The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1906-07-11
WILMINGTON


of wellington" for the "Tolland
County Gazette of Rockville, then
the only paper in the county. O. b.
Wells the then editor and proprietor.
We have been asked to republish the
sketch in The Press. We hope the
kind reader will excuse the sophomor-
ical style of the writer, as we repro
duce the article verbatim ct literatim.
Our grandfather, the late Amos Pres
ton, had these numbers cut out of the
papers, pasted them, scroll fashion, in
sort of frame and had the device
hung in his bedroom. Hence the
memento has been preserved.
WELLINGTON. NO. 1.
"Nor do 1 aught of earthly sort re-
/ member
If partial feeling to my native place
Lead not my Tyre astray-of fairer
view,
And comlier walk, than the blue
mountain path
And beauteous cliffs of Albion re-
nowned."
Thus sang the poet when thoughts
of home character and home scenery
reverted to his mind-never too grave
with the stern avocatiOns of life, not
to dwell with unusual interest and
fond thought upon his lonely yet
beautiful place of nativity. This love
or fond interest for birthplace and
NATIVE hamlet in his heart seems
to be natural in all "sorts and con-
ditions" of men, for it is always upon
the lips or written pages of our own
poets and public men; and no loved
spot at home, whether majestic noun
tain or beauteous dell, rich meadow or
winding stream, remains unsung or
uncelebrated, though all these scenes
are clothed perhaps with common in
terest and loneliness, and embraced in
some secluded township. 1t is hardly
decidable whether a little of like
interest or q desire to see an accurate,
impartial and truthful sketch of old
Wilmington, both of earlier and later
times, for self perusal and self graft
fication, prompts this imperfect out
line, by hearty friend of the pro-
posed plan of gathering and putting
upon permanent record for the columns
of the Gazette the earlier history
especially of the several towns of
Tolland county. But, let the former
or latter motive be paramount, or
neither, there are incentives enough
in the subject you know. Mr.. Editor,
to furnish the moving cause necessary
to the result.
The first settlers of Wellington, or
| Wellington, as it was sometimes
spelled, consisted of a few persons
who emigrated direct from England,
with a larger number from Hampton,
"Canada Parish" and from Spring
field. Massachusetts Colony, the
leaders of the company direct from
England being Robert Fenton, Will
liam Glazier and others; of the COM
pany from Springfield, John Merrick,
who figures extensively in the early
history of the town, and that from
Hampton, Abial Holt. The exact date
of this emigration and the settlement
of the town cannot be ascertained with
absolute accuracy. Although the
present town clerk, Gideon n. Mer-
rick, a very efficient and courteous
official, lends considerable aid to this
enterprise, we cannot be more accurate
than he.
The first parrish" meeting was
held, as appears by the existing town
records, July Sd, 1927. Thomas
Jennings moderator, John Merrick
clerk, when it was voted "that six
pounds be raised to defray ye charges
for ye time to come, to buy towr
books, and to go after a minister: 8
vote passed vt John Cady should &c
after a minister, vt Doct. Farrar shall
go to ye General Court, in order tC
get of part of ye Ashford town, and
lay it ON to Wellington. At this
time the town was embraced in Hart
ford county, and had obtained it,
charter q few months previous, wher
a town meeting was held as above
and the first town officers chosen.
The first settlements, probably abou
l172O, were not made in any particular
part of the town, as the land general
ly possessed nearly a uniformity O
richness of soil, vet the level tracts
of the northwest and east and ives
sides of the town we're preferred i
seems. These tracts being situated
along the Willimantic and FentOl
rivers, possessing a richness of sol
unsurpassed by any lands in the state
made them the more favored settling
places. In few years the NOR
hilly portions of the town were Guilt
waited and generally made more valu
able under the exertions of the enter
prising and persevering farmers. Will
liam Glazier in the northerly part O
the town, and Clemant Topcliff in tn
southeasterly, were the largest LAM
owners, the former holding some 9O'
acres and the latter some 600 acres.
The land situated along the Fentol
river, near the eastern limits of tn
township, produced crops of hay AM
grain unequaled in the county, AM
settlers who owned these tracts wer
made wealthy by their ample produce
Fenton river, it may be properly re
corded here, received its name in thi
wise, tradition says: An individual
named Fenton, q resident of tn
colony, suspected of the crime Q
counterfeiting, being holly pursue
by the officers of the law, reached tn
stream. and jumping into it, 500
secreted himself in the underbrush- c
little island of the river, near til
0reaent village of DaleYille. and suC