History of Woodbury, Connecticut, USA

In 1673 the original settlers of Woodbury drew up an agreement called the “Fundamental Articles,” which proclaimed that as many settlers as could be accommodated would be welcomed to the new settlement. The Fundamental Articles stated that expenses of establishing the settlement would be shared by its inhabitants, and that no one was to be given more than twenty-five or less than ten acres of land. Other sections of the articles provided for common land and land saved to be divided up for future inhabitants of the settlement.

Meeting of 10 Anglican clergy at Glebe House, Woodbury, leads to consecration of Bishop Samuel Seabury and beginning of Protestant Episcopal Church in United States.

Woodbury is a flourishing post town, situated on the southern border of the county, 36 miles from Hartford, 25 from New-Haven, and 15 from Litchfield; bounded on the north by Washington and Bethlem, on the east by Watertown and Middlebury, in New-Haven county, on the south by Southbury, and on the west by Roxbury. Its average length, from north to south, is about 7 miles, and its average breadth from east to west, is nearly 6 miles, comprising about 41 square miles.

The face of the country is of an undulating character, being pleasantly diversified with hill and dale; upon the streams, however, there are intervals of considerable extent, which with some other tracts are level. The soil is generally a gravelly loam, warm and fertile; it is well adapted to grain, and carries good crops of rye, oats, Indian corn, &c. The lands are favourable for fruit, and there are many valuable apple orchards; so that the making of cider and cider spirits are important agricultural interests. Many...

The Post Office at Woodbury, Conn. was broken open on the night of the 28th ult. and robbed of all the letters received, and those deposited the day previous for the southern mail. A part of the letters were subsequently found, broken open, in the grave yard.

Woodbury, Connecticut
Litchfield county. The settlement of this town commenced in the year 1672; in 1674, it was incorporated.

This is a good grazing township; the soil is generally warm and fertile. Between four and five thousand sheep are annually sheared in Woodbury.

The village is situated in a pleasant valley, and watered by a number of small streams, which form the Pomperaug. It is surrounded by high hills on every side, forming a kind of amphitheatre, which renders it strikingly romantic. The village contains some handsome buildings, three satinet, one tin and two nail factories. This place lies 25 miles N.W. from New Haven, 36 W.S.W. from Hartford, and 15 S. from Litchfield. Population in 1830, 2,049.

Bethel Rock, near the village of Woodbury, is about forty feet in height, and projects over 3 or 4 feet, forming a kind of shelter from the wind and rain. There is a fine grove near it. This spot is frequently visited; it excites solemn and pleasing...

This was by far the largest and most destructive freshet that the town has suffered since its first settlement. A continued torrent of water fell for several hours, raising the river and streams to a point three feet higher than was known by the "oldest inhabitant," and three feet higher than the "old Indian marks." The damage done was immense. Bridges, mills, dams, stacks of hay and other property, all disappeared before the angry flood. Many roads and intervales were destroyed, and all within reach of danger were more or less injured. The loss of all kinds to the town of Woodbury, must have been from $15,000 to $20,000. To Roxbury, the loss was probably $8,000 or $10,000. The rise of the river at Shepaug Falls, was about twenty-five, or some four feet higher than had been known before. Similar damage in character and amount was done in Southbury, Washington, and other neighboring towns. All this happened in an incredibly short lime, forming the most remarkable flood, in all...