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Description

Rare reduced size edition of the first official map of Connecticut, first published by Warren & Gillet in 1811.

Warren and Gillet's map was the largest scale map of the state to date, not exceeded until Clark and Tackabury's monumental map of 1859. The size enabled them to depict the state in impressive detail, particularly with regard to the human landscape. The boundaries of counties and towns are shown, and the cities of Hartford and New Haven are depicted in miniature plan form. Hundreds of roads are traced, with "common roads" differentiated from turnpikes. A great variety of symbols locate and differentiate cultural, economic and political landmarks such as churches, court houses, town halls and schools; no fewer than seven types each of factories and mills; and even navigational aids and hazards along the coast.

Unlike earlier maps of Connecticut, Warren and Gillet omitted the so-called "Oblong" along the western border, ceded to New York in the early 18th century to help resolve a long-standing boundary dispute but still the subject of disagreement decades later. This may also be the first map of the state to depict the curious "Southwick jog," a small area ceded to Massachusetts to resolve another ancient boundary disagreement, which first arose when Woodward and Saffery's 1642 survey placed the Connecticut-Massachusetts boundary too far to the south.

Thompson notes two different states of the map, one bearing the added notation "Humphrysville, the first extensive, successful Woollen Manufactory in the Country" (The notation is present on the example offered here.) Thompson also notes a new edition, on a much-reduced scale and with revisions by George Gillet, first issued in 1820 and again in 1829, 1833, 1842 and 1847.

Connecticut was one of the first states to be mapped after the Revolution, with William Blodget's New and Correct Map of Connecticut (1791) serving as the standard for more than 20 years. With its up-to-date town boundaries, detailed geography, and wealth of information about the state's cultural and economic resources, the Blodget map was a great advance over the best previous depiction, that on Thomas Jefferys' Map of the Most Inhabited Part of New England (1755). Blodget's work was soon out of date, however, for between 1791 and 1808 no fewer than 18 new towns were incorporated in Connecticut, not to mention the construction of innumerable turnpikes, public buildings, manufacturing establishments, &c.

Some time around 1810 Hartford publishers Hudson and Goodwin decided the time was ripe for a new state map. Given the magnitude of the undertaking, they sought and received government support. According to Thompson,

"At the May session, 1811, of the Connecticut legislature a resolution was passed authorizing Hudson & Goodwin 'at their own expense to prepare and publish from actual survey a map of this state, and for that purpose the petitioners are authorized… to pass over the land of individuals in the state… and empowered to examine the records of the state." (Thompson, Maps of Connecticut, p. 39, citing Records of the State of Connecticut, Vol. IX, p.217.)

Hudson and Goodwin duly engaged surveyors Moses Warren (1762-1835) and George Gillet (1771-1853) as their mapmakers. Warren was a native of Hopkinton, Conn. and a veteran of the Revolution and had been active in the Western Reserve (The town of Warren, Ohio bears his name.) George Gillet was a resident of Hebron, and according to his gravestone was active as a surveyor for more than five decades.

During 1811 Warren and Gillet appear to have conducted an immense amount of survey work for their map. But they seem to have been working on a deadline, and by their own admission they relied extensively on information from town clerks and other surveyors, as well as data from existing maps and charts.

The publishers take this opportunity to offer their acknowledgments to Town-Clerks and other gentlemen in various part of the State, who… have rendered to the surveyors much valuable assistance. . .

Almost the whole county of Windham is from the notes and draft of Lemuel Ingalis, Esq.; and the entire county of Litchfield, except the county lines of New-Haven and Fairfield, is from the notes and draft of Mr. Nathaniel Spencer. . .

The situation of the light-houses on Montauk point, Gull-Island, Faulkner's Island, Fairweather-Island & Eaton's neck, as well as the buoys & spindles on the coast, & Plumb-Island, Oysterpond point, and Mattatuck clump, are all placed from actual observations, and the remainder of the shores of Long-Island are sketched from the Chart of Cahoone and Fosdick . . .

Connecticut Mirror, vol. III no. 34 (Feb. 24, 1812), p. 3 :

Warren and Gillet must have worked with great rapidity, as their manuscript was complete and sent to the engraver by February 1812-less than a year after the project received the blessing of the legislature. That month they showed the map to Governor Roger Griswold and obtained from him this endorsement:

"Messrs. WARREN and GILLET have been so good as to show me the manuscript Map, and I have examined those parts of the State, with which I am best acquainted, and am satisfied that the delineations are uncommonly accurate, and must do great honour to the gentlemen who have been employed in the work." ((Connecticut Mirror, op. cit.)

The publishers duly returned the favor, for the map bears an extremely ornate calligraphic dedication to Griswold and the State legislature.

Both Warren and Gillet would have rather distinguished careers, with Warren serving for many years in the state legislature and Gillet appointed Surveyor General of Connecticut in 1813.

Reference
Richard B. Arkway, Inc. / Cohen & Taliaferro LLC, Catalog 63, #59; OCLC #23262492 et al; Phillips, Maps of America, p. 247; Ristow, American Maps and Mapmakers, pp. 96-98 (but largely reiterating Thompson).