Woodbury, Connecticut, USA (Hotchkissville)
1819 - Woodbury

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 of the farmers have small Distilleries upon their own estate, whereby they manufacture their cider into a spiritous liquor called cider brandy.

The natural growth of timber is oak of the different kinds, maple, elm, ash, birch, walnut, chesnut and other deciduous trees.

The town is watered by three considerable branches of Pomperaug river, which unite their waters in its southern section. These streams afford some good mill seats, and for their size, very extensive and valuable tracts of alluvial.

In this town, there are 2 located ecclesiastical Societies or Parishes, a Society of Episcopalians and some Methodists; 1 very pleasant village, containing 50 or 60 Dwelling house, 3 Churches, 2 fro Congregationalists and 1 for Episcopalians; a number of Stores, a Post office, & several professional offices.

The Danbury and Hartford turnpike road passes through the village, and the turnpike from Kent to New-Haven, through the town.

The manufactures and mechanical employments of the town, independent of those of a domestic character, consist of 2 Tinware Factories, 4 Clothier's works and Fulling Mills, 4 Carding Machines for wool, 3 Grain Mills, 3 Tanneries, and a number of cider Distilleries. There are 7 Mercantile Stores, 2 Taverns, 14 School districts and primary Schools, 1 Social Library, 3 Clergymen, 5 Attornies and 2 Physicians.

The population of the town, in 1810, was 1963; and there are about 300 Dwelling houses, 300 Freemen or Electors, and 2 Companies of Militia.

The amount of taxable property, including polls, is $42,246; and the valuation of the lands and building of the town, in 1815, for the levy of the direct tax of the United States, which comprised 19,528 acres, amounted to $604,175; being an average value of nearly $34 per acre. In 1799, the real estate of this town, together with Southbury, was apprised at $847,966.

Woodbury was incorporated in 1764.

A Gazetteer of the States of Connecticut and Rhode-Island: Written with Care and Impartiality, from Original and Authentic Materials : Consisting of Two Parts ... with an Accurate and Improved Map of Each State Authors John Chauncey Pease, John Milton Niles Publisher W.S. Marsh, 1819

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