Ken Feder

Thur the Barkhamsted Historical Society they connect me to Archaeologist Kenny Feder from the University of Connecticut. He has been a wonderful source of documentation and information – I was able to go in April and see him at the Barkhamsted Historical Society for a speech he was giving on the digs and research he has done on the Barkhamsted Lighthouse Site – his works has been invaluable to me~

His book on the Lighthouse Site: Kenny Personally sent me one for my birthday and signed it for me~

*A Village of Outcasts – Lighthouse site, CT –  By: Kenneth L. Feder – Explores the archaeology of the Barkhamsted Tribe. It also explores the genealogy of this family group. Mountain View, Calf: Mayfield Publishing Company 1994 -This case study in historical archaeology tells the story of the archaeological investigation of the Lighthouse site located in the northwestern hills of Connecticut. This remarkable story brings to life the Native American, African-American slaves and European outcasts who came together and formed a thriving settlement between A.D. 1740 and 1860.
Table of contents:
Chapter 1, ENCOUNTERING THE LIGHTHOUSE
Chapter 2, THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF HISTORY: A Rationale for Historical Archaeology , The Unique Contributions of Historical Archaeology , The Colonization Process , Understanding the Physical World of the Historical Past 1, Examining Health and Nutrition of the Historical Past , Documenting the Lives of the Disenfranchised and the Oppressed , Documenting Illicit or Illegal Behaviors 17 Evaluating and Revising Historical Accounts of Known Events , Conclusion.
Chapter 3, THE LEGEND OF THE LIGHTHOUSE:, Lewis Sprague Mills: A Source for the Legend , The Legend of the Lighthouse: Molly Barber , The Legend of the Lighthouse: James Chaugham , The Theme of the Captive , The Exodus , A New Life in the Wilderness , The “Lighthouse” , The Legacy of the Lighthouse.
Chapter 4, SOURCES OF THE LIGHTHOUSE LEGEND: Mills Sources , The Mountain County Herald, 1854 , William Wallace Lee’s Centennial Address , Connecticut Courant Article , Winsted Evening Citizen Article , Lee’s 1868 Article , Eyewitness Account of J. E. Mason , Edmund Smiley’s Short History of Riverton , Conclusion.
Chapter 5, DIGGING IN THE DOCUMENTS: SOURCES: An Introduction to the Primary Record , Family Records , Family Bibles , Personal Correspondence , Diaries , Diplomas , Institutional Records , Church Records , Educational Records , Newspaper Articles and Obituaries , Public Records , The Census , Federal Mortality Schedules , Military Records , Vital Records , Court Records and Probate , Tax Records , Land Records , Cemetery Records , Conclusion .
Chapter 6, DIGGING IN THE DOCUMENTS: THE PEOPLE OF THE LIGHTHOUSE: First Encounter, Anonymous Census Records, Connecticut’s 1756 Census, Connecticut’s 1762 Census, Connecticut’s 1774 Census, The Primary Record of the Lighthouse People , James Chaugham 75 Molly Barber , The Late Eighteenth Century: 1770-1783 , Summary: 1770-1783 , The Late Eighteenth Century: 1783-1800 , The Death of James Chaugham , Probate, Dower Right, and the Estate of James Chaugham , The Family after James , Summary: 1783-1800 , Ragged Mountain: 1800-1820 , Summary: 1800-1820 , The Final Decades of the Lighthouse Community: 1820-1860 , The Sale of the Lighthouse , Summary: 1820-1860 , After the Lighthouse Was Abandoned , School Records , Life Goes On , Conclusion.
Chapter 7, DIGGING IN THE DIRT: A BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO ARCHAEOLOGICAL METHODOLOGY AND ANALYSIS: Field Methods , The Questions of Archaeology 1 , Where?, What?, When?, How?, Who?, Why?,
Chapter 8, DIGGING IN THE DIRT: ARCHAEOLOGY, AT THE LIGHTHOUSE SITE: “Unearthing” the Story of the Lighthouse , Bringing the Dead to Life , Mapping the Site , The Pedestrian Survey , Categories of the Pedestrian Survey , Pedestrian Survey Indications.

W. W Lee, Barkhamsted, Conn., and its Centennial, 1879 (Unknown Binding – 2001). “Barkhamsted and its Centennial” (compiled by William Wallace Lee, 1881) is a delightful book on the 100th anniversary of the incorporation of the town.  The book records the days events (September 10, 1879) when “between 4,000 and 5,000 people were assembled, and the scene was one not often witnessed amid rustic surroundings”.  Speeches given at the event are recorded here, including the historical address (covering some 58 pages!) given by Lee.  This address touches on many aspects of the town’s history including early settlers, prominent residents, the Barkhamsted Lighthouse, mills and factories, meeting houses, schools and military service.  It is a very valuable resource given the fact that it was compiled 1879 to 1881.  It is hardbound and is 178 pages in length.  This book is difficult but not impossible to find.  The Advanced Book Exchange – http://www.abebooks.com is a network of used book dealers- you might find it there.

From the book “Barkhamsted, Conn., and its Centennial, 1879,” by W. W. Lee, Meriden Conn. 1881. Page 38 – THE LIGHTHOUSE SETTLEMENT: Thus with the exception of the “Lighthouse Settlement,” I have enumerated all the different names of families of the town prior to 1820, of which I have any knowledge; yet, I presume, some on will say, “You have not more than half of them,” and I answer, “Very likely. There is more about this town that I do not know of, than there is that if do.” The ancient Israelites could, on a pinch, make bricks without straw, and perhaps I could, but I cannot make an historical address which shall embrace all the names of families in this town, without devoting to it more time than I have been able to devote to the preparation of this. I suppose that James Chaugham was the first permanent settler in the town. He was a Narragansett Indian, (not of pure Indian blood), born on Block Island. While yet a young man, he adopted the manners and customs of the whites, and had shifted about until he found himself living in Wethersfield, Conn. While living there, a certain young woman name Molly Barber, who had been disappointed by parental authority interfering to prevent a union with the man of her choice, gave out that she would marry the first man that offered himself, white or black. This came to the ears of Chaugham, who promptly accepted the offer, and they were privately married. I suppose this was not far from 1740. In the spring of 1866, the widow of Joseph Elwell, Sr., told me this story, a short time before her death. She was born about 1782, and was a daughter of Chaugham’s third child, and it seems to me that this estimate cannot be far from correct. After the marriage, Chaugham and his wife left the town, crossed the Talcott Mountain, as it is now called, over to Farmington, and followed up the river to the Lighthouse Flat, where he doubtless considered himself safe from pursuit and molestation. Probably at that time the journey above what is now Unionville was through an unbroken forest. Here Chaugham made a clearing, built himself a cabin, and in due time reared a family of eight children. Chaugham lived to a good old age, respected by the people of the town, and died about 1800, or a little earlier. His widow died in1820, understood to be 105 years old. The children were Samuel, married Miss Green of Sharon, Conn.; Mercy, married Isaac Jacklin, of Barkhamsted; Polly, married William Wilson, of Barkhamsted; Mary, married —–Lawrence, of Barkhamsted; Hannah, married Reuben Barber, [p. 39] of Barkhamsted; Solomon, married Miss Hayes of Barkhamsted; Sally, died young, unmarried; Elizabeth, died 1854, unmarried, age 80. Wilson lived near Chaugham’s, and reared a family. The Mrs. Elwell quoted above was his daughter. She could give me but little information about the other branches of the Chaugham family. Jacklin removed to Winchester; the other families mentioned left this part of the country long ago. Where Wilson came from, I never could learn. He was a soldier of the Revolution, and was lame. I have heard that it was caused by a cannon shot in the battle of Monmouth. He was a sort of local preacher, independent, yet leaning to the Baptists, and I am told preached for some time in the Old Hemlock meeting house in Colebrook; was considered to be a man of fair abilities, very enthusiastic and somewhat visionary. He was held in esteem by every one as a man of worth. He died about 1830. SPEAKING FROM THE RECORD. – In this sketch of the Chaugham family, I have copied almost verbatim from the journal which was made by Jesse Ives, wherein he kept whatever he deemed worthy of being recorded. His grandfather, with his son John, (father of Jesse) came here in 1772, and settled on Center Hill, near the Slades, and not more than two miles form Chaugham’s dwelling. In those days they would be near neighbors, and he would be apt to know all about the Chaugham family; and in this wise it is probable that Jesse Ives obtained the information which he has recorded in his journal. Chaugham was an average man, a good citizen, and lived a peaceful, honest and useful life. The talk about his being an Indian chief in war paint and nodding plume, with tomahawk, and scalping knife, is all nonsense. While Chaugham and his children were poor, as were most of the early settlers, they were well treated and respected by all the town people. Concerning the third and fourth generations of his posterity, I have not time to give a detailed report. Joseph Elwell, who married Wilson’ daughter, came from Southington, probably in the early part of the present century. Stephen Elwell was older brother of Joseph, but his wife was not of the Chaugham family. Some of the Chaugham posterity have become civilized enough to try the old game of wrestling with a whiskey bottle, and with the same result–to get thrown–and they are not the only natives of this town who have seemed to try to see how poorly and meanly they could live, and had great success follow their efforts. End