Putnam patriot., 1910-06-24
Old kiIIinsly Burying Ground. Historic
 Sketch.
BY MISS E9D.LARNED.
Given q, the Ulyeidng of the Memorial Tablets

dtNeh at tbe lLsehng oi the Memorial Tablets
 IL is most fitting that after hearing so much of the present and the future, we should l" consider the rock from which we are hewn, '-the steps by which we attained our present height. This ancient killingly burying ground, in which we meet today, is associated with the beginnings of civilization east side the Quinebaug, in this northeast Connecticut. It was given to the town of killingly by its first permanent set tler-Peter Aspinwall. Before the ad- vent Of a leaveBs or Cady, of James Daniel,on and Jacob Spalding, an em- issaTy from N oodstock had entered the field
 That old pioneer town, Woodstock, planted In the depth of the Nipmuck wilderness in 1886, far beyond the out parts of civilization, found it difficul; to maintain business relations with distant Boston, and desired 10 open communication with nearer Provi- denee. In 1891 the town voted:
 "That Benjamin Sahin should over see the work of cutting way through the cedar swamp east side Mill River to the High Falls of the Quinebaug, in order to make toad to Providence, and Peter Aspinwall If he can't"
 And Peter Aspinwali was the man that did t.n He was young man of spirit and energy, scion of the old Aspinwall family-one of the original settlers of Woodstock, in fact, one of the heroic "fhirleen, sent to "spy out the land before taking possession. He was active in town affairs, was leader in first military company, Lieutenant before thefe We're men enough for cap den, guarding the town against attacks from Indians, led Woodstock's quota Io the font during the Indian warfare, and after the return of peace was ready to slash through the cedar swamp.
 Reaching the High Fails after two or three years, he took up his residence on the east side the ford, "at the place called Aspinocs; and thus became the first permanent resident of what is now Putnam.
 Pursuing his task of making road to Providence he laid il obliquely south east, around the base of the hill-now known as Putnam Heights-thence more northerly avoiding Chestnut Hill, to the Assawaga River and Rhode Isl. and line He grappled with rocks and swamps, with wild beasts, raftlesnakes and Indians, but succeeded in making hridle path, serving efteetually it's mission as road 10 Providence for Woodstock and ether towns. and form- ing, thirty years later, the basis for cart path.
 While doing this work Peter was greatly hindesed by having to help travellers and incoming settlen over the ford below the falls, and petitioned the General Assembly for aid in build ine bridge. Land-graboers heset his path, and perhaps Border Ruffians- for both Massachusetts and Rhode Isl and boundaries were disputed.
 During these busy yean our dough- " Peter vas himself captured by the Widow LeaSens, who brought with her four or five stalwart cons to aid in 1 settlement. According so tho Aspin- wall Chronicles, sssAe and her sons 1 kept htm iow.n She vm evidently . l woman cf sptris, and had beea indics- ed h Roxoury - | sscummon cold And pesAaps this domestic discipline Aad sosaeshing b do with making our l feees so sshnerytsns la Pshlte Hls. He 1