Stonington is located along the south eastern shore of Connecticut and only a few miles from my home town of Westerly, Rhode Island. Stonington was established during the mid 1600's and today has over 18,000 residents. The first lighthouse established by the US Federal Government in 1823 and was located in Stonington. The area supported a small fishing, whaling and sealing fleet. It was also a way station for travelers between Boston and New York. Trains brought travelers from Boston to Stonington who then took a steamship to New York.
My British friends might find it interesting to note that Stonington was successfully defended against HMS Naval bombardments in1775 and again in 1814. During the bombardment of 1814 Stonington casualties included a mauled cow, a killed a goose, one hen, 3 hogs and an elderly lady who was on her dying bed.
