Smith Family.

The Smith family of Canterbury, CT, owned and operated a number of mills in the section of Hanover from the mid-eighteenth century until the 1940s. The original site on Little River, north of Hanover and Woodchuck Hill Roads, became the home to five successive generations of Smiths.

The earliest record of the family in Canterbury can be traced to the mid-eighteenth century when Eliezer Smith (1737-1813) owned and possible established a sawmill and carding mill at the location on Little River. At the time of his death in 1813, ownership of the mills was transferred to his son Eleazer (?-1843).

At the time of Eleazer's death in 1843, his land was divided among his seven children and his widow, Elipha. One half of the mill property was bequeathed to Elipha, and one half was put up for sale to pay for a creditor's charge ($985.55). In 1844, Eleazer's son, Eleazer (1797-1882) bought the property for $990.00 and was given control of Elipha's property as well. Details of the property divisions and sales can be found in the Canterbury Probate records at the Canterbury Town Hall.

According to Allen Lincoln 's History of Windham County, five mills were in operation at this time; a carding and spinning mill, a second mill, which ran a picking machine, a grist mill, a saw mill and a shingle mill.

In 1882, at the time of Eleazer's death, all five mills were transferred to his son Lester (1842-1898). Shortly after, several of the mills were destroyed by fire, but were soon rebuilt in addition to a new grain mill. When Lester died in 1898, the ownership was transferred for the final time to his son, Frank. The mills remained in operation until the 1940s, around which time they fell into disrepair and were abandoned.

The remains of the mill have been left at the site, which has since become overgrown and is accessible only by foot. The rocks of the dam, the head and tailraces, and the main shaft from the turbine are all clearly evident. Also, the Smith home, built in the eighteenth century, remains, and is being restored by its present owners.

A close relationship between the Allen and Smith families is evident from the papers. Apparently, this friendship was encouraged by two factors: the Allens owned nearby woolen mills and fostered a business tie and Lester Smith married Imogene Allen in the 1860s.

[Sources: Canterbury Town Hall: Probate and Tax assessor Records. Connecticut State Library: Barbour Collection, Census records, church records, family and Bible records, Headstone inscriptions and probate records. Allen B. Lincoln, A Modern History of Windham County: A Windham County Treasure Book. Chicago: S.J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1920.]

From the guide to the Smith Family Papers., 1790-1981., (Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center .)