LIFE

In the years leading up to the American Revolution the people of the Middletown Upper Houses became increasingly involved in a burgeoning but under-documented coastal trade operating out of the village. Like many merchants along the Connecticut River, these maritime businessmen owned and sometimes operated vessels that sailed to and from the West Indies and along the Eastern seaboard, trading local produce for molasses and rum, the most lucrative products of the sugar cane gr

“The citizens of Cromwell manifested their delight on Wednesday evening upon attaining the dignity of a free and independent township, by the firing of guns, burning of tar-barrels and sundry other demonstrations usual upon such occasion.” –Hartford Courant, June 23, 1851

“The serpent shook its head and its tail in an extraordinary manner and advanced toward the ship with open jaws. I had caused the cannon to be reloaded, but he had come so near that all the crew were seized with terror and we thought only of getting out of his way.