"Norwich" was the traditional land inhabited by Eastern North American indigenous groups, including the Mohegan tribe. They struck a deal with some of the Saybrook English settlers in 1659. This region was taken over by the land-thirsty settlers.
I set out last Saturday on my latest field trip to Hartford's Connecticut Museum of Culture and History. First, I stopped in Norwich since it is only 35 minutes away. The sunny day was most welcome, and for once, I made good time on the roads.
I am writing a book about the rise and fall, of just one branch of the Huntington family of Norwich. This blog is a companion to the book and a way for me to loosely write about them and imagine each chapter.
This particular branch remained in Norwich from 1660-1893--remarkable. They stayed because they were comfortable, wealthy, and privileged--until they weren't anymore.
I have reached the Federal period in my timeline and am now researching how things played out for the grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, of the Jabez Huntington (1719-1786) family of Norwich. Thus, yet another sojourn to CMCH--it has a vast repository of Huntington family papers.
Charles Phelps Huntington (1779-1850), was born during the Revolution (to Andrew and Hannah Phelps Huntington) and died within reach of the Civil War. After his first wife (Charlotte Lathrop) and child died, he soon married another former neighbor, Maria Perit (1783-1854).
Charles (and Maria) was able to regain some of the lost wealth (and perhaps prestige) that happened to his father and grandfather during the war. Maria Perit was the grand-daughter of Philadelphia financier (and father of the Constitution), Peletiah Webster (1726-1795).
C.P. or Chas (not to be confused with Collis Potter Huntington or Charles Phelps Huntington of Hadley, MA) would be the first in his paternal line to move OUT of the Huntington Square/Lane area.
In 1810 or so, he and his young family moved to Washington Street between the Leffingwell homestead and the Benedict Arnold family homestead. They were inching closer to the expanding Chelsea business district and away from the increasingly quiet Green area. I think they lived in the former home of Hezekiah Huntington.
1850s map image of Washington Street. I believe it was called "Town Street" in colonial days.
After this photo romp through Norwich's busy Washington Street area, I discovered the Yantic cemetery by accident--final resting place of C.P., Maria, and some of their children. Back in the day, they could view it from their front door.
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