Daggett’s Charge: The Revolution in New Haven

Daggett’s Charge: The Revolution in New Haven

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Author: Ian Long On the morning of July 5th British ships with troops under the command of Major General William Tryon sailed into New Haven’s harbor, bringing the Revolutionary War to the Connecticut college town. A great deal of local legend has grown up around the events of that unusually hot summer day and no small figure in these stories is that of Dr. Naphtali Daggett. This Yale College professor, like a number of New Haven residents, took up arms…

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Paper and Provisions: Christopher Leffingwell and Connecticut during the American Revolution

Paper and Provisions: Christopher Leffingwell and Connecticut during the American Revolution

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Author: Amirah Neely Connecticut is often referred to as “the Provision State” and the nickname comes from the era of the American Revolution. During this time, Connecticut, the third smallest state, provided more food and cannons for Washington’s army than any other state. Its location between Boston and New York City was ideal for collecting, storing, and transporting goods. The pathways that were used by early traders in Connecticut became the trade routes during the war. When the British gained control…

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Republican Motherhood and Sarah Pierce’s Litchfield Female Academy

Republican Motherhood and Sarah Pierce’s Litchfield Female Academy

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Author: Emily McAdam Before the American Revolution, New Englanders considered learning to be masculine and education for girls unnecessary. However, women’s contributions to the political revolution as protesters, spies, nurses, camp followers, and household and business managers led to a social revolution that not many anticipated. Americans believed that a republic depended on a virtuous and informed citizenry, which gave mothers new importance in the home and justified the existence of educational institutions for girls. Litchfield, Connecticut embodied this revolution…

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The Service of Africans from Connecticut in the American Revolution

The Service of Africans from Connecticut in the American Revolution

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Author: Kenneth Neal The American Revolutionary War era is consistently at the forefront of the consciousness of Americans, whether in touting the contributions of the founding fathers, or boldly asserting rights promised by the Constitution. The present day development of American Revolutionary War consciousness has been shaped by a selective use of the historical written record from the American Revolution that has devoted considerable attention to the subjects of the ‘Founding Fathers’ and ‘Rights’.  A recent collaboration of a number…

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Building Peace after the Revolution: William Spratts and Old Gate Mansion

Building Peace after the Revolution: William Spratts and Old Gate Mansion

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Author: Teresa Lewis   Today, many historians are attempting to revise Connecticut’s revolutionary history by presenting a more complete historical picture, including the plight of loyalists and prisoners of war in New England both during and after the conflict. During the war, many loyal Tories were imprisoned in jails located in central Connecticut, including one at Farmington (Gilbert, 287). One such prisoner was William Spratts. Unlike many other loyalists and British soldiers, however, Spratts stayed in the United States following…

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Tale of Two Trumbulls: The Arts in Connecticut During and After the American Revolution

Tale of Two Trumbulls: The Arts in Connecticut During and After the American Revolution

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Author: Chelsea Marti Connecticut became known as the “Provision State” during the American Revolution because the colony was one of the main providers of supplies, such as guns and food, to the Continental Army. However, other than a surplus of guns and food, there was also a surplus of art coming out of this colony during this time, specifically in the form of paintings and poetry. Coincidentally, the two Connecticut men most commonly associated with the arts during this time…

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The Farmington Table: A Moveable Feast (October 14, 2017 Set for Popular Fall Fundraising Event)

The Farmington Table: A Moveable Feast (October 14, 2017 Set for Popular Fall Fundraising Event)

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A lovely autumn evening in a charming village…dinner in a beautiful private home…hors d’oeuvres and desserts in stunning village houses….This year’s elegant progressive dinner fundraising event promises an experience to remember.  Reservation only. Reserve your tickets now, as seats are limited.   $150  person. Tickets available until sold out. Register until October 7 here or call the museum for an invitation and registration reply card (860-677-9222 x 305).              Stanley-Whitman House is a museum of Early American…

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Avon Historical Society asks for help after a fire at the Derrin Farmhouse

Avon Historical Society asks for help after a fire at the Derrin Farmhouse

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Hello everyone, As many of you know the c.1810 Derrin Farmhouse at 249 West Avon Road, part of the Avon Historical Society, suffered severe fire damage this past Wednesday, May 11th.  Thanks to the very quick and precise response by the Avon Volunteer Fire Department, with mutual aid from Simsbury, Canton and Farmington, the structure was saved and it is structurally sound.  The cause was deemed to be an accident – spontaneous combustion of oily stain soaked rags left in…

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A Glimpse into Farmington’s Past: The Charlotte Cowles Letters

A Glimpse into Farmington’s Past: The Charlotte Cowles Letters

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Author: Garrett Coady Farmington, Connecticut had been a New England hub for evangelical abolition during the decade of 1835 and 1845. Farmington had established an anti-slavery society in 1836 that was initiated around abolitionist reform and evangelical revival. One of the Farmington Anti-Slavery Society’s founding members had been Horace Cowles. Horace and his wife, Mary Anne Steele Smith Cowles had a large family. Among their ten children was their daughter Charlotte Cowles. During the heart of the Farmington abolitionist movement,…

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Opium Dependency in Early 19th-Century Simsbury

Opium Dependency in Early 19th-Century Simsbury

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Author: Chelsea Farrell The history of opium evokes images of wars and imperialism across the globe. This large history often overshadows the prevalence of opium in America. Even before medical morphine was first extracted, opium and its derivatives were used medically and mixed in tonics. Opium, though, causes severe withdrawal, which makes it a highly addictive substance. Early nineteenth-century Simsbury, Connecticut, residents were fully aware of the dangers of opium, especially when the Congregational Church buried Mary Woodbridge, an unmarried woman who…

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