Like Samuel Daggett, many of the men in the community both farmed and did other types of work. For example, Aaron Phelps ran a gristmill in addition to farming.

Many people in this Connecticut community came from families whose ancestors had immigrated to the American colonies from England. There were also about 100 enslaved African Americans in the community, including Jenne, who lived with the Reverend Lockwood and his wife. And, it is likely that Native Americans also lived here, laboring on nearby farms or in larger towns--often for low pay.

Not everyone in the community lived in the same circumstances. Widow Rebeckah Gibbs, for example, faced many challenges in running the farm and household on her own after her husband died. Although some people had the opportunity to establish their own farms and businesses, others--like the enslaved Jenne--found their freedoms and opportunities very limited.