BARKHAMSTED — The Barkhamsted Fourth of July parade was not only a celebration of American independence, but also a reunion of sorts.

Some 150 members of The Barkhamsted Lighthouse Descendants marched in the parade to celebrate their heritage and the town’s history. The Barkhamsted Lighthouse, unlike its coastal brethren, was a rural 18th century community on a hillside terrace adjacent to the Farmington River that is now the People’s State Forest. As the story goes, James Chaugham, a young Narragansett Indian man, upon leaving his Block Island home, traveled up the CT River arriving in Wethersfield in about 1740. He sought work and lodging and found both on the estate of Peter Barber, the wealthiest man in Wethersfield at the time. It was here that James fell in love with Molly, Peter Barber’s daughter. Frustrated that no suitors were able to meet the high demands of her father, Molly threatened to marry the next person willing to take her hand in marriage. After James proposed, the newlyweds fled into the wilderness of Northern Connecticut and settled at the base of what is now known as Ragged Mountain. James and Molly would go on to have eight children. Though initially an isolated outpost, the Chaugham family enclave became part of a broader settlement. As the Farmington River Turnpike was built for stagecoach traffic, according to legend, drivers gave the village its name as a metaphorical ‘lighthouse’ with the home fires of the inhabitants guiding those who passed by as a beacon in the wilderness. Coni Dubois, a family genealogist and Native American researcher for over 20 years, was named the Honorary Parade Marshall for her research on the lighthouse. “I have been doing research for over 25 years all along the East Coast dealing with tribes in those locations and have traced more than 50,000 people in my research,” Dubois said. “I have been researching the lighthouse for over 10 years.” Dubois is a 9th generation descendant of the Chaugham’s and researching the lighthouse has been a personal fulfillment. “I am a direct descendant of the Chaugham’s through their daughter Hannah,” Dubois said. “I first began researching the lighthouse over 10 years ago when I teamed up with archaeologist Kenny Feder who has been excavating the site.” Dubois began researching her heritage upon the request of her father, Rex Allen, who asked over 25 years ago for their roots to be found. Today, many of James and Molly’s descendants remain and are scattered throughout the country with many of them sharing a bond of kinship in their common heritage. Jim and Pauline Goodman traveled from Michigan to Connecticut to take part in the parade and celebrate their heritage. “We went to the village site with archaeologist Kenny Feder and it was a very spiritual and very moving experience,” said Pauline Goodman, a direct descendant. “Today is the culmination of all the research I have done and all the work that went into it.” Other families with multiple generations of descendants were on hand to march in the parade. “We have four generations here,” said Naomi Kilgore, a direct descendant whose done field research on Block Island. “It’s very nice to be a part of this and have four generations of family here today with the oldest being 90 and the youngest being 2 years old.” Residents were invited to sign a banner marking the Lighthouse descendants with all the descendants wearing red T-shirts to represent the blood of Molly and James Chaugham. A BBQ and reunion was held after the parade with a blessing done by Chief Sunrise, also known as Byron Brown, of the Wiquapaug Eastern Pequot tribe. The Barkhamsted Lighthouse is the emblem of the Barkhamted Lions Club that hosts the parade symbolizing a beacon of hope in the wilderness of despair.

65. Sept 2015 - WEPIT Tribal Newsletter

66. Sept 2015 – Squire’s Tavern Quarterly Newsletter – By Barkhamsted Historical Society

67. Oct. 26, 2015 - Archeology Podcast Network 

Featuring Kenneth L. Feder – Hosted by Sara Head

The Legend of the Lighthouse – Episode 22

Ken shares a touching story about his work. The Legend of Lighthouse shows how archaeology is used to solve histories mysteries and uses those answers to shed light on the lives of those around us.

Note from Coni: Ken gives me a shout out at the end of the Podcast~

2016

68. March/April 2016 - Vol: XXXIX, No. 2 - Connecticut Preservation News - CT. TRUST for Historical Preservation

69. My NEW Video - Sept 2016