Norwich bulletin., 1910-01-07
ASHFORD'S SECOND CENTURY
<ames istineuished Throushout Land that are lndis
 soIubly Connected with Windham County

fngworth was named the same year.
 The town of Stamford was settled in
 1641 under New Haven jurisdiction
 It was named in 1642 and submitted
 ingford was named in 1870 and Wa
 terbury in 1886. Wethersfield was
 settled in 1885, and named in 1637-
 Hartford was named in February,
 1887, and Windsor was also named
 in that year. The naming of towns
 was not practiced after the naming
 of Pomfret in 1713. The old practice
 affords an interesting field of inquiry
 satisfaction. The founders of Ash
 ford included men of note and dis
 tinction in their time and generation.
 Principal among them were Major
 Fitch; Simeon Stoddard of Boston,
 Capt John Chandler, John Mixer of Canterbury, John Cushing, Samuel C1app, James Corbin, John Perrr- of Marlborough and Philip Eastman of Woodstock. At the May session of the general court in 171O a com mittee was appointed to lay out the
 Prominent Names.
 William Ward was moderator of the first town meeting that was held in Ashford. John Mixer was elected first town clerk and treasurer, and John Perry was the first constable The Selectmen elected were William Ward and John Perry. The original committee on highways consisted of William Ward. Philip Eastman, Nathaniel Fuller. John Pitt, Benja- Kendall. The first general distribu- tion of lands to the original proprie- tors was ordered by vote of the town March 5, 171S. The territory in each pany was organized in 1722 with John Perry as captain Its services were of great importance in repelling In dian invasions. Daniel and Thomas Is-,. 1trar7 after the French war, in which they distinguished themselves, were inStru- mental in developing the farming in terests in the western portion of the town. Ephraim Lyon, who originated in Woodstock, settled in the eastern section of Ashford. and David Bolles, the tanner, settled in the town from New London Capt John Stevens. who married Martha Stoddard, daughter of Anthony Stoddard, was the owner and manager of some of the most produc- tive agricultural lands in the town. President Stiles of Yale college vis- tied Ashford in 1764. and was greatly in the Beaver Dam farm, which had descended to the wife of Captain Stevens from the Stoddard There were thirty acres of hemp under cultivation from which it was expected that twenty tons would be harvested. Amos Babcock, Ebenezer Byles, Jedediah Dana, Ben jamin Sumner and Ezra Smith were selectmen in 1760. The population in 1775, the year of Lexington and Bunk CT Hill. was 2,228. Of that number thirteen were negroes. Thomas Knowl- ton was in command of the minute men from Ashford, who took part in the battle of Bunker Hill. He organ ized and commanded Knowlton's rangers and was killed at the battle of Harlem Heights. A statue of this noted revolutionary hero has been erected on the grounds at the east end of the capitol. The first cemetery in Ashford, which was established under authority of the town, was laid out In 1734 by committee, consisting or James Beekman. Joseph Whiton and
 The Churches.
 The CongregationaI church in Ash ;ord was organized Nov. 26. 1718. The Rev. James Hale, a graduate of liar Tard in 1703, was the first pastor and John Mixer the first deacon. The 1890 at a cost of $2500. The Rev. James B. King became pastor Sept. 1, | 90S. The church in Eastford original ! y belonged in Ashford. It was organ | ,luding a fund of $7,00O. is valued at | ;15OOO. The total membership Jan. 1, ] 9O9, was hfty-ei The Rev. James | 3. King, who is in charge of the pas | oral work in Ashford, entered upon the 1 luties of pastor one year ago.
 The first Baptist church in Windham | county was organized in 1743 Thomas | 0enison of New London the first pas | or, was ordained in November of that | -ear. The Baptist church in Westford | vas established in 1780. John Rath- | ,urn was ordained pastor March Is, l 781. At the present time the Rev. G. :. Chapel is pastor of the Baptist | hurch at Warrenville- The Rev. J. | ". Higgins, who was at the head of | he Baptist church in West Ashford | wo years ago, has become pastor of l he Baptist church in Packersville. | Canterbury.
 First Postoffiee.
 The first postoffice in Ashford was established in 1903 and David Bolles, r., was the first postmaster. David aking the office in 1890. He died that l ear and was succeeded by Ichabod 'ulkley.
 General Washington, while on tour trough New England in November, 7S9, visited and remained in the town nrougr Sunday. The exact time was Tov. 8. In Pomfret he had expected a isit from General Putnam. The home E: f the latter was too far from the oute which had been arranged for Washington and the visit was not un- trough the state without allowing the lip to be made known and the Sunday Ashford was a day of actual rest. The town has been a pioneer in diff i erent industries. The Sprague Manu- lcturing company was incorporated in S15 for the manufacture of cotton 7ool into yarns and cloth. The incor- | orators were Rufus Sprague, Edward eyes, John N. Sumner, Benjamin