Hart family papers

These papers of the inter-related Hart and Norton families of Connecticut include correspondence, legal and financial papers dealing with estates and land holdings in Connecticut, and miscellaneous writings and other papers.

The bulk of the papers are deeds, writs, and other estate papers belonging to several branches of the Hart and Norton families, 1721-1876. They include deeds and indentures for land in Wallingford and Barkhamsted belonging to Hawkins Hart (1736-1824) and his descendants and estate papers of Hawkins Hart, Jr. (1781-1836), and deeds of properties in Farmington and Berlin belonging to Isaac Hart (b. 1686), his descendants, and members of the Norton family of Berlin. Also mentioned are members of the Hooker, Cowles, and Brownson families.

The correspondence consists of approximately forty-five letters of the Norton family of Berlin, being for the most part letters written to William H. Norton, who lived in Georgia and Troy, New York, from his parents, Albert (d. 1847) and Lucy (Hart) Norton, and his brother Albert R. Norton. The letters, written between 1819 and 1885, describe family financial matters and events such as the death of Harriet Norton (1839 Sep 8), while the letters of Albert Norton in particular express antislavery sentiments and strong religious beliefs.

Other miscellaneous items in the collection include a catalogue of members of the family of Solomon Dunham, a roll of the Kensington, Connecticut, militia, and writings on religious topics, including a printed copy of a sermon preached by Royal Robbins at the funeral of Ruth Hart.

The papers of the Hart and Norton families of Farmington and Berlin were placed in Yale University Library by Mrs. Walter E. Crittenden in 1940. The remaining papers were purchased from Dawson's Book Shop in 1947.