Family History 2.38

Bigelow History:

Post-1630

from Wikipedia

Colchester, Conneticut, home of Isaac and Mary Bigelow from 1712

The history of the Town gets its first legs On October 1, 1692 when the area known as "Jerimiah's Farme" is confirmed unto Danial Mason, son of Major John Mason, acting on behalf of the Hartford Colony, by Owaneco.

Lyman Viaduct

 

The original settlement known as Jerimiah's Farm was land given unto Jerimiah Adams, of Hartford, by Uncas, sachem of the Mohegan tribe.

 

On October 13, 1698, Michael Taintor, Samuel Northam and Nathaniel Foote III applied to go forth and settle the Town. Jerimiah's Farm was selected as the main point of reference for the town, with its north boundary as the Twenty Mile River. The southern side is bordered by Lyme. The west boundary meets the east bounds of Middletown and Haddam. The east and northeast boundary run to the bounds of Lebanon and Norwich.

 

During the initial settlement, the area was also referred to as the Plantation of the Twenty-mile River.

 

On May 11, 1699, the town's principal founders, Nathaniel Foote, Samuel Northam and Michael Taintor asked the general court of Hartford for assistance with persons hindering the advancement of the settlement, to be transferred under the jurisdiction of the New London colony, and for the Town to be recognized as Colchester. On May 11, 1699 the town name was so named and incorporated into the colony of New London.

 

The town is said to be named after Colchester, a borough and port in Essex, England, where many colonists had emigrated from.

Congregational Church

 

Colchester's early history, like that of many towns in New England, centered around the church parish. In 1703, the General Court of the Colony of Connecticut ruled that the settlement could organize a church body here known as Colchester.

 

Within a few years, several grist mills and saw mills were built to provide grain and lumber for the settlement.

 

In 1706, the first street was laid and called Town Street. Nearly 200 feet wide, it is now the southern end of Old Hebron Road.

 

By 1714, there were nearly 50 English colonial families in town.

 

On 13 Oct 1803 the town of Marlborough, Hartford County was created from parts of the towns of Colchester, Glastonbury, Hartford County, and Hebron, Tolland County.