General History of Connecticut, from Its First Settlement Under George Fenwick to its Latest Period of Amity with Great BritainPeters, Samuel
History
General History of Connecticut, from Its First Settlement Under George Fenwick to its Latest Period of Amity with Great Britain
Peters, Samuel
Connecticut -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775; Connecticut -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783
_Population and Inhabitants._--Connecticut, in proportion to its
extent, exceeds every other colony of English America, as well in the
abundance of people as in cultivation of soil. The number of the first
settlers at Saybrook, in 1634, was 200; in 1636, at Hertford, 106; in
1637, at Newhaven, 157; in all, 463. In 1670 the residents of these
three settlements amounted to 15,000, of whom 2000 were men capable of
bearing arms; the rest old men, women, and children. In 1680 the
residents were 20,000; in 1770, 200,000. Hence it appears that the
people of Connecticut did, during the 90 years, double their number
ten times over. Should the 200,000 which existed in Connecticut in
1770 double their number in the same manner for the ensuing 90 years,
the province will, in the year 1860, contain 2,000,000; and if the
fighting men should then be in the same proportion to the rest of the
inhabitants as they were in 1670, they will amount to no less than
266,000. I see no reason in Nature why it may not be so.
Since 1670, emigration from Europe, or elsewhere, to Connecticut, has
been trifling, in comparison to the emigration from Connecticut to
New-Jersey, Newhampshire, Massachusets-Bay, Nova-Scotia, &c.
_Manufactures._--The inhabitants manufacture coarse and fine flannels,
linen, cotton and woollen cloths, woollen stockings, mittens, and
gloves, for their own use; they spin much cotton and flax, and make
common and the best kind of beaver hats. Ship-building is a great
branch of business in Connecticut, which is carried on much cheaper
than in Europe, by means of saw-mills worked by water. The planks are
cut by a gang of ten or twelve saws, more or less, as occasion
requires, while the carriage is backed but once. Great part of the
ship-timber is also cut by water. Anchor-making is done by water and
trip-hammers, without much fatigue to the workmen. Distilling and
paper-making increase every year. Here are many rope-walks, which want
neither hemp nor flax; and formerly here were rolling and slitting
works, but they have been suppressed by an act of Parliament, to the
ruin of many families.
_Commerce._--The exports of Connecticut consist chiefly of all sorts of
provisions, pig and bar iron, pot and pearl ashes, staves, lumber,
boards, iron pots and kettles, anchors, planks, hoops, shingles, live
cattle, horses, &c. &c. To what amount these articles are annually
exported, may be judged from the following very low estimate:
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