and city of Derne. After a difficult and fatiguing journey through a dreary desert, presenting innumerable obstacles, they arrived within the province of Derne, and soon attacked and captured the city, having the assistance of the Hornet sloop of war. The boldness and desperate bravery of Gen. Eaton and his little party, alarmed the reigning bashaw and his barbarian subjects, who almost thought they were something more than human beings; but the progress of Gen. Eaton was arrested by a peace which the American consul concluded with the bashaw. After this, Gen. Eaton returned to his native country, and was everywhere received with the most distinguished applause, the grateful tribute of patriotic and heroic achievements. After some time he fixed his residence in Brimfield, Massachusetts, where he continued until his death. in 1811. Whilst here he was elected a representative of the town, in the legislature of the state.

"Gen. Eaton was a very extraordinary character; he possessed much original genius; was bold in his conceptions, ardent in his passions, determined in his resolutions, and indefatigably persevering in his conduct. He possessed considerable literary acquirements, and the style of his writings was characteristic of his mind; bold, energetic and decisive. His courage was equalled only by his resolution, and the boldness of his enterprises, by his ability and perseverance to execute them."

The following inscriptions are from monuments in the yard on the north side of the church represented in the engraving.

Memento Mori.

Here lies the body of the Reverend Mr. AMOS THROOPE, late pastor of the church in Woodstock, who died Septemr. the 7th, Anno 1735, in the 34th year of his age and the 9th of his pastorate.

O cruel Death to snatch from us below,

One fit to live within the spheres on high,
But since the great Creator orders so,
Hear at his feet he doth submissive lie.

Beneath this spot repose the remains of John Martin, Esq. who died in Providence, R. I. Sept. 1, 1833, in the 71st year of his age. He was born in this town, but for the last 14 years of his life resided in Providence, R. I. where he was respected for his virtues and talents. The following lines written by himself, a short time previous to his death are at his request, engraved on his monument.

Trust in the Lord, for in him is everlasting strength.

An honest man, is the noblest work of God,
Wherever laid beneath the clod;
One who never falsifies his word,
Deserves the plume of "any Bird.”

I forgive all my enemies, trusting in Almighty God to reward them, and bid the World farewell!

* Pease and Niles's Gazetteer.

LITCHFIELD COUNTY.

LITCHFIELD COUNTY was incorporated as such in 1751, and a considerable part of it was more recently settled than any other part of the state. It is bounded N. by Berkshire county in Massachusetts, E. by Hartford and New Haven counties, S. by the counties of New Haven and Fairfield, and west by the state of New York. It has an average length from north to south of about 33 miles, and a breadth of about 27 miles, comprising about 885 square miles, being the largest county in the state. The principal part of the county is elevated and mountainous. The prevailing soil is a gravelly loam, generally deep, and many sections strong and fertile, and admirably adapted to grazing. The agricultural interests of the county are very respectable. The staple productions consist of cheese, butter, pork and beef. Considerable attention is also paid to the raising of neat cattle and sheep. The manufacture of iron is carried on more extensively in this county than in any other section of the state.

The following is a list of the towns in the county, with their population in 1830.

Population of the county in 1820, 41,267; in 1830, 42,855.

LITCHFIELD.

THE tract of land now comprised in the township of Litchfield, was called by the native Indians Bantam. In 1718, it was purchased of the colony of Connecticut by a company, who divided their purchase, (which was intended to cover ten miles square,) into sixty shares, under the name of "Proprietor's Rights," and was valued at £5 per right. The proprietors who made the purchase and first settlement, were principally from Hartford, Windsor and Lebanon. In 1720 and 1721, several families began to settle on the tract. "Nothing appears on record to show that the proprietors purchased any of the lands in this town of the Indians: the title having been previously extinguished by the colony. The lands in this town afforded better hunting ground for the Indians, than extensive intervals. Many of the hills were nearly cleared

of trees by fires, kindled for the purpose of hunting. To this remark, however, many valuable tracts, containing excellent pine and other forest trees, were an important exception."

In 1724, Bantam was incorporated as a town by the name of Litchfield. "By the act of incorporation, the grant was made to John Marsh of Hartford, to John Buel of Lebanon, and their associates; amounting to fifty seven. The first founders built log houses. The settlement proceeded as fast as could be reasonably expected, considering the circumstances of the times. During the wars between England and France, the Canadians and Indians often harassed our borders; and Litchfield being a frontier town, was exposed to their ravages. Between the years 1720 and 1730, five houses were surrounded with palisadoes. One of these stood on the ground near the present Court house; another about half a mile south; one east, and one west of the center; and one in South Farms. Soldiers were then stationed here to guard the inhabitants, both while they were at work in the field, and while they were attending public worship on the Sabbath.

"In May, 1722, Capt. Jacob Griswould, being at work alone in the field, about one mile west of the present Court house, two Indians suddenly rushed upon him from the woods, took him and pinioned his arms, and carried him off. They travelled in a northerly direction, and the same day arrived in some part of the township called Canaan, then a wilderness. The Indians kindled a fire, and after binding their prisoner hand and foot, lay down to sleep. Griswould fortunately disengaging his hands and feet, while his arms were yet pinioned, seized their guns, and made his escape into the woods. After travelling a small distance, he sat down aud waited till the dawn of day; and, although his arms. were still pinioned, he carried both the guns. The savages awoke in the morning, and finding their prisoner gone, they immediately pursued him; they soon overtook him, and kept in sight of him the greater part of the day, while he was making his way homeward. When they came near, he turned and pointed one of his pieces at them; they then fell back. In this manner he travelled till near sunset, when he reached an eminence in an open field about one mile northwest of the present Court house. He then discharged one of his guns, which immediately summoned the people to his assistance. The Indians fled, and Griswould safely returned to his family."

"The capture of Griswould made the inhabitants more cautious for a while; but their fears soon subsided. In the month of August following, Mr. Joseph Harris, a respectable inhabitant, was at work in the woods alone, not far from the place where Griswould was taken; and being attacked by a party of Indians, attempted to make his escape. The Indians pursued him, and finding they could not overtake him, they shot him dead and scalped him. As Harris did not return, the inhabitants were alarmed, and some search was made for him; but the darkness of the night checked their exertions. The next morning they found his body, and gave it a decent burial. Harris was killed near the north end of the plain, where the road turns towards Milton, a lit

tle east of the school house now standing; and for a long time after, this plain was called Harris' plain."*

The first white male person born in this town, was Gershom Gibbs, in the month of July, 1721. The first minister in the place was the Rev. Timothy Collins, a native of Guilford, who graduated at Yale College in 1718. Mr. Collins accepted the call of the inhabitants to be their minister, in December, 1721, and was ordained in June, 1723; the following salary was voted, viz. £57 for the first four years; for the fifth year £60; for the next year, £70; and for the seventh year, and so long as he should continue with them in the work of the ministry, £80. His fire wood was voted him in addition to his salary. Mr. Collins continued in the ministry till 1752, when he was dismissed at his own request. In the following year he was appointed a justice of the peace. He also practised physic. He died in Litchfield, in 1776.

In April, 1723, the inhabitants voted to build their first church, which was finished within three years. Its dimensions were 45 feet in length, and 35 in breadth; it was built in a plain manner, without a steeple. It stood within a few feet of the present Congregational church. At the raising of this building all the adult males in the town were present, and sat on the sills at once. The second house of worship was finished in 1762; this also has been taken down, and a new building has been recently erected. The first Episcopal society was formed in this town about the year 1746, but they had only occasional preaching till the year 1754. At this time Mr. Solomon Palmer, who had been just dismissed from the church in Cornwall, took the charge of the Episcopal congregation in this town, and that of New Milford at the same time, and preached to them alternately. Mr. Palmer continued here in 1763, when he removed to the Episcopal congregation in New Haven. In 1766, he resumed his charge in Litchfield, and continued it till his death, in 1770.†

Litchfield, the seat of justice for the county, is situated in lat. north 41° 50' being 30 miles west from Hartford, 36 northwest from New Haven, and 100 from New York; bounded north by Goshen and Torrington, on the west by Washington and Warren, east by Naugatuc river, separating it from Harwinton, and on the south by Watertown, Bethlem and Plymouth. It is about 9 miles in length from east to west, and a breadth of nearly 8 miles. It is an elevated township, and its surface presents a diversity of hills and vallies. The hills are generally of considerable elevation, and their prevailing course is from north to south. In the western part of the town, there are some mountainous tracts which comprise several considerable eminences, of which mount Tom is the most elevated. Great Pond, situated to the south

* The following inscription is on his monument in the west burying ground.—“ In memory of Joseph Harris, who was murdered by the Indians in the year 1721. While ploughing in his Field, about three fourths of a mile north west of the grave yard, he was shot by the Indians concealed in ambush. He was found dead, sitting on the ground, his head and body reclining against the trunk of a tree. To record the first death among the original settlers, and to perpetuate the memory of a worthy but unfortunate citizen, this monument is erected, 1830, by the voluntary benefaction of individual subscribers."

+ Morris' Statistical Account of Litchfield.

west of Litchfield village, is a beautiful sheet of water, comprising an area of about 900 acres, and is the largest pond or lake in the state. Litchfield abounds in good springs of water, and from its elevated situation, the air is generally pure and salubrious, and the town has the reputation of being remarkably healthy. The soil is generally strong and fertile, and for an elevated tract, is warm and favorable for vegetation.* Litchfield is divided into four societies, Litchfield proper, South Farms, Northfield, and Milton. Litchfield village was incorporated in 1818. It is delightfully situated upon an elevated plain in the center of the first society, affording the most extensive prospects, surrounded by interesting scenery, and from its situation, enjoying a salubrious atmosphere. The corporate limits of the village are about one mile and a half in length, and about one mile in breadth. The principal street, running from N. W. to S. E. is well built, comprising numerous handsome dwelling houses, some of which are elegant edifices. This street is intersected by another, forming a pleasant square in the center. There are in the village upwards of 80 dwelling houses, 2 printing offices, a Bank, being a branch of the Phoenix Bank, Hartford; Court house, jail, professional offices, mercantile and mechanic shops. In 1784, a law school was established here by the Hon. Tapping Reeve. In 1798, the Hon. James Gould was associated as a joint instructor with Judge Reeve. This school was considered as the most respectable and systematic law school in the United States. It was discontinued a few years since. There is a high school for young ladies, which is of considerable celebrity. There is an Infirmary in this town under the direction of Dr. Alanson Abbe, established for the purpose of curing and relieving diseases of the spine.

South Farms was incorporated into an ecclesiastical society, in 1767. In the year 1753, when Mr. Champion was settled in Litchfield, there were but 30 families in the parish; when it was incorporated it contained seventy. In 1764, the inhabitants agreed to build their first church. It was only one story high, 34 feet by 32: the second house of worship was erected in 1785. An academy was begun in South Farms, in 1790, by James Morris, Esq. in which the higher branches of education were taught. This school is still kept up, and is a respectable institution.

Northfield parish was incorporated in 1794. It is situated in the S. E. corner of Litchfield, and includes within its limits part of the township of Plymouth. The surface of this parish is uneven, and many parts stony, rough, and hard for tillage. The soil is generally good, and produces good grass and grain. There are two houses for worship in this place, 1 Congregational and 1 Episcopal. The first Congregational minister, the Rev. Joseph E. Camp, was settled here

in 1795.

There is an apple tree now standing on the farm of Mr. Solomon Marsh, in Litchfield, supposed to be about 116 years old, and is now in a vigorous state. Its trunk, two feet from the ground, measures eleven feet five inches in circumference. The circumference of its branches is nearly eleven rods in extent. It bore in 1835, one hundred bushels of apples of a fine quality.