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Northrop Genealogy
Southport, Connecticut
Earliest Northrops in Connecticut
Torrington was originally settled in 1735 by Ebenezer Lyman Jr. of Durham, Connecticut. Its early settlers resided on the hills west of the Naugatuck River where the first school, church, store, and tavern were constructed. Later, the eastern hill known as Torringford was settled as it provided the best farmland for agricultural work. Torrington was given permission to organize a government and incorporate as a town in October of 1740. The fast moving waters of the Naugatuck River were utilized as waterpower for early 19th century industries. Industrial growth skyrocketed in 1813 when Frederick Wolcott constructed a woolen mill. The mill attracted a large workforce and created a demand for goods, services, and housing. In 1955, a massive flood destroyed much of the downtown area and property in the region when Hurricane Connie and Hurricane Diane caused local rivers to overflow. Torrington is the birthplace of abolitionist John Brown.
Torrington History This purchase cleared the title to lands previously claimed by Hartford and Windsor and in 1732 the Colony of Connecticut finalized the transaction by granting to Windsor several towns including Torrington. At the same time the General Assembly authorized Windsor to subdivide Torrington’s 20,924 acres among 136 of Windsor’s taxpayers. Ebenezer Lyman Jr. of Durham purchased land from one of the Windsor proprietors and in 1735 became Torrington’s first settler. The first school, store and church were built high on the hills, west of the Naugatuck River, near the homes of the earliest settlers. The next area to be settled was the eastern hill known as Torringford. These hills provided the best agricultural land for the settler’s agrarian lifestyle. Torrington was given permission to organize a town government and an Ecclesiastical Society in October 1740. One year later, the first church was organized and was referred to for some time as the Church of Christ in Torrington. Before the first meeting house was erected in 1746, services were held in the homes of the settlers. One of the first priorities was the need for protection. In October 1744, the settlers voted to build a fort near Ebenezer Lyman’s place on the west side of what is now Klug Hill Road. It was built to protect the people from attacks by the Indians from the north and west but in fact was probably more reassuring than useful. The fort, which was 75’ x 100’ was built of chestnut logs split in half and stood about eight feet high. The alarm usually was given by lighting signal fires on the hills from Albany eastward. In 1752, a committee voted to lay a highway from north to south through
the center of town. This was to become Main Street. Another road was
laid out along the west branch of the Naugatuck River until it met with
Main Street and was called Water Street. These two roads were intersected
by the old road coming down from the eastern hills. In 1801 this thoroughfare
was chartered as the Litchfield Turnpike, a toll road between West Simsbury
and Litchfield. The road followed what is now East Main Street and crossed
the river at Center Bridge. The old north south highway was later chartered
as the Waterbury Turnpike and it intersected the Litchfield Turnpike
at center bridge. The junction of these roads triggered commercial development
in this area which would later be known as Wolcottville and is now the
central business district or downtown Torrington. Major immigrants to Torrington in the mid 19th century included: English, Irish and Germans, who found employment opportunities in the growing factories and in building Torrington’s infrastructure. During the late nineteenth century both the Torrington Water Company and the Torrington Electric Company were founded. The Wolcottville Fire District was also formed at this time. Sewer lines were laid and sidewalks soon followed. By the 1890s the population had doubled from 6,000 to 12,000. New immigrants during this period included the Poles, Czechs, Slovaks, Italians and Lebanese. Most of the Italians came from Northern Italy and brought with them their skills as stonecutters, masons and carvers. Their architectural contributions to the city can still be seen today in its cut granite buildings and red brick masonry.
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This home on Pequot Avenue, Southport, Connecticut is a recently restored example of the Northrop Brothers fine carpentry and building in the Southport-Greeens Farms area.
Image Courtesy of David Parker Associates