Cannons for War, Iron Nails During Peace

Cannons for War, Iron Nails During Peace. The "Iron Prince" -- Samuel Forbes. , Here on the Blackberry River, Samuel Forbes (1729-1827) developed and ran an empire of iron works that provided cannon and ship anchors during the Revolutionary War and iron nails, tools and mill parts during the subsequent early development of the United States. A partner in the area's first blast furnace at Lakeville, he served as iron master, producing much needed cannons for the Continental Army. After the War, in partnership with his son-in-law, John Adam, he continued the development of vast ironworks in the Northwest Corner. Samuel Forbes lived in the 1752 white house downstream from this bridge and is buried in the small burying ground behind the house., Young Samuel Forbes came from the Blackberry River in 1739. He lost no time in learning the business of smelting and shaping iron, working for Richard Seymour and his father at their iron works on the river. By 1759 Samuel and his brother owned their own larger forge on an island just upstream from this point. Other additions followed, as Samuel enlarged his business to provide the arms of war and tools of peace., Samuel's wife Lucy contributed greatly to the success of the enterprise. Early in their marriage Samuel set the course of their relationship by a test to determine who was to run the household. Throwing a rope over the barn, he and Lucy each took one end and pulled. After neither was successful in pulling the rope over the rooftop, they then both held the same end and pulled together. When the rope came easily over the top, Samuel proclaimed "Let that be the way this house will be run"., Beyond the wide range of his activity developing the iron industry, Samuel served as a Town Selectman and represented the Town at the State Assembly in Hartford. He acquired major land holdings in the area, including the lot at the eastern end of his road that he donated for the Congregational Church that still stands.