Union, Connecticut, USA
1819 - Union

Union, an elevated interior township, is situated 33 miles northeasterly from Hartford, and 67 from New-Haven. It is bounded on the north by Massachusetts line, on the east by Woodstock, on the south by Ashford and Willington, and on the west by Stafford. Its extent, from east to west, is between 5 and 6 miles, and from north to south about the same; containing nearly 30 square miles, or about 19,000 acres.

The surface is broken, being hilly and rocky. Its geological structure consists of granite, micaceous schistus, and other primitive rocks, being a part of the granitic region composing the elevated tract in the eastern part of the State. Iron ore has been found in considerable quantities, but the mineralogy of the town has not been explored by the skilfulness of art, or with the judgement of scientific knowledge.

The soil is a mixture of loam and gravel. Its natural growth is oak, chesnut, walnut, beech, maple, ash, birch, wild cherry, pin and other perennial trees. The lands, when first cleared and cultivated, produce one heavy crop of rye, or wheat, and afterwards make good pasturing or mowing. They are also adapted to the growth of corn, oats, buck wheat, barley, flax, potatoes, &c. The apple tree flourishes well, and there are some orchards in the town.

Quinibaug river, (erroneously considered by most geographers to rise in Brimfield, in Massachusetts,) has its principal sources from two ponds, Mashapaug & Breakneck, both situated wholly within the town of Union.

The Mashapaug branch of the Quinibaug river receives the waters of several small streams, having their sources within this town, and greatly exceeds, bot in its size and the length of its course, the Brimfield branch. The Breakneck branch is also larger than that, having its source in Brimfield, and unites with the Mashapaug in Sturbridge...

Union, in 1810, contained 752 inhabitants; and there are now about 100 qualified Electors, 1 Company of Militia and 120 Dwelling houses.

There are 2 Mercantile Stores, 9 Saw Mills, 1 Grain Mill and 1 Tannery.

There is 1 Congregational Society and Church, and 1 Society of Methodists, having a house for public worship, 6 District Schools and 1 Social Library. There is one Physician, who is the only professional character in the town, there being no Clergymen or Lawyers.

This town furnishes a striking example of the inequality and injustice of the principle of representation in this State, and of the prevalence of the "borough system" of England. Union, with a population of 752, and with a list of 17,000 dollars, has an equal representation with New-Haven, which has a population of more than 7000, and a list of $133,000; having more than nine times the inhabitants of Union, and paying nearly eight times the amount of taxes; and upon a more just principle of taxation, the difference in this respect would be more conspicuous.

Union was incorporated as a town in 1734.

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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