Collections : [The Litchfield Historical Society]

The John Wright Collection (1715-1853) [1982-22-0] consists of papers related to the Bostwick, Buck, Canfield, Ferriss, Hine, McEuen, Northrop, Taylor, and Treadwell families; lawyer Partridge Thacher; and others living in New Milford, Conn. It also includes papers related to New Preston Society. Included in the papers is correspondence; deeds; notes, orders, receipts and other business records; leases; subscription lists; account books, and other documents.

The Thomas Canfield et al Account Book (2011-125-0) was used by Canfield and his son-in-law, David Baldwin, to keep records of accounts. Canfield appears to have worked as a blacksmith. His entries include detailed lists of his children's portions of his estate.

This collection consists of Smith family papers, primarily Lemuel Smith and his family, who lived in the Northfield section of Litchfield. Within the collection are deeds, a few financial records and probate records, and a surveyor's record book (1807).

"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.

Letters and deeds of the Bird family, mostly John Bird and Dr. Seth Bird.

Correspondence chiefly between Frederick Wolcott (1767-1837), his wife Elizabeth (Betsey) Huntington Wolcott (1774-1812), his brother Oliver Wolcott (1760-1833) who served as Secretary of the Treasury and Governor of Connecticut, and Jabez W. Huntington (1788-1847) who served as a U.S. Senator from Connecticut. Topics include domestic news, local, state, regional and national politics, business affairs, church activities, trade with China and the merchant vessel Trident, raising merino sheep, and manufacture of woolen cloth.

The Jones and Kilbourn families papers document several generations of two families who lived primarily in Litchfield, Conn., principally Eaton Jones (1729-1791), Eaton Jones (1762-1838), Charles Jones (1797-1891), George Eaton Jones (1849-1927), Mary M. Jones (1851-1930), and Eaton Jones (1897-1971). George Eaton Jones married Mary Braman (1864-1927), a granddaughter of Payne Kenyon Kilbourne (1815-1859). In addition, there are third-party papers that relate to the American Revolutionary War and 19th-century Litchfield in the late 1700s. The papers consist of correspondence, financial papers and deeds, genealogical materials, photographs, manuscripts, lists, and autographs and letters of noted individuals.

The St. Michael's Parish Vital Records collection (2011-108-0) is comprised of two volumes of transcripts. The first volume ranges from 1757-1870 and covers burials (separated by race), communicants, confirmations, deaths (separated by race), and marriages (separated by race). The second volume covers only baptisms from the years 1750-1867. Each volume is organized alphabetically, not chronologically. The records give the name of the person and the date of whatever service they received.

Deeds of land to Caleb Gibbs of Litchfield (Conn.)

Agreement concerning the division of land and buildings in Middletown (Conn.) left by Caleb Galpin to his children: Amos, Caleb Jr., Peet, and Benjamin.