Editing Colchester, Connecticut (section)

==History==

=== Pre-Township and Becoming a Township ===
On March 31, 1661, the original settlement of Colchester was founded by [[Jeremy Adams]] on a 340-acre area of land, then known as "Jeremiah's Farme."  The land was given to Jeremy by [[Uncas]], [[Sachem]] of the [[Mohegan]] tribe.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Adams |first1=Arthur |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/66465301 |title=Arthur Adams collection |last2=Clement |first2=John B |last3=Satterhwaite |first3=Elizabeth B |last4=Adams |first4=James L |date=1896 |language=English |oclc=66465301}}</ref>

When Connecticut's first counties were created in 1666, Colchester stayed under Adams' ownership and was not incorporated into any new county,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=December 9, 2017 |title=Old Historical City, County and State Maps of Connecticut |url=https://mapgeeks.org/connecticut/ |access-date=May 5, 2022 |website=Mapgeeks |language=en-US}}</ref> possibly because of its proximity to both [[Hartford County|Hartford]] and [[New London County]]. It would not formally join a county until 1698. At this time, Colchester was mainly a farming community. In 2009, Colchester adopted a right-to-farm ordinance, recognizing the "significant role" that agriculture played in Colchester's "heritage and future."<ref>Town of Colchester, Municipal Code, Section 55 (2023).</ref>

On October 13, 1698, Michael Taintor II, Samuel Northam and [[Nathaniel Foote|Nathaniel Foote III]] applied to officially settle Colchester.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Colchester, Connecticut Genealogy and History USGenWeb Project |url=http://www.ctgenweb.org/county/conewlondon/towns/colchester.html |access-date=May 5, 2022 |website=www.ctgenweb.org}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=An Historical Address; Delivered at the Celebration of the Two Hundredth Anniversary, of the First Church of Christ, in Colchester, Connecticut |url=https://www.forgottenbooks.com/en/readbook/AnHistoricalAddressDeliveredattheCelebrationoftheTwoHundredthAnniversaryoftheFir_10289673#2 |access-date=May 5, 2022 |website=www.forgottenbooks.com}}</ref> Jeremiah's Farme was selected as the main point of reference for the town, with its north boundary as the Twenty Mile River. The southern side is bordered by [[Lyme, Connecticut|Lyme]], and the west boundary meets the east bounds of [[Middletown, Connecticut|Middletown]] and [[Haddam, Connecticut|Haddam]]. The east and northeast boundary runs to the bounds of [[Lebanon, Connecticut|Lebanon]] and [[Norwich, Connecticut|Norwich]]. During the initial settlement, the area was also referred to as the Plantation of the Twenty-mile River.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Marshall |first=Benjamin Tinkham |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YqsrAAAAYAAJ&dq=Michael+Taintor+II%2C+Samuel+Northam+and+Nathaniel+Foote+III&pg=PA177 |title=A Modern History of New London County, Connecticut |date=1922 |publisher=Lewis Historical Publishing Company |language=en}}</ref>

On May 11, 1699, the town's principal founders asked the general court of Hartford for assistance, alleging that several persons had hindered the advancement of the settlement by claiming ownership of "considerable tracts of land" within the grant.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /> They also asked to be transferred under the jurisdiction of the New London colony and for the town to be recognized as Colchester. On May 11, 1699, the court approved their request, officially establishing Colchester as a town of New London.<ref name=":1" /> The town is said to be named after [[Colchester]], a borough and port in [[Essex, England]], where many colonists had emigrated from and from which Foote's grandfather, [[Nathaniel Foote]], was born.<ref>{{cite book |author=Gannett, Henry |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ |title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States |publisher=Govt. Print. Off. |year=1905 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n85 87]}}</ref>

=== The 1700s ===
Nathaniel Foote and his family were some of the first to settle here and finished building their house in 1702.<ref name=":4">{{Cite book |last=Walter |first=Gary |title=Historical Landmarks, A Historical Tour Of Colchester |publisher=Colchester History Society |location=Colchester Connecticut}}</ref> The house began construction in 1699 by Nathaniel Foote III and was then finished by his son Nathaniel Foote IV.<ref name=":4" /> On November 29, 1703,<ref name=":2" /> a saw and grist mill were voted to be built by Israel and Samual Wyatt if they promised to maintain the mill for the town's use.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=Extracts from the records of Colchester, with some transcripts from the recording of Michaell Taintor ... |url=https://lccn.loc.gov/02005181 |access-date=April 7, 2022 |website=Library of Congress}}</ref> The first schoolmaster began operations in 1705, and a schoolhouse was finished in 1711.<ref name=":5" /> In 1707 or earlier, a cemetery was built behind where [[Bacon Academy]] would later be built.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ancient Burial Grounds {{!}} Colchester CT |url=https://www.colchesterct.gov/historic-district-commission/pages/ancient-burial-grounds |access-date=May 5, 2022 |website=www.colchesterct.gov}}</ref> The cemetery later held people like Reverend John Bulkeley, Dr. John Watrous, Pierpont Bacon, and his wife, Abigail Bacon. In 1708 Colchester re-joined [[Hartford County, Connecticut|Hartford county]],<ref name=":0" /> and a second religious meeting house was built.<ref name=":2" /> On December 31, 1712, at a legal town meeting held in Colchester, Capt Gilbert Wyatt and Mr. Darnell Clark were Chosen, Selectmen.<ref name=":5" /> On December 28, 1713, Samuel Northam, Thomas Day, and Ebenezer Colman were chosen for a school committee ensuing year.<ref name=":5" />

At a town meeting on June 12, 1716, it was voted to finish the schoolhouse where the foundation of the said house was the only partly standing.<ref name=":5" /> The selectmen Committee for the school has agreed with Nathaniel Loomis Jr. (He and his family are from [[Windsor, Connecticut|Windsor]]<ref name=":2" />) to keep school for twelve months and give him twenty-five pounds and ten shillings. He began to keep building the school. On December 8, 1729, Ensign Foote, Ensign Wells, and Israel Newton were chosen as Selectmen. The constables were selected at the same meeting, being Joseph Chamberlain and Isaac Jones.<ref name=":5" /> On June 3, 1774, Stephen Goodwin wrote to the [[Hartford Courant]] that he had a runaway slave. The slave was named Jefferey and rode away on horseback. A reward was said to be given out if said horse or Jefferey was found (6 dollars for Jeffery and 4 for the horse).

In 1756 Colchester's population was 2,300 people. In 1761 Michael Taintor built Taintors Farm, which stayed in the family until the early 20th century.<ref name=":4" /> The [[Nathaniel Hayward]] house was built in 1775 for Dudley Wright;<ref name=":4" /> The house was lived in by Dr. John Watrous and his wife (who was Dudley Wright's daughter). The house was later sold in 1848 and lived in by [[Nathaniel Hayward]]. The lawn of this house was the original town green. In 1777 Breed's Tavern was built, which is most known for being one of the two remaining sites associated with the Wooster Masonic Lodge.<ref name=":4" /> In 1782 Colchester had 3,300 inhabitants.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=History of the Town of Colchester CT {{!}} Colchester Society |url=https://www.colchesterhistory.org/colchester-history/ |access-date=April 7, 2022 |website=www.colchesterhistory.org}}</ref> Several men went into the [[American Revolutionary War|revolutionary war]], many of them died. One of which was Ephraim Little Jr., son of the 2nd Reverend of Colchester. In 1783 Colchester rejoined [[New London County, Connecticut|New London County]] after being within [[Hartford County, Connecticut|Hartford County]].<ref name=":0" /> On Thursday, January 29, 1784, [[United States Congress|Congress]] suggested a tax, and the representatives of Colchester (Capt. Buckley and Col. Worthington) voted not to have it go into effect. In 1785 the Foote Family house was built by Nathaniel Foote and was lived in by his family. The [[Henry Champion House]] was built in 1790 by architect William Sprat. for [[Henry Champion (general)|Colonel Henry Champion]] who was active in the revolution and a military figure.<ref name=":4" />

Starting in the mid-1700s, Colchester was a hub for the making [[bed rugs]], heavy embroidered bed covers that were both decorative and served to keep [[New Englanders]] warm in the cold winters. Colchester bed rugs are important for their strong designs and complex embroidery.<ref name=":8">{{Cite book |last=Marshall |first=Jessie Armstead |title=Bed rugs: 18th and early 19th embroidered bed covers: Expressions of the American Spirit. |publisher=J. A. Marshall |year=2000 |location=Storrs, CT |pages=26 |language=en}}</ref> Several women from the Foote family, including Mary Foote, Abigail Foote, and Jerusha Foote Johnson, all have bed rugs attributed to them.<ref name=":8" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Collections Database |url=https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+F.416 |access-date=2024-12-15 |website=museums.fivecolleges.edu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Bed Rug {{!}} All Works {{!}} The MFAH Collections |url=https://emuseum.mfah.org/objects/157589/bed-rug?ctx=aa9eb23e334dadbf0a8c511e906176816ae9089c&idx=0 |access-date=2024-12-15 |website=emuseum.mfah.org |language=en}}</ref>

=== The 1800s ===
On October 13, 1803, the town of [[Marlborough, Connecticut|Marlborough]], [[Hartford County, Connecticut|Hartford County]] was created from parts of the towns of Colchester, [[Glastonbury, Connecticut|Glastonbury]], [[Hartford County, Connecticut|Hartford County]], and [[Hebron, Connecticut|Hebron]], [[Tolland County, Connecticut|Tolland County]].<ref name=":0" /> In the 1807 election for governor of Connecticut, Colchester voted 105 for [[Jonathan Trumbull Jr.|Trumbull]] and 12 for Hart, a majority for [[Jonathan Trumbull Jr.|Trumbull]].<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |title=Hartford, Connecticut Breaking News, Sports & Entertainment - Hartford Courant |url=https://www.courant.com/ |access-date=May 10, 2022 |website=courant.com}}</ref> On May 27, 1807, heavy cattle losses were reported because of stray dogs biting them.<ref name=":7" /> The following year (1808), Colchester voted for [[Jonathan Trumbull Jr.|Trumbull]]’s re-election (135 to 24). In 1810 Colchester voted for the governor, 82 for [[John Treadwell|Treadwell]], 61 for [[Roger Griswold|Griswold]], and 16 for Spalding.<ref name=":7" /> On March 6, 1821, John Turner sold the southern green to [[Bacon Academy]] Trustees for $100 ($2,800 in 2018).<ref name=":7" /> A hatter came in 1828.<ref name=":6" /> In 1836, a town description was written in "Connecticut Historical Collections" stating that excellent quality iron ore was found. Colchester was hilly and stony in some parts of town. [[Hebron, Connecticut|Hebron]]’s furnaces later used the ore in 1899. In "Connecticut Historical Collections" the school for colored children is mentioned; considering this book was released in 1836, the school could not have been more than 43 years old. Unbeknownst to [[John Warner Barber|John Barber]] (the writer of this book), he got to see it only four years before its ending. On August 8, 1844, Special Park Committee meeting reported costs to acquire {{frac|3|1|2}} acres of land plus costs of posts and rails to line the perimeter for $398 (about $13,000).

In March 1850, The borough petitioned for a special meeting for land donation by [[Nathaniel Hayward]]. His proposal was a donation of land if the borough laid a tax of $1,000 to defray expenses of fences and grading land (about $32,000).<ref name=":7" /> The proposal was approved. In 1851 Work was completed for the new Town Park. The borough passes ordinances to ban cows from the park.<ref name=":7" /> Borough records showed the town immediately designated the park as a source of income. This included land rental for circus, shows, and sales of grasses and hay.<ref name=":7" />

==== Colchester Bank ====
The first known mention of the bank, was on June 19, 1856, when the [[United States Senate|Senate]] agreed to pass a bill incorporating the bank.<ref name=":7" /> On October 11, 1856, the bank's stockholders met and decided on a board of directors. They are as follows, Albert B. Isham, Stephen Brainard Day (Isaac's Buell's brother), William G. Buell, and Samuel F. Jones Jr. (who would later be the main accomplice in the Colchester bank scandal<ref>{{Cite web |title=1800s Colchester Bank Scandal {{!}} Colchester Historical Society |url=https://www.colchesterhistory.org/colchester-history/bank-scandal-1800s/ |access-date=May 10, 2022 |website=www.colchesterhistory.org}}</ref>).<ref name=":7" /> In the same meeting, Isaac Biglow Buell (the cousin of Harvey Post Buell, a successful druggist, and pharmacist in Colchester<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bacon |first=George F |url=https://archive.org/details/leadingbusinessm00geor |title=The leading business men of Willimantic and Colchester ... |date=1890 |publisher=Mercantile Publishing Company |location=Boston |language=English |oclc=1048219371}}</ref>) was chosen as president. The bank reportedly began the same day.<ref name=":7" />

=== The 1900s ===

==== The Great New England Hurricane of 1938 ====
On September 21 and 22, 1938, Colchester was slammed by a hurricane. The state of Connecticut was inundated with between 5-10 inches of rain and wind gusts of anywhere from 100–125 miles per hour. Reportedly, the Colchester Town Green resembled a "small lake with cascading streams"

At the time, the town had a number of Dutch Elm trees that were planted in 1850. While the root systems of Dutch elms are extensive, they are also quite shallow. As the hurricane hit on September 21, the shallow root systems were ineffective at keeping the trees rooted in the already saturated ground. These trees fell on many buildings, vehicles, and power lines across town. This blocked roads and left many people without homes.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Colchester Historical Society |title=The Hurricane of 1938 |url=https://www.colchesterhistory.org/colchester-history/the-hurricane-of-1938/ |website=Colchester Historical Society}}</ref>

=== The 2000s ===

In July 2005, Colchester was named by CNN's Money Magazine, the 57th best place in the U.S. to live in and is celebrated every year with a festival on the last Saturday of September called 57 Fest.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MONEY Magazine: Best places to live 2005 Top 100 (3) |url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2005/top100/top100_3.html |access-date=May 10, 2022 |website=money.cnn.com}}</ref>