Historical Milestone: Winchester/Winsted Settlement
When King Charles II passed away in 1685, James Stuart ascended the throne, becoming James II. During that time the Connecticut Colony divided its western parcels giving the ‘plantation of Hartford ‘ the lands of Winchester , New Hartford, and Eastern Harwinton. The lands of Colebrook, Barkhamsted, Torrington and Western Harwinton were given to Windsor, in January of 1686. It was specifically stipulated that these parcels could not be sold or settled. The Assembly had simply distributed them for ‘safekeeping’.
Months later, King James II issued a writ attempting to bring all of New England together under one government, The Dominion of New England, to be administered by Governor Edmond Andros. The Connecticut Colony delayed in submitting their Charter, forcing Andros to come to Hartford to seize it in October of 1687. They met at an inn commonly used for court, legislation and other government functions. Andros demanded the Charter. Connecticut Governor Treat laid out the Charter across the table. Debate ensued and continued well into the evening. Candles were lit. Windows were opened to refresh the room. A gust of wind blew out the candles, darkening the room. Though the candles were hastily relit, the Charter had mysteriously disappeared. Andros was forced to leave empty handed. Andros did assume the government of Connecticut , working with ex-Governor Treat as local administrator and council member for the Dominion until November 1688 when King James II was dethroned by William and Mary in the Glorious Revolution. Boston colonists arrested and imprisoned Andros. After an attempted escape, he was deported back to England where he was tried and immediately released.
Finally, in 1729 the Connecticut General Assembly agreed to release the Western land parcels. Hartford and Windsor allotted these lands to their taxpayers, determining acreage in proportion to the taxes paid in 1720. Winchester’s grants were released in 1744.
In this new grant, Caleb Beach of Goshen purchased the allotment of John and Sarah Belding, just east of Goshen, about ½ mile north of the Torrington Town Line. Beach built his home there making it the first home in Winchester in 1750. Within 6 years he returned to Goshen. His son, Joel inherited this property. Winchester was seen as a wayside stop as new settlers simply passed through seeking more fertile farmlands of Goshen and Canaan. In 1760 the Connecticut General Assembly ordered the construction of North Road in this area, to be completed before winter of 1761. The few families of Winchester could not cover their share of the costs, so workers were paid in land grants. North Road continued from Barkhamsted and on into Colebrook, heading for Albany. With easier accessibility, more settlers arrived hoping for cheap land, timber, and the water power to set up mills. By 1771, there were 32 families, (179 people). Winchester petitioned the General Assembly and was recognized as a township. During this period a small Baptist church, referred to as the Hemlock church, was built at the crossroads just west of the Barkhamsted border. The name ‘Winsted’ was coined by the congregants using both Winchester and Barkhamsted to embrace membership from both towns - ‘Winsted’. The church soon disappeared, but the name ‘Winsted’ remained, designating the industrialized village growing up between the Still River and North road.
DeMars, Frank H. & Bronson, Elliot P., Winsted and the Town of Winchester; Winsted, Conn.(1972). O’Brien, John Jr., Winchester, The Beginning of a Town and a Nation; Winsted,Conn. (1976). P.89 Schultz-Charette, Virginia, Winchester Connecticut, A History from Founding to Flood; History Press, Charleston, S.C.(2021).
