New bridge across Great River in the Neck.
1796. Watering place for horses and cattle established on Danbury road between Israel Camp’s and Ephraim Buck’s.
The Union Circulating Library established.
1797. Col. Samuel Canfield’s name stands at the head of the tax list of the town. He was the son of Samuel Canfield, Esq., who was the first Canfield in New Milford and one of the Judges of the General Court.
At the annual town meeting, Dec. 11, question put, whether this meeting will remit and give in the fines which are laid upon a certain number of persons for laboring upon the Sabbath at harvest work the year past, and the town treasurer be directed to give up the obligations for sd. fines which are lodged in his hands. Voted in the negative.
1800. Up to this date there had been eight military field officers in the town, viz.: Major John Bostwick, Col. Bushnell Bostwick, Col. Samuel Canfield, Col. Josiah Starr (in ye Army), Col. Elisha Bostwick, Maj. Daniel Boardman, Maj. Reuben Warner, Maj. William Taylor.
The Merryall Plough Foundry established by Elijah Hall, the first foundry established in Conn., and the first that used Blacksmith coal (bituminous). Mr. Hall went about the country disposing of his own wares and, one trip, he collected a bushel basket of coppers in payment.
Perry Smith and William Terrill established a store near Upper Merryall.
1802. After stages began to run for carrying the mail, the bridge was carried away, and the Stage Coach Company sued the town for damages in failing to make a crossing. The town employed Homer Boardman to build a boat to be run across by a large rope to meet the emergency, and the next Spring they applied to the Assembly for the privilege of a toll-bridge.
1803 or 1804. Bridge built at Gaylordsville.