The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-08-12
UISTOnNCF

SIMSBURY, CRANKY AND CANTON,
Connecticut, from the gear 1912 to 1916 =
! BY Moan a. PHELPS.
(EXtTacts continued)
The manufacture of steel was commenced
in this town on Il small scale in 1927 and this
il is believed, was the first attempt to make
it in this country. Tn 1928, Samuel Uiclev,
who was a son Of John IIigcy, one of the
early settlers of the town, presented a petit
ton to The General Court, stating that =" he
hath, with great pains and cost, found out a
curious art, by which to change, convert or
tranamutc common iron into good steel, suf-
fcient for any use, and was the very first that
ever performed such an operation in Amer
ica, having the most perfect knowledge there
Of confirmed by many experiments ;'-also,
that lie has good reason to hope that he
shall produce as good or better steel than
what comes from over sea, and at considcra-
bic cheaper rate : and praying for an cXc.u-
siye right to manufacture the article for 4
term OF years Ills request was granted, and
he with his associates were vested with the
exclusive privilege OF making steel for the
term Of ten years, on condition that they, du-
ring that term, should prosecute the business,
and bring it to q good and reasonable per-
eetion,' within the period Of two years.
Proof was adduccd that he had made steel
from iron manufactured at Turkey hills, and,
by competent men, was pronounced to be
rood steel. To what extent, or duration Of
timo.hc prosecuted this business, is unknown.
The probability however is, that like most
operations Of a similar nature, commenced at
that early period without q competent know
ledge Of the art or adequate means to carry
il on, the project ended in loss and dsap-
pointmcnt 1t was supposed that MIR. Hi@loy
derived what information lie possessed Oh dis
subject from some Of the foreigners who were
employed al The cop or mines in that yicini-
ty.
Twelve years afterwards, on the applica-
ton Of Thomas Fitch, George Wyllys, and
Robert Walker, DR., all gentlemen Of high
standing in the stated special act WAS passed
by the General Court granting to them and
their associates 8" the sole liberty and pIiyi-
legc of making, manufacturing and convert
inc into good steel within the bounds and linn
its of this Colony" for the term Of fifteen
wears, with the proviso that they should per-
feet their work within ten years. and furnish
at least half ton Of steel during each year
OF said term Of fifteen years. They COM
mcnccd building y furnace in this town, but
by reason Of The death Of Rev, Mr.. T. Wood
bridge, who had become associated with them
in the enterprise, and on whom, as they say,
they principally depended for We skill in
preparing We furnace and making yc expert
mont," their design was retarded but upon
their application, the General Court in 743, I.
revived their grant for the remaining part Of
the said fifteen years, allowing them one year |
within which to make the experiment. Be-
fore the expiration Of the year, Aaron Elliott
and Ichabod Miller, who had charge OF the
works, certified to the Assembly, that after
many expensive and frutlcss trials with viii n .
sundry Of the owners was discouraged, the
affair bcin~ still pursued by others Of them, it
has so far Succeeded that there has been made
more than half ton of steel at the furnace at
Svnsbury which was erected for that purpose
by the gentlemen to whom said grant was
made" instruments made Of this steel were
exhibited GAS Il specimen of we goodness
thereof to answer We intentions of German
steel" Upon which representations, the AS
scmbly resolved that the condition OF said
grant ais performed according 10 the tenor
md meaning thereof" 1t is understood that
these works were kept mp for some years,
though it is not supposed that the product was
extensive or the business lucrative. The fur
mace was erected on the brook short distance
west of Tucr's mills.
Pitch and tar were manufactured at Mas
,acoc as early as 1913. The extensive for
,sts of pine, which then spread over large
portion of the plantation, furnished ready
upply Of the materials for the manufacture OF
hcsc articles, and for the collection OF tur"
,entne which at a subsequent period became
IN extensive business. The manuactnre Of
bitch and tar was commenced ana carried on
1t this place by John Griffin and Mic9ael
then of Windsor, thougn! suose-
1ucntly both of them became inhabitants g, OF
Ibis town. At st,thcy had a partner of the