On 15 May 1736, fourteen subscribers from the towns of Glastonbury, Colchester and Hebron petitioned the General Assembly for winter privileges. They were not fully established as the Society of Marlborough until 1747. In 1803 Marlborough was incorporated as a town with land taken from the three towns. Town vital records begin 1803. Barbour collection records cover 1803-1852.
History
Narrative:
A Look Back in Time
The heart of what is now Marlborough was the crossroads of two well-traveled routes. During colonial times, North and South Main Streets were known as Hockanum Path and Monhege Trail, and travelers used this route to go from Hartford to New London. Route 66 was a cart path that took farmers and their crops to Middletown for transport on the Connecticut River. Travelers found this crossroads to be an ideal place for rest, refreshment, and a change of horses. Both Sadlers Ordinary and the Tavern offered such a haven during this period.
The Birth of a Town
In 1747 William Buell and Joel Foote petitioned the Colonial Government to form an Ecclesiastical Society. Two years later, they began building the First Congregational Church. The Church was finished in 1803, and on October 13 of that year, The General Assembly incorporated a new town from parts of Glastonbury, Hebron, and Colchester. The name for this town was taken from Marlborough, a borough of Wilshire, England. In December of 1803, Marlborough’s first town meeting was held, and in March of 1804, the Selectman Committee met for the first time at the Tavern.
Marlborough as a Center of Industry
As Marlborough continued to grow, businessmen and manufacturers were attracted to its rich resources. During the mid-1800’s Marlborough experienced a dramatic boom of growth and prosperity due to the addition of a number of textile mills. By 1845, the population had risen to 832. However, it appeared this heyday was not meant to last. During the Civil War, the demand for cloth dropped severely, and several mills were forced to stop their production, while others burned down. By 1907, the mills were gone and Marlborough returned to its former roots as a sleepy farming town. In 1910, the population had dropped as low as 302 people. It seemed as if Marlborough had been forgotten by the rest of the State, and it remained that way for the next 50 years. However, despite these changes, the sense of community remained strong. Families were born, worked the land, lived their entire lives, and died in Marlborough.
The Rediscovery of Marlborough
In 1964, a new highway was opened, setting Marlborough on yet another course for change. With two exits in Marlborough, Route 2 paved the way for the town to be discovered once again. Young families who worked in Hartford, just like their colonial counterparts so many years ago, were captivated by the quiet beauty and simple life that Marlborough had to offer. It wasn’t long before many began calling it home. During the years that followed, Marlborough experienced another boom. Neighborhoods and developments sprang up, and the town saw a return of businesses, restaurants, shops, and even some industry. This period of growth continues to this very day. Curious travelers stop at our crossroads, discover all that this unique town has to offer, and decide to make Marlborough their home. Source: http://www.marlboroughct.net/content/AboutMarlborough02.htm
Other City Names (0)
No Data Available.
Settled From (3)
Town Name:
Colchester
State:
Connecticut
Country:
USA
Town Name:
Glastonbury
State:
Connecticut
Country:
USA
Town Name:
Hebron
State:
Connecticut
Country:
USA
Population (19)
Year:
1810
Population:
720
Year:
1820
Population:
839
Year:
1830
Population:
704
Year:
1840
Population:
713
Year:
1850
Population:
832
Year:
1860
Population:
682
Year:
1870
Population:
476
Year:
1880
Population:
391
Year:
1890
Population:
582
Year:
1900
Population:
322
Year:
1910
Population:
302
Year:
1920
Population:
303
Year:
1930
Population:
319
Year:
1940
Population:
476
Year:
1950
Population:
901
Year:
1960
Population:
1961
Year:
1970
Population:
2991
Year:
1990
Population:
5535
Year:
2000
Population:
5709
Founding Families (4)
Surname:
Bigelow (John and son David)
Surname:
Epaphras Lord
Surname:
Tristram Blish
Surname:
William Buell (Captain & Deacon)
Cemeteries (4)
Name:
Fawn Brook Cemetery
Location:
South Main Street and Kellogg Road (slightly hidden)
The Connecticut General Assembly incorporated Marlborough as a "distinct town" deriving its lands from Colchester, Hebron and Glastonbury. The name was taken from Marlborough, a borough in Wilshire, England.
Source: mba-ct.org/content/history.htm
The first schoolhouse here was built, a time when farms and sawmills flourished. Marlborough Tavern, still serving the public, opened its doors late in the colonial period.
Source: mba-ct.org/content/history.htm
Mary Hall, of this town, an educator, became the first woman lawyer to be admitted to practice at the bar of Connecticut.
Source: mba-ct.org/content/history.htm
Date:
1907
Description:
Local industry, chiefly textiles, was spurred by the New London Turnpike during the nineteenth century, but vanished with the burning of the last mill.
Source: mba-ct.org/content/history.htm
Date:
1910
Description:
Due to the fact that by 1907 the mills were gone and Marlborough had returned to a sleepy farming town, the population had dropped as low as 302 people.
Source: www.marlboroughct.net/content/AboutMarlborough02.htm
Date:
1964
Description:
A new highway was opened setting Marlborough on yet another course for change. With 2 exits in Marlborough, Route 2 paved the way for the town to be discovered once again.
Source: www.marlboroughct.net/content/AboutMarlborough02.htm
