From one entrepreneur to another, this exchange of 180 years ago documents some of the changes New Londoners were putting in place at a property to the north.
The deed is offered by user therecords. It documents a transaction between Isaac Thompson and George R. Hill, signed on Nov. 7, 1833, and received for the record on the last day of the year.
In the exchange, Thompson - a Montville resident - transfers ownership of a parcel of Montville land to Hill, a New London resident. The description of the land identifies it as lying to the west of Oxoboro Pond, now known as Oxoboro Lake. Thompson says he purchased the property from the heirs of Asa Manwaring. It also mentions a dam on the lake.
The user says a previously sold document went into more detail about this dam. An October 1833 agreement between Lewis and Charles A. Lewis sets the conditions for the maintenance of the dam, including its accommodation of an Uncasville factory.
Lewis would naturally have an interest in helping out the factory, since he was one of the owners. The Oxoboxo River once included a number of mills, including a grist mill first started in 1794. Once the business started struggling, the owners sold it to Charles and George in 1830. It became a cotton factory run by the Uncasville Manufacturing Company, with George as the first president and Charles as the first secretary, with a "substantial dam" among the improvements made at the site.
In addition, George was one of the incorporators of the Norwich and New London Steam Boat Company, established in 1832 "for the purpose of transporting passengers and freight by the power of steam and horses, and transacting other business, incident thereto, in the most advantageous manner." Charles and George also appear in some African-American studies, as there is a document on record of their emancipation of slave Robert Jones in 1827 (slavery would not be banned in Connecticut until 1848).
As for Thompson, he was known for his role in establishing a number of businesses and corporations including the Savings Bank of New London, Union Insurance Company, New London Female Academy, and a ferry company.
The document is in good condition and has a starting bid of $9.99, plus $2.49 for shipping. The auction ends at about 9:02 p.m. on Wednesday.
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