Early Settlers of West Simsbury [Now Canton], Connecticut

This volume, compiled by Abiel Brown in 1856, contains sketches of about 185 families of West Simsbury. According to the introduction, it contains "materials gathered by an examination of monuments and burial records in the town of Canton, of monuments and probate records in the town of Simsbury; some items were collected from Windsor, and some from Plymouth, Mass. Besides these and similar sources of information the author was indebted to the storehouse of his own memory, by the strength and tenacity of which, he, above all was the man fitted for such an undertaking."

The "Society" of West Simsbury was formed in 1780 after a series of court-ordered annexations caused by years of disputes about the location of the Simsbury meeting house. The town of Canton was incorporated in 1806 and it proceeded to become a thriving center of industry in the nineteenth century.

This original text is part of the NEHGS Rare Books Collection, call number F 104 C2 B8.

To locate additional genealogy and local history resources, search our library catalog.