The arable, pasture, and meadow lands, are in very just proportion for a good farming country, and the whole is well watered by springs, brooks, and rivulets, the latter of a good size for mills ; the summits of the hills afford many extensive and interesting prospects, but the hills are stony and hard to till though they yield good crops of grain, grass, and all the common fruits."

In the vicinity of Bedford sulpheret of iron, and the oxide of iron occur in beds of sand, also quartz and slate are found in numerous localities.

The following extracts are taken from the town records :^

" July, 1682, was held the first town meeting.'' " At a town meeting held March 17, 1686, the town by vote did choose Zachariah Roberts town clerk, for to record town matters and to keep the town books and papers."

The first independent election for town officers, took place on the 7th of April, 1784, when the following officers were chosen :

Peter Fleming. -- Supervisor.

Philip Leek. -- Town Clerk.

Lemuel Light. -- Constable and Collector.

Philip Leek, ]

Richard Sackett, ! Assessors John Miller, f ^^^^-^^o^^-

Ephraim Raymond, J

James McDonald

Eli Tyler, J> Commissioners of Roads.

Zebediah Mills.

a The town records consist of four volumes, No. 1 entitled Record of the town, 1683. No. 2 the Laws and Orders of Connecticut Colony, &c., entered upon record by Zachariah Roberts, recorder, in the year 1699. No. 3 commences April 30, 1708. No. 4, 1786.