted nearly one entire year to this work, and extended it near 100 pages beyond the proposed size, it is offered to the public with the hope, that it will not be considered as altogether unworthy of the respectable patronage which it has received in almost every town in the two States. THE AUTHORS.