This

"Major Jonathan Hart was a native of this town. He was a gallant and distinguished officer, and one of the victims of the unfortunate defeat of Gen. St. Clair, Nov. 4th, 1791. His life and those of his command, were literally offered a sacrifice for the safety of the rest of. the army. When all were in confusion and dismay, Major Hart was ordered to charge the enemy with the bayonet, with a view to facilitate a retreat, or rather a flight, to the shattered remains of the army. charge was made with gallantry and spirit, under circumstances which language is too feeble to describe; the desolation of the place; the confusion of the scene; the whoops and yells of a savage foe, flushed with victory, and thirsting for blood; the general consternation which prevailed, and the groans of the dying in every direction. But the intrepid Major, and almost every man of his party, were killed in the desperate enterprise, and their bones were left to bleach upon the borders of the waters of the Wabash, the dreary abode of wild beasts and 'savage men more wild than they.'

The following are copied from monuments in the burying ground N. E. from the village of New Britain.

In memory of the Rev. JOHN SMALLEY, D. D. first Pastor of the Church in this Society. Born in Lebanon, Conn. June 4th, 1704, ordained April 19th, 1758. Died June 1st, 1820, Æ. 86. Possessed of a strong and penetrating mind, improved by laborious study; he zealously devoted himself to the cause of religion, after many years of faithful services, he fell asleep in Jesus. To his talents and Piety, his writings have erected a monument more durable than marble.

Simeon Lincoln, by profession a Printer, died Oct. 5th, 1823, Aged 33.

Why then their loss deplore that are not lost?

Why wanders wretched thought their tombs around in infidel distress?
What though short his date?

Virtue, not rolling Suns, the mind matures,

That life is long that answers life's great end,

The man of wisdom is the man of years.

BLOOMFIELD.

BLOOMFIELD was incorporated as a town in 1835. It was formerly the parish of Wintonbury in Windsor, and derived its name it is said, from the circumstance of the parish being formed from three towns, viz. Windsor, Farmington, and Simsbury; the name Win-ton-bury being derived from a part of the name of each of these three towns. At the period of the first settlements on Connecticut river, the Windsor people sent out a number of men to explore the tract, since Wintonbury. These men returned, and reported that there was good land sufficient for the maintainence of three families. Bloomfield is bounded N. by Windsor, W. by Simsbury, S. by Hartford, and E. by Windsor. On the eastern bounds of the town there is a forest extending the whole length of the township, it is about 1 miles in width from east to west. The town averages about 4 miles in length and breadth, and contains about 1,400 inhabitants. The face of the township is gently undulating, the soil is good, and produces large crops of grass. This place is celebrated for the excellence of its fruit, a considerable quantity of which is annually raised. The inhabitants are generally agriculturists, and remarkably free from the evils of litigation.

South view of the Congregational Church in Bloomfield.

The above is a representation of the Congregational Church, and some other buildings in the immediate vicinity. This place which is considered the central part of the town, is about 6 miles from Hartford, and about 4 miles in a direct line to Connecticut river. There is three houses of worship in the town: 1Congregational, 1 Baptist and 1 Methodist. The Baptist Church is situated about 40 or 50 rods eastward, and the Methodist Church perhaps twice this distance westward of the Congregational Church seen in the engraving. The Congregational Church was built about the year 1800, the steeple or tower is however, of modern construction; this building, which is the second house, stands on the site of the first meeting house. The burying ground is a few rods north. The first person buried in the yard, was a young woman, the daughter of Isaac Skinner, one of the first settlers.

BRISTOL.

BRISTOL was formerly a parish in the town of Farmington, by the name of New Cambridge. It was incorporated as an independent society in 1747, and as a town in 1785. It is bounded N. by Burlington, E. by Farmington, W. by Plymouth, and S. by Wolcott and Southington. It is 5 miles in length, from N. to S. and 5 in breadth. The surface of the town is uneven and hilly, and the soil is a gravelly loam, and considerably fertile, producing all kinds of grain, grass, and fruit common to this region. Iron and copper ore have been discovered in some places in the limits of the township. This is a manufacturing town, and the inhabitants are distinguished for their enterprise and industry. There are at present 16 clock factories, in which nearly 100,000 brass and wooden clocks have been manufactured in a single year. The manufacture of buttons is also carried on in this place.

The principal part of the village is built at the base of a circular hill, the buildings being mostly on a road which passes round the hill in somewhat the shape of a semicircle. The most conspicuous building seen in the engraving with a small square tower, is the Methodist church, erected in 1835. To the right of this in the distance, and on the summit of the hill is seen the Congregational church. The Episcopal church is situated on the northern descent of the hill: it is seen on the left near the forest. The Baptist church is on the road passing by the Methodist church a little distance to the south. This place is 16 miles from Hartford, 28 from New Haven, 17 from Litchfield, and 5 to the nearest point on the Farmington Canal. The number of inhabitants in the town in 1810, was 1423, the number at present is estimated to be 2,500.

The Rev. Samuel Newell appears to have been the first minister settled in this place. The following is the inscription on his monument. "Here lyeth interred the body of ye Rev. SAMUEL NEWELL, A. M. late pastor of the Church of Christ in New Cambridge. A Gentleman of good Genius, solid judgment, sound in the Faith, A fervent and experimental Preacher, of unaffected Piety, kindest of Husbands, tenderest of Fathers, the best of Friends, and an ornament of the Ministry. And having served his generation faithfully, by the will of God, with serenity and calmness he fell on sleep Feb. ye 10, 1789, in the 75th year of his age and the 42d of his ministry.

"Death! Great Proprietor of all! tis thine
To tread out Empires, and to quench ye Stars."

BURLINGTON.

BURLINGTON originally belonged to Farmington, and was formerly known by the name of West Britain; it was at the first called West Woods. Previous to its incorporation as a town in 1806 it was within the limits of Bristol. It is 17 miles west from Hartford and about 36 from New Haven, bounded N. by New Hartford and Canton, E. by Farmington and Avon, W. by Harwinton and S. by Bristol. It is about six miles in length from north to south and five in breadth. The township is diversified with hills and vallies, the soil is a gravelly loam on granite rocks, yielding grain particularly rye and oats. The inhabitants are principally engaged in agriculture. The population of the town in 1830, was 1,401. The Farmington river passes through the north eastern part of the town. There is 2 houses for public worship, 1 for Congregationalists and 1 for Methodists.

The eastern part of the town was first settled by a family of the name of Strong, who were from Farmington: the northern part by a family of Pettibone's from Simsbury: the western part by persons by the name of Yale, Lewis and Wiard; the south part by families of the name of Bunel and Smith from Cheshire. The first minister in the place was the Rev. Jonathan Miller from Torringford; he preached in this place about forty years, he died three or four years since. About thirty years since there was a Society of Seventh day Baptists in this place; at that period they consisted of about twenty five families, who were mostly from Rhode Island or the eastern part of Connecticut; they had a Mr. Davis for their first minister, and Mr. Stillman for their last. They erected a house of worship which is still standing. The Society is nearly extinct there being it is believed but one member now living: this person is an aged woman. The Methodists first built their meeting house about twenty five years since. It formerly stood about 24 miles S. W. of its present location; it was removed to where it now stands in 1835.

CANTON.

CANTON was first settled in 1740, and was incorporated as a town in 1806. The town was formed from the west section of Simsbury and the eastern part of New Hartford. It is bounded N. by Granby, S. by

Avon and Burlington, W. by New Hartford and Barkhamsted, and E. by Simsbury. It is about eight miles in length from north to south, and nearly four miles in breadth. The population in 1830, including Collinsville, was 1437. The township is hilly and mountainous, and the prevailing character of the soil is a coarse gravel, which is hard, dry and stoney.

The first settlement was made at the east village. This place was formerly called Suffrage from the circumstance it is said, of one of the first settlers experiencing an unusual share of suffering at the commencement of the settlement.

Western view of Collinsville, in Canton.

The above is a view taken on the western side of the Farmington river, and shows as much of the village as could be conveniently shown in one view. The houses of the workmen are principally on the west side of the stream, a part of which are seen on the left of the engraving. These buildings which are built precisely of the same form, are compactly set together on the side of a hill rising with considerable abruptness from the water. These houses are painted white and when contrasted with the deep green foliage in the immediate vicinity, present a novel, and beautiful appearance. Collinsville is 16 miles from Hartford and 16 from Litchfield and contains upwards of 500 inhabitants, who are principally engaged in the manufacture of axes of which they make from 700 to 800 daily, and of a superior kind. This village was established by Messrs. Collins & Co. in 1826, who at that period set up an edge tool manufactory at this place, and at one time 300 men were employed in the business.

The following inscription is copied from a monument in the old burying ground in Canton.

In memory of Deacn, Thomas Bidwell, who departed this life Dec. 3d, 1802 in the 64th year of his age. Unshaken in the great truths of the Gospel, in this he was as an iron pillar, and stedfast as a wall of brass. He lived and died in the confidence of his brethren. But though dead, he yet speaketh to the Church, to his family and to all who knew him.

Thou tomb shall safe retain thy sacred trust,
Till life divine reanimate his dust.