SIMSBURY.

SIMSBURY a post town, is situated twelve miles northwest from Hartford. Simsbury was settled in 1670; the first settlers being from Windsor, of which it then formed a part. About six years af-troyed almost every vestige of imter the settlement, the inhabitants, consisting of about forty families, were so alarmed at the hostility of

that, when the settlers returned, || the mountain does not subside, but immediately rises in Granby, and soon attains its usual elevation, and presents its usual features.

Upon the Tunxis river within this town, there are tracts of meadow, or alluvial, of considerable extent, and very fertile. West from the river, the elevated lands are a light sandy plain, but considerably well adapted to the cul

East of the declivity of the mountain, the soil is generally a gravelly loam, but there are some sections of argillaceous loam; and although hilly, and somewhat sto

they could not find the spot where they deposited their goods. This was in the spring of 1676, at which time Simsbury was a frontier settlement, although but about ten miles from Connecticut river. It was incorporated as a town at an early period, and has since been divided twice, by the incorporation of the towns of Granby and Canton; both of which belonged principal-ture of rye. ly to the original town of Simsbury. This township, at present, has an area of about 37 square miles, being seven miles in length, and about five and a half miles in breadth upon an average estima-ny, it is fertile, and very favourable tion; and is bounded north on for orcharding. This section of the Granby, east on Windsor, south on town is perhaps best adapted to Farmington, and west on Canton. grass; it affords also good crops of It is strikingly diversified, being Indian corn, and the declivities of intersected by the Farmington or the mountain good pasturage. Tunxis river, and embracing the Formerly salmon and shad were range of the greenstone mountain, taken plentifully in the Tunxis rivwhich here is elevated and lofty. er; but for some years past, the This mountain generally has a former have disappeared altogethgradual declivity upon the east, er, and the latter are taken only whence it is usually covered within small quantities, which renders timber. Upon its eastern side, you the business of fishing no object discover clay slate, but it is gene-to the inhabitants. rally covered with trap or greenstone. Upon the west, it presents a bold and elevated mural precipice, wholly covered with greenstone. The rock is exhibited in broken & disordered fragments, and towards the summit is entirely naked; hav-three Tin ware Factories, three ing no covering of earth, and not sus- Wire Factories, two Grain Distiltaining the growth of the smallest leries, three Gristmills, four Saw shrubs. Mills, two Carding Machines, and The Tunxis river, on approach-two Tanneries. There are also four ing this mountain, ranges along up- Mercantile Stores. on the west of it, until it finds chasm where it forces its passage through, forming the boundary between this town and Granby; but

The manufactures of the town are principally domestic, which receive great attention; the inhabitants being industrious and economical. In addition to which, there are one small Cotton Factory,

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The town contains one located Congregational Society, and an Episcopal Society, each of which is accommodated with a house for

public worship. It also contains 10tion. Early in the spring of 1775, School districts, in each of which he, with Col. Halsey, and another a school is maintained for the gentleman whose name is not recolgreater part of the year. lected, proposed the capture of

In 1810, the population of the Ticonderoga, which they effected town amounted to 1966; and there with a small band of volunteers are now 250 Electors, two Com-raised and paid by themselves, and panies of militia, and 290 dwelling on their own responsibility, indehouses. The taxable property, in-pendence then not being declared. cluding polls, amounts to $34,009. Having demolished the fort, they There are in Simsbury 1 Phy-marched with their prisoners, asician, 1 Clergyman, & 1 Lawyer. bout 100 in number, for Hartford, BIOGRAPHY. Major Gen.where they arrived during the sesNoah Phelps, a native inhabi-sion of the General Assembly in tant of this town, was born in 1740. May. Gen. Phelps afterwards serHe served under Gen. Amherst in ved as a captain in this war, and the French war, and took an early after the peace, held for many and active part on the side of his years the office of judge of Procountry, in the war of the revolu-bate &c. He died March 4th, 1809.

SOUTHINGTON.

there is raised annually a considerable surplus, that is manufactured into flour and corn meal, and transported to New-Haven and Middletown for a market.

There are no considerable rivers in the town, but several small streams. A branch of the Quinipiack has its source in a pond at the northwest corner of the town, and

SOUTHINGTON is a post|| highest perfection; and of which town, situated in the southwestern corner of the county, 18 miles from Hartford, and 21 from New-Haven; bounded on the north by Farmington and Bristol, on the west by Wolcott, on the south by Cheshire and Meriden, and on the east by Meriden and Berlin. The area of the township is nearly six miles from east to west, and about the same from north to south, contain-runs through it in a southeasterly ing about 35 square miles. The direction, affording several excelsurface is uneven; the greenstone lent mill seats. About two miles range of mountain extends along from the centre of the town, in a upon the east side of the town. southwesterly direction, it forms The western section is also hilly, a junction with another branch or mountainous, but the greater of the Quinipiack, which has its proportion of the town is but mod-source in Farmington, and runs in erately hilly. The soil is various, a southeasterly direction; just according to the local situation of below this junction, there is a large the lands, but is generally good, & flour mill and oil mill erected upwell adapted to the culture of rye & on this stream. Indian corn, which attain here the

The western turnpike road, lead

town.

Mills, two Oil Mills, one Fulling Mill and Clothier's Works, two Carding Machines, two considerable Tanneries, and ten Distilleries, principally of cider spirits. There are five Mercantile Stores.

The town contains one located. Congregational Society & Church,

ing from Hartford to new-Haven, passes through the centre of this town; thence through Cheshire and Hamden. The Southington and Waterbury turnpike, leads from Waterbury in New-Haven county, in an eastern direction through the south part of the town to Meriden, thence to Middle-one Society of Episcopalians, and one also of Baptists, all of which The inhabitants of this town are are accommodated with houses for industrious and enterprising; al-public worship. It contains nine though the greater part are enga-School districts and common ged in agriculture, yet several Schools, and one Academy, not kinds of manufactures and me- endowed, one small Social Librachanical employments have receiv-ry, two settled Clergymen, four ed considerable attention, and Physicians, and two Lawyers. been prosecuted with ardour and The population of the town, in success. Among these, the manu-1810, was 1807; and there are factures of tin ware and buttons are now 300 dwelling houses, and athe most important. The tin ware bout 300 Freemen or qualified business, having been first estab- Electors; and two companies of lished at Berlin, was, after the lapse Infantry, and part of a company of of some years, transplanted to this cavalry. town. There are now, three Tin The amount of taxable properWare Factories, several Button j ty, including polls, is $43,300. Factories, one Woolen Factory,one Southington originally belonged Pocket-book Factory, four Flour to Farmington, was incor. in 1779.

SUFFIELD.

SUFFIELD is a post town, de- The surface and soil of this lightfully situated upon the west town afford considerable diversity side of Connecticut river, 17 miles of character; its eastern section north from Hartford, and 10 south bordering upon Connecticut river, from Springfield; bounded on the has a gradual rise for about two north by Massachusetts, on the east miles to the public road, which by Connecticut river, which sepa-runs nearly in a parallel direction rates it from Enfield, on the south with the river. This is a good agby Windsor and Granby, and on ricultural district, the soil being a the west by Granby and Southwick strong, deep, argillaceous loam. in Massachusetts. The average There is no alluvial upon the borlength of the township, from east to der of the river, and the bank is west, is about eight miles, and it is generally elevated and bold, confive in breadth, comprising about sisting of solid argillaceous schistus, forty square miles. llor clay slate rock. From the pub

lic road westerly, the surface is Near the southern border of the generally of an undulating charac- township is a mineral spring, the ter, but some sections are nearly waters of which have a strong sullevel. This district extends upon phurous impregnation. It has acthe south line of the town, to its quired considerable celebrity in western boundary; but upon its cases of of calculous and cutanenorth section, there is a projection ous diseases. Very ample and conwhich extends farther west. The venient accommodations have been soil of this tract is also an argilla-provided; a large three story ceous loam, and in some places it building, with numerous and spais low and frequently wet and cold,cious apartments, having been and the clay stiff and hard; when erected."

dry, it is best adapted to grass and These waters, although undoubtgrazing, and is well calculated for||edly possessed of valuable medicimanures. That section of the nal qualities, pleasantly situated, township upon its northern border and provided with respectable acwhich extends farther west, lying||commodations, have not been a north of Granby, embraces the greenstone range of mountain, which is here characterised by its usual features. The declivities of this mountain afford good grazing and orcharding, and some tracts are well adapted to grain.

place of extensive resort; & it is believed that, for one or two seasons past, they have received less attention than at other periods, and that their celebrity is upon the decline; although circumstances might occur that would give them a reputation, which they have not

The natural growth consists of oak, maple, walnut, chesnut, but-yet acquired, and of which there is ternut, elm, birch &c. no apparent prospect.

Besides the Connecticut, which washes the eastern border of the town, it is intersected by Stony river, a considerable mill stream, upon which there are numerous sites for hydraulic works, many of which are advantageously occupied.

Suffield comprises two located Congregational Societies, or Parishes, and two large Societies of Baptists. These several Societies are respectively provided with houses for public worship.

The principal street, in the first Society, is the great river road; it In the northwestern section of has an elevated and delightful site, the town, there are two considera- and is called High-street. For one, ble ponds called Southwick ponds, mile or more it is well settled, and being partly in this town and partly contains many handsome dwelling in Southwick in Massachusetts. houses, and some that are large These are very pleasant and beau-and elegant; all of which unite the tiful bodies of water, and are well advantages of a pleasant and prosstored with fish, particularly perch|pective situation. Upon this street, and pickerel; the latter of which are taken plentifully, and with great facility in the winter season, by making holes through the ice.

there are a Post-office, one Congregational and one Baptist church, and several Mercantile Stores. The west Society comprises a