Colchester is a
town
A town is a human settlement. Towns are generally larger than villages and smaller than cities, though the criteria to distinguish between them vary considerably in different parts of the world.
Origin and use
The word "town" shares an ori ...
in
New London County
New London County is in the southeastern corner of Connecticut and comprises the Norwich-New London, Connecticut Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Hartford-East Hartford, Connecticut Combined Statistical Area. There i ...
,
Connecticut
Connecticut () is the southernmost state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. Its cap ...
,
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
. The population was 15,555 at the
2020 census.
In 2010 Colchester became the first town in Connecticut, and the 36th in the country, to be certified with the
National Wildlife Federation
The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) is the United States' largest private, nonprofit conservation education and advocacy organization, with over six million members and supporters, and 51 state and territorial affiliated organizations (includin ...
as a Community Wildlife Habitat.
The villages of Westchester and North Westchester are located within Colchester. The
town center village, which was previously incorporated as a
borough
A borough is an administrative division in various English-speaking countries. In principle, the term ''borough'' designates a self-governing walled town, although in practice, official use of the term varies widely.
History
In the Middle Ag ...
, is a
census-designated place
A census-designated place (CDP) is a concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only.
CDPs have been used in each decennial census since 1980 as the counterparts of incorporated places, such ...
, with a population of 4,700 at the 2020 census.
The Colchester area was part of the Mohegan territory at the time of European settlement. Several members of the
Paugussett
The Golden Hill Paugussett is a state-recognized Native American tribe in Connecticut. Granted reservations in a number of towns in the 17th century, their land base was whittled away until they were forced to reacquire a small amount of territor ...
tribe currently reside in Colchester, where the tribe (which also has a heritage property in
Trumbull) has a larger more recently acquired second reservation.
The Colchester Historical Society operates a local history museum in town.
History
Pre-Township and Becoming a Township
On March 31, 1661, the original settlement of Colchester, was founded by
Jeremy Adams upon a 340-acre area of land known as "Jerimiah's Farme". The land was given to Jeremy, by
Uncas
Uncas () was a ''sachem'' of the Mohegans who made the Mohegans the leading regional Indian tribe in lower Connecticut, through his alliance with the New England colonists against other Indian tribes.
Early life and family
Uncas was born n ...
, ''
Sachem
Sachems and sagamores are paramount chiefs among the Algonquians or other Native American tribes of northeastern North America, including the Iroquois. The two words are anglicizations of cognate terms (c. 1622) from different Eastern Al ...
'' of the
Mohegan
The Mohegan are an Algonquian Native American tribe historically based in present-day Connecticut. Today the majority of the people are associated with the Mohegan Indian Tribe, a federally recognized tribe living on a reservation in the easte ...
tribe.
Colchester's land stayed under the ownership of
Jeremy Adams and was not incorporated into any new county in 1666 (when Connecticut's first counties were created)
this is likely because of the closeness between both
Hartford County
Hartford County is a county located in the north central part of the U.S. state of Connecticut. According to the 2020 census, the population was 899,498, making it the second-most populous county in Connecticut. Hartford County contains the ...
and
New London County
New London County is in the southeastern corner of Connecticut and comprises the Norwich-New London, Connecticut Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Hartford-East Hartford, Connecticut Combined Statistical Area. There i ...
. Colchester was mainly a farming community with
Jeremy Adams raising cattle within the town. The abundance of farms in early Colchester is the reason Colchester is "A Right To Farm Community" in the present day. Colchester stayed as a farming community not within a county's borders until 1698.
On October 13, 1698, Michael Taintor II, Samuel Northam and
Nathaniel Foote III applied to go forth and settle the Town.
Jerimiah's Farme 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
Lebanon ( , ar, لُبْنَان, translit=lubnān, ), officially the Republic of Lebanon () or the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is located between Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, while Cyprus li ...
and
Norwich
Norwich () is a cathedral city and district of Norfolk, England, of which it is the county town. Norwich is by the River Wensum, about north-east of London, north of Ipswich and east of Peterborough. As the seat of the See of Norwich, with ...
. 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
(Saybrook residents specifically
), 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 named and incorporated into the colony of New London. After Colchester Officially became a town the land was divided among the original settlers and their ancestors. The town is said to be named after
Colchester
Colchester ( ) is a city in Essex, in the East of England. It had a population of 122,000 in 2011. The demonym is Colcestrian.
Colchester occupies the site of Camulodunum, the first major city in Roman Britain and its first capital. Colches ...
, a borough and port in
Essex, England
Essex () is a Ceremonial counties of England, county in the East of England. One of the home counties, it borders Suffolk and Cambridgeshire to the north, the North Sea to the east, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent across the estuary of the Riv ...
, where many colonists had emigrated from, most notably, where Nathaniel's grandfather
Nathaniel Foote
Nathaniel Foote (21 September 1592 – 20 November 1644), was an early English immigrant and surveyor to Connecticut who was born in Colchester, England. He was part of the settlement party that founded Wethersfield, Connecticut, the oldest town i ...
was born.
The 1700s
Nathaniel Foote and his family were some of the first to settle here and finished building their house in 1702.
The house began construction in 1699 by Nathaniel Foote III and was then finished by his son Nathaniel Foote IV.
On November 29, 1703,
a saw and grist mill were voted to be built by Israel and Samual Wyatt if they promised to maintain the mill for the town's use.
The first schoolmaster began operations in 1705, and a schoolhouse was finished in 1711.
In 1707 or earlier, a cemetery was built behind where
Bacon Academy
Bacon Academy is a public high school in Colchester, Connecticut, in the United States.
In 1800 a prominent Colchester farmer, Pierpont Bacon, died and left an endowment of thirty-five thousand dollars (with buying power equivalent to that of abou ...
would later be built. The cemetery later held people like Reverend John Bulkeley, Dr. John Watrous, Pierpont Bacon, and his wife, Abigail Bacon. In 1708 Colchester re-joined
Hartford county
Hartford County is a county located in the north central part of the U.S. state of Connecticut. According to the 2020 census, the population was 899,498, making it the second-most populous county in Connecticut. Hartford County contains the ...
,
and a second religious meeting house was built.
On December 31, 1712, at a legal town meeting held in Colchester, Capt Gilbert Wyatt and Mr. Darnell Clark were Chosen, Selectmen.
On December 28, 1713, Samuel Northam, Thomas Day, and Ebenezer Colman were chosen for a school committee ensuing year.
At a town meeting on June 12, 1716, it was voted to finish the schoolhouse where the foundation of the said house was the only partly standing.
The selectmen Committee for the school has agreed with Nathaniel Loomis Jr. (He and his family are from
Windsor
Windsor may refer to:
Places Australia
* Windsor, New South Wales
** Municipality of Windsor, a former local government area
* Windsor, Queensland, a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland
**Shire of Windsor, a former local government authority around Wi ...
) to keep school for twelve months and give him twenty-five pounds and ten shillings. He began to keep building the school. On December 8, 1729, Ensign Foote, Ensign Wells, and Israel Newton were chosen as Selectmen. The constables were selected at the same meeting, being Joseph Chamberlain and Isaac Jones.
On June 3, 1774, Stephen Goodwin wrote to the
Hartford Courant
The ''Hartford Courant'' is the largest daily newspaper in the U.S. state of Connecticut, and is considered to be the oldest continuously published newspaper in the United States. A morning newspaper serving most of the state north of New Haven ...
that he had a runaway slave. The slave was named Jefferey and rode away on horseback. A reward was said to be given out if said horse or Jefferey was found (6 dollars for Jeffery and 4 for the horse).
In 1756 Colchester's population was 2,300 people. In 1761 Michael Taintor built Taintors Farm, which stayed in the family until the early 20th century.
The
Nathaniel Hayward
Nathaniel Manley Hayward (January 19, 1808 – July 18, 1865) was a US businessman and inventor best known for selling a patent to Charles Goodyear that Goodyear later used to develop the process of vulcanization
Biography
Nathaniel Haywar ...
house was built in 1775 for Dudley Wright;
The house was lived in by Dr. John Watrous and his wife (who was Dudley Wright's daughter). The house was later sold in 1848 and lived in by
Nathaniel Hayward
Nathaniel Manley Hayward (January 19, 1808 – July 18, 1865) was a US businessman and inventor best known for selling a patent to Charles Goodyear that Goodyear later used to develop the process of vulcanization
Biography
Nathaniel Haywar ...
. The lawn of this house was the original town green. In 1777 Breed's Tavern was built, which is most known for being one of the two remaining sites associated with the Wooster Masonic Lodge.
In 1782 Colchester had 3,300 inhabitants.
Several men went into the
revolutionary war, many of them died. One of which was Ephraim Little Jr., son of the 2nd Reverend of Colchester. In 1783 Colchester rejoined
New London County
New London County is in the southeastern corner of Connecticut and comprises the Norwich-New London, Connecticut Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Hartford-East Hartford, Connecticut Combined Statistical Area. There i ...
after being within
Hartford County
Hartford County is a county located in the north central part of the U.S. state of Connecticut. According to the 2020 census, the population was 899,498, making it the second-most populous county in Connecticut. Hartford County contains the ...
.
On Thursday, January 29, 1784,
Congress
A congress is a formal meeting of the representatives of different countries, constituent states, organizations, trade unions, political parties, or other groups. The term originated in Late Middle English to denote an encounter (meeting of a ...
suggested a tax, and the representatives of Colchester (Capt. Buckley and Col. Worthington) voted not to have it go into effect. In 1785 the Foote Family house was built by Nathaniel Foote and was lived in by his family. The
Henry Champion House was built in 1790 by architect William Sprat. for
Colonel Henry Champion who was active in the revolution and a military figure.
A list of the freemen of the town
of Colchester in 1730 — Michael Taintor, Michael Taintor Junior, James Newton, Samuel Northam, Thorn Day, Richard Carrier, Ebeneezer Skinner, Daniel Clark, Daniel Clark Junior, Israel Wyatt, Decon Loomis, Wm Roberts, Nathaniel Loomis, Josh Wright, Josiah Gillet, Josiah Gillet Junior, Ebeneezer Dibell, Capt Gilbert John Adams, John Adams Junior, Decon Skiner, Richard Skinner, Nathaniel Skinner, Benjamin Skinner, Josh Prat, Nathaniell Kellogg, Ephrem Foot, Jos Pumery, Thorn Brown, Noah Wells, Josh Chamberlin, Josiah Foote, James Mun, Ensign John Skinner, Ebeneezer Kellogg, James Brown, Andrew Carrier, Richard Church, Mr Bulkley John Day, Jonathan Gillet, Jonathan Kellogg, Nathaniel Foote, Ebeneezer Coleman, Charles Williams, Clement Cithophell, John Chapman, Senior Ephream Wells, Josiah Phelps, John Holms, William Roberts, Josiah Gates, Joseph Foote and John Johnson
The 1800s
On 13 Oct 1803 the town of
Marlborough
Marlborough may refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* Marlborough, Wiltshire, England
** Marlborough College, public school
* Marlborough School, Woodstock in Oxfordshire, England
* The Marlborough Science Academy in Hertfordshire, England
Austral ...
,
Hartford County
Hartford County is a county located in the north central part of the U.S. state of Connecticut. According to the 2020 census, the population was 899,498, making it the second-most populous county in Connecticut. Hartford County contains the ...
was created from parts of the towns of Colchester,
Glastonbury
Glastonbury (, ) is a town and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated at a dry point on the low-lying Somerset Levels, south of Bristol. The town, which is in the Mendip district, had a population of 8,932 in the 2011 census. Glastonbury ...
,
Hartford County
Hartford County is a county located in the north central part of the U.S. state of Connecticut. According to the 2020 census, the population was 899,498, making it the second-most populous county in Connecticut. Hartford County contains the ...
, and
Hebron
Hebron ( ar, الخليل or ; he, חֶבְרוֹן ) is a Palestinian. city in the southern West Bank, south of Jerusalem. Nestled in the Judaean Mountains, it lies above sea level. The second-largest city in the West Bank (after East J ...
,
Tolland County
Tolland County is a county in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Connecticut. As of the 2020 census, its population was 149,788. It is incorporated into 13 towns and was originally formed on 13 October 1785 from portions of eastern H ...
.
In the 1807 election for governor of Connecticut, Colchester voted 105 for
Trumbull and 12 for Hart, a majority for
Trumbull.
On May 27, 1807, heavy cattle losses were reported because of stray dogs biting them.
The following year (1808), Colchester voted for
Trumbull’s re-election (135 to 24). In 1810 Colchester voted for the governor, 82 for
Treadwell, 61 for
Griswold, and 16 for Spalding.
On March 6th, 1821, John Turner sold the southern green to
Bacon Academy
Bacon Academy is a public high school in Colchester, Connecticut, in the United States.
In 1800 a prominent Colchester farmer, Pierpont Bacon, died and left an endowment of thirty-five thousand dollars (with buying power equivalent to that of abou ...
Trustees for $100 ($2,800 in 2018).
A hatter came in 1828.
In 1836, a town description was written in "Connecticut Historical Collections" stating that excellent quality iron ore was found. Colchester was hilly and stony in some parts of town.
Hebron
Hebron ( ar, الخليل or ; he, חֶבְרוֹן ) is a Palestinian. city in the southern West Bank, south of Jerusalem. Nestled in the Judaean Mountains, it lies above sea level. The second-largest city in the West Bank (after East J ...
’s furnaces later used the ore in 1899. In "Connecticut Historical Collections" the school for colored children is mentioned; considering this book was released in 1836, the school could not have been more than 43 years old. Unbeknownst to
John Barber (the writer of this book), he got to see it only four years before its ending. On August 8, 1844, Special Park Committee meeting reported costs to acquire 3 ½ acres of land plus costs of posts and rails to line the perimeter for $398 (about $13,000).
In March 1850, The borough petitioned for a special meeting for land donation by
Nathaniel Hayward
Nathaniel Manley Hayward (January 19, 1808 – July 18, 1865) was a US businessman and inventor best known for selling a patent to Charles Goodyear that Goodyear later used to develop the process of vulcanization
Biography
Nathaniel Haywar ...
. His proposal was a donation of land if the borough laid a tax of $1,000 to defray expenses of fences and grading land (about $32,000).
The proposal was approved. In 1851 Work was completed for the new Town Park. The borough passes ordinances to ban cows from the park.
Borough records showed the town immediately designated the park as a source of income. This included land rental for circus, shows, and sales of grasses and hay.
Colchester Bank
The first known mention of the bank, was on June 19, 1856, when the
Senate
A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...
agreed to pass a bill incorporating the bank.
On October 11, 1856, the bank's stockholders met and decided on a board of directors. They are as follows, Albert B. Isham, Stephen Brainard Day (Isaac's Buell's brother), William G. Buell, and Samuel F. Jones Jr. (who would later be the main accomplice in the Colchester bank scandal).
In the same meeting, Isaac Biglow Buell (the cousin of Harvey Post Buell, a successful druggist, and pharmacist in Colchester) was chosen as president. The bank reportedly began the same day.
The 2000s
In July 2005, Colchester was named by CNN's Money Magazine, the 57th best place in the U.S. to live in and is celebrated every year with a festival on the last Saturday of September called 57 Fest.
Geography
According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...
, the town has a total area of , of which is land and , or 1.49%, is water. Among the many waterways are the
Salmon River,
Jeremy River
The Jeremy River, named after Jeremy Adams, begins at a drainage just north of Holbrook Pond about east of Gilead, Connecticut and runs for to the Salmon River in Colchester, Connecticut.U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset hi ...
, and Dickinson Creek, which is spanned by the
Lyman Viaduct
The Lyman Viaduct is a buried railroad trestle built over Dickinson Creek in Colchester, Connecticut in 1873. Along with the nearby Rapallo Viaduct, it is one of the few surviving wrought iron railroad trestles from the first generation of such str ...
.
Principal communities
*
Colchester center
The Colchester Village Historic District encompasses most of the historic village center of Colchester, Connecticut. It is located at the junction of Route 16, Route 85, and Norwich Avenue (old Route 2). Roughly, the district extends to the no ...
*
Golden Hill Paugussett Reservation
The Golden Hill Paugussett is a State recognized tribes, state-recognized Native Americans in the United States, Native American tribe in Connecticut. Granted reservations in a number of towns in the 17th century, their land base was whittled away ...
*North Westchester
*Westchester
Climate
This
climatic
Climate is the long-term weather pattern in an area, typically averaged over 30 years. More rigorously, it is the mean and variability of meteorological variables over a time spanning from months to millions of years. Some of the meteorologic ...
region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the
Köppen Climate Classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by German-Russian climatologist Wladimir Köppen (1846–1940) in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen, notabl ...
system, Colchester has a
humid continental climate
A humid continental climate is a climatic region defined by Russo-German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1900, typified by four distinct seasons and large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and freezing ...
, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.
Climate Summary for Colchester, Connecticut
/ref>
Activities
The Salmon River State Forest
Salmon River State Forest is a Connecticut state forest located in the towns of Hebron, Marlborough, Colchester, East Haddam, and East Hampton. It includes leased from the United States government. The forest features Comstock's Bridge, the o ...
provides opportunities for fishing, hiking, and hunting.
Landmarks
Formerly an incorporated borough
A borough is an administrative division in various English-speaking countries. In principle, the term ''borough'' designates a self-governing walled town, although in practice, official use of the term varies widely.
History
In the Middle Ag ...
, the town center of Colchester is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...
as a historic district
A historic district or heritage district is a section of a city which contains older buildings considered valuable for historical or architectural reasons. In some countries or jurisdictions, historic districts receive legal protection from c ...
, known as the Colchester Village Historic District
The Colchester Village Historic District encompasses most of the historic village center of Colchester, Connecticut. It is located at the junction of Route 16, Route 85, and Norwich Avenue (old Route 2). Roughly, the district extends to the n ...
. The walkable center includes a town green with a veterans' memorial. Retail stores and restaurants are located here.
Schools
Colchester has four schools: Colchester Elementary School (Pre K-2), Jack Jackter Intermediate School (Grades 3–5), William J. Johnston Middle School (Grades 6–8), Bacon Academy
Bacon Academy is a public high school in Colchester, Connecticut, in the United States.
In 1800 a prominent Colchester farmer, Pierpont Bacon, died and left an endowment of thirty-five thousand dollars (with buying power equivalent to that of abou ...
(Grades 9–12).
Demographics
As of the census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...
of 2000, there were 14,551 people, 5,225 households, and 3,997 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 5,407 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 94.53% White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...
, 2.37% African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
, 0.42% Native American, 0.60% Asian
Asian may refer to:
* Items from or related to the continent of Asia:
** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia
** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia
** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...
, 0.01% Pacific Islander
Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe the original p ...
, 0.75% from other races
Other often refers to:
* Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy
Other or The Other may also refer to:
Film and television
* ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack
* ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...
, and 1.32% from two or more races. Hispanic
The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad.
The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...
or Latino
Latino or Latinos most often refers to:
* Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America
* Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States
* The people or cultures of Latin America;
** Latin A ...
of any race were 1.92% of the population.
There were 5,225 households, out of which 43.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.9% were married couples
Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...
living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.5% were non-families. 18.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 29.8% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 36.5% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 9.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $64,807, and the median income for a family was $62,346. Males had a median income of $47,123 versus $29,250 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population.
Per capita i ...
for the town was $24,038. About 6.1% of families and 2.7% of the population were below the poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...
, including 1.6% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.
Notable people
* John Adams
John Adams (October 30, 1735 – July 4, 1826) was an American statesman, attorney, diplomat, writer, and Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father who served as the second president of the United States from 1797 to 1801. Befor ...
(1772–1863), founder of Phillips Exeter Academy
(not for oneself) la, Finis Origine Pendet (The End Depends Upon the Beginning) gr, Χάριτι Θεοῦ (By the Grace of God)
, location = 20 Main Street
, city = Exeter, New Hampshire
, zipcode ...
, was the principal of the Bacon Academy here from 1803 to 1810
* William Adams (1807–1880), born in Colchester, noted clergyman and president of Union Theological Seminary (New York)
Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York (UTS) is a private ecumenical Christian liberal seminary in Morningside Heights, Manhattan, affiliated with neighboring Columbia University. Since 1928, the seminary has served as Columbia's co ...
* Stephen F. Austin
Stephen Fuller Austin (November 3, 1793 – December 27, 1836) was an American-born empresario. Known as the "Father of Texas" and the founder of Anglo Texas,Hatch (1999), p. 43. he led the second and, ultimately, the successful colonization ...
(1793–1836), "Father of Texas", attended Bacon Academy in 1803
* Edward Sheffield Bartholomew (1822–1858), sculptor
* Eliphalet Adams Bulkeley
Eliphalet Adams Bulkeley (June 20, 1803 – February 13, 1872) was an American business executive, politician, and first president of the Aetna Insurance Company.
Life and career
Bulkeley was born June 20, 1803, in Colchester, Connecticut, the ...
(1803–1872), Bacon Academy graduate (1819), state senator, state's attorney and founder of Aetna
Aetna Inc. () is an American managed health care company that sells traditional and consumer directed health care insurance and related services, such as medical, pharmaceutical, dental, behavioral health, long-term care, and disability plans, ...
Insurance Company (1846)
* Jonathan Coulton
Jonathan William Coulton (born December 1, 1970), often called "JoCo" by fans, is an American folk/comedy singer-songwriter, known for his songs about geek culture and his use of the Internet to draw fans. Among his most popular songs are " Co ...
(born 1970), singer-songwriter
* John B. Day
John Bailey Day (September 23, 1847 – January 25, 1925) was an American tobacco merchant who became an owner and manager in professional baseball of the late 19th century. He was the first owner of the franchise now known as the San Francisco ...
(1847-1925), tobacco merchant and first owner of the New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Giants compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East division. ...
baseball team
* Rick Derringer
Rick Derringer (born Richard Dean Zehringer; August 5, 1947) is an American guitarist, vocalist, producer and songwriter. He came to prominence in the 1960s as founding member of his band, the McCoys. Their debut single, "Hang on Sloopy", was ...
(born 1947), rock artist and producer
* Henry C. Deming
Henry Champion Deming (May 23, 1815 – October 8, 1872) was a politician and writer who served as U.S. Representative from Connecticut, the mayor Hartford, the acting military mayor of New Orleans, and a member of the Connecticut House of Repr ...
(1815–1872), mayor of Hartford
Hartford is the capital city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It was the seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960. It is the core city in the Greater Hartford metropolitan area. Census estimates since the ...
, mayor of , colonel in the Union Army
During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union (American Civil War), Union of the collective U.S. st ...
and U.S. congressman
The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...
* Alfred Ely (1815–1892), US congressman of New York and taken prisoner after the First Battle of Bull Run
The First Battle of Bull Run (the name used by Union forces), also known as the Battle of First Manassas
* Ezra Hall Gillett
Ezra Hall Gillett (1823–1875) was an American clergyman and author.
Biography
Ezra Hall Gillett was born at Colchester, Connecticut on July 15, 1823. He graduated in 1841 at Yale, and in 1844 at the Union Theological Seminary, and became past ...
(1823–1875), author, clergyman, and professor
* Nathaniel Hayward
Nathaniel Manley Hayward (January 19, 1808 – July 18, 1865) was a US businessman and inventor best known for selling a patent to Charles Goodyear that Goodyear later used to develop the process of vulcanization
Biography
Nathaniel Haywar ...
(1808–1865), Inventor, Business Owner
* Prince Saunders
Prince Saunders (1775– January 22, 1839) was an African American teacher, scholar, diplomat, and author who different sources say was born in either Lebanon, Connecticut, or Thetford, Vermont. During his life, Saunders helped set up schools for ...
(1775–1839), attorney general of the Republic of Haiti
Haiti (; ht, Ayiti ; French: ), officially the Republic of Haiti (); ) and formerly known as Hayti, is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean Sea, east of Cuba and Jamaica, and so ...
* Lyman Trumbull
Lyman Trumbull (October 12, 1813 – June 25, 1896) was a lawyer, judge, and United States Senator from Illinois and the co-author of the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
Born in Colchester, Connecticut, Trumbull esta ...
(1813–1896), born in Colchester, Bacon Academy graduate (1829), became influential as a U.S. senator representing the state of Illinois
Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolita ...
during the Civil War and Reconstruction
* Abigail Goodrich Whittelsey (1788–1858), editor
* Denison Worthington (1806–1880), Wisconsin
Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...
state senator
* Ron Wotus
Ronald Allan Wotus (born March 3, 1961) is an American retired professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a shortstop and second baseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates, and served as third base coach for the ...
(born 1961), Bacon Academy
Bacon Academy is a public high school in Colchester, Connecticut, in the United States.
In 1800 a prominent Colchester farmer, Pierpont Bacon, died and left an endowment of thirty-five thousand dollars (with buying power equivalent to that of abou ...
graduate (1979), San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are an American professional baseball team based in San Francisco, California. The Giants compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1883 as the New Yor ...
bench coach
References
Colchester Historical Society
External links
Town of Colchester official website
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Towns in New London County, Connecticut
Towns in Connecticut