The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-08-05
HISTORY OF
SIMSDUBY, CRANKY AND CANTON,
Connecticut, from tie gear 1912 TO 1916 -
By NOAH \. PHELPS.
(EXtracts continucd.)

| BY NOAH \. PHELPS.
(EXtracts continucd)
1t has already been stated that the inhabi-
tants returned to Simsbury in the spring of
| 1917, and commenced rebuilding the town
which had been destroyed by the indians in
the preceding year.
The process, however, Of repairing the IL
| Jury sustained, and Of restoring the condition
Of the settlement to its former prosperity, was
slow, and, at times, extremely discouraeing.
Some of the former inhabitants did not re-
| turn, and but few new ones were found to
take their places. The pcrils of the times,
with the danger to which the town from its
position was exposed, offered but few induce
mcnts to any but the most daring or the most
destitute in circumstances, to exchange pla-
ccs Of security for one cncompassed with 80
many dangers, and containing, withall, so few
comforts,
Owing to these adverse circumstances, with
others which will be hereafter mentioned, the
town remained in depressed condition, in
creasing, it is supposed, but little in wealth or
population for period of about ten years al
ter the war in 1876. The inhabitants, il not
poor, were generally in moderate circumstance
es. They could make but few public I'M
provements. And although several attempts
were made to advance the growth of the set
tlement it was not until about 1859 that its
prospects assumed more cheering aspect.
The dwellings of the first settlers consisted
of Loo huts, covered with thatch or bark, with
out windows, aud often without fooringS -
Subsequently,, when saw mills had been erect
ed, and better building materials could be
obtained, some improvement in these ediices
took place, though the best Of them would, at
the present day, be deemed almost untenant-
able. The inventories OF estates administer
ed upon at this PERIOD show that but few
plain and cheap articles Of furniture were
then in use. Stools and forms were substi-
tuted for chairs, Of which latter article but
few families could afford the expense of pro-
curing. The apparel Of both sexes was gen
orally of domestic manufacture, and Tor the
most part such as each family made for its
own use-the winter garments Of the men be-
inc made chiefly Of undressed homemade
cloth. For lights, candieU00d was used very
generally. The inhabitants were plain, in
dusrrious and economical people, increasing
in wealth only in proportion as their respec-
tive farms were cleared for cultivation, and
stocked with cattle for they derived but
little if any benefit from any market for their
surplus produce. But few sheep were kept
in town at this period, for the reason that
they could not be protected from the raVaages
of wolves and other beasts ofprey with which
the forests then abounded.
The boundary line between Simsbury and
Windsor, after long controversy, was sur
vcyed and designated in 1879, by commit
tee appointed by the General Court. This
line, it is supposed, remained as then run, un-
til a portion of Simsbury was annexed to
Bloomfield in 1643
The first mills erected in town were situat-
cd on Hop brook, near the present site of
Tullor's mills, and were builtin 1919. These
consisted Of grist and saw mill, and were
put up by Thomas Barber, John Moses, John
Terry and Ephraim Howard, who contracted
with the town to keep the mills in good re-
pail grind grain for the tolls allowed by
taw,-to sell to the inhabitants boards at four
and sixponce per hundred, and not to tran
sport OAK to any other town. In consldera