11346,82 U S 1 4 9 8 6 5.3 HARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY า 77 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1872, by WILLIAM COTHREN, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress. PRESS OF THE STAFFORD PRINTING OFFICE, NEW HAVEN, CT. Դ INTRODUCTION TO THE SECOND VOLUME. OYFULLY do I bring this history to a close-a work of most arduous labor, -long-continued,-and heartily can I join in the aspiration;-"Oh! that mine enemy had written a book" especially a book of Town History! The work has grown upon my hands to a volume more than twice the size contemplated and promised. It became inevitable. We have made history faster, and more voluminously, during the last A faithful and twenty years, than for the preceding one hundred minute account of these years has been attempted. At the samne time, the careful inquiries and researches of the last twenty years, have added to the ancient history of the town an amount almost equal to that contained in the former volume, of most valuable and interesting matter. In this part of his work the author has been most ably aided by several antiquarian friends, and especially by the Rev. Benjamin L. Swan, of Oyster Bay, N. Y., a most careful and successful antiquarian scholar. Due credit has been given to each assistant in the pages of the volume, No work so elaborate, extended and complete, has been attempted in this country, and it will remain for the reader to decide, whether the author has accomplished his purpose of making it a model of its kind. Neither time, arduous labor, nor expense has been withheld by him. A large addition has been made to almost every chapter of the former work. The statistics of the several towns have been brought down to date, and include the results of the last election. As a book of statistics, it must remain for all time invaluable to all. In the genealogical part of the work, not only has all additional information in regard to the families in the former volume been added, but the genealogies of a large number of other fami lies have been included. Woodbury has been celebrated for its Bi-Centennial Celebrations. A full history of all these has been included in the work. A new feature in the work is exhibited in the illustrations. Mr. Henry Clay Curtis, an excellent artist, residing in Hartford, has profusely illustrated the work, so that the two volumes now contain about one hundred and sixty-seven cuts, of all kinds, inserted at great expense, contributing immensely to the attractions and and permanent value of the work. The question of the "Church dissensions in Stratford,” resulting in the settlement of Woodbury, has been seriously mooted. Every recorded item in the records has been carefully collected, and printed entire in the work, with such remarks and elucidations as seemed called for, placing the controversy, as it would seem, forever at rest. As the theory maintained in the former work had been adopted by all subsequent historians, State and Ecclesiastical, it seemed necessary to thoroughly examine the subject, and vindicate the "truth of history." A leading feature of the work is a minute history of the efforts of the several towns in the ancient territory to suppress the late Rebellion. The author has treated this subject in a manner entirely different from that pursued by the various historians of the The latter have written general histories. The authors war. were obliged to say such a General did this-such a Colonel did that. The author of this work has attempted to write an individal history of the war. Private A. did this-Sergeant B. did that. He has attempted to reveal the nerve and sinew which did most to accomplish the great result. He has given a complete list of all the soldiers from the ancient town, with particular incidents in regard to many of them. About 400 pages of the work are de voted to this history. It is believed that it will be one of the most satisfactory accounts of the incidents of the Rebellion to the private soldier. Finally, this work is now passed over for the examination of a discriminating public, upon its merits, and the author awaits its judgment with calm composure, believing it will be just. WILLIAM COTHREN. WOODBURY, May 1, 1872. |