Browsing named entities in Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing). You can also browse the collection for Litchfield (Connecticut, United States) or search for Litchfield (Connecticut, United States) in all documents.

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Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Pennymite and Yankee War. (search)
ians were to leave the valley. So ended the contest for 1771. The Yankees held the coveted domain, and, under the advice of the Connecticut Assembly, they organized civil government there upon a democratic system. The government was well administered, the colony rapidly increased, and the people were prosperous and happy. The settlement was incorporated with the colony of Connecticut, after a judicial decision in England. The territory was called Westmoreland, and attached to Litchfield county, Conn., and its representatives were admitted into the General Assembly. Wilkesbarre was laid out, and for four years peace smiled upon the beautiful valley. Suddenly, in the autumn of 1775, the Pennsylvanians, encouraged by Governor Penn, renewed the civil war, killing and imprisoning the inhabitants. The Continental Congress interfered in vain; but when the proprietary government was abolished, in the progress of the contest for independence, this Pennymite and Yankee War was suddenly
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Societies, religious and benevolent (search)
missions in 1820. The Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church was organized in 1837, and was sustained by the old school churches, while the other branch co-operated with the American board until 1870, as above mentioned. In 1859 a United Presbyterian Missionary Society was formed. Other denominations sustain foreign missions, and all are earnestly engaged in domestic missions. The first temperance society in the United States was formed in 1789 by 200 farmers in Litchfield county, Conn., who agreed not to use distilled liquors in doing their farm-work. Organized temperance societies began to be formed in 1811, but the total abstinence principle was not adopted until 1836, when a national convention held at Saratoga took that higher stand. The Washington Society, the first founded upon that principle, was organized in Baltimore in 1840 by six men of intemperate habits. At the first anniversary of the society 1,000 reformed drunkards were in the procession. Young
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Susquehanna settlers. (search)
nter into any negotiation. The Connecticut Assembly then made out a case and sent it to England for adjudication. It was submitted to the ablest lawyers in the realm, and was decided in favor of the Susquehanna Company. The decision was unheeded by Governor Penn. The Connecticut settlers, reinforced from time to time, persisted, and organized an independent government by town-meetings, as in Connecticut. In 1774 they united seven towns into one, Westmoreland, and attached it to Litchfield county, Conn. This desultory strife continued with loss of life and much suffering until the struggle was suspended by the war of the Revolution. These were the settlers that were killed and scattered in the fearful Wyoming massacre by the Tories and Indians in 1778. In 1779 and 1780 they again returned and occupied the valley. In the meanwhile the titles of the Penns had passed to the State, and although the struggle was kept up after the Revolution, negotiations were more direct. Pennsylvan
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Temperance societies. (search)
the governor-general in their behalf, also the King's counsel, on the pretext that the traffic was necessary to secure the good — will of the Indians. It was asserted that the evils of it were imaginary or much exaggerated. For once, however, philanthropy triumphed over sordid interest. The Bishop of Quebec went to France in 1678, and obtained a royal decree prohibiting the traffic under heavy penalties. The first modern temperance society was formed in 1789 by 200 farmers of Litchfield county, Conn., who agreed not to use any distilled liquor in doing their farmwork the ensuing season. Organized societies of a similar kind began to be formed in 1811, and in 1826 the first public temperance society was organized in the United States. The total abstinence principle was not adopted until 1836, when a national convention held at Saratoga, N. Y., took that higher stand. The Washingtonian Society, the first formed on total-abstinence principles, was organized in Baltimore in 1840
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Wolcott, Oliver 1747-1797 (search)
Wolcott, Oliver 1747-1797 Signer of the Declaration of Independence; born in Windsor, Conn., Nov. 26, 172;; graduated at Yale College in 1747; began studying medicine, but on being appointed sheriff of Litchfield county, in 1751, he abandoned it. He was in the council twelve years (1774-86); also a major-general of militia, and judge of the county court of common pleas and of probate. In 1775 Congress appointed him a commissioner of Indian affairs to secure the neutrality of the Six Nations, and he became a member of Congress in January, 1776. After the Declaration of Independence he returned to Connecticut, invested with the command of the militia intended for the defence of New York, and in November resumed his seat in Congress. Late in the summer of 1777 he joined the army under Gates with several hundred volunteers, and assisted in the capture of Burgoyne and his army. On the field of Saratoga he was made a brigadier-general in the Continental service. In 1786 he was c