Bristol Historic Homes

By Lynda J. Russell

Bristol, originally known as West Woods, formed later than other Colonial towns. Bristol s mother town of Farmington was settled in 1640 and became a town in 1645, but pioneers did not lay out the remote and unpopulated section of Farmington until 1721. The Jerome, Matthews, and Lewis families created the New Cambridge Parish in 1742, and it was this parish that separated from Farmington and finally formed the town of Bristol in 1785. In Bristol Historic Homes, readers will meet these families and other important figures, such as Ebenezer Barns. Barns built the first permanent home in 1728, and this structure later became a tavern and community center. Through wonderfully preserved vintage photographs, this volume shows how an agricultural community grew and prospered as a variety of skilled tradesmen brought hard work and vision to this beautiful area.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
• Release date: Mar 15, 2006
• ISBN: 9781439616475

Lynda J. Russell

Lynda J. Russell, a resident of Bristol, is the author of Images of America: Bristol Historic Homes, Plainville, Lake Compounce, and Bristol Business and Industry. In addition to being a member of the historical societies in Bristol and Plainville, she serves on the City of Bristol Historic District Commission.

Book preview

Fund.

INTRODUCTION

In 1636, Rev. Thomas Hooker and about 100 people settled along the Connecticut River in an area now known as Hartford. As the population grew, settlers went west near the Farmington River, where the Tunxis Indians lived.

In 1640, the Farmington Parish, which included Bristol, Burlington, Avon, Plainville, Southington, Forestville, New Britain, and Berlin, was established. It became incorporated in 1645. The West Woods section of Farmington stayed unsettled until 1728, when Ebenezer Barns became the first permanent settler. His father, Thomas Barns, was one of the Farmington proprietors who had been granted land. Other early settlers followed, and in 1744, New Cambridge became a parish. The first church and school were erected on Federal Hill, and the common green was used for militia training. New Cambridge became the Town of Bristol in 1785.

After Middle Road Turnpike (Route 6 today) opened in 1803, commercial activity began with North Village, where stores opened and prospered. The South Village, along the Pequabuck River, also grew in the 1820s near the location of the Chauncey Jerome Clock Shop. In 1850, the Hartford, Providence and Fishkill Railroad passed through the North and South Villages of Bristol. A depot was then placed between these two villages, establishing the downtown area of Bristol.

As industry grew from clock making to other manufacturing, several families became very wealthy and built elaborate homes on Federal Hill. They included the Ingraham, Sessions, Treadway, Peck, Barns, Seymour, Page, and Rockwell families, who are all noted in this book.

As new families arrived, some worked in the factories, while others started their own businesses. Because of this, homes and apartments were built all over town.

I dedicate this book to the people of Bristol, past and present, who have made Bristol the great city it is today.

FEDERAL HILL GREEN. This is an early view of Federal Hill Green.

One

EARLY SETTLEMENT 1728–1799

KING’S HIGHWAY (NOW KING STREET). Ebenezer Barns, youngest son of Thomas Barns of Farmington, became the first permanent settler of West Woods in 1728. He lived in this home, which was built on the land that was originally given to his father in 1663. Eventually, the home became a tavern and was later owned by the Pierce family, who stayed there through five generations. At its demolition in 1939, it was 211 years old.

1276 BURLINGTON AVENUE. Abraham Bartholomew, son of Isaac Bartholomew and Rebecca Bartholomew (née Frisbie), and his wife, Hannah Bartholomew (née Page), owned this house, known as Bartemy Tavern. Built around 1785, it was located between two parishes, West Britain (now Burlington) and New Cambridge. The first town meetings were held across the street, under a tree known as the Peaceable Oak Tree.

CHIPPENS HILL. Steven and Ruth Graves lived in this area, known as the Ledges, near Tory’s Den. Large bands of patriots hid here. The home was later owned by Prof. John C. Riggs around 1778.

14 DANIEL ROAD. Benjamin Buck and his wife, Mercy Buck (née Parsons), originally from Southington, built this home in 1729. They lived here until 1736. Others who lived here were Ebenezer Hambil, Eliezer Peck, Obadiah Andres, Asa Upson, and the Parsons family. This is the oldest home in Bristol.

105 HILL STREET. Caleb Mathews and Ruth Mathews (née Connor) built this home in 1745. They were two of the first settlers in this area. Mathews helped form the first militia company. His daughter Chloe Mathews married Constant Loyal Tuttle, and later the home became known as the Constant Loyal Tuttle House. The house still stands today.

367 JEROME AVENUE. William Jerome, son of Timothy Jerome and Abigail Jerome (née Rich), came to New Cambridge in 1741 with his two brothers, Timothy and Zerubbabel. William and his wife, Elizabeth Jerome (née Hart), bought the land adjacent to this home in 1741, and in 1742, they purchased this home from Caleb Palmer, the original builder. The Jeromes were one of the first families to own slaves in the area, and once freed, they continued to live on the property.

Reviews for Bristol Historic Homes

[ryan9shuck · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very detailed book - contains images I've been unable to find anywhere else after extensive internet research. The coverage, from what I can see, is mostly in relation to the Federal Hill area of Bristol, and there are tons of pictures that show the homes in their previous appearance. Joel T. Case's homes are featured somewhat prominently, and that is the reason I bought this book. Amazon's "look inside" feature showed one house in particular that I am very interested in, and it was worth the money just for that.