East Hartford; Its History and Traditions - Tapa blanda

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1879 edition. Excerpt: ... SETTLERS AND INHABITANTS. CHAPTER III. 1648-1800. The growth of the town of Hartford was, from the first, steady and sure. It received important accessions to the number of its inhabitants, families of education and means; and the work of building houses--new homes for souls at last free to order their lives as they would,--of clearing lands, making roads and bridges, went rapidly on. They broke up the fat soil of the meadows for their crops, and built mills with which to prepare lumber for their buildings, and to grind their grain for food. Amidst all their toil they had to be constantly watchful against the wily and treacherous Indians; and the momentous questions involved in the establishment of a new church and a new state had to be discussed and acted upon. It is not surprising that idleness and vagabondage were not encouraged at that time. With the increase of population came a demand for more territory, and houses were soon built upon this side the Cheat River. It is impossible to ascertain the names of all the early settlers upon this side, or the exact date of their building here. In May, 1653, the inhabitants were exempted from training with the west side towns, and ordered to meet on the east side, as Will: Hill shall appoint, and train there together, and so continue. This indicates a permanent population here at that time. Prom among the names upon the monument erected to the first settlers of Hartford in the old Center Burying Ground in that city, we take the following of those who either settled on this side the Great River, or who were associated with the early history of our territory: John Crow was one of the first settlers and one of the original proprietors of our soil. He was a large land-owner and lived near the...