Let's take a tour around the Connecticut Panel....

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HANNAH BUNCE WATSON

Hannah Bunce Watson published the Connecticut Courant between 1777 and 1779, making her one of America's first female publishers. Watson's second husband, Ebenezer Watson, ran the Courant, the largest patriotic newspaper, from his print shop in Hartford until he passed of smallpox in September 1777. At this time, George Goodwin, who had worked for him, stepped in to run the paper; however, it quickly became apparent that he did not have the skills to manage the business end. Hannah Bunce Watson joined as a partner from 1777 - 17779. 

Quickly, Watson ran into difficulties, including the paper mill she co-owned with Sarah Ledyard burning down in 1778, allegedly by Tory sympathizers (shown in the bottom right-hand corner of the panel). Watson and Ledyard petitioned the state to run a lottery to raise $5,000 to rebuild. In the case of this lottery, 3600 tickets were sold at $6 a piece. The cost to rebuild was pulled from the amount raised, and the remaining money was given to the prize winner.
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They raised the money and set to rebuilding the paper mill while never stopping printing. At this time, the Connecticut Courant was known for stories that described the ongoing battles and rallied support for the Revolutionary side. 
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In 1779, Watson married Barzillai Hudson, who had assisted her while running the Courant. She dissolved her partnership in the paper, and her new husband took over. 
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Watson was inducted into the Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame in 1994 and into the Connecticut Journalism Hall of Fame in 2011. 

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For more information, check out ConnecticutHistory.org, Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame

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7TH CONNECTICUT REGIMENT​

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In the top right corner you'll find the 7th Regiment with Prince Simbo featured in the foreground. The 7th Regiment (officially the 7th Connecticut Regiment, Huntington's Brigade, First Division) was lead by Captain Ebenezer Hill. Prince Simbo enlisted in 1777 along with Sampson Freeman 6 other Black men throughout the war. 

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The regiment was raised in Milford, CT with Prince Simbo hailing from Glastonbury. He encamped at Valley Forge and his unit saw battles at Brandywine, Germantown, and Monmouth. With him, Simbo carried an engraved powder horn that is now on display at the Smithsonian's National Museum of  African American History and Culture in Washington, DC. 

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After his service he returned to Glastonbury until his death in 1810. 

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Fore more information please see Daughters of the American Revolution and National Park Service

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PROVISIONS

Connecticut was known as the "Provision State" during the Revolution, providing much needed supplies to the Continental Army. 

• Salisbury was responsible for 80% of the cannon supplies. (Join us on October 25th at the Scoville Library in Salisbury to learn more!)

• Canaan offered marble quarries. Marble was used during the smelting process.

• In East Haven there were saltworks used from preserving food.

• Farms throughout Connecticut supplied meat and food provisions to troops through out the war. 

• Want to know more about Provisions? Join us at the Nathan Hale House on September 21st for a stitching event!