Collections : [The Litchfield Historical Society]

Watercolor rendering.

The papers of the Bissell and Bissell-Baldwin families, including family members, friends, and business associates. The collection consists of correspondence, business records, account books, and other records. Papers from the time period 1760-1840 have been processed and described (see the finding aid). The remaining papers have been partially processed and are described generally in this scope and content note.

The Boardman & Seymour Records (2009-75-0) consist of correspondence, bills, legal documents, licenses to sell liquor, orders, receipts, statements of accounts and other business records. Daniel Boardman (1757-1833), New York City businessman and merchant, his brother Elijah Boardman (1760-1823), New Milford businessman and merchant, and Moses Seymour Jr. (1774-1826), Litchfield merchant and town official, maintained a partnership to operate a store in Litchfield in which they sold "a variety of Dry and West-India Goods, suitable for all seasons; consisting of almost every article usually retailed in a Country Store," according to a Dec. 17, 1794, advertisement in the Litchfield Monitor. The partnership was dissolved in 1804, according to a Nov. 21 newspaper advertisement.

Record of the Board of Relief of the Town of Litchfield listing persons indebted to residents of this state, abatements of poll tax, miscellaneous alterations of list, abatements on assessment, and persons to whom the board added money at interest.

Bolles and Wells write to S. J. Lewis of Naugatuck, Conn., to say they do not accept a box of overshoes on his terms.

The Bostwick and Weed account book (2011-123-0) dates from 1835-1839. One of the parties may have continued using this ledger after the firm's dissolution in 1837. Products listed include shoes, meat, wood, and leather. The factory was in the South Farms section of Litchfield, now the town of Morris.

"Abstract of title to forge property in Bradleyville made by G.C. Woodruff in 1831." A chart of the owners from 11 Feb. 1729 to 6 Feb. 1837.

Family records from a Bible starting with Samuel G. Braman's birth in 1801. Baptism certificates from St. Michael's church, Litchfield, Conn. for Samuel Gager Braman in 1836, Caroline Maria Braman in 1834, William Edward Hooker in 1866. Also certificates for William E. Hooker as Deacon in Calvary church in Syracuse, NY.

This Breeding Card for a jersey bull (2011-45-0) advertises "Lord St. Vincent" a prize winning bull from F. Ratchford Starr's Echo Farm in Litchfield, Connecticut.

Brigadier General James Hamilton's receipt for 208 rations of provisions received of Jonathan Clarke, Asst. Commissary General for the convention troops, for the use of Hamilton, commencing 1 March and ending 3 April. Dated Cambridge, New England 3 April 1778.