History of Durham, Connecticut, USA

Originally called Coginchaug, the Native American word for “long swamp,” the area was frequented by the Mattabesset, an Algonquin people.

Durham is a post town, situated in the western section of the county 20 miles south of Hartford, and 18 northeast from New-Haven; bounded north on Middletwon, east on Haddam, south on Guilford and Killingworth, and west on Wallingford.

This is a small township, averaging about 6 miles in length from east to west, and nearly 4 in breadth from north to south, comprising an area of about 23 square miles.

The prevailing character of the surface is undulating; exhibiting an agreeable and interesting diversity of moderate hills and gentle declivities and dales. The eastern and western border are somewhat broken and mountainous.

This township is situated at the commencement of the agrillaceous district extending to the north upon Connecticut river; being partly included within it, and partly within the granitic region which prevails upon the borders of Long Island sound. Within the clay slate strata, there is an exhaustless quarry of sandstone, which is a very valuable...

The tract of land comprising Durham was formerly supposed to be included in the limits of the neighboring towns, until they were surveyed, when a tract was found to be left. This was considered small for a distinct plantation or town, and does not appear to have been contemplated with that view for a long period. The Legislature however granted many lots or farms in it to persons who had performed important services to the colony. In this way more than 5,000 acres became the property of individuals widely dispersed in the state, before any settlement was made.

"In 1698, however, David Seward, from Guilford, moved into the town, and some of his neighbors contemplated following him. The next spring, therefore, a petition was presented to the Legislature, signed by thirty one inhabitants of that town, that there might be a plantation at Coginchaug, the Indian name of Durham. This was urged on the ground that Coginchaug was so far from other settlements that the people could not go to...

Durham, Connecticut
Middlesex county. This town was first settled in 1698. Its Indian name was Coginchaug. It lies 7 miles S. by W. from Middletown and 20 S. from Hartford. Population, 1830, 1,116. Agriculture is the principal employment of the people of Durham, for which they have rather an uneven but fertile soil. "This town has been distinguished for many years for a very fine breed of cattle. Two oxen, presented by some of the inhabitants to General Washington, furnished a dinner for all the officers of the American army at Valley Forge, and all their servants. These oxen were driven almost five hundred miles, through a country nearly exhausted for forage; yet one of them, a steer, five years old, weighed two thousand two hundred and seventy pounds."

Capt. Israel Camp, a noted psalmodist, died in Durham, in 1778.

Durham, a post-township of Middlesex county, Connecticut, 20 miles S. of Hartford. Population, 1026.

DURHAM, a township of Middlsex co., in the state of Connecticut, 21 m. S of Hartford, watered by West river, a tributary of the Connecticut. It has a hilly surface, but is generally fertile. Pop. 1,095.

Durham, a post-village of Middlesex co., Conn., in Durham township, 3 miles from Middlefield Railroad Station, and about 17 miles N.E. of New Haven. It contains 3 churches, the Durham Academy, and manufactures of tinware and witch hazel. Pop. of the township, 856.

June 16, 1916, it was voted and approved to hold a fair in Durham. The first fair was held entirely on the Durham Town Green.