The earliest settlers came primarily from Berkshire County MA and were members of the Society of Friends. The purchasers were: Nathan Comstock, Benjamin Russell, Abraham Lapham, Edmund Jenks, Jeremiah Brown, Ephraim Fish, Nathan Herendeen, Nathan Aldrich, Stephen Smith, Benjamin Rickerson, William Baker and Dr. Daniel Brown.
The honor of being the first settler fell to Nathan Comstock and his sons, Otis and Darius, and Robert Hathaway; all of whom came during the year 1789. Closely following them came pioneer Nathan Comstock and his large family, Nathan Aldrich and Isaac Hathaway. At the same time came Nathan Herendeen and his family comprising his son, Welcome, and his sons-in-law Joshua Herrington and John McCumber, wives and children.
In 1790, a son was born to Joshua Herrington and wife. Otis Comstock and Huldah Freeman were married in 1792. Elijah Smith died in 1793.
Jacob and Joseph Smith built the first grist-mill in 1793 and the first saw-mill in 1795. The first physician was Dr. Stephen Aldridge.
Other pioneers who settled in Farmington are: in 1790 John Payne; Jonathan Reed, a blacksmith; Samuel Mason, a cabinet-maker; John Dillon; Adam Nichols and Joseph Wells. Jacob Smith came in 1791; Jonathan Smith in 1790; and at unknown dates came Ichabod Brown, Abiather Power, George Jenks, John Young, Mr. Shotwell and Ebenezer Wells, Isaac Hathaway, Asa Wilmarth, who ran an ashery. Also Levi Smith, Arthur Power, Moses Power, Robert Power; Eseck, Jesse and Willis Aldrich; and Samuel Cooper. Also Levi Smith, William Daily, Annanias McMillan, Jeptha Dillingham, Robert Thomas and David Smith.
In the west part of the town were Jeremiah Brown, Gideon Grinnell, Peter Smith; ______ Harris, _____ Pratt and David Brown; Otis Comstock, Wm. Smith, David Gillis, Zurial Brown, Nicholas Brown and Hezekiah Lippett. David and Stephen Brown had a distillery and ashery; Elias Dennis and Stephen Brown started a carding and cloth mill. Other early manufacturers were James VanVleck and Amos, James and John Haskins. Reuben Smith was in trade as was Paul Richardson, Abner and Stephen Brown and Albert Nye. Peter Cline was a tanner and Otis Brown, a blacksmith. Joseph Jones made hats for the settlers.
Other early settlers were: Gideon Herendeen, Elisha Gardner, Turner Aldrich, and Ebenezer Horton.
Reuben Hoyt built a tannery; John Sheffield kept a hotel; and Augustus Bingham had a blacksmith shop.
Nathan Comstock and his family made the first settlement in the north part of the town. With him came his sons, Otis and Darius, also Robert Hathaway; and later four other sons, Nathan jr.; Jared; Joseph and John, were added to the settlement. Otis Hathaway was an early merchant. S. Pattison built the first saw-mill on the creek. Other early settlers in this locality were Hugh Pound, Isaac Lapham, James Brooks and Benjamin Rickerson.
Other early settlers in the eastern and central portions were John
and Elijah Pound, Stephen Ackley, James Hoag, Calvin Whipple, John
Howland, Major
Smith, Jonathan Archer, Wm. Dillon, Pardon Arnold, George Smith; and
Ahez
Aldrich, Isaac Price, Simpson and Benj. Harvey, Peter Pratt, Lawrence
McLouth,
Perez Antisdale, Samuel Rush, Benjamin Peters.