It was part of the "Western grant" conveyed in 1686 to the proprietors of Hartford and Windsor and in 1732 was set off to Hartford. In May, 1733, a committee of Hartford proprietors requested the General Court to encourage the settlement of the town. An act was passed naming it "New Hartford." It was the only one of seven towns in the division which was colonized by Hartford proprietors or their sons. All were from well-to-do families, hence the propriety of the name "New Hartford." The first settlers were from Hartford. Thomas Alcott John Andrus Samuel Benham Thomas Bidwell Samuel Douglas John Edgecomb David Ensign Elijah Flower Joseph Gilbert Matthew Gillet Eleazer Goodwin Isaac Kellogg Stephen Kelsey Israel Loomis Jonathan Marsh John Merrill Jonathan Merrill Joseph Merrill Noah Merrill Daniel Parsons Jonathan Richards John Seymour Daniel Shepard Zebulun Shepard Martin Smith John Spencer William Steel Cyprian Watson John Watson Zachariah Watson Samuel Wells Stephen Kelsey - was first person buried in the Town Hill Cemetery The first minister in the town was the Rev. Jonathan Marsh, son of the Rev. Jonathan Marsh of Windsor, ordained October, 1739. The Tunxis Indians had two settlements which gave the names "Indian Hill" and "Satan's Kingdom" to those districts, which are rich in legend and story. July 4, 1876 - Town Hall dedicated. October 1, 1881 - The first annual town meeting was held in the Town Hall. January 31, 1894 - The original structure of the building was almost completely destroyed by fire. February 22, 1895 - New Town Hall dedicated. More History |