RURAL LIFE IN LITCHFIELD COUNTY 



The taking of stray animals, and their impounding 

 and sale when not claimed by the owner, was also com- 

 mon, as shown by the following, copied from the Litch- 

 field town records : 



"Two red yearlen heffers marked with a cross in the 

 off ear and one black yearlen heffer with some white 

 upon the rump, white under bolly and sum white upon 

 the inside of the hind leggs— also marked with a cross 

 in the off ear— which heffers are in the custody of 

 Thomas Lee and have been prized by his desire on the 

 27th day of November last by us, by the sum of three 

 pounds and fifteen shillings, by us John Boldwin, 

 Joseph Bixy. The above named heffers are put upon 

 record this fifth day of December anno domini 1723." 



Also the following, which is a record of sale : 



"Taken damage feasant, and impounded by Samuel 

 Plum in Litchfield and sold as the law demits by Ozias 

 Lewis, the following sheep, marks as follows '^^^XZ^ 

 sold for i£ lis; <CIXZ^ sold for i£ 13s." 



Although King Philip's war, two years later, 

 wrought havoc to the little band of a dozen or more 

 families that had ventured to settle in new homes in 

 the wilderness, and drove them back to the parent town, 

 yet the records show that within a few years a road was 

 laid out along the old Indian trail from what is now 

 Southbury to the present site of Woodbury, and new 

 settlements were rapidly made along this highway. 



