The village of Yantic, in the northwest corner of the city of Norwich and bordered by Bozrah and Franklin, occupies land that was part of the original nine-mile square purchased from the Mohegan Indians in 1659, when these areas were known as New Concord and West Farms. Set off from Norwich and made separate towns in 1786, West Farm was later renamed Yantic by Captain Erastus Williams, who took the name from the Mohegan word yantick, meaning little river. Williams built the Yantic mill, the church, the mill house store, and the fire department. In 1847, the mill owner petitioned the Connecticut General Assembly for a charter for a fire company in Yantic, and in July of that year the assembly granted the charter to Erastus Williams, creating Yantic Fire Engine Company No. 1. The church was established in 1853, and the existing stone building was dedicated on June 22, 1902. Erastus Williams's son, Winslow Williams, oversaw construction of the double-arch stone bridge leading to his residence, Rockclyffe. Winslow Williams was also a personal friend of President William Howard Taft, who visited on July 5, 1909, to celebrate Norwich's 250th anniversary.