TWO CENTURIES OF NEW MILFORD, CONNECTICUT One thousand copies of this book have been printed from type and the type distributed. [Illustration: ROGER SHERMAN From a painting by Ralph Earle, now in the possession of Mr. Charles Atwood White of New Haven] TWO CENTURIES OF NEW MILFORD CONNECTICUT AN ACCOUNT OF THE BI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF THE FOUNDING OF THE TOWN HELD JUNE 15, 16, 17 AND 18, 1907, WITH A NUMBER OF HISTORICAL ARTICLES AND REMINISCENCES PREPARED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE HISTORICAL COMMITTEE BY VARIOUS CITIZENS OF NEW MILFORD AND BY THE EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT OF THE GRAFTON PRESS [Illustration] THE GRAFTON PRESS PUBLISHERS NEW YORK COPYRIGHT, 1907 BY THE GRAFTON PRESS CONTENTS PART I THE PAST AND PRESENT PAGE INTRODUCTION. By MINOT S. GIDDINGS 3 The first settlers of New Milford. Zachariah Ferriss sued for trespass. John Reed and his career. Organizing a township. Organizing a church and calling a minister. The sturdy character of the Fathers. Noted men. Roger Sherman. The splendid heritage of New Milford. GLIMPSES OF OLD NEW MILFORD HISTORY. By CHARLOTTE BALDWIN BENNETT 8 The site of New Milford two hundred years ago. The character and career of John Noble. The Boardman well. The first minister and the first meetinghouse. The union of town and church. “Seating and dignifying the meetinghouse.” People called to church by a drum. The tithing-man. The Sabbath-day house. Importance of the minister. The first Episcopal services. The Separatists. The Baptists. The Methodists. The Quakers. The different church edifices. Church music. The schools. The singing schools. The early wars. A romance of the Revolution. Illustrious visitors. Social life after the war. Anecdote of Parson Taylor. Transportation. Main street nearly a century ago. Beautifying “The Green.” The village doctor. Slavery. The “Underground Railroad.” The Civil War. The fire of 1902. THE OWNERS OF NEW MILFORD. By GEN. HENRY STUART TURRILL 22 Proprietors to the amount of £1, 4s. Proprietors to the amount of 12s. TWO HUNDRED YEARS AGO. (POEM). By SARAH SANFORD BLACK 24 THE TWO ABIGAILS. By GEN. HENRY STUART TURRILL 26 Caleb Terrill settles in New Milford. Major Turrill. Marriage of Caleb Terrill and Abigail Bassett in Stratford. Caleb and Abigail visit Caleb’s family at Milford. They mount the “Great River.” Halt at “the Cove.” The home on Second Hill. The wonderful life of Abigail. The career of Abigail Ufford.