East Hampton, Connecticut

Previously known as Chatham, Hartford County, Connecticut

In 1710, Gideon Goffe and his family settled by the Connecticut River in the place that later became the parish of Middle Haddam CT. In 1739, other settlers of European descent arrived, traveling up the Connecticut River. Under the leadership of Isaac Smith, some went on to settle in the hills near Lake Pocotopaug in an area which was then part of Middletown, CT. In 1767, this area was incorporated as Chatham Township in honor of the Earl of Chatham in England for his support of the American colonies. A very early iron forge was built at the outlet of Lake Pocotopaug which supplied the shipbuilding industry along the banks of the Connecticut River.  The town is very hilly, with the hills in the north rising to nearly 800’ above sea level. Chatham became known as Belltown because of the development of bell manufacturing, which produced a wide variety of bells and bell toys. In 1915,  The name of the town was changed to East Hampton, which  is said to have been the name selected for the town  by some of its first settlers who had previously lived in Eastham, Mass. The name “East Hampton”, however, is confusing, since the town is, in fact, approximately 30 miles (48 km) southwest of Hampton, Connecticut. In addition, there is often confusion between East Hampton and the contiguous town of East Haddam, which was named in 1734.

https://chathamhistoricalct.org/chatham/
https://chathamhistoricalct.org/history/ 
http://dunhamwilcox.net/town_hist/chatham_ct_hist.htm 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Hampton,_Connecticut 

Johnson Direct line Ancestors who lived in East Hampton

Places to Visit in East Hampton

  • The Chatham Historical Society - 6 Bevin Blvd, East Hampton, CT 06424
  • Salmon River State Forest 
  • Comstock's Covered Bridge, southeast of East Hampton off CT 16 built 1840
  • Middle Haddam Historic District, Moodus and Long Hill Rds.
  • Air Line State Park Trail
  • Camping at Hurd State Park
  • Seven Falls Park