Lenox, and 36 E. by N. from Al- bany, N. Y. It was incorporated in 1765. Population, 183-7/1,951.
There are 1 cotton and 2 woolen mills in the town, and manufactu- res of potatoe starch, cabinet ware, chairs, palm-leaf hats, shovels, bats, leather, &c.: annual value about $75,000.
The number of sheep in this flourishing, agricultural town, in the year 1837, was 8,000—viz:
2,000 Saxony, 5,800 Merino, and 200 common. , The fleeces of these sheep weighed .23,200 lbs., and sold for $13,965.
The village in this town is de- lightfully situated on a gentle rise from the river. The buildings are generally tastefully constructed and command a great variety of superb scenery. This town contains a te- pid spring, of some repute in cu- taneous diseases.
Williams College, in this town, is handsomely located. It derived its name from Col. Ephraim Williams, a native of Newton, arU a distinguished benefactor of Williamstown.' Col. Williams was a man of talents, brave, witty, po- lite and popular. He commanded the line of forts on the west side of Connecticut river, in the French and Indian-wars from 1740 to 1748. In 1755, he received the command of a regiment, and joined general Johnson. He fell at the head of 1,200 men, near lake George, on the- 8th of September of that year. Col. Williams, being a bachelor, gave the most of his estate for the estab- lishment of a free grammar school at this place. The school went in- to operation in 1791, and in 1793 the legislature vested it with col- lege privileges. See Register.
"Willimantic River, Ct.
Also Village, see Windham.
Willington, Ct. |
Tolland co. This town was sold by the Connecticut colony, to Rog- er Wolcott, Esq. and others, for £510, in the year 1720. It' is about 7 miles in length, and 4^ in width There is an abundance of granite in the town, and good iron ore. The'surface is uneven'and the soil hard. - The Willimantic and other streams give Willington some ex- cellent mill.privileges, some of which are profitably improved.— There are about 2,500,sheep in the town. 'Population, in 1830, 1,305. It is 24-miles N. E. from Hartford, and bounded W. by -Tolland.
Williston, Vt.
Chittenden co. This is an ex- cellent farming town of a rich soil, with' an uneven surface, but not mountainous. It is very produc- tive of all the- varieties common to a northern climate: its product of wool, in 1837, was 9,225 fleeces. Williston is watered by Onion river, and some smaller streams; but its waterpower is small. It is 27 miles W. N. W. from Montpelier, and is bounded on the W., by Burlington. Population, 1830, 1,608.
Thomas Chittenden was the father of this town. He came here in 1774. He was a member of the convention, which, in 1777, declar- ed Vermont-an independent state, and was active in procuring its ad- mission into the Union. When the Vermont Constitution was estab- lished, in 1778, Mr. Chittenden was selected as a candidate for gover- nor ; to which office he was annu- ally elected, with the exception of one year, till his death in 1797. He was 67 years of age.
Wilmington, Vt.
Windham co. The east and west branches of Deerfield river unite in this town, which, with the waters of Beaver and Cold brooks, and of Ray’s pond, a large and beauti- ful sheet of water; a valuable mill power is produced. There are some fine tracts of land in the town, and a considerable portion that is. |