Connecticut western news., 1875-04-30

Their names were Butcher. Hollenbock and Heughaboom. The former settled near where the present Butcher bridge crosses the river, from whom it probably took it's name. The property is now owned by MT Van Deusen. An Englishman named Sam uel Bryant also settled in this town about the same time, near tue residence of Harmon Peet.
 Samuel Forbea, when 6 boy nine years old, saw Capt. Lawrence as he passed through Hartford on his way to Canaan, and thought what great undertaking it was to move SO far into the wilderness. Afterwards when young man, he came with his father. They were blscSsmiths, and were employed by MT. Seymour, who built the first forge in the town. Samuel Forbes was born in the town of Simsbury, near the bank of the Pennington river When boy, before he wore pants, one day he went fishing just back of his fathers house, large salmon trout took the hook and drew him into the !river. By some means he managed to gain the shore, still holding on to the pole and securing the fish. He afterwards married the daughter town. He was obliged, however, to elope with Perce's daughter in order to marry her, as her father was very much opposed | to it. They rode on horseback to York State-both on one horse-te be married and returned to MT. John Franklin's house in East Canaan, where they renamed until tho next spring, when they moved in their own house. It was 26 years afterwards before MT. Pierce recognized his son-in- law or called on his daugher.
 Samuel Forbes and Ethan Allen built the | first blast furnace in the town of Salisbury. | It stood in what was afterwards called Fur mace Village, now Lskeville. His daugh- ter Abigail Forbes (mother of Wm. Ad- amp carried the provisions for the work men 'ngaged in building the furnace from Ar4i the old forge in East Canaan. She rode on horseback and forded the Housa- tonic river just west of where MT. Harmon Peet resides, there being no bridge at that time over the river in this part of the town. Samuel Forbes opened the first store in the town of Canaan near the old forge. Al that time there were but three stores in Litchfield county. Tue customers came from . circuit of twenty-five miles around, and would often remain two days waiting for some mill irons or other parts of iron work done at the forge. His daughter (aboye referred to) rode on horseback to Boston with her father to purchase goods when only nine yeals of age.
 | Mir. Forbes afterwards came in posses sion of the forge. The ore used at that time was brought on horseback from Ore Hill in Salisbury. A nailrod shop was afterwards built near the forge and slit ting machine set up. The nail rods for the Ncwgate state prison at Simsbury were cut thsre. Samuel Forbes also built the first grist mill in this town, which stood short distance above the present mill owned by the Barnum Richardson Cs. This mill was destroyed by freshet, and the second mill was built on the foundation of the present mill.
 Jonathan Gillett, another of the eallier residents of this town, was born in West
 Hartford ln 1762. He was a cabinet ma
 ker, and in passing through this town on
 bis way from Lenox, M s., to Hart 'ord,
 he stopped oyer night at the public house
 kept by Mir. Miller, where the present
 Charter Oak Tavern now stands, and was
 employed the next day to make case of
 drawers for the daughter of Mir. Miller,
 who was about to be married. This was
 his first work here. Afterwards he mar
 ried and settled in the town. When eight
 cen years old MT. Gillett entered the
 American army, and was taken prisoner by
 the British at Horse Neck in York State and confined for ten months in tue old
 sugar house prison in the city of New York.
 He suffered very much from want of food
 and clothing while there, but having a
 watch he sold it to one of the guards and
 obtained some money, with which he was able to purchase some food that kept him alive. While in prison, one day he found fellow prisoner in dying condition. He
 sent out and purchased some cordial for
 this comrade and he revived again. After
 he was exchanged he joined the army again and was sent to West Point. While there be met the soldier whose life he saved in the prison. When the old sugar house was taken down, some ono sent hir cane made from the old timbsrs, which as a souvenir is still kept in the family. He died March l4, 1855, at the residence now occupied by his son.
 Capt. Gershon Hewett was born in Sto- nlngton in l75s and came to Canaan when
 a young man, and afterwards married and
 settled here. He came across the Canaan
 Mountain, and it is said as he looked down
 on the valley below with its winding streams and fertile fields where cleavings had been made ln the forest, he was pleased
 with the country and resolved to make il his home He served in the revolutionary war and was the one under Ethan Allen who entered Fort Ticonderoga as spy. He played the fool wit: the guards Sp
 asked "what them long black things werC, (referring to the cannon.) and if they
 would hurt anybody. He also shaved some of the soldiers in the fort. The next day 3 as he entered with Allen, the guard recog- nized him and said: 'If he had thought him spy he would have shot him on the spot"
 Capt. Hewett afterwards lived and died , in this town. Several of these family ? names are yet living in the town. Some however. have left no one to be called after
 them, and the lands they occupied are now titled by strangers. So will 1t be with us
 all. J. H. L.